Red(story)

Red1

Red is the paint,2

Bliss and Glitch in its shining range,3

Redder yet the rose,4

Betrayal of beauty it hosts,5

Redder yet the wine,6

A gift with thousands spines,7

Redder yet the love,8

Forever burning it shall remains,9

Reddest of all the BLOOD,10

For with each drop lies the reason,11

And for each reason… lies its uses….12

Chapter one 13

Too serious and too much fun14

‘Art…..is the creation that is taken out from soul…’ addressed Professor Edward to the first year art students at the orientation of an art University, Phoenix, in Oneonta ‘It is not necessary a painting nor a computer graphic nor a sculpture, it is anything that is created from the deep corner of your feelings….’ Professor Edward opens his eyes to look at the faces of the students and to his satisfaction, almost all the faces in the hall are eager to get in to various kinds of art that instant.15

‘During your years here I hope everyone will find the true meaning of art, for me as many years of experience in it’ continued Professor Edward ‘I conclude that people who create from their deep desire, deep pain, deep feelings…..deep soul, are consider an artist where as those who create to sell, to make a living are a mere business man. That is the end of today’s orientation you may now leave.’16

Professor Edward put down his microphone and walks slowly down the stage. He was an old man who can barely walk faster than the speed he is walking right now. The complete white mustache on his face tells of his age. He was also, slightly over-weight. As he was walking slowly the students hastily continued out of the hall. Among them was Amelia Augustine who was deeply moved by professor’s speech. She was always serious about her career as an artist. She was personally interested in canvas paintings as her hands are extremely light and smooth and she can really goes on with paintings. She was blonde but tied her hair up tight and made a pony tail to tell that she wasn’t really the blonds who’ll lost their bikini during prom night. 17

Phoenix was located on the hill just near the hill side. Down the hill lies a village “kannie” where students usually spend their free times at. If one stands on the main building, the village would be clearly visible along with the great view of the evergreen forest. University Campus consists of main building at the absolute middle and a studio, museums, theaters surrounds it. Great sculptures made by students, old and new can be randomly seen on the hill, both inside and outside the campus. Some of them are yet to be made. University has its own small museum and in it lays paintings of students and some great artists of the pasts. Dormitories are located behind the campus in a walking distance. There are three dormitories buildings two on the side having seven floors and the middle one have ten. The orientation was held in the largest seminar hall of the main building.  18

Amelia continued walking out keep thinking about last line the professor have said and cannot wait to try this philosophy on the canvas. ‘Hey there my angel, how’s the orientation?’ 19

She was immediately pulled out from the other magical world she was in then, and then she looked up. It was her friend Mac. Mac had always been like a brother to her he had shown her how to paint and made good comment on them and keep giving her an inspiration on the subject. He is now a second year in Phoenix. He was the one who invited her there saying that he could help her further more with her work and she happily trusted him. After all he is the one who got her into art.20

‘It was awesome!’ she said with the familiar look of excitement she usually has when she was fully satisfied with her self created art. 21

‘Glad you like it!’ Mac was an average height and average weight guy. He is fairly handsome. He wore a thin eyeglass which, according to Amelia, made him look even more handsome. His hair was completely bleached to orange and it really goes well with his face. ‘Have ya seen your dorm yet?’22

‘Yea! In fact I’ve already moved my stuffs in. And there is no room mate also, which means I can really concentrate on my work!’ Although Amelia likes party and friends she had always prefers her alone time to be….alone. 23

‘Alright then’ concluded Mac ‘I’ll assume that you’ve had your day and is now ready to go and unpack your stuff. If you need me, you’ll probably find me in the library I am going for a light reading there.’24

Amelia nodded and walks away slowly but speed keep increasing as further she moved away from him. Within few minuets she reached the door of the left dormitory not very far away from the campus. Her room was on the third floor “313.” It was a seven-storey building with fifteen rooms on each floor. Usually the students will share the room but in Amelia’s case, she got a room all to her-self as she had made a special request before entering and they casually grant it. She inserts a key slowly into the key-hole and opens the door without a slightest noise. Amelia always do things slow and smooth yet proficient. She always had to get every thing perfect no matter how much time it will take. That is why she does extremely well in paintings.25

