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sweetrevxnge · 1 year

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Ghosts In The Snow

Chapter Four

Pairing: Vampire!Kylo Ren x Reader AU

Summary: Six long years had passed under the reign of the First Order. The bitter winters grew longer, and as they did, hope faded from the hearts of the citizens of Hosnian Prime. As a lieutenant in the Resistance cavalry, it was your duty to nurture that ember of hope. After a mission takes an unexpected turn, you are taken prisoner by a commander in the First Order, a mysterious man with an insatiable appetite—for violence, power, and you. In the coming days, you must keep the spark of your own hope alive from the dark confines of the Commander's castle.

Warnings: sexual content, violence, blood kink, gore, mentions/descriptions of injury and death

*concurrently being published on AO3 and Wattpad as well!

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Spotify Playlist

Word count: 3.3k

Chapter-specific CW: excessive drinking, vomiting

A/N: "oh he's kinda cute... HE'S A MURDERER! but he's kinda cute..." -y/n

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“You’ve barely touched your food, dear.” Commander Ren’s low voice pulled you from your trance as you poked at the lamb shank on your plate. A fitting entrée for tonight.

“I haven’t much of an appetite,” you muttered, setting the silver fork down beside your dish. You were almost catatonic, and despite your contempt for him, you felt betrayed. It was for that reason that you hadn’t so much as looked in his direction since sitting down, instead choosing to study the other guests in the dining hall—including the stormtroopers stationed at every exit. It was an impossible task—you knew that—but you’d sooner die trying than comply with this farce of a treaty.

A low laugh rumbled in Ren’s chest. “I have no stomach for lamb either; it’s far too tender for my liking. Perhaps you would prefer venison? Or roasted vegetables?”

“No, thank you. Just wine will do,” you said as you tipped your cup back and gulped down the remaining liquid. You imagined you would need many more if you were going to endure this evening.

“If you insist.” He pushed his chair back and lifted his hand, summoning one of the servants. A boy with short, tawny hair rushed over, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Yes sir?” he asked meekly, his eyes darting between yours and the Commander’s. Although he stood with his shoulders back and chin high, his age was obvious from the fat in his face and the pitch of his voice. Anger boiled beneath your skin.

“Fetch more wine for my bride,” Ren instructed, nodding at you as he spoke. “And for me, as well.”

“Of course, sir.” The boy’s fear rolled off of him as he turned on his heels and disappeared into what you assumed was the kitchens.

You narrowed your eyes. “Why am I not surprised that the First Order uses children as servants?”

“Only those whose families owe us a debt. No different from the New Republic’s operations,” he said calmly, tapping the empty cup in his hand.

You shook your head slightly and turned back to your plate. “That’s hardly justification for continuing to do so.”

His eyes followed you as you watched the rest of the guests dine. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, either lost in conversation or filling their plates with the assortment of meats, cheeses, and fruits set out on the table—all but one. Across from you sat a red-haired man, with hollow cheeks and a scowl twisting his features. Given his proximity to the Supreme Leader, you assumed he was another commanding officer.

Beside him was a woman, but unlike the other ladies in the hall dressed in elaborate gowns, she was wearing the same regalia as the men. You furrowed your brows. Was she…? No, she couldn’t be.

Ren leaned in close to your ear, his cold lips brushing your skin. “Captain Phasma of Parnassos, to answer your question.”

His breath sent a shiver down your spine. “Get out of my head,” you snapped, your knuckles white around the body of the cup in your hand.

“How else am I to make conversation with you?”

You scoffed, redirecting your attention to the servant returning with a pitcher of wine in either hand. It was clear by his unsteady footing that the weight of both of them was nearly too much for his small arms.

As he approached the table, you reached for one of the decanters to save his shaking arms. "Thank you," you said, mustering up a smile. Gods knew the poor boy needed some kindness.

“No need, my lady,” he replied quietly, pouring the rich liquid into your cup before reaching for the other pitcher. “Commander…”

Ren presented his empty cup and nodded for the boy to fill it. He obeyed, pouring the dark wine with trembling hands. For such an ordinary exchange, the boy was tense, utterly frightened. Not that you could necessarily blame him.

