Chapter 9

Dreya

"I'm taking a break," I told my sisters and put down the hammer.

We were working on renovations of the council building as a distraction and a way to reset our minds. After the relic failed to help us unravel the curse, we had no idea what to do next. If you asked me, we couldn't think straight because of the pressure on us this time. The risk of exposure added an element that made us panic.

Tilting my face up, I let the sun bathe me. It stretched its golden fingers over New Orleans, painting the city in hues of mid-morning light. I leaned against the balcony railing, the cool metal a stark contrast to the warmth of the rising sun. Down below, the French Quarter bustled with life, its streets alive with the promise of a new day.

Lia joined me. First, her gaze traced the intricate patterns of the wrought-iron railings. She had a way of seeing the beauty in things, even amidst the chaos that often surrounded us.

"Quite the view, isn"t it?" Lia remarked.

Kota handed Lia and me a scone. "It is, but you"d think the city would throw us a parade for our efforts. We might not have succeeded yet, but we worked damn hard."

I snorted, amused by her jest. "We'd be more likely to get a bill for damages," I replied, scanning the streets below with a critical eye. New Orleans had a way of hiding its secrets well, but beneath its charming facade lay a world of magic and mayhem.

Phi lounged on the sofa inside, her gaze fixed on some distant point. "Maybe the city"s used to the paranormal chaos by now," she called out. "Like, "Oh, another park destroyed by the Twisted Sisters. Pass the beignets.""

Kota leaned on the railing as the tension of our recent challenge slowly dissipated. "I vote for a sisters' trip," she declared. "Somewhere without magical relics trying to kill us. Savannah, maybe."

Dea snorted. "Then we shouldn't go there. That place is haunted. At least the spirits here seem at peace now," she observed.

Lia leaned over the balcony, scanning the streets below. "This place is like a living painting," she remarked. "It"s almost too perfect for supernatural drama."

I couldn"t help but smirk at her observation. "Don"t be fooled by the postcard," I warned. "We just so happen to know where the skeletons are buried—sometimes literally."

The banter continued, each of us finding solace in the familiarity of our shared bond. Despite the dangers we faced, we were a family, bound together by more than just blood. We people watched and made up stories about what the tourists' lives were like for a bit and then went back to work. It was nice to talk about normal things and not end-of-the-world crises.

A couple of hours later, the door opened and Kaitlyn called out, "You guys upstairs?"

"Yeah," Dani replied. "Be right down."

"You guys look like hell," Kaitlyn said.

I sighed and shook my head. "We really thought the relic was the answer."

Kaitlyn clapped me on the shoulder as we went into the meeting room with the large table. "You can't blame yourselves. I thought you were right. And the tablet still might be the key once we understand it better. We are all looking into things."

The sun was high overhead and casting a warm glow over the city as we sat down at the table. Before the discussion went any further, the other council members started showing up. Once everyone was there, we gave them a condensed recap of what had happened.

"You need to solve this yesterday," Viktor, the vampire leader said as he set a tablet in front of him and started typing something into it. The TV on the far wall came to life, and a social media platform popped up on the screen. "We've been exposed because you couldn't fix this bullshit."

Kota slapped the table top and leaned forward with a snarl on her face. She didn't get to say anything when Kassandra growled and said, "You need to watch yourself vampire. If not for these sisters, we would have been discovered months ago. You and your kind haven't lifted a finger to help with matters, either. If you don't change your attitude I will put forth a motion to have you and your clan banned from the city."

"And I'll second it," Lucas added.

"Of course, you will. One of them is your mate," Viktor said.

"I will back it as well," Kaitlyn interjected.

Kaveh nodded. "As will I."

Viktor pressed a button, and the video began playing. It stopped all conversation as we watched footage of demonic activity that was circulating on the internet. He tapped a button, and another video played. He showed us half a dozen more. All but two were from the same incident.

