Phoenix and Agatha were herded along with the other girls and entered the Theatre of Tales. Each school had its own entrance to the Theatre of Tales, which was split into two halves. The west doors opened into the side for the Good students, decorated with pink and blue pews, crystal friezes, and glittering bouquets of glass flowers. Phoenix admired the craftsmanship, tracing the glass petals with her fingers, Agatha hovering anxiously nearby. The east doors opened into the side for Evil students, with warped wooden benches, carvings of murder and torture, and deadly stalactites dangling from the burnt ceiling. As students herded into their halves for the Welcoming, fairies and wolves guarded the silver marble aisle between them. Phoenix took an aisle seat and glanced at the Nevers, then froze. She recognised a boy with long oily black hair.
“Ravan?” she said in surprise.
Ravan looked over to see a familiar, pretty Evergirl, tilting her head at him in confusion. He quickly turned his head and sank in a seat between Hort and Mona.
“Friend of yours?” Mona asked with a wicked grin.
“Used to be.” Ravan muttered, avoiding eye contact with the fire princess. “She and I lived close to each other.”
“She seems friendly.” Weaselly Hort said, craning his neck to get a better look at the girl.
“She’s not glaring at us and looking repulsed like the rest of the Evers.” Even Hester sounded impressed.
“She’s not like the other Evers.” Ravan said, and couldn’t help feeling a little proud of the girl as he went on. “She hasn’t been brought up like the other princesses, who have everything handed to them. She works to get where she wants, and she’s nice to everyone. Daughter of Rapunzel and Phoenix King Flint.”
“Doesn’t sound like you don’t care.” Dot grinned cheekily, munching on chocolate.
Ravan glared at her.
“We ceased being friends years ago.” He said coolly. “Evers and Nevers can’t be friends.”
Suddenly, there were sounds outside. And they grew louder. Sounds that made every Good girl bolt upright. Sounds they had waited their whole lives to hear. Ravan couldn’t help but notice Phoenix rolled her eyes at the girls’ antics, but was still grinning. From the hall, the stomp of boots, the clash of steel—
The west doors flew open to sixty gorgeous boys in swordfight.
Sun-kissed skin peeked through light blue sleeves and stiff collars; tall navy boots matched high-cut waistcoats and knotted slim ties, each embroidered with a single gold initial. As the boys playfully crossed blades, their shirts came untucked from tight beige breeches, revealing slender waists and flashes of muscle. Sweat glistened on glowing faces as they thrust down the aisle, boots cracking on marble, until swiftly the swordfight climaxed, boys pinning boys against pews. In a last chorus of movement, they drew roses from their shirts and with a shout of “Milady!” threw them to the girls who most caught their eye. (Beatrix found herself with enough roses to plant a garden.)
“Oh, thank you.” Phoenix said in surprise as she accepted a rose from a prince with curly blonde hair.
“Not a problem.” The boy winked. “I’m Kai.”
“Phoenix.”
Ravan eyed the exchange with disgust, while Hort grumbled that they didn’t get their own entrance. In the decayed pews around them, the other villains booed the princes, brandishing banners with “NEVERS RULE!” and “EVERS STINK!” With a bow, the princes blew kisses to villains and prepared to take their seats when the west doors suddenly slammed open again—
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Fire Princess
FanfictionYears ago, once her fairytale had ended, Rapunzel married a prince who's entire family possessed the powers of phoenixes. That same power was passed onto her children. This is the story of her daughter, Phoenix of Firebirch, who attends the School f...
