Of Love and War Book 4: When Darkness Falls

Chapter 4: Living Nightmare

The next afternoon, Zelina finally emerged from her hiding spot for the night, her first stop of the day Padme's apartment. She would have come sooner, but she wanted to be sure she wasn't about to intrude upon Padme and Anakin's much needed private time.

But by now, Anakin should have returned to the public eye.

Zelina left her speeder at Padme's private landing pad, looking around the apartment with a shadow of trepidation in her eyes.

The last time she'd been here...had been a frightening night.

She didn't remember why Anakin and Zelina had gone to Padme's apartment that night, not specifically...but she did remember in vivid clarity what had happened when the doors of the elevator opened.

**************************************

Zelina noticed Anakin first. Of course she did, whether she admitted it or not, Anakin always came first for her, no matter the situation. She saw his expression change, from a neutral, slightly bored expression while he waited for the elevator to reach their destination to shock, betrayal, and then unbridled fury. Darkness swirled in and around him, his entire being focused on one thing, and one thing only.

Padme dipped in Rush Clovis' arms, Clovis closing the distance to claim a kiss from the elegantly dressed Padme.

"Get away from her," Anakin snarled, arm outstretched with his hand curling in the air as Clovis was lifted off his feet, clutching at his throat.

"Anakin!" Zelina's alarm rang clear through the apartment. When Anakin didn't immediately put Clovis down but instead threw Clovis against the wall, Zelina reached to stop him, but he'd already stalked into the room, her hand passing through thin air as Anakin ignited his lightsaber.

"Anakin, no," Padme snapped, fury of her own bubbling in her voice despite the fact she was clearly trying to keep a clear head in the suddenly volatile situation.

"Why don't you try fighting like a man without your Jedi tricks?" Clovis goaded, rising to his feet with a sneer.

What the hell do you think you're doing, don't encourage him! Zelina thought.

"Oh, it would be my pleasure," Anakin derided, tossing his lightsaber aside without a second thought.

Predictably, Anakin pinned Clovis to the floor with ease. But Zelina wasn't here to watch as a spectator, or to stand by and let it happen.

"Anakin, enough!" Zelina shouted at him, coming forward closer to the fight.

"Stop this!" Padme added.

"You don't have a say in this!" Anakin growled, surprising Zelina further by directing his words towards both women in the room.

Clovis took Anakin's momentary distraction to kick Anakin off of him, sending Anakin sprawling a temporarily safe distance away. Zelina felt a twinge of contempt towards Clovis at seeing him hurt Anakin, but at the moment, it was not undeserving, and was in self-defense.

"I thought you said he didn't have feelings for you?" Clovis asked Padme as he got to his feet once more.

Anakin's feeling of betrayal was potent, Clovis' words striking deep and hard.

That did not help the situation.

"Anakin, don't," Zelina cut in, trying to put herself between Anakin and Clovis before Anakin could lunge again. As if Zelina wasn't alarmed—and honestly, a little scared—enough, Anakin shoved her aside, sending Zelina sprawling as he lunged at Clovis, on top of the man in a matter of heartbeats.