She couldn’t believe it! Here she was riding with Darth Maul on the back of the infamous Sith Speeder. She pulled herself closer to him, wanting to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, though she didn’t dare for fear she would fall off. A sudden turn convinced her soon enough of the reality of the situation, then suddenly they entered a quiet clearing and he stopped and shut off the engine.

Maul leaned back slightly, letting her hold him a moment longer than necessary. He shifted his weight and dismounted the speeder, then watched her swing one leg over and start to get up. He looked at her, a slight smile on his dark lips, and then he simply shook his head and pushed her back down on the seat. He sensed she was about to ask him what was going on, saw her mouth about to open and quickly pressed a finger against her lips and shook his head again. She was quiet. He continued caressing her face with his hand, enjoying it as he looked down on her.

“I am interested in you Elissa,” he said as he pulled himself closer to her. He ran his fingers through her hair, watching it wave about in the cool, gentle breeze. “But, I am a Sith Lord, incapable of love as you call it.”

Elli made a face as if she didn’t believe him, though she said nothing, deciding to let him finish first.

“I am interested in being with you, Elli, in becoming … intimate with you.”

She almost fell off the speeder. During her whole Star Wars and Darth Maul obsession, she would have given anything, to hear those words. Her heart jumped and she felt like running around screaming ‘yes, yes!!!’ But her questioning nature kicked in. What did this really mean? Would this be a “wham-bam-thank-you-Ma’am” type thing? Could it be more? Or was that all that was possible with a Sith Lord?

“You cannot simply accept, can you Elli?” Maul asked, looking sternly at her, watching her shake her head. “You always question.”

“Yes,” she nodded in agreement. She had always questioned everything, even as a little girl. It had gotten her into more trouble than she cared to admit. School, church, even Girl Scouts - she had taken more notes home, had more conferences with principals, ministers, teachers and scout leaders than all her other friends combined. She also fondly remembered her beloved grandmother telling her to keep on questioning, to keep on speaking her mind. It was part of her, a part she couldn’t change, even if she wanted to.

“You wonder if I am just using you?”

She nodded.

“Master Jinn told you, I would only hurt you in the end,” Maul said. “Do you believe that?”

“I believe you are capable of it, yes.”

Maul smirked. “Yes, I am capable of that. And worse.” He reached up and touched her chin. “Yet, you still desire me.” He caressed her check with the back of his fingers. “Tell me, Elli, how can I hurt you, if you know the truth from the beginning?”

She looked up at him, confused.

“I tell you I am interested in you. I am also telling you that there will be no relationship, that this is for our enjoyment only, that we have no future.”

“Then, this could only be for the duration of your stay here?” she asked.

“Yes.” He watched her nod her pretty head. “But while I am here, I will always treat you as you truly deserve. I am not just any man, Elissa, I am a Sith Lord, and you must be sure of this. I want you to understand exactly what you are agreeing to.” He pulled her up to her feet and towards him; his mouth hovered over her ear as he spoke, as his fingers began tracing along her features, slowly and seductively. “You know my true nature; you know my strength, my darkness. Are you sure you want me?”

Elli smiled at the thought. Of course she wanted him.

“If I take you, you will never again be satisfied by any other lover.” He moved his head slowly back to her face, his lips grazing the surface of her cheek.

“Are you boasting?” She laughed slightly.

“No, Elissa, it is the truth.” He kissed her cheek softly, his hands caressing and massaging her back. One hand wandered down to her hip, caressing her more, for a moment only. He felt her touch him and hold him as he sensed her becoming more aroused. He stepped back, and held her at arms length.

“Then you will think about it tonight Elli. Think about what the Jedi said and what I have told you. Then decide if you still wish to be with me. I want you to think about what you agree to, before you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to me.” He let go of her and put out his hand to help her back onto his speeder.

