Crossroads
AN: Like many of you have suggested, it is time that I move this story along. From here on, things will be moving at a much faster pace. I do hope that you enjoy it. Let me know how I am doing. Please, be kind. I don't respond great to negative criticism if it's done rudely and curtly. Be kind and have a great Christmas!
Desperation, Part I
The following morning, Toph woke up to an empty bed. She reached her hand across the bed, but both of her firebenders were gone. The room was eerily quiet, only the breeze that came from the open window was her companion. She laid in bed a little longer, her eyes closed as she inhaled the scent of Zuko's pillow.
When she was done, Toph removed the covers off her and took her precious time getting up. She was tired, exhausted from not being able to sleep. Zuko's proximity stirred emotions within her. She wanted to be alone with him, but everyone around them seemed to have a different idea. They were never alone; someone was always interrupting them. She couldn't be near him, because her parents were always voicing their displeasure about their relationship. It was getting tedious and complicated. She wanted to please everyone, but it was never enough, she needed to get as far away from her parents. Distance was always good when the soul needed rest. Her soul was weary. Hopefully, today was going to be different.
She placed her feet on the cool marble floor and winced. She stood up slowly, as her feet aided her in sensing the vibrations around her. She could see Rae's toys piled in the corner of the room. An inexplicable tightness filled her chest. She fisted her night gown and gulped. Her throat was dried and her eyes stung with unshed tears. She'd felt utterly confused - powerless. She needed to see Rae. She felt the desire to scoop his tiny body against hers and hold him for no apparent reason. She felt a chill in her bones and it scared her. The last time she'd experienced this familiar feeling was when she discovered she was alone and pregnant. The sudden fear overwhelmed her. She tried to push the thought away, but all it did was send warning bells in the back of her mind.
"Just breathe, Toph," she told herself. "Everything is going to be fine. I'm just too stressed. I'll see Rae soon,"
Toph walked around her bed, but the odd and peculiar feeling from earlier still lingered. It draped over her like a blanket. Toph yawned and rubbed the sleep off her eyes. She took in her surroundings, again. Everything around her was normal, but something was completely off. She trudged to the door and sensed that different guards were posted at the entrance of the corridor that led to her room. She could also sense the seismic vibrations coming throughout every angle of the mansion; everything seemed to be in order, for the time being, but, why did everything seem out of place?
She ambled back to the direction of her bed and stopped by the chaise lounge near the large four post canopy bed. She retrieved her night robe and reached for the bell on her night table and rang for her maid. A few minutes later, a soft knock graced her door.
"Come in," Toph said casually.
The door was gently pushed open, a small, yellow dressed female servant materialized in front of Toph. She was petite; a pleasant smile adorned her plain face. Her hair was pulled into two braids that hung over her shoulders. In her hands, she held a silver tray with a warm cup of tea. Toph had never seen her. She was definitely new. She didn't recognize her seismic vibrations when she came knocking on Toph's door.
"Are you new?" Toph raised an eyebrow quizzically as she analyzed the seismic vibration that stemmed from the young girl. Something was wrong! Something was definitely wrong!
"Yes, I was hired yesterday," the servant said in a small voice.
"I see," Toph said unconvinced.
"I was sent by Song. She's busy preparing the food, Master Toph," The young maid said, giving Toph a quick bow. "I was told to bring you a warm cup of jasmine tea. Would you like to drink it now or after your morning bath?"
"Uh, no, thank you. I only drink tea in the afternoon," Toph said, rubbing her hands together. She walked to the small pathway that led to the bathroom and stopped. "I need you to-"
"But the tea has been made for you," the servant interjected, almost in a pleading tone. "It's my first time working for the Bei Fongs and I don't want Song to punish me for not providing you with quality treatment." She complained.
"I know how Song can be," Toph mumbled, shaking her head. "I appreciate it, though. I really don't want anything at the moment," Toph said over her shoulder.
"Should I leave it here," the servant said, pointing at the large table near her bed. "Perhaps, you may want it later," the girl continued.
"No, take it; I don't like anything at the moment,"
"Master Toph," she said a bit irritated, "would you like me to leave it on the night table near your bed?"
"No, I do not want the tea," Toph said curtly. "All I want you to do is to bring me warm water so that I can a nice bath. Can you get my bath ready?"
