Wicked Unveiled

by J. N. Colon

  My teeth clenched, picturing Etie’s stone face when I pleaded in vain. Nothing would change his mind. I’d been anxious all day. I’d nearly chewed a hole in my lip wondering how he would do in close quarters alone with his father for hours.

  A ragged breath slipped out, and I rolled my shoulders. The gwo-bon lyen was really hating the distance between us. Etie hadn’t been gone this long since the day I was attacked by Josie and the blue-mohawk witch, Rafe. I shuddered at the memory of passing out in the car at the mercy of those two.

  Lana’s gaze still hadn’t relented even as Riley pestered her with questions on her new art project. She’d begun making abstract paintings for their dorm room.

  “Is it that fascinating?” I asked, flashing her a wry smile. “It’s just a bunch of swirly black lines.”

  She peered closer, her silky dark hair brushing my arm. “What does the symbol mean?”

  It meant I had a gwo-bon lyen—a soulbind—to a voodoo caster. “Nothing.” Obviously I couldn’t tell her the truth. “We were drinking when we got it, remember?”

  “Right, because you’re such a big drinker.” Her voice oozed with sarcasm.

  “OMG!” Riley’s arms dramatically flailed, spilling drops of iced coffee in front of us. “Angel got a tattoo. Big deal. She’s rebelling.” She nudged my shoulder, shooting a conspiratorial smile. “It was bound to happen.”

  They had no idea.

  The sun had disappeared over the horizon and darkness was quickly spreading through the town square. Soon, summer would have to step aside for cooler weather.

  A knot fisted in my gut. The approaching autumnal equinox was tainted by my new deal with the baron. A little over a month after the first day of fall, Baron Samedi would come calling for his payment again. Either Marisol or I would be forced to answer.

  “Let’s do something different tonight,” Riley said, breaking me out of my gloomy reverie.

  “Like what?” Lana picked up a discarded candy wrapper and tossed it into the trash.

  Riley made a humming sound, her eyes narrowing. “Let’s go to Chickarees.”

  The slender girl beside me let out a barking laugh. “Why do you want to go there?”

  “I want to do something exciting.” Her pink glittery bracelet shimmered in the fading light as she motioned her nearly empty coffee cup toward me. “Angel goes.”

  “It’s not that exciting.” Unless a fight was happening involving Carrefour’s rumored voodoo brothers.

  “I want to see for myself.” Riley pulled us to a stop. “In a few weeks, Lana and I will be gone, and I want to experience all we can before we’re separated for, like, ever.”

  I scoffed. “It’s not forever. I’ll see you during winter break.” Provided I lived that long, and it was safe for them.

  “Yeah, Ri,” Lana said. “We don’t need to experience the seedy atmosphere of Chickarees.”

  Her emerald eyes narrowed. “I bet Bastien’s there.”

  Lana’s cheeks flushed. “So. W-Why would I care?”

  I turned toward the bakery store’s window and chuckled as the two girls began bickering over the oldest Benoit brother. It wasn’t a surprise they both had crushes on him. Bastien was smoking hot, and he was the biggest flirt in Carrefour. You’d have to be dead not to be somewhat attracted to him.

  One of the display desserts inside caught my eye, and I smiled. Etie would love the cherry tart. Tiny bits of sugar glistened on top. I could imagine the moans of happiness coming out of him as he devoured every bite.

  I should get it.

  My nape suddenly prickled. My gaze lifted, catching a middle-aged man’s reflection behind me. He waved as if he knew me.

  I didn’t know him.

  I turned as he walked away.

  My lips puckered. Maybe he was new.

  A cold tingle spread across my skin. Another unfamiliar face appeared amongst the townsfolk. The man was older with white tufts of hair surrounding light blue eyes. A tall, willowy woman with a sleek bob appeared next to Mrs. Perkins, the drug store owner.

  My hand whipped out, grabbing the rotund woman passing by. Her head twisted, her blue eyes wide.

  “What’s wrong, Angel?” Ms. Unrue slipped out of my grasp. “You look like you saw a ghost or something.” Her orange frizzy hair shook as she spoke.

  I jerked my chin toward the woman. “Do you know her?”

