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  Erzulie appeared before me dressed in a striking aquamarine gown, blood-red headdress, and layers of wooden beads. Her kohl-rimmed hazel eyes were miserable and I could see a stream of tears gracefully sliding down her supple cheeks. “My dear, you need to learn how to work with the other loa. You don’t have enough blood in your body to always satisfy my thirst and you know that.”

  “I will. I’ll learn how to work with the other spirits but I need to find Sabrina now and fast. Please help. Please.”

  “I need more blood,” she whispered.

  Of course she did. Already in agony and desperate to find Sabrina, I did the only thing I could think of, I clutched the broken glass in my bleeding palm and brought it to my other hand. Before I had a chance to stab myself again, I felt Lucus’ hand around my arm. “Arelia, no,” he said, as he stopped me.

  “Erzulie needs more blood, that’s the only way she’ll help us find Sabrina. Sabrina is buried here somewhere.” I was hysterical as I glanced around the massive graveyard.

  “Take mine,” he said. “Take all you want.”

  “No. You already helped with Soussan Pannan. I can’t let you rescue me every time things get complicated.” I might get used to it.

  “There’s no shame in letting others help you,” he insisted.

  “You’re going to let the queen stab you? This is gonna be fun.” Of course Ivan was still leaning against the tombstone and watching the whole scene play out with gruesome delight.

  Go ahead and stab Prince Charming. He deserves to shed some blood after all the blood he’s shed. In your heart you know you want to.

  “Shut up!” I hissed. “Lucus, I can’t.” Stabbing myself was fine, but stabbing someone else was just plain wrong, unless that person was Ivan.

  “Arelia, do it,” said Lucus, as he held out his palm. His voice was strong and determined.

  I knew that standing there and arguing with Lucus was pointless and an epic waste of time, so I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and stabbed Lucus with the crude glass. I didn’t want to watch his expression as I did it. Maybe I was a coward, who knows, but the last thing I wanted to do was intentionally cause him pain.

  Seven stabs of the knife, seven stabs of the dagger,

  Lend me the basin so I can vomit my blood,

  Seven stabs of the knife, seven stabs of the dagger,

  Lend me the basin so I can vomit my blood,

  My blood is pouring down.

  “Erzulie, please help, surely that’s enough already?” I asked, as I opened one eye, still unable to look at Lucus’ face.

  “More,” she whispered.

  “No, please.”

  “Yes, more.”

  “It’s okay Arelia,” said Lucus, as he held out his dripping palm. “It’s okay,” he said again, soothingly.

  It was at that second that I realized that maybe Lucus was so cool about letting me stab him because he felt like he did deserve it.

  Oh yeah, he knows he deserves it. I told you so, queen. Why can’t you admit it already? This is gonna be fun. I love the way his lips twitch every time you lay it on him. What goes around comes around.

  I glared at Ivan and mentally begged him to stop already. Although tears were already forming in the corners of my eyes, I refused to let them escape.

  Lucus was always so strong and composed for my sake, now it was my turn. I looked him straight in the eye and with whatever courage I had left said, “You don’t deserve this.”

  He smiled slightly. His dark eyes peered at me with a hint of misery as he whispered, “Go head. It’s okay.”

  Under the ghostly moonlight, he was undeniably beautiful, tragic, and stoic. I wanted to cover him in fervent kisses. Instead, I stabbed him seven more times. Once again I turned my head away. His warm blood dripped onto my big toe in a slow, steady stream, but not a peep of protest came from his lips.

  “Is that enough?” I whispered. “Erzulie, please say that is enough.” I begged her.

  “More,” she whispered.

  Who was I to argue with her? If she needed more, then I had to give her more. “I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I’m so sorry.” Those were the only words that escaped my mouth as I continued to stab Lucus.

  Afterwards, I eyed her intently, pleadingly. She gave me a small nod and pointed to a patch of earth near the cemetery gate.

  “Thank you!” I said, as I ran over to the spot.

