- - - Chapter Fourteen: The Duke - - -

Padmé slowly opened the room to Anakin's study. She quietly stepped in and shut the door behind her. Her eyes ran across the room. It had been destroyed. The once fine furniture had been ripped and sliced apart. Large wooden splinters littered the floor while chunks of actual furniture laid in pieces by the wall where they had been hurled into. The curtains had been ripped off the rod and torn apart. Books had been thrown into the fireplace. Torn out pages almost created a new carpet in the room. There were large claw marks that criss crossed on the walls an floor.

It looked like a tornado had swept through there. But the real cause was standing near the fire glaring at the roaring flames. Padmé saw the leg of a chair sticking out of the flames. She cautiously crossed the room until she stood next to her husband. He said nothing. He didn't even move. His gold eyes glared down into the fire.

He was tense. Every one of his muscles was taut. His lips were slightly open and she could see his fangs were long just like the claws at the end of his hands. His expression was a dark scowl. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Anakin?" she asked in a soft voice. "Anakin?" she asked again when he didn't respond. Her voice a little louder. "Anakin, look at me."

She moved to stand in front of him. Slowly his eyes focused on her. She placed her hands on his chest. Slowly one slid up his neck and cupped his face. She rubbed small circles with her thumb. Slowly the tension started to leave him. First, his eyes softened and then his eyebrows smoothed out. Slowly his muscles relaxed. Not once did her gaze waver from his. He took a small step towards her. His normal hand rose and cupped her face.

"How . . ." he murmured softly. She leaned her head into his hand. "How are you so calm? I . . . " His eyes slid off her and he looked around the room.

"You don't think I'm hurting too? Look at me." His gold eyes were back on her. "I am hurting. I am angry. Just as much as you are."

His eyes searched hers. She hoped he saw it there. All of her rage. Her anger. Her grief. She was hurting too. She kept thinking of her sweet innocent little boy who she had just been reunited with. And now he was gone. Once again her child had been stolen from her. And it hurt. It hurt so much. Her heart had a hole in it that hurt with every beat.

"How can you keep it all in?" Anakin asked. "How can you be . . . so calm?"

She took in a sharp breath. "You think I don't want to scream and tear this place apart? I do. But what good would that do me? Do Luke or you? I am holding it in and saving it for Sidious." Her voice had lowered and was turning more into a growl. "And I will have him feel every moment of pain I have felt ten times over." Her nails and fangs had grown out. Her eyes were now a burning gold.

She took a few deep breaths and calmed down. Her features returned to that of a human, and so had Anakin's. He looked so tired and sad. His eyes were watery. He was hurting, and she knew he had a harder time controlling his emotions. He felt everything so strongly.

"Come," she said looping his arm through his. "Let's rest."

He let himself be led out of the room to a drawing room. Padmé had the maids prepare some drinks while she and Anakin sat down on a couch. She pulled him down so his head rested against her chest. He curled his legs up on the couch so he was laying down. She wove her fingers through his hair and started to stroke it.

"What are we going to do?" he asked. "When I visited Palpatine he wouldn't let me close enough to get his blood. He's too on guard with me around."

"Then it won't be you that gets his blood. We find someone who will allow for his guard to be down. Perhaps you can get a sample from one of his staff?"

"Why bother?" he grumbled. "I should just take the blood of every citizen in London. He may be able to take down a few humans, but a hundred? Two hundred? Three? Eventually, he would tire out. Just overwhelm him with numbers."

"No," she said. He stiffened. "That would cause too much trouble."

"Too much trouble?" he growled. "For who? Those humans? You think I care about them?"

She knew he did not. And if she had to choose between her children and the lives of a few hundred humans, she would pick her children. But despite Anakin's powers, there would be no way to completely cover up a hundred or so normal individuals attacking a single man. There would be witnesses who would be outside of Anakin's control. Rumors would spread.

"We are vampires, Anakin," she said. "We live in the shadows. We do not do well in the spotlight. There may not be a Jedi Order sent to eliminate us, but that doesn't mean the common people wouldn't raise their torches and pitchforks up to hunt us down."

"Let them try," he grumbled.

She said nothing else as she stroked his hair. Saché came in carrying a tray of two wine glasses filled with a mixture of blood and wine. She handed the glasses to Padmé and quietly excused herself.

"Drink," Padmé said.

