Everyone Has Nightmares (Xander Blackmoore)

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

15-year-old Kyra snuck down the alleyway back on Corellia, unaware of what was going to happen next. Suddenly a man jumped out and attacked the helpless girl, assaulting her... The ship Kyra bought passage on was jerked out of hyperspace and boarded by slavers. Kyra is hiding as best she can, but one finds her and drags her to the group of hostages to be taken to the markets... 12-year-old Kyra hand shook as she closed the eyes of her dead mentor and left the cold body lying in the alleyway she had called home... The slaver coming into her cell with the whip...

"No!" Kyra sat up in her bed sweating, her face tear streaked, breathing hard. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at the moon, which stood at midnight. Nightmares come in many ways, shape, and form. So Kyra abandoned the idea of sleep, with the thought that those painful memories would return to torment her even more, and slipped her cloak on, heading for the first balcony she could find.

When she finally reached one, Kyra leaned on the banister, looking at the courtyard below, lost in thought.

[Member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Canvas and colors, paints and drawings, they all took shape and predicted the worst of things to come. On occasion they predicted ventures of a pleasurable kind like the time Xander painted the image of himself with his red huntress. She was gone. Another lover had been taken, she poisoned him, but at his behest. Xander painted again, this time covering the entire cargo hold of his infiltrator. Xander panted many scenes, though the one which hanted him most was his own demise. Everything was lost. He had no lover, no one who cares for him. Xander was truly alone. This was his demise. He lived it. It haunted him in his sleep.

Xander woke, midnight again. Usually he was in a cold sweat. Tonight he simply sat up, emotionless despite the fact sleep eluded him yet again. Casting the sheets aside, Xander's naked form was briefly exposed to the elements before he affixed his robe to his body. Bare feet padded out onto the balcony just outside his quarters. The moon was full and white. His blue eyes fell on it, resting on the haunting surface which called to him.

They moved briefly from the moon to see his slave, servant, free to stay or go of her own accord, yet Xander kept her around. Why? He didn't know, but it seemed they were both plagued by sleeplessness this evening. He walked over to her, and leaned against the railing of the balcony looking out to the moon again.

"Nightmares again," Xander stated.

This was becoming a habit for them.

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra didn't move as her master came up beside her, but she was drawn out of her deep thought by his voice. So, they both had been awakened by nightmares. She decided to at least tell him her dreams, but wouldn't look up in his eyes lest he see the tears that were growing.

"They were not only nightmares, but most were memories that haunt me," Kyra sighed as a single tear fell down her cheek, then continued,

"I dreamt of the death of the man who raised me, Finn, and the shock that the only person I cared about was gone, forever. I saw myself when I was captured by the slavers, weak and helpless as the leader dragged me into his quarters, and -" She stopped, barely able to contain her trembling voice and the sob that almost escaped her lips. She bit her bottom lip then asked,

"What did you dream of, Master? "

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

"When he what," Xander asked already knowing the answer.

For Xander it was a matter of principle. As Sith he gained strength from his fears, pain, nightmares. His desire had always been for Kyra to learn the same. While she was a slave, and not Sith, there was no reason she could not learn to make her past loss, and pain, her greatest weapon.

"When you say it out loud, you own it. If you keep it bottled up, it owns you," he finally said before turning to her.

His hand was gently placed on her cheek as his thumb brushed away the tear which fell. He forced her to look into his eyes, and carry some sense of pride.

"My past still haunts me. I have lost one lover, had the force take me from another. My kingdom is in the hands of a family that it does not belong to. Yet what haunts me the most is the fact I am lonely, despite all the people around me. I was not made for this time, and I am out of place in it. So I do only what I know to do. Survive."

Xander released her cheek and turned away. He took a few steps back toward his quarters.

"There is no sense in us catching a cold out here. You may join me in my quarters if you wish. I could start a fire and open a bottle of wine?"

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra met those two seas of blue and, somehow, knew she couldn't hide anymore. Maybe what Xander was true. She said it out loud, feeling hatred for the slavers growing in her voice, and tears of hatred slowly dripping down. "He raped me, and I couldn't do anything about it. I was too weak to fight back, to fight him!"

Kyra realized she had said that out loud and in her normal voice, except that her vice had been dripping with hated and didn't sound like her own. She quieted down and listened to her master speak of his dreams, realizing she wasn't the only one who felt lonely. Both Xander and Kyra has lost someone dear, Kyra her father figure, her home, and her dignity, Xander his lovers, his throne, and everything he one held dear. As he stepped away, she thought to herself, You don't have to be lonely anymore.

