Dirae stared out into the lit city beneathe her, her gloved hands resting on the balcony’s edge. The imposing Jedi Temple loomed up in the center of the city. Her eyes lifted from the endless abyss below her to the Temple. Since their return to the city planet of Coruscant, Dirae had become unsettled. Surely, those foolish Jedi had sensed their presence by now. Even though there was only two Sith present on Coruscant one of the Jedi masters must’ve felt their presence.
A shadow passed over her body, causing her to look over her shoulder. Her dark lover and master, Darth Maul, stood behind her, his strong arms folded beneathe his black robes. Dirae smiled softly at him as he approached and leaned over to kiss her temple.
“It is late, mi laa. Why’re you still awake?” Dirae asked, resting one hand against his tattooed cheek. He leaned into her palm.
“I cannot sleep unless you are beside me, Dirae. Why are you still awake?” he asked in turn. Dirae smiled more at his humor and kissed him gently. He groaned slightly from the kiss and pulled her to him. Dirae rested her head against his shoulder. It had been a few months since the tragic arrival of the Zabrakian bounty hunter, Damek. Maul would sometimes suffer from terrible nightmares since that time, waking up in a cold sweat and trembling more than he’d ever had in his life. Dirae feared for her love and master. His nightmares had become more frequent as of late since their return to Coruscant.
“Why have the Jedi not yet felt us?” Dirae asked softly. Maul stroked her back gently.
“Perhaps they do not know we’re here yet,” he replied. “Or perhaps something is bothering them. Master Sidious once told me about someone called The Chosen One.”
“Who is the Chosen One?” Dirae asked, lifting her head to look into his eyes. He shrugged.
“Master wasn’t very clear in the details. I think he meant the one who would bring balance to the Force. What that means I have no idea,” he replied. Dirae stared past him for a few moments, seemingly lost in thought. Maul kissed her forehead, his lips lingering on her skin.
“Don’t let it trouble you, Dirae,” he murmured against her skin. “It doesn’t concern us.”
“I know, mi laa, but I can’t help this feeling of foreboding,” Dirae confessed, her eyes shifting from the scenery behind him to his yellow gaze. “Something isn’t right, I can feel it. They are there, aren’t they?” She turned her head to look out at the Temple. Maul followed her gaze and nodded slowly.
“Yes. He is there with his apprentice. Do you still wish for revenge?” Maul asked, turning her head back to face him. She bit her lower lip, her eyes wide.
“Whenever I think about Kenobi and his apprentice I seethe inside. Yes, I still want revenge. You are alive now because of me but you died because of him. He must pay for this.” The fierce determination in her voice sent delightful shivers up Maul’s spine. Impulsively, he clutched her to him, his head bowed into her hair.
“You are truly a delight, my lovely Dirae. Yes, you will have your revenge, as will I. We are here to eliminate the galaxy of these fools. But we must wait. Wait until they sense us, then we will strike. Their council no longer fights and will be helpless. Victory will be ours,” Maul told her, pausing at the end of his words to kiss her hair. Dirae held onto him tightly, never wanting to let him go again. Twice they’d been seperated, once by death and once by another. Never again, she vowed to herself. Never, never again.
* * *
Jedi Temple, morning:
The circular chamber of the Jedi Council was illuminated with early morning sunlight, its twelve members still absent this early in the day. The twin doors swished open to reveal the tall yet trim figure of the newest Jedi apprentice at the Temple, Anakin Skywalker. His blue eyes searched the chambers for signs of the masters. He smiled when he realized he was alone. Almost gleefully, he sat down in the largest chair and stretched his long legs out before him. Maybe one day he’d be on this council, overseeing who and who wouldn’t be trained as a Jedi. The idea of such power excited the youth.
“And what are you doing in here, Padawan?” the voice of his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, sounded from the doorway. Anakin started and jumped to his feet.
“Master!” he exclaimed, surprised. “I was just looking out the windows, yeah..” Obi-Wan smiled and walked up to his eager apprentice, his hands hidden beneathe his robe’s sleeves.
“Looks to me like you were enjoying more than the view,” Obi-Wan teased. Anakin blushed and fidgeted.
“Master,” he began uneasily, “I was thinking the other day...about that female who kept on following us. Whatever happened to her?”
Obi-Wan shrugged. “I don’t know where she is, Anakin. Why do you even care? She was trying to kill us for killing that Sith Lord.”
“I know that, Master, but she was very pretty and...” Anakin’s words failed him. Obi-Wan stared at his padawan with extreme concern.
“You must control your emotions, Anakin. Especially ones such as this,” Obi-Wan admonished. Anakin bowed his blonde head, his padawan braid swinging with the movement. Obi-Wan sighed and pressed a hand to Anakin’s shoulder.
“She is dangerous. If I lose you to her, of your own accord, I will have failed in my promise to my master,” he told the boy. Anakin nodded slowly. Obi-Wan rapped his shoulder firmly in a reassuring manner and turned towards the doorway.