“He then asked for a council to be selected from the various tribes of shifters in his domain – and here we are,” Jeremiah said.
“Commander Walsh wanted me to come in person to let you all know that he is available if you need him, and to make sure that things were going well now that Damas was gone. We heard he drowned a couple of weeks ago and didn’t know if that would cause any backlash against Josiah’s new regime,” Sett said.
“Honestly, the only people that miss Damas are those whose own cruel tendencies were encouraged under his rule – and they’re being handled per pack law as the situations arise,” Josiah said.
“Is it considered rude of me to ask just how Damas died?” Sett asked Josiah.
“No, not in your position as the Commander’s delegate. He got into a fight with Orris there, and lost control – and shifted,” Josiah said.
“I’m an alligator shifter,” Orris said. “I snapped my jaws shut around him in his field mouse form and dove to the bottom of the river, and he drowned.”
“Alligator? Fascinating. If you were up in Belle Cove, I would’ve guessed bear shifter from your size,” Sett said.
“He’s a huge alligator,” Shayla said with a smile.
“The fact that Damas and the others the Queen cursed could only shift into field mice form, meant the moment he lost control of his temper and shifted, he was – as you might say – bait,” Orris said. “No one really mourns the loss. And no, I wouldn’t swallow him because evil gives meat a bad taste.”
Sett barely hid the shiver at that and took a bite of her sandwich. Sometimes, having your mouth full was better than speaking.
“Were there any specific questions you had for us?” Josiah asked.
“Not beyond the need to discover the current status of things and if you had any requests for the Commander. It’s just better, sometimes, to come in person and make sure you’re getting the true story and not someone being forced to say things they otherwise wouldn’t,” Sett said. “I have cards for all of you, with mine and the Commander’s contact information, so if you need us, you can reach us. Other than that? I’m supposed to relax and have fun while I’m here.”
“And yet, you interrupted a vampire assault,” Jeremiah said. “That’s not exactly relaxing.”
“I honestly had no clue that vampires were still a thing,” Sett said.
“Uniquely New Orleans,” Shayla replied. “Lucky us. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so snarky when it’s someone you knew that died.”
“Well, I didn’t really know her. She was my server at dinner a couple of hours earlier. I had stopped at the Cajun Corner restaurant after spending time in the bookstore up the street. She was an excellent server and we enjoyed meeting over the dessert she made me. I’m sorry someone so friendly was killed, but I’d be sorry that anyone was killed like that,” Sett said.
“Bookstore? Ebenezer de Rohan’s place? I love Bookish Things. It’s a must-stop when I’m in town,” Marcus said.
“Yeah, turns out he’s a distant cousin. My ancestor, Aimee de Rohan, was sister to his ancestor, Augustine,” Sett said.
Everyone stopped talking and eating when she said that all eyes turned to her in amazement. Josiah was the first to speak. “You mean – you’re a de Rohan witch?”
“And a Fortin witch,” Sett said. “What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“A de Rohan witch – you’re witch royalty, Sett,” Josiah said, awe still in his voice. “Lulu, come here, please?”
A moment later, Lulu came out, drying her hands on a towel. “What’s wrong, Josiah?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Did you know Sett was a de Rohan witch?”
Lulu gasped, a hand going to her chest. “Seriously? I thought there were only a handful left.”
“Okay, guys. This is feeling a little silly. Aimee de Rohan married Jacques Fortin back in the late 1600’s and I’m descended from them. I’m also the granddaughter of the Queen of the Fae. I’m part witch and part fae, which explains why my elemental earth magic is so powerful. Otherwise? I’m just me,” Sett said.
“Just you, the great-whatever-granddaughter of the heroic de Rohan witches. Have you met Ebenezer yet?” Lulu asked.
“That’s what brought up the subject,” Josiah said. “Sett visited his bookstore before she interrupted the vampire assault.”
