Choke Hold (Aislinge and Everlee)

[Everlee Harlow]

✧ Choke Hold ✧

Sleepless nights had begun to plague her, she would wake up gasping for air from the nightmare she couldn’t seem to escape. She was desperate to try anything, she couldn’t seem to see what was latching on to her this time. No rhyme or reason for this attachment. She called in to work that day with almost no sleep. The bags under her eyes were making it clear. She needed to seek advice out of her normal circle. Ace had once told her about a psychic in a town over. It was worth a shot. Maybe she could get some answers outside of herself.

Dragging herself out of bed, throwing on the closest outfit she could and making her way out to her mothers car. The last link she had to her, the link that she put all her money into to keep it going. As she climbed into the driver's seat of the car she let out a huff making her way towards the next town over. She drove in circles mainly not being able to focus as she drove. Around her third roundabout the block she manages to catch the sign to the psychic shop.

Climbing out of the car she felt the slap of magic against her face, there must have been a Mystic that actually ran the shop. As she drew closer towards the door there was another energy brewing, she didn’t take time to think on it though as she moved through the doorway. The ding of the shop door caused her to look up towards the metallic smelling bell. She gave a small smile to a black cat that was curled up in the window seal.

She made her way around the shop, but she didn’t see anyone. Picking up a few random crystals and reading over the titles of the books on one shelf she found herself lost in the mystic aura. It was comforting in a strange way, it felt like a wave of protection was placed over her. She felt free for a moment, that was rare for her. Tilting her head to one side letting her red hair fall to one side.

[Aislinge Ó Braonáin]

Choke Hold

w/ Everlee Harlow

The cool air kissed along her skin, causing Aislinge to pull her black cardigan a little tighter around her slim frame as it draped passed her hips. She lifted her head towards the bright sun which begged to be let out from behind the fluffy clouds above, strands of her dark hair brushing back against her temples which had escaped from her drawn up bun near the top of her head. She could feel autumn blanketing the earth and it couldn't come soon enough.  

Her gaze lowered to her heeled boots as she walked along the sidewalk, leaves from the trees running parallel against the street starting to tumble to the ground. It was finally a day she decided would be nice enough to venture for a walk out into the rest of the world in order to resupply. It wasn't always so easy being out in public. Especially given what she was.

She'd been gone from her sisters a while now. Eventually she had found enough courage to travel to see some of the other parts of the world and landed a place to live on her own. Though it wasn't exactly easy either. She didn't have a normal job and her art and magic crafting to sell online was what got her by. Just by, usually. Though, sometimes she did make a large sale when it came to her artwork, but inspiration wasn't always so easy to come by. 

So in she went to the nearest shop in town that had what she needed. Herbs, small crystals, candles and other bits were found in the psychic's place which went into the intention packages she sold. Thankfully there wasn't anyone else around since that usually had people keeping away from her. The instinct of fear and uncertainty seemed to be drawn in humans and other supernaturals' blood when it came to being around banshees. Not that she minded. It was better that way. Ash pushed aside the curtain of beading to rifle through some of the clearance items when the door to the store chimed. Her fingers glided over a velvet drawstring bag when a familiar aura drew her attention away. 

Aislinge's stormy grayish eyes peered through the colorful beads as she remained perfectly still in order to see who it was. Her head tilted slightly, but there was no mistaking. The young woman with the vibrant auburn hair was known to her. Moreso than she'd like to admit. The horror in her face had been imprinted on Ash's mind when she witnessed her mother die... and Ash had been the one to see that death before it happened.

The residual instant of death seemed to hit Aislinge again as she recalled the moment the scream let loose from her lungs when she'd experienced what the woman's mother felt then. There was nothing. No pain. It had been over in the blink of an eye. Still, that feeling lingered and was impossible to describe to anyone. A weight that lifted. One might assume the soul leaving to go on into that 'next'. Her mother had been one of the lucky ones.

