Chapter 75: The Darth and the Dead Girl
She stood before the mirror, it was long, six feet tall, and showed off her full figure, and yet, she no longer recognized the person staring back at her.
It was familiar, true, but it was still the face of a stranger.
She did not understand.
It was not just the beautiful gown or the style of her hair, it was not the perfume or the make-up that made her seem…older than she was.
No, this was something different.
This was something…in the Force.
Her master had commanded that they complement each other tonight, His dress robes were colored a deep read with black highlights, and the shoulder plates marking him as a full Darth were as white as bone and polished to a mirror shine.
Crimson had always been the color of the truly loyal in the Empire. The Emperor's guard wore crimson armor, and most of the Darth's on the council had robes with a crimson hem, or cloaks of blood red fabric.
Tonight, Darth Feer finally stood as one of them; he intended to dress the part. He intended to appear to be a perfect and loyal servant of the Empire.
Avaryss, of course, knew the truth.
Her master was many things…perfectly loyal had never been one of them.
As for herself she found herself in a gown of the finest crimson shimmer silk. It was sleeveless and cut low in back to show off her tattoo, with a white half cape to hide much of the saber burn across her shoulders.
A scar was often seen as a sign of weakness in the Empire.
Darth Feer intended for her to show no weakness tonight. She was his first servant, the closest thing he had to a daughter.
He wanted her to be perfect. He wanted their enemies to see that perfection and be moved to envy by it.
Avaryss held up her hands. She wore gloves that matched the gown; the red silken gloves were long and covered her arms up to her elbow. They were meant to hide her new arm, once again, to show no weakness.
Avaryss did not see the loss as a weakness; she had bled and sacrificed for her people.
An arm lost in battle was the least that she could offer.
Her hair was done up in the finest and most popular style held by two long and delicate silver needles. Her eyes and cheeks were painted, her lips colored a lovely royal purple.
No Sith wound dare think her anything but desirable. She was, at that moment, the poster child for what was considered beautiful within the Empire.
Yet, she could not shake the feeling that something was amiss.
She could not deny that something was wrong with her.
She stared into the mirror, trying to get an idea of what that might be. She reached out with the Force, trying to sense if anything had changed within her.
She felt no difference, not in the way she feared.
That discovery should have put her at ease, but it did not.
She looked into the mirror her eyes cold and demanding.
"Who are you," she asked, "What do you want from me?"
It had been a rhetorical question; of course, she had not expected an answer; so it came as a great surprise when her reflection shifted position, her posture changed.
The image in the mirror smiled, thought Avaryss wore no smile herself.
"How about you let me have my body back, Avy," her reflection said coldly, "that would be most helpful."
Avaryss started, those words…they had not been spoken with a Dromund Kaas accent. The speaker had spoken in the familiar drawl of an Oridanna citizen.
Avaryss glared at the girl in the mirror.
"Go away Keera," she said, "You are neither wanted, nor needed here."
"If only I could," Keera Lylos sighed, shaking her head.
She looked down at the gown she was wearing and made a face.
"You think this is what mother looked like when she was my age?" she asked the Sith, "Not that mother could have ever afforded such a grand gown. If she did though, I'm sure father would have taken notice."
She gave Avaryss a sly smile.
"It is not the easiest thing to think about is it? Parents being young and falling in love, no kid wants to think about that, to acknowledge that it happened, but they had to have fallen in love at some point. If they had not, we would not be here. Would we?"
"This isn't real," Avaryss growled.
"Oh it is, trust me."
"You were weak, and I destroyed you. I became Avaryss to be free of you, to be rid of you, to think otherwise is madness, and I'm not mad."
"Of course you are mad," Keera responded, "Don't you remember the forgotten tomb on Korriban, what we faced there. You embraced your madness once, and it made you strong enough to survive that most dangerous trial. I went away after that, I was no longer strong enough to stay."
Keera grinned triumphantly.
"But you changed all that Avy. You decided to be Keera for Beric. You chose to be Keera for Fenn, not that I blame you. He really is…enchanting isn't he?"
Her smile turned sly.
"I'd say anything to sweet talk such a man into my bed too; I don't blame you for that."
"Go back to your grave," Avaryss hissed.
"No."
"You will find no power here. You will fade away again."
"You've already given me all the power I needed to come back," Keera reminded her, "and now that I'm here I will not simply be silent, not anymore."
