*TITLE: CastleRock *AUTHOR: Sabalore *E-MAIL: skippy24@idirect.ca *SIZE: 35k *RATING: PG *CLASSIFICATION: XRA *KEYWORDS: MSR, Angst, *DISCLAIMER: In the 'Big Inning' {grin} Chris Carter created Mulder and Scully. He made it a hit show with the help of Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Ten- Thirteen Productions, and 20th Century Fox. He said "Sabalore, I heard what you did to Space Cases, Touch my show and I will sue you!" And I said "See Ya in court!" (JK, Really! Don't sue!) *SUMMARY: *AUTHOR'S NOTES: Response to COX's May Challenge. See the bottom for the exact challenge. I've done Vampires, and Banshee's are my second fav, So I thought "Hey, Why not?" There's Gaelic in this story(I'm learning to speak it). Most is translated, but I think a bit isn't. If you are fluent in Gaelic and find mistakes, lemme know! I'd love to learn more... If you don't understand a part, check the reference to 'Commonly Used In This Story" for vague translations(phrases, names, ect) or drop me a line! Oh, don't try to pronounce these out loud, cause there are alot of accents and such that text format does not allow me to do. And I'm not very good with names, So I phonetically translated them best I could. As I said, If you speak fluent Gaelic and want to scream at me for messing thing up, feel free to do so. :) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* CASTLEROCK ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The women slowly made her way down the stairs. She hurried her pace as the haunting melody became louder in her old ears. She let out a cry as she stumbled, but quickly regained herself, heading further down the stairs, until she reached the bottom. She headed strait for the kitchen, and with trembling hands picked up the phone. She dialed, and it rang. "Operator, How may we help?" "I would to a call Ireland, Yes?" She said. Her Irish background made English a second language to her, and at her old age had not been able to learn it quickly in the short while she'd been in the states. The call clicked through, and a voice answered. "Hallo?" "Hallo, a Iseabail, 'S mise Mairi." "Hallo, Mairi!" Isabel Chaimbeul answered from her end. "Ciamar a tha sibh?" "Na math, Iseabail." Marie replied. "Ca-" Isabel began, but was cut off when a loud thud and a silenced, surprised gasp came through the phone. "Hallo? Hallo?" Isabel asked. "Hallo? Mairi? Hallo?" There was no reply, but a faint, musical wail echoing through the phone. Isabel dropped the phone, and ran through the twisting halls of her Castle home, screaming out the same phrase over and over again. "Seumas, Seumas! 'S Bainshe! 'S Bainshe!" ~*~xXx~*~ "Seven murders in the last week, Scully." Fox Mulder said to his partner, slamming a case file down on the table in front of her. She looked up, peering at him through her glasses. "Do we have a suspect?" She asked. "No, not yet. Nothing was seen. The body's were found dead, with no plausible cause of death. Except there's been one connection between each person." Mulder told her, pushing off his own glasses. "What's that, Mulder?" She asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. "Nothing paranormal, Scully, Don't worry. They were all immigrants from Ireland." "That's it?" She asked. "Seven Irish Immigrants die, so it's a murder? Does that mean my grandmother is next?" She asked, giving him a look. "Even if it IS a murder case, why can't the local PD handle it?" "Six immigrants, Scully. And the caretaker of a castle in Ireland." "What does a dead caretaker have to do with dead immigrants?" Scully asked. Mulder flipped on the slide projector, ignoring her comment. He clicked through the pictures of the peoples homes, and their bodies. "The coroner found NOTHING odd?" Scully asked. "No, poisoning, or internal bleeding... Anything that would explain their death?" "Take a look for yourself. It's in there." He motioned to the folder. She opened it up, and begin to flip through it. "Right here, Mulder. The PD report says that Marie Welsh's phone was found off the hook. Did they run a trace on the call?" He nodded. "And...?" She asked. "I hope you've got your Lucky Charms, Leprechaun." He replied, grinning wryly. ~*~xXx~*~ "This is the place?" Scully asked, as they pulled up to the rusting gate of an old stone castle. The castle and yard itself was surrounded by a stony wall, with Ivy growing up and down the sides. Mulder pulled the car into the lot, and drove up the winding path slowly. Around theme were tall green trees, with twisting, overgrown gardens below them. There was a old fountain towards the canter of the driveway, filled with murky water. He parked the car, and they climbed out. They approached the large wooden door, and knocked. There was no answer, so Mulder pushed the