by Kira Saito
She shook her head. “We can’t live in fear. Isn’t that what you always say?”
“Maybe I’m wrong.”
“No. I don’t think so. I finally feel alive, Cecile. I finally feel free.” Her eyes sparkled.
“The work of the Devil himself!” Justine stood in the doorway and made the Sign of the Cross. “I told you, Ms. Cecile, you shouldn’t have gotten involved in this! This will kill you! This world will kill you! You should go and apologize to Monsieur and ask him to take you back. You’ll be safe with Monsieur.”
I laughed. “Justine. Do you want to go back to Monsieur?”
Her eyes filled with fear and she started to crack her knuckles. “No. But I don’t want to go to Hell either.”
Hell or Edmond. Were our options really that limited? I wasn’t ready to accept that fact.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Puffs of Angry Gray Smoke
The French Market, Vieux Carré
New Orleans, 1853
“One more. I have to see if I’m really going to buy an entire pound. ” I crammed the caramel praline into my mouth and let the sweet taste sink into my bloodstream. I closed my eyes and let the vibrant voices and sheer liveliness of the Market sink into my pores and erase the horrific experience I had recently endured. Wafts of corn calas, hot black café and the occasional draft of death and horse manure never smelled so amazing. A light wind combed through my hair and brought with it a welcome relief from the torturous afternoon sun.
“Je t'aime, Bade,” I whispered. “Merci.”
It had been a week since the hideous church incident and even though I was still a bit shaken I had decided I would not live in fear. I would not stay at home and hide from Edmond, Doctor John, or the hundreds of other Kings and Queens in the city that were supposedly out to get me. Hiding would only give them more power. Yesterday, Tante Celeste had confronted Doctor John and he swore that he wasn’t helping Edmond. Who was I to argue with him?
Right now all I cared about was buying pralines and taking a walk through the city. “Emilie, these are the best pralines in the city. You have to try one.”
“I’ve already had two. I think we need to pay, Jean,” Emilie said nervously. She wasn’t very happy being my accomplice and I couldn’t blame her. I was a pretty obnoxious customer.
“Cecile! I’m trying to run a business!”
I opened my eyes and gave the wrinkly praline vendor a sheepish grin. I felt guilty for shamelessly “testing” another praline. “Sorry, Jean. I’ll take two pounds.” I changed my mind. “No, make that three.”
He shook his head and smiled and started to fill up a cloth sack with pralines. “Here you are.” Jean handed me the sack.
“Cecile.” A familiar voice called my name.
We turned around.
“Your tomatoes. I know you asked that I bring them to Congo Square but I couldn’t wait. I wanted to say thank you. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you did for me.”
“Monsieur Grady?” He looked wonderful. His face was no longer streaked with mud, his green eyes sparkled, and he was still standing up tall and proud just as Ogun had taught him to. “Did it work?” I held my breath and prayed that his boss had been fixed.
“It worked! He pays us now!” Monsieur Grady said proudly. He leaned in towards me and whispered secretively in my ear. “I fixed him good. I put the oil under his desk and then I looked him straight in the eyes and said you will pay me! How dare you think you can take advantage of me!”
“I’m so happy for you.” I was ecstatic for him and very excited at the sight of the very ripe-looking tomatoes. What kind of gumbo was I going to make tonight?
“Thank you,” whispered a beautiful woman with strawberry-blonde hair, aquamarine eyes and a very pregnant belly. She stared at me shyly for a few seconds before giving me an awkward little hug.
“Madame Grady?” I asked, venturing a guess.
She nodded. “Thank you,” she said over and over again with genuine emotion. Her eyes swelled with tears of joy.
“It was my pleasure! I’m happy I could help. When is the baby due?” I asked.
“Next month,” she said with pride. Monsieur Grady gave her a little kiss and I couldn’t help but smile at their happiness. Happiness I had helped create!
