A Banshee's Tale

by Veronica Breville

  As soon as I closed my eyes for a quick nap, my world felt strange. I immediately felt the same pull I had with Lois and instantly wished I had not decided to keep it from my Caomhnóir. This time didn’t feel as comfortable as it had before, but I continued letting the feeling of need pull me to him until I could see his face clearly. As I began to comfort him, I felt a sharp tearing pain occur behind my bellybutton and expand to envelope my entire projected being. The heat of it radiated throughout my body until I wasn’t sure I could manage. It was as if the fabric that was my life, both physically and spiritually, was being torn down the center leaving me disoriented, dazed, and screaming wordlessly in pain. I looked down at Daniel again but his eyes were dead... I had not helped him and he was now lost to me. More than that, my physical self felt lost to me as well.

  What do I do now?

  I couldn’t think straight as I cowered in the corner of the small hospital room. My thoughts spun in a vortex of doubt and fear. The only reasonable thought I had was his name... Zane. Though I wasn’t sure what made that reasonable, but it felt right all the same. I began chanting his name over and over in my mind, hoping it would bring with it some clarity.

  What is happening to me?

  Standing in the corner of Daniel Frey’s hospital room, time passed exhaustively slow. I had no idea what time I had projected myself, so I didn’t know how long I had been standing here caught between my body and the facsimile I had produced to help him. My first failed attempt to help someone cross over loomed pitifully in the opposite corner of the room tearlessly sobbing. The spirit of Daniel seemed to shiver and tremble, staring pitifully at his dead body.

  Daniel and I had both been present when the staff declared him dead, covered his body with his bed sheet, and went to inform his parents. The scene that played out as they walked into the room to say their final good-byes to Daniel’s lifeless shell of a body tugged at my heart. He howled at the nurses to stop, at his parents to look at him, and ran his hands through them all trying to get their attention to no avail as they cried over his lifeless body. His mother held his cold hand and told him how much he’d meant to her and he would be missed every day. His father rubbed her back, his eyes closed as tears left their salty mark on his cheeks. If I could have produced tears, they would have fallen at an alarming rate. It was then that I had noticed Daniel’s spirit doubled over at the other side of the room, and I decided to help him as soon as I could make some sense of what was happening.

  Trying not to let the picture of Daniel’s anguished parents get to me, I resumed concentrating on Zane’s name. I was still unsure why I had thought of him in my time of need except to assume it was because he was trained to be my protector, and I was sure that’s what I needed right now.

  My mind snapped to a vision of his face and gradually the room he was in became clear. He was in my room, searching for me.

  Where is my body?

  I looked to the bed that I had lain down on and my body was gone. Did I have the ability to move in this state? The answer was clear as I focused on Zane’s face. No, and he didn’t know where to find me.

  I could see my aunt in clear distress, sitting in my rocking chair, hugging my favorite teddy bear to her chest. I zoomed in on her face as she pulled the bear away and stared in horror at the eyes; they were gone. There was no way for me to hear her, but I could see she mouthed the word “Badbeh,” and I immediately went rigid.

  Did I finally catch their attention? Have they taken my body?

  Without thinking I screamed Zane’s name. He flinched, closing his eyes and cocking his head. “Zane? Can you actually hear me? Please, if you can hear me say something.”

  “Catherine? I’m either going crazy, or I can hear you. Is it really you?” He stopped pacing and screwed up his face in concentration, pressing his fingers into his temples. His lips were still, so I knew he was thinking the words and not speaking aloud.

  “It’s me. I’m so sorry, Zane,” I sobbed. “I broke the rules because I didn’t think things through, again.”

  “Calm down and just answer my questions, all right? I’m not mad at you, just worried. Where are you?” he repeated.

  “I projected to Daniel Frey, but before I could help him it felt like my world was ripping apart. It hurt, Zane. So much. When it was done, I realized I was stuck here. Not only that, but his spirit is hovering in the opposite corner from me with a look of complete terror. I’m scared Zane, really, really scared. Please come get me.” I continued to sob. The distinct lack of tears was a strange and unwelcomed sensation.

