The first person that Anais saw, as soon as the door fully opened, was dear Zelda. Zelda tried to make herself stand, hugged Anais without saying anything, barely holding back her tears as Lord Maul walked past the two women, leaving them to their "girlish things" as he thought, continuing to his room. Anais followed him with her eyes, feeling a certain sadness in seeing him go away alone and without her. Then Zelda began to ask her several questions, so her attention ended on the Twi'lek, forgetting for a moment the black figure of her master:

-Oh ... Anais are you okay? ... I feared the worst ... what happened? Tell me everything! ...- the girl didn't know where to start. The story was very complex ... but she was sure that slowly, she would tell her everything. The thing that made her unwilling to tell, was the knowledge of having to force herself to remember the worst moments, such as those in which her master killed poor General Seth.

Anais looked at Zelda carefully: it seemed that a long time passed since she last said goodbye to go get that shuttle: Anais remembered her enthusiasm, this would be her first experience, alone, outside an apartment. And instead, it ended in the worst way ... who knows if her master would ever give her another chance, who knows if after what happened, he would take her elsewhere, on another planet, far from there.

Zelda led her into the kitchen, Anais saw Charlie again who didn't miss an opportunity to tell her that it studied different types of dishes for her and that they would surely be to her liking ... then Anais thought that it had been a long time since she not eaten or drunk. .. how far she had been from home? She left early in the morning ... now it was night on Coruscant ... She had been away for two days? Therefore, when Zelda made her sit at the table to eat, Anais did not object and gladly agreed to put something under her teeth, something that surely would been appetizing given Charlie's extraordinary cooking skills!

Anais told Zelda what happened, but as she spoke to her, her mind was elsewhere ... she was still thinking about her master ... she didn't understand why, but in her head ... it was as if something unlocked, something that suddenly, it had made her want Lord Maul as she had never before! She wanted to see him again, she felt the need to be with him ... in short ... she wanted him.

At the end, she decided to go for a nice warm bath, so she would relax, she would calm her mind and especially her "boils"! Anais was worried: this type of desire was not prudent towards her master, because first of all, he was her master, towards whom, as she well knew, it was wrong to have feelings of love. Second, because he was not an ordinary master, but a Sith, a murderer, and giving a creature like that the illusion that she felt something for him could be very dangerous. Anais seen what "her Lord Maul" was capable of.

She ran her fingers over her eyes, wiping off the burning soap.

She was in her tub, immersed up to her neck in scented and colored soap bubbles.

Sigh.

Her mind was really very confused.

Inside, she was still ravaged by guilt, when she closed her eyes, she saw poor General Seth's head fall to the ground ... it was her fault ... she kept repeating it, just as it was her fault, the wound that her master was procured ... who knows now what he was doing ... Anais decided to get out of the tub and to go to Zelda to talk to her for a while and try to distract her mind from her usual thoughts. Lord Maul brought home his object, something that belonged to him and had been taken from him. There was nothing more. Then, the fact that he paid her certain attention ... it was only the fruit of the trust that she managed to build with him over time, because she always been serious, obedient and sincere towards him, but she could not forget, what he had been able to do that time to punish her, with that whip ... and nothing prevented him from repeating that kind of punishment now. She had been "touched" again and this time ... also by many people.

Anais shivered at this thought, especially when she recalled the delicate kisses that General Seth given her on the forehead and cheeks ... she had no longer thought about the possibility of being punished because after all that affair, she found herself in his arms , caressed by that strength and that power, but from someone like him ... she had to expect anything.

Anais went to the kitchen, where she found Zelda giving instructions to a droid. She saw some clean folded black clothes on the table and thought they were meant for her master:

-Zelda ... -

-Oh darling ... you finally got out of the bathroom ... I thought you were feeling bad! - Twi'lek smiled, but Anais did not care what she said, she kept looking at those clothes:

-Who are those clothes for? -she asked in a whisper, pointing to them even though she already knew the answer.

