The Banshee's Embrace by Victoria Richards

like?"
                  Matilda sniffed. "Peanuts and beer."
                  At that moment, Toby sat up with a gasp.
                  Both Jacqueline and Matilda screamed.
                  Then Matilda leaned forward. "Where's the key to the bar?"
                  "Matilda! Stop that!"  Jacqueline admonished. She moved to Toby who looked at both of them, confusion in his eyes. "Are you alright? I thought you were dead!"
                  "I'm…okay…" he rubbed at his head. “Where is he?"
                  "Who?"
                  "The Keeper of Souls." Toby looked around. "He was coming out with me."
                  Jacqueline looked around as Matilda sniffed deeply.
                  "Hmm….you're right. There is another presence here." Matilda wrinkled her nose. "It smells sort of musty."
                  She sneezed as if to prove her point.
                  "He's pretty old though he doesn't look it." Toby got up off the floor, and Jacqueline supported him by grabbing an arm. "You alright?"
                  "I'm fine," she said, and ducked her head. "I'm sorry…that I…killed you."
                  "You didn't know." He squeezed her hand. "I should have guessed that blood would activate the box. After all, it's belongs to your family line. The O' Gradys."
                  "O' Grady? That wasn't my maiden name."
                  "You may want to talk with your parents about your heritage."
                  "So can I have the key to the bar or what?" Matilda tapped her foot. "I need a drink."
                  "Oh hush! Give the man a chance to catch his breath!" Jacqueline glared at the old woman.
    "If you're that thirsty, get a beer out of my fridge."
                  "Why didn't you say you had beer in the first place?" Matilda helped herself to a beer and sat down at the kitchen table. Sniffing loudly, she said, "I think you've got incoming!"
                  A gust of wind breezed through the kitchen, bringing with it the scent of decay and dust.
                  "This should be my new friend." Toby gritted his teeth. "Be on alert. I don't know what his game plan is."
                  Jacqueline watched as a young man materialized. Something about him was familiar, as if she'd seen him before. But where?
                  "Hello," he said and nodded at her.
                  "This is Gabe," Toby said. "This is--"
                  "Jacqueline. Oh, I know." Gabe nodded to her, a bright smile on his face.
                  Jacqueline felt herself grow cold. She had seen this guy before. It had been pouring down rain and she could have sworn he looked a little older, but---
                  "Toby, get away from him," she said, her voice full of warning. "This is the wizard that killed my husband."
                  Toby stared, his face dark and unreadable, but he didn't move.
                  "Did you hear what I said? This is who killed Eric!"
                  "I don't think that's possible," Toby said.
                  "Yes, it is. I know what I saw. I'll never forget that face."
                  Gabe stepped forward with raised hands. "Jacqueline, my dear, you are mistaken. I have not been out of the box in hundreds of years."
                  "You sure?" She backed away, wary.
                  "Trust me. That's something you don't forget." Gabe gave her a small smile. "I'm the Keeper of Souls. We're actually related."
                  "Toby, could I talk to you in the other room?" Jacqueline wasn't interested in figuring out the links on her family tree. She knew that the other guy was a murderer. Her concern was getting Toby alone and