Duel - Part 2

Content Warning: Blood, gore, death.

Zaiya chewed on her lower lip as they left the main temple, Maul was barely a step behind and they said nothing. The events of the past half hour turned in her mind. What was going on? Why so suddenly did she want to name her Alesule? It made no sense! Of all the sisters, Zaiya was the least present and dedicated to the Clan. She had fled Dathomir to chase down a Nightbrother, and despite the way Talzin had called Maul 'son', she very much doubted there was a great affection there. What did she want? Was this a trap? At the same time… the power. The title was one thing, but she would be second in command of all the Nightsisters. She would be able to learn everything Talzin knew… and she would gain more power, both to help Maul… and her brothers.

She straddled the seat of the speeder without a second thought, and felt the crimson zabrak join her, hands at her waist as she kicked it into gear.

"Where are we going?" Maul finally asked, a rumble in her ear that jolted her out of her own head.

"Away from here…" She muttered, finally realising what she was doing. They had been back to the Nightbrother village a few time since the first, and she seemed to have formed a habit of going there. To flee to her brothers when she felt troubled. It was safer there than here, she felt. She also needed to discuss this with Savage and Feral as well, they needed to hear of this.


She stood in the training ring, looking up at the Battlemaster and her instructor. She had seemed so big back then. The Sister launched herself at the child, and struck with her staff at her chest, blocked by Zaiya's small arms. Sheena sneered and grabbed her hair, then threw her back, sending the girl tumbling to the dirt. The girl scrambled up, only to be kicked back down.

"I told you to block, corcitura!" The woman sneered, "It seems you cannot follow a simple command!" It was always like that, given a command that was near impossible and punished severely. Zaiya tried again, trying to block the adult's kicks and punches. "How are you supposed to get any tougher if you cannot block such a simple strike?!"

The little witch was left battered, bruised and with a fractured wrist after that training session. It wasn't the worst she remembered… but it was the first time she realised that it was nothing she had done. She didn't cause this. Sheena was just in a bad mood.


The mountain village was cold and windy, but it was not that which had caught the Nightsister's attention. It was the commotion she felt even before she caught sight of the other speeder. This one in the square, invading the space of the Nightbrothers, and once more it was just who she suspected. But this time, Sheena wasn't alone. There were two other people standing beside her, other Sisters. Zaiya felt her lip curl, revulsion coursed through her.

"I can feel your hatred…" Maul hissed in her ear, making her shiver. How did he manage to do that so easily?

"You don't feel it?" She replied as the speeder came to a stop. "You remember what she did to us."

"I remember." He replied, an edge to his voice. "What will you do?"

"That all depends on her." Zaiya retorted and slipped from the seat, walking forward to the gathering, her shoulders squared and her head held high.

"...pathetic excuse for a warrior…" Sheena was saying.

"He's so weak!" Ulsi added, staring down at the Nightbrothers they were tormenting. As she drew closer… she saw to her horror… that it was Brutus… and Feral lay on the ground beside him, cradling his ribs. Savage too looked injured, but Brutus seemed to have the worst of it for now. The air around the Nightsister became cold, her left eye began to flow smoke and green magick as she drew closer.

"Sheena." The voice that came out of Zaiya's mouth sent a wave of power through everyone in the square. The three Sisters turned and looked at her and Sheena's eyes narrowed. "I told you not to return. It seems you cannot follow a simple command." She mocked, and the older woman's face darkened.

"What business is it of yours?!" Ulsi screeched, stepping forward. "You may have Talzin's favour now, but you are still an outsider, imputiti corcitura!"

"It is my business if I am to be Alesu'le." Zaiya folded her arms, her jaw clenched. She had to be smart about this.

"Talzin would not be so foolish as to name you her heir!" Sheena hissed, it was known to Zaiya that Sheena long desired the role for her own, but had been somewhat of a disappointment of late. Apparently Zaiya was accepted enough to be privy to gossip now.

"Calling the Great Mother a fool now?" She asked with a low laugh. "Yes I am sure your defiance is greatly valued."

"You're one to speak! You have been nothing but defiant your whole pathetic life! Chasing after some whelp Jute'te'is!" Zaiya wanted to rip her tongue out. She was used to the insults… but… half-man?! She could take the slander but to speak against Maul was too far. But for now… Zaiya would give her nothing.

