their family.
The years of waiting and hopes dashed made Samuel’s mother bitter and Samuel himself resentful. They had no use for the man now. But the memories of when his father had spent time with him and his mother did serve one purpose. The stories his mother told of a tropical paradise, where all peoples were equal and free to love whomever their heart loved, had given rise to his own plans with his Clarice. He’d worked tirelessly for months at any odd job he could find. Then he’d sold all his meager possessions, holding tightly to every penny he had, with the exception of the delicate shell cameo — the intended wedding ring, he now clutched — in preparation of embarking on their new life together.
Despite all the planning, fate had brought him to this moment. Samuel weighed his options. He watched the young woman crouching just feet from him. He knew she was not a balanced practitioner of his religion. Many people didn’t know it, but Voodoo was actually a religion, and when practiced properly, there was a balance of good and evil, just as in nature — a balance of dark and light. But this woman seemed to have slipped over the edge into the darkness that sometimes claimed those not strong enough to control the power they sought. Those who rushed to gain all they could, without being properly schooled and inducted slowly into the laws of a power greater than they, were almost always the ones to fall victim to its dark side. This woman reeked of power. Even in his weakened state, he could feel it. And she was far too young and inexperienced to be in control of the power she exuded. But perhaps she could fill his needs.
Samuel slowly extended his arm, opening his fist to reveal the ring. “I have this,” he managed to say.
The girl’s eyes lit up, and she reached for it, but he closed his hand around it.
She pulled back her hand, glaring at him. “It’s not enough anyway!” she spat the words at him.
“If you take this, give it to Maman ‘Vangeline, she’ll pay you all you deserve,” he rasped at her as he panted through his pain.
The girl laughed. “Even Maman ‘Vangeline isn't strong enough to save you now.”
“I don’t want to be saved. I’ll stay here forever, as long as my love is safe,” he gritted out between breaths.
The girl looked at the ring Samuel again displayed in his hand — she did want it. It was very pretty, and the cameo was framed in gold. She loved gold, as did the demon who shared her body. Unfortunately, this particular demon required permission to take all it wanted. Her eyes caressed the ring lying in Samuel’s now-open palm.
“So you wish me to take it?” the girl led him. Needing him to say the words.
“Take it to Maman ‘Vangeline. Tell her to keep Clarice safe. If you do, you may have the ring and all else she gives you.”
The demon controlling the girl was wily; she did no favors for anyone, and resented love and all who had it. She sensed a trick in play and decided to curse him in a way only she could free him from, thusly guaranteeing her own safety. “Very well, but just to be sure of my safe passage,” she reached out and curled her fingers around Samuel’s hand and the ring, still sitting in his palm, digging her nails into his flesh so deeply she drew blood, “should you have trickery in mind. I grant you the gift of life everlasting. Your soul will continue on, watching over your sweet Bebe’, for so long as you do not leave the confines of this hallowed piece of ground.”
Samuel tried to pull away, knowing only too well that any gift from a demon came with consequences, but his lack of strength played into the demon’s hands.
“Unh,unh,unh,” the girl cackled in the voice of the demon. “I’m not quite done yet.” She gripped his wrist even tighter, sneering the words. “Should you cross the threshold of this place of rest, your soul will be lost forever — flying away in search of the next body it is to inhabit.” She looked down on Samuel and begrudgingly realized she had to provide balance — good and bad in every curse, else it would come back on her. A sinister smile curled the corners of her full lips. The good would be a way