Punished (25 page)

“I do.” I took a deep breath, as I prepared to re-tell all the horrors that had taken place over the last day.

“Go on now, I’m listening.” Grand-mere leaned back, and I rested my head on her chest. She listened intently, as I retold the whole story. She didn’t say a word until after I was done.

“How do you feel about everything that’s happened?” she asked.

“I know that Louis isn’t evil. He’s just very lost, but I still detest him for the hell he’s put me through. Gran-Ibo made it clear that I need to find him, bind him and help him. Somehow, his fate is tied to Lucus’.”

“Do you feel any differently about Lucus?” she asked, as she stroked my hair.

“He grew up around ugly circumstances grand-mere, but he was never ugly. He’s always been kind, but he was so different back then. He was so alive, full of life and passion. He was spontaneous and well…” I wanted to tell her that he actually had the guts to kiss me. Why couldn’t this Lucus do that already? Unless, he didn’t want to. I knew I wanted him to.

“Being on your own for years and years, while mourning over things that can never be changed can suck the life right out of a soul. He needs someone like you.”

“You think so?” I was surprised that I actually had her approval. “It’s not strange that I…”

“Child, that boy has been pacing outside your room like a maniac for three days.”

“You think he’s… a boy?”

Grand-mere laughed. “He’s a mopey little prince who’s been locked up in a big old tower, chasing after shadows and living in the past. He’s no wiser than you.”

“So you don’t think it’s weird that… I don’t know… He’s so much older than me.”

She shook her head and kissed my forehead. “How old do you think your soul is? You’re probably a thousand years older than he is. Erzulie wouldn’t have blessed you otherwise.”

“I think I’m falling in love with him, and I don’t know how to tell Sabrina,” I admitted. Saying those words out loud for the first time was scarier than working in a cotton field, being attacked by Sousson Pannan and calling on hot spirits to help fight off disgusting slave drivers.

Grand-mere let out a giant sigh. “That girl’s in love with him. You have to tell her how you feel; you realize that, don’t you?”

It was true; I did need to tell her, but what if Lucus didn’t feel the same way about me? Things were only starting to make a little sense; I didn’t want any more complications or interruptions. Besides, I still had to deal with Tony.

“Can I come in already?” asked Sabrina, as she loudly knocked on the door.
      

“Come on in dear,” answered grand-mere.

“Finally,” Sabrina rushed into the room and brought in a big puff of Caro’s Poivre with her. Instead of her usual ten layers of make-up she only wore five. Since I’d been gone, her sunburn had started to peel, and I could see little flakes of skin as they fell off her face. “What the hell happened to you?” she fumed, as she took of her hot pink Louboutins and plopped down beside me.

“A voodoo thing,” I said.

“Arelia, I said that I would try to understand, but if anything happens to you…”

“Hey, I’m fine. Nothing’s going to happen to me. So, what have you been up to?” I tried to distract her.

“Well Lucus still hasn’t kissed me, I told Mrs. Dreaux off a few million times and not much else besides worrying about you.”

“I’m okay, it’s nothing to worry about, I promise.” I did my best to assure her even though it was kind of a lie.
 

“If you say so, can I talk about Lucus now? I haven’t been able to talk about him with anyone for days.” She licked her thin lips in anticipation.

“Go ahead.” I sighed.

“Yay!” Sabrina rambled on about the size of Lucus’ right bicep, the color of his eyes, his hair, the way he smiled, how he took his coffee for the next two hours, and I wanted to fall back into a coma. When you had to listen to your best friend fantasize and blatantly drool over the guy you might be in love with, it sucked big time.

That night, Sabrina and I both fell asleep in grand-mere’s arms just like we did when we were children. I felt safe and protected even though I knew that I would never really be safe again.
 

Chapter 26

Come to Me Oil

The next morning, I was relieved to find that I didn’t wake up in a crummy slave cabin but on a comfy and rather luxurious bed. Grand-mere had already left for the day, and Sabrina was talking in her sleep next to me.

“No Lucus, I want to go to Rome for our honeymoon not Paris,” she muttered. I groaned as I watched her spontaneously smile. She was so in love with him, and she wasn’t afraid to make that very obvious from the first time she had laid eyes on him.

Sometimes I wished I was as brave and impulsive as her. I couldn’t even look at the present day Lucus without constantly being paranoid about what he thought about me. I couldn’t help savor the words he had said to me in the swamp. He had told me he loved me and that we were meant to be together. It had been such a sappy moment. I wanted to brush off his words as meaningless, but a bigger part of me wanted them to be true.

Despite my protests and reluctance, I was slowly beginning to believe in fairytales. Maybe Prince Charming didn’t always end up with Barbie. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was still in love with that mystery girl. I must have spent an hour questioning my own questions like a maniac when I finally decided to haul myself out of bed and face the day.

I slowly crawled out of bed, as the sweet chirps of birds greeted me, and bright sunshine forced its way through the lace curtains. Strangely, the scent of cinnamon and cayenne pepper had been overpowered with the fragrant smell of jasmine, and I couldn’t help but smile. I remembered Erzulie’s words, jasmine was the flower of love, and maybe it was a good omen. Maybe today would be a good day.

