Sorry about the delay. My wrist on my right hand has swollen because of a mosquito bite (I'm allergic to insect bites/stings) and that's my dominate hand and it hurts to type with it, so I'm going to have to type with only one hand for a tiny while – ZeroSoul

muted fate, chapter VII: baptism by blood

The Fire Nation ship finally pulled into the docks of a village under Fire Nation control. Zuko and Katara were on deck – silence going between them – as they stared out into the large marketplace facing them.

Katara wasn't very much in a talking mood. She was too angry. Angry with herself, her current circumstances, Zuko, Uncle, the Fire Nation, and probably the world and the gods included in her silent anger. First of all, her old Water Tribe clothes had been thrown away since they had been soiled by her latest bout of morning sickness. She had been forced to wear Fire Nation clothes, which she sourly accepted seeing how there was nothing else for her.

She suddenly twitched and she touched the moving and growing form inside of her. It twitched, as if it didn't want to kick but wanted just enough little movement to let Katara know that it was there with her.

"Now before we go into town," Uncle said to the both of them, "you two are going to have to pretend to be husband and white," Katara and Zuko glared at each other. "Oh come on. It's not as bad as you think," Katara and Zuko still glared at each other. Uncle then sighed. "Just think of it as a game. Like house,"

"Fine, I'll the Mommy," Katara said, in a falsely sweet tone, " and Zuko can be the dumb cousin locked in the attic,"

"Why do I have to the cousin?" Zuko said.

"Because it's a pat that requires no pretending on your part," Katara said.

"Okay, that insult counts as a hit below the belt,"

"Why would I hit you there? There's nothing down there to begin with,"

"HEY!"

Uncle sighed and rubbed his temples in irritation, "Just try not to look so hostile towards each other! You could at least try and hold hands for starters,"

Zuko and Katara looked at each other.

"There's no way in hell that's happening," Katara said.

"I'd rather have my eyes plucked out by hungry ravens," Zuko said.

Uncle grumbled, "Let's just go before you two start to argue again,"

The marketplace was crowded with people trying to buy and sell all sorts of things. Katara, grudgingly, decided to stay close to Zuko so that she wouldn't get lost. Zuko also chose the same option. Uncle was their guide through the marketplace. They stopped at the stand of a crone.

"What can I do for you today?" said the crone. She was old, far older than Uncle, with snow white hair and she wore a hood over her face and was wrapped up in a shawl. Her booth was small and dark, but if you were to look close enough you could see all sorts of charms and potions and spells.

Katara's stomach suddenly cramped. 'There's something wrong here,' a thought popped into Katara's head.

"We're expecting a baby," said Uncle, "and we were looking for something to morning sickness and nausea,"

'There's something not right about this place…this woman…' Katara thought.

"I have just the thing," the crone said, crackling a little.

'Why do I feel so sick?' Katara thought, 'It's as if…' The hand over her stomach tightened as the pain increased.

(danger. get out. get away.)

Katara swooned suddenly. Zuko instinctively caught her before she could fall onto the ground.

"Katara! Are you okay?" Uncle said. Katara murmured in reply. Uncle looked at Zuko, "Why don't you take her somewhere where she can get off her feet?"

"Why do I have to it?" Zuko growled.

Uncle glared at him, "Because you're her husband,"

Zuko still had his face made up as he led Katara away from the booth. He found a bench that he could rest Katara on. Katara was still aware of her surroundings, but dazed and feeling confused as nausea spiked up from her stomach and the child inside of her nudged her sharply.

"Don't go fainting on me now," Zuko said to Katara. He shook her, "Katara. Katara – damn it – wake up!"

Katara's eyes sleepily opened. She then looked up at Zuko and murmured, "What…what happened?"

"Do you need to go back on the ship or something?" Zuko asked.

Katara huffed and got oft the bench, "I can take care of myself, thank you!"

Zuko snorted as he saw her walk off and away from him – carrying her head high, trying to maintain the remainder of her pride. Zuko grumbled as he followed, "No, you can't. You're just too fucking stubborn to admit it,"

Katara was about to go to Uncle and talk to him when she was the crone and quivered. She decided it would possibly be best to stay away from that booth and go somewhere else (somewhere away from Zuko preferably). As she turned away from the crone's stall, and Uncle left it, she swore she could have seen both the booth and the crone disappear.