There was a large boulder in my stomach. This was what we were hoping to avoid. Viktor was a stern figure with a military bearing. Nothing anyone had said resonated with the vampire. He still talked as if we were his slaves. "These reports of demonic activity cannot be ignored. You must take decisive action to protect our city and its people. That you allowed it to get this far speaks for how incapable you truly are."

Talindra ignored him completely. The elf frowned as she suggested, "Perhaps we should convene a joint task force, comprised of both council members and representatives from the supernatural community, to handle these reports."

"We will need a witch on each group to try and counteract the magic affecting the individuals. I"ll make sure all are briefed on the situation as they are being sent out," Cyran said. The city"s Light Fae leader's voice was gruff but determined.

Kaitlyn shook her head. "I'm not certain the witches can fix anyone that's cursed. This one sticks to people like glue. Agnes used powerful runes."

Dani's mate, Noah ran a hand through his hair. "We should also be prepared to provide medical assistance to those affected by these events. Trauma counseling and support services will be crucial in the aftermath. Can you be on hand for that Dre?"

I snorted and gave him a look. "Not if you want us to stop this."

"Stopping it is imperative. We all have resources to offer," the gargoyle leader, Kassandra added. "I will have my people perched on buildings throughout the Quarter so we can report when something starts. If we can react fast enough we can stop it from getting out of hand."

Lia furrowed her brow and looked at Kaitlyn. "Can we create a relic the gargoyles can use to disrupt cell service when they see an incident? That would keep mundies from creating recordings."

Kaitlyn widened her eyes and nodded. "I will start on that right away."

"We will continue to research the symbols on the tablet Agnes used and look for a way to stop this," Phi said. She was an eternal optimist and flashed the room a reassuring smile.

I rubbed my temples. "Back to this," I gestured to the TV. "We can"t just remove the evidence from the internet. If we do, they"ll just post it again. We need a more permanent solution."

Dea pursed her lips and tilted her head to face Kaveh and Cyran. "Perhaps we can work with the tech-savvy members of our community to create a counter-narrative. One that discredits the authenticity of the footage without resorting to censorship."

"I will put out the word with my people," Kaveh said and then looked to Kaitlyn. "We also need to consider the magical implications of diverting the witches to creating artifacts. I agree we need response teams. And we need witches to go with them. They might not be able to remove the curse, but they can help control things."

As we debated our next move, the hotline phone rang again. Its shrill tone cut through the tension like a knife. Lia answered it with a sense of urgency, her voice tense as she listened to the caller on the other end.

Her face was determined when she turned back to face us. "There are demons attacking mundies on St. Anns and Bourbon. We need to get over there right away. We can't let them get away with this."

The local UIS agent, Xinar stood and started for the door. "Demons only respond to quick, decisive action. And violence."

With a shared nod of determination, my sister and I rose from the table. Lucas and Noah joined us, as did Kaitlyn and Kaveh. By the time we got outside, Xinar was halfway down the block. Hurrying to catch up, I kept my eyes peeled for demons. We weren't far from that area.

Night had fallen and was draped over St. Ann"s Street like a heavy cloak. When we turned the corner the scent of fear was thick and the distant wails of sirens were loud. Our motley crew of warriors and protectors, moved with purpose through the shadows. Dani"s steps were confident, her eyes narrowed with determination, while Lia"s gaze swept over the scene with a mixture of concern and resolve. My sisters were the best gifts our mama could have given me. I was truly blessed.

The chaos unfurled before us like a grotesque tableau. Demons, their forms twisted and malevolent, prowled the streets, their eyes aglow with unholy fervor. But they weren't the only ones acting out. Mundies were caught in the crossfire but they were also the perpetrators. Some darted frantically between buildings. Their panicked cries were lost amidst the cacophony of demonic taunts while others cackled and tried to trip their friends.

Xinar had stopped and was taking in the scene. "There are fewer demons than I expected. And the mundies seem to be doing just as much damage... oof. That had to hurt both of them," he said as he watched one man hit another.

