Chapter 3

Two weeks passed and Kuvira's troops where still around the city of Zaofu. Something was wrong. It looked like Kuvira's two week plan turned into something entirely different, perhaps bigger. It scared Zhu Li to think what that woman might have on her mind.

After a whole month passed Zhu Li started seeing some tribe and even nation leaders arriving for meetings at Kuvira's room, one of which she recognized as Fire Lord Izumi, the leader of Fire Nation.

Perhaps Kuvira was gathering allies, but Zhu Li couldn't be certain as everyone would stop talking when she'd enter the room to serve them drinks. No doubt the topic was something highly confidential.

Zhu Li thought returning to Kuvira would be a short venture, either way it turned out. She never figured she'd spend here a whole month now, living in constant fear.

Though Kuvira was rather busy with her plans, she'd occasionally take the time to jab Zhu Li, more often verbally, and remind her of her position.

Despite everything Zhu Li kept her spirit up and adapted. This was her life now, as if there was never anything before. So she got to know to some of the palace guards and the kitchen staff, and some of them became rather fond of Zhu Li. She realized these where mostly normal people who where somehow brainwashed into doing evil things for "the greater good". Perhaps it started as a noble idea, but now it was turning into a fear driven obedience.

One day Zhu Li happened upon a conversation between Kuvira and Baatar Jr., while carrying a tray to Kuvira's room. Kuvira pushed her supposed fiancée away. "No, Baatar, we can kiss after we're married. We have to focus on our mission now, you understand? We can't have any distractions."

"But…"

"You have a lot of work to do if I'm not mistaken?" Kuvira asked raising her chin.

"Yes, I… I'll get back to it." Baatar Jr. mumbled frowning as Zhu Li silently passed by them. He couldn't understand why Kuvira would keep this traitor alive, it just seemed like an unnecessary risk, but he never questioned Kuvira's decisions.

Kuvira walked to the window and looked out as Zhu Li set the pitcher of cold water on the corner of the desk.

Zhu Li was already walking out when she suddenly got the urge to say something spiteful to the tyrant. She felt like she could today. Not being messed with in the past few days, she acquired a false sense of security.

"So…" Zhu Li cleared her throat. "…things not going so well with your fiancée?"

"Oh?! She speaks!" Kuvira turned around with a smug grin. "I thought you forgotten how to talk Zhu Li. Well… what do you know about me and Baatar Jr.?" Kuvira questioned.

"Nothing… I mean, just what I see. That's all. You don't seem very close."

"Sit!" Kuvira ordered.

Zhu Li timidly took a seat in a chair opposite Kuvira's desk, already regretting her decision to talk.

Kuvira sat on her desk just to make herself tower over Zhu Li even more. "Just what are you insinuating?! Explain!" She demanded.

"I meant nothing by it… nothing bad, just…" Zhu Li quivered.

"Speak up Zhu Li!" Kuvira yelled.

Zhu Li gulped. She knew she'd have to explain entirely now. "I just meant… if it was me, I couldn't wait to kiss someone I loved."

Kuvira smirked. "You really think I love that imbecile? I thought you where smarter than that."

"You don't?" Zhu Li asked, bewildered.

"Of course not, he's a Beifong. I just need his engineering skills." Kuvira said quietly. "Why do you think the marriage is AFTER I conquer the world?"

Zhu Li realized this really was true, how didn't she see it before? Now she felt like she had a bit of an edge. "Maybe I'll tell Baatar Jr. just how you really feel?" She said semi-playfully.

Zhu Li was surprised when Kuvira's expression remained still. She didn't flinch, or even seem the least bit worried. "Go ahead."

"Really?"

"You stupid girl, don't you know people believe what they want to believe. But you're sourly mistaken if you think you're in the position to threaten me. Guards!" Kuvira yelled out and the two in font of the door barged in. "Grab her!"

Kuvira walked over to open the balcony double doors. "Throw her over the balcony!"

