“I knew she’d send someone. I’ve been expecting you. I even brought an extra donut.” He said and pushed a small paper plate with a second chocolate donut on it across the desk.
Before Belladonna could say anything, Joe got up and left the office. She started to get up too, but he was back in a flash. In his hand was a bottle of Diet Coke. He put the soda down next to the donut and took his seat.
“You were expecting me?” She asked skeptically.
“I had a feeling.”
She wanted to turn him down, but Belladonna had to admit that she was hungry. The donut smelled really fresh and chocolatey, and that helped her relax a little. Now she was confused as to whether she should do Sister Oshun’s business, or ask Joe for help. The two opposing goals were like alley cats fighting in her head.
“Why don’t you ask me what you want first?” He said as if he could read her thoughts. “I’m not going to tell Sister Oshun on you” His smile was warm and yet still mischievous.
“Alright,” Belladonna said and swallowed. “I’ve forgotten something. I’ve lost something in my mind that’s important. It’s like someone tried to erase it, but whatever it is won’t stop trying to claw it’s way back into my consciousness.”
“Oh, hello Chief Carmichael,” Joe said and pushed another donut he had hidden behind his monitor across the desk. “I was expecting you.”
He pulled a coffee in a to-go cup out from behind the monitor as well and set it next to the donut he’d saved for Ben. Joe motioned towards the other worn plastic chair next to Belladonna and waited for Ben to take a seat.
Belladonna looked at Ben, and she felt a flicker of what she’d been missing. Judging by the twinkle in his eyes, Ben felt the same thing. The two of them reached out to take each other’s hands as they had done hundreds of times before.
“Well, now that clears things up a bit,” Joe said.
Belladonna and Ben were startled out of their romantic stupor. Their hands still found each other, but they turned to look at Joe. Both of them used their other hand to grab their donuts and start munching away happily.
“I’m glad you two remember. It makes things much easier.” Joe said and took the last bite of his donut. “Now, for the part that’s not so fun. You can’t let on that you know. Sister Oshun still has to believe that her spell is working. In public, the two of you will have to act as if you despise each other.”
“Why? Why can’t we just present a united front. We can let her know that she can’t mess with us.” Ben said.
“Because once she figures out that your bond is too strong to break, she’ll try to find another relationship to exploit,” Joe said gravely. “She’ll go after your friends and family. The thing inside Sister Oshun will torture everyone you love to get to you.”
“The thing inside her?” Belladonna asked.
Joe told Belladonna and Ben the story of Sister Oshun and Reverend Midnight. He told them what he could remember about his parents trying to help them and what he’d pieced together from his father’s things in the attic.
“So, we can still save them?” Belladonna asked.
“Indeed. If anyone can save them, I think it’s you.” Joe said.
Belladonna felt Ben squeeze her hand. She wanted to turn to him and apologize for everything, but she could feel in his touch that he already understood. They were able to share one quick kiss before they left separately and went about their day pretending to still despise each other.
That afternoon at the Big Buns Bakery, something unexpected happened. Zoe showed up for work. Jessie wasn’t sure who would be able to get in and out of Winterfield, but she was pleased to see that her afternoon assistant had arrived.
“What?” Zoe asked when she noticed that Jessie had been staring at her. “Is there something on my clothes? Does my hair look weird?”
“No, sorry. I just wasn’t sure if you’d make it in today.” Jessie said and set the tray of cupcakes she carried down on the counter.
“I’ve never missed work since you hired me, Boss.” Zoe came around behind the counter and grabbed her favorite apron.
She tied the strings around her waist and smoothed the black fabric down. Jessie had it made especially for Zoe when she saw one of the girl’s school folders. The fabric had a similar pattern of red kissy lips all over the dark background.
“And, I appreciate it,” Jessie said with a smile. “Now, I’ve got to get to the back and stuff some fig pockets. Can you put these cupcakes in the front case?”
When Zoe was done putting the cakes in the display, she stood up to find a woman she’d never seen before standing at the counter. The woman was tall and slim with a dark complexion that was accentuated by the soft pink fabric of her dress.
“Hello, how can I help you?” Zoe asked.
“Just a chicory coffee, Sugar.” The woman said. “I could smell it from outside, and I had to come and get some.”
“Would you like a beignet too?”
“No thanks, Sunshine.” The woman’s smile was almost too sweet.
“Are you sure? They are exquisite. I’ll give you one on the house with the coffee. Or, maybe you’d like to try on of today’s cupcakes? It’s butter cake with blueberry cream frosting.”
A strange look came over the woman’s face, and she threw her money down on the counter and left the store in a hurry. Zoe was a bit stunned by the behavior, but all she could do was put the money in the cash register and shake off the feeling of dread that came over her when the woman’s face changed.
“What was that all about?” Jessie asked as she set another tray down. “Oh and look, I felt inspired when you showed up, so I made some fig and walnut tarts.
“Those look delicious,” Zoe said and leaned over to smell the freshly baked tartlets. “That woman came in and ordered a coffee. I offered her a free beignet and told her about our special cupcake of the day. She got a really weird look on her face, threw her money down and then took off.”
