CHAPTER 4
A few nights later, I was laying on Zuko's bed in his quarters on the ship, reading a book quietly as he meditated. He didn't mind me being in the same room as him. He actually ordered me to stay in his quarters very night since the Agni Kai with Commander Zhao. To tell the truth, I wasn't really reading the book. I was skimming through it, watching Zuko most of the time.
He wasn't at all bad looking. He was bald, except for the long black ponytail on the top of his head. The scar on the left side of his face distinguished him. He was actually very handsome, and I knew I shouldn't be saying that about the person who actually owned me, but I couldn't help it. It was the truth. And I think he knew I wasn't actually reading the book. I was so focused on the features of him that I jumped when he spoke. "I know you're not reading, Kiara." Yep, he knew.
"Sorry, Prince Zuko," I replied.
With that, he went into deep meditation, breathing deeply. Breathe in, the flames in front of him dimmed. Breathe out, the flames grew higher. He did this over and over, nothing breaking his concentration. Until the door opened.
"The only reason you should be interrupting me," Zuko said, "is if you have news about the Avatar."
It was General Iroh. "Well, there is news, Prince Zuko. But you might not like it," he warned. "Don't get too upset."
"Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now, whatever you have to say, I'm sure I can take it." Zuko was so calm right now. He's only this way when meditating.
"Well, okay then," General Iroh said. "We have no idea where he is."
Wrong move.
The flames on the candles in front of Zuko flared up. They almost touched the ceiling. "What?!" Zuko shouted. He stood, facing his uncle.
General Iroh pulled out a fan and opened it. "You should really open a window in here."
Zuko snatched the map from General Iroh. "Give me the map!"
"Uh, there have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down," General Iroh explained.
"How am I gonna find him, Uncle?" Zuko looked down at the map. "He is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering."
With Zuko still looking down at the map, General Iroh sighed and left the room, leaving me with his nephew. I put down the book and stood up, stretching and yawning. Most people close their eyes when they yawn, and that's what I do. So when I opened them again, I noticed Zuko had moved from the other side of the room. He was sitting on the bed now, looking at me.
"Prince Zuko," I started, "did you ever stop to think that maybe the Avatar is just traveling blindly?" I sat down next to him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"It's possible that he has no idea where he's going. I mean, he does only look like a boy. Perhaps he woke up from a hundred years of sleep and has no idea where he's at."
"There's no way he could sleep for that long and still look young. Don't be stupid."
His words hurt. "It was just a suggestion. I-"
"It was a stupid one." He stood and faced away from me.
"What's gotten into you? Prince Zuko, I was just trying to explain what I thought was happening."
"Why should it matter? You're thoughts aren't important in this. You're just a servant, so stop acting like my friend!" He turned on me, anger written on his face.
"I'm not! Maybe if you would actually listen to your uncle, you wouldn't be so damn moody all the time! You were fine just a second ago, and now you're acting like a spoiled prince!"
What he did next shocked me. No, he didn't throw a ball of fire. But I'm sure that would've hurt less.
He hit me. In all the years I've known Prince Zuko, he's never actually hit anyone. But he hit me.
My head snapped to the side, and I could feel heat rise to the area he'd slapped. I brought my hand up slowly, flinching when I touched my cheek, then stared at Zuko in horror. The anger was slowly fading from his face. He almost looked shocked at what he'd done, but then the anger returned.
"You brought that on yourself," he hissed, his eyes narrowing at me.
I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped myself and stood up. I walked past Prince Zuko and to the door, opening it. Before I left, I said something I probably shouldn't have, but I couldn't stay silent. I was outspoken, and it never ended well for me, considering the scar I'd acquired years ago and the mark I'd gotten just now. What I said probably shocked him, but I didn't stay to find out.
"You're acting like your father."