A/N: I have no words to even begin to describe how much I appreciate all of you. These past three months did not go at all how I thought it would, from multiple GRE's, rejection from Grad school, and two unexpected funerals. It was touching that so many reached out to me with encouraging and thoughtful messages. I am so incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to write for you, and I hope that I can continue producing content that you enjoy! Thank you for your everlasting patience and faith in me!

Chapter 15: Serpents

Elaine


I was thankful that Kylo was gone as I rummaged through the crate like a feral womprat, clawing its way through the contents, ripping out each item only to examine it and carelessly toss it aside. He would surely be disturbed by my wild grunts and huffs that echoed around the room.

Every bit of it was superfluous; the ruby-studded earrings, the stiletto boots, the endless amounts of lace and silk fabrics that I could hardly imagine wearing on my body because it would show every inch of my skin anyway.

Pheme would die, I thought as I examined a bright red, satin dress. It sickly reminded me of my bidding gown and I flung it onto the ground.

"Yeah, well a lot of those girls would die to have any of this," I hissed back at my own thoughts.

I sat down on the floor and ran my hand through my hair, tugging it lightly as I leaned against the bed. My eyes glanced around at the pile of things that littered the floor in front of me. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't do anything to deserve any of them. I couldn't even afford to buy those earrings, much less any of the makeup or other toiletries that lined the bottom of the crate.

My teeth gripped a portion of my inner lip as I stared, thinking of all the things I wanted as a naive, little girl. I longed for my own flowy gown that I could twirl around in. I dreamt of knowing what it felt like to walk in heels, to hear the sound of them clicking across the floor. But I had given up on desires and possessions long ago, resorting to appreciating things that kept me alive. Anything beyond that was unnecessary.

He wants you to have this, I countered with a sigh, thinking about how he had gone out of his way to arrange this just for me. No one had ever done me such a kindness as to give me something, other than Pheme.

Yeah, and he wants you to rule the First fucking Order with him as if I am cut out to be some empress or whatever damn title, I cringed and rested my head on my hand. The thought made me want to vomit: I despised any notion that I would one day turn into those smug, boorish, prissy wives. I would rather die under the hands of Hux before letting that happen.

Even so, I recognized that he did this for me because he cared, or something like it. Kylo did little to show much emotion other than his rage-filled outbursts or the occasional, devious smirk, and other than the moment that he revealed how he felt, this was the first grand notion of his affection.

I chewed my lip and sighed heavily before hoisting myself onto my feet. I carefully padded around the mess of clothes and shoes to the closet where he had hung the black gown. The light bounced off of the gems and sparkled while the dark fabric disappeared against the unilluminated corner. The knots in my stomach tightened as I studied the neckline and sheer skirt, knowing with absolute certainty that my tattoos would be on display as if they were framed.

You can't put it off forever, I groaned, folding my arms around my chest. It wouldn't be long until he returned, ready to drag me by my ankle to this torturous reception. His mood this morning was already telling me that it would not be improved by this evening and I would surely not make it better by refusing to go.

In the end, I decided that less was more. Matching black earrings and a jewel-crested necklace were found in a box at the bottom of the crate, but I wrinkled my nose and set them aside. The black heels that I retrieved from a box were plain, satin, and tall. I swallowed hard as I eyed the pointed heel, thin and threatening to break my ankles. Not even the heels that I wobbled across the stage in intimidated me to this degree. But like most things, I didn't have a choice.

Stepping into the pool of fabric was one thing; zipping it up was an entirely different feat. I was able to zip it up over my ass but began to strain as the zipper turned into buttons that held it in place at the base of my spine. I hissed hair through grit teeth as I fumbled with the tiny buttons that easily slipped from my grip in the awkward angle.

"Oh for fuck's sake!" I grunted as I missed again. I could feel the shoulders of the gown sliding off once more as I tossed my hair to the side. Even then my mood was sour about the whole affair.

Just as I was ready to rip the garment off with my bare hands, the doors hissed open suddenly and I whipped my head around to gaze longingly at him.

"Oh thank gods," I sighed with relief as Kylo loomed in the doorway. "Could you help me?"

He paused for a moment before slowly striding behind me to secure the buttons with his gloved fingers. He didn't say a word as I stared at the floor, waiting for him to finish.

He must be in a sour mood too, I thought, trying to reason out why he was so oddly quiet. I was suddenly nervous as I tried to decipher his attitude.

"Thank you," I softly murmured as his hands left my back. I could feel his gaze through his helmet following every line that traced across my spine. It was like cold needles pricking my exposed skin the longer he gazed. I turned to face him to alleviate the embarrassment.

Even then, he didn't take his eyes away from me. Heat rose in my cheeks as I felt the urge to dive under the covers and conceal myself. "You look..." he muttered, catching me off guard. "Exquisite."