Anakin took the glass but didn't bring it up to his lips. Padmé took a long sip from her glass enjoying the tang of blood. It always sent a small rush through her. Anakin sat up and finally took a sip from his glass. No doubt he could smell the blood and the hunger was rising in him. Padmé shifted her glass to her other hand and placed her free hand on Anakin's arm. She gently rubbed it while the two drank. Anakin had gulped his wine down in three large swigs then tossed the glass to the floor. Then he placed his head down in her lap.

"What's going in that mind of yours?" she asked.

"A thousand different thoughts," he sighed. "I keep thinking about Luke and how scared he must be. Then I think of Sidious and how I am going to kill him very, very slowly. I must have thought of a hundred different ways I can drag out his death to be as painful as possible."

He took a deep sigh and closed his eyes.

Padmé slowly slid off the couch. She was careful when moving Anakin and gently placed his sleeping head on the sofa. He hadn't stirred. He was deep asleep. The sleeping drug in the wine had worked. She kneeled down and watched her husband sleep for a few minutes. Then she pressed a long kiss to his lips.

"I love you," she whispered.

Then she stood and silently left the room making sure to close the door behind her. She made her way downstairs to the basement. Three of her handmaidens were waiting in the hall.

"How is Mr. Piett?" Padmé asked.

"His transformation is slow," Saché said. "But it is steady."

Padmé nodded her head. She had decided to bite Piett as otherwise he would have died. She was indebted to him. He had been the one to betray Ozell to inform Anakin of her imprisonment. Without him, she did not know how much longer she would have been in that old watchtower. Plus he had been nothing but loyal to her and Anakin afterward. It was clear he had tried to fend off the ones who had taken Luke. His body was littered in slash marks. She wasn't one to ignore such deeds.

She wasn't supposed to turn anyone. She was the line of Sidious. His line was strong and pure and also exclusive. But what did it matter anymore anyway? She was currently plotting his death.

She walked into the wine cellar and went to the far wall. She gently pulled on the wine rack and the secret door slid silently open. This was part of Varykino that Anakin did not know about. The handmaidens had never informed Lord Skywalker about this. He had never asked. Never suspected. This was Amidala's domain.

The three handmaidens followed her and closed the entrance behind them. The hall here looked the same as the previous part of the basement. Nothing odd about it at first glance except the entrance. Padmé entered a room. The rest of the handmaidens were waiting.

"Everything is ready, my lady," Sabé said.

"Duja was able to procure dresses that match Sidious' maids," Eritaé said as she handed Padmé a dress. She then handed out dresses to a few of the others.

Padmé wasted no time in stripping off her clothes and slipping into the new dress. She had no qualms in being undressed in front of those assembled. Neither did the others as they also quickly put on the dresses. Those who weren't changing helped those who were. Not a single word was said. Once they were all clothed again, Ellé picked up the discarded clothes from the floor.

Padmé smoothed the fabric of her dress. "Cordé, your sleeping potion worked well," she said. Cordé smiled and nodded in thanks. "Anakin should be out for a while. Moteé you know when to wake him?"

"Yes, my lady," Moteé replied.

"Make sure she is on time," Padmé said to Ellé and Karté. "Anakin has a role to play in this, but he does it on my time."

"Yes, my lady," the two youngest responded in sync.

"If everything is ready, let us depart," Padmé said. The women all bobbed their heads.

The three younger handmaidens left the room. They would stay behind. Sabé led the way out of the room and down to the end of the hall where there was a ladder to a secret door that exited out into the garden. Once out, they made their way to the stable. The stable staff was not about, the girls had already cleared them out, but the carriage and horses were ready. Padmé climbed into the carriage. Some of them joined her in the cabin while others climbed up the outside. They would drive and be on lookout.

The carriage lurched forward into the night. Padmé leaned forward as they passed Varykino. She couldn't see the study's windows from here, but she thought of Anakin. She knew he would be furious when he awoke. In fact, she had planned for such a reaction. But her plans for Sidious' demise stretched out years before she had been imprisoned in Tatooine. She was not going to let it all go to waste. She was going to have her revenge even if . . . even if she had to do this by herself.

There was some small talk amongst the others. Mostly swapping strategies and intel. Padmé was only half listening. Her mind was replaying every injustice against her from the hands of Sheev Palpatine. She thought of the last four years. She thought of that moment as she was taken by the Jedi and taken to the Temple. As she had given birth only to watch as they snatched away her babies. She recalled earlier today to find her son had been snatched away again.