'…my eyes are just playing tricks on me,' Katara thought as she walked further away.

'How do I invite you to the other realm?' Aang asked The Devil.

'Oh, it's very simple,' answered The Devil, 'All you say is "Devil, get thee in front of me",' She then dreamily sighed. 'It's been eons since I've last seen Thantos. I wonder how he's changed over the years!'

'Probably not much,' Aang thought.

A light flashed behind Aang and he turned around to see a doorway floating in mid air. It swung open and Thanatos drifted out of it, grim as ever.

'It is time, young Avatar,' Thantos said.

'THANATOS!' The Devil squealed, flying past Aang and getting ready to tackle Thanatos.

'Get BACK you!' Thanatos growled. He raised his scythe and lopped off The Devil's head. The Devil's body remained in mid air as the head tumbled below. 'I have enough problems without you chasing me around like some sort of lost puppy!'

'Oh, sweet Thantos, you took my head! That's not a very nice thing to do!' said The Devil's head as a demon minion flew up from below and placed back on the body. The demon screwed the head back on as the body.

'You know very well that my scythe repels your immortal and magick field. I could kill you easily if you weren't in charge of this pit,' Thanatos answered.

'Think again, my dear Thanatos!' The Devil answered. She turned to Aang, 'Aang, I'd like to go now,'

Thanatos' eyes widened. Aang let out a sigh. He knew this was the wrong thing to do and he knew deep down in his heart that he would be cursed and eternally damned for this – but by the gods he needed to help Katara and he was the only who could do it!

'DON'T–' Thanatos yelled.

It was too late.

'Devil,' Aang said to The Devil, 'get thee in front of me,'

The Devil smiled widely. Iron chains suddenly became visible. They had bound her by the neck, arms, legs, tail, wings, and everything else. Slowly, the iron chains began to crack and soon they crumbled fell apart and scattered in the wind as dust.

'FREEDOM!' The Devil yelled, a large smile as relief on her face, 'FREEDOM AT LAST!' She rushed over to Thanatos. 'Come to me, Thanatos, my love!'

'Get back from me, Devil!' Thanatos growled.

The Devil seemed to glide in the air as she gripped Thanatos. Then she pulled away his hood to reveal a gray skinned, red eyed, pointed eared, and bald man, maybe some years younger than The Devil. Thanatos tried to untangle himself from The Devil's grip on him but she simply silenced his protest by kissing him on the lips. Thanatos shivered in The Devil's arm and then submitted to her power and soon they began kissing and caressing each other.

'Um…excuse me…' Aang said, '…before this gets anymore…serious…can I have my end of the bargain done?'

The Devil looked annoyed as she tore herself from the now aroused Thanatos and turned to the spirit boy, 'What is it you wanted again? To be a demon?'

Aang nodded, 'Yes, so that I can go back to the mortal realm,'

The Devil wickedly and thrust out a hand. Dark volts of energy shot from it and touched Aang. Aang shivered and groaned in pain as The Devil chanted: 'May this spirit be bound by the Laws and only by the Laws and shalt obey the Laws if this spirit shall disobey he shall be thrown into Chaos,'

The energy stopped flowing and Aang felt his spiritual essence quiver suddenly. He felt cold and frightened and soon he was in pain, for it felt like his skin was on fire. The Devil grabbed Aang and flung him to some demons. The demons took Aang by the arm and led him some feet below into Hell. There was a large lake made of blood. Aang felt nauseated as he looked at all the blood.

The Devil continued chanting, 'Let this spirit be baptized by the blood of the sinful!'

The demons flung Aang towards the lake.

'The Slothful!'

Aang was falling.

'The Gluttonous!'

Aang was falling fast.

'The Proud!'

He was scared. This was too much. He had to back out. NOW.

'The Greedy!'

Aang tried to float but for some reason, he couldn't. He was near the blood now.

'The Lustful and The Envious!'

