Punished (4 page)

 
“Sometimes it is, but it makes me appreciate those I have more.” I looked up at him. “Why did you finally decide to clean out all those rooms?” I asked.

His eyes shone. “I realized that life itself is a gift. While wars raged and people starved in the outside world, I sat in Darkwood feeling sorry for myself. I decided I no longer wanted to live like a madman muttering to invisible ghosts, speaking only to voodoo dolls and roaming the halls like a zombie.” He took a deep breath, “and because of you.”

I let go of his hand and pulled away from him. “What do you mean?”

“Your Aunt Mae confided in me about what she had done. She made an offering to Erzulie on your behalf. Why Erzulie chose to bless you is puzzling. To my knowledge no other queen has been successful in obtaining her blessing. I remember that day so clearly. Mae came to Darkwood in tears. She was practically inconsolable because of the argument she had with your grand-mere. In her heart, she was sure she had done the right thing, but your grand-mere never saw it that way.”

“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.”