The Banshee's Revenge

Chapter 9



Nothing could have prepared Jacqueline for what awaited her upon waking from her twenty minute nap.

Her eyes had to be playing a trick on her.

She'd dozed, feeling the exhaustion of the last few months creep in on her physical being. Toby had insisted she lie down, and she'd been so touched by his caring that she felt safe enough to let her guard down a little. The moment her head hit the pillow, she'd been out like a light, sleeping deep and hard.

But something had happened during the nap.

Jacqueline stared at her swollen stomach in the mirror.

Unless, she was mistaken, sometime in the last few hours, her baby bump had increased in size. Instead of looking like she was three months pregnant, it now appeared that she had somehow skipped the second trimester and gone straight into the third. Her stomach protruded from her skinny frame, and even as she ran a trembling hand across it, she felt the kick of the baby. Startled, she drew her hand away.

"Toby," Jacqueline called, her voice shaky. "I think you need to see this."

She heard the sound of his feet on the stairs almost immediately and couldn't help but smile despite her distress. He was worried about her, worried that she would run off again. And while the urge to find Gwydion and kill him was still strong within her, seeing Toby had been like a vacation. He made her world feel less heavy and almost normal. There had even been a few fleeting moments throughout the day when she'd thought about letting go of her need for revenge and just spending the rest of her life with Toby.

Deep inside her, Death laughed at her thoughts.

You are so stupid, Jacqueline. You can't ever have a normal life again.

She brushed aside Death's words as Toby came in the room. In one hand he held a plate with a sandwich and fruit, while the other grasped a tall glass of milk.

"You need to be eating better." He put down the food on the dresser. "You're too skinny."

"Not anymore."

Jacqueline turned to show him her profile.

For a moment, Toby just stared. Disbelief flickered briefly in his eyes before he nodded in acceptance.

"What the hell happened?" He scratched his head. "I thought sex was okay when a woman was pregnant."

"It is!" Jacqueline laughed but something in his manner made her nervous. He didn't seem as shocked as she was by her sudden girth. "This has nothing to do with sex."

Toby stepped forward, reached out a hand, and placed it on her rounded belly. His face lit up as the baby kicked in response to his touch.

"I felt her," he said. "She's strong."

"How do you know it's a girl?" Jacqueline watched the emotions streak across his face, feeling her own heart warmed by them.

"I just know."

He placed both hands on her stomach, measuring its growth.

"This is impossible," Toby said. "You look like you could give birth any minute."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment, but I know what you mean. Our baby is special. She's different from us, different from anything on the planet."

Toby's face darkened, but he kept silent.

Unease stirred in her.

"Toby, what's wrong?" she asked. "Besides the fact that I've gone from a little bit pregnant to a full-on jelly belly."

"I'm worried about you and this child."

"We're fine."

"But how do you know that? You haven't been taking care of yourself these past few months," he pointed out. "As far as I can tell, you've been on a diet of revenge and hardly any food."

"The baby is fine. I would know if something were really wrong."

"Would you?"

"Of course!"

"Until I placed that charm around your neck, I'm not even sure you cared that you were pregnant. Your rational reasoning skills have been lacking lately." Toby's voice was neutral and calm, but Jacqueline heard the underlying judgment in them. She fought hard to push away the ready anger. "You've got to be more careful with your emotions. What if the baby is feeding off the anger and hate you've been feeling? What if it's absorbing the bad energy of Death? Would you really know these things?"

Her hand reached up to touch Morrigan's Kiss as she thought about his words. He was right. She hadn't really been experiencing maternal instincts until she'd put the necklace on. That part of her had been silent, pushed into some back corner, and held hostage by her anger. It was only now that it dawned on her that she had a life--a living, breathing baby inside her womb that was dependent on her.

The baby was counting on her for survival, for love.

Overwhelmed, Jacqueline started to cry, but a sharp pain in her stomach had her doubling over and falling to her knees.

"Jacqueline?" Toby rushed to her as she gasped for air. "What's going on? What are you feeling?"

"Pain," she mumbled, trying to breathe as the sensation happened again. "Something's wrong."

Toby picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"Lay still." He placed her on the sheets and ran a hand over her forehead. "You're warm."

"It just caught me off guard." She brushed his hand away, trying to ignore a second hitch of pain. "It's alright now."

"Why don’t I call a doctor or better yet, take you to the hospital?"

"And tell them what? That I have a baby with wizard and banshee DNA inside me?" Jacqueline shook her head. "No. I'm not taking any chances that something might show up in one of their tests as an abnormality. We don't need that kind of attention."

