Darkness and Dawn

By Terry Hooker

Damica isn't sure why her mother decided to ship her halfway across the world. She only knows that she is not going to get married when she gets there! The year is 1728 and she can take care of herself! 

 

The ship is crowded, she has to share the space with girls who are wistfully dreaming about thier new lives. The days are full of daydreams of the future, giggles, and cardgames to pass the time. Everything is full of hope, until the first death.

 

Damica must use all of her wits to stay ahead of the terror that is on the ship with them. Land is their salvation, or will the power that pursues her tear her world apart!

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Dahlia Publishing House
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223851752

Terry Hooker

About the Author: Terry Hooker is a bestselling author, freelance writer and editor, a Jersey girl from the shore turned Florida farm girl. She has a BA in anthropology, an AAS in Culinary Arts, and an MA in Library science. She has worked as a congressional archivist, historian, teacher, and professional chef and has presented her research on the history and iconography of southern cemeteries throughout the Southeast United States. She has edited several children's books, full length novels, dissertations, and academic papers; Terry, herself, has published scholarly papers, magazine articles, fictional stories, and books. She lives with her husband, two kids, and a plethora of critters. You can follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thooker_author or facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terry-Hooker-Author as well as on Good Reads, Amazon, and Bookbub

Book preview

PROLOGUE

From the early 1720’s the idea of witches had overtaken Europe.  They were hunted down and persecuted throughout the continent.  Scotland, Germany, and Hungry were actively hunting witches at the time that the Casket Girls were being sent to the New World from France.  Though France had fewer witch trials than most, the Cadiér family from Toulon was persecuted and hunted up until the 1730’s. 

Catherine Cadiér was a catholic nun who was under the guidance of Jean Baptist-Girard. Catherine made accusation of abuse, to which Girard and his church had her held and tried as a witch in January of 1731.The church found her guilty and recommended death. In a twist that would make this one of the most infamous witch trials in history, she was later released, October of 1731, after being found to be innocent and under duress from her spiritual advisor.

Catherine had turned the tables on the priest who had accused her.  She accused him! It was almost unheard of for a woman to accuse a man, let alone a man of the cloth. The trial was one that would have been televised had it happened in this day and age. The Parliament was divided, half of them wanted to hang Cadiér still, while the other half wanted to burn Girard at the stake. They came to a compromise and acquitted both of them. 

PART ONE: THE JOURNEY

Chapter One

The carriage ride across the country was not pleasant in the least. Why mother thought it was necessary to get her out of the country, and all of Europe at that, Damica could not fathom. But mother had made arrangements to send her to the new colony of New Orleans. Damica was excited for this new adventure, but the trepidation of not knowing anyone and leaving her mother and aunts behind brought a tremble to her belly.

Mademoiselle, the carriage man's voice woke her from her reverie, we have arrived in La Rochelle. Your mother has made arrangements for you to stay at the convent for the night. The ship leaves tomorrow. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Damica stepped out of the carriage with the hand of the man for balance. At five foot two, she was a little bit of a thing. Most people thought she needed a hand and were only more than happy to lend her one. Her pale skin and hazel eyes made quite a contrast to her dark brown hair with the deep, dark blue highlights weaved through it. The bridge of her nose was covered in a smattering of freckles, and the aura of youth permeated the air around her. At fifteen years old, she wasn't quite a child but still not yet a woman, though, in society, she was of marriageable age.

No sir, what do I owe you? she said as she started to rummage through her bag.

Nothing Mademoiselle Cadiér, your family has done so much for mine already. This trip was payment in kind. Please be safe. I will let your mother know you made it in one piece. He lifted her cassette with her belongings from the back of the carriage. He carried it into the convent, nodding to the mother superior as he went.

Damica glanced around the small town, about the same size as Toulon, where her journey had started, but the streets here were all straight and regular. Up on each building, looking down, were gargoyles of differing dreadfulness. Damica could not take her eyes away from them. There were so many.

Evil, growled a voice.

Damica surveyed around and realized it was the Mother Superior who had spoken.

