Bound, An Arelia LaRue Novel #1 YA Paranormal Romance (3 page)

“
How come I’ve never met you
before and why doesn’t grand-mere Bea ever speak about you?” I
asked.

“
We had a very big
disagreement years ago and haven’t spoken since,” her eyes filled
with genuine sorrow.

“
Well it must have been a
pretty bad fight if you haven’t spoken for that long,” I pressed
hoping she would give me some answers.

“
Well it was, it was over
you. I believe that is a pretty important reason,” she
said.

“
Over me, why would you guys
fight over me?”

Ms. Mae hesitated for a minute and then
continued. “You hear the spirits, don’t you Arelia? They talk to
you directly even when you don’t call them, isn’t that
right?”

“
So, everyone in New Orleans
sees ghosts and talks to spirits,” I reasoned.

“
No they don’t child, most
of them just pretend they do. Others have to tempt the spirits to
do their bidding with bribes and offerings. Not you, you have been
blessed.”

“
Blessed?” I asked. “You
think a bunch of spirits talking to me is blessed? What makes you
think that?”

“
When you were just a baby
and your momma left you, your grand-mere was beside herself. She
never wanted you to feel like you didn’t belong. She only wanted
the best for you. I suggested that we make an offering to Erzulie,
so you would be protected. In voodoo, we know her as the spirit of
love. However, your grand-mere wasn’t so sure. You see, growing up,
we saw many folks who messed with the spirits and got into a lot of
trouble. Unlike your grand-mere, I always had a close relationship
with the spirits because I never feared them. Bea, she’s always
been scared as a mouse.”

“
Go on,” I commanded hoping
she would finish before Sabrina got back.

“
So one day while your
grand-mere was at work and I was watching you, I decided to make an
offering to Erzulie behind Bea’s back. For some reason, she took an
extra liking to you and made it possible for you to be a part of
her world. I suppose that was her way of protecting you. We didn’t
find this out until you were two or so. You would talk to people
who weren’t there and always had a way of getting what you wanted.
Once your grand-mere was sick with a terrible flu, and you were so
sad. You held her hand and told her that you could make it better.
Within minutes, she was completely healed. You told us it was the
spirits. Bea was confused because you were so young. Eventually, I
admitted what I had done. She was furious and told me that I could
never see you or talk to her again. I tried to explain that what I
had done was for your own good, but she didn’t see it that way. She
thought that I put you in danger.”

“
Okay, let me get this
straight. Basically, Erzulie took pity on me and decided to help me
by making me into some sort of witch. How exactly has she helped
me? Grand-mere and I barely scrape by month after month. It hasn’t
exactly been easy. As for the spirits, they just mutter nonsense in
my ears. They’ve been useless as well.” It wasn’t like me to get so
confrontational with strangers, but Ms. Mae was really revealing a
lot all at once.

“
You haven’t let them help
you Arelia. Your gift has unlimited potential to help people, to
help yourself. Of course, you can use it for evil, but I know you,
and I know your grand-mere, and that is never going to
happen.”

“
I still don’t understand
why grand-mere never told me that you work here,” I hastily dug for
more information.

“
Your great great-great
grand-mere worked for the LaPlante family as did your great
grand-mere. I continued the tradition while your grand-mere decided
to move to the city,” she explained.

“
That’s so weird that she
would never tell me that.” I was frightened at the prospect that
maybe grand-mere did know more about me than I did.

“
Arelia, you have to check
out the bathroom,” Sabrina rushed into the room out of breath, “and
the dining room, it could seat over fifty people, the chairs are
covered in velvet and cut in gold.”

“
Really?” I tried to sound
excited while my mind was still processing the information it had
been given.

“
I wonder what our bedrooms
look like.” Sabrina turned towards Ms. Mae. “Can we see them?” For
good measure, she threw in a, “please.”

“
Of course dear,” Ms. Mae
agreed. “I’ll take you right to them after you read over this
orientation guide.” She handed each of us a thin book labeled
Summer Plan.

