Only By Moonlight (21 page)

“The loa is back, Monmon. I didn’t call on it
this time, but it seems even stronger,” LaShaun started, but
stopped when Monmon Odette raised her palm.

“Abiku,” Monmon Odette said firmly. “His name
is Abiku, as told to me by one of the ancient ones. But... this is
very important, girl. Say his name only at the right time or he
will grow even stronger. He’ll take what you love.”

“He’s already taking someone dear to me,
Monmon. I will fight back though,” LaShaun replied with force.

“You must. Or he will take someone even more
precious.” Monmon Odette’s voice echoed ominously, and the sunshine
dimmed.

“Please tell me more,” LaShaun pleaded. She
felt as if a powerful fist had closed around her heart.

“Remember to fight smarter, not harder like I
taught you.” Monmon Odette looked around on the ground. “Now where
did I put it?”

“You have herbs, or some talisman to give
me?”

“Ah-ha, here’s my hat.” Monmon Odette wore a
wide grin as she put it on her head. She started off between the
shrubs humming again.

“But wait, Monmon,” LaShaun called out. “You
didn’t tell me when to say Abiku’s name or how to fight smarter. Is
there some special prayer? Which saint will help me?”

“These days y’all got all them fancy machines
like computers, tiny phones in your pockets and such. You’ll find
out.” Monmon Odette faced LaShaun. “Your strength comes from the
journey, cher.” The azalea shrubs quickly grew larger until Monmon
Odette disappeared.

“Come back,” LaShaun shouted repeatedly,
except her voice sounded no louder than a whisper.

The sound of a rushing wind drowned her
words. She opened her eyes to find Miss Rose and the twins standing
over her. Miss Rose stroked her forehead. Pauline held one hand,
and Justine held the other. LaShaun realized she was lying on the
sofa with a pillow under head. She tried to sit up, but Miss Rose
pushed her back.

“You stay put a few more minutes, child,”
Miss Rose said. She wore a look of concern.

LaShaun grew fearful when the three older
women exchanged glances. “What happened to me?”

Justine said, “Let her sit up, but take it
slow. Young ones always think they strong as a rock.”

“Oui,” Pauline agreed. They helped LaShaun
sit up.

Miss Rose appeared with a glass of water.
“Drink.”

After she took three sips, urged on by the
women, LaShaun finally put the glass down. “So tell me what
happened, please,” she added.

Pauline sat down next to LaShaun while the
other two took chairs. “Reaching out to the spirit world is risky
for more than one reason.”

“You see what they have in the movies and on
them stupid reality shows--” Justine said with a grimace.

“Child, don’t get me started,” Miss Rose
blurted.

“The living person who wants to reach out has
a much stronger connection to the dead. So the spirit comes to
them, sometimes even through them. Not us,” Pauline explained.

“All that nonsense about spirits speaking
through the mouth of a so-called medium, pooh! That rarely happens.
Only le bon Dieu has the power to move like that,” Justine broke
in. She stopped when Pauline squinted at her. “Sorry. You go on,
sister.”

“The last time I reached across the divide
was over twenty years ago.” Pauline looked off as though
distracted. Her sister took up the tale after a few moments of
silence.

“A woman, Bettina Hebert was her name. She
wanted to speak to her deceased mother. Something happened. We’re
still not sure what kind of spirit took control. Bettina was never
the same after that night. A year later she killed her husband and
then shot herself in the head. Their eleven year old daughter found
them. She sat with the bodies for days until a relative found
her.”

“You think there’s a connection?” LaShaun
shivered.

“We know there is,” Justine said quietly. She
gazed at her sister. “Pauline blames herself.”

Pauline sighed when Justine put an arm around
her shoulder. “I’m all right.”

“LaShaun, what did your grandmother say?”
Miss Rose asked. The three women studied LaShaun.

“She teased me, just like she always did,”
LaShaun said with a smile. “She looked so content that I can’t be
sad, not anymore.”

“Good, good. This is better than we could
have hoped. You weren’t harmed, and your grief has been eased.”
Miss Rose sighed with relief. “Go on.”

“She called the spirit Abiku, and said he
would take someone even more precious. But that doesn’t make sense,
nor what she said at the end, that the journey will strengthen me.”
LaShaun glanced around at each other women in turn. “I don’t
understand at all.”

