SURPRISE! :) I decided to give everyone ANOTHER update! (yes, it has only been two days since i posted chapter 7.) but this chapter sets things into motion. and guess who's making the comeback- HIKARU! i missed her...haha

so! get ready for more sleazy Jet and an angry Lord Chronos (yeah! he's making an appearance!)

thank you for the reviews everyone!

-TSA

Chapter 8:

"To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart." ~Phyllis Theroux

The palace was abnormally quiet. The servants were hardly ever called upon, but that was simply because she was so used to taking care of herself. Days passed slowly since there was no princess to chase after, and all she spent her time doing was corresponding with Lord Chronos, who was becoming agitated with Briar's lack of reception. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to make up reasons why she couldn't accept his audience.

Dabbing her brush in ink, she scribbled out another letter stating that it would be several more weeks until Briar could see him. Scowling at how lopsided her calligraphy was, she leaned back in her chair to think back on how her sister always had such beautiful handwriting. Of course, she had beautiful everything. Suitors slaved over her affections and so much of her hadn't understood why she chose Briar's father as her husband.

Had Hikaru had her way as Queen Amaterasu, she would have rid of the laws of marriage, and several other things. That was most likely the reason why her parents wanted to revoke her birthright. It was fine with her if it meant that she could forever be a diplomat, a position that was most often overlooked. She had wanted to travel the world anyway. Running her fingers through her graying hair, she closed her eyes for a brief moment until the doors to the library were flung open.

She rose to her feet upon seeing ten soldiers with halberd spears at hand march in by twos and stand in attention. Their uniforms were a pale green with a black emblem of twin snakes entwined together. Chin held parallel to the floor, she narrowed her eyes on the young man that strode into the room, adorned in golden, polished armor with his helmet tucked under his arm. Curtsying to him, she reached behind her and grabbed the stiletto she had been using to open up the letters on the table.

"Lady Susanoo, if I am not mistaken?"

Hikaru narrowed her eyes on the second man who entered the library. He was tall and gangly, his robes drowning him though the colors richly accented his grey eyes. She clicked her tongue, "Who's asking?"

"I am Ulysses, Lord Chronos' adviser." He swept into a bow, "I hate to be so rude, but my lord is growing concerned with Briar's lack of correspondence."

Hikaru glanced over at Chronos to find his expression still as stone while he stared at her, "I doubt you have realized this, but Princess Briar is not within her kingdom."

Ulysses chuckled, "You give little credit where credit should be due." He glanced at the guards flanking Chronos and gave them a nod of the head, "Her absence is what brings us here in such a hostile manner."

"If you think her kingdom will bow down to you then you are sorely mistaken," Hikaru snapped, directing her statement to Chronos.

"We are simply here to discover the princess's whereabouts. I would hope that you don't make that difficult." Ulysses replied.

Hikaru watched the soldiers begin to circle around her, "And what will you do with said information?"

Chronos finally stepped forward, setting a hand on Ulysses' shoulder to keep him from speaking, "My only concern, Milady, is if Princess Briar truly wishes to go through with this marriage."

Hikaru raised a brow, not at all expecting those words from him. She saw his stone expression falter to reveal a pair of concerned grey eyes that gave his features a new light, "It is what has been decided for her."

"Then I ask, where might Her Majesty be?"

Hikaru hesitated with her response. If they located her, they might find Iroh and Zuko as well. She didn't know what her niece's plans were, but this probably wouldn't help one way or another. Shaking her head, she let out an airy sigh, "I'm sorry, Milord, but I can't tell you."

Chronos nodded his head, signaling his soldiers with a glance.

Hikaru lashed out at the first one, her blade cutting his arm open. The second swung his spear over her head, but she ducked low and slammed her hand to the floor, a pillar shooting up and crushing him into the ceiling. Hands in front of herself, she waited for the next soldier, but found Chronos applauding her.

"I was told not to trifle you." He handed his helmet to Ulysses while drawing his bo staff that was strapped to his back.

He spun the metal rod around in circles until Hikaru felt the earth shaking violently underneath her. She fell to one knee while watching the tile of the floor begin to pull apart and crack. As soon as a fissure appeared between her and him, he stopped swinging his staff and slammed it into the ground. A slab of rock whipped toward her, pummeling her into the bookshelves. She shook her head to break herself from the impact, Chronos stepping toward her.

