Chapter 10 Séance

"So what are you going to do?" Sokka stopped in his tracks, his arms full of candles, and stared at the girls climbing over the fallen logs.

"A séance," Yue said for the fourth time. "Seriously, is there something wrong with your hearing?"

"Mine's fine, totally fine. I'm fine. But you, on the other hand, are completely insane. In fact, I think you're as bad as her over there."

Sokka tossed a scowl in Katara's direction while Yue gazed at him.

"And I think that if you really do want to help us in a conductive, nonviolent manner, then you'd better just shut up and help us with what we're doing." She said.

Sokka opened his mouth angrily, but then shut it quickly again. Swearing deeply under his breath, Sokka leaped over the logs and faced his sister.

"And you're telling me that Wu was in our house and actually knew about all of this?"

"Yeah," Katara answered. "And you were right about Katara getting out of the fire that night – or that's what Aunt Wu thought. That's why Zuko came back. Because he's so miserable living without her."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Sokka exclaimed, "I didn't think he was living."

"He just loves her so much!" Yue felt Katara's elbow in her side and added quickly, "I mean – loved her so much!"

"Hmm." Sokka stared at both of them through narrowed eyes. "And Aunt Wu said that if you contacted him, then he'd go away and leave you alone?"

Yue and Katara quickly exchanged silent glances before nodding together.

"Well it's worth a try, right?" Yue insisted.

"Oh well." Sokka rolled his eyes, "Well then, because Yue-the-one-who-is-always-right, said so –"

Katara ignored their bantering and pulled at Sokka's sleeve. "So when are we planning the séance?"

"If the anniversary of the fire is around tomorrow, I say we better do it quick." Yue spoke out. "The quicker the better, in fact, I say we try it tonight."

Sokka shook his head and tired to pry Katara off of him. "Hey, how do we know it's even gonna work?"

Yue ignored him. "So it's decided then. We'll do it tonight. Darkness is more conductive to the spirit world."

Sokka threw her a wry glance. "And who made you the spiritual expert?"

"I, in fact, happen to know a lot about séances." Yue defended herself. "Remember when I interviewed that medium for the school article?"

"Yeah. The one who turned out to be a big fake?"

Yue made a face at him and even Katara had to smile at the two.

"Darkness is better," she repeated. "And three is a good, magical number."

"I don't want Katara to get hurt in anyway."

The two girls stared at Sokka, who had seemed to become very serious.

"Maybe Zuko's just…trapped in someway." Yue ventured softly. "You know, between this world and the next. Maybe he's too connected with the people and events here that he can't move on."

Sokka shrugged. He gave his sister a sidelong glance. "Which means Katara."

"Exactly, which means Katara. So the way I see it, all we have to do is convince Zuko that he's dead."

"And how do you plan to do that? Hey Zuko, you need to get on with your life buddy! Oh –sorry – I mean afterlife!" Sokka's voice was mocking.

Yue, however, wasn't amused. "We'll just tell him okay? God Sokka, could you be any more of a – "

"I should tell him," Katara broke in. "I seem to be the one Zuko is most connected with, and so I should be the one to tell him."

"I don't like that." Sokka muttered. "I don't like it at all."

Yue's patience had reached its end. "What, you have a better suggestion?"

"You just don't know who we're dealing with! You and Katara are acting as though this is going to turn out like a romance novel where everyone's going to live happily every after! I'm telling you now, there's something wrong here. I can feel it! From everything I've heard about that day, Zuko wanted to save Katara from the fire and succeeded in doing so. Katara managed to get out and he died, so why's he still here?"

"Sokka, you don't know a thing about love." Yue snapped at him. "They were separated, Sokka, torn from each other. They planned to be with each other in life and death, so if Katara tells him to go, he probably –"

"You think he'll just go? Well think about this! What if he does, but then decides to take Katara with him?"

"Oh stop it!" Katara shouted. You know don't you Sokka? What could happen even though I haven't told you… "Stop arguing and let's just do this!"

The two nodded sheepishly and walked on quietly through the woods, following her. Strangely, even though Katara had come there only twice, she knew the exact way to the small clearing. As the reached the edge of the clear ground, Katara stopped in her tracks and looked back.

"So where should we hold the séance?" she spoke again, more calmly and quietly this time.

Yue walked up next to her and then right past her to the center of the clearing. She motioned for Sokka to follow suit and he reluctantly did so. He dumped all of the candles onto the ground and stepped back.

"This is crazy." He grumbled. "God I can't believe we're standing here talking about this like it's –"

"Normal? No, it's not really normal, Sokka, but it's real. It is happening and we're the only ones that can stop this once and for all."

Sokka stared at Yue. She could see the worry in his eyes and heard him sigh as he ran one hand back through his hair.

"So we call him up." Sokka stated. "Then what happens?"

Yue looked at him proudly. "I've got it all planned out. Katara tells him she loves him. She gives him back the ring, and then he goes away."

