Ok now it's time for Chapter 3 of this fic ^^ Sorry it took so long to update but I've been practicing driving and been going through alot of bullshit. Nonetheless, enjoy ^^

Elwood belongs to Dan Aykroyd/Universal
Jake belongs to John Belushi (may God bless his soul)/Universal
Mack belongs to John Goodman/Universal
Cab belongs to Joe Morton/Universal
Buster belongs to J. Evan Bonifant/Universal
Queen Mousette belong to Eyrkah Badu (sp?)/Universal
The personas of the band belong to their real life personas (Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn, etc.)

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Chapter 3 : Trouble in Mind - Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Whitherspoon

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"Elwood, why are we in New Orleans," Mack asked as he munched the remaining Doritos. Elwood didn't respond as he attempted to remember the directions to his destination. They had lost the Broken Roads Gang for a good while now and hoped they didn't return with a vengeance but of course, they knew they would. Why wouldn't they?

Nonetheless, this was strange then again the instant urge to go to New Orleans was strange altogether. Even so, Elwood usually responded like a robot to questions but maybe this was another mystery gig. Oh joy. Well it was better than being chase by cops and/or gangs as they drove along the boulevards of New Orleans. They were at ease to know no cops were after them yet the slight paranoia of the mafia after them lingered in their heads.

The band had been wondering what was going on as they talked amongst themselves in the following van. Blue Lou thought it was another mystery gig while Matt Guitar Murphy thought Elwood had a present for them in this great place. They all enjoyed New Orleans for their own reasons despite the fact that they performed there. They had performed there other times after the "mystery gig" with blues singers of New Orleans or just their own concert. However, none of them thought of the Queen herself, until Steve spoke up.

"Maybe we're going to see that Mousette again."

This caused the band to stop their thinking and look over at him with a silent shock but also belief that he could be right. Then again, they didn't know what Elwood was planning as they allowed Steve to explain his theory more. The boys were curious to know what was going on in his mind and Steve was more than willing to share.

"I mean...you saw last time, she kinda liked him."

"How the Hell did you figure that out," Donald Duck questioned as he took a drag from his pipe.

"Well she was giving him some look from time to time."

"Good or bad?"

"Good."

They nodded at that, some of them had noticed this action but then again the look could of mentioned something else that God only knew. They followed the Bluesmobile along the streets and roads that led unto the swamp like area which was only close to the location of the "mystery gig." Before the boys knew it, they driving into a place all too familiar to them: Queen Mousette's residence, the Plantation. The guards allowed Elwood to pass easily as seeing they recognized him and everyone from before and weren't wary of them whatsoever. Alligators sneered at them while licking their chops, hoping for lunch but received none. Skeletal beings still welcomed their presences with grim warnings even though they knew what lied ahead. They were also greeted with memories of their last time at the Plantation and how the Queen herself turned the vocalists into zombies which allowed them to perform in the "mystery gig." The band was swinging and playing even though Caribbean was a first for them but still they were great. However, Elwood, Mack, and Cab remembered entering the place and 'Turn On Your Lovelight'; they didn't know they were transformed into zombies until the band informed them.

Elwood forgave her easily as seeing he knew the ways of women - when they wanted something, they got it by any means necessary and Queen Mousette was no exception. Mack and Cab however wished Elwood would of attempted Caribbean instead of saying that it wasn't a part of the band's repertoire; nonetheless, it got them into the Battle of the Bands and a chance to jam with some other great blues artists.

Once inside they were led to the throne room where the Queen sat in all her glory. She sat on her unique throne of artistic design above all who entered her abode. The wings of the throne glistened and gleamed with numerous colors as they accented her beauty. Her creamy chocolate skin was temptingly luscious to the eye of man yet held a sense of danger that caused them to stray away from her at the same time. Her fingers were draped with numerous rings and stones as they clasped her scepter that contained a sense of authority and dominance. She wore a ball gown of different colors and designs as it hugged her figure as well as the ankh necklace wrapped around her neck but not to the point of suffocation but comfort. Her hair was wrapped into a headpiece that hid it all yet complimented the dress nicely with shades and patterns. The Queen's eyes watched all like a tiger stalking its' prey as the boys were used to her and bowed before she could say anything. This caused her lips to form a small smile. They showed her respect and as showing respect for a woman, she liked that. They rose without her word as if they knew the time to bow and stand.

