Lockup

It was a room fit for a princess.

The first impression was of its size. Compared to the pathetically cramped holes several levels down, the room could be called a palace in its own right. The grand bed in the back of the room came nowhere near the polished, dark metal walls on either side of it, and the silk canopy trailing from the ceiling down past the mattress obscured any sight of them. There was enough room between the door and the foot of the bed to serve as a training ground, even for one of the Princess' Firebending power. The furniture pieces were works of art in and of themselves, carved out of strong wood, hammered and shaped from the most pure gold, and decorated with jewels whose worth could be measured in the lives it took to retrieve them from their underground homes.

The best part, though, was the view.

The window practically took up a whole wall by itself, allowing a glorious breeze whenever the wind visited, but the panorama it afforded was the main draw. The prison grounds themselves were invisible, so high was the tower containing the room, but the Boiling Lake (the largest of its kind in the Fire Nation) and the naturally shaped volcanic rock beyond it were enticingly visible, and framed by the heavy burgundy curtains that themselves were practically a symbol of the Royal Family.

The heat could be annoying, but Azula was nothing if not used to heat.

A gentle knock came from the door. The Princess called in return, her voice mellow, a false hint of emotion flavoring the words. "You may enter."

The door slid open. Once it had creaked with rust, but the Princess had been annoyed by that. One word was all that had been necessary.

The Warden entered and bowed. "My Princess. The reply came back." His over-sized lips almost quivered. "Our petition was denied again."

Azula would later unleash an inferno of rage at this development, but for now she needed to remain in control. "I don't blame you, Warden. You have been most agreeable to me during my stay here."

The Warden bowed again, a childish smile blossoming on his hideous face. "It has been my pleasure to serve, my Princess."

"I know. Why don't you join me for dinner later? We can discuss our next move. Perhaps some additional pressure on your niece will finally lead to my release." Azula stood up and slowly stepped over to her guest. "And I'll take you with me. Together, the world will become one great opportunity for us."

The Warden was practically trembling in his armored uniform. Azula placed a hand against the right side of his face. She leaned her face towards the left, and whispered. "Make sure the food is extra special tonight."

She snapped away and walked back towards the window. "Dismissed."

The Warden practically skipped out of the room, after one last bow. So disgusting, really. His looks were horrible enough, but he didn't improve his bearing any with such unrefined mannerisms. Azula would be doing Mai's family a favor by killing him.

After she got out of here, of course.

END