---

Early the following afternoon, Elissa went down to the other cabin to start working as Kim and Karen went to help Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon with the final dismantling of the Jedi ship for parts, Maul had begged off, stating he had other work on the Infiltrator to complete. That morning she had gone into Springerville to get some much-needed groceries. Having three men in the house put them through the food much faster than they had anticipated. Truthfully, with Maul healing, he ate as much as the two Jedi together.

Part of the deal Elissa had struck with the cabin owners, was that she would clean up the second, smaller cabin at the bottom of the hill. The owners planned to spend a couple of their weekends up there as well. She dropped the basket of cleaning supplies on the kitchen counter and started to work. God, she hated cleaning, but at least the cabin wasn’t too dirty. It wouldn’t take too long. However, scrubbing the kitchen sink was just not her idea of fun.

“I thought I would watch,” a voice said from behind her. His voice.

Elli smiled. She loved his voice, longed to hear it whispering in her ear. She turned around and smirked at him, kitchen cleaner dripping from her hands. “You’re just going to stand there and watch me work?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes, I ….”

---

Before he could finish, she had grabbed another cloth and thrown it at him, shaking her head. “I don’t think so Maul.” He looked back at her, a bit surprised. “I don’t care if you are a Sith Lord, you can help.” She smiled innocently, “besides, the exercise will do you good!”

He walked towards her, stopping right in front of her. Leave it to her to say something like that. He pulled the cloth out of her hand and wiped the dripping cleaner from her hands with his own cloth, then tossing them both into the sink. He stood there for a long moment, staring into her eyes, finding the color as beautiful as ever, then reached up and touched the side of her face, stroking it gently with the back of his fingers.

“Admit it, Maul. You missed me while I was in town, didn’t you?” she teased.

“And what is your decision, Elli?” he asked, though he sensed the answer already. “Are you sure you still want me?” He watched her nod her head. “Remember, this will not be a relationship as I told you yesterday. This is for our enjoyment only. Do you agree to this?” Again, she nodded. “You give yourself to me willingly, Elissa?”

“Oh yes Maul, you know I do,” she said as she looked into his eyes and smiled at him.

He backed up a step, looked at her and grinned broadly, reveling in her intense attraction, watching the desire mount in her eyes. Moving forward again, he caressed her face and pushed her back against the counter, pressing his hips firmly against her. He pressed his lips hungrily against hers as his arms embraced her, wrapping tightly around her body. His tongue entered her mouth as soon as she parted her lips, and danced with hers again.

He broke the kiss and moved his attention down her neck, kissing and tasting his way slowly down it, flicking his black tongue over her smooth skin, softly biting as he moved back up to her ear. “Then, I will have you now,” he growled in a low tone as he again nibbled her neck and ran his hand up her stomach to fondle a breast. He suddenly swept her up in his arms and easily carried her down the short hallway toward the nearest bedroom.

“My injury is fine Elli,” he commented as he sensed her worrying vaguely about his wounds.

He smiled again as he knew she was thinking of how typical that was for a man to say something like that, when he wanted a woman, no matter the true condition. She shook her head in disbelief and began kissing his neck, tasting his silky alien skin and feeling its inhuman warmth.

He used the Force to shut the door behind them as he laid her down on top of the bed, his body following closely, pressing against hers, his hands caressing and touching every part he could reach, memorizing each curve and contour of her shape. “You wear too many clothes,” he muttered in frustration, as he pulled himself up and straddled her, then he started unbuttoning her outer shirt. “Why do you wear so many clothes?” he asked, making his way down toward the last button.

“It gets cold here,” she remarked. “Besides, you don’t wear any less than I do.”

Maul smiled. She spoke the truth, though his was for tradition, not comfort. He finished with the shirt and pulled her up to take it off, and the t-shirt underneath as well. She obliged him before she tried to unfasten his belt. It didn’t cooperate, and he sensed her wondering if he were teasing her again, or if it was simply a difficult contraption. He laughed at her frustration, before helping her with the fastening behind his back. She then pulled the outer tunic off and began with the under-tunic, running her hands along his chest and stomach, anticipating the physical delights that awaited.

