“Oh, yeah, it’s probably our biggest celebration outside of Mardi Gras. Parades, costumes, street parties. There’s even a huge three-day music festival in City Park— Voodoo Fest. The lineup this year is awesome so lots of folks are celebrating Halloween in the Big Easy.”
Adam shot me a meaningful look. “That should make things interesting.”
I nodded and nibbled on my lip. The parties and people might help conceal our presence a little longer. But it also made security an issue. Not only did it increase the risk of humans seeing something they shouldn’t, but it also raised the odds of innocents getting harmed if shit went down. Plus there was the whole issue of not being able to spot enemies approaching with thousands of costumed people filling the streets. But if I had my way, we’d find Maisie long before the festivities heated up on Saturday night.
We made it down Royal without incident before Brooks took a sharp right on Toulouse. Just past Pat O’Brien’s, a neon sign advertised our destination. From the outside, Lagniappe’s looked like any other French Quarter bar. Inside, the decor was typical bar. In fact, the only interesting detail was a stage set across from the long bar. Given Brooks’s claim that the bar offered a little something extra, I found myself disappointed.
“It’s pretty empty,” Adam observed as Brooks led us through the empty tables toward the back. Despite the lack of clientele, rock growled from the speakers. Something by Melissa Etheridge.
“Won’t be empty for long,” Brooks yelled. “The show starts at nine. By then the place will be filled to the gills.”
I reserved judgment on that claim, because we’d reached a door bearing a sign that read “Private.” Brooks knocked twice. I didn’t hear anyone answer over the blaring music, but he opened the door and ushered us inside anyway.
A petite brunette sat behind a desk in the corner. From my vantage point she looked like another human at first. But when I sniffed the air I caught the scent of dog and relaxed. I’d been expecting a vampire, of course. But a werewolf would do. I was just relieved Brooks had brought us to someone who might be more plugged in to the darkrace underworld than Zen might be.
“Brooks!” the female called as she rose to greet us. “You brought friends.”
“Hey, girl!” Brooks said, going in for a hug. When they were done, he turned and held out a hand.
“This is Sabina Kane and Adam Lazarus. They’re staying at Zen’s.”
Mac approached with a warm smile and an extended hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m MacKenzie Romulus. You can call me Mac.”
She moved to Adam just as her last name sunk in. “Wait, did you say Romulus?”
When she nodded, I continued. “You wouldn’t be related to Michael Romulus, would you?”
Her eyes brightened. “He’s my uncle.”
My mouth fell open. Hard to imagine the straitlaced Alpha of New York weres was related to a female who owned a dive bar in New Orleans. “What a coincidence,” I said. “I just saw him a few days ago.”
“I’ve been meaning to call him since I heard about the trouble in New York. Please tell me he wasn’t in the middle of all that.”
I cringed. “Actually, he was. He and his pack helped the Hekate Council when they were attacked by the Dominae.”
Her eyebrows knitted into a frown. “Is he okay?”
I nodded. “Your uncle’s hard to kill.” I didn’t mention the fact I’d tried it myself and failed. Luckily, Michael and I had moved past that conflict in time to team up against the Caste’s attack. “Didn’t get so much as a scratch. In fact, I probably owe him a dozen favors for saving my ass. He’s good people.”
She smiled and motioned to some seats in front of the desk. “Well, any friend of Uncle Mike’s is a friend of mine. Have a seat.”
“Actually, if y’all will excuse me?” Brooks cut in. “I need to get ready for my set.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Mac said. “Scoot.”
Brooks turned to go and then stopped. “Will you two stick around to see the show?”
I blinked. “You’re performing?”
Brooks smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
I glanced at Adam to make sure he was cool with hanging out. He shrugged and nodded. “We wouldn’t miss it.”
When Brooks was gone, we all took seats around Mac’s desk. “So, Brooks said you needed some information about a missing mage?”
I nodded. “My sister. She was kidnapped by a vampire during the attack in New York.”
Mac paused in the middle of distributing beers around the room. “What makes you think she’s here?”
I hesitated. Mac might be Michael’s niece, but as far as I was concerned, no one could be trusted. So I skipped the part about kidnapping Tanith. “Let’s just say we’re going on a credible tip.”
Mac took a pull from her beer and sat back in her chair. “And how exactly do you think I can help?”
Mac’s directness made me like her even more. “Brooks said you had connections with the vamps here. Do you mind if I ask what exactly your connection is to them?”
She took her time answering. Pulling open a desk drawer, she withdrew a pack of American Spirits. After offering the pack to us and shrugging at our refusals, she used a pack of matches with the club’s name on them to light her cigarette. I tamped down my impatience. From what I’d seen of Mac so far, she was shrewd. She knew as much about us as we knew about her, which is to say not much. Only a fool would show all his cards now.
She blew out a chain of smoke rings before answering. “Let’s just say it’s in my best interest to have allies among all the dark races.”
“I’d imagine so, being so far away from your pack and all.” I was digging. For all I knew, she could have been the Alpha of a New Orleans pack. But something about the way she carried herself told me she was too much a rebel to follow any pack.
She took another drag. “Among other things.”
“We were hoping you might be able to tell us if there’s been chatter lately among the local vamps.”
She pursed her lips. “What kind of chatter?”
Adam leaned in. “Anything out of the ordinary. New vamps in town, changes in power structure. That kind of thing.”
“Now that you mention it,” Mac said. “I’ve been getting a feeling something’s coming. Can’t put my finger on it, but the vamps I know, well, lately some of them have been tense.”