The Banshee Read Free Page B

years ago. Its cover worn by time, its pages well read and respected. He opened to the Book of Revelations where a red ribbon with gold edging had marked the page. He read from memory.
    I saw the beast was like a leopard, with paws like a bear and a mouth like a lion. The dragon handed over to it his power and his throne and worldwide authority…
    He replaced the book respectfully upon the desk and leaned back into the comfortable chair, relaxing tense muscles. His eyes closed. At the front door, the meowing of the cat went unnoticed. Tomorrow, as before, Mrs. Donnelly would find the priest still in the chair, sound asleep.

Chapter Four

    Betty anxiously twisted her salt and pepper hair as she spoke. Her conversation covered the weather, local politics, Colleen’s husband, the police department yet never once touched on the subject of tonight’s business.
    It seemed a controlled conversation with all questions regarding the initiation or the secretive club swiftly diverted to another subject. Betty avoided all questions and even interrupted Colleen at times in order to change the subject.
    Betty’s friend drove quietly keeping his eyes straight ahead. He was quiet, watching with eyes glassy and unmoving under heavy brows. His mouth held a constant sullen appearance as if he just learned bad news but could care less. Colleen thought Betty assumed she already knew who he was.
    The man looked younger than Betty did and sure to attract gossip. Both of their spouses were deceased and middle age was upon them, Betty mostly. It was good to have a companion.
    Betty took a man friend, so what?
Colleen thought, shrugged, and left it at that.
    They traveled along a seldom-used dirt road that took them deep into the forest. Dark outlines of tall pitch pines and dense underbrush resembled clumps of steel wool wound around the foot of the trees.
    Colleen felt uneasy, wishing she had left Charles a note. Something pulled at her senses screaming this was not going to be like a frat house initiation.
    They entered a clearing and parked, joining a number of other vehicles. Colleen opened the door and followed Betty and her quiet friend, already walking toward a path into the wall of trees.
    Betty’s friend led the way, guiding them along the winding pathway without the aid of a light, never tripping on a stone, or brushing against the underbrush.
    Branches and thorny twigs from the dense thicket grabbed at Colleen’s bare forearms and exposed legs. She cried out several times at the sting of a thorn or the ripping scratch across her flesh by a dark scrub.
    Reaching a glade, Colleen inspected her torn flesh then glanced around the clearing. A fire burned in its center with ravenous flames devouring several tree limbs taken from a nearby blow down. Dense pine surrounded the clearing; their fallen needles covered the ground with a rust colored carpet.
    Forms of people emerged from behind a copse at the far end of the clearing. She recognized many and a few she had never seen before. They strolled into the clearing, glancing briefly at her then returned to chat with one another. Shortly the clearing filled and all enjoyed wine sipping and cheese tasting. Little regard seemed given to Colleen…the guest of honor.
    Colleen politely nodded her head at several faces she recognized, receiving a curt suggestion of acknowledgement. Their actions kept Colleen’s sense of apprehension alive but it appeared to be a cocktail party in the woods.
    Betty placed an arm around Colleen’s waist and strolled with her amongst the gathering. Still the greeting from the members was shallow and as cool as the night air that fell onto the clearing. Colleen noticed a large chair built with majestic artisanship of finely polished Oak and thickly padded with red velvet. Silver studs ran along its edges like a throne. On each side stood a table draped in black and ringed with candles. One held a silver sword with the fire’s