Force of Nature: Book 2 - Apprentices of the Abyss | A Star Wars Story

Empress (Final)

"Vi! You're bleeding!" Karaay shouted in surprise. Causing Astrid to spot the red bandage on her forehead.

"You should see the other guy," Mak smiled as he lightly elbowed Melinoe.

"What the hell happened?" Karaay pressed. "It was meant to be a political visit!"

"I acted accordingly," Melinoe said vaguely.

"Mother of Sols, you didn't beat up the Duchess, did you?" Karaay panicked.

"Your sister-in-law? No," Melinoe rolled her eyes at him. "Thanks for forgetting to mention that little fun fact, by the way."

Karaay looked to Mak and then back to Melinoe. "Who... who told you?"

"Antonella," Melinoe frowned. As if just saying her name brought back bad memories.

Astrid listens in confusion. She wasn't sure why Lady Vi Vi meeting Big Ray Ray's sister was such a big deal.

"I was surprised," Mak added. "I was expecting to see some real Sith rage because of how much Antonella was pushing her the whole trip there."

"Wait, so what happened?" Karaay asked in confusion.

Mak explained how, while heading to Mandalore so the Duchess Satine could properly meet all the chosen candidates, Antonella had spent time trying to rile Melinoe up. Bringing up how Karaay had been keeping secrets from her, saying it was for the best that someone else trained Jaks.

The thing was, Melinoe didn't seem to listen to the other's taunts. She didn't even seem to be paying attention at all. Eventually, Antonella lost her patience. She had tried to grab Melinoe to get her to face them. Only to get a force push in return. In a moment of rage Antonella threw a vase at Melinoe's head.

It was more jumbo Astrid didn't quite get.

"I figured you'd be able to stop that easily?" Karaay said. Seemingly getting invested in the story.

"I wanted to see what would happen if Cordelia saw," Melinoe shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh, Sols," Karaay groaned as he placed his head in his hand.

"Did she get mad?" Astrid asked Melinoe. Wanting to be included somehow.

"Have any of your carers ever told you they're not mad, just disappointed?" Melinoe asked back.

"Couple of times, yeah," Astrid shuttered at the memories.

"It was a bit like that," Melinoe gave her a small smile.

"Antonella was like a hairless Stalker in the storm," Mak joked to Karaay.

"Speaking of Stalkers-" Karaay said. Looking to Astrid.

The girl let out a gasp. "I found something amazing! Way more than the big hole!"

Melinoe gave the girl a confused look. The children had told everyone about their bet, but Melinoe didn't seem to understand why Astrid was telling her now.

It had certainly been a whirlwind couple of days for everyone, and Melinoe was no exception.

Ever since she found out Sestu wasn't accepting the offer for candidate Melinoe had been on edge. Antonella's pettiness wasn't stopping, and Melinoe hated the thought of the woman being an Overseer. Not just of Nkua Etana.

There was that Pyke, Meca. At least he actually lived in the region, but given the behaviour and the nonsense Antonella had been pulling... Well, Melinoe never did like taking chances.

Melinoe was surprised to find that she was somewhat familiar with the scenarios she found herself in. The meetings, political plans and mandates. Everything she had witnessed in detail during her time as a Sith spy. She never expected that time in her life to help her during all this.