Anjulina Cornacchia: Attack of the Banshees

A few seconds passed and I still didn’t feel any pain. I opened one eye at a time to see Desmond changing back in to his “human” form.

“What happened?” I jumped up and hugged him.

“That howling you heard was me. I hope I didn’t scare you much.”

“Oh no.” I said sarcastically. “Not at all!”

“C’mon, I think I found the way to the village!”

“But what about Brooke and Taylor?”

“They are already over there. We have to hurry!”

Desmond and I turned corner after corner. After a good 5 minutes of running, we met up with Taylor and Brooke.

“Are you guys okay?!” I frantically asked them.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Brooke replied. I rolled my eyes and turned to Taylor.

“Yea I guess. That was so scary! Let’s hurry up and do this before anything else happens!”

We looked over the gate and saw an army of banshees standing near the stream. The rest of the village was just staring up at the moon. We had only 15 minutes until their power was at its peak!

“What’s that?” Taylor pointed to a boat coming down the river.

“Uh oh.” Desmond gasped.

“What? What is it?” I asked.

“They brought back people to recruit. They’re.....they’re your parents!”

“Great! Now we have to figure out a way to rescue them while still destroying the village! How are we supposed to do that? I mean our parents might get killed or we might get killed ourselves! Everyone we love will die if we don’t accomplish this!” This is what I meant about my anxiety. It makes it so I can’t think straight.

“Calm down, Anjulina.” Desmond said calmly, trying to soothe me.

“First, we need to get our parents out of there.” Taylor said. “Maybe one of us can cause a diversion?” She suggested.

“Okay I have an idea.” Desmond said. “Here’s what we do. Taylor, turn in to a mermaid and go in to the river. From there, wait until I give you the signal. Once I give you the signal, I want you to tip over the boat. From there, bring the parents to safety. You may even have to drag all of them under water to safety so no one catches you.”

“Okay, so what will the signal be?” Tay asked.

“I will give a high pitched howl. As soon as you hear that, tip over the boat and get to work!”

“Okay gotchya!” Taylor said before she silently snuck in to the stream.

“Now Brooke, I need you to try and flirt with the guards.”

“What do I look like a flirt machine?” She took offense to that, which I was surprised.

“Please?” Desmond gave a flirty smile while brushing back her hair.

“Well I guess I could do it for you.” She smiled and started walking toward the guards.

“What are we going to do?” I asked Desmond.

“I will give Taylor the signal. She will then tip the boat over and swim the parents to safety. Brooke is already distracting the guards so we will have our chance to set up the kerosene. Before I give Taylor the signal though, I need you to do something.”

“Okay, what is it?” I asked slowly.

“I need you to put a spell around the village.” Desmond said.

“What kind of spell?” I was worried because I hadn’t practiced much of my magic.

“A spell that will allow everyone who isn’t a banshee, to leave the village. A spell that will make the banshees unable to leave so they will be trapped for when the fire starts.

“I am really not that good with spells yet...” I reminded him.

“I have faith in you. You can do this Anjulina.”

“Uhm...okay I can give it a shot.” I had to think of something clever. Then, a spell just popped in to my head without much thought.

Everyone who’s a banshee.

Is unable to leave,

Once the fire begins,

They’ll all be history.

“That doesn’t sound too cheesy does it?” I asked him.

“A little, but I think it will work!”

“How can we tell if it works?” I asked. Desmond let out a howl.

“Let’s just watch.” A few seconds later, Taylor flipped the boat. Every banshee ran over trying to grab the hostages. Once they saw Taylor swimming away with them they tried following her.

“Get them! Bring me the girl!” Megin yelled ordering her army. They got to the edge of the town but the force field sent them flying backwards!

I thought that was great! It looked really strong and reliable!

“It works but it’s weak!” Desmond told me.

“Really? I thought it looked strong...” I put my head down.

“Don’t worry, it will full fill its purpose. But we have to move quickly! Their power is growing stronger by the second!”

Desmond and I soaked as many houses as we could with the kerosene. We made sure to soak their “Royal House”. When I went in there to throw some more kerosene in it I noticed a lady lying on a bed. She looked very old and tired.

“Anjulina?” Her voice was weak and I could barely hear it. “Come closer.” I hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked to her. “Do you know who I am?” She asked. I shook my head no. “I am your Aunt Linda. Anjulina listen to me, you can do this! I know that you can!”

“Why are you encouraging me when you are one of them?” I was so confused!

“When a human is turned in to a banshee, their soul is trapped in them. I am still my old self deep down which is why your mother failed to kill me when she had the chance. Don’t make the same mistake she made. Do the right thing and save this world. I will be okay. My soul will finally be free!”

“Maybe there is a cure?” I offered.

Aunt Linda shook her head. “I’m afraid there is not. At least, none that I know of. Now don’t waste any more time! We will meet again one day, when I am no longer this horrible creature!”

My eyes began filling with tears. I could feel my legs shaking, about to collapse. ‘I don’t think I can do this.’ I thought to myself.

“Don’t make the same mistake your mother made! Go! Now! Quickly!” She was right. I had to do this for the rest of my family and friends. I gave her a nod as I exited the house. Desmond and I finished soaking the grass, trees, even the maze with the kerosene.

After we were finished, I looked around for Brooke but I didn’t see her anywhere!

“There’s no time for that!” Desmond said as the Banshees noticed us one by one. “We have to leave! Now! Run and don’t stop running!”

As I was running I dodged the Banshees coming after me. I was home free once I was passed the barrier but I decided to continue running just in case. A couple minutes later I was maybe 200 feet from the village when I noticed Desmond wasn’t behind me. I turned around and saw that the guards had a hold of Desmond!

“Desmond! No!” I started running back for him.

“Anjulina stop! You have to do it now before it’s too late! Use my cross bow and light the arrow on fire. Aim it for the Royal House! It should make a domino affect and blow up the village!

“But Desmond..!”

“But nothing! Just do it! Everyone’s lives depend on you!” Flashbacks of losing Marah came flooding back. I knew what I had to do. I could see him changing in to his Lycan form. Even as far away as I was I could hear his spine break, one bone at a time and reshape itself. The fur consumed him as the rest of his bones broke and reassembled.

I lit the arrow and pulled back, aiming at the Royal House. As soon as it hit the explosions began. They happened so fast and in a ripple affect. Once the explosions started happening, the Banshees found enough strength to break through my spell! The wind from the explosions sent me flying backwards. I blacked out once I hit the ground. I failed. That’s all I kept telling myself. I failed and now Dypim Trefad will cease to exist.