Luc grabbed her wrist. “I’m not certain I want to risk that, especially since DeLille is likely to strike today.”
“My manager said he’d work until end of day, today. Also, he’ll come to the house to get the salary owed him and his men.” Grace gently pried his fingers away.
“When might he come?” That worry line was back.
“Usually around three thirty or four o’clock.” She was worried herself, but yielding to it would not help.
“That still leaves plenty of time for DeLille to do his worst.” Luc set his jaw.
She took in a large breath. “It’s only mid-morning, now. I think five to six hours is enough to get ready and leave. Besides you are the one insisting we use this amulet.”
“I don’t want to risk losing you and will do anything to prevent that.” His hand went to her shoulder.
She placed her hand over his. “Remember, I told you I feel like I’m on the precipice of something very important?”
“Aye.”
Grace smiled. “This is it. The mambo gave me the amulet as protection. Its effect will be benign.”
“Your faith is much stronger than mine, even knowing what I do about VooDoo and curses,” he stated dryly.
“We can’t know until we try.” She released his hand, stepped away from his hold, and continued to read.
When, she finished, she returned the sheets to the cylinder, latched it, and met Luc’s gaze again. “I don’t suppose you have a statue of Eshu on theOnly Love?”
“No.” A small chuckle escaped him.
“As I interpret the instructions,” she said. “We must make an offering to him. Using a statue would be best. Lacking that, we can proceed with red, black and white candles, some incense, and a prayer. I have candles in those colors, and some potpourri that can be burned as incense. The mambo said I should leave a sweet for Eshu.”
“What do you have in your pantry?” Luc asked.
“Ginger cookies. They’re in a jar on the top shelf of the pantry.”
“I’ll get them, while you compose a prayer.” He dashed off. Grace found a pencil and paper. Luc returned before she finished writing. He carried the entire jar of cookies. “Where are the candles and the potpourii?”
“A box on the bottom of the armoire.” She continued to write.
He found the box and removed the items they needed. He placed the candles within the circle formed by the amulet’s chain.
Grace completed the prayer. “There’s a metal dish on the table beside the bed. Bring it here, please and put the potpourri in that.” She lit the candles, while Luc filed the dish and set it in front of the candles within the seed pearl circle. He opened the cookie jar, wrapped one in the red paper and placed it inside the circle. Grace set the potpourri afire.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
They waited together, as the aroma of sandalwood, cedar, patchouli and cinnamon filled the air.
She held the paper where he could read the prayer. Together they chanted the words.
“Loa Eshu, we call on you to protect the wearer of this amulet that bears your symbol. Keep safe the wearer who faces great danger. Bless, please this that we do in your name and for your greatness. To thank you for your strong protections, we give you this ginger cookie. I beg the holy spirits, Pierre, Lazar, Anton lend you aid and strength. Amen.”
Grace leaned forward and grasped the amulet by the seed pearls. Lifting it, she stood on tiptoe and placed it over Luc’s head.
“Nooooo.”
He tried to grip the chain, but the seed pearls kept slipping from his fingers.
“Take this thing off me. I can’t get hold of it.” Panic strained his voice.