“What did she look like?” Jessie asked while she lined up the tarts in the display case. “Was it someone we know?”
Zoe described the woman to Jessie, and now it was the elf’s turn to get a weird look on her face. She made sure that Zoe was okay handling the front of the store and headed into the back to call Belladonna.
For a moment, she was surprised when Bella blew her off, but then she remembered that the witch was hexed. Jessie’s next call was to Murielle.
“I’ll come right over. I want a cupcake anyway.” Murielle said when Jessie told her what happened.
“Don’t you have to run the library now that you’re Head Librarian?”
“Eh. It’ll be fine. It’s a library. Not much can happen, and besides, I’ve got my community volunteers here today.”
It wasn’t like Murielle to shirk her responsibilities so soon after her promotion, but then Jessie remembered that the Voodoo Queen’s spell had made her friend more irresponsible.
While she waited for Murielle to walk over to the bakery, Jessie tried to get more information about the exchange from Zoe. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much more to it.
“Everything was fine, and then it was like she saw a ghost or something. Her entire demeanor changed, and she took off. Zoe said as she steamed some milk for a hot cocoa she was preparing for Murielle’s arrival.
After Muri showed up, she and Jessie sat at a table in the corner of the bakery near the window. They both had a hot drink and a pastry while they talked.
“Do you think it was Zoe?” Murielle asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think something about Zoe scared her off. Like something she didn’t realize until she’d been in here for a bit.”
“I don’t know,” Jessie said. “I don’t know what about Zoe would scare off a Voodoo priestess.”
“Well, is she different, or is she ordinary. Zoe lives in New Salem, but that doesn’t mean she’s normal. Some paranormals live out in the world too.” Muri took a sip of her cocoa. “She certa
inly does make an inspired cup of cocoa.”
“Well, she’s not an elf. I don’t think she’s a witch, and honestly, if she is paranormal, I doubt she knows it.” Jessie said with a sigh.
“Why do you say that?”
Ten
Sister Oshun hurried out of the bakery. At first, she hadn’t picked up on the girl’s nature, but then it hit her. The young woman who’d sold her the coffee was a paranormal she hadn’t planned for when she arrived in Winterfield.
In fact, no paranormal of that type lived in Winterfield. She’d checked the town very carefully. Zoe, she’d heard the girl called that name, must be an outsider who was capable of walking right through the demon’s use of Voodoo.
There was only one thing that could combat that type of enchantment. But, dark magic was banished. There was also possession, but the entity needed to keep using Sister Oshun. If she requested backup, the bosses down below would get wind of what she was up to.
They wouldn’t like her twisting Voodoo this way without a waiver from a higher up, and they certainly wouldn’t understand why she was risking upsetting the balance for her mate.
There was an astounding level of bureaucracy involved in the demons’ work. Forms to be filled out, waiting periods, and so much red tape that you could cover the earth seven times over. If people knew how tedious the application for even a single temptation, they wouldn’t think that demons were very scary anymore.
They were more like government workers trapped for all time and eternity in the universe’s most boring desk job. The times that they were allowed out of their cubicles down below to torment the humans were so few and far between. The entity inside Sister Oshun knew that if she was found out, she’d be rubber stamping applications in a dreary basement forever.
And if they figured out that she loved another entity, they’d probably send her upstairs. She’s heard awful things about that place. No part of her, not that she would admit to anyway, wanted anything to do with all of the singing, celebration, and jubilation of the place upstairs.
Disgusting.
No, she was a real demon, and she’d resume her proper evil duties once she had her mate back safe and sound. She’d heard rumors that another witch around these parts was trying to bring back dark magic, but she wasn’t tempted to help.
That would be an administrative nightmare if it ever came to pass. The human witch, Lexi, hadn’t filled out any of the necessary paperwork to undergo a project like that. As far as the entity knew, this Lexi character wasn’t even working with a demon.
If she was, she’d know a little more about the application process. That application would undoubtedly be rejected, though, as there were treaties and contracts in place that govern such matters.
The entity inside Sister Oshun wasn’t ranked high enough to have ever sat in on a meeting about the Lexi issue, but she’d heard rumors that the witch was making waves down below. There was much debate as to whether they should eliminate or recruit her.
Sister Oshun sat on a park bench in the middle of the town square and quietly watched a few people come and go. She sipped her coffee and wished to go home. This little town was altogether too pleasant for her taste.
Not to mention she could feel the real Sister Oshun deep down inside trying to get out. That’s all the entity needed was for her to find a way to reach out to one of these witches or that girl in the bakery for help.
And speaking of the girl in the bakery, her boss was dangerous too. Those elves were full of light and had very close relations to the angels. They exuded so much happiness and cheer that it made Oshun shudder with disgust.
But, then again, she felt drawn to them. They didn’t have cupcakes down below, and they weren’t something she ran across as often in the Bayou. She found herself fighting the urge to go back and get one. Just a taste couldn’t hurt, right? After all, sugar could corrupt people too.
She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts. If her bosses found out she’d taken pleasure in anything except human suffering, she’d be sent to the pit for reprogramming. Or worse, kicked upstairs. She’d be banished from the only world she could remember.