-Are for Lord Maul Anais ... I am instructing the droid to deliver them to him ... you rest, for this evening ... -

-No ... don't worry ... I'll take them! - Anais told her promptly. Zelda looked at her very perplexed: why did she want to do it? When had Anais ever wanted something like that? Before she was kidnapped, whenever she could send a droid to do the job for her, she always did it willingly ... why was she expressing this sudden desire now?

-Are you sure Anais? -Zelda looked at her with suspicion: -There are no problems if it will do it in your place ... you are tired and you have just returned home ... Lord Maul will not be angry about this, I guarantee for you! -

But Anais insisted:

-Really Zelda ... I'll do it, I'm not tired ... - given the girl's resolve, Zelda did not object further:

-So go get dressed decently! - she said in a slightly more severe tone of voice: -And fix your hair! -

Anais obeyed without adding anything else.

This was an opportunity to see her master again, to be able to talk to him ... maybe she could thank him for all he risked for her. She not done it yet… now, that she set foot in his apartment, Anais felt… how to say… truly at home and therefore, happy, safe, protected.

Although she was always torn within herself, between the fear of getting too close to a creature like her master and encouraging him a feeling that she was not sure to felt, as she could not understand how much fear was dictated and how much from the her heart ... she felt need to see him again, one more time before going to sleep! Even if it was just to hand him his clean clothes or wish him good night, but Anais wanted to see him again!

The girl chose the first dress she came across, the white one, made with a simple band that covered her breasts and a pair of panties from which, light veils fell that covered her legs, touching the floor.

She quickly combed her hair leaving it loose and went back to Zelda in the kitchen.

And then maybe it was she who got too many problems ...Perhaps her master felt nothing for her, but only the simple desire to possess. The fact that she thought that her smiles and her good manners could lead him to believe in something other than the simple slave-master relationship, was all her guess.

Anais felt frustrating feeling of confusion in her mind again. She needed a sign ... tangible proof to be able to understand that her master felt for her something other than a simple desire to possess. Only then, she could try to open her heart. Otherwise, she would keep guessing, never knowing exactly what Lord Maul really felt about her.

And she? How did she feel? If he gave her this sign that she needed so much, how would she react? Would she indulge her sentiment? Or would she be scared, as always ... and retreat and say she was joking? Joke? With a Sith?

Anais took her master's clean clothes from Zelda's hands. The Twi'lek still looked at her puzzled, but said nothing.

Zelda knew very well that Anais omitted in her "told" many aspects concerning her relationship with Lord Maul, but she could not imagine how far the Sith gone further in his relationship with the girl. The woman was amazed that a creature like him decided to risk so much to save a simple slave. He could be killed, he could be discovered, captured by Jedi or by exponents of the Republic ... he could also find himself against his ex-master, Darth Sidius ... but for Anais he done it! It was clear that there was something about him that went beyond the desire of possession, a desire that characterized much of the Sith's feelings. But Anais? What could a naive seventeen-year-old girl feel, never outside the walls of some apartment, who didn't very well what the Sith were! Always frightened by the figure of her master, what feeling could she developed within herself?

"Everything is wrong!" Zelda thought disconsolately as she watched Anais walking away towards the end of the corridor.

For her safety, Anais should remained a mere slave, but nothing more.

Absorbed in thought, Anais reached the end of the corridor. She was about to knock on the door of her master's room when her attention was drawn to the light from the infirmary room. Anais sensed that the medical droid 2-1B must be active.

She peeked out the door and saw her master standing, leaning against the large metal table. Probably the droid was treating his wound ... the wound he gotten through her fault, to save her and bring her back to Coruscant. Thinking of this, Anais's heart was veiled with sadness, but she still plucked up courage and entered. Darth Maul already perceived her at the beginning of the corridor: now he could smell her perfume more clearly, mixed with that of the soap she used to wash! He didn't turn to look at her, he knew who she was, but he was surprised to find her still awake at that time of night.

