Chapter two!

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"In Celtic Irish mythology, The banshee also called 'An Bean-Sidhe' in Irish is known in Ireland as a female spirit who wails outside a home to warn of the imminent death of a family member."

"One of us is gonna die?!" Phyllis asked horror present on her pale face after hearing Mick's starting sentence looking around the room.."no of course not Lissie it's just legends ok?" Margaret said quickly.

"Shush we're trying to listen" Paddy whispered putting a finger to his lips and pointing at Mick as he continued.

"Her name which means 'faerie woman' is an indication that she does not harm. The banshee does not bring or cause death but warns loved ones that death is near which gives the family a chance to prepare. Some believe that she acts as an escort to ensure that their loved one passes safely to the other side"

"According to the legends the Banshee can take many forms. However, in Ireland, she has been most commonly seen as either a beautiful young woman with deathly pale skin and long flowing red hair or as an old woman in rags with dirty grey hair, long fingernails and sharp-pointed rotten teeth. Both descriptions give the banshee noticeably red eyes from crying so much."

Everyone looked over directly at Margret the only redhead in the room, the rest of the siblings being either brown or blonde-haired like their parents. By then the wailing from outside had died down and everyone was visibly calmer than before. Margaret felt slightly surrounded and bowed her head, she had been bullied by a lot of people because of her hair. In Ireland, redheads were seen as bad omens.

One time Margaret remembered going to the fair with her Da and actually being forced to leave because the men of the fair were worried that they wouldn't sell any cattle. Mick continued none the less becoming slightly irritated with each interruption.

"The banshee is famous for her long melancholy keening which is a word used to describe the lament that woman used to do over the body of a deceased person to ward of evil spirits. It's also said that when she wails the banshee carries a white comb made out of birch wood, she uses this comb while kneening to ensure spirits pass peacefully from one realm to another."

"Originally it was said that the banshee only keened for families whose surnames include an 'o' or an 'mc' such as McNeill or O'Brien but in reality, she just favoured the names as there have been countless other stories surrounding other families."

"Stories of the banshee have been passed through generations for centuries. Some say that the Banshee is the ghost of a young woman who was brutally murdered and died so horribly that she now watches families and loved ones warning them of impending death. While others believe the role is passed on from one Bean-sidhe to the next."

"Either way the banshee is not a sprit with intentions to harm but merely predict harm. She has no intention to kill or cause tricks but if you ever cross one and hear the wail of a banshee directly and no one else does you can be sure side effects will follow."

At that Mick finished his incredibly detailed description of the banshee not because he was completely done sharing his knowledge but because Leisha had walked in from another room turning everyone's head including Mick's.

"Bed now, your Da isn't going to be back for a while, "She said placing two hands either side of her hips. "all of you" she added after seeing the eye rolls from her eldest sons.

The six siblings heaved themselves off the ground a few hiding their disapproval while the others sighed loudly. They all shuffled to their respective rooms the four boys sharing the biggest while the two girls were left to sleep in something similar to a broom closet.

Each lay down on makeshift beds and cots content with the evenings' story. Phyllis turned to Margaret the horrible sound still present in her mind."Maggie Do you think that she's real?"

Margaret who was clearly tired turned to the girl sleepily opening one eye "wha-who?"

"The banshee!"She said wondering how Margaret was so calm after Mick's tales.

"uh, I dunno Lissie maybe? either way it's doesn't really matter because like Mick said she's not a harmful spirit or whatever".

"Oh okay" Phyllis whispered, the words had calmed her considerably but she still had a bad feeling that she couldn't explain. Herself and Margaret both turned on their sides and fell into a restless sleep due to the small cramped settle beds they were sleeping on unlike their brothers in the other room who were having a conversation in hushed voices.

"Ma said she was lighting the fire for Da I don't understand why she didn't let us wait for him" Gerard whispered to the small group who had been discussing the subject. for the last five minutes.

"Maybe the McNultie situation is more serious than we thought?" Paddy added slowly, looking at the ground rather than trying to make out his brothers faces in the dark.