door, which opened with a creak. "Hello?" He called. "Is anyone home?" "Miss Chaimbeul?" Scully tried. "Mr. Grannd?" "Hallo, Hallo!" A feminine voice floated through the halls. The voice was sweet, and accompanied by an Irish accent. A tall red head in a flowing skirt appeared, followed by a red headed man. "Is mise Iseabail." She said, then motioned to the man. " 'S ise Seumas." Mulder glanced helplessly at Scully, who tried to remember the little Gaelic she'd learnt as a girl from her grandmother. "Chan urrainn Gaidhlig math." She tried, hoping she'd said 'We don't speak Gaelic well' and not 'You look like a horse' or something equally wrong. James smiled. "Ah, You no speak Gaelic? I can speak English good, but Isabel is not very well with it. She is only 23, and grew up speaking Gaelic. She knows little English." Isabel nodded, and looked at them. "I'm Agent Dana Scully, and this is Agent Fox Mulder. I believe Mulder spoke with you on the phone?" " 'S ann, Aghaint Schlee." Isabel said. Mulder glanced at James. "She said 'Yes, Agent Scully.'" He informed them. "Excuse us for a minute." He told them, pulling Isabel aside, where they exchanged hushed words. "So, Aghaint Schlee," Mulder grinned. "What do you make of this?" "Mulder, we've known them for less then ten minutes." "Yes, but don't most Irish people speak good English?" "Yes," Scully admitted, "But Gaelic is taught as a second language. Many people can speak it well, and both Irish and English are spoken in the government." Isabel and James reappeared. "I am sorry." Isabel apologized. "English is not well on me. But try I will." She smiled sincerely at them. "Our mother and father raised us speaking not English. But father taught me English at fifteen. They died before Isabel learned proper." He told them. "Oh, I'm sorry about your parents." Mulder said. Scully nodded in agreement. Isabel looked at them then spoke. "Bags have you?" She asked. They glanced at each other uncertainly. "You do have bags?" James asked. "We're staying in town." Mulder told them finally. "Stay us with." Isabel smiled. Scully glanced at Mulder, his eyes suddenly glowing with the interest in staying in an old Irish Castle. Mind you, she wouldn't mind staying here either. "No, we couldn't impose on you like that-" She began. "Oh no, we insist." James told them firmly. "Exceptions we hear not." Isabel added. "Okay, I'll lock the car and bring out things in." Mulder said. He touched Scully's arm briefly, and lowered his voice. "Scully, Why don't you find out what you can about the murders?" She nodded. "Miss Chaimbeul, Why don't you-" She began, but Isabel interrupted. "Aghaint Schlee, Please me called Isabel." She told her. Scully nodded. "And you can call me Dana instead of Agent Scully, Okay?" " 'S ann." She agreed. "Dhayna, follow I, I show room to you." Scully nodded, and smiled. " 'S ann" "You speak Gaelic?" Isabel asked. "No, not really. I learned a little when I was younger. My grandmother immigrated to the states from Ireland." She told her. Smiling, Isabel turned to show Scully her room. She started to follow, when Mulder returned. "Maolder, Come, Show you your rooms I will." Isabel told him. They followed her up the main staircase, towards the West wing. She swung open a door, revealing a room with a large canopy bed. The room had mirrors lining the back wall, but other than that, the walls were stone and marble. The curtains and covers were a deep sea green, the carpet covering the cool stone floor a matching colour. There was a large walk in closet, as well as a bathroom at the side. "Here you two stay." Isabel told them. "Oh, we're just partners. We'd prefer separate rooms." Mulder told her kindly. She frowned. "Understand I do not." "Chan obair thathair, Is." James spoke up from behind the confused redhead. Her mouth opened in a silent 'o'. "I regret." She said, looking embarrassed. "Maulder, I show you your room, yes?" He followed her across the hall, where she opened a second door. The room was identical to Scully's, except the room was red. "The Christmas leprechauns." Mulder grinned at Scully, who had come up behind him as Isabel left with her brother-in-law. "So, Leprechaun." Mulder turned to Scully, "Downstairs to find out about that phone call?" "Okay, Mulder." Scully agreed. ~*~xXx~*~ "Okay, thanks." Mulder said, after Isabel finished telling them about the phone conversation. "Isabel, can you tell us what happened the night the care taker died?" Scully asked. " 'S ann, Dhayna." She said. "Happened same thing as night Mother and Father died. As same time Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins died. We all left." "Which was...?" Mulder prompted. "Easier to tell in language of me." She said, looking at James. " 'S ann, Iseabail." He