"Regardless of their numbers, we proceed with caution," Lia said in a tone laced with frustration. "There could be more nearby. Not to mention that we cannot afford to ignore the mundies. Any casualties among them would only serve to expose our world further."

The urgency of Lia"s words spurred us into action. Kota and Dani surged forward, their weapons gleaming in the dim light as they engaged the demonic horde. Dea and Phi wove intricate patterns in the air. They conjured protective barriers to shield mundies from harm and stop them from hurting one another. I helped Dea and Phi. The mundies were a priority. They were innocents that didn't deserve any of this.

Lucas and Noah raced through and picked up the wounded. I pointed to a nearby courtyard. "Put them in there. I'll do what I can," I told them.

Nodding, they did as instructed. I tended to the wounded with practiced efficiency. One benefit of constantly getting hurt was I'd had plenty of practice to hone my skills and taking away their injuries was easy for me. Kaitlyn and Kaveh ran past the opening as I went to work. The pair moved with silent efficiency, dispatching demons with deadly precision.

I moved to the mouth of the courtyard so I could keep an eye on the battle. The street had become a swirling maelstrom of violence and desperation. With each clash of steel and surge of magic, the air crackled with raw energy. It was thick with the scent of sulfur and blood.

Lia"s voice suddenly cut through the chaos like a beacon of reason. "Watch your aim," she called out above the din. "We can't risk harming the mundies. They didn"t ask for this." I nodded and refocused on the woman in front of me. She had a nasty head wound that was making her bleed like a stuck pig. My heart hammered against my ribcage, a steady rhythm of apprehension as I surveyed the scene.

Lia's words served as a rallying cry, guiding everyone through the fray with unwavering resolve. Once I was done with those already brought to me, I ran back out to help. Demons, their twisted forms stark against the backdrop of the night, prowled the streets. Their malevolent presence sent shivers down my spine. Mundies, their faces contorted with fear, fled in every direction. Their panicked screams filled the air while others joined the demons in making them scream.

As the demons grew bolder, their taunts ringing out like a sinister chorus, Xinar stepped forward with an air of grim determination. "Leave the demons to me," he declared, his voice low and menacing. "Lucas and Noah can help me coral them while the rest of you handle the mundies. They shouldn't be left with these memories."

With swift, deadly precision he moved through the shadows. His movements were fluid as he dispatched the demons with a single, lethal strike. Lucas and Noah shifted gears and began chasing the demons. Taking Xinar's advice, I grabbed a guy by the collar as he tried to intimidate a young woman half his age.

"Pick on someone your own size, asshole," I snarled and shoved him toward the courtyard.

I had to focus on keeping my approach measured and non-lethal. But as we attempted to subdue them one by one, they seemed to grow more aggressive. Their attacks escalated with each passing moment.

Phi"s brow furrowed in concentration and a second later, she unleashed her power. "Good thinking, sestra," I called out as she froze mundies in place with a wave of her hand.

Kota joined me and jerked her chin toward a guy fighting the spell. "Let's try to remove the curse on him."

I nodded, and we joined hands then chanted the spell to unravel the enchantment. It didn't work, so we tried to pull it off him. When that failed, we tried picking it apart with magic. Next, we tried blasting it away with a gust of air. We did everything we could think of and nothing worked. Removing the curse proved to be more difficult than trying to get gum off the bottom of your shoe.

Frustration mounting, I shifted tactics. "Let's cast spells to compel the mundies to remain in the city and refrain from posting their experiences online. It is a risky move, but it will give us time to solve this and then we can help them before they go home." I could only hope that would stem the tide of chaos threatening to spill over into the mortal world.

Despite our efforts, some mundies attempted to flee. Their fear drove them to seek refuge in the safety of their hotels. With a resigned sigh, we gave chase, the cobblestone streets echoing with the sound of our footsteps.

As we sprinted after them, Kota couldn"t help but quip, her voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon of light. "I was made for fighting demons, not playing chase." Her words elicited a brief chuckle amidst the chaos. A small reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was still room for levity.