Punished Arelia LaRue Book #2 Page 3

  “Yeah, she told me about the fight. I still don’t understand why she made that offering though.”

  “I believe she did it out of love. If there was a deeper meaning behind her actions, she hasn’t confided in me. Your aunt is an extraordinarily determined woman. She’s been keeping track of you through mutual friends she shares with your grand-mere. She would go into New Orleans once a week just to catch a glimpse of you. She even visited you at Lola’s a few times, but she said you were too busy to notice her. After every visit, she would come back here so excited. She told me about how strong and determined you were. It gave me new hope. Mae’s belief in you was infectious. I started cleaning out rooms and letting go of the ghosts. For the first time in years, I truly believed that there was a chance for me to be free. A few months ago, she convinced me that it would be the perfect time to invite you to Darkwood. Your aunt wanted you to develop your gift and so did I.”

  I had to admit I was beyond flattered with his fascination with me but alarmed, as well. It sounded like he had already put me up on some ridiculously high pedestal. What if I couldn’t meet his expectations? What if I ended up disappointing him just like every other queen and shaman?

  “I don’t know what to think of that. I’m not some kind of weird super hero or anything. I can’t do much. I mean… You invited me here to free you from a powerful voodoo curse. That’s a lot of pressure. I’m not great with handling pressure. You have all these expectations, and this belief in me, I don’t know what I’m supposed to think,” I rambled.

  “I confess when I first heard about your powers, I was infatuated with them and what you could do for me. But then you came to Darkwood and ripped through it like a fierce hurricane. You breathed new life into this old place.” He bit his lower lip. For a moment, he looked shy and vulnerable.

  Those words sent confusion rushing through my veins. I tugged on my ear. What did that mean? Did that mean he liked me or the idea of me? Was he only asking me to stick around because he was hopeful that I would free him from the curse? Did Sabrina breathe life into this old place, too? Did she breathe new life into him? She obviously breathed new life into Ivan. I didn’t know what to think or how to feel.

  “Have I alarmed you?” he asked, as he examined my dazed expression.

  “Yeah, you have,” I replied. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel,” I admitted.

  “You have no reason to decide how you feel. Feelings aren’t a decision. They simply are,” he said calmly. “I have enough faith for the both of us.”

  I let out a relieved breath. “You don’t think I’m insane?”

  “I used to sing lullabies to voodoo dolls I kept in a chapel. Clearly, I have no place judging you.”

  “Lullabies? Seriously?” I let out a skeptical laugh. Even though I snickered, his words filled me with comfort and liberation. If he was brave enough to let me into his world, I could try to let him into mine.

  He nodded. “I speak the truth.”

  “Why would you sing lullabies to voodoo dolls?”

  “To put the ghosts to sleep,” he said easily, as he looked up at the moon.

  “What kind of lullabies?”

  He gave me a small smile. “Are you certain you want to suffer through my singing?”

  “I’ll take my chances. Come on.” I gave him a slight nudge.

  Lucus began to sing in a tone subtly laced with indisputable sorrow and despair.

  Mais voilà qu'il trotte

  La lune se flotte

  La princesse aussi

  La la la la la La la la la la Mon rêve évanoui

  For whatever reason, it could have been the moonlight mixed with the smell of honeysuckle and jasmine, or the way Lucus’ voice was strangely in sync with the humming of swamp animals, I knew what I had to do. It was then, and there, I decided that I wanted more than anything to help him. I wanted him to find peace. He had suffered for far too long, and no one deserved that. How I felt or didn’t feel about him wasn’t important.

  “Hey, have you ever tried just walking out of here? Opening the gates and leaving? I bet this whole curse is in your head. I’ve been studying. I’ve learnt that voodoo is a highly psychological type of magic. The more you believe it, the stronger it becomes.”

  Lucus roared with laughter. “Are you under the impression that I’ve never tried to leave Darkwood?”

  “Yes,” replied adamantly.

  “I assure you, the thought did cross my mind over a hundred years ago.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I sang, as I jumped up from the wired bench. “Come on, let’s give it a try. Don’t be stubborn.”

  Lucus threw his hands up in the air. “There is no point arguing with you, is there?”

