Chapter 14

Cally LaMort sat at a small white dressing table staring absently in the ornate oval mirror as she put the finishing touches to her long dark hair. Everything was ready for the séance later tonight, and she should have been using this time to calm and focus her mind, but she was lost in memories of a dark, turbulent time in her life when she first became VooDoo Queen...

New Orleans 1932...

The celebration of her investiture as High Warlock had gone into the early hours of a new day, and Cally needed the walk from the Old Absinthe House to her home to try and calm her spirits. This was the culmination of a long held dream, a dream she had achieved through hard work, and a bit of luck. If Magnus Bane had not intervened to ensure a fair fight with Baron Dredd, the results might have been very different.

Now it was time to think about the future and what it meant to be the VooDoo Queen. She had done the preparation, she had imagined this future, yet there was something about the reality of it that awed and frightened her a little bit. It was a great responsibility, and there was one last ritual she still had to perform; a ritual that would test her resolve to the limit, and determine for ever after the mark she would make as Queen.

Arriving at her home, Cally went directly to a small study where an ancient book lay waiting on the desk, waiting for her, tauntingly open to the ritual she now needed to perform. Until this moment she had been unable to decipher the strange script on the yellowed, brittle page. Now its meaning became clear to her; "My God!" she breathed softly. The spell would call to her two of the most powerful forces in the universe, and they would do battle for her soul.

Without further delay, Cally read the words aloud and waited as two very different forms began to materialize in her small study. One was the form of a tall, handsome man; the other was a great snake, a golden cobra that rose up before her, and spread its great fan. A battle raged between the two that had one promise her enormous power, and the other hard work and comfort.

Finally, when it appeared that the snake would win the day, the man stepped forward and produced an elaborate black, ebony walking stick which he offered to the young VooDoo Queen telling her that she could have power beyond her wildest dreams, greater than Marie LaVeau's. But Cally recognized that walking stick and knew the man for who he truly was, Asmodeus, Prince of Hell.