His own hands were working at unfastening her belt and unbuttoning her jeans. Not an easy task, and for a moment he considered using the Force to simply pull all the clothes off of her. But, there wasn’t much fun in that, he decided. This was more challenging. He saw her giggling at his frustration and smirked. “So, you believe this to be funny?” he asked. He watched her nod for a second before he pulled her up and stood her up next to the bed. His fingers quickly finished unbuttoning her jeans and he deftly pulled them down over her hips, and pushing them down to the floor before he shot her a triumphant grin. “Sith do not fail,” he remarked, undoing the fastening on his own boots and kicking them off.

Elissa laughed as she stepped out of the jeans, then pulled him up so she could undo his breeches. It took her a moment to figure out how they fastened, before they dropped to the floor as well. She looked at him, smiled again, triumphant herself.

He reached for her, pulling her to him, skillfully flipping her around himself, so she landed flat on her back in the middle of the bed, looking back up at him, a rather surprised expression on it. “This is better,” he said as he lowered himself on top of her and began kissing her again, enjoying the feel of her body underneath his, his skin touching hers. A moment later he rolled to the side of her and began caressing her body then bringing his hand between her legs, his fingers grazing the soft skin inside her thighs, moving slowly up and making her shiver in pleasure.

Maul backed away from her for a second, a big grin on his face as he sensed her thoughts, wondering if she might faint from the excitement of it all. “And we have not even really started,” he remarked, touching her face and stroking her cheek. Her blushing again only amused him more. He rolled over onto his back and pulled her on top of him, kissed her neck. “And you still wear too many clothes, Elli.” He reached around and unsnapped her bra, slowly letting it fall from her, and allowing her breasts to spill out towards him. Quickly tossing the bra aside, he pulled Elissa up, teasing a nipple with his tongue and mouth. He quickly pulled off the rest of her underwear and she did with him as well, leaving them both open to explore the other.

They each rolled, caressed and stroked the other in their attempts to touch and feel the other one completely; enjoying the sensations each felt and gave. Kisses and caresses were given and guided, until Maul said he would wait no longer. Pushing her down on the bedcover, forcefully holding her in place, he spread her legs with his knees then teased her stomach with the tip of his manhood, knowing she wished to feel him inside of her.

“Are you sure this is what you want Elissa?” he asked breathlessly looking deep in her eyes as he held himself above her. She nodded her head and whispered an eager ‘yes,’ unable to say any more in her excitement and anticipation. “Do you give yourself to me Elissa?” he asked more firmly.

“Yes,” she moaned, unable to stand the tension any longer. Her moan of agreement soon turned into a soft one of pleasure as he slowly slid into her ready and waiting body.

Maul began the oldest dance of all with her underneath him, supporting himself on his elbows, holding her face in his hands, and caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. Intermittently kissing her as he moved his hips in time to an ancient Zabrak chant running through his mind, one he had nearly forgotten in the years since he had been to Iridonia. He felt her hands caresses his body in the most pleasurable ways, touching his arms, shoulders, back and belly. Everywhere she could reach, her cool touch feeling so soothing and good to him.

Maul stopped his motions for a moment, wishing to experience the closeness, the satisfaction he felt with this human female in a quiet manner. He felt in harmony with the Force, which he felt strongly at this point, like before the Force storm had taken that away from him - strong darkness and lightness from her. Maul waited, holding himself inside of her, enjoying the sensation of her flesh and warmth tightly around him.

He kissed her most passionately before he restarted his rhythmic movements, slowly at first then faster. Thrusting deeper into her, he sensed how close she was, enjoying the raw emotions of passion and even lust emanating from her being. Pushing himself back up, he looked down at her as he moved in and out of her even harder, he looked into her eyes, which were focused on his, and bared his teeth slightly. “Se rena martka, Elissa. Kalli merna te sena kwell. You belong to me now!” he stated as he released himself into her, a deep growl then emanated from his throat.

