To AmandaLee31: Thanks for reading. Yeah, I freely admit it has taken me far too long to write this story, but regardless I intend to see it through to the end, even if by then I'm the only one reading it. :P
To A BIG FAN: Here's your update. Sorry it took so long. :)
To Liz: Thanks! :)
To the two guests: Big thanks to both of you! :)
I
With eyes closed and legs crossed in the lotus position, Starfire continued her meditation. She breathed deep, relaxed her muscles and found her center. Azerath Metrion Zinthos, the mantra Raven had taught her all those years ago drifted past her lips, disrupting her conscious mind and bringing distinction to her thoughts. Sitting there in the far corner of the room, she recalled everything Raven had taught her about finding inner peace. She recalled feeling herself creeping dangerously close to the edge last time. She couldn't allow that. Above all things she needed to remain calm.
II
Starfire was completely and utterly drained. Her head was pounding and her body ached almost as much as her heart. It was over now, and the guards were not wasting any time. Following quickly on the heels of Kessa'd's last order they came for her. Taking her roughly under the arms they dragged her out the main entrance and down the corridor. Lacking the strength to even raise her head let alone fight back, she instead did nothing, merely allowed herself to be lead as her feet dragged uselessly behind her.
The criminal justice system on Tamaran was not what one would call complicated. Any contention was brought before the Grand Ruler. Arguments were made, guilt was determined and sentences were carried out, all within a very short time period. Death and banishment were the two most enforced methods of punishment, but in case either of them did not feel appropriate, the rare third option meant bringing the guilty party down into the depths of the palace, to the Holes.
The Holes were found in the center of the palace, deep in the heart of the mountain itself and far, far away from where any sunlight could reach; and for any freedom loving Tamaranean they were a nightmare best not experienced. They were Starfire's next destination.
As the guards dragged her closer, Starfire could not help but notice as more and more of the palace changed around them. Like a dream fleeing in the face of the morning sun, the class and refinement she had known so well seemed to slip away. Jagged rock and stone took the place of fine marble; finely woven rugs and clean draperies disappeared entirely, and dirt and grime began to consume every inch. The air became dank and the floor slick with a thin layer of condensation, and soon she found herself at the tail end of a long, dark corridor faced before several twelve foot deep pits. These were the Holes. This was her fate.
The guards showed no hesitation. Like a piece of garbage, they disposed of her, tossed her in the nearest pit without a care. Starfire barely had time to scream as the floor disappeared from under her only to race up and smack her shoulders and hips with unapologetic force. A pained wheeze escaped her throat. She groaned and her fingernails scraped stone as she struggled to right herself.
"Shouldn't we give her some light?" asked one of the guards above her.
"Nah. Let her sit in the darkness for a while," said the other.
A thick stone slab was set into place over the hole, and what little light filtered in from the main room fled in a heartbeat. She was all alone now and in total darkness. Tired, hurt, weak, and without hope. It had been a long time since she'd tasted true despair.
III
She winced slightly as the sound of the lock being thrown and the door suddenly swinging open rang in her ears. Ignoring the commotion the best she could, keeping her eyes closed, she continued her breathing, continued her chanting as the quartet of guards entered.
As always none of them spoke. Without a single word they went about their work. They were like a well oiled machine in their execution. With the utmost efficiency, each of them carried out his or her task. One carried the table, another the chairs and the final two the food and drink. Everything was laid out with precise, almost immaculate placement in the center of the room without a hint of wasted effort. Once they were finished, the four of them took their places on either side of the door, stood themselves at attention and waited patiently for inspection. Once properly dismissed the troop made their exit, closing the door and relocking it behind them.
Throughout the entire operation Starfire had remained completely transfixed on her meditation.
"Are you alright?"
The question appeared to be asked with genuine sincerity.
Uncrossing her legs, Starfire climbed to her feet. "I am," she answered plainly, straightening the pleats in her skirt. She was back to proletariat garb these days, the same kind of outfit she wore on Earth. Under different circumstances she may have felt a sense of nostalgia.
"There was something about the way you looked. You appeared strange."
"I assure you it is nothing. Call me a slave to my thoughts. I simply did not hear you enter. Do not worry yourself, my lord."
Appearing satisfied with this explanation, Kessa'd nodded in understanding and gestured to the table behind him, saying, "Dinner is ready."
IV
Starfire could not say for certain how long she was sequestered. She barely had the strength to raise her head when there came a rumbling from the ceiling, the unmistakable grinding sound of rock on rock as the slab was moved out of position. As the dim light of the main room crept in, she looked up to find a pair of figures descending upon her. With no energy to stand, they took her by the arms and lifted her out.
Disoriented from her stay in the Holes, she offered no resistance. After a while her vision cleared, and her mind began to regain focus, and she realized she was being escorted to another part of the palace, eventually brought before a room a bit outside from where the main corridor leading to the Holes was located. More guards waited there, standing just on either side of the door, weapons in hand. She began to panic. Her stay in the hole had been terrible, but this, the unknown, she somehow feared it even more. What would happen next? What horrible fate lay before her? She wanted to get away as fast as she could, but unsurprisingly her body offered no aid. She could do nothing against the iron grip of her captors as the door before her opened and she was unceremoniously shoved inside.