Keera glared at the young Sith, her anger flashing in her eyes.
"You should have let my assassins kill Darth Feer. I've waiting too long to see him fall."
Avaryss' eyes widened, she realized something.
"Your assassins? It was you that forced me to go to the Rist. It is you that wanted me to throw my life away on such a feeble attempt?!"
"I've been waiting almost two years for you to finally end this, to finally pull the trigger and kill the evil old fool, and yet he still draws breath."
Keera shook her head.
"What do you think you are doing Avy?"
Avaryss' hands curled into fist, her rage rising.
This…this…what was happening did not make sense.
Keera was never a separate entity; she had simply been a name that Avaryss had discarded.
She could not do this.
She could not simply come back!
"I'm not listening to this madness," she declared, "Not anymore! I chose to leave you behind long ago. I now know who my allies and enemies are. I will continue to do what is best for me."
She sneered at her reflection.
"You have no power over me Keera, not anymore!"
"Is that what you think?" Her reflection asked, "If that is so, then you have nothing to worry about, but what about Fenn?"
Avaryss eyes' narrowed.
"What about Fenn?
Keera smiled again.
"It is me that Fenn wants. It is my body that he wants to touch, my lips that he wants to kiss. He says nothing about wanting Avaryss does he? He does not even think you really exist."
"A lie," Avaryss spat.
"And yet, he never uses your real name, does he, Avy? He doesn't even call you by the pet name that Taya uses. Neither does Beric for that matter."
Keera laughed cruelly.
"Avaryss was never real, you were never real. You think that I'm the mask, but it is you that are the illusion, you are the mask that I hid behind."
Keera stepped towards the mirror, her reflection grew larger, her features crueler.
"I won't be hiding anymore, Avy. You will never be rid of me. I'm back to take back everything you believe to be yours. You have messed up my life for the last time.
"I'll be taking back the controls, Avy. It is your time to step back and fade away."
Avaryss laughed at that.
"Foolish girl, do you honestly think you can surpass me. Me? Avaryss was born to lead, born to ascend to the height of the Empire. Keera could never have done that.
"She doesn't have the skills."
"Maybe," Keera said with a slight nod, "But I will have Fenn, and that is more annoying to you than anything else, isn't it?"
Avaryss' smile faltered.
"He will never be yours, she spat.
"His heart says otherwise, it is Keera's name that he moans when he kisses you, not Avy."
"HE IS MINE," Avaryss growled, "He will be my consort. He will lay with me, and I will have his babies!"
"Yeesh," Keera said looking disgusted, "Never thought that any part of me would want that. Kids are great and all, but they are better when they go home with their parents at the end of the day."
Avaryss red eyes flashed.
"And that…is why you will never succeed. I'm dedicated to our future, while you are just a part of my past. I will claim everything that I desire, and you will fade away, a bad dream born of weakness and indecision."
Her reflection scowled at her.
"I'll never stop fighting you for control, Avy," Keera promised, "Every decision you make will be suspect. I will give you no amount of rest. I will be in your head constantly. I will be the annoying voice in the back of your head. I will be relentless and intimidating, and far crueler than you could ever hope to be."
Keera sneered.
"It was my pain and loss that first drove us to the dark side, that pain, that loss is my power, mine. I will use it to reclaim what is mine. Your minions, your title, even Fenn, it will all belong to me."
A feral snarl escaped Avaryss' lips, she almost pulled her lightsaber and drove it through the mirror, drove it through Keera's smirking face!
"I will stop you," Avaryss hissed.
"I will destroy you."
"You can try," Keera said, stepping back, a pleased smile on her face, "But you will soon realize that I'm not so easily slain. Your lightning, your spells, and your weapons are nothing to me. You can't stop me Avy, I'm you."
She laughed.
"And you are just a girl talking to herself in the mirror."
Avaryss roared.
She put her metallic fist through the mirror glass, the Force enhanced punch, shattered the mirror into a hundred small pieces.
It was likely only her imagination but Avaryss could almost hear Keera Lylos laughing in the many falling shards, taunting her enemy…the shadow of who she truly was.
Avaryss looked down at her hand, she could see glass shards stuck between her fingers, and the fabric of her shimmer silk gloves was tore, revealing the white metal plates.
Fortunately she had used her left hand and not her right.
