Dragon and Sheep
I
Ozai remembered her name just as he saw the guard in the shadows.
It was dawn and he just finished another day breaking stones by the waters in the volcanic Boiling Rock. For the tenth time, Ozai considered jumping inside the waters.
The guard – no – the intruder, released a ticking sound with his tongue. Ozai looked closer to see that the guard looked odd. No guards should wear a robe.
He was tall, with transparent white skin along with eyes that almost glowed. Long dark hair dressed in a top knot swept up to where the gold royal insignia pin stood.
"I don't entertain ghosts I don't know, especially ones with no purpose other than lurking in dark corners."
"Ghosts, you say. I'm hurt, I didn't think you'd be so quick to forget you own flesh and blood, Ozai."
Ozai stumbled, finally recognizing the poisonous voice belonging to the figure stepping up. He inched back, clutching concrete walls with calloused fingertips.
"It's funny how things turn out the way they do."
His father looked just as he did when Ozai was eighteen summers.
But there were changes. Azulon's hands stained with blood. They looked like flaws on an ink painting. Azulon's eyes were so wide that Ozai thought they would fall out of their sockets. Irises, once gold, blackened. Blue vein circled his eyes and trailed down his cheeks
"I prefer Iron's tea loving fate than your wretched state in a prison you singlehandedly created. How does it feel knowing that despite all your attempts at greatness, you're still not even as worthy as the destitute pauper on the streets?"
"I'm glad you're dead you bastard! I did whatever I could to please you but I knew you didn't give a damn! You always wanted Iroh. Iroh, Iroh, Iroh! I named Azula after you and it still wasn't enough!"
Azulon laughed, his voice echoing in the cell. He laughed, so hard that Ozai thought someone would come to his rescue. No one came.
Azulon was dead and could not be seen by anyone but Ozai. Finally, his father slowed down. Azulon's voice turned to soft chuckles. His claw like nails clutched his chest as he calmed himself.
"Why do you look like this?" Ozai asked, still keeping his eye out for any attack. The demon tilted his head. "You were old when you left and less rotten."
Azulon didn't respond. He watched Ozai, hands still holding his chest. Dark strands almost obscured black like eyes. "I wanted to give you a nice visit, that's all. Shouldn't a father check up on his children?"
"I bet you looked better with Iroh than you do with your other son!"
"Oh shut up, you little shit!" the demon snarled, "why should I care about how you feel. You were always up to no good! As slick as any snake! You wanted your own father dead but didn't have the guts to do it with your own hands! Your wife had spunk yet you still wanted that filthy peasant!"
"Silence!"
Ozai shut his eyes and heard nothing but the violent shudders of his breath.
His chest thundered. It felt like someone drummed it. Sweat pooled over his skin. He opened his eyes, not surprised to find his cell empty.