VOODOO
CHAPTER 1 LOUISIANA DARKNESS
Saturday
Keiko Urameshi is sleeping but her husband is awake. this summer's night is too hot. it feels like his majesty was here. in the distance he could hear drums...voodoo drums. They were howling at the full moon. it was hard enough to get to sleep in the southern heat but those damn drums were keeping him awake. bathed in the glow of moonlight Yusuke got up and closed the window and went back to bed next to his wife. he could still hear the voodoo drums. he kicked his bed sheet off of him and closed his eyes. he seemed to be falling asleep but in his moments of sleep he saw a man dressed in all black with a top hat whose face was painted like a skull looking directly at him and smiled before rushing at him at lightning fast speed causing Yusuke to gasp and raise up from his sleep breathing heavily.
"Yusuke, what's the matter." Keiko asked placing her hand on his forearm
Yusuke looked down at his wife eyes, he could see that they were full of concern. "Nothing." he replied. "just a nightmare. Those damn voodoo drums are keeping me awake."
"just lay down and go to sleep Yusuke we will do something about them later." she said gently pulling Yusuke back down to the bed.
Chapter 2. "LOA" House
1932, north of Baton Rouge Louisiana nights are darker than before. along the Mississippi that is where it is. the old colonial house, a mansion if you will. White as snow but the house still seems to have its glow.
And when the moon is full and bright. you can hear the drums of voodoo echo through the night. in the "Loa" house misery will strike again.
Jean Le Noir was the first to own this house. he was a voodoo priest, a hougan so they say. the voodoo cemetery, that is where he is. died at the hands of an evil Bokors will. They say... he's been walking the house ever since then.
They never should have come no, no, no, they never should have come to the "Loa" house. seven days ago, the urameshii's moved in. Keiko is with child, and Yusuke is the man. they lost their first child who they named Abigail but they are certain this child will survive. Keikos father is with them. why did they bring him here? white as snow that is all he sees. he's been blind for years.
In the "Loa" house misery will strike again.
CHAPTER 3 LIFE AFTER DEATH
Friday night
Four shadows heading through the dark, heading for the past. four shadows headed for the graves in the wooded labyrinth. four shadows headed for their spot without a trace.
Midnight and they are there. the old burial ground...is part of the estate. hidden by the heavy trees... where Jean Le Noir he rests. the shadows move, they are here to feed the dead. cause there is life after death. be patient and you will see. oh, it must never end.
Doctor Le Croix he is a thick bodied African American who is a voodoo sorcerer. then there is madame Sarita, an elderly woman who has the snake in her. and Lula Chevalier, a beautiful dark haired, dark eyed girl that no one ever sees. and Salem the servant a half black that belongs to the estate.
The Urameshi's are unaware that their butler Salem is here. voodoo has been his life. for him voodoo cuts deep like a knife.
CHAPTER 4 VOODOO
Saturday evening
A narrow path runs along the river. from the burial ground you might see it. leading to a temple of secrets where they meet once a week...to dance and feast.
"let the ceremony begin!" Doctor Le Croix speaks, his face painted to resemble a skull and his bare upper body having with paint on it to look like a rib cage. a top hat rests atop his head with a sacred plant attached to it.
As Salem and Madame Sarita play the voodoo drums Lula is dancing to them. twisting and turning all around and around. She is ready to receive the Loa. she is ready for the God. this one is Damballah.
Lula feels total emptiness inside, as Damballah gets ready for her ride. casting out from Lulas head one of two souls that seems to be dead. traveling deep in a trance. Lulas legs are getting weak. the Loa has seized its horse.
Lula is not the one speaking now. she is not the one that's lying now. "here drink girl, drink the chicken's blood." madame Sarita says handing the possessed girl a jar of chicken's blood. "drink and feed the God." the Loa takes the jar and drinks it down dropping the jar to shatter into glittering pieces of glass shards in the moonlight.
