I haven't been getting very many reviews lately and I desperately need you guys to tell me what you think. Please, once you finish reading this chapter, tell me if you hated or enjoyed this chapter. I have to know if you like where this is going. Readers, you all have been so nice to me in the past and I am quite honest when I say that I have not been as generous as I should have been. I am sorry for that.
I also want to get this story finished by the end of summer and I cannot wait for you guys to read the next few chapters. So, please have fun and remember - I do not own anything.
Koori stood, frozen and frightened as Admiral Akira continued smiling. He then held his chest and started to chuckle. "Agni," he said while he looked up to the ceiling and rubbed a fake tear from his right eye, "you must love me so much."
Zhao stood at Koori's side. He nudged Koori, but his hand went through her arm. "Koori," he said in a frantic whisper, "you must get out of here."
Koori was still frozen to the floor, staring at the bearded man. He frowned at her glossy eyes and walked over to her. His grubby, bitten fingernail pointed to her collar. "Still maintained your position?" he asked. She remained still and held her breath while he touched her cheek. "And still frightened by me," he tatted.
Zhao waved his arms; the chains shook violently at his movements. "Koori," he screamed. "Koori, move!"
The young concubine closed her eyes and escaped her trance. "Do I know you?" she asked. Zhao smiled; she had changed her voice and looked directly at the bearded Admiral. Akira frowned at the difference in voice and mannerism.
"I know that it is you, don't play dumb," Akira grunted. "Zhao's old concubine is not so easy to forget."
Footsteps echoed down the hall and Fire Lord Ozai paused at the confrontation. "Admiral Akira?" he asked, glancing at Koori and then to his officer. Koori and Akira both bowed to Ozai, but Koori's bow was much longer and lower. Ozai reached for Koori's hand and pecked her knuckle. Koori blushed and the Fire Lord turned to his officer. "Admiral, I request your assistance in the war room. We must discuss the day of black sun. Princess Azula has been waiting to tell us what she discovered in the Earth Kingdom while she infiltrated the Earth King's palace. Why don't we walk together?"
Koori bowed once more as the pair walked off together. Akira turned his head to get one last look at the familiar, young concubine. He winked at her as she stood from her bow. Koori shivered once she could no longer see them and let out a slow sigh.
"How did he survive?" Koori asked. She held her chest because her heart rate had risen during her unfortunate meeting with the Admiral.
Zhao stood beside her, his hands were clenched tightly together and he wore an unhappy grin. Koori turned on her heel and walked back to the Harem Wing. She passed young ladies being prepared for the night and knew that she would be joining them soon. She reached her door, but the knob was locked. She jiggled it and huffed angrily. Ai walked over to her friend.
"You were moved," she said. Koori listened intently. Ai cleared her throat and grasped Koori's hand. "I will take you to your new room." Koori nodded and followed Ai down the hall. Small golden plaques on cherry doors held the names of concubines. Ai stopped in front of one door. A lonely symbol rested on Koori's plaque—the symbol of ice. Ai turned the golden knob and Koori stared at the large room. Something about this room shocked her and Ai noticed. "I bet that you are used to a room that looks just like this," Ai whispered once the door was shut tightly behind her.
Koori nodded. "It looks like the cabins on the ships," she whispered back. Koori looked at the familiar style—the only difference was that there was no metal. Cherry wood lined the walls, the bed and the quaint desk. Koori sat on the twin bed. The entire room reminded her of Zhao's Captain days and she smiled at the crimson sheets. Ai sat next to her friend.
"You are moving up the ranks quickly, Koori," Ai muttered. The young woman gripped Koori's hand tightly. "You are threatening the other concubines. You need to start watching your back; they will kill you soon." Ai stood and Koori stared at her. "I will be back to get you ready for the prince." Koori nodded and Ai exited the room.
Zhao laughed once Koori was alone. "Who would have thought that the rooms would be so similar?" He sat at the desk, put his feet up onto the cherry wood and placed his coarse hands behind his head. Koori had not seen him in this position since he was a Captain. She smiled at the familiarity of it all. Quickly, she thought about Ai's comment.
