The Burning Bush (13 page)

After leaving Harriet’s apartment, I decided to take Onyx’s diary orb to an Air Witch named Vee. Maybe the diary orb contained some clues as to who killed Onyx. Angel and Cassie tagged along with me. We caught a tram to Drum Housing Projects.

I was hoping Vee could open the diary with her magic. The Witch was the best hustler in all of Shango District. Anytime I stole textbooks that possessed security spells, she would destabilize them and remove any tracking charms for no additional charge. Unfortunately, when we arrived at Vee’s apartment, she already had a customer waiting to be served. I helped Vee with the customer’s spell so she could quickly get to opening Onyx’s orb.

This is taking forever.

The customer was an obese Elf who sat at Vee’s kitchen counter, shoveling chocolate pudding and bacon pieces into her mouth. With each bite, her pointed ears wiggled with delight. The Elf’s forehead brand was two tiny silver shoes with points that curled back. All Supes agreed that the Elves’ brand was the most stereotypical and insulting brand the Humans had come up with. The brand inferred that all Elves were cute singing creatures that danced around while they made shoes and spent their winters in Santa’s workshop.

For one thing, Elves never spent their days singing in trees. In the prehabitat years, Elves were best known for their mastery of combat and their ability to heal war wounds within seconds. Old photos in my college history books had displayed them as a muscular people with pointed ears and slanted almond eyes.

Well, things have definitely changed.
The Elf that lounged in front of me, munching on her snack of bacon and chocolate, looked to be over three hundred pounds. Although she’d ridden a motorized wheelchair to Vee’s place, she had no problem walking back and forth to Vee’s refrigerator.

Sitting directly in front of the Elf, I held a mirror balanced on the small table between us. A pair of cobalt-blue gloves made of silk covered my hands and arms. Vee had said the silk was a safety precaution so I wouldn’t get harmed by her elemental magic and the blue symbolized respect for her goddess Yemaya. I didn’t know how I would be assisting with the spell. Vee had simply ordered me to sit in front of the Elf and keep the customer’s reflection in the mirror.

I’d thought it would be easy. “I have to pee, Vee.”

“You can hold it. I’m almost ready,” she hollered back from behind me.

I sucked my teeth. “You said that twenty minutes ago.”

Vee hummed as she scuttled around in the kitchen. Most of Vee’s children were playing with Cassie. On the couch to my right, Angel snored. She’d collapsed into a comatose sleep as soon as we arrived, causing Vee to flash me a suspicious look.

“Just keep the mirror in front of Minnie,” Vee ordered.

I moaned a little but followed her command as Minnie the Elf delivered another spoonful to her mouth, smearing the ruby-red lipstick on her lips. Brown and red smudges traveled over her tan chubby cheeks.

“Is that good pudding?” I asked.

“Succulent.” Minnie lifted a long and dangling piece of bacon with two fingers, licked the chocolate off, and ate it.

I shouldn’t have skipped breakfast and lunch.
A grumble thundered from my stomach. The Elf frowned and scooted a few inches away from me.
I’m not going to take your damn bacon!

“So did you make that snack yourself?” I asked Minnie, wondering how she’d come up with the combination. Salty bacon and sweet chocolate were my two favorite things to eat after hot peppers and roasted duck. I’d just never considered combining the two.

“Well, Vee’s fridge is full of green stuff and fruit. This was the only good stuff I could find.” The Elf plopped another dollop of pudding into her mouth. Bits of bacon stuck to her chin.

“Enough with the eating Minnie,” Vee huffed. Her dark brown fingers carried over a blue glass chalice and four teal candles.

“Brug jew shed.”
Minnie swallowed down the bacon and cleared her throat. “But you said after the weight-shifting spell, I can’t eat for four hours.”

“That doesn’t mean you can fill yourself up with crap.” Vee rolled her blue eyes. “Joey, take the bowl from her.”

Vee’s son Joey jumped out of Cassie’s lap and seized the bowl of bacon pudding. “Mommy can I have—”

“No,” Vee hissed without letting him finish.