  “No,” I replied. “I’m going to keep bugging you until you run to the gate with me.”

  Lucus shook his head and gave me a wide grin, as he got up from the bench. “You’re impossible. You realize that, don’t you Ms. LaRue?”

  “Yes. I’m also irrational and paranoid, but you can’t complain because you’re the one who wants me to stay here. Let’s go!”

  I flipped my hair and turned my back on him. It was the first time I had ever used Sabrina’s trademark hair flip move.

  I sprinted towards the iron gates. Despite his protests, Lucus followed.

  Chapter 4

  Sousson Pannan

  The fragrant night wind whipped through my long hair as I ran towards the gate. The cool earth beneath my bare feet was impossibly soothing. It felt better than the foot massages Sabrina’s live in masseuse gave, a small luxury I happily indulged in. The gigantic oaks trees swayed and meandered without a care in the world. I looked up at the dancing stars and gave thanks for their beauty.

  For the first time, in a long time, I felt strangely alive, not exactly carefree, but less anxious than normal. Lucus was behind me. “Come on old man!” I teased. “You can’t keep up, can you?”

  “I wasn’t aware that this was a competition,” Lucus replied.

  “It is now!” I shouted, as I picked up the pace.

  “I can outrun you any time,” he warned.

  “I won’t believe it until I see it,” I called back.

  He was right. Lucus bolted full speed ahead, passing me in exactly two microseconds. What a show off! He waited for me at the gates. Arms crossed with a smug smile on his face.

  When I finally reached the gate, I was out of breath and panting. I wasn’t one of those girls that spent hours at the gym, mostly because gym clothes scared me, and the fact that I hated to work out. Although Sabrina always offered that I could come over and work out at her home gym, I always managed to find an excuse not to.

  Lucus was amused watching me huff and puff for breath. “You don’t have to stare,” I snapped.

  “I do apologize.” Lucus turned his back on me and focused his attention on a nearby oak tree. “We’ve arrived at the gates,” he announced, as he stared at the oak.

  I regained my composure. “Okay, do you have a key—?”

  I was interrupted by a strange, unfamiliar voice. “Good evening Arelia,” it said.

  I ignored it and prayed that it would disappear.

  The voice laughed wickedly, obviously not pleased with being ignored. The oak trees shook violently, and for a moment the animals in the swamp stopped their humming. “I’ve heard that you can be quiet rude. I assure you, you don’t want to upset me. I can be violent if you hurt my feelings.”

  “Why is that?” I asked, unable to keep quiet any longer.

  Lucus turned around quickly. “Are you alright?” His eyes were filled with uncertainty, as he tried to read my apprehensive expression.

  “Arelia,” the voice hummed. “I can free your lover from Darkwood.”

  “That’s such a stupid word!” I shouted.

  “So you’ve decided to speak, have you? Are you too shy to speak to me in front of your lover? I know how you burn for him; he’s so handsome, isn’t he? So charming. Secretly,
you fear if you do release him, he won’t want you. You’ve been disappointed before, haven’t you? Poor Arelia, always second guessing herself. Always feeling inferior. I can grant you your deepest, darkest wishes.”

  “Arelia, what is it?” asked Lucus firmly. “Is it a spirit?”

  “Yes, I don’t know who he is, but he sure is annoying!”

  “Are you calling Papa Legba annoying?” asked the voice.

  “Papa Legba? Are you honestly Papa Lebga?” I cautiously asked.

  “I could be.”

  Papa Legba was one of the most powerful spirits in voodoo. Grand-mere Bea and Ms. Mae had told me he was the spirit of the crossroads and controlled the gateway between the living and the dead. His favorite spots to hangout were plantations, gates and crossroads. He was also a master at eliminating obstacles that stood in the way of one’s dreams. He had the power of granting your most private wishes and was a force to be reckoned with.

  Grand-mere had told me countless urban legends where desperate musicians stood at crossroads and offered their souls to Legba for fame and fortune. I had always assumed Lady Gaga had offered her soul to Legba, even though I didn’t have any direct evidence of that little transaction. Despite his power, Legba was supposed to be a lovable spirit, this guy didn’t sound very lovable. But, if Lucus had the curse of Mad Marie right, Papa Legba was the spirit in charge of Lucus’ soul, so cooperating with this spirit was worth a shot.

