Inside the Garden District, our car came to a stop outside a Gothic two-story house. With its arched windows and ivy-covered balconies, it reminded me of an estate in Italy I had stayed in. The estate had belonged to the Striga, a Romany coven that Dragos was tied to. The three of us stayed and indulged with them for a while. There were nights I thought the blood and wine would flow forever.
The driver set our luggage on the curb with trembling hands. As he tossed me the keys to the house, a crescent moon necklace peered out from under his shirt. A symbol only Witches wore. They also had heightened senses. He knew exactly what we were.
On guard, we approached the house. Over the years, I had learned to be cautious everywhere I went. There were things made from nightmares that could be lurking in the shadows. Creatures, deadlier than us, waiting to pounce and drag you away without a sound. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
Stepping inside, my fears vanished. The house was magnificent. Crown molding framed the ceilings, ornate and detailed with bronze etchings of fleurs-de-lis. The floors were handcrafted with repurposed wood. Light and dark swirls of walnut, maple, and oak filled the cracks.
On my right, a curved staircase sprawled up toward the second floor. Stately, with its mahogany steps and iron railing. To the left, a small parlor room housed a cream-colored couch and marble fireplace. A large painting hung above it.
All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. What an odd choice of artwork. It was a portrait of Lamia, draped in the skin of a snake. Known for kidnapping human infants and drinking their blood, Witches called her the “mother of Dhampirs.” Some also called her Lilith. To me, it was just an old wives’ tale. Most Dhampirs, including myself, believed that we were created by the gods. Molded by Apollo himself.
Valentina lit a fire in the hearth. The flames contorted the painting of Lamia’s face even more. I shuddered but could not look away.
Valentina followed my gaze. “Who did you rent this house from?”
I shrugged. “An agency. The owner wanted to remain anonymous.”
She shivered. “Creepy. Should we be worried?”
I shook my head, shrugging off the feeling of dread. “Not yet, but keep your eyes open.”
I sank into the couch, head pounding. My thirst gnawed at me, but blood wasn’t the only thing we drank. I pulled a bottle of bourbon out of my bag and took a swig. It slid down my throat, warm and peppery.
Valentina raised the bottle over her head. “Let us celebrate our arrival. May the gods guide us and strike down those who dare to stand in our way.”
Morning came faster than I’d expected. Sunlight poured in while we explored the rest of the house. Upstairs, there were three lavish bedrooms. Small, but luxurious. Furnished with four-poster beds, antique dressers, and crystal chandeliers. Tapestries of rich colors splashed throughout each room. Purple and red fabrics made of silk and velvet adorned all the beds.
Downstairs, the basement was stocked with wine and bourbon. How hospitable. I tore open one of my blood bags instead. “We should head into the Quarter today. See if we can find anything out about the Wolf and Crescent.”
Valentina nodded in agreement, slurping her blood bag with a straw. “I doubt they’ll tell us anything. The Witches don’t like our kind. Never have.”
I threw up my hands. “I’ve never understood that. We come from the same source. The same gods.”
Valentina shrugged. “They have their own ideas about us. Their own stories.”
It saddened me to think of the divide between our races. The Consilium forcing them to link to us only added to their hatred. Unfortunately for them, my patience was running out. “Let’s hope they don’t make us prove them right.”
Valentina smirked. “Let’s go.”
This city was unlike any other. There were those who embraced the supernatural, and those who despised it. Witches ran the streets and Dhampirs were not welcome. They were jealous of us. We had no weaknesses. Created by the sun god Apollo, we could walk in the daylight. That terrified them because they could not control us.
Walking through the Quarter, the weight of their suspicious stares tickled the back of my neck. They slithered into corners and shadows to avoid our gaze.
Valentina fumed. “How dare they look at us with such contempt. We should remind them just how low they are on the food chain.” Her cheeks flushed bright pink.
I placed a steady hand on her shoulder. “Val, we have to be smart about this. Our fight is with the Consilium, not the Witches. Just be patient. One of them will lead us to Josephine.”
