7 #2
Ofelia shook her head. “No, she wasn’t. She was angry at her father for forcing her into a marriage that she didn’t want in the first place. She didn’t like her husband. She didn’t want to be embarrassed. He wasn’t breaking her heart or anything. Her father is the one who broke her heart.”
Sully considered it. “So, are you saying it’s only romantic anger that fuels a banshee?”
“No, but I think it’s a stronger type of anger. When there’s heartbreak involved, that’s the ultimate anger, right?”
Sully finished chewing a bite of his food before answering. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been angry enough with you to test that theory.”
“Oh, so cute.” Ofelia rolled her eyes, causing him to laugh. “It makes sense to me, although I’m still figuring it out.”
“Okay, what do you think our options are?”
“Well, I want to chase the deaths,” he replied. “I want to talk to the families of our victims.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Banshees kill unfaithful men, right?”
“Oh.” Ofelia nodded. “They do, but it’s not just unfaithful men. Sometimes wives who have been left by husbands, even if there’s no infidelity involved, can change. Sometimes it’s sisters angry at brothers or daughters angry at fathers. Sometimes it’s just women angry at boyfriends.”
“I’m not sure I understand the rules,” Sully admitted. “I didn’t know that scratching someone could be a cause for an infection. I always assumed it was a case-by-case thing.”
“It can be, but the scratches are more effective. Let me see if I can explain.” Ofelia took another bite and a drink of her iced tea before continuing.
“So, the legend of the first banshee is hundreds of years old. A woman was mourning her husband, was overcome by grief, and then she found out he was cheating on her. She couldn’t have kids, or something, but the other woman had his children, and she just lost it and turned into a banshee. ”
It was a serious conversation, but Sully couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “You don’t believe that story. I can tell.”
“It’s a legend for a reason,” she replied. “I’m sure that happened to somebody at some time. There’s no way that was the story of the first banshee, though. I’m guessing the first banshee happened thousands of years ago, not hundreds.”
“Ah. That makes sense.”
“Anyway, I think the first banshees did spring from humans,” she continued. “Grief can be a powerful motivator. If you lose something that you love so much you don’t think you can live without it, that grief can destroy you.”
“Is that what you think is happening here? With banshees, I mean. Do you think the banshee is grief destroying them?”
“Yes. In a very basic manner anyway.”
“Okay, what about those who were scratched?”
“That’s different, and I’ve been trying to sort through my feelings on the subject. What Ellen told me about how the banshee tried to woo her got me thinking.”
“When aren’t you thinking? You’re the smartest person I know.”
“What is with you and the compliments today?” Ofelia complained. “They’re over the top.”
He laughed. “You’re going to be my wife in a few days. I can’t help it. I’m feeling schmaltzy.”
The earnestness with which he delivered the line had Ofelia going soft all over. “That’s sweet.”
“But you can’t focus on the wedding because of what’s going on with Angelique,” Sully guessed.
Ofelia didn’t want to admit that — it would hurt his feelings — but she couldn’t lie to him either. “I need to save Angelique. I can’t get married if she’s running around screaming her lungs out.”
Sully didn’t take the comment personally. “I get it. We have to save Angelique before the wedding. I don’t disagree.”
“We probably shouldn’t tell our mothers that’s a consideration.”
“Definitely not.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I have faith we’re going to fix this. You need to have the same faith.”
“I do.” Ofelia meant it. “I’m just … I don’t know where to look next.”
“Finish telling me about the banshees. Then I have an idea where you can point your attention.”
“There is no expert on banshees,” Ofelia explained. “I realized that when I was leaving Ellen’s house. Nobody has ever put together a Banshees for Dummies book or anything. That’s because there are no hard and fast rules.”
She took a deep breath before continuing. “The original banshees sprang up out of anger and grief. Later banshees were turned. Those who were in pain, those with magical backgrounds and a lot of grief, were targeted.”
“Do you have a theory as to why?”
“Strength would be my guess.”
“But Ellen got away, and she wasn’t paranormal, right?”
Ofelia pictured the house again. “I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
She might not be a standard witch, but that house was bursting at the seams with hoodoo stuff.
I think she’s at the very least a mambo.
I didn’t ask, and now I’m kind of kicking myself.
She said I could call if I have any questions, so I still might do that. ”
“You’re uncomfortable asking her about her faith, though,” Sully surmised.
“Technically, it’s none of my business. It makes people uncomfortable when other people ask them about their faith, though. I would prefer waiting.”
“Do you think there’s a reason she didn’t know these banshees were close?”
“It’s possible that they developed a way to shield themselves,” Ofelia replied. “Maybe they’re looking for paranormal partners because it’s easier to shield themselves that way.”
“Or?”
“Or nothing. That’s all I’ve got.”
“You have more than that. We just haven’t put it together yet.”
“Maybe, or maybe I’m too close to this.” Ofelia didn’t want to admit it, but she had to. “Maybe worrying about Angelique is making it so I can’t think anything through correctly. Maybe I’m going to hurt her more than I’m going to help her.”
“Let’s not get dramatic, huh?” Sully said dryly, shaking his head. “Don’t go off the rails.”
“I never go off the rails.” Ofelia was offended by the insinuation.
“Rarely,” he countered. “You rarely go off the rails. When you do it, however, you do it in fantastic fashion.”
Ofelia didn’t respond. She was afraid that if she did, she would have to admit to Sully that he was right.
“How about you come with me after lunch?” he suggested, taking her by surprise. “I need to talk to the families of the deceased.”
“How do you think that will help?” Ofelia was honestly curious.
“Because they were targeted for a reason. I want to know if anybody in their family is missing, or if our dead guys ticked off a loved one of late. I think there might be answers there if we’re willing to look.”
Ofelia hadn’t considered looking at the victims for clues, and now she wanted to kick herself. “Good idea.”
“I thought you would like it.”
“Do you think we’ll find anything?” She didn’t want to sound too hopeful, so Ofelia kept her voice level.
“I don’t know. I certainly hope so, though.”
“Yeah. I don’t know where else to look either.”
“Maybe we’ll find a clue with our victims’ families.”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
“Don’t worry,” Sully promised. “We’re going to find our answers and make sure Angelique is okay. We won’t stop until we do.”
Since Ofelia needed that to be true, she simply nodded. “I’ll go with you. It can’t possibly hurt, right?”
“Definitely not.”