Broken Spirit: The Next Avatar

Chapter Twenty-One

A/N: This chapter alternates between Nadia and Serefina. Nadia's parts are in italics and Serefina's are in bold.

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When we got through the Spirit Portal we noticed no one was paying any attention to us. Dante had a knife to Drake's throat, most people had been captured, and Serefina was looking around at the chaos. She slowly raised her hands saying, "I surrender!"  I couldn't stop myself from speaking even if we lost the element of surprise.

"No!"

My head snaps to the side as Nadia kicks up a wall of earth to knock several Red Lotus members aside and step into the center of the circle. I didn't even notice her come through the Portal, but everyone notices her now. My heart momentarily lifts with hope, but it doesn't last long.

"Well, well. If it isn't the other half of the Avatar. I suppose that means the siege on the North Pole failed," Dante says lazily. "No matter. Republic City was the main prize all along. And now you've brought me a gift."

"Not this time," Nadia replies. With one wave of her hand, a dozen or more warriors from her home attack the Red Lotus from behind, screaming an epic battle cry.

The battle starts quickly. The warriors I brought quickly subdue the main Red Lotus forces but it is clear that somehow Dante still has control. I look around for my friends. Terra is passed out, I am praying she isn't dead, on the side. Serefina is still holding her hands up in surrender facing Dante. Levi must still be in the South Pole. And even though I don't know if I consider him a friend yet, my gaze shifts to Drake finally awake with a knife to his throat by his very own brother. I charge towards the center hoping I am not too late.

Dante's eyes widen at the fearless waterbender charging toward him. Emboldened by her possibly stupid action, I roll forward and kick Dante in the side. His grip on Drake loosens, and I use his momentary confusion to yank Drake to safety, quickly backing out of harm's way.

But Nadia had another target in mind. Using earthbending to jump higher than she ever could on her own, she flips up and pushes off of Dante's shoulders. Once she's back on solid ground, she sprints directly for the machine. She doesn't take more than two steps before Dante grabs her arm and twists it painfully behind her.

"You're not going anywhere," he mutters.

The pain in my arm is surprising. Dante's grip incredibly strong, if he continues twisting it my arm is sure to snap. But before Dante can manage to do just that, I hear a different voice above the renewed fighting.

"Let go of her," the voice is surprisingly calm and I recognize it in an instant: Rio. Rio has created a dagger of ice and is now holding it to Dante's neck. Dante immediately lets go of me to escape and my brother engages him in battle. I give my brother a worried look, not sure if he could handle fighting him or if I could handle losing my brother so soon after losing my parents. My oldest brother gives me a cocky grin before shouting at me.

"Go, Nadia! I got things handled here." I nod my head and can't help but smirk even if I don't believe it. I continue running towards the machine.

"Are you alright?" I ask Drake.

His eyes still seem a little unfocused, but he nods anyway. "I'm fine." He tries to stand, but I keep a hand on his shoulder to push him back down.

"Wait until you're sure. I don't need you dying," I say.

He smiles and I step away to follow Nadia. Whatever happens, the two Avatars should be together for it. I almost smack into her back where she abruptly stopped. A small reserve of the Red Lotus army apparently has no other purpose than to guard the machine.