Spark [Prince Zuko - Book One]

❃Chapter Fifteen❃

Asake thrashed against the man holding her, trying to get away. Every fiber of her being told her that she needed to get away from this man. The gut feeling in her stomach was telling her that something was going to happen, and it wouldn't be good at all. No, it would be terrible. This was the same gut feeling she had when she got burned when Zuko was waiting for his opponent for the fated agni kai.

Roku's temple was becoming smaller and smaller as the man dragged her down the hill. With a quick glance behind her, she realized that he was bringing her to one of the many ships that was docked at the base of the island. The small ship she and Zuko had taken was hidden away in a small cove on the opposite side of the island, so she doubted that whoever had her knew about it. That would mean that Zuko could get away easily. She hoped he would.

"There's no need for you to struggle, missy," a gruff voice said in her ear. He didn't sound evil like Zhao or Fire Lord Ozai did, but his voice still sent a shiver down her back. "I've been told not to hurt one hair on your pretty little head. However, if you do try to get away, I think he'd understand if you had a few broken bones."

She thrashed around one more time, sending a quick prayer up to the Spirits. The man's hands gripped hard on her arms, but then they let go. She broke free from his embrace and ran back up the beach, trying to get to Zuko. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the man holding his head in his hands, a cry escaping his lips. She stumbled for a second before shaking her head, running as quickly as she could.

Asake's skin pimpled uncomfortably. And then Roku's temple blew up. Fire and lava spewed from cracks that appeared in the ground. She stopped in her tracks, her hands covering her mouth. The ornate red structure that once belonged to Avatar Roku was consumed by the very thing she hated. But her mind focused on the fact that Zuko could still be in there.

She took another step forward but couldn't go anywhere else. The man wrapped his arms around her, holding her still as the wreckage continued. His breath was ragged as he turned her around and marched her toward his ship. "Who are you?" she spat. "Who do you work for?"

"I think you know who I work for." His voice shook for some reason. She tried to give him a look, but she couldn't see him. "You've met him."

"Zhao?"

"You're smarter than what you look like," the man said, laughing. The gravelly sound made Asake cringe. "My name is Zasai." Asake's blood turned cold. She knew that name. She read and reread the legend of Zasai in the scroll of hers. "I see that you have heard of the legend associated with my name."

"Yes, I have," Asake said quietly. "Who would name their child after that murderer?"

"My parents didn't quite know the legend but saw the name in an old scroll. They decided to name me that." He fell silent for a minute. "You don't have to worry, I'm not a serial killer. I've never even killed anyone before."

Asake's heart nearly stopped beating when she heard that. It sounded like sarcasm, but she couldn't be sure because she couldn't see his face. Instead, she swallowed her fear, her eyes searching what she could see of him. Large hands held her in a secure grip, and dark sleeves came down to his wrists. In the sunlight, she saw something metal glint, but it was gone before she could inspect it.

He kept his hands around her arms to make sure that she didn't run away, but his grip loosened up slightly. They were still far away from the ships when the man – Zasai – stopped walking suddenly. "What are you doing?" Asake asked him.

"I'm not a bad man," Zasai said, his voice almost inaudible. "May I let go of your arms? I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Asake nearly burst out laughing. Even under the circumstances she was in right now, she couldn't help but laugh at what he just said. This guy right here was kidnapping her, and he was wondering if she was uncomfortable? "Don't you think I'll escape?"