Private Birds of a Feather

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina couldn't help but clench her jaw as her ship passed through the maw of the Malsheem, she'd marvelled at it when she'd first arrived here, Leilah squeezing her hand tightly, her face wrought with fear. A dark mark etched on her own skin. Her arm seemed to tingle at the memory of her leash, the thing Carnifex had used to keep her in check…

She allowed herself to drift into her own dark memories, wondering why he had removed it. She had sworn not to harm his son to get to him, but his son hadn't been in the picture when he had captured her so why was that all it took. She shook the thoughts from her head as the ship shuddered on its landing gears and she swept from it, greeted by one of his Black Guard.

"The Dark Lord has been informed of your arrival."

"I don't care. I'm not here to see him." she retorted as she walked, the guard falling into step just behind her. "I assume Revna is being kept in the detention centre."

"She is not a guest you can visit freely."

Lina halted and rounded on him. "I'm sorry, I think I must have misheard you. Were you about to tell me what I can or cannot do?"

"I…" he stuttered, "I only meant…I will need to inform his Lord-"

"Off you run then. I don't need a shadow."

He hesitated, earning him a raised eyebrow before he bowed and turned away. Lina continued on her path, snagging the arm of a servant as she passed, requesting refreshments be brought to Revna's cell. It didn't take her long to find her, after snarling at a few people that were perhaps unsure of her status. After all she'd once been a slave to the Dark Lord, yet now she was his daughter-in-law. The lines were blurred and she took full advantage of it while she could.

She gave the cell door a gentle knock before opening it, stepping inside as the door hissed shut behind her, her eyes surveyed the room. She wanted to say she was surprised at how well furnished it was, but she also knew that for all his faults, Carnifex was in fact a gracious host. Prisoner or not.

Her gaze settled on the girl the room housed and the hard mask she'd been wearing since her ship had passed into the Malsheem's shadow melted away.

"Hello Revna. May I come in?"

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna was exhausted, in every which way possible. What little time she spent in her quarters was her only reprieve from the brutal training she was receiving under the heavy hand of her false master, Darth Prazutis . The only time she had to breathe, to collect herself, to reflect…

Everything she was subjected to now was so vastly different from what she was accustomed to, what had been ingrained and taught to her by her real Master, her High Priest, Darth Strosius . But he was not here with her now; and she knew he could never reach her where she was. Every day, every waking hour, was torture. She was pushed to her limits and beyond for hours, forced to dive deeper than she’d ever gone before just to survive, to prove her worthiness of remaining alive and even being able to call herself a Sith - and on top of all of this - she was subjected to Kainate propaganda; some of it was overt, and other times she knew it was slipped in through the cracks by skilled manipulators.

All to shape and bend her to the will of the Shadow Hand of the Kainate.

Other than her Kainite escorts and her time spent with the Dark Lords for her training, Revna did not receive visitors. No one really cared about her existence, and she was fine by that. The less of her enemies she had to see, the better in her opinion. So she tried to spend her time alone as wisely as possible: resting or meditating to recuperate and fortify herself for the hell that would come next.

…and doing everything she could to keep her loyalty to her Master alive within her very soul. If the Kainites reached in and corrupted that, or even believed she still held on to her devotion to the fiery Sith Lord - then she would be truly lost. It was the greatest test of her will power, her resolve, to not break completely. And she knew it was only the beginning of this nightmare.

And this would be how Lina Zambrano would find the raven haired Disciple of Darth Strosius: kneeled on the hard, unforgiving floor - seemingly in meditation. Revna had been aware of her presence even before she entered her quarters unannounced; her deepened connection to the Force, to the Dark side, had made her more sensitive, more aware.

The woman’s voice drifted into the little woman’s ears, and her fiery eyes opened to pierce through the newcomer. Her gaze was hard, and a coldness radiated off the apprentice as she tilted her head slightly to the left in an almost predatorial fashion. Revna remembered the woman from her wedding reception, the one her own Master had crashed with his demands made of Darth Arcanix. The actions that had set everything into motion that led to so much ruin and destruction…and to her own capture and imprisonment.

That had felt like a lifetime ago now.

“...You have let yourself into my quarters already, haven’t you? There is no need for you to ask me if you can come in. Who am I to tell you 'no'?” Revna replied to the woman's question, her voice soft but cold, as she regarded the other with a measure of wariness and caution.

She couldn’t trust anyone here.

Though the device on her spine did not remind her to show due respect, unlike it did with the Dark Lords, the small Sith rose from her position on the floor and bowed her head deeply to the other woman anyway, and then asked the dreaded question that reminded her of a past she never imagined she would be forced to live again.

“Lady Zambrano, isn’t it? How may I be of service to you?”

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina tilted her head as the girl rose, emerald eyes scanning her carefully, almostblike she was sizing her up. She seemed unharmed, well fed...like a well kept pet...that thought rose anger in her chest, if only itbhad been in her power to spring the girl.