"B-but,"
"Can. You. Get. My. Bath. Ready?" Toph asked curtly.
The maid nodded, her hands tightening around the tray. "Yes, ma'am," the maid nodded, "anything else?" she grounded out.
Toph's eyebrow arched, as she inhaled the aromas that had collected in her room. "Yes," Toph said. Something about this girl was rubbing her the wrong way. Toph's sixth sense was very trustworthy. It never failed her. It'd kept her safe throughout the years, and today, she wasn't going to neglect it. "Take the god-awful smelling tea with you."
"What will I tell Song?"
"I don't care what you tell her. Why don't you drink it?"
"I can't," she replied hastily. "It was made for you."
"Fine, I don't care what you do with it. If you want... throw it in the chamber pot, but just get it out of here. It reeks of something..."
"Huh, what do you mean? Why don't you want it?" she asked. "It was made to your specifications."
"It smells funky," Toph said, shaking her head and wrinkling her nose. "Just get it out of here, please."
"Yes, as you command," the maid said, lowering her head. She gripped the edges of the silver tray tightly, until her knuckles turned white. "Anything else, my lady?" she grated.
"Uh, no, that is all," Toph said, opening the bathroom door. "Try to be hasty. I want to take a long, rejuvenating bath and you are stalling. And next time, if you talk to me like that again, I'll have you fired!"
"Yes, of course. I apologize," the servant said indignantly. "I should return with your water warmed and prepare your bath."
"See that you do that," Toph grumbled.
The sound of feet scattering on the marble floor outside her room caught Toph's attention. The maid's heart beats accelerated. She gulped several times, but didn't move.
"Go, please," Toph instructed, giving a dismissing wave to the girl.
Toph turned around and ambled to the bathroom. She halted; her pale hand was touching the bathroom door knob, when she slowly looked over her shoulder. "One more thing before you go,"
"Yes, ma'am! Anything you want," the maid said hiding her frustration behind a kind smile. Toph remained quiet, as she tried to remember the scent that the tea emitted. Something was wrong. If only Toph knew what it was. "What is it, Master?"
"I need to know, has breakfast been served?"
"No, my lady," she answered. "It will be served shortly. Your hosts have gone out to visit nearby neighbors."
"My par- hosts? Out?" she asked skeptical.
Her parents never left their home so early in the morning. Poppy was known for not waking up until late in the afternoon. Something was definitely wrong. Toph swallowed hard, and gently turned around to face the girl, but opted to pace around in the room. She ambled to the window and concentrated hard. She hoped that the soft air that whipped through her dark tresses would calm down the strange sensation that had nestled in the pit of her stomach. The nagging feeling covered her. She studied her surroundings. The number of guards outside in the hall had increasing. The maid had intentionally left the door open. Toph could hear the slow pitter-patter of steps entering her room. They weren't alone anymore. There were also hush voices coming from the hall. She couldn't discern what they were saying, but she knew that something was about to happen.
Her breath caught in her throat when she sensed the great number of people surrounding her parent's estate. She raked her fingers through her hair and pretended to act nonchalantly.
"Do you know at what time my par- hosts will be back?" she asked, without turning to look at the maid.
"I was just informed that they were going out to visit their new neighbors,"
"New neighbors?" she asked quizzically. "I think I heard them mention something about their new neighbors. I just didn't pay too much attention to them. What is your name?"
"Su," the maid's voice shook and her hands began to tremble, causing the tea cup to clatter against the silver tray.
"Su," Toph said indifferently and turned, circling the young girl. "I would like to be ready before my pa - hosts return." She said.
The girl's hands were still trembling. Su offered her master a quick nod and turned on her heels, pacing towards the door. Before she reached for the doorknob, Toph called out for her.
The young maid halted, her heart pounded loudly against her chest. Su fisted her apron with her free hand. Toph could tell that the girl was nervous. She was hiding something. Now, all of Zuko's fears seemed real. She tapped her foot on the pristine marble floor and gnawed on her bottom lip. The scent of the tea wafted throughout the room, once again, sending alarm signals in the earhtbender's head. "You know what, Su," Toph said, pausing dramatically, "why don't you cancel breakfast, until further notice."
"Master Toph," the girl began nervously, "your hosts gave strict orders for us to start breakfast a quarter after nine. They should be here by then."