The blood smacked Aang harshly. He was beneath it now, at least three feet. He could feel his spiritual essence pop, snap, crackle, twist, and mutilate itself at the blood of the sinful souls. Aang gagged and choked on the blood, swallowing some, as he struggled to get to the top. He had to get out. He was scared. He was frightened. He was in pain.

'This one shall rise up from the bloods of many! Be gone the form of man!'

Aang gasped as he rushed to the top of the blood lake and breathed in the air of Hell.

'And here the life of a demon began!'

Aang choked and sputtered as he swam from the lake and to the rocky shores. He gasped and spat out more blood. He felt strange and dizzy and soon everything got blurry. The last thing he saw The Devil caressing Thanatos and the world suddenly grew dark and he passed out.

Katara was heavily irritated at Zuko's presence nearby her, "Why the hell are you following me? Don't I see enough of you every day?"

Zuko huffed, "I can't just let you run around, you know. What if something happens to you?"

"Nothing will happen!" Katara answered, "I can take care of myself!"

"No, you can't,"

"What makes you think that?"

"The fact that not just some few minuets ago, I had to almost carry you to a bench so that you could sit down," Zuko then realized that Katara had left him while he was talking. Zuko groaned, "Damn it, Katara!"

Katara had ducked down an alleyway. All she needed was some minuets alone and then she would go back (Or maybe she wouldn't. Maybe she would just leave and never show up ever again?) She wandered down the alley – it was a little dark since the rooftops above blocked out most of the natural sunlight. It was riddled with trash and other things Katara would rather not think about.

She heard the distant sound of yelling as she walked down the alley. At the end of the alley was a gap – an opening back into the sunlight – and the yelling was coming from it. Katara picked up the pace as she went towards the yelling. She hugged the wall as she peeked from the alley and out towards the opening.

There were Fire Nation soldiers confronting a group of children. They were scraggly, hungry looking little things, wearing ripped clothing and had dirty faces. They were covered in bruises and cuts. The group were on the ground, looking up at the soldiers. The smallest child hugged a full burlap sack like it was a precious thing.

"Stealing from the general's fort is a terrible offense!" said one of the soldiers.

"What does it matter what we steal?" protested one of the children as he stood up to face the soldier. A boy with an angry look on his face and a black eyes, and the oldest in the group, "The general has plenty of food that he's bought off our backs with his damned taxes!"

"That sharp tongue of yours will soon cut your throat, boy!" answered the soldier. A fireball formed in his hand.

"Stop it!" Katara said as she rushed from her hiding place and between the soldiers and the children.

The soldiers noticed her Fire Nation clothes and glared at her, realizing they couldn't easily just knock her away when she was a member of the Fire Nation.

"This is nothing of your business, woman!" said the Fire Nation soldier, "These children have committed a terrible crime against the general,"

"And what crime would that be?" Katara demanded.

"They stole not only several golden plates from the general but food from his kitchen as well!" answered the soldier.

"We were hungry!" protested the black-eyed boy, "You don't know what it's like to be in the streets! Our parents were killed by your fire!"

"They're just kids," Katara said to the soldier. She felt her heart also be squeezed from the memory of her mother dying by Fire Nation flames, "and they're all alone in this world," She felt old feelings and her old venom of hatred seep slowly back into her heart. "They don't deserve to be hurt anymore than you already have done,"

"They must be an example of,"

"They're just children,"

"Woman, what position do you hold in the Fire Nation to interfere with the laws of the general?"

Katara paused in thought. She had to think of a lie and quick. She then thought of something and smiled brightly.

"I am," Katara said, speaking as if she was a lady of high birth, "the wife of Prince Zuko,"

The first thing Aang saw when he opened his eyes was a demon hovering over him and staring into his face. When the demon saw Aang was awake, it jumped back and away from him in shock. Aang sat up and stared at it. It was a young man, some years older than him, with one red eye and one yellow eye. He had two goat-like horns spiraling from his raven black hair with some streaks of dark red. It's skin was dark and it had wings. Along with horns, it had furry wolf ears, a wolf tail, and furry clawed arms and legs. It wore skintight black and dark red clothes – almost like a leotard.