  “Can you leave his room?”

  “I haven’t tried, but I can see if I can. Would you please ask Aunt Lucie something for me?”

  “Yes. Uh, wow, this is really weird. I’m talking to you in my head.” He shook his head slightly before refocusing. “Sorry, what do you need me to ask her?”

  “I need to know if she thinks I can help Daniel in this form. I can’t stand the thought of leaving him here like this.”

  “Just a minute.”

  As I focused on seeing what was happening in the room, I watched him kneel beside my aunt. His short pause gave me opportunity to consider why I was able to communicate with him like this. I had tried to connect with Aunt Lucie while I watched her through my vision but she didn’t react. Were our lives so enmeshed now that we could contact each other no matter where we were? I hoped I would have the chance to find out, but I lacked confidence without my physical self to back it up.

  “Catherine, your aunt wants you to try, but if he is even the least bit hesitant or tries to touch you, run! Do you understand? Do not be the hero,” he demanded.

  “Understood. Please come to the hospital, and when I’m done I’ll try to leave the room. If I can’t you’ll know.”

  “Done, I’m on my way. Oh, and Cat?”

  “Jeez! I said I promise not to try anything without you here. If I had my body I’d sign something in blood.” My patience was wearing thin, and I knew he was going to go overboard with the warnings.

  How wrong I was. He chuckled lightly. “No blood oaths needed. I just wanted you to know that we’ll figure this out. I promise.”

  Feeling like a complete loser for assuming he would reprimand me further, I groaned lightly. “I’ll hold you to that promise, Zane, and thanks.”

  Just the knowledge that Zane was on his way helped calm my constant sobs. Sucking in a breath that I was aware I really didn’t need in this form, I deliberately but cautiously made my way to the opposite corner where Daniel sat crumbled in ball. He looked up at me with the most desolate eyes, full of fear and pain. He had stared at me several times during our impromptu stay in the room and each time his eyes spoke volumes. First there was anger, and then there was regret, now his eyes nearly screamed their agony.

  “Can you help me? They told me to stay away from the light because it was painful and I wouldn’t be able to see my parents anymore. I think they lied.” He moaned like he was in pain or fear. His words made me cringe, but I gathered up my courage and spoke to him in a kind, peaceful voice.

  “Daniel,” I crouched down so that I could look him in the eye and smiled encouragingly, “the light is nothing to fear. It will take you to the end of your life’s chosen path and you will be at peace. You might not be able to connect with your parents here on Earth, but I assure you that you may watch over them until they come to meet you. If you will allow me, I think I can still help you. Would you like that?” The voice that I spoke with was foreign to me. I had never realized that I could sound so melodic and calming.

  “What if it hurts? I don’t like pain... too much pain lately.” He continued to mumble and rock himself back and forth. I let him finish, hoping he would conclude that anything was better than the way he felt at this very moment.

  Waiting for him to make a decision, I began organizing the events th
at had occurred since I arrived. I remembered feeling the same pull I had with Lois only there was something off. It almost felt too desperate and frightening. As I first materialized by Daniel’s bed earlier, I barely had time to look at him before that terrible ripping feeling began and I was stuck this projected limbo I found myself in now. I realized I didn’t have much to go on and lacked the knowledge to get out of this mess. I hoped that I would be able to leave this room and begin the search for my body with Zane’s help.

  “I would like you to help me, please,” Daniel uttered in a voice so weak I wasn’t he’d actually spoken. “I can’t stay here any longer.”

