The Deal

Josh woke up with a start, causing Seraphina to stir in her sleep. Josh looked up at the starry night sky. He realized that they were still out in the field on Endor. They had both fallen asleep looking at the stars and talking.

Seraphina stirred and opened her eyes, blinking several times. She felt strong arms wrapped around her and her head was resting on Josh's chest. She lifted her head and looked at him. His eyes were open and he was staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Josh answered quickly.

Seraphina tried to sit up but Josh's arms were wrapped firmly around her waist. "Mind letting go?"

Josh complied and Seraphina sat up and looked around. Her eyes fixed on something in the distance. Josh sat up and looked in the direction she was looking. Orange and yellow lights could be seen from across the terrain. A dark cloud rose up from the lights and blotted out the stars.

"It's coming from the village." Seraphina said, standing up. "That can't be good."

Josh stood up and grabbed her hand, both of them running towards the village. Josh pulled her behind a bush and they crouched down, watching what was happening. Huts were on fire and several Stormtroopers rounded up Resistance pilots in the center of the village. Two figures clad in black and wearing masks dragged a kicking woman towards a man also dressed in black and standing near one of the First Order shuttles. Seraphina gasped when she recognized the woman.

"Mom," she whispered.

The men in black threw her onto the ground in front of the other man. "Lord Sethtis, this is Rey Skywalker."

Josh tensed at the name Sethtis. The man who the other one had called Sethtis knelt down in front of Rey. "So this is the famed Jedi Master who defeated Supreme Leader Snoke and turned Kylo Ren away from the Dark Side." Sethtis' mask made his voice sound robotic.

Rey didn't answer but continued to glare at the man's boots. Sethtis turned to the other two men. "Put her onboard the ship and see if there are any other Jedi."

The men nodded and they grabbed Rey's arms, dragging her onboard the shuttle. Seraphina began to get up, but Josh pulled her back down. She didn't scream but she cried. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as Josh held her close.

I can't lose them again. She said through their bond.

I know. Josh whispered. Seraphina balled her hands into fists and buried her head in his chest. We'll rescue them. I promise.

Seraphina only nodded. Josh suddenly tensed and Seraphina looked up. Sethtis was slowly approaching their hiding place. Josh grabbed her hand and they darted into the shadows of the trees before anyone could see them. Josh weaved in and out of the trees, dragging Seraphina with him. When they were a good distance away, Josh stopped.

"Who is that?" Seraphina asked, gasping for breath.

"Sethtis is someone I used to train with. Abaddon had been training several Force-sensitive people to become Sith lords. I was his best student which was why I ended leading the First Order as well as the others that were trained with me. Sethtis and I were always striving to be the best. He began to resent me when Abaddon declared that I was to be the leader of the First Order." Josh explained.

"So he's looking for you?"

"Most likely," Josh said, placing his hands on his knees, gasping. "I left the First Order. That makes me a traitor and the punishment is death."

SNAP! Seraphina and Josh both whirled around to see Sethtis standing a good seven feet behind them with his hand on a black lightsaber hilt. Several other black figures circled the pair.

"When I was notified that you had left the First Order I almost didn't believe it. Alarick had said you left the Order for a mere girl. Though now I see why you abandoned the First Order for her. She is beautiful." Sethtis said, igniting his saber. The red blade appeared on either end of the hilt. Not many Sith lords used double-bladed sabers.

Josh protectively put himself between Seraphina and Sethtis, keeping his hand on his lightsaber hilt.

The other figures also brought out their weapons: red lightsabers. Seraphina tightened her grip on her own lightsaber, not igniting it just yet. She and Josh stood back-to-back, ready to fight.

When the men charged at the pair, Josh and Seraphina turned their sabers on. Red crashed against white raising a shower of sparks. Josh and Sethtis struck at each other, all too familiar with each other's fighting styles. Seraphina was on the retreating and defending side of her deadly dance with the others.

Sethtis didn't hold back while fighting Josh. "Don't tell me the girl made you weak, Amaro."

Josh didn't respond and continued to block the deadly saber. He glanced at Seraphina from time-to-time where she stood surrounded by Sethtis' men off to Josh's left. She had her white lightsabers in her hands and she was doing her best to fend off the dark Force-users. One of them raised his hand towards Seraphina while she was blocking an enemy's lightsaber. Her blue eyes widened in shock and she flew into a tree, her sabers deactivating as she fell to the ground.

"Seraphina!" Josh yelled. While distracted, Sethtis grazed his left arm and kicked him in the stomach, sending him falling backwards.

Josh glared at the man standing over him. The last thing Josh saw was Seraphina being dragged by two of Sethtis' men and dropped on the ground next to him. Then he blacked out, tired and in pain from the fight that lasted longer than it felt.

When Seraphina woke up, she was laying on a big black bed in a room. What happened? She thought and then the events of last night came flooding back into her mind.