'So ya're the new kid ev'ryones talkin bout? De one dat got Devil tah leave?' said the demon to Aang. He walked over to Aang and observed him, 'Ya doan seem like much. Doan seem none too bright either,'

Aang blinked, trying to decipher the demon's strange accent. Most the demons he had seen so far didn't speak like he did and this one demon lacked the other's low and hissy voice. Aang forced himself to stand. The demon was taller than him as well.

'Who are you?' Aang asked.

The demon smiled and shook his finger at Aang, 'Nuh'uh, ya can't fool me into letting me tell ya my true name. Dat'd give ya power ov'r me and that wouldn't be none too bright o' me, now is it?' Aang blinked at hearing him and the demon folded his arms. 'Well, I've been called plenty o' things in dese years 'n I've been in plenty o' reelms and stuff. Some like to call me The Devil's Lieutenant but I doan see why. This guy called me something' once…called me, what was it again?' The demon paused for a minuet in thought. 'Think it was "Baal'zabub", which means "Lord of Flies" or "Lord of Souls" – don't see why he picked that – but I fancy to call myself Beelzebub instead of a true name,'

'Beelzebub?' Aang said, 'I don't think I've really heard about you…'

'I shun publicity. Makes ya life all open, y'know? Anyways, just tah give ya the heads up and stuff, I'm sort of The Devil's little brother or somethin like that. The Creatrix never told me if we were related or not but I figure we are since we sort of look alike. Most mortals don't think I even exist, but whatever,'

Aang nodded. Beelzebub was obviously an entity like The Devil and Thanatos. Maybe he could help him get back to the Mortal realm? He could probably use his help as well since Sokka or Katara wouldn't be there to help him on this journey.

'Beelzebub, is there any way I can get to the mortal realm?' Aang asked.

'Coarse there's a way! Now that Thanatos dun gone left his post, all the doorways to every realm are open now! All ya have to know is the way outta here! Hell's mostly empty now. Most of de demons gone up to Heaven or other places,'

'Then what are you still doing here?'

Beelzebub shrugged, 'Doan have anywhere else ta go,'

'Beelzebub, do you know the way to the mortal realm? I need to get there?'

'Why ya need to go dere? I've been there plenty o' times and it seems kinda boring to me,'

'I have to go and help a friend of mine. There's this evil spirit called The Shadow that's after her and trying to kill her and if she does die we'll all be trouble,'

'Figure we're all in trouble already since Thanatos and The Devil both left their posts. Think The Creatrix himself/herself will come down here to straighten this mess out. Doan see why I should show ya.'

Aang sighed. He felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach. Beelzebub saw the sadden look on his face and let out a small sigh. He rubbed the back of his head.

'Aw, doan look so sad, kid,' Beelzebub said. He then paused, 'Well…I could help ya a little, seeing how Hell is almost empty and doan need me now. May as well leave considerin' how a big fuss is gonna start up soon,'

Aang's face brightened up, 'Thanks, Beelzebub. If there's anything you need–'

'No, I got all de things I need now. I'm pretty content. Let's just go, 'fore traffic gets heavy,'

Aang nodded, 'Okay!'

Aang then felt woozy all of a sudden. He fell back on the ground and groaned. He felt nauseated all of a sudden.

'What's…happening?' Aang groaned.

Beelzebub tilted his head at Aang, 'Doan ya know anythin', kid? Ya essence is runnin' low and ya need to feed on somethin' or ya'll fizzle out,'

'How do I do that?' Aang said, feeling dizzier and dizzier by the minuet.

'All ya need is blood or flesh of the guilty or sinful or animal blood or flesh, but the animal flesh has to be raw. But ya have tah be careful who ya chose cus the blood of the innocent and pure make ya sicker dan ya already are,' Beelzebub then saw Aang looking dizzy and sick and sighed. 'Lemme help ya, kid,'

Aang shrunk the idea of drinking blood and was about to ask if there was an alternative but Beelzebub simply picked him up (with not that much difficulty) and carried him over to the blood lake where Aang had just been reborn. Beelzebub cupped the blood in his hand and held it up to Aang's mouth so that he could drink it. Aang drank the blood in tiny reluctant sips but he found that the blood was sweet and tangy, like peach or mango juice. Aang gulped it down and felt rejuvenated.

