Excitement pumped through Sam’s body as the dreadlocked voodooist embraced his new look.
“You will be given five trials to ensure that you are worthy of being on with our tribe.” Benjermin said.
“Wait, I thought I already joined you guys. Sam asked.
Allow me to rephrase that. Yes, you’re been accepted to our tribe but these trials will test you to see of your worthy of being our champion and defeating cypress’s voodooist.”
“We’ve face threats by cypress before like were panther who attacked your uncle. Onika added. But since we’ve never been able to find out who this rogue voodooist is, we need to make sure everyone in our tribe can face them.
Since you’re the Spi boy, that means you have to be on pare the most.” Nelson added.
“Guess I’ll be doing your first trial.” One of the mask voodooist with long dread locks cutting off at his shoulders walks up and removes his mask. My name is Bernard Moonhouse but most of the tribe call me Beinge.”
“Nice to meet you Beinge.” Sam replied.
“Beinge will be running your first trial. The trail of knowledge. Onika said.
“So what is the trial of knowledge about?” Sam asked.
“I’ll show you.” Beinge said.
His elbows pointing opposite of each other as his owl tattoo on his left arm glow red as the rest of his body was covered with a white and grey sleeveless vest and his lower body covered by white, grey, and gold pants and brown shows.
His muscular arms lifted up with a red spade tattooed on his right shoulder.
His hands formed a diamond.
“Swahli: Spirits of the vodon, take us to the Epiphany point.” Beige Chanted.
The winds roared against Sam’s skin as his ad beige vanished in a red flash of light.
The appeared on top of a steep mountain several stories from the around. Above them were a flock of owls hovering over them.
“Welcome to the Epiphany point.” Beinge said.
“Sheriff McKnight,” Ramon called out from his desk. “Officer Stone said you would be here.”
“It’s just me here. I’ve sent the other officers to run a search party for LaToya, Chris said.
“Officer Stone is upstairs, questioning the staff. She’s been admitted but so far, I don’t think she’s found anything new.”
“Take me to her.”
Ramon led Chris to the upstairs flock, ready to dig up any possible clue left behind.
When they got to LaToya’s room, Chris was baffled by the torn walls and collapsed doors that once contain the patients.
“What in the world?” he said.
“Sheriff.” Officer Stone called out and ran up to him.
“Stone. What happened here?”
“I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“Most of the people said they were attacked by a swarm of bees.”
“Bee?” The Sheriff asked.
“Get this, they said that the bees turned into a person and broke LaToya out.”
“That’s insane.”
“Please refrain from using that word, Sheriff.” Ramon said before catching up to the two officers “Given this facility, it may offend some of the patients.”
A ring came from officer stone’s phone.
“Sorry, I have to take this.”
She pulled out her phone which had a middle-aged Chinese woman as a screen saver.
As Felicia turned to make her call, the Sheriff spoke to Ramon.
“What happened to the other patients?”
“Lot of them badly injured,” Ramon said. The paramedics took two of the most critical to the ER. Everyone else has been treated and moved to the fifth floor.”
“I want a complete roster of every employee and patient who was attacked.”
“Right away, Sheriff,” Ramon said as he ran off.
Chris walked up to officer stone who was wrapping up a rather painful phone call.
“That woman on your screen saver,” Chris said as she hung up.
“My mother, Sir.” Today marks the 30th year she’s been gone.”
“I’m sorry, Felicia. I know how painful it is to lose a loved one at a young age, especially a parent.
“It’s been pretty heating this week. I usually go to her grave to switch out her flowers, but with this case….”
The Sheriff placed his hand on her shoulder as she improved his touch.
“Go be with your mother.” He told her. “I’ll clean up from her.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Felicia left the hallway as Ramon came back with the roster.
“Here you go, Sheriff,” Ramon said.
“Are anyone on this list able to speak about what happened or where LaToya might be??”
“Just one. Charles witney. Everyone here called him Chuckie.”
He was the only one still conscious after the incident. But he’s at the main hospital downtown.
