Page 142 of Echoes of the Banshee

My fingers trace my lips as I stare at her door.

Thea kissed me.

I had not expected that. I’d heard kisses described as fireworks or dancing tongues. Either those people were doing it wrong or this kiss was — well, fuck, it was astounding. Dizzying at first, like I had no air to breathe, then the world reoriented itself.

When I opened my eyes and looked at the new center of gravity, she cried.

My footsteps echo loudly up the stairs and I walk in a daze to my room. My bed squeaks as I collapse onto it.

It wasn’t my fault.

She kissed me.

Right? She did kiss me first.

Yes, she had to. She turned my face. I don’t remember anything after that.

Was she just… No. She was crying because I’m not who she’s looking for.

The banshee.

A matter of life and death.

Is that why she trains so hard?

Is she being chased by this banshee? Has one already keened for her?

No.

She wouldn’t kiss someone she thinks will kill her.

And that kiss.

But still she cried.

The alarm on my phone rings out. Time to go train with Thea.

I don’t think she’s going.

Still I change and run to the training grounds. Keeping myself busy as the time of her arrival comes and goes. After spending nearly my entire existence training alone, I seem to have forgotten how. After less than ten minutes, I’m bored.

After an hour of a lot of waiting and not much exercising, I head to the cafeteria. They have fish and chips today and I eat a few bites as I wait to pay. My mother’s family is from England and we usually spend a month there each summer. The coven house is amazing with huge lands, and I used to love exploring the woods.

Until the Briarhold Massacre cursed me.

That’s the real secret of my shadows.

I follow them as they swarm excitedly around Thea’s seat, as if checking in each corner to see if she’s hiding there. When I sit down they reluctantly return to my side of the booth.

The fish and chips don’t taste as good as I’d expected. Bland.

I must lose track of time because my food is cold and I hear Zair’s voice. My watch says it’s almost nine. Without waiting for them to see me, I toss my food and head to my dorm. As soon as I’m ready for bed the shadows start yanking.

“No.”

They swarm around me angrily then yank again.

“She doesn’t want to be around me,” I tell them as I slip on my shoes and follow them anyways. Thankfully they don’t press, letting me sink into the shadows by the stairs and watch her door. I barely get any sleep before it’s morning and time to go get ready. I meet up with Zair as we walk towards Thea’s dorm. Thankfully he isn’t a morning person so doesn’t seem to notice my mood.