“
There is a welcome ball
tonight? No way!” Sabrina was beyond excited. “Oh my God! We have
to dress in period costume like from the 1850’s that is so cool!”
She sounded like she was going to be a guest at the ball rather
than working at the ball.

“
It’s not a formal ball,
just a casual welcome dance for the guests, but of course, all
workers need to be dressed up. You girls will be making sure the
guests feel welcome. There will be professional servers, but I want
you to talk to the guests, make sure they have everything they
need. Read over the rest of the guide, so you can get a feel for
what types of activities you will be doing for the next two months.
Your uniforms and costumes are already laid out in your bedroom.
Come with me, and I’ll take you to your room.” Ms. Mae promptly led
us down the hallway and up the spiral staircase.

Climbing the stairs, I got the distinct
feeling that someone was keenly watching us but brushed it off as
paranoia. As Ms. Mae guided us to our room, my mind was racing. I
had so many questions that I wanted to fire at her in rapid
succession, but I knew that I shouldn’t in front of Sabrina. How
would I be able to explain this bizarre situation to her when I
didn’t understand it myself? “So, we have to share a room, I hope
it’s big enough,” Sabrina predictably interrupted my
thoughts.

“
The other rooms are for the
other help and of course the guests.” We followed her into a
spacious bedroom decorated with a large, canopied, antique
four-poster bed. Two plush, satin covered chairs sat in front of an
enormous, antique dressing table complete with an oval mirror
gilded in gold. In one corner, there was a satin covered coach and
in the other corner sat antique chests that were large enough to
fit even the contents of all Sabrina’s suitcases.

“
The view is amazing.” I was
wholly mesmerized, as I looked out of the four-pane window which
had elaborate, cream colored, lace curtains pushed to either side.
The view spanned the entire property. In the distance, I could see
the murky waters of Darkwood swamp as well as the silhouettes of
graves in Darkwood cemetery. Despite the fact that the sun was
shining, it felt as if there was a permanent gloom that lingered
over the place.

“
I am so jealous. This is
way bigger and way more expensive than my room.” Sabrina lazily
stretched herself out on the bed. Great, I had to share a bed with
her. That meant I had to put up with her infamous snoring all
summer. Of course, she claimed that she didn’t snore, but everyone
says that.

“
This room doesn’t have a
bathroom, but there is one down to the hall to the right,”
explained Ms. Mae. “I expect you girls to be down by eight and
dressed in costume. Henri and I will meet you in the kitchen. The
costumes are in that chest right there.” She pointed to a chest
sitting in the corner of the room. “If you have any other
questions, please ask me or Henri. I have to get going and check on
dinner.”

Chapter 3

Erzulie

As Ms. Mae closed the door behind her,
I wanted to beg her to stay and demand that she answered my
questions. Sadly that would only cause more drama, which I didn’t
need right now. What I did need was a long, hot soak in what I
imagined would be a very luxurious bathtub. At home, grand-mere Bea
and I only had a cramped shower that was barely big enough to
stretch your arms out in. However, I knew the power of a hot bath
from the times I slept over at Sabrina’s house. When your long lost
aunt reveals that the voodoo spirit of love has blessed you with
powers and it’s confirmed that you are some kind of voodoo queen,
all you really feel like doing is taking a hot bath.

“
I really need to get a
beauty nap in before we have to get ready.” Sabrina yawned as she
put on her pink, silk sleep mask and crawled into the cream-colored
duvet.

“
I’m going to go take a
bath,” I loudly announced to an already snoring Sabrina.

As I made my way down the hall, I
passed a row of white doors that all looked strikingly similar.
Finally, I got to the end of the hall and took a right where I saw
a door with a bathroom sign on it. Walking into the bathroom was
like walking in an entirely different world. The deep bathtub was
set in marble and framed by wine-red, silk drapes. Thick, square
candles were set out on the ledges of the tub, and a crystal
chandelier hung directly above. Silk covered chairs were placed in
front of the ornately designed square mirror and a wide array of
bath soaps sat on top of the marble counter. To my right there was
a shelf that held a stack of large, cotton towels.