said, then turned to Mulder and Scully. "Isabel will tell in Gaelic, than I translate for you." Scully nodded in agreement. "Ferist, Dh'eirich a ghaoth re na h-oidhche. Tha ih cho fuar!" She said quickly. "The wind rose during the night. It was so cold." James translated. "Tha vinneag oupeian. Dhuin mi an vinneag." "The window was open. I closed it." Scully's brow furrowed. "That accounts for the coldness." She said. James shook his head. "I was there when mother and father died." He said. "It is a cold much different." Mulder raised an eyebrow, a smile slowing spreading across his face. "Sheinn... Sa Bainshe... Sheinn ia drochaid." "She... The Banshee... She appeared across the bridge." James transleted, looking from Mulder's grinning face to Scully's 'Oh brother' look. "Which bridge?" Mulder asked. "The bridge out back, crossing the river." James replied. "Bu mhath." Isabel agreed. "Sheinn I oran. Am bu mhath leibh an teip a chlvinntinn?" "Isabel says She sang a song. She wants to know if you'd like to hear the tape." ~*~xXx~*~ A slow, sweet wailing was floating through the air. The music was sweet and melodic, yet with a bitter tinge to it. It made a person want to hear it forever, yet at the same time, grasp their head and wail in the same sickly sound. Isabel sat carefully perched on the sofa, gently nipping at the edge of her thumbnail. James sat next to her, staring stonily out the window, through the twisting weeds and out past the overgrown gardens, almost right to the edge of the plot, where the ancient stone bridge lay over the river. "This is it?" Mulder asked, from his spot leaning against the wall. The effect the music was having on his partner seemed to be far away from himself. While he casually leaned against the marble, listening to the tape with eyes alight like a child's at Christmas, his partner sat silently on an oversized chair. Her eyes were far away, and she stared off into space as the music flowed through the room, echoing off the walls. "S'ann, Maulder." "Does she appear on a regular basis?" Mulder asked. "Every time someone is dead." James replied, blue eyes unfazed. "Otherwise, no." Mulder nodded, and turned to Scully. "Scully?" He asked. He'd been expecting a response, but she'd given none. "Stop the tape." He ordered, turning to Isabel. She jumped up, running across the room and stopping it mid play. "Scully?" He asked, waving his hand across her face. "Scully?" She shook her head, and the room cleared. "Are you okay, Scully?" Mulder asked, eyes full of concern. "I'm fine... Just a little tired. I'm going to bed." She told them, glancing at the clock on the mantle. The antique hands ticked around, giving her the display of 10:47pm. "I'm going to go through some of the books." Mulder told her, hands still not leaving her knees, where he'd placed them. He pushed himself up, and turned to leave the room. "Goodnight, Scully." He called back, as she stood, exiting through the opposite doors. ~*~xXx~*~ Scully lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She'd heard Isabel go to bed hours ago, while Mulder still poked around downstairs. She hadn't been able to sleep. Glancing at the clock, it read 1:54. Sighing, she swung her feet over the bed, coming into contact with the cool floor. She slipped on a pair of slippers, and tied a robe around herself. She padded downstairs, following the light from the library. Pausing, Scully frowned. Mulder, it seemed, was playing the tape again. As she approached the library, the wailing grew louder. She eased open the door, and stuck her head in. Glancing around, there was no sign of Mulder. She shrugged, and headed to the cassette player. Her hand hovered over the 'stop' button, when she realized the tape *was* stopped. Scully turned, and left the room, shutting the door firmly behind her. She headed back upstairs, only to be met by a tired looking Isabel. "You play tape?" She mumbled, rubbing sleep out of her blue eyes. She blinked once, then twice, taking in Scully's wearied expression. "No!" Isabel cried suddenly, fleeing downstairs. Scully weighed her options, then decided to forgo going back for her gun. She raced after Isabel, calling her name. Isabel flung open the back door, leading out to the woods, where she paused, looking outwards. A man was walking towards them, and Scully suddenly wished she had gone for her gun. He held up his hands, and as the light from the lamp flooded onto his dirty face. "Mulder!" Scully cried, as he approached the castle. "What is happened?" Isabel demanded. "James where is?" "He went into the woods." Mulder rasped, seemingly out of breath. "Mulder, What happened?" Scully asked softly, helping him sit on the steps. "The... Banshee. She came. James... He went after her." "Why?" She asked, not