Love Bug

Sunlight shone against a wall of bulbous black clouds. It's light reflected through the white laced curtains mam had left open; along with the window to release the thick heat that suffocated the whole room. A warm breeze wafted in scents from the main house. Gumbo and boiled crab mingled with rich perfumes and spicy musk alerting that the guests were arriving and that stomachs were hungry. A trumpet broke the quiet as a musician began to tune his instrument then the rest of the band joined in. The sound breaking the trance that had been holding Bee.

A mirror reflected a bride wearing a capped sleeved tulle gown adorned with gold beaded appliqués and embroidery draped over shoulders. It was rouched at the breasts and fitted at the waist. Her hair was parted to one side while the rest curled tightly by the rollers. She tilted her head examining her lips that looked sun blistered thanks to the lipstick that was applied. She decided she looked pretty, but at the same time, something felt off- not right. Her skin was sticky making her feet slip in the heels.

Buzz, she reminded herself, was more than suitable. He was quite young for a council member, affluent in the community, and his winking smile could charm the devil. But did he love her she asked herself. This question was a plague; made her worry her finger nails to nubs that, thankfully, were going to be covered with gloves.

Midge her best friend advised her that it was just nerves due to the wedding night expectations. All women knew from a small age what happened. It was the when the two would share a bed, and with luck, produced a budding belly, sooner-rather-than-later. Bee wasn't worried of that though. The thought of Buzz's lips crushing hers was thrilling not frightening. All she knew was what wore her mind to sand was once married, like all her women kin, would come into the full well of he magic after consummation.

Mam and the ladies of the coven had promised Bee it would be easy. All she had to do was transform the pain. The change wouldn't be detectable to him. She had nothing to fret. Yet, she thought, yet...

Midge ran in at that moment tearing her from her doubts. "Sorry darling, got caught by an auntie asking when I'm to expect." Bee's eyes widened in disbelief at the audacity. "Oh don't look like that! I told 'em I'm just fat!" Bee cackled at that knowing she really wasn't but a healthy roundness had made a difference on her petite frame. As always though Midge was unbothered. She then reached toward Bee's wrist to attach a rope of gold with a bee at the clasp. "A gift from your mam," she explained. "She said to tell you, remember what it is to be Queen," she finished, "Whatever that means."

Queen Bee. A wave of anxiety rode through again. She, like the matriarch of the hive, would be that to her coven. The crown weighed heavy already. There was a plethora of things to anticipate yet no way to actually prepare. What would her Calling be? Her mam's was to divine while her auntie June's was herbal healing. Mam said she'd give her lucky rabbits foot Bee would be able to shift, but she gagged at imagining her body breaking and contorting to become...something...something that was else.

Bee wasn't opposed to magic. She actually adored it when it was controlled. Unfortunately energy didn't bend that way easily. And the more a witch had the more dangerous.

When she was younger with two braids she'd often fantasize she was auntie Aggie's blood; hers was less, just above parlour tricks, like lighting candles without the match and conjuring missing items.

It could only ever be imaginary though, because one rule she knew that couldn't be broken was she had been chosen, and she had already taken the blood bond.

Time seemed to move in tandem with her fastidious thoughts. Without notice the grandfather clocked chimed thrice warning it was near time for the ceremony. Before the last ring the wedding party shuffled into the suite. Three maids gathered her train while Midge placed the veil atop her head then led her from the room to the aisle to her groom.

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Buzz grabbed another whiskey from a waiter's tray then knocked it back in one mouthful. Earlier Bee had asked him, two-in, to restrain himself. It had agitated him initially that a mere hours into marriage she had already began questioning and bossing. Then he was struck by the source of her candor when spotting Midge's inconspicuous stomach. He silently congratulated himself reviling in the thought that his bride was excited for their upcoming love making. Of course she'd be eager to get started. Babies were what a woman craved the most and he was happy to oblige. He took another glass of the amber drink and drank it before he went to hunt down his wife.

He passed tables adorned with coral honeysuckle arrangements that were being overtaken by the clutter of dishes of half-eaten beignets, but few people remained there, so he continued to the courtyard where stragglers danced to some strings. The sky had gotten darker despite the beaming warmth of the August sun. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand; the sweat and heat reigniting his annoyance.

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Midge was supposed to be holding Bee's gown while she urinated, but like most of the week she'd been preoccupied. Usually Bee didn't mind. She'd much rather not be noticed, however a wedding, her wedding, should be an exception- she thought so at least.

