SPITFIRE.
( prologue. )

▹

TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains
mentions of blood, su*cide, and death.

  DEATH IS SOMETHING MERCILESS, something relentless. Cold and cruel, death has no enemy. But, life— with all of its unpredictability— is far worse than death itself. More-so when it's life after death.

  The afterlife is said to be a place of peace; a sanctuary free of pain. 

  If that were true, then the opposite could be said of what's left for the living. With grief following closely in death's wake, suffering lives on in absolute. You might be spared after you die, but the people you leave behind are left in mourning.

Despair fills its belly with the grief of loved ones because life has no mercy for those that live.

But, Death... Death carries its mercy at the edge of a scythe and Shadow Swan couldn't help but wonder if that was why her mother chose to follow its siren song.

  All Shadow wanted was a reason. Some sort of explanation as to why her mother left. She wanted to know if her mom ever fully understood what her actions would bring; if she ever took a moment to think about the incomprehensible sorrow her daughter would feel.

  Was Kora Swan's own grief so overwhelming that she'd forgotten the girl she had spent 17 years of her life raising?

  Thinking about it now, Shadow wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to know the answer. What she did know was that loss had changed her mother. The woman she had grown up with— caring, determined, and kind— stopped existing the very moment Shadow's father, left this world.

  Grief had changed both Swan women, there was no denying that. But, it seemed to hound after Shadow's mother the worst. It was like her body had been emptied, leaving only the shell of a person in its stead.

The tragic accident of Carl Swan had filled Kora with something haunted and hollow. A ghost of a person, not yet dead. Things were never the same after that.

Shadow knew now that she hadn't just lost her father, but her mother as well. Learning to grow up came quickly after that, though the adjustment to it wasn't easy. There was no time for her friends, their laughter, or even a smile.

Between the upcoming exams and the responsibilities of their home falling onto her, Shadow had no time for things that had once seemed so important. Things like parties, and dates, and passing her tests. They were old joys that fell trivial in comparison.

  There wasn't even time to grieve. In the midst of all this weight on her shoulders, how could Shadow possibly comprehend what had happened? For a while, she'd almost forgotten that she had lost someone too.

It wasn't until the realization finally did set in that Shadow found herself with nothing but time.

  She was so used to the constant struggle of juggling homework and housework and the effort of taking care of her mother's echo. What was she supposed to do when that echo faded and that house was emptied and the exams had ended? The world seemed to come to a standstill and time consumed Shadow in a way that punctured a hole straight through her chest.

  There were so many questions; how was she supposed to handle this? How was she supposed move on from the fact that her parents; the very people who had been there through every cry, every laugh, every cough, ache and pain, were now gone for good?

  Shadow didn't understand. How could her mother forget that it wasn't just her who had loved and lost? How was it that she could leave her daughter so easily, so quickly?

  One moment, Kora Swan was there and in those few seconds where stress and sorrow threatened to overcome Shadow, she could at least feel like she had someone. But— within the next instant— her mother was gone and Shadow was left all alone.

There was no one.

  November 26th, Shadow Swan had two parents. By January 18th, she had none. Nearly seventeen years she had spent on this earth with them and it still wasn't enough. Shadow wished they had more time. There were so many things she would have said to them, she would have told them how much they meant to her.

  There were times where she may have taken them for granted; gotten angry and said things she shouldn't have. But, never did it mean that she stopped loving them. Now, Shadow would never be able to tell her parents that they were the ones who meant the most to her. She would never get to be held in their arms again— and if the world could give her only one more moment, it would be all that she needed.

  And yet, nothing erases death.

Her parents were never coming back and in their place, Shadow tried to fill the empty hole inside of her with understanding. Death is life-altering. Death is messy and unkind.

But, you have to learn to keep moving, or you risk the gorge swallowing you whole. Healing is never easy. It was never meant to be, and too often was moving on confused with leaving behind the person you've lost.

  However, Shadow was able to distinguish the line, even if it was only slightly.

She still didn't understand how her family could be gone so quickly— and the pain that came with losing them was still there; often in overwhelming floods.

Shadow wasn't ready to let go, at least, not yet.

But, she knew what she had to do.

→

  The Swan girl looked around the now-barren place she'd once called home. Even without daylight, there was no mistaking the emptiness of it. The furniture was gone and so were the pictures that had once hung up on the walls.

Other mismatched items and knickknacks were gone too; markings that had once staked this house as home of the Swan family. But, Shadow had already known that— long before her fist had shattered the back window to get inside.