noticing Isabel slip silently into the Darkness. "To... Stop. If you find-" He coughed "If you find the Banshee's lair, you can try to stop her." Scully nodded, and turned to Isabel. "Isabel?" She called, whirling around. "Isabel!" "Scully." Mulder whispered, pushing himself up. He pointed to the shadowy figure entering the woods. He drew his gun, and headed after the figure, the robe-clad Scully at his heels. "ISABEL!" Mulder cried, chasing after her. He pushed the small branches aside, ducking under the heavier ones. He cursed as he tripped over a root, falling to the ground. Scully was at his side immediately. he rolled over. "Go. I'll be fine." She nodded, and headed after Isabel again, who was now calling out for James. "Isabel!" Scully cried. "Stop!" She paused for a second, allowing Scully gain. Scully ran after her, her slippers flopping off her heels. She skidded to a stop, as she saw Isabel come to a halt. Slowly, cautiously, she took a step closer, seeing that they were on the edge of a cliff. Isabel looked downwards, as a silent moan escaped her lips, she crumpled into a heap on the ground. Scully edged foreword, and peered over the edge. She felt the blood drain from her face as she looked at the sight below. James' body was horribly twisted, his eyes wide open in terror. She looked, down and around, for anything holding him up, what could have done this to him. His body was suspended in mid air, wavering slightly with each breeze. Scully knelt down next to Isabel, who was now sobbing. "Isabel." She said gently. "Do you know what happened?" Isabel looked up, suddenly angry. Her blue eyes flashed, and she jumped up, screaming at the air and sea below. It was a string of words, howling, almost, in Gaelic. Scully saw her frustration, but not as to where it was directed. Wavering, She caught a person out of the corner of her eye. She whirled around, only to see a wisp of smoke dissolving. Scully approached Isabel, and placed her hands on her shoulders, guiding her away from the sight of her cousin hanging from air. She allowed Scully to lead her back to the Castle, passing Mulder's approaching body on the way. He turned, and wordlessly they entered the castle. Scully helped Isabel to bed, then went back downstairs to Mulder, who was peering out the window.. "What just happened, Mulder?" She asked. "What was that about?" "Banshees." He shrugged, slowly walking up to the third floor, where their rooms were located, opposed to Isabel's fourth. "Mulder, I'm Irish. I've heard the legend of the banshee MANY times. They don't kill. They predict death. More so to certain family clans, and women see them more so than men. So, if it WAS a 'banshee', Mulder, What elevated his body like that?" He grinned. "Do you realize what day it is, today, Agent Scully?" She sighed, giving him a tired look. "No, Agent Mulder. What is it?" "March 17." He replied, waggling his eyebrows. "And the significance-" She paused, eyes widening. "Oh, brother." She rolled her eyes. "What is it now, Mulder? Killer St Patrick's day leprechauns? Irish Sea Serpents? Or something equally stupid?" He clutched his hand to his heart. "Why, Scully! You wound me with your words!" Mulder straightened, than continued. "Scully, Irish monsters, or mythical creatures are know to have power on this day. My guess, is that some spirit, kept his body from their waters. They levitated it, after it had hit the edge of the cliffs, or the rocks, raising it to keep him out of their home." Scully sighed again. "Mulder, I'm tired. I'll buy it right now, but don't expect me to believe it in the morning. Let's go to bed." "Why, Scully!" He grinned deliciously. "Is that an offer?" She was already turning into her room. "I don't know." She called back, feeling particularly evil. "Why don't you tell me?" She turned, to see his reaction. He looked shocked for a moment, then regained himself, tossing out a "G'Nite" as he stumbled into his own room. She told herself, yanking off her robe, and heading for bed. ~*~xXx~*~ Scully opened her eyes, awakened by the sound of running water. The old walls and corridors were nowhere near soundproof, even the smallest noise echoed through the halls. She pushed herself out of bed, heading for her own shower. "Scully?" Mulder's voice echoed through her room a few minutes later. She stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself up in the green, fluffy, oversized bathrobe. She stepped out into the room, and Mulder barley managed to contain his raised eyebrows. He looked her over, from her dripping wet hair, pale, makeup less face, and pale legs. She was just a short distance away from him, naked under that towel, bundled up in a robe certainly big enough for two... He shook his head slightly, correcting himself.