Chapter XVIII

Enemy

Rey stole a quick look at Kylo. It was amazing how little she actually knew about him when it came to everything outside of the First Order. She rarely saw him fly, but damn was he good at it. She wondered who had mentor him in his pilot lessons. Did the general teach him? Or was it from being Han Solo's son?

She decided she cared to know and wanted to ask. But the serious look on his face stopped her from uttering a word. So instead she watched him hoping he wouldn't notice.

She stared as his arm flexed when he moved to shift gears. Rey could vividly picture his bare hand as he gripped the shifter. He commanded the ship like he commanded everything else.

With precision and determination.

She couldn't help the heat that rose to her face as she swallowed. Yes. She kissed Kylo Ren. Multiple times. Yes. She liked it. Very much. The way his lips moved over hers, the way he sometimes would be patient and move slowly waiting for her to catch up; and at other times where he would demand her to keep up. Demand her to open herself to him and expose the most vulnerable parts of her soul. She hated it.

But she loved it too.

Though she had to remember.

What she was feeling was a fleeting emotion, one that would leave and come back. Tainted by all the wrong he had done.

He was ruthless, a killer. Harsh in some of the worst ways possible.

Kylo Ren killed people. Han, the servant boy, even his own soldiers.

"We've landed." His voice broke through her thoughts.

"Perfect." She ripped her gaze away from him and unbuckled her harness.

"You're staying on the ship with Senna." Kylo began unbuckling himself before turning to face her.

"No, I don't think so." Rey felt her anger rising, and something else as she took in the concern on his face. Trying very hard not to look down at his lips.

"I think you two need a minute." Rey could hear the laughter in Senna's voice as the knight stood and stretched, her joints popping as she made her way to the doors.

"I need you to stay here, Rey" Kylo's face softened, ever so slightly.

"No. I need this. I need me back." She lowered her voice which was threatening to break at any moment.

A thousand emotions flickered in his eyes. Anger. Sadness. Desperation. Fear. Understanding. Rey couldn't keep up. If she had learned anything at all about Kylo from her time with him, it was that his eyes were truly a window to his dark soul. And it seemed she was the only one who could decipher the complexity of it.

He stood his ground. Not making a single move to stand back or shift out of the way. Anxiety creeped up her spine. Screaming at her to move. To find him.

"I'm going, whether you like it or not." Rey lifted herself to the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek, so close to his mouth she felt the corner brush her lips.

His entire body froze. He didn't speak as Rey grabbed her weapon and pushed passed him.

Rey stopped before the exit of the ship, looking over her shoulder.

"Don't get in my way."

She turned and walked out, the sun blinding her momentarily as she breathed in the fresh air. Senna and the rest of the crew were waiting by the end of the loading ramp. It didn't take long before Kylo followed. He ordered his men to move forward and scan the perimeter as he descended down the ramp. He was all business now, the concern he had shown her earlier gone.

"We are wasting time, Marius is here and we need to move. Now." Rey reached for her lightsaber as she tried to push on ahead. She didn't get far before Kylo gripped her wrist.

"Wait. I need a clear signal before I let you go in there parading around." Kylo hissed at her, his face moving closer to hers. Rey stared him down, realizing that he had yet to let go of her. Kylo raised a finger to his lips, motioning her to be silent.

There was a moment of stillness as the men came back and reported an all clear for them to move forward. Kylo released Rey letting her move ahead. Senna kept a close eye on her as they entered the lush greenery that surrounded them. Rey could make out the abandoned building a distance away.

"This could be a trap." Senna cautioned. "We don't know if the resistance has him."

The closer Rey got to the building the lump in her throat grew. She knew she wasn't alone this time but that didn't change the fact that she remembered so vividly what had happened here. Just below her feet. Each step taking her closer to where her nightmares started. Closer to the man who made them happen. Closer to tearing through him even if it meant not making it out herself. She could already imagine her killing blow, could see the blood spill from him as he paid the ultimate price.

The thought of Marius dead gave her a rush of adrenaline and she pushed herself harder. The greenery blurring before her as the building began to tower over them, the doors quickly surging towards her as Rey refused to slow down. Just as she was about to reach forward and rip open the doors she was pulled back painfully.

The wind was knocked out of her, turning her head to look at who dared to stop her when she was so close. To say she was surprised when she looked up at Kylo's face would be a lie. She knew he would get in her way, knew he wouldn't take her threats seriously.

She wanted to hurt him. She could feel the rise of her anger again, ugly and searing. She struggled to get out of his grasp, elbowing him and clawing at his hand over her mouth.

Senna leaned against the wall inching closer to the door as she motioned the other troopers forward.

