Chapter One

In the Beginning

Author's note: I'd like to dedicate this whole story to my muse, Conner, who's helped me through some horribly tough times. I'm writing this because I realized, most people don't appreciate their muses as much as they should (including myself). I'm hoping that through this story, he and myself will send out a message for everyone to appreciate their muses a little more. I also hope that we, ourselves build a stronger relationship, Conner and I, because, he really is an annoyingly sweet muse. I'm also trying to get him to help me with my OTHER stories.

Before your born you are simply spirit, nothing more, nothing less. You are you, of course, your personality will always be your own, but you have nothing to contain you, no body to hold you down. And before you are born, long before the day your body is conceived, you are assigned to three things: a body, a destiny, and a muse. Sam had been given Conner, or maybe she was given to him, no one can say really.

Sam couldn't be described other than plain, though her spirit was colorful, her physical appearance was dull. Mousy brown hair hung down to her elbows, while her eyes shown a light honey-tan. Her eyes were probably the most interesting part of her body, because they were as clear as a child's, though no one knew why. She'd always been something of a tomboy, playing baseball and climbing trees were her favorite past times.

Her life wasn't terribly boring either, her home could be very well mistaken for a gypsy caravan. Her mother, Jocelyn, was an herbalist and had more or less 'brought her work home with her'. Sam noticed, her life wasn't really like everyone else's, her home life was different than anyone she'd ever known. Her sister, Calliope, was twelve, four years younger than her, but was taking collage classes. And her brother, Tomas, was known to dream things before they happened. And Sam, well, Sam saw her muse.

To tell the truth, Sam had never been too fond of Conner. Like all muses, he was handsome, honey brown hair, light gray eyes and about 5'8 tall. His fingers were long and nimble, and his skin had been kissed by the sun for he was a light tan and he seemed to be around nineteen though Sam thought otherwise. His build wasn't terribly muscular, he was built much like the sculptures you see from ancient Greece, long legs and a thin body frame. And oh, he was dreadfully annoying. Sam noticed though that those with open hearts and open minds could see Conner as clearly as she did. Her best friend for instance, Sarah Williams, could see Conner perfectly, though Sam wondered why she couldn't see him a year before.

"What's a muse anyways?" Sarah murmured laying on the throw Sam got when she went to a bazaar in India the summer before.

"I read up on it," Sam said pulling out her book "it says there were originally nine muses, all born of Gaea and Uranus-"

"My anus?" Sarah teased "he's your muse, wouldn't it be your anus?" Sam rolled her eyes, much unlike Sarah, she didn't have a child-like sense of humor. She was known to tell a few jokes every once and a while, but nothing silly.

"Anyways," she continued "they're reason for being was to inspire poets, writers and musicians. But uh," she skimmed the book "it seems they had children to the extent that now every human is given one, instead of nine for all."

"So now you got Conner," Sarah questioned. "Well why can't I see my muse? I can see yours."

"Because," Conner said appearing on Sam's bed "some muses don't like they're work and don't show up as often as I do." A slapdash smile formed across his face while Sam looked at Sarah pleadingly.

"Lucky," she murmured and Sarah laughed. It wasn't to be mean, but she couldn't see what Sam's problem was. Conner was a relatively nice guy, sure he was slightly obnoxious, but it wasn't like Sam couldn't handle it. She'd read some of Sam's work without Conner and it was plain to see, she needed him.

"Well," Sarah breathed "tomorrow I'll bring that book you wanted by." Sarah left soon after than and Sam flopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

"What?" he teased appearing beside her "your boyfriend hasn't called yet?" She tossed her pillow at him only to have him disappear again and reappear on her windowsill. "I have to wonder why you bother with that guy," he muttered "he's such a prick."

"Hey!" Sam threw her candle at him but he caught it "you know, I don't harass you about YOUR none existent love life, why do you have ta butt into mine?" Conner seemed overly fascinated with the milky white candle and kept lighting and extinguishing it with a passing of his hands.

"He's a prick," he muttered again.

"Shut up!" she yelled and sat up. The door creaked open and Calliope poked her head in. Her hair was a light burgundy, much like her father's before he died a few years before.

"Having problems with your muse again, Sam?" she asked and looked towards the painfully amused creature sitting on the windowsill. "Hello Conner." He raised his eyebrows at her and smirked.

"Whatcha want Cal?" Sam muttered darkly.

"Mom wants you to come downstairs," she nodded towards the stairway "we're having dinner with Clyde again."

"Not again," Sam moaned and she nodded. Clyde was her mother's resent boyfriend, which wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't so egotistical. He had the makings of prince charming, black hair, blue eyes, tall, tan and handsome. But he had the attention span of a goldfish and the brain capacity of garden snail. Cal nodded and closed the door.