"Ah, Elwood, it is a pleasure it see you again. What brings you to the Plantation," Queen Mousette's voice was silky smooth as ever as every word rolled with the passing silent breezes. Elwood straightened his tie to grab a hold of himself as he realized what he was here for; not for a woman's love but to revive the brotherly affection he had for Jake. It seemed awkward and extremely supernatural (which wasn't like Elwood to dabble in) but he couldn't take the sorrow and grief of life without Jake anymore. He need his brother back desperately or he would lose his mind. Of course no one else knew this but it was time that they would know not only of his pain but of his idea.

"Queen Mousette...," Elwood paused attempting to find his choice of words as she eyed him with curiosity. Her fingers tapped the scepter as she withheld her patience. "I was uh..wondering, remember how you turned us into zombies?"

She nodded and acknowledged that she couldn't escape the truth that she had done that. Besides, the band probably told them anyway. She watched Elwood with wonder as she seemed intrigued by the fact that he had forgiven her for the whole zombie fiasco. She wondered if the others did too but nonetheless, it had to be done at the time. She liked who they were the first time she met them and it would of been a shame to not see their performance at her Battle of the Bands. Without the compromise of performing a Caribbean number, she made them zombies - simple as that.

"Well I..was wondering if you..," he swallowed his somewhat building nervousness as he looked past his shades and into the eyes of the Queen herself. "If you could bring my brother back."

This caught The Blues Brothers Band as well as Mack, Cab, and Buster in a state of shock as they all seemed to yell out the same thing.

"WHAT?!"

"Elwood, you're crazy!"

"Have you fucking lost it!?"

"I accept," Queen Mousette's voice cut through the air like a knife as her eyes watched the men before her. They merely stared at her in horror and shock as well as concern; why hadn't she denied Elwood's request? Was this fate? What was going on? Words were murmured and spoken loudly so Elwood could hear and yet he ignored them all. He had a one track mind as his jaw tightened. He knew what this would cost but to him it'd only be a small step away from seeing his brother once more and curing the sorrow that lingered about him.

"What," Elwood's stoically cold voice broke through the air as it sent chills down everyone's spines but brought a somewhat smirk to Queen Mousette's face. She hadn't done something like this before but knew how to do it. She figured it would not only be a favor to a friend but a challenge to herself as well as her supernatural abilities. All the words were silenced as all eyes were focused on Elwood. His fists turned white as he clenched them, acknowledging what he had to do. There was a sacrifice to be made and Elwood knew what the sacrifice would be. It had to be something powerfully great that only he possessed which he shared with his brother. It would be hard to give up but if it was to see Jake again, it would be worth it. Even Mousette knew this as she allowed her smirk to disappear and her eyes to glint mysteriously with a hint of foreboding before it too, vanished. She wasn't evil nor was she displaying it but merely giving a small warning to Elwood to stop his request now or face the music.

Elwood had seen the glint and nodded as if to say he wished to continue, only if she would allow him to go through with this. Elwood had his own free will to do as he pleased and by any means necessary but Queen Mousette was his friend to which he wouldn't pressure to do anything as daring as this supernatural feat.

"I said, I accept. I will bring your brother back, Elwood," her voice sounded gentle yet serious; cold yet hot; strange yet normal- she was an enigma as a shroud of wonderment surrounded her. The boys had never seen her like this before as Elwood nodded his thanks to her which caused her to grin. Her grin was sleek but wide now like the Cheshire Cat. Her eyes seemed to light up in excitement and thrill to know that she was not only doing a favor for a good friend but dabbling some in the paranormal for a lost soul. In a way it made her seem deathly but beautiful as the boys either kept their eye on her or looked away to hide their growing nervousness.

