CHAPTER 32

“YEMAYA!” A WARM, sultry voice whispered. “Wake up! We need to talk.”

Groaning, Yemaya rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head.

“Yemaya, Dakota needs you.”

Stirring restlessly, Yemaya struggled against the exhaustion that was holding her captive. Dakota needed her. It was all she could think about as she fought her way to consciousness. “Dakota?”

“No, daughter, it’s Mari.”

Opening her eyes, she gazed into the pale blue eyes of her ancestor.

“Mari, what happened?” She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Around them was a glorious meadow filled with thousands of flowers. It was a place she had visited before in the spirit world whenever Mari or Maopi needed to speak to her.

“Dakota is in trouble. Maopa can feel her distress, but we can’t locate her. Something blocks her energies from us.”

“How can that be? I thought the spirits could see everything.”

“Even we have limitations. Spirits feel only that which is of their own.”

“But you are the Earth Mother. Everything living is of your own making.”

“Not everything. The Earth has evolved. She has become the creator of life and occasionally its destroyer. Even I no longer control her.”

“What can you tell me about Dakota?”

“Only that she is unconscious and drugged. Because of this, she doesn’t dream, so we’re unable to reach her mind. Whatever it is, it’s strong and suppresses almost all her mental activities.”

“Fuck! What about Sarpe? Or Ekimmu? Can either of them help?”

“Not with this, but Sarpe has gone to Ekimmu to let her know of Dakota’s disappearance. I know they’ll do whatever they can.”

“Thank you. Let me know if you find anything. I have to go.”

“I will. Now go! I’m meeting with Intunecat. He may know something. He sees more than I, and he has a special connection with Dakota.”

Nodding, Yemaya lay down and closed her eyes. She didn’t care for the last remark but knew it was true. As she drifted off, she felt the warm lips of her ancestor press gently against her cheek.

“Be safe, daughter.”

Yemaya awoke to the sound of her phone ringing. Hoping it was Dakota, she lunged for it, knocking it onto the floor.

“Damn!” she swore, grabbing it. “Hello?”

“Ms. Lysanne, I’m sorry to disturb you, but we just received a message that Ms. Devereaux has been in an accident and needs you to meet her. She gave an address.”

“The call was from Ms. Devereaux?”

“It doesn’t say. I’m sorry, Ms. Lysanne. The message was just passed to me by our reservation clerk.”

“Give me the address.”

 

*  *  *

Within minutes, Yemaya was in a taxi heading to the Warehouse District. Once there, she paid the driver and walked quickly toward the address left on the message. A light shone through the office window indicating someone was inside. Knocking on the door, she stepped back as it swung open. A large black man stood staring at her for a few moments.

“Ms. Lysanne?”

“Yes, where is Ms. Devereaux?”

“Please come inside, mamselle,” he said, stepping back and motioning for her to enter. “I weel explain everything.”

“You can explain to me from here.”

“Please do not make thees more difficult than eet eez,” he replied, holding up the small medallion Dakota had worn. “You must come with me now. Mambo Lucretia say she weel not harm her if you come quietly. I have twenty meenutes to bring you to her home.” He glanced at his watch.

“Where?” Yemaya demanded angrily.

Boudreau felt a sudden pressure in his head. Reaching up with his right hand, he massaged his temple. “Ms. Lysanne, we really don’t have much time,” he grumbled painfully.

“Then we should go” was all she said.

Nodding, Boudreau stepped past her and walked to his car. Opening the back door, he held it for her until she climbed in. Neither spoke during the ride to Lucretia’s estate. Boudreau tried to concentrate on his driving while Yemaya fought the inner rage that was again struggling to gain control of her mind.

“We are here.”

Looking up, Yemaya merely nodded and opened the door. Boudreau escorted her onto the porch and knocked on the door. When it opened, a tall dark-skinned woman stood before them.

“Ah, Ms. Lysanne. Please come in.”

“Where is Dakota?” Yemaya growled.

“She eez safe for now.”

“What do you want?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Oui. I get you, and Ms. Devereaux weel be released.”

“Why?”

“You have sometheeng I need. You have thees power. I must know what eet eez.”

“I have no power. I am an Illusionist. What I do is very scientific and nothing more.”

“Pleeze do not take me for the fool. We both know better.”

“You know nothing,” Yemaya hissed, her eyes burning darkly.

“Mais you are wrong. I know much,” Lucretia countered, switching her gaze beyond Yemaya to Boudreau.

Before Yemaya could react, she felt a pain exploding in her head, followed by darkness.

“Tie her and prepare her for the ceremony. I weel have what she has.”

Walking to the back of the house, she opened a door beneath the stairwell and switched on the light. Descending the steps, she unlocked another door and entered a small room. A night lamp glowed next to a bed. Dakota lay unconscious, her breathing shallow. Lucretia watched Dakota’s chest rising and falling for several moments.