I couldn't stop the grin that rose in the corner of my mouth. Not even on my bidding day did I get compliments such as that. "I didn't think I would be showing this much..." I hesitated. "Skin." I wrapped my arms consciously over my torso in an attempt to ease my discomfort.

He cleared his throat and rightened his shoulders. "I asked Elara to pick one out for you," he explained. "In the future, I will see to it that you choose your attire."

Satisfied, I nodded in appreciation. "Is that what you're wearing?"

He briefly gazed down at his tunic as if he hadn't considered anything else. "Is there something wrong with that?"

I swallowed my humiliation and replaced it with fake courage, opting to tease him as I placed my hands on his chest. "I guess I assumed the Commander of the First Order would dawn a sparkly suit or fur-lined cape for such an affair," I smirked up into his visor. Though I couldn't see it, I could tell he was grinning.

"Are you going to keep this on all night?" I asked and placed my fingers on the side of his helmet, the cool metal tingling my fingertips.

"For the demonstration," he replied. "But I suppose I can allow the First Order to gaze upon the face of their Commander for one evening," Kylo sighed and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close into his chest. The smell of his robes wafted into my nose, the sweet mixture of leather and warmth that made my heart skip a beat. I didn't want to go out there in front of those people. But if I had to do it at all, at least I would be beside him.

"I guess we can't put it off any longer, can we?" I groaned, wobbling slightly in the heels that slid all too easily on the smooth floor.

"I suppose not," he painfully agreed and held out an arm to steady me, which I graciously took.

As he guided me to the doors of his chambers, I realized it was one of the first times that not only was he escorting me into the real world, but he had purposefully asked me to join him. I was not the same meek, trembling, battered woman that he brought into his care mere weeks ago, nor was I the same tortured animal that scuffled about the floor on her hands and knees. I felt my back straighten in defiance against my torturous memories as the doors opened for us.

When we entered the corridor, I heard the clicking sound of my shoes beneath me against the paved floor. Sharp and fervent, like the needles that had pierced my skin.


I heard the sounds of the party echoing through the hallways long before we neared the source of the commotion. The closer we got, the stronger the urge to sprint back to the safety of my confinement grew in my belly. Suddenly, being locked away in those four walls didn't seem so bad.

With every wavering step in the direction of the crowd, I felt air brush against my exposed skin through the thin mesh that clung to it. The gem-crusted skirt rustled around my ankles that kicked it forward, again and again, making way for my unsteady feet. If it weren't for Kylo's arm, strong and firm, I would have surely fallen to my knees in a puddle of nerves and gemstones.

Kylo suddenly halted, throwing me off balance. I frantically reached out and grasped his forearm, my fingernails digging into the thick sleeve of the tunic.

"Laina," he paused as if trying to find the right words. I anxiously looked up into his lifeless helmet, desperate for the human underneath it as my heartbeat thundered in my ears. "Do not worry. I will keep you safe," he muttered under his breath. "They are all afraid of me."

Remember the vow he made to you, I reminded myself as I heaved a deep breath into my trembling frame. He would never let anything happen to you.

Unable to form words with my dry mouth, I nodded, and he extended his elbow to me once again.

If I was unable to speak before, it was even more true when we rounded the corner to enter the lowest floor of the viewport. The expansive wall of transparisteel allowed me to once again gaze out into the endless sea of stars. The glass bridge that I had previously stood on hovered above us, flourished with large red flags donning the First Order emblem as they hung from the railings. A large table ran along the center flourished with exotic fruits, meats, and pastries that were surely 'donated' to the order from a variety of planets.

It was a spectacle of upper-class grandeur, something that I'm sure Mama Maeve tried to replicate in her bidding events. Though, now that I witnessed it in person, I realized the bright colored lights and glowing neon features Mama used to decorate the house floor appealed to a very different type of audience.

"Ah, Commander."

A loud voice broke my concentration and caused my knees to wobble.

"Let me do the talking," Kylo whispered as we turned to meet the pair that marched in our direction.

"The other Generals were convinced that you would not attend this evening," the man said as they closed the distance between us.

"But you thought otherwise, General?" Kylo retorted, his voice low and metallic through the helmet. Even now, I could hear a difference from how he spoke to me moments ago in the hallway, a seriousness that drowned out any of the Kylo that I came to know.

"Surely you wouldn't disobey the wishes of your master, Commander," the old man replied with a condescending tint. "Especially not on such a remarkable day for the First Order."

Kylo's arm tensed underneath my hand as he nodded in response. Before he spoke again, I realized that my eyes had instinctively fallen to the ground.

"Elaine, this is Enric Pryde, General of the Steadfast," he acquainted as I raised my gaze to meet the tall, slender man before me.