"They will kill me?" Koori asked Zhao. He nodded slowly and stood off of the chair. He sat on the bed next to his concubine and rubbed her shoulder. Cold overwhelmed her and she shivered. Her back hit the bed and Zhao watching intently as she put her hands behind her head. "The day of black sun?" she asked.
Zhao snorted and Koori closed her eyes. "There was a library," Zhao started. Koori opened her eyelids and stared intently at the spirit beside her. Zhao leaned against the headboard; his chains clattered together as he repositioned himself. "When you were a small girl, I was on a quest to find a great spiritual library. You see, I was planning the destruction of the Northern Water Tribe long before I actually carried out my attack."
Koori sat up. "Master-"
Zhao smiled. "My crew and I were positioned in a desert of the Earth Kingdom; there were rumors that the library was nearby, but the locals had never seen anything unusual. Then, one afternoon, a couple of soldiers followed some strange looking foxes; the animals led us to the library. Upon entering, a giant owl threatened us. He told us to give him some of our knowledge, or be destroyed." Zhao stood from the bed and sat at the desk. He put his head in his hands; his elbows rested on the cherry wood in front of him. He chuckled and said, "We gave him an old book of tactics and told him that we were there to acquire elements of peace—the spirit actually believed us!" Zhao let out a deep sigh and returned to his melancholy state. "We roamed the library—the owl had documents from every nation.
"My crew searched the documents from the Fire Nation while I went to the Water Tribe section. It only took me a few minutes to find the information that I needed about the spirits of the Water Tribe. I returned to my crew, but they informed me of a weakness—this weakness directly affected firebenders. They showed me the document. It mentioned a day of black sun—a solar eclipse that would render the firebenders powerless. I ordered my troops to burn the Fire Nation section. I kept the scrap of paper that I had in my hands; I wanted to show Fire Lord Sozin what I found, but the paper started to burn and I dropped it as a giant figure approached us.
"I had forgotten about the owl who guarded the library and he attacked once he saw what we were doing. We retreated, but he captured some of my crew. He ate all of the men that he captured and then regurgitated some odd looking masks. The owl let out a horrifying screech and the ground started to shake. The owl was sinking the giant library into the sand—we ran faster, but most of my crew did not survive."
"But, if the library sank, how does Princess Azula know about the day of black sun?" Koori asked slowly.
Zhao looked up at his slave and shook his head. "I can only assume that the Avatar and his friends found the library. They must have discovered some remnants of the Fire Nation section. When the princess attacked Ba Sing Se, she must have discovered the Avatar's plan of attack."
Koori groaned. "And I bet that the Avatar and his friends, if they are still alive, are still planning to attack on this day." Koori stood up and started to pace the room. She pressed her shaking left hand onto her cheek. She turned to Zhao and he knew what she was going to say. "We must tell them before it is too late."
Zhao grinned. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that? Especially with Akira watching your every move."
Koori shrugged and heard a knock on her door. Ai walked in and guided Koori to the bathroom. Servants were waiting to bathe the young concubine and tend to her every need. They worked on her hair, makeup, skin and nails. They worked in silence, but Koori noticed that they took their time. Koori sighed, there would be no time to soak and continue her conversation with her previous master. A skimpy piece of lingerie was placed on her frame and Koori prepared herself for an uncomfortable and awkward evening.
The Head Mistress led Koori to Zuko's room, took off the cloak Koori was wearing and left quickly. The doorknob on the other side of the room turned and Zuko exited his library. Koori curtsied to him and he merely looked at her.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
The young girl could not remember the last time that she ate—just like Zhao, the Head Mistress limited how much sustenance she could consume. Zuko grabbed his robe and threw it over the young girl. It covered her inappropriately exposed skin.
The prince walked over to a small table that contained a golden tray. Food was piled on it and Koori held back the intense feeling to lick her lips.
Zuko sat and held his hand out for Koori to do the same. She did and he watched her intently. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Koori looked away from him and closed her eyes.
"Thank you for the robe, Prince Zuko," she muttered.
Zuko nodded and then grabbed a goblet filled with wine. He took a sip and then turned to the young girl. "I think that it is about time that we had a long talk, Koori," Zuko whispered.
The next chapter is already written. I will modify and post it once somebody tells me what they think about my story!
