Angels and Magic

by E. J. Bennett

  All this crossed through her mind. But instead, she asked the more expected question,

  "What's 'the veil'?"

  He closed his eyes, sighing.

  "How to begin. Umm...okay, first things first, this realm, the one we're in currently, is just one out of many. I mean a whole lot. You have no idea just how many others are out there. Now, only two of these are accessible to the average human." he looked like he expected her to understand, she shrugged and lifted her eyebrows, urging him to continue. He did.

  "I'm referring to the realm of the living and that of the dead. See, you all are born here, in the realm of the living, and then when you die? You go to that of the dead. For some, it is smooth sailing, for others, it is a whole different ball game" he paused and raised an eyebrow.

  She noted the perfect arch of it, and shook herself mentally, willing herself to focus.

  "Well. Naturally, these two realms can't meet and have to be separated by something. Which is where the veil comes in. The veil is like a supernatural shroud or curtain. Let's use curtain. It separates the living, from the dead and can only be penetrated by a newly departed soul."

  Leila nodded, taking in everything he was saying. It was a mouthful, and raised questions she'd restrained herself from asking all her life. It even answered a few. Then something struck her,

  "But if that's the case, how were you able to penetrate it?" She asked, hoping to God she was not talking to a ghost.

  "Me?" he seemed taken aback by the question. A bit insulted even.

  "Well, souls give off a certain type of energy. Now, I am made mostly from that energy and hence can transverse between both realms whenever I please. Although, it takes some preparation, and there are rules to be followed strictly."

  She nodded. So he rescued her from the realm of the dead, and now people were dying. Was it a balance thing? She couldn't really see the connection.

  He seemed to read her mind and spoke before she could open her mouth to ask

  "You're wondering why people are dying now aren't you?"

  She nodded, "and more importantly, why am I hearing their names? Why am I being told about it before it happens?" She asked.

  He gave her that look again.

  Really? After telling me about veils and realms of the dead and soil energy, this is what you have a problem with? She thought sarcastically.

  "Well. Have you ever heard of a banshee?" he asked.

  She nodded reluctantly. She had seen it somewhere hadn't she? She felt like she had. Something to do with death. Duh.

  "Well. You entered the realm of the dead, and got brought back to the realm of the living. So, in a way, you are still connected to that realm."

  Her brows furrowed in confusion. He still hadn't explained the deaths, she thought to herself, pushing the thought of her still being connected to the other realm away for now.

  "When I brought you back, I caused a tear in the veil, I've already been over this. That tear has not been mended yet and like I said, not all the spirits who go into the realm of the dead are good. Some of them are malignant and hold everlasting grudges against the realm of the living. So far, only the veil has prevented them from destroying this world, but now, with that tear. . .well, there's no telling what they'll do." He finished ominously.

  "And you say I am connected to the realm of the dead? A what? A banshee? I'm a banshee?" She asked starting to freak out a little.

  "Sort of like one. The Banshees are heralds of death. They know when people are going to die and they scream to signify the time. Much like a death alarm clock. Your connection enables you to know who the malevolent spirits will take next. The Screaming part is optional." he added with a little smile.

  She looked up at him, mentally applauding his attempt to make her feel better about an otherwise shitty situation, by making a joke.

  So she was a banshee.

  Funny, she'd thought that knowing exactly what was going on with her would make her feel better. Or at least provide a solution to her predicament. She'd been wrong. Again. Just like she'd been wrong to think she could stop Sofia from dying. She had no power over what was happening to her. She was just a conduit of sorts. An antenna picking up signals she wasn't supposed to be picking up.

  She looked up. He'd shown a vast understanding of the situation so far, it stood to reason that he could also have a solution to the matter.

  "So" She said, pushing all else aside, only the solution mattered. She would not stand idly by and watch another person she knew, or even one she didn't, die. She didn't think she could handle it.

  "What do we do?"

  He looked at her that way again, letting her question hang in the air between them.

  She suddenly felt self conscious under his heated look. She felt like he was looking into her very being. Then his eyes fell and he replied, just as they arrived at her car.

  "Honestly? I don't know"

  ***

  She was in a dark place and she was alone. She looked around, searching for someone, anyone to describe to her just where she was. She didn't know how she'd gotten there, only that she suddenly was there and had no idea how to leave. The place smelled murky, and despite the pitch blackness that surrounded her, she seemed able to navigate around the area quite easily. It was almost like she was familiar with the place, somehow.

  She heard a noise then and turned sharply towards the direction it came from. She could not see anyone or anything. Counting her steps, she moved towards the direction cautiously. As she drew closer, she was aware that her body grew colder. Before long, she was shivering and her hands were gradually going numb.

  Then all of a sudden, from behind her, she heard a whisper.

  "Leila"

  It was a small whisper, but in the stark silence, it sounded like it was said out of a microphone. She turned towards that direction and made her way towards the sound.

  "Leila"

  It sounded again, this time a bit louder, encouraging her to come closer as she was on the right path. As she took two more steps, she heard her name again.