“Oh, speaking of vampires, I have a charm for you to wear that repels vampires. They won’t try and bite you if you have this on,” Lulu said. “Granted, the tea I left you also helps, but this is more ‘in your face’ than that. I would’ve left it for you before, if I thought you would be dancing with them in the park.”
“Ha ha,” Sett replied and shook her head. “I heard a scream, I ran into the park towards it, and saw a figure run away, then found the body on the ground. I wasn’t exactly dancing with them.”
“And yet, every supernatural in the area knows you chased vampires away from a meal. That means the vampires will be watching you,” Josiah said.
“I’ll be mainlining the tea and wearing whatever you’ve got then,” Sett said. “And not inviting any strangers into my residence.”
Lulu disappeared only to return a few moments later with a braided leather bracelet, decorated with gemstone beads.
A sturdy clip bound it to her wrist and Sett admired it before she thanked Lulu. “I can feel the power in it. Impressive.”
“Thank you. So, now that your duty is done, how long will you be staying?” Lulu asked.
“I’ve got two weeks in the rental, and I’ve only been here about a day and a half, so plenty of time. Why?”
“Josiah and I would like to have you to our place for dinner, and I’d love to spend some time showing you around the area, if you’re interested?” Lulu said.
“That sounds wonderful, thank you. I have plans for tomorrow, but the day after?” Sett said.
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll message you directions to our place and we’ll make touristy plans during dinner,” Lulu said.
They all sat around and socialized for about an hour more before Sett rose to her feet. “I want to thank you all for your hospitality and friendliness. I should get going before it gets too dark – it was hard enough finding my way in here, I don’t want to get lost getting out.”
Jeremiah got to his feet and said, “I’ve got to head back to the city too, so you can follow me out if you like?”
Sett looked to Josiah and he gave her a nod, so she smiled at Jeremiah. “I’d appreciate that, thank you.”
It didn’t take long before Sett had parked at the townhouse and headed inside. She had called the Commander on the road and gave him her report on the meeting. His parting words were for her to try and enjoy the rest of her trip as a tourist should. So, she picked out a book from the pile she bought at Ebenezer’s place, got herself a pitcher of lemonade and some snacks, and sat out on the back porch for the rest of the afternoon. That evening, she heated up one of the meals in the freezer and settled down to watch a movie. The feeling of being watched interrupted her more than once, until she got up and closed the drapes over all of the windows, and double-warded the doors. Two cups of Lulu’s tea and she was ready for bed.
Across the street, the shadows of the trees in the park hid the figure of a man whose nostrils flared with each breeze and whose eyes narrowed every time a curtain twitched.
4
Sett slept in, and not just because she was on vacation. All night her dreams had kept her from getting a restful sleep and it wasn’t until the sun rose that she finally sank into a deep slumber. She woke around eleven to her phone ringing and a mumbled “’lo?” had a warm chuckle meeting her ear.
“I’m sorry to have awakened you, Cousin. You had said you’d be by in the morning and it’s nearly noon, so I grew concerned and decided to call.”
“Ebenezer? What time is...oh, damn, I’m sorry. I slept right through my alarm,” Sett said as she sat up in bed.
“You shower and dr
ess, and I’ll have coffee and beignets here for you when you arrive. Sound good?”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” Sett replied and disconnected the call.
A quick shower and Sett pulled on a pretty cotton tank top and a pair of shorts that reached to mid-thigh, with a pair of cotton flats and a straw hat with a wide brim. She decided to take the SUV this time and locked her gun in the console before she parked in front of Bookish Things. Keys and phone tucked in her pockets, Sett carried the cloth bag she’d borrowed the other day and headed inside. Ebenezer stood by the window while a young man rang up the purchases of a few patrons at the counter.
“There you are, come with me,” Ebenezer said, a sparkle in his eye as he led her deeper into the store. This time, they went around the counter and down a narrow corridor, then up a flight of stairs. “This is my home,” he said as he opened the door and stepped inside.
