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ROSE HOLDEN HAD WANTED to visit New Orleans and explore the voodoo shops ever since she learned about Louisiana and its unique history this semester. She wanted to bring her family some trinkets and such so she could explain what she learned. She couldn’t wait. Growing up, her mother never wanted to come down to New Orleans, even though it wasn’t far from Baton Rouge. Her mother swore that it was a different world here, one that she didn’t care to know. Rose, on the other hand, found the whole history of the state fascinating, especially New Orleans’s history. Now, as she continued to find various mementos to show her parents and younger brothers and sisters, she could envision the expressions on their faces. Her brother would be intrigued by everything she brought home, but her parents may need some convincing. After she had brought her goodies to the counter, the display of voodoo dolls caught her attention.
***
BIANCA COULD TELL THE girl was a tourist by the assortment of items she was buying. She also met the criteria for one of the girls they needed. She’d overheard the Mafia Prince mention to Brian to be on the lookout for a particular girl and this one met the requirements to a “t”. She sent the Mafia Prince a quick text to let him know that he may want to send someone to the shop immediately; she had a girl here that would satisfy his customer’s needs. While she waited, Bianca would go ahead and prepare her.
While the girl wasn’t looking, she quickly prepared the potion. She would convince the girl to come into the back room for a reading so that she could apply the potion. This would give her high marks with him.
She observed the girl one more time; she couldn’t be more than twenty years old. She had the most mesmerizing blue eyes. If there were anyone who could fit the Barbie doll description, it would be this girl. Not only did she have the perfect body, but she had that wholesome quality about her that he was looking for. In the background, the wind chimes made out of driftwood swung in erratic circles. Was her grand-mere’s spirit here, warning her against what she had planned?
She ignored the warning and told the alarmed young girl, “Don’t worry about that. The air conditioner kicked on, and a breeze is blowing the wind chimes. While you are here, would you like a free reading?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I want to make it to Baton Rouge before dark.”
Bianca looked at her innocently, “I promise; it won’t take long.”
As Bianca walked to the back, she called on her magical powers to assist in the potion taking effect faster. She could feel the power course through her body. As she neared the room, a growling resonated throughout the room. Bianca continued to ignore her grand-mere’s incessant warning and told the young woman, “Don’t worry about that. It is just the old pipes here in the store. Someone is more than likely running the water in one of the other shops.”
Nervously, she replied, “Sure.”
Suddenly, a thin stream of smoke snaked through the shop startling the young girl enough to cause her to jump. Bianca quickly ushered the young girl into the room and let the heavy velveteen curtains fall that separated the room from the rest of the shop. Inside the room it was somewhat dark, Bianca ushered the girl to the chair while she slipped the potion out of her pocket. As Bianca handed her the tarot cards to shuffle, she poured some of the potion on the cards without her noticing. This was the quickest and easiest way to get the potion absorbed into her skin. She made a mental note to throw away the tarot cards after this so that no one else came into contact with the potion.
As Bianca waited for Brian to come and collect the girl in the back, she prepared another potion for one of her clients. The lady came in asking for something to ward off evil spirits that she believed were haunting her house. Bianca wouldn’t doubt the old bat summoned them one night hoping to get them to talk to her. No matter how hard Bianca warned the old woman, she was always trying to get the ghosts that lived in her home to contact her. Bianca warned her time and time again that it could be dangerous to get the spirits to talk to her. Once they have contacted you, it was almost impossible to get them to leave you alone.
The other day she came in asking about a banishing spell, but Bianca gave her a potion to try first to see if that helped. She just needed to place it in various locations to rid them from the house. If this didn’t work, then Bianca would offer her services to perform the banishing spell. She would hate to see the old woman try it and do something wrong. That may just anger the spirits even more.
As the door opened, Bianca was adding flower petals and grave dust to the spell to finish it. Brian and a new man he was training stepped into her shop, bringing in the sweltering New Orleans heat. As Bianca made her way around the counter, the bangles around her wrist jangled. She’d hoped she’d see the Mafia Prince as well, but he must have chosen not to come and let Brian handle this on his own. Trying to hide her annoyance, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She informed them, “She is in the back. I have already given her the potion; she should be controllable now.”
Brian asked, “You are sure she is what he is looking for?”
“Very sure. If he doesn’t like her, someone else will.”
Brian stepped into the back room and nodded his approval, “You are right. She is just what he described.” Without thinking, he asked, “So do you think he really has a customer looking for someone like her or do you think she is for him?”
Bianca kept down the jealousy and anger that quickly rose in her, “No, it has to be for a customer. I don’t see him wanting someone like her.”
“You may be right. I will inform him once we are on our way to see where we should deliver her.”