Private Unfolding

[Ansisa]

Ansisa had felt the eyes of the Tsis’karr lieutenants on her the moment that Malum had teleported away. The audience was reeling, screams of despair for those who had been loyal to Darth Strosius , cheers for those who were simply here for the show. But those who knew…those who had some understanding of what had just happened were silent.

“Return to your posts and prepare your sectors for mobilisation. This is only the beginning.” Her heart was loud in her ears, her fingers held tight to the barrier she’d been leaning over, afraid to lift them for fear she’d show them trembling. Watching both through his eyes and her own, feeling all of it. It could have so easily gone the other way, it had been so close. Too close for her liking. She had believed he would win, but she was not so foolish as to think that Darth Malum of House Marr was invincible.

She knew better.

As eyes fell away from her and bodies began to depart, she eased her grip on the barrier and took a shuddering breath in, exhaling slowly. She could feel his pain, even though he was worlds away now. Her gaze swept over the arena floor and its crowds once more before she folded time and space around her, following the pull at her heart, the one she had been fighting since Csilla.

Now he knew.

And there was no going back. She would have to weather whatever storm awaited her on Alvaria.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The blood began seeping out of him, as he landed ungracefully on the pristine white sheets, burgundy red and copper smelling viscous sap making its presence felt, as too the grime and smoky ash of armour facing flame made itself imprinting upon the quilt. Immediately, he was surrounded by doctors and nurses, as the gasp, and then the shout broke out from his frame. They were all here, as he had instructed, the announcements from a holoscreen rang out, registering in his ears the aftermath of his most recent drama.

"The leg..." He breathed out heavily through acrid, smoky lungs, "...The leg... that is where the main wound is." He bit out through his teeth, as he felt an assortment of needles pinch his skin, and the glorious pain relief follow suit. He was lucky in every instance, his logical side supplied unhelpfully, that emotional part of him cursing at the notion, to come away with only minor scraps and burns and a broken leg, in a fight to the death...

...Well to call him lucky would have been an understatement.

Especially in comparison to his co-apprentice.

His eyes, shuttering at the relaxants pumping through his body, snapped awake, as the momentum followed his form, and he pressed upwards, only to be pushed back down, gasping in pain and anger, as he whipped raging ruby red eyes at the lead doctor, "Darth Strosius!" He gasped out, "Gravely wounded! Even more grave!" He spluttered as the armour came peeling off, cold winds folding in between his wounds, eliciting a hiss from his lips, "Under the Palace, go now!" For all the confusion that whirled on the masked face of the healer, Malum was no more than now glad for the obedience of his staff, the loyalty that the crown of this world conferred upon him, for without question, doctor taking some of his staff was gone underway to fulfil a no doubt more frightful task.

But a more important task.

The Empire would be none the wiser after the display of moments before.

His br- battlebrother yet still lived.

And with that, he felt the sleep take him, the darkness overtake his vision, as he fell back onto the pillows, and his last sight, of the masked men and women around him, working away.

His last thought...

Three blue-skinned forms, that had suddenly become the most important beings in the entire universe.

"Kara..." His mind whispered, before it went dark.

Ansisa
Mentioned: Darth Strosius

 

[Ansisa]

Her boots were soft on the smooth floor, her movement but a whisper of a cloak as harsh white lights illuminated her blue features, red eyes crinkled with concern. She was a statue amidst a flurry of movement. The movement of white coats paused as she felt a dozen eyes fall upon her, guards posted at the infirmary doors tensing. Anisia couldn't blame them, they were only doing their job and she had historically been unpredictable.

I'm here…

She answered his call as he slipped from consciousness, stepping forward to be at his side, her hand slipping into his.

“Continue your work.” She said, her voice quiet but commanding. Whatever thoughts flitted through their minds, whatever unspoken things passed in exchanged glances she ignored it all. Slender blue fingers reached up to brush a raven lock of hair from his pale features. The gentle gesture seemed to be enough to ease the tension that had risen in the room and the flurry of activity resumed.

However much she wanted to disregard her surroundings, she was hard wired to notice things. Like the way the royal guard did not remove their hands from their weapons, nor the quick furtive glances that came from the doctors on occasion, or the hushed whisper that passed between nurses as they switched shifts. Word that she had returned travelled like wildfire through the palace halls.