Despite the glorious morning, my thoughts drifted back to Louis, rats, slave drivers and food. I wondered what Louis would do to me next and if I would be able to fight him off once again.

Although Aunt Mae and Grand-mere Bea had insisted that I should take a few days off, I wanted my life to have a somewhat normal pattern. After taking a spiritual bath in order to rid of the negative energy that surrounded me, I got dressed in my ugly uniform and headed downstairs. I remembered to take the Black Arts Oil with me in case Louis decided to show up and mess with me again.

The heavenly aroma of beignets, buttermilk drops, and pain perdu met me in the kitchen along with the comforting sight of busy cooks artfully preparing breakfast. I inhaled the soothing scent of all the food and gave thanks for all that I had. I had spent so many years whining and complaining about all the things I didn’t have when my circumstances could have been so much worse.

“I had Pierre make your favorite.” Henri came up from behind me and handed me an iced chocolate coffee. “Welcome back.” He gave me a soft kiss on the cheek and flashed me a bright smile. His bright red shirt was impeccably ironed which made his skin look more wrinkled than it actually was.

“Thank you,” I said, as I took the coffee from him.

“How are you?” His puppy dog eyes were wide with concern, as he sipped on a cup of café au lait.

“A little traumatized, but I’m getting over it,” I said, as I shoved a buttermilk drop down my throat. “Where’s Aunt Mae?”

“She’s in her office catching up with Bea.”

“They’re speaking again! That’s awesome!” At least one good thing came out of the whole mess.

“I know I ask you this question all the time, but are you certain you want to work today?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Because today is Mr. Dumpty’s birthday and you and I both know how obnoxious he can get.” Henri gave me a small wink.

“Trust me, after what I’ve been through I think I can handle Mr. Dumpty’s demands.”

“Alright then, eat your breakfast; Mae will be with you soon.” He gave me another quick kiss and headed out to the front lawn.

I decided to take my breakfast out into the garden, but froze when I saw Ivan standing by the entrance. A flashback from our last encounter hit me, and I felt myself fill with an inexplicable rush of fear.

 
“Queen, it’s nice to see that you’re alive. With all the drama around here, I was beginning to think I’d never see you again.”

He leaned lazily against the garden door and wore a smug smile on his face while smoking a cigarette. As usual, he was dressed in a ratty black t-shirt, and his blond hair was disheveled.

I ignored him, but he grabbed my wrist, as I passed by. “Ivan, I’m in no mood for your stupid games. Get the hell away from me.”

He didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled me close to him. “So how was it on the other side? Who did you see?”

“What the hell are you talking about? There was no other side.” I shook my wrist free. “And what’s it to you anyways?”

He shrugged and purposely flexed his biceps. God, he was so full of himself.

“I watched
The Princess and the Frog
on Blu-Ray last night; I was so enthralled by the Shadow Man. I was wondering if he’s real and there actually is another side?”

“Are you on crack? Get the hell away from me.” I pushed his muscular chest hard.

Of course, he didn’t. He followed me out into the garden and stood over me, as I bent over to say hello to my flowers.

“Come on queen, I’m just happy to see that you’re alive, that’s all.”

I clenched my fist and bit my tongue. He wasn’t going to get a response.

He kneeled down beside me. “I just want to know what you saw, why can’t you tell me? This is New Orleans; everyone likes a good ghost story or two.”

I turned to face him. The bright, morning light bounced off his golden hair and hit his grey eyes, for a minute he looked fragile and hopelessly innocent. “If I tell you will you get the hell away from me?”

He put out his cigarette on the grass and held out his hand. “It’s a deal.”

“I’ll pass on the handshake.”

“You wound me queen, so what did you see?” Ivan eyed me intently, as he drew back his hand.

“I saw the ghost of a beautiful man who led a really hard life. He was kind, hardworking and loved some girl with so much fire and passion that it was heartbreaking. That’s all.”

 
I wasn’t going to tell him the whole Lucus and Louis curse thing mostly because I wanted him to get the hell away from me.

I examined his face for a reaction. A wide Cheshire cat like grin spread across it. “You’re one lame story teller queen, that’s a pretty crappy ghost story. I’m sure a five year old can do a better job than that.”

I let out a major shriek and pushed him hard. He fell over and landed with a thud in the flowerbed. “Ivan, I will never understand your creepy ass. Stay the hell away from me.”

“Is everything alright out here?” asked Aunt Mae, as she walked into the garden. Her kind green eyes filled with confusion when she saw Ivan lying on the flowers.

He quickly got up and brushed the mud off his worn out jeans. “We were just having a mud-fight,” he said sheepishly.

“Child, how many times have I told you not to wear those raggedy t-shirts while you’re working? Go on now. You’re a handsome boy take some pride in your appearance.”

“Yes ma’am,” he mumbled, as he headed back inside.

Ha ha jerk.

“Arelia, have a seat. You don’t have any time for silly games,” she said, as she adjusted her blue headscarf and adjusted her flowery dress.