"I know…" The younger witch replied with a drawl to her tone, "And yet… I am the one who gets to tell you what to do." She shrugged a smug smile crossing her face. Ulsi let out a cry of anger and rushed at her. Perfect.

The tall Sister lashed out, swinging her leg out in a kick to the side. Zaiya was ready, blocking with her arms, ducking low to avoid the punch that followed. It used to be so difficult to face her, or any of the other sisters… but this? Somehow this was so easy now. She was able to block, counter and anticipate all her moves, so very easily. She let the tall Nightsister slash at her, with one of her long knives; only deciding that she'd had enough once the novelty wore off. Which didn't take very long at all. Ulsi moved to slash at her again when suddenly she was held in place, unable to move and lifted into the air, gripping at her throat. She gasped and clawed at her neck while Zaiya leant back. Relaxing her posture, and smirking up at the woman.

"That's a bold move. I do believe the Dolji'im proclaim that 'a Nightsister must not lay hand in harm upon another Nightsister.' Am I remembering correctly?" The younger Sister asked mockingly.

"With one exception, wretch…" Sheena snarled, then stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at the younger zabrak. "Miye'provocc la dua'ele!" Zaiya's grin became wicked, and Ulsi dropped in a crumpled heap. She let out a pained groan, coughing as she gasped for air once more.

"Accepted, Stra'lupta." Zaiya's voice was level, and there was a wide smile on her lips.

"Terms?" Sheena spat.

"Death." She drawled, venomously.

The two then moved to opposite ends of the square as the Nightbrothers cleared it. Sheena and the other Nightsister, her name was Nervanze, if Zaiya recalled correctly, helped Ulsi to rest on a stone nearby. But there was more to worry about right now.

"What happened?" She asked, rounding on the others with a low hiss, she dropped to Brutus' side to look him over, he was definitely the worst off.

"I didn't need you to interfere." he snarled angrily. "I had it under control."

"I have no doubt, you could take her one on one… You are incredibly strong." She told him and he scoffed, probably feeling like she was being condescending, despite believing it. Brutus was so strong, and she respected the hell out of him for trying to protect his brothers. "There were three of them, Brutus, and they would have brought punishment down on you for harming them, I'm not going to let that happen whilst I am here. We're friends, aren't we? Now let me help."

"'m fine…" he grumbled with a barely concealed wince.

"Like hell you are." Zaiya retorted. "I only have a few minutes so stay still-"

"What are you even doing? What did she say to you?" Savage asked, trying to push Riot off him. Brutus too, tried to push her away, but she caught his strong wrist in her hand.

"Relax… please, all of you. You need these wounds tended to immediately. Worry about me after you're taken care of." She told them, looking at Savage, Feral and Brutus in turn. "Please." Her brothers relaxed but Brutus seemed hesitant, she lowered her voice to speak just to him. "You were protecting him right? Well, now it's my turn, come on." After a moment he relaxed and let her assist in binding the wounds.

"What did she say?" Feral asked again.

"She challenged me to a wicipi wicate." She explained, binding Brutus' ribs where he had been kicked, using a bacta jab to ease the pain. "A duel, essentially."

"You're going to fight her?" Savage asked, a worried expression on his face. Zaiya looked up, stone faced.

"I'm going to kill her." Her expression softened and became concerned as Brutus tried to stand. "No. Stay here and relax, you need as much rest as you can for now." The grumpy, yellow-skinned zabrak scoffed.

"This is nothing-"

"Maybe not to you." Zaiya snapped back.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked with a frown.

"You think I can stand seeing you, any of you in pain? No, I will not let that mor'orn tarfa get away with it this time." Her voice was harsh and angry and she squeezed Brutus' hand for a moment before she pushed herself up to her feet. He stared at her for a moment before frowning.

"This doesn't mean I owe you one." He replied hotly, he glanced away but looked back when she cupped his cheek and smiled warmly.

"Perish the thought." She chuckled. She took back her hand after a moment and stretched her arms above her head.

"Can you kill her?" Feral asked and she laid a hand across her chest in mock indignation.

"Your lack of faith wounds me, Brother."

"No, I mean, are you allowed to?" He clarified. Her grin became wicked.

