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Here is Chapter One of Suppressed (It's unedited and will change before publication!) enjoy.
Chapter One
He
Darkwood Plantation,
New Orleans, 1853
During the Death of
Cecile LaNuit
My body trembled as fat bone chilling raindrops soaked my
flimsy cotton dress. A ripple of goose bumps slowly crawled their way up my
slender back and filled me with grotesque delight and exhilaration. Wild wolves
howled, owls hooted and snakes dramatically hissed foreshadowing what was about
to take place. I yanked a thick snake off of a nearby oak branch and draped it
around my neck. A low chuckle escaped my lips as the reptile slithered its fork
like tongue in and out of my left ear.
The scene that played out in front of my very eyes was one I
had longed for. I had dreamed of and
undoubtedly deserved after what seemed like an eternity of careful calculation
and patience. It was vengeance at its
finest and the start of what would be my promised rule. He had been right. The greatest freedom
fighter and savior of the suppressed had promised me this day and he hadn’t let
me down. I dug my bare toes into the damp ground relishing the feel of the pointy
thorns and thick mud that clung to my moist skin.
I hid behind the rickety wood door and focused my attention
on the pathetic figure that was sprawled helplessly on the filthy cabin floor.
She had always been a stubborn, self-sacrificing pacifist. Naïve Cecile refused
to fight back when she could have easily done so. She was weak, vile and wholly
unworthy of everything she had been privileged with and that is why she was
laying with her face in a pile of mud surrounded by an angry wolf pack.
I had spent years quietly analyzing her features, the way
she moved, the pitch of her voice, the tone and texture of her skin. I knew
everything about her. The width of her mouth, the thickness of her eyelashes,
the size of her corset, the length of her fingers and every one of her many
irritating habits that should have made others abhor her rather than love her.
What was it about her?
What made her better than me? Was it the shade of her skin, the color or
eyes or the blood that flowed through her veins? But most puzzling of all why did he want her
out of the way? Why was he threatened by her?
It wasn’t my place to question him but I figured it had
something to do with her very soul. Her very spirit that made the loa willingly
help, guide and protect her. That spirit needed to be eradicated. He had promised
me if I got rid of her I would have full control and complete ´power over New
Orleans and a permanent position of power within his New World Order. As far as I knew he never broke his promises.
When I was down on my knees, he was the only one who gave me the strength to
fight. When my soul was as scarred and bruised as my back he gave me the wisdom
to understand that I was more than just a lowly slave destined for a life of
servitude and constant humiliation.
After all, he had been the one who had inspired me with this
brilliant plan. To get rid of Cecile I would need to suppress her spirit in a
manner so brutal that it would never find its way back to this side ever again.
There was only one way to do that and I had done it. Kill the light. Her light.
Kill hope. Her hope. Lucus. And tie her to a soul that will make sure to keep
her in eternal misery. Edmond. I had promised Edmond Cecile but I never said I
would deliver her alive… He would just have to wait until he met her on the
other side.
You see, most people naively believe that the spirit world
is a myth. A fairy tale invented by savages to make up for their lack of
scientific knowledge. But I knew it was real. The real myth was the world of
flesh and blood. What happened to your spirit after death was vastly more
important than what your physical body did on any given day. The spirit was
eternal and the flesh was disposable.
Raataaaaaa Raaataaaa
Raaataaa. The sound of raindrops pounding against the cabin roof grew
louder and I leaned in closer. The crack of a whip cut through the tense
atmosphere. A waft of metallic blood mingled with the murky smell of the earth
crept up my nostrils.
Madame LaPlante stood
over Cecile. In proper lady like manner she adjusted her peach satin nightgown
and brushed away the loose strand of hair that had escaped from her otherwise
immaculate bun. Her pretty wide eyes appeared demonic and a vengeful smirk
danced on her lips as she dished out the first lash. I admired her force and
the way she ruthlessly administered the blow. She did it without flinching
without getting any dirt on her gown. I
knew right then and there that she could be useful. Very useful…
Cecile laughed as the first lash ripped open her skin. Her laughter soon turned to weeping and
wailing. Each scream was more wretched than the next and I couldn’t help but
smile at each and every cry.
I let out another low
chuckle as a flood of tears soaked her cheeks and bright blood oozed from the
gash on her back.
