Page 5 of We Are All Sinners

They will all face retribution for their sins and their blood will be the price. The ancestors have spoken, and their demands are clear.

Ancestral magic comes with a heavy cost. Well, all magic does, but I have heeded their warnings and tried to maintain aglimmer of light, even amidst the darkness that has consumed my every thought for the past two years.

I sense their approval in the way I’m dealing with the witches. Much of what I’ve done has been guided by their will; I’m merely the instrument of their justice.

I’ve removed those they’ve singled out, following their instructions precisely. They’ve revealed why the coven covets my gift, but they only disclose what I need to know, leaving the rest shrouded in mystery.

My mother was the high priestess of our coven until my father, along with my mama and gran, were all cast out.

They haven’t been able to, or had a reason to, shun me yet. I have never given them a reason to.

I was able to learn as I grew up like the other witches in New Orleans. My friends, when I was much younger, all chose to not be affiliated with any of them. I honestly don’t remember much about them.

We all just went our separate ways, I guess. It happens in high school.

Once I figured out who was behind my family getting shunned, I chose to shun them. I was thirteen the last time I set foot in the cemetery with another witch other than Emily, my mama, or gran.

I had to make a choice, and I chose my family. The ancestors warned me, and I got out. I have been missing my childhood best friend lately.

We were just kids and didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. I know Cami, like me, has a gift they want. Her mom was able to protect her, more than mine was able to protect me.

It’s funny that I can’t remember the last time I thought of Cami before the ancestors gave me a vision of her when I was looking at property that I had been thinking about moving my store front to.

It’s next to a new bookstore that says, opening soon. I tried to open the door to the new bookstore, instead of the open space, and was hit with all these images of Cami when we were kids playing in the cemetery.

I know the ancestors will bring us back together when the time is right, until then, I will continue to listen and do what is asked.

The ancestors wouldn’t give me the visions if it wasn’t what they wanted me to do.

I stand up from the pretty stone bench that I had placed close to my family so that I wouldn’t have to stand or sit on the ground all the time.

James, the security guard for St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, helped me get it in and where I wanted without too much persuasion.He loved my gran just like everyone else who had ever met her did.

I kiss my hand and place it on the cool limestone covering both of their names.

“Blessed be.”

Chapter 1

Brixon

Hidden in the shadows of the alleyway behind my little witch’s store, I wait for her and her cute little black cat she named Jinx to rush out of the back door.

This is my new routine. I follow, watch, and wait for my little witch to show me something to let me know that she is still in there. The only thing that reminds me of the girl I used to know so well is her cat’s name. It’s funny, like she used to be.

Now, this girl doesn’t even seem to know what fun is anymore.

Her store, The Natural Witch Apothecary, isn’t open seven days a week, but she works seven days a week. Tonight, she opened to have a little séance for one of her friends and stayed to do inventory for the last three hours.

Just like clockwork she barrels out of the backdoor, dropping her large bag of everything, and shuts the backdoor right after Jinx bounces out. She locks it, huffing at the cat as she grabs her bag putting it over her shoulder.

I watch for a bit as her ass moves back and forth in those damn black skinny jeans before I start following her like I have since we got back in town.

Last night I fell asleep watching her dance in her bedroom before she finally went to bed. I passed out and woke up at four am to watch her sneaking back into her own house.

I have cameras set up throughout her house and outside so I can keep an eye on her. More nights than not I never see her leave, but always see her coming back at odd hours.

I bought the house that was for sale next door to hers. I know she has seen me, and it’s been killing me since the moment I laid eyes on her that she has no clue who I am. It’s taken everything I have not to make her touch me just so I know whether I’m truly the only one cursed here.

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