Once it was full, he set the pitcher down between your plates and quickly returned to his post along the wall. In the hopes of quickening the evening, you finished the cup in a few sips, reaching for the pitcher beside your plate.

A gloved hand seizing your wrist stopped you before you could. “Careful, dear. You might find that mine is a bit too strong for your taste.”

Part of you wanted to try his wine out of defiance, but the rational part of you heeded his warning. With an empty stomach, your wine would be more than enough as it was. You pulled your hand free and reached for the other pitcher. As you poured it, you allowed yourself to feel everything—the anger, the disappointment. How Leia had seemed to so easily forget you. But beneath it all, there was still the ember of hope, buried under the weight of your emotions. It needed to be protected, locked away in the recesses of your mind until you could ignite it once more—until you were free. Once the cup was full, you returned it to its locked box, stowing it away for another time.

“You can’t ignore me forever, you know,” Ren said, taking a sip from his cup.

“I can try,” you countered, doing the same.

He exhaled softly. “I’m sure you will.”

Over the rim of your cup, you could see the red-haired man looking at you, his green eyes locked onto you. You wondered how long he had been watching.

Covering your mouth with your napkin, you asked, “Who is that man next to the captain?”

“That would be General Armitage Hux of Arkanis.”

You hummed. It wasn’t difficult to imagine such a seemingly pompous general coming from a place like Arkanis. “Does he always look so sour?”

Ren scoffed. “Usually less so. He’s been openly displeased about our arrangement.”

“Perhaps he and I have more in common than I realized,” you murmured.

“I think you’d find yourself more outraged with his proposition—gods know the Supreme Leader was,” he said with a light laugh, running a hand through his dark hair.

You cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

He mimicked you, raising his eyebrow in surprise. “Unless you would prefer to be wed to a bastard son.”

“I hardly see how that could be any worse.”

A hand resting on your shoulder immediately pulled you from the conversation. You recoiled, half-expecting it to be General Hux, slinking across the room while you were distracted. You couldn’t have been more wrong.

“My sweeting, it is so lovely to finally meet you,” Supreme Leader Snoke said with an unnerving smile. His touch was cold—even through the fabric of your dress. It felt unnatural, as if he had been trapped in a winter storm for a week.

“Supreme Leader,” you replied, forcing down the bitter taste in your mouth. “What a pleasure.”

It had been over six years since he had murdered Chancellor Villecham, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He was untouched by time—not that he was youthful by any means. Despite his age, there was no silver in his hair or deep creases in his face. Perhaps the wolf skin cloak over his shoulders served as his own personal fountain of youth.

Snoke let out a hoarse laugh, one seemingly loud enough to rattle the crystal chandeliers above. “The pleasure is mine. I take it you’ve found your new chambers more accommodating than your last?”

Rage streaked your vision. There wasn’t a doubt in your mind that he was trying to provoke you—as if you needed reminding that you were nothing more than a bargaining piece to the First Order.

“Yes, thank you for asking,” you replied, bowing your head slightly. “Though I must admit, I had grown rather fond of the rats.”

Snoke let out a short, unamused chuckle. “Such misunderstood creatures, they are.” His gray eyes narrowed as he spoke. He quickly shifted his attention to the man beside you, a wall of ice now standing between you. “My boy… I have faith that you will treat our guest well.” He squeezed Ren’s shoulder tightly, threateningly.

“Of course, Supreme Leader,” he said, the usual color in his voice absent.

“Good. I would hate to have to marry her to Armitage, should you disappoint.”

Ren’s eyes flashed with something akin to envy. “That won’t be necessary.”

Snoke grinned. “I should hope not.”

The air felt thick, as if the room had filled with smoke. You shifted in your seat as the two men stared at each other, locked in silence. Snoke lingered for a moment longer before finally releasing his grip on Ren’s shoulder.

“Please, do enjoy the celebration. The wedding will be held in a fortnight. I had hoped for it to be sooner, but we must allow ample time for our guests to arrive.”

His words fell on you like stones. It wasn’t enough time. A fortnight was hardly enough time to finalize battle strategies—let alone to devise an escape. The flame in your heart waned.

With that, the Supreme Leader crossed to the other side of the table to greet the other guests, starting with Captain Phasma of Parnassos.