"Enough!" Kylo bit into her ear. Rey stopped struggling, not because she wanted to but because Kylo's grip on her tightened to the point where she couldn't breathe. When her struggling ceased, Kylo lifted his hand and placed it at her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Rey silently watched as Senna listened through the door for a minute before quickly opening and stepping in, two troopers following closely behind. Rey, Kylo and the rest of the troopers waited outside, listening for any movement or gunshots. When nothing came, another trooper got ready to go in as well before the door swung open and Senna's head popped out.

"This exit is all clear, can't say that for the rest of them though."

"Nothing we can do now. We have to keep this exit secured and proceed with caution." Rey knew she should feel guilty, ashamed even. But she couldn't bring herself to care as she watched Kylo disappear into the open door. She followed close behind him. They had entered in near the front of the building into a large open space. At the very back of the building the Resistance stood closely together with soldiers posted at three of the remaining exits.

Finn and Poe stood near the front of the group with a figure sitting in a chair in front of them, a bag covering his face.

Rey knew it was Marius simply by the way he sat. His arms were chained behind him but his body was relaxed. One leg casually crossed over the other as if he was waiting for them. Waiting for her, like he used to when she would wake up in the underground bunker.

Before a word was exchanged from either side, Poe ripped the bag off of Marius's head.

"Hello again, Kitten." His voice was raspy, as if he hadn't spoken in some time. His evil charismatic smile plastered all over his face.

Poe didn't hesitate before punching Marius in the face so hard it rocked him in his chair.

Kylo shifted in front of her, blocking Marius from her view as laughter erupted in the room.

"Pain feels good." Marius wheezed as he spit onto the floor. "Isn't that right Rey?"

"Shut up." This time Finn spoke. Rey tried to move around Kylo to look at Finn, but Kylo pressed his back to her to keep her hidden from view.

"I don't need your protection." Rey projected her voice into Kylo's mind.

"How many times have we gone through this. Your life, even the air you breathe is very important to me. I won't let you get hurt again. Not while I'm still breathing."

"This is your man, right?" Poe questioned as he took a fist full of Marius's hair and forced his head back, giving Kylo a good view of his enemy's face. Marius smiled, his blood-stained teeth giving him a nasty look.

"That is correct." Rey peered up at the back of Kylo's head, already picturing the intensity of his eyes as he spoke.

"Then our agreement still stands. Rey in exchange for him." Poe let go of Marius's head with a shove.

"Listen to me for once. Stay close to me. No matter what happens."

She was reluctant to listen, but when his hand reached behind him and grabbed a hold of hers, she felt a sudden wave of warmth wash over her. Rey watched closely as their fingers interlocked.

"Come on, Rey." Finn's voice spoke, desperation seeping into his words as he extended his hand out. Begging for her to come back with them. Her heart ached at the site. She wanted to come back she truly did, but the man in front of them was dangerous and would take the lives of everyone in the room just to get what he wanted. And she would never let Marius hurt them.

"You could do better than that." Marius voiced. "I think I'm worth much more than a want-to-be Jedi."

She quickly ripped her hand away. Panic was settling back in.

"Put the bag back on." Kylo hissed.

"You don't call the shots around here Ren." Poe shifted his weight from one leg to the other.

"Well well, look at the mouth on that one!" Marius hollered with a laugh as he stomped his feet. "You going to take that from him Supreme Leader?"

"They have no idea he is force sensitive."

Rey's head shot up. Pulling away from her self-destructing thoughts.

"What?"

"Your friends. They don't know."

Her eyes widened as she looked back up at Poe and Finn.

"Is no one going to start the fun?" Marius threw the question out to both sides, sliding his feet down until he slouched in his chair.

"Boss?" He questioned Kylo, his eyes glittering dangerously.

"That's why the Resistance was able to capture him. He did it on purpose to lure us all here."

"No.." Rey breathed out in horror.

"No? Nothing?" Marius shifted forward causing the chair to lean forward with him. He let the chair dropped and looked over his shoulder at Poe.

"Its all an act. Those shackles on him, cant restrain him from using the force. This was a trap to get rid of all of us. In one go."

"What about you, Pretty Boy?" Marius shifted his gaze to Poe.

Poe ignored his antics, keeping his eyes locked on Kylo.

"Alrighty then." Marius shrugged his shoulders.

A force wave suddenly erupted from Marius's body, sending everyone flying back. The building rumbled as it began to cave inwards, killing the resistance soldiers guarding the exits.

"Hold back!" She could hear Finn shouting orders. Debris and gun fire whirled all around her as she try to get up. Her vision and hearing slightly distorted from her head colliding with the wall behind her.

Kylo was by her side almost instantly, pulling her up to her feet.

Her eyes darted to the thin streak of blood that was visible on the side of his head.

Are you hurt anywhere?!