  “Daniel, I need you to look deep into my eyes. I am the light, your Guide. Follow the tunnel to the end and you can be at peace for eternity,” As I spoke I felt a tingle spread through my misty form and knew what Daniel was experiencing. Though we were nothing but vapor, he would see the change in my eyes from a black pupil to something that looked like a tunnel with light at the end of it. I wasn’t sure what it felt like to the person I was helping, but it was like a waking dream for me. I saw my soul awaiting his in the tunnel as clearly as I could see his hazy body start to evaporate. Within moments, we were walking to the end of the tunnel and he was smiling.

  “Through the light you will find the peace you’ve dreamed of. Heaven is what you make of it, Daniel.”

  “Are you an angel? His grip tightened for a moment as I laughed.

  “Nothing so grand, I’m afraid. I’m just a girl with a gift.”

  “Well, thank you for helping me then. I’ll...” He looked into the expanse of white and smiled. I can only assume he saw what he was meant to. “I’ll just be going now.”

  As I watched him fade from sight, I could feel the overwhelming peace of a spirit at rest. The room’s atmosphere lightened; the fear and dread that had blanketed it earlier were gone. I was able to help him, even at my own expense. Helping him had been, without a doubt, more difficult than helping Lois. Not only did I do it while in my projected form, but also after realizing that I had no way back to my body. How I was able to focus long enough to get him settled was beyond me, but it filled me with a sense of accomplishment and power all the same. But not the kind of all-consuming and egotistical power that some people crave. No, this was so much more fulfilling that than. In better circumstances I suppose I might have done a mental happy dance at the thought of being able to help a spirit caught here, but the fact remained that I was in mortal danger of being stuck here myself. My body was gone now; I needed to focus on putting myself back together. First step would be getting out of this room.

  I floated toward the door at the same pace I had walked across the room to Daniel when I arrived. With mild hesitance, I reached for the handle but my hand could not connect with the metal. This ethereal form would take some getting used to. Searching for a new angle, I thought of all the cheesy ghost movies I had seen. I wondered if I could simply go through the heavy door. Pass through it like an apparition. Given the lack of options laid out before me, I put my hand out and watched it disappear like magic into the thick door. I felt the lack of mass as my hand made it to the other side, leaving only my upper arm visible from where I was standing.

  Inhaling quickly again, I pushed the rest of myself through, seeing my Caomhnóir standing directly in front of me looking as relieved as I felt.

  “Cat,” Zane whispered my name with a smile and relief.

  Looking down at my hovering feet and then back to the door, I started laughing. “I walked through a friggin door!” I twirled back around and looked at Zane. “Did you see that? I walked through a door!”

  He chuckled but then straightened up and tried to smother his reaction with a cough as a nurse walked by. “I did see it. Are you available for birthday parties and cotillions?” As he spoke he directed me to another door that led to a stairway. He followed behind and once in the safety of the empty space he chuckled again. “Did you know you could do that?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “But I’m glad I could because you’d have had to be mighty sneaky to get into that room without notice.” I smiled and floated through him, causing a shiver to run from his boots to his shoulders. “I did know I could do that, though.”

  He threw his head back and laughed long and hard at my antics; it took my breath away. As handsome as he was when he was all frowns and prickles, he was far more attractive when he laughed, though I was loath to admit that, and I wouldn’t utter it aloud, ever.

  “As fun as that looked for you, it’s a bit creepy for me. I understand what people mean when they talk about the hair raising on the back of their neck and the coldness...” He shivered again but never lost his smile. Now, have you any idea where your body is, Cat?” I loved the way he was using my nickname now, it made me feel all gooey inside.

  For a brief moment, I considered trying to hug him just because he had laughed and lightened my mood for a few minutes, but exhaustion kept my airy feet rooted to their spot. His head motioned for me to follow him; I obeyed all too happily.

  Refocusing, I replied, “I’ve only focused on finding you and helping Daniel pass over. I don’t even know where to start looking, Zane. Do you think Aunt Lucie can help? Maybe we should go back to her place first.”

