Star Wars: Edge of Hope

Chapter Fifty Five: When The Fallen Rise Again...

There is a certain sensation a body gets when something unnatural comes into its presence. The hairs on your body rise standing perfectly taught & erect, every synapse in your body screaming as wave after wave of energy rolls like thunder over you. Exegol has long held the sins of the Ancient Sith Order, like the heavy lids of the sarcophagi imprisoning the remnants of bone & dust. But there was something changing in the wind as Draugr stood in the shadows looking up at the blood red kyber capstone. The dazzling deep ruby color washing over him with each strike of the dispersing ionic energy. The feeling of power was beyond seductive, it was sweeter than any womans embrace, more intoxicating than the headiest elixers, but it also created this deep plunging ache of hunger through his bones. As quickly as the ecstacy was tingling across his skin, the burn of it disappeared into a frightening empty numbness until the next strike hit him. It wasn't until the shift came under the blood red lights he realized the fleeting pull of the power wasn't disappearing at all. It was merely being summoned elsewhere. The soft cooing sound of the curling growl of the approaching footfalls brought him out into the brilliant white light of the audience hall. All along the back broken walls of the tombs the crunching sound of old bones beating agains the cold crackling kyber veins sent a shiver up his spine. These still ashes, which had laid undisturbed for millenniums, shuddered as the ghostly breath of Abeloth's approach beat through their skin like echoes of the dead. The very stones all at once began to wither as they became ground down beneath the weight of her footfalls echoing off the vast chambers walls. The dias sat vacant & empty, but with slow regal steady steps Abeloth glided forward not caring a hair for the multitudes of towering statues with their ancient dead eyes. As the pale grey figure floated past the crimson robed guards began tentatively emerging from the shadowy alcoves. The long frayed tail of her once glorious gown now ashy midnight in color. The material swished along behind her, the once opulent lush fabrics now torn by ages of time, lost to the eons of empty space & endless time. Abeloth had spent millenniums of it fighting hand over fist, pulling the wrenching clawing hands of the darkest, most malevolent things you never dared to dream existed off what was left of her broken soul. But now in the cold, almost artic breeze bristling her flesh, tingling ever dormant nerve ending with its womb like embrace, the memories of the days she'd taken these things for granted broke away like the freezing kiss of displeasure of the spirits brushing her skin.

Abeloth: I know you're there, so why bother hidding in the shadows, come out..wherever you are. I want to see your face...there is no point in hiding from us...we can feel your black soul in the shadows. It calls to us..

The sing song sound of her low voice echoed agains the pillars sending riveting shudders through the columnades, & bringing the sound of the low growl rising as her head turned with quick snake like snaps. Draugr emerged from the black shadows his pale grey skin cracked, his hands at his side, but his eyes...his eyes were reading every move she made. Draugr carefully walked towards the throne, as he lowered himself down onto the cold hard stone a loud cracking sound as if a whip had been snapped right next to his cheek erupted, & the from the ether emerged Umbra in a long gown of ruby Trekar skin she hummed as she walked out into the light. As she walked over to stand at the right hand of Draugr, he caught a glance of familiarity in their eyes, causing him to split his attention between the devil he knew...& the one he didn't. A low menacing laughter rose landing on Draugr's ears the sound felt like needles being pressed into his ear drum. But with in a flash of red Maul moves to stand behind Abeloth who while maintaining her cold stare into Draugr's eyes leaned over kissing him on the cheek with mock affection.

Abeloth: Good to see you made it safely home, my dear. I had wondered if perhaps facing your sister might have broken your resolve. The past can be the hardest thing to bury, it tears us limb from limb, but here you stand...