We spoke for a few minutes and I told the Gradys that I would be happy to help them anytime they needed it as long as they provided me with plenty of fresh tomatoes. In turn they promised to tell their friends about me and promised to attend the Sunday dance at Congo Square. After they left I couldn’t help but continue to smile like a maniac. It was working.
“It’s working, Emilie. It’s working. Slowly but surely our plan is working!”
Emilie beamed at my enthusiasm.
We were helping people let go of their fears and bringing them closer to one another. Maybe this revolution wouldn’t take a million years. Maybe it would only take half a million years.
Sadly, my happy thoughts were interrupted by an unwanted visitor.
“I know you’ve done something to him,” hissed a low-pitched voice full of venom.
I looked to my right. There stood Edmond’s wife with her arms crossed, hazel eyes ablaze with rage. Under the relentless mid-afternoon sun she appeared to be horribly uncomfortable in her blue tea dress and oversized bonnet. Her pale skin was flushed in anger and obvious hatred.
She marched up to me and then spat on me and slapped me across the face. My face ached and burned in shame and frustration. “I know about you and my husband. You savage! Where is he? I haven’t seen him for days and I know you’ve done something to him. What have you done with him?”
I yelped in pain and resisted the urge to slap her back. I looked at her with my mouth slightly agape not clearly processing what she was saying.
“Take her. I know she’s done something with him!”
I felt four arms grip me. Police officers. My pralines and tomatoes landed on the muddy earth and were instantly run over by a horse cart.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said softly, knowing very well that raising my voice would only get me in further trouble.
“Did you hear that? She spoke out against me. I want her whipped. I want her whipped now!” Edmond’s wife was hysterical as she slapped me repeatedly. Every slap she dished out was dehumanizing and brutal. Tears of humiliation started to burn my eyes and the end date of my revolutionary plan was extended to two million years. “I want her whipped!” Strangely, after a few more slaps, my pain was replaced by pity. I felt sorry for her as it became clear that for whatever odd reason she was in love with Edmond.
“Please. I’m not seeing your husband anymore. I haven’t been for a long time. I don’t where he is or what happened to him.” Oh Dieu, had Marinette hacked off his head in the cathedral and carried his body to some other side? “Stop, please,” I begged. My plea was met was met with another slap.
I cast a glance at Emilie who stood silently with her lips trembling and eyes on the ground. Movement at the market seemed to have momentarily stopped and all eyes were on us. I was mortified and wanted to bury myself in the heap of lettuce that sat on a nearby table.
“Elizabeth! What is going on?”
“Lucus.” Elizabeth’s tone was vaguely surprised.
“Stop. Let go of her. She’s done nothing wrong,” Lucus said to the officers.
The police officers let go of me. Though I was mortified he had seen what had happened I was grateful that someone was on my side.
Elizabeth let out a low, frustrated sigh. She couldn’t challenge Lucus because, well, he was a man, which made his word more valuable than hers. The police officers gave Lucus a low, apologetic sorry.
Elizabeth looked at Lucus in fury with lips pursed and fire in her eyes. “Where is Edmond? She’s done something with Edmond!”
Lucus looked at me. I shook my head and prayed that he would take my side.
Lucus took a deep breath. His j
aw muscles tightened. “You know how Edmond likes to run off for days, and, well…”
I felt my cheeks burn.
She took several deep breaths and spoke through clenched teeth. “I know perfectly well where my husband is at all times. He’s either with me or with her or with me! Ever since he went to see her he hasn’t been back.” Her delicate cheeks glistened with tears.
I shook my head furiously. “I haven’t been with him for weeks, I swear. The last time was the day he…” I glanced at Lucus hoping that he would believe me. “He challenged Antoine.” There was no way I was going to tell her about the strange cathedral incident.
Lucus put his arm around Elizabeth. “Let me walk you home, Elizabeth. I’m sure Edmond will turn up soon. There’s no need for any of this,” he said soothingly.
