(11)
She had come to a turning point that night. The bastard off spring of the Dog Soldiers was growing closer and closer to life, she realized she was powerless to stop the process. Good or evil the child would be born. Logic told her if she were another woman asking for her advise, Kitty Russell would have spoken about the fallacy of such a thing as `bad blood.' A good home, and loving environment had much more to do with the way a child turned out than who the parents were. Perhaps it was the badge she'd held so tightly to for courage, or her own deep inner strength, but that night she bravely accepted reality and set about to find a way to live it.
She had dressed early before Renee came to her room to help her. She'd done her hair in curls and coils and applied enough face paint to make her cheeks and lips bloom and her auburn lashes darkly frame her blue eyes.
She'd surprised John Chapman when she appeared at the table for breakfast. "Well, don't you look pretty today Miss Kitty."
"Do I?" She asked coyly in reply.
He studied her suspiciously, "What are you up to?"
She took a breath and squared her shoulders, "I have two months until this child is born. It seems impossible that the time is growing so near. I think it is time I start making some preparations. I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I asked Zebulon to drive me around town today to see if there is a property suitable for my needs."
If he was surprised by the unspoken presumption she was keeping the baby he hid it from her. He chose instead to question her safety, "I don't know Kitty. I'm not fond of the idea of you riding around on these bumpy cobblestones."
Her coy smile held an edge; "You weren't worried about it yesterday."
"Yesterday was… different."
"Umm yeah, I figured that. John. Look … I have accepted the fact this child is going to be born and it is my responsibility to see it is well provided for."
"You can stay here Kitty for as long as you like … "
"I know I can John, but that isn't fair to you … I have a feeling if it weren't for me being here, you would have made a move on Addie Pittlekow long before now."
He smiled in answer. His eyes lengthened as he looked at her, there was something going on in her clever mind, but he couldn't put a finger on it, "I can see you are determined, I will leave Zeb at your disposal. You will of course take Renee with you as well."
"Of course." She answered.
GS GS GS GS
Renee thought she must be hearing wrong, "Pardon … Madam you wish to go where?"
"To your Aunt's." Kitty repeated, "I wish to seek the services of the Voodoo Queen."
Zebulon voiced his disapproval when she stepped into the carriage and gave him the orders, "Madame you have no business going there. There is no telling what kind of black magick that woman will conjure up."
"Now Zeb, what harm can come to me with you along?"
His baritone voice hit an all time low, "I don't like this." He said shutting the carriage door.
They drove past Congo Square; the field was all but deserted in the light of day and on to the Gaubourg Margeny to North Rampart Street. Zeb pulled the team to a stop in front of a one story small wood sided home, of mid-century shotgun architecture. Typical of the design it was a narrow rectangular building on raised brick piers. There was a narrow front porch covered by a roof apron, supported by columns bracketed by Victorian gingerbread. Other than the brightly colored paint job of varying hues of purples and oranges it was neat and tidy. It looked anything but sinister.
The scowl on Zeb's face spoke more eloquently than any words of disapproval he could voice. He helped her from the carriage and supported her arm as she climbed the steps of the porch.
"Are you sure Madame Kit-tee?" Renee asked as she prepared to knock.
"Oh for Pete's sake Renee, I'm not some fragile teacup belle and yes I'm sure." Kitty replied as she herself rapped her knuckles against the vibrantly painted door.
A thin-framed black man answered, like some character from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; he wore a lavender tunic and a white turban. There were many chains with unusual symbols hanging from his neck and gold earrings hooped in his ears. His skin had an unnatural pallor to it, despite its dark color. His eyes neither sought nor found contact with theirs and he walked about as if in a trance.
"Batooka, I have brought a friend to see my Tante, would you let her know we are here?"
His head bobbed once, "Sit." He replied.
Renee rolled her eyeballs at Kitty before replying to the servant, "Thank you." She grabbed Kitty's hand and pulled her into the parlor.
"What's wrong with him?" Kitty whispered as Batooka went to find Tante Marie.
She shrugged her shoulders and replied in a straight forward fashion, "He is a zombie, he has a spell cast upon him."
Kitty stretched her neck to see if Batooka was still within her line of vision, "I've heard of them before, but I've never seen one."
"He was condemned to death by zee Congo Court for an unspeakable act. Tante Marie reprieve him, by sentencing him to be her zombie servant. Now, are you still so sure you want to zee Voudon Queen?"
The child within gave a hearty kick, "Yes." Kitty answered.
She settled back in her chair and took a good look at her surroundings. The parlor was decorated in varying shades of purple, from the plush velvet settee they sat on to the walls, which were a darker tint. The pictures decorating the room looked to be Catholic, the main subject of the artwork being crucifixes and blessed virgins. Candles and strange incense burned at a makeshift altar. Scattered throughout the room were receptacles of Holy Water.
They waited ten minutes before Queen Marie appeared at the doorway. She was taller than Renee who was a tall woman. Kitty estimated her height to be close to six feet. Her face was beautiful and her magnificent figure was draped in a gown of silk and satin, all black and shiny. She held out her arms to Renee. Her voice was soft and lyrical like a lullaby. "My Little One, I am so happy you have come to visit. We have missed you at the dance."
"I have zee job which keeps me busy Tante. I have brought a friend with me, she in need of your advice."
The woman moved toward Kitty and held out her hands. Kitty took them and Marie pulled her to stand. The reigning Voodoo Queen narrowed her eyes, looking deeply into Kitty's own. The power was enough to mesmerize. "You are seeking a love potion?"
"Yes."
"But … not the usual kind I am thinking … come with me Lamb." She said, leading Kitty out of the room through a curtained archway. When Renee made a move to follow Marie commanded. "Stay."
