Audrey. Although Gabe had broken my trust as well, it was less personal with him. As he catered to my every need, I grew fond of him. He had a good heart, and better intentions. Unfortunately, so did Gavin. But that didn’t change things.
Audrey sent numerous notes and messages with Gabe for him to relay to me, but she wasn’t the one I wanted to speak to. Gavin hadn’t called or come to see me. Gabe told me Gavin was trying to give me my space, but I had enough space, pent up in the house for days, with plenty of time to think.
By the time I was ready to go back to work, his absence overwhelmed me, but I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to face him. No matter what had happened, I missed him. He’d changed me in the strangest of ways. I didn’t look down when I walked anymore, and I longed to see places I’d never seen and to learn things I’d never learned. He was pure, fresh air that expelled the poison I once ingested, stopped it before it claimed my life.
Audrey was right about one thing. I couldn’t escape love, the very thing that kept me mobile since the day I realized I was capable of giving and receiving it.
Happy to be done with my first day back at work, I went to see Vivienne. She was turning the “Open” sign to “Closed,” but when she saw me, her eyes flew wide and she unlocked the door.
I handed over the pouch that Audrey gave me. “I didn’t use the mojo bag. I had pain medication, but thanks anyway.”
“Nah, this wasn’t for physical pain, child. It was for a broken heart.” She placed the bag back in my hand, closed it into a fist. “Findin’ out what he was sure don’t do your heart no good.”
“How did you know about them?” I whispered, looked around. “Why didn’t you tell me what they are—?”
She shushed me and turned to the record player behind the counter to turn the volume up, then led me through a brick dust-lined doorway, bones hanging above it, to a small, dark room.
“Listen nah child, I didn’t know what ya were dealin’ with ’til ya found out the spells weren’t workin’. I tried to explain but ya jus’ wouldn’t listen. Truth is, we have a long history with the frozen souls, and it ain’t never end good. But this one here that saved ya,” she reached out and pointed to my chest, took my locket in her hand and held onto it, “he got some kinda fire in him, burnin’ the ice, ya hear?”
“What does that mean? They have history with Voodoo? Tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
“I’m no psychic, child. But as an ol’ rootworker once said, no harm in followin’ somethin’ that feels right ’til ya discover it’s the wrong road. This one here,” she gently grasped the locket tighter and shook it, stared into my eyes, “he the beginning of things to come for the frozen souls. Don’t be afraid, ya hear? Go see him before it’s too late.”
“Too late for what? Please, tell me about the history. Tell me what you know—”
“Another time, child, another time. Ya gon’ listen to me this time or not?”
“I guess, but—”
“But nothin’, nah. Scat!” She took me by the shoulders and spun me around, shooed me out the door like a fly.
Before I jumped on the highway, I took one last glance in the rearview mirror and eyed my tall black riding boots and burgundy dress, so nervous I could hardly think straight. I adjusted the crescent locket that dangled around my neck, wondered if Vivienne would ever tell me all she knew about the vampires. I threw the Jeep into reverse and made my way to the Duval house, ready to take her advice.
When I pulled up, the whole house was lit with a warm glow, illuminating the grounds surrounding it. I shuffled up to the porch; the first signs of a milder-than-usual Louisiana fall welcomed me as I approached the door. The familiar end-of-summer breeze swayed through the tall oaks while leaves danced lightly around my feet.
Not bothering to knock, I let myself in and entered the main corridor. An echo of beautiful music surrounded me, invited me in as I casually floated toward the night’s fate. Curious, I wandered around the corner to Gavin’s main living room area, entranced by the riveting melody that filled my