When The Storm Hits

Chapter 24: Cold Skin

We ate breakfast in silence. Aidan sat to my right, Carter on my left, and Landon say across from me. I kept my eyes fixed on my plate as I ate, not wanting to make eye contact with Landon. The food that I made actually turned out to be edible, which was a shock for me. Usually I can't cook to save my life.

Carter cleared his throat, "Maybe I can talk to Uncle John about you and Aidan staying in the guest house instead of me."

"Oh, um, thank you Carter. I think that would be a great idea. Hopefully I can find a job soon so that I can get us an apartment. I hate being a bother." I moved the last of my eggs around my plate.

"You aren't a bother Lillian." He bumped his leg against mine.

"Carter, this isn't even your damn house." Landon grunted.

My head snapped up from my plate. "Watch your language around my brother."

Landon's eyes widened at the look on my face, "Sorry."

"You should be," I said standing up. I took my plate, scraped off the small remnants of food and left the plate in the sink. "When you're done please take care of the dishes."

"Sure," The boys mumbled.

As I walked up the stairs to my room I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to see Carter trailing after me like a baby duck. He ran a hand through his black hair and gave me a nervous smile. I pressed my lips together and walked into the white walled room. He too, walked through the doorway.

"Do you need something Carter?" I asked him.

"Where was he last night?" Carter asked in return.

"He was at a girls house." I replied.

"Oh, fuck."

"Oh fuck is right." I hissed.

"I didn't think he was like that." Carter said to me.

"Well, neither did I. But after what we went through together, I'm not surprised that this happened." I said sitting down on my bed.

"What do you mean, what did you guys go through?" Carter seemed curious.

"Well, on the night my mother died Landon and I were out in search of a woman we saw by the side of the road. This was after a few younger children had been murdered. We ended up finding the woman, but she wasn't what we had expected. She wasn't....human." I laid on my back and stared up at the ceiling. "She looked like a zombie, and was carrying a shriveled up human head in a glass box. Then, the woman ripped my heart out of my chest, and then replaced my heart with hers. The woman ended up being my mom. So now, she's gone, and I'm still alive with my mothers heart beating in my chest."

"You're serious?" Carter looked at me like I was crazy.

"I'm more serious than I have been in my entire life." I said with a straight face.

"Why would your mom do that?" He asked me.

"Because she was a Banshee, and now I am one." I groaned.

"What is a Banshee?" Carter inquired.

"She is the Celtic Wailing Woman. She rides with the Dullahan, or what most people know as the Headless Horseman."

"Wait, there's a Headless Horseman now?" Carter looked freaked out.

"Have you ever seen the statue downtown?" I asked him.

"No." He replied.

"Well, apparently he was a big deal when this town was being founded." I handed him my book from Mr. Butler's class. "Read this."

***

By the time night rolled around, I had only left my room to eat. Aidan had spent most of the day with me, we played countless videogames. I was glad that Landon had kept his distance, I didn't know what I would do if he even slightly pissed me off.

As I laid in bed that night, I remember hearing the sound of my window opening. I sat up in bed and reached over for the light switch, but I did not need it. The blue light that shined from the Horseman's head was enough to illuminate the whole room. I prayed that Aidan stayed asleep on the couch. It's dead eyes stayed fixed on me, and this time it wasn't a dream.

"Aistrigh," He spoke.

I looked down and watched as my clothing went from my fuzzy cat pajamas, into my long black dress. This time I wore gloves, and in my hand I held a cloak. I swung the cloak around my shoulders, it fit perfectly.

"Are you ready Banshee? For tonight we kill." The head said to me.

"Yes, I am ready. What is it you said earlier?" I stepped closer to the lantern.

"It is the Irish word for change. It brings about the Banshee from your human form." His voice was still raw.

I picked the glass box up and moved closer to the open window. Below me the body of the Horseman stood, ready to catch the both of us. I smiled down at him, and let my self fall. He caught me smoothly and the set me on the ground. The Rider took the head gratefully and climbed onto a single horse, then he pulled me up after him.

"Tonight, where do we ride?" I asked.

"To kill the priest, this time for real."

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Thank you so much for reading my new chapter! Leave a comment is you have any questions or what not, and vote if you enjoyed. Voting helps me know that you are liking my book! Much love- Morgana