CHAPTER ONE
Connie stumbled into the classroom, wiping the toast crumbs from her mouth. That would be the last time she stayed up reading, she thought wryly as Aneena and Jane waved her down. She had slept through her alarm and missed the school bus, meaning her aunt had had to drive her to Chartmouth, before returning to Hescombe to drop George at nursery. It had not left Evelyn in the best of moods.
"Didn't see you this morning," Jane said, as Connie took her seat beside her, dumping her backpack against the chair.
"Overslept," Connie said, fighting back the beginnings of a yawn. Aneena raised an eyebrow.
"Had another late night, then?"
"Oh, don't start." Connie rummaged in her bag for a pen. True, she was going to bed later and later these days, but there was so much Society-related history she wanted to learn, and only so few hours in the day. She had to cram it in, somehow.
"I notice Col's not here, either," Aneena went on.
Not missing the suggestive tone of her friend, Connie glanced over to his seat by the window, which was empty. The clock above the whiteboard read 08:40, making her frown. It wasn't like Col to be late.
"Why so worried?" Aneena chuckled at Connie's expression. "Now that I think of it, isn't our History coursework due soon? Doesn't surprise me that he's taken the day off."
"You know he's not like that," Connie said, settling in her seat as the teacher entered and closed the door.
"I was only joking!" Aneena held up her hands in defence. "You can be so protective over Col sometimes." She was prevented from continuing as Mr. Ellins, the physics teacher, cleared his throat harshly.
As Mr. Ellins began writing complex equations on the board, Connie sighed, resting her cheek in her hand. Col was probably down with a cold, or something. Yet his absence set her universal senses on edge, and it was all she could do to shield herself, lest she attract the attention of most of the local animal kingdom.
She tried to concentrate on the lesson, though that was little consolation since it was just as difficult to understand. And really, who needed to know all this stuff about force and mass anyway?
At last, the bell rang, and there was a collective sigh of relief from the students. The class began to pack up. Connie dropped her textbook into her backpack, when she noticed her phone sitting at the bottom. Perhaps she should give Col a ring.
"Connie, hurry up!" Rat whined from the doorway. "It's the biology practical today and I need a partner who knows what to do."
"Coming." Connie slipped her phone into her pocket and sauntered after him. She would have to try later.
Between lessons, Connie repeatedly dialled Col's number, and every time there was no answer. Rational thought tried to convince her that if he was ill he would be unable to reach his mobile, but her sinking feeling overrode such logic. Why was she so paranoid? Maybe it was the story she had read last night.
Lunchtime came, and she tried again as she queued up for food. With her tray full, she pressed her phone between her ear and shoulder, at the same time navigating the masses towards her friends. The phone rang and rang and rang, until it took her to his voicemail.
"Still can't get through?" Jane asked, picking at her salad. Connie shook her head, plopping her tray onto the table and then ending her call.
"Boys don't like needy girls," Aneena said through a mouthful of overcooked pastry. "Lay off, Connie. Col's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"Alright, alright," Connie sighed, putting her phone away. "But I have this feeling he's not okay."
"Have you tried asking his friend?" Rat asked, chewing on a very rubbery-looking sandwich.
"Justin?" Connie glanced to the other side of the canteen, where said friend was laughing as he scrambled to steal the last French fry on his neighbour's plate. In all the time she'd known him, they had spoken a total of twice, and for both of those Col had been present. She was not keen to look so desperate in front of him and his 'posse'.
"No, not him, his special friend, Sk-"
Before he could finish, Connie leapt over the table and stuffed the remainder of Rat's sandwich into his mouth.
"Col has a special friend?" Aneena was perplexed.
"Of course he doesn't, Rat likes to make things up," Connie said, staring hard at Rat as he choked on bread, ham and lettuce. He had a bad habit of bringing up Society secrets in front of their friends. On the other hand, he had a valid point. If something bad had happened—which Connie was sure of—Skylark would be in a position to find out.
As Jane and Aneena helped Rat swallow his larger-than-expected mouthful, Connie lowered her eyelids, and sent out a mental call. She was getting better at reaching out for mythical creatures at longer distances, though it did require more effort on her part.
