Chloe’s heart beat so hard and fast, she was sure that the other tour members could hear it. It had nothing to do with the cemetery. She and Jared had taken this particular tour before, so she was familiar with the layout of the crypts and knew that Ellie would wait until almost the last stop before taking them by Antoinette Bonaventure’s grave. All the tour guides liked to save the best for last.
* * *
“What time did the tour start again?” Mina asked, looking at her phone.
Ivy smiled. “Eleven o’clock. Just like the other three times I’ve told you.”
“That seems like it was hours ago.”
“It’s been half an hour. And Chloe told us it would be toward the end of the tour. It may be another half hour or even an hour before we hear from her.”
“We have to think positive. And definitely, no news is good news at this point,” Lucy said.
“You’re right on that one.” Ivy nodded.
None of the conversations did anything to lessen Mina’s anxiety.
“You should try to get some rest,” Lucy said. “Tonight is going to be a long night and you need all of your energy.”
“If Chloe doesn’t get the dirt, there won’t be a long night,” Mina said, fear knifing through her heart. She had two options for the night. Either face another one hundred years without Sebastian or face Catherine and finally fight for what was hers.
* * *
Chloe resisted the urge to stomp her feet as the tour guide made yet another stop in front of a tomb. At this rate, it was going to be nightfall before she was able to retrieve the dirt, and she had no desire to be in the graveyard after dark. She already knew what kinds of creatures lurked in the shadows, she didn’t fancy seeing any of them up close. Especially Catherine. The protection spell Vivian had placed on her could only do so much.
“This is the vault of Archer Grayson. He was a bootlegger back in the ’20s. He was particularly fond of a woman of the evening named Josephine Jacobsen. Josey owned the Chateau Rouge, which is still in existence to this day. The parties held there made all the newspapers and gossip rags. If you were anybody, you partied at the Chateau Rouge. You can go by there, and if you’re in luck, you may meet the descendant of Josey who owns the hotel now. The story goes, one night, Archer had gone on a run for moonshine for the hotel. He was ambushed, shot, and killed. Josey was inconsolable. The parties stopped, and the brothel closed, becoming the hotel it is today.”
Chloe fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“Rumor has it that a few days after Archer was buried, a phonograph was delivered to the Chateau Rouge. It was a gift from Archer to his beloved. When it began to play by itself, she disposed of the instrument, taking it to be stored at Enchantée on Royal Street. We will talk more about that interesting place later on in the tour.”
“It’s going to be okay.” Jared lightly squeezed Chloe’s hand. “We’re going to get this done and get back to the hotel.”
“What if she leaves the tomb for last? It will be hard to linger without attracting attention.”
“Then we will figure that out.” He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it lightly. “It’s just a little graveyard robbery. What else do we have to do on a Saturday?”
Chloe laughed. “And Halloween. The rest of the Quarter is getting drunk tonight and we’re taking part in breaking a hundred-year-old curse.”
The rest of the crowd moved forward with the tour and Jarred leaned in and kissed her softly. “Do you ever think about it?”
“About what?”
“You know, becoming one of them?”
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know. Maybe one day.” She looked up at the sun that was shining brightly and casting warmth on their faces. “I don’t know if I could never see the sunshine again.”
Jared nodded. “I understand.”
“And you?”
“I would never turn without you. I couldn’t bear to never grow old, and have to watch you get older and…” He looked away for a moment, then pulled her close. “Let’s catch up with the group. We have a date with a voodoo priestess.”
Thankfully, the next stop on the tour was the tomb of Voodoo Priestess Antoinette Bonaventure. Ellie told the story of the powerful woman who had once been the most notorious voodoo queen in the French Quarter, about her curses, and how she was influential in the day to day goings on in the city.
A soft wind blew through the cemetery as the guide spoke. Chloe and several of the tourists shivered. Goosebumps popped up on her arms and she was almost frozen with fear. Was it Antoinette? Did she know what Chloe was up to? Or could it be Catherine?
As the tour guide ended her spiel, several of the tourists stopped to add their offerings to the collections of coins, dolls, and folded papers that littered the base of the crypt.
Chloe looked at Jared, who nodded and smiled encouragingly. As soon as she could, Chloe broke away from the tour.
She circled back around to Antoinette’s grave, pausing when she heard voices. She took cover behind one of the crypts and peered around it to see a film crew stationed at the grave.
“Damn, damn, damn,” she whispered to herself. What was she going to do now? There was no telling how long they would be there telling the story and history of Antoinette. She couldn’t just walk up and say, “Excuse me. Mind if I just scrape some dirt up for a minute?”
“Antoinette Bonaventure was the most powerful voodoo queen in all of Louisiana. People came from miles and miles away for her potions, spells, and advice,” the voice droned on while Chloe’s heart raced.
“Let’s get our equipment out, and see if we can catch any signs that her spirit still lingers.” There were the sounds of muffled movement as they retrieved the devices they would need.
Chloe rolled her eyes. This could take forever.
