Frenemies?

[Nisha Decrilla]

There were only a handful of people in the galaxy Anaya Fen liked to keep tabs on, people she'd been close to or people she considered dangerous. It was safe to say that [member="Jacen Cavill"] fell into at least on of these categories, so when she received a report that someone matching his description had taken up residence in his family home on Serenno, naturally she jumped at the oppurtunity to catch up with him.

He had certain skills that Calina might find useful, and as an opportunist it was folly to let him slip away again without at least having a little influence on the girl. Calina on the other hand was not so enthusiastic about being handed over to another "karking" sith from her past.

The journey to Serenno was punctuated with heated arguments and several teenage tantrums but Anaya won in the end, just like she always did. As the hired speeder made way to the Cavill palace, Calina spoke up for the first time in hours.

"So, are we going to tell him who I really am, or is he another psycho like Kaine?"

Anaya smiled, "I'll let you decide on his psychological state when you meet him. We won't be telling him either way."

"Right, trust no one." Calina response was laced with angst.

"It's for your--"

"Own safety. Yes, Master, I know."

She hasn't announced her visit, unsure of how it would be received, instead she made her way with Calina in tow to the palace gates. "I would like to see the head of the Cavill family, I'm an old friend and I'm certain he would like to see me, regardless" she spoke up as the guard opened his mouth to deny her "of what you may think. My name is Anaya Fen."

 

[Jacen Cavill]

Serenno​

House Cavill​

“Anaya Fen, eh.” Speciesism was very real on Serenno, and the guard’s upturned nose and general distance he kept from the Twi’lek were all that needed to be said. Disapproving eyes peered over his data pad, first from her then to the girl, and across to the other side to the other guard. Quickly inputting the letters, his offhand kept resting on a Blas-Tech Industries Woebringer, practically begging to pull the weapon on her. A loading icon appeared as the name was cycled through various itineraries and guests lists while simultaneously scanning the pair for any weapons. A beep could be heard as the results from both the search and the scan came back. His perplexed look said more than the screen did.

Let her in, regardless of company or armament.

“Well, you’re allowed in.” All the guards put their weapons down, and the turrets went back to their neutral scans as he opened the massive gates. “Seems you do know the lord of this world, may you have a grand visit with Count Cavill.” The following bow was stiff, but it was a gesture of respect none the less.

“Right this way, refreshments shall be inside.” Matte black, with silver accents, the protocol droid was the epitome of formality. Leading the pair past the immaculate yard, filled with statues of Counts past, and other assorted wonders to catch the eye. Like the city below, no expense had been spared in the past few years as great social and economic reform had swept over Serenno. “Count Cavill is just inside, he cleared his schedule and is finishing his meeting with the board of commerce.”

The doors opened as a group of men left, each wearing a smile before having it erased at seeing [member="Anaya Fen"]. All heads dropped as the droid guided the pair inside to see the man they were looking for.

“Anaya Fen, what do I owe the pleasure?” Rising from his chair that wasn’t facing them, the mountain of a man simply raised a hand and everyone left the room. “Clear the front hall of the palace please, droid?” It scurried to accomplish its task as everyone left with it. “I have wine if you’d like to sit," he said as he looked from Anaya to her guest. Clothed simply in a black dress robes, his hair slicked back and neatly styled. He appeared every inch a Count, even if he was slowly sliding the ring off that hid his Force presence and masked his abilities completely.

“Or, if you’d prefer something else, I’m adaptable.”

 

[Mia Monroe]

The looks her mother received fascinated Calina. Having been raised by a twi'leks and among many other species she could not comprehend the reason for their suspicion and barely concealed hate for her. She smirked slightly, watching the men file past them relishing in it. It wasn't often Anaya was met with such open distaste.

Trailing behind, she followed her mother in, eyebrows raising as the mountain of a man stood to greet them. Anaya herself swept forward to plant a kiss on each of his cheeks, offering a smile warmer than Calina had witnessed before.

"It's wonderful to see you. Wine would be just fine, Jacen, thank you." Anaya purred in response and Calina rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. Why couldn't she have just left her on the ship for all these false pleasantries. "I have a favour to ask of you."

Unable to bear it any longer Calina spoke up. "She wants to abandon me here in the hope that you might fill my empty head with something useful." She stayed very pointedly out of arms length to avoid the repercussions. "Isn't that right, Master?"

A muscle in her mothers jaw twitched with the effort of containing her anger, and Calina offered a satisfied smirk in response. Anaya red eyes snapped away from Calina and back to Jacen. "I'm so sorry, I should have left her behind while we discussed the matter. I'd say she's not normally this uncouth, but I'd be lying."

"What a pity I'm not the obedient pet you want me to be." She knew she'd crossed the line before her mother hands were alight with lightening. The bolt hit her square in the chest, causing a spasm of agony that dropped her to her knees. She didn't cry out, and she remained where she was kneeling before the masters before her. Eyes filled with defiance and hate as she stared at the floor.

[member="Jacen Cavill"]

 

[Jacen Cavill]

Cavill embraced Anaya, albeit cooly and kissed each of her cheeks as well. Centuries ahead of his world, the Sith had forced him to look past petty things. No longer did he look at gender, color, species, or any of the trivial differences that divided the galaxy. Power was all that mattered, the raw pursuit of it, through whatever means necessary. The woman he had embraced, he saw her for the powerful, manipulative creature she was. Of all his masters, experience had been the cruelest. A flash of a collar being wrapped around his neck, long before he had fully plumbed the depths of the darkside for the abilities he possessed. “Wine it is,” he said, his voice full of authority and the weight to back up that he wanted no part of the squabble.

Pouring the three a glass, he took a seat in the large leather chair opposite the smaller ones adjacent. Watching Anaya, follow suit, he stayed quiet and watched the dynamic unfold. A large thumb pushed the ring fully off, just as lightning blasted the apprentice across the room. Instantly, the axis of the room and galaxy shifted to himself. Jacen’s furnace within came to life, and that never ending rage came biting and clawing back. Artificial shackles released, the monster within joined his consciousness, a cool smile crossing his face as the dark ebbed and flowed in his veins. Years of fearing the beast within had finally dispersed when he learned that all along he had been the monster.

Gone was the Count, sitting across from her was Kryptus.

“You want me to train...what’s her name?” Blue eyes faded and blurred into the familiar red and yellow as the corruption took over. Tendrils of his power, brute and unforgiving in nature poked and prodded at her aura. Bits of the hunger he was starting to feel, a side effect of the Mask of Nihlus, forced him to poke at her essence longer than need be. “You are wrong child, if she’s bringing you to me, you won’t be anyone’s pet or slave after I’m done with you.” Taking a sip of the wine, his eyes rested in the cool depths of the glass. “What are you offering in return Anaya, I have a rather rare skill set, and I don’t need anything. The things I want, I can either buy, I already own, or I can kill to get.”

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya's trembling hands curled about the arms of the chair she was seated in, she closed her eyes momentarily, a smile appearing on her face as she felt Jacen's true power in the force, no longer concealed by whatever it was he used. Opening them she tilted her head slightly. It was wondrous to see how far he had come, from the boy she'd bedded and enslaved for the gluttonous Emperor Voraciatus. She watched him tug at Calina's essence, a twang of pain cutting through her at the fear in her daughter's face, she looked back at Cavill, weighed up her options carefully.

"Her name is Calina." Kaine taught her manners, to a certain extent, though her manners would never be tamed while Anaya still controlled her life. Calina's loose tongue was a result of Anaya's poor parenting. Discipline had nothing to do with it. "I will owe you a favour." she replied, tearing her eyes away from Calina to look at him. "The nature of which is entirely up to you. Tell me, Jacen, what is your relationship like with Jared Ovmar?"

Beside her, Calina tensed, blue eyes flicking between Jacen and her mother.

[member="Jacen Cavill"]

 

[Jacen Cavill]

"To business then," he almost purred as his voice took on darker tones, power lacing his words. Kryptus set the empty glass down, and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair while his hands clasped themselves. A low, rhythmic thump could be heard as he banged his fingers against his palms. Already, he was thinking of the many different guises he would need to get for the girl so she could be with him and adequately cover every angle. "I have a spare ring, like the one you've always seen me wear. It was a gift, and Calina can have the other one when I make trips into Republic space." Cavill didn't need to speak on his business interests, or that he had another identity for when he dealt with the Senate. Anaya knew his secrets, that much he didn't even try to hide. So no need to try and insult her and pretend she didn't.

At Ovmar's name, Kryptus looked like he had just taken a bit of something particularly displeasing.

"I'm not crazy about the man," his eyes grew distant at the memory. "He tried to play with my mind, to see my fears." Crimson orbs moved towards the apprentice sitting a distance from them. "No need in you sitting over there child, this discussion is about your future. Sith don't idly stand by and watch life happen. So have a seat and speak your mind, I won't tolerate weakness." His cool gaze fell back on Anaya," now I accept your offer. If Ovmar is apart of this, I'll gladly show him the monster he saw last time he gazed in my head. Once that's done, I'll bury my lightsaber hilt in his skull."

Kryptus wasn't given to dramatic words, he wanted the man dead.


[member="Anaya Fen"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

Calina glanced at her mother at Jacen's instruction to move, receive being a reassuring nod, she rose from her position on the floor. Hesitantly she perched on the edge of a seat and settled her gaze on Anaya.

"Master?" She asked, the word barely louder than a whisper. Anaya responded with a rare smile and rested her hand on Calina's knee. "It's ok, we can tell him."

"But you--"

Anaya's hand waved her silent, bad she looked to address Jacen once more. "I was hopeful that would be your answer. What I am about to tell you, must not leave this room. Trust me when I say I will know if it does and you will suffer consequences far beyond your imagination."

For a moment, there was a hint of madness in her mothers eyes, a flash of something darker and crueler than anything Calina had witnessed in her before. "Calina is my daughter."

The words hung for a moment in the air before Calian spoke up. "I'm a clone." She continued tearing her eyes away from the barely concealed distress rising in her mother. "My DNA is a combination of hers and Jared Ovmar's. She's been keeping me hidden since my awakening." Each word was uttered without emotion, though there was an anger glistening in her eyes.

She sat back, glaring at Anaya. "Happy now?"

"Burn in hell you ungrateful queen."

Calina snorted derisively in response and turned her face away from both of them.

[member="Jacen Cavill"]

 

[Jacen Cavill]

"Well, you were smart to bring her here then." Cavill pressed a small button, the size of his nail on the outside of the chair arm. A hiss was barely audible as the hidden compartment opened, and his lightsaber hilt rolled into his hand. It was thick enough to fit his large hands, and durably constructed to handle the particular needs of it's wielder. In the low light the electrum plated ligthsaber hilt took on an orange hew to it. Emitter firmly planted at Anaya, but still far enough away to where he couldn't touch her if he pressed the activation plate, Cavill stared the Twi'lek down. Fire was brewing in his eyes, and the muscles in his perfectly chiseled jaw flexed as he grit his teeth. "We all have secrets, you know my other identity that gave me the fortune to restore this planet and a few star systems if I wanted to. Just like the people of this planet believed that the entire council of Counts rule the world, when in reality it's me." Seconds passed by, the monster within begging to be unleashed and for him to not speak. "I gain nothing from knowing her father, when I'd kill him faster than I'm wanting do the same to you for threatening me in my home. I'm not a boy anymore, and I don't want your child or need to harm her, so save your threats or get out. I didn't ask to help her, you asked me."

Cavill flipped the hilt in his hand with the emitter pointing at him and moved his arm towards Calina.

"So, if I may call you Calina, or Ms. Ovmar." Jacen really didn't know which title to use, this must be how my inner circle feels. "You hate your mother, I can understand that. Yet, my father left me to die on Korriban and what happened after was worse." Memories of the past, the past that fueled the fire only further churned through his mind for an instant before being destroyed in the blaze again. "So, here's my lightsaber if you truly wish to let that hate out." Crimson orbs looked between the hilt, Anaya, while gesturing at himself. "Strike your own flesh down, over feeling undervalued and not loved, strike out at me since you seem to fear me."

Jacen rose, and walked over to her chair. The hilt inches from her face.

"Take it, and try your hardest to take down two Sith Lords who have dealt with much worse when taking a nap." A derisive laugh, the kind that those in true control made when staring at those they controlled. "Or, see the opportunity before you, cut your pouting and use that energy to make something of yourself." Walking back to his seat, he put the hilt back in it's compartment and rested his arms on the chair. "You can hate your mother, and you can hate me. I'm willing to help because of respect and a favor. If you wish to forever be chained and hidden, then leave with her. If you want true freedom, think about your words and speak them."

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Anaya didn't flinch when Jacen point the emoter of his light save towards her, she simply smiled. "With all due respect, Jacen, I'm handing the most precious thing of mine into your care. It is only natural that it comes with a threat. Try not to take this as an insult."

When he turned his attention to Calina, Anaya watched her daughter with interest. She'd never been offered such an opportunity before. But the girl simply looked at the lightsaber, then lifted her gaze back up to Cavill. "I'm angry, not stupid." She replied softly. "You have no idea what my life is like, you have no understanding of what I suffer. This is not about being undervalued, because I am not. This is about something for more complex than that, so you can take your omniscient attitude and shove it where the sun doesn't shine."

Anaya chuckled softly. "Calina, my child, he is giving you a choice. Stay with him, or come with me?"

There was a long silence.

"I'll stay."

Anaya's heart sank. It was one thing for Anaya herself to tell Calina that she must stay, but the fact that she had chosen to be away fro Anaya stung worse than leaving her against her will.

[member="Jacen Cavill"]