Becoming Banshee

by Kimberly Quay

  “Thank Danu! We’ll get you home now.”

  “Mm, good,” he grunted. His breathing was shallow, but he was responding.

  That had to mean he was going to be okay. That had to mean the faeritonium hadn’t yet damaged his brain.

  “Slash,” Peder called out. Turning back to me, he placed a hand on my shoulder and said, “Darlin’, I need you to go where we parked and bring back the biggest vehicles you can. We’ll take good care of your guys here. Run along now.”

  “No. I will not leave them.” I turned to Bryce. “Please go back up and get some guys to help you bring back the vehicles.”

  “Are you sure, my pip? Are you sure you want to be here for this?”

  “No. But I am not leaving their side.”

  “Okay.” Bryce gave me a hug and left.

  I turned back to Ian and Seth. Removing those spikes was going to be excruciating. I’d see them suffering. Still, I stayed. I had to make sure they’d be okay.

  Slash pulled the spike from Seth’s right arm. The scream he released was worse than I’d imagined. I remained silent with my hands on Seth’s shoulders offering what little comfort I could as Slash and Peder removed the remaining spikes.

  Ian was next. I expected the same agony-ridden screams. When they didn’t come, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

  “Is he gone?”

  “No, Darlin’, he’s mercifully lost consciousness.”

  I was too weak from my injury to do much of the heavy lifting. So, I did what I could by running ahead to make the vehicles as comfortable as I could for their trip home.

  ********

  We borrowed two SUVs and a dually pickup truck, which had a large, covered bed. Peder carried Ian in his arms, and Slash had Seth. I was even more grateful that Ian was unconscious. Knowing he was being carried around like a baby would mortify him.

  Seth’s arguing with Slash proved that point. Slash laughed, revealing another piercing. I wondered, ridiculously, if he had any others… and where they were.

  “No, man, you can’t stand. Stop arguing with me, you won’t win.”

  Seth grunted, but stopped arguing.

  I watched as Peder climbed into the back of an SUV to lay Ian down. Slash followed suit with Seth, laying him beside Ian. They both headed back to the warehouse.

  “Where are they going?”

  “Do not worry, my pip. You and I will take the boys home. You need to heal.”

  “No. Tell me what they’re doing. We are done here. Aren’t we?”

  “My pip, you’ve been through enough tonight.”

  “Bryce, what are they doing?”

  “Fine. There are mortals inside.”

  “Take me to them. Now.”

  Bryce sighed, but led the way. We jumped into the basement again. This time I fell to my knees upon landing. My wound continued to weaken me.

  Still, I refused Bryce’s hand when he offered. I clenched my teeth and rose to stand. Bryce went to an open door I hadn’t noticed earlier. I almost collapsed again when I saw what was in the room.

  They’d chained five women along one wall. Two men along the other. They were so covered in blood it took a moment to realize they were naked.

  They were so weak they didn’t react to our presence. Two were no longer conscious. One was no longer alive. Hadn’t been for a while.

  “I don’t understand. Why…” I let my question trail off as one woman’s gaze met mine.

  She sat in a throne-like chair on a pedestal in the center of the room. She appeared to be the strongest even while being the bloodiest. Our eyes met. In hers I saw pain, but also determination.

  Physically, Ian and Seth would recover. Mentally, they knew what they signed up for when joining the clan. They had known the risks. These mortals were oblivious to banshees. They were innocent. Now, they had been tormented by what they considered creatures of myth. Because more than likely, they thought their captors were vampires.

  For most of them, their physical wounds would heal. Their mental scars? I could only hope that wiping their memories would help. Extreme mental trauma could leave traces, even if the mortal couldn’t remember what caused them.

  One of the stronger males said he had been the last to arrive about three weeks ago.

  These poor people.

  Slowly and carefully, the guys carried them to the awaiting vehicles. A few more members of our clan had returned with more SUVs by that time. We placed two mortals in each vehicle with one banshee in back with them to keep them comfortable and calm. We wrapped the deceased mortal in towels and laid them in the back of the dually pickup. Peder assured me he would lay the body to rest.

