Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites (Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom #12)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

DAHLIA

A chill settled over me despite the oppressive heat in the bayou. It cut through the humid air like a knife. The swamp was eerily silent the further in we got. The usual chorus of nocturnal creatures became muted and then vanished. It was as if the critters sensed the impending danger.

My heart pounded in my chest as I led the way with Dre. My senses were on high alert. Beside me, Dani, Dre, Dea, Phi, and Kota moved cautiously. Their movements were stilted thanks to the tension gripping their bodies. Despite the fear coursing through me, I garnered courage from the presence of my sisters. I could face anything with them by my side. They’d been there for me through the hardest moments in my life, so I didn’t doubt that they would always have my back.

"We’re getting close," I whispered. My voice was barely audible above the rustling of the underbrush. "Stay sharp. "

Suddenly, the air around us crackled with energy that made it feel as if ants were crawling beneath my skin. I felt it before I saw anything. A heartbeat later there was an oppressive weight of a powerful presence bearing down on us. A low, sinister laugh echoed through the trees next and sent a shiver down my spine.

"Welcome, sisters," a disembodied voice purred. It was resonant with dark magic. "I am Garrick. I’ve been expecting you."

My blood ran cold. Garrick’s presence was shrouded in darkness and cloaked with powerful concealment spells. I could see a person standing about twenty feet in front of us. However, we couldn't see him clearly thanks to the malevolent energy swirling around his body.

"Spread out," Dre ordered in a steady voice. "We need to make him reveal himself and track his movements."

The rest of us nodded, our minds already working in unison. As we stepped away from one another, we began weaving our magic together. It had become automatic at this point. We needed to cast a spell designed to disrupt Garrick's concealment. The air shimmered with our combined energy. Following my sisters’ lead, I poured more power into my efforts. We were rewarded when tendrils of light snaked out to probe the darkness.

Garrick laughed again. The sound was filled with contempt. "You think your paltry magic can reveal me? You underestimate my power."

Ignoring his taunts, I focused on the spell. I drew on the natural energies of the bayou to amplify my magic. Dre chanted a few feet to my right in a steady rhythm that anchored our spell. Dea was on my left and my skin prickled like it usually did when she called upon the spirits of the swamp. I hoped they could give her guidance and support. Adèle was conspicuously quiet at the moment. That didn’t bode well for us finding this guy and figuring out what he was up to.

Slowly, the darkness around us began to shift. A faint outline of Garrick's form cleared so the edges weren’t as blurry. He was still a shadowy figure cloaked in a swirling vortex of dark energy. However, I could see how his eyes glowed dark blue. Everything about him radiated a chilling malevolence.

Phi and Kota sprang into action first. Their magic flared brightly as they launched a coordinated attack. Fire and light burst forth. Both were aimed at Garrick. He retaliated with a wave of dark energy. Unfortunately, the force of it nearly knocked us off our feet.

Pain flared in my backside when I landed hard on some rocks. A protective spell sprang from my lips as I rolled over with a groan. "He's strong," Dani gritted out.

I snorted and climbed to my feet. "Nah, he’s weak as a kitten. We need to break his defenses."

Laughing, Dea stepped forward. Her hands glowed with her purple flames. “Leave that to me,” she said. She began chanting an incantation that made my skin prickle. She was using spirit magic and her words wove a powerful spell. I said a silent prayer that it was designed to weaken Garrick's dark magic.

She released the fire first, making him react to that. The other spell exploded from her while he was busy fighting her witch fire. The spirit magic hit him in the chest, making his form flicker. His concealment started to waver. "Now!" I yelled, signaling Dani and Dre to launch their attacks with me.

Dani summoned a whirlwind of elemental magic, the forces of wind and water converging on Garrick. Dre added vines and branches to entangle and restrain him. I added fire, hoping to incapacitate him. The combined assault was relentless. We pushed Garrick back and weakened his defenses.

I got a little cocky and was almost on my ass again when Garrick roared in fury. His dark energy lashed out wildly. Thankfully, my reflexes were better this time around and we all held our ground. The others joined Dani, Dre and I and our magic created a united front against his onslaught. We kept pushing our power at him. The moment reminded me of the scene in the last Harry Potter movie where Harry is facing Voldemort and their streams clash against one another. I didn’t think anything was happening until bit by bit, his form became more defined.

"We've almost got him!" Kota shouted, her flames blazing even brighter.

The swamp was alive with the clash of magic, shadows, and elements. Garrick’s presence was a dark storm roiling in the heart of the bayou. Each time he struck the air seemed to shudder. Every counterattack we launched barely kept his dark power at bay.

“We need to contain him!” I shouted over the din. My voice barely carried over the crackle of magical energy and the sounds of our battle.

Dea and I locked eyes and a silent understanding passed between us. We began weaving our magic together. Our hands moved in synchronized motions as we chanted the words of a containment spell. A shimmering barrier of light started to form and encircle Garrick. My heart leaped when I saw it begin to close in on him.

