A Bargain Is Struck - Part Three

Or never bargain with a fae or a houngan.

Previously On - Laurent, a faerie who had been trapped in Hell, needs help to stay on Earth and discover who brought him here. With his summoner dead by his own hand, Laurent turns to a local houngan, only to end up trapped.

A chuckle and a wink of red light announced the human's presence. He watched me writhe from behind a screen door. "I knew you were comin', Laurent. I's ready for y'all. Have a sit on the stoop and think about the mistake you made."

He knew who I was? I tried gathering my thoughts, to return the threat, but each thought and word blew away as quickly as it came. "Stop, please." The blood drained from my face. My jaw slackened. I said ‘please’ to no one.

A puff of smoke passed through the screen and reached me, acrid and sour. As I breathed it in, the pain eased. It didn't leave and I couldn't walk, but I could stand and I could think.

"Y'all want somethin’. What it be?"

"If you are the houngan named Donnez, I need a powerful gris-gris.” These houngan’s specialized in the sort ancient talisman I’d need, though the word in their language was hardly adequate. “It's said that you can help. I swept my hand across the porch. I can feel the power here."

Donnez nodded. "That’s what some call me. I know what y'all be. I know who y’all be. You don't like the place you be at. I do this thing, and you cut me good. Why I don't let you go back to Hell?"

"How do you know?"

"The stink of the place be in you. You never shake it, even if I keep you here. Answer the question, foul spirit."

"I promise that no harm will come to you if you can help me. You and your family will be safe from me for a hundred generations." My voice changed to a growl. "I also promise that if you can't, I will split the earth, and it will swallow you and your house before I am sucked back through the void."

The porch light flared to life and a short, dark-skinned man stepped out onto the porch. “Them be some mighty big words. I got me some good juju worked up for folk like you.” He gestured to the boards he stood on. Cold iron nails held the boards in place. The heads rose above the darkly stained wood and formed patterns. The shapes alone caused me to squint in pain.

I nodded. “Yes. It looks like you do.”

“Now, no more threats. I need somethin’ more than your promise not to hurt me and mine. I need somethin’ good.” Donnez drew out the last syllable and took a drag on the cigar. The rich smoke wafted in my direction.

“Safety is a boon, and you want more? I have killed two men tonight and would add a third.”

He pulled a small gun, the color of a sunrise, from his pocket. I laughed at it, until he pulled the trigger. The water that sprayed forth cut through me like a silver blade. My stifled scream made him laugh. He did not know what he was toying with. Or perhaps he did. That thought scared me a little more. My people were tough but not indestructible as one death had already proven in my case.

“I give you what you want after you give me what I want. That be fair enough.”

“Very well, man.” I hissed through clenched teeth. “What do you want?”

“Cemetery, just a few minutes walk from here. There be a powerful pile of bones just layin’ there for me to make a big gris-gris. Help you and maybe help a few other folk.”

I struggled to move towards him. “Why can’t you get the blasted bones yourself?”

He pointed the gun at my crotch. “Easy there, big one. I know I don’t have your promise yet.”

I stopped and held out my hands, smiling. “At your service. I’m still curious.”

“The po-po, they look for this pretty face.” He gestured at his own square-jawed head, one his own mother would be hard-pressed to call pretty. “They see a big ol’ white boy like you and maybe they don’t look twice.”

I sighed, tired of being summoned, of being used. “I will get your damnable bones.” I pulled the paper from my pocket. “In return, you will look at this and find me a way to stay on this plane.”

He took the paper, sealing the promise.

"So, Donnez, tell me what was in your gun, before I go to complete your business. Is it some sort of magic?" My people were immune to things like acid. I thought perhaps there was silver suspended in it.

He chuckled. "No, old one. It be blessed water." He sniffed sharply. "You carry with you the taint of Hell. One that has visited that place and returned can be harmed by holy things."

I spat. "God had no use for me or my people before I stepped foot in the pit. In His eyes we are all cursed, yet never before have I heard of such a thing."

The houngan shrugged. "May it be that you're the first of your kind to return from there? What happens when a Faerie dies?"

"We cease to be." That was the accepted belief among my people. These creatures went on to the creator's just reward or punishment. My people, who burned more brightly and longer, burned out completely once dead. Or so I had believed.

"You be special then." His laugh was a hideous thing.

I chopped at the air, wanting to cut him down. I was held by my promise. "I will complete your errand, and I will keep my bargain, but it will bring me no pleasure. Have answers when I return."