Bad Juju (37 page)

“Maybe Miss Fontana was just being nice about stopping back here.  Once she dropped off his backpack, there really wasn’t a need to come back and wish you a safe trip,” Natalie speculated.  Jess watched Jake fidget.

“You know, I’ve looked everywhere for that backpack.  With school about to start, he’ll need it.  But I can’t seem to find it,” Jess said.

“That sucks.  You might get stuck buying a new one,” Jake said.  Jess couldn’t pinpoint his mindless comment, but intuition told her to press further.  She again looked at Henry.  She could see a shimmer of red around his pupil.  Frightened, she looked away.  She looked again and nothing.  She assumed the odd color was from poor lighting in the room.

“You know, I’ve got this theory.  Maybe you kids can help me out with it.  I think there was something in that backpack.  Something Henry didn’t want me or his dad to see.  Probably not his teacher either.  Something so important, his favorite teacher personally delivered it and had every intention of discussing it with me and his dad.  And I bet it had to do with Brittany,” Jess said.

“Sounds like you might be on to something,” Natalie added.

Jessica knew she was right, but needed the kids to fill in the blanks.  Too many tragedies had happened with Jake and Henry being in the eye of the storm.  Her pause made Jake even more fidgety.

“So, you think Henry is ready for school?” Jake asked.

“I’m very ready,” Henry said with a mischievous grin.  His expression was new and sort of scared her.

“Henry, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  We need clearance from your doctors.  And you still have some big memory gaps.  I’m not sure what kinds of classes you can handle.”  She looked at his eyes again.  He sat next to her.  A vivid orange color glittered inside of his iris.  She blinked in fear.  It was gone.  Her imagination must have been playing tricks.

“Mom, I handle them all,” he said, again with that peculiar expression, as if he was privy to a secret.  “Jake, let’s finish
Halo
.”

The boys spent the afternoon in front of the TV playing
Halo
and other video games.  Both didn’t talk much, but enjoyed each other’s company.  By 3:00 p.m. Jake stood up from the couch, ready to leave.

“Thanks for lunch.  Had a great time, Henry.  It’s nice to see you getting better.  I’ll come by later on this week, okay?”  Henry nodded.

“Jake, I packed up the rest of the subs for you to take home,” Jess offered.

“Oh, you didn’t have to…”

“They’ll just go to waste.  I’m making something else for dinner, and we won’t be home tomorrow to eat them.  Let me help you carry them out to your car,” Jess said.

“Thanks, but I can manage,” Jake replied.

“I insist,” Jess demanded.  She wanted a moment alone with him.  Once outside by his car, she explained herself.  “Thanks for not mentioning Lucien.”

“After what happened last week, I felt bad.  I wasn’t about to bring him up.  So you know, his health has taken a turn for the worst.  He’s convinced he’ll die very soon,” Jake said.

“I’m so sorry.  I know how much you love him.  Can I ask you if you really believe all that stuff?  Voodoo?  Does Henry believe in it, too?” Jess inquired.

Jake looked down on the ground.  “Like all religions, including Christianity, there’s something to it.”

“Help me out here.  Something’s obviously going on.  What do you think was in that backpack?” Jess asked.

“I don’t know,” Jake answered, clearly lying.

“Give me something to explain all of this…horror,” Jess pleaded.

“Okay.  Did you know Brittany said she was pregnant?  She claimed Henry was the father.  Maybe something in the backpack suggested that?  I know he didn’t want you to know about it,” Jake claimed.

“I figured that.  Whether she was or wasn’t, whether he was the father or not, there’s much more to it, isn’t there?” Jess asked.

“I really should be going,” Jake said.

“Did Lucien give you boys something?  Was Henry some kind of errand boy?  He’s from Haiti.  He must have family there.  Talk to me!” Jess cried.

Jake gingerly opened his car door, set the bag of sandwiches on the passenger seat, and buckled up.  Jess blocked the driver’s door before he could shut it.

“Answer me!” she yelled.

“Did you see his eyes?” Jake countered.

“What do you mean?” Jess asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

“They sparkle orange and red when you look at them from a certain angle,” Jake said.

“That could just be the lighting.  Why?  What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Your Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Hyde are not helping Henry, they’re helping something else,” Jake replied.

“That’s just crazy.  You can’t be serious,” Jess said.

“Mrs. Novak, I think we both know I’m not crazy.”  He tugged the car door until she moved out of the way and drove off.

Chapter 44

As promised,
Lucien watched
Jake pull into the
trailer
park in the late afternoon, parked his car at home, and rushed over.  He
sat inside of his
enclosed porch,
smoking and
waiting.  Jake entered through the screen door. 
The boy’s
eyes
lasered
in on the small side table cluttered with beer empties and overflowing ashtrays.

“Since when do you…” Jake asked.

“It’s the
ti
-bon-
ange
.  Ignore
it and tell me about Henry,” Lucien said.

“You were right.  His eyes were red and glittery,” Jake replied.

Lucien took a long dra
g off of the smoke and sighed.  He did not relish in being right.

“And Mrs. Novak saw it, his weird eyes.  But she said it was the lighting.  She said Henry’s doctors were doing a great job with him,” Jake continued.

Lucien looked up with a hopeful expression.  “She threw me out.  She wants nothing to do with my sorcery.”

“I doubt she ever will.  How come your eyes don’t glow like Henry’s?  You have a
ti
-bon-
ange
inside of you,” Jake asked.

“Big difference between a soul and a soul-less demon.  That’s why the eyes glow.  If the
djab
doesn’t leave Henry’s body, it will…” he said as his voice trailed off.

“What? Will it kill him?” Jake asked somberly.

“Eventually, yes.  But right now it needs Henry to live.  And it will use Henry until it has a way to find a new host.”

