The Banshee's Revenge (The Banshee's Embrace Trilogy) (16 page)

"I don't…I don't believe you."

"See for yourself."

Morrigan held the baby out. Jacqueline could see the stark blue eyes of the child turn blood red.

"Oh, god," Jacqueline whispered. "Not my child."

"So you see, this is why the baby must die." Morrigan laid the baby on the table next to Jacqueline. A silver knife materialized in her hand. "Things like this should not be put off."

"What are you doing?" Horrified, Angela reached forward to stop Morrigan, but was pushed away. From the floor, she wailed, "Jacqueline, you can't let her kill the baby. It's just a child."

"An evil child who stole the life your own baby would have had." Morrigan lifted the knife into the air, her eyes intent on the task at hand. "You can't possibly have feelings for a thing like that.  I take revenge for you. I kill the thing that harmed you most."

"Jacqueline, don't let her do this!' Angela screamed

Jacqueline felt horror well in her at the sight of the knife shining in the air. For a brief moment, she imagined it plunging forward, silencing Death who had tormented her all these months. What sweet vengeance that would be!

But then the baby cooed and its head shifted her direction. The blue eyes of her newborn child looked at her, almost as if it recognized her as its mother. Something in those small innocent orbs reminded her of Toby. There was no sign of evil, no sign of the malevolent creature inside. Her child's spirit was still in there--she was sure of it!

She glanced over to see Toby staring at her through the barrier Morrigan had created. His eyes pleaded with her as he mouthed the words, "I love you."

In that moment, Jacqueline felt the rage and doubt flee from her heart.

She wanted this baby to live.

No matter the cost.

Without thought for anything else, Jacqueline summoned her last reserve of strength and grabbed the baby. Holding it close to her heart, she glared in defiance at Morrigan.

To her surprise, Morrigan smiled.

"Good," she said. "I would have hated to have guessed wrong and failed the prophecy."

"What do you mean?" Jacqueline asked, but there was no time to hear Morrigan's answer. She could feel a change happening inside her.

It was different than the cold and pain of dying.

It felt like…well, like life was starting again.

"Oh, wow," Angela said, watching Jacqueline's face. "That is cool. Better than any facial cream I've ever seen advertised."

"What's happening?" Jacqueline asked.

"Your humanity is taking control," Morrigan said. "Toby always knew it was still in you. You just had to have a reason to see it for yourself. Saving the child, even though it could have a terrible entity inside it, activated your humanity. You no longer need my kiss to remind you of who and what you are. Congratulations. You just stopped the dying process."

"Am I better? Will I still be struggling with my powers?" Jacqueline took a deep breath, feeling her body warm to the new changes. "What if I lose control again?"

"You won't," Morrigan said. "At least, I hope not. That's really up to you. I'm leaving my charm for you to wear."

"So I'm still a half banshee and still human?"

"For the time being."

"And the baby?"

"The baby is special," Morrigan said. "As all babies are. Merlin must have mentioned the prophecy to you. It has yet to be completed."

"But the baby…is it healthy?"

"Death is inside it, though she can't control the child completely. That's one of the reasons I would like you to give me permission to care for the child for a while. "

"Isn't that part of the deal Toby made with you?"

"Yes, but I'd prefer to have your blessing, too.  Toby loves you and he knew this would be a huge sacrifice if our plan even succeeded. This doesn't mean you can't see her when you want, but this child is a new thing, a new being. It needs to be kept safe from those who would want to harm her." Morrigan glanced at the fight still raging around them. "There are others like Gwydion out there who want nothing more than a weapon such as this."

"I can see her when I want?" Jacqueline looked down at the small child who looked so peaceful now. "I don't know if I can give her up."

"It's not giving her up, my dear. It's providing her with a type of protection you would not be able to give her."

"I understand," Jacqueline said softly.

"She's so beautiful," Angela cooed, touching the baby's soft skin. "Just like her mother."

Jacqueline grinned.

"I'm glad you're here, Angela. I'm sorry I threw you into a wall."

"Me, too. You owe me some drinks and a bottle of Tylenol to help stop the pain in my head." Angela laughed and looked through the blue shield at the wizards. Gabe took a hard hit to the head and she bit her lip, worried. "Any chance you can stop this pissing contest, Morrigan?"

With a smile, Morrigan collapsed the blue shield and raised her hand. The fireballs in the air froze in place, causing the wizards to turn and look at her.

"It's over, Gwydion," she said, calmly. "The baby is mine and Jacqueline has her humanity back."

Toby hurried over to Jacqueline, while Gabe stayed in a defensive position, keeping an eye on Gwydion.

"Are you hurt?" Toby asked, searching her face. "What happened?"

"I found my humanity, thanks to you," she whispered and kissed him softly. "Everything is going to be alright."

"But the baby…Morrigan's going to…" he broke off.

"She's going to take it. I understand."

"Not if I can help it," Gwydion shouted and aimed all his power at the couple on the couch.

Morrigan blocked his magic with a wave of her hand.

"Settle down," she admonished, anger causing her face to flush. "You're really making me angry now."

"So what if she's got her humanity," Gwydion sneered. "I can kill her easier now. And as for the baby, you don't really think it's safe from me in your realm?"

"No, I don't," Morrigan said quietly. "I'm sorry to do this to you, son. But you are leaving me no choice."

