Adrian wondered no more. He knew it was Gahoor who had done the deed.

It made avenging Candace’s death that much better. Gahoor assumed his true form.

The beast jumped back and threw a massive claw at the boy.

Blue power lashed Gahoor in his chest. A scream emanated from the man-turned-beast as he flung himself on the ceiling and dived away from and behind Adrian.

“Come,is me yuh want, eh?” he taunted. His voice was different.

“Stop this! Stop this now.” Madame had entered the room. She held Gahoor back and watched Adrian. Then she noticed Candace’s lifeless body on the floor.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“There is no problem here nuh, ’cause I going to deal with it.” Adrian advanced toward Gahoor. Gahoor growled low as he reverted to human form.

“This is who you want to take charge of this place?” said Gahoor to Madame as he turned his back on them both and looked through the tinted glass panel. The room that they occupied overlooked the dance floor and Gahoor smirked slightly as he watched the children partying below. Disgust was displayed clearly on his face. “Look at them,” he continued, “these people stupid. They just waste themselves away willingly. They don’t even deserve to live.”

He turned slowly and watched the body on the ground, with the same smirk on his face.

Madame had a hard time holding Adrian back. She was concerned about the new power he had with him, but the present situation was more pressing.

“Such contempt for life, Gahoor, is foolish. I prefer to rule a place of life than one of death.”

Ignoring her, Gahoor looked at Adrian and whispered three words: “Rush me nah.”

That was the only encouragement Adrian needed to break away from a surprised Madame and crash with Gahoor through the glass.

It was absolute chaos on the dance floor. Some who were too high to realise what was going on, thought the incident was some crazy dance routine and started to cheer for the pair. Red flame burned the ground and the searing heat stopped the two protagonists.

“Not here, not in my house,” Madame’s voice commanded.

“Gahoor, Adrian is my choice and I will do what I will. You have no right interfering with things this way.”

Adrian was breathing heavily, Maljo burned in him and he was beginning to get weak.

Most of all, he was hurt by what had happened to Candace, his only friend amongst these crazy jumbies. He thought of the mask and what Moko told him. Madame was quarrelling with Gahoor. It was almost J’ouvert morn.

“Look, yuh see all this, I gone.”

“Adrian!” Madame called after him.

“You can call all you want, I know what I have to do. That boy has the power Maljo and I dunno where he get that from. I going to protect myself.” With that Gahoor left.

Madame stood in thought for a while and beckoned to DJ Midnite.

“You go ahead and deal with the carnival business; I have something I must see to.”

“What all this about?” he asked her.

“Just be careful. Things are about to get hot.”

J’ouvert was about to begin and Rhonda cursed herself—she was in a cemetery poking around. She was at the foot of a massive silk cotton tree when something dived out of a hole in the ground. Rhonda braced for the attack, but a blue beam of light pushed the creature back. She looked up, and knew who it was before his face formed in the blue haze.

“What you doing here?”

Adrian quickly got behind her. He looked a bit tired. “You were safe. It was me they were after. I have no mark on me so the jumbies will attack me. I need your help to enter.”

“Why do you need to get inside there?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“There is a mask that belongs to me,” he said, cautiously eyeing another creature that was trying to find a way around Rhonda. Reaching the tree, with their backs to all the jumbies, a passage opened and they fell inside. It quickly closed behind them.

They heard the rapid thuds of jumbie thugs against the sealed entrance.

Looking around anxiously, they noticed that the place glowed eerily from within. The atmosphere of the tree assumed a life of it’s own.

They had been walking for a couple of minutes when Adrian spotted something.

“Look over there,” he said pointing at a small opening. Lights came from it, as did a strange humming sound. “Watch it there,” he said, taking the lead.

“Fine,” Rhonda said rolling her eyes. He stopped and looked back.

“What?”

“What you mean, what? Like I am some kind ah invalid,” she said,

following him.

He stood still simply staring at her. That cold Adrian stare. He sucked his teeth and walked on. “Girls yes,” he mused.

