9. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Evie
B rixon lays everything bare before me, taking the envelope and dumping its contents onto the old, 1920’s trunk that Em and I turned into a makeshift coffee table. My eyes widen as I see the scattered photographs of my life, a birth certificate with my first name, last name, and the correct birthdate. It states that my parents are Marcus Boudreaux and V.D. All of these things are pieces of a shattered past that I never knew existed.
“You’re telling me that the same man who hurt my best friend is technically my father? This can’t be true! Brixon?” My voice shakes as I search his eyes, desperate to find some trace of a joke, but the gravity of his expression crushes that hope.
“Evie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was the one who hurt Emily. He’s hurt a lot of women over the years,” he replies, trying to soften the impact, but it only deepens the wound.
“What about the woman who’s supposed to be my mother, V.D.? Who is she? Why didn’t they want me? How did my mama and gran get me?” The questions spill out of me, frantic, and unrelenting as the weight of my shattered reality threatens to pull me under.
My whole life has been a lie.
“Your mom, Daphne, was technically your dad’s sister, so your gran is still your gran. I don’t know the specifics, just what is in that file.” He tries to explain, but I just don’t understand.
I always thought my dad was some rogue witch, a villain destroying lives. But according to this, and everything I’ve learned, he did that, and so much more, in ways I never imagined.
Everything has been a lie…
“I need to know everything about him and where to find him. I could give a shit about the woman, V.D, fuck her! She didn’t want me. I don’t want her. I want him though. I want him to pay for what he did to Emily, and I want her to deliver the punishment!” I let my anger get the best of me and lash out a bit at Brix.
“Evie, calm down. We can’t do anything tonight except be together. If that means you need to throw one of your bratty little fits and stomp around, cry, or throw things, hell, even go torture some asshat. Hell, I’ll help you feed them to your gators, I’m here for it. All of it, I got you.” Brixon leans in cupping my cheek, “I’ll always have you, from now on.” His voice softens before he places a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth as he pulls me into his arms.
I melt into him. I let all the emotions I’m bottling up out. Brixon just hugs me, allowing me to just feel it all.
We stay like that for a while, just letting me sob, cry, and process my emotions, as I lay on his chest. I finally suck it up and sit up.
He wipes away my tears with the pads of his thumbs before he kisses my forehead. He leans his forehead against mine, “I can’t make you any promises when it comes to Boudreaux, he already has a price on his head from what I understand. He has been in hiding for a couple of months at least. Liam is working on getting us more information on the guy.” He says softly, still trying to comfort me.
“I need to get the letter from my mama, will you stay with me while I read it? I think it’s going to give us the answers we need?” I ask, not sure what all his plans for tonight were.
Whatever they were, this just threw a giant ass wrench in them.
“I’m not going anywhere tonight. I plan to stay right here with you until you kick me out.” Brixon smiles down at me, and I can’t resist pulling him in for a small kiss before I get up and go get the letter out of my bag. I brought everything back from the bayou to put in my secret safe here at the house. I don’t think Emily even knows where it is.
I hurry up to my room. I remove the larger-than-life portrait of a second line from a funeral I bought from a local artist.
I turn the little black knob, to the correct numbers, 17-26-14, listening for the click of the lock to open the safe. I smile thinking about what the numbers stand for. The days of my grans, mamas, and my birthday.
I grab the grimoire, crystals, and my whole bag I filled with objects from the attic, in my grans old house in the bayou. I head back downstairs so Brix can see it all. He has been open and honest so far. He deserves the same from me.
I drop it next to the couch and grab another slice of pizza before I sit back down and pull the letter out.
“I’ll give you time to read the letter while I go make us some drinks. Want anything in particular?” he asks, being polite, and so sweet. He always was.
“Just bring the bottle of amaretto from the freezer, margarita mix, and a sprite for me please.” I reply as I take the letter out of my bag, place it on my lap, and stare at it.
“I’ll just bring an array of alcohol and things to mix it with. If that letter is anything like pops was, you’re gonna need it.” He gives me a knowing sad look and picks my hand up and kisses my palm before getting up with a sigh.
I look at the letter the same way I have several times since Noah’s dad gave it to me. This time I’m actually opening it.
I look up to my mama’s urn, “You have some explaining to do woman. But thank you for being my mom when you didn’t have to be.” I blow her a kiss before cracking the dark red wax seal embossed with a lovely Saints fleur-de-lis and pull out the burnt edged folded paper.
For my precious daughter Evie,
You are and will always be my daughter, whether I gave birth to you or not. More than anything else, believe that my sweet girl. I will always be your mother.