Rey shook her head quickly. Before she could utter a word he pulled her up to her feet and began running, stopping any incoming bullets from hitting them. It didn't take long to realize what Kylo was doing. He was taking her in the opposite direction Marius took off in. She planted her feet momentarily slowing him down. This only resulted in Kylo pulling her up and over his shoulder.

"What are you doing! We are losing him!" She screamed as she tried to fight her way free. She was losing time. This was her chance and she wasn't going to let it slip through her fingers. In a last-ditch effort to escape, she kneed his chest. He grunted, loosening his grip around her torso.

Rey managed to pull herself free from his grasp, sprinting as hard as she could after Marius. Knowing full well Kylo was right on her heels.

Her lungs burned, begging her to catch her breath but she couldn't, wouldn't stop. Even if it killed her.

Suddenly she felt firm hands around her. Rey lost her balance tumbling down with the person who held her in a locking hold. "It's too dangerous!" Senna shouted. Anger spiked through her veins as she watched Kylo pass her and continued the chase after Marius. She thrashed against the female knight. "I don't want to hurt you!" Rey bellowed out trying to push Senna off her.

Desperation was quickly spreading through her. She feared the anger inside her would soon swallow her whole.

"Rey!" Finn's voice boomed in her direction as he ran full force towards them, tackling the knight and freeing Rey.

She was on her feet again, running after Kylo.

Ahead of her he had caught up with Marius and the two shoved at each other with the force. The sheer intensity of their power had them flying back with Marius landing hard on the ground closer to her. Rey slowed down enough to safely draw her light saber but not slow enough to lose the momentum she had built.

Marius heaved as he stood up and watched as she barreled towards him.

To her horror Marius smiled at her, a warm and inviting smile, and opened his arms to her.

"Come to me, Kitten!"

Rey roared as she charged and swiped at him nearly cutting off his extended arm but missed. He expertly shifted back and knocked her arm up, using her own momentum to loose her balance. Rey crashed to the ground, her grip on her saber lost as it skidded away from her.

"Has he tired of you already, kitten?"

Around and around he went, circling her. Rey scurried to her feet calling the light saber back.

Her sense of hope vanished as she watched Marius catch it midflight, smiling at her as if he knew something she didn't.

He twisted the weapon in his hands, admiring it slowly. "You know, this could be a whole lot different for you. I really don't want your death on my conscious. Killing such a pretty girl like yourself isnt exactly earning brownie points in my book you see."

He took a step closer.

"You could help me wipe out the first order and resistance and create something better. More powerful under one sole ruler."

Rey watched him intently as he continued to speak. She could feel the droplets of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Your a smart girl. What do you say?"

"Never." She choked out.

Kylo's roar echoed from across the field. He was coming. Running in their direction but she didn't dare risk looking away from Marius.

He glanced behind her gesturing towards Kylo.

"Pity, I do have a question though, Kitten."

He stepped even closer, arming the lightsaber.

"Be honest and tell me. Does he make you scream like I do?"

Rey felt the color drain from her face. Her body stopped on its' own accord as she remembered what she tried so hard to forget. It became hard for her to breathe as she tried to regain control of her body, some semblance of control so that Marius couldn't see what he had done to her. What strength she had lost to him. But as she stared at his haunting face the reality of what she lost hit her so hard her chest nearly caved in from the force of it.

She was never going to get herself back from him, from what he did and how he broke her. She was never going to be what she was before him. It was always going to be a before and after. It was always going to be what she lost and never what she gained. The weight settled on her and she slowly began to sink to her knees. She tried to get angry, tried to summon the rage but couldn't. Tried to summon anything at all so make her feel something, but nothing came. Only emptiness.

"Ahh so now you see it, don't you?" Marius reached out with his free hand, combing through her loose hair.

"He will never be me, Kitten. I'll always have power over you." Marius shifted his hand down, tightening it around her throat.

Rey reached up and gripped at his hand as she finally realized what was happening to her, what he was doing.

Her vision was beginning to darken when she heard a lightsaber swing in their direction. She felt the pressure suddenly released from her throat as she fell to her knees. Gasping for air, her eyes watered as she coughed and heaved. Rey felt hands grab a hold of her and she looked up in terror expecting Marius but instead seeing Kylo.

"What are you DOING?!" He raged pulling her up from the collar of her tunic. Rey didn't have an answer for him. She was still trying to process everything.

"Fight back! Damn you, FIGHT BACK!"

Rey registered what he was saying and could see the fury in his eyes, feel it in the bite of his words. Inside she felt something stirring in her. A fire that she thought was diminished by Marius's words.

Panic reached her face as she noticed Marius running straight for them. Lifting the lightsaber to cut them down.

Kylo turned around, blocking Marius's incoming attack from behind.

She felt a sudden push from the force and landed a few meters away. Hitting the ground with a hard thud on her back. She cried out as she tried to sit up. Pain coursed through her, covering every inch of her body.