"Universal?" Skylark's reply was prompt. "Is it you who summons me?"
"It's okay, Skylark," Connie said, "I just want to ask you something. Have you seen Col?"
Skylark's projection in her mind shook his head.
"I cannot sense him," the pegasus said. "Is he not with you?"
"No, and I can't contact him."
"Shall I search for him?"
"If you could," Connie's heartbeat quickened; her uneasiness had been confirmed.
"I shall," Skylark said. "If I find him, I will let you know."
Connie ended the encounter, and found herself being stared at by Jane.
"Are you sure it's not you who's coming down with something?" she quipped, offering her napkin. "You're all sweaty."
"Don't worry yourself sick." Aneena echoed Jane's sentiments. Connie smiled, taking the napkin and wiping her moist brow. Maybe she shouldn't try her long distance calls so publicly.
"I won't," she said, turning her attention to her lunch. There were only three lessons to go until school ended. Then she would be able to find out what was wrong.
Connie reached for the knocker of Mrs. Clamworthy's house and thumped it twice. Rat was perched on the gateposts, mesmerized by the butterfly sitting on a flower above his head.
"I don't think anybody's home," Connie said, as she knocked again for the third time. "I'm worried. Mrs. Clamworthy's usually here at this hour."
"Maybe they've gone for a boat-ride," Rat said, not taking his eyes off the butterfly as it flexed its wings.
"In this weather?" Connie gestured to the overcast sky. "I suppose Col could've taken Mack to see the Kraken but he'd never skip school for that. And Mrs. Clamworthy wouldn't go with them, anyway."
"He might be at yours," Rat said, finally jumping off the gatepost with lupine grace. The butterfly flittered away, disturbed by the movement. "I bet he's planning something for your anniversary."
"Rat, we started going out in October, not November," Connie said. At Rat's blank stare she shook her head. "Never mind. Let's go."
The walk to Shaker Row was uneventful, but on arriving Connie noted that Evelyn's Citröen was missing. Strange—Evelyn should've been be home with George.
"What's going on?" Connie opened the door, suspicious. The hall was undisturbed, so she moved on to the kitchen. The breakfast plates were stacked in the sink, and the milk had been left out. That wasn't odd in itself, but there was a new addition to the mess: a crumpled note on the table. Connie seized it, squinting to decipher her aunt's message.
"Gone to ChartmouthGeneralHospital. Mrs. Clamworthy admitted yesterday. Left some taxi money in parlour if you want to catch up with us. She's on Ward 24."
Connie's insides went floppy.
"Where's everyone gone, then?" Rat asked, helping himself to a glass of lukewarm milk. "Is there a secret Society meeting that we weren't informed about?"
"Worse." Connie took a chair; she felt too unsteady to stand. "Mrs. Clamworthy's in hospital."
"What?" Rat almost choked on his milk. "How? Why?"
"I'm not sure," Connie said, leaning on the breakfast table. "That must be why Col didn't come to school."
"Let's go to the hospital, then," Rat declared, dumping his empty glass by the sink.
Connie went to get the money from the parlour. Some loose change had been placed in front of the white horse statue, although there wasn't enough for them both to take a taxi to Chartmouth.
"Sorry Rat, I haven't got enough," she apologized, returning to the kitchen.
"Aw, you go, then," Rat said, his eyes falling. He headed for the door. "Ma's probably wondering where I am anyway. Give Mrs. C. my best."
"I will. I'll ask Evelyn to let you come along next time."
She watched from the window as Rat hopped down the steps and turned towards his home, before she dialled the local taxi number. Soon, she was being driven to the large set of buildings that made up the Chartmouth GeneralHospital. Connie shuddered, remembering her own stay after her encounter with the chimera, but she forced those anxieties away as the taxi pulled to a stop at the main entrance.
Handing over her change, Connie got out of the taxi, and then stepped through the automated double-doors. Inside, the receptionist gladly pointed the way to Ward 24. Connie thanked her, and then hurried through the maze of corridors. The ward was well signposted, and before long she was timidly approaching the large desk that was the nurses' station.
