Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Doppelganger ❯ Awake unto Darkness ( Chapter 18 )

Whistle… quickly made chapter. Bitchin. Enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor do I make money from this fic.

 

Doppelganger

 

Chapter Eighteen

 

. . .

 

Katara opened her eyes and hissed in pain as light flashed brightly in her eyes, washing her vision with white.

 

“Ahh!” The waterbender brought her hand up to her face sluggishly and shielded her eyes from the light. Her hand helped a little, but she breathed a sigh of relief when something blocked the light completely. She felt a weight on her, not a heavy weight, but a comfortable weight. After the initial shock of pain and the blinding light was over, Katara exhaled and swallowed.

 

What happened?

 

She stiffened when she heard a voice. “Katara? You alright?” It took a second to recognize the voice, it sounded slightly differently than it had earlier.

 

“Sokka?” Her voice sounded hoarse. Katara cleared her throat and tried again. “Is that you?”

 

She felt Sokka place his hand on her shoulder. “I'm here. You're all right. Don't worry.” Katara blinked underneath her shelter. What did he mean; she's all right? What happened?

 

Gradually, her memory came flashing back. She had been stabbed. The pain came back in a wave and Katara tenses her hand, gripping the grass underneath her.

 

“Is she ok?” That voice was Aang's.

 

“Katara, just relax and lay still.” Sokka directed to his sister. Katara took a deep breath and tried to ignore the sharp, throbbing pain in her chest. That's strange… the air feels different. Normally, the air would be heavier underneath something, as she was… but it just… seemed different. What happened after that? She had been stabbed, and then carried somewhere. Where are we?

 

“Hey…” Katara croaked. “Where are we?” She felt somebody move next to her.

 

“We're next to a spring; where we carried you after… after you were attacked.” Sokka ended in a whisper.

 

The waterbender swallowed again and, making note of the weird taste in her mouth, relaxed.

 

“What happened?” She asked a few minutes later. After she was stabbed and moved, her memory started getting hazy.

 

“You don't remember?” She heard Aang ask, followed by a soft thud. Was somebody hit?

 

“What happened?” Katara asked again, with more urgency in her voice.

 

“Don't worry about it, Katara. Just relax and concentrate of getting well enough to travel.”

Katara started to get annoyed. “What happened?” She asked again, tearing off the coat that covered her face. Immediately, the bright light showered over her face and she winced, clamping her eyes shut. Sokka tried to push her back down, but Katara grabbed his arm and squeezed. Sokka cried out in pain and pulled his arm back.

 

“Alright, alright! Calm down, already!” Her brother pleaded. Katara let out a breath and leaned back down, squinting her eyes in attempt to get used to the light.

 

“So…” Katara sighed slowly, after she had calmed down. “What… happened?”

 

There was silence for a few moments. That was one thing Katara didn't want; silence. She slowly reached her hand up underneath her shirt; or whatever was covering her chest. What was once, not very long ago, a gaping hole in her chest was now just a groove. There was pain, but not nearly as much as there was before. Her fingers traced the inside of the gap, the mark sunk into the skin not very far, but she could tell it was a scar. Katara pulled her hand out of her shirt and nervously reached up to her neck.

 

“Katara…” Sokka warned.

 

Ignoring her brother, Katara's fingers touched the base of her neck and slowly traveled up. Her questions were answered when she felt to small wounds on the side on her neck. Dropping her hand, Katara swallowed again and opened her eyes. The light stung for a few seconds, but her eyes slowly adjusted. After she could see, she looked around. First she saw Aang, grinning nervously at her. Then she saw Sokka, with a small smile on his lips.

 

“Hey.” Sokka slowly waved his hand and dropped it back to the ground. Katara gave a half-smile and propped herself up on her elbows, grunting in exertion. “Whoa, take it easy.” Sokka reached out, but retracted when Katara glared at him. “Never mind.”

 

Now sitting, the waterbender found that she was in the shade of a thick tree. She was shielded from direct light, but the brightness still made her eyes sting. “I'm…” She whispered, already knowing the answer. “A vampire… aren't I?” Aang and Sokka nodded sullenly. “… Where's Kyle?” Sokka sighed and pointed to Katara's left.

