Flickering Flame: Chapter 3

Dirge was pleased for the time being. The girls could help in more ways than they could imagine, and there was no word from that wretched Flayre. She might turn up at the meeting today.1

Dirge gently plucked one of her least important feathers, a wing covert. It was shiny, sparkly black with red fringes. She threw it into the air, and drew a tongue of flame. The feather incinerated before it hit the ground, and its ashes were sprinkled into the wind by a powerful gust from Dirge’s wings. A gathering of dark phoenixes would be appearing at this spot soon.2

Fairfax felt tingles all over her. It was a call for a meeting. She sighed. The dungeon was not as bad as she thought it would be. The unicorns are too stupid to provide a true dungeon, she thought bitterly. As a dark phoenix, she knew what a true dungeon should be like. 3

A pure white face, standing out in the gloom of the rocky chamber, appeared suddenly. It was a unicorn bringing her ration. She carefully planned her escape at this moment. Phoenixes didn’t have ancient wisdom for nothing. 4

The unicorn fumble with a key and opened the door. It creaked. A dish of red meat was placed at the edge of her cell. The unicorn looked disgusted. Fairfax slowly crept up. The stupid stag was too busy grimacing at the meat to noticed her. With a silvery talon, she slit the unicorn’s throat. Its blood, the color of moonlight, spilled and mixed with the grime covering the floor.5

Fairfax, dragging the carcass with her, made her way out of the dungeon. This would be a snap.6

Dirge sighed. All of the clan was here, but for Fairfax. Where could she be? Speak of the Devil, thought the clan leader, as she sighted a familiar black and blue figure appear in the sky, her plumage stained silver from a large unicorn carcass she was carrying. Dirge screeched in greeting.7

Fairfax screeched back. She landed gracefully, despite the heavy carcass. “Anyone up for a feast?”8

“Fairfax, you’re pure magic,” said Dirge in admiration. She proceeded to cut the carcass in equal pieces for all the clan members present. Flayre’s hurt look went unnoticed.9

No one quite knew what went on in the mind of the dark gray firebird. Her drab charcoal plumage was accented by silver, tinted slightly gold. She was smaller than most, being younger than many of the dark phoenixes. Flayre Flagtayle. She despised the name. It was something that branded her as unphoenix-esque. Most phoenixes were named after the places they were native to, or words that were not made cutesy. Her true phoenix name should be Flare Flagtail, but somehow she knew she couldn’t change it. Flayre Flagtayle she was forever.10

Another thing that bothered Flayre was her plumage. It was so drab. Even though black was not a particularly bright color, they were accented with beautifully contrasting red, blue, green, orange, and purple. These birds were things of beauty. How Flayre came out to be dark gray was a mystery. Either a phoenix was black, or it was gray. There was no between until Flayre. Her accenting also bothered her. It was a silvery gold. Gold was typically associated with unicorns, because their horns and hooves were that color. Silver was the color of the birds, though many gryffins loved gold as well. No matter; they loved all riches. 11

Dirge and the other birds were reluctant to include Flayre into the group because of these differences. But she knew in her heart that she was as dark as any of them. In her mind, she went over the requirements to be accepted into the elite.12

The first was a deep and profound hatred of unicorns. Flayre had that sure enough. It was a catastrophic incident involving a unicorn couple plucking her tail feathers to furnish their home.13

The second was an inner evil, an inner demon that was determined to wreak havoc in the world of unicorns. Many of the red, blue, green, and white phoenixes frowned upon the dark ones, saying that violence was not the answer to solving their problems. The dark phoenixes resisted, knowing they were right. Talking in the Parliament was not the solution. So far, it had not accomplished anything.14

The last was in compliance with the appearance of a dark phoenix. One had to be black with highlights of another color. One also had to have the proper elegance, style, and awe-inspiring majesty. The other birds felt that Flayre was too young and clumsy to have these qualities.15

That;s because I’m young! thought Flayre angrily. In time, I will be like them. Dirge’s voice called her from her reverie.16

The meeting had begun.17

“Dark phoenixes! Take the pledge!” screamed Dirge, as Fairfax, acting as secretary, took down notes. The dark phoenixes had all memorized the pledge and recited it faithfully.18

“Hatred burns of unicorn kind,19

We wish to kill them with our inner might,20

With suavity and style all the way,21

we’ll resist them all and win with fights.”22

Dirge looked pleased. Now, to business.23

Nora lay on the navy blue couch, reading a magazine called Phoenix Times that was lying on the glass coffee table. Misty, as expected, was on the computer. She had a headset on and chattered like a professional telemarketer as a magic counter on the screen counted how much money she was making with each call. The money was in gold coins.24

Nora rolled her eyes and turned her eyes to an article. It was about Dirge’s election as Clan leader and it featured a picture of Dirge smiling haughtily. 25

Skullhead Mountain, August 26th-- Lady Dirge Shadowtalon was recently elected 26

leader of the feared Clan of Dark Phoenixes. The Clan unanimously voted her to 27

lead them in these trouble times. The Clan is well known for its violent tactics used28

to frighten unicorns and put them out of power. Says a member of the clan, Miss29

Flayre Flagtayle, “Many of us aren’t sure that violence is the answer.” We aren’t sure30

if Miss Flagtayle’s remark hold much to be believed however, as the well-known31

pledge of the Clan holds that all members must be willing to resort to using force32

if necessary. Miss Flagtayle is the dark gray bird who was recently in the spotlight33

as being accepted into the clan despite her color. But anyway. Lady Dirge is so far34

doing a good job in the opinions of many of the Clan members, and we have no35

complaints. It remains to be seen if the arguing in Parliament will get anywhere.36

Nora widened her eyes in surprise. The bird who kidnapped them was Lady Dirge herself! What could such an important politician want of them?37