Katara had no idea where she was. As soon as they left what she could only assume was a temporary base camp, they blindfolded and gagged her so that the only thing she could even attempt to track was time. Even that was incredibly difficult. It seemed like days had passed since she was able to move freely. It felt like weeks since she had last felt Aang's touch, seen his cocky grin, heard his voice…How was she going to survive this? If she was lucky enough to get away with them not touching her for the next couple of days while traveling that would be a miracle alone, but she only had a max of four more weeks before there would be no way to hide that she was not pregnant. She was just fortunate that after the first day her course tended to run very lightly, so as long as no one examined her they wouldn't know she was actually having her monthly cycle.
For the first time she felt grateful that she and Aang hadn't managed to create life. The thought of something so precious and good being in the hands of such evil made her stomach roll.
She was still lying at the bottom of the wicker basket when they stopped for the night. She had lost the feeling in her arms and legs long ago and knew even if she had the chance to fight and escape she wouldn't even be able to move. Zhao was still guiding the air balloon. He had refused to let her out of his sight, claiming he didn't want anyone else to sully his prize.
He picked her up roughly and tossed her over the side. Even though it was barely a four foot drop Katara gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. Zhao dropped down beside her a moment later and rolled her over roughly and grabbed her chin, turning her face this way and that. "So this is what controls the Avatar."
She glared at him and fought to free her ropes. Zhao just laughed. "But I don't want you free just yet little whore." He reached down to trail a finger underneath the top of her robe, moving ever closer to her breast. "I wonder what's under here that gives you such power."
He moved to undo her robe, but was interrupted by a figer emerging from the shadows. "You miss shot your landing Zhao. Camp is more than a thousand feet this way." Jing Hua motioned into the forest. "Bring the girl."
Zhao growled angrily and abruptly cut the bindings on Katara's legs. She tried to use them, do anything to get away, but she couldn't move. "Get up!"
He lifted her up onto her feet and made no move to help her when her legs collapsed underneath her. Suddenly she felt pins and needles up and down her legs, the sensation of which was so strong she cried out against the gag and tears streamed from her eyes.
"You'll have to carry her. You kept her bound in that position too long."
"Stupid, bitch," Zhao muttered under his breath but he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder as ordered. The sudden motion matched with the pain in her legs made her black out for a moment. When she came to she realized there were far more people involved in this than she had previously thought. The camp held dozens of men, totaling the better part of 100. This time she was tied to the base of an old oak tree, but at least her legs were free and stretched out in front of her and her arms were down at her sides. The worst of the tingling had passed and she took advantage of the change in position to observe the camp.
They were all men, not a single one female except for her and although she wasn't sure, it seemed as though there were multiple nationalities present. Each moved with purpose, but she could feel the occasional stare her way and it made her skin crawl.
She watched as the man called Jing Hua walked toward her. He bent in front of her, cleaning a short gleaming blade as he did so. "I'm going to remove your gag, and you will not make a sound unless I request it. Do you understand?"
Katara nodded and thought to herself pick your battles. Stay alive…for Aang.
Jing Hua untied the gag and sat it on the ground. "I'm going to ask you a few very important questions. If you answer me truthfully then I will make sure Zhao does not touch you this night. If you lie to me than I will make no move to stop him." He stared down her body. "He wants to ruin you very badly and I would like to see you whole until after you give birth."
He played with the knife in his hands casually. "When did you conceive the child?"
Katara cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably. She had to make this believable. She had to use as much truth as possible even if she had to completely make up the timing. "Eight weeks ago."
"You swear the Avatar is the father."
Her face lifted and she stared into his cold, black eyes. "He is the only man I have ever known."
"If you cooperate with me then I will do what I can to prolong Zhao's…affections, but if you cross me then I will give you to every man you see here in this camp."
He left her gag on the ground. "This is your first test."
She watched him walk away and let her chin fall to her chest. "Aang," she whispered, "I need you."
Zhao watched his quarry unrelentingly and didn't notice when his leader approached him from behind.
"You are to leave the girl alone for the night."
Zhao turned and stared at the man he had respected and admired for years. "You gave me your word she would be mine."
"And she will, but after she gives birth. Do you realize how powerful this child could be? This is just a sign that our cause is worthy and right. I do not want to risk your kind of bodily harm to her for fear of causing miscarriage." Jing Hua fingered the blade he still held in his hands. "You owe me a life debt. You will obey my commands."
Zhao bowed deep, thumb pressed into his open hand. "What is your next plan, sir?"
Jing Hua stared thoughtfully at the night sky. "By this time our hawks will have reached the world's major cities and the world will know of our power. Once they fear us, we will control them. As soon as the Avatar knows we have his beloved he won't be able to make a move without threatening her life. As well as his unborn child's."
Zhao sneered. His plans were a little different, but he would go along with Jing Hua's for the time being. He would have his revenge on the Avatar.
A/N: Thank you again for all of your reviews! The next chapter is going to contain a bit of a lemon…also as we go it's going to get a bit dark, so if that's not something you want to read then there's fair warning, but I do hope you stick around.