Valentina snapped, “Fine, let’s go lurk in the shadows then.”
I let out a deep breath, muffling my curses. “Don’t be upset. They don’t know any better.”
She bit her lip and looked away. “Don’t worry, I’ll behave. I know what’s at stake.”
We both did. Our existence depended on it. Valentina had a short fuse, but I’d come to trust her with my life.
“We wait for nightfall, and then we track them.”
Hours passed into darkness while we waited. Valentina was not convinced that this would work, but it had to. There were no other options.
It was almost dawn when I spotted them. A young group of Witches with…human companions. The scent of their blood hit my nose, rich and decadent like chocolate. A drug I hadn’t tasted in years. Not like this. Fresh and straight from the vein. My body ached.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The human blood was laced with magic. It was a different kind of craving. Mouthwatering. Intoxicating. Stop, you can control this. Another deep breath. Hints of honey and whiskey tickled my senses. I dug my fingernails into the palm of my hand, drawing blood.
My shoulders released as the tension left my body. I glanced over at Valentina. She was frozen in place. Her eyes changed to a shade that matched her hair.
“Remember to breathe, Val.”
When Dhampirs became emotional, whether from blood or battle, our eyes changed colors to reflect our shadow self. Mine would shade to black. Valentina’s always turned blood red.
Her chest heaved up and down before settling into a slower pace. Her eyes blinked, shifting back to brown. She nodded. “I’m okay. C’mon, they’re on the move.”
The group of Witches and humans stumbled past us, drunk and oblivious to our presence. They were heading toward the bayou. Of course.
Witches preferred to be surrounded by nature. Their magic was stronger there. The bayou was well outside the city limits. It was the perfect place to hide a coven.
We kept a safe distance, following them through the lush, Louisiana swampland. Not that it mattered. They were so drunk, they wouldn’t have noticed if we landed on top of them. The group cackled, and zig-zagged through the marsh in booze-filled delirium.
Thirty minutes had passed when I noticed a light up ahead. Moving closer, a large plantation house came into view. Music and voices poured out of it. Flirtatious banter. Laughter. Seductive whispers.
A clear path emerged, lined with torches. The flames flickered and danced under the moonlight, illuminating their flesh like fireflies. A banner hung over the entry with just two symbols. A crescent moon and the head of a wolf.
So, the stories were true. I had heard tales of Witches luring humans into their parties for amusement. They would cast enchantments and feed them love potions. Showing them the time of their lives, only to leave them dizzy and heart broken by morning. To think, they thought we were the cruel ones. We drank blood for survival, not sport. Well, most of us, anyway.
I lowered my voice. “Let’s sneak in on the back of that group. Just act drunk and try to blend in.”
Valentina chuckled. “Shouldn’t I be saying that to you? You haven’t let loose since—”
I snatched her arm. “Don’t.” I didn’t want to think about those days right now.
She looked away. “Sorry. Forget I mentioned it.”
I nodded and moved ahead of her. The group stumbled inside, g
iggling and groping each other.
I paused in the doorway as a prickling sensation spread through me. Something dark hovered above the entrance. I looked up. There was a couple perched on the balcony, draped around each other. He nuzzled her neck as she moaned and cried out. I drew in a sharp breath. He was looking right at me. A chill ran down my spine. His eyes glowed bright red.
Valentina grabbed my arm. “What’s wrong?”
My heart raced. “It’s nothing. I just thought I saw…” A Witch with blood lust in his eyes.
Her eyes darted around in a panic. “What?”
I glanced up again. He was gone. My hands trembled. “Nothing. Never mind. Let’s get inside.”
Inching toward the door, we brushed past another group of Witches, too distracted to notice us. They doted on their human playthings, slipping oyster pearls into their drinks. A powerful aphrodisiac that caused fits of wild nymphomania. My stomach turned. The Wolf and Crescent was a den of thieves and miscreants.
I stepped in and scanned the room. Witches from covens from all over the world lazed about. Not all of them were as distracted. Within seconds came the whispers. All eyes were on us.
