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Monday, October 15, 2018

UNDER A VOODOO MOON_ WEP post

The October Challenge for WEP 
(Write Edit Publish)
 Flash Fiction 
is Deja Vu or Voodoo.

{997 words}

The blood moon leered down on Alice and me through thick, silent mists snaking above us. 

The mists were the only things silent across the grassy courtyard. 

Drums beat wild rhythms as rocking black men chanted, their wide eyes glazed over. 

In the shadows of the huge bonfire, black dancers wheeled about, long machetes flashing in their fists.

 I was so scared it felt like my skin was about to leap off me and do the Mambo with my skeleton. 

I knew where we were from pictures in that book on voodoo in early New Orleans: 



Congo Square, across Rampart Street from the French Quarter. 
 
Place Congo was its name this far back in the past.


 I reached out and took Alice’s ice-cold right hand. My heart calmed. 

With her at my side, I could take on monsters.

 With the musk of sweat, alcohol, and hate heavy in the humid night air, Alice whispered in that odd British accent of hers, 

“Victor, we are in serious jeopardy here.”

 When a flesh-eating ghoul says she’s afraid,

 even a mongrel like me knows life has just hit a new high in low-down.


 The drums suddenly stopped. Every wild eye turned to us.

 I winked at her. “You think?”

A tall woman, her black face glowing like an instrument of dark grace, spoke softly, 

yet it carried out across the dancers and slithering snakes on the grass.

 But none of them equaled the boa across her shoulders.

 “You two do not belong here.”

 Alice murmured, “Look at Marie Laveau, Victor. She is such a striking woman.”

I grinned drily, “Even without the snake.”


 A small, crooked old man limped to us. “She be right.”

He turned to Alice, his voice gaining an edge. “’Specially you, nzumbe.”

 I stiffened. “That’s Myth Nzumbe to you, Fright Face.”

 Alice lips got tight. “Is everything a jest to you, Victor?”

 I squeezed her icy hand.  “Never you, Alice. But you can’t let monsters see you sweat.”

Alice raised a prim eyebrow. “I never sweat.”

The old man limped closer. “You be half-dead, now, Miss Nzumbe. Soon you be all dead.”



 “Don’t count on it, Legba.”

He stepped back an inch. “You know me?”

“I know of you.”

 “Then, you knows how powerful I be. I be the origin of life!”

I snorted. “Get real. That would be Elohim. And I’m pretty sure you’re not Him.”

“So sure are you?”

I nodded to the squirming reptiles. “Pretty sure. He’s not real fond of snakes. He took their legs away, remember?”

He cackled, “But Erzulie be fond of dem, and she be right behind you, boy. Erzulie, loa of Love and Death.”

 I turned to face the tall black woman with strange scars on her face and smiled, 

“That’s a new look for you, Mother.” 


“No, child. ‘Dis face be veeery old. And you be in bad trouble.”

 I winked at her and copied her accent, “Dat be an veeery old story, Mudder.”

Alice sank my floating rib with a sharp elbow. 

“We are very grateful that you plucked us from harm’s way earlier.”

 Mother’s new face could have hung on an African hut door for all its spookiness.  

“Not earlier, child.  Many, many years later from now.  And you be still in harm’s way.  A choice is yers now, girl.”

Alice was so scared she almost vibrated.  “What choice would that be, Er-Erzulie?”


Mother’s eyes became the slate gray of winter storms.  

“Da only choice, child.  Yerself or others.  Darkness or Light.  Revenge or Love.”

 I made a face.  “That seems a lot more than one choice, Mother.”

She jabbed a long, scraggly forefinger at me.  “You remember: nothing caged can love its jailer.”

 {Courtesy Leonora Roy}

I turned to Alice.  But she was all eyes for something behind me.

I went death cold.  Three white females.  One young.  The second?

 She was Madame LaLaurie, all a’flutter with insane eyes and a long scalpel.

The third?  The third was… Maija. 

 {Courtesy Leonora Roy}

And the young white girl? 