The entire field was hazy. Smoke covered everything as it pumped from the clashes of the roaring lightsabers. She could barely see in front of her. Only the flashes of red and blue that sliced through the thick smoke. She began making her way towards the lights, holding her right side as she coughed violently.

She wiped the speckles of blood from her mouth and pushed forward.

Once she reached the center, the smoke cleared, revealing both men still standing.

Marius was breathing heavy and wiping sweat from his face. His smile gone, not even the quirk of his lip was present. He looked at Kylo with so much hate, so much animosity that Rey was forced to wonder why.

"Your childish behavior ended up costing me everything Ben. And not just me, everyone at the temple that day." Marius spoke through gritted teeth.

"It was your choice, Alvis. Just like it was for everybody. I don't regret the decisions I've made in the past." Kylo spat his words with the same venom as Marius.

Alvis?

"I should take your Elizabeth. Like you took mine. An eye for an eye?" He lifted the lightsaber pointing it straight to Rey.

Marius was Alvis?

"If you touch her, I will kill you so slowly and painfully you'd wish I left you on that temple to burn with her." Kylo shifted looks from Rey to Marius.

Marius turned his body to face Rey.

"There really isn't much for me to lose, Ren. I already lost everything that day you decided to join Snoke. But as for you. You have everything to lose."

"Rey!" Kylo voice rang in her ears as she watched him throw his lightsaber to her. It whipped past Marius before she caught it, blocking his killing blow last minute.

Marius blinked down at her as she shoved him back and swung.

He did not hold back as he came at her full force. She gained a few cuts as she tried to parry and stay on the defensive. At one point, Rey left her right side unguarded and saw Marius's swing too late but before he could cut into her Kylo blocked the hit, forcing Marius's lightsaber up and out of his hand. Unfortunately both her and Kylo did not see the hidden blade that Marius unsheathed from his arm bracer. Kylo was not quick enough to dodge the blow that came his way. Rey gasped and stumbled back as blood sprayed into her face, Kylo clutching at his neck as blood seeped through his fingers. It took Rey a moment to realize that the screams she could hear were her own.

Kylo shot his free arm forward, knocking the blade from his hand and sending Marius's flying back.

He crashed into the tree nearly fifteen feet away, a sickening crack reverberated around them.

Kylo collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. She ran to him, grabbing hold of his head before it hit the ground. He mumbled her names a few times before she watched his eyes begin to roll back. Her tears trickled down her face landing onto his, rolling down his jaw. She watched as her tears disappeared into the bloody mess under his hand.

"Don't you dare die on me." she choked out wiping her tears back with her arm. His blood was everywhere. She clutched him tight burring her face into his chest. Making sure to continue to put pressure on his neck.

It almost has seemed like the world stood still. She could only hear her harsh breathing and Kylo's faint heartbeat against his chest. She shut her eyes. "Don't stop beating. Please. Fight Ben. Fight."

She began to hear voices around her. Calling to her. Empress! Are you alright? Supreme leader!

She pulled her head up when she noticed flashes of white all around her. Storm troopers where pulling her up to her feet while a few others where already caring Kylo.

"He still has a pulse! Get him to the ship!"

Hes going to be ok. Ben is going to live.

The reality of her environment hit her like a wave.

Marius is still breathing.

Her head whipped around to the last spot she saw his body hit the tree. There he was, lying on the ground. A number of troopers were guarding him. She ripped her arms free from the trooper who had pulled her up and ran towards the body.

"We have this under control Empress." A trooper raised his hand up. Keeping her from coming any closer.

"Move." Rey commanded.

A few troopers exchange looks before stepping aside quickly.

She bend down examining the body. Marius was still alive but he was paralyzed. His limps twisting in different directions. A moment of satisfaction washed over her as she breathed out.

"Now look who is broken now."

Marius eyes slowly shifted to her. "I suppose your right Kitten." He struggled to speak. His lip only curled up half way, making it apparent he was paralyzed on half his face.

He was broken all over. She didn't even have to lift a finger. He was going to die regardless from his injuries. But that wasn't the outcome she wanted for him. She stood up lifting her hand. Kylo's lightsaber flew into her open hand. She immediately ignited it staring at the roaring red energy that thirst for vengeance. Her vengeance. She lifted the weapon over her head. Staring straight into Marius's eyes. His life was already slipping away. The blue turning into a muddy colored.

"I've always known..you would be the one to do it. Not my comrades, not my enemies, not even Ben Solo. But you. The one to give me what I have always wanted. To see her again."

Rey swiped down. Ending him in a quick blow.

She disarmed the saber, clipping it back to her belt.

"Your welcome."

~To be Continued~

AN: It has been a hot minute! Thank you guys so much for all the support and feedback. Upcoming chapters will be coming soon.