Ok, since I'm on a roll on this, I'll upload the next chappie right away. I know the last one was kinda dark and depressing, but its getting better, trust me.
Anyways, here it is, read and enjoy!
Know thy enemy
Nira had been right; I was left alone in the first week. Yon didn't come again and my wounds healed slowly. Though I knew there would be a scar under my right eye (if only a small one), in addition to the burn mark on my shoulder, it didn't bother me that much. I had enough food and came back to my old self. But the week passed and one evening I was taken by Yon and pushed to the entrance of the house, where several men stood. Solemnly I walked to them and bowed my head before them. Yon told them that I was yet untouched and that taking me would fetch a higher price than any other woman in this place. A man came forth, his hair in a topknot, wearing the livery of a Captain or a Commander. His face was shaved clean, but his eyes told of the cruel nature he possessed. And I knew it would be him.
Grinning he paid for me and I was led back to my room with him. I hadn't spoken a word since I was brought out there and I waited until I heard the door click shut.
"Turn around." I heard his voice, oozing with hidden pleasure. He looked at my body under the garments, which concealed barely anything.
Suddenly I felt his hand at my arm, grabbing me hard and pushing me to the bed behind me. Wildly I looked up, feeling anger rise in my heart, blackening my thoughts. As he bowed over me and I could smell his scent, scrunching my nose at the stench of him, he grabbed me hard by the arms and held me down. I struggled more, but realized it was no use. His grip on me was firm and I couldn't get out of it. The anger subsided and the panic advanced within me, making me shiver and shake in fear. As I felt his tongue on my skin, I screamed. I didn't want this, how dare he treat a woman like that? Had he no honour?
I fought him fiercely, but it was no use. I couldn't win. Even with all my training, I couldn't fight him. He was a strong soldier and I was a twelve year old girl. The pain was unbearable as he entered me. I felt like I was being torn in half and screamed in agony and shame. I don't remember it completely, blocking my mind out of the shame and the humiliation. But the pain lingered on, even as he left me and went out of the room again, leaving me crying on the bed, broken under his body. And how I hated the man. And I hated Yon. I swore to myself I would one day get out of their grasp, even if it took my life.
Many men visited me after that, but I ignored them, fleeing in my mind to someplace else, to a life that was past now. I talked to Nira, but to no one else. I did however steal from the men that were with me. Sometimes they were tired after they were done and their garments lay near me most of the time. I never stole much, a silver coin or two if chance allowed, but in the course of more than three years it became a nice little fortune.
My visions came to me regularly now and almost on my command. I would sit in the early morning hours and meditate when all else in the house was quiet and look at them. There was always a bald monk in them and some strange flying creature, sometimes two people from the water tribe were with him. And I saw Zuko. I saw what his father did to him (curse Ozai for it) and I saw him on his journey for the Avatar. I saw how stern he was, his heart blackened by his banishment as he sailed the endless waters.
During the days I would train often, steeling my body, while I waited for the day of my escape. I practised the moves of Firebending, remembering the way how the fire danced across my hands and seared the ground before me. If it was necessary I would burn this place to the ground.
And then, after almost four years, the time came. I could feel it the moment I woke up. The day of my escape had come at last and destiny was on my side again.
For everyone else it was a day like any other day. We woke; we washed ourselves, made breakfast, avoided Yon and prepared ourselves for the coming of dusk. I knew who would come to me tonight. He was a Fire Nation Sailor. Really one of the nice guys, he only just wanted to talk to me, one of the very few. I knew him for almost two years now and he would come once a month. He was the easiest on all of them. I don't remember his name, but he was a kind soul. He had been born in the colonies and wasn't poisoned with hatred yet.
But just before he showed up, I sneaked out of my room and went to Nira. She was sitting on her bed, calm and silent; the years had made us close friends.
"Nira? I need to talk to you, if you can spare a moment." I said and waited until her eyes were on mine. Sadly she smiled at me.
"So it is time now?" she asked and I made a surprised step backwards. I hadn't told her of my plans of escaping, but I was planning on getting the others out as well. If Yon was out of the way, we could all leave this place. Recollecting my thoughts and pushing the plan aside, I went over to her and sat next to her.
"Yes, its time now. I'll leave tonight and I want you all to come with me, out of here. I'll take out Yon and then we can go and leave all this behind." I said.
"I would like to follow you, but the truth is, we are no fighters. The only thing we know is how to do the things we do. What could we do out there in the world, besides that? Most of us have been born into this and we know nothing else. No, dear friend, we must stay here, this is our destiny. You must leave. I don't know what the spirits have in store for you, but I reckon it isn't this." The tone of her voice made it clear to me that she had made her choice too, she wouldn't leave with me and the others would stay here also. I tried to change her mind, but she wouldn't budge. In the end I embraced her, knowing I would not see her again, for I had looked into her future also. And I wasn't in it. I also knew what she was going to say, and I realized that one cannot change destiny.
Silently I slipped out of her room and crept back to my own. I had just enough time to set my things in order, putting my bag with my (stolen but well earned) money next to my bed and awaiting the Sailor. He came, as usual, smiling nicely at me and I almost felt bad at what I was about to do. Almost.
He sat down on the bed and I acted like I was preparing tea for us, as I always did. He suspected nothing. When his back was turned towards me, while he looked out through the bars of my small window, I grabbed a large metal scrape I had pulled in from the streets outside.
"I'm sorry." I whispered and hit him square over the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious, but alive. Quickly, for I knew not how long I had until he would wake up again, I grabbed my bag and his cloak along with his sword and snuck out of the room. As suspected (and seen in my vision) Yon passed me by on my way to the main room of the house. He looked a little surprised, for normally we weren't allowed outside the room during the night, but his expression turned into anger as I lifted my gaze and looked him directly in the eye. He was fuming, I could see it. But he was hesitating as he perceived the purpose in my eyes and the stance I had taken. My right hand clasped the hilt of the sword and I was preparing to defend myself.
"Didn't I tell you, you never look your master in the eye?" he asked and made a step towards me.
"You're not my master." I answered him calmly, and set the chain of events off. He raced towards me, only two steps away I stepped out of his grasp and drew the sword from its sheath.
"Think again, Yon. I'm leaving now and there is nothing you can do to stop me." I said clearly and proud, feeling the heritage of my ancestors in my veins, proud fighters and great leaders of their soldiers. Their blood was in my veins and their strength aided me.
But Yon wouldn't heed the warning I had given. He tried to grab me and this time I swung the sword out to him, slashing his arm, ignoring the blood trickling down the blade.
"You little brat! No one leaves here!" he screamed and lunged at me. I was prepared for it. He was strong, but I was swift and agile, a favour of youth and years of hard training. I stepped and slashed with the sword, stopping him in his tracks. For a moment everything was frozen, none moving. I stood and he fell. He was dead as he hit the ground. I had never before killed anyone, but now I had killed Yon. The man who had me locked up in this place, made me do unspeakable things with the men who paid for me, now he lay dead before my feet. His blood wet the floor and for the moment I couldn't feel anything. Then I remembered the plan and turned sheathing the sword again. Proudly I walked through the doors of this hole and for the first time in almost four years I tasted freedom again.
Of course I knew that I now was a murderer and that my life was as good as forfeit, for there would certainly be someone who wanted my blood for Yon's, but still, as I walked through the harbour and looked at the people around me, I couldn't help but smile gladly.
It didn't matter when I died, at least I would die as a free woman.
Ok, so Kyonas free again! Yay, sadly the pain doesnt end here, but there is an old saying: YOu have to understand pain before you can understand peace.
ok, enough Philosophy for now, reviews would be nice!
