Nightsisters - Part 1

The planet was the same as they'd left it. Swirling in a red mist, steeped in the dark and the cold… and under the thumb of Mother Talzin.

It was she that had called Zaiya and Maul back to their home, informing her that they were required to return, a Sister long forgotten had returned to them. It was strange, why did Talzin call them for that? She had to wonder if it was to do with her position as Ale'sule that she had some function to perform. There were many scripts and old scrolls she'd had to read in regard to her role; Talzin had insisted that Zaiya undertake intense studies whenever she had returned to Dathomir. Her powers and knowledge had steadily increased over time.

Part of her was always glad to return. To see the Brothers and her mother and of course the way the Nexus would seep into her the moment she stepped onto the red dirt of the planet. It was energising: a Nightsister was always at her most powerful when on Dathomir.

Their ship landed and she had to warn Sixy to behave itself or she would switch it off. It seemed dubious, until the green smoke began to form between her fingers and the droid swore by its circuits that it would be the very best droid and make her proud. She grimaced at the wording and put on her figurative mask. Here, Maul was not her Lord, he was her Shi'kaa. It was strange… she was meant to defer to him, answer to him. On Dathomir it was the opposite. Moreover, being so intimate… the line of their roles and relationship with each other were a blurred mess. She was not even sure where she stood with him anymore.

"Are you ready?" she asked Maul as she stood at the top of the descending ramp.

"Almost," he muttered and that rare, mischievous smile that displayed his delicious dimples crossed his face. She was always undone by that smile. He grasped her chin gently and leaned in to kiss her, capturing her mouth with his own in a way that turned her spine to jelly. She even swayed but he caught her round the waist with one firm arm, his fingers splayed on her hip. "Careful, my Lady," he said with a smirk.

By the Goddess' pert ass he looked good enough to eat and she was sorely tempted, but just as quickly, he released her and swept past, heading down the ramp after the droid.

He was out to kill her.

She was sure of it. It was lucky she had two hearts. Lest she completely collapse when he made one of them cease to function. Sith indeed. He was evil!

Zaiya straightened herself and donned her figurative mask, heading out to face her clan. Maul and Sixy awaited her, the slightest of smirks exchanged between the two zabraks before they proceeded forward into the Nightsister village proper. She was mostly greeted with respect and reverence, a stark contrast to her usual arrival. The whispers of course were expected and she was not disappointed.

Many of them stared at the droid, there had not been such a creature here in the lifetimes of the Sisters, the rest of the Galaxy seemed to not touch Dathomir… for the most part. She could see there was some sort of ritual that happened recently, the Water of Life clearly present in the ritual bowls. It must have been serious, and Zaiya's good eye scanned the area ahead.

"Ahh, Sister, here you are," came the heavily accented voice of Mother Talzin. Zaiya turned as the Mat'ra approached from the main temple.

"You have had a new arrival?" Zaiya asked, cutting right to the point.

"Yes, she is resting. She came here after she was abandoned by her Master. She said you told her to come home," Talzin explained. Zaiya frowned. She'd told the Sister? She couldn't recall having even met another Nightsister out in the larger Galaxy. Well unless she meant- No… No, it couldn't be.

"M-Mother?" came a raspy voice from behind her and Zaiya turned. Her blue eye fixed on the bald pale figure of Asajj Ventress in the doorway of a nearby home. Asajj met her gaze and froze.

"You." Her mila hanska was in her hand in a second, the green flames sparking to life. Ventress was weak. She couldn't run from Zaiya here…she would have to face the power of a true Nightsister. Zaiya took a step forward, her tattooed upper lip curling in revulsion - when Talzin stopped her.

"You cannot harm another Nightsister, unless you wish to invoke a duel?" the Matriarch warned.

"She is not one of us!" Zaiya hissed.

"Funny," Asajj drawled, "you were the one that said the opposite. Was your mind changed so easily over a few clones?" Zaiya let out a growl that sounded like a caged beast. She was ready to tear the other woman to pieces with her bare hands- but her comment put Zaiya in a spot. If she admitted to wanting to kill another Sister because of her loyalty to outsiders… it put her position in jeopardy. She would not have cared about that -if not for the fact her position as Ale'sule was the thing that protected the Nightbrothers. A Nightsister was only loyal to clan and kin.

Zaiya swallowed a growl and straightened.

"I merely didn't want to leave a job unfinished," she finally said, glaring. But she did lower her blade.

"I suppose I should thank you, because of you, I knew where to go when Count Dooku betrayed me," Asajj muttered, rubbing her head. She didn't look to be in good health, she moved stiffly and appeared to be bruised all over. There was also a pain that bled from her in the Force.

Good.

"As I said, it is in the Sith's nature to abandon what they no longer find useful," Zaiya sneered.

