Something Wicked in New Orleans: Part 2

The sun scorched the room, but Hope couldn't seem to move from where she lay between her men. They were a haphazard mess of limbs, with Hope's calf trapped under Newt's thigh and Albus' foot resting across her ankle. Still, she refused to move. It was moments like these she cherished. Watching them sleep, breathing evenly after a long night of passionate lovemaking.

Initially, they had intended to sleep the day away and explore the city by night, but after meeting Lisette yesterday, their plans changed. Unsure of the time, Hope looked over Albus' frame to see the pocket watch on the side table. 9:15- almost time to meet Lisette.

"Hm." She murmured as she eyed Abus' face and smiled softly, seeing how smoothed his features were. His job entailed a lot, so the stress often showed in the creases of his forehead. He deserved some time away from all the drama. Hope wished she could give him that.

Maybe one day she would.

Reaching forward, Hope stroked his bottom lip lightly with her pinkie. His lips moved into a crooked smile as his eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning." Albus chuckled gruffly and kissed her fingertip, trapping her with snares of indigo.

With a smile, she giggled as his kiss turned into a playful nip, and she quickly took her hand away.

"I wasn't finished." Albus grinned and took her hand back, pinning her wrist down as he began nipping up the length of the underside of her arm and down to her breast.

Everywhere his lips touched was fire against her skin.

Just as she squirmed under his lips, a new set of fingertips traced along the length of her spine. Hope glanced over her shoulder and watched as Newt, with disheveled hair, kissed down her back. Giggling as the tingles ran over her skin, she shook her head.

"We won't have time this morning…"

"We have a little time," Albus smirked.

Hope shook her head and grinned. "You're impossible," she sat up in bed and combed her fingers through her hair, "I need to clean up before we go." She pecked their lips before slipping off the bed, sauntering her naked body to the tiny bathroom space across the way. Very aware that they were watching her every move.

After filling a steaming bath and adding a few oils, Hope slipped in and began scrubbing her body until it was tinted pink. It was nice to bathe herself without worrying about something watching her.

She had to admit, though, things seemed a bit quiet near the end of the year. No attacks or poisoning attempts. It would have relieved her if it wasn't so unsettling.

After she was sure she'd cleaned every crevice, she tugged the chain of the plug and let the water drain. Hope stepped out of the tub and wrapped a fuzzy towel around her body before waltzing into the living space, leaving a trail of wet footprints.

Hope stopped dead at the bathroom threshold, watching the scene before her with wide eyes and a growing grin.

Albus had Newt's face pressed down into the pillows while his thick cock slammed into him, rocking the bed harshly against the wall. 

The neighbors must hate them.

"I leave you alone for two seconds…" Hope giggled.

Newt could only groan in response as Albus smirked over at her, not faltering in his rhythmic pounding. 

Dressing quickly, Hope sat in the chair at the dining table. She took up an apple and bit into it as she watched the show's climax.

"Bravo!" Hope clapped as Newt collapsed onto the bed, soaking himself with his cum while Albus came across his back with a loud grunting moan.

Hope took another bite of the apple, the juice running down her chin. "The water is still warm."

Albus returned to reality a little quicker than Newt, chuckling lightly as he walked over to her and leaned down. At first, Hope thought he was simply going for a kiss, but instead, he grabbed her chin and licked the juice that dribbled down.

"Tonight, this mouth is mine."

Hope audibly swallowed the bit of apple in her mouth as she gazed up at him, entirely under his spell.

"And this ass," he pulled her to her feet and used both hands to grip her cheeks, digging his finger in, "and this pussy is all mine." Albus' hand reached around and cupped between her legs, forcing an involuntary gasp from her.

Hope nodded in silent agreement.

He could have her all night long if he wished.

It was closer to 10:15 when they arrived at the address Lisette gave them. Hope looked down at the paper that read 105 and up at the matching number. It was a store, evidently, and there was no questioning what Lisette sold here.

"Maybe being a witch does pay the bills, sometimes." Hope gestured to the giant sign on the window: one free palm reading with the purchase of any item. 

