Cursed

Chapter Fourteen

Jayden spoke to her!

Adrienne went to her next class, bursting with joy. He hadn’t paid any attention to the talk about her family’s curse, and he didn’t know that she spent the evening with a voodoo priestess learning about her sister.

She was aware of the students looking at her in the cheer uniform and couldn’t help but smile at everyone she passed. In a matter of a week, she fit into her new school in a way she’d never expected. Jayden liked her and the cheer squad members were quickly becoming her friends.

Despite a steady stream of cards warning her to be cautious, the morning passed in a happy, dreamy haze, the best day of school in her life.

On her way to lunch, Kimmie intercepted her.

“Addy, why don’t you sit with us?” she asked.

“Um, I …” Adrienne glanced towards the open double doors of the cafeteria, hesitating. She’d promised to have lunch with Emma, who was probably waiting for her at the salad station.

“You’re part of the team now, Addy,” Kimmie reminded her. “We always have lunch together on game days. It’s for luck.”

“Oh. Okay. I guess I can do that today,” Adrienne replied.

“Great!” Kimmie looped her arm through Adrienne’s and waved Kayla over. “I’m like, so excited to hear you sing today.”

They walked into the cafeteria. Adrienne’s gaze went to the salad station, where Emma was waiting.

She waved and started towards her, wanting to explain that she was having lunch with the cheer squad today only.

“This way,” Kimmie said, tugging her the opposite direction.

“I need to tell –”

Kimmie made an exasperated sound. “It’s just one lunch.”

Adrienne didn’t resist. She cast a glance over her shoulder, in time to see Emma’s face fall. The lonely girl limped to the salad station alone.

Adrienne pried her arm loose from Kimmie’s, intending to talk to her friend, whether or not Kimmie wanted her to.

Until she saw Jayden seated at the table with the other members of the cheer squad and a few guys in football jerseys.

He caught her gaze and smiled.

All thoughts of Emma faded, and Adrienne walked the rest of the way to the table without Kimmie’s help. She sat down in an empty spot, surprised to see there were two large pizzas on the table already.

“We have a pizza lunch every game day,” the skinny teen with dark eyes and blond hair told her. “I’m Mickey.”

“Adrienne,” she said.

“I know.” He grinned and glanced at Jayden, who was at the other end of the table.

Adrienne followed his look, admiring Jayden’s chiseled profile. He was breathtakingly handsome, so much so she almost didn’t believe he was at all interested in her.

“Hi, Tara,” Mickey said to the girl who sat down beside Adrienne.

“Whatever,” came the curt response. A gorgeous brunette with large, blue eyes and golden skin, Tara had a heart-shaped face and high cheekbones. She was taller than Adrienne, willowy and feminine from her manicured fingernails to her neat hair and the light scent of perfume. Adrienne recognized her when they met earlier from Madame Estelle’s.

Mickey appeared wounded enough for her to giggle.

“Addy, I brought us all that water you like,” Kimmie called from her spot three seats down. “Cherry flavored!” She held out a bottle to Adrienne.

Adrienne took it. While she loved the water, the blood red coloring was a little too similar to the red from her adventures yesterday. She forced a smile.

“Thanks, Kimmie.”

Kimmie beamed and passed out bottles of red water to everyone else on the cheer squad.

A little queasy at the red water, Adrienne touched her ear. She’d taken enough painkillers to keep it from hurting more than a distant throb. Her hair was down, so no one had noticed the bandages around her ear.

“To the first game of our senior year,” Kimmie said and stood. She raised her bottle of water. “And the best quarterback in the country. Win us a game, Jay!”

The others at the table clapped and whooped, while the girls on the cheer squad raised their bottles in a toast.

Adrienne swallowed hard and did so as well. She sipped it, relieved it tasted like cherry.

Don’t be so lame! She lectured herself. It’s just water.

She drank more, relaxing. It wasn’t the blood of a deranged voodoo priestess, just flavored water. Mickey plopped a slice of pizza on her plate then tried to offer one to Tara, who just passed her plate down to the girl beside her.

Sensing someone watch her, Adrienne looked up.

It was Jayden. He wasn’t smiling. His gaze went from her to the bottle and lingered before he looked away.

Was he thinking of what happened at his grandmama’s last night?

Her spirits dampened a little. Maybe he was more upset about what happened than he let on. He’d been smiling and happy to see her earlier, but maybe the blood red drink was too much of a reminder.

What if his grandmama called him and told him again that Adrienne was cursed?

She drew a deep breath.

Enjoy today. It was the best day of school ever. She’d wow everyone – including Jayden – at the pep rally and then cheer her heart out at the game tonight. Tomorrow, she’d splurge on some nice nail polish then go out with Jayden after her shift reading tarot cards.

This was her year. She was going to relish every second of it.

“You wanna hang out after the game tonight?” Tara asked her.

Adrienne froze, not expecting yet another incredible addition to her already amazing day.

“Yeah,” she said. “I would.”

“We usually go for pizza. It’s all we eat on Friday’s,” Tara said, smiling. “Seniors buy. It’s my turn tonight.”

Adrienne didn’t want to think about what happened if it ever came to be her turn to buy. How on earth could she afford to buy pizza for the whole football team and cheer squad?

“Jay has to take care of the twins, so he won’t be there,” Tara added.

“Twins?” Adrienne echoed.

“Our sisters. We take turns during the school year so we can have like, a life.”