Her room was almost fully decorated already. She had done it since she arrived at Phoenix. There was a large bed in the left corner and beside that a large cupboard full of books and paintings of great artist in the past. There were some of her paintings on the wall. She usually paint about her memory and not the scenery in other words she paints on things that are not visible in the real world but exist in her imagination. And on the absolute middle of her room were the canvas on the canvas stand and different types of colors and brushes on the table beside it. The small chair sits nicely in front of the canvas stand. If any one wants to start painting in this room, one can do so without having to arrange for any thing further.26

She walks into the room slowly passing the canvas to the bed and just lied down from the left side of the bed so that from her hip upward was on the bed and her legs was touching the bed-stand and feet on the ground. Both of her hands are underneath her head acting as a pillow although the pillow was clearly in her arm range on top of the bed. She looks up and gave a small sigh. There was absolutely nothing on the wall she is looking but she wasn’t really looking on the walls, she was thinking about the first day in her university and how she should get serious to become a professional at her carrier. She then thought of Professor Edward speech that really hit her and how she would paint from deep within her soul without thought of how much money she’ll get from it. She then fell asleep without realizing that her whole body wasn’t really on the bed and she haven’t changed to nightwear yet. 27

On the following day Amelia was awaken by her intuition.  She then quickly dressed her self up and grabs couple of books from her drawers and hurried off. She did all these extremely proficiently and in slightest of sound possible. Her hands seem to be acting strangely to her command i.e. without any rage but they seemed to obey her as though a humble slaves. She might have had given command to her organs very swiftly but yet they in return acted softly and without mistake and she is really pleased with it.28

The first subject were painting it self. The classes are held in the painting studio north-east to the main building. The studio was an absolute rectangle and in there thousands on canvases some are yet blank and some are half done. The canvases lies so close together Amelia wonders how one would sit and paint together in this most congested studio she had ever seen in her entire life. The teacher that will teach this subject is Mrs. Carmel Felton. 29

Mrs. Felton was not at all as Amelia has pictured an art teacher. For she thought her art teacher would be obsessed with art and have paint on her body all the time. Mrs. Felton was very bright looking woman with a smile that is already her natural look. She has red hair that in the first sight will be known that it is not natural. She was a big size woman but one would not call her fat though. 30

Though Amelia was not at all interested in performing art such as music and acting, the first years are required to take whatever subject the major offer.31

The Theater was triangular in shape located to the south west of the main building. Professor Victor Galbraith would be the one taking this subject. He is a small man and though Amelia wasn’t really interested in acting, she could say that this is one extraordinary actor. Professor Galbraith is always successful is amusing the students by his skill to make any kind of animal’s sound and act by really getting in to the character. He could cry, laugh, look hurt when ever he likes. Professor Galbraith always have a very interesting sense of humor that is he would cry till he was sure that everyone thought that he is crying for real and immediately burst in the laughter as an ice-breaking joke for the first years.32

In the music hall directly to the south of the main campus was Mrs. Sylvia Lennox. She was one beautiful woman. When she sings with her opera voice nobody can turn away from the beauty and the sweetest voice at the same time. She always has a difficult time teaching because her voice was far better than any of the students she usually have.  33

The over all day for her was neither as interesting nor serious as Amelia has expected. It was rather a fun introduction and theories on art with many guys and girls in pair Trying to persuade a slut to bedroom right on the first day Would be her first thought. Amelia unlike many other first years hasn’t made any friends yet. It is not that she prefers to be alone, in fact she loves having a lot of friends but she rather chooses them carefully. In fact she prefers to be chosen than to choose and she’ll analyze the person who wanted to befriend her and if she didn’t like that person she would simply ignore them.    34

