Wicked Unveiled

by J. N. Colon

  My stomach rolled. Etie caught me before I hit the ground.

  Kalfou’s veins began to turn as black as tar. “Why did you even have that on you?” His voice was garbled.

  “I knew something was wrong with you, Henri.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t taking any chances. It’s my job to protect my brother. I failed when we were younger, but I’d never make that mistake again.” He twisted the knife more. “You’ll never get the chance to hurt him.”

  I squeezed Etie tighter. Bastien was always the sweet, funny brother. Right now, there was nothing sweet about him.

  “The vistako dust mixed with this knife will have you out for a long time.” Bastien leaned closer to the loa. “And if you ever come around again, I’ll be there to stop you. Always.”

  Kalfou’s form began to melt away, turning into a swirl of darkness like Papa Legba had when the baron stabbed him. Only Papa had been pure light.

  The silence in the spirit world was deafening.

  I stared at the spot no longer occupied by the evil loa. Kalfou had turned my life upside down the day I was born. He’d controlled Baron Samedi for twenty-some odd years. He’d had two sons to help carry out his horrendous plan. And he’d made the darkness in Etie grow stronger than the light. He made him fight every day for balance.

  I sat next to Kalfou countless times and carried on conversations without a clue. How was Gabrielle going to react when she found out her husband was an evil loa?

  Papa Legba strode toward Bastien. “I’ll keep an eye out for my brother, but he won’t be reappearing any time soon.” He reached his hand out to help the bokor up. “Well done.”

  Bastien took his hand and stood. “Where is he?”

  “A crossroad.” Papa Legba’s lips pursed. “He’s in a place between life and death. If he ever returns to this world, I don’t think his powers will be the same.”

  The throbbing in my broken wrist came rushing back tenfold. A groan slipped out.

  Etie cradled my hand, examining it.

  “Please tell me there’s some magic healing spell.” The thing already looked twice it’s normal size.

  “Allow me.” Baron Samedi appeared. His hand shot out in a blur, covering mine. Before I could yank it away, a warmth spread through my veins and then a pop sounded.

  A breath of relief slipped out as the pain evaporated. “What did you do?”

  He shot me one of those crooked smiles. “Healer of the living, remember, cher?”

  “Maybe now you’ll start acting like it instead of haunting me.” I ticked my head toward the spirits that began to emerge from the fog now that Kalfou was gone. “You have some seriously demented friends.”

  Baron Samedi grimaced. “They might have gone a little overboard. But in all fairness, I’m sure Kalfou had a hand in their behavior.”

  My gaze settled on the spot Kalfou had been. He was gone, but I couldn’t help feeling like it was only temporary. Someday, he’d be back.

  Chapter 27

  My kitchen never felt so abandoned. I hadn’t been home in months, and my grandmother’s absence was definitely felt. The fridge was empty, and the air was stale instead of perfumed by spices.

  Hollow.

  That was also the feeling radiating from Etie. Emptiness. And beyond that, pain churned.

  He sat at the kitchen table, staring off into space. Bastien was across from him, twirling an unlit cigarette between his fingers. They’d found out their father wasn’t a powerful voodoo bokor but Kalfou, the loa of dark magic.

  They were half voodoo gods. Dark ones.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Étienne, and you can go ahead and stop.” Bastien ran his hand through his blond locks, tucking the cigarette behind his ear. “You’re not evil.”

  He scoffed. “Our father is evil. He made sure there was more darkness in me than light. How do you fight that?”

  “Our mama is good.” Bastien leaned forward, his glowing amber eyes piercing his brother’s. “Don’t you think she’s good enough to overcome his darkness?”

  “Yes, but—”

  Bastien cut him off with a wave of his hand. “We’re half of her. That means we ain’t evil.”

  Etie’s brows dipped. “It’s not so simple.” He stood and made his way to the glass French doors, staring into the murky backyard. Daylight was approaching. “Not for me anyway.”

  I pushed off from the counter and stood in front of him. “Don’t let Kalfou get to you. You’re still you. Nothing has changed.” I reached for him, but he flinched.

