Bones that walk and talk (Invite)

[Valentine]

“Sit down o’er there, child and hold this while Valentine build us a fire.” The burning cane torch was handed to her as he rubbed his hands together and then set about gathering some decent looking burning wood from the forest floor. “Spring be upon us but the nights still hold to the winter.”

Valentine had noticed the missing eye and the spherical ball of jelly in the the Dark One’s hand that was tucked safely away in his pocket now, though if it anyway affected him, he didn’t show it. A small teepee shape was made, leaving one area open like a door, with small sticks that graduated upwards in size until he was satisfied that it was a decent start. Quiet confidence rolled off of him despite the present company. He should have been afraid but Valentine had experienced much pain in his life, much bad, that he had come to accept a long time ago that things would be as they were. When the devil came for y’all it didn’t matter where you were hiding. Too long he had waited and there was much to share, and a favour to ask before the chance slipped away.

“We be comin’ from the south, Madam. I came across Harmony here when she was just a littl’un. Alone on the abandoned streets. She’d not have survi ‘ed on ‘er own. I took ‘er home an have been her guardian eva since.” He concentrated on getting the small fire going. He reached for his cane that was being held steady in the young woman’s hands and began to unwrap the burning cloth and then stuffed it in under the small tent of twigs which soon caught a flame. His cane, which seemed to sparkle like scales beneath the fire light, appeared to have remained unscathed by the fire as did his hand as well, despite handling the flame itself. “I cannot say what happen to her before that, but her mind was as broken then as it is now. Her spirit and heart be whole though.” He nodded proudly and cast a smile at the small redhead. “She be stronger than most that don’t be missin pieces of themselves.”

Valentine remained crouched as he continued to add more wood to the growing fire, just enough to keep it burning and keep the cold from sinking into the bones. “We walked all the way here from Delacroix. One step at a time. In search of you. The one from the stories people tell to be havin their young behavin’.” He looked into the fire and raised a finger to shake it in the air, reliving a memory from his own childhood.

“Ya best be gettin’ to checkin’ dem traps, boy. An’ don’ be comin ‘ome wit nutt’n or old Atabei be comin’ for ye in ye sleep.”

He dropped his finger and smiled as he tilted his head to look at the woman. “That be your name don’t it? Atabei?” He chuckled softly and returned to pokin at the small fire that had a warm glowing heart of steady embers now. “There’s been stories, I heard, growin’ up in the bayous. Bout a young slave girl, ‘avin’ the powers of the dark majicks. They say that she was one of the youngest Mambos of the Vodou. She used her powers to escape dem whips and chains and then she dun made a deal with the devil. Black as night and free as the wind. They say Atabei be both young and old. Alive and dead. A that she could grant those found worthy a taste of the dark gift.”

Valentine paused and started to undo his bedroll just enough to fetch a small tin with a hand from the centre. He passed it Harmony and tipped his head towards the wound of the slow moving river. “Fetch us some water child. We will have tea. Be careful.” He dipped his head and kept his reddish gaze on her to be sure she understood before letting her go. “Sing so I can hear you.” It was his way of knowing that she was okay when she was out of his sight. While ever he could hear her he knew she was safe.

“I come beggin’ Mistress, not for me but for her.” He kept his voice low so that Harmony would not overhear. “She be needin’ her mind back or a trusting guardian if she is to survi’e when I’m gone. I don’t plan on goin’ anywhere too soon, mind you, but I had to come while I could. I would, of course, forever be in your debt and your servant if you so desire, Mistress.” He bowed his head, a show of his sincerity and respect before pausing to check that he could still hear the girl and from the sounds of it she was already on her way back. “If anyone can help her, ‘tis you... Old Atabei.” He fell silent once more as Harmony returned with water and using the small time he made a bed of coals to set it on while he readied their mugs. Of course their new companion would be offered his first.