She was what Alice would have looked like human.  

Legba looked sadly at Alice.  “De third be your mother yet to be.  Even now she be a foul, twisted thing.  

Look.  Maija be givin’ her to Laveau to learn how to make you what you is.”

The mists swallowed him.  “Ya could kill ‘er now.  Save yerself 175 years of de living death.”

Alice stiffened.  “I–I could, could I not?”

 I reached out.  “But there would never be an US.”

Her face screwed up.  “Is all you care about is yourself, Victor?  

Do you know the 175 years of living hell I endured because of that perversion of a mother?”

 She flowed up to me.  “Do you?”

For the first time since I’d known her, her face was ugly. 


“Do you!?”

Home.  I’d lost it.  I smiled so bitter it tasted of salt. 

Alice flowed after her mother being led beyond the bonfire by Marie Laveau, beyond my dreams and broken hopes. 

 Legba appeared beside me. “I knows yer power.  You could stop her.”

 “When you love someone, sir, you want what is best for them.  This will kill me.  But it will free Alice from a living hell.”



 I turned to him, no longer able to see clear through the hot tears.  “How could I say I love her if I caged her to do it?”
  
He reached out, grabbing my shoulder.  “Da Miracle of Life… He be remembering yer name.”

A voice I never expected to hear again murmured to my left.  

“His name is Victor Standish.  And he will never be alone as long as I live.”


 I whirled around.  Alice.  She took my hand, kissing me lightly.

She sobbed, “I heard you.  I thought to myself, ‘Are you going to let your mother hurt you again by taking someone who loves you so from your side?’”

Alice squeezed my hand.  “I remembered what your Mother said, Victor.  And I chose… you.”

I forced a wink.  “Well, who wouldn’t?” 

55 comments:

  1. Hi Roland. Well I knew we could rely on you for a voodoo tale. I take it this is an excerpt from your book? The story certainly is enhanced by the visuals. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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    1. Yes, the prompt was too perfect for my book not to use it. :-) Yes, I believe visuals help a story along which is why I have used them in my two new short story collections at the top of my sidebar.

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  2. I am loving and intrigued by your tale. However, I do wish that you would find/make time to comment on the work of the other WEP contributors. I know you are busy, but so are most of the people who join in. Not commenting seems to set you apart.

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    1. I am doing STAT blood runs each day. When I get back home, I am truly drained from driving lonely rural roads at night, usually in the rain. But I see your point. Not to visit is unfair of me, so I will not submit anymore WEP posts. Fair is fair after all :-)

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  3. A love story! Perfect, and with a voodoo background making it even more so! Thanks for sharing!
    Happy Halloween!

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    1. Happy Halloween to you, too, Yolanda! I will miss posting. Have only treats and NO tricks! :-)

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  4. That was fun - the final line is perfect! Great story :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jemi! :-) Happy Halloweening to you!

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  5. You can't break up that pair, that's for sure.

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    1. Villains try to all the time, but some couples are just meant to be! :-)

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  6. Love all his sarcasm Roland. A perfect Halloween tale of Love and loyalty. Happy Halloween to you. Be safe on the roads.

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    1. Thanks, Donna. Yes, I love Victor's attitude, too. Wish I was that brave and snarky! Happy Halloweening! And these roads are getting more and more dangerous with really foolish drivers!

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  7. Ah, Victor Standish... I remember him.
    Dark humour written in your signature style!
    Take care, Roland!

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    1. Worked all day and much of the night, Michelle, so that is why I am so late in replying. Sorry. :-( Victor would surely have something snarky to say to me about indentured servitude! :-)

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    2. It's understandable, Roland.

      Please link your flash fiction to the WEP+IWSG badge that’s pinned to the top, over at the IWSG Facebook page, so that others can read your lovely work.
      Thank you!

