She hovered above him like an avenging angel, her radiant form dripping with the glowing green water that clung to her skin like liquid fire. Her luminous blue eyes locked onto his, piercing and unyielding, as though seeing into the very core of him. His yellow eyes burning with the weight of galaxies met hers, drinking her in with a possessive fire that made her breath catch. There was something in the way he looked at her, something that claimed her without a single word.
From the edges of her vision, she felt the presence of Savage and Talzin, their eyes heavy upon her. Talzin's laughter, dark and serpentine, echoed throughout the chamber, curling around her like smoke. Firefly could hear her speak softly to Savage, her hand resting on his shoulder before the two of them faded into the emerald mist, leaving her alone with Maul.
Her eyes never left his. She hovered in the air, her breath bated, waiting for his judgment. Maul stood below her, his upper body renewed, every muscle taut with lethal purpose. The crown of horns upon his head, though slightly receded, only added to his terrifying regality. His spider-like legs had been replaced by sleek, mechanical limbs, tipped with razor-sharp claws that clicked against the stone floor. Though shorter in stature with his new legs, his presence was no less commanding he was a force of nature, demanding the attention of all who gazed upon him.
His mouth opened, and his voice, deep and consuming, filled the space between them. "Come," he said, the single word laden with authority and something else something darker, irresistible.
She didn't need any more invitation. With the strength of a falling star, she plummeted from the air, slamming into him with such force that the ground beneath them cracked and split. The impact echoed through the chamber, the tremor shaking loose fragments of stone. She wasn't yet accustomed to the sheer power coursing through her new body, but she knew instinctively that he could take it.
His arms caught her with brutal precision, wrapping around her tightly as his dark, addictive laughter filled her ears. Her lips crashed against his, a kiss born of fire and hunger, her energy thrumming beneath her skin like a storm barely contained. It was all for him, this power, this transformation everything.
Her arms coiled around his neck, pulling him closer as she felt the faint sting of his claws pressing into her back, anchoring her to him. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the strange black markings now etched into her pale skin, the patterns writhing like living ink. She didn't care. Nothing mattered but him.
"Shadow," she whispered against his lips, her voice trembling with raw emotion.
He growled against her mouth, the sound vibrating through her as his claws tightened their hold. Without warning, he flipped them, his weight pinning her to the fractured ground beneath them. His lips broke away from hers, leaving her breathless, and his burning yellow eyes bore into her with a ferocity that stole the air from her lungs.
"My name," he said, his voice a growl of possession and pride, "is Maul."
The way he spoke his name sent a shiver down her spine, and her glowing blue eyes widened as she looked up at him. Her golden hair splayed out around her like a halo, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.
"Maul," she whispered, her voice soft, reverent almost a prayer.
Something flickered in his expression, a brief crack in the armor of rage and control he always wore. His chest swelled with pride, with something deeper, as he heard his name on her lips. For the first time in what felt like lifetimes, he was more than a weapon, more than a creature of pain and vengeance. In her eyes, he was something else entirely.
And she would never let him go.
Maul's gaze softened for the briefest of moments, his thumb brushing against her jaw as though committing every detail of her face to memory. Then, like a storm reclaiming the sky, the possessive fire in his eyes roared back to life. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her lips as his claws traced along her back, grazing the edge of her wings.
"You are mine," he growled, his voice low, guttural a vow spoken to the stars themselves.
Firefly shuddered beneath him, not out of fear but from the intensity of his desire. Her wings, whole and radiant with green light, trembled in response as they instinctively curled inward, shielding the two of them from the rest of the world. His words, though dark, resonated within her. She had known it before, felt it deep in her soul. They belonged to each other, two broken beings stitched together by pain and a connection that defied reason.
"And you," she whispered, her voice soft but steady, "are mine."
The declaration surprised him, and for a moment, Maul froze. A flicker of something unfamiliar vulnerability crossed his face. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a smirk that twisted his lips into a devilish curve.
"Is that so." he rumbled, his claws tightening their hold as though daring anyone to challenge what was his.
