Finn, Poe, Kylo, Rey, and Aiden had gathered in the common area of Kylo's palace. They were discussing Ventress's intentions and what to do about the threat she posed.

Aiden had fetched a small feast of finger food for everyone to pick from, as well as two pitchers of watered wine. He bustled about serving the rest who were sitting on cushions around a short table and talking

"Honestly, I've thought about it," Finn said. "I think it's katashiro." Aiden gasped while Kylo and Poe's expressions both hardened. Finn continued, "Rey's blood must be quite unique to perform such a difficult curse on three noblemen, but that would explain why the queen is so desperate to get her back."

Kylo turned the idea over in his head. "I'm afraid you might be right, Finn." Finn nodded sagely and a chill crept into the air.

"What is katashiro?" asked Rey.

Finn answered, "It's something only a powerful priest can perform. These priests are akin to mages, with the ability to manipulate the elements. Katashiro is when a priest sacrifices a sacred human and drips their blood upon a representation of someone they wish to curse.

"Typically this representation is a snake but it could be something else like a lock of hair or a beloved necklace. It really depends on the caster's strength. And I'm afraid to say that Ventress is one of the strongest priestesses known to our people, with an unparallelled gift in water wielding."

Rey shivered, remembering Ventress's cold, wet arms emerging from her bathtub and wrapping around her. She looked off into the distance of that memory, a world away. "That's how she brought me here. So, does that mean only she can send me back?" Her eyebrows knitted together in worry as she imagined never seeing her family or Evaan again.

Finn shook his head but it was Poe who said, "Not necessarily. A priest of equal power could do it."

Rey felt hope flood back into her once again and raised to her knees. "Do you know of such a priest?"

Poe flashed a smile."Well, of course. Our prince wields wind as well as the queen wields water." He chuckled and flashed Kylo a sheepish grin for bragging about him. He knew Kylo wasn't very fond of people boasting about him, especially while he was right there to hear it.

Aiden stopped what he was doing and turned his attention to Kylo. "My prince, I had no idea," said Aiden. "I've heard of the queen's magic and of your sister's as well, but no one has ever spoke of you being a priest." The boy was wonderstruck.

Kylo shrugged. "I don't like to market my power, and unlike the queen, I prefer a level playing field. I'm also not as devout as my sister who has dedicated her life to the gods, so I have no reason for anyone to know except my closest confidants," he explained.

Rey's pleading eyes bore down on Kylo and brought his attention back to her. "Will you help me get back to my family?" She bit her bottom lip, teasing it between her teeth.

He gulped. For a moment he wanted to tell her that he couldn't. He wanted to lie to her. He wanted to keep her here so she would continue to give him looks like those, the two blazing suns that were her eyes shining brightly all for him and he needed her here with him.

Instead he said, "I will do everything in my power to send you home, Rey." She beamed at him and his heart clenched a little. "For me to be able to send you back to your home, the conditions need to be the same as when you arrived. First, the six springs of Jakku need to be filled completely. This only occurs when the sun of Niima is in the sky and only then." At that Rey made a face and Kylo raised an eyebrow.

"It's nothing, it's just that my name is Niima. Rey Niima. It's extremely uncommon where I am from so it's a funny coincidence that your people named a sun after it."

"The second sun is named for the golden goddess Niima, goddess of war and beauty," replied Kylo. Two blazing suns that were her eyes he thought to himself; could this truly be a mere coincidence? Kylo was certain it was not, and that Finn was right about the katashiro. The girl was special.

When Kylo remained silent for a solid minute, Rey broke the silence."Oh, that's… interesting."

He was pulled out of his train of thought and exchanged looks with Poe and Finn before continuing, "Another thing is that you need to be wearing the same clothes you arrived in or I cannot return you."

My school uniform Rey thought to herself. "The queen took my uniform from me at the East temple!" Rey hopped to her feet and started heading for the door.

Kylo chuckled. "Hold on, Rey. You are injured and need to stay put. Besides, the queen has most likely taken your clothes back to her palace, meaning it will take a bit more than asking nicely to get them back. We will figure something out, I swear it. In the meantime I need you to take care of yourself."

Rey huffed but returned to her seat, picked up a berry, and plopped it into her mouth. She knew she had to get her clothes back no matter what. Then the prince would send her home, to her family. She decided she would go to the queen's palace at night and find her clothes. She had to try whatever she could to get home.

Later that night, Rey found herself once again alone with Kylo in his chambers. The night had ended after the group had come up with a game plan that essentially consisted of waiting for more information and deciding on a course of action later. It had only furthered Rey's resolve to get her own clothing tonight. After all, the sooner I am sent home, the sooner all the princes are safe again she thought to herself.

