I scrunched my brow. I wasn’t sure what the “Blessing” was. Isabelle sensed my confusion.
I don’t know what it is either.
Pauli leaned over. “The last time it was the Blessing of Dumballah. The victor acquired the power of creation itself.”
That’s like my magic, Isabelle said. My power… the magica I access comes from the Tree of Life.
“One competitor will be chosen from each of the colleges. Any of you might be nominated by any of your classmates. Or you might nominate yourselves. The competitor will be chosen from amongst the names nominated. If no student is nominated, the most advanced student in each college will be selected. If there are multiple nominations from a college, I will choose the participant based on merit, not necessarily seniority. If you are chosen, tradition dictates that you cannot refuse. To do so would dishonor Mr. Freeman, in whose name these Trials are dedicated.
“I urge you to make your nominations with care. Lives have been lost in these Trials before—the honor to compete is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for those of divided loyalties.”
Again, Erzulie glanced at me. What the fuck… she actually knew I was not responsible for what happened. Nico… Kalfu… any of it. If anyone was to blame, Oggie was the one who insisted that the gate be closed, leaving Nico in Guinee. And Maman Brigitte was the one who started all this crap to begin with, thinking that summoning Kalfu out of Papa Legba—God rest his soul, or whatever the equivalent of a soul was that a Loa possessed, wherever he might be—was a way to force her hubby, Baron Samedi, to return. All of this shit could be hung on the Loa themselves. Not like they’d take responsibility. So long as half the student body wanted to blame me, far be it from them to say anything different.
Erzulie lifted her hand—showing everyone her three rings, one corresponding to each of her three Loa husbands. “It would not be fitting that any Loa who sponsors one of our colleges should judge the Trials, lest perceptions of bias be introduced. Thus, I have called upon one of my other husbands.
The doors to the sanctuary opened. The man who appeared was fair-skinned, as if he hadn’t seen the sun in years. His features, however, clearly suggested an African descent. He wore only a small cloth over his loins. He had a chiseled physique—slight of build but with well-defined musculature. Forget a six-pack. This guy had an eight-pack. The dude looked like he worked out—his upper body only. He must hate leg day. His legs were wobbly. His hair was tightly braided in rows. A young girl, maybe fifteen, followed behind him with a pail of water, delicately caressing her master with a wet sponge as he moved.
“I give to you Agwe, Loa of the Sea,” Erzulie announced. “You will have to be patient with my dear husband—it is quite literally his first day with his new legs.”
“New legs?” I asked Pauli in a whisper. “Somewhere there’s a chicken stuck in the mud. Totally pissed off because this guy stole its legs.”
“He’s of the Mer. He is more accustomed to a tail and fins. These must be the product of some kind of metamorphosis spell.”
Of the Mer? I shook my head—after the vampires, the zombies, my own dragon elemental, and the whole Voodoo world, I was less than shocked to discover that yet another mythical creature existed. Thus, my fixation on his legs. You’d think if he had access to magic that allowed him to swap out limbs, he’d choose legs with a bit more substance. Legs that were, minimally, capable of actually walking.
Chapter Four
“But we don’t even know for sure what the blessing will be for the victor,” Isabelle said as she held Mikah’s hands—a small table between them held a bucket full of crawdads. I’d promised her I’d let her take the reins so she and Mikah could have a date. There was no way in hell I’d nominate myself for the Trials. Half the school thought I should be expelled anyway—they blamed me for all the shit that went down. I was the last one who should be elevated to High Mambo, or whatever. It would be foolish to insert myself into the competition.
“Last time, the victor received a blessing from Dumballah,” Mikah said. “Do you realize what that means?”
Isabelle shook her head. “I know who Dumballah is. But they say he wields the power of creation. I already have that power.”
“This is different,” Mikah said. “Your power heals. It restores. You wield the elements and master creation. Dumballah can literally make anything he imagines. He creates ex nihilo!”
