Becoming Banshee

by Kimberly Quay

  “Oh… Well… You should try talking to him. Maybe he’s over it now.”

  “I doubt it. Anyhow, I know the long ride has you restless, so I thought you may want a workout.”

  “Hell yes.”

  Seth and I used every square inch of the gym, including the sauna before meeting Peder and Bryce to talk about our next step in finding Ian.

  There were recent reports of locals and tourists disappearing from Key West. Wherever Gabriel and his men were keeping these mortals was probably the same place they were holding Ian.

  After we discussed a few plans, and after some persuading by Seth, Peder agreed to going with him to Key West and get themselves seen. This should call out any of Gabriel’s men and hopefully lead us to their hideout.

  “Wouldn’t it be better if I were to go? I’m the one who they want—”

  “NO!” the three men exclaimed at the same time.

  My eyebrows shot up, but before I could speak Bryce stepped forward.

  “My pip, we know you can take care of yourself—”

  “Do not placate me, I know what you’ll say. And fine, I will sit here idle while they go, but just know that when we do find out where Ian is, I will go out to rescue him. You can put as many wards as you want on this house, but I will not stay here waiting.”

  “Deal. For now, sit back and try not to fret too much.”

  “Wait… Seth are you sure you should go? You’re a Scout. Maybe Peder should go alone.”

  “I am going, Kadi, even if it means blowing my cover. It’s Ian.”

  He didn’t need to elaborate further. Ian was well-respected in our clan. Anyone of us would risk our lives to help save him.

  “Seth will be fine, darlin’. Don’t you worry, I’ll have his back as if it were my own. I’ll go get ready. Meet you back here in a half an hour?”

  I grabbed Seth’s arm.

  “You’re going tonight? Right now?”

  “Looks like. I’ll be fine. Remember I lived with Alexi for years before Ian found me. This will be nothing.” He turned to go upstairs, and I followed him into his room, not willing to leave his side just yet.

  “With Ian already missing… I don’t know if I could stand it if something happened to you too.” I began to pace.

  “Listen, I never told you what it was like living with Alexi. I never told you because it was so horrible, I don’t want to remember. But trust me when I tell you I can handle whatever these assholes throw at me. So, don’t get it in your head that you need to sneak after us. Stay the fuck inside.”

  “Hey! You watch how you talk to me. Don’t make me kick your ass before you leave.”

  He hugged me and I leaned into him.

  “I am sorry you went through what you did, but I won’t ever stop worrying about you. Come back to me and bring Ian with you.”

  “Done. See you soon, beautiful.”

  I hoped with all my heart that he was right.

  Chapter Five

  After Seth and Peder left, I went in search of Bryce. I found him sitting at the breakfast bar playing solitaire.

  “Hey, want to play some rummy? I need to get my mind off things.”

  I took the deck he handed me and shuffled. We played for a while before I realized I hadn’t seen Sheryl since we arrived.

  “Where’s blondie?”

  As if my words had summoned her, Sheryl came rushing through the front door in a panic. Seeing her wild-eyed look, I jumped off the stool so fast the momentum knocked it to the floor.

  “Seth texted me about heading to Key West. We must go after them. They’ll be ambushed. Gabriel is there.” She directed the last bit to me.

  I ran to my room to change into my gear before storming into the garage and raiding the weapons locker. I had my knife belt, but I grabbed extras for my boots. While Bryce was removing the wards from the house, I grabbed his bow and a quiver full of faeritonium arrows, and Sheryl’s sword and put them in the car.

  “Let’s go!” I called to them as I got behind the wheel. The guys had about an hour’s head start on us, we needed to hurry. I set the GPS and backed out of the driveway. As I drove a thought occurred to me.

  “So, blondie, why is it you’re always the one to announce that someone has gone missing? First with Ian, now with Seth and Peder.”

  “Maybe because I’ve infiltrated Gabriel’s gang, so I see and hear things. Kinda the point of me doing this double agent thing.”

