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

Chapter 9

    "Today's the day! Today's the day!" Marigold sings, jumping around the room. "Rise and shine, Ash!" Finding my bed empty, Marigold looks around in bewilderment.
    "Darling, I'm the daughter of Celestia," I retort, putting a hand on my hip, standing in front of the bathroom door. 
    "Woah...you look...." Marigold gapes at me.
    "Ravishing? Fiery?"  I laugh and throw a few sparks into the air just for show. 
    I wear blood red platform sneakers with sparkly flame designs on them.  If I press a button, spikes will come out on the soles, perfect for stabbing someone through the throat with. I think back to the diagrams I drew.  The blood spurting out of the neck was especially creative. 
    I dressed in buttercup yellow shorts, showing off slender, pale legs.  My shirt is an off shoulder and also yellow, but blending into a deep orange towards the top.  
     My long hair is swept up into a high ponytail with braids weaving in and out of my long locks. All are held together by a giant red scrunchie, and rubies glitter on my ears.
    "You look like..."
    "Fire? Glad you noticed.  This girl is on fire!" I sing and twirl towards the door. 
    As I push open my dorm and walk down the Main Hall, everyone's jaws drop. Their eyes travel from my hair, to my top, to my shoes.
    "Is the princess wearing.....platform sneakers?" Rhea, a seventh grader with turquoise hair asks.    
"Indeed I am, Rhea Blanche.  It is freshman retreat, after all!" I flick my ponytail over my shoulder, purposefully unleashing a few orange-red sparks for the "wow" factor that adds to my outfit.
    "Hey girls!" Amber bounds up to Marigold and I like an energetic labrador, clad in a tracksuit. 
    "Y'all," Cenra greets us, wearing navy blue. 
    "What's poppin?" Gemina cozies up to Marigold.
    Hauling our heavy bags, we grumble over energy bars we snagged from the cafeteria, along with more gossip. I was going to ask them about the meaning of life, but they didn't seem interested.
    We load our bags into the large green school bus.  "Camp Evergreen Sea, here we come!" Gemina whoops.
    "Ashlyn and I will sit together," Marigold surprisingly volunteers.
    Thank you.
    Suddenly, an indigo claw grabs my wrist.  I instantly go into Panic Mode, and my wrist heats up.
"You burned me, you little bitch!" Ravena curses while Ophelia giggles at her reaction.
"What the hell!" I scream. "You just grab me like a piece of property? What is your glitch?!" The 'pull attention to myself' card always works. Everybody on the bus turns and stares when they hear my screaming.  
          She nurses her burnt arm, which is adorned with the scribbles of a red crayon. A first degree burn. When people play with fire, they get burnt.  
         Ravena turns back to me, clutching her right forearm with her left hand. Keeping her mouth shut, she's seething underneath, her lips curled into a grotesque sneer.
          "I was going to ask you if you would sit with us on the bus, since we'll be in the same cabin."
           Marigold looks like she's about to pass out from fear. I can see why. The most terrifying person in the school, living under the same roof as her, for almost a week. 
    "Pardon? Surely you must be mistaken.  I was put with Marigold, Amber, Cenra and Gemina-"  
    Ravena puts a finger to my lips. "And us.  Cabins go up to seven people."
    What? This wasn't supposed to happen!
    "Great! You'll sit with us," Ravena beams at me, linking my arm through hers.
    "I never said-"
    "Marigold would like to join us as well," Ophelia adds, grabbing her hand.
    The smiles they wear are accessories you can take on and off, but the message is clear: if I don't go along with Ravena, Marigold will pay.
    "We're gonna have so much fun!" Ophelia giggles, tossing her braids. Marigold whimpers at that. 
    For the next few hours I talk as little as I can. Ravena is extremely invasive.  She strokes my hair, examines my nails. Tells me "secrets". I tell her "mine".
    Don't think I'm stupid, Ravena Nightshade. Daughters of Sombra never are.
But I'll know when it turns into a russian roulette.  You see, I've played much more dangerous games than this. In fact, I've actually played Russian roulette, mind you.
    "So, Ashlyn," she purrs in my ear, a deathly quiet noise that chills me to the bone. Trying to sniff out my weak points and flaws. She apparently doesn't realize I've trained for these situations my whole life.
    "I just have to know," she continues, caressing my hair with her fingertips, "What do you think of the other girls? Are they nice? Funny? Stupid? I'm dying to find out. Since I don't eat lunch or hang out with them often, I want to know their likes, dislikes, interests, you name it." Her arm is snaking its way around my shoulders, like a boa constrictor choking its prey to death.
    "My group? Marigold's very sweet, she's an amazing violinist.  We're roommates and share science together," I answer, trying to keep it vague.
    "And the others?" Ravena's claws are digging into my shoulder. I swear I'll have bruises by the time we're done.  Has she ever heard of personal space?
    "Gemina, Cenra, Amber?" I verify. "They're nice, I guess. Big fans of Songbird Serenade. I don't know them super well though."
