Destruction of the Innocent (Anakin Skywalker)

~44~

      The castle begins shaking uncontrollably all around us. My consciousness fades in and out as I'm taken from my room. I remember looking back over Vito's shoulder to see all my guards laying on the floor, dead.  

My head pounds as he trots down the stairs back to the ballroom. Another explosion goes off, hits the side of the castle wall, and pieces of marble begin to rain down over us. As a last resort, I gather what strength I had left and concentrate.

He screams in pain, dropping to his knees as he holds his head. Once I was free, I grab his face and smash it into my knee. He flies back and my lightsaber falls out of his cloak pocket.

 I extend my hand and it snaps straight into my palm. I ignite it but two seconds too late, as he is already to on it and slams me into the wall. I drop my saber and it rolls a few feet away.
Spitting blood to the side he squeezes my neck harder into the wall behind me.



           "You know, we don't have to do it like this, Nova", he wheezes. I say nothing and fight to release his fingers from around my throat. I kick as hard as I can but he just tightens his grip. And digging my nails into his arm did'nt even phase him."If you won't tell me, then maybe Lord Sidious will be able to get it out of you?"

"I'll die before I tell you a damn thing!", I rasp out.

"And that's what I'm counting on...The warships are waiting outside on my command. No one else has to die in this war", he says shaking his head."Just know, this was your choice-"



 A dark cloak strides up behind him and he explodes in howls of pain. A blue lightsaber pierces through his back and out his stomach. I peer down over his hand to see it is only inches from my own. Anakin pull his saber from Vito's gut and he finally releases me. He hits the floor while I gasp for breath.

Anakin steps in front of me acting like a shield, raises his hand toward him.

Vito continues writhing in pain on the floor. His head snaps up toward him, his eyes shining like two golden spheres. I step back as he lunges toward me.


        He goes to attack me again, but stops in his tracks. He begins coughing uncontrollably, his hands fly to his throat. He begins to levitate, his legs kick beneath him wildly before he is slammed into the wall behind him.

His body makes an indention and he can't move. Anakin's eyebrows furrow in pure anger as his fist balls up tighter and tighter, it pushes him farther back into the wall. 

Then as quickly as it started it ended with Vito falling limp onto the floor. I hesitantly step forward. My eyes shift over to my rescuer. 

The rumbling around us continues as Anakin turns to me. Our eyes meet. His face remains stoney and full of hatred, but his eyes turn from a cold blue to dark steel. In an instant he is standing over me.



"Are you alright?", he demanded, his eyes jump around my face. The vision I had in the ballroom flashes through my mind. He takes a step forward, and I step back.  His face softens, and I swear he seemed hurt.

He does'nt take a step again, but his face returns to his usual stoney expression. He looks down his nose at me in waiting.

"I know who you are", I finally say. He cocks his head as he tries to read me. I keep the wall up.
"Do you?", he nods. His eyes grow dark as he steps toward me. I don't move this time." Do you know what I am?"

He is standing over me now. I finally allow my gaze to shift up until I'm looking into his eyes. I can feel his body heat radiating off of him from how angry he had just been moments before.




"What does it matter?", I ask.

"A great deal actually", he answers."You need to know you can trust me. I don't want you to be afraid of me."

I shake my head,"I'm not afraid of you. I never said I was."
"Neither did I. Your attitude however says-"
"What? What does my attitude say?", I raise my eyebrows. He clenches his jaw. "Are we seriously going there right now? My city in in shambles once again, and you expect me to be calm?!"


Another explosion erupts outside. Neither one of us move an inch. He releases a angry breath through his nose.

"So where does this leave us?", he asks.

I eye him cautiously and I shift my feet."I'm not sure."

 I break eye contact and walk over to Vito, flip him over and grab my lightsaber from his cloak pocket."Right now, I think we have bigger problems. We need to find my Father, Find out what the hell is going on here and get it under control."



     And with that, I turn on my heel and take off running to the ballroom to find my parents. I can hear his footsteps gaining on me as he follows after. Pushing through frightened partygoers, we reach the main foyer. Everyone was scattering and running for their lives. Clones were taking people hostage.
Someone grabs my arm and yanks me around a corner. 


"You have to get out of here. I'm taking Cora and going to the flight deck. T319 has no tracking system I never fixed it. You should be undetectable. Get there before the clones seize it", Echo whispers lowly.

"Where's my Father?", I ask.

"Out in the courtyard, I think he was fighting Baylon", he answers. I nod to Anakin and he returns the gesture.

"Alright, get the hell out of here. I'll see you on the other side", I nod.

"Good luck, Pryo." Then he takes Cora's hand and runs like hell to the flight deck.