I just want to say for those who are not familiar with gothic romance stories, the hero usually has villain overtones, although that is such a common trait for Anakin fics, I am sure you won't be so shocked, reader. Right?

Chapter 2: The Funeral

You would not had imagined the day to be such a somber one, as in Theed, as was usual, the day had been bright and warm since morning. As if the beautiful city didn't care about the tragedy of the times. At least, that's what Anakin Skywalker thought and felt.

He had been locked in his bedroom since he heard the news being confirmed, isolated and in complete state of shock; but now, he couldn't wait anymore. The time of the funeral had come.

He could not suffer in silence, privately.

Everyone would get a peek at the deepest of his soul. At the furthest corner of his mind. Everyone would be witness of his grieve.

Anakin entered the vast chapel in Theed's Palace, walking unsteady yet quick steps; as the great crowd opened the path for him, he reached Palpatine's coffin.

There were a few imperial officers paying their last respects to who had been the richest and most powerful man in Naboo. They immediately cleared the way when they saw the young orphan approach.

The way being deserted and undisturbed, Anakin stood in front of the open casket, and now in the face of death, the young Skywalker couldn't help but to coil back, face whitened, eyes wide, lips trembling… It's true. He'd known it already, but watching it in the flesh, with his own eyes seems to be too much for his heart. He's dead. His father, his only family is gone forever!

"Oh Father," Anakin sighed as he felt his throat close. "No! Why?!" He broke down in sobs.

"Anakin," a few voices tried to console him.

"No! No! Please bring him back!" Anakin cried like a madmen.

"Young man, you need to find resignation so you can find peace," a man tried to calm Anakin down. "He is in a better place now. One with the Force—"

"Shut up!" Anakin screamed. "No, he cannot be gone—oh, why did this have to happen? He was fine. Only a few hours ago I talked to him, and I saw him smile." Tears fell down his cheeks—"he was so happy because…" Anakin stopped, he cleaned his own tears and looked around for that because he could not say out loud.

His broken blue eyes at last found her.

Padmé Naberrie Amidala, Widow of Palpatine, sat by a private corner, a crowd of handmaidens and family members circled around her.

Anakin couldn't bear to see her. She was fully clothed in black garments, though so tight her figure made Anakin angry. She wore a veil like in her wedding the day before, only that now it was intricate, embroidered black lace.

"You…" Anakin muttered, his mouth twitching in rage, walking swiftly to her, never hating her as much so much as in that moment. "You!" he screamed when he stood in front of her.

"Boy, I am very sorry for your loss," she begun to say in a soft voice but stopped when she looked up and noticed Anakin's evil look, his violent manner and aflame with hatred words.

"What did you do to my father?" he demanded. "How did you kill him?!"

"Pardon me?" the young widow shook her head.

"Don't fucking act so oblivious you treacherous bitch!" Anakin screamed, jumping on her, infuriated, without thinking, directing his big broad hands to her clothed neck.

Amidala screamed in shock and pain as Anakin shook her. Immediately, though, the handmaidens rose from their seats and pulled out their blasters, not caring who he was; Anakin becoming nothing more to them than their mistress's attacker.

Something very peculiar happened to the already strange and disturbing scene: the fire never reached Skywalker.

The crowd gasped and the world seemed to stand still.

It was not public knowledge that Anakin was a Force user…

He saw the shape of Amidala shake and that gave him disgusting satisfaction. He didn't care about the crowd, he needed to avenge his father!

But first, he needed the truth.

He walked to her again, but his victim's family stood like a shield before her.

"I need to talk to her," Anakin said, breathlessly.

"You will not, you savage!" one of the handmaidens said. "My lady, let us be gone- he is mad."

"If I were, I have enough reasons to be so," Anakin sighed. He regarded his hands for a few moments, those hands that had reached that female neck with the intention of destroying… and he could hardly believe, not only that he had done in but that he didn't regret it.

Am I really mad?

A priest appeared, looking calm, and he directed the bizarre family away from the morbidly entertained crowd.

The Naberries, a few imperials, and the last Skywalker now alone, the truth could be discussed more openly.

"How did my father die?" Anakin asked, seated alone in a luxurious couch.

A moment of silence.

Governor Tarkin then said, "Old age, boy. Nothing to do with murder, I can promise you that."

"I don't believe it!" Anakin cried. "He was fine and healthy."

"Yet unprepared for another marriage at his age," Tarkin grinned.

"What?" Anakin shook his head, not understanding.

"Apparently, his wedding night with Princess Naberrie was too much for his body and heart—"

"Hey!" Padmé's father interrupted. "A little more respect and prudency please."

"So… what happened?" Anakin demanded.

"What we should've guessed just looking at this siren." Tarkin smiled disrespectfully, turning his eyes towards the widow. "She captured you father's heart, and never gave it back. He died of a heart attack. What a wonderful way to go."

"Imperial scum," a handmaiden muttered.

Anakin gave himself the time to think about what he learned.

So… in a way, she did kill him. He turned also to look at her, wishing to see at least an ounce of her skin. Her gloved in black lace hands were on her throat, caressing where he had hurt her. Her covered head was bowed down. Anakin felt his hatred for her, but also, a lot of other things…

"Family and friends," the priest said, breaking the painful long silence. "It is time."

Skywalker walked the barely lit by the approaching sunset fields, dressed in his military uniform, a crowd of imperials marching behind him.

By another extreme, Amidala gracefully paced, her aristocrat family by her sides, her security team around. All dressed in elegant and rich gowns and suits, showing they were the Excellency of Naboo.