  “How can you stand to be around me, to touch me?” His voice was raw, and agony sliced every syllable.

  “Because you’re not evil.” I caught his face between my hands. “I love you.”

  His eyes drifted to his feet. “You shouldn’t.”

  My hand lowered, lingering over the toujou above his collarbone. “I’m a part of you. Do you think I’m evil?”

  His gaze shot to mine. “Of course not. You’re good. You’re all good.”

  I snorted. “I doubt that. But I’m not evil and neither are you.”

  “You should listen to your alimèt, Étienne.” Papa Legba appeared in the corner of the room, his calm brown eyes so different than his twin’s pure black ones. “You’re light and dark, boy. Just like voodoo.”

  Etie removed my hands and let them hang between us, his fingers loosely mingling with mine. “I don’t want this darkness.”

  “The darkness is needed, Étienne.” Papa Legba removed his hat, setting it on the breakfast bar. “The best things in the world are light and dark.” He produced a crimson rose, drops of dew glistening on the silky petals. “The flower is soft and smells sweet, but these thorns can prick you.” A bee buzzed around the blossom. “The bee stings, but it pollinates to bring more flowers. And some bees make honey.” Papa shook his hands until they were empty. He pointed to the backyard, light beginning to creep across the lawn. “The sun creates life, but it can burn.”

  Etie sighed. I could tell he wanted to keep protesting, but when a loa was giving you words of wisdom, you listened.

  Papa Legba came forward, placing his hand on Etie’s shoulder. “You can maintain the balance of light and dark within as does voodoo, Étienne Benoit.” He ticked his head toward Bastien. “Your brother will help.” His gaze fell on mine. “Evangeline too. She’s strong. Kalfou may have forced you together, but you would have sought her out anyway.”

  Etie’s brows dipped. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s happened more than once.” Papa Legba’s velvety brown eyes flicked toward the other bokor in the room.

  “Uh-oh.” A wide grin spread across Bastien’s face. “I was wondering when this was going to catch up to me.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked. They obviously knew something Etie and I didn’t.

  “Yes, what is going on?” Etie’s eyes were narrowed on his brother. “What did you do?”

  Papa Legba lifted his hand from Etie’s shoulder and placed it on his forehead. He did the same to me, his touch soft and warm. “I think it’s about time you remembered.”

  “Remember wh—”

  My kitchen disappeared, and the woods near Chickarees came into focus. Nighttime blanketed the thicket of trees and rough bark dug into my back.

  Etie stood in front of me, an anguished expression spreading across his handsome face. “I’m sorry, Angeline.”

  “For what?” I asked. “I told you I was fine.”

  What the hell? What was this memory? Neither of us had the toujou yet.

  I was trying to ask Etie about voodoo. I was asking him for help, but he wasn’t listening. And then he was kissing me.

  My lips burned from it, a fire erupting through my insides.

  When was this?

  Etie’s mouth took control of mine, and it all came flooding back. My first day of work at the Leroux house was not the first time I’d met Étienne Benoit. We’d crossed paths a few days before in the woods. He’d accused me of
following him. Then he was hitting on me, Cajun Casanova style.

  The flirtations came to a screeching halt when a couple of Louange le Noir casters showed up. Etie fought them off. And then he made me forget ever meeting him.

  My kitchen came into focus again, Etie’s mismatched eyes wide. A long string of French tumbled from his mouth.

  “You made me forget meeting you?” I crossed my arms against my chest. “What the hell for?”

  Papa Legba released us and took several steps back. “Give him a chance to explain.”

  Etie glanced over at his brother. “I had Bastien take my memories too.” His lips thinned into a tight line. “He was supposed to take all the memories of you I had, but he only took that night.”

  Bastien gave an unapologetic shrug. “What can I say? I know what’s best for my little brother.”

  “But you promised, Bastien.” His nostrils flared.

  His brother held his finger up. “I’d promised to do what you needed, which is exactly what I did.”

  I flicked Etie hard in the chest, stealing his attention back.