"Still--"

"Hospitals are hard places for a banshee to be, Toby. There's too much death lingering there. Besides, it's better now. The pain is going away."

"I'll bring a doctor here then."

"I just said I don't want to draw attention to our baby!"

"I know a few people who practice medicine in the human world, but also work with supernatural creatures, too," Toby explained. "Let me just call one of them. Please, Jacqueline. This is for the baby."

Damn. Why did he have to make so much sense?

She sighed and leaned against the pillows propped behind her.

"Fine. But don't tell them too much. Let them think this has been a regular pregnancy and that I didn't suddenly balloon up five minutes ago," she said, watching the relief cross Toby's face.

And yet, there was a strange shadow in his eyes that she didn't like.

He was keeping something from her.

"Okay, let me make a few calls. I need to get my books from my house, too. There may be something in them that's useful for our situation." Toby stood. "Will you be okay alone for a little while?"

"Toby, I'm pregnant, not dying of cancer. Women have done this forever. I think I can manage. I’m not going anywhere."

He gave her a wry grin before fetching the sandwich and milk from the dresser.

"Then manage this, too. You need to eat."

She grabbed half of the sandwich and took a big bite.

"Happy?" she asked after swallowing it.

"Some. I'll be back soon."

The soft kiss he planted on her lips made her tingle despite the creature stirring in her womb.

"I love you, Jacqueline. No matter what happens, don't ever forget that."

After he'd gone, Jacqueline forced herself to keep eating the sandwich. She could still feel little flickers of pain in her abdomen. Though she had never given birth before, Jacqueline knew the pain was too high up to be the stirrings of labor.

Maybe it was a growing pain.

An awful thought occurred to her.

What if Death was waging war with the unborn child?

"No." Jacqueline shook away the thought. "That's impossible. Morrigan's Kiss is supposed to protect me from harm."

Soft and low, she could hear Death's response.

It protects you, but not the baby…

Cold fear washed over Jacqueline.

That's right, little banshee. You're safe, but the baby is up for grabs--so to speak.

"Leave her alone."

You can't control what goes on in here. I'm just playing with her a bit. Sorry if our fun causes you pain. Besides, I have no desire to harm this baby. She's my ticket out.

"If you harm my child…" Jacqueline shook her head, too angry to finish the thought.

You'll what? Kill me? Death laughed. Too late for that! Oh, how I do like that man of yours. Clever fellow! I'll be sure to thank him for all he's done.

"What do you mean?"

Haven't you figured it out? His little deal to keep you safe? The charm?

"He made a deal with Morrigan."

Yes, that's true. He made a deal to keep you safe. But as for the baby…I happen to know that Morrigan does not give her protection without gaining something in return.

"She asked him to make himself available to help her with magical issues involving the wizards."

This baby is powerful. She’ll want it.

"No. Toby wouldn't agree to that?" Jacqueline protested, but she couldn't quite forget the strange darkness she'd seen hiding in his eyes.

Not too sure, are you? He didn't seem all that surprised to see your stomach, did he? And why do you think your baby is suddenly ready to be born? It started after you put Morrigan's Kiss on. She is anxious to get her hands on the child.

Jacqueline touched the necklace, pondering Death's words.

Tears welled up in her eyes as her emotions betrayed her.

Don't cry little banshee. Take comfort in this thought. Morrigan may want your baby, but she won't expect me to be tagging along. I'll take care of her for you.

"Stay away from my child!" Jacqueline screamed the words. "You can't have her!"

Yes, I can, little banshee. But if I were you, I'd be angrier at the wizard you love so much. He's the one who made the deal. Morrigan would have been very clear on her terms. It's not like he didn't know that he would have to give her the child.

Angered, Jacqueline forced herself to get up from the bed. She paced the small room, panicked by Death's words, unsure whether or not she should believe them.

And by the way, this charm may protect you from those who wish you harm, but it also dims your power. Have you noticed that?

"Shut up!" Jacqueline fought to block Death's voice. "Get out of my head."

Oh, I will. Eventually. But back to my point. If I'd said these things to you earlier, your power would have rose up and helped you fight back. You could have blocked my voice in an instant or even prevented me from coming through earlier to Toby. The charm mutes your power. They have you right where they want you. You're vulnerable now. Toby's got you trapped.

Was it true? She had been calmer since putting the charm on. All of her emotions had been easier to keep in check.

But what was wrong with that?

