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All around him, the party raged on. The band's cheeks were red and the dancers had gone too far and drank too much to stop now. He waived for a waiter carrying a tray of canapes to bring out the next round of champagne. When the waiter returned, he took two glasses, one for the woman in the red dress and one for the man she had come with.
"Enjoy!" he told them with the most sincerity the charming host could muster for two strangers. They thanked him, but Jaak could only see the hazy lights in their eyes.
Across the room, he caught Pyke's sober expression, stark against the party-goers. He excused himself from his guests and approached him, weaving through the hot mass of dancers.
"Sir," said his consigliere. From his voice, Jaak knew something was wrong.
"Why do I feel you're going to dissapoint me?"
"Sir, she's escaped."
"Again?" Jaak's jovial smile did not fade, but beneath it panic began gnawing at his bones. Pyke nodded. "How long ago?"
"A couple of hours." There was a pause as a woman stumbled past them, clutching her broken shoe and sobbing through her makeup. "Should we sweep the city?"
"No," said Jaak. "She's tried that before. She's older now, smarter. This time will be different." He thought to himself for a moment. "Check the docks. She'll try to catch a ship."
Pyke turned to leave, then hesitated, "and if she succeeds?"
"Then ask around. Find out where she's going. Someone would have to notice her." The stuck out in a crowd. It wouldn't be hard to hunt her down. He turned back to Pyke, "but let's hope she's still in the city."
"Yessir," pike spun on a heel and disappeared into the darkness beyond the party.
Jaak rubbed his eyes. Catching his reflection in a window he saw the stress on his face. For a moment more, he listened to the music. Then, with a final scan of the party, he searched for the familiar face he'd been waiting to see. He found nothing. With a sigh, he abandoned the festivities and retired back into his new, if much too extravagant, house.
By morning, the dancers would stumble home and the band would rest. They waited until they were called again to the manor of Jaak Gatz.
Kai crinkled her nose in disgust as she slunk through the deserted fish market. She pulled the scarf tied around her head closer to her skin. The docks were dead this late at night. The moored fishing boats creaked as the dark water of the bay sloshed them about. Each noise made her jump, she knew she was being followed. Kai quickened her pace, hastening her search for a hiding place.
She turned a corner and ducked behind the abandoned stall of a fishmonger. The odor of rotten fish and salt water nearly suffocated her, but Kai didn't dare move from her temporary sanctuary. Another creak echoed through the alley, but before she could calm herself and reason with her fear, she heard rapid footsteps. Clammy from the fishy air and fear, Kai looked for water. Taking hold of the stagnant sea water from a barrel beside her hiding place, Kai lashed out with a whip. A cry of pain echoed through the street and she took it as her cue to run.
She ran towards a short pier where a couple of sailing boats were tied. With the sea to her back, Kai would not run out of ammunition. Unstoppable, she sprinted, fixing her eyes on her destination, pumping her legs harder to get her there before-
A blast of fire cut across her path. Barely dodging, Kai turned the other way, the heat still on her face. The firebender followed and Kai took a wave of water and washed him out into the bay.
Panting, she stopped and looked around. She knew Gatz never sent his men alone. Somewhere in the shadows another attacker lay hidden. Time was running out however, as Kai heard the splashes of the first attacker fast approaching the docks. She turned to face him when the ground beneath her feet shot up and launched her several yards away. She landed on her side with her breath gone. When air finally did reach her lungs, a gloved hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams her assailant began pulling her back into the alley.
"NO!" she said beneath the leather. Kai would not let them take her back. She relaxed, despite the danger of her situation, and sensed the water around her. It was in the sea air, in the breath of her captor, in his skull. After a moment, she was released, and the man, unconscious. The first fire bender charged her once more. As he drew nearer, she stood her ground and closed her eyes. In moments, both were limp on the ground.
Fueled by an adrenaline-powered heart, Kai ran again back into the city. Her scarf had fallen loose in the skirmish and her blonde hair flew behind her
PLLEEEAAASSSEEE LEEEAAVVEEEE A REEEVVVIEEEWWW!