Wicked Unveiled

by J. N. Colon

  “Mine isn’t.” Marisol’s tone cooled to frigid levels. “The voodoo king burned it into my soul. I felt it.”

  “Why didn’t he do that to me?” My hand lost the battle and smoothed over my toujou. It tingled. “It would have stopped Etie from binding our souls.”

  Bastien’s amber eyes lifted to his brother, but the pouvior bokor remained cold and tight-lipped. “Because you weren’t an adult yet.” He released my sister’s wrist and sat back in the chair. “He tricked you into the deal, but he couldn’t take your soul or lay claim to it until you were eighteen.”

  “I’m glad he wasn’t able to put this crap on you.” Marisol flicked her hair over her shoulder. “It’s not your job to protect me, and it’s time you realize that.”

  I could feel the agreement teetering on the tip of Etie’s tongue. “Someone’s got to do it,” I mumbled.

  “It should have been me.” Bastien bumped his shoulder against Marisol’s. “I was all prepared to bind your soul to mine to save you.”

  A sly grin spread over Marisol’s mouth. “We would have had some fun.”

  Fun was not the word I’d use to describe those two connected on a spiritual level. They would have created chaos everywhere they went. No frat party or bar would have been safe.

  “Oh, yeah.” Bastien’s eyes sparkled. “We would have gotten into so much trouble, mamacita.”

  A low, dangerous growl rumbled from the youngest Benoit. “Are you really joking right now?”

  Bastien sighed, and the humor evaporated from his expression. “We’ll figure this out, Etie. It’s the beginning of August. We have time.”

  “It’s not your alimèt on the verge of—” His words cut off as his gaze almost settled on me.

  My throat convulsed. I wanted to crawl under the table and hide from the pain in his voice. And the pain pulsating from him.

  The stairs creaked, and my father stepped over the threshold. Harsh lines deepened across his face, and his lips were pinched. “You girls need to start packing.”

  My head snapped back. “Packing? What are you talking about?”

  “You’re both returning to Covina de Validus with me. The elders will help find a way to block Baron Samedi from the premises. He won’t be able to touch either of you.”

  A humorless laugh slipped from Etie. “You really think you can stop a deity from visiting that land?”

  My father’s dark eyes narrowed on the bokor. “We aren’t weak. We have a lot of power within the coven, within this family.”

  “I know how much power flows through your blood.” Etie pulled away from the wall. “But it won’t stop him from getting to Marisol or Angeline.”

  “Etie’s right.” Bastien stood and trekked toward his brother, showing where his loyalties lie. “The baron is a voodoo god, and he doesn’t play fair. He’ll find a way to get to them.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Marisol crossed her arms and leaned back on the creaky wooden chair. “We have a better chance at finding a solution to this voodoo mess with them.” She motioned toward the Benoit brothers. “Not with a bunch of witches who mean more to you than your own daughters.”

  My father’s expression darkened. He glowered at my sister for a long time. When he finally spoke, a little twinkle flashed in his eyes—one I didn’t like. “We’ll unbind your powers if you come back to the coven.”

  Marisol’s jaw dropped. A string of angry curses rumbled through my mind, probably the same words flowing through my sister’s. Our own father was dangling her powers over her head.

  What a jerkface.

  Marisol stood so fast the chair toppled to the floor behind her. “Using my powers as a bargaining chip makes me want to go even less.” She stormed past him and out the door. Bastien was right on her heels.

  I spared my father a glance. “That was low.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not opposed to going even lower if it protects my family.”

  I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it, staring at Etie’s taut back. He still hadn’t said a word to me. I wasn’t even sure why he let me drag him in here after my father stalked from the attic. I half-expected him to bolt out the window.

  “Are you going to say something?” I asked, finally breaking the icy silence.

  His fists clenched and unclenched by his sides. “What’s the point? Nothing I say matters. You do whatever you want.”

  Ouch. I swallowed past the icky lump in my throat. “That’s not true.” So I sometimes rushed into things without thinking to save the people I love… What was wrong with that?

