Daeva: Black Diamond Chrysalis, Danielle Bolger [best books to read for success TXT] 📗

"I got to kill her!" Bart exclaimed happily, turning around from the art-bench in front to enter the conversation. "We had this epic battle where I told her women need to learn their place in the world of men and then I slew her!"

"And when she died she did it so perfectly sadly!" Amy gushed. "She goes and says: Curse this land, its rules and oppression. And curse all those that abide by such evil." Amy recounted, using her arms and facial expressions to bring the words to life. "I know that I cannot claim to be innocent in all this, my own hands have been sullied and so I... What was it... Oh! I remember! I suppose that it is fitting that I die in the face of such unworthiness. But at least, in these final moments I will have known one thing, that I fought for what I believe in and for a future that will never know such violence. Then she reached out for the audience and with eyes glistening she smiled and said, At least I'll finally be by your side once more, my love." Amy had her hand on her chest as she replayed the act as if she too was feeling the same emotions of the character.

"Wow, she sounds incredible!" I affirmed. "But I gotta say, you did a pretty good re-enactment of it yourself too, Amy!"

My friend grinned. "Thanks, well actually the whole class did the same scene from the end of some samurai story and with the group I was placed in I had to perform the warrior princess role too, that's how I learnt the lines. At the end of the double period we had to perform the scene to the rest of the class but as I watched hers I realised how lame my performance was in comparison. That's how I did the scene, but I didn't did it so well as her." Amy's face showed a hint of sadness.

"Yeah, she was insane!" Bart agreed. "Normally it's Amy that everyone is saying is so good at drama but this chick just took the cake! I think I already know who's going to be the female lead for the school musical this year!"

Amy nodded. "Yeah, I have to agree, with her talent she'll get the part for sure."

I placed a hand on Amy's shoulder. "Hey, you're still in the running you know, you might just get it this year. This girl sounds good but don't forget you're pretty talented too!"

"Nup, not gonna happen!" Bart argued and despite my glare he continued. "This girl was like Hollywood! Amy's good and all and like you, I would have put money on her getting the lead this year with that Jackie chick graduating, but now I think it'll be another support cast for Amy."

Amy was looking down intensely at her sketch but the pencil in her hand wasn't moving, the muscles there were far too tense. Beneath her brunette full fringe she smiled. "Yeah, I think Bart is right, but even so I will try as hard as I can to get the lead."

"That's right, Amy!" I cheered, "You can't give up yet! But even if you don't get it there's still two more whole years of school. You'll get there, I believe in you!"

She turned with glassy brown eyes. "Thanks, Abigail. You're a really good friend."

"I don't know..." Bart said thoughtfully. "If that girl stays at this school then... Ouch!" He suddenly exclaimed to the boy seated next to him angrily. "Now I know that wasn't just an accidental elbow, what's the big deal!? Quit hitting me already!"

"Christ, you're thick!" Eric groaned, turning away from his own sketch back toward us. Pointedly he said, "Yeah I was elbowing you! Anyone else would have taken the hint!"

Bart's expression was both annoyed and dumbfounded. "What are you on about, hint?"

"He just means not to jump to conclusions so early." I tried to explain tactfully but as I bit my lower lip I realised I had no idea how to do tact. "We have two really good drama students in the school and whose better can't be decided by just one performance!"

"Abigail, its fine." Amy's smile was incredibly large. "I'm in awe of her too. She is incredible, pretty and so good at acting, but that doesn't make me jealous, it's the opposite, it makes me want to be her friend because then I could learn so much from her!"

Bart shrugged off Eric's warning and nodded. "Yeah, she's real hot too. It's incredible, she looks like an angel!"

"Oh, yes, Abigail, you should have seen her hair and eyes, they glistened so brightly! And the colour..." But then Amy's words became mute as the entire class hushed at the sight of the new entrant. Without so much as a word every single eye turned and looked at the new girl that entered the classroom, who, upon seeing all the attention, blushed with embarrassment.

"Um..." She stated nervously. "I'm really sorry for arriving so late, it was really hard to find this class, it's not where it says on my map so it took me a little while to work out where it is."

My art teacher, Mr. Merrith, smiled from his front desk. "That's okay, the map is a little deceiving with the renovations going on. I guess no one told you that art is held in these portable classrooms as a temporary location until the works are complete. Well, come on in then." My teacher motioned for her to enter further to the front and centre of the room. "And please tell us all a little about yourself."

 "That's her! That's the new girl from my drama class!" Amy whispered beside me.

"I..." I husked. "I don't believe it."

"Hm?" Amy enquired curiously but as the newcomer spoke her attention was drawn back to the front of the room.

