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

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

DAHLIA

W e were just about to head back out to the swamp when my phone rang. The timing couldn’t have been worse, but I answered it because it was coming from the council building. I wondered if one of the hotline workers grabbed the wrong phone. My gut knotted as I prayed they weren’t calling for another death.

“Hello, this is the Twisted Sisters. What can we help you with?” I answered on speaker.

“This is Dr. Grey, the new coroner,” a brisk voice said on the other end. “I need you and your sisters to come down to the office immediately.”

“Is something wrong?” I asked, glancing at Dre, who was already grabbing the bags we’d taken to carrying around.

“There’s something you need to see. Now.” And with that, she hung up.

I stared at my phone for a moment, processing the abruptness of the call. “Apparently, we’re needed at the coroner’s office,” I announced to the group.

“That was incredibly odd,” Kota observed as we headed for the backdoor.

“I would have liked a few more details. I hate going into situations blind.” I shrugged, feeling a bit thrown off by the curt exchange.

Phi raised an eyebrow. “She’s got to be trustworthy since Terence brought her here, right?”

“I’d say so,” I replied, pocketing my phone. “I guess the swamp can wait a bit longer.”

Dani nodded and climbed into the backseat. “Alright, let’s see what’s so urgent.”

We piled into the car, the atmosphere tense with unspoken questions. As we drove, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever awaited us at the coroner’s office was important, maybe even critical. We waved to the hotline workers as we headed upstairs.

The door to the new coroner’s office was open. And rather than the air freshener we had flowing throughout the building, it was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic. It was odd to enter the space. It was like stepping into another world. One where death was examined under fluorescent lights rather than mourned in the shadows. Although, there were no fluorescent lights here. Dani wouldn’t dream of installing those. Instead, we’d installed stylish new light fixtures with regular bulbs.

Our footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor. The room had previously been empty. It now had a few basic items the coroner needed. There was a body on one of the two newly installed stainless-steel tables. I don’t know why I was so surprised to see them. The medical instruments laid out with meticulous precision were just as shocking. However, the various charts and magical artifacts affixed to the walls and on shelves weren’t. I had come to expect the mystical.

Shaking those thoughts aside, I considered how this location wasn’t going to work well. We needed to add sinks so the coroner could wash up. We would also need an elevator in the building for easy access. And we’d have to install a wall of fridges to store bodies until they were claimed.

My mind went blank when the doctor looked up from her work. She was tall, with strikingly pale skin and long, silvery hair that shimmered under the light. Her eyes were an unusual shade of green. They were luminescent and gave her an otherworldly appearance. Her white lab coat contrasted sharply with the dark, intricate tattoos that peeked out from the cuffs of her sleeves. I recognized some of them from working with Temperence. They symbolized she had a necromantic lineage.

“Good to see you all,” she greeted us with a nod. “I’m Dr. Alexandra Grey.” She followed my gaze and said, “I’m a necromancer and pathologist. I’ve been working in this field for longer than I can recall. Mostly in Europe, but I’ve come to New Orleans to assist with the increasing supernatural activity here.”

We introduced ourselves, exchanging brief pleasantries. The gravity of the situation quickly pulled us back to the matter at hand. Dr. Grey gestured for us to follow her to the examination table, where the newest victim lay under a white sheet.

“I just finished the autopsy,” she began, her voice steady and professional. “This victim is one of the Montclairs.”

A collective gasp echoed through the room, the implications hitting us all at once. Dre was the first to voice what we were all thinking. “This means they’re behind Garrick’s actions, doesn’t it? They’ve been pulling the strings all along.”

Dr. Grey arched an eyebrow. “It’s a strong possibility. What I wanted you to see is that the wounds on the body aren’t all new. They’re both dark magic and physical trauma which is slightly consistent with the patterns Terrence described from other attacks. However, there are new and old injuries which isn’t. Some of the symbols were carved over a week ago. And then there is a particular residue that matches what you’ve found at previous scenes.”

Dea looked troubled, her brows furrowing. “But why would they target one of their own? What’s the angle here?”

I leaned in, trying to piece it together. “Maybe this was a punishment or a warning. Internal conflict, perhaps? It could be a power struggle within the family.”

Kota grimaced and added, “Or it could be an attempt to throw us off their scent. Make us think they’re victims too.”

Dr. Grey folded her arms, and her expression turned thoughtful. “Whatever the reason, it’s clear the Montclairs are deeply involved in this. The evidence is pointing more and more towards them orchestrating these events. I’ve asked if the previous victims are available for me to examine. It will help me understand better than word of mouth alone.”