  "Leila"

  This time it was from a totally different angle. She turned, confused. Who was messing with her? Were they more than one? Why were they messing with her?

  She turned towards the new direction with that super sensory navigating ability she now possessed in the abject, dark place.

  "Leila" She heard again. And again.

  "Leila"

  "Leila"

  "Leila"

  "Leila"

  The voices were coming from all around her now, and she crumbled to the floor grabbing her throbbing ears as the voices increased. Her eyes were shut tight.

  "Leila?" this time the voice sounded closer than ever. She opened her eyes immediately. She recognised the voice.

  Sofia Andrews stood in front of her. No. 'Stood' was a wrong word. 'Hovered' or 'floated' was more apt a description.

  Her face was twisted into a grimace unlike any Leila had ever pulled in life.

  "Why Leila? Why didn't you try harder? Why didn't you try harder? I would have believed you eventually. Why?"

  Then all of a sudden, she was gone.

  Leila got up slowly, but just as she made to move, phantom Sofia appeared from nowhere in front of her

  "Why!?!!" She questioned.

  Leila screamed.

  Leila woke up to see her bed an absolute mess. She'd been thrashing about on the bed while she was dreaming.

  She was glad she hadn't screamed out loud. Her mother would have heard her. She was a notorious shallow sleeper. A feature which was in deep contrast to her father who most said could sleep through a hurricane storm.

  She sat up and looked around, grateful to be awake and at the same time, not appreciating the darkness.

  Eventually, she lay back down. Sleep had deserted her so she just stared up at the ceiling. Now that she knew the details of what was wrong with her, she was even more worried than ever.

  She'd thought that kno
wing would bring with it some level of calm. That when she found out why she heard the things she heard, she would know what to do with it. The reverse was the case however, and she was more confused than ever.

  She recalled Caleb's words

  "Honestly? I don't know" and her heart fell again. She didn't know how much she hoped for a solution until Caleb's words let her know that none was in sight.

  He'd said that he had never heard of the veil being torn before and so had never heard of it being fixed before. Now she didn't even know what to do next. At least, before she knew what was up, she'd had that to keep her busy.

  Caleb had suggested they hit the library to do research, but from his voice, she'd known that he didn't think that they'd find anything of use. But still, it was worth a try.

  Her dream came back to her and she felt immense sadness threaten to overtake her. The previous victims of the torn veil had been people she only knew in passing. But Sofia. Sofia was her friend. She'd been the best babysitter she'd ever had, and she'd had quite a few. Sofia had understood children, and there were even times she'd childishly wished she was her mom. Not that her actual mother wasn't great, but Sofia was old fashioned and very down to earth. Leila had been able to relate with her, even back then, on a level she couldn't relate with most people.

  But you tried, didn't you? Maybe this was just to show you how much that veil needs to be closed she said to herself. It seemed plausible, the whole fiasco may just have been the other realm's way of telling her that it would always get its way. There was no way of stopping death. Once a person was marked, they were marked. In essence, they had been taunting her.

  It stood to reason also, now that she thought about it, that that was the reason Sofia had been so stubborn. Now that Leila thought about it, it had been very odd the way she had refused to believe she was in danger. Could she have been under the influence of some spirit gently nudging her towards her gruesome and inevitable end?

  It seemed highly likely and the thought irked her to no end.

  She hadn't asked for this. There was no reason for them to torture her the way they did. Or was it just an added enjoyment for them watching her stew under their constant hazing?

  She couldn't bear to think of some phantom gaining pleasure from her distress.

  It was only three hours later that she fell into a restless and dreamless sleep.

  ***

  "Good morning, you don't look too good"

  She looked up to see Caleb resting on her car. She glanced over her shoulder. Where had he come from?

  "I didn't sleep too well yesterday" She said, arranging her hair as best she could and smoothing down her dress.

  He smirked as he regarded her cooly.

  "What?" She asked, suddenly feeling very self conscious.

  "Nothing really, it's just something I do sometimes" he said, still regarding her cooly.

  "What? You just look at people and smirk all expressionless and hot? That's something you do?" She asked incredulously.

  He just shrugged.

  "Doesn't that make you kind of a jerk?" She asked wanting him to see how weird it was.

  He shrugged again, then shoved off from the car and went round to the passenger side.

  "I was thinking we'd hit the town library first," he said and she paused.

  Library? What did he think? That she'd just skip school?

  Turned out, that was exactly what he thought.

  "Wait..you weren't thinking of going to school were you?" he asked

  "Err...yes. Obviously" She said, pointing at her book bag.

  "Wow. The world is in literal peril and you're worried about missing a day of school? Bigger picture I think it's called Leila" he said, looking at her like he couldn't believe what she was saying.

  "But we have a library in school. That's the one I used when I was trying to figure this out on my own" She said defending herself. She was surprised to find that she needed to defend herself, she was right? Wasn't she?

  "Oh yeah? And what exactly did you find out?" he asked, arching another perfect eyebrow.

  Oh snap.

