Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait, I've just been so caught up in my schooling. Anyways, I hope you all will enjoy my eighth chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of this.

Chapter 8

The thick long lashes of his unscarred eye fluttered shut, brushing my check as I laid him down on the floor. I could hear the shallow breaths he took, and feel his breath wash over my neck, warm, tingling. I pulled back, letting his head drop to the ground with a thud, wincing at my suddenness.

I sought for his forehead and when I found it I was shocked by the coolness of his skin. He was getting cold fast, or I was just hot. I didn't have the time to worry about that. The assassin...no with the Aranian darts it couldn't be an assassin. It was much, much worse.

The Aranian would be coming any second.

I would be ready and already at an advantage because I had surprise on my side. Reaching behind me I locked the door as a preventive measure. I wasn't sure how solid Imata's choices in doors were, if the door could hold up against a steady beating. But, at least now no one could just walk right in.

One step of defense done, I came to my feet and gripped the mattress of my bed with both hands. I tugged hard, pulling the limp, down filled mattress on top of Zuko, giving him a layer of protection. Please don't suffocate him. I wouldn't do any good to kill the Fire Lord while I tried to save him.

Now it was my turn to get into position. I fell ungracefully to the floor, keeping my hands within reaching distance of my blades. I situated myself against the wall just so, I could see the window and Zuko at the same time. I let my hood fall back so I could hide my eyes behind my hair. Then I waited, ignoring the curl of hair against my nose, tickling me.

It felt like eternity when only minutes passed. I knew when the Aranian came in. He didn't make a sound, no thump on the window sill, no brush of cloth against the shutters. I couldn't even hear him draw a breath. But I felt a sudden stillness, and I knew with complete certainty that would be the only warning I would get. What gave him away was the wind, the wind that had been blowing insistently from my opened window stopped as if someone had reached out and grabbed each tendril of wave, yanking it back. Or like someone's body was blocking it out.

Just as suddenly the wind came back and with it came a rush of adrenaline so powerful that I felt my hands shake and I had to force myself to keep taking deep, steady breaths. The Aranian would pass me by, I hoped. I wasn't his goal, Zuko was. He would assume that I was unconscious because of the darts. He would never expect an ambush.

I felt the slightest depression in one of the planks of wood I was resting on. That was the only sign that I knew he was standing over me. How could he see me, when I saw nothing? The blood rushed to my head, my pulse thrumming, loud enough that he would have to have heard it. How could he not? But he passed on, taking the pressure off of the wood.

There was rustle and thump. He had gotten to Zuko. Air rushed into my lungs, hitching, unmistakably loud. But I heard no more movement but the sound of the mattress being moved which must have covered up the sound I made. My hand sought my blade, scrapping it against the floor as I settled it in my hand. Instantly my heart calmed, reassured by my blade.

Now it was time to move.

I rolled smoothly to my feet, finally seeing why the Aranian was able to see. Something around his neck was glowing, casting the room in a faint light. Too faint for me to have seen it with my eyes closed. But I could see clearly now thanks to the Aranian, I couldn't be sure of the Aranian's gender. The clothes were tight, so much that I would think they would be restricting but he had no problem flipping the mattress of Zuko. Every inch of his body was covered with cloth save for his mouth and eyes. It was always the same color: black.

Easy to stalk in, easy to hide in, easy to get blood out of.

I hadn't known how I would be able to fight the Aranian, but now with him so helpfully lighting the way it was very simple. I felt no shame sneaking up on him with his back turned away. It was necessary, I wouldn't risk Zuko's life for an honorable fight. But not just Zuko, if it was anyone else I would do the same. No one deserved the attention of the Aranians. All the honor I had ever had was out the window along with the wind.

Then it came. As I got closer it started again like had so many times before. The growing hunger and pain inside of me screaming and screaming. Screaming for me to kill, to end it all. It would be so easy. Just slide the metal through his back, tear through muscle and bone, severing his spine. But that wouldn't kill him, just paralyze him, I'd have to angle the blade up and shred his heart. His blood would pool out his back, and he would bleed out, but not before his heart stopped functioning. Then he would stare out with cold, glass eyes. Dead. My whole body thrummed in excitement.

He wasn't one of them.

The clear thought sliced through me. He wasn't one of them, not yet anyway. The air around him was clean. He was pure. Horror filled me. Was I so far gone? I had been a step away from killing him. Assuming that he was already one of them, but he wasn't. I couldn't kill him, he wasn't one of them and I needed something more than his death.

I needed information.

He bent forward, reaching for Zuko's feet, presenting his back to me, as if practically begging to be killed. He was so sure of himself that he never saw it coming. I was quick, flipping my blade around I gripped it backwards and slammed the hilt right into his temporal bone, instantly knocking him unconscious. I had pulled back at the last second, lessoning the force behind my blow, minimizing them damage. It was still enough to make him crumple at my feet.

I kicked him off of me, kneeling down I stared at him. He was completely out of it. Well, first things first. I gripped the small glowing glob around his neck and tore it off, snapping the thin leather band that held it right in half. I stuffed it into one of my pockets and started to pat him down. I found the darts and the dart tube strapped around his waist along with a small dagger. I gently removed them from his body and set them on the bed. The rest of his body came up clean.

Good, now he had nothing to protect him and when I was done with him he would have no problem spilling his guts out to me. Even if I meant it literally.