Anais and Darth Maul

by kriskris8069

The young slave Anais survives a massacre and becomes the personal slave of the Sith Darth Maul: he will take care of her, but she will have to respect some rules if she does not want to be punished. However Anais is not only a slave, but she hides something mysterious inside her, which dates back to when she was very small.

22. Return to Coruscant

The two swords collided violently, giving off a strong glow and making the sound of thunder. Each time the two blades touched, the sound of thunder filled the air of the hall as the flashes of light illuminated the two bodies which, without hesitation, fought against each other what would be the last duel. General Seth was very fast, he was able to masterfully control Darth Maul's double lightsaber. The Sith seemed to move his sword more slowly than usual, almost as if he wanted study his opponent, anticipating the moment when he would finally kill him. Anais watched the duel between the two men half lying down, fearing for the life of both of them, but above all for that of her master to whom, now tired and frightened, she couldn't wait to reunite. General Seth swung his sword quickly dodging one of the blades of Darth Maul's sword thus striking, albeit superficially, the shoulder of the Sith. Darth Maul, feeling the pain of the blade passing through his flesh as it burned, instinctively pulled back. General Seth looked at him with a smile of satisfaction as Darth Maul slowly brought his gaze from the general to his shoulder to assess the extent of the injury: "A small cut" he thought contemptuously as he watched his red skin appear from under his black tunic still slightly burned. He looked back at General Seth with hatred and anger.

Now that he had been injured, he was even more excited than before: now in fact, there would be no room for errors, now it was time to put an end to this useless game that only risked wasting his time, the third probe was about to explode and he still not been able to get his hands on Anais!

Darth Maul growled and ran towards General Seth: the two swords clashed again, throwing flashes and thundering. Now Darth Maul was moving his sword very quickly, for Anais it was difficult to be able to follow him with her eyes, but it was not for General Seth who still managed to push him away although with a little difficulty.

Darth Maul advanced with force, his lightsaber rotated, he passed it from hand to hand with dexterity and confidence ... that lightsaber, the same one that Anais held in her hands, which she touched, together with him, perceiving its power, the power of those who, in that moment, can decide whether to let someone live or kill them.

General Seth avoided the blows and deftly repelled most of them, but he could no longer offend. He was playing defense, probably taken aback by the remarkable aggressiveness with which Darth Maul was attacking. If he couldn't find a way to hit him again sooner or later he would reach him, it was inevitable.

But although General Seth tried to face Darth Maul with all his strength and with a certainly remarkable technique, which only a Jedi master could have taught him ... he was not a Jedi and Darth Maul knew it well, therefore he never resorted the use of force to make the duel as much as possible ... on par. Although it was not his habit to face an opponent equally, Anais was watching him and Anais knew well that General Seth was not a Jedi. If she seen him fight differently, she would had an idea of him that he didn't like her to do. In the absence of Anais ... well, he giggled inwardly ... he would surely have fought differently!

However, General Seth was shrewd, skilled and quick ... even though he didn't give him the same satisfaction he felt when fighting the Jedi, he managed to hurt him, so he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Meanwhile, on the cuff he wore on his wrist, he get another piece of data from his third probe: it was in place and would soon explode. Now it was time to end this fight: Darth Maul suddenly lowered himself by passing the sword of General Seth right above his torso, then hit it with his own, forcing the man's arm to push outwards ... now the Seth's body was exposed ... "Serious mistake!" he thought, pleased with himself, surely due to tiredness and inexperience ... but he was a master in these things, he knew how to grasp the weaknesses of the opponent and use them to his advantage. Therefore, without an iota of hesitation, he turned to Anais to bring his sword in a perpendicular position to General Seth's chest and then, he pushed hard behind him the rear blade that inevitably went to stick into the man's heart. Anais opened her eyes: it was over. She met the gaze of her master, still focused, but already partly turned to her, eager to finally reach her without any obstacles.