 

”Over there. He hasn't said anything since… well… yea…” Katara craned her sore neck to look. Squinting her eyes, she barely saw Kyle sitting by the spring, facing away from them. Out of the corner of her eye she also saw Zuko sitting with his back propped against a tree, his eyes closed. Sighing quietly, Katara sat up strait and winced in pain

 

“H-hey, take it easy.” Sokka held up his hand.

 

Katara ignored her brother and wrapped the coat that covered her, which she saw was Kyle's, over her head and set out in the vampire's direction, using the coat as cover from the setting sun. Ignoring Sokka and Aang's protests, Katara made her way next to Kyle. Now close to him, she could see him stare out across the water blankly. His legs were pulled up against his chest, and his arms were wrapped tightly around them. He looked lonely; Katara observed. She also noted that his clothes were splattered with drying blood.

 

Sitting down next to the vampire, Katara joined him in looking out over the water through her cover. She stole glances at him every over second, but he never moved.

 

After a few minutes, Katara swallowed and opened her mouth to speak; but Kyle broke the silence before her.

 

“You can take off the coat, I got you covered.”

 

Katara blinked. “Uh… what?”

 

Kyle still hadn't moved, but he spoke softly. “I said you can take off the coat, I have you covered. I'm bending the sun around both you and me.” Katara slowly peeked out from underneath the coat and squinted through the light.

 

“You… you sure?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Taking a deep breath, the waterbender lowered the coat from her shoulders and dropped it to the grass. The warmth encompassed her and made Katara take a slow, deep, breath. After a few seconds of getting used to the new feeling, Katara released a long breath. “It's hot.”

 

Kyle blinked and his lips tugged into an almost invisible smile. “You'll get used to it…” His visage fell again and his shoulders dropped. Katara noticed the change and pushed herself facing the vampire.

 

“Kyle…”

“I don't want to talk about it right now.” Came the immediate response. “I'll cover you from the sun until you learn to shield yourself from it. I just… can't talk about anything right now.” Katara went silent and sat still, staring at Kyle's blank face. She knew why he felt the way he did.

 

It's Senea… isn't it? The only person you ever turned into a vampire was Senea. She died, and you didn't want to turn anybody else. Katara felt her eyes sting. I gave you no choice. Choking back tears, the waterbender lowered her head in a bow. “Thank you.” Katara whispered and made her way back to her brother and Aang.

 

. . .

 

“You don't… seem very different.” Aang pointed out, cocking his head. “I'd say… the biggest change would be your skin is lighter.”

 

Sokka nodded. “Yea, like your sick or something, you look pale.” He reached out to feel Katara's forehead. The waterbender pulled back, looking apologetic. “Are you sure you feel alright?”

 

Katara took a breath and nodded. “Yea… just a little dizzy. I'll be alright.” Sokka raised an eyebrow to his sister and glanced over to Kyle, who still sat facing away from them. The sun had just set, causing a bright pink hue to cover the western sky. Sighing, Sokka turned back to Katara, who had her hand over her chest.

 

“Are you positive?”

 

Katara's eyes flashed. “I said `yes', damn it!” Her face fell and she dropped her head. “Sorry.” Sokka and Aang exchanged looks and placed hands on the girl's shoulders.

 

“Well now that the worst is over, the question is what do we do now?” The question came from Zuko, who had spoken for the first time on hours. He stood up and walked over to the small group. “Where do we go now?”

 

“The worst is not over.” Came a voice from the water. Kyle stood up and walked over to the group. “It will only get worse.” He looked down at Katara. “You will be fine for now; but soon you will not be able to ingest most liquids, or food. Then your fangs will grow in. First things first, I need to train you to survive, or we all will be in danger.”

 

“What do you mean?” Zuko pressed. Kyle narrowed his eyes on Katara, who shrunk under his gaze.

 

“I mean she will need blood soon, or she will be a danger to us.”

 

“How will she be a danger?” Sokka asked.

 

Kyle studied Katara for a moment. “Remember when I told you about when I was born into my immortal life? I went without blood for a week.” Aang nodded.

