Page 56 of Girl Between

“What do I do?” she whispered to Cadie.

“Don’t move,” the girl encouraged, but the warning that tinged her voice was enough to tell Dana everything she needed to know. This wasn’t part of the ceremony.

Dread flooded Dana as the snake’s forked tongue darted out again. And this time, it found what it was seeking.

Fear.

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The snake launcheditself at Dana as though it had been detonated.

Throwing both hands out, she rushed forward, hoping to intercept the serpent’s path before it met its target. Before she had a chance to connect with the ink-black reptile, Marjorie was there, lunging forward, silver blade glinting in her hand.

The blade struck true, piercing the serpent’s skull and pinning it to the rough-hewn floor with a sound that rumbled through Dana like thunder.

Electricity crackled between each syllable of silence in the room as Dana stared directly into Marjorie’s dark, unblinking eyes. Both women breathed heavily, unspoken questions blazing between them.

Marjorie was the first to break the spell. Retracting the knife, she clutched the lifeless serpent high above her head and declared, “Ignorance dwells in darkness, but darkness has no home here. We’ve been blessed by light. Let it guide us in all we do.”

“Let light guide us,” the women echoed.

Dana shivered as their voices resonated in her bones.

She’d spent a good deal of her life running from darkness, until finally dedicating her life fully to it rather than trying to outrun it.But the last few years had tested her beyond measure. Until finally the darkness had broken her completely. It’s what made her flee to New Orleans. But having a snake try to attack her during a Voodoo ceremony did little to quiet the unease that dwelled in Dana’s veins. Though she seemed to be the only one who felt that way.

Cadie climbed to her feet and gripped Dana’s hands, pulling her up with her. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Did what?” Dana asked.

“You jumped in front of me when the snake lunged.”

Dana blinked, trying to grasp her fleeting thoughts. “It was just a reflex.”

“A heroic one,” Rose added, joining them as the other women crowded around.

“It could’ve killed you,” Cadie protested.

Dana found it hard to swallow as her gaze landed on the lifeless reptile now draped around Marjorie’s shoulders. The older woman was still staring at Dana, ignoring the trail of blood leaking from the snake’s impaled skull.

“You’re coming to my wedding,” Cadie declared. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Dana didn’t have a chance to respond as more women began showering her with praise. She was grateful when Marjorie stepped forward, speaking loud enough to draw everyone’s attention.

“The lwa bless us tonight. Let it not be wasted.”

At Marjorie’s command, the women began to file outside to the backyard. The upbeat sounds of Zydeco music burst to life, drifting in through the open window. Dana peered out at the women as they chatted excitedly about the upcoming nuptials while preparing the post- ceremony meal.

The heady aroma of griot, tasso, pate koda and fried plantains mingled together in the humid air. Though the goat and ham held little appeal, Dana couldn’t stop her stomach from growling as she drank in the scent. Before she could let her hunger carry her away, she realized she was the only one left in the prayer room with Marjorie.

Dana hated that her feet were failing her as much as her words, but try as she might, she was rooted to the spot now that her adrenaline waned.

Marjorie circled the pillar, drawing closer until she stood toe-to-toe with Dana. “So, you see the darkness, too?”

Dana balked. Still unable to find her voice, all she could do was nod.

Marjorie grinned, sucking her teeth as she tsked loudly. “Always so self-absorbed, we are.”

“What?”