The Banshee's Desire

The Banshee's Desire - By Victoria Richards


Chapter 1

A cold wind howled outside Antrim Castle as if the Devil himself rode it.

The shrieking wail ripped through the enchantments safeguarding the old Irish ruins from mortal eyes, fanning the flames of an argument between the thirteen wizards gathered deep in the recesses of the dungeon. The sound was a reminder of what they were divided on, of the woman who they considered an anomaly, an abomination against the purity of their supernatural bloodlines.

Half banshees were not supposed to exist.

And yet one had been created right under their noses.

How could a woman like Jacqueline Huston wield so much power? It wasn’t right and certainly wasn’t a part of the laws of nature. And the fact that she could reap souls and still retain her human form--unacceptable.

And what would happen if she turned her attention to one of them?

Worried didn't begin to describe the Brotherhood of Merlyn's feelings on the subject.

"She's unnatural," one of the wizards proclaimed to his brethren in a loud voice. "She cheated Death and now there will be a price to pay. For all of us! We've seen it before!"

"Settle down, Foster."

The wizard who issued the command stood to meet Foster's gaze. As leader of the council, he'd listened without comment to the mutterings and accusations hurled about, only an occasional nod or a twitch of his nose to show his feelings on the matter.

"You are making wild accusations that we have yet to explore," the wizard said, his tone challenging. His old eyes stared into Foster's until it was clear who was dominant.

Foster sat.

The elder wizard smiled at this show of respect, but there was no mirth in it.

"We'll agree the woman is unnatural and something should be done about her. However, if experience has taught us anything, it's that we must tread carefully." The wizard looked around the room until his gaze settled on another council member. "Spark, what say you to all the noise this woman is causing? After all, she has had a direct effect on your family."

Everyone turned their attention to Spark, the tall thin wizard with coal black hair at the end of the table. Of the thirteen wizards gathered, Sparks sixty five years of life made him one of the younger ones there. He stared at the table top, his dark eyes reflective. A long moment passed before he spoke.

"She should be destroyed."

Around the table came murmurs of agreement.

"Destroyed?" A hint of doubt peppered the old wizard's deep voice, causing the others to fall silent. "Though your son was acting under his own directive, Spark, his idea was not a bad one. Capturing the half banshee and bringing her to the Brotherhood would help make us more powerful. We have enemies who still wish us harm even after all these centuries have passed."

"Then have Toby Williams bring her to us!" Spark answered angrily, still not meeting the old wizard's eye. "If you can reach him, that is. I hear he is smitten with her. And wasn't he the one we asked to watch her so that we could be alerted if she displayed any of her powers in the first place? Odd how we haven't heard a word from him, and yet, we know she has been reaping souls."

Spark looked at the old wizard, his gaze cold and severe.

"Or are you going to protect Toby and his spawn? The spawn which killed my son, Derek, by the way. You've always had a soft spot for Josiah Williams’ kid. That's why his family's council seat continues to sit empty rather than be filled by someone who is worthy of being a part of our group."

A little ripple of discord ran through the room which the old wizard silenced by holding up one hand.

"Spark, your son was killed because he made a miscalculation."

"A miscalculation?" Spark stood, anger flashing. "How do you figure that?"

"Derek Spark and Josiah Williams were supposed to have killed that child when it was a baby. The offspring of rival wizard families taints the purity of the bloodline and has the potential to create a completely new sort of…creature. Obviously, Derek had the opportunity to take care of matters on his own when Josiah failed in the task. But he didn't. He decided to play the odds. And looked what happened to him. Smote by the hand of his own nephew--your grandchild, Spark--because he didn't follow orders. Yes, he miscalculated badly," the old wizard said. "It's a shame really. Derek had potential. It could have been nurtured if you hadn't kicked him out of your family."

"You have no right to lecture me about sons," Spark's voice was ice and his eyes narrowed. "At least my son wasn't responsible for creating a half banshee that destroyed half of Europe. Or have you forgotten about that?"

"Be careful Spark. Be very careful," the wizard warned. "You don’t want to upset me."

The walls of the castle shook and Jonathan Spark suddenly grabbed at his throat. His eyes bulged as he gasped for breath. Some unseen force choked him though there was little doubt where the force came from.

"Listen to me carefully. Circumstance may be different, but the end result is still the same. If Derek hadn't played a hand in Eric Huston's death, the half banshee wouldn't have been born. Your son did that, but you have a chance to right that wrong." The old wizard released his spell and Jonathan Spark gasped for air. "Bring me the half banshee. I'd hate to destroy such an unusual creature without really knowing what she can do for the Brotherhood."

