Be Still My Banshee Heart

Chapter 6

The darkness was rolling round with pleasure, stroking its claws down his mind leaving little blood stains as it went.

"Once again we have broke her," it hissed, remembering the pain upon Mary's face when they had shown her the past, the pain it wanted to see on her face for eternity.

"He will return to her," the darkness spat, forcing images of the filthy man from the river into their mind.

Fergus pulled himself tighter into his corner trying to block the images from his mind.

Tears ran from his eyes, his nails were broke, torn and bleeding from the constant clawing at the stone walls.

"You know what I say is true," the darkness sneered.

"The man is a seer, we must take care of him like we did his mother."

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Mary had new purpose, had realized last night that no one was going to help her.

To stand around wailing like, what had he called her, a banshee, aye to stand wailing like a banshee was pointless, was not going to help her.

"I am more than capable of finding you Bethy," she said striding forward with determined steps, "all I have to do is find you."

"It would have been nice if the arrogant arse from the cottage would have helped," she continued to tell herself.

"That arrogant arse is my son."

Mary had been so absorbed by her self observations, that she had failed to notice the older women sat on the wooden bench.

"My husband made this bench," the women said, lovingly stroking the old hand carved wood. "There are quite a few of his crafts scattered about the land, he took real pleasure in turning something so ordinary into something so beautiful."

"It is beautiful," Mary said trying to hurry on her way.

"Yes it is, could do with a lick of paint, I wouldn't go holding my breath though, don't think my Samuel will be keeping anything belonging to me or his father, seems intent on throwing everything out, your right," she said thoughtfully, "he is a bit of an arse."

"Oh lord, I am sorry," Mary would have blushed had she been able to, realising she had just called this womens child an arse.

"No, no don't be silly," the women laughed, "like I said he is a bit of an arse."

"I m Florence, Florence o Neil, you can just call me Flo if you like."

"I have seen you before, down by the river, I believe you also saw me, how was that possible?" Mary asked.

" I have what some might say is a gift, when alive I could see and hear things others could not, now that in death I seem to have a strong connection to those spirits around me."

"You are a seer," Mary gasped, having never used or heard the word before but knowing instantly what one was.

"You can help me," Mary cried, "help me find my baby."

"Oh child, I wish it were so simple, my gift is not strong enough."

"You saw me, by the river, you looked at me with such sadness, if you just try, I am sure you could find her."

"I have sensed her, knew she was here as I knew you were here before my death, I tried to reach her, as I tried to reach you."

"Bethys here," Mary gasped, fresh tears stinging her eyes, "you will help me then?"