New Orleans Magic: Urban Fantasy Series (The Voodoo Dolls Book 1)

by J. L. Hendricks

  I will admit, part of me feels a bit guilty for playing a gig instead of being home watching the monitors for any sign of Acadia. Then there is another part of me that was going stir crazy cooped up in the house and shop all day long. This was a really nice break and it was a fantastic opportunity for our career. So, I can’t feel too guilty for being here tonight.

  Once we had our gear set-up, I went to grab the water. The bartender at this place was cute. He had sandy-blonde hair that was short and messy. Just like I prefer them. His arms weren’t as big as a wolf-shifter, but not all men can claim to be shifters.

  His were very nice for a regular human. He looked like the type who worked out regularly. Or, it could just be from lifting all of the kegs of beer and boxes of alcohol every day. Either way, I approved of his physique.

  Okay, yes, I had a thing for sandy-blonde guys, so sue me. “Hi! I’m Indie, the drummer.” I stuck my hand out to the hot guy behind the long wooden counter already overflowing with beautiful women eyeing him.

  Most clubs had good looking bartenders and waiters or waitresses. It seemed to help them get better tips. If I was a customer, I would most certainly be giving him a good tip. However, as a member of the band, we received free water bottles all night long, no tips required.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Greg. How many water bottles?” He shook my hand and smiled his pearly whites at me. I almost purred, he was so good looking.

  “Four, please. Is it always this crowded here?” I looked around, and even though it wasn’t quite ten o’clock, the place was jam packed.

  The Blue Bayou was the largest nightclub in town. The clientele were a bit older than places like the Bikini Beach, where we have performed a few times. That place served the college crowd. This bar attracted people who had already graduated college and were working in their careers. People who actually had money.

  I hoped we would pick up some new fans who flocked to our website to buy our CD’s. This could help us to earn enough money to make some more CD’s. Currently, we didn’t have a record contract.

  If we wanted to sell CD’s we had to rent studio time and pay for all costs out of our own pocket. It also meant we kept every penny that came from the sales. No need to worry about commissions or royalties. We also sold our original songs on iTunes.

  The curtain was still closed on our stage, and the house music was rockin’. Greg handed me four bottles with a dimpled smile. I winked and turned around to walk back to the stage. Just in case he was still looking, I swayed my hips just a bit more than necessary.

  “Here ya go.” I handed the bottles out to the dolls when I got backstage. We tried to keep a bottle next to us onstage during all of our gigs. Then between sets one of us would go grab more. I was more than happy to volunteer tonight. Especially if I got a chance to flirt with Greg.

  Sam took a bottle and thanked me, then she asked Jenna, “So, have you picked out your hottie for the Voodoo song? Who gets to be under your spell tonight?” We all laughed.

  It was a signature song, and move, for us. This old guy, like close to a hundred years ago, performed a song called, The Voodoo That You Do. Several others in the early to mid-1900’s covered it, but no one covered it like we did. Our style of music wasn’t around when Frank Sinatra made the song famous. We even paid the royalty fee to have the right to record our version on a CD. It was our most requested song.

  Jenna always picked out a cute guy close to the stage and would sing the song to him. Between the music and lights, she could usually get him under her spell, so to speak. It never failed, the guy would always come back stage and ask for an autograph. Sometimes, guys would purposely come close to the stage before the show began so they could get picked for this part.

  Something told me no one was getting backstage tonight. “What’s up with Rico and his guys? Why are they blocking the entrances to the side and backstage areas?” I looked over to where Rico was standing like a centurion ready to attack anyone who came close.

  Kat looked at the imposing wolf-man. “I think they’re taking our safety seriously tonight. Let them play the big security guards. It’s kinda funny. We also don’t have to worry about any vampires making their way to us tonight.” She arched an eyebrow.

  “Do you really think they’ll come after us? Why?” I couldn’t believe they would care about us. Besides, we were officially under pack protection.

