Chapter 5

Dahlia

"Are we really hunting zombies right now?" I asked as I wiped sweat off the back of my neck. I grimaced when the oppressive humidity made it impossible to cool down. This weather made the stench of decay in the city I loved almost tangible.

Dre's gaze scanned our surroundings as we moved through the streets. We would look like tourists if we weren't moving like our asses were on fire. "This development shouldn't surprise us. Marie has to be behind this, not matter how much she denied it."

Kota snorted and rolled her eyes. "She was smart to call us instead of her mambo. We'd have been on her doorstep otherwise.

"That magical storm stirred up every tiny piece of buried magic in this damn city. And no matter her denials, Marie is behind this because of that," Dani insisted. "Shouldn't Tempe be here?" She paused in the alley near Jackson Square and searched the few tourists out at that time of night for the necromancer. I was alive thanks to Temperence. She'd saved me when I was attacked by a Skinwalker months ago.

"I'm here," Tempe called out and waved at us from the other end of the short alley. "Come this way, quick. They"re over here."

The six of us ran her way, and it wasn't long before I heard the moans of the undead echoing through the narrow streets of the French Quarter. New Orleans was a city that never really slept and the sound of the zombies mingled with the distant strains of jazz music, laughter, and conversation. The latter now seemed hauntingly out of place.

Above us, the night sky was veiled by ominous clouds swirling with an unnatural darkness. Was that part of the curse, too? Or was I just exaggerating things, given our current case?

Bile filled my throat and I choked out, "How are the mundies ignoring this? Their decaying flesh is hanging from their bones which are visible!" I pointed to the group that was shuffling aimlessly through a fog that clung to the cobblestone streets like a spectral shroud. Now that, I wasn't imagining.

Kota shivered and conjured a bat with spikes on the end. It was something I recalled from one of the many zombie movies we'd seen. "Their eyes are hollow and devoid of life. And they're filled with a hunger for brains," Kota said as she swung her weapon through the air.

Phi used her ability to freeze objects to fend off the advancing horde. "The magical resonance here is like a jumbled mess of twisted melodies," she observed. Her words confused the hell out of me. I got some of it because I felt the power around us. It felt like a ball of yarn tangled so badly you couldn't find the end to unravel it.

Dea"s eyes misted with compassion as she approached one of the undead. Her hand hovering above its rotting visage. "These individuals died over the past year, but they're trapped in a loop of torment that feels centuries old," she murmured. "Are they related to the well's curse after all?" she asked Temperence who was moving her hands in an intricate dance.

Temperence was a necromancer with a reputation for mastering the forces of death. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned spectral energies that danced around her like ethereal flames. "It's definitely not Marie. I know we doubted it, but her power is not behind their animation. And Dea is right, these poor souls are trapped in a state of torment. It"s time to set them free."

Dre watched the two mundies who passed us like a hawk. "This is not on the sightseeing tour tonight," she quipped. "I can't get the videos, so hopefully, it won't be too obvious how real these things are."

"We really need to create a memory dust we can use on mundies," Kota replied. "That would give us less to worry about. Anything on the internet is easily explained as computer generated. But seeing something like this in person is harder to ignore."

I nodded and jumped to block the view of the frozen zombies from a mundie couple that turned the corner. Thankfully they were so drunk that they stumbled their way back to their hotel room without paying any attention to us. "That's a brilliant idea," I said with a sigh. "We could sell it to supernaturals all over and give them peace of mind. Most don't want to risk going to vampires and asking for help when something happens."

"You can release them, Phi. They'll follow my command," Tempe said. She waved her hand and unleashed her necromantic powers. They followed her command and began shuffling down the street in a group. Their movements were slow and lumbering.

As the undead retreated, the air lightened. The oppressive weight of their presence dissipated like morning mist beneath the sun. We followed her in silence, watching as Temperence"s magic worked on the dead.

Dea's sudden laughter startled me. I glanced around in confusion until I saw the three young men walking our way. It was hard to tell if they were intoxicated, too, but I hoped so.

"You really nailed the zombie look and walk," Dea told Tempe. "Your tour groups are going to love it."

