Chapter Ten
Virgil struggled to keep his hand steady as he piloted the boat toward New Orleans. He had no idea what condition the city would be in when he arrived, and part of him was afraid to find out. He looked over at Gabriel, whose expression appeared just as apprehensive. He could tell by the look in her eyes that Sophie was terrified, but he admired how well she was doing at keeping an otherwise-stoic expression. He was worried that she might get hurt as they worked to help the city, but he was glad she insisted on coming along with them.
His stomach sank as they came upon the city. The barricades weren’t completely submerged, but most of them had crashed down. Water was pouring in from every gap, crack, and hole, and there were more holes than standing structures. There wasn’t even anywhere for them to dock the boat. They had no choice but to keep sailing.
“How did this happen?” he asked. “We worked so hard.”
“I know we did,” Gabriel said. “This has to have been sabotage.”
Manuel’s voice came on over the radio. “People are drownin’.”
“Copy that,” Virgil said. “How many?”
“Not sure. There were a lot of people out and about when the storm hit. Not many people were takin’ the warnin’ seriously.”
“Gotten through to anyone yet?”
“Most everyone is doin’ okay. The ones with kids need some extra help, but they’re all stickin’ together. We got a good team in place.”
“Any chance in gettin’ the barriers back up?” Virgil asked.
“We’re tryin’ to make contact to find out, but I ain’t optimistic. Look how much damage has been done. Look at all that water comin’ in.”
“You’re suggestin’ we might need Serafine’s skills for this one?”
“If it comes to that. Think about how much it’ll take out of her.”
Virgil nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I think we need to keep people from drownin’.”
“Gabriel and I are on it. Over and out.” He turned to Sophie. “You ain’t gonna like this, but you’re gonna need to stay on the boat.”
“I want to help you save people.”
“Honey, just because you won’t be out there in the water don’t mean you ain’t gonna be helpin’. Look, this is gonna require us to shift, and you’re not in control of that yet. Plus, we need someone to keep the boat safe and monitor the radio for updates. We need you to stay here and keep watch on things. Keep lookin’ around for a place to dock, okay?”
Sophie nodded. “Okay.”
“We’ll be safe, we promise. See you soon, baby.”
He and Gabriel stripped out of their clothes and closed their eyes. Virgil suddenly felt his teeth and claws come in, felt his skin toughen up. When he opened his eyes, he was staring up at his beloved. He gave her one last look before slipping out into the water and swimming into the city.
We’re gonna scare people. You realize that, right? Gabriel asked over their ESP connection.
We can’t dock in the city, and it’s gonna get too shallow for the boats eventually. This is the most efficient way. Keep a lookout for dry land. And people.
It wasn’t long before they heard screams from people in boats.
“Gator alert! Gator alert!”
Virgil and Gabriel ignored them and kept swimming. Soon, they found a lone body struggling in the water. Virgil surfaced and swam toward a young woman. She started to thrash and struggle harder when she saw Virgil approach but seemed too tired to really escape. Virgil slipped below the surface and swam until she straddled his back. Then, he took off.
The young woman struggled for a moment but seemed to realize that Virgil wasn’t going to hurt her. He tuned his ESP back to Gabriel.
You find dry land yet?
No, but I rescued a kid. Didn’t seem that afraid. Shock, maybe.
We’ll swim back toward that cluster of boats we saw. They’ll take ’em in.
They doubled back around, moving as quickly as they could. They soon came upon the people whom they had previously frightened, and sped toward what appeared to be the leading boat. Virgil eased himself up parallel and looked up at the pilot, who stared down, dumbfounded.
“Lady, are you crazy?” he asked the woman on top of Virgil’s back.
“I don’t know! It just came up and carried me off. He—he saved my life. I think I’m hallucinating.”
“In that case, we both are. Here, take my hand. We’ll get you to safety.”
As soon as the woman was in the boat, Virgil took off toward the flood, with Gabriel close behind. They found two more children struggling in the water, both of whom were instantly terrified but neither of which were strong enough to fight the current. Virgil took both and headed back toward the boats they’d passed, while Gabriel kept swimming in search of people in need of rescue.
When he reached the boaters again, a woman instantly started shrieking. “My babies! That gator has my babies!”
Virgil kept calm. He reminded himself that these people had no reason to trust him and that he probably looked just like any other alligator—they might not realize he was the same one who had brought the woman back. Keeping calm, he swam up to the side of the boat and allowed the woman to rescue her children. She seemed shocked to find them unharmed, and she stared at Virgil with an unsettled expression but didn’t speak.
He and Gabriel worked for another hour, finding survivors and taking them back to the strangers before swimming away. Suddenly, they saw Manuel, still in gator form, swimming toward them.
Ain’t nothin’ to be done to repair the barricades, not with that much damage and this much rain. That means we got a ritual to do. Swim a quarter-mile east.
Sophie okay? Virgil asked.
Holdin’ up like she was born to do this. Come on, let’s go.
Virgil and Gabriel began to follow Manuel, but as they neared the destination, he saw another swimmer struggling in the water.
Gotta go take care of one more, he said to them. Won’t be long.
