The Banshee's Embrace

by Victoria Richards

  She covered her ears, only dimly aware of the people pulling out of the lot in their cars. Headlights flashed in her eyes and then passed. The sense of deep foreboding that always accompanied her current state surrounded her.

  Someone was going to die.

  ****

  She could just make out Belinda and Sean at the edge of the road, still arguing. In the dim light of the moon, Belinda slapped Sean, the harshness of it breaking through the awful roar in Jacqueline's head. He staggered and then reached forward to return the slap with a harder one of his own. The strength of it caused Belinda to fall to the road.

  Everything happened in slow motion.

  Belinda looked up at Sean, astonished to find herself on the ground. Car headlights headed her direction, illuminating her expression which changed from anger to total fear. The screech of brakes rang out, but it was too late. Belinda's body was tossed in the air like a doll before it crashed to the ground with a sickening thud.

  That's when the song sprang from Jacqueline's throat, freed from its confines. The melody soared through the air, a wailing high pitch keening that caused everyone to turn and look at her. Wind blustered up, lifting her hair, and rippling through the silky sundress she wore.

  Jacqueline knew no one else could see what was really happening. The more she sang, the more a small yellow light pulsed around Belinda's body. Jacqueline reached out her hands, imagining for a moment that she could pull the light free. After a moment, it did release from the body, just a brilliant globe which drifted up towards the heavens before gently fading away.

  Only then did Jacqueline stop singing and collapse to the ground, exhausted. Other noises were rushing through the night--voices calling 911, the screams of Sean, the screech of tire and brake as people stopped to see what happened.

  ****

  "Jackie? Oh my god, Jackie? What happened? Are you hurt?" Angela's terrified voice cut through everything else. She felt the cool hands of her friend as the brushed back the loose hair on her forehead. "You're burning up. What's going on out here?"

  "There's been an accident." Toby pointed at the chaos brewing by the tree line. "The ambulance is on its way."

  "What's wrong with Jackie? Why is she staring like that? And her eyes--"Angela's voice was cut off by Toby.

  "Take Jacqueline inside to my office," Toby said. "She saw the whole thing. I think she's in shock."

  "Shock? Then we should take her to the ER, too," Angela started to pull Jacqueline up.

  "No!" The word was sharp enough for Jacqueline to turn and stare. "Take her into my office. And then I'll call you that cab. I'll take Jacqueline home." Toby commanded.

  Angela wanted to protest. Jacqueline could see from the tight set of her jaw and the way her eyes sparked with anger that her friend wanted to let loose a vocal trail of fire on Toby Williams, but something in the man's gaze stopped her. He looked fearsome, somehow taller, as if he would not hesitate to strike them if his orders were disobeyed. Frustrated, Angela pulled Jacqueline back into Toby's bar and headed down the side hallway to his office.

  It was with a small sigh of relief that Jacqueline plopped down onto the red leather love seat in the room, and let her eyes shut, blocking out the sound of sirens and the echo of her song. In the past year, she'd learned that the only cure for how she currently felt was sleep, and it felt good to let the darkness of it take her. As she drifted off, she couldn't help but think about Belinda's light. There were so many things she still didn't understand. Deep inside, Jacqueline knew she'd witnessed a soul passing out of this dimension. But how had she been able to see it? What did it mean?

  And why was she singing about it?

  ****

  Toby appreciated loyalty in friends, but it had taken everything he had not to strangle Angela. She'd wanted to hang around, wanted to make sure Jacqueline was okay. Luckily, Angela had still been drunk enough to persuade into a cab. With a long sigh, Toby had watched the red taillights of the car wink out of sight. The parking lot had still been a mess of a crime scene with police officers everywhere, but eventually they left, too, leaving Merlyn's Bar to stand a silent sentry at the end of the road.

  Toby glanced at his watch which showed it was past four in the morning. Fatigue crept up on him, but he mentally swatted it away. There was still work to be done.