Anais went to the metal table, her heart was beating very fast, almost hurting her. She was afraid, but her naive desire to talk to him kept her going. The girl gently placed her master's clothes on the table and then looked at him.

Lord Maul kept his eyes closed, he seemed focused ... maybe he was busy feeling no pain as the medical droid was closing the wound with the laser scalpel and she knew very well he didn't use any kind of anesthesia for this kind of thing. Her master was shirtless with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He wore only his black pants and boots, while his lightsaber was attached to his high, narrow belt. His red skin, drawn with black tattoos, under the light of the large lamp that illuminated the table, seemed almost to glow. Anais felt again that desire to touch him, to feel the warmth of his body under her hands. She said nothing, for fear of disturbing an operation as delicate as the one the medical droid was performing. In fact, it not noticed her presence, but continued in its work of mending, silently. Meanwhile, Anais's gaze fallen back to the pattern that Lord Maul had on his lower lip, feeling an intense desire to kiss him. Darth Maul sensed this desire, he sensed it clearly. He also felt her heartbeat, slightly faster than usual.

Finally the medical droid noticed her and in its metallic voice asked her:

-Good evening Mrs. Anais, you arrived on time: do you want to spread the healing ointment on Lord Maul's wound? - the droid delicately handed her a small jar with a yellow wax inside: - Surely her hands will be more suitable than mine for this kind of operation! - It continued while Anais timidly took that small jar. At that point, Lord Maul opened his eyes to look at her: his gaze, as always, was serious and stern, but he also seemed slightly tired. Anais felt short of breath, she suddenly thought that he might remembered that he had to punish her and began to think the worst. But although she was afraid, she tried to ignore this feeling: she come to him to talk to him, to thank him for all he done, therefore, she could not always let herself be influenced by her anxieties ... moreover, if he wanted to punish her, she could not oppose him resistance, so in the end, she decided to look him in the eye and with kindness, asked him:

-Can I ... my lord? -

A few seconds passed before Lord Maul nodded "yes" just with the movement of his head. Anais stepped in front of him, to spread that ointment on his wound. At that point, Darth Maul looked at her better: Anais was wearing a white dress, it was the one with which she entered his room for the first time, the one that according to him, best highlighted her perfect little body and that best matched with the color of her long blond hair. Anais was barefoot and had to tiptoe to reach his wound, although he was leaning against the metal table. Every time she approached him, he smelled her perfume: he removed his arms in front of his chest, thus letting Anais' small body come even closer to his.

In that moment he realized that he really wanted her very much !.

He looked at her face, while she was busy brushing with her fingers, the wound on his left shoulder giving him a slight tickle: her mouth was small and pink, he wanted to kiss her ... now it could be the right time to do it! But his intention was suddenly distracted by the girl's voice:

-I'm sorry my lord ... - she said unexpectedly as she went back to dip her index finger into the jar with the ointment inside: - It's my fault if you were hurt ... you risked your life ... for any slave! - Anais's eyes were veiled with tears. Darth Maul felt an unexpected warmth spread to his chest. Seeing his little slave's eyes veiled with tears made him feel anger: that's enough! Anais did not have to continue to suffer! So when the girl stood on tiptoe again to cover the wound with the ointment, when she approached his body and therefore also his face, he whispered:

-Not just any slave Anais ... MY slave! - Anais heard the warm and deep voice of her master close to her ear. That sentence made her heart leap, she felt an intense heat spread like a shiver down her back and onto her arms. The girl got off her toes looking her master in the eye while blinking, two big hot tears slowly rolled down her pink cheeks.

Darth Maul followed them with his eyes.

One of these tears came to Anais's mouth and filled the small cuts on her lips. When Darth Maul saw that tear wet the delicate and just opened lips of his slave, there was no more: he grabbed Anais's head in his hands and then, after looking deeply into her eyes for a few seconds, kissed her.

Anais didn't have time to realize anything.

Everything went very quickly without her being able to object. She felt her master's warm lips gently resting on her wet little lips and the only thing she was able to do at that moment, was just to hold her breath.