Their connection surged between them, an invisible tether that pulsed with raw, untamed energy. It wasn't the Force Firefly was certain of that now. It was something older, something just them that they formed, binding their souls together in a way she couldn't fully comprehend. She felt his rage, his pain, his unrelenting hunger for vengeance. But beneath it all, she felt something else an aching loneliness that mirrored her own. It was this that made her heart ache, made her reach for him even when her instincts told her to fear as she replied. "Yes."
Maul leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Your light belongs to me now."
Firefly didn't flinch at the dark edge in his voice. Instead, she reached up, her fingers threading through the black and red patterns of his skin. Her touch was gentle, a stark contrast to his rough grasp, but it carried the same weight.
"And your shadow belongs to me," she countered, her voice unwavering.
A low growl rumbled in his chest, but it wasn't one of anger. He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze again, his eyes narrowing as if searching for any hint of deceit. There was none. For all the darkness that surrounded them, this truth was undeniable. They were two halves of a whole, each stronger because of the other.
Hunger and heat burned in Maul's yellow eyes as he looked at her, his gaze devouring her with a possessive fire that made her shiver. Firefly could feel it mirrored in her own gaze the same hunger, the same heat. Her heart pounded in her chest, its rhythm not just for herself but for him as well. Beneath her skin, she could feel a slumbering power, coiled and waiting to be unleashed, mingling with the heat radiating from his body. Every part of her yearned to lose herself in him, to explore this newfound strength, these transformed bodies, and the tempest that churned between them.
But even as her desires pulled her toward him, she saw the storm raging behind his eyes. It was a hunger that went beyond her a hunger for revenge, for destruction, for all that had been taken from him. Maul was on the edge, teetering precariously, and she knew she held the power to tip him over. She could break his restraint with a single word, send them both spiraling into the darkness that sang so sweetly to her.
Yet, she wouldn't. Firefly wasn't meant to take only to receive. And as much as her body ached to disobey, she would yield to him, even if it tore her apart.
Maul's smirk deepened as he saw the conflict in her, and his laugh reverberated through the green-lit cavern. It was dark, almost cruel, and it made her tremble. His lips descended on her throat, finding the raised scar tissue of his mark. She couldn't see it, but she felt the heat of his approval in the low growl that vibrated against her neck. His tongue swept over the mark, igniting a shiver of pleasure that coursed down her spine.
But just as quickly as he had claimed her, he pulled away. Firefly's breath hitched, a hollow ache blooming where his touch had been. Even as he stood over her, his gaze roaming her form with unhidden desire, she felt the absence of his touch like a void.
"Beautiful," he said, his voice low and reverent, though the hunger in his eyes betrayed his restraint.
Firefly followed his gaze down to her body, and her breath caught as she saw the intricate black markings that now adorned her pale skin. Her trembling fingers brushed over the patterns on her stomach, her thighs, tracing their sinuous lines. She realized, as her touch trailed over her chest and found three dark marks slashing across it, that the tattoos mapped every scar he had left on her. Each mark was raised slightly, the scars transformed into something darkly beautiful, their black ink stark against her luminous skin.
She couldn't help but wonder what the mark on her throat looked like. Her glowing blue eyes burned with heat as she met Maul's gaze, her fingers still tracing the markings. His eyes followed the movement of her hand with a ravenous intensity that sent a thrill through her.
"My marks suit you, Firefly," he said, his voice like a growl, laced with dark satisfaction.
A wicked thought sparked in her mind, and she wondered if more tattoos would appear if he marked her again. By the stars, she wanted to find out. But before she could act on the thought, Maul extended a clawed hand toward her. The command in his posture was unmistakable. Now was not the time or place to indulge.
Swallowing her disappointment, Firefly huffed softly and placed her hand in his. He yanked her up with enough force to pull her against his chest, his other hand wrapping around the back of her neck. She gasped at the suddenness, molded to him as his breath fanned over her face. His eyes burned like collapsing stars, their intensity making her heart stutter.
"Remember your place, Firefly," he growled, his mouth curled in a snarl as he held her tightly.
