Dancing in Moonlight between the Headstones (complete)

[Muad Dib]

His beskad rise to meet the scepter as it fell toward him. A laugh on his lips he engaged the Sorcerer with a mighty battle of strength. The two warred against one another in a contest that could decide who would live. The Sorcerer was larger and stronger and initially it appeared possible he would overcome the smaller man, yet Muad had enough experience fighting larger men that he was not worried.

But he was also not alone.

As they struggled against ones another he felt Arabella attack. The tingle in their bond created a savage grin. But it was the flickering in the Sorcerer's eyes that was the true triumph. While the two were engaged in the combat of flesh it was Arabella that was doing the true fight as she delved into his wind like a whirlwind. Her words to his promoted him into action.

Stepping to the side he allowed the other's greater strength to slam the staff down where he had just been. Twisting the beskad he should it out from under the blow and ran the man through his lower abdomen while his left took a grip on the staff.

The wound would be fatal without treatment, but it was the overwhelming pain that would affect his mental acuity allowing Arabella a chance to raid the Sorcerer's mind as Muad twisted the sword deeper into his enemy's intestines.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

The last blow Muadie dealt was felt by the sorcerer and Bella, her head fell back as her mouth opened but only silence came forth. She pushed hard against his defenses he was so strong but that single moment where his focus changed Bella slipped behind the facade to find the memories to find his secrets.

She did not pause or hesitate as she began shred his mind for what she wanted. What she saw made her freeze through her bond with Muad she quickly shared, "there's a child..a girl...." Bella lifted her hand to try and press her desire upon the man that was now slowly fading away. This did not bother her she could speak to him even dead she began to shuffle through things about the mountain.

It was quicker to just talk to Muadie through their connection rather than to speak, 'there's a facility, there's a room filled with artifacts, he's harboring something else a book on alchemy.' She could feel the sorcerer's rage now building, she shook her head, 'end him Muadie we'll find the girl if there's more she has it.'

Bella slipped out her eyes still onyx black as she looked over to make sure Maudie was alright. The madman knew how to deal death he often reveled in it and she urged him forward to offer havoc to anyone who came close. But now to find the girl she was in the mountain, perhaps she was the one firing the arrows. Bella needed an arrow she wanted to touch it what secret could it offer about the one who shot it. She slowly moved around to where she could see one that they had deflected. Ohh...there she stretched out her hand and called it to her.

All while smiling and waiting for Muad to join her. The sorcerer had been here a long time planning something he knew their names though and that troubled her slightly.

[member="Muad Dib"]

 

[Muad Dib]

Watching Arabella work always made him grin. Her minute and powerful machinations through the Force echoed out and revealed her power and grasp on the ability through her mind. What he had trained his body and external abilities to do, Belly had turned the eye inwards to master the dark arts on a different plane. As the Sorcerer struggled against her Muad just shook his head.

"Magnificent."

The slow revelations began leaking from the skewered man as Arabella pulled at the threads of his mind in a methodical process that could not be denied. It was a thing of beauty. Yet the words she stole were intriguing, interesting, and vague. It made for more questions. Questions that would shortly be answered.

Azure eyes met onyx and he nodded with a feral smile. Shoving the beskad the rest of the way through the man's midsection he grabbed the Sorcerer's throat with his left hand and, with a surge in the Force strengthening his already vise like grip, ripped the man's throat out.

As the body slid back unsheathing the sword from it's organic resting place Muad seeped to the right freeing the layer of blood that rested on the blade. Turning he looked sideways at his lover, the bond between them humming with the elation and joy he was experiencing. Not just the combat but there very experience of being united in chaos once more.

"One more door. Let's greet this mysterious Sorcerer King. And find out what this girl has to do with anything while collecting what we came for. Answers."

Moving forward to the singular stone door that stood between them and the throne room Muad reached out and placed his hands against it to push open. However his mind flashed as contact was made. A web of temples, each strand leading to the next, a hidden power lurking and pulling strings, the power of the hidden books, a child ... a girl .... with blue eyes that glowed .... and then flashed black .... And a runic prophecy that was carved on an obsidian slate written in King Adas' own hand ...

