Too Late to Apologize

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid managed only a very thin smile as his gaze continued to scan the horizon. Well, he attempted to scan the horizon, but the steadily building storm was making even that nigh on impossible. However, Caid's attention was quickly diverted as he felt the Force drawing in around them.

Just as he was about to turn his gaze in Athena's direction, the effects of the storm suddenly dropped off drastically. It was still difficult to see just beyond the edge of the protective barrier that Athena had erected, but the wind and snow at least were no longer obscuring the lenses of his goggles. "Do you sense her?"

Caid could sense some type of lifeforms, but he had no appreciable way of knowing to whom or what they belonged.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Dark-brows furrowed and feathers shifted within her hair and along her brow. "I'm not sure. I sense a great deal of fear." And that feeling was very enticing and electrifying, like a drug to the young sith knight. For now, she pushed her hunger aside. As soon as they entered the relative safety and shelter of the large cave, the force barrier dropped.

"I also sense other creatures close by." Wings rippled beneath her cloak. "They are hungry."

A wicked-grin crossed her pink lips.

Arm released her hold on Caid and she stepped to the side. She tried not to think about the absence of warmth at her side as she pushed her mind forward, searching for that of her wayward servant.

Priscilla, are you there? I have come to fetch you from this misery.

She waited. Further in the tunnels, Athena felt a flicker of life and perhaps a plea. "Well, I think she is alive but not for much longer. Maybe this means you'll be able to warm me up quicker than we thought?" With a long lasting, alluring gaze, she turned and stepped her way further into the cave system. From her pack, she took out a headlight and adjusted it over her brow, flicking on the warm light to illuminate the darkness before them.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid made a brief groaning sound when the blue-hued women mentioned hungry creatures. She had always been far more in touch with...nature than he. That was not where the warrior's strengths resided. For a moment, he thought back to the siege of Dromund Kaas, half expecting Athena to end up riding some beast into the fray at a moment's notice. "Of course you do..."

As Athena released his arm, Caid stepped forward, allowing his own senses to stretch forth. Athena's voice hit the air just as he was about to part his lips to speak a similar statement. Everything minus the last sentence. Slowly, Caid turned his bright gaze in the woman's direction as she slowly retreated, no amount of seduction absent from her features. "Sooner, love. Sooner."

Quick was not a word that would be so hastily applied to the...rendezvous in any variation. Stepping forward, Caid walked alongside Athena as they waded deeper into the darkness of the cave.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Eyes rolled as her hips swayed along their walk. Quicker. Sooner. Perhaps he was right. But she certainly wasn't going to let him know that. Or give in. Besides, she had a wayward servant to save.

Munch-munch-a-munch. A whimper. Muncha-munch-a-munch.

Their tunnel suddenly opened into a larger, second cavern. Headlight zeroed in on the hulking form of four beasts, wampas, centered around a soft, fleshly lump on the floor. Or what was left. There was a lot of blood. And yet, Priscilla's face stared back at her mistress, a horrified expression cemented on her features as her body refused to quit.

And in that second, Athena knew it was too late.

There was no time for subtle beast manipulation as fury filled her blood, the darkside bubbling within her veins. Cylindrical hilt found its way to her palms and with a push of her thumb, the red blade snapped and hissed to life seeking vengeance. Sure they were just beasts acting on instincts. But now, so was she. In a blur, her form moved to her servant. The first strike ended the wretched girl's suffering. A last act of mercy from her mistress.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Wasn't she though? Didn't she always? The sins of the flesh were their shared vices. It was entirely possible that it formed a very large part of the root of their relationship. Then again the conversation they'd had mere hours earlier hinted towards something more, something deeper. Caid had done a fantastic job avoiding anything even remotely intimate on that level for most of his life.

Athena threatened that reality, but it wasn't as if it created any element of weakness in his persona. The young Centurion would require only loyalty and, to an extent, physical attraction when it came time for him to build his own legacy. Unlike his father, whom preferred to seemingly bed every woman he ever came into contact with.

All the females of the galaxy were certainly not worthy.

Sounds of feasting reached Caid's ears as they continued forward. Perhaps Athena had been correct about the hungry beasts. A handful of seconds and they entered another large cavern where the possibility was confirmed. Silver-green eyes never so much as even started to regard the lifeless form on the ground. The Warrior's attentions were focused exclusively on the four wampas.

Dark side energy had begun to pool around Caid before Athena had so much as flinched towards the hilt of her lightsaber. When she did, however, Caid used the distraction caused by her aggressive movement to spare the handmaiden to his advantage. Hopefully her foolish regard for the equally foolish girl would not be Athena's undoing. He appreciated the Omwati hybrid's...company.

Blurring into motion, Caid jumped slightly before kicking his right leg out against an ice wall and propelling his body higher into the air. Using casual manipulations of the Force to accelerate his body in a specific direction, he eventually found himself directly overhead the nearest wampa. Tucking into a brief roll to reorient his body, Caid allowed gravity to pull him back down towards his foe.

Moments before he was within arm-reach of the beast, the black hilt of his weapon flew to his hand and the silver blade erupted with a snap-hiss. A hard slash and the wampa howled in anger as a massive hand was severed from its arm.

Caid's plummet continued towards the now open maw of the beast, but Caid used the force to reorient himself once more, slicing inside the beasts jaw in a circular motion. The dark-skinned Sith's body disappeared in the wampa's throat as the beast's head fell to the ground.

The beast's stomach expanded slightly, then sharply. Finally it exploded apart in all directions on the edge of a strong repulsive wave of force energy. The other three wampas immediately being thrown against the nearest ice wall.

Silver blade still activated, Caid breathed hard, but silver-green eyes locked in the closest target behind bloody entrails and intestines that now coated his attire.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

The sudden surge of power coming from her companion was almost enough to distract the hybrid. Darkside power like that had certainly been one of the reasons she'd tried to seduce her old master, Cameron Centurion. But luckily for them both, she was not so easily distracted with lust, this time. As the beasts attentions were on Caid, her saber plunged into the chest of her wayward servant, ending her suffering.

With fast, swift movements, the molten of her blade was up in the air and plunged backward into the heart of the wampa behind her. It gurgled and swayed backward, hitting the floor in a lumpy-thud just as a blast and sickening squelch hit her from behind. Intestines, gore, and warm blood sludged down her hair, wings, body, and clothes.

Even the two wampas left got a bit of coating.

Slightly irked gaze twitched to Caid.

"Really? This was my favorite coat." Pink-lips scowled. The other two wampas shook off the blast and began lumbering forward. Athena's head snapped back to the beasts. "Don't interrupt," tongue clucked against her lower teeth. Blue-palm snapped forward as she sought to drain the beasts' lives.

Athena Heron was hungry.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Athena's complaint was mostly ignored by the Sith, but he did shift his eyes in her direction for a moment. As soon as she started draining the life force of the two remaining beasts, Caid deactivated his lightsaber and shrugged off the heavy coat that he'd been wearing. Utilizing the inside of the garment, he wiped off his face briefly before tossing the entire thing aside.

Attaching his lightsaber's hilt to the small of his back, Caid began utilizing the Force to regulate his body temperature. Warmth washed over him as he maintained his focus, assisting Athena in her life drain efforts to rebuff the relatively minimal drain on energy he'd had to utilize thus far.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

The beasts thudded on the ground as hollowed-out husks. Athena had never attempted life-drain before and it felt like a new, exhilarating drug. And even after the drain, there was still a yearning and empty pit in the bottom of her belly. Spinning to face Caid, the hunger was still there and for a wild, uncontrolled moment, she wanted to reach out and ensnare him with the darkside and feed upon his very energy and soul.

Fingers twitched at her side and she withdrew. Barely. A shudder ran through her body and she took a knee on the cold, ice and gut-covered care floor.

"That...," voice was shaky and strained as her arms gripped around her sides, seeking purchase to steady herself. "was quite a rush."

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid cracked his neck casually from side to side before preparing to turn to depart. His momentum paused abruptly, however, when he caught sight of Athena out the corner of his eye. Regarding her with silence, the young Centurion arched a curious eyebrow. A blind man could have seen what she wanted in that instance, but it was fortunate for both of them that she had managed a level of control. Was that her first time? There really wasn't any way for him to affirmatively know, but he could certainly guess. "We should go. At best, we'll encounter more wampas. At worst, we're going to get stuck out here in the storm."

The dark-skinned Sith allowed his eyes to run the length of Athena's body before a mischievous smirk settled on his lips. "Maybe I have those reversed." Caid shrugged his shoulders slightly as he turned to proceed back the way they had come.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Gloved-palms finally pushed herself up from the frigid cave floor. She held his gaze and took a look down his form with her own eyes. "No. Still worse. Unless a hot shower is involved." Using that smirk of hers to hide any lingering feelings of disorientation, long-legged stride finally caught up to Caid.

The young Sith certainly couldn't sense any other beasts around to challenge them for the moment. Perhaps they'd felt the aberration that was force drain. Palms raised as they came to the cave entrance and she used the darkside to create another barrier, this time, from the beginning of their stroll back to the citadel. If the guards were surprised by their bloodied and disheveled appearance, they didn't show it as the Sith returned to the warmth and relative safety of the building.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid was mostly quiet during their walk back to the Citadel. His thoughts were on other matters. He knew full well that he would have to deal with Vorenus in rather short order. The corpulent man had proven to be nothing short of a continuous, irritating roadblock. Further than that, Caid had a desire to relocate his present primary residence. He required a world with a bit more...discretion, something almost completely lost to the annals of history. Now that he thought about it, he needed to make actual use of the library. Naturally, that was probably never going to happen with Athena in his company.

By the time they returned to the Citadel, Caid decided that the library...could definitely wait. Shifting his gaze in Athena's direction, Caid allowed a subtle smirk to touch his lips before he motioned with his head for her to follow. A mere two to three minutes later and they had arrived in one of the berthing sections. The accommodations weren't lavish - at least not the one that Caid had been afforded, but it was comfortable and had its own refresher.

As soon as they entered the room, Caid began peeling off his clothing, hardly breaking stride towards the refresher.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Keen-gaze snuck a few glances at Caid as they walked and she wondered what was on her fellow sith's mind. He seemed more deep in thought than during their jaunt through the wilderness. But just as quickly that half-smirk returned to his very familiar face.

Dark-orbs watched his intended path as her own clothes were shed rather quickly. First the gore-covered jacket. So gross. Then a boot. Then, before she'd lose an opportunity, she quickly stepped into Caid's path and blocked the refresher door with her tall form. "Whoa, whoa. Mister," voice cooed playfully as she kicked off the second boot. Hand went up and peeled the beanie and goggles from her head. Then the scarf.

"'I'm pretty sure I deserve the refresher first. I wasn't the one that exploded a wampa." Blue-foot stepped lightly back into the refresher, though she still blocked the sith lord's way. Blue-fingers trailed down her shirt, undoing the buttons. Hips bobbed, shrugging off the snow pants and kicking them aside.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid watched Athena undress herself in the doorway for about half a heartbeat before he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. In the same fluid movement, Caid reached out with both his hands and tore open the Omwati hybrid's shirt. Buttons popped off and immediately fell to the ground as the Sith pushed the garment back over his partner's shoulders.

His left hand quickly trailed down to her waist, pulling her body firmly against his own for a moment. "You don't, but I'll consent to a concurrent cleaning." A smile tugged at the corners of Caid's lips. "I wouldn't want you to miss any hard-to-reach spots."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

A throaty gasp left her mouth as he tugged her close. Wings quivered behind her as she was pulled close. With the force, she nudged the sonic shower's controls to the right setting. Fingernails dug slightly into Caid's back. "Ruined favorite boots, jacket, and now shirt?!"

Tongue clucked against her teeth before she captured Caid's lips with her own.

"You....owe....me...a shopping trip." Those were the last words she spoke as their flesh mixed with warm water and steam, limbs entangled. Gore and blood swirled down the refresher's drain, the last bit of their battle washed away.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

It was all Caid could do not to laugh at Athena's comment about a shopping trip. That was probably not something that would ever occur in real life. After all, Athena was an adult, she could do her own shopping without him. Plus, if they hadn't been out in the freaking blizzard looking for the now dead handmaiden in the first place, none of her clothing would have gotten ruined. Well. He might have still ripped her shirt at some point.

In the lengthy minutes that followed, the refresher filled with steam. The sound of running water accompanied by the sounds of pleasure and exertion at varying octaves the only real activity emerging from the room. By the time the water had been turned off, drops of condensation covered nearly every surface of the refresher. The moisture in the air was palpable.

Allowing his breathing to gradually return to normal, Caid made his way over to the door, palming it open. The instant rush of cool air caused goosebumps to erect on his arms, but the cooling effect was certainly welcoming. Caid hand't really packed for an extended stay on Ziost, but he'd managed to acquire a simple black jumpsuit when he arranged the room, knowing he would need something.