During her classes she had notice exceptionally nice view it would have on top of the main building and has made a note to visit after her day was over. After her classes she went directly to her room on the third floor and carefully pulls out a blank canvas from its stand and laid it on the bed then folds the stand and laid it on the ground. She then take a small purse-looking bag from her wardrobe and start to pour her large collections of brushes and colors inside her bag and held it by her neck. She lifted the stand with her right hand and picked the canvas up by her left hand and continued out of her room. 35

To Amelia’s astonishment somebody was already painting on the spot she had chosen. It was a lively looking brunet who refuses to tie her hair up even when she was painting. 36

‘Wow! I’ve never thought other person would have same eye as I!’ Said the brunet-girl very excitedly ‘Hello my name is Becket. Have I seen you before? You looked familiar!’ 37

‘Yea I think I saw you in one of the class’ Amelia could recognize her at once. She was one of those girls trying to mess around with attitude less play boys right when classes started.38

But instead of studying Becket, Amelia looked at her painting. It was a sunny day on a roof top with the soft but cool mountain-evening wind. The view was remarkably nice and would inspire any painter to paint on it. On the other hand Amelia could spot nothing on Becket’s painting that matched that scene, instead it was a half crescent moon and the background was completely dark. The bottom of the painting was however green, Amelia thought that to be a ground. 39

‘Nice painting!’ Amelia pointed finally ‘I’d paint that way too. You know, like not really related to the scenery’ 40

Amelia had really come out the roof top just to get the thrilled of the height and I nice air that will enhance her creativity.41

‘Oh! This.’ Becket quickly said with a small giggle and she pulled out a page that seemed to have been torn out of some book from below her canvas. The page contain the same picture that she was painting on. ‘Just trying to imitate some artist. I am not as creative.’42

Amelia start to unfold her stand, Adjust the canvas near little left to Becket. She then sat down and starts to think, to feel her surrounding and to let her mind go.43

‘Do you always take this much time to start your painting?’ Asked Becket suddenly and Amelia looked as though just pulled out from another world.44

‘Yea, you see’ Explained Amelia after some movement. ‘I need to feel what I wanted to paint first, I think, that will give a soul to my picture.’45

‘Wow! Never thought people are trying that kind of stuff already’ Becket put the brush down and extends her hand toward Amelia. ‘Becket Netherwood!’46

‘Amelia Augustine.’ Amelia extends her hand back much less enthusiastic than Becket but her hand was firm.47

After being back to her imaginative world for sometimes Amelia started to paint.48

‘Lefty ha’ Said Becket looking at Amelia after sometimes.49

‘Actually I am good with both hands.’ Explained Amelia ‘but I always prefer left hand when painting’50

‘Yea! I have to agree with that. I mean look at it. it’s an oil color and you are so accurate. I bet you can paint it in one go!’51

‘That’s too much of a flattery already’ 52

Amelia smiled inside a little bit and continued on with her painting.53

‘Hey you know what? There is a party at one of my friends’ on Sunday. And you can come with me’ asked Becket out of sudden with very excited look.54

‘In don’t think so……I am kinda…….’55

‘Oh please! Don’t say kind of busy’ Argued Becket even more instantly ‘besides I don’t even have a date yet and I don’t want to go alone. It’ll be fun. Trust me.’56

‘Ok I’ll think about it then.’57

‘Cool! We’ll meet on Sunday six o’clock right this place.’58

‘But I just said I’ll thi….’59

Becket was far gone before Amelia could finish her sentence. Amelia continues to paint till about nine o’clock and then realized that it’s really late. Amelia always goes to bed early and wake up really fresh the next day. It was a habit she always had from her childhood. Even now at university, her time of sleep would be normally eleven o’clock and never later than one.60

