Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I love you all! Keep reviewing! And thanks to Mbali97 for coming up with a name, cos I can't even name my own story :D
Col sat next to Connie, on a hay bale just big enough to seat the two of them. They were surrounded by faces that they knew extremely well by now. Evelyn and Mack sat on a wooden bench; a gurgling George sat upright on Mack's knee, who was bouncing him soothingly. Dr Brock sat to the side; his hair seemed to be rapidly disappearing and appeared even thinner than Connie remembered it. She felt a pang of guilt, sensing that her disappearance had caused him too much stress. Kinga and Morjik were there, representing the Trustees. The rest had been called elsewhere, to see to a renegade weather giant that was causing havoc. The rest of the Chartmouth Chapter were there, and some of their companions. Lavinia was rubbing her eyes wearily; Rat was yawning broadly, not bothering to cover his mouth; Jessica and Arran were both bleary-eyed. Connie felt terrible, knowing that she was the cause of all this sleep-loss.
She stood up shakily. Everyone fell silent and looked at her. She felt their eyes blazing into hers, and couldn't look anyone in the eye.
"I… erm, I just wanted to say," she began, stuttering, "that I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I promise I'll never run off again." She sat back down.
"Why are you sorry?" Rat grinned. "You got us time off school, and gave us something useful to do with our time. We owe you one!" Connie looked at him sceptically.
Kinga stood up, gaining authority. "Now, we all know why we're here. We're relieved that Connie has been found, of course, but we need to take immediate action, to avoid another disaster."
She turned to Connie. "We need to begin you're training. As you know now, what happened in the cave was part of your training- it was to see how you handled your anger. And…"
"I handled it badly." Connie finished for her.
"Well, yes. So we're devising a special training programme for you." She now spoke to everyone. "I thought it fit to hold a meeting, to inform you all of Connie's training and the special treatment we are all to give her."
Connie groaned. She didn't like the sound of this already. Col took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"For the foreseeable future, no one is to make Connie angry or upset, for everyone's safety. During Connie's training, we will be recruiting the help of creatures known for their tempers- fire imps and weather giants, mainly. Most of these have or have had problems controlling their powers when they get angry or upset. They will be able to show Connie how to let off her anger healthily."
"So what can we do to help?" asked Mack.
"I've told you," replied Kinga, "you are to keep Connie relaxed and happy. When she can control her powers properly, you won't have to worry about her getting angry, but for now, be gentle with her."
"What about school?" asked Connie. "What if someone annoys me there?"
"Don't worry Connie, you have me and Rat; we'll look after you." They all looked over to where Rat was rhythmically flicking a piece of straw. "Well… I'll look after you." Col laughed. "I wouldn't count on Rat for much." Rat scowled back.
"Well, this is just great." Evelyn's voice made everyone stare at her in surprise. She stood up angrily. "Connie's well-being lies in the hands of the one who hurt her in the first place."
Mack turned to stare at her. "Now, Evelyn, you know this isn't Col's fault. He was just following orders…"
"He didn't need to follow those orders! Didn't you ever teach your boy how to say 'no'?" She jabbed a finger towards Col, who was sitting, silent. No one said anything, apart from Rat.
"Erm… do you know George is eating that straw?" He pointed towards where the tiny toddler was sitting with a fistful of straw, chewing on it happily.
Mack and Evelyn ignored him. "Of course I did!" Mack replied to Evelyn.
"Really? Cos I don't remember you being around much, to teach him anything."
Connie gasped. Evelyn hardly ever got mad at Mack, and she had never mentioned his absence during Col's childhood before. Everyone else was still silent, shocked at the argument that was spinning out before them. Col stood up slowly, his face showing no emotion. He headed quickly for the door of the barn. Connie stood up to go after him, but then she heard Evelyn's next remark, which made her stop dead in her tracks.
"Maybe if you had been around, Col wouldn't be such a push-over. He'd know how to say 'no', and he wouldn't go breaking my niece's heart and driving her to run away."
"No!" Connie shouted angrily. The door slammed as Col went out it, and she saw his silhouette disappear. "This is not Col's fault!"
Connie was aware of a hand pulling on hers. It was Kinga. "Connie, stop…" she warned. Everyone had left their seats, and were backing towards the door Col had just left. Stop what? Connie thought?
Then she realised how cold Kinga's hand felt against hers, and how hot she suddenly felt. Red blurred her vision, and in an instant she wasn't in her human body any more. The form of a fire imp felt strangely familiar and comfortable. She distinctly heard Evelyn's scream, and the door banging as everyone ran through it. And she could clearly smell burning wood, and knew exactly what was happening, but it was too late. She forced herself back into her human body, and then darted for the door before the fire consumed her completely.
Connie fell onto the damp grass, coughing and retching. She felt an arm around her shoulders and a hand brushing her hair out of her eyes. She looked up to see Col knelt beside her, and she leant back into him, her body shaking.
"Fire brigade, please. Yes, there's been a fire…" Mack was talking into his mobile phone. She pulled back from Col, knowing what she had to do. The fire already covered over half of the barn- the fire brigade would never reach them on time to save it. Closing her eyes, she melted into a sylph, and flew over the top of the barn, knowing that everyone was watching her. She blew down gusts of air to try and calm the flames, but only succeeded in making them rage more out of control. She tried a water sprite instead, dowsing the flames with cool water. This was more effective, and soon she had put out all the flames. She returned to a human, to see what damage had been done.
Almost the entire barn had been wiped out. Looking around, she saw that everyone had made it out safely. She looked back at the charred, wooden walls, at the exact moment that one collapsed completely. The roof was already gone.
"Oh… Mr Masterson isn't going to like this…" Rat stated unhelpfully. Mr Masterson was at the hospital with Shirley, but had agreed to let them use the barn anyway.
Evelyn ran over, followed by Mack, who was carrying a wailing toddler. He dumped George in Lavinia's arms, who began to rock him, cooing soothingly.
Evelyn pushed Col away from Connie and wrapped Connie into a tight hug. "Connie, I'm so glad you're ok! What happened?"
Connie pushed her off angrily. "What happened?" she repeated. "What happened was, after Kinga told everyone not to make me angry, you did that exact thing." She walked over to Col and took his hand, pulling him over to Evelyn. "Look, I know you have a problem with me and Col still being together, because you think me disappearing was his fault, but you have to understand- this is all just a big misunderstanding. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine, so please don't blame Col."
"Actually," said Kinga, coming over to stand with them, "It was all my fault- I should never have asked Col to kiss Shirley. It was unfair, and I was wrong. So please," she turned to Evelyn, "please let Col off the hook. If you don't, it'll just cause more problems, because Connie will get angry again."
"Ok." Evelyn turned to Mack. "I'm sorry I accused you of not being a good father- I wasn't thinking."
Mack rolled his eyes. "I don't care- it's Col you need to be apologising to."
"No!" Col spoke up for the first time. "I don't blame you for blaming me- even I blame myself. It is my fault." He took his hand out of Connie's. "I don't even deserve to be holding your hand- you deserve better."
He started to walk away. "Col, wait!" Connie ran after him. "Where are you going?"
"Home." He replied curtly, and then broke into a sprint as he ran up the Mastersons' drive. Connie stood and watched him go, disappearing down the rocky lane.