Private A Story of Blood and Steam

[Scherezade deWinter]

. : Wobblestation : .
Near the Hot Springs​

The station around her was alive with its usual pulse, with laughter spilling out of cantinas, the rattle of machinery in maintenance shafts, the ebb and flow of crew coming to the outpost… Scherezade loved it. The station had been gifted to the DeathDrop crew, but she had been the brains behind it, and she was so proud in that moment.

She stood where the air was warmer than most of the station's decks, close enough that she could feel the mist from the hot springs clinging faintly to her clothes. She had no intention of going in. The little adventure with the rest of the crew at that spa place felt like enough for the moment. Not because something bad had happened, but because… Well, Scherezade knew she could quite literally lose her mind for a bit in there, and she wanted to keep hermind firmly where it was for the time being, even if she had no special reason for it. Still, she lingered nearby. The steam rising from the springs veiled her in shifting layers, turning the neon signs overhead into something hazy and dreamlike.

Scherezade was waiting. For what, exactly, she hadn't yet decided. Maybe for a fight. Maybe for someone interesting enough to hold her attention longer than a drink. Her fingers brushed against the hilt of the bloodied knife tied to her thigh. A souvenir. A promise. A reminder.

And then she thought she saw movement in the mist. Not the usual bustle of the crowd, but something different. Someone. There was no menace in her body language; she wasn't expecting an enemy. Not on Wobblestation. Not yet. But she was ready, all the same.

---

Hekate​

 

[Hekate]

Hekate was trying not to draw attention to herself, she had stopped flinching at every little sound of cheering or pieces of technology making noises she didn't understand. All she knew was right now she had a place to stay, sleep, eat. Some place warm and relatively safe. As safe as she could be on a station with these… kinds of people. Hekate wasn't sure if it was permanent or if they would only keep her around as long as she was useful. She was sick of being weak, starving, on the run, picking through pieces of scraps. The galaxy was a harsh place, it wasn't made for the weak or the vulnerable. The people who flinch at every sound.

Hekate wanted to be strong, she wanted to be fierce, she wanted to learn so that she would never be anyone's slave or victim again. She figured hanging out with a bunch of mercenaries was a good way to toughen up. So long as they didn't think her weak. So she started with forcing herself not to flinch.

It also helped that the station had it's own hotsprings. Hekate could remember the last time she'd had a bath let alone hot springs. There had been some in the mountains near her village with healing properties. It was a good way to relax and practice her healing spells. She may not be much of a fighter yet, but that wasn't why she was hear for now. For now she was a healer. So she had been practicing to get some consistency. She just hoped the hot springs would be empty.

Hekate entered and found they weren't.

"Oh zorry… I vas just planning to practice my healing" Hekate hesitated unsure of what to do or if she could understand her accent.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

The Dathomiri accent landed on Scherezade's ears like a memory of her aunt's house. Familiar, dangerously so… The kind of familiarity that threatened to feel safe, even though the speaker was a woman she had never met before. She turned, needing a heartbeat to register that yes, she was actually there, using the facility And that was ridiculously cool. Scherezade had spearheaded the construction of plenty of places, but few were the things that made her happier than seeing them filled with people who had real reasons to be there.

"It's open for the public," she gave the other woman what she hoped was a reassuring smile, "Everyone is welcome."

But she understood what was really underneath that hesitation. She'd felt it often enough herself. The woman wanted to be alone. Scherezade wasn't about to intrude. Her posture shifted back into its usual loose, casual rhythm as she turned to leave.

Until her shoulder almost brushed the shoulder of the woman, and the Sithling froze in place.

What the…

She spun back around, glowing green eyes locking onto the woman. That scent. Was she imagining it? Her pulse jumped, joy and disbelief tangling into something wild. The blood sang to her, sharp and layered. High notes, medium notes, low notes, all woven into a melody she knew in her bones.

But how?!

She should have known. She would have known. This wasn't possible.

Scherezade stepped in close, sniffing around her in near-panic before she managed to rein herself in.

"Who are you?" she asked at last, voice tight, eyes raking over the woman's face, her every detail. If looks could peel a person open to rummage through their insides, that was the look she gave her now.