Pryde was just as lifeless as his voice was snake-like. His face was worn and intense, reminding me of Mama's sharp wit and unwavering perception. His icy-blue eyes pierced my body as if he could see right through me, the air leaving me as I felt his judgemental stare inspect me.

"Allegiant General, Commander," Pryde corrected without withdrawing his gaze. He continued to eye me as if he was rummaging through my brain to decipher anything he could about who I was or how I got here. "I do not believe I have ever seen our Commander decorated with such a..." his eyes traveled across my face again. "Impetuous accessory."

Before Kylo or I could react to his venomous remark, he shifted to the woman who stood behind him. "This is my wife, Visha."

I allowed my eyes to fall on the woman. I suppose a serpent would only find comfort with another serpent. Her eyes were sharp and matched his frosty shade of blue. She had pinned her white hair into a secure bun that looked as if it would give me a headache from how tightly it was pulled. Her gown hid every part of her body in a firm, red fabric as if she had draped one of the flags across her body. She didn't speak to Kylo or me but merely pursed her lips in acknowledgment.

For a moment I thought back to what Kylo had said about everyone being afraid of him, noting that neither Pryde nor his wife seemed to fear anyone in the whole galaxy.

"Excuse us, Ren," Pryde rashly broke the silence that lingered between us before they slunk toward a small crowd of huddled officers.

I heard Kylo release air from his lips that sounded as if it was a mix between a sigh and a growl. My eyes rose to meet his helmet as I grinned, "Only a few more hours, right?"

At this, he huffed a brief chuckle and took my arm again to lead me across the room. With the initial encounter out of the way, I allowed my eyes to scan over the various faces that turned and stared at us.

The room was littered with captains and generals of all ranks, scattered about as they conversed with drinks in hand. I was suddenly painfully aware that most of the crowd was in some type of uniform, while my body was on display for the entire galaxy to see.

Their expressions ranged from curiosity to shock as they watched us make our way across the room, their murmurs hushed over the drinks in their hands, exchanging words between themselves that only they could hear.

My cheeks became hot while I tried to block them out, to ignore their lingering stares that burned holes through my already revealing gown.

And then it hit me: it would be any minute until Hux intercepted us. My heart began to hammer in my chest while I searched for his fiery red hair through the various clusters of generals and officers.

"He's not here," Kylo muttered.

My eyes briefly shifted onto him, only somewhat surprised by his keen perceptiveness.

"Why not?" I asked, puzzled as to why nearly every other general and officer from the entire First Order was attending the festivities, minus one poor-mannered bastard.

He hesitated to answer me as we neared a corner of the room by the base of the viewport, isolated from the crowds. "Hux is running the demonstration from the Starkiller Base on Ilum."

"What's that?" I was aware that I sounded like a prodding child, too naive to know better than to keep asking questions. But I didn't care. After how long I had been kept in the dark, I wanted to know everything.

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned closer to me. "It's the First Order's newest superweapon."

My eyebrows knit close together as I examined his expressionless helmet. Before I could press the matter for further information, a shrill voice captured our attention.

"Well!" She exclaimed. "I sure know how to pick them, don't I?"

Elara held a champagne glass to her lips as she sauntered toward us, flanked by a general who I assumed was her husband, seeing as he was nearly twice the age of the captains she flirted with. Her gown hugged her figure and was the same bright shade of red as Visha's, only her gown was made of silk that looked as lush and soft as clouds.

"And here I was concerned that perhaps I ordered it a size too small," she raised her eyebrows and gazed at my gown over the rim of her glass.

"Actually, it fits perfectly," I clarified, pressing my lips together tightly.

"Indeed," she promptly concluded and shifted her gaze to Kylo. "Commander Ren, always a delight, of course," she smiled cordially.

"Elaine, you know Lady Quinn," he swiftly moved past the pleasantries. Elara nearly choked on her drink as she finished her champagne in a large gulp. "This is her husband, General Domaric Quinn."

I didn't have to look at him to realize his gaze was fixated on my bodice. His dark, blue eyes reminded me of a deep ocean, dangerous and destructive. Quinn's hair was receding past the top of his forehead and the way his eyebrows were pinned against his forehead made it seem as if he was dissecting every inch of my body.

"Another trophy from yet another gratuitous mission, Commander?" Quinn probed as he released me from his gaze.

Kylo stepped closer to me, partially blocking me from his scrutinizing stare.

"You would be wise to reconsider your commentary, General," he threatened, his voice nearly a low growl.

"Now, now, boys," Elara groaned and rolled her eyes. "Play nice; we are celebrating after all," she insisted. "I believe that Elaine here would love a drink, as would I; Commander, would you be so kind as to escort me to the refreshments?"

Kylo hesitated and glared at Quinn but was pulled away by his formal mannerisms as Elara brushed past him, leading the way to the table in the center of the room. He cordially followed her without another word.

