The Banshee's Embrace (17 page)

             
"Like what?"

             
"What if Gabriella had been under a command spell, one that would not allow her to have anything to do with Toby?" Jacqueline paused. "It also wouldn't let her talk about who took her newborn baby."

             
"The baby was born dead."

             
"No. I don't think so. I think it was very much alive, but her brother Derek took it."

             
"Toby didn't make her give the baby away?"

             
"Of course not!"

             
What was Matilda talking about?

             
"My theory is that Josiah put a spell on Gabriella. She could remember everything, but couldn't talk about it," Jacqueline explained. "Maybe that's why she killed herself."

             
Tears filled Matilda's eyes.

             
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive, Matilda. I know that was your grandson." Jacqueline rubbed Matilda's arm. "But you see, he's still alive. He could be part of your family."

             
If he isn't completely evil because of Derek's influence
.

             
Jacqueline kept that thought to herself.

             
"Part of the family? After what this family put him through?" Matilda jerked her arm away. "I was better off being raised by strangers than with Toby."

             
Shocked, Jacqueline could only stare at Matilda.

             
The truth hit her. This wasn't Matilda. Just like Angela, the real Matilda had been replaced.

             
"Gabe?" she whispered and glanced at Toby who was busy counting receipts.

             
"Come with me," Gabe instructed. "Unless you want to kill the two women Derek and I stashed in the back office."

             
Angela and Matilda. At least she knew they were alive.

             
She followed Gabe to a booth in the back corner, one just out of Toby's sightline.

             
"What are you planning to do?" Jacqueline asked.

             
"Use you to kill Toby, of course." Gabe rolled his eyes at her. "Don't tell me you hadn't figured out that part yet, Nancy Drew. Honestly, you and your little friend, Angela are so dumb. I'm shocked that I got away with pretending to be Derek during the last half of that miserable dinner I had to share with her tonight. But she never suspected a thing."

             
"Toby is your father. I don't know what Derek did to you all these years, but Toby had no idea you were alive."

             
"Don't lie to me. Derek saved me from the Williams clan. Josiah was going to kill me!" Gabe leaned forward. "What the hell kind of grandfather does that? And he had my father's blessing. Derek told me everything."

             
"He lied to you. Toby knew nothing."

             
"If it weren't for Derek, I would have died. He snuck me out of the hospital and made sure the Harrington family adopted me. He would visit me from time to time, and when my parents were killed in a car accident, Derek became my official guardian. That's when he told me the truth about my father, how Toby killed my mother, took away every chance I had to grow up normal." Gabe's Matilda persona dissolved as he got angry. Good. Maybe if his guard was down, Toby would catch wind of what was going on.

             
"These are all lies," Jacqueline whispered. "Derek only took you because he wanted to hurt Toby. He didn't even care about his own sister."

             
"You weren't there!"

             
"But I've seen it!" An idea came to her. "Listen, I saw a memory of that night. You can't fake a memory, Gabe. Can't you use your own wizard powers to see it?"

             
Gabe contemplated the request.

             
"What do you have to lose?" she pressed.

             
"Give me your hand."

             
She did so and felt a sharp jolt go through her as Gabe closed his eyes and rifled through her brain. It was an odd sensation, but one she hoped would be worth it. Around her, the bar was starting to shut down. People were stumbling to the door as the usual Mumford and Son anthem of Little Lion Man began to play.

             
Soon Toby would come to check her on.

             
Would she be commanded to do something beyond her control?

             
Gabe's eyes opened, but she couldn't quite read the expression in them.

             
"This proves nothing. The Williams family still wanted me dead."

             
"But not Toby." She squeezed his hand gently. "Please, Gabe. Help your father. He wanted you desperately. I don't know who put the spell on your mother, but I do know that Derek has been lying to you."

             
The bar was almost empty to now. Her heart pounded. Whatever Derek's plan was, the time had come for it to unfold.

             
However, she wasn't going to wait for Derek to make a move.

             
She was going to use a little magic of her own.

             
Jacqueline stood and took a deep breath. Gabe didn't notice. He stared at the table, deep in thought.

             
Toby wiped the counter of the bar in slow circles, a slight frown on his face while Angela stood slightly behind him. She smiled at Jacqueline.

             
"Something wrong, Jackie?"

             
"No." She let the power she tried to keep in check the last year build within her. Derek hadn't given her any commands yet. Maybe there was still time for her to exert her free will.

             
Jacqueline could feel the hum begin deep within the core of her being. Her banshee blood flooded her mortal cells, giving her an incredible rush of power as she let her supernatural side take over. It felt so good to surrender to the urges she'd been struggling to repress the last year.