Silence stretched between you and Ren, your minds occupied with different concerns. Habitually, you finished your wine and pushed the empty chalice away. “How long should I expect this evening to last?”

“Eager to leave, are we?” Ren teased, taking the liberty of refilling your cup. “It might be wise to eat something. Celebrations like these have a tendency to be drawn out.”

The wine was beginning to take effect, making your skin warm and your mind hazy. Against your better judgment, you continued, draining each cup in a matter of minutes. Truthfully, it was a relief—allowing you to drift to a place far from here, to a place by the sea. A cobblestone home perched on the cliffside, surrounded by vines like veins around a heart. A place that always had a fire in its hearth and a stew simmering above it.

A warm tear hitting your hand pulled you from your reverie. You quickly blinked them away, not wanting anyone to see your emotion—least of all Commander Ren. Empathy wasn’t exactly his strongest virtue.

The night passed in a blur of drinks, hollow introductions, and avoiding your betrothed. It was nearly midnight when you finally staggered back to your chambers, barely lucid. Against your wishes, Ren had accompanied you, ensuring that his prized bride reached her chambers unscathed.

You fumbled with the doorknob for a moment, all too aware of his lingering presence. You continued to ignore him until a sobering realization fell over you.

“Does the Supreme Leader expect you to bed me?” you asked, frowning. The wine suddenly felt heavy in your stomach.

“No,” he said, a flash of humanity in his dark eyes. “Not yet, at least.”

“Oh.” Heat rose to your face. Of course he wouldn’t bed you tonight. If that were the case, the two of you would have been wed during the feast.

“Besides, I don’t intend to take you in this state,” he added, stepping closer. His fingers brushed your cheek as he pushed back a piece of hair that had fallen from your updo. You shivered at the sensation.

“This,” you hissed, stumbling backward until you collided with the doors, “is the only state that would make it tolerable.”

An amused smile played on his lips. “We’ll see.”

Dawn cracked the sky early the next morning, a fateful sign of the long winter ahead. As much as you longed to relish the fleeting sunlight, you were damned to spend the day with a pail in your arms and a cold rag on your neck.

“Are you feeling better at all, my lady?” Rey asked, wringing out a washcloth after soaking it in cool water.

“If only I were. I can’t imagine that there’s anything left to expel,” you said with a shudder, pulling your head from the basin.

Rey blotted your forehead with the cloth, her touch as light as the feather pillows beneath you. She had been silent for most of the morning, which you didn’t necessarily mind. There was an unspoken understanding as to why you were so ill this particular morning.

Hours had passed like this; with her encouraging you to take sips of water and you immediately spitting it up. At this point, it was difficult to tell if the culprit was the constant flow of wine or the extended time you had spent with Commander Ren. Perhaps a bit of both.

After what felt like an eternity, your stomach had settled enough to hold down the water Rey was offering. Once you were able to finish a roll of bread and a cup of broth, she returned to her quarters, allowing you to sleep away the rest of the aches.

When you finally woke, cool moonlight was spilling through the windows, casting shadows on the floor. The fire burning in your hearth had been reduced to a pile of embers and ash, but despite the cool air in the room, sweat coated your skin.

The night terrors that had plagued your sleep in the dungeons were relentless, managing to wake you even after a night of drinking and a day of illness. Every night was the same dream, the memory of the night in the forest. Without failure, the terror always ended with Commander Ren’s mask inches away from your face, close enough to show your reflection in the silver ridges around his eyes. The sight of you, bloodied and bruised, was always enough to wake you from the dream.

Tonight was no different, only this nightmare had a different ending. Instead of your armor, you wore the gown from the feast. Standing before the Commander, you looked at him not with horror, but with admiration. His hands were firm on your waist, holding you tight against him. You were unrecognizable in the reflection of his mask—with ruby lips and dark eyes. Piled around you were the bodies of Resistance soldiers—your soldiers—blood spilling from their ripped throats, staining the snow beneath.

Slowly, you pushed his visor up, but before you could see the man behind it, you jolted awake.

Immediately, you kicked the covers off and ran to the chamber pot, coughing and heaving in an attempt to settle your stomach. Nothing came from it, except possibly waking every occupant of the castle. Before returning to your bed, you used the washcloth and water basin that Rey had left behind to blot your face and neck, hoping to cool the heat under your skin.