"I'd hate to have to beat it out of you," he said while kneeling in front of her.

Hikaru wiped a smudge of blood from the corner of her mouth, "Why are you looking for her?"

Chronos rose to his feet while snapping his fingers. Ulysses handed him an envelope that's seal was broken. He set it in her palm before turning on his heel to leave, "We have reason to believe that she has betrayed her nation. She is innocent until proven guilty and, in the meantime, I will have my army stationed here to assure that this kingdom does not crumble before I secure it as my own."

"What will you do to her?" Hikaru shouted while staggering to her feet.

Chronos took his helmet back from Ulysses, not bothering to look over at her, "Nothing if she cooperates."

As he strode down the hallway, a messenger came sprinting up to him, out of breath and waving a letter frantically. Bowing, he handed the envelope to Chronos, who tore it open. He read its contents quickly, a smirk cross his lips, "She's in Ba Sing Se."

"Shall we make ready to leave, Milord?" Ulysses asked.

"I will station you here to watch over Lady Susanoo. I will go retrieve my 'wife'."

. . . .

She could think of a thousand things she would rather be doing, and this certainly wasn't one of them. The drawling of noblemen was enough to make her tear her hair out, which was saved by the intricate twist and the clips that held it in place. Circling around the room, she hid behind a large pillar while stealing a pastry from a passing waiter. She hadn't eaten a sugary treat in what felt like weeks. She savored the sweet taste, leaning against the pillar until she heard footsteps.

Hiding her pastry, she gave a smile and a curtsy to a passing noble couple, turning around to devour the rest of her treat. She licked her fingers clean of the honey while skipping off to find more lovely deserts before she was whisked away by another diplomat. She gratefully accepted a chalice of watered down wine before her eyes found a tray of rice cakes. Tip-toeing closer, she reached out to grab one, but was tapped on the shoulder.

Startled, she flung herself around to face a man adorned by a pale green tunic with twin snakes entwined on the front. Her eyes narrowed on him until she realized that it was the same fellow she met in the teashop before Long Feng had interrupted her. His grey eyes were still as handsome as they had been before, though she found it an odd occurrence that he was at an event where all those in the Upper Ring were invited.

"Milady." He took her hand and kissed it, "I do hope you remember encountering me-"

"I rightfully do." She took a sip from her chalice, licking her lips, "I apologize for not having introduced myself."

"My name is General Nalren."

"You're certainly young for a general."

"Is that a compliment?"

"I would assume so. You must be an exceptional warrior and strategist."

"My lord seems to think so."

Briar was eying the emblem on his tunic, which Nalren quickly noticed, "Your lord is as young as you."

"You know of him?"

Briar could see the smirk fighting to break against his pursed lips. Fuck. Chronos knew she was here. Smiling widely, she raised her chalice in a toast, "I know very well of Lord Chronos." She let her eyes scan over the nobles surrounding her, searching for any sign of him, "Do you know of me, General?"

"I know you are a queen to be. Engaged even, I hear."

"Then your lord has announced it."

"Shame that you are taken, Milady…"

"You're flattering, Sir, though a general has no means in flirting with a betrothed woman." She batted her eyelashes, which made him blush, "Am I to assume that Lord Chronos is aware of my whereabouts?"

Nalren's face beamed red and he tried to fumble for words, but Briar sighed with irritation and set her chalice on the table. She gestured for him to follow her, which he did willingly and she brought him down a secluded hallway. Rolling up her sleeves, she seized him by the collar of his tunic and slammed him into the wall. His head bounced off the stone and she was surprised that he didn't try to wiggle free or bend.

"Start speaking. Does Chronos know where I am?"

"Milady, please, listen-!"

She gave him another shove into the wall, "Answer my question, General!"

He cleared his throat, "I was only following orders." He grimaced as she swore under her breath, "I can only assume that he is on his way to Ba Sing Se. I sent my letter a few weeks ago."

"Why is he following me?"

Nalren sighed heavily, "You've committed treason, Milady."

Briar narrowed her eyes on him, and he swore he had turned to stone. Medusa's deathly glare was burning in her stare, "You have proof of this?"