    A slight purse of her lips tells me she's not satisfied. Well, I'll make my move, Ravena.
    "But..."
    "But?" Ravena whispers. "You can tell me, Ashlyn. I won't tell anyone."
    Bullshit. She'll either tell her parents, the Venators, or the entire school.
    "They seem really obsessed with material objects, are all girls that way? Like, they were overly happy when I mentioned discounted tickets to Songbird Serenade's concert."
    And it's true, I do wonder if all girls are like that. Marigold isn't, but...I don't have much context.
    "Keep going."
I'm trying really, really hard not to melt Ravena's flesh off her bones, but then again, flesh is extremely hard to get out of your hair. It took me 5 days and 2 shampoo bottles.
"Well...they don't seem to want to talk to me about anything relating to myself. "
She nods, running her fingers through my hair. Funny how in all the books she's read, self control was never touched upon.
"We're here! Camp Evergreen Sea!"
A collective cheer rises up from the students I'm with. Marigold exhales a huge breath of relief.
I rise from my seat and follow the rest of the students off the bus, blending into the line of freshmen and escaping Ravena's iron grip. Right before I exited the bus, she caught my eyes again. She seemed to say, Until next time, Ash. 
***************
Everyone gathered in a central meeting space, like an amphitheater, except there were no seats, only ledges you could sit on and rest your feet on the one below you. I took a seat between Marigold and Gemina, and waved a hello to Cenra, who was seated on Gemina's left. Amber and Cenra both don't acknowledge me, with their heads turned the other way.
Ravena and the rest of the Venators take up the entire third row.  I have a clear view of what the rest of them are up to. Ophelia's toying around with her twin braids, twirling them and flicking them over her shoulders every now and then.
Erza's talking casually to Soren, whose fingers move swiftly, like he's playing on an invisible piano. I can hear the faint sound of electric guitars and rapidly beating drums coming from Ravena's earbuds. Every so often, she would pop one out to listen to their conversations.
"God, Ravena is a psychopath," Amber whispers to Gemina, who was nodding slowly. "Preying on a seventh grader, threatening to hurt Marigold and Ash if they didn't sit with her and Ophelia...she's no better than her father-"
"What was that, Amber?" Ravena asks Amber. Her voice is honeyed, as if she were trying to come off less frightening. Everyone knows what you're capable of, Ravena. Don't take us for idiots.
"I couldn't hear you clearly with my earphones in. I thought I heard you mention my name and something about my family." Pointed fangs and feline eyes....she really lives up to her parents legacies. Ready to tear apart and kill.
Amber gulps, a huge motion in her throat. I can see Ravena's eyes following it intently, her manicured claws twitching ever so slightly. "I-I didn't say anything," Amber stutters, then laughs nervously. "You m-must have heard me wrong."
"Did I," Ravena asks flatly. Everyone's watching the conversation now, eyes flicking back and forth between Amber and Ravena each time they speak. "Because I'm pretty sure I heard you insult my father. I'm sure you didn't mean that," Ravena drawls.
"I-" Amber opens her mouth.
Our father. The shadows that have guided me all these years.
"Amber, choose your battles," I hiss. "Do you know who you're going up against?"
"At least Ashlyn has the brains to warn you not to run your mouth," Ezra adds. Ophelia stifles a giggle.
Ravena is silently demanding an answer with her eyes. Everyone else looks on at the scene. "I...I-" Amber repeats, stuttering slightly.
The piercing ring of a whistle saves Amber from becoming minced meat.
"Welcome, students of Greenwood High School," shouts a young woman in her 20s.
Flowing and curly, her ink colored hair reaches down to her waist. She has intense thick gold eyeliner and turquoise eyeshadow that compliment her dark skin, along with golden bangles inlaid with turquoise spheres. Around her neck along with the jewelry is a silver whistle on a red string cord.
Her bland outfit is a stark contrast to her trinkets and accessories. Simply a green camouflage shirt and beige cargo shorts. She's wearing cherry red converse along with it that clashes horrendously with the rest of her clothes.
"This week here at camp, we're all going to focus on keeping the planet clean, so we ask you to do your part and pick up any trash you see around the campus!"
Another counselor steps forward. This one is a man, about 18 or 19. His skin is perfect tanned gold.  The bun of blond hair resting on top of his head only enhances the look further. He's tall with broad shoulders, and when he smiles, his teeth are a blinding white.
So, in short, he's your stereotypical surfer boy.
"Here at Evergreen Sea, we're pretty chill and try to provide a relaxing environment for the students here. So, we encourage you to not be so loud to not disturb the harmonic beauty in the surrounding forest." His voice is full of a peaceful energy that just makes you want to relax and take a nap amongst the greenery.
"My name's Alon Tide, and this is my co-counselor and best friend, Meadow Spring." He points to himself, then the woman next to him.
"We're going to be the main people in charge for these few days you're here, so if you have any questions about the rules, don't be shy. Feel free to pop on down to the head office right there," he points to the right, indicating a small building. "Just don't wake me up early in the morning or I'll assign you to latrine duty," he jokes.
