Sea and Sky

Chapter 22: The Respite of Mortality

Sea and Sky

Chapter 22: The Respite of Mortality

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Suki lurched upright on the dais, feeling as if she was wrapped in a curtain of fire. Choking as she inhaled, her lungs felt tight in her chest and the blood hummed in her veins as she struggled to steady herself. Memories of the reception dinner crashed into her as she looked around the room, a handful of faces watching her with eyes of fear and terror.

Before she could register what had happened, Sokka dropped down onto her, pulling her into a tight embrace as he stifled his sobs. Mind still hazy, she brought her arms up, weakly returning his embrace.

"What..." Was all she could say, her throat threatening to close on her once more.

Pulling back from the embrace, Sokka choked, his face twisted in pain. "You're alive... you're really alive..."

The words sounded strange in her mind as she listened, still lost in a sea of her own thoughts and confusion. The last memory she could recall was toasting to the new couple, golden goblet raised, before taking a long drink of the plum wine at the reception.

As the wine had met her lips and coursed through her veins, Suki's world went dark and she collapsed. After that, her mind was blank as she tried to remember anything. Hazy, muffled memories shifted in her mind as she moved to stand from the dais, the world shifting under her as her legs gave out. Sokka's arms instantly found her before the teak flooring could break her fall.

Looking from one pained face to the next, Suki's mind went blank as she registered the people around her. Next to Sokka, Aang and Katara stood, holding onto each other. In the corner of the room, Ceren and the vizier stood back, watching the events unfold around them.

Drawing her gazes from the crowd to the dais next to her, Suki's brows furled in confusion. Underneath a gauzy shift lay Rana's cold form, hair still styled from the joining ceremony but dressed in the robes of the recently deceased.

Before she could speak, Aang stopped her. "Suki, you were poisoned. We gave you the antidote, but you'll probably feel out of sorts for a while. And before you ask, we already know the culprit..."

Aang craned his head in Rana's direction, the light of recognition bloomed in Suki's mind as her eyes locked with the Avatar's. It had been the blushing bride who'd spiked the wine. As she tried to speak, Sokka placed a hand over her mouth, stifling her words.

"We have enough antidote to bring her back. We're going to give it to her, but we all must act without suspicion. Nothing can change."

Pulling Sokka's hand from her mouth, Suki's face darkened as she looked towards Rana's shrouded form. She wished for nothing more than to take a knife to the woman's face and cut out her heart.

"I say let her rot. She's as good as dead the moment she awakens anyway. I'll see to that myself." Suki spat, her voice gruff as she cleared her dry throat.

Shaking his head, Aang interjected. "Rana will get what's coming to her, but letting her die like this is not an option. We need to flush out her true intentions before judgement can be given. It would go against my duty as the Avatar to let her die."

Anger flashed in Suki's eyes as she tried to lunge from the dais, her movements weak and stifled, held back by Sokka's arms.

"Hey, calm down. Please." Sokka pleaded her with, pain in his eyes.

Sokka's pleading words held her back just enough so that she wouldn't go after the noble woman. If Suki had her way she'd roll the bitch into a shallow grave and then set it on fire. Anger raged in her mind as she heeded Sokka's words, body too weak to push against him.