"I'm so sorry to have left you, my dear. I'm afraid I got a little hungry for a small snack and had to run down to the kitchen for a snack." Deltina was standing in the doorway to Kahama's room. He had summoned her here a short while ago, soon after he realized she had left the garden. She hadn't intended to leave him there, but things had taken longer than she thought, and she lost track of time. She had to be more careful if she expected not to blow her new objective.
"It's quite alright. I understand completely. Please, come in," Kahama beckoned from his bed. She had heard him pacing back and forth agitatedly, as well as his scramble to find a relaxed position on the bed when she knocked and spoke her name. "Won't you have a seat? But my, you seem tense." He shifted to where he was sitting on his legs facing a side of the bed. "I am an expert at massages. Please, come, and let me relax you." He smiled that small smile of one enticing another, and Deltina knew it. Still, she was rather tense. Maybe he could help her while she was still harming him.
"Yes. Yes, that might be lovely." She walked over to him and sat down on the edge of the bed. He crawled over behind her and placed his hands on her exposed shoulders, gently rubbing his fingers into her skin. She moaned slightly as she felt her muscles give out under his magical touch and relax. He really was good at this. Of course, he talked as he worked. He could never stop talking.
"Doesn't that feel wonderful? I always found it a pity that I could never find someone who could this to me. A curse of being the best, I suppose. Still, that doesn't make me feel any better about it. My, but you are tense. What's been bothering you as to do this to you?" Deltina rolled her head around her neck before she realized he had asked her a question. Her mind raced to find it before she answered.
"It's Arby. He's been gone for a long time, and I really miss him. I'm starting to wonder if he may be dead, or if he just abandoned me." A tear began to form in her eye, and it was not in acting. She really had been thinking along these lines once or twice, and it truly did pain her to even consider the possibility of it, however much she refused to believe it.
"Ah. Yes, I understand how you fe-" Deltina whipped her head around to stare at him before he could finish his sentence.
"You have no idea how I feel! How worried I am about him and so afraid that the worst happened or that he really did leave me here! To have to cry myself to sleep practically every night because I just don't know." She bit her lip to stop herself from talking. She had already said much more than she intended. Kahama only looked at her, his eyes full of compassion and understanding. She hated those eyes, yet she felt strange comfort in them.
"I'm sorry, Deltina. You're right, I don't really understand. I can only vaguely grasp a small guess at your plight. But it pains me so to see you like this. I want to help you in every way I can. I want to comfort you, shelter you, and keep you safe. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you." His voice died down in volume during this, and his face was moving closer with each word. Before Deltina knew it, he held her in a long, soft kiss. At first she was appalled to find herself like this, but she could not help but enjoy it the entire time. His lips were so soft and she almost felt everything he had just said. He broke the kiss off after about fifteen seconds, his eyes closed as he pulled his face back a bit. She looked at him, her mind spinning out of control. She quickly stood up and began to half-run to the door.
"I'm sorry. I need some air." She opened the door and slammed it shut behind her as she ran down the halls. Kahama sat staring at the door for a silent second, and then he began to laugh. Small at first, but soon he threw his head back and cackled at the ceiling. He had her now.
Tears obscured her vision as she pushed past bewildered servants out into the ground level of the palace leading into the city. She sniffed a few times and rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands, trying to calm herself. She had just kissed the prince, the enemy. Or rather, he had kissed her, but that wasn't the point. It was just a kiss, nothing new to her or anything. And he was the enemy, but she always fraternized with the enemy. It was what she did, for both business and pleasure. Yet there was something more behind that. Either he really had meant everything he said, in which case she should run back there and throw herself at his feet, or he was a very good actor, and then she'd kill him. What was worse was that she had appreciated the kiss, even given back near the end. And that wasn't right! She loved Arbinger, not Kahama! She nearly screamed at herself for violating that love before she stopped cold. I love Arbinger… She knew it was true. She had no doubt in her mind. And yet, it was new and… strange. She had never considered Arbinger to be anything more than her brother, so love in that sense was always with her. But loving Arbinger as a soul mate was almost inconceivable. Yet it was true. She did not deny the fact. She just found it hard to adjust to. But now that she knew she loved Arbinger, how was she going to face Kahama again? What if he somehow worked his charm again and she found herself with him instead of Arby? Her mind worked in hurried circles for a few minutes before she heard a cry in the distance. She looked up and found no time to be in shock to find herself at the other end of town. She ran quickly down the alley behind the small fish merchant's shop towards the scream. The alleyway took a sharp ninety-degree angle to the right. She ran straight at the opposite wall, and turned at the last second, her feet running alongside the wall for a few steps before she landed squarely on her feet facing a group of men in a circle.
"No! Please don't!" a female's voice cried out from the center of the ring of five big, burly men.
"And why shouldn't we, sweetcakes? We used to do this all the time, remember?" One of the men, this guy wearing a green fisherman's vest, stood up slightly while saying this. He raised a hand and tossed aside a dirty and tattered bra.
"And besides, this is too much fun to stop." This guy wasn't wearing a shirt, just black pants. He stood up and Deltina heard the faint zipping of an unzipping zipper. She then knew what was going on and decided to put an end to such horrific acts.
