Katara’s voice cracked as she screamed, “Please! Stop! I beg you, Your Majesty!” Her body trembled, her back raw and bleeding, the searing pain of each lash still burning through her nerves. She collapsed forward, her hands barely catching her weight on the cold stone floor. Her tears mixed with the sweat dripping from her face, and her vision blurred as she fought to stay conscious.

But Azula wasn’t done. Not even close.

The Empress stepped closer, her golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. She twirled the whip idly in her hand, the barbed tips leaving faint, menacing trails in the air. “Oh, Katara,” she purred, her voice dripping with mockery. “Your begging is pathetic. Pathetic. Is that really the best you can do?”

Katara’s chest heaved as she struggled to find her voice. “I… I don’t know what you want from me,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from screaming.

Azula crouched down, her face inches from Katara’s. Her fingers brushed a lock of matted hair from Katara’s face, but the gesture was anything but gentle. “I want you to understand,” she hissed, her breath hot against Katara’s ear. “You are mine. Your pain, your suffering, your very existence—it’s all for my amusement. And until you accept that, this will only get worse.”

Katara’s eyes widened, and she tried to scramble back, but Azula’s hand shot out, gripping her chin with bruising ****. “Where do you think you’re going?” Azula snarled, her voice low and dangerous. “You don’t get to run. You don’t get to hide. You belong to me, and I’m not done with you yet.”

Azula stood, her grip on Katara’s chin dragging her to her knees. The Empress stepped back, her eyes raking over Katara’s trembling form. “You’re weak,” she said, her voice laced with disdain. “But perhaps… perhaps there’s a way for you to redeem yourself.”

Katara’s breath hitched, and she looked up at Azula, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. “What… what do you mean?” she whispered.

Azula’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Strip,” she commanded, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Katara’s eyes widened in horror. “W-what?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You heard me,” Azula said, her tone icy. “Strip. Unless you’d prefer I do it for you.”

Katara’s hands trembled as she reached for the hem of her bloodied tunic. Her heart pounded in her chest, the humiliation already burning hotter than the lashes on her back. She slowly peeled the fabric away, wincing as it stuck to her wounds. The cool air hit her bare skin, and she shuddered, feeling more exposed than she ever had in her life.

Azula circled her like a predator stalking its prey, her eyes lingering on every inch of Katara’s trembling form. “Good,” she said, her voice a low purr. “Now, kneel. And don’t move.”

Katara obeyed, her knees hitting the cold stone floor. She kept her eyes down, her breath shallow and uneven. She could feel Azula’s gaze on her, and it made her skin crawl.

The Empress stepped closer, her boots clicking against the floor. She tilted Katara’s chin up with the tip of her whip, forcing her to meet her eyes. “You’re trembling,” Azula said, her voice almost amused. “Is it fear? Or is it something else?”

Katara didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, shame, and confusion.

Azula smirked, her fingers brushing against Katara’s cheek before trailing down her neck. “You know,” she said, her voice soft and dangerous, “there’s a certain… power in submission. A power that even the strongest of warriors can’t resist.”

Katara’s breath hitched as Azula’s fingers pressed against her collarbone, her touch both firm and deliberate. The Empress leaned in, her lips brushing against Katara’s ear. “Tell me, Katara,” she whispered, her voice sending shivers down Katara’s spine. “Does it excite you? The thought of giving yourself to me completely? Of surrendering every last shred of your dignity?”

Katara shook her head, her voice barely audible. “No… no, I…”

Azula’s hand moved to Katara’s hair, gripping it tightly and yanking her head back. “Don’t lie to me,” she hissed, her golden eyes burning with intensity. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re terrified… but there’s something else there, isn’t there? Something you don’t want to admit.”

Katara’s breath quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She tried to look away, but Azula’s grip on her hair kept her in place. The Empress leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Katara’s as she whispered, “You want this. Don’t you?”

Katara’s eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically. “No! I… I don’t…”

Azula’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Liar,” she said, her voice a low growl. She released Katara’s hair, stepping back as she raised the whip once more. “Perhaps you need a reminder of who you belong to.”

The whip cracked through the air, and Katara screamed as it connected with her back. The pain was unbearable, each lash tearing into her already raw flesh. She collapsed forward, her hands clawing at the cold stone floor as she begged for mercy.

But Azula didn’t stop. She swung the whip again and again, each strike leaving a fresh wave of agony in its wake. Katara’s screams echoed through the room, her body convulsing with each lash.

Finally, Azula paused, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. She stepped closer, crouching down beside Katara’s trembling form. “Do you understand now?” she asked, her voice low and dangerous. “Do you understand who you belong to?”

Katara’s voice was barely a whisper as she choked out, “Yes… Your Majesty…”

Azula smiled, her golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Good,” she said, her voice soft but no less menacing. She stood, twirling the whip idly in her hand as she looked down at Katara. “But we’re not done yet. Not even close.”

Katara’s heart sank as Azula stepped back, her eyes never leaving her. “Get up,” the Empress commanded, her voice sharp and unyielding. “We’re going to have some fun.”

Katara’s hands trembled as she pushed herself up, her body screaming in protest. She stumbled to her feet, her knees weak and unsteady. Every movement sent fresh waves of pain through her, but she didn’t dare disobey.

Azula smirked, her eyes raking over Katara’s trembling form. “Good girl,” she purred, her voice dripping with mockery. She stepped closer, her fingers brushing against Katara’s cheek. “Now, let’s see how much more you can take.”