Generosity

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't incredibly nervous about the deal I was about to make, especially since the last one I had just made with the Loa spirits put me in mortal jeopardy. But there was something about Doctor Facilier that sparked my curiosity. For the first time in my life I had the opportunity to learn from another witch. My master may have been powerful but she wasn't a living human being like myself and the witchdoctor. There was only so much she could teach me directly. Suenamoon had always told me that I had to discover some of the secrets of my magic for myself, including how to find my magic in the first place. However all my efforts over the past three years have been in vain. I sometimes wonder if Suenamoon had been deceiving me at all, but she wouldn't do something like that, not to me or anyone. She maybe a strict master but she is a kind spirit and she cares about the wellbeing of her apprentice as much as she cares about the hundreds of souls she looks after, all the people who cannot cross over.

I had to find a way to contact her. She was my only hope of saving myself from the claws of the Loa. Suenamoon would do anything for me and if she found out that I was in danger she would go to the ends of the Earth to save her apprentice from damnation.

I would usually contact her by going to the phantom house where she resides, but the gateway to that ghostly existence was back in England. However a thought occurred to be and I wondered if it might be possible to create a new gateway here in New Orleans. I searched long and hard that morning before my mother and sister awoke, flicking through the Book of Astaroth, reading all the inscriptions that were permanently engraved upon the pages. Ancient Arabic, ancient Hebrew and even some early Aramaic. Finally I found something which could be my salvation. "Bawwabat shabah" which roughly means "Ghost Gate" was written upon the current page...

I know I mentioned earlier that I was scared of making another deal. But you see, I can't do this on my own. If I am to stand any chance of getting myself out of my debt I will require my magic. However, since I can't seem to find it on my own then I also required Doctor Facilier's assistance.

So, once my mother had left for her business meeting at the television studio and my sister had left to spend time with Princess Cameron again I set out for the other side of town on a journey that would take me back to Doctor Facilier's Voodoo Emporium.

"Doctor Facilier?" I called out politely as I opened the door. I tentatively began to wander inside as I stepped into the mysterious dark room just like before, only now the same feelings of wonder and fascination that overwhelmed me the first time I laid eyes on this place had been replaced with feelings of caution.

I floated past all the voodoo paraphernalia as I stepped further down the hall all the way to the table at the end. Upon the table was a single tarot card faced up. The same elegant enchantress who stared at me from within the card was there once again. The High Priestess, my supposed future. Me? An enchantress? Not with my magicless mortal body. I had serious doubts about allowing Doctor Facilier to help me, but I had to chance it. I couldn't let those Loa spirits claim me by the time my debt was due. Without my master around to help me he was my only hope.

"Heh-heh. I was wondering when you'd show up."

I let out a surprised gasp when a familiar voice hum from behind me. I turned round to the sound of a soft chuckle from the very gentleman I had returned to see. I didn't even know he was there as he emerged from the shadow of the room.

"So." He uttered in an enticing tone. "What about my generous offer? Have we got a deal, darlin'?" He held out his hand.

I hesitated for a moment or two, even though I knew my mind had been made up. "Alright."

"Haha! I knew you'd come round." He laughed out with a grin beaming across his face.

"But wait." I had to stop him a moment, there was more to be said. "There's something I need to know first."

"Ask away." He politely accepted as he retracted his palm.

I almost didn't want to ask for fear of sounding rude, but I had to. "What are you getting out of this?"

"I'm glad you asked." He said to my great surprise. "You see, sweetheart, back when I was still in business I made it my job to help get people what they wanted, but I seldom asked for anythin' in return. Just a few dimes here and there."

"So you wish to be paid for your teachings?" I wondered when he mentioned money.

"Not exactly." He shook his head. "Let me put it to ya this way. I personally guarantee that this deal is gonna be the answer to ya problem. But you see, I've got a little problem of my own."

I felt my heart flood with curiosity and sympathy. "A problem?"

"I decided to take a little walk outside while you were gone to see for myself just how much my old city had changed. I saw things I ain't ever seen in my day. Hey, if I hadn't have seen it for myself, if somebody just told me, I never would'a believed it. New cars, new clothes, new people and something occurred to me. I don't exactly fit in."

That was true. I've never seen anyone wear a jacket with tails or a top hat or shoes like that before, only in pictures in books.

"I got no fresh duds. Even worse, I ain't got nowhere to say. This old place is a little run down, I can't exactly live here no-more. No shower, no bathroom, no bed. I hate to sound like a scrounger, Charlie doll, but I seem to find myself in need of your generosity."