  “Or maybe you’re helping Gabriel. Maybe you’re taking me to him. Another trap, perhaps?”

  “You know what? Screw you. I’ve been risking my life for months to save your ass!”

  Oh right… “You’re right. Taking my anxiety out on you is wrong.”

  “I care about Ian, too, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. We can’t control who we love.”

  I wasn’t sure if she was referring to herself or me, so I decided to use the time to call a few of the other Hunters in our clan. I called a couple and asked them to spread the word. We were meeting a little over a mile from where Sheryl thought Gabriel was holed up and have a quick confab beforehand.

  When the GPS directed me to pull off the main road, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw our clanmates. Though I wasn’t surprised, it still impressed me how many came to help. We were looking for Ian and Ian had risked his life for just about everyone in the clan at one time or another. He portrayed himself as a big hardened banshee, and he could be ruthless as hell, but inside he had a huge, soft heart.

  I stepped to the front of the car to greet everyone. “Hey, thanks for coming on such short notice. Here’s what we know…”

  This didn’t take long, since we knew so little. They’d possibly taken Seth and/or Peder, and Ian may or may not be there somewhere. We had an assumed location, about a mile up the road at what used to be a plantation house.

  One of the guys stepped forward. He was the biggest, darkest, and fiercest looking banshee I’d ever seen. He was over six feet tall and had to be two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. His bald head glistened in the moonlight as he walked over to me and spoke in a deep booming voice.

  “I used to run with these guys. If they’re here, they must have recently moved back. We checked this location a few months ago and there was no sign of them. Anyway, I know the layout of the place. It’s simple, but there’s a basement in the old storage house where they hold their captives. If they took Ian, that’s where he’ll be.”

  “Okay…” I motioned for him to say his name.

  “Frey, but everyone calls me Slash.”

  I nodded, not sure I wanted to know how he got the nickname, but I imagined it had something to do with the katana slung across his back.

  “Okay, Slash. Thanks for the info. You should take the lead, since you know the layout.”

  He nodded, the motion bringing my attention to the piercing in his left eyebrow.

  “Great, let’s head out. We’ll go on foot. We have a better chance of taking them by surprise that way.”

  When we had our gear, we let Slash lead the way to the hideout. It took longer than I’d have liked, but we didn’t want to run at top speed. To do so used power, and other banshees easily detected that power. Turned out not to matter. As we neared the house Slash held out a hand to stop us.

  “They know we are here. They sense you.” He looked right at me.

  “Crap.” I too could hear the banshees and found that Slash wasn’t wrong.

  I looked at my uncle and he gave me an encouraging smile.

  “We will get them out, my pip, and they will not touch you. I will make sure of it.”

  “Ms. Quinn, Someone’s coming.” Slash slid his sword out of its scabbard.

  I focused on the sounds around us and heard the soft footsteps through the overgrown, weed-infested field to our right. I recognized the banshee’s aura.

  “That’s Peder. And call me Kadi.”

  I moved to Peder.
He was alone.

  “What happened?”

  “Seth was taken when we split up to cover more ground. There was nothing I could do. If I had made my presence known they’d have gotten me, and I wouldn’t be here to help rescue them.”

  The world spun. I took a deep breath before I spoke. I wanted to scream, but that wouldn’t get us anywhere but caught. I had to stay calm so I could think straight.

  “Okay, Slash here knows where Ian will be if he is here. I assume Seth will be there too.”

  “I agree. I need to speak to you for a sec, alone.” Peder took my arm and guided me away from the others before I could even answer him.

  “What is it?”

  “I know you’re a fierce fighter. Ian speaks highly of your abilities, and if Ian thinks you’re a great fighter you must be, but…” He hesitated.

  “But I am still half mortal and innately weaker.”

  “Right, but there is something I can do that may temporarily enhance your strength, and make you more like us.”

  This intrigued me. “Okay, what is it?”

  “I can give you some of my essence. It may hurt like hell, but it should allow you to take on some of my strength.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes? You agree just like that?”