Playing along, Tempe smiled and waved her hands theatrically. "I'm not sure we're going to go ahead with this plan."

"I'd pay to take your tour. You guys look legit," one of the guy's said.

"Me too," replied another. "Hell, I just paid a couple hundred dollars for the three of us to take a crime tour or something. It was cool, but this is unlike anything else anywhere."

Tempe laughed and made two of the zombies bow. "That's good to know. We will take this into consideration. This makeup takes a long time. I could do a tour with one zombie along the way, although that wouldn't be the same as a small horde like this. Thanks for letting us know you'd enjoy this." Several of the zombies nodded as if they agreed.

The guys continued and started talking about how much money she could make with the zombies. Tempe shook her head and directed the zombies to the shadows of the buildings where they wouldn't be as noticeable. "It's a damn good thing we live in a city where the supernatural is expected," she remarked.

I clapped her on the shoulder. "A year ago, I would have believed you. I'd have thought about it and wondered how you'd managed the makeup but I wouldn't have doubted it."

"Maybe I should start a tour like this with other zombies," Tempe joked. "I'd have one vote on the council. Maybe even six more."

Dre shook her head with a chuckle. "That would be like playing with fire while dressed in a jumpsuit drenched in gasoline. Let's not tempt fate or give your friends even more work."

"I wasn't serious. Doing so would open the door for other necromancers to want to do something similar, and we would have a major problem on our hands in no time. I've made it clear to my kind that while we have more freedom, we need to be careful."

We rounded a corner and headed to my favorite cemetery in the city. I was surprised they came from there. St. Louis Cemetery number one was old, and while still used today, it wasn't all that often.

"Can you guys handle the lock? It will make it easier than having them make their way over the stone wall. Less messy, and we can ensure there is nothing left behind," Tempe said when one of the zombies started yanking on the gate and lost an arm.

Bile filled the back of my throat, and my stomach roiled. "No problem." My sisters cast the spell at the same time I did and the gate practically popped out of the concrete from the force of our power.

With a chuckle, Tempe led the way inside. We followed one zombie to their crypt. Instead of going inside, the zombie resisted. Tempe did more of her magic and said, "we need to tread carefully," she warned, her voice tinged with a hint of foreboding. "The darkness that birthed this curse runs deep, and it will not rest until it consumes everything in its path."

I moved closer to Dani for solidarity. This was likely to blow up in our face. My gaze skipped down the line of zombies waiting near their crypts but making no move to crawl inside.

"Agnes Cornwall"s vengeful spirit has gained power from the cursed well reactivating," Tempe explained. "I didn't sense this power yesterday. She's growing by leaps and bounds. Her curse is now spreading its influence to the restless dead, twisting them into abominations of their former selves."

Tempe coaxed a zombie into their crypt while Dani, Phi, and I cast spells to fix the shattered plaques containing names and dates. Dre used her telekinesis to lift the stone back into place. Dea was trying to keep anxious spirits calm while Kota kept watch. We were making a lot of noise and didn't want to draw unwanted attention.

As the last of the zombies retreated to their graves, we gathered around the ancient tombstones, our eyes scanning the faded inscriptions etched into the weathered stone. "Lucia Broussard was the first in this family. She died in 1692," Dani read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper as she traced her finger along the inscription. "She was a supernatural. I can feel the power in this crypt," she added, her brow furrowing with confusion.

Temperence nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the rows of graves with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "This one started with Marie LeBlanc, born in 1702," she added in a voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "She was a midwife, known for her healing abilities."

As we continued to read the names and dates on the vaults, a pattern began to emerge. All of the graves belonged to women who were supernaturals and had lived during the same time period as Agnes Cornwall. According to what we'd learned, it was a time of great upheaval and unrest in the magical community.

"The curse... it targeted the original witch's ancestors," Dea whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of traffic on the road a few feet away. "Agnes couldn't torture those directly responsible because they are nothing more than dust now. What are her twisted plans? How far is she going to go?"

Dre was an analytical thinker like me and pointed out the obvious. "This witch wants vengeance. She's already tormenting those responsible by making them defend her well. She isn't going to go down easily."

