Healing the Bayou (13 page)

“I don’t even know how to use my abilities. How can I do anything at all?”

“You will learn. And when you have mastered the art of being a priestess you will hold the authority over the entire Louisiana community. I will instruct your aunt to show you the ways, but I warn you: don’t let her hinder your potential. She will try.”

“Why would she want to do that?”

She looked uncomfortably at Samuel, who stiffened.

“There are some things you will need to discover on your own, Eliza,” Filomèz stated. “But I have faith Samuel will not allow her to take advantage of your ignorance.”

“I will stay close, Mambo,” he confirmed. “She will not be held back.”

“Your powers will only advance so much,” she continued. “Your proficiency will be limited. You’re only the start of a whole new revolution.”

“Why am I so powerful?” I didn’t enjoy the importance of my expected role. It was a heavy burden and a lot to take in.

“Your parents broke a cardinal rule.” She smiled, and I knew she was referring to the fact that my father was my mother’s keeper.

“But even their blood must have been diluted over time. Aunt Vivian said there was a lot of intermingling with traditional humans.”

“And that is why your powers are so limited. But when you have a child with your keeper…” Her eyes narrowed on Samuel and she didn’t finish.

His brows shot up. I imagine my face looked as shocked as his. Was she suggesting he and I were supposed to come together?

“But”—Samuel closed his eyes and tried to concentrate—“you just said it was against the rules. And I have always been taught the same thing.”

She laughed. “It is against the rules. And that particular rule was made because of Eliza’s family to begin with. They were hell-bent on creating an all-powerful race capable of contending with the Spirits themselves. We had to put a stop to it. Marie Laveau was as strong as we could allow a mortal to be without intervening.”

I was desperate. She’d just dangled a little bit of hope in front of me that I could be with this man, and now she was snatching it away again. It wasn’t fair, and I was growing impatient.

“Forgive me, Mambo Filomèz,” I snapped. “But you’re speaking in circles. Could you please make this a little easier to understand?”

She released my hand, and I instantly regretted losing my temper. Filomèz reached again to my face with Camille’s slender fingers and brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen in front of my eye.

“You’re a strong young woman,” she spoke aloud. “No doubt even if you were not gifted, you would have been a woman of power. Your mother was a beautiful soul too. This task was placed on her many years ago, you know. It was I who told her to begin the process of our resurrection. She was in love with her keeper, as well. It made it all the more wonderful to watch our plan come to life.”

“My mother
was
killed because of me, wasn’t she?”

“You shouldn’t think of that now.” Waving a hand, she deflected the question. “You’re being asked to make an exception to the rule because you can be trusted not to exploit the opportunity. Both of you.”

I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with Samuel, but I could sense him watching me and it stirred my stomach. I wasn’t sure how to assimilate all that was happening. Only yesterday, I was told I was forbidden to be with the one man I ever wanted, and now I was told it was my destiny to have him. To make a child with him. I didn’t enjoy being told who I had to be with any more than I like being told who I couldn’t be with.

But I had to force myself to stop looking at it with such selfish eyes. There were a lot of other people who were depending on me for this. An entire community needed it from me. I knew in the end I could never let them down. It wasn’t in my nature to walk away from anyone who needed me.

“Vivian will not allow it to be so,” Samuel reminded us.

“You shouldn’t be concerned about her,” Filomèz demanded. “I have already begun weaving her fate into her slumber. She knows that her end is coming.”

“Wait, her end?” I wondered aloud.

This was my aunt, and no matter what she had done or even was planning to do, I wasn’t going to let any harm come to her. I had an instinctive need to protect my kin. My audience picked up on it quickly enough and they both shook their heads furiously, denying their intention to do so.

“What I mean to say is her end as matriarch. You’ll, of course, take her place. You’re the more powerful healer, or you will be once you have learned the skills.”

It made sense, but I couldn’t help be curious about how Aunt Vivian would take to being asked to train her twenty-four-year-old niece, just to have her throne taken away for it.