You weren’t sure how much time had passed as you stared at the canopy above you, trying to erase the image of the dream from your memory—a task proving to be impossible. With each minute that passed, your breath felt more strained, as if the walls of your chambers were shrinking, suffocating you. It was beginning to feel like you had traded one cage for another.

The wedding was at the forefront of your mind, and you knew that every minute you spent laying awake was precious time slipping away. Despite Ren’s orders to stay in your chambers, you left the warmth of your bed, determined to familiarize yourself with the castle. Even if you couldn’t do it tonight, knowing the layout would benefit you when you did.

Hanging in the wardrobe was a long, dark cloak—perfect for concealing your ivory nightgown from the world. You pulled the hood over your head and carefully cracked the door open, scanning the hallway before stepping out into the unknown.

Flickering candles lined the corridor, but only a few were still burning. No one tends the candles past midnight, you noted, creeping towards the familiar spiraling staircase. As you reached the threshold, you peeked into the main chamber, expecting to find guards posted by every door. To your surprise, the room was empty—other than the portraits of the Supreme Leader gracing the walls. But you were no fool. The First Order was more concerned with outside threats; it only made sense that their guards would protect the exterior of the castle. Until you could be more certain of a safe exit, you would only roam the upper halls.

The corridor leading to your chambers seemed to stretch endlessly, leaving much to be explored. You followed the path, passing by quiet rooms and elegant artwork, committing every detail to memory. The cloak fluttered at your ankles as you crept around, feeling like a marauder trespassing on the grounds. If only you were.

The glow of candlelight dwindled the further you ventured, a sign that you had explored enough for one night. With no help from the drawn curtains, you were blind in the darkness. The threat of being caught outside of your chambers loomed over you as you turned to walk back the way you came, eager to return to the safety of your room. After a few steps, you discovered that the carpet beneath you was entirely different. You froze, searching along the walls for familiar fixtures, but found none. Panic began to swell in your chest at the realization that you were lost.

You tried to retrace your steps—understand how you had managed to get yourself to where you were now, but to no avail. Your breath became difficult—as if your ribs were tightening around your lungs. How could you have been so stupid? What had possessed you to step foot outside your room? Forfeiting the luxury of a proper bed for what—the possibility of finding an escape route?

Adrenaline burned your veins like magma as you swiveled on your heels, clutching your cloak tight around your chest to run. The solid frame of a man standing behind you quickly put an end to your efforts. An involuntary gasp escaped your lips as you collided with his chest.

“Lost, are we?”

Your heart plummeted through your chest. You didn’t need to look up to know exactly who had found you. In a moment of pure instinct, you answered with a half-lie. “I couldn’t sleep. I was only trying to find a bit of fresh air.”

Commander Ren chuckled as he gently pushed the hood of your cloak back. The material shifted on your shoulders, revealing your nightgown beneath. Even under the veil of darkness, you felt exposed.

“Were the windows in your chambers insufficient?” he asked, moving his hand to tip your chin up.

“Yes,” you said, reluctantly meeting his gaze. His eyes were an abyss, drinking you in as you stood there. He looked ethereal, with messy, black curls and a loose sleep shirt to match. As your eyes roamed his figure, you were reminded of the night terror that had incited this predicament.

At that, he released your chin and offered you his hand. “Perhaps you would prefer to go for a stroll outside, then?”

Outside? You couldn’t recall how long it had been since you had even been outside—since you had felt the crisp winter air kiss your skin or listened to the song of cicadas in the dead of night. As enticing as his offer was, you hesitated. Was this another trick? Was he luring you outside of the castle walls to lock you out as punishment for disobeying his orders?

Your fingers twitched at your side.

Noticing your apprehension, he sucked in a deep breath. “Do my intentions seem so insincere?”

Silence followed. You wished for a mountain of bricks, ones you could use to barricade your mind from his sorcery.

Finally, you said, “Forgive me for being mistrusting, Commander.” Regardless of the frequency with which you said his title, it never failed to make your mouth bitter. Carefully, you slipped your hand into his, a chill running up through your body at his touch. “I would like that very much.”

Through the darkness, you watched as his gaze lowered to your joined hands, satisfaction burning in his eyes. “Allow me.”

#don't drink the kool aid (commander ren's wine)#also sneaky broom kid cameo bc he’s my king #ben solo #ben solo x reader #kylo ren #kylo ren x reader #kylo ren x y/n #kylo ren x you #ben solo x fem!reader #ben solo x you #star wars #star wars fanfiction #star wars self insert #kylo ren smut #ben solo smut #my writing #vampire!kylo #vampire kylo #vampire kylo ren

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raven-of-domain-kwaad · 2 years

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A Servant of The Circle

The lovely characters Teeanah Malvern and Chria Malcar belong to @swtorpadawan‘s Adas Legacy which I have managed to sneak my character Kelsa Kine into.

This amazing artwork of Kelsa and Teeanah was done by @theoasiswinds

More works in the Adas Legacy by myself and @swtorpadawan can be found at the bottom of my writing master list (here)

After choosing to stay on the paradise world of Ulgrotha, Kelsa Kine has been eager to prove herself to the world’s leader and her personal savior, Teeanah Malvern. In the hopes of joining Teeanah’s inner circle, Kelsa has undergone extensive physical and mental training to show her worth.

Over a year on Ulgrotha had brought about a dramatic change in Kelsa. When she first arrived, she had been a husk of a person. Two years of forced labor and having her midi-chlorian rich genetic material harvested by the Hutts had left her weak, scarred and afraid. Even after her wounds had healed, her mind and body remained fragile. But after months of tender care and physical training, she had gained a new confidence in herself and her abilities which she never had even when her family was still alive. More than that, she had found her drive and desire to not just survive but to live.

Ulgrotha was a paradise and its leader, Teeanah Malvern, was her savior. Everything she had and was, were all thanks to her. This second chance at life, a life away from the cruelties and suffering of the wider galaxy, was all because of Teeanah and Kelsa wanted- needed to show her gratitude.

So, Kelsa trained.

She trained and trained as hard as she could in the hopes that she might one day be good enough to protect and defend Teeanah and everything she had built. Many days a week were spent practicing lightsaber combat with Shiri’ah and Kira. Even more time was spent with Chria Malcar undergoing abbreviated Imperial Black Ops training. She built muscle and endurance, learned how to protect and not just kill. And from the broken husk came a sharpened blade.

Unfortunately, the blade was still flawed. She still had the occasional nightmare of her time as a slave. And if anyone touched the back of her neck, she would flinch away without fail.

But it seemed that Chria had a plan to work on that. At least that is what Kelsa thought as she awoke to find herself chained up in a forest.

Her arms ached from being pulled up over her head. She wondered briefly how long she had hung there to cause that amount of pain.

Not expecting it to really do her much good, Kelsa tugged on the chains but only caused the metal shackles to dig into her wrists. The main chain, which seemed to be connected to a branch somewhere above her, did nothing more than sway in response to her actions.

As the shackles dug into her skin, the scars on her back and neck twinged painfully as her mind recalled all the tortures that Smiley had put her through.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” an all too familiar voice called out from behind her.

Quickly doing her best to bury her old memories, Kelsa focused in on Chria Malcar’s voice. This was undoubtedly another test and she would be damned if she was going to start failing now.

Chria silently stepped into view and began to circle her student. So far, Kelsa was doing quite well. She had wondered if the chains would trigger her old trauma and while it seemed that they had, Kelsa apparently had the mental fortitude to push past it. Good. But she would soon see if it was good enough.

“We are currently three weeks travel away from the estate. You must escape and make it back before the three week mark. Take longer than that and you fail.”

Kelsa nodded in understanding while trying to avoid digging the metal shackles further into her skin. Three weeks was a long trek, especially when she didn’t have a map or any idea of where she was in relation to Teeanah’s estate or equipment of any kind. But she would figure it out. She had to figure it out.

Chria hummed approvingly at the determined look on Kelsa’s face. She really was a fine student with a flexible mind that allowed her to find creative solutions to the scenarios Chria put her through. Teeanah always did attract good talent.

Beginning her walk back to her speeder, Chria paused behind Kelsa. “Oh, I almost forgot. A final detail.”

Kelsa rolled her eyes. She knew damn well that Chria hadn’t forgotten anything but was just waiting to throw her off balance. Her mouth opened to snidely comment on her blatant transparency when she felt the metal touch her neck.