"As the one challenged, I am allowed to set the terms." She explained. "I declared a fight to the death so our Dolji'im, our sacred tenets, are still honoured."

"You planned this." Maul spoke up finally, having understood what she was doing. "You instigated the battle, provoking the taller Sister in order to turn the altercation to your advantage." He was actually smiling and she felt her chest swell with pride.

"You did once teach me to use my knowledge to my advantage...sire." She replied, perhaps a little smugly.

"I seem to have taught you well then, Lieutenant." He replied with a smirk. She turned away to face the other Nightsisters. She was ready to end this vindictive bitch once and for all. It would have been enough to let sleeping rancors lie. To forget the past… what had happened to her, she could deal with; but Sheena kept pushing. Now she was deliberately harming her brothers. This was not something this witch could abide. She stood facing her opponent with a sneer. The anger was boiling to the surface. So long was she controlled, so patient, so calm… now she could finally just… let go.

"I have been waiting for this." Sheena spat at her as the two began to circle each other.

"As have I." Zaiya waited, her teeth bared as she dropped into a defensive stance, knees bent and hands ready. Sheena darted forward, rearing back to attempt to kick Zaiya in the head. The Siren blocked with her arm and shoulder and on the second kick, caught the BattleMaster's ankle and threw her weight back to knock her off balance. Sheena caught herself and rolled. Zaiya hit the stone below with a heavy grunt and spun, leaping to her feet, then spun again, her heel connecting with Sheena's forearm. She jabbed again and again, using the heel of her palm to inflict the damage. The older woman caught her arm and used her weight against her to throw her backwards. Zaiya once more rolled and sprang up in time to block another kick to the head.

It was difficult for Zaiya. She was having a great deal of trouble… deciding whether or not to drag this out or kill her immediately. She kept on the defensive for now. Ducking, avoiding. Watching. She was itching to let go. To make her hurt. The battle was in her mind, three steps ahead and she just had to enact it.

"It's a pity… I heard you were Talzin's favourite for a while. Tell me, did she teach you the ancient magicks?" Zaiya asked after doing a rather dramatic looking flip and landing on her feet.

"Shut up." Sheena spat, turning her body to attack.

"I'll take that as a no." The younger girl ducked another kick. "Shame. If you had, maybe you wouldn't have to skulk in the marshes on the hunting parties. Is that all you're allowed to do?"

"I said shut up." Sheena snarled again. Zaiya could feel her anger. Good. Let her get angry.

"I don't think I've ever even seen you perform magick… can you? Or are you-"

"Don't you fucking dare!" The woman screeched, and Zaiya flashed a mock sad face at her.

"Snije wiya?" Wither Woman. A Nightsister that could not cast was no true Nightsister. The sound Sheena let out was almost animalistic. She was becoming unhinged. She picked up a staff nearby and began to strike at the younger woman with an intensity that would have left Zaiya breathless and scrambling, were it not for the training Maul had instilled in her. She ducked aside each time, the staff narrowly missing it's target. With a leap, Zaiya threw her weight behind a kick into Sheena's chest, cracking the staff between them. With the momentum she left the ground and swung her leg up to clip Sheena's jaw. The older Sister fell back, and Zaiya flipped round onto her feet.

"Pity for the Stra'lupta… she has become slow and frail in her dotage!" Zaiya mocked and readied for another attack. Sheena was on her feet, swinging wildly, throwing all her weight behind the attacks, easy enough to trip her and send her tumbling in her rage. She had to be careful, for all her anger, she was more powerful for it, if unfocused. Apparently Zaiya really got under the seasoned warrior's skin if she was to lose her focus so easily.

"I am going to gut you, put out your other eye… then slaughter everyone of your so-called 'brothers'!" Sheena screeched, yanking her up by her hair. "Starting with the red one!" Zaiya laughed.

"If you think you could, then you are more a fool than you look, wihuhcala…" The younger Sister snorted, she was not about to let that happen. Even in death Zaiya would not allow harm to come to her family. She broke Sheena's hold and this time Zaiya struck back, another kick to the chest, then another, and another. The staff cracked in half completely. Splinters flying everywhere. "Come on Sheena, show me what you've got!" Zaiya shouted and the BattleMaster leapt. She struck the younger girl across the face with the staff, then again in the gut, across the back then legs as Zaiya fell. She heard the shouts of her brothers as she rolled back, narrowly avoiding being impaled in the neck by the sharpened end of the broken staff. She spat blood on the ground before the older witch. A few more hits and Zaiya was visibly wounded, the Stra'lupta was getting confident… good. Let her.