There was a buzzing noise and one of the crew exclaimed, “Do you hear that? It was a word. Can you say it again?” the guy said dramatically.
A light breeze blew again through the cemetery, and with it the smell of gardenias.
“Lucy?” the man said. “Is that your name?”
“Lucy?” the other guy said. “But this is Antoinette’s grave.”
“This is a cemetery, dumbass. There are other dead people here.”
There was another buzzing noise and the one guy said, “It’s registering something over there.”
Their voices trailed off in the search of Lucy’s ghost and Chloe bolted out from behind the crypt. She took the bag out of her pocket, and breathlessly chanted the words Vivian taught her. When finished, she scraped up some of the dirt from around the grave and scooped it into the bag. She tied it as tight as she could, and slipped it back in her pocket, as far down as it would go, for fear of it slipping out.
Turning to go, she bumped into the solid form of a huge man. He was so big, she thought of Alcide.
Panicked, she took a step back, almost stumbling over the edge of the grave. Strong hands reached out to steady her.
“Do not be afraid. I come only to make sure you are safe, and that your errand is complete. Sebastian Trudeau sends his gratitude.” The man nodded, then gestured in the direction she had come from. “The tour is ending. You will not be bothered. I will see to that.”
Chloe reached out and clutched his hand. “Thank you.”
“No, Madame. Thank you.”
Chloe reached in her pocket to make sure the bag was safe, then hurried off to rejoin Jared.
* * *
Chloe resisted the urge to bang on Mina’s door in her excitement, instead knocking lightly. She had been successful. Mina would have her dirt for the next part of her quest to break Catherine’s spell.
The door opened and she burst in, the small bag held high in her hand. “I did it!” She smiled over at the ghost sitting on the bed. “I couldn’t have done it without Lucy, though. She distracted those ghostbusters long enough for me to do what I needed to do.”
Lucy beamed. “I a
m just so happy that I could be there to help. Finally.”
Mina reached out for the bag, holding it gently in her hand. She ran her fingers over it lovingly. When she looked up, blood tears ran down her cheeks. She reached out and hugged Chloe.
“Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”
“You’re very welcome. It’s what family does.”
There was another knock at the door. Alcide stood in the doorway with Ivy. “It is time.”
Mina nodded, then turned to look at Lucy and Chloe. “Thank you again. With your help, Sebastian and I finally have a chance to be together.”
Chloe took a seat on the bed next to Lucy. “Please keep us posted.”
“We will.”
The door closed and Lucy’s cold hand patted Chloe’s. “Now, we wait.”
Chloe exhaled a breath. “And that, my friend, is harder than stealing dirt from a dead lady’s grave.”
* * *
Sebastian stepped into Black Rose Saloon, turning heads as he did. The mortals, because he was handsome and exuded such an air of power. The immortals, because Sebastian Trudeau had just stepped into their presence. As one of the oldest vampires in the town, it was always an event when he made an appearance.
The crowd parted as he made his way silently through the bar. He could hear the whispers, the questions, the reverence, but he paid it no mind. He was there for one reason and one reason only. He needed to feed.
There was a battle coming tonight, and he needed to be as strong as possible.
He took a seat at the bar, and the bartender and owner, Jennifer, was quick to approach him.
“Hi, stranger. It’s been a while. What brings you here tonight?”
“I find myself in need of a good meal.”
She cast her green eyes around the bar. “You’re in luck. We have quite the selection.”
“I see that.”
“Would you like something while you wait?”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
She quickly returned with a wineglass that she slid in front of him. She then leaned in to whisper to him, “Rumor has it that Mina Santiago has returned.”
Pain seared through his heart, but he kept his face stoic. If they were to be successful, no one could know their plans.
“I have heard that as well,” he agreed.
Jennifer raised an eyebrow, as if seeing through his façade. “Rumor also has it that Catherine Rousseau is none too pleased. In fact, I’ve seen several of her lackeys in here this week and throughout the Quarter. She’s keeping an eye out, that’s for sure.”
He had assumed as much, and hadn’t been very surprised when Lucy had been caught at the grave. There had been no words to describe the joy and relief he felt when his man had returned to tell him that Chloe had been successful. He looked down at this watch. If the evening remained on schedule, Mina would be at Enchantée at this very moment, starting the next part of their plan.
“I think it’s about time someone took that wench off her high horse,” Jennifer said. “She’s been walking around the Quarter for years acting like she’s something. We all know the only reason she’s not dead yet is that necklace she wears around her neck. I’d like to choke her with it.”
You aren’t the only one, he thought. And if everything worked out tonight, that’s exactly what was going to happen.
8
Mina’s mind filled with memories as she, Alcide, and Ivy walked into Enchantée. A hundred years ago, they had come in after Catherine’s spell. This time was different though, this time they had a plan. A real plan.
Madame Vivian stepped out from behind the beaded curtain as they came in.
“Good evening, come on in. We have much to do.” She motioned them into the back room.
Vivian pointed to the room beyond the work room, the room where Mina had died. “Go back there, child, and take your shirt off, I’ve put a top in there for you to wear while Derrick does his work.”