Elizabeth shook herself free. “You too! You’re taking her side? Don’t you men have any sense? Can’t you see that she’s EVIL? I don’t need you to walk me home,” she hissed. “Find Edmond. Find him now!” After giving me another final poisonous stare she ran down the street in a huff.
Evil. Wow. I was officially an evil, ruined, savage heathen. The list never seemed to end.
I felt everyone’s eyes on me. My muscles tensed and I was unable to look up. In a trance-like state I kept staring at the mess of bloody tomatoes and pralines that lay inches away from my right toe. The faces around me blurred as I shut out the whispers and stares.
“She’s killed her protector.”
“Where is he? He’s nowhere to be found.” The not-so-quiet whispers around me started to grow.
Emilie grabbed my hand. “Let’s go home,” she said softly.
I nodded and without looking up hurried down the uneven street.
“Cecile, wait!” Lucus cried after me.
As much as I wanted to turn around I couldn’t. My body quivered and for some inexplicable reason I felt ashamed over what had just happened. What did Lucus think about the whole situation with Edmond? I had never really given it much thought but now it was all I could think about.
And where had Edmond gone?
Emilie and I ran down the street without turning around or daring to stop.
“What the hell!” I shrieked in horror.
“Oh Dieu!” Emilie screamed as her nails dug into my shoulder.
A gigantic fire blazed and furiously ripped through Tante Celeste’s home. All of the neighborhood snobs stood by casually watching, whispering while furiously fanning their taunt faces. Puffs of angry gray smoke madly rose and swirled against a happy, luminous blue sky making the whole scene seem rather ironic.
I trembled uncontrollably and ran towards the house, thinking that Tante Celeste and Justine may have still been inside.
“Cecile!” I head Tante Celeste’s voice call me from behind. Her eyes were wide with terror and her smooth cheeks were soaked with tears. Beside her stood Justine, who stared at the furious orange fire with her mouth agape in horror. “Cecile, oh, Cecile.” Tante Celeste gave me a vicious hug and then turned to Emilie. “Oh, thank Dieu you two are alright.”
“We have to do something!” I cried. I frantically tried to remember the name of a spirit that would help but I already knew that it was too late. The house had been entirely consumed by the fire. I watched my as my beloved magnolia blooms and banana trees were devoured by angry flames.
“Who would do this!!!!? WHY??” A thousand thoughts raced through my mind. Who?
“Shhh.” Tante Celeste held me again and tried to calm me down. “It’s too late. We need to move on. We need to move on… Everything is going to be fine.”
“Cecile!” I felt Lucus’ arms around me. I turned around and buried my head in his chest.
“I swear I didn’t harm Edmond. I swear,” I said as I shook with fright.
“I know,” he said softly. “I believe you.” He ran his fingers through my hair and let me release my tears.
I caught a glimpse of Maman. She stood in the crowd with her hands on her hips and a severe frown plastered on her face.
I tore myself away from Lucus’ arms. “I’ll be right back,” I said.
“Maman.” I walked up to her cautiously.
She stared at me with a cold, detached expression and adjusted the little gold cameo on her pale green taffeta dress.
I took a deep breath. “Maman? I’ve missed you.”
She looked away and stared past me as if I wasn’t there at all. Her delicate features were hard and stony.
“Is this how it’s going to end with us?” I asked softly.
She didn’t say anything.
“Marguerite, stop acting like a bebe and speak to your daughter.” Tante Celeste interrupted the awkward silence.
Justine and Emilie stood behind me and watched Maman in expectation.
Maman’s thin mouth twisted into a cruel frown and there was bitterness in her eyes when she glared at Tante Celeste. When she spoke, her voice was low and strangely composed. “Celeste, if you need a place to stay you’re more than welcome to stay with me.”
“And the girls?” Tante Celeste demanded.
Maman refused to look at me. “They already have a home. She already has a home.”
My heart sank as I realized that I had no choice but to return to the home Edmond had given me. “I feel sorry for you, Maman,” I whispered. “It must be so exhausting being you,” I said quietly and bitterly.
