Becoming Banshee

by Kimberly Quay

  “I am sorry; I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just there’s no way the training they put you through will have prepared you for fighting a banshee… or me.”

  “Oh?”

  “Juliana, listen. I am not saying you can’t fight or you’re not strong, I’m just being realistic. A straight-up mortal can never take down one of the Fey.”

  “I know you think mortals are weak, but I should be evidence to the contrary. Look what I went through, and look how strong I am.” Plus, that monster forced his blood on me.

  That last bit was from her thoughts. A side effect of taking banshee essence was that I was catching little snippets of mortal thoughts.

  I could read their minds if I tried, but it took a great deal of concentration which ended with a migraine. No matter how quickly the headache healed I didn’t see the point in causing myself pain until I needed that skill. However, if someone thought something passionately, I could hear it. I kept this from her though.

  She was right, though. Gabriel had fed her his blood to heal her… had that made her stronger? There was only one way to find out.

  “Follow me,” I said as I left her room and led her to the gym. We had more than enough time before I had to leave to check out the alleged Angel hideout.

  “Really? You’re going to fight me?”

  “No, I am going to spar with you. I just want to get a feel of your strength and speed,” I explained.

  “What if I hurt you?”

  “Then you will have proven your case,” I said with a soft smile.

  My mind drifted back to my first spar with Ian. I was stubborn and feisty, and I thought I could beat him because I was well-trained in martial arts. Not well-trained enough, though. It took less than a second for him to knock me on my bottom. I was a fast study and never overestimated myself again.

  Even when I got mad and tempted him into a fight, I knew where I stood with him. I also knew I was coming out of it limping for a bit, and that was with him taking it easy on me. Still, he was good practice in my training, so I had learned to manage my aching body and bruised pride.

  Juliana used my daydreaming to her advantage and came at me with a roundhouse kick, which I avoided. I moved behind her, too fast for her to see, and confused her for a second. Still she was quick to realize where I had gone, and she spun trying to land another kick. This time I caught her leg and held it while she snarled at me.

  “Let. Go.”

  “I will not always let go so easily, so prepare for that.”

  “Yeah, well that bastard made me drink his blood. I got stronger each time… so prepare for that!” she said as she crouched into a fighting stance, her hands up to block her body.

  We circled for a bit, and she finally charged at me screaming, which was meant to distract me. It didn’t, and I stepped aside and watched her run past me. She quickly readied herself again.

  I ended the session about ten minutes later. She had not landed a hit — though she came close a few times — and she was beyond aggravated.

  “Juliana, you are not lacking in skill. If I were mortal, you’d have knocked me out with that first kick. You’re a good fighter, but you have a way to go before you can take on Fey,” I said, trying not to insult her.

  I didn’t want to reemphasize her mortal-ness again. I knew it could really burn your biscuits to hear what basically added up to you being weaker, so I tried to be gentle in my delivery.

  She remained silent, so I continued.

  “Gabriel’s blood helped you heal, it may have given you an extra boost in your vibe-detecting abilities, and I’d go as far to say it gave you more speed and strength. However, I am not sure how long those effects will last. You need a lot more training. I can teach you some maneuvers that will help you protect yourself. I cannot promise you will ever fend off an attack from a banshee, but I can help you at least try your hardest. Do you want to continue these sessions?”

  “Hell yes, I want to continue.” She gave me a wide, determined smile, and I knew we’d get Ian on our side one of these days.

  “Okay, we will meet once a week to start. I can’t really set it in stone, but I will come get you when I can.” I turned to leave the room.

  “Kadi?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m being such a shit. I enjoy our time together and I don’t want to do anything to ruin it.”

  “It’s no worries. You’re frustrated. I get it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  “Um… so can I ask you something? And please don’t get mad.”

  “Okay…”

  “I know Ian and the others are banshee, but you never… well… I don’t know how else to phrase this: what are you?”

  I laughed a little.

  “I am half Fey—fairy, specifically—and half mortal.”

  “You’re a fairy?”

  “For all intents and purposes, yes.”

  “Wow! This is all so weird… uh—”

  “It’s fine. I felt the same way when I learned about the Fey. Sorry to cut this short, but I have to go get ready for tonight.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you when you get back. Be safe.”

  ********

  Ian was in the bedroom when I entered. “Whatcha doin’?”

  “Waiting for you,” he said with a slow sexy grin.

  “Mm-hmm, I see that, but why?” I walked to the bed where he was lounging.

  He had not moved from when I left him earlier, and something in the way he was laying had the vision of a knight flittering through my mind. I wondered if he had ever been an actual knight.

  “How old are you?”

  The hand that had been reaching for me stopped and his eyes widened. “Where the hell did that come from?”

  I shrugged. “You look like a knight. I don’t know why, but that’s what I thought of when I saw you sitting there. I wondered if you had ever been one, and that made me wonder if you were alive when they had knights everywhere… so how old are you?

  “When they had knights everywhere?”

  “Shush, I just mean you look noble and, well, knightly. That’s the vision that flashed through my mind. I just had a split-second image of you in armor. So how old are you?”

