A Piece of Mind – Chapter 11

"Oh, the power. The power! I feel much hatred in you, my dear," Sidious murmured as he felt the pain and anger dwell inside of Drusilla. Drusilla pouted and knelt down on the floor holding Ms. Edith tightly in her arms. She could feel their eyes on her as they invisibly probed her mind. She stopped abruptly and turned her head slowly to face the two men, her eyes blazing with fiery tears. Her delicate, porcelain features changed its expression into a look that could make any usual person's skin crawl, but Drusilla knew that these men were stronger than any normal human.

"The wishing well sparkles and hums. Shh! I can hear it speak to me," Drusilla whispered as she put her ear to the floor as if to hear it answer her question. "It says I can have my wish," Drusilla replied with an evil grin as she slowly got up and like a feline after its prey. She slowly walked up to the two men, her eyes sparkling madly.

"Of course you can, my child. Bring your wishes to me," Sidious hissed, nodding in her direction as he folded his hands and leaned into his throne like chair. Count Dooku seemed to look uncomfortable, but Sidious continued to goad Drusilla to approach them. Drusilla licked her lips and then stopped and frowned.

"Naughty, Daddy! Stay out of this…You can't have him…He's my pet and they're my family," Drusilla crooned to herself and then shook angrily and suddenly lunged at Sidious. Dooku invisibly held and choked her in mid air, Drusilla cackled.

"I'm flying like a shooting star," Drusilla said with another laugh. Sidious nodded for Dooku to let Drusilla go. Dooku dropped her to the ground and frowned.

"Tell me my child…who is this Angel?" Sidious asked as he slowly stood and gently reached for her hand and patting her head as Drusilla slowly and briefly closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. Her expression changed as a far away look came into her dark, mesmerizing eyes.

"He's my daddy and he hates me," Drusilla replied as angry tears ran over her dark eyes and she blew her nose in Dooku's Sith robe. Sidious grinned at her gesture as Drusilla continued on. "I want him and grandmother to get back together and I want to see my William again. I want us all to be a family again," Drusilla replied with a dreamy look on her face.

"We will pay your daddy a visit that he will never forget, my angel," Sidious promised. Drusilla glanced up and gave him an innocent smile that turned into a crazy wide smile.

"But he will be with strong soldiers and an enchanting witch. We must step on the shoulders and break their necks and cut out the witch's eyeballs," Dru replied as she twirled around the room chanting making her hands look like claws and giggling loudly.

"We shall see to it that your daddy pays well. The enchanting girl will be the key to Angel's undoing and she will be the key to Anakin's undoing," Dooku murmured to Sidious as Sidious clapped his hands and laughed at the oblivious, crazy girl who was spinning around aimlessly. Sidious' eyes widened as he received a picture of Natalie from Drusilla. Drusilla could be the key to their victory and additional power for the Sith.

Several hours earlier

Natalie felt like loosing it. She was alone in Angel's apartment for only a minute and her thoughts shifted from missing Anakin to wanting to find vengeance against Angel.

You hate Angel for keeping you here like a prisoner. Doesn't he trust your abilities? The voice rang in her ears as if it were right next to her. She turned, but saw nothing and just shook her head. She could have sworn she heard someone speaking to her. I'm loosing it, Natalie thought. Just perfect! Her hand felt unsteady as she slipped slowly back onto the sofa. But there is something not quite right with Angel and it's bothering me. Angel doesn't like me. He thinks I'm incompetent and he makes me sit in this claustrophobic, small apartment.

Perhaps he wants to kill you for your power.

"He cannot do that. Nobody can receive the Jedi power after a person dies. It's impossible!" Natalie whispered loudly to herself.

Is it? Then why are you so afraid?

Natalie hesitated, taking a deep breath in and out.
"I'm not…It's just…" Natalie replied as she nervously paced back and forth of the living room in frenzy.

It's…It's…You think he is evil. There is something about him that stirs you. Trust your senses. You feel a dark shadow is over him. He is not like the others. The voice taunted.

"No, he's good. He's got to be good. I mean Angel saved my life and is helping me find Senator Becky," Natalie replied forcefully, trying to believe every word she was saying.

Senator Becky? Tsk-Tsk. Poor child! He's taken you under just like he has taken the rest of his so called friends under. He wants you to believe he is good. But…has he found Senator Becky yet?

"No…Who the hell is this? Show yourself!" Natalie whirled around, but found again that the room was empty. Even her Jedi radar seemed fuzzy. A long silent pause filled the room then a muffled laugh followed.

