Chandra glared at the wall in her room. They'd be leaving soon and she wasn't allowed to be home by herself any more. That meant that she had to go along. The possibility of meeting the boy her parents wanted her to marry was slim to none since he lived in the city but she still didn't want to go with them anywhere. I want to stay home. I don't want to go on a walk with you. Chandra sighed.
"Chandra! Let's go!" her mother called, "We're leaving."
"I'm coming," Chandra muttered, "Don't get all worked up, jeez." She walked slowly out of her room and down the stairs.
"Chandra!" Her father called.
"I'm coming," Chandra snapped, "Jeez didn't you hear me the first time?"
"Watch the attitude," her father warned.
"Okay," Chandra shrugged indifferently. She followed her parents out the door and through the market.
"Hey! Look at that!" Lily pointed to a bronze phoenix pendant hanging in a merchant's booth.
"Yeah, it was imported from the island across the ocean," he nodded.
"Can we have it?" Lilac asked excitedly.
The merchant nodded, "Of course."
"No," their father said.
The girls' faces fell.
"Why not?" Chandra asked harshly, "It's just a necklace. What harm can it do?"
"You know that a phoenix is a bird made of flames."
"And?" Chandra glared at him, "It's just a pendant. It doesn't mean anything."
"We aren't paying for something like that."
"Then I will," Chandra shrugged. She turned to the merchant, "How much is it?"
His eyes widened at the anger that burned in her eyes. Flames formed at the base of her pupils and her orange eyes seethed. He shook his head quickly and smiled, "You can have it. I mean for such sweet girls it's free."
Chandra nodded and grabbed it, "Thanks." She handed it to Lily, "You two will have to share it."
The two girls nodded.
"You can wear it first since you saw it," Lilac smiled.
"Okay," Lily nodded.
Lilac clipped it around her sister's neck, "There! It looks great."
Chandra nodded. She shot her parents a defiant glare, "C'mon. We still have stuff to do guys."
"Okay!" they followed her through the market.
Chandra continued to seethe as they walked. I don't see why that would be such a problem. It's just some pendant. Phoenixes symbolize rebirth anyway. It's not like they'll come up and kill you just because. Sure they're birds composed of flame but whatever. I don't see what that has to do with anything. She growled softly.
"Hey," Lily grabbed her hand.
Chandra glanced at her, "What?"
"C'mon!" Lilac smiled, "We're going home now!"
"Yay," Chandra muttered.
"Wait," her mother said, "Roxin's family is still here. I think you should meet him. He's a sweet kid."
Chandra's eyes narrowed, "I have no interest in meeting him. I don't want to meet him."
"Come on," her father urged, "They're right over there." He began a conversation with Roxin's father. He was a blond boy with bright green eyes. Chandra might have decided he was cute if she hadn't already hated him. She angrily allowed her mother to drag her over. Roxin glanced at her nervously before looking away. Chandra rolled her eyes. And Mom and Dad think he can "help me with my attitude"? He couldn't find a rock with a map and a compass.
"Chandra, say hello."
Chandra shot her father a defiant glare and crossed her arms over her chest. She remained stubbornly silent.
"She's usually relatively sweet though she does have a temper."
"Oh so now you're going to smooth things over because I decided to act against your desires?" Chandra muttered angrily.
"It's not that bad," Roxin whispered softly.
I kind of feel bad for him. I probably scare him. Chandra sighed. It's not his fault. It's theirs. She glared at her parents again.
"Chandra's really cool!" Lily smiled.
"And nice!" Lilac added.
"She just has a rough shell," Lily smiled.
Roxin nodded. He looked slightly overwhelmed.
"They're twins," Chandra shrugged.
"We do that a lot," the two of them said in unison.
Roxin nodded.
"See you get along with him fine," her mother smiled sweetly.
Chandra hissed through gritted teeth, "Oh thanks for noticing." I'm not marrying him. Just because we're talking doesn't mean we're soul mates, got it?
"Watch your tongue," her mother muttered.
Chandra whipped around to face her fully, "I will say what I want. I can say what I want. I don't care what you say. You might as well stop trying because you aren't going to control my life."
Roxin stepped back in surprise.
Chandra ignored him.
"We are your parents. You cannot say what you like to us and it is our job to moderate your impulsive tendencies for the betterment of society," Her father said calmly.
"Society can burn," Chandra hissed, "I'll do what I want. There's nothing you can do about it." She stormed off.
Lily watched her nervously, "Oops. There she goes again."
Lilac sighed and looked at Roxin, "That only happens if you make her mad and try to control her."
Roxin nodded. His eyes were still wide in shock and a slight amount of fear.
Chandra sat on a rock just outside the village. I'll do what I want and there's nothing you can say about it. I'm not marrying him. You aren't tying me down like that. She closed her eyes and turned her head towards the sky, "I'll be who I want to be. I don't care what you say." You can crawl into a hole and disappear.
The sounds of armored feet clanking on rock reached her ears.
Chandra opened her eyes and slid behind the rock. What's the army doing here? What's going on? She watched the heavily armored soldiers walked past her. They were headed straight for the village. Why are they going there? There's nothing there? Her eyes widened, "The Phoenix." She shot forward.
The lead soldier glanced at her, "What is a child such as you doing wandering around outside of the village? It's dangerous."
Chandra glared at him, "Why does it matter?"
His eyes narrowed, "Are you refusing to answer my question?"
Chandra shrugged, "Maybe, what are you going to do about it?"
"Fire magic has been being practiced in this area and we are here to investigate. You live here?"
Chandra nodded, "Yeah and?"
"Then we will ask you some questions."
"And if I don't answer them?"
"You must."
Chandra's eyes narrowed, "If I don't want to I won't."
"Defiance will not be tolerated," he warned coldly.
"Go die," Chandra shrugged, "I'll do what I want. You cannot like it. I don't care."
"We don't want to have to use magic on someone as small as you but we will if we have to," his tone didn't change.
Chandra rolled her eyes, "Like I care? I do what I want. Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?"