“Rose, you’re the history expert,” Justine
said.

Without hesitation Miss Rose became a teacher
once again. “Abiku is the Yoruba name for a type of demon. It comes
from the myths of the old Kingdom of Dahomey. This kingdom had a
female army unit called the Dahomey Amazons. They were said to be
just as fierce in battle as the men.”

“Give us the short version,” Justine
cautioned before Miss Rose could go on.

“I was getting back to the subject,” Miss
Rose cracked in reply. “Abiku is cunning and deceitful, like all
demons.”

When the normally talkative women said
nothing, LaShaun leaned forward. “Tell me everything.”

“There is a lot we don’t know...” Miss Rose’s
voice trailed off. She looked at the twins as though seeking
back-up.

“The more often a demon is called on, the
stronger it gets,” Pauline said softly.

“Feeding on the human vices; greed, envy,
hate, and other emotions; can give power to wickedness,” Pauline
added.

“And why we’re hesitant to call on spirits.
These demons wait for portals to open up so they can jump through,”
Justine said.

“Then we’re in serious trouble. Look at all
these psychics and reality show ghost hunters calling on ‘em,”
LaShaun said. “No wonder all manner of evil is bustin’ loose in the
world.”

“Most of that stuff is fake,” Justine
retorted and waved a hand dismissing her worries.

“A few get messages from beyond, but they
don’t have the true gift to make an opening between the worlds.
They just talking to spirits that haven’t moved on yet,” Pauline
said.

“Merci le bon Dieu,” Miss Rose murmured.
(Thank the good God).

“Idiots,” Justine added as additional
commentary.

LaShaun looked at Miss Rose. “So Abiku is the
real name of this loa or spirit?”

“He’s probably called himself many names
through the ages. No matter the name, he’s a menace to our world,”
Miss Rose replied gravely.

“What did Monmon mean when she said the
journey would make me stronger? LaShaun felt even more
confused.

“Finding the answers and stretching your
gifts to the limit will give you the power needed to beat this
demon,” Miss Rose said, with the twins nodding agreement.

“Okay. Then there’s her riddle about Abiku
going after someone even more precious to me. I don’t understand.
Monmon Odette is gone, and so is my mama. That just leaves Chase.”
LaShaun gazed at the older women.

Miss Rose sighed. “Cher, there is another
part of the Dahomey legend about Abiku. He steals children.”

“But I don’t have children,” LaShaun
said.

“Are you sure you’re not pregnant, child?”
Pauline said softly.

LaShaun instinctively placed a hand on her
lower abdomen. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Sister, could it be?” Justine looked at
Pauline.

“Sure could,” Justine agreed with a nod. They
both stared at LaShaun.

LaShaun felt cold fear creep up her spine.
The familiar tingling sensation started at the base of her neck and
spread over her body. “Monmon Odette told me not long before she
died that I’d have children one day.”

The women started chattering in Louisiana
Creole French all at once, hands flying as they gestured to each
other. They spoke too fast, and LaShaun wasn’t as fluent as the
older generation. Besides, LaShaun sat too stunned by the
realization of a deadly threat to her unborn babies to demand they
translate.

“Stop, stop!” Miss Rose commanded. Her
friends fell silent. “You’re right, LaShaun. There is more at work
here than one demon stirring up a bit of mischief.”

“Wheels within wheels,” the twins murmured in
unison and gazed at each other with matching grim expressions.

LaShaun thought about all that was at stake,
and not just for her. She stood with both hands on her hips. “I
fought him once, and sent him away. I’m going to do it again.”

Justine jumped to her feet. “That’s the way,
girl. We can’t let the devil’s stinky minions run amok.”

“We’ll be your back-up team, especially if we
need to have a prayer circle. I know two others we can call on.”
Miss Rose grinned when LaShaun’s eyes went wide. “Oui, cher, we
network with others who have special gifts.”

Justine clapped her hands with glee. “We’re
usually so isolated, well except Pauline and I have each
other.”

“When you’re not squabbling or giving each
other the silent treatment,” Miss Rose quipped.

“We always make up. Eventually,” Justine said
with a wink.

Pauline still wore a grimace of anxiety.
“There is something else you must know, LaShaun. Remember I told
you that Bettina Hebert had a child, a daughter?”

“Yes,” LaShaun replied.