The tingle of a ward washed over Sett as she entered behind him. “Nice wards,” Sett said as she stopped to look around. Comfortable furniture, unique art and collectibles, and one wall filled with books, caught Sett’s eye. But it was the table and chairs placed in a curve of the wall that was lined with windows that curled her lips into a contented smile. Lace curtains hung over stained glass uppers and clear lowers that faced out to a garden full of herbs and flowers. A narrow, oval table held a pot of steaming coffee and a plate of beignets dusted with powdered sugar, centered in front of the middle windows, with wing-back chairs upholstered in faded leather set to either side.
“Come, sit,” Ebenezer said as he led Sett over to the table and chairs.
“This looks so appealing,” Sett said. “Cozy and delicious, all in one.”
Ebenezer poured them both coffee and held the plate out to Sett to pick her treats before he took one and put it on his own plate. “Please, have some coffee, enjoy the sweets while they’re still warm, and then we can catch up, hmm?”
Sett sipped the coffee and ate one of the puffy sugared donut-like pastries, and then half of a second before she wiped sugar from her lips and smiled at Ebenezer. “Okay, I can see you trying to be polite, but you’re practically bursting with questions. Go ahead.”
“What on earth possessed you to run into the park after dark?” He didn’t sound angry, just astonished.
“I heard a woman’s screams. I’m a cop. I can’t just ignore that. In my defense, I didn’t know that vampires were a thing,” Sett said.
“I see Marie-Louise Valjean gave you a bracelet?”
“Lulu Lamontaine? Yeah, she did. She’s married to…”
“The pack Alpha,” Ebenezer sighed. “I’m aware. My heart aches for her. She’s lost four children, but she and Josiah keep trying. But then, you know that pain, do you not?”
Sett choked on the bite she’d just taken, and she used the moment to hide her shock at his words. A sip of coffee and she wiped her mouth before she asked, “What do you mean?”
“Did you not lose a child from Girard Guidry?”
“That’s...but...how? How do you know this?” Sett felt like she was about to throw up everything she’d just eaten. How could he know? Only her own mother knew, other than herself and Girard, and he was in Europe last she’d heard. They’d had a short, intense relationship that had ended when she’d lost their child. He’d blamed her. She’d blamed herself. It had been nearly forty years ago.
“I know Girard,” Ebenezer said. “Not as a friend, no – but I know him.”
“I should leave,” Sett said as she started to rise.
“Wait,” Ebenezer begged. “Please. Let me explain. Girard was one of the enforcers of the old pack hierarchy. He is a cruel being with a desire for power that only equals his desire for riches. He’s gathered several of the disenfranchised pack members that don’t want the kinder, gentler pack Josiah is running – and made them into a cadre of mafioso-type actors. He is the Don of the group, giving out orders and collecting the wealth they gather.”
Sett dropped back into the chair, but she felt ill. Hot and cold shivers ran through her as she listened to Ebenezer’s words. “He’s here? In New Orleans?”
“Yes. Has been for almost thirty years,” Ebenezer said. “I had not put it all together until he came into my shop early this morning, asking if you were, in truth, a de Rohan witch. Seems the gossip spreads quickly even among the disenfranchised pack members. I told him that yes, you were my cousin and of the de Rohan lineage. He said that just proved to him even more that witches were weak, since if you had all that power, you would not have lost his child.”
“And your response?”
“I told him that was not a truth, but if it was a truth he felt he needed to feel better about himself…”
“Ebenezer, that’s poking the bear, isn’t it?”
“A bit, but he knows that any retaliation against me or my shop would bring every witch in the seventeen wards to his door. I hope that you knowing he’s in town doesn’t cause you to leave sooner. I am truly looking forward to getting to know you, Cousin Sett.”
“We did not part on good terms, but it was forty years ago. Last I’d heard, he was in Europe, but obviously that didn’t last long.” Sett could feel the adrenaline rush easing, but that need to be armed and ready didn’t fade as fast.
