by Kira Saito
“I think I already did, Arelia. Go to the old cemetery. Go to the old slave cemetery.”
“Why should I trust you? What do you want?” As much as I wanted to trust Bade, I knew spirits could be pretty tricky and if I didn’t ask what he wanted upfront, it could come back to haunt me later.
“I want you to listen to me,” he hissed. “I want you to respect me and promise that this lily pond will always be taken care of.”
As he spoke, I noticed that the largest purple lily had separated itself from the others and gently twirled while the rest of the flowers stood still. The wind became warm and tender as the lily danced in the night air. I realized that Bade was in love with the lily. He wanted to protect her forever and always. Who knew spirits were so sentimental?
“Beauty and love can be found in even the ugliest circumstances,” he hissed. “Don’t forget that.”
I nodded solemnly as I watched the lily. Love can be found in even the ugliest circumstances, what did that mean?
“Thank you, Bade,” I whispered. “I promise I’ll always protect her. But right now, I have to go and find Sabrina.”
Beauty and love can be found in even the ugliest circumstances. What was I supposed to make out of that?
Chapter 5
Three’s a Crowd
As I turned around to leave, I smacked into Lucus’ very yummy chest. Had I really described his chest as yummy? Yummy? God. Maybe I did need to get out of this place.
I closed my eyes and prayed that he wouldn’t be covered in blood. How was I going to explain what had happened when nothing I wanted to say was coming out of my mouth? Lucus probably thought I was crazy. Or maybe I was flattering myself and he didn’t really care. I mean we only kissed, it’s not like… I couldn’t think about any of that right now. I needed to get to Sabrina. I couldn’t help feel responsible for whatever she had gotten herself into.
Lucus deserves to rot in rooms full of blood.
No he doesn’t. I tried to block out Ivan’s irritating voice.
Boxes. Different boxes. Rooms full of blood. He deserves to suffer. Leave, queen; get the hell out of here. This is what my mother wants. Don’t be a silly little girl with a big mouth.
I stood there in true psychopathic style, eyes closed while muttering incomprehensible phrases.
An unexpected sweetness filled my mouth and I tasted a flavorful burst of cocoa and cream cheese. I kept my eyes closed and kept on chewing. No questions asked. I knew if I stopped to question what the hell was going on, Ivan’s voice would return. The faint but distinct smell of jasmine infused with the lilies replaced the scent of cigarettes and Louis.
Finally, I got the courage to open my eyes and was rewarded with the sight of a very amused Lucus. Thankfully, he wasn’t covered in blood. In fact, I had to momentarily appreciate his silky dark hair and the outline of his broad shoulders in a black evening jacket. There was just something about the way the pale light bounced off his high cheekbones and caressed his full lips that made him look slightly otherworldly, seductive and strangely heartbreaking. I felt so shallow standing there and shamelessly drooling over him. What was I turning into? I hated being that girl. The girl who thought about how hot a guy was at the oddest times and under the strangest circumstances.
In his hand, he held a china plate with a piece of red velvet cake on it.
“You brought me cake?” I asked, as I held my hands, not knowing how to react.
He shrugged. “It was the last piece.”
He brought me cake after witnessing me tragically dance with Ivan. Who does that?
He deserves to rot. Delicious cake made from my blood. Prince Charming lives off the blood of others. I need to make sure my mother’s curse is never removed.
Shut up, Ivan.
A warm breeze filled the air and the lily pond started to madly swirl again. Delicate purple lilies surrounded us. For a minute I forgot the insanity and confusion that engulfed me and enjoyed feeling like a Disney Princess, even though I couldn’t sing or dance like one. Being a Disney Princess was a secret dream of mine that was so dark I had never had the guts to share it with anyone; but when I was around Lucus, that was exactly how I felt. The air was fresher, the birds hummed brighter and the flowers smelled sweeter. Basically, the trees were made out of cotton candy and the world was a better, more hopeful place. How corny.