 

“Yea… you…” He swallowed. “Killed everybody in your town.”

 

“Exactly. It's called `bloodlust'. Katara needs to learn, immediately, to control the urge for blood.” Kyle sat down and rested his chin on his hands.

 

Katara shook her head. “But, I don't feel any urge for…” She swallowed. “Blood.”

 

Kyle stared at her intently. Katara stared back; he had never looked at her like this before, it made her nervous.

 

“You will.”

 

Katara shuddered and lowered her eyes. She was thirsty… but knew she couldn't drink normally. What else could she do? “So… what do we do?” She whispered.

 

“We will go to the closest city. There we will find pretty much anything we need. From there we will continue on training Aang, then head to the fire nation.” Kyle finished, glancing at Zuko; who seemed to calculate the plan in his head. Suddenly, Kyle looked around, as if trying to find something. “Um… where's Appa?” Aang shot up and looked around.

 

“I don't know! Before Azula appeared Cal sent Appa off with Momo; to safety I guess, but I still am worried sick!”

 

Kyle scratched his head. “She didn't tell you where?”

 

“No!” Aang shook his head.

 

Katara raised her head up. “She said that you would know where to find him.” Kyle blinked and stared past Katara into the trees.

 

“Did she, now?” Kyle thought for a minute, and then smiled. “Figures, that's Cal for you.”

 

Aang jumped happily. “You know where Appa and Momo are?” Kyle nodded.

 

“Yea…” He scratched a cut on his cheek. “But what I want to know is… how would she have `told' Appa where to go?”

 

The group sat thoughtfully for a while, musing on how the little vampire could have conversed with a thirty-foot flying bison.

 

. . .

 

Katara opened her eyes to welcomed darkness. Her eyes focused well in the night-light and seemed to find illumination in the strangest places. Sitting up, the waterbender gasped at what she saw. The water that was previously dark now looked like it glowed. The spring showed brightly as if it was the moon itself. Katara stood up and walked over to the water.

 

“Oh wow…” She breathed, taking in the beauty of the moonlight reflected off the water. The light was much brighter than she remembered it being before. It was even brighter than back home; which was almost completely ice-covered.

 

“Nice, huh?” Katara gasped in shock when she heard a voice beside her. It was Kyle. The vampire laughed softly and put his hand behind his head. “Sorry.” He nudged his head towards the water. “You like it?” Katara looked back to the water and nodded.

 

“Its like it's glowing…”

 

“Well, your eyes are now more focused towards the light. Since vampires can't normally go out in the light, our eyes function to gather as much light as they can. The light you see coming from the water is the light captured by the water, such as the moonlight, and reflected back at us. When the light hits your eye, you gather more than what you used to.” Katara thought for a moment then nodded.

 

“Ah, alright.” She smiled lightly. “It's still pretty, though.”

 

Kyle nodded. “Yea… I'll agree to that.” He sighed and sat down. “Although I don't remember how it used to look.” Katara sat down next to him and wrapped her arms around her legs. As soon as she did, she winced and spread her legs out flat, holding her chest. “You alright?” Kyle asked, turning to her.

 

Katara nodded. “Yea… just the wound I got earlier… still healing I guess?” Kyle shrugged and nodded.

 

“Well… yes and no.” Seeing the waterbender's confused look, Kyle elaborated. “Yes the cut is still healing, it will still hurt for another few days. But it will never heal completely.”

Katara blinked. “But… I thought vampire's healed from pretty much anything.”

 

“They do.” Kyle affirmed. “But wounds made before the transformation stay with you forever. I have a scar that I got when I was still human, and it never healed completely; it's still a visible scar. In your case, it was a fresh, deep wound. So it will never heal completely. Ah… the pain will mostly go away.” He held up his hands, seeing Katara's face. “But it will act up every now and again. And the scar will never be gone.” The waterbender felt the hole in her chest from outside her shirt and grimaced. “You will learn to bear with the pain, and soon be able to ignore it completely.”

 

Katara took a breath in and released it. “I understand.”

