Ash [Prince Zuko - Book Two]

❃Chapter Eighteen❃

Asake laid on the comfortable, underneath the warm covers, and yet, she was cold. She curled into herself, squeezing her eyes shut. No matter how often she slept, she still heard Jet's words echoing in her mind, reminding her that she was no one's first choice. She should have known that ever since she was a child.

A dark memory popped into Asake's head, one of her father and governess. She was a little girl, younger than Lisha when this particular event happened. Lady Taiku promised Asake that her father was going to take her out on a father-daughter date, something special between the two of them. Asake was excited; Father hardly ever had time for her, and if he was taking her out on a cute date, then he truly cared for her.

She got dressed in her special dress, one made of warm orange silk. Lady Taiku told her that Mother had gotten her this dress when she was pregnant with Asake, wanting to have a pretty dress for her daughter once she got older. Unfortunately, Mother wasn't able to see Asake wear this dress; her father was, though, and she thought it was perfect.

Excitement coursed through her veins as she waited for Father to come home. As the hours drew on, Asake's excitement dwindled until it was late at night, darkness pooling all around the house. Lady Taiku had already gone home after giving her a look of pity on her pretty face. Father came home late in the night, but Asake wasn't waiting up for him. She vowed then that she would never allow herself to be excited about something special, and yet, she broke that promise with Jet.

Asake let out a disgruntled sigh, her nails digging into her palms. How could she ever allow herself to believe that a boy liked her? After everything that happened to her, why did she think that the Spirits had a good life planned for her? Tears leaked out of her eyes, traveling down her hollow cheeks, warm and salty against her skin. She shouldn't have been crying, shouldn't have fallen deep into her mind because of a boy.

A soft knock on her door alerted Asake that either Iroh and Zuko wanted her to get out of her room. She hadn't left her room in a day. Or maybe it was longer than a day. She wasn't really sure anymore. All she knew was that the crumpled-up posters underneath her bed and the pain from Jet kept her awake. The sun kept rising and falling, and all she could do was watch as the shadows increased in her mind, taking her over for good this time.

She had no one she could trust anymore. Not Jet, not Zuko, not herself. Jet was only exploiting her fragile mind to get closer to Zuko and Iroh. Zuko hadn't even looked at her in so long that she wondered if he had forgotten she was still alive. And she knew that her mind lied to her all the time about anything and everything.

Another knock on the door pulled Asake away from her bed which caused her so much anxiety and toward the door. She cracked it open to see Iroh looking at her with a worried face. He gestured for her to come out, so she stepped into the room, wrapping her arms around her stomach as a deep chill settled in her bones.

"I can't believe you got us jobs, Uncle," Zuko said bitterly. He set a vase of pretty yellow and orange flowers down on the table. It sounded strange hearing his voice after going a few days without hearing it. It was strange seeing him in front of her, his head ducked low as if he didn't want her to see him. "I already told you that I don't want to make a life here."

"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not," Iroh said, glancing at Asake as Zuko sighed. She knew he was trying to tell her something. She specifically ignored it. "Now, come on, nephew. Getting a job doesn't mean you're making a life here."

"I'm not going with you guys," Asake said, shaking her head. She took a step toward her room again, wanting to be alone in the darkness. "I'm tired."

Iroh faced her with a gentle smile on his face. However, it didn't reach his eyes at all. "Asake, I'm not leaving you here alone."