Amelia was once again in her room with a canvas. She looked in the picture she just made in the evening but somehow she was not satisfied. She did try to paint from her soul…her deep feeling but yet she felt nothing in her own painting. It’s just another painting I painted. She thought with curiosity and little bit sadness inside. There was nothing wrong with neither the drawing nor the color they were both accurate, but yet there in no feelings from her painting. Amelia made it a point to consult Mac the next day. Mac usually has extraordinary knowledge about these things. Amelia and Mac were neighbors and friends since memory exist in Amelia, but till today she couldn’t understand why Mac always knows more than her nor where did he learns all the things he knows.61

The next morning Amelia again woke up before her alarm clock could ring. The first thing she saw was her painting in front of her. She has always expected her work to be a lot greater than before after entering university but yet it remains the same. Amelia ignore the fact that apart from professor Edward’s speech she haven’t really learnt anything yet to think that she might be lagging behind other students. The more she looks at her work the more she wants to either throw it out or break it down to small pieces. Amelia always have great control over herself, in fact greater than anyone she has ever met. Amelia’s friends often ask her if she had never been angry at all in her life. She knows that it’s not true but she would just smile back as a symbol of What’s your problem anyway? Amelia can feel anger as other people but somehow she can control it and does not show it out in action. 62

Her first class that day was “Art and History” and Amelia always liked it. For her it’s always really interesting to learn about ancient creator and their motives. She could remember all of the biography she has read. In excitement she quickly took a shower and dressed her self up. Even in her excitement she probably does things more carefully than other people. The book for her first subject is really bigger than the other books she has got for this term. She thought it might be even bigger than the bible. Amelia is a rather a mental than physical. She usually has problem carrying heavy things. Yet with all her might she picked up the book and hurried to the classroom before she run out of strength.63

This classroom wasn’t like other small classrooms with one chair and extend able book stand for each student. This one was more like a mixture of church and a seminar hall. It’s big and instead of around ten single modern chairs there were around fifty double wooden chairs. Amelia entered the room from the front door. There were a red carpet below her feet which runs to up the stage and her left and right were chairs. Probably twenty-five for each side she thought. She walks to the left side and was finding a good front seat so that she can pay full attention.64

‘Here!’65

Amelia instantly turned her head to find Becket, the brunet who just asked her out to party the other was sitting on the third row.66

‘Uhh…’67

‘Hey! Come on it’s a double chair! We can sit together. Isn’t that cool?’ Shouted Becket with her usual all-the-time excitement look.68

Without much choice Amelia walked toward Becket and throws the heavy book down to the table. The book causes quite a noise on the wood that even Amelia who usually is in control can’t do anything about. Amelia sat down next to Becket with a loud sigh.69

‘Where’s your book anyway?’70

‘Oh these books’ said Becket in full vacation mood ‘They are too heavy. I don’t feel like carrying them but who cares? I can share it with you can’t I?’ 71

Amelia immediately looked at Becket as though she had seen a ghost. And do you think I really fancy carrying these books? Since she first time saw Becket, Amelia always failed to understand why Becket is sitting at a university anyway forgetting the account that Becket was a really great singer and also she is Professor Galbraith’s favorite student for her great acting ability. Becket and Professor Galbraith also like to make a not-very-funny joke and laugh together leaving the rest of the class to think what’s really funny about it. Becket is not very bad at painting neither. But yet her attitude and seriousness about classes and studies greatly annoy Amelia.72

‘Yea sure. Why not?’ Said Amelia shifting her book little bit toward Becket.73

‘Do you know I have heard a rumors that professor Brown is a gay’ said Becket while Professor Brown was lecturing.74

Amelia didn’t really care nor wanted to know whether Professor Brown was a gay or a straight. What Amelia care more is Barocci’s motive when he was painting “Aeneas’ Flight from Troy”, but when she looked at Becket she could immediately understand that Becket actually thought that she is in some kind of gossip party instead of a classroom. On Becket’s word Amelia turned her head up to have a good look at Professor Brown. Professor Brown was an average-height he was old but seeing other teachers in this school Amelia considers him to be a middle age. His hairs were as brown as his last name suggested, and he have absolutely no look of gay as far as Amelia could see. 75

