Bye Bye Banshees, page 4
The desperation in Willa's voice snapped me out of it, and I gave her a half sincere smile. "I know you are. And I'm gonna do my best to make sure that everyone is safe. So, what you got for me, Shade?"
Willa and I both looked up at him as he pulled two large swords out of the bag. Willa blinked wildly and shook her head. "I'm going to leave before I get too nervous."
She hurried over and grabbed her bag, pausing for a second. She stared at Shade and then ran toward the SUV. As soon as she was inside, Shade let out a deep cackle and put the swords back in the bag. "Now I know how to get rid of the Fae."
I shook my head at him. "That wasn't nice."
"No, but I know that when you're around Willa, you aren't as tough. And you're also not as focused because you're worried about her. So we will start out with some running and then work on hand-to-hand combat techniques. You gotta get the base down before you can really do a lot of sparring anyway."
My lip twisted, and my nose scrunched. "Running? Fighting with those swords sounds like more fun than running."
Shade shoved a bottle of water into my hand and slapped me on the back, taking off across the field. "Come on, slowpoke, you're not gonna get any pity looks from me."
I growled as I twisted the top off the water bottle and took a long drink, setting it back down on the table. I zipped up my hoodie and threw the hood up over my head, rolling my eyes. "Good, because I don't need your pity, nor do I want it."
When Shade said we were going to do a little running, what he actually meant was we were going to do enough laps around the enormous piece of property that I could have run to another country and back again. By the time we were done running, and I had gotten back to the table, I laid down in the grass face first with my arms and legs spread wide, trying to catch my breath. Everything felt like Jell-O, and I knew the next day I would be in a load of pain. What was I thinking? I had done sunrise yoga about four times, and every morning I woke up feeling as if I'd been run over by the vegan food truck that sat outside waiting for us to be done.
But I wasn't the only one that was breathing heavily. Shade was standing just a few feet away from me, his hands on his knees, panting. He glanced over me and laughed through his wheezing, plopping down on his ass with his arms over his legs. "Okay, maybe I got a little overzealous with the run, but I figure we're going into unknown territory, and we have no idea how long we're going to have to be hiking, running, walking, or anything else that might happen. So I figure it's better to be overprepared than underprepared and die just because we can't keep up the pace of running from something."
"Or I could just die from your running and never actually make it to the other realm."
As he laughed at me, I put both hands down on the ground and lifted myself up, rolling over onto my back before sitting up. "What's next? More torture?"
Grunting as he stood up, he reached his hand down to help me. I paused, giving him a nasty look before taking his hand and letting him launch me into the air. I tumbled forward, but he grabbed my elbows, our cheeks brushing against each other. The feeling that trilled through my chest was very similar to my magic, but I knew it wasn't that. Nonetheless, I pushed it down, knowing it was not the time, and I did not smell like anyone that a witch, human being, or even werewolf would want to get close to.
We both quickly pulled back, and I brushed the dead grass from my stomach. Shade rolled his shoulders and took a stance in front of me, his arms by his sides, his hands clenched into fists, and his legs shoulder-width apart. He nodded his head in my direction. "Okay, come stand next to me and just mimic my movements."
I did as he asked, not wanting to play around and waste time. I was already ready to go back home. For the next hour or so, we went through different successions of movements very similar to what I'd seen in martial arts videos. The actions were slow and smooth, and we repeated them over and over again. While it seemed like a dance between the two of us, I could definitely see how committing those movements to memory could help you block physical attacks and even attack others in the process. I just didn't know how I would memorize them in two weeks.
Ultimately it was the best cooldown I ever had, and I learned from it too. I didn't, however, think that that's the only thing we would do the first day for physical practice.
When we had finished our tenth repeated succession of the movements, and I had basically managed to stumble through without too many side glances, Shade clapped his hands. "Good, now, let's get back home and get showers, eat some food, and prepare for tomorrow."
I paused, watching him walk over to the table and grab his bags. "That's it? That was my physical training for the day? Run until I collapsed and then memorize a routine?"
Shade glanced over at me and smirked. "Trust me, within two weeks, you'll be wishing you were back to this. Besides, in order for you to understand how to do all of the movements that I'm going to show you to protect yourself and to fight back, you're going to have to know the basics of it. You have to memorize the base so that it's not even a thought, you just move through the movements, and it's automatic for you. That's basically how we are gonna start out every single day, doing that multiple times before we actually start any other kind of training. I know you think it's silly, but when you're in the heat of battle, there's no time to think or try to remember what move you should use. The more you can automatically block things and attack back the more room you'll have in your head to be planning three steps ahead of your enemy. Sometimes it can save your life."
My life…but what about everyone else's?
I would have been worried if I had any energy left in me, but worry wasn't on my radar. Sleep was on my radar, and if I had enough strength to shovel food in, maybe that too. I really had no idea how I would be physically and magically ready in two weeks to save the Witch King. But I did know, if I didn't, the Collector would win every battle afterward. And that meant the end to everyone.
