by Emery, Lynn
“L’union fait la force,” LaShaun whispered fiercely. She cupped his face with both hands, kissed him and began a prayer in old Louisiana Creole.
Chase’s eyes blinked rapidly. “LaShaun…”
“Together we fight. Always,” she whispered in desperation.
When he swung away from her, LaShaun let out a cry of desolation. The cloaked figures around her closed in and resumed chanting. As their voices rose a blue light pulsated from the wall of vines, illuminating them so the leaves became translucent. LaShaun recognized the outline of a door. One of the figures, a tall masculine hulk, stepped forward. Still chanting, he swept aside the living curtain that concealed a cement crypt. A huge iron ring served as a handle. The blue light came from within.
“I want to see,” LaShaun said, pretending to be in awe. Her mind raced, sorting through how and when she should make her move.
“Not yet,” Chase said softly.
LaShaun looked at him closely. She couldn’t tell from his voice or expression who he was in that moment. With a nod she turned back to watch the macabre ceremony taking place. She had to find a way to stop it, and stop these people. Suddenly one of the cloaked figures behind her gave a whoop.
“Why should you be the first?” came a screech of protest. “I’ve served him longer and better than you!”
Startled, the other cloaked figures turned in tandem to gape at their companion. The offender punched the follower closest. The hood of the cloak fell away and Allison Graham yelped with pain. Her attacker jammed an elbow into Allison’s midsection. Allison’s eyes rolled back in her eye as she fell. For a few moments everyone stood frozen.
With a growl, Montgomery threw back the hood of his cloak, his face twisted into a mask of hatred. “Grab the intruder.”
Another cloaked figure rushed forward to obey. From the darkness a large stick landed a crushing blow on his head. The man grunted in surprised agony as he went down. Two more cloaked figures jumped into the circle of light and a battle began. LaShaun took advantage of the confusion to race away into the darkness. She desperately searched the darkness. Sweat trickled down her face as LaShaun strained to find the bag she’d concealed earlier. After what seemed like an eternity she found it. She whispered a prayer of thanksgiving as she raced toward chaos. An all out brawl raged in full force. Shouts, curses and screams of pain rang in the night air.
Gina, her red hair plastered to her forehead by sweat and blood, blocked LaShaun’s path. “You won’t walk away this time, bitch. I don’t give a shit what anybody says.”
“I’m afraid she’s right, Ms. Rousselle,” Neal Montgomery said. He wore a grin. “Even Abiku agrees. None of you will leave these woods alive tonight. Fresh blood will only enhance our rite.”
LaShaun’s heart broke at his words. She’d failed to free Chase from the hellish fate of being possessed by a loathsome fiend. Faced with making a last stand, LaShaun vowed to do as much damage as she could. She glared at them both.
“If I take anybody with me, Gina, it’s going to be you,” LaShaun barked and assumed a defensive position.
“You just made my night,” Gina replied with a smirk.
The vengeful woman charged LaShaun. Gina faked a punch but kicked out with her left leg instead. LaShaun took the blow to one leg and stumbled. Gina barked with glee like a victorious she-wolf. She swung a fist that struck the side of LaShaun’s face. LaShaun cried out as she scrambled to get away.
“You’ve got this under control. I’ll meet you back in the circle.” Montgomery strode away.
Gina panted out as she danced around, like a predator toying with her prey. She jabbed with her fists and moved in on LaShaun. “Damn right I’ve got this. Guess you’re worn out from all the excitement. Am I right, Miss Cutie Pie? Killing you will make sex with your hubby even hotter. I’m going to ride him like the fine stallion he is with your blood still on my hands.”
LaShaun stood straight in one quick motion, pressed the muzzle of her derringer into Gina’s belly and fired. Gina’s eyes went wide and her mouth worked but not a sound came out. Then she gave a scratchy whimper as she clutched at the wound.
“The only thing you’ll be riding tonight is a magic carpet to hell,” LaShaun said. She delivered a backhand slap that sent the woman to the ground.
