Chapter 13
Chloe
I ran through the woods, heart in my throat.
I had a terrible feeling. This was inevitable, a slow-motion crash I couldn't stop.
I was dirty, exhausted, hurt. There were scratches all over my arms and legs. I couldn’t think straight, but panic pushed me forward. Adrenaline and the need to survive drove me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a clear direction.
These woods were unfamiliar, and I didn’t have my phone’s GPS to guide me. Nor could I call for help. I sucked in deep breaths. I felt like a fish pulled from the ocean, drowning in the air.
Viola was coming for me.
I could hear the rustle of leaves in the distance. Any minute now, she was going to rush through the undergrowth. And when she did, Viola would plunge a knife through my chest.
Get your ass in gear. Run faster!
So, I took my own advice.
I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, pumping my arms as I went. I was embarrassingly out of shape for someone my age. I made a silent vow to the universe to change my ways. If somebody out there, got me out of this, I’d take up yoga or aerobics. Anything.
Do you hear me? I silently shouted to the heavens. If any deities are watching this shit show I need your help. Now.
Hell, maybe Papa Legba would show up and I could make a bargain with him. Wasn’t that his deal? He helped those at the crossroads, put them on their path. I was at a fork in the road, one path led to certain death, and the other life.
Just don’t let her murder me, too.
It hit me all of a sudden. Was this how Mamie felt? She must have been terrified, running as fast as she could.
“This brings back memories, Chloe.” Evidently, Viola was getting all nostalgic.
I ignored the taunt. She could follow the sound of my voice.
“I’m going to find you,” Viola called. “You might as well give up.”
Chills erupted down my spine. I heard the triumph in her tone.
“I’ve roamed these woods my whole life. I know them like the back of my hand.”
Unexpectedly, there was a glowing, glittering orb hovering in the distance.
It was a greenish-blue sphere, just hanging out, flying five feet in the air. Was it some sort of spotlight? No, too dim. The orb glowed, but it wasn’t bright.
A reflection of someone’s flashlight? No.
Somehow, I just knew, deep in my bones, this wasn’t normal. Yet it didn’t scare me. No, the light was comforting. The orb was oddly familiar. Without even realizing it, I got closer, heading toward the spectral light, as if drawn to it
I smelled the strangest, yet familiar scent on the air. Roses.
The sweet perfume enveloped me like a hug. And I got the sense I wasn’t alone. Something was.... No, someone was here with me.
Someone very familiar. Tears burned my eyes, trickled down my face.
“Mamie?” I whispered.
Of course, there was no answer. Not a verbal one anyway. But the sphere dipped, as if in acknowledgment.
Okay, this is too weird. Am I hallucinating? Losing my mind? Maybe terror had gotten the best of me.
Suddenly, it drifted further away and then stopped, as though expecting me to follow.
And I did. “Do you know the way out of here?”
Once again, it softly bounced like a bubble.
Good God, I’m talking to a ball of light. But, since I didn’t have any better options, I followed it.
Slowly, the sphere guided me off the path, into the thick underbrush to hide me. I could hear Viola thrashing through the woods in the far distance. She was no longer close to me.
With every step, I got closer to safety.
Until I stood on the edge of the woods, in a clearing, near a paved road I didn’t recognize.
“Thank you.”
The orb bobbed in acknowledgement.
I was about to say something else, but the thunder of engines in the distance startled me, coming around the bend in the road. I stepped back instinctively, ready to rush into the forest again, when I noticed the singular headlights—motorcycles.
I heard a familiar voice over the din. “Chloe, is that you? Thank God. Are you okay?”
It’s Saint. He came for me.
Saint pulled up, cut the engine and hopped off his Harley.
The next thing I knew, I was in his arms and I laid my head against his chest. My teeth clicked together as if I were cold, and I nuzzled into Saint’s leather vest, wallowing in the musky scent of him, the familiarity of his touch.
“Chloe? Talk to me.”
“I’m fine.” More or less.
“Where’s Viola?” he asked, clutching my shoulders.
“Wait. How did you know?”
“Maya and Nettie saw you talkin’ to Jeb earlier and you weren’t home when I came by later. I put it together.”
“Yes, but how did you figure out what Viola had done?”
“After we found the blood on your front porch, Nettie told me Viola might have made the corn shuck doll.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because she was afraid somethin’ like this might happen. She wanted the club to handle it, but we had an emergency at the docks to take care of first. It took several hours.” He stared down into my face. “I’m so sorry. She went after you, didn’t she?”
“I’m the one who put myself in her clutches. Wait a minute. How did you find me? I was in the woods.”
“You ain’t gonna believe it.”
“Try me.” Tonight had opened my eyes to a whole host of new ideas.
Saint gripped my wrist. Nettie’s protection charm was still attached.
“Nettie says it’s a tracker. She thought Viola must have been blocking the signal, or she would’ve known you’d gone missin’ earlier.”
“When I left the she shed, I showed up on her radar,” I whispered.
“Yeah, I told you, it was odd.” Saint peered into the woods. “Speakin’ of creepy shit, where is she?”