“Keep him busy!” Dre called out. She hurled a barrage of blinding light bursts at Garrick. Kota was right beside her with her flames swirling around as she manipulated fire into traps and barriers. She designed each one to slow Garrick down and keep him from focusing on us.

Dani and Phi moved around the perimeter of our growing containment field. Their magic joined with the effort of keeping the field stable. Dani darted in and out, setting environmental traps that tangled Garrick’s movements. She wasn’t the most graceful while doing it, but she was damn effective. Phi added elements to create obstacles and barriers.

As if sensing his impending capture, Garrick became more desperate and aggressive. His dark energy lashed out, striking at us with renewed fury. The containment field shimmered and flickered under the strain. We held firm and channeled every ounce of our magic and strength into maintaining it.

“Hold it together!” Dani urged.

With a final push, Dea and I managed to close the containment field around Garrick. The barrier shimmered with a radiant glow that pulsed with the combined power of our magic. For a moment, it seemed like we had succeeded.

But Garrick wasn’t finished. With a malicious grin, he gathered his dark energy for one last attack. “You think you’ve won?” he sneered. “This is just the beginning.”

He unleashed a powerful burst of magic. The force of it caused the containment field to waver and crack. We struggled to hold it, but the energy was too much. With a final, defiant laugh, Garrick disappeared into the shadows.

My entire body was shaking as we stood there in the chilling silence he left behind. We were all breathless and battered in the aftermath of the battle. He might not have touched us physically, but he didn’t need to. His power had beat us to a pulp.

“We had him,” Dre muttered, frustration clear in her voice.

“But he got away,” Kota pointed out. “And I’m exhausted. I wasn’t made to fight like this all the time.”

“You’re getting in better shape from it, though,” Dani told her. “Garrick’s escape signifies a greater threat than we anticipated. We need to know more about what he is and his plans.”

Dea nodded as she gazed into the distance. “We need to strengthen our relationship with the shifters. They know the bayou better than anyone and might be able to help us track Garrick and uncover his true motives.”

Phi looked around. “Great idea. We need all the help we can get. I get the feeling this isn’t just about Melanie anymore. The safety of everyone in the bayou hangs in the balance.”

“Let’s find the gators,” I said under my breath. The feeling of being watched made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and my heart pound in my chest. Was Garrick back?

I almost threw the magical bomb I’d been building before I caught myself when a figure darted out from the shadows. Its presence was barely perceptible before disappearing again. Magic crackled in the air. “ It's not Garrick. It’s the shifters. They don’t trust outsiders ,” Adèle murmured. Her voice in my head caught me off guard for a second.

“Thank the gods.” Dea took a deep breath. “Before we get to the shifters, we need to plan our approach. We can't just barge in and expect them to trust us. You heard Adèle.”

Dre nodded in agreement. “We should start by gathering more intel. If we can show them that we understand the complexity of their situation, they might be more willing to talk.”

“Good idea," Dani said. “We have to make them see that working together is the best option. If this entity is powerful enough to take out a selkie and threaten their territory, it’s a danger to all of us.”

Just then, a rustle in the trees caught our attention. We turned to see a group of gator shifters emerging from the shadows. Among them were Boudreaux, Adelaide, and Etienne. Their expressions were amused and concerned. An older man, his face lined with age and wisdom, stepped forward. Boudreaux nodded towards him. "This is Remy, one of our elders. These are the infamous Twisted Sisters."

Remy fixed us with a steady gaze. "We know how dangerous that magical entity is. Your fight with it drew us from our homes.”

Dre inclined her head to the elder. “That dark magical entity is calling himself Garrick and he’s out to claim this entire area. We need your help to stop him."

Remy’s eyes narrowed. His skepticism was evident. "Why should I trust you? We've been fighting to protect our territory for generations."

Dre's posture relaxed but her gaze was intense. "Because we have a common enemy. This entity is not just a threat to the entire bayou but the entire area.”

Remy’s shoulders slumped slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "I've sensed something... off lately. More than the usual territorial disputes. We need to find this Garrick?"

I took a deep breath, stepping up beside Dre. "We’ve also discovered that there are pieces of an artifact he broke and has spread throughout the bayou. It once belonged to your kind and was used in rituals. Garrick has used it to get his foothold here. We need to find them and put it back together. Then we can use it to protect your congregation.”

Remy’s eyes widened, the shock and recognition clear. "This explains the disturbances we've been experiencing. It's more than just the usual supernatural activities."

Kota nodded and held out her hands. "We propose an alliance. You provide us with intelligence about your community, Garrick’s movement, and the possible locations of the artifact pieces. In return, we offer protection against this entity and promise to help restore balance."

Remy hesitated and glanced at his fellow shifters. They nodded in silent agreement. "Alright, but we need assurances,” Remy said. “This entity is powerful, and I can't risk my people's lives without some guarantee."

Dea stepped forward. "We can bind our agreement with a pact spell. It will ensure mutual aid and confidentiality. We protect you, and you help us. Would you agree to that?"

Remy nodded slowly, his eyes meeting each of ours in turn. "I agree. Let's do this."