[Harmony]

The Dark Queen spoke funny, like Valentine did. While some might take that as an intentional slur against the person, in Harmony’s case it was an innocent observation. When she had met her Valentine she could barely understand him because his accent was so thick. It took her awhile but now she was able to understand him perfectly. In time, she would be able to do the same with the Dark Queen. The young woman was at least able to make out the word sweet and a bright grin lit her face. She clapped her hands together, bouncing in place before she could stop herself. The Dark Queen had called her sweet. That pleased Harmony very much.

Harmony accepted the fiery cane and sat down as Valentine instructed her to do. She watched Valentine build the fire, every so often allowing her gaze to travel over the Dark Queen as she moved closer to them. Harmony wasn’t afraid. She had her Valentine to protect her and after all, the Dark Queen had called her sweet. Why would she want to hurt her after that? However, Harmony couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen. It brought moments of clarity to her faster than she had ever experienced before but before she could seize onto one and try to concentrate the clarity fled. She would just have to trust that Valentine knew what he was getting them into. It wasn’t hard for her to do.

“Oh I love tea Valentine! Do you have any of those cookies with the little chips in them?” She was referring to the chocolate chip cookies Valentine had found for her during their trek north. It had been a very long time ago, so long that most wouldn’t even remember it but it was the first time Harmony had ever had chocolate. It was one of the few solid memories she had. As she accepted the tin her mind was already moving past the cookies she’d mentioned only moments before. “Tea! The Dark Queen needs tea.” She stood and skipped away towards the river. One couldn’t have tea without water after all, and clean cups were a must.

“Clean cup, clean cup! Move down!”

She made sure to sing loud enough so Valentine could hear her as she gathered the water. The leash normally attached to her had been left behind but Valentine knew where she was. If she ran into any trouble he’d be able to come and find her. But they had found the Dark Queen. Her Angel was always talking about the power the Dark Queen possess surely now that they were going to have tea together her powers would protect them from anything that went bump in the night. “Water. Harmony had gotten water for tea!” Once the cup was full she carefully made her way back to the pair she’d left by the fire and carefully handed the battered tin back to Valentine. “I didn’t even spill a drop, Valentine! You are proud, yes?”

[Atabei Narcisse]

The coat was buttoned to just above the woman’s navel, while she listened to Valentine, eyes swinging from Harmony’s outline in the woods, to Valentine and then back again. Only when Harmony returned would Atabei focus on the man with the blood colored hues, but for now, she wanted to keep both of them ‘safe,’ until her questions were answered. The woman would take a seat on an old tree stump that had cracked some time ago as the fire grew in intensity and in color.

He confessed to stories about her and waited to see if he divulged in what those stories were. Yes, she had heard of some of them while still alive, or maybe some Valentine never even heard of. Like about the first master she was sold to and got the most lashings from. How the children came up with a sickness and everyone suspected that she had cursed the household once the mistress came down with the same illness that got no better or no worse. Just stayed with them, day in and day out. Little did they know it wasn’t a curse, but some extra added ingredients she collected from the earth to make people release most of what they ate one of two ways.

Or the time the mistress lost her baby while she was still carrying it. The slaves said it was Atabei getting her revenge against the master for his indecencies at Atabei some months prior to it-not that she was the only female servant to ever know his touch. While her revenge was geared towards making the Mrs. and Mister of the house suffer, it was only through their children did Atabei strike like a snake and the stories seemed to transform over the years. Some would say they were innocent in it all, but they have eyes and the eyes never lie. They knew the truth of the house they were born into, grew up in shared the same nasty, demeaning habits as the Mister and Mrs of the house when they came of age.