“You’re …” Adrienne tried to grasp what Tara was saying. She glanced at Jayden.

Devil. Death. Six of Cups.

Suddenly, the cards she’d seen Sunday made sense. Jayden’s cards had been haunting her all week.

“Stepsiblings. His daddy adopted us when he married our mama,” Tara explained. “Our parents are too busy for the two little ones, so we take turns.”

“I know how that feels,” Adrienne said with wry emotion. “I pretty much raised my three younger sisters before coming here. If you ever want a babysitter, let me know.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, sure.” Adrienne smiled. “It’s what friends do, right?”

Tara appeared startled. She said nothing for a few seconds.

“Um, I guess,” she said finally. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Adrienne wolfed down her pizza, grateful to eat real food instead of salad for lunch. She calculated how much money she’d save if she didn’t have to pay for lunch on Fridays. It was at least ten extra dollars a week. It would add up fast.

Lunch passed quickly, and she went to her next class. No one had called her Swamp Girl all day, though a few students snickered to see her dressed in the cheer uniform. There was nothing any of them could do today to upset her.

She finished Kimmie’s water the next class and dropped the bottle in a recycle bin. Her throat was tingling by the time she sat down in the last class of the day. The pep rally would take up the final period, and her excitement was growing.

When they heard her sing, they’d never call her Swamp Girl again. The whole school would know she was meant for something great.

Adrienne cleared her throat a couple of times, attributing the scratchiness to nerves. Even knowing how good she was, she felt anxious about singing in front of Jayden. He’d heard her practice, but he’d never heard her really sing. They’d asked her to sing the National Anthem at the pep rally then one other number, the school’s alma mater.

Too nervous to focus on the instructor, she checked her email and was excited to see an email from her mother.

Hi baby,

I don’t remember all of it and can’t recall the original French. It was one of them fairy tales meant to teach kids lessons. I think it went something like …

A man gave the gods his spirit for a black magic spell

that would grant him riches.

The gods took not his spirit but what he cared for most.

A curse times three came upon the bokor who created the blood magic

that took the lives of thousands.

Ninety-nine lives was the price of the bokor’s magic, and the bokor’s life.

The man was spared but brought the curse of ninety-nine upon his family.

He spent his life with gold and pain and only his greed

kept him warm at night.

That’s all I can remember. When are you coming back? You seem so far away.

Love,

Mama

Adrienne re-read the disjointed tale many times, perplexed by it. Candace seemed to think either Adrienne’s family did something terrible or were the target of someone’s vengeance. What if it was something different? What if one of her ancestors was the bokor who created the blood magic that hurt thousands?

Who were the man and bokor? Why was the man who bought the spell in pain? What was it he cared for most of all? Who were the ninety-nine who died?

The more she thought, the more confused she became. Much of the story was missing. Could Candace make any sense of it?

Adrienne jotted down her questions. She wrote herself a reminder to mention the sticky notes, too, when she saw Candace next.

The bell rang, jarring Adrienne out of her thoughts.

Adrenaline jolted through her. She stood in sync with the rest of the kids in class and cleared her throat once more. It felt … swollen? She hummed to loosen it up on the way to her locker. Following Kimmie’s instructions, she put everything away.

Her attention went to the single photo she’d put up in her locker, the one Rene gave her of Therese and Jax.

Get my journal back.

Adrienne’s smile fell. She studied the picture. Maybe she shouldn’t go for pizza after the game tonight but find Candace instead. Was she being selfish by not going right away?

Jax cared for her sister too much to destroy the journal.

What was the mysterious leaver of sticky notes worried about, if not Jax ruining the journal?

“You ready?” Tara asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Yeah,” Adrienne answered. Her voice was husky, the way it was when she had hay fever in spring. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “Just grabbing a good luck charm.” She tugged the photo free and tucked it into the small pocket of her skirt. She debated for a split second, not liking the idea of leaving her iPad where she couldn’t see it. She’d never owned anything so expensive. She preferred to keep it with her.

“You don’t have to do this, if you’re not ready,” Tara said.

Adrienne put her iPad in its cross body case to take with her and closed the locker.

“I’m ready,” she said happily and started towards the locker room.

“No, really.” Tara took her arm. “You don’t have to do this.”

Tara was serious.

Adrienne was more than a little wounded. Why would Jayden’s stepsister not want her to participate? What had he told her?

“But I want to,” Adrienne said. “I want to show people I’m not some charity case. When they hear me sing, they won’t make fun of me anymore.”

Tara released her, features softening. “I just … Jayden’s right. You’re a sweet girl.”

“He said that?”

Tara nodded.

“C’mon, girls!” Kimmie shouted from down the hallway.

Adrienne went, the strange exchange with Tara forgotten. Her heart hammered faster and faster the closer she got to the locker rooms. The excitement in the air made her almost giddy at the opportunity to show the world why she was there.

The girls on the cheer squad were joking and laughing. A couple freshened up while two more dished about the members of the football team they were dating. Adrienne listened to the chatter flying around her, amazed.

This is what it’s like to be popular. It was better than it looked from the outside.

Only Tara seemed uninterested in engaging with the others. She was quietly redoing her makeup a short distance from everyone.

Adrienne wondered what was wrong with Jayden’s sister. Her own spirits were too high for her to dwell on Tara’s subdued presence. It was soon time for them to make their entrance into the auditorium.