  “Lucus, he says he’s Legba.” I was way beyond excited.

  “Legba? Are you certain?” Lucus’ voice was skeptical, as he reflected on this vital piece of information.

  “So I’ve got your interest now, have I?” asked the voice.

  “If you are Legba, maybe you could help us,” I replied.

  “If I show myself and help you, you realize a price must be paid.”

  “What is he saying?” asked Lucus.

  “He’ll show himself if we pay a price.”

  Lucus shook his head. “Arelia, it’s too danagerous. Ignore him and let’s head back to the house.”

  “We can’t, if he is Legba, he can help us. He can help you. It has to be Legba. He’s at the gate.” After listening to Lucus tell his tale of being a prisoner at Darkwood, there was nothing more I wanted to do than help him.

  “The last thing I want is to put you in danger. It’s absurd that Legba would show himself at exactly this moment. He’s an infinitely powerful spirit. It’s not possible that he would randomly appear without being called upon. Mae has never successfully contacted Legba, even after extensive rituals and offerings. I believe whoever this spirit is, he has more malicious intentions.” Lucus grabbed me firmly by the wrist and tried to pull me away from the gate. “Please believe me when I say you need to learn more from your aunt.”

  The spirit laughed a deep, throaty laugh. “He’s always so secretive, isn’t he? Always so guarded. You don’t need to be guarded Arelia. You’re powerful. Sprits love powerful queens.”

  I shook my wrist free and refused to move. I was allowed to make my own choices. I wasn’t going to simply leave and blindly follow Lucus. “You can leave if you want. I need to try. This could be your chance; maybe he could at least tell me what I need to do. I want to help you.”

  “I can tell you what you need to do, just ask me to show myself,” said the voice.

  Excitement surged through me. “He says he can help!”

  “Arelia.” Lucus’ voice was strong. “Please don’t, I beg of you.”

  “What price do I have to pay?” I asked the voice, as I ignored Lucus.

  “I like rum,” it answered.

  “He only wants rum,” I advised.

  “Arelia…”

  “Fine, show yourself,” I instructed.

  “No!” Lucus screamed. “Do not.”

  “Excellent choice Arelia,” said the voice.

  At that exact moment, I knew I had made a horrible mistake. The pit of my stomach sank, and goose bumps rippled through my body. Lucus grabbed me by the hand and tried to pull me away from the gate again, but my feet were glued to the muddy gravel below. What appeared before me was a sight so hideous and horrifying, I was sure I was going to vomit.

  The spirit took shape and appeared before my eyes in the form of a dark old man dressed in nothing but ratty brown shorts. In his left hand, he carried a bottle of rum. His scrawny body was hunched and covered head to toe in sores. His yellow eyes bulged wildly from their sockets. A few wisps of hair rested on his otherwise bald head, and his mouth was twisted into a cruel snarl. It obviously wasn’t Papa Legba. Legba was supposed to be a cute old man dressed in a plaid shirt, cigar in mouth, dog by his side. I didn’t see a dog, and this guy definitely wasn’t cute.

  “Arelia, what is it?” Lucus asked.

  Lucky for him, he wasn’t able to see the revolting sight. I tried to move my mouth, but no words came out.

  The obnoxious old man danced around madly as he took rapid gulps from his bottle of rum. “Free, free, it feels so delightful to be free on a night like this. I am immensely thirsty tonight,” he sang.

  “You’re not Legba,” I said, as I addressed the spirit.

  “I never said I was Papa Legba, I said I could be Papa Lebga. I hope I haven’t disappointed you.” His dreadful mouth twisted into a fake frown. As he came closer, I could smell the repulsive combination of rot and rum.

  “You have really bad breath,” I said the first thing that popped into my head.

  “Hahaha, you pathetic little girl,” he snarled, as he brought his claw like had to my face and stroked it softly. “I can smell your fear.”

  “Gross!” I shrieked, as his pungent breath met my skin.

