by J. N. Colon
The baron’s obsidian eyes slid toward her, a smile tipping the edges of his lips. “That was impressive, madam.” He removed his hat and gave my grandmother a small bow. “Bonus points for the expert rolling of your R’s.”
Her nostrils flared, and she stepped forward. “You’re going to regret ever messing with my family.”
My mother grabbed her, yanking her to a stop. “Don’t, Milagro.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t make this worse.”
Baron Samedi turned toward my sister, holding out his hand. “Shall we?”
She shot to her feet and backed away, hitting the invisible barrier. Her eyes were wild. “I don’t understand. I thought I was protected.”
“Ah, well, cher, that little protection spell the pouvior bokor performed on you means nothing if you call me yourself.” A cigar appeared between his fingers, and he put it to his lips. The cherry flamed like brimstone, and ash drifted to the floor.
Marisol’s gaze turned pensive. Was she trying to remember how she ended up in Ms. Delphine’s attic?
Acid flooded my stomach as I recalled the small clues that something was going on with my sister. I hadn’t imagined the Vondou coming from her room. Her binds breaking wasn’t what caused her to pass out in our attic. It was Jesse manipulating her through voodoo.
What else had that lying bastard done to her?
Jesse slowly stood, his arrogant smirk directed my way. “There’s nothing you can do, Angel.”
The lights began to flicker as my magic swirled to the surface. I wanted to rip that guy's throat out or better yet, his family jewels. And then stomp them into dust.
“Angeline,” Etie warned, his fingers gently wrapping around my wrist.
As it turned out, my sister didn’t need me to avenge her. Her expression flared to life, her dark brown eyes burning with angry fire. She pivoted toward Jesse and without warning, rammed her foot between his legs.
A sharp intake of air echoed from every male in the room even the baron. Jesse’s knees hit the floor and his body folded over, a muffled groan seeping out.
“You asshole,” Marisol hissed. “You were tricking me this entire time! You’re not even related to Ms. Delphine, are you? Everything that came out of your mouth was a lie.”
“Not everything,” he choked, a pained smile twitching his lips. “I really do think you’re amazing in the sack.”
A meaty thud resonated as Marisol punched Jesse. His head whipped around, returning with crimson smeared on his mouth. Marisol yanked her fist back for another attack when Baron Samedi caught her arm and hauled her away.
Deep, skin-crawling chuckles mixed with the cigar smoke curling out of his mouth. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I can’t let you permanently maim one of my best followers.”
Jesse shifted just as dark ink began to materialize on his neck, revealing Baron Samedi’s vevè. The tattoo of a skull atop a snake-wrapped cross marked him as a member of Louange le Noir.
My jaw clenched so hard my teeth threatened to crack. I should have known. “So you put Jesse on Marisol duty as a backup plan?” Baron Samedi always intended on using my sister to get to me if I slipped through his grasp.
Etie’s fingers twitched on my wrist, warning me.
Baron Samedi shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”
A sudden wind whipped through the air. “You’re not taking my daughter anywhere.” My father’s eyes burned a vivid violet.
The voodoo deity cocked his head. “You can’t stop me, brujo. A soul for a soul and since Eve-angel-ine defaulted on our deal, I must take your oldest. She should have come to the spirit world a long time ago. I’m just righting things.”
“Please, don’t.” Tears spilled down my mother’s cheeks. “She doesn’t deserve this.”
The baron took another puff of his cigar, his coal eyes lingering over me. “No, she doesn’t deserve this. Isn’t that right, Eve-angel-ine?”
A massive knot fisted in my chest as his words sank through my gut like poison. No, Marisol didn’t deserve this. Had I not asked him to heal her eight years ago, she’d be peacefully resting in the spirit world. Or, if I hadn’t screwed up and called Papa Legba like I was supposed to, none of this would be happening. We’d both be alive and fine.
A bottle of rum appeared in the voodoo king’s hand. He swirled the liquid around, absentmindedly watching it. “I wouldn’t be opposed to offering another deal.”
Etie instantly stiffened beside me. “No.”
An ominous smile curled the baron’s lips. “That ain’t your choice, boy.”
Electricity slithered over Etie’s skin as he dipped into his power. “You can’t have Angeline. She’s already mine.”
“If she comes to me willingly…” The baron’s chuckle sent chills down my neck. “I don’t need to own her soul. I just need access to it.”
