FicWad

Cold Heat - Chapter 2
Rated MA


~


Kaiya had to suppress a chuckle as she left Firelord Ozai’s throne room. She really had him fooled.

She had done everything Ursa had instructed her to do - and it had worked brilliantly. The Firelord had hired her on the spot without even sampling any of the teas from the other men.

“This way, please.”, a man said coldly. Kaiya followed the stout dark-haired man away from the throne room and into the main gallery of the palace.

Earlier in the palace kitchen, she had found out that his name was Taiso and that he was the Firelord’s most loyal steward. Kaiya made it her plan to find out just how loyal Taiso really was. Certainly he had to be privy to the Firelord’s most guarded secrets concerning the war.

If she were to find out those secrets, Kaiya needed to befriend Taiso, which was going to prove quite challenging, considering his seemingly rigid character. She had to start simple to gain his amity.

“These columns are absolutely incredible!”, she began, hoping that she could persuade Taiso to talk about the palace. And it worked.

“They are three dynasties old and have been restored countless times. The dragons on the columns serve to remind us of our roots.” , he explained as he led her through the large entry hall.

“How so?”, Kaiya asked curiously. Ursa had not shared much in the way of Fire Nation history with her.

“Why the dragons taught us how to firebend, silly girl! Do you not know your history?”, Taiso lectured as he guided her out of the main gallery and into a small side corridor.

“No, I am afraid I don’t know much at all. My parents died when I was very young, forcing me to work as a servant instead of attending school. Maybe you can teach me a few things about our great Nation?” Kaiya baited him with a line that, for once, was not a lie.

“I suppose I should, child. Firelord Ozai would be most displeased at your ignorance.”, he said with a snobbish sigh.

“Thank you, sir.”, Kaiya replied, secretly thrilled at her success. She was already looking forward to her first lesson.

As they continued down the dim hallway, Kaiya realized that this was one of the corridors used by the maids and butlers. Ursa had mentioned to her that Ozai’s grandfather had them built so he would not have to look upon the servants as they came and went from one part of the palace to another.

Taiso greeted several men and women as they bustled about their tasks. A few stopped to gape at Kaiya as she passed. She presumed that they had once served Ursa when she was Fire Princess and had noticed the resemblance as well.

Soon, they arrived in front of a room which appeared to be a large and opulently decorated study. Kaiya peered through the open door to see that a large desk sat in the middle of the room with several tall bookcases behind it loaded with various books and scrolls.

“This is my office, Kaiya. Any issue or grievance should be made here and not while I am attending his Lordship. You can usually find me here in the evenings. I also hold a meeting first thing every morning with all the staff. You will be expected to attend those, unless you are serving the Firelord of course.”

Kaiya nodded as Taiso led her down a conjoining hallway with many doors on either side of it. He stopped in front of one and opened the door to her quarters. There were two small beds in the minute room with a massive wooden wardrobe in between them. Two lit sconces on the wall, one next to each bed, served as the room’s only light sources. It was dark and cramped, but it was to be home for Kaiya until the war was over.

“I shall send someone down to Plaza City to collect your personal effects. Until then, you will find a uniform in the wardrobe. Suzume will be your roommate. I trust you to get along with her.”

“I am sure I will, sir.”

“And Kaiya? The Firelord will be turning in for the evening in a few hours. Don’t be late with his tea. His Lordship does not tolerate delays too well.”, Taiso warned and then left Kaiya alone in her room.

She let out a long sigh as she opened the wardrobe doors.

The Order of the White Lotus had done it. She was inside. Now she just had to learn all she could about the Firelord’s plans for the war and pass them along to Xing without getting caught.

A shiver ran through her body at the very thought.

Ursa had assured Kaiya that her ex-husband did not perform executions and that the worst she would receive if found out would be banishment. Kaiya wasn’t so confident, though. Firelord Ozai was a very imposing and frightening man.

She had been absolutely spellbound when she met him earlier. He was even more striking in person than on the poster in Xing’s teashop. His very presence exuded power and masculinity. And, like a fool, she had stared unabashed at him when she should have shown him the respect of an inferior by averting her gaze.