LaShaun turned her attention back to the clearing. Her goal of stopping Abiku seemed beyond her reach. She could only hope to leave behind clues to guide Miss Rose and the twins in marshalling forces against his cult. With a certainty that she would not survive, LaShaun strode back to the clearing. She tried to make out Chase, but shadowy figures seemed everywhere. Two people locked in a struggled blocked her path to the door of the crypt. She ran full on using the energy of her momentum to push them aside.
With one strong pull of the iron ring LaShaun found herself in the opening. The door swung smoothly on oiled hinges. A polished ebony coffin lay on the dusty brick floor. Spider webs thick as rope hung from the walls. Three tombs were set in each of the three walls. The brick opening of the one in the center had been broken open. Metal lined the vault. The pieces of an ancient wood coffin lay in a pile.
“As you can see we had a new coffin built,” Montgomery said quietly. His eyes looked glazed with a crazed zeal.
LaShaun spun around to face him, concealing the gun in her back waistband in the process. Chase stood to his left, his face a blank mask. “Why?”
“Because a king deserves better,” Harry replied from another corner.
LaShaun brushed a hand along the wall causing years of dirt to crumble to the floor. “The maid has been on vacation for a few centuries. Why not move your king to a grand mausoleum?”
The middle-aged man’s mouth curled into a sneer. “We created a magnificent resting place made from the finest Makassar ebony from Indonesia.”
“I have to agree it’s beautiful.” LaShaun made a half circle around the coffin.
She expected one or both of the men to stop her. Harry seemed too intent on gloating. Chase gazed at a point somewhere beyond her. The blue glow came from within the dark wood coffin. LaShaun reached for the lid.
“He grew strong here, but soon he won’t need this place. The living don’t need a grave,” Harry said with a nasty smile.
“You’re lying. He’ll always need this coffin, otherwise you wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble,” LaShaun shot back. She placed a hand on the lid, bowed her head and prayed.
“How dare you defile the seat of his greatness by mumbling a feeble creed,” Harry shouted.
“The Bible says the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. I’m sure it can chop up a little wood.” LaShaun said another line of prayer, this time in Latin mixed with Creole French. The light inside the coffin grew fainter.
Harry balled both hands into fists. He took two steps forward then glanced at Chase. “Come forth, master. Let us squeeze the life from her worthless body.”
“Yes,” Chase said in a hoarse voice.
“This slut doesn’t realize she’s defeated. You’ll beg us to kill you very soon.” Harry laughed feverishly as he reached for LaShaun.
LaShaun pulled the antique knife from the sheath on her belt with one hand and pushed the lid of the coffin open with the other. A black heart lay nestled in silk surrounded by a gruesome vine with leaves shaped like claws. As she stared at it, the vines began to writhe like snakes.
“Nothing can destroy the power, you stupid bitch,” Harry said.
“Nothing except a sacred knife of purest silver, like the one I’ve got in my hand. You idiots thought I didn’t have a back-up plan. The knife Montgomery took from me is harmless. I bought it at the local hardware store,” LaShaun said. She raised the knife high above her head.
Montgomery stood gaping at her in shock. “Stop her, Abiku!”
Chase took two long strides across the dusty floor. He towered over LaShaun for a few seconds. Harry panted with anticipation, his eyes bright with excitement. Instead of striking out at LaSh
aun, Chase spun around and landed a crushing punch that caused facial bones to crack in Harry’s face.
“No, no!” Montgomery started toward Chase but stopped short at the deadly look in his eyes.
Chase kicked Harry’s limp body aside and confronted him. “You’re next.”
“You’ve awakened, Master. Remember who you are,” Montgomery said in a strained voice.
“I know exactly who I am,” Chase growled. He attacked Montgomery with a series of power blows that sent the man reeling against the wall.
“Keep him busy, baby. I’ve got work to do,” LaShaun muttered, praying that Chase’s control held.
One of the vines wrapped around her wrist. She winced from the sensation of acid eating into her skin. Searing pain shot up her arm as if sizzling poison flowed through her body. LaShaun grew weak, her mind and vision became cloudy.
“Now, LaShaun. Do it now!”
