The Shadow Under the Bayou

When Tiana’s Palace opened, people said the gumbo had a taste of dreams. But locals whispered that she’d made one last deal—one last favor owed. At the corner table, shadows gather even when the candles are out. Sometimes, the soup steams red, and a deep voice hums: “Are you satisfied?” Tiana never answers, but every night, she sets that same table—just in case he comes back.