Cursed

Chapter Nineteen

Adrienne’s Sunday passed fast and uneventfully. No more zombies showed up in her apartment, and she was able to make it through half the journal before her daddy came home. She barely slept that night, apprehensive about showing her face at school the next morning. She asked the gods and spirits to magically send her back to Atlanta without success and awoke with dread heavy in her stomach.

When she made it to campus, her heart began to pound, and her palms grew sweaty. Adrienne felt ill with worry by the time she walked through the hallway towards her first class. She hadn’t seen Jayden yet and had told Christie she needed to rest her voice after Friday’s assembly.

Christie seemed sympathetic, no doubt buying the excuse that Adrienne had a throat injury. Anyone who heard her coughing would believe it.

I hate my life! She thought, recalling the worst day of her life clearly.

“Swamp Girl!” More than one student called to her then burst into laughter or exaggerated hacking while others whispered and giggled when she passed them.

She did her best to ignore them, though the words hurt. Every part of her being wanted her to run, but she’d vowed to be strong and pretended sometimes to be Jayden, who was too easygoing to be affected by the opinions of others, and sometimes that she was Rene, who was tough enough to beat the daylights out of anyone who crossed his path.

Right now, she wished she really was Rene. She’d drag Kimmie out of class and beat her until she reversed the curse.

Adrienne was miserable by the time she reached her locker. She opened it and leaned in as far as she could, imagining she was an ostrich with her head in the sand. She sighed. Classes hadn’t even started, and she was agitated from the walk down the hall.

Assuming her scholarship would be gone before the week was over, she hadn’t even done her homework yesterday, instead concentrating on the song hidden in the journal. Adrienne pulled out the notebook she was using to write the music. She’d taken pictures of the pages she hadn’t gotten to the day before with her iPad with the intent of losing herself in the notes and musical staff during classes.

“Hey, Addy.”

She groaned internally. It wasn’t Emma voice, which meant someone was coming to personally ridicule her. Steeling herself, Adrienne pushed the locker door closed enough to see who stood beside it.

Tara was there, looking more perfect and doll-like in the school-issued uniform than Addy ever would.

“You, um, want me to walk to class with you?” Tara asked.

Adrienne shook her head. “No, thanks.”

“Omigod, don’t act like the twins. I’m walking you to class.”

She almost objected but saw the determined look on Tara’s face. Unable to determine why Tara wanted to walk with the least popular kid in school, Adrienne sighed and closed her locker. No doubt, there was something else humiliating in store for her from the horrible cheer squad.

With Tara beside her, the mockery and snickering were less frequent. Students focused on the beautiful brunette rather than Adrienne, and for once, Adrienne was glad to go unnoticed.

“So, uh, I wanted to ask you something,” Tara started, leading them down a second hallway with no lockers and few students.

“Okay.” Adrienne braced herself.

“This voodoo stuff. It can make people … do things, right?”

Adrienne stopped and faced her. “Why?”

Tara didn’t look like she sought some magic spell to use for vindictive reasons. If anything, she appeared troubled.

“How do you know if someone is under a curse?” she asked, ignoring Adrienne’s question.

“Their behavior could change suddenly, or like me. I suddenly lost a skill I’d had since I was young. If I lost my voice, it might make sense, but I lost the ability to sing, not talk.”

“So anyone can buy one of these spells, like even for bad reasons?”

“Why don’t you tell me why you’re asking first,” Adrienne said.

Tara shrugged. “I just need to know.”

Adrienne debated not answering, afraid the girl meant to hurt someone by buying a spell from a bokor.

“People can buy spells from a priestess or priest. Those who sell them are called bokors, and they can sell good magic or black magic. Some don’t care and sell whatever makes them the most money while others just create healing and protective spells. People who buy spells to hurt others are likely to be punished by the gods, three times over whatever harm they caused,” Adrienne explained.

“So Kimmie taking your voice means something three times worse will happen to her?” Tara asked.

“Yeah, at the discretion of the spirits, of course.”

“This is bizarre. I can’t believe I’m talking about this, like it’s real.”

“It is real.”