"You have every right to refuse me, Revna, after all you have endured and, if i know my father-in-law and his brother well enough, are no doubt still enduring, you absolutely hold the right to refuse me. This is after all, the only time you get to be yourself...to remind yourself of who you truly are..."

Still Lina remained at the threshold, unwilling to force herself upon the girl.

She let out a low hiss of disapproval at her bow. "Do not...I am not one of them. There is no need for such..." she closed her eyes and breathed a sigh out of her nose before opening them again.

"You may call me Lina. And i don't require anything of you. I just wanted to see how you were faring. I've been in a similar situation to you before. I know the toll it can take."

Revna

 

[Revna]

The woman’s words brought forth a glimmer of something in Revna’s eyes. Was it pain? Anger? Disbelief? “I could refuse you entry and send you away. But they will know about it; and the punishment that may come is simply not worth it to me. I am enduring enough as it is.”

And there would be more to come - of that Revna was certain.

The Disciple’s show of respect seemed to draw out a rebuttal from the other woman, and Revna narrowed her eyes ever so slightly at the intruder, regarding her with more curiosity and interest. For a few heartbeats, the small raven haired woman did not respond to Lina. She simply watched her from her place with pursed lips as if she was debating something, while the other still stood in the entryway to her quarters.

This woman wanted to see how she was fairing, and had been in a similar situation before? Revna might have scoffed, once upon a time, but she made no noise or gesture.

Finally, the small woman dipped her head in assent. “You may come in, Lina. Forgive my…wariness. I do not get visitors who wish to simply see how I am fairing here.”

Revna moved towards a table and sat down in the chair while gesturing to the only other chair available. The room was relatively spacious and held items that were common to see in single apartment rooms: a simple bed, a table and chairs, a desk, and whatever else her overlords deemed it necessary for her to have. Kainate symbols could be seen around the room - a clear attempt to get her accustomed to such imagery. Make it more normal for her.

When Lina got closer to Revna, she might have seen almost unblemished pale skin, and a tattoo on her bare right inner forearm - a word, in ur-Kittât that seemed…faded. Like the ink had almost been boiled or burned out of her skin, but not completely. It was still legible, if barely.

Revna’s icy gaze settled on Lina as she folded her hands together on the table in front of her. “I remember you from your wedding. I wasn’t going to go, you know. Obviously, the enemies of my Master are my enemies too. But I was asked to tag along with one of my…cousins. To give her a familiar face in unfamiliar territory. Of course, he didn’t know I had come to your reception…” she glanced down at her hands, replaying the memories from the reception in her mind. That utter look of displeasure and disappointment from Strosius had stuck with Revna ever since. It was like a knife to her soul; if she could go back in time and erase all that had happened, she would have.

“So…you say you’ve been in a similar situation as I am now. I am most curious to know why you would say such a thing. Were you once held captive by the Dark Lords too?”

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina dipped her head in response to Revna's welcome. "Thank you." she said, following the young womans lead and coming to settle at upon the chair, a frown creasing her head at the symbolism around the room. Brainwashing was a low tactic, even for them, and yet she noted the fire in the girls eyes, the vitriol in her tone when mention her enemies...She was definitely Strosius's apprentice. But there was more than that there, a fire of her own, perhaps a past before Strosius that lit the first ember within her.

She pursed her lips at the mention of her wedding reception. Something that should have been a joyous occasion and yet resulted in the catalyst for a number of things. Revna's capture being one, Taeli's taking of Formos, her own attack and fight on Faldos. And it wasn't over, that much she knew, if Revna was to be freed then the end of this unfortunate series of events was far from a close.

"Twice, actually." she answered with a sad smile, "Though my circumstances were different to yours. The first time I was a girl, barely in my teens. My mother handed me to Carnifex, asked that he teach me some manners for she'd grown bored of her own flavour of torture..." She unbuttoned her high neck blouse to reveal the myriad of lightning scars that began at the base of her neck, the pattern of which suggesting they covered most of her body. "So that was what he set out to do during his reign of the Eighth Empire, to bring me to heel as his apprentice. And I rewarded his efforts by betraying him. Working with a friend in the Outer Rim Coalition to attempt to start another war between his empire, and that of the Mandalorians. Then I escaped and ran."

She settled her hands in her lap, her blouse buttoned back up. "I spent thirty years hiding from him, changed my name built an empire of informants spread across the galaxy so I could keep one step ahead of him. And then fate and the force would have me in the wrong place and the wrong time. After so many years of keeping him off my trail, he had the scent again. Targeted the family of the woman I love to drag me out of the shadows..." she trailed off and shook her head her voice soft, full of regret. "I had to choose. Her life, or service to him."

