What a Soul is Worth

Ahaha! I'd fallen on my feet here! I've been freed from the other side by a doll with dough! I almost couldn't believe it, only yesterday I was on the other side putting my skills to good use in service of my friends with no profit for myself. Now I was in the company of a naive little angel with magic and money who simply couldn't resist offering this poor sinner everything he needed.

The next thing I knew I was in one of her mommy's limos bound for the hotel. Of course, this was only my temporary accommodation, once I taught this girl a few tricks she could use that magic of her's to spruce up my old place. Thanks to this doll I'd be back in business in no time. Imagine it, the infamous Shadowman once again strolling down the streets of New Orleans. And this time there'd be no froggy princess to ruin all my plans. I remember when that disrespectful little bitch shattered my only chance to rule this city. After eighty years something told me that Tiana and her precious prince Naveen were long gone.

Well, those two love frogs might be gone but I saw that their legacy still remained as I looked out of the window of my new suite, generously given to me by my wealthy acquaintance. There it stood across the street, "Tiana's". Looks like that good for nothing broad got her wish after all and here it was, still standing after all these years. I wondered who was running it now?

"Is everything alright?" With a voice like an angel my little doll wandered up to the window beside me.

"Sure is. Things couldn't be better for myself." I turned round and looked at her when I spoke, I had to act like a gentleman after all. "But what about you?"

"Me?"

"You're time is ticking away already. The sooner you start learnin' from a true witchdoctor the sooner you can free yourself."

That brought her back down to Earth. "I understand." She shied away from me and lost that pretty smile of her's. (If you could even call it a smile in the first place). "I would start learning right now, but I haven't seen my little sister since last night. She left early this morning to have breakfast at Tiana's. She's recently made friends with the restaurant's owner Princess Cameron. She should be back any minute." What did she just say? "Once I've spent some time with her I promise I'll…"

"Princess who now?" I asked.

"Princess Cameron of Maldonia. She inherited the restaurant from her grandmother, that's all I know."

Well, would you believe it? Looks like those two froggy lovers got busy during my time away from this world. I looked back out of the window at the city's old relic now knowing just why that place still existed. I only hoped that this princess wouldn't be as much trouble as her dear old granny.

"There's no signal up here." Her sudden sigh recaptured my attention. I saw the doll tapping away at the same device she use to book this room. "You would have thought by now that they'd have discovered a way to receive a signal in a hotel room. I haven't found a hotel yet where I've been able to make a phone call from a rented room." I don't know if she was intentionally talking loud enough for me to hear. But she was more concerned with getting that little gizmo to work than whether or not I was listening in. "Please work. I need to call Jenny." She put it up to her ear and tried again. "Please ring, please."

Talking to someone miles away from anywhere in the city, huh? Now that's something I could use so I didn't have to walk all the way back to my place every time I needed a word with my friends on the other side. Sure, if they wanted my attention they had a way of letting me know, but I could still be all the way at the other end of town doing business when they called. And it's always me that has to come to them, they don't exactly get out much as you've probably guess by now.

You know I said my friends had their own way of letting me know when they want to talk? Well they were just about to make a call. Out of the corner of my eye I notice something light up, just a little. That orb on top of my cane ain't just for show.

I hid it out of sight as the girl finished her call, I didn't want to arouse any suspicion in this curious kitty.

"I can't get it to ring." She sounded so sad and disappointed at something so simple. Come on, it was just a phone call. "There's just no signal." After putting that gizmo in her pocket she finally laid eyes on me again. "I'm going to have go down to reception. I'll be right back."

"Hold on, I'll come with." I followed her to the door. "I got some business I need to attend to anyways."

"Are you going back to the Emporium?"

"Where else would I be going?" If it wasn't obvious.

"Would you like my driver to take you there? Save you walking and everyone...well...looking at you funny again?"

I gave her a friendly grin. "Thank you, darlin. That's very much appreciated."

It was seven floors down to reception and it wouldn't take long when you use an elevator but that little doll insisted she used the stairs. She said something about not wanting to receive special treatment. Girl, what are you so worked up about? It's not a hot twenty-foot limousine, it's a elevator! What was she claustrophobic or something? Or was it that she just didn't wanna be squashed in such a tiny room with good-looking gentleman like me? Especially while no-one was watching. ...Eh, what am I thinking?