The snippets of her life that Valentine spoke of had some deep rooted truths to them, but the devil wasn’t involved in any of it. The greater gods didn’t meddle in the affairs of people like her, but they had their servants and she prayed every night for her freedom and would have sold her soul to any of them if that was required of her. She waited until Harmony was settled in with the water and done talking before she spoke another word. “You dun’ good, sweet chil’” Atabei whispered to the white woman, a small smile on her face before she stood and moved over to Harmony. “‘Cum ‘ere.” She said coaxing the woman over to her with a small wave. “Let Ol’ Atabei see ‘chew.” She would walk towards Harmony, both hands at her side as to not spook the girl.

“Tha dark gift be a spec’ul ‘un.” Atabei stated, debating Valentine’s request; uncertain if he knew what he was asking her. “You gots ‘du spirut ‘en you, Ol’ Atabei can see it as bright as ‘da sun ‘en ‘da sky.” Her attention shifted to Valentine then as she spoke to him, and him alone. “She is who she s’posed to be. Ain’t no rhyme, or no reason. Is how ‘da spiruts see fit. Ain’t nu’tin wrong wid ‘dis chil’ here ‘en front of me. She be perfuct, Valentine.” She proceeded to introduce him into the real world of her beliefs. A little bit of Hoodoo, that met Voudon when she was about six or seven, which would eventually meet some Louisiana Voodoo; all three of them different, but had some overlapping qualities to them. Once again Atabei was looking at Harmony as she spoke. “E’ve’tin gun be alright, ‘chew hear now, chil? Atabei gun make sure of ‘dat.” Atabie looked at the mug of tea that was offered to her and slowly shook her head, making a small clucking noise with her tongue. “You two gun an' drink up. Been trav’lin for days. Gots ta be thirsty. Atabei can wait. One ‘dem advantages to bei’n dead.” She gave a raspy laugh as Atabei moved back to the stump she was once perched upon, gathering the extra material of the coat that dragged on the ground. Nothing came for free, and soon Valentine would come to understand that.

[Valentine]

The warm yet hearty laugh that rumbled from deep within, echoed through the trees at Harmony’s question, of course he was proud of her. “Everyday, child. E'ry day.” He busied himself with preparing the mugs and then took to digging through his bedroll for the remaining cookies. They were Harmony’s favourite so he always made sure to get a small supply when they were able. While he appeared to be busy he paid close attention to the interactions between the young woman and Atabei, chuckling occasionally. He simply bowed his head as the mug offered to the ancient one was declined and he made himself comfortable there by the fire to enjoy the warmth offered by the mug nursed in rather large hands.

“Ya not be understandin’ me right, Enchantress. I ne'er said she not be perfect. But this world just be cruel to one such as her. She too trusting and innocent. Not wise to the bad things that others be wantin’ ta do. That there be why I worry. If old Valentine could be around forever to watch over her I’d gladly be doing that but the world just dun be workin’ like that.” He sipped at the bitter yet oddly sweet brew, grateful for the moisture it offered to his parched and dry throat. “However, if one who could outlive her and keep her safe, I’d be forever grateful ta know that she be in good hands when it comes old Valentine’s time to be movin’ on from this life.”

Valentine had grown up with the ways, beliefs and superstitions. He knew that any sort of majick or gift came at a price and he was more than prepared to pay whatever that price might be. "We have travelled for what feels like forever to be here, Dark One. Valentine don’t be expectin’ no favours from one such as yourself for nuttin’.“ The more he talked to the elder and the more he heard her the more his own speech patterns seem to change, resembling more the dialect that he had grown up with. “Whate’er it cost to keep her safe is a price I will gladly pay.” He dipped his head and lowered his eyes, his sincerity and acceptance of what was to come, whatever that was, made obvious.

“And what of you, Ol' Atabei? I’m sure your journey has not been an easy one.” He held up the mug. "Surely you be in need, yaself.” His hand moved to his face as he brushed the cheek just below his eye. The same eye that was missing from the small woman that sat across the fire. “Is there anythin’ at all that we can be helpin’ ya with?”