Since I was alone, I decided to call
grand-mere Bea and ask her what the hell was going on. The phone
rang a few times before she picked up.

“
Hello.”

“
Hey grand-mere it’s me, we
made it to Darkwood.”

“
What a relief Arelia, did
you get a chance to grab some lunch?” She was making small talk,
but the quiver in her voice was a dead giveaway that she knew what
was coming.

“
So I met Ms. Mae.” There
was no point in beating around the bush. I needed some solid
answers.

“
Did you now, how is
she?”

“
How is she? I have a long
lost great aunt that works at Darkwood, I found out that you used
to work here too, and I’m supposedly blessed by Erzulie. I’m kind
of confused that’s how I am.”

“
Calm down Arelia,”
grand-mere firmly ordered.

“
How am I supposed to calm
down when I have no idea what’s going on!”

“
Please, let me explain,”
she feebly pleaded.

“
I’m listening.”

“
You know that all I’ve ever
wanted to do is protect you. I didn’t physically give birth to you,
but I’m certain that no one can ever love you more than I
do.”

“
I know that you love me,” I
felt myself somewhat relaxing. “I love you too, but what’s with all
the secrets?”

“
I didn’t approve of what
Mae did. She shouldn’t have made an offering to Erzulie on your
behalf. She knew that Erzulie would bless you.”

“
How could she have known
that?” Grand-mere sounded a bit paranoid.

“
The LaRue women are
powerful voodoo queens, Mae has always embraced it. I respect it,
but know that there always must be boundaries. The spirits are not
to be messed with, and neither is any type of dark magic. I left
Darkwood when your momma was born; I wanted her to live a normal
life. I’ve raised you to respect the spirits, but to always keep a
safe distance.”

“
Look, I know what Ms. Mae
did was wrong, but it was also wrong of you not to tell
me.”

“
You’ve always known. How
could you have not?”

She had a point. “I don’t know. I
always thought that I was crazy not blessed. I never wanted any of
this either, but there isn’t much either of can do now is
there?”

“
Yes, you can come home
Arelia and put an end to all of this right now,” she
pleaded.

“
I can’t. I’m here already,
and the pay is too good. We need the money really badly. Besides,
I’ll do what I’ve done all my life ignore them.”

“
You don’t understand
Arelia.” She sounded helplessly defeated.

“
Then explain it to me,” I
demanded.

“
I know at Darkwood you will
embrace your powers, and once you do you’ll always have certain
responsibilities.”

“
With all due respect,
grand-mere Bea, I’m sixteen, you don’t have to protect me anymore.
I’ll be fine.”

“
Promise Arelia, that at the
first sign of danger, you’ll come home.”

“
From the looks of it, the
only danger here is the LaPlantes having too much money, I’ll be
fine.”

“
Things aren’t always what
they seem, and once your heart gets involved, there ain’t no way
you can turn back.” She was giving me one of her ominous speeches
again.

“
I promise I’ll be careful,
just don’t keep things from me anymore. Is there anything else
you’ve been hiding from me?”

“
No more secrets,”
grand-mere Bea softly responded.

I knew she was lying. I detected that
she was hiding something more from me, but arguing about it over
the phone wasn’t going to force her to spit it out if she didn’t
really want to. I would find out the truth for myself. Right now,
all I needed to do was convince grand-mere that I was safe. She was
the only family that I had, and I couldn’t afford to alienate
her.

After we said our good-byes, I toyed
with the bathtub taps until I found the perfect water temperature.
As the tub was filling up, I threw in some strawberry bubble bath
and proceeded to rip off my sweat-drenched, tank top. I peeled off
my jeans, which in retrospect, were an awful idea to wear
considering the summer heat. I shook my hair free from the too
tight ponytail and sank into the soothing bubbles. The warm water
embraced my skin and the bubbles were a welcome change from the
cheap soap I was accustomed to. I felt my eyes closing and my body
getting heavy.