Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Doppelganger ❯ New Enemies ( Chapter 11 )

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Doppelganger

 

Chapter Eleven

 

. . .

 

Kyle appeared from behind Cal before she reached Katara, and tackled the little vampire to the ground. Katara started in shock as the struggling duo writhed in the mud.

 

“Let me go! I'll fucking kill her! LET GO OF ME!” Cal shrieked madly. Kyle hissed in pain as Cal dug her nails into his flesh. “LET… GO!” She screamed again and was still for a second before falling limp underneath Kyle. He had struck the back of her neck, knocking her out and paralyzing her. Kyle groaned and stood up.

 

“She should be out for a while.” He muttered half to Katara, half to himself. Katara was still frozen in fear. Kyle limped over to the waterbender and snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. “Get to the house with Aang and your brother. I'll be there shortly.” Katara shook her head, ridding herself of her stupor, and then ran towards the house. Kyle stared after her and sighed, rubbing his side painfully. “Damnit…” He manipulated water around him and rinsed his clothes, followed by Cal's after he picked her up. “You just have to be so close-minded, don't you?” He asked the unconscious vampire. After Kyle picked up Cal and held her on his back, he started off towards the house.

 

. . .

 

Sokka paced in front of Katara, who held her legs in front of her chest, as if trying to protect herself. Aang sat nearby, looking worried. “Katara, what happened?” There was no answer. Sokka groaned loudly and plopped on the ground next to his sister. Aang swallowed and looked at the ground. He wasn't there, but he was sure he would have been as scared as Katara is. Soon, there was a noise at the door and in walked Kyle with Cal on his back. Sokka stood up, and tried his luck with the vampire.

 

“What happened?” Kyle gently laid Cal down a bed and sat in the chair next to her.

 

“Shit happened, that's what.” The vampire glanced at Katara and sighed. “Cal found out that Katara's a waterbender.” Sokka's eyes widened. “Don't worry, I didn't let anything happen to your sister… besides getting scared shitless, of course.” He took a deep breath, and then released it. “The thing is… with Cal… she's a special case.” Aang arched an eyebrow.

 

“What do you mean?” The young avatar asked.

 

Kyle scratched his neck out of habit. “Well, she usually acts like a young child, I'm sure you've noticed.” Aang and Sokka nodded. “In reality she is over two hundred. But when she was tormented into madness, her mind was spilt. On the one hand, her torture because of being a vampire willed her mind to revert to how it was when she was ten years old, before she was a vampire. She knew she was a vampire, but her thinking was pre-vampire.” He waited for the information to sink in. “And on the other hand was her mind as it is. She is a two hundred year-old, waterbending-hating, female vampire. The two minds are separate from each other and I've only seen the real mind when she sees a waterbender. The rage of the real mind forces its way to the front of her consciousness and it surfaces.” He stroked Cal's forehead. “That's what Katara witnessed. Her real consciousness.” Sokka, Aang, and Kyle looked over at Katara, who had looked up and stared at Cal.

 

“That…” She whispered. “Was the real Cal?”

 

“Yes.” Every eye in the house turned to Cal, who started to stir. Kyle leaned over her and smiled. “Hey, you alright, there?” Cal put her hand to her head and sat up slowly. Sitting on the bed, Cal scanned the room and her eyes fell on Katara.

 

“Waterbender…” She whispered and lunged faster than anyone could react; anyone, except Kyle. The older vampire grabbed Cal's arms and pinned her to his chest.

”Cal, stop!” He yelled to the struggling vampire. Katara edged flat against the wall, Sokka and Aang jumped in front of her for protection. “Stop it! You will not hurt her!” Cal didn't listen; she just kept struggling, trying to break Kyle's tight grip. “Fine!” Kyle yelled and bared his fangs. Cal's dull green eyes widened as Kyle sunk his teeth into her neck, above her collarbone. Aang and Sokka didn't relent, but they relaxed a little. Cal looked somewhat calmer now. Katara stared unblinking at Cal, who shut her eyes and breathed slowly. Kyle pulled his fangs away from the vampire's neck leaving two small holes in their wake. After a second, Cal opened her eyes.

 

“Release me, Kyle. I will not harm anyone.” Kyle, hesitantly at first, pulled his arms away from Cal. The little vampire stood up slowly and, taking time to glare at Katara, walked out of the room. Kyle sighed and dropped flat on the wooden floor.

