Chapter 11: Getting a little too close:
"I think it's time to make a new destiny." Angela told herself and added softly, "…..alone."
Angela turned around, and quickly headed over to her still-opened closet and began removing a few pieces of clothing like her night clothes and a few simple gowns that she wore every now and then when she didn't train. On a shelf above her head, she reached up and pulled down an average-sized bag; which she would use to carry her belongings. She tossed all the clothes she was taking onto her bed, including the bag, then she spun on her heel and headed over to the refresher to retrieve her hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo and conditioner. With her arms full a second time, she left the refresher and headed back over to her bed; dropping some stuff from her arms, she picked up the bag with one hand and began placing things inside it. She neatly folded her clothes to save room, but even with everything packed into the bag, she still had plenty of space to spare. Thinking about what else she may need on her journey, she turned back to the closet and pulled out a small, light blanket. Once that was inside the bag as well, she figured that was all she would really need.
"I'm going to have to travel light anyways." She told herself before sealing her bag up tightly. Standing back, she gazed down onto the bag and bit her lip,
"I can't believe I'm doing this again, I must be out of my mind." She grumbled as she could very well remember what had happened the last time Angela tried to leave. But the fear of pain didn't have effects on her anymore; after living with two Siths for almost a year, you learn to take pain hard and deal with it in silence, your body becomes almost numb to it.
Angela felt something deep inside her, telling her that what she was doing was right, and it left her somewhat joyful at the thought of finally leaving for good.
"I'm finally getting out." She spoke softly; a smile spreading across her lips. Looking over her shoulder, Angela eyed the door
"Mmmm…" she debated silently in her mind, "…no I'd never be able to sneak past Sidious, maybe Maul, but not Sidious," she paused to look around the room for another way out; her eyes landed on the balcony. Angela confirmed her decision with a nod of her head.
"I'll go out the back." She whispered while slinging her bag over her left shoulder. Wasting no time, she quickly marched over to the balcony's door and pushed it open. Stepping close to the railing, she gazed down below, checking to see how far she would have to drop and where she'd drop to. It looked to be about a 10 foot drop down to nothing but grass.
"Ok." She murmured before she began to hop the railing. Bracing her arms against the banister, Angela was preparing to swing her body over and off, but before she could, her chamber door swung open unexpectedly and Maul walked in. Angela quickly spun around and dropped her bag from her shoulder to the floor; she softly kicked it aside. Maul approached her with a small grin across his face.
"I knew I had sensed your presence, you're very easy to detect." He began, "So, you've returned from your mission. You came back a lot quicker than I had thought. I trust everything went wel….." he voice trailed off. His yellow eyes that were staring intently on Angela now rested on the bag she had dropped at her feet. They looked back up to Angela and stared her down.
"Going somewhere?" he asked suspiciously; his yellow eyes narrowed softly.
"My business is my own." She replied; her voice low in warning. Maul straightened up a bit and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Is it now?" he questioned; Angela nodded
'I don't need to explain myself to you." She defensively answered.
"Hmmm…" he mumbled, almost like he was considering her answer. Slowly, Maul lowered his arms from his chest and advanced toward Angela. His steps were quick and Angela, who wasn't expecting such a move, quickly retreated back until her lower back was pressed against the railing of the balcony. She gasped at the solid feeling of something behind her and glanced over her shoulder at the banister; she was cornered. Looking back toward Maul, she found him but a few feet from her.
"Why do you run from me Angela?" he asked innocently, "I'm not going to hurt you." He assured before taking a few steps closer. His yellow eyes stared intensely on her face before they began to roam tracing and eyeing the rest of her body; the type of attention Maul was giving her made Angela feel small. She squirmed softly under his gaze, becoming uncomfortable with his presence. Maul reached a hand out and hooked it behind Angela's neck; she tensed up, his hand was cold. She nervously swallowed.
"Angela," he spoke, "I know that we've had some..rough times in the past," he began but Angela quickly jumped in.
"Maul I have a pretty good idea on where this whole thing is going, and I think its best if you just forget it." She firmly told him. Angela tried to push her way past him, but Maul quickly caught her by the arms and pushed her back into the railing. Sighing in annoyance, she looked him hard in the eyes,
"What do you want Maul?" she irritably asked; a lustful glint lit up in his yellow eyes, he brought his face close to hers.
