AN: Here is the second chapter. I hope you all enjoy it! Please leave your comments so I can see how well or not well I am doing. I want you all to be able to read this and enjoy it as much as possible!
Hope you are having a marvelous week! Stay safe and healthy!
Her blood feels like it is on fire. Skin hot and sticky. She rolls her head back and forth, groaning at the sharp pain at the base of her neck. Slowly she blinks her eyes open and she tries to sit up.
"Take it slow," a hushed voice comes from behind her.
It startles her and her system surges with a short burst of adrenaline, allowing her to bolt upright. Her hand immediately cups her forehead as she is struck with a dizzy spell.
"I told you to take it slow," a soft chuckle follows.
Katara turns to the owner of the voice and finds a young woman sitting behind her, knees pressed up against her chest. The woman seems to be around her age. Skin kissed by the sun, but not quite as dark as Katara's. Her hair reminds Katara of chestnuts, but it looks corse like straw and her hazel eyes are wide and hold something akin to innocence. Soot and dirt decorate her skin and her tunic seems to be in the same condition as Katara's. Absolutely pathetic. She smiles weakly at the young woman.
"How long…" Katara trails off, her eyes shyly meeting the young woman's.
"They brought you here a little over a day ago—"
Katara groaned, "I've been unconscious the entire time?"
The girl shakes her head softly, "You have been slipping in and out of consciousness throughout the day."
Katara nods, leaning back against metal bars. It is only then that she realizes that she is once again inside another cell.
"Where are we?"
The girl gives her a quizzical look, "Um…we are in the Fire Na—"
Katara waves her off, "I meant what prison did they bring us to?"
The girl's eyes shift back and forth, not knowing quite how to answer her. She can feel Katara's gaze on her and she cannot help the shaky breath that escapes her.
"They did not tell you?" she asks softly.
Katara shook her head, "They really didn't have an opportunity to," she smirks, remembering the scuffle at the docks.
"Oh," the girl sighs, leaning against the wall, "we are in the Fire Lord's palace."
Katara's entire body stiffens. Her features darken as she narrows her eyes at the young woman. Why would they bring her here? Why didn't they just kill her for her defiance or send her off to the Boiling Rock?
Her mind ticks as she clenches and unclenches her jaw, "why?"
An unmistakable emotion takes over the girl's features, one that causes a sinking feeling in Katara's stomach. Her next words itch at Katara's suspicion.
"Why else would they bring captive females to the royal household?" she huffs angrily.
Katara shakes her head, "Surely they are not that barbaric—"
"Do not be naïve," the girl snaps, "it will not save you from our situation."
Katara bristles at the girl's anger towards her and she seems to notice. Her body deflates as she sighs once more, throwing an apologetic look Katara's way.
"I'm sorry. I'm just…scared."
Katara nods slowly.
They sit in silence for several moments before the girl breaks it, "I'm Jin."
"Katara."
"Where are you from Katara?"
For a moment she wonders if her question was a serious one. She looks down at her rustic blue tunic, thinking it should be a dead give away, yet she still entertains the girl's curiosity.
Gnawing on the inside of her cheek, she mulls over the question before slowly answering, "The Joint Water Tribes."
Jin nods, "Ba Sing Se."
Katara hums in response. She shifts slightly and hisses at the sharp pain that pulsates in her hip and Jin gives her a knowing look.
"A chi blocker came shortly before you woke up."
Katara scuffs, "A lot of good that did them the first time."
"This one is different," Jin answers with a shrug of her shoulders.
Curiosity peeked, "How so?" Katara asks as she rubs her hip.
"She's chatty, has a perky attitude and clad in pink from head to toe. Wide eyed and has an innocent feel to her, but there is something off about her. Can't quite place it."
Katara sighs, "Doesn't mean she is more effective though."
Jin nods, "I overheard the guards talking about needing the original chi blocker to work on you. Something about the one they had on the ship when they transported you didn't do a very good job."
Katara chuckles, "I was able to bend still."
"I know. I heard about the scuffle at the docks," Jin smiles, her face turns serious, "wish I had been on your ship during transport though."
The underlying message in her statement is there. Katara feels sympathy for the woman and they share a knowing look.