Josh? She tried to use their bond but something wasn't right. Their bond was still there but it was almost like something was keeping her from using it.

She stood up from the bed and walked over to a nearby window that showed the stars, planets, and the blackness of space. The door to her room opened but she didn't turn around to see who it was. Through the Force she could sense it was Sethtis. He stood behind her and Seraphina did her best to ignore him.

"What are you thinking about?" he suddenly asked her, his mask distorting his voice.

Seraphina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Why don't you look into my head and find out?"

Two seconds later, Seraphina felt a cold and dark presence enter her head. She didn't resist but instead let him in. Soon afterwards though, the presence receded. Seraphina could feel the annoyance coming off of Sethtis and she did her best not to smirk.

"You were thinking of Amaro."

"Josh." Seraphina said quickly. "His name is Josh."

"Josh," Sethtis sneered. "Fine. I have an offer for you… Seraphina is it?"

"What is your offer?" Seraphina asked, slightly curious.

"If you join the Dark Side and pledge your allegiance to the First Order then I will let your friends and family go free."

Seraphina's mind began racing. He would let them all go if I joined the First Order? "Why would you do something like that?"

"Well for one, I'm a generous man (I am rolling my eyes right now at that statement. And I'm the one who wrote it! Suuure you are Sethtis.). Two, you're extremely strong in the Force. You could be of great use to me."

She should have known that the reason he wanted her by his side was because of her power. "What about Josh?"

"What about him? He is to be executed for treason."

"I-I'll join… if you let Josh go free with the others."

Seraphina couldn't see Sethtis' face behind his mask and because she refused to turn around, but she was pretty sure that he was rolling his eyes. "Fine, I accept your terms. I'll order my men to put them in a ship and send them away."

"And one more thing," Seraphina said. "I want to say goodbye."

"Make it quick."

Sethtis escorted Seraphina to the prison cells. She immediately spotted Josh in the nearest cell. She ran to it and Sethtis opened the cell, allowing her in. Josh didn't look up from glaring at the floor. Seraphina smirked and crossed her arms. "Why is it that whenever we get separated, I find you in a cell?"

Josh's head jerked up at the sound of her voice and he rushed forward. He pulled her into a hug, relishing in the warmth that her touch brought. Josh had been so worried about her. Their connection hadn't been working and he had started to panic.

"Are you alright? He didn't hurt you did he?" Josh asked, inspecting her arms for any injuries.

Seraphina pulled her arm away. "I'm fine. He's letting you and the others go."

Josh furrowed his brow. "Why?"

"I made a deal with him." Seraphina said, looking down.

"What was the deal?"

"If I stay here and join the First Order, he'll let you and the others go free."

"Seraphina, no!" Josh exclaimed grabbing her hands. "That's a horrible deal! I would rather rot in a cell than see you with him!"

Seraphina shook her head slowly, tears forming in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry but I didn't want you to be a prisoner here. My family also needs to be free."

"But what about you, Seraphina? If you stay here, you'll be a prisoner of the Dark Side."

"I'm willing to sacrifice my freedom and wants for the galaxy. Mom, Ben, Luke, all of them need to help the galaxy and they can't do that from inside a cell. Promise me that you'll look after them." Her eyes were pleading with him to promise her this.

"Seraphina, I can't leave you here. I can't just-" Josh was cut off by Seraphina's lips on his. When she began pulling away, Josh leaned into the kiss.

Seraphina finally broke the kiss and looked at him with pleading blue eyes. "Please… promise me you'll protect them."

"I promise." Josh whispered.

"Thank you." She whispered sadly, looking down. Sethtis grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from Josh.

"If you're done…" Sethtis growled behind the mask. "We have things we have to do."

Seraphina glanced at Josh as two Stormtroopers led him in the opposite direction. I love you. She said through their bond, hoping that he could hear her.

I love you, too. Please be careful. And I promise; I will see you again someday.

Seraphina was led to a training room very similar to the one where she and Josh had trained when he was Amaro. Sethtis removed his mask revealing blonde hair and green eyes. "First thing's first," he said, turning to Seraphina. "You're name is no longer Seraphina. You're name will now be Zillah." He tossed Seraphina her lightsaber. "Now, show me what you can do."

Author's Note

Seraphina and Josh finally lip-hugged (if any of you have seen Aliens in the Attic then you know what I mean)! The kiss was hard for me to write since I don't write any romance at all.

Tell me what you think of the story so far.

Sethtis means "darkness" and Zillah means "shadow".

My sister, the one who created Amber, read that part about the kiss and freaked out. She even acted like Amber Solo which gave me an idea for how Amber will act in the next chapter. Hehehe.

My question for you is if you could have any Force power, what would it be?

Mine would probably be telekinesis or telepathy. It would most likely be telekinesis.

Thank you for reading!