Voodoo Academy by Theophilus Monroe

Author:Theophilus Monroe [Monroe, Theophilus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Oggie pinched the stubble on the tip of his chin as he pondered what I’d said.

“It sounds like we need to make a trip to Baton Rouge. If he fashioned the doll after Isabelle, the only place he might secure her DNA would be at her grave.”

“But if we stop him before he performs the summoning, will it even matter?”

Oggie pressed his hands together, forming a steeple with his fingers. “If Nico revealed this to you, on purpose, he’s basically begging you to try and stop him.”

I bit the tip of my thumbnail. “Or maybe he’s just reckless and overconfident. Talking shit to get under my skin.”

“Is that a gamble you are willing to make? If he binds Isabelle, it isn’t going to separate her from you.”

“So whatever he makes her do…”

“You may have to go along for the ride. And anyone who sees what he makes her do…”

“Will think I did it.”

Oggie nodded.

“So why not just stop him? I mean, he’s just a first-year student. How hard can it be?”

“I don’t believe he would have told you his plans if he didn’t want you to try,” Oggie said, rising from his chair. “When preparing for a battle, intelligence is your greatest asset. Counterintelligence is one of the best ways for an enemy to get the upper hand.”

“So, you think he might be bullshitting us?”

“If you try to stop him, if it gets you to use Isabelle’s powers, that might be enough on its own to resurrect the Baron.”

“Do you think Legba put him up to this?”

“Not really his style,” Oggie said. “Legba can be crafty. Sometimes he has an agenda he doesn’t reveal. But he isn’t a liar. He wouldn’t have deceived you, not on purpose anyway.”

“Mambo Hannigan said that the rules are different when it comes to manipulating the dead… for College Samedi.”

“But Mambo Hannigan doesn’t know that the spirit he hopes to wield could be the one soul-bound to you. It would be a clear violation if she knew.”

“Shouldn’t we just tell her?” I asked.

Oggie cringed. “There are greater matters at stake here. Particularly in the light of what we know now about your soul blade. If anyone knows—anyone who empathizes with the Bokors—it would paint a target on your back.”

“I can handle myself,” I said.

Oggie raised his eyebrow. “Confidence is a virtue. Arrogance is a vice. The difference between the two is how well you can back up the shit you talk.”

“You don’t think I have the ability to defend myself?”

“No, I don’t. Annabelle, your abilities are unrefined. If Isabelle has the reins, you stand a better chance. But passions run high in battle. If she loses control, you’ll be back in the driver’s seat with diminished abilities and a debilitating headache.”

He has a point, Annabelle. If things get intense, will you really be able to swallow your emotions entirely?

They were both right. I didn’t think I was any more emotional than anyone else. But I was human. There might be some monks, some ancient Stoics, who could control their emotions… to a point.

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