Villainous

Chapter 6 | Caspian

I have made two friends so far. I've never had a friend before, so I can't be sure, but I think that they consider themselves to be such. First is Marie Kay. She's petite and dark-haired and has hints of asian ancestry in the slight tilt of her intelligent hazel eyes. She plays dumb a lot, I've noticed, especially around the other, Kristen. Maybe Marie doesn't want to seem too arrogant. Maybe she grew up in a household like mine. Maybe she got hit harder if she did too well. Maybe she has reasons. Maybe I'm looking too far into this.

Second is Kristen Caruther. She has one brother called Jackson. I know his name partly because of Kristen always telling me what a fool he is, but the real reason he's drilled into my brain is because of the rumours. All morning, nothing but chatter and prattle about how Hellas Fury screwed Jackson Caruther on every wall in the blue dome. I'm not mad, much. I know it's not true.

But I still feel like I've got to stick up for Hellas, like I should at least make an effort to tell Kristen and Marie that it didn't happen and I know this because I'm rooming with her. I could attribute this urge to misplaced loyalty towards Hellas Fury because we're rooming together, but I don't like lying, especially not to myself. I know there's something weird going on here.

Maybe we're pulled together because of our juxtaposing destinies. I remember with blinding clarity that moment in Self Defense, even though I don't think she knew I was there.

She just punched him in the face. No waiting around, just a straightforward punch. I wonder if she grew up like that. I am forever wondering how other people grew up. Then the boy- Jackson Caruther, I think- grimaces and pulls himself back into the here and now. I wish I could tell him she's got fire in her bones and ice in her veins. Then maybe he'd be scared. And he should be scared. "That all you got, baby?" he asks, and I want to shout at him that he's an idiot, but I refrain. I am in control.

"Nope!" She sounds all cheery and happy, like a mannequin or a bobble head doll. That's how I know the worst is yet to come. Mother was always real nice, feed you chocolate and make you dinner, before the very worst beatings. "And my name's not baby. It's Hellas Fury."

I see the realization dawned on him, that the girl who just gave him one hell of a sucker punch is the same girl who he's been saying slept with him. But it dawns too late. Her knee jerks and buries itself... between his legs. He moans and collapses on the ground in the fetal position. I stare impassively. I'm not horrified like the other girls. Why would I be? Nothing about me is normal.

"Nice job. I'm Rast and I'll be your self defense teacher. Miss Fury, won't you come up for a demonstration?" I look up at a block-faced man who seems rough in that well-lived way. Then I look over as Hellas walks to the center of the self defense room, seeming more confident with every step.

But I can see it all. She's losing all her faith in herself. But only I can see it. To every other student, she's just a slut who doesn't belong at this high-class institution. I know that under the skin of every badass there's a human and they want to be held while they cry. When she gets up there, he asks, bluntly, "Now... what's your Destiny?" The way he says it makes it clear that he doesn't think of it as an invasive question.

And for most people it wouldn't be. Most of us are relatively normal. But I've got a Destiny I'd be hesitant to share with this class, and judging by the nervous flickers of light bouncing in and out of her unusual silver eyes, I'm not the only one who feels that way.