Reave's POV

It was a predicament I was not expecting, but not one I necessarily detested. When I finally decided to take an apprentice, I expected to observe the students for a couple of days and then take someone from the top of the class. Maybe find a student with raw talent and just enough arrogance to not grate against my nerves. Many modern sith were arrogant fools and I despised them for it, however, a sith without confidence is a sith without a spine–a sith who would get cut down by the competition at the earliest opening.

Instead, a small, insecure apprentice who was barely achieving passing grades stumbled into my life. And I had been the fool to open my arms to her.

Is that what Astra made me? A fool? My chest constricted, instincts kicking me in the stomach. No. She did not make me a fool.

When I had spell-locked the library doors I meant for it to be a test. I intended to wait nearby and observe who attempted to break the spell. Unfortunately, I had been slightly overzealous with my test and used a spell far beyond most Lord's skill level, let alone an acolyte. I had been leaning in that crevice of the academy working through the lock myself, quickly realizing I had made it far too powerful–I had been at it an hour and had made no progress–when the girl came by.

I watched as a creamy, pale hand extended towards the doors and hovered above the spell. I could feel as she drew upon the force in the room, draining the immediate area of it as she thrust her power into my spell. The spell had split open like lightning splitting the sky of Kaas city. A spell even I could not break. She had destroyed it with a mere thought.

The most interesting part of the entire encounter was that she had no idea what she had done. She simply saw a barrier between herself and where she wanted to go, so she annihilated the barrier.

If only she realized that unlocking her true power was just as simple.

After our conversation last night I had apprised that she thought so little of her abilities that if an obstacle seemed too large, the mental barriers she built around her power blocked her from overcoming it. When she thought her friend, Darth Lynk, had placed the spell-lock in front of her, she was confident she could bypass it. She trusted the Librarian, so she trusted in her strength to solve his puzzle.

The path forward was clear, the key to unlocking her power was to force her to trust me. I was the key to unlocking her darkness, and once I did, I would unleash her upon the galaxy.

My soft, powerful, beautiful apprentice. I would remake her into a being of my own reflection. I would twist her mind to be cunning, deceptive, and fearless. I would instruct her body to be agile, strong, and resilient. She would serve my every whim and I would consume her entirely. She was mine to instruct. She was mine to wield. She was mine.

The things I wanted from her, the things I wanted to do to her, the thoughts plagued my mind at every moment. Being on this ship with her meant I could sense her at every moment. I could feel her presence all around me. I could even smell her.

My fine-tuned senses made it so I could practically hear every thought that went through her head as if it were my own. I knew when I was making her nervous–when I was making her excited–when I was making her wet. I could smell the way her abdomen constricted when I was near her, I could see the way she clamped her thighs shut to stop the rush of desire slithering down her legs. Her desire was delectable, intoxicating, delicious. She made my cock strain against my waistband and ache like I would die if I didn't feel her softness wrapped around me.

I would have her. And she would beg for me.

But until then, my fist would have to satiate me.

The water of the sonic shower scorched down my shoulders and back, flushing my hair straight against my face. I leaned against the shower wall with my hand bracing me as the other jerked my erection. I had been withholding myself from relief for hours. My cock had been stiff since she came on board but I wouldn't allow myself release until she went to sleep. I didn't trust myself to not find her and shove her to her knees if I felt her conscious while I fucked my hand.

My cock sputtered against the wall and I came with a muffled grunt. The walls were thick, she wouldn't have heard me. Perhaps she could have sensed me if she had more training. But by the time she was strong enough to use her sense like that, I expected to be fucking her regularly.

She was to be mine, mine to claim, mine to fuck.

Mine.

***

I had a purposefully quiet morning with my new apprentice. I knew from the academy that she was an early riser, thankfully I was too. I slept little. Since reaching true oneness with the dark side of the force, my body needed little rest. The force supplied me with all I needed. The weak needs of feeble humans were something I no longer needed.

I was drinking caf when she padded into the main area. She was dressed to leave already–something I noted and appreciated. She was efficient, as was I. I could not only sense but see the way her body stiffened when she saw my face. I eyed her over the brim of the mug. She cast her gaze to the floor from the prolonged eye contact. Obedient little thing.