She looked down at her hand with an angry hiss. She could not feel the glass shards, of course, but at that moment, a sensation, a burning phantom pain ran up her arm, angering her even further.
The door chimed, and she heard a servant over the comm, asking if she was okay, if she needed assistance.
Avaryss sighed and shook her head. Slowly, carefully, she pulled the glass shards out of her artificial knuckles.
"It is nothing," she told her servant, "I tripped and knocked over the mirror. I will need someone to come and clean it up."
The servant acknowledged her request; in the meantime Avaryss peeled over her ruined red glove, the fabric had been shredded when she punched the mirror.
Fortunately, Darth Feer's people had sent her a white set of gloves as well. They would match her cape, and none would be the wiser when they saw them.
She checked the chrono on the wall; she still had an hour before the ceremony. Before Darth Feer came to collect her.
She closed her eyes and reached out with the Force. She tried to sense Fenn, to contact him through the Force. He had not spoken with her once since her escape, and despite several attempts on her part, had never reached out when she tried to speak with him.
What has happened, she wondered.
Was something wrong?
She feared that Fenn might have been punished for letting her go.
Perhaps he was no longer a Jedi; perhaps they had locked him up, fearing that he was a threat or a traitor.
But…they couldn't do that, she felt panic at the very thought, Fenn was no traitor.
He did not deserve to be punished for letting her go; she had given him little choice. He had had innocent lives to worry about.
Surely those lives had been more important than stopping her.
"You waste your time worrying," Keera's voice said in a mockingly sweet tone.
"Fenn cares nothing about you. It is me that he wants."
"It is you that is nothing Avy. You will always be nothing.
Avaryss growled; it was a cruel sound, one that even Shyra Viel would have been intimidated by.
We will see, shutta, she thought.
We will just see!
She stormed out of the room. She went to go find her master.
She had no desire to be alone, not if it meant hearing Keera's taunts and threats.
There is nothing to fear, the darkness whispered, what you are experiencing, it is nothing.
You are Avaryss of the Sith, nothing can change that.
Give me time; Keera seemed to whisper in her ear.
We will see about that.
IOI
Avaryss said nothing to her master about what she had experienced in her quarters. To be honest, she still did not believe it herself.
Clad in his own crimson robes, with his Darth's shoulder plates, Darth Feer was, at that moment, a symbol of wealth and power, and all that a Darth should be.
Yet, he was not all knowing, that was for sure.
He could not sense her troubled mind.
Perhaps that was as much is fault as it was hers.
He could not see.
That…may yet prove to be his downfall.
I should tell him, but…but…
She frowned.
It would not have mattered if she had told him.
Lord Feer was flying high.
The Jedi and Republic could have attacked and it would not have been enough to spoil her master's good mood.
All he saw was what they had won, the successes they had had.
He would not be distracted by anything or anyone.
You should have let the plan go ahead, Keera whispered, look at him; he is ripe for the picking.
Avaryss ignored her, or rather the voice that had just decided to rise up and torment her.
She only hoped that her master would not be able to hear it. She hoped that he would not feel Keera's rage and strike out at her...or was it them, she could not really tell anymore.
Wait, she thought, what am I thinking?!
Keera is not a separate person.
She could do nothing.
She was nothing.
Feer chuckled as he regarded himself in the mirror. He was too lost in his victory to worry about anything, especially not his apprentice.
When he finally turned to her, it was with an appraising look. He smiled at her.
Apparently he liked what he saw.
"You are stunning my dear," he told her, "Absolutely ravishing..."
"Thank you, master," she said bowing slightly.
He came up to her then, whispering in her ear.
"Many a young Sith will lose their heart to you tonight," he purred, "You shall be both an object of desire and of envy for the entire Empire."
"You flatter me, my lord," she said.
It would be better if you…YOU… flattened him, Keera's voice screamed through the Force.
Kill him Avy.
KILL HIM NOW!
It was all Avaryss could do to keep her face bland.
Had her master heard that?
Had he sensed it…through the Force?
It did not seem that he had.
He remained blind to the conflict inside of her.
Lucky her.
He grinned triumphantly.
"All is as it should be, my apprentice, this…is our time."
"It is everything we have worked so long and hard for, my master," she said bowing her head.
"You should be more than proud."
Darth Feer nodded, he radiated triumph, but also something else…regret. Pain?
Her master shook his head.
