Azula had never felt such rage in a long time. This anger that resided inside her stomach was waiting to be unleashed. To bring hell to those who contradicted her orders, her ubiquitous power the only thing that should be understood. In order to get anywhere in this line of work, people had to coincide with her beliefs and laws. No one should undermine her prowess, as doing so would result in their untimely end.

Standing in her chambers, Azula threw another bottle of imported perfume, uncaring that it socked her Asian rug, not a goddamn thing. Her room was a total mess and the servants knew to stay away from her unless called in. The guards she had handpicked were gathering the others into the main chamber to be questioned.

Normally the interrogators would go about questioning them one by one, but in this case it was best to address the crowd who feared and respected her. Azula knew what was at stake at the moment. If the traitor was not found by the end of the week there would a burning of innocents. Whoever had taken out the grate from the attic prison and revealed her true name, they were going to pay for it, the cost high: their life.

She was no fool; others would love to wipe out her empire, the one her father had left. Ozai was away in jail, for assault and murder in another state. He had been there since she was sixteen, leaving everything to her in case the police caught up with him. He had made it clear that for control she would have to be ruthless, the perfect abductor in order to bring the business up from lower grounds, so to speak.

So far she had not disappointed him, especially since this facility remained undiscovered even now. But there were moments that seemed dark, as if they were about to be rooted from their nest. This was not her home, but it was the second best thing she had. It reminded her of a father who believed in what they were doing. After the divorce and them moving to Detroit, it became clear whose sides they were on.

It disgusted her to think of that spineless older brother. He believed that Ursa was right, that they were pure. They of course had no idea what Ozai really did for a living and that was good. They didn't need those low-lives. They might as well be eradicated from her memory. Azula didn't want them around; her place was here, in this palace that her father and grandfather before him had created.

Azula stood in the mess, her anger still there but abated, calm like the eyes of the storm. In this case she would have to keep a level head, to pursue the problem and dispose of it. But once she found out who the traitor was, there would be great pleasure to be had in ending their miserable life. Perhaps not by death; that would be a bit melodramatic. No, the best course of action would be to instill that fear, a freezing cold realization that they had lost.

Revenge was going to be sweet.

After cleaning herself up and making her appearance right, Azula left her chamber and heard the locking mechanism click into place after closing the door. It can only be opened by a microchip planted inside her bracelet. If anyone , besides her personal maids who had the same chip, should try to enter, they would tried for treason and given two options: to work as a pleasure slave or die. Needless to say, quite a few only wanted death.

Traversing the long corridor, she could hear the sounds of prostitutes getting ready for bed. Their room were locked of course. Even she knew that the slaves needed to rest in order for them to be fresh for tomorrow's work. Azula wasn't completely heartless in what she did for a living. In fact, some of these prostitutes came to her on their own, whores who were desperate for money and protection from the outside world while still others were in it for the joy.

Only a select few liked it rough; nothing was off the table. They took beating, playacting, even abuse because it was all they knew growing up. Then there were the opposite ones, those who were softer and gentle. Among the people of this pleasure palace there was some free will. However, most of the slaves were those who didn't want to be here. People like Violet or Aang, those who hadn't really had a choice in the affairs.

All in all, it was great to be queen in the place. Nobody had thought to disobey her and, if they had, they either died or were punished to point of near insanity.

Now someone had tipped the scales, to have the audacity in letting Aang, who had so much potential and passion, get away from her seemingly iron clutches.

It was time to find out who.

The crowd was silent when she entered the throne room. Most had an unreadable look, though some of them looked a little nervous. One of the two guards was present, leaving the other to be unknown. Frowning a little, she kept the thought to herself, but perhaps there was a reason for the man not being there. Regardless, it was time to begin this. If he turned out to be the traitor, there was nowhere for him to go.

Facing the crowd, she spoke. "My subjects, we have a traitor among up."

Whispers could be heard, some murderous, others worried. They all knew the penalty for treason in a place like this; they had seen it often enough, even during her grandfather's time. Azula was not one to break from protocol, nor should they expect special treatment just because of how long some of them had worked here.