I know that you are probably shitting bricks right now if you are reading this letter!
I’m sure you and Brixon have a million questions. I wish I could see the two of you together again. I’m sorry that you both had to lose so much time together, but we all felt that the ancestors knew best.
Maybe we were wrong. After the accident, we just wanted to protect you both.
As for your father, he was my brother, and before he became involved with the Saints, he was a good man. He wanted to protect you. I saw it in his eyes the night he brought you to me. There was no warning, he just showed up with you in the basket I always let you use for your dolls. He said you were our blood, and that was all that mattered. He urged me to keep you safe at all costs.
I saw a flicker of the man he used to be that night. I promised that as long as he never came back, that I would raise you as my own. Your gran was ecstatic to finally have a grandchild.
I was never able to conceive a child and up until that night had thought that I would never know that kind of love. You my darling girl were the love of my life!
Mark gave me your original birth certificate and a fake one that was never questioned, stating that I had you at the hospital in the city, with me as your mother and father marked unknown. We had already been shunned, so the coven never questioned whether you were mine or not considering your gran and I had turned into hermits, rarely leaving the house.
I honestly don’t know much about your birth mother, other than she worked for the Saints. My brother told me the night he brought you to me that he would always choose her, until you came along.
He was afraid for your safety if he kept you. She didn’t want you but instead of selling you, he gave you to me! It was his way of choosing you over everything to make sure you would be loved and away from whatever life he was involved in.
Unfortunately, there is no way out for you. Your soul was promised to Brixon’s the moment you were born.
Do you remember me telling you the real story behind the casket girls in New Orleans when you were little? That is the story of our ancestors. That is the story you need to remember to understand.
Every century or so, a LaBlanc Witch and a Blazendel Saint is chosen by the ancestors who suffered under their names. Blazendel brought our ancestor Dalina LaBlanc from Rome. She came willingly, leaving her coven and family behind, for love.
Soon after that, they worked to bring her family, and the witches who were being persecuted in Rome, mainly all over Italy. They brought them here to save them, but the Saints took them. Taught them to be whores and passed them around before finally choosing to marry them. The Saint’s only wanted the witches for their power.
The Saints’ laws came from the suffering of our ancestors, and they have sought retribution since.
Unfortunately, you and Brixon are the chosen. We knew from your birth marks. You both have the mark of a Saint on your inner right thighs, just as every chosen has.
Dalina LaBlanc decided enough was enough and sent the butterflies as a protection for you both. She used a witch to help her, but I don’t know who.
She told me that she had never seen a love like yours since Blazendel found her and she fell in love with him.
She was tired of watching her family still be persecuted for the mistakes she made back in 1728. She wanted to give you both a fighting chance. The ancestors went quiet that night.
Dalina believes that your love will be the thing that saves you both and future generations. You my darling will break the curse.
Typically, one or both of you would already be dead. The fact that you are both still thriving means that it’s possible.
Every spell, curse, magical doing, has a loophole. Find it! Unfortunately, I fell short of figuring it out before I had to leave you.
I know the ancestors have spoken to you all this time. I’m sorry I made you feel crazy along with everyone else. You have always known your truth. I had to keep you safe.
Things are about to change for you. Dalina spoke to me that night, letting me know what she had done. I explained it to Brixon’s parents after we found you both.
Brixon’s SUV had rolled several times and hit a tree. Red and blue butterflies covered that car, protecting you all.
When you all woke up in the hospital, we realized that we couldn’t lose either of you. It took us all night to find you and the others. When we finally did, and you were all clinging to life, I couldn’t lose you again like that. Ever. We made the decision when you woke up and didn’t remember each other.
Cami will remember you again when you see her. Rosie will help watch over you both as well. She has also made promises to keep you safe.
I know you lost a lot in this, but your life meant more to me. I know we could have chosen to break the spell when you woke up, but we knew one of you could die. We couldn’t take that chance.
Brixon’s family moved to Florida within a few days, and we moved on with life. You were sad most of the time, not knowing what to do with your free time, going to a new school, until you went to college. You became strong, fearless, and independent again. I’m so proud of you.
Now more than ever, I know you can thrive through anything. There is a small panel in my closet that is loose. Behind it you will find more answers.
Then get the large black trunk in the attic. These are your fathers’ things.
There is also a loose floorboard under your grans bed. She left you several things to help you through this.
We will always be with you Genevieve.
Blessed be my sweet girl.
Love Always,
Your Mama
Tears stream down my face as I look up from the letter, suddenly aware of Brixon’s presence beside me. I hadn’t even noticed he’d returned, sitting patiently as I process everything.