"It was always my destiny to be here, my child," he said, "But it…it should have been another standing at my side today. It should have been her that shared in this moment of absolute victory."
"Who might that be, my master," she inquired in her most innocent voice, though she could already guess who it was that her master meant.
It wasn't that hard, not considering what she knew about him.
Her master sighed.
"I have a daughter, did you know that?"
Avaryss nodded. Her response surprised him, she realized she should have denied it, but since the damage was done, she spoke quickly.
"I saw a holo in Lady Synestra's room. It was of you, her, Young Master Bael, and a young girl that I did not recognize."
"Of course," her master said nodding, "I should have guessed."
He gave her a sad smile.
"Even things that pain us have their uses. Loss can fuel your power just as easily as hate, and sometimes, it is even more fiery."
He chuckled.
"I did not think that I desired children, not after what I experienced with my own father. I was…uncertain when Synestra told me she was going to have our first, but…but when I held my little girl in my arms for the first time…I…I knew that I was lost."
Her master sighed heavily; he radiated pain like a star did heat and light.
"I was going to train her; that is why I let Synestra train Bael. I was going to make her the most powerful Sith in the Empire, the two of us were going to redraw the map, remake Dromund Kaas in our image. We were…"
He fell silent. He shuddered and coughed.
He turned back to Avaryss.
"She ended up disappointing me. She was not strong enough to follow the path I desired. The Force, it seems, was intent on making a mockery of my dreams. My little girl, my princess…she failed me."
Avaryss said nothing, she pretended ignorance, but had come to know this story well.
She intended to make use of it, when the day finally came.
Feer's daughter had done nothing to earn her father's ire or treatment. She had been born weak in the Force, but that was no reason to cast her aside and not even acknowledge her birth.
Tell him, you know, Keera's voice whispered, let the old monster know what a failure he is, as both a master and a father.
Again Avaryss held her tongue.
Now was not yet the time, be patient, she thought to herself.
Be patient.
When the time was right, Avaryss intended to meet with Feer's daughter. The girl would no doubt be a wellspring of information about her parents, who knew, she might even wish to join in the plan against them.
Wouldn't that be delicious, Avaryss thought, Feer's own little princess aiding in his destruction.
It would be…glorious!
"It has not been easy for you, my master," she said, "But today, the Force has honored you. It has honored both of us."
She grinned triumphantly.
"The Force brought us together, and now…the future you wanted has come to pass. You should be happy today…father."
Feer smiled, he nodded, with tears in his eyes.
"Once again, daughter, you speak with wisdom. A child of my flesh was incapable of reaching this plateau, but one born of my plans, you, you were more than up to the task."
He beamed with pride.
"The Force took with one hand, but gave me you with another. The failure and disappointment of the past is no erased.
He walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders, she worried at first that he might hit her, or twist her arm. Perhaps he knew she was simply playing along. He might be able to feel it.
It took all her self-control not to pull away, not to reach for the lightsaber hanging on the sash around her waist.
Feer did not hit her; he did not try to strike her. Instead he leaned in close and kissed her forehead, the sign of affection, both surprised and revolted her.
A few times, in her life, Andur Lylos had done that to her, kissed her forehead, let his daughter know she was loved and respected.
Having Feer do it, having him steal such an intimate moment between father and daughter.
It was almost too much to bear.
"Daughter," he said warmly, "You have made me a happy man this day."
It was all she could do to repress her shudder.
Feer had never touched her like this, NEVER.
It was one thing to let Feer call her daughter, for her to call him father, but for him to show her such affection!
It was wrong!
It was insulting!
LIAR!
MURDERER!
It took all of her self-control not to reach out and start strangling him.
For Andur Lylos, Keera's voice echoed in the back of her mind.
For my TRUE father.
She imagined her fingers wrapping around her master's neck. She imagined his eyes bulging, his hands trying to stop her as she choked the life from him.
She could almost feel his throat in her hands, the sensation of squeezing the life out of him.
The desire to do it…it was almost impossible to resist.
Almost.
Avaryss raised her arms, she…she had no choice.
She…she needed to keep up appearances.
My time will come.
Be patient.
She smiled as she gently touched his arm, giving them a warm and gentle squeeze. She even managed to use the Force to shed a single tear.
"Father," she murmured.
"Today…is about us. It is our success!"
"Yes, my child, yes." He agreed. "It is ours."
He removed his hands, and offered her his arm.
