The Art of War
Chapter 1
Blossom
In the land of gods and monsters, I was an angel,
Living in the garden of evil,
Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed,
Shining like a fiery beacon.
-Lana Del Ray, Gods and Monsters
My black Mary Jane heels clacked loudly in the empty halls of The Academy's main building. What could I say? I walked loudly when I'm nervous. Speaking of nervous my palms starting sweating as I clenched my fists. Pausing, I wiped them against my gray, pleated skirt.
I really shouldn't be this nervous, I was only going to see my 'father' also know as the chairman. To be honest he terrified me. The other reason was my sisters. The thought of them made me sigh audibly. I dreaded even being in the same room as them these days. Buttercup was extremely violent, rude, and was itching to snap my neck. Bubbles was no better. She had become a manipulative girl and when provoked, could be just as violent as her sister. Together the two were a nuclear bomb waiting to go off. Angels and demons certainly did not mix.
Lost in thought, I hadn't even realized I arrived at the large maple doors marked 'Chairman's Office'. Even with the thick door I could hear my sisters' voices screaming. I thought about waiting a couple more seconds to go in but I was already late enough as it was getting caught up in a spell gone wrong in the library. I took a deep breath as I pushed one of the doors open.
"You ambushed our freshman-" Bubbles cut off her sentence as I walked in. She sat back in the plush armchair on the right not interested in letting me know what was being discussed. She glared at Buttercup who had a amused look on he face from the reaction she was getting from her sister.
"Well if it isn't the wicked witch of the wet herself." She smirked.
"Now, now Buttercup. We have much more important matter at hand then your petty feud." The chairman chided in a dark tone. His chair behind the large maple desk was turned away from them so he was facing the window. The girls instantly stopped. Their father was definitely someone to be feared even by them. He always dressed in black and had eight large, black and green tentacles protruding from his back. They wriggled around like living creatures. The sisters always made sure to push their chair back out of their range when they came.
"Yes Professor." They said in unison. He never let them call him father just Professor because that's what he was. There was dark rumors circling him about the screams that could sometimes be heard in schools's catacombs.
"Very good then. We're expecting several new students later this week. They're quite something different from what we usually receive. Each of you take a few files from my desk." He commanded.
I took two as Buttercup took two also. Bubbles automatically took the one eager to do the least amount of work possible. I rolled my eyes.
I opened mine gently, not trying to crumple anything. The first one was nothing too ordinary, a freshman transfer. Name: Julie Smith. Power/Race: Elemental (magnetic). A picture of blonde girl, slightly of the chubby side was also attached. I glanced over at Buttercup and Bubbles out of the corner of my eye. Buttercup looked indifferent but Bubbles looked confused. I saw her raise her brows like she always did when she didn't understand something.
"P-Professor! This file… Butch Jojo. It says human?" My head snapped up to look at her file. She wasn't lying. I shook my head in disbelief. The idea of humans in our school was ridiculous. They would easily be killed by who knows what. It was also dangerous to us too. Last thing I needed was humans at the gates.
The Professor chuckled darkly. "Yes that is correct. I make no mistakes. We have four new, human students joining us this year.
"Four?" I asked. I answered my own question by looking over my second file. Name: Boomer Jojo, human also. He definitely looked human with baby blue eyes and shiny blonde hair. I had to do a double take at this one. He looked exactly like the blonde girl sitting to my left.
Buttercup spoke out too declaring both of hers were also human. Another Jojo and pretty girl named Robin Snyder.
The Professor continued, "They're apart of my newest experiment. I have a slight notion they'll be an interesting addition to our school. I expect you three to ,how do we say, watch over them. Give them a warm welcome, become mentors. Especially you Blossom." This made me swallow nervously.
Buttercup looked outraged. Her leather, pointed tail whipped out behind her and sharp, twisted horns sprouted from her head. "I a'int babysitting no humans!" She growled.
"You will do as I say!" The Professor's voice boomed. Buttercup shrank back and I heard Bubbles let out a tiny whimper. My own legs started shaking ever so slightly.
"They arrived in two days. I expect to have my orders carried out. Now leave."
The girls and I wasted no time scrambling for the door. Outside there were no goodbyes. We each went separate directions, eager to return back to our dorm houses. Even the school itself seemed one edge as the dim torches on the wall flickered. I pushed pass a door that took me outside. The cool night air ruffled my long red hair slightly, moving my red headband from its place. I took the cobble path pass several ancient looking, gothic buildings until I reached one with a bronze sun above the doorway. The entrance was also covered in the runes and protection circles the other Witches and I had put up only this morning. It helped keep the other Houses out.
The entrance hall was mostly empty with the exception of a small group of students many of which were reading. As Junior Head of the Sol House it was my job to advise them to return to their rooms soon. As I made my way up to my private room I checked for any other activity. I was still in shock from the news I heard so I couldn't exactly think straight. How would I tell my House? There would be chaos in the morning, chaos I was too tired to even think about.
As I opened the double doors to my room, I silently thanked the heavens for not having a roommate. I buried my head into the plush pink comforter eager to forget the night's events.