Valentina snickered as I pulled her to the bar. Behind it stood a tall, lanky girl with silver hair and a long beak. A Harpy Witch, half girl, half bird. She looked us up and down, contorting her face in disgust.
“We don’t have any blood infusions on the menu here.” Her voice was as sharp as the beak on her face.
Valentina leaned casually over the bar. “I guess we’ll just have to drink from your throat then.”
The Harpy stiffened and glanced around the room.
Valentina chuckled. “What’s the matter little bird? Did I ruffle your feathers?”
Valentina had always been quick to provoke. In 1614, she had a fling with the princess of Sweden. Convinced it was true love, the princess let Valentina drink from her. Over time, Valentina lost interest and left the poor girl devastated. Due to her irrational behavior, her family believed her to be under some sort of spell, triggering one of the biggest Witch hunts in history. All the women they executed were human and possessed no magic.
The back of my neck tingled. Footsteps quickened behind us. The Witches were closing in. It was time for a different approach. I whipped around.
“Well, now that we have your attention. Which one of you wants to tell us what the Consilium has been up to?”
No one moved a muscle.
I raised my voice louder. “Anyone? Do you even know? You do seem to be preoccupied with other…distractions.” My eyes rested on a table of humans, their eyes glazed over from some sort of toxin.
Valentina stepped forward and planted her feet hard, shaking the ground. More Witches emerged from every corner, shrieking and hissing at us.
The male Witch from the balcony came forward. His icy smile sent shivers down my back. I searched his eyes. No trace of the bloodlust I saw earlier. They were just…empty. He moved closer, inches away from my face. Valentina clenched her fists.
I wrapped my hands around the daggers stashed on each side of my waist. “We didn’t come here to fight, but we will if we have to.”
He raised his hands. “Oh, I think that’s exactly why you came here.” The other Witches scurried behind him.
Crouching beside me, Valentina’s eyes shifted blood red. Her lips snarled back, baring her fangs. Daggers out, I took a deep breath and braced myself.
“That won’t be necessary. Samuel, that’s enough.”
Everyone came to a halt. All eyes turned toward the woman at the top of the stairs. They bowed their heads as she made her way down. Josephine. She was striking, with dark eyes and almond skin. The male Witch, the one she called Samuel, looked just like her.
“You’ll have to excuse my son. He is not accustomed to uninvited guests. You are brave to come here. What brings you here today, Gray?” She sauntered through the room while the other Witches scrambled to get out of her way.
My heart was thumping out of my chest. How did she know my name? “As I said, we did not come here for a fight. We need information. Lucien said you might be able to help us.”
Josephine cocked her head to the side. “Lucien? How nice of him to appoint me.”
Valentina huffed. “Look, he said you might know something about the new Dhampir activity in the city. Is it the Consilium?”
Josephine’s eyes widened. “Not exactly. You must be Valentina. The creature with the blood eyes.”
Valentina winced, then stiffened.
My impatience was building and turning to rage. I snapped, “Don’t change the subject. You need to decide which side you’re on. I’m going after the Consilium. One by one, I will take them down. Either help us or stay out of our way. But make no mistake, they are coming for us all.”
Josephine’s eyes fluttered and rolled back into her head. With hands trembling she fumbled for the railing. The Witches gasped. Her head twisted up toward the ceiling. My skin prickled. She was an Oracle.
“What do you see?” Sweat dripped down my brow.
Breathless, her eyes snapped forward. “Come. You will get the answers you seek.”
Valentina and I exchanged a puzzled look. We followed Josephine up the stairs and down a muted hallway. Samuel trailed close behind.
She ushered us through a heavy door, closing it behind us and in Samuel’s face. I shuddered. His sinister gaze left an imprint that seemed to etch itself into the wood.
Josephine’s study was well lit, with candles and a fire blazing in the hearth. A white wolf slept in front of it. I froze. He perked his head up and let out a low growl. With just a flick from Josephine’s hand, the wolf put his head back down and closed his eyes.
