Thank you everyone for reviewing, I really appreciate it: Angelmail: I love your story, it gets better and better with each chapter... and it started off as great lol. Darling Summer: Thank you for reading my story and for all your helpful comments. And, of course, for your amazingly captivating story! HappyHaiku: Thank you so much for your review, I cant wait to see what happens either! Lollipopz104: Ok, don't worry, here's the second chapter. Please tell me what you think.
Hit and Miss
Connie blinked blearily as the sunlight streamed through her window and fell across her face. With a groan, Connie ran her hand through her hair and began to get up. With a jolt, she realized that today was the day that Col had promised to surprise her and take her on a mysterious date. Connie woke up instantly and began to complete her morning rituals with record time, speeding from one task to another. Within no time, she was done, having just finished showering and heading down stairs to eat breakfast.
"Gurgle Gurgle," George trilled when he saw Connie enter the kitchen
"Well hello to you too George," Connie said with a laugh, "Morning Aunt Evelyn, 'morning Mac"
"Connie!" Exclaimed Evelyn. "Just the person I wanted to see, do you think you could go out to the glade behind the house and tell the banshees that I can't make it today? I twisted my ankle in a pothole yesterday and it's killing me."
"Sure, not a problem, I'll have to be back quick though, Col's coming around today to pick me up."
"Oh ya about that," said Mack "Col called while you were in the shower to tell you that he has to take Skylark to the vet so that he can get his shots. He won't be able to make it."
"Oh ok..." Connie sighed dejectedly
"Aw poor Connie," Mac teased with a mischievous glint in his eye, "But don't worry, Col said he would pick you up first thing tomorrow if that was ok?"
"Yes! I mean sure" Connie blushed, "By the way, what kind of vet will Skylark see? and why does he have to get shots?
"Connie, all horses have to get shots: worm shots, flee shots, even medicine to keep Pegasus wings in working order," Evelyn explained, "Thankfully Dr. Karnet is here from Seattle for all the new Pegasus riders and there companions."
"Ok well I'm off to meet the banshees," Connie cut in, not wanting to get into a long conversation with her aunt and keep the Banshees waiting. Connie headed out the back door and started walking down the dirt strewn path towards the glade.
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"So, what do you think of Connie and Col dating?" Evelyn asked unsurely as the door closed behind Connie, "They're rather young...?"
"Oh Evie, They're both Sixteen."
"But-" Evelyn started
"They also seem to be happier together than they have in a long while. Connie has finally started smiling again after last year's disaster and Col has a new, bouncy spring to his step that he's never had before." Evelyn smiled in agreement, happy for her niece and step-son.
"Your right, I didn't see it that way," Evelyn said, as she started to smile mischievously. "Now there's that soft, sensitive side; your nothing but a friendly teddy bear Mack Clamworthy!"
"Teddy bear!" Mack boomed, "I'll show you what a teddy bear can do!" Mack said as he lifted Evelyn up and swung her around and around. She squealed and laughed vigorously, fully enjoying Mack's attention. George laughed and waved his tiny arms enthusiastically in the air, he looked expectantly at Mack, as if to say, "My turn, my turn!". Mack and Evelyn burst out laughing and pulled George into their arms, feeling completely happy as a family.
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It was a bright, sunny day and there was a cool breeze in the wind that rippled through the fields and caused the wild flowers to sway in dance. The last of the dew was just beginning to evaporate and each water droplet held the sun's light like hundreds of tiny diamonds. Connie continued to walk down the path but her thoughts kept straying off of seeing the banshees.
"I wish Col was coming today," Connie sadly thought, "Today was supposed to be our day together away from prying eyes and suspicious neighbors. And I still haven't told him about my curse. I haven't told anyone for that matter. If anyone discovers that Kullervo is actually a part of me... I'll be scorned and shunned for the rest of my life. But I can't keep this from everyone forever, especially Col, he ought to know who he's dating. Even if she was a monster." Connie was becoming more and more miserable with each thought until it felt like she was drowning in sorrow and problems.
"Greetings Universal" wailed a ghostly voice directly in front of her. "With a start, Connie yelped in surprise at the sudden appearance of the Banshee.
