Chapter 3: Blood Lies
Little Falcon: It's my 4th year here in so in commemoration to this day I'll be updating 4 of my stories so read and review please…
Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!
"Katara…"
As the crimson moon's radiance was blocked temporarily by a passing cloud, everyone stared at the cloaked figure right in front of them.
"I've been called by that name several times," her voice, it was so similar but it didn't feel similar. A strong gust of wind wasn't enough to take their eyes away from this stranger. After looking at every person present, the stranger lifted her hand and removed her hood.
His heartbeat was like drum beating in his ear. His amber eyes mirrored at water bender's face only this time, she was more… breathtaking. Her long brown hair was no longer in twisted loops but in straight layered cut. Her skin glowed even under the red moonlight. Her eyes… her eyes were in the same ocean blue shade but somehow they look… cold.
Still no one was moving even after seeing that familiar face, it was as if everyone felt the same way. She's not Katara. Her voice may sound the same but it lacks the warmth and kindness, the water bender's tone had. Her eyes may be in the same color but they held no recognition or care. Her mere presence may be the truth but that itself was suffocating. Being in the same place as this person makes it hard to breath.
"Who are you?!" the water bender's brother was the first to react. Apparently, seeing his sister's face looking at him like he was some sort of stranger agitated him immediately.
Her blue eyes casually glanced at each person who kept their distance at her. Then a confident smirk appeared on her pretty face. "I'm actually surprised to see you not running to me in tears," like a splash of cold water on their faces, the gang drew back mentally. "… I'm Azrael… but I was also Katara," she crossed her arms in front of her ready for their interrogation.
"What do you mean 'was'?" Finally, the young fire lord was able to break from the paralyzing trance he was in.
"Where's Katara? What have you done to her?" the air bender also stepped in, demanding answers.
With a long sigh, the blood bender, Azrael, closed her eyes momentarily to drown the other questions that followed. This is going to be a loooong night. In a display of authority, she raised in hand to make them stop talking. Indeed, they did. Everyone was also surprised by their instinctive obedience.
"The water bender Katara is me… let me reiterate that for you. She was me. This body belongs to her but something happened. And as far as my memory can remember, she killed her memories with her skillful blood bending, leaving only her instincts to hunt down the other blood benders… that instinct… is me," her voice was loud and clear but nobody understood… not a word.
"You mean… Katara… decided to forget about us?" the water nation warrior's eyes reflected Azrael's silent nod.
"Can it even be done? Killing one's memories with blood bending?" The Kiyoshi warrior held her husband's hand in comfort as she too joined the interrogation.
"Well, I'm here and you all can feel that there is not one hint of Katara in me, right? So I guess, the answer is yes," even Azrael can sense the gang's sinking depression as she answers their question with the things they did not want to hear.
"What happened?" Finally, a question that made sense. His amber eyes reflected his confusion but his feelings for the water bender were superior to anything. So… she just decided to forget? That can't be it… "What pushed her as far as to force herself to forget about us?" About me…
For a long while, her sapphire eyes gazed at the pain in his eyes before she shook her head. "The only thing I can remember was waking up with the dire need to pursue the three blood benders who tried to kill you guys tonight. The why of that instinct is blank,"
"So… you don't know anything?" Aang's white clenched fists remained at his side while the question came out of his gritted teeth.
"No…" she directly stared into the avatar's threatening eyes and replied.
"Every word you said was true. Then let me ask… why come here?" the blind earth bender stood by her lover's side, touched his arm to calm him down. Obviously, she kept quiet so just she can verify every word held no lie.
"I came to make a deal with the avatar," the blood bender unlinked her arms and stared at the crimson moon. Silence was the gang's unified response.
"… I can help you stay alive," she turned to look at the avatar alone.
"And your part of the bargain is?" the air bender finally regained his cool after just a touch from Toph.
"…you'll grant me one favor after all this is over," she averted her blue eyes from everyone else's gaze especially that of the fire lord's.
"What favor is that exactly?" Sukki, too, voiced out her curiosity.
"Don't worry. It nothing serious. No blood will be shed I promise you that," the blood bender efficiently dodged the question.
"What makes you think, Aang will take the offer?" Sokka regained his intellectual tone as he looked at Azrael with a painful expression in his eyes.
"Because whether you like it or not, the truth stands obvious: The only one who can protect both the avatar and the fire lord's life is me," with each word she stepped forward like a predator to a cornered prey. And when she was done talking, she was staring right at Zuko and Aang.
The fact that she was right was unnerving enough but the fact that they had no choice but to agree pushed them off the cliff. No one had enough strength to argue anymore.
Despite knowing what their answer would be, Azrael replaced her hood on her head and started to walk away.
"Wait! Where are you going? We still haven't…" Sukki can't finish her statement.
"I'll leave you guys to debate amongst yourselves. The night's almost over. You won't need me for another month. Until then, you have the time to think about our deal," she didn't dare face anyone but the disappearing moon.
"Where are you going?" Zuko still feels protective over this person despite knowing that she is not the girl he had lost.
"Nowhere. I trust the Great Fire Lord and the Almighty Avatar can remain breathing without the threat of the full moon," Sarcasm coated her distant tone. "Also… are you two sure you can fight?" this time she faced the Kiyoshi warrior and the blind earth bender.
"Your lack of confidence in our skills is insulting," Toph did a quick movement to let the blood bender's face be impaled by an earth spike. Azrael avoided it without difficulty. Her eyes didn't even flinch as she dodged Sukki's strike.
"It's not your skills I lack confidence in," Azrael just had to smirk at earth bender's short temper. "Are you sure you should be fighting when there is another life growing in your womb?" she addressed the two girls that were almost motionless in front of her.
"W…what?" Aang and Sokka asked in unison.
With an exasperated look, her sapphire eyes traveled from the ladies to the two other guys. "I don't think I need to explain that babies are not delivered by storks,"
The two guys stuttered for an appropriate reply but came up with nothing. The growing blush on their faces was almost comical.
"Blood doesn't lie. That's another reason for you to think about our deal," the blood bender left, leaving the gang in their most confused state.
Little Falcon: Read and review please…