  Sensing my utter discomfort, Lucus seized me by the waist in an attempt to pull me away from the gate. Sadly, he was tossed back like a rag doll by the spirit. He landed with a loud thump against a nearby oak tree.

  “Don’t you dare hurt her!” Lucus shouted. He was like a blind man frantically searching for a vision that he would never be able to see. He tried to get up, but he couldn’t. The spirit was keeping him down by some sort of force.

  “Let him go, what do you want, who are you?” I questioned. I tried to disguise the quiver in my voice, but he was one ugly-ass spirit. It was clear that I had messed up big-time. I was so stupid for thinking that I knew everything about the loa. Obviously, I was majorly wrong.

  “It’s so sad that you don’t know my name,” said the spirit.

  “If you tell me, I’ll be sure to remember.” I needed to make him happy.

  “You promise, you’re so pretty Arelia, I bet you taste delightful as well.”

  I swallowed hard. “Taste delightful? What’s your name?”

  “I’m sure you’ve heard of me, I go by Sousson Pannan. Such a noble name, isn’t it?”

  My blood ran cold. That name sounded familiar. I thought hard to where I had heard it before. No. It couldn’t be. Last year, there had been a brutal crime in our neighborhood. Lily Dubois’s husband had been found dead, completely drained of blood in their living room. His entire body had been covered with bite marks from an unidentifiable animal. Or at least the police told the neighborhood it had been an animal.

  However, Grand-mere Bea heard from a friend of a friend that Lily had been the mastermind behind the death. Apparently, she got tired of her unfaithful, abusive, and constantly unemployed husband that she asked a local voodoo queen to call on Sousson Pannan. Sousson Pannan, who had an insatiable thirst for rum and blood, took a ghastly delight in being summoned for tasks that fed his appetite. He had sucked the poor guy dry.

  I thought quickly. “I didn’t call upon you, I haven’t asked you to do anything.”

  “You didn’t call me, but you invited me in. A gracious hostess always makes sure her guests are well-fed, doesn’t she?”

  He tore a sleeve off my silk kimono and took in the scent of my flesh.

  “Get away from her!” Lucus yelled, as he saw my sleeve fall to the ground.
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br />   Sousson Pannan let go of me. He set his eyes on Lucus. “Aged blood is quite delicious, but not as delicious as the blood of a powerful queen.”

  “No!” I screamed. “I’ll get you all the rum you want, don’t take any blood. I know that you love rum; there are bottles and bottles of rum in the house. I can get you as many as you want.”

  “But, I’m thirsty now, my bottle is empty. Do you have any rum with you here Arelia?”

  “No, but I can get some.” I tried to bargain with him.

  “Thirsty!” he screamed, as he came closer and ripped the other sleeve off of my kimono.

  I held by breath, as he brought his foul mouth to my wrist and prepared to take a bite. “Please don’t,” I begged.

  He tossed back his head and let out a spine-chillingly wicked laugh. “You’re not so rude now, are you?”

  “What does he want?” asked Lucus. He was still slumped against the oak tree, unable to move.

  “Blood.” My voice was faint.

  “Take mine, you can have all the blood you want,” offered Lucus.

  “How noble, always such the gentleman.” The spirit let go of me and stumbled over to Lucus.

  “No!” I screamed. “We’ll get you rum, lots of rum.”

  Sousson Pannan glanced over at me. “Until I get my rum, I’ll need to satisfy my thirst. You out of all people should know that Arelia, you know how the spirits must be appeased. We aren’t your puppets.”

  “What is he saying?” demanded Lucus.

  “Lucus, he’s coming towards you, he wants your blood until I can get him some rum.”

  “Arelia go, run, don’t speak to him. I’ll be fine.”

  “But…”

  “Please, go now!” ordered Lucus.

  Sousson Pannan limped over to Lucus and dragged him away from the oak tree and onto a patch of grass. He kneeled on the ground and examined him for a second, inhaling the smell of his flesh. He sat on his stomach and ripped off Lucus’ shirt with his long fingernails. After a diabolical laugh, he sank his jagged teeth into Lucus’ neck and started his morbid feast. Blood dripped down the sides of his mouth as he paused and gave me a wicked smile.