CHAPTER 18

ZUKOS POV

Dread rose like bile in the back of Zuko's throat as he sprinted up the steps to his family's beach home. He hadn't even waited to help his Uncle and Sokka off of Druk before bolting for the door, which was slightly ajar.

"Shit, shit" Zuko repeated over and over in his panic as he nearly tripped up the stairs. His voice sounded far away to his own ears as he pushed open the door to find blood streaks running along the floor.

"Katara!" he called. He could barely hear anything over the roaring of blood rushing in his ears. He received no answer. He rounded the corner to find his aunt Lo dead on the ground with a burn the size of a watermelon on her chest.

"No…" Zuko cried feeling sick all of a sudden.

"Zuko!" he heard his Uncle call as he rushed in the room, Sokka following close behind him.

Zuko ignored them stepping further into the living room to find Li laying in a pool of her own blood, staring unblinkingly at the ceiling. He crossed the room to sit next to her closing her eyelids gently. He looked over as Iroh did the same for Lo.

"Yue! Katara!" Sokka called, running up the stairs to search for them.

"They aren't here" Zuko whispered to himself. Deep down he knew his father had taken them. He was a fool to think they had been safe here. Regret pooled in the pit of his stomach, settling there like a solid rock. Zuko didn't realize that he was hyperventilating until he felt his Uncle shaking him vigorously.

"Zuko! Zuko!" he yelled snapping him out of his panic.

"He took them…" he said out loud as Sokka came barreling back down the steps. Distress was written all over the young warrior's face as he searched the Prince's eyes for answers. Zuko stared into his blues, utter chaos boiling behind his own amber irises.

"I looked everywhere" he said breathlessly.

As Zuko's senses began to return he realized that the two men surrounding were looking to him for guidance. But the truth was, he had no idea what to do. He knew that they had gotten there hours after the event. Lo and Li's bodies had had time to run cold, therefore Zuko knew his father had ample time to flee Ember Island. In edition he had no idea where Ozai was taking them…if he hadn't killed them already.

"I can fly Druk around the parameter of the island to scope out any war ships. There could be a chance they're on one" Zuko reasoned.

"Then what Nephew? You storm a ship of one thousand men? You're only one person Prince Zuko."

"But I have a dragon" he countered. Iroh sighed in frustration.

"If you have Druk burn down the ship they're on Katara and Yue will burn with it. They are no more immune to Druk's fire than the average person."

Zuko kicked himself mentally for not thinking sharply about his plan. He was so overcome with fear he could not think clearly. He needed to have a clear mind in order to come up with a solution to save his wife and child. He turned away from them and went toward the kitchen to think. The smell of death in the living room was too overwhelming to process anything. He grasped the edge of the counter and stared down at the white slate desperate to find any solution that could make him feel less useless in this moment. He saw the edge of a white paper dancing at his peripheral vision. He looked over to find a note which seemed to be written in ancient fire script; an art that only the nobility still passed down. He picked it up gingerly and took a deep breath before unfolding it.

See you at the wall brother.

The note was written in his sister's perfectly neat hand. He balled it into his fist, smoke curling from his finger tips.

"What did it say?" Sokka asked, circling around the counter to face him.

"My sister has them…she's taking them to Ba Sing Se."

"We were headed there anyway, we can bust them out after we've won the war" Sokka reasoned. Zuko shook his head.

"It won't be that simple."

Iroh interjected stepping in as the voice of reason.

"Let's take things one step at a time. We will go to Ba Sing Se as planned and confront the Fire Nation with the Earth and Water armies at our backs. It is all we can afford to think about right now…if Katara and Yue are going to have the greatest chance at survival we must be on the winning side."

All three men looked at each other with apprehensive gazes. Zuko felt physically ill but he put on a brave face in front of his friend and Uncle.

He probed is connection with Druk, reaching out to him with his mind. He answered almost immediately, sensing Zuko's distress.

'Can you fly us straight to Ba Sing Se with no stops?...I know you've already been flying a lot tonight but…'

'Have no worries Zuko…we will find your mate. I can feel how heavy your soul is without her. Let us go now'

Zuko breathed out in relief.

"Let's go…Druk is ready" Zuko announced.