All the while, Ansisa stood at his bedside, one hand interlocked with his, the other's fingers tracing soft lines across his forehead. She didn't ask for a chair, though one was brought along with refreshments. She recognised the flash of curls that brought them, inhaled a little deeper at the scent of her perfume but did not engage.

Silent and steadfast she remained at his side as he slept, her heart open, allowing her love and relief that he would be well to pass through the bond. No more gates, nor barriers. No more secrets.

Just them, as they were always meant to be.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

In the waking world, there was nought but little sound that escaped his lips; his chest rose and fell at a chaotic, if still rhythmic, pace. The various articles of medical equipment that pierced him continued at their various tasks, saline dripping into his bloodstream to keep him hydrated, as his various organs were monitored by constantly beeping machines.

While in the sleeping world, he stood in a familiar place.

The sky was the image of quotidian night, a pitch black aether that had his legs pulled forward, in an ever-ending quest for any magnitude of sight. If he held any pretension of hope that his feet might find purchase upon the ground had quickly been set aside, as with every step he could hardly be sure what... ground was.

It was as if he were standing above the ocean.

An ocean that could not be seen, nor felt, an ocean of an inky black presence, that did not shake, did not stir, did not move, simply was.

He was alone here.

He was always alone.

Of course, he was not entirely alone, though the darkness did not provide the providence of sight, his ears were still as functional as ever, perhaps even more so, as the desperation so strongly took root. He heard the skitter, of a presence, one walking alongside him, a promise, of a mind that was as much two minds as they were one.

It seemed at least one of his plans had succeeded.

For all the cost it had taken.

A silent companion in the nightmare of his own mind, an ocean that stood upon the precipice of drowning him at any misstep. A misstep that could come at any moment, with each step, he inched closer and closer to his own annihilation. Yet, he still marched, marched forward despite all the risk it would entail, forward, ever forward.

What kept him going?

He could never be sure anymore...

Red eyes flashed in his mind.

The whisper of a promise unspoken.

"I'm here."

Ansisa
Mentioned: Darth Ophidia

 

[Ansisa]

She watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the flicker of movement beneath closed eyelids and her mind raced. Everything would change now, for better or worse. The children she had kept hidden would be pulled into the light. In being named as his heirs, they would become targets and not just from without. Ansisa was no fool as to believe that there were no rivals for the title 'Heir of Darth Marr' within the family itself. Something primal rose in her chest; it might have escaped as a growl had she been a beast.

She was a killer. It was what she had trained to be, and often, she took some joy in it. But this? This was different, this wasn't about the joy of the hunt or the satisfaction of a clean, effective kill. No, this was savagery. A primitive desire to tear an unseen foe apart. She closed her eyes and took a breath. If she were to waste energy contemplating foes that did not exist, she would find herself useless against foes that did. Right now, she needn't worry. Her children were safe. Malum was safe.

Carefully, she lowered the rail on the side of his bed and climbed into it, tucking herself closely against Malum. She brought her head to rest on his shoulder and laid a hand on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart beneath it, matching in perfect rhythm with her own. Closing her eyes, she let go of her worries and reached through the bond, slipping into a meditative state at his side as her mind flowed into his as she joined him in his dreams.

It took her a moment to adjust to the disorientation of his surroundings and to take stock of the presence in his mind, which was stronger than she remembered it. Ophidia was whole again, and she didn't want to contemplate what that meant for Malum's mind. Instead, she fell into step beside him, slender blue fingers interlocking with his own.

He was not alone.

Nor would he ever be again.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Malum let through his mouth a deep breath, as he felt the hand curl around his own. It had been broached as a moment of fear, it was not that he had not known the touch of his Mistress, though never in such an intimate manner, more that of which he had been defeated, and she loomed over him, basking in it.

But, hesistation, the jolt of shock, gave away quickly, as almost reflexively, instinctively, he relaxed into the touch, wrapping his hands around it, as the familiarity of the sensation, immediately settled the beating of his heart.

Only to make it grow in tempo.

Eyes that had seemed sealed shut, awoke with the radiance of the dawning sun, his steps ceasing, as to red of eyes of the Chiss, though unbeknowst to Malum and the spectre that haunted every waking and asleep moment, snapped together, opening his gaze, one eye shimmered with the glow of a ruby hidden in mineshafts, while the other blazed with the fire of the sun.

Both contending with the figure that stood before them.

That was touching them, and granted them sight.

As their heart sang.

"You're here, Ansisa." They whispered in relief... but too... something else.

Ansisa
Mentioned: Darth Ophidia