Free will..

Bella closed the front door of her shop, placed the "CLOSE" sign as she began to reveal her true identity.. She sat on a chair and told her story..

" My great grandmother was a voodoo high priestess. You must understand that I said VOODOO and do not confused it with those flying broomsticks, big hats, round crystals or hollywood witches/ harry potter movies. Voodoo is the epitome of darkness.. of evil to acheive its goals.. to harm, to hurt, to cause sickness, tragedy, loss, insanity and death.

On her deathbed , my greatgrandmother made a covenant with a dark spirit called Lobu. She asked for 10 more years of life here on earth. The dark spirit agreed but there was a condition.. all her female descendants down to the 3rd generation should serve him. Those who refuse will suffer the consequences.

I am the last female member the 3rd generation.

I wanted a normal life. My brother Benjamin

has a pure and gentle soul, I didn't want him to lose that because of the selfish choice of our elders. I wanted out, but the dark spirit wouldn't let me. He threatened and assaulted me but I wouldn't let him break me and I still refused to be his slave.

You must remember that these are cunning spirits. You can never make a pact with them without paying a terrible price. No such thing as fair bargain with these entities.

Right from the start, the dark spirit knew what would break me. He wanted to play with me first that's why he harassed me even though he knew that I would just shrugged it off.

He took Benjamin's eyesight to torment me. My brother is the only one I got since we were orphaned when he was just a baby. I raised him by myself though I was just a girl back then who also needed someone to raise me.

I finally surrendered to Lobu with the condition that he would restore my brother's eyesight and I will practice voodoo in a discreet manner, not to hurt people but by exploiting their weaknesses and brushing their egos without their knowledge, then leave them hanging in confusion until they decide to make a choice for themselves. I can not interfere with their choices. This has to be their free will.

Lobu and I came to an agreement and as a result of my defiance which angered him, my brother and I will never see each other again. I agreed knowing that his vision will be restored. I'd rather bear the pain of our separation than to expose him on the dark side if we stayed together.

It was difficult but I love him too much that I will suffer in silence away from him to protect him. I left him in the care of the closest friends of my deceased parents to be raised as their own child.

So now that you know everything, I will ask you a question Emily.. Is there anything I can do for you?