Phi nodded in agreement, her eyes narrowed in thought. "It"s possible that the curse was meant to exact revenge on those who had wronged Agnes. I bet that's what all those symbols mean," she mused, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I"d say you're right," Dea interjected. "It would explain how Agnes was able to get their restless spirits to haunt the living."

We said our goodbyes and headed back to my car, which we'd parked in the lot owned by a member of the pack. The rising sun painted the New Orleans sky with hues of red and then fiery orange as the city started to stir even more. It never really slept, but there was a lull in the early morning hours.

Emergency sirens, once a distant wail, now pierced the air with a sense of urgency. Their mournful cries joined a dissonant orchestra of anguished screams. Every tired cell of my body went alert. That was the sound of terrified humans. "What happened this time?" I asked no one in particular.

It was clear the mundane and the supernatural had collided. There wasn't much else that would cause such a reaction. Dre groaned as we picked up our pace and headed to the sound of distress. "Who the hell knows? By the sound of it, it's terrifying."

"Who needs horror movies when you"ve got a dead witch pushing her curse out to consume the city? This is like a live-action thriller, but with more screaming," Kota quipped with a huff as we started practically running.

Sensitive to the emotions that swirled in the chaotic atmosphere, Dea frowned. "The spirit world is afraid too. Could there be more zombies? Should we call Tempe?"

Dani lifted a shoulder. "It couldn't hurt. This feels different, though."

As we moved through the crowded streets, the media, now caught in the undertow of the supernatural, added fuel to the hysteria. One intrepid news anchor"s voice narrated scenes of the undead menace before we ever laid eyes on them. Her words echoed like my thundering heartbeat. This was not good.

"Looks like we"re going to be the stars of the evening news," I quipped, my gaze flicking to the reporter as she described the undead with dramatic flair.

Dre raised an eyebrow. "Do you think we get royalties for this kind of publicity?"

Phi chuckled. "Maybe we should consider merchandising. "Twisted Sisters vs. the Zombie Apocalypse" T-shirts, anyone?"

Dea slipped past the reported with a snort. "The more chaos out here, the easier it is for the supernatural to hide. The mundies coming out of their houses are getting worked up thanks to her, but they're more confused than anything. They don't really believe."

"That's typical," Tempe said as she joined us. "Thanks for texting. I missed this group." There were only three this time.

Dani's gaze went distant, and at first, I thought she had touched something and was seeing the past. "There"s a pulse," she murmured, "a dark rhythm beneath the chaos. We need to find its source."

Tempe waved us on. "I can handle this. I plan on having them head to Armstrong park so I can lose the reporter and anyone else. Catch up after you're done."

We nodded and I tuned into the energy flowing around us and picked up on the thread Dani mentioned. Dre caught my gaze and nodded. Giving the scene one last look, we took off. When we turned down St. Ann, suspicion made me pick up my pace and narrow my eyes. Marie Leveau didn't actually live in the house on St. Ann anymore. But she had mambos all throughout the area and if I recall from when Dani and I were kidnapped by her people, there was an entrance to her lair nearby.

"Who else is thinking what I'm thinking?" Dre asked.

I lifted a hand and said, "I am for sure."

"I guarantee she took advantage of the curse's distraction hoping we wouldn't look too deep and just handle the chaos," Phi added with a scowl. "But why? What does she have planned?"

"Let's go ask her," Dre replied with a wide smile.

We were only mildly surprised when we reached the house with an assortment of hair ties and clips affixed to the windows. "Do you think she actually lives here?" Dani asked.

The door swung open and the woman in question stood there glaring at us. "I should have known you would come here accusing me. And no, I don't live here but I keep an office here. My ancestors original house was located about fifteen feet behind us. Ever since you lot robbed me of my connection to Samedi I have to be close to my seat of power."

Dre's expression darkened as she climbed the stairs and got in her face. "We're here because another group of zombies decided to pop up after we dealt with the first wave. And these are right down the street."

"I know. I was just discussing what to do about this with my mambos. I prefer not to get involved." Marie stepped aside and gesture to the inside of the house.

The scents of exotic incense mingled with the earthy aroma of age-old voodoo artifacts within Marie Leveau"s sanctum. The living room had a set of dark burgundy couches and a green armchair. Aside from the bones, crystals, and herbs it looked like any house in America. It didn't feel like it, though.