‘I think u are wrong’ argued Amelia ‘Professor Brown couldn’t be a gay! I mean I don’t know where have you got your rumor but you can look through style of teaching also. The way he express things are really bold and he show no hints of…you know…things that gay would do….’                76

‘Oh come on. Do you seriously think that he will get the respect that he is getting if he shows that kind of behaviors in a classroom?’ Replied Becket before Amelia could even finish her sentence. ‘Besides…look at his arm, even if he is wearing a full-sleeve you could clearly see that it’s waxed.’ 77

Even though Amelia doesn’t want to know that Professor Brown is a gay or straight yet she tried to look at his arm. To Amelia’s astonishment, it was too easy to see that Professor Brown’s arm was indeed waxed!78

‘And probably his legs are waxed too. I could notice a small spot’ Continued Becket after some time.79

‘Some men wax. It’s not strange to me’80

‘Not this guy. And he is a little bit gay-ish also I can notice. Besides you have to agree anyway that men that wax have very high feminine in them.’81

‘So isn’t that good?’82

‘Nah… for professor I don’t know but if it’s a guy I’d like em to be wild!’83

Amelia was more and more frustrated by this. She could not really see how Becket could relate a gay professor to a wild guy she wanted to sleep with.84

‘But I think guys that have feminine in them are more romantic you know’ Said Amelia while she was thinking.85

‘Miss Augustine!’ Shouted Professor Brown ‘I suppose you have got some thing to share since you have been making a lot of noise?’86

Amelia could say many things about Barocci’s contribution to art but at times when she is shouted at, she would think that Professor wasn’t really looking for an answer but was seeking silence.87

‘Sor…’88

‘We were discussing about Barrocio. We think that the old man in “St-Jerome” and “Aeneas’ flight from Troy” look quite similar.’ Said Becket swiftly before Amelia could apologize.89

‘Ahem. Although it is totally inappropriate I think they look quite similar too. But you girls better discuss this after my lecture or if you are so tempted to discuss them right now, feel free to walk out of my classes’90

Although what Professor Brown had said was a bit harsh Amelia could notice that he is not angry anymore, not like when he shouted at her in fact he even looks to be in better mood than before now.91

What is even more interesting to Amelia was the fact that Becket knows about Barocci. Barroci, Federico was one of the greatest artists in Italy and although his name was written as Barocci all over the book it is actually pronounced as Baroccio in Italy. Becket pronounced his name as Baroccio? Wow she is more interesting than I thought. Becket also commented on the old guys on the two paintings Barocci has painted. Amelia never thought about their likeness before because the two painting were base on different ages but now that she see, they really did look alike. What was Baroccio thinking? She thought.92

‘Trust me’ whispered Becket after sometime ‘I know how to take of gays….. Or high feminine character.’93

Becket lift her both hand up next to her head and made a fist leaving index and middle finger to bend up and down while saying ‘Or high feminine character.’94

Amelia was still amazed about Becket’s unexpected knowledge on the subject but wasn’t daring enough to ask her about it yet. She does not want to annoy any teacher during her stay at phoenix.95

‘Hey you know more about Barrocio than I thought’ Complimented Amelia with a big smile while they were walking out of the hall after the lecture.96

‘Oh that!’ Replied Becket ‘I found that the texts in your book were really boring so I turned the page to see the picture and… the two guys really looked alike.’97

‘But then how do you know how his name has to be pronounced? Have you been to Italy?’98

‘Nah. Not really. Actually my mom is an artist so I have heard about this Barrocio guy from her.’99

‘Wow so your mom is an artist ha. That’s really interesting what about your dad? Is he an artist too?’100

‘My dad runs a small business in California’ Replied Becket not very enthusiastically any more. 101

Amelia couldd immediately notice that Becket doesn’t really want to talk about her family so she changes the subject.102

Amelia and Becket were together for the rest of the day. Although they have great differences in personality they can surprisingly go along well.103

‘Hey I have to go to see Mac’ said Amelia while walking out of the last class for the day with Becket. 104