The two guards knew Zhu Li and had spoken with her before. They looked at each other before realizing they have no choice but to follow orders or it's their head. They grabbed Zhu Li by the arms and started dragging her over to the ledge encompassed by a swirly decorated metal railing.

"Wait! No!" Zhu Li protested to no avail, trying to resist being dragged away by two men. Her feet scraped over the floor and her eyes grew wide as the guards lifted her half over the riling. She closed her eyes than, not able to stand looking down into the abysmal fall. Zhu Li never thought her life would end like this when she woke up this mourning, so she begun to sob overwhelmed by it all.

One of the guards turned to Kuvira who walked over to join them on the balcony. "Ma'am?" He asked with the most painful expression.

"Did I say stop?!" Kuvira coldly retorted.

With a heavy heart the two guards lifted sobbing Zhu Li over the railing. Zhu Li let out a chilling scream as she started falling to her death, but she didn't fall for more than a second. The metal necklace dug into her neck and choked her, but it also kept her afloat in mid air.

Kuvira then raised her up and bended her back onto the balcony. "Leave us." Kuvira ordered tiredly, as if she was physically and emotionally drained herself.

The guards left as Zhu Li struggled to breathe. She touched her neck feeling the new formed line around it, this time deeper and even bleeding.

Kuvira helped Zhu Li up on her feet and took her to the chair across her desk. Zhu Li sat there, still very much spaced out and sobbing in her hands.

Kuvira sat at her desk and intertwined her hands resting her chin on them. "I really don't want to kill you Zhu Li, but don't test me like that again."

"You don't? Like that time on the spirit gun range? Just do it and stop torturing me like this." Zhu Li sobbed.

"I was gonna tilt the gun at the last moment, only the Beifong's did that for me. I didn't want you to die."

"Really?" Zhu Li asked snivelling.

"Yes." Kuvira nodded. "I hope you have learned your lesson though. Don't think you have the right to assume things about me or ever threaten me."

"I'm sorry, I won't do that again."

"Good. Maybe I was a little harsh on you. You're good…" Kuvira looked out of the window, staring blankly out. "Not like that bitch Suyin!" Kuvira slammed her fist on the desk. "I can't believe she got away! I should have killed her when I had the chance."

Zhu Li wiped her tears. "Why do you hate her so much?" Zhu Li asked, feeling relieved and assured Kuvira wouldn't put her trough all that again anytime soon.

"Why should I tell you?" Kuvira asked raising an eyebrow.

"Is there anyone else?" Zhu Li wondered.

"No, I suppose not." Kuvira sighed, than proceeded to tell Zhu Li about her youth at Zaofu.

Zhu Li listened, often surprised by the seeming cruelty of the Beifongs. She had to remind herself that this was just Kuvira's version of the story and that things probably weren't nearly as bad, if bad at all. Of course she couldn't tell Kuvira that or she just might cross the line again, and almost falling to her death was quite enough for one day. So Zhu Li nodded as Kuvira kept on slandering the Beifongs.

"…and that bitch Suyin is the worst. The whore had to make a dozen kids so she and her brood can rule this place. All the while I protected them! I kept everyone safe, and kept things in order as the captain of the guard, not that I got any respect for it! Everyone just took me for granted, they…!"

One of the guards cracked the door open.

"What is it?!" Kuvira asked.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but the general is here for that meeting you arranged earlier. You told me to remind you."

"Yes… right." Kuvira fixed her collar and the few strands that fell out of her neatly bunned hair "Tell him to wait a little."

"Yes ma'am." The doors closed.

"You're throwing me of my tracks Zhu Li." Kuvira concluded. "Go take the rest of the day off and send in your replacement."

"I will. Thank you." Zhu Li said, though it felt very ironic to thank her tormentor just because she momentarily took away the pain. She hated herself for hearing out Kuvira's story with so much compassion after everything Kuvira put her trough. It didn't make sense to hate any Kuvira less after today, but that's what was undeniably happening.