She froze.

No.

No, no, no!

Not again!

Please not again!

As the collar’s teeth sunk into her skin, she felt as if all the color had vanished from the world.

She could still see and yet it felt as if she had gone blind.

To her horror, all of her senses still worked but had suddenly become dull and sluggish.

“No Force.”

Kelsa jerked in her chains at the voice. Her grey eyes which had glazed over in terror were now wide and darting about, trying to find who had spoken.

“You say that you want to stay on Ulgrotha, that you want to protect Teeanah. Prove that you can. Prove that you can escape from captivity to reach her. Prove that you can overcome your past for her.”

Chria grabbed Kelsa by the chin, forcing her to focus and look her in the eye. “There are two keys to that collar. I have one and Teeanah has the other. Find us. Find her. And we will see if you’re worthy of defending her.”

With that, Chria released her student and walked away.

Kelsa merely hung there in her chains. Her mind had fogged over with fear as memories of her slavery and of being used as a lab rat flooded her thoughts.

Trying to ground herself, a natural instinct by now, proved impossible. The metal digging into her neck and wrists were too familiar. The ache in her arms was too familiar. The sense of loneliness and isolation were too familiar.

Stars, where was she?

Hadn’t she been on Ulgrotha?

But the vibrant colors of the paradise she had come to know and love had vanished. Her world had dissolved into a dull and desolate landscape, just like the spice mine camps.

Focus! A small yet steady voice barked from the back of her mind.

Unable to fully ground herself, she simply tried to take in everything she could. Shadows of a cold, cruel and sadistic smile filled her vision and laughter filled her ears but amidst the laughter, she also heard something else. What was it?

Engines.

She could hear engines powering up and flying away. That was important. She didn’t quite know why but knew it was significant.

Three weeks and counting, the same steady voice noted.

Three weeks.

Find us. Find her.

Find her.

Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes as the scars that littered her body all seemed to burn with half remembered pain. But she fought them. The world was wrong. She could tell that the things she was seeing and feeling were wrong but she also knew that there was someone that could make it right, Teeanah. Teeanah could always make things right.

Find her.

Find her!

It had been almost three weeks since Chria had left her student in the wilds, suffering severe traumatic flashbacks. She was curious if Kelsa had managed to ground herself in that time or if she was still struggling with what was real and what was memory. Well, she would see soon enough.

Taking a seat just outside the estate grounds, Chria waited for Kelsa. The tracker she had placed in the force collar showed that she should make it back tonight, an impressive pace especially for someone struggling with reality. Many of her old Black Ops colleagues couldn’t have made the trek in Kelsa’s condition.

Movement caught her eye and she raised her macrobinoculars.

And there she was.

Kelsa apparently had the presence of mind to actually craft a makeshift pack which she used to carry the chains that were still connected to her wrists as well as some snares, small game and other crudely crafted supplies. Color Chria impressed. Even in the midst of reality distorting panic, Kelsa’s training still managed to shine through. She might have to share a drink with her student and commend her one day.

When Kelsa finally reached Chria, the former Black Ops soldier glanced at her chrono before humming in approval. “Two weeks and three days. Impressive.”

Kelsa seemed to hear the words yet did not react to them. Instead, she sank to her knees, head bowed, and raised her shackled wrists in a silent plea.

The corner of Chria’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Well at least Kelsa seemed to understand her place in the pecking order. Good.

Of course, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t understand Kelsa’s appeal. Even now, she could appreciate her broad muscled shoulders and the way that the moonlight made her skin glisten with sweat. In her younger days she might have even enjoyed using her as a pleasant diversion on shore leave. But times had changed. Teeanah was what mattered now. And as long as Kelsa understood that it was Chria that knew Teeanah and how to protect her best, then they would continue to get along just fine.

Reaching out, she finally obliged her student’s plea and unlocked her shackles.

It looked as if Kelsa might cry in relief as her chaffed and bruised wrists were finally free. Her trembling hands gently rubbed at her wrists before slowly raising up to her neck. “Please…”

Chria noted that she couldn’t bring herself to actually touch the force collar. Hm, they might have to work on that at a later date. But for now, Kelsa had accomplished her task and Chria respected her for it. Few could overcome that amount of trauma and still successfully obey orders.