Darth Maul remained motionless for a few seconds in that position, with his sword still stuck in General Seth's chest, then still without turning, keeping his gaze on Anais, he pulled it out, allowing the man to fall to the ground, on his knees. At that point he turned partially towards him, bringing his lightsaber upright, parallel to his body. Their gazes met: Seth coughed and spat blood from his mouth. He brought a hand to his chest where Darth Maul's red blade entered, hitting him to death. He knew he had little time left to think and say something. He looked at Anais, past the black Sith figure standing before him. Anais also looked at him and wept. The general wondered if those tears were for him or if they were just tears of fear ... fear for everything he put her through, he tried to offer her another life, he wished he could end his military career, taking refuge on some distant planet with her ... for example a planet like Batuu, from which the young girl said came and to which, in the end, he never been able to bring her back. General Seth closed his eyes as he felt a terrible pain in his chest. Darth Maul watched him, cold and impassive in the face of his pain and suffering. Seth opened his eyes again: now Anais would be back in his arms ... that little flower ... maybe he would even punish her because of him, he would make her suffer ... so, although bent with pain, for a moment , felt a last surge of anger, gathered his strength and said to him:

-She is not worthy of a monster like you …- Darth Maul looked at him with contempt. How long did he take to die? He wondered impatiently. But General Seth continued in a trembling voice, almost like a whisper, muffled by brief coughs:

-She will never love you ... - Darth Maul's eyes burned like embers, he didn't know where he wanted to go, but he didn't like the speech he was making, it touched a very delicate and personal aspect towards which, even he never done much clarity within herself: - She will always be afraid of you ... she will only be your slave ... - and then shouting, he said to him: - You will never be able to have her heart ! - Darth Maul did not see us anymore: if there was one thing he hated it was being told what he was unable to do! He was a Sith ... he had the power ... he could take whatever or person he wanted and if he wanted Anais's heart ... one way or another, he would take that too !

He growled showing his teeth, raised his lightsaber and with a single blow severed General Seth's head. This rolled on the ground not far from his now lying and lifeless body.

Darth Maul stood a few seconds watching that scene, partly pleased.

Then he thought of Anais and turned running towards her. He made the two red blades of his lightsaber disappear which he placed on his black belt.

Anais seen enough, now she might as well pass out. But when it was necessary to faint, it never happened! She experienced tremendous pain seeing his master's sword penetrate General Seth's heart, the tears she shed had been for him. Anais was devoured by guilt, perhaps she hadn't realized how serious that situation was. Maybe Zelda always been right when she told her that she still not realized who she was dealing with, that she not realized the true nature of her master, yet. He killed people, he really killed them, he didn't hesitate, he didn't feel pity, he didn't spare them. And in this case, he had killed for her, because he wanted her back, because she was his, she belonged to him… but Anais knew it wasn't just that. If she never smiled at him, if she never looked at him with that look full of hope, attention, kindness, if she always been cold and unfriendly ... probably Lord Maul would not looked for her, he would not felt need to bring her back. It was her fault. She given him this illusion, this hope. And in all of this, she not taken into account the fact that the creature she was giving those attentions, those looks ... was a killer, a Sith. This had been her mistake, and for that mistake, a man like General Seth now paid with his life. But despite all this, Anais still felt attracted to her master, she wanted him. Thus, when the general's head fell to the ground separated forever from his body, Anais closed her eyes in an almost hysterical cry. She felt guilt devouring her, she felt the fear, she felt her stomach reject all those emotions and want to throw them out.

Now it was her turn ...

Darth Maul knelt beside Anais: he gently touched her head with his gloved hand, trying to push the hair, that covered her and was getting wet with her tears, away from her face.

Anais was crying. She was inconsolable.

He helped her sit up while with his left hand he went to free her wrists still tied behind her back. With the use of force he literally burned those ropes, feeling a sense of contempt for who dared to touch and tie her.

Then, he took her small face, still sobbing and wet with tears, in his hands. Her cheeks were red and her eyes red though always wonderful.

Long last!

She was finally back in his arms! At last she was again ... his!

-Anais! - he said almost whispering her name, trying not to scare her further ... he still didn't know if the girl was happy to see him again: -Anais, are you okay? -

But she didn't answer, it was as if she not heard him, she kept crying all the time.