“She eez very beauteeful. Eet eez a shame she must die, but Bondye has ordained thees. I fulfeel my destiny for me and my people.”

Hearing footsteps, the priestess turned to see her servant standing in the doorway.

“Qu’est-ce que c’est?”

“What do you want me to do with her?”

“Bring her along. Capturing Ms. Lysanne was too easy. I do not like eet. Either she plays weeth us or she eez not as powerful as I thought. The journalist weel be our security.”

“As you wish, mistress.”

“Now gather my followers. Tonight weel be a great day for all of us.”

 

*  *  *

Lucretia held the huge snake high above her head displaying it to her followers.

“Regardez, Dambala!”

Looking down at Yemaya, who was tied to a large altar, she smiled smugly.

“Well, Ms. Lysanne. I see you wake up. I regret my rudeness, mais I could not permeet you to use thees power you possess.”

“I told you I do not have any powers,” Yemaya said, her voice cold and emotionless.

“Naturellment. You are only the Illusionist. We weel see. Maybe yes, maybe no.”

Turning to her followers, she forced the serpent’s jaws open, exposing fangs almost two inches long. Squeezing the jaws slightly, a drop of venom formed on the tip of one fang and fell to the ground. A slight hiss escaped from the snake when she laid it between Yemaya’s spread-eagle legs.

Immediately, it coiled in a figure eight, ready to strike anything that moved. Backing away slowly, Lucretia spread her arms wide and raised them toward the blackened sky.

“Thees woman eez a non-believer. Dambala must decide her fate.”

Sensing no immediate threat, the snake slowly uncoiled and began flicking its tongue, tasting the air. Gliding up Yemaya’s right leg, it hesitated for a moment and lay still. Yemaya knew not to move. Trying to break the restraints now would only antagonize the snake, possibly causing it to strike. Feeling impotent, she was aware her own beast was beginning to awaken, sensing her vulnerability. It would make the situation worse since it lacked the control needed to remain calm. Torn between trying to concentrate on the snake’s movements and the awakening of the darkness within her, it was difficult to concentrate on either.

“Perhaps I make a mistake, Ms. Lysanne. Why do you not struggle?” Lucretia asked. Yemaya ignored her. She was more concerned about the serpent. Sensing no immediate threat, it moved across her body searching for the warmest spot to curl up on. Yemaya knew she would have to do something to keep the snake away from her face. A bite there would be fatal.

“Thees is very disappointing.” Lucretia sighed melodramatically, interrupting Yemaya’s thoughts. “I theenk maybe you need a little incentive, oui?” Motioning to one of her serviteurs, she stepped away from the altar and out of Yemaya’s line of sight. From the corner of her eye, Yemaya saw a figure being dragged forward.

“I believe you know Ms. Devereaux,” Lucretia said nonchalantly when her servants pushed Dakota to her knees by the altar. Hands tied in front of her and gagged, Dakota was unable to say anything, but her eyes reflected her fear when she saw the huge snake lying on Yemaya’s chest. Disturbed by the arrival of more people, the snake again coiled, reared back, and flicked its tongue nervously.

“Stay still, Dakota,” Yemaya whispered.

It was the first time Dakota had ever seen Yemaya truly afraid. Sweat ran in rivulets from her lover’s forehead into the hair around her ears. Keeping eye contact, Dakota tried to project a calmness she didn’t feel. She could feel Yemaya’s struggle against her own darkness lurking within the depths of her mind, as well as her attempts to control her fear of the snake. Dakota’s presence would inevitably tip the balance unfavorably against her lover.

“Please,” Dakota prayed, hoping Yemaya would somehow pick up on her thoughts. “Forget me for the moment. You have to control the rage.”

Nodding slightly, Yemaya closed her eyes and concentrated, knowing already there was no chance of freeing either of them. Almost her entire life had been spent perfecting the art of escape. The slightest move would cause the snake to strike. Because it was exceptionally large, it could produce enough venom to kill several people and Yemaya couldn’t be assured it wouldn’t strike at Dakota, who was only a few feet away and on her knees almost eye level with the serpent.

Like a computer, her mind quickly considered different scenarios, but they were just as quickly discarded because of the risks to Dakota. Eventually, she realized she had only one choice. If she released the beast, rather than fight it, there was a chance it could break the bindings holding her.

Yemaya knew it was able to produce an almost inhuman amount of strength. She would take her chances with the snakebite. The alternative was that she and her lover would die. Opening her eyes, she looked longingly at Dakota, hoping she would understand why she was surrendering to the darkness within her.

“Forgive me,” she whispered, her eyes beseeching her lover to trust her.

Dakota frowned, momentarily confused. Only when she saw Yemaya’s dark gray eyes morph to black did she understand her meaning.

“No,” she cried, ripping off the gag, guessing Yemaya’s intent. This can’t be happening, she thought. “Mari, Grandma, where are you?” she silently cried out, praying the spirits would come to their aid.