Madame LaPlante remained completely oblivious to her pleas
and continued to whip. Two. Three. Four.
Five. Six. I continued to count until Cecile’s eyes closed. One hundred and twenty three. It had taken
exactly one hundred and twenty three lashes for her to pass out. I felt her
spirit fading and knew that victory was mine.
“Hang her,” Madame LaPlante ordered. She gave her one last
whip before spitting on her bloody face.
The burly red-headed driver nodded as he clutched Cecile’s
limp, lifeless arm and dragged her across the cabin floor. I quickly hid behind
an oak tree and watched as the driver placed a noose around Cecile’s neck and
strung her up onto the tree. Her body madly convulsed as her spirit was
squeezed out of her. Her toes twitched and fingers jerked before becoming still
and completely lifeless. She was a tragically beautiful doll who had been
doomed from the beginning because she had been too self-righteous. She had been
too weak, too emotional, too good. There was no room for people like her in
this world. This world belonged to people like me: strong, ruthless and
determined to fight for what they wanted at all and any cost.
“Adieu,” I whispered, as I felt her spirit cross on over to
the other side. “You won’t be missed my dear sister.” I dropped to my knees in
pure joy and held my stomach as hysterical waves of uncontrollable laughter
poured out of me. It was done and I knew that I had made him proud.
The driver gave Cecile’s dead body one last satisfied glance
before leaving her there. I knew that she would be left hanging on that branch
as an example to the other slaves and free people of color who worked on the
plantation. The best tactic to install fear was making an example out of one disobedient
person. I knew that tomorrow slaves would look upon her body in horror and whisper
among themselves. They would bow their heads down further and work even harder
to please their masters and take further delight in their own imprisonment.
Pathetic idiots. If they couldn’t see
how much their freedom was worth they deserved being imprisoned and used like
animals.
“You fool!” Edmond’s harsh voice cut through the deafening
rain. It caught me off guard and put an abrupt end to my diabolical laughter.
I glanced up and saw that his icy blue eyes were filled with
an unnerving fire and his usually impeccably combed brown hair was wild. The
gash on his forehead was leaking blood onto his mouth, chin and had stained his
crisp white shirt but he was oblivious to his demented state.
I rose from the ground and took a step backwards, almost
tripping over a tangle of bright purple Wild Iris’.
There was something utterly
unnerving about Edmond’s manner and I instantly knew that something had gone
terribly wrong with my master plan.
Like a wild beast he let out a low primal grunt and a few
deep breaths before he dove towards me and forcefully grabbed a hold of my
shoulders and shook me senseless. “You savage! You’ve ruined everything! I
should have never trusted someone so inferior! So unworthy! Someone not quite
human!” He screamed over and over again as if he had lost all reason or notion
of sanity. The bourbon on his breath was
overpowering as it drifted up my nose and burned the insides of my throat. His
anger was raw, bitter but full of authority. I couldn’t let him unnerve me. I
wouldn’t let him unnerve me. I could feel his rage burn into my soul and I knew
that despite his flaws he would be a worthy companion. A useful companion.
For a second only a mere second I remind you I was
temporarily disorientated and tears of confusion threatened to slide down my
cheeks until I remembered who I was and what I was meant to do. Swiftly, I
grabbed hold of his beefy hands and savagely clawed them off of my neck. I had
come too far and had fought too hard to let anything stop me now. Remembering
his promise and his plan for me I used all of my strength and pushed Edmond off
of me. He stumbled backwards like a drunken fool and fell onto the murky earth
with a deafening thud. A brown owl madly hooted above him mockingly.
Wasting no time I caught my breath and tried to crush the
flood of fear his presence implanted in me. I stood over him and pressed my
bare foot into his chest. It was an action that would have easily gotten me the
death sentence but I didn’t care. I didn’t live by the rules imposed on me by this
society. I was above that. I knew he
would keep me safe as long as I followed him. From the well hidden cloth sack I
kept strapped against my waist I pulled out a tiny veil of Power Oil and rubbed
the mixture of lemon oil, Vetivert, Patchouli and blood over his face. Power
Oil was an essential for any King or Queen because it gave complete domination
over an enemy and made them bend to the will of the user.