“I can’t say I know my aunt as well as the rest of you, but I can’t imagine her just lying down and accepting this. Especially not if she is as vindictive as you have implied her to be.”

“She will,” Filomèz insisted. “She is a traditional woman. When the Spirits instruct her, she will comply.”

I rubbed my temples, which were beginning to ache from all the unanswered questions.

“Even if she does take over as the Queen,” Samuel began, “Vivian will not allow Eliza and me to come together. She has been taught it’s wrong, and she knows I have feelings for Eliza. She will say it’s only an excuse to get our way.”

This was the first time Samuel had admitted out loud that he held affection for me, and I would’ve been lying if I said I was anything less than exhilarated by it. Renewed by his few words, I had the urge the rush home right now and tell Aunt Vivian I would stay. That I wanted to learn everything she could teach me just so I could have this man at my side. I would have his child tomorrow if it meant we would hold each other forever.

“Her initiation will provide the solution for that.” She spoke quicker, getting testy from all the doubt Samuel and I were throwing her direction. “Damballah is to be summoned during your induction ritual.”

“That can be done?” Samuel gasped.

“Of course it can! But only a mambo can do it.”

“Then why hasn’t Vivian?”

“There are several reasons. Most importantly, Vivian is not the
rightful
mambo. She only obtained the position because Eliza was missing. And besides, there hasn’t been a healer in decades who was powerful enough to do it properly, including Vivian. But Eliza, you’re a true healer and are capable of many things your aunt wishes she could be.”

“Who is Damballah?” The name had been mentioned in the dream I had, and clearly they were speaking about somebody of great importance.

Filomèz curled Camille’s lips into a serene smile. “Damballah is the leader of all the Spirits. He has a direct connection to Bondye, the one whom you call God.”

“You want
me
to summon God’s right hand man?” The request was staggering. I didn’t know if I should cling to the expectation or run away from it. “What on earth would I say to him?”

“You won’t need to say anything to him. He is going to reveal your fate to the other followers, including your aunt Vivian.”

“But I thought you have already shown it to her?”

“I can only place the suggestions into her dreams, the interpretation is her own. This way, there is no room for her mold your destiny to benefit her. She’ll be told directly what is to be, and will not be entitled to question it. We will make it clear to her and the others you’re to be with Samuel.”

The light above her head was beginning to dim and flicker, and even I understood it meant her time to leave was approaching. Taking my hand, she begged me with her eyes to have faith and to trust in her words, and I tried my hardest to put on a mask of confidence. The truth was, I knew Aunt Vivian wouldn’t let this rest, no matter what she or Damballah said.

Camille’s return to her normal self was much more peaceful than the poor old man Legba had inhabited. Once the halo had gone out, she simply closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, and slouched her shoulders long enough to regain her balance. Her eyes looked foggy and confused for her first few moments, but she blinked them away and regained her chipper charisma in no time at all.

“Wow! What a rush!” She giggled. “So, what did she say?”

Looking to Samuel, I waited for him to tell, but he was silent. His tight expression warned me not to say anything, and I actually agreed with this idea. The less anybody knew the less information could get passed around, and the less of a chance it had of getting back to Aunt Vivian.

“Um…” I had to say something, she wasn’t going to let it go, I know I wouldn’t. “She said that everything will be revealed at my initiation ceremony.”

Camille stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “Oh come on! You guys can tell me.”

“There isn’t much to tell, Camille,” I lied. “I’m supposed to summon Damballah and he is going to tell everybody what they need to know.”

“Really? That’s all?” Her voice dripped with disappointment.

“Drop it, Camille,” Samuel snapped. “The others are still waiting for us. It’s getting late. We need to send everybody home.”

I had completely forgotten the other people involved in the ceremony were still just on the other side of the brush. They would want an explanation as much as Camille and I really wasn’t up for giving anybody one.

“I’ll take care of them.” Standing over me, Samuel offered his hand to help me stand. And this time, he didn’t take it away.

