I stood before the resting place of Vodou priestess Marie Laveau with a secret—I knew how to summon her to life. Visions of her past lives flashed before my mind’s eyes. The memories of fire and chanting sent chills down my spine. She had been a god among her people. Though many tried to kill her, she survived her enemies, each time executing horrible revenge on those who thought they could end her life.
The one thing that she hadn’t counted on was a broken heart. When the Lord of the Temple rejected her in favor of a younger, prettier Priestess, Marie withered, her powers weakened. As her influence diminished, her followers abandoned her, and she died in the night alone in her temple.
The new priestess’s reign of terror began. No one was safe from her influence and depravity. People feared leaving their homes because her power was so strong that being near her bent them to her wishers. But no one was powerful enough to stop her.
Except for Marie Laveau.
But, if summoned back to life, would she? There was only one way to find out.
There was a secret incantation that only I knew, handed down through my order, the Watchers. The enchantment was risky, but I had to try.
I stood before Marie’s tomb and recited the chant. The clouds moved to block out the sun, and daylight vanished. The cemetery became dark, and the breeze intensified. The ground shook, and my legs trembled as the door on Marie’s tomb began to move. Slowly at first, as the years of neglect began to give way,
I gasped as Marie stood before me. Her eyes were ablaze with life as she stepped from the tomb.
“Why have you awakened me from my sleep?”
Her voice resonated, and I nearly lost my resolve. I, too, feared her, even now.
“Priestess, I humbly come to ask for your help ….”
“You dare challenge me?”
I turned to find the Lord of the Temple, and his High Priestess strode toward us.
I summoned what courage I had left. “You have brought despair and grief upon the land, destroying the innocent who live in fear.”
Marie stood beside me. “You abused the powers the gods gave you?”
The High Priest said nothing. Marie took that as a yes.
Marie raised her arms above her head. “I call upon the Gods to smite these two and to restore the land to its rightful leader.”
The black clouds parted, revealing the brilliant sun as a streak of light descended from the heavens. The Lord and his prestress tried to run, but it engulfed them, and they disappeared into a puff of smoke.
Marie turned to me as the sky returned to a crystal blue.
“Until the sun no longer shines, you are the New High Priest and ruler of this land. The power is yours.” I shivered as a surge of electricity flowed through my body.
She returned to her tomb, and the door slowly closed behind her.
My gaze fell on the two piles of ashes on the sidewalk. Evil would reign no more.
The one thing that she hadn’t counted on was a broken heart. When the Lord of the Temple rejected her in favor of a younger, prettier Priestess, Marie withered, her powers weakened. As her influence diminished, her followers abandoned her, and she died in the night alone in her temple.
The new priestess’s reign of terror began. No one was safe from her influence and depravity. People feared leaving their homes because her power was so strong that being near her bent them to her wishers. But no one was powerful enough to stop her.
Except for Marie Laveau.
But, if summoned back to life, would she? There was only one way to find out.
There was a secret incantation that only I knew, handed down through my order, the Watchers. The enchantment was risky, but I had to try.
I stood before Marie’s tomb and recited the chant. The clouds moved to block out the sun, and daylight vanished. The cemetery became dark, and the breeze intensified. The ground shook, and my legs trembled as the door on Marie’s tomb began to move. Slowly at first, as the years of neglect began to give way,
I gasped as Marie stood before me. Her eyes were ablaze with life as she stepped from the tomb.
“Why have you awakened me from my sleep?”
Her voice resonated, and I nearly lost my resolve. I, too, feared her, even now.
“Priestess, I humbly come to ask for your help ….”
“You dare challenge me?”
I turned to find the Lord of the Temple, and his High Priestess strode toward us.
I summoned what courage I had left. “You have brought despair and grief upon the land, destroying the innocent who live in fear.”
Marie stood beside me. “You abused the powers the gods gave you?”
The High Priest said nothing. Marie took that as a yes.
Marie raised her arms above her head. “I call upon the Gods to smite these two and to restore the land to its rightful leader.”
The black clouds parted, revealing the brilliant sun as a streak of light descended from the heavens. The Lord and his prestress tried to run, but it engulfed them, and they disappeared into a puff of smoke.
Marie turned to me as the sky returned to a crystal blue.
“Until the sun no longer shines, you are the New High Priest and ruler of this land. The power is yours.” I shivered as a surge of electricity flowed through my body.
She returned to her tomb, and the door slowly closed behind her.
My gaze fell on the two piles of ashes on the sidewalk. Evil would reign no more.
