Chapter 26.
Terms and Conditions
Part 1
They landed safely on Dathomir close to the Nightbrothers village. This time, Maul made sure that no one followed the ship.
With Kyra in his arms, Maul exited the ship. She was still too weak to walk. Savage walked in front of them and was greeted by the other brothers. Kyra saw at least a dozen men with tattooed faces and horned heads. Some of them had the same coloring as Savage, while others were similar to Maul. But they had all one thing in common. Tattoos.
Also, they all wore a similar outfit. Primitive warrior clothing and high leather boots with shin plates. Their weapons looked different and some were strange-looking to Kyra. They all looked at her with mixed curiosity. Like they have never seen a human female before.
Passing them, Maul walked into one of the bigger metal huts and placed Kyra on a sofa. The sofa felt hard and uncomfortable, but Kyra didn't protest. She was happy that Maul was with her and that she was safe now. He lowered himself next to her and gently brushed his gloved hand over her tired face. He knew she endured a lot of pain at the hands of those guards. Just thinking about it made him want to kill them over and over again. Sensing his anger, Kyra gently kissed him. Then she deepened their kiss and then Maul's hand came sliding around her waist, pulling her body close to his. Then someone at the door cleared his throat with a loud noise and Maul let go of her and turned to look at his brother Savage. He awkwardly stood there not knowing what to say.
"Forgive me, brother." He said "We have to take Kyra back to the Nightsisters. You know and I know that she cannot stay here with us."
Yes. Maul knew the traditions and laws of this land, but right now he didn't care about them.
"I know brother." He said it with a grim voice. "I'm going to take her back tonight."
Kyra looked at Maul then to Savage and said. "I do not want to cause any trouble. If I have to live with the sisters then so be it." Then she looked at Maul and suddenly inside his head, he heard her voice. We can always meet there.
" No." Maul replied. Kyra's face suddenly went surprised with anger. Then she said out loud. "NO?"
"I am going to stay with you at the sisters." He said. His voice was calm and determent.
Savage looked at his brother dumbfounded. "You can't do that! Mother would never allow it or the other sisters." Standing up, Maul helped Kyra up, and then they walked out toward the ship. He turned back to Savage and said. "Maybe it's time to break traditions, brother."
Savage with the others watched the Infiltrator taking off and disappearing into the dark sky.
Mother Talzin was looking at them with strange calmness. For a minute, she didn't say anything. Maul was getting impatient. He wanted to know if she would allow this to happen. If she says no, then they just have to find another place. To Maul's surprise, she said. "This request of yours is unconventional my son, but I and so as my sisters will except it. You and Kyra can stay as long as you would like to." Then she paused and her face became stern. "With only one condition. And this one is something we Nightsisters usually do not allow, but this time I will break traditions."
Looking into Kyra's eyes, she said. "You have to become one of us, my sweet girl."
Maul was in complete shock. He knew what took to become a Nightsister.
"Mother." He said swiftly. "Kyra is in no condition to perform this task."
Kyra looked from Maul to Mother Talzin with curious eyes. What kind of task? She thought with a frown.
"This my son, I cannot change." Then she continued. "In three days, she'll become one of us." Looking into Kyra's wide eyes, she calmly said. "I have all the confidence in you my girl. Be prepared." Then she dismissed them.
Maul looked angry and afraid. What is he afraid of? Kyra thought. Once they were outside, Maul turned to Kyra and said. "This task my mother asked of you to become one of them is very dangerous. Lot's of them perished while battling the Sleeper."
"Sleeper? What is that?" She inquired.
"An ancient creature living below the Nightsisters fortress. My mother will summon it from the depths of Dathomir, then you have to take a piece of its body." Slowly shaking his horned head he added. "It's not an easy task, Kyra. You have to give yourself fully to the Dark side to battle the Sleeper."
Kyra noticed his eyes were full of concern and apprehension. If this is what I have to do to stay with Maul then so be it, she thought with determination.
Then she hugged him and buried her face into his chest.
Three days later she was summoned. Mother Talzin beckoned her to follow and they walked toward the far side of the cave. Standing on one of the smaller islands, Mother Talzin loudly chanted some strange words, which Kyra didn't understand. Suddenly, a bright green mist enveloped the island they were standing on. It swirled around them touching them almost like speaking to them, Kyra thought with amazement.
Then the surface of the water started to ripple and from the depths of it, a large crustacean-like creature slowly emerged. Kyra noticed that Mother Talzin backed away, and then before she was about to leave her there, turned to her and said. "I'll see you soon, my sweet girl." Then she walked off.
Holding her lightsaber, Kyra watched the creature emerging in front of her. This animal looked amazingly strange and beautiful. The creature slowly turned and placed two sickle-like legs on the surface of the island. In the back just underneath the crustacean, had a pair of massive blue tentacles. Two large lavender-colored eyes were looking into Kyra's eyes. Kyra felt paralyzed, but not with horror, but with surprise. This creature felt strangely natural to Kyra. Beneath its' lavender eyes were teardrop-shaped scales and they were glowing in a bright green color, just like her eyes. She felt a strange but strong pull toward the creature. Then slowly she approached it.
Mother Talzin with the other women watched Kyra from afar with great amazement. Their eyes were wide with great surprise to what they witnessed. It was something not even old Daka had ever seen in her long life.
Kyra walked up to the Sleeper and placed her right hand on top of its shell. On contact, her eyes turned completely black. Looking into the creature's eyes, which also turned black Kyra felt a strange connection between them. A sudden strong vibration traveled from the Sleeper through Kyra's hand. It was breathtaking. A deep and strong connection between her and the creature. Then Kyra activated her lightsaber and with a swift move cut a piece of shell off its back. Slowly turning around, the Sleeper descended into the greenish water and disappeared out of view. Looking at the piece of shell in her hand, Kyra noticed her reflection in it. Her pitch-black eyes were looking right back at her, but instead of feeling rage, she felt calm, strangely calm.
Cautiously, Mother Talzin and the other women approached her. Their pale tattooed faces were in great shock except for Mother Talzin, she somehow knew that Kyra was special. She knew how special she was.
Placing her hand on Kyra's shoulder, she slowly turned her around and said.
"Come my child. You are not finished yet."
They made their way toward the big stone table. There was a large pot on top of the table. She motioned for Kyra to place the shell into the pot. Kyra did as was asked.
Then Mother Talzin started to chant again but this time Kyra understood the words.
"Powerful Mother of Dathomir, Great Sisters of Dathomir, Wise Father of Dathomir, Strong Brothers of Dathomir, take this offering from this humble of servants of yours. Give her the knowledge and strength to serve you all! Embrace her and teach her the way of the only and one Force!"
The pot started to glow in a bright green color. The shell inside turned into a green liquid. Then she beckoned to Kyra to drink the substance, which she did.
When Kyra finish drinking, her eyes turned back to their normal color. Then the same green mist enveloped her body one more time and then disappeared into thin air.
Pacing outside the fortress, Maul was not allowed to witness a ritual like that.
However, he knew that something amazing went on inside. He felt it. And it felt good.