  Back in his office, Toby stared down at the woman sleeping on his couch. Her short blonde hair framed her pale face and her eyes moved under her closed lids as if she were dreaming. Gently, he reached a hand forward and touched her cheek. So soft.

  Her eyes fluttered open and he yanked his hand away.

  "What are you doing?" she asked, trying to sit up.

  "I was trying to figure out the best way to wake you up."

  "What time is it?"

  "Four."

  "Belinda…is she…dead?" There was something a little desperate in her words. Toby noticed she had been correct about her eyes. They weren't the emerald green he'd seen earlier. Right now they were a deep, chocolate brown. It was an odd contrast for a blonde. Most girls with her coloring had blue eyes, like his own.

  "What do you think?" Toby sat down behind his desk and stroked his beard. "You were singing to her."

  "About that…uh…" Embarrassment and uncertainty turned her face pink, and for some reason her discomfort roused feelings of tenderness in him. "I don’t know what came over me."

  "Don't you?"

  "No. Of course not. I don't typically start singing when someone dies."

  "Did you know it was going to happen?"

  "Of course, not!"

  But Toby thought just a touch of guilt crossed her face.

  "Why would you even think that?" Jacqueline brushed off her outfit, swiping at invisible lint. "I'm not psychic or anything."

  "You sure about that?"

  "Why do you ask so many damn questions?" She stood up and ran a hand through her short hair. "I should go. I don't feel good. Too much alcohol, I guess, but thanks for letting me take a nap on your couch."

  "Seeing a woman die does tend to take it out of you," Toby said.

  "So she is...dead?"

  "Yes."

  He watched her take a deep breath and then shudder. Slowly she sank back down to the couch, all the fire gone out of her as she began to weep. The sight startled Toby. He never liked seeing women cry, and was never sure what to do. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat.

  "Don't do that." He made himself stand and go to her. "Everything will be okay."

  "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just don't understand what's going on. I'm experiencing all these changes, having weird dreams. And…I think I'm turning into a lush. I spend way too much time at this bar."

  She cried harder, and Toby struggled not to grin at her last statement. He put a hand on her shoulder, a little taken aback when she leaned into his chest and really let loose with the tears. Toby's wrapped his arms around her.

  "I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I'm just worn out I guess. And drunk."

  "You're fine," he said. "Everything will be okay."

  "No. You don't understand. Something's wrong with me."

  "Jacqueline, I promise that there is nothing wrong with you."

  "You don't get it, Toby. I'm weird. I do odd things, things I can't control."

  "That's just part of the change," he said, patting her back. "Eventually, it won't be so bad."

  "What change?" She looked up at him, confused.

  Oh hell. Was it his place to tell her what was going on? Ever since the damn Brotherhood had paid him a visit and said to keep an eye on her, he'd worried about how to explain what was happening to Jacqueline. Dreaded it, actually. He wasn't fit to be the guardian that the Brotherhood wanted him to be. Drunks and fighters--that was his specialty. Not women with supernatural powers and emotional problems. He wasn't even sure she was ready to know what she really was.

  How to back pedal out of this potential disaster?

  "The change. You know, the change in life." He imme
diately regretted the words at her look of outrage.

  "The change in life? Do you think I'm old enough to be going through menopause?" Jacqueline stood up.

  "Well, you must be pushing at least…forty?" He shrugged, hoping the fire he saw in her eyes wouldn't turn physical.

  "Forty? You think I'm forty? I'll have you know, asshole," Jacqueline jabbed at his chest. "I am only thirty one."

  "My mistake."

  "I think I should be going," she said. "Thanks again for letting me rest for a few minutes."

  "Anytime."

  "Forty…." She stomped out the room, swiping at the tears left on her face.

  He heard her muttering as she walked through the bar and grinned. Well, at least he hadn't needed to explain what was really happening to her. True, telling her that she was going through menopause may not have been the best idea. But hey, crying damsels in distress weren't really his bag either. They were just so…teary. And sad. And needy. Though he had to admit, holding her hadn't been terrible. It had been a long time since he'd done that for any woman.