 

Kyle sucked his fang with his tongue and cleared his throat. “Anything else you want to know before we start vampirism one-oh-one?”

 

Katara smiled and was about to decline, but was struck with a thought. “Uh… maybe…”

 

“Hmm?” Kyle craned his head to look at her.

 

“What about… uh…” The waterbender nudged her head down to her lap. “Y'know.” Kyle raised an eyebrow confusingly. “Every month? Is that still the same?” Kyle snorted a laugh and rolled back, his mouth open in silent laughter.

 

“Oh shit…” He continued laughing for a few more seconds and straitened back into a sitting position. “Holy shit, that's your question?” Katara blushed and looked at the grass. “Heh… well you don't have to worry about that. When you turn into a vampire your menstruation cycle ceases.” He rubbed behind his head again and chuckled at Katara's face; she smiled lightly. “Kind of a double-edged sword though.” Her face picked up a concerned look. “Your body has died, so most of your bodily functions have ceased; your heart, your lungs, etcetera.” Katara looked alarmed. “Yea, your fluids still work, urination works the same; after the blood you ingest has its nutrients absorbed. As well as other fluids… tears… saliva… and other… things…” Kyle cleared his throat, scratching the side of his face. Katara's eyes widened and she looked away.

 

“Yea… your bodily functions cease… no more monthly bleeding. So I suppose you can leap for joy with that; Senea did.” He finished with a laugh. After a second he fell silent and sat back, looking at the cloudless sky. “Well… get some rest.” Katara looked over as Kyle stood.

 

“For what?”

 

The vampire looked down and smirked, showing a bright fang. “You're gonna learn how to hunt when we get to town.”

 

. . .

 

Entering the town, Aang and the others could see it was a fairly populated residential and busy area of the Earth Kingdom. The five young-looking group walked through the crowd to find a bar located conveniently near the entrance. After sitting the group, the bartender approached and ordered drinks.

 

“Order what you want, within reason.” Kyle waved off and placed his order for a heavily alcoholic drink. After the bartender departed, Kyle sighed. “We can't stay for long with our funds. Most of the money we brought to my house was left when we escaped. So… don't go overboard.” He brushed his short hair and sat back. The rest of the group also relaxed visibly.

 

“Uh… what can I drink?” Katara queried. Kyle cocked an eyebrow, thinking.

 

“Well… you won't be able to handle much liquids for a while, so it would be better to have nothing…” Seeing her downcast face, Kyle sighed. “But it might be a good idea to take some water; if not just to whet your throat.” Nodding, the waterbender signaled for a glass of water.

 

While waiting for their order, Zuko coughed. “Where are we? What is this place?”

 

“Gaoling.” Kyle answered. “I came her once before, about…” He counted up to five on his fingers. “Sixty years ago.” He counted again, this time to seven. “Yea…” The vampire shook his head. “Anyway, I think it would be a good place to train Katara, as well as Aang. There is a large population, so one or two deaths wouldn't draw much attention.” Katara swallowed and stared down at the table. I… don't want to kill anyone. “And this is an earthbending city, it would be a good place to teach it.” Kyle glanced at Zuko, who stared hotly back. “I don't think I need to tell you, but, don't draw attention to yourself.”

 

Zuko's stare tightened. “I don't mean to hide myself from anybody.”

 

Kyle returned the glare. “Be that as it may. It would be easier if… you were not from the fire nation. If you catch my drift.” Kyle remained silent, crossing his arms and looking away. Soon the drinks arrived and Kyle, after paying, took a swig from his mug. Aang slowly drank his milk, while Sokka and Zuko took periodic sips from the water they ordered. Kyle eyed Katara from the corner of his eye. She picked up her cup of water and swirled it around for a moment, then raised it to her mouth. “Take small sips.” Kyle warned.

 

The waterbender started and took a deep breath. “All right.” She whispered, mostly to herself. Raising the cup to her mouth, Katara sipped her water slowly, and swallowed the cool liquid. The tension at the table was apparent, and every eye was on Katara. She set down the cup and breathed deeply.

 

“I think… it's ok.” She smiled and picked up the cup for another drink. As soon as she did, she lurched forward, choking.

