THE MORRIGAN CHRONICLES

WE EXITED THE Great Oak, Daur, my trusted friend at my side. I don’t remember his birth name. He had gone by Daur, meaning oak, for as long as I can remember. He was half crazy, strongest of all the Tuatha and as large as a tree. Though many thought him as dumb as a tree, I knew better. He’d been at my back many times. Other than Emrys, he was my closest friend and one of the bravest warriors I knew.

We were in a small park in the French Quarter.

“So this is New Orleans?” I couldn’t help the wonder in my voice. I had been watching television, but this was the first modern city I’d actually seen.

“This is it.” Emrys beamed. “This is an old part of town. Much magic exists here. I think it’s why supernaturals are drawn to it. The humans that have lived here for generations have seen or felt the presence of other realms. It’s an anomaly, really. Most humans chalk anything supernatural up to folklore now. But the residents here have their eyes wide open.”

The sun was at its highest point in the sky. The weather here warmer than Missouri and I could feel the humidity in the air. The street bustled with jovial energy that somehow simultaneously held a leisurely pace. It definitely was magic.

We strolled down the street wearing modern clothing, our weapons and leathers in large duffel bags. Though we could mirage ourselves against the humans, supernaturals could see past the mirage and we were not about to tip our hand.

“Remember, we’re here only to observe and learn what we can.” Emrys spoke to us but I knew he was directing the orders to me. I nodded, acknowledging I had heard him. “We’ll get a room at a small hotel that is directly across from the vampire and werewolf nest I’ve found. It’s a very large one.”

Three days we spent painstakingly noting every member, every pattern, every task they performed. Their nest was more of a small fortress. It was a large hotel that housed a speakeasy style bar at the back of an open garden courtyard. We had taken turns, a couple of us each night, going into the bar for drinks. There was always a small band, lots of dancing and cheap booze. The humans flocked to it.

We sat in our room, Daur stretched out on the bed watching some stupid reality television show. The rest of us were scattered across the floor eating the most wonderful thing I’d ever tasted. Beignets. We could stay here a century stuffing ourselves, and I’d never tire of them.

Emrys clicked away on the laptop at the desk, oblivious to our gluttony. “It seems we have identified seventy-seven vampires and fortytwo werewolves. The bar is always packed with humans and around twenty or so supernaturals. Mostly vampire, but five to seven werewolves. Contrary to the lore I’ve read they are not two separate rival societies. They are one homogenous society that has a symbiotic relationship.”

“You sound like a fraking scientist,” Daur managed to say with a mouthful of pastry.

Emrys rolled his eyes. “Well, someone around here has to be the smart one. Seeing as you have the big dumb oaf role filled I shall acquiesce to being the intelligent one.”

Daur’s face was stone. His mouth was caked in powdered sugar, half of a pastry stuck to his beard. His red hair sprayed out as a tangled crown. His eyes radiated rage. The room sparked with tension.

Daur broke the silence by spitting out the rest of his pastry, laughing hysterically with his famous ‘mad’ look on his face, and I couldn’t help but understand why folks thought him nuts. “Druid, you are one funny little man.”

Only next to Daur could Emrys be considered little.

“As I was saying,” Emrys still looked confused whether the situation was resolved or not, “the myth that vampires cannot be in sunlight holds true. The werewolves stay in all day guarding them. Only two or three will leave throughout the daytime. When the bar opens in the evening it is never the same wolves and vampires that are there. We haven’t seen any humans taken from the bar to be fed upon.”

“Do the wolves eat the hearts of humans? I saw that in a movie,” Daur said with his nose crinkled.

“I don’t know any more than you do of their feeding habits.” Emrys was now rubbing his temples. I loved Daur and found him amusing. He always got on Emrys’ nerves.

“It’s been three days and all we know is how many of them there are and where they are,” I said, irritated.

“Not exactly,” Emrys said a little more smugly than I’m sure he intended. “We can detect what they are by smell. We have sat in that bar, granted, different groupings of us each time, but seemingly have gone unnoticed by them.”

Everyone in the room nodded.

“We need more information.” My gaze hardened on Emrys. I knew he could spend years sitting in this room observing this nest. I suppose it was being a Druid. Knowledge was a drug to him and acquiring as much of it as he could was his sole purpose at times, it seemed.

“Patience, Morrigan.” I felt the magic in his voice and used what defenses I had to not succumb to it. Though he was extremely powerful, I wasn’t helpless against these kinds of attacks.

He felt me push back, then gave me his pleading look. The look he gave me when he felt I was being irrational.

Aiden stood up and sat on the foot of the bed. Seeing him next to Daur I couldn’t help but notice the contrast. Complete opposites. Aiden followed every order without hesitation, was keenly observant, and fought with textbook precision. Daur’s gruffness only made Aiden look ‘prettier’ and more delicate than he actually was. Daur bathed infrequently and his flaming red hair had never been well kept. Aiden wouldn’t dream of leaving his dwelling without looking manicured. He was a trusted Teulu, but I’d take Daur over him any day.

Aiden nodded at Emrys, showing his alignment. “We are, as per the

King’s request, here to take in as much information as we can. That’s all.”

I held my impassive mask in place but inwardly rolled my eyes. Daur didn’t manage to hold his and stuck his large finger into his nostril behind Aiden, making me laugh.

“Of course.” I averted my eyes so as not to give Daur away. “We’re only performing recon. Daur and I will take our turn tonight in the bar. He can be my crazy brother in town for a visit from the insane asylum.”

Daur always laughed too loud and his eyes bugged out too far when he did so. This time was no exception.