---

Hekate

 

[Hekate]

Hekate gave a hesitant smile. The woman seemed welcoming enough. There was no threat in her voice, and for the moment while they were on the station she'd be stupid to cause any trouble.

Stop thinking everyone is trying to kidnap you and sell you into slavery! Hekate told herself with a scowl.

Hekate took a deep breath and entered the hot springs, taking off her jacket and getting comfortable. She should introduce herself, make conversation, practice her accent… maybe even make a new friend. Hekate entered the pool a little awkwardly her shoulder almost brushed the other woman. Hekate swayed to one side to avoid physical contact. Sometimes when she made physical contact she accidentally Mind Touched someone. She had no desire to influence the strangers thoughts.

Hekate had had to Mind Touch to get people to give her belongings in the past and of course when she had to- No she wasn't going to think of that. She was going to enjoy the hot springs and try to make a new friend. She used to like having friends.

Hekate was just about to introduce herself when she sensed the sudden tension within the other woman, she turned to find glowing green eyes, and sniffing like a bloodhound. Hekate froze, instinctively touched her power her eyes glowed red.

What is it? What did I do? I don't understand.

The woman demanded to know who she was intensely. Hekate hesitated scowled.

"Hekate" She introduced herself proudly "Hekate ov zee Moonsong Clan."

It was the first time she had dared uttered her Clan name in a long time. It felt exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

"Arbiter recruited me to be zee new healer." Hekate explained

"Who are you?" Hekate demanded keeping her powers ready.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Red glow met green glow, pulling another excited gasp from Scherezade. Something here was different! Very different! Did this different meant wrong? She didn't know. All she could do was keep sniffing the woman, almost getting lost in the sensation of… No, she couldn't put it to words yet. She had the vocabulary. She knew what the correct words were. But somehow saying them out loud felt… Like it wasn't time yet.

Moonsong Clan. Dathomir. Yes, her brain already jumped to the people she knew from there, sifting through whose scents would bring up familiar sensations in her and those who did not. Unlike some of the other members of her family, Scherezade's mental catalogue didn't include too much of that, and she found herself grasping at memories she never had in order to make sense of a situation she never thought she would face.

After a lot more heartbeats than she cared to admit it took, the Sithling pulled herself away from Hekate , giving the woman a sliver of personal space back.

"Scherezade," she said, looking at those red glowing eyes. She knew the glow, almost intimately. But… Red. She had expected green. It wouldn't be the first time someone broke the mold, but red was new. Red was now officially interesting.

But Hekate did not look at Scherezade with familiarity. Which could only mean one of two things. The first, was that she was a great actress and was hiding from someone or something. The other, and much more plausible reason, was that she didn't who or what she was either.

"Why is your glow red?" she asked, gesturing to Hekate's eyes. Yes, somewhere in the back of her mind knew she'd put the woman enough on edge for her to consider attacking, but Scherezade's own body language remained sanguine and relaxed. She had zero plans of attacking, unless someone translated hugs into the first move of a fight.

 

[Hekate]

The woman continued to sniff, her eyes continued to glow green. Hekate thought they looked familiar for a moment, before she came to a realisation.

They are like my eyes only green!

Hekate had never met anyone whose eyes glowed like hers did. In any colour.

What did this mean? Was this woman a witch as well?

Hekate felt a spark of hope at the thought. Another witch after so long since she had found her people would be wonderful. It would be like a tiny taste, a scent of home. A home she could never return to. A home that was gone.

Hekate hesitated and cautiously released her powers.

"Are you a vitch too?" Hekate asked cautiously, hopefully.

"I have never met anozer vitch outside of Dathomir before." Hekate admitted softly "Other than my own Clan and they're all… gone."

Hekate nodded carefully extended her hand gently.

"Scherezade. It is… nice to meet you." Hekate tried to come up with an honest word, but confusing yet interesting didn't seem like the thing to say. She didn't want to upset Sherezade to get upset and leave.

Hekate frowned in confusion at Sherezade's question.

Why is her glow red?

"It just is." Hekate summoned some glowing red energy, played with the water lifting it into the air casually. "It alvays has been. The Mothers vere vorried it meant I had a.. a.. predilection? For the dark side. I never vanted to hurt people. I just liked shoving off... bragging a little." Hekate grew quiet as she remembered the mothers.

"My povers... abilities are… not as reliable as I'd like, but I'm getting better with healing, and waters easy. It always has been." Hekate explained while she played with the water in the air absently.

She shrugged and let the water go with a splash.

"Vhy is your's green?" Hekate asked "Do the colours matter?"

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Was she a witch too? That was probably a more loaded answer than Hekate had probably meant to ask. But the two did not know each other yet, and it was hard to warn someone you quite literally met thirty seconds ago to know what to avoid. Besides, it wasn't like it was triggering or anything like that. Some things were just… Best left minimized.

After weighing a plethora of words she could use to answer that specific question, the SIthling just opted to shake her head. Sometimes, words removed rather than added. She could explain later anyway, but now she was being asked about her own green eyes.

"It's a family thing for me," she explained, "some of are born with it, some of us get it when we come fully into our power. I was born with mine."

A few droplets of Hekate's splash hit her face, and the Sithling giggled, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. She didn't have any water powers herself, and truth be told, was somewhat phobic of bodies of water in which she could drown, since she'd never learned how to swim.

"What'd your parents say about your eyes?" came her next question for Hekate. It seemed like an innocent enough one.

But it was anything but. For Scherezade was a Blood Hound, which meant she could smell the blood of people as well as the information and secrets contained within. And with every passing moment, she was more and more certain that what she was reading from Hekate… It was true. But it didn't make any sense, because if that were true, then she would have had to know about Hekate's existence long before now. And she didn't. So something was amiss.

And one way or another, the Sithling was going to find out what.

 

[Hekate]

Hekate sensed she had stumbled upon a sensitive topic. She did not know why. Perhaps she was an exile? She had heard of clans who exiled as an extreme punishment. There was a time Hekate would have judged her for that. Now she knew that everyone in the galaxy did what they had to, to survive. Or perhaps not, perhaps she wasn't a witch at all and had bad experiences with a Nightsister Clan. Hekate did not know the reason for the avoidance, but she respected it. There were things she would rather not discuss with anyone let alone a complete stranger.

Hekate nodded sadly disappointed she could not wish to discuss witches and witchcraft. It would have been nice to discusse with a fellow witch. It would have been nice to get just a whiff of home again.

Hekate nodded. She thought about the first time the red glow came. She smiled a little. She had not thought of that night for a long time. She'd forgotten she still had that memory.

"Mine came vhen I came into my pov.. pov. Pow-ers." Hekate sighed she always stumbled with her w's. "My parents vere sending me to bed vhen I vas twelve summers old. There vas a spring vestival on. I did not vant to go. I got so angry I punched my pillow and broke my bed vith a blast of energy."

"Zee Mothers took me avay for avhile… till I learnt control. At first I did not vant to go. I thought I vas being sent away forever, exiled, punished for losing control. Vhen I got back I thought everyone vould call me a freak, but my parents hugged me so tight… my friends vanted me to shov… show off. They liked the glow."

Hekate blinked tears from her eyes and shrugged.

"They said it just meant I had… power. To use it carefully."

Hekate looked down at the water sadly and flashed her red glowing eyes in her reflection.

"My control is not so good since then."

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade listened with the kind of hyper focus that was rarely seen etched on her face. She hung on every word uttered by Hekate , that wonderful accent of hers making it fun and not only informative. But she wasn't here for the fun. Today… Well, maybe not today, but now was certainly not about that for her.

Everything inside of her wanted to scream and rebel as Hekate described her parents. Scherezade knew without an inkling of doubt that Asteria deWinter and Angelo Cavataio would neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr have done that. They loved their children. And Hekate…

Hekate had no actual inkling of what she was. Of why the Mothers were able to take her away without paying for it with their lives.

Now the rage threatened to bubble up. Scherezade didn't have all the dots yet, but the ones she knew made it very clear to her that Hekate had been wronged above and beyond what was right, and if her guess was correct, that wrongness had begun very closely to the day she had been born.

She forced the bubbling anger to pause as she closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of Hekate's blood once more. No matter how many times she breathed it in, she knew what she was smelling. And yet, a small part of her still rebelled against it, saying it couldn't be true.

"You have power all right," she murmured, opening her eyes again. The girl would probably learn with time that she had a lot more power than she thought she did. "Why are you here? Why did you accept Arbiter's offer?"

 

[Hekate]

Hekate was confused again. Or rather Scherezade was confusing. For some reason Hekate's childhood story made her angry. Hekate thought of the memory fondly. The Mothers had been nothing but gentle and kind even when she flew into rages and threw Force Blasts at them. They had merely calmly defended themselves with a Force Shield until she stopped. Though admittedly sometimes it had taken two or three of them to defend against her.

And when she returned home. Everyone in the village had rushed out to greet her. Her parents, her friends, her family, her clan welcomed her back with open arms. Her friends even made games around the glow of her energy. Before the glow she was just average. After it she was special. Girls wanted to be her friends and boys started to chase her. She became a group leader. The Mothers had taught her more advanced magick than the others to help her control. She was respected, admired even. It was good times in her village.

"It iz good memory. Cherished memory." Hekate said with a frown defensively. She felt the need to defend her Clan.

"You're doing it again. The sniffing thing again. Vhy do you do that?" Hekate asked barely stopping herself from asking if she was part dog.

Don't be rude. She's just curious about the stranger with glowing red eyes. You've had this before. You'll have it again… but she has glowing eyes as well. Even if they are green.

Hekate was confused.

Hekate blushed and looked down when asked why she was here.

"It iz better than starving in a refugee camp." Hekate murmured refusing to meet Scherezade's eyes.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

One would have thought that by now, Scherezade would've learned how to sniff people's blood in discretion. One would be wrong. There were a very few things the Sithling knew how to do discreetly, which, considering she had once upon a time been a spy. But whatever else she was, she was usually effective. Except for right now, of course. Was she scaring the girl? That hadn't been the intent.

"I'm a-" she almost said blood hound. And it would've been the correct word to use. But she could easily tell by Hekate 's expressions that she was sufficiently on edge, and she didn't want to scare the girl away. Hekate didn't yet know it, but she was beyond precious. "I can smell people's blood," Scherezade opted to explain what it meant instead of using the term directly, "Not something that can be covered with soap or perfume. And your blood… It's singing. But not because you're from Moonsong clan."

With a sigh, the Sithling pulled a little bit back.

"Never been to a refugee camp as a refugee," she admitted, not bothering to explain that she'd been in plenty of them for other purposes, "but I knew starving all right. Had to hunt my own food for a while when I was younger because if I didn't, I wouldn't have anything to eat."

And that was how she'd become a master at meat preservation techniques.

Still, hunger was hunger.

"You shouldn't have ever been one either," she added with a sigh. Hekate's mother would probably burn that place down once she'd heard of it. Only now Scherezade was tasked with… Well.

"Is your heart strong?" came the next question, "because I might have something to tell you that may give you a heart attack, and I'd rather not kill you."

 

[Hekate]

Hekate had thought Arbiter had been strange. The multiple voices, almost like personalities. As if he had been… programmed? Yes programmed- with multiple identities. Scherezade however wasn't a droid she wasn't bound by programming but she was… intense. Hekate realised by now if she had intended to attack she would have by now, but still Scherezade sniffed at her and asked her all these questions.

What was with all the questions?

Hekate was used to her red energy getting some reaction from laymen, but the crew on this station were experienced. They had fought Sith… and Jedi and seen the galaxy. What was so special about one Witch Novice with a quirky red glow.

Hekate dismissed the anxiety that Scherezade was somehow going to use her for some nefarious purpose.

What could she possibly want with me that Death Drop couldn't offer?

Hekate eyed Scherezade doubtfully.

She had been starving? How could that be true? She's so put together.

Hekate didn't sense any deception in her however. She thought about trying to murmur her truth detection spell, but it seemed rude to mutter a spell during the middle of a conversation. Besides she might see it as a threat. Her muttering a spell right in front of her. Also her magic tended to make her eyes glow red. It wasn't exactly subtle.

Hekate frowned, almost got defensive. She had learned how cruel seemingly well intentioned offers hid cutting insults. Insults that could lead to attacks.

Is she asking if I am weak?

Hekate studied her closely. She sensed no insult in the question only… apprehension? As if she were about to say something she would rather not.

"My heart iz strong. I am strong. I vould not have survived iv I vas not. I can handle it. Vhatever it iz."

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade nodded. Hekate said she was strong, so she was going to have to take her word for that. Also meant that if it didn't work out and the woman had a heart attack, it wasn't going to be Scherezade's fault, which was important, because the Sithling had a bad tendency to get blamed for too many wrongs in the galaxy, even when she had nothing to do with them.

But that left another problem at her feet. Now it meant that she had to tell Hekate.

The Sithling took one final breath, though this one wasn't to sniff at Hekate again, but to just try to calm herself down. It was big news. She'd never been the one to have to explain those things to anyone, since people usually knew well in advance and she just had to add a few more dots for them.

But Hekate… From what Scherezade understood, she'd have have to draw all the dots for her. Force, she wished Madalena was there. Madalena was always better with people about those things. She knew how to talk and be diplomatic and whatnot. Compared to her twin sister, Scherezade was more often than not a raw wrecking ball to most.

"Hekate," Scherezade said and then took another one of those supposed-to-be-relaxing-but-weren't-breaths, "You are my cousin."

There. The words were out. How would Hekate respond? Scherezade had no clue. But clues weren't what was needed here. Before she gave the other woman even a single heart beat to respond, the word vomit came up.

"Our mothers are sisters. I caught your scent as soon as I was close enough to you because I can smell the deWinter blood coursing through your vanes, and I can smell the Cavataio blood too. I can smell Asteria and Angelo. I know and I have met your mother and father. I know you are their daughter. And I know you are my cousin because of that. And I also know that because you're their daughter, something must have gone really wrong because they never would have sent you to be raised by others, under any circumstances. Not even if grandma demanded it."

 

[Hekate]

Hekate blinked in shock, her mouth dropped open.

Could it be true? Could I… still have family?

Hekate felt hope swell in her heart. She thought all her family were gone, she had refused to even consider that there might be any left. If she thought there might be then she'd be abandoning them to their fate. Just like she had been… but if this was true… then she still had family.

It sounded too good to be true.

Hekate stopped at that.

"You lie!" Hekate snarled turning her tears of hope into angry ones "I know not vhy, but you lie. I may not be experienced, but I have learnt ze hard vay that if it iz too good to be true it iz."

"You think you are ze first? A free place to stay? A 'manager' offering to make me a star? And now a stranger offering me family, the thing I miss most?"

"I know not vhy you are being so cruel, but I vill not fall for it. Not again."

Hekate scowled. She wanted to get up and leave, but she was afraid. She didn't know what this woman's position was in the DeathDrop maybe she had the power to have her kicked out. She had always known this place was too good to be true. She had thought it would be on the battlefield perhaps forced to heal dishonourable mercenaries. She had been preparing herself for that. Telling herself if was just what she had to do to survive.

But this? This was someone exploiting her need for family. It was cruel.

"I know not… I do not... I don't know.. vhy are you doing this? I have already agreed to heal for DeathDrop. I don't… vhat else could you vant from me?" Hekate asked afraid of the answer. The worst possibilities coming to mind. Hekate scowled at herself.

"Iz it a test?" Hekate grew furious again "I am not veak! I vill show yo! I vill cast a truth spell and you vill tell me the truth."

Hekate gathered her power her eyes glowed red.

Please let this work.

"Aletheia"

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Aaaaaaaaaand there it was. The accusation of lying. Scherezade, on second thought, should have probably expected that. After all, it wasn't every day you found some stranger who sniffed you like you were pie and told you you're kin. So sure, the Sithling might have been surprised at first, but the more Hekate spoke, the calmer she became.

She wanted to let her let it all out. Throw all the ugly words and accusations that were popping in her head. Scherezade had spent enough of her life as a pincushion and a punching bag for people, but this was one of those rare moments where she knew it was warranted. She was really going to have to ask her sister for lessons on how to do this… gentler.

And then came the spell.

Yes, Hekate at mentioned that she was from Dathomir. Yes, Scherezade knew what that meant. Yes, she had fought witches before.

And no, she had not expected to be slammed with a spell. She didn't even have time to raise basic defenses to shield herself from it before it punched her in the face and she blinked. What was that word Hekate had used to make it? Alethia. No… Scherezade had some Witch-training, had gone through her own Trial by Fire, but she didn't know what that meant.

"Dude, I understand," came the words before any thoughts could be formed for them, "it sucks. You spend your life thinking you're X and then suddenly someone comes and tells you it's Y, but you were never told anything, or if you were, it was nothing that's helping you right now."

Her speech was fast, with barely any gaps for air. She had to say the words. She had to say more of them. She had to say ALL of them!

"I know what it's like to be all alone because our grandmother locked me up in a little pebble for centuries and when I got out I was all alone, and all I wanted was to have some family and I wanted it so badly that I went ahead all stupid and trusted every single person that I met and it broke me and I was willing to be broken again and again just for family. So to find out some of you exist? That you, Hekate, exist? It makes me want to go to Dathomir and set it all on fire for keeping you hidden from me because if I knew you existed you would have been one of the people I trusted without question and maybe life would've sucked a lot less for both of us but I promise you and I will take any Blood Oath you need me to in order to prove my words are true because they are and you're a Witch so you know how serious that is when blood is- OH! I wanted to say earlier, I was smelling you like that because I'm a Blood Hound, and oh Force listen you have more family members you need to know you have like, at least two sisters, and I say at least because I thought there were only two but nope now you're three so maybe there's more and then I also have my twin sister and my adopted sister who is by Dathomiri standards now your sister as well even if there's no blood connection and did you know that there's Witches outside of Dathomir as well, that don't follow the Da-"

Boom.

The spell wore off.

And Scherezade slumped forward, losing consciousness, about to drop like dead weight into the pool.

 

[Hekate]

The spell worked the spell. Sort of. Kind of. Hekate had just meant to find out whether or not she was telling the truth she hadn't meant to compel her. This was like accidental Mind Touch only worse. It was like Sherezade had been pumped full of what they call truth serum. Hekate thought that one may be a myth. She had only heard it from a spice dealer once. This however was very real.

The words vomited out like she was drunk and confessing her love for her crush. That had happened to Hekate once at a Spring Festival. Only she didn't think nor want this night to end like that one had. Particularly if she were family.

Oh she was family.

Hekates eyes widened.

She was family. Or at least she believed she was family. She was telling the truth as she knew it. Wait Blood Hound? What was that?

I have to stop the spell! Before-

She passed out.

"No no no no no." Hekate exclaimed and grunted as she tried to pull Sherezade out of the water. "First time I meet my cousin and I accidentally overload her brain."

Hekate grunted as she struggled. Damn she was heavy. If only she could… oh right she was a Witch. Hekate summoned her powers and lifted Sherezade out of the water with swirling red energy enveloping her in a red energy cocoon.

"How did you meet your cousin again? Oh I made her pass out after attacking her vith a truth spell after accusing her of being a liar!" Hekate scolded herself.

"I should check the damage." Hekate realised.

Overloading a brain with a Mind Touch spell could be dangerous particularly given the extra oomph Hekate had been feeling when she cast it. She hoped she wouldn't have to heal her. Hekate's healing was effective but… painful. She had never done anything as intricate as brain surgery before either. It was a delicate part of the anatomy and if she got it wrong it… if she got it wrong Scherezade could wind up with brain damage.

But if she did nothing and she had a brain hemorage Hekate couldn't imagine that was a good outcome either. Hekate bit her lip, agonizing over the decision.

"Ok Hekate." Hekate took a deep breath "You came here to practice your healing. Now iz your chance."

Hekate took a breath and started meditation. She reached out with her senses, sending positive healing thoughts behind them, accepting her anxiety, accepting her fears, acknowledging them without giving into them. They did not matter. The only thing that mattered was her cousin. She ignored the thought that she could explore and find out what made her a Blood Hound or made her green eyes glow. All that mattered was her head. She found her brain, with a light almost feather touch she searched for damage. She almost broke contact with relief, but that could be dangerous as well.

There was no damage. She would wake with a killer headache, but something in her spell must have been… well not benign but certainly no intention of violence behind it. Hekate relaxed and withdrew to her own self again. Scherezade was still floating in the air. Hekate lowered her gently and turned her so she was facing away from her. Lowering her into the water lest she wake in mid air and panic. Hekate began to massage Scherezades temples, holding back tears.

While also being aware somewhat selfishly that Scherezade had said somewhere in her ramble that Hekate had ... sisters... and a mother and other family. Hekate wished she would wake up soon. So Hekate could learn more of her new family.

"I am so sorry cousin. I vill never ever hurt you again."

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

It was a dumb stroke of pure chance that Scherezade had fallen into the pool while unconscious. Under normal circumstances, the girl was borderline phobic or bodies of water, and falling into one of them would most certainly have sent her unraveling uncontrollably and put the entire area, and perhaps the station, in jeopardy.

It was also Hekate 's luck, since it meant she wouldn't get attacked by the Sithling in this scenario. Not that it would have been on purpose, but still. Seemed like enough damage was done up until this point.

The current damage being, Scherezade was quite literally, drowning, her body unable to save itself. Thankfully, unlike the last time she was sent into the darkness of not being awake, she didn't go to the Darkness, which is a whole different story all together.

Instead, it was a dream of fluffy little bunnies, of pink candy that strangely tasted like smoked meat, and everything was covered in glitter.

Until she opened her eyes, water rising from the depths of her lungs and stomach, and she twisted around, vomiting not words, but the actual fluids that had entered her while she'd been down.

Except, her brain realized, she wasn't on the ground.

She was still in the water!

Scherezade screamed at the top of her lungs, arms beginning to flail wildly around her. Her scream was amplified by the Force and the walls of the Hot Springs began to shake and quiver in response. The water was splashing wildly all around them and Scherezade was screaming, drowning, feeling… She hadn't even had the time to notice Hekate's fingers on her temples before she tore herself away from her cousin in panicked terror. AND THEN-

Oh wait, the water here was shallow enough for her to stand.

In less than an instant, all the danger stopped itself. The Sithling stood there, wet like a puppy in the rain, glowing green eyes looking around madly in sheer confusion.

 

[Hekate]

"Iz okay! Iz okay! I'm not going to hurt you!" Hekate tried to assure the screaming Scherezade.

"Vell not again. Never again. I promise. Vas accident I svear. I.. did not mean to at all. I… I just vanted to know iv you vere telling zee truth… but not like that. I thought the spell vould let me know if you vere lying. I did not think it vould compel you" Hekate shoulders slumped fighting back to tears. "Just my luck. I vinally vound vamily and I accidentally attack them cause I have no control over my powers. You probably don't vant to speak to me ever again. I understand juzt juzt let me explain. I've had people… mostly men… offer me miracles in zee past but vhat they really vanted…. vas…."

"Bevore that some of my owners or… or patrons vhere I vas.. a slave dancing girl vould promise me pretty little lies... ov my vreedom, ov riches, palaces. I vas ovten too high on spice to really pay attention. My owner liked to keep hiz girls docile, but it vas impossible not to dream vhile people vere vhispering vantasies in your ear… vhile you vere… in that ztate… in zhose positions."

Hekate looked away. She was aware her accent was getting thicker as she rambled.

"I though you vere one ov those people, that you vanted me for something. I'm sorry I shouldn't have."

Hekate shoulders slumped aware she had just driven her one chance of family away forever, she blinked back tears. Also aware she had no right to self pity when she was the one who had attacked her. If the attack hadn't done it learning she had been… who she had been would do it.

"I am zorry. I have no right to your zympathy I know. Pleaze bevore you go tell me how I can contact the rest ov my… ov our vamily?"

"Pleaze?"