 

“Fuck.” He spat out a little blood beside him. After a second, he tilted his head to look at the others. “It's a vampire thing.” He was referring to the biting. Aang and Sokka relaxed slightly and sat in chairs next to each other.

 

“Is Katara going to be safe?” Aang asked Kyle. The vampire nodded.

 

“Like I said, if Cal is one thing, she's no liar.” Aang seemed relieved at this.

 

“Good.”

 

“What about her? Will she be alright?” Sokka asked, meaning Cal. Kyle laughed quietly.

 

“She will never be alright. I will never be alright. Vampires are cursed. That's all there is to it. We will be fucked up and cursed forever until the bliss of death.” He turned his head to look at the closed door. “Just give her time.” Kyle grunted and sat up. “It's alright, go back to training. She wont hurt any of you.” He laughed and scratched behind his head. “I can't say as much for me, but… you don't have anything to worry about.” Aang and Sokka stood up and with one last worried look at Katara, who was still kneeling against the wall, walked through the door. After a few seconds, Kyle pushed himself up and held out his hand for Katara to take. “Don't worry, I'll protect you.”

 

Katara shakily took his hand and was pulled to her feet. She felt a warm feeling spread through her body. It started from her fingers, where Kyle's cold hand was, and down to her feet. She looked up and smiled lightly at the vampire. “Thank you.” She whispered and, pushing herself up on her tiptoes, kissed Kyle softly. She shivered again at the cool touch of his lips, but smiled on the inside. Definitely not a dream. She thought and pulled back from the stunned vampire. “You can protect me all you want.” With that, she walked outside.

 

. . .

 

“Alright, you got the hang of the basic stances.” Kyle observed to Aang the next day. “In a couple of days were gonna leave this place on a trip. Aang jogged over and sat next to Kyle and Cal, who sat quietly and still on a rock.

 

“A trip?” The airbender asked. Kyle nodded and crossed his arms.

 

“Yes! We are going to venture into the Earth Kingdom!” Aang cocked his head to the side. “Well, we are going to put your training to the test!” Kyle said excitedly, then his face fell. “Actually, I'm sick of this place. I never stay in the same place for more than a couple of weeks. So far, we've been here for longer than two months, I'm getting antsy.” Cal snickered from behind them.

 

“Getting antsy? I can fix that, Onii-chan.” She clicked her tongue and smiled. Kyle craned his head around and stared at the little vampire for a second.

 

“Chibi.” Cal opened her mouth in shock and stormed to her feet. Kyle laughed and slapped his knee. Cal growled and blew twin puffs of smoke through her nose. She sat down roughly and held her chin up with her palm. Kyle, still chuckling, turned back around. “Anyhoo, yea, we're going to the Earth Kingdom for a while. Maybe, a month or so. I'll still train you, but were going to be moving around at that time.” Aang nodded.

 

“Alright, what should I do?” Kyle held up his hand, and listed off a number of things.

 

“One, get Appa ready. Two, get yourself ready. And three… uh… yea, I guess that's it.” He scratched his head. “But first!” He poked the airbender's shoulder. “Lets see how you retain information.” Kyle stood up and walked into the middle of the large path. “Show me your stuff.” He said and Aang ran to the opposite side of the path. Kyle and Aang took on similar stances when Cal shot up.

 

“Wait!” She yelled and sniffed at the air. “I smell something.” Kyle stood strait.

 

“Can you tell who?” Cal inhaled deeply and sighed.

 

“Not one of us…” She said, meaning Sokka, Aang, Katara, and Kyle… as well as herself. “It's…” She sniffed again. “Fire nation. I can tell by the smoke.” Kyle and Aang abandoned their fight to dash next to Cal.

 

“How many?” Kyle asked, getting worried. Cal shut her eyes.

”Not many… maybe half a dozen or less. It's hard to tell the number because to the trees.” She folded her ears towards the northeast. “They have a tank.”

 

Kyle grabbed her shoulders. “Are they coming here?” He demanded. Cal opened her eyes.

 

“Yea.”

 

Kyle cursed and turned to Aang. “The trip has moved up. Get your things ready!” Aang nodded and dashed back towards the house. “And let the others know!” He called in the airbender's direction. Kyle turned back to Cal, who was trying to sniff again. “How far away?” Cal scrunched her face.

 

“Um… maybe… an hour or so.” She opened her eyes. “The smell is so familiar… I think I know who it is, I can't just place the name and the smell…” Kyle cut her off.

