Sam Ethol: The Voodoo Prince

Lineage

Sam’s emotions fell into a flux of turbulence after hearing of his heritage.

" Wait a minute, grandpa and granny died when I was twelve.”

“Those were my parents but not LaToya’s.”

“She was adopted?” Sam asked.

“My parents took her in when she was seven. I was only thirteen when the Styngs killed each other and left LaToya an orphan.”

“Why did they kill each other?”

“No one knows. But the Styngs left behind a history of murdering innocent people to gain more power from the vodon. My father was the sheriff during that period of time. He tried to prove that the Styngs were using voodoo to commit murder but he could never catch them.

“How did they keep getting away?”

“The Styngs had a small group of followers in the city who worked in secret for them in exchange for whatever their hearts desired.” Onika said.

“How do you know that?” Sam asked.

“My mom told me about my granddaddy being Donald’s apprentice during the 50’s. Back then, a black man was an easy target for racist white men to linched. So after he left Mississippi, he studied and devoted his soul to the vodon to protect himself.”

“It wasn’t just humans who were in debt to them.” Chris added. “Many supernatural creatures, or folklore as normal people call them, came to the stings for power.”

“After the stings died there was a disturbance in the vodon.” What kind of disturbance?” Sam said.

“Centrioles ago, there was a power does demon named express.”

“You mean the boogy man?” Sam replied.

“Yeah, he bonded with the source of the vodon so he could out rank other deus demons. But he was stopped by two tribes of spellcastirs: The Ethel’s and the Stings.

“The only way cypress could be freed is it one blood relative from one of the tribes killed the other in a battle of voodoo.” Chris said.

“You think my mom killed those people at the Chow Pow?”

“I never said that.”

“But you’re thinking it?”

“Sam. Let’s not assume the worse.” Onika intervened.

Sam relaxed his shoulders, giving his mother the benefit of the doubt.

“Why would either tribe want to free. Cypress after they banded together to banish him?”

“Whoever free cypress would become his familiar and essentially the god of voodoo.”

Elsewhere, Shirley and House arrive to the remains of the Chow Pow to find it still taped off from civilians.

“This is a disaster house said.”

“I know its bad house.” Shirley said. “But we will get through this.”

“Get through this? Our staff was killed off in one night along everyone else inside. How are we gonna explain this to the town?”

“I’m sure the police will find out what caused all this. Right now, we just have to move on and start off somewhere else.”

Shirley reached into her purse and pulled out a plastic box filled with treats.

“I made Lemon squares to ease the pain. Help yourself.”

“Hey, boss.” Steve called from a far as he ran to house and Shirley.

“Stevie, you shouldn’t be hear.” Shirley said.

“I know I don’t have a job here anymore but I still wanna do my part for the Chow Pow.”

“If you really wanna help, how but bout you tell your daddy to get my insurance Claim approved?” House snapped.”

Stevie clutched his fist and tilted his hat down to cover his eyes.

“House you know that’s not…”

“It’s fine.” Stevie interrupted.

“I’m sorry, son it’s just that the city won’t pay for the restaurant to be rebuilt without my appeal. I’ve worked my whole life to get my own business and now some crazy witch craft blows it all away.”

“Not to mention multiple people, including our own staff being killed.” Shirley said.

“Of course. I just wish we could do something for their families Lord knows how they are handling this.”

Stevie’s stomach began to growl much to house and Shirley’s snickering.

“Kind of skipped breakfast.” Said squares to ease the pain. Help yourself.”

“Hey, boss.” Stevie called from a far as he ran to house and Shirley.

“Steve, you shouldn’t be hear.” Shirley said.

“I know I don’t Stevie.

“Lucky for you, I brought a fresh back of lemon squares with your name on it.” Shirley smiled as she handed the box of treats to him.

“Sweet, thanks, Shirley.”

Stevie opened the box and ate two lemon squares as the tingling sensation with each bite surged through his cheeks.

“I just thought of a great idea.” Shirley said. Why don’t we host a woke for everyone we lost?”

“How so?” House asked as he took a lemon square and ate it.

“Every years, the city holds a festival to honor those who past almost like mardi gras. But this one I we can team up with other business and fundraise donations for the Chow Pow and the people we last that night.

“Sounds like a good idea.” House said.

“Stevie, house and I can speak to the small business committee about it. Would you mind speaking to your did to approve it?”

“Come on now.” House said. “You know the boy aint comfortable with…..”

“I’ll do it.” Stevie said. “Anything for you, Shirley.”

“Great, why don’t you get this young man to the mayor’s office? Mather fact, take the rest of those lemon squares to your old man.”

“You heard her, Youngblood. Hopin.”

“I’ll make an appointment with the committee and see what I can cook up.”

“You got it, Boss.”

House and Stevie climbed in House’s car and drove off to see the mayor.

As they left, Shirley flipped over her wrist and watched as the hornet symbol from the picture of the Stings glowed on top of her flesh.

“It’s begun.” She said with her eyes flinching and her pleasant smiled replaced by a troubled scowl.