She thrust a blast of blue light at Gwydion. The light wrapped around him in a roar of angry energy, the smell of ozone crackling in the air. His eyes opened wide while his mouth twisted into a silent O of pain.

Little by little his body began to disintegrate.

It started with his fingers turning to a fine dust which crept up his arms and through his torso. He shriveled before them, only his eyes telling of the agony he was going through. They beseeched Morrigan to stop her magic, but she carried on.

A wind blew through the room taking the last bits of Gwydion away as easily as a Fall leaf gets carried through the air.

Morrigan heaved a great sigh and Arwan placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"It's done," she said without looking at them. "You have nothing more to fear from him."

"Oh, Morrigan," Jacqueline said, full of sympathy. "I’m sorry."

Morrigan turned, the ghost of a tear in her eye.

"I'll be back tomorrow for the child," she said, firmly. "We'll talk more about the future then."

Without another word, the goddess vanished.

Arwan smiled at Jacqueline.

"I expect you to start reaping your kinsman's souls as soon as matters are settled with Morrigan." He glanced at Angela, sexual hunger in his eyes. "I don't suppose your friend is a banshee or reaper?"

"No," Gabe spoke for Angela. He stepped up to Arwan. "She's human."

"A pity. She'd be a lovely addition to my court."

With a suggestive wink at Angela, Arwan disappeared.

"We'll leave you two alone. You guys probably have a lot to talk about. I know we do." Angela pushed Gabe towards the door, her tone serious as she started asking him questions. "What's this about you killing Eric?"

"Thanks." Toby waited till they were out of the room and then turned to Jacqueline. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she answered, cradling the baby in her arms. "Have you taken a good look at your daughter?"

"She's beautiful. Like her mother."

"Thank you." Jacqueline reached up and touched his face. "And thank you for not giving up on me."

"Never. I love you."

"I'm lucky."

"Can you…can you forgive me?" Toby closed his eyes. "Our daughter is going away because of me."

"We'll still see her. You did the right thing. We can't give her the kind of protection she needs right now and Morrigan knows how to deal with Death. It's all part of the prophecy. Our child will come out of this alright."

"And us? Will we make it?"

Jacqueline studied him, thinking about what the future might hold.

They'd been through hell already. What else was there that they couldn't conquer?

"Yeah. We're gonna make it. I can feel it, wizard."

"Good, banshee. I'd have hated to go through all this shit for nothing."

Jacqueline laughed, pleased when Toby started laughing, too.

As if knowing that her parents were full of joy, the baby cooed and a feeling of peace descended on them.

For Jacqueline--being in the arms of her man, holding the baby close--it was nothing short of magical.

Morrigan sat in her courtyard by the scrying pond.

The wind was blowing gently around her, carrying with it the scent of the ocean and reminding her of
Ireland
's coast. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, and listening to the murmurings of her realm.

Things were already improving.

Perhaps it was time to take a nap.

But then again, there was the baby to consider. She could hardly spend her time snoozing when the child would need to be educated about the ways of the world and prepared to fulfill the prophecy when the time came. Morrigan was determined to be a good mother to the little one.

Not like last time.

"My lady, you have a visitor," Azreal said from the doorway of the palace. "He insisted on seeing you."

"Send him in."

Morrigan smiled to herself, knowing who the visitor was. She'd sensed him the moment he dared to tread on her realm. Brave man. Fearless. A goddess could respect that even if she no longer loved the man.

"Morrigan."

Merlin's strong voice gave her goose bumps. Damn! He'd always been able to affect her senses. It was part of the reason she'd fallen in love with him so many centuries ago.

"Merlin." Morrigan stood to greet him. "You're looking well."

"Thank you." He nodded at the compliment and managed one of his own. "You only grow more beautiful."

"Flattery is unnecessary." Morrigan tossed her hair and looked him in the eye. "I suppose you know that I've killed our son."

"I'd heard." There was no emotion in Merlin's voice, no hint of how he felt on the matter. "And my granddaughter? I know you have possession of her. What will you do?"

"I'm not going to harm her," Morrigan said. "Death is reborn in her. Though I know it would hurt you greatly if I did, I have no wish to destroy the child."

"Good. It's all part of the prophecy."

"Damn prophecies. You just need to stop making them and let a few be completed."

Merlin smiled at her.

"But prophecies are so much fun and they keep us on our toes. I'm pleased you helped my daughter, too."

"She couldn't help who her father was. Why should I take my anger at you out on her?"

"Still mad then?"

"Always." Morrigan tossed her hair and turned her back on him. "You may go now. I've promised not to hurt the child. There is still a long time to go before the prophecy will even come into action."

"I've never stopped loving you."

Morrigan felt the grief well in her heart and fought back a flood of tears.

"Merlin, I--" she whirled back around only to find him gone.

Figures. He always had the last word.

No matter. There would be other meetings, other battles. Of that, she was sure.

In the meantime, she would raise the child with Toby and Jacqueline's assistance. They would do the best they could to provide a safe environment. No one could ask for more than that...

Morrigan smiled and lay down in the soft grass by the pond.

The wind blew through the courtyard again, soothing her nerves. She let out a deep sigh and savored the feeling of temporary peace trickling through her.

And far away in her realm, everyone else did, too.

Then End.

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