  “Yep. If it’ll help me kick major banshee ass and get Ian and Seth out of there alive, I will do it.”

  “You know, darlin’, I just might fall in love with you yet.”

  I laughed at that. “We can start our love affair later. We have some ass to kick first.”

  “My, my, I do like the way you think.” He winked at me before turning serious once again. “Fair warning, I have to kiss you for the draft to work. Hold on to me because once we start it will either feel like I set you on fire or fabulous. I can’t be sure which. But if it is pain you feel, just make sure you keep holding on. It won’t last. I promise. Ready?”

  I nodded.

  How bad was this going to hurt? I held onto his forearms because they were the smallest part of him.

  “Open your mouth a little.”

  And say ahh. I let my eyes flutter closed as his faced lowered toward mine.

  His lips met mine. The kiss was gentle, even pleasant. I relaxed into it. Suddenly, a searing pain traveled from the point of our contact to the tips of my toes. He’d described the feeling all wrong. I wished it felt as though I were on fire. This felt like my flesh tearing away at the same time my bones were being ripped out one by one. I was dying, there was no way anyone could endure this much pain and stay alive. The pain intensified for a few seconds, and then it disappeared like it had never happened.

  Peder released his hold on me and I stumbled back a few steps. Once I could see straight, everything was clearer, crisper. My senses were on overload. I could hear, see, and smell everything. I reached out and ran my hand over Peder’s shirt front. It heightened even my sense of touch.

  “Kadi?” Peder said with amusement. I looked up to realize I was caressing his chest.

  “So soft.” The body under the shirt was anything but soft making the sensation even more fascinating. “This is fucking amazing! It’s… I don’t know. Euphoric? Yeah, that’s it. It’s euphoric! Is this how you feel all the time?”

  He chuckled. “No. I suspect that’s a side effect from your fairy blood, or maybe your mortal blood. Maybe it’s both.” He shrugged. “Sharing power is only something we do with another banshee. One we are… intimate with.”

  “You put someone you care about through that much pain?” It was shocking, but I understood. The pain didn’t last too long and then it felt so good you forgot about the pain.

  “Well, no. It’s something we do while making love. We sort of draft from each other. It magnifies the pleasure. I’ve never done it with someone who isn’t a banshee. I’ve never actually heard of anyone doing it with a non-banshee. Though I do apologize. It seems with you it was akin to feeding. I should have taken control of you to prevent the pain.”

  “I’d rather have the pain than have you take control of me. Ready to get our guys back?”

  “Definitely.”

  We walked over to the others and Bryce grabbed me by the shoulders and studied my face.

  “Your eyes. Banshee eyes. What have you done?”

  I shrugged.

  I assumed he meant that my pupils had constricted, meaning the power worked by making me a pseudo-banshee.

  Since the gang knew we were coming, we decided to just storm the castle, so-to-say. Slash walked to the front door of the old storage house they were using as their hideout. He swung it open and called out, “Honey, I’m home!”

  Chapter Six

  Had they not swarmed us upon entering, I’d have laughed at Slash’s greeting to his old gang. My new strength and speed helped to amplify my fighting skills. I was able to respond quickly to an attack from my right.

  The banshee charged at me with his knife at the ready, but I sidestepped his attack. I turned on my toes and charged him. Grabbing him by the neck, I kept running until I had him pinned to the wall. I looked him in the eyes as I stabbed him in the heart.

  Before his body even began to crumble, I was turning to face another enemy coming at me from the left. He had seen how fast I was and knew to expect it. This time I had to use some fancy footwork to confuse him before sending my blade home. I leaped over his body even as it turned to dust.

  I heard a yell and turned in the direction it had come from to see a banshee coming right at me. He swung a sword at my neck. Dropping to a squat, I spun so I was behind him by the time he noticed. Swiping out with one leg I caught him at the ankles bringing him to the floor. His sword landed with a clang. Unarmed, he rolled on to his back. Expecting it, I pounced on him before he could stand.