“You’ve done well, passed every test I’ve given you. Continue to follow my orders and you may very well have a future here.”

Those words seemed to actually reach Kelsa. Her grey eyes, though still slightly glazed over with traumatic memories, were wide and hopeful. She looked at Chria as if she was some kind of great savior. Perhaps in her mind she was, she had trained her and given her a multitude of new skills after all.

Key in hand, Chria finally released one of the locks on the force collar.

Hearing the click of the first lock, Kelsa let out a relieved sigh before bowing her head once more. “Thank you,” she murmured reverently.

Chria merely nodded before motioning to the estate. “Get yourself cleaned up. Clothes are waiting for you. When you’re ready, come find me and Teeanah.”

The world had become a grey blur for Kelsa. If asked, she would not be able to recall the details of her trek to the estate, only that she had somehow made it back.

In fact, the first thing she truly remembered was being on her knees and having her shackles removed.

It had been such a relief to have her wrists freed of the unforgiving metal. As the chains fell away it felt as if a haze had lifted from her eyes. The world was still dull and grey but it had cleared somewhat and let her think clearly for the first time in weeks.

Seeing the person responsible, Kelsa could do nothing but bow and thank Chria from the bottom of her heart.

“Get yourself cleaned up. Clothes are waiting for you. When you’re ready, come find me and Teeanah.”

Find us.

Find her.

Find her!

Kelsa followed her orders and returned to her room in the estate.

A part of her wanted to rush. To clean and dress herself as fast as possible in order to finally see Teeanah. But she couldn’t rush. She had to make sure that she was presentable enough to be in Teeanah’s presence. She had to show that she had worth and was worthy of staying on Ulgrotha and defending her savior.

So, despite the desperate urge to move quickly, Kelsa took her time. Every bit of dirt and sweat was removed from her body. Every small cut and scrape were cared for. She combed her hair and ensured that there was not so much as a stray bit of dust on the finely tailored black suit and deep crimson undershirt that had been left out for her.

When she was finally satisfied with her appearance, she left her room and went in search of Chria and Teeanah.

Without the Force and Teeanah’s beautiful force signature to guide her, it took a few tries, but she eventually found the correct room where the pair waited for her.

Chria nodded to Kelsa in acknowledgement while Teeanah just gave her a simple yet dazzling smile. And somehow, that smile sent Kelsa’s heart aflutter and mind ablaze with desire in spite of the collar actively clouding her mind and senses.

“Kneel,” Chria commanded from her position beside Teeanah.

Without any hesitation, Kelsa sank to her knees, head bowed down in submission.

It felt wrong, lowering her gaze, exposing herself to possible dangers. But this was Chria and Teeanah. They stood above her in all ways with the power to fill her life with agony or bliss. She had accepted this. It was a dynamic that made sense to her. All she could do now was wait and see what they intended.

A small pressure on the back of her neck made her tense but she maintained her position, hoping that she had proven herself.

With a small click, the teeth of the collar retracted from her neck and she gasped.

Color flooded back into the world, nearly blinding her with their vibrant beauty. Sounds pressed in on her ears as if she were hearing the world for the first time. She could smell the perfume that Teeanah wore and allowed herself a moment to just breath it in.

A gentle but firm finger guided her chin upward and when her grey eyes met Teeanah’s beautiful brown eyes, Kelsa thought she might cry. She could sense Teeanah again, glowing like a star through the force. It was like looking upon a god.

Unable to look away, Kelsa watched as Teeanah came forward a pressed a soft kiss upon her brow.

“You have done so well, Kelsa.”

Teeanah’s melodious voice seemed to envelope Kelsa in warmth and she never wanted to leave that comfort.

“Such devotion deserves to be rewarded.”

She sat back in her chair and Kelsa had the sudden urge to move forward to maintain their proximity for as long as possible. But she remained where she was. It was not her place to act so selfishly before her savior.

“So, my dear, what reward would you ask of me?”

Kelsa nearly recoiled at that. She would never. Could never ask for something from someone so obviously her better.

No. This was not about what Teeanah might grant her. This was about what Kelsa could offer of herself.

She bowed her head once more in reverence. “Please. Allow me to serve you. In any way you see fit. Allow me to defend you and everything you have built. Allow me to be a servant of The Circle and its Center.”

With her head bowed, she could not see the expression on Teeanah’s face but she could sense the spike in her emotions as she made her request. She could only hope that she would be granted the honor of serving her savior.

After several seconds, during which Kelsa believed Teeanah and Chria exchanged a few whispered words, Teeanah stood, beckoning for Kelsa to do likewise.

She obeyed and stood, drinking in the sight of Teeanah smiling at her with such affection. It warmed her heart like nothing ever had before and she realized that if she were to perish here and now, she would consider it all worth it to have seen that smile once again.

Without ever looking away and with her incredible smile still on her face, Teeanah motioned to the doorway. “I will require an escort to my chambers.”

A quick glance at Chria confirmed that she meant Kelsa.

Pride, relief and gratitude filled Kelsa and she could not keep from bowing her head once more before escorting Teeanah to her chambers.

To her surprise, Teeanah had her come in rather than stand guard by the door. She stood there in her chambers for several moments, taking in the layout and potential areas of danger all while Teeanah removed shoes and some small pieces of jewelry.

“Do you mind, my dear?” Teeanah’s voice broke Kelsa out of her mental preparations for defending the rooms from attack.

Returning her gaze and full attention to Teeanah, Kelsa suddenly felt her face heat up.

Teeanah had turned around with her back to her and was motioning to the zipper on the back of her evening gown

Desire coiled tightly in Kelsa’s gut but she beat down those feelings and nodded. “Of course.”

She stepped forward and carefully, as if handling something delicate of immense value, unzipped the dress.

Shrugging her shoulders, Teeanah let the dress fall and pool at her feet, exposing her strong back and perfect skin.

Kelsa’s mouth had gone dry. She had never before seen anyone so beautiful both physically and through the force. It truly was like looking upon a god. A perfect being that she was simply lucky to have met.

Without thinking, her hand reached out and she gently brushed her fingers along Teeanah’s shoulders. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured as if in a trance.

Teeanah hummed lightly and leaned back into the touch, giving Kelsa permission to explore further.

Mustering her courage, Kelsa continued to gently trace her way from Teeanah’s shoulders down the center of her back, delighting in the faint shiver it caused.

Stars, how had an orphaned Sith like her been so lucky as to cross paths with a woman like this? She had no idea but she thanked the universe for it all the same.

Her slight pause allowed Teeanah the chance to slowly turn around and face her, still with that dazzlingly warm smile on her face. She reached out and gently cupped the side of Kelsa’s face, rubbing her thumb across her cheek.

“My beautiful Knight. I can feel you holding back.”

Kelsa tried to open her mouth in protest but Teeanah placed a finger over her lips.

“Shhh… I know how devoted you are to me, Kelsa. And I know that you sometimes believe you must deny yourself in a misguided belief that you do not deserve to enjoy life. But you do. You deserve to live happily and to enjoy the time you have.”

Tears formed in Kelsa’s eyes and her throat suddenly felt tight. It had been so long since someone had cared about her.

Wiping away a tear that slipped from Kelsa’s eye, Teeanah continued on. “I am thankful that you have chosen to remain here and that you have chosen to help me. Know that I will call on you for assistance but not tonight. Tonight, is about you, Kelsa. Tonight, I want you to feel alive. So, please, do as your heart desires my Knight.”

She stood there for a moment, just gazing into Teeanah’s eyes. Do what she desired? Everything she could possibly want she already had. Food, a roof over her head and even friends had all been granted to her thanks to being on Ulgrotha.

Her eyes drifted down to Teeanah’s lips, a lovely shade of red that contrasted beautifully with her pale skin.

What she desired.

Returning her gaze to Teeanha’s eyes, Kelsa searched her face for any reservations or hint that this was not something she also wanted. She found nothing but warm reassurance.

What she desired.

She leaned in and pressed her lips to Teeanah’s.

#swtor fanfiction #my writing #the adas legacy #swtorpadawan #oc: kelsa kine #other's oc: chria malcar #other's oc: teeanah malvern #oh no! kelsa don't drink the kool-aid!#also i got super carried away with this #like one day i was just struggling with the whole thing and then suddenly i'm 3000 words in and wondering wtf just happened?

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