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    3. Just did it. Wish me luck in completing my Christmas Ghost tale: BEWARE THE JADE CHRISTMAS! :-)

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  8. How perfect this is. Seems this prompt had you in mind. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Toi, wasn't this prompt perfect for Victor and Alice. :-)

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  9. I forgot how much I enjoyed your writing. :)

    Your knack for weaving the scary with history and humor is unsurpassed. This WEP theme was perfect for you.

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    1. Susan, so nice of you to say it. Yes, this WEP theme was "scary" perfect for me. :-)

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  10. You have a way of setting a scene and keeping me engaged with the story. I also thoroughly enjoyed Victor's reactions to things. He's a fun character to read.

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    1. L.G you do not know how much I needed to hear your nice compliment on my writing tonight. :-) Thanks!

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  11. Excellent. Only comment would be instead of saying “black skin” twice maybe describe light off ebony bodies or some such more decriptive. Nice job
    Dixiejarchow
    writingwithdixie.wordpress.com

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  12. An unexpected but excellent story with some impressive visual aides. Well done, Roland.

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    1. Thanks, Christopher. Check out the SEE INSIDE of my two new Halloween collections of short stories. You will see a few vivid images ... for free! :-)

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  13. A great voodoo concoction, and it was certainly nice to hear from Alice and Victor!

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    1. I've missed writing Victor's and Alice's adventures. I'll get to writing the next chapter in their saga, MORE THAN A NAME, one day! :-)

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  14. Nice to see Victor again, Roland, and in your style, you show that in darkness there can be light of a sort. Well done! (still reading the short story collection)

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    1. Thanks, D.G. I hope you enjoy some the the short stories in the collections! :-)

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  15. It's nice to be back and to get lost in your descriptive writing! Hope you're doing well! :)

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    1. Elizabeth! How nice to see you here again! :-) I am as well as a weary blood courier can be these busy days.

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  16. I always enjoy reading your entries. This one fit the prompt like a glove!

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    1. This prompt seemed ready made for me. Thanks, Nilanjana!

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  17. Hi Roland - Alice and Victor stand apart ... they have their own tales, which are so interesting to read ... history, and Louisiana area, as well as stories held in the mind. I liked the way you gave voice to the people ...

    I do hope things are going well - and you're not running yourself too ragged - though blood couriering is such a necessary job. Take care - cheers Hilary

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    1. I'm glad you enjoy the setting, and, of course, Alice and Victor. :-) Speaking of blood couriering, I am off in terrible weather to a distant rural hospital I have never been to before! Ouch!!! :-)

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    2. Hope all went well and the Halloween creepies did come curdling out to greet you ... take care - it's a wonderful job you do for many ...

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  18. I love how you gave the phonetic spelling of the words to really be able to hear their accents. Makes it feel authentic. :-D

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    1. Tanya, the phonetic spelling was a gamble in that it might irritate some readers, but I decided to go with my instincts. Thanks for liking my little fiction. :-)

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  19. Hi Roland,

    SO NICE to see Victor and Alice again.... They truly are a timeless couple... Never get tired of reading your macabre and wonderful stories. Especially perfect for this prompt.

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    1. I have missed them, too. I am still writing their next chapter, More Than A Name. Someday I may even finish! :-)

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  20. Well even ghouls can have love especially on Halloween. You painted the scene well.

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    1. Deborah, ghouls especially need love! Thanks for commenting and liking.

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  21. They sure aren't going to let anything break them up.

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    1. Good relationships are all about the long haul, right? :-)

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  22. A very nice, dark take. Good story. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. J Lenni, thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. It means a lot.

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  23. You nailed this one, Roland. You really caught the music of their voices, and that's always impressive. Out of all the snaky, creepy voodoo, came a very sweet story. Kudos.

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    1. Counterpoint makes a story, right? Thanks so much for the compliment!

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  24. I like all the images you included between the words.
    Good story.
    New Orleans, the cultures there, it's all so fascinating.

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    1. Thanks, Jamie. My spooky Christmas novella, BEWARE THE JADE CHRISTMAS, is set in 1946 New Orleans when the French Quarter really was something! :-)

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  25. A dark story! Good job. Nice choice of visuals.

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