Vente' De Lame **** Chapter Ninety-Five

Throughout the night I'd awakened, my heart felt as if I was falling into a bottomless pit. As always, my initial reaction was to sense Troy's presence before I open my eyes, and when I realized life had taken a drastic change within only a few hours I regretted waking up. I couldn't breathe, panic had consumed me, not for my safety but because I was without. My hope was gone, I had no reason to wake up at the moment.

The past series of events played in my mind like a reel, it unwound only to began the next segment of disaster.

With remorse for my own existence I got out of bed and fell to my knees at the porcelain toilet, I could see my reflection in the bowl while I ridded myself of internal turmoil---I had to get myself together, I'd fallen victim to Troy's carnal appetite and the fire in my belly longed him, I was emotional and horny, hurt and betrayed but couldn't let his accusation interfere with my mission. I cried uncontrollably, I wanted to scream! For everything that I had endured, I had never been given a chance!

I prayed Troy would call, as I yelled at room service I came to reality, I needed to get back, I would visit him---even if it was against his wishes.

I turned on the shower and watched the water flow slower than my tears. As I stepped inside I was weak with grief, I realized he was all I had, and now I was prey. I was a big girl, the voices reminded me but my heartache overpowered the self motivation. I was NOT strong! I was tired and had driven for hours, I'd only slept in increments between the crying spells. I needed help, I was afraid for my unborn child, especially now.

I crouched in the corner and leaned against the marble wall, I prayed the water would wash away some of my distress without consequence. I knew he was strong, an 11.

How could he think I would---? How had the body led back to him? Trenton had set him up and I knew he hadn't stopped there. Mentally scolded I weakly washed my body and stepped from the shower. I knew I needed prenatal pills and was determined I would buy some as soon as possible. My hair dripped water onto the plush carpet that saturated into it's fibers as I walked to the bed lacking strength to stand, the small bar inside of the suite called my name, I considered consuming every bottle of liquor but also considered its consequences. I needed something, anything.

Troy please call...

I looked at the address and I wiped my sore nose as I had all night with the heel of my hand. I then entered it into the GPS, I would get my sister and leave, immediately!

I loved her, she was all I had left---I remembered our last conversation. She and my nephew had suffered, I was negligent! Each tumultuous thought incapacitated my intent, but I was fixated on carrying out my aim.

I dressed into the Michael Kors jumper I'd ordered, brushed through the thick saliva in my mouth and exited the hotel room. I'd wrapped the silk MK monogrammed scarf around my head and slid on the loafers I'd chosen to compliment it. As I closed the suite door and walked toward the elevator I took the large Gazal sunglasses from their case and put them on as I neared, the older lady who waited in the thick houndstooth blazer studied me from head to toe trying to mentally find a place for my existence in her environment. As I pondered how long she thought she could stare at me before I cursed her out she said, "Your presence is delightful."

Her hands appeared to be ancient.

After the elevator stopped on the 4th floor I entered leaving her yet standing behind. I heard "Oh, there he is!" Before the door closed. The October birthstone she'd worn had to have been priceless.

I walked across the lobby and toward valet, handing the thick southern accented attendant the ticket to retrieve the Honda.

I would soon meet Martin Poindexter and was willing to do whatever for help, the plan had changed---he had to help me! I hadn't wanted his money, I needed his power! I headed toward 5600 Saint Charles Ave as humble as I could and after he helped me, I would show him treacherous.

I was greeted at the door when I arrived, I'd been buzzed through the iron gate that surrounded the property downhill, the home was even more elegant than Veronica's had been. I just wanted the people I loved.

I prayed for Troy to call, my heart ached for him as I tried to keep my composure. I was nervous and wanted to trust Martin Poindexter, but why had he been at Pam's home?

The housekeeper let me in, I stood in the foyer, the scent of banana bread and the most potent kush or whatever it was filled the air. The spiraled polished concrete tiles arrayed the fountain of a naked angel straight ahead of me through the glass windows, I watched the unruly trickle of water as it separated from the rest of the stream but remained disciplined by the moss to stay on course and into the fountain, I could relate.

The expensive scent of hardback books prompted me to remove the Gazal frames and become intrigued by the Judge's large law library.

"Right this way, would u like something to drink? By the way, Im Kie, nice to gain your acquaintance," she'd returned to lead me to him.

The cowrie shells aligned the collar of the sweater she'd worn underneath a stethoscope as well as dangled from the ends of her dreaded hair. Where was Kerri? Even though the home was larger than any I had stepped foot in, the presence of a baby should have been evident.

I nervously walked behind Kie as she led me into a room containing a pool table, decorated with a Poker theme. The back of a leather sofa was visible as we neared and I'd seen Martin's curly salt and pepper hair as he rested watching the large screen television mounted on the wall. I noticed how he was balding in the top.

The Andy Griffith Show was on and as he ended a call he extended a well manicured hand and sat erect from comfort. I noticed the violet suede slippers and couldn't recollect their bold logo but they were tasseled with gold threads, the Prada lounge attire he wore was fit for a runway. I was definitely in a foreign land and the painting of The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli was confirmation. I hesitantly reached for his hand as summoned before looking him in his face. I hadn't noticed the strip of gold that closed his gap, Kerri had also inherited the mismatch in her jawbones, but had sought out braces.

I'd seen why Pam had been smitten by him, even with the abnormalities. I was expecting to find him smoking herb, but instead he smoked a wet tip cigar that lay in the stubber. "Finally, we meet."

The large glasses hid my expression but he released my hand like he'd read my mind. I looked around, we were alone, Kie had quickly gone.