  As if he read my mind, Etie whipped around, an unnatural glow beginning to eclipse his irises. “You’re constantly sacrificing yourself, always putting others before you.”

  I shrugged. “I’m just trying to do what’s right.”

  “What’s right?” he hissed. “What’s right would have been to consider my feelings before you made another deal with the voodoo king!” The dam holding Etie’s anger at bay snapped, flooding the room with heat. A frantic mix of French, English, and possibly Vondou spilled from his mouth. “Do I not matter to you?”

  “Of course you do.” I pushed off the door. “How could you even ask that?”

  “You have a funny way of showing it.” He touched the swirling black toujou on his neck. “We have a gwo-bon lyen. Did you even consider what giving yourself up to the voodoo king would do to me?”

  “I’m not giving myself up. I had to buy us time to figure this out.” I tossed my hands in the air. “Did you want me to just let him take Marisol? Baron Samedi wants me, not her.”

  His jaw worked over his teeth. “I wanted you to remember it’s not just you anymore. Our souls are bound. What happens to you affects me. We’re together.” He shook his head, roughly dragging his fingers through his hair. “At least I thought we were.”

  My heart dropped to the floor. “We are.”

  “When you make decisions this big without even thinking about me, it doesn’t feel like it.” Etie pivoted and headed toward the window. He was running off like I’d expected.

  “You would do the same for Bastien!”

  He halted in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes as hard as gemstones with an angry fire burning behind them. “I wouldn’t. Not now. You come first, and he’d understand that. So would Marisol.” His words sliced open my chest, the blade as cold as the air between us. “But now you’re tied to the voodoo king again. And when Fete Gede comes, if we haven’t found a way to free Marisol, you’ll trade yourself.” A shudder slipped down his back. “And I’ll lose you.”

  It felt as if someone punched a hole through my chest and ripped out my heart. Pain swirled behind every syllable he spoke. It made the room spin sickeningly.

  Without another word, Etie marched to the window. He lifted it.

  And I used magic to close it.

  He glanced over his shoulder, shooting me a narrowed glare. “I’m not in the mood to play right now.”

  “I’m sorry, Etie.” I bit my lip as unshed tears burned in my eyes. “I screwed up. I know that.”

  “Yeah, you did.” His back was toward me again. “I need to go—think.”

  He opened the window, and I closed it. When I stopped him from leaving a third time, he cursed and spun around. “Stop it, Angeline.”

  “I don’t want you to go.” His form blurred.

  “You don’t get to pick and choose when I matter.”

  “You always matter.” My voice cracked as emotions ravaged my insides. My head lowered, and I quickly wiped away the tears before he could see them. Crying was the last thing I meant to do. Etie had every right to be angry.

  The windowsill creaked as his fingers dug into it, his shoulders rigid as stone. “I don’t want to fight with you, Angeline.” A long breath slowly seeped from his mouth. “That’s why I need to leave right now.”

  Ugh. I was such a jerk. He didn’t want to leave me. I’d almost died less than twenty-four hours ago. He
wanted to be stuck to my side. Or he had until I majorly screwed up.

  My voice wouldn’t work. If I opened my mouth and tried to speak, nothing but sobs would come out. Instead of punishing Etie with my girly, crybaby tantrum, I lifted the window with the wave of my hand.

  “I love you,” he quickly mumbled before climbing out.

  When his form disappeared and I felt the distance within the gwo-bon lyen, the tears spilled free. I folded down on my bed before my legs gave out.

  I seriously sucked as a girlfriend. I was an even worse alimèt. I was supposed to think of my soul mate first. Instead, I’d made a deal with the voodoo king that could rip Etie’s heart in two.

  A knock resonated on my door. I groaned. I didn’t want to talk or see anyone except Etie, and the person on the other side of that door wasn’t him. It was probably my dad coming to make more demands.

  Go to the coven house. Break the bond between Etie and me. Marry Lucas.

  “I’m busy.” I winced at the tremble in my voice. “Go away.”

  “I saw Etie leave.” Bastien’s knuckles drummed on the door. “Let me in so I can keep you warm until my brother gets back.”

  I halfheartedly rolled my eyes. Bastien was always a flirt. He’d still be charming ladies on his deathbed.

  I waved my hand, and the door slowly swung open. The handsome bokor strolled in, his smile fading when he saw my face. I hastily wiped the tears from my reddening cheeks. “Hey.”

  “Awe, cher.” He dropped on the bed beside me. “You two still fighting?”

  “Yeah,” I muttered as fresh tears pooled in my eyes.

  Bastien wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. He smelled like sawdust and vanilla. “Don’t worry, Angel. Etie’ll get over it.”

  “No, he won’t.” I sniffled. “I totally screwed up, and I hurt him. I wouldn’t blame him if he never forgives me.”

  His arms tightened. “Don’t be ridiculous. He loves you, and he’ll be back to worshipping you tomorrow. He just needs to cool down.”

  It wasn’t that simple. Sure, Etie would forgive me, but it didn’t change my actions. It wouldn’t stop the consequences from finding us. If we didn’t discover how to stop the baron, he was going to get his hands on me and access my soul for whatever evil plot he’d devised.

  I pulled away from Bastien, wiping my face. “We have to stop Baron Samedi.”

  “We will.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before releasing me. “We’re not going to let that asshole get either one of the De la Mora sisters.” He winked. “You girls are too fine to perish so young.”

  I snorted. “You never stop.”

  He poked my cheeks. “Not until you smile, little cher.”

  I sighed and leaned back on my hands, drained. “Why do you think the baron wants me so bad?”

  “I’m betting it has to do with you being a conduit.” Bastien gently flicked my nose, earning a scowl. “You’re just too damn powerful.”

  The story of my life.

  “Why would he need me?” He was already a powerful loa. He had most of Louange le Noir worshipping him—thanks to Henri.

  Bastien shrugged. “Maybe he’s gone crazy. Being power hungry tends to do that.” His gaze unexpectedly turned pensive.

  Was he thinking of what his father had done to him and Etie in the name of power?

  “We’ll figure it out.” He slapped my knee, his happy disposition back. “We’ve got time.”

  I shot him a less than confident smile. We had three months to stop a powerful voodoo loa from using my sister to get his grimy hands on my soul.

  Chapter 3

  Lana’s dark eyes bored into mine from across the wrought iron table at Bernie’s. Riley was too busy building the perfect chicken nacho to notice the staredown. I was simply pretending not to feel my bestie’s suspicious gaze. My cheeseburger sliders were much more interesting.

  I squirted more ketchup on one and then repositioned the bun. I wiped my fingers off on a napkin.

  “Seriously, Angel. What is your deal?” Lana snatched my plate, halting my efforts to distract myself.

  “Hey! What gives?” I blinked innocently at her.

  Riley finally tuned into the awkwardness settling around the table. “What’s going on?”

  “Angel is acting weird.” Lana slid my plate back. “First, she was MIA for a few days, and now she tells us not to come to her house?”

  The redhead frowned. “What is that about? We’ve never not been allowed at your house.”

  “I’ve just got some family stuff going on right now.” I picked a sesame seed off my bun.

  Lana scoffed. “Please, since when is your family drama too much for us to handle?”

  Since my father came back from the dead.

  “Is your grandmother forbidding you to see Etie?” Riley asked before cramming a chip into her mouth. “Because I thought you said she was fine with it. Or fine-ish anyway.”

  The mention of Etie squeezed my heart in a vise grip. He snuck into my bed last night after midnight. I tried to talk to him, but he just kissed me and rolled over. He was gone when I woke up.

  “That’s not it.” I began shredding my napkin. Not being able to confide in my friends about my life totally sucked. Secrets surrounded me. I wasn’t just looking for a way to break my deal with the voodoo king. I was a conduit witch bound to a powerful voodoo caster—who was currently pissed at me. My father was the head of a coven, and he faked his death to protect me from all the other witches and casters who’d want to enslave me or steal my power. He’d been trying to find a way to lock up my conduit side for good so I appeared like any other witch.