"Come daughter," he said, "The time has come…let us claim our reward."
She smiled and took it.
"Yes, my lord," she purred.
"It is time…"
"…Now we shall have everything we deserve."
"Of course, my child, of course, why should we not?"
Feer laughed.
"As you said, we deserve this."
IOI
Master and apprentice approached the doors to the council chamber. They walked beneath the great crimson banners of the Empire, and the tall hooded stone statures that paid tribute to their great Emperor, those cold stone eyes seeming to watch their every move; even now they filled Avaryss with a sense of foreboding. Lords, soldiers, and slaves watched as they passed.
Both Feer and Avaryss sneered as they passed. Most of the lords here had stayed behind when the Battle of Inferno Nebula had occurred. Some had done this because they were ordered to, but many had chosen to stay behind. They had held back, waiting to see which side would come out on top.
And now you know, Avaryss thought, "Look upon us, you spineless drones, look upon your betters and despair!
Keera had finally fallen silent, a fact that Avaryss was most grateful for. Her former self was not welcome here, not when they were about to stand before the most powerful lords in the Empire.
The massive doors opened, a pure blooded herald introduced them, informing the dark council of their arrival.
Avaryss shuddered with anticipation.
She had never gotten to come here while the council was in session.
She was most eager to look on the most powerful Sith in the Empire.
The viewing gallery before the twelve thrones was packed. It looked like every major lord had come to witness this moment. She spotted Darth Baras among them, the masked dark lord nodded to her as she passed.
She returned the nod, out of respect for his aid if for nothing else.
Taya and her parents stood beside Lord Goss and the other minor lords. She spotted several that her master considered allies, Darth Infami among them.
How did they feel about this she wondered? Taya was likely happy, what she was seeing here was confirmation of the vision she had had about her friend long ago.
Avaryss was most definitely on her way up.
No one could deny that now.
Her own crew stood beside Lady Synestra and the rest of House Feer, those that had survived Terrog's attack. Avaryss kept a close eye on Xen, she was concerned how her apprentice might react to being in the same room with some of the Sith who were responsible for the sacking of the Jedi Temple. Though she did not see Lord Malgus here, she did spot Darth Angral and his apprentices.
Xen shot them an icy glare occasionally, but Beric was at her side, to make sure that her young apprentice did not do anything foolish.
Patience was not usually a virtue the Sith cultivated, but at this moment, it was necessary to remain calm.
There would be plenty of time to deal with old slights later.
Now it was time for unity.
The Sith Empire's power was on full display!
As for the Dark Council itself; all appeared to be in attendance, either in the flesh or via hologram. Eleven thrones were filled. Marr sat in his place, and looked down upon the proceedings. Lords Vengean, Vowrawn, Mortis, Ravage and the rest all sat around him, quietly watching from their place upon their thrones. On the throne farthest from the others sat Darth Jadis, hooded and cloaked like Marr but radiating far more pain and hostility.
Avaryss looked away quickly from that one, even looking upon him made her feel…queasy. She was not sure what he was doing in the Force, but it was clear that he did not use it to set people at ease, even those that could be considered his allies.
Regardless, she thought it a good idea to give the man a wide berth.
Feer led the way, and brought them to a stop before Darth Marr, the masked Dark Lord nodded, in welcome as both Feer and Avaryss knelt before him.
Marr rose from his throne.
"The Empire asks much of us," He began; The Emperor asks much of us..."
Avaryss dared a quick look at the Emperor's throne, the one where he would sit and issue his edicts to the council.
It was once again empty, not even a royal guard in attendance.
She could not help but feel…slighted.
We only just saved your Empire!
The least you could do was show your face.
"Darth Feer," Marr called out, "arise and step forward."
Her master did as he was told, his smile both wide and hungry.
"As the council calls," he said, "So do I answer."
Marr nodded, recognizing his future council brother.
"You have stood in defense of the Empire. Your enemies have been destroyed, you stand alone."
The Dark Lord stood straighter; he used the Force to extend his voice for all to hear.
"Are you ready to do your duty for the Empire?"
"I am ready," Feer promised.
"Are you prepared to be a voice for our people, to share in absolute victory as the galaxy becomes one with the Empire?"
"I am prepared," Feer said.
Marr raised his hand, he gestured to the throne across from him, the one not filled with either a body or a hologram.
