An impatient sigh escaped her lips as she slammed her book closed; Isil hated being interrupted when she was formulating new potions and spells, and that's just what the head mistress's little messenger girl had just done.
It was bad enough she had one annoying wizard after another marching over into her space to ask her about some potion or potion or book, but now someone actually pulling her away from her work?
"What does she want me for?" Isil pursed her lips and stacked her books together, trying to contain her anger. The library lights flickered a couple times to show that she was not succeeding.
The nervous blue haired girl bit her lip and stammered, "I... I don't know. She didn't say. She just told me to fetch you. She sent someone to fetch Gemma, too." She eyed the overhead lights.
Isil hissed at the mention of the school's "most beautiful student". She slammed one last book on the stack, the sound going through the library. She noted that the girl across from her had flinched at the sound and smirked inwardly. "Fine, I'll be right there. Tell them to hold their panties on."
The messenger nodded and scurried off, her shoulders hunched. Isil watched her run into another student and stutter through an apology before running out of the room.
She'll never succeed here with that kind of crappy confidence, Isil thought as she made her own way towards the exit, leaving her books on the table. Others would know better than to touch the books, and not just because of the spell on them. As she walked, a grey cloud opened and she stepped into it.
She stepped out in front of the headmistress's office. She pushed open the door and walked in, ignoring the redhead already positioned in front of the large desk. "Yeah?"
The answering voice was not what she had expected. Neither were the eyes that caught her gaze, or the masculine face that held those dark eyes.
With black heels clacking and red skirt swishing around her perfectly-sized hips, Gemma strutted down the halls of the school. She radiated seduction and confidence. She pushed a freshman out of her way and flipped her hair, turning to smirk at the pathetic younger girl. The freshman was on the ground, looking up at her with a bewildered and scared expression on her face. Gemma turned a corner, walking down another dimly lit hall.
As she moved about, students lingering in the halls hurried to move out of her way; they not only cowered in alcoves or pushed themselves against the walls, some even ran into opened rooms to get away from Gemma.
She enjoyed the wary or frightened looks of her fellow classmates. She soaked in the fear; she loved attention. The older ones, in her grade or just below, weren't as scared as the younger students. They knew her capabilities and were used to her generally rude attitude. She wriggled her fingers at a particularly terrified looking freshman as she approached the headmistress's office.
As she reached for the doorknob, she wondered what Griffin was mad about this time. Was it the flirting with the visiting wizards-to-be? Or maybe that prank on Isil… She giggled at the thought.
She pushed the door open and entered without knocking, as was usual for her. She looked at her perfect manicure, solid red polish on pointed nails, before placing both hands on her hips. "You wanted me?" Her eyed widened in shock, an emotion new to Gemma, as she gazed upon the person in Ms. Griffin's chair.
The door opened again before the stranger could respond. Isil, another senior, moved to stand beside her. She had her arms crossed in front of her, "Yeah?"
The stranger's eyes went between the two girls. His eyes were black, and his lips were curled into a cruel smile. He stood, still looking the two girls over.
His gaze entranced them; the pure darkness of his stare made them feel uneasy. "Hello ladies." His voice was deep and distant, like it was foreign in his mouth.
"Once more, what do you want?" Isil snapped. She tapped her foot and glared at the man, "I hate being interrupted."
The stranger pierced her with his gaze, "I want you ladies to wreak havoc with this vessel. I have chosen you to be the Guards of mind, body, and soul."
Gemma's wide eyes narrowed to slits and she let out a hiss, "And you would be?" She leaned forward, her hands slamming down on the desk, shaking Griffin's pencil holder. "I don't like riddles, or games."
The man reached out a hand and put two fingers under her chin, "Do you like power? Power over men, fairies, the entire universe?"
Gemma slapped the hand away, glaring more intensely at him. "I-" She was about to tear into him when Isil spoke:
"Of course we like power. What kind of idiot are you? Now, who or what are you and why did you call for us? I'm getting very impatient."
The lights flickered twice and the man leaned back, smirking. "You two will be just perfect. I hope this vessel I am in will be just as perfect."
Gemma looked the stranger over, studying him. Now that she thought about it, he looked vaguely familiar. "Who are you?"
His eyes moved between the two and he leaned forward, hands on the desk. "I am the Shadow Phoenix; I was the second most powerful creature to live, but ever since the Dragon vanished I have become the single most powerful in the universe."
Isil interrupted, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "The Shadow Phoenix was destroyed by those fairies, the Winx or something, decades ago."
"That was the vessel I had taken over. He was killed in the destruction of Shadowhaunt. I hid in order to regain my strength, to mend my wounds that the Keeper had caused with her friends. I do regret not choosing proper Guards," the man sighed and then continued. His voice was even fiercer than before. "But this time I will destroy the Keepers, and you shall be my Guards. We will keep the Dragon from returning."
Gemma held up a hand, "Wait. Who are the Keepers? The Guards?"
"Centuries ago, the Great Dragon blessed families from 5 planets with parts of him and his powers. The chosen fairy from each generation was the Keeper," Isil recited.
"Why do you know fairy history?" Gemma turned to her. "Are you a... pixie-lover?" She snickered.
"No, stupid. I just read a lot. It shows up," Isil snapped before turning to the stranger. "I haven't read much about the 'Guards' though."
The man shook his head and smirked, "Oh of course not. I keep secrets much better than that Dragon. Guards are just that- Guards for me. They cause trouble for the Keepers, make sure they don't get to me, take their powers. Guards essentially keep the Dragon from returning."
"Why should we do that? Why should we work for you?" Gemma snapped. She crossed her arms and glared at the man. She hated being treated like she was lesser than others. She was the best- in the school and the universe.
"The power you would gain from those fairies is unimaginable. All witches would bow down to you for bringing back the Phoenix. All fairies would be your servants. You would become my queens!" The man's voice grew louder and more intense. He glowered, his eyes glowing. "The universe would be ours."
Gemma opened her mouth to speak but Isil cut in, "How are we supposed to know these things will happen if we join you? How are we supposed to beat fairies blessed by the Dragon?"
"I will bless you- all three of you- with the powers of my mind, body, and soul. You will guard each part and your powers shall be tripled."
Gemma smiled cruelly, finally drawn into what he was saying. Be the queen of a Phoenix? Have all the power in the universe? Be able to put those stupid fairies beneath her boots? It sounded fabulous, like she was.
He moved around the desk to be closer to them. "With your beauty and the power I will give you, you could have any man you choose." The man touched her cheek and smiled, his eyes still glowing.
Gemma slapped his hand away once more and smirked, "All will love me."
"Don't they already?"
Isil cleared her throat, "I hate to interrupt, but how do we know all this is true?"
The man tore his eyes away from Gemma and moved closer to Isil, his cruel smile widening. "Go wreck some havoc somewhere and see." His eyes went blank, then closed. His body went slack against the desk.
Isil and Gemma stared at each other. "What'd you do?!" Gemma snapped. Of course Isil would hurt someone who would want to flirt with, or give everything to, the most perfect girl in the school.
"Nothing," Isil hissed. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on!"
The man straightened, blinking. His eyes were normal now; they were still dark but the whites of his eyes were back. His voice was still deep, but it fit more coming from his lips than the voice of the Phoenix, "What the hell just happened?"