The Banshee's Desire - By Victoria Richards Page 0,3

around him dissolved, though oddly, there were gray shadows lingering nearby. They almost appeared to have form. Human form.

What was that about? Some new power she had yet to discover?

Before she could think about it, irritation at Gabe welled inside her, and Jacqueline contemplated his soul, wondering if she could just yank it right out of him. After all, he'd cheated her of something she'd really wanted just now. How dare he!

Besides, a little voice whispered in her ear, it would be a justified action. He did kill your husband, Eric.

No!

She forced herself to step back, a wave of shame washing over her.

It was one thing to claim a soul that was on its way out and sing it to the other side, but Gabe…well, what she'd been thinking had not been part of the normal banshee job description. Taking a soul just because you could was never a good thing. She didn't need to go to Banshee Training 101 to know that.

Jacqueline had accepted the part Gabe played in Eric's death. She didn't like him because of it--maybe she never would-- but she could see that the circumstances were…extenuating. She opted to try and put her anger over it aside.

But it was tough to see that smug young boy and know what he'd done.

There were moments…where…the anger rose up.

"Jacqueline, you okay?" Toby's voice, gruff and rumbling, soothed her in a way that no one else's did. It brought her back to the present where she felt more in control of her actions. "Everything is alright now."

"Yes. I just came to see if I could help."

"We're fine." Gabe turned to her, his tone short and clipped. He gave her a hard look. "Your…skills…aren't needed here."

The man who'd choked turned to Gabe and offered his hand.

"Thanks, man. You saved my life." He flashed them all a bright smile, but it couldn't disguise the fact that he was beyond tipsy and heading for totally wasted. His bloodshot eyes twitched, darting back and forth between them, and making Jacqueline think he might be high on more than just beer. He swayed a little on the bar stool, almost falling off. "I'm Jacob Hill."

"You okay?" Gabe asked, the perpetual frown he always wore deepening.

"I just got carried away watching the game." Jacob pointed to the screen above the bar where a basketball game was in progress. "I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan."

"But the Spurs aren't playing."

"I know. That's why I got pissed off and choked on the peanut." Jacob looked over at Jacqueline. His expression turned sly as he studied the pretty young woman. "Wow, you have amazing eyes. They're so green. Beautiful. You wanna come have a drink with me? You could bring your friend. I saw the two of you earlier. I bet we could have us a real good time."

Normally her eyes were brown. Nothing extraordinary. She figured there must still be traces of banshee green in them.

And as for introducing this guy to Angela--no way! He may have escaped the call of Death but there was something about him…something that just didn't sit right with Jacqueline. Sweat dotted his forehead even though Toby kept the bar a chilly sixty nine degrees, and she didn't like the way he looked at her, as if she were a piece of meat he'd like to tear apart.

"Thanks for the offer, but I have other plans." She turned to Toby. "Are we getting together later?"

"Definitely." His grin warmed Jacqueline all the way to her toes. "Looking forward to it."

"Good." She tilted her head to the side. "I've got big plans for you."

"Oh really?"

"Yep. Did a little shopping today. Bought a new nightgown and thought I'd model it for you."

Toby's eyes sparkled with appreciation.

"See you at closing time then," he said, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Somebody is going to get lucky." Jacob slurred the words a little and whistled low. "Nice."

Gabe just grunted, a sure sign of his disapproval.

Jacqueline moved away, but when she looked back, her heart leapt with excitement. The black cloud of death was back. It surrounded Jacob Hill once again.

And the shadows she'd seen earlier--they danced around the man, frantic and hungry for attention. She didn't know what they were. None of the souls she'd reaped had anything like that attached to them.

No matter.

"You only delayed the inevitable, Gabe," she whispered.

A delicious chill of anticipation ran through her.

****

Kids and girlfriends could be a real pain in the ass, Toby decided.

Especially when they didn't get along.

He couldn't really blame Jacqueline for