I closed my eyes again and stood on my toes. I took a massive gamble and prayed that every cliché that proclaimed actions spoke louder than words was true. I pulled Lucus close to me and locked my body and lips against his. I could feel his heartbeat and pulse pick up pace as I parted his lips. Our kiss consisted of a passionate, bitter-sweet nothingness that somehow managed to block out the demented whisperings in my head. At that second, I realized that maybe Lucus was becoming my silly little addiction. “Thank you for the cake.”
“Arelia, you need to get to the cemetery,” hissed Bade.
Remembering Sabrina and feeling beyond guilty, I pulled back and took a deep breath. Considering Bade’s words and my pledge not to be an ego-maniac, I decided to let Lucus in. “I’m a mess. Nothing makes sense. Words aren’t coming out right. There are things I want to say but I can’t…I need you to help me find Sabrina, she ran off to the old slave cemetery and she’s in trouble. And I need you to promise that this lily pond will always be taken care of. I know I’m asking a lot, but…”
Ivan is Louis Beau. I need to tell you. You aren’t responsible for any of this. You don’t deserve to be a prisoner. The world needs more people like you. Thoughtful people. Kind people. I wish I was more like you. But I’m not. I’m pretty messed up. I hope you’re still not in love with that girl. I think I love you. I hate sounding corny. Corny scares me. I’ll never be able to call you things like sugar and profess my undying love like Nicholas Sparks’ characters do. I’m sorry. Maybe you deserve someone like that. Someone semi-normal…
Lucus examined me carefully for a few seconds. Even though he didn’t say anything, I felt like he knew exactly what I was thinking. He turned his attention to the lily pond and placed one hand over his heart. “I promise this lily pond will always be taken care of, and I vow to be kind even if you’re a mess and nothing makes sense,” he said solemnly while trying to hide a small smile.
I let out a huge sigh of relief and flashed him a bright grin. “I know you’re making fun of me but I’ll take it.”
“I’m not mocking you. Now, let’s go find Sabrina,” he said, as he placed the cake down on a nearby table.
He deserves pain. You know that. You don’t want to admit it yet. Queen, you and I don’t have anything in common with him.
Shut up, Ivan.
He took my hand into his and an overwhelming sense of safety washed over me. As we approached the oak-lined path, I remembered that going to a cemetery empty-handed was a tragically senseless idea because it was Papa Ghede’s territory.
I knew that Papa Ghede was a loa that loved to party, drink lots of rum and eat tons of hot food. His favorite offering was pepper-infused rum. Being Father Death didn’t deter him from having a good time, because supposedly when you’re dead, there isn’t anything that you can’t laugh at. Despite his supremely important position as keeper of the cemetery and friendly connection with the dead, he was basically a big clown who loved to put people in awkward positions.
In spite of his carefree nature, he was also supposed to be a great counselor if you were desperate for guidance. He was really wise because he had access to all of the knowledge of the dead combined. So that basically meant that he knew everything. I couldn’t help but wonder what was waiting for us in the cemetery, or if Papa Ghede would bother showing at all. I mean, there were a thousand other cemeteries in New Orleans- I doubt he was hanging around Darkwood.
“We need to grab rum, cigarettes and peppers. Lots of peppers. We can’t enter the cemetery without offering something to Papa Ghede,” I said, as I looked up at Lucus.
He nodded. “I’ll go get the offerings from the ki
tchen. You need to let Mae and Henri know what’s going on.”
Of course, Mr. Practicality would never run off to a cemetery in the middle of the night without letting anyone know. That was my job. “Okay.”
Before he left, Lucus pulled me close to him. He gave me a long, deep kiss. The delicious smell of him sent chills through my body and filled me with a rare calmness that I wasn’t used to but somehow craved. “In my eyes you’ll never be a mess,” he whispered with alarming sincerity and conviction.
Blood-filled kisses. Do you like blood-filled kisses, Arelia? Doesn’t my blood taste good? If you like blood-filled kisses I can give you a few. Come on over here.
“Shut up!” I screamed.
Lucus raised an eyebrow.
“Never mind.” I shook my head. “Please go get the offerings. We need to find Sabrina.”
Lucus gave me a skeptical look and grinned as he headed towards the house. Argh. My other vow, not to be a psychopath, wasn’t working out so well.
