Aaliyah's thoughts were still floated with Anakin's promise for days. She didn't know what to think about it, however, she soon realized, that this exactly is what the Sith are all about. The apprentice killing the master, while the apprentice becomes the teacher and takes on his own pupil. Does Anakin have someone who would become his apprentice?
Immediately, Aaliyah's mind went to Calista, the pretty, dark-skinned girl with enchanting eyes and a sharp tongue. The girl, herself, told Aaliyah, that Anakin trusts her more than anyone else. That he was in charge during her training, possibly training her himself. She was strong with the force, a skilful fighter and had anything it took to be the next apprentice of a Sith Lord if Anakin killed Palpatine.
They would be a lethal duo; Calista would follow any order from Anakin (at least that's what Aaliyah assumed) and Anakin would be able to reach his full potential. They would be unstoppable.
They would be lethal; Aaliyah was sure about it.
Aaliyah stayed in Anakin's quarters the whole time, just in a different room, after she snapped at smirking Anakin, that she will not share a room, let alone a bed with him. "Suit yourself. But you are welcome to join me whenever you feel lonely," was his sassy and overly arrogant response, making Aaliyah even more irritated. Because the truth is, she wouldn't mind falling asleep next to him. But she won't tell him that.
Therefore, she moved to the room opposite his master bedroom and tried to avoid him at all costs. She tried to tell herself, that it was because his whole existence, his presence disgusted her, made her blood boil and feel unusually vengeful, for everything he had done. But the truth was quite different and that scared her. She felt shameful, when her real feeling came to the surface anytime she could hear his steps outside her door. Aaliyah was scared that he would recognize her emotions and use them against her and was terrified she wouldn't be able to control herself in his presence any longer and act on her deepest, darkest desires.
It was morning and Aaliyah couldn't say how many days she was in the room. One weak? Ten days? Fourteen days? She was pacing the room, utterly upset and distressed after she woke up from another dream that included Anakin with her in bed, doing things that need to stay buried deep inside her mind. How could she be so weak? She needs to get a hold of herself before these thoughts and dreams lead her down the path she can't go.
That's when the main character of her dream walked into her room, as nonchalant and proud as ever. He was dressed in black robes, missing his cape and black helmet, two lightsabres swinging back and forth on his belt whenever he took a step closer to Aaliyah, who was now standing in the middle of the room as if a bolt of lightning struck her. But now, when she looked at his face, she could only think about how handsome he is and how the version of him in her mind can't compare to the real Anakin standing proudly in front of her.
"What do you want now?" Aaliyah said these words with irritation before she could stop herself.
Anakin's eyebrows flew upwards, and amusement crept into his eyes. "You seem cranky today. Haven't you sleep well?"
If Aaliyah could see herself, she would see her face going pale white. And that's exactly what made Anakin smile. That and also the feeling of shame and embarrassment. He immediately knew where they came from. He slowly came to stand just inches in front of her, watching her cheeks go redder and redder, gently stroking her heating up flesh. "What's wrong, pretty girl? Did you have a nightmare?"
She didn't say anything, just looked at him and tried to come up with something that would wipe that arrogant smirk from his face. But with every second it was wider and wider, making her blood boil, but also the tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
Two sides of Aaliyah's consciousness were fighting a battle of what is right and wrong. A battle of what is morally correct and what is absolutely unacceptable. And one side was stronger, slowly winning and coming to the light, when Anakin run his fingers down her chin to her throat.
"Are you nervous?" he asked, showing his dimples in a satisfied smile when he put his index finger and middle finger right on her vein that was jumping up and down quickly. Just another proof of the effect he had on her, the quick heartbeat she couldn't slow down no matter how hard she tried. "Why are you still holding back? Why are you still suppressing yourself? Why don't you let yourself have what you want? Why don't you let yourself be who you want to be?"
"And what do I want? Who do I want to be?" she asked, leaning her head to the side, looking at him quizzically. "Tell me, if you think that you know me so well."
He laughed shortly, but no humour could have been detected in his tone. "I know you better than anyone else. I know your darkest secrets and fears. Why are you still denying?"
Aaliyah looked into his eyes for a while, slowly nodding her head. He was right. Almost. "You did know me," she whispered and took his hand that was still caressing her neck. "You knew me better than anyone else, you are right. I let you know everything about me. But that was a long time ago," she said and pulled his hand away from her, watching how his smile slowly fell from his face.
He was looking at her as if he couldn't understand her words. As if she didn't even speak the same language as he did. A little wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows when he tried to comprehend the meaning behind her words. When he understood and didn't like what he heard. Didn't like that the conversation was turning against him and he no longer had control over it.
