Luc whipped his head toward Jake. Obviously, they were going to tell Celestine. She and Mama Arelia were the only ones who could help. Facing forward, Luc noticed Dubois’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Who would believe us?” Jake said.
“Ha! Right.” With that, he focused on the road.
Luc couldn’t have thought of a better answer himself without outright lying. As had become their pattern, Luc let Jake do the talking most of the time. Not that Luc was insecure, but because he’d learned that Jake always knew the right thing to say in a sticky situation.
It was something Luc had fought the first few times Jake tried to school him on life. That was until Frank pulled him aside and explained that Jake was wise beyond his years and he’d do well to follow his lead. Frank had said, ‘A smart man was one who listened and assessed a situation before he voiced his opinion, but the smartest man kept his opinions to himself. You can learn much about a person when you remain silent because it tends to make them uncomfortable and they feel the need to fill the void.’
That was probably the hardest lesson Luc had to learn, because at sixteen he thought he knew it all. He’d been on his own way too long to have someone else tell him what to do. But when he began practicing what Frank preached, he’d found his advice held merit. Now he kept everything close to the vest and spoke only when asked a direct question. Even then he weighed his answer first. That’s how he became the silent one in his relationship with Jake. It served him well.
The only other words spoken on the ride back to New Orleans was Jake giving Dubois their address. After being dropped off, they stood on the street and watched as his car disappeared from sight.
“What the hell do we do now?” Luc asked.
“I guess we contact your girlfriend.”
“Fuck you, she’s not my girlfriend.”
Jake exaggerated a frown. “Are you telling me that was a one-night stand?”
“What makes you think we had sex?” Luc asked.
“Oh, please, I could hear the Hawaiian noises all the way in the street.”
Jake was quoting a line from the Dire Straits song, Money for Nothing, that they’d found particularly funny.
“Like hell you could.”
Jake raised his brows and cocked his head.
“Fine. As far as I’m concerned, it was not a one-night stand, but I can’t speak for her.”
“Just be careful, bro. She’s not the type of girl whose heart you break. She could hex you and make your dick fall off.” Jake chuckled.
“Very funny. She can’t make my dick fall off.” Then Luc remembered everything that had happened that day. “Can she?”
Jake laughed and headed toward the house.
Luc followed behind. “Well, can she?”
Jake shook his head and ignored him.
One of the biggest obstacles as far as Luc was concerned was keeping the entire mess from Clara. She might not be psychic, but she was a sensitive that could read energy. She knew when something was going on, just not exactly what.
She would pepper him with questions until he cracked. That’s why when Luc had something to hide, he hid from her. He hadn’t mastered the art of answering a question without actually answering it like Jake had; he’d make a great politician some day.
Jake entered the house before Luc and shut the door as quietly as possible.
“Boys. Is that you?” Clara’s voice rang out.
They stared at each other.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jake replied.
Clara came down the hall wiping her hands on her apron and Luc stepped behind Jake. “Cuttin’ it kind a close, ain’t chew?”
Jake glanced at the grandfather clock. “Yes, ma’am.”
She stepped right up to them. Luc held his breath. “What chew boys been up to? Chew look a fright.”
Why the hell was she so calm? They were covered in mud and dripping wet.
She pointed at the ceiling. “Go wash fur supper.” She turned around and disappeared into the kitchen.
Luc exhaled. “That was close,” he whispered.
They headed up the stairs.
“Don’t kid yourself, we aren’t out of the woods yet,” Jake replied.
Jake’s room was the first one they came to.
“You’re right. She’s up to something,” Luc said before he continued down the hall to his room. He grabbed fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom.
After he stripped, he checked his shoulder. The makeshift bandage that had covered the claw mark was gone. The wound itself appeared red and angry. He moved away from the mirror so he could assess the bottom half of his body.
Only one piece of gauze remained, and it dangled by a single strip of tape so he pulled it off. From the waist down, his injuries had all but healed. He couldn’t believe his eyes. What the hell was in that stuff?
After his shower, he finished dressing, and met back up with Jake, who was waiting for him. Neither one wanted to face Clara alone. Together they made their way to the dining room where Clara was laying out their supper. A roasted chicken, a big bowl of beans and rice, and another of fresh green beans with bacon sat prominently in the middle of the table.
“Jake, be a good boy an’ cut da chicken.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jake picked up the carving knife and fork.
Clara knew better than to ask Luc, as the one and only time he’d tried to carve a bird was on Thanksgiving and he’d made a mess of things. Frank and Jake had teased him relentlessly. He vowed that day to never do it again. The room remained still until he had finished and they had full plates sitting before them.
Clara pulled out a chair and joined them. This was odd. She would not take her meals with them no matter how much they begged. It had something to do with the way she was raised; the help ate alone in the kitchen. Luc thought it was the dumbest thing he’d ever heard, but she couldn’t be swayed. That’s why this simple act was not at all simple. The axe was about to fall.
She eyed Jake first, then her gaze fell on Luc and that’s where it stayed. He grabbed his drumstick and took a huge bite.
“What you boys up to?” Although she said boys, she was directing the question toward Luc.