"But this isn't Zuko's Katara, she's my sister." Sokka argued.

"But back then, she was." Yue was growing impatient again. "And Zuko thinks she is now, so that's all that matters. Problem solved."

"Just like that."

"Yeah, just like that."

Sokka made a noise of disgust in his throat and sat down on the cold earth. He looked over his shoulder at Katara.

"At nine, then. Mom's going over to Aunt Joe's tonight and I don't want her asking any questions."

"Nine o'clock." Yue affirmed.

"And not a word of this to anyone." Sokka reminded.

Slipping one arm around Katara's shoulder, she tried to sound confident. "Don't worry Sokka, we're doing the right thing."

"Yeah?" Sokka's troubled expression caught the girl's eyes. "Then how come it feels so wrong?"

….

"I guess we're ready then." Katara said, looking through her backpack.

Sokka pulled a flashlight out of her hands and flicked the light on Katara's face. As she put up a hand to block the sudden light, he flicked it off. Then he switched it back on.

"Will you quit that out?" Katara said with an annoyed edge on her voice. "Sokka, this is serious!"

"I know Katara, and I'm just being a good sport about the situation." He feigned innocence. "You and Yue obviously know what you're doing. You'll get no problems from me, I promise."

And with that, once more the flashlight shone in Katara's face and once more she grabbed for it. She was still in the process of wrestling it out of Sokka's hands when Yue opened their back door and entered, letting in a gust of icy, stinging wind. "Oh my god it's cold, it's starting to rain a bit I think."

Katara felt Sokka's grip loosen. She pulled away from him just in time to catch the expression on his face. He was staring at Yue. Oh my god Sokka, you are so helplessly in love with her. Sokka finally grunted and turned around, grabbing for his pack on the floor.

Yue, too, was staring Katara noticed. Taking in the full length of Sokka's backside, from his shaggy hair to his baggy dark sweater and jeans. As Sokka turned around without warning, Yue cleared her throat and gestured towards the door.

"It's raining a bit." She muttered again lamely for the second time.

"Thanks for the weather report. Twice." Sokka teased, deadpan.

Katara sighed, moment ruined. "Sokka, shut up."

"You don't have to come you know." Yue informed him primly. "I'm sure Katara and I can manage fine on our own."

Sokka's tone was all seriousness. "But I might get scared staying here all alone in the dark house. I better go along with you so you two can protect me."

Well, that settled that. Bundled against the cold, the trio cut across the backyard and climbed over the fallen logs, which had the faint spots of sprinkling rain. No one spoke as they neared the clearing, the way there still fresh in their minds. The beams from their flashlights shone uselessly against the smothering shadows of the night, and the sky was quickly thickening with dark rain clouds. As Katara watched the clearing and the bushes looming before them, she thought it had never loosed so somber, so tragically sad, so…

So haunted…

At the edge, the three paused and then Sokka walked in. Katara stared at the spot where Sokka had been standing. Frowning slightly, she glanced back toward a tree, the tree at which she had died.

Yue noticed Katara spacing off and nudged her a bit. "Katara, you ok?"

Katara shook her head. As her eyes began focusing upon the tree trunk, an icy chill began to crawl through her veins. No…Sokka…no

"Don't let him go there." Katara said suddenly. "Make him come out."

Yue looked utterly confused. "What?"

"I don't know…" Katara reached over for her friend. "Something…I don't know. The weather too…I don't think we should be doing this –"

"Of course we should be doing this, we already had this discussion! We all agreed –"

"Well I don't agree now. I want Sokka to get out of there. Please Yue, make him come out. No, we aren't doing the right thing! Sokka was right. Yue, this doesn't feel right."

"But Kat –"

"It's my and Zuko's incident! I should go alone."

"I won't let you do that – I guarantee that Sokka won't."

"Sokka? Sokka where are you?" Katara called out anxiously. Had he answered? The silence and darkness was so thick, so overwhelming, it felt like shadows echoing over and over through her head.

Katara cautiously walked over a log and into the large open clearing. She heard Sokka's whispering voice in front of her. The beam of Yue's flashlight joined hers in a wide, slow arc, revealing more of the dirt ground and bushes around them. Then suddenly, there! Katara saw Sokka's flashlight and quickly walked towards him before she could lose him again.

"Sokka," she whispered, "I think…I think that I should be doing this alone. You and Yue should just leave. I want to contact Zuko by myself."

Yue had quickly caught up with Katara and was now standing on the other side of Sokka.

"Don't even think about it! We're not going to leave you alone!" And as Sokka remained silent, Yue murmured, "Are we Sokka?"

Sokka seemed to rouse himself with great effort. In the dim glow of their flashlights, his skin shone unnaturally pale and thin.

"Tell her Sokka!" Yue was adamant. "Tell she's not staying by herself!"

"This place is so strong." Sokka whispered.

Startled, Katara took a step toward him. His face was expressionless, yet she could feel his fear, his dismay. She could feel his stunned realization of what was happening.