[Harmony]

Harmony liked when she made Valentine laugh. It was a comforting sound, loud and boisterous just like her beloved guardian was. The grin that appeared on her face was so bright it could have rivaled the intensity of the sun. Valentine’s praise was something she was constantly after and she basked in it every single chance that she got. It made her feel almost normal. Somewhere deep in the recess of her mind Harmony knew that she wasn’t quite right in the head but that didn’t matter a bit to the tall man that had rescued her from the streets. Valentine had always treated her with a kindness she’d never experienced before. He didn’t see the girl with the shattered mind, he saw underneath that and saw who she was as a person. To him, she was simply Harmony.

Her eyes went as wide as the chipped saucer she had pulled from her bedroll at the sound of the Dark Queen’s voice. She was telling Harmony that she too thought she’d completed the task set before her well! Excitement radiated off of her and she clapped her hands, completing a graceful pirouette before practically skipping over to stand in front of the Dark Queen. Her head canted to the side. “You don’t look old to me,” she stated rather matter of factly. “Your face is smooth. You don’t have any of that wrinkly stuff that makes you look old.” Her eyes traveled over Atabei’s face, searching for something and when she spoke her voice was clear and her tone certain. “You have the darkness in you, but it doesn’t frighten me.” Something in her eyes shifted and the childlike persona returned once more. “I told Valentine I thought you would be lovely and I was right!”

As Atabei turned her attention to Valentine Harmony tuned out their conversation. Instead she focused on the package of cookies that he had pulled from within the depths of his bedroll. Something silver on the ground caught her eye and as always, she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Ever so carefully she crouched down and dug through the dirt until she extracted the item. A bottlecap from some sort of bottle. A quiet exclamation came from the girl as she studied the item and at a second glance she discovered several more of them scattered around the small area where she’d found the first one. With a determination not normally seen in her, she set to digging every last one of them out of the bed of dirt they’d been left in. When she was done, she had a small pile that she started stuffing in a small change purse Valentine had given her some time ago.

One she was finished shoving the now stuffed change purse back into her bedroll she took the cup of tea that Valentine offered her and carefully took a seat beside him. The atmosphere surround the trio had taken on a somber tone and that icy finger of dread once more appeared to trace along the length of her spine. Something was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon.

[Atabei Narcisse]

There were a great many things going on in Atabei’s mind as she listened to Valentine’s current speech, and what was said in the past a few minutes ago. Something about bones leading them to her, and his knowledge (or at least recognition) in the ways of magic and the way he weaved the stories he heard about her. If Atabei didn’t know any better, she would say that Valentine had been reclaimed by the spirits, even if he didn’t be knowing it yet. His purpose was to find her, through one of the lesser spirits who had gifted him with the insight of these bones that led him to her.

The woman’s fingers went into Valentine’s coat to feel for her eye, but there was nothing but ash in that pocket now. It was of no matter to the Haitian woman, for she wouldn’t be needing it anymore. The spirits have led them here to her, and put them in her path for a reason and she was starting to understand why. “Tha’ spiruts be act’n in mysterious ways, dun’ they?” Atabei chuckled as her fingers rubbed together, smearing ash over both her thumb and her pointer finger. Her pointer finger would return to her face, just under the missing eye and unintentionally smear some of the ash under the lower lid of the eye. “Oh, dun’ ch’ew be worry’n none about ole’ Atabei, Valentine. Wat be miss’n ain’t always lost, ya here?” The woman looked between the two with her remaining one eye and then nodded her head.

It was good he understood that she wouldn’t, or couldn’t be giving something for nothing. It was all about balance. When doing a ritual, something had to be offered to the spirits to see the ritual or desired carried out. When the offering was made depended on each person-some did it right away and some did it by a certain deadline, be it a season, or a special day that celebrated the spirit. Atabei preferred to do the offering as soon as she could, if not the night of to make sure she never made a spirit made, or came knocking on her door to collect something far bigger and better. Or worse in some scenarios. Animal sacrifice, Blood sacrifice from the person casting the spell, or other things, like offerings of fruits and foods. It all depended on what made the spirit happy and each spirit was appeased by different offerings.