The voice jolted LaShaun back from the brink of passing out. She concentrated all of her will. In a flash she saw the brutal injuries of the teenage boy, and saw countless other bodies; the victims of vicious killers Montgomery and his cult had helped go free. With a cry of wrath LaShaun plunged the knife into the quivering slimy heart, then again, and again. A stench rose up as viscous fluid flowed from each stab wound. A roaring gust of wind slammed the heavy stone door shut. She screamed for Chase, but a sound like thunder drowned out her voice. Dust and brick shards swirled into a whirlwind until LaShaun was blinded. Then everything went black.
Chapter 21
She dreamed, or maybe she only thought she dreamed. Figures stumbled around weeping bitterly as they were led away. Some begged for mercy. Others snarled in angry defiance. Uniformed figures efficiently brought order to the pandemonium. Hands that tenderly rubbed her face pulled her attention away from the commotion. Soothing voices spoke to her. LaShaun felt sure she heard her grandmother speaking words of strength, urging her to return. LaShaun’s eyes snapped open to find a cloaked figure bending over her.
M.J.’s worried frown melted into relief. She took a shaky breath and let it out. “You better wake the hell up so I can whip your behind. This is another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”
“Hi.”
“Don’t ‘Hi’ me like we just met for coffee and donuts, girl. I hope you can answer some questions. I got a tricked out empty coffin that looks like it costs more than my house. It’s filled with some weird dead plants and what looks like a burnt human organ. “
“Chase is here,” LaShaun rasped through a throat dry as dust. When she coughed, an emergency medical tech put a bottle of water to her lips.
M.J. waited until LaShaun finished before she spoke. “Chase took a blow to the head or something. He can’t tell us a damn thing.”
LaShaun shot upright and realized she lay on a stretcher in an emergency van. “Where is he? How bad is Chase hurt? I’ve got to see him.”
“Whoa, you, you’re not going anywhere. And Chase is just fine. The emergency medical tech doesn’t think he got hit hard enough to get amnesia. But a CT scan will rule out serious injury. He’s just as worried about you.” M.J. gave her a head to toe glance. “I don’t blame him. You look beat to hell and back.”
“You have no idea,” LaShaun retorted. “Let me see Chase.”
“He’s on his way to the hospital. I told him you were already there. Only way I could get him into the ambulance. Don’t worry,” M.J. said cutting off another outburst from LaShaun. “You’re on your way to join him.”
M.J. nodded to the EMT, a tall black woman who nodded in response. The double doors to the vehicle whooshed shut and it started to move. The woman gently cleaned LaShaun’s injuries.
“How you get this nasty burn on your wrist?” the EMT asked, her brow furrowed in curiosity.
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. Trust me; you don’t really want to know.” LaShaun sank onto the stretcher again and closed her eyes.
***
Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead. LaShaun emerged from the yellow striped tent, her heart pounding but in a good way. For once her boisterous Uncle Leo did not blurt out one of his signature hearty jokes. He strode forward with his chin up, looking every inch the dignified senior male family member. He offered his dark-suited elbow and LaShaun delicately looped her arm through his. Music from the small band swelled into the wedding march. They followed the linen and bamboo carpet down the center of two rows of chairs. The seed pearls on her wedding gown seemed to have a magical radiance. Father Vavasseur from St. Augustine Catholic church stood beneath the arch covered with flowers. Jessi, Chase’s niece, beamed at the attention she got spreading rose petals from a basket as she marched ahead of them. When Chase turned to gaze at LaShaun, her breath caught.
She and Chase didn’t have to discuss going ahead with the wedding despite the mayhem of the previous two weeks. Their vows of holy matrimony would wipe out the profane rite forced on them. They’d each only spent a day in the hospital to rule out serious internal injuries. Next had been the endless interviews with the state police and district attorney. Abiku’s cult members had been arrested. They faced charges of battery, kidnapping, and criminal property damage. Allison Graham faced a much more serious charge for a crime that hadn’t even taken place in the woods. Police had gone back to her house to find her husband’s dead body stuffed in a huge antique trunk stored in the attic. Though Greg wouldn’t say a word against his mother, the two younger children had given deputies enough information to paint a grisly picture. In spite of his flaws, Jonathan Graham hadn’t known his wife was involved with the cult. The children hid during a violent argument between their parents. When all was quiet, Allison had locked them in their room with games and food for several hours. She’d told the kids she needed to “clean up daddy’s mess”.
