by Sable Hunter
“He’ll be fine. Those kids love animals.”
* * * *
Zak followed, a little further back, not wanting to interfere. He had felt the big man’s reticence to his presence and he didn’t relish an actual confrontation, so he hung back. But Evangeline would have none of it, she deposited the two ebony cats on the ground, took Eric’s hand in one of her own and then reached for Zak with the other. “Come on, this is a happy time. Let’s go see Nanette. You’ll like her, Zak, and she’s going to love you.”
* * * *
The previous night’s gunshot had seemingly left her mind, but it hadn’t left Eric’s. His eyes darted to the left and to the right. Whoever had shot at them in Austin, undoubtedly knew they had gone to New Orleans. That was a warning shot, that’s all it could have been. Whoever had ordered that display wanted them to know the game was on. Undoubtedly, Zak’s escape had been discovered and all hell was about to break loose. If Zak was right about Duvalier’s drug and organized crime activities, then this was not going to be a cake-walk. These people were going to be as serious as a heart attack. He hurried Evangeline up the driveway and on to the big, wide white verandah.
As they stood on the porch and waited for someone to open the door, Eric’s mind was moving a mile a minute. Everything was fitting together like some macabre jig-saw puzzle. Since Zak had verified that Clark Laurence was part of Aimee’s kidnapping, it wasn’t hard for Eric to begin to see the whole picture. Duvalier and his cohorts not only wanted to keep Aimee and retrieve Zak—they would go to great lengths to do so.
The stained glass panels on either side of the door shone like jewels in the early morning sun. They had driven all night and Evangeline had spoke with the rest of the family only to learn that the congressman and his wife were flying out in his private jet and bringing Elizabeth and the detective with them. Undoubtedly, they had already arrived. He hadn’t stopped to think about it, or they could have all come together. Eric had panicked when he had realized how much danger Evangeline was in.
The front door opened and Nanette held her arms out to Evangeline. “Oh, baby, your mama is alive!” As soon as they were through the wide French doors, Nanette began making them welcome. She was so happy! Evangeline had not realized how much she had missed the house on Constance Street until she was back in it.
“Everyone else is already here. How are you holding up, baby?” Nanette searched her granddaughter’s face.
“I’m fine, more than fine—actually. Grandmother, this is Zak. He has been with mother for the past four years. They have kept each other sane and Zak tells me that she has become like a mother to him.
“Yes, so I’ve heard.” Nanette was being a bit on the mysterious side. They settled in around Nanette’s huge dining table. Eric was comforted knowing that Garrison and the congressman were there. As soon as he could get them to one side, he had some ideas about getting some official help from the police and whatever other connections that they could garner.
But Angelique had a definite surprise, one that made Nanette sit down and cover the bottom of her face with a lace handkerchief. “We had a visitor last night.” At her words, Nanette broke down in tears. Everyone rose to their feet. The girls could not remember the last time Nanette had cried.
“Mother, you have me blocked—what in the world is wrong—besides the obvious?”
Quickly regaining her composure, she looked at Elizabeth. “I have no idea what you are talking about—but your daddy came to see us last night.”
Eric looked around, just as interested in everyone’s reaction as he was in the wild news that a dead man had paid a visit to the house he was now sitting in.
Elizabeth was visibly moved, “Why am I not picking anything up? Daddy came, why now?”
* * * *
At Elizabeth’s words, Angelique got a funny look on her face. The last time Elizabeth’s psychic powers wierded out, she had been pregnant with Arabella. Angelique smiled a small smile, now was not the time for that type of revelation—but soon.
“He said he couldn’t come before. If he had told us the truth about Aimee’s being alive and how to find her, it would not have worked out with Zak. Alcee was not specific, he said he couldn’t be, but Zak being safe and being a part of our family is meant to be and very important to the family in the long run.”
“Well, then he can tell us where Aimee is now.” Eric stated what he thought was obvious. He was managing to keep his uncertainty about Zak at bay, especially since Evangeline had not let go of his hand since they arrived. She had gone above and beyond trying to insure that he felt loved, desired, and important.
