The Geis: Awakening Part 22

I opened my eyes and saw Josh dive for the banshee's legs. The wailing stopped, and I cried out, "Josh no!"

The fog clouded my ability to concentrate on what I was seeing. I brushed at the air in front of me as if that could clear my vision.

Josh's arms closed on empty air where the banshee's legs should have been. She bent down to Josh's ear. His eyes grew wide. I struggled to get up, but I couldn't move from where I lay in the dirt. A crowd of people gathered behind us. Someone screamed for help.

The banshee turned her hooded face toward me, her voice chilling in my ear and threatening my ability to remain conscious. Even in the cover of darkness, I could see that Mrs. Saddlebury's arms and hands were transformed from her usually white skin to a pale blue.

A spark ignited inside my chest. I grabbed onto that spark like a lifeline. The banshee's wail faltered as I nursed the feeling that grew inside of me. She struggled against it, and I felt myself slipping into the black. I concentrated on the spark and mentally pushed against the banshee with everything I had. It grew into a flame that I nurtured until the tone of her voice faded.

The banshee screamed, a grating, piercing sound that penetrated my ears. Shadows concealed her eyes, but I could feel her gaze on me, hot and penetrating. Before I lost consciousness, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Then everything went black.

Josh rushed me to the emergency room. I pleaded with him to tell the doctor that I had fainted. By the time Mom and Zoey came, I had my strength back, and the doctor told them that I was suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, probably relating to our house fire.

"I'm sure the helium didn't help," Josh said, which made me laugh. His face lit up.

My good humor seemed to convince Mom that everything was all right. She let Josh take me back to his house, with the promise of checking on me the next day.

The night was still young. Last-minute trick-or-treaters squealed down the street and knocked on doors. The flapper's dress I wore looked great for a costume, but now I shivered, wrapping Josh's jacket tightly around me. I hoped he wasn't too cold in his t-shirt. He helped me out of his car.

"Does your head hurt?" Josh put his hands in his pockets.

"My ears are ringing." I touched my forehead. I needed to find Rourke and tell him what had happened.

"Yeah, mine too." He touched my arm to stop me from walking up the sidewalk. "I have no idea what that thing was, but you do, don't you?"

"Yes." I studied my hands. They looked small and childlike, half-covered by the sleeves of Josh's jacket.

Josh's mom stepped out the front door with Rourke. "Josh, McKayla, I'm so glad you are home," she called, motioning for us to join them on the porch. "Are you all right, hon? Mr. Rourke came right over when he heard that you were feeling ill."

Rourke's eyes connected with mine. I felt better, knowing that he was here. "I'm fine Mrs. Dawson."

Ansul scuttled over to Rourke. Josh flinched.

"There it is." Josh pointed to Ansul. "That's the big lizard that chased it away."

Josh's mom looked right at Rourke's feet. "There's a lizard? Where?"

Josh went up the steps. I pulled on his arm and warned him with my eyes. He looked confused, but went along with it. "Probably just someone playing a Halloween trick, Mom."

"Would the three of you like to sit out here on the porch and talk? Jace has friends over for a party, and I'm afraid it will be quieter outside tonight."

"Thanks Mom," Josh said.

"I'll be right back." She disappeared into the house.

Josh looked from Rourke to me. "What is going on? First something attacks us, and then a giant lizard that my mom can't see helps us escape?"

I sat on the porch swing, exchanging a look with Rourke. "I know this is weird, Josh."

Josh's mom came back, her arms full of blankets and homemade cinnamon rolls.

Josh took a roll and offered me the plate. I made a face. "I don't think I should have any more sugar tonight."

"Mom, do you have any of that chili left?" Josh said. "McKayla didn't get any dinner."

"Of course." She went inside, offering a roll to Rourke on her way in the house.

Josh sat next to me on the swing, and Rourke settled himself on a lawn chair. The creaking of the porch swing sounded loud in the cool air, and drew attention to the fact that no one was speaking.

I glanced at Josh before signing to Rourke.

She attacked me, and she looked like a banshee-like the ones you showed me. Josh watched my fingers, a frown pulling at his mouth.

Rourke's hands flew. Are you sure? She took her banshee form in front of other people?

I thought she was part of the haunted house. There were other hooded forms, but before I knew what was happening, she whispered in my ear.

This is not good news. Rourke stood and paced on the porch.

I couldn't reach the dagger. I couldn't even move. I shivered.

Rourke stopped and looked at the moon, hanging sideways over the eastern mountains.