While Athena did...whatever girls did in the refresher for so long, Caid dried his nude form and then collapsed onto the bed, the excitement and euphoria of nearly every moment he ever spent with Athena still coursing through his veins.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Fingers went through her tangled, feathered hair, then reached back and fluffed up her wings a bit. Wings extended behind her, then shook a few times, sending even more water and mist to collect on the refresher walls. Plucking a towel from the rack, she quickly dried her form. Tossing it aside, the half-omwati wasn't too far behind Caid.

Her shirt was ruined along with the rest of her clothes. And the rest of her belongings were within her departed ship. That only left a silk bathrobe that came complimentary with the room. She'd have no problem wearing the skimpy thing along with her boots back to her ship when it returned.

Pink lips curved into a brief smile.

Tall form slipped into the bed beside Caid, letting her dark-haired head fall back onto one of the pillows, wings tucked tightly beneath her. "Caid," she shifted on her side to face him. "What are you going to do after this? Do you plan to stay at the library for long?"

Deep down, she knew better. Caid was always a man of action and she bet his mind was already onto the next scheme.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid watched Athena as she crawled into the bed beside him. For a moment, he wasn't really sure how to respond to the question. It wasn't a difficult question to answer, but it didn't go very far in helping to convince himself that their interactions were purely...physical convenience. Somewhere within the pit of his being, the thought of actually leaving Athena's side did cause a...weird feeling. A painful one, even.

Turning on his side to face Athena, Caid shrugged slightly. "Not too long, I don't think. There is some information I hope to be able to glean...about worlds in Sith Space. Worlds long since lost to any known holomap. But..." Caid's voice trailed as his gaze inadvertently swept the length of Athena's body. By now, he stopped even trying to fight it. There was almost an intoxicating air around here, and it seemed to constantly call to him to interact, to touch.

"I need to return to Dromund Kaas before long." Caid knew he could trust Athena, his only real friend in the galaxy and first true friend that he'd ever made, but he didn't necessarily trust anyone else in the Citadel. There was no telling whom an individual Sith was truly loyal to and knowledge of plots to overthrow could go a long way into making a rival Sith very important to someone. "I have business there. But...what about you?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Maybe he'd be surprised to find her thoughts were in tangent with his own. Athena was a young, independent woman of the darkside. She'd been burned and hurt by relationships before. Relationships were messy and costly. But there was reward as well.

Was it worth the risk?

She listened quietly to him. If she'd known she had been Caid's first real friend just like he'd been hers, she would've been surprised. As if anticipating his absence, a hand reached forward and cupped his face, thumb moving across his beard and stubble. She drew in close, blue-slender leg entwining with his own. She'd miss this warmth.

"Nothing definite. I have some abandoned with temples on my list to explore. Perhaps some older scroll libraries to visit. I'd like to continue my knowledge on mentalism." Ideally, she wanted to somehow 'build' a mental prison to store and collect the minds and potentially souls of her enemies. An eternal prison of mental torture. Those details may have been a bit too sadistic to share in this moment.

"Dromund Kaas? If you're meeting with our fearless leader, Vrak. Be careful. He's stronger than he looks."

She bristled slightly.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

The movement by Athena wasn't so much as surprising as it was unexpected. It did hint at an intimacy existing underneath whatever the reality of what they shared actually was. For the time being, Caid decided it was best not to dwell on it - least it consume too much of his thoughts. Reaching out with an arm, he draped it over Athena's lithe form, a smile touching his face involuntarily. "Ever the bookworm."

Athena's comment about Vrak confused Caid for a moment, puzzled expression briefly settling over his features. "Vrak Nashar? The Councilor for Intelligence?" Caid offered another shrug. Each of the councilors was in their position for a reason, and he respected the authority and power they commanded. "I do not identify with his particular sphere of control, no." There was no reason for Caid to seek out any kind of audience with any of the Dark Council...certainly not one outside his own area of immediate concern.

Not yet...at least.

"I'm going to see Vorenus. But..." Caid paused for a moment, thin smirk returning to his features. "I'll be sure to come back to you fully functional."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

A smile curled along her sultry lips. Of course she was a bookworm. He hadn't forgotten.

"Vorenus?" For now his playful words and smirk were put on hold. Blue-brow furrowed. And she wasn't sure if it was at her concern over what Caid was doing or for herself for having that concern. He was very capable and more than able to take care of himself. Even when he fought his father, he still came back. Made it out alive.

Still. She'd be naive not to have SOME concern. In battle, favor could change in an instant and it had nothing to do with questioning Caid's skill. Still, why should she be so concerned? Wasn't this just a moment of lust? Quickly passing and perhaps never to happen again.

She frowned.

"Why the meeting?"