"No, cancel breakfast," Toph said, dismissing the girl with her hand. "I will speak to them. Do not worry; you will not be in trouble. You may go now. Thank you."
"B-but," she stuttered anxiously.
"You may go now," Toph gritted between clenched teeth. There were two unknown individuals in her room, hiding behind the elegant decorative room divider and near her bed. "I want to take a bath soon." Toph said, yawning exaggeratedly.
"Yes, madam," the maid said, bowing one last time before she sprang out, exiting the room to prepare Toph's bath.
The minute the petite maid stepped outside the room and the door shut closed behind her, Toph moved into action. In a rapid movement, Toph was on the nearest assailant. She opened a large hole on the floor, swallowing the grown man in it. She quickly took off her gown and stuffed part of it in the man's mouth to prevent him from screaming or calling out for help. The other man that was hidden behind the dividers was unaware of how fast the blind girl moved. He was surprised when he peeked and saw his friend buried neck-deep and muzzled.
He pulled out his sword, but was surprised when Toph sprang out from the marble floor and stood before him. She rushed to him and gave him a derisive smile and attacked him. She ducked all his attack. He was confused at how a blind woman could be so agile. She counter-attacked the strike of his sword, punches and kicks. He tried to surprise her with new attacks, but it was as if she knew his attacks even before he executed them. The assailant tripped on the uneven surface Toph created, when she sprang out of the floor and leaped at him. He reached for his sword, but cursed when the metal room divider fell on him.
He tried to get it off him, but it mysteriously began to shake and elongate around his body. Thankfully for Toph, the decorative room divider was made of metal. Instinctively, she willed the metal into manacles and shackles that held him down against the floor. Before the stranger had a chance to move and protest, she stood him up parallel to the wall. The metal tightened around his wrists and ankles; working under her bidding. With no problem whatsoever she had restrained the men. He moved and fought against his confinement; he had underestimated the blind, young woman.
"Who are you? Who sent you?" she asked, as she pulled his hair, causing his head to tilt back savagely. He grunted and was about to scream, when she wacked him in the throat. "Who sent you?"
The man struggled to catch his breath. He fought to move, but Toph had imprisoned him. He could barely move his arms and legs. Toph was in control and he hated being bested by her. He growled angrily at his misfortune, whispering expletives between a fit of coughs and wheezes. She pulled at his hair again, as she continuously asked him questions, but the man refused to cooperate.
"Who sent you?" she gritted in a low desperate growl.
"You will never get out of here alive! We have the place surrounded. It'll be best if you surrender."
"Who sent you?" she asked again.
"I'll never tell you," he grunted and inhaled again. "I'll never betray my master," the man said, a sadistic smile displayed on his lips. "You, your friends, the Fire Lord and his son are as good as dead," he laughed. "This place is completely surrounded. Everyone in here will die. If I don't make it aliv-"
Toph snarled, slamming his head hard against the wall; making a loud thunk sound. His eyes fluttered back behind his lids, before he sagged to the floor. Toph didn't waste anytime with him. She took five strides and stood next to the other man. She knelt down and yanked the fabric she'd stuffed in his mouth.
"If you want to live through this," she paused to add dramatic effect, "you will tell me who sent you."
The man's amber eyes opened widely and gulped hard. "There's no escaping. The place is surrounded and we've been given a simple task," he trailed off and swallowed loudly, "we are to kill everyone in here, you, your friends, the Fire Lord, and his son. The Fire Lord can't continue living. The old ways need to return."
"You've messed with the wrong people," Toph said, standing up. "Before you get your hands on my son-"
"Your son?" the man stuttered. "He-"
She stood up, shook her head, and sobbed. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She raised her foot and when it met the floor, the man was completely buried under the floor. She couldn't afford to cry at the moment. She had to retaliate against those that sought to harm her family, friends, her beloved Zuko, and son. She heard the muffled sounds from the man suffocating, but ignored it. She had other things to worry about. She feared that she was too late, but hope still resided in her heart.
Toph hurried to her bureau and changed clothes. She wore comfortable pants and a loose fitting robe. She could hear the sounds coming from the hall – more enemies. She melted the metal doorknob and ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her.
