Chapter 19

The streets were completely deserted. There was only the howling of the autumn wind, blowing leaves everywhere. They crunched under my feet as I stopped in front of City Hall.

The Neo Equalist banners flapped from the pediments, flashing their angry red characters. Chi blockers stood guard in the shadows of the pillars, green goggles glowing. They didn't step forward or come near me when I passed through. Their heads just turned to watch me, slowly, all at the same time.

The doors swung open with a loud groan, revealing the long rows of benches and the raised dais that used to hold the City Council table. Now there was a single high-backed throne, glistening black. Along the top of the high backed chair, dark spirits slithered and churned, a dark purple and red mass. At the sides of the dark throne were two branching lines of bound figures, some convulsing, some not. There was the bright red clothing of Avatar Aang's family, and the mixed colours of Korra's. I found Lee at the foot of the throne, an unmoving lump of red and yellow. Selene was nowhere to be seen.

Two slim hands rested on the arms of the throne, casually holding the wire that was shocking all of the people. Jolts of lightning would spark from the hands and then be absorbed into the wires. I followed the dark clothed arms, to the face, a masked face. But I saw the moonlight eyes, the familiar curve of the mouth, the whisper of ebony hair peeking out from under her billowing hood.

"I have come. Just like you asked," I said.

"Yes. That makes it much easier for me to rightfully take my other half of Raava from you," she answered, tilting her head slightly. She stood from her throne, dropping the wires. The Avatar families sighed in relief as the shocks stopped. Lee didn't say anything. He was just shaking.

I tried not to look at Katara, or Tonraq, or Jinora, or Rohan. I especially tried not to look at Lee, whose warm brown eyes were fluttering open.

"You have what you want. Now can you let them go?" I demanded, searching for any of the Yena that I knew. I thought I saw something but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"But how else can I guarantee you'll stay?" Yena sang.

"You know I will. How else will we find out who the true Avatar is?" I taunted.

Her too-bright eyes narrowed in irritation. There was a flash of orange-red. She threw out a hand, throwing me into the closed doors with a gale of wind. I groaned as the doors made every part of me hurt, pain radiating in my blood in hot waves. Jumping up, I stomped on the ground, the earth violently rippling. Yena flew into the air, colliding with her black throne. The dark spirits screeched in response, taking to the air. They attacked themselves to Yena's prisoners, dark tendrils wrapping around their prone bodies in an unbreakable grasp.

Laughter surged from the toppled throne. Yena got herself up using airbending, floating for a second then landing softly in the rubble.

"So you do have some fight in you. Maybe I underestimated you, my dear sister," she breathed.

"That sound about right," I commented. "Now let them go."

She laughed again, kneeling beside Lee, who was held up by a dark spirit.

"This is a handsome one, sister. Where ever did you find him? Maybe I can have him once you're buried six feet under," she said, running a slender finger along his face.

Her sharp fingernail drew blood, which made me suck a breath.

"You stay away from him," I growled.

"Oh?" Yena turned, smiling. She threw off her mask with a flourish, falling into the rubble. "We both know who is better with men. If you can have him, then that means I can definitely take him from you. It's always been that way, dear sister."

She dropped her hood, pulling out her thick braid that was hidden under her jacket. The red glyphs of Vaatu were like blood on her chest, glaring at me.

She waved a hand and my mask fell to the ground, ribbons undulating like waves as it fluttered into strewn rocks. I heard Lee's and Tonraq's withdrawal of breath, their shocked stares like a physical touch on my skin.

"Tiana," Lee said. My eyes darted to him, taking in his steady gaze. I found mixed surprise in his eyes. I knew that Lee had some suspicions. He wasn't stupid. But hiding something as big as being the Avatar, how could he expect that?

"Oh, he's awake!" Yena clapped her hands excitedly. "You can join the show."

"No, Yena. This is between us. Let's keep it that way."

"Fine."

She threw out her hands, metal whips shooting out and wrapped around my wrists. Lightning coursed along the onyx lengths, making my body seize and convulse as I fell to my knees. My breath came out in stuttered groans. My shaking hands grasped the sparking tentacles and with a yell, I froze them. Yena screeched when the ice crept into her hands and up her hands. She broke the ice with a sudden flare of fire. The icy whips were still around my wrists, burning painfully into my skin. I ran at my sister, ice tendrils flying behind me. I took a leap into the air, the frozen whips whirling around me as I twirled. I heard the hard thump as one of them hit my sister in the chest, sending her flying. I landed in a kneeling position, my bones protesting in response to the earth's jolt.

Yena laughed roughily as she stood, swaying.

"Let's just do it then," she said. She raised her hands, palms up, fingers curled. The roof shuddered, a crack spidering along the plaster, growing thin, black branches. With a throw of her hands, she brought it all down. Raining plaster made the earth shake, Yena's prisoners huddling for cover.

Yena floated above on an air spout, a brilliant smile on her face as her silver eyes disappeared, into the orange-red glow of the Dark Avatar State. But underneath the orange-red was a shimmer of blue-white, of the Light Avatar State. She was using her half of Raava to power Vaatu.

"I shall make this a battle to remember by making it the ultimate!" Yena screamed, her voice echoed with Vaatu's.

The sunset that was burning across the sky blazed brighter. A full moon flared into being, along with spirit lights dancing across the sky.

"I enhance the power of our elements! The full moon for you, and the sun for me!" she cried.

The air blew faster and faster around her, until it made a sphere. Yena smiled, the skin around her glowing eyes tightening. She crooked a finger at me.

I looked at the dirty, smeared faces of the members of past Avatar families. I looked to Mako, his golden eyes blazing. I looked to Tonraq, his glacier blue eyes deadly calm. And then there was Lee, brown eyes glinting like a caged animal's.

I had to save them. I had to save everyone. I knew what Yena promised the world.

I felt Raava stir inside me, beckoning me with her gentle light.

It's okay to let go, she whispered in my mind.

And I did.