 

“Shit!” Kyle cursed and rushed to her side. Sokka and Aang ran to her other side, intending to help. Zuko stood up and stepped back, watching the event. Katara clamped a hand over her mouth and slammed the other on the wooden table. “Ah, damn it to hell!” Kyle muttered and pulled the choking girl away from the table. “Wait here!” He ordered to the others, pulling Katara towards a doorway in the side of the building. When the two got there, Kyle pushed Katara inside the room. “Go!” The waterbender disappeared in the bathroom.

 

Sighing despairingly, Kyle trudged back to the table, where the others were settling down. “You chose this.” The vampire muttered to Sokka as he sat back down.

 

Sokka looked over to where his sister disappeared and nodded. “Yea, I know. I just…”

 

“Just what?” Kyle asked hotly.

 

“…Nothing…”

 

Silence reigned on the table again. The four took turned drinking their beverages until Katara emerged, looking wholly bedraggled, from the restroom. Spotting the group, the waterbender made her way to the table and sat down.

 

“That sucked.” Katara grumbled and pushed her cup away from her, even though she had spilt most of it in her panic. Kyle laughed slightly.

 

“Not yet it hasn't.” Everybody looked at the chuckling vampire blankly.

 

“Are… you trying to be funny?” Sokka asked, blinking.

 

Kyle stopped laughing and picked up his drink, a frown on his face. “I guess not.” He glanced at Katara. “Don't worry, you'll be able to drink water soon.” The waterbender smiled bitterly and walked her fingers across the table. Kyle watched her and downed the last of his drink. “Well… next question is, how do you suppose we acquire funds? We'll need supplies to get to Appa.” He blinked for a few seconds, thinking. “I'd say about a months worth of food and necessities. Any ideas?”

 

“Appa?” Zuko asked. He had been wondering who this `Appa' was.

 

“My flying bison.” Aang clarified. Zuko returned to his water.

 

“So… any ideas?” Kyle asked again. Aang shrugged and sipped his milk. Sokka stood up and picked a piece of paper off the wall. “Sokka?”

 

The boy returned to the table and slapped the piece of paper on the wood, smiling smugly. “Bingo!” Everybody leaned in to read to notice.

 

Join the toughest and most powerful earthbenders in the circuit! One night only, join the newly re-instated ROCK-SOLID BRAWL!

 

“H-hey… wasn't that the tournament you joined when you met Ellen?” Sokka asked Kyle, who still read.

 

That's right! After one hundred and fifty years, ROCK-SOLID BRAWL is back in full force with the strongest competition from all corners of the Earth Kingdom! Come join, and you may win the grand prize… and the chance to challenge the champion of the famed EARTH RUMBLE competition!

 

“Challenge the champion… and win the prize money. Hey, that would work, wouldn't it?” Aang smiled, tapping the table. “With your skills, that would be a piece of cake, huh, Kyle?” The vampire leaned back and chuckled.

 

“So they brought it back, Rock-Solid Brawl? I would probably want to compete anyway… for nostalgia's sake.” He cracked his neck and sighed. “Sure… but…” Kyle arched an eyebrow at Aang. “You should join, too.”

 

Aang blanched. “What? I wouldn't stand a chance against professional earthbenders yet! And then there's you!” Kyle waved his hand, blowing off the argument.

 

“Fine, fine, whatever. Then learn from me and grow, grasshopper.” He looked at the flier again. “This says it's…” His eyes scanned the page. “Tomorrow night.” Kyle reached into a pocket and took out a small pouch. “Seeing as we will have to leave strait after the tournament to avoid crowds, here.” He handed the sack to Aang. “Uh… on second thought, here.” He handed Sokka the bag instead. “You three take this money, get a room for the night. We'll meet up with you later.” Sokka looked from Katara to Kyle.

 

“What are you two gonna do?” Sokka asked incredulously. Kyle and Katara exchanged looks and the vampire pulled his lips into a smirk.

 

“She's going to learn how to hunt.” Katara froze and gripped her knuckles together.

