Fighting the Flames (Firefighter Romance #1)(57)
“Think about it.” Toby interrupted her thoughts. “If you were a wizard and you wanted to wipe out other wizards, wouldn’t having someone like you do the dirty work be easier. Not for you, of course. I’m not saying you’d enjoy it, Jacqueline. But I've already seen what happens when they harness an actual banshee.”
“The hag.” Jacqueline thought back to the strange woman outside the bar the night before. “How did they capture her?”
“I don't know, but I do know that there can be only one family banshee. That particular hag—she belonged to yours. Your 'almost death' a year ago made her vulnerable. Any spirit can be controlled when its powers are split. I bet the wizard who wants you had been using her to track your movements.”
“I don't understand. If I'd died, what would have happened to the woman?”
“She would have gone on to the other side, her job completed.”
“And I would have become the banshee?”
“Yeah.” Toby leaned back in his chair and stretched again. Jacqueline watched his flexing muscles as he twisted his torso. “Yeah. I think that's what would have happened. In fact, she probably knew you were going to die and was there that night, ready to pass on the power. Only Eric messed that up when he saved you. So the power became split.”
“I didn't hear any wailing or singing,” Jacqueline pointed out. At least not at first but she kept that to herself.
“The rain,” Toby said. “It was raining, right?”
“Yes. And just on my house.” She said the words slowly, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. “So that was her?”
“I think so. I've never really encountered a banshee transfer before, so I'm just guessing here.”
Another short silence surrounded them as Toby stared at her. In the time they’d spent chatting, her cheeks had settle into a low burn. The intensity of his attention never wavered either. She touched the silver box sitting in front of him.
“So what is this?” she asked. “I found it in Eric's things, but haven't been able to open it. It looks old.”
“It belongs to you.” Toby pointed to a symbol etched into the top of the tarnished box. “That represents an Irish knot, very powerful magic. It is the symbol of one of the Irish families that banshees belong to.”
“Which family does it represent?” She traced the pattern.
“I'm not sure, but if it's your family, then you should be able to open it.”
“I've tried, but it's stuck.” To prove her point, she lifted the box and tried to pry the lid off with no success. “Damn it.” She dropped the box back on the table. “I'm dying to know what's inside it.”
Toby retrieved a knife from one of the cabinet drawers. How did he know where she kept them?
“Let's try this,” he said and handed it to her.
Determined, Jacqueline took the knife and ran it in the groove that separated the lid from the rest of the box. Unfortunately, the knife slipped, pricking her finger.
“Ouch!” A drop of crimson blood grew on her skin.
Toby examined the wound, shaking his head as a spark of electricity caused a drop of blood to fall onto the silver box. His touch warmed her, and as she watched, he slid the finger into his mouth slowly sucking on her cut. A delicious tingle coursed through her center, and her breath quickened.
Something in Toby's eyes changed. They warmed, and she wondered what he could be thinking. Was she imagining the tension between them? Her head clouded with crazy images of the two of them entwined in a deep kiss, bed sheets wrapped all around them.
“Better?” He kissed her finger before letting go of her hand. “You need to be more careful.”
“Toby, I—” But before she could continue the thought, the silver box shook. The Irish knot sank into the box, and the top sprang open. “What is that?”
She picked up the box.
“Jacqueline, wait. Don't look inside—”
Toby waved his hands. But it was too late. A burst of light shot from the little chest, and with it came the anguished howling of a thousand voices, each screaming in horror. Some of the light drifted into Jacqueline's eyes, turning them a deep green that reflected in the lid. She could hardly think. The scream of the voices were so loud, so overwhelming, so tempting…In her head, the voices became one, a wailing symphony commanding her. She looked at Toby and smirked.
“It's time for you to die, Toby Williams.” Her voice altered into a strange, almost cackling tone. “Time for you to become part of the collection.”
Toby pushed back his chair, already whispering what sounded like a spell.
“No need for magic, wizard. I can kill you without it.”
With a triumphant smile, Jacqueline stood. The light swirled all around her, and she breathed it in, loving the power that emanated from the box’s magic. Her conscience raised its head, shouting in the recess of her mind, as if to remind her that what she was about to do this was wrong, but the new power, the amazing energy from the silver box overrode the voice.
“DIE.” The newfound power thrusted at Toby, leaping from her hands. Sweat beaded on her forehead as heat boiled in her veins. His eyes widened with fear, but before he could defend himself, the energy overtook him. Toby plunged to the floor, his wide, lifeless blue eyes staring at her and his mouth was open.