The Banshee's Revenge (The Banshee's Embrace Trilogy) (13 page)

But the task was a more difficult one than she'd expected. Jacqueline's angry strength dominated her. So Death figured Morrigan would come for her and take care of the whole problem.

She and the goddess had a long history together. Arwan may have been her boss, but Morrigan was where Death's loyalties lay. Time and again, the two had shared favors and extended all sorts of courtesies. Long ago, Death had helped Morrigan return to her goddess form and disposed of that despicable Merlin.  If a favor wasn't owed over that one, then Death didn't understand the meaning of the word!

Yet, Morrigan had not come, and worse still, by providing Jacqueline with the charm, the goddess had bound Death more deeply into Jacqueline. Not only were Jacqueline's powers muted, but so were hers. Though she wouldn't be pointing it out any time soon, Death was stuck resorting to useless taunts when it came to hurting her human host. 

So much for the bounds of sisterhood!

Death contented herself by saving her power to consume the baby's soul, replacing it with her own, when the time was right--which shouldn't be too long now.

Hmm… on second thought, perhaps Morrigan in her own special way had sent her help after all…

Cheered by the thought, Death decided to peek back into Jacqueline's world.

"Who are you texting?" Jacqueline was asking as Angela pulled out her phone. "Do you have a new boyfriend?"

"Um…well…" Angela shifted uncomfortably. "I've sort of been seeing Gabe."

There was a long silence before Jacqueline spoke.

"I'm not sure that's wise."

"I know he is young for me, but he's really more mature than you think."

"I'm not worried about his maturity. I'm worried about him hurting you." Jacqueline frowned. "He isn't an angel, Angela."

"Sounds like you haven't been one lately, either." Angela stood and went behind the bar, agitated by the conversation. She popped open the beer case on the counter and began loading the cans into the ice bin. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"He's a killer."

"And you aren't?"

"Angela, you don't know what you're talking about." Jacqueline sighed and placed a hand on her stomach. "Gabe killed Eric. Did he tell you that?"

Surprised, Angela dropped the beer she'd been about to stick into ice.

Neither woman noticed the man in the doorway who stood quietly watching as they stared at each other.

But Death did and excitement coursed through her.

You have a visitor
, Death whispered to Jacqueline's conscious mind, but even as she spoke the words Arwan tilted his head as if he could hear them, too. 
Arwan is here, the god of the Underworld.

"Well, not the main god as I was recently reminded," he chuckled and a thrill rippled through Death.

He had heard her thought!

Perhaps there was a new ally here…

"I know you," Jacqueline turned to look at him. "You were in my dream."

"I'm in a lot of women's dreams." Arwan gave her an impish smile. "But I'd love to hear more about yours."

"The bar is closed," Angela called out, her voice frosty with anger. "The owner doesn't have afternoon hours here."

"You are not the owner then?" Arwan gave the red head a smile that brought most women to their knees. "I'd love to get to know you better."

"I think you should leave," Angela said. "My boyfriend will be here any minute. He's the kind who doesn't take kindly to men who pester women."

Jacqueline made a derisive noise at the word boyfriend and Angela's face turned red.

Arwan just smiled.

"I'm her to talk to Jacqueline. Nothing more."

"Then talk quickly," Jacqueline said. "It's Arwan, right?"

"I'm pleased you remember after our brief encounter. I enjoyed our time together thoroughly." Arwan grinned. "I trust it brought you some pleasure, too."

Death could feel the anxiety in Jacqueline. Was this to be the opportunity she'd been waiting for? Was there some way to use Arwan's help to get the necklace off Jacqueline?

Patience, little one.
Arwan's thought drifted to Death, loud and clear, but there was no indication Jacqueline heard them.
I feel your worries. Everything is going to be taken care of
.

Outwardly, Arwan said, "My dear banshee, I've come to see what I can do to help get you back on track. As a ruler of the Underworld, it's been brought to my attention that many souls in your care are not being sent to me. I've also heard that you are ripping souls from those whose time has not yet come."

"That's not true!" Angela spoke up. "I just saw her take that guy's soul to the other side."

They all turned to look at Daniel, whose body laid on one of the pool tables where Angela had managed to lift it.

"Excellent," Arwan said brightly. "Now when will you get started on the others?"

"As soon as I'm able." Jacqueline touched her stomach. "I have other issues going on right now."

"So I see. Well, reaping this man's soul is a start. I suppose Hades will be happy with that." Arwan eyed the charm around Jacqueline's neck. "Where did you get that lovely thing?"

But Death heard the mental thought he sent her way.

This is your moment, Death. Pay attention now. Assist me in knowing her thoughts.

Curious, Death listened closely, wondering what Arwan had in mind.

"It's a charm." Jacqueline's fingers strayed to the object, fingering it nervously. "Someone gave it to me as a present. Did you just say Hades?"

"He's the overseer of the Underworld. We all have our bosses." Arwan gave her a patronizing smile. "But back to your charm. Why would a powerful creature such as you need to wear it?"

"As I said, it was a gift."

"It's Morrigan's Kiss, designed to protect and smother a person's power."

"What do you mean?"

"The charm dims whatever powers you have, making you much more manageable.  Of course, I'm sure you realized that. Have you been feeling a little different since you put it on?"

"She's been acting normal again," Angela said. "I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Right, Jacqueline?"

"I suppose it's for the best." Arwan shrugged. "You were out of control from what I hear. Now you can get back to doing your job and let that revenge nonsense go. A banshee isn't supposed to have such strong emotions anyway. Your work will keep you busy. It's a good thing you've made arrangements for the baby and haven't developed a bond with it."

