Avatar The Last Airbender: The Sins of the Past [Katara x OC]

Chapter 1-10: Acting the Part

For the next few days, I just lay on my cot in the servant’s chambers, talking to Crystal when I can while waiting with bated breath for Zhao. I feel my stomach start turning, both in hunger and dread. The dinner Crystal helped me eat the other day was the only thing I’ve eaten in days, and even then it was a meager meal, only consisting of a small bowl of rice and some fermented vegetables.

I hadn’t eaten the day Katara, Sokka, Aang, and I flew to Crescent Island because I kept trying to sleep instead, and Zhao hasn’t allowed me to eat or drink anything yet, probably because he wants his prisoners to suffer like the sadist he is. He finally enters the room just after breakfast time on my fifth day on the ship. His arms are crossed, and he has a bored expression on his face as I feel a large pit in my stomach upon seeing him.

I sit up to see him square-on, forcing my fears down as much as I can to not appear as afraid as I feel I am. I feel my shoulder and lower lip burn, reminding me of when I’d stupidly talked back to him. If I want to survive until we reach the next port, I’ll need to remain silent, only speaking when necessary. I need to act like the perfect servant if I want to eat.

Zhao crosses his arms, saying, “You’re not saying anything this time. I hope that means you’ve learned your lesson this time.”

I don’t respond, clutching a handful of the thin blanket on the cot out of anxiety.

When I remain silent, Zhao smiles, saying, “Good, and I hope you’ve finally decided your role.”

I just nod, looking away so I don’t have to see his disgusting face.

Zhao chuckles, saying, “Perfect. Since it seems you can be taught, I will allow you the privilege of being my servant on this ship until we dock in two weeks, and then you will be trained to serve in the Fire Nation’s Imperial Palace. However, if you step out of line even once, I will be forced to punish you, and I won’t be as merciful as I have been so far. Do you understand?”

I nod again, thankful I only have to put up with this for two weeks. Zhao’s smirk widens, and he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a key. He unlocks the chains on my wrist, and I contemplate firebending at him, but decide not to. If I cause trouble, I won’t have an opportunity to escape. Zhao gestures for me to walk down the hall, and I apprehensively walk in front of him.

Every instinct in my body is telling me to run, to just jump ship and swim to shore instead of serving Zhao, but I know that I’d just drown if I tried, and that’s if I’d even make it to the water. Zhao’s guards would most definitely catch me, and then I’d likely be thrown in a cell instead of being able to roam the ship like I would as a servant.

Zhao leads me to the ship’s boiler room, saying, “If you’re half as strong a firebender as I’ve heard, you’ll be able to make this ship run by yourself. If you do well, you’ll get your meal at the end of the day. If not, I’m afraid you’ll just have to go hungry another day until the job is done right. Your work determines your reward, little girl.”

He laughs at that, shutting and locking the door behind me. The boiler room is now empty aside from myself, and there is a stench of burning coal in front of me. There’s a large pile of coal on the other side of the room, easily enough to run the ship for a few months. I ignite a handful of coal and toss it into the fire, then launch a large blast of fire into the furnace. I have no idea if I’m even doing this right, but Zhao told me that if I want to eat today I have to keep this fire going.

After a few hours, I start feeling light-headed from hunger, dehydration, and the heat from the furnace, and I nearly pass out. I lean against the wall just before I pass out, and that’s when I hear the door unlock. I shake my head and shoot one last powerful blast into the fire as the door opens, revealing a masked guard.