Chapter 4: Call of the Veins

Little Falcon: This is my pre-holiday update, knowing that the net will probably be busy a few days before Xmas. Hope you guys enjoy your holidays. Read and review like always okay?

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

The fire crackled in front of her as she sat safely beside it. Her sapphire eyes stared into its bright heart unconsciously.

Flashback…

The first thing she was huge flames engulfing every house in the village then the next thing she saw was the crimson tainted ground. The smell of burnt flesh and fresh blood entered her nose. Cries of pain and agony filled her ears as pain wracked every inch of her body.

The moon was full that night. Its brilliant rays clear, making her see everything around her in perfect detail. Her eyes widened in shock as her mind finally registered what was happening. All her other questions were pushed back in her mind as she struggled to get up.

In a distance, she saw how one villager holding an ax put the blade against his own neck. With his trembling body and cries of mercy, she knew it was against his will but no one was forcing him or threatening him to do it. With her peripheral vision, her attention was caught by another movement.

Why and how, she didn't know. All she knew was when her eyes reflected that bender's motion, she knew it was him who was forcing the villager to kill himself. Instinctively, her body moved elegantly, performing a bender's skill. With just a flick of her wrist, she freed the villager from the bender's hold and with a clench of her fist, she rendered her opponent unconscious.

Her legs still felt like they were boneless as she walked around the ruined village. Everything spun into a blur. As the huge flames threatened to eat her alive too, her sapphire eyes glared at the fire lethally. Within moments, blood that were covering the earth and flowing down the stream rose like a wave and engulfed the massive flames.

The stench of burnt blood filled her nostrils even days after that event. Aimlessly, she wandered through the forest and to another village, just to get away from that horrible place.

Her mind was blank. Literally blank, not her name or anything else remains. Aside from the recent event, nothing came to else came to mind.

"Hey have you heard?" one older woman gossiped to the next.

"You mean about the blood benders that attacked that poor village?" another joined in.

"Really who would've thought that blood bending even existed?"

"I heard they saw a blood bender made the spilled blood rise from the ground like a tsunami," she smoothened out her rising goose bumps as she continued. "They began to call her 'Azrael" it's the name of the spirit of destruction in the old legends.

Azrael… From the neglected corner in which, she was staying, she remained silent. So… I'm a blood bender… Her hands shook uncontrollably as she looked at it closely.

"Ssshhh, you shouldn't talk about blood benders. They can kill you instantly with just a snap of their fingers," one man warned them and instantly, the women went their separate ways.

The splash of cold water on her face wasn't enough to cool off her head. Still so many question plagued her mind, enough to chase out any thought of sleeping.

"Aren't you Katara? The Avatar Aang's water bending teacher?" a girl who was playing in the stream walked up to her and stared at her openly.

"Katara?" somehow that name wasn't foreign to her.

Noticing the listless look on the older girl's face, the kid retreated. "My mistake. You couldn't be Katara because right now I'm sure she's in the fire lord's palace helping to guard Fire Lord Zuko together with Avatar Aang. Sorry, you look a lot like her you see," the girl ran off leaving her more confused than ever.

Aang…Zuko… just like the name 'Katara', these names were familiar. Like something she says habitually. The dire need to know about these names drove her from her slump. She began to take jobs that required a lot of risks. It was only then did she knew that she can wield a weapon and that helped her immensely with her jobs. As her skills improved, the information she gathered clicked into place.

Azrael was Katara. That was one thing she was a hundred percent sure of. The only thing left to do now is… All the things she's said and done after she battled with the other blood benders were spontaneous. It was as if there was hidden script she pulled out during that time. Everything made sense afterwards.

Everything… except… Within the flames, she can see his amber eyes gazing into hers.

*****

"Fire Lord Ozai," three hooded figures knelt before the fallen fire lord as he was now dressed again in his formal royal regalia.

"I can no longer be a Fire Lord since that wretched avatar took away my bending," he sat casually on the throne made just for him. "Who are you people and why did you break me out of boiling rock?"

"These people are blood benders, father dear," the former princess stepped out of the shadows wearing her battle gear. "They believe that your vision of a united nation was the ideal utopia so they've come to our aid," Azula regained her former lethal composure as she stood by her father's side.

"Blood benders you say?" a maniacal grin split his face. "Interesting…" plans immediately flocked into his head.

"Why don't we don't Zukie a visit? I'm sure he'll be real happy to have us," that fake sweet smile sent shivers down his spine but also made him smirk.

*****

"Lost in deep thought, my son?" that fatherly tone could only belong to one person, especially when it is followed by the strong scent of jasmine tea.

"Uncle Iroh," the young fire lord snapped out of his train of thoughts and turned to the old man approaching him.

"What's the matter? Thinking of having an heir after knowing that your friends are future fathers now?" the old man taunted and elbowed his nephew playfully.

Blood rushed into his face instantly. "What?! No!" Zuko tried to shake off his blush but it didn't work. Upon hearing the mention of heir, the image of the beautiful water bender holding his child came into mind right away. "It's… about Azrael's deal,"

"Hmm, she didn't offer a deal, Zuko. She just made it look like a deal. After all, a deal isn't a deal if you can't refuse it," the old general quoted.

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