Page 81 of Cursed
That concept rattled around in the back of her head. The priestesswantedher to flee this place. Leaving in the morning would hand her a victory.
Morgan had little time to examine that logic as she zeroed in on the dark shadow under the trees.
Yvonne Sonnier had stopped chanting. She stood silent and still, facing the enemy squarely. Morgan had never seen her up close. She was a small woman with long, dark hair and sharp features, dressed in a simple dark shift.
“You frightened me when I came to town,” she said, hearing her voice ring out in the night. “Then you did things to my mind—where the road flooded and at the cemetery. But I’ve faced enemies a lot stronger than you. And I’ve finally got my head screwed on straight—at least where you’re concerned. You can’t hurt me anymore.”
The words were brave. She hoped they were true as she marched across the lawn, not even sure what would happen.
“Go back inside,” the priestess shouted at her. “Go back before you get hurt.”
“Make me,” Morgan challenged
Yvonne began to chant again.
And Morgan felt her vision suddenly blur and her breath solidify in her lungs. All at once, it was hard to see—hard to breathe. Fear beat against her, but she kept going, determined to fight this woman on her own terms.
She knew she had made headway when the chanting stopped abruptly and the pressure on her lungs eased.
Maybe the deciding factor was that her anger was stronger than her fear.
“Leave Andre Gascon alone,” she shouted.
“He’s evil.”
“Of course not. His grandfather loved Linette and she loved him. Tragedy separated them. But that has nothing to do with the man who lives here now.”
“She died because of his ancestor.”
“No. She died because she wanted a life with him. He didn’t coerce her.”
“Go away from here, or I’ll hurt you.”
“Why—because you know Linette spoke to me?”
The woman gasped. “No. You’re lying.”
“She pulled me into the past. She made me feel her joy with Andre. And her pain when she lost her life.”
“No!”
“I was with her when the flood took her. I think she wants me here. She wants me to set things right—finally. Your grandmother may have cursed Andre’s grandfather. But it’s time for the hate to end. It’s time for love to take over,” she said, not even sure what she meant.
The woman looked stunned as Morgan kept advancing. She had no idea what would happen now. Were they going to get into some kind of fight?
It wasn’t a human voice that spoke next. From out of the darkness, a roar split the night, and the jaguar leaped forward. Morgan gasped in shock. She’d been so focused on the priestess that she’d forgotten all about the animal that prowled the bayou.
The jaguar gave her a long look, then with a roar in its throat, it turned away and charged Yvonne. But it staggered, choking, as it toppled onto the ground.
The animal picked itself up, swaying on unsteady legs before starting forward again. It took only a couple of steps before it staggered, then fell to the ground, gasping.
Finally, it caught its breath, growling in anguish and frustration.
But Morgan wasn’t affected by whatever spell Yvonne had worked. Grimly, she pelted forward.
The woman shrieked. And suddenly a knife was in her hand. “Leave me alone!”
“What, you don’t trust your magic to kill me?” Morgan shouted, lashing out with her foot.
