Can You Love Me Again?

Chapter 26- Negotiations Of The Dark

  In mere milliseconds Anakin discarded his wives thin, vein streaked hand, gripping her wrist like a lifeline as he forced her behind him. Surprised by her gasp and sudden anger through the force. But not anger at the emperor who he was certain was behind all this. Anakin threw a look of annoyed confusion for her over his shoulder. 'Is she still angry about the milk?' He thought. She said nothing, her exterior held a frown on her vein streaked lips the used to be so plump and pink, but she didn't make a peep. 

Anakin dropped into his form IV stance, portraying nothing but determined readiness as he turned back to the sith lord, trying to ignore the gnawing in his stomach that whispered her anger and disdain wasn't directed to the sith lord... Though, forcing those thoughts from his frazzled mind and was satisfied by the ominous sapphire hue casting on his own scowling face as his narrowed eyes scoured the room for the demonic beast that was hiding in the shadows. 

Luke mirrored his father exactly, forest green blade humming and dropped in form IV. Everything about the two Skywalker's were identical down to the color of their eyes, all except their fury levels. The youngest Jedi remained calm, prepared and diligent for the fight ahead, while his father radiated fury and promised vengeance. 

A menacing chuckle bounced off the structured walls, seemingly everywhere at once due to the annoying echo. Anakin remained still, his head not moving from the same shrouded corner deep in the dark light. Luke, meanwhile glanced around, guarded and cautious but confused by the multiple locations their adversary could be. Padmé however, remained indifferent. 

"Show yourself coward!" Anakin demanded sternly, his teeth gritting as he tried to quell his growing fury. 

Responding to Skywalker's order, yet only doing so on his own time, the nefarious Darth Sidious boldly stepped out from amongst the shadows, despite being one himself. Once again and always cloaked in his trademark midnight black robes that shielded his sickening yellow orbs. 

"I'm pleased to see you answered your wife's plea for help." He smiled, faking fatherly kindness that Anakin always ate up. 

"I'll always answer her pleas." Anakin scowled deeply, deciding this was no time for sardonic humor. 

But oddly, the sith lord laughed. "Yes... just like that night on Mustafar." He smirked, relishing in the shock, guilt, and then rage that played across Anakin's face. 

Luke felt it though the force, confusion and a feeling of being left out filled him, though his head no longer moved. His glowing eyes stalking the emperor for any minuscule movement he'd make. 

Sidious smirked at the multiple emotions clouding the throne room. Uncertainty, curiosity and confusion originated from the boy wielding the green blade. Sidious considered this for a moment. He realized quickly that meant the child was more in-tuned with the force, rather than hauling out his lightsaber for a slaughter. Most honorable. But repulsive and quite disappointing. But no matter. He'd fix that. It was this he mused on until he found the correct time to flip off of the shaft he had observed the family from. Only a soft tapping of the tiles emanated as the sith fell gracefully through the air, hood falling off and now stood only a few yards away. Immediately, the blue and green blades followed him. 

Sidious's gaze fell upon his target. He stood stoic still as he watched the gears turn and the smoke of pure unbridled hate ooze from the chosen one. As he met the icy blue glare, he was met with the white hot hatred of Mustafar's hottest inferno. Yes it still pleased him insurmountably. Adding onto that pleasure, he noted that his true emotions were being held at bay from his offspring. He could use this later... 

The sith lords face stretched into a condescending smile as his slave began to speak with such venom it was a wonder the boy couldn't sense it. 

"Sidious. I knew the kidnapping was your idea. Thank you for being so predictable." He spat, humorless still even at the end.