“You can buy any kind of spell? Like zombies or love spells or whatever?”

“Yep,” Adrienne said, crossing her arms. “You aren’t thinking of buying one, are you?”

“No. Let’s say someone bought a curse and put it on someone. How do you lift it?”

“The easiest way,” Adrienne sighed. “You ask the person who put it on you to lift it. If that’s not an option, then you go to a mambos and ask for her help healing you.”

Tara was quiet, thoughtful.

“It’s the only reason I’m at school today,” Adrienne added sadly. “I have to find Kimmie. I need to ask her to lift the hex she put on me.”

“Interesting.” Tara wasn’t paying attention.

Rolling her eyes, Adrienne started walking again.

“Wait. Can I ask you one more thing?” Tara asked, catching up to her.

“Why not.”

“Do you have Rene’s phone number?”

Adrienne turned, astonished.

Tara smiled. “I just want to thank him for rescuing me.”

Seriously? Rene gets a date out of this and I can’t show myself at school?

The warning bell sounded.

“You can email it to me,” Tara told her. “If you have time after school today, could we talk again?”

“No. I’ve got to catch the bus,” Adrienne replied, stalking away. Was everyone at this school selfish and stupid?

She went to her first class and hurried to the back of the room before the other students filed in. A few glanced her way, and the two members of the cheer squad whispered and snickered, looking at her frequently.

Adrienne wanted to crawl away and hide in her locker. Instead, she tuned out everything around her and focused on decoding the journal. She flipped open her iPad only to see more horrible emails had started to trickle in.

An email from Emma caught her attention.

Adrienne,

We are still friends. I understand. Kimmie embarrasses me all the time. We can have salads today.

Your friend,

Emma

The simple message made Adrienne’s eyes mist over. How did sweet Emma bear through Kimmie’s bullying? Adrienne said a short prayer for her friend, thanking the spirits and the Christian and voodoo gods for sending someone like Emma into her life, especially now, when there really wasn’t anyone else she’d consider a friend.

Except maybe Jayden, if he spoke to her today.

Focused on the journal, Adrienne didn’t notice the class flying by. The bell rang, startling her. She put her things away hastily, wanting to make it to the next class fast enough to grab a seat in back.

As she walked through the hallways, she looked for Jayden or Kimmie, hoping she was able to run into both of them today at some point, yet dreading the interactions as well. Jayden ignoring her or laughing at her would crush her, and Kimmie would be horrible to deal with.

Adrienne grabbed the last seat in the back of her second class and checked her email. She hesitated before opening Tara’s email, afraid Jayden’s stepsister would be making fun of her like the rest. It was short.

Addy,

I’m serious – let’s hang out after school. We can get ice cream. I really do want Rene’s number.

Tara

Adrienne mumbled to herself. “You can have any guy at school. Leave Rene alone.”

What did Tara really want from her? Adrienne had sensed worry when they discussed curses. Had Kimmie hexed her, too?

Her daddy’s email popped up. Adrienne glanced up at the instructor then checked it, expecting it to be another brief note about how he was working late.

Addy,

They found her in our dumpster. I done called a realtor about moving. Not safe for you there.

Daddy

He included a link. Curious, Adrienne clicked on it and read the article about the latest victim of the elusive serial killer that had stalked the slums for almost five years. The cops claimed it was drug-related, though the press was openly disputing the claim, saying it was the serial killer that had been in the Projects for years.

Okay, no more alleys for me, Adrienne thought, reading the article. It was creepy to think about something this awful happening so close. She felt bad for the woman and lucky she had Rene to protect her.

Adrienne scrolled to the bottom of the article, her breath sticking in her throat.

The picture of the victim was the woman who came to visit her Saturday.

She re-read the article. The body was found Saturday evening when one of the residents of the apartment building took out the trash, with the police saying her time of death was a little after four, around the time Adrienne saw her.

Adrienne’s mind worked quickly, but she couldn’t piece together what might’ve happened. The woman had seemed possessed when she appeared in Adrienne’s apartment. What was the connection to her sister? Had this woman known Therese and been entrusted with the message?

