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"This is crazy! You don't mean that!"
Renee whimpered. "Yesss.... I do. I can't go on anymore.
Not like this."
"Let me handle this. Don't try to speak. Rest now."
Jordan watched the display in confusion, then
understanding. He scrambled up from the floor. His eyes
frantically searched for an escape. He had moved only a couple
of steps before his body was in a vice-like grip again.
Natasha's eyes were alight with rage. "You will tell me
what you've done. Now!" Her grip tightened and dug into his
skin.
Jordan shuddered and Natasha knew it was fear. She knew
the man was a coward. Natasha could smell it on him like
cheap, cloying cologne. She made the conscious decision to
use that fear, as well as pain, to get the information she needed.
"S-she drank from a... nun."
Natasha roared. "Do you have any idea what you've done?
How did you find out about this?"
Jordan simpered, "I-I... wanted to win. She started this
war, but I don't want to die. Please!"
"Tell me! Or I will pull you apart, piece by piece." She
punctuated her promise by ripping his right ear completely
from his head. She threw the useless piece of skin onto the
floor.
"Arghhhhhhhh!" Jordan screeched and reached for the
injury, pressing his hand against the open wound.
"Tell me and I will make it quick. You have my word.
This is the only way. You know too much. You've done too
much."
- 116 -
Despite her words, Jordan screwed his eyes shut and
begged for his life once more. "Please don't kill me. I'll tell
you... everything." He paused trying to recover his breath.
Cocodrie... Aunt Sissy... island in bay. She only... has 'til
morn... ing." Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Please... don't
kill  "
Ignoring his pleas, she kept her promise. With a satisfying
crunch, Natasha snapped his neck, letting the body flop to the
ground. Her hands were shaking as she reached for the phone.
It only rang twice.
"Yeah?"
"I'll be there momentarily. I'm bringing Renee.... She's hurt
badly." Her tone was calm, hiding the unspeakable turmoil
churning inside.
"Sleep will probably heal  "
"No, Remy. She's dying." She cringed inwardly. "I need
you to look after her. I only have until morning to find some
answers."
"But  "A dial tone greeted him.
"Damn."
* * *
Natasha held onto Renee tightly as she sped through the
streets. Light and sound streaked by her, but she could still feel
the violence from her lover's body. Renee's body jerked and
convulsed. She was beyond pain, beyond screaming. She
merely mewled like a wounded animal.
"Don't do this to me, Renee," Natasha whispered over and
over again.
A few short minutes later, Remy met her in the foyer. He
gasped at Renee's appearance laid bare in the artificial light.
Her face had aged, weathered, and taken on what he could only
describe as animal-like features. Her skin was a mottled gray.
"Christ, Nat."
- 117 -
"I know. I don't have much time. Take her to my room.
Make her as comfortable as possible." Natasha spoke with a
confidence she did not feel. Hopelessness crashed down, but
she fought it vehemently.
"Gotcha. Where are you going?"
"Cocodrie."
- 118 -
"I'm sorry about that, but please help me."
The old woman cackled. "Don't care 'bout dat man. Don't
care 'bout ya either. Save yo' money. I got nothin' ta say. Ya
straight from da devil you are, and ya need ta go back ta him."
Natasha took a step backward. "I was a woman once, just
like you."
Sissy spat in her direction. "I know dat. Don't care how
good a woman ya were. Git out. Ya nothin' like me! Git out!"
Natasha flinched. "There are evil people too." With a flick
of her wrist, the woman could be dead, but she knew it would
not get her anywhere. Natasha expected rage to start in the pit
of her stomach, but there was only desolation and acceptance.
She had to face the predicament that she had a hand in creating.
There were only three hours left until first light, and Natasha
wanted Renee's time to be spent in loving arms.
She turned and made her way back outside. The sounds of
the night mocked her, and the sudden sound of footsteps made
her wary.
"Show yourself."
Tammy stepped out from the shadows.
"I heard what she said. I sleep in da other room. She my
teacher, but I know she wrong. It not her place ta decide ya
fate. Dis power no good for Sissy. Legba needs ta be allowed ta [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]