Frowning, Joey skipped into the kitchen, carrying the bowl over to the sink. His auburn braids bounced at his shoulders. He was a Mixbreed. He had the same dark-brown skin as Vee, but his eyes were forest green instead of deep blue, like most Air Witches.

Vee stood next to Minnie and me as she placed one teal candle on the left side of the kitchen table that doubled as an altar table, one candle on the right, and the last candle behind the mirror I was holding.

“I didn’t even finish my pudding.” Minnie tossed her ginger hair over her chunky shoulders and burped. The chocolate odor hit my nose immediately.

Vee moved behind Minnie and put her hands on each of Minnie’s chubby cheeks. “Okay, I think we can finally begin.”

Thank Shango and whatever made-up god is up there!

Minnie’s pointy ears wiggled as a wide smile crossed her face. “Did I tell you how hot he is?”

“Only about a hundred times.” Vee winked at me twice with her right eye, signaling me to light the candles. I mentally commanded flames to appear at the candle’s tips. Bit by bit, the room brightened around us. Vee put on her own silk gloves and a plastic cap over her huge afro so none of her hair would mix with the spell.

“He told me that my voice is so sexy on the phone,” Minnie bragged. “He’s been dying for me to email him a photo, but I told him I’m shy. Tonight will be our first time meeting, you know.”

“Minnie, you have to clear your mind,” Vee ordered. “Let all your thoughts fly away. Envision a string dangling in the wind—”

“Mom, can I go to the library?” Vee’s teenage daughter stalked into the kitchen, carrying Vee’s youngest child on her hip.

“Yes. After I finish this spell, you can go.” Vee pulled a handful of copper coins from her pocket and counted out nine of them.

The teenager released an exasperated groan. “Mom! This is going to take forever.”

“I’m preparing to cast a very complex spell!” Vee’s face snapped to her daughter. “Now what did I just say?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the teen said, quickly retreating to her room without another word. The rest of Vee’s kids snickered as they hovered around Cassie.

“So, why are all the kids home today?” I asked.

“Have you been on the southern edge of Shango District?” Vee formed a circle in front of the mirror with the nine copper coins she’d gotten from her pocket. “The whole district is soaked in blood and smoke due to the Linderman’s bombing. Shango District schools are closed until further notice.”

Lumps of guilt formed in the pit of my stomach.

“Most of the stores are closed too.” Vee sucked her teeth. “I’ll have to grab diapers and bread all the way in Oya today.”

Damn it.
I hadn’t figured on inconveniencing anybody but Dante. Hopefully, everything in Shango would get back to normal soon.

“He’s taking me to Le Choblie,” Minnie giggled. “That expensive French restaurant in Yemaya.”

“Quiet and clear your mind,” Vee said and began mumbling a prayer under her breath that I’d heard her say at least a hundred times before. The subtle fragrance of juniper drifted from her. I always smelled it when she used her powers. Vee picked up the chalice, poured some of its contents on her fingers, and began dabbing little drops onto Minnie.

“Tiny and slender, small and lean,” Vee chanted.

Minnie jerked her head back, fidgeting like a child. “This stuff stings. What is it?”

“Rose water, cardamom, and a bunch of other stuff you never knew existed. Now quiet.” Vee smeared the thick gritty liquid onto Minnie’s double chin. “Sometimes beauty hurts. Just close your eyes and breathe.”

Minnie shut her eyes, which was good because her tan skin began to turn a bright shade of green. I drew my lips back in horror, stretching them over my teeth.
She’s going to have to cancel that date.
Vee grabbed a bottle of red wine, yanked the cork out with her teeth, and took a swig, before dumping the wine all over Minnie’s head. My mouth dropped open.
Well, at least this is entertaining.

Vee’s twin girls giggled behind Cassie. Joey shushed them. Long ago I’d attempted to count all Vee’s children, but they never stayed still in one room long enough. I gave up and figured she must have at least eight or so Witchlings. Three boys around Ben’s age raced through the living room, knocking over my satchel and heading out the door.

“Close it, you three!” Vee shouted. “And be back before it gets dark.”