She cleared her throat. "He branded me with a mark that had a telepathic link to him. I could move freely, but everything I did, every word I spoke every conversation I had...he knew all of it. Any word out of line, any discussion of my hatred for him, of my desire to kill him resulted in agony."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna listened to Lina in silence, giving the other woman her attention and focus. Though their circumstances were different, it was clear to Revna that this woman knew what it was like to be under the authority and power of those who ruled here. She did find it intriguing that Lina did not use any form or title of respect for Carnifex, considering he was her Father in law now. Her golden-orange hued eyes flickered to the exposed skin to see the clear scars on Lina’s flesh, and from her own experience with Sith lightning, she knew that the scars were the result of such power.

As more and more of the other woman’s story was revealed, Revna began to realize that perhaps she might be able to find some sort of common ground with her as there were similarities between them and their history with the Kainites. But it was still far too early to say for certain on that; her mistrust of anyone who was part of the Kainate was deep. And there was the issue of Lina having joined the Zambrano family. Something that did confound her a bit, considering what she was hearing now.

A dark shadow passed over Revna’s face when the other woman mentioned a brand that had connected her directly to Carnifex. Again, there was a similarity between the two of them - albeit for Revna it was a different sort of item, and it was connected more directly to the Shadow Hand than it was to Carnifex. But it still bound her to him as well, much to her dismay.

But something else the woman said to Revna made her gaze narrow again. Something wasn’t adding up in Revna’s mind: why would this woman marry into the family if she wanted to kill Carnifex?

Did she still want to kill him? Or had that desire now changed? Was she a loyal pawn now?

“Loyalty to another can make us do things we never thought possible, can’t it?” Revna replied quietly when Lina had finished. Her gaze flickered over the room and their surroundings briefly before she returned her attention back to the Sith woman seated opposite to her.

“I too am now bound to the Dark Lords in service, albeit through different means than a simple brand. I have a device embedded in my spine; it is directly tied to the will of the Shadow Hand, and by extension - to Lord Carnifex as well.” She murmured as she shifted in her seat, her mind drifting to the device embedded in the flesh and bone of her back. She didn't know if it also connected her telepathically to her overlords, so she was cautious with what she thought about or what she said aloud. “I do as I am told. To disobey brings…immense suffering. And even though I’d like nothing more than to strike back, I cannot raise a hand against either of them in retaliation. Believe me, I have tried. It ended with me being paralyzed on the floor at Lord Prazutis's feet.”

There was another pause, before the apprentice voiced her immediate thoughts, and it was clear that she did not trust Lina, despite what she had shared with Revna.

“So…why have you truly come, Lina? You know next to nothing about me, save for my connection to my Master perhaps. The very man who darkened your wedding day with actions and words that cannot be forgotten or erased. You would not be the first to have sought revenge against him and all those connected to him for his actions, so I have to assume that you are here for some other reason besides ‘check in’ on how I’m faring.”

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Revna was cautious, rightly so, her gaze narrowing occasionally. Lina couldn't blame her, trust was a difficult thing to give at the best of times, but here? Here it was wise to trust no one. Even now, married into the family as she was Lina kept her cards close to her heart, Sarlow knew nothing of her movements or plans. She may have loved him, but he was his fathers son first and foremost. if it came down to it, between her and his father, she could not trust him to pick her.

Lucia though? Their daughter would come above all else. No matter what happened, she would be safe with him. That, she trusted entirely.

A frown creased her forehead at the mention of the device embedded in the girls spine. she couldn't begin to imagine how painful that was to have inserted let alone what it would be like to remove it. She filed it away under problems to look into later. She wanted to see it, but first she had to earn Revna's trust, and the only way she was going to do that was with honestly and time.

"I'd be lying if I said your master didn't cause any real harm, but it is by the by. While you've been holed up here, Taeli took Fromos from him, and she has her grandchildren back, and Strosius and I..." she paused, looking for the right phrase, "came to an understanding. It was not an easy one to reach, not by any means...I don't think I've ever met someone quite as hard headed as him." She shook her head and sighed, her eyes sweeping the room once more looking for surveillance devices, though she was certain if there were any, they would not be obvious.

"My daughter bears the name Zambrano through no choice of her own, her safety and survival is paramount. I will do everything in my power to ensure that she is kept safe from those who might tarnish her with the same brush they tarnish this seemingly endless line with. Every ounce of power I gain, every move I make is to ensure her protection, whatever the cost."

Emerald eyes bored into Revna's, there was no hatred nor malice in them, just the fierce determination of a mother. "Your master named his price. And I intent to pay it."

Revna

 

[Revna]

There was a glint of emotion in Revna’s eyes upon hearing Lina and Strosius had come to an ‘understanding’. She was smart enough to know what she meant by that, and the faintest ghost of a smile touched her lips. Yes - her Master was indeed very hard headed. Zealous in his beliefs and his ways; it would take much to have him change his mind about something or even someone, if such a thing were even possible.

Revna caught Lina’s eyes sweeping over the room she called her prison, no doubt doing the very thing that the young Sith did all the time: checking for things that might be watching or listening in on her. She was no fool; she assumed that they watched and listened to her. She was not above suspicion, afterall.