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

It took a moment for Hekate's words to start registering in Scherezade's mind. At first, they were only a blur, but slowly, as the confusion began to slowly go away, she realized that her cousin had entered her own state of word vomit, and suddenly it seemed to be a lot less important that she was wet and soaking like a doggo in the rain. Glowing green eyes looked at the red, and Scherezade just smiled with a sigh before starting to make her way out of the pool and plopping down by Hekate.

"Breathe," she reminded the other woman. Rummaging through her pockets, she found a piece of fabric that seemed clean enough, though it was just as soaked in the water of the Hot Springs as she was. Still, she offered it to Hekate, in case the tears would stop threatening and start rolling.

"I'm not going anywhere," she added, hoping her voice was giving Hekate the reassuring sensation that she was going for, "do you know how rare it is for someone to attack me like that and succeed?"

It was true. Scherezade, a bouncing ball of chaos, glitter, and hyperactivity most of the time, was hard to take by surprise. Even more so, it was hard to take her by surprise and be successful with it. Hekate, in a moment of panic, had managed to do something very few had been able to do in a good amount of years.

And as far as the Sithling was concerned, that meant that Hekate had just earned a little bit more respect, and this time it wasn't because of her blood line.

"Tell you what," she now grinned, "Let's take… Half an hour. I'll go find some dry clothes, you find a way to calm down, and we meet again, get food and continue talking? You'll have all the ways of contact you want before the day is over. Pinky promise."

 

[Hekate]

Hekate sighed and nodded, taking a breath, she sniffed and flicked the edge of her eyes.

"Ugh I hate that I cry so much, my eyes go all red… the bad kind… puvvy… puffy kind." Hekate sighed. "I am glad that you are ok… and not upset vith me for attacking you. Accidentally."

Hekate giggled.

"But I did not mean to attack you. I just thought at most you vould not be able to speak lies or zat… that I vould be able to hear the lies from the truth." Hekate sighed "I vould rather a spell I intended vork the vay I vanted them to. My healing is getting better but if you had been brain damaged… I am not up to brain surgery yet."

Hekate glanced guiltily.

"You are sure you are ok?... and not mad?" Hekat asked tentatively beginning to be reassured that Scherezade wasn't going to run away… no she wasn't the running away type more likely counter attack and kill the person who dared attack her.

Hekate's heart fluttered a little at the realisation. If this had happened with someone else say another member of DeathDrop she would be dead.

Hekate sighed.

"Do not mistake my meaning but I am glad this did not happen vith another member of the DeathDrop. I believe they vould not have reacted so… amicably"

Hekate hesitated at Scherezades offer to reconveine in half an hour. She wanted to press her for details on her family but… Hekate could see she was right. Scherezade deserved the chance to cool off and Hekate needed a moment to compose herself as well.

"Very vell ve shall reconvene in half an hour… say at ze Mess Hall?" Hekate asked

Then nodded briskly, getting up as dignified as she was able. Hekate hesitated at the door.

"Scherezade? Don't be late."

Hekate ducked out the door.

Hekate then made her way to her quarters in the barracks she had a lot to consider and so many questions for Scherezade when they met up again.

Who was her sisters? Who were her parents? Di they have any other cousins? How big was their family? Were they all warriors with powers?

She tried to remember all of the details Scherezade had mentioned when the spell hit her but it had happened so fast and she had been unable to catch any details.

She mentioned I had sisters right? Right? And my parents?

Hekate sighed and tried to prepare her mind for meditation. It would have been ideal in the Hot Spring but, she had felt Scherezade deserved to have a moment alone. Hekate sighed and sat into the meditation position, running through her breathing exercises. Remembering one of the first lessons the Mothers had taught her about finding inner peace.

You are home. You safe. You are with family.

Hekate wasn't sure about the first part yet, but two out of three felt like a good start for someone who hadn't had any of them for a long time. For the first time in a long time Hekate smiled a real smile from her heart.

You are done crying.

She told herself sternly, but her heart wasn't in it. Hekate started laughing, then crying, then laugh crying.

I must look like a moon brain

That just made her laugh more.

It felt good.

Scherezade deWinter