“Marguerite, be reasonable! Can’t you see it’s too dangerous for her to live there? That man is dangerous. Who knows what he’ll do next. He’s the one who probably set that fire, for who knows what reason.” Tante Celeste tried to talk some sense into Maman, but I knew she was fighting a hopeless battle.
“It’s alright, Tante.” I glanced at Justine and Emilie and realized that I was responsible for them and even though I didn’t want to go back to that hellhole I had no choice. They needed a home.
Tante Celeste pulled me close. Her eyes were “Get rid of him, cherie. Get rid of him. You know the tricks- use them.”
I knew exactly what she was implying. “I can’t. Please don’t make me do that,” I pleaded. “Besides, I think he may already be dead. His wife attacked me at the market and I can hear the rumors and whispers.” My eyes grew wide. “If they accuse us of the littlest crime it’s the end for us. Besides, I have to think about Emilie and Justine.”
“Cecile, you can stay with me if you’d like,” Lucus interrupted us.
I stared at him in confusion.
“Stay with you!” Maman cried in rage before I had a chance to continue. She suddenly realized that she had raised her voice in public and took a deep breath. “Monsieur, your offer is very kind but as you know your cousin is already protecting Cecile. Think about her reputation and the scandal it will cause. ”
Lucus smiled. “Madame, with all due respect, I think that Cecile should be allowed to answer and make up her own mind, non?”
Maman’s eyes narrowed into very dark pools as they rested on me.
All eyes were on me and the world went silent. I turned to Lucus and slowly whispered. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. It’s…”
“Inappropriate,” he said.
I nodded.
“Revolution,” he said.
I sighed. “I don’t want to cause any trouble between you and your family. They would never accept this…” I knew the implications of taking me to Darkwood. It would mean more scandal and shame, but this time it would be Lucus’ burden to bear. “Plus, I have to be here for the people. If I left the city it would be like I’m running away and admitting defeat. I don’t want to give Edmond and whoever was behind this the satisfaction of knowing that they’re somehow winning.” I dreaded the idea of being away from the city and not being able to help those who needed it.
“Don’t worry about my family. You need to think about yourself for once. If Edmond shows up at Darkwood we can try to reason with him together. Let the whispers and attacks die down. You don’t have to face this alone,”
he said.
“He’s right, Cecile. Go for only a few weeks. This nonsense should stop by then. In the meantime I’ll make arrangements for a new home.”
“But…”I said.
“I’m not going to the country!” Justine interrupted us. “Please don’t make me go there, Ms. Cecile! Please!” She was on the verge of hysteria.
I glanced at her and pity overtook me. She had a point. Slaves in the countryside had it far worse than urban slaves. Taking her to the countryside would be very irresponsible. I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if she tried to run away given the fact that hunting season was about to begin. Edmond still hadn’t freed Justine so her life was basically hanging on a fragile thread and there was no way I would place her in jeopardy.
“You can stay with me at Marguerite’s home, Justine,” Tante Celeste offered. “She hasn’t done anything to offend you, has she?” She glared at Maman.
Maman let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine; but one peep of protest and she’s back on the market.”
I rolled my eyes and asked Dieu to give me patience.
“Emilie,” I asked as I turned to face her. “What do you think? What would you like to do?”
Her head was low and her voice came out in soft whisper, “I’ll go wherever you go, Cecile.”
The whispers around me grew louder, the smoke thicker, and Maman’s disapproval more obvious. I heard Isadora and Ines snickering in the background but I didn’t care. I turned to Lucus. “I’ll only go if you promise that you’ll tell your Papa and Maman that Emilie and I are there to work. I can’t and won’t put you in an awkward position with them.”
“But,” he protested.
“Please. We make really great gumbo.” I gave him a hopeful smile.
He let out a low sigh. “I don’t want you to work in the kitchen.”
I brought my hand to my chest. “Are you that scared of trying my gumbo?” I asked teasingly, trying to get him to lighten up. “Come on.”