  He reached out to pull me on to the bed beside him. “If I tell you, you must promise not to get upset.”

  “Wow, you’re that old, huh? What are you, like two hundred?” I snorted out a laugh.

  “Older.”

  “How much?”

  “I will just say: yes, I was alive when they had knights everywhere.” I stiffened at his declaration, and he tightened his hold on me.

  “So, like, the middle ages?”

  “Thereabouts, yes… please do not let this change what has just begun between us. I am still the same Ian; it is still me.”

  I turned to look at him. He was hundreds, multiple hundreds, of years old? I couldn’t even comprehend what his life was like growing up all that time ago. I mean they had nothing back then, no electricity, and no running water. No toilets!

  For some reason I tensed at that last bit. When I shifted, he tightened his hold on me. With a finger under my chin he lifted my head so I could meet his eyes again.

  His gorgeous, grey eyes. Eyes that had mesmerized me with no need for his mind-meld power. He’s still the man I adore. No matter how old he is, he is still my Ian. He certainly doesn’t look old.

  “Okay, it’s shocking. I cannot even imagine what your life has been like, or the things you must have seen or experienced. We come from different times, but it does not change how I feel about you. Your age has nothing to do with who you are, it’s just a number. In fact, I should worry that my age will bother you. I am much younger.”

  I meant the last part in humor to lighten the mood, but when he still looked worried, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. I put everything I felt for him into that kiss. I tried to convey how strongly I felt about him with
my lips and body. I felt him begin to relax an instant before he rolled on top of me and deepened the kiss. He suddenly tore his mouth from mine and turned his head to face the door at the exact moment Triza came barreling into the room.

  “Ian, Juliana’s gone!”

  “Dammit!” he replied as he jumped off the bed.

  “What? No way, she wouldn’t leave on her own!” I yelled after them as they took off down the hall. I had no choice but to follow them.

  “Seth and I saw her running on the beach. He called out to her, but she ignored him and went into the woods,” Triza was saying as we ran to the wooded area beside the house. “He went in after her.”

  “Why would she leave? It makes no sense,” I said, thinking out loud more than talking to them. I was a little hurt that she’d try to get away. I thought we had started a true friendship.

  Before we even entered the woods, Seth came out with Juliana in his grip.

  “She said she was just going for a run, that she needed fresh air.”

  “It’s true! I didn’t hear him calling me with my earbuds! I figured the woods have more cover in case someone tried to capture me.” She looked at Seth and then down at her feet. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “Yes, you were,” Seth responded. “We have all risked our lives for you, and we are continuing to do so by keeping you here. Have respect for that even if you can’t respect us.”

  “Seth!” I scolded.

  “What? She called me a freak!”

  “I was mad because you tackled me! That was on top of Ms. Fairypants over there showing me how weak I am. I am feeling a little humbled and embarrassed, so I acted out, sue me! I didn’t mean to call you a freak, you’re not freaks. They are,” she said referring to Gabriel and his henchmen. “I am sorry.”

  “Ms. Fairypants, really?” I smiled when her lips quirked a little. “Come on, Jules, let’s go make dinner for our guests. Triza you want to join us?”

  “Sure thing,” Triza said as she fell into step beside me.

  “Jules? No one has ever called me that,” Juliana said thoughtfully. “I like it.”

  The three of us left the men staring after us in confusion.

  Just before we stepped back into the house, I heard Seth say, “Figures they’d hit it off, those two are just as stubborn as Kadi.”

  ********

  It turned out Juliana was a vegetarian and had developed her own veggie-chili recipe, so that’s what we made everyone for dinner, along with corn bread and all the fixings. I was shredding cheddar cheese while she was dicing tomatoes, and Triza was chopping onions. When she finished, Juliana put the knife down and turned to me.

  “What? Do I have cheese on my face?” I asked, rubbing my hand over my face.

  “Well, you do now,” she said laughing as she reached over to remove a shred from my nose. “What is Kadi short for?”

  “My name is Qadira Morrigana ó Cuinn, but I go by Kadi Quinn.”

  “Qadira, it’s a nice name. Unique.”

  “It was my great-grandmother’s name. My uncle tells me I look just like her.”

  “Your parents?”

  “Declan and Morrigana ó Cuinn. They died when I was an infant. My uncle raised me.”

  My parents are a subject I do not like to discuss. My tone made that clear.

  “Don’t want to talk about? I get that. I think my parents are dead… I’m not too sure. Anyway, I grew up in foster homes in Chicago. When I turned seventeen, I took off on my own. I was sick of being bounced around from family to family that treated me like an outsider… or worse, so I set out and made a life for myself.” She smiled at me. “When you’re ready to talk about it, you know where to find me.”

  “Same here,” Triza offered with a smile. She had been very quiet while we worked. My instinct was to be suspicious of her, it was my default setting.

  Still, I should be able to talk to Jules about my parents. We had a lot in common. But, chalk it up to all the terrible crap I’d seen, but I don't trust easily. I needed more time before I opened up too much. Still, their offer to talk was touching… and maybe a little uncomfortable.