Mina nodded and followed the directions. She walked back into the room with a shirt on that bared her shoulder. A man had joined them, a small kit at his side.
“Come, sit, and let’s get started. Do you have the dirt?”
Mina held out the bag and Vivian took it, mixing it in a glass with a dark liquid. She murmured some words as she stirred. Steam rose from the concoction as she chanted. Mina raised an eyebrow.
“This will burn. As the potion enters your body, so will Antoinette’s power. You will feel it as it flows through you, and it will feel like your blood is getting thicker. Like molasses. You cannot feed until after you are finished with Catherine. It will dilute the potion and the power.”
Mina swallowed her fear and nodded.
“Now come have a seat and we’ll get started.”
The man snapped on black gloves and took the glass from Vivian. Closing her eyes, Mina sat in the chair and waited. Soon, there was a buzzing noise, a pain like a cat scratch, and as the ink set in, so did the heaviness, a weight like sadness.
Mina forced herself not to sway. She had to do this. For herself and for Sebastian.
* * *
Sebastian sipped the liquid from the wine glass slowly. He scanned the crowd, looking for a willing victim, or two. He needed all the strength he could get tonight.
The buzz of conversation went silent, and Sebastian turned on his barstool to see what was going on.
Selena Prosperie walked into the bar, her blonde head held high. She was a considerable force to be reckoned with, and her body radiated power. She made her way slowly through the space, a half smile across her face as if relishing the attention. Her black boots echoed through the now silent bar.
She stopped in front of him. “Sebastian Trudeau.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Selena Prosperie.”
She smiled and wrapped him in a hug. “It’s been too long, my friend.”
“Yes, it has,” he agreed. He had also distanced himself from Selena when they started planning tonight’s events. It was too vital that their plan stay absolutely secret.
She tossed her blonde hair to one side, and Sebastian swore he heard more than one man sigh.
Jennifer placed a wineglass in front of Selena with a nod. “Good evening.”
“And to you.” Selena took a sip and turned to face Sebastian. “I know what you are planning.”
He refused to let the shock register on his face, and merely whispered, “How?”
Laughing, Selena threw back her head. “How did you think I wouldn’t know? It was I who made your pretty little thing all those years ago.”
“Of course,” Sebastian said.
“I am rather hurt, though, that you decided to keep your little plan all to yourself instead of telling me.”
“I’m sorry, Selena. We thought it best if we kept it as quiet as possible.”
She nodded. “I understand. Going against Catherine is going to take every bit of strength you all have. She was powerful one hundred years ago, and she’s only worked to increase her abilities.”
“As have I,” Sebastian said.
“I’m here to help you. These mortals will never have the strength you need to defeat her. And although I am still miffed that you didn’t tell me your plans or include me, I’m willing to let you feed from me. I am the oldest vampire within miles. You won’t find blood stronger than mine. You would have to drink five or six of these mortals to match me. And then you would be too satiated to fight.”
Sebastian nodded. “Thank you, my friend.”
She batted her eyelashes, and he laughed. “Now, shall we go somewhere a little more…intimate?”
As she stood, so did he, and when he offered her his arm, she linked hers through it.
“My place or yours?” he asked.
As they walked out, Sebastian could feel every eye on them. The gossip would carry through the Quarter. As if reading his thoughts, Selena leaned in and whispered in his ear, “If you placed a kiss on me right now, it would m
ake a good show for those who may be watching.”
Sebastian nodded. He gathered her slim body in his arms and pulled her close. He looked into her eyes and smiled. He lowered his head and kissed her, putting every ounce of acting ability he had to use. He kissed her slowly, then more passionately, only drawing back when he knew their performance had had its desired effect.
“Damn, Sebastian,” Selena said, running her tongue over her lips. “If I knew you kissed like that, I would have set my cap for you a long time ago.”
He laughed and offered his arm to her once more. “Come, my queen, your chariot awaits.”
* * *
They had agreed to meet at Selena’s. Sebastian was hoping to have Mina in his arms later, and it didn’t feel right having another woman in his place, no matter how noble the reason.
Selena’s place was almost just like his, a restaurant on the bottom floor, living quarters on top. He stood outside on the balcony, watching the revelry of Halloween take place on the streets beneath him. The irony of the celebration and the fight between good and evil that would take place later was not lost on him.
He raised an eyebrow as yet another “vampire” walked past. Would they ever leave those awful capes at home? In two hundred years, he had never worn a cape, and he probably wouldn’t for another two hundred. Nor had he ever been pale.
“It’s all quite silly, isn’t it?” Selena stepped out onto the balcony with two wine glasses in hand.
“Were we ever like that?” He took a sip from the glass she’d given him. “Even in the ’20s?”
“That was a whole other time.”
He thought of the parties at the Chateau Rouge and Mina and his heart constricted.
“I assume you’re planning on meeting closer to the witching hour?”
He looked at the time. “Yes, but that’s still three hours away.” The witching hour was three a.m. The time when magic was at its most powerful.
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