She laid on her bed, staring at the black wall. After returning to her quarters, Athena had thrown up. Her body didn't seem to be able to handle the stress anymore. After Hux dismissing her critique about drawing in young recruits that were barely children and Kylo's horrendous treatment of her, she had taken matters in her own hand. She oversaw the new outposts, after all.

With Kylo lashing out again, it felt like a small act of defiance that felt incredibly good. Earlier in the day, Kylo had attacked a stormtrooper just for looking at him in the wrong way.

Athena was in no mood to see him, so she bailed on dinner with him. And it didn't take long for Kylo to show up in her room.

"Where were you?" Kylo's voice was as sharp as it used to be. He even wore his helmet again, hiding any trace of the man behind the attire. He still limped.

Athena didn't bother to turn around. "I'm not feeling well."

"Look at me," he growled, his anger radiating from him like heat. Slowly, the young woman sat up and faced him, rolling her eyes at him.

"Hiding is not going to save you, apprentice."

"What is it?" Athena knew what he wanted. But she wasn't going to admit that so easily.

"Your communicator. I let someone work around the encryption when you first arrived here. I wonder why today you chose to make a couple thousand potential recruits from Moon 314-CT-X citizens of Serenno."

Athena sat down on an armless chair, adjusting her clothes, and folding her hands in her lap. Then she looked up, unfazed. "You're controlling my communication? I don't think I appreciate that."

"This is not a game, Athena. Do you even realize what you've done?"

"It's none of your business. The Order has no say in the matter who becomes my citizen," she declared matter-of-factly. Suddenly, the Force made her unable to move.

"It's my business if the men were supposed to serve the Order." He effortlessly moved two fingers to fix her with the Force, without breaking a sweat.

"Sadly, those people cannot become soldiers. They fall under the protection of the Outer Rim Peace accords. You wouldn't declare war on the ORA just for a couple of kids, wouldn't you?" she snapped back. Her body stayed immobile. She didn't give him the satisfaction of admitting her fault.

"Never do this again," Kylo yelled, his grip on her tightening. He walked up behind her, taking her hair, and pulling her back, making her stare at him as he pushed himself against her, towering upside down above her. It could have been a sensual gesture – if there wasn't the clear threat behind it. Athena's back arched as she stared back into the silver metal of his helmet.

"Talk to me, Kylo. What is going on? Tell me!" She pleaded. If there was something she hated, it was feeling powerless. "You've told me you care for me. That I am yours. What happened to all of that? Was it all some kind of elaborate lie? Why did you even come here?"

Again, Athena felt this rage in her heart, this overwhelming anxiety taking over. How could she have been so blind to trust him? For a short amount of time in Serenno, she had believed there could be a happy end to their story.

"You simply don't get it, do you? I am becoming soft because of you. You are making me lose sight of what matters." Even the vocoder couldn't hide his desperation.

"I am not making you do anything. You are the one making yourself miserable," she pointed out. It was too easier to push this all on her, it was unfair and wrong.

"The Supreme Leader knows what you are to me. I can't protect you any longer. He wants to test you. Us both." Quickly, he removed his helmet. He looked truly miserable; Athena noticed. But it was no excuse for his behavior. His words made Athena feel sick to her stomach again.

"What kind of test are you talking about?" she inquired.

Kylo grabbed her wrist. "I didn't lie to you. Ever. In Serenno, I thought about what our life could be. You deserve better than me. A future. I don't know how you do it, how you defy anyone that dares to tell you what to do. But I can't. I can't leave this path I'm on, and you make me want to leave it."

He was about to lose her, he was sure of it. Why did he need to be tested all the time? Why couldn't he have the resolve and strength of his grandfather? Athena had the unnerving talent of making him question everything he believed in. But this constant challenge was the thing about her that made him fall in love with her in the first place. He felt a shiver in his body as he fathomed his own thoughts.

Her eyes met his, unforgiving like smooth amethyst. Kylo sensed something about her he couldn't place his finger on, hidden behind the feelings of anxiety and pain. Before he could explore it further, she fought her way out of his grip.

"What does the Supreme Leader want, Kylo?" she said defiantly. But Kylo knew she was excellent at hiding her feelings. He knew he was hurting her, right after he told her how much she meant to him. It was cruel. And that was the the problem entirely. He wasn't supposed to feel so remorseful about it. Swallowing hardly, he decided to tell her the truth.

"He wants you to fight the Knights of Ren. If you win, you may continue your training. But – "

"I get it," Athena interrupted him, her face completely drained of color, but her eyes filled with resolve.

"I can't change his mind. I can't stop it." Kylo added, begging her to understand. The day he'd met her, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill her, he wouldn't have wasted any thought about it. It was incomprehensible how quickly everything had changed.

"How can he think you're grown soft? He should have seen you aggressing me earlier," she muttered.

He softly cupped her face. "I am sorry, Athena."

Supreme Leader was going to make him kill his own father and Athena. And he was going to obey, even though everything inside him wanted it all to stop.

"When do I have to fight them?" she asked.

OoOoO

The red walls of the throne room seemed to have no end and yet Athena felt crushed by them.

The knights of Ren were placed in a circle around her, their faces hidden by menacing black helmets. The weapons in their hands were all different, but all deadly.

Athena knew hardly anything about them, except that they were a group of trained killers, all capable of wielding the Force. Kylo commanded them.

Snoke's immense figure was waiting impatiently for them to start. Kylo stood right next to his throne, miniscule in comparison.

Athena's hair was braided back into a tight ponytail. Not showing any sign of fear, Athena released the silver clasp and took her cape, pulling it together and walking to Kylo, pushing the ball of fabric into his hands.

"Master," she sneered.

Kylo was impressed how his apprentice's face stayed cold and immobile. She was wearing a tight black armor over her usual training attire; her violet eyes were emphasized with black eyeliner. She looked like a warrior, he thought. But Kylo wasn't nearly as calm as her. Looking the part wasn't going to make her win this fight.

He didn't want to doubt her, but the Knights of Ren had received much longer training, they were ruthless and brutal.

Kylo wanted to break something, to scream and to fight everyone who attempted to harm Athena. But he couldn't. He was about to watch her die at the hands of his men, while he gave the command.

"It's time, Kylo Ren. Let's see what your apprentice has learned." Snoke's voice was filled with slimy joy. He wanted to see them suffer. "If she's worthy, I might let you play with her a little longer."

Athena didn't even look up to Snoke. Kylo felt a beam of pride for her.

"She has her grandfather's poise," he heard Snoke's voice resonate in his head. "Cut your ties to her. Let her die. She is but a girl, only flesh that kept you warm for a while."

Kylo took a deep breath, focusing on the scene before him and shielding his thoughts from Snoke.

Athena raised her lightsaber, ready to defend herself.

"Ushar, Ap'lek, Vicrul. Trudgen. Start."

Thank you for your reviews, I appreciate it so much!

Prepare for a fight scene next chapter as the Knights of Ren make an appearance...