Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
“You must remember, Emily. These battles will be intense, a psychological war,” Delphine warned. “Sometimes. . .you will be navigating a dreamlike landscape inside your mind, and I will not always be able to come with you.”
Her words filled me with a deep sense of dread, but also a strange resolve. I had to do this, not just for myself, but for Kazimir, Max, Emilio, and Paolo.
With Lunita gone, they would be safe.
Kaz tightened my grip. “If you must do this, then I will be with you, mysh.”
My heart ached. “Thank you, baby.”
Delphine took a puff off her pipe and blew out more smoke. “Unfortunatly Kazimir, you will not be next to her this evening.”
Kaz’s grip on my hand tightened. “What do you mean? I will not leave her side—”
“Emily will need a certain ingredient that only her lover can get. That is the way the healing spell goes. Plus, she will need the first ingredient in her hand before the sun comes up in the sky tomorrow morning.” Delphine gave him a sad smile. “And this item cannot be bought from your usual markets.”
Kaz appeared uncomfortable. “What if I ordered someone else to do it, would it still—”
“You must do it, Kazimir. No one else. It must be a man that loves her with all of his heart. I believe that is you.”
He scowled at her. “You think I would trust you to watch over my mouse?”
“Maxwell will be here as well as the rest of her people. I have plenty of room. It is just one night, Kazimir.” Delphine pointed at him with the pipe. “But, you must understand that the person that has this item has a deep distrust for outsiders, especially someone with your reputation.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the daunting path he would have to embark on.
Kaz put his view on me. “Mysh, what do you want?”
I turned to him. “I’m going to be okay. I’m more worried about you, baby.”
“I am not scared of a bunch of swamp gangsters. I am worried about my fiancé. I want to make sure that I do not have to raise my sons on my own.”
“I will be fine.”
Max got closer to me. “Yo, I don’t want to stay here. I think I should go off and get this thing.”
I sucked my teeth. “Are you serious? I’m trying to heal my mind, thus healing us.”
“Can’t we just heal from the hotel?” Max held out his hands. “This place will be bugged out at night. It’s already scary during the day.”
Tisha looked at Kaz. “I will help you get whatever item you need and then have you back early. Trust me, cousin. Together, it will be easy.”
Kaz blew out a long breath, looked up at Delphine, and spoke through clenched teeth, “What do I have to get?”
“The Eye of the Gator.” Delphine took a puff from her pipe.
Kaz frowned. “Any alligator?”
She shook her head. “You need to get the Eye of the Gator. It is in the possession of a man named Thibaut Leclair. Most call him the Alligator Don.”
Kaz loudly groaned.
Tisha held out his hands. “Who is this?”
She scowled at him. “Thibaut grew up in the swamps. He knows the bayou better than anyone. Because of that, he was always able to excellently navigate the waters for smuggling goods and also outrun the authorities.”
Sighing, Kaz looked back at me. “Are you sure you will be okay, msyh?”
“Yes, baby.”
Delphine continued, “Today, he rules the bayous.”
Tisha shrugged. “Alright. We get this eye from the Don. Sounds simple.”
“However. . .” Delphine raised one finger. “No one crosses the Alligator Don’s path and comes out unscathed.”
“We will see about that.” Kaz narrowed his eyes at her. “And this Eye of the Gator? Tell me more. How will I know I have it?”
Delphine paused, probably taking a moment to choose her words carefully. “It’s not a symbolic relic, Kazimir. It’s a literal eye of a white alligator, specifically an ancient creature from the Louisiana bayous. The Eye has been carefully preserved for centuries in this jar, and the Don keeps it next to his throne. There is no other eye in a jar near him, so that part will be easy.”
Tisha chuckled. “The Don has a throne?”
“And several alligators around it.” Delphine shook her head. “Be polite when you talk to him because he will not want to give you the eye.”
“He will give it to me, or he will die.” Kazimir glared. “But, why do we need this eye?”
Sighing, Delphine directed her gaze towards me. “The alligator embodies a delicate balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. This specific eye will easily get you into the world inside of your head.”
“Yo, this is getting a bit paranormally crazy to me.” Max shook his head. “I’m more comfortable with regular day-to-day shooting people stuff. Are we really going to do this shit?”