Didn't it feel good to let some of the hate go?

"I'll ask Toby about this," Jacqueline said. "He'll tell me the truth if I ask."

Will he? You really think he'll admit that he wants to give your baby away, perhaps even have it killed? I didn't think you were that big a fool.

Killed?

Toby wouldn't do that to their baby. He wouldn't make a promise like that.

Would he?
*****
Arwan was back in his own kingdom, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself.

He hadn't gained any insight into what Morrigan wanted with the banshee's child, but he had got to spend a wonderful few hours in her bed. Who cared why she wanted some kid when you had the opportunity to have sex with a goddess of her caliber?

She had asked him for a favor and charmed by her as he always was, Arwan had agreed.

Gwydion was screwed, he reflected. The wizard had no chance at the banshee with Morrigan's Kiss around her neck.

Neither did he for that matter.

Fine. Pregnant chicks were not his thing anyway.

"Arwan!"

Hades appeared before Arwan, startling him from his thoughts. Tiny beads of sweat immediately broke out on Arwan's forehead, partially from the heat Hades always carried with him, but also from fear.

Not that he hadn't been expecting it--but a visit from Hades himself was never a good thing.

"Hades, what a pleasure," Arwan began, but the older god cut him off with a fierce look.

"Cut the crap, Arwan. You're not doing your job and I want to know why."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You don't? Are you an idiot then? Have you not noticed a serious lack of souls arriving in your division?" Hades frowned and crossed his burly arms. He wore a black, hooded robe that hid his hair color, but his eyes burned bright in his round pale face. They were a mix of fiery orange and yellow. "You've got a problem with souls going back into their bodies instead of being properly assisted to the other side. My job is to keep the scales of life and death balanced. You're f*cking that up."

"Well…it's not my fault. There's this banshee…and…" Arwan despised the stammer he heard himself creating, but couldn’t stop doing it.

"I know about the banshee. That shit isn’t my problem. It's yours. I'm going to make this real, real simple since you're just some low level Welsh god who can't keep his dick in his pants half the time." Hades sneered and leaned in close enough for Arwan to feel the heat singe the hair on his forehead. "Kill the banshee, collect the souls yourself, and get your shit together. I don't want hear about whatever personal drama this woman is causing you or anyone else. I don't care what deals you have to make to get the job done. Just make it happen!"

"Yes, Hades." Arwan bowed his head humbled. "As you wish."

"And Arwan, if this doesn't happen in the next day or so, I'm coming back here and ripping your soul into so many tiny pieces that no one will ever put them back together again. Are we clear?" Hades eyes sparkled with anger. "Speak up! I can't hear you."

"Yes!"

Hades disappeared as quickly as he'd come.

Arwan let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Anger and shame crept through him as he thought about Hades' orders. The older god was right. Arwan had been too lenient. Technically, Jacqueline wasn't one of his subjects since she was still alive and those that worked in his realm were dead. However, there were always loopholes in their world.

The charm prevented him from killing Jacqueline, but there was no use in trying to explain that to Hades. Nor did he particularly want to fall out of Morrigan's good graces. He had agreed to grant her a favor. She wouldn't be pleased if her plans were messed up.

Still…if Jacqueline took it off of her own free will…

Well, he couldn't be responsible for what happened then.

And it didn't mean that Morrigan's would necessarily fall apart.
*****
The calls were soft at first.

Jacqueline couldn't quite decipher what they were. As she lie in the bed, worrying over Toby and whatever deal he'd made, the noise of them grew louder. Like a haunting lullaby, the cries grew creating a song that drifted through the room and poked her conscience.

"Lost souls," she murmured. "It's the call of the souls I haven't reaped."

As if to prove her words, an urge she'd been suppressing for months welled inside her. She could feel her banshee song wanting to burst from her lips in response to the wail of the souls she'd neglected. Her fingers touched the charm, knowing it was responsible for allowing her to hear the tune of death once again.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on where the souls called from.

Oh god. They were everywhere around the world. So many of them.

How could she have neglected them so shamefully?

Because you're selfish, came Death's answer.

"Yes," Jacqueline agreed. "Yes, I have been. But there is one close by. I can feel it. This one I can help."

She focused her thoughts, trying to allow her banshee nature to come through. To her surprise, nothing happened. The transformation from human to banshee did not occur. It was the charm. Somehow it kept her powers in check.

"I guess I'll have to do it the old fashioned way," Jacqueline said.