As I slid my palm into his, I bit my lip and watched him closely. It only took a moment before the rush came over us both. Jerking my arm hard to bring me to my feet, he pulled my body up against his. The electricity that filled the air around us resembled tiny fireworks exploding with each breath we took in unison, and the waves of pleasurable warmth that moved from his skin onto mine were almost unbearable.

Resting his temple against mine, he lowered his lips to kiss me, stopping just as his mouth came so close I could just barely taste him.

I groaned at the tease and tangled my fingers in his hair to close the distance. He pulled away.

She is watching us.

I Heard him think it as he released me. In the moment I had managed to make myself forget Camille was still with us, and when I looked up at her, she was grinning from ear to ear.

“Hey, don’t let me stop you.” She snickered and raised her hands defensively.

Rolling his eyes at her, Samuel turned to clear the crowd that was still gathered. Camille followed him, and I did too, from a distance. I needed a moment to collect myself.

Whatever Samuel said to everybody, it worked. Before leaving for home, they all approached me to thank me profusely for agreeing to help them. Marcus was the only one who wasn’t buying what Samuel was selling, and he pulled me aside to ask about it. Before he could get a private word in, Samuel was by my side, standing over me like a protector. Marcus took the hint and decided to escort Camille home.

I wanted to wait for Samuel, but he was just standing around looking as though he was waiting for someone. Deciding to leave for home as well, I had just gotten to the edge of the brush that separated us from the rest of the world when he called.

“Eliza.”

I turned to face him, and he was breathing hard. He looked disheveled, as if he had just fought a battle with himself and lost. I opened my mouth to comfort him—to tell him it was OK and I understood. Before I could he had my face in his hands and he brought his lips down onto mine in an almost desperate panic. Sinking into the sensation of his passion, I lavished in the feelings coming over me.

Lifting me, he wrapped my legs around his waist before he fell to his knees, laid me down, and climbed on top of me. The bottom of my dress had bunched up to my waist, and I peeled his shirt away to expose his skin underneath. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to feel it against mine.

Chapter Twelve

I was awakened by the musical chatter of a couple of playful bluebirds nearby, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes. I was warm. The kind of cozy warm that sank beneath your skin and makes its way deep into your bones. Something heavy was lying on my chest, and the more I came to, the more uncomfortable it became. Where was I?

I let my hand drift up to remove whatever it was that was on top of me. No doubt I had fallen asleep reading one of my massive Victor Hugo novels again. I was surprised to feel hair beneath my fingertips instead.

I let my eyes flutter open. The sight of Samuel’s beautiful head resting on my chest was the most soothing vision I had ever witnessed. His arm was wrapped around my torso, working with his leg, which was slung over both of my knees, to pull me in.

But, why weren’t my nerves going berserk?

Images of the night before flashed through my mind, and my mouth curved into a silly, girlish grin as I recalled Samuel’s touches. The way he kissed me. When my mind drifted to the way his body exposed how much he
needed
me, my heart glowed at the memory.

Perhaps it was possible that after all the contact we had, my body had somehow built up an immunity to him? I hoped that was the case. Or maybe I was drained of my powers completely? I didn’t care. Covering his bare back with my arms, I just let myself enjoy the moment and sank into the comfort of his embrace.

“Ugh. Do you have to be so loud?”

“I didn’t say anything.” I giggled at his grumpy grogginess. He wasn’t a morning person.

He inhaled sharply and shot his head up to look at me. “Eliza?”

I flashed my best good-morning-handsome grin.

He lifted himself to his knees with one quick motion, and I was instantly drawn by the sight of his beautiful body in the early sunlight. I wanted him again, and bad. I reached to him to pull him back down to me, but he dodged my advances and quickly stood up to look around at the field. Without even giving me time to nurse my pride, he threw me my dress from the ceremony and grabbed his own clothes to dress himself.

He looked downright frantic to get away from me, and it was pissing me off. He stumbled over himself as he tried to jump into his pants and fell on his gorgeous behind. I couldn’t hold back a laugh.