6
Callie
* * *
The sounds around me were muffled, and all I could think about was how tired I was.
Everybody had gotten together at a giant magical table they put in the room to eat. I guess, just to be around each other. I could hear the clanging of silverware, glasses, the laughter, and the screeches of the kids at their table, but it all sounded muffled and in the distance.
My body hadn't even waited until the following day to start aching, and it pulsed through me like a heartbeat. I couldn't remember ever being that tired, not in all my years. I wanted to blame it on being forty, but who could run and do magic on that level in one day and not be exhausted? I didn't think my age was playing into it at all.
Okay…maybe just a little.
"Hello, earth to Callie."
Willa's voice woke me from my half-sleep, and I slurped out of instinct, raising some giggled laughter from the kids’ table. I realized I was sitting there with my elbow propped, the food on my fork, and the bite hovering inches from my mouth. How long I had been sitting like that, I had no idea, but from the temperature of the food, I'd have to say, quite a while.
"You alright?" Willa asked with a smirk.
I sniffled and set my fork down, grabbing the napkin that was slipping off my lap. I blotted the drool from my chin, trying to be nonchalant since I knew Shade was about three seats down and across the table and probably having a grand old time watching me. "Yeah, I'm just exhausted."
She gave me a knowing smile and nodded toward the second floor, where my room now was. "Why don't you go to bed? You've got an early morning anyway, and I think you ate enough to survive tomorrow. I'll make sure that we have breakfast."
I hated to leave the party, considering I was pretty sure that the witches had put it together for me, but I couldn't keep my head up much longer. The last thing I wanted to do was pass out straight onto my plate, drowning in a pool of gravy. I set my napkin on my plate and nodded, pushing back my chair. The woman next to me patted my leg. "I'll take care of your plate. I'm not sure that you have it in you to make it all the way to the kitchen sink and then back up to your room."
I kept forgetting how big the house had gotten, and I was thankful. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. Her name was Magda, and she was one of the elder witches. You could always find her with a kid in her lap and a smile on her face no matter what. I wasn't sure how old she was, but I could tell she had seen a lot. I hoped by the end of all of it, I could still smile like she did.
I gave Willa a nod and pushed my chair in before heading toward the stairs. Maybe it was rude that I didn't say goodbye to Shade or the others, but I had one thing on my mind: it was fluffy and warm. As I climbed the winding staircase, I gripped tightly to the wooden banister, watching each step I took so I wouldn't make a face-first fall up the stairs giving them even more to laugh at. I could hear the whispers from the children, and I knew they were watching me. I paused about halfway up and slowly looked over at them, crossing my eyes and sticking out my tongue. They squealed and laughed, huddling together. I chuckled and shook my head, finding it so strange that I found joy in things that I never thought I would… like kids.
The soles of my feet barely left the floor, and I could hear the shuffling sound that they made as I dragged my body down the hallway and to my room. I was so glad that I took a shower as soon as I got back before the adrenaline had worn off. Otherwise, I was pretty sure that by morning I would have been crusted to the bed. It would've been that, or I would've drowned in the shower before bed. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I was thankful again for the silence of my room. I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the mattress, giving myself props for putting on sweatpants and a T-shirt after my shower, so I didn't have to change when I got up to the room.
With my knees pressed against the edge of the bed, I fell forward, stiff, not even putting my hands up to catch the fall. My face bounced against the soft mattress, and my fingers inched up the clean sheets, pressing down to pull the rest of my body up. Instead of worrying about lifting up to get under the covers, I took one side and burrito-rolled myself. It was a trick I learned in college. I bunched the comforter under my chin, leaving the top half over my head. I wasn't sure if I was so comfortable just because I was exhausted or because it was just that amazing. Either way, I was out within thirty seconds.
But just because the sleep came quickly didn't mean the dreams stayed away. Who knew how long I had been asleep, but I opened my eyes, finding myself in the realm of souls. Again, everything was gray and muted, just like the long plains I had been to several times before. Only this time, the Banshee wasn't there, and in her place was a large gray tree with vibrant purple flowers. The color of the leaves was almost painful to look at against the muted background, but at the same time, absolutely beautiful.
My eyes took in every knot, twisted branch, and fluttering leaf until it reached the base of the tree. Sitting there was a man. His legs were spread out in front of him, and he pressed his back against the tree. He had long, messy hair and the bluest eyes I think I had ever seen. They weren't blue like the sky or like Willa's. They were teal and deep. His gaze shot from the ground up to mine and I felt locked in his stare. It was in that moment, though I had never really seen him, I knew it was Shade's brother.
It was the Witch King.
My breath caught in my throat, and I went to step forward, but my feet were being held back. Flowing in and out of my legs, circling my body, were the souls. I could hear them bellowing and groaning as they gripped onto me. Panic began to flood me, and I looked back up at the Witch King, and his eyes, as if I were watching him in real-time, began to fade. I knew I needed to get to him, but the harder I fought, the stronger the souls became.