Not much time left. Until then, you are not safe.

"Are you going tell me what's going on?" Josh leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

Rourke was silent, looking out over the porch into the night.

I shook my head, curling one leg up on the swing, leaving the other dangling. Josh didn't have to voice his concern for me-I could feel it coming through the air at me in a steady stream.

"I want to know what happened." Josh's eyes were focused, serious. I wanted to reach out and stroke his cheek to make the worry go away. I shook my head, not wanting to involve Josh, but Rourke motioned that I should tell him. I sighed.

"You know the aquamarine comb that I found at the Intermittent Spring?" Josh nodded and Rourke looked up in surprise. "I'm certain that Mrs. Saddlebury was there that day-she left it for me to find."

"Mrs. Saddlebury left it?" Josh asked.

"She's not really Mrs. Saddlebury." I leaned toward him as if I could somehow soften the blow of my words. "The thing that attacked me tonight is a banshee. She killed Mrs. Saddlebury, and is using her ident.i.ty."

Josh's face was blank, as if he didn't comprehend what I said at first. "A banshee, like an evil spirit?" I nodded. He looked to Rourke, probably wondering if he would discount my story. Rourke's face remained unreadable.

"Even though the comb had a negative energy, I wanted to wear it."

It was cursed, Rourke signed. Aquamarine has healing properties. Cliona uses it to improve the circulation and bone structure of the bodies she inhabits. She must have been using the comb to track you.

"Why would a banshee be after you?" Josh asked.

I didn't know if I should say anything more.

Tell him. Rourke threw the words my way and folded his arms. I held my breath. How could I ask Josh to accept something that I barely even understood?

"Do you believe what I've been saying?" I focused my eyes on Josh. He hadn't outright called me crazy, but how would anyone in his right mind be able to accept such a fantastic story?

Holding my gaze, Josh spoke to me as if we were alone on the porch, listening to every word. "If you say that this is true, then I believe it."

I reached for his arm, floored by his reaction. Josh looked down to where my hand touched him.

"The banshee will kill anyone who gets in the way of her mission-to keep Rourke from returning to save his kingdom." I watched for Josh's reaction. His face was unreadable.

Josh's mom chose that moment to come out, bringing me a bowl of steaming chili. I wrapped my hands around the bowl, relishing the warmth. Josh sat silently until his mom went back inside, shutting in the noise of a roomful of rowdy boys.

Josh turned to Rourke, and he stared back with an unwavering gaze. "Is it true?" Josh asked.

Rourke nodded.

"A cruel queen is trying to take over his kingdom. She banished him here, sending the banshee as a sentinel to make sure he doesn't ever return. He must return home on the night of the next new moon, or the queen will kill his nephew, the crown prince, and his kingdom will be lost forever." I took a deep breath and exhaled. "It sounds like a fairy tale when I say it like that."

Josh shifted in the swing. "What does that have to do with you? Why would the banshee be after you?"

"The banshee will fight anyone who attempts to help Rourke get home, and I intend to do so."

"That's asinine! If what you say is true, then you need to get as far away from him as you can."

Rourke signed at the same time that Josh spoke. I wish it were that simple. If it were, I would be gone far away from here.

I translated for Josh before asking, "What do you mean?"

Cliona's motivation to kill you is stronger than you think.

"I don't understand," I said.

Rourke exhaled. When I came here, I was angry. Then I became complacent, caring little for this world. Decades pa.s.sed, and I learned to make the most of my time. I fell in love, married, and raised children, never dreaming that my actions would affect my family. Each generation of these children carried abilities with them. Because of the difference in time between our worlds, it was over 200 years before the banshees who upheld the geis learned what I had done. They sent an Arbitor, Cliona, to purge the earth of the magic I had introduced. Over the years, she found them. She killed them all.

I couldn't stand to see the look on Rourke's face. Just the thought of the horrors he must have been through made me want to weep for him. Josh put his arm around my shoulders. The banshee had killed all of Rourke's family. I shivered despite the warmth of Josh's touch.

Cliona's neutral stance as an Arbitor became twisted, and she formed an alliance with Saoirse, the sea witch, to keep me from ever reaching the walls of my city.

Rourke rested his hands in his lap, his eyes looking beyond me to the unseen.

Finally, Cliona took away everything dear to me on this earth, and I had nothing to keep me here. Until now. Rourke tipped his head forward, focusing his dark eyes on me.

I didn't understand at first, but Josh stiffened. "You mean, McKayla is your granddaughter?"