"You." He replied his voice low and possessive. Maul suddenly leaned his head down to crush his lips against Angela's. Seeing his motive she quickly turned her head away, but his lips still landed on her neck. Angela gasped in horror and shock; Maul pressed his body against Angela's.
"No!" she ordered before shoving him off her; making him stagger back a few feet. Once out of his grasp, she maneuvered around him and headed toward the far side of her room. She turned to face him.
"I think you better get out now!" she warned; Maul laughed before he slowly stalked up to Angela menacingly.
"Why?" he asked, a smirk upon his lips as he kept moving closer.
"I know what you're thinking Maul, so don't you dare touch me!" she ordered; Maul shook his head before he replied sarcastically,
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"I'm so serious Maul, keep your distance!" her voice rose with each word. Maul continued moving in, his hands reaching out to grab Angela.
"Don't touch me!" she repeated taking a few steps back. Maul suddenly charged at Angela, grabbing her tightly by her upper arms. Angela struggled and pulled away but that had very littler use.
"Let go!" she cried; his grip tightened, and he began to guide her backwards. Stumbling over her feet, trying to keep her balance while fighting him off, Angela asked,
"Maul what are you doing?" her voice sounded a little frantic. Maul remained silent as he persistently kept forcing her backwards. The back of Angela's knees hit something solid behind her, while she took a second to glace over her shoulder at her she had come into contact with, Maul roughly shoved himself against her, and Angela lost her balance.
"AHHH" she screamed softly as she fell back onto her bed, Maul falling on top of her. His weight upon her small form knocked the wind out of her; before she could recover, Maul pinned her hands down by her head, and he slowly straddled her hips.
"Maul get off me!" she cried. Maul leaned down and began running kisses down her neck and above her breasts. Angela squirmed and bucked her hips, tying to get him off, but nothing seemed to work. Angela squeezed her eyes closed tightly trying hard to block out what was happening. Maul brought both of Angela's hands high above her head, and held them both down with one of his own; his other hand was free to roam Angela's body. He stroked her waist then moved down to her hip before he reached down to her leg, the one that was exposed by her slit in her gown. He caressed her calve, then stroked up, going past her knee and thigh; when Angela felt his hand slide closer to a very private area of hers, she was filled with fury and disgust.
"Enough!" she screamed then with all the strength and will power she contained, she focused her thoughts on Maul then jerked her head to the side. Maul was sent flying off the bed. Now that Angela was free, she quickly sat up and jumped to her feet, balancing herself on top of the mattress. She reached a hand out toward Maul, flicked her wrist, and sent him flying across the room and into the wall on the opposite side of Angela's room. Maul smacked his head hard against the solid barrier, so when Angela finally released him from her force hold, he laid unconscious, slumped against the wall.
Not wasting another second, Angela ran over and grabbed her bag, slinging its straps over her shoulders; then she turned and dashed onto the balcony, hopping on the railing. Angela quickly braced herself, then leaped into the air. Her landing was surprisingly light, and once her feet were secured and stable on the ground, she took off sprinting into the far grounds surrounding the palace; heading back towards the old forest. This time however, Angela was sure that she would get away this time. And so on and on she went; not stopping once to catch her breath. By the time Angela had gotten deep into the familiar forest, her legs and chest felt like they were on fire; so Angela brought her pace down to a slow jog. For the entire day, Angela kept moving, from the time the sun was high in the sky, to the time it had set beyond the horizon. Once the moon had risen up in the black sky, Angela felt exhaustion take over her body; she began stumbling over her feet, and her vision started to blur. Once she had traveled late into the night, she at last stopped in a clearing. A defeated sigh escaped her lips before she collapsed onto the forest's ground unconscious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back At The Palace~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maul's horned-head was bowed in shame as he kneeled before Sidious who was seated on his throne.
"Honestly Maul, don't you know anything about women??" Sidious rebuked; his low scratchy voice dripped with irritation.
"I am sorry my Master, I had lost control…." Maul apologized.
"Haven't you ever heard of the word Courting? Perhaps you should try that next time!" Sidious snapped; Maul cringed at his master's anger.
"Shall I go after her and bring her back?" Maul asked; Sidious was silent as he thought about that for a few moments.
"No," Sidious replied, "We still have much to plan and do. Chasing after a naïve young woman isn't going to be part of our plan. But do not worry my young apprentice; Angela will come back to us in time." Sidious assured; Maul nodded his head at his master's word.
"You can run now Angela, but you can't hide. I will find you, and you will be mine!" Maul thought quietly in his mind.