Finally, the truth of Lina’s visit was laid before the small woman: she was here on behalf of her daughter, and because the Disciple’s Master had given the other Sith his price. Revna was insightful and she was able to piece some things together fairly quickly. Briefly, the apprentice cast her gaze around the area too, without moving her head to do so, before settling her attention back on Lina.

“Hmm, I see. I…regret that you and your daughter were caught in the path of his retaliation against Lady Raaf. While I…did… support him in most things, I didn’t with others. I believe he could have been more wise with how he went about all of that. But what is done is done.” Revna murmured softly, pausing for a moment to organize her thoughts. She needed to be extremely careful with what she said.

“And yes, my…former Master is quite determined in his path and his beliefs and goals. Most would say he is a madman, lost in his own ways, weak, beyond hope or saving - fit only for destruction or removal.” Though she seemed to suggest she had cast off her former connections to Darth Strosius, there was a hint of the devotion she held for the Sith Lord, glinting in her fiery eyes.

“And yet he persists, despite everything. He is tenacious, and will fight for what is important to him. And based on what you have just told me, you know exactly what that is like. For you are doing the very same thing…aren’t you?”

Another pause as she regarded the woman before her shrewdly. “I have accepted my place here, and the role I am to play for my new masters. I strive to do all that they place before me.” Revna said in her normal tone of voice, before she leaned in across the table slightly, her eyes narrowing slightly. A glint of cunning could be seen. “Tell me, are you capable of thought without speaking it?” the Disciple asked of the woman in a lower tone, her words cryptic but hinting at something she had in mind. If Lina was sharp enough, she might catch on to the fact that Revna was asking if she was willing to speak telepathically.

It may be the only way she could truly share her plans with the other woman, without raising suspicion from those who watched her every move.

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina allowed a smile to spread across her features as Revna spoke, the girls eyes blazed with a passion not to dissimilar to her masters. they were certainly a perfect match as Master an apprentice, but was there more to it? It had only been at the mention of Revna, that Strosius had softened, the the hard shell he bore seems to show cracks. Pazutis and Carnifex were right to target her in that regard, they were baiting a reaction...and Lina had no doubt a reaction would come.

Revna seemed to have a much more level head on her shoulders, able to note the subtleties and read beyond the words that came from Lina's mouth. "I am pleased to hear it. You will do well among the Kainite, Revna, you are smart, far smarted than your former Master for sure, you were wasted under his tutelage. I might have hatred for Lord Carnifex, but even I cannot deny his power, use the time with him and Prazutis wisely, you'll not get another opportunity like it."

She leaned forward resting her arms on the table, her own eyes glittering with delight. "You are going to have to prove yourself, to find yourself in more suitable quarters, though. Tell me, beyond training, what else have they had you doing?"

Cautiously, Lina lowered the mental barriers she kept high at all times, allowing Revna in, extending her own mind to her.

We shall have to keep a conversation on two fronts.

Revna

 

[Revna]

She almost jumped with joy when Lina’s mind connected to her own and she heard the other’s mental words slip through her. Revna had lowered her mental walls just enough, hoping that this would be possible - and now that it was, she was more than eager to connect their minds so they could speak more freely.

Or so she hoped, anyway. There was the risk, a great one, that her captors would be aware of what was taking place. But she had to take her chances where she could.

-I am so thankful that I was taught how to do this-

Revna nodded with Lina’s spoken words, her pale face taking on a more somber expression. “It was challenging in the beginning. But it is hard to deny the truth, especially when presented by those of greater wisdom and experience than I. I still hate them both - and probably always will, but the Dark Lords are not here to cultivate gentle connections between themselves and those they rule over. But I have come to an understanding with both of them and I agree with you - I will never have this opportunity again, and I am determined to take advantage of it while I can.”

-I hate myself for saying any of this- came one of her thoughts, drifting from her to Lina. The bridge connecting them was growing a bit stronger, but there was a distinct tremor of wariness still there. -Trust is not easily gained between Sith. I still don’t entirely trust you enough to share everything…not until I know for certain we both can work together for our mutual benefit. Though your confessed hatred for Carnifex does give me hope-

“My last slave master liked to keep me in a cage where my bed was nothing but cold durasteel bars. So I am content with whatever accommodations Lord Carnifex and Lord Prazutis grace me with; these quarters are luxurious for me, compared to the rather spartan living space Strosius gave me. Though you are right; if I do prove myself worthy enough, perhaps I will be granted quarters befit for a Kainite.”

Revna’s stomach clenched painfully as she spoke such words; she wanted to take them all back, but she had to present herself in a different light. Her spoken words needed to be believable, even if they were all lies - for the most part. There were some things that Revna had said thus far that were true, but she kept that to herself.