Josephine placed her hand on the door. “Dissumlare.” To conceal. A spell that sealed sound. She smiled sweetly. “For privacy.”
There was one thing that was still nagging me. “How do you know my name?”
Josephine sat down next to the wolf and gazed into the fire. “From Jane. She’s an old friend. I saw you in her vision. I’ve always kept her secrets, and you my dear, are her biggest one.”
A bead of sweat dripped down my back. I couldn’t remember the last time I had heard her name spoken out loud. A bitter taste filled my mouth. “I’m surprised that she has not burned all her bridges.”
Josephine’s eyes darkened. “Your mother is the greatest Witch I’ve ever known. She had her reasons for joining the Consilium. You’ll understand someday.”
The bile was rising in my throat. “She stopped being my mother the moment she ended my human life. Do not refer to her as such.”
Josephine nodded. “Forgive me. It’s not my business. I am curious as to how you broke Pythia’s spell, though. Ligaveris is from the Sang Magi spell book. None of my Witches would have been able to break it. Yet, here you are. Wide awake.”
If only I could answer that. I looked over at Valentina. She was fixated on the white wolf. “We don’t know. Val said I just…snapped out of it.”
Josephine bit her lip. “I see. Well, I guess anything is possible.”
A gnawing ache formed in the pit of my stomach. Valentina was keeping something from me. I could feel it. Josephine didn’t look convinced either. All our unspoken secrets hung over us like a dark cloud. They were the breathings of madness and despair. They threatened to pull apart our very existence, and yet I understood why we kept them.
Josephine cleared her throat. “I also understand that you were betrayed by Dragos. You must be heartbroken.”
My cheeks burned hot.
Valentina snapped, “We didn’t come here to talk about my brother. He’s also none of your business.”
Josephine bowed her head. “My apologies.”
I wanted to slap her for her insolence, but I needed information. “What’s the unsanctioned activity going on in the city?”
Something flickered in Josephine’s eyes. “Some of my Witches have spotted Elemi Bannister slipping in and ou
t of the Quarter. She has always passed through here from time to time, but in the last few weeks, it has become more frequent.”
My pulse quickened. I hadn’t heard the name Bannister in a very long time. “Just Elemi? What about her brother, Nicholas?” Another name that made my blood curdle.
“So far, there has been no sign of Nicholas. Believe me, I would be the first to know if that monster stepped one foot inside my city.” Josephine’s eyes narrowed down at the flames.
A chill crawled up my back. “Do you know why she’s here?”
Josephine nodded, a smirk forming on her lips. “To protect her bloodline, of course. Her human bloodline.”
My stomach dropped. Magic was inherited through blood. Once it was awakened, the Witch would become immortal. Elemi was also a Dhampir, and like Jane, a linked Witch. There shouldn’t be any humans left in their bloodline. “How is that possible?”
Josephine shook her head. “He’s off the books. The Consilium doesn’t know he exists either. Elemi keeps him cloaked at all times. They would kill her if they ever found out.”
My lungs tightened, shortening my breath. A human descendant? The Bannisters became immortal centuries ago. Elemi must have been protecting this bloodline since the beginning.
Throwing one more glance at the wolf, Valentina pulled me toward the door. “Let’s go, Gray. We got what we came for.” She was still seething at Josephine for bringing up Dragos.
I paused at the door. “I assume we’ll have safe passage out of here?”
Josephine nodded. “Be careful, Gray. The path you’re on is a treacherous one. If you stand in their way, they will kill you too.”
I erupted. “They should have taken their shot when they had the chance.”
Josephine looked deep into my eyes and shivered. And for the first time all night, she was afraid of me.
Three
Witchcraft was as old as the existence of the Dhampirs. Blood magic was even older.
My mother, Jane, never referred to herself as a Witch. She called herself a healer. I knew this was only to protect herself from persecution. She was a good Witch. At least, I used to think so.
Blood and Magic (Blood and Darkness Book 1) Page 2