Spark stared at the other wizard, a silent war of wills stretching between them. But in the end, it was Spark who acquiesced. With a nod, he sat down, rubbing at his neck and saying, "As you wish."

"And Jonathan, try not to piss her off. If there is one thing I've learned from my centuries on this planet, it's that women are more manageable when they're in a good mood."

Spark nodded.

"I also want your grandson, Spark. This mixed blood creature must be put down quickly. He has powers that we can't comprehend. Bring him to me so that I can kill him."

"And if his father is…resistant?"

"Do what you have to." The wizard looked at the only empty seat on the council and shook his head regretfully. "The time to play favorites is past. The creature is too great a threat."

Jonathan Spark smiled coldly.

"Consider it done".



****





Being able to see the mark of Death was a perk of Jacqueline Huston's new powers.

As she scanned the back room of Merlyn's Bar, she couldn't help but look for the tell tale hint of darkness which showed her who would be dying soon. A part of her shivered with anticipation over it even as she tried to stay focused in the here and now of playing pool with her best friend Angela.

The pool balls made a solid clink as Jacqueline's break ball rolled into them.

"Yes!" she whispered gleefully, watching the balls roll in all directions.

"Not bad." Angela frowned. "But I hate being stripes. It's bad luck or something. I never win when I'm stripes."

"Boo hoo," Jacqueline mocked, aiming at a solid red ball. "I'd feel sorry for you, but I don't."

"Sassy!" Angela smacked Jacqueline's butt as she walked by. "Don't make me angry. I would hate to throw down my wine and have to teach you a lesson."

"That would be alcohol abuse," Jacqueline said. "Toby wouldn't like it if you poured wine on his floor. He'd probably make you clean it up with your tongue or something."

They both looked over at Toby Williams, owner of Merlyn's Bar. Tall, sandy haired, and very well built, he managed to own the space with his sheer presence. He chatted casually with one of the regulars, throwing his head back to laugh at something that had been said. As if he knew the two ladies were watching him, Toby glanced over and winked one deep blue eye at Jacqueline.

"Damn, that man is smitten with you," Angela sighed appreciatively.

"I know." Jacqueline couldn't hide her grin of delight. "I'm pretty smitten with him, too."

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

Both women laughed.

"Seriously, Jackie," Angela said. "I'm really happy for you. You deserve someone nice like Toby."

Angela turned back to the pool table, but Jacqueline pondered her words.

Do I? Do I really deserve someone like Toby?

It was a question she asked herself at least once a week.

She never could come up with a satisfactory answer. There were odd thoughts brewing in her lately, thoughts about death and chaos that had never been there before. It seemed the anniversary of her husband's death four months ago had awoken more than just her latent banshee abilities.

It had awoken the need to create death.

Several times in the last few months, she'd caught herself watching the flicker of the soul in an innocent person, something only she could see, and wondered if she could just yank it out and have a little taste.

But that would mean death for the soul's owner.

How could Toby love her when she had strange thoughts like that?

She gave an involuntary shudder, trying to push away the morbid thoughts, but they clung to her. Jacqueline found herself again looking around the bar, reflecting on who might die soon. Who had the potential to let go of the mortal coil so she could swoop in and claim it? What a rush it would be to sip on a soul before sending it on its merry way.

Whose shoulder was the hand of death tapping on next?

That guy.

A tall man sat at the bar, munching on stale peanuts. His back was to her, but Jacqueline could see a dark shadow around him--the pall of death. It wavered like a flag, still thin, which meant death was coming, but wasn't quite there yet.

"Jacqueline? You okay?" Angela's voice brought her back to reality.

"Sure."

"You have a weird look on your face."

"Sorry. I was just thinking about something."

"You've been preoccupied lately." Angela took a shot and did a fist pump when she sank the ball in the pocket. "I've been worried."

"I'm fine."

"Ever since this place was robbed by that freak, Derek, you've been different."

The words were quiet, but Jacqueline didn't miss the pain in Angela's voice when she said Derek's name. Derek Spark had been a rouge wizard with an agenda which included seducing and tricking Angela. In the end, he'd resorted to threatening to kill her and Toby's mother Matilda. There had been a vicious battle, but Derek had been defeated.

Toby's son, Gabe, had killed him.

Gabe walked into the bar right then, carrying a heavy beer box. The disgruntled look on his young, handsome face said it all. Gabe obviously thought he was above such heavy labor.

"What are you looking at?" He asked Jacqueline as he walked past.

She didn't reply, knowing that doing so would only be an invitation to a battle of words.