In an instant all my feelings of fear and apprehension surrounding this gentleman suddenly vanished, replaced with compassion and sympathy. I hadn't thought of this before. I am the one who brought this man into a time far beyond his own. He's now in a world he doesn't truly belong in and since I was the one who brought him here then I was responsible for what happened to him now. I didn't realise it until then, but I had taken an oath by freeing him.

"Of course." I heeded his call for help as I suddenly sprung into action. "I should be able to provide you with anything you require. My family and myself have rather extensive funds our disposal." I whipped my phone out of my pocket and began looking up all the necessary contacts, trying to imagine the type of shops that might sell modern day clothing in that still fits Doctor Facilier's style. "Of course. Blue Banana!" I scrolled through my phone for the number.

"'Blue' what now?" He was obviously a little confused by what I was doing. "What d'ya think y'all doin' with that li'l gizmo there? That ain't like no talisman I've ever seen."

"Oh, it's not a talisman. It's not even magic." I placed the phone next to my ear. "It's a phone."

He continued to stare at me with that perplexed look upon his face. "A phone? It's not even plugged in."

"...Hello, this is Charlotte Crawler. My mother is an investor of your company and I have a personal VIP account with your business. I would like to place a very important and rather urgent personal order… I need you to contact all your branches in Louisiana, America. I need one piece of every item of male and unisex clothing sent to the Royal Plaza Hotel in New Orleans… All sizes… All brands… Thank you, and I need these items quickly. Please let it be known that I will personally pay anyone involved in the shipment an extra thousand dollars bonus if they deliver as much of the order as they can by tomorrow… Thank you ever so much, goodbye." And with that hung up the call.

I noticed Doctor Facilier giving me the most intriguing look that almost made me smile. "How'd you do that?"

"Oh, it's a smart phone." I held up my device and displayed the screen. "Just one of the many wonderful pieces of technology in this advanced century."

"No, no, I mean where'd you get that kinda money?"

"Oh…" I was rather shy about telling people about how wealthy I was, especially if and when my mother gets involved. I've lost friends in the past when they judged me by my money rather than by my personality. I guess it was too late to pretend now, Doctor Facilier had already heard too much during my phonecall. "...Yes, I'm um… My mother is Diana Crawler."

Facilier raised an eyebrow at my mother's name.

"Oh yes, I forgot. You don't know of this century." I suddenly remembered. "My mother is a multi-billionaire business woman and an international celebrity."

I saw his eyes widen. "You're kiddin', right?"

I shook my head and looked away modestly.

"Now why didn't I see this when I read your cards!" He sounded rather annoyed with himself. "I've been on the other side too long, I'm losin' my touch here."

"It's alright." I spoke gently as I didn't want to upset him. "You don't have worry about it, or even think about it. My money isn't part of who I am anyway, maybe that's why you didn't see it when you read my cards." I looked back down at my phone and began searching for the number of my hotel so I could change the subject. "Now, you also will be needing somewhere to stay and might I recommend my current hotel." I placed the ringing phone next to my ear. "Just one moment…"

He gave me one of those funny looks again as I waited for my call to be answered. Why does he make me want to smile every time he looks at me? "Hello…" My call was finally answered. "I'd like to book a penthouse suite please and I need it ready in less than an hour… Crawler… Yes, I know. This room on behalf of someone else… That's fine. You should already have my account details… Twelve o'clock... Thank you ever so much, goodbye." I breathed a sigh of relief as I hung up. "There now." I looked back up at the doctor and once again as I asked him if there was anything else he needed. "Your essentials are on their way. If there's anything else you require that money can buy then don't hesitate to let me know."

I saw the expression of astonishment upon his face. "Now this is a sudden change of character. One minute you're acting like you're afraid of me the next your acting all generous by giving me everything I ask for. Girl, you're making me feel like a scrounger. I don't wanna sound disrespectful or nothin' but shouldn't ya oughta think before throwin' your money away like that?"

I decided to answer honestly. "I don't care for money, and you obviously need it more than I do. As for my change of character I have recently realised something. It is I who have brought you into this world, I am responsible for what happens to you now." I took another look around the ruined Emporium. "I'm only sorry that I cannot repair your old home for you. Not that I don't possess the money to afford the work that would need to be done, but I would like strangers moving things around in here. Something tells me that this place really should be kept a secret, and I think your friends would agree with me since they have obviously kept this place hidden from the world for the past eight decades."