Grunting as the images flickered through his mind and along the bond he looked to Arabella in confusion. The meanings were hidden and the visions disorienting. Turning back to the door he shoved it open and witnessed the throne room that stretched out before them with it's inhabitants.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Jia Darkhold]

From the heights she watched with great expectations. Since moving from the previous chamber she had stayed in the shadows waiting. Conflicting emotions foreign to her echoed within her chest. She had seen the invaders, the ones who were delving deep into the sanctuary of the Sorcerers. She had recognized their faces. The faces of her parents.

Crouching in the shadows her bow gripped in her left hand and arrow notched Jiaasjen waited as the two made their way past the great seal. None had ever passed that test. Something awakened within her, a hunger, a longing, one she had never experienced. But as they struck the Sorcerer down she felt shock and even awe. The fact that the guardian had fallen was inconceivable.

Watching as the man, her father opened the passage to the great hall she felt fear. She allowed the trespassers to come this far and Jia knew she would be punished greatly by the Sorcerer King for her failure. Even as the woman, her mother, reached for one of the discarded arrows Jiaasjen rose and pulled the bowstring taut and released an arrow directly at Arabella's chest. Dropping from the ledge she landed in a crouch, her fingers already plucking another arrow free to string.

She knew none could stand against the Sorcerer King and his guard. They would die and she would ever be a slave to the master. She must prove her worth or once the great Sorcerer finished with them, he would turn his eye upon her.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

The very air vibrated with activity Bella watched as Muadie ended the sorcerer right there, done over with. Moving on. She started to take a step she turned onyx gaze could not see it but the force sensed it. Bella raised her hand in time to stop the arrow mere inches from her hand she stepped back dropped her hand as the arrow hit the stones behind her.

She looked around again even as Muadie opened the great doors she sensed the surge of power. Her mind was guarded to tightly the little one in the darkness. Bella took a few steps towards Muadie.

The images came through the bond as much as they all were confusing something about the one of the glowing blue eyed child caught Bella off guard. She arched a brow and tried to hold the image. She wanted to study it but it was fleeting and soon drifted away with the others.

A shift around them, Muadie...do you sense something?

[member="Jia Darkhold"] [member="Muad Dib"]

 

[Muad Dib]

The dozen of warriors between the two of them and the throne made a grin cross Muad's face. Glancing at Arabella he felt felt her words through their bond. Narrowing his eyes he turned back to the throne room and attempted to sense what she did. But the thrill of the hunt, the anticipation of blood letting, and the echo of darkness emanating from the throne had the mad man in a tunnel vision.

All I sense, all I can taste, is what is ahead of us. What do you feel my love?

As the group of guards slowly began advancing Muad drive the point of the sword into the ground. Slowly he began to pull the force in, beginning to fill his body with the power while listening through the bond for what he was missing.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[member="Muad Dib"]

She must have imagined it or she was having a residual affect from the moment of the death of the sorcerer. Her lips tightened, Don't know dear...I'm coming up behind you.

She tried for a moment to ignore the calling that she felt through the bond. The way his blood curled and bubbled within his skin, how his madness pulled on the force Bella began moving to she could see the guards starting to descent on Muadie's position. She lifted her hand to focus the force to funnel her energy through Muad making him the conduit of destruction.

She waited for him to pull all he could to him knowing what would happen next she set her body rigid and planted her feet. Whenever you are ready.....

and yet something was tugging on her...

 

[Muad Dib]

He felt the power flooding through his veins, pumping with every beat of his heart. With each breath in rage, anger, and passion fueled the focus of his emotions. The force rushed into him drowning his senses. Teeth set in a silent snarl as he felt his body humming with power. Raising his left hand he stretched it out towards the guards who were nearing.

Then through his bond he felt the infusion that Arabella was funneling into him. The runes along his arm began glowing, the Sith marks flashing red as the glowing eyes matched the crimson color. His teeth gritting together as he held the explosive power within just as the dozen guards raised their weapons closing the last few meters of distance.

With a roar he opened his left hand. The wave of force destruction lashed out in a tremendous maelstrom that shattered bone and shredded flesh, crumpling armor and renting weapons. The marble floor cracked as columns crumbled, the wave of power crashing the length of the throne room.