“Seems he ran into some trouble in France and was exiled, so he came to New Orleans with the man he’d met in Paris and both joined up with the Lamontaine pack as enforcers. Sebastian Laroux was one of those turned into a field mouse, so he’s disappeared, but the two of them were a nightmare for anyone that didn’t bow to the will of the pack.”
“So now that Josiah is in charge, what does Girard think he can do?”
“Create his own pack and keep causing trouble,” Ebenezer said. “For Girard, it’s all about money and power. He’s bought himself a mansion in the French Quarter where his little pack all reside. They’re into prostitution, gambling, drugs, you name it.”
“And the SPD division here hasn’t stopped them?”
“They tried, once. Just after the pack hierarchy was upended and Damas was still alive. Cost them four good cops, two died and two had to retire as their injuries would keep them from being able to do their job.”
“Holy hell,” Sett muttered. “Makes me even more glad I never went there again.”
“Went where?” Ebenezer asked as he handed her the plate of beignets. “Here, eat. The sugar will help with the shock.”
“I never dated or got romantically involved with anyone again, after that mess with Girard. It’s not worth the pain and loss, and I’m a better cop when I can stay focused and not be distracted by such things. I’ve seen my family deal with both and something always suffers.”
“But don’t you miss…?” Ebenezer started and Sett shook her head.
“No, I don’t miss romance. Do I get lonely sometimes? Yes, of course, but being a woman in a male-dominated career, I have to work twice as hard to get half as far. I honestly feel like I was born to serve, and I find joy and fulfillment in my work. I don’t need children or a mate to get that, and if I ever need to be around children, there are always some in my family. What about you?”
“I’ve had two wives and eighteen children between them. I have fifty-three grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. In fact, the young man running the store today is one of my great-grandchildren, Zachariah de Rohan. Zach is the grandson of my son Benjamin. Of the eighteen children, twelve survived to adulthood and of those twelve, only three were girls. There are a lot of your cousins running around out there, Sett.”
“Wow. My mother had four girls, and the two eldest died in the Species War. They each had one child before they died, and we were all raised together. My sister Amelia just had her third child, but she had twins prior to this last son. Her husband is shifter and mythic, and she is, like me, witch and fae. They think that is why their children survived – because of the four species blend.”
“How fascinating!
I’ll have to do some research on that, for my own edification,” Ebenezer said.
“Speaking of research, I need to educate myself about vampires. Could you point me at some good books?”
“Well, the best resource is a book by Marie Laveau, and I have a personal copy. It is very fragile and decidedly rare. However, a few months back, Zach scanned it so I can give you an electronic copy.”
“Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen?”
“The very same. She was highly intelligent and understood that information was the best defense against evil.”
“Wasn’t she a witch?” Sett asked.
“Not by species, no. But she was a powerful woman because of her intelligence and beliefs.”
“I’d appreciate any books or information you can share. I didn’t realize I’d be walking into a place where vampires still roamed. The worst thing a cop can be is ignorant.”
“Ignorance is a disease that can be cured. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about stupidity,” Ebenezer said with a sigh.
Sett snorted a laugh as he got up to get her the materials. She finished her coffee and stacked the used dishes on the tray, then took a few minutes to look at the books and curios on the shelves in the room.
“Here you go. I got you two you can keep, one you can borrow, and the electronic copy of Laveau’s compendium is on this thumb drive,” Ebenezer said as he came back in with three books and the USB stick.
“You’re too kind, Ebenezer. Thank you,” Sett said as she took the things from him. “I would love to take you out to dinner while I’m here. You pick the place and I’ll come pick you up and drive us there. Is that something you’d like to do?”
“I would love to do that, thank you. Let me see what Zach’s schedule says and I’ll let you know when and where. I have your cell number, so I’ll text you the information and we can plan?”
“Perfect. I’m supposed to spend the day tomorrow with Lulu, but other than that, I have no plans.”
Supernatural Syndicate: A Limited Edition Collection of Magical Mafia Stories Page 27