I wasn't even sure I wanted to wait for her when I got the the first floor. I was just about to head out of the door and make my own way when she finally joined me.

"What's the matter? Don't like small spaces?" I respectfully enquired.

"Oh no, it's not that. It's just that my sister is in a disabled and I feel that lifts should be left for - Jenny!"

What? Oh, her little sis.

"Jenny!" She ran up to this little shorty who was stuck in a wheelchair. "I've been trying to call you for the past fifteen minutes but I couldn't get a signal. Where have you been?"

"I've been to Tiana's again. I've made a new friend remember?" I watched as the little blondie in the wheelchair looked up at a talk black lady who was stood behind her… Hey, there was something about this dame that looked familiar. "Charlie, allow me to introduce you to Princess Cameron of Maldonia."

My eyes snapped open wide… Well… if it wasn't the froggy princess's little granddaughter. Of course, you could see it in those eyes of her's. Same face, same height for her age, same smile. I just hoped she wouldn't act her no good noble grandma.

I saw the doll give a little bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you, and thank you kindly for befriending my little sister. We don't make many friends you know."

"I know." That little princess had the same kind of voice too, just a different way of using it. "Your sister was telling me that you're both often neglected by your mom. Let's just say Itotally know how that feels. My mom used to be busy, like, all the time, And my grandma too."

"Yeah, but mum doesn't do that so much these days. Even though she still does it." The shorty wiggled around in her chair. "And she has left me alone this morning. I was lucky that I had Princess Cameron to keep my company today."

I decided I couldn't stand around and listen to those girls gossiping all day, I was a man on a mission and I had business that needed taking care of.

"Charlie doll." I played the cool gentleman in front of the ladies. "I'd love to stick around but I'm afraid I'll have to leave you with your little friends." Yeah, while I have a talk withmine on the other side.

"Of course, don't let me slow you down." She cooed in that angelic voice again. "I'll get my shofer Mr Wilson to drop you off."

"Thank you kindly, chéri."

Her little sis called after her. "You've always had a weakness for helping funny looking people, haven't you?" Sounds like that little shorty's got a mouth on her.

"Hey, who are you callin' funny lookin'?" I raise my eyebrow. "I'll have you know I was once one of the most respectable gentleman in this town."

"Respectable(!) Sure mister, that's why you're walking around with a hat that's bigger than your own head(!)"

Was she disrespecting me? I can't stand disrespect! But I managed to keep my cool, she was the little sis of my new friend after all. "I'm serious, darlin'. Folks round here used to know me as the Shadowman."

The moment that name escaped my lips I noticed that little princess starring at me with wide eyes. But I thought nothing of it.

"What is that? A stage name?" The blonde continued. "The last person I knew who had a name like that was standing in front of an audience and we all shouted out. 'He's behind you!'."

...Okay, now she was really trying my patience with these insults. "You're a lot more confident than your sister, aren't cha?"

"Just because I lack a piece of my spine doesn't mean I lack confidence."

"Ya don't say."

"I stand up for my sister even when she goes around picking hobos off the street."

Alright I'd had enough of this bullshit. This spoiled bitch had no idea who she was talking to! But she was about to learn...

"Doctor Facilier!" I heard the doll call out from the doorway and her voice brought a swift end to my temper. "Mr Wilson will take you there now."

Since my ride was here I decided to drop my conversation with the cocky handicap and head on out.

"Have a safe journey, won't you?" My little angel sounded so concerned, but she didn't have to be. I could take care of myself.

"Will I be seein' you again soon?" I wanted to know what time to expect her.

"Of course. This afternoon. I can't wait to get started."

"Yeah, that was a dumb question, wasn't it?"

I said my final farewell as I left for the other side of town. Oh, I knew she'd be back. She needed me remember? Or else my friends one the other side would own her in less that two months.

Speak of the devils, I'd almost forgotten what brought me back to my old place until the moment I arrived…

...

"Friends~" I made sure to sound respectful as I stood before them. "How might I be of service to y'all?"

It was about the girl. Something she said about calling on her master for help had them concerned about their investment.

Now, I don't pretend to know much about that girl's magic. Oh sure, I know all there is to know about voodoo and magic overall, but that spellbook of her's was beyond me. I didn't exactly know who this doll's master was, all I knew was that she could get her apprentice out of her debt by overpowering my friends… And they didn't like the sound of that one little bit

"This master of her's has got y'all pretty damn scared." I relaxed my humble self while I had my talk. "I'm guess you already know who she is."