“In the forest.” I pointed vaguely. “She was chasing me, with a knife.” I clutched his arm. “Viola already killed Jeb.”
“Don’t worry.” There was a grim set to his jaw. “We’ll take care of her.” As if on cue, his brothers slid off their motorcycles and headed toward the trees. For a moment, I’d forgotten about all of them.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really want to know?” he asked.
No, I don’t. I shook my head. I didn’t feel bad for Viola. She deserved retribution.
“After tonight, you won’t have to worry about her anymore.” He smoothed my hair, tucking it behind my ears. “How did you get back to the road in the dark?”
“I followed this light.” I turned around, expecting to see the greenish blue orb, but it had disappeared. “I don’t understand. Where did it go?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Saint kissed my forehead and then my mouth. “The only thing that matters is your safety.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m gonna call Nettie and she’ll watch over you, along with the prospect, while we end this.”
Saint snapped his fingers. “Get over here, Zero.” A skinny guy I’d never seen before ran over to us. You’re gonna take Chloe to Carrefore and don’t let her out of your sight. Understood?”
He nodded. “Got it, Saint.”
I clung to him, not ready to let go. “Wait. Don’t leave.”
“I’ve gotta take care of this.” Saint kissed me again, this time with a hint of desperation as well as desire. “When this is over, we’ve gotta have that talk.”
Reluctantly, I watched him head into the woods.
***
Twenty minutes and one motorcycle ride later, I was sitting on a stool at Carrefore.
After cleaning up my scrapes and cuts, Nettie had made me a cup of chamomile tea laced with honey. I held the warmth of the porcelain cup in my hands, letting the heat soak into my chilled fingertips. It calmed my nerves.
She’d also given me some aspirin for the pain. Nettie had wanted to take me to the emergency room, but I wasn’t about to spend all night at the hospital.
I was bone-weary. I ached all over, like my body was one big bruise.
The prospect sat near the door, like a bodyguard, giving us some privacy, as well as protection.
“You should’ve told me about the doll.” I was angry she’d withheld information.
“Why? So, you could’ve gotten yourself into trouble sooner?”
“Okay,” I grumbled. “You have a point.”
“I’m just glad you’re all right.” Nettie wrapped her arms around me and I clutched her for dear life.
“How did you find the road?” Nettie asked, kissing the top of my head.
Now that the danger had passed, and I was rational once more, I doubted what I’d seen. I was beginning to think the strange light had been a figment of my imagination.
Nettie tilted her head to one side. “Chère, tell me what you saw.”
So, I did. I blurted the whole story out, wanting to unburden myself. Nettie listened to me, nodding occasionally. Her face didn’t register any shock, or even surprise.
“You saw a fifolet.”
“A fifo-what?”
“Fifolet.” It sounded like feef-o-lay.
“Explain.”
“New Orleans is a port city, n’est pas?”
I nodded.
“This shouldn’t surprise you, but pirates visited the Crescent City from time to time. Now and then, they left their buried treasure here for safekeeping. Anyway, they didn’t just drop their booty and go. They had to leave a guardian with it, to protect their investment.”
“A guardian?” It sounded a little like Pirates of the Caribbean, if you asked me. Without the hotness of Johnny Depp.
“Yes, usually a low-ranking member of the crew. They, uh,” she paused to drag a finger over her throat. “Dispatched him and tossed the poor soul into the ground, along with the treasure.”
“Holy crap.” Talk about a shitty job.
“That way, when they got close to their booty, they’d see a glowing beacon of light, which would guide them. The fifolet would also protect their treasure from marauders who would steal it.”
“How can a ball of light protect it?”
“It can lead the thieves down a dark and dangerous path to ruin—over a cliff, into a gator-infested pond. Somewhere unpleasant.”
I almost choked on my tea. “Yikes. And what does this have to do with what I saw?”
“Some people say a fifolet is formed any time a person died a violent death in the city. It’s been said these spirits reward good people, appearing when they need help, guidance.”
“No…” This couldn’t possibly be true. It was too weird.
“Think about it. Camille was found in the woods. She was murdered by the very same woman and didn’t want you to share her fate. So, her spirit reached out to you, directed you to safety.”
I shook my head, ready to deny it.
But then I thought about how peaceful the orb had been, how I’d trusted it instinctively. I hadn’t been afraid at all. And the scent of roses was in the air, her favorite flower.
Tears streamed down my face and I wiped them away with my palms.
“She saved me.” Somehow, I couldn’t doubt it. Mamie had been there with me, for me. I’d felt it.
“Of course, she did, chère, Camille loved you. Loves you.”
“But I can’t leave her spirit, or essence, whatever you want to call it out there, all alone like that. She needs to be laid to rest.”
“Relax.” Nettie squeezed my hand. “One thing at a time. Viola must face the legion and pay for her crimes. The club will handle the aftermath, and none of this will lead back to you. And then, you’ll scatter Camille’s ashes somewhere she loved and she’ll be at peace.”
“What do you think they’re gonna do to Viola?”
Her smile was bloodthirsty. “I don’t know, chère, but I wish I could be there to see it.”
Yeah, me too.