Taste Of Fire

Chapter Five

  I know I thought the outside was stunning, but the inside is absolutely breathtaking. I pause once inside the door, and Rydel lets me for a moment before gently tugging me forward. I follow slightly behind him, drinking in as much as I can. The black marble floors, the high arch ceilings, the dark brick walls, the painting of people I can't name on the walls but look like they're from a time before even my grandparents. And my grandparents were ancient when they finally died. My eyes dart from one thing to another, and in some part of my brain I know my current intoxicated state isn't the best way to be entering such dangerous territory, but I make sure to keep my senses half directed twords everything else, gauging threats.
  Rydel pulls me into a staircase and stops. He lets go of my hand and I pout. Giving me a soft smile he takes my suitcase from me, lowering the handle and lifting it by its strap. "Ladies first." I wrinkle my nose at him. "I'm no lady." I tell him, but still go ahead of him, hiding my smile. He chuckles. "You're a lady to me, Princess." I laugh lightly, trailing my fingertips along the railing. Smooth, not even a hint of dust. How often do they clean? How long does it take to clean this place? "And you will forever be a gentleman to me, Prince."
  In that moment I trip up a step, and Rydel, ever the gentleman, laughs. Catching my balance I shoot a slight glare over my shoulder, and he smirks. "Have a nice trip?" I scoff and continue up the stairs. Thanks to my mental violation of Cor, I have a rough mental map of this beautiful place. I navigate up two more floors, then through a hallway where some of the classes are located. Rydel walks by my side, staring back at the people who look at us, while I ignore them. I regret not being able to take in the sights, but first impressions are important, and I can't let these kids get the wrong one of me. They may think they're all big and bad, but now they have a real monster walking among them. Rydel leans into me. "You'd think they've never seen fraternal twins before." he whispers. I can't help it, I burst out laughing, which I know was his goal. Nudging him I grin. "Are you sure they're not staring because we're so beautiful?" He smiles wide, eyes glinting, happy I've played along.
  I shake my head slightly, smiling softly. Soon enough I'm leading him down another hallway, then pause, pulling down a spear in a suit of armors hand. A slab of the wall moves slides away, revealing a staircase going up, lit by torches. I head up without hesitation, Rydel behind me, and the passage closes behind us. "Is it such a bad thing that Sin likes me?" I ask lightly. I feel him stiffen behind me, and he doesn't respond for a moment. "I'm the only Prince you need Rykel." He says eventually, tone void of emotion. "Dear brother, none will ever come before you. Just as I know you'll never put any before me. That is why I turn a blind eye to your toys."
  Pulling a torch down the wall opens again, and I least up out of the passage into the girls common room. There are couches arranged in a loose circle in the center of the room with a large coffee table at its center. Opposite of the entrance, a large T.V hangs on the wall, where some girls are watching a talkshow. There are arm chairs scattered through the room, a fireplace to the left, and vending machines to the right. A loveseat is positioned in front of the fireplace. Pastel rugs decorate the floor, and flowers dot the many single coffee stands. Two portrait windows have their light pink curtains drawn back on either side of the T.V.
  Eyes turn to us and stair when we enter, and stay on us as I take the space in. I can't help but to wrinkle my nose, turning to my brother, who already has amusement dancing in his eyes. "You have to." I frown. "But I don't want to." His eyes sweep over the room. "We'll take turns bunking." Sighing I look away. It'll have to do. Two girls that were sitting and playing cards on the floor stand, breaking the stillness. "You must be two of the new enrollees." The taller of the pair says. She's about five foot six, with blonde hair cut into a bob, silver eyes, a piercing in the right side of her straight nose, rose pink lips, and a slim, willowy figure. Fae.
  The other is maybe five foot four, with wavey chestnut brown hair that goes to her waist, big carmel eyes, a small round nose, slightly pointed ears, lightly bronzed skin, and slightly plump figure. Hybrid, a Elvish-Witch. "Yes." I say shortly, tilting my head, not hiding the fact I'm studying them. "I'm Evelyn, and this is Rosaline, but feel free to call us Rose and Eve. Is it true you're from the Ember Clan?" I see Rydel smirk from the corner of my eye and right my head. Pulling my shoulders back, tilting my chin up, and straighten my back. "Oh dove," I start, my voice low and sweet, "we are the Ember Clan. We are the Ember Twins, Rykel and Rydel Ember, Princess and Prince of the Ember Clan." Murmurs break out in the room, and three girls get up and leave in a hurry. Now I smirk. Roses face, however, lights up, and her whole body literally starts to vibrate. Without hesitation I take a step back and yank my brother in front of me just as she launches forward, and she ends up hugging him instead, lifting him off the ground as she squeels.
  "You. Guys. Are. LEGENDS. Ohmygods!" When she puts Rydel down she looks confused for a moment. "I though I was aiming for Rykel..." She looks between us, and Eve pulls her back a few steps. Rydel gives me a playful glare. "Her reflexes are quick. Don't worry, I don't mind." He turns and winks at her. She squeels again, bouncing. "I can't believe I'm going to school with the Ember heirs." I raise an eyebrow at Eve. "We're from the Bast Clan. We grew up on the legend of the Clan who created their own community and survived a purging from the council. It really is an honor to meet you. If you ever need allies, please know the Bast Clan will stand with you."