Rhonda looked at him in amazement as they both entered the room in silence.  An old man was on the ground humming a tune that was unfamiliar to both. He was Arawak.  At the far end of the room, three masks were stuck onto the wall. The old Arawak got up and spoke. He spoke first in his native tongue, and then he said, “The girl must take two masks and the boy one. I have been waiting a long time and now you have come to affect change. This will ripple—throughout all realms and ‘scapes. Take the masks and do what you must.”

He touched both youths. At his touch, gnarled and ancient hands sent a slight energy through them. “This is my last duty, now I must go. Enter….ARRGHHHHH!”

He was struck to the ground and as the hem of long red dress brushed over him Madame became visible, her eyes blazing.

“Enter J’ouvert.” She said.

Crushed. Kayla was totally crushed. Her golden-brown skin reddened. Keston and the girls went inside the party. Kayla could not believe it, she stormed after them. Rhonda followed close behind knowing the girl well enough to fear for what she may do. Inside, Rhonda noticed David was with his girl Jihan. It pained Rhonda to see him in the arms of another woman.

Trying to take her mind off it, she turned her attention to Kayla, who stood with a serious screwface off the end of the party. Young bodies moved to the music, celebrating their freedom, their minds at liberty and their bodies a physical reflection of that. Rhonda could not help but feel the energy that was around and was glad she attended. At the bar Rhonda purchased two drinks and gave one to Kayla who finished it in one gulp.

“Girl you have it bad.”

Kayla pierced Rhonda a wicked cut-eye. Rhonda tried a different approach. “Look, he may have three girls with him, but they ain’t nothing compared to brains AND beauty.” A smile started to form at the corners of Kayla’s mouth. “Men are stupid. You have to give some encouragement or they will never notice you.”

“You know what… I have to find out something.”

“What? Kayla what you going to do?”  Rhonda asked, worried that she caught something in Kayla’s eyes that she had never seen before-aggression.

“Keston too smart to get caught up with some gas brain and she friends. I think that there is something more to these girls.” That’s when Rhonda noticed that Kayla ha taken out some blue from her purse. Now she knew what Kayla was up to.

“Aye. But nah man it can’t be.” Rhonda looked at the three girls – they all had the same tattoos, the same freaky brown eyes. “Stupid,” she thought  I should have known.”

She took out a piece of blue also, broke it in two, and rubbed it against her hands. They headed toward Keston. “Keston was telling me that they could read minds so is best we don’t do anything again.”

“What? You… or okay.” Rhonda had caught on.

“So Kes boy, the party going good?”

Kayla asked eventually. Keston was dreamy eyed, his voice slurred, but he had no alcohol breath. He was drunk on something other than alcohol.

“I dey. The vibes cool and I have GREAT company.”

“Well introduce we to your friends nuh.”

Both girls held their hands out.

Keston introduced Small and Darkie to them. Darkie screamed in pain as Smallie reeled in horror. The girls were just who Kayla suspected – the same three that had confronted Anton a couple months ago. Reds, seeing her partner’s pain, was about to attack when some boys on BMX bikes crashed the party. The other students, whose attentions were drawn to the little fiasco with the girls, broke into frenzy by the sudden intrusion. The bikers chased them around terrifying the screaming mass of kids. Some girl knocked Reds over in her frantic efforts to escape. Taking her cue, Rhonda grabbed Keston and followed Kayla out the back way and through the kitchen. Unwilling to relinquish her prey, Reds gave pursuit. Rushing out rhe backdoor the trio nearly ran into each another group of bikers – Tania and the Twins. Desperate, they dashed back into the kitchen only to see Reds tossing aside two of the caterers. Rhonda, Kayla and the groggy Keston hid behind a counter, trying to edge out past Reds towards the door.

‘Keston you okay now boy?” He was still entranced but the action had shaken him out of most of it.

“Yeah I good.”