Darth Maul pulled her close to his chest, ran his gloved hand through her blond hair and gently pressed her head right over his two hearts. Anais felt her head come into contact with the fabric of her master's dress, recognized his warmth, his scent and again that sense of protection that she missed so much and that she so desired. But above all, she recognized those two beats, first two blows below and then two more blows above, as she already heard, one evening, in Coruscant, in his room ... then her crying calmed down ... at least a little, at least enough to allow her to say:

-I'm sorry ... my lord, I'm sorry! -

Darth Maul took her head back in his hands so that, he could look directly into her eyes. How he missed that look! Those clear blue eyes, almost transparent ... between those long, black lashes that made her so exciting and attractive!

Anais stared frightened at those golden yellow pupils, looked at his black tattoos ... since she was kidnapped, the only faces she dealt with, had been faces without tattoos, so she almost forgotten about this aspect. Then, her attention focused on the tattoo that Lord Maul had on his lips and she wished to kiss him, she wished to touch those lips, the lips of the face of an adult man, strong, powerful, who come to free her and bring her back with him, to home, in Coruscant.

Amid all her fear, Darth Maul sensed Anais' desire, but this was not the best time to kiss her, although she clearly desired it: "Damn!" he thought irritably, it was never the right time!

But the pause that Anais granted him lasted very little: suddenly she began to cry again, with big hot tears that wet her cheeks again:

-I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... - she kept repeating as she held his arms and her attention was drawn to the wound of hier master, on his left shoulder. That was her fault too!

-Not now Anais! - Darth Maul told her trying to calm her and put her on feet. The third probe was about to explode, it would be a matter of minutes and he still get back to his spaceship. But Anais was not cooperating ... there was no way to console her. Darth Maul was on the verge of losing his temper, but he wasn't going to yell at her, so he did the fastest thing he could think of: he lifted her off the ground with one arm, balancing her against his side as if Anais been a child. The girl, sitting on his right arm, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his head. Anais realized that his neck was warm. A warmth she already felt, a warmth she wanted to get back. After a few seconds, his warm neck bathed with her tears. Anais was devastated, now she just wanted some of that warmth so she could fall asleep. For Darth Maul, the weight of his young slave on his right arm was irrelevant, so with his hand, he firmly grabbed the girl's thigh to make sure she couldn't fall. Then he gripped the lightsaber with his left hand, pulling out the two red blades. Anais felt the warmth of that light and tightened her arms around her master's neck as he walked towards the large white door through which, a few minutes ago, he entered.

Darth Maul paced briskly down the long corridor littered with corpses, destroyed droids, and parts of the spaceship he previously demolished to defend himself. He wasn't long to the hold. Anais held herself tightly around his neck, he could smell her perfume, she had stopped crying, but she kept her eyes closed and continued to sob. Darth Maul tried to imagine the fear she must felt ... a little creature like her, so young ... "Only seventeen!" he repeated in his mind thinking about the first time he asked her.

He tried to stay focused, he would think about certain things later, now he had to be careful because there were always living soldiers and active droids ... although for a little while, because after the third explosion ... the New Horizon would be only a distant memory!

Fortunately, he did not meet a soul in that devastated corridor, although he heard the voices of the crew in the distance. He breathed a sigh of relief, holding Anais like this ... an armed confrontation would been very dangerous for his little slave who could risked getting hurt. When Darth Maul reached the hold, though the flames and thick black smoke, he quickly made his way to his spaceship. Anais suddenly felt the air fail, the acrid smell of smoke filled her lungs, the heat that hit her, burned and frightened her. But she didn't open her eyes: she felt protected, she felt safe in her master's arms, she didn't need to look at what was happening because she knew that Lord Maul would surely defend her. She pushed her small face further against the neck and shoulder of her master, sinking her nose into the black fabric, perceiving his scent that she breathed deeply trying to throw out what irritating was in the hold. But as the Scimitar lowered the rear hatch ... the third DRK-1 probe exploded. The whole ship shook violently, Darth Maul himself had to stop to avoid falling to the ground. Now he had very little time to get out of the New Horizon! Still holding Anais firmly in his arms, he ran to the rear hatch, entered the Scimitar, and reached the command post.

-Computer, start the take-off maneuvers! - he ordered as he sat down on the armchair placing Anais on his legs. With her slender arms, the girl continued to cling to her master's neck. Darth Maul did not intend to leave her sitting alone, so he gently supported her on his crotch, while with his right arm, that supported her until then, he held her small body tightly to his. Anais settled on top of her master's body, trying to find a safe position. She felt Lord Maul that with his left hand, the only one that remained free, he moved some levers and pressed some buttons, while his spaceship rose quickly from the ground, orienting itself towards the exit of the hold, in the midst of the flames and black smoke . Then Anais felt the thrust of the thrusters and finally, the Scimitar came out of the New Horizon!