‘Who is Mac? Is he cute?’105

‘Umm Mac is my friend from back home he is in second year now. I just needed to talk to him a bit about art’ Answered Amelia ‘I think he is cute but not Wild ’106

Becket understood that Amelia wanted to go alone so she let Amelia walk away. Amelia found out that the second year’s class is not yet over. Professor Galbraith had requested for an extra time in theater for them as the play they are working on was still in the process. Amelia walked in the theater anyway hoping that the play was about to be finish.107

‘Fare thee well awhile’ said Mac on the stage108

Mac is playing a role of Anthony in Shakespeare’s “Anthony, and Cleopatra” Amelia waited a while for the scene to be over. Although Mac’s acting skill was far below Becket’s. Amelia thought he’d really make a fine prince in a play for his cold look. Mac walked toward Amelia as soon as he is finished with his acting.109

‘So how are you doing? Catching up well?’ asked Mac while he was walking.110

‘Yes quite well.’111

‘So you are here for?’112

‘Yea just wanted to talk to you about art. Are you in a mood?’113

‘Aha I am cool. What about it’114

‘Umm well’ said Amelia after some time ‘I was painting yesterday and it was … umm … good. Yes it was good just like the rest but you see I could feel nothing from it. No there was no feeling not like your painting nor those paintings I see in the museum. Ohh I don’t know I just wanted to get little bit deeper I guess but I can’t, how much I tried its still the same. Can you… like … give me a little hint on it?’115

‘Amelia… Forget the hints. I would even tell you everything I know about it and you know that I have great knowledge in these things right! But now is not the time. Trust me your paintings are great and you would have no problems in your classrooms.116

Amelia could agree that her paintings were better than the other students’ she had saw but still she wanted more, she wanted the feel the heat from what she created not a mere canvas with a smell of oil.117

‘But you could tell me at least just a little now… and what did you meant by “now is not the time” anyway. Do you know that I m in a university? U~N~I~V~E~R~S~I~T~Y Mac.’118

‘Yea I know that.’ Said Mac calmly ‘But I strongly think that you should really still wait a little more. Mix around, get the university’s atmosphere and paint some more picture like those you painted. It was great I saw them. You really have the talent and I guarantee you, one day, you’ll be an artist far far greater than me or anybody else. And I really have faith in that you can look through my eyes to find out.’119

Amelia was not a really lie detector but she can see that Mac really meant what he said.120

‘What’s wrong with now? I am tied of creating things I don’t really know what it meant Mac. And who are you to judge on when is a good time for me? You your self started painting really deep paintings before you were sixteen! Why should I wait? What for should I wait?’121

‘People understand things at different age Amelia. What you know now I may have not known when I was seventeen and what I know then you may not know now. You remember the “Thousand Blades Demon” Right? You remember where he is right now? Do you know why he is there?...’         122

Amelia gave Mac a killing look before Mac could continue what he was saying. Amelia and Mac was staring each other for a couple of minute before anybody said anything.123

‘So that’s it ha. You have to bring him up every time we talk about this.’ said Amelia looking serious than ever.124

‘Sometimes it is good to know about people who made a mistake so that we don’t make the same.’125

‘Well I am sick of it!’ said Amelia almost running out of the theater.126

‘Hey! Amelia I was just…’127

But Mac was too late. Amelia was already far gone. Mac would have followed her but he had a lot of work and he knew that his following her would make things a lot worse so he decided to leave Amelia alone for a while. Even back at home Amelia doesn’t really get angry but she would just ignore the people she doesn’t like. Mac was once before ignored by Amelia but things work out fine some days later. It is because Mac always has interesting facts that nobody Amelia knows were interested in them so Amelia always had to make up with Mac because he is almost like a mentor to her.        128

Chapter two129

Holy sin130

Amelia was provoked at the word “Thousand Blades Demon.” Now she is running to anywhere she can think of and the only thing visible to her then was the jungle that can be seen through the northern gate.    131