I would allow her to see me for this moment, but that was all. I wanted her to long for a glimpse at my face. It was an aspect of control that I intended to use to make her bend to me. Allowing her to see me would be a reward–not a constant.

I grabbed my datapad and rose as she approached the kitchenette. I had told her yesterday that she would help herself to meals. I was her master, not her babysitter. As I passed her, she breathed in sharply. I stopped beside her and stared down at her. She swallowed thickly before looking up at me and asking,

"We arrived at the Kaas City spaceport last night?" Her gaze bounced between my features, memorizing the lines of my face.

"Yes."

"I am ready to leave when you are, master." She tore her eyes from my mouth and bowed her head slightly. The academy had taught her respect well. It meant little to me, but would be essential for the others we would no doubt encounter on Dromund Kaas.

The lords and darths that spent their days prancing around the capital city were no better than gossiping nobles. They commanded little power, so they gained their status by playing social games. The lying and pre-meditated backstabbing of the sith was a waste of time. Those who knew true power had no need for their tottering hierarchy.

"Very well. Be at the airlock in twenty minutes."

She let out a breath as I walked away.

Twenty minutes later we were walking through the familiar spaceport. Astra walked a step behind and to my right–the proper positioning of an apprentice. She was wearing her hooded cloak as I had suggested yesterday. Her head was down and her gaze glued to my heels. Eventually, I would need her to be more aware of her surroundings–to memorize the details around her. But for now, I would watch for both of us.

She had much to learn.

Kaas City was gray and rainy, just like always. Once we had entered the city proper Astra was being more attentive. She was staring–too obviously–at the passersby's. I noted she was specifically interested in the sith that paraded around with slaves equipped with shock collars. She grimaced at one twi'lek slave who was being reprimanded by her short, ugly master. A weakling fool who needed to belittle others just to feel competent. Typical.

Khem Val was technically my slave, but the days of me trying to enforce control over the monster were long behind us. I owned him, and he owed me a life debt, but I saw him as more than a tool. He was an important ally to me, a confidant, and a strategist. Khem Val had centuries more war experience than I did and I would be a fool to overlook that.

I left Khem behind for today, but he would be joining us in the temple tomorrow.

A droid taxi took us to the citadel. Astra rested her head on her arms and leaned over the side to get a better view of the expansive city. I wanted to ask her for her thoughts on the capital, but it would be foolish to welcome small talk so quickly. She respected me, but she needed to fear me. I needed her to see me as the untouchable godling I was.

Despite that, and against my better judgment, I held my hand out for her as she descended the cabin. She looked at my hand and then at my helmet before blushing profusely and softly grasping my hand. Her fingers were cold and delicate. I found myself wondering if she was cold if she needed a heavier cloak if she needed gloves.

I steeled myself and dropped her hand. That was a ridiculous line of thinking.

Despite the early hour, the citadel was crawling with sith. Sith had no issue staring too longly at me and my apprentice. I could name maybe three-quarters of the sith who shuffled by, though I was positive all of them could name me.

I wondered how long until chatter of Darth Reave's new apprentice would fill the holo channels. It probably already was.

I was anxious to step out of the public eyes of the citadel and safely lock Astra behind the closed doors of my office, although as it turned out, something far worse was within my office.

Sprawled on the top of my unused desk inspecting an old Holocron of mine was one of two people in the entire galaxy I would call my friend. Although, I would call the Sith Pureblood a friend as much as I would call him a major pain in my ass.

"Reave," the Pureblood drawled.

"Callous," I groaned.

The Darth lept from my desk in a whirl of black robes and was on my apprentice in a moment. She breathed in sharply and tried to step away but Darth Callous had her cheeks pinched between his thumb and forefinger. I tried not to think about how easily she let him ambush her.

Callous angled her head in all different directions like he was inspecting an animal. Astra's eyes were wide and frantic as she looked between me and him. She was terrified at first but when I didn't intervene, she relaxed slightly. She trusted me to step in on her behalf given a serious threat. Interesting.

"A little short... too thin. At least you followed my advice and picked out a pretty one," Callous hummed before dropping her face and turning to me. Astra rubbed her jaw where he had been grasping her.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion, Callous," I supplied.