Dre’s eyes narrowed with determination. “We need to go to the Montclair estate and see what we can learn. If they’re behind this, we need to confront them and get to the bottom of it.”

As the conversation shifted to practicalities, my mind went back to the limitations of the makeshift lab. “Dr. Grey,” I began, “we are beyond glad to have you here, but I can see you’re working with less-than-ideal conditions. Would it help if we built you a proper lab? Somewhere you could work more effectively?”

Dr. Grey's eyes widened slightly and a flicker of surprise crossed her features. “That would be incredibly helpful. The nature of my work requires specific tools and environments that this room simply can't provide. ”

Dani nodded and spun in a circle. “Consider it done. We'll talk to the council and make sure you get everything you need. Why don't you look around the building and see which rooms would work best for you? Keeping your office here is best for all involved, so that is the one limitation we will need to work with.”

“I’m confident there will be spaces we can use here,” Dr. Grey replied, genuine gratitude in her voice. “Having a fully equipped lab would significantly enhance my ability to assist in investigations. There are certain analyses and rituals that I’ve been unable to perform here.”

“We'll start on it right away,” Dre assured her. “In the meantime, keep us updated on anything you find. Every detail could be crucial.”

We left and headed out. The Montclairs were playing a dangerous game, and we were stepping right into the lion’s den. Not a comforting thought. Especially in the middle of the night. Thankfully, I had my sisters at my side. We weren’t exactly graceful, but we were effective.

The drive wasn’t far to the Montclair’s estate. Like many of the rich in the city, they had a home in the Garden District where there were grand old houses lining the streets. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine and the distant hum of city life. I parked down the road and we moved quietly through the shadows. Our footsteps were barely audible on the cobblestone walkways. My heart hammered in my chest as we got closer.

“ There’s major magical protection around the property, " Adèle advised us. “ You will be able to cross the wards, but be cautious. ”

“I can feel it,” Kota said, pointing to a sprawling mansion with ivy-covered walls and wrought iron gates. The house was a testament to old New Orleans elegance, its facade both imposing and beautiful.

Phi scanned the perimeter. “It would be better to find a way in without triggering the alarms. I’d like to take them by surprise.”

“ There’s a weak spot in the wards near the side gate, ” Adèle said after a few seconds as we tried to come up with a solution. “ Use one of your unique layered invisibility spells then move quickly and quietly .” She was referring to how we used Fae rune magic and added it to our witchcraft. Fiona, Violet, and Aislinn first introduced us to the idea of combining the power. We’d been experimenting with it ever since.

After casting the spell, we approached the side gate. We stuck to the shadows, making me feel like a cat burglar. I held my breath as I felt the buzz of the wards. “Here,” I said softly, pointing to a spot where the shimmer was faintest. “We enter here.”

With careful precision, we slipped through the gap. The wards were a cold breeze when they brushed against us. Once inside, we stuck close to the house, moving silently along the walls. The mansion loomed above us. The windows were dark and foreboding.

“Let’s find a way inside,” Dre murmured, her eyes scanning the building for an entry point.

I wanted to ask why we were sneaking inside instead of calling them to the carpet, but kept my mouth shut. They might very well attack us if we walked up to the door. We circled around to the back of the house, where a set of French doors led to a dimly lit parlor. The doors were locked, but a quick spell from Dea took care of that. The lock clicked open, and we slipped inside. Dre closed the panel silently behind us.

The parlor was filled with antique furniture and heavy drapes that muffled the outside sounds. It smelled heavily of old books and polished wood. I cast a silencing spell so our footsteps wouldn’t be heard. We moved through the house with our senses alert for any signs of the family stirring .

“ There ,” Adèle told us. “ Behind the bookshelf .” Her voice seemed loud in my head given how we’d been whispering.

We approached the massive piece of furniture. It looked like it hadn’t been moved in decades. With a nod to Dre, we cast another spell to mask the noise and then pushed it aside. Given the old house, I wasn’t surprised to see a narrow, hidden passageway. The air inside was cooler and carried the faint scent of damp earth and old magic.

“This looks promising,” Dani whispered, stepping into the passage. “Let’s see where it leads.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Phi hissed. “We broke into the house of some evil assholes that killed a family member.”

Dre sighed. “We have to look. We’ve come this far.”

