Black Magic Betrayal: Voodoo Vows, #2

By Diana Marie DuBois

Held prisoner deep in the Louisiana bayou, Rosie's guardian arrives and they're able to find a way out. Now, evil is stirred up in the swamplands and Rosie must quickly learn her craft. During her journey she comes into her powers and makes a huge mistake that could destroy someone she loves.

Meanwhile, Julian is dealing with his own demons when he discovers Rosie is closer than he realized. He's come to terms with his curse but fights it and begins to turn once again. Even knowing the dire consequences, Julian decides to speak an ancient Voodoo Haitian Mamba to stop his change.

Rosie and Julian reunite and regardless of their individual struggles they must work together to save those they love. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diana Marie DuBois
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519977908

Book preview

Prologue

Rosie

The rain pounded down on us as my captors carried me out of my shop. Instinctively I tried to reach a hand up to wipe my hair back, but couldn’t move my arms. My head bounced around as my friend—or should I say, ex-friend—hoisted me up over his shoulder. How could I have been so blind and trusted so easily? A feeling of unconsciousness enveloped me, and as I tried to open my eyes, I couldn’t.  Fear began to flow through me. What about Athena? I knew she would be worried about me. I silently hoped in the morning Jahane would noticed my absence and come to check on me. Then the search would begin.

After a few moments, I heard a car door being wrenched open, the hinges squeaking, and I squinted one eye open. As I was placed roughly in the back seat of the vehicle I shut my eyes tight. At the sound of voices I knew more than one person had been involved in my kidnapping, but I wondered who else was there. I heard hushed whispers from two others.

Once again, I tried to open my eyes. After what felt like an eternity, I pried them open but my vision was blurry. The seat dipped down a bit as someone scooted in beside me. The doors shut with a loud slam and the rain pounded down on the roof.  What in the hell are these three doing driving in a damn hurricane? I lay silently in the back listening to every word, hoping I would hear a hint as to where we were going.

In the darkness, I clutched my amulet around my neck and felt heat rise from it, protecting me. In an instant, the vehicle swerved and a beam of light lit up the car. As the tires squealed and skidded on the wet blacktop, I slid off the seat and landed on the floorboard. Horns blew as someone screamed from the front seat, Look out! What are you trying to do, get us all killed? I recognized that sing song voice that boomed and rattled the windows.

Shut up, Gabby, a deep voice bellowed out. Your minion is doing the best he can. The rain is coming down and the treads on the tires on this piece of shit are worn out.  So shut the hell up. Before the car started back onto the road, hands reached around me and grabbed me, pulling me back onto the seat.

Dax, don’t speak to your elders with disrespect, Gabby squealed.

Who in the hell is Dax?  I tried once again to open my eyes and squinted. A figure I didn’t recognize sat beside me. The car regained control and kept going.  

I closed my eyes and heard the radio channels being switched, static, then a warning to stay indoors. I thought to myself, You try telling these idiots.

Dear sister, what will we do with her? the man named Dax asked.

Hatred bubbled up inside me as Gabby cackled.  Ah...well, brother, that is for the master to decide. I know he wants her alive so he can perform the ritual. Julian has run off, so maybe if he finds out we have captured her, it will bring him back into the folds of his family.

I gasped and kept my eyes shut tight.  Oh my. Julian!

Shh, did you hear something? Gabby asked.

No, she’s out, but I’ll go ahead and dose her again just in case, the mysterious man sitting beside me said.

Before I could protest, I felt a sting in my arm and darkness swam through me. The last thing I heard as I drifted off to sleep was the rain pelting the windshield. A cold finger grazed my cheek before I fell into a deep unconsciousness.

The car stopped and my body was jostled by the immediate halt. I couldn’t open my eyes but I felt someone pull me from the car and hoist me up in their arms. Where do I take her? the familiar voice asked.

The master has a room set up for her.

The person carrying me manhandled me in their arms and I felt my amulet swing and make slight contact with him. Then I felt myself fall and hit the hard ground.

Ouch! Damn, something burned me, he said.

My hands dug into the ground and I gripped a bunch of dirt into my balled up fists as I began to open my eyes.

You idiot! Gabby bellowed.

Well I’m sorry, but something burned me, the familiar voice said, sounding a little angry. As he picked me back up, I saw the expression on his face, and let the dirt fall from my hand.

I quickly hid the amulet under my shirt and closed my eyes tight, trying not to let the tears emerge, or my fear.