"Five years is a long time and after everything, you know," Aaliyah continued, letting Anakin's hand fall beside his body limply like it didn't even belong to him. "it changes people. I grew up, I lost everything, I lost you only to learn, years later, that you were not the person I thought you were. Maybe what happened messed up all of us. Nobody is the same anymore. Yet, you stand here, trying to tell me, or maybe trying to convince yourself, that you know me. You don't, not anymore. The person you used to know, that Aaliyah was brave, happy, hopeful, maybe naïve, but she dreamed of changing something. This Aaliyah," she waved her hands all over her and sarcastically smiled, trying not to think about the burning sensation in her eyes. "this Aaliyah lost everything, she is scared, with no hope, with nothing to make her happy, not even the fact that you are here because you are everything she was against."
For once, he didn't try to interrupt her. He stood like a statue, breathing heavily, but still listened to every word. "So, if you are capable of love, maybe you just love who I used to be. Because truth be told, I'm just a shadow of that person in every aspect. And maybe I also love somebody who's not real. Somebody who I thought you were."
"That's not the truth," he said quickly, and his voice slightly wavered when he said the last word. Yes, something told her, that it may not be the case, that she still loved him with everything, but he didn't need to know that. Why would he? Just to use it against her. Just to manipulate her. As she said, she is no longer that naïve. She will no longer crumble just at the thought of him. He will have to face consequences one way or another. "That's not true," he repeated and came closer to her.
Aaliyah turned her face away from him, when he closed the gap between them, kissing her on the cheek instead of her lips. "Isn't it?" she looked at him, seeing his shock from rejection written all over his face, which somehow fuelled her. "And what did you think? That all of this was just a light bump on the road? Something we would get through and everything is going to be alright? If that was the case, we would be together already. But I don't even know who you are."
"Yes, you do," he said through his teeth and both of his palms were holding Aaliyah's head to make her look at him. "Yes, you do know me. Just like I do, you are the one who knows me better than anyone."
She shook her head. "No, you are lying to yourself. I thought you were a good, gentle, honest man, but you are the very opposite of that. How could I know you? The Anakin I loved would never hurt a fly, would never make people suffer, would never punish a man just because he feels like it."
Anakin let go of her quickly as if she burned his flesh and anger replaced every other emotion. "Is this what it's all about? That man? Hm? Is this what it's all about? Trying to vouch for him? Trying to manipulate me to let him go?"
"No, I'm just telling you how it is."
"Do you really want to play like this? With me," he asked, and Aaliyah didn't say anything, making him angrier than he was before. Before he blew up in her face, he turned around and stormed out of the room, leaving her behind without noticing the pain in her eyes and written all over her face. He couldn't see the mask falling off of her face, making her look like a lost child, who was slowly breaking.
He only thought about all of the things she threw in his face and the possibility that they could be true. Just the thought of her not having any feeling towards him was maddening.
His emotions were almost making the air around him crack and vibrate by the time he entered his room he used as a sanctuary whenever he needed to focus, relax, meditate or just be alone. Walking back and forth like a wounded beast, his hands shook, and skin almost burned with rage, pain and something else he couldn't name, because he never before felt that. But it was a nasty feeling, leaving behind an acidic like taste on his tongue.
Anakin was desperately trying to sort his feeling out, come back to his senses, but she successfully confused him and used his weakness against him. And now, he couldn't hold back the crippling thoughts of Aaliyah not loving him anymore. The thought of not having her or her being in love with somebody else. It took everything in him not to explode and trash the whole room. But it wouldn't help anything anyway.
With his hands formed in tight fists, Anakin slowly sunk to his knees, breathing harder than after any fight. He didn't like this. He didn't like the feeling of no control, the feeling of being manipulated and fooled.
The door behind him slowly opened and without looking he knew it was Calista. She was quiet for a while only watching him and analysing the situation. If it was the right time or if she should just leave.
"My Lord is everything alright?" she asked quietly, respectfully.
"Yes, everything is just fine," he mumbled and opened his eyes. "But there is one important job for you," Anakin slowly stood up, turning around to face his most loyal servant, his apprentice.
"I'm at your service," Calista said and bowed her head.
"You will be in charge of Aaliyah."
Calista couldn't control the smile on her face. "She won't be happy."
"It will be good for her," he shrugged his shoulders. "And when we return to Mustafar, you will continue your training with her."
"As you wish, my Lord," Calista bowed again and wanted to walk out from the room when she stopped abruptly. "Do you ever plan on telling her the truth about me?"
Anakin sighed and was silent just thinking about Calista's question and what the right answer was. "In time she will figure it out on her own."
Calista rolled her eyes. "And she will be hysterical again."
Anakin's face went dark quicker than she could have regretted her actions. "Be careful, Calista."
"My apologies," she said quickly and bowed her head for the third time in their short interaction.
"Maybe you should use the time you will spend with her and work on your relationship. After all, she is your sister," he retorted and with a smile watched as Calista's apologetic expression turned into disgust and almost anger. However, she tried to hold all the emotions back.
"As you say, my Lord," Calista mumbled and after Anakin waved his hand, she turned around and briskly left the room feeling all types of way except happy, that she should be spending any time with that woman. With the woman, she shares blood with. Calista didn't like her. Her personality. Her attitude. Aaliyah as a person.
However, she would never disobey her master.
So, she will do what she had to.