Free No Mercy by L. Divine Page B

for her.”
    “How did Esmeralda even get to Mama like this?” I ask, baffled that Mama’s fallen at the hand of her enemy. Like a naïve child I always believed that my grandmother was untouchable. Seeing her lying here looking completely defeated shows me just how wrong I’ve been. I should’ve kicked Esmeralda’s ass a long time ago.
    "I taught Esmeralda how to dress voodoo dolls decades ago in Nawlins," Dr. Whitmore says, a southern drawl escaping his usually proper tongue. He looks like he now regrets that tutelage. “Esmeralda forgets that I hold the same power that she does when it comes to the art of making crows sing."
    “Can we make a doll for Esmeralda?”
    Netta looks at me and beams with pride. “Now you’re thinking like a queen, iyawo.”
                  “We will work on that later,” Dr. Whitmore says, carefully choosing his next instrument. “When I make my dolls I like to use sewing needles in addition to acupuncture needles for two reasons: Number one, because they come in various lengths, widths and shapes, allowing me to weave in every single thought I want at the exact angle and position that I want it in. Number two, because the art of sewing up a doll is very similar to the art of stitching skin back together. Both require needle, thread, and blood.”
                  Netta takes a small needle from the tray and pricks my grandmother’s left middle finger. A small, round drop of blood forms on her fingertip. Netta brings the doll to Mama’s skin and wipes it clean on the doll’s head. I’m still in awe that we’re making a voodoo doll for Mama.
                  “She’s all dressed and ready to go,” Netta says, admiring their handiwork.
                  "You will have your grandmother’s doll, Jayd so that you can easily access her dreams once you get the hang of it,” Dr. Whitmore says, directing Netta to hand it to me. “Whatever you do don't let her out of your sight."
                  “How will I get the hang of jumping into my grandmother’s thoughts when I can’t even keep her and my mom out of my head?” I ask, eyeing the strange muneca. I managed to keep my mom from jumping in my head a few times but that was only temporary.
                  “Ask your ancestors, Jayd,” Netta says, touching the five jade bracelets on my wrist, reminding me of our lineage. “You’ve got everything you need to beat Esmeralda at her own game, once and for all.”
                  “Your grandmother can also help you, Jayd. She’s awake on the other side, and more powerful than you can imagine,” Dr. Whitmore says, brushing a loose strand from Mama’s cheek. “Get her to realize that it’s just a dream induced by Esmeralda. It will appear as if she’s returned to her young days as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. From what I can tell that’s where Esmeralda took her with the doll she dressed.”
                  “I guess that’s why she was so powerful, and they fought like they were on Game of Thrones,” I say, again seeing Mama and Esmeralda battle in the ring. “She and Esmeralda were going hard with their swords.” It reminds me of the dream I had of Mama losing her head in the mirror: All of it is beginning to make sense.
                  “And Esmeralda wants it to stay like that so she can beat Lynn Mae and change the events of the past, making herself the Queen,” Dr. Whitmore says, manipulating the needles in Mama’s feet. “You can imagine the danger in that, I know.”
                  “Dr. Whitmore, are you saying that Esmeralda can change the past with a little doll?” I look at the toy in my hand and realize that it’s nothing to play with.
                  “I’m saying that she can change the present with a small yet very powerful charm, which is even more dangerous. Your grandmother’s actions in the past are what can