Chapter One

Rosie

The wind howled outside and in an instant, I shot up in the bed. With my eyes straining to open, my hand reached out and felt the mattress.  I opened my eyes, scanning the room. The surroundings were not familiar to me.

My amulet felt cold against my chest as I lay back down and rolled over.  With the comforting stone so close to my skin, I knew it protected me.

A flash of lightning lit up the room and was followed by a loud boom, which shook the frame of the small room. Under further scrutiny, I found myself on a four poster rice bed, a comforter laced with fringe covering me. On the nightstand sat a glass of water. When I tried to move, I realized a chain attached to one of the bed posts held my leg in position.

Oh shit. Damn, I wish this hurricane would pass, I said to myself. When I tossed the blanket off me, it fell to the floor. I sat up in bed and moved my legs; thankfully the slack in the chain allowed me to move and dangle my legs over the side of the bed.

When I glanced down at myself, I noticed I wore a white linen gown. Who the hell dressed me? I wondered. I brushed a dirt encrusted hand across my face to wipe my fallen, tangled hair away. Panic erupted throughout my body, and it shook uncontrollably. Just at the moment that it almost overtook me, the door creaked open.

Ahh, you are awake. The master will want to see you soon, the voice hissed.

My head whipped around in the direction of the voice. Where am I? I squeaked out.

Never mind that. 

I got a glimpse of Remi as the door closed behind him. Shock rolled through me. It couldn’t be. I shook my head and still couldn’t believe he’d helped kidnap me. What in the hell was going on here?

Once he’d left, I tried to refocus on my surroundings. I blinked a couple of times until my eyes adjusted to the darkness.  The instant need to escape itched at me like a mosquito bite. As I scanned the room, I noticed a small window high up on the wall, smudged from the inside. If I could find something to stand on, maybe I could bang on it for help...that was, if my bindings would allow me. When I tried to stand up, I lost my balance and toppled over, and landed hard on the floor.

Damn it, I muttered to myself. I struggled to get up, dusting my knees off, and wondered how long I had been there. It felt like forever. I sighed deeply, sat down, and continued to look around the room. 

Over to the left I saw another door. Standing on shaky legs, I tried to reach the door but to no avail...the chains around my leg tugged on my ankle as I stretched to the door. I flopped down on the floor, defeated. Tears threatened to surface because my memories of the last few days were foggy.

I waited and waited for someone to return, but exhaustion rested on me and I fell asleep on the cold, dirty floor. Once again the nightmares began.

I ran as fast I could, the creature mere feet behind me. The thick cane stalks whipped back and forth as I ran through them, cutting me on the arms.  Blood dripped down my arms and onto the ground.  But I couldn’t stop, not now. I ran faster and faster.

When I reached a clearing, I saw a tall man. Julian! I screamed.  He turned at my voice and ran toward me.  The closer I got to him the closer the creature got to me. As I reached Julian, a hand grabbed me from behind and pulled me away. Nooo! I screamed. When I looked into the face of my captor, I recognized her.

I woke suddenly, and soon all the past events came to light.

Who was behind all this? I didn’t have time for this...I had to find Julian. I knew he was in danger.  A wave of nervousness escalated as I wondered about Athena. She must be terribly worried about me. At the thought of my Guardian, my hip began to pulsate where my mark was. I rubbed at the burning sensation. Hope flowed through me, knowing she would find me.

The door creaked open and someone entered. Rosie, here. Eat.

I turned to the sound of the voice, seething. You...you...I trusted you, I stuttered out through clenched teeth. Did you dress me in this? I spat as I pulled at the gown.  Anger erupted around me, and once again, the walls shook.

I did. Do you like? Gabby looked at me and smiled, swaying her body around the room like she’d done me a damn favor. 

No, I don’t!

She laughed evilly and walked—no, almost floated—towards me. Then how do you like your accommodations? We made them to suit your tastes, Rosie.

When she stood inches from me, she reached out and trailed a finger down my cheek. Instantly I squealed from the pain. Her touch burned, and when my finger grazed over the spot, I felt a slight mark on my face.  I inched back from her. No way in hell did I want her touching my face again.

Don’t touch me, you bit.... I knew you were Satan’s spawn, I seethed.

She pursued me, striding stealthily towards her prey, the expression on her face menacing. Her snake tattoo slithered around her neck, hissing, its forked tongue reaching out to me. Yet I was able to trick you, wasn’t I? You will come to our side, I promise you. Look at all the power emanating from you, my dear, dear sister.

I looked down at my hands and noticed they trembled, as did the walls of the room. I will never join you! I fisted and unfisted my hands, trying my best to calm down.