Ash had very rarely gotten involved when it came to seeing someone's death. However, that one had been one of those instances. There was some type of energy that clung to the victim that day. Something Aislinge had never seen before in her long existence. She couldn't help but see it for herself. Not that she would interfere. She knew better than that, but to see if she could figure out what that dreadful black entity was that caused even someone like her, who was accustomed to death, to recoil.

It haunted her dreams still. She never did figure out what it was that followed that woman until her death. Aislinge wondered if her daughter, standing so near to her now, still felt its plauging presence hovering.   

[Everlee Harlow]

✧ Choke Hold ✧

Everlee was always shrouded in an atmosphere of death, horror, and dread. Ever since the curse of her biological mother's blood was activated, leading to the tragic demise of her adoptive mother, the weight of guilt had never left her shoulders. Whenever her thoughts wandered back to the haunting scene of the creature that had taken her mother's life, a tear would inevitably well in her eyes. It had been so long since she allowed herself to confront that harrowing memory.

A peculiar pressure seemed to fill the room, prompting Everlee to ponder whether it was the energy of the place that stirred memories of her mother. She diverted her gaze from the shelf adorned with books on Wicca and an assortment of colorful crystals, recognizing that her life was fated to remain unchanged. There was no point dwelling on the idea of an alternate reality. Despite the fog of haunting memories that enveloped her, she found herself drawn to the brightly colored bead curtains, with the neon sign above declaring Psychic. After blinking away the spots that obscured her vision due to the glaring neon lights, her gaze settled on the figure concealed behind the vibrant beads. Tilting her head in an attempt to discern the obscured features, she felt a faint sense of familiarity emanating in her mind.

In a small town like this, the constant risk of encountering familiar faces, spirits, and fears weighed heavily on Everlee. Despite feeling the icy grip of death, she remained steadfast, unwilling to turn away. With determined steps, she closed the distance to the curtain, her slender fingers sliding into the middle to pull it aside, and she spoke in a gentle voice, "Hello?"

After a brief moment of awkward silence, she cleared her throat and asked, "Are you the Psychic?" It was her first visit to the establishment, and she speculated that perhaps the person behind the beads recognized her energy from passing by.

[Aislinge Ó Braonáin]

Choke Hold

w/ Everlee Harlow

Aislinge instantly tensed as she saw the girl approaching. There was nowhere to go or hide any longer, so she stood completely still until finally seeing her without the beaded curtains in the way. The banshee only blinked in response to the other's question, her foggy colored eyes taking the young woman in.   

It was the first time she'd really been able to truly see her. The one and only time had been while Ash was too preoccupied with the death scene playing through her mind and taking over her body. The female's vibrant red hair against light blue hues and pale skin made her striking to look at. For once she'd actually been inspired to paint something. Her. All the bright and lively colors of what made her up, shadowed by the darkness that she'd witnessed that day when the girl's mother died. Her works were never deemed as happy.

"Um... no," she replied finally after a few awkward moments of silence between them while she openly stared with a blank look. Aislinge crossed her arms over her midsection, pulling at the fluffy cardigan she wore. She was never good at socializing after her own demise. Most banshees weren't given the nature of what they were. It wasn't like people were flocking to be near them when everything about their presence was built to make others run.  

Ash began browsing the colorful stones for sale again, but not really paying attention as she was still too focused on the woman before her. Normally she would've turned her back and kept to herself when anyone approached, but her eagerness to know more was making her linger. "He's probably in the back of the shop," she stated, her voice barely audible while her gaze still remained on the rocks beneath her slender fingers adorned with various rings.

She quickly glanced up to the redhead and suddenly felt something lingering around her. Perhaps that same aura she'd seen the day her mother died. Of course, saying these things to humans wasn't exactly acceptable, so Ash kept her lips closed instead of asking her directly in the frank manner she was known for by her sisters.

Ash picked up a few of the cool stones and nodded her head to indicate the other end of the small establishment where a door was shut that was meant for the psychic to conduct readings. "He might be with someone else."