  “Thank you. I appreciate the offer. The chili needs to simmer longer. I’ll be back in a bit.” I left the room in search of Seth, one of the few I trusted unconditionally.

  He’d always been the one I sought when I felt troubled. He was in the garage at the weapons station and in no mood to talk. He was brooding and seemed in deep thought.

  “Seth, are you hiding?”

  “Nope, just prepping our gear.” He was cleaning and sharpening the knives and swords. That was something we usually did for ourselves, but he had everyone’s weapons out of the cabinet.

  “Everyone’s?”

  “Yup. What’s up? Need something?” He still hadn’t looked up at me.

  “You’ve been avoiding me, and we haven’t said more than a few words to each other in a while.”

  He put down the sword he was working on and raised his head to look at me.

  “I am fine.”

  “Liar,” I said with a shrug.

  He scowled and took a step toward me.

  “Do not call me a liar.”

  I stood as straight as I could. “Don’t lie then.”

  His lips twitched a bit, but the smile never came. “I am okay. I told you I needed to work through this alone.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. “You can’t be friends with me now, can you?”

  “Kadi, stop crying. Please stop.”

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t…”

  “It will be fine. We will be fine. I just need time. Trust me, you are the most important person in my life. That won’t change.”

  “You swear?”

  He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes.”

  We looked at each other in awkward silence for a few moments.

  “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your work.”

  The tears started again before I turned back to the door, and he saw them.

  “Kadi, wait. I’m sorry I upset you, but you have to understand that you can’t help me with this.”

  “I realize that. It’s just you’re acting like you’re angry with me,” I said as the tears blurred my vision.

  “I don’t mean to be that way.” He wrapped me in his arms and rested his forehead on mine. “Don’t cry, Kadi-cakes.”

  “I’ll try to stop. I guess I’ll see you when we head out.”

  I stumbled upon Ian, Juliana, and Bryce as I passed by the dining room. Ian and Bryce were talking about something but stopped when I entered. Ian looked up at me and motioned for me to sit.

  “I prepared you a bowl. Avocado, onion, and tomato. Extra cheese,” he said.

  Even though Ian never ate, he seemed to know how I liked my food, and though I still wasn’t hungry, I had to eat something. He had prepared it for me after all.

  “Thanks.” I gave him a quick kiss and sat beside him. I took a bite, but I realized after a minute or so I was playing with it, not eating it.

  “Not hungry?” Ian asked in an accusing voice.

  “Bryce! You told him?”

  “No, I did,” Rufus said. He was leaning against the wall at the entry to the kitchen, ankles crossed, looking at his nails. He had an annoying habit of sneaking into a room.

  “My eating habits are none of your business!”

  “Ian is my business, and I felt he needed to know about your sudden lack of appetite,” he said, pushing off the wall and moving to stand at the opposite side of the table from me. “You are one of his top Hunters and if you were to, say, pass out from lack of nourishment, it may put Ian and the rest of the clan in danger.”

  “I feel fine. I’m not hungry, so I can’t be starving.”

  “Ah,” he muttered before shooting Ian a look.

  I was still worried about why I had lost my appetite after imbibing banshee essence. I didn’t want to talk about it, especially in front of Juliana, who didn’t need to know I was becoming ev
en more different than I had been. And Rufus, being Ian’s brother aside, didn’t need to know anything about me.

  “Goldie, we should discuss this. We have a theory on what is causing this,” Ian.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I have the same theory. We have other things to worry about. So, while you’re all working on why I’m not hungry, I’ll just go get ready for tonight. Juliana, thanks for dinner, it was delicious I am sorry I didn’t eat more of it.”

  I left before she could respond, but I heard her say “It’s okay” as I bounded up the stairs.

  When I got to my room, I closed the door, and almost instantly, it opened again as Ian entered.

  “This is too much, Ian. It’s too weird.”

  “It is not weird. It makes you special.”

  “It makes me different.”

  “It makes you unique. Stop belittling yourself, you are the only one making yourself feel badly. Unique is not a bad thing, Goldie.” He lowered onto the loveseat beside me.

  “We have to get ready to leave. We don’t have time for this.”

  He glanced at the clock. “We have plenty of time. Talk to me.”

  While I thought about how to explain why I was upset, I studied him. Starting with his grey eyes with little flecks of silver in them, surrounded by dark, thick lashes. How the bone structure of his face, especially his nose, brought to mind an ancient Roman warrior.

  I lifted my hand and ran my fingers through his hair, down the contour of his face and neck before moving over his chest to his arm, while enjoying the contrast of softness of his bronzed skin covering the hardness of the muscles there.

  “You are gorgeous.”

  His lips pulled into a knowing smile. “You are too, Goldie, but flattery will not get you out of talking to me.”

  I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms over my chest. “I do not want to talk. I’m not in the mood to be rational.”

  He chuckled. “Are you ever?”

  “I’m serious, Ian. I really don’t feel like thinking about it, so can we just put it aside?”

  His face hardened. I thought he would argue, but he must have seen something in my expression because his face softened, and he nodded before pulling me closer to him. I snuggled in, tucking my head under his chin.