“Then go for it.” Keston ran first, Kayla followed after and Rhonda was almost at the door when reds dove into her path. She raised her hands to hit Rhonda.

Adrenaline pumping, Rhonda reacted swiftly, slapping Reds with the other blue pasted hand. Bits of flesh gave way as Reds’ face glowed bright blue. Rhonda ran into the empty main hall. Everyone had left save for Darkie and Smallie. They had recovered and their eyes glowed in the dark dance hall. It was a tight situation and Reds was coming behind them as the other 2 blocked the front exit.

Rhonda looked out the balcony they were a floor up. Without time to explain she pointed: “Balcony! Quick!” On the balcony they looked over the hotel’s pool. They had no time to think of the consequences, the three La Dia Blesses were behind – they jumped feet-first into the pool. Hurriedly, the trio headed for the tent only bounce into Adrian.  He easily scooped up Rhonda and raced off on his bike. The BMXers followed him. “They got Rhonda!” Kayla shouted.

Kicking one boy viciously off his bike Kayla jumped on and gave chase. Keston was joined by David, they both stood transfixed as the weird bunch made their way through the carpark to the street.

Realising Kayla was facing tremendous odds alone, Keston dashed off behind the last straggling biker. That seemed to have gotten David back to himself as he also joined the frenzied chase into the darkness.

Keston sat waiting on smallie-strangely, he thought, he never got her name. However, she entered the living room with her two friends and he quickly forgot everything that was in his head.

“Girl, you look real good. I might as well walk with protection.”

“Protection…?” A playful smile slowly spread across her face.

“Protection from them fellas that go be fighting me to get you-What protection you was thinking about?”

She looked at her two friends, and both grinned back at her. Smallie hugged Keston, “Babes, you really don’t want to know right now.”

Wait we going… I ain’t see your parents.” Smallie stammered a reply: “Umm they had a dinner meeting to go to.”

Rhonda looked behind her and clapped. “Girl you looking better than me.”

Rhonda turned from the mirror in earnest: “You think so? You really think this looking  good?”

Rhonda wore a silky, flesh-toned dress that draped from her neck. Kayla wore a black chinese-style outfit. Preparations for graduation had both excited and they giggled as they put on their make-up. Kayla’s father offered to drop them to the dance as they had foregone dinner.

As Kayla’s father turned in the driveway they looked out the window at the students that were already there talking and liming. Kayla froze, nervously looking at the crowd. Rhonda leaned over and whispered in her ears, “Aye at least they is not Redman.” Kayla eased a little. As she stepped out of the car, Rhonda immediately put on her ‘hater’ face. It intimidated people and she needed that power now as everyone was looking at her and Kayla, who was starting to regain self-confidence – some of the fellas were checking her out. The girls were the centre of attention until a car screeched into the driveway. All eyes turned to see Keston, Smallie and her two friends step out of his car.

Dub styles blasted from the speakers in the room and Adrian went back to the party outside. He felt guilty for what he was about to do but he had no choice. He was powerless against the Fire woman. Candace, the girl he met when he was first seduced, told him about the Fire lady’s evil mission.

A flash of light escaped from the room. The deed was done; she had taken more children like she did him. Would he ever be able to stop the madness? He pushed the thought out of his mind as he entered the back room. The boys were all afraid , confused, more lost than they ever were.

“Children, there is work to be done,” Madame’s eyes were blazing fire itself. Adrian felt as though he was looking into hell itself as he caught her stare.

“Adrian, the bikes.”

The boys were led down a back staircase. The path they chose eventually ended at the East dry river. There a twin and a girl stood guarding a bunch of BMXs. Adrian instructed the boys they were to pick one each. One boy complained that he could not ride and Madame, looking even more fearsome in the dark, took him with her. Adrian could feel here power, she had the children ina trance so that they would not fear her.

“Tania, you know what the mission is, Adrian, you know who I want.”

Adrian mounted his blue Mongoose obediently. All was silent except the trickling green water. He looked at Candace wordlessly. He did not speak to her, she knew  his feelings. He bit his lips and toughened his resolve. His heavy voice echoed in the tunnel.

