The Colour Of Blood

Ruby and the guy who can't decide on a profile picture.

Coco

We step into the doorway and my breath hitches. This place is breath-taking!

We all look around in awe, trying to absorb everything. This place is busier than any city I've ever seen before, but everything seems to run smoothly. It's ordered chaos.

''Wow...'' I breathe.

''This is incredible!'' Cloudy exclaims, eyes wide. Arik seems speechless. Amethyst smiles smugly and starts to lead us through the streets, weaving past buildings and people expertly. Cloudy seems distracted, so I take her arm and lead her along as she looks around, marvelling at it all. I don't blame her, this place is extraordinary.

I start mentally taking notes, thinking of how I could improve our lives back at home. There was so much to add: our lives are fine but if we had our own city with hospitals, schools, places to hang out. We could be this efficient, if we could somehow get the money to build it all.

Distracted by the thought of what I could make better, I almost walk into a lamppost.

''Careful!'' Cloudy pulls me out if the way just in time.

''Thanks.'' I say. Arik stops to wait for Cloudy, and when we turn back to him, I realise with horror that I can't see Amethyst.

''What's wrong?'' Arik asks, noticing my expression.

''We've lost Amethyst.'' I tell him.

''Oh no...'' Cloudy groans as Arik visibly pales.

''Wh-what?'' He stammers. I look around worriedly, then grab Cloudy's arm and lead her forward, leaving Arik to follow us on his own. If he gets lost, bad for him.

I walk into a building and look around, immediately stunned. One girl is flying above people's heads, throwing skittles at everyone and shouting about tasting the rainbow. Another girl is sitting alone in the corner, repeatedly clicking a pen while wailing like a banshee, tears running down her cheeks.

A boy is staring up through the glass ceiling at the azure sky, whispering

''I found you...''

Two girls are shouting at each other about nonsense, and another is running about telling people to listen to 'real music', then screaming random noises which sounded more like a cat being strangled than a song.

''Uh...'' I'm worried that coming here was a bad idea. This place looks more like a mental institute than a normal building!

''There you are!'' I whirl around to see Amethyst looking at me angrily, her arms crossed over her chest. ''Why are you here?''

''We got lost, no thanks to you!'' I tell her. She raises a purple eyebrow, challenging me, but Cloudy intercepts before I can rake my fingernails across her face.

''What is this place? Why is everybody acting like a lunatic?'' She asks in horror.

''This is the loony bin.'' Amethyst says simply. So it's an actual mental institute. Wow.

''So... not everyone's like this?'' I ask warily. Amethyst rolls her eyes.

''Of course not!'' She sighs irritably. ''We're not insane!''

''You sure about that?'' I take in her purple hair (obviously dyed), her purple eyes (contact lens, of course), and purple clothes.

''Excuse me?''

''You're all purple.'' I remind her.

''Me and my sister were tested on as children.'' She snarls. ''You have no right to judge me.''

''Oh.'' I feel bad suddenly, and her glare intensifies.

''Don't pity me, either. I don't need that.''

''Sorry.'' I look down, submitting for once.

''Let's go.'' She says stiffly.

''Amethyst-'' Cloudy starts.

''Let's go!'' She repeats, harsher. I feel the urge to hit her for shouting at my sister, but one look from her stops me. Cloudy is the only person who can restrain me.

"Amethyst!" A boy yells. "We don't kneed another war with the English Yellow bloods so if you would kindly stop threatening their leader."

I turn to face the boy. Wait I've seen him before.

"Ägidius." I smile. We have to work together to keep Yellow bloods hidden.

"Guilty as charged." He smiles taking a mock bow. Describing him would be difficult as his power is over fire and Appearance. He looks different every two seconds.

A girl walks out of the shadows. She looks like Amethyst but with the colour red. She walks over to Amethyst.

"Amethyst." She sighs. "You always start fights."

"Says you Ruby." Amethyst retorts.

"Anyway." Ägidius sighs shaking his head. "Follow me."

We do as he says and walk into a small room. A voice from the computer starts talking:
"Ägidius son of Lucifer. Powers: fire, Appearance and Age. Coco Pullman daughter of Maria Pullman. Powers: Talking to birds, flight and mind manipulation. Cloudy Jay Pullman daughter of Maria. Powers: Flight, invisibility and Health. Arik Angus Ashford." Amethyst and Ruby exchange a look. "Son of Marcus. Powers: Appearance, fiction, Power copy. Amethyst Ashford." WAIT WHAT! "Daughter of Marcus. Powers: Technology and Time. Ruby Ashford daughter of Marcus. Powers: flight, fire and can sense power."

"I have sisters?" Arik asks.

"Yes it seems so." Ägidius replies.