The three of them were on high alert as they approached the front door, but Hope frowned as they came face to face with a red sign that said closed.

"She should be expecting us." Hope sighed as she knocked on the door and waited.

When there was no sign of someone coming to the door, Albus added a heavy sigh and glanced down at Hope. "What would you like to do?"

Hope bit her lip and looked at the door, shaking her head. "We've come too far to walk away now. Even if she's changed her mind, I'd rather know than walk away with nothing. What's the worst thing she could say to us? Leave?"

Nodding, Albus stepped forward and tapped his wand to the handle after checking the coast was clear. It unlocked without him uttering a word.

With a deep breath, Hope pushed forward, and the stench of something horrid encompassed her.

Putting a hand to her mouth, she blinked the moisture from her reddening eyes.

"Oh, God. What is that?"

"It's…Lisette." Newt replied numbly.

Hope followed his gaze to the front desk across the shop's tiny space. Lisette's head was lying on the wooden surface, soaked in coagulating blood.

A soft gasp escaped her chest, and before Albus or Newt could get a hold of her arms, she moved closer to the now-dead witch.

Cringing, Hope moved around the desk edge to get a better look. A dark grief swallowed her as she took the scene in. Lisette's eyes stared blankly at the wall to her right. A thin but deep slice from one side of her jaw to the other explained her cause of death.

"Who…why…" The questions vaulted through her brain as she pressed her fingers to her lips, shaking her head before looking at Albus and Newt.

Newt looked paler than she'd ever seen, swaying a little on his feet, while Albus was sternly alert. The brows set severely as he took in the sight before him.

In her distracted state, Albus pried a letter in Lisette's clenched fist that Hope hadn't noticed before. He scanned it quickly before stuffing it into his pocket.

"What is it?" Hope asked with a frown that was quickly turning into a glare.

"Not now, Hope."

"Yes, now." Hope moved around the desk to grab his jacket, but his hand caught her wrist, holding her at a distance. Staring at him, hot tears began to prick her eyes as her face flushed.

"It's because of me, isn't it." Her voice broke in a shaky whisper.

"No, this is not your fault, Hope," Albus said seriously, but his eyes didn't hold their usual warmth.

"Then let me see the letter."

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife as they stared each other down. Newt swallowed horsley as he watched them, brows furrowed in concern.

Finally, after ages, Albus handed her the note. "It doesn't change what I said. This is not your fault, Hope. The person behind this…"

But Hope had already tuned him out as she opened the paper, and the three words on the page made her stomach twist painfully.

Be my Valentine.

Below the words was a piece of Wolfsbane, molded to the paper in ruby red wax.

Tears stained the page in hot drips. Looking up, the silent tears continued to stream. "She's dead because of me."

"Hope-" Albus and Newt started at the same time.

Just then, a bang came at the front door. "Lisette!" More pounding came, and instinctively, they rushed behind a curtain of hanging beads and pressed themselves up against the inventory of what seemed to be potion ingredients, staring silently at each other.

  The door in the front opened and shut. "Lisette," a young woman's voice came, "you are not going to beli- Lisette?"

"NO!" The woman screeched.

A heart-shattering scream plunged Hope's heart into darkness. New tears flowed as she closed her eyes, listening to the wails of the heartbroken woman.

Hands squeezed her arms, and she opened her eyes again before a swish sound roared in her ears, and they were suddenly standing in their living space.

Hope stood there, numbly holding the paper that she only realized was splattered with Lisette's blood.

"Welcome back." A stranger's voice came from behind her.

Turning slowly, Hope stared at a person she'd never seen before, but he wasn't alone. Next to him was Theseus, who looked entirely distraught. They were both Aurors, she realized.

"Theseus?" Newt frowned, shaking his head. "What are you doing here?"

Hope looked over at Albus, noting his equally confused expression, before looking back at the two men.

The one next to Theseus, with greasy black hair and a smashed nose, smiled grimly. "By order of the Ministry of Magic- you three are placed under arrest."