If you think this is all they do, then you better think again. because there is so much more to voodoo then meets the eye. human hair on waxen dolls, pins through their knees. pins through their little heads and through their stomachs.
The ceremony continues through the night as they all worship Damballah and listen to what the Loa has to say. they are all entranced by voodoo.
CHAPTER 5 A SECRET
Sunday noon
In the "loa" mansion the urameshiis are meeting there is a crisis they must resolve. "Two damn nights since we've moved in here we've had those fucking voodoo drums play all night." Yusuke spoke, he was tired of it and he wasn't crazy about demonic activity going on around his home.
"I know Yusuke." Keiko replied this was their home and she didn't want the voodoo activity going on anymore then Yusuke did.
"it has to do with the voodoo burial ground that is on our land." Keiko's grandfather spoke. "if we get rid of it then we are free of this nonsense." he finished, taking a sip of his noon tea.
The mansion is a dark and gloomy place. a haunted landscape, a house without grace. "yeah but it's got to stay a secret or the plan won't work." Yusuke replied.
In comes Salem he's six feet tall and dark. he is the new found butler of the "loa" house. they ask him for advice regarding their plan to destroy the cemetery on their land.
Salem looked at all of them with a solemn look on his face. "if you steal the grave of one who sleeps he will come for you to set him free. you must not break the chain." Salem finished urging them not to destroy the cemetery.
Yusuke was getting agitated he was fed up with all this voodoo bullshit and was on his last nerve but Salem had more to say.
"Jean Le Noirs spirit walks this house at night. never will he leave, because this is where he died. great wanga will hit you if you destroy the cemetery of voodoo. you must leave it be!" Salem finished.
Yusuke slammed his fist on the kitchen table and stood up. "dammit Salem I don't have time for your nigger superstitions!" Yusuke boomed but quickly calmed down seeing the look in Keiko's eyes at his outburst.
"sorry Salem, I didn't mean that. but you have to understand we have to do what we have to do." Yusuke said calmly.
Salem had no reaction from Yusuke's outburst that made everybody else jump, not even a flinch. instead he just stood motionless he didn't even seem to be breathing. then he replied in an even tone. "yes, sir I understand that you have to do what you have to do." Salem then left the tense room and went about his business. while Yusuke lit a cigarette and stewed in the tension that he had unleashed in the kitchen. nobody said anything for what seemed like an eternity.
"I agree Yusuke." the blind old man said. "we must do what we must do." Keiko nodded in agreement absent mindedly rubbing her pregnant stomach.
CHAPTER 6 SALEM
Saturday midnight
At midnight the Urameshi's were sleeping. at midnight that same night there was a shadow moving. Salem is moving without a sound from his quarters that were not part of the "Loa" house, to the burial ground.
So hot and so quiet. only the leaves are shaking. by one of the graves Doctor Le Croix is waiting for him. Doctor Le Croix shakes Salem's hand.
"i have terrible news." Salem says to the sorcerer.
"What is it?" he asks.
"They are planning to destroy the cemetery." Salem tells him.
"What!" Le Croix is terrified this could be the end. his fear turns to hate. "Great wanga will befall the urameshii's!" Le Croix growled.
"Salem you must save us. you must help us, by turning them to dust. here take this money to madame Sarita's boutique of voodoo and get us a snake curse and a little goofer dust. you will be the link between the urameshii's and us." Le Croix says handing Salem the money, "This could be an easy way to turn the urameshii's to dead." he finishes.
Two hours later Salem leaves madame Sarita's and heads for the cemetery. kneeling in front of the graves, he takes a handful of soil and leaves a copper penny in return. this is to protect himself from all the spirits that could come and dig themselves into his head.
By the house Salem is digging and, in the hole, he puts the bottle containing the snake that he got from madame Sarita into the hole and covers it with dirt. Salem moves without a sound back to his quarters. everyone is sleeping but not Salem...because he doesn't need it.