"I've heard so much about u, I am obliged."

I said nothing, and watched his pinky ring. He had not stood but patted the cushion beside his own and instructed me to sit. I had finally laid eyes on the devil in the flesh.

"Im sure u have journeyed, please stay for dinner, your sister is getting settled, she will be happy to see u."

"Mr. Poindexter, Makil was arrested," I said.

"Yes, yes, I've heard. He needs enlightening."

What the fuck did that even mean? I had enlightened him enough!

"I have a proposition for u, we will discuss it over dinner. I have a seafood chef from The Mariana Islands," he laughed, "No need for the glasses, the lighting is delicate---I would like to admire your beauty, my nephew has only modestly spake of your presence." His hand was on my shoulder, "Have u decided on a name?"

I stared confused, mouth gaped but figured out he was talking about the baby. "No sir, I haven't."

"Research is needed, we don't choose names, they choose us. Your sister's name means dusky, dark; black. Your mother respected my request, and named her Kerri Charun."

I'd thought Charun had been a derivative of her own name,

"Oh---had she been a boy? Its unisex," he said, laughed and patted my knee.

I didn't want to talk about name origins! HELP ME! I needed TROY! The tears filled my eyes as he disregarded my grief, I wanted to shoot him, but I had come in peace. I needed to pee but was afraid I would get lost. I didn't want his seafood and didn't know whether to believe him, where was my sister!

My phone vibrated, in a panic I dug inside the tote and found it to see an unfamiliar number. I'd assumed it was a bondsman. I would answer momentarily. The aching in my side would not subside and I yet had a lump in my throat from crying. "Is my husband dead?" I asked, "No need to fret, his whereabouts, u are safe---he is nonexistent. U know, I remember my first year in law school, I'd been afraid of the truth, we can only be afraid of what's unknown."

WHAT THE FUCK DID THAT MATTER! I couldn't be afraid of what the fuck I didn't know, I had no time! "Can I use your Law Library? I mean not now, just sometimes?"

I had to free Troy, Martin had another motive and he wasn't hasty with revealing what it was, if Trenton was dead and he preferred it that way what the fuck did he want from me?

"Your father was a smart man, smartest in our —class---graduated and, I mean, I wonder if he hated his mother? She'd promised him college, I believe he hated Nate and I, just wasn't the same old Percy when we come back. He had this thing with---- numbers, could solve anything."

WHAT?

I would kill that muthafucka just as sure as shit stank.

His 5:00 shadow was prominent at noon, his phone rang, "Please, excuse me--"

He conversed discreetly, careful not to reveal the topic in any shape form or fashion, I'd figured it out after the call had ended, "The Orchard, what do u plan to do with it? U inherit everything, carefully make decisions---I made the marriage official, I could see his intent long ago."

Yea, it sounded good, but Kerri was his blood daughter and she had struggled, why was I so special? If he had a motive I had one too, "Teach me law Mr. Poindexter, I will pay u whatever."

"U can't pay me with my own money. Law is free, grasping the meaning of it all is---well rare, I know u will do well."

I would study, sunup to sundown---but did not trust Martin Poindexter at all.

I wanted Troy to call, I called Von, he ignored my calls. I broke down inside and tried to tune out the voices they were so loud! They had become even louder and I was so entranced by the decor, I'd look at the painting of Dante's Inferno and unscrambled the letters, foredates boldly came into existence and floated upward. Defiant followed, adrift, infants, Fedora---all floated. I was tripping! I couldn't let the title of a man's trip to hell to save his Lover---guide me! Martin stood and walked to the hatrack, he picked up the Fedora and smoothed its ribbon, "Your sister, she's much like your mother---she was sooo---defiant when she was younger, wouldn't listen. She was a loner when she got pregnant. Tender and finer than all the rest of em, un bon morceau the cul---

We stood in front of the painting, something had drawn me near, almost every word he had spake was floating upward, I was becoming light headed, and could see his mouth moving---I hadn't had a seizure in so long, why would I be having one now! As if I wasn't even swaying, he kept talking! I hadn't removed the sunglasses and I was under a ---spell of some sort, it seemed! Why was he saying words that floated?!

"---ordained, u know now a saint---" ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

My GOD! What had I come to? I was in oblivion, the words he spake were detrimental to my sanity! He focused on the painting and kept talking---"resifted the ashes for the bones, I don't know if she fed them to him or not! By then she was too far gone. That was the last time I talked to her, she just wanted the remedy nothing more."

I swayed...

"---Can't refasten the urn, I think it scared her." He laughed, it all but echoed off the wall. I swayed but would not fall. I couldn't help but find the words in Dante's Inferno, as he used them. Refasten...upward.

Spearmint consumed my nose, and awakened me from the trance as I'd stood before him, he touched my shoulder, I then removed my frames and backed away in fear. WHO THE FUCK WAS KERRI? I needed to leave, fuck her! I didn't know her---no way possible, I was a Child of God!

He spake, I swayed...

His touch soon sobered me and I asked him what he'd just said. "U were inquiring about your sister? Well, she is away becoming acquainted with her siblings, I have 10 other children. One, Im sure u know."

WHO

"Well, my home is your home, Kie will show u to the guest room, u are welcome to the library any time."

I had only planned to study and return to my suite---I needed to free my man, I didn't want my child around Martin, even unborn. I had gone to his home, and now I was fighting a battle of unknown origin.

Every minute, I prayed---I needed to talk to Troy. I would sell the Orchard if I had to. I had money to bond him out, and would represent him, I refused to ever underestimate my own capabilities. However, it's true, u can't let the devil ride.

He convinced me to stay.