Blood drained from Etie’s cheeks, and his fingers turned cold on my wrist. “She wouldn’t allow that.”
But the baron knew if he threatened my sister I would.
The dark deity downed a gulp of rum, licking his lips. “Tell you what, cher. I’ll give you until Fete Gede to decide who’s coming with me. You or your sister.”
I had no idea what or when Fete Gede was. I only knew I couldn’t let my sister take the fall for my mistakes.
But if I gave myself over to the voodoo king, what would it do to Etie?
I wasn’t ever going to know the answer to that. We were going to find a way out of this tangled web once and for all. Baron Samedi wasn’t getting either one of us.
Power pulsed from Etie as he anticipated my next move. His lips thinned. “Don’t you dare,” he growled low enough for my ears only.
My chest squeezed the air from my lungs as I looked at my alimèt. The swirling tattoo above my collarbone seared to life. The gwo-bon lyen didn’t like what I was about to do any more than Etie did. But I had no choice. He had to know that.
My heart broke again as I tore my gaze from Etie’s tortured expression. “Deal.”
Sounds of protests exploded around the attic. Etie dropped my arm as a cold steel door slammed between us. I swallowed back the hard lump of regret trying to choke me. He was more than pissed. He was hurt.
Marisol shook her head. “Angel, you can’t do this.”
“Wonderful.” Baron Samedi placed the bottle of rum on the floor. As he stood, crimson leaked into his black irises.
A bitter taste spilled over my tongue. Oh god. What was he up to?
He grabbed my sister’s arm and smoke sizzled through the air as she screamed. “Just a little something to keep the bokors from binding Marisol’s soul to someone.”
My father darted forward, his body rebounding on the invisible barrier. “You’re going to pay for this.” His gaze landed on Jesse who was chugging the bottle of rum. “Both of you.”
The baron released Marisol, revealing his vevè burned onto her wrist. “Her soul is mine now—unless your youngest relinquishes herself to me on the day of Fete Gede.”
“Why Fete Gede?” Henri slowly walked forward, meeting the voodoo deity’s gaze without a drop of fear. “What have you got planned for the Day of the Dead?
A crooked smile hitched up Baron Samedi’s lips. “Henri Benoit, the great Louange le Noir bokor.” A deep laugh rumbled from him, more smoke streaming out of his mouth even though the cigar had disappeared. “It wasn’t long ago you were praising me.” He flicked his finger toward his own vevè tattooed on Henri’s bicep. “You’re one of the leaders of voodoo who pushed more followers my way. And now you go against me?”
An icy chill skittered down my back. Henri was responsible for Louange le Noir shifting their focus to Baron Samedi instead of all voodoo gods?
“People change.” Henri’s fingers curled into tight fists by his sides as if he wanted nothing more than to treat the deity like a punching bag.
“Not people like you, Henri.” The baron’s dark gaze lingered over Etie’s father, something unreadable flashing through those d
ark irises. “Maybe one day I’ll let you back in my good graces.” He laid his hand on Jesse’s shoulder, shooting me a wink. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Eve-angel-ine.”
The voodoo king flashed an ominous smile that promised more haunting visits to come. He and Jesse dematerialized in a puff of smoke.
The invisible barrier separating Marisol from the rest of us finally crumbled. Feeling the release, she crossed over the ritual circle, bypassing my father and throwing her arms around our trembling mother. “It’s okay, Mom. We’ll figure this out.” Her gaze shifted toward me. “Right, Angel?”
“Of course.” But a sour taste coated my throat. After everything that had happened, I was back at square one. The voodoo king wanted my soul, and he was using my sister to get to me.
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Read more from J.N. Colon
THE VAMPIRE PROPHECY
Dark Fates
Dark Divide
Dark Oblivion
THE IRON SERIES
Blood In Iron
Badly In Blood
Blood Lies
Torn By Blood
Blood Shattered
DIVINE DARKNESS
Dark Souls
Dark Sins
Dark Prophecy
Dark Goddess
SECRET SALEM
Stalked
Hunted
Haunted
Tormented
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author J.N. Colon writes young adult and new adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She’s a bonified paranormal junkie, getting her fixes from books, television, and movies. Her favorite day of the year is Halloween, and she’s dying to go ghost hunting one day. Stop by her website and learn more about her and her books.
www.jncolon.com