She accepted her master's invitation by following him back into his room.
[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

He heard the whisper, his mind was tuned to hers, but he refrained. His lonliness was not the kind which could not simply be absolved by the companionship, still he started the fire and poured the wine for them. Turning he offered the young woman a glass. The wine was the best he had to offer.

"You could not have been expected to fight the man off," Xander said with a sip. "You should be proud to have survived all you have. There is more to strength than just physical muscle."

Xander moved toward her and smiled.

"I promised to teach you. I've neglected that promise."

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra took the glass and sat down by the fireplace, grateful for the warmth. She watched it dance as Xander gave his opinion and sipped the wine, finding it stronger than the ones she usually drank. Kyra looked up and and smiled at him, half-teasing half-serious.

"Take your time, a man like you must have many responsibilities, and you need not hinder your work for my sake. Unless, I'm mistaken and I am one of your bigger projects?"

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Why, Kyra, are you attempting to flirt with your master," Xander smirked.

Whether it was the wine, or the fact he was beginning to find some humor in the fact the two kept meeting because of their nightmares, Xander was in a different mood than the one he woke with. It was funny how the girl he brought to his estate was not as shy as she had been the day he had taken her for himself. Here they were both in robes, and she was not shy now.

He sipped his wine as he looked into the fire. The flame danced and flickered about as the heat of the fire caused the the logs to crackle and pop.

"You are more of a project than you know... and that could have come out differently."

Xander took another drink.

"What I mean to say is that you are worth my time. I saw potential in you, that's why I took you. I promised to make you strong, and I will."

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra blushed fiercely and rubbed the back of her neck.

"I'm sorry if that's what it sounded like."

Kyra looked at Xander, confused for a moment at his statement before he said it again in a different way, making her smile.

"Well then I promise I'll try to be the best servant and student I can be." She set down the half-empty wine glass on the nearest surface that wasn't the floor and rubbed her eyes, stifling a yawn.

"We should probably try to at least take a nap before the sun rises, the wine was delicious if not strong," Kyra stretched and looked back at her master.

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Xander finished his wine. Unlike Kyra, he was used to the strength of it, and welcomed the feeling it gave him. The yawn produced by his slave was contagious, and soon he found himself yawning as well.

"Don't promise you'll be a good student, simply show me you will, and I will be pleased enough. Remember what I told you the day brought you here? You must learn to control every situation, adapt to it, react accordingly."

He yawned again and looked to his bed, it was calling him. Typically the two conversed on the balcony, and each returned to their own separate rooms. Tonight was different, she was with him. Should he send her away, make her stay. Kyra was free to choose what she wanted. All Xander knew was he needed sleep.

"Yes, I do feel some sleep coming," he said as he moved to his bed.

Xander stopped long enough to remove his robe, exposing his body to the elements once again, before climbing into his bed, and pulling he sheets over his waist to at least appear decent. Though, he was certain Kyra had seen him once again as the day he stripped in front her in the fresher of his ship.

"You do not have to leave if you do not wish to do so."

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra rubbed her eyes and nodded, she could do that.

"As you wish, master."

She watched her master as he walked over to his bed and get into it. She knew how this usually ended, her back in her room him in his, but tonight was different. Kyra didn't want to be alone, and her master was giving her the choice to stay or leave. She got up and walked over to the bed, sitting down on it and taking off her robe but leaving on the see-through slip underneath, and c crawled under the covers.

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

Xander's blue eyes fell on Kyra, and followed her, as she rounded to the other side of the king sized bed in Xander's chambers. They dipped as she let the robe slip from her shoulders to reveal the see through slip she wore as a night covering. It did not do much to hide her details from his view, nevertheless it was still a barrier. As any gentleman, Xander held the covers back for Kyra as she slipped in and brought them over her shoulder as her head rest on the pillow in the center of the bed.

How long had it been since Xander had a companion to share his bed with? Too long. One would assume this was an invitation for sex, but Xander knew better. Neither wanted to drift to sleep and face their nightmares alone. His strong arm wrapped around Kyra's slender frame. It was a comforting gesture, something most though the Sith King incapable of. Yes he was cunning, wicked, calculating, violent when needed, but Xander also knew what it meant to be gentle, tender, compassionate. All these things to him were a weakness, but so were his night visions. If this allowed him an escape, then he would learn to embrace this weakness.

The sun rose over the tree line a couple short hours later. The light of he early morning sun danced across Xander's face, waking him from the deep slumber the early morning hours had allowed him. Kyra was still sound asleep, so Xander slipped out of the bed quietly and redressed in his robe. The servants would arrive soon with his breakfast and he wanted to ensure they would send Kyra's to his room as well. There was no sense in her food getting cold because it was delivered to the wrong room.

When the trays were deliverd, Xander left Kyra's by the bed, as he took his out on the balcony to watch the sunrise and enjoy his morning Caf. It was a quiet morning on Ec Pand, the only sound was that of the morning song the birds sang to greet the day as it began. Xander sighed a contented sigh. This was his escape from who he had to be in order to regain his kingdom.

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra yawned and stretched awake not to long after Xander had left to go out on the balcony. Seeing food on the side table, she took the tray and went over to the fireplace, even though there was no fire in it, and sat down, eating her breakfast and letting last night's events replay in her mind. Kyra finished her for and delicately placed the tray by the door, looking around for her robe. When she had found it and put it back on, Kyra went looking for Xander, finding him on his balcony lost in thought and clearly enjoying the morning.

Ec Pand truly was beautiful, she wouldn't deny it. Kyra watched Xander from the doorway fora bit before being distracted by a pretty bird that flew by, making her smile and sigh happily, watching another of its speices fly with it and both land in a nest in one of the nearby trees.

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

The soft sound of bare feet padding on the stone floor of the balcony brought Xander out of his thoughts. Kyra had wakened and joined him on the balcony. She had remained behind him, lost in the landscape of the early morning. Xander took the final sip of his caf before standing to greet the young brunette. Though he only looked in his early to mid twenties, Blackmoore was still over 800 years older than the girl. The thought was silly. Yet, it reminded him of every reason why he had refused to pursue another lover.

Much had not changed among his people's culture. They remained isolationist in their approach to the events of the galaxy. Men still dominated women, and Kings must have sons. Xander did not have a son, or so he thought. The truth of the son born to him was lost the day the dark side put him in stasis.

"Good morning, Kyra. Did you sleep well?"

Xander already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear it. They had both slept well, together. Today, they would train, together.

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

"I did, Master, and I trust you did as well?" She knew they both had slept well, and smiled at her master with a sparkle in her eye that one would think would never return to one who had had so many things happen to them. She was in a happy mood, and she felt ready to start the day. Of course she should probably get dressed before going anywhere, that would be embarrassing.

"So what's on the agenda for today, Xander?" She chirped in a happy tone.

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Today, I fianlly make good on my promise to teach you, make you physically stronger," he answered as he reached for a stray lock of her dark brown hair.

Xander gently tucked it back into place before letting his arm rest once more. With aid of the force, the caf mug, and the rest of his dishes, were returned to the table just outside his chambers on the balcony. His own long hair had to have been unkempt as well. A shower was needed before the rest of the day could begin.

"First, however, I am going to be taking a shower. Tell me, which weapon do you wish to learn today?"

her next respinse would determine the location they would meet.

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra considered her options for a second before looking back up at Xander.

"A shower sounds nice as well. How about we start with hand-to-hand combat, acquire some basic defensive and offensive skills, then move onto weapons? "

One their meeting pace was set up, Kyra would go back to her quarters and shower as well.

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]

 

[Judah Lesan]

"The courtyard to the south will be a good place to do all those things then. I will meet you there."

Xander quickly showered and dressed in loose fitting clothing as he wanted to be comfortable for the combat. Hand to hand training was going to be interesting as the frail arms of the girl needed to be strengthened. Still the pads and gloves needed for the training were there. He would start with strength conditioning before he forced her to stop wearing the padded gloves. Her knuckles didn't need to be ruined at this juncture. With everything set up, he waited for her.

[member="Kyra Tendal"]

 

[Deio and Dahlia Leafwalker]

Kyra showered as quickly as a girl can and dressed even quicker into a loose tunic and leggings. Walking quickly towards the requested area, she walked as silently as she could up behind her master, wanting to startle him, but knowing that he could probably sense him through what he called the Force.

"So, what will we start with?"

[member="Xander Blackmoore"]