Edmond’s body grew limp and I could feel his spirit weaken
but his eyes were still consumed with hatred and disgust which angered me to no
end. The sight of him lying there
helplessly sent a shiver of satisfaction up my spine and I was tempted to snuff
out his life entirely but restrained myself. “Patience,” I muttered. “Patience. You’ve come this far. Whatever
this is nothing but a minor setback” I brushed my lips against his left ear.
“Tell me everything.”
“Damn you,” he gasped, as his bow-shaped lips quivered.
“Damn you… Where is Cecile? You promised me Cecile!”
I let out a low sigh as I smeared some more of the oil over
his lips, the back of his neck and across his chest. “You will talk,” I said
firmly, as I slapped him across the face out of annoyance more than anything
else.
He let out several deep breathes and I could smell his fear.
I took delight in the way the bright blue vein in his right temple pulsed madly
underneath his pale skin. “My idiot cousin is alive. Alive,” he said, as if not
quite believing the words that were coming out of his mouth. “Alive…”
“Alive?” I whispered, as I tried to hide my insecurity. No it couldn’t be true. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Are you insulting my intelligence, you
savage?” Edmond tried to retain his
sense of superiority even when I clearly had the upper hand. “Where is she?”
“Does he remember anything?”
“No. He’s always been a fool. Now, he’s a confused fool.
He’s searching for Cecile. I need to get to her first. She’s mine. Where is
she?”
I took another deep breath and tried to think of the
implications of this revelation. If Lucus was alive that meant Cecile, being
her stubborn self, would somehow find her way back to this side. It meant he
would be terribly disappointed in me and it almost meant that I would never
gain all the power he had promised me until I got rid of Cecile for once and
for all. I had to get this situation under control and I had to do it now.
“Where is she?” Edmond demanded again, as he tried to fight
off the impact of the Power Oil.
I released him and rose from the ground. With all my
strength I dragged Edmond’s body and placed it under the oak tree. He thrashed
wildly as he tried to resist my grasp but the oil had left him weak, weak
enough to use and manipulate as I pleased.
A small smile played on my lips as my eyes darted from the
tree branch and then back to Edmond’s expectant face. I knew exactly what was
about to happen. My heart beat faster and my muscles tensed in excitement.
Edmond eyes filled with horror as thick drops of blood
bounced off of his forehead. He glanced above him and let out a rather girlish
scream when he saw Cecile’s body dangling from the tree branch. “Noo!” He attempted to reach for her,
struggling against the Power Oil as if he actually believed he had a chance. I
took pleasure in watching him powerless, weak, and unable to move as he
pleased. It was another small victory for me.
I stretched out my arms and laughed as I took in the scene.
I had never felt so alive so revived. The muddy pool of water that had
accumulated under my feet slowly turned a ruddy color as blood met mud. Red the
color of fire, revolution and re-birth.
Unlike Cecile I knew that in order for a revolution to be successful
blood needed to be shed, enemies needed to executed and allies had to be
carefully selected. Yes, I knew exactly what needed to be done. My revolution
was about to start. But first there were
a few minor details that needed to be fixed.
I turned around and
started to make my way to the main house when Edmond’s voice caught me off guard.
Despite my power the mere sound of his voice sent a faint chill through my body and I
automatically froze. I realized then and there that I was free in name only but
how long could I live this way? How long could I put on the façade of being
fearless when I was secretly still afraid of the oppressors. I was mentally a
slave living in a self-imposed prison and I loathed myself for my weakness. I
needed to set myself free and I knew the only way I could do that was by
carrying out my mission and making him happy. I knew this thought pleased him
immensely as the rain stopped and the gloomy gray clouds scattered revealing an
inky sky that seemed limitless in its dark glory.
“Where are you going, you savage?” Edmond asked, as he once
again attempted to compose himself. Even
though he was soaking wet, covered in mud, sweat and blood he held his head
high, straightened his dark brown hair and spoke with the kind of confidence
that came from a lifetime of privilege and luxury. I wasn’t going to be
intimated by him ever again.
I turned around and looked him straight in the face. My eyes
burned into his conveying all the frustration and anger I felt towards him. Now
was the time to let him know who was in charge. I walked towards him slowly.