“Line up!” Kimmie ordered.

The girls fell into a single line like they’d practiced. Because she hadn’t yet mastered the first cheer, Adrienne was in charge of starting the music. She fell into the last spot, agitated energy making her bounce in place.

They ran out of the locker room into the auditorium, cheering as they went. Claps, whistles and whoops went up from the packed seating in the gym. The administrator gave up trying to call out the names of the squad and stepped back, clapping with the rest of the students.

Adrienne went to her assigned spot beside the podium to start up the music. The other girls moved into formation. She plugged in Kimmie’s iPod to the speakers and turned to watch.

The first dance went without a hitch, the girls moving in perfect rhythm to the music. Grinning, Adrienne watched, thrilled to be a part of their team. When they finished, more cheering and clapping ensued, until the administrator announced it was time to meet the football team.

Adrienne joined the other girls, who formed two lines on either side of the exit from the boys’ locker room. She smiled at Tara, who was grinning.

“Number three, our All American quarterback, Jayden Washington!” the coach announced.

A roar went up from the student body.

Jayden’s lean, muscular form trotted out. Waving and smiling at the crowd, he winked at her as he passed.

Best day of my life. Ever!

Enamored by Jayden, she barely heard the others being announced. He slapped hands with each member of the team as they reached him, joking and grinning with them.

When the last player was announced, the cheer squad took up their post near the podium. Adrienne wiped her hands on her skirt. She sang in front of a full congregation every Sunday without feeling the nervousness she felt today. She rubbed her throat. It still didn’t feel right, but she was too excited to give it too much thought.

The administrator waved her forward when the crowd had settled. She adjusted the microphone they’d set up for her and waited for his cue.

“Our newest student, Adrienne St. Croix, will be singing our National Anthem,” he said. “Please stand.”

A hush went over the students, and they rose. Adrienne drew a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back. The music started, and she closed her eyes to center herself.

“Ohhh say can you –” She choked then coughed. Adrienne stopped, startled. A ripple of laughter went through the kids. The music continued. She swallowed then picked up the music.

“… what so proudly we –”

She burst into another round of coughs that hurt her throat so badly, she couldn’t continue. When she recovered, she clenched her mouth closed.

Something was wrong. She’d never frozen up from nerves before. She knew the words by heart, and nothing was wrong with her voice. She’d had the best vocal practice ever this morning. Even when she had hay fever, she sang, albeit not as well as usual.

She opened her mouth again. More coughing came out.

Someone shut off the music, and students began laughing.

“Welcome to New Orleans, Swamp Girl!” Kimmie shouted. She held up a bottle of red water.

Everyone was laughing. The chant of Swamp Girl began.

For a long moment, Adrienne absorbed it all. The scene was surreal, a nightmare. She was the laughingstock of the school. A glance at Kimmie and Kayla’s smug looks hurt more than the chanting.

They set her up. But how did they take her voice, unless …?

The water. What had the cherry flavoring been covering? A spell? A drug?

Adrienne swallowed hard, afraid to try again to sing. Her eyes were watering, and the chanting grew louder, along with the laughter. She couldn’t bear to look at Jayden, afraid to see him laughing and more afraid to see him pity her.

Unable to handle the laughter, she turned and ran.

Adrienne fled into the locker room, swiping at her tears to keep from running into anything. She paused only long enough to grab her iPad and sling it over her head.

“Swamp Girl!” The chanting continued, chasing her out of the locker room and into the hallway.

She didn’t stop running until she neared the bus stop at the edge of the campus. She reached for her bus pass only to realize it was still in her locker.

I’m never going back! She swore silently.

“Adrienne!”

Unable to face anyone from school, she bolted down the street, trying to escape her humiliation or tears. She ran until she couldn’t breathe then slowed to see where she was.

She wasn’t too far from home. Tired, she wiped her face and trudged onward. She had no misconception about not being welcome at the game tonight or the pizza party afterwards.

Kimmie wanted to humiliate her and had succeeded. The invite to the cheer squad had seemed too good to be true. Now, she understood what the cards had been trying to tell her. Not to trust Kimmie or get drawn into her game, and to heed the warning of Tara, which she didn’t.

Adrienne stopped suddenly, cold fear seizing her chest.

How long was the hex supposed to last? Only today, to embarrass her in front of everyone? Or longer to get her kicked out of school? What happened if her voice was gone forever? How did she help her family?

More tears spilled down her cheeks. They stung. She began to trot then jog, then broke out into a panicked run.

She cut through the alley neighboring her daddy’s apartment building, not caring if she was murdered by gang members. She could barely see straight through her tears. A blurry form moved away from one wall, and Adrienne smashed into him.

“Hold up,” Rene’s familiar voice said. “What mess you get in now?” He steadied her, his blue-green eyes piercing her misery.

Adrienne pushed him away, too upset to deal with anyone. She started past him. Rene caught her arm.

“I ask you a question, girl,” he growled.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone!” she cried. “I want to be alone!”

“A’ight. Whatever.” He held up his hands and walked away.

Adrienne watched him. She wiped her face, forcing herself not to cry.

Rene glanced back at her then paused, facing her once more.

“What’s up?” he asked without approaching. “Your other ear get cut off?”

“I had a bad day.”

“Cheerleaders have bad days?” His gaze swept over her doubtfully.