  A scream of terror cut through his reverie. Toby ran into the dark bar, already muttering a defensive spell. Jacqueline stood in the center of the room, her gaze fixed on the window. He sucked in his breath at seeing what floated on the other side.

  It was an old woman, what the old books would have called a hag. Her thin, stringy hair rose and fell in the breeze outside. The skin on her face was weathered and wrinkled, and as he looked closer, Toby could see that some it was rotting. Actual bone peeked out in some places. A green glow illuminated her body which was covered in a torn and tattered black robe. The hag raised her arms, revealing more twisted and warped skin. Long, black fingernails scratched on the window, sending shivers down his spine. The hag's deep green eyes searched through the pane, looking into the darkness of the bar. Her jaw worked anxiously, opening and closing as if hungry.

  "Jacqueline, don’t move," Toby whispered.

  Her body stiffened, but she didn't turn away from the disturbing sight.

  "Be still. I'll take care of this." Toby moved closer, hoping that his dark black shirt would help cloak him from the hag's powerful gaze.

  "Toby, what the hell is that?" Her voice shook with fear. "Do you think someone escaped from the old folks home down the road?"

  "It's a hag, a dead spirit, a seeker of lost souls," Toby said. "It's looking for someone's essence to take."

  "Shit."

  "I feel the same," he said with a small smile. "Just don't do anything that will attract its attention."

  "Um…I don't know if I can do that," she said. "I'm feeling…strange again."

  "Don't sing," Toby said, worried. He had a good idea of what the woman wanted, but he'd been asked by the Brotherhood to prevent it from happening.

  "I don't know if I can stop myself. The urge is…so strong." Her voice was starting to take on a detached sound. In that moment, Toby knew he was going to have to reveal his powers to her. Damn. Why did all the charity cases come to him? Now she'd never look at him the same way.

  "Okay. I'm going to do something that may shock you," Toby said.

  "I doubt you can do anything that will really surprise me," Jacqueline's voice took on dreamy quality. She was slipping away. He could see the green creeping back into her eyes. "Things have been really weird for me this past year."

  "I'm going to go outside," he said. "I'll deal with this woman."

  "No! It's dangerous!"

  The sound of her raised voice caught the attention of the hag who peered into the window. Her eyes widened and a grim smile settled over her rotting features. Her nails scratched excitedly at the window as she opened her mouth.

  A low song came out of her, surprisingly beautiful. Toby could feel the power of it tickling at his soul, and as he watched, the hag transformed into a young, gorgeous woman. Her wrinkled skin faded away, replaced by the nubile flesh of youth. Her face morphed into a lovely lady with red lips and long eyelashes that complimented her exotic green eyes. Dark locks of chestnut hair fell to her shoulders, complimenting her rosy complexion. Even though he knew the danger the woman possessed, Toby couldn't help the sexual thrill that ran through him at the sight of her.

  "No," Jacqueline grabbed his arm as he took a step forward. "No. She wants to hurt you."

  "I know."

  "You do? Then why the hell would you go out there?"

  "Things aren't always what they seem, Jacqueline."

  With that Toby strode out the front door of the bar. He paused and looked back.

  "No matter what you see, don't come out until I tell you it's safe."

  Without waiting for her response, Toby shoved through the door and faced the hag. Her eyes gleamed at the sight of him, and she licked her lips. The action was oddly sexual and yet repulsive at the same time.

  "Well, look what we have here. A fine strapping young lad." The woman's voice carried the soft lilting sound of the Irish with it. "Come to give me a kiss, have you?"

  "I'm don't really like kissing dead things," he said.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  "Dead things? My boy, you are protecting one half-dead as we speak. Send the little lassie out so I can properly meet her."

  "I don't think so. In fact, I think it's time for you to head back to your native home." Toby kept his hands at his side, but his finger twitched, ready for the coming fight.