"What do you know of the Sith?" Asajj asked suspiciously. Zaiya shifted to turn her body and reveal Maul standing just behind her.

"You will have heard of Darth Maul, I assume?" There was a slight moment of pride in the woman as she watched Asajj's eyes widen and Maul fixed her with his most vicious glare.

"I heard he died!" Asajj rasped, "killed by Kenobi on Naboo!" Maul let out a growl that rippled through the air.

"Kenobi," he spat, "is not as powerful as he thinks."

"Oh I have no love for the pompous Jedi," Asajj scoffed. Maul smirked in what Zaiya could assume was agreement.

"You two have much in common it seems," Talzin spoke up and Zaiya felt something icy grip her hearts. "Come, let us eat together, our lost Sister has finally returned to us!"

Zaiya said nothing as a cheer from the other sisters went up, already Asajj was being treated with more respect than Zaiya had in her whole life from her fellow Sisters. Had they accepted her so easily? She had thought that by inviting Asajj back that she might be like Maul and become another ally. And she was like Maul. Just like him, their lives were almost mirrored.

Why did she suddenly feel strange at that thought?


Zaiya threw herself into her studies for the next few hours while the clan celebrated the new arrival. Let them celebrate, and accept the outsider so easily. She had much to learn. New spells, new skills. She didn't want to be around the woman anyway. Seeing her smug face was too much a reminder of the battles on Kamino. The dead faces of her friends.

Havoc. Colt. Ninety-Nine. Alpha. Wolffe. Not all of the clones that faced her died but they were all hurt so irreversibly. She tried to snap out of it to read the paragraph she'd finished again. She had read it… but absorbed nothing. Maul stood off to one side, studying a scroll, though the language was not one he knew. Sixy was being a diligent droid and guarding the door, though the occasional complaint floated into the room on occasion.

Zaiya didn't even know what she was looking for. All she knew was that she wanted to think about these musty primitive books rather than the enemy amongst her clan.

[I cannot allow you-] Sixy's voice abruptly stopped mid-sentence and she looked up, to see Mother Talzin sweep into the room.

"Leave us," she commanded, looking at Maul. The crimson zabrak's features tightened at being addressed in such a way and he glanced at Zaiya who gave a slight nod. They had to keep playing along for now.

Though, how much of it was pretend when they had little choice otherwise? It felt like cowardice and weakness. She hated the burning feeling in her throat.

"Asajj desires vengeance on her former Master," Talzin said. As though it made perfect sense why she was telling Zaiya about Asajj's desires. She had an idea though. "You will assist her." There it was. Of course, Zaiya was Talzin's puppet, wasn't she? As Maul had once been to Sidious. She felt the bile rise in her throat at the comparison.

"How do you wish for my assistance, Mother?" she asked impassively.

"Karis and Naa'leth have already been tasked with joining her on their mission to destroy Dooku. I require you to create the Concealing Mists spell," the Matriarch said. It didn't sound like a suggestion.

"What is her plan?" Zaiya aked.

"We will conceal them in the Mist, and they will be able to infiltrate Dooku's lair without detection. A dart of the pahkia essence will dull his senses." Pahkia was a plant that grew high in the mountains, the flowers created the hallucinogenic powder, the roots could make a toxic oil.

"The Force is not one to easily be deceived," Zaiya warned.

"No, but with enough distraction, he will think the Jedi are the ones that will attack him." The look of confusion may have been enough, as Talzin continued. "I have supplied Jedi weapons to the three."

"Lightsabers?" Zaiya took a step forward, "where did you get such things?" Talzin looked down at the younger Nightsister coolly.

"It does not matter, what matters is that they will aid in the ruse." A cold prickling feeling crawled up Zaiya's spine.

"Have Karis and Naa'leth used anything but the light bows? Sabers are notoriously difficult to wield for those without training." Talzin regarded her for a moment.

"Then you may also be able to assist in that regard."

"To do both tasks-"

"By providing the services of your mate." Her mate was all he was now? No longer Talzin's son?

"Maul?" she asked slowly.

"He is proficient in the ways of the Lightsaber, he and Asajj can handle such a task with ease. He once stood in Dooku's place after all."

Zaiya's teeth gritted behind her closed lips and she fought to remain neutral.

"Asajj cannot handle the task alone?" she asked measuredly. She did not want to give Talzin the hint that she was not a diligent follower, despite how she was certain Talzin could see right through her.

"It will be easier with two, and you do not need to be distracted," she said and Zaiya's hands curled into fists for a moment before she released them. She could not immediately think of a good reason to deny the request, other than her own discomfort and the paranoia that Talzin was now trying to separate them.

"As you wish, Mother," Zaiya replied quietly with a nod.

