Be Still My Banshee Heart

Chapter 8

Mary had seen the sky darkening from the church yard, full of fury she had swept across the land towards the darkness, towards Fergus.

Upon seeing the creature he had become bile had risen in her throat.

The knowledge that not only had he broken her baby, but that he had stolen her away as well tore another scream from her throat.

She had watched as the creature Fergus had become, the creature he had become so long ago, only now it showed on the outside not just the in. She watched as it had thrown Samuel against the shed intent on destroying him.

She felt her own rage overcome her.

"Mary, Mary," the voice begged, "please Mary come back."

Mary could hear the voice in the distance, was trying to reach it, to fight through her anger.

"I saw Bethy, I spoke to her," the voice continued to plead.

Feeling her body start to spasm, Mary slowly fought through her rage, felt the anger slowly fade, till she was once more staring into Samuels blue eyes.

Samuel watched as Mary's black eyes began to clear, made way for the true brown of her eyes to return.

"No Banshee huh," he unwisely joked, having just witnessed the extent of her power.

Rolling her eyes she reached down to help him up, "oh lord," she gasped, reaching up to move his hair to the side, "you have only gone and cut your head wide open."

"Me," Samuel said pointing to himself, "I have gone and cut my head open, I did no such thing, did you not just see that thing that threw me across the garden?"

Mary looked uncomfortable, avoided eye contact, "I think that thing may have been my husband."

Samuel went silent at that announcement, gave himself a chance to absorb the information.

"I don't think he likes me," he finally said, causing Mary to splutter a laugh.

"You always seem to make me smile Samuel o Neil, even in the most dire of circumstances."

"Happy to be of service, but honestly I can't see the attraction."

"He wasn't always like that, he lost himself a long time ago never found his way back," she said sadly.

Mary shook herself out of her thoughts there was more pressing concerns to deal with at the moment, like the bleeding man stood before her.

"Come on now with you, let's be getting you inside and having a look at that cut you have yourself there."

**********************************

As they made their way to the cottage Samuel noted that the sky was once again bright, the wind no more than a gentle breeze.

Jess was no longer barking wildly, only a small whine could now be heard through the door.

As soon as the door was opened Jess was on him, jumping up his legs trying to get closer. For the first time, Jess was oblivious to Mary, her only concern for him.

"It's alright girl," he gently soothed, "I'm okay."

Trying to get past Jess to the kitchen was pointless.

Jess was to upset, wouldn't stop dancing round his feet, so he planted himself on the floral sofa, Jess lay across his lap finally settling, as Mary went in search of supplies to patch up his head. Moments later Mary returned with a plastic bowl filled with warm water and a bright pink wash cloth, Samuel cursed again over his Ma's love of all things pink, floral and frilly.