CHAPTER 7 ONE DOWN TWO TO GO
Monday morning
The sun has risen, just above the trees. the birds are singing, it's such a peaceful Monday morning. what a perfect morning...it could have been. but Salem's in the kitchen and that's a sin. he had made eggs for three along with some tea mixed with the graveyard dirt...from yesterday. Anybody eating Salem's "A la carte" today will be taken ill and... waste away.
Salem thinks to himself "oh Keiko you used to be so beautiful but now your gonna die. both of you are gonna die. yes...die!"
Salem walks upstairs with silver tray in hand, turns left walks a little further and knocks on Keiko's door. Keiko answers the door and greets him.
"Good morning madame, I have brought you eggs and tea." he says while thinking "i have your death at hand please partake." Salem looks in the bed and sees Yusuke in a fever, sick as hell. Salem knows he's got a snake bite and all is well.
Salem thinks to himself "One down two to go."
"Oh, thank you Salem but I'm morning sick and can't eat I'm afraid." she replies. "I have been throwing up most of the morning. and I'm afraid there is something wrong with Yusuke. could you please look at him he's really ill I'm worried about him." she finishes.
"THAT PREGNANT WOMAN! ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG." Salem cursed mentally but kept his calm composure. "Certainly madame." Salem sits the tray on the nightstand and looks over Yusuke he checks his arm and sure enough there were to prick marks on his right forearm. "Must have bit him in his sleep." Salem figured
But Salem ignores it and puts a cold hand on Yusuke's head. "Oh, madame he's got the flu." Salem said raising up off the bed "he just needs rest madame he will be ok." Salem lied knowing that Yusuke would die slowly and painfully just the way Salem would like him to go. "Who's the nigger now Yusuke." Salem laughed mentally.
"So, he will be ok, then right?" Keiko asked nervously and doing her best to fight through the sickness she was feeling. Salem looked at her and replied with another lie. "Certainly madame." standing up Salem picked up the tray and started out the door.
"Thank you, Salem." Keiko said to him with a slight bow. Salem looked back at her and replied "No thanks are needed madame." then turned and walked out the door to Keiko's Grandfathers room. "Goodbye." Salem thought to himself.
CHAPTER 8 SENDING OF DEAD
Monday evening
Its evening now and silence is all you hear. Yusuke is getting really sick he's sweating like a pig. the fevers got him now. and as for Keiko's grandfather, the morning snack has put him down. "He should have stayed in bed, oh why didn't I?" he thought to himself.
The sun is setting, silence is all you hear throughout the "Loa" house. Keiko feels uneasy, her morning sickness has passed but she feels scared she is the only one left healthy Yusuke was sick and now her Grandfather was down. "maybe he caught the flu too." Keiko thought. she gave her Grandfather a cup of water and kissed his forehead before leaving and closing his door. She went downstairs into the living room where Salem was sitting.
She knew something was wrong. she looked at Salem who was sitting quietly. "Salem what's going on?" she asked him.
Salem looked at her from where he was sitting and replied. "let me tell you a story madame, a secret about your land. and the reason... for all this madness. the burial ground on your land is a secret voodoo stand. and if you ever destroy this sacred place, legend says that you will die and never find your rest. I'm telling the truth madame trust me. if the living can't feed the dead, then the dead will come for you!" Salem finished strongly looking at Keiko with piercing eyes.
"Youd better hold your tongue Salem!" Keiko replied challengingly "Because I don't believe in ghosts." she said sternly.
"Of course, madame." Salem answered before he stood up and walked outside. "If you need me I will be in my quarters." he told her before closing the door and walking off in that direction without making a sound. "Then there is only one thing left to do now." he thought. "And that is sending of dead."
The four shadows are meeting again at the cemetery gates. darkness is a friend, midnight will soon be here. everything should be ready now...for "sending of dead."