Sighing, Katara braves a small smile, "As selfish as it sounds, I am glad that I will have a friend while here."
Jin returns her smile, "Yeah, me too."
Both women drift in and out of consciousness over the course of the next few days. The guards bring them food and herbal teas every couple of hours, but Katara has yet to see this chi blocker that Jin spoke of.
"I wonder why the chi blocker hasn't been summoned back…" Katara muses one night out loud.
Jin lifts her chin, eyes settling on the tea Katara holds in her hand, "It's the tea," she continues to shovel rice into her mouth, "no need for the chi blocker so long as they have you on the herbs."
Katara sits there, stunned for a moment before looking down at the steaming cup in her hands. How could she have been so stupid? She tosses the tea out and slams the cup down onto the tray next to her. Jin eyes her for a moment before discarding her and continuing to eat.
"How long does it take for the effects to wear off?" she asks.
Jin pauses briefly, brow raising as she looks upward, thinking, "After consistent ingestion, I'd say a couple of days."
"Oh Tui!" Katara hisses, banging her head back against the wall.
While caught up in her thoughts, the sound of approaching steps alerts both women. Jin sets her tray aside, shuffling closer to Katara's side and wrapping her fingers around her forearm.
Two guards step up to the cell door, "Lets go," the door screams as it opens for the women, "we don't have all day."
"Where are you taking us?" Katara demands boldly.
The soldier steps into the cell, grabbing the front of Jin's tunic, hauling her to her feet.
"Let go of me!" she screams and Katara is quick to follow suit.
"Let her go!" Katara yells, throwing a perfectly aimed teacup at the soldier's helmet.
He grunts in frustration, tossing Jin into the other man's arms and reaches out for Katara, "Water wench!" he hisses.
Katara tries to escape his grip, but he is far too strong. Her hand to hand combat skills are nothing in comparison to her bending. Soon both she and Jin are being hauled from the palace's underground holding cells to the main level and their hearts are pounding.
As they make their way through the massive halls and corridors of the palace, Katara is amazed at the beauty it held. Never did she think that a place filled with such malice and violence could be so wonderfully beautiful. Soft whispers reach Katara's ears as they are being dragged through blood red halls with ornate golden trim. Men and women dressed in fine silk robes, pale skin and golden eyes stare openly at the foreign women. One thing she notes is that there are soldiers everywhere. Some are posted at entryways while others are roaming the palace grounds.
Soon they come to large ornate doors, decorated with dragons and their flaming breath. Two guards that stood post began to push open the massive doors, revealing a columned room. Dimly lit lanterns hung off each column as the main source of light was a brilliant wall of fire. In the center of the room was a large table with a map of the world etched into its grain. A cough catches her attention and that is when Katara notices the uniform clad men seated at the low seating table. All were resting on their knees, pillows tucked underneath them neatly. Their ages varied from middle aged to elderly and Katara could only guess that they were all high ranking officials from the Fire Lord's military.
As they pass the table, both Katara and Jin are forced to their knees, "Bow," the soldier hisses at both of them.
Jin obeys almost immediately, but not Katara. Her firm gaze lands onto the three lone figures seated behind the wall of fire. Their faces obscured from her view. But she knows who they are. Who didn't know of Ozai and his ruthless children, Zuko and Azula?
"I said bow, wench," the soldier hisses as his boot kicks her forward. She lets out a small huff as the air is kicked from her lungs and she slowly pulls her body up into a bowing position. Her forehead presses into the cold marble floor beneath her as she tries to regain her breath. Slowly she turns her head to look at Jin, Katara can visibly see small droplets of sweat beading across her brow and small tears escaping her eyes. She will not show them her fear, she will deprive them of such a sight.
"The prisoners you requested, my lord," one of the soldiers state and Katara can hear murmurings full the room.
Distinct and firm steps echo about the room, commanding silence as the near the bowing women. Pristine boots come into her line of sight and Katara wonders which of the three descended from their perch atop the seated thrones.
She hears the soldiers grunt in confirmation and suddenly they are both hauled to their feet. Hands force her arms to her side before arms encircle her around the waist. Trapping her effectively.