“Unfortunately, no. Since Duvalier came to New Orleans, a magical barrier has been put into place and the only thing that’s going to crack it is some serious magic of our own.” Nanette breathed heavily.
“So, that’s what we are going to do. But we need seven to do it.” Elizabeth looked around the room. “I wish Philippe was here. Not everyone in the circle has to be magical, but they need some magical connection. Jade has his medicine woman grandmother and then there are the four of us and Zak—that makes six.”
“Eric can do it.” Evangeline spoke up unexpectedly.
“What? I really must be slipping, how did I miss this?” Elizabeth was surprised.
“His mother was an Appalachian healer. From what I‘ve gathered from our conversations, she was into Granny Magic—Tennessee-style.” Evangeline spoke with not a small amount of pride in her voice.
“I knew I liked you.” Nanette smiled at Eric.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. What can I do?” Eric was willing to do whatever it took to find Evangeline’s mom, but he had no idea what they were asking.
“We need seven to make the power circle. Once we have that sacred space, we can use it to do our magic that will break the barrier Black Eddie has erected. If we can do that, then we can use other magical means to locate her—such as a map and pendulum or a scrying bowl. Seven is a powerful number, but each person in the circle must have a magical liaison with someone who has gone before who can aid and protect.” Arabella explained, squirming in her seat. Jade rubbed her back, eyeing her with concern. Everyone knew the baby was due any time now, and her husband was worried about her. He got up to go to the kitchen to get her some water and Eric followed, motioning to Tyler. Evangeline reluctantly relinquished his hand and he winked at her letting her know all was well.
“I’m glad you’re here, McAllister.” Garrison would consider the big man a formidable ally.
“Me, too. Did Elizabeth tell you that somebody took a shot at Evangeline last night?”
“Are you sure it was at Evangeline?”
“Yea, since Cammack is behind bars—I think I’m off anybody’s hit list.”
“Well, that’s a relief—one crisis at a time—if I had my way.”
“I wanted to ask you about back-up. Do you have any New Orleans allies?”
“Already taken care of, they’re just waiting for my call.”
“How about the Congressman—can he gather us up any help?”
“How does the Louisiana National Guard sound?” Jade walked up behind them.
“Wow, I’m impressed.”
“So was I.” Tyler laughed. “It pays to have a powerful politician in the family.
“Now, if we just knew where to look.” Eric sighed.
“That’s their area of expertise.” Tyler nodded off toward the women. “And yours too, I take it.”
“Hey, I just do what I’m told.”
“That sounds familiar,” Jade agreed. He had taken Arabella her water and returned, handing a beer to the two guys.
“I can relate to that.” Garrison laughed, “I know what it’s like to be loved by one of the Romee witches.”
“Best job of my life.” Eric stated and the other men lifted their drinks in agreement.
* * * *
“I saw the dead leaving the city before Katrina hit.” Angelique
spoke soberly and softly.
“What do you mean?” Zak was intrigued.
“They knew what was coming and they vacated the cemeteries before the flood waters came. I saw them literally walking down the levees, suitcases in hand.”
“I wonder what was in the suitcases?” Eric asked. Evangeline punched him playfully in the ribs. “What? Is that question in bad taste?”
“Not at all.” Angelique answered. “But I have no answer for you; I just know what I saw.” She wasn’t through with her creepy tales. “Did you know that there are some that say Katrina was caused by a voodoo war, and Black Eddie’s name is right in the middle of it?”
“Do you believe that?” Garrison asked Angelique, and he wasn’t being sarcastic.
“I didn’t at first, but I’ve heard things since then. An immense amount of negative energy has been invoked and I don’t doubt there are those with the power that would do such a heinous thing, just to wrest control of the crime community. And how about the BP oil spill and the river flooding, we don’t recover from one disaster until another one strikes.”