With each step I took I drew closer to my mental emancipation. As my feet
crushed the ground below them my courage grew. Soon, the heat that pulsed
through my veins became so fierce I knew that I could conquer anything and
anyone.
Edmond studied my expression and for a minute he simply
stared. Instead of recoiling in horror like I had planned he clutched his
stomach and let out a laugh. “Who do you think,” he said between laughs. “Do
you know who I am?” he asked, as he tried to lift himself off of the ground.
Clearly, the Power Oil wasn’t as effective as I had hoped
but I wouldn’t allow that to stop me. I
lunged towards him and grabbed him by his neck which caused him to fall
backwards. It was an action that caught him totally off guard. I knelt beside
him and his blue eyes bulged as I dug my nails into his thick neck. Spots of
bright red blood emerged as nail met flesh. I was a ruthless animal as I
continued to claw him while dosing him with more of the Power Oil. Soon, every
inch of his pale skin was slick and greasy. I could feel the rhythm of his
heart slow down until it was nothing but a faint, distant drum beat.
“Go home,” I ordered. “Go home until I come for you.”
“Home,” he whispered. “There is no home without Cecile,” he
said quietly. His eyes were wide and his lower lip quivered in a child-like
manner.
I sighed and reminded myself that above all things a
successful revolution needed a bit of raw honesty. “Edmond,” I said. It was the
first time I had dared to say his name out loud. It was the first time I felt I
had the right to say his name at all. “You and I are exactly the same.”
He scoffed.
I ignored him and continued. “You don’t really love Cecile.
You love what she represents. You love control, power and domination. You’re
obsessed with my dear sister because she’s the only one who refused to beg or
bow down to you.”
“No that’s not true... I love her because… Because.” He
tried to unsuccessfully search for a reason why he was so obsessed with
Cecile.
“Yes, it is. I know how you feel because I have the exact
same craving as you. This craving for power that consumes your every waking
thought. This feeling of knowing that
you’re much better than those around you and, this urge, that can’t be
satisfied. This hunger for domination that continues to grow and grow,” I said,
as I slowly loosened my grip.
“It’s never good enough,” he said sullenly. He tried to
cover his mouth with his hand but thanks to the Power Oil the words continued
to pour out. “Nothing I ever do is ever good enough for him for them.”
“Who?”
“Papa and Maman. They are insufferable. The whole bloody
family is pathetic, especially that moronic cousin of mine. Can you believe
that he is actually worth more than me? Imagine. Him worth more than me. Maybe
that’s the problem. Maybe that’s why Cecile insisted on fighting for him.”
Edmond rambled on and on about his disgust for his family
and how everyone around him was unworthy. I let him speak and took in his words
carefully. It became clearer that Edmond in fact would be the perfect partner
if he was kept on a short leash. He was
cruel, obsessive and power hungry but above all I knew he would do anything to
make sure Cecile’s spirit would remain in eternal misery.
“I can give you exactly what you want,” I said soothingly,
as I traced his jaw line with my right index finger. “I can bring Cecile back.
I can give you more power than you could ever imagine, we can live forever but
you need to follow my rules.”
I knew that he wouldn’t ever really follow my rules but that
didn’t matter I had ways and means of keeping him under control. I dosed him
with more of the Power Oil and reminded myself I had to find a stronger and
more effective solution to keeping him under my domination. A trick would get
the job done.
“Yes,” he muttered faintly. “Yes. I want it all and more
much much more.”
“Excellent,” I whispered. “Now go. Go before they see you
here. No one can know you were involved especially not your cousin.”
“I won’t leave her,” he said groggily, as his eyelids started
to close.
He was so stubborn, worse than Cecile, but I wasn’t going to
let that deter me. I took off one his shoes and used it as a shovel to claw
away at the earth directly under Cecile’s feet. Afterwards, I plucked out a
strand of Edmond’s hair, covered it in Power oil and threw it into the little
hole I had dug along with his shoe.
Burying someone’s shoe along with a strand of their hair and some Power
Oil was a simple but very effective trick that could be used to make sure the
person ran and didn’t stop until you commanded them to.
Edmond rose and kissed Cecile’s bloody feet before stumbling
into the darkness of the forest.
“Adieu for now, dear sister,” I said, as I rose and from the
ground and straightened out my wrinkled cotton dress. There was work to be
done.