“I got set up. They invited me, but then they really just wanted … to … humiliate me … in front of Jayden … school.” She was sobbing again. “Kimmie … curse in my … water.”

Rene stared at her. “I didn’t understand any of that.”

Adrienne forced herself to take a shaky breath. She wiped her nose on her shoulder.

“Real classy,” Rene grunted.

“Need a … Kleenex,” she said, sniffling.

He peeled off his shirt to reveal a tight, gray tank top. He was more muscular than she expected, his frame solid and lean. Tattoos covered his chest and arms. He tossed the shirt to her.

“Thank you.” Adrienne wiped her nose on it, not caring what he thought of her. The shirt smelled of him, the musky male scent that somehow helped calm her. She blew her nose before holding out the shirt.

“I don’t want that shit back,” he said.

She giggled then hiccupped. “I’ll wash it out for you.”

He was studying her.

“Can you take me back to Candace’s?” she asked.

“You gonna tell me what happened?”

She shook her head.

“Then no.”

“Rene!” she objected. “I had a bad day. I just need to see Candace.”

“Why?” He crossed his arms.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Then find your own way there.”

“I don’t know my way around the city! Everyone is abandoning me!” she said sadly, tears forming. “I need help, Rene.”

He didn’t budge.

“I might be under a curse.” It took all her effort not to cry. “Some girl at school took away my singing.”

“You can’t sing?”

“No. It’s all I have. I have to see Candace. She can help me.”

He tossed his head to the side then turned and began walking.

Adrienne wiped her nose again and trailed him out of the alley. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she was hopeful Candace could help her at least save her voice.

She didn’t want to think about what Jayden thought of her or how she’d ever go back to school again on Monday. Distraught, all she could think of was how much she liked Jayden and how humiliated she was that he saw what happened.

As they walked, she regained what she could of her tattered composure. Tara’s words returned to her.

Had even Jayden’s stepsister been in on the prank? Was she trying to warn her? Why not just tell her what Kimmie planned to do?

Adrienne patted her iPad absently then glanced down. She hesitated but pulled it free, wondering if Jayden had tried to email. Did she want to know if he had?

She opened it. Her email inbox had blown up with emails from students at the school. Most had subjects that made her throat tighten.

Nice work, Swamp Girl

Welcome to civilization!

Go back to the bayou

She blinked away tears and scanned through the horrifying subjects and names until she found an email from Jayden. The subject was blank.

A-

Please PLEASE let me know you’re okay. I knew Kimmie was planning to prank you, but didn’t know this would happen. I’m so sorry.

J.

He knew. Jayden knew. Was his affection part of the prank? Make the new girl think she was able to capture the heart of the most popular boy in school and join the cheer squad?

How could he do something so cruel?

She shoved the iPad back into its case and began crying again. She stifled the sounds with Rene’s shirt.

“I’m never going back!” she vowed in a half-sob.

“To school?” Rene asked, glancing down at her.

“Today was the worst day of my life.”

He rolled his eyes. “Did anyone die?”

“No.”

“Anyone get hurt at all?”

“No.”

“Don’t sound that bad.”

“Someone might’ve taken my voice!” she snapped.

“True. I been to church every Sunday to hear you sing.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Like an angel. Stealin your voice … that’s a crime.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, not unaffected by his rough kindness. “My mom sent me an email about the song.”

“The one your grandmama sang?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.”

Comforted by his presence, she fell into troubled quiet. The horrific day left her doubting herself in every way – even doubting her gift. How would she live with herself if Kimmie had taken away her ability to sing? Would her daddy be disappointed if she told him she was going back to New Orleans?

What about the mystery she’d leave in New Orleans if she went home? Would she ever know what happened to her sister or how to lift the family curse?

“You okay?” Rene asked coolly.

“Not really,” she replied. “I don’t know what to do.”

He pushed open the door to Candace’s shop. Today, the scent of incense joined that of coffee. It drifted over her when she entered.

Candace’s smile at Rene faded when she saw Adrienne’s red eyes and nose.

“What happened, Adrienne?” she asked, standing from behind the counter. “Rene?”

“Why everyone think I make her cry?” he snapped.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Adrienne said. “I need some help.” Her eyes watered.

“Of course, child. Come on back.”

Adrienne went, followed by a moody Rene.

“Someone hexed me, Candace,” Adrienne said miserably. She sat in the same chair she’d been in the other day.

The voodoo priestess studied her. “You are fortunate. My focus is healing. My brother is the bokor. We are … yin and yang.”

“He sells curses and you cure people he curses?” Adrienne asked.

“Precisely.” Candace smiled. “It’s my way of making things right. Rene, my healing tea.”

“Not sure I want more tea.”

“This one will help purify you,” Candace assured her.

Rene disappeared behind the beaded curtain leading to the back room of the shop.

“The quickest way to remove a curse is to ask he who jinxed you to remove it,” Candace advised. “Is that an option?

“No,” Adrienne said softly. “I’m never going back there.”

“Very well. I’ll do my best. It will be a lengthy process.”

Adrienne nodded. “I brought the song you requested with me.”

Candace brightened. “I have never seen a curse such as this one. May I see it?”

Adrienne tugged her iPad free and turned it on. Tears formed at the additional emails that had stacked up in her inbox. She scrolled down to find her mother’s message then pushed the device to Candace and rested her forehead on the table.

Candace was quiet for a long moment before speaking. “Can I email this to myself?”