Everyone gives a little laugh, but you can tell it's forced. If his jokes are going to be that dry for the whole time we're here, this is going to be an awfully long week.
"Your counselors will be waiting in your cabins. We don't want to take up any more of your time, so they'll explain the rules when you arrive at your cabins, so we'll go ahead and dismiss you guys." At this, he produces a long parchment list that falls down to his feet almost to his ankles.
He clears his throat, and starts reciting the list of names. 
"Ashlyn Adara, Cenra Garcia, Gemina Khan, Marigold Martinez, Ravena Nightshade, Ophelia Tanaka, and Amber Yoon." 
We trudge up a giant grassy hill, through a misty forest with spindly trees and damp, squishy earth. Exotic blue flowers give me deja vu....Oh, yes. It was at the Leronian ball 5 months ago. A gift from the Duchess of Leronia to me.  "Of the finest in the land, Princess Ashlyn Adara, I gift you with the essence of the Leronialita flower."
"Hey, Ash, this smells like your perfume," Marigold points out, sniffing a flower.
"Yes. I use the essence of the Leronialita flower. Glad you noticed," I reply.
"I think they're beautiful just as they are, not as scented oils," Ophelia comments from behind us. I turn back to see her kneeling next to a patch of Leronialita, lightly stroking their petals. Ravena is watching her and smiling, her lips dyed a faint pink with a glittery sheen. Perhaps it's my imagination, but is that a faint blush displayed on her cheeks?
Ravena seems to have noticed us watching her, and flips back into her usual poker face. She marches up the hill, shouldering us aside. Ophelia trots behind her, leaving the five of us to ponder the situation.
"What was that about?" Cenra asked us. "She's the Queen of Greenwood High, and the minute she's outside she's Miss Nature or something?"
I just listen, unsure how to answer. Who knew Ravena Nightshade herself could be so relaxed and peaceful? I'd never seen her smile a smile of pleasure. It's always been the cruel, shark-like sneers she treats everyone with in the halls.
After trekking up the hill proceeding the duo, we reached our cabins. There's:

Tempest Shadow
Starlight Glimmer
Sunset Shimmer
Discord
Luna
Trixie Lulamoon
Stygian

A tall woman in a white t-shirt and jeans waves us over to the doorstep of one of the cabins. She's pretty, with blond hair the color of corn silk and piercing blue eyes. Her shirt reads: 'Math: The One Place Where People Buy 69 Watermelons And Nobody Asks Why'. 
Except me. I asked why every class until the teacher put up a rule that read "No questioning the logic of word problems or the dysfunctional society they happen in".
We stop outside the doorway of the Trixie Lulamoon cabin. She's a world renowned comedian, one that went from parlor tricks to global fame in just 3 years. And my friend. I go to her gigs, she shows up at mine.  
The room is decorated with stars and a violet background, along with pale blue swirls to represent her magic. There's four pairs of bunks, with a loft for two people at the end of the room. Ravena stalks in like she owns the place, Ophelia in tow.  She the creaky wooden ladder leading up to the loft, and tosses her bag into it.
"I claim the loft," she announces louder than needed, like it wasn't clear enough to us that she was staking her claim. Yep, Old Ravena was back. Ophelia climbs up the ladder too, throwing her bag into the loft like Ravena before her. "I'll room with Ravena," Ophelia says.
Cenra and Amber are already setting down their bags, and when I turn to Marigold, she's somehow climbed up to the top of a bunk bed. Gemina sits underneath.
Our counselor is nowhere to be seen.
"Since we're freshmen, we're responsible enough to be on our own. What, afraid you don't have your bodyguards? Afraid to be with villain kids?" Amber sneers, lounging on her bed.
I stalk over to Amber, taking my sweet time. I gently grab each of her wrists and pin them above her head.  I place my knee on her stomach to prevent her from moving.
No one stops me, not even the Venator girls. 
"If I'm indeed, afraid, you must be paralyzed in fear," I whisper. 
Then I add the fire. 
She shrieks and starts kicking like a lunatic, trying desperately to get out of my grasp. Pathetic. With 10 pounds on me, I would've thought she had the advantage.
"Amber. You are a nice girl.  But your fundamental flaw is you do not know your limits."
I tsk and add more fire. 
She opens her mouth to scream for help but then she sees Ravena. Who isn't doing anything to stop. And everyone obeys Ravena Nightshade. 
"Don't underestimate my power.  And, what makes you smart enough to guess my parentage?" I ask.
"U-uh-"
"Exactly,"
Tears are streaming down the girl's face. No one intervenes.
I sigh and let her go, grabbing a container of ointment. The red patch of Amber's skin turns from red back to her usual pale sheen.
Then I sit on my bunk like a queen (you've had your moment, Ravena). I'm ready for the glory and satisfaction Ravena and Sombra seem to feel when they've conquered someone.
But it never comes. For I am still alone.