“But, I do be need’n sum’tin before da’ night be through.” Atabei’s tone went from slightly jovial and playful, to more serious. It was serious business to the woman any time she did a ritual, something she didn’t take too lightly. The spirits and their powers were nothing to mock or take lightly. “I be need’n roosters da’ color of da’ sky above our very heads. Sum rum, sum’tin purple and finally, sum coconut. Is wut da’ spirut be need’n to help da’ both of yus.” It was a pretty typical list of things almost all spirits wanted or needed. The color they were associated with, an animal and some food. The food listed was specific to Gede Nibo-but he was the one that would be able to help them all. He would help them rise again and animate them with a voice, and he would make sure Atabei’s desire would be completed once he was appeased with his offerings.

“Do you t’ink ya can be gett’n those things?” Telling them these things served two purposes. To see if Valentine would recognize what was going to happen, and maybe even who she might be asking help from tonight; and how badly they wanted this. “If you get ‘dis stuff, den ‘da both of yous need to cum on to ‘da graveyard I seen not too far from here. T’ink you can do it by ‘da end of ‘da night? Dat be what Ole’ Atabei be need’n.”

[Valentine]

Valentine nodded and sipped from his mug. The tea was weak as their rations were growing low but the steaming brew was sweet enough and warmed the insides on a cold night. He was a simple man in that he didn’t need a lot of possessions or money to be happy. His beliefs were also simple and everything that the Dark Queen had spoken was true enough to Valentine’s ears. The spirits very rarely got it wrong if ever.

“We can and we will, Old One.” His voice more sombre than usual. Just from the list given and the place they would be meeting, he knew that Atabei would talking to Brav Gede Nibo this night, a great healer and leader of the spirits. His scarlet gaze rested on Harmony. If Gede Nibo saw fit to heal her mind he would be forever grateful, despite the sadness that that single thought brought. What would become of him if she no longer needed him. Valentine frowned as he emptied his mug and pushed the thought aside. He used what was left of the hot water to rinse out the mug that was stuffed back into his bedroll along with the small tin before the pack was hoisted over his shoulders and then he grabbed his cane. He then moved to aid the girl get her pack fixed up and slung across her back. “Come along child, we got some important business to be do'n for the Dark Queen.”

Once the pair were ready, Valentine removed his hat and swept outward as he bowed lowly once more. “We be seein’ ye soon, Ol’ Atabei.” The name spoken with the utmost reverence and respect. He took Harmony’s leash and led the way back the way they had come. in the darkness.

Valentine remembered seeing the graveyard so that was not going to be a problem, nor was the rum as he still had a small amount kept in a flask, tucked away in his bedroll. The something purple he also didn’t think would be terribly difficult. Harmony probably even had something that she had collected in their travels.

“Now if Valentine remembers rightly, child, there was farms along here. I be sure they have to have roosters to be keepin their hens happy.” He chuckled, a low, warm sound. “We be needin a black ‘un. Tha bird will be helpin’ get the coconut too.” He stopped as they grew closer to the edge of the wilderness and crouched down to be more in Harmony’s line of sight. His finger came up to press against his and he made a ‘shhhhing’ sound. “We got to be careful. Don’t want to be wak'n folks up while we stealin their birds.” He slid his pack off his back and placed both hands on the young woman’s shoulders. “You stay here and watch our things. Valentine will go get us that black rooster. You understandin’ me, chiiiild? You have to stand guard here, for the Dark Queen. That be your job.” He nodded as to further emphasise that she must stay put. He hated the idea of leaving her there alone for any amount of time but if she got to be chasin’ those chickens about she was sure to start giggling and hollering and wake up the folks from their sleep. “Else Valentine gonna get his old, black hide shot right quick.” He started to laugh though quieted it quickly.