"You don't deny it-"

"Watch your tongue, Soldier." She reached behind her and unsheathed the tiny stiletto inside the band of her robes, pressing it to his chin, "Or I will have it removed."

"Lord Chronos claims he does." Nalren fidgeted to distance himself from the blade that dug into his skin, "Is it true, Milady?"

Briar grinned, "If it were, would you expect me to tell you? Fool." He blushed as she laughed in mock of him, "Send a message to Lord Chronos." She released him with one last shove, "Tell him that I am eagerly awaiting his arrival."

She strode down the hallway, deciding that she had had enough of noblemen. Slamming the door of her chambers, she locked it and began shrugging out of her robes. Bare to the darkness of the night, she grabbed her white nightgown, throwing it on before roaming onto her balcony to stare down at the orchid trees below her. Their fragrance was enchanting and her selfish being believed that only she should wear such a beautiful scent. She was powerful, a warrior though a ruler.

Her eyes narrowed while a foreign scent picked up into the air. She strode into her room, picking up her stiletto, though her palm was clammy. When she turned around, her knife was broken from its grip by the hilt of another blade and she stumbled into her vanity desk, though when she spun around, a gentle hand touched her cheek. She shivered until the face became clear in the dim light of her room.

"Miss me, Princess?"

She slapped him with all her might, "You should have never come back here."

"Call it a 'death wish'…"

"What do you want?"

Jet paused, pretending to be in deep thought, wheat stock bouncing between his lips, which she remembered to be soft and warm. He paced around the room, "Just wanted to pay a visit…Can you blame me for being attracted to you?"

"Funny, I stopped thinking that about you when you decided this was a manipulation game."

"Everything is a manipulation game!" He smirked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, "It just depends whose side you're on and who's calling the shots."

Briar walked over to him, something she knew in the back of her mind was a bad idea, but she wasn't about to let him believe she was intimidated by him, "In this game, I'm the Queen and you're the Pawn."

"I would prefer to be the Bishop, but that's apparently not my call." He shrugged, "So, who are the other pieces? I'm guessing that Fire Bender is the King by how you're trying to protect him."

Briar's lips pursed, "The only person I am responsible for protecting is myself."

"Oh, really?" His hand slinked around her waist, pulling her up against himself. Briar faltered, hands braced against his chest while a thousand curses filled her head, "I like that…a determined woman."

"Bite me."

He laughed while twirling his stock of wheat between his fingertips, "Be careful what you wish for!"

His gaze softened, though only for a brief moment. His mouth hit hers, bruising her pink lips until she was so lost to the numbing of the pain. Melting, though her mind was fighting her body, she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling his lips further against hers. Breathing was pointless as he ravaged every inch of skin exposed by her nightgown. The chill of the night embraced her, goose-bumps lighting a path across her flesh, softened by each kiss.

Her back hit the wall, his hands on either side of her head while their chests brushed against each other with each gasp for air. His body was warm, though his muscles rigid as he continued his exploration of her neckline. Soft moans vibrated from her throat while his lips pressed to hers, tongue brushing against the insides of her mouth until all moisture was suckled away. His hands slipped down her shoulders, one moving to tenderly knead a plump mound of her breast. Just the brush of his fingertips against a pert petal made her jolt in alarm, though the sensation ripped through her.

Shoving him back, she took in as much oxygen as she could while calculating the burn of lust in his eyes, "That will certainly be enough from you." She wiggled away from him, striding across the room with as much dignity as she could pretend she had, "I order you to leave."

Jet dismissed his armor and swords, throwing off his tunic while smirking at the blush in Briar's cheek, "You wouldn't want me to tattle on your little friends, would you?"

"If you think that scares me then you are sorely mistaken."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged, "I hear there's a handsome reward for their capture, courtesy of the Fire Nation."

Briar's eyes narrowed, "I'm not a dumb little whore."

"Never said you were!" He walked over to her, tugging the straps of her nightgown off her shoulders, caressing the tattoo across her neckline, "Even so, I think you'd be willing to succumb."

"You forget who's calling the shots."

Briar's fingers tiptoed over her broad chest, tracing the lines of scars that decorated his skin, darkened from the sun. Her hand slid down his abdomen and hovered above the sash of his pants. He pressed his forehead to hers, whispering nonsensical words that made her breath heavily and softly moan. He guided her hands along the muscles of his body, admiring her tentative touch that tickled his senses. He was blinded, but only for a moment, until she tried to step away from him.

