“You stay here,” one of the men grunted.
Before Mala knew it, she had been lifted off of the ground by three angry African men who carried her out of the safe house. Screaming as she was taken out, Mala searched the room for Odo.
But, Odo had already been dragged outside by Imamu.
The three men tossed Mala onto the cold, wet ground outside the safe house.
“You disgust me!” Imamu shouted at the two of them. “This is a sacred place. You come into this place with your evil and your schemes? You will be punished! How dare you break the sanctity of this place? Folk done come here for peace and to know they safe. You come here and make a mess of that? You are disgusting!”
“We just want to return the child to its owner!” Odo shouted.
“Owner?” Imamu spat. “Don’t nobody own that boy! People love that boy. But, lovin’ ain’t ownin’!”
“You don’t understand.” Mala began.
“No!” Imamu shouted. “You don’t understand!”
“What’s this commotion?” A woman’s voice croaked from behind Odo and Mala.
They both knew who it was without looking. Mala grinned and Odo shivered.
“Ain’t nothin’ to do with you, Miss Laveau.” Imamu frowned. He narrowed his eyes at Odo, “Go on back to your master! And, you, Mala—I don’t never want to see your ugly face here again!” With that, Odo walked into the safe house and slammed the door.
“Mala, Mala, Mala.” Marie Laveau clucked. “What’s Iolanthe gonna say when she finds out you’re here causin’ trouble?”
Mala stood up and wiped her hands on the back of her dress. She shrugged. “Dunno.”
“You best get yourself back to her. What you doin’ out anyway?” Marie Laveau asked.
“She sent me…” Mala’s eyes widened as she remembered the errand on which Iolanthe had sent her.
“You better go, honey.” Marie laughed.
“Go on,” Odo scowled. “You ain’t no good to me, no how.”
Without another word, Mala ran off toward the chemist’s shop to get the mixture Iolanthe had sent her for.
Alone with Odo, Marie smiled. “Odo—yes?”
“That right.” Odo nodded, slowly rising to his feet. “You’re Mr. Cage’s man?”
“I am.”
“You’re jus’ tryin’ to be loyal, ain’t ya?” Marie winked. “You’re doin’ somethin’ for your master?”
“I am.”
“Can I help ya?”
“What for?” Odo asked.
“I’m just out for some air, honey. See, I’m with chil’. Sometimes we mamas, we like to get some air.”
“I heard ‘bout your new baby.” Odo nodded.
“Ain’t it good news?”
“Sure.” Odo shrugged.
“Someone to look after me when I’m old.” Marie laughed.
“Ain’t you already got a dozen kids?” Odo sniffed.
“That’s nothin’.” Marie chuckled. “Just more kin to love me.” She smiled at Odo. “You got folk who love ya, Odo?”
“No.” Odo shrugged again.
“I’ll love ya.” Marie smiled. “Let me help ya, boy. You jus’ tell Marie your troubles…”
Did you miss Chapters 1-418? If so, you can read them here.
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