Pawn of Darkness

Chapter 9

Obi-Wan sat at the back table of the bar surrounded by his officers and crewmen. He could barely understand the level of jealousy he felt as he watched the other men staring transfixed at Arianna on the stage in front of them. He pushed the feeling away and took a deep breath. He had no claim on her and even if he did, jealousy was an emotion of the dark side. Besides, he could not imagine a worse point in his life for these kinds of feelings to stir in him. He was in the middle of a war he was losing quickly. He had thousands of people depending on his decisions to keep them alive and the Jedi Order was almost in ruins. The last thing he needed was a romantic involvement, especially one like his relationship with Anna was the last time. It had taken him months after leaving before he could have a conscious thought that didn't involve her. Right now, more than ever he needed his wits about him and they were quickly turning against him and towards the beautiful woman on the stage. As a matter of fact he could hardly keep his mind on anything other than her since she had slid gracefully into the chair in front of him the night before. A large part of him wanted to barricade himself on his ship and not leave for the rest of the shore leave, but he knew it would do him no good now. Anna would just come to the Justice and try to drag him off.
He accepted his fate bravely, knowing full well how hurt he would be when he left her this time. It was different now without Master Jinn as a buffer between them. Every time they were alone together, Obi-Wan could almost see the crackles and sparkles in the force. It was as if they electrified the entire room. He didn't understand why they had that reaction to each other and he probably never would. He just knew it was a feeling he was growing more and more addicted to every minute.
Seeing that her set was almost over, he stood and quietly made his way through the corner that concealed her stairwell and up to her apartment to wait.

A blackness darker than the night slithered the expanse of Arianna's bedroom like a snake ready to strike. It's movements quick and sharp yet fluid and graceful at the same time. It emanated an aura of frustration and rage. The feelings filled the air around it and lingered like a rotten odor throughout the room. All these years, and now he was so close to having what he wanted. Obi-Wan Kenobi was the one thing that could disrupt his plans. He was the one person in the galaxy that he feared. He had the power to steal Arianna from his grasp. He alone had the power to turn his puppet against him. Therefore it was a certainty that Obi-Wan Kenobi needed to die. But how ? He would have to turn her against him. It would be hard, but it was the only way he could do it without exposing himself before he was ready.
The figure stopped in front of the balcony doors that Arianna enjoyed so much and with a wave of his hand they opened swiftly. He moved to the landing and surveyed the city below him. His plans were almost complete. Soon he would be able to bring his pet off this Force forsaken planet. Soon he would be able to lead her to the destiny she was born for. Every time he sent her on an errand he got closer. Every time she did his bidding his goal grew nearer. He smiled, an ugly twisted look that seemed more like a grimace, in relief that he had taught her to shield the parts of her he didn't want anyone else to know about. He had come dangerously close to losing her the last time this Kenobi had been here. As soon as the Jedi left the planet then, he had started making plans to see that it didn't happen again. It seemed to be working well this time. Arianna was doing well at keeping that part of her hidden. But all it would take was one slip. One mistake and all his years of planning and preparing would be for nothing. He was not about to let that happen. He had come to far now.
He had heard the call of the darkness stirring recently. He knew what it meant. The Sith Lord had claimed his new apprentice. It rankled him that he had not chosen Arianna. But it was true she was not ready. One day soon, she would be. One day soon he would reveal himself to her and they would rule the universe together.
He waved his gnarled, almost skeletal hand and the doors behind him banged shut again. Then he settled in to wait for his pet to return to him, all the while readying his plans to rid himself of Obi-Wan Kenobi.