  “Hey! What the hell was that for, Angeline?” he hissed.

  “For trying to make us forget each other.” Did he really not think I’d be mad about this?

  “I was trying to protect you. I thought I’d end up hurting you. I didn’t know you needed my help.” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”

  I sighed and choked back the urge to give him a hard time. Etie had just learned his father was really Kalfou. He was going through enough crap right now, but I wasn’t letting this go. He was going to get an earful at some point.

  “I forgive you,” I muttered, my eyes narrowing at the light twitch of his lips. Was he seriously fighting back a smile?

  Papa Legba turned to Bastien. His pipe appeared in his hand, and tobacco scented the air. “Come on. Let’s give them a few minutes, and we can talk. Are you worried about the darkness you inherited from your papa?”

  “Me? I have no darkness. I’m as pure and white as an angel.” Bastien held his hands in prayer and winked.

  Papa Legba shook his head. “Yes, Bastien, I’m sure you’re heaven sent even while you chase women around this town.”

  Bastien grinned as he stood. “I am. You can ask them.”

  Etie’s expression sobered once they left. “How am I going to live knowing who my father really is?”

  I stretched onto my toes and gently kissed him. The tiniest hint of cherries lingered. “You just will. Like I’m learning to deal with all the lies and secrets in my own life, like I’m learning to deal with this power, you’ll learn to get past this.”

  His eyes bored into me as if he could see right into my soul. “Aren’t you scared of what I’m capable of?”

  I scoffed. “Have you seen what I can do? You’re not the only one who has to worry about a little darkness.”

  “But—”

  My fingers pressed against his lips, cutting him off. “You’re not in this alone. Not anymore.”

  He removed my fingers. “You’re going to be stubborn about this, aren’t you?”

  “Of course.”

  He sighed and reached into his pocket, drawing out a piece of candy. As soon as the sugar touched his tongue, his body relaxed. I could literally see the shift in his personality coming. Which Etie was I about to get?

  His eyes began to smolder.

  Uh-oh.

  He removed the sucker, licking the sweet flavor from his lips. “Well, I guess the only right thing for me to do is marry you.”

  My barking laughter echoed through the house. “Funny.”

  “Oh no, cher. I’m serious.” His hand snapped out, fastening around my hip and yanking me toward him. “I should at least make an honest woman out of you so your virtue stays intact.”

  “I’ve already lost that virtue.” My voice was way too breathy. “No need to wrap me in white and shove me down the aisle.”

  “Still, just to be on the safe side.” His arm wound around my waist, locking me against him. “That way I won’t feel so evil when I do all those bad things you like.”

  My cheeks heated, and I tried to shove him away, but he didn’t budge. “You’re impossible.” The Cajun Casanova had returned. And I was going to have to hose him down.

  Or better yet, maybe I’d just surrender and let us both burn in a scorching voodoo-Wiccan inferno.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Assorted jack-o-lanterns lined Main Street, grinning into the chilly autumn night. Painted skulls were nestled between them. Rubber snakes and purple candles adorned the spooky scene. Flying witches hung in shop windows right next to gris-gris bags.

  Fete Gede had come to Carrefour. Well, sort of.

  “OMG, this is so freaking cool.” Riley twirled around a display of ritual drums, her pink and emerald sequined mermaid costume shimmering in the streetlights. “I never thought the bible thumpers would let our little town throw a Halloween parade and celebrate a voodoo holiday.” Her green eyes flicked toward me. “What’s it called again?”

  “Fete Gede.” The Festival of the Dead was in less than an hour. Once the clock struck midnight, the voodoo spirits would come out to play.

  “It’s so culturally progressive.” Lana examined a voodoo talisman hanging from the pharmacy window. She was dressed as a hippie with her long, black hair pin-straight and flowers painted on her cheeks.

  “I’m just glad you guys could take a weekend away from college life.” I nudged Lana. “You’re both such party animals your sophomore year.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Right.”

  “There’s Melissa and Jake.” Riley waved at our other two classmates from high school across the street. “I’m going to go say hi.”