They twisted up waist-high. I tried to push against them, beckoning my magic, but nothing would come. I could feel it swelling inside of me, but I couldn't get it out for some reason. Everything in me pulled me toward the Witch King, and I knew if I didn't break free of the souls, I would be too late. He would be lost.
Everything would be lost.
7
Shade
* * *
I felt strange sitting at the table.
Yes, I was surrounded by my people, and yes everybody was laughing and having a good time which warmed my heart, but there was so much to be done. It was only the first day of training, but I couldn't help but think about how much time was quickly ticking by.
Before we knew it, it would be time to leave. I wasn't sure how much more I could push Callie than I had done that day. I was actually impressed with how well she did. I knew I was a bit of a tyrant, pushing her harder than I was even able to really go myself, but I needed to see how far she would push herself. To be honest, I thought I was gonna go down before she did.
When everyone began taking plates from the table, I stood up to help, but several older witches shook their heads at me and took my plate. They liked to take care of people, and being there gave them that ability. In fact, it gave them more of an ability to do that than it did back in our old city. Nonetheless, we would eventually have to go back home, as we couldn't live at Callie's forever. But that wasn't the most pressing thing on my mind. I knew that my brother was sitting in the soul realm, out of reach of even the banshees, wasting away. I knew that the Banshee wouldn't leave him there for two weeks if she knew he wouldn't make it that long, but in my mind, every day that he stayed there was a day closer to his death.
Not feeling like really socializing at that point, I snuck off to the stairwell, heading up to my room. As I climbed the steps, I glanced over at Willa, who gave me a nod and went back to smiling and laughing with the witches. It was strange to me that it had become so normal to see a witch and a Fae laughing like there was no history between them and nothing to be angry about. Though, I supposed that the past was not ours anyway. We really didn't have anything to fight over at that point. Just by trying to save my brother and her trying to save her father, we had started to mend relationships that had been a struggle for centuries. My brother was going to be shocked.
I chuckled to myself just thinking about that.
If my brother could see me now…
I glanced over at the door to Callie's room as I headed toward mine. As I passed, I heard her voice, screaming over the magical spell we had put on her room to help keep the noise out. Immediately my muscles tightened, and my mind cleared. I raced forward, grabbing the door handle. Unfortunately, the door was locked, and Callie was screaming louder. Taking a step back, I used my magic, unlatching the door with very little care that I would break it. I had no time to worry about a door. As soon as the lock unhitched, I kicked the door open and raced inside. I looked right and left, expecting to see someone, anyone attacking her, but instead, she was rolled up in her bed, thrashing back and forth.
My heart slowed just a bit, at least knowing she just had a dream. Sometimes I forgot how human Callie really was and how even though she had been part of this whole thing, she was very young in the magical world. The things she saw had really affected her, and unfortunately, we didn't have time to talk about that with her. I hoped that when we got back, we would have that time.
Carefully, I walked up to the side of the bed and leaned forward, putting my hand on Callie's shoulder. Before I could lean forward to whisper gently to her, she whipped over, her eyes wide, her arms pulling free from the blanket. She thrust her arm out and struck me in the chest with magic flowing from her. I was off my feet before I could even think, flying across the room and slamming into the wall. Immediately, visions began to soak through my mind, and I could see her in her dream. She was fighting souls as they wrapped themselves around her. She was in the dim and dark spaces of the Soul Realm, but directly in front of her was a tree with bright purple leaves. At its base was my brother. I could see the life leaving his eyes.
Pain seared through my head, and I squeezed my eyes shut, wrapping my hands around my temples. The vision faded, and the pain went with it just as Willa came rushing into the room. "Oh my God! Are you okay?"
I nodded with squinted eyes and pointed toward Callie. Willa put up her hands cautiously and took languid steps toward her. Callie was sitting in the bed, panting, looking around wildly. As Willa walked forward, she spoke cautiously but with care in her tone. "Hey, Callie, it's okay. It's just a dream. You're in your room and safe."
I watched as her breath began to slow and the haze that was over her eyes retracted. The magic circling around her fists dissipated, and she leaned back against the headboard. "I…" She looked down at her hands and gasped, sitting straight back up in the bed. Her eyes found me quickly, and I pushed the pain back, pulling myself to my feet so that she didn't think that she hurt me too badly. I knew that she hated hurting anyone, especially me. "Shade, I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry. I thought you were…."
I grunted as I lifted myself from the ground. "One of the souls holding you back?"
Confusion rushed over her face. "Yes… How did you…."
Straightening out my shirt, I took a deep breath and carefully walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge. I wanted to reach out and touch her but thought better of it. Willa was squeezing her hand, and both of them were staring at me. "When you hit me, I saw your dream. But I don't think it was a dream. I don't know if it came from the Banshee or from my brother himself, but it was a message. We may have to wait two weeks, but when we get there, we will have to hurry. My brother won't make it there much longer. I could feel the life draining from him."
