Page 235 of Sigils & Spells

Gabe shrugged. “I’m a reaper, man. No need for dramatics.”

“A reaper…” It wasn’t a question. Skepticism and disbelief dripped from the word. “A banshee and a crow.” He rubbed his eyes. “That sounds like a set up for a very bad joke. I don’t like being the punchline.”

Daniel stood up. “I need to get ready to drive home. My family needs me.”

“I’m the banshee assigned to the O’Connor family.”

Everyone turned to face Aoibhe. For words spoken so softly, the sentence had boomed through the room.

“What?” Daniel asked, sitting back down.

“All banshees have a family they are attached to for generations. In a way, we’re kin. I’m not quite sure how far removed. Yet. I’m waiting for the family tree to be mailed to me.”

“The shrieking last night…my…mother...” Daniel couldn’t seem to form a complete sentence.

Aoibhe hung her head and wrung her fingers together. “I was not sure who I was keening for. Just that someone’s life connected to the O’Connor family had reached its end.”

Ravyn’s hands shook as she realized how entwined they all were to each other. “And I flew to Sleepy Hollow. I watched your brother arrive at the house while I was in crow form. He saw me. And…I left.”

Daniel couldn’t even look at her. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gabe. “And what are you going to say? That you reaped my mother’s soul?”

The fury and sadness made her regret deciding to impart this information to him. But he had to know. They all had to know what happened when she left that house.

“I was here all night,” Gabe said. “Reapers don’t kill, and we don’t snatch souls everywhere we go. I can communicate with souls and see through glamours hiding other supernatural beings. If a lost spirit asks me, I guide them where they belong. Nothing quite as dramatic as movies would tell you.”

Daniel stared at his hands, and she thought she spotted a drop of moisture fall on one of his thumbs. But no other tears fell. Through gritted teeth he said, “Why tell me this now?”

“Because,” Ravyn said, placing her hand on his shoulder. He didn’t shrug her away, which she assumed was a good sign. “Your brother might be one of us as well.”

He exploded off the bed and whirled to face her. “What do you mean by that? Are you accusing him of murder?” Aoibhe rose to her feet, looking like she wanted to intervene. Ravyn barely noticed, unable to keep her eyes off the gorgeous man she cared for so deeply. Fury hardened every feature in his face, tensed every muscle in his stature. She didn’t like this look on him. Maybe she had made a huge mistake.

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

When he didn’t respond she cupped her arms around herself and glanced at the floor. “I saw something galloping through the woods on my way there. A Headless Horseman.”

“The Dullahan?” Aoibhe asked under her breath.

Ravyn nodded. “I heard him approaching while I was waiting at the house. And then the galloping stopped. A motorcycle engine overtook the sound, and then Dylan came home. No sign of the Dullahan. No echoes of hooves.” She looked up to Daniel. “Where did it go, if it was not your brother? There’s a reason why we are in that mythology and folklore class together, Daniel. Why we are all drawn to specific death omens.”

“This is ridiculous.” He shook his head, though the fury had leached out of him and something lingered in its place. Speculation, maybe? Understanding? Had he suspected his brother was something unnatural? “My brother didn’t hurt our mom. He wouldn’t do that.”

“I don’t think he did,” Ravyn said. She rose to her feet in front of him, daring to reach out to touch him. Her fingers brushed his cheek, but he caught her hand. He didn’t let her go or push her away though. “He left to do whatever he had to do. When he came home, he was himself. Aoibhe and I, we were omens. Warnings. We’re all tied together, drawn to each other, but it doesn’t mean anything unnatural happened last night.”

Except…something had. Just not to his mother.

“Prove it. Show me anything to make what you’re saying true.”

Ravyn stared at the others, not knowing how to do this. She couldn’t shift on a whim. Aoibhe cleared her throat. “If your twin is one of us, you share his connection in some way. I’m assuming he was the firstborn?”

At Daniel’s nod, Aoibhe pulled her hair behind her ears and said, look at my face and open your mind. See me for me.”

Would he see Aoibhe’s mark? Hope coursed through her at the idea that proof would make him understand. Would keep him from being angry at them.

He glared at Aoibhe and huffed with irritation. “I can’t listen to any more of this.” He released Ravyn’s hand, and then left the room.

The door didn’t shut all the way, but she couldn’t do more than stare at it. Regret roiled through her body, and she thought she might throw up.

“That went well,” Gabe said. “Mind explaining why we had to tell pretty boy our secrets?” Despite his words, a hint of concern crossed his features.

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