-I assume, since you mentioned your daughter’s safety, that she is at the heart of everything taking place between you and my Master. You said he named his price, and you intend to pay it. Can you tell me what he demanded of you?-

Though she asked Lina for direct confirmation, Revna had a feeling that the woman's young daughter was being used as leverage by her cantankerous Master. But what she really wanted to know was what the exact nature was of such a demand. And she knew it was nothing short of just that - her Master was not someone to ask nicely, especially when it came to those he perceived were his enemies.

“I spend many hours of my day under Lord Prazutis’s careful scrutiny. He pushes me hard - they both do. But I am, if anything, determined to prove myself worthy of the attention granted to me from either Dark Lord. It is a great privilege to learn from them both, and I do not take it lightly.” Revna replied, answering Lina's question the best way she could.

-All I do right now is train and learn what is taught to me; Prazutis has staked his claim on me. I feel that he is training me for a specific purpose, and he has told me I live to serve his designs, his will. What that is though has not been revealed yet. I suspect I won't know that until he feels I have completely embraced my new reality here. And when my purpose is at its end he will destroy me, unless I prove my total devotion to the Kainate-

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina ignored the tingling discomfort that ran up her spine as Revna spoke back. She had not allowed anyone in her mind for decades. For fear of her father's mind games. He he was able to reach her across the galaxy. It was a risk, one she had to take to protect her daughter, she only hoped that it wouldn't be enough for him to pick up her scent on the wind. Perhaps he was dead.

She certainly hoped he was.

Her fist opened and closed, the only outward display of discomfort, a nervous tic, almost.

I am not comfortable with it, perhaps one day I'll divulge those reasons as to why, but for now, it is a must.

She gave a solemn nod at Revna's spoken words, the faintest of a smile forming at the corners of her lips.

I don't expect you to trust me entirely, after all, I married Kaine's eldest son, bore him a grandchild. You have every reason to be wary of me, and your caution is what will keep you alive.

Even in her head, there was a venom behind speaking Kaine's name, a dep loathing that flashed behind her emerald gaze. Her eyebrow arched at her comment regarding Strosius.

"I am surprised the Strosius did not provide you with a living space suited to your station as his apprentice. Though...seeing his headquarters on Faldos, I suppose I am not surprised. He seems to lack any taste in decor... still it had some redecoration after my visit. I do hope he likes the colour red."

She could see the discomfort in Revna, clearly in direct conflict with what she spoke, her hand twitched, wanting to reach out to comfort her, but such a movement would be noted, she instead moved her hands to her lap, pursing her lips appearing in thought as Revna continued, playing her part well, she would be the perfect Kainite under the scrutiny of anyone else.

We came to blows, inevitable really all things considered. I have an image to uphold much like you do and to let such an insult go unanswered would simply not stand. But in the end, our accord is a simple one. I help him get you out, and he keeps me and my daughter out of his line of fire. then perhaps I can earn his trust enough for us to unite against our common enemy.

"I'd be interested in seeing other skills that you might possess, beyond that of brute strength. You've a sharp mind, and i'd like to hone it a little further if you'll allow it. How is your Sith or High Sith?" It was the easiest way to make an excuse for coming back, that she was aiding her growth and helping her learn in other ways.

We will get you out Revna. It will take time, Strosius's forces are depleted, too much for a head on assault on the Malsheem. the most important thing now is that you play your part, but do not lose yourself in it. Carnifex and Prazutis are smart, they will succeed in brainwashing you if you allow it. Is there something I can get you, a little piece of home to hold onto?

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna noticed the discomfort in Lina with the mental connection; the clenching of one of her fists. She knew how uncomfortable such a thing could be; in her training with Strosius to help build and strengthen her mental walls, she had learned first hand just how disconcerting it could be to have another’s presence within one’s own mind.

Thankfully, neither were attacking each other - though allowing for such a connection made room for vulnerabilities to be made known and capitalized upon. Revna supposed that they both were going to have to build trust between the two of them for this to work. It was a give-give, and this understanding let her wariness ease some.

-You allowing me to communicate to you like this eases some of my tension. I know now that you wouldn’t have allowed this had you been here for nefarious reasons, perhaps. But yes - caution has kept me alive thus far and I don't intend to stop-

To hear the venom in Lina’s mental words, and to see it reflected in her green eyes, brought a ghostly smile to Revna’s face. She was beginning to feel more and more in her heart that perhaps this woman would be a useful ally to have on her side. It was still too early to say for certain, of course, but there were glimmers of hope there.

“I am sure he wasn’t too pleased with the added decorations, was he? Force knows his office needed it though.”

The little woman watched as Lina shifted and folded her hands in her lap, pursing her lips as Revna spoke. She passed her thoughts into the mind of the Apprentice, revealing to Revna that she and Strosius had indeed fought. She suspected a conflict would have happened, and wasn’t surprised by the revelation of it. And no doubt, his office indeed had run red with spilt blood. But she knew he was still alive, for surely she would have felt his death through the Force had the fight ended with his destruction.

