Shemo spoke up, “If Ogou La Flambeau can be enticed to assist you, he will call upon the sacrificial knife of his relentless raw power to protect you and overcome the dark force. Ogou’s great strength and endurance will be of a mighty benefit to you.”
Alustra added, “Understand, those who open to this journey will be under the power of Ogou La Flambeau. You will be imbued with his astral power and you will act as he acts. Hopefully, you will be able to reason with Regina and get her to relinquish the Inanna.”
“Her resentment towards Lilly has spanned lifetimes. She may not go gently into the night. The raven is her servant and she has twisted the creature to her will. Beware! Regina will be enraged.”
Roland and James spoke simultaneously, “We will go.” Lucky and Claude will enter the building physically, subdue Regina if necessary and retrieve the crystal.”
Kumira spoke, “I will stand within the Witches circle with the drummers from our Temple. I will lead the call of the Interplanetary Adepts and summon our protector, Quatzquatel. Lilly has bonded with his energy and the strength of the winged serpent will be a strong defense against the raven. Together we can take care of this little witch.”
Everyone joined hands. Sitting thus, hand in hand, eyes locked upon one another, the group made a solemn vow to work together to dismantle the web of revenge and malevolence Regina had created. “We will replace the darkness with the light,” they said with one voice.
Chapter 42
The Peristyle
In the mid-sixties the Vodou Priestess, Alustra, purchased an old building near the river in the area behind the Fabourg Marigny called the Bywater. The area was less than a mile behind the French Quarter and a world unto its self. The old brick building, once a cannery, stood three stories tall with huge windows. Alustra had one end of the building renovated, creating a section of spacious apartments for her extended family.
The rest of the building had been gutted. The huge open area, on the ground floor, was consecrated as Le Peristyle de Vodou Orleans. The poto mitan, or center post, stood firmly in the middle of the sanctuary connecting the astral worlds with the physical world. It was through the poto mitan the Vodou spirts, the Loa, entered into the peristyle during ritual. A large circular area was cleared around the center pole. Altars overflowing with statues, candles, flowers, beaded bottles and Vodou flags, stood on the edge of the sacred space, honoring the various Loa. Beyond the center ritual space, was jungle. The room was filled with tropical plants thriving in the humidity and bright sunlight pouring through the many windows of the old cannery.
On the day of the intricate ritual, the group gathered around the poto mitan. Alustra went on, to explain in great detail, what might happen during the ritual invocation ending with a sigh, “We can only plan so much. The energy will play itself out as it sees fit.”
The witches cast their circle of protection with salt as Alustra created a circle using a thick line of cornmeal. Following James’s suggestion, the two circles overlapped, doubling the strength of both. The Mambo sang and called out to Legba imploring him to open the gate to the spirit world. As the Vodou choir added their voices, Alustra slowly drew a Veve within the Vodou circle. Lilly remembered the design Alustra created was Ogou La Flambo’s sigil. The drummers added the intricate beat which would entice Ogou La Flambo to appear.
The Veve was created slowly, as hand full’s of cornmeal sifted through Alustra’s fingers. Radiating lines, intricate swirls, dots, curves and, what appeared to be flaming arrows, appeared. The process was slow and filled with respect for the spirit they were calling forth. Surely, Lilly thought, the intercession of Legba, the power of the Veve, the ritual dancing, the voices of the choir and the dedicated beat of the drums would open the gate to the spirit world and call forth the mighty Ogou La Flambo. Once he arrived, it was up to Alustra and Shemo to entice him into assisting.
Lilly swayed slightly, entranced by the beauty of the voices, and the intricacy of the design. She was surprised as the Vodou priestess took a mouth full of rum, pursed her lips and blew a fine spray of rum around the circle. After blowing rum around the circle, Alustra nodded to her consort, Shemo. He lit a big black cigar and blew smoke across the circle.
The air was filled with the scent of the sweet liquor and pungent tobacco when Mambo Alustra lifted her voice, “Oh Legba, ancient one, gatekeeper, expression of primordial energy, master of the crossroads be pleased by our offerings. Open the gateway to the Flambo. Call upon Ogou La Flambo. Open the gateway, thank you.”
Alustra and Shemo stood still, the choir was silent the drums resting. The calm was banished when Shemo lifted the ritual machete over his head and danced, swinging the machete, tossing it from hand to hand, twirling it over his head, his body shaking. Alustra ran to his side and slapped rum on the back of his neck signaling Ogou La Flambo was not the one he was to ride this day.
Shemo’s shivers ceased, his eyes opened. He nodded slightly and Alustra signaled James and Roland to step into the Veve. The two Druids moved slowly. The drums resumed their persistent beat energizing the circle for Ogou La Flambo. Alustra called out in a sing song voice, enticing the Loa to assist them.
James and Roland’s feet tapped, keeping time to the drums as the energy of the
