This is a dual story by both Ember(me) and Valentine (valentine999) because we're cool
Disclaimer: don't own Bond, Po5, Alpha and any others we may have mentioned but Valentine lost count.
Valentine's quote for the day: "if your feet don't touch the ground when you sit...let them swing."
The walls appeared in the distance, looming before the two girls and all Ember could do was look on with awe as the carriage was pulled ever closer to yet another temporary home.
A sign flashed by but was immediately swept from view, lost within the heavy rain, dampening her already down spirit further. She gave a small smile as she conjured a small wisp of flame within her cupped palm. As it rose and swayed like an enchanted flame she could only watch mesmerised as it curled around her in a toxic embrace. She was more alive with her flame, her fire that was a part of her as the sun and moon were to the sky.
She looked across at her companion, her dark hair shadowing her face, as she looked out into the pouring rain, her violet eyes darkened by troubled thoughts.
"Valentine, what's wrong?" Ember asked, worried by her friend's silence. When no reply was forthcoming Ember waved away her dancing flames with a sharp gesture and leant forward off her seat and, shaking the dark haired girl's shoulder she awaited any reaction. When still nothing happened Ember turned Valentine's face towards her own and her eyes widened with shock as she saw that Valentine has gone within herself without even telling Ember, looking for inner answers, this being one of the many skills that the two girls shared, although Valentine was the more skilled in this area.
Sitting back she sighed, bored with nothing to do so she practiced with her fire. She began to practice a complex gesture she had been taught as a child; it was said to be one of the most powerful curses known, and yet she had still not mastered it. She cursed, top of her class and yet no progress, her frustration was soon fuelled by her feelings of failure. In a moment her hair lifted, cascading around her like the flames she was well known for, her emerald eyes focusing solely on the small flame that was still dancing in her cupped hand. A gold nimbus played around her slim frame, focus, that's all she needed to do.
Ember remained so preoccupied that she did not notice Valentine come out of her trance, the dark haired girl was mesmerised for a moment by the determination in Ember's eyes. Valentine smiled and sat back, Ember was always the one who would keep trying, it was lucky Valentine held such intelligence, she could pick up things in class either, perhaps not as powerful as Ember but that is not what Valentine treasured. The train began to slow, Valentine turned to Ember, her smile fading
"Ember, we've got to move," Valentine's voice held the sweet echoes of melancholy, she hid it well. Ember cursed and the nimbus around her faded, her hair fell limp and she rested for a moment; it took a lot of energy out of her, glancing out of the window she was a little relieved to find it had stopped raining. They collected their bags from the compartment above them and moved out of the carriage.
The girls stood and gasped once they had stepped down from the train onto the damp platform at the spectacle before them, a gigantic castle, and home to over two thousand boys, soon to house a further one thousand girls. Soon the platform before the castle was full of over talkative girls, Ember and Valentine moved slowly through the crowd towards their headmistress who shot them disapproving looks before turning the crowd of excited girls. Her speech was reminiscent of something the entire school had heard a number of times before.
"Now girls, we are here due to some…unforeseen circumstances," here Valentine and Ember exchanged glances, smirks playing on their faces. "We shall be staying here until our own vicinity is rebuilt…" the rest of what she was saying was cut out by a voice behind the two girls, they turned.
"…so that's a ratio of one boy to two girls? Not much competition then." A brawling voice slithered its way to Valentine and Ember, as they looked they saw a pale skinned girl with dark hair and angled eyes talking to a group of giggling girls. Her name was Scarlett Adams, she may have been quite pretty had it not been for the sneer she had hitched on her face at all times. Valentine turned back to the headmistress, confused as to how two people of the same gender could have such different priorities.
Ember herself only turned back when she felt the crowd begin to move around her, towards the castle and into the lion's den. Glancing sideways Ember saw Valentine gliding with her natural and graceful flowing walk, so like the water she was linked with and with Ember prowling by her side they looked fierce, strong and not to be messed with. Two fierce warriors, there was an unconscious gap around them as if they emitted a dangerous aura that stopped anyone getting close, or it could have been that the headmistress had forbidden anyone to talk to the two troublemakers as a punishment of kinds, although it was of little discomfort to them, more a relief.