“Sure.”

Rene placed the tea set down on the table.

Adrienne lifted her head. She stretched forward to pour tea, but her hand shook.

Rene rolled his eyes, but did it for her.

“Thank you,” she murmured, clutching the warm cup close to her.

“My goodness.” Candace was staring at the iPad. “I’ve never seen this level of cyber bullying.”

Adrienne nodded blandly.

“Curses tend to go in three waves. I’d say your voice was the first stage, these emails the second. I think we can at least stop this one before the third.”

“I need my voice, Candace. Please.”

“Drink your tea, sweetie.” Candace closed the iPad and pushed it across the table.

The mambos lit incense and traced the shape of Papa Legba on the table with a white mixture from a squeeze bottle. She murmured in French and placed a small rock in the center, wafting incense over the rock.

Adrienne sipped her tea. It was warm and soothing, and she felt herself relaxing.

“Your boyfriend stand up for you today?” Rene asked from the corner where he’d sat down.

She ducked her head.

“Guess not.”

“He knew about the curse. I don’t think he was ever my boyfriend,” she whispered.

“I told you, didn’t I?”

“Rene, that won’t help her,” Candace said, glancing up from her prayers.

“She needs to toughen up.”

“Or someone to step up and protect her.”

“I ain’t no warrior.” Rene shrugged.

“The warrior is among the most sacred duties in our religion, Rene. It’s an honor and your destiny, from what our ancestors tell me,” Candace chided.

“Not happening.”

“I just want to go home to Georgia,” Adrienne said. “But I can’t until I find out how to lift my family curse.”

“Take me with you,” Rene grumbled.

“Ignore him. He’s upset because I told his mama he was meant to be a warrior, and now she won’t leave him alone about it,” Candace said. “Adrienne, you have time before you and your sisters are old enough to bear children. If you return to Atlanta, we can continue to work on the family curse.”

Adrienne hesitated, debating internally. Finally, she pushed away the thick band of her tank top to reveal the mark of the curse.

“I don’t know if I can do that,” she said. “This shouldn’t be there.”

Candace’s eyes widened, and Rene rose, leaning on the table to see.

“You’re marked, Adrienne,” Candace said.

“I don’t understand how,” Adrienne responded. “Mama said the curse takes firstborns.”

Candace said nothing. She stood and walked to the front of the store, returning with a piece of paper. She unfolded it and set it down.

Adrienne leaned back, recognizing the Red Man and words she’d drawn the other day while under the trance Candace put her in.

“You know. Somewhere inside of you. You know,” Candace said. “The spirits spoke through your sister and are trying to speak through you.”

“But I don’t know.” Adrienne’s tears rose again. “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know what he wants. I don’t even know what these words mean. I just want my voice back, Candace!”

“Calm, child.”

The bell at the front door rang.

“Stay here and drink tea,” Candace said, standing. “Rene, behave.” She disappeared through the curtain separating the store from her private shrine area.

Rene sat down across from Adrienne at the table. Adrienne ignored his look, staring at the paper. She drew a deep breath.

Candace was right. Therese’s journal was filled with this nonsense, but it meant something. If the spirits had tried to warn her sister, maybe they were trying to warn her now, too. The sight of the man in red made her want to run away, but she forced herself to pick up the paper with one hand.

“If your brother would give me back my journal …” she said, glancing at Rene.

“Not happening. You’ll have to figure this out without it.”

Adrienne didn’t expect any other response. She traced the robed man with her finger. The simple movement sent a chill through her, as if drawing the man gave him some sort of life.

“He’s bad,” she said. She wiped her face again with Rene’s t-shirt. “Are you really a voodoo warrior?”

“No.”

“Want me to ask my cards?”

“Definitely not. Just because everyone else thinks I should be something, don’t mean I will be. I’ll take care of you and no one else and that’s because you’d be dead by now otherwise.”

“I understand. Thanks.” Adrienne sighed and focused. She needed her voice back. She needed to lift the curse. Why was everything on her shoulders and not those of her mother? Her father?

“Table and boredom great shoes,” she read a few of the words she’d written. “It doesn’t mean anything!”

“Like Candace say. Maybe it means something else than the words,” Rene reminded her. “Why is this capitalized?”

Adrienne picked up a pen and circled the capitalized letters in the first few words.

“A, B, B, D, E, A, E,” she said aloud. “Not all vowels, not all consonants.”

“But they’re the same letters,” Rene said, pointing to the next line of text she’d written. “You don’t see any capital S’s or R’s.”

“No, you don’t,” Adrienne said pensively. She circled the rest of the capitalized letters and sat back with a gasp. “Rene! I know what it is!”

“That makes one of us.”

“It’s musical notes. It’s a song!”

“Seriously?”

“Omigod! I’m such an idiot! It makes perfect sense. My sister was a singer, too. The spirits were trying to talk to us through songs. Or a song. I don’t know.” Thrilled, Adrienne rose and ducked outside the private room.

“Addy?”

She froze, staring at her father, who was leaning over the counter his hands clasped with Candace’s. He straightened, breaking contact with Candace. His smile faded.

“You’re that Candace?” Adrienne asked the calm woman in African dress, astonished.

“What’re you doing here, Addy?” her father asked, frowning. “You get out of school early?”

“Um … yeah,” she managed. “I, uh …”

Her daddy didn’t know Candace was a practicing mambos, or he wouldn’t be seeing her.