“After I’ve seen what your family can do for good, it only makes sense that there are those with equal power who are willing to use it for evil.” Eric said flatly.
“Ah, a believer.” Elizabeth gazed fondly at what she considered to be her nephew. “You’re definitely a keeper.” Those words made Eric feel good.
“So, when are you all going to get on with the circle-casting business, I’m ready,” Tyler asked, getting into the spirit of things.
Nanette leaned back in her chair and drew a deep, heavy breath. “We have to wait for the right hour, and by my calculations, that is just before sunrise in the morning. So, I am asking everyone to go to their rooms and try to get some rest.”
* * * *
As soon as she shut the door to what used to be her bedroom, Evangeline turned to him and asked. “Will you make love to me Eric?”
He had been taking in the room, but at her words, he turned to look at her and was astounded to see there were tears in her eyes. In one movement, she was in his arms. He held her close, “Why are you crying?”
“I’m afraid that something will go wrong and this may be out last time together.”
“Oh, baby. I’ll take care of you. Now and then.” Eric carefully undressed her as if he were unwrapping a priceless, precious gift. Evangeline watched the evidence of love, desire and unadulterated need transverse his features.
“Undress, Eric. I want to look at you.” He didn’t take the same care or leisurely pace with his own clothes, but tore them off and threw them off the side of the bed. She sat up in the bed and ran her hands over his body, exactly the way she had done with the sculptures. “You are so beautiful. I remember when I first saw your precious face in the darkness of the mirror. I fell in love with you at that moment. You weren’t some random good-looking guy, I had asked to see the likeness of my beloved, my destiny—and there you were. And it happened so fast, one moment, we were strangers and the next we were in each other’s arms. Did we move too fast, love? Do you have any regrets?”
“Not a one.” His voice choked with emotion.
“Well then, come to me, let me hold you.” She held out her arms and he lay down with her.
“How can I make you happy, how do you want to be loved?” he asked her tenderly.
“I love everything you do to me, but I have three favorite things.” She smiled into his eyes.
“What are they—or shall I guess?” He nuzzled her neck, nipping at it with gentle teeth.
“My most favorite thing encompasses it all, and that’s you inside of me. Only then, during those moments when we are connected in that way, am I complete.”
“I agree and your words are making him homesick.” He pushed his erection against her thigh. “Tell me more, before I go mad.”
“The second is your mouth on my breasts.” At this not so new news, a low growl of sexual awareness erupted from his throat and his lips closed over the nipple that was nearest to his face. He pulled it deep into his mouth and began sucking on it, knowing that every sensuous pull he gave to the highly sensitive nub brought her extreme pleasure and awakened answering sensations deep in her feminine center.
The welcome attention to her breast almost took Evangeline’s breath away, but she found the strength to keep talking. “My favorite position, as I’m sure you can guess, is you on top. I can look in your face when you come, and I adore the full body contact and the ultimate thrill of your possession. Will you do that for me, Eric?” She had no doubt he would comply, but he did something unexpected.
“I will gladly fulfill your every desire, my love. But first—let me tell you my three favorite things.” He pulled away from her body and sat next to her, his hips even with her knees. She watched him, waiting expectantly to see what he would do. “My first is the same as your first; being inside of you is like discovering the true meaning of life—absolute contentment.” Running a hand from her ankle to her knee, he spread her legs. “But where your second is my mouth on your breasts, my second is my lips curved around your pink pearl.” Evangeline’s hips lifted involuntarily as his hand moved from her knee up to her quivering inner thigh. “Looking at you—let me tell you what I see. You are swollen with desire—for me. Your beautiful pink folds are glistening wet—for me.” He dipped a finger into her tight channel and she tightened her muscles around it, begging to be filled. Repositioning himself, he knelt on the floor and pulled her over to the side. Spreading her legs even wider, he lowered his head so that his tongue could lave a path from the tight, hot channel that hungered to be filled, to the plump clit that peeked out from beneath its hood, seeking attention.