Dropping to a knee he felt spent, his eyes and runes flickering back to cool blue. Attempting to calm his heart he looked up seeing the only remaining individual in the throne room was the Sorcerer who rose slowly from his seat. Taking several steps down the dais the Sorcerer King looked at the two interlopers still from a height.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[member="Muad Dib"]

Muadie was down Bella instinctively quickly moved to stand in front of him, her hand reaching down and gently threading through the drenched locks. For a moment she felt concerned that he had taken on too much.

Watching the sorcerer rise up she turned to face him how did he manage to survive that? Was he alive or spirit she couldn't tell. There was the sound behind her she couldn't help but hear it distracting scraping little sound what was it? She didn't dare look that would give him the opening he needed to bring down upon them whatever other army he had waiting. Oddly she sensed no one else.

Bella's arm ached a little, "Who are you?" She demanded to know. She did not expect him to speak to her.

When he lifted his head his eyes stared through Bella he was without a soul. He had life but nothing within him.

"What are you?" She asked her voice a little lower as her curiosity stepped in. She tilted her head, and remembered that Muadie was behind her.

"There is much for you to learn yet Arabella Darkhold." His voice trembled with age as he took a single step towards them. Bella set herself for a fight as his staff rose higher. She kept her gaze on him the staff was a distraction....

 

[Muad Dib]

Sometimes it was hard to remember where he ended and Bella began. They had endured so much, together and solitary, that each were a force to be reckoned with. They weren't the apprentices they had once been, young and idealistic, following a path set out for them. They had grown. Had been bloodied. Had learned the hard way about the Galaxy.

And they were no longer mere novices.

As Arabella advanced and the Sorcerer moved forward raising his staff as he spoke, Muad rose to his feet, the faint touch of his love's fingers still tingling on his scalp. Stepping to the right he moved several meters away from Bella, two directions for the Sorcerer to have to worry about. But for now his attention was upon just one of them. The ancient one radiated power. He had felt power before from many, but this felt old and almost as if it had several sources.

His sword lay in the stone where it was plunged, yet the mad man was not without arms. His right hand clenched as fire began to coalesce in his palm as he waited for Arabella to respond to the Sorcerer King, or the ancient being to begin his attack. Words and mental attacks were Bella's speciality from her training as an Inquisitor. His was warfare on a more physical plane.

Together they balanced one another, in many ways.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[member="Muad Dib"]

"I am not against learning." It was true she knew that what knowledge she had right now was just a drop in a the bucket compared to that of those who had lived and experienced more.

She watched the Staff knowing the it was used to keep her eyes elsewhere but what the creature before her failed to understand was that Muadie was her eyes he saw what she did not. She feared nothing knowing he was near.

The Runes on her arm began to ache not since the day she had received them had they ached so much. They felt fresh on her arm she clenched her teeth against the pain as it slowly traveled up her arm.

"You think you know pain Arabella....there are many different ways to experience pain." Around her what she saw the room dropping away revealing the pitch black of a tomb from some forgotten time. She could still feel Maudie near but she couldn't see him.

"it takes but the right moment, the right timing girl." There was a whoosh and a whistle her mind was flooded with images that she didn't know if they were real or illusion but at the heart of it was Muadie screaming in agony.

"Flames"

But Maudie was flame how could flame take him...........it couldn't......this was an illusion a test.........

"NO." She said with defiance, "It's not real. You show a lie." the darkness fell away and once again they stood in the cool of the mountain. She looked to Muadie what had he seen, was he here ?

"Maudie?"

 

[Muad Dib]

As Arabella and the Sorcerer King communicated Muad slowly circled to the right. His glowing eyes not moving from the Sorcerer. He felt the bands of power encircle his lover, the tendrils of darkness weave an interrogate design round about her. It felt reminiscent of the Witches of Dathomir. A primordial power from beyond the Veil. He had felt power such as it before. It was like a darkness seeking for a miniscule crack in the defenses, the slow ebb of tide that ate away at the foundation. Time and the knowledge that power was in it's side.

But it was not to be.