“Roll out.”

Adrian stood outside the building, a big Georgian style house. It was late evening and everything was beginning to change appearance, contrasting to their diurnal bearing. He held the card in his hand, having been kicked out his home he needed money. He got this job offer, an easy one; he had to make some old woman happy.

“I really have to do this boy?” he mused for a while, he made his choice and walked up to the building. He stepped onto the front porch. Gorgeous tiles lined the floor sparkling in ethereal beauty, playing with the fading light. The door opened, it was a girl of about 19. Her face was as white as a full moon. Pastel shadows of blue and green were cast on her face thanks to the tiles. This bothered him a bit, but he pushed the thought to the back of his head as he thought of the money. Adrian told her his name and without a word the strange girl turned and walked into the building. As he followed her, he felt creepy -he had to think of the benefits of the job not to leave. They then entered another hall larger than the first one. Adrian was puzzled; the house did not seem so large from outside. The girl pointed to a door at the far end of the room. She turned and left making no sound, her long dress gliding softly on the floor appearing as though she floated instead of walked.

He pushed open the huge Cedar-wood door; it was different from the others he had seen. It was older, grander. He stepped in gingerly; the woman was by the window looking at the setting sun. She was not as old as he had thought her to be. Without turning her gaze from the window, she beckoned to him to sit in the chair opposite her.

“You like the night Adrian?” she asked idly not as if she had expected any real answer. Her skin was also a ghostly white, which contrasted sharply against the red dress she was wearing. Her clothes were stylish yet conservative. Somehow her haunting beauty possessed him.

The sun was almost under the horizon; she got up and walked across the room away from Adrian. He watched her profile. She was probably French Creole.

The sun sank lower. “Do you like this place?”  He hesitated

“What it is with all these questions dread.”  He thought. She answered for him.

“Exquisite isn’t it.” Adrian was beginning to forget the money.

She turned to him “I need you. I like most people have needs. I hunger… Adrian.” the boy shifted in his chair a bit, she was walking toward him.

“The nights for me are long and cold…I need heat.”

“I need…” she paused and focused her eyes on his. The sun set even lower. Its light became more red than orange. Things were definitely not right and Adrian was beginning to think this job was a bad idea. He made a motion to stand, but he was immediately pushed back into his chair as if by some unseen force. The woman, no longer on her feet, floated closer to the boy. Her hands outstretched as if she was an opera singer making some grand performance “Nooo!” she hollered, gliding towards the boy. She held his face and he thought that she was going to do something to him. Adrian’s mind was in frenzy, he wanted to bawl and though his mouth moved no sound came out. He looked into the face of the woman, he should be afraid, instead he felt sorrow. The woman looked torn; she was fighting with inner demons.  She spoke to him. “I need company. Of all the power, of all the things that I can do, I want love.”  Adrian wanted to know if he had gone out of his mind to feel for this weird woman, but her sorrow was so tangible he could almost feel it. He closed his eyes and they kissed.

The sun finally sank behind the horizon. A haze of red, and violet and deeper blues waited to consume the remaining light. A wave of energy overcame Adrian and he shuddered catching the power. When he had come to, he was no longer bound in an embrace with the woman; rather she was before him, a floating fire apparition. Everything in Adrian told him that he should be afraid, but he was not. He immediately looked at himself; his own skin had turned white, no longer the rich brown it used to be. He wanted to speak to the woman but he had lost his ability to speak. He waved his hands wildly at her.  She floated down to Adrian.

“Sssshhh” a fiery finger went to her mouth, “You have done your duty well child. Do not try to understand, I will teach you in time.” With that she flew into the night. He stood alone at the window; a tear had begun to fall down his pallid face.  Someone took his hand that lay limp by his side. He turned noticing it was the girl; a tear was also making its way down her cheek. She too was a victim. Together they looked out the window as the last rays of the sun succumbed to the darkness.