Facilier walked Samantha into her shop and sat her down at her table. She looked up at him and noticed his eyes were still glowing.
"A-are you alright?" She asked cautiously. Facilier, who had been glaring at the door, turned to face her sharply.
"What do y'all think?" He snapped. He glared back at the door. "You should have let me kill 'em."
"It's alrig..." Samantha started to say. Facilier spunn around on his heels.
"It ain't alright!" He snarled. He glared at her, breathing heavily.
"What are you so mad about?" Samantha retorted. Facilier looked at her and sighed, his face softening.
"If I had shown up even a second later," he said, closing his eyes and clentching his fists.
"But you didn't," Samantha said, trying to calm him. Facilier shook his head.
"But what if I had?" He asked. He sat down and and burried his face in his hands. "If I hadn't lost my temper, you never would have been put into that situation." Samantha stared at him, stunned.
He's blamin' himself, she thought. "Facilier?" She asked, causing him to nod. "This isn't your fault." She sighed. "I should have told you about Joe in the first place."
"Who the hell is Joe?" He asked, not looking at her.
"My brother," Samantha said earning a sarcastic laugh from Facilier.
"Yeah," he said, looking up at her. "Ya really should have chere." He stared at her for a moment before smiling slightly. "So what exactly are doin' 'bout that?"
"I ain't gonna tell him a word about you," Samantha said. "And I guess you just have to say away from my shop while he's here." Facilier nodded.
"I suppose," he said. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Samantha tensed and looked at Facilier.
"Joe's not comin' for another week," she said. Facilier got to his feet and walked to the door. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Standing out in the alleyway was Lester. Facilier glared at the other man.
"What do y'all want Lesty?" He hissed. Lester glared at him.
"Would y'all mind tellin' me what the hell's been goin' on all night?" He asked.
"Your friends," Facilier spat, "were making the mistake of threatenin' someone I care about." Lester smiled and glanced at Samantha.
"Well," he said. "It ain't like you can blame 'em. She should be such a lovely target." Facilier glared at Lester and grabbed the other man by the throat. He lifted Lester up and slammed him against the wall.
"Say that again!" he snarled, his eyes starting to glow. "I dare you." Lester coughed.
"Y-you can't," he gasped. "D-Doris. You promised." Facilier stared at Lester, his grip loosening. Finally he let go of Lester all together. Lester backed away from Facilier, panting. He glared at the witchdoctor before a wicked smile crossed his face.
"Pity," he said. "You and Sammy seem to be gettin' awfully close. I wonder what the courts would think of your friendship? I've seen y'all kiss. 'Gainst the law for a negro to kiss a white woman, ain't it Facy?" Facilier stared at him.
"You wouldn't," he said, not believing the words as they left his mouth. Lester grinned.
"Looks like I'll see you hang yet, eh Mongrel?" Lester asked. Samantha glared at Lester and stepped forward.
"You say a word against Facilier and I'm tellin' my brother everythin'," she threatened. Lester chuckled.
"And what, exactly, would he do?" Lester asked. Samantha smiled.
"Ever hear of the Klan?" She asked. Lester's eyes widened.
"He ain't," he said. Samantha chuckled.
"I'm from Mississippi," she said. "I know few people who ain't. And let me tell you," she added, walking towards Lester. "My brother and I may not always agree, but he loves his baby sister with all his heart. If I say one word against you," she smiled, "that's it." Lester stared at her for what seemed like forever. Finally, he scowled and left the shop, muttering something about "that whore bitch." Calmly, Samantha walked up to the door and slammed it behind him. Then, laughing, she turned back to Facilier. "Hopefully that keeps him away," she said. She looked at Facilier and frowned. The witchdoctor had gone deathly pale and was trembling. Samantha frowned and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"What's wrong?" She asked. "Lester's gone." Facilier nodded but didn't stop shaking.
"He means it," Facilier said. "He meant every word he said."
"So did I," Samantha said bluntly. Facilier looked down at her. "If he tells the police, they may as well hang me too," she told him. "Cause that's the only way they'd get anywhere near you." Facilier shook his head.
"I ain't worth it," he said. He looked at her and gave her hug. "Thanks though. It's nice to know I've got someone on my side." Samantha chuckled.
"Stay here tonight," she said. Facilier nodded.
"Alright," he said. "Just let me take a walk first. Clear my head." Samantha nodded and headed towards her bedroom as Facilier stepped outside of the shop.