"Get away from me, Dark Man!" She roared as she opened her arms to allow the snake to wrap itself around her slight body. In that moment she rejected Asmodeus and he was forced to withdraw, but not without promising Cally she would regret her foolish decision...

~~~~~!~~~~~

It was precisely midnight when Jace, Isabelle, Aidan and Morag arrived at a small two story house on a side street in the heart of the French Quarter. Coach lanterns on either side of the dark green panel door illuminated the white washed wooden porch. Hurricane shutters flanked each of the tall, narrow windows that pierced the façade of the house.

Isabelle noted that the porch had be decorated for Mardi Gras, chiffon streamers in gold, green and deep purple were swagged over newel posts and railings secured by wide gold ribbon, looped into loose bows. Above the front door hung the beautifully painted mask of a woman's face surrounded by the same fabrics that adorned the porch. The house itself may have been small, Izzy thought, but it was definitely a queen who lived there.

Before anyone had a chance to knock, the door swung open and Cally LaMort welcomed her guests into the small entry way. "Right on time;" she said smiling at them warmly before leading them down a narrow hallway and into a smallish parlour.

The room was painted in dark charcoal hues relieved by soft cream baseboards and crown molding. The warm, medium brown wooden floors, original to the house, were covered by a deep, plush oriental carpet that muffled the sound of their footsteps and added a touch of luxury to the room. Above the intricately carved mantle was the powerful portrait of an African American woman wearing a soft white turban and matching dress. Elaborate jewelry hung from her ears and neck, and in her hands was the golden cobra, hood extended. Isabelle did not need anyone to tell her that this was a portrait of the great VooDoo Queen, Marie LaVeau.

A round dark wooden table sat at the centre of the room surrounded by five straight backed parson's chairs covered in buttery soft cream coloured leather. The lighting had been dimmed to provide only the softest glow rather than truly illuminate the room. Cally indicated that each of the should take a seat around the table, she herself took the place directly in front of the fireplace and the portrait of Marie LaVeau.

Jace, who had been unusually quiet, gasped slightly as he saw what sat in the centre of the table. It was an large, old book with the picture of an angel carved in the faded black leather binding. Cally smiled at him reassuringly and said; It might surprise you to know that VooDoo as it is practised here in New Orleans is a combination of the African Yoruba religion and Catholicism. It incorporates belief in a supreme being as well as lesser spirits or loas that serve as intermediaries between the worshipper and God."

"I'm still not sure how any of this is going to help us free Magnus or find Alec's killer;" Jace replied softly. He had no wish to insult his hostess, and he had no better suggestion to offer so he was willing to go along with the séance, but he would have been so much more comfortable with a straightforward demon attack.

Unexpectedly, it was Aidan who answered Jace, his soft Scottish burr breaking what might otherwise have become an awkward silence; "I know shadowhunter culture does not prepare you to understand the different belief systems that exist among mundanes, but you do believe in angels, demons and magic so is it really such a stretch to accept that the spirits of the dead also exist and can be reached by a competent warlock?"

"You're right, I'm sorry;" Jace replied unconsciously rubbing at the fading parabatai rune on his left forearm. "Please, can we just get on with it?"

"Alright then;" Cally said addressing them all as she placed three large white pillar candles on the book at the centre of the table; "Each of you will place your arms on the table so your hands are touching." She lit the candles which had all been previously burned as evidenced by the elaborate wax flows that curled and twisted down their sides. With a light flick of her wrist the lighting in the room dimmed ensuring that the center of the table was the brightest point, then she placed her arms on the table, hands touching Aidan on one side Jace on the other, completing the circle.

Looking around at those assembled Cally continued; "The spirits we seek will be drawn to the light and warmth of the candles. The first call will be to my spirit guide, Marie who will help us reach out to your newly departed brother."

Izzy swallowed a small sob as the words registered. To hear Alec again, to be able to speak to him but not touch him seemed like the most exquisite torture. It was as if, in this moment, he seemed more truly dead to her than at any time since she and Jace were standing in the Lazarus Room in front of Alec's coffin.

"It's important y'all don't break your connection with each other no matter what you see and hear;" Cally continued. "The dead can't hurt you, but they can be a bit... disturbing;" She looked at those around the table waiting for a sign that they heard and understood her words. When she was satisfied, she said; "Let's begin;"

"Sister, Guide, first of the great VooDoo Queens, Marie help us to contact our friend, our brother Alexander Lightwood;" The lights in the room began to flicker and the flame in the center candle extinguished and then seemed to come to life again brighter and stronger than before. Izzy could have sworn the cobra in the painting of Marie LaVeau above the mantle seemed to undulate and hiss.

A woman's voice spoke then that was deeper, older than Cally's; "I hear your supplication child. If you wish to summon a departed spirit, you must repeat after me...

'Our beloved Alexander we bring gifts from life into death. Commune with us Alexander and move among us;'

They did as they were told and as the last few words died away they saw purple magic shimmer around the figure of Cally LaMort, the atmosphere seemed charged, and the lights and candles flickered madly. Then without warning, all the light in the room was extinquished in a blast of cold air leaving them in total darkness.

Nothing was said for several moments until Cally snapped her fingers and relit the candles.

"I'm guessing that was not supposed to happen;" Jace said trying to lighten the mood a little.

"You'd be right about that cher, now if you'll all just sit tight, I'm going to call my spirit guide and find out what the hell happened;" Cally responded as she settled herself and began again; "Sister, Guide, first of the great VooDoo Queens, Marie please can you tell us why our summons has gone unanswered?"

The same deep, older woman's voice responded to Cally's plea; "Child the spirit you seek in not on this side of the veil and cannot be so summoned, but there is another pushing forward demanding to be heard. Will you allow that spirit to move among you?"

Cally knew there was only a small window of opportunity here and she did not have time to consult the group. Her voice rang out in answer; "Yes we will allow this spirit to come forward;" And she trusted in her power to safeguard the living from whoever crossed the veil.