"Let's have a look," she hears a smooth, velvety, baritone voice say. Hair falls into her face so her sight is obscured but she can hear Jin whimpering next to her.
"Please—" she hears Jin yelp next to her and Katara's heart begins to race as a resounding smack bounces off the walls.
"You will speak when spoken to," the man declares, his voice is cold and tempered and it sending a chill down her spine, "is that understood?"
Silence follows. Katara hears a shuffle of cloth and Jin crying out again, "I SAID IS THAT UNDERSTOOD, YOU PEASANT FILTH?" He roared at her like an enraged dragon spitting flames and she could hear Jin's cries.
"I understand," she whimpers, "I understand!"
Katara hears him step towards her and she cannot help how shaken her breath has become. Swiftly hair is parted from her face as a hand grips her mandible tightly. She clenches her eyes shut, not wishing to the face of this monster.
"Is this the one?" he asks, pulling her face forward.
"Yes, your majesty. This is the waterbender who aided in the prisoners escape from Commander Zhao's vessel."
"Remarkable," she can feel his breath on her face, "quite beautiful for Water Tribe filth," he comments and Katara's eyes snap open at that, "ah, there you are," his breath tickles her cheek.
She forces herself to hold back a gasp at the sight before her. Turmeric gold stare at her through narrowed slits. Long, luxurious silt black hair frames a perfectly chiseled, porcelain face. There are some signs of aging, but not too much that wouldn't make this man undeniably breathtaking. She knew from the crown perched in his topknot that this man whose hands are on her, is none of than Fire Lord Ozai.
"What is your name?" he inquires.
Katara mentally shakes herself from the daze and her eyes narrow at him dangerously. She will not be as pliant as others before her. With all the energy she can muster, Katara spits in the Fire Lord's face. A triumphant smirk twitches a the corner of her mouth, but she remains impassive.
Ozai steps back, grunting in disgust. His hand swipes at his tainted skin, ridding it of her saliva and before Katara can blink, he backhands her with a resounding smack. Pain blossoms across her cheek as her head snaps to the left and soon she feels his fingers digging into her jaw once more.
Pulling her dangerously close, "Your name?" he demands through clenched teeth.
But she will not yield. She will die before she bows to this wretched man. Narrowing her eyes defiantly, she tries to jerk her head from his grasp, but it is useless. His gaze burns into her soul and soon she hears a click of his tongue. Quickly he releases her and is taking a step back.
"No matter. Take her to Lady Min. She wreaks of carcass and peasantry," he waves them off, but not before motioning to another soldier nearby.
Ozai whispers in his ear all while maintaining eye contact with Katara. She watches the soldier nod a few times before backing away, bowing to the Fire Lord and exiting the room.
Suddenly he is on her, his hand cupping the back of her head and tangling into her matted locks. His lips smash against hers in a searing and brutal kiss. This was him displaying his dominance, his power. Katara whimpers against him as he pulls her from the guards embrace, his other hand encircling her waist. With a forceful tug he pulls her into his body and Katara brings her hands up just in time to push against his chest. She does not want this!
As swiftly as he came, his touch and warmth are gone. She feels his thumb trail under her bottom lip, their gaze meeting. He swipes at the saliva gathering there before bringing his thumb to his lips, sucking at the digit momentarily. Katara is disgusted by the display and begins to back away from him, only to bump into the guard behind her.
It was Ozai's dark chuckle that sent chills down her spine. He steps towards her, lips brushing up against her ear and she tries to thrash in the soldier's embrace.
"I look forward to seeing you again," Ozai pulls away from her and signals for the guards to take them away.
As she struggles in their arms, Katara catches sight of the Prince just beyond the wall. The look in his eyes was something akin to pity. She curses him and his pity. If it is the last thing Katara will do, it'll be to gouge out those cursed golden orbs from his skull and feed them to the sealturtles.
"DAMN YOU ALL TO THE DEPTHS OF NARAKA!" she screams as she is hauled past the doors and out of the royals' sight.
Azula scuffs at the waterbender's behavior, "Defiant little thing, isn't she father?"
"She certainly has a fire within her," Zuko mutters softly, more to himself than anyone else.
"A fire I desire to extinguish," Ozai smirks as he gaze lingers where the waterbender once stood.