She went through her sent box to find Candace’s email address and forwarded her daddy’s note to Candace with a note about how she’d seen the woman soon before the police said she’d been killed. Enthralled by the new mystery surrounding her sister, Adrienne sat in deep thought for her second class, trying to determine what might’ve happened. Had the possessed woman wandered into the alley after visiting Adrienne and been killed? In broad daylight?

Nothing made sense.

Tara emailed again, along with a few more students with the subject lines of Swamp Girl.

Adrienne deleted the other students’ emails then closed her inbox, not wanting to deal with the high maintenance sister of Jayden when she had something far more important on her mind.

She didn’t fit in. She never would. She needed to find Kimmie. Once she did, she could leave this place.

When the bell chimed to mark the end of her second class, she bolted from the room, desperate to fix one mess in her life. She couldn’t help the woman who died in the alley, but she might be able to address the curse.

Adrienne went to the hallway where Kimmie’s locker was, hoping Kimmie dropped by her locker before her next class. Turning the corner, Adrienne slowed. At first, she was embarrassed at the sight of the couple in the middle of a heavy make out session. They seemed oblivious to the kids filling the hallway, caught up in kissing and petting. Kimmie was pressed up against the lockers, her arms around the neck of a tall, familiar form.

“Jayden?” Adrienne uttered his name before she was able to stop herself.

“Get a room!” someone called.

Jayden flung his head back and laughed, stepping back. “Sorry, babe. You do that to me.”

Adrienne couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. She felt as if someone had hit her.

“You know I love it,” Kimmie purred, glowing happily. She smoothed Jayden’s vest and ran her hands down his chest to his belt. She tugged at it. “Later. Promise.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” replied Jayden in his low, husky voice.

“Jay, c’mon!” Mickey shouted from the hallway behind Adrienne.

Jayden ducked his head to kiss Kimmie lightly, appearing as enamored as Kimmie. Adrienne had seen that smile directed at her before. It was breathtaking, even now, when her heart was shattering.

He hadn’t been serious about her at all. Not about being sorry for hurting her or the second chance. Were the dog tags even real? She gripped them, the cool metal biting into her skin and keeping her anchored in the surreal world.

Adrienne moved behind a group of students, watching Jayden walk cheerfully past her. He didn’t notice her, and she released her breath when he passed. He bumped fists with Mickey, grinning.

Adrienne hurt. Only when he disappeared from view did she realize she was drawing more looks than usual. Frozen with her mouth agape, she didn’t want to know how stupid she appeared. She forced herself to push away her hurt and focused on her task: asking Kimmie to lift the spell.

It was the only reason she had to be here.

“Kimmie,” she said, approaching.

Kimmie glanced up then back, her gaze critical as it swept over Adrienne.

“What? You couldn’t wash your uniform?” Kimmie asked with a snort.

Adrienne ignored her. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“You’re off the team. Sent you an email.”

“It’s not about that.”

“What?”

Adrienne realized she was still holding onto the dog tags. She dropped her hand and drew a deep breath.

“I’d like for you to release the hex you put on me,” Adrienne said quietly. “You made your point Friday.”

Kimmie didn’t respond for a moment, gaze on Adrienne’s chest.

Adrienne glanced down at the dog tags.

“Where did you get those?” Kimmie asked.

“None of your business. I came to talk to you about the curse.”

“Did you steal those from Jayden?”

“Steal? No. Look, Kimmie, can you just –“

“Those don’t belong to you.” Kimmie reached for the tags.

Adrienne slapped her hand away, anger growing. “They were a gift.”

“Jay would never …” Kimmie stopped, her face flushing. She stretched for the necklace again.

Adrienne shoved her this time and then tucked the tags into her shirt.

Kimmie’s gaze flew up to hers. “Give me the tags, and I’ll lift the curse.”

Surprised, Adrienne hesitated. What did Kimmie want with Jayden’s dog tags?

“They don’t belong to someone like you.”

The tags had no value and weren’t exactly fashionable, like the jewelry Kimmie wore. Adrienne couldn’t see the bitchy girl wearing them. Why did she want them, if not to wear them?

Jayden claimed there was a protective spell on them.