"Please go, Sokka." Katara asked again.

But he only continued to watch her. He watched her as she pleaded at him with her eyes. Slowly, Sokka shook his head and his lips tightened in a grim smile.

"I'm not leaving you Katara," he said quietly.

For a long moment, Katara just stared back at him. Despite his growing fear, Sokka's surge of protectiveness nearly overwhelmed her. His resolve was like stone. She could tell that he understood the enormity of the danger now and she opened herself to his strength.

At last she nodded.

"This is it then," she sighed. Reluctantly setting down her bag near the candles they had left earlier that day. "This is where we'll hold the séance." Yue walked towards her looking wary.

"Are you sure?"

Katara hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah I'm sure."

Together they emptied the contents of the bag. While Katara spread out the blanket one the forest floor, Yue stuck the candles as deep and stable as she could before Sokka lit them.

"Okay," Yue whispered after giving the set-up one last inspection. "I think that's it then. Everyone sit down now."

Before anyone could do anything, a sudden gust of rainy wind blew through the clearing, sending a mournful howl. The candles guttered wildly. As the flames tired to settle down, the two girls took their positions with Sokka between them. Yue set a candle onto the ground in the center of their little circle. Then they nervously joined hands.

"Okay," Yue whispered at last. "Go ahead Katara."

She looked uncertain. "What do I say?"

"Call for him. Tell him…you know…that he's dead." Yue thought for a moment, then added, "And even though they didn't die together in the barn that night, the real Katara is dead now. So he can just go back…wherever."

Katara nodded. She gave Yue's hand one last squeeze before letting out a slow breath.

"Zuko?" she began her voice low. "Zuko are you here?"

Silence. An ominous silence even deeper than it had been. It was so malevolent that Katara suddenly gasped and began talking faster.

"Zuko please answer me. It's Katara."

We shouldn't have come…I should have known better…Katara's mind went racing. She was having trouble keeping her thoughts in control. She ran her tongue nervously over her lips and tried even harder to concentrate.

"Zuko. It's me Katara. Can you hear me?"

But still only the still silence answered her question.

"Please Zuko, I need to talk to you."

Yue looked at her encouragingly and nodded. "Keep doing that, just keep saying his name."

"Or better yet, let's just give up and go home." Sokka exclaimed. He tried to get up and leave, but Yue's firm grip on his hand pulled him back down.

"Look, this is stupid!" Sokka tried to reason with her. "Even if he does recognize her voice, he isn't going to appear in front of a crowd. Let's just get out of here!"

Katara was ignoring them completely, just shutting them out. She had her eyes tightly shut as she concentrated and forced her memory to become sharper – his face…golden eyes… his passion when he kissed her…his touch…

"I know you've been trying to reach me," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I just want you do know that I miss you…and I'm here for you…I love you…"

Opening her eyes, Katara stared into the flame of the center candle. She could see the piercing brightness of its light, calming her, hypnotizing her. Then she heard him. His voice so clear and unmistakable that it resounded through her entire body.

"Nothing will happen to me as long as I have you…"

"You do still have me Zuko," she whispered.

From some remote part of herself, Katara could see Yue looking at her so strangely, and Sokka's mouth opening in a horrified, silent cry. She frowned and stared back at them, their figures so close yet so distant. Who are these people, why are they here with Zuko and me?

"You still have me, Zuko." She said again and the young brow-haired man next to her was shouting at her now, frantic words that she couldn't hear. And the young woman who looked so terrified…

"You'll always have me!"

A freezing gust of air swept across them in the cold night. From nowhere, came a low moan, a sound of such anguish and despair that Katara's heart felt torn out of her chest. She held out her arms as if she could gather all of the pain into herself.

"I love you Zuko." Katara said strongly.

Her words were lost as strong lips pressed upon hers, a kiss both fierce and desperate. Through a hazy fog she could see the two people still there, but they were also beginning to fade, their pale frightened faces shimmering weakly.

"Who are you?" Katara's voice trembled slightly with rage. Cold drops of rain began falling into her eyes and matting her hair. "What are you doing at our place?" and yet, Katara could sense the real reason for their visit, some part of her sensed the imminent danger –

"Azula sent you didn't she? Well we will never be separated! Leave us alone!"

"Katara!" to her horror, the young man was shouting at her, "Tell him Katara! Tell him he has to go!"

"Go away!"

As Katara reached out of his grasp, the young man's eyes suddenly widened and rolled back into his head. She could see his hands working frantically at his throat, his skin turning dark red, the deep marks of someone else's fingerprints forming along his windpipe. The woman screamed as something struck her violently, hurling her to the floor.

Katara stood silently and watched. The young man wasn't struggling anymore. He gave out only the weakest of sighs and his knees buckled underneath him.

The young woman was sobbing hysterically, her voice almost lost in the howling of rain and wind. As Sokka fell forward, he spoke to her in one last whisper:

"Help me Yue…something bad…"

Quietly, one by one, the candles went out.