  "But my home is so far." She smiled and took a step closer to him. "So far. And like the poet's say, I have miles to go before I sleep."

  "Leave. You're not welcome here."

  "Silly boy!" The woman's rich laugher played havoc with his senses, clouding his mind. "I'm welcome everywhere that Death visits, and let me tell you something--he's setting up camp in your town. Make no mistake about it. My welcome here has just begun. Send the woman out to me."

  "Stay away from her."

  "Would that I could, but it doesn't work that way. She's an anomaly. A freak of nature. I must have her." She lowered her voice. "He says I must."

  "Who does?"

  "One like you, of course!" The woman laughed softly, but her eyes were full of disdain as she spit out the words. "One like you who sings of ancient powers and spells. My master. I get him what he wants. I don't have to be polite you know. I could take her by force."

  "I won't let you."

  "Have it your way, my handsome man." The woman looked at him thoughtfully, and then slowly raised her hands. "Have it your way."

  A burst of green light shot from her hands, and Toby quickly side stepped it. It burned a hole into the wall of the bar. Moving fast, he muttered his own spell and threw a white fireball at the woman, which hit her in the arm. Angered, she dropped all pretense of being young and beautiful. The old hag glared at him before tossing a green ray of light. Toby parried it with another fireball.

  "You can't keep her!" The hag shouted.

  Thinking quickly, Toby tossed two fireballs in a row at her. They slammed into her midsection, lighting her robes up. She looked down at herself and then fell to her knees. Panic flashed in her eyes as she reached towards him. Cautious, he stepped closer. That had been almost too easy.

  "I'm her clan spirit," the hag whispered. "She must take on the mantel I leave behind. It's been a year. What's happened to her isn't natural and the others want her badly."

  "Others?" Toby kneeled, ready to hit her with another spell.

  She looked at him, still clutching her midsection, but her face was back to the lovely young woman's guise.

  "Please. She has to die. It's the only way she'll be safe. You know I speak the truth."

  Toby stared at her and nodded. He understood precisely what she meant, though the understanding didn't make things easier.

  "There will be others coming," the woman said, sadly.

  With a loud, mournful cry, she exploded.

  The smell of burnt sulfur hung heavy in the air. The odd sense of somebody watching from the bushes reminded him of a year ago,
when Jacqueline had first come to his attention. Toby turned his head to study the area.

  "Reveal," he whispered and waved his hand.

  Nothing out of the ordinary appeared.

  With a long sigh, he hurried back into the bar. Jacqueline stood in almost the same place he'd left her, but now her face filled with wonder.

  "What are you?" she asked.

  Toby flinched at the question. God, how he hated having to explain what he was. Now that she knew about his powers, no doubt she would turn tail and run. Women were all the same.

  "What are you?" she asked again, a little more forcefully.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Dammit, Toby, just answer my question."

  "I'm a wizard."

  She frowned and tilted her head to the side.

  "No, really. What the hell are you?"

  "Really. I'm a full-fledged, card carrying member of the Brotherhood." He pulled out his wallet and handed her a white card with gold edging.

  "B.O.M," she read out loud. "Bomb? What do you guys do? Shoot off explosives?"

  "No," he said, trying to stifle a smile. "It stands for Brotherhood of Merlyn."

  She stared at him again.

  "Sounds like a club for gamers. Do you guys do a lot of role playing games?" She laughed, but the sound was tinged with hysteria. "Maybe dress up in wizard hats with pointy stars at the top?"

  "I'm a wizard, but I don't have a hat."

  She handed him back the card. "Look I don't know what was up with the crazy light show outside, but I think you should consider coming up with a better line than the I'm A Wizard thing."

  "Really? Then what do you call yourself? I know you're going through changes that haven't exactly been the normal rites of passage."

  "I should go." She looked nervously at the window behind him. "It's late and I'm confused about a lot of things. Is that woman gone? What did you do to her?"

  "I sent her to a better place." He watched as her face paled. "You're right though. It's late and you should go on home. Get some rest, Banshee."