My heart started racing as I shot Dea a panicked look. I had no idea what she was talking about. Adèle's voice filled our minds, quelling my mini-melt down. “ I will guide you through this. Repeat after me ,” she instructed. Her voice was a comforting presence.

We repeated what she told us as she was speaking. " By the spirits of the bayou, we pledge our cooperation.”

“By the spirits of the bayou, we pledge our cooperation," we replied.

Adèle continued, " For protection and unity, we bind ourselves together. For protection and unity, we bind ourselves together ." We echoed that as well and felt the words take hold. The air around us crackled with power as the pact spell took shape. It was a tangible force binding us to our promise.

Adèle's final instructions resonated in our minds. " May this pact be strong and unbreakable, for the safety of all. " We finished in unison, sealing the spell.

The energy around us pulsed, confirming the bond we had just forged with the gator shifters. We stood in silence for a moment, absorbing the significance of our new alliance. A warm, protective aura enveloped us, symbolizing our newly forged pact. Remy looked relieved but still wary. "We’ll share everything we know," he said, his voice steady. "But this entity is unlike anything we've faced before. We are unprepared to deal with it."

"Don’t confront Garrick. You don’t have the magic needed to fight him,” I told him. “Have your people move hidden and only gather information. We will handle Garrick.”

Remy agreed and we made plans to meet up the next day. It was getting late and we all needed to rest after that fight with Garrick. The drive back to Willowberry Plantation was filled with silence. The encounter with Garrick had rattled us. Everyone in the car jumped in their seats when Dea’s phone rang. She answered it quickly. “Hello?”

“Dea, it’s Marie Leveau,” came the familiar voice. “I need you to stop by my house. It’s important. I’ll send you the address.”

Dea shot me a confused look in the rearview mirror. Dre nodded her head and Dea said, “Alright, Marie. We’ll be there soon.”

“Wonderful,” Marie said and hung up.

Dea laughed and stared at her cell. “That was odd. What do you think she wants?”

Kota lifted a shoulder. “No idea, but we are going in with protection bubbles in place.” I cast an individual barrier spell and heard my sisters doing the same. Now I just needed directions.

I didn’t have to wait long for directions after that. Dea's phone pinged and she put the address into the map app on her phone and looked at us. “Here we go. It’s not far.”

I adjusted our route and noted the anticipation grew as we drove. Marie’s address led us to a stately old house, its exterior showing signs of age but still exuding an aura of mystique and power. She opened the door as we exited the vehicle.

We stuck close as we headed up the path. Marie stepped back, and we moved into her house. She gestured to a living room off to the side of the entryway. The room was filled with old tomes and mystical artifacts. The place smelled like incense, mingled with the earthy aroma of aged paper and leather-bound books.

Marie greeted us with a nod. "Thank you for coming," she said. "I wanted to provide Dea with more information before she summons my ancestors. I have been made aware of certain threats and do not want any harm to come to you or your family for helping me."

Dea stepped forward, her expression a mix of curiosity and resolve. "What do you need us to know, Marie?"

Marie gestured for us to sit. We gathered around a large, intricately carved wooden table. “The families of the Montclairs, the Dubois, and the Rousseaus have long had connections to Voodoo practitioners,” she began. “Centuries ago, they were guardians of sacred sites in the bayou and had alliances with early Voodoo queens."

Dani leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in concentration. “So, these families were once allies? What happened to change that?”

Marie sighed and her gaze went distant as she recalled the past. “Power and ambition. Over time, the balance of power shifted. Old alliances were forgotten or betrayed. The families that once were protectors of our sacred sites began to seek control for themselves. Now, rumors suggest they aim to eliminate my spiritual ancestors at the reunion to claim my family’s power.”

Dea absorbed the information, her brow furrowing in thought. "Is there a way to prevent this? To restore the balance?"

Marie nodded, reaching for a dusty, leather-bound manuscript on a nearby shelf. "There is a forgotten truce ritual that might be reinstated to quell the current unrest. This manuscript details the ritual, but it requires great care and respect to enact properly."

Dea took the manuscript, her fingers brushing over the aged parchment. "I'll study this carefully. If there's a chance to resolve this peacefully, we have to take it."

Marie’s gaze sharpened, and she leaned closer. Her voice was a low, urgent whisper. “Be wary of dealing with these families. They crave power and may not honor the truce willingly. Balance between power and respect is crucial. Do not underestimate them and always be prepared for treachery.”

"If they’ve betrayed alliances before what's to stop them from doing it again?" Dre asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Marie’s eyes darkened. "Nothing, except for the strength and unity of those who stand against them. That is why you must be vigilant and unwavering."

"We’ll be ready," Kota promised. “We know what's at stake. And we aren’t fools who will be conned by anyone .”

We left Marie's house a few minutes later with Dea’s bag filled with valuable books. I didn’t trust Marie at all. But I didn’t trust these families either. We would make sure neither was able to manipulate things to gain more power. The road back to Willowberry Plantation seemed longer with the issues on our plate. We were experts at multitasking and planning events while also solving supernatural problems. This time our event presented as another case. One as complex as any we’ve handled thus far.