"Maybe but then they probably woulda asked Gerard and myself to go down wouldn't they? Mick debated, a fair argument considering they were the oldest and were constantly given tasks by the neighbours.

"Yeah, fair point" he agreed. "But Da never stays out this late unless there something wrong with our stock"

"Oh yeah," Pete and Gerard said at the same time shifting the siblings into an uncomfortable silence full of contemplation.

They sat for at least an hour in the dark coming up with reasons as to why their father still wasn't home. Eventually Mick made Pete go to bed which caused a butterfly effect resulting in Pete, Paddy and Gerard asleep within ten minutes of each other. Mick rolled onto one side eventually finding a comfortable position and falling into a dreamless sleep.

ØØØØØ

Margaret lay in her cramped settle bed eyes wide open thinking about the awful wailing that had occurred outside their small country house. She had fallen into an unusually uncomfortable sleep which eventually caused her to open one eye and stare into the blackness above her head.

She felt as if someone was watching her, keeping an eye on her every move, but Lissie was asleep and there were no windows inside the room, no light whatsoever.

One thought was present in her mind, constantly being displayed in big block letters.

Had anyone else heard it?

It couldn't have only been her family.

What if it actually was the banshee? What if the banshee was real? What if someone in her family was going to die tonight and she had done nothing to prepare.

What if she was going to die tonight?

The questions pestered her mind the entire night giving no sleep to the poor girl who was desperately in need of some. She fell into a void of uncomfortable temperatures, rough sleeping positions and horrifying thoughts but somehow received partial sleep eventually.

ØØØØØ

Margaret awoke to hushed voices coming from the room next to her. Wondering why her mother hadn't woken herself and Phyllis up earlier she slumped out of bed bumping into Phyllis while doing so.

"I don't want to get up" the young girl moaned but still sitting up obediently rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Come on Lissie we get to wake up the boys" Margaret grinned excitement radiating off her.

Groggily the two girls walked through a doorway (no door present) which lead into the boys' room. They shuffled between the cots before violently shaking their sibling's body's so they would awaken.

"Ahhhhhhhh," all six siblings said, the two girls in a way to scare while the four boys as a frightened response.

"Get up! Get up! Get up!" The girls shouted evidently proud they managed to scare the boys before they'd had the chance to scare them. The girls burst into a fit of giggles as the boys pulled them onto the floor tickling them roughly.

"WILL YOU ALL WISHT" Leisha shouted over all their laughter all six heads turning to her. " your father had just had an awful night okay so just wish"

She seemed distressed almost shaken as if something really bad had happened. Margaret counted each head in the room just to make sure her suspicions had not been confirmed, she counted seven heads including her mothers. Thank god.

"Now get up get dressed and get started with those chores"

ØØØØØ

Margaret and Phyllis dressed into overalls and floral worktops before heading out into the fields.

They walked into the kitchen to see their father sullen faced sitting feet elevated at their oak wood table. Concerned Maragaret sat down opposite him. Getting a closer look she saw dark purple bags underneath his usually bright and cheerful eyes. Each cheek was stained from presumably crying concerning Margaret further.

"Da what happened?" She said only for him to look away trying and failing to conceal his sadness. "Is there something wrong?"

Phyllis stood behind her sister concern plastered on both of their faces.

James looked back toward his daughters' tears underlining his eyes he seemed unable to spit whatever he had to say out.

Eventually, he gathered himself together wiping away the tears and giving his daughters his full attention

"Patrick McNultie d-died"

~Authors note~

Okay like I'm proud of my cliffhanger here and also I wrote ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED WORDS FOR THIS CHAPTER sorry but like I'm really proud of this amazing achievement.

Also, Patrick McNultie is Ryan McNulties Father so like it's their neighbour and Phyllis's nickname is Lissie in case you were confused and Margaret's is Maggie.

Anyway, read the next chapter when it comes. Peace 🤘

(Edit): I now realize that one thousand five hundred words I is not really an achievement lmao.