Yes, there was her fire. Her hatred. That one that she had never let die since she watched her family slaughtered. She had sworn to herself that day that she would get revenge for them. She didn't even think it was possible. She thought she would have been dead by now. But she wasn't. And she was closer now to achieving her goal than ever before.

No one would stop her.

The carriage had come to a stop and they had been waiting several minutes until the door open. A woman wearing a dark hooded cloak stood outside the carriage.

"My lady," the woman said with a polite bow. "I'm glad to see you well after these long years."

"Duja," Padmé said with a warm smile. "I am glad to see you as well. It is good to know you've gone undetected this long."

Duja smiled. She had worked as a maid for Sidious close to ten years now.

"The Duke is hosting a party tonight," Duja said. One of the handmaidens gave out a huff.

"The Duke?" Padmé said to herself. The choice of words meant that there would be human guests. Of course, some of them would be vampires. "Bold," she murmured to herself. "But easier for us to sneak in."

The ladies all nodded. Padmé slipped out of the carriage. They would approach on foot with two staying behind with the carriage. They walked in a single file line through the dark woods. None of them talked. Padmé heard the party before she saw the house, but soon the twinkling lights of Coruscant House started to flicker through the leaves.

A large party such as this had to have been planned ahead. So Palpatine had taken her son knowing it would enrage Anakin knowing he would have a house full of humans. Was Sidious that arrogant? Did he think to use the humans as a shield? Use them as some sort of deterrent to prevent Anakin from acting too hasty? That seemed sloppy of Sidious. Anakin didn't care about humans. In fact, they only gave Anakin more ammo to use against Sidious. True they were not vampires, but under Anakin's control, they would make good fodder.

Then why had Sidious done this? He could have waited until tomorrow to take Luke when there was no party. What was the old man thinking? Did he also know Anakin would have no regard for the humans? Perhaps Sidious planned to twist this against Anakin. If word got out Anakin was a vampire who barged into a party and started attacking and killing innocents, well, that would be damning. The Skywalker-Naberrie house would be ruined. The humans would start a witch hunt. Even if Anakin managed to get Luke, where would they go? Sure Anakin had his powers, but it had its limits.

Padmé smiled to herself. It was good that she was here. Sidious was plotting something for Anakin. She was glad she had managed to keep her husband from racing away the moment he realized Luke had been taken. Whatever Sidious plan was, it wouldn't play out. Clearly, he thought of several ways to handle Darth Vader, but he hadn't planned Lady Amidala.

"My lord! Lord Skywalker! Wake up! Please! Lord Skywalker!"

Slowly, Vader awoke. It was a hard and slow process. Someone was grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. He felt disoriented and groggy. His vision was blurry and it took him a few moments to recognize one of the maids, Karté, was shaking him.

"My lord!" she said. Her face was pale. "Please you must hurry! The lady! She . . . "

"She what?" Vader asked. His words a bit slurred.

"She went to Coruscant House!" Karté said.

Vader instantly snapped away. Whatever sleepiness that still clung to him had vanished.

"What?" He jumped to his feet. "She did what? When?"

"I . . . I don't know, my lord," Karté said. She was still kneeling on the carpet. "I was doing the laundry. I only noticed just now. Forgive me, my lord. I should have-"

Vader scowled. It wasn't Karté's fault. He marched passed her. He went directly to his bedroom and dressed in black leathers, those of Darth Vader, grabbed his sword then went to the stable. He found his black horse and saddled her himself. Then he rode off into the night.

As he galloped down the road, his anxiety rose inside of him. Padmé had gone to Coruscant House by herself. What was she thinking? Did she plan to confront Sidious by herself? She couldn't! What if she was captured again? Then Sidious would have both Luke and Padmé. There was a sharp stab of pain in his cold heart. He couldn't . . . He couldn't lose them both. He had barely survived the last four years without her, and that was because of his sweet Luke. How could he live without either of them? Or his daughter?

He couldn't lose them! He wouldn't!

His hands gripped the reins tighter. His leather gloves creaked. This had to end and end now. Sidious had to die. It was the only way for his family to be safe. Sidious wasn't going to stop. Wasn't going to let his hold on Vader loosen. Vader was too powerful of a pawn. One Sidious wanted firmly under his thumb.

