Rune had given up without a fight, without ever lifting her hand in so much as a threatening gesture. I had expected more out of the proud warrior. They led her up the walkway of the massive freighter, two guards shackling her arms behind her back easily. Already they had stripped her down to the simple, sleeveless tunic she wore beneath her heavy training robes. Jagged scars shone brightly against her pale skin, things she had never discussed. Until that moment, I had never considered how little I truly knew about this woman, my teacher…and…friend. This creature appearing in the night and snatching my brother's soul from us. Or was it the fallen angel that asked for my father to take her life as she had taken so many others before? But my mother's blood was still wet on my hands. I curled my fingers into tight fists, staring at them in disbelief as I saw her life slip through them. You. You fiend. Had you never come into my life, this never would have happened.
"YOU!" I screamed, blind rage overcoming me as I tore away from the guard that restrained me, tackling the broken woman to the ground, pounding my manacled fists into her back again and again. "You took my family! You took everything from me! And now you abandon me again, you witch!" Tears choked my words as I waited for her to any second throw me off as easily as she had done so many other times. But she merely lay there, taking my beating. They pulled me off her, bringing me roughly to my feet as they hauled her up as well. It was then that her eyes met mine, staring back at me with a sorrow so profound, I had to look away. I am sorry, she said to me without words. I am truly sorry. She turned as they shoved her into the ship. I staggered towards it, wracked with sobs hushed by the roar of the engines.
"No, damn you! Take me with you! You can't leave me again!" Behind me, the dark man laughed, harshly grabbing me by the shoulder.
"Oh, never fear, my pet. We could never leave Rune's dearest pupil here, alone," he growled softly. "We need you. You will guarantee her will is broken…completely." I could hear Mother cry out as they moved her into another ship. A sharp pain in my mind, and everything became dark.
I could feel him before I could see him. The tingle at the base of my neck was such a familiar feeling I fought long to forget. Him. I was already sitting up, slowly, the boy stirring restlessly in his sleep beside me. [ My, Rune, are you so eager to replace me that you would take a child into your bed? ] His voice hissed in my mind mockingly as I scanned the room. I slid from the palate, crouching silently in the dim of the early morning. My hand darted instinctively to my belt, only to find my saber absent, only to…[ Yes, dearest Rune, you left Us. Remember? ] Images passed through my consciousness. Viewing myself in third person. Those streets, so familiar…I inhaled sharply through gritted teeth. [ So shocked, Lover? Of course you realized We would have you followed. Or do you think We would actually trust you? ] In my head, a low cackle filtered into reality. My eyes followed the sound to a figure leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over a sable chest. In his hand, dull metal glinted in the moons' light. I stood, a chill slithering through my appendages, despite my heavy robes.
[ I should have finished you off, Eliath. ] The figure's shoulders rose as he chuckled again, tapping the metal cylinder against his arm.
[ Oh! Rune…how I missed your spirit. You know, They are getting so old. I was hoping you would be willing to come back. Retake your position. ]
[ Never. ] I growled, taking a threatening step towards him. The amusement I had felt from him ceased. Pushing away from the doorframe, he took a step towards me as well. Suddenly, his face was bathed in a hiss of violet light, a blade erupting from the tip of the saber he held in his hand.
[ What a wonderful tool. You truly did a good job reconstructing it… ] He rushed me. I had no means of defense, and was forced to the floor beside the bed, the young Ashton still sleeping peacefully. "And how ironic that it will finally kill you," he snarled, pressing the plasma beam dangerously close under my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. The sudden voice made Ashton stir. In the corner of my vision, he blinked, then slowly woke up, the sight taking a moment to process. He bolted upright, grabbing for his own saber. Eliath grinned, his pale face twisting, his hand steady as it held my saber at my throat.
"My replacement is awake," he spat, smiling deviously. Ashton backed up against the wall. The Dark Lord looked back to me, lowering his face close to mine. "My poor Love. You left me for a coward?" Eliath kneeled on my sternum, my breath catching in my lungs. [ Then he shall watch as I break you. Break your precious pride. ] I could see Ashton struggle with the situation, with Eliath's words, knowing the other still conversed with me, yet not being able to hear the exchange as Eliath's black eyes hazed slightly with the concentration required to speak telepathically. I turned my head away from the boy, away from Eliath's penetrating gaze. The Darksider's free hand caught the edge of my robes, pulling them away from my shoulder. His touch on my bare arm was cold, as cold as my own. A shudder escaped, involuntarily. I closed my eyes. Ashton, I thought, I tried to protect you. And I could not. Like my sister. Father. The raven-haired man above me traced the scars, thick as the blade of a lightsaber, crisscrossing my skin. When he smiled again, I could feel his lips move at the base of my jaw. A dull rage struck me, emanating from the base of my spine, stronger than the pressure at my chest, or the burning at my throat. Eliath at the entrance of the temple, black hair plaited down his back, in battle armor, his unusual burgundy blade my last obstacle in the darkened tunnels before I could claim my freedom. Another vision entered my own—the chambers, the tattoo that cut across his chest, as if one of his victim's souls was trying to claw its way through his chest. I clenched my eyes closed, trying to shake the memory. "So you do remember," he purred into my ear, his hand squeezing my shoulder painfully, fingers digging into my flesh, into his scars. I could feel Ashton's confusion, followed by his horror and his fear as a female scream broke the chilling silence. "Then you should also remember, I come well prepared."
Eliath raised my saber as Ashton watched, bringing the hilt down on my temple with a moist crack, dizzying me, and he hoisted me to my feet.
