No Mercy (2 page)

“You’ll need more jade than that to stay alive, iyawo. Keep pulling.”

“But it’s not green anymore,” I say, amazed at the stone’s transformation.

“Your ashe will restore its power, Jayd,” the snaggletooth crocodilian says. She again opens her massive jaws and urges me to keep pulling. “Come on, girl. Maman must be terrified. If you want to make it back to the top you’re going to need more stones.”

“But that makes no sense. I’ll sink if I take too many.”

“Jade never fails the object of its protection, my child,” she says, sounding more like Mama than a crocodile. “Keep pulling!”

I do as I’m told, snatching out as many teeth as my arms can hold. With every pull I rise closer to the top until I’m finally back inside of my own head.

“Jayd, are you okay?” Maman asks, kneeling down beside me. No one else seems to be aware of my fall.

“Yes, I am,” I say, sitting up. I rub the bump on the back of my head, baffled by the experience. I look around and notice the small stones from my vision encircling my body just beneath the water’s surface.

Maman catches my gaze and notices the same thing. “Whatever the river goddess gave to you is yours and yours alone. Don’t share your vision with anyone, not even me.”

              I continue staring at the rocks remembering what and where they once were. My head begins to freeze much like when my mother’s powers take over my own. As the cold spreads to my forehead the rocks begin to illuminate their original green hue.

             
“You now possess the power of the river, Jayd,” Maman says, her eyes equally aglow. “Whoever’s bold enough to cast the first stone in your direction will surely perish under your site.”

Last night’s dream is still heavy on my mind as I walk down Caldwell Street on my way to work. With Pam’s homegoing service and Esmeralda’s attack on Mama both occurring last weekend, this seemed like the longest week ever. I’m just glad Mama’s finally feeling better. She’s not one hundred, but the color’s slowly coming back to her cheeks. The medical doctors said she may have contracted rabies from the crow’s bite that knocked her out. Against my grandmother’s loud objections, they gave her several injections to prevent any further infection. Dr. Whitmore, however, has another theory on what caused Mama to pass out after being bitten by Esmeralda’s pet.

             
Mama’s being stubborn and won’t stop working for a minute. With Halloween around the corner, her and Netta’s clients are anxious to get a hold of their annual protection potions and other good luck charms. I know it’s important to keep it moving, but my grandmother needs to sit down somewhere. Mama’s too strong-willed to listen to reason from the grown folks in her life and I’m not the young one to make her listen, even if I think I could get her to yield a little. Besides, I’ve got a lot on my plate and can definitely understand the urgency to get shit done in a timely fashion.

             
It’s hard to be productive when my transportation’s on shaky ground. My mom’s car has been acting funny all week and I don’t know what to do. Rah’s usually been my go-to guy for car issues but I’m trying to break him like the bad habit he is. With him and Trish playing big-happy-dysfunctional family for the custody hearing, I need to stay clear of him no matter how many times he calls and texts my cell.

             
“Hola, Madres,” I say, entering Netta’s Never Nappy Beauty Shop. Just being in the sweetly scented space makes me feel better. “Sorry I’m late. The little Mazda’s being temperamental—again. I didn’t want to chance it so I took the bus instead.”

             
“I’ll have Jeremiah take a look at it if you like,” Netta says, loudly clamping the hot curlers before using them on my grandmother’s hair. It’s unusual for her to do Mama’s hair on a Saturday morning, but Mama was still on bed rest for her usual Tuesday appointment. At least they’re getting it in before our clients arrive. It’s sure to be a very busy day.

             
“Please Netta,” Mama says, turning her head to the right so I can give her a peck on the cheek. “You know your child’s no good after work.”

             
“You’re right about that, Lynn Mae. But Jayd’s family. I’m sure Jeremiah will make time for my favorite godbaby.”

             
I return Netta’s hug and smile knowing that I’m her only godchild. “I’d appreciate that very much.” I place my purse and jacket inside of my work locker and put on my apron ready to get down to business.

             
“Have you been studying your odu, iyawo?” Mama asks, reminding me that I need to wash my whites. It’s been months since my initiation yet it still feels like it was just yesterday that I devoted my life to my head orisha, Oshune. I may have become a priestess that night but I still feel like a child.

              “That’s because you are,” Mama says, catching my thought. “So, what did you think of the odu?”

             
“I thought it was lovely,” I say, walking toward the back to wash my hands and face before greeting the shrine. “I don’t know how sweet I can be when someone’s talking smack about me or my family, though.”

             
“I hear that, little Jayd,” Netta says. “Especially with the likes of some people.”

             
“Some people like Esmeralda?” I ask, stepping back into the main room. Instinctively, I grab the bowl full of dirty combs and brushes ready to clean them.

             
“That heffa’s always at the top of my list.” Netta replaces one set of hot curlers back inside of the miniature oven and claims the other. “If I could smack that woman dead in the face I would do it in a heartbeat.”

             
“Don’t worry,” Mama says, calmly. “We’ve got something for her, and then some more.” Mama’s emerald eyes glow with a thought only she possesses. I wish I had half of her spiritual skills.

             
“Did you find out what Dr. Whitmore thinks caused you to pass out?” I ask, running warm water into the basin.

“No
, but I did a reading and figured it out. When that damned bird pecked me it drew blood, Jayd. That’s what she was after all along. I just need to fortify myself against whatever evil she’s plotting and I’ll be fine. Esmeralda’s demise is eminent now that we’ve found her main weakness in those damn animals of hers.”

Netta shakes her head and rolls her eyes. She better than anyone knows how stubborn her best friend can be when it comes to her own well-being.

