Chapter 24

 

Sauron won. But it wasn’t Sauron’s fault. She was working with her mentor—just as I had done, in truth. If Sauron only knew… If she knew what Alexa was up to. If there was only a way to reach her, to get to her and tell her. Would she believe it? She’d probably just say I was jealous that I didn’t win. Not to mention, not even Pauli could get to her now. Not with Erzulie all over her.

“We have a winner! I present to you our next High Mambo! Sauron Lemursia!”

The crowd roared.

I couldn’t stop Alexa. She was too powerful. I couldn’t get to Sauron. I’d failed. Mikah trailed behind me like a puppy, wanting to help. But there was nothing he could do either. Pauli landed on my shoulders.

I sighed. “It’s over, Pauli. We lost.”

“Bitch, please. Sauron won. But that’s not the end.”

“It wasn’t just Sauron, Pauli. It was Alexa. She is the one working with Kalfu.”

“Well slap me sideways and call me a python!”

“Did you come up with that just now?”

“I did. It’s good, right?”

I shook my head. “I can’t stop Alexa. I tried. She’s too strong. Too advanced. Even with my abilities. Even if I let Isabelle take over, I’m not sure we could stop her completely.”

“And when did long odds ever keep you from trying, girl?”

“I’ve never bought a lottery ticket.”

“Bitch, I’m trying to make a point. Don’t get all literal on me now.”

I chuckled. “Sorry.”

“Here’s the truth, girl. Sauron won. So what. She can be High Mambo. Good for her. What we have to stop isn’t her becoming High Mambo. What we have to stop is Nico’s soul being fused with hers.”

I bit my lip. Pauli had a point. I remembered the picture in Death Rites… the picture of Beli. I couldn’t summon the dragon in all his glory here, but I could summon him as a weapon. And a long-range weapon, at that. If I could just get a clear shot at Nico’s urn.

I couldn’t get to Sauron. But maybe I could get to Dudley. He wasn’t far away, and technically he wasn’t eliminated. He just didn’t win. He had a better chance than I did, anyway.

I still had the doll I’d used before tucked in my pocket. You know, just in case. I squeezed it a little. I could see from across the auditorium that his eyes glowed a little. Green, not red. Good, he’s the one I needed to contact. I hadn’t done it before—but supposedly a skilled Mambo can just talk to a doll to influence someone.

“Baron, can you hear me? Lift one of Dudley’s arms if you can.”

He lifted his right arm.

“It’s Alexa Windstrom. She used that medallion that Sauron is wearing to channel her power to her. She’s working with Kalfu for some reason. She intends to take Sauron to him after this is over. After Erzulie fuses her with Nico’s soul.”

I could still see his green eyes looking back at me.

“I know there isn’t much you can do in this form to stop it. But can you try to make a clearing. I just need a clean shot from where I’m at to wherever Nico’s urn will be. I have to take it out.”

He couldn’t respond, but he raised his arm again to signal he’d heard me.

This was a long shot. I’d have to summon Beli again, as a crossbow. Since it worked before with Brayden, since I’d let go of my anger and fear, I had a chance. It was a remote one, but it was a shot I had to take. I wasn’t sure how much of Dudley was Dudley and how much was the Baron—but at least I had someone in the know, someone up front who could give me a clean shot.

Erzulie gathered Sauron up front. Dudley was nearby as the runner-up. I wasn’t sure if he got a second-place ribbon or something. Hell, I didn’t get my participation trophy. What the fuck kinda competition is this without participation trophies? Wasn’t this all about having fun anyway? Yeah, right… loads of fun.

I had to keep an eye out for Alexa—she had to be nearby, doing whatever she could to make sure the transfer of Nico’s soul went down without a hitch. I’m not sure what Kalfu had on her, but I was almost completely certain he’d bound her with a bargain. That was his style—and it was likely a bargain she’d been tricked in to. She was a pawn, and Sauron was the pawn’s pawn.

I had to let go of the anger… that’s what Brayden said. I’d almost given in to it when I tried to take Alexa down. Thankfully I didn’t succeed. I could have stopped all this by just removing Alexa, sending her directly to Guinee, but that wasn’t the right way. The death rites must be completed… that’s what Laveau had written. That’s what I had to do.

This hadn’t gone the way Erzulie had hoped, either. Clearly, she’d wanted Tressa to win—but apparently there were limits to her charms, if you could call what she did at all charming. Sauron was the winner—even if she couldn’t be credited with the spell that gave her the victory. She wouldn’t be as easy for Erzulie to control once she had Nico’s soul and his power inside of her. Either way, Erzulie’s plan was going to fail—either because Kalfu would soon claim her, and Nico’s soul along with her, or because I’d stop them.

There was only one choice…

Erzulie brought out the urn, which had been veiled in a thick, black pall. It was embossed with Baron Samedi’s veve—a cross flanked by two gravestones.

She removed the pall.

“Beli,” I whispered.

I felt the crossbow form in my hands. It felt solid. My grip was sure. I could do this.

I held my soul weapon in front of me, lest anyone get keen to what I was about to do and try to take me out. This was a crowded auditorium, and I’d have to act quickly. If anyone caught me aiming a weapon at the headmistress and the new High Mambo, it wouldn’t be long before they’d try to take me down or alert the whole place. Subterfuge was in order.

I continued moving around the perimeter of the auditorium, trying to get a good shot at the urn. Erzulie was holding it too close to her chest. I wanted to hit the urn, not assassinate the headmistress. Not that my bolt would kill her. Not exactly. But if it so much as grazed the skin of her host, it would immediately send her into Guinee. I couldn’t take the shot. Not yet.

“According to tradition, the winner of the Trials is accorded a unique blessing. One that should equip her to lead us as one, to guide us against the foe we face.”

I rolled my eyes. If Erzulie only knew how foolish this was…

“In honor of the one these Trials were called to honor, it is thus fitting that the victor should be granted a gift from the deceased. More than a gift, his very soul.”

Gasps fell from the crowd. Soul-fusing—that’s Bokor shit, not the kind of stuff that most of them approved of. I grinned slightly. At least I’d have support, after this was over… even if I did earn Erzulie’s wrath. Provided, of course, that I succeeded.

“It is further only appropriate that Mr. Freeman’s best friend would be the one granted this blessing.”

Sauron’s jaw was practically on the floor. She didn’t foresee this… No one had. Except for Marie Laveau. But I was ready. If only Dudley, or the Baron, or whoever was in control of Dudley’s body at the moment, could get me a shot. Somehow.

I don’t know if Erzulie suspected something or if she was just being cautious with the urn, but she kept that thing as close to her chest as she could.

She’d have to hand it to Sauron; she’d have to open it. When Isabelle was fused with me, the moment the locket that held her spirit touched my skin I felt the change. That, combined with the magic that the Caplata had cast into it.

The magic…

That the Caplata had taken from… Oh fuck. From Baron Samedi.

And I’d called him here… evoked a sliver of the Baron’s essence in Dudley’s body. No wonder Erzulie had allowed the runner-up to be so close to the winner. She needed him.