From there on, her servant took them into a hidden room only she seemed to know about. The band followed with rapidly beating hearts and wariness, just as Mack, Cab, and Buster did; however, Elwood seemed unaffected by all of this. If anything he appeared to be his usual stoic self as his knuckles were no longer white but relaxed at his sides and his jaw was no longer tight. This concerned everyone greatly as seeing that they knew Elwood was mad for doing this but to see him so calm? Surely there was something going on in his brain but what, no one could determine.

They soon entered the room as it seemed pretty big for its' size but then again so was the plantation. Shrunken heads, voodoo dolls (most of which were stabbed many times with pins, needles, and whatever else was sharp) and other objects of fortune and value hung from anywhere in the room, including the ceiling. The walls and ceiling were painted black as for a moment, everyone felt like they were floating in space. There was a voodoo tribal design on a black tile for a floor. The design was white and violet, the colors for purity and mystery as curves and lines as well as random dots cloaked the floor. The furniture in the room was scarce but enough to sit only the important people of the upcoming revival (which in this case was only Queen Mousette). The chairs were all painted with different voodoo and hoodoo designs as they all ranged from numerous colors as well as the sizes of the chairs. The table that the chairs surrounded was hidden underneath a vibrant table cloth of mostly tangerine, lime green, and white. In the center of the said table was a head of a deceased alligator and a neat deck of tarot cards.

It could easily be seen that Queen Mousette treasured these cards with her life, otherwise she wouldn't of organized them so precisely and neat. She smiled to herself at the sight of them and took her place at the opposite side of the table and opened a window hidden behind tapestries of blood red. The Queen then seated herself then gestured Elwood to stand before her on the other side of the table. Elwood did so as he waited for the steps that he would follow that would enable Jake to return to this world. Everyone could do nothing now, they acknowledged that Elwood made up his mind and knew that they couldn't persuade him otherwise. They knew how much he loved Jake and how bad he needed him but inside their minds, words were forming like spouts of fire; how could he be doing this? Had he truly lost it?

"All right, first I shall need a picture of the dead," Queen Mousette's voice was a knife piercing the sudden tense air as Elwood placed a picture of Jake before her. She took this into her own possession and placed it downward of two unturned tarot cards. At this point she laid out a few more tarot cards in certain directions, all around or besides the photo of Jake. As she performed these actions she chanted words beneath her breath, most of which the band couldn't comprehend. Mack, Buster, and Cab stood like soldiers in tension and concern as they watched on. Elwood, however stood in patience but tapped his foot madly on the floor; not to signify impatience but to show anxiety for his future parts in the reviving.

"Next I shall need a possession of the dead," with this, Elwood produced a Playboy magazine that Jake received as a kid that he always liked to look at. He always said Miss July was his favorite and Elwood couldn't blame him, she was pretty as anything with a body to match. Jake loved this magazine as Queen Mousette merely rolled her eyes; a Playboy was a typical item of a man's possession. It didn't surprise her but in a sense it ticked her off to know a thing that Jake always had was a Playboy. Nonetheless, she laid it before her and flipped up a few more tarot cards, chanting incoherent words once again.

"Lastly I shall need the sacrifice of the one who wishes to return him to this world. Elwood, what is your sacrifice?"

"My music."

This stunned everyone as they began to yell at him as if scolding him for doing the wrong thing. Words were repeated as they all meant the same thing: to stop and end this madness. However, Elwood wouldn't listen as he stared into her eyes as if he knew what he was doing while the Queen before him tried to restrain her jaw from slacking open in astonishment. Was he serious? Was he willing to go through this much just to bring Jake back? Such a sacrifice for such a man like Jake, how powerful and strong the music was in Elwood! It was as if his body was made of nothing but music from the time he was born unto the aftermath of this revival.