Stepping forward he froze as unseen chains anchored him in place. A silent snarl etched in his face as he felt the bonds constrict his chest. Pain wasn't a stranger to the Mad Man, yet what he began experiencing was a different type of torture. The seeds of darkness infiltrated his mind seeking the inner recesses within. Memories floated within as faces past before his mind's eye.

Gabriel, a Jedi Knight and friend, stood before him a burned figure. Charred hand pointed at Muad's chest in silent accusation. Atin, Mandalorian and brother in arms, holding the bloodied body of his wife Chloe stared in broken disarray. Derek, his brother, kneeling upon the unmarked graves of their parents with a face contorted in agony. Dresdin, blood brother, surrendering to the Phobis Devices and losing himself to the madness of defeat. Sol, the closest thing he had to a best friend, who cared for little but what he did was comparable to the ocean depths looked at Muad with disgust and turned his back. Arabella .... Bella, his love, laying on the desert sand as fear contorted her face while his hands choked the life from her body.

These were the ones he cared about, had opened his heart to. These were the ones who he had hurt.

For most anyone it would be this that would break the spirit .... But not for Muad Dib. He knew pain. He understood consequences, his actions, had ramifications. This wasn't what creeped into his spirit. It was the beast that was chained within the Mad Man. The chaotic madness that tried to claw it's way free. The realization that part of him enjoyed hurting those that loved him. He enjoyed breaking those closest to him.

The rage from within broke the bond that the Sorcerer King had created. The ancient being staggered in a mirror image of Muad Dib. But as the Sorcerer moved several steps back the monster that was the pyromancer laughed a cold hard sound that sounded like boulders crashing together. Turning to look at Arabella she would see his eyes had turned black, the runes had become obsidian, his skin pale. The fire that was the man, Muad Dib, was no longer present.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

Bella watched unsure for the first time in a long time of what was happening. She thought she felt Maudie slipping away.

She knew the runes were a gift from another ancient sorcerer but had never figured out the meaning. Now standing looking into his eyes the darkness that overtook her reflected back in his black onyx eyes.

She had been taught not to let her fear consume her. She had been taught to use fear. She felt her fear rising up she could face anything because if him.

From the first day playing puppets with skeletons on Korriban, going to the fair and rocking the haunted house realizing their growing attachment, the cave where Dresdin dropped a ceiling on them realizing they lost their friend, him coming for her when SHE had taken her death had been but a few steps for them, Tattooine where heat fueled their passions realizing they were finally one. Complete. He rescued her from loneliness.

He gave her reason for being when she wanted nothing but death

All this she tried to show him through the dark bond.

She reached out to touch him as the runes burned brightly, "Muadie?" The laugh chilled her to her core.

"My madman. Ever and always part of me" She laid her hand on his arm where the runes of darkness laid. "He is mine"

A gift. Life for life? Darkness for light? Sacrifice?

Whatever was to happen let it happen swiftly.

Bella burst into the madmans blue flame and was not consumed. She laughed. Is this what it felt like? The earth shaper in her reached out for a pillar.

Pillars of flame and earth sprang forth encircling them.

"Muadie wake up use the gift let it not consume you. I need you"

[member="Muad Dib"]

 

[Muad Dib]

A cold rage echoed with every beat of his heart. The desire to receive into Arabella was nearly overwhelming. Stretching forth a pale hand, fingertips traced her cheek lightly. Blue flame circled the two of them in a dance mirrored by the pillars of stone that had risen. Black eyes felt the words, the emotions, the experiences she sent to him.

Across the way the Sorcerer King grabbed a thick book from near his throne and opened it, a chant emanating from his thin lips.

Muad stepped close to Bella, invading her space. Tilting her chin lightly with his hand he breathed in her aroma. His mouth watered as he felt her power thrumming just within reach. All it would take was to breathe in. He wanted her power. He wanted to wrest it from her along with her life force. He wanted her dead, her body to fall lifelessly to the stone floor.

Leaning in his mouth touched hers.

Meanwhile the Sorcerer King was chanting, the Darkside filling him as he drew on the Sith Magik offered from the incantation of the book, the staff glowing as the power of his mind focused the weapon.