And when Lina revealed the true reason behind why she had come, she knew for certain that Darth Strosius was indeed still alive. To hear that her Master hadn’t given up on her, even after the time that had passed and not hearing a single word about whether she was alive or dead, made an emotion flare within her that Revna had felt before; her devotion only deepened further, and strengthened her iron will to press forward. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath, bringing herself back under control. The less she revealed in this place, the better.

“Oh I have learned quite a bit in the short amount of time I’ve been an apprentice. Strosius wasn’t the only Sith I went to for training or to gain knowledge, truthfully. My desire to learn all that I can would not allow me to be content with only his teachings. It is why I am so eager to learn under Lord Carnifex and Lord Prazutis. To learn from not one but two Dark Lords? Former Emperors who possess such power and knowledge beyond my wildest dreams…?” The fires of hunger and ambition seemed to make her eyes glow slightly. “Believe me…I am content with my place and endure my trials here because I know how much I could benefit from this. I am not content to be just any ordinary Sith. I want to become as powerful as I can.”

Not because Revna sought power over others - but because she knew that the stronger she was, the better she could help carry out her Master’s desires, for they both shared the same common goals. But she had a lot of work ahead of her for that, and she would need to make the necessary sacrifices.

“Though I must confess, I know nothing about High Sith, and I would be most interested in learning such a thing from you. I will never turn down an opportunity to learn something and deepen my knowledge and experience.”

Lina’s reassurance to her nearly cracked her carefully built facade, and a tremor of fear echoed through her thoughts. -Please, Lina…do not let that stubborn fool of a man attack the Malsheem just to try and get me back. The others are watching him, and expect him to try such a thing.-

Her thoughts trailed off for a moment as dark and painful images of her Master dying trying to fight his way in to get her back flickered through her mind, before she pulled herself back together enough to continue her thoughts to Lina.

-Thank you for the caution and I shall keep it in mind and be aware. It is…difficult; their words are honeyed even though I know it is poison. But they underestimate me, and my will.-

“Perhaps other galactic languages too, if you are willing to teach me one you may know. I would like to expand my lingual range. I only know Basic, some Sith, and some Huttese.”

-I need no trinket from home. Just information, reassurances. My brother…I need to know that he is well and is okay. Veradun Sharr is his name; he was enrolled in the Academy. Can you check in on him for me? Beyond that, a message for my Master. Tell him his Disciple’s faith is strong, but she needs him to have faith in her, no matter what he sees, and no matter what he hears.-

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

With each exchange of telepathic communication, the unease seemed to settle, though there was a part of her mind on high alert, like a hound prowling the perimeters, sniffing for any unwelcome guests that mighy try to slip in behind her lowered defences.

Its was a discomfort worth suffereing to earn Revna's trust, if she had any hope of getting her out, her trust was paramount. There was another reason for gaining her trust though, behind the desire to see her free, perhaps she could tame Strosius, perhaps she could help him see reason. If there was anyone that could get beneath the hardshell and through his thick skull it would be his level headed apprentice.

As she continued to speak about The Dark Lords, there was an ambition and fire in her eyes, a drive that was common among the sith that brought a smile to her face. She was wise enough, even in captivity to know that despite the games they played now, the learning opportunity she had was not one to be shunned, regardless of how she felt about them.

"Then I shall teach you. My work will not allow me to be here everyday, but i think perhaps once a week? Yes...that should suffice."

She smiled, a genuine smile a touch of excitement glittering in her eyes at the prospect of teaching another. But they darkened slightly at her final words.

I can check in on the Academy and its students well enough, I will see that Veradun is well and has the support he needs until you are able to return to him. As for your Master...

"I know many languages though i feel there are better ways to understand those around us. Perhaps we shall see anout your penchant for spell weaving, though thay will depends entirely on how well you take to High Sith."

He has every intention of attacking the Malsheem and there is little I can do to stop him. If anyone was capable of preventing him from doing something he set his mind to, she is currently under the lock and key of his enemies. But I will pass on your message and I will see if there is another way for us to get you out without him starting another civil war.

Revna

 

[Revna]

“Excellent. Once a week should be fine. I look forward to learning from you then, my Lady.” Revna replied with a small smile. She noticed Lina’s eyes and expression darken slightly as she passed on her mental messages. The little woman suspected that her stubborn Master was indeed already making plans, and judging by the shadowed look on the other woman’s face - her suspicions were correct.

But she was relieved to hear that Lina would check in on her little brother at least. Revna wanted to ensure he was alive and well; she knew that Academy life was hard and much would be expected of the young boy. But he was fierce too, and she had little doubt that he would prove himself to be resilient and able to rise to any challenge.

-Thank you for agreeing to look in on my brother. He means much to me - though I try to distance myself from him and his well being. Life as a Sith is hard, and we die often. He may be smart - but he is still quite young. And young Sith tend to make foolish mistakes.-

“I think you will find me to be an eager student, no matter how easy or hard a subject may be. I would like to think I lean more towards the sorcerous side of being a Sith. So perhaps spell weaving would be a good area for me to dive into.”