"What are you talking about?" Jacqueline asked.

Death felt a twinge of pain go through her host's body, though Jacqueline didn't outwardly show it. The baby was starting to move.

"Don't tell me you've allowed yourself to become attached to the child? Creatures like you aren't meant to have offspring." Arwan gave her a worried look. "You did make a deal with Morrigan right?"

"No. The baby's father did."

"I see." Arwan turned away from Jacqueline, shaking his head, but making sure she'd seen his surprised reaction. "That's too bad."

"Why? What does Morrigan want?"

"Your child, of course. Morrigan needs a magical child, and hell, she probably needs one badly at her age."

"I don’t understand." Jacqueline touched her stomach protectively, her face going pale. "You aren't making any sense."

"I'm beginning to pick up on that." Arwan turned back, his face sad. "I just hate that this is happening to someone under my keep."

"Why does Morrigan need this baby?" Angela came around the counter and stood supportively behind Jacqueline. "Just spit it out."

"Morrigan is very beautiful. Do you know how she keeps her immortality?" Arwan frowned at Jacqueline's negative head shake. "She performs a ritual every so often where she sacrifices a powerful magical being and then bathes in its blood. The younger the sacrifice, the more potent it is for Morrigan."

"She wants to murder my child." Disbelief, shock--both emotions could be heard in Jacqueline's words. "She wants to murder an innocent creature."

"Murder is too polite a word for what she wants, my dear. Morrigan wants to use every piece of that baby to insure her immortality." Arwan paused, letting his words sink in. "But you must not care. I mean, you're wearing her charm--a charm that deliberately dampens your powers. She's made it easy to take the baby from you if you offer any resistance."

Death could feel Jacqueline start to tremble, and she trembled right along with her. The difference though was that the banshee trembled with anger while Death shivered in delicious glee. She could taste the indecision mixing with distrust and anger as it flowed through her human host.

What a delight!

Jacqueline's hand went up to her neck, inches away from pulling the charm free, but she paused at Angela's next words.

"Why should she believe you?" Angela demanded. "Why would you be telling her the truth?"

"I have only her best interest at heart," the god said and then looked at Jacqueline. "I just want you back to work and functioning again. But I know you have no reason to trust me. What about the baby's father though? What did he tell you about the deal he made with Morrigan? "

Servitude
, Death thought.
He told her lies about serving Morrigan
.

"Let me guess," Arwan said, before Jacqueline could speak. "He probably said he agreed to help Morrigan here on Earth, act in servitude."

"Yes," Jacqueline said, bowing her head.

"Lies. But you know that, don't you, Jacqueline? I can see the doubts on your face."

"Be quiet," Angela snapped." Jacqueline, he's trying to confuse you. Toby would never do anything to hurt you."

"I want only to help, too," Arwan protested. "But someone should prepare you for the sight of your child being sliced apart for a goddess to feast on."

"Stop it!" Jacqueline shouted the words. "Just stop!"

Death felt the old anger bubble up in Jacqueline's soul and surge forward. To her delight, at the same moment, she felt the first strong kicks of the baby.

Jacqueline's labor was about to begin.

*****

Jacqueline could feel the rage simmer within her.

Toby had betrayed her.

She had sensed he concealed the truth of his deal with Morrigan to her, but she hadn't expected this.

No. It couldn't be true.

Angela was right. He loved her. She'd seen it in his eyes.

"Get out," she said to Arwan, her voice shaking. "Just go. You're lying."

"I wish I were," he said, softly. "Despite the charm, I can feel your pain. That's the one thing that damn charm can't smother--the ache of a mother, the ache of one who has been betrayed by a loved one before."

"Toby has never betrayed Jacqueline," Angela protested. "I'm going to call him now. This is getting out of hand."

"Wait," Jacqueline held up a hand to stop her friend, trying to breathe through the sudden stabbing pains in her abdomen. "Let me think, Angela."

"Oh c'mon, Jackie. This is Toby we're talking about. You aren't going to let some god with an overdeveloped libido do a number on your head, are you?" Angela pulled her phone out of her pocket. "I'm calling him."

"I said wait!" Jacqueline glared at Angela and yanked the phone away. "You don't know everything, Angela. Toby has betrayed me before."

It was true. Toby had betrayed her to Death. Though he'd told her that Death had actually tricked her, she couldn't stop the nagging doubts that pricked at her mind now. Arwan took a step towards her, but she lashed out at him with her power, focusing on pushing a wall of energy towards the god.

He only smiled at her attempt.

"I’m a god, Jacqueline. That won't work on me." He shook his head. "And your powers are much too muted by that charm to be effective. You'd need to take it off to even have a shot of getting rid of me."

Angered, she ripped the necklace off and flung it on the floor.

Focusing all her energy, she glared at Arwan.

His dazzling smile disappeared as she flung him through the bar wall. Bright sunlight burst through the newly gaping hole, irritating her eyes. She moved to what remained of the wall and stared at Arwan, who lie on the hard ground of the parking lot.

Slowly, he sat up, brushing himself off. Annoyance rippled across his face as he looked up at her.

"Why take your anger out on me?" Arwan asked. "I'm not the cause of your problems. I'm not the one who bargained away your baby. The moment there's even a hint of your labor starting, Morrigan will come to claim it. Or Gwydion. It's always like mother, like son with those two."

As if to emphasize his words, pain rolled through her womb, climbing up her lower back. She gasped and clutched her stomach, barely able to comprehend what he'd just said.

"Whoa," Angela voiced the same shocked thoughts. "Did you just say that Morrigan and that creep Gwydion are mother and son?"