- Joined
- Dec 22, 2017
- Messages
- 460
- Reaction score
- 267
It was cold.
His hand slid along the edge of the kyber crystal. It was the same crystal used at the Tragedy of Ilum, and it would be the same crystal used in many of Leviticus’ coming crusade. The Hutt Cartel, the Republic, and most of all, the Jedi Order. None of them would survive. Against the combined strength of the Force at his fingertips and the crystal at his feet, what more could they do than watch the spectacle of their destruction? If not, at least he would. There was nothing more he wanted than revenge. At first, he was fixated on it. Then, he let it consume him, let it chew at him piece by piece until nothing was left but that singular, relentless desire. A hunger so great, it was eating him alive.
He couldn’t sleep. He could hardly eat. His eyes were sunken, lips broken and hair sloppy. That professional, polished Sith Lord he once was had drained away, as had the blood in his cheeks and the power of his presence. His resolve had never wavered, his strength had only grown, but his men couldn’t look at him anymore. Respect for him was forgotten, replaced with fear and unease. Last week, a messenger had arrived with news from Korriban and Andraste, whom he had not seen or so much as spoken to since the last Council meeting. The messenger's body was found frozen and broken several kilometers from the encampment days later. How he had gone so far or why he was twisted in a way that disturbed even the most battle-hardened soldiers were questions best not answered.
Still, Leviticus knew. He heard the rumors and the gossip and felt the fear permeating the air. Did he care? Never. What mattered was the mission and his singular purpose, regardless of how much it cost him. Blood, sweat, tears, restless nights or endless days, hygiene, his own general well-being. Forget having contact with the outside world. He was fine in his lonesome, even if he spoke to himself on many occasions, even if he was slipping into madness and corruption. Was it the effects of the kyber crystal, was it that parasite of the dark side released by the abomination back on Prakith? Again, it didn’t matter. The only truth was the one he could see with his own two eyes: the crystal below him and the devastation he would soon unleash.
He came to a halt. In the many mysterious reflections of the crystal, Levi could have sworn he saw Liliana, her eyes and smile as wide as the first day they met. His nails scratched the crystal, uncertain, before pulling away. “No, of course not.” He whispered as his fingers ran through his hair. “What are you thinking, Leviticus? You’re mad. She’s dead.” A sigh as he felt his own words sink into his chest. This time full of silent grief. “She’s dead.” The delirious Sith Lord looked away from crystal and to the star-studded sky. “It’s fine. They’re coming, I can feel it. I need to be ready.”
He circled the kyber, now at the peak of its potential, and waited. He knew the Order was coming. After all, it was he who leaked to them his location, his plans, everything. Leviticus didn’t have to fabricate a story to lure them onto Ilum. Their worst fears were now reality. Of course, they would come.
Of course, they would die.
@Malon @Esther Nyx