More short chapters, I know... But, this one is pretty good if I say so myself! Balance in the Dark, Palpatine is a little more verbally evil in this chapter, but still some physical. Although I hope he's a little more believable for you! Anywho, I highly doubt I'll be able to finish this before I leave for vaction. But maybe I can find time to finish it up there... (thoughts brewing in head). Oh well, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and whether or not you did, please review and tell me what you think:-)
And now for...
CHAPTER 15: RIPPED AT THE SEAMS
Sweat gleamed off of Laila's face as the heat from Palpatine's lightsaber inched closer and closer to her.
"Don't!" Luke shouted. Vader pulled him back against his chest harder.
Palpatine looked up from Laila's neck and grinned. "Well, if Laila won't tell you her little secret, then I think I will."
Laila attempted to free herself, "No!" as she struggled, the japor snippet fell out from behind her shirt.
Palpatine gazed at it and then chopped it off her neck with amazing skill, never once touching her pale skin, and held it mid-air with the Force.
All three, Luke, Laila, and Vader, watched as Palpatine spun the snippet around in the air, their eyes glued to the emotional necklace.
"I seem to remember this necklace," he said glaring at Vader, "A symbol of love, if I recall," he glanced at Luke and twisted Laila's arm more, "Do you love Laila, young Skywalker?"
Luke swallowed hard, his eyes filling with tears as Laila's arm was on the brink of breaking off.
"Do you?" he asked a little more forcefully as he pulled her arm even further back. Laila yelled out in pain.
"Yes! I love her!" Luke said quickly, Palpatine released Laila's arm a little. He switched off his lightsaber and grinned maliciously again.
"Then it might pain you to know your loved one isn't all she says she is."
Laila blinked back tears, "Please, don't." she whispered.
"Don't what?" Vader watched as Palpatine set his trap for Luke. He had seen it before with Padme, he turned his head, surprised he couldn't bring himself to watch.
"Don't tell him." Her voice was barely audible.
"You mean you don't want me tot ell him you're really a Sith?" he said mockingly. Luke's eyes went wide.
"That's right, Luke. Little Laila here is really a Sith-Apprentice to none other than your own father," he watched Luke slowly shake his head back and forth, his eyes bright with disbelief, "And do you know what her final mission was?"
A loud whimper escaped Laila's lips as she dreaded what he would surely say next.
"Her final mission was to bring you to the Dark Side of the Force, by seducing you into believing there was something between you two. Make you think she loved you." He finished, a hint of triumph in his voice.
It took Luke a lot of effort to finally find his voice, "Laila?" he said fighting back tears.
Laila looked up at him, the pain clear in her eyes, "I'm sorry, Luke. I'm so sorry." She hung her head as Luke let out a moan.
She met his eyes again, "It started out that way, Luke. But…I really do love you, I do!" she pleaded with him.
Palpatine was there to intervene of course, "But how can you believe her? Everything she's ever told you is a lie." Luke glared at the Emperor, but he thought about it, could her really trust her? Look at what she had done to him. Luke fumed with anger at the thought that maybe Laila had never really loved him in the first place. All the things he had told her, shown her. All the Jedi techniques…
"That's not true!" she protested, "Please, Luke! Don't believe him! Don't listen!"
The frail Emperor smirked, "Don't believe me? So are you saying you weren't a Sith?"
"No." came the heartbreaking reply.
"And to think she was working with your father the entire time." He said, silently shaking a finger at Laila's vulnerable form.
When she looked up again, her expression was fierce, "I had no idea he was your father, Luke. I promise you! He lied to me!" she was trying so desperately to make him understand.
As she stared at his face she gasped, his eyes were flashing an indescribable yellow.