As I approached the rose garden, the party was still in full swing. I spotted Grand-mere dancing with Ben while Aunt Mae and Henri held each other and swayed to the music. The soft, twinkling garden lights made their faces appear almost ghostly and fragile, but thankfully they weren’t covered in blood.
Unfortunately, before I could actually step foot into the garden, I was blocked by Ivan. A cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth and he had loosened his tie again. Putting my frustration aside, I tried to think back to the Louis I had known, not this vengeful monster. “Let’s take a walk, queen,” he said casually.
“No. I don’t want to take a walk with you.” But of course I was powerless, and followed him towards the main path.
I looked up at the canopy of stars and took a deep breath. Even though I tried to compose myself, I still felt an inexplicable fury wash over me. “Ivan, like I said, no matter what you do, I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere. I want to help you and as much as you’re fighting me, I’m going to keep on trying until you realize that too. I’m the friendly intervention that you’ve secretly been hoping for. Now, get out of my way, I have to go talk to my aunt.”
“No you don’t,” he smirked. “Why didn’t you invite me to the cemetery?”
Too embarrassed because my body is rotting there? I haven’t actually visited my own grave yet. Pathetic, isn’t it? Maybe it’s time I finally do. See how the poor old corpse is doing. Should we bring it some flowers from the extravagant rose garden or how about some lilies? I know- how about some chrysanthemums, your favorites?
My body froze as his thoughts entered my conscious. I felt a wave of pity and misery wash over me. I’d forgotten that Ivan’s real body was buried on this property.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, as I dug my toe into the damp earth, unable to meet his eyes.
“Why the hell are you always looking at your toes?” he asked, as he roughly jerked my head up. The fire in his eyes was unnerving.
I bit my tongue, clenched my fists and turned my head away.
Erzulie, why are you doing this to me? I literally felt like screaming, “Why me!!” and breaking out in a wild, uncontrollable wails like some rented funeral mourner. Having multiple voices in my head was making me even crazier than I already was. Why did she have to bless a lunatic? Screw being all noble and composed. Poise was way overrated anyways. I always suspected that people who were always composed were either on heavy meds or living in sweet denial. Hmm, but how would that explain Lucus? Calm down, Arelia. Calm down. Don’t give him an ounce of satisfaction.
“You know it has to be done,” Erzulie whispered, as she appeared before me in an extravagant pink satin gown and mounds of gold jewelry. She casually stroked a large snake that lazily hung around her delicate neck. “Understanding requires sacrifices. Power requires sacrifices; you know that, my dear. I’m not claiming that any of this is going to be easy for you or for those you love, but it has to be done.”
“I know. You keep telling me that and I’m trying to be strong, but when will it stop?”
She leaned forward and caressed my cheek with the back of her hand. “Soon,” she whispered before she disappeared.
“I have to go find my aunt, Ivan,” I attempted to move, but once again my body failed me.
He put his arms around my shoulders and sniffed my hair. “No you don’t. Look, Ken is back and we have to go get Barbie.”
Lucus approached us. In his arms he carried three bottles of rum, a pack of cigars, and a large jar of cayenne peppers. “Ready?” he asked, as his eyes rested on Ivan’s arm.
“Yes we are,” said Ivan, as he grabbed a bottle of rum from Lucus.
“Are you coming with us, Ivan?” asked Lucus.
Ivan smirked as he opened the rum bottle. “I’m surprised that you know my name.” His voice was cold, detached and ruthless.
“Why wouldn’t I? You work here,” said Lucus, as he gave Ivan a confused glance.
Ivan took a long swig from the rum bottle. “Just wondering.”
“That isn’t for you!” I attempted to grab the bottle out of his hand while trying to shake myself free from his arms.
Ivan took another swig from the bottle while his eyes remained fixed on Lucus. He gave Lucus a wide, satisfied grin. “She’s so dramatic, isn’t she?”
Lucus’s expression turned dark. He turned his head and without a word headed into the thick maze of oak trees that led to the old slave cemetery.
The night was only beginning and I was already in hell.