“You know what these are, don’t you?” Adrienne asked, frowning.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. As far as I’m concerned, you stole something of Jayden’s, and I intend to get it back!”

“These tags have a protective spell on them. Which means you can’t drop another curse on me,” Adrienne said. “Is that it? You want to do something even worse to me?”

“You’ll be out of the school in a week. The curse I put on your voice will take it away. Forever!” Kimmie snapped. “No, I won’t lift it, unless you give me those tags.”

The deal sounded appealing, especially after seeing Jayden betray her. Adrienne’s instincts were at a roar. She didn’t understand why, but she knew she couldn’t give Kimmie the necklace.

“You realize every curse you put on someone comes back on you threefold, don’t you?” Adrienne asked. “What you did to me will be kind compared to what will happen to you.”

Emotion rippled across Kimmie’s face.

“Your bokor didn’t tell you,” Adrienne guessed. “It’s how black magic works. If you ask a favor of the gods and use their magic to hurt someone, you will pay a price three times what you did to another.”

“No. You’re just trying to manipulate me.” Kimmie snatched something from her locker and slammed it. “It won’t work! I’m not giving you your voice back, Swamp Girl, and I’m never letting go of Jayden!” She brushed by Adrienne.

Adrienne turned to watch her.

More snickering and calls of “Swamp Girl” went up around her.

Any remaining hope she possessed fled, and tears filled her eyes. Her emotions exploded.

She ran, this time with the intention of never going back.

“Adrienne!”

Wanting nothing to do with anyone at the school, Adrienne ignored Tara and kept running. She didn’t stop until she reached the edge of campus then bent over, gasping.

“Jesus, you’re … fast!” Tara said, stopping beside her. “You ever run track?”

Adrienne shook her head and straightened. She wiped away the tears on her cheeks. She wanted to run more but couldn’t catch her breath. Every time she thought of Jayden, she wanted to cry and could barely breathe, because her chest was so tight.

“What do you want?” she demanded, facing Tara. “I’m not coming back, so if you want to call me Swamp Girl or –”

“No, no,” Tara said, rolling her eyes. She straightened out her clothing and touched her eyes delicately to fix her makeup. “Alright. Where are we going?”

“We? Nowhere!” Adrienne whirled and began walking. “I’m going back to Atlanta.”

“Did you even read my email?”

“No.”

“Omigod. What is wrong with everyone?” Tara complained. “I marked it urgent.”

“I really don’t care.”

“I’m trying to help Jayden.”

“He can go to hell!”

“You’re acting like my eight year old sisters. Just … wait a minute, Addy.” Tara took her arm to stop her.

Adrienne pulled away but didn’t move. “What?”

“If you’d read the email” Tara started “you wouldn’t have freaked out. I asked you about the curse stuff because I think Kimmie did something to Jay. He asked me Friday to watch out for you, which I totally failed at. When I talked to him yesterday, he had no idea who you were and wouldn’t shut up about how pretty Kimmie is.”

Adrienne listened suspiciously, uncertain if she could trust anyone at the school ever again.

“I thought it was weird. But what you said this morning makes sense. Kimmie cursed you then she did something to Jayden to make him fall in love with her,” Tara continued. “Right? I mean, it’s possible?”

“Possible, yes,” Adrienne allowed.

“He wouldn’t give you hundred year old dog tags if he didn’t like you,” Tara pointed out, eyes on the necklace on Adrienne’s chest. “I know he liked you, Addy. Even if he didn’t, he doesn’t even know who you are. Like even your name. It’s unnatural.”

Adrienne thought for a moment, not wanting to agree with Tara. She was hurting. She wanted to be angry enough to pack her things and go back to New Orleans, to leave the mysteries of her sister and the dead woman behind her.

To leave Jayden and how beautiful he made her feel behind her.

“So what do you want from me?” Adrienne asked.

“I want you to help me fix him. I mean, he’s totally not helping me with our sisters. He blew off their soccer game yesterday to hang out with Kimmie and didn’t even help me get them to bed. He’s talking about going out with Kimmie every day this week and of course to Homecoming. I mean, I kinda have a life, too. I can’t –”

“Homecoming?” Adrienne echoed. “He’s standing up Emma?”