  Well, if this isn't a pleasant surprise. Fisting my left hand I bring it to my chest and bow. "The Ember Clan is humbled." She returns my bow, as does Rose, who is still bouncing. "Would you like me to show you to your room? How did you get up here without your guide? Boys aren't allowed in here, but I can call someone to show Rydel to the boys dorm if you want? Or will you be staying? I don't think the headmaster will stop you if you do." Eve places a hand on Rose's shoulder. This girl is certainly a big ball of energy. She stops bouncing but still vibrates. "Your room is this way." Eve says and turns. I go to lift my bag that Rydel dropped when I pulled him in front of me, but he beats me to it, giving me a soft smile. I just shake my head at him, and we follow the pair, ignoring the stares and whispers that follow us.
  "So, where are the other Clan members? Are there any more girls? How many of you are there? We were told new students were coming today, but we weren't told how many or who. It was one of the students, Justice Wolf actually, who said it would be kids from the Ember Clan. Even though he a Council kid, not many people actually believed him. After all, alot of people of been trying to track you guys for years but it was like you disappeared like ghosts." Rydel chuckles, looking at me, and I shrug one shoulder.
  "There are six of us in all, for right now, and there's one other girl. We left them out front. My sister here had a bit of an altercation with our guide who picked us up at the airport, and decided she wanted to come in ahead." Eve glances back. "Is that why there's blood on your face?" I lick my lips, shrugging. They'll find out soon enough. "Why didn't you tell me I had blood on my face?" I narrow my eyes at Rydel. He smirks, eyes roaming over me. "Because it looks good on you." I smile, ignoring the twisting of my stomach. We stop at the end of the hall where there's a door. Eve and Rose step to the side. "This will be your room. It's the only four bed in the dorm section. The other section has one as well, which is where I'm assuming your other Clan member will go. Both are empty. No one has been assigned to them since I've been here, and I've been here two years now."
  "We're allowed to trade rooms as long as we inform the dorm head. Our dorm head is Miss. Daisy, the schools Swords Master. She's a royal knight from Elven light court. The dorm assistants are Violet Crow, another Counsel kid, and Lilian Brew, from the Crescent Coven. The boys dorm head is Mr. Archer, ironically the schools archery instructor as well as the Polo coach. He's a royal knight from the Shifter court, a werewolf. The boys dorm assistants are Luther De'Nail and Armon Silas. I'm sure you already know about them, but their both heirs to nomad Clans. Aside from Justice, there are three other kids of High Council members here. They would be Jezebel Thorn, Ryan Husk, and Zekian Ambros, but he goes by Zeke. Jezebel and Zeke don't really2,.  bring much attention to themselves, but Luther and Ryan are both part of the upper class. They enjoy throwing their power around."
  Rydel and I listen in silence. But at this point, I have to interrupt. "As eager as I am to hear all about the wonderful school of outcasts and did behaving teens, we just got off a six hour flight, spent over a half hour in cars, and then , as my dear twin so elequently put it, I was involved in an altercation. So might we take this in the room so I can use the bathroom and Del can set down our bags?"
  "How do you know you have a bathroom in your room?" Rydel raises his eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes as I open the door. "It's a four roomer, which means it has its own kitchen area, bathroom, and sitting area. I'm going to assume this wing of the castle once was where the royal children were house, so this area is for the prince or princess and their servants and close hands." He shakes his head at me, leaving his bag by the door as I actually head straight for the bathroom. As soon as I close the door and pull down my pants Rydel is slipping in behind me. I sit as he closes the door and leans against it.
  "They certainly seem nice." He says, smiling slightly. "This is a school for lost cause supernatural kids." I remind him. He nods. "But they seem to be lost cause supernatural kids who want to be our friends." If it wasn't made clear to me before, it's clear to me now. My brother is the social twin. And the boy really wants friends. Finishing my business on the toilet I was my hands without saying anything. Then I face him. "You do what you want, but I'm not here to make friends. I'm here because I don't really have much other choice. But because I'm here, I'm going to make allies for the war we have been planning since those dumb assholes killed our parents and decided to let us live."
  "If you think this is a good place to finally relax and meet your people, I won't get in your way. But I don't, and will never, trust anyone part of a society who let our people burn." Cradeling his face gently I kiss him softly so he knows I'm not angry. "Kels." He whispers, holding my wrists. "I haven't forgotten what happened to us. And we will avenge our fallen. But not everyone is bad." I smile at his words. No, not everyone is bad. But I am. I am a monster.

Congrats to all the Watty Award winners. I hope one day I rank among you.