He chewed slowly as he looked to Jake, who was focused on his plate as he cut into his chicken breast.
“I don’t know what you mean?” Luc finally said.
“Chew still got dat rooster foot?”
Luc nodded.
She eyed him suspiciously. “Let me see.”
Luc set down his chicken, wiped his hands on his napkin, and then rooted around under his shirt. His hand came out empty.
“Where’d it go?”
She turned to Jake. “Chew gots ya gris gris?”
Jake’s mouth dropped. “How did you know about that?”
Clara dipped her chin as she stared at them, it gave her an ominous look. “Chew boys messin’ in tings ya shouldn’t be messin’ in,” she warned.
“But-”
Clara’s hand came up silencing Luc before he could explain.
“I say nothin’ ’cause I trust Mama Arelia. She put Celestine in charge. She strong voodoo priestess, but chew boys don’t listen.”
“How-”
She showed Jake the palm of her hand. “When I’m talkin’, chew listenin’, no?”
They nodded in unison.
“Chew don’ do nothin’ without consult Miss Celestine.”
“I did!” Luc shouted before she could cut him off.
“She done tol’ chew to confront evil Bokor alone?”
“We had the police with us,” Luc explained.
Jake gave him the stink eye, which meant he should shut up, but he didn’t understand why. They were already busted. He might as well explain his side of things. He did call Celestine first and she told him to go to the police. They didn’t go out there by themselves, they had the cops with them. What’s the big deal?
Clara squinted. “When?”
“I d
on’t know, I guess it was around ten this morning?” He glanced at Jake for verification, but he just rolled his eyes.
Clara’s hands slapped down on the table as she stood. Luc jerked in his seat. “Chew went back?”
Luc turned to Jake who closed his eyes and shook his head. How was he supposed to know she wasn’t talking about today?
Because Jake obviously knew.
If he’d been practicing what Frank preached he wouldn’t have fallen into that trap. Shit
“After ya brush wit’ death, chew went back ta give dat beast another chance ta kill ya?” she shouted.
“Chew no figure out dat what chew dealing wit’ ain’t human? Chew tink regular folk do tings like her?” Clara turned her back on them.
It must have been a full minute before she faced them again. It looked as if she had tears standing in her eyes and Luc felt horrible that he’d upset her so.
She swallowed before she continued. “Chew have much ta learn,” she said this calmly before she zeroed in on Jake. “I taught lease chew had sense.”
“I’m sorry. Truly I am, but we were trying to save a life,” Jake said.
“So am I,” she said quietly. “Don’ chew know by now dat I care what happen ta chew boys?” She sniffled.
“We’re sorry,” Luc added.
Clara collapsed in her chair. “Afta Mama Arelia call, I been half outta my mind wit worry. I clean da silver and chew know I only do dat on da first of da month.”
“You know Mama Arelia?” Luc asked.
“Boy, chew don know nothin’. Yes, I known her fur many years. She been keepin’ me up on what chew boys been doin’.” She took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her nose.
“Whatcha dealin’ wit is evil spirit, one dat never been in human form. Dis Hoodoo Bokor call powerful demon an offer her body ta use. Dat why she gots powers dat no mortal, not even one dat practice black magick possess.” Clara appeared weak, as if all her energy had drained from her body.
“You mean like someone who sold their soul to the devil?” Luc asked. “I thought that was only in movies.”
“Where ya tink dey got dat?” she replied.
TWENTY-ONE
Luc doubled over and clutched his stomach. Sharp pains stabbed at him from inside. He held on tight as he rocked back and forth, trying to squeeze hard enough to reach the muscles that appeared to be cramping. It was the only thing that made sense.
Clara ran to his side. “What tis it?”
Luc shook his head. “Ahhh!”
Jake jumped up. “I’ll call an ambulance.”
Clara had her hands on his face. “Chew have no fever.”
Luc tried to talk, but he couldn’t form any words. Another wave of pain came and he screamed so hard his throat hurt, and then he vomited on the floor.
“Jake, ders no time. Hurry!” Clara called out.
Jake raced back.
“Gotta carry ’im,” Clara said.
Jake positioned himself behind Luc and lifted him under his arms while Clara grabbed his feet. They grunted and groaned as they made their way through the kitchen toward the back door. Clara set down his feet and ran for her purse. Luc threw up again.
“Maybe we should wait for the ambulance,” Jake said.
“No time.” Clara threw open the kitchen door, ran outside and opened the back car door. She threw her purse in before she returned. They managed to slide him in by having Jake scoot along the back seat while he pulled Luc with him until he’d gone as far as he could. They had to fold Luc’s long legs in to shut the door, his head rested on Jake’s lap.
Luc continued to moan and writhe, but nothing lessened the agony. If anything, it grew more intense. Clara honked her horn as she wove in and out of traffic, cursing at cars in her way. He swore he’d die before they reached the hospital. He scrunched into a tight ball and prayed to God the torture would stop.
The car screeched around a corner and ran over a speed bump so fast Jake hit his head. Luc rolled off the seat to the floor and puked. The car came to an abrupt stop and Clara leaned on the horn until Luc’s ears hurt.