At the contact the Mad Man paused. Her taste lingered on his lips. Groaning he staggered back a moment breaking the physical contact. Yet the bond between them roared into his being. The puppets ... The temple... The gates ... The final room... The being that gifted and cursed them with the runes... And all the while there was Arabella. The eyes flickered back to blue and his skin lost the ashen hue as the flames that was Muad Dib came back. Leaning in her kissed her hard before breaking the kiss, for the Sorcerer King had finished his enchantment.

"You are as babes before my power. You believe you are gods yet have no understanding of my Divinity. I will show you your error. Unfortunately you will not be alive to understand the grave mistake you have made." The Sorcerer stretched the Scepter at [member="Arabella Darkhold"] and unleashed a powerful blast through the force that was capable of shearing through flesh. The grimoire in his other hand was aimed at Muad as Darkside tendrils rose from the stone floor seeking to ensnare him.

All the while the young woman watched frozen in the shadows.

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

There was no consuming heat the blue flames danced along her arms Bella felt a closeness to Muadie that she had not felt for a time.

The darkness of his eyes is that what she looked like? Were her eyes a void, a view into the darkness that lingered within her soul? It was frightening really was she such a black hole when consumed by darkness?

She saw him moving closer but the madness she knew him to have was not there, nor even a spark of the love she knew he possessed for her. Unsure for the first time in many years of his intention Bella thought she might have to protect herself.

As she fought the internal struggle on what Maudie was going to do she saw a flicker of hope. The darkness receded as his lips brushed against hers one moment soft gentle unsure perhaps then possessive crushing her as he stole her breath away.

Her guard was down as she stared at him saw him return to himself a few fleeting moments looking up before she thought about the danger surrounding them.

What she did not know, or thought of was how the blue flames were not only able to destroy but how they protected. The sorcerer thought for certain that his words would turn the tide in his favor. He did not really understand the bond between Bella and Muadie.

A bond that transcended time and the present. Two old souls that had found one another, two people alike in their beliefs and ways, two people who accepted one another without asking for change bonded for life and who knew maybe beyond.

The blue flames still danced in the iridescent colors and hues of blue but not protective, a gift from another ancient soul. One who had looked to the future and saw worthiness.

Bella was already an elemental creature as an earth shaper. She still looked up to Muadie unafraid and she couldn't explain why. The blue flames swirled about picking up the bits of sand and stone around them heating them till they blazed in a blue liquid till the moment the blast from the scepter crashed into it.

The wall of blue turned solid thousands of tiny cracks appeared creating little paths within the wall of blue, Bella turned unsure of how she was doing this her arm glowed she spread her arms out focusing on the wall, to its strength as the blast hit. The wall coalesced and moved as the power of the scepter powered through the wall shattering it.

Now greatly diminished in strength it reached Bella striking her to the ground, her clothes smoking and singed, her breath stolen away she laid there she felt the hair on her arms disappear. She tried to roll over thinking she was on fire to hear the crunch of her own hair.

Gone the long dark masses of deep browns leaving her with short jagged edged tendrils. The pain began to register along her nerves she wanted to cry out. She begged for it but training forbade it and she would not forget that training now.

The blood looked like spider webs weaving around her arms as she worked to push through the pain.

Her gaze looked beyond and for a moment she saw her own reflection in the eyes of a girl watching from the shadows.

[member="Muad Dib"]

 

[Muad Dib]

The tendrils of the Darkside wrapped their inky black tentacles around his legs to climb higher. Everywhere they touched was caused by inherent power. Cloth gave way as well as the skin that sizzled as the tendrils rose to encompasses his torso. A snarl of rage and pain echoed out as he struggled against the power holding him rooted in place.

Eyes glimpsed Arabella as she fell, and he threw himself against his bonds as flesh was scoured by the tendrils. His strength ebbed as the Darkside fed upon his own body, wrapping him tighter in their embrace.

The Sorcerer King gave out a triumphant laugh as both hands squeezed exerting more power into his manifestations of the Force. "Children playing at a game in which you know not the rules. Ever have I been steps ahead of you. Do you not understand that I have seen this very day, this encounter, and know it's outcome? Your lineage will not save you. It is ordained that you will fall this day by my hand."

The skeletal features revealed his mirth at the plight ensnaring the two. He had seen every outcome, every scenario.