  Straddling him, I smiled as I stabbed him through the heart. I vaulted myself up while grabbing his sword. I prefer knives, but why waste a good weapon?

  Besides, it was longer so I could hit the bastards without having to get too close. To test that theory, I took out the male my uncle was fighting. Bryce called out a ‘thanks’ as he moved on to another. I paused for just a few seconds to appreciate how well he fought and that’s when I saw him.

  Gabriel.

  I watched as he stalked his way over to me. He was short for a male — mortal or banshee — at only a few inches taller than me. He had short light, brown hair, and beady, brown eyes with an ever-present crazed look. His light complexion seemed to be glowing from within, showing he’d recently fed.

  “Well, well, well look who came to visit!”

  “Gabe, buddy, I’ve come for my friends and then I’ll be going.”

  “Now, now Qadira, you know you won’t be leaving here… without me.”

  “Let’s see about that. Shall we?” I tossed the sword and pulled out my knives — karambit in my left hand and puukko in my right. I was going kill him up-close-and-personal using my knives. It’d be more special that way. More meaningful.

  He threw his head back and laughed in disrespect. A mistake. Moving with blurring speed I stabbed him in the abdomen. I could have killed him then and there, but where was the fun in that? That was my mistake.

  “You stupid mutt.”

  We moved in a slow circle. His eyes glued to me.

  He swung his sword, but I avoided it and slashed his arm with my karambit. We lunged at and evaded each other. Time and everything around us faded, so it was just the two of us mingled in a macabre dance.

  Gabriel lifted his sword bringing it down just as I stepped to the side. The momentum of his swing caused him to fall forward.

  I crouched over him, knife at the ready. He grabbed my wrist and tossed me into the wall. Thanks to my souped-up essence I quickly recovered, but not fast enough. Gabriel was on me before I caught my breath. He stabbed me in the chest, just missing my heart. I gasped in pain, my eyes bulging as I tried to breathe.

  He’d missed my heart on purpose. He wanted me alive, this I knew. I just didn’t
know why.

  I watched with relief as Peder grabbed him and tossed him across the room. Gabriel jumped up and ran out the door. Peder followed.

  “Kadi? Kadi! Are you okay?” Sheryl fell to her knees beside me. “I’m sorry, but this will hurt. I’m sorry.” She pulled the sword out of my chest. The pain stole my breath.

  Peder returned.

  “Gabriel?” I asked him.

  He shook his head, and the world spun. He was talking to me; I knew this because his lips were moving. I just couldn’t hear him over the roaring in my head. Gabriel had gotten away.

  Bringing myself back to the moment, I looked around the room.

  “Bryce?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Where’s the basement? Where are the guys?” I needed to find Ian and Seth. They had to be alive.

  Peder tried to stop me from moving, but I glared at him and he let me go.

  My adrenaline was pumping again at the thought of Ian and Seth. I grasped onto it so I could finish this.

  Peder led me to a hatch door in the floor a few feet away. Pulling the handle, I tore the door right off its hinges. I was more amped than I’d thought.

  Shrugging, I tossed the door aside and jumped into the hole. I wavered on my feet when I landed below, but I remained standing.

  It was dark, pitch-black. My fairy blood allowed me to see well in darkness, but this was more like having night vision goggles.

  I saw the guys right away, hunched beside each other on the far wall, pinned to it by faeritonium spikes through their wrists and ankles.

  Peder and I ran to them.

  “Shit…” Peder breathed.

  “Ian? Seth?” I laid a hand on each of them.

  Seth reacted first. He gasped and tried to move away from my touch.

  “No, no, Seth. It’s me. It’s Kadi. Don’t move.”

  “Kadi?”

  “Yes. We’ll get you out of here.”

  “Hurry. This shit hurts like hell.”

  Holding my breath, I turned to Ian. “Ian, can you hear me?”

  “Yes.” It was weak, but he still had a voice.