She let the murmurs go on for about twenty seconds before raising her hand for silence, who was immediate. "Now, I do not believe any of the prostitutes have anything to do with the escape, nor the servants. Only guards have had the privilege to come and go as they please while servants had to have an escort by my choosing.

"Without doubt, whoever had released Aang is here, in this facility, and will be punished severely. However, I am offering a light in this dark hour. Whoever released Aang will have the opportunity to come forth. Admit what you have done and the punishment will be less tiresome." Sitting down on her throne, Azula waited, eyes scanning the faces before her. For years she had been able to read people like a book and believed her skills to be top notch.

Though nervous or angry, so far none them showed even the remotest betrayal. But there was something, just hanging there on the edge of her consciousness. A blank space of a sort, as if something should be there but wasn't. She turned to Horace, one of the men she trusted to do her bidding. A man in his mid sixties with gray hair clipped short and trimmed beard, he had worked with her grandfather before he had retired, leaving Ozai in charge until the law caught him. "Where is Chan?" she asked him in an undertone.

A faint frown marred his aged face. "He should have been back before now, Mistress. He would never miss out on bringing judgment unto those guilty of treason."

He read her mind. Horace was a man of action and military bearings, so he would understand how a man would think. Him and Chan were something of friends in this place. If he to felt a sense of wrongness, than it was safe to assume so. Something was amiss and they had to find out what it was. "Perhaps you should-"

The slamming open of doors interrupted her words and there stood Chan, but he didn't look good. Blood mated his hair at his temple and he looked ready to pass out. Everyone in the room stopped talking to look around at him. There were at least thirty guards as a whole, both men and women, who were of strong stock, but even they looked a little unnerved about the intrusion.

Two men rushed forward to catch Chan, who was about to fall. Azula stood up, concern peeking behind her cloud of self -importance as he was brought over to her. Climbing down, she winced a little at the blood, but after a moment's examination concluded that there was not too much damage to his head. His leg, however, was sporting a bullet wound, weeping red. The sight of him like this pulled something in her chest, as if strings were playing with her frozen, black heart.

She demanded, "What's happened? Who did this to you?"

He met her eyes, pain evident, and when he spoke it was in a whisper. "Someone I didn't think would have the guts to do it." Wincing he clenched his teeth, no doubt due to a pulsing headache and bleeding cavity.

Horace came over, his face turning into a that of a stern soldier. "Tell us, Chan. Who attacked you?"

Chan managed one word before passing out, one name that could turn the tide in the palace. His voice was almost gone as he lost consciousness.

"Lee."

(***)

Twenty Minutes Earlier

Chan was more than happy to take on the task of gathering the other guards. He had no fear of course because he was nothing but loyal to the Mistress. Azula Hellfire was a beauty, of a cold blade glinting deadly in the light. People thought they fucked just for fun, but to him, it was something more than that. Sure he had plenty of people to mess with, but Azula was different.

He could not say if he was in love with her or only in lust, but he cared for her. They had known each other since they were kids and he hoped one day he wouldn't be a lowly guard. More than anything he felt the need to protect her, though he knew she was capable of doing so herself. Chan was more than a dumb lump; he had brains and a heart, dark as it is.

Horace was by his side, both of them in the guards section of the palace, knocking on doors to announce the meeting. They had to find out who the rat was. Not only had they helped a slave escape, they also revealed Azula's name and if they got out with that kind of information, it could mean the end of their lives in freedom. They had to stop the threat so they could continue to live the way everyone was used to.

Upon reaching an intersection, Chan looked to his friend. "You head down that way, I'll take this corridor. It'll be faster if we split up."

Horace didn't argue, though he looked a little worried. "Let's make this quick. Her Highness doesn't like anything of importance held up."

Chan nodded in understanding. "I'll see you in the throne room in fifteen minutes."

They went their separate ways after that. It didn't take him long to reach the end of the hall, the last room being Lee's. The other guards had left post haste to the chamber, some nervous while others were downright curious. When he reached Lee's door, he hesitated. There was no way the boy would do something a foolish as save a prisoner, would he? Most of the time he been reluctant, sure, but he couldn't be stupid enough to do this.