But Darth Maul knew it wasn't over yet. Almost immediately after them, the New Horizon exploded. Through a small square of his screen, Darth Maul saw General Seth's spaceship become a huge ball of fire that began to expand as if it wanted to swallow them:

-Ten seconds until the shock wave arrives- the Scimitar's computer explained.

Anais realized that there was still a problem, that it wasn't over yet!

Darth Maul continued, without saying a word, to press other buttons and raise and lower other levers:

-Computer, prepare to jump! -

Darth Maul set the coordinates for Coruscant, but he knew he was in danger of being hit by the shock wave. However, he hoped to be able to jump in time, otherwise it could be a big problem. The computer continued:

- Shock wave coming in three, two, one ... -

Darth Maul drew even closer to his, the small body of his slave, then the Scimitar shook frightfully. Anais narrowed her eyes, let her master tighten her body against his, indulging his strong grip.

The Scimitar's computer activated all the necessary operations to jump into hyperspace and fortunately, the spaceship was able to make the jump moments after the shock wave reached the Scimitar.

Instantly, the silence of hyperspace enveloped them.

Darth Maul let out a sigh of relief and loosened his grip around Anais's body. At that moment he noticed that the girl had fallen asleep! How she done with all that movement...he just couldn't explain!

Releasing his grip with his right arm, Anais's head moved away from his body and Darth Maul was able to observe her better. Her breathing was light, her eyes closed and her little pink mouth slightly parted. With his left hand he moved a few thin strands of hair that covered her face. Then with his fingers, still covered by his black glove, he brushed her cheek. He could feel the delicate body of his slave in his arms, he could perceive her scent and her faint heat ... compared to his body burning like fire, Anais's was almost cold, but she was human and not Zabrak and therefore it was different. Then he looked back at her face, thought back to General Seth's words said at the point of death, feeling a certain pain: "She is not worthy of a monster like you...she will never love you ... She will always be afraid of you ... she will only be your slave ... You will never succeed to have his heart ! " After all, what he said was partly true: compared to her, he could consider himself a monster and Anais was always afraid of him ... although he was able to perceive her physical desire when at times he was able to reach with her a certain intimacy ... Anais always feared his looks, his reactions towards her and therefore, he would never know how exactly she really wanted to be with him or just out of fear. Not being able to read her mind, he could never know. As for her love… well, Darth Maul considered love only a weakness so he didn't care and didn't consider it necessary for Anais to love him. However, he felt some irritation in thinking that his little slave's heart would never be his. If he joined her physically, he would liked his mind to become one with Anais, her little heart beating with his ... but this aspect of his relationship with Anais was really very complex.

Darth Maul tried to divert his mind from certain thoughts and looked at the lights of the console of his spaceship, now back to the usual red color, when only a few moments ago, they flashed showing different colors. The situation was under control again, in a few hours, he would be back in Coruscant, with her.

Darth Maul woke Anais as soon as the Scimitar emerged from hyperspace and Coruscant appeared before his eyes.

-Anais! Anais, wake up! - he said whispering the words in her ear, shaking her gently. Anais opened her eyes, focusing on the black fabric of her master's dress, then slowly shifted her gaze to his face, looking into his eyes. His eyes were still gold, but now they burned less intensely than before when he was fighting General Seth. Anais thought of the general and her gaze was veiled with sadness, but she tried to free her mind from these thoughts because now she had to be careful about how to behave: she was again a slave, she was again with her master and more … in his arms.

Given the position she was in, Lord Maul's face was very close to hers, Anais could feel the beating of his two hearts, his warmth, his scent and his right arm holding her firmly behind her back.

Anais looked again at the tattoos on his face, returning with her thoughts again to the desire to kiss that mouth, to feel his mature man's lips ... finally on hers.

Darth Maul also sensed her desire and for a moment was very tempted to approach her small and delicate mouth, but the Scimitar made a faint sound to warn that the spaceship was approaching the planet's atmosphere and that soon, he would be take command to move through the chaotic traffic of the city.

