Distorted Affliction

Chapter Twenty Seven

Kettelie Laveau was breathtaking, tall with a full frame and endless brown eyes the same color as her skin. Her hair, like Nadege's, was pulled up into a tight, navy blue head wrap that made her face look softer, even with the deep scowl she wore. She wore a soft Karabela dress that matched the wrap around her hair, set off by the little red stripes that ran along the bottom hemline of her full skirt. It somehow showed her curves and hid her body at the same time, and I couldn't find the words to speak for a moment, I was lost in how beautiful she was.

It was no wonder that Demidicus had a history with the Voodou Priestesses, all of them seemed like different variations of beauty. While they all seemed standoffish with our group, it only made them seem more resilient, willing and capable of standing in the face of the living dead without hesitation. I held a lot of respect for them before I even had the opportunity to meet them, but I was certain some of that had to have been my sensitivity to their magic.

Kettelie was followed by Nadege and another dark skinned woman, her hair falling in tight curls around her face as she stood at her sister's shoulder. Kettelie took a seat opposite us, but the other girls didn't sit. Instead, they stood behind her as if they were showing their apprehension.

"I've heard an awful lot about you, August," Kettelie said, intertwining her fingers on top of the table between us as she leaned against it. "I saw you coming, but my magic didn't show me why. Please, ease my curiosity. What can my sisters and I do for you?"

I wasn't sure where to begin, but I swallowed and did my best anyway.

"Lazarus Cane is a threat to my son," I stated, trying to channel the leader my coven and the Moon Thread Sisters saw me as. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors, the things his blood can do. We don't know anything for certain as far as the extent, but Lazarus has plans to create an army of Mouri--"

"This doesn't sound like a serious enough affair to involve the Priestesses," Kettelie cut me off, and I blinked several times, trying to pull my suddenly derailed thoughts back together. "My sisters and I, we don't concern ourselves in what your community of magic does, just as your kind don't stick their noses in our business. If Lazarus wants you dead to get to your son, well, you can consider yourself dead."

My mouth opened and then closed a couple of times, shocked at the quick dismissal.

"Kett," Demidicus called, his voice full of affection that surprised me. "Please listen to what she has to say."

"Oh, Koulèv," Kettelie sighed, looking between him and Sin. "Are you and Sinclair sharing another Bishop witch? Didn't you learn anything the first time?"

I choked.

The sound that came from my throat resembled an animal dying, and my eyes searched Demidicus and Sin for an answer. Sin refused to remove his gaze from the Priestess, and I wondered if it was because he was more intimidated to meet my eyes than her's.

"Don't mind her," Demidicus started, his words taking on a sharp tone. "Kettelie is just upset because we had a little fling before I chose to serve the Bishop family instead of submitting to her outrageous demands."

"You have an odd way of 'serving', if that's what you want to call it," she spat back, her eyes narrowing as they stared at each other. I could feel the tension in the room, palpable enough to make even Vanessa uncomfortable.

"I think we've gotten a little off topic," I said, trying to reign in the conversation by throwing the men a look that said we would discuss this later. "The point still stands. Lazarus isn't just a threat to my coven, but all magic. He wants--"

"We don't serve the same spirits," Kettelie said, once again cutting me off before I could explain further. "What happens to your source doesn't affect our magic."