All the elements whispered words of greeting. The wind carried beautiful tunes to Aleena and whispered sweet nothings in her ears like a lover. The earth revealed the footsteps of dancing feet and the upbeat nature of the people. There was a lacking in water, but there happened to be barrels of it that were filled by past rains. The water sloshed and jumped, telling her to welcome the change in her life while she was here. And last but not least, the element of fire, coming for the cigars and pipes of some of the locals. The burning tips and tendrils of smoke told her to be wary of the hidden dangers in this town.
Aleena smiled at the new yet somehow familiar friends that she found in the local elements of this place. Suddenly she felt as if something dark were watching her. As she stopped the dust around her feet settled. It gave out hissed warnings. "Beware the shadows young mistress!"
Taking in the subtle warning Aleena turned and looked over her shoulder. Funny, this part of town was deserted. A ghost town compared to the life happening just a few blocks down. Her eyes wandered to the shadows, inspecting them. She could feel the strands of darkness creeping at her. Feeling wary the young witch clasped her fingers around the draw string pouch. Suddenly the feeling of darkness left her. After giving a certain corner of one the allies one more look she turned and continued onward.
Right as she had turned to walk on something warm took hold of her shoulders "A tip of the hat Cheri."
The voice washed over her like chocolate liquor. No not the usual chocolate liquor, it was spiked with an undertone of poison. The voice was dangerous, nothing more, nothing less. Turning, Aleena brushed the stranger's hand from her shoulder. "And swift bow to you mousier."
Aleena looked up to lock eyes with a pair of violet iris. They held just as much of the hidden poison as the voice. This stranger was dangerous. "What would a pretty little thing like you be doing in my neck of the woods?"
A charming smile broke out onto the stranger's face, revealing a large gap between his two front teeth. Aleena could sense it was best not to lie to this man "I am setting up shop here, while taking lessons in a certain mystical art."
The stranger raised an eyebrow, the venomous smile never waning. Taking her hand he bowed and kissed it. Ever charming, but sickening to Aleena none the less. "Then allow me to introduce myself Cheri…"
Yanking her hand away Aleena snapped. "No need Dr. Facilier. I am aware of your work. And I have no interest in how you use voodoo. To be perfectly honest you and your work sicken me to the point of tossing up last week's dinner. I know what desires, what evil chains your led coated heart are locked in. I know of your debt to the voodoo devils. I can smell the evil on your putrid flesh."
It was surprising that the smile still had not left the Doctors face. The wind picked up and whispered in Aleena's ear. "Mistress, look out!"
Aleena spun around and her eyes widened in terror. A large creeping shadow towered over her. It struck out but slammed into a barrier. Taking a breath Aleena turned and narrowed her eyes at the Shadowman. The smile on his face was gone, snarling Aleena snatched the two silver paint brushes in her hair. In flurry she was now holding two sharp knives to his chest. "I see that I have run into the playground bully."
Jabbing her knife closer to the Doctors chest she hissed. "Now if you could excuse me I have to start setting up my new shop, and get a boat out to the bayou before dark."
Dr. Facilier pushed one of the knives away. Then he took her hand and inspected the inside of her wrist, which held a greening Celtic knot. "Well, well you have quite a lot of spunk in you Cheri."
Ripping her hand away Aleena fixed the tip on the knife of Facilier's neck. "This Cheri has a name, and will gut you like a common pig if you don't leave her be."
Dr. Facilier lifted up his hands in defense. "And your name Cheri is…?"
Not removing the knife from Facilier's throat Aleena hissed. "Malone…Aleena Calico Malone know it, and fear it Shadowboy."