One hand held her dress bunched up and to the side while the other hand braced the wall for balance. All the effort too much, blocking her release then just as it began to flow Buzz burst through the door.

"Oh," he grunted, "This is where you've been!" He said it as an accusation not a statement. "Yes, just here," Bee responded, confused at his tone, "I. I didn't have any assistance." He shook his head as if clearing it. "Of course. Yes. Yes. Assistance," he murmured as he moved toward her.

Bee's face turned the shade of a strawberry as he walked closer. She pinched off the rest of the fluid then tried to use what little air magic she had to dry herself discretely. She sucked in a breath when he at last reached her then began tugging at her dress.

From that moment it went all too fast yet all too slow. A blur of colors, sounds, body parts and discomfort. She wasn't sure if she was entirely present, perhaps she astral projected, but she knew unequivocally that mam and the others had lied.

They had warned that a man cared more about his needs but that was at it's worse. They never described the lack of emotion. How animalistic he would turn; the aggression. With him it seemed nothing to do with love but more about his pleasure while she couldn't focus because the pain felt all consuming. He grabbed her hair without warning causing a scream that bellowed along the walls then met with a crack of lightning and thunder that began to brew.

The magic had stirred the air with burning that seemed to fizzle.

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After Bee didn't remember what took place. Her body felt tingly, her mind calculating and her spirit sparked with renewed energy.

What she'd done with Buzz wasn't love but it had served in unleashing her power. He hadn't wanted to cuddle after or talk. She watched as he cleaned himself with a cloth. His face was wrinkled with a frown. His shoulders were tight rising to his ears. Lips pursed. Eventually he looked over at her. Pure disgust laid in his eyes as he chastised, "you told me no. I asked for more and you told me no!" He wagged his finger than got up pulling on his trousers. On that he left with the door slam leaving Bee sizzling with power and baffled at Buzz reaction.

Bee was unsure on what she should do. Their courtship hadn't been long, so there were still behaviors to learn and adapt to, making it difficult to know if he was the type of man who rather be left alone to cool off. She played the events over again. She felt full on magic yet empty in her heart. Outside she heard the storm roaring just as her thoughts. The rain thudded against the roof and streaks of lightning seemed to be getting closer. A crash came from outside propelling her to the window to investigate.

It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Rain, thunder and lightning were common in Louisiana, so it shouldn't have scared her, but this was something different. Outside chaises and planters were being picked up by the wind. One flying chair hit a pillar, instantly fell, then just as quickly was swept up again. The ground even shook. Just as she thought it couldn't get any worse the swinging lighbulbs flickered off. She wanted to flee to her room to mam. But "oh," she thought, "mam isn't here. This is my wedding night, and if I should run to anyone it should be to Buzz." With that decided she searched for her trunk with her extra garments. Once dressed and suitable shoes found she set off to look for her husband.

She was lost. The estate was huge. It was Buzz's families summer home but felt more like an inn with all the rooms, extra kitchens and staff. She had left her room encountering more darkness and the only sounds from the outside weather. None of the household awake or around.

Bee had only been to Mantis Estate once before, and this week she was so engrossed in wedding preparations that she didn't get to explore. The other time had been for a weekend when Midge had invited her to a party that Buzz was hosting.

Midge's husband, Beckett, was an associate of Buzz's. They served on the council together and often found themselves in the same social settings making for a blossoming friendship. He had invited and promised a weekend of fun and to invite a friend.

Beckett had suggested Midge invite Bee. Like Buzz she was single, and as he said, "quite a looker." She voiced her hesitation claiming Bee was a "hermit." In the end it was decided she would be asked.

That weekend was to be two-days of drinking, dancing and socializing Beckett had informed Bee. Midge hadn't gotten around to inviting her, and in the end he found it easier to convince Bee to join them than Midge had suggested.

Buzz had instantly taken to Bee. As soon as she walked in with Midge and Beckett he had seen her. She felt his stare before she saw him. Beckett let a low whistle out and tilted his head in Buzz's direction. First she met his eyes which were a shade of blue that almost looked purple. They reminded her of the Bachelors Button flower. When he returned her gaze she averted her eyes focusing instead on the rest of him. His stature was built tall and strong. He wore a textured ribbed knit with high v-neck tucked into his blue seersucker trousers. When she met his eyes again he smiled so wide she thought she would break.

