Voodoo Queens of New Orleans - Vol. I | ✓

Chapter 14: A Worthy Warrant

**

I came down from my room once the Coterie finally disappeared down the bayou towards the river. Esther, Rocio and Kizzy were speaking in the kitchen, yet I still didn't feel "forgiven" enough to be part of the conversation. Still, I inched myself towards the kitchen with the intention of getting something to snack on.

Once I got to the door, I paused before entering.

"I just don't think it's fair that we don't get to attend the ceremony," Rocio complained to the girls, rubbing shea butter on her hands.

"Madam Dumont trusts us to keep the house secure while she's gone."

"Give me a break, Kizzy," Rocio replied, annoyed. "She left us here to babysit her daughter. Isn't she old enough to take care of herself?"

"She isn't trusted alone," Esther added. Not in a malicious tone, but an informative one - purely relaying what my mother thinks.

"I say just send her back to Houston."

"You can't guarantee her safety there," Kizzy said. "It's clear that she's a target."

Rocio knew that Kizzy had a point, therefore stopped trying to prove hers. I didn't want Kizzy to feel like she had to defend me in some way; the pity wasn't making me feel better, but I knew that this rotten feeling inside of me was well deserved.

"You know what we should do?" Kizzy then said. "We should ask Sajida for help."

I saw Esther immediately freeze in her place at that name. Rocio didn't have the same mortified expression that Esther had, but she still looked surprised at Kizzy's suggestion.

"Stop that nonsense," Rocio told her. "We have no business asking that retched bayou witch for help."

"She's called 'Sajida the Shunned' for a reason," Esther stressed, trying to end the conversation.

"If anybody knows how to kill a vampire, it would be Sajida."

"We're not asking that evil witch for help!" Esther yelled at Kizzy. "That isn't right!"

Sajida the Shunned. I had never heard of that name, but it gave me these chills as if I had bad memories of her then. If Kizzy was right - if Sajida knew how to kill or even just harm a vampire - my interest was beyond peaked. My sight was corrupted with revenge; I was desperate. If a witch could help me, I was willing to convene with one.

Rocio suddenly looked up and saw me standing by the kitchen entry way. She gasped, garnering the attention of Esther and Kizzy. Rocio didn't know how long I was standing there, but by the look on her face, she assumed I heard everything she said - including the bad stuff about me.

"Lisa," Rocio said, nervously fixing her bandana. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know you were there."

"Who's Sajida the Shunned?" I asked, walking into the kitchen and hopefully waiting for an answer. Rocio was stunned by my bluntness, looking at Esther and Kizzy before settling for silently drinking her tea instead of answering me. I walked in and sat at the table, waiting with wide eyes. I knew one of them would crack and tell me more about Sajida; their loyalty to my mama only went so far, even for them.

Kizzy, fortunately, was the first to break.

"Sajida's a powerful witch," Kizzy explained. "She's hidden deep in Bartholomew Bayou-"

"Kizzy!" Rocio snaps at her, but Kizzy is apparently unfazed by Rocio's insistence on keeping me further in the dark.

"The Coterie doesn't like her because she's proficient in dark magic. She practices in the bayou so the Coterie or any other covens don't disturb her."