Day One ~ Confession

I woke up the next morning to Rena calling my name again. She convinced the guards to have my hands tied in front of me, instead of tied to the back wall. It's not like I could bend, with the Waterbending-prevention silk cloth wrapped around my hands. Plus I was so dehydrated, I couldn't even sweat water to bend.

Once I was awake, Ren bathed me again and dressed me. Today was my first day serving Prince Zuko. I don't believe the initial shock happened yet, because I still acted like a zombie. I followed directions, I didn't talk, I didn't want too. I just wanted to be in the arms of my brother or at home.

When my preparation was completed I followed Ren out of the prison and down a couple of hallways. A guard joined us sometime along the way, but I didn't notice because I was too busy paying attention to my feet. Then we stopped, and I looked up at Ren.

"This is the way to my room," said Ren, looking down a long hallway. "I'm sure a Royal Guard can take you to your room?"

She looked up at the guard and he nodded. Ren embraced me and I was thankful for the warmth. Before she released me she whispered in my ear, "Everything will be alright."

Everything won't be alright, I wanted to scream. I'm a Waterbender in a Fire Nation palace, I was screwed. She released me and smiled, showing little of her teeth. I tried to smile back but I couldn't, my lips just moved up a little, showing I cared. She turned and walked down her hallway, disappearing into the darkened hallway.

"This way," grumbled the guard. He hardly moved his lips, but he started to walk away and I decided to follow. We kept walking down the same hallway until, we stopped at a set of double doors. The Fire Nation symbol painted on the two doors; glowing torches burning nest to each door. The guard opened the door and took me by my wrist restraints.

I gasped at the quick pain and looked up at him.

"Welcome, to the Fire Nation."

Then he pushed me through the open door and I tripped over the long Fire Nation skirt I was wearing. Ren tied my hair in a loose bun, but because of the fall some of my bangs covered my face. I didn't want to look up, I couldn't handle if he was looking back at me.

"What the hell?"

I heard the voice comes from a joining room, and my eyes snapped open.

"I said I didn't want any visitors today!"

I heard footsteps.

"I told my father I was only here for privacy! Guar—."

He stopped talking; I could see the outline of shoes, his shoes?

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer, I didn't want him to hear my voice. To notice who I was.

"Are you even from here? Answer me!"

I couldn't help it, I had to open my mouth before he would hurt me from not talking.

"Don't be stupid, Zuko."

"How dare you talk to me like that, I'm your prince!"

My head slowly moved upward to face him, my bangs slowly moving to the side.

"Katara?" He started, and then he crouched down. "What are you doing here? I told Aang and your brother to get away from here."

"We were following out your plan, to take out Azula."

"I could've done that. I couldn't risk getting all of you hurt."

I brushed off his statement. "You betrayed us Zuko, again."

"I told you I was leaving the group, so I could turn myself into the Fire Nation. My father was making too much of a problem without me here. I taught Aang what he needed to know about defeating the Firelord. Anyway, why are you even here? Weren't the others captured?"

"The guards just took me."

"Figures, they are using you to bring the Avatar here. Katara, you're the bait."

"I know, but we can not let them get Aang, Zuko. He's the only one who can stop your father."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to play along and see what happens. If Aang is smart he'll sneak into the Palace and not go on a tangent, for capturing his girlfriend."

I didn't say anything. Zuko got up and held out his hand. I held out both of my hands and showed him the silk cloth. He rolled his eyes and grabbed a knife from a nearby table, and cut off the cloth. He then took my hand and helped me up. He could see I was hurt and he took my arm and rolled up the thin sleeve. He saw my veins pulsing, begging for water.

"Here," he said and walked over to a pitcher and glass of water. I walked over, and when I finally saw he was going to let me drink, I took the entire pitcher and drank…and drank…and drank. "They really dehydrated you."

"You have no idea."

"You still didn't answer my question, Katara. Why are you here?"

"I disobeyed your father for not giving him the respect he requested, which he didn't deserve anyway. In return he punished me to stay here with you."

"As a servant? Katara that's not all that bad, I don't ask for much, but I'll make sure my father sees you're doing your work."

"I don't want him to see our work. Zuko, you and I, we have to…Zuko, I'm not a servant, I'm the one who is to give you sexual pleasure."