  “Well, first we need to figure out how the hell I am supposed to transport a ghostly version of you and then we’ll check with Lucie?” He scratched the back of his neck and looked from me to the door that led outside and back. “We know you can walk through doors and, assuming there’s nothing binding you to the confines of the hospital, so you should be able to just follow me outside here and into my car, right?” He looked around again as he waited for my input.

  “Here’s the thing... I think, no, I know I have to be with you, if not touching then in your close proximity to move around outside the hospital. It’s just a feeling I have, and I know it’s right. I think you’re on the right track with how we should go about all of this.” Looking at him, I figured sharing the remainder of my theory with him would be prudent. “I’m also fairly sure I can’t find my body unless you’re with me, too.” I was feeling more ridiculous by the second, but some sixth sense told me I was right. “It seems that for a while you and I are joined at the hip, so to speak. I suppose head would be a better body part, but really, what does it matter?” To my surprise, my quick speech elicited a laugh from Zane.

  “I’m sorry, but if you could see this from my perspective, you would understand the laugh,” he said and tried to straighten face out to look more serious but kept muttering what I’d said and laughing lightly. I was becoming a bit addicted to his smile and the sound of his laugh. This did not bode well, but really, I wasn’t of a mind to let it stop me from enjoying the feelings fluttering in my stomach. He opened the door to the outside, and I followed him until he came to his car. “Here’s my car.” He stared at the handle for a moment, seemingly contemplating how to proceed before pulling it to open the door.

  I laughed at him and floated through the opening to hover over the seat as though I were actually sitting. Cocking my brow I said, “You know, you didn’t actually have to do that, right?”

  He shook his head, “My mother taught me to always be a gentleman. I didn’t figure your lack of actual body should undermine that.” Bending to be eye level with me he sent a cautious glance behind him, checking to see there was no one watching. “It’s all going to work out, okay?”

  I nodded and closed my eyes. We didn’t talk on the way home, but I caught him looking at me several times. It seemed to be a mixture of sadness and pride. In an attempt to decipher what it meant, I would turn to look at him slyly when his eyes were focused on the road. We played this game the entire drive back to Aunt Lucie’s. I was still stumped as we pulled into the drive. What I did figure out is that the look on his face made my heart ache and my fingers twitch with the urge to touch his hand and let him know
it would all be okay, though I was fairly sure I needed his reassurances more than he needed mine.

  Time in this form had little meaning to me, which served to both frighten and confuse me. A drive that I knew took at least forty-five minutes to complete felt like mere moments. I had hoped to gain more insight on the drive, but my detour into the “What’s Zane Thinking” game left me with no more information than I’d had at the hospital. I raised my head to focus on Zane rather than my twiddling fingers. He exited the car and turned to wait for me with the faintest of smiles. Feeling my own face break out in a similar fashion, I followed him inside and up the stairs where I saw my aunt waiting.

  “Is she here? Is she okay?” she pleaded.

  “You can’t see her?” Zane sounded alarmed she wasn’t aware I was standing right next to him. He gestured to his right to indicate where I was.

  “No, I think you are the only person capable of seeing her in this state. Can she hear me?” My aunt’s voice was cracking as she wiped tears from her face and tried to regain her composure.

  Zane looked at me to make sure I could hear her and I nodded, my smile still in place.

  “Yes. If you ask the question I will give you her answer.”

  “Catherine you must listen to me. While Zane was gone, I consulted with Julia and she told me that she is sure the Badbeh stole your body. She has heard tales of others that work for them. Beings that walk through the world undetected by us unless we’re faced with them. There is nothing concrete to go on, and I couldn’t find anything in the ancient texts I have. For that matter I’m not sure why they wouldn’t have tried to take me as well. I’m fairly certain they’re not aware of your connection to Zane though. You have to focus with all your strength to locate where they have taken you and go there. I am sure you are aware that you must take Zane for safety.” Trying desperately to control herself, she continued, “Zane, I have provisions for you and as much money as you think you will need. I can’t go; it must be just the two of you.”