Chapter 21

When I woke up, I was in a familiar paneled room, morning light slowly filtering in through the partially open window. I groaned; my body heavy, mind barely able to connect a single thought. I eyed the sliding screen doors and the styled window. I was in the dormitories at Air Temple Island, in specifics Avatar Korra's room when she was a teenager.

I looked down at myself and nearly had a fit. I was in airbending clothes, yellow tunic and leggings and an orange-red half shawl that covered my shoulders and ended just above my waist. The clothes were not too close-fitting, allowing me to move freely. My hair fell in pristine snowy waves, not covered in ash and blood like I expected.

The doors slid open loudly, making me whirl around and fall into a defensive position. My energy reached for the earth's, ready to manipulate it.

An Air Acolyte woman entered the room with a pot of tea in her hand, her gray hair pulled into a tight bun. She jumped back when her brown eyes landed on me, taking in my stance.

"Oh, it's okay, hon," she said, rushing towards me and grasping my hands. She led me back to my bed, sitting me down.

"I have to check your wounds, hon. You'll have to remove your shirt."

I just nodded, shucking off the fabric and tossing it to the floor. I didn't realize the tightness around my chest as white bandages wrapped around it. The woman gently unwound them, my chest able to expand more and more with each turn. I sighed in relief as the banadages were gone. I was able to breathe.

But when I looked down at myself, I nearly fainted. Red raised marks were all over my torso, the mark of Vaatu's whip marks. They were so angry-looking.

"We had the healers at you for quite a while. But as much as they tried, they couldn't remove the scars. They'll be permanent."

I ran a hand over one; that slashed from the left ribcage to my belly button, feeling the ridged, tough surface of it.

"That's okay. I would be disappointed if I didn't," I answered.

She just looked at me strangely, as she gently probed each scar, making sure they didn't reopen.

There was a clearing of throat. I turned to see Lee hovering in the doorway. He paled when he saw the ragged scar tissue that took up most of my back. Luckily, I was facing away from him so he didn't see me completely topless. That would have been utterly embarrassing.

"You're fine. Just rub this lotion on them just in case," the woman instructed, handing over a tin pot of aromatic white lotion. I nodded and put some on, ignoring Lee, who was still in the doorway. I couldn't reach some of the scars on my back, my arm twisting and pulling but fingers never reaching. I sighed.

"Give it to me," Lee ordered, who now sat beside me. I wordlessly handed it over. I pushed my hair away from my back, holding onto the silken strands. I flinched when Lee touched the hot scar tissue with the ice cold medicine. It reminded me too much of Vaatu's dark touch. His other hand grasped my shoulder gently in comfort as he covered the scars. I dipped my head, arms crossed securely over my breasts, breathing out slowly. Despite the cold that made me want to recoil and draw away from the world, I drew solace from Lee's comforting touch.

His gentle fingers lingered on my bare back, so warm. He pushed aside a tendril of hair that had come to rest between my shoulder blades. I looked over my shoulder at him. His eyes looked especially dark, almost black. I felt like I could get swallowed in them. His fingers traced along my shoulder blades, reaching along for my neck. His large hand cupped my chin. I was slowly turning towards him as he drew closer.

His thumb grazed my cheekbone, his fingers intertwining with my hair. I felt his breath on my mouth. He was shaking a little, as his lips brushed mine. I felt that spark, like what Korra felt with Mako. I thought he was about to pull me to him; his hand had lowered to rest on the small of my back. But he didn't. He pulled away quickly, darting away from the bed and to the doorway. His eyes almost sent me scrambling; it glittered with such an animal need for something. I felt them on the curves of my body, even though I had quickly pulled on my shirt. He left without a word, his feet sounding angrily along the shining planks of the halls.

I draped the half-shawl over my shoulders and quickly braided my hair. I stood, trying to shake the feeling of Lee's hands on me. I couldn't think of my feelings or his right now. I looked out my window again. I could see the Pro-Bending Arena across the Bay. My mouth set in a determined line.

I needed to get off this island.

I jumped through the window, gathering the energy of the brisk autumn wind and making it cushion my descent. Bending was already much easier. It had always required more focus before...

But now...

I ran across the gray stone, running right past the White Lotus sentries who were patrolling.

"Hey! Stop!" they yelled as they began to give chase.

"Not a chance," I muttered. The Bay was growing closer. All I had to do was leap over the edge. The water's energy was already responding, without me actually having to reach for it.

Air Acolytes, along with Rohan and the other Avatar Aang descendants, rushed out as well. Oh, great. They were going to use their airbending on me. I could already see the whirling white-blue gusts surrounding them, ready to do their bidding.