But as he approached, he saw that the thrashing figure in the water was none other than Georgina Fucher. He looked her square in the eye. He couldn’t communicate with her when she was in human form, but she would know who he was.
She continued to thrash and gasp in the water, and he knew that no matter what she’d done to harm the congregation, he had to rescue her. So he swam up and settled her on top of him.
“Thank you,” she said. “I was—I was just trying to help. I didn’t realize the water would get so deep so fast. But I felt so guilty after what I’d done. I just couldn’t let it go on.”
Virgil immediately stopped swimming. Boys, turns out I rescued one Georgina Fucher, and she feels guilty about somethin’. Would you please send someone over here who is clothed? I can’t really talk to her while I’m naked.
Manuel’s voice flashed. Gabriel already shifted. He and Sophie are on their way. Swim toward ’em.
Virgil turned and followed Manuel’s instructions.
“Why did you stop? Why did you change direction? Where are we going?” Georgina’s voice was getting higher and higher by the second. She knew something was wrong. “Goddamn it. Do I have to shift so you can answer me? I still can, you know. I can become a gator, and I can share my thoughts with you. Is that what it will take to get some answers?”
Virgil remained silent and swam on. It wasn’t long before Sophie and Gabriel appeared in their boat.
“Oh, no. Oh, no.” Georgina kicked at his sides, but he kept on swimming until he was parallel with the boat.
“So, Georgina,” Gabriel called. “We hear you feel guilty ’bout somethin’.”
“I most certainly do not!”
“Then why did you risk your life trying to help when the flooding started?” Sophie asked.
Georgina sighed and climbed onto the boat. She turned away so Virgil could shift, climb back in, and dress.
“Villemont had me sabotage the structures after you built them. He promised me a nic
e promotion in exchange. I have a very cushy office now. But then, the rain hit, and I couldn’t live with myself anymore. So I came out here. I don’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t have a plan and didn’t have any clue as to how to remedy the situation. But I had to try. And then I ended up drowning.”
Sophie’s voice was shaking. “You sabotaged all of our hard work?”
Georgina nodded, and tears began to roll down her face. “Villemont wanted the city to flood so his new construction company could get rich rebuilding it at a premium.”
Virgil clenched his fists together. “I see.” He walked over to the radio.
“Come in, come in. I’m looking for the nearest Coast Guard or Port of New Orleans police-department vessel. I have a passenger who admits to sabotaging the barriers we put up to protect against the rain.”
“This is Coast Guard 58911,” said a voice over the scratchy radio. “Can you give us your location?”
Virgil looked around. It pained him to realize he could give street names. “We’re at John Lafitte Parkway in the Lower Ninth Ward.”
“We’re five minutes away. We’re on the way.”
“You’re not going to turn me in, are you?” Georgina started to shake. “You’re really going to turn me in. I can’t believe it. I came out here, I risked my life, all because I felt guilty for what I’d done! And now you’re going to turn me in?”
“You bet I am,” Virgil said with a growl. “You cannot hurt my city and get away with it.”
Moments later, police lights flashed, and a Coast Guard boat pulled up next to them.
“You the boat that called us?”
Virgil nodded. “This is the woman.”
“Do we have the right to board your vessel?”
“Please do.”
The officer hopped into their boat and immediately clasped handcuffs around Georgina’s wrists. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”
“Yes,” Georgina said. Virgil could hear her holding back tears. Part of him wanted to pity her, but then he remembered that the destruction surrounding them had been her fault, and rage flared up again. He reached out and squeezed Sophie’s hand to remind himself that there was still good in the world.
* * * *
Once the Coast Guard took off, Gabriel piloted the ship back where the rest of the congregation had gathered. He was relieved that everyone had managed to get out of the city quickly. Everyone was wet, but they were safe, and once the ritual was completed, they could all go home. He pulled up beside Serafine’s boat and nodded at her.
“Okay, everyone,” she called over the splatter of the rain and the moans of the wind. “Join hands with everyone in your boat.”
She took out a lantern and placed a candle in it. Before lighting the candle, she pulled a bottle of oil from her robe and drizzled some in. Shielding the opening of the lantern against the wind, she set the candle aflame. She pulled a pouch out of her robes and, taking care not to get the contents wet, dropped some into the lantern, making the flame shoot up into the watery sky. Then she quickly closed the lid so it would not be snuffed out by the weather. Gabriel closed his eyes as she began to speak.
City of New Orleans, may you be blessed.
May the harm that has befallen you cease,
May only good things come to you tonight.
May your skies be light,
May your people be safe,
May your land be dry,
May your heart stay strong,
May the people here tonight sustain you.
May you be blessed in every way.
As Gabriel opened his eyes, Serafine reached into the lantern and pulled out the still-burning candle. He couldn’t help but wince. He was certain he saw her hand directly touch the flame, but she never flinched. Instead, she held the candle up and allowed it to be extinguished by the rain. As soon as the flame went out, the rain slowed and then finally ceased.
