Read Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance Online
Authors: Lorraine Kennedy
Rosa backed away until she had disappeared into the
blackness of the swamp.
Laura took flight and screamed when she ran into Bellea
who had been standing in the dark.
"It was a ghost," Laura blurted out.
The old woman's cackle didn't set her at ease, but raked
across her nerves.
Striking a match, Bellea lit an oil lamp. The shack was
filled with a warm gold glow.
"You have de sight somethin' powerful."
Laura shook her head, not understanding what the old
woman was saying.
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"The dead walk among us, but it be only those with de
sight dat can see 'em."
"She said I was in danger."
"Yes, you be dat all right."
"What did she mean?"
Bellea put the lamp down on the kitchen table and wearily
lowered herself into her wooden rocker.
"She be meaning dat you should trust no one."
"Why can't they just leave me and my baby alone?" Laura
cried out in fear and frustration.
"Yes, it be yer baby." Bellea nodded, "But dat baby also
belongs to him ... and de wolves and all of de earth." The
woman's knowing eyes studied Laura.
Laura shook her head in denial. "No, he is mine."
"He does not know 'bout de baby?"
"No, I never told him," Laura admitted.
"Dat white man, Brody is smitten wit ya, dat what Jessup
told me." Bellea could not hide her smile, or her concern.
In the couple of months Laura had been living in the
swamp, she had ventured out with Jessup on only a few
occasions, and had twice had the opportunity to meet one of
Jessup's business acquaintances.
Brody Cornell and Jessup had struck up a deal to go into a
business venture together, and since Jessup's return to
Louisiana, it had done very well. The swamp charters were a
smash with the tourists and Jessup was happy to be working
for himself instead of Duccini.
Even in her advancing pregnancy, Brody had made no
secret of the fact that he found Laura to be attractive and she
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herself had to admit, the handsome Brody had more than his
share of charm. In his mid-thirties, he was the image of a
southern gentleman.
The contrast of his fair hair and blue eyes to Justin's dark
appearance brought a gentle reassurance to Laura's mind.
She and Jessup had been invited to a dinner party at
Cypress Manor. The estate had been in the Cornell family for
generations.
When the invitation had first been extended to her through
Jessup, Laura had adamantly refused, thinking it was far too
risky to come out into the open so soon. But Jessup had
insisted, sure that she had been hidden away far too long. To
impress this on her, he had presented her with a beautiful
silver evening gown for the occasion. It had been tailored to
hide her advancing pregnancy well.
The promise of fine food and gentle company was just too
much for Laura to pass up and she had finally agreed to
attend the dinner party with Jessup on Saturday night. At the
very least, it would keep her mind off of Justin—if only for a
little while.
After bidding Bellea goodnight, Laura was finally able to
fall asleep with visions of impending doom pushed aside by
the promise of a glittering evening in that far away place
called civilization.
The remaining days until Saturday passed uneventfully and
Laura was able to push Rosa's warnings to the back of her
mind. Though somewhere deep inside of her, Rosa's voice still
intruded on her thoughts, like the eerie foghorn of a ship lost
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in the mist. With some effort, Laura was able to keep it from
penetrating into her conscious thoughts.
Shortly after midday, Laura heard Jessup's boat. As had
been arranged, Laura would get ready at Jessup's place and
from there they would make the trip to Cypress
Manor. Gathering her things, Laura tried to ignore Bellea's
disapproving gaze.
The old woman obviously didn't want Laura to go, but as
she had come to realize over the weeks she had spent with
Bellea, it was only concern for Laura's safety that prompted
the woman's disapproval.
"Dem Cornells are a no good bunch," Bellea muttered.
"I'm sure that everything will be fine," Laura tried to
reassure her.
"Funny how they's never asked Jessup to de big house
before now."
Jessup had been standing at the open door, watching the
exchange with some curiosity. He now knelt next to Bellea
"I'll take real good care of her, Aunty Bellea," he smiled.
Bellea frowned. "Be sure to, boy. I be having some bad
feelings."
Laura gave old Bellea a hug and followed Jessup out of the
cabin. It was not until they had been on the water for a few
minutes that Jessup spoke.
Aunt Bellea has never cared for the people of the big
house, as she calls them," he explained.
"Yeah, I gathered that much." Laura smiled.
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"See ... her Grandmother Cynthia was born and raised on
the Cypress Plantation, and of course ... she told Bellea some
harrowing stories of the Cornells."
"You mean she was a slave?'
"Of course ... wasn't much else she could have been back
then, I guess." Jessup's smile was dark.
"Wow, I bet she would have had some stories to tell!"
"Well, it's those stories is why Bellea doesn't like the
Cornells much. I've tried to explain to her that was
generations ago, but she won't hear a word of it."
"What are the stories?"
Jessup shrugged. "Don't know. Bellea has never been very
specific about it, only that they were no good and I should not
have any business with them."
Laura's nerves jangled, sure there was more to this story,
but she reasoned with herself that it was only natural that the
descendants of slaves would hold a grudge against the family.