I felt the Avatar State come on quickly, and fall away. I felt Avatar Yangchen's knowledge fill me. I dodged the first swipe of wind sent my way, jumping and rolling in the air. I shot my arms forward, unleashing a gale force wind. They crumpled to the ground, trying to stay on the ground by grasping the cobblestones. I ran past them, pushing off hard on the last step. Launching into the air, I landed safely on the surface of the water, shooting across like a comet. I passed by a boat coming in. It blared a warning out as I zipped by. Swirling my hands, a water spout lifted me to one of the bridges. I caught hold of one of the suspender cables. I easily hopped onto a Satomobile, lying down on my stomach, holding onto the roof.

Once I reached the end of the bridge, I stood. I reached out for my cables and then cursed. I didn't have them. I didn't have my whips either. Sighing, I leaped into the air, quickly weaving a gust of air under my feet. I soared above the rooftops and bustling streets until I found my street. I landed right in front of my home, staring at the empty windows. It looked so abandoned.

I opened the door, the creaking echoing through the empty dark halls. As soon as I entered, I was bombarded with an Avatar memory.

It was a flash of Yena, in front of the fireplace, muttering and writing something. No matter how much she stoked the fire, she still felt cold to the bone.

I blinked out of it, my eyes tearing up. She wrote a letter. I had to find it.

I ran into our shared room, pulling out drawers, throwing out clothes, trying to find the letter. I knew mine was gone from its hiding place as well.

Our room looked like a hurricane went through it by the time I was done. My breathing was heavy, and I braced myself against the dresser. I looked up into the mirror. My white hair was starting to come out of my braid, making me look a little wild. My dark eyes were blank looking. I touched the mirror. If I switched my hair to black and my eyes to silver, I would be a carbon copy of Yena.

"Yena," I whispered. "Oh, I just miss you so much." My throat became thick and I felt the telltale hot prick of tears to come. I looked to one of the picture frames on the dresser. It was me and Yena, when we went on that field trip to Air Temple Island when we were little. Our skinny arms were wrapped around each other, bright grins on our faces. When I looked closer, I thought I saw a haunted look in the depths of Yena's moonlight eyes. Did she feel the cold of Vaatu when we were young? Oh, Yena, the pain that you went through...

I cradled the picture to my chest, turning away from the heartbreaking face in the mirror.

I stared down into the picture. Then I noticed it. The picture was shifted ever so slightly to the left, something white peeking out at the upper right corner. My hands shakily flipped over the picture frame, opening the flaps that enclosed the picture in the frame. My fingers encountered the thick response of the letter. I put the picture frame back on the dresser and sat down on Yena's bed. It still smelled like her.

I found my letter enfolded with hers. She must have read it, as I found the stains of tears on the characters. I dug out her letter. The paper was blank.

"Fire," I muttered to myself.

I went to the fireplace. I focused my energy in my palms, calling fire into existence. The ghostly blue flames blazed in my palm, casting its warmth on my face. I threw the fireball into the fireplace, watching the wood suddenly blaze white in response, and then cheerily flicker blue.

I held the letter close to the flames. The blue characters sprung into existence on the page, flickering and blazing. I read the letter.

Dear Tiana,

If you're reading this, then I must be dead.

As I write this by the fire, my body grows colder and colder with darkness. When you had told me that there was a Dark Avatar, I had no doubt who it was: me.

We were so close when we were young, and I missed that closeness when we grew apart in later years. I constantly wished for it. But it was hard. There's only some distance we can overcome. I had thought we would become close enough when we started to investigate the mystery of our conflict. We did. But the darkness of Vaatu was starting to overcome me.

Sister, what you didn't know was that I struggled with that darkness all my life, even when we were little. I heard his whispers telling me to destroy, to make chaos. This struggle caused me to pull away from you. It had gotten to be too much, and I knew I had to get away from you to keep you safe. Vaatu wanted you too badly, so by distancing myself, I could at least protect you in that way.

I know that you thought that you were the Dark Avatar, and think yourself undeserving of being the Light Avatar. But you're not, Tiana, you're not. You don't see what I see when I look at you. I see a strong young woman who burns with such bright pure light, someone whom I am proud to call twin sister.

When you got back from your trip, I knew you met a man that interested you. Don't be scared to go for him, sis. (Seriously, don't be a wuss).

Vaatu will take over me. He is so close to winning. That is why I write this only so you can read it. He will make me kill you, so he can have the other half of Raava's spirit to control.

It's okay, Tiana. I know that you feel horrible about taking my life. But it was necessary. As the Avatar, you have to keep the world in balance, no matter what the cost. Including me.

You will never be alone. I will always be with you, inside. I was a half Avatar. I am still within Raava's memories.

Love, Yena.

P.S: Feel free to be hard on Mom and Dad. They were the suckiest parents in the world.

I had tears flowing down my cheeks the entire time. I was silently sobbing, my face contorted in an animal expression of grief.

The door opened, letting in blowing autumn leaves and Lee. He found me wailing by the fire, clutching the letters to my chest. He wordlessly knelt beside me, taking me into his embrace. He held me as I sobbed my grief, murmuring reassurances. The blue fire flickered and leaves skittered along the hardwood as we knelt there, in a house full of ghosts.