Chapter 6
Cemetery March
The humid night air hung thickly and enveloped us whole as we wandered farther into the maze of dense oak trees. Long branches clawed at my wild hair as if ominously warning me to turn back. The eerie shapes of Spanish moss and the mournful singing of swamp animals became increasingly vivid as the earth turned soft and wet under my feet. Strangely, the incomparable smell of damp earth and moss was one that I was slowly becoming addicted to and increasingly longed for.
Lucus led the way. He was silent and solemn, as he gripped a red flashlight and juggled bottles of rum and peppers in his arms. I stole a quick, sideways glance at his angular profile and wondered what he was thinking. How would he react if he knew that Louis was only a few feet behind him? Would it make anything better? Would it ease the colossal guilt he felt if he could somehow apologize?
Thankfully, Ivan had taken his arms off of me and was listlessly staring at the half –hidden crescent moon. His grey eyes were distant and gloomy. I couldn’t hear his thoughts, but for some reason I could feel his energy. It was vengeful, heated and consumed with a hatred that ran so deep that I couldn’t help being frightened. The three of us were such a miserable, pathetic bunch as we marched to the cemetery in utter silence.
I hear you, queen. I don’t need your pity. Pity is for suckers. Ivan’s voice was back.
As the cries of birds grew louder and the smell of the moss stronger, I knew that we were getting closer. Lucus stopped and shone the flashlight on a large, rusty iron gate that was slightly ajar. Beyond it, I saw a large chapel and the silhouettes of cross-shaped tombstones. Massive oak trees surrounded the graves. Their long branches reached down and stroked the stones in an almost protective and loving manner.
The fact that the iron gate was open alarmed me. I knew that old cemetery gates that were open meant that the dead were inviting you into their world. Had Sabrina unwillingly entered the land of the dead? If so, who or what had invited her there? And more importantly, what did they want from her?
“Lucus, is this gate always left open?”
He shook his head. “I brought a key. I’m not sure why it’s open.”
Here we go. Let’s see how I’m doing. Do I even have a marked grave or was I tossed into the swamp like a piece of trash? Do you see all those graves, queen? How much blood was shed? How can you justify that? How can you justify loving him? He’s a monster. You might as well start writing to a serial murderer in prison
. Why don’t you write one of them a nice little letter with hearts, flowers, unicorns and rainbows drawn all over it? Silly little girl with a big mouth and even bigger pathetic crush.
Go away! I mentally screamed unable to take Ivan’s torment for a second longer. I swear I was about to break out in hysterical laughs and beg him to kill me already. But then, that was the whole point of his game, and I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.
“Arelia, are you alright?” Lucus asked, as he searched my angry face. As his eyes met mine, I felt my rage wash away and a drug-like serenity possess me.
“I’m fine.” I gave him a small, uncertain smile.
“She just needs to loosen up. Here, have some rum.” Ivan held out the rum bottle that was in his hand.
I crossed my arms. “I’m fine.” Calm. Calm, Arelia. Remember how sweet Louis saved you. He’s still in there somewhere. He doesn’t deserve any of this either. Remember what Gran-Ibo told you. You can’t feel something for one without feeling for the other as well.
Lucus shook his head and kneeled in front of the rusty iron gate. He laid the bottles of rum on the ground and opened the jar of peppers. He opened the bottles of rum, placed the peppers in the rum bottles and then shook them. Smart. He knew how Papa Ghede liked his rum. He took out some coins from his pocket and placed them beside the rum bottles.
“You hang out at cemeteries often?” I asked, as I watched him line up the bottles in front of the gate.
He took a deep breath before he turned to face me. He scratched the back of his neck and looked hopelessly uncomfortable and sullen for a second. “Only once a week,” he whispered. “You forgot the coins.”
I let out a small sigh and extended my hand for him to take. As his hand fell into mine; he gave me a tight smile. It was obvious that Lucus was still obsessed with the ghosts that were haunting him. I didn’t know if he would ever be free and that thought alone made me depressed and frustrated. Maybe Ivan was right, there was no hope for either one of them. There was no easy, cookie-cutter solution to this mess. No happy ending, only a bitter wasteland that would stretch on for an eternity.
