A Darker Shade of Midnight (10 page)

“Even doing the dishes must be a joy in here.” LaShaun forgot to be suspicious or cautious as she went to the sink with a bay window, and the view that left her speechless. “You have my dream kitchen. Not that I cook.”

Chase laughed. “I can’t take credit. My sister and her husband had the old family house before me. They did the upgrades. You should see the master bedroom.”

“S’cuse me?” LaShaun faced him and crossed her arms.

“I was just saying.” Chase cleared his throat. “Kasey and Mike did a great job fixing up the place.”
 

“Right.” LaShaun pursed her lips.

“That wasn’t a come on, honest. Not after what you’ve been through today.” Chase wore a slight frown of concern.

 
LaShaun relaxed her stony expression. “I know. Being defensive is just a reflex action with me.”

“I understand why.” Chase grabbed a first aid kit from the kitchen counter. “Come over here and let me look at those.”

LaShaun followed instructions. His large hands were gentle as he moistened a soft sterile cotton pad and cleaned the scratches on her arms with warm water. He moved with practiced care swabbing the cleaned skin with peroxide. When she hissed from the burning , he pursed his lips and blew lightly on her flesh. She gazed at the dark brown hair on his head so close. Without thinking, she lightly combed the fingers of her right hand through the waves. Chase looked into her eyes, and any barrier they might have been between them crumbled. LaShaun need to feel comforted and cared for after being on her own for so long. She kissed him hard. He didn’t hesitate to respond, pressing her body to his strong chest. A very different and pleasurable burning sensation turned up the heat in her.

“Maybe we…” Chase mumbled between alternate kisses to her mouth and throat.

She cut off his sentence by covering his mouth with hers, then tugging at the belt around his waist. In seconds, they found themselves wrapped in a tight embrace. Hunger clouded LaShaun’s awareness of her surroundings. When he touched her, she caressed him in turn. The heat between them felt like a separate living being. She could feel how much he wanted to be inside her, to know her completely. And she wanted him just as much. They ended up in the master bedroom, but LaShaun didn’t notice the décor. Not for a long time. For only a few seconds LaShaun tensed. She’d been on her guard for so long that letting go took effort. Chase used his hands and tongue to convince her. She let him take control and pure bliss was her reward. When he was inside her, LaShaun lost all resistance. His moans mixed with hers until they both reached the height of ecstasy. After, they lay in each other’s arms on top of the king-sized bed’s comforter. LaShaun rested against his long, lean body. She finally looked around the bedroom through half-closed eyes.
 

“Nice room.”

“Thanks,” he murmured. “That was out of this world.”

“Ah, you’re making me blush.” LaShaun poked his chest with a forefinger.

“Seriously, I had an out of body experience, like you turned into a whirlwind. Don’t laugh but I heard music, like wind chimes. And I swear your eyes even changed color for a minute.” Chase gave a long gasp of satisfaction. “Just… wow.”

LaShaun sat up. “What else happened?”

“A lot of really, really good vibrations up and down my…” Chase reached for her, but LaShaun was off the bed. “Hey, come back here.”

“In a minute.”

She found her clothes in the hallway and took them back to the bedroom. To her relief the amulet was still in her shirt pocket. She draped her clothes on a chair and climbed next to him on the bed again. Chase opened his eyes, smiled, and pulled her down against his body. Chase rubbed her shoulder then touched the pendant between her breasts.
 

“You ever take this off?”

 
“It’s my favorite piece of jewelry.” She put the leather cord holding the amulet around his neck.
 
LaShaun forced herself to speak in a light tone “I want you to wear yours all the time as well.”
 

 
“Does this mean I’m your date for the prom?” Chase whispered.

LaShaun closed her eyes and pressed as close to him as she could. “Something like that.”

* * *

One hour later LaShaun got home. Tasha was in the kitchen writing her notes in the folder for the nurse to review. After giving LaShaun a brief review of the day, the home health aide left. LaShaun went to Monmon Odette’s bedroom.