Nodding in agreement, we followed the winding corridor silently. The walls were lined with symbols that glowed faintly. They also made my skin prickle and turned my stomach. “Look at these symbols,” Dre observed in a quiet voice. “They’re protective wards, but they’re also meant to obscure. Whoever set this up didn’t want anyone finding their secrets.”

“ Thankfully, you have me ,” Adèle replied. “ You need to push against the latter without allowing your magic to touch it. That will alert the Montclairs. ”

We did as Adèle instructed until the passage opened up into a hidden chamber. The room was filled with ancient artifacts, bookshelves lined with dusty tomes, and a large, ornate chest in the center. “Jackpot,” Dani said, her eyes lighting up. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

“ Look inside that chest ," Adèle advised. “ Check for traps first .”

“Do we disarm them?” I clarified.

“ Find the holes and go around them. You won’t set them off if you do that ,” Adèle explained.

Dre nodded and knelt by the chest, her hands moving over the surface as she muttered an incantation. She worked for several seconds until a soft click echoed in the room. She stood up, smiling. “All clear.”

We opened the chest to find a collection of scrolls and ritual objects, each pulsing with dark energy. The scrolls detailed various spells and rituals, many of which were specific to the Montclairs' dark practices.

“Look at this,” Phi said, holding up one of the scrolls. “This sure seems damning. Not exactly the proof we need but not great for them, either.”

“Take it. We need to get out of here,” I hissed in a low voice. Just as we were about to leave, we heard a faint rustling from the entrance of the passageway. My heart raced as I turned to see a shadow dart across the corridor. “Did you see that?” I whispered.

Dani nodded, her eyes narrowing. “We can’t stick around any longer.”

My heart tried to pound its way out of my chest as we made our way back through the passage. The house grew darker and the air was thicker with a sense of impending danger when we exited into the parlor. “ Stay close together ,” Adèle warned. “ There’s something else here. ”

We moved swiftly through the house, clutching our findings. Just as we reached the side door, a chill ran down my spine. I turned to see a figure standing in the shadows. It was difficult to make out any details, but the malevolent energy radiating from it was unmistakable. It was different from Garrick, but no less threatening.

“Go!” I urged my sisters. “I’ll hold him off.”

Dre grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the exit. “No way. We do this together.”

As we burst out into the open air, the oppressive feeling lifted slightly. We hurried through the garden without looking back. My skin prickled, and I threw up a protective barrier right as a spell hit it. Dre and I were at the rear, watching the others race through the side gate.

“Come on,” Dre told me. “Keep going,” she shouted to the others.

I nodded and threw a magical bomb behind me to slow whoever was chasing us. Dre added one of her own. The feel of something crawling up my spine made me yank Dre down right before something dark flew over our heads. We countered it together and jumped through the gate in the fence.

On the sidewalk, we poured on the speed and ran like our lives depended on it. Dre had partially shifted and had scales covering her skin. That was smart. I was mid-shift when I felt the spell coming at us. My side caught fire when it hit me. Thankfully, the scales took the brunt. Phi was behind the wheel of my car already and she took off the second Dre and I threw ourselves into the backseat.

“Go!” Dre shouted.

“That was close,” Phi said when she turned onto the highway. “Too close.”

“But we got what we came for,” Dani replied, holding up the scrolls. “This will expose the Montclairs and their dark activities. We don’t need to connect them to the murders in the bayou.”

“ You did well. This information will prove to the council what Marie has claimed. ” Adèle’s voice held approval.

A thought occurred to me. “We aren’t taking that onto Willowberry property. I think it’s the real Trojan Horse. We can have Kaveh meet us across the road and he can take it to the council building where it can’t cause problems.”

Dre tilted her head and nudged my shoulder. “I hadn’t even considered that. Now that you mention it, I feel something underlying the magic.”

Kota sucked in a breath and turned in the passenger seat. “ It would explain why it feels so nasty. They juiced it up so we wouldn’t know. This was all a set up.”

“They killed that girl to get us to infiltrate their home,” Dea said with disgust.

That truth settled like an elephant in the car and we drove in silence. Dre texted Kaveh and explained the situation. He was waiting on the side of the road a half a mile from the plantation. He was taking extra care not to let it get close. Phi pulled up beside him and Dani handed it out through the window. “Thanks for taking care of this,” she told the djinn leader.

Kaveh inclined his head. “I’m just glad you caught on before shit exploded at the reunion. We’re prepared when you need us.”

