Okay, this chapter is a bit harsh and bloody, but hey, what Hotspur production isn't? I promise, if you stick to the end, you will understand why I did all this. And great guesses, thank you so much! Now on to the Horror show!

It Terrorizes

For here in hell where life gets cheaper
Oh, here in hell the blood runs deeper
And when the final duel is near
I'll lift my spear and fly

---Falcon in the Dive (Scarlet Pimpernel)

Lu Ten was sure that he was in the lowest depths of the underworld. His cousin had been kidnapped and some stupid little Earth slave was the vessel of information that could return the heir to the throne to him. This was bad.

"Where is your master?" Lu Ten said in a low growl, trying to resist the urge to throttle the little spy. To think, he had brought the mole into the palace! He could only imagine that Zuko was now bound up tightly, in the hands of the enemy.

"I…" the little ingrate whimpered, obviously not getting Lu Ten's point. "I don't know where he is." No, but he knew what was happening to him?

"I swear, I will break every bone in your miserable body," Lu Ten snarled, slamming the little slave into the wall. 'Search the palace. Search the city. Close down every port and gate. Nothing big enough to carry a little boy may leave the city," he commanded to his guards behind him. "A thousand gold pieces to the person who finds him." Alive, he prayed. He could only imagine what was being done to his innocent cousin? He knew how Earth Kingdom rebels tortured prisoners.

"I don't know," the boy sniffled, looking away from Lu Ten with obvious terror. Oh, he wasn't frightened yet.

"Liar! You switched clothing with him! The guards saw him leave. What did you tell him? That a surprise was waiting for him?" Lu Ten said, covering his free hand in flames. "I can refresh your memory if you wish." Father, forgive him for failing like this!

"Cousin Lu Ten, what's going on?" a sweet voice asked. Agni's bones, Azula would be terrified if she knew what had happened. "Where is Zuko?"

"Azula, this doesn't concern you. Go to your room and do not come out until you are called," Lu Ten snapped, realizing he was still manhandling the slave in front of his sweet little cousin.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Azula asked, sounding curious. "Is Zuko all right? Is he going to die like Mama and Papa did?"

Lu Ten really did not need that reminder of how many Fire Nation royals died in the last few months. Perhaps he could try another method? "If you do as you're told, I'll return you to your parents. Give you plenty of money to give them, you'll live in comfort in a nice house. They'll be so proud of you," he said, his tone growing honeyed. Sometimes, silk was stronger than steel.

"I can't," the brat sniffled, bursting into tears. "He'll die!"

Wretched little flea! "He'll die if you don't tell me where he is, and you will too, in the most agonizing way you can think of!" Lu Ten said, slamming the boy into the wall again. At his side, Azula smirked, which horrified Lu Ten ever more. Didn't she even care?

"I can't, I can't, I can't," the boy babbled, his voice choked with tears. "Zuko's my friend!" He screamed again as Lu Ten's grip grew hot, burning him. The Fire Lord was losing control and he didn't care.

"Prince Zuko isn't your friend, he owns you. And if you did care about him, you would tell me where he was," Lu Ten bellowed, grabbing the little mongrel by the hair to shake him a bit. "Tell me before I really let you get what you richly deserve!"

With a horrible snap, a clump of soft brown hair remained in Lu Ten's trembling hands. The boy fell to the floor in a cruel smack, bawling with pain. The Fire Lord didn't care. "Fetch a whip. Fetch a branding iron. I don't care what you have to do, but break him now!" he shouted to his servants.

"Make him suffer," Azula hissed, looking frankly maniacal. Had she not grasped that her brother was in the hands of the enemy? Was it anger…or pleasure?

As the instruments were brought to the Fire Lord, a sick feeling filled the young monarch. He unfurled the leather whip, his hands shaking considerably. What if he killed the boy before Zuko was found? What if Zuko was dead? His father's ghost would never find peace. Lu Ten would have single-handed destroyed the entire Fire nation family. He would be worse than a traitor.

"You leave me no choice," Lu Ten said coldly, rounding on the slave as he heard footsteps approaching the door of the room. He didn't care who saw him do this, as long as he got Zuko back.

"NO!" a voice screamed, freezing everyone in the room.

AN-I'm evil, no? But don't worry, I'll update soon. Please review!