HOME | DD

Description
A dark figure made his way through the long forgotten temple, his footsteps falling silent upon the dust and debris covered floor. He had finally reached the lower level of the temple and for a moment he paused in the thin stream of sunlight that filtered in through one of the holes in the ceiling. He lowered the hood of his ebony cloak and let his ice blue eyes drift shut as he concentrated on locating the item he sought. ~There.~ He suddenly felt the pulse of the crystal. It lay buried beneath the rubble before him. He stretched out his hands causing the mass of stone before him to lift piece by piece into the air and hover until at last he sensed that it was freed. With a quick gesture, he caused the gray crystal to snap at its base and float towards him. When it drifted within range, he snatched it from the air and turned, letting the rubble behind him fall slowly back into place. Dust drifted up and filtered through the beam of light as he opened his eyes and glanced down at the dark crystal in his hand. It glimmered in the dim light as he turned it over a few times in his palm. It would do. He placed it in the pouch at his side and began to move towards the broken stairwell that led up.

“Hello Christopher Raine.” A voice suddenly spoke softly from close behind. Reflexively he reached for the metal dual-lightsabre staff that was sheathed across his back - then halted as he recognized the voice. He turned slowly and caught his first glimpse of her. She stood nearby - lovely as ever, her face aglow in the sunlight. Her black hair was cut in short layers, which swept up at the ends. He also noticed a small locke of ivory hair near her temple which was tucked behind one delicate ear. His blue eyes met a pair of flawless hazel, their depths soft and inviting. It took all his control not to reach out to her.

“Jelaket Darkwalker…” He answered softly, his voice nearly catching in his throat. Then, before he could react she moved in close and raised a gentle hand to stroke a fallen locke of black hair away from his eyes. He stood frozen in place – stunned to have found her there. A small smile played at her full lips and she took a step closer. He gathered his wits and stepped away. “Why are you here?” He whispered, his eyes never leaving hers.

She would not let him get away this time, she was determined to find out why he clung to the darkness when she could feel his soul still filled with light. She took another step forward and grinned as she backed him against the wall, there was nowhere left for him to go. She regretted the last time they’d met, the fact that she had not spoken her mind or chased after him. She had been too shocked that day…hearing his voice for the first time in so very long. But most of all, she regretted that she’d let him walk away. Coyly, she reached up and pulled on the zipper of her form-fitting flight jacket to reveal a glimpse of the soft curves beneath. Her hand moved to trail slowly up his chest, his heartbeat teased beneath her fingertips. She gathered up her courage and closed the distance between them.

“Ket…” Chris whispered ever so softly in protest as she pressed her body up against his. He reached out and slid one arm around her slim waist until it rested lightly upon the small of her back. His other hand moved to skim softly up her side.

Her eyes fluttered at his touch and she shifted against him, her spine adjusting to the contact of his hand. His fingertips were causing little shivers everywhere, all over where he was touching and all over her body where he wasn’t. She hesitated to even breath, afraid if she did that he might break the sweet contact. His fingers caressed slowly up her small waist then over her ribs as his eyes played across her lovely face. His heart was so full of feeling that he thought it would no longer be able to hold together…but it did and he remained silent. His eyes softened and he bent his head, leaning slowly forward until his forehead rested lightly against hers…their breath mingling in the cool air.

Ket tilted her head upward, her lips parting, now so close to his. Her hazel eyes drifted shut as she leaned forward to close the last bit of distance between them. His hand skimmed softly across the side of her chest causing her breath to quicken as he felt her lips brush against his. His blue eyes drifted shut and his hand traced a path to her shoulder. His lips parted for a moment as he felt the touch of her own – then he paused, his hands stilling their movement. Her lips brushed against his a second time – barely touching and he knew what he had to do. His lips skimmed against hers as he turned his head to press a kiss to the side of her throat instead, his lips lingering against her soft skin before he forced himself to push her gently away.

“Not like this…” He whispered against her ear. He knew he had to protect her, if even from themselves. He was not free to love her…not yet. He heard her breath catch as he pushed her back and it tore his heart.

“Chris…” She whispered softly, her tone filled with sadness and doubt. He wanted nothing more then to take her into his arms once more and assure her that he loved her, but he forced himself to turn away – his life as it was now, would bring her nothing but heartache.

She caught his hand as he turned. “I need to know something and I need to know it now." She pulled him back towards her, this time it was her back that was to the wall. “Do you still love me?” His eyes leapt to hers and for a moment he just stared wordlessly at her in surprise. Her face was softer then he had ever seen it - more vulnerable. He remained still for a moment, then inter-laced his fingers with hers and closed the distance between them once more.

“I’ve never stopped.” He whispered softly as he took her into his arms, his mouth lowering to hers.

