Brianna Devereaux: The Mambo (Completed)

Revelation of Growth

Brianna was studying her ass off trying to find out more about the other three witches. While Tamia was in another room trying to figure out more about herself. Jeremy on the other hand was trying to come to terms with his newfound knowledge.  

He was a witch, or a houngan, nowhere near as strong as his sister. But not weak either.  

He’d poured into the book of shadows left for the men of his bloodline. After almost burning himself alive, Jeremy was slowly starting to get the hang of it. Sitting in his bedroom, Jeremy’s had fire dancing on his fingertips.  

Its bright green flame made Jeremy feel warm and alive. After spending so long cold and half dead, Jeremy finally like he was breathing again. Sighing as he put his hand down, Jeremy stood hungry.  

Going into the kitchen, Jeremy was still amazed by the remolding his sister had done in her free time. Brianna had found a material spell, and like that she was off. Redoing tiles and replacing the stove and refrigerator, they now had working appliances.  

Grabbing meat, cheese, and bread, Jeremy made himself a sandwich and then sat at the island looking around. It was unfortunate they couldn’t take the boards of the windows, he knew it would bring the entire place together.  

The beautiful French arched windows with the black and white tiles, gorgeous marble counters, and the new appliances made it all come together. With a little natural sun it’d be perfect.  

But Jeremy knew he had priors and was known as a drug fend down at the station. If they found him here, clean or not, they wouldn’t hesitate to throw the book at him. Even with his dad’s memory softening them just a tad, Jeremy would do time.  

And he wouldn’t be able to function locked up. Freedom was all he had these days.   

“Those are some moody thoughts,” Brianna said looking at her older brother with a raised eyebrow. Jeremy’s head snapped up so quick he felt it in his back, “You can read my mind too!?” Brianna laughed a little as she teased, “Yeah and stop thinking about Rihanna man, she’s never going to marry you.”  

At his old-time celebrity crush being thrown at his face like old times, Jeremy smiled back, “Hey never say never, she might see me one day and risk it all.” Brianna snorted as she grabbed a water bottle and an apple, “More like I’ll be stopping you from sniffing her hair like a creep.”  

Throwing his head back as he laughed, Jeremy admitted, “Possibly.” Brianna looked at her brother concerned before asking, “What were you thinking about? Seemed kind of troubling.”  

Jeremy could hear the worry there, it was faint, but it was there. As well as the untrusting note that carried with it and as much as it hurt, he knew he deserved it. “Not drugs.” He said truthfully finishing up his lunch. “I just feel…lost.”  

Chuckling Brianna drily quipped, “Who you tellin’?” Jeremy shook his head as he gushed, “No sis, you’re doing amazing.” Brianna froze, “What? Dude I’m barely keeping afloat and the one thing I was supposed to do, I’ve still not done it.”  

Jeremy shrugged not hanging on the detail, “But you’re doing it, you haven’t given up. I’ve watched you these past two weeks. Working your ass off trying to make it happen. No shortcuts, no bullshit, no half assing it. And I know I could have never done it,”  

Shaking her head, a little bemused Brianna recalled, “You always had an excellent work ethic bro.” Jeremy laughed a little putting his plate in the sink, “Not like you. And oddly enough this just proves it, because I’ve never seen you work harder.”  

Brianna agreed with that since she’d been more nails and heels before this. “Yeah well before ma and pops died all I had to worry about was grades and cheerleading. But since then I had to figure everything out and figure it out fast. Now here I am, and it’s no easier, but at least I have a semi idea of what was going on.”  

Not wanting to upset his sister, but also dying to know, Jeremy asked, “You know…the night I robbed you, when you told me they were dead, I didn’t hear how.” Brianna’s eyes came up to meet Jeremy’s surprise as he shrugged ashamed, “I was high and more focused on dumb s**t. What happened to them sis?”  

Brianna swallowed hard as she remembered almost four months ago.  

