Permanent Mark

Ch 55

Notes: Writers block SUCKS and I'm sorry

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Ben storms into the castle, no regard for safety. No plan.

Just rage. Pure rage.

His heart hurts. His skin misses her. His ears miss her laugh. His eyes miss her smile.

He can't lose her. He can't.

Reaching for her is like the constant breathing of his lungs. It never stops. He couldn't stop if he wanted to. Every single time, there's nothing.

He can't find her.

Somehow he knows she's there. Something in him knows it to be true. He wants to scream her name. He doesn't for that would be foolish. It kills him to hold back.

Checking every room, feeling the signatures of his family doing the same, he searches everywhere. For every empty room, the panic increases.

She has to be here. She must be here.

"Ren!"

The voice is familiar, one he knows well.

He turns to face his old friend, not sure what he will find. His saber points straight to the man's throat.

Vicrul, one of his former knights.

Removing his helmet, he looks down at the red saber and back to his old friend's face.

Then he grins.

Ben doesn't flinch, he doesn't waver.

"My name is Ben Solo, Vicrul."

He blinks, almost nodding in agreement but that's probably an unwise thing to do with a hot blade only a millimeter from his throat. Instead he looks Ben right in the eyes and speaks with confidence.

"And her name is Rey."

Ben flinches, his anger reaching heights that cause the objects in the room to become airborne. For just a moment, he decides to simply remove the head of the Knight who dared speak his beloved's name. Yet, he had to know how Vicrul knew of her.

"What do you know? I swear on the Maker if you've hurt her, Vic…."

His blue eyes are soft as he delivers the news.

"She's not here, Ky."

Ben closes his eyes, feeling so much at once. Vic has not hurt her. He hasn't even seen her. He means her no harm. Feeling relief that he won't have to harm his friend combined with the news that he still hasn't found Rey, it's so much.

"You gonna turn that thing off now?"

Ben opens his eyes and shuts off his saber just as his family enters the room.

Vic looks back over his shoulder, his eyes wide.

"Master….I mean, Skywalker...Luke," Vic sputters the words, not expecting to see his old master ever again. Luke is not as moved.

"I'm no longer your master, Vicrul," Luke corrects him, "that was your decision."

Vic looks from Luke back to Ben, who is still processing the fact that Rey isn't here.
He needs answers and he needs them now. He doesn't ask. He demands.

"Vic, why are you here. Where is …"

"Kylo, Ben, whatever...we defected. All of us."

Ben doesn't move. Doesn't breathe. He finally looks back over his shoulder at his uncle, who is standing there with a mixture of shock and wariness.