A Raven in the Hand

CHAPTER 16

It was raining in New Orleans as Kayla drove within the city line, wondering what was going to happen. The Vodus made her nervous, the way they would stare at her when she was growing up, they never did that with anyone else. Madam Sheer, the old woman who smelled like spice all the time, she would always want Kayla to sit with her, talk with her, anything to spend time with her.

She remember who they would be talking in normal voices with the witch's counsel, Matron Shalla was with them, but as soon as Kay entered the room, they all starred in wonder at her, it made her feel a little uncomfortable. A man, his skin so black she thought he was a burned by a dragon, dressing in leopard skin robes, he would talk with her in his native tongue, which she didn't understand at the time.

Some of them had given her some of their magic objects, then take them away just as fast. She really didn't like to be with them, the way their dark eyes would look at her, she felt she was living under a microscope when the Vodus would come.

"Little Raven…" She could hear Shalla call to her, "We have guests, and they all want to see you…"

"But why do they want to meet me?" a younger Kayla had asked her.

"Because, you are special…" That was all Shalla had told her, she was special.

"Yeah, special…" Kayla grunted as she tried to drive down the people filled streets, it wasn't even Mardi Gras and the streets were filled, "…I am so special…like that wrestler, Eugene? Yeah, I'm special."

She pulled down Bourbon street, driving slowly so she wouldn't miss the entrance to the alley where madam Sheer lived. Her family had ran the Restaurant, the Moulin Rouge since the blacks were freed so long ago. The food was fantastic, the music seem to take you into its arms to dance, and the people, good ol' creoles dancing and laughing the night away.

"Mark would like it here, it's so full of life…" She thought, still couldn't get the Deadman out of her head, just as her cell phone began to ring.

She picked up the phone and looked at the number, Dave was returning her call that she left hours ago, after Mark had brought her back to the car. She pulled off to park on the street side, it was time to find out how much Dave was worried.

"Hi!" She said as the phone clicked on.

"Where the fuck have you been?" She heard the shouting from the speaker, "I've been worried sick for the last two days wondering what the hell happened to you?"

"You worry too much…"

"Like fuck! The last time I talked to you, you screamed and I could do nothing! Nothing! And then it went dead! Why? What happened, and where the hell were you?"

"You ask too many questions, I am fine, I am in New Orleans, and I am going to do some shopping."

"What the hell are you doing there?"

"Shopping!"

There was a pause on the line, "Kay, I went to your house…"

A feeling of dread came over her, "You did?"

"Yeah, hard enough to find. Kay, what is that place you call the manor? I met your leader, she seemed a little delusional. Are you in a cult?"

"Heavens, no!" Kay sighed, he still has no clue, but the Deadman was right, Dave had a way of finding things out.

"Then why wouldn't they let me in? Kay, something's going on and I'm going to find out, if you tell me or not. You're my sister, it's my job to take care of you."

"Oh Dave, I love you so much for that, but we are not a cult, there is nothing wrong going on, and I'm ok. Please, leave it at that!"

"Like hell I will, not when the number one contender for the belt is sniffing around you like a dog in heat…"

Kay got angry, "You still think the only reason why the Undertaker is hanging around me is because of that stupid belt of yours? Well, news flash for you bro! Mark is a decent and caring… "

"You were with him a couple of nights ago, weren't you?"

She froze, he was calling her out and she had no choice but to give in, "Yes, I was with him, but nothing happened!"

"That you can remember! I told you what he did to Stephanie…"

"I'm sick of hearing about Stephy poo! For the final time, the Undertaker is not using me to get to you! And I know you don't want me to get hurt but trust me, it won't be him! And if you tell me one more time that he's a monster, well…I just won't be happy with you!"

"But Kay, I'm just trying to look out for you! Just one last thing, did he try anything with you?"

Kay slapped the flip phone off with a fury and drove out of the parking lot. The phone began to ring again but she ignored it. There were more important things to do right now, and listing to her clueless brother, even though she loved him, was not one of them.

She had to remember where the alley was, and hoped that the old wise woman was still there. The last time she came this way was with Matron Shalla was when she was sixteen, and it was the height of Mardi Gras.

She grinned ear to ear when she say the big sign with a red windmill painted on it, it was the Moulin Rouge. Just past the restaurant, there was the alley, she slowly drove into it and stopped the car at the end, As she got out of the car, she looked around, sure enough, there was the red door that lead to the back apartments behind the restaurant.

"That was easy…" She said out loud as Reaper flew out of the car and landed on his spot of her shoulder, "I wonder if she knows I'm here…"

The red door busted open as a black voluptuous woman, dressed in multicoloured dress and a bright red head wrap on her head. The woman was a beauty for her age, and even though she was large, she could carry that weight and make any man beg for her. Madam Sheer was known for her many suitors.

"Little Raven!" Madam Sheer shouted in her Creole accent as she grabbed hold of the young witch and hugged her tight, "Oh Ma Cherie! I knew that a Raven would land at my door this morning!"

"It's great to see you too…" Kay could manage out, the old woman was strong and kind of crushing little Kay as she held her.

The Vodu leader released the little Raven and grinned ear to ear, "I had always known that you would become so beautiful! Come! Come inside and warm your body by my fire and eat some good Gumbo! I had just taken it off the fire!" She grabbed Kay by her hand and led her inside the apartment.

Kay looked around the living quarters, they had not changed since her last visit. There were pots and pans around a large fireplace where a warm fire was dancing, the hearth around it was covered with bunches of dried herbs and spices, not to mention a few chicken feet were hanging with them. The middle of the room was empty, saved for the intricate runes and circles painted on the floor, for their rituals of course. And there was also an old looking fridge that was kept in a corner next to a large table where twp wooden bowls sat empty, and a big black cauldron filled with spicy shrimp Gumbo.

"Come! Sit by the fire!" Sheer moved Kay over to the fire and sat her down on a soft dark green pillow beside the hearth, "I will get that gumbo you like so much."

Kay watched silently as Madam Sheer filled both bowls with her gumbo and grabbed two buns from the bread rack near the fire, "Here you go, Chere, just the way you like it!"

Kay eagerly shoved a heaping spoonful into her mouth and grinned as she chewed, it was still as delicious as she remembered.

"This is fantastic, Madam Sheer.." She grinned, "but you can guess that I'm not here for the food."

"Don't be silly, Chere. I know why you have come, it was only a matter of time before your Matron would send you to me."

"What?" Kay was confused, "But Shalla didn't send me, I came here to ask you some questions about a Vodu running loose…"

Now it was the Creole woman who was confused, "Oh…" She thought for a moment, "What do you wish to know?"

"How is your knowledge of Death Magic?" Kay asked as she got another bowl of gumbo.

There was a look of gave discomfort in the old woman's eyes, "Ma Chere, I know everything about Death magic…"

To be continued.