All hunched over and as stealthy as could be, Valentine left the cover of trees and climbed through the fence heading straight for the hen house. It was all quiet. The birds would be sleeping and likely wouldn’t be too happy about an intruder disturbing them in the middle of the night. The gate squeaked a little as the gate on the pen swing open and and he headed for the small enclosed hen house and stooped low to poke his head in. The battered zippo was used for light and he flicked it a couple of times only to find not a single black chicken or rooster huddled among the mass of feathers. He let himself out and with a half run, half goose step type motion, he high tailed it back to where he had left Harmony, holding his hat on as he went. He shook his head to let her know that what they wanted was not there and hoisted his bedroll up and on before taking her leash and moving on once more.

[Harmony]

The conversation was lost on Harmony. The small redhead didn’t understand any of what the Dark Queen and her beloved Valentine were talking about. She sat at Valentine’s side, small hands wrapped around the warm, yet battered tin cup humming softly to herself. Her fingers tapped out a random beat that made no sense to anyone but herself and her toes dug into the dirt on the ground in front of her. The battered black pointe shoes were covered in dirt and mud and had more than their fair share of holes in them but still Harmony wore them. Hardly suitable footwear for one that walked absolutely everywhere but they made her feel like a princess. Valentine’s princess, or so he liked to tell her when the situation called for it. It never failed to make her smile. Her mind returned to the cookies she’d seen Valentine with. It was a great temptation to er and thoughts of stealing them while he was occupied with the Dark Queen but Harmony restrained herself. Valentine would be upset if she stole the cookies he saved for special occasions, but if meeting the Dark Queen wasn’t special Harmony didn’t know what was.

As if Valentine knew her thoughts he started to pack their things up. “Valentine, the Dark Queen!” Harmony started to protest. If they left who would keep the woman company? Would she be sad? Any further protests died when Valentine bowed and told her that they were going on important business for the queen. Harmony squealed, clapped her hands and bounced in place as her savior helped her to secure her bedroll on her back. She felt a tug on the leash that connected her to Valentine and she offered a quick curtsy before skipping off behind the tall, intimidating man who was on a mission. “See you later pretty Atabei!” She gave an excited wave over her shoulder and quickly caught up to Valentine as he led them out of the woods.

“Ducks!” Harmony started to get excited again, remembering that Valentine had promised her a duck when they first arrived in the city. He was in her line of sight then, crouching his tall frame down so he could look her in the eye. He shushed her and she gave him a solemn nod somehow sensing just how important her task was going to be. “Shot?! Someone will shoot you if I don’t watch our things?!” The very thought of her beloved Valentine getting shot because she didn’t do her job horrified her. Her bottom lip started to tremble and tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t lost Valentine. He was her lifeline, the only person she had in the entire world to look out for her. As if realizing how serious the situation was, Harmony quieted, dried her tears and nodded her head. “I’ll keep watch Valentine. Go on and do the Dark Queen’s task.”

Nothing disturbed her as she waited. The hour must be late which, if that was the case, would only suit their purpose. If there was no one around then they wouldn’t be caught. A rustling came from behind her followed by a squeak and she spun on her toes only to find Valentine running towards her. Her heart sank when she realized he was empty handed. What were they going to do now?

[Atabei Narcisse]

When Valentine and Harmony went their way, leading the woman to believe they would collect the things and succeed with what was asked, Atabei watched them leave before she made for her departure from the wooded area. Cracked, dried soles of her feet would push at the earth around the small fire Valentine made for the three of them, covering the hot twigs and ember particles that had collected while the male told stories about Atabei, making sure the glow was gone before moving on her way. The two had a couple things to collect, probably from places all over the village, so even though her steps were choppy and stiff; making the woman slower, she was positive she would get to the cemetery before they would have everything and be where she needed them to be.