“Out of nothing?” Isabelle asked. “I thought only God could do that.”
“Bondye works through means. He uses the Loa as his agents. Dumballah turns Bondye’s imagination into reality.”
“And the winner receives that ability?”
Mikah shook his head. “Not exactly. The last winner received a blessing—not Dumballah’s aspect. He’d never grant that to a mortal. Can you imagine? But with his blessing he will create something, anything that the one who receives his blessing can imagine.”
“Could he bring back your father?”
Mikah bit his bottom lip. “He could make a new version of my father. A body, with his memories. It wouldn’t be his soul, though.”
“But think about it!” Isabelle exclaimed. “If it’s his memories, it’s basically him. You could win this.”
“So could you,” Mikah said.
“And what would I do with it?” Isabelle asked.
“Anything,” Mikah said. “And you and Annabelle together, you’d win. No one could beat the both of you together.”
“Annabelle doesn’t want to compete,” Isabelle said, much to my satisfaction. “She doesn’t want to be High Mambo. Besides, do you really think Erzulie would allow it? She hates us, it’s obvious.”
“Erzulie isn’t the judge,” Mikah said. “Agwe is.”
“And Agwe is married to her. She brought him here. If she didn’t think she could use him as a puppet, why not bring some other Loa who she didn’t happen to be married to?”
“Erzulie’s husbands… have proven to be less compliant with her wishes than her other lovers.”
Isabelle huffed. “And how many lovers does she have?”
Mikah shrugged. “As many as she’d like, I suppose. She’s supposed to be the Loa of love, but…”
“Sounds more like the Loa of lust,” Isabelle said, finishing Mikah’s thought.
“Precisely.”
“But with Dumballah’s blessing, think about what you and Annabelle might be able to do.”
We don’t even know that Dumballah’s blessing is the prize for the victor, I told Isabelle.
“And Annabelle is right. We’re just guessing that the winner would receive Dumballah’s blessing. And still more, I’m not God. Neither of us are. Who are we to create something new? How can we be trusted to wield that power responsibly?”
“That’s what the Trials will do—it will reveal a wise victor. Someone who will choose a blessing for the benefit of us all. Marie Laveau made the firmament—which has protected Vilokan for almost two centuries.”
“And the second victor. Who won the Trials when the Baron disappeared?”
Mikah smiled widely. “The victor was from College Samedi. He gave Brigitte the power to govern the underworld as the Baron had before, the power to bestow the aspect of the green Ghede. It’s the whole reason the college was able to continue.”
“So both previous victors used Dumballah’s blessing to protect… to save Vilokan, to preserve the Academy.”
Mikah nodded.
If I won, I’d give Pauli his body back, I told Isabelle.
“If Annabelle only had one choice, one wish or blessing, she’d think about her friend first. Not Vilokan.”
“I understand that,” Mikah said. “Which is why I cannot compete. If I only had one choice, one blessing, you’re right. I’d bring back my father. I am not the High Hougan that the times demand.”
“It has to be one of us,” Isabelle said. “We are the only two students Oggie has. He’s graduated the rest.”
Mikah cringed. “I ha
te that he did that. He graduates the students not when they’ve mastered the art but when he has given up on them. When he thinks he can do nothing more to help them grow in his aspect.”
Isabelle peeled another crawdad and popped it into our mouth before chucking the shell into a bucket on the edge of the table. “You’re the senior student, so it’s going to end up being you. If you don’t trust that you’d use Dumballah’s blessing wisely, then don’t win.”
Mikah laughed. “I suppose I could do that. Goes against my nature, you know.”
“You’re a competitor.”
“I used to be a sprinter,” Mikah said.
“Seriously?” Isabelle asked. “How didn’t I know that about you?”
“For the Ethiopian Olympic team. I didn’t win any medals or anything.”
“But you were in the games? That’s huge!” Isabelle exclaimed.
“It isn’t my greatest accomplishment.”