Lying on the floor, Starfire struggled to raise her head. Alone again, she examined her surroundings. The room was small and expressionless. The walls were as bare as the floor. There was only one thing of interest; that was a hole in the ceiling in the center of the room. The hole was nowhere near wide enough the squeeze through, but plenty wide enough to allow a thin stream of sunlight to come cascading down towards the floor.
Starfire could hardly believe her eyes. It had felt like years since she'd tasted the gentle kiss of natural light and she sought it out desperately, crawling on her hands and knees across the cold floor to the tiny patch of warm. Looking to the light and closing her eyes, she sighed in relief, smiled with pleasure, as her body went about lapping up all the rays it could. Lying on her back she raised her hand and let the lovely rays dance in between her fingers. The aches and pains of solar depravation left her, and she could feel her body beginning to right itself.
Before she could feel any of her powers start returning, however, the guards at the door came for her once more, seized hold of her and dragged her away. They fastened her wrists with a pair of great chains before gagging and blindfolding her, covering her entire head with a rancid brown sack. Feeling stronger and more collected, this time she fought back, albeit briefly. She struggled only long enough for them to lose their patience with her, long enough to feel the blunt force of a spear butt in her abdomen. The fight left her soon after that as they took her away.
V
As always Kessa'd wore his military ensemble, weapons and all. He did not put on any formalities for her sake. In another life, in another time, she might have respected that. As he stood with his feet together and his hands crossed behind his back, Starfire's eyes lingered on his armor, on the energy spear at his back and the dagger hanging at his hip.
Kessa'd smiled almost shyly as he went to his place at the seat closest to the door. "I decided to have the chef prepare something special for you this time. Your favorite: Roasted glondarc."
"Sounds lovely," answered Starfire, her tone soft.
Kessa'd took his seat and calmly, respectfully, Starfire went to join him. Before sitting she bowed at him graciously, the way any servant would before their Grand Ruler. She appeared chaste and humble. These actions seemed to please Kessa'd as another small smile flashed upon his face and he gestured to her seat, giving her permission to join him.
Just as Kessa'd had said, a generous helping of glondarc lay before her. Thick and juicy, the slab of reddish meat sat soaking in a pool of gravy. Alongside it, in a large serving dish, was a family sized serving of g'hlus, a light blue confection not far removed from Earth pudding in texture. And to drink a large chalice of cak'l juice. They were in fact all of Starfire's favorite foods. It was far better than anything she'd been given in quite some time; it was a lovely meal. And also highly suspicious.
"May I ask," said Starfire after a moment, "what makes this particular visit so special?"
Kessa'd raised a finger in mock disapproval. "Ah, ah, ah," he said. "Mustn't go ruining the surprise. Just enjoy it for now."
Starfire sat idle for a few moments, just long enough to seem polite but not strange. She then brought her fingers to her plate, tore a piece of meat and began to eat. Kessa'd mirrored her actions and for a few minutes the two of them ate in silence.
VI
The brief visit to the solar room had given Starfire enough of her faculties back to recognize where she was. In her mind she could see the room with the small hole and its relation to the rest of the palace. Feeling a bit of her confidence returning, she paid close attention as the guards lead her to her next destination. She forced them to drag her, and observed each change in direction as she went along, letting her dragging feet serve as her compass. From what she could gather she was being taken back to the west wing, towards the far end where the bedrooms were. Eventually she heard the sound of a lock being thrown, a door being opened, and the next thing she knew the chains were removed and the hard floor greeted her once more.
Ripping the sack from her head, climbing to her knees, she turned just in time to see the door slamming shut. Racing to the exit, she grabbed at the handles and pulled with all her might. They heavy door did not even rattle. Letting her anger boil over she began pounding on the door, incoherent shouts bursting forth from her mouth like a busted faucet. Still, her efforts were all in vain. She was still weak and all the confidence in the world would not free her. Gasping in frustration, punching the wood one last time, she spun on her heels, slammed her back against the door and slid down into a sitting position.
Catching her breath, collecting her thoughts, she observed her surroundings. There were no windows and dark purple curtains were hung along every wall in a lame attempt to make what was obviously a store room appear more hospitable. A light fixture hung from the ceiling. A sleep pad rested at the far end of the room, and there was a dresser with a vanity mirror she recognized as being from her own chambers, along with a small bookcase.
After circling the room several times, tracing her fingers along every wall, inspecting every corner, and making absolutely certain that there was no way out, she settled down into the sleep pad. Why she was taken from the dank confines of the Holes and put here she hadn't the faintest clue. Whatever the reason she supposed, one way or another she would find out. In the meantime fatigue weighed heavy on her eyelids and the soft material of the sleep pad was calling to her.