From that sound, Anais instead understood that she returned home, that soon, she would see Zelda and Charlie, that soon...she'll be again the small and insignificant slave of a Sith. She tried to sit on his legs, to pull herself up with her back:

-My master ... - she said feeling a certain embarrassment to be in that position, dirty and poorly dressed. Anais had a confused mind, there were still many feelings of guilt ... she had before her eyes those images of death and the most painful one, that of General Seth, who fell to the ground with his head separated from his body ... therefore Anais could say no more. Inside, she felt a desire to thank him for saving her, but she wasn't very sure she was happy about being saved ... and since she wasn't even sure she was happy to go back to that apartment in Coruscant ... she preferred say no more before get into some trouble.

Darth Maul helped her to sit better:

-We are almost there- he said. He too would liked tell her something more, to ask her again if she was okay ... he wanted to ask her if she was happy to be back in Coruscant, at home ... if obviously Anais considered it her home ... but instead, his intentions were distracted by the movement that the girl made to try to get off his legs and go and sit in her usual place, right behind him. But at that moment, Darth Maul didn't like his slave going away, he wanted her there, sitting on his legs because he wanted to still feel her body, her perfume, so he wrapped her right arm around her waist, locking her on his groin. She looked at him surprise, meeting his face, serious and stern. Anais understood and without resisting, she sat where she was. She felt a strange sense of pleasure, almost of affection towards him, but perhaps she was still too bewildered by everything that happened to be able to see things clearly and objectively. And yet, always feeling a little sad and demoralized, she accepted her master's request, albeit with some resignation. So she rested her head on his shoulder again, going to press her forehead against his neck, black and hot, just like before.

Darth Maul let her do it, taking an unusual pleasure in feeling his little slave settling in his arms, over his body, agreeing to sit with him.

With his left hand he prepared the spaceship to enter Coruscant traffic: he tried to drive as best he could to avoid jolting Anais, but although he knew how to fly the Scimitar with his eyes closed, he was still forced to make a few sharp turns to avoid to hit the other spacecraft that ran close to his, in all directions. Anais put her hand on her master's left shoulder to hold on better and avoid slipping and it was at that moment that her fingers passed over his wound. They first touched the torn and burned fabric and then touched his living flesh. Anais quickly pulled her hand away from the wound and raised her head to look at her. She suddenly felt very sad: her master was hurt ... because of her ... Darth Maul sensed Anais's thoughts, although he was focused on driving, he prepared to tell her:

-It's nothing serious Anais- she nodded, albeit a little sadly and returned to rest her head on his warm chest, listening to the beating of his two hearts that seemed to want to reassure her.

The Scimitar landed on the small platform of the skyscraper where Lord Maul's apartment was located. Anais went down with her master, wrapped in his black cloak. The wind lifted her blond hair, scattering it everywhere: Anais walked beside him, in silence, holding his hand. Darth Maul was holding Anais's small hand as if he wanted to make sure that nothing and no one, from now on, could take her away again. The girl looked longingly at the skyscraper, the elevator she entered, the long, dimly lit corridor that ended with its black door. She had the feeling it had been a month since she was last there! Time passed so slowly that now, seeing that apartment again, made her feel a little disoriented. But what kept her firmly connected to reality was her master's warm and strong hand that held hers, preventing her mind from getting lost in her melancholy thoughts.

The silence of the long corridor that she walked with his master, before entering his apartment, contrasted with the noises she heard so far: those on his spaceship and even earlier, those aboard the New Horizon, the screams of fear and of death, the shots. Once through that door, she would become a slave again, as she always had been, although for a moment life offered her an alternative that she not been able to take advantage of, but at the same time, the creature she had beside her at that moment .. .would never allow her to seize, because there was no escape from a Sith. Anais looked up, looked at her master, much taller than her, meeting his gaze. He placed his palm on the display beside the door, without taking his gaze away from her: "What are you thinking ... little Anais?" he wondered. Then, when she heard the sound of the great black door opening, Darth Maul said to her:

-Well back home ... Anais! -

The girl was struck by those words and smiled shyly, but very sweetly. Maybe this was really her home and maybe it always had been, without her noticing it. The great black door opened and together, still holding hands, crossed that threshold.