((Sorry I took so long to update...and thank you everyone for the reviews. I love you all!))
Chapter 24: The Last Act
Flames danced wildly around the young firebender, they edged closer licking her bare leg in hunger. She yelped in pain as she felt her skin scream in agony; the flames hushed as an unknown force moved toward their prey.
"Ciara, can't you feel it? Can you feel the power and true essence of fire that rests inside of you?" asked a sinister voice. She spun around quickly in fear to see the source of this sound, she called out in a shaky voice, "Who's there? Show yourself!" The sinister voice just laughed at this and replied, "I am everywhere. I am the dancing flames that are before you. I am your conscience that calls out to you. I am your shadow who follows your every move."
She shivered and glanced nervously at the flames and her own shadow, "What do you want?" Her voice sounded meek and told of the pure terror she was put through now and before. The voice chuckled and replied in a soft tone, "Don't you see death when it is before you? You are more of a fool than I imagined…but just know, my dear lady, that I have my eyes on you."
Ciara's eyes fluttered open but she quickly closed them as she saw morning's bright rays of light. A groan escaped from her throat as she once again saw different colored dots in her vision. Vivid memories flashed before her as she remembered the horrific act that was done to her.
'Don't you see death when it is before you?'
Ciara murmured under her breath, "I have seen it before you decided to come along." Ciara groaned in pain again before becoming silent as she heard a door open and close quietly. "Lord Zuko, she just stirred not too long ago. That means she must be doing better." a feeble and weary voice. She heard a snarl and knew it was from Zuko; he replied angrily, "That's what you told me five days ago and she showed no improvements since. Find a cure for her, I don't want excuses."
Ciara assumed that the other voice that spoke first must be the healer. "Sir, do know we have nothing to cure the infection. Because those wounds on her back were opened in an unclean area a virus came in. We don't know what it is or how to treat it…" the healer replied defensively but his voice was full of fear. "Exactly what I was talking about… Excuses, excuses, excuses…well I want answers and improvement." Zuko snapped back in an angry hiss. The healer sighed heavily and replied in a husky voice, "As you wish." The healer got up slowly and made his way toward the door, "I must get my supplies, I will be back." Zuko merely glared at the unsuccessful healer and watched him close the door after him.
Zuko walked toward Ciara's bed his hand reached out and stroked her pale face. Everything is always turning out to be sufferings and hardships…and just when I thought things changed for the better. What am I talking about? Ciara has to live, she must… Zuko felt a smile cross his face when he saw her eyelids opening; he spoke quickly with excitement, "Ciara! You're awake! How do you feel?"
Ciara smiled weakly at his sudden burst of excitement, now I feel bad for pretending to be asleep those past few minuets. "I feel like I just got mugged." she replied softly, suddenly realizing that Zuko's hand rested a little to close to her chest. Zuko grinned at her comment before replying in a calmer manner, "The healer says you are going to get well soon."
Bull-shit, I just heard the healer confess that he didn't even know what was wrong with me.
She smiled and knew he didn't want her to worry; placing her hand on top of his she replied, "I hope so…" Zuko averted his gaze from Ciara and bore a guilty look as he gazed at her hand. "Ciara I need to tell you something…something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time…" Zuko started off, but before he could tell her the healer walked in loudly.
Zuko quickly slipped his hand away from Ciara and stood up, his gaze filled anger at this sudden interruption. "Alright then, I called some of my colleges to help me…they said that it is a just a normal virus that comes from unclean and open wounds. So finding the cure shouldn't be hard to find in this old book." the healer announced as he opened up a fat crimson book. Zuko grimaced slightly and gave a pleading look to Ciara before heading out the door, "Very well. Tell me when you find the cure." The healer raised his hand up momentarily, telling the young lord that he would anyway.
'I have my eyes set on you.'
Ciara fell back into a haunting sleep; she tossed and turned as her nightmare got worst and worst. She recalled the village she burned to get the stupid pendant and how she met up with the exiled prince. And I tricked him pretty good and got to get a free ride to the Fire Nation. As thoughts and memories entered her dream she couldn't help but have a longing to see the young lord of the Fire Nation. She had so many things to tell him, about herself and her feelings. But would it really make a difference if I don't tell him? I mean, as far as I know…I'm going to die.
