"Her training is going well. She has shown to be drawn to the darkness in a matter of two days. Her mental capabilities are to be trained; her sword fighting is already recommendable," Kylo reported to Supreme Leader Snoke.

"Is it going well? I heard screams in your quarters last night," Hux remarked. Snoke looked back and forth between Kylo Ren and General Hux.

"She has a lot to learn. But I am a very patient teacher," Kylo answered, alluding to another meaning behind his words. He wasn't going to let Hux taint his efforts.

"She is wasted on him, Supreme Leader," General Hux raised his voice condescendingly, surprising Kylo Ren on how bluntly he attacked him in front of Snoke. "The girl would make a better general. Her education is impeccable. I would much rather take her into to training to become a leader of the Order. We don't need another killing machine out there since we have the already formidable knights of Ren."

Kylo scoffed. To his pleasure, Snoke dismissed the idea with a wink of his hand. "She is to be trained. Whatever she lacks in strengths does not matter if she is loyal to the order. Kylo Ren, I can feel you have already a connection to her. Use it. You may present her as your apprentice today.

OoOoO

"You will have the rank of a captain within the First Order. Not a small feat in the matter of a couple days, may I add," Hux smiled without any warmth.

Her clothing had been chosen by Kylo. It resembled the Jedi clothing, with two strands of fabric crossed above her chest and held back with a large leather belt. A pair of gloves covered her arms up to her upper arms. Tight leather pants and boots with a large heel completed the look. Her dark hair was left open over her back. She looked terrifying, mostly to herself.

Only a couple of moments later, Athena was walked into a full conference room. She recognized Captain Phasma and other high rank officers.

Kylo Ren filled the room with his presence alone, not needing to talk. Everyone saluted, standing in a row, as Kylo marched across the room to meet her and Hux.
"By order of Supreme Leader Snoke, I present to you my apprentice of the Force, the granddaughter of Count Dooku, Lord Tyrannus." Kylo introduced her, authority weighing every single word.

"Countess of Serenno will have the rank of a captain and serve me personally. Make announcement to the systems of the Outer Rim on behalf of the ORA. As of today, they are to be considered neutral. Until the details of the accords are finalized, we will respect a truce. The Countess of Serenno and General Hux will oversee the coming negotiations," he announced. Athena could not help but feel a little weight lifted from her chest. She would personally message the details to her association. She nodded at Kylo Ren, not able to hide her relief.

She felt the looks of the officers and captains in the room on her. Distrust, jealousy, fear, spite. A mix of many emotions. The young woman was used to those looks. Just like in politics, she would have to prove herself to them. With a few steps, she walked into the middle of the room, surprising Kylo Ren and Hux.

Without any self-doubt, she addressed the highest-ranked First Order members.

"Thank you all for the honor bestowed upon me. May we bring order to the galaxy together." Athena knew how to play the game. With confidence, she turned towards Kylo Ren, knowing what was expected of her. She fell on her knee, elegantly and swift, her head still risen to meet Ren's hidden gaze behind his helmet. "I pledge myself to you, my master," she said with a low, but determined voice.

Kylo handed her his right hand. "Rise up, apprentice."

She placed her own in his. In this moment, she felt something falling into place. Like her fate had been sealed. A vision came to her mind. Her grandfather, kneeling before a hooded figure and rising again as Darth Tyranus.

OoOoO

Kylo could not take his eyes off this woman. She was playing a game, gambling with everything she had on the line. After having caught glimpses of her mind and her memories, he knew for her the end justified the means. Athena Toussaint – or Athena of Serenno – would not hesitate to use any weakness of his to her advantage.

And the girl didn't even know how to use a blaster.

Yet he noticed the glimpse of respect in General Hux's eyes as she addressed the high-ranked First Order members, as if she had just fulfilled some etiquette Kylo knew nothing about. He watched Hux approach her after the assembly was officially over. The way he fawned over her, his slimy voice dripping with admiration – Kylo felt almost felt sick.

And he felt even worse as Athena answered with an equally hypocritical smile, flashing her teeth at him. It was simply ridiculous how fake they both were. Anger rose in Kylo's chest, flushing hot fire through his veins. Snoke had warned him about her.

"So, it really uses the energy of the sun?" he overheard Athena ask.

The two of them immediately stopped talking as Kylo approached.

"I see you two getting along," Kylo's voice sounded metallic through the vocoder. While Athena's purple eyes betrayed no emotion, Hux seemed annoyed.

"We are," Athena smiled at both widely. "General Hux is a very challenging negotiator, as I must admit."

Kylo Ren clenched his fists. Was she mocking him? She was treating this conversation as if they were at a social event. Not to mention the fool Hux was clearly answering questions about Starkiller base.

"Your apprentice is charming, commander Ren. She may teach you some civilized manners yet," the red-headed men added, his smile growing more disdainfully as he turned towards Kylo.

"A warrior like commander Ren is certainly not in need of manners, General," Athena chuckled.

"You certainly need to be reminded of yours, Hux. The Countess of Serenno belongs to me. She is mine. You are not to look at her, you are not to talk to her, you are not to lay a finger on her. If you do, I will tear your limps fr– "
"Yes. Apologies, General. I do have to continue my training, so my master and I will leave to his quarters. If you'll excuse us."

Athena flashed a charmingly bright smile as she hooked her arm under Kylo's.

Hux's expression became blank, feeling the rage Kylo exuded.

"Oh. Of course, Countess Athena." Hux mumbled, looking back and forth between the two.

Before any of them could react, Athena walked Kylo out of the command center.

As soon as they were out of sight, her act dropped.
"Are you sure this is smart, master? Humiliating Hux like that?" she asked, untangling herself from him.

"He was humiliating himself," Kylo answered, the decoder revealing none of his emotions.

"It will come back to haunt you, I promise. I do have experience with men like him," she explained.
Again, Kylo could not explain where the anger came from. Maybe because he was being scolded by a young woman who had just treated him like a child.
"You disrespected me. I did not allow you to interrupt my conversation with him."

Athena raised her eyebrows at him, placing her hands in her hips. "You were just about to rip him apart. And I don't appreciate being treated as your belonging, but that's between the two of us. I wonder why you feel so threatened by Hux."

"I don't feel threatened," Kylo pushed her aside, using his arm to pin her to the wall.

"You just told him you would tear his limbs from his body because he talked to me," she answered defiantly.

"He was practically drooling while you were questioning him about Starkiller. Don't think I wouldn't notice that girl," he growled. "I have no interest in your pretty words or games. Nor will I be seduced by –"
"By what?" Athena smiled innocently, while the look in her eyes lacked innocence entirely.

All he felt was overwhelming desire to rip the clothes from her body, to show her who she belonged to, who her master was – just while hot anger and frustration made him want to smash the wall behind her. What had she done to him that made him lose his temper even quicker than usual?

Her pink lips were parted, waiting for him to answer, her violet eyes full of mischief.
Kylo needed to regain control, so he grabbed her throat without hurting her, pressing his leather covered thumb on her lower lip. Her head pressed against the walls, but her body tilted towards him. He felt how she held her breath, wanting, hoping for more.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew, countess." With that, he left her, walking away, and leaving Athena panting.

I'm so sorry about the messed up upload! I don't know what happened. Thanks for telling me!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Did you like jealous Kylo? Are you ready for Athena turning darker?