When both schools went off with Castor and Uma to free their henchmen back to the Blue Forest, Hort watched with a smile as Ravan and Phoenix chattered. Phoenix went to include Hort in the conversation so he didn’t feel left out, but Hort ducked away.
In Surviving Fairytales, they had to get into pairs and climb trees to study ‘Forest Flora’. They paired up and had to find everything on the list. Phoenix and Ravan paired up.
“Found one!” Phoenix scaled a tree to pick a colour-changing everlasting rose, when there was a violent, alien scream. The whole group spun in shock. Phoenix was so startled she fell out of the tree, but Ravan caught her.
“Thanks.” She whispered, embarrassed.
Luckily, everyone was too busy staring at Sophie to notice the embarrassed Ever and Never. Sophie’s black robes were splashed with a giant, bloody letter F.
“For Failing to abide by the rules.” Yuba glowered from a tree. “No spells until after the Unlocking.”
Beatrix picked the broken heart bullet off the ground. “A love spell? You tried a love spell on Tedros?”
The class burst into howls. Sophie turned to Tedros, who couldn’t have looked more enraged. Next to him, Agatha had the same expression. Sophie covered her face and fled, sobs echoing through the forest.
“Poor Sophie.” Phoenix whispered.
“Every year, a rascal tries something. But even the sorriest rascal knows there’s no shortcuts to love,” Yuba said. “We’ll start with proper spells next week, I assure you. But for now, on to ferns! How can we tell if a fern is actually a Never in disguise—”
“Wait, sir!” Phoenix raised her hand. “You said no-one was able to use spells until the unlocking. I’ve been able to do some spells though.”
“Only fire-related and healing ones though, yes?” Yuba said. “It is because phoenixes do not have ‘unlockings’, lucky for you, you get double the magic because you’re half-phoenix half human.”
“Huh.” Phoenix paused to think. “Didn’t think about that.”
News of Sophie’s failed love spell swept across both schools, and by midmorning everyone waited with bated breath to get a glimpse of her scarlet F. But when Sophie skipped all her morning classes, it was clear she was too ashamed to show her face.
“You should have heard the things Tedros called her,” Beatrix said to Evergirls at lunch.
“I hope it wasn’t too bad.” Phoenix said. “She’s just a Never in love.”
“Phoenix, you’re too nice for this world.” Reena sighed.
“Now I said, Teddykins, it’s not her fault,” Beatrix blathered loudly. “The poor girl thinks she’s one of us. We should feel sorry for someone so path—”
Her eyes bulged. Phoenix saw why.
Sophie sashayed into the Clearing, dumpy black sack refashioned into a strapless bodice dress, F shimmering over her chest with devil-red sequins. She’d cut her blond hair even shorter and slicked it down in a shiny bob. Her face was painted geisha white, her eyelids pink, her lips vermilion, and her glass shoes had not only been repaired but heeled even taller, which together with the extremely short dress, showed off long, creamy legs. From the shadows she swanned into sun, and light exploded off her glitter-dusted skin, bathing her in heavenly glow. Sophie strutted past Hester, who dropped her book, past Everboys, who dropped their ball, and glided right up to Hort.
“Let’s do lunch,” she said, sweeping him away like a hostage.
Across the field, Tedros’ sword fell out of its sheath.
YOU ARE READING
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...