"I see Gabe still has a stick up his ass," Angela commented, looking after him. There was a wistfulness on her face Jacqueline didn't like. She'd seen it before and knew what it meant: Angela was crushing on Toby's son. "Too bad it's such a fine ass."

"Down girl," Jacqueline said. "You don't want any of that. Gabe is just a twenty year old kid who doesn't understand the ways of the world very well."

"How could he? I mean, if I was raised in a family of morticians who never let me experience any fun in life, I might be a little off kilter, too."

You have no idea, Jacqueline thought.

"Still, he's kind of young for you. I mean, you are almost forty," Jacqueline pointed out.

"No, I 'm not! That's still…years away."

"He's twenty, Angela. It would be like training a puppy or something."

"A cute puppy with a nice ass."

"Don't go there."

"Well what about you then? Toby is older than you by several years, right? He would have been about Gabe's age when he had him." Angela gave her a speculative look. "Right?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but Toby was around eighteen when he and Gabe's mother got together," Jacqueline said. "They were too young to know what they were doing."

That wasn't quite true. But it was a good enough explanation for Angela. She didn't need to know about the laws of wizards and how the family lines were not allowed to mix.

"You never let me have any fun," Angela teased. "Fine. I guess I'll just have to be content with looking at the puppy."

Jacqueline smiled, but she wasn't sure Angela would be able to keep the promise. She knew her friend too well. When Angela saw something she wanted, she went after it. Gabe had better watch out.

A commotion at the bar got their attention.

The man marked for death slumped forward, and as Jacqueline watched, the darkness surrounding him grew more solid. She felt drawn to him, the urge to sing welling inside as it always did now when a soul was lost. Unable to help herself, she moved towards the bar.

Toby and Gabe were both bending over the man who appeared to be choking. Toby glanced at Jacqueline, seeing something on her face that alarmed him.

It was her eyes. Had to be. They turned a deep, unnatural green when her banshee nature went into action.

Gabe glanced at her and then back at the man who was trying to cough up whatever he'd swallowed. Wrapping his arms around the choker, he administered the Heimlich maneuver. With a whoosh of air, a peanut sailed out of the man's mouth and onto the bar.

The black matter around him dissolved, though oddly, there were gray shadows lingering nearby. They almost appeared to have form. Human form.

What was that about? Some new power she had yet to discover?

Before she could think about it, irritation at Gabe welled inside her, and Jacqueline contemplated his soul, wondering if she could just yank it right out of him. After all, he'd cheated her of something she'd really wanted just now. How dare he!

Besides, a little voice whispered in her ear, it would be a justified action. He did kill your husband, Eric.

No!

She forced herself to step back, a wave of shame washing over her.

It was one thing to claim a soul that was on its way out and sing it to the other side, but Gabe…well, what she'd been thinking had not been part of the normal banshee job description. Taking a soul just because you could was never a good thing. She didn't need to go to Banshee Training 101 to know that.

Jacqueline had accepted the part Gabe played in Eric's death. She didn't like him because of it--maybe she never would-- but she could see that the circumstances were…extenuating. She opted to try and put her anger over it aside.

But it was tough to see that smug young boy and know what he'd done.

There were moments…where…the anger rose up.

"Jacqueline, you okay?" Toby's voice, gruff and rumbling, soothed her in a way that no one else's did. It brought her back to the present where she felt more in control of her actions. "Everything is alright now."

"Yes. I just came to see if I could help."

"We're fine." Gabe turned to her, his tone short and clipped. He gave her a hard look. "Your…skills…aren't needed here."

The man who'd choked turned to Gabe and offered his hand.

"Thanks, man. You saved my life." He flashed them all a bright smile, but it couldn't disguise the fact that he was beyond tipsy and heading for totally wasted. His bloodshot eyes twitched, darting back and forth between them, and making Jacqueline think he might be high on more than just beer. He swayed a little on the bar stool, almost falling off. "I'm Jacob Hill."

"You okay?" Gabe asked, the perpetual frown he always wore deepening.

"I just got carried away watching the game." Jacob pointed to the screen above the bar where a basketball game was in progress. "I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan."

"But the Spurs aren't playing."

"I know. That's why I got pissed off and choked on the peanut." Jacob looked over at Jacqueline. His expression turned sly as he studied the pretty young woman. "Wow, you have amazing eyes. They're so green. Beautiful. You wanna come have a drink with me? You could bring your friend. I saw the two of you earlier. I bet we could have us a real good time."

Normally her eyes were brown. Nothing extraordinary. She figured there must still be traces of banshee green in them.

And as for introducing this guy to Angela--no way! He may have escaped the call of Death but there was something about him…something that just didn't sit right with Jacqueline. Sweat dotted his forehead even though Toby kept the bar a chilly sixty nine degrees, and she didn't like the way he looked at her, as if she were a piece of meat he'd like to tear apart.

