Napoleon's Gift (26 page)

Not only had
Monique warned me of Madame, but also Ms. Millie had done the same about Claudette.

“Where are you taking me?” I hissed, and she smiled.

“You will know soon enough.” She smiled, and at that moment, I hated her.

“Why would you do this
Claudette? I have never shown you anything but love?” I cried, and she frowned as she raised the gun just a bit higher.

“
Vous n'étiez rien, jusqu'à ce que je vous moulé!
You were mine, but you let him taint that, then tear you away from me! You were nothing, until I molded you! She shouted, and I gasped.

“But I loved you as well, how can you
articulate that?” I wailed, and she frowned.

“
It does not matter, Madame will see to it that we are one again.” She smiled, and I did not like the smile on her face.

I looked out the carriage
window, then realized we were nearing the waterfront, and the notorious part of it.

As the
carriage stopped in front of Madame Voule’s, I gasped, giving Claudette a look of horror.

“Claudette, you cannot do this! It will be artificial, evil and unnatural!” I cried
, she shook her head, then waved the revolver at me, motioning for me to get out of the carriage.

The door was opened by none other than Madame Voule herself. She grinned, then snatched me into the room.

“This here chil, will just make my day.
Pristine Marié-Antoinette Basile petite-fille.”
Pristine Marié Antoinette Basile’s granddaughter. She cackled, and I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I was even more surprised when I saw Madame Soleil come from the back of the establishment smiling.

“Why…” I tried, when she laughed.

“As you may not know, this is my great-great aunt.” She purred, and I was taken aback. One would never know Madame Soleil had colored ancestry.

Why, she looked even more French than Claudette or I did.

“You’re colored?” I whispered, and she frowned.

I noticed she did not say anything as Madame Voule frowned as well. I imagined Madame Soleil did not tell many others that she was.

“Shall we begin aunt?” She
snapped, Madame Voule’s frown deepened, but she nodded anyway.

I was taken to a back room,
then gasped as I felt the presence of evil, when Claudette shoved me into the room.

“
Vous y restez enfant
.” You stay there chil. Madame Voule told her, Claudette frowned, then raised the gun on her.

“
Non
, you said I could have her!” Claudette screamed at Madame Soleil, and she frowned.

“
Assez! Stupide file
.” Enough, stupid girl, she sneered, and I screamed as Madame Soleil plunged the knife into Claudette’s heart.

“Good, I need the blood of a loved one, and since
Marié aien’t here no mo, this will do.” Madame Voule stated, Madame Soleil nodded, then had the young man who seemed to instantly appear out of nowhere place Claudette’s lifeless body on the settee.

I felt the tears, but I refused to cry.

My Granny would want me strong, and fighting.

Granny, if
you are up there looking down on me from the lords lofty perch, I certainly could use you now!

I whispered to myself, then closed my eyes.

I could not stand to see Claudette’s lifeless eyes staring back at me.

Had my love tainted her as well?

I instantly thought
, because had not Benjamin been stabbed as well.

Haven

Plantation…

Benjamin came tearing down the stairs.

“Where is my wife?” He shouted at the Pinkerton agents, and each of them frowned. Bartholomew placed his hand on Benjamin’s shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

“Sir, we are trying to
ascertain that right now. Do you know a Ms. Claudette Bonaparté?” Hayward asked, Benjamin frowned, but nodded anyway.

“Seems you
r man, Abel did you say?” Hayward asked Mary, and she nodded.

“Yes sir.” Mary said, and Hayward smiled at her slightly.

“Yes, your man Abel saw Ms. Bonaparté spirit your wife away at gun point in a carriage during the commotion, then followed after them. However, we have no clue where it is they went; I trust you understand because of the tumult.” Hayward said, and Benjamin ran his fingers through his hair.

“
Yes, but what has been done to procure her now?” Benjamin cried, and they frowned again.

“We have men out scouting right now
sir; nevertheless, we must wait for them to return.”

“By then, she could be dead! Why would Claudette
appropriate her at gun point?” Benjamin cried, Bartholomew handed him a glass of whiskey, and he shook his head.

“
We have no evidence yet sir, however, you might wish too indulge, it could only serve to calm your vexation.” Hayward stated, and Benjamin frowned at him.

“You’ll calm my vexation, when ye
unearth my bloody wife.” Benjamin shouted, then walked from the room.

“Give him a moment.” Bartholomew said, then left the room
as well.

“Where are we?” Hayward asked Conrad, and he frowned.

“Our agents are on the water front now sir. Jimmies just arrived; he said they spotted the carriage on the other side of town.” Conrad said, then swallowed hard.

“Whatever is the bloody matter with you?” Hayward
retorted, and Conrad cleared his throat.

“Well sir, they say that area is
notorious for…well…umm.”

“Spit it out Conrad.” Hayward
barked, and Conrad’s face turned crimson.

“Spirits sir.”

“That is bleedin nonsense and bloody hokum. Get there now, and have the men storm the place. I want this woman found before nightfall. I am not in the mood to explain how an Earl’s wife was taken prisoner, colored or otherwise to home base. Finley would no doubt love this, and see it as the means to my end.” Hayward snarled, Conrad nodded, then hurried off to the rest of the men.

Canal Street

Water
Front…

I looked at the long instrument, frowned, bulked against the chair I was tied to, and Madame Soleil laughed.

