041. THE APPRENTICE OF DARKNESS

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Evangeline's eyes opened wide. Her heart broke in two as she watched Ben take Seth's hand. His eyes flashed toward her and for a brief moment she had hope that he'd just made a mistake. However, his expression hardened and took his place by Seth's side.

Seth raised an eyebrow, but appeared intrigued as he looked over at Kylo Ren. "Something about you seems different."

"Just shut up and teach me." Kylo Ren said between grit teeth as he lifted his blade in a defensive stance and faced Evangeline and Rey.

"Ben—" Rey attempted to reach out to him, but she was immediately turned down as Kylo Ren held out his hand to silence her.

"He's made his decision," Evangeline's eyes narrowed, "He's always chosen power and I was blind to think otherwise."

Kylo Ren looked as if he wanted to contradict her, but he didn't. He simply looked over toward Seth and waited for instruction.

"As the only one willing to learn... fine," Seth finally agreed to take Kylo Ren on as his apprentice, "Lesson number one. We cut down anyone who stands in our way. The question is: can you do it?"

Seth ignited his blade once more and charged toward Rey. His blade clashed against hers and purple sparks crashed against the floor as the colors merged. He was practically feral as he took her on. Although Rey appeared quite natural when it came to wielding the blade, it was clear that she hadn't been trained to use it like Seth had. His limbs moved with passion and strength, but didn't forget about precision and technique.

Evangeline turned her head to Kylo Ren. Her mind had flipped a switch the second he had walked away. She slowly shook her head, either in pleading or disappoint. She wasn't sure anymore. She held up the blade to defend herself as he began to circle her.

He scoffed. "We both know you're rusty."

"I don't have much of a choice."

"Oh, but you did," he contradicted and slashed his blade against the ground, "He offered you the world. You turned it down, so I decided not to waste the opportunity."

"Don't explain yourself to me." She recoiled and pulled away from him, pointing her blade toward him in the space created.

"When we first agree to work together-"

"I'm pretty sure I threatened to leave you behind if you didn't," Evangeline retorted.

His voice rose to speak over her. "You said that we had a common goal."

She frowned and bit back at the water welling up in her eyes. "I was just using you!"

"Well now I've used you!" He spat back and slammed his blade down on top of hers. She struggled under the increasing weight that he forced down on her. Her knees buckled and slid out from under her as she strained to fight for her life. From the corner of her eye, she could see that Rey had found herself in a similar position.

"You took everything from me!" Seth seethed as he grew tired of using the blade. He lifted Rey from the ground using the force and she began to claw at her throat as she choked. "Now, I will be the last triumph of Exegol! He'll have no choice but to beg at my feet. And you know what I will do then? I'll take his head back to my throne room and display it on a silver platter."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Evangeline hollered from the other side of the chamber. Despite her situation, she couldn't hold her tongue. "But can't you make an original plan?"

"I've joined your enemy and could kill you in an instant," Kylo Ren looked at her incredulously, "And yet you still bring up the building?!"

"What can I say?" She tried to shrug, but almost lost her grip. "It's a coping mechanism."

"You're infuriating."

"Yeah, well you're no joy to be around either."

Kylo Ren released a shout of frustration and took a step back to swing again. However, this time the blade was trapped in mid-air. Evangeline had dropped her lightsaber and extended both of her arms. Her eyes were closed but it was evident that she was struggling to keep her concentration. He focused his energy into his swing. The blade grew closer to her face and her arms shook.

However, as she took a deep breath and opened her eyes, they were filled with a solid pale violet hue. Kylo Ren lifted his head in confusion. From behind her, the previously deceased stood. Han had his arms cross, but the other four had added their strengths to the girl's to hold back his cross-guard blade.

Evangeline slowly rose to her feet. She kept her arms outstretched and forced Kylo Ren to walk backward. "I am no jedi. I don't play by their rules because I understand the darkness. But I don't let it control me. I am the Bendu."

Seth's head turned and he released Rey from his grasp. His eyes narrowed and he pulled Kylo Ren back to himself. He pointed toward Rey. "Deal with the scavenger."

"I don't want your scraps," Kylo Ren seethed.

"You can't handle anything more." Seth waved his hand to dismiss Kylo Ren before approaching Evangeline. "Well, well, well. What's this about the Bendu? Bendu is dead, girl, and you can't possibly be his successor."

It was as if her voice wasn't her own anymore as she spoke with authority. "Bendu has chosen to live on in this child born of the light and the dark."

Seth did well at masking his horror, but his facade still slipped as he straightened his posture and raised his blade. "We shall see."

He charged and Evangeline pressed forward as well. Their blades collided and she was forced back by sheer power. However, she regained her footing and gestured for him to attack again, her infuriatingly cocky grin taunting him. He swung and she parried, moving with skill she simply had not possessed before. Seth's eyes widened and his movements became frantic as he found himself in a fight for his life.

With one false stepped, he tripped over the hem of his cloak and fell. She didn't hesitate. His hilt shattered as it was sliced in half. He gulped as his face illuminated purple with the saber aimