Of Love and War Book 4: When Darkness Falls

Chapter 19: My Last Stand

Zelina spun sharply to face Obi-Wan and Padme, one finger already thrusting out in the direction of the landing pad they had arrived on. "Get her out of here!" Zelina demanded sharply.

Zelina's own intent was clear in her posture and reflected in her eyes, an intent that had Obi-Wan stepping forward to refuse. "No, you're going to need me here—"

Zelina grasped Obi-Wan's arm tightly, locking her gaze with his own. "We're not going to put Padme and her baby in harm's way—I won't have it. Get her out of here, she's your priority. I'll make do," she ground out, giving Obi-Wan a light shove so he would get Padme off Mustafar in their small window of time. There were multiple ships, which means Palpatine was expecting trouble—Obi-Wan needed to keep Padme safe and protect her from any other threats. If Palpatine brought clone troops, then Obi-Wan was the best choice for a defender, since he was the Soresu master.

Obi-Wan's expression was hesitant, even as he backstepped and gently placed a hand on Padme's shoulder to lead her out of the facility. Zelina watched them go, Anakin coming to stand beside her.

"Go with them," Anakin said firmly, drawing his cloak around himself.

Zelina shook her head. "I'm staying right with you until you're...well, until you're you again." Zelina shook herself out of her temporary stupor and refocused on the present instead of the door Padme and Obi-Wan had disappeared out of, turning to face Anakin and placing her hands on his upper arms. "I'm not asking you to be perfect, or to fix everything, and I'm not going to force your hand; but, Anakin...no matter what you decide...I'm staying right here with you. I made promises, and I intend to see them through...to the very end."

Anakin's hand seized her arm in a vice grip. "I spared you once, I can't step in again. Leave. Now."

Zelina refused to be moved. "No. Whatever happens next, we're facing it together."

"This isn't the time for heroics, Zelina."

"You're right, it's time for you to get back on track, to make the right choice. Anakin, please—"

"Well, well...what have we here?"

Zelina froze at the new voice, both of their grips tightening marginally on each other as they registered that their brief time was already up. Zelina hoped that perhaps Obi-Wan and Padme had made it to the ship without any troubles considering how fast Palpatine had descended on her and Anakin. Maybe they hadn't made it to the ship itself yet, but as long as they managed to stay ahead of whoever had been in the second ship...Zelina would be okay.

Zelina turned just enough to see who had entered the room—from a door other than the one Obi-Wan and Padme had disappeared out of, Zelina noted with relief—remaining fixed in place because of the vice grips that she and Anakin had on one another. She didn't need to look to confirm the owner of the voice—it was a very distinct voice, and one that was ingrained into her soul right over the definition of hate, especially with recent events.

She hadn't expected what she saw standing in the doorway.

The figure in the black robes wasn't the Palpatine that she was used to dealing with face-to-face. This being was shriveled with sagging skin and gnarled fingers, an exterior to match the foul soul Zelina had always suspected was being hidden within. Still, he walked with a grace that defied his warped features, and the reminder of Anakin's story that stated Palpatine had killed all the Jedi Masters who had gone to arrest him except Windu, who'd been killed when Anakin disarmed him, made her wary. Zelina bristled at Palpatine's presence on an ingrained instinct, her hatred of the man piercing into the room like a thrusting blade even as she carefully put the dark emotion on a leash, lest it control her or provide Palpatine with an avenue to manipulate her.