Nonetheless it was his job to make sure that all the guards were present for the meeting. Resolving himself to the inevitable, Chan knocked. There was no answer after the sound withered away. Frowning, he thought for a moment. Perhaps he wasn't in the room, but that didn't make sense. Lee wasn't one of the guys to partake in late night fiasco's. Maybe he was in the kitchens or the game room, but that didn't sound like him either.

Deciding to check things out, he opened the door. Once again something didn't add up. Lee was a very private person. His door being unlocked was a bad sign. However he had to find out if the boy was alright. There was no other choice.

When he entered the room, it was dark, the opaque black almost palpable.

"Lee?" he said, the dark seeming to eat the name before it could reach the far corners.

When he stepped farther into the room, a tingle went up his neck, and the foreboding feeling worsened when the door closed with an almost inaudible click. Spinning about, he looked behind him, and that was when the lights came on.

There stood Lee, his face impassive as he stared at him.

But what Chan saw made his blood freeze.

Lee held a gun in his hand. And it was pointing steadily at Chan.

Of course he had one, but it was in his own chamber. He didn't even think he would need one. Now he was regretting not having it on his person.

Raising his hands in surrender he tried to talk sense into Lee. "Easy man, just take it easy." It couldn't be him, anyone but Lee. But the evidence was there right in front of him. Chan wasn't stupid; the traitor was someone he had wanted to believe was his friend. But now he looked about ready to kill, the gun gleaming in the artificial light, unwavering.

Lee frowned slightly, hand still in its certainty. "You are an idiot, Chan," he said, voice devoid of emotion. "It's almost funny that you didn't figure it out before now."

His thoughts were in a rampage, but he could focus on one thought. One question. "Why?" he asked softly, betrayed by someone he once believed he could count on.

Anger simmered in Lee's cool golden eyes. "Did you think I cared about this place?" His fingers tightened on the handle, looking about ready to pull the trigger. "I could care less about this shit hole. From the moment I arrived here I was plotting, but no one, not even Azula, knew about it."

Heart thumping with adrenaline, Chan knew his chances of making out of this alive were slim, but he had to try to understood why Lee would want to ruin this place while he thought of a way out. "I don't get it, Lee. I mean, sure you had seemed hesitant, but I didn't think you would hate this job."

Chuckling grimly, Lee smiled heartlessly. "You don't really know, do you?"

Confused he lowered his hands slightly. "What are you talking about?"

Any humor vanished as the boy answered his question. Though nineteen, Lee appeared older than that, as if he bore a terrible weight on his shoulders. "I came here three years ago to get someone out. Someone who was taken from us in Michigan, my little sister who was fourteen at the time. She was killed before I could get her out of this place for not wanting to service a brute who enjoyed choking women into unconsciousness."

Chan thought back to those times, when Azula was still fairly new to being in charge. There had been a couple of executions during that time, but only one stuck in his mind. Looking Lee in the face, he had to wonder how he never saw it. The bone structure, delicately carved, the thin but rosy lips, and the arched eyebrows were dead giveaways.

Chan shook his head. "On Ji?"

Lee growled when the name was uttered. "Your bitch murdered her, drowning my sister in the Water Chamber in a damn tank, as if it were a show for everyone. On Ji was afraid of the water because of sharks. She knew how to swim, though, but Azula didn't stop filling that tank until..." Pain filled his face, teeth clenching in horror. "I had to watch On Ji drown, knowing I couldn't help her." Rage pulsed in his temple, eyes slits. "Do you have any idea what's that like, wanting to help someone but powerless to do it?"

No, he didn't, because he'd been an only child, and his parents were addicts. Azula had been the only one he really cared about, other than a select few, but he didn't understand the need to protect family in the sense that Lee had. His parents didn't care about him and vice versa. They might as well be dead.

Lee shook his head, hand tightening on the trigger. "I'm going to destroy this place just as she destroyed my life. You know my mom committed suicide after the police found her daughter's body on a riverbank? No, of course you fucking don't. My mother, a pure person by definition, overdosed on sleeping pills. I was taking a short leave of absence after the drowning incident and found my mother dead in her bed."

Swallowing, Chan didn't know what to think. In a way he felt sorry for Lee, losing two women in his life due to harsh circumstances. If he lost Azula in any way, he didn't know what he would do. But now he had to take action because he believed Lee was about to shoot to kill. "I'm sorry, Lee, but what happened to your sister wasn't my fault."