Because she said something I could feel the pounding of hidden magic behind us. It was a place where powerful magic hummed. We stopped behind the large sofa and stared at Marie. Her mambos were nowhere to be seen. But that didn't stop the tension among us from crackling like static in the humid New Orleans air.

"If you're here to accuse me, get it over with," she demanded.

Dre regarded her for several silent seconds while I continued trying to decipher the energy and determine if it was driving the zombies. Dre finally shook her head. "It's clear you aren't behind this. Perhaps you can help us with how to keep this vile curse from creating more zombies. These jack holes are going to bring far too much negative attention to our city."

I thought my jaw would drop to the ground. "Who would"ve thought we"d willingly seek counsel in the den of our once-upon-a-time adversary?"

Dre"s gaze remained focused on Marie as she replied with a terse, "Times change, Lia. Desperate times, desperate measures."

Marie was draped in fabrics rich with the hues of the bayou. She looked at us with a mixture of respect and defiance. "Fate seems to enjoy weaving threads of irony."

"Fate is a bit of a trickster, but we"re not here for old grudges, Marie," Phi said in an attempt to break the ice. Normally it was me who did that. Seemed as if I was still upset about what she'd put us through.

Marie studied us. "The city is in turmoil unlike I have ever seen. I did not weave this curse. My hands are clean of this abomination and I cannot help you."

Dea nodded in acknowledgment. "Is Agnes behind this? Or are we wrong about that?"

Marie"s response was cryptic as hell. "There"s a malevolence at play, one that even I cannot ignore. We are bound by a common enemy, my loas bear witness to that."

"You talk of being bound but your history with dark arts doesn"t inspire trust." There was no mistaking Kota's suspicion.

Marie"s gaze held steady. "There are boundaries even I won"t cross. This curse defies the natural order. I hoped you could handle this without assistance but I fear we must unite to dismantle it."

Dani stepped forward with her arms crossed protectively over her chest. "How do we do that? How do we unravel this curse?"

Marie gestured toward an ancient table laden with artifacts and replied, "We begin by putting aside old grievances. The source of this curse lies in ancient magic. It cannot be unraveled until its origins are traced."

I inclined my head. "Are you talking about the tablet? Do you know where it is?"

Marie"s eyes fixed on each of us, penetrating through the layers of our skepticism. "You know more on that than I do. The one thing I can say with certainty is that the curse that plagues our city has roots deeper than the oaks of the bayou."

I couldn"t resist a snide comment. "Roots deeper than the oaks? How poetic."

Dre shot me a glare, and I rolled my eyes. Marie, however, continued, unruffled. "The incidents that birthed this curse did involve an artifact of immense power. This relic must be sought and neutralized."

"That"s not helpful. We need to know where we find this magical needle in the supernatural haystack," Kota practically snarled.

Marie"s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Documents I've been able to track down mention traveling to the heart of the tempest, where winds whispered ancient secrets. But beware, for shadows have made a pact with this curse."

Phi"s eyes narrowed. "Shadows? Is she controlling them? Are we talking about some kind of spectral alliance now?"

Marie lifted one elegant shoulder. "Based on what I read, the relic is guarded by shadows and bound by a malevolent pact. You must tread carefully, for the veil between the realm of the living and dead is thin."

Dre leaned forward. "Enough with the mystic poetry. We need specifics."

Marie"s gaze lingered on each of us, a moment of silent appraisal. "Seek the relic where the storm touched the earth most intimately. At the heart of the tempest, where the boundary between magic and reality is blurred. That is the best advice I can give based on the knowledge I have."

The room fell into a heavy silence. I broke it when I said, "Are you setting us up to be consumed by the chaos of the curse?"

Marie, seemingly unperturbed by my question swept a hand in an arch. "I understand your doubt, but I am not out to harm you. I need you for a family reunion. No others will be able to call my ancestors from the other side to mingle with their off-spring. You're going to have to trust me."

Dani scoffed as she met Marie's intense gaze. "We will throw you the best family reunion ever held, but we won't trust you."