They ascended a magnificent marble stairs and were presented with large iron gates that shimmered with hidden power. As the large party drew close all grew silent with an aura of tenseness and with expectations of excitement at what may be behind the imposing gates, of the unknown. Slipping nearer the front both Ember and Valentine shivered as they felt a magical scanner at work, Ember raised an eyebrow in silent question but Valentine shook her head, she had no answers about this at least. Eventually the magic faded and the gates swung open to reveal a large open courtyard with a large fountain of ice taking centre position, benches surrounding it had older men sat awaiting their arrival the girls concluded The headmistress walked forward, arms spread wide and hugged one of the men with familiarity and they moved away a little and began to talk in rapid whispers. Valentine concluded that the male was probably the headmaster of the school and took interest, trying to hear what they were saying but they had erected a ward of some sort that Valentine could not penetrate so she huffed a little, curiosity aroused. Al present looked on with curiosity at what they were doing, suddenly the man burst out laughing while the headmistress was frowning and both glanced almost imperceptibly towards Valentine and Ember.
"I wonder who they're talking about" whispered Ember sarcastically to her companion, eyes shining with suppressed humour while Valentine gave a slight smile but did not glance away from the still talking heads, violet eyes focused on their lips, still trying to figure out what they could possibly need to talk about behind a ward.
"So where are the guys then?" A loud voice called out and Ember closed her eyes, teeth gritted with suppressed anger and she had to clench her fists tightly so as not to let her fire escape as it so gladly wanted to do, to incinerate the annoying form of Scarlet who was glancing around with unsuppressed greed and something else, a hunger of sorts. Ember felt her friend's hand on her arm, soothing her and she realised she had taken a step towards the annoying gnat, determined to crush that ugly face.
"Calm down!" Valentine hissed and she firmly grasped Ember's elbow before pulling her further away from Scarlet. They stopped when they reached a nearby bench and sat, Ember with her eyes closed and gradually her fists unclenched and she let out a shaky breath and she slumped forward, hand to head.
"Sorry Val nearly did it again didn't I?" All Valentine could do was sit and comfort her friend, it was hardly her fault for her fiery nature, it was natural, as was her talent with fire itself, which could be a problem at times like this.
"Alright, Nymph?" Nymph, a water spirit, how Valentine hated that name, she looked up, almost daring her enemy to speak again. Ember bowed her beautiful head, waiting for her strength to return. Those violet eyes narrowed on the ugly sight before her, Scarlet and her band of merry idiots stood by, their focus on the girl in front. Suddenly they changed, instead of leaning towards Valentine they stood, straight backed and smiling. Valentine almost fell off the bench in shock; what possessed a power so great as to turn this bunch of dribbling imbeciles into angels?
The answer came in the form of short black hair and blue eyes, closely followed by a mess of blonde hair and grey eyes. Two boys approached the man to whom the headmistress was talking, coming close to the bench; it was needless to say such creatures were given the attention of the entire crowd. The raven-haired boy was tall and well built; his defined muscles hidden beneath his Jacket, his eyes were hard and held a fierce fire, as though daring anyone to come closer. The second boy was slightly taller, less muscular but still agile and held grace. Unlike the first, this boy's eyes held a melancholy, luckily washed out by the untidy mop of blonde hair he kept. Neither boys glanced over to the bench, Ember smiled, although detached form the situation, she had seen it all; Scarlet would not be pleased. Ember looked up to Scarlet; with difficulty she hid her grin when she looked to the girls face. The look was thunderous; no boy walked past Scarlet Adams without looking twice.
Both boys approached their headmaster and he looked at them thoughtfully, after sharing a few thoughtful words they directed their attention to the girl's headmistress who leant in to listen. The headmistress then turned back to the girls in front of her, occasional words drifted to the girls on the bench, "…welcome our stay…much appreciated…will be sleeping…" Valentine wasn't listening, a man was approaching, and he was fat and too little hair than he could get away with.
"Ladies Valentine and Ember?" his voice was far too high, the girls near by laughed, Valentine and Ember nodded. "I shall escort you to your dormitories; you shall be next to your headmistress in case of any more…disruptions. Follow me." Grudgingly Ember and Valentine followed the man up a flight of stairs and into the castle, leaving the sound of laughter behind them.
So what d'ya think? Don't worry, the boys are appearing next chapter
Ember&Valentine