I only woke up a few times while on the ship. The interior was cold, much colder than my home planet. My body ached, my joints stiff and refusing to comply when I tried to move. An energy field of some sort surrounded my tiny prison. I felt sick, like I was missing something. My eyes, my ears, my lungs…they all worked, but they felt incomplete, like they were only working part of the time. So in the minutes or hours between unconsciousness, I thought. That dark man…Rune looked as if she knew him, as if they shared…a familiarity. Is that why she never returned my advances? What if she loved this man? What if she loves him still? Why would she let him dominate her so easily? Who was the woman I had come to know these past two years?
I found myself in a dark alcove, my wrists bound behind my back, and my arms secured with strange, metal binders. I didn't feel as emptily sick as I did aboard the ship, and could make out a few amenities scattered about the unlit room. Largest of all was a stone door, carved into rough-hewn wall. Within moments, it slid aside, spilling bright light into the recess. The tall, dark man entered, motioning for the pirates to stay outside. The lantern he carried just barely lit his ghostly face, giving it an unholy shine. This he hung on an archaic metal hook jutting from the wall. I struggled to sit, the binders digging painfully through my tunic as I pushed feebly against the bare floor. As I righted myself, I glowered angrily at him. He crouched to my eye level, a grin playing across his lips. From this close, he looked so much like Rune; except, where she had an almost angelic whiteness, this man was dark. His black hair hung in a long plait down his back, falling almost to the studded weapons belt about his waist. He appeared to be the same age, but I had no way of telling if that was merely a trick of the Force. In his pupil-less eyes, I saw an almost sadistic gleam, so different from the anguish in Rune's viridian gaze. The fire I had always admired in her eyes made me turn away from his. His skin was wan and pale, not like the stark whiteness that made Rune so exotic to me. He shared the cut of her chin, the line of her neck that was somehow masculine on him. The cut of his robes was less austere, but still emphasized the power of his broad shoulders. They were both beautiful. Were all these monsters like this? I stopped. What was I thinking? How could I find this creature beautiful? The thoughts seemed like they weren't my own. As if he were listening to my musings, his smile broadened.
"Yes, little puppet. We are both beautiful killers, the most deadly of foes. But do not fool yourself, child. Our dear Rune is no angel," he purred, the accent I recognized from so many years ago. I gasped, looking back to him in disbelief.
"Surprised your thoughts are not as well guarded as you would like to believe, eh, toy?" He laughed cruelly, expelling hot air on my neck. "I know all of your secrets." His gloved hand grabbed my chin roughly, wrenching my eyes up to meet his. "I know how you feel about her, how you foolishly dream of her returning your love, that you could one day be her equal, her lover," he growled, his fingers tightening over my jaw. Suddenly, he sneered, shoving me backwards harshly as he released his grip. My head hit the wall, a spike of pain flaring at the base of my skull.
"We know nothing of love. We ARE the Darkside. We live only to feel pain, to feel rage, to kill. Did you think your time with her was a game, little boy?" He raised his voice, the low growl now filling the room in controlled anger. Lunging forward, he planted his hands on either side of my head, making me wince in fear, turning my face as he brought his closer. I couldn't force myself to meet his horrible glare. I expected him to hit me. I expected him to snap my neck between his fingers and be done with me. Instead, I felt the warmth of his cheek against mine. So unlike the icy chill of Rune's skin. His hot breath was ragged in my ear.
"Did you enjoy it? The feeling of power when you were around her? Did you enjoy pretending you were a killer, like us? I know you did. You longed to take life, to try to understand what she felt when she killed your brother, that coward of a Jedi. Did you know he pleaded for his life like a broken pack animal? Yes," he purred, the low hum of his voice stinging my ear. "We were both there, remember? Did she tell you about that night? Did she tell you I killed him, when she could not? She never told you, did she? That I squeezed his life between my hands, his internal organs rupturing without anyone ever seeing? He must have died in horrible agony…"
A sobbing moan escaped my lips, unbidden. I knew what he said was true. I heard it in his voice. I had always blamed Rune, hated her unduly. I had felt something else there, someone else in the meadow. How could I have been so wrong? How could she have not told me?
"Yes, she never mentioned me, did she? Just as she never mentioned all the nights she spent in my arms, after our battles, as my lover. One could say we were very close, young Ashton. We shared many things. You could never make her forget, as I could." I tried to open my eyes, to clear the haze that eclipsed my thoughts. The throbbing at the back of my head increased in intensity as foreign images overrode my own muffled thoughts, each one flashing with the pounding of my heart and matching my quickening pulse. It was Rune. Rune was wearing strange armor. She had blood on one hand. In the other, a violet saber. Fear. She looked…content? No, triumphant. Another flash. Her eyes, the same as his. She enjoyed it. Another place, still looking into Rune's eyes. Was this pain? Anguish? It felt…good. It felt comforting, to be surrounded by so much pain. So much death. Suddenly, my own vision came jarring into sickening clarity. Confusion crept through me, raining doubt.
"She merely pitied you, little doll. Loved you like a weak little pet, a tiny puppet."
I had tried to be so brave for her, to show her I was like she was. I was nothing but a child, playing adult games. Bitter tears stung my eyes. The man slid his cheek from mine, smearing his skin with wetness. He leaned back, settling on the backs of his heels as he reached out, almost affectionately, touching the tears that fell from my chin.
"It hurts, no? To know she lied to you, all this time. And to think, you were willing to do anything for her. How does she repay you? By endangering your family, once again…"
I clenched my eyes, squeezing out more tears. She did betray us again. She promised it would never happen again. She promised I would never have to be afraid. For all I knew, my mother was dead, murdered for Rune's own selfish pride. She never lifted a finger to help us. "I hate her," I whispered harshly, my voice choked with anger.
"Of course you do, my little one. And now, I will help you get your revenge…"
