Chapter 7 – The Taste of Blood

Obi-Wan sat next to Mariska as they were served dinner, and it was amazing. Roast duck was on the plate in front of him and the scent was heavenly. The wine was great and he had to stop himself more then once and tell him that he should probably stop.

"Are you enjoying yourself Mrs. Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan looked up at Sampson who kept his eyes on Mariska and her beautiful blue dress that seemed to get shorter every time someone looked at her, or maybe it was just the alcohol. No matter what it was Obi-Wan was getting annoyed and the way this young prince was looking at his….well, his friend and it was starting to give him a headache.

"Oh yes, very much so." She said and before the younger man could get two words out Obi-Wan was on his feet, dragging Mariska to the dance floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving you from dancing with a boring lump of a prince, it that's what he likes to call himself." He said looking over the crowd. Mariska felt his hands tighten around her and she laughed a little.

"What's so funny?" He asked looking at her, a grin on his face.

"You are. But it's a cute funny. Jealousy suites you Obi-Wan."

The jedi felt his face get hot. "I have no idea what you're talking about Mariska. I was simply,"

"Yeah I know, saving me. But honestly, I think you were either saving him from you or you from you. I'm not exactly sure which."

Obi-Wan smiled and when the music started to slow so did his movements. Their faced were close now and Obi-Wan could smell the alcohol on her breath. Pulling away he felt it before it happened.

"Obi-Wan, what is it?" Mariska asked worriedly.

"I'm going to have a vision."

He did, but it was different this time. It seemed as though it were happening in real life. He and Mariska were standing on the balcony dressed as they were and it seemed right after the dance. He watched intently as he brought his head down to hers. Obi-Wan's eyes grew wide as he realized he was kissing her, at least his dream self was. Just as quickly as it came, the vision was over.

Mariska was watching intently as Obi-Wan kept staring at the balcony. When he seemed to come to she watched as he seemed to be tasting something.

"Obi-Wan what is it?"

Putting his hand to his lips he pulled it away, his fingers were red. "Blood." His head started to pound as a shot rang through the room. On the balcony a young man was holding a young girl. She had been shot and blood was pouring from her mouth.

'Death will come to all those you care about.'

Obi-Wan looked around for the source of the voice but he saw no one. He knew who's voice it was however, Dooku.

Qui-Gon landed on Deltar Six and felt a disturbance immediately. The palace was holding a dance and he was sure Obi-Wan and Mariska were there, and most likely they had felt it too.

Not too soon after the disturbance there was a piercing scream and people started to race out of the castle. Qui-Gon was fighting against the crowd as the stream of people came at him, he was the only one trying to get in.

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Obi-Wan and Mariska felt Dooku's presence almost immediately. They were now alone in the ballroom.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a breath. "Qui-Gon is here."

Those three words seemed to calm Mariska down a whole lot. Three against one was in their favor and since Dooku trained Qui-Gon and Qui-Gon trained Obi-Wan the three would know each other's moves to a T. She was the only one at a disadvantage, except for possibly Qui-Gon who might have some trace of a bond left with his former master.

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon's voice rang through the quiet halls.

"Master; you shouldn't be here, you should be resting. It isn't safe."

Obi-Wan's blue eyes held so much sincerity that his former master smiled. "If it isn't safe then I should be here with you."

"Isn't this a touching moment? When are you going to listen to my warnings Kenobi? Death can only come to those you care about and the two most important people in your life are here now." Dooku's voice was cold and the two younger jedi had to suppress a shiver.

Qui-Gon stepped forward, blocking the other two from the sith's gaze. "What do you want?"

Dooku seemed to stop and think about it for a while. A grin was slowly forming on his face and Qui-Gon knew he was giving his old master far too much time to think. Pulling out his lightsaber he ignited it and it hummed a brilliant green. Obi-Wan and Mariska followed suit. The bright colors of the jedi's lightsabers were in such a contrast to Dooku's red it was like morning and night.

"I want Obi-Wan's head."

A surge of anger and parental instinct drove Qui-Gon to attack the older man, pushing him to the wall. Emotions filled the large room quickly and Obi-Wan went to engage in battle.

Blaster droids came in from the front and side entrances but were handled quickly by Mariska.

Dooku knew he was defeated and pulled something out from his cloak and threw it on the ground. Smoke filled the hall instantly and it was so thick it was choking all three of the jedi. When they made their way outside it was clear and Qui-Gon rubbed his eyes. Someone was out for Obi-Wan, and he had a feeling his old master was just a pawn.

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Mariska couldn't concentrate on her meditations that night on the ship back to Coruscant. Her thoughts kept going from Dooku to Obi-Wan and what would have happened if Qui-Gon hadn't come. Then there was Obi-Wan's vision to think of. Why was there blood on his lips? Nothing was making sense right now and she couldn't seem to find her center long enough to meditate.

With nothing else to do she decided to go check on Obi-Wan. His room was only a few feet from hers but the few steps seemed to be the hardest she had ever took.

"Come in." Obi-Wan said before she could even knock.

"How did you know it wasn't some assassin who was going to knock on your door?"

Obi-Wan opened his eyes; he was no doubt having trouble concentrating also. "They won't have your force signature."

Mariska nodded and walked over to him. Obi-Wan was on his feet but his face was turned down toward the floor, he knew what her question was going to be and he didn't want to answer it.

"What was your vision about?"

"It was about what happened."

There was something more, something in his voice was urging to get out and Mariska knew Obi-Wan wouldn't let it come unless it was pulled out of him.

"Tell me. How was there blood on your lips?" She urged.

"It was a very vivid and very real vision."

Something wasn't right, Obi-Wan was fidgeting and his expression was unreadable. He was hiding something from her.

"Tell me!"

"I was kissing you."

Now she was sure she heard wrong. "What?"

He didn't say anything and walked into the bedroom and locked the door behind him, leaving a very confused and worried Mariska behind.

TBC

Had to get this chapter out. Most of it was sitting in a folder on my desktop so I ended it. The next chapter will be longer and Obi-Wan will have a talk with Qui-Gon and Yoda about his visions.