Gabby walked around me, her tattoo inches from my body. Oh, I think you will. After all, we are sisters, aren’t we?

No, we are not! I enunciated each word through clenched teeth. 

Oh, but we are. I inducted you into my coven, she drawled out. The one where we practice the dark arts. Mother will be so proud of me, she lazily drawled out.

No!

Yes, she mocked me.

Oh, hell no, this isn’t happening to me.  I started rubbing my head, then pinched myself. Wake up, Rosie...wake up.

Oh, Rosie, you aren’t asleep, but you are still in my little coven. Her voice took on a definite childlike tone.

I shook my head. No...no.... How could you do this to me, and why?

It’s like this, Rosie. I’ll tell you a little secret, though you may have guessed it by now. I’m rather good at spells. So the reason you trusted me so easily was because I placed a trust spell on you. She laughed. Hell, I even put one on Athena to not recognize me. I knew you would be getting a Guardian, so I went to Germany and met her. She was such a cute little puppy, all territorial. I gasped. Don’t be shocked. It was easy really...she was young and just coming into her powers.

I flopped down on the bed and let the shock swell inside of me. This bitch had even bespelled my dog. What the hell. I shook my head and placed it in my hands. Damn, you really are Satan’s spawn, I mumbled under my breath.

She sat down beside me on the bed and draped an arm over my shoulder. I immediately shrugged it off and scooted over. Well, you can’t change things now. What’s done is done. Now eat please, because Henri will want to see you soon.  You’ll need your strength. She stood, turned, and headed toward the door.

I gave her the evil eye as she walked out of the room. As soon as she closed the door behind her, I picked up the tray of food, threw it against the wall. I watched as the eggs, a mixture of yellow and white, slid down and hit the floor. Pieces of toast and bacon lay beside them. As I sat there, tears brimming down my face, the sound of her laughter echoed down the hall. I sighed deeply and wiped my tears away.

Damn, it was Gabby this whole time, manipulating me from day one, I screamed while I paced in a small circle.  I knew my mother would be upset, especially since she had warned me.  Gabby and Remi had brought me here, after I trusted them.  Maybe they had been in cahoots the whole time.

I dropped my head into my hands, wondering how in the hell I’d trusted so easily. Nevertheless I couldn’t believe Remi would hurt me, the betrayal cut deep.  Even though trusting Gabby was due to a spell, the cold hard truth didn’t make it any easier to swallow.  

Anger boiled up inside me and my body shook. All of a sudden, the rain outside quieted but the house shook from the inside. The doors, walls, all rattled as pure unadulterated rage consumed me.  Fury erupted around me at the thought of my betrayal. The floors vibrated underneath me, causing me to stumble back as my anger grew.

The door flew open. What are you doing? A recognizable voice broke my concentration.

Get out, get out! I screamed at him. You are a traitor as well.

The door shut, and as my anger began to quiet, I slumped down on the bed. Please, don’t let me die here, I mumbled to myself. Athena, where are you?  I looked up at the tiny dirt smudge window and noticed the sky had begun to darken. The rain pitter pattered down on the glass but had almost quit.

After I’d calmed down, an eerie feeling crept around me, and I no longer heard the cicadas chirping outside. I immediately stood and started scanning the room for my escape, and a way out of the shackles. After what seemed like an hour, I started to lose hope.  As I crumpled to the floor in a heap of defeat, a voice popped into my head.

Petal, you can do this. Just calm down and let your magic do the work.

I stood, looking around, and saw nothing.  My mind had to be playing tricks on me. I plopped back down on the soft, comfy mattress, and as I did, a swirl of dust encased me. Where the hell did they get this bed, a shed? I wondered. I choked on the flying dirt, and when the door opened again, I wished they would leave me alone so I could find a way out of there.

Now what do you want? I angrily asked.

Are you ready to see the master? Remi asked. I still couldn’t believe I’d trusted him.

When he walked over to me I noticed a glazed look in his eyes, and he shuffled his feet.  In an instant, the sensation that something was wrong swirled around me. Somehow he was different. His kind eyes held no recognition of me. What’s wrong with you Remi? Why would you do this to me?

When he looked at me he smiled his dazzling smile, but it quickly faded. He unfastened my shackles, helped me up, and escorted me out of the room. Come.

Remi, what is wrong with you? I received no answer from him, which told me everything I needed to know. Something was definitely wrong with him...the Remi I knew spoke more than one word at a time, but not this Remi.  

He shuffled me down a long hallway but stayed silent. Remi.... I tried to get his attention, but