Queen Mousette knew this from the moment she met him- the strength of the music and how it flowed through his veins like it was his very blood, without it he would be soulless slush like the rest of the world. He would be unable to cope with this, he would no longer be himself but was this the price he was willing to pay? Elwood opened his briefcase unveiling the set of harmonicas within as well as some records that were favorites of his'. He swallowed hard as if staring Death in the face but didn't panic or recoil from what he had to do. It was as if he had encountered Death before and was no longer afraid of it but then again, he wasn't dying just giving up the one thing that made him Elwood. Closing the suitcase, he gave it to Queen Mousette who accepted it with gentleness and slight shocked mannerisms.

"Are...are you sure," the Queen asked as her eyes watched him with every sense of curiosity and concern. All eyes were on The Blues Brother as he nodded with certainty. Buster did something he had never done before as he ran forward and threw his arms tight around Elwood's waist. This stunned Elwood greatly as well as everyone else as they all watched the youngest Blues Brother.

"Kid, get off," his voice was cold but not meaning to hurt. Elwood wanted to comfort him but he knew what had to be done and couldn't avoid this fate. Instead he watched Buster with gentle eyes behind the shades as hurt seemed to settle in. Elwood allowed this to show and release itself behind the shades but never to anyone else in the room. To see him harmed by actions and words, would make them believe he didn't want to go through with the revival when he whole-heartedly wanted to do so.

"No! I'm not letting you do this," Buster bit his lip hard trying to force so much back as his voice seemed to break a little. His shaded eyes met Elwood's beneath the shades as Elwood's stoic heart began to shatter a bit. Sure this was wrong and hurting others but Elwood was hurting like Hell; he needed Jake like a drug addict to crack. Jake was his everything and nothing could replace him. This was the childish side of Elwood reasoning but he believed it one too many times as he was doing so now. Elwood had to do this and nothing was going to stop him.

"Mack...can you get him off?"

Mack stood like an Indian Chief before his tribal ceremony. His eyes were unemotional and his jaw was set and tight. His arms were crossed as his muscles seemed to show. Mack's body seemed a bit more puffed out like a blowfish in attack mode as his eyes bored into Elwood's figure. Mack wasn't angered at Elwood, nor was he protesting; he understood the reasons of why Elwood was doing this. He was disappointed though that Elwood would put his brother above all else (or so it had appeared) but then again, Mack could also understand the importance of Jake. Nonetheless, he stared hard at Elwood with unfeeling emotion. Elwood wasn't intimidated by this as he merely turned his back to Mack. This was his destiny. He had to do this. Nothing was going to stop him and that was his ultimatum. For a moment he seemed possessed as his eyes narrowed in slight anger that everyone was trying to stop him.

The band rushed forward and tried to pull him back but he staggered his way forward as they yelled protests in his ears. However they found it too late when all laid eyes on Queen Mousette. The tarot cards were all turned up and all the possessions were placed in the specified places. It was time to begin and Mousette wasn't hesitating. A sly smile grew on her womanly face as tension began to settle in the air. It was unnerving and dreadful as the band broke from Elwood and went back some. Everyone stayed a bit back from Elwood not knowing what would happen to him (as seeing his music was a sacrifice that could only come from him and him alone) but also to assure him that they were there for him, regardless of how insane this seemed.

There was a dull silence before Mousette traced her fingers along the head of deceased alligator from the bayous. Her smile was dangerously sexy but sensual, just as it had been on random days as the smile transformed into a grin of pleasure. She had appeared strange yet beautiful, exotic yet glorious to them all before, and had made it a point to do so today with her very appearance. She hadn't meant to but she couldn't help herself; she was a beautiful woman even as her nails traced along the Death tarot card. Everyone watched her every movement before her voice became lethal and almost other-worldly as she merely spoke two words.

"Hang on."