KATARAS POV

Katara hadn't slept in what felt like days. She lie there staring blankly outside of her holding cell counting the minutes down as her only passing time. Her and Yue had exhausted all topics of conversation and were now both laying down silently wondering what time of day it was. They were located in the bowels of a fire nation war ship, that much Katara could tell. Days ago they had been thrown down there with burlap sacks over their heads to obscure their vision. Yue had cried the entire way down fearing they would kill them on the spot, while Katara fought the guards tooth and nail until they had tossed them behind bars.

Twenty four hours ago Katara had bent the water out of their food and tried to kill a guard with an ice pick…that's when they lost their eating privileges. Now they both had gone a full day without food and she could feel her baby flail about in protest. She closed her eyes hoping to escape the discomfort in sleep. Just when she'd reached the precipice of consciousness and dreaming she heard the loud clank of boots hitting the metal stairs. Closer and closer they rang forcing the water bender's eyes open. Before long the Fire Princess was standing on the other side of the metal bars, her golden eyes that looked so much like Zuko's staring down at her.

"Wake up peasant" she mocked as she tapped her boot against the steel floor. Katara glared up at her wishing she could bend the spit from her mouth and send two ice picks through Azula' skull. But they had known better than to feed them water therefore her mouth was as dry as ash. She sat up slowly as the Princess unlocked their cell.

"No sudden movements if you value you and your child's life."

Katara looked back at Yue with an apologetic expression. She knew Azula's warning held merit. She was in a weakened state on top of the fact she was pregnant…if Katara fought back she'd get both of them killed. Katara stepped back into the cell to embrace Yue tightly.

"In case I don't come back…give this to Zuko" she whispered as she removed her wedding ring and placed it in Yue's hands. The northern princess looked down at the golden ring, and removed her own betrothal necklace from around her delicate neck.

"In case I don't make it out…" she returned, tying the necklace around Katara's wrist tightly.

"Speed it up" Azula hissed impatiently.

"Where are you taking us now?" Katara bit out. Azula grabbed the water bender roughly by the elbow.

"I will only be needing you…that one can stay" she answered as she slammed the door in Yue's face when she tried to follow. Katara did not have the strength in her to fight the other woman, therefore she allowed herself to be lead roughly through the halls of the ship. She thought that maybe they wouldn't kill her yet because it seemed like they considered her unborn child to be important. She remembered the threat Azula had made to take her child. It wasn't something she would soon forget.

After climbing two flights of steps and going through a maze of hallways they finally reached a solitary steel door. It was the only room in this wing of the ship, the rest of the space being mostly deck; which held a view of the lower deck below and the expanse of the sea. She felt her internal clock fall back into synch as she looked up into the midday sun after days of darkness. Katara looked out at the water in longing, wondering just how far they had made it away from the Fire Nation…away from Zuko. Hopefully he was already on his way to Ba Sing Se and had not wasted any time looking for her there. She wondered if he even knew she had been kidnapped. It was highly likely he had no idea since he was supposed to fly straight from Caldera to the wall.

Azula gave two sharp knocks to the door and waited patiently for it to open. Katara noticed the other girl's back straighten and her lips press into a hard line as she anticipated the person on the other side.

"Come in" they heard a silky voice call from behind the door. Azula took a deep breath pushing the door open and ushering Katara in front of her.

Katara looked around the room, taking in her surroundings quickly. Windows lined the entire back wall while a large bed of silk red sheets sat in the corner. The center of the room held an opulent chair made of velvet and gold created from the plushest of downs. Atop the luxury furniture sat the Fire Lord himself, legs crossed and elbows propped on his knees.

Katara felt her heart drop.

He was like a reflection of her husband.

Her heart palpitated in confusion as she took in his large form when he stood from his chair. His long hair reached his tailbone, pushed back by the fire crown atop his head. His sharp cheek bones accentuated piercing gold almond eyes and thick inky brows. A sinister smirk graced his lips as he looked the water bender up and down. He was an older, more seamless version of Zuko…without the scar.

"Kneel before your Lord whore" Azula spat as she threw Katara to the ground. She braced herself against the floor with her outstretched hands, breaking her fall. Katara glared at the ground as she remained on her knees before him.

"You may leave us Azula" he said coldly. Katara kept her eyes trained on his feet as she heard the Fire Princess retreat from the room and close the door. He wore black pointed leather boots that clicked on the wooden floors as he circled her. She kept her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor, unwilling to waver even when he knelt beside her. Close enough to feel the fan of his breath across her cheek.