  “You coming, my pip?” Bryce asked as he slid into the driver’s seat of one of the SUV’s.

  My attention moved to Peder as he took the wheel of the SUV that held Seth and Ian.

  “I’m going with Peder.” I climbed into the back and settled between my guys for the ride home.

  It was not an easy ride home. Without the adrenaline from the fight, the pain from my wound strengthened. I soon lost consciousness.

  When I awoke, I was in my bed. Peder was there. He was murmuring something to me, but I couldn’t make it out. Everything looked fuzzy.

  The faeritonium had made its way into my bloodstream and was attacking my vital organs. It felt like acid was coursing through my veins. I was doubtful that Bryce’s tea would help this time.

  The pain will stop. I’ll be dead soon.

  Chapter Seven

  Something thick and wet was tickling my lips. My tongue slipped out to lick whatever it was. It tasted metallic.

  Blood?

  “What the hell? Ow! Son of a…” Large, strong hands on my shoulders gently held me to the bed.

  “Goldie, do not move.”

  “Ian?”

  I lifted my hand to his cheek. It hurt, but I needed the contact.

  He turned his head to kiss my palm.

  “I have given you some of my blood.”

  He picked up a wet cloth to wipe my mouth but set it back down when I slid my tongue out to lick my lips. He watched and mirrored my movement before bringing his eyes back to mine.

  “If you feel up to it, I can try giving you my essence to complete the healing process. It will be similar to how Peder shared with you earlier.”

  “He thought it’d help.” I was trying for sarcasm, but it fell flat.

  “It did. Otherwise, you would be dead.”

  “Oh… ‘K, make the pain stop?”

  “Yes. I am going to kiss you.” It was pretty much what Peder had said.

  But this was not Peder. This was Ian. Ian was going to share his essence with me. This was way more special. A wave of pain passed through me and I curled into the fetal position. I suddenly didn’t care if it were Ian, Peder, or a frigging frog. I just wanted the pain to stop.

  “‘K, do it.”

  He slipped into the bed, cradling me in his arms. He pressed his lips to mine. It started slowly. Just a kiss. Gentle and tentative but turned into much more.

  Ripples of energy passed over my skin as Ian began releasing his power into me. I expected agony, but none came. This was nothing like it had been with Peder. Instead of feeling like I was dying, I felt comforted. The pain from the faeritonium was subsiding. The fog was clearing. An immense feeling of calm came over me. I felt peaceful and safe.

  Ian’s hands began to caress me, massaging my neck and back as he shifted his head for a better angle. The ripples stopped, but the kiss continued, and new sensations arose.

  Unable to stop myself, I wrapped my arm around his back, hooking a finger in his belt loop. A small groan came from deep in Ian’s throat as he rolled on top of me. I moved my hands up his back to his shoulders and down again. His muscles tightening under my hands felt amazing. The weight of his body on top of mine felt exquisite.

  Wanting more I pulled his shirt up so to run my hands over his bare skin. Moaning as his hand slid under my shirt, I arched in
to his touch as his fingers teased, stroked, massaged.

  “Ian.”

  “Goldie.” He deepened the kiss again. “Better?”

  “Yes, better. Wait. How are you better already?” Last time I had seen him he had been unconscious and nearly dead. Surely, he’d had faeritonium poisoning too.

  Here he was, healthy and whole. His hand still under my shirt.

  “We are banshee.” He shrugged. I rolled my eyes.

  “So, Seth is okay too?”

  “Yes, he is fine. He did not have as much exposure to the faeritonium.”

  “Good. Very good. So, why didn’t your essence hurt? When Peder gave me his, it was awful.”

  He cleared his throat and shifted a bit.

  “Well… I believe it was painful with Peder because he is not attracted to you.”

  “Oh… well then… so that means… hmmm.” I’d suddenly become an idiot.