Now she was at a crossroads: either she pushed him away, apologizing, assuming all the responsibility, telling him that she was wrong to behave like this, or ... or she let her master kiss her and from that moment, she became a part of him .

But before reason could impose itself on instinct, before fear took over ... Anais had already decided. She closed her eyes and relaxed her body.

Darth Maul was waiting for a nod from Anais ... a nod that would allow him to understand that his little slave was longing for that kiss, otherwise he would walked away because he would never wanted to kiss her without her consent. And when he saw Anais close her eyes and when he felt her body relax ... he knew that she wanted to be kissed too.

Immediately, his two hearts beat faster, Darth Maul pulled his lips away from Anais's and then rested them on top of hers with more decision, while his hands still continued to hold her head. Anais felt her master's lips tighten hers by pulling them lightly, forcing her mouth to open. At that point, he released Anais's head, his left hand slipping behind her back, gently passing through her long golden hair, bringing her small body closer to his.

The medical droid arrived to perform a final check: Darth Maul sensed it and without turning towards him, he removed his hand from Anais's body and ordered him to stop.

Now nothing and no one could interrupted that much desired moment!

The droid saw Lord Maul order to stop it, but when it started to say something, the fingers of his hand closed showing it a fist: the droid understood clearly, there was no need for many other explanations! So it quietly retreated into a corner and shut off. He brought his hand back to the small body of his slave, in the exact point where he left it, stopping on her ass, which he squeezed hard. The other, however, passed through the girl's hair ending up behind her head: Darth Maul pushed Anais's face against his, allowing his tongue to gently penetrate her mouth. He searched for her tongue, touching it at first almost with the fear of hurting her. Then when he felt that she reciprocated with passion, his lips closed again on those of Anais and then reopened them, deeply sinking his tongue into the girl's small mouth. Passion and physical involvement began to take over. Lord Maul pressed Anais's body more firmly against his: the girl felt her breasts pressing against his chest, she felt the warmth and the scent of that body that she desired to touch. She dropped the jar of ointment to the floor and brought her slender arms around his shoulders. Initially, she was afraid to touch him, she didn't know if she could do it or not, but since he was kissing her, she thought that there would be nothing wrong! So she touched his skin, stroked the muscles of his arms following the shape with the tips of her fingers, then climbing gently, touched those of his shoulders and finally, passing around his neck, reached the pointed horns. She touched them with her fingers, then held them in her hands, feeling how hard and firmly they were anchored on his head.

Darth Maul felt an immense pleasure in feeling the small and delicate hands of his slave touch his horns once again: therefore, by instinct, he sank his tongue into her mouth with more force, pressing his lips on hers, going to touch with his teeth her upper lip. For a moment he forgot how frail and delicate the creature he held in his arms was. Anais was not like the Zabrak women, she was human and of all the humans he known, she was particularly small and delicate. This time, the girl felt the force with which her master sank the kiss, but she could not resist. So, shortly, after she felt one of his teeth brush against her upper lip, she noticed the metallic taste of blood that was probably coming out of some small cut.

Darth Maul also tasted Anais's blood in his mouth which obviously excited him even more, but he realized that if he continued like this, he would hurt her and for the girl it would no longer be a pleasure.

So he took Anais's head again in his hands and leaning his forehead against the girl's, he looked into her eyes. Anais opened hers, staring at her master's gold ones that seemed to glow with the same intensity as when he was fighting. She felt his breath against her face, their lips still inches apart:

-I thought.. I had lost you ... forever ... - he whispered, closing his eyes again, gently brushing Anais's lips with his. The girl smiled: Darth Maul opened his eyes to be able to look at that smile that this time was finally the most beautiful that Anais ever given him, much more beautiful than what he seen in front of Berak's boy!