[Everlee Harlow]

✧ Choke Hold ✧

Everlee often felt a peculiar awkwardness surrounding her, a lingering presence she couldn't quite shake. Despite this, she always made an effort to be approachable and friendly. Her unique ability to see things others could not often led to uncomfortable moments, and being part of a well-known family in town only added to the complexity. She had once been a promising young woman, celebrated for her knack for solving local mysteries. But everything changed the day her mother died. That tragic event opened her eyes to a world filled with creatures and shadows that others couldn't see, transforming her life completely and forcing her to adapt to a new, darker reality in the blink of an eye.

Remaining in town was a choice she sometimes questioned, given how former friends turned away from her after her world shifted. Yet, despite her lingering resentment toward her father, she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone. Her dreams of attending Harvard, once so vibrant, had dimmed the moment the spirits became her norm, replaced by the day-to-day grind of waitressing at a local diner. The future seemed increasingly bleak, shadowed by persistent nightmares and sleepless nights, which was perhaps why the notion of visiting a psychic began to resonate with her.

When the woman in the shop clarified that she wasn't the psychic, Everlee managed an apologetic smile. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve never been here before. I don’t really know how any of this works,” she confessed, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jean jacket to ward off the chill from outside. Her eyes roamed the room, taking in the eclectic mix of items, as she tried to discern where the psychic might be, following the woman’s nod toward the back of the store.

“I think I’ll wait around for a bit and see if anyone comes out. If not, maybe I’ll just have to interrupt and see if he’s available for another reading tonight,” she mused, glancing over her shoulder at a tightly closed door, veiled by a curtain of beads that seemed to promise mysteries behind them. The shop was filled with an array of unusual artifacts and trinkets—objects that seemed foreign to someone not well-versed in spirituality or witchcraft. Everlee found herself wondering if perhaps learning a bit about magic might help her deal with the spirits that seemed to haunt her world.

Her gaze drifted back to Aislinge, drawn by the ethereal haze that seemed to surround the woman. Focusing more intently, Everlee discerned the aura of death, a sight that always piqued her curiosity. “Did someone close to you pass recently?” she inquired softly, her eyes lingering on the cool stones Aislinge held. “I’ve heard that’s often why people come to psychics. Personally, I’m hoping to find some clarity about this nightmare that’s been troubling me.” By opening up about her own troubles, Everlee hoped to gain insight into the aura of death that seemed to cling to Aislinge, seeking to understand the mysterious connection that bound their fates together.

[Aislinge Ó Braonáin]

Choke Hold

w/ Everlee Harlow

Aislinge kept her head lowered, yet looked up through her dark lashes to continue watching the girl without being so obvious about it, playing through the wooden bowl of colorful gems. She picked up on the nerves that seemed to be slightly rattling her. Even without her saying so, Ash could clearly see being in a place like this was not her normal. Curse her need to be so curious, but the banshee was drawn to her. Blaming it on her terribly mundane existence would have to be reason enough.   

She dropped the stones gently back to their home besides one the color of the deep ocean where just the barest of sunlight touched. Her fingers smoothed over the raw cuts of the kyanite, its edges dusted with white like the cresting of waves. It was her favorite stone. In fact, she wore it around one of her many necklaces currently dangling from her throat, caged in a wire sphere on a black cord mixed with twine. Taking one for herself, she picked up a second, listening to the redhead speak seemingly to herself. Aislinge was not great for conversation.

Idly she played with the stones. Letting them fall into the middle of her closed palm, intention pushing through. She glanced up to see the woman watching her still, the attention making Ash shift on her feet. Something in her gaze shifted. A question searching behind those inquisitive eyes.  

Ash couldn't help the scoff that pressed from her chest and through her nose at the inquiry finally being asked. It would've probably seemed rude to the other. Perhaps making fun of the very reason she was standing in the shop today waiting on the psychic behind the alluring door across the way. Really it was just the irony of it. Seeing as she was someone who walked with death on the daily.

