Voodoo Queens of New Orleans - Vol. I | ✓

Chapter 38: When The Sun Sets

I said nothing to no one about the conversation between my djab and I.

In fact, I made an attempt to not even think about it; I didn't want to let it consume me. Today was of large importance, and I needed to be focused.

Aza had dropped off the parchments at Doctor Ben's house for him to try and translate them. We waited in her living room for her to get back. We were all dressed in white, per usual. Some of us had to borrow Aza's clothes.

"What do you think Sajida's going to say?" Esther asked me, nearly impatient to meet her again.

"I don't know." My answer was purposefully short; I didn't want to give much of myself away.

"I'm surprised the Coterie was so quick to trust her," Esther was nervous; I could see her boob-sweat from a mile away. "I mean, they were the ones who got on us for going to see her."

"She's the only one we know that knows about what Abraham's up to," Kizzy said.

"Allegedly," Rocio added.

Esther was eager for another opinion, "What do you mean?"

"Sajida's untrustworthy. She's sneaky. Messy. I don't think this is a good idea at all."

"You got a better idea, then?" Kizzy asked.

"Anything is better than this."

They carried themselves off into a conversation that I had stopped listening to. My mind began to wander; I thought of the parchments and the language they were in. If only I could get my hands on them again, maybe I would be able to understand some of it. After all, I wrote them. Right? It was impossible, but then again, what I thought was impossible months ago was proven contrarily so once I came back here.

I heard my name several times, and once I pulled myself out of my own thoughts, I saw the girls staring at me.

"Are you okay?" Imani asked.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm fine." I couldn't smile convincingly. In fact, I couldn't smile at all.

They didn't believe me. Kizzy, especially. And right when she was about to ask what was wrong, the front door opened. We all stood and watched as Aza walked into the living room. Her face was unreadable in a frightening way, mouth pressed closed and eyes expressionless.

"Y'all ready?"

We scurried to the front door with no opposition. I was anxious, but for a different reason. Did Doctor Ben translate the parchments? What did they say?

I was purposefully the last one to leave the living room. When Aza and I were alone, I went ahead and asked her.

"Not now," she snapped at me. I drew back immediately. Her dress flowed in the warm wind as she went to her car, not even making eye contact with me. I knew it was serious.

The drive to Mama's house was quiet. We parked, got out of the cars and walked to the front door of her shop. The sign read 'CLOSED,' and we saw tourists upset that the shop wasn't open for business as they walked on. It was near 5pm; we thought we were late.

Aza knocked, and Mambo Nene opened the door. She, too, was wearing white.

"Come on in," she said. We filed into the lobby of the store and went up the staircase. In the living room on the second floor, the Coterie sat on the couch, talking. They immediately stopped talking once we walked in. Mama stood, walking over to hug me tight. I hugged her back, but I couldn't help but be reluctant; there was something different about her. She seemed nervous.