Adrienne’s intent gaze went to Candace. Twice today she’d been betrayed by people she trusted. Was Candace the third?

Her daddy was looking at Candace, too, and Adrienne saw the happy glow fade from his face.

Whatever she thought of Candace right now, her daddy really liked her. Adrienne sought something smart to say about why she was there while grappling with the realization that her racist father was falling in love with a woman straight out of Africa. What were the chances? Would that make him more likely to let Jayden in to study with her?

Right now, she needed an excuse as to why she was hanging out with the woman her daddy hadn’t wanted her to meet yet in a neighborhood he’d warned her to stay away from. God help her if he met Rene, a certified gang member! She’d be sent packing to Georgia.

“Mama asked me to send her something,” she said finally. “I didn’t think you’d approve and didn’t want to tell you.”

“Something … voodoo?” he asked, glancing at the supplies that lined one wall.

“I import herbs from Africa,” Candace added. “Some are rare.”

“I was having tea while Candace looked through inventory.” Adrienne’s gaze narrowed. “Daddy, why didn’t you tell me about Candace?” She crossed her arms.

Her father appeared uncomfortable suddenly.

Adrienne didn’t say what she wanted, that he’d forbidden her from seeing anyone darker than her and treated Jayden like crap when he came over the other night.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he said gruffly. “I’m on break. I can take you home real fast.”

“I’m not ready yet,” Adrienne said quickly. “I mean, the herbs aren’t ready yet.”

“I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” Candace promised warmly.

Her father didn’t appear pleased. Adrienne offered a smile.

Inside, she was stewing. Today was filled with surprises, most of which she wished she could just forget.

“All right,” he said at last. “Be back by dark.”

“I will, Daddy,” she assured him.

He hesitated again then glanced at Candace and left.

Adrienne kept the smile plastered on her face until the door closed behind him before she turned on Candace, hands on her hips.

“You didn’t tell me you knew my daddy!” she exclaimed. “I’m so sick of people lying to me today.”

“I believe in respecting the privacy of others,” Candace said. “Your business with me is between us. My business with your daddy is between him and me. When the time comes for that to change, I wanted him to be the one to talk to you.”

“But you lied to him.”

“So did you.”

Adrienne pursed her lips. Uncertain what to say, she swept aside the curtain and went back to the table. She snatched the paper from Rene.

“Wait, Adrienne,” Candace said, following. “I really do want to help you. I think you need my help.”

“Not anymore. I figured this out,” Adrienne said, waving the paper. She jammed it into her bag, furious at herself for trusting people who didn’t deserve it. Didn’t the cards warn her of that?

But who else could help her?

“You’re upset. I understand. When you’re calm, come back,” Candace said. “Take these with you.” She held out the rock she’d been praying over and a small baggy of herbs. “Drink the tea every morning and keep the rock with you. It’ll prevent the curse from getting worse and gradually remove it.”

Adrienne hesitated then took the items. She placed them in her bag then dropped the cross-body carrier over her head. She grabbed Rene’s shirt, turned and left without speaking.

“You ain’t walking alone,” Rene said firmly, trailing.

“Leave me alone, Rene!” she snapped. She shoved the front door open and paused on the sidewalk, orienting herself.

“So you had a bad day. Don’t be stupid,” he said. He took her arm.

Adrienne shook him off.

Rene snatched her and yanked her in front of him hard enough to jar her out of her swirling emotions.

“You don’t get it, girl,” he warned. “You wanna stay alive, you stop playin’ the fool.” His grip was harder than his gaze, his muscular frame tense enough to scare her. “You got it?”

She nodded.

“You don’t walk nowhere alone and you don’t walk out on me again,” he added.

A dark, haunted emotion she wasn’t able to define crossed his features.

“Ow,” she murmured.

He released her.

“What’s wrong, Rene?” she asked.

“Nothing. Let’s go.” He moved away.

“Rene, I’ve had the worst day ever. Everyone has lied to me or worse! Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” she pushed, refusing to move. “Did you know Candace and my daddy were dating when you took me to her?”

Rene turned, tense once more, and glared at her.

“I can’t trust anyone,” she said, throat tightening. “I’m scared, Rene.”

“Shut up and walk, Adrienne.” His tone was softer. He walked away.

Even her reluctant guardian was hiding something. She sensed it.

The whole world is against me. Defeated, she followed him.

At least she had a new clue about her sister’s journal. She had a piece of the song in her bag. Her eyes settled on Rene, and she trotted forward to draw abreast of him.

“Rene.”

“What.”

“If you can’t get my sister’s journal from Jax, can you copy it?” she asked. “Even if you just take pics of the pages with your phone or whatever.”

He was quiet for a moment, his brooding mood giving her no insight into which way he’d be swayed.

“You just don’t know when to give up,” he said finally.

“Would you give up on Jax?” she challenged.

His jaw clenched. He stopped in place for a moment, and a tortured look crossed his face.

She gazed up at him. Accustomed to him being moody, she was startled to see an emotion that was far more than indecision. Something was wrong, and it wasn’t about Jax and her journal.

“Did you guys get in another fight?” she asked.

He shook his head and started walking once more.

“Rene!” she all but shouted. “Will you help me?”

“I’ll try,” he grumbled. “But you best stop bugging me.”

“Thank you.”