"Clyde's a prick too," Conner muttered, engrossed with the candle and Sam gritted her teeth. She agreed with him on that one, but something in her wanted as much conflict with him as possible. "He probably won't see me unless some miracle happens, so can I eat in the kitchen?"

"Yeah," Sam nodded "I'll fix you a plate." Sam walked downstairs and was met by her worst nightmare.

"Hey kiddo," Clyde grabbed her wrist and embraced her tightly. "You're just the most adorable thing, aren't you?" Sam was feeling like she was loosing blood to her brain about now and Clyde quickly dropped her and grabbed his hair "OW!" Sam watched as a tuff of black hair gently fell to the floor and Clyde look like he'd seen a ghost. "What did that!"

"Bugs?" she suggested "or maybe you're starting to bald." Sam knew though, Conner only let certain people touch her, he was a tad protective. Which had its good points and bad ones, for instance, when Clyde touched her she was very glad for Conner's protective behavior, but not so much when he pinched and prodded her boyfriend. "Uh, mom?" Sam went into the dining room "those hair pulling bugs are back." Jocelyn glanced towards the kitchen and Sam nodded, she had to make sure Conner got his food before she did anything else.

"Your welcome," he beamed once he heard her souls pat against the tiled floor. It was the only place in the house he could hear her walk, because everywhere else was covered in foreign throws, beautifully quilted blankets and tasseled pillows. The house always smelt of cooking, herbs, and incense and he thought all homes should smell that way.

"You didn't have to pull it out," she chastened and gave a smug grin "you could've pulled more if you tried." It was seldom that they had a peaceful conversation, unlike in the olden days when they'd play together continuously. It was strange to remember Conner helping her out of trees and across ponds now, now that they fought. But she was too old for imaginary things, but Conner wasn't imaginary, nor was he exactly real. Sam set his food on the table and ruffled his hair, something he disliked greatly, and went into the dining room. Normally Conner would sit with the family during meals, since they could all see him. But when guests came over, unless it was Sarah, it wasn't wise to have him around. Just imagine seeing the fork move around on its plate and the food disappearing right in front of you, you'd think you saw a ghost!

"So," Clyde said smoothly "what are we eating?"

"Fried honeycakes, Elder flower fritters, and dandelion salad," Tom breathed without another thought. Clyde frowned and wrapped his arm around Sam, which made her very uncomfortable.

"What?" he kidding with her "no meat?" she looked towards the kitchen and saw Conner look up from his meal. Slowly he stood to his feet and made his way towards the dining hall. Sam tried to save the man some pain and pull away but he willingly kept hold of her. She frowned, this wasn't good, why wouldn't he let her go? Conner seemed to notice too and his eyes raged. Sam shut her eyes so not to see what was about to occur. Thump "SON OF A BITCH!" Conner quickly took Sam into his arms and glared at the man who was now holding his right eye.

"What happened now?" Jocelyn sighed coming into the dining room. "Oh Clyde, are you alright?" She looked at Sam and Conner and hushed Cal's hysterical giggles. Jocelyn sent Sam to her room without dinner for 'punishment' since she 'punched Clyde in the eye'. She sent Conner up with a plate of food afterward.

"He's staying the night again," he informed her as she munched on some salad and she looked at him worriedly.

"I really don't like him," she muttered between bites "he wouldn't let go of me." She broke her honeycake in half and handed it to him. Happily he accepted and munched on it hungrily. He didn't say anything for a long time and Sam nodded. "Yeah," she agreed "maybe you should sleep in my room tonight."

"You sure?" he asked.

"You've got a better punch than me," she shrugged "if he really is a psychopath I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get."

Author's note: So I'm taking a tiny break today from my other stories so I could write this one. But I talked to Conner and he says if I work on this one and my other stories then he'll be nice and help me. He also says, well, I'll let him tell you.

Conner: Acantha Mardivey I apologize for my previous actions, I assure you I wasn't trying to be a pain :pouts: I'm sorry. And LadyAniviel, thank you so much for thinking I'm doing a good job - as least I get SOME gratitude around here.

HEY! I give you enough gratitude buddy now I don't feel appreciated. :sighs: see how frustrating it is to HAVE one of these things? Can I trade it in for a newer version? ANYONE wanna trade muses:looks at Conner sulking in the corner: damn, he knows how to get to me. :hugs him: aw, I love you still, that's why I'm writing this stupid story for you.

Conner:smirks and kisses authoress on cheek and runs:

COME BACK HERE YOU:runs after the muse: review real fast guys while I catch my muse and torment his annoying self. Like before, dedications go to the best reviewer to each chapter and YES Sarah and Jareth will be in this, and YES, Sarah will fall in love with Jareth and YES Sam is going to wish Conner away :thinks a moment: I wish the goblins would…