I felt my left eyebrow rise. Mikah chuckled.
“You are my greatest accomplishment.”
I made gagging sounds in our head, loud enough to make sure Isabelle could hear. First, the girl should reject the idea that she’s some guy’s accomplishment. Something to conquer. To win. But based on the warmth I felt flush across our cheeks, she somehow found the idea sweet. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected much more from a girl who likes rom-coms.
“I think if you won, you’d make the right choice,” Isabelle said.
“I was trying to change the subject.” Mikah laughed. “I thought I’d succeeded!”
Isabelle giggled. “You did. And I’m not going to say anything more about it. But I just wanted you to know. I believe in you.”
Mikah smiled and leaned in.
Oh shit, I thought. Here comes a crawdad kiss…
Somehow, it still tasted like cherry chapstick.
Chapter Five
I’d rinsed my mouth with Listerine seven times since Isabelle’s date with Mikah the night before. Cherry chapstick mixed with seafood… I dare you to think of a combination worse than that.
If I ever kissed Oggie—not saying it was going to happen—at least I knew I’d have a mouthful of wintergreen freshness for the duration of the day. The Loa pops Altoids like it’s bubble wrap—give me a sheet of that shit and my Friday night is made. Once I pop, I can’t stop. Bubble wrap is my crack.
No… not in my crack. That’s what Pauli was trying to do before I shook my leg.
“Hey, what the fuck are you doing?”
“Looked warm,” Pauli said. “I like tight spaces.”
I laughed. “Since when? I thought hairy, pimply spaces were more your style.”
“Pimply? Aw hells no, girl! Pauli gots standards!”
“You might need to lower your standards. You know, on account of being a snake.”
“Why do you think I was trying to sneak up your leg just now?”
I laughed. “I’m your lower standard? Talk about harsh!”
“Pauli don’t play, bitch!”
I just shook my head. He was the only person… er… creature who could ever get away with calling me that. How could arguably the second-worst thing you could call a girl (the c-word is the worst, by far) become so endearing? Only Pauli could pull that one off.
“If you must crawl up there, I won’t stop you.” I playfully winked, fully expecting that he wouldn’t take my invitation seriously.
“I don’t need your pity crack, hoe!”
I smiled widely. “I don’t give pity crack, I have premium grade-A crack.”
“I’m not disputing that! Second only to mine… or what used to be mine, after a good wax and bleach.”
“I really didn’t want that mental picture,” I said as I dragged my brush through my hair, staring at myself in the bathroom mirror. “What are you doing in the girls’ room anyway?”
“I’m not actually sure if my body is male or female boa. I can’t find my parts anywhere.”
“Well, we’re heading up to the surface for Erzulie’s announcement. Apparently the competitors for the Trials have been chosen. When we get up there, I’ll ask Siri how to tell the gender of a snake.”
Ashley and I stopped by the kennel on the way out to give Letty a little love. Now that pretty much everyone at the Academy knew about Isabelle, I also figured it wouldn’t do her any harm to project. It wasn’t something Isabelle did often. Since I was the only human who could see her, it just wasn’t worth the effort I suppose. But since Letty could see her and would actually play with her, it was something that both she and the dog thoroughly enjoyed.
They had a pea-gravel courtyard where the dogs could run. Most of the time they roamed free—the ones who could play nice with others.
“Any idea who’ll be representing College Erzulie?” I asked Ashley as Letty jumped directly through Isabelle’s translucent form.
Ashley scratched her head. “Well, I sure hope no one nominated me. I could count on one hand the number of sessions I’ve had with Erzulie since starting here. She’s just too busy.”
“Well, being headmistress is a big job,” I said.
“And having multiple husbands and lovers can’t help either,” Ashley said, shaking her head. “I’m like a fish out of water here, you know. Not that I don’t appreciate the opportunity.”
“We’re both a bit out of place, honestly. I mean, I’m getting plenty of training with Oggie and Mikah. But aside from them and our fellow first-years, I’m something of a pariah to everyone else.”