Darth Maul felt again that sense of heat at the height of his chest and always holding Anais's head in his hands, he again forced the girl's lips to open slowly, thus sinking his tongue in his mouth once again. Anais had a sweet taste, it reminded him of the red fruits that grew on the mountains of his planet, in Dathomir and that he, together with his brothers, when he was a child, often went to look for them in order to eat them.

His little slave returned his kiss: Anais's mind was in complete chaos, she could no longer reason, physical pleasure prevailed over everything ... she just wanted to savor every moment, without thinking too much about the consequences that would ensue.

Darth Maul, on the other hand, as an experienced and mature man, knew that if he continued like this, the metal table in the infirmary would be used for other purposes ... very different from those to heal a person. Therefore he moved his mouth away from Anais's again, pressing his forehead against hers again and without opening his eyes, he said:

-Go to rest Anais ... -the girl nodded, without opening her eyes, but sensing that if she didn't stop kissing her master and that if she didn't listen to him ... that night Zelda wouldn't see her come back in the room.

With displeasure Anais removed her face from the forehead of her master on which she was always resting, she opened her eyes meeting his gaze:

-Good night my lord! - she said slowly slipping away from his arms that seemed not to want to leave her:

-Good night Anais ... - he answered as his hands parted Anais's.

The girl walked away from him shyly, spoiled ashamed for what she done so far, her cheeks were a deep pink color. Darth Maul followed her with his eyes until she disappeared through the door of the infirmary. He was left alone, in silence, immersed in his thoughts and still wearing the perfume of his slave's body and the sweet taste of her mouth.

Anais came to the bedroom in silence, barely holding back her tears. Zelda was still waiting for her:

-Anais ... how come it took you all this time to deliver those clothes to Lord Maul? - then she saw Anais's eyes veiled with tears: - Anais ... what happened? ..- but immediately after she noticed that little red cut on the girl's upper lip and understood: -Anais ... what .. you have ...done?-

Anais sat on the edge of the bed: she still did not know if those tears were of joy or if they were dictated by the knowledge that she done something very wrong. Zelda sat down next to her and moved a lock of hair behind her ear so that she could see her face better:

-Anais ... -she repeated.

The girl turned to look at her.

They were silent for a few seconds. Anais looked at the woman's long lekku: she knew that Zelda guessed what happened, so she couldn't keep this from her. But she was sorry to have to tell her ... she knew how she felt about Lord Maul, but if her master wanted to kiss her again ... her timing, in delivering the clothes or the things to eat in his room, would become very long and Zelda would ask her something sooner or later. So it might as well tell her right away:

-Zelda ... I kissed ... I kissed my master ... Lord Maul! -

The Twi'lek opened her eyes wide ... then closed them and put her hands to her head shaking her head:

-No ... no ... it's all wrong! It's all wrong! - the woman imagined that something like this would happen sooner or later, but she didn't believe it could really happen!

Anais tried to calm her down:

-Zelda ... I'm ... I'm sorry ... -

-No Anais you can't understand ... it's all wrong! -

The girl could not calm her down.

She was afraid she hurt her with that news:

-Zelda ...-then she took courage and said: -Zelda, you loved him right? -

At that point, the Twi'lek calmed down, took her hands off her head and stopped fidgeting. She looked at Anais with teary eyes:

-Yes Anais ... I loved him ... I loved him so much, you can't imagine how much ... but I also suffered so much for this never reciprocated love ... then you arrived ... met for case… -Anais felt terribly guilty.

-I'm sorry Zelda .. I didn't want to ... - but Zelda interrupted her:

-It's not your fault Anais, I'm not angry with you! - she smiled at her, but the young girl continued to feel clearly guilty.

