Chapter 5

Darkness fell over the city as a storm thundered in the skies above the palace and once again no one was sleeping especially after what Obi Wan sensed in the marketplace. The palace was on high alert and Padme and Obi Wan kept Kiara with them in their quarters for fear something was about to happen. It had been days since Anakin and Jacen's disappearance.

Padme looked up at Obi Wan who was pacing once more. "What's wrong, Obi Wan?" she asks him "You've not been the same since the marketplace, can you sense our son and Anakin?" she adds. Padme never fully understood the ways of the Jedi other than what she had been taught and what her father said about them but she understood they could sense other Jedi which recently confused her because if her husband and brother in law had a strong bond, why couldn't he sense him before.

She feared for her son's life and as she looked down at her little girl, she wondered if she would see her little boy again. Padme sighs "I should never have let him go" she admits as Obi Wan turns to look back at her before moving over to take a seat beside her on the bed.

"I'm sorry Padme. It was the council who wanted to see Jacen. I thought we could wait a little longer but they were insistent and I trust Anakin with my life, I knew he would look after our son" he admits. He then wraps his arms around her as Kiara sleeps soundly in between them as Padme sighs. She holds onto her husband dearly.

"I just want them both back" she cries as Obi Wan gently kisses her cheek. He couldn't ignore the dark feeling he was sensing but he hoped that once again, they would overcome it.

The palace came into sight before Shira's eyes as she, Thalia and their clan reached the kingdom. Anakin, who had been fitted with a force resistant shock collar around his neck, similar to the one Palpatine had forced on him after arresting him for killing the King. Shira kept his heart in a small bag at her side and with Thalia ordered to activate the cuff if he tried to escape, it was too risky especially for Jacen.

Shira smirked as she saw the palace. The last time she saw the palace, Palpatine had been murdered and she was forced to flee, pregnant and alone before she found the witches who took her in. Now, she was back and her daughter would sit on the throne, making her father proud.

Shira took the heart out of her bag holding it up in front of her "Get over here, Jedi!" she snaps adding "Hand the child to Thalia" she orders. Anakin is silent, refusing to move until she squeezed his heart causing him to cry out. She turned towards him "Defy me again Jedi and the boy will only see your lifeless body on the ground" she warns. She squeezes once more before he hands Jacen to Thalia and steps towards her. She places a hand on his shoulder "Now, tell me, how can we get inside the castle without alerting anyone?" she asks.

Anakin brushes her hand off his shoulder as he gives her a cold glance "Through the gardens at the back, there is an entrance to the kitchens and from there you'll find your way to the throne room" he explains. Shira smirks

"Excellent, lead the way" she orders him watching him move past her and towards the castle with her following followed by Thalia, Jacen and the witches.

Minutes later, they had reached the beautiful gardens, now lit by small candles around the sides. It was so still and peaceful and yet Anakin could feel the sadness and pain coming from the castle. His brother and Padme were inside and this could be the last time he would see them. He had told Jacen to turn against them and a Sith witch had his heart and was able to kill him whenever she wanted to.

Shira and Thalia had dispersed instantly any guards that tried to stop them or alert on the castle and now about ten guards were dead on the ground. Anakin shook his head as he past them leading them towards the entrance to the kitchens. Anakin felt Jacen grip his hand tightly. The tears had stopped now but stained his cheeks. Anakin sensed the young boy couldn't understand exactly why he was turning on his parents but he also wanted to save his uncle.

Shira turned towards Anakin and glared "Open the door" she snaps. One hand on the bag that held his heart. Anakin closes his eyes before he takes his weapon and cuts the hinges off the door. It started to fall, but not before Thalia could use her powers to lift the door over their heads and tossing it into the distance behind them without making a noise.

Anakin closed his eyes before he was pushed into the kitchen. He tried using his senses to alert his brother but found his senses blocked once again. He heard Jacen sniffling beside him as they moved through the kitchen and into the hallway. Shira turned towards him "Take us to the throne room" she ordered as she then instructs four of their friends in another direction. Anakin feared it was to find Obi Wan and Padme, and he was not ready to face his family.

Padme was suddenly awoken by the small cries of her little girl. "Mommy!, Mommy!" she cried as Padme's eyes opened and she sat upright in bed. Her daughter not lying beside her and she frantically scanned the room finding Kiara in the arms of a dark unrecognisable figure holding her little girl

"Obi Wan!" she calls out with no response "Obi Wan!" she cries rushing back towards the bed only to be pulled back by another figure

"Not so fast your highness" they spoke grabbing her arm "Your husband will be fine...for now" she warns her as she sees her husband pushed towards her, cuffed with resistants. Padme gasps but remained strong

"Release my husband and daughter at once!" she exclaims as the mysterious figures all laugh

"Not before you meet our mistress, your highness" the first speaks before they were all forced from the bedroom, fear clutched at them as they wondered who were these figures, how did they get inside the palace so quietly and were they behind Anakin and Jacen's disappearance?