“That was real?”

Adrienne let out an exasperated sigh and began walking.

“Wow. Then yes, he’s going to stand up Emma,” Tara said, joining her.

Adrienne glanced at the gorgeous girl, wishing she’d take the hint and leave her alone with her misery.

“Since you have uh, superstitious roots, I thought you could help me with Jay,” Tara said.

“Why should I? Y’all have made my life a living hell!”

“Because you like him.”

“Not anymore.”

“Whatever. I know he’s head over heels for you. You know our daddy forbade either of us from dating someone of a lower … socioeconomic status?” Tara asked. “I learned that word this week. Did I use it right?”

“He wasn’t supposed to date me because I’m poor?”

“Good. I did use it right.”

Adrienne rolled her eyes at Tara’s pleased tone.

“So you’ll help me.”

She hesitated, wanting to believe Jayden did care for her but terrified after this morning. What other surprises were in store for her? More dead women in the dumpster? More curses from Kimmie?

She said nothing for a long moment, not expecting Tara to walk with her into downtown New Orleans. Her thoughts calmed, and she was able to sort through some of her feelings.

Tara was right. Jayden wouldn’t give his family heirloom to someone he didn’t remotely care about, let alone didn’t remember two days later. The email she thought had been teasing – if odd – that he sent yesterday made more sense in the light Tara shed on it.

Maybe Kimmie wanted the dog tags for a different reason. If she knew there was a protective spell on them, did she want to make sure Jayden didn’t get them back?

Or was she simply jealous?

Adrienne still felt pain at what she’d seen in the hallway, but it lessened a little at the possible explanation for why Jayden was kissing Kimmie, and she even felt a trickle of triumph at the idea of making Kimmie jealous.

I’m still not staying here, she vowed to herself.

“Where are we going?” Tara asked.

Adrienne debated. “To see a friend,” she said reluctantly. “The voodoo priestess who’s trying to help me with Kimmie’s curse. Maybe she can help Jayden, too.”

“Sweet.”

Adrienne wanted to despise Tara for wanting to help Jayden so she didn’t have to babysit, but she wasn’t able to condemn the girl who ditched school to find a cure for her brother’s hex. Tara was selfish but there was a part of her that was good, or she wouldn’t be talking to her.

“Will Rene be there?” Tara asked.

“Maybe. I dunno,” Adrienne replied. “He kind of does his own thing.”

Tara was quiet.

Adrienne led them through the streets to her neighborhood. At mid-morning, she doubted even Rene could find a reason to yell at her for walking. The streets were filled with people going to and from work, not serial killers and gang members.

Her thoughts went again to the body found in her alley. While Tara’s presence wasn’t exactly welcome, they were at least headed to the place where Adrienne most needed to go.

An hour and a half after leaving the school grounds, they reached Candace’s shop.

“Coffee!” Tara brightened. “Thank god!” She walked to the counter behind which a barista stood.

Adrienne went to Candace, who sat behind the cash register.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Candace asked, studying her.

“I’m never going back,” Adrienne said firmly. “I sent you a link.”

“I saw it.” Candace glanced at Tara. “Who’s this?”

“Tara. Someone who needs help because her brother is hexed.” Adrienne didn’t mention Jayden being the boy she was interested in. “Same girl who cursed me cursed him. I thought maybe you can help.”

“Of course. Come on back,” Candace said and motioned her around the counter.

“Tara, c’mon,” Adrienne called.

Tara grabbed a small handful of sugar packets and a stir stick then followed with her coffee.

Adrienne took her normal seat while Tara gazed around the sacred room curiously.

“This is Tara. Tara, Candace,” Adrienne said. She slumped, tired from her morning and feeling as empty as the bottle of soda on Candace’s table.

The two began talking, and Adrienne tuned them out. She pulled her notebook and iPad free, but ignored the growing number of email alerts awaiting her. Instead, she focused again on her sister’s journal. When Tara was done, Adrienne would talk to Candace privately about the woman in the alley.