They started down an alley, but stopped. Rene caught her arm and lifted his chin towards the scene in the middle of the alley. A small gathering of gang members were crowded around something or someone.

“You don’t need to see this,” he said and pushed her back to the street.

“See what?” She leaned to see around him.

“They doing what they do.”

She caught a familiar flash of maroon that matched the skirt of her cheer squad she wore. Adrienne hardened, hoping it was Kimmie in the alley, but immediately felt guilty. Even Kimmie didn’t deserved to be messed up by a gang. Adrienne didn’t know what they’d do to her, but she suspected Rene was serious about them killing people. Her daddy seemed to think that was all gangs were good for anyway.

“I think I know her,” she said, tugging free of Rene. She stepped into the alley, trying to make out who the gang members had cornered and were pushing around.

“Not your business.”

“It is!” she insisted. She gasped, catching a flash of a familiar face. “It’s Tara.” She started forward.

“Stop,” Rene grabbed her arm. “The crew will tear you up after they’re done with her.”

“Then stop them.” Adrienne turned to face him. “She’s on the cheer squad.”

“Didn’t they screw you up?”

Adrienne hesitated, thoughts going from Tara’s warning to Jayden. The humiliation and despair she felt hours before fluttered through her.

“It’s still not right to leave her,” she murmured. “Please?”

“You serious?” Rene frowned. “They’re Jax’s boys. You want me to get my ass kicked for some girl who effed you up?”

“I can do it.”

“Stay out of sight.” He pushed her towards the street with another mumble she took to be curse words directed at her. Rene trotted down the alley.

Adrienne did as he said and went to the building on one side, peering around the corner to see into the alley.

Rene said something as he approached. A few of the thugs laughed. Then he grabbed one and smashed him in the face with a fist.

Adrienne gasped and covered her mouth. Rene was strong and tall, but the guy he punched was huge. Another of the gang members shoved him. He shoved back then punched him, too.

Sensing their fun was over, the others broke up. One shoved Tara at Rene, who caught her with one arm. He motioned angrily to the guy on the ground, who talked back, but didn’t fight. He got to his feet and sulked away.

One arm around Tara, Rene walked calmly down the alley towards Adrienne. Dread fluttered in her stomach at the sight of Jayden’s sister. She wondered if Tara came so far just to laugh at her again or to drop another curse on her.

Tara’s hair was mussed, a few of her nails broken. She’d been crying, and her makeup was smeared and one cheek red from someone’s punch. She’d been shoved into a puddle, and her cheer uniform dripped with water.

“Are you okay?” Adrienne asked uncertainly, stepping from the building as they neared.

“I told you to stay out of sight,” Rene snapped.

“They can’t see me.”

“One day, girl, you gonna get your ass kicked, and I’m gonna laugh.”

Tara looked ready to cry.

Rene spun her to face him roughly and took her chin, peering into her face.

She cringed away.

“You fine,” he said, pushing her away.

“It’s okay, Tara.” Adrienne took the girl’s arm. “Rene is … a friend. When he feels like it.”

“What you doing here?” Rene asked Tara gruffly.

Tara was shaking. She looked away from him quickly, not speaking.

“You’re scaring her, Rene,” Adrienne told him.

“Me? I rescued her ass.”

“Okay, come on, Tara,” she said, wrapping one arm around Tara’s waist. “Rene, home.”

“Great. Now I’m Walkin’ Ms. Daisy.”

Adrienne rolled her eyes. She didn’t know what to think of the moody gang member except he wasn’t going to abandon her. He was the only constant after her day. He’d bitch about it, but he’d see her home this afternoon and probably any other afternoon, whether or not she wanted him to.

Rene walked ahead of them, moping, all the way back to her apartment building. Tara didn’t stop shaking and didn’t speak, clearly in shock.

“Thank you, Rene,” Adrienne said, pushing open the door to her building.

He shrugged and walked off.

“He’s such a pain,” Adrienne complained. “But he’s all bark. I think.”

Tara glanced around her, clearly unimpressed with the lobby of the apartment building. Adrienne led her to the elevator, nervous now that Rene was gone. She didn’t know what Tara was doing there or even if she should show Jayden’s sister how poor she was when they got to her father’s rather plain apartment.

Tara said nothing as they rode in the elevator and entered the apartment.

“I can get you dry clothes,” Adrienne said, walking down the short hallway to her bedroom.

She dug through the closet, afraid to see Tara’s face at the cramped room that was hers. Adrienne pulled out a worn t-shirt and workout shorts for Tara then clothes for her to change into.

Tara was looking around, starting to register the world once more. She didn’t appear to be repulsed by the bedroom of the scholarship girl they’d gone out of the way to ridicule.

“Um, I’ll leave you alone to change,” Adrienne murmured, pitying the girl. “I’ll make us some tea.”

Tara took the clothes without speaking.

Adrienne left and closed the door behind her. Emotionally drained, she felt like crying again. She didn’t, instead changing quickly in the bathroom then going to the kitchen to microwave water for tea. Her ear was hurting badly, so she downed a couple more painkillers.

The door to her bedroom opened and the bathroom door closed.

Adrienne put two cups of tea on the kitchen table and waited, twisting her hands in her lap.

Tara emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later and sat down on the couch. She’d smoothed out her hair and removed her makeup.

“Thank you,” she said, accepting the cup of tea Adrienne gave her.

An awkward silence fell.

“Are you okay?” Adrienne asked.