Oh, they knew alright. Well, they'd heard of her. They knew she was a god known as The Keeper but they didn't exactly know was she capable of. All they had to go on was the pretty power they'd seen locked inside that doll's soul, and she was just the apprentice. My friends didn't wanna face the wrath of a god who could be more powerful than they are... But they sure as hell didn't wanna let this little angel get away from them so easily. To them she was worth the risk, for now.

"She's somethin' special, isn't she? Here I thought I was valuable to y'all, and then little miss snow white witch comes along and ya jump at the chance to own her instead of me." I knew she had a secret power hidden deep inside her soul, I saw it when I read her cards. But I wanted to see this power for real, with my own eyes. "So what is it about her that you're dying to get your shadowy hands on?" I asked with the utmost respect.

They raised a brow... and then showed me the merchandise. That mouth opened just like last time and out came a shiny little ball of light.

"The doll's soul." I kept my eye firmly on this little light as it drifted into the crystal ball on my cane. I brought it up to my eyes, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. "What ch'you hidin', Charlie doll~?"

...Damn… That's a whole lot of magic you've got in there, girl...and that wasn't the half of it, let me tell ya.

Now this was the kind of magic I'd expect to find in the soul of a god, just like my immortal friends. So what was it doing in the soul of a simple minded mortal like her? It was way too easy to suspect that her master was responsible. Who else could give her this kind of power? Not even my friends had this kind of merchandise at their disposal. That's why they wanted it so goddamn bad.

I looked up from the little mystery I held in my hand. "I see what cha mean." I concurred with my friends, this doll was worth all the souls in New Orleans and beyond. "What do y'all think old 'Suenamoon' is gonna do when she finds out that you're threatening to take her apprentice away from her? That's what y'all worried about, right?"

I was bang on. If the girl's plan to save her soul worked then these guys would be at massive loss. They wouldn't have my soul and neither would they have her's.

"I'm guessin' y'all want my help."

Oh, I had a plan. A plan that required a smooth, charismatic shadowman like myself. I'd let her warm up to me, let her trust me a little more while I see for myself just what that magic of her's could do. And when the time came, when she'd practiced hard enough to perform that strong spell she talked about, I had to make sure that nothing... went... right~ I had to sabotage her spell and I had to do it subtly, without her suspecting a thing. That is, if I wanted to carry on using her afterwards. I might as well make the most of her money while she's here.

It wouldn't take much to fool a doll like her. It all depended on what kind of magic she was hiding from me, I just had to hope I could control her no matter what she tried to do…And of course, there was one more thing~

"Ya know my friends, I'm just like you. I don't give somethin' away for nothin'. You want me to work for y'all again and get chat that doll's soul then you're gonna have to make me an offer I can't refuse. So..." I gave them a sly smirk. "What's it gonna be?" I didn't know exactly what but I was expecting quite a handsome offer for a job like this.

I listened carefully...

"You gotta be kiddin' me… You'd give a share of that doll's god-like power as payment?" I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing! "...That means I could make myself anything I wanted! Without all that mumbo jumbo tying it up!... Y'all would do that for me?" They weren't kiddin'... Ha! They weren't kiddin'!

I couldn't help myself, I felt a good old sinister chuckle coming on. "Hehhehe-AHhahah!You guys! You're the best friends a shadowman could ever have! Ahahha! I'll do it!"

I brought that crystal ball close to my eyes once again and stared into that little doll's soul. "Oh, you're mine, darlin'." I couldn't help my malicious self as I leered. "You and your godly powers! You're all mine~"

Alright, I had my moment of sadistic pleasure and I looked back up at my friends. "Y'all mind if I hang onto this? If I'm gonna manipulate this girl I'll need to push all the right buttons. It's obvious that she's sensitive and I don't wanna risk scarin' her off or nothin'."

That dumb doll ain't ever gonna see me coming! She ain't nothing but voodoo foder, a sucker for a poor sinner like myself! Ohh, this was gonna be good... Eight weeks from now this old shadowman would be on top of the world! And that darlin' little doll… She'd end up paying the price. I'll take the fortune, and she'll take the fall~