VooDoo Follies Read Online Free Page B

had to fight the urge
to suck the rest of those delicious drops from my
sleeve.
    “I... he... oh!” Realization truly dawned on
me in that moment. There were no heaven-sent droplets of magic
pennies that brought my thoughts rushing back. It was blood, and
flesh. I had eaten that man. “Stephen, what have I become?” Stephen
didn’t answer, nor did he come any closer to me. I sunk down to my
knees at the edge of the tree line while Stephen stood over by the
white headstones. “He was attacking me. He grabbed me from behind
and tried to kiss me. I thought he was biting me, so I bit back.”
Everything that had just taken place came babbling out of my mouth.
Stephen just stood, looking from me to the lump of the man behind
me in the trees.
    “I didn’t know.” I looked up at Stephen,
hoping he would see the truth in my eyes. “I didn’t
understand.”
    “Seraphine will be here soon. We’ll figure
everything out.”
    “Seraphine.” With her name on my tongue I knew
I would do whatever she asked of me, but I wasn’t sure it would be
what I wanted. Now that I could think clearly again I wasn’t so
sure I wanted to be put back in the ground. I wasn’t ready to die.
At least, no more ready than I was when I died the first time. Even
with my new-found clarity I was still confused. I watched as
Seraphine walked up with a couple bags in tow. I didn’t want to be
put back in the ground. The thought of being buried in the earth
sent shivers down my spine. I watched as Stephen spoke to
Seraphine, sometimes emphatically, swinging his arms this way and
that. I wanted to laugh, because that looked more like the Stephen
I knew in life. He was always so dramatic and lately he just seemed
too serious. They were discussing what I had done. I could tell by
the look of terror that flew across Seraphine’s face before she
could get it in check. She looked at me and in that moment I knew I
would do whatever it took to make her happy. I felt terrible that I
had disappointed her. At the same time, I couldn’t understand why I
felt that way. I watched as Seraphine walked over to a newer
looking headstone and felt sure that must be mine. Part of me
wanted to see it, and the other part didn’t. To see it would make
it real. It would mean I really was this dead, dirty, vile creature
who just ate a human being. A nasty smelling bum, at
that.
    ***

 
    The Dead Keep on Dying
     
    “How did she manage to eat a person with you
right here?” I was beyond pissed. I couldn’t believe what had
happened. Worse yet, I couldn’t think about the fact that
inevitably it was my fault. I was responsible for that man being
dead. I knew I was taking my own guilt out on Stephen, and yet I
couldn’t help myself.
    “I went to look for you. I thought, I thought
she was dying. I mean, her toe fell off and she just looked at it
and stuck it in her pocket like a piece of gum she planned on
chewing later.” He looked as if he might be sick. Stephen was now a
very unnatural shade of pale and flailing his hands around as he
spoke, “I mean, how was I to know that the girl who couldn’t think
straight and was examining her own detached toe was going to be
accosted by a bum and then eat him?” He shook a little, his whole
form shook, in an almost ripple effect.
    I thought for a minute that maybe I was going
a little crazy too. It had been a long, trying day on top of a
sleepless night. I was tired, my eyes were tired, and somehow I had
to manage to pull a ton of magic from the ether and get this girl
back in the ground. I looked back at her now, sitting at the edge
of the trees. I felt my own eyes growing wider as I noticed the
lumpy form slouched down on the ground a few feet behind her. I
knew what it was and I swallowed hard. "This is all my fault." I
said it out loud without a thought, but it stopped Stephen cold in
his rambling tracks.
    "You didn't know." He said. He looked sad as
he spoke, but I could tell he was also trying to reassure
me.
    "I