Pauline turned to LaShaun with a look of
expectation and waited. Seconds ticked by marked by the old clock
in the hallway. “Bettina Robillard Hebert, from a fine old family
out of Natchitoches Parish. Her daughter’s name is...”

“Allison, and now she’s Allison Graham.
Greg’s mother,” LaShaun said.

“Wheels within wheels,” the three older women
whispered in sync.

Chapter 13

That night Chase gave a satisfied sigh and
swiped his mouth of crumbs. “That was some mighty fine meatloaf,
darlin’. Good old-fashioned comfort food after a hard day.”

LaShaun sat across from him at the table in
her kitchen. Right outside the soft yellow curtains of the bay
window, nightfall had covered her property in darkness. Yet she
felt no foreboding presence. That wasn’t assuring. Abiku, or
whatever he called himself in this century, was out rambling around
stirring up trouble. LaShaun stared at Chase for at least the fifth
time since he’d come in, looking for signs.

“I’m glad you liked it. You don’t seem to
have lost your appetite. You wiped up just about every drop of
tomato gravy with that garlic roll.”

“Correction, with three garlic rolls,” Chase
joked with a wink. “I went six hours without sitting down. Only
food I had was a cup of weak coffee and half a biscuit. I rolled
non-stop.”

“You must be exhausted then.” LaShaun said.
He didn’t look the least bit worn out. His eyes shined with
alertness, too bright for her comfort.

“I feel great. Must be this home cooking
you’re feeding me,” Chase said. “Nah, I’ll probably crash in a
little while. You’ll be jammin’ your elbow in my ribs ‘cause I’m
snoring on your sofa.”

“You can snore on my sofa or anywhere else
you like. You work hard. Just go relax while I clean up.” LaShaun
stacked his plate on hers.

Chase picked up the serving dishes with fresh
snap beans, more slices of meatloaf, and roasted new potatoes. He
balanced all of them with the grace of a waiter. “Well it doesn’t
matter. I’m not going to be one of those men who expect their wives
to do everything around the house.”

“I appreciate the gesture, cher. Now go on
and park in front of the television this time. I’m just going to
load the dishwasher. No need to feel guilty.” LaShaun got busy
filling containers with leftovers. “I can make you a sandwich for
lunch tomorrow. Maybe put a little green salad in with it.”

“Sounds like a plan. Thank you.”

Chase watched LaShaun work for a few seconds.
He played with the satellite radio awhile until he found an all
news station. Perched on one of the stools on the long granite
countertop, he flipped through the local paper. Anyone observing
would have thought it a normal, warm domestic tableau. Yet LaShaun
kept darting surreptitious looks at Chase. Once she loaded the
dishwasher, LaShaun made him a meatloaf sandwich and a small bowl
of salad. She placed both in the fridge and turned to find Chase
standing near her. He put both large hands on her shoulders.

“You wanna tell me what’s bothering you?”
Chase said quietly.

Something in his voice gave LaShaun chills.
There was a foreign and not quite warm tenor to it that caused her
to pull back. Chase moved with her. “I worry about you working so
hard, and all the craziness you’re dealing with. I think...”

“Go on.” Chase placed a forefinger beneath
LaShaun’s chin and made her look up into his eyes.

“You’ve changed, a little,” she said.

“M.J. has been talking to you, maybe even my
sisters?” Chase looped a strong arm around her shoulders. “Ain’t
nothin’ wrong with me that more time off with my baby and less time
with knuckle-heads wouldn’t cure.” Chase led her to the sofa and
they sat down. He picked up the remote control for the television,
but didn’t turn it on.

“Are you finding that your temper is short
lately? Do you think differently about your job, like the people
you work with and the suspects you arrest?” LaShaun warmed to the
subject now that he’d opened it.

Chase laughed. “You sound like a commercial
for some kind of herbal tonic.”

“Answer the questions, please,” she said
firmly. “There are strange happenings around here lately, Chase. I
have to ask.”

Chase startled her when he jumped to his
feet. A deep scowl transformed his handsome face from the mirth
he’d shown only seconds before. Then he paced in a circle. “I just
wish everybody would leave me the hell alone. I’ve got a job to do,
and I’m doing it better than any damn body in the whole Sheriff’s
station. A bunch of freakin’ idiots, and that goes for M.J. for
listening to Dave or whoever else is after me.”