“Ahhh, Eric! More! More!” Evangeline’s hips bucked and he held her down. His tongue repeated the same mind-blowing action over and over again—licking, twirling, feasting on the succulent pink flesh.
“That’s it, babe. Come for me.” Pulling the little pearl into his mouth, he gently pushed two fingers deep inside of her, pushing them in and out as he twirled his tongue round and round her sweet spot. She let herself go, allowing the celestial winds of ecstasy to lift her up and out of herself. But still Eric continued the sensual assault. Even as she came off one high, he pushed for a second. At first, she tried to push him away—the nerve-endings he was manipulating were just too highly charged. But he did not bend to her will; instead he intensified the pressure of his tongue, lapping up the cream of her orgasm. Two fingers were replaced by three and he alternated the assault by his tongue with tiny nibbles on the lips of her labia and all around the protruding bud of her desire.
“I don’t know if I can stand any more, Eric,” she pleaded. He didn’t take time to reason with her, he devoured her. The intensity of his arousal and the fierceness of his hunger continued to surprise Evangeline. Her second climax was twice as hard and Evangeline thought she would actually pass out from the sheer, overpowering, head to toe spasms that shook her body. And Eric acted like a man possessed; no sooner had he brought her to the second powerful climax, that he pushed himself up her body and began feasting at her breasts as if he were starving and they were the only sustenance in the universe.
Evangeline was completely out of her mind with pleasure. She held on to him, her hands rubbing his back, his shoulders, his neck. She feverishly kissed the top of his head and she mindlessly ran the soles of her feet up and down his muscular legs. Finally, Eric gave them both what they needed. He slid upward and into her. Ragged sighs of relief escaped their lips. Evangeline relished every pull and draw of his dominating possession. In and out. In and out. Their world condensed down to that age old rhythm, of in and out.
“I’m trying to last, but you’ve got me too excited. Going down on you plays havoc with my staying power.” He pounded into her, loving the feel of her pussy caressing his cock. “Sorry, babe. I’m too far gone, I can’t wait any longer.”
“Harder, Eric! Faster!” Evangeline knew that hearin
g those words would send him over the precipice, but when he complied with her directive; the pumping, thrusting, ramming, jack-hammer movements of his rock-hard cock jettisoned her over the cliff with him. Their cries of mutual satisfaction lingered in the air as Eric shifted to one side and cupped her to him. “You never did tell me what your third favorite thing was,” Evangeline whispered as she reverently kissed the palm of his hand.
“We’ll save that till next time, love.” His assurance of their future allayed her fears and she slept peacefully in his arms until the time came to breach the wall of evil that hid Aimee from their sight.
* * * *
It was time to make the donuts. All of the furniture had been taken out of the big dining area except for a small round end table that sat in the center of the circle. It held the candles and other items necessary for the spell. Nanette had instructed everyone to bathe and cleanse themselves before the time came for the ritual. Angelique had readied the room itself by burning sage and letting the smoke enter every nook and cranny of the location. Elizabeth had further cleansed the room by sweeping it with a broom made from sassafras. Eric didn’t say anything, but he thought it odd that the bristles of the broom never touched the ground. Symbolic, he supposed.
No one put on any special clothes and there was no wand in sight. But magick indeed was afoot; the very air tingled with its electrifying presence. “Let’s begin.” Nanette instructed. They stood in the circle; it was him, Evangeline, Zak, Arabella, Jade, Elizabeth, Angelique and immediately to Eric’s left, Nanette. Elizabeth took the lead by stepping in back of the circle and clockwise behind them. As she walked she spread a line of salt. “I cast this circle in perfect love and perfect trust—a place of protection and power.”
As she neared the place where she began; Arabella stepped back and followed the same path, sprinkling spring water over the purifying salt. “I cast this circle in perfect love and perfect trust—a place of protection and power.” As soon as she completed her walk, Evangeline stepped out with a tall, white pillar candle and followed in the footsteps of her family. She reiterated the same words. Eric realized they had done this before—many times.
