"Are you here to break the curse?"
The second the question left the little bald child's mouth, Pema and Varrick froze as though a silent alarm had gone off. Calling them into action.
The brunette woman, who Asami also guessed may have been the mother of the similarly dressed nomad child, moved to clamp a hand over said boy's mouth.
Meanwhile Varrick rushed to direct the heiress's attention.
"Say Sato! Let's get you something to eat and we'll talk to the kiddies later alright?"
It was a common business technique, to divert someone. A lot of men and woman of the field would use it when a potential signer noticed something in a contract that they didn't like.
But the difference between Asami and most other business tycoons, was that she wasn't a gullible fool.
Acting face on, the heiress placed one hand on her hip and the other to casually gesture towards the child.
"Are you sure? Because I'd hate to miss the chance to speak with this little cutie."
The second Meelo heard the word cutie, his fight to break his mother's hold intensified.
"Unhand me mom!"
"Meelo, please stop fussing! It's past your bedtime anyway."
The bald boy knew his mother wouldn't resist this time around, so with a sulking pout he held up his hand in farewell.
"We shall meet again beautiful woman!"
Despite the fact that her possible source of information was being taken away, Asami had to chuckle. She loved kids even when they seemed to be a little on the crazy side.
The younger girl from before, who the taller woman had almost forgotten about, tugged on the heiress's jacket. Beaming up at her with a friendly grin.
"I'm Ikki! And that's my little brother! What's your name?"
"Hi, I'm Asami it's wonderful to meet you both."
Pema rushed back to give the heiress a smile while using her available hand to throw Ikki over her shoulder.
"Our mom wants us to leave so we'll see you tomorrow! You can meet my big sister and our dad! Oh! Also, for now if you see a really tough looking earthbender don't tell him which way we went because we're playing hide and seek, bye!"
How on earth the girl managed to speak 100mph while being physically removed from a room by her mother, baffled Asami. But she supposed it was the least of her problems.
She made a mental note to try and talk to those two kids as soon as possible. Preferably when no one else was around to distract them.
Maybe then a little light could be shed on this strange situation.
There was definitely something everyone was keeping from her...
Before the heiress could direct her focus onto where Varrick disappeared too, a familiar voice broke the now silent air.
"Asami!"
Rushing forward to spin the tall woman into a hug, Bolin smiled brightly at the fact that his new friend had finally come downstairs.
"I'm happy you're here, we missed yo at dinner! Oh, by any chance did you see a bald kid and a little girl in nomad outfits?"
Gasping past the strong boy's hold that was constricting her lungs, Asami giggled at the memory of the excitable children she had just met.
"Yes in fact...I did, but they told me not to tell you where they went because they...are playing hide and go seek... Bolin! I can't breathe!"
"Oh sorry!"
Immediately releasing the tall girl, the earthbender took a polite step back and frowned.
"We WERE playing hide and go seek hours ago, but this place is too big and I couldn't find them! Jinora wouldn't help me because it was considered 'immoral to cheat' and Pabu and Naga said they were too tired to help!"
Asami had no idea as too who any of these people were. Perhaps fellow workers?
"And I was all like well if I don't find them soon then Pema's gonna fry me, like literally fry me! She is a chef, she could do that if she wanted too! Before I could try and ask around more though Tenzin came out and I had to hide from him too!"
Kneeling down in a groveling position, the earthbender clutched at Asami's jacket.
"PLEASE TELL ME WHICH WAY THEY WENT! It's getting late and they need to go to bed before either of their parents find out!"
Moving to m clutch his hair in a panic, Bolin's eyes became crazed looking as he scanned the entire kitchen area.
Varrick choose this minute to jump in, holding two freshly made sandwich on white plates. Appearing from seemingly out of no where.
"Wouldn't worry about them for the rest of the night. Pema herself just took the two airheads out. Probably is going to tuck them in as we speak."
Bolin visibly tensed at this.
"Did she seem mad at me? Like the furious kind or the kind that means I have to go into permanent hiding?!"
"Neither, she was all too happy to get them out of here. Meelo was talking about some fictional mumbo jumbo and had to be escorted out. Ikki went with them so you are in the clear kid."
Taking a deep breathe, the earthbender smiled and relaxed completely.
"Oh thank spirits, I thought I was gonna have to keep looking for them! Whew!"
Turning back to face the quiet heiress, Bolin bowed mockingly like a servant.
"I do say, with the little tykes turning in, I could take you on that tour if you'd like Ms. Sato. If it so pleases you."
Asami covered her mouth slightly to stop the giggles from breaking over at the boy's ridiculous accent. She was about to humor his persistence when suddenly the multimillionaire next to her shoved one of the sandwiches into her hands.
"Great idea Bo, give the little lady a view of the new life. I'll see you both tomorrow for breakfast."
Taking a bite from his odd combination of peanut butter and fireflakes between wheat bread, Varrick shrugged the two teens a goodnight before stepping out to leave the kitchen.
Looking down at her sudden sandwich, the heiress carefully lifted it to see, thankfully, that hers wasn't an abomination to food.
Instead the crazy man had made her a simple turkey and tomato.
"Oh lucky turtleduck, you have no idea how great his sandwiches are! Okay, so while you eat, I'll go find Mako. We can show you around after you are done!"
