Jin woke and for a moment thought that she was back at Mother Lu's, tucked in her little crate. But just as quickly, she remembered the strange man. She opened her eyes and found herself lying on a sleeping mat in a dim room, though powdery light softened the edges of the blinds across the windows. She looked around warily, the bare chamber was small and she seemed to be alone but there was no door that she could see. Was this gaol? Had she been taken by the watch? She had heard some of the older boys scoffing about their stints in prison and this was definitely not the miserable place that they had described. She cautiously sat up, causing her to clutch at her head as it ached and sent the room spinning. Nonetheless, she ignored the pain and staggered to her feet, overcome by curiosity. Unsteadily she crossed to the window and pulled back the blind. Jin's eyes widened in shock at the view; she had never been so high up before. Her light-headedness only increased as she looked down upon the tops of wide green trees that swept majestically throughout a large garden. She could make out a serpentine river curling playfully around, crossed over with a little wooden bridge. Something in her longed to be able to run out and be amongst such loveliness. It all looked so soft and gentle. She hadn't seen so much greenness since before she came to Ba Sing Se. It reminded her of the countryside that had surrounded her village. Seeing the bridge made her think of the times when she would sit with Uncle Sing Ra as he fished, his thin, crooked legs dangling from the old wooden bridge that crossed the river just beyond the town gate. The sadness threatened to swallow her again. She struggled to hold it all in. One of the first things that she had learned in her life was that crying was useless.
It was just dawn, yellow light stepped slowly across all things below her. She wandered where she might be but of course she recognised nothing that she could see from the window; though she knew that she was a long way away from Mother Lu's. Another pang hit her though this time it was fear. Mother Lu would think that she had run away. Yei would be sent after her and she would be punished like Yoli. But she doubted that he would look for her here, though she didn't know where here was. It certainly was not the lower ring. She looked back around at the blank room. She was no earth bender, the stone walls would not open for her; she was a prisoner. Was the man angry with her for trying to rob him? Maybe he was going to hand her over to the watch this morning. Her fear and uneasiness wrestled with the pain in her head which had not subsided. She let the blind fall back, darkening the room once more. She returned to the mat and almost fell into it. She curled up and shut her eyes tightly, pretending that she was back with her mother in her bed in their small house in the old village before she had got the new father, before her mother had grown ill, before the Fire Nation men had come.
The stone walls grumbled open, Jin lay still, feigning sleep. She heard the footsteps of two people enter the room, though they tread lightly upon the wooden floor. She felt them lean over her and gaze at her inquisitively.
"So it's true; Aris really did bring back a souvenir from the Lower Ring." The voice sounded like it belonged to a young woman.
"Why she is just a scrap of a thing!" This from a young man; tinged with slight surprise.
"And she is filthy." Said the first voice again, wryly though not unkindly. "Aris was no doubt drunk again."
The young man chuckled as he replied, "he says he saw her twisting the light."
"Aris is a fool." Jin hadn't heard this new person enter the room though he sounded as close as the other two were and his voice was hard and cutting, "His acts are rash with no thought of consequences. It is what I have come to expect from him though I did think better of the two of you."
It seemed that the old man had taken the young man and woman by surprise as well.
They hurried to acknowledge him and offered guilty apologies.
"We're sorry Master, we just could not believe that the rumours would be true."
"We should not have come here; please we will not be so foolish again."
"Indeed, you shall not." The old man seemed to linger a while longer after the other two had retreated, though his steps were so light that Jin could not be sure exactly when he had left.
At last, Jin felt safe enough to open her eyes again. The door was still there. Hope rushed through her. She got up, careful to wrap herself in shadows completely. As quietly as she could she walked to the door. Heart thumping, she slowly peeked out. She looked down a long, dark hallway. It was clear both ways though she was unsure which way to go. Eventually, she decided to go right, hoping that she would not run into anyone. The floors were of polished wood, interspersed with soft rugs that felt incredible to Jin's bare feet. She passed normal doors as well as long blank spaces of wall that she supposed might reveal openings only to earth benders. She came to the end of the corridor and gingerly turned into the next one. She found herself taking many turns, and soon, she was sure she was lost. Each hallway was as nondescript as the last and there had been no windows so she had no way of knowing which directions she took in such an eternally dim warren. Nor had she come across anyone. It seemed that she was alone.
She was growing weary, her head still ached and her dizziness had not fully left her. She crouched down in a corner and hugged herself. She had to get out of this place before they realised that she had left the room.
She froze; soft footsteps could be heard coming toward her. She looked up, just as a man carrying a tray with laden with cups and a large teapot hurried past. He hadn't noticed her and she exhaled with relief. She decided to follow him. He had to know how to get out of this endless maze.