But why had Padmé gone alone? He knew she wanted her revenge against Sidious. He recalled what she had done to Ozell as soon as they were done questioning him. With her long claws, she had hacked his body apart by tearing his limbs off piece by piece. Then she stabbed his stomach and tore him apart from the inside all while keeping him alive as long as possible.

Padmé was Lady Amidala, vampire royalty. She was respected and revered by the other vampires, and it seemed to be a spot Padmé had earned instead of thrown upon her by Sidious. So she could handle herself, but she was still one person against Sidious and his coven . . . She was still his wife. His Padmé.

And oh lord, he needed her. He loved her so much. His heart tightened at the thought of anything happening to her. He recalled seeing that pile of ash in the Temple's operation room thinking she had died. Though it lasted mere seconds, it was the worst moment of his life. He would not live through a moment like that again, especially if she was truly dead.

Coruscant House was visible in the distance. The house was lit up and Vader slowed his horse down. He could see carriages lined up along the drive. He steered his horse off the road. He found a spot nearby to tie his horse up and approached the house on foot through the woods. As he came close he could see the various coaches and hear the music and laughter.

There was a party?

Vader scowled. Sidious was using those pathetic humans as a shield. It was preventing Vader from rushing in and making a huge scene. But it was also quite foolish for Sidious to have this many people around that Vader could command . . . but that required collecting blood samples which would be lengthy and time-consuming. He didn't have that kind of time. But he couldn't just rush in there. He paused as he considered this carefully.

Vader rode up the road sitting high on his horse. He stopped right in front of the house. The staff looked at him uneasily. One man approached him as Vader dismounted.

"Sir, this is a private event. You will need an invitation-"

"Do you know who I am?" Vader growled. "I am Lord Skywalker. I do not need an invitation."

"Even you need one, my lord," the man said outraged.

Vader glared at him.

"Forgive him, my lord!" a new voice shouted.

Vader looked up to see Mas Ameda rushing down the steps.

"Lord Skywalker," the butler said. "Forgive him. His grace has been expecting you. If you will follow me."

Vader shot a nasty glare at the man before following Amedda up the stairs.

"I was not aware his grace was having such an affair tonight," Vader said.

"His grace has been planning this party for some time. Perhaps his lordship lost his invitation in his letters that had piled up during his most recent absence," Amedda said. "Also I will need you to relinquish your sword." Vader handed it over. "And your needles as well."

Vader's eyes narrowed but slowly pulled four sharp needles from his pocket. The two were silent as they entered the house. Amedda led him away from the party and to a door. This door had stairs taking them down to the lower part of the house. Dark robed figures slid silently out of open doorways and joined them. Vader was surrounded by figures in front and behind him.

"I have a question Mr. Amedda," Vader said casually. The butler didn't falter in his step, but did glance back at Vader. "Did you really think taking away my sword and needles would stop me?"

Before anyone could react, Vader launched himself forward. He kicked his leg out and slammed it into Amedda's legs. The butler screamed in pain. Vader slammed his boot down on one of the legs, hearing a sharp satisfying crack of bone. By then the robed vampires were coming at him. Their claws were out and fangs were long. Vader only smiled.

They were still in a hallway, and the confined space worked in Vader's favor. He ducked under a vampire who had jumped at him. He raked his own claws across the vampire's body as it passed overhead. Then he rolled and dug his hands into the stomach of another vampire. He ripped his claws out creating a large gash. Blood sprayed all over him. Intestines flopped out of the gash, but still, Vader didn't linger. Another vampire was coming at him from behind. He dodged the attack, grabbed the vampire's arm and threw him against the wall.

Move. Dodge. Slash. Grab. Blood. So much blood. The air was thick with it. Another vampire. Another attack. Block it. Vader dug his claws into the eyes of a vampire and ripped them out. He then took the eyeless vampire and threw it at two oncoming vampires. He had to keep moving. Slashing. Stabbing. He couldn't stop. And why would he stop? He was enjoying this far too much. A smile stretched across his lips and a laugh tumbled out.

When was the last time he had fought like this? He wasn't manipulating anyone to fight for him? It was just him. His strength cutting down these fools one by one until none of them were left standing. Many were still alive. He didn't have the time or chance to always land a killing blow, especially against a vampire. There were only a few ways to truly kill one. Already those who had had minor wounds inflicted on them were starting to heal. It was a good thing Vader had time now.