"Thanks for the offer, but I have other plans." She turned to Toby. "Are we getting together later?"

"Definitely." His grin warmed Jacqueline all the way to her toes. "Looking forward to it."

"Good." She tilted her head to the side. "I've got big plans for you."

"Oh really?"

"Yep. Did a little shopping today. Bought a new nightgown and thought I'd model it for you."

Toby's eyes sparkled with appreciation.

"See you at closing time then," he said, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Somebody is going to get lucky." Jacob slurred the words a little and whistled low. "Nice."

Gabe just grunted, a sure sign of his disapproval.

Jacqueline moved away, but when she looked back, her heart leapt with excitement. The black cloud of death was back. It surrounded Jacob Hill once again.

And the shadows she'd seen earlier--they danced around the man, frantic and hungry for attention. She didn't know what they were. None of the souls she'd reaped had anything like that attached to them.

No matter.

"You only delayed the inevitable, Gabe," she whispered.

A delicious chill of anticipation ran through her.



****





Kids and girlfriends could be a real pain in the ass, Toby decided.

Especially when they didn't get along.

He couldn't really blame Jacqueline for holding a grudge. Having to face your husband's murderer every day had to be tough. And choosing not to do anything about it? Hell, Toby didn't know if he would have been as strong.

But what really bugged him was that he knew she wasn't telling him everything. It was obvious that her powers were growing and she'd been tense lately, irritated even. Her temper would spark to life too easily.

She was hiding something.

How were they supposed to have a relationship if they kept secrets?

He glanced over at his son, Gabe, who shoved bottles of beer deep into the ice bin. Sullen, depressed, and generally a smart ass, Gabe was a complete mystery to him. Yet, the kid kept hanging around the bar, wanting to help out, but not wanting to admit he needed help.

Toby shook his head, frustrated. He sometimes felt like he was alone in the sea, fighting desperately not to drown. When had life gotten so complicated?

Probably the moment the Brotherhood had asked him to keep an eye on Jacqueline Huston and make sure that her banshee urges didn't get out of control. That had been over a year ago, and for a while, everything had been fine. He was content to watch from a distance, but as the anniversary of her husband's death had dawned, everything changed. Suddenly he found himself falling deeply in love with a woman who was completely in the dark about the supernatural world.

Her husband--the late Eric Huston--had been a guardian wizard. Toby didn't know if it was coincidence or not that Eric had happened to marry a woman with the banshee gene, but whatever the case, Eric had loved Jacqueline.

He'd given his life for her.

And therein lay the problem.

While engaged in a battle between two wizards, Eric had dove in front of an energy ball aimed at Jacqueline. As luck would have it, Jacqueline was just grazed by the energy. However, it was enough to stop her heart.

Using all his powers, Eric saved her.

But doing so had come with a price.

Eric died and Jacqueline's banshee blood boiled to life. The energy he used to bring her back from the brink of death activated her dormant banshee gene, a gene that would have turned her into a true banshee had she stayed dead.

The Brotherhood had not been pleased at this new half breed wandering around. But they had preferred to sit back and play the wait-and-see game. Jacqueline might have proved useful to them. That's where Toby came in. His job was to watch her and intervene when necessary.

That day had come thanks to his son Gabe and Gabe's uncle, Derek Spark.

Toby watched Gabe out of the corner of his eye. He worried about the relationship between his son and Jacqueline. They never seemed to have too much to say.

Then again, what do you say to the woman whose husband you killed?

Gabe was just lucky Jacqueline had opted to let the matter go, saying he was obviously under the influence of his controlling uncle. She could have demanded justice, could have even turned Gabe over to the Brotherhood herself, but Jacqueline had done none of those things.

She'd shown mercy.

It was that part of her humanity that would keep her grounded. Or at least, Toby hoped so. If only she would open up, talk to him about her thoughts. But while their days were filled with gentle teasing and jokes and their nights steamy and sultry, the subject of her powers was a touchy subject.

And as for the Brotherhood--Toby couldn't begin to imagine what their plans were now. His few contacts in the council were keeping quiet, but he knew enough about the ways of the Brotherhood to figure they would try to get retribution for Derek's death.

That meant trouble was coming for Gabe.

Maybe even death.

Toby couldn't allow that. The memory of his doomed Gabriella was enough to make him vow to protect his son.

"Hey, bartender!"

Toby winced at the call. He hated to be summoned like that. All of his regulars knew better. He turned to look at Jacob Hill, the drunk who'd just choked on a peanut and tried to hit on Jacqueline.