 

Everybody felt the tension envelope the table as Kyle rapped his fingers on the wooden table.

 

. . .

 

Kyle and Katara sat at the bar, pretending to sip drinks. Every now and again the two of them scanned the room, looking at the inhabitants, then returning to their drinks.

 

“Out of curiosity… which would you prefer… male or female? I would assume male, but…” Katara stared at the water in her cup distantly.

 

“Uh… I think… a boy, probably.” Kyle nodded and scanned the room.

 

“I thought so. All you need to do in find one… then wait.” Katara sucked in a breath, then released in shakily. She was nervous; so nervous she felt sick. But, knowing that she had to, she obeyed Kyle's direction and looked around. After a few seconds of searching, she located a young-looking man, maybe around Kyle's age when he died. He had short, tidy hair, and was pounding down a few drinks in a row. As much as she hated to admit it, the man wasn't bad looking. “Found somebody?” Katara heard the vampire beside her whisper.

 

“Yea… t-that man over there.” She nudged her head, not wanting to capture attention. Kyle leaned over, pretending to brush something off Katara's shoulder, and looked to where she had gestured. The girl tensed when Kyle touched her.

 

“Alright. Now that you found your prey,” His voice dropped dangerously low. “We wait.” Katara swallowed and glanced back to the man. We wait… She licked her teeth, thinking about what she was going to do, but was struck with a thought.

 

“Wait… what about my, uh… teeth?” Kyle looked at her confusingly, and then smiled.

 

“Ah… your teeth haven't grown in yet… that will be painful; like teething all over again.” He placed a hand on Katara's shoulder, trying to comfort her. “No worries, I'll take care of that. You just do what I say, understood?”

 

“Yea.” Katara agreed.

 

“Good.” Kyle was about to take another drink, when he set down the mug and wiped his mouth. “Ah… Showtime.” Katara turned her head and glanced towards the man she had picked out. He stood up and brushed off his clothes clumsily. “You ready?” The waterbender nodded and pushed her glass away from her. She nearly cried out in shock when she felt Kyle's arm loop around her waist. “Just roll with it; it'll be easier if people think I'm picking you up.” Katara swallowed her surprise and stiffly walked beside the vampire next to her.

 

“Now… this is what were gonna do…” She felt Kyle whispered in her ear, ticking her neck. “Were gonna follow him, and I'll provide a distraction so we can get him isolated; then he's all ours.” Katara nodded stiffly as the two of them followed the man at a distance in the dark street.

 

“Uh… I don't know about this…” Kyle's eyes flashed towards Katara's and he sighed.

 

“It's too late, we must do this for everyone's safety.” His face took on a determined look. “I will not allow more people to die needlessly.”

 

The waterbender stared at him in awe for a moment, then smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “Alright. I understand.”

 

Suddenly, their quarry turned down an alley at a leisurely walk. Kyle snorted a laugh and shook his head. “The dumb-shit; is he taking a shortcut? Oh man…” He laughed quietly. “This makes it too easy.” He and Katara turned down the ally after the man. “Are you ready?” Katara swallowed and nodded jerkily.

 

“As I'll ever be… I think…” Kyle looked strait ahead towards the man walking steadily down the darkness in front of them.

 

“Good, wait right here.” Kyle released Katara and strode forward. The man turned around at the sudden approach and straitened himself.

 

“Can I… help you, sir?” The man asked uneasily. He wasn't apparently drunk enough to lose his common sense of strangers; he was cautious.

 

Kyle reached out, grabbing the man. He tried to call out, but the vampire covered his mouth with a hand and pushed him against the alleyway wall. In one fluid motion, Kyle pushed the man's head aside and pressed his mouth to his neck. The man went stiff, his eyes wide with fear for a few moments, then relaxed slightly. Kyle didn't stay like that for long; he pulled his head away, holding the man relatively upright, and called Katara over.

 

The waterbender haltingly walked over to Kyle and looked down at the victim. His breathing was shallow, but steady. “Just out your mouth to the wound and… well… yea… It's better to learn yourself.” Katara barely heard him. She was staring at his neck. Blood slowly trickled out of two small holes in the flesh and dripped down to the dirt. She suddenly felt cold, very cold. So cold that she thought she would never be warm again. But the blood seeping from the man's throat seemed warm to her. She could feel the heat radiating from it.