"Well, you're getting it," he shrugged.

For such a devastatingly powerful sith, Darth Callous had an air of complete nonchalance. I assumed it had served him well over the years. Putting an opponent off his guard by appearing unthreatening was an effective tactic. Although I preferred the more direct route.

"What's its name?" Callous asked me.

Astra stormed around the wall of Sith Pureblood and stood where she could be seen, "My name is Astra, and I'm not an it."

"Such fire, apprentice Astra," he drew out her name as he took a step towards her. She recoiled and looked at me again. "Tell me," Callous began, creeping closer, "Why did the Empire's greatest assassin choose you."

She breathed out a shaky breath and stood taller. She would not back down from him, despite her fear. It was foolish to challenge him like this, but I knew Callous was just teasing her.

"Because I am a worthy apprentice," she said darkly, "because he sees my potential."

"Potential is worthless in the face of a real threat," Callous said with uncharacteristic seriousness.

Callous was back on her, wrapping his hand around the top of her neck and forcing her face up. The fear returned to her, I could smell it as it filled the room. I knew Callous was not actually choking her but the threat he imposed upon her broke my facade.

I stepped between them and slammed my fist on the crook of his elbow, breaking his grasp and letting my apprentice step away.

"That is enough, Callous," I ground out as my friend rubbed where I had struck him.

A wicked smirk spread across his face as he looked at me and then my apprentice who was breathing heavily and rubbing her neck. His smile spread further into a laugh, "Isn't this charming!"

"Bite me, Callous." I accidentally stepped towards my apprentice, my instincts compelling me to protect that which is mine.

"Tell me, Astra, does he bite you?" Callous laughed.

Astra looked mortified.

"Callous," I growled.

The sith held up his hands in surrender, "I jest, my old friend."
"You're a real comedian. Have you been doing stand-up at the Rodian comedy club?"

"Yeah, and I saw your old girlfriend there. Never got what you saw under all those scales."

A soft, melodic giggle split between us. I was particularly thankful for my helmet at that moment, otherwise Callous would have seen the way my face softened at the sound of my apprentice's amusement.

***

Astra's POV

I turned my back to the two dark lords and slapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my laugh. Laughing at two sith was generally a bad idea, but this Darth Callous seemed to think it was funny too, by the grin on his handsome face.

Darth Callous was a Pureblood Sith, his skin was a vibrant crimson that appeared slightly more leathery than human skin. Most Purebloods had fleshy tendrils hanging from their face–they were rather repulsive in some cases–but Callous only had four short ones that dripped from his chin in an almost goatee-like fashion. They made his look distinguished, not gross. He had the characteristic boney ridges along his forehead and nose as well. His face structure was in a word; gorgeous. He had a straight and symmetrical nose and a sharp jaw framing full, wine-red lips. His thick black hair was cropped short against the nape of his neck but slightly longer on the top, most was styled back but a few stray pieces danced along the sides of his temples. He was a beautiful man with a deliciously deep, accented voice.

I had gone through such a whiplash of emotions the last ten minutes that I felt like this interaction wasn't real. I calmed myself and finally stopped laughing as I tried to piece together what I could from this conversation. My big, scary master had a friend who for some reason had access to his locked office in the citadel. Darth Callous seemed to be waiting for us, which was also strange because I was under the impression no one knew Reave and I were coming here.

Callous had manhandled me, called me it, insulted me, and choked me all in the span of our first conversation, but for some reason, I wasn't inclined to hate him for it. He didn't actually hurt me, and the insult felt more like a test of wit and less than a serious threat. Something told me this was just how Darth Callous acted. What was stranger than all of this was that my stoic and stone-faced master trusted this Pureblood. If I was asked this morning I would have guessed Darth Reave doesn't have any friends.

"Excuse Callous's offense, apprentice," my master murmured after I composed myself. I turned slowly on my heels and readjusted my hood to sit evenly around my shoulders–I was fidgeting, truth be told. Being in the presence of two powerful and handsome sith was a little overwhelming.

"None taken, master," I nodded my head once and dared a glimpse at Callous from the corner of my eye. The Pureblood was staring at me with a devious smirk plastered to his face.