             
A song began to come from her, soft and low.

             
Jacqueline could see the outline of Derek's life essence surrounding him. She concentrated on pulling that glow away from his body.

             
"Jackie. What are you doing?" Derek had dropped his Angela voice. "It's not time for the big show until I say so."

             
"It's time for my show," she muttered, sending all her energy at the pulsating glow.

             
Toby flung out his arm. The action caused Derek to slam into the coolers behind him. His Angela façade disappeared.

             
"Thought that was you, Derek. I like Angela, but if she were still running the bar, all the wine would be gone. What did you do to her?" Toby asked. "And what kind of spell did you put on Jacqueline? I thought her escape came a little too easily."

             
"Doesn't matter." Derek lifted his hands. A fireball glowed between them. "You should be worried about what I'm going to have her do to you."

             
But the threat was weak.

             
His face grew pale as more and more of his life essence was pulled away.

             
Toby walked over to him. Summoning a great breath, he blew out the fireball.

             
"I think my girl has everything under control," he said.

             
"Does she?"

             
Derek gave him an evil smile.

             
"Jacqueline, I command you to kill Toby."

             
Immediately, Jacqueline felt the change in her powers. Her intention shifted though she hadn't intended for it to. She let Derek's essence go, watching it bounce back into him. But she couldn't stop the energy, couldn't stop the haunting melody that sprang from her lips, pulling at the soul of the man she loved.

             
"Isn't she beautiful," Derek murmured. "Her song is absolutely hypnotic. She'll make a lovely banshee when the time comes. Once my family has no further use for her, we'll give her a magnificent death. But until then, she and I are going to have some fun times together."

             
Toby sagged against the wall. His face contorted with pain, but his eyes---oh how they begged and pleaded with her to stop. It was as if she was another person and this new persona didn't care about anything but reaping souls.

             
"Fight it," Toby gasped. "Fight it!"

             
Tears streamed down Jacqueline's face.

             
"Jacqueline, I love you. I know you feel it. Please… fight the spell. You can do it," he encouraged even as his strength faded.

             
His words pulled at her heart. She had to get control over her powers, had to break the spell!

             
But it can't be done. Think about what it did to Gabriella
, her mind whispered.

             
There was movement in her peripheral vision, but it didn't distract her from what she was doing. Little by little, Toby's soul pulled free of his body. Her song grew louder, full of lament.

             
A hand clamped down on her mouth while another reached across her eyes, blinding her. The urge to sing continued, but it was lessened without a target.

             
"Derek, before I allow this woman to kill my father, I want you to explain a few things," Gabe said. "Jackie, remember how you were able to control the power earlier this morning? You can break this spell. There is hope."

             
"What are you doing? Let her finish Toby! This is what we've waited for. "

             
"Did you put a spell on my mother?" Gabe asked, still holding tight to Jackie.

             
"Of course not. She was my sister!"

             
"Did she know that I was alive?"

             
"Who has been telling you these things?"

             
"Gabe, I don't know what happened to Gabriella. My father intended to kill you, but it didn't happen. I don't know why, though I'm very glad." Toby's weak voice reached his ears. "The only way to know the truth is if we work together."

             
What was happening? Frustrated, Jacqueline wished she could see the action.

             
This was so ridiculous. Why couldn't she just control her powers? She was a half banshee after all. The other half of her was mortal and still in control of her free will.

             
I AM in control, she thought. I have to stop this spell. There is hope!

             
She pictured Toby's soul going back into his body, fighting the stabbing pains in her head as she worked against the command spell.

             
To her delight, Jacqueline heard Toby say, "The spell. She's breaking the spell. I can feel it."

             
"Impossible," Derek sneered. "If the hag couldn't break free, than this little half-breed certainly can't."

             
"Release her, Gabe," Toby urged.

             
Gabe removed his hands.

             
Toby stood at the bar, a smile on his face. She no longer had the urge to reap his soul.

             
Derek stared at her, open-mouthed, while the other two wizards in the room turned their attention on him. As if one, they closed in. He attempted to make a break for it. Darting around the bar, Derek headed for the door.

             
"Oh, no you don't!" Jacqueline called out. Her power blazed to life and she yanked at the edge of Derek's life essence. He staggered and she pulled harder, amazed at the strength of her skills. "Quickly, boys, before he has time to come up with a spell."

             
Gabe and Toby rushed to him and both began chanting.

             
They were sucked into the past.

             
"I can't do this." Josiah Williams stared down at the small baby Gabriella held in her arms. "My grandson must live."

             
"What?" Derek looked stunned. "You would go against the Brotherhood? They won't allow a wizard of mixed blood to be born. They'll kill you."