  "Well. I did see an article on Banshees and psychopomp...but, admittedly, at the time it seemed to outlandish to even consider" She said still angry at the defensiveness in her tone.

  "The town library has a very wide collection of books on spiritual realms and the likes. If we get there now, we can be done in time for you to go to work at the bookshop. You can continue there while I check some other sources" he said with a note of finality.

  Oh so he was just going to decide for her then? The nerve on this one!

  On the other hand, reluctantly, she agreed with him. She could afford to miss another day of school, but she couldn't bear it if another name started ringing in her ears and she had no way of stopping it. She looked up at him where he was standing, quietly looking at her.

  "Well, I think next time I should be involved in the decision making process" was that her voice? "And I'm driving"

  He simply raised his eyebrow. He almost looked amused.

  "Agreed. And agreed" he said finally, opened the door and took his seat.

  She looked shocked. She had not opened the door. She didn't recall doing it at least. But then, there he was, smugly sitting inside waiting for her.

  She tried her side of the door and it opened.

  "How did you. . .you know what? Never mind. Just don't do it again" She said and started the car.

  Making sure no car was coming behind her, she backed into the street. Eyeing him out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but acknowledge that she felt a lot better with him.

  Somehow, he gave her hope. And that was all she really needed.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  "I think I found something" Leila announced and Caleb rolled his eyes.

  He had good reason to, she had been "finding things" since they got to the library and so far it had all turned out to be nothing.

  "What is it this time? Another person claiming to be a banshee?" Caleb asked

  She shot him a dirty look and pointed at the computer screen,

  "Yes, but this one put an address" She said

  "How do I say this kindly Leila. . ." Caleb started

  "Nicely" She piped in.

  "What?" he looked confused. "What's nice?"

  "You said 'how do I say this kindly' it's meant to be, "How do I put this nicely?"

  "What?" Caleb managed to say, totally short of words. The world was in danger and she was correcting his grammar?

  She smiled, happy to have gotten one over on him.

  "I'm writing down the address. It's not very far. I'll stop by the place on my way to the bookstore. You're more than welcome to join me" She said, taking advantage of his temporary incredulity.

  He just nodded and turned back to the book he was reading.

  If she'd looked then, she would have noticed the slightest hint of a smile.

  ***

  The house loomed in the distance. Beside her Caleb studied a large leather bound book titled "Realms".

  She was certain the writer felt that name would be a real attention grabbing one.

  Realms.

  So far he had not seen anything useful, but he had continued poring over the pages, holding out hope that something interesting might pop up.

  "That's the place" She said slowing down as a sign indicated.

  Caleb barely looked up. He just grunted a reply and turned a well worn page over.

  She guided the vehicle into the driveway. The house looked empty. Not that she'd expected anything less, it was the house of a person who claimed to be a banshee. People tended to stay away when claims like that were thrown around.

  They both got out and Caleb dropped the book on his seat as she proceeded to lock the doors.

  Caleb got to the house first and knocked on the door.

  No response.

  Leila reached up and used the knocker.

  No response.

  "You su
re she's in?" Caleb asked and tried the handle, the door gave way.

  Leila looked at him wide eyed. Now that they we re here, she wasn't so sure she wanted to go in anymore.

  "Maybe she doesn't stay here anymore" She said wanting desperately to believe that.

  Caleb put a finger to his lips and she nodded in understanding. He counted three with his fingers and then opening the door wider, he stepped inside the dark interior.

  Leila rushed in after him, making sure to stay as close as possible. Caleb looked round the room, his eyesight seemingly undisturbed by the darkness. He saw what he was looking for as he moved towards a wall and two seconds later a small bulb flickered on.

  Leila breathed a sigh of relief which was short lived. The living room was a mess. Leila crunched up her nose in disgust. The place was a mess. It didn't look like anyone had lived there in a long time.

  "Something stinks a lot" Caleb noted and Leila nodded in agreement.

  "Okay here's what we'll do. You'll check the kitchen and the bedroom, I'll check the attic and basement"

  Leila nodded. She wasn't exactly eager to check any part of the house on her own, but considering her other options were, attic and basement, she decided she'd been given a fair deal.

  Caleb drew down the attic door and climbed up into its dark recesses. A quick look through the small attic revealed that it was empty. He quickly descended and shut the door. Then he headed for the basement.

  He knew that she must have noted how he didn't need light to see in the dark. His eyes adjusted to changes in light availability a hundred percent. The door to the basement was locked. He held it and twisted, breaking the lock as easily as one would snap a toothpick.

  He knew what they were doing was essentially breaking and entering, but he doubted any neighbour would be calling in a break in at 'the creepy banshee woman's house next door'. He descended quickly, eager to return to Leila.

  He didn't know what it was about her, but he was drawn to her in ways he had never experienced before.

  That had been the reason he helped her the first time. He was on earth simply to observe and await further instructions. So far, no instructions had come. He had lived various lives, travelling from place to place, starting and finishing school over and over again. This town however, was of special importance, and it wasn't just because of her.