Katara was shaking now. Her hand flew to her belly on instinct while her other hand rested on the ground inconspicuously searching the room for any sources of water. All she could feel was the perspiration collecting on her brow…hardly enough to do any real damage.

"So this…" Ozai said, his voice making her jump "is who bares my son's bastard."

Katara worked hard to control her breathing. She felt paralyzed. Rooted to her spot on the floor. Tethered there by some unspoken power.

"Tell me girl" he seethed "why did my son choose you?"

Katara stole a glance at him from the side. He was so close she could see the flecks of gold in his eyes. She remained silent as she averted her gaze back to the ground. She felt a hot hand enclose around her neck, crushing her windpipe painfully. She tried gasping, but the air was stollen from her lungs.

"Answer me" he hissed. She reached up to claw at his hands, locking eyes with him in disbelief. She struggled to release herself from his grip, prying his fingers apart around her throat.

He released her abruptly. She doubled over in pain gasping and holding on to her neck.

"Please…"she choked out. He stood up then grabbed her roughly up from the floor by her arm. She stumbled into him, her hackles raising at the close contact.

"When are you due to birth?" he asked frowning down at her.

She spoke quickly this time, afraid of being choked again.

"Any day" the water bender whispered.

He smiled a sinister smile, making Katara's heart fill with dread.

"Even better…you and his bastard can watch as I cut off his head."

Katara nearly gagged in disgust and fear. What kind of man was this? To plot this kind of destruction on his own blood? It was incomprehensible.

"What do you want with us?" Katara squeaked, referring to herself and the babe in her belly. Ozai brought his hand up to her face forcing her chin towards him roughly.

"I want revenge…" he hissed "What do you think would hurt worse? Killing his wife and child or taking them for myself?"

He cackled at her shocked expression.

"What do you mean?" she asked, fearing the worst.

"My ungrateful cretin of a son wants to take my throne…I'll just have to take his family. I am not married anymore and do not have a solidified heir…"

"Stop!" Katara cried, desperate to get away from this monster of a man. She tried pulling away from him but he held her fast against him.

"Zuko and I are already married you canno-"

"I can do whatever I so please. You married on Fire Nation soil and as King I can make any legal document void. I can name anyone my heir, so long as it suits me" he taunted.

Tears of frustration streamed down her face unwarranted.

"Please…don't do this" she cried. He snickered once more clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting from her. Katara's anger flashed at this. What a sick twisted foul man he was. To steal his own son's wife…to claim his child as his own. All of this was unspeakable. She set her jaw, glaring at him in hatred. He stopped laughing when he noticed her facial expression change. His mirth quickly transformed to intrigue.

"My husband will come for you…he will come for all of you and nothing will be left in his wake but ash and dust. I hope you are right with your God because you will soon meet him" she spat boldly.

He struck her hard across the face, the sound of the slap echoing throughout the room. She fell to the floor holding her bruised cheek.

"Guards!" he yelled. Suddenly there were five armored men in the room.

"Take the future Queen to the Fire Lady's quarters…she is no longer in need of her cell."

Katara did not have the energy to fight them off when they grabbed her by her arms and lifted her in the air between two of them.

"And what are we to do with the other Water Princess my Lord?" one of them questioned.

The Fire Lord rolled his eyes turning from them and making his way to the small bar in the corner of the room.

"Dispose of her when we reach the docks" he said.

Katara screamed, all the strength leaving her body.

"Please, please no! Don't! she hasn't done anything! Please oh Tui and La…" Katara was an incoherent mess. She could barely hear him speaking over the thrumming in her eardrums.

"She is a foreign leader and carries the heir to my rival nation in her womb. She is to be eliminated" he said with finality. Katara's body was shaking as they dragged her from the room. The guards who carried her ignored her cries and please for help.

When they reached the end of the hallway they opened the set of metal doors. They placed her in the room gently, much different from the other treatment she had gotten earlier.

"It is better not to struggle my Lady…struggling only makes it harder" one of the guards said softly.

She cried in defeat as they closed her inside of the room leaving her alone in silence. She looked down at her wrist that held Yue's jade betrothal necklace…the necklace her brother had carved for his beautiful wife. Tears filled her eyes as the reality of their situation hit her like a ton of bricks. For the first time in her life she had no clue what to do.

END CHAPTER 18