 

“There's no time, lets go.” He grabbed Cal's hand and pulled her back towards the house in the direction Aang had ran. “We need to get what we can carry, and go!” Soon they reached the house where Sokka, Aang, and Katara where already piling things in the front of. Katara set down her back and, with a nervous glance at Cal, ran up to Kyle.

 

“We heard from Aang, it's the fire nation, isn't it?” Kyle nodded and placed a hand on Katara's shoulder.

 

“Yes. Just get your things together and put them with Appa. They are less than an hour away!” Katara obeyed and grabbed two bags in her arms. Cal and Kyle ran inside and, grabbing what they could, chased Sokka towards Appa. Within twenty minutes, all of their things where packed and ready to go. Kyle turned to Cal.

 

“Can you tell who they are yet?” Cal sniffed air again desperately.

”Their close… maybe thirty minutes away. But I still can't place the name.” She pounded her skull. “Damnit! I know it! I know it!” Kyle grabbed her hands and pinned them to her sides.

 

“Calm down, Cal! There are not more that half a dozen of them, so we should be able to take them, right?” He waved his hand to the others. “I mean, we have the avatar, and a waterbending master,” Cal eye twitched slightly. “And Sokka, who has been training with every blade I gave him… not to mention two vampires.” Cal sighed deeply and sniffed the air again.

 

“Ah damnit… I know who it is…” Suddenly, Cal whirled on her heal and looked tersely into the trees, along with Kyle. “Ah damn!” The little vampire cursed.

 

“I heard it, too.” Kyle remarked. Katara edged forward.

 

“What is it?” Kyle drew his knife from behind his coat.

 

“They masked their scent.” Kyle glared down at Cal, who silently berated herself. “They knew enough to cover their own scent.” Suddenly, three giant lizards ripped through the trees and landed in front of the group. Riding the three lizard were three young girls, teenagers at most. The front rider spoke up.

 

“It's about time we found this place.” Cal gasped and slammed her fist into her hand.

 

“That's who it is!” She whispered fiercely. Aang, Sokka, and Katara stepped up beside the vampires.

 

“Who is it?” Aang asked. Cal growled in irritation.

”Princess Azula. The heir to the throne of the fire nation.” Azula stepped forward and put her hands on her hips. The other two girls jumped off their lizards and flanked Azula like guards. The princess stopped a matter of meters from the group.

 

“I see you found them alright, spawn of Victoria.” She said humorously to Cal, who bared her fangs. “And thank you for showing the way to the Avatar. I do mean that.” Kyle chuckled at this remark.

 

“They followed you, Cal? You're slipping.”

 

“Yea… I was just careless because of wanting to see my Onii-chan after so long.” Cal remarked. Katara spoke up from beside Kyle.

 

“If you are the princess of the fire nation, then that would make you…” Azula clapped once, twice, three times.

 

“Very good… yes… I'm Zuu-zuu's sister.” Aang snorted a laugh from beside Sokka. Kyle brushed his hair back across his skull.

 

“What do you want?” He demanded. Azula smiled warmly and pointed at Aang.

 

“I just want him. The rest of you can escape. If you don't hand the Avatar over, we will kill each and every one of you.” Kyle smirked and pushed Aang behind him.

 

“You really don't know who you are dealing with, do you?” Azula trained her eyes on Kyle.

 

“Ah… you are also one of Victoria's. You are the exile, am I right?” Kyle narrowed his eyes. “It seems that I do know what I am dealing with.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Although, I have always wanted to fight one of your kind. How about it? I've heard that all of Victoria's spawn can firebend.” Kyle didn't answer. “Well, can you?”

 

“Yes, I can.” Kyle glared at the fire nation princess.

 

“Well, how about it? An Agni Kai. A fire duel. Are you in?” Kyle sucked his tooth for a second.

 

“Is there a promise not to attack my friends until it is over?” Azula smirked and held up her hand.

 

“Royal promise.” With that she turned to the other girls and whispered something. Meanwhile Kyle turned back to the others.

 

“What are you doing, Onii-chan!” Kyle unhooked his belt with his sword and knives on it.

 

“What does it look like, Cal. A fire duel.” Cal grabbed Kyle's shirt and pulled him close.

 

“We need to escape; not fight!” Kyle clamped his hand over Cal's mouth.

