Heart of Fire

Book One: Chapter Nine

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

"What are you waiting for? Get him now," Zuko ordered. The guards quickly pulled themselves together and began to attack the bison. Flames shot into the air and my heart was racing. I watched as they dodged the oncoming attacks, almost with ease. I was impressed that an animal that large could move so swiftly. 

Zuko turned to me and our eyes met. All I could see was betrayal. In that moment, he realized I was behind this. I was sure to be killed now, and there was no going back. The damage had been done. 

"How could you?" He spat at me. 

"Zuko, it's not what it looks like," I said, my chest tightening. How could I have been so stupid to think that this would go over well? 

The bison roared again, swooping over the ship very closely before turning around and heading back in the direction he came. I saw Aang look over the side of the saddle at me very briefly, before disappearing over a glacier. I felt a weight taken off my chest as I realized he would be safe, at least for now.

"You did this! Now I'll never be able to return home!" Zuko screamed at me, getting closer. 

I was at a loss for words. 

"I should have you killed," he said.

"You can't see that what you're doing is wrong? He's just a boy, Zuko!" it sounded as if I were pleading for Aang's life, but I was pleading for my own.

An expression came across his face that I was unfamiliar with. 

"Ugh!" he groaned in frustration. He turned away from me. "You don't understand what it's like to be an outcast! I need to capture the Avatar so I can go home! I've been gone for two years!"

He had no idea just how much I understood. As much as I wanted to reassure him, I was terrified. I knew there was some good in him but I wasn't sure how deep it was buried. He's the laughing stock of the fire nation, the banished prince who was never meant to be on the throne. If only he knew that wasn't true, that none of the things he did were his fault. He was a child when his father scarred him for life. 

"Zuko, that is enough," Iroh said. 

"Don't defend her uncle! She's a traitor!" Zuko shouted.

"No, she was doing what she believed was right. Just as you did when you spoke out against your father, and look what it did to you! Do you really want this poor girl to feel the same way you do?"

Zuko groaned, and blasted fire off the ship in frustration. He approached me.

"If you ever do something like this again, I won't hesitate to abandon you," he said as he walked past. My heart dropped. Killing me probably would have hurt less.

....

~ 1 year ago ~

"Misaki, there's someone I want you to meet," Zhao said, motioning for me to join him.

I smiled and got up from my seat. I followed him through the ship down to our chambers. There was a tall, muscular man waiting there for us. 

"Misaki, you're more beautiful than Zhao described. I can tell we're going to have a lot of fun with you," he said. His words seemed almost threatening, but he was so charming I couldn't help but smile.

"This is Tozon, he's an old friend of mine. I invited him here so we could have some fun with you," Zhao said.

At this point, I was very confused. "I'm not sure what you mean, darling..." I said quietly. 

"You'll see in a moment," Tozon said, his handsome smile twisting into a devilish grin. Two more men approached from behind me and restrained my arms. I started to panic, is this a joke?

"What are you doing?!" 

"Just shut up and do what we say," the men said, as they dragged me on to the bed and started to remove my clothes. Tears started rushing down my face.

"How can you do this to me?" I cried, looking at Zhao. He was supposed to love and protect me. 

His face was void of any emotion other than lust. He removed his armor and Tozon handed him chains, which he used to strap me down to the bed. I wasn't able to move. I had noticed that the rest of the men had removed their armor and locked the door to our chambers. I felt so helpless in this moment, who was supposed to protect me now? 

One of the men started grabbing my breasts, and another licked my face. "Don't cry, we're just having fun," he said. I cried even harder. Tozon approached the bed, and got on top of me. He grabbed my face and squeezed.

"If you don't shut up, it'll be a lot worse."

I did my best to keep the tears from coming, and it was extremely difficult at first. They took turns doing as they wished to me, forcing me if I wouldn't obey. After a while, I went numb. I did everything they asked me to do hoping it would end sooner if I did. It felt like I had been there for hours when they finally stopped. 

The men all dressed themselves and left the room, leaving me alone with Zhao. He was silent for a while, before he loosened the chains.

"Go clean yourself up, you look disgusting," he spat.

My body wouldn't move. I felt paralyzed, physically and mentally. I looked him in the eyes but he wouldn't meet my gaze. All I wanted right now was to end my life.

He waited a few moments, before slapping me in the face. "I said go clean yourself up, now." 

I rolled off the bed, having to crawl to the bathroom due to the amount of pain I was in. I shut the door and sat against the wall, tears rushing down my face. How could this happen to me? How could my parents have misjudged Zhao so badly? I hoped that this was all a dream, and I would wake up tomorrow not remembering what had happened. 

I stood up and looked at my face in the mirror. My eyes were swollen from crying, and I could see bruises beginning to form. This isn't the woman I was meant to become. I need to plan my escape before he does this again, but how?