My mouth dropped open. I looked at Rourke, who appeared to be younger than thirty years old, with his dark hair and dancer's physique. I remembered him telling me that he had been here on Earth for hundreds of years, but the thought of him being my great, great, who-knows-how-many-greats-grandfather blew my mind. I took in a shaky breath.

If you want to put it that way, yes. I automatically translated Rourke's words for Josh, but my mind was still spinning.

"But you said that this banshee killed everyone in your family line," Josh said.

All that we knew of.

Everyone? My mind went into a panic. If I was a part of Rourke's family, then all of us were in danger. "What about Mom and Dad?"

"Your Mom and Dad are out trick-or-treating with Zoey." Aunt Avril's voice carried to us before we saw her walking up the sidewalk. Rourke stood when he saw her coming.

Aunt Avril. The pieces were starting to come together. She was a descendant, too. No wonder she could see what had gone on before.

"Your mom told me that you took a trip to the emergency room tonight." Aunt Avril climbed the stairs to the porch, waving Rourke back to his seat. "How are you feeling?" She put her hands on my forehead before leaning up against the house.

"I'm fine." I looked at Rourke, uncertain if we should continue our conversation, but wanting to find out how my family tied into all of this. Rourke looked at me steadily before signing.

She knows. He motioned to Aunt Avril. When she divined my past, she saw it all.

I planted my feet on the porch, stopping the swing from moving. "You know where Rourke came from, and that we are related?"

"Distantly, yes." Aunt Avril caught the chain of the porch swing.

"This isn't too weird?" I asked, amazed that Aunt Avril could know that she was part of some centuries-old curse and not miss a beat.

"It makes sense. Where else would we have received these extraordinary gifts, if they weren't inherited?"

Each of us fell silent, deep in our own thoughts. A realization crashed down on me. "The fire. That's why the banshee tried to kill Zoey and me." I felt sick. If this banshee hunted all of Rourke's family, what chance did we have against her? I focused my attention on Rourke. "She's tried to take Zoey away from me before. Why hasn't she killed all of us?"

"The lizard." Josh pointed underneath the lawn chair where Rourke sat. Ansul lifted his head and tasted the air with his tongue.

Yes, Cliona is powerful, and she cannot use her magic on you when Ansul is around. But that is not the only reason for Cliona's restraint. As an Arbitor, she is charged with the responsibility of keeping Tir na nog safe. She has already killed more than once here in the valley. If she kills without restraint, she will draw attention to herself and to our land. Already she has been manipulating the geis for her own purposes. If the council of Arbitors finds out that she is violating the geis, and that our land is in jeopardy, Cliona will be stripped of her power.

"If you go back to your people, will Cliona leave my family alone?" I had to know.

That I do not know. Once the geis is fulfilled, her purpose here will be finished, but Cliona's vengeance has become personal.

Aunt Avril spoke up. "Why does Cliona care if you return home?"

She has made a bargain with the queen of the seas. Long ago Cliona lived in Tir na nog. She left the land of youth to be with Keevan, a mortal who captured her heart. One day, while Keevan hunted in the woods and Cliona dozed near the ocean, jealous fairies played a trick on her. An enchanted wave swept Cliona away from her love, ending her life as a mortal. The lovers could never be together again, even after his mortal death. Cliona returned to the land of youth as a banshee, mourning her loss until Saoirse, the sea witch, guaranteed her relief. The witch promised to bring Cliona and her love together in the afterlife in exchange for her loyalty. Whether or not Saoirse can deliver on her promise, I don't know, but Cliona chose to throw her lot in with the sea witch.

I lowered my hands, trying to get a grasp on my feelings. I loosened my grip on the quilt in my lap. "Why didn't Cliona succeed in destroying our family line long ago?"

I've pondered that. I do not know the answer. But sometimes a genetic trait can skip a generation, or even several. It's likely that my traits lay dormant in your family for generations before they surfaced in your aunt.

"All these years, Aunt Avril has been tracking the same banshee that wants all of us dead. Why hasn't the banshee killed her, and my mother, too?"

Likely because Cliona didn't recognize her gift for what it was. Rourke motioned to Aunt Avril's charm necklace. I remembered her claiming that it protected her from evil spirits. I guess she was right. Your aunt is the first in centuries to exhibit signs of magic in your line.

Josh sat silently next to me, his eyebrows pinched together as if that would help him process all of this new information.

Rourke signed to Josh.

"Rourke wants to know if you believe him." I told him.