Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series Read Online Free PDF Page A

growing fear.
     
       “Enough, Misses Julianna,” the voodoo priestess chastises. The Lady Lanecia walks over to Julia and moves around within eye sight of the distressed girl. The woman holds up one index finger towards the ceiling moving it back and forth, “Yur disrespect of me, I can understand.” She points to herself with the same finger, “Ya do not know me or recognize me.”
       The dark woman then points to Martha, “But da Mrs. Martha here, ya do be knowin’. And ya will not disrespect her like this. She loves ya very much.”
       The terrified teen sobs, “P-please let me go. I - I just want to go.”
       The priestess notices Martha's eagerness to swoop in and save the day. She waives Martha off by shaking her head. She, then, turns her attention back to Julianna.
       “I'd be lettin' ya go, Misses Julianna. But ya will be listenin' to me first,” Lady Lanecia calmly states as matter of fact. The woman inches closer to Julia's tear-soaked face, “I excuse ya since ya be so young. This time, dat is. But ya must be knowin' something about yurself, Misses Julianna.”
       Lady Lanecia pauses until the girl makes eye contact, “You'd be special, Misses Julianna.”
       Martha notices curiosity momentarily flash within Julia's watery eyes. The Lady Lanecia points her long bony finger at her granddaughter, “It'd be yurself who has spoken to me inside of my own head.”
        Confusion swims in Julia's mind. She is not completely terrified anymore, but she is not exactly feeling confident about her surroundings. If anything, her fear has only been stifled by her growing confusion.
       The Lady Lanecia smiles comfortingly. Her right hand tenderly cups Julia's chin. “When you'd be ready, Misses Julianna, ya can come én here anytime that you'd be needin'. I'd be a friend to yur grandmother, da Mrs. Martha Dermott. And I'd be a friend to yur mother...”,  the voodoo priestess locks eyes with Martha for a brief second before returning her stare upon Julia, “...Misses Theresa.”
       “I'd be a friend to yurself, Misses Julianna. But do not be mistakin' my friendship fur a ticket to talk da way you'd just be talkin'. Understand me?”, the woman commands more than asks.
       Julia wipes her tears and nods as the priestess releases her chin. The Lady Lanecia bids her guests farewell, “It'd be getting' close fur me to be shuttin' my store. I must be closin' early today. I'd be havin' things to do. It'd be good seein' ya, Misses Julianna.”
       The teen feels the unseen force release its hold on her. To her own surprise, she doesn't bolt for the door like she initially had desired. Julia nearly apologizes, but is still too confused to calculate the possible wrongness of her actions in comparison to the events which inspired them.
       Martha and the Lady Lanecia exchange hugs. They say a few a words to each other which Julianna is unable to make out. The priestess then gives Martha a bag and looks over at the girl. She says something else and Martha nods. Julia makes out a 'thank you' and a 'good-bye' from her gram’s lips. And at long last, Julia is able to exit the only store she has ever believed should be burned to the ground.
     
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       The drive home is completely overshadowed by the day’s latest events. Julianna stares out of her window most of the time attempting to process the insanity which has befallen her. The first part of the day was great. It's the last part which carries the stench of an uncleansed slaughterhouse.
       Martha pulls into the long quarter-mile driveway leading up to her Louisiana home. The house, originally, had been a plantation home. But since it was built, it has been added to and added to until it is now a monstrosity of a mansion.
       The white European pillars really enhance the front-side dimensions of the original part of the house. The house, itself, sits a comfortable distance from a mid-evil water fountain.