  Like a frantic maniac, I used both my hands and stared to dig. The earth was cool and fresh against my wounds. Somehow, it managed to ease the pain of the stabs. Lucus joined me, and to my surprise and utter shock, so did Ivan. The three of us were quiet and determined as we furiously unearthed the dank and musty ground. Without hesitation, we dug for what seemed like forever. Papa Ghede had said almost six feet. I had a sinking feeling that the longer we waited to dig up Sabrina, the further she would sink. Maybe when she hit six feet, she would die.

  Lucky for us, Sabrina wasn’t anywhere near six feet under. After about twenty minutes or so, I felt the steady, rhythmic beating of a heart beneath my hand and knew that it was Sabrina.

  We found her- still, silent, eyes closed, and dressed in a pale pink Badgley Mischka gown. Her blonde hair and fair skin were caked in wet mud and her slightly pointy chin was protruding more than usual. “Sabrina?” I shook her. “Sabrina, please wake up. I’m sorry. Please be okay.” I held her and attempted to wipe away the mud that clung to her face and hair.

  Lucus and Ivan were motionless as they watched me hold Sabrina.

  I held her and whispered her name over and over again. Finally, her blue eyes opened and she pulled away from me. For a second, she just stared at me lethargically. Then, her lips trembled and her face contorted. She breathed in and out, in and out, as if she were about to explode like a ticking time bomb.

  “Sabrina?” I lightly shook her.

  She turned away from me and looked ahead. “ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.” Her scream was deafening and heartbreaking. It pierced the night air like an absurdly sharp dagger.

  “Shh, shh, it’s okay.” I put my arms around her, but she pushed me away again and continued to scream and scream.

  Quickly, Lucus took off his jacket and wiped Sabrina’s face with it. Oblivious to his own muddy, bloody, dripping hands, he placed his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest. He rocked her back and forth while she continued to scream and holler. I felt utterly helpless as I listened to her wails and animal-like cries.

  “Shhh, shhh. Everything is going to be alright. You’re safe,” Lucus whispered, as he continued to rock her like a new born baby. “You’re safe, now. Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise. You’re alright, safe and sound.”

  The sight of him consoling her melted my heart. I could feel his patience, warmth and pure desire to ease Sabrina’s pain. Yup. I was pretty much a love-struck voodoo queen.

  As he rocked her, I noticed that Ivan had left us and was staring at a tombstone. He fell to his knees and I realized that maybe he had found his own grave. Without exactly knowing why, I got up and went to him. His expression was hard and miserable as he stared at the tombstone and briefly fingered the words Louis Beau. The smell of melancholy chrysanthemums hit me and my focus fell to an arrangement that had been lovingly laid by the grave. Is that why Lucus came to the cemetery once a week? To bring fresh flowers to Louis’ grave? The image of him visiting the grave week after week was a painful one to swallow.

  I glanced around the graveyard, and for the first time, the sight of hundreds of tombstones unsettled me and I thought back to the cotton fields to where these people had suffered. To me, they weren’t nameless and faceless any longer. I wasn’t sure how I felt, but I knew that I would never look at Ivan the same way again. A part of me would always feel something for him. How could I not? As horrible as he pretended to be, I refused to believe that there wasn’t any goodness in him. Maybe all he needed was a friend and someone to show him a little kindness. After all, he had said that the world
had never shown him any kindness. I was probably being naïve; it wasn’t like he was an abandoned puppy or anything. It wasn’t easy as taking him home and giving him a bath and feeding him. The only thing I could do was be there.

  As I fell to my knees, a hopeless and desperate wave of despair washed over me. For a second, I examined Ivan’s shadowy profile which looked weary and utterly vulnerable, as he continued to stare his grave. I felt a massive lump form in my throat and for no reason I started to heave and cry like a pathetic baby. I didn’t want to bawl in front of him out of all people, but my tears started to flow rapidly down my face again and I placed my arms around him and held him. I inhaled the scent of his sticky, cigarette-infused skin and wept freely for him. I cried for Louis and the life he had led, and for the whole, seemingly helpless situation that all of us were in. I didn’t know what to say to Ivan, all I could do was hold him and pray that somehow I could make him hurt a little less.