She was very thankful when he had finally spoken to her. For he was very callous and harsh. Just like she had imagined the man responsible for killing her parents would be.

Kaiya hurriedly pulled the red and white maid’s uniform from the wardrobe and began to dress for her first day in the service for Firelord Ozai. And for the White Lotus.


~


Kaiya had just entered the kitchen when she heard a sweet female voice.

“Everyone was right. You look just like her.”

She looked up to see a jovial looking woman hard at work cleaning the dinner dishes. Her dark hair was peppered with gray and her face wore faint laugh lines around her welcoming smile. Kaiya judged her to be in her mid-forties.

“I look just like whom?”, Kaiya asked the woman, although she knew the answer.

“Why, his Lordship’s late wife, of course. You have been quite the topic of conversation, my dear.” The woman then pulled her hands out of the dish tub and dried them to greet her new co-worker. “My name is Suzume. I understand that we are roommates?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kaiya.” She could not ignore what Suzume had said. “You said the Firelord Ozai’s wife is dead?”

“That’s what everyone believes. No one knows for sure actually.” Then Suzume leaned closer and spoke in a hushed tone. “I personally feel like she had something to do with the last Firelord’s death. I mean she disappeared on the same night that Azulon died? No coincidence, if you ask me.”

“So it seems.” Kaiya knew the entire story of Ursa’s banishment and had to bite her tongue to keep from indulging Suzume with the correct information.

She couldn’t wait to talk to her later in the privacy of their room. Suzume must know much about the everyday life of the palace and its inhabitants. She could prove very useful in gathering information. Even so, Kaiya couldn’t help but be fond of the older woman and her gossip.

“I assume you have met his Lordship. What do you think of him?”, Suzume asked.

There was no way Kaiya could tell her the truth. That he was the spiciest scoundrel she had ever set eyes on.

“He’s…scary.”, she instead answered.

“And that’s when he is in a good mood.”, Suzume joked.

“I better start his evening tea then, lest I get a chance to see what his bad mood is like.” Kaiya shuddered to think of what Ozai would be like when outraged.

“I think you better, my dear.”, Suzume replied as she went back to her dish duty.

Kaiya dug through the tea pantry while Suzume chatted away behind her. She was looking for chamomile tea and mint leaves. Ursa had told her that Ozai used to always drink a cup of the brewed mixture just before bed. Soon she found what she was looking for and began to ready the tea for her Firelord.

When she had a cup ready to go, she placed it on a tray with a few cinnamon firecakes, just in case he was still hungry. She carefully picked up the wooden tray and headed for the door.

“Let’s hope he likes this. Wish me luck.”, Kaiya said apprehensively.

“Honey, with the way you look, you could serve him plain water and he’d like it. Have fun.” Suzume winked at Kaiya then turned her attention to the pile of suds in front of her.


~


Kaiya took a deep breath before she knocked on the door to the Firelord’s bedchamber. She could have sworn she heard feminine giggles inside before Ozai bellowed out for her to come in.

When Kaiya entered, she was so shocked, she nearly dropped her tray.

Firelord Ozai was on his back, sprawled out on his immense bed completely naked – and fully aroused.

The sources of his arousal sat on either side of him. Two of his mistresses, who were also very much in the nude. Ozai made no attempt whatsoever to cover himself as the two women rubbed their hands all over his body right in front of her.

Kaiya had to fight to gain her composure. She had seen many of her former masters without clothing, but never one as luscious as Ozai. His robes had hidden a most appealing and heavily muscled body which was glistening with the oils his mistresses were massaging into his tanned skin.

Both women ignored her completely. This must be a common occurrence for them – to have a stranger walk in on such an intimate act.

It took some effort, but Kaiya finally forced herself to meet Ozai’s eyes, which were completely fixated on her. He bore a sinful smile as his women continued working on him.

Kaiya forced herself to smile back. She was no stranger to sex and would not shy away like a prudish coward. Especially not in front of Ozai.

“My lord, if I knew you would be ‘entertaining’ tonight, I would have prepared you the ginseng blend instead.”, she said politely as she walked over to set the tray down on the table by his bed.