  “I know Rico explained to us that all we had to do was say we were under his protection, and all of the para’s had to leave us alone, but I still don’t trust them to follow their own rules.” Kat twisted the top of her water bottle open and took a drink.

  “Do you regret discovering the truth?” I didn’t regret it one bit.

  This was something I always hoped was true. Shoot, most of my eReader was full of paranormal romance stories with heroes who were either shifters or vampires. My favorite were the dragon shifters. If only we had some here in New Orleans.

  “Sometimes, but mostly I’m glad I know the truth. Now I know what to look out for and how to protect us from anything that goes bump in the night.” Kat smiled.

  “Hey, that would make for a great song title! You should write it.” I bobbed my head thinking about the beat.

  “Not a bad idea. When things settle back down to normal, I want to get some more writing in. It’s been too crazy this past month so I haven’t written one note or word.” Kat was a great songwriter. She usually started a song out, and we would all join and help finish it. None of us had started an original song on our own. It was always Kat.

  “Dolls, it’s time to get ready to rock!” Jenna took center stage and put her fist in the air.

  I settled in behind my drums and picked up my sticks. This was going to be an epic night!

  Jenna looked back at me over her head and nodded. I pounded my foot on the pedal of my kick drum three times and called out, “One, two, three!” Then began the beat on my snare drum.

  Sam joined my beat on her bass guitar while Kat strummed her electric guitar to the tune of our song, Gotta Go Now. Jenna was dancing with the mic in her hand and checking out the guys along the front row, as the red velvet curtain opened to show a totally packed house full of screaming fans.

  ***

  The curtain closed on our last set of the night. I was dripping with sweat but couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. “This was out of this world! We owe Rico big time for this! Where’d he go?”

  I looked off to the side of the stage and couldn’t find him. “He was there between all of our sets, but now he’s disappeared.”

  Jenna looked around and shrugged. “I don’t see him either. Maybe he’s in the dressing room? I do see some of his guys, so he’s probably still around here somewhere.”

  Luke, one of Rico’s closest friends, walked up to Jenna smiling and clapping. “Wow! That was truly awesome! Great job, Dolls!” He looked at each of us and patted Jenna’s shoulder as he walked to Sam.

  “Sam, you looked really great out there tonight. The larger stage suits you nicely. Those small ones always seem to hide you.” Luke awkwardly leaned in for a hug and pulled back at the last minute when Sam looked down at the ground. Interesting.

  “Hey, Luke. Where’s Rico?” Kat called out.

  “He had to take a call, so he went outside. Don’t worry, he’ll be back shortly.” Luke was one of the pack members who protected us from the attacks last month.

  He was really tall, like all of the shifters. His brown hair was longer than most of the pack. It went past his shoulders and had a nice wave to it. Unlike most shifters, he had blue eyes. Luke told us that blue eyes with brown hair was extremely rare for a shifter. It also signaled he probably had some fancy bloodline in him from way back.

  “Alright, let’s get packed up so we can get back and see if there’s any news about Acadia yet.” Kat sat her Fender guitar down on the stand and left the stage.

  The rest of us followed suit. We all went to get the cases for our instruments and began
packing. Since Jenna doesn’t have an instrument, she usually helped me. I had a nice six piece drum kit that took extra time to pack. Luke helped Sam pack her guitar and roll up the cords.

  Once our gear was loaded up in our old, beat-up van Rico still hadn’t shown up. Jenna was looking around and wringing her hands.

  “Luke, can you call Rico? He should have been back by now, don’t you think? I really want to get home and see what’s going on. Should we just leave?” Jenna walked back on stage and stuck her head through the red curtain, scanning the crowd.

  “He should be fine. We need to leave. I know Rico didn’t want you hanging out and talking to fans tonight. I’ll call him and let him know we’re heading back to your place.” Luke took his phone out of his back pocket and dialed a number.

  “No answer. He might not be able to hear. I’ll just text him.” Luke typed out a text message on his phone while we waited.

