[DISCONTINUED] -The Elements of Disharmony Book One- §Shadows and Flame§

Chapter 7

Sparkling flames waltz across my fingertips: a collection of dancers performing a fiery game of love and fury. 
I sit alone, cross-legged on my bed , as everyone has gone to dinner.  My fire ignites the room, drowning out the little light that still manages to shine through the open window. 
I experiment more, tossing little sparks up into the air and catching them, shaping them into ballerinas clad into tutus and pointe shoes.
Arabesque, tour jete, tour jete.
My dancers leap through the air and I laugh with amusement, turning them into gymnasts instead.  They end up doing aerials around the room, while I hoist them up before they can touch any material objects and set the room aflame.
These are what I call my parlor tricks, the things I use to entertain little children. The things people used to think of when they thought of my fire.  The beautiful, yet so trivial side of things.
Footsteps sound outside the door, and I snap away my fire, taking out the book I keep next to me in case anyone pops in. I lunge to flick on the reading light at the last moment. Only a daughter of Luna would read in the dark. 
***************
    "Today we will be learning about heat," Ms. Marina, our science teacher says.  "First I will give a demonstration, then we will move onto our Lab."
    Everyone's eyes automatically flit to me, then to the open flame.  I smile at all of them sweetly in return, flicking my hair over my shoulder.  But my eyes say more. I could melt your flesh off your skin. Char your bones. Burn this school down as the grand finale.
    Ezra is standing right next to me.  I can feel the intensity radiating off him, like he's ready to either push me over the edge, or restrain me in case I try anything.
             Every so often, I glance over at him, taking him all in. His dark blue hair, his glimmering rings, his emerald eyes.  He's awfully cute. One side of me says.
Shut up, mother won't allow you to date someone raised as a teenage killer.  My logical side challenges.
But aren't you one already? And your father is-
    "Ashlyn?" Ms. Marina raises an eyebrow. "Tell me about fire."
    Someone to my right snorts. 
    I open my mouth to say the definition I always have on hand. "Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. It's plasma, which is one of the five states of matter."
    Ms. Marina's mouth falls open. She'd only taught three states of matter, but you simply cannot forget about plasma.
Everyone gapes at me, but their ravenous eyes long for more.
    "Of course," I comment, opening my palm.  A tiny flame pops up and I giggle a bit as everyone jumps back.
    I turn the flames into dancers, and have them leap and twirl around in midair.  
    Marigold applauds. "That was so cool!  And they're so pretty!"
    A few others roll their eyes.
    "Is that it?" Ezra asks me, putting a hand on his hip.
    "Do you want me to burn down the door?" I retort sarcastically, shooting a giant wave of fire at the door (how else can I describe it, ignore the irony). Everyone screams, but right before it hits anything I clench my fist and the flames die out.
    "Was that enough? Or do you want more?" I counter, but by adding a small smile and looking down at my feet, it goes from threatening to lighthearted.  It's what I call mischievous innocence.  For I am a daughter of Discord, after all.
    "Class, please get into your assigned groups for our Lab. And let's go over the rules!" Ms. Marina orders.
"No running/playing/attempting to murder your enemies in the Lab," she says, while everyone turns to me and Ezra. "Wear the appropriate attire. No concealed weapons inside your clothing."  Me and Ezra still don't flinch under my classmates' gazes. "No food, drink or poison in the Lab." Poison? Who brought-
"Ezra. We were doing an experiment with M&Ms a year back. Ezra was paired up with a boy he really didn't like, who was also obsessed with M&Ms.  He squirted some poison on it, tricked the student into eating it and ...killed him," Marigold whispered, whimpering as Ezra turned towards her.
    "No using the materials in the lab as makeshift weapons," Ms. Marina continues. "Know where the eyewash station, shower and fire extinguisher are. And, the most important rule?"
    "No provoking Princess Ashlyn!" The class chimes in. 
        ***************************
    After science class, Marigold and I go down to the Bistro for lunch. There are at least 50 different options, ranging from hot lunch, to sushi, to bubble tea. I pick out an "Autumn Glow" salad, a small cup of fresh berries and cream and lemon sparkling water. 
    The Bistro is basically an insanely long hallway that acts as a food court. It connects to the "cafeteria", if you can call it that. It's a giant geodesic glass dome. The floor is covered in grass and flowers, and the modern tables fit right in.
    Eyes turn towards me, whispers hush. Though I already know what they were saying.
    "Here she comes, her royal majesty of murder."
    "She's enslaved Marigold and brands her with her initials." 
    "She's a spy for the Venators. I bet she hooks up with Ezra after school."
    "Her father's King Sombra. Celestia must've adopted her."