NOLA by Alexie Aaron Page A

fence-sitter in with you three witches?  No, Mia will be with me,” Father Peter insisted.
    Mia looked over at Ralph, and he shrugged.
    “I would appreciate the help,” Mia said diplomatically.  Inside, she was screaming, “No, no, no, and hell no!”
    “Then I think we can enjoy the rest of the evening.  Those that have to leave may do so at any time.”  Honor rose and then waved her hands.  “Wait! Bring rain gear. It’s supposed to be a wet afternoon.”  She moved away from the table and left the room.
    Mia picked up the pilfered cookie and took a bite.  Her mouth was filled with butter and pecans, pronounced pee cans in N’awlins.  If you pronounced it the way you were used to hearing it, you were quickly corrected.  She took a sip of the last of her coffee and rose from the table.  She felt a light hand on her shoulder.  She turned around to see Candy, the Voodoo priestess, looking down at her.
    “Mia, can we have a private word?” Candy asked.
    “Yes, of course.  Here or out on the porch?”
    Candy’s face bloomed into a smile that was supposed to be engaging, but Mia found it a bit creepy.  “The porch would be nice.  The night air would do both of us good after that heavy meal.”
    Mia mimed to Ralph that she was going outside, and he nodded.  He was enjoying the conversation he was having with Yum-Yum.  They were dishing on the latest Seeley sister antics.
    The front porch was equipped with a few chairs.
    “Normally, on this end of town, you wouldn’t see chairs on porches, but Honor loves her garden and spends time watching the birds while she has her morning coffee,” Candy explained.
    Mia sat down and put her feet up on the wicker hassock.
    “You and I have a friend in common,” Candy started.
    Mia looked over at her and confirmed, “The judge.”
    “Judge Roumain visited with me a week ago.  He explained that he wanted you to replace Father Acosta.  He knew that I could sway the witches and the mediums.  He was sure that Father Peter would be against you.  The father fears that you, being Bevil’s niece, will make a mockery of what we do.”
    “I assure you, I take crossing over those that want to go as a very serious matter,” Mia reassured her.
    “I know this.  My guide said, Candy Kane, my dear, you believe what the judge tells you.  I’ve seen her in action.”
    “Really?  Cool beans.”  Mia knew better than to ask who Candy’s spirit guide was.
    “The judge, he means well, Mia.  He shouldn’t be dabbling on this side of the things, but he’s bored.”
    “I have a good friend at home who gets bored too.”
    “Ah, is this the Stephen Murphy I have heard so much about?”
    “You’ve heard about Murphy? Now this has me intrigued.”
    “My spirit guide is a bit of a gossip,” Candy admitted.
    “Forgive my ignorance, but considering your calling, I’m a bit surprised.”
    “Don’t let Hollywood movies influence you, little bird.  They get Voodoo confused with Vodou and Vodun.  I practice Voodoo.”
    Mia was a bit too unbalanced by being called a little bird, Angelo’s pet name for her, to concentrate on what Candy was trying to tell her.  She managed, “I seem to have a lot to learn.”
    “Don’t worry, as long as you respect the practitioner, you’ll do fine,” Candy said and winked at her.
    Mia thought about asking her about Alexei but felt somehow this would be breaking a trust, so she kept quiet.  She did, however, ask, “Honor seems upset about the shift in spirit activity here. Are you worried too?”
    “Mia, after we finish tomorrow, you and Ralph need to come with me, and I’ll show you why we are upset.  I think the old adage ‘seeing is believing’ will help you to understand our dilemma.”
    “I’ll plan on it.  Ralph, however, will decide for himself.  He’s not really my assistant.  He’s my overprotective godfather.”
    Candy nodded.  “Oh, I know.  He is an easy one to read, Mia.  But thank you for being