Darth Reave crossed his muscled arms across his chest, "Callous is one of two people I would, unfortunately, call my friend. We were brought to the Korriban Academy in the same group. I hated him for years but he wouldn't leave me alone."

I tried to hide the shock on my face. It was heavily frowned upon to make real friendships with other acolytes. They were your competition above all. I had my acquaintances back on Korriban but I had never considered they would be my friends years after I left the academy. Well, there was a time when I thought Serena and me... I didn't finish the thought.

"The academy was different when we attended it," Callous said as if reading my mind. I gave him my attention as he continued, "They used to not be so focused on competition and solitude. In fact, attacking other acolytes used to be strictly forbidden." I gulped, remembering how many acolytes had been murdered by their fellows while I was there. "Years ago, the Sith Order was more focused on building numbers. Every sith was a valuable asset. The three of us were competitors, sure, but it was expected that we would all make it off Korriban one day. Now, the Council is starting to shift our Order to fewer, more powerful sith over numbers. Just another example of how finicky our Dark Overlords are," Callous said with venom.

"Callous," Reave warned, "you can't openly talk against them like that."

"Who's going to tattle? You? This room is soundproof, checked it myself."

"We are in the capital. You take unnecessary risk," Reave scolded.

Callous rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. Judgment upon the Dark Council was forbidden, Reave was right. Despite that, I wished Callous would say more. Being stuck in the academy for most of my life meant my opinion of the Council was based solely upon what I was spoon-fed by the Darths, in other words, I had only ever seen propaganda. I wished to know the truth of Empirical politics.

"Regardless," Callous continued, "We three were thick as thieves back in the day. Straight up until your master was plucked out of the academy by Darth Zash. I was chosen by Darth Baras, and Akhoi was chosen a few days later. After our apprenticeships we reconnected."

My eyes widened as the name of Darth Callous' master registered in my head, "Darth Baras is your master?"

Callous's wine-red lips split into a smug grin, "Indeed. Do you know who that makes me?"

"You're the Emperor's Wrath," as I uttered the title, goosebumps broke out across my skin and the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention.

The Emperor's Wrath was the Emperor's executioner. He was one of the only beings in the galaxy to have direct access to the Emperor, he took direct orders from him and answered only to him. I had heard the news that a new Wrath was chosen but their name was never made public. To be standing before the Emperor's personal enforcer now... I had a hard time staying upright.

"Don't look at him like that," Reave groaned, "You're only stroking his ego."

"Your apprentice can stroke me anyt–"

"Callous!" My master didn't let him finish his sexual taunt. Reave rested his helmeted forehead in his hand and sighed, "Yes, he is the Emperor's Wrath. No, that doesn't make him particularly special."

I scowled and looked at my master. Everything I had ever learned at the academy told me that the Emperor's Wrath was incredibly special, "But he serves the Emperor..."

"We all serve someone, apprentice," my master explained, "He just happens to serve our figurehead. Callous doesn't even speak to the Emperor directly, he is given orders through the Emperor's Hand."

"There you go again," Callous groaned, "Exposing all my secrets."

I relaxed slightly. I had been told that the servants of the Emperor were all directly linked to him, that he could see and speak through his servants at any moment. It would appear that what I had learned was incredibly skewed. I felt frustrated at the revelation. I would learn more, and I would learn the truth, all in good time.

"You mentioned another, friend?" I asked, wanting to change the conversation from this point of tension.

"Yes," Callous perked up, "Akhoi! He's even darker and more brooding than Reave here," Callous said affectionately, "You will meet him, tonight, the citadel cantina!"

"Absolutely not," Reave interjected.

"Absolutely yes, Reave. We meet there every time we all happen to be in the capital at the same time, which if you still remember, is almost never. Your new, pretty apprentice is not changing tradition."

Reave made a noise like he was going to object, but Callous cut him off immediately.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll bring Vette to make Astra feel more comfortable," Callous purred.

"Shockingly, your thieving, lying wife does not make me feel better."

Callous sighed lovingly, "She's wonderful, isn't she?"

With little more than a wave, Callous threw his hood up and sauntered out the office door, not giving Reave another chance to object to our plans for this evening.