  Jenna was having a hard time standing still. She was supposed to stop biting her nails, but for the past few weeks, I caught her doing it whenever she was stressed out. She was biting what was left of her nails as Luke typed his message to Rico.

  “Jenna, what’s wrong?” I put an arm around her shoulder.

  She sighed. “I upset Rico yesterday. We had an argument, and he’s barely talked to me since. I wonder if he just took off because he didn’t want to see me?”

  I pulled her hand away from her mouth. “Stop that. It’s a nasty habit. I don’t think this has anything to do with you. For all we know, he could be dealing with some pack business.”

  Jenna smiled. “Yeah, I guess not everything’s about me, huh?” She chuckled.

  “He probably is dealing with pack business. We have a few unruly young wolves who have been causing some trouble lately. I bet that’s all it is.” Luke waved for us to follow him.

  He continued, “I think we should just get back to your place. Rico’s a big boy. He’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Jenna led us out to the van and got in first. Luke and Jose joined us while the rest took their cars and followed as we drove home.

  Chapter 9

  Rico

  “Son of a biscuit eater! I knew this gig was too good to be real.” I was standing just off stage and scanning the crowd in the bar.

  The Dolls were almost done, I think they only had three or four songs left. In the back of the bar, those two witches I busted here not long ago, and a vampire, were watching my girls. They knew better than to mess with me, or those I protected. This was probably a set-up from the start.

  I continued to watch them as they spoke to each other. Neither of the witches could take their eyes off the band. That wasn’t good. If they were whispering a spell, it would affect my girls. The fact that a vampire was licking his lips as he watched Jenna and her sisters made the hair on my arms stand on end.

  This was unacceptable. No one was going to attack my Voodoo Dolls, especially not in front of me. I looked around to make sure my team was in their assigned locations, and they were. Good. Now to put an end to this stupidity.

  I was sure they were trying something to get back at me for getting them in trouble with the witch’s council. It was their own dang fault they got busted. If they hadn’t performed a spell on so many humans in a public place, they wouldn’t have had any issues. Last time, I was lenient. This time, if they hurt even one hair on my girls, they’d go down for good.

  I pulled my phone out and pretended like I received a call. I looked over to Luke, who was the closest to me, and held my phone up and signaled I would be outside. Keeping up the pretense, I put the phone to my ear and pretended to chat while I hurried out back.

  Once I was outside, I put my phone in my back pocket after texting Joshua there was an issue with witches again at the Blue Bayou. Once that was done, I ran to the front and re-entered the bar through the door closest to my prey. The doormen knew me well enough to know I was always comp’d. Not to mention I was technically with the band.

  I nodded to Bernie, the head bouncer, as I walked inside. No need to get mundanes into this mess. They would only get hurt. The club had to be at capacity tonight, bodies were crammed up against each other on the dance floor and all throughout the place. If those witches were up to something, it could get really nasty.

  Using the reflection in the mirrors on the ceiling, which I knew housed security cameras, I watched the witches and vampire to make sure they didn’t see me. Witches today don’t wear black pointy hats, and they certainly aren’t ugly with warts. These two witches were rather pretty, in an “I’m-so-evil-I-don’t-care-what-you-think-about-me” kind of way.

  One was blonde and the other a brunette. Both were about the same height as Jenna, not quite five feet ten inches tall. Lola, the blonde, was wearing a low-cut dress and heels. It made her slender legs look a mile long.

  Her sister, Leana, was wearing short-shorts, a white tank top, and purple cowboy boots. One looked like she belonged here, the other on the ranch. However, they were both attracting a lot of attention from the men around them.

  The vampire, I didn’t recognize. He looked down upon the humans with his crooked nose and seventies electric-blue, reject-polyester suit. This one must have been old and didn’t get out much anymore. I watched as he ran the back of his hand down Leana’s arm. She slapped his hand. Vampires and witches didn’t normally get along, much less date.

  I used the crowded bodies to hide my approach while I kept looking up at the mirrors to gauge how far away I was. They hadn’t moved since I re-entered the bar.