The retired general entered the room quietly, he observed the healer who had his nose in what looked like a cookbook. He moved quietly toward the chair that rested beside the sick fire bender; sitting down he carefully observed her expressions that played on her face. The healer looked up and jumped at the sight of the general, "General Iroh, forgive me. I didn't see you come in." Iroh smiled and replied in his wise voice, "Don't worry about it, you had important matters to attend to." The healer nodded and went back to the book; flipping a page occasionally, "She's a fighter."
Iroh looked up and frowned, "What do you mean?" The healer scanned another page before turning it over, "What I mean is that for someone this ill you would expect them to be dead by now. But she so far lasted a whole week and a half…" Iroh replied with a grim expression on his face, "You mean she might die?" The healer glanced at the general before turning another page, "Of course…anyone could have seen it when we first received her with her wounds. Ah, I found it…I better get Lord Zuko or he'll have a cow." Iroh raised a hand and offered politely, "May I tell him?" The healer nodded, "Thank you…anyway I have to go get the ingredients."
Iroh left the healer with haste; he never knew that she was close to death. As he passed a few guards he asked where he could find the young lord, the guards motioned toward the training grounds. Iroh nodded silently and headed that direction; Iroh soon heard the sound of flames whooshing buy and the sound of angry grunts. Iroh turned the corner to see Zuko, his bare chest was beaded with sweat and the smell of smoke was suffocating. "Lord Zuko, he found the cure." Iroh called out, quickly pulling out a fan and moved it violently against the hovering smoke and heat.
Zuko paused and stared at his uncle for a moment before running toward him, "That's good news…but tell me why you look like you lost all the tea in the world." Iroh frowned and asked in a matter-of-fact tone as he walked beside Zuko toward Ciara's room, "Did you know that Ciara is close to dying?" Zuko's brows furrowed in frustration and in puzzlement, "What? Who told you that?" Iroh breathed in deeply before replying, "The healer did."
Ciara opened her eyes when she heard a familiar voice enter her ears, "Zuko." Zuko smiled slightly glad that she was awake, Iroh went to get tea, and the healer was gone fixing up the cure. "Hey." he murmured back, his hand reaching out to move a strand of hair away from her face.
She grinned and asked slyly, "So what was it that you were going to tell me?" Zuko sat down on her bed, his back now facing the door, "Well…Ciara…I…I…love you." Ciara chuckled softly as she pulled herself up in a sitting position. Her hand traced over the edges of his scar as she leaned in close to him. Ciara's lips locked with his lips roughly as her free arm wrapped around his neck. She murmured in his mouth in a teasing manner, "Took you long enough."
"So much for a cure. You two are already at it and the healer barely started mixing the ingredients. It's a sign…I am going to have healthy grandchildren." came a voice from behind Zuko. Both of them released their holds on each other to look at who spoke and in pure embarrassment of being caught in the act. "Uncle what happened to knocking?" Zuko asked angrily as he saw Iroh's smug look. "Well I was going too…but I just didn't want to miss anything important…and look, I was right!" Iroh replied happily, giving a cup of tea to Ciara.
Iroh sighed with pure joy and watched the healer enter quickly; the healer held a small bowl of brown liquid that smelled of mint. "Oh good…drink this. Then drink the tea to wash it all down." the healer gave Ciara the small bowl and took the cup of steaming tea from her. She glanced at the liquid but found herself about to vomit; closing her eyes she gulped down the medicine. The healer took the bowl and handed her the tea quickly, his hand shook slightly as he found himself by the very person he wanted to avoid: Zuko. Ciara gulped down the tea but found that out to be a mistake, her throat burned viciously as she finished it up. "Good, good. Now all you need is rest. You should be up and about in a few days." the healer announced, taking his leave quickly.
Zuko rubbed Ciara's hand before taking his leave for he felt uncomfortable under his uncle's eager gaze. I swear that man just wants to see me lunge at her and grope her. Crazy tea addict… Iroh grinned slightly as if hearing Zuko's thoughts, "Zuko, I've been thinking. For the wedding…should the colors be-" His voice drifted off as they both exited the room leaving Ciara to rest. Ciara smiled slightly and muttered under her breath, "So much for death." Her heavy eyelids closed slowly as she fell into a peaceful slumber.
((Ah, so much love. You know the funny thing is that I was actually wanted Ciara to die...for I just couldn't think of anything else to write about if she lived. But I thought up of another chapter...yay! So party of here!))