Doctor Le Croix places the image of Saint Expedit upside down and around. then he speaks. "Let the ritual begin." then begins praying
"Almighty God, Father of mine, come for Keiko Urameshi. that she may be "disappeared" forever lost. Saint Expedit, you are a Saint and I am a sinner. I send you to find...Keiko Urameshi. Oh, rid me of her head and rid me of her soul. rid me of all her thoughts, rid me of her memory. For this curse to work, Baron Samedi, Samedi, Samedi send your blessing. So, Keiko may be gone."
La Croix finished his prayer and as if sent from the sky, Baron Samedi creeps into Doctor La Croix and possesses him. he begins speaking to Salem. "you must bring me a sacrifice. you must come back before midnight. Kneel before my cross.
Salem does all that he is instructed to do and takes a handful of soil from the graves of the dead he wants to send...into Keiko. "Now quick, quick run back to the house. the soil must lie where Keiko sleeps." Baron Samedi says after drinking the blood of the chicken and then leaves the body of Doctor La Croix who falls exhausted to the grave yard soil unconscious.
CHAPTER 9 KEIKO'S NIGHT
Monday night-Tuesday morning
Master bedroom
Salem's standing in the dark, watching Keiko's sleeping body. Someone is in her bed, twisting, turning in his fever. Yusuke will not even see her. Salem was invisible, he was the one to bring her down.
Salem opened up his hand the "goofer dust" is falling, it's now on Keiko's hand. Salem could almost see the dead as they entered Keiko's head. then deep into her stomach. Salem wondered how the baby felt.
Then violently she sat up followed by screams of pain. Salem knew she was hurting. Yusuke remained where he was, suffering in his agony and fever. Salem only saw the whites of Keiko's eyes.
She spoke an unknown tongue then spat up a little blood. "Yes." Salem thought to himself. "the time has come I must be gone." Salem moved back into the darkest part of the room. but suddenly Keiko's Grandfather burst into the room and ran to Keiko.
"What is he doing?" Salem thought to himself. "I thought I had him not moving. "No matter the dead in Keiko's head will take her to an early grave." Salem mused then was gone.
"Go back to sleep dear." Keiko's Grandfather said gently pushing her back to the bed. "It's just another nightmare, those damn voodoo drums." he spat at hearing them again. "I will stay here tonight and keep you company so you can sleep again. Yes, sleep Keiko." he said soothingly to her unable to see her eyes, and the twisting and contorting of her body he just thought was her having a nightmare it would pass soon...
CHAPTER 10 THE EXORCIST
Tuesday morning
At the light of dawn, on a day without sunshine...Salem had vanished completely gone. would Keiko survive? her grandfather was panicking. he could not see her but he heard her thrashing around and speaking in an unknown language. her voice had changed from female to male. and if he could see her he would see her twisting and contorting body and her white eyes. while Yusuke laid next to her barely alive.
It was as if Keiko had gone and some...thing had taken her place. something like a demon. Grandpa remembered his friend...father Malone. he fearfully got up and walked around the bed as the demon lunged at him growling and roaring. he fumbled for the doorknob as he faced the sound of the noise even though he couldn't see it. but he could hear it, and the sound of it made his heart and blood feel like ice.
He opened the door and slammed it shut and quickly went to the stairs almost falling down them. he could hear the demon upstairs even as he went for the phone.
"Operator!" he said fearfully. "please put me through to New Orleans. The Abbey of the holy saint's father Malone please. It's urgent! you've got to put me through!" he finished in a panic.
The operator did just that and father Malone answered. grandpa explained everything to the father about the voodoo drums and Keiko and Yusuke. it only took a minute before father Malone understood and replied.
"Listen my friend do not worry I will be there this afternoon." Father Malone said and hung up the phone. before he left he grabbed everything that he would need for an exorcism. then left for the "Loa" house.