  Although I was crying like a baby, I wasn’t totally unguarded. So, when I saw a straw-colored strand of hair fall onto Ivan’s shoulder, I did what any good voodoo queen would do- I took it and casually shoved it down my bra while I continued to bawl. It gave me a sick satisfaction to know that I had taken a part of Ivan’s soul. It made me feel more in control and determined to reverse whatever he had done to me. Now, if I could only get some dirt from his grave…

  Ivan was quiet and listless, totally unaffected by my bawling. He eyed me silently for a few seconds. I saw a flash of pity and then a spark of fire behind his gaze. Then, he started to laugh. It started out as a low chuckle and progressed into a full-fledged, hearty laugh that erupted from the pit of his stomach. “Oh queen, you’re so sentimental. So naïve.” His laughter grew louder and more vigorous. He unwrapped my arms from his shoulders and stood up, still laughing. His blond hair glistened as moonbeams hit it and his eyes were suddenly bright and happy. “I’m no longer a victim; I don’t need your tears!” He took a lighter and brought it to the flowers. “Burn, baby, burn. Good-bye Louis, you pathetic, weak child.”

  It was at that exact second that I realized the one person Ivan despised more than anyone else in the world wasn’t really Lucus, it was Louis.

  Ivan grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the ground. He placed his arms around me and my body started to move unwillingly. Underneath the shining moon, he gave me a deliberate and fierce kiss. I could taste his anger seep into my blood and burn me from the inside out. An unwelcome darkness consumed me, and strangely, I surrendered to it. He spun me around while smoke from the burning flowers surrounded us. The ground once again turned a brilliant shade of red and tinted my feet. We danced, as Ivan continued to laugh and Sabrina continued to wail.

  Boxes, baby, boxes. He put me in that box.

  Chapter 9

  Drama Drama Drama!

  After Sabrina had finally stopped crying and Ivan had let go of me, the four of us walked back to Darkwood house in utter silence. Covered in mud, sweat and blood, the only thing I could think of was taking a spiritual bath and sticking Sabrina into one, too.

  I tried to push Papa Ghede’s ominous warning out of my thoughts, but couldn’t. What had he meant by give her peace?

  Sabrina didn’t look like she was in need of any peace. In fact, she was enjoying the whole thing immensely, especially the attention she was getting from Lucus. Her tears had been replaced by a large smile as she wrapped Lucus’ jacket around her and looked up at him like he was her knight in shining armor. I wasn’t bitter or anything that Lucus was letting her cling to him. Being jealous at a time like this was vastly childish and petty, but still I was only human.

  I was thrilled that she was okay, but a little disappointed that we hadn’t exchanged a word yet. I wanted to know what had possessed her to run off to the cemetery and who or what had buried her. It totally freaked me out that a few minutes ago she had been virtually inconsolable and now she was fine. In typical Sabrina style, had she blocked out what had happened?

  Lucus glanced over at me and gave me a small, reassuring smile. I wanted him to wrap his arms around me and hold me, but after what had occurred, I didn’t want any more drama. Tonight, I had to come clean and confess how I felt about Lucus to Sabrina. If the words came out.

  Ivan was quiet for the time being, and I couldn’t hear his annoying voice in my head. I shot him an evil glance, but despite my utter disgust with him, I hoped he was okay. I wondered what role he had played in tonight’s chaos and how he was messing with me. I wanted to scream and yell, but every time I tried, I was a mute.

  What were his plans for me? And how could I stop him? I was completely confused by my feelings towards him. One moment I was filled with complete abhorrence, and the next, blinding pity. Maybe I was as twisted as he was and deep within I knew that I didn’t really belong here. But then where did I belong?

  Queen, I’ll say it again, get the hell out of here and we’ll never have to see each other again. Unless you like my kisses and wanna stick around for a few more.

  I tried to block out his voice. Ivan messing with my head was bad enough, but for some reason he insisted on randomly making out with me as well. Obviously, he was still angry over the fact that Lucus had stolen the love of his life and wasn’t consciously aware of the fact. I was a stupid little pawn in his game.

  Yes you are.

  Back at the house, the party had long stopped and a haunting silence had replaced the energetic music that had filled the air a mere hour or so ago. Romantic moonlight had been swapped for dark clouds, and I could smell the power of a storm brewing in the sultry night air. In the distance, I could see that the front porch was fully lit and its white marble floor gleamed ethereally. The guests were huddled together in a drunken stupor while they enjoyed one final cocktail before bedtime.