“My, my, look at the time. You had a nice
long
ride in the country.” Monmon Odette sat in the chair next to her bed. She peered at LaShaun over her reading glasses.

LaShaun smiled at her. “I missed the bayou more than I realized.”

Monmon Odette put down the leather bound book she was reading. “Hmm, you been out communing with nature. No wonder you look so refreshed and relaxed.”

LaShaun cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Being back home might not be all bad. Not that I’m looking forward to dealing with Rita. I didn’t realize how much she resented me. And since when did she decide to take advice from Azalei is what I want to know.”

Her grandmother’s amused smile of mischief faded. She sighed and put the book on the nightstand. “I know. Something else I have to blame on myself. Promise me you won’t play favorites with your children, Cher. All kind of evil is set in motion when you do.”

“You did well by all your children and grandchildren,” LaShaun protested.
 

“Non.” Monmon Odette shook her head slowly. “Oh I tried to do for them all, but they knew. From the moment Francine was born. we had this connection different from my other children. I can’t explain why I loved her so. That love did her no good.”

“You chastise yourself too much, sweet grandmother.” LaShaun pulled up the tapestry-covered footstool and sat near her.

“Ah well, there is no changing what was set in motion years ago.” Monmon Odette wore a sad expression. She gestured that she wanted to get up and get into bed, and LaShaun helped her. Once tucked in she glanced at LaShaun. “Now what you gonna do about Rita?”

“I’ll let the lawyers sort it out.”
 

Monmon Odette merely nodded. She seemed weaker than usual. “Take care, child. Something wicked stirs.”
 

Monmon Odette said so softly that LaShaun leaned down to hear her better. Instead of saying more, Monmon Odette pointed toward the window. LaShaun went to look, but only saw trees and shrubs. When she turned around to question Monmon Odette her eyes were closed. Moments later the soft raspy breathing signaled she had slipped into slumber.
 

Moments later LaShaun went to the back porch. She stood gazing across the backyard to the woods just beyond. Notes of her grandmother’s favorite Creole tune carried on the early evening air that brushed LaShaun’s cheek. Wind toyed with the leaves and long blades of palm shrubs. A sudden gust blew the scent of jasmine around her. LaShaun went down the back steps. A gentle force seemed to tug at her inside, moving her feet forward to what she called her “Magic Trees” as a child. In moments twilight shades of green and gray wrapped around her as she walked down a path. After a few yards, a gate seemed to spring right out of the lush foliage. An old wrought iron gate enclosed the Rousselle family cemetery.

“Welcome home.”
 

The sound whisked by LaShaun’s right ear, a soft whisper. A swirl of leaves formed a circle; a smiling face. She closed her eyes and opened them again, wondering if she’d imagined it. . LaShaun stood staring down at the unmistakable shape until it shifted with another push of air. Mist crept along the ground.

“You’ve been waiting for me,” LaShaun said.
 

“Yes,” came the reply in a soft hiss.

Her heart thumped hard enough to cause pain in her chest. “Have you harmed anyone because of me?”

 
“For you.”
 

A faint echo floated on the breeze; so slight the sound could have been an illusion. LaShaun felt disoriented as the leaves seemed to shift around her. Was she alone or surround by a crowd of others?
 

Then the air went still. Nothing moved, not even the small animals that filled every inch of Louisiana’s verdant sub tropical landscape.
 
Silence stretched until LaShaun thought she would scream. She steadied her breathing to calm down. A prickle started beneath LaShaun’s skin. The sensation grew like fire ants on her arms and legs. Ignoring the trick meant to distract her, she began a prayer in Creole French, her voice low at first, then rising.

“Oh Holy St. Anthony, I pray to you the Saint of Miracles hear my prayer. Amen.” LaShaun closed her eyes, swaying to the sound of chanting in her head. Then it stopped. Strengthened and resolute LaShaun opened her eyes again. “I want you gone.”

