The Fire Tamer

Chapter One

"Just one.....more.....minute" I muttered, sketching the last line on my latest piece of work. "Ta-da!" I exclaimed, holding my artwork up for my mother to see. "That's wonderful, honey. Now-" my mother was cut off by footsteps pounding down the stares. As soon as she reached the bottom, my sister gave me a hideous glare.

If looks could kill, I'd be ten feet under. I wonder who pissed in her cereal.

"Why is she here? I thought she wasn't supposed to come back for another week!" Ariela sneered, giving me nasty looks the entire time. "As much as I loved your warm welcome, I'm afraid to admit I was sent back early. I arrived just last night." I gave her a huge smile in return, imagining twisting her head right off of her shoulders.

"Now I'm stuck with you for an extra week? Great. I was looking forward to one more week of freedom." She mutters, finally stepping off of the last stair and making her way to the kitchen.

Changing the subject, I inquired, " So what's changed while I was gone? Any new people?".

You see, over summer break, I was wasting away at a fantasy summer camp. Instead of a normal, hazard free summer camp, I got to enjoy being woken up at the crack of dawn, only to go to practice jabbing at people with a lumbering piece of metal. As a result of it being named 'Fantasy Camp', we all learned how to sword fight, fence, throw knives, and shoot a bow and arrow. So, if anyone attacked me with a sword, I'd know how to defend myself.

Right, cause that's totally going to happen.

All things considered, I still bring a knife with me everywhere I go, avoiding any rare circumstances. Standing up from the spot I'd been in for the past two hours, I grabbed an apple and my bookbag from the counter, then made my way out the door.

As soon as the door shut behind me, I whirled around, shoving it back open, and grabbed my drawing from the table. Staring back at me from the paper, was an angel, it's wings flared out in opposite directions. It's golden locks shown like the sun, and its eyes stared back at me innocently. Shoving the paper down my backpack, I once again made my way out the door, setting off into a sprint towards the local high school.

The first day of senior year wasn't exactly my most ideal way of arriving back, but I was also excited to see how it has changed. Yes, I'd only been gone for three months, but it's the first day! There's bound to be a few new students. The first thing I noticed when I arrived were the stares. Everyone was giving me big eyes, as though I was an alien. Yes, I looked different- my muscles were toned, and I'd lost my baby fat- but what was causing everyone to stare at me like I'm an outsider?

A tall blue-eyed brunette boy came forward, most likely the bravest of the bunch. "Who are you? You look similar to Kiara, who left over summer break. She's not due for another week, though, so you can't be her. " he proclaimed.

"Actually, I came back early. Names Kiara. You?" I said, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. A look of surprise crossed his features, and recognition seemed to light up in his eyes. "Kiara? But...you look so different! I suppose summer does that to you though. The names Brandon. Long time no see, cuz."

As soon as he said this, I leaped at him, capturing my older cousin in a hug. Only four months older then me, we'd always been close.

How has he changed so much over three months?

His once bright, happy eyes were now dull, as if they'd seen a great horror. Looking away from his sad eyes, I began to walk towards the school doors. As I turned around to give the parking lot one last survey, I could have sworn I saw a flash of feathers within the trees.

Probably just some bird.

Turning back around, I opened to school doors, entering for the first time in three months. Making my way towards the office, I looked around, suprised to see Brandon still following close behind. "Why don't you head to your locker and get ready for class? I'll see you later." I told him. He simply nodded, and walked off in the opposite direction. As I opened the office doors, I looked down at my outfit, hoping I didn't look like I had just stepped out of a biker movie. Under a brown leather jacket that only reached down to the bottom of my rib cage, I had on a black tank top. Completing the outfit, I had on some blue skinny jeans, and brown combat boots. I had my favorite knife hidden  inside a secret pocket in my jacket.

I glanced back up, seeing the office manager giving me a once-over. "Is there anything I can do for you?" She questioned in a snotty voice. "Yes ma'am, there is. My name is Kiara Silver, I'd like my schedule please." I stated politely, holding myself back from any sarcastic comments.

Her eyes widened, obviously having heard of me, most likely thinking I could take her job if she so much as made one snotty comment towards the supposed 'new kid'. "O-of course, I'll have your schedule right up."

So she's heard of me.

She shifted through a pile of papers, and pulled one from the stack, handing it over to me. My eyes scanned the paper, holding back a groan when I saw swords play was now a class.

Looks like I don't get a break after all.

I made my way out of the office, keeping my eyes on the schedule, and glancing up every now and then, so when I side-stepped an incoming wall, it took me a minute to figure out how the wall moved in front of me. "Watch where you're going." The wall sneered, and kept walking.

Wait...walls don't talk. Fabulous. I've  already made an enemy, and it's only the first day. This is going to be a looong year...

-------------------------------------

How did you guys like it? Ask yourself questions, such as 'Why is swords play a class now?'

Until my next update, have a wonderful time!