“Will it kill?” Jake inquired.

“Yes, once it fully takes over. 
Djabs
love to punish, torture, and kill their hosts.  They don’t live with the other
loas
in the Cosmos.  Some live here in the physical world, sometimes in landmarks like haunted buildings, nature, even animals.  Most of them come from the Crossroads,” Lucien said.

“Where’s that?” asked Jake.

“Where the physical and spiritual worlds meet
; it’s where you and I are
going to send it back to,” Lucien said.

“How?” asked Jake.

“I don’t know yet.  But have some ideas.  Right now it’s sitting back, learning all about Henry before it steps in and takes over.  The doctors are coaxing it out even further.  The gris-gris I sprinkled is not strong enough to protect the
Novaks
,” Lucien warned.

“How did the
djab
get inside of Henry?  Can they just find an opening and enter one’s body?” Jake asked.

“Oh no.  And thank Papa
Legba
for that or else we’d all be possessed by them.  No, someone has to voluntarily submit or in some cases involuntarily be used as a sort of a sacrifice, more like a host during a Black Mass,” Lucien explained.

Jake rolled out question after question, piecing it all together as Lucien knew he would.  It was time to unload his secrets.  He owed Jake the truth and needed him more than ever to save Henry.

“So this must have happened in Haiti,” Jake said and Lucien nodded.  “Does this have to do with the envelope you gave him?  Before school was out?”

“Yes, it has everything to do with it.  And you noticed.  I gave it to him the same day I gave you both your spell books.  I thought he could deliver the packet to my daughter,’ Lucien admitted.

“What was in it?” Jake asked with venom. 

The old man cringed.  “A condensed version of your spell book.  My family already knows much of what’s in your book.  I just wrote down the things I’ve taught myself through trial and error, things that will make them wealthy.”

“And let me guess, your family didn’t really appreciate it.  Much too little, way too late, right?  They hate you and used Henry to deliver the message,” Jake accused.

“I always said you were a smart boy. Yes, that’s what I believe happened and yes, it’s my fault.   I understand if you hate me, but I need you and I know you love Henry and his family.  We need each other,” Lucien cried.  He lit another smoke and got up to get another beer.

“Getting a beer?  Get me one too,” Jake said.

Both of them drank their beers in silence.  Lucien’s sullen face turned cheery.

“I’m glad you’re with my sister and niece.  You treat her much nicer than Pete did.  I wish I had shot him that night when he hurt you and Leah,” said Lucien in distinct sing-song voice.

“T.J.? You’re Lucien’s
ti
-bon-
ange
?” Jake asked.

“I guess so.  Don’t want to be an old man, but I never got much of a chance at being a young man.  Can you bring me some place?” Lucien asked in the unfamiliar voice.

“Where?” Jake asked, confused.  He stood up from his chair and approached Lucien who had become suddenly silent.  Jake placed his hands on Lucien’s shoulder and gently shook him. 

“Don’t you die on me yet, Lucien, or T.J., or whoever you are!” Jake cried.  He shook Lucien again.  “What do you want me to do?”

“Dig,” Lucien yelped and then fell from his chair.

Jake took his beer and splashed it over Lucien’s face, sobbing.  The old man came to and lifted up his head.

“I really made a mess of everything, my life, my family’s life, Henry’s life, your life…” Lucien said hoarsely
in his own voice
.

“T.J.?  Why so secretive?” Jake demanded.

“When he died, I saw an opportunity.  He was young, healthy.  Most of the
ti
-bon-
anges
I’ve taken are from old people without much life left.  Rarely does a young person in Hayward die.  It was just floating there in the cemetery.  It was a way for me to turn back time.  I didn’t want you to think I used you…” Lucien said.

“But you did!” Jake exclaimed.

“I’m selfish.  Always have been.  And don’t ever blame T.J.’s death on the Voodoo doll mishap.  They weren’t made to kill anyone, just give some bad luck.  T.J. was set up by your uncle.  That man was true evil, but I’m no better.  So sorry for all of this,” Lucien said.

“You’re a very sick, warped old man.”  Jake paused.  “But what you do…it’s amazing, like a miracle.  T.J. is still alive through you.  I wish you were around when my mom died.”

“Don’t ever wish that!  Look at me, Jake.  I’m the last person you want to
look up to
!  Once we drive that thing out of Henry,
I want you to
get rid of the spell book and forget about me,” Lucien pleaded.

“I don’t know why I’m still talking to you.  You’re sneaky and a liar, but I could never forget about you.  You are the dad I never had.  Once we get Henry back, I’m taking your advice, no more Voodoo.  I’ll start by burning that book you gave me.  Then I’ll tell Leah the truth, no matter how much it will hurt when she dumps me.  Let’s kick this
djab’s
ass back to the Crossroads!” Jake exclaimed.

“That’s my boy!  I’ve got a few preparations to make. From now on, please wear the crystal I gave you, especially around Henry.  Tomorrow night’s a full moon.  I’ll need your help.  Come by around 2:00 a.m.  Now go home before T.J. takes over my tongue.”

***

Lucien knew he needed much more than a few handfuls of gris-gris to protect the Novak family against the
djab
.  Taking out his biggest stew pot, he boiled up a concoction of camphor, Valerian, and
Tuneric
oil.  He added caramelized Angelica root and Spanish anise.  He then mixed in some lodestones and lavender.  Once the potion had cooled, he thickened it up with powdered
mugwort
and graveyard dirt.  He made gallon after gallon, a total of seven, until he ran out of some of the ingredients.  He hoped he brewed enough
of the
potion to pour around the
Novaks
’ house.  His mixture would be used as a protective sealant that would hinder the
djab
from inflicting harm.