“What? Why?” Enola questioned.
“It's just the way things are. Your strength is growing because it's your turn, Nola.”
“My turn to what?” Enola bellowed. “To be eaten by vampires!”
“Enola, you blew up a fucking vampire! Do you have any idea what that means?”
“Nope, and I don’t care. Y’all can have this Voodoo shit. I’m outta here.”
“Ughh!” Ruby grunted, but it sounded more like a growl. She leaped out of her chair and kicked it across the floor.
Enola wrinkled her brow at her aunt’s reaction. “Why, are you so emotional? I mean…what’s wrong with you?”
“She’s an empath,” Marie offered.
“A what?”
“She absorbs, feels, and reacts to the feelings of others.”
Enola was ready to go, but she really wasn’t that angry. Margo seemed to be okay. So, Enola turned to her grandmother. It had to be her anger that was emanating from Ruby.
“Gran, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you mad. I just want to have a normal life.”
Marie’s eyes turned sad. “Oh,bebe, I know. But…” When she paused, Enola knew that she was going to say something she didn’t want to hear. “Your life will never be normal again. I’m so sorry,chér, but thisisyour life now.”
Enola closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. How could her gran expect her to just forget the life she’d built for herself? As if she could just uproot her entire life, even if she wanted to. She had a job, a home, and a few friends.
“Gran, I don’t choose this.”
“None of us chose this,chér. This is our destiny.”
Feeling the onset of a migraine, Enola massaged her temple.
“What about her?” she asked, turning to Margo.
“Margo has yet to display her gifts. But know this, Nola, we have been waiting for “the promise” for generations. You, my dear, are the promise.”
“No. I’m the curse. That’s what you meant, right?” Nola scoffed.
Marie roughly ran her fingers through her hair and let out a frustrated groan. “Nola, sweetheart, just do what you feel is best. Unfortunately, you will learn the hard way that you cannot run from who you are.”
* * * *
Gideon walked through the rose-filled courtyard of the home he shared with his brother and inhaled a deep breath, something he did every time he entered. Since roses were Auriette’s favorite, Gabriel insisted that the courtyard be covered with the thorny flowers.
“Welcome home, brother,” Gabriel shouted from the balcony.
Gideon looked up at his grinning brother. Since they were twins, they were connected on a deeper level mentally.
“Gabriel,” Gideon acknowledged, not ready for the conversation they were sure to have.
Gideon walked up the stairs and entered the lounge. In need of a stiff one, he headed straight to the bar. He was pouring a good amount of cognac when his brother entered.
“I missed you at the budget meeting this morning. It’s not like you to miss work.”
“I had a breakfast.”
“A breakfast?”
