chapter three

"why would there still be an egbo? there aren't any more slaves."

"are you certain of that, priestess?"

"slavery's illegal. isn't it?"

"things are only illegal if you are caught doing them."

"no. they're always illegal."

she smiled. "so young and innocent despite the pain in your eyes."

i didn't want to discuss the pain in my eyes with her or anyone else.

"are you trying to tell me the bokor is a slave trader?"

"of course not. that is definitely illegal."

i rubbed my forehead. "what are you saying?"

"i will not tell you of the bokor. i will not take you to him. you are to stay away from the man. he is wicked and, i have heard, not quite sane."

too bad he sounded like just the guy i needed to see.

"fine." i lowered my hand. "when can i learn how to raise the voodoo queen?"

"i will send a houngan to meet with you."

"i thought only a bokor could raise the dead."

"only a bokor would. any priest or priestess may know how."

too bad i'd never met one.

"is raising the dead worth losing yourself?" she asked quietly.

i lifted my chin, met her eyes squarely. "yes."

renee held my gaze for a moment, then gave a sharp nod and stepped onto the veranda. by the time i followed, she was gone.

i returned to my empty room. i had to find the bokor, and i needed to get out of port-au-prince before renee figured out what i was up to, if she hadn't already.

she'd tattle to edward. he'd come down here, or send someone else. then we'd have the shouting and the arguing and the dragging me home.

i didn't know edward well, but i knew that much. he didn't like his orders disobeyed. i had not been sent to confront a possibly insane, violent man. i wasn't trained for it.

i'd be yanked out; one of edward's minions would be sent in, and the only hope i had of getting my daughter back would explode in a burning ball of fire-the common j