Lee laughed harshly, the sound chilling since it lacked any humor. "I don't care if you had a hand in it or not. After coming back I knew I had to take revenge, for both my sister and my mother."

"What about your dad?" he asked, curious despite the situation.

A blank look appeared on his face. "I don't know where he is. He left shortly after On Ji was born. He used my mom as a breeder before going on to the next conquest, not much different from the rest of these pigs. I don't care where he is; as far as I'm concerned, he's dead to me."

Taking a breath he asked, "Were you the one who saved Aang, too?"

"Yes," he replied tonelessly, though there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his face. "And before you ask, I was the one to inform his father of some secrets, including Azula's name." He snorted in contempt. "She thinks so highly of herself, it never seemed to cross her mind that I was the one betraying her. But she's not completely stupid; she knows one of us is. But I'll be long gone before the truth comes to pass."

Chan shook his head. "You can't win this, Lee. Azula is too powerful; she has spies everywhere. She will kill you before you can go to the authorities with this. " Taking a step forward, Chan tried to calm Lee down from the mental ledge. "Let's just-"

The sound of a shot echoed in the stillness of the air and pain obliterated his left thigh. Collapsing, Chan screamed raw at the nearly blinding wound. Lee came closer to him and knelt down, grabbing Chan's chin and jerking his face up. Nothing but apocalyptic rage showed in an otherwise impassive face. "I'm going to help bring this place down, Chan, and there's nothing you can do to stop the process."

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he muttered, "Are you going to kill me, then?"

Smiling grimly, Lee shook his head. "You're more useful to me alive, at least for now. I have a message for Azula: Her day of reckoning is coming. Pass that on from me, would you?" Turning the gun around until the handle was free, he added, "But I need a little time to get out of here. So, old friend, this is where we part ways."

Before Chan could utter a response, the gun's handle rammed into his temple, and as the world faded away, Lee, the traitor, left the room.

(***)

As Chan was taken into the medical ward for treatment, Azula fumed, though for outward appearances she kept her cool. She had so much to think about. Time had passed like lightning and she knew for a fact that Lee was long gone. But that didn't mean he couldn't be found, and when he was, she would bring hell upon his head. No one messed with her lover and got away with it.

As the gurney disappeared down the hall, she turned to the other guards and dismissed them before going back to her room. A maid was inside, cleaning up the mess Azula had created. When the young woman looked up in fear, the Mistress felt no need to punish the girl. Her mind felt drained of all that had happened in the last hour. Hopefully once Chan was awake, they could plot their next move. For now, decisive action had to be taken.

"I will be in the bath, Loraine. Carry on."

Once seated in the hot water with jets soothing her back and thighs, Azula thought of what to do. She knew this place was most like compromised, so evacuation was inevitable. There was a series of underground tunnels beneath the complex should something of this nature occur. The faster they move the better, but she knew they couldn't leave without Chan. Perhaps she was a bit soft for the man, but whether one believes it or not, they never left fallen comrades behind.

While her main room was being cleaned, Azula wandered into the spare, dressed in a rose colored robe and settled on the settee. Yes, evacuation protocol had to be commenced as soon as possible. Once Chan was stable, they could leave. A twinge in her chest at the thought. This was close to home, the one place she could have power. But now her kingdom was falling into ruin, all because of Lee.

Anger swamped her once more the thought of that treacherous boy. He will pay the price for his indiscretions, and it would fall upon her to make an example of him once he was captured. He has no idea how cunning she can be when in the heat of rage. Her countenance was calm, but inside she was a fortress of flames, consuming everything until only relevant thoughts occupied her mind.

Yes, Lee will pay, alongside Aang who refused to be what he was forced into. Anyone with him, like Katara and Sokka, would perish in different ways. Perhaps she would keep Aang alive, but only for him to watch as Katara was slowly deprived of her will to live. It sounded deliciously dark and seductive.

Hell will reign once she had all of the pieces of her game in place. Linda and Josh will be among the pawns, waiting to be destroyed for their king. A sly smile curved her lips.

Let the games begin...