 

[Jia Darkhold]

She watched as her master caught her parents. Her parents. As the words echoed in her mind she felt the pull of [member="Arabella Darkhold"]'s gaze on hers. Something unbidden transpired therein, but what she could not tell. The rage of Muad Dib was palpable, his resistance despite obvious defeat spoke of futility and ignorance.

These were her parents and she their progeny. And yet even as she watched Arabella create a wall that still shattered under the Sorcerer King's assault and fall to the ground wounded, despite Muad being ensnared by the dark arts and being leached .... They did not surrender to their fates.

Quasi was impervious to their rebellion, to their refusal to accept their fate. He believed he had seen every possible scenario. And while this was quite possibly true, she felt a kindredness in Muad's spirit, a longing in the gaze of Arabella. She could bow to what she had always known, to follow the path set out for her.

Or she could choose her own, doomed though it might be.

The arrow notched in her bowstring and flew unerringly for the chest of Quasi. The Sorcerer King dropped his hold on the force to stop the arrow inches from his chest, a plethora of emotions crossing his face. Surprise, anger, then grim determination. The arrow spun and launched back along it's course to embed itself into the youth's chest.

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

Which way to turn, who to go for Bella pushed to her feet she could see the arrow as it sliced through the air towards the girl.

Why had she taken this action? What was it about her that felt familiar? Bella did not look at Muadie she knew that once she took the step towards the girl he would step towards the sorcerer.

But she didn't really need a step did she? She could see where the arrow was headed, it required direction. Bella with what little she had left reached out and deflected the arrow before it found its mark. Then she turned to look at the creature that had brought this havoc down on them.

Bella took the advantage of the surprise given by the girl's action and swiftly invaded his mind, as she shredded every memory while taking from him the knowledge he possessed of spells and runes. Muad could finish the body take its life.

She took a deep breath she had to keep going while her own body allowed it.

Then she found it the one thing that made her stop,

PARENTS

Bella retreated having what she needed then she turned back where was the girl...where was...her child?

She moved to the shadows. What was her name what did he call her...yes yes...

"JIA!" she called. She fell to her knees..."Child where are you?" She was losing blood..."where are you...answer me..."

How was she going to tell Muad this?


[member="Muad Dib"]

 

[Muad Dib]

Struggling against the tendrils, a snarl etched upon his face, he saw Arabella turn to face the girl as a mental attack from her shattered the Sorcerer King's focus which caused the tendrils of darkness to dissipate. While he was a man who had learned the art and necessity of planning, strategy, and utilizing your surroundings to give you the upper hand he was ever first and foremost a man of chaotic action.

Leaping forward, assisted by the rockets in his boots, he flew unerringly at the Sorcerer who was in the midst of mental warfare with Bella and losing. Crashing into the Sorcerer the two men tumbled back against the throne with enough force to break bone. And it did. With the Sorcerer King between Muad and the stone throne he felt the other man's spine shatter.

A cry of pain erupted from Quasi and Muad reached out, one hand grabbing the man's jaw and the other the top of his head. Still disoriented from the pillaging of his mind his arms weakly battered against the Mad Man's back as the muscles in Muad's body shuddered as he exerted an immense amount of strength. With a cry like a wounded animal from Quasi and one of predatory triumph from Muad, the lower jaw was ripped free from the Sorcerer.

As Quasi gagged on pain and blood the Mad Man began beating the Sorcerer's head in with repeated blows utilizing the grizzly weapon that was mere moments ago a part of Quasi.

When a coating of brain matter colored the seat of the throne Muad finally ceased and stood, dropping the jaw and picking up the grimoire that was stained in blood before turning to seek out Arabella who was filling their bond with emotions he couldn't even classify correctly.

[member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

She could feel Muadie's victory ripple through the bond. She could almost feel the warm blood on his hands as he delighted in making Quasi's last moments something he would carry into the next life.

She sat there peering through the darkness she felt a life close by had she not been able to move the arrow had the girl been struck? Bella shook her head again, "Jia! Muadie help me find her!"

Bella felt lost in the darkness for the first time in her life. The darkness where she had lived and played for so long and now it was a curse when she needed the light so much.

[member="Muad Dib"]