The banshee straightened and swallowed before answering, walking towards another shelf on the wall. "No," she answered shortly, eyeing the crystal towers before her. The obelisks were taller than her hand, striations of its color breaking through like cracks on a frozen lake. Her fingertips danced over each before plucking one up. 

Aislinge turned towards the redhead and unfurled her hand, holding one of the kyanite stones and the quartz tower she'd just removed. "You might want to keep these close then." Her pale grey eyes grasped hold of the woman's. "It'll help with the nightmares."

Being that close to her, Ash could feel that dark entity begin to pulse. Apparently it didn't like her being this near to the woman it clung to. Aislinge's head titled slightly at the presence as if listening for it. Her eyes closed for a moment in concentration, forgetting how strange that would likely seem to the redhead, when a loud crash came from across the shop making her flinch. Her gaze saw the door to the psychic's private reading room shudder and the candles sporadically placed throughout the fixtures and shelves snuff out. The lights flickered and electricity crackled until going out, leaving only the slim rays of sun from outside filter through the curtains of the few windows. The temperature instantly dropped and a foreboding silence heavily blanketed around them.

Ash stepped beside the woman, her stare never leaving that door as she whispered. "Or maybe your nightmares have followed you here."

[Everlee Harlow]

A flicker of confusion danced across Everlee's face for the briefest moment, shrouded in an aura so thick with the essence of death that it felt palpable. Was this woman before her a wayward spirit, in need of guidance to a peaceful afterlife? Yet, as the dark-haired woman extended a crystal towards her, Everlee quickly discerned that no ethereal being could possess such solid form. With a graceful fluidity, she reached out to accept the stone, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface, taking in Aislinge pale grey eyes sparkled with intrigue.

“Thank you,” Everlee murmured, her voice a gentle whisper as she admired the beautiful stones. She had learned long ago that the earth held its own magic—from the healing properties of stones to the soothing embrace of natural waters. Yet, she also understood that this magic came with its own set of dangers, as treacherous as it was wondrous. Her grip tightened on the crystal as she held the woman’s gaze for a heartbeat longer, recognizing the haunted look in her eyes. Those pale grey depths stirred a memory within Everlee, one that she couldn't quite place. “I appreciate your help,” she continued, her curiosity piqued. “I often find myself at a loss when it comes to understanding what each stone can do.”

As she spoke, Everlee noticed the flicker in the woman’s expression, as if she were momentarily lost in another realm. The thousand-yard stare was all too familiar to her—the weight of torment that plagued her day and night, driving her to solve the mysteries of the spirits that sought her out, only for new hauntings to arise.

A sudden snarl echoed in her ear, jolting her back to reality. Instinctively, her head whipped around at the sound of a loud crash. Her heart raced as she watched the flickering candles extinguish one by one, plunging the room into an unsettling darkness that felt timeless, though it could only have lasted moments. A breath escaped her lips, visible in the chilling air that enveloped them, a harbinger of something far more sinister than a mere draft.

As Ash moved beside her, keeping a vigilant watch on the door to the Psychic’s room, she spoke, her voice tinged with resignation. “My nightmares always follow me,” she confessed with a soft huff, her breath mingling with the cold. “Can you see them? Those who linger in purgatory?” Everlee's heart ached with the hope that she might not be alone in bearing this dreadful burden. Perhaps the woman held the key to alleviating her suffering, for Everlee could endure assisting spirits for eternity, but the physical toll of her encounters—bruises, cuts, and more—was becoming unbearable.

“I will admit,” Everlee continued, taking a tentative step towards the door, “this one has proven to be quite a challenge. I’m not sure what it wants.” She sighed, vulnerability creeping into her voice. “It has never revealed its true nature before; it usually just leaves me gasping for breath.” As she spoke, she pulled down the high collar of her clothing, revealing bruises in various stages of healing that told silent stories of her struggles.