“I bet you can. I bet you are stronger than anyone gives you credit for, little wolf.” Ella nodded her approval. “That’s good. You’ll need that in this life.”
Ella turned her attention back to her grave. The large rusted chains that circled the grave had a few chinks missing. Lucien had read up and knew the legend had stated that on the night Yazoo City burned, the witch’s grave had been broken, unleashing her from her grave.
She didn’t seem like a vindictive woman. She seemed lost.
“Do you need us to do anything?”
“Are you offering?” The witch gave him a sultry smile.
“No. He’s not.” Catty growled.
Ella looked at Catty and gave her a sympathetic look. “Word of advice. No man is worth losing yourself over. No man.”
“Easy.” He pulled Catty back into his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist and glared at Ella.
“Fine, fine. You guys are no fun at all.” Ella sighed and knelt down on her grave. She poured the contents out of the bag onto the ground.
She sat back on her knees and took a deep breath as she looked up at the sky.
She mixed the ingredients into a pile, crushing the leaves and herbs into a heap. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a lighter. She held the orange flame to the ingredients.
It caught fire and sparked to life. The orange flame suddenly turned a brilliant blue as wisps of blue smoke circled around the witch.
Lucien and Catty stepped back.
Ella looked up at the sky and fixed her gaze on the moon. She lifted her hands out to her side.
“Deeds and intents, words and thoughts,
Look forever into the valley of the lost.
Hidden will and treachery abound,
Life’s taken and secrets buried underground.
Let that which was hidden, now be made known,
And reveal the lives that now are gone.
Oh moon illuminate what the wolf seeks to know
And reveal the enemies and its secrets that grow.
For what was once lost let once be found,
Reveal to me so the evil can be brought down.”
The fire jumped toward the sky, twisting and turning and growling tall like a tornado. The fire enveloped Ella, yet she didn’t move.
He reached for the Ella to drag her out of the fire, but Catty held him tight.
“Don’t,” she whispered near his ear. “Look. The fire isn’t burning her.”
Though she was engulfed in flames, she wasn’t burning.
Suddenly the blue fire turned white and began to drift back to the ground. Ella looked straight ahead her eyes blank and entranced.
Suddenly her head dropped forward and the fire died out.
“Stay here,” he ordered before he rushed forward.
He knelt down and took Ella by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Get me off this grave,” she pleaded weakly.
He picked her up and carried her to a nearby tree.
Catty knelt beside her. “What happened?”
“I’m weak. That kind of spell always takes my energy.” Ella pushed herself up on her elbows and rested back against the large oak tree behind her. Her face was deathly pale.
“Did you see something?”
“Yes.” She lifted her gaze to his.
“I saw a werewolf being held captive underground in New Orleans. I watched as his flesh was cut away from his back.” She squeezed her eyes tight and grimaced.
Lucien’s gut tightened. She was spot on.
“Oh, my god,” Catty’s hand went to her mouth as she looked at Lucien.
“What else?” He needed to know.
Ella sucked in a deep breath.
“Ella, I need to know where I can find them and who’s doing this.” His rough tone cut through the silence of the night.
“So this is true?” Catty’s horrified gaze landed on him.
“That’s why I was sent here. To find out who is doing this and stop it.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Ella, I need to know where I can find them. I need to know if they are still alive.”
“He’s gone. Forever lost.” All the seriousness had gone out of Ella’s tone. He knew then she was telling him the truth.
“Dead?” Fuck. He’d held out hope Mitchell was still alive. “Where?”
“Under the ground of New Orleans. Look near the shipyard.” She glanced over at Catty and glared. “You won’t have to look too hard. Isn’t that right, Catty?”
“What the hell are you insinuating? You think I knew about this?” Catty’s voice grew louder.
Lucien’s blood ran cold. He looked from Catty back to Ella.
“Tell me! Did you see me in your vision?” Catty asked.
“I saw something called the Triple X and the man who owns it. He knows about it. I saw the wolves being tortured. I saw your face, looking on.” Ella sneered and looked away.