((OOC: The part in Lilly's room might be a little disturbing, but I'm using it only to symbolize her descent into evil, ugliness, and impurity. Please, I know how awful it is, but it is only a plot-device. Thank you.))

5: Good Morning

It was hard to believe that only twenty-four hours ago, Arden had thought Obi-Wan and Anakin to be fictional people thought up by George Lucas somewhere in the seventies. Yet now she was facing a life or death scenario in which not only they but her little sister were involved. She had turned off the lights in her bedroom (after four rigorous hours of training) now with Kenobi by her door lying on the carpet. Arden had offered him a blanket yet he had politely declined. Oh, but she could see him shivering with the cold December air that even their family AC/Heater could not completely hide. That was why, sometime around one in the morning (only half an hour or so after they had retired) she took off her thickest sheet and gently tiptoed over to the Jedi, draping it over his resting frame. She stared for a moment, once back in her bed; how incredibly handsome he was... that was the last calm, unworried thought Arden's mind had for a long time.

Her slumber was dreamless and abruptly ended when a large, warm hand shook her shoulder. Arden's eyes opened to a dark room with just the slightest hint of a purple sunrise coming through her curtains. Obi-Wan's eyes peered down into her own, dread and attempt of denial flooding through her like a tidal wave upon the sand. Couldn't it all have been some silly dream from watching Star Wars a few too many times? Apparently not. The fifteen year old girl climbed out of bed and resumed combat-training with her new teacher. Kenobi informed her that she was an incredibly fast learner; she should do well today. And that was all either of them said on the matter until daybreak. They finished at around six and began to discuss strategy.

"Do you think they have a plan?" she asked, panting a little bit.

Obi-Wan wiped off a bead of sweat from his forehead and straightened his unruly hair. "Yes, but knowing Anakin it will be unthought out and will have much room for error. We must not depend on that, however," he added as a quick afterthought. Also, he said, it would be wise to let them come to us. "Only misfortune could come of us lurking around searching for trouble." Arden heartily agreed, partially out of fear—even with games such as hide and go seek, she was always frightened of things popping out at her at unexpected times. Obi-Wan then grew even more serious. He sighed and Arden could tell what was on his mind. Anakin would need to be destroyed, and she would have gladly offered to do it herself, but both of them knew she was nowhere near strong enough for that. Also, she would not put him in the position of killing a youngling—her eyes suddenly went wide.

Arden touched his shoulder when they were both seated on her bed. He looked at her while she asked, "Will I have to... kill my sister, Obi-Wan?" The words sounded far off to her, as if it had been someone in the next room who had uttered them. Or a movie playing downstairs in the living room. He patted her hand and she could feel his sorrow for both of them. It was enough to almost make a person feel guilty for having a heart.

"She will try to kill you, Arden. How you choose to handle that is your decision."

The dam burst; hot tears long kept back leapt from her eyes as the gravity and reality of the situation finally hit. She could no longer hold in those child-like sobs and shuddering breaths. Obi-Wan pulled her close, their chest touching. For no reason at all, it helped her to know he was crying as well. She felt two small drops fall onto her head and her grasp around Kenobi's waist tightened. Her tears were no longer simply for herself but for him and Lilly... and even Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi rested his chin on her hair gently and closed his eyes. Within moments both parties were silent and still like the grave, but nowhere near as jolly.

Initria woke up to see her Master staring down at her, standing to the side of her bed. She uttered a small yelp of surprise. Vader did not look away as the girl, still dressed in her dark attire stood up and walked to about a yard from him. He seemed to be examining her inside and out. His hazel eyes like x-rays probing every inch of the female Sith's body and soul. Initria did not know what she was expected to do, so she simply stood there and looked down at her boots. Vader finally stepped to be inches in front of her. Taking her neck strongly in his right hand, he applied no pressure but the waiting was almost worse. Initria's heart was going wild yet she did not speak. Not even a hand rose to attempt and pry his off, for in a way she could not believe it.

"I will not kill you, Initria," he spoke softly, his cool breath blowing upon her face like a midnight breeze. "I am only going to ask you some questions, is that alright?"

Swallowing hard, she stammered that yes, yes, of course.

"You have fear, that's very good. But do you have anger as well?" He cocked his head slightly, making Initria's knees go weak with girlish desire she had never experienced but had read plenty about in those books Mommy kept in her bedside table. He continued, "Do you have loyalty?" Her mind began to wander to those books. The two main characters always ended up doing something... what was it? Making love? Yes, and kissing. Making love and kissing, that was what she wanted to do.

"Do you have love for me, Initria?"

Her eyes nearly popped with fright. Why did he say that? Did he know?

"I," she paused. "I definitely have love you for, my Master."

Vader leaned in close, the tips of their noses almost touching. With his hand still loose enough on her neck, he kissed her. Lilly went numb as she felt his tongue raping her lips. If it had been anyone but the man with a hand on her throat, she would have pushed him away as a hand reached places she had also read about in those books. Her eyes opened and saw only a flesh-colored blur. She could feel fire emanating from him and their very kiss was painful to her somewhere deep inside of her chest. That was where the war was finally lost; where what was left of Lillian Ashwood's pure soul was burned to the ground by Darth Initria's smoldering darkness. She began to kiss back.

He let go of her, allowing her empty shell of a body to collapse to the carpeting and tremble with a volcano of emotions rupturing inside of her. Anger, hatred, jealousy, frustration... all against her sister. She would not only kill her as Master Vader commanded; she wanted to kill her. In that kiss that seemingly lasted forever, so much had been changed. Initria could not think of one conceivable reason that she hadn't eliminated her sister previous to this day!

"When," she said, eyes black and voice deepened, "will I have the pleasure of annihilating Arden Ashwood, my Lord?"

Vader crossed his arms over his chest as his servant knelt down before him, fully devolved into the slave he himself was made to be. He smiled and responded that now, with the sun rising, they should wait until the two adults had left the house. For what use had they for distractions?

"Would she have told them?" the Dark One asked.

"No, my Lord, she would fear their closed mindedness."

"That is good. When shall they depart?"

"At eight o'clock, my Lord."

He nodded. "Eight o'clock it is then."