Take heed, my child. Angel is dangerous. He will stop at nothing to get at you and Senator Becky. You must be on watch. You must heed my warning and seek vengeance on him. Get back at him. Use his friends. You can do it! Do it! The voice insisted as Natalie trembled and briefly closed her eyes.

"Anakin!" She screamed as she tried to search for him through the Force, but was blocked again by a mystical fog. As she slowly opened them again anger rose within her. Glass shattered as a shadowed, cloaked figure offered her a knife and waved a hand over her face. The beady eyes were staring deep into Natalie's eyes. Soulless and black with a smile slowly creeping to the figure's lips.

"The lamb becomes the tiger and the tiger will become the lamb," The figure laughed as she grabbed Natalie's hand while Natalie was in a trance. Laying the knife in Natalie's hand the woman's dark eyes flickered with a dim, cool light of satisfaction as she leaned over Natalie. Natalie didn't blink as the woman bit into her with sharp, knifelike teeth. Natalie's breath whooshed out as she was about to black out. Her vision blurred like a kaleidoscope.She could see a black blur approaching her. She couldn't move as she shouted for Anakin in her mind.

Quick! Come with me, Natalie. You need to help me find Senator Becky before Angel attacks again. Search your inner feelings, you know it is true. Give into your anger or you'll loose your power to him. Don't let him break us apart! Please help me! The voice sounded like Anakin. Natalie reached out her hand to him as he carefully helped her off the blood soaked floor. The figure put a handover her mouth and she shut down like an animated puppet that lost it's master.

"Good! Well done, my child. Now give me the girl," Darth Sidious boomed as Count Dooku snatched Natalie from Dru and dragged her out of Dru's reach.

"You will awake and tell the dreadful tale of Angel's undoing," Count Dooku chanted.

"I've been so naughty. Can I have my treat now?" Drusilla murmured with a grin.

"Later! Our plan has worked well so far. Now it's Angel's turn to meet his match," Sidious hissed with a laugh as Dru frowned and then smiled at the thought of a banquet full of people, the Angel Investigations people. Sidious grinned and rubbed his hands together with pride.

Cloaking his own voice at the beginning was way too easy, but clouding Natalie's judgment had been harder than he thought.Sidious would be wrong to think he didn't need Drusilla with her amusing charm to steal Natalie's wit and entice her with speaking like she was the young Padawan lover.

"All things must end. I hear someone is approaching, Master. We must go. Awaken, Natalie," Count Dooku whispered as he raised his hand and she rose from her sleepless slumber as he guided her with his mind on what to say to the two men that she was summoning with her quiet, mind. Thepull of their forcewithin her was growing minute by minute and no one could do anything about it. Not even the Jedi.

"Bye, bye, Daddy dearest," Drusilla whispered as she waved at the empty doorway and vanished with the dark cloaked men into the shadows and through the broken window.

Several hours after Natalie's incident

"Anakin? ANAKIN! What on Tattoine are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked as he turned to see Anakin struggle in his sleep and then suddenly wake with a start and walk to the door of the ship.

"Finding food and water," Anakin said without blinking an eye or so much as looking Obi-Wan's way. Obi-Wan felt puzzled, but let the sudden answer slide. After all they did need food. They were short of supplies after the vampire attacked and needed to keep their strength in order to find Natalie and Senator Becky. They had no time to loose. But it was surely strange for Anakin to wake up at dawn for a meal. Obi-Wan looked out the door and discovered that Anakin was out of sight.

"That Padawan is going to ruin my heart. He's still injured," Obi muttered as he straightened his robe and closed the ship door after him. "If it weren't for finding Natalie or Senator Becky we would be practicing his mindful skills," Obi said to himself with a sigh as he folded his arms and waited for his Padawan to return to the ship.

Anakin winced at his injured side as he focused on searching for Natalie on his own. Anakin did feel Natalie's presence, but Obi-Wan was doubtful of his young apprentice's senses.

Always doubtful and always scolding me. If it weren't for me he would be dead! He should be happy for me and instead he pulls me down with him. Obi's jealous of my power. He wants to keep me back from the possibility of being the most powerful Jedi. How can I trust him when he can't trust me? Anakin thought angrily.

He felt the anger build up inside of him, but he knew he couldn't use it or show it. That wouldn't be the Jedi way. But deep down he wanted to tear every vampire apart with his bare hands. To let them suffer. He could do that couldn't he? After all they were already dead according to Obi-Wan.

Dead and evil. The perfect combination, Anakin thought as he pondered how he was going to strike. Wincing he touched his side. It still bled and hurt, but his concern for Natalie was too great to stop himself from traveling alone and killing every beast in sight. When night falls I will be the Master, Anakin thought with a smile. The streets needed to be safe. For Senator Becky...and for Natalie.