  I felt under my shirt for the amulet Joshua had created for me. He wasn’t a warlock, but he did know a few who had a grudge against the local witch’s council. They usually sold their services, not caring if their spells were used to protect against any of the local witches, or not. Just as long as they got paid. This had protected me in the past from most spells. I only hoped it would keep working.

  Now for the tricky part, getting close enough before the vamp smelled me or the witches sensed me. There were only about four people between us now. I continued to inch my way closer while trying to appear like a regular bar patron. Dancing was not my forte, but I attempted to move to the beat of the song, pumping my hands in the air.

  Frazzle-tastic! The vamp smells me. The vampire looked right at me and sneered. So I smiled at him and waved. I picked up my pace and got right next to him and said, “Hi! You enjoying this new band?” Then I put my hand on his shoulder.

  The witches looked at me and hissed, like snakes. What was that about?

  “What do you want?” Leana growled.

  “Hi to you too, ladies.” I dipped my head in their direction. “So, what’s everyone up to tonight? Hopefully, you’re on your best behavior, right?” I gave them a million watt smile, as though I never once doubted their intentions.

  “Get lost, mutt. Can’t you see we’re enjoying the final few songs of the band?” Lola didn’t even look in my direction.

  “So, what’s the plan for the rest of the night? Not turning anyone into toads again, are we?” I arched an eyebrow at the witches, and the vampire laughed.

  “Toads, that was funny. Wish I could have seen it. However, vampires don’t drink toads. Maybe next time you can turn some toads into humans? That way I can drink until I’m full, and furball here can’t say a single thing about it.” The vamp pointed his thumb at me.

  “Oh, that hurts. However, I wouldn’t try to get them to use their magic on humans again, in any form. I think the local leader of the witch’s council was pretty clear when it came to using magic on humans, period.”

  “Besides, Solid Gold reject, witches aren’t allowed to do that type of magic. It’s against their own codes to turn anything into a human. My guys are trying to have a fun night, don’t make me call them over.” I shook my head, they were up to something. I was sure it was no good, too.

  Jenna finished the set, and I kept my eyes on the three next to me. I was itching to get
backstage with the girls, but this was more important. I doubted they would try anything as long as I was standing right next to them.

  “I think your little girlfriend is looking for you. You should probably go to her.” The vampire pointed a very long and almost translucent finger at the stage. He must have been very old. It takes at least a century for vampire skin to thin so much it’s almost see-through.

  “I think your spies are mistaken. None of the Dolls are anything more than friends with me.” This might be all about me and not them.

  “Really? None of them want to kiss a rabid animal? Hmm, I think I like them already. I wonder if they would be interested in playing their music for me?” The vamp’s eyes flashed red and his fangs elongated, as though he was preparing to feed.

  “I wouldn’t get your hopes up. They have better taste than a seventies reject who doesn’t even understand how to use deodorant.” I wafted my hand in front of my nose, and the witches giggled.

  The guy really did stink, which is odd for a vampire. Maybe he just needed to wash his clothes? The guy smelled like death, and a sewer, all wrapped up in one polyester pile of garbage.

  “You’ll pay for that comment.” The vamp fisted his hands at his side and breathed heavily in my direction.

  Man the bloodsucker needed a mint. Did vampires brush their teeth or gargle with mouthwash? This one sure didn’t, if that putrid stench coming from his mouth was any indication.

  “I get why the witches have an issue with me, but why do you? Do you even know me?” I tilted my head and studied this poor excuse for a man in front of me. I think the early fiction writers had it correct: vampires were just demons who inhabited a dead body.

  “Of course I know you. You’re the one who killed my latest acquisition. All in an effort to save the little girl who pretends to have magic. Really Rico, she isn’t even worth your notice. Or is it that you aren’t worth her notice? I forget who’s where on the food chain anymore.” The vampire smiled, showing off his yellow teeth. It really was a disconcerting smile. I had to stop myself from shivering, can’t show fear in front of him.