The sense of a dark chuckle reverberated across their mental link. -I know my Master. It is why I said he cannot attack the Malsheem. I am sorry to have to use you as a messenger of sorts - I would say what I need to say to his face, if I could. However, I cannot. Tell him that if he attacks, he will make my situation MUCH worse. And I am pleading with him to leave the Malsheem out of his plans for now-

Revna sat back in the chair and suddenly her face contorted into a grimace of pain, as the device on her back began to trickle acidic like fire into her nerves. Her jaw clenched tight, as did her fists, as she fought back against the tide of fresh pain with a low growl. She was slowly adjusting to its presence - but the fresh hell it unleashed upon her was still something she struggled to endure.

But endure she must. That was all she could do, until the day came when she was finally free from its clutches. If she didn’t die before then, that was.

When the pain eased somewhat, she opened her eyes to gaze back at Lina as she exhaled heavily before offering a small, tired smile.

-The price of challenging a Dark Lord and being fearless and defiant before him. My Master would be proud of me…I hope- came the quiet thought from Revna, finding amusement even in her suffering.

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Family ties were something that had always been alien to her. With her own upbringing, understanding them had been difficult, until she had laid eyes upon Lucia. That something so tiny, and so fragile could draw such a powerful emotion from her...it was a starting point, to understanding to some degree the level of dedication that seemed to come with having a family. She managed a small smile and inclined her head slightly in response to her gratitude.

"Eagerness is one thing, lets hope you actually have the ability to back it. I wouldn't want to waste my time after all" she replied, somewhat coldly "It requires a deep connection to the dark side and a dedication to your relationship with it. It must stand above everything else in order for you to have any real success with it."

I will pass on your message, Revna, in the hopes that he will listen but-

Her response was silenced by the pain that contorted Revna's face as the device fired off, her silent punishment... and for what? It reminded her of her mothers meaningless torment, a path to deepen her connection to the dark side, to tame a girl that simply wanted to be free. The anger that rose within her was all consuming, slipping past the careful mask and game they were playing, smoky tendrils spilling from her shrouding her as her emerald eyes were consumed by obsidian orbs and she let out a low hiss.

Even as the pain seemed to subside, and the girl took it in her stride, Lina found herself still with her nails embedded in the tables, tendrils scorching its surface.

I swear to you Revna, I will find a way to get that thing out of you, and get you out of here.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Amusement glinted in Revna’s eyes as Lina responded to her eagerness upon learning new skills. The cold haughtiness she knew was part of the mask the older woman needed to wear, but it nonetheless brought a small smirk to Revna’s face.

“ ‘Waste your time’? Do you think the Dark Lords of the Kainate would have decided to teach me anything had I been weak in the Dark Side?” Revna replied back in her own slightly arrogant tone of voice, playing into what Lina was doing. Compared to the power and might of others, she was weak, but only for now; the well of power within her was deep; all she had to do was find more ways of expressing that power, of harnessing it so she could unleash it.

“I am alive now because of my connection to the Dark side. And it will only grow the more I press into it.” Revna held Lina’s gaze boldly, fearlessly. “I think you find that I can rise to the challenge.”

Lina started to pass on a mental message, but paused when the pain overtook Revna. Even though the searing agony that burned at her nerves, she could feel the wrath pouring off the woman through the Force.

Strangely…a dark presence within Revna, attached to her aura as if it was her, seemed to pull at this powerful Force essence, trying to consume the wrath that the other woman expressed. For the very briefest of moments, Revna’s own dark aura flared, like the flickering of a distant star’s light, before returning to its previous levels - albeit heightened due to the amount of pain the young Sith was enduring. When the pain passed, the dark presence within Revna seemed to fade into the background. The young Disciple opened her eyes to see the inky eyes of Lina, and the shadowy tendrils that exposed themselves. Her seething mental promise slipped into Revna’s mind, and her own gaze darkened at what she heard.

-There is no escape from this, Lina. Only the one who emplaced it can remove it. Any other way will surely result in my death, and Shadow Hand will never willingly release me. It is as much a part of me now as my own spine, my own heart.-

There was a long pause as Revna let her gaze settle back on Lina; there was a darkness within her fiery eyes, a sorrow that was as deep and cold as any glacial crevasse.

-But it must be removed if I am ever to be free from him. From them, and their grasp. If the price for that freedom is death - then so be it.-

“If this is but a taste of the power you can teach me, then consider me more than interested.” Revna said in response to the dark power exuded by Lina before her. Her small smirk returned as she leaned in once more.

“...anything that I can use to destroy my former Master and all his sycophants. I think my new masters would be pleased to know that I seek ways to destroy and undermine him. Don’t you think?”