"Well now," Quinn muttered and stepped closer to me once he was out of earshot. "How many did he have to kill to bring you aboard?" he snickered.

"Only three," I dryly replied.

He nodded and chuckled, "Typical of Ren; he would rather slaughter anyone in his path than pay for your services."

I chewed the inside of my lip and desperately wished I had something in my hands to distract me. I peered across the room in a frantic search for the hulking cloaked figure who protected me, but he disappeared in the sea of officers and uniforms.

"If you don't mind me saying, I am astounded that he kept you," Quinn noted in a low tone. "He usually doesn't bring his playthings onboard."

My eyes flashed to meet his as my mind raced. A painful lump began to swell in my throat as I repeated his words in my mind. His playthings. I wasn't about to let this bastard fool me. But even underneath the scum that coated his words, it sounded as if there was a bit of truth to them.

"It has become apparent to many of the Generals that the Commander has appeared a bit...occupied lately," he indicated not-so-subtly. "And I must admit," his dark eyes locked on me as my heart thundered in my ears. I could smell the smoke and liquor on his person, causing my stomach to writhe. "I am beginning to see why."

As I glared at his face, bewildered by his impertinence, I wondered what it would be like for me to stab his exposed neck with the heel of my shoe; forcing it through the cartilage and muscles until it punctured his windpipe and caused blood to flood into his lungs so that he choked to death, writing on the floor.

"Apologies," Elara's sharp voice shattered the tension between us. "The poor boy couldn't pour fast enough," she explained and held out a glass to Quinn.

Kylo trailed behind her and extended a glass to me. I quickly took it and pressed it against my lips, taking a long swig. Anything to break my focus from Quinn who continued to stare at me whenever he could. Kylo faintly glanced between the General and me as if trying to interpret the words shared between us a mere moments ago. If only he had been here a minute sooner, Quinn's entrails would be decorating the floor.

"I hope we weren't interrupting anything," Elara raised her eyebrows and studied Quinn.

"Oh, hardly," he recovered seamlessly. "Now where was I? Oh, yes, Commander, remind me where on Coruscant you said you met— Elaine, was it?"

"He hadn't," I butted in, perhaps letting my anger get the best of me. But my adrenaline had full control of my actions and my cheeks were beginning to grow hot. There was no way I could walk away from this demurely.

Quinn shifted to face me head-on whereas Elara took a long gulp of her drink as if to tune out the dull topic. Kylo leaned closer to me, surely sensing my change in tone.

"Actually, I was acquainted with Commander Ren when I was brought on board. The man who originally brought me here is dead now— well, they all are," I snorted a soft, dry chuckle. I felt Kylo stiffen behind me. "But I am impressed, General," I stared directly into his cold eyes. "How was it that you correctly guessed I was from Coruscant?"

My sudden outburst floated in the air amongst the four of us as he attempted to formulate a response that didn't end up with him at the end of Kylo's saber.

He shifted close behind me, his tunic grazing the back of my elbow as he, too, impatiently waited for Quinn's response.

"In my many travels across the galaxy I have heard accounts of women from Coruscant with intricate markings," he revealed, all too calmly for my liking. "I suppose I merely assumed."

"Interesting," I uttered took another deep sip of my drink, letting the alcohol seep onto my tongue. "Please indulge me, General, for I, too, have heard such stories about the infamous Coruscant courtesans. Tell me, did your stories ever mention that those markings were forced onto those women? Who were held down against their will and tortured for hours until they were finished?"

"No, I do not believe so," he lied.

"Well, surely your renditions told about how they were involuntarily pushed onto a stage, paraded around like a prized dewback, and sold to the highest bidder?" I felt the lump in my throat grow larger as Kylo's hand positioned against my lower back.

"I can't say that they have," he lied again.

"Have you even seen one of these famous courtesans that you clearly have heard so much about?" I felt my upper lip begin to twitch.

"With the utmost respect," he began, gazing up at Kylo before back to me again. "I have never had the desire to, nor would I ever favor such an interaction now," he coldly answered.

Kylo stepped between us, his hand readied at his hip. "General—"

"Commander Ren," two Stormtroopers appeared near our group which had now split into factions; Kylo posed in a protective stance in front of me, while Quinn and Elara stood apart from each other, his eyes glued to Kylo's helmet while Elara seemed suddenly interested in the troopers that interrupted our lovely conversation. "The bridge received a message from the Buzzard that awaits your attention."

On one hand, I was relieved for the sudden disruption. On the other, my heart sank at the thought of him leaving me with these vultures yet again.

He straightened up and acknowledged the troopers with a silent side-glance before turning back to Quinn. He stepped closer to him and muttered something only Quinn could hear, that made his face crinkle in anger and restraint. Kylo turned back to me and held out his arm, motioning for me to lead the way.

"Come with me," he ordered.

And for once, I wasn't about to argue with him.