Laura relished the warmth of the hot water, taking a few
moments just to relax. It was at times when she was most
relaxed that her thoughts drifted to her grandfather and
Kenny. Laura hoped they were getting along okay, but with
Justin there, she was sure they were safe and sound. If only
she could have relied on Justin herself, to not only protect
her, but to love her as well. Maybe that had been just too
much to expect?
Her chest tightened involuntarily, and she felt as if her
heart was breaking anew. If she could only manage to banish
him from her heart and mind, then maybe some day she
could find some happiness again.
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A light tap at the door brought Laura back to the present.
"Hey girl, if you don't get a move on we are going to be late."
"Okay, I'll be ready soon," Laura called out as she
reluctantly left the shower. As she did whenever her thoughts
got too sad to bear—Laura let her emotions turn to anger. He
had—after all—dumped her for that conniving wench, Tasha.
"How far is it to Cypress Manor?" Laura asked him as she
was climbing in the old truck, feeling awkward and out of
place.
"Not too far. Once we reach Black Lake, a boat will be
waiting to take us over," he explained.
Laura looked startled.
"I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you that the estate is on Cypress
Island, which is about smack dab in the middle of Black Lake.
Unlike many of the old families around here, the Cornells still
own their whole estate. The Island was once known as the
Cypress Plantation," Jessup filled her in on some of the
Cornell's history.
"So how did they manage to hold onto so much of the
family's interests after the Civil War?" Laura was curious. She
knew many of the families of the Old South had lost most
everything.
Jessup shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if anyone has
ever bothered to ask, but I believe the old man that owned
the plantation back then had many investments in the North
and retained much of his wealth."
Jessup parked near the docks where a large, brightly lit
yacht was awaiting their arrival. Laura had never even seen
such a luxurious boat, let alone traveled in one.
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"Nice, huh?" Jessup smiled. "Nothing compared to the
vessels docked in New Orleans, but quite fine for these
parts."
Laura nodded. In the distance she could already see the
lights of Cypress Island and knew there would be little point
in going below deck. The ride would only take a few
moments.
The rippling black water glistened silver beneath the
moonlight. Without realizing it, Laura began to think of her
situation and the future. At the present, her life seemed to be
as dark and forbidden as the lake.
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The majestic Grecian style house was common for this part
of the country, but no less imposing. The grounds were
immaculately landscaped and well lit. There were statues of
nymphs and other mystical creatures in the shrubbery and
flowers.
Laura stopped, catching her breath. A large golden statue
of a mermaid had caught her attention. The hauntingly
beautiful creature poured water from an oyster shell into a
large pond—lit with golden light. "Wow, this could as well be a
palace!" she exclaimed.
Jessup laughed. "I've never been here, but I would have to
agree with you. It's something else, but what I would expect
from the Cornells."
They were met at the door by a severe looking butler with
cold, gray eyes and white hair.
"Yes ... can I help you?" he asked in a hard-formal voice.
Jessup smiled, trying to show good humor, even under the
man's scrutiny.
"I'm Clyde Jessup, and this is Laura Ellison. Mr. Cornell is
expecting us."
The butler stepped aside so that they could enter. "Come
with me, please."
He led them to a sitting room and asked them to wait
there while he let Mr. Cornell know of their arrival.
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The inside of Cypress Hall was even more striking than the
exterior. The arts and culture of the Creole were evident
wherever one looked.
A few moments later Brody made an appearance. He was
strikingly handsome in his black silk dinner jacket. If Laura
had feared having overdressed for the occasion, she no
longer thought so. It was evidently expected.
He nodded to Jessup. "Good of you to come, Jessup, and
to bring the lovely Laura as well." He smiled at Laura, taking
her hand.
Laura returned his smile. She could not help but be
flattered by his charm. "Thank you, Mr. Cornell."
"The other guests arrived earlier today, and are now taking
drinks out on the back veranda while we wait for dinner.
Would you care to join us?"
"Of course," Laura accepted his arm and he led them into
the large hall and through another room that Laura assumed
was the Morning Room, and out onto a veranda. It was as
gorgeous as the rest of the house.
There were only a few guests besides Jeannette, whom
Brody had introduced as his mother. The petite elderly
woman was flighty and by all rights ... almost appeared not
even present some of the time.
Brody introduced a Latin couple as friends and business
associates who were in town temporarily. Antonio and Maria
said little, but watched Laura with open curiosity and what
Laura thought was hostility. She quickly brushed the thought
aside as being another part of her overactive imagination.
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A younger man, with a distinct Creole accent, took Laura's
hand and smiled warmly when Brody introduced them.
"Laura ... Jessup, this is our very own local Doctor, meet
Max Le Strange."
"How nice to meet you." She smiled.
Jessup shook the man's hand, but his good humor of
earlier seemed to have vanished. Laura was given no time to
ponder this change in her friend because the butler
interrupted them to announced that dinner was about to be
served.
The meal was abundant and lavish. Laura was sure she
had never before seen a dinner menu quite like it. There was
shrimp, catfish and wild rice, along with an assortment of
desserts.
The rest of the evening passed in a flurry of chatter and
champagne. Laura had to admit, that at first she had felt
terribly uncomfortable, but as the evening progressed she
had managed let her guard down.