“That’s my next stop. I’ll send more officers here to look after your personnel and the patients. If anything, else happens, give me a call.”
The Sheriff pulled out a card with his phone number and gave it to Ramon.
“Will do, Sheriff.”
Chris walked out of the ward as Ramon followed him out. Unknown to the Sheriff, the orderly passed a glowing string symbol on his neck that only intensified as the sheriff drove off.
Sevreal hours passed by as Chris made his way to the hospital.
As he ran into the main lobby, he walked up to the helped desk only to a familiar face.
" Nancy ? , " Chris said.
" Hello, Sheriff," Nancy said with a aggravated look on her face. " Suprised to see me?,"
" I'm more surprised that your still allowed to work here after..., "
" You helped my broken son get a restraining order from me and put Jamal in jail?, "
" Your boyfriend was abusing Nelson and you did nothing to stop him, "
Nancy stood up and scowled at the sheriff.
" Jamal was only trying to straighten that boy out. It's bad enough having a son who's into that voodoo nonsense . But to also have one that ...,"
" Came out ?," Chris interrupted. Ever since that boy's father died, he has tried to make you proud but it was never enough for ...,"
Chris paused himself and changed the subject.
" I'm looking for a patient by the name of Chuckie, "
Nancy typed into her computer and looked for the room number.
"Room 423 ,"
"Thank you," Chris said before storming off,"
“Voodoo isn’t real!”Sam Ethol, a 16 year old high school student said to his best friend, Stevie Lacriox as the two sat outside the Chow Pow, a popular dinner in New Orleans, LA.“Come on Sammy. Are you really gonna sit here and tell me you don’t believe in magic?” Stevie Chuckled as he drank his 802 glass of sweet tea.“That’s what, I’m telling you, Stevie.” Sam replied him.As the two teenagers discussed their beliefs in the supernatural world, a largeover weight man with dark skin and a bald head came toward them with a bus boy tub and dropped it on the table between them.“Alright, break times over.” He said uninterested.“Come on house, we still got ten minutes left.” Sam complained.“Yeah, I know. But we got a huge rush cause of Mardi Gras. We ain’t got time to diddle dally. Now get going.”House said. “Oh well.” Stevie complained also. “Another day, another quarter.”“Watch it, Croix. Just because your daddy is in office doesn’t mean you can bad mouth how I pay my he
The burning symbol in his head scared Sam to set off in a cycle of slack.“Sammy ” Shirley called out to him“Yeah, Boss?”“Stay with us. I know this is all horrifying but we need to keep our calm until the police get here.”“What are we going to tell the cops?” Stevie said.“I don’t know.” Sam said.“We’ll take care of the cops. You two just keep calm till they show up.” House said.The board of police swens on the air pretreated the over boring silence of the ruined Chow Pow.The authorities moved in to find the workers studio in the middle of the carnage.“Everyone move in.” Sheriff McKnight ordered as the police officers moved inside the crime scene, escorting the surviving staff members to safety.“All units , I need a full sweep of the Chow Pow. Every inch of this restaurant is to be covered in yellow tape. No one gets in until I give the okay.While the officers covered Sam and the others with blankets, he saw the same voodoo mark from before been brighter in his hard.“I know
Meanwhile at the Chow Pow, Sheriff McKnight wraps up his investigation along with his task force.“Sir, we couldn’t find any trace of bullets, knifes, or any type of weapon that could have caused this. “A young blasian wrong with long braids tied back told him.Whatever this was, officer stone, it wasn’t done with crude weapons. The witnesses said it had something involving bees.”“Don’t be absurd, Sheriff.” A third voice intervened.“Mayer DuBios I have this area closed off.“My son was in the middle of whatever catastrophe happened in this restaurant. Not to mention how horrible this would before business,”“Sir, your son is safe with his grandmother. We have officers regularly patrolling his house, “ Felicia said.“And who are you?”“Officer Felicia stone, sir.”“Well, Miss. Stone, I believe the big boys should talk about who’s patrolling what but it you’d like to help, I have a suit that needs to be picked up by the dry cleaners.“Officer Stone stays here.” The sheriff said.“So b