-I done my time Anais, I fear for you my little one ... because you do not realize ... you not understood yet who you are really dealing with ... you have seen him ... you saw him fight, you saw with your own eyes that he had no pity for anything or anyone, that in a few minutes he destroyed an entire spaceship full of people ... - Zelda ran a hand near her eyes, wiping away her tears who began to descend, while Anais remained silent to listen to her:

-What do you think? You think that he'll be like all the other kids of your age? Do you think that, one day if you get tired of him … if one day, when you'll realize that he is not the right person for you… it will suffice just say: "I'm sorry I was wrong, I don't feel like continuing anymore?" ...do you think this Anais? -

Anais listened with wide eyes: she imagined that what she done...would have terrible consequences! She satisfied her instincts, she wanted to kiss him ... but she underestimated all these aspects:

-It's not just because he's a Sith ..- Zelda continued: - He's a Zabrak Anais and the Zabrak are a determined and resolute species, they are proud, strong and confident ... if he kissed you. .. he did not do it as a simple pastime, but he will carry out what he started because like all the Zabrak ... they always complete whatever task they are entrusted with ... -

There was a moment of silence: Anais kept repeating in her mind that she had made it big! Now she couldn't go back. She kissed him and started a game from which it was no longer possible to back down. She felt lost and frightened for a moment.

-I don't know what a creature like Lord Maul is capable of feeling- Zelda now had a calmer tone, less agitated: -But he will never feel love for you ... there will never be words like: "I love you" it will always be only possession, lust ... and for you Anais, pain ... so much pain ... - Zelda looked her straight in the eyes: -That pain will kill you, but you won't be able to die because your life is in his hands, he will decide if you have to die or not and he will not, because he will enjoy seeing you suffer, seeing you begging for your death ... -

Anais looked at Zelda with a look full of terror, but then suddenly something inside her made her think otherwise.

No, it couldn't be like that!

It couldn't be all true what Zelda was telling her! She never approached Lord Maul as approached Anais...Zelda never caught Lord Maul in moments of intimacy as she lived ... the girl thought back when Lord Maul made her feel his two hearts beating or when he rested his head on her chest letting himself be embraced and caressed ... no, there was something else in him, Anais was sure of it. So she let Twi'lek speak, let her feelings and fears vent, unfounded or not.

Anais knew she broken the rules, she knew that, with her master she would never have to go that far, she knew that there was not to be an involvement like that in her slave relationship, but with Lord Maul it had all been so ... so different! The emotions experienced with him ... had been unique, she never felt anything like it in her life! She couldn't say she loved him ... it was too early for that word, but she certainly wanted him, surely she felt with him ... protected, safe.

If Lord Maul kissed her again, if their relationship evolved into something more important ... well, then Anais would to wonder how she really felt about him ... though, as Zelda put it, she was now too late to back down.

Who knows how Lord Maul would reacted if she told him that she was wrong, that she did not want this kind of relationship ... Anais instinctively ran a hand on her neck ... but she wanted that kiss … why she had to say to her master that she could not carry on this relationship? Because she was afraid? It was time to stop being afraid! It was time to take responsibility!

So when Zelda told her:

-Anais ... promise me that tomorrow you will tell him that you were wrong ... that you are not going to continue this relationship with him ... and maybe you will always be in time to be forgiven without serious consequences!-

Anais did not answer her, she looked straight ahead and after a few seconds of silence said to her:

-I don't know Zelda ... I don't know …-

-Twi'lek looked at her in amazement: -Because you see ... I really wanted that kiss ... I wanted him to kiss me ... -

-Anais you don't realize ... -

-I know Zelda ... I probably don't realize it, but I'm ready to take on my responsibilities ... I'm sorry ... -

Zelda did not know what to say to her ... she followed Anais with her eyes as she got up and went to the bathroom to wash. She was silent, alone, then walked over to her bed and tried to fall asleep.

What she had to say to Anais, she said ... now the girl had to do her own thing ... and in any case, she envied her because in her place ... she would done the same! She loved Lord Maul, but he never returned her ... who knows why he preferred such a small and frail human female to the many females that passed through his hands, including those that his master Darth Sidius made him find in bed to vent his sexual instincts!

Zelda watched Anais slip under her sheet. She wasn't sure she could think Anais was lucky… Lord Maul was a dangerous creature… she sighed and hoped that nothing would happen to that naive little human.