The Light Controls the Chaos

Prologue

Nadia’s eyes flicked back and forth as she walked between the aisle of candles that were organized so neatly on the shelves of the botanica. Each time she, her brother, and their mother made a quick trip to the botanica. Just walk up and down the aisle, her little fingers touching the statues so gently as if they would break by any form of harsh contact. But when she came close to the counter of the small shop, she would keep her eyes on the floor. But even doing that she could feel the stare of the shopkeeper's eyes on her even though her mother was talking frantically in front of her about some strange feeling that came over her as she was laying in bed with her latest love interest. As much as Nadia liked coming to the botanica with her mother, the shopkeeper and her wide eyes staring down at little Nadia made her want to run away.

As Nadia turned the corner into the next aisle, she caught a glance of the owner pulling her mother in close and whispering in her ear all the while staring at Nadia. She quickly went down the aisle and sat next to her little brother by the entrance of the shop. She felt nervous all of a sudden. Were they talking about me? Am I in trouble? She thought. Just as she began to think about how her mother was going to react to the shop owner’s word, her mother came quickly down the aisle towards them with a big brown paper bag. Nadia could hear the familiar sound of candle glasses hitting one another as she walked towards her children. The look on her mother’s face made Nadia nervous. Nadia could see the fear in her mother’s eyes as they were fixated on her. Had she done something wrong? As her mother got closer, the sun shining through the windows of the shop revealed the tears in her eyes. When she reached her children she grabbed them quickly by their wrists one by one helping them off the floor.

“Nadia, Alexander vamos a casa. ¡Ahora!” She said heading out the door.

The humanity of the New Orleans heat and the sun beaming down from directly above them made the walk home almost unbearable for them. But Nadia didn’t mind the sweat that dripped from her chin or the fact that her legs felt like they were going to fall off from trying to keep up with her mother and brother. No, she didn't mind that at all because all she could think about was the fear in her mother’s eyes and the distress in her voice after speaking to the botanica owner. All she thought about was how fixated her mother was on her when she came down the aisle towards them. Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong? She thought over and over. As they got closer to their home, Nadia didn’t want to go any further, so she stopped walking. Her mother looked over her shoulder when she couldn't hear the well-known pitter-patter of her daughter's shoes behind her.

“Nadia, vamos.” Her mother called out to her. “We have to get home quickly.” She continued in Spanish. Nadia didn't move from her spot on the hot sidewalk.

“Mami?” She asked. “Did I do something wrong?” Her mother and brother turned around and looked at her. Her mother walked towards her and bent down to Nadia's eye level, staring intensely into her eyes.

“My sweet baby, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Tears began to fall from her eyes. “I’m just scared.”

“Why are you scared, Mami?” Her mother looked at her.

“I-I can’t say. We need to get home quickly. Come," Her mother stood up and took Nadia’s hand. As they walked past Alexander, Nadia grabbed his hand. The siblings looked into each other's eyes. Alexander could have sworn that the fear in her mother and brother transferred into her just by the look of the eyes.

Nadia hated when her mother ran the cold egg over her body as a way to cleanse her body and soul. What she hated, even more, was her mother’s new ‘friend’, Joseph, watching from the couch, beer in hand. His eyes gave her chills each time she saw him look over her. Something in his eyes just did not feel right to Nadia. But as superstitious as her mother was, she just didn’t see it or at least did not want to see it.

“I’m almost done, mi amor. I just need to go over you one more time then straight to bed,” Her mother said, starting over again from the bottoms of Nadia’s feet.

Joseph got up from his dent in the couch and walked over to the mother and daughter.

“Enough with that voodoo bullshit, Isabel!” He yelled, smacking the egg out of her hand. The egg splattered all over the kitchen cabinets making a sound that made both Nadia and Isabela jump. Isabel stood up rubbing her hand to ease the sting of the slap.

“Nadia, go to bed.” She said.

“But-”

“Listen to your mother!” Joseph’s voice boomed. Nadia hurried to her room and slammed the door behind her.

“Don’t go slamming doors like you own the place!” He yelled. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out another beer. Isabela just stood there staring at her children’s bedroom door.

“Joseph, Francisca told me that Nadia is in danger. She looked at her and she saw Nadia covered in-” Isabel had to stop herself from sobbing. But she couldn't help feel the knot form in her throat, her eyes burning from holding her tears. “-in blood.”

Joseph looked at her and laughed. “You’ve got to stop believing everything that psycho says. Look at all the candles and oils you’ve bought from her because they are supposed to fix all your problems. That lady is playing you for a fool.”

He walked back into the living room and sat in his spot on the couch. He continued to talk but Isabel was getting better at tuning him out. She was too focused on her child. Isabel continued to stand in the kitchen, staring at their door. Almost as if she knew Nadia was behind it listening to every word.

Nadia always listened to her mother’s conversations. But this particular conversation Nadia was not too excited to listen in on. She almost wishes she hadn’t. Her mother talking about blood sent shivers down her spine. When the conversation ended and there was nothing but silence, Nadia tried her best to slowly walk over to the bed she shared with her little brother. She made sure not to step on the points of the floorboard that made a squeaky sound that would wake Alexander or alert her mother that she was still awake.

She climbed into bed when she heard footsteps coming towards her room. Nadia quickly covered herself with the quilt and pretended to sleep. She could hear the door open and shut. Footsteps so light trying not to make a sound. Then she felt the gentle touch she knew so well stroke her hair. Nadia felt calm and could feel herself drifting off to sleep. The last thing she remembered was her mother saying a prayer.