 

“Don't worry, I have a plan. You will know what to do.” He turned to Aang. “When Cal says to, get on Appa and get out of here.” Aang nodded hesitantly. Katara leaned forward.

 

“What are you going to do?” Kyle craned his head back towards Azula, who was removing her armor. He turned back to Katara.

 

“Don't worry. Just trust me.” He flashed a fanged smile and took off his took a dagger out of his boot, handing it to Sokka.

 

“Be careful, she looks dangerous.” Sokka warned. Cal made a noise, between a cough and a cry.

 

“You have no idea. She beat me at firebending, Onii-chan! She is… very… dangerous.” Kyle rubbed the top of Cal's head.

 

“Don't worry about me. Just take care of the rest, Cal.” He stood up strait and walked forward a few meters, facing Azula. The princess stood smirking and crouched into a firebending stance that Kyle had never seen.

 

“Ready, blood-sucker?” Kyle laughed and stood with his legs taut.

 

“Whenever you are, little girl.” He held one hand in front of him, and the other behind his back. Azula gave a quick cry and jumped forward, snapping out a kick towards Kyle. A bright azure flame spewed towards the vampire, who quickly sidestepped and countered with an orange plume of fire. Azula brought her arm up and diffused Kyle's flame with hers, then continued her pursuit. She reached the vampire and thrust her palm towards his stomach. Kyle batted her arm away, causing the ground to be charred with blue flames. Blue fire? Kyle observed and grabbed both of Azula's arms. The vampire gave a yell and his arms ignited in bright orange flames. He was shocked when Azula smirked back at him and pushed his arms away with bright blue smoldering arms of her own. Kyle groaned.

”Ah… now way… that was an original technique.” Azula giggled and held out her arms. Kyle sighed and swept out a leg. Fire spewed out from the ground towards the firebender, who jumped to avoid it and sent another azure flame back at Kyle. The vampire dodged to the side and ducked underneath another that was sent in succession. He looked in the direction the fire had come from and stared into the sharp eyes of Azula. The firebender swung out a backhand with a quick turn of her body. Kyle blocked her blue arm with his own orange one and immediately felt a white-hot sizzling envelope his arm. The flames around his arm blew away, leaving it unprotected. Azula's blue flames licked his forearm and melted the flesh. Kyle jumped away and clenched his fist around his damaged limb, hissing in pain. Azula laughed and put out the fire from her arms.

 

“Wow… I guess vampires aren't invincible, are they?” Kyle breathed heavily and held up his arm, which was already healing. Azula growled and held her arms out, bent at the elbows. “Fine, heal from this.” She started circling her arms around her torso. The two girls behind her smiled in apprehension. Kyle raised an eyebrow. Finishing move, huh? Suddenly, sparks appeared around Azula's hands, coming from her fingertips. As she finished the slow circle, the sparks melded together to form a circular bolt of electricity. Kyle's eyes widened in shock. Shit! He started to dash away but stopped. I'm in front of the others… fuck. Azula thrust her hand forward, and from two of her fingers shot a bolt of pure lightning. Kyle gritted his teeth and spaced his feet apart, anchoring them in the dirt and held out his right hand into the path of the bolt. Only one shot. He thought as the bolt surged into his arm and into his torso. Kyle released his legs from the dirt and spun around, thrusting his left arm back towards Azula. The electricity channeled through him expelled from his other hand and careened toward the firebender.

 

Azula leapt to the side, missing the lightning. The other two girl also dodged the electricity barely. Kyle stumbled to the ground shakily and threw up what little blood he had ingested earlier that day. Aang and the others ran to his aid, but Kyle waved his hand back towards them.

 

“Stop! The fight isn't over yet!” He stood up slowly and wiped his bloody mouth with his sleeve. “Is it?” He asked the firebender. Azula glared at him and smirked.

 

“Nope.” Kyle laughed and held out his arm.

 

“Or maybe it is!” The vampire exhaled and slid his foot forward, causing dust to rise in front of him. He turned towards the others. “Now!” Cal grabbed Sokka and Katara's hands and jumped up into Appa's saddle behind them. Aang followed with a burst of air. After a second the giant bison lifted off from the ground in a low altitude flight. Now above the canopy, Katara leaned over Appa, looking down into the trees.

 

“We can't leave him!” She yelled Cal pulled her back in the safety of the saddle.

