[DISCONTINUED] -The Elements of Disharmony Book One- §Shadows and Flame§

Chapter 5

The Venator Legion pays close attention to me in all of my classes. There's Ravena, the obvious ringleader. Then there's this boy with dark, dark eyes who shares math with me. I think his name is Soren. He runs messages for Ravena, and seems to be her personal assistant. Ezra and Ophelia are the exotic vampire twins, both tall and muscular, and they're Ravena's "security". Not that she'd need it.
Even 2 months later (it's already October!), they're still keeping an eye on me. I have one of them in each of my classes, and even the ones that I don't, I swear the shadows themselves are watching. But I'm used to it. I've been around cameras all my life.
But all the drama hasn't stopped me from making friends of my own: I have Marigold, my sweet roommate with hair just like her name; Axel, who's my partner for a long-term project, and this girl named Gemina. We have a casual friendship and hang out during PE together.
Of course, I don't expect the Venator Legion to actually talk to me, but it happens.
"Ashlyn," Soren calls out, his voice echoing across the empty hallways. I just finished robotics practice, and I'm getting books out of my locker, piling the heavy volumes into my blood-red bag. It gives me confidence. I slam my locker shut with a clang.
"Yes?" I ask, swinging my bag over my shoulder, grunting at the weight.
He approaches me, his dark eyes seeming to bore into my soul. Ezra and Ophelia are flanking him on each side, staring me down with cold eyes. Even I have to admit they're scary. You're Princess Ashlyn Adara. You murdered 26 and burned a school to the ground. I remind myself. I shouldn't be scared.
"Ravena Nightshade requests a meeting with you tomorrow, in common room Number 6 at 5:00 after school," Soren says, holding an invitation card. It's about the size of my palm, in fancy, black cursive and laced with crystals.
"Is there a particular reason?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Ravena Nightshade requests a meeting with you," Soren repeats, this time stronger.
"I'm sorry, I was planning to meet my friend Marigold. Maybe she could reschedule the meeting?" I reply, walking away in elegant strides.
A hand closes around my wrist, whipping out like a vicious serpent to grab me. I scream instinctively, like I did when a Crystal Empire gang from the ghetto tried to kidnap me and sell me into something I really, really don't want to talk about. Always make yourself noticeable in these situations.
My wrist automatically grows burning hot, and I can feel the exciting heat of flames against my skin.
But Ezra, who has my wrist simply smirks at me, not seeming to feel the fire. "You didn't think Ravena was stupid enough to not prepare us, did you?"
"Let go of me," I demand, twisting around frantically. Ezra's iron grip slips for just a second, but with years of training and diligence, he easily subdues me once again. In a calm, almost protective series of moves, he has me pinned against the wall. I can tell Ravena told them not to hurt me.
"Try method number 2!" Ophelia calls out.
"Ok, Ash. You will attend Ravena's meeting, whether you like it or not. She doesn't care what you have going on, it's not an option," Ezra says.
I nearly laugh. I'm not scared of her! It's gonna take a lot more than her goons to channel real fear into me. I am Ash the Arsonist after all! (Yes, a terrible nickname).
But then I think again. She's gonna work to get what she wants, and she rules this school. She has a whole entourage, not to mention her parents on her side. I don't know why she wants to meet with me, but I know I will end up having a meeting whether I like it or not.
Her family can mind control. I should at least have power over my body. Plus, I could always get something out of the meeting.
Ravena's won, and Ezra knows it, seeing it in my eyes. His grip on me releases slightly, though enough to keep me restrained if I suddenly change my mind.
Up close, he's really, really handsome. He has dark green eyes and pointy fangs like me. His skin is rich ebony, and his hair has a blue-bleached sort of color, with is gently tousled. He wears jeweled rings on each finger, and one of his ears is the definition of crystal brilliance.
"Have you made your choice?" He asks me, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
Even though my heart is thumping loudly in my chest, I lift my chin. "Yes. I have decided to come to Ravena's meeting," I nod respectfully and turn to walk to my dorm.
A finger on my shoulder stops me. "One more thing. You will meet us back here, and we will escort you there."
"Good to know, thank you," I reply and make my way down the hall. I have to admire how dedicated Ravena is. The Venator Legion? Venator means hunter. So, it's like they're swift and silent like hunters, but can make themselves noticeable and will hunt you down.
I run up a few more flights of stairs, turn right and enter Room 204. Marigold is lying on her bed reading, her golden curls splayed out on her embroidered pillow.
"Hey Marigold," I greet her.
"Hey Ash." She looks up from her book and smiles.
"Also, I'm so sorry but I can't meet with you tomorrow," I admit guiltily.
"Why?" She asks, small but visible traces of hurt in her eyes.
"Ravena." That's the only thing that comes out of my mouth.
Fear itself is immediately habitant in her eyes. "Oh. Yes, that's fine! Go meet with her."
"You're......not mad?" I hesitantly ask, throwing my bag down.
"No, of course not. When the Venator Legion tells you to do something....you do it," Marigold whimpers.
"What if you don't?" I put a hand on my hip.
"NEVER say that!" Marigold half-shrieks. "They run this place with an iron fist, and you do what they say. Or else...." She sniffs. "Bad things happen. We're not supposed to talk about it."
I know Marigold is serious, so I don't ask. "So, they're just a bunch of bullies." She doesn't know how powerful I am.
"Yes...no....just, be careful ok?" Marigold bites her lip.
"Want to watch some TV or something?" I suggest, plopping down on my bed.
"Sure!" She grins, back to her old self. "Let's watch the news."
I nod, pressing a button next to my bed. It automatically turns on the TV. I installed the panels by our beds so we don't have to get up.
