A/N: I posted Chapters 5, 6 & 7. Please don't skip 5 & 6!
Where Loyalty Truly Lies- Chapter 7: Betrayal
"Mae was your mama?"
"Yeah."
Evangeline thought back to the story that Mama Odie had told her earlier. She said that Mae and a boy had gotten close.
Evangeline looked at the boy in front of her. "Could it be that he was the son of that guy?"
"What?" The boy asked.
It was then that she realized she was staring. Blushing, she looked away.
"Nothing. It's just…did you know your daddy?"
The boy turned away.
"No, and Mama never talked about him."
"Hmm." From what Mama Odie told her, maybe it was best that he didn't know.
"Anyway, we should probably get going."
"Yeah." He turned his head. "And my name's Sam, by the way."
He started walking and she followed without once looking back at the restaurant.
With each passing step, Evangeline grew more and more uneasy.
"What am I doing? This is crazy. I could be walking to my death." Even with these thoughts running through Evangeline's head, it was strange. She felt like she could truly trust Sam, even though she just met him.
"We're almost there." Sam's voice broke through the silence.
"Hey," Evangeline said feeling bold.
"Hm?"
"How did Mae and Nellie die?"
A moment passed before he answered.
"I don't know."
"You don't know? Then how do you know they're dead?" As soon as she said it, she felt bad.
His head snapped around.
"I just know, okay?!" He looked down almost immediately. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
On impulse, she grabbed his hand.
"No, I'm sorry. It was insensitive of me to say that."
Their eyes locked.
"It's okay."
After a painfully long, but not long enough, moment, Sam shook his hand free and turned his head.
"Let's go."
Suddenly feeling cold and alone, Evangeline ran her hands over her arms. "Yeah."
After a few more minutes of walking, Sam suddenly stopped in front of a dark alley.
Evangeline shrunk back. "This feels wrong, it's so cold."
"Hey," Sam's voice cut through her thoughts, "you ok?"
Evangeline bit her lip.
"Yeah." But really, everything about the alley was unnerving.
"Well, this is it." He said awkwardly.
"Um," Evangeline swallowed hard, "Okay."
Evangeline felt Sam's hand close around hers as he led her into the darkness. Her heart was pounding in her ears, in part because of the hand holding, and then stopped altogether when she saw a flame appear out of nowhere.
"They're here."
"They?" Evangeline's heart began beating hard and fast. A huge mask appeared in front of her and, one-by-one, others appeared. Afterwards, an abundance of shadows also appeared.
"Oh, no. No,no,no,no. What have I done?" Evangeline thought.
"Good work." The biggest mask spoke.
"What is it talking about?" She asked.
Sam deliberately ignored her.
"I brought her; now give me back my mama."
Evangeline's fear dissipated for a moment and anger took its place. She jumped in between Sam and the mask.
"Excuse me! Remember me? The bargaining chip? I have the right to know what I'm being bargained for!" With each passing second, she became angrier. Green came into the edges of her vision. She closed her eyes and put two fingers to her temple.
The mask made a frightening sound, which Evangeline interpreted as laughter. The other masks and shadows followed suit. "You see, girl. That is why. As soon as your blood is shed, we will finally be free."
"What?!" Evangeline and Sam said simultaneously. Sam grabbed her arm and pushed her behind him.
"I don't think so. You never said-"
"Exactly," the mask cut him off. "I never said what we were going to do with her. I only told you that she had something we wanted. You assumed it was harmless."
Sam's jaw dropped. "What about-"
"Your mother? Mae, was it? I don't think that will be possible. Even with bringing the girl. It's not natural to resurrect someone you murdered."
"You killed her? And Nellie too?"
Evangeline put her hands on his shoulders from behind in a comforting gesture.
"Your father as well."
Sam shrugged her hands off his shoulders.
"So tell me," he said in a quiet voice, "why do you need her?"
Evangeline inwardly sighed. She was really tired of getting talked about like she wasn't there, but she was looking forward to the answer too.
"Before I answer, I just have one question: Why do you care so much? It's not like you've known her for very long."
Evangeline turned her eyes to Sam. He looked uncomfortable. "I don't want to be a tool in somebody's death." He glanced over his shoulder quickly. "Among other things."
Evangeline's breath hitched.
"You care for her. How juvenile."
Sam looked like he wanted to protest, but the mask began speaking once again.
"She has voodoo in her blood, and she can never get away from it. No matter how hard she tries. We need this power, so we can walk this world once more."
Behind Sam, Evangeline spoke up.
"And do what?"
The mask took on a more devilish appearance, if that was even possible.
"Live."
Evangeline could only imagine what that meant.
"Get out of here," Sam said. "Go now!"
Evangeline turned to the entrance, only to be blocked by the shadows.
"You're not going anywhere."
Evangeline felt something push her and she almost fell on her face, but her hands broke her fall. With the impact, the necklace came off. As Evangeline reached for it, a shadow tossed it away.
With eyes wide, Sam turned to the mask.
"You're not supposed to be able to hurt us."
"About that, you've been misled. These necklaces only work for whom they're made."
With that, another shadow knocked him out.
Evangeline jumped to her feet and made one last attempt to escape.
She didn't get far when she felt a sharp pain on the left side of her back. She looked down and saw a slim, long blade covered with blood- her blood- sticking out the front of her chest.
She raised a shaky hand to touch it.
White began to cloud her vision and faces rapidly came to mind.
"Mama, Daddy, James, Sarah, Auntie Charlotte, Granny Eudora, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ralphie, Mama Odie, Willy, Louis, and even you, Ray, I love you all. Please don't mourn me. I'll be watching, just as the stars Evangeline and Ray are. Thank you and good-bye."
A/N: Done. And yes…ANGIE IS DEAD! Honestly, a few tears came when was writing that last little part. I know I said there would be romance in it, but I didn't know that it was so hard to write! . But there are only 2 chapters left in the story! Since we are on Winter Break and we don't have to go back to school until January 8th, I will try (no guarantees) to put the next chapter up before then. If not, then the next chapter will be up January 19th. Please review!