Excuse me? Damica replied. Not quite sure if she was calling Damica evil or something else. It wouldn't be the first time someone had called her evil.

The gargoyles. Evil things. Set there by ungodly people. The nun said, I am Mother Superior Catherine. You are welcome here for the night.

The dark clothes of the nun were nothing compared to her dark countenance. Damica was unsure if this was the safest place for her, but her mother had made all the arrangements. She sighed and nodded a thank you.

Your ship will be delayed; it will not leave until tomorrow evening. Supplies are running late. Mother Superior said curtly. She then turned with a swoosh and entered the abbey. Damica gave one last glance to the gargoyles and stepped inside as well.

The abbey was dark, nothing like the bright, cheery home she had left. There were scarce candles to light the way and no other humans to meet as they moved through the cold stone halls. Nothing moved, not a wisp of air or the scratching of a mouse. The smell of dampness surrounded Damica, though the air did not feel damp. Her hand brushed the wall and came back dry. It was an odd sensation to smell dampness in the air but to not have evidence of it anywhere.

You will stay in your room until called tomorrow. We will bring you food. There will be no talking, no wandering. Lights go out at eight.

I have brought a book. If that's alright, that I read a bit?

The holy bible is the only book we read here. You can sit and contemplate your journey.

They stopped at a dark heavy wood door with a black metal handle. Here is where you will stay.

She opened the lock with a large black key. The room was dark, but the nun walked in with no hesitation. She lit one candle, turned, nodded, and left. Damica heard the key lock the door behind her. It took all that was in her to not stick her tongue out at the closing door.

Well, this is pleasant, she thought sarcastically. At least she didn't take my book. She settled herself on the small hard bed, bringing the candle closer as she undid her shoes.

I will sleep clothed tonight, I believe. There is no way I want to be caught unclothed by that woman. She spoke out loud to herself before she opened one of the books her mother had sent with her when there was a light knocking on the door.

Knowing that it had been locked and that whoever was knocking must know that as well and was just being polite, Damica said Come in, but did not get up from the small bed to let them in.

The door opened to a young nun with a shiny pink face and a great big smile. She carried in a small bowl of what looked to be stew, with a glass of wine and some crusty bread.

Hello, mademoiselle. I was told to bring you some supper. I hope you're hungry. The smile was contagious, and Damica smiled right back as she swung her legs off the bed and placed her book open, face down, on the floor.

What is that your reading, mademoiselle? Asked the young nun.

A gardening book my mother sent with me; would you like to see it?

Oh, could I? I love books, but they are frowned upon here. The smile was gone, replaced by an adorable scowl. Damica guessed the girl to be about her age. She wasn't quite sure how someone who so clearly brought sunshine with her wherever she went could possibly live in such a dark place as the abbey.

As the girl looked at the book, she talked. Nonstop. Which made Damica smile.

Oh, these pictures are beautiful. Did you draw them? Who wrote this book? Where are you from? Are you really going to Louisiana on the ship tomorrow? Are you going to be a bride when you get there? How long do you think the voyage will last? How did you learn all these remedies? Are they passed on through your family?

Of all the questions, Damica focused on one. Bride? Why would I be a bride when I got to Louisiana?

Well, that's what this trip is for. Didn't you know that? The Pelican is bringing the third group of girls to the territories to be brides for the settlers there.

Damica just stared at the nun open-mouthed. She did not seem to notice, though, and just continued to prattle on. Damica could not believe that her mother would set her on this path. Not one woman in her family was married. Not one woman depended upon a man to provide for her. They provided for each other, they learned about the land around them, and lived off of it. Yes, there were hardships. Yes, many people called them evil or other nasty things. Okay, maybe her family was known to be healers and help out the townsfolk from time to time with remedies, but Damica had been happy. There was no way she was going to marry, and definitely, no way she would marry a man she had never met!

