“Why do you have one now?”
“It is not just any doll. It is a voodoo doll. Oliver sent it to me from Louisiana.”
Lucian just stood there staring at her. The questions were in his blue eyes, and she was certain he didn’t know what to ask first, or if he even wanted to know.
“Cook had just prepared lemonade,” Stella announced as she came onto the terrace with a tray, pitcher, and glasses.
“Oh, that will be lovely,” Eliza announced. “Thank you.”
She wandered to the table that sat in the shade and took a seat. “Will you join me?” she asked Lucian.
He first glanced at the doll again, then shook his head and joined her at the table.
Stella poured a glass for each of them and then retreated inside.
“I know that I am going to regret asking this, but what is a voodoo doll and why did Oliver send you one?”
“I am certain he sent it because I would find it interesting, which I do.”
“What are you supposed to do with it after it is cleansed by sunlight? What energy needs to be cleansed?”
“The energy of the person it was used on before,” Eliza answered.
“What is it for?” he asked slowly.
“For whatever you need, I suppose.” She shrugged then sipped the tart lemonade, which was also quite refreshing. “I will show you.” She rose from her seat and went into the parlor and gathered the items her brother had included with the doll.
“These colored pins represent different things. You decide on what you wish, visualize it, then stick the pin in the doll.”
“What kind of things?” he asked.
“Yellow for success, green for wealth, white for healing. All the colors have a meaning. Oliver wrote them down for me,” she answered.
“What is the black one for?”
That is when she grinned. “To block someone. Red is to control someone. Red can also be for love and power, so I will not be using that one so the person I use the doll for is not confused as to my intentions.”
“I can only assume who you wish to block.”
“Except I do not actually know what it means to block someone, and not certain it would serve the purpose I need.”
“Your need?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Did you know that the doll could also be used to harm someone?” she asked. “All I would need to do is put a lock of hair of the person I wish to harm inside the doll, place the doll on an altar, light a candle, and ask Lao or an ancestor to harm the person I have chosen. Then I stab the doll with the pin and imagine the person I am targeting.” She frowned. “I think that is what I am supposed to do. I will need to read the instructions again, but I believe that is the idea.”
Lucian leaned back in his chair, his frown deepening as his eyebrows drew together. “Who is Lao?”
“Spirits in voodoo religion. I am to understand there are many.”
“You actually believe that something like that works?” He chuckled with his question.
Eliza shrugged. “I could ask your valet for hair from your brush to put in the doll, stab away and see what happens.”
“You will do no such thing!” he practically yelled. “Besides, it is nonsense.”
Eliza had to agree with him, but it was rather fascinating. “If it did work, I would not be seeking your hair but something from the man who keeps writing missives,” she admitted before taking another sip of lemonade.
“I agree, and in that I would help you,” Lucian offered. “If you do not believe in voodoo, why are you cleansing the doll to begin with?”