“But I thought you said we can’t do anything to the snakes because they’re sacred?” I ask, remembering the dreadful discovery after Pam’s service last Sunday. Using Queen Califia’s sight to garner my mother’s vision, I was able to see Emilio and Misty’s souls trapped inside of Esmeralda’s newest pets.

“
We can’t, but we can influence her godchildren,” Mama says, coolly. “Where there’s a will there’s most definitely a way, Jayd. And that’s where you come in.”

Ah hell. Here we go again. I want to stay as far away from Misty’s wicked ass
as I can, and Emilio always annoys the hell out of me. I say we go Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Esmeralda and Rousseau, fixing her crazy godchildren in the process.

“I heard that,” Mama says, looking at me in the mirror’s reflection. “Don’t even think about going after Esmeralda by yourself, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, disappointed that she caught that thought.

“We’
ll do things by the spirit book, and my way, of course.”

“Listen to your grandmother, Jayd. That heffa’s gone off the deep end and is trying to take y’all down with her,” Netta says, turning Mama’s chair to face me at the washbowls.

“I hear you both loud and clear,” I say, rinsing the first set of combs.

I wish Mama couldn’t hear me sometimes because what I’m thinking is the exact opposite of what she’s telling me to do. I understand
that she’s the head priestess in charge, but she didn’t witness herself bleeding from the head and then passing out. That will never happen again, not on my watch. Whatever work I do on the side has to be kept secret, but I’ll be damned if I give Esmeralda and her wicked crew home court advantage again. Both Mama and Netta will be none the wiser as long as I learn to keep my mouth—and my mind—shut.

“As long as I’ve known you, you’ve been a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them. So it begs the question as to why you would think it alright to come through that door and start something you know you can’t finish?”

-Mama

Drama High, volume 14: So, So Hood

~1~

KISS & TELL

It was a long workday but I’m glad Mama’s getting back into the swing of things. My plan was to find a couple of different ways to kick Esmeralda’s ass, but Keenan surprised me with dinner and a movie at UCLA. The student union is like a miniature city and I loved every minute of it. I even befriended a cool graduate student who happens to be in a wheelchair. Savannah and I immediately hit it off when she came in talking smack to Keenan. She’s like an older, spunkier version of me.

“Thanks for the bite,” I say as Keenan turns off the engine. “I enjoyed meeting your friends.”

“Not a problem at all, my lady. Besides, I’m not done yet.” Keenan kisses my right earlobe almost sucking the gold hoop off.

I still get
so nervous when he kisses me: It’s like the first time every time. I’m loving this new vibe between us, not to mention all of the perks that come with hanging out on a college campus with my new boo. It feels so good that I want to run and tell the world, but I’m still keeping my new romance under wraps, especially around Nigel and the rest of my crew. Their allegiances have always been split between Jeremy and Rah, but adding Keenan to the mix would invite too much drama onto a beautiful thing.

My phone vibrates and halts our make out session just in time. My mom was right: Keenan’s energy can be too hot and heavy for me sometimes. He’s in college and used to having sex. I don’t
know how long he’ll wait for me but I’m glad he’s being patient. I don’t know how long I can wait, either.

             
“What’s up, Nigel?”

Keenan
, undeterred by the intrusion, continues to nibble on my neck.

“Jayd, I need you to hook me up tonight. UCLA just called and they want to see me tomorrow for some important business.”

“Nigel, I’m off tonight, not to mention it’s late as hell,” I say, trying to stifle my giggle.

Pleased with my response, Keenan moves on to my left my shoulder.

“Jayd, please. I’ll pay you triple.”

I for one am glad Nigel’s allowance has been reinstated now that he’s moved back in with his parents. It’s doing wonders for my bottom line.

“Fine, Nigel. I’m at my mom’s crib. See you soon.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Keenan says, sucking my shoulder so hard I’m afraid he’ll leave another hickey. “We’re still on a date, Miss Jackson.”

“I know, and I don’t want it to end.”

“And it doesn’t have to,” Keenan says, looking into my eyes.

“Duty calls, baby,” I say, pecking Keenan on the neck before exiting his Jeep Wrangler. I love this truck. Maybe I can save up enough for my own one day. I can’t wait to get off the bus. I haven’t missed riding public transportation at all even if I’m glad to have the option.

“Okay, Jayd. Remember to come up for air after work, preferably with me,” Keenan says as I walk up the stairs. He’s blocking the
driveway but lucky for us no one else is pulling up at the moment.

“I’ll text you when I’m done braiding.”

“And tell Nigel to stop throwing salt in my game or I’ll forget to block him on the football field next fall,” Keenan says, winking at me. Something about that last remark doesn’t rest well with me.

I stop midway up and
turn to face him. “That sounded more like a threat than a message.”

“Don’t worry, Jayd. I always do my job. You’ll see.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment and desire. Keenan makes me feel a way I’ve never felt before. “Goodnight, Keenan,” I say, reaching for my keys.

“Goodnight, Jayd.” Comfortable that I’ve finally reached
the front door, Keenan puts his truck in reverse and backs out.

I unlock the multiple b
olts on my mom’s apartment door and enter the dark living room.

“
Girl, I told you about that boy
,” my mom says, invading my thoughts. “
You’re playing with fire, messing around with a college football player.
”

“
Mom, I’m not messing around with anybody
,” I say, turning on the lamp closest to the front door. I wonder if my neighbor Shawntrese is home from her date yet. We can compare notes later if she is.

"
Life’s not a soap opera, Jayd
," my mom says. "
People don't catch sexually transmitted diseases after sleeping around on television. In real life, people catch shit and it may never go away
."