The Darkening: Chapter Seven

He who fights monsters should look into it that he himself does not become a monster. When you gaze long into the Abyss, the Abyss also gazes into you.

Jysella stands in front of her wardrobe, wrapped in a soft absorbent towel as she looks at the new clothes she had purchased the day before. She quirks her head, and finally decides that she will wear them. Dropping the towel, she quickly dresses, and then looks into her mirror.

Her eyes start at her toes, smiling at the form-fitted boots that stop right at the knee. The matt finish of the boots is offset by the silver buckles on the side. Then she follows the rest of her legs up, nodding approvingly at the skin tight pants, which show her every curve. She begins to smile as she sees the shock of flesh that is her bare midriff. Then her eyes land on the final piece of her ensemble, a black halter top, with a low front cut, and merely tightened strings for a back.

She smiles, and brushes a strand of hair from her face, before turning from the mirror and going to breakfast. As she nears the kitchen, she can hear her brother and parents talking. With a smile, she steps into the kitchen, and silences the room. She first looks to her brother and notices his open mouthed stare. Next she glances at her mother, noting the storm clouds gathering on her face. Then finally she looks to her father, and is scared by the look he is giving her, it is an animalistic craving, and she has to quickly turn away and get her food.

Finally her mother overcomes her initial shock. "What do you think you're wearing?"

Jysella calmly looks at her mom. "My outfit."

"I think you should go change."

Jysella clenches her fist, and looks down at the counter in front of her. "I don't want to change."

She spins around, glaring at her mom, who takes an instinctive step back away from her. Then she brushes past her and walks out the door. As she arrives at the academy, she pauses on the front steps. Then with a flick of her hair, she pushes open the doors and confidently strides in.

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Back at the Horn household, Mirax stands watching the door as it swings shut. Surprised at how her daughter is acting, at the anger that was coming off the young girl. She turns towards her husband, and notices that he is also staring at the door. She waits for a moment, hoping he would speak first. "You could have said something to her."

Giving his head a slight shake he turns towards her. "I thought you handled it perfectly."

"So you're going to let her walk around all day wearing that?"

He leans back in his chair, and strokes his goatee. "Well, if she wants to be stared at like a piece of meat for a day, I say let her."

After another second, he stands up and walks to her. He kisses her, and then steps towards the door. Pausing a second he says, "It will be okay, I have to go to the Council Chambers now."

Then he is gone, following the same path towards the Jedi Temple that Jysella took. Mirax touches her lips with her fingers, wondering if that really was Whyren's Reserve she tasted when he kissed her. Picking up his cup of caf, she lifts it towards her nose to smell it. Stopping before she reaches her nose, she hesitates and looks out the door once more. Then pouring the caf out, she ignores the smell of whiskey coming from the sink and heads towards her office.

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Ben is standing around, chatting with a few of the boys his age, when he notices her walk into the hall. It takes all his self-control to not allow his jaw to drop as his eyes take in what she's wearing. As he watches her walk in, he notices a difference in how she moves, she's more sure of herself, her head is raised high and she acts proud and confident.

A far cry from the meek girl he is used to seeing. He walks away from the others, and falls into step beside her. "You look different today."

She glances at him. "You don't like it?"

"I didn't say that."

She stops, and turns towards him, leaning into him. "Good. I want you to like it."

Then running her hand down the side of his cheek, she spins and walks away, leaving Ben gaping after her, his thoughts confused. A large hand slams down on his shoulder and squeezes tightly, and Ben spins breaking the grip. He looks up and finds himself face to face with Corran Horn, Jysella's father.

Ben takes a step back at the anger and jealousy that pours off Corran. "Stay away from my little girl Skywalker."

"What are you talking about Master Horn?"

Still confused by everything that's going on; Ben is caught unaware by Corran's fist as it slams into his jaw, knocking him to the floor. Before he has a chance to get up, Corran grabs the collar of Ben's tunic, and drags him back to a standing position.

Corran leans into Ben, his eyes narrowed and deadly. "I saw you touching her, and I saw the thoughts you were having about her."

Corran heaves Ben towards the wall. Ben is prepared now, and throws his feet out, walking up the wall, and flipping around, ripping his tunic from Corran's grasp. As he lands, he can hear the snap-hiss of a lightsaber. Looking up, he sees a silver blade, angling in towards his head. Ben rolls away, coming up from the roll, with his own saber in hand and blade thrumming.

Ben takes a second to glance around the hallway, looking for some other way out of the situation. Yet all he sees are clusters of students all watching and cheering and betting on the fight. Then with a flicker of warning, he dodges Corran's blow, and places his sword in the way of the counterswing. "Why are you doing this Master Horn?"

Corran's blade comes down, the blow powered by his anger. Ben catches it, but is pressed down by the power, and Corran leans his weight onto the blade. He looks at Ben, his eyes flashing red and yellow. As he speaks his voice is low and menacing. "She's mine. You need to stay away from her."

Ben angles his blade, and slips out from beneath Corran, who stumbles slightly as Ben dances away. They both once more assume mid-guards and start circling each other. A commotion at the edge of the crowd attracts Ben's attention for a second, and he sees Jysella pushing her way to the front. As she looks between the two fighters, she runs between them, and stares at her father. "Daddy! What are you doing?!"

Corran advances towards her, his face twisted into a sneer. "You dirty schutta! You're involved in this!" Then he backhands her across the face with his closed fist. Jysella twists with the blow, but the power behind it is still enough to send her to her knees.

Corran raises his saber and begins sending it in a downward arc towards Jysella. Ben slides his own sword between Jysella and Corran's blade just in time. Then with a flick of his wrist, he sends Corran flying backwards with a powerful Force push.

Ben pauses for a second, and kneels beside Jysella, lifting her face from her hands. His eyes narrow in anger as he sees the large welt and blood seeping from her nose. "You okay?"

She mutely nods her head, and Ben resumes standing, turning to face Corran. The older man is once more stalking towards them, and assumes a high-guard. Ben steps forward, then rushes ahead, pushing his blade at the older Master. Corran deftly side steps, and slams his left fist into Ben's stomach as Ben is running past.

Ben crumples to the ground, and then starts rolling away, barely being missed by Corran's blade as it cleaves into the stone floor. Shakily getting to his feet, Ben once more assumes a ready stance. Corran attacks and Ben parries the blow, and then as they pull their sabers away from one another, Ben quickly flips his blade around and touches Corran's leg with it.

Corran screams in pain, and attacks with renewed ferocity. His blade slices away at Ben, who is barely able to parry every attack, and is slowly backing away, giving ground. Then Ben steps in something wet, and his foot slips out from underneath him, dumping him to the ground.

A triumphant look appears in Corran's eyes as he raises his blade. Then Luke Skywalker's voice cuts through the hallway, causing everyone to stop and turn towards the source of the voice. "Enough!"

Luke stomps forward, his eyes flickering between Corran and his son. "The both of you to my office immediately!"

As Ben stands, he glances around for some sign of Jysella, and when he doesn't see her, bows his head and walks towards his father's office.

As the three enter, Luke closes the door and turns on Corran. "What do you think you were doing? Attacking an apprentice in the middle of the halls? What if someone had gotten hurt?"

Ben leans against the wall, mutely watching, hoping his father would forget about him. Corran glances up; his eyes rimmed in red, but otherwise their normal green color. "I'm sorry Master. I lost control when I saw him and Jysella together."

Luke turns from Corran to Ben. "You, go see your Mother, and tell her what you've been up to. She'll come up with a suitable punishment." Then he turns back towards Corran. "And you go to the med center and get your wound treated. Then after that return here; we're going to have ourselves a nice long talk."