Scarlet
By Sapadu
Not much was asked of Padme as the doors thrown open to a small confinement- her harsh treatment was subject to that of no kindness, nor any right of a human being, and she allowed it, unwilling and unable to fight back without bringing a grievance upon her soul. The babes she carried wailed in misery and nothing could consol them, even the sound of a motherly lullaby.
The guards stood outside the door and waited for their master- the air remained warm and the muffled cries of the little ones remained in motion of the air, and no one in the prison or out of it had much to fear. However, as the clock turned to an upright position, a cold stillness broke the spell and sent stabs of ice and fire into all who stood with their hearts open to attack. The louse had come, to suck out the blood of his victims, called as subjects are to a king.
With a swift motion of his hand and no particular words, the Emperor brushed the guards to the side as they bent to him, moving aside and allowing entrance into the cell, as though it were his own dwelling.
"Senator Padme," Said he to the huddled mass, cringing over her treasure to save their blood with her own, "Rise." And to no will of her own, as the louse pulled the strings on his fingers, her feet supported her and she was bound against the wall. Still, the baby twins continued to wail and warble, like the ill song of a bird and the cat whom had pounced.
"Silence to them- I have a matter to discuss." Emperor Palpatine thrust his hand at the babes, only bringing more grief onto their mother, as she pulled them tighter against her breasts and the scarlet letter seemed to burn them as they too, screamed.
"I would if could I, but the beasts will not be tamed. Whatever hide of whip you lash upon them, their skins are tougher, thicker, and not even I can change that." Padme replied, her head in apology of the offence, which she committed without her body asking for her permission. Even the groveling on the floor that her soul thrust out, the louse found no satisfaction and sent a blow into her, that reeled her across the room, back into the very depths of her subconsciousness.
"Senator Amidala, straighten thyself. Be prideful of modesty- set an example. If thou art so helpless, how came about these two? Thou art more promiscuous then the act you put on, do not lie- put on no show for me, not before my new subjects." The louse pointed his sucker to the two quailing babes, whom seemed to know that some mischief had befallen their mother and had no intention of leaving her in silence and darkness.
"If thou dost know the whole truth, tell me off before all, and then let me suffer in peace. Or would thou be here to return everyone to the state of before the incident- leave me childless, the father never to have spawned, and thyself still in control of all life that breeds?" The rebellious remark burned itself out, warming the frozen cell with fiery defiance and calming the numbed hearts of her two little ones.
The louse lost his will to feed at these words, with his prey of blood dried and impossible to suck. For a while, his moment seemed gone, and the pitiful hussy who'd lost her position had stolen instead, a more profitable prize of the Emperor's tongue. However, upon drawing himself up to his full status, the louse could only return with a venomous sting.
"Now, Senator, you know the grief of the Senate for infanticide. And for what benefit of mine would it be to rid the world of such symbols of sin? Even if I did a mercy to thou, the Scarlet Letter forever should be engraved on thy soul." The Emperor pressed a finger against the red letter A on Padme's breast, and from the way she cringed and gasped and fell away to the floor, 'twas as though a hot iron had burnt it upon her skin.
Sensing the plight of his holder, the little son Padme held in her arms reached up and dug his barely grown teeth into the louse's wither'd skin. A scream echoed in the room as blood spilled forth, just barely a dribble, but enough that the taste of it lingered on the youngling's tongue and the warmth of the metallic sanguiem touched his sister's chilled head. Padme curled into herself into a shield against any forboding attack that should arise from the fury of a ruler scorned, while the louse cringed and hissed as a snake would, before arising to his full height.
"If this is the fate you bring upon yourself, mark this- no child grows well who tastes blood in their first year. Keep yourself with your sin. Make a way in the world for you. But, never welcome are you again to the floor and else you remain silent and alone, never again shall any of your kin see the sun." Old Palpatine warned, extending his finger. Padme glared up in defiance.
"I'd rather be in shadows evermore than live under a sun that gives the likes of thee light." She replied with all the warmth that an iced Emperor could have shown as the light from outside the door slimmed until the shadows had returned.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long, but exams are coming up for me- school is a hellish nightmare.