There were all sorts of noises as the woman gingerly made her way back to the village limits, where the thicket of trees kissed a somewhat flat, land that was the new Harper Rock. There were occasional snapping twigs, the sound of a night owl or two, croaking of frogs, and other noises she couldn’t pin point as any specific animal. With each step forward, new sounds could be heard-music, but not music she wasn’t familiar with. It didn’t scare her though, the music in Hispaniola was different to the Christian white man’s songs that he forced on her people every Sunday. “Maor t’ings ta be gett’n used ta.” Atabei said as the woman grabbed her right leg with her two hands and helped pull it over an old rotted fallen log that grew a type of mushroom she wasn’t familiar with, and couldn’t make out in the dark anyways. The only way she knew it was there was when her hard, bare feet pressed down on the fungi and squished them down onto the earth’s top.

Though the woman started out in the same direction she came, Atabei gradually positioned her gait towards the west, so that she wouldn’t come out near the train station and catch the attention of people. Hopefully, she came near the outer lip of the back of the graveyard, but her direction was a little miscalculated. Instead, Atabei found the other side of the lake, not far from a sprawling estate that nestled itself near part of a lake.

Umber colored soles hopped over stones that had washed up on the shore in the early spring, and driftwood with haste as Atabei circled around the property, barely missing a rabbit as she bounced by its sleeping hole, making the four legged furry rodent zip off to a new hiding spot, away from any possible interference from an outside force. However, by avoiding the creature, Atabei’s foot wedged in under a rotted out tree stump, fell forward and heard the tearing of a heavy material. The chestnut skin toned woman didn’t need to look down to know what had happened. Somehow, Valentine’s coat caught something just right and tore somewhere. She felt nothing about it. “Wun’t be need’n ‘dat anyways by ‘da time ‘da night be thru.” The woman concluded as she rose and rubbed her dirt riddled hands together, in an attempt to clean them up a little. She couldn’t very well accidentally offer the spirit something he would find offensive.

Finally, the woman would come to arrive at the graveyard as the remainder of the earth fell off her hands, the woman entering the threshold of the graveyard and immediately veered to the left. While the woman was unable to read the words of the white men, she hoped to find what it was she was looking for. A certain crypt that existed in the nights she came to call this area her place of practice. Each crypt she passed, the woman wrapped an arm around the left side of the above ground crypt and let her right fingers trace over the letters over each entrance in, until she found the one she needed; Millward. The woman nearly jumped for joy as she recalled each line that ran up and down and each double ‘circle,’ of the letters ‘a’ and ‘d.’ “Dis be et.” She whispered as they woman circled around the crypt and came right back to the front door with a metal doorknob. Atabei crouched down and began digging around the entrance of the crypt, in search of something...but came up empty handed. “Sumune ‘dun took mai key.” She slowly stood, two hands on two knees and shook her head. “Dey test’n me tonight. But ain’t nut’n worth hav’n or gett’n widout a lil’ bit of work.” She would wait for Harmony and Valentine to return and proceed from there with them. Three heads were better than one and two, in Atabei’s mind.

[Valentine]

The pair visited two more farms to no avail until finally he found what he was looking for. One black rooster huddled between his hens though this particular hen house was a tight fit. He couldn’t have both his arm and head in the small door at the same time so was going to have to a blind grab and run. He could only hope the spirits were on his side tonight as he did exactly that. The small disturbance caused the chickens within to stir which in turn woke the farmer’s dogs who had started to bark. Valentine hightailed it across the farmyard with the rooster squawking and flapping as it dangled upside down by its feet. The large male had just slipped into the the protection of the trees as light flooded the entire farm yard. Valentine ducked down beside Harmony and tucked the distraught chicken under his arm, covering its head with his hand as he tried to keep it quiet.

The old man stood at the top of the stairs with a shotgun up and at the ready as he swept the yard. “Who’s out there?” He yelled, his aged voice as threatening as possible. “Show yaself or I’m gonna start shooting.”

Valentine looked at Harmony and shook his head, a silent command for the girl to be still.