Her annoyance melted into submission as she relaxed in his grip, tilting her head to bare her neck in a gesture of surrender and penitence. Maul's grip on her neck and hair tightened, his other hand snaking around her bare waist, holding her as if to claim her entirely.
"Good," he rumbled, his voice like molten darkness.
Without warning, his teeth sank into her neck, biting down in a way that was both painful and exhilarating. Firefly shivered under the quick, possessive action, a soft purr escaping her throat before she could stop it. The sound made Maul pause, his eyes darkening as he listened to the sound she made for him.
For a moment, it seemed he might lose himself. But with visible effort, he released her, his movements deliberate, as though each caused him pain. His gaze lingered on her, his expression a mix of hunger and restraint.
"Come, Firefly," he said, his voice a rough command that thrummed with unspoken promises. "We have work to do."
Firefly nodded, her wings twitching in response as she stepped back, her body still humming from his touch. Whatever awaited them, she would follow him into it. Together, they would carve their path in a galaxy that had broken them, and woe to anyone who stood in their way.
As they moved through the stone tunnel, Firefly followed Maul like her namesake, her glowing presence trailing behind him. His powerful, mechanical legs carried him forward with an effortless grace that seemed more natural than when he had the unwieldy spider limbs. The sound of his steps echoed with authority in the narrow passage, his movements precise and commanding. He stopped briefly as they rounded a corner, revealing a room that bore the signs of a grim history.
The chamber appeared to have once been a living space, but now it was a hollowed-out shell of what it had been. Shattered beds and broken chests were scattered across the room, and dark, dried blood stained the stone floor. Firefly stepped closer, her luminous gaze scanning the destruction. The air was thick with an almost tangible residue of pain and anger, sharp enough that she could almost taste it. Her heart ached as she wondered what horrors had unfolded here.
Lost in thought, her mind drifted. Though she had absorbed fragments of Maul's memories and basic knowledge, this place was unfamiliar to her. And none of her own memories had surfaced only the emptiness of what she couldn't recall.
Her musings were interrupted as something warm and heavy wrapped around her shoulders. Blinking, she looked up to see Maul's intense yellow eyes fixed on hers. His expression was fierce, his gaze radiating possessiveness. He had draped a cloak over her bare body, the fabric rough but comforting in its coverage.
"You belong to me," he said, his voice low and firm, leaving no room for argument. "Only I am allowed to see you as you are."
The weight of his words settled over her, and Firefly nodded, her heart absorbing his command as though it were a sacred vow. She wanted no other eyes upon her his eyes were the ones she welcomed.
Maul's clawed fingers brushed lightly against her cheek as he fastened the cloak around her neck. The touch sent a ripple of warmth through her, and she couldn't help the soft, radiant smile that lit her face. Her light glowed slightly brighter at his attention, a faint shimmer in the dim tunnel.
Satisfied, Maul turned and began ascending a set of worn stone steps that seemed to lead to the surface. Firefly followed closely behind, her bare feet soft against the cold stone. As she glanced down, a quiet snort escaped her lips. Her feet were a mess scarred, raw, and bleeding black ichor that trailed slightly up her legs. The sight didn't bother her; they had borne the brunt of her suffering, and the scars were just another part of her now.
The air grew fresher as they climbed higher, a gentle breeze teasing her hair and making it float around her like a halo of golden light. She took a deep breath, savoring the sensation of freedom even within these constraints.
At the top of the stairs, she spotted two figures waiting. Savage loomed large, his hulking frame casting a shadow, while Mother Talzin stood beside him, her presence commanding and enigmatic. The two were speaking in hushed tones, their voices almost musical, but they stopped as Maul approached.
His stride was purposeful, his mechanical legs allowing him to take the steps two at a time with ease. Reaching the summit, he addressed Talzin without hesitation, his tone imperious.
"She needs clothing," he stated. It was not a request it was a demand.
Talzin's dark laugh filled the air, echoing softly off the stone walls. She floated gracefully down the steps toward Firefly, her bony fingers beckoning the glowing woman to follow. Firefly hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting to Maul. He gave her a single nod, his attention already turning to Savage as they began to discuss plans in low, deliberate tones.
Her body obeyed Talzin's command, her feet moving to follow the witch, but her mind lingered with Maul. Every part of her was attuned to him, tethered by an invisible thread. As she descended the stairs behind Talzin, her thoughts swirled with questions and anticipation. Whatever awaited her, she would face it with resolve. Her place was by his side, in whatever form that might take.
Firefly hesitated for a moment, glancing around the dimly lit corridor as an unsettling silence settled between her and Mother Talzin. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but steady.
"What… what happened here?"
Talzin's pale, lifeless eyes turned to meet Firefly's glowing blue gaze. For a moment, the witch's expression was unreadable, but then Firefly caught a flicker of something buried deep within—rage, sorrow, and a relentless bitterness. Talzin's voice was low and sharp, cutting through the silence.
"War, child. War happened."
Firefly's golden eyebrows furrowed as they stepped into a vast chamber. The room was lined with racks of weapons, armor, and clothing, remnants of a history steeped in bloodshed. She glanced around, her confusion evident as her fingers lightly trailed over a rack of blades, their edges dulled from time but still holding an aura of violence.
Sensing her uncertainty, Talzin began to speak again as she strode purposefully ahead. "The Clone Wars is a long tale that not yet finished," she said, her tone dripping with venom. "But I will share its truths while you prepare yourself." She gestured to the clothing and weapons that adorned the walls, a silent command for Firefly to choose.
Firefly wandered to the weapons first, her hand brushing lightly against the cold steel of a saber hilt. Talzin's three-layered, echoing laugh filled the air, sending a shiver down Firefly's spine and causing her shoulders to tense. The sound was haunting, otherworldly, a reminder of the power this woman held.
As Firefly moved to examine the clothing, Talzin's voice turned darker, more charged. She began recounting the betrayal of her people by Sith pretenders and false leaders, the tale of their downfall dripping with resentment. Firefly listened intently, occasionally asking questions to clarify details as she selected her garments. She obeyed Maul's order, carefully pulling a thick red curtain closed around her before dressing.
Talzin chuckled knowingly at Firefly's insistence on privacy but continued her story without pause. She spoke of death and devastation, of the anguish that had consumed her and her people. Firefly felt the weight of Talzin's words settle over her, stirring a deep empathy within her. Though they came from vastly different worlds, she understood the agony of loss and betrayal.
Sliding her arms into the crimson and black garments she had chosen, Firefly took in the way they hugged her frame. The bandage-like design crisscrossed her stomach and chest, leaving her back exposed to accommodate her wings. She ran her fingers over the smooth, tightly wound fabric, appreciating its balance of comfort and functionality. Her dark, intricate markings remained uncovered, a deliberate choice she wanted them to be seen. These scars, now adorned in black patterns, were a testament to her survival.
When Talzin's tale ended, Firefly stepped out from behind the curtain. The witch turned to her, watching her with an appraising look. Firefly broke the silence first. "I am sorry… for your pain and your loss," she said, her voice carrying a quiet sincerity.
Talzin's expression flickered with surprise at the unexpected sentiment. Her pale, dead eyes narrowed briefly before softening, just enough for Firefly to catch it. "You are too soft," Talzin replied, though her tone lacked malice.
Firefly nodded, understanding the comment for what it was a remark on her nature, not a condemnation.
Without another word, Talzin extended her arm, gesturing toward a polished surface to the side. Firefly turned, her breath catching in her throat as her own reflection stared back at her.
She moved closer, her fingers brushing against the edge of the mirror as she took herself in for the first time. Her golden hair spilled around her shoulders in soft curls, cascading down to her hips. The dark, swirling marks that adorned her pale skin seemed to shimmer faintly under the light. Her throat bore a particularly striking mark a design resembling a collar encircling her neck, its black lines trailing down onto her shoulders to frame the deeper, rawer marks left by Maul.