Still, with the sunlight on her face and a warm cup of coffee in her hand, the entity let her mind wander to whether or not they had cupcakes upstairs. She knew that the angels and human souls up there felt things other than pain and misery. They also experienced the happiness that was born of something other than the suffering of others.
Belladonna clipped away at Mrs. Monroe’s hair with a big, dumb smile on her face. Francine stood almost in the corner looking at Bella as if she’d completely lost her mind.
There was a twinge of guilt in Bella’s stomach because she knew that Francine had to be a little bit scared, but it had to be this way. No one could know that she was aware of the Voodoo Queen’s spell.
She had to find a way to get Sister Oshun’s husband back. Where had he gone? Was he dead? There seemed to be a lot of murders in Winterfield as of late, perhaps Reverend Midnight had fallen victim to a killer. But, who would have killed him besides Joe’s father? That’s when it hit her.
Joe’s father.
She called Ben and told him that she had something she needed to speak with him about right away, but Belladonna pretended like she was talking to Luke. It really wasn’t fun having to act like she hated Ben, but it wouldn’t last much longer if she was correct.
He agreed to meet her at her house that night, but she told him to come around the back way.
“How am I supposed to do that?” Ben asked in a hushed whisper.
“There’s a gate back there.” She said in a tone that tried just a little too hard to sound casual.
“I’ve been back there before with you, and there is no gate.”
“There is. Trust me.”
He did. Sometimes Ben had to remind himself that his future wife could bend reality to her whim. If she said there was a gate along the back fence in her yard, then there would be a gate back there no matter what there had been at any time up until she spoke the words.
It took him a while that night to walk all the way out to the end of her property. Ben had to walk from his house to ensure that no one saw his car parked on her street. Sure enough, at the time they agreed upon, Belladonna was waiting for him at a gate Ben wasn’t quite sure if he’d forgotten or had never seen before.
She let him in and mumbled something. By the time he’d turned around to ask her what she’d said, the gate had disappeared.
“I guess that clears that up.” He said thoughtfully.
“What’s that?”
“I couldn’t remember if the gate was there before or not.”
Before Belladonna could say anything else, Olwen barreled through the yard and almost bulldozed Ben. He hugged her, pet her, and said, “I’m glad to see you too.”
It was good to have his dog act as if she loved him best again. He’d been willing to take a backseat when Olwen started to prefer Belladonna and her family, but he had to admit that it felt good to have her choose him for once.
Belladonna threw him a look that let him know that he needed to keep it down. He gently pushed Olwen down and walked quietly into Bella’s house with his dog trailing behind.
Once they were in the house, Belladonna lit a fire in the fireplace for Sterling and pulled the thick velvet curtains closed. They made some cocoa in the kitchen and then settled into the parlor to talk.
“I have an idea,” Belladonna said after taking a sip. “But, it’s going to sound completely crazy.”
“Sweetie, nothing you say could be crazy,” Ben said with a smile.
“Okay, but hear me out all of the way before you say something,” Belladonna said. “I think that the Voodoo King’s body has something to do with Joe. I don’t know if he’s got the body and he isn’t telling us, or something else. But, I think we need to go ask him. We’ll need to really question him thoroughly. I think his father has something to do with this, and he knows more than
he’s letting on.”
That was when Ben remembered the cemetery. With everything that had happened, he’d never told Belladonna. His memory of the event had faded into the darkest recess of his mind as well.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this. We got into that argument, and then the Voodoo stuff happened.” Ben said and took her hand.
The last thing he wanted was for her to get mad and turn him into a goat. Which is exactly what her Granny Pepper would do in this instance.
“I know it has something to do with Joe and his father, Jerry. I know because I saw Reverend Midnight digging up Jerry Rice’s grave. I got called away for an alleged armed robbery at Joe’s Auto Shop, and when I got back, the grave was back to normal looking undisturbed. For a while, I thought I might have imagined it. I should have told you, and then I forgot.”
“He dug up the grave, and then he disappeared?” Belladonna asked with a comforting squeeze of his hand.
“Yeah, why? What are you thinking?” Ben asked.
“I think we need to dig up that grave.”
Ben was afraid she was going to say that.
Eleven
After getting two shovels out of the garden shed, Ben and Belladonna walked quickly and quietly to the graveyard. They’d waited until the sun went down and when most people were sitting down for dinner to avoid prying eyes. Belladonna also threw on a cloaking spell that she hoped would still work even with Sister Oshun’s Voodoo enchantment reigning over the town.
Fortunately, it worked, and they made it to the Winterfield Cemetery undetected.
“What if someone catches us digging up the grave?” Ben asked. “I’m the Chief of Police now, and I don’t exactly have an official reason to be grave robbing.”
“We’re not grave robbing, Ben. As far as getting caught, all I can say is dig fast.”
So, that’s what they did. The work was much easier than Ben expected, and he suspected that they had a little bit of magical help with the heavy work. He was in decent shape, but Ben knew he was no Hercules.
“It’s love,” Belladonna said.
“What’s that?”
“It’s love that makes us stronger. You and I together are stronger than we are apart.”
Love Hexed Page 5
