by Nikki Marsh
A cacophony of shrieking birds announced my entrance. A small bespectacled woman wearing a colorful plumed hat talked to them.
"Now, now, my friends, mind your manners. We have a visitor." Her shrill voice mimicked their shrieks. To my astonishment, the birds halted their cackling.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for Mme. Belle."
"I'm Belle, dearie. Which one of my minions is your favorite - the raven, hawk, crow, falcon, horned owl, or my vampire finch?"
She pointed out each to me, smiling and nodding as she called them by name.
"Peter, my parrot, is special. You can't have him."
"Oh! All of them are interesting, but I'm not here to buy a bird."
"No?" She sounded disappointed.
I showed her my marked hand. "I need your help." She perked up.
"I'm delighted to meet you. It's been a while since we had such a young Spiritual Artist.” I told her what I needed.
She led me to a secret door in the back room and clapped her hands in a metrical beat. The door opened. The Spiritual Marketplace, a quaint village of narrow streets and whimsical shops appeared.
"Follow the stone path to 'The Past is Perfect Shop'." She pointed me in the right direction.
"When you're ready to return, clap your hands just I did and repeat, 'Take me back' three times." She demonstrated the rhythmical clap again.
The 'Past is Perfect Shop' was more of a workshop than a store. Clocks of all shapes and sizes in various states of disrepair cluttered it. The shopkeeper greeted me warmly.
“I’m delighted that you have joined the Family of Spiritual Artists. New practitioners hold a special place in my heart, especially when they’re young, like you. Your adventure lies before you, and I am privileged to help you on your way.”
He pointed out clocks with no hands, clocks with too many hands, cuckoo clocks, tall clocks, short clocks, clocks with broken glass, clocks with animal faces, clocks with human faces, clocks with mysterious faces, even talking clocks.
"I'm Albert. What can I do for you, young lady?"
Albert was small and stocky. His face, though scarred by deep pockmarks and scars, exuded kindness. After I told him what I needed, he opened a drawer behind the counter and pulled out a pendant clock with no hands.
"This will do the trick! It has no time. And you can wear it."
He put it to my ear.
"Can you hear the ticking?"
"No, I can't."
"Right. That's because it has no time. When you use it to turn back time, it will tick, but only for five minutes. You must complete your spell before it stops."
"I can do that."
"Good. Let me put it around your neck." After he did, he continued.
"Follow these steps exactly:
“Sit on the floor and cross your legs.
“Place the pendant around your neck.
“Put an angel's footprint on the floor in front of you.
“Light a white candle and put it beside the angel's feet.
“State precisely what you want to do.
“Take the pendant from around your neck and place it beside the angel's feet.
“As soon as it begins to tick, focus on it and sway your body back and forth reciting this verse:
Take me back in time and place
To that day I caused
A spell to harm a blameless girl
And put within her flaws
When I see myself again
In that time and place
Pause to let me change my path
And wicked deeds erase.
“When you see yourself there, retrieve the spell casting elements. This renders the spell ineffective. But, you must complete the spell before the clock stops ticking.
“When you complete the ritual, you will return to the present time and place.”
"What is an angel's footprint? How can I get one?"
"As an experienced Spiritual Artist with the highest skills, I will supply you with one."
He went to another drawer hidden behind an enormous clock and pulled out a gris-gris bag. It held a talisman in the shape of miniature wings with tiny footprints mounted on it.
"Ah, here it is," he announced. “Consider this a Gift on the occasion of your first of many visits to the Marketplace.”
I thanked Albert for his help. Later that night, alone in my room, I performed the "Take Me Back in Time Spell" and hoped for the best.
✽✽✽
Stefan arrived home a few days later, and Felicie prepared one of her feasts. Everyone was there - Uncle Phonse, Auntie, Maman, Stefan, Julian, and Beau. While Auntie wasn't on her best behavior, she wasn't on her worst either. Her daily visits to Papa Jean had not cured her, but whatever hoodoo he used seemed to subdue her, at least for a while. And, while Auntie was as suspicious as ever, she allowed Felicie to wash her hair and keep her in clean clothes. She accepted the fact of her impending death and accepted the fact that none of us believed her. Still, she asked Beau if he smelled her putrefying flesh every time she saw him. He assured her that whatever fragrant perfume she used masked any offensive odor. This way he didn't deny her belief, but gave her credit for doing a splendid job of masking the odor.
Suzanne put on her best behavior, not taunting Auntie as much or arousing feelings of jealousy over Uncle Phonse. I thought it must be for Stefan's benefit, and it seemed to work. It felt a little like the old days before Brigitte died. Yet, I worried Suzanne would reveal her secret to Stefan. If she did, everything between us would be over. I needed to tell him before she did.
After an uneventful supper, Stefan, Julian, and I played cards in the parlor and made plans for a picnic later in the week.
"That sounds like fun," Stefan said. But I could see the picnic bothered Julian.
"Fun for you two, but 'Two's company and three's a crowd.’" His attempt at humor fell flat because there was some truth in what he said.
"I think I'll pass on this one."
Stefan protested, "Julian, we don't feel that way."
