Chapter 19.

Dathomir

Red. The first thing Kyra noticed when their ship came close to the planet's atmosphere. It looked beautiful and alarming, Kyra thought. She could see the huge continents on its red glowing surface. It looked like the planet itself was pulsing with powers. Pulsing like a huge beating heart.

Noticing Kyra's apprehension, he said. "The color red comes from the planet's central star." He explained. "Very few outsiders venture here. We Dathomirians like to keep things for ourselves."

Kyra looked at him and said with a frown. "I am an outsider. Are they going to accept me? Or accept us?"

Maul was not so sure of, but he had no choice. He couldn't leave Kyra on Kish, and he didn't want to leave her anywhere else, period. He'll take his chances with his people. The ones he was worry about were the Nightsisters. He just hoped things would go well. After all, he was one of their best and most dangerous creations. They would never turn him away, even if he did something unusual such as taking a human female as a partner.

Gradually, their ship descended into the planet's atmosphere. Kyra had to hold on to her seat. It was a very shaky ride. After a few minutes, the shaking diminished, and Maul landed the Infiltrator with ease onto the red terrain. He got up and walked up to Kyra, who was also getting out of her seat.

"Kyra." He said looking into her eyes. "We are going to meet my mother and the Nightsisters." Then he added with a small smile. "I know you love to ask questions, but this is not the time to ask them."

Kyra nodded signaling him that she understood. Then Maul grabbed his lightsaber but left Kyra's on the ship. He didn't think it was a good idea to bring it with them, especially for the first meeting. Kyra wanted to protest, but then she gave in and they walked out of the ship.

The first thing Kyra noticed was women, and not just one, but at least twenty of them standing in front of the ship. They all had similar red outfits. Some had a weird triangle-shaped hat covering their hair, if even that was hair underneath, Kyra thought. And some were just plain bald with gray tattoos covering their pale grayish skin. They all had pale gray skin and black or gray tattoos, similar to Mauls. The outfits they wore were very revealing. Most of them had short pants and their long muscular legs were wrapped in red thin ribbons, from upper thigh to ankle. All of them carried weapons. Some had bows and arrows, some had long sharp knives, and some had swords. They looked intimidating. No wonder others won't venture here, she thought comically.

One of the women came forward to greet them. "Welcome home, Maul."

From Maul, she looked to Kyra and said addressing Maul. "I see you brought a prisoner with you."

Then she arched up one of her eyebrows and added with a sly grin. "And a pretty one as well."

Saying that she walked closer to Kyra until she was face to face with her. Her bright yellow eyes searched Kyra's with great intensity. Like she tried to read her, then slowly she walked around Kyra, looking her up and down with great pleasure. It was strange and uncomfortable at the same time being measured up like that. She felt like how a captured animal would feel in the presence of the hunter. Then the woman walked in front of Maul and was sizing him up as well, but in a different way. That look was raw and cold.

"Come, son of Dathomir." She said swiftly. "Your mother is waiting."

And with that, they started to walk toward a huge mountain not far off the distance. The terrain looked hostile and red. The ground dry and hard. When they got close enough Kyra saw it was indeed a mountain, but carved into its façade was a colossal stone fortress adorned with huge stone women figures. With their arms straight above their heads, they were holding the massive stone block fortress. In the middle of the massive stone was a big female face carved in with an open mouth. It looked eerie and strangely beautiful, she thought with amazement.

Walking next to Kyra, Maul's tattooed face showed no emotions or worry. He looked like one of those statues, cold and unmoved. When they reached the main entrance, only a few of the women walked in with them, the rest stayed outside.

To Kyra's surprise, the inside of the fortress was so different from the outside world. The first thing she noticed how much cooler the air was in here. It was a massive cave and within the cave were small little islands lit up with torches, connected with each other were in between them green glowing water flowed. Lots of women were inside, walking around, talking with each other, laughing, or some were even cleaning their weapons diligently. They all looked in a similar fashion to the ones that greeted them earlier.

Maul smiling on the inside when he looked at Kyra's amazed expression. To him, she looked just as strong as the other women. The only thing these witches didn't know, how powerful Kyra was. He was glad that she was like a shield and they couldn't penetrate her mind to expose her true self.

On one of the biggest islands was a huge stone table. At the farther side of the table stood a tall woman. She had the same pale gray skin color with intricate dark gray tattoos marking it.

Her long, narrow face looked stony and mesmerizing. She was also in red, but her outfit differed from the others. Her red dress reminded Kyra of a dangerous but beautiful flower, she thought. It was flowing around her with grace. Her head was covered also with a red long hat and her sleeves were long and wide at the end, where her long bony pale fingers were holding onto the stone table in front of her. The dress gave her a queen appearance. Indeed she looked like a very powerful queen and a dangerous one too. And those eyes, Kyra thought, those light green eyes were looking at them composed and graceful.

The woman who greeted them walked up to the tall one and stood beside her not taking her eyes off Kyra. Then the tall woman spoke, her voice sounded mysterious and dark. "Welcome home, my son!"

Maul bowed and said. "Mother Talzin. I'm honored to be back at your side once again. I have great news for you."

He looked up and with an evil grin, he said. "He is dead."

"Dead? By whom?" Mother Talzin inquired.

"By my hands, and by his own granddaughter's." Maul replied.

Mother Talzin didn't need to ask who was the granddaughter. She already knew.

Looking at Kyra, she knew she was more than what she seemed.

"You are welcome to stay as long as you wish my son." With a small smirk, she looked at Kyra and said. "And you as well my sweet girl."