He’s cleaned up the coffee table, neatly arranging the contents around a large tray filled with liquor bottles and mixers. Three shot glasses are lined up on a smaller wooden tray next to my bottle of amaretto, and another tray holds an ice-cold bottle of peppermint schnapps, with three full shot glasses waiting alongside it.
“Pick your poison, Eves.” He looks at me and back to the coffee table.
I set the letter back on top of its envelope and scooch to the edge of the couch, sucking in my snot. Brixon grabs a tissue from the box on the end table and hands it to me.
I blow my nose and laugh thinking how unattractive I look right now. I grab the first shot from the amaretto tray and slam it quickly, feeling the alcohol burn going down. I take the next two back-to-back and look to Brixon who hasn’t touched one yet.
“Go ahead little witch, I drank an entire bottle the night of my pops funeral, when I found out about you, and all of this.”
“Your dad died? What about Dahlia?” I ask, mortified.
“They are both gone now. It’s okay, tonight is about you and me. We will get to all of that later, I promise.” He says sweetly, just as his phone rings.
I let the tears continue to fall at the news of his parents. We really are alone in this now.
He answers, grumbling, “Seriously? Now?” questioning whoever it is.
“Fine, I’m on my way!” He says a bit more harshly than he probably should have.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“I’m sorry, Emily is coming back home, me and the guys have to go to work.” He says cryptically, refusing to look me in the eyes.
“Mark? Or something you haven’t told me?” I look at him and sigh. I don’t have to touch him to read him. He is an open book when it comes to me. Always was.
He looks me in the eyes and softens. His warm hands cup my face just before he gives me the sweetest kiss, then takes it away just as fast, “I promise I will tell you everything when I get back.” He smiles, letting me know it may not be Mark, but something to do with Mark.
I sit back on the couch watching as Brixon goes out the door just as Emily comes back in.
“Hey bitch, wanna do shots with me and find lost treasure?” I smile as I pick up mama’s letter, handing it to her as she comes into the living room and sits where Brix just was a minute ago.
I pour another shot and down it.
“Other than under Liam, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Joke! Kind of. I’m trying to play hard to get, but damn is that man making it difficult.” Em huffs, grabs a shot, and throws the clear liquid into her mouth without spilling a drop, “Fuck! That burns. Who the fuck likes peppermint?” her words come out as a loud strenuous whisper as she picks up another and downs it.
“Brix, he used to just like it as a breath refresher. Better?” I ask, laughing as her hands flap so hard I think she might take off flying.
“Oh yeah.” She nods as she picks up the letter, sits back on the couch, and starts reading.
Her eyes go wide a few times, and she mumbles here and there, until she finishes the letter with tears in her eyes.
“Evie, I don’t even know what to say about all of this, except that we need more alcohol. Let’s see what clues your mom left you.” Em tries her best to smile through the tears that have won and spilled over. She places her hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze while wiping her own tears with her free hand.
“I know right!” I pull my hand from hers and blush at the image I just got of her with Liam’s head between her legs. I reach to grab the bottle and pour myself another shot, deciding fuck the tiny glass, and just drink straight from the bottle.
I tip up the bottle of Disaronno, curling my lips around the large rim. I let the dark amber liquid fill my mouth, hitting every taste bud. I let myself feel the burn before I put the bottle down and swallow.
“Okay, we aren’t there yet, Eves. Come on, let’s make some normal drinks now that we have a good buzz going, so we both don’t pass out early.”
“Yeah, we are gonna need our wits about us if we are going to figure out how to break the curse.” My words slur a little and I realize I’m feeling so much better when I think about what the two most important women in my life could have left for me to help deal with whatever this curse is.
I stand up a little too quickly and almost fall back down.
“Fuck, I’m such a lightweight!” I laugh.
“Well, if you would drink with me and Lily every once in a while, you wouldn’t be.” Em gives me a side eye.
“Hey Google, play some music!” I holler as I make my way into the kitchen with Em still carrying my bottle of liquor.
“Cherry Bomb,” by The Runaways, blares through the speakers and we both start singing and dancing as we make drinks.
“It’s like midnight margaritas night, just without margaritas, and at seven p.m. instead of midnight.” I smile wide at my best friend.
“Yeah, and half the time, when we have our monthly midnight margarita night, you bail! So, yeah, this is different.”
“Yeah, well there were extenuating circumstances that needed my attention.” I attempt to defend myself.
Em busts out laughing, “Yeah, feeding the gators.” She makes air quotes as she ribs me a bit.
“Exactly!” I chuckle darkly