Upon request of the 'INFECTION CONTROL' signs that plastered the walls, windows and anything else fixed to the floor, Connie rinsed her hands with the horrible-smelling alcohol gel. She peered into the nearest bay, but didn't recognise any of the patients. They all sported casts and braces, and looked pretty miserable.
Perching on the edge of the station, Connie settled to wait for a nurse. A familiar babble caught her ears, and she glanced behind her. That sounded like George. His voice was coming from a side room around the corner. Knowing that it would probably be a while until a nurse saw to her, she headed over to the door and knocked.
The door opened, and Evelyn poked her head through.
"Ah, so you got my note," she smiled. "Come in." She backed away from the door and let Connie walk inside.
Mack was sitting by Mrs. Clamworthy's bedside, holding her right hand. George was on the bed, tangling himself in the hospital blankets. Mrs. Clamworthy watched in amusement, her hair loose over her shoulders. She was sitting up, dressed in a thin white gown. A paper bracelet adorned her wrist, making her seem much less the fiercely independent woman that Connie knew so well.
"Connie!" Mrs. Clamworthy took her hand from Mack so she could grasp Connie's. Connie noticed that her left forearm was in a cast, and her left leg appeared fatter than her right.
"Mrs. Clamworthy, are you alright?" Connie asked, as Evelyn pulled out another chair for her to sit.
"As well as I can be," Mrs. Clamworthy said, smiling. "Though these two haven't been worrying any less."
"Mum, you were unconscious for two hours," Mack said sternly. "If Col hadn't called the ambulance…"
"Mack, there's no need to worry about that anymore. It was only a slight graze on my head, and my hip and wrist have been mended by the experts."
"But you won't be out of here for ages!" Mack protested. "It's not good for a companion to be away from their creature for too long. And I don't like it that the doctors have given you so much morphine."
"Never mind that," Mrs. Clamworthy said. "The pain relief is only for a few days. You wait, I'll be back in order before you can say 'water sprite'. Dear me, a little fall at home and you're up in arms!"
Connie listened to them bicker, and her spirits lifted. If there was one thing that would prove Mrs. Clamworthy was equipped for a swift recovery, it was her ability to out-argue Mack.
"It's very sweet of you to come and visit, dear," Mrs. Clamworthy said, turning to Connie. "I would really like to see Col, though. I haven't seen him since they brought me here."
"Oh?" The pit in Connie's stomach deepened. "He wasn't at school today."
"He must be feeling terrible," Evelyn said, raising George off the bed as he began to tug at Mrs. Clamworthy's intravenous line. "It wouldn't surprise me if he went off to see Skylark."
"Maybe I should go and find him," Connie said, standing up. "He might be on the moor." She did not want to add to the anxiety in the room by telling everyone that Col was not with his pegasus, either. "I hope you get better soon, Mrs. Clamworthy."
"Oh, with all this support, I have no doubt I shall," Mrs. Clamworthy nodded. "Please tell Col that I will be fine. I don't want him worrying. It's just a broken hip and wrist."
"Of course."
"We'll be going home soon," Evelyn said. "Ring me if you need a lift."
"Okay. I'll see you later."
Connie exited the room and tried to remember which corridor would take her back to the entrance. After getting lost twice, in spite of the directions of a kind physiotherapist, Connie eventually stumbled out into the open air. The fresh breeze was a welcome replacement from the stench of disinfectant. She strode through the car park, her gaze lingering on a particular space where Windfoal had been brought to heal her poisoning. Thank heavens that was all behind her now…
Gradually the buildings thinned, and soon she was on the moorland grasses. Her feet began to take her towards her favourite oak tree, but she stopped herself, knowing there was a more important job at hand.
"Skylark," she called, sending out a mental signal across the hillside. "Skylark, are you there?"
For a moment all Connie could hear was the wind. Then a soft neigh carried across the breeze. She traced its source, and was surprised to see Skylark nearby, shaded by the drooping branches of a tree. He was lying down, and as she approached he rose to his hooves, giving his wings a flick to dispel the dew.
