Conviction - Part 1
Darkness…
Swirling black with no way up or down, back or forward. Where was this place?
"Maul?" she called out but there was no voice, no sound. Ahead, dimly, there seemed to be light. It was like the nightmare. Blue eyes narrowed, and she forced her legs to work, running ahead, forcing her way forward as though she were trying to run through the thick marsh bog.
"You won't find him…" came a voice. Somewhat familiar, a croaking and sinister sound. The voice of Sidious. Zaiya's eyes shot wide and she looked around sharply.
"Where are you, monster?!" Zaiya hissed, her eyes scanning the dark, slowing as she looking around.
"You are too late." came the voice again, no sign of him, just the voice, all around her. "He is lost to the dark... you waited too long."
"No!" she cried furiously, eyes darting back and forth, edging toward the light. Some sort of glow, a beacon in the dark. "I will not give up so easily, and I will not be swayed by you!" her voice like venom.
Whooooooooooooosh!
The sound of wind rushing past her ears as something grabbed her arm, pulling her backwards. With a cry, she stumbled, seeing strands of black curling around her wrist. Dragging her down, sinking into the suffocating shadow.
"Your fear and anger betray you… you will fall into the darkness… just as your friend…"
"Never!" Zaiya cried, pulling at the strands harder and harder. They just grew tighter, more painful, digging into her skin. She cried out in pain as she struggled, pulling and trying to pull away.
"He is mine… your rage will consume you as it has him…" the voice mocked, laughing at her. She grit her teeth, trying to fight against the threads dragging her down and wrapping around her throat. She would not give in! She… wait… she realised something as she pulled. The more she struggled, the more it pulled at her and the greater her fear and anxiety. She could not let her fear control her. Once more she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"I will not give up. I will not give in, nor will I ever surrender." She spoke calmly, she would destroy that man and succeed in her task, she would not doubt. The binds on her arms, legs and throat slackened, her step became slower but with greater determination. She stepped from the binds, eyes now open, and walked the shadowy path, seeing flashes of a city, a sunset and a room within. A figure in black was revealed in the glow ahead as the visions became clearer. A place of power, of influence and central to the galaxy. Was this where her friend was being kept?
The figure became clearer in the golden glow, cloaked in black as they stood facing away from her.
"I hope you remembered your promise." she spoke softly. The figure turned, and suddenly she was in a room, looking out at a city sunset through a wide window. She could make out familiar red and black markings on the face only barely visible under the hood.
"I swore revenge." He spoke, his voice smoother and deeper than she had last heard it.
"As did I. I swore I would always be by your side, and I intend to keep my word." She reached into her robes and held out her half of the sparkling golden amulet. She could feel his eyes on it.
"I… I know this symbol." He murmured, confused. Did he really not remember?
"You and I made a promise, and I swore I would find you. I will not forget this oath. I am coming. I will bring you home."
"Home?" He looked up now, but his eyes… were different. Golden, not grey.
"Do you not remember?" Zaiya gasped softly. "Your home and family. You are a Prince of Dathomir, stolen by a monster."
"My master has trained me, in the Dark Side of the force. I am more powerful than any other being, I will take revenge on behalf of all Sith." his voice came out in a vicious hiss, rage building up in him, so much that she could feel it coming off in waves.
"You… a sith?" she growled. "He has assaulted your mind, you are more than any servant or apprentice. We swore that we would get stronger, that no one else would command us again. Your 'Master' is a thief and a liar."
In a second, a glowing red blade was held up to her neck. The look on his face was pure rage. "You know I speak the truth." She added, looking down between the blade and his eyes. "You know me, Maul. You must remember." The zabrak froze, his gold and red eyes widened as he gazed at her, looking at her face. There was a flash of recognition, but Zaiya felt the air around her shifting and the visions fading. She took the moment to connect to him one last time. With the blade withdrawn, she drew in, a hand gingerly to the back of his head and her forehead on his. Her other hand holding up the broken amulet. "Remember. I will come for you, I will never give in. Keep fighting, remember your oath." But as she spoke, she felt the feeling fade, the scenario no longer warm from the contact of their skin, the cold seeping in once more.
Suddenly the waters swirled around her, she could feel the darkness growing deeper, drawing her in and down. She could see the swirling image of her friend before her shift and rise, his eyes changed, a purplish hue coming across them, glowing in the gloom. She stepped back, alarmed, this was not her friend.
"Who are you?" She hissed. The response she received was a chittering hiss in return. The image changed, it was not her friend anymore, but a vicious-looking creature, bug-like and twitching. Tentacles reached out for her, and she felt herself plummeting down, down deep into the dark. The creature hissed again, the mandibles clicking, the eyes swivelling on stalks as it peered at her with malice. This was the creature she had read of, the one the Nightsisters must fight in order to take the Crimson. Was the entire meeting just a deception? No… it couldn't be…? The beast launched at her, forcing the little sister to dive aside to avoid it's clutches. It fed on fear… she must show none. Her teeth grit, bubbles escaping from her mouth. The nexus reached to her, the power of Dathomir behind her as she rounded on the beast.
With a cry, bubbles exploding from her mouth, she launched at the monster, surrounded by the green fire as her small hand latched onto one of the carapaces, the fire burning the creature, making it thrash and writhe as it tries to throw her off, the high pitched screeching piercing her ears even under the water. She held tight, planting her bare feet on the creature's back, the fire eventually taking hold and the piece of the beast coming free in her hand. Dark purplish blood filled the water, making it hard to see, the scream of the creature louder now as it retreated in agony.
She was alone again. In murky depths unable to see clearly. Worst of all, she had no breath left. Zaiya was out of time. She looked up, seeing the surface far above her, she did the only thing she could, using the fire to propel her forward and up, clutching the piece of the creature in her arms.
Zaiya exploded from the depths with a gasp, dragging herself forward to the shallows. Her eyes opened, the waters of the sacred pools surrounding her, a strange clarity in her mind as the eyes of her sisters and Mother Talzin looking on with anticipation.
"She's back!" cried one of the sisters. A loud cheer went up from all of them and the rest of the village watching on. Zaiya was disoriented, the cheering filling her ears. She took a while to recover her senses, breathing heavy as she was led by Mother Talzin to dry ground.
"No sister has ever been within the waters for so long." She mused, "you are our youngest Nightsister to be anointed, child. You have earned your Crimson." She smiled widely. Zaiya felt the sweet relief rush over her.
"I know where he is." She managed, "He is alive, and I will find him." Panting, the girl looked to her elder, the Great Mother seemed surprised, but so pleased.
"Well done, my child, you have earned your rest." It was the first time Mother Talzin had seemed so gentle and warm.