The air crackled as though static electricity filled the atmosphere. The wind picked up. Leaves and branches swirled around LaShaun, dancing only inches from her body. Yet, none touched her. She tried to scream, but a vacuum sucked up the sound. Despite the riotous movement around her LaShaun heard nothing. Her scalp tingled, and she wanted to move, but her feet seemed rooted as though a magnet held her in place. Maybe it was her own fear at the wild force, and the knowledge that she had a hand in setting it loose. Then a clear male voice, accented with a strange musical lilt, answered her.
 

 
“I am yours, and you are mine.”

* * *

The next day the home health aide arrived at her usual time in the morning. She came in and went into the bedroom. Moments later she called LaShaun to Monmon Odette’s bedroom. Tasha’s serious expression put LaShaun on alert.

“What’s wrong?”
 

“Her pulse is a bit erratic and her blood pressure has dropped. I don’t think all this drama is doing her any good.” Tasha frowned at the numbers she written. “Good thing this is the day the nurse will come by.”

LaShaun sat next to the bed. She kissed Monmon Odette’s hand and watched her drift off to sleep.
 
After a few moments, she gently placed her grandmother’s hand on top of the quilt and patted it. She was tiptoeing toward the bedroom door when Monmon Odette’s voice stopped her. LaShaun turned around. Her grandmother spoke with great effort.
 

“You saw, didn’t you? Search the scrolls.”
 
Monmon Odette voice faded.
 

“What do you mean? I don’t understand. Tell me, Monmon. Tell me where that spirit, that loa came from.” LaShaun went to the bed and knelt next to it. “And how long has he inhabited our woods?”

Monmon Odette tried to speak again but let out a wheezing moan instead. A gurgling deep in her chest caused her to gasp, and her eyes grew cloudy. LaShaun grabbed her hand. The tips of her fingers had grown cold.
 

Tasha, come quick. Tasha!” LaShaun rubbed her grandmother’s hands trying to push the creep of death from them. “No, no. Please give us more time.”

Tasha rushed in with a male nurse right behind. “Let us take a look.”

The nurse lifted Monmon Odette’s eyelids then used the stethoscope around his neck to listen t her heart, then her breathing. He turned to Tasha. “Call 911.”

Ten minutes felt like ten years to LaShaun. Ken explained in stark detail that Monmon Odette’s blood pressure had risen very high then dropped. He and Tasha continued to monitor her pulse and heart rate. Finally, sirens whined close. LaShaun ran to the front door and let them in. The next two hours blurred from frantic activity to waiting in the uncomfortable hospital chairs. Eventually the doctor came out. Her expression said it all.
 

“We got her blood pressure stabilized, but...” Dr. Hu sat down next to LaShaun. “You need to call the rest of the family.”

LaShaun could only nod. She cried in a way she hadn’t since Francine had died.

The doctor stepped aside and let a nurse attempt to console her. After a few moments, LaShaun dried her eyes and assured the nurse she would be okay. The nurse left as LaShaun dialed Uncle Leo’s home number into her cell phone. Five minutes later Deputy Broussard walked into the lobby. LaShaun looked at him but kept on talking. Uncle Leo promised to assemble the rest of the family then hung up. LaShaun closed the flip phone. Chase sat down in one of the plastic and vinyl chairs in the row facing LaShaun.
 

“You must have the 911 call on your radio, right? I’m glad you’re here.” LaShaun took his hand.
 

“I’m not here about your grandmother.” Chase shook his head.
 
“But yeah, we knew you’d be here because of the 911 call.”

“We?”
 

“This is a bad time to talk about this, but Azalei turned up and–”

“Good. Lock her up, and put Rita in the same cell while you’re at it,” LaShaun said. Then she breathed in and out to steady her nerves. “Look, I’m just upset right now. I can deal with those two later.”
 

“We have to talk about this now, and it’s not good,” Chase said.
 
He lightly brushed his fingers against LaShaun’s left cheek, but dropped his hand at the sound of footsteps and stood.