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina felt the tug, felt the pull of something darker, something hidden within Revna, perhaps something she was not yet aware of herself, as it seemed to fade as her pain did. But Lina did not have the capacity in her mind to contemplate it further, not while her anger had its grip upon her. No escape? there was always an escape, always an option, a pathway no matter how hidden. Death was not it. Enslaved and brainwashed by the Kainites would not be it.

She did have to appreciate the girls fast thinking, vocalising about her loss of control as a demonstration of power that she could learn.

We will figure out a way, Revna, impossible is not something I believe in.

"Oh I think Prazutis will be incredibly pleased to know you are dedicating yourself so fervently to the cause." Lina tugged her fingernails from the table she'd embedded them in, taking a breath as the tendrils withdrew back into her, obsidian orbs blinked away to reveal emerald. "Sith magic and sorcery knows no bounds, except those of your imagination."

Give me your hand.

She extended her hand own across the table for Revna's as she waited for her to place it in hers, she brought her own thumb to her mouth, using a sharpened canine she pierced the skin, allowing a bubble of blood to form.

This will burn, but it will mean if they move you, I can find you.

"While the great and powerful Dark Lord have chosen you for their own reasons, I will pass my own judgement. I might follow them, but I do not do so blindly. Prove yourself capable and I will teach you." As Revna placed her hand in hers, Lina's thumb would move swiftly to the inside of the girls wrist, her blood burning briefly as it connected with her skin.

Revna

 

[Revna]

-We shall see. I won’t give up though…not while I have something worth fighting for- came the quiet whisper from Revna's thoughts, a hint that she held onto something tightly, something that drove her onward each and every moment. Lina might just recognize that the little woman was referring to seeing her Master again one day, and just how vital he was to her continued fighting spirit. It was a small hint as well to something deeper.

She watched as Lina pulled herself together from her surge of anger, catching onto the quick cover that Revna had provided, and she offered a small smile. “So I have heard. The Dark side and its applications is only truly limited by those who seek to learn it, to master it.”

The mental order was direct, and at first Revna did not comply. She gazed at the other Sith’s had with a hard stare, trying to discern the reason for it. Her ember eyes watched as Lina pierced her own skin with a sharpened tooth, bringing forth a droplet of blood, and a moment later the reason behind her command became clear.

Cautiously, the Disciple extended her small and pale hand and laid it upon Lina’s, permitting the other Sith Lady to carry out what she desired to do. The action was swift; the other Sith’s words distracting Revna from the flashing burn of pain on the inside of her wrist. She didn’t even flinch with the pain, however. She had felt so much of it since her stay in the Malsheem that the burn was nothing more than a brief nuisance.

“If I must prove myself to you then so be it. One day, I will not have to prove myself to anyone or anything.”

Lina Ovmar​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina gave the smallest of smiles, releasing the girls hands, but not before giving them a reassuring squeeze. If anyone was going to survive this torment, playing the game of pretend until she no longer had to, it was Revna. There was a great strength in her, beyond that of her ability within the force, but a strength that spoke volumes of a hard past overcome. No matter what happened here, she would come out of it all the stronger.

"One day." she repeated "But not today, young one."

She sat back in her seat. "I will have some tomes sent to you, a favourite author of mine. Take what time you can to study them. We will start our lesson's in a week, reviewing what you have learned, and starting your instruction in High Sith."

Lina was fortunate enough to have collected the full works of Velok of Toola over the years, but for this, Sorcery Deconstructed: The Case for Clarity would prove an interesting read for the young sith, even if to simply provide a distraction.

There is something else you should know. Darth Malum has issued a Kaggath against your Master.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna’s gaze softened ever so slightly with the reassuring squeeze on her hand before Lina released her and sat back in her seat opposite to the young Apprentice. Her fiery eyes brightened at the mention of tomes.

“I look forward to it, my Lady. I am ever eager to absorb more knowledge and add it to my repertoire.”

Her eager, burning gaze darkened slightly upon hearing the mental voice pass through her mind about the Kaggath between her Master and her cousin. Truthfully, it was not news to her - but she had hoped that things could have been settled a different way.

-Malum told me what he was doing after the events of the reception. I still don’t know how I feel about it. It still feels like a betrayal from him towards his battlebrother, even though I know why he issued the Kaggath in the first place. But Malum is an heir to the Snake, and he can be a snake himself. So I am not entirely trusting of his reasons. He has hidden motives and both have much to lose, and much to gain from this.-

Revna dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her face, her facade cracking ever so slightly to reveal someone who was weary and sorrowful, and fighting with every ounce of strength to not crack under the strain.

-I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I declared to Strosius that I wanted to be a Sith. I didn’t even know who or what the Sith were at the time. But even with everything that has happened, I wouldn’t change a thing. Conflict sharpens us, makes us stronger. Burns away the chaff. I just hope I can endure the fire of my trials. I don’t want to be a failure…-

Lina Ovmar
​