"Remember me?" Jacob waved a twenty dollar bill in the air. "I'm still waiting for another beer."

Toby grabbed a cold bottle from the ice tub and sat it in front of the man.

"Mr. Hill, you should have a care with how you shovel those peanuts into your mouth," Toby advised. "I don't like people dying in my bar because of stupidity."

"I really don't like the idea of dying in a bar for any reason." Jacob's eyes were bloodshot from the five beers he'd consumed prior to the one Toby had just given him. "Especially this one."

"You got a problem with my bar?"

"No, no." Jacob tapped his beer on the counter causing white foam to rise up and spill over the lip of the bottle. "It's just I know a little something about death and the work place. When people die there, it tends to give you a bad rep. Trust me. I know all about that."

"Did you own a business where someone died?"

"Yep. You've probably heard of me. I made all the local papers." Jacob sipped his beer, glanced around to make sure no one could over hear their conversation, and then leaned in close. "I'm actually Jacob Fortensky."

Toby narrowed his eyes, trying to remember why the name rang a bell.

"Yeah. I know what you're thinking. I'm the guy who got those two hookers killed in his own law office, right? The cops are trying to say I did it." Jacob wiped at his nose. "But I didn't kill nobody. I was framed."

Now the details came flooding back. There'd been a lot of talk in the bar about the case when it first happened a month ago. Everybody felt Jacob Fortensky was a creep lawyer who'd gone too far and finally got caught.

"So let me get this straight. Somebody set it up so that you would be found passed out with your head on a dead prostitute's breast with your fingerprints all over a bloody knife? I think I read that there was cocaine in your system and that one of the women was severely beaten." Toby frowned. "How are you even out on bail?"

"I'm a lawyer. I know all the rules and I'm innocent. And that's not true about the knife. There was one at the scene but my finger prints weren't on it."

"Uh-huh. You must have the taken the time to wipe it clean."

"See that's the problem with people in this small, f*cking town. Everybody thinks they know everything about everybody else." Jacob tapped his beer again. "Women love me. I'm a dynamo in the sack."

"Then why were you paying for sex?"

"I was framed," he said again, and took a long sip of beer. "Those bitches loved what I gave them."

Toby didn't know if the bitches were supposed to be the dead prostitutes he was accused of killing or just women in general. Regardless, his opinion of the man sank even lower. Maybe Gabe should have let the guy just choke to death.

"That's your last beer here in Merlyn's Bar." Toby's grim expression left no room for argument. A big broad shouldered man, he stood at his full height and nodded towards the door. "Don't come back."

"What? What about innocent until proven guilty?" Outraged, Jacob stood. A few heads turned their direction as his voice grew louder. "I know the law!"

"I don't give a f*ck about the law, dipshit," Toby said. "This is my bar. I was going to let you finish that beer, but I changed my mind. I don't like you. Get the hell out."

Jacob opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say or do.

"Did you not hear me?" Toby walked around the bar and draped his arm over the other man's shoulder. "I'm throwing your ass out."

Toby escorted Jacob to the door. Years of practice with unruly drunks had taught him how to get someone out quickly and efficiently without really disrupting the routine of the bar. Only the regulars, the ones who frequented the same stool every night, knew what he was up to.

Everyone else was oblivious to the action.

That was just the way Toby wanted it.

With a gentle shove, he pushed Jacob Fortensky into the parking lot and the cool night air. A nice breeze was coming up off the river of Galesburg Falls, bringing with it the scent of Fall. If it weren't for the belligerent lawyer, Toby might have stepped outside to better enjoy it.

"I'll f*cking sue you!" Jacob hollered and staggered towards the parked cars. "Just watch me!"

Toby shut the door. He pulled out his cell phone and called the local cab company.

"Hey, Ronnie. Toby Williams here. Need you to come pick up Jacob Fortensky. Yeah, that Fortensky. He's drunk as a skunk. He doesn't know it yet, but the keys to his car have conveniently gotten lost." Toby smiled as Ronnie complained about driving all the way out to Merlyn's Bar. "Quit complaining and come pick him up. I'm good for the money."

Toby hung up and twirled the set of car keys he'd lifted from Jacob.

He didn't like the man, but Toby liked the thought of the drunken lawyer behind the wheel of a car even less. Toby would never be able to forgive himself if he let Jacob go and an accident occurred.

He almost felt sorry for Jacob though. Ronnie really hated driving his cab all the way down to the bar. The cab driver knew every bump and pothole in Galesburg Falls and often hit them just to give rude passengers a jolt.

Toby felt certain Jacob's ride home would be a bumpy one.