“I’m seeing two magic circles overlapping.” James continued. On the left are Alustra and Shemo who will create the veve within the circle and call the Loa. The second circle overlaps the first, forming the Vesica Piscis, honoring the feminine and doubling the power of both circles. Sabine, Jolene, Kumira and Lilly will be within the safety of the right hand circle scrying through the cauldron, and sending help as it is needed. Roland, and I, hopefully with the assistance of Ogue La Flambo, will travel the astral, find and confront Regina Val Raven.”
Lucky spoke up, “I will enter Raven Moon, find the crystal or remove it from Regina as she is busy dealing with your astral attack. I may need one more person to go with me. Back up is always a good idea.”
Someone, pounding loudly on the front door of the shop, interrupted their conversation. “What in blazes?” Sabine exclaimed.
Jolene and James got up simultaneously. “You stay here Jo, I’ll go see what’s happening.” Before James stepped out of the kitchen door, the assault on the front door stopped, replaced by the insistent buzzing of the gate button.
Distraught, was the first impression James got when he opened the gate. A tall blond man in extreme distress stood before him. “What is it?” James inquired calmly.
The young man, blond hair tumbling to his waist, shirt tails hanging out and two days of grizzle on his chin blurted out, “Is Lilly here?”
James spoke to the young man with an authoritarian tone “Who are you?” What do you want with Lilly?”.
“I’m Claude Mckenzie. My partner and I own Raven Moon. I’ve been in New York recently. I returned last night and uh, where is Lilly?”
James signaled for Claude to come in, lead him through the carriage way and offered him a seat on the bench near the fountain. “How do you know Lilly and what do you want?”
Claude’s fists curled as he heaved a frustrated sigh, “First tell me if she is okay?”
James nodded, “Yes, she is fine.”
Claude blew out a breath in relief. “I got in from New York last night. This morning when I saw my partner, Regina, she was wearing, what appears to be, Lilly’s Inanna crystal. I demanded she tell me how she got it. Regina swears Lilly gave it to her. I know Lilly wouldn’t give up her talisman willingly. Regina was evasive and refused to tell me how she came to be wearing it.
“I had a bad feeling in my gut and I ran upstairs to the ritual temple in the attic. Something dark has been going on up there. Pages of the Goetia grimoire are scattered all over the floor, the window has been smashed and the whole place reeks. I’m afraid my partner is not who she presented herself to be. She is into dark magick and I am worried about Lilly.”
The door to the kitchen opened. Jolene and Lucky came out followed by Kumira, Alustra and Shemo. James introduced them to Claude and had him repeat his story. As he finished recounting his morning findings, Lilly and Roland stepped out of Jolene’s kitchen. Peering through the group, Lilly spotted someone sitting on the cast iron bench. The group parted as she exclaimed, “Claude!”
Claude jumped up and pulled her into an embrace. Kissing the top of her head he said, “I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what Regina has been up to. I’m afraid my worst fears about her may be true.”
Lilly stepped out of his embrace and confirmed his fears were valid. Introducing him to Roland, she sat next to Claude on the bench and gave him a quick rundown of the happenings since his trip to New York.
Placing his hand gently over her scarred cheek, Claude apologized and adamantly stated he was not involved with Regina’s dark witchery nor her obsession with the raven. “I am here to help. I’ll do anything I can.”
Jolene and Sabine looked at one another, gave a quick nod, turned and invited everyone, including Claude, back into the apartment.
The expanded group flowed into the living room and made themselves comfortable as they questioned Claude in great depth. Convinced he was an ally, James designated him to accompany Lucky into Raven Moon during the ritual and assist in any way possible to reclaim the crystal.
Shemo and Alustra ended their whispered conversation. Alustra stood on her sturdy legs and looked at each member of the group. “I know some of ya’ll have knowledge of what Vodou is about, but some have only false ideas.
“Vodou is the living experience of the Divine. The Divine presence is encountered through our practice. It is a powerful practice with powerful results. That’s why so many folks have a negative idea about Vodou. Where there is great power there is a great capacity for good. Where there is great power, the shadow side also abides and there is great capacity for evil. This here girl, Regina, is a perfect example of an unhealthy craving for power in the realm of the sacred Craft.”
“Our spirits in Vodou are called the Loa. They were once livin’ people, charismatic souls who are remembered and honored. It is these charismatic, powerful energies we call on to help us.
“In the ritual we’ll perform together, we are gonna’ call on Legba to open the pathway between the astral world and the physical world. After Legba opens the door to the spirit world, we’ll call on Ogou La Flambo, a powerful warrior, to assist in the confrontation with Regina.
“The purpose of the ritual is to become the divine horseman, to be ridden or possessed by the spirit in physical form. In this ceremony we are