"Skylark, what are you doing?" Connie asked, hurrying to his side. "You're far too close to the town!"
"Universal, I fear not exposure, for I sensed your arrival," Skylark said. "You were right to be concerned for my companion. He is here, yet when I went to check on him, he bade me leave. So I have remained to watch over him."
Connie gasped, however she could understand Col's reasons.
"He's in pain," she informed the pegasus. "Mrs. Clamworthy injured herself last night. He must be worried about her."
"That is sad news," Skylark said, shaking his head. "If he feels such distress, why will he not let me comfort him?"
"A human trait called stubbornness," Connie sighed. "Let's go to talk to him. I think together we can reach him."
Skylark trotted up the moor, while Connie kept an eye out for evening ramblers. Skylark had risked a lot coming this far into the open; testament to the love he held for his companion. As the sun sank, Connie's tenseness ebbed. By the time the red orb was touching the horizon, they arrived at a very familiar spot. Connie gave a wry smile.
Col sat under her oak tree. He was curled up, his head on his knees and arms wrapped tight around himself.
"Col?"
Col didn't look up.
"Col, we've been looking for you," Connie said, striding to him and then crouching by his side. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Col went rigid.
"Leave me alone," he said, his voice muffled by his jacket collar.
"Col, don't be stupid," Connie said. "I've seen your grandmother, she's doing fine. She wants to see you."
Col buried his head further into his knees, until Skylark came up and butted his side. For a brief moment Col lifted his head, and met the pegasus' gaze.
"Companion, don't hide away," Skylark pleaded. "It hurts me to see you in such despair." Col's head slumped back. Connie sighed.
"Col, Skylark's right. I don't like seeing you like this, either," she said. "Come on, you can't sit here all night. Talk to me."
Col kept quiet, but he didn't protest as Connie stroked his shoulder. Gradually, he relaxed, and let Connie pull him into a hug. His eyes were red and puffy.
"It…It was my fault," he croaked, his body shaking. "It was Justin's birthday, so we went out to celebrate. When I got back, I…" He choked. "I…I found Gran. She was…on the floor. She'd…She'd cut her hand on a broken teacup. She always has one cup before bed. I rang the ambulance, and they told me how to help her, but she was unconscious. I couldn't…I couldn't do anything…" Tears began to fill his eyes.
"Col, none of that was your fault," Connie soothed.
"But it was!" Col snapped, pulling away from her. "I should have been there!"
"Col, how on Earth would you have known that your grandmother would've had a fall?" Connie reprimanded. "It's awful that it happened, but in no way can you take the blame. You idiot, you're the one who rang the ambulance! Mrs. Clamworthy owes you her life."
Skylark nuzzled his companion, and Col reached up and entwined his fingers in the pegasus's mane.
"The Universal is correct," Skylark said, breathing a cloud of steam into Col's hair. "And your grandmother must be concerned for you."
"You're a companion to pegasi, not mules," Connie joked, giving Col a playful shake. "Let's go home. You're exhausted. You need some rest."
Col let out a long sigh.
"I guess your right," he said, his shoulders sagging.
"You know I am," Connie said. She helped Col to stand up. "I'll give Aunt Evelyn a call."
"No need, Universal. I can take you. It is dark enough," Skylark said, flicking his wings.
"Can you fly?" Connie asked Col. Col stood up straighter.
"Of course," he said, a glimmer of his old cockiness returning. "But I haven't got my house key."
"We'll go to Shaker Row," Connie said, mounting up behind Col. "I'm sure Aunt Evelyn won't mind you staying tonight."
Col bristled.
"Mack won't say anything," Connie said, reading his thoughts. "In fact he was very pleased that you rang the ambulance. He'd want you to be safe, too." Col nodded, seeing he'd run out of excuses to stay in the cold.
"Alright then," he said, squeezing her arm. "Sorry for being stupid."
"Wouldn't have you any other way," Connie said, kissing his cheek. "Now let's go."