Vader walked down the large hall that led to the throne room. He had his sword at his hip again. He was covered in blood, and he moved at a steady beat towards the large door. His gold eyes glaring at the four guards dressed in crimson robes who stood in front of the door. He watched as they grew tenser the closer he approached.

"Halt!" one of the guards in the middle shouted.

Vader did not. He kept walking forward. "I am here to see Sidious," Vader said. He purposely excluded any title.

The guards snapped up their pikes and pointed it at him.

"Now, now, gentlemen," Vader said. "We can be civil about this shall we?" Finally, he stopped when he was just out of range from the pikes. The guards still held their positions. "No?" For a second no one moved. Vader sighed. "I guess not," he said. "I am a bit tired out. I'll have you play with my friends. - Come out and attack the guards. Rip them to pieces. -"

Figures started to walk out from other doorways or come from behind Vader. Some were the injured vampires he had just fought including a limping Amedda. Some were random servants or vampires Vader had run across. One or two were dressed in their fine clothes as they had been attending the party.

When they finally grew close enough, the crowd rushed forward. The four guards really didn't stand a chance as they were quickly overwhelmed. Vader smiled as they were ripped apart. He saw an arm in a red sleeve thrown into the air. One of the pikes rolled across the floor towards a wall. Vader watched for a moment allowing his injuries from his earlier fight to finish healing.

"-Out of the way,-" Vader ordered.

The group instantly parted. They dragged the torn up corpses of the guards. Many of the vampires were feasting on the body parts. Vader walked past them to the large double door. He slowly pushed one open. He slid through and closed it behind him. He looked across the grand ballroom. This room was larger than the ballroom upstairs where all the humans were still merrily dancing. At the far end sat a raised dais where a single large black throne sat. Sidious was ever the one to be dramatic.

Vader could see a figure cloaked in black sitting on the throne. Vader marched across the room. His boots clicking against the tile. His hands were balled into fists. One hand lingered near the hilt of his sword. Vader could smell fresh blood in the air. It wasn't coming from behind him. It was coming from Sidious. Vader reached the steps and started to climb up. As he did, he noticed blood was splashed across the steps and around the throne.

He couldn't get sidetracked. Not here. Not now. He looked directly at the dark hood of the figure on the throne.

"Sidious," he hissed. "Where is my son? Where is my wife?"

Silence. Neither figure moved. Then slowly the arms rose up to the hood and the hood was pushed back. Vader's mouth fell open as he saw the person under the cloak was not Darth Sidious, but Padmé. She slowly pushed the rest of the cloak off her shoulders. Her body was splashed in blood. Her gold eyes were blazing. Her nails were in long claws that dripped in red blood.

"Hello, my love," she said. "I'm sorry for leaving as I did. But you know, Sheev and I had some unfinished business."

She waved at the ground in front of her. Vader finally allowed himself to look. It wasn't just blood splashed about, but body parts as well. His eyes landed on an upper arm. It was white and wrinkly. It was Sidious'.

"I . . . I . . ." Vader looked around confused.

Padmé slowly rose off the throne and sauntered over to him. She looked immensely pleased. She slowly rose a bloody hand up to him.

"Here," she purred. "This is what you wanted, no? Sidious' blood? I've collected a lot for you."

"Padmé . . ." Vader whispered. "This . . . How . . . I need him alive. Luke! We have to find Luke!"

She took a step closer. "Don't worry," she said softly. "My handmaidens have taken care of it. They've secured Luke. He's safe. I'm safe. And Sidious is gone."

Vader's eyes darted back to the carnage on the floor. A wet hand cupped his cheek and pulled his face back to look at her. Her hand slid across his face so her fingers slid across his lips.

"Go ahead," she said.

He slowly parted his lips and her fingers slowly pushed in. He licked the blood, Sidious' blood, off her fingertips. Padmé smiled. She pulled her fingers out, then grabbed his face and pulled him to her. Her lips crashed against his. He was still in shock. It took him a few seconds to finally relax and wrap his arms around her.

Sidious was gone. It was over. He could finally have his family, his entire family, together. He could make things right.

Except he could feel the bond forming between him and Sidious now that he had tasted the blood. Sidious wasn't dead.