by J. N. Colon
“Baron Samedi’s weakness has something to do with the dead,” he said. “We’ve got to start there.”
“We ain’t got to start nowhere.” Mama CeCe shook her head. “In fact, we should end it there.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “We have to stop him. I don’t know how many times I have to say that. I thought you were going to help.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked, interrupting their argument.
Etie glanced up, his expression softening. “Angeline.” He’d been so wrapped up in the conversation, he hadn’t noticed me. His long, powerful legs quickly ate up the distance separating us. “I missed you.” His hand landed on my bare arm, sparks of electricity crackling between us.
“I missed you too.” He’d gone on another visit to the swamp with Henri. Why were all Henri’s acquaintances so deep in the damn swamp?
Etie’s lips pressed against mine in what I thought was going to be a quick kiss. Nope. Not happening with the Cajun Casanova.
His tongue forced my mouth open, diving in and tasting me. My body melted against his as heat swarmed my skin. I’d never get enough of him, not in this lifetime or the next. His hand slid down my arm and wrapped around my waist. His touch was like fire, one I wanted nothing more than to be consumed in.
Someone cleared her throat. “Should I get some snacks for the show?”
Etie pulled back, smiling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “You taste like cherries and chocolate. I couldn’t help myself.”
I shook my head, trying to ignore the deep flush covering every inch of my body. “You can thank Rafe for that.”
His brows slammed down. “What the hell does that mean?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed him off. “Simmer down. He gave me some snacks after practice. That’s all.”
Mama CeCe chuckled. “I could watch you two all day.” She sighed and rolled her shoulders, her smile fading. “But we were discussing the idiot plan this bokor’s got.”
“It’s not idiotic.” Etie grabbed my hand and led me over to a plush velvet couch, pulling me down next to him. “It’s the only direction we have.”
“Garamond told you and your papa one way to weaken the baron has something to do with the dead.” Mama CeCe leaned off her desk, taking up Etie’s pacing. “You’ve got to use a dead being or maybe even something with a vivankò. You don’t know. But what happens if the baron is too weak to usher in souls to the spirit world? What then?”
Maman Brigitte had warned us about the same thing, and Henri had claimed she was only trying to protect her husband. What would Mama CeCe have to gain by stopping us from weakening Baron Samedi?
Etie rubbed his temples. “I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
“Would Kalfou take over the baron’s spot?” I asked, remembering what else the light loa warned us about.
A violent shiver rippled down the priestess’s spine. “Who said a thing like that?”
“Maman Brigitte.” I ignored Etie’s low growl. “She’s afraid he’ll take over the gate and use the good souls for black magic.”
Mama CeCe waved her fingers. “Vini.” An ancient tome flew from a shelf, landing on the wooden coffee table in front of me with a loud thud. The pages flipped, abruptly stopping. “Kalfou is the worst of the worst, and I’d sooner hide under a rock than face him.”
I leaned forward, staring at the page. A chill cooled my blood. I didn’t need to understand the Vondou passage. The haunting picture was enough. A tall, young man stood on a pile of writhing snakes, hellfire looming in the distance behind him. Ancient symbols tattooed the hard muscles shredding his bare upper body. His eyes were pits of molten tar, while an eerie smile curled his lips.
“And what makes Kalfou even more dangerous…” The voodoo priestess’s long crimson fingernail tapped her temple. “He can get into your mind. His darkness spreads quickly, and he’ll make you do things, say things, or even forget things.”
Goosebumps popped along my skin. Well, that was fantastic. A super powerful evil voodoo god could control minds. Great.
Etie shook his head, his expression pinched. “That’s a myth, CeCe.”
Her brow arched. “You sure about that?” She slinked to a cabinet on the other side of her desk, withdrawing a bottle of whiskey. Her hands trembled as she poured herself a glass. “Care to make a wager?”
Cold fear sank to the pit of my stomach as I stared at Kalfou. Whether he could control minds or not, he was still someone I didn’t want to mess with. “Why doesn’t he look like Papa Legba?” They were twins. I expected him to be as weathered as the serene voodoo loa.
“Papa’s grown old with wisdom and knowledge.” Mama CeCe downed another sip of whiskey and shook her head. “Kalfou knows nothing but thirst for dark magic.”
Etie slid his fingers through mine. “Don’t worry, cher. Kalfou isn’t going anywhere near you.” His eyes shifted to Mama CeCe, hardening. “Because this is nonsense. Kalfou is off doing whatever it is he does with his time. He torments animals. I don’t know.” Etie shrugged. “He doesn’t care about Baron Samedi or the gate between this world and the spirit world. If he did, he would have challenged the baron a long time ago.”
Mama CeCe scoffed. “You’re being naïve, Étienne.”
“And you’re being paranoid.” Etie leaned forward and slammed the book shut. “We’re going to find a way to weaken the baron so he can’t get Angeline, her sister, or anyone else she cares about.” His jaw tightened, audibly grinding his teeth. “And we’re going to do it with or without your help.”
The two voodoo casters glared at each other, willing the other to back down. My muscles stiffened at the mounting tension in the atmosphere.
Finally, Mama CeCe relented, shifting her gaze to the floor. “Fine, but mark my words, if Kalfou gets involved, I’m done.”
He shrugged. “Fine.”
“You should be trying to find out why Baron Samedi wants your alimèt so bad.” Mama CeCe perched on the edge of her desk again, straightening the folds of her scarlet skirt.
“He wants my conduit powers for something.” What other reason would he want me?
Mama CeCe’s lips pursed. “Yes, but for what? Baron Samedi has enough power. He’s keeper of the dead, healer of the living. He rules the crossroads between life and death. What else could he want?”
Hot energy rippled over Etie’s body. “No idea, but whatever it is, he’s not getting it.”
The room Etie and I shared at Le Revenant resembled the rest of the club—luxurious and ostentatious as hell. I padded across the dark, high gloss floors to the massive four-poster bed. The tall golden poles were draped with black silk. The bedding was all gold, silver, and black satin and velvet.
Now that part, I didn’t mind. I slept like a baby with a full belly. And now everything was coated in Etie’s scent. That was the best part of living with him.
Gawd. I was living with the Cajun Casanova. Etie sneaking into my window or me staying at his house was one thing, but actually sharing a space was another story. It made me giddy.
A knock resonated at my door, and I dropped my brush on the ebony dresser. My heart lurched when I opened it.
“Didn’t mean to frighten you, Evangeline.” Henri loomed on the outskirts of the shadows.
“You didn’t.” My voice came out as a squeak. I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t expecting you.” Henri had never done anything to hurt me. In fact, he’d been nice and helpful. But there was just something unsettling about him. He was a dark bokor who belonged to Louange le Noir. Then there were the rumors that had always circulated about him in Carrefour. I couldn’t forget what a crap father he’d been to his sons either.
He gave a noncommittal shrug. He was used to people fearing him. “I was looking for Etie.”
“He’s not here,” I said. “I think he’s in the kitchen downstairs.”
“Ah.” A soft chuckle slipped out. “He must have found out Mama CeCe’s che
f was making lemon berry tarts.”
“Bingo.” I spun around and grabbed my key. Why did I bother locking the door? Everyone living and working at Le Revenant had magic. If they wanted to get in, they could. “I’m headed there now if you want to walk with me.”
Henri’s head lowered, dark locks falling in his face. “I ain’t sure that’s such a good idea. You know how Etie can be.”
Etie didn’t like his father alone with me. He was afraid Henri would try to use me. If the dark bokor wanted my power, he already had plenty of opportunities to attack. I had been in a car with him alone all the way from Monroe to Carrefour.
“It’s fine.” I closed the door and locked it. “I’ll take care of him.”
We turned and headed down the long hall, our steps silent on the ornate crimson and gold rug. Henri shoved his hands in his pockets and walked as far from me as possible, practically hugging the wall. An awkward silence stretched. I tried to think of something to say to ease the tension, but what do you talk about with someone like Henri? Skin any cats for some dark voodoo rituals today? How’s Louange le Noir?
His gray t-shirt sleeve had ridden up, displaying the baron’s vevè on his chiseled bicep. The voodoo king’s words in Ms. Delphine’s attic floated back. Etie had told me Louange le Noir hadn’t always praised the baron over all other loa, but I had no idea Henri had helped usher in that change.
“Before Louange le Noir turned their attention to Baron Samedi, was there some other symbol they used?” I jerked my chin toward the mark.
Henri ran his hand over the tattoo, his gaze pensive. “It depended on the certain sect. Some used Baron Samedi’s vevè. Others used Vondou symbols specific to dark voodoo. And others—a few still do—praise Kalfou.”
The name sent ghostly fingers down my neck. The Louange le Noir casters who’d killed that boy had worshiped Kalfou. Those had to be the worst of the worst.
“Why did you change it?” Henri had to be pretty influential if he could alter the way groups of voodoo worshiped.
A long sigh slipped out, and he slowed to a stop. “I was different then. I was young, naïve even.” He gave a humorless laugh. “I believed I was doing voodoo a favor by pushing Baron Samedi higher, turning him into the voodoo king.”
“And now?” How could someone change their mind so drastically?
He swallowed hard. “I made a lot of mistakes in my life. This is on the top of that list right under what I did to my family.” His eyes fell to the rug. “I regret it every day.”
Henri seemed so sincere. Did he really comprehend the terrible things he’d done?
He waved his hand for us to keep walking. “We should hurry. I don’t want Etie to think I kept you.”
We continued down the hall, the silence between us awkward again. I blurted what I hoped was a safe topic. “How did you meet Gabrielle?” I’d always wondered how such a sweet woman caught the eye of the bokor? Was he attracted to her goodness? Was it the whole bad boy crushing on the good girl with a heart of gold kind of romance?
A twinkle lit Henri’s brown eyes. “I came to Carrefour, drawn by the magic of the crossroad. Little did I know, I was going to end up staying for another reason.”
We turned the corner, the hall widening as the elevator grew closer. Gold sconces lit the dark walls.
“I was walking through the swamp, and I saw this petite, pale-haired thing on the banks.” A real smile tugged at his lips, softening his intense facial features. “When I got closer, I realized she was playing with an alligator.”
My jaw dropped. “An alligator? A baby one?”
Henri’s deep chuckle bounced around us. “That thing was twice as big as her, and she was just petting his head as if he were a dog.” White teeth flashed as he grinned. “I knew right away she was the one.”
The one? Had Henri actually loved Gabrielle? Had he ever loved his sons?
His gaze flicked in my direction. “You remind me of her.”
My brow arched. “How so?” I sure wasn’t the type to go up and pet an alligator no matter what size it was.
We stopped in front of the elevator, and Henri pressed the button. The gold reflected fuzzy images of us, his towering over mine. “She’s brave and so full of life.” He rubbed his finger over the snake ring. “Just like you.”
I made a face. “I’m not that brave.” I strived for bravery, but it usually turned into stupidity. Like the time I fought with Ramsey and his coven. I’d gone in thinking I could handle myself and protect my friends. Ha! I ended up getting my ass handed to me, and if Rafe and Mama CeCe hadn’t intervened, Ramsey would have hauled me away.
Henri reached out to touch me, but he let his hand drop back to his side. “You are brave. You saved your sister once, and now you’re going up against Baron Samedi to save you both.”
Again, my stupidity got us in this mess in the first place. If I’d called Papa Legba like I was supposed to, Marisol would be fine. Neither of us would be indebted to the voodoo king.
The elevator dinged, and the shiny doors opened, revealing a handsome guy with dirty blond hair and a lazy smile.
Bastien.
Those usually warm amber eyes cooled several degrees as they landed on the bokor next to me. “What are you doing with Angel?”
“We’re both headed to the kitchen to find Etie.” His voice was just as icy as Bastien’s.