  “It looks like everyone’s here for this,” Lana mumbled, absentmindedly surveying the townsfolk.

  Mayor Deveraux had cooked this whole thing up. Celebrating Fete Gede was way beyond anything this town had ever expected. He must want something big from the infamous voodoo Benoits. Why else would he go through so much trouble to properly observe one of their holidays?

  I was shocked so many people were still out. They were all getting into the Halloween and Fete Gede spirit too. Even Ms. Unrue was on the corner, passing out pamphlets about tomorrow’s festivities.

  I nudged Lana who was still peering through the throng of townsfolk. “Looking for a certain blond hottie with a sexy Cajun accent?”

  Crimson flooded her cheeks. “No. W-Why would I be looking for Bastien?”

  The man in question appeared in the crowd near the bakery. Thomas, the sweet, pudgy owner was giving away blueberry tarts to anyone who could make a decent frosted rose.

  A smile tipped the edges of my lips. “So, you wouldn’t want to talk to him?”

  Lana gave a noncommittal shrug and played with the long, woven belt around her narrow hips. “I didn’t say that. If Bastien happened to show up, I’d say hi.”

  “My ears are burning. You ladies must be talking about me.” Bastien appeared behind Lana, grinning. “I like the hippie outfit.” His finger wrapped around a lock of her dark hair. “Free love is my thing, cher.”

  Her deep brown eyes were twice the size as he settled his body against hers. “Oh, um, thanks.”

  “How long are you in town for, Lana?” His lips formed into a pout. “I missed you.”

  Oh my gawd. Bastien Benoit had no shame.

  Lana giggled and melted next to him. “Just this weekend.”

  “We better make it a good one.” He slid his hand into hers and began dragging her away, a mischievous expression crossing his face. “Let’s get into some trouble, yeah?”

  “Take it easy, Bastien,” I halfheartedly warned. “Don’t break my friend.”

  He scoffed. “I’ll be gentle with my delicate flower child.”

  “Some things ain’t never going to change.” Antoine stood beside me, his hands on his hips. “That boy’s going to die surrounded by adoring women
.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s the way he’d prefer to go.” I took the cup of warm cider he offered, cinnamon and nutmeg swirling up my nose.

  Antoine flicked the purple scarf over his other shoulder. Large gold hoops adorned his ears, and thick, onyx liner circled his eyes. A miniature Magic 8-Ball hung on a large chain around his neck. He was dressed as a fortuneteller. “Got that right, honey.” He motioned his gold painted fingernail down my body. “What are you supposed to be?”

  I shot him an incredulous expression and readjusted the black pointy hat on my head. “I think that’s pretty obvious.” The black and green tights and matching cape added to my witchy ensemble.

  “Isn’t Halloween the day you dress up as something you’re not.” Antoine winked.

  I playfully shoved him. He’d been let in on my little secret. It was kind of hard denying it after he saw me levitating in the Benoit’s kitchen.

  Antoine wiggled his fingers and sauntered down the sidewalk. “I’ll see you later, sweet thing. Don’t give that boy too much of that spicy Spanish candy of yours. He might OD.”

  Blood flooded my cheeks. Antoine had too much fun making me blush.

  “Love the costume, Antoine.” Marisol passed him, flashing a smile. “Read my fortune later?”

  “I can tell you right now.” He winked at Lucas who walked beside her. “You’re going to be causing some major fireworks tonight, sugar.”

  Laughter peeled from Marisol while Lucas’s face reddened. Making people blush was definitely Antoine’s calling.

  Lucas fumbled with the buttons on his black-and-white-pinstriped suit. The matching fedora was tilted on his head, revealing his brushed back golden-brown locks. He was an old-school gangster. “It’s good to see you, Angel.”

  I reached forward, giving him a hug. He and Marisol were living with the coven in Virginia. “You too.”

  After putting down Kalfou, Baron Samedi had released my sister from her tie with him. His vevè was gone from her wrist. Marisol transferred schools so she could live at Covina De Validus and continue training. She and Lucas were practically inseparable. At least my dad was happy about that.