However, the prince's insistence that she sleep in his chambers was making her plans much more difficult to execute. She resolved to sneak out while he was asleep.

The prince wrapped a robe around himself and tied a knot at the front before climbing onto the bed. He stretched his limbs and then propped himself on one elbow to watch Rey.

She was seated at the window again with her boy's tunic serving as her night gown. She nibbled on fruit absentmindedly. Jakku, surprisingly, produced the most delicious fruit she had ever tasted. She couldn't recognize most of their produce but they were so flavorful and juicy that she wondered how they could possibly grow in such a dry climate.

Rey thought of her family. She missed them, especially Hala, Reeve, and Kimora. She wished she had her sisters to talk to about the danger she had gotten into, the mysterious prince, and her newfound position as a princess. As a concubine. She shook her head, unable to wrap her head around the idea of being attached to the prince under such pretenses.

She looked at the prince and noticed at last that he had been staring at her. She also struggled to wrap her head around the fact that this man was a magic wielder like his stepmother. And sister, apparently.

Rey recalled the beautiful woman with green hair, who had a black ribbon and lace mask she wore over her eyes. "Was that your sister at East temple? The one with the green hair?"

He smiled fondly. "Yes, that's Oola. She is a blind priestess, a rarity, something that comes along only once every few generations, or so they say. She was born blind but with an affinity for healing and earth bending. She manipulates the sand and vines in Jakku. It's breathtaking really. She is the reason why the fruit you are enjoying so much grows so delicious.

"The people believe Oola is the goddess of the harvest reincarnated into human form. She doesn't believe that though." His smile grew wider. "She's humble but she is, in a sense, the most powerful person in Jakku. Oola has only ever chosen to use that power for the good of others. My sister is very dear to the people and our family."

"Are you close with your family members?"

Kylo chuckled wryly. "Not with my stepmother. I love my father very much. People say I adopted the best parts of King Solo, but he says I am much more like my mother. She has passed away though." He swallowed and continued, "My siblings mean the world to me. Even Jova, Ventress's son. He has nothing to do with his mother's schemes. Jova is a good lad.

"I understand. My sisters are my lifeline." Rey felt the hollowness in her chest grow in that moment. She missed them so much it hurt. Her vision blurred; the prince quickly rose to his feet and crossed the room to close the gap between them. He placed a hand on either side of Rey, not wanting to startle her when she was so upset.

"Rey, honey, it's going to be okay. It's going to be okay," he murmured. She flung her arms around him and that was all the invitation he needed. He scooped her up and carried her back to the bed. She shook lightly with tears as he held her firmly against him with one arm and used the other to pull up the covers. He carefully placed Rey into the covers and then slipped in himself.

He draped an arm over her protectively and rubbed her back. In time her tears had turned to hiccups, which soon became even breaths. She had fallen asleep safely in his arms where she could sleep without the interference of the queen.

In the middle of the night, Rey slipped out from the prince's embrace and out of his chambers. She quickly and quietly made her way down the hallway leading to the common area and out into the gardens. The night was cool and the moon a bright crimson, which layered the evening with a film of red. Rey took sure and silent steps towards the exit when she heard her name being called out into the dead of night. She froze.

"Rey," Aiden repeated as he approached her. "You are going to the queen's palace, right? I knew you would! Let me come with you, Rey! It's the least I can do for saving me. I thought for sure that prince Kylo would have no choice but to let me die. I owe you my life, Rey, and I want to help you get home too!" He raised his chin and squared his shoulders.

"Aiden, I can't put your life at risk again. There is no way; I have to do this alone."

He looked unconvinced. "Do you even know where the queen's palace is?" He had her there and he knew it.

"Fine, you can come," she relented. He pulled two daggers out of his sack and a pair of sandals. He handed her one of the daggers and dropped a pair of sandals beside Rey's bare feet.

She pulled them on gratefully and they hurried out of Kylo's palace.

Ventress stood at her crystal basin. Since last night she had not caught sight of the girl once as the prince was constantly interfering with her vision. The girl came into view with the boy Ventress had possessed the night before. They were rushing towards the queen's own palace.

The queen turned away from the basin to face the man who stood in the corner of the room. The single window in her lair cast a red shadow on Ventress's face as she broke into a wicked grin.

"The girl is braver than I thought. She is on her way here with that kitchen rat. Jango, summon Savage Opress. We must ensure a proper welcome for Kylo's precious princess." She turned back to the basin and watched the girl run towards her doom.