Shadow wasn't sure what she expected when she finally got in, but it wasn't this. Somehow, even without their belongings, it still felt like this empty house was where she was meant to be. It still felt like home.

  The Swan girl tucked her hands beneath her crossed arms and exhaled a deep breath. It was so silent, she felt like turning back. But, there was no avoiding the confrontation awaiting her, and she knew it.

Shadow had tried to avoid thinking about the night Kora died; had tried to will herself to forget all that she could. But, no matter the effort, it never seemed to work.

  No one ever forgets the day they discover their own mother's dead body.

→

  The most vivid detail that Shadow could remember was how hard it was to breathe. It felt nearly impossible. Her chest ached as her lungs stopped functioning and her hands shook as horrified green eyes gazed upon the sight before them. It was one of the worst feelings she could ever recall experiencing.

  Though, the horror didn't even come close to the grief she would soon feel.

  In those first few moments, Shadow felt suspended in shock. Her mind seemed incapable of fully processing what was going on. She figured it was some kind of defence mechanism ingrained into her body, but it didn't take long for the reality of what she was seeing to set in.

Shadow felt something tear through her— painful as her shaking legs became incapable of supporting her any further. As her knees hit the solid floor, the ache that jolted up through Shadow's body seemed to set everything back into motion.

  She could remember hearing herself scream, the sound reverberating throughout the all-too-silent house. But, the Swan girl could hardly feel the cry as it passed through her lips. All she could comprehend was the horror that came with the sight of her mother's lifeless body lying before her.

  Shadow knew it was too late, long before she reached out to gently touch her mother's face. Her chest never rose or fell with her breathing— as it never would again— and her skin was jarringly cold. Shadow couldn't tear her eyes away, no matter how much the sight made her want to gag.

  Hot tears streamed torrents down her face and Shadow's screams turned to shrieking as she felt something not quite cold, but not quite warm touch her knee. Liquid seeped into her jeans. Shadow jolted back, bile rising in the back of her throat.

But, she moved too quickly and her hand slipped out from out under her. Lifting her fingers, Shadow saw that there was already blood on her palms. The smell of iron in her nostrils was almost potent enough to taste.

  The shrieks stopped all at once. Shadow stared down at the blood; cold terror being the only emotion washing over her. She could feel something stirring inside─ a horrible screech building up in her chest. It was such a familiar sound, not sweet with reminiscence but bitter with horrible premonition.

As the cry reached her lips, Shadow didn't bother fighting back— she embraced it.

  The Swan girl let the scream have its way with the emotions taking over her. In a matter of seconds, it had reached a peak so powerful there was no stopping it. Shadow opened her mouth and welcomed the cry of death as it left her lips.

The sound pierced the air with such a terrifying intensity that any piece of glass or fragile ornament within the vicinity exploded, fuelled by her own pain.

  Shadow could hear the bathroom mirror smashing; felt its shards cut open small wounds upon her skin. But, she didn't care. This physical pain could never amount to the grief, the anger, and the immeasurable loss she felt. It was like dying without peace.

A part of her was missing now; Shadow Swan was incomplete in a way that made her feel devastatingly alone.

  The Swan girl felt so much anguish that she curled into herself; screaming as though it would relieve her of all she felt. But, it never would. Her pained sobs continued to pierce the air, blood stained what was once clean, and Shadow's mother lay on the ground; unresponsive to her daughter's agony.

  The Swan girl couldn't help but feel responsible as she looked at the body. Tears blurred her vision and her arms held tightly to the knees pressed against her chest. For a small second, Shadow allowed herself to wish this all to be some cruel nightmare.

As if her mother would rise and tell her that everything was okay, that this was all a mere lie and she would never leave her alone in this world. Just like she had promised.

Shadow knew she wouldn't, and she should have known better.

  Nothing can ever bring back the dead.

I own nothing except for Shadow, her character, and the plot, unless stated otherwise. All other aspects of this story belong to their respective owners. Copyright 2015. Do not steal my story. Any republication without permission or credit is punishable by my fist up your ass. Thank you.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not comment anything related to Teen Wolf or comment on how I write my stories. It's beyond irritating and I'm tired of it. This story isn't similar in any way to Teen Wolf, and somehow people always think that they created banshees when in reality the show just brought exposure to pre-existing fictional supernatural species. Also, the type of banshee Shadow is will clearly be different to Teen Wolf's. Another thing is that the way one writes dialogue is based on preference. There's no official way to write a story nor is there an official rule to writing dialogue. Sure, if this was a professionally written story to be published then I'd understand, but this is literally just fan-fiction. Thank you.