  “No. Can’t say I do.” A toothy grin spread over her face, stretching the freckles on her nose. “Maybe we got someone new in town.”

  I swallowed hard as a cold sweat slickened the back of my neck. “What about him?” I pointed out the white-haired man who was pretending to read the paper on the corner.

  Ms. Unrue shook her head.

  I let my barriers thin for just an instant.

  Magic. It was thick in the air. And it wasn’t voodoo. It was Wiccan.

  Dread flooded my gut. There was no doubt in my mind they were witches.

  My father’s words came rushing back to haunt me. I glanced between Riley and Lana who were watching me with mild curiosity. Oh God. They were going to get hurt because of me, because I was too stubborn and hurt to believe my dad.

  I started inching away, my gaze trained on the man whose reflection had been in the window. “I-uh-need to go…” I licked my dry lips, trying to think of an excuse. “My mom wanted me to…” Screw it. I pivoted and darted down the sidewalk, ignoring Riley’s calls.

  My heart slammed against my ribcage, mixing with my ragged breaths. A frantic soundtrack was brewing in my ears. The slap of my flip flops echoed on the concrete as I turned the corner, running down a narrow alley.

  I needed to call Etie.

  I ducked against a brick building and dialed his cell. It went straight to voicemail. Shit. He probably didn’t have reception wherever he was. Perfect.

  An electric tang hit the air. Magic was at work. My entire body trembled against the hard brick. Voices drifted by the opening to the road, and I held my breath. They were after me. What other reason would three unknown witches just pop up in Carrefour?

  I pulled out my phone again to send a quick text to Lucas. If Etie was bothered by me asking him for help, he could kiss my ass. I didn’t have many options right now, and I’d rather ask Lucas than my father.

  As soon as my finger hit the L for Lucas, a jolt of electricity shot through me and into my phone. Sparks ignited, and smoke spiraled.

  Son of a bitch!

  I dropped it, the fried hunk of junk bouncing on the concrete. Great. I ruined another phone. How was I going to get help now?

  I wiped my sweaty palms on my jean shorts. Did I need help? I was a powerful conduit. I’d learned to control my powers—sort of. I could at least protect myself. I hadn’t been magically drugged this time.

  With my mind set, I slipped out of the alley, staying close to the buildings. I was going to be brave and face them myself. I had to draw the witches away from my friends. I couldn’t let them hurt Riley or Lana.

  I slinked down another road as images of the lamppost lights bursting flashed through my mind. I ran this way a few weeks ago when my conduit powers were on the fritz. I’d been two seconds away from shattering the glass door at my mom’s vet office with my mind. I’d ended up in the cemetery instead, creating a magical storm that tore the place apart.

  The cemetery.

  It was my best option. Not many townsfolk hung out with the dead at night.

  I crept inside the wrought iron gate. No one ever bothered locking it. I jogged through the headstones. A small mausoleum came into view, the one holding widow Beauchamp’s late husband and his relatives. The rational part of me was screaming to hide inside. This was not going to be some walk in the park.

  The rest of me said screw it. I wanted to show everyone I wasn’t some weakling who constantly needed saving.

  Would those be my famous last words?

  A hint of magic bled through the air. My pulse spiked. Hiding was no longer an option. A twig snappe
d behind me, and I whirled around, expecting to see the three witches from the street.

  My heart plummeted. I saw them—and five other witches enclosing me in a tight circle.

  Chapter 9

  My eyes darted between the foreign witches, searching for a way out. There wasn’t one. I was screwed.

  “I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.” The woman with a sleek cap of onyx hair stepped forward, licking her lips as if I were a tasty meal. “Imagine my surprise when I felt the swell of magic as we passed through this shithole of a town on our way to New Orleans.”

  Shithole? Really? Carrefour wasn’t exactly some backwoods, Texas Chainsaw Massacre blip on a map.

  “I did an origin spell, and the flame it produced was way too powerful for your average, run-of-the-mill witch.” She twisted a pink crystal dangling from the center of a long necklace. “It had to be a conduit.” She gave a smoky laugh and motioned her long hand toward me. “And here you stand.”