Her own climax came a moment later, her back arched, and a deep moan came from her as “oh Maul,” escaped from her lips. He sensed the shivers, waves of energy, and tingling that ran through her body all at once, as he made two final thrusts into her.

A moment later, he relaxed into her arms and their breathing slowly returned to normal, though they continued caressing and kissing one another. After several quiet minutes, Maul turned her face to his. “Remember Elissa, this is only an affair, for our mutual pleasure, not a relationship.” Was he saying this for her benefit, or to remind himself of what he had said earlier? A vague feeling of contentment washed over him as he held her close. It was a strange, unexpected emotion, a compelling emotion and one he had never felt before.

“Do you think I expect anything else, Maul,” she replied quietly. “I wouldn’t know you very well then, would I?” She embraced him. “I can enjoy it while it lasts though, can’t I?”

“Just so we understand one another.” He shifted his weight to his hip and lay beside her, placing one hand on her lower belly. He looked at her for a minute, and then looked down at his hand. Closing his eyes for a moment he chanted, “Te rensa, ka rensa, monosalini. Te rensa valon.” He pressed firmly on her belly and massaged the area for a moment, feeling the heat emanate from his hand. He opened his eyes and saw her stunned and confused expression. “I do not wish for you to become pregnant, Elli. No more than you wish for it.”

“What did you do?”

“Sith Magick,” he replied. “I can use it to destroy my seed, if I so wish.” He smiled slightly. “Zabrak males are extremely virile, Elli. What you consider birth control, will not work with me.” He lay back down beside her, his head cradled in his arm.

“What did you say when you said I was yours?” she asked, looking over at him, a curious look on her face. “You know, when you spoke in that foreign language?”

“It is a Zabrak ritual,” he replied, choosing his words carefully.

“Well, what does it mean?” she asked, now even more inquisitive.

Maul grimaced. He didn’t wish to speak of this now. Not now. He needed to think, needed to meditate on this before telling her the truth. A feeling of foreboding came over him, but it wasn’t anything he sensed from her. He sensed she didn’t expect anything more than a short relationship and to be treated decently, just as he had explained to her. Yet, he still had a strange feeling. He pulled her closer and kissed her gently on the cheek. Why had he claimed her as his in the ancient Zabrak custom of Martka? Speaking the “Oath of Companionship” with her. This was nothing he had even considered before with a woman; with any woman. He had not even thought of the concept in years. Yet with her it seemed so right and that is what he had done. According to Zabrak tradition, she belonged to him now, mind, body and soul. This first time with her, and he felt he had to claim her as his and his alone.

But what of his Sith duties, to have no one but a Master and the Force? How would he reconcile this situation? Yet, he had not felt the Force so strongly in months as he did when he joined with her. Was it the will of the Force that they be together?

“It is difficult to explain,” he muttered, stalling for time as he tried to think of a way to explain it that she would accept. “It is a way of thanking the gods for the one you are with.” He kissed her neck gently, feeling that same soft glow of energy from her again. He saw her turn and smile at him, and she touched his face and traced some of his facial tattoos with a slender finger.

She rolled over on top of him, looked at him, and caressed his face. “You are so beautiful,” she whispered. She smiled and kissed his dark, inviting lips, caressing him firmly with her hands.

During his whole life, Maul had never been told he was beautiful. His tattoos were meant to instill fear in those who saw him. They were symbolic markings of the power of the Sith and of the darkness within him. Yet, this woman found him beautiful. She desired him like no woman ever had. She gave herself to him with enthusiasm and joy. He had never known what it felt like to receive such a gift as this. It felt good. It felt right and now, suddenly, he didn’t want this to end. He wanted to have her, to keep her as his, just as he had sworn in his oath. It was the will of the Force. And he knew, not even his Master could fight the will of the Force.