  As we got closer to the porch, I could see Grand-mere and Aunt Mae scowling. Their matching billowy white dresses made them appear almost angelic as they watched us approach the porch. Mrs. Dreaux shook her head in disapproval once she spotted me and even Tony looked horribly repulsed. What a jerk. I couldn’t remember one reason why I had been so obsessed with him last summer aside from the fact that he was hot.

  “Heavens, what on earth has happened to all of you?” asked Aunt Mae. She and Grand-mere came flying down the steps once they saw the messy, muddy and slightly bloody state we were all in.

  I shrugged. “We…”

  “We took a tour of the cemetery,” said Ivan, as he placed his arms around me and drew me close. “Arelia was going to let you know, but she got distracted.” He winked.

  Screw you!! Ass. I did not get distracted!

  “Yeah, I wanted to see the cemetery and then I accidently fell and slipped into this weird hole,” said Sabrina.

  “Why in heavens would you run off to the cemetery at this hour?” Grand-mere looked at Sabrina. Her expression was severe and disapproving.

  “I drank a Hurricane and got lost.” She shrugged.

  I eyed her carefully. Her lips weren’t trembling or anything, which meant that she was telling the truth. She actually didn’t remember anything that had happened.

  “Everything’s okay now,” said Lucus. “No harm done.”

  Aunt Mae examined us warily before speaking. “Arelia, Sabrina, upstairs right now, the both of you,” she turned her attention to Sabrina. “Both of you go on and take a spiritual bath. Now. And you too,” she said, as she focused her furious green-eyes on Ivan. Her voice was harsh and terrifying.

  “But-” I wanted to tell her about Papa Ghede’s ominous warning. Maybe she could help me figure out what he had meant.

  “Now,” she repeated.

  “Okay.” I guess I would have to wait. I had no intention of messing with her. She was damn scary when she was angry. Besides, by now, I knew that she knew what she was talking about. Something had happened out in that cemetery, and if I had any hope of reversing it or fending off the attack, the best way to do so was by taking a spiritual bath.

 
“I have no idea what a spiritual bath is,” said Ivan innocently, as he gave me wide grin. “Not really versed in the whole voodoo/hoodoo lingo.”

  Liar!

  “Arelia, help the poor boy out,” said Aunt Mae.

  Poor boy! Yeah right!

  “Whatever,” I muttered, as I lowered my head and grabbed Sabrina by the hand and dragged her inside the house and into Aunt Mae’s office. I needed to gather supplies for the bath, and fast.

  “What the hell, Arelia!” she whined, as she tried to shake loose. “This place is creepy,” she said, as she glanced around the office.

  “Sabrina, I don’t care if you’re pissed at me. For once in your life you have to just listen and stop whining.”

  “What is going on?” she asked, still pouting. “I’m not talking to you, by the way,” she said, as I shut the office door behind me.

  “Fine, don’t talk to me, whatever, but listen to me. Something lured you to the cemetery and whatever it was probably was beyond creepy, and I think that it’s attached itself to you.”

  She didn’t say anything. Her lips were pursed in a tight, hard line as she looked at me with utter fury. “You sound insane. I was angry, drank too much rum and accidently got lost. I was on my way back to the party and ended up in the cemetery. Nothing lured me there.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to ignore the dull headache that had returned. “How can you explain being buried alive?”

  So much drama, queen. All of this teenage angst can be eased if you get out of here. Is it really worth sticking around and defending a murderer? What gives you the right to help him? Don’t any of the poor souls he’s murdered over the years deserve their vengeance? What makes him better than any of them?

  Ivan’s voice was back and more annoying than ever.

  “I wasn’t buried alive! I fell into a stupid hole and some mud fell on top of me. Besides, you’re only making all of this up to avoid talking about you hooking up with Lucus! You made me look like such an idiot. You let me walk into his room with lingerie on and then didn’t say anything when I was going to do it again!” She screamed and her skin started to get blotchy. “You quietly watched as I went after him hard like some desperate freak and even encouraged me!”