Yet on this wonderful day of days, LaShaun pushed aside thoughts of darkness or death. Chase watched her walk slowly toward him. He smiled at her with great love in his eyes. Tears threatened to ruin the perfect make-up Savannah had painstakingly applied only an hour ago. LaShaun blinked rapidly, determined not to get watery so soon. Uncle Leo grinned as he handed her off to the groom. The priest cleared his throat loudly when Chase bent down to kiss LaShaun.
“Ahem, let’s do the marrying first. Kiss on my cue, oui?” The priest raised an amused eyebrow at them.
“Right,” Chase whispered and took LaShaun’s hand instead.
LaShaun listened as Father Vavasseur read the wedding sermon in a solemn tone. As they got to the vows, sniffles and camera clicks came from the small audience around them. Savannah, Katie and Adrianna, dressed in light green dresses embroidered with flowers at the neck and bell sleeves, wore expressions of joy. Their husbands looked dapper in their dark suits. Chase’s brother stepped forward with the emerald green velvet box holding their wedding bands.
“The bride and groom have their own wedding vows. First the bride.” Father Vavasseur nodded to them.
“From this day until my last breath I will cherish you. Our hearts have been as one since the moment we touched. I stand with you through whatever happens in our lives. Before God and the world I declare my everlasting love for you,” LaShaun said softly.
“Now the groom,” Father Vavasseur said as he beamed at Chase. He winked. “You’ll get to kiss her soon, son.” The audience laughed.
Chase took a deep breath. “You know I’m not one for long speeches, or poetry. So I’ll just say I’m going to be your protector, provider, friend, handyman, car mechanic and anything else you need me to be. And one day if I’m very, very blessed, I’ll be the father of your children.”
“That’s so beautiful,” a female voice said from the audience as louder sniffles could be heard.
“Chase Matthew Broussard, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife before God and this assembly?” Father Vavasseur intoned.
“I do, with all my heart,” Chase replied and slipped the gold band inlaid with diamonds on
LaShaun’s finger.
“LaShaun Gloriana Rousselle, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband before God and this assembly?”
LaShaun sighed and slid the matching gold band on Chase’s finger. “Yes, I do.”
“Now’s the time, son. Kiss your wife,” Father Vavasseur boomed with glee.
When their lips met, applause broke out in the crowd. Jessi gleefully tossed red and pink rose petals all around them, as did Savannah, Katie and Adrianna. The shouts and applause swelled as they clung to each other. Music played. All of the sound faded into the background for LaShaun. All she could hear was their twin heartbeats as they sealed their vows.
Thirty minutes later, the reception was in full swing. The band had the crowd up on their feet dancing like crazy to popular rhythm and blues songs. LaShaun and Chase finally took a break after doing the Cajun two-step through three Zydeco tunes. They playfully staggered to the large reception tent. The band played in one corner as wedding guests circled the tables laden with food and drinks. They sat at a long table reserved for the bridal party.
“Well, well, well. Thought I’d never see the day when this serious fella would be having so much fun. And at his wedding at that.” Retired Sheriff Triche grinned down at them. He held a plate piled high with food from the buffet.
“Have a seat, Sheriff. You seem to be carrying a load,” LaShaun quipped.
The old sheriff looked around guiltily. “Yeah, I’m hiding out from my wife cause I know what she’s gonna say. Thank goodness y’all got a good crowd here keepin’ her distracted while I stuff my face.”
“I should go find her. She’s trying to keep you healthy,” LaShaun replied and poked his arm with a finger.
“If I can’t treat myself every once in a while, then life ain’t worth livin’. Hmmm, whoever did these little meatballs has a true gift. Once I polish this off I’m gonna get a slice of each one of those cakes.” He nodded toward the rapidly disappearing white wedding cake, and the large chocolate groom’s cake.