"Are you sure you aren't a snije?" She grinned with a bloody smile.

"I'll show you snije you little tarfa!" Sheena screamed and raised her hand blazing with green fire, hurling it at Zaiya's head. It was a weak flame, and it sputtered. Clearly her skill with magick was as pathetic as the rumours suggested. Still, the ball of flame shot towards the younger Sister, aimed right for her face. It burned bright and hit in a flash of flame. Zaiya's hand closed around the ball, tongues of green fire flickering out between her fingers. She'd caught it. She grinned and blood dripped down her chin.

"My turn." With a sharp movement she threw the ball to the stone at her feet, sending up an explosion of green smoke that quickly engulfed the two combatants. Sheena looked around, holding her broken staff at the ready.

"Where are you, wretch?!" She shrieked into the fog.

"I'm everywhere." A whisper in her ear and Sheena spun, jabbing with the splintered pole. There was a disembodied laugh from behind her again and she jerked around once more. "Careful with that… you might hurt someone." Zaiya hissed, but Sheena could not see her, not hit her, no matter how she flailed and slashed. Suddenly she spotted the girl, and charged. Sheena looked into her blue eyes as they widened in shock, before burying the wood into her chest. Zaiya stared, her eyes looking back in horror.

"Why…?" She whispered, and blood spattered out of her mouth as she coughed. The Fog began to fade and Sheena's grin was unhinged. The mist faded completely and there were gasps of horror and pain from the zabraks behind them. It was only now that Sheena saw something wasn't right… her eyes… her eyes. She still had both of them. There was a green flash… and Ulsi slumped to the ground, her eyes rolled in her head as she collapsed, the staff sticking out of her chest.

"Wh-what? N-no! NO! How…?!" She looked around in shock and horror, anger and grabbed her head, "How…?!" She dropped to her knees and tried to wake her lover, though her eyes stared lifelessly at the sky.

"I did tell you to be careful with that." Zaiya spoke and Sheena turned, her eyes wide and wild with rage. Zaiya stood there, casually and was removing her gloves. As though waiting for a transport or something. Like she had not just taken the most precious thing from her former tutor. The sound Sheena made was anger and sorrow and vengeance. She launched at Zaiya with her bare hands, swiping blindly.

"You filthy half-breed rat!" She screamed, "I'll kill you! You're nothing but an animal!"

"An animal? Well… if you so insist…" It was then Zaiya let go. She dropped low and let out a screeching scream that had everyone in the vicinity covering their ears. She slashed at Sheena's exposed neck with her bare hand and a spray of blood exploded from the wound. The tips of her fingers glowed green like claws and she slashed at Sheena with only those, cutting her again and again, blood spraying the ground, all over Sheena and even Zaiya's face. Sheena stumbled back, clutching her neck and gurgling, eyes wide in shock at where this raw power had suddenly come from. Just when she looked to be about to fall, the younger witch, now more like some kind of wraith, her features twisted into something monstrous, held her in place with invisible powers… her hand slammed forward into Sheena's chest… and pulled out one of her hearts.

"You will never know the burial of the Old Ones." Zaiya hissed, her voice rippling with power, it sounded splintered, like many voices speaking at once, the same power as the Clan Mother… Sheena's eyes widened as the light in them faded. "You will never walk the path of the Fanged God or meet the Winged Goddess when the Fall comes. Your souls will be lost to the Void." One last cruelty, denying them the burials of their people. Her hand closed and crushed the heart as Sheena let out her dying gasp… green flames suddenly engulfed the bodies of both Sisters and they began to burn. The blood on her hands was also burning away. Zaiya stood in silence, watching the bodies of her tormentors slowly bubble and turn to ash. She looked calm and stoic once more. No one in the square moved.

"Sister Nervanze." Zaiya spoke again but her voice was normal, and almost pleasant, apart from the dangerous edge to it. The Sister in question nearly jumped a foot in the air.