He pushed her off of him and rolled over on top of her, caressing the side of her face, looking into her eyes again. Eyes, the color of the H’ya blossom. He saw her acceptance and he saw her desire. She didn’t love him, at least not yet. But she accepted him for who and what he was and she cared a great deal for him. She wanted him and wanted to be with him. He kissed her and felt his own desire for her grow again. He began touching her again and she returned his caresses with kisses and touches of her own. And again, she gave herself to him.

---

Elissa stood in the bright bedroom of the small cabin bedroom, grinning as she finished buttoning her shirt, remembering what had happened only a short time earlier, making her flush all over again. She had never been so satisfied in her life, no wonder he had said no other man could satisfy her now. Yet, she wondered how it would be in the future. Would he discard her now that they had been together? Could he learn to care about her even in the slightest? Would his touch be as exciting as it was this time?

“What do you think, Elissa?” he asked whispering into her ear and wrapping his hands around her waist as he embraced her from behind, nuzzling her neck. “Do you think me so dishonorable?”

“No,” she replied softly, feeling rather ashamed at her thoughts.

“Then, do you believe you will be any less satisfied with my touch in the future?”

She laughed as shivers went up her spine from his touch and with the gentle kiss he planted under her ear. “No, Maul. I simply just can’t imagine it any better.”

“Is your mind that limiting?” he teased. “I thought you to be more imaginative than that.”

“I guess you’ll just have to prove it to me.” She turned and kissed him quickly on the lips before pulling herself from his grasp. She stepped a couple feet away and looked down at the bed. To say that it was in a state of disarray would be a minor understatement. She frowned as she looked down at the bedcovers, noting the unmistakable evidence of their little escapade on top of the bed. She grabbed the bedcover off and rolled it up, heaving it to the side before moving to straighten the rest of the bed up. When she walked around the bed she saw Maul leaning there, against the wall, arms crossed across his chest and a big smirk on his face. “This is all your fault you know!” she chided him with a grin.

“No. This is your fault. You said wanted this,” he replied.

“So did you,” she laughed. “And I think you enjoyed yourself.”

Maul stepped forward and took her back into his arms. “Yes, I did.” He planted another kiss on her lips then began working his way down her neck again. “And I will enjoy myself again.”

She laughed and pulled out of his embrace yet again, leaning over to pick up the bedcovers. She wondered how she was going to get them cleaned. The small washing machine in the main cabin wasn’t big enough for something as large as this. She desperately hoped she could either spot clean it, or if that didn’t work she would have to take it into Show Low and get it cleaned at the cleaners. She looked back at him, smirking and shaking her head. “Next time, Maul, we go under the covers!”

---

As they sat for dinner, Maul made sure to seat himself next to Elli, even pulling his chair closer to hers. He already knew that the others had noticed an easing of tensions at dinner that night, and that he seemed in a rather good mood. He ignored it. He ignored what he sensed from the Jedi and the girls even as he and Elissa exchanged sly smiles and gave each other a nudge here, a slight touch there. But he sensed Elissa was uncomfortable, feeling everyone was watching them, which they were.

He knew she had done her best to ignore them, but she did finally look up at the others and saw them staring at her and at him, in disbelief. She saw Qui-Gon’s unhappy expression as he shook his head. That did it for her. She glared at the Jedi Master, threw her napkin on the table, stood up and walked out of the room, fuming and swearing under her breath.

They all turned to look at Maul, who sat there with a smirk on his face, making them anxious with what he was going to say. “She belongs to me now.” He laughed quietly as he saw the startled looks on the faces of her friends and the angered looks on the two Jedi, though this was only a confirmation of what they had feared.

“Elli?” Kim muttered quietly, her expression indicating her shock at this revelation.

“Why you ….” Obi-Wan spit out before he saw the hand of his master raise to silence him.

“Do not be so quick to judge me Jedi!” Maul sneered. “I know you will find it hard to believe, but she freely gave herself to me.”

“Yes, I do find it hard to believe Maul,” Qui-Gon said, sounding as calm as ever.

