It certainly hadn’t been a typical Louisiana funeral, unless of course the decedent was royalty. And judging from the influx of Louisiana dignitaries, Marie Roux was definitely Creolean royalty. Enola wasn’t surprised by the mayor’s appearance, but when she learned that the governor was in attendance, admittedly, she was surprised.

After the funeral service, Enola, Ruby, and Margo, dressed in all black, followed the horse drawn hearse to the cemetery. She barely heard the somber music, played by the NOLA City Jazz Band, as they approached her gran’s final resting place. Gideon placed his hand on Enola’s shoulder. He’d done that often throughout the day, just to let her know that he was behind her. She didn’t turn around, but she placed her hand over his, taking great comfort in his touch.

Once her gran was laid to rest, Enola and her family, accompanied by the Toussaint wolves, decided to forego the large celebratory parade through the streets of New Orleans known as the “second line.” They had more important business to attend to.

Gideon led them out of the cemetery and into a dark SUV. The drive to Black Water Bayou was somber, but short. Gideon drove the entire way with his hand over Enola’s, and she spent the entire time staring out of the window. Memories of her gran played like a movie in her mind, each memory better than the last.

Gideon pulled over near the tree line. He hopped out of the SUV and opened the door for the ladies. Enola and her family followed Gideon to the cargo van that had followed them to the bayou. Boone hopped out of the van and opened the back door. Inside was the priest, or what was left of the priest after the wolves were done torturing him. He was a torn, bloody mess.

Gabriel climbed out of the passenger seat and walked around the van. He reached inside, grabbed the priest by the back of his neck, and yanked him out of the van. The priest yelped as he hit the ground in a thud. Gabriel had no mercy. He grabbed him by the hair and dragged him through the dirt.

Enola and the rest followed Gabriel through the trees until they made it to a clearing. They were in the exact same spot where Auriette Moreau was executed. Boone had already prepared a wooden stake. The priest began to scream for help the moment he saw his method of execution.

“Shut up!” Margo demanded.

The priest’s lips snapped shut. He was quivering as if the compulsion was physically painful.

“What God would give Margo this power?” Ruby muttered humorously.

Ruby’s words were Enola’s exact sentiments but she kept her mouth shut and watched, with pleasure, as Boone used a thick rope to bind their enemy to the wooden stake. Once the priest was securely bound, Gabriel approached the priest and asked, “Why?”

“Why?” the priest parroted.

“Why did you murder my woman, witch?” Gabriel gritted.

“She was my woman!” the priest bellowed.

Enola recoiled from shock. Someone had forgotten that part of the story.

“What?” Gabriel scoffed.

The look on Gabriel’s face was that of pure disgust.

“I owned her mother. When she was born, she was so beautiful that I claimed her as my own. But she chose to lay down with a dog instead of having me. I vowed then to crush her and her entire blood line.”

Enola gasped. It had finally hit her. She didn’t know why it had taken her so long to figure it out. In order for Auriette to have a blood line, there had to have been a child.

She walked over to Gabriel. The horror in his eyes was telling his story.

“He killed her too,” Gabriel sighed.

“Oh, my God,” Margo gasped.

Enola squinted, thinking of a piece of the puzzle that was missing. Gideon placed his hand on Enola’s shoulder. As if reading her mind, he explained.

“There were two. Twins. Gabrielle and Geneva. He knew of Geneva, but he had no clue about Gabby. She kept your line alive.”

Enola was blown away. She had just learned that she was not only a descendant of Auriette Moreau, but she was also a descendant of Gabriel Toussaint.

Margo walked up behind Gabriel and placed her hand on his shoulders. “All right, Grandpa Gabe, we’ll get the history lesson later. Can we kill the evil priest now?”

Gabriel dropped his head and chuckled. Typical Margo. She could make a person laugh in the worst of circumstances. But within seconds, Gabriel returned to the matter at hand. He stepped closer to the priest, his demeanor serious and deadly.

“Father Bartholomew Batiste, you have been tried and found guilty of witchcraft. Having whored yourself to Satan, you are sentenced to death!”

Gabriel smirked devilishly at the priest.

“You can repent for your sins, but it won’t matter. You will die the same fiery death that you bestowed upon my love.”

Gabriel stepped back and turned to Enola. The priest struggled against the ropes as if Margo couldn’t confine him without them. Enola stepped forward. She looked the monster right in the eye, and proudly recited Auriette Moreau’s curse.

“Je déclenche le feu sur vous tous! I unleash these very flames upon you!

Enola raised her hand and directed her palm at the priest. He screamed bloody murder as he burst into flames. Admittedly, it gave her great pleasure to set that son of a bitch on fire.

Gabriel walked over to Enola and pulled her in his arms. She could feel a slight tremble as he held her tight.

“Thank you,” Gabriel whispered. “You have given me something I have waited over a century for. I will forever be grateful.”

Enola returned Gabriel’s hug. “Don’t thank me, Grandpa Gabe.” Enola chuckled. “This was my destiny.”

Enola could hear Gideon clearing his throat behind her. Gabriel kissed the top of her head and mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Can you turn my woman loose now, baby brother?”

“Four minutes,” Gabriel muttered before walking away. “You’re four minutes older than me.”

Enola walked over to Gideon, snaked her arms around his neck, and pulled his mouth to her own. When their lips touched, it was as if a pound of stress melted away. He deepened the kiss, making her weak in the knees.

“You’re a beast,” she mumbled against his lips.

“That I am, Nola, darlin’.”

They’d been through so much, in so little time. Enola just wanted to go to Gideon’s place, take a hot bath, and lay up with her man all night.