  “Ours for the taking.” A man in his late twenties slipped forward, his eyes drifting between light green and vibrant purple. Shaggy sandy blond hair hung over his ears and brushed his neck. The silvery moonlight glinted on a scar slicing down his chin. “You even led us away from the crowd.”

  “And your friends.” The man with white tuffs of hair gave the other two conspiratorial grins. “How very considerate of you.”

  Acid crawled up my throat, oozing over my tongue. I was so effing stupid to think there were only three of them. I shouldn’t have even entertained the idea of taking one on much less three. Etie was going to kill me if I made it out of this.

  “You should leave before it’s too late.” Ugh. The tremor in my voice made me sound real convincing.

  Sarcasm anyone?

  “Is that right?” The woman’s dark green eyes flashed violet. “Are you going to fight us?” She turned toward the guy with the scar. “The little conduit is going to put up a fight, Ramsey.”

  Ramsey rubbed his hands together. “Let me have a go at her first, Patty.” He blew me a kiss. “She looks so young and innocent.”

  “I mean it.” My fists clenched by my sides. “You’re making a mistake. Another coven has already tried to take my powers. It didn’t end well for them.”

  Ramsey ticked his head to the side, an ominous smile curling his lips. “I’m sure you had help. Others came and rescued you.” He dramatically glanced around. “I don’t see anyone but my coven.” Laughter rumbled through the other seven witches.

  So he was the leader. And the others didn’t fear him like Liseria’s witches had.

  “Conduits aren’t known to be very defensive. The witches in their coven like to keep them from accessing their full power.” He shook his head, feigning sympathy. “It’s sad really. You conduits never grow to your full potential.”

  Obviously these guys had no idea I was connected to a very powerful and dangerous voodoo caster. Accessing my power wasn’t a problem.

  That said, power suddenly perked up, swimming toward the surface. Electricity traveled down my arms, and my eyes burned purple.

  Ramsey whooped. “All right, sweetheart. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  Those conduit receptors rose out, and without thinking, I latched onto Patty.

  “No!” she cried, dropping to her knees. “This little leech.”

  She was kind of right. I was like a leech, sucking up her magic, but I had no intention of keeping it for good. I already had enough inside of me.

  “Shit.” Ramsey’s hand flicked out as he shot an invisible force toward me.

  I threw up a wall, his magic rebounding and doubling back on him. He jumped out of the way, barely dodging the hit. He glanced back at me with wide eyes.

  When I felt like a fat tick bloated off Patty’s power, I yanked those cords back inside. Her magic was erratic and annoying. It bounced around inside me like a hyperactive kid. I wanted to get rid of it pronto.

  Ramsey stood, dusting off his black t-shirt. “That was impressive.”

  “Help me.” Patty slowly climbed to her feet. A trickle of blood ran out of her nose. “The little bitch took my powers.”

  His laughter echoed through the cemetery. “Don’t worry, Patty. She only borrowed them. She’s not even enjoying it.” He motioned toward my grimace. “You seem to irritate her.”

  I’d hate to feel what his magic was like.

  Ramsey sighed and brushed back his blond locks. “Like I said, that was impressive, little girl. But don’t think for a second you can really take us all on.” A shadow descended over the male witch’s face.

  A heavy rock sank to the bottom of my stomach. He was only playing with me. Things were about to take a sharp turn off a jagged cliff.

  “Enough games.” He snapped, and a young woman stepped forward, brandishing a handful of thick metal chains.

  I swallowed hard. What the hell were those for?

  Ramsey took them, and they began to glow a deep crimson.

  My heart lurched. I took a step back, but there was nowhere to run.

  He ticked his head toward me. “Get her.”

  Five witches lunged forward, and a wall of magic struck me. I crashed to the ground so hard the wind was knocked from my lungs.

  Oh hell. I was in deep doo.

  A groan tumbled out as I grabbed my chest, trying to breathe. When my vision cleared, Ramsey stood above me, brandishing the glowing chains. “We can do this the hard way or the easy way.”

  “I usually end up doing things the hard way,” I rasped. Those chains looked like something straight out of hell.