“I had just talked to ma on the phone. I was trying to make sure they weren’t going to come home early because I wanted to sneak Jarvis over for a while. They were going to some cop benefit and everything was fine. But on their way back, it seemed pops swerved to hit something. And then they ended up in a ditch, they died on impact.”  

Embarrassed, Brianna admitted sadly, “I was having s*x with a dumb boy I knew was no good for me while pops and ma were dying.” Jeremy put a hand on his sister’s arm, “And I was in an alley with a needle in my arm. Trust me sis, neither one of us is getting a prize for where we were or what we were doing at the time.”  

Something else Brianna could agree with him on. But as his face seemed to become thoughtful, Brianna asked, “What?” Jeremy didn’t want to say it out of fear of ruining their parent’s memory, but Brianna drug it out of him.  

“It’s just…I feel angry at him still. I know it’s not fair to him or ma, but this last year has sucked ass. And now I know it was in direct result of them keeping me from who I am. Who I was supposed to be until they shoved everything THEY wanted down my throat.”  

Feeling the familiar itch in his veins, Jeremy whispered angry, “And all they had to do was tell me the truth. They broke me and had the gall to act like it was my own doing. I guess that’s what pisses me off the most.”  

Brianna understood that anger ten folds, “Yeah, it’s like we’ve spent our whole lives pretending to be who were. Only to get smacked with truths and lies just to find out who we were meant to be.”  

Nodding Jeremy chuckled darkly, “I’ve had that feeling even before this though. Before finding out the truth, one of the biggest reasons I started using was to just, find out who I was.”  

Shocked at that, Brianna couldn’t hide it from her face and Jeremy nodded. “I know it sounds f****d up, maybe even backwards. But being high gave me that freedom I didn’t got from pops.”  

Swallowing hard, Jeremy admitted, “There was a time where I felt like I was a part of everything and nothing. Like I was in a sea of voices and they were drowning me out. I used to push myself in school, in track, everything just to get a rush only for it to mean nothing. Because when I had it, I couldn’t enjoy it.”  

Eyes dimming with sadness, Jeremy remembered, “Instead I had to strategize and plan immediately with pops for the next one. He wouldn’t let up and every time I thought he’d be proud; he’d just be more critical. More impossible to please. So, I just gave up.”  

Brianna came around the island and hugged him tight, “I know bro. I felt the same way, and I felt the same way. But I can’t let ma and pops hinder me anymore. I’ve worked this hard to stay alive and if I let their mistakes haunt me, I’d be dead. So, would you.”  

Nodding, Jeremy whispered, “I should have gone to college. I should have gotten a job, and when or if they would have passed, I should have had you from the start. I knew you were miserable with Uncle Ray and Aunt Georgia I’m sorry sis.” Brianna shook her head, “I don’t know, it’s hard to say it would play out like that.”  

Jeremy was confused now, “What do you mean?” Brianna shrugged as she admitted, “Grand-mere always kept telling mama I wouldn’t stay bound and that I had this destiny. Mama wasn’t supposed to keep binding me and I think when she did, she spited the loa. Our power. And it hit back.”  

Sitting back in his chair, Jeremy whispered, “So they were always going to die for keeping your magic on lock?” Brianna nodded as she tossed her apple in the air, “Yeah. And they paid the price for it. But I think it was always meant to happen, we were both lined up for our own paths. I mean our lives were so easy before, and then we had to go through challenges, and now look at us.”  

Grinning Jeremy remembered, “From privileged, snot nosed bastards,” Brianna nodded adding, “To a runaway and a drug addict.” Jeremy finished putting a hand on his sisters, “And now two voodoo practitioners on the rise. Who would have thought?”  

Kissing her brother on the head, Brianna stroked back his afro, “It’s easy for us to stay angry at them, but I think it’s time we just let them stay where they are. In the ground.”  

Jeremy agreed and hugged his sister before she went back to work. He on other hand grabbed his jacket and took off for a few hours.