Banshee Vibe

– Correction: you thought. I still say this so-called Breakthrough is just tabloid BS. The creatures stay behind the Wall. When they do show up, it’s in small packs. No big armies.

- Exactly! Key word: yet. What if it’s already too late? They’ve got a real Dark Lord now!

I clicked my tongue and shook my head:

– Oh great. Now you’re seeing revolutionary monster messiahs. No, Antwan. We’re just dealing with a skilled energy manipulator who may have temporarily coordinated a few beasts. Nothing more.

- We still need answers. You need to go to Ilania. Now. She’s the only one who’ll know what’s really happening.-

I groaned. Another one. Everyone kept shoving me toward that loony old woman.

– Fine. Pack up. Grab a couple flasks for the road.

Antwan practically levitated with excitement. His eyes went so wide, they could’ve made anime characters jealous.

- Auntie Ali, - he said it in full sincerity, calling me auntie for the first time in his life – -you’re taking me with you?! But you always said it was too

dangerous! And why do I need flasks? You think we’ll get attacked there too?

– So many questions! She won’t harm you. I guarantee it. And the flasks... just in case. You never know. – I said vaguely.

- Where are we going? Is it far? – Antwan was already geared up like a soldier and practically vibrating with readiness.

– You could say it’s right under your nose.

We stepped into our blooming, gorgeous garden. I took a deep breath of the sharp floral scents and ran my fingers gently across the honeysuckle and orchids. Then, without warning, I pressed those same fingers onto Antwan’s wide-eyed face.

When I pulled them away from his sky-blue eyes, he still saw the garden— same shapes, same stuff. But the colors? Gone. Totally nuked. All that was left was a washed-out grayscale palette. The sky above us just stared down like some bored god, and it was impossible to tell if it was day or night.

Antwan was staring at me in stunned silence, and in his eyes, I saw my reflection—like one of those creepy black-and-white cartoon characters from the last century.

- What is this? Where are we?

— You are at your home. You are at my home. My home is at your home.

— Sang a strange, melodic voice, like it belonged to some forest nymph high on mushrooms and incense. Antwan flinched and whipped around.

Standing near our gazebo was something that might’ve walked straight out of a bedtime story—or a fever dream. But only halfway.

From one side, it was a cute freckled girl with fluffy blonde curls and narrow shoulders, rocking a floaty summer dress and flip-flops. Very… nice.

But take two steps to the left… and bam. Granny mode.

Like someone sliced her right down the middle, and on the other half was a cranky old crone with matted gray hair full of burrs, a bird-pecked nose, and the kind of smile that makes dental hygienists quit.

One eye was youthful and sparkling, green sparks dancing like fairy dust. The other? A pale, milky horror show with a full-on cataract horror bubble.

-Who is that? - Antwan had seen a lot in his young life, but he was examining her like he’d just discovered a rare Pokémon.

I sighed and pointed:

— Meet Ilania. That’s her. A banshee. And, for my sins, also my mother.

— Two-faced, as you might’ve noticed, dude, but not two-faced like my darling daughter here, who’s too ashamed of her own mom to bring her little friends over for tea. — Croaked the old side of the banshee, winking at Antwan.

— Truly! And she doesn’t even address us formally! — Sang the younger half, like a passive-aggressive bard.

I barely held in my laugh. Antwan’s expression was somewhere between a frozen Windows screen and existential dread, so I cleared my throat and tried to refocus the circus:

— Ilania, we need your help. Let’s skip the freak show and get to the point. Help us out and we’ll all go our merry ways.

— You could’ve called me -Mom- just once... — sighed the old bat, giving Antwan a long, hungry look.

— She never wants to open her little heart to her dear mother, always rushing off like she’s on a tight deadline. But you, bro, you look like a sweet guy. I bet you'd love to sit down and have a nice chat with your new friend here. Who knows, cutie, maybe you’ll end up being my new crush.

She kept talking and talking, but Antwan? Antwan was gone. Her eye—that eye—was pulling him in like a black hole. His whole mind started slipping away, like someone was yanking his soul out with a candy claw machine.

Just as he was about to check out of his body like a bad hotel, my palm slapped the back of his head. Hard.

— Ow! Ali, what is that?! — He hunched over, rubbing the sore spot, blinking like someone just turned his brain back on. The world snapped back into place.

I checked that he was back in one piece and lazily shot my mother a warning glare:

— Try sucking out his life force again and I swear I’ll toss your soul into the actual abyss. Did you seriously think I’d just watch you drain him in front of me?

— Oh dearest daughter, and your delicious little companion! Please accept our most sincere apologies! — Chirped the girl-half sweetly.

— It’s just been sooo long since someone so tasty dropped by. We got a bit carried away. — She curtsied like a well-trained psycho. The hag half nodded apologetically:

— I admit, I lost my head a little. It happens.

Antwan was now ping-ponging between us with that same - are you people even real? - look.

— So that’s why you didn’t want to bring me here? Your mom’s a people- snacker?

Ilania said nothing. I ignored the accusation and went full business mode:

— Look, you already know why we’re here. You spy on me constantly. I want answers. Why are They acting more coordinated lately? Why is the breach always at one point now instead of scattered zones? What the hell kind of strigoi was that and why did he want my blood?

— You overrate your own importance, you pathetic worm calling the ravens to doom! Why would we waste our time tracking your frail little carcass?

— Snapped the youthful side with suddenly demon-core eyes. The hag half wasn’t so dramatic. She squinted slyly:

— Okay, fine. Maybe I do keep tabs on your little adventures. By the way, mad respect for your tactical skills back in the trash zone. You totally... sucked.

The other half giggled into her sleeve like a mean-girl anime villain. That burn hit me right in my already bruised ego. I clenched my jaw, about ready to tell Mama Witch exactly where she could stick her sass, but she raised a hand:

— Chill. Here’s the deal: you and your little buddy will walk with me to work. During the stroll, I’ll give you whatever answers I can. And don’t even start whining about not having time. You know time doesn’t tick the same way here. So park your planner and come on.

— Truth shall drip into your ears, but only after you stop breaking down all the walls. — Nodded the girly side with dramatic flair.