Gabriel took a deep breath and laughed. He’d been raised around voodoo, but it never lacked the capacity to surprise him. He scooped Sophie into a hug, thinking his heart was about to burst for joy. There would be a long road ahead getting the city repaired, but it was safe again. He gazed into Sophie’s eyes and smiled. His city was still standing, and he had his mate. He didn’t need anything else in the world.
His joy, though, was short-lived when he looked back and saw Serafine collapse to the ground. Everyone rushed to crowd around, but Adele held them at bay.
“Give her air,” she called out.
“Don’t matter,” Jules Leland said.
“What do you mean it don’t matter?” Gabriel asked.
“I mean she’s dead.”
Gabriel’s heart lurched. “She can’t be dead. No. Jules, you’re a healer. You’re her second-in-command. You gotta do something. You gotta bring her back.”
Jules shook his head. “I’m a healer, but there ain’t nothin’ left to heal. Her body gave out. Her soul is gone.”
Gabriel sucked in a breath and steadied himself. Several members of the congregation had already burst out crying. To keep his composure, Gabriel reached out and gripped Sophie’s hand.
Jules took control, though it was obvious he was shaken as well. “Okay, we can’t just hang around here. Gabriel and Virgil, you two get Serafine’s body. We’re gonna take her back to the congregation and give her a proper funeral there. C’mon, everyone, let’s move out.”
“What about the new voodoo queen?” Sophie asked as Gabriel and Virgil settled Serafine’s body into the back of their boat. “When is she going to show up?”
“Don’t know,” Gabriel said. “Soon, I hope.”
“What will we do until she does?”
“We’ll get through somehow,” Virgil replied. “Jules can take over some things for a while. Won’t be the same as havin’ a real voodoo queen around, but Serafine said she was gonna come. We’re just gonna have to be patient.”
“Don’t worry, baby. We’re gonna get through it.” As he spoke the words, Gabriel hoped he was right.
Epilogue
“How you holdin’ up, baby?”
Sophie looked up and saw Virgil and Gabriel coming in.
“Okay, I guess, given the circumstances. Jules performed a lovely ceremony. Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“Yeah, of course he is. It’ll be rough for him, copin’ until the new voodoo queen shows up, but if anyone’s equipped to handle it, it’s him.”
Sophie nodded, wiping away a tear. Although she hadn’t known Serafine very long, the voodoo queen had always made her feel a part of the congregation and had been vital to their community. Sophie had no clue how they would survive without her.
Trying to take her mind off the trauma of losing Serafine, she decided to try changing the subject. “Are we still planning to head into the city tomorrow to work on cleaning up the flood wreckage?”
“You know it,” Virgil said. “The city has another long road ahead of it, but we’re gonna do our part to make sure it bounces back.”
Gabriel walked over to the bed and curled up around Sophie. “You sure you’re gonna be up for it, baby? We know this has been a rough couple of days for you. Do you wanna talk or anything?”
Sophie shook her head. “I do want to go help with the cleanup. This is my city, too, and I’m not going to sit around and let others do all the hard work. But right now, I just want the two of you to hold me.”
“Our pleasure,” Virgil said, joining them on the bed.
Sophie tried to relax, but still, her head was swimming with questions and tension.
“I can hear you thinkin’ over there,” Gabriel said, followed by a chuckle. “Sure you don’t have anythin’ to get off your chest?”
“What—what’s going to happen to Ge
orgina and Villemont now? Are we safe? And is Georgina—I mean, I know she betrayed us, but she really was sorry at the end, and—”
Virgil sighed. “With all his money, Villemont’s gonna be just fine. He’s already got himself out on bail. I heard it on the news while I was doin’ some repair work this afternoon. There’s gonna be an investigation, and his business is gonna suffer for sure, but he’s rich enough to land on his feet.”
“I’m worried about Georgina, though. I can’t help it. Even though she hurt us—”
“I know, baby, I know,” Gabriel said. “Looks like she’s gonna be in some trouble with the investigation, too. But she’s got herself an attorney, and whatever happens, she’s tough.”
“Do you—do you think if she atoned, she’d be allowed back into the congregation one day?”
“If she could prove herself trustworthy? Sure. Why? You know somethin’ we don’t?”
Sophie shrugged. “No. I just prefer knowing that she might be able to find her way back to us.”
They lapsed into silence for a while, and Sophie let their hard, warm bodies comfort her. Then, much to her embarrassment, her pussy began to tingle. She tried to force the feelings away, knowing that they were completely inappropriate given the tragic circumstances of recent days.
Virgil casually stroked a finger up and down Sophie’s arm, and her skin began to heat up even with such a gentle touch.
“I love you, Sophie,” Virgil whispered in her ear. “No matter what happens, no matter what troubles we encounter, I’m always gonna love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said. She turned to Gabriel. “I love both of you.”
Glancing down, she noticed Gabriel’s cock was hard against the fabric of his jeans.
“And here I was feeling guilty for getting aroused at a time like this.”
“Ain’t no shame in listenin’ to your body, baby,” Gabriel said.
“Besides, I think this is the right time to make love,” Virgil said. “In the face of death and destruction and tragedy, you gotta celebrate life.”
Rose, Charlotte - Bayou Flood [The Shifters of Alligator Bend 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12