Why was Henri trying to make amends with Etie but not his eldest?
Bastien held his hand out to keep the door from closing. “Mama CeCe wants to see you. She’s in her office. I’ll take Angel to Etie.”
Henri’s brows dipped. “What does she want?”
“No telling.” Bastien’s fingers curled around my wrist, and he yanked me forward.
I stumbled and let out a squeak as I slammed into him. “Was that necessary?” I asked, pushing off him.
He grinned and slipped his arm around my shoulders. “Absolutely.”
“Don’t flirt with your brother’s girlfriend.” Henri’s scowl made my skin prickle even though it wasn’t directed at me.
Bastien scoffed. “I can flirt with Angel if I want. Etie doesn’t care. We don’t share girls, and I wouldn’t start with his alimèt.”
Henri tried to step into the elevator, but Bastien’s arm shot out, blocking him. “You can take the stairs. The elevator’s full.”
“Bastien!” I nudged his ribs.
He pressed the button, closing the door on his father. “Good riddance,” he mumbled under his breath.
I wiggled out of his grasp. “That wasn’t nice.”
“Who said I was nice?” He ran his fingers through his pretty locks.
My brow arched. “Everyone. You’re the nice brother, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. You’re right.” His grin was way too devilish. “Doesn’t mean I got to be nice to that asshole.”
I sighed and leaned against the wall. “He’s trying to help.”
“Yeah, but why?” He shook his head. “Henri Benoit doesn’t do something for nothing.”
“Why don’t you just talk to him?” I asked.
He let out a barking laugh. “He’d only hand me a bunch of bullshit.” The door opened and Bastien tugged me out, placing his arm over my shoulders again. “I’m not sure that man is capable of telling the whole truth.” A deep line appeared between his brows. “There’s something off about him. There always has been, and it seems worse now.”
“What do you mean off?” I fiddled with the ends of my hair, trying to understand Bastien’s point of view. Sure, Henri could be scary and intimidating. I still jumped around him, but he seemed to genuinely want to help us with Baron Samedi.
Bastien shrugged. “I don’t know, cher. It’s just a feeling. I don’t trust him, and I never will.”
Chapter 13
The sea of bodies below danced to the hypnotic music while colorful lights pulsed over the crowd. No one seemed to have a care in the world. They smiled and laughed, and some even kissed. A crazy voodoo loa
wasn’t after them. They wouldn’t have to face the choice of giving themselves up or letting their sister pay the price for their mistakes. They also wouldn’t have to choose whether or not to weaken that voodoo loa even though it could provoke an even worse deity.
A deep sigh drifted out of my mouth. Oh to be so carefree.
My fingers curled against the gold railing overlooking Le Revenant. I didn’t typically come into the club area when it was open. Crowds, especially of the magical kind, made me nervous. But tonight, I wanted to forget who I was and what I was facing for just a minute. I wanted to pretend to be a normal witch.
The scent of sage and cloves swirled through the air as Mama CeCe settled beside me. “I never see you here at night,” she said, her mysterious gaze lingering over me. “Everything all right?”
Like she actually cared.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.” Geez. Even I didn’t believe that.
Her smoky laughter filled the space between us. “I think you need a break. You need to relax.” She jerked her chin toward the bar where girls were fawning over Rafe. “Why don’t you get a drink?”
I shifted uneasily. “I don’t know. With all these witches and voodoo casters, I should probably keep a clear head. I don’t want my barriers to slip.” I wasn’t ready to face another coven of enemies yet.
“Don’t worry about that.” Her long crimson nails glimmered as she wiggled her fingers over the crowd. “They ain't paying attention to nothing but having fun.”
I gazed at the throng of patrons, debating.
She nudged me. “No one’s going to attack you in here, and ain’t no one leaving with intentions of it either. I’ll make sure of it.” She licked her scarlet lips. “And your alimèt should be back within the hour.”
Etie was in Carrefour, checking on his mom. He felt guilty for going, but I assured him I’d be fine. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t let him visit his own mother?