He continued straight for a few more moments before halting at a stretch of seemingly blank wall. Balancing the tray with one arm he reached up and stroked the stone which parted for him. Jin was sure to slip in just after him in case he closed off the door again. She blinked, dazzled by the light. She found herself now in a bright and airy place, another corridor but utterly different compared to the one she had just left. The wide windows looked out upon the garden and welcomed in the morning sunshine. Colourful paintings and silk banners adorned the walls at intervals, large vases with intricate patterns stood about almost carelessly. Delicate chimes caught the slight breeze and tinkled pleasantly. The floor was completely carpeted so thickly that her feet seemed to sink in delightfully.
Jin stood stunned for a few moments. Never before had she seen such splendour. The treasures of Mother Lu paled compared to this. Even the elegant teashop now seemed like a poor imitation of this lush opulence. She realised that the servant had long gone on down this new hallway. He was now no where to be seen.
She shook herself slightly; she had to keep going, she had to get out of this place and back to Mother Lu.
Certain that she would come across more people out here, she went along even more cautiously. She passed more richly appointed rooms but came across no one except for a little hunched over lady – most likely a servant – hobbling slowly from one room into another carrying an armful of scrolls.
She looked for a staircase; she needed to go down so she could find a doorway that led out of this place. She didn't want to think what they would do if they caught her walking about this house. It was obvious that she didn't belong in these rich surroundings.
Finally, she spied a staircase at the end of the hallway and she eagerly approached it. As she came closer her ears picked out faint voices coming from a chamber just before the staircase. She would have to pass the wide open doorway to get to the stairs. She took a deep breath. She was in the shadows, she told herself, so they won't be able to see her. She inched forward, and couldn't help but hear the discussion that was taking place within the room. She froze, her skipped a beat then made up for it by beating faster and louder than ever, they were talking about her.
"… idiotic things you have done this is the most foolhardy. What of her family? Will they not be searching frantically for her even now?"
"And the Ascorin Elixir! That was almost an adult dose you gave her. I will be surprised if she wakes up within the week if she is lucky enough to wake up at all!"
"You have very nearly brought shame to the clan, Aris."
Jin looked into the room. It was the man who had taken her! He sat unabashed before four elderly people who sat regally at a low table. Tea had been served though none were drinking.
"I am telling you what I saw…she was bending light so proficiently that I almost didn't see her…" Aris's fevered voice contrasted with the low, calm voices of the elders. He was cut off abruptly by the same old man who had been in the room looking over me.
"Impossible! There is no way that child could be a light bender. You 'almost didn't see her' because you were drunk. Again."
"You will return to the shrine and meditate upon your actions while we deliberate upon your punishment."
Jin realised that they would soon be leaving the room and hastened to the staircase, even as she felt a firm grip around her wrist.
"Well, what do we have here? The little girl."
Jin looked back in horror, for a moment there seemed to be no one there and then the little old lady suddenly materialised right beside her.
For a moment, everything was very still; Jin was petrified with horror, just as the occupants within the room were frozen, surprise and disbelief written across their faces as they stared at the old lady clutching the little girl.
Then all was in motion once more, Aris and the elders were on their feet, Jin struggled against the old lady viciously.
"Look out Rima, she bites!" Aris laughed good-naturedly even as Jin leaned down and bit into the arm of the old woman who held her. It worked again and Jin tore off down the stairs madly looking for escape. Two of the men jumped from the railing at the top of the staircase landing lightly on the floor. One of them seemed to flicker before Jin's eyes, disappearing until she concentrated on finding him again. They both swiftly had her surrounded; standing on either side of her. Jin breathed heavily turning around looking at them both, noticing the two older men, the old woman and the one she knew as Aris watching with interest from above.
"Calm down little girl, you are safe here. No one wants to hurt you." The one who flickered said this in a friendly way, so much so that Jin found herself wanting to believe him. His expression was kind and reassuring. He held his hands out placatingly.
"It's all okay. My name is Shiru. What's yours?"
But Jin wasn't fooled, she stopped looking wildly about for escape, she wanted him to think that she would cooperate. She had noticed the open door at the end of the room.
Her head seemed to be hurting her more than it had been when she first woke up. Her limbs had begun to quiver, though she fought to keep them still. She just had to make it past this man, once she got to the door she could go into the shadows without them watching. Then she could get out of here.
He seemed to be waiting for her answer, she took a breath, her head was really aching now, and black spots seemed to dart across her eyes. She glanced back at the man who stood behind her and looked warily up at the man who had spoken to her. Suddenly she bolted, taking off, trying to run around him and remain out of his reach but he seemed to have known exactly what she was going to do and he was in front of her blocking her way all too quickly.
"You really are quite safe little one. There is no need for all of this." But even as he said this Jin felt tremors pass through her, her legs gave way and she felt herself falling just as the blackness took her away once more…