If only she were more powerful. Had more power in order to stop Talzin from doing this to her and Maul. From subjugating and enslaving the Nightbrothers. That she could stop Talzin and destroy Sidious. She needed that power, then nothing could stop them from doing what they wanted.

Talzin left with a sweep of her robe and after half a minute, she heard Maul's measured steps as he reentered the room.

"What is it?" he asked immediately after looking into her face. She grimaced, she was not looking forward to this in the slightest. She could not help but feel that Asajj Ventress brought destruction in her wake and they would all suffer the price of her revenge.


It was a few days of it. Maul spent his days training the two sisters alongside Ventress while Zaiya was in the depths of the temple, training in her own skills and creating the catalyst spell. Once activated, the mist would allow the user to walk through it and become mostly invisible. She was not certain that it would work, but if it did not, then Dooku would hopefully just kill Ventress and then they could be done with it.

But if he discovered Karis or Naa'leth… if he knew they were Nightsisters… she made a note to herself to make sure the three women went in disguise. Just in case. It would be harder to identify the women by their features alone. Not impossible, however. By aiding Ventress Talzin was involving the clan in the war of these outsiders. The Sith did not forgive or forget. As Asajj swore vengeance, so too would Dooku if he discovered the identity of their attackers.

Talzin was being clever with the Jedi ruse. How she had gotten three Jedi lightsabers? Zaiya didn't know, but it was the first time she had seen them.

They looked old… perhaps when Talzin had ventured off Dathomir in her youth? Sisters sometimes undertook a pilgrimage to learn of the Galaxy at large - it was why Zaiya had been permitted to leave at all, even though she had been far too young in hindsight. She was lucky Hondo, Adaji and Bane were not miscreants of a more insidious nature. Surely Talzin had ensured her safety by vetting them?

Zaiya chewed her lip and stared into the fire that lit and warmed her room. It was something that ate at her. Talzin did… care about her, didn't she? Zaiya was still a Nightsister, and Nightsisters held to Mother and clan. The Matriarch, even if she clamoured for power beyond her borders… she still cared for her student. She cared for her son at least a little. She must.

She shooed the thought away and took a sip of her blackbloom wine, it was smooth and full-bodied. She swirled the dark red liquid in the goblet. Perhaps she should make her own wine one day? That might be something enjoyable. It was also something to keep her mind off the fact Maul was spending so much time with the other former Sith assassin.

Taken from their planet as children, forced to serve a Master against their will. Trained in the Dark Side, betrayed by the Masters they trusted, they likely had much to talk about. Asajj… who had killed the clones so easily. She did not have that weakness Maul saw in Zaiya. She did not have the same compassion. She was cold and powerful and an epitome of what a Dark Side warrior should be.

She decided she needed a bath and grabbed up her robe and drying cloth. The hot springs were rich with minerals and always left her skin soft and vibrant, and was also immensely relaxing. She slipped off her clothing and tied her curls atop her head. The water welcomed Zaiya like a warm embrace, comforting and almost kind. She took another sip of her wine and tried not to think about all the little things that were bothering her.

Eyes closed, sitting in the warmth, she heard footsteps about ten minutes later. They paused at the entry to the garden, and after a little rustling, she felt the water ripple and another warm body slid into the pool alongside her. Familiar hands reached out to brush her shoulders and squeezed gently as he shifted in beside her. Equally familiar lips brushed her throat, laying soft kisses against her skin as he pressed closer.

"Mmm," she hummed in acknowledgement, without opening her eyes, "good day then?"

"Tedious," he replied and nipped the crook of her neck with his teeth, "come…" he nudged her a little, to try and guide her into his lap but she resisted. His hands stopped in place. "What is it?" She let out a sigh and he cupped her cheek on her scarred side, his fingers brushing the edge of it. "Look at me, Zaiya," he said softly. Her eyes opened and she could not help the sullen expression in them. His golden eyes glowed in the dark as Maul looked into them carefully.

She felt so petulant and juvenile for such thoughts. She felt him reach out in the Force and her first instinct was to hide. His grip on her face tightened slightly.

"We agreed, you would not hide from me," he murmured and brushed her hair back.

"It's nothing," she dismissed, "tell me how today went." He looked her over for a moment and seemed to decide not to push it for now.

"I have had better students," he admitted. "They are not as diligent as you were."

"Nightsisters are of a different calibre of warrior, but I was pushed beyond even that," she said.

"So I was spoiled with such a student then?" there was a flash of that little smile that put a crack in her facade, making the corner of her lips twitch upward.

"Perhaps," she conceded. "I am sure having another that knows the forms would have been helpful."

"Quite the opposite, her style is not the same as mine, she is stubborn and refuses to yield control," he smirked but it hit her in the chest.

