Voodoo Queens of New Orleans - Vol. I | ✓

Chapter 19: Friends On The Other Side

When we sat down at the bar top, none of us said a word. We were nervous; summoning a goddess behind the Coterie's back was a count of insubordination, especially for the reason we were doing it for. But Miss Aza was never keen on obeying the Coterie, being she was constantly marginalized by them as a 'misfit' of some kind.

"Relax," she eased us; Esther was near having a panic attack. "I can smell the jitters on y'all from all the way over here."

"Is the 'summoning room' somewhere in here?" I asked her, my legs shaking the stool to death. "Is it hidden in the kitchen or something?"

Miss Aza then busted out laughing while we all looked on, confused. I didn't realize how dumb my question was until the owner came up to Aza and greeted her warmly. Rocio and Esther glared at me as I held my head down in embarrassment.

"What you coming in here for all stranger like, Aza?" he asked, smiling.

"Shoot, you know I be busy, Henry. Ain't nothing personal. But you know I be needing some of those cakes you got fresh every day. Best in the whole goddamn city."

Henry laughed, "Go to bed, girl!"

When their laughter subsided, Henry looked at us and smiled again. He was an older man—tall, skinny and with wise eyes. I could tell he never went a day without smiling.

"And what y'all called?" he asked us. We each took turns introducing ourselves. When I told Henry my name, he hummed lowly.

"Alize's daughter?" he asked.

Aza nodded. "Mhm. Coming down to visit for the summer."

"Ah, alright. You look just like your mama; got her frown, too."

Esther and Rocio actually laughed at that one. I grinned uncomfortably.

Aza then went ahead and ordered one of almost everything Henry had—cakes, croissants, sweet breads, beignets (Esther was real let down when Aza wouldn't let her have any) plantains, you name it. After waiting silently for half an hour, Henry came out with boxes of sweets. Aza tilted her head towards the boxes until the four of us took them out of Henry's arms.

"Much oblige, papere." Aza slipped him a generous tip that she wouldn't let him refuse. "Really. I appreciate it."

"Ain't nothing for you, Aza. These should last you a week!"

"With my friends? Ain't no way," she joked.

Before she left, Henry asked if Aza would be opening shop again soon.

"Pookie went to see you for some potions the other day but found your place locked up?"

"I've been away taking care of some business," she answered. "But go 'head and tell Pookie to come by tomorrow morning. I'll be there."

Kizzy and I looked at each other. We weren't yet granted the clearance to come back to the city yet; being in Henry's shop was risky enough. But Aza had plans to come back home by tomorrow's time. Either she was lying to Henry or was willing to face the Coterie's wrath. Her nonchalance fascinated me; her tribe did little to warrant any guilt from disobeying them, even after what happened to Tia Valeria.

We walked out of the shop into the relentless heat. Aza instructed us to be very careful loading the sweets into the car. At the time, I still didn't understand why we had acquired near a hundred dollars worth of treats. Then it hit me; how could I have forgotten? Erzulie loved pastries and sweets. In fact, it was something required to have if you were to summon her. Aza worshiped Erzulie heavily; only the best for her most revered Voodoo goddess.

When we arrived at Miss Aza's House, it was hard for us not to stare in confusion and even a little disgust. Her House was small, sitting on the corner of a quiet street. Her sign was modest; barely visible if you didn't look hard enough.

"No wonder Priestess Hepzibah never had me visit here," Rocio whispered when we got out the car.

"Hepzibah never had you visit because she's still bitter that this House was given to me over her," Aza told Rocio. Rocio quickly shut up as I stifled a laugh.

Aza pulled out a large gold key from her pocket and unlocked the door. Inside, the House was dark and cool—a nice break from the heat. She locked the door behind her when we were all inside and instructed us to take the sweets up the stairs.

"My House didn't clean up too well before we were forced to leave," she said, basically spitting out the word 'forced.' "But make yourselves at home. I'll make sure to put them all to work when we come on back."

Unlike Mama's shop, Aza's wasn't decorated with enticing trinkets and displays. It looked like a normal house on the inside; Aza loved dark-colored décor.

"Go on, now," she said to us as we studied her house with wandering eyes. "We ain't got all day."

Slowly, we walked through a hallway that led to the staircase. Esther's breathing was heavy behind me.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"I hear something," she said to me. "I don't know what it is, though."

"When does a clairvoyant ever know what they're listening to?" Kizzy asked patronizingly. Esther huffed and continued walking, but I still saw that something was troubling her mind. Rocio suggested that smelling pastries but not being able to eat them could take a "toll" on a girl like Esther.

"Shut up," I hissed at her. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"

"I can ask you the same question, Lisa. Do you even know what a supplicant is? The chant required to summon Erzulie? What her favorite offerings are?"

I knew the answer to both; I studied the goddess' book. I crammed as much information I could about Erzulie. I knew everything about Her, both Dantor and Freda, Her two spheres. But Rocio, Esther and Kizzy? They were novitiates—hounsi who have participated in countless ceremonies and have made an impression to the gods. All I had was my relation to the head Priestess.

I didn't answer Rocio's questions; Esther could hear what I was thinking; I could see it on her face. She felt bad for me, but I didn't want to indulge in her pity. I wanted to make things right. I wanted revenge. So, I pushed all self-doubt aside and prepared myself to follow any and all orders Aza had for me. I was going to accept the honor of being a supplicant.

Even if I didn't really deserve it.

When we were upstairs, we stood by and waited for Miss Aza. All the doors were locked, the curtains on the windows pulled. The house was very ominous, and the fact that Esther claimed she was hearing things made me shiver. Finally, Aza came up the staircase with a basket of items covered with a blanket. She stared at us, arms filled with boxed of treats.

"Y'all brought the right clothing?" she asked. We all nodded. I went over the outfit I chose; Erzulie loves the colors pink, blue, and lavender. I chose to wear blue. I wasn't sure what everyone else wore.

"Now, I understand that relations are tense between you," Aza explained. "Between everyone in the Coterie. But in this house, we put all negative energy aside and focus solely on giving ourselves undividedly to Erzulie. You three know how to give yourself to the gods when called upon."

Esther, Rocio and Kizzy nodded surely. I stood, not able to answer but adamant on participating. Miss Aza knew this; she knew revenge was ripe in my heart. But I also knew that the gods came first, with wishes and requests second.

With one last look, Aza gestured for us to follow her to the last door down the hall. With the same key she used to unlock the front door, she unlocked this one and walked inside. And when we followed, I almost lost my breath.

"Everyone get changed," Aza said, setting down the basket and pulling out Aubade to place on the large, decorated altar. "I need a moment to meditate before we begin."

**