As the girl at the front smiled shyly, she tossed away long platinum strands of hair to reveal bright silver eyes. "Well I guess I'm the new-girl! My name is Ariel Serador and I'm your new art classmate!"

-

"So where do you think she comes from, Abigail?" Amy asked completely ignoring the half drawn picture in front of her.

I frowned as my gaze wandered to the other side of the class where Ariel had taken her seat and was busy imparting graphite to paper. "I don't know. She said she was home-schooled in her introduction, but she seems more familiar than that."

"Well she did say that she's lived up on the mountain her whole life so no doubt you've seen her before. Heck, we probably all have, just didn't realise that she was a local. That's the thing about home-schooled kids, they're very mysterious!"  Amy's eyes darted left and right and her head finished with a nod to say that she knew something was up.

I couldn't disagree with her. "Yeah, I definitely know that I've seen her before." I stated as the image of the silver-haired girl from yesterday shone in my mind again. It was dark, the sole light-source came from Bethanie's mobile phone, but her face was hovered just above mine as she stated some very strange words.

It had to have been her, I knew it, except, could I believe what I knew to be truth? I mean, Ariel didn't even look at me once throughout the entire period, like I was no more than a stranger. A stranger, I felt certain, that she saved.

Leaning back Bart followed our gaze at the girl. "I wonder if she's as talented at art as she is drama. If she is then Abigail will be in danger!"

"Not even possible!" Eric swung around again and gave me a wink. "No one's a better artist than Abby. Just check out her sketch there!"

He had motioned to the drawing I designed for our art major themed paradise. We were only a couple of weeks into the term so many of us were still in the planning stages, which meant drawings and explorative uses of the materials we sought to employ. Some students however were already full gear into their canvases, sculptures, weavings, paper-maches and all sorts. But the bulk of us, myself included, were still were stuck to pencil, paper and contemplation.

What I had sketched just then was one of a dozen different designs, each one never sitting right with me and so I kept reattempting until I was happy. This one however did not lead me to that sentiment.

"It's still not right." I sighed.

"Are you kidding me?! Eric exclaimed. "The waterfall and lagoon filled of mermaids and mermen, I mean you couldn't hit the focus more on the nail! But then the detail you've done with your sketch, man, that could be your major just there!"

When I rose my eyes to Eric's ahead I smiled. "Thanks, but still I don't agree. It's not that I don't like the idea of mermaids, I love them! But when it comes to paradise, I'm not so sure... I still don't think I've grasped the concept."

"You're way over thinking things, Abby!" Amy interred. It doesn't matter what you choose as long as it fits in with the stimulus, from there you just gotta make it look good! That's why I'm doing a beach sunrise, I mean, what's prettier than the sun rising over the water and all those pretty shimmying colours they make!?"

"My paradise is way cooler, mine is about beer!" Bart declared.

"Bart!" I exclaimed. "We're still under-aged!"

"We're not that young." Bart refuted. "It might not be legal yet but I've tried beer and I tell you what, that was where I found my paradise!"

"Hm..." Amy weighed. "I guess each to their own!"

I tried to shrug off my frown. "What about you, Eric? How are you going to show paradise?"

The boy with tanned features and almost black hair smiled. "Actually, like you I haven't decided yet. I have a lot of ideas but none of them seem to be right. It's silly but I feel like I have to get the situation just right. I mean, it is paradise, after all - it has to be perfect."

"Amy's right, you two are definitely over-thinking it!" Bart analysed.

Just then the school bell rang signalling both the end of class and the end of school and with horror I realised I still hadn't come up with the idea to my major yet.

The others packed their things away with the deft skill only a student possessed. When Amy rose to make past me she frowned. "Abigail, you're not coming?"

Leaving my things I rose from my seat also. "Actually, I was about to ask Mr. Merrith if I could stay back to work on my major."

"You know..." She rationalised. "You can always think and sketch at home. You don't need to stay back."

"I know, but I work better at school, away from distractions and all."

"Yeah sure. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

We both left the desk together, only Amy with her backpack and me up to the front desk. Just as Amy exited the class I waved her goodbye before addressing my teacher.

"Excuse me, Mr. Merrith. I was just wondering whether it's possible to stay back this evening to work on my major? It's okay if you want to leave, I don't want to keep you, but I noticed you were staying behind lately so I was wondering whether I could too?"

My teacher's eyes were soft through his glasses. "You're astute. Yes, I have been staying back in the evenings to start the stage-works for the musical. The theme has just been set so I'm getting organised this year and completing all the props ahead of schedule!"

I gasped. "You're doing it all by yourself? But that's so much work!"

My teacher smiled. "Well, after I finish the designing aspect I was going to implore my students for their assistance and actually, I was going to ask you to be one of my main helpers. You would be an excellent asset