His arm latched around her waist, drawing her up against himself, "Don't be scared."

"I won't be seduced," she huffed.

Jet lifted her chin up, kissing her cheek and working his way along her jaw line, "I don't know the art of seduction."

There was a smirk tugging at Briar's mouth, "Then I'll educate you on the matter."

But Jet wasn't interested in that sort of thing. How could there be an art to sexual encounters? His lips ravaged hers, swollen and defeated as she was pushed back up against the wall. Pressing himself between her thighs, she tried to suppress a gasp at the mix of pain and pleasure that fought between her thighs. She was fighting against him, though her body believed it only to be her way of pushing herself closer to him as he kissed the delicate skin of her neck.

She glanced to the left, staring at the stiletto that had fallen onto her vanity desk. Reaching a hand toward it, her wrists were seized and she was slammed against the wall again, begging mercy to Jet's leering eye. Blushing darkly, she stared at the floor until his grip loosened and he walked over to the desk. He held her knife in his hands, twirling it around between his fingers before throwing it into the floor, the tip embedded into the tile, which she didn't expect to be possible.

"Any other tricks you'd like to try?" His hand gripped her chin, though Briar's gaze was still as stone. He gave an airy laugh, "I still love that look in your eyes. You truly are a powerful woman."

"Even my suitors knew not to trifle with me," she hissed, an agitated cobra in the grasps of a mongoose.

"Well, I'm no suitor."

"You're no gentleman either."

Jet laughed loudly, crossing the room to sit down on a large red divan. He watched her with cheerful eyes, though he couldn't mask the lust of his stare. His smirk came to life as she shuffled over to him, shoulders slack, nightgown faltering to conceal her virgin body. He tugged at the skirt of her gown as she stopped in front of him.

"I intrigue you, don't I?"

Briar grabbed his wrist as his hand trekked over her thigh, "That would be a compliment, Sir."

"Ah…" He yanked her onto his lap, admiring the alarm in her eyes, "Shall we tango?"

"That's too passionate a dance to share with you."

Briar's lips stretched to a deceptive grin while she traced the lines of his muscles along his abdomen, fingers lingering above the sash of his pants. She gently kissed his neck, working her way along his jaw until she was nibbling at his ear lobe. His skin was flushed red as her tongue ran along the tender flesh, her quiet words stinging his senses until he was numb. When her lips pressed to his, she heard a growl echo from his throat while he fought to regain control, but she refused to allow his tongue access.

Pushing his hands away from her hips, she rose from her perch on his lap while crossing the room, finger bending to gesture for him to follow her. When she saw him faltering to stand, she grabbed her stiletto from its sheath in the floor and threw it at him. The blade pierced his shoulder, sending him howling to the floor of her chambers. Walking over to him while adjusting her straps so that they sat better on her shoulders, she knelt down and removed the blade that had only partially embedded into his skin and muscle.

"You've fucked with the wrong girl." She affectionately ran the back of her hand across his cheek, "Now, either you leave or I have the Dai Li arrest you."

Jet's smirk was still dancing on his face, "Aren't you a crafty little bitch?"

"This is the art of seduction." She watched the blood trickling off the tip of her stiletto, "You easily forget that you are only a pawn, a disposable piece. Now, I can offer you the chance to advance in my game of manipulation if you are ambitious enough to do so."

"And what is this chance?"

"There is a handsome reward for two Fire Nation traitors, as you had stated before." Briar rose to her feet, "I'm in need of assistance in proof of this."

Jet's grin was enough to make her shiver, "But what do I get out of it?"

Briar rolled her eyes, "You won't be removed from the game." She watched him struggle to his feet, hand grasping his bleeding shoulder, "But just remember, I'm the Queen and you're my Pawn."

"So…" He pulled his hand away to examine the blood across his palm, "…who's the King?"

Well then... wat do you think? i hope that you all don't know EXACTLY what Briar's up to, but if you manage to guess it then i've failed epically (lol). As if Jet would leave with what he got last chapter. he's obviously still looking for more. :)

so! let me know what you thought and there will be an update sometime soon. :) chapter 9 is already written and so i 10... :/

-TSA