“What for, insolent girl.”, Ozai demanded as one his ladies handed him his teacup.

“Why to strengthen you for your ‘activities’, my lord. Ginseng is quite effective in the bedchamber.” Kaiya woefully held the smile on her face as she explained.

Ozai’s own smile widened at Kaiya’s reply before he took a sip of her tea.

“You will make me some of that tomorrow evening, then. I think I shall need it.”

“As you wish, my lord. I hope you approve of the tea I have made for you tonight.”

“It is acceptable.”, Ozai stated in a tone softer than any she had heard from him thus far.

“I am delighted that you approve, my lord. If you do not require anything else, then I shall bid you a good evening.”, she responded and turned to leave. She had to get out of there.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Kaiya froze just before she reached the door. Then she slowly faced Ozai and gasped. One of the women was pouring the scented oil all over his engorged member and began to stroke it. It was difficult for Kaiya not to stare at his manhood being fondled so, but she eventually met Ozai’s gaze.

“Back to the kitchen, my lord. I assume you want to be alone with your…” Kaiya didn’t know what to call the women without offending them, because, much to her surprise, she wanted to call them some very unpleasant names.

“Nonsense! My previous tea maker always liked to watch me.”, he cooed deviously.

“Then he was a sick perverted man, my lord. You are fortunate to be rid of him.” Kaiya formed those words before she thought about them. She hoped she hadn’t overstepped her boundaries.

“Mmm…I know.”, Ozai growled as he began moving his hips in rhythm to his mistress’s ministrations. Kaiya was sure she was going to be forced to watch this act to completion.

At that moment, she hated him more than anything. Why was he doing this? Was he trying to embarrass her? Anger her?

“Please, my lord. I really should not be watching this. Please!…”, she begged.

Ozai stilled for a moment and looked at her. She was certain she saw his expression relax to one of...caring? Before she could figure it out, though, his face hardened to its habitual scowl.

“Fine. Get out of my sight then, you worthless peasant.”, he finally answered as he waved her away casually.

Kaiya dashed from the Firelord’s bedchamber, trying desperately not to cry tears she swore she would never shed over such an evil and monstrous man.


~


“Get out. GET OUT!”, Ozai roared to the two attractive nude women who were lavishing his body with intimate attention.

They both looked up at him in shock. The Firelord had never before sent away his mistresses.

“My lord, have we done something wrong?”, one of them asked in trepidation.

Ozai wasn’t sure if the girl was more concerned at losing her position at the palace or losing her lover. Neither she nor her sister moved from Ozai’s enormous bed as they stared at him for answers.

Ozai shot them both a seething glare at their insubordination. If the two sluts had not been his favorites, he would have had them thrown out of his palace on the spot.

“NOW!”, he yelled. The flames from the many wall torches in his chamber shot up towards the ceiling from his rage, threatening to catch the entire room ablaze.

The fear of possibly being burned alive by their Firelord sunk in as the women scrambled frantically for their scattered clothing. They haphazardly dressed themselves and literally ran from his chambers.

Had Ozai not been so angered and sexually frustrated by Kaiya’s visit, he would have laughed at the two foolish girls. They were just like cattle.

Just the way women should be.

But Kaiya had been anything but that.

He frowned to himself as he slid his oiled and naked body beneath his crimson silk sheets.

Ozai couldn’t believe that he had let her leave his bedchamber. Ever since he had met her in his throne room, he had eagerly looked forward to having her watch him come to pleasure. At having her eyes upon his manhood as he demonstrated his dominance over his women.

But just one little plea and a suffering glance from the peasant and he had gone soft. In more ways than one. And his temporary weakness had completely infuriated him. But what drove his fury to new levels was why he had his cowardly slip in the first place…

He would never have allowed his actions to be controlled by the wretched tea maker if she had not looked like Ursa.

And damn her for that.

As Ozai laid his head down on his mountain of pillows, he formed a plan for Kaiya. A most devious plan that his body was already keen on carrying out.

He grabbed his aching arousal and roughly stroked it, contemplating how much he was going to enjoy proving his supremacy in this palace.

Kaiya was going to pay for her disrespect. Yes, tomorrow night, she was going to pay.


~