He didn't want to hurt Julian's feelings, and I admired him, even though it meant less time alone for us.
"You know what?" Julian added. "I'll ask Emilie to join us. Then we'll be two couples."
"Emilie?" I asked.
Julian stunned me, and I blurted out, "Emilee with the bad breath?"
He snapped back.
"What bad breath?"
Julian and Stefan didn't remember the incident at the ball. My "Turn Back the Time" spell worked. I had made amends for my transgression.
"You must be confusing her with someone else," Stefan added.
"I must be," I said adding, "I think a picnic is a marvelous idea!"
"You know, Stefan, you hurt Emilie when you stopped calling on her or writing," Julian scolded.
"I'm sorry about that, but I didn't feel the same way about her as she did for me. I turned my attention elsewhere," he said as our eyes met.
"Don't feel too bad. She's ready to move on," Julian added.
The picnic would give me the perfect opportunity to see if Stefan still had any feelings for her.
"Seriously, Gabbie, you won't mind if I bring Emile, will you?"
"Why would I? You surprised me. That's all. I didn't know you were interested in her."
"My interest is recent and strong. Grann and Emilie's Maman work together on some church activities. We had dinner at her house last week, and we got better acquainted. In fact, I liked her so much I paid another visit a few days ago. I'm sure she would love to come."
"Good for you, Julian." Stefan liked the idea of them as a couple. That relieved me.
"I'll ask Grann to fix a basket."
"Be sure to bring some pralines," I chimed in.
"I'll ask Felicie to fix a basket, too," Stefan added.
"Great! We're on," Julian looked at me almost defiantly as he said this.
I needed to speak with Julian alone to tell him about my visit with my last Spiritual Guide. I didn
't want him to grow impatient and take measures into his own hands. A portal could open up any day.
Stefan was in a talkative mood and in no hurry to end the evening. I had to put him to sleep. A simple "Put to Sleep" spell didn't need advanced preparations. I just needed to lock his eyes in my gaze and chant. I was confident I could do it and, when I had the chance, I took it.
Go to sleep tired eyes.
Rest your mind, do not rise
Till you hear these words from me
Réveille-toi maintenant ma chérie.
As soon as I did, his head rolled forward, he slumped in the chair, and he fell into a sound asleep.
"What just happened?"
"I had to put him to sleep."
"Why?"
"Because I have to tell you something, and I didn't want him to hear."
"Will he wake up?"
"When I tell him."
"Can he hear us?"
"No."
I told Julian about my visit with Airmed and that a portal would open up soon.
"Where is the portal?"
"They are everywhere, but only the Gifted can see them."
"When will it happen?"
"Soon."
As we spoke, his contempt for Lucinda trumped his contempt for me. We were on the same side again.
"I can't wait for her to get what she deserves."
"What does she deserve, Julian?"
"What do you think she deserves for killing my mother and probably trying to kill yours too? Death?"
I wanted to stop Lucinda and Suzanne from harming Maman, but I hadn't thought beyond that. I didn't want to upset Julian by telling him I wouldn't kill Auntie. He had to believe that I was, at least, open to the possibility.
"You're right, Julian. We might have to kill her if that's the only way we can stop her."
"Can I go with you?"
"No, but you can help me plan."
"How?"
"I'm going to Miss Marie's early in the morning. Come with me."
"There's nothing I'd like more."
Julian was his old self again, and that made me happy.
"Now, don't you think you should wake up Stefan?"
We laughed.
Chapter Twenty
Fidelity
The aromas that met me whenever I entered Miss Marie's never failed to surprise me. Each visit had a unique mix of spices, plants, incense, and herbs. That morning, a pungent aroma assaulted our senses. I suspected she had concocted it for me.
Miss Marie had heard a lot about Julian, but I wasn't sure she would approve of me bringing him.
"I’ve brought Julian. He’s my best friend. I've told him everything about me, and he wants to help."
"It's good you have such a sympathetic friend, but I wonder if he might not have his own reasons for wanting to help you?"
I forgot how perceptive Miss Marie was. She knew about Maman and our suspicions about her death.
"You are right," Julian responded. "I want revenge, but I am a loyal friend to Gabbie. She can trust me with her secrets and her life. If she ever needs my help, I want to be there, if I can," he assured her.
"All right," she said. "Let's get started." We went to the altar.
"Gabbie, your path will lead you to places few have traveled. You have a magnificent Gift, and you have learned to respect it. You make me proud. It is a very important thing. For by respecting your Gift, you become a powerful defender of truth and good."
She beamed and took pride in helping me achieve this.
"Your journey began in doubt and fear. You doubted you had the power but feared you might. I doubted you, too, but I have come to know and understand you. You have done the same with me."
"I have prepared a special anointing oil. Use it before you cross the Veil."
I waited for her to begin the anointing ceremony, but she gave me the anointing bowl instead.
"Miss Marie, will you anoint me before I embark on this journey?"
"No. Now you have earned the right to anoint yourself. Before you enter the portal that will carry you over, place some of this oil on your forehead. This signals you are wise and know the difference between good and evil. Anoint the place where your heart dwells. The love you have for your Maman is the reason you are taking this journey at all. Anoint your feet. This represents you understand the importance of the travel you are about to make. Finally, anoint your hands. By doing these things, you promise you will never use your head, your heart, your hands, and your feet for evil."