"Breaking news: A Tidal Wave has Flooded and Wrecked Manhattan!" The reporter says, standing on a tall skyscraper. Manhattan is half-flooded with water, and the skeletons of buildings lay littered across the ground, while debris and corpses float in the water.
"What....the-"
"Oh my god a tidal wave flooded Manhattan!" Gemina bursts into our room, her roommates close behind.
We continue watching in horror. "789 have been killed, and half the city is underwater. The Statue of Liberty got washed out to sea."
At that, Marigold gasps and runs to the bathroom. I try to ignore the retching sounds that come from there.
"We don't know how or why this has happened. Princess Celestia will be sending aid to Manhattan, which will arrive tomorrow. Please donate money to-"
Gemina turns it off. "Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god...."
"Guys! Are you ok?" I ask. I don't bother trying to hug them. After the fire incident from a year ago, no one, not even my mother, will touch me.
Marigold is crying, tears running clean streaks down her face. "M-my...p-parents are there doing busi-n-ness...."
Gemina wraps a protective arm around her, trying really hard to be strong, but she's shaking. "My aunt and cousins live there....I don't know if they're ok."
A "thump" in the mailbox outside my room signalizes a letter. I run over to see who it is. The meeting's still on. Tidal waves have nothing on us-The Venator Legion.
*****************
"Good! You're right on time. Ravena doesn't like late comers," Soren tells me, leading me and the twins down the hall. The hallway visibly parts instantly, making a clear pathway for us to walk through. Ophelia and Ezra are on either side of me, blocking any chance of escape.
"So, what's your story?" Ophelia asks me, cocking her head to the side like an inquisitive puppy.
"Which chapter do you want?" I ask her. "My life story is getting pretty long."
She laughs, amused, and her blue-bleached braids studded with exquisite jewels catch the light. "The part where you burned down your previous school. Is it true you keep your enemies' ashes on a shelf?"
I stay silent. I mean, I collected a few ashes which I keep in labeled boxes, but it's not like I put them on display. I'm not that evil.
"Oh! Right, you magicians are all so sensitive. Don't worry, I only murdered 23. You still beat me," Ophelia comforts me.
"We're here now." Soren gestures to the door and knocks two times in a row, pauses for a beat and knocks again, then pauses for half a beat and knocks once more.
Ravena opens the door. "Ashlyn Adara! Come sit." She gestures to a table. It has two black chairs with grey cushoning across from each other, both behind a glass table. On the table is a pitcher of water and two glasses, which makes me uncomfortable. I refused to learn how to swim until I was 9.
"Thank you." I sit down in one of the chairs.
Ezra stands next to me while Ophelia stands next to Ravena. Soren sits in the corner, holding a notepad.
"Nice Legion you got going on here, Ravena. Very organized," I acclaim her. And it's true, I really do admire her organization skills.
Her eyes search for traces of lies, but she finds none. "Thank you! I'm glad someone finally appreciates my handiwork."
"You're welcome," I say.
Her manicured claw gently grasps a fistful of my hair, stroking it. "I love your hair! It's so glossy and beautiful I just want to cut it off to keep it for myself in a glass display case."
I inhale sharply. But, to be honest, I would do the same. Her hair is short and smooth, dipped in indigo. "Yours is really pretty as well."
"Thank you."
"Unfortunate timing, don't you think?" I ask. "With the tidal wave and everything."
"Yes, yes. What a shame. Such a beautiful city...so much potential all wasted," Ravena chides.
We're both trying to get comfortable with each other and butter eachother up: playing each other's games to get them to play ours.
"Is there a particular reason you wanted to meet with me? I'm just asking out of interest."
"I meet with all the new students who come here. Don't think you're so special, Ash!" Ravena laughs a harsh laugh, though I know she does want something out of me. I'll have to spill enough to satisfy her hunger, but not too much.
"Ok. Let's get started then," I say, folding my hands in my lap.
The first few questions are my name, age, birthday, a bit on my background, I give only common knowledge. Stuff not known by the average person, but things my most crazy fanatics have memorized by heart.
"So..the next question, it may be a sensitive topic for you," Ravena starts.
"It's the Green Grove fire, isn't it?" I ask. The school I burned down, Green Grove, still holds a grudge against me.
Ravena sighs. "Yes. Where were you when it happened?"
"At school."
"What time was it?"
"11:06 AM." That's common knowledge.
"Why did you do it?"
I inhale sharply. How do I answer that?
"How can I trust you with this information?" I ask. "Your parents are some of the most powerful people in the world. If this gets into their hands...I'm good as dead," I answer.
"Would you rather my father get this information out of you?" Ravena hisses. Here we go again. Playing the parents card.
She has a good point.
"Why did you do it?" Ravena presses harder.
"Let's just say it takes a spark to start a flame," I answer.
Ravena nods, like she's finally satisfied. "Is it true you murdered 26?"
"How could the press come up with such a specific number of burnt corpses?"
Ezra's eyes widen, like he can't believe the petite freshman in her little girl dresses could say something like that. Ravena looks away. Soren accidentally snaps his pencil. Even Ophelia stiffens next to me.
"Why did you tell us that?"
"Because how much worse can it get?" I ask.
"Go on," Ravena urges.
"Everything changed after the fire. You must have heard some of the things they said about me. Even if this information gets out, people will still hate me, rumors will still be spread. Nothing will change," I explain.
"So people hate you?" Ravena challenges.
"Not everyone loves me, not everyone likes me, not everyone tolerates me, therefore people hate me," I finish.
"Ash, thank you for your time," Ravena says. "You're free to go."
I nod. "Thank you."
Then I gently close the door behind me and run back to my dorm.