Page 8 of Voodoo Plantation

“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 backto 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.

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