“Thanks,” we all called out. He saluted us and vanished. The car felt a ton lighter the second the scroll was out of our hands. The rest of the drive was quiet. Steve, Lucas, and Noah met us in the parking lot. I pressed a kiss to Lucas’s lips and we told them what had happened as we walked to the main house.

The moonlight filtered through the tall windows of our parlor and cast a silvery glow over the worn wooden floor and antique furniture. We collapsed onto the couches and chairs. “I knew they were up to something,” Dre said as she laid her head on Steve’s shoulder. “The question is how this applies to the deaths that are to come. Did we thwart those plans by giving Kaveh the scroll?”

Dea grabbed one of the books we had left on the side table. “I could ask him for a picture to be sure, but I recognized some of the symbols. They’re meant to siphon power from spirits and manipulate the energies.”

Phi leaned forward and traced over one of the runes on the page. “That fits with its purpose. Right now, we need to understand exactly how this ties into the deaths in the swamp. As Dre has said from the beginning, it feels connected.”

Kota crossed her arms, her expression grim. “Their plan is already in motion. And we haven’t found anything yet.”

“ You need to prepare for a confrontation and gather your allies ,” Adèle said as she jumped onto the couch next to Dea. “ That way, you’re ready for anything before heading back to the swamp. ”

Dani sat forward and clasped her hands between her knees. She looked exhausted. “Who should we call on? We need people we can trust, who can handle themselves in a fight.”

Lucas gave her a look. “My shifters are ready and know the swamp better than anyone. Plus, they have a stake in this. Garrick’s attacks on you guys affect them too.”

“We should call Kaitlyn,” Dre added. “Her knowledge of ancient magic could be invaluable. We need her expertise to counter whatever the Montclairs are planning.”

Phi nodded. “Agreed. We should also contact Cyran and the council. They need to be aware of what’s happening. They might be able to impede Montclairs. If they can’t leave their house, they can’t kill anyone, right?”

“It’s not going to be that easy, but they can make things harder for all of the families. We shouldn’t forget about the others.” Kota stood up and grabbed a fluffy blanket off the rack. “I’ll start sending messages. We don’t have any time to waste.” She pulled out her cell and her fingers were flying over the screen.

We spent the next few hours strategizing, reaching out to our allies, and preparing for the coming battle. The atmosphere in Willowberry was tense but filled with a sense of purpose as one by one, our allies began to arrive. Kaitlyn and her coven were the first to join us, their presence immediately filling the room with a palpable sense of power. Kaitlyn, with her auburn hair and piercing green eyes, radiated authority as she stepped forward to greet us.

“Thank you for coming, Kaitlyn,” I said, meeting her gaze. “We need your expertise now more than ever.”

She nodded and gave me a small smile. “We’re ready to help in any way we can. We don’t want any more lives lost.”

Next to arrive were Cyran and Talindra. They greeted us with hugs. Kaveh appeared behind us, making Dea jump. Finally, Xinar arrived, the UIS agent brought a sense of authority and structure with him.

“This is a formidable gathering,” Xinar said, his voice low and commanding. “Let’s make sure we use it to our advantage.”

Adèle, as always, coordinated the efforts telepathically. Her voice in our minds was a soothing, guiding presence. “ We need to focus on our strengths and create a unified front. Let’s share what we know .”

I took a deep breath and began. “We’ve confirmed that the Montclairs are using dark magic. Kaveh has proof that they have the magic set up to siphon power from spirits and manipulate energies. We don’t know exactly how this ties into the deaths in the swamp. But we received information suggesting more will die and the families will ultimately win.”

Dre leaned forward, her eyes intense. “Garrick is powerful, and the Montclairs are determined. They’ll stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Not to mention that they are way ahead of us. It’s like they have a seer that told them what to anticipate.”

Kaitlyn nodded thoughtfully. “We can provide counter-spells and defensive magic to protect against the Dark magic. But we’ll need to know exactly what we’re up against.”

Cyran added, “Our light magic can also help disrupt their dark energies. We’ve faced similar threats before, and we know how to handle them.”

Kaveh spoke up next. “We’ll need to coordinate our efforts closely. Every move we make must be strategic. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

Xinar’s gaze was steady as he said, “I’ll handle the logistics and ensure our defenses are impenetrable. Where will you need us? Here?”

I shared a look with Dre and shook my head. “The reunion isn’t for a few days. The murders will occur in the swamp. That’s where we need to go. And if we’re lucky, we will find Garrick’s home base and stop him.”