Behind These Painted Masks
Chapter 14
Behind the Mask
-
The blood was splattered against the walls, painting a picture of death. Zuko resisted dropping Katara to the ground; from a quick glance the blood was fairly fresh, still slipping down the walls.
The Prince put her down on a couch and drew his broad swords, ears, eyes and senses alert for any movement or sounds. Something brushed against his ankle and he jumped back, bringing my swords into a defensive position. Saki mewed at Zuko's feet, almost clawing through the pant leg.
"What is it?" he asked her quietly and instead of answering she ran off through the doorway leading to the courtyard, the Blue Spirit followed immediately keeping his swords ready and his breathing steady.
In the courtyard more blood was sprayed on the once spotless marble. Fat was lying on the staircase, his blade bloody, his body completely still. Zuko put a finger to his neck. Nothing, no subtle heartbeat. Dead. Zuko glanced over the banister and saw Piando stretched out over the White Lotus in the middle of the courtyard. I ran past the butler and reached the sword master. A hand shot out and grabbed Zuko by the scruff of my throat.
"Zuko! Where is the Water Tribe boy?" Piando's voice was raspy and his eyes were unfocused though the grip was still tight.
"I'm not sure!" the firebender gasped through the choking grip.
Piando's grip slackened slightly, "Zuko, listen carefully, Sokka's been taken. You have to save him."
Before Zuko could say anything Piando's eyes rolled into her head and the arm let go of Zuko's collar and fell to the ground with a small 'thump'. Zuko sheathed his swords and ran back to the mansion. When he turned a corner, a blast of water came at his forcing him against a wall. When he tried to move he found his whole body incased in ice.
"Who are you?" Katara's voice echoed through the room as she approached him, her arms poised for a fight. Zuko's mouth was closed shut, "Tell me." Katara's tone was low and dangerous and when Zuko offered no answer she approached him.
His mask was slowly untied from the back of his head and when Katara saw his face the mask clattered to the ground and Katara's hands flew to her mouth.
"You?!"
The cell was dank, Sokka slowly opened his eyes groaning as pain swept through his body. Someone poked him in the shoulder and he moaned rolling over away from the poker. "Snoozles."
His eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright looking around wildly, "Toph?"
"Right here." She was thinner then he had last seen her and her healthy coating of earth had grown into a grim shield. Sokka grabbed her and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, "Sokka, I can't breath." She wheezed into his chest.
He let go quickly and looked around the cell his eyes focusing on Sakora, "Who's that?"
"I'm Sakora," said the little girl.
"She's the Avatar." Toph told Sokka while Sakora wandered over to stand beside Toph.
"So this little girl is the new Avatar?" Sokka said, circling around Sakora, "so is she just a miniature Aang?"
"Are you kidding? Aang was probably as tall as her when he was 12! She's going to twice as tall at least." Toph scoffed.
"Nah, she going to be short like him for the rest of her life."
"How much do you want to bet?"
"5 gold pieces."
"Deal." They shook hands.
"Anyway," Sokka looked at Toph skeptically, "Why haven't you broken out yet?"
Toph sighed, "They drugged me, I don't know why it's been working so long but it doesn't let me earthbend and I can't see."
The door cracked open and a figure blocked the light coming from torches in the hallway before the door slammed shut. A blue flame erupted into life in Azula's palm illuminating her face, "Well, a Water Tribe peasant, an Avatar and the world's greatest earthbender all in one place," she smiled devilishly, "This must be my lucky day."
A/N
It's short but...I like it!