The back door flew open and a doctor in a white coat shouted for a gurney. Luc was lifted out of the car. His screams echoed through the cement structure. Someone or something was trying to rip their way through the walls of his abdomen. He imagined the Alien from the movie would pop out any second. He just wished he’d get it over with and end this anguish.
The doctor began pushing the gurney through the double doors. “Talk to me. What happened?”
Jake ran alongside. “We don’t know. One minute he was fine and the next he was screaming and gripping his stomach. He’s also been puking his guts out.”
“Does he have his appendix?”
“I don’t know,” Jake answered.
Luc tried to shake his head, but wasn’t sure anyone noticed. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a guttural howl came out.
The doctor pushed Luc into a cubicle. “Are either of you family?”
“Legally?” Jake asked.
“Yes!” Clara blurted.
“Okay, ma’am. You go talk to the nurse over there.” He pointed. “Give her all of his information.”
Clara disappeared.
The doctor placed his stethoscope in his ears. “What’s his name?”
“Jon-Luc Boudreaux. He goes by Luc,” Jake said.
“Thanks. I need you to go to the waiting room while we check him out.” The doctor pressed the stethoscope to Luc’s chest.
“Luc, I’m Dr. Scott, let’s see what’s going on here.” The doctor lifted his shirt and undid the top buttons of his jeans. “It looks like you’ve had your appendix out. Is that correct?”
Luc nodded before the spasms hit again, drawing him into a ball.
“Are you allergic to any drugs?”
Luc shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
“This may be uncomfortable, but we need to get an idea of where the pain is coming from.” The doctor pushed Luc’s hands away and began touching different areas. “Here? Here?”
Luc opened his mouth to answer, but howled instead.
“Nurse, what are his vitals?”
“Temperature 97.8. BP 220 over 100. Pulse 100.”
“Get me a full blood panel and rush the results.”
“Yes, doctor.”
“Someone get me the ultrasound machine. I won’t be able to get any decent films with his body jerking around like this.”
Luc felt a warm hand on his forehead and opened his eyes to see Dr. Scott. “Don’t worry we’ll get to the bottom of this. I’m sorry I can’t give you anything for the pain until I know whether or not we have to do surgery.”
Luc simply nodded. He knew better than to try to talk at this point.
“Get his clothes off,” the doctor commanded.
Two women wrestled with him in an effort to make him lie flat, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. He didn’t mean to fight them, but when they tried to lay him on his back, his muscles cramped and he flew into the fetal position again as if he was being held together by a giant rubber band.
“We need some help in here!” a lady shouted.
Soon he was surrounded by people wearing scrubs and holding him down while someone cut off his clothes. The strangest sounds came out of his mouth as he thrashed his head back and forth. They were kind enough to leave his boxers on.
He heard the rattling of wobbly wheels. “Here’s the ultrasound, Doctor.” The machine was aligned next to Luc. The doctor squirted a cold viscous fluid onto his belly and rolled a wand over his skin, pressing hard. Dr. Scott watched the monitor that was turned away from Luc’s line of sight.
“What the hell?” Dr. Scott murmured. People began crowding around the screen, making exclamations of surprise. One person gasped. This drew looks from the others in the room.
The aunts, Minnie and Maude, stood at the foot of his bed, their faces grim. He was comforted by the fact they were there even if there was nothin
g they could do.
“Haley, get me Dr. Harris. STAT,” Dr. Scott said tensely.
“Yes, doctor.” One of the nurses ran out of the room.
“Jon-Luc, have you been traveling out of the country recently?” Dr. Scott asked.
“Nnnn. Ahhhhhh!”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
Luc dipped his head once.
“Have you gone swimming in a swamp or bayou?”
“Nnn. Ahhh!”
“No?”
Head dip from Luc.
“Did you drink anything that might come into question? Perhaps water that might have been contaminated?”
“N, ahh!”
“No?”
Head nod.
Another doctor joined them.
“Dr. Harris, please take a look at this and tell me what you think,” Dr. Scott said.
The other doctor stared at the screen, his face placid as Dr. Scott moved the wand over Luc’s stomach. “Let’s get this patient up to the OR. STAT.”
The hands holding Luc suddenly released him and he curled into a ball while they pushed him through the corridors and into an elevator. He squeezed his eyes shut while he continued to wail, his voice now hoarse.
TWENTY-TWO
Dr. Daniel Scott waited until everyone had left before he spoke candidly to Dr. Russell Harris. “I asked the patient all the pertinent questions. As far as I could tell with his limited communication skills was that he had not traveled out of the country, swam in any of the swamps or bayous, nor drank anything suspicious that might be contaminated. Do you have any ideas?”
“No. But we need to get it out before it does any serious damage,” Russell said.
“What should I tell the family?”
“After you confirm the patient’s history, tell them he seems to have swallowed a parasite and we’re doing emergency surgery to remove it.”
“And if they ask questions?” Daniel asked.
“Just tell them we won’t know more until we go in. I’ve got to go, see you up there.” Russell left.
Spirits of the Bayou Page 14