Not even waiting for a response, Asami turned her head to see Bolin literally bolt out of the kitchen.
Leaving her to sit herself down at the granite counter top and think in undisturbed silence.
True it was rather odd she supposed about how everyone was treating her. They certainly hadn't shown her father the same kindness, but at the same time Asami wondered about what Meelo had said.
What curse had he been referring to? Perhaps it had only been a game him and his sister had been playing?
But if that was true why had Pema reacted so strangely? And tried to take him away immediately? Also why had Varrick intentionally brushed off the incident as a child's fantasy...
There was a nagging at the back of her head telling her that there was more too this whole place then what everyone was leading on.
Not even realizing that she had finished her sandwich, the young woman was pulled from her musing when the squeaking of the kitchen door alerted her of someone entering.
Two someones.
The same boy from before, Mako was it? It was him that had escorted her dad out of the castle and had been ordered by the burned girl to fetch her car. He was here along with Bolin.
"Asami this is my brother Mako. Mako this is our guest Asami!"
Brother now that was surprising. Besides their hair color the two looked like polar opposites.
One fun one serious, one green one red, one bulky one slim. It was like complete ying and yang.
Just like before in the dungeon, the firebending male showed close to no pleasantry on his face and kept his arms crossed. Probably best to assume he would represent the dark compared to Bolin's light.
"Nice to meet you."
The tone he was using didn't please the heiress at all. Actually causing her to cross her arms and match his stance. Never in life did a Sato take another person's shit.
If he wanted to play pokerface, bring it on.
"Is it really? Because you look like you're trying to glare a hole through my head."
Actually rather shocked about being called out, Mako allowed the tiniest of smiles to crack over his face.
"Maybe you just take things the wrong way."
"Maybe you need an attitude adjustment. We have barely spoken and I can tell you don't trust me."
"I barely know you Ms. Sato."
"And who's fault is that?"
This girl wasn't as much as a pushover as he initially thought.
"Fair enough. I still don't trust you, but...I can give you a chance."
Hearing the tiniest sense of softness break through the boy's tough persona, Asami smirked a little. She knew how to play her cards right, and so far they had worked enough to get this guy to chill if only slightly.
He wasn't as big of a dick as she assumed he was going to be.
Bowing like Bolin had earlier, the heiress made a dramatic sweeping gesture.
"How chivalrous of you."
Snorting at the two playfully butting heads, the earthbending boy slung his arms around his brother's shoulder.
"No killing each other! Save the fight for after the tour."
Feeling another genuine smile bite at her lips, Asami allowed her mind to wander.
Growing up as one of Republic City's richest daughters meant that friends were either fake or hard to come by. Someone either always wanted something, or was considered too unsafe/unimportant to be around Hitoshi's pride and joy.
But now in this new life that she had promised to live, Asami wondered.
Maybe this is what real friendship was suppose to feel like.
"Hey come on! We don't wanna lose you this early in!"
Hearing Bolin bring her back into reality, the heiress rushed out of the kitchen.
The brothers alternated in between explaining facts about certain parts of every place, but the heress got the gist.
Two of the towers were for dungeon cells, while the other two were for fighting practices and training. The tallest tower in the center of the castle was a meditation peak.
There was a courtyard towards the middle of the south and east tower, and a bending field in between the north and west towers. There was a pool, a basement, a over view looking at the waterfall, a stables, a garage... blah blah blah. Typical things.
It's not as though Asami weren't interested in the estate at all, the place was magnificent! It was just that one part in particularly was attracting her complete attention.
The west wing.
Just like when she had passed the area earlier, it was clear something had happened around the specific section. There was markings on the ground of unidentifiable marks, and instead of having colorful element designs everywhere the section was barren. It looked as though all memento's of bending had been stripped off the walls by force.
The nagging at the back of her head continued to pester Asami every time she thought about the area.
They had only passed by the section twice, but the curiosity was literally killing her.
"Hey guys? Is there a ladies room nearby where I could ya know, freshen up?"
Mako turned to look closely at where they were and sighed.
"Yeah there is one down this hallway, but you have to go all the way down. First door on the back right end."
"Do you need us to show you the way?"
Smiling at the green eyed boy's concern, Asami waved her hand.
"No don't worry. I need to learn where everything is eventually. I'll yell if I need help."
Leaving the two brothers to await her return, Asami smiled cunningly.
She had been waiting patiently, knowing that if she asked directly before they passed the wing again, the two wouldn't think anything of her request.
Moving to go down the hall that Mako had pointed out, the heiress double checked to make sure that she was out of their sight, before making her run.
Turning down a second corridor and past dozens of rooms, Asami finally stopped at the west section. The blank walls ensured her she was in the correct spot.
Trying to see if she could hear anything, the young woman eventually was able make her way up to the large mahogany doors at the end of the hall. There wasn't a sound to be heard, besides her own shallow breathes.
Pressing her ear up against the cool wood, Asami listened carefully for any sign of movement. Nothing.
Praying for a miracle, the heiress tried her luck. And sure enough the doors were unlocked.
Pushing in slightly, thankful for only limited squeaking from the doorway, Asami's eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark space.
What she saw stunned her.
Next chapter will be the start of the Korrasami storm:D
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