At that moment, a strong gust of wind came from outside and blew the tarot cards to the floor before Elwood. How they landed (along with the picture of Jake) was quite uncanny as Elwood was almost taken back at the position of the cards before him. They were arranged in a specific star with Jake in the center. Elwood swallowed as his eyes squarely focused on the Queen as an air seemed to come of her. It was a strange and new, something the boys hadn't seen since she had transformed them into zombies. It was an air of cleverness and tricks of the mind that only she could perform and decipher.

"SPIRIT OF JOLIET JAKE ELWOOD BLUES," Mousette's voice was venom to the air as it tainted the ebbing wind that shrouded them all. It was astonishing how her vocals ranged in the different octaves as she yelled the words from her diaphragm. The gust of wind seemed to grow stronger as more came and became a near hurricane of swirling winds that surrounded them all like a giant vortex of doom. For a moment, the men swore they saw faces in the wind as if they were lost souls that had recently died or were already abandoned and deceased. Mousette didn't seem to mind as she watched the picture of Jake soar up into the madness and vanish. She used this picture to search for Jake's soul and once she found it, she grinned widely. The result was perfection as the picture floated down to its' place in the center of the faced up tarot cards that hadn't moved or flown away due to the wind.

"IF YOU ARE WITH ME NOW, TURN THE CARDS! FIGHT AGAINST THE WIND AND TURN THE CARDS!"

Elwood seemed to jump at he saw the tarot cards before him turn so the backs showed to him. However, the picture of Jake still remained in the center and didn't budge despite the fighting wind. Mousette smirked at this and merely closed her eyes, allowing the paranormal to do its' dangerous work. A streak of lightening came down and touched the picture as it didn't catch fire which caused Buster to jump and cling to Mack. The wind seemed to pick up speed as it spun faster like an invisible tornado. The band grabbed onto what they could as well as Cab and Mack. However, Elwood stood like a pole in the water and didn't move an inch.

There was another loud boom of lightening as it seemed to die down. Buster clung to Mack who was holding back a strong wind as Elwood felt faint. The wind seemed to throw his body around even though he stood still; it was as if he was lost in the eye of a horrid hurricane of the tropics. With this, his mind raced and his heart rate seemed to double as for a moment he couldn't breathe but he kept his eyes focused on Mousette whose laughter seemed less playful and more primitive than ever. She howled to the wind like a rogue coyote as white slips of sparkle and shimmer came floating through the air and before her like a pre-made snowman. It was amazing how her hair stayed in tact but her eyes glinted dangerously as Elwood felt as though his life was being sucked from him as it seemed to contribute to the unknown white figure before him. He couldn't stop it and he didn't want to; he acknowledged that if it would assist in bringing Jake back then he would let this happen. Mack's roar seemed to break through the wind as it died down within a matter of seconds. The band clung to whatever they could just as Cab found himself pinned to the wall by the thunderous wind. The strength was almost inhuman as Cab tried to fight it but found himself un-victorious.

At last the whole thing was over. The wind stopped along with the lightening and the sparkle and shimmer of the white figure before them all slowly began to take shape. What once seemed like a normal person, slowly took form into a more detailed person that was the older, departed brother of Blues. Elwood noticed this as his mind spun wildly like a carousel gone awry, he felt his body sway a bit only to regain himself some. His shaded eyes stared into the forming figure as if his life depended on it. Soon the fedora became visible as well as the body structure of Joliet Jake. On the inside, Elwood was elated that the revival had been a success; now if only the figure would finally show the face of Jake, Elwood's excitement would burst into pure happiness. By now his heart was pounding as if he was being chased by the cops as the color of flesh began to show on the person. Unknown to Elwood, his skin began to pale some as he felt his head wrack uncontrollably. The shades soon appeared, then the tie, and then Elwood could no longer stand as he felt himself falling.

"Jake....," his voice was soft spoken and weak. Elwood's voice was never like this except on certain parts in different songs. He could feel it all get to him still as his vision began to blur. What was happening? The world was dizzy to him as a familiar shape lunged forward and called his name. That voice..it was too familiar, had the revival worked? Elwood couldn't tell as he hit the ground, unconscious.