Her fingers danced along the lines at her throat, and for the first time, she didn't feel like they were remnants of pain but symbols of belonging. They were beautiful, and they made her feel wanted, cherished even.
She turned slightly, flexing her pale green wings. They were delicate yet powerful, their ethereal glow accented by faint black veins that resembled intricate filigree. Firefly couldn't help but marvel at them. They felt alive, strong, as though they could carry her to the stars she longed for.
Pulling her gaze away from her reflection, Firefly turned her attention to the weapons lining the walls. Her fingers brushed lightly across the polished edges of swords and daggers, their cold steel whispering to her through her fingertips. As she moved to the spears and shields, her hand hesitated, her breath catching. Something about these weapons felt different. When she wrapped her fingers around the shaft of a spear, it was as though a spark ignited in her blood.
The weapon seemed alive in her grip, its weight perfect, its balance natural. It felt like it had been crafted for her alone. A small, almost imperceptible smile softened her face as she held it, the connection between her and the weapon unspoken but undeniable.
Behind her, Talzin's chilling laugh echoed through the chamber. "Just like a Valkyrie," the witch mused, her voice layered with intrigue.
Firefly turned, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is a Valkyrie?" she asked, recalling that Maul had used the same word earlier in the tunnels.
Talzin's lips curled into a dark smile, her white eyes gleaming with knowledge. "Valkyries," she began, her tone rich and deliberate, "are female warriors from ancient tales. They stride into battle, fierce and unyielding, and choose which fallen warriors are worthy of entering the afterlife. Harbingers of death, choosers of the slain."
The description sent a shiver through Firefly's soul. The word fit her, wrapping around her like a second skin. She turned her blue eyes to meet Talzin's unblinking gaze, her breath quickening as the witch's words resonated deep within her.
"You feel it, do you not?" Talzin's voice softened, almost coaxing, as she stepped closer. "The calling of the stars and the cry of battle. The hunger for a song not yet sung a symphony of death and glory."
Firefly's heart thundered in her chest. Every word Talzin spoke seemed to awaken something primal within her, a truth she hadn't yet recognized.
Talzin's tone shifted, becoming laced with sorrow and anger. "Your kind, the Diathim, are beings of light peaceful, passive, unwilling to raise a hand in violence. It is why they were nearly wiped out, like my Nightsisters, by the treacherous Dooku. What little remains of your people has been scattered across the stars, enslaved and broken."
The witch's words stung, piercing Firefly's core. Her expression twisted with a mix of disgust and fury. The thought of her people being eradicated, enslaved, and reduced to whispers in the galaxy ignited a fire in her chest.
"But you," Talzin continued, her voice laced with dark reverence, "are different. Your blood sings with the rage of the fallen. The call of battle and vengeance hums in your very soul. You are no ordinary Diathim, child. You are one of a kind a Valkyrie born to bring death and destruction to those who stand in your path."
Talzin stepped closer, her cold fingers brushing against Firefly's cheek before trailing down to touch her wings with a quiet reverence. Firefly shivered under the witch's touch but didn't pull away.
"You are bound not just by blood but by destiny," Talzin said softly. Her fingertips lingered on Maul's mark on Firefly's throat, the touch cold yet grounding. "Your song and power will grow as your rage grows. Use it well, for it will be both your weapon and your legacy."
Firefly's jaw tightened, her fists clenching around the spear in her hand. She looked into Talzin's eyes and saw a shared pain, an unspoken understanding of loss and vengeance. Her voice was steady as she vowed, "I will grow stronger. I will see Maul's vision fulfilled, and the pretender Sith will fall."
The conviction in her words caused a flicker of approval in Talzin's pale eyes. The witch's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Good," she said simply, her voice carrying an air of finality.
Firefly stood taller, her golden hair falling in waves around her shoulders as she gripped the spear and shield. The weight of her commitment was heavy but welcome. She would not falter. This was her path marked by rage, bound by purpose, and illuminated by the fire of her will.