She slept for several hours. Eventually she was torn from her slumber by the sound of the lock. Her eyes snapped open; she cast her eyes in the direction of the door. Kessa'd filled the entryway, guards on either side of him. Strangely his eyes appeared gentle and his stance was none threatening. He entered and the guards followed, carrying with them a table, several trays of food, and even a fresh change of clothes. Starfire, taken aback by the sudden intrusion, was mere moments away from finding her voice when Kessa'd spoke.
"Good day," he said pleasantly. "I was hoping you would join me for dinner."
VII
"You look lovely," said Kessa'd eventually.
Starfire nodded graciously, said, "I thank you."
"I sent you some new literature. Did you see?"
Again she nodded. "Yes, thank you. It was very thoughtful of you."
"You seem troubled. Is something wrong?"
Starfire had to bite her lip. Her attempts to remain calm were marred by a burning desire to answer as honestly as possible. "No," she answered at last. "Nothing is wrong." She looked him in the eye. "Is there anything troubling you?"
Kessa'd tore a piece of meat and ate it, ignoring the question entirely. "You know I overheard a few of my scouts having the most interesting conversation the other day," he said after a beat. "Apparently one of them, while out doing some reconnaissance, he was flying around the east corner - you are going to find this so funny - when a tri-winged K'riegle came swooping in and...
"Kessa'd," said Starfire suddenly, bringing his story to a halt. She rested her hands down on either side of her plate. Interrupting him perhaps wasn't the best way to start, but if the meal was any indication she may have been running out of time. Looking the man in the eye, she said, "I wish to see my baby."
Kessa'd's frowned at his plate, and his hands dropped sharply to the table. His gaze met hers and his bad eye flashed with anger.
"Why must you always ruin this?"
"It is not my wish to ruin anything. I was simply hoping..."
"I told you, the child is safe."
"I am aware of that, but it does not change my feelings. I want to see her. She is my daughter! You cannot simply ask me to forget about her!" Despite her best efforts to keep it subdued, Starfire's anger began to rise. Her fingers curled into fists and her eyes glared hard at the man sitting across from her.
"I have everything well in hand. And I have great plans in store for both of us. Until then, however, I would ask that you not trouble me with things that are not any of your concern."
Kessa'd's last words were like a canon shot in Starfire's ears, signaling the beginning of battle. Her anger boiled over; her resolve disappeared. In a fit of fire and rage she leapt across the table, sending plates and their contents scattering to the floor. Screaming, she lunged at the startled man before her, her sudden attack causing him to recoil in his chair and fall onto his back. She went for his throat and face. She wanted to hurt him in the worst way. And then she wanted to try and top it.
But for all her fire and brimstone her strength was simply not there. Her blows had no effect, and Kessa'd's flesh offered no give. She was an ant fighting an eagle. There was no hope for victory.
Kessa'd anger was clear on his face as he answered Starfire's attack. Effortlessly he threw from her place astride him, sending her launching back through the air. He pinned her to the wall, and his hand roughly gripped the bottom of her jaw.
Through her pain, Starfire kept her defiance. "You are a monster," she sneered. "No better than the beasts that roam the wild lands."
"I've spent many a night protecting you from those beasts, and this is my payment? I could have left you to rot in the Holes; instead I took you up, fed you, clothed you, gave you far more than you deserved!"
"For what? To win my approval? Did you really expect me to sing your praises after what you've taken from me?"
"It was your deception that created this situation. I simply wished you to show me some respect. I am your Emperor!"
"You are a child who knows he's done wrong. And now you seek approval and forgiveness when you know you've done nothing to earn it. That is your deception! That and this...this fantasy world you've created for yourself."
"You lied to me!"
"And you lie to yourself!"
Kessa'd trembled with anger as his teeth ground together and the words, "I despise you!" hissed past his teeth.
"Then why do you keep me here?"
"What would you have me do? Banish you? Banish you so that you may return to that backwater planet? Return to whatever pitiful creature it was that defiled you and created that...that halfling?"
"You have no right to speak of either of them that way."
Kessa'd's face was mere inches from her own as he whispered harshly the words, "I have all the right I need."
All at once, Kessa'd released his grip, and Starfire fell to the floor. Leaving her where she sat, he went to the door. He knocked and it immediately opened for him. "Sunrise is coming," he said ominously. "You had best learn to appreciate me before then." And with that he made his exit.
In the back of her mind, Starfire had already known the futility of her actions. She had grown accustomed to her new limitations and as a result knew she had to go elsewhere if she had any hope of escaping. Her moment would come, she simply needed to wait for it. Grayson had taught her that. And while the visit had not gone exactly as she intended, still she at long last had what she needed.
With a quiet reserve, Starfire studied the energy dagger, the one she'd managed to lift from Kessa'd's sheath in the midst of their argument. Holding the weapon by the hilt, she clenched her teeth and concentrated. She focused and after a few seconds the blade of the weapon began to glow green with energy. Her current state kept her from forming starbolts on her own, but with this weapon she was a viable threat once more. She relaxed and the blade returned to its normal metallic shine.
Kessa'd's time was coming: of this she was certain.