Sam waited for his estranged mother to respond but was only met with her blank stares.“How long has my baby sister been like this?” Chris turned to Ramon.“For the post two weeks. We’re had to make sure she eats every day. Half of the time one of our nurses have had to spoon feed her? Speaking of which, it’s time for her lunch.”As Sam tries to reach out to his mother, a young nurse with light brown skin rolls in a cart with a plate of food on it.“Is this a bad time,” the noise says.“Sheriff, this is Onika. She’s a new nurse in training.” Ramon said as he turned to Onika. Give us ten minutes.”“What,” Sam said, morning to Onika. “Can I bring her lunch to her?”“I don’t think that’s the best idea.” Ramon said.“It’s his mother,The boy hasn’t seen her in person for over ten years. Chris said.“I understand Sheriff but I could get in trouble if anything happens to LaToya or any of you.”“I can handle my sister. Let the boy feed his mother.”Sam made his way to the cart as Onika lifte
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 l
Heat flustered the pleasant vibes that filled the air as the two cousin’s stood ready to attack.“I’ve been practicing voodoo for years.” Nelson said. You don’t stand a chance.”“Try me, Jerk.”“Both of you, stop” Onika yelled.“Swahli: Forge a shell of pure energy” Nelson chanted.A massive dome conjured within the flames, trapping Sam and Nelson inside.“There, the priestess can’t save you now.” Nelson smirked.“Bring it on” Sam replied.“Swahli: I summon a cascade of skulls.”Several black spots farmed in the air as green flaming skills rocketed toward Sam. Sam clapped his hands together and began his own chant:“Swahli: Generating spiraling blades of iron.”A gust of silver wind formed around Sam as multiple blades generated out of thin air, slashing against the skulls as they connected.“You’re not the only one who’s been studying voodoo in secret.”“Let’s see what you got.” Nelson said as he folded his hands against each other.Out of his palms came a silver and brown wooden sta
Meanwhile, Sam and the others put Ramon to rest as they discuss their next step.“My spell will cause Ramon to stay a sleep for 30 more minutes.” Onika said. “When he wakes up, he won’t remember a thing.”“What’s the plan to stop whatever is killing people from doing it again?” Sam said.“I’d thought it be obvious Sammy. You’ll need to train to claim the throne of voodon.”“Wait just a minute. I know this is an ancient tradition, and all but you’re not getting my nephew killed, young lady.”“If Sam doesn’t join the coven, he’s as good as dead along with the rest of us.”“Why does it have to be me again?”“You’re a descendent from both the Ethol and Sting tribe. Your blood is the only kind that could banish Cypress if he’s freed.”“This is why I forbid Sam from using voodoo.” Chris said as he banged his fist on the wall.“That still doesn’t make sense of why I was able to use voodoo on my mom.” Sam said. “Usally, a voodooist has to eat the thrane of voodon.”“Wait just a minute. I know
During Stevie’s visit to his estranged father, Sam learns the terrifying conduction between him and the golden watch now reduced to pieces.“What’s the story with that watch?” Sam asked.“That watch once belonged to your other grandfather, Donald Styng.”“The serial killer Voodooist?”“Yes,” Benjermin said. “That watch was enchanted by cypress to act as a talisman for the final battle of the thrown.”“What thrown?”“The thrown of the voodoo king.” Nelson answered.“Every four centuries, the thrown of the voodon shifts out of balance with the mortal plane.”“You ever heard of Parabola?” Onika said, to Sam.“Yeah,” Sam replied. “Some made up paradise for Halloween characters. My uncle used to tell me it was just a myth.”“The myth is real Samuel.” Benjermin said.” Parabola is a separate dimmers on home for folklore.”“Folklore?”“It’s a general term for supernatural creatures including spell casters.” Onika added.“Parabola was forged to contain the most lethal supernatural entities so