by J. E. Cluney
Wait, Skip knew what Derek had done to me? Who had told him?
Not that that was a priority right now.
Lucas sighed as he stepped back beside me as Skip launched another blow at Derek.
“Stop it!” I cried out, tugging free from Ollie as I shot forward.
I didn’t want Skip getting into trouble, as for Derek getting his arse handed to him, I was all for that. But these things had consequences.
Derek had utter murder in his eyes as he dodged a deadly blow from Skip. Too bad Skip looked just as crazed and mad.
“Stop!” I shouted as I moved to plant myself between them.
Why wasn’t Lucas doing something? He had his magic.
“Get out of the way, whore!” Derek shrieked as he latched onto my arm.
I turned on him, the dread and utter terror filling me as he touched me.
Darkness and pain filled me as I let out an inhuman scream, black tendrils washing over my eyes and plunging me into darkness.
I felt cold now, and silence surrounded me in this dark void I’d slipped into.
I couldn’t hear the guys squabbling, or see anything. I just floated in this haven of darkness. All alone.
But I felt oddly at peace here. Like nothing could touch me or find me. Even though it was so dark and cold, I was safe.
‘Allison…’
I turned towards the voice.
Maybe I wasn’t completely alone.
I spied the figure in the darkness, some yards from me as a strange internal light illuminated the creature.
It’s skullish face and goat-like horns made me frown. I knew this being. How though?
The slightest inkling of fear seeped into me, but I squashed it down.
“Who are you?” I called out.
The creature didn’t answer, and I chewed my lip as it began to fade back into the darkness.
“Allison!”
I shot up, gasping for air. My chest hurt, and this black dread was hanging over me as my eyes shot around the small carpark.
Ollie was kneeling beside me, and it took me a moment to realize that I was on the ground.
Had I collapsed?
“Fucking freak.”
I glanced up to where Derek was storming back to his car, and then I flicked my eyes around the three guys.
‘Allison, are you okay?!’
I drew in a deep breath as I focused on Marcus. He was about to brave the full sun to come to me, but I told him not to. I was okay. I was with the guys.
But what the hell had happened?
“Your eyes went black,” Ollie murmured as he eyed Gina, who had come outside with all the fuss.
“She’s okay, we’ll take her home,” Lucas said to Gina, who sounded concerned as she questioned what had happened.
Skip helped me to my feet, his anger and hatred with Derek momentarily forgotten. The white Ford sped off out of the carpark, but I could care less.
I felt strange, like a part of me had finally woken up.
But what part was that?
Skip assisted me in climbing into the cruiser before Ollie slid in beside me. We remained silent until we were away from the carpark and headed home.
“What just happened?” Skip’s voice was filled with worry as he glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
Lucas turned to look at me, his brow crinkling as he chewed his cheek.
“Anyone?” Skip pushed.
I had no idea what had happened. And apparently, no one else did either.
Lucas’ phone sounded off, and he checked the message as I rubbed my temples. My head hurt now, was it from hitting it?
“I think we have an answer to all of it,” Lucas murmured as his troubled emerald eyes rolled over all of us.
I held my breath as his eyes finally landed on me.
“You’re a banshee.”
* * *
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Glossary
Arvo - afternoon
Bogan - is Australian and New Zealand slang for a person whose speech, clothing, attitude and behavior are considered unrefined or unsophisticated.
Bottle-o - Liquor store
Chippy - Carpenter
Esky - cooler
Fortnight - two weeks
Gumtree - either a tree or the Australian Craigslist
IGA - Grocery store
Morning tea - Mid-morning meal time
Op Shop - Second-hand store that donates money raised to causes
Singlets - tank tops
Skippy - Australian Kangaroo show (popular and known)
Stubbies - bottles of beer
Trackies - Tracksuit pants
Tradie - Tradesman
Thongs - flip-flops
Ute - Pick-up truck
Verandah - Porch
Woolies/Woolworths - Grocery store