"Okay, Toph, get a hold of yourself," she said to herself and stood in front of the great wall that divided the bathroom and her bedroom. "You can do this." she choked, when an image of her smiling son invaded her thoughts.
She clasped her hands in front of her, planted her feet at shoulder distance and with a low rumble, the earth particles in the wall began to obey her silent command. A small fissure appeared on the wall; it slowly began to expand, until a giant gaping hole adorned the wall. She gulped and stepped inside. She closed the hole with her earthbending and commanded the earth to form steps and a tall, narrow pathway ahead of her.
She closed her eyes and concentrated hard enough, until she found Katara's seismic vibration. She silently thanked any divine entity for protecting her closest friend. She let the earth move underneath her and transported her across the pathway, until she was standing beneath Katara's room. She directed the ground to rise high.
Katara had finished taking a luxurious bath and was done drying and combing her long hair. She sauntered to the night table where her lukewarm tea cup sat. She reached for the cup, and brought it to her lips, when she saw a large hole open up in the middle of the floor of her room. She gasped, dropping the cup on the floor when she saw a dark-haired human head rise from within it. She brought a hand to her heart and knelt down.
"You didn't drink that tea, did you?"
"What are you doing here?" she responded with a question, when Toph emerged from the hole. "Why are you covered in dirt? I thought that you wer-"
Toph searched her surroundings, and melted the doorknob of Katara's room as well. "You didn't drink the tea, right?" Toph asked worriedly as she melted all the locks of her friend's windows. \
"No, I didn't. Why?"
Toph let out a long sigh of relief. "We have to get out of here. I think that tea is poisoned."
"What? Toph, why are you doing that?" Katara asked, pointing at her windows.
"Where is Zuko? Rae? The others?" Toph asked breathlessly.
"Um,"
"Answer me, Katara!" Toph demanded. "Where are they?"
Toph held her breath as she waited for Katara's reply. She silently prayed that everyone was all right.
"Zuko is with Haru in the gardens," Katara said, as she scrutinized her friend. "Why are you..?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Katara nodded. "I was there with them about twenty minutes ago. Why?"
"I can't explain," Toph's voice trembled. "We have to go. We're in danger."
"Toph, what's wrong?" Katara asked again, this time moving closer to her friend. "Did something happen? Is Zuko's paranoia rubbing off on you?" she mocked.
"I don't think he's paranoid. He was right. We are in mortal danger. I should've trusted him more," Toph answered, and pulled Katara by the arm. "We have to leave. Do you have those emergency bags with you. We won't have time to pack, Katara. We have to leave this place now. I have to find Zuko and Rae and the others!"
"Yes, I have two bags left. Zuko and Haru took the rest. Let me get them. They are in the closet," Katara said, her expression changed, when she saw Toph's tears spilling down her face.
"Hurry, please,"
She ran to the closet and retrieved the two emergency bags that she always kept in case of moments like this one. "Let's go,"
Toph nodded, and took her friends hand and guided her to the hole. "Jump in."
Katara did as Toph instructed. When both girls were safe in the narrow pathway, Toph looked up and with the motion of her arms, the gaping hole closed again. She didn't want to leave any proof that they'd escaped via underground. They moved discreetly through the dirt hall. Toph could hear the commotion upstairs. Katara remained confused, unaware of the current situation, but remained closed to her friend.
They walked for five minutes, when in the dark distance, Katara could see a weak light, flickering as it got nearer. "Toph," Katara whispered, pulling on Toph's robe, "stop. There is someone ahead of us," she whispered worriedly. "It could be-"
"No, we are safe for the moment," Toph said, her voice faltering. She closed her eyes and counted the familiar heartbeats of the individuals that approached them. Toph's hand flew to her mouth as she uncontrollably muffled her cries. "It's Zuko, Aang, Suki, Haru, and Sokka,"
"Where is Rae?" Katara asked alarmed.
Toph knelt on the floor and let her anguish out. She hugged herself and wept in frustration. Zuko hastened his steps, until he stood in front of the weeping earthbender. The flame in his hand increased in size. .
"Toph," Zuko cried, as he looked down at the pallid woman. He sank to his haunches and touched her forehead. His own eyes stung with tears. He didn't have to know. Somehow, he knew. He held her tight against his chest, as they both cried in agony. Their son- their ray of light and hope – had been taken from them.