Time To Heal

Chapter 49

“I don’t trust them.”
Asami rolled her eyes at that before gently grabbing her lover’s arm.
“If you want to cause even more damage go ask them who it was murdered…but do not blame them for something that happened seven years ago.” She stated, watching the hard look melt.
“You know?” Korra guessed, earning a sigh and nod.
“Yeah and you thought they were messed up…you would be too.” Asami replied tiredly, only to feel her girlfriend gently take her hand.
“What did they…” the avatar began though she stopped when she saw the look that Asami had sent her way.
“They never had a normal childhood…Unalaq wouldn’t allow it. If you want to know the whole story ask them. I just don’t think that this is my place.” The engineer sighed, feeling a soft kiss against her forehead.
“I’m sorry about how stupid I’ve been acting. Spirits….I’m an idiot.”
Korra muttered, only to be pulled into a hug.
“I think they understand but if I were you I’d apologize.” Asami replied soothingly, feeling a nod against her neck.
“I will….just don’t be surprise if I they freeze me into a glacier.” She stated, earning a chuckle.
“They won’t…though they may water smack you.” The ceo joked as they pulled away
“I would let them…I’m so stupid.” Korra responded, squeezing her girlfriend’s hand before heading toward the door.
Korra found her cousins in the living room, Desna seated on a stool near the fire while Eska sat between Senna and Tonraq.
She stayed by the doorway when she saw the look on Desna’s face; the usual expressionless teen now looked distressed as he spoke in a resentful tone.
“I know that Uncle already told you about what happened today. We wished to speak directly to the both of you of it.” He began, his cerulean gaze never leaving the flames as he spoke.
Eska reach over and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, only to have his hand cover her own.
“Our own mother had to meet with us secretly…she may have loved father but he certainly held no fondness toward any of those considered family. The only person that I could trust besides our mother was Eska.” He began, pausing to squeeze his sister’s hand before continuing
“It is pathetic to listen at the rumors that drift through the staff at the northern palace…Yes I understand that Eska and I are closer than most siblings however the tales are demeaning.”
Korra felt her cheeks flush as she recalled something she had once said on one co their few visits while she was still in the compound. Closing her eyes and chewing the inside of her lip the young avatar chose that moment to step out onto the room.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…I came to apologize. I’ve been nothing but a complete jerk toward you two even when I didn’t have a reason to. I judged you unfairly and I’m sorry.” She stated as everyone turned to stare at her, rubbing the nape of her neck as she glanced down.
“It is alright. You deserve to hear this as well I suppose. You have had every reason to distrust us.” Desna responded, a sudden pained look coming over his face as he added
“We were compared to you Cousin…Father was envious that Tonraq had sired the Avatar. He forced us to train under the illusion that we would one day be forced to fight you…Naturally we believed him.”
He paused again, letting out a shaky breath as Eska’s grip on his hand tightened.
“We never had the things and freedoms that other children had…nor had we been allowed to converse with any other children either. One day our mother called us from our lessons so that we could travel into town with her. That was when we found a polar dog cub…starving and barely alive.”
Korra had the feeling that she already knew where that this would go.
“You don’t have to tell me anything……” she began, the guilt building up even more now that she had heard this coming from them.
Desna only glanced at his cousin as he stood and moved to stand by the window as he cut her off
“You should know….after all those eccentric accusations you seem to be so keen on inventing.” He retorted, his voice returning to its usual tone before he added with a sigh.
“We almost had it back to a healthy state when father discovered it. He was furious, he forced it away from us and belittled our weakness. Then on the night of a full moon…he took us into the tundra. That’s when he destroyed what little innocence we had left.”
His voice broke as he spoke; leaning against the wall as if to brace himself against what he was about to say.
“He had us blood bend it….threatening us when we refused. By the time he was satisfied we had already done too much damage.”
Korra’s heart broke as she watched as his shoulders began to shake though no sound came out. Tonraq silently stood and went over to him, putting an arm around the young man’s shoulders.
“There is no shame in crying.” He whispered, too low for anyone but Desna to hear.
Korra felt her eyes overfill as she processed the information; her words from earlier coming back
to her.
“I am so sorry….I had no idea….” She began, only to be cut off once more. The sound of her cousin’s broken voice bothering her more than she ever thought it would.
“Eska tried to heal it…father struck her. Compassion is for the weak, useless. No one will get anywhere because of feeling pity he said.” Desna managed to continue, though he froze when he heard his sister say
“You were correct Korra…Sikku did die because of us.”
“No….Unalaq is the monster behind this…Not you. He was your father….the two of you were so young…” Korra cut her off, finding it hard to voice her own thoughts around the knot that had formed in her throat due to the emotions that she felt mixing with her own guilt.
Wondering how anyone could have survived that ordeal without being driven crazy.