'Thank you,' Aang said to Beelzebub.

'Doan think too much 'bout it. Ya just remind me o' Belial, that's all,'

'Belial?'

Beelzebub gave a bashful smile, 'My lover,'

'I look like a girl?'

Aang looked over in the blood lake to see his reflection. He saw that he was no longer a translucent ghost outline of his form self, but now he had flesh and bone. His skin had grayed a little and his clothes, the same Airbender Monk clothes he had been wearing when he died long ago, were ragged and mostly tattered. His ears had pointed and he now had claws instead of hands. The only thing that remained the same as before were his Airbender tattoos.

Beelzebub then added after a pause, 'I didn't say dat 'n anyways, Belial's a male,'

Aang paused as his eyes widened. He turned around and looked at Beelzebub, '..did…did you say…male?'

Beelzebub nodded, 'Coarse I did,' He looked at Aang. 'What's wrong?'

Aang shook his head, 'Nothing! Nothing at all!'

Nothing except the fact that Aang had never met a man that preferred the company of men up until this point. Oh sure, he had heard about them having their little secret parties and clubs in different places, but he had never met them and never seen them. Not in his life. Not in his afterlife (or until now).

'Ya lookin' at me funny,' Beelzebub said.

'Oh! Sorry! Let's just get out of here,' Aang said.

Beelzebub shrugged and then flapped into the air and grabbed Aang's hand.

'Hey!' Aang said. He wiggled his hand in Beelzebub's claw nervously, 'Can't I fly?'

Beelzebub looked at Aang, 'Doan ya know anythin? Ya won't be able to get wings for a while. Ya were just made some hours go! You still smell like the blood lake,' Aang made a disappointed face. 'Aww, doan look so glum, kid. Ya'll grow fast as a demon,'

"You…WHAT?"

Zuko sighed and repeated what he just had stated before, "I lost, Katara,"

Uncle sighed in irritation. All he did was leave the two of them alone for a few minuets, that was all. Maybe they needed some time alone? he thought. Maybe they would talk to each other, but no…nothing ever works out so simplistically. Now Katara was gone and Zuko didn't know where she was and Uncle was left to help pick up the pieces. He sighed again – knowing that this wasn't going to be the only headache he would suffer at the hands of Zuko and Katara's antics.

"Where did you last see her?" Uncle asked.

"Over there," Zuko said, pointing to some stalls and a few buildings.

"In her condition, she couldn't have gotten very far," Uncle said, "You go that way and I'll go this way and if you find her, let me know,"

Zuko nodded, "Okay,"

Zuko and Uncle separated in their search for Katara.

'Being married must mean wanting to strangle your spouse every few minuets,' Zuko thought as he looked through the market for Katara (he wouldn't bring himself to the level of shouting her name, lest anyone get the wrong ideas about the girl and him).

He heard a commotion coming from nearby a building. Zuko rushed over, internally hoping that the girl wasn't the cause of it. When hen arrived, there was a crowd of people around. Zuko pushed through the crowd to see what was going on and paled. Not only was Katara in the middle of it, but there were Fire Nation soldiers there as well. Katara was facing the Fire Nation soldiers and seemed to be blocking a group of dirty children.

"You lie woman!" a Fire Nation soldier said to Katara.

"All I say is true!" Katara said, "So you better not harm me or these boys!"

"Katara! You idiot, what are you doing?" Zuko hissed at her, walking over.

"Zuko!" gasped one of the soldiers.

Zuko narrowed his eyes, "That's Prince Zuko to you. I maybe exiled but I still have my title," He saw that the soldier was too shocked to reply and Zuko gave Katara a ' what the hell did you do?' look and Katara gave him a 'play along and I'll explain later' smile.

"Is it true what this woman claims?" demanded one of the soldiers, "Is she your wife?"

Zuko paused. Katara and him looked at each other. Zuko then smiled convincingly, "Oh, yes, of course she's my…wife. We were just married…on…"

"Yoshiro Island!" Katara said instantly.

"Yeah, it was…a private…ceremony…thing," Zuko said. He then grabbed Katara, "Come on, Katara. Let's leave. NOW,"

"But what about these children?" Katara said, gesturing to the frightened, and now confused, children behind her.