She sat on her bed for a long time, her supper getting cold. The young nun had eventually prattled herself out and left the room, locking the door behind her. There was no help for it now. She knew she had until tomorrow night to get out of this mess. She might as well get some rest while she could. No telling what tomorrow would bring, hopefully, escape.

Chapter Two

Damica was woken by a pounding on her door. She sat up, confused as to where she was. This was not home. She was still very groggy when the door swung open, and the Mother Superior stepped in, Get up, girl, the ship is ready to go. You are leaving now.

But..but, I thought we wouldn’t leave until tomorrow night? The grogginess left Damica confused and shaken. She could not leave now. That left no time to get away from this mess. 

That was the original plan, but the supplies arrived early, and the sea is amicable this night, so the captain is ready to go. Up now. 

She stood and watched Damica get herself ready, pack her few belongings and fix up her hair. She then stepped to one side of the door in such a way as to usher Damica out of the room. 

She stumbled slightly out the door onto the street. It was dark and wet from the late hour. She glanced up past the lanterns to see the gargoyles. They seemed to sneer at her as she was hustled down to the docks. The night felt heavy, as though something dangerous was in the air. 

No time for fancies, thought Damica as she approached the ship, which was enormous! At least thirty-five meters in length, there must have been four levels, including the deck. Damica had never seen anything that large. 

She was brought over to stand with a small group of giggling girls, all ready for their adventure. Damica looked around and noticed another small group of girls, none of which were giggling, to the left of the gangplank. This group of girls outright stared at the giggling group.  

Damica stared right back, ignoring those around her. The air felt chilled. One girl, in particular, stared directly at Damica, a slight sneer across her lips. The girl ran her tongue between her lips and winked at Damica. She was so taken aback she blinked hard and scowled. The strange girl let out a throaty laugh just as the captain came down to start ushering girls aboard.    

"Ladies, welcome aboard the Pelican. This ship has four levels, including the cabins on the deck that will be occupied by myself and my crew. You will have space on the second level. There are two separate areas for you ladies. Please stay within your areas. No changing from one side to the other. 

The deck is a dangerous place to be. No lady should be up on deck unless supervised. If you are up there, there better be a good reason. Now, will the first group of ladies please follow my man here up to where they will be staying. We will set off as soon as everyone is on board.

Sir, asked one of the girls in the group with Damica, what is on the other two levels?

Supplies, food, other merchandise we are shipping to Louisiana. Nothing to concern yourself with, mademoiselle.

That seems like an awful lot of supplies, said another girl.

Yes, mademoiselle, it is, Replied the captain, We will be at sea for a minimum of two months if the tide and winds are good. Otherwise, six months. The only stop we can make will be an island about a day or so away from our final destination. If we are all to live through this voyage, there must be many supplies. Including fresh water. Water takes up most of one whole level.         

Damica and the rest of the girls were ushered onto the ship. As she hurried across the deck, Damica took a long look at the sky, hoping this was not the last time she would see it. Between the idea of being unable to go on deck and the inkling of fear the captain’s speech had given her, she thought this might be the last time she gazed upon the stars. She wanted to remember them as they were tonight, the sky clear as could be and the stars themselves bright enough to light the deck without much help from the torches carried by the men bustling around.  

Come along now, mademoiselle. We must be on our way.

Yes, monsieur. She managed to take one big lungful of the night air before she was ushered into the dark belly of the ship. 

The girls with her on the dock were the girls she was to bunk with. They all seemed very young and giggly. Damica wondered what happened to the girls, no, the women since they had all seemed older than her, that had been led in before this group.

She was told to pick a bed, which she did. It was small and neatly made. There was a space for her cassette of clothing by the end of the bed. As she sat on the bed, getting her bearings, she felt the ship push off from the moorings. Well, she thought, No turning back now.

Oh, I am so excited I can’t sleep tonight, said a girl about her age that was in the bed next to her. Damica smiled at her but was not in the mood for mindless chatter.

Yes, it is exciting. I think I am going to try to get some sleep. Today has been long and exhausting. 

The girl seemed disappointed, which made Damica feel guilty for being short with her, "I’m Damica. Maybe