"I love you." He turned to look closer at one of the girls the Emperor provided him with. Bright red hair and striking green eyes, she was by far the most beautiful of the lot. Mara, her name was Mara. She stood out to him, not only because she was force-sensitive, but also because he sensed she was not a docile young woman taken from her parents and forced to be here. No, if she hated the Emperor as much as the other girls, she would have left long ago.
"How can you love me knowing what I've done; deeds so terrible that even the bravest tremble in my presence?" It was a question he longed to know the answer to. Sometimes even he could hardly stand to be around himself.
"There is something enchanting about you, Luke. I could not stay away even if I wished to." He was mildly surprised, a part of him even pleased. She captivated him, too.
"You don't wish to?"
"I love you," she answered. Then, tentatively, almost shyly, "Do you love me?" Did he love her? No, he barely knew her.
"I'm sorry..." He didn't want to say it if he didn't mean it.
"No, I'm sorry. Perhaps I was too forthcoming in my question. I apologize." He smiled, for he had the feeling she didn't give apologies to just anyone.
"I... I think I could love you," he compromised with her. And it was true, he could love her.
"That's all I need to hear. Come, love me now." She grabbed his hand and he followed her to his room.
It had been months. Luke had killed Palpatine, taken his place as Emperor. While Mara hadn't been exactly overjoyed about that, somewhere she realized her loyalty had shifted more to Luke than her former master. But slowly, Mara had noted the change in him, and she was not at all pleased. Where once he had been gentle and caring, disgusted with himself at the atrocities he committed, he was now ruthless, savoring each unnecessary kill. And now, when he lead her to his room, she knew that something was wrong, so wrong.
"Luke?" Even when she was so clearly frightened, her voice was strong.
"I'm a Sith, Mara," he tried to explain. He brought out his lightsaber, and now she did understand, she understood too well.
"I understand. No love, no attachments." Her voice was cold, colder than he had ever heard it.
"I do love you." It was not quite an apology, but perhaps the closest he would come to it.
"But not enough." She denied his apology. Luke tried to read her face, but maybe he didn't know her as well as he thought he did, because he couldn't find any sort of emotion in her pale face. She raised her head high, proud to the end, and didn't flinch as he raised his blade, scarlet now, to match his new occupation. She didn't close her eyes as he brought it down, as he let it cut through her body in one swift motion. And he didn't blink away tears when he called someone in to dispose of her remains. He had chosen to become a Sith (even though sometimes it hadn't seemed like so much of a choice) and he had to walk his path of power alone.