Grandpa waited outside for his friend who indeed arrived in the afternoon. "Greetings my friend take me to them." father Malone said holding his bag as they entered father Malone could hear the demon upstairs and took out of his bag some holy water.
"And so, this house I bless." father Malone spoke as they went upstairs. in the room father Malone gasped at the sight before him. the demon roared at him and was speaking something to him in a language he didn't understand.
Father Malone went to Yusuke and pulled him away from the bed he was sharing with the demon and noticed his forearm. "He's been bitten by a snake." Father Malone had been bit by a serpent before that's how he could recognize the wound and the swelling around it.
Father Malone carried Yusuke downstairs and told his friend to call for an ambulance quickly! grandpa did just that as father Malone pulled out a holy cross and bible and the holy water for the soul and headed back to the room the demon was in and shut the door behind him.
CHAPTER 11 UNCLEAN SPIRITS
Tuesday evening
Father Malone stood at the foot of the bed slinging holy water on the demon who howled in pain. And yelled back at him "I SSIP NI RUOY YLOH RETAW!" but father Malone ignored the unclean spirit and begain speaking.
"Holy Lord, almighty father everlasting God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. who sent your only begotten son into the world to crush that lion."
"KCUF UOY REKUS KCOC!" the demon interrupted with its growls. but father Malone went on unaffected
"Strike terror Lord, into the beast. Let your mighty hand cast him out of your servant Keiko Urameshii so he may no longer hold captive this prisoner.
"EEEEERRRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The demon growled, foaming at the mouth its white eyes staring with burning hatred at father Malone.
"i cast you out, you unclean spirit! in the name of our Lor Jesus Christ! it is he who commands you! it is God himself who commands you! by the sign of this holy cross!" Malone said holding it up.
"kcuf ni eht ssa rehtaf enolam." the demon spat.
"Give way to Christ, the power of Christ compels you, the power of Crist compels you." father Malone repeated several times.
"ruoy ynup dog si kaew! uoy gnikcuf toggaf! ahahahahahah eeerrraaaahhhh!
CHAPTER 12 CROSS OF BARON SAMEDI
Tuesday evening
One single hour is like a working day. father Malone is getting tired. darkness has come again. the demons seem to be resting. Keiko is looking just like hell, there's not much of her left to save now.
Meanwhile in Salem's quarters there's a shadow that moves into a room full of secrets of life. into a room only few have survived. there is a cross upon the wall, the cross of Baron Samedi. the shadow is taking the cross away. the shadow is Lula, the girl that no one ever sees.
Lula takes the cross of Baron Samedi quickly and quietly up the stairs and into the room. then gives it to Keiko. this cross will set us free she tells the demons and rushes away.
The cross is large and full of nails. in the darkness she is up again standing over father Malone who is slumbering in a chair. "Father I'm about to sin." she says. she raises the nail covered cross and brings it down on father Malone's head. he falls to the floor, she hits him again and again and his blood is all around him.
Grandpa rushed in hearing the racket and hears father Malone scream for help. "Stop it Keiko stop whatever you're doing!" he commands. I don't know why but Keiko dropped the cross and came back to herself. in two hours, everyone was there police and ambulance wiping up the tears.
CHAPTER 13 IF THEY ONLY KNEW
Tuesday night Monday morning
I heard a policeman say to grandpa there once was a Salem, the care taker of "Loa" house...but he died years ago. as a matter of fact, he's buried right here on your land.
If they only knew.
CHAPTER 14 AFTERMATH
The "Loa" house and the old voodoo burial ground are still standing in all of their glory. the Urameshis left the hospital and Louisiana and went to...i don't care. Malone survived. He's a scared old man now. By the way my name is Salem.
You cannot say that everybody's happy. but you can say that everybody is now safe from each other. at least I thought so, until a few days ago. when I heard of some mother by the name of Keiko Urameshi whose newborn baby was speaking in the strangest tongue...BACKWARDS!
A miracle? some expert had uttered the word VOODOO