She knew Toby would have wanted her to stay put, but the call of the nearby soul--it was just too loud. There was no escaping the sound, no rest from it or her guilty conscience. Pain or no pain from the baby, she would go to it and try to make at least one wrong into a right.

Toby would just have to understand.

The only thing she could find to cover her blooming stomach was an oversized T-shirt and a pair of stretch pajama pants. Getting dressed and grabbing her purse she headed for the front door. It felt strange to suddenly be weighed down by the normal needs of being human.

Outside, the bright sun caused her to blink and raise her hand to shield her eyes.

The call of the dead grew louder and she turned in the direction it came from.

Not too far, but far enough, she figured. Better take the car. Luckily, the keys were in her purse and she slid behind the wheel of her vehicle, hoping it would start after all these months. To her relief, it did.

Now to follow the call.

Jacqueline listened and let the sound guide her, only dimly aware that she had started to hum an eerie tune of her own.

To her surprise, the call led her straight to Merlin's Bar.

With a pounding heart, she sat in the empty parking lot, wondering who inside the bar needed her help. Maybe it was a trap. She should call Toby; send him a message or something. He would want her to do that.

Don't tell me you can't even do your job now without his help, Death taunted.

Jacqueline got out of the car and entered the bar.

Once again, she had to take a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dimness of the room. As she glanced around, a feeling of nostalgia came over her. How many nights had she spent seated at the bar? How many glasses of wine had she and Angela consumed together while commiserating their luck with men?

Jacqueline gasped as Angela came out from the store room carrying a case of beer. The pretty red head froze at the sight of her.

"Jacqueline?" Angela tilted her head to the side, wary. "Is that really you?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god!" Angela beamed and put the beer down. "Come here and give me a hug!"

Laughing, Jacqueline moved to her friend and embraced her.

"It’s so good to see you!" Angela squealed. "I've been worried and when Gabe told me about everything going on…well, I didn't know what to think. And wow…you are really pregnant!"

Angela looked at Jacqueline's stomach.

"That's a hell of a baby bump," she said.

"Yeah, it is. Wait a second. Gabe told you about everything going on? What do you mean?" Jacqueline frowned. "How much do you know?"

"Well, let's see…you're a banshee, Gabe and Toby are wizards, and apparently, you're creating zombies."

"Zombies?"

"Yep. In fact, I have one right here." Angela grinned at the confusion on Jacqueline's face. "Hey Daniel! Could you come in here?"

A red headed man came in from the pool room. Jacqueline would have considered him handsome except that his skin was a pasty white and his eyes were sunk into his head. Something about the way he walked bothered her, too. It was a jerky gait, almost as if his feet couldn't keep up with the rest of him.

"Daniel, this is Jacqueline," Angela said.

The call of the soul. This was where it had come from. Jacqueline could hear it wailing, but it seemed locked down, trapped almost.

"What the hell?" Jacqueline circled around Daniel, listening. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's dead. And it's getting worse."

"Dead?"

"Gabe says he is one of your kinsman, an O'Grady. This poor guy got knifed last night right here in the bar." Angela grimaced. "I watched him die and then come back to life. At first, he seemed okay, but he's definitely taking a turn for the worse. His mental capacity is slipping away."

"I didn't claim his soul." Guilt assuaged Jacqueline. Because of her, this poor man was trapped in a horrible limbo. "This is what happens when I don't do my job."

"Is it too late? Can you help him now?"

"I hope so."

Jacqueline placed her hands on Daniel's shoulders and focused on the sound of his soul. The banshee song welled inside her and she could feel the need to let loose its melody, to reap the soul from this man. Her head fell back, and the song burst forth as her eyes turned a deep green.

She could see the soul pulling free and she prodded it with her song, tugging until it loosened from Daniel into a great ball of white energy. The light floated against the ceiling of the bar before passing through it.

Daniel's body collapsed to the ground.

"Holy shit," Angela exclaimed, looking from the floor to the ceiling. "That was…that was crazy!"

"It's what I'm supposed to do. His soul just crossed to the other side." Exhaustion hit Jacqueline hard. "I need to sit down."

"Here." Angela guided her to a chair. "Breathe. Should I call Toby?"

"No. I'm fine."

She just needed to catch her breath, to stop her racing heart. A thrill of exhilaration went through her despite the fatigue. She'd crossed a soul over, done the right thing, and it had felt good.

Maybe the charm would make everything okay.

Fool, Death whispered. One good deed doesn't right everything you've done.

Jacqueline had a sinking feeling that Death might be right.