Azula Always Lies
By. Tate Icasa
"Azula always lies. . .Azula always lies. . .Azula always lies. . ."
My mantra, like my heartbeat, is unchanging and involuntary as I sit here in this darkness, alone. I don't even have Uncle with me now, but thats my own doing, not my sisters. I should have seen it coming, she even told me once, not so long ago.
X x X
Mom, can you make Zuko play with us?
X x X
It was always true when we were children. And I always believed her then. I guess I'm gullible like that, because I still do. Every time.
X x X
We are brother and sister.
X x X
I'm not quite sure where I am, only that Azula put me here. I should have known that she was lying this time, because it was too good to be true the first time she said it.
X x X
Its important for us to spend time together.
X x X
She was cruel to me as a child. She stole my things, got me in trouble, lied to me, name it and I guarantee she did it. But she convinced our parents that she was a perfect angel. Well, almost anyway.
X x X
If uncle doesn't make it back from the war then dad would be next in line to be the Firelord.
X x X
Peoples lives have to meaning to her. They never did. Not mine, or mothers, or fathers, uncles, cousins, grandfathers. None of it is important to her, unless and until we get in her way.
X x X
It means Uncle's a quitter and a loser.
X x X
Her nasty streak was something father prided her for. She never had second thoughts about killing. To be honest, she never had a first thought either. She was always calm, casual about it. Her anger was cold, razor-edged, a sword, a force not to be reakoned with, but always calm, always calculated. The most pain to the most people. That was Azula.
X x X
Dads going to kill you.
X x X
Inciting fear in people is fun for her. She does it on purpose. There are a lot of things she does on purpose.
X x X
Oh, and last night, grandpa passed away
X x X
I was always her favorite victim, from the time she learned to talk. Is it sad that its still true today? Her favorite activity, it seems, is getting my hopes up so she can personally shoot them down.
X x X
Father regrets your banishment, he wants you home.
X x X
Which is how I ended up here. Locked in a cage barely large enough to sit in, all by myself. Which is probably better than I deserve.
X x X
Its not too late for you, Zuko.
X x X
I should have realized, because its the second time, that she was lying. But I wanted so very much to believe. And so I betrayed the one person who'd stood by me. I am ashamed.
X x X
The only way we win is together.
X x X
It took her only hours after we had won, both of us together, to imprison me here. There was no warning, there were no words until I'd been here nearly a day. I am given food, and water, barely enough to stay alive.
X x X
You are free to choose.
X x X
My voice is dying, my throat too parched to continue. And my mantra, steady and unchanging, still plays in my head. Only now, I wish it wouldn't, and I wish it weren't true. Because Azula has just promised me I'll live.