  His pupils constricted, proving that annoyance was not the only cause of this banshee trait. He lowered his gaze to my lips and this time the kiss wasn’t so gentle.

  Without the haze of pain clouding my thoughts, I was able to enjoy Ian’s lips on mine. I could bask in his familiar earthy scent and savor the spiced wine taste of him. He nipped lightly at my bottom lip before pulling away to look into my eyes. I had caused that dreamy look on his face. I had made his breath come faster. Me, I did that. It was intoxicating to know that I could do that to anyone, but especially Ian. It made feel powerful and sexy.

  “I do not think we should continue.”

  I agreed. I needed a shower.

  He cleared his throat. I was still caressing him.

  “Oh! I’m sorry. Everything just feels so soft.”

  “Do not apologize.”

  “What the hell is going on in here?” Bryce’s voice came from the doorway a few minutes later.

  “Bryce!”

  Ian was suddenly standing next to the bed. I tried getting out of bed as well, but when my feet hit the floor, my knees collapsed.

  “Whoops!” I cried out as my bottom hit the floor with a thump.

  I looked up at Ian as he held out his hand for me. “You were badly injured. You need more time to recover. I will leave you two alone.”

  “No, don’t leave. Bryce, what’s your problem?” Too tired to stand, I climbed back into the bed.

  Bryce stood in the doorway; his eyes locked on Ian.

  “I am sorry. I was just surprised, is all. It’s not every day I see one of my oldest friends kissing someone whose diapers I used to change. Shock to the system, that’s what it was.”

  “Bryce, I am no longer a child.”

  “No, no you’re not.”

  “Are you saying you approve of a relationship between Qadira and me?”

  “Approve? I don’t know, but it’s not up to me to approve. Qadira, you are an adult and I trust you to make wise decisions. If you decide you want to be with Ian, I will support that decision.”

  “Thank you, Bryce, but he was only healing me.”

  Bryce looked over to Ian and then back to me. “Yes, well… I was just coming to check on your progress and make sure you were awake. I see that you are. I will be back in a little while with some tea.”

  I watched as he left the room. Ian cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him.

  “You need more rest. I shall leave you to it. After all, I have finished healing you.”

  “Wait. You’re upset? You made it clear that you do not want a relationship.”

  “Yes, well, you need more rest.”

  “You said that already.” It was entertaining to see him even a little flustered.

  “Right. If you do not mind, I will check on you later this evening.”

  “Of course, I won’t mind.”

  He nodded and left the room. I burrowed into the bed and fell asleep before Bryce returned with the tea. My mind was restless. I dreamed of Ian and Seth pierced with faeritonium and chained to a large wooden pole in the center of a forest clearing with a circle of fire surrounding them.

  Two women were dancing and chanting around them inside the circle. I was too far away to see their faces, but they seemed to know I was there. They stopped dancing and walked toward me. Again, the fire shot up into the night’s sky creating a wall of protection. I woke up alone in the dark covered in sweat yet freezing at the same time.

  I slid from the bed and tested my legs. When I didn’t fall, I took a few cautious steps forward. When I successfully made it downstairs, I gave myself a mental pat on the back. I wasn’t hungry, but unable to remember the last time I’d eaten something, I thought I should try.

  I entered the kitchen to find Bryce making himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He did not acknowledge me.

  “I’ll take one of those, please.”

  His only response was to take out two more slices of bread.

  “Bryce? Are you angry with me?”

  “Oh, my pip, no. No, of course not. I am just… confused, I guess.”

  “About what?”

  “Do you want chocolate milk?”

  “Don’t change the subject. Are you upset about seeing Ian and me? You said it yourself, I am a grown woman. I can be with whoever I want.”

  “Yes, well, it’s a little hard for me to come to terms with that fact. I raised you from infancy and kissed your boo-boos away. I may not be your biological father, but you are my daughter. Ian is someone I’ve known for most of my life. This is just difficult for me to wrap my head around.”