“Yeah.” Tara cleared her throat and took a sip of tea.

“So, what were you doing in the alley?”

“Looking for you.”

“Why?” Adrienne asked, dismayed. “The pep rally wasn’t enough?”

Tara flushed. “Believe it or not, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Let me guess. You knew what Kimmie aimed to do, but didn’t warn me either.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think it’d work, though. Voodoo isn’t real. I mean, I didn’t think it was.”

“It is,” Adrienne said. She hesitated then realized there was no reason to hide the truth anymore. She’d already lost the respect of everyone at school, and Jayden helped set her up. “My family is cursed. Every firstborn in my mama’s line is killed, including my sister, who disappeared five years ago when she came to New Orleans to live with Daddy. Jayden’s grandmama even knew I was cursed. That’s how I know magic is real.”

“You’re serious.” Tara’s eyes were wide. “So Kimmie’s curse ... worked?”

“Yeah. She took my voice.” Adrienne’s eyes watered. “I can’t keep my scholarship without it. I’ll have to go back to Atlanta. I’m so close to finding out what happened to my sister.”

“I’m sorry,” Tara murmured. “I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, well, I obviously don’t fit in there anyway. No one bothered to tell me, and everyone knew.” Adrienne took her cup to the kitchen, upset. “I’m never going back.”

“You have to come back,” Tara said, following her. “Jayden likes you.”

“Not enough to warn me!”

Tara was quiet for a moment.

Adrienne picked up the phone from the counter and clicked it on, grateful to hear the dial tone. At least her daddy had decided to pay the phone bill. She wouldn’t look like complete white trash in front of Tara.

“Here. Call your mama or someone,” Adrienne said, holding it out. “We don’t have no car and someone like you don’t ride city buses.”

She left Tara in the kitchen. A moment later, she heard Tara speaking quietly to whomever she called.

Adrienne sat on the couch and pulled free her iPad. She stared listlessly at the horrible emails from half the kids in the school then spotted one from Emma.

Hi Adrienne,

I hope you are okay.

Your friend,

Emma

Adrienne swallowed her tears, not recalling how she’d stood up Emma until seeing the note. Emma was her only real friend at the school, and she’d broken her promise to eat lunch with her to sit with kids who humiliated her in front of everyone.

Maybe I deserve what happened.

“Jayden’s coming to get me,” Tara reported, joining her in the living room. “He asked about you.”

Adrienne shrugged.

“Look, Adrienne, all that stuff that happened … Jayden had nothing to do with it. Kimmie is always putting hexes on him, so we figured she was just full of it. Nothing bad has ever happened.”

“I don’t care, Tara. If someone was going to hurt him, I’d tell him.”

Tara frowned. She said nothing.

They sat in silence for a long moment.

“Who was the guy with you?” Tara asked.

“Rene. He acts tough, but he’s helped me a lot this week.”

“He’s got that total bad boy thing going on. It’s kinda sexy.” Tara smiled. “You told him to rescue me?”

Adrienne nodded.

“That’s real cool.”

“I try to do good. Not here to hurt anyone.” Except I hurt Emma.

“I’m sorry, Adrienne. I know it’s too late and it doesn’t do anything to help. But I am sorry.” Tara was sincere, her features troubled. “Just … don’t hold it against Jayden.”

Adrienne didn’t know what to say. It hurt just thinking that he knew, but didn’t tell her. Was he as fake as the rest of the kids at school? How was she able to trust him after this?

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t go back,” she said.

“You have to. If you run away, it’s just making Kimmie’s power trip worse.”

“Everyone is making fun of me,” Adrienne said, holding up her iPad to show the overflowing inbox. “Everyone. I don’t belong there, and they know it.”

Tara didn’t reply, frowning.

Sooner than she expected, there was a knock at the door.

Adrienne’s heart jolted at the thought of seeing Jayden again until she recalled he’d been there for her humiliating debut in front of the school. Dreading what he might say, she crossed to the door and opened it.

Jayden still wore his jersey and slacks. His smile was quick, his dark eyes concerned as he studied her closely.

Her body betrayed her despite her resolve to resent him for hiding Kimmie’s prank. Heat raced through her, and she found herself unable to look away or ignore his clean, woodsy scent. She was speechless at the sight of him, too confused to know how to react. Was Tara right about him not knowing or was he a part of the plan to humiliate her? The more she thought, the harder it was to believe that the most popular boy at school really was interested in her.

“Hey.” His husky voice was soft.

“Tara,” she called over her shoulder, stepping away from the doorway. “Your brother’s here.”

Adrienne hugged herself, unable to look at him again. She was too aware of his presence and afraid of what he thought about her.

“One sec. Let me get my uniform,” Tara said, hurrying down the hallway to Adrienne’s room.

The awkward silence made her nervous.

“About today,” Jayden started.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said curtly.

“Okay.” He didn’t seem to know what to say.

Adrienne ached for him to explain why he’d lied to her, except she was afraid to learn that maybe he never liked her at all.

Tara wasn’t long. She returned with her uniform in her arms.

“Thanks, Addy,” she said, hugging her quickly. “I’ll wash out your clothes and bring them to school Monday. Okay?”

“Sure,” Adrienne replied. She didn’t tell Jayden goodbye but closed the door and bolted it. She stayed where she was for a minute then burst into tears.

Adrienne ran to her room and flung herself down on the bed, weeping.