“Yes, Mom,” they called back in unison and slammed the door harder than necessary.

“Oh please, Yemaya, make sure the schools are open tomorrow.” Vee leaned her head to the right and cracked her neck.

“He may even propose,” Minnie said, as her eyes remained closed. Her skin wasn’t getting any better because now it was as green as grass.
Unless he’s a fanatic for the color green, he will not be proposing tonight.

“
Ay, dios mio!
It’s only your first date,” Vee said.

“But we’ve been chatting on the Supe Dating Network for six months,” Minnie retorted.

“Silence,” Vee whispered. “Between you and the kids, I’ll never get this done. Now be very quiet while I get the goddess’s assistance.” Vee tugged down the plastic cap. “Hear me, Oya. Carrier of Fire, Queen of Death, and Mother of Nine, strengthen my spells.”

Vee set the bottle down and poured a white powder into the blue chalice. “Grounded quartz to protect the soul, transform not part but change the whole.”

Vee put the chalice to Minnie’s lips. “Drink. But do not open your eyes.”

Definitely, don’t open your eyes.

Minnie gulped the liquid down. The candles’ lights went out. Bluish-green sparks burst around Minnie’s skin like fireworks. They crackled throughout the house, filling the air with a minty scent and making the twins squeal. I leaned back, still gripping the mirror. With the way Minnie was looking, I didn’t want any of those sparks touching me.

“I feel something inside me.” Minnie’s skin stretched out, making her three times wider. Her clothes ripped as she screamed and fell off the stool she’d been sitting on.

Minnie’s green skin darkened to black. Cracks popped from her hips. Blue steam rose from her skin as her body’s size decreased slowly, inch by inch. The blackish complexion changed back to Minnie’s normal tan skin color.

“Help me!” Minnie writhed in pain, rolling around and grasping at the shaggy carpet with her fingers. Minnie’s skin began to roll inward as if she was sucking her flesh into herself.

“I can’t see!” Minnie screamed and kicked the stool in front of her. Her body shook like she was experiencing ten seizures at once. She grabbed at her throat and tore her shirt open. I dropped the mirror, ready to help her.

Vee caught the mirror before it cracked and whispered, “No, Lanore.”

I raced around the alter table, not really sure of what I was going to do but pretty sure it would be better than doing nothing at all.

“Stop, Lanore.” Vee snatched my arm with her free hand. “She’ll be fine. Just hold the mirror in front of her. Her true image will stay in the mirror until it’s time to return to her body. We have to make sure nothing happens to it or Minnie could die.”

I gently took the mirror from Vee and sneaked a glance into the glass surface. Vee was correct, and the realization was haunting. An obese Minnie stared back at me from inside the mirror with pudding dripping down the corner of her mouth.

Damn, I hate elemental magic.
A quivering sensation crawled up my spine, as if a scaly snake was sliding along my back. I had to use all my strength not to drop the mirror and run out of the apartment screaming.

“Help!” the other Minnie screamed on the floor.

Bubbly black drool leaked out of Minnie’s mouth as she spasmed back and forth. Her hands twitched. Her torture continued for several more minutes, although with the screaming, it seemed more like hours. And then all of a sudden, the shaking ceased. Minnie remained on the carpet, unmoving. Her ripped and tattered shirt fell off her tiny body.

She didn’t seem okay, but I had to admit one thing—she was definitely thinner. Her tan skin shrunk around her new body, revealing high cheek bones, a tiny waist, two small perky breasts with light-brown nipples, and a petite curvy behind that almost made me dash to the chalice and gulp the liquid down myself.

“Is it done?” Minnie murmured. Her chest heaved up and down like that of a drowning victim that had just been pulled from the ocean. Sweat painted her skin in a filmy sheen. Nevertheless, a pure goddess lay on the floor. Minnie glanced up at us with luscious lips and sparkling violet eyes that made me stop breathing for a few seconds. She was beautiful.

“Holy Shango!” Cassie edged to my side. Vee’s son Joey had now climbed aboard Cassie’s back and was hanging on her.