 

“Go on. It's all yours.” Kyle whispered. Katara's breathing slowed and deepened. She knew what she was supposed to do, but she didn't know if it was right. Katara felt herself being pulled to the man's neck slowly. She wanted to stop; she wanted to go on… She wanted to be warm again.

 

Pressing her mouth to the man's neck, Katara felt the warm liquid seep into her mouth. Immediately the warmth she felt from the blood spread throughout her entire body. It was such a dramatic change that the girl let out a quiet whimper. The blood felt so warm and fulfilling that Katara wrapped her arms around the still victim, pressing her lips tightly against his flesh; wanting more warmth. The heat spread from her mouth, through her body to her legs, leaving a tingling sensation. It was beyond comparison, this feeling… better than anything she had ever experienced before in her life.

 

As soon as she thought it had started, it stopped. Kyle grabbed onto her shoulder and pulled her up. Katara let out a pained whimper as she was separated from the warmth and sat down on the ground, her legs numbly splayed out at her sides. The feeling still buzzed in her body, leaving her warm and content… but there was a new feeling alongside the good feelings… What is this?

 

“Sorry…” She distantly heard Kyle apologize. “But any more and there will be a danger to his life. You alright?” Katara looked up at him and stared blankly. “Katara?” The waterbender slowly stood up and took a deep breath. The warmth tingled in her chest, making the new feeling surge to the surface. Faster than she thought she could ever move, Katara lunged forward and pinned Kyle's arms to the wall. “Wha-“ Kyle tried to say something, but was interrupted when Katara pressed her lips up against his. The feeling boiled to the surface and made her grip the vampire's arms so tightly, she felt his skin tear. Breaking the kiss, Katara breathed heavily and stared into Kyle's eyes. He stared back at her not in surprise, but as if he knew this was going to happen. He opened his mouth again.

 

“Katara, take a deep breath.”

 

“Quiet.” The waterbender quipped and kissed Kyle again, more roughly. I want this to last… this feeling… She suddenly felt her shoulders pushed away and felt her back against a wall. Kyle held her arms securely and stared at her. Katara stared back, letting that feeling drive her.

 

“Take a deep breath.” Kyle demanded. “This is the side effect of feeding.” Katara didn't care. She whimpered and tried to break her arms free. “The blood effects your mind and clouds your judgment. For the first few times, until you get used to it, you will be overcome with physical desire. Just take deep breaths.”

 

Katara shook her head and thrashed harder. “No! I don't want to take deep breaths! Let go of me!” Kyle sighed and released the girl's arms. Taking the opportunity, Katara pushed forward, tackling Kyle to the ground. Now sitting astride the vampire, Katara looked over him and gripped his shirt. “You… still owe me… remember?” Kyle's stare narrowed and he laughed slightly.

 

“I only wish it was like this when I first turned. Instead I got Victoria and death.” He easily pushed Katara off of him and stood up, dusting himself off. “Sorry, but I have to decline. You still have much to learn.” Katara felt like ignoring him and jumping back on him, but knew he could easily stop her; so she sat and listened. “The feeling will die down after a few times… you will always feel the desire every time you feed, and it's enough to set you off at times, but you get used to it.” He reached down and felt the man's neck. “He'll be alright.” Kyle stood back up and reached his hand out towards Katara. “C'mon, let's get back to the others.”

 

“It was so warm…”

 

Kyle laughed. “Warm, huh? It was cool for me. I guess its different for everybody. Come on.”

 

Katara sighed deeply and grabbed his hand, getting to her feet. “Fine… But first.” She giggled and kissed Kyle again, more gently than before. Kyle didn't push her away, and after a few seconds, Katara pulled back and smiled.

 

“Alright, now we can go.”

 

. . .

 

Up next… ROCK-SOLID BRAWL is back after one hundred and fifty years!!! Who is this rumored champion?

 

Cough

 

Gee… I wonder…

 

R&R!!!