When The Storm Hits

Chapter 44: The Curtian

The Dulahan sat high and mighty upon their black mares staring down at me. Blue light flickered upon my skin as I reached up to the rider that stood in front of me. His hand grip mine strongly as he pulled me up onto his horse. I slowly placed my hands around his waist. A soft chill went through my body. As we turned to leave, Carter came bursting out through the front door.

"Lilly what are you doing?" Carter's screamed.

"Just let me go Carter, I'm doing this for my brother."

"Please, don't go with them. You'll die!"

"As long as he's safe." I said softly hanging my head down low.

I clenched my fists tightly against the riders waist. I could feel his bony torso against my arms. The horse dug it's hooves into the ground, spraying mud as it propelled itself forward. The rain splattered against my face, leaving cold trails of water running down my cheeks. As I turned around to look back at the house, I saw Aidan standing next to Carter. I knew I was making the right choice but my heart ached as I watched them fade into the distance. The rider who I accompanied made his way to the front of the group, and then turned his body so that his head faced me.

"Scream." The head spoke.

"What, why?"

"Do as I say child. Scream."

Gripping the fabric of his clothes in my fists, I leaned around him. Taking in a deep breath, I readied myself. My vocal cords shook violently as I let loose my power. Light burst forth from my mouth, a powerful scream aimed towards the empty space before us.

"Keep going." He spoke again.

My lungs ached as I pushed my body, prolonging the scream. I could feel the lightheadedness start to creep up, but I had to keep going. Keep pushing, keep the power flowing. The stream of light became more intense, filling more of the dark land that laid ahead. And then everything went black.

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My eyes fluttered open, my head pounded as the grey light filled my vision. I couldn't hear a thing, which startled me. The horses and their companions still rode beside us, but still I heard nothing. That's when I looked around, and realized that we were still riding on the same terrain as before.

"What's going on?" I asked. My voice was barely audible, like I was wearing earmuffs.

"Have you not been on this side of the curtain before?" The rider asked.

"What's the curtain?"

"The divide between life and death."

I sat there shocked, as we rode silently. The landscape seemed to waver the more that I tried to focus on it. Buildings faded, showing the people who resided inside like red flickering flames. I also saw clouds of white, like smoke from a snuffed out candle.

"What are those?" I pointed towards the smoke like clouds.

"Spirits." The rider replied, short and sweet.

Now that he said that, it made more sense to me. As we rode the rider explained more about the curtain, something that only the Dullahan and Banshee's can use. It made travel easier, a safe passage that kept mortals from seeing them. The only downfall of the curtain is that it can only be opened with the help of a Banshee, without one there is no way in. I also learned that this riders name was Maxwell. 

"Maxwell?" 

"Yes, child?"

"Are you going to kill me?"

"Maybe someday, but not today." The skull's jaw opened and closed quickly, laughing. 

"What do you mean 'someday'?" I said, making quotation marks with my fingers.

"The only thing that can kill a Dullahan is another one of us, so when your time is up, I may be the one who takes your head."

"But I am not one of the Dullahan."

"You will be."