 

“Don't worry! He can take care of himself!” As soon as she said that, there was a loud explosion from where they took off from and dust roared from the center, coating the entire area of a mile in a blanket of dirt cover. From trees, Kyle leapt into the air and grabbed Appa's fur with his hand. He spun his torso and a wisp of air lifted him safely into the saddle. Katara felt like embracing the vampire, but was beaten to it.

”Onii-chan!” Cal exclaimed and hugged Kyle as he lay on the saddle. The little vampire shot a cold glance at Katara then buried her face into Kyle's chest. “You were so great!” Katara crossed her arms in annoyance, but didn't complain. Pissing off Cal was the last thing she wanted to do.

 

“Yea, yea…” He sat up on his hands. “That dirt cover should conceal our escape for a few minutes. Lets gain as much headway as we can.” With that said, Kyle pushed himself so he leaned against the edge of the saddle. “Ouch…” He rubbed his belly. “That… really… stung.” Katara leaned forward on her knees.

 

“Was that lightning?” Cal nodded, not looking at her.

 

“Yea. Lightning is one of the most powerful forms of firebending in existence. As well as that blue fire. The blue fire is extremely hot, as well as much more difficult to control.” Aang turned around from the reigns and scooted towards the group.

 

“If it takes a lot of control, can you do it, Kyle? You have the best control I've ever seen.” Kyle flexed his hand and sighed.

 

“I don't like to do it, but yes, I can.”

 

“Why don't you like to do it?” Sokka asked. Kyle scratched his neck and flinched.

”Ouch. Wrong arm.” His arm was still healing from the burn. Katara uncorked her bottle of water.

 

“Here, let me dowse the burn.” She manipulated water out of the canteen and before she could do anything, Cal blew a small plume of fire out of her mouth.

”Don't touch him, waterbender!” Katara backed away in a flash, dropping her liquid all over the saddle.

 

Kyle brought his hand across Cal's face with a loud crack. Cal froze, stunned.

 

“O-onii-chan?” Kyle glared at Cal fiercely.

 

“Cal! You need to stop being so close-minded!” He yelled and held out his arm towards Katara. “Please.” Katara shifted her eyes toward Cal. The little vampire slid away from Kyle and faced away from the group. The waterbender edged toward Kyle and formed the her water around his arm. At once, the flesh started to lighten and close. Kyle opened his mouth in surprise and almost too fast to be true, the arm was fully healed. Katara re-inserted the water back into her container and Kyle flexed his hand.

 

“Was that your healing?” Katara asked. Kyle shook his head.

 

“No, that was you.” He looked astonished. “You are a healer!” He exclaimed. Cal's head turned slightly. “I've only met a few of them, but some waterbenders can use their powers to heal flesh wounds quickly.” He showed his healed arm. “Like so!” Katara looked at her hands in wonder.

 

“I'm… a healer?” Kyle nodded. Aang had a smiled on his face and Sokka shrugged.

 

“Great, another thing for her to be proud of.” Kyle thanked Katara and leaned back against the saddle.

 

“Now we head to the Earth Kingdom.” Aang nodded and went back to the reigns. “And we also have another group to worry about. Besides our young banished prince, we have an exceptionally powerful princess on our asses. Just dandy.” Katara sat next to Kyle and held her legs against her chest.

 

“I'm sure you'll protect us, right?” The waterbender asked. Kyle sighed and clenched his fist.

 

“No problem.” He muttered and held his stomach. Katara saw the action.

 

“What's the matter?” Kyle spat blood over the side of the saddle.

 

“That lightening bolt jarred my stomach, and made me regurgitate the blood I took last night.” Katara was about to offer for his to take some blood from her, but at that moment Cal stood up and walked over to Kyle. The little vampire knelt down beside Kyle and held out her arm. She meant for Kyle to take some he her blood.

 

“Gomenesai, Onii-chan.” She turned to look at Katara. “I'm sorry, Katara.” Kyle smiled and patted Cal's head.

 

“You just need to learn to be accepting, Cal.” Cal nodded, a sad look on her face, but kept her arm out.

 

“Take what you need, Onii-chan.” Katara felt like holding her arm out, too. But she thought better of it. What would Aang and Sokka think? She scooted over next to Aang, deliberately looking away from the two. Katara heard Cal whimper softly and then just the wind whipping past them.

 

. . .

 

Its now 1:12 am. I'm tired night. ZzZzZzZz

 

Oh yea… R & R!