  “Oh, Bryce, I love you more than anything, you know that. Whatever is happening between Ian and me is very new. I am not sure where it will lead, but I want to find out. I hope you can be okay with this.”

  “I will, my pip. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

  “Ian won’t hurt me… at least not on purpose. Besides, I am a big girl, I can handle him.”

  “Okay, my pip, if you’re sure this is what you want, I’ll support you.”

  “Thank you,” I said as Ian entered the room.

  “Brycson, I would like to speak with you about what you saw.”

  “I’ve just discussed it with him,” I said. “He’s okay now.”

  “Still, I would like to speak with him as well. That is, if you do not mind, Brycson.”

  “Of course, I don’t mind.”

  “Well, I think I’ll take my sandwich back to bed and leave you two to your discussion.”

  ********

  The next morning, I found Ian and Seth sitting at the kitchen breakfast bar. Ian read the newspaper while Seth read a mystery novel.

  This had been the first time we’d encountered hostages. Peder had converted his large entertainment room into a makeshift hospital. Cots were set up in the room and various movies added to the already extensive collection, so the victims had entertainment as they healed.

  An actual hospital was out of the question. We did not want the mortal authorities to investigate and search for those who had hurt the mortals. That could put more people in danger and risk revealing banshees to the world. Thankfully, a few of the clan members had medical training and could treat the wounds on site.

  Not wanting to disturb the guys while they read, I poured myself a bowl of cereal and sat on the stool between them. I had just taken my first bite when a banshee I didn’t recognize entered the kitchen. His curly red hair swayed around his face as he moved, and his pale green eyes sparkled as he shot me a quick smile.

  “Ian, sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation,” the banshee said.

  Ian looked up from the paper and looked around the room. His eyes landed on me and a smile tugged at his lips for a moment before he turned his attention to the new banshee.

  “I will be with you in a moment,” Ian responded before turning his attention back to me. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “I feel fine. You go help them with whatever it is they need. I am fine, Ian, really,” I added when his gaze narrowed.

>   He’d returned to my room after his talk with Bryce and slept by my side through the night in case I needed anything.

  “If you begin to feel weak again, send someone to come get me. Immediately.”

  “Don’t worry, Ian, I’ll stick close to her,” Seth interjected.

  Ian left the room with a nod and I turned to glare at Seth.

  “Whoa! Calm down, beautiful. I only said that to appease him. I know you don’t need a babysitter. He’s worried about you… so am I.”

  “Thank you, I feel good though. Really. But I promise to tell one of you if I start to feel weird. I’ll just make lunch for everyone.”

  Seth hugged me before wandering out of the room. I’d bet anything that he’d stay close and find excuses to come check on me until Ian returned.

  Deciding to make Shepherd’s Pie, I began by scrubbing the potatoes. I sat at the breakfast bar and relaxed as I began to peel them. It was an ordinary and soothing task.

  About an hour later, I was removing the casserole from the oven when the banshee from earlier entered.

  “Hey, that smells good. What is that?” he said while leaning over my back to inhale deeply.

  “Um, you mind backing up a little?”

  “Oh, sorry! I’ve never smelled anything that good in years. I lost myself for a sec.”

  His smile could melt your knees.

  “It’s no worries. Who are you?”

  “I’m Philip, but you can call me Flip.”

  “Nice to meet you, Flip. I am Qadira but call me Kadi.” I took off the oven mitts and held out my hand to him.

  “Oh, I know who you are. I joined the clan a couple of years ago. I’ve heard about you, but I imagined you all wrong.”

  “Thanks?”

  “You’re welcome. I meant it as a compliment. You’re way more petite than I imagined, and a hell of a lot hotter.”

  “Again, thanks?”

  “I sound like a chauvinistic moron, don’t I?” He looked at his feet.

  The action was so endearing that I let out a laugh. “Yeah, maybe a little, but it’s cool. I think I know what you’re trying to say… Though I am not sure what is said about me.”

  “It’s all good stuff. Basically, you’ve got the skills of someone much older than you.”