Christa stood on the veranda twisting her hair into a braid. It was only two nights ago that she had stood there with Obi-Wan, wrapped in his arms on her wedding night. On the night of her wedding to another man.
Now that man was dead because shetricked her lover into killing him. What was happening to her? Is this love? Destructive? Possessive? And Obsessive? All things she had simultaneously become?
She couldn't help herself. She couldn't stop herself from thinking about him. Was Obi-Wan Kenobi coming back? Why wouldn't he? The attraction was there. He couldn't resist her. Why would he stay away? He needed to understand their connection, their history. Did he love her? Could he love her? Jedi weren't allowed to love, but then again he could always leave the Jedi Order, she mused.
Christa sighed and images of their night of passion flashed in her mind. Her face flushed as she tried to shut the images out, for they caused her to feel too much. Guilt, look at what she'd done to Broq. More guilt, look at what she'd done to Kaivo. Andpain, look how much she missed him already.
Still, the memory of their night was permanently etched in her mind. If he never came back, what would she do?
Christa felt hot as fever suddenly flooded her veins. The view before her, and the cloudless blue sky began to blur. And just as she realized she was going to pass out, a hand reached out of the darkness to touch her on the shoulder. She spun around.
"Kaivo!" Christa exclaimed, wishing he were Obi-Wan instead. The tall Correllian stood before her.
"Surprised to see me?" he drawled.
He saw that her face had blanched considerably, even before she had been made aware of his presence. Perhaps there was a conscience in that thick head of hers after all.
He gripped her arm. "Let me help you," he said.
They left the veranda and Kaivo escorted her to the couch. He pulled her feet onto the cushions and kneeled before her. He needed a clear look into her eyes even though they spaced in and out. She'd come to eventually. She always did.
He tapped the side of cheek with his open palm. "Christa?"
She looked at Kaivo. He could see her pupils dilating as he came into focus.
"You okay?"
"Why? You want me awake when you kill me?"
"Kill you?" Kaivo laughed. "Because you betrayed me, again?"
"I didn't betray you-"
"Stop. It all went to plan," he said, standing before her.
Christa sat up, peering at him from lazy fevered eyes.
"Plan?" She whispered.
"I saw Maldrea. She told me everything."
Maldrea was a two hundred year-old healer with the gift of foresight.
"You believed that old fool?" Christa asked.
"She's right ninety-nine percent of the time. I know that, and so do you. I took a chance, but it was worth it. I don't believe in fate," he said, sitting next to Christa on the couch as she slid her feet from the cushions to the floor. "My future belongs to me. I decide how it ends."
"What did she say?"
"She said, you'd fall in love with a Jedi and betray me. That you'd betray Runei."
Christa's eyes fell to the floor. "Is it over now?"
Kaivo nodded.
"And Broq?"
"Dead, I suppose."
Christa stood, and Kaivo was at her side, hand on her shoulder.
"Do you love him?" Kaivo asked.
"I can't help it," she answered, turning her back on him.
"Snap out of it, before it destroys you." Before I destroy you, Kaivo thought.
As long as she wanted the Jedi, the threat of what Maldrea predicted would never end. He loved Christa, but given a choice between him or her, he'd choose her. "I forgive you Christa. I realize your actions are beyond your control at this point. It's all connected to your fate somehow. And mine. But we need to conquer this thing before it destroys us both. Talk to Maldrea."
Everything is happening because of you! Christa thought. Because of what you did to me!
Christa's mind flashed back to Coruscant some twenty years ago. The fire, the ships, the Shroon house… and Obi-Wan.
"I'll go to her now," for once the old woman might be of some use.
Kaivo walked toward her change closet and handed her a robe.
"What-"
"Your face is deathly pale. The fever might come back."
Christa wrapped the cloak about her shoulders and left the suite. Maldrea would tell her everything she needed to know. Everything she needed to know about Obi-Wan and their future.