"I understand."
"Once you arrive at the Gate to the Land of the Dead, you will hear a voice. It will ask who you want to visit and why you want to visit this person. It will ask if you understand your responsibilities as a visitor to the Land of the Dead."
"What are my responsibilities?"
"Honor those you visit. Use whatever information they give you for good. Promise not to share the knowledge you gain with evildoers or the unanointed."
"I understand."
She turned to Julian, "How can you help?"
Julian looked puzzled.
"I'm not sure, but I swear my fidelity to her and her Gift. I can give her my abiding love and respect, even if fate has us loving others. She will always have the biggest piece of my heart."
Julian astonished me with the depth of his feelings. I respected him for having the courage to speak those words, even though he knew my feelings were not the same. I looked in his eyes and promised I would do nothing to lessen his high opinion of me.
That night, as I lay in my bed, I realized something for the first time. I felt secure. I didn't realize how much I had missed that. On some level, Julian was part of the reason. I thought about Stefan and the way my heart responded whenever he was near me. I thought about the times he kissed me and held me in his arms, and that also gave me a sense of security. I thought about Felicie taking me under her wings, sharing her crazy superstitions, shepherding me through the peculiarities of this household. I thought about Brigitte, not as a long-lost cousin, but as a big sister I lost. I thought about Miss Marie helping me become the person I must be. I thought about Uncle Phonse always being there for Maman and me.
The Great Storm took my father, my home, my life as I knew it, and it changed my mother into someone I no longer knew. What I hadn't realized was how much of myself it swept away - my sense of security, my sense of belonging, my childhood. I felt gratitude for having all these people in my life and learning the path I must follow. With all these thoughts floating through my mind, I drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
✽✽✽
The next morning, I went to the kitchen to help Felicie pack the picnic basket. She filled it with hot fried chicken in a paper sack, potato salad in a jar, deviled eggs, a jug of lemonade, bread, strawberry jam, slices of pound cake, and some fresh fruit.
"Thanks, Felicie. Everything looks scrumptious."
Stefan came in, eager to leave. He checked the picnic basket, and I saw the wheels in Felicie's mind turning.
"Well," she said, "I'm mighty pleased y'all like what's in the basket. I packed a little of your most favorite food. I sure hope you two enjoy your picnic. Just the two of you. Right?" She fished for answers.
"Julian and Emilie are coming, too," he said.
"Your Emilie, Stefan?"
"Not my Emilie, Felicie."
"Sounds like y'all are couplin' up to me."
"No," I told her. "We're friends going out to have a picnic at the park. That's all." I made it clear, but Stefan interceded.
"Felicie, it wouldn't be so bad if we were 'coupling up', would it?"
"That depends," she answered smugly, and thought about it.
"Some couplin' up might be a good thing in this house." She smiled and looked at me.
It mortified me that Felicie knew about our relationship. I didn't think she would tell anyone, but I knew she would pry me for information.
We planned to meet Julian and Emilie at Goliath. They were already
there, sitting on a tablecloth on a sunny section of the lawn when we arrived.
"I'm so glad to see you again, Gabbie," Emilie said as she stood up from the blanket and offered her hand.
"Me too, Emilie."
Emilie was prettier and more stylish than I could ever hope to be. She looked like a porcelain doll in her thin white dress embroidered with dainty flowers and a wide brim straw with streaming ribbons. She even carried a parasol to shade her from the sun.
I hoped seeing Emilie again wouldn't cause Stefan to weigh the suitability of a match with Emilie against the unsuitability of one with me. Emilie represented high Creole society. Her clothes were fashionable, and her manners perfect. She had the qualities I lacked, and, realizing this, my spirits sank. Stefan's dormant feelings could be in danger of being awakened.
We spent the afternoon enjoying good conversation, good food, good laughs, and a few hands of cards. Julian brought some badminton paddles, and we played a few rounds. I realized my fear that Stefan's attention would turn to Emilie were unfounded.
I found it hard not to like Emilie and thought better of Julian for bringing her. He had a hole in his heart since Brigitte's death, and it needed mending. He wanted a close relationship with someone and, if it couldn't be me, it could be Emilie. I laughed at myself for thinking Julian could have any reason for inviting her other than he liked her. Julian didn't have a deceptive bone in his body.
As night descended, we packed up our things and started our short walk home. It was then that I noticed a large hole in Goliath, a hole the size of Emilie's hat. A blue flame glowed from within. Nobody else saw it. Goliath was the portal for me to cross the Veil. I planned to return later that night and crossed my fingers the light would still be there.
Before I left the house to return to the park, I anointed myself as instructed by Miss Marie and made my way to Julian's. I had to let him know what I was about to do. He would never forgive me if I didn't, and I would be afraid if he weren't there with me. It was too late to knock on the door, so I used the "Hear Me Spell".
He came outside, rubbing his eyes.
"Julian, when we left the park today, a portal opened up in Goliath. That's the portal to cross the Veil." I described what I saw.