"Another thing she mirrors in you," she muttered.

Maul stilled and she realised she said it a little too bitterly. He pulled back and she waited for him to leave her there - but he turned her face to look at him, his eyes searching for something.

"Lieutenant," he said in a questioning tone, "are you… jealous?" She froze.

"No," she replied too quickly. He chuckled and she frowned. "You're laughing at me?" she accused.

"In a way," he said with a deepening smirk. "I haven't seen this side of you before." She felt a stone sink in her gut as her eyes drifted down until he continued. "It's… cute." Her eyes snapped back to his face.

"Cute?" she made a face and his lips curved further upward.

"Incredibly," he purred and lowered his hands to her waist, bringing her into his lap as he had originally intended. "But I am perturbed…"

"I know that it's ridiculous," she sighed.

"Yes." Zaiya's mouth tightened. "Ridiculous to think that she could ever compare to you."

Zaiya's eyes widened and she stared at him. She had… not expected that.

"You…?" she blinked. He let out a dark chuckle and pulled her more firmly against him.

"Do I need to remind my Lady just how much I appreciate her?" he asked and she could feel exactly how much he wanted to do so. Apparently this side of him was utterly insatiable. Not that she minded in the least.

"If you wish it, sire," she whispered and he grasped her chin, bringing her down to a hair's breadth from his lips.

"What do you want?" he asked firmly.

"I think you know," she chuckled coyly, but he didn't release her.

"Ask me," he commanded.

"I want you, Maul," she breathed, a shiver up her spine at the dark tone in his voice.

"As my Lady desires," he growled, and pulled her in for a kiss. Suddenly Zaiya could no longer remember why she was so anxious before. The way he held her and kissed her… she could hardly mistake it for anything but ravenous.

He slid a hand between them and his fingers caressed her at the apex of her thighs, brushing between her folds and bringing a gasp out of her. Her own hands gripped his shoulders as she shivered, a moan muffled against his mouth.

"You spoil me, sire," she whispered teasingly against his ear.

"Not yet," Maul groaned deliciously, "but I will." He gripped her hips in firm hands, shifting her with ease and then- "Oh Gods!" Zaiya gasped and he moaned against her throat.

"Oh I have missed you…" His mouth found her breast and sucked a pebbled nipple between his lips, his tongue languidly flicking over the bud.

"You saw me this morning," she chuckled, cutting off in a moan as she began to roll her hips, he filled her so perfectly, and she squeezed herself around him. His response was immediate, fingers digging into the plush of her hips and silencing a cry with her skin.

"Too long to be without you… without this…" His hands rose to her shoulder blades and dragged down her back firmly as though to drive himself in deeper.

They moved together, slow, intense and never for a moment did Maul's lips leave her for more than a second. He was indeed living up to his promise of showing his need for her. The water splashed around them but Zaiya paid it no mind. She was addicted to this feeling, this touch and his soft whispers.

"So perfect… incredible… my Queen… mine…" It was almost as if he didn't know he was speaking aloud, just lost in the pleasure of her body. He held her so tight as though fearful she might disappear. She held him just as tight, and the slow grind of their bodies soon brought them close to the edge. Zaiya could feel his movements stutter and his breathing became more ragged, his muscles tensing under his skin with the exertion. Zaiya too was so close, her body trembling as her clit rubbed against him, his cock driving into her cervix and making her see stars.

"Maul… I'm- I'm going to…" she panted, gripping the back of his neck. Suddenly he withdrew one of his hands from her ass and desperately took hers, lacing their fingers together.

"Yes…! That's it… give in…" he coaxed and she leaned down to rest her forehead on his, below his central horn. "Give me everything, Zaiya… my divine little witch… Come with me." His words, that breathy voice and the way he held her, driving up into her over and over. She couldn't resist, her mouth dropped open and her moans climbed in pitch as she rushed to the edge and hurtled over. The pleasure exploded between them and surged through her body. Maul helt her so tight as he let out a deep cry of bliss, the sound alone sent a fresh wave of ecstasy through her and she felt the heat spill into her.

No matter how many times they were together, she did not think she could ever tire of it.

He was perfect. And he was hers.


Notes:

Oopsie! It got a little steamy at the end there O.O

I hope you are all well my lovelies and are enjoying yourselves! I don't have much to say this week but my god the depression is kicking my ass this week. RIP my creativity. I am still doing my best though. I hope you are all still enjoying APOD and if you haven't yet, I invite you to read my other long fic, Sins of the Father.

Anyway, I have to get to bed, it's late for me here. As always I love comments and messages and feedback, and it really helps me keep going. I love you guys, you have done wonders for my faith in myself over the last year and a half. Thank you.
I look forward to seeing you next week!