"The council stands incomplete," Marr said, "One of us has fallen, taken at the battle of the Inferno Nebula. His voice has fallen silent…"
Avaryss tried not to smile.
She hated to admit it, but she did not know all the councilors by name, but she did know that at least one had supported Darth Terrog; he had been aboard one of the dreadnaughts that had been defending Terrog's station.
He had died with the rest of Terrog's traitors. None who stood with the cyborg survived, with his death, the council had an opening.
Lord Feer had been tapped to fill it.
"When one voice falls silent," Feer recited, "Another must rise; he must speak for the Empire. I address the Dark Council, and promise that my voice will always be joined with theirs, from this day forward."
Feer bowed his head respectfully.
"I am ready," he promised, "I am ready for my voice to be heard."
"Then be heard, brother," Marr said, once again gesturing to the throne, "Darth Feer, Dark Lord of the Sith, welcome to the Dark Council."
There was no applause when her master left her side and took his seat. He was no longer a simple Darth of the Empire, but as a Lord Councilor as well. His ascension came to past with both silence and reverence. Ceremonies like this were always solemn affairs. The Sith would not celebrate until later.
For now, they were respectful and honored her master and his ascension, either that or were watching enviously, planning his downfall.
Avaryss could relate to the latter, she was planning herself.
She would not deny anyone else that luxury.
She remained where she was, waiting for her turn. Her master had the reward he always wanted, and now, she was set to become a full lord, that is what her master believed was about to happen. He had formally endorsed her rise to Dark Lord of the Sith.
All that was left now was confirmation from the council.
Marr remained standing; she could feel his gaze upon her. She wondered what he was thinking in that moment. Was he curious about what his newest ally would do first with her new authority?
She tried not to smile.
She would do what was best for the Empire, as she always did.
Marr would find her a most agreeable ally.
"Avaryss of House Feer," Marr began, "Arise."
She did as she was bid.
"As the Council calls," she said, "So do I answer."
She stood patiently before her ally; she could feel the eyes of the rest of the council on her. Did they agree with her success, or did they still blame her for the fate of Fehl?
Only time could erase that stain, if it ever could, but Avaryss was prepared to try.
She would make them forget that Fehl had ever existed. She would become far more powerful and valuable that he could ever have been.
This she swore.
"Are you ready to take your place among the lords of the Empire?" Marr asked.
"I am ready," she proclaimed.
The Dark Lord motioned to his right; a servant emerged carrying a large box. He opened up and revealed the crystal that Avaryss had retrieved from the Republic, the one containing Darth Terrog's tortured soul.
The servant brought it to Lord Marr who raised it above his head.
"A gift from this young sorceress to us, the Council of the Empire, it contains the soul of the traitor Terrog. It is ours to toy with for the rest of time."
Marr did something she did not expect then.
He chuckled.
"Behold the Will of the Living Force! Long may he reign."
His comment brought laughter to the chamber. Seeing the threat of Terrog reduced to such a small thing was pleasing to everyone here.
Avaryss was pleased that they liked her gift.
Sith Lords could be so hard to buy for.
Marr stepped down from his throne, he stood before her. Avaryss was not sure what was going on. The dark lord had not even done that to honor her master.
From his throne, Councilor Feer watched what was happening curiously; clearly he did not understand what was going on.
Avaryss was not quite sure herself to be honest.
"This one has served us well," Marr continued, "She served as her master's fist, she has smashed the enemies of our Empire, and bathed in both blood and glory."
"Tell me young Avaryss," he asked, "Are you ready to take your place in the Empire?"
"I am ready," she promised.
Marr gestured again; the two new servants emerged, each carrying a single very familiar shoulder plate.
Through the Force, Avaryss could feel her master's shock! She glanced over at Lady Synestra and saw the Lady of their house visibly turning pale.
What was this, she thought.
What was Marr doing?
"Kneel, Young Avaryss," he commanded.
She did as she was bid; the two servants came up beside her.
"A Lord defends what is his, and the Empire. You have faced many a trial young one, and proved both your skill and loyalty. You have defeated foreign conspirators and traitors from within our own ranks.
Marr drew his lightsaber; he lit the blade and let it hover above her right shoulder.
It was almost as if he was knighting her, giving her a blessing.
"When Terrog fell, we lost an alchemist, but we have gained a first among Sorceresses. It is fitting is it not that we honor you now, your skill, your power, and most of all, your unflinching loyalty."