"Oh umm... hello you must be Octavia, Evelyn's companion." Said Connie as she realized that her sudden depressed feeling must have been strengthened by the banshee. Connie took a moment to inspect the creature and wasn't much reassured by its presence. It was a pale ghost of a woman that wore a tattered and faded robe. She had long, pitch black hair, a gaunt face with a stretched mouth, and two dark, soulful eyes. She floated just of the ground at eye level to look at Connie with eyes like pools. Connie was entranced by her appearance and it took her a few minutes to notice she was no longer on the path, but in a glade, surrounded by tall, enclosed trees.
"YYYEESSS," Octavia moaned, "where is Evvelyyn?"
"Umm sh...she's not c...coming today, she's not feeling well." Suddenly Connie began to sway on her feet. The banshee's powerful emotions blazed in Connie as Octavia's sorrow rose. Images began to run through Connie's head as she was swept away in a sea of sadness. She was surrounded be a crowd of people that were yelling and arguing.
"Murderer! You killed my companion"
"Poor Sylph" a boy cried
"What have you become Connie?" Mack asked disgustedly.
"But why?" Col begged in a quiet whisper
"But that's not me! Kullervo is gone!" Connie screamed as the crowd yelled and screamed, insane with rage.
"Killer! Killer! Killer!" the crowd chanted. Connie started crying and moaning out the sadness that was bottled up inside of her. With a shudder, she bent over and began to transform. Her hair became long and scraggly, and her clothes wore away. Her eyes sunk into her head and her mouth became stretched into a wail of endless grief. Where Connie was standing only a minute before, stood a pale, wasted banshee.
Connie's own wail of distress snapped her from the hallucination. With a burst of will power, Connie forced all of her worries and regrets deep down inside, along with her new power. Shudders began to rack her body as she realized just how close she had come to losing complete control.
"I'm sorry, young one," Octavia apologized, her normally sad face apologetic. "I didn't realize you were connected to me or how unstable you are."
"Unstable?"
"Yes, it feels as if your mind is turning on itself as you fight for control over your body" Connie broke out in a cold sweat as she recalled how she hadn't been in control of her transformation... it had just happened. Suddenly, a calmness overcame her and soothed her raw emotions.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you, young one, my sorrow can overcome me and when it does, it occasionally affects those around me." Octavia explained, "Please relax"
"So that's where this peace is coming from," thought Connie contentedly as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yes now listen, whatever it is your upset about, you need to confront it, not bury it. Problems never just go away, believe me, I know."
"How do you know?" Connie asked curiously. Stony silence answered her.
"You should head back now, Evelyn is probably wondering where you are." Octavia moaned. Connie could sense that while Octavia liked her, she was a solitary creature and didn't enjoy prolonged encounters.
"Ok... it was nice to meet you...umm... thank you for your advice," Connie said awkwardly, never suspecting that a sad banshee could have a warm friendly side.
"It's ok, if you want to talk again come see me, you remind me of my daughter... don't forget now, confront your problem."
"It wont be easy," thought Connie wryly
"It never is," replied Octavia sadly.
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"So what did Octavia say? Did you like her?" Asked Evelyn as Connie walked through the porch door.
"She took it kind of badly, she misses you" Connie explained truthfully. "She's nice, I didn't know that banshees could be so...so..."
"Friendly?" Evelyn said with a laugh and a smile, "Not all banshees are depressing, miserable specters. Connie are you all right?"
Connie had been looking at the floor, deciding whether to tell Evelyn about everything, Kullervo and her new powers. "No I can't, not yet, I have to sort this out for myself first."
"Connie!" Aunt Evelyn shouted anxiously, "Are you ok?" Evelyn was looking at Connie with panic on her face. Connie looked sad and a bit pale, with dark circles under her eyes.
"I'm fine, I just need to sort some things out for myself, I'll tell you when I'm sure."
"Ok Connie, if your sure," Aunt Evelyn said, clearly still worried about her niece. "What is that girl up too"
"I am, thank you," Connie smiled and hugged Evelyn, confusing her even more, before running to her room.
"Weird kid, just like a younger me!" Evelyn said dryly, as she cackled with laughter.
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Once in her room, Connie pondered her transformation and how it happened. It wasn't she who had called upon her powers, could it have been Kullervo? And why did it have to happen now, when everything was just starting to feel normal again?
Connie collapsed onto her bed and sighed loudly. She laid there uncharacteristically morose, as she stared at the ceiling and pondered what the future had in store.
And this is the re write for chapter two for those who didn't know. There are, yet again, a few minor changes that I hope make it better than the first time.