“Such bullshit,” Ashley said. “If it wasn’t for you, what would they have ever done about Kalfu? He had a hold on Legba before you ever arrived.”
I sighed. “Well, not everyone sees it that way, I guess.”
“Doesn’t matter what they think.”
“Not saying it does. But it’s probably why neither of us will be selected to compete. Besides, I think we’re safe. We both have students senior to us in our colleges who will be chosen by default.”
“Thank God for that,” Ashley said. “I mean, can you imagine? One of us being the High Mambo?”
“Look, even if we were nominated, which we won’t be, we’d have to win. Can’t win if you don’t try.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Ashley said as Letty ran in circles. “I really wish I could see her. Letty just looks like she’s going crazy out there.”
I smiled. “Probably have to break up their fun. Don’t want to be late for the big ceremony. Besides, Pauli’s outside waiting for us on a lamppost.”
“I suppose he can’t exactly climb a thousand stairs out of Vilokan on account of not having legs.”
I laughed. “Yeah, legs help with that. The dude can climb up my leg like it’s nothing, but a flight of stairs? It would take him all day, and then he’d bitch at me about it all night.”
“You feel responsible for him, don’t you? That’s why you let him tag along like he’s your pet.”
I nodded. “If it wasn’t for me, Pauli never would have gotten possessed by Kalfu to begin with. Funny thing is, everyone else here hates me without good reason. He actually does have reason to be angry with me. But he doesn’t hold a grudge. Isabelle told me she thinks he’s in love with me.” I laughed out loud.
“He could be.”
“He’s gay, Ashely.”
“So? We’re talking about love. Even if it isn’t romantic, it can still be love of a sort.”
“But she said he’s in love with me… that’s just absurd.”
Ashley shook her head. “Not necessarily. Love is complicated. Who is anyone to say that physical attraction is the foundation for it? Maybe it’s more like a perk.”
“Well even if he is, he’s a snake. I don’t date snakes.”
“You only date snakes, Annabelle.”
I laughed. “I guess my track record with boys isn’t exactly stellar.”
We dropped Letty off in her room, and Isabelle dissipated, returning to the confines of my mind.
You guy
s ready? I can’t wait to find out… Mikah’s so nervous!
I smiled. “He is, isn’t he. Well let’s go snag Pauli and get out of here.”
Why didn’t he just come play?
“Seriously, Isabelle? He’s a snake. Dogs don’t play nice with snakes.”
I suppose that’s true!
As we made our way out of the kennel, I looked around for Pauli and then, in an instant, I felt about forty pounds hanging on my neck.
“Check it out!” Pauli said. “I figured it out!”
Another streak of rainbow light went from my shoulders to Ashley’s. Once she realized Pauli was on her, she screamed like a jet engine.
I covered my laugh with my hand. “That’s awesome, Pauli! You do still have Aida-Wedo’s aspect!”
“The snake had it all along, before I inhabited it. Kalfu still has the aspect I had. But now I figured out how to access it!”
“So you don’t need a ride up the stairs anymore, right?”
Pauli zapped himself back over to my shoulders. “I don’t need it, but why not? For old times’ sake?”
“Old times? It’s been less than a week since I even learned you’d become a snake!”
Chapter Six
The whole cathedral was abuzz with chatter, everyone trying to wager a guess at who’d been nominated. It wasn’t that hard to figure out. I mean, who was going to nominate a first-year? Every college had a full class of second-years. All except Ogoun had third-years. After that, it varied from class to class. Some would graduate after three years, while some would stay as long as seven. It just depended on how well they’d progressed. Only Oggie, it seemed, graduated his initiates quickly.
The cathedral was full of more than just students. It looked like all of Vilokan—and a whole host of vodouisants from around the world—had come to witness the Trials. The first few rows of pews, however, were reserved for the student body.
Death Rites Page 3