Maul sensed Qui-Gon’s concern for Elissa, and that the Jedi Master wasn’t sure how he should handle the situation. He was confused over how anyone could be attracted to the Sith, obviously hoping the attraction he sensed between the two of them wouldn’t go that far, especially after he had spoken to Elissa about it. He had really hoped that she would head his advice. Maul smiled in satisfaction, glad that Elli had made up her own mind, and not simply obeyed the Jedi.

“If you do not believe me, ask her yourself.” Maul said as he leaned back into his chair, smugly looking at all of them, crossing his arms in front of himself before fixing his gaze on the Jedi. “As if either of you are in any position to judge me on this.” He again glanced over at Kim and Karen and smirked. He watched both the girls look quickly down at the table, blushing and embarrassed about what had just been brought out. “Why should I not be entitled to companionship if I want it? If she wants it? Because I am Sith?”

“Companionship! Is that what you call it?” Obi-Wan was upset and embarrassed about the whole thing now. “You’re just using her!” he shouted.

“I do not think so Jedi! What are you doing with Kim?” Maul replied. “Elissa knew what she was agreeing to. Did you bother to explain everything to Kim?” he paused and looked at Qui-Gon, “or Karen?” He slowly sneered at them. “Did you explain to either of them the essence of the Jedi Code about relationships, or only your own code?”

“I care about Kim!” Obi-Wan retorted, his voice raising. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself!”

“There are other things besides myself about which I care, Padawan!” Maul growled. He stood up, glared at everyone, indicating that the conversation was now concluded, then strutted away from the table and walked through the living room, making his way to Elissa’s room.

---

Maul knocked quietly on Elli’s door, but didn’t give her enough time to answer before entering. She turned and glared at him before turning her attention back to her computer screen. He walked quietly up to her, moved up behind her and embraced her from behind, kissing her softly on the neck. She quickly stood up, pushing him angrily away.

He sat back, startled and irritated at her rejection. He angrily watched her turn the laptop off and put the computer away, sensing it was all she could do to keep from throwing it at the wall, or him. She started to walk towards the door when he got up and grabbed her. “Not so fast,” he said, pulling her back. She resisted him, trying to pull his hands away from her, but he was much stronger. He pushed her down on the bed, lay on top of her and held her in place. “So much anger in you, Elissa.” She tried to push him off of her, but was of course unable. He had her pinned. “You must learn to control this anger if you do not wish it to control you.”

“You sound like the damned Jedi!”

Maul laughed quietly. “Well, except that the Jedi do not believe in anger, or any emotion for that matter. The Jedi Code specifies that there is no Emotion, there is Peace.” Maul laughed, “And you are not very peaceful.” He then paused as he rolled off of her, laying next to her, but still holding her in place. “Anger is necessary for strength Elissa. Perhaps that is one reason you are as strong and dark as you are. But you must use it and control it.”

“I don’t want to be on the dark-side.”

“You already are.” He smiled as he saw her look change to pure fear, sensing her mind conjuring up visions of hell. “Sort of,” he added teasingly. He saw she wasn’t amused with his comments. “You are both light and dark, as all sentient beings are. You choose your own path.”

“All sentient beings? Even you have some light-side inside? In there, someplace?”

“Yes, Elissa, I do.”

“How can you have any light-side when you’ve given yourself so fully to the dark-side?”

“It is simply a part of existence Elissa. There is no reason beyond that. As I try to destroy the light side within me, the Jedi try to destroy the dark side within them. These are our chosen paths.” He smiled, “even the venerated Jedi Council Master Yoda has the dark-side within him. I have sensed it.” He turned and looked her in the eyes. “I hope you do not regret your earlier decision, Elissa?” He held her closer, kissing her neck softly. “I hope you do not regret being with me?”

She turned and smiled at him. “No, I don’t regret it, Maul.” She sighed, remembering how wonderful it had been, how special he made her feel. “I simply don’t like being judged a whore, especially by those who are no better than me.”

“Qui-Gon did not judge you that harshly. He was disappointed in you and the decision you made. He simply cares about you.”

She looked at him strangely, questioningly.