Chapter 2: Hybrid's Secret: The Crowned Enemy✴⋆⋄⋆✴
"You need to stop," Cater growled, his voice low and distorted, vibrating with dangerous energy. His glowing black eyes locked onto Zuko, fangs fully extended, his entire body brimming with restrained fury.
Zuko sneered, electricity crackling faintly at his fingertips. "Stop?" He took a step forward, his tone dripping with condescension. "You think you can threaten me? You're nothing but a mutt. A hybrid like you doesn't scare me, Cater. Prophecy or not, you're still beneath me. I'll rip you apart."
Lightning flashed as Zuko hurled a bolt of electricity toward him, but Cater moved in a blur, dodging with ease. The ground where he'd been standing erupted into shards of stone, sending debris flying in every direction. Cater didn't flinch. In a single movement, he closed the distance between them, his sword slicing through the rain-soaked air in a deadly arc.
But Zuko was faster. He vanished just before the blade could connect, reappearing behind Cater in an instant.
A sharp burst of energy struck Cater's back, sending him sprawling into the mud. Pain lanced through his body, but he forced himself to his knees, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword as he pushed back to his feet. Rain streaked down his face, mixing with the blood running from a shallow cut on his temple.
"You can't win," Zuko taunted, circling Cater like a predator. His movements were slow, calculated, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Even with your little hybrid tricks, you're no match for me. You don't have the power to stop me. You're out of your depth."
He extended a hand, his smirk widening as sparks of electricity danced across his fingers. "This is your last chance. Join me, Cater. Together, we'll crush these pathetic humans and take what's ours. No more hiding. No more pretending to be one of them."
Cater bent down, retrieving his sword from the mud. Slowly, deliberately, he rose to his full height, meeting Zuko's gaze head-on. His black eyes shifted, glowing a deep, blood-red hue. When he spoke, his voice was a quiet storm.
"Never."
Zuko's expression twisted into a snarl, but before he could attack, Cater moved faster than the human eye could follow. He struck from behind, the force of his blow slamming Zuko into the ground with a deafening crash. The stone beneath Zuko cracked and splintered from the impact.
Cater didn't let up. Before Zuko could regain his footing, Cater was on him again, his sword slicing downward with relentless strength.
Zuko raised his arm, a shield of crackling energy forming just in time to block the blade. But Cater pressed forward, his strength unyielding, driving Zuko backward until his body slammed into the wall of the courtyard with enough force to fracture the stone.
In an instant, Cater closed the gap, grabbing Zuko by the neck and lifting him off the ground like a rag doll. Their faces were inches apart, Zuko's sneer faltering for the first time.
"You had your chance," Cater growled, his voice deadly. "Now it's over."
Without hesitation, Cater's fangs extended, and he sank them into Zuko's neck.
Zuko's scream tore through the storm, a sound of raw pain and fury as his body convulsed violently. The electric energy surrounding him sparked wildly before flickering out. His screams faded into a guttural choke, and his form began to disintegrate, crumbling into ash.
The wind carried Zuko's remains away, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.
Cater staggered backward, his breaths ragged. His hands trembled as he stared down at them, still stained with ash and blood. A dark hunger surged within him, cold and insistent, threatening to take hold.
"No," he whispered, his voice hoarse. He clenched his fists, grounding himself. "I won't let it happen."
"Cater!"
Jane's voice broke through the haze, cutting through the storm. He turned to see her running toward him, her face pale but filled with relief.
"You're okay!" she said breathlessly, her voice shaky with emotion.
Cater nodded, forcing a weak smile. The exhaustion weighed heavily on him now, pulling at his limbs. He opened his mouth to respond, but the world around him blurred. His knees buckled, and the last thing he heard before the darkness claimed him was Jane shouting his name.
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Cater jolted awake, gasping for air. He sat up in bed, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he blinked in confusion, disoriented by the sunlight streaming through the windows.
A sharp knock at the door startled him further.
"Finally awake, are we?"
Prince Alric leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed. He raised an eyebrow, his expression laced with amusement. "Are you planning to sleep the whole day, or should I draw my own bath this morning?"
Cater rubbed the back of his neck, sheepishly avoiding Alric's gaze. "Sorry, sir. Rough night," he muttered.
"Rough night, huh?" Alric's smirk deepened. "Funny. I don't remember there being any royal festivities."
Cater chuckled lightly, offering no explanation as he climbed out of bed. Stretching his sore muscles, he grabbed a towel and made his way out of the room.
As he walked down the corridor toward the bathhouse, Jane appeared beside him, her arms crossed and a knowing look in her eyes.
"So," she said, her tone teasing. "You're finally awake."
Cater gave her a half-smile. "Did I pass out last night?"
Jane nodded, her expression softening. "You did. I had to cover for you. Again." She shot him a wink before disappearing down another hall.
Cater shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But as he continued toward the bathhouse, his thoughts grew darker. Flashes of the fight with Zuko flickered in his mind—the raw power, the overwhelming hunger he'd felt when he struck the final blow.
When he returned to Prince Alric's chambers to announce the bath was ready, he found someone unexpected waiting inside.
A woman stood in the center of the room, her back to him. She turned slowly as he entered, her movements precise and deliberate. Her piercing gaze met his, and for a moment, Cater felt a chill.
"And who might you be?" she asked, her voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable air of authority.
Cater straightened, bowing slightly. "Cater, Prince Alric's servant."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Well then, Cater. Be a dear and fetch your prince. Tell him his bride has arrived."
"Bride?" The word slipped out before he could stop himself.
The woman's smile sharpened. "Yes. Princess Ava of the Earth Kingdom. Soon to be Queen Ava. Now fetch him."
Before Cater could respond, Alric entered the room, his face lighting up. "Princess Ava," he said warmly, moving to greet her. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"I couldn't wait to see my future husband," Ava replied sweetly, though her tone held an edge. Her eyes flicked to Cater, and her nose wrinkled slightly. "Your servant smells like sweat. Perhaps you should teach him proper hygiene."
Cater's jaw tightened, but he held his composure as Alric chuckled awkwardly.
"Ava, Cater is the best servant I've ever had," Alric said lightly. "Don't judge him too harshly."
Alric turned to Cater and nodded. "Escort her to the royal chamber. My father will want to meet her."
Cater bowed slightly. "As you wish, my prince."
As they walked through the halls, Ava abruptly stopped. She turned to face him, her sharp gaze pinning him in place.
"You're not just an ordinary servant, are you?"
Cater stiffened. "I'm not sure what you mean, my lady."
Her lips curled into a faint smirk, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Interesting," she murmured, turning and continuing down the corridor.
Cater frowned, unease prickling at the back of his mind. He didn't notice the faint flicker of yellow in her eyes before it disappeared.
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