Within seconds he was walking toward her. He stopped about a foot ahead of her, extended his hand, and before their friends could introduce them he had already given her his name. Moments later he had asked her to dance then whisked her to the floor where Midge and Beckett joined them. He twirled her around as the big band played then dipped her at the end. They danced through a second song then a third. Afterwards she needed a break, so he grabbed a bottle of champagne while escorting her to a balcony overlooking the stables. There they talked for so long that the party had ended without their notice. She showed him constellations while he shared stories from his youth, many involving riding horses. Before the sun came up he had kissed her with a promise to do it again. He had kept the promise; two months later they were engaged and now married.

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Not knowing much about her spouse other than his love of his horses she suspected he may be in the stables. Their first night together he had expressed how often he spent there- so much that he kept a cot there. She even recalled that a small kitchenette had been installed. It was big enough, he said, to make some coffee and wash the pot.

The rain pelted her once curled hair cementing it to her skin. She had not packed anything useful for this weather as they were to leave the following day for their honeymoon abroad. She charged ahead even as the mud sunk her feet and the wind and rain obscured her vision. It had felt like hours to get to the stable when she knew it had only been minutes. When she made it she swung open the double doors and ran inside for shelter.

At first all she saw was the horses along with the hay. One was black as midnight that she knew was Buzz's problem child. He had told her his name was Ant, and that his temperament was so gentle that no one wanted to ride him. "Too skittish," he advised, "looking for a buyer." Bee had insisted he keep him; at least until she met him.

This was her first time in contact with Ant- first time meeting any of them. He never broke eye contact, and as she came over to pet him he dropped his head amending himself to the light rubs she stroked along his backside. Before she forgot her task a loud moan brought her back to her senses.

Now on high alert she followed the subsequent noises up the loft. She was panting by the time she reached the top. Trying to catch her breath it took her several seconds before she could decipher what was in front of her. She shook her head initially trying to clear away the mirage. But it was no daydream; instead it was a waking nightmare.

Bee, with a sickly feeling that threatened to heave, watched as her husband and her best friend went at it on the cot. She saw Midge still in her matron-of-honor gown hitched up and Buzz's pants dropped to his ankles. They both were oblivious to her arrival.

Just as he had grabbed her hair he did the same to Midge, but instead of reacting with ache she yelled in delight. Buzz was grunting. A synchrony seemed to be happening. They moved as one- anticipated eachothers moves. Moreover they were enjoying themselves. She continued to observe as goosebumps littered her skin. "This is not the first time," Bee guessed to herself.

"He is my husband. She's my best friend," she seethed. Questions assaulted her senses as she tried her damndest to find an explanation. Nothing excused it, however a small epiphany occurred as she witnessed Midges gown go above her waist.

Midge WAS pregnant- it just wasn't Beckett's!

Beckett had long since informed their circle that he had an accident as a young man that left him almost certainly infertile. He had assured them nothing was one-hundred percent; yet he feared they would never have a biological child. It was all clicking now.

Midge had warned Bee against marrying Buzz. She had a list of reasons- none at the time made sense nor dissuaded her. Now she knew where the resistance sprouted.

The revelation fueled; absorbing anything other than the infidelity. Just like the lightning cracked so did Bee along with her newfound power. She wasn't sure what she was doing other than channeling her anger into her power.

As they changed positions, something that left them behind-to-behind, she began a string of words under her breath instinctively.

"Bugs," she kept repeating to herself as the swell of energy whipped through her. All she could direct her attention to was the betrayal. She knew it wasn't the storm when objects in the stable began to whip around her. "Bugs," she reiterated louder.

The color red captivated her vision. A spark cascaded above Midge and Buzz's head then instantly they both vanished.

Bee was confused- startled. Instead of panicking though she scrutinized where they had just been. She made her body move closer. It seemed, at first, as if they had evaporated, but upon inspection she discovered two small bugs.

To her recollection the bugs before her were undocumented. She had never seen them nor had she read anything describing the insects. To the eye, they were completely black with orange eyes, and were connected butt-to-butt.

She had considered, just for a moment, confessing to the aunties what had happened- maybe they could fix them. Another part of her taunted she should squash them. Rather than any of those options she instead turned her back, went back the way she had come, then mounted Ant to alert the others of her missing husband and friend.

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The Time Picayune August 5TH Hurricane Leaves Bride Assumed Widow. Another still missing.

Pages 5-6: New Species of Insect Named by Researchers as the "Love Bug", "Double Head Bug", or "Honeymoon Bug" has been reported as destroying vegetation.