12. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Angevyn
T he fingers move from my body as they carry my limp form into the circle, laying me on my back. Still unable to move or speak, I can only watch in horror.
Ma’dam Austeen steps back into the circle, another bowl in her hands.
“Bani lènmi yo.” Banish the enemies .
“Ki moun ki swete nou maladi.” Who wish us ill .
“Aksepte san an.” Accept the blood .
“Nan moun ki touye.” Of those who kill .
Like when Austeen sprinkled the blood around the circle’s edge, she tosses the fluid from the bowl over my naked body with each phrase. It is similar to being baptized, anointing me. The wind has picked up, and the full moon is now clear directly above us. The moonlight bathes the circle in its brightness.
“Prèt Clovys.” Priest Clovys.
“Mwen rele w, mon amour.” I summon you, my love .
“Tande vwa mwen.” Hear my voice .
“Santi batman kè mwen.” Feel my heartbeat .
“Se pou nou pa janm fè pati ankò.” May we never part again .
Ma’dam Austeen tosses the bowl into the air. The remainder of the contents rain over both of us as it spins end over end. When I see Austeen turn red, I realize the bowl has blood in it. More tears fill my eyes as I realize that this blood has come from Brier and Torque.
Austeen steps from the circle, takes a red candle, and lights it. She walks around the outer perimeter several times. The candle’s flame grows higher with each pass she takes by my feet. Unsure how many times she does this, she finally stops at my feet. Her eyes have taken on a red glow matching the color of the candle wax.
“Lanmou mwen pou lavi ou.” My love for your life .
“Se pou nou viv ak renmen pou tout tan.” May we live and love forever .
“Nou pap janm separe.” Never shall we part .
“Jiskaske ou jwenn kè ou.” Until you find your heart .
With those words, Austeen tosses the lit candle at me. The hot wax burns my flesh, causing me to cry in pain as my body writhes within the circle. The pain prevents me from fully registering that I can move or speak. It doesn’t matter, knowing that I will not get far.
Slowly, the pain starts to subside, the color seeping out of the world, turning everything black, white, and shades of gray. As the pain lessens, I am able to rise to my feet. Moving from the circle, I realize a man stands where I once lay. Looking back to Ma’dam Austeen, her smile grows steadily larger. Tears leak from the corners of her eyes.
She steps into the circle and into the man’s embrace.
“Clovys, mon amour.” Clovys, my love .
“Nou se youn ankò.” We are one again .
As Clovys embraces Austeen, the cloaked figures gather around the circle, dropping to their knees and bowing their heads. Clovys ignores them, looking at me.
“Mèsi, Scorpion,” he says. Thank you, Scorpion. “Sakrifis ou pa pou gremesi.” Your sacrifice is not in vain.
I rush toward the couple as they turn back to face the house. Reaching for an arm, my hand passes right through them. Holding my hand up in shock, it is only then I realize that my body is transparent.
Apparently, the rumors of Clovys being a ghost are true. Somehow, Austeen has managed for me to take his place and for him to take mine.
“Vini lanmou mwen, nou gen travay pou nou fè.” Come my love, we have work to do . Clovys says lovingly to Austeen as they walk away. Their followers rise to their feet once the couple is out of sight, following them in procession.
The End, for now.
Ma’dam Austeen and Monsieur Clovys return in the Havoc Predators MC, Baton Rouge series.