Green mist lazily swirled into the room, coiling and shifting like a living thing before settling beside Firefly. As she watched in awe, the mist solidified into a large, sturdy bag. It was filled with clothing, shields, and extra spears, the weapons carefully arranged within. Firefly tilted her head in confusion, her gaze darting to Talzin for an explanation.
"I have a feeling you will need more clothing," Talzin said, her tone teasing but with an undertone of knowing.
Firefly's cheeks flushed, the heat spreading to her ears as she awkwardly shifted her gaze. Talzin's echoing laughter filled the room, the layered sound both mocking and oddly affectionate. Firefly nodded in gratitude, her lips forming a soft, "Thank you," as she reached for the bags. They were heavier than they appeared, but she shouldered their weight effortlessly.
As Talzin turned and began gliding toward the doorway, Firefly fell into step behind her, the mist curling lazily at her feet. The elder's movements were fluid, almost floating, as if she were one with the ethereal green vapors.
Firefly hesitated, glancing down at the ground before speaking. "You seem to know a lot about my kind, Mother Talzin. Do you... do you know anything about my power? Or my memories? They still haven't come back."
Talzin paused briefly, the mist thickening around her as if holding its breath. She turned her head slightly, her white eyes meeting Firefly's questioning gaze.
"Please, child," she said, her voice softened but commanding, "call me Mother. You are mated to Maul, after all."
Firefly's golden hair shimmered as she tilted her head, birdlike, at Talzin's statement. Her bright blue eyes searched the witch's face for further explanation, but Talzin ignored her look, instead addressing her other question.
"Your memories will return," Talzin said, her voice laced with unshakable certainty. "I feel it in the magics. You must only have patience."
Firefly's lips pressed into a thin line, a soft huff escaping her. "Patience," she murmured, almost to herself, as she followed Talzin into the hallway.
"But your power," Talzin continued, her voice a layered melody that seemed to echo off the walls, "is different from others of your kind. Their songs are merely hypnotic, alluring to those who hear them. Yours... does far more, does it not?"
Firefly hesitated before nodding. "Yes. I've used it to attack." The memory of her scream in the junkers and the scavengers camp surfaced, raw and vivid. She could still hear their anguished cries and remember the chaos she'd caused, forcing them to harm themselves in their desperation to silence her voice.
"I thought as much," Talzin said, her tone unreadable, though there was a flicker of curiosity in her dead-white eyes. "Your power is unique, even to me. There is much you have yet to discover about yourself. But heed my warning, child do not lose yourself to that power. Magic, like fire, can warm or consume, and power like yours will destroy you from within if you are not careful."
Her gaze bore into Firefly's, ancient and heavy with wisdom born of centuries of pain and knowledge. Firefly's breath hitched under the intensity of her stare, and she managed a quiet, "Yes... Mother."
Talzin's expression shifted ever so slightly, a flicker of pride glimmering in her eyes. There was something else there, too hunger. It wasn't the same as Maul's possessive intensity, but it was no less piercing.
As they moved through the temple's halls, Firefly felt a pull in her chest, a soft, familiar calling. She instinctively knew it was Maul—his presence was a melody in her mind, distant but insistent, pulling her toward the surface of the crimson planet. She paused at the base of the temple's staircase, looking back at Talzin.
"Go, child," the elder said, her voice softer now. "I am needed here. But above, someone needs you."
Firefly hesitated for only a moment, then nodded. Meeting Talzin's gaze, she felt compelled to offer a gesture of respect. Without thinking, she pulled her shield to her chest and banged her spear against it, the sound echoing through the chamber like a war cry. The action felt ancient, instinctual, as if it were ingrained in her very blood.
Talzin's thin eyebrows lifted in surprise, but a smirk spread across her face. "Hmm," she mused, her tone layered with amusement and approval.
With that, Firefly turned toward the staircase. The song of the air above and the magnetic pull of Maul's presence urged her forward. As she ascended, the mist seemed to follow her, clinging to her heels like a protective shadow. At the top of the stairs, the temple opened into the harsh, red landscape of the planet. The call of the stars and the promise of her mate drew her onward, her spear glinting in the crimson light.