"Stop! Don't you dare touch her!" She was striding confidently towards the brigands, not showing any sign of fear or caution, just anger. The men who were closer to her backed up and revealed their prisoner on the ground. The woman, lying in a fetal position with only a small thong covering her, looked up to see into the face of her rescuer. It was the same girl from the other night, the one with the pimp Deltina had mercilessly struck down. Tears leaked out of her eyes and she fell back down, relief that a Jedi had come to her plight making her a limp doll. Deltina stood over the sobbing figure before looking up to address the men, who had now encircled her as well.
"I can't believe you. You were going to rape an innocent girl? Where are her clothes?"
"Why, they're right over there, sexy." The man in the fisherman's vest pointed to the opposite wall. Deltina turned and tried to find the clothes before jumping as the man slapped her butt.
"How dare you!" She turned around to face him, and before she could yell at him, another hand pinched her bottom. She stood rigid, hand forced to her side. "If another one of you touches me, you'll all be dead before you know what hit you."
"Oh really?" The man without the shirt walked forward and stood just a few centimeters from her. "So, if I do this," he said as he grabbed her breast, "then y-" Deltina had her lightsaber out in a flash and cut off the offender's arms. He looked down silently, and opened his mouth to scream right as Deltina took off his head in one quick swipe. She drew her other light saber and threw it at the nearest guy, the blade cleaning cutting him off at the torso. She didn't have time to watch, as she jumped backwards and turned in midair, bringing her saber straight down to cut the man in two from head to toe. She quickly spun left and shoved the point of her blade through the head of the next man, which she then pulled out to the side, taking with it half of his head. Without moving her head or eyes, Deltina instinctively threw her lightsaber off to the right. The VOOSH of the blade as it cut through flesh was the only thing she heard, not seeing the hole it had driven straight through his heart. She reached out her hands and recalled both sabers to her. She quickly sheathed them and moved towards the girl. She picked up her bra on the way and knelt next to her.
"Here," she said as she handed the girl her clothing. The former prostitute only took it in silence and hurriedly strapped it on.
"What's your name?" asked Deltina. The girl looked at her blankly for a few seconds before replying.
"T-T-Thelma, ma'am."
"Please, don't call me ma'am. My name's Deltina. A pleasure to meet you, although I'd prefer it to be under better circumstances." She held out her hand. "Come on, now. Let's find you some decent clothes." Thelma stared at Deltina's hand blankly. "Well come on now. I'm here to help you, not harm you." Thelma stared at the hand again for a few seconds before slowly grasping it with her shaking one. Deltina quickly lifted her up to Thelma's squeaking surprise. "Sorry about that. Now come on!" Deltina put her arm around Thelma's shoulder. "Let's go start you off with a new life."
Kahama took purposeful strides down the corridors to his private chambers. That girl is becoming quite the hassle. I'll have her head on a silver platter after I'm done with her. A servant dropped a curtsy as he strode by, and he shoved her down and growled at her as he continued along. This is becoming old. No woman has ever refused me for so long. Perhaps… could she remember that night? …No. No, that's impossible. That gas is foolproof. But still, she isn't human. Maybe she does remember. But then why hasn't she confronted me yet? What game could she be playing at… Or am I just taking too long with the kill? He looked up to find himself at the door to his room. Somewhat surprised he was already there, he opened it and slammed the door shut in rage before his eyes widened in fear.
"Why hello, Kahama." A black cloaked figured sat on the side of his bed. "It's been sometime since I've seen you." Kahama backed up against his door.
"What are you talking about? I've never seen you before in my life."
"Oh yes you have." The figure stood up and slowly walked towards Rocknai. "How could you forget such a face? Or rather, a lack of one. Shall I refresh your memory, Kahama? Or should I say, Dognica?" Kahama shuddered at that name. He knew exactly who the figure was, but he didn't want to see him.
"Why are you here?"
"Ah. So you remember." The figure stopped halfway between the door and the bed. "That saves me some time. So, down to business. You have failed me, Kahama." The prince huddled down against the door as the Sith lord pointed a long, white finger at him.
"Please! Please don't hurt me!" he whimpered. "How have I failed you? I've done everything you've asked! I-"
"I have Arbinger, you fool. And that gate still stands. Why haven't you gotten Deltina to open that door? Stop playing at your stupid games and get the door open. You have one week. Is that clear?"
"Yes! Perfectly clear! I won't fail you! I promise!"
"Good. Now, I'm gone." Kahama looked up and indeed, the Sith was gone. He let out a shuddering sigh of relief. How had he found him? And how did he know his alias? He stood up slowly, but his knees gave out before he made it halfway. He sighed again. There was no use pondering on how a Sith knew what a Sith knew. Better to just work with what he had. He had one week to break down that gate that sealed in the power. He'd have to get to work on it soon. The sooner the better was always the truth. But he had a party to host tomorrow night. The morning after. He made a vow that he would get Deltina to go the morning after. He stood up and dusted his clothes off, his new resolve giving him renewed strength. He walked over to his desk and made a quick note of what needed doing before walking out of his rooms toward the kitchen. Fear made men hungry.