Her heart skipped a beat and her mind reeled as his mouth met hers. His kiss was soft and deep and it took her breath away. She could feel herself trembling against him as he pulled her closer. She laced her arms around him and raised herself on tip-toe, drawing the kiss deeper as the fire within her threatened to consume them both. Their lips parted only briefly to draw breath then met again - hungrily.

Chris’s heart pounded in his chest as he felt her hands fist around his cloak and pull him deeper into the kiss. If he didn’t draw back now, he was sure that he would willingly drown in her. ~One step either way is all it takes…~ His old Master’s words rang in his head as he slipped his fingers into Ket’s soft hair. After all the years of holding the line of neutrality – he knew her kiss could topple him into the light for sure if he wasn’t careful. It took all his effort to surface from her blissful embrace.

Her breath was soft and quick as their lips parted and he almost smiled. Then the cold dread of what he must do fell upon him once more. His hand trembled slightly as it unlaced from her hair to stroke her cheek. “I’m sorry…” His voice was barely a whisper. He memorized her every feature and held fast to the feelings her kiss had planted deep within him.

Her hazel eyes opened slowly. “What do you have to be sorry for?” Her voice was a silken whisper filled with warmth as she moved to lay her head against his shoulder. Yet, the trembling of his hand made her raise her head once more. “What is it?” Her brow furrowed suddenly in concern.

“I cannot stay here.” He whispered softly, his tone revealing the dread he felt within. He knew he would have to leave her. To keep her safe, he would have to leave and deny himself once more the love he knew he had for her and no other.

“You don’t have to.” She answered softly. “Come away with me Chris. Let us go home to Couriscant, together.” She breathed the words out softly against his neck, her voice was soothing and he almost slid down her lovely words and into the dream they wove. Instead, he shut his eyes and leaned down to plant a kiss upon her forehead as he reluctantly disentangled himself from her embrace.

“I Cannot.” He answered softly. He could see the moisture building in her eyes as he pulled away once more. He watched her lips part to object, but he quickly brushed a finger lightly against them. “I have no choice.” He whispered, his heart aching that he could reveal no more. He could not break the oath he’d sworn to his sith master. Jelaket was only safe when she was far from him. If he left with her, she’d be killed. No harm should ever come to her if Chris stayed far away from her. That was the deal. That was the oath. With a heavy heart, he slowly turned from her and walked away…wondering sadly if she would ever truly know why.

Description
A dark figure made his way through the long forgotten temple, his footsteps falling silent upon the dust and debris covered floor. He had finally reached the lower level of the temple and for a moment he paused in the thin stream of sunlight that filtered in through one of the holes in the ceiling. He lowered the hood of his ebony cloak and let his ice blue eyes drift shut as he concentrated on locating the item he sought. ~There.~ He suddenly felt the pulse of the crystal. It lay buried beneath the rubble before him. He stretched out his hands causing the mass of stone before him to lift piece by piece into the air and hover until at last he sensed that it was freed. With a quick gesture, he caused the gray crystal to snap at its base and float towards him. When it drifted within range, he snatched it from the air and turned, letting the rubble behind him fall slowly back into place. Dust drifted up and filtered through the beam of light as he opened his eyes and glanced down at the dark crystal in his hand. It glimmered in the dim light as he turned it over a few times in his palm. It would do. He placed it in the pouch at his side and began to move towards the broken stairwell that led up.

“Hello Christopher Raine.” A voice suddenly spoke softly from close behind. Reflexively he reached for the metal dual-lightsabre staff that was sheathed across his back - then halted as he recognized the voice. He turned slowly and caught his first glimpse of her. She stood nearby - lovely as ever, her face aglow in the sunlight. Her black hair was cut in short layers, which swept up at the ends. He also noticed a small locke of ivory hair near her temple which was tucked behind one delicate ear. His blue eyes met a pair of flawless hazel, their depths soft and inviting. It took all his control not to reach out to her.

“Jelaket Darkwalker…” He answered softly, his voice nearly catching in his throat. Then, before he could react she moved in close and raised a gentle hand to stroke a fallen locke of black hair away from his eyes. He stood frozen in place – stunned to have found her there. A small smile played at her full lips and she took a step closer. He gathered his wits and stepped away. “Why are you here?” He whispered, his eyes never leaving hers.

She would not let him get away this time, she was determined to find out why he clung to the darkness when she could feel his soul still filled with light. She took another step forward and grinned as she backed him against the wall, there was nowhere left for him to go. She regretted the last time they’d met, the fact that she had not spoken her mind or chased after him. She had been too shocked that day…hearing his voice for the first time in so very long. But most of all, she regretted that she’d let him walk away. Coyly, she reached up and pulled on the zipper of her form-fitting flight jacket to reveal a glimpse of the soft curves beneath. Her hand moved to trail slowly up his chest, his heartbeat teased beneath her fingertips. She gathered up her courage and closed the distance between them.