The farmer made his way cautiously down the few steps and crabbed his way to where two dogs barked and yanked at their chains, holding his gun ready for any possible movement.

“Who’s there, Love. Can you see anyone?” An old woman, the farmer’s wife, peered through the window.

“Nope. But the dogs smell someone. I swear to god if my chickens keep losing their feet I’m gonna do the same to whoever is doin’ it when I catch them.” He leaned over and removed one hand from his gun just long enough to release the dogs from the chains that held them back. “Go get ‘em boys.”

“Oh boy. Run child!’ He whispered harshly, shoving Harmony to get her feet moving as he snatched up his bedroll and followed suit.

And run they did.

It wasn’t the first time the pair had had to make such a get away and Valentine doubted it would be the last. That fact made obvious by the way Harmony led them straight to the river where they ran a few metres along the water's edge before heading back in towards civilization. Only when he heard the faint whistle and the distant retreat of the barking dogs did Valentine begin to relax.

“That was close, child. Very close.” The large man stopped and dropped his bedroll , taking a moment to catch his breath and wait for his heart to stop trying to escape his rib cage. “I’s get’n too old for this.” Though even as he spoke his smile grew and he started to laugh. “You done good. You done real good.” He finally added proudly before checking that he hadn’t squeezed Nibo’s offering to death in the chase. The bird was alert if not a little stunned but otherwise in good health.

With one hand on his knee as he hunched over, waiting for his breathing to return to normal he surveyed their surroundings. “Coconut. I think we needs to find one of them convenience stores, they should have some, else it wouldn’t be ver’ convenient now, would it?” He laughed, the big sound travelling through the undergrowth and fading off into the distance. “This way.” He motioned with a tip of his head as he slung the large pack over his shoulder and took up the loose end of Harmony’s leash. “Stay close child. These city folk be kind odd in these parts. This place be giv’n old Valentine the heebie jeebies for sho’.”

They had been walking for sometime when a flashing neon sign drew his attention. It wasn’t quite what he was looking for and while his reading abilities were limited he recognised the word despite the missing letter. ‘B.A.K._.R.Y’ The sign flashed in blue and pink while the red ‘24/7’ in red beneath remained static.

“Maybe they has what we be needin’.” Valentine hunkered down. “I got an idea be hatchin’. Listen closely.” Valentine shared his plan with the small redheaded woman who nodded in understanding at his instructions. “We get this right we can take our things to the Dark Queen, She gon’ make everything betta. Jus’ you wait and see.” His large hand came down on her head and he petted her copper locks with a gentleness that seemed impossible for hands so large. “Ready child?”

The small bell jingled at the door as it opened and Valentine stepped in filling almost every square inch of the opening, even having to stoop slightly to allow for the top hat perched atop his head, before he stepped aside and held it open for Harmony. He waited for someone to come to the front counter. A young man, who’s apron was dusted with flour and different coloured icings. “How can I help you?” He asked, barely managing to keep the surprise from his face as he looked at Valentine.

“Coconut. What do you have with coconut in it?”

The young man eyed the large black with the chicken under his arm curiously and then the oddly dressed woman on the leash as he began to point out the various cakes and slices with coconut in them. Harmony pointed out which one she wanted and the young man put it carefully into a small paper bag and set it on the counter. “That’ll be three dollars, thanks.” He held out his hand to take the money.

“You can have my chicken.” The bird was set down on the counter though with his large hand held firmly on its back the bird remained calm and did not move.

“Oh dude! I don’t want your chicken. Get it off the counter. I am sure that is a health violation right there. You need to give me three dollars or no cupcake.”

“No. You take the chicken. We keep the cupcake.” Valentine nodded though cast a sly glance towards Harmony. It was time for her to do her thing.

“Yeah, no, creepy dude, we don’t deal in chickens here. Money or the cake.” He began reaching out to grab the bag that still lay on the counter….