The room was painted so dark a purple it was nearly black. Small colored candles flickered from the hanging sconces. Carved sculptures of snakes and birds rested against the bureau, which ran the length of one wall. In the middle of the room sat a table covered by orange satin upon which sat an empty candelabra, a large wooden container which resembled a spice box and several smaller jars.
"Sit." She ordered Kitty as she herself took one of the four chairs. "Lamb, tell me what you seek."
"I seek a potion which will make me love the child I carry so that I may do right by it."
"To love the child Lamb, love the father."
Her voice sounded calmer than she would have thought possible. "I cannot do that. I don't even know who the father was. I was raped by many men."
The two women stared at one another, and for an instant it was like looking in a mirror as Kitty saw her pain reflected in Marie's eyes. The Voodoo Queen reached out to touch Kitty's hand, "But there is a man you love?"
She didn't hesitate with her answer, "Yes."
"Good, then we have a place to start. Tell me, this man you care about, his mojo is strong?"
"Yes."
"That is good, we will need strong Magick."
Marie stood and took three candles from the wall sconces and brought them to the table placing them in the small candelabra resting there. ""First we shall summon the Loa by the candle. The pink candle is for love, honor, and gentleness. The purple candle it to fight and protect against the power of evil, and the green to bring a balance between the two." From an intricately carved gourd to her left she took a handful of cornmeal and sprinkled it on the table and began drawing designs with her fingers.
"In New Orleans, the Catholic Church and the Voudon are bound together, as the "Church" so do we believe in one God, we believe we each have a soul, gros-bon-ange and as the `Church' looks to the Saints to offer guidance and protection so do we look to the seven African Powers."
"Papa Legba, St. Michael or St. Peter, the guardian and the opener."
"Obatala, Our Lady of Mercy who rules the clouds."
"Yemaya, Mary the Mother of God, rules the ocean. Her colors are blue and white, her foods, cornmeal, molasses and watermelon. She nurtures maternal energy."
"Oya, St. Theresa, ruler of the winds, her colors are red, brown, purple and orange. She can effect great change."
"Oshun, Mother of Charity, she rules love and fertility, her colors are yellow and green and her favorite food is pumpkin and French pastry."
"Chango, St. Jerome, whom we honor with the fire dance, rules sky, trees and lightening."
"And Ojun, who rules iron and deep woods."
She rose from the table and took a small red flannel bag and thread of black yarn from the bureau drawer. As she sat down again she explained the bags purpose, "this is Gris-Gris, which comes from the French word Gris, which means gray, a mixture of black and white. We fill it with Wanga, roots and herbs mixed with powerful ingredients and anointed with Holy oils."
"For you my Lamb, we will call to Yemaya to fill you with the love of a mother, so you may love your child without condition without judgment." She opened a drawer from the spice box and removed two watermelon seeds, as well as a small piece of blue and white gingham and placed them in the bag. "We will call to Oshun, that she may bring you love in its purest form." She placed two pumpkin seeds in the Gris-Gris and a swatch of yellow and green, "And lastly we will call to Oya who rules the winds and can bring change to your life and heart." She placed pieces of paper colored in red, brown purple and orange in the cloth bag. She bowed her head and began speaking in a low voice, mumbling words Kitty couldn't understand, when she was finished she made the sign of the cross.
She began opening and closing the many drawers of the chest on the table taking out a sprinkle of this and another of that, "Tansy Herb, to honor the Mother of the Christ child. Colts Foot leaves to give your heart peace and tranquility. Agrimony, to overcome and banish bad memories and evil spirits. Black Cohosh Root, to give strength to your courage. Cardamon Seed to open your heart to love. Goats Rue Herb, for healing, Mustard Seed for faith, Raspberry leaves to protect the child in its journey to life."
Looking to Kitty she said, "I will need something of the man you love, the one you would wish to have been the father of this child; hair, fingernail …"
Kitty shook her head, "That's impossible … he lives hundreds of miles away …"
The Voodoo Queen looked doubtful, "For the Magick to work …"
Suddenly remembering, she carried her own talisman of luck in her handbag Kitty said, "Wait …" She opened her purse and pulled out the badge. "His blood was on this badge. I never washed it off. It just wore off."
Marie took the offering. Holding it tight in her own hand, she closed her eyes and remained motionless for a heartbeat before opening them again. She smiled, "This will work well, I feel his power, it is very strong." She handed Kitty a scissor shaped like a bird, "Cut off a lock of your hair long enough to tie around this token." When that was accomplished the badge was placed in the Gris-Gris. She tied the sack with the black yarn, and then sprinkled it with more oils.
"I call upon the loa to replace hate with love and unite love with heart. As was so, is so and shall evermore be so, one with God and God with one."
To Kitty she said, "Open up your dress and place the Gris-Gris on your left side next to the baby. Do not open the bag, do not let anyone else touch it or the Magick will be lost." She waited until Kitty had done as she was told before she continued with the rest of the spell. "You must go to the Cathedral of St Louis every morning at 8:00 to the Chapel of the Holy Mother and say ten Hail Mary's."
"But … I'm not Catholic, I don't know how to say the Hail Mary."
From the bureau drawer she removed a Holy Card and Rosary beads and placed the items in Kitty's hand," This will guide you." She leaned over and placed a kiss on Kitty's cheeks first one and then the other. "See in your mind the way you would have things be, believe in your heart it is so, and it shall be so."
She'd felt foolish in coming there, and she felt foolish in leaving, but while she had been there she had believed. For a brief span in time she had felt certain things would work out. Renee was still waiting in the front parlor. She smiled with bright eyes, and looped an arm around Kitty, "Tante Marie is very powerful, yes?"
"Yes."