  He chuckled. “It seems I’m dealing with a conduit who’s gotten too big for her britches.” His knees bent, bringing him closer. His breath reeked of cigarettes and beer. “And if you continue this sad attempt to fight back, I’ll go find that giggly redhead and your other cute friend and wrap these chains around their necks.”

  Every ounce of blood drained from my face. My cheeks felt colder than his eyes. I was frozen.

  A sneer curled his lips. “That’s what I thought.” He brought the chains toward my wrists.

  Fire sliced across the delicate skin, and a scream tore from my mouth. Patty’s powers quickly drained away.

  And then the pain was gone. And so was Ramsey.

  I rolled into a sitting position just in time to see him land flat on his back, smacking his head on a tombstone.

  “You picked the wrong conduit to take. Trust me.” A familiar blue mohawk shone under the moonlight.

  Rafe.

  He glanced over his shoulder, winking one vivid purple eye. “Hello, darling.”

  What the hell was he doing here? Last time I saw him, he magic-roofied me and tossed me to Liseria. When Etie arrived to save my pathetic ass, the witch had hightailed it out of there.

  Did he come to suck me dry himself?

  Ramsey scrambled up, a purple energy ball forming in his palm. “She’s mine. We found her fair and square.”

  “She ain’t his or yours.” The smooth voice of Mama CeCe proceeded her shapely form through the shadows.

  Patty shot the newcomer a sneer. “This isn’t your business, voodoo caster.”

  Her laughter was anything but humorous. “In case you didn’t know what that mark on the little cher’s neck is, I’ll tell you.” She pointed a long finger at my toujou. “That means she’s protected by voodoo.”

  Rafe crossed his arms against his chest, bunching up his already sizable biceps. He was almost as buff as Etie. “You really don’t want to mess with the caster that gave her that. He’d eat you for dinner and then hunt down your family for dessert.” He gave a slow, crocodile smile, the silver piercing in his lip shining. “And he loves his sweets.”

  Technically, that was true.

  Mama CeCe crossed the cemetery, planting herself next to Rafe and further blocking me from the witches. “You all better get now. I’m not one to be trifled with either.”

  Ramsey’s nostrils fl
ared, and he took a step forward.

  “Don’t test me, witch!” Mama CeCe hissed, pure, hot power leaking through the atmosphere. “Glise.” Rattling echoed, and the grass moved around Ramsey as if invisible snakes were encircling him.

  He eyed the ground, trying to stomp on the phantom creatures. Something hissed, and he fell. His shirt bunched and twisted as the unseen snakes coiled around him.

  “Desino!” He repeated the spell over and over, but Mama CeCe’s serpents continued to hold him down.

  “Assez.” She flicked her hand, and Ramsey stopped writhing on the ground. “That ain’t nothing. I got plenty more, witch.”

  Ramsey scrambled to his feet, his hair sticking to his pale, sweaty face. He wiped his hand across his forehead, casting a glance at the other witches in his coven. “Let’s go,” he choked out. “She’s too much trouble.” He tried to peek at me, but Rafe moved closer, blocking his view. “She’s probably all show anyway. Not much power in her.”

  That was so far from the truth it was laughable. Sometimes power was all I felt inside me.

  Without another word, the witches peeled off, disappearing into the shadows. Just as my pulse began to slow, Rafe turned around, offering his hand.

  “Come on, bruja. Let me help you up.” He winked.

  Mama CeCe spun around, looking as if she were the cat that caught the canary. And I was the canary.

  I ignored Rafe’s offer of help and crawled to my feet a little less gracefully than I had planned. One of my flip flops flew off, smacking his shin. If only I’d been wearing hard, wooden ones, it might have at least caused the witch pain.

  He flashed a crooked smile. “Don’t be afraid, little bruja.”

  I scoffed. “Right, because the last time I saw you, you kidnapped me.” My gaze shifted toward the voodoo caster. “And you look like you want to eat me.”

  Her smoky laughter sent chills down my spine. “Oh, Evangeline, you are a funny little thing, aren’t you?”

  Why did she always look so darn predatory?

  “We saved you, didn’t we?” Rafe swirled his finger around the empty cemetery. “Those jerks were two seconds away from chaining you up and whisking you away to God knows where.”