"I live to serve," Avaryss said, "Long live the Empire."
Marr nodded.
The servants moved in, they placed the plates over her caped shoulders. Immediately she knew what was going on.
She suppressed a smile.
Marr you son of a Hutt!
Feer would not be pleased with this; in fact…he would be furious!
A lord of his house her master could manage, Marr decided to make things…not so easy for him.
Well, Marr had said that he had wanted Darth Feer distracted.
This…this little act would most definitely distract him.
Marr stepped back, he nodded thoughtfully, pleased by his work.
"You knelt a mere apprentice," he said, "Now rise a servant of the Empire."
Again Marr used the Force to make sure that all could hear him.
"ARISE," he shouted, "ARISE DARTH AVARYSS!"
Darth Avaryss, Dark Lord of the Sith did as she was bid.
She arose…now… a Darth of the Sith Empire!
She looked over at her master. He kept his face bland, but she could feel his anger, his sense of betrayal.
Only a Darth could make a Darth, by naming her as such, Marr had changed the game between Feer and Avaryss.
Now, she was only one lightsaber swing away from not just his house, but his seat on the council.
She could claim everything that was his upon his death.
Feer knew that.
Marr had taken his apprentice and turned her into a very real threat, a rival for his very throne.
Through the Force, her master did not look pleased.
She bowed her head in submission.
"Thank you, my lord," she murmured, "You will not regret this decision."
He chuckled.
"See that your master does, Lord Avaryss," he murmured so that only she could hear him.
"Keep him busy."
She grinned hungrily.
She could do just that.
Her ascension meant the end of the ceremony, already the lords and their guests were beginning to divide. Marr and Vengean approached Darth Feer, as the newest member of the council; it would fall to them to bring him up on any council business, old or new
Feer said nothing to her; she sensed that he felt betrayed, that she might have planned this somehow.
If only I had, she thought.
This coup that Marr had brought about, it was a masterstroke.
Yes, she was still Lord Feer's apprentice, but at the same time she was a full Darth, which entitled her to form her own House as well.
House Avaryss had been born this night. She would need to gather people to her, loyal people, begin finding officers to serve her new clan.
She would need a Warmaster of course. Beric might do, but she suspected that he might have another position in mind. She would give it some thought.
As she watched Darth Feer leave with the rest of the council, she knew one thing was certain above all others.
The alliance of Feer and Avaryss was over. Her master could not afford to see her as a daughter, not anymore. She was a rival and a dangerous one.
He would need to watch his back.
As it should be, she thought. The lesson she had learned during her Trial of Blood on Fury 9 still rang true.
Beware your Master, Beware your apprentice.
Tonight, Feer had been reminded of that lesson.
I am still his, at least for now, but I can now see the end of the tunnel.
The future she had sought for so long had come. She had achieved her dream
She was now Darth Avaryss, let her enemies hear that name and beware.
She looked at the Emperor's vacant throne, thought of the visions she had had, the old woman she would be, the throne that was destined to be hers.
She had just taken a major step towards that goal.
She would need to intensify her training; she would need to recover the skills that she had lost when her arm had been cut away.
It can be done, she thought, I will have plenty of time to practice.
The victory over Terrog had not been enough; it had only served to whet the Empire's appetite for the next war with the Republic.
It is inevitable she knew; war would come again, and with it, the fall of the Republic, and the destruction of the Jedi.
How could it not?
We are Sith.
The galaxy will be ours.
Darth Avaryss grinned as she went to rejoin her crew, her apprentices.
Now the true work would begin her rise to power.
Beric and Taya approached her both were grinning ear to ear.
I hope they are ready for what is coming.
She thought of Fenn, and what this meant for them. When the time came he would oppose her.
She would need to be careful on that day.
Whatever happened, he was part of what was to come, she could almost see it.
She needed him.
The future was coming…
…and it all belonged to her.
THE END
A/N: This was the end of Fear and Avaryss, but not the end of Darth Avaryss' story. She will return in Star Wars: The Old Republic: Dark Reflection. It will be a darker story than this one, as our young Darth learned what it means to rule, look for new allies and new enemies to rise. Also Jas Dar Bynn's story will continue in Rogue Jedi, and look for the two one shots Necris: Threnody, and Shyra Viel: A Savage Heart coming soon as well. Until next time dear readers: May the Force serve you well!
DG