“You shall not get loose
chér
, so you may as well cease with your theatrics.” She grinned, and I frowned at her.

“Why have you done
this? It is quite obvious it was not to assist Claudette.” I stated as I nodded in Claudette’s direction, and both women smiled.

“Why Mari
é of course.” Madame Voule said, then laughed at the confusion on my face.

“Chil,
tu es ma vengeance
. What can the sainted Marié do from the grave?” You are my revenge, she laughed and I frowned.

“But why? My Granny was
decent to everyone!” I yelled, and she laughed again.

“Because you
chér
, are the one thing she loved above all else. Not only has my babé gotten you to prostitute yourself, one of the very things Marié championed to bring to an end to, but you have lain with a woman as well. I would say dear two-faced hypocrite Marié is turning well in her grave.” She cackled, and the hairs on my neck stood on end again.

“But I do
not comprehend why? Surly this cannot be because my Grand was superior to the both of you?” I retorted, and Madame Soleil slapped me across the face.

“
Je devais être son amant!
” I was to be his lover! She spat, then slapped me again.

I would swear later, I had seen stars.

“Who?” I inquired quietly, as I shook my head, to clear my vision.

“
Tobias.” She sputtered, and I looked up traumatized.

“Yes, that deceitful
Marié knew of it, then deposited Anaïs in his path.” Madame Voule snarled, and I looked at her confused.

“I
was not aware of that.” I stated, as I felt the rope on my hands give slightly.

If I could
only keep them speaking.

“I was to be
Tobias’ lover
pas ta putain de mère
!” Not your whore of a mother! Madame Soleil shouted, stamping her foot, and she reminded me of a spoiled child.

“Yes, I c
onjured that spell a week before, told Marié of it, and she made sure Tobias would notice Anaïs instead.”

“Are you
implying that my father never loved my mother?” I asked astonished, because Granny said otherwise. Not to mention, I had no notions that my grandmother was practicing voodoo!

“That’s just it chil
, he did, otherwise I would have been able to repeal the conjure. Who knew he would find true love in that wench of Marié’s!” Madame Voule sneered, and I smiled despite my situation.

I looked up at her then with a frown.

“This will not give you what you fancy. To injure me, will only suffice in making my husband incensed. Marié is dead, and so is Tobias, therefore there is no need to do this.” I said, and she laughed.

“Chil, the soul is never dead. Once Soleil has you
obsessed with opium, you will forget all about your life as it is now. She will console Mr. Waverly, show him that sometimes these events occur to girls who have plied the trade, and factors shall be as they were meant to be. May hap not Tobias, but she will inherit his money after we have done away with Waverly.” Madame Voule grinned, and I stifled the gasp as I saw Abel place his finger to his lips to shush me as he and Isaiah tipped through the outer room. Both madams were centered in the room, so neither of them could see Abel and Isaiah.

My eyes widened just a bit, as
Isaiah slid the large machete from his backside.

I grinned a bit too,
because I suddenly wondered how he had indeed managed to cause no injury to buttocks with the sharp blade.

As Madame Voule
began to chant, I nearly stopped breathing as she splashed me with Claudette’s blood. I felt the bile rise in me, but choked it back down, because I needed to converge on what was transpiring.

Madame Soleil unsheathed a large knife, and my eyes widened as she approached me. The scream left me, as she drew the blade across my forearm, then laughed as she did the same to my left arm.

I had never been one to accept as true any of this, however, I felt as if the core was being pulled straight from me, and my doubt faltered. Madame Soleil placed the bowl under my wrist to receive the blood, then mixed it with Claudette’s blood.

I chanted
Granny, Granny!

If what
Madame Voule said was true, then she had to be there somewhere taking note of me. I screamed, as Madame Voule touched my chest with the blazing iron, and it burned an emblem into my left breast. I felt my skin bubble from the fire, then screamed again.

I
was not sure if I were imagining it or it was delirium induced by the pain, but as I looked up, Marié Antoinette Basile was standing in front of me.

“You
vile creature, you could not possess her while I was there, what would make you think I would allow this now!” She hissed, did something with her hands, and Madame Voule fell to her knees screaming in secession.

Madame Voule
threw her hair back from her face, then immediately got to her feet laughing

She laughed
even more chanting louder, touched me with the iron again on my right arm this time, I screamed, then passed out.

Marié began to chant, both madams screamed, convulsing to the floor as the
y did.

Geneviève n
ever saw Abel and Isaiah charge forward, then lop off both Madame’s heads.

Ab
el frowned, then picked up Madame’s Voule’s head.

“This aien’t over boy!”
She hissed eyes remaining open, Isaiah screamed, then tossed Madame Soleil’s head to the floor.

“What are you doing boy
? Pick it up, and place it in the sac. We need to burry them separate.” Abel frowned at Isaiah; he nodded, then timidly placed Madame Soleil’s head in the sac.

“Give it to me, you
get Ginny home.” Abel said as he saw Marié’s spirit kiss her granddaughter, caress her face, then disappear.

“And you?”
Isaiah asked frowning up at Abel.

“
Seems like some moonlight burials. I have some things to tend to, now go.” He commanded, Isaiah picked Ginny up, then hurried from the house.

As Abel stood back and watched Madame Voule’s burn, he clutched both heads in the sac, then hurried off as he heard town’s fire volunteers.