"What about them?" Zuko asked.

"We can't just leave them here," Katara whispered.

"Why not?" Zuko whispered back.

"They're orphans!"

"So?"

"Fire Nation orphans,"

"Oh. So what do you want me to do?"

"Let them come with us!"

"No way!"

"Why not?"

"It's bad enough I have you on the ship!"

"They come or I don't,"

"It's my ship,"

"It's my decision,"

"I can make you come back with me anyways! Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I can tell everyone the truth – marriage and child included,"

Zuko paused and soon realized he had lost the argument. He hissed to Katara, "Damn you!" and then turned to the soldiers and spoke through clenched teeth, "My, uh, wife has requested that I take these children with me,"

"Very well. As long as we don't see the brats ever again," answered the soldiers as they left.

Most of the townspeople were still crowded around Zuko and Katara – amazed that the exiled prince of the Fire Nation would take a wife (and what normal girl would want to be married to him?)

"Let's get out of here," Zuko growled, walking off. He was already miffed that people thought he was married to the girl and even angrier at the fact that he now had to let some brats on his ship.

Katara turned to the children and smiled, "Come with me. I'll take care of you,"

The black eyed boy glared at Katara, "We don't need any help from Fire Nation scum,"

"But Sayven," said a little girl, "she saved us,"

"I don't care!" the boy answered, "She's still from the Fire Nation. She killed our families!"

Katara sighed and then held out her hand, hoping the boy would accept it, "I'm really a Waterbender, even if I am wearing these clothes. You trust me don't you? If I didn't like you, why would I have saved you in the first place?"

The boy glared at Katara. One of the other children, a younger boy holding a toddler's hand, tugged at the older boy's ragged shirt, "C'mon, Sayven. Mirany and me are both hungry and tired and this lady's nice,"

The boy snorted, "You're all a bunch of idiots!" The others flinched and the boy huffed. "Fine, we'll go with her, but after a day I'm leaving and letting you crybabies stay!"

Katara sighed – she could tell this was going to be just the beginning of a long day.

The soldiers returned to the general's fort to be summoned in front of the general himself. The general was sitting on his elegant, very expensive, wooden chair in the war room. He was surrounded by servents and his lieutenants as they planned thier attacks and operations. The lieutenants and servants stared at the soldiers as they sat at a long table. At the end of the table was the general.

"Did you dispose of those brats?" the general asked.

The head soldier shook his head, "I'm sorry, sir. Someone interfered,"

"Who?" demanded the general.

"A Fire Nation woman,"

The general was outraged, "You take the word of mere woman over your general?"

The soldier shook his head, "It was the wife of Prince Zuko. We couldn't harm her,"

The general's looks turned from rage to sudden interest, "The wife of Prince Zuko, you say? I know that spoiled brat of the Fire Lord and he would never take a wife!"

"But he did, sir," answered the soldier, "he was there to state it as well. He said they just been married,"

Now the general was even more interested, "Did he now? Hmm..." The general stood up and spoke to a servant nearby. "Ready my carriage! I think I will go and pay Prince Zuko a little visit,"

The servant nodded, "Right away, General Zhao,"

Chapter 8 is done! (breathes)It took me a very long time to do this certain chapter because of all the things that happen in it. I worked for 2 hours nonstop. (passes out)

PLEASE READ (about Beelzebub): "Beelzebub" does translate to "Lord of The Flies", but back then, flies were thought to be the souls of the departed, so he can also be called "Lord of The Souls". Beelzebub is often portrayed as Satan's second-in-command in such things as the poem "Paradise Lost" and the webcomic "Dealing with the Devil". Beelzebub is also called "Baal'zbub", which was the original Hebrew word. Often, Beelzebub and Satan are interchangeable. Sometimes they are not. In "Paradise Lost", the names of demons that went down to Hell with Satan, named Moloch, Belial, and Mammon, are featured. Beelzebub is from a Pre-Christian society's mythology, in which Beelzebub was the lord of the dead, thus him being the "lord of souls". Beelzebub was later integrated into Christianity when it first came around. – ZeroSoul