"Y-yes, Sister Zaiya…?"

"Do you believe I satisfied the rules of combat as per the Dolji'im?" She asked, her hands now clasped in front of her, as though they were discussing the weather.

"I… y-yes, Sister. You did."

"Good. Now… you may return to the clan." Nervanze took a step but froze when Zaiya raised her index finger up. "But know this. If you, or the other Sisters return here… I will know. And I will not be merciful. Am I understood?"

"Yes Sister, of course." Nervanze bowed deeply, offering her submission as a warrior before backing away and bolting out of the Nightbrother village. The bodies of the two dead Nightsisters crumbled away into ashes as the fire burned out. There was nothing left of them, the ultimate insult to a Nightsister.

The young woman turned back to her brothers, picking up her gloves as she walked. She rubbed her fingers together and her lip curled at the ash left from burning viscera from her hands. The entire group of gathered Zabraks were silent thus far, but as she made her way over, the whispers started. She had to wonder… would they fear her now? Hate her? They had seen what kind of monster she was now. They had seen what she could do with her hands. She couldn't yet look them in the eye.

"Are you alright?" She asked as she knelt to where they sat, her voice low and expression soft, a completely different being from the wraith they had seen just moments before. She felt their eyes on her, wide and staring.

"You're… hurt." Spoke a very quiet voice and she looked up to see Feral looking so worried. She was hurt? "You're bleeding." Her expression became confused and Feral reached out to touch her face gently. She flinched slightly, her eyes closed for a moment, giving Feral pause, looking at her for permission. With the slightest of nods, he continued, looking at a cut on her eyebrows, split lip and a bloody nose. Considering the viciousness of the fight, it wasn't too bad.

"Why would you do that?" A velveteen voice cut through the quiet, he sounded angry. She glanced up at Maul. "You had the upper hand, you had that power! Why would you let her hit you at all?!"

"I was trying to get her to lower her guard." She shrugged, "make her overconfident."

"You're an idiot." Brutus grumbled, glaring at her. She looked back at him with a sort of blank look, he reached out and flicked her in the forehead, making her blink and come out of the little daze she'd found herself in. "She deserved it though."

"I've never seen anything like that." Savage spoke up finally, and murmurs began to spread through the rest of the Nightbrothers. They weren't afraid, they seemed pleased.

"So… the Sisters won't come back?" Sunder spoke up quietly, appearing beside her.

"I cannot stop the Selection. At least, not yet." She muttered, referring to the time when a Nightsister would select a mate, "But they will not visit to bother you otherwise… if they do, contact me… I don't want them to think they can get away with this."

"Will you be safe from the Sisters?" Feral asked, reaching out to touch her arm.

"There is nothing they can do to me that has not already been done before." She shrugged. "I will take what comes." It may have been foolish, rash and the wiser thing to do might have been to diffuse the situation. But how could she? How could she just… let them suffer? Her brothers! How could she not act? She had been careful to follow the rules… but if the Sisters decided to turn on her… she couldn't take them all on. Talzin was not someone she could defeat. Not yet. One day though… One day she would take them away from here. She wasn't a good woman by any means. But these Nightbrothers deserved better. To the Void with the rest of the galaxy, she just wanted her family to be safe.

-O-

Notes:

FINALLY! I have had multiple people ask me when this was happening. It is TIME. I had to do a lot of research into writing fight scenes as I am not great at them, but watching a few fight scenes helped with that! What do we think, did it pay off? Rather brutal at the end there but I think that it was well deserved and a long time coming. I had an influx of comments recently and I CANNOT tell you how happy it made me to read them, I love te comments, seriously you have no idea how much joy it brings me. To those that have read through this recently, thank you for joining us and thank you also to the readers that have stayed with me. Its nearly been a year since Prince of Dathomir was first published and I have to say. I am thrilled with how its progressing, how many people have read it and liked and commented. It blows my mind every time I think about it. Should I do something special for the one year anniversary? Let me know your suggestions! That being said, thank you so much, everyone for all your comments and the support. I only hope to keep going as we begin 2022 and have some more excitement for the story as it continues to unfold! Next week's chapter is called Ritual and Zaiya and Maul will be put through a great trial. Let's see how it unfolds!