“Ket…” Chris whispered ever so softly in protest as she pressed her body up against his. He reached out and slid one arm around her slim waist until it rested lightly upon the small of her back. His other hand moved to skim softly up her side.

Her eyes fluttered at his touch and she shifted against him, her spine adjusting to the contact of his hand. His fingertips were causing little shivers everywhere, all over where he was touching and all over her body where he wasn’t. She hesitated to even breath, afraid if she did that he might break the sweet contact. His fingers caressed slowly up her small waist then over her ribs as his eyes played across her lovely face. His heart was so full of feeling that he thought it would no longer be able to hold together…but it did and he remained silent. His eyes softened and he bent his head, leaning slowly forward until his forehead rested lightly against hers…their breath mingling in the cool air.

Ket tilted her head upward, her lips parting, now so close to his. Her hazel eyes drifted shut as she leaned forward to close the last bit of distance between them. His hand skimmed softly across the side of her chest causing her breath to quicken as he felt her lips brush against his. His blue eyes drifted shut and his hand traced a path to her shoulder. His lips parted for a moment as he felt the touch of her own – then he paused, his hands stilling their movement. Her lips brushed against his a second time – barely touching and he knew what he had to do. His lips skimmed against hers as he turned his head to press a kiss to the side of her throat instead, his lips lingering against her soft skin before he forced himself to push her gently away.

“Not like this…” He whispered against her ear. He knew he had to protect her, if even from themselves. He was not free to love her…not yet. He heard her breath catch as he pushed her back and it tore his heart.

“Chris…” She whispered softly, her tone filled with sadness and doubt. He wanted nothing more then to take her into his arms once more and assure her that he loved her, but he forced himself to turn away – his life as it was now, would bring her nothing but heartache.

She caught his hand as he turned. “I need to know something and I need to know it now." She pulled him back towards her, this time it was her back that was to the wall. “Do you still love me?” His eyes leapt to hers and for a moment he just stared wordlessly at her in surprise. Her face was softer then he had ever seen it - more vulnerable. He remained still for a moment, then inter-laced his fingers with hers and closed the distance between them once more.

“I’ve never stopped.” He whispered softly as he took her into his arms, his mouth lowering to hers.

Her heart skipped a beat and her mind reeled as his mouth met hers. His kiss was soft and deep and it took her breath away. She could feel herself trembling against him as he pulled her closer. She laced her arms around him and raised herself on tip-toe, drawing the kiss deeper as the fire within her threatened to consume them both. Their lips parted only briefly to draw breath then met again - hungrily.

Chris’s heart pounded in his chest as he felt her hands fist around his cloak and pull him deeper into the kiss. If he didn’t draw back now, he was sure that he would willingly drown in her. ~One step either way is all it takes…~ His old Master’s words rang in his head as he slipped his fingers into Ket’s soft hair. After all the years of holding the line of neutrality – he knew her kiss could topple him into the light for sure if he wasn’t careful. It took all his effort to surface from her blissful embrace.

Her breath was soft and quick as their lips parted and he almost smiled. Then the cold dread of what he must do fell upon him once more. His hand trembled slightly as it unlaced from her hair to stroke her cheek. “I’m sorry…” His voice was barely a whisper. He memorized her every feature and held fast to the feelings her kiss had planted deep within him.

Her hazel eyes opened slowly. “What do you have to be sorry for?” Her voice was a silken whisper filled with warmth as she moved to lay her head against his shoulder. Yet, the trembling of his hand made her raise her head once more. “What is it?” Her brow furrowed suddenly in concern.

“I cannot stay here.” He whispered softly, his tone revealing the dread he felt within. He knew he would have to leave her. To keep her safe, he would have to leave and deny himself once more the love he knew he had for her and no other.

“You don’t have to.” She answered softly. “Come away with me Chris. Let us go home to Couriscant, together.” She breathed the words out softly against his neck, her voice was soothing and he almost slid down her lovely words and into the dream they wove. Instead, he shut his eyes and leaned down to plant a kiss upon her forehead as he reluctantly disentangled himself from her embrace.

“I Cannot.” He answered softly. He could see the moisture building in her eyes as he pulled away once more. He watched her lips part to object, but he quickly brushed a finger lightly against them. “I have no choice.” He whispered, his heart aching that he could reveal no more. He could not break the oath he’d sworn to his sith master. Jelaket was only safe when she was far from him. If he left with her, she’d be killed. No harm should ever come to her if Chris stayed far away from her. That was the deal. That was the oath. With a heavy heart, he slowly turned from her and walked away…wondering sadly if she would ever truly know why.