That curious look upon his face changed into a friendly smile. "I'm glad you and my friends can see eye to eye about that." When he talked about those friends of his I felt myself shiver inside. "They may seem a li'l monstrous, but they're not so bad once you get to know them."

I had to disagree! "They scare me." I placed my hand on high up on my opposite arm as I looked away, almost like I was trying to cling to something to calm my feeling of insecurity. "After what they did to me they scare me."

I heard a quiet cackle hum out from Facilier's lips, his chuckle almost sounded sinister as I turned my head once again in his direction. "Y'all need to think about gettin' over that little fear of yours." He smirked at me as he took a step forward from the table and began to approach me. "'Cos eight weeks from now my friends are expecting a new arrival when they drag your body and soul to the other side." He finally reached me and leaned over my shoulder from behind me. "It ain't my problems you oughta be worryin' about, Charlie doll. They own you now, remember?"

He needn't have reminded me, I remembered alright. "I've had time to think about that."

"And?" He waited on a conclusion to my statement.

I wasn't sure whether or not I should tell him. In order to make myself clear then I would have to tell him things about my master that I had vowed never to reveal to any mortal. But he was no ordinary mortal, he was a witch like me. And not only that, if I didn't tell him about the spell then he wouldn't be able to help me achieve it. I had thought long and hard about it all morning and I had finally decided to tell him about my master. The Keeper, Suenamoon.

"You know I have a master." I began to elucidate. "She's known as The Keeper, The Keeper of Souls. She is an extremely powerful entity, just like your friends. Perhaps even more so... I believe she might have the power to overthrow them."

At that point Doctor Facilier seemed rather astonished at such an idea, but I could tell it was for all the wrong reasons. Not because I had revealed the extent of my master's power, but because I had mentioned the possibility of his friends being subject to danger if Suenamoon was to ever encounter them.

They may be dark spirits but that does not necessarily make them bad and being the Loa gods they are they exist for a reason. "I know how important your voodoo gods are to you, Doctor Facilier, and I want to reassure you that neither I nor my master would ever want to harm them or endanger them, but that wouldn't stop Suenamoon from using her magic to force them to release their grip on my soul and set me free."

"That's your master?" Doctor Facilier sounded more curious than concerned.

"Have you heard of her?" I questioned wonderingly.

"Not personally, but I'm pretty sure my friends have. Especially she's somebody they oughta watch out for."

"Please trust me, Doctor Facilier, she will mean your friends no harm. Her only interest is my safety"

Facilier walked away from where he once stood next to me and wandered over to the table. He looked up at the curtains that hid the wall where the tribal masks symbolising his Loa gods resigned. "When might you be expecting this master of yours?" He asked me in what sounded like a cunning tone as he kept his back turned on me.

"I'm not." Here came the part that would be difficult to explain. "She resides in a ghostly existence I refer to as the Phantom House or The House of the Dead. It is where she looks after dead people who have unfortunately been stranded in this world. The only way to reach it is to travel through one of the spiritual gateways and even then it can only be done if you're a ghost. I, of course, am an exception since I am no ghost. However I am burdened with the task of helping my master with her work so my traveling there is permitted." This explanation of mine was getting off track, I feared that I was starting to make no sense. I needed to stick to the important parts. "Anyway, the only gateway I know of is back in England in the cemetery down from the road where I live. What I need to do is make a new gateway here in New Orleans. That way I can contact my master and let her know of the danger I'm in. The only problem is that I have no idea about how to open one of these gates nor do I know if my magic will be strong enough."

Doctor Facilier looked at me from over his shoulder before finally turning himself around and facing me once again. "So, this is why you decided to accept my offer. You need me to help you find this magic of yours so you can use it to bring your almighty master here to New Orleans."

"Exactly." I sighed out my words with all my emotions. "You will help me won't you?" I begged of him. "I usually give without a thought of reward. But I sold my soul in exchange for your freedom. Now I need your help to earn back my own freedom. And although I don't know how this spell works right now I do know that I am going to need my magic in order to make it happen." I pleaded my case even though it was Doctor Facilier who offered me his teaching before hand. "Please teach me, Doctor Facilier. I'm all yours."

My new friend approached me with a smug smirk his face. He placed his hand upon my shoulder which made me shudder at first. "Charlie, my darlin' li'l doll…" Doctor Facilier proudly and confidently exclaimed. "You have my word." He held out his hand, just like he did only moments ago. I placed my palm onto the palm of this mysterious stranger… and shook hands with him.