In the middle of the two crowds Palpatine's coffin was carried, covered in flowers and tears.

Behind all the great crowd of guests and spectators.

At last, farewell…

Anakin kneeled watching his father being put three meters underground. Dirt kept covering the coffin until it could not be seen.

Wiping away tears, holding back any more sobs, choking in his own sorrow, Anakin looked by the other extreme, also kneeling contemplating the disappearing dead man, Amidala, finally removing the veil from her face.

The face was too fucking perfect.

The eyes not puffy with tears or despair. The features not contorted by pain. She was as radiant as in her wedding. Was her sin that she was so beautiful? Well, it was a sin nonetheless, and like any other, it should be punished.

Anakin saw the dark eyes look from the coffin and to him. Defiance. Hatred. Resentment. He realized it immediately, all that Anakin felt for her, was corresponded.

Well, except for one feeling…

It is not desire. Anakin repeatedly said in his head as he continued to imagine running to her, grabbing her with violence again, and ripping her apart! Rip her clothes, free her from all that black. Giving her his heart to do as she pleases, like his father did, and if breaking it or killing it was what she wanted, so fucking be it—

"Boy, let's go back to the Palace," he heard Tarkin said.

Amidala threw one more hateful glare at Anakin, and she again put on the veil.

She and her family also walked back to the palace.


The Naberries did nothing but prepare their suitcases and bags, get everything ready to leave Theed's Palace and return to their mansion in the countryside.

Nobody was more eager to go than the young widow.

"How much longer, Father? Oh my dear Sola please hurry your husband and your kids!"

"Easy, Padmé we are practically ready, we just have to say goodbye to the Skywalker boy. The shuttle is ready."

"Say goodbye to that savage? He should be lucky I didn't press charges for attacking me! Oh I swear I cannot wait to leave this place forever! And to think I was so close to spend my every day here… oh for all the Moons of Naboo, let's go!"

The Naberries walked to the hangar of Theed's Palace, their steps being so quick and sloppy, as if they feared a few seconds late could keep them from leaving forever.

"Naberrie Clan," Anakin stopped them just as they were almost free. "May you have a pleasant trip. I am sorry our union had to be cut short so swiftly. May you find resignation for your loss, as I will try, my dear mother," he said, looking at Padmé.

She contained herself with difficulty, and only nodded along. "Goodbye, see you never," she said, but then with a smile, barely visible behind her mourning veil, "Well, aside from the reading of my late husband's will."

She expected the boy with the savage nature to attack her for the provocation, but cool calm and collected, he commented, "Of course, see you then, Naberrie Clan," he didn't look at Padmé as he spoke.

What is he planning? Padmé wondered. But not being curious enough to risk another moment in his company, she urged her family, again, to escape.

Skywalker surprised her once more, as he offered to help everyone into the shuttle.

Fool, Padmé thought to herself as she watched him prepare everything, he doesn't know we are actually leaving Naboo to go hide in another planet. She saw him smile suddenly just as she thought the insult.

When everyone but Padmé had boarded, she watched him offer her his arm.

"I can enter just fine without your help boy," she carelessly said.

"And who says you are accompanying them?" he said just as carelessly, though his eyes didn't hide their intensity.

"What—" the arm she had rejected suddenly scooped her in a suffocating embrace. "No! no!" Padmé screamed. "Father! Help!"

"You wanted my Father's fortune?" she heard the words at her ear, feeling that she was moving fast, although she was shaking so much she was sure she'd be unable of give a single step. "You wanted to be the Lady of this Castle? Well, congratulations because you got what you wanted! You are the Mistress of my home. You cannot ever go. You are doomed to pay for the life you took, my father's life, with your own!"

"Boy, you are insane. Let me go!" she screamed, fighting the tears of terror that threatened to flood her face.

He paid no attention to her screams, to her now humbled begs and pleads.

Then, they came to a stop, and she recognized, with fear and disgust, the room in the west wing which she had shared with her late husband. Anakin threw her, practically smacked her on the bed.

"This is your place." Anakin said. "Don't worry about your luggage I already took care of keeping it here. If you need anything you can call any servant, after all, you are the Mistress of Theed's Palace."

"Why are you doing this?" Padmé said amidst sobs.

"You forgot every privilege comes with a price, I am only reminding you that. Have a good night, if you can sleep through the guilt of killing a man!"

"I didn't kill him!" she screamed. "I wish I did!" she said without thinking, only to instantly regret it.

"Yes…" Anakin nodded, his gaze aflame, Padmé could swear she could see splashes of yellow amidst the blue. "You and your family were so triumphant, so pleased. What'd you think, you could raze this home, to take the richest and leave it in ruins, only to go out victorious and unharmed? No, not if I can help it!"

"Get away from me!" she screamed as he approached.

"Why do you always cover your face? What are you trying to hide if not your evil intentions?" he said and snatched the veil from her face with one swift movement.

Damn.

Damn her beauty which was like a shield, like an antidote to his hatred.

Her starry eyes stared into his soul, and though he had gone with evil intentions of vengeance to her, all that was erased, or at least, appeased.

She couldn't believe it when he rose from the bed and practically ran from the bedchamber.

Shaken and frightened to her very core, Padmé muttered to herself, "Goodness me! He's mad…. He's absolutely crazy! Oh for all the stars in the galaxy, what am I going to do? What will become of me! I have to escape!"

But little did she know, this nightmare was only about to begin.


AN: Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows! What did you think of the new chapter? Please review and let me know!