A Prince of Dathomir (Darth Maul x OC)

Return - Part 2

"I felt it when you returned to your powers, sister." The Ma'tra explained. "Something had cut you from us, but when I felt the connection return, I had my suspicions... seeing you in this way confirmed my fears." Well... that made her feel a little better, to know she was not abandoned. She wasn't... right? She didn't know where this doubt had come from, she'd always been stalwart in her faith and yet there was much that was not right in her hearts. Finally, with a flourish of her hand, Mother Talzin turned back to her and held out another goblet. This one had a strange reddish purple tint to it, Zaiya examined it carefully, she recognised some of the scents she picked up, but not all of them. She looked to Mother Talzin curiously.

"This will return to you what has been lost." Was all she said. Glancing at the cup again, Zaiya decided there was nothing for it, and tipped her head back to swallow the thick, sour concoction. Once she had drained the glass, she let out a groan. There was a heat that began the moment the liquid touched her tongue and spread down her throat. She could feel a burning in her esophagus, across her body and on her face. The goblet clattered to the ground as she grasped at her head and neck in pain. The young woman dropped to her knees as she felt this strange burn course through her entire body. A cry sprung from her mouth, agony tearing her muscles, an unseen fire scalding her skin.

It seemed an age before the feeling passed, leaving her panting on the ground, her hand gripping the edge of the table to keep from falling completely. The pain was gone now, a tingling on her skin that tickled somewhat. She opened her eyes. Then blinked. She could see. Her hand raised to touch her face in shock as she looked up to the Great Mother.

"How...?" She whispered. She could speak! It did not hurt anymore and her voice came freely.

"See for yourself, child." Talzin responded, waving an arm in a circular fashion, green smoke swirling, and creating a mirror before her that Zaiya could look into.

She was still too skinny, her cheeks sunken, dark rings under her eyes and her frame looked weak even under such a shapeless robe, but her face. No longer was there a dark mass on the left side of her face. There was indeed a scar, it started across the bridge of her nose, and extended in a ragged triangle that engulfed her left eye and stopped at her hairline. It was now just a discoloured pinkish red, the skin still puckered but much smoother than before. Her eye itself was the greatest change. There was none of course, but where her eye had been was a glow. It was as though the green glowing magic had filled her up and instead of a pupil and iris and sclera it was just green. A little smoke in the same hue flowed from it and as she looked around, not only could she see things in the physical realm, she could see traces, glimmers of magick around Talzin, around the fire... in her own hands.

"This is incredible, I can see... more." She marvelled in awe. There was more to see somehow and she was reminded suddenly of the stars in his eyes. The mood sombered on that thought and pain gripped her hearts. "Mother I... I failed... Sidious discovered me-- I wasn't able to--" She cut herself off, clamping down on the emotions that threatened to rise up in her chest.

"You did not fail, young one." It took a moment for her to realise what Mother Talzin had said. She looked up slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"He lives, child."

It was as though the galaxy opened before her and light flooded her mind. The heavy weight of her failure and grief and sorrow lifting from her frame. Zaiya rose, looking the Night Mother directly in the eye.

"How do you know?" She breathed, her knees felt weak, she could have cried in sheer relief. "Where is he? Is he alright?" Mother Talzin held up a hand to slow her excited questioning.