  Telling my friends that, involving them in this world, would only get them hurt.

  Long fingers yanked the dwindling piece of napkin from my hand. “What are you not saying?” Lana tossed the scraps on her plate far from my reach.

  Riley leaned forward and rested her chin in her hand. “What secrets are you keeping, Angel?” A spark lit her green eyes.

  I swallowed hard as a drop of sweat rolled down my neck. The summer heat wasn’t the only thing getting to me. I felt like I was in the interrogation room with a harsh light beaming down on me.

  Ugh. I had to give them something.

  “Lucas kissed me.” Flames were already licking at my cheeks. I had to pick that to blurt out, didn’t I?

  Riley’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “No way!”

  “I knew it.” Lana pushed her food away and propped her elbows on the table, ready for all the juicy details. “He’s got it bad for you. Does Etie know?”

  Riley scoffed. “If Etie knew, Lucas would be dead.”

  She wasn’t wrong. He’d be even deader if Etie knew I’d been promised to the brujo years ago.

  I leaned back in my chair. At least their attention was now on the drama between Lucas and me and not my tangled family situation. “I haven’t told Etie yet.”

  “You’re not going to, are you?” Riley shot Lana a panicked look. “Because I don’t think that’s a good idea. Your Cajun boy toy is not the kind of guy that would take something like this well.”

  Lana absentmindedly traced circles on the table in front of her, paint splattered on her fingers. “Did you like the kiss?”

  “Of course not.” I loved Etie and not just because of the gwo-bon lyen. It took me a while to realize our feelings were real and not a side effect of unforeseen forces pushing us together.

  My friends traded knowing glances before Lana continued. “Are you sure? Lucas is pretty darn shmexy. I bet he’s a good kisser too.”

  “He looks like it.” Riley slowly licked her glossy pink lips and blew a kiss as if Lucas were right in front of her. “You can just tell.”

  What would my life have been like if my dad never moved us from the coven in Virginia and faked his own death?

  Marisol and I would have grown up with magic all around us. I wouldn’t have such a hard time controlling my powers. Maybe
Marisol never would have gotten ill, and I never would have called on voodoo for help. I’d probably be dating Lucas.

  And Etie would be in Carrefour, still searching for a way to rid himself of his own powers.

  A bitter taste oozed over my tongue. The thought of never knowing him—no matter how stubborn he was—made me nauseous.

  “I didn’t like it.” Lucas gave me no warning before his mouth crashed on mine. I didn’t have a chance to even form an opinion on the matter as it was happening. “I was this close to slapping him.” I pinched my thumb and forefinger together. I would have at least given him a piece of my mind had my dad not shown up, shattering the last bit of trust I had in my family.

  “Hey, girls.” Marisol took the seat next to me, sipping on an iced coffee. Riley thought we’d died and gone to heaven when Bernie’s began selling the chilled, sugary drinks. “Everyone looks so intense. Are we gossiping?” Marisol seemed as carefree as usual. No one would guess there was an ugly countdown clock precariously dangling over her head.

  “Lucas kissed Angel,” Riley blurted, earning a scowl from me.

  My sister’s mouth dropped, and she ripped her sunglasses off. “No way!”

  I groaned and pressed my hand to my forehead. How was this my life? I went from the shy, soft-spoken wallflower to the girl in the middle of juicy gossip.

  “Whatever you do, you can’t tell Etie,” she warned, placing her sweating cup on the table.

  My lips pursed. It would be better for everyone if Etie never found out, but that wasn’t an option when the guy could feel my emotions. “I’m not sure I can really keep that from him.” If Etie paid attention when the brujo was around, he’d pick up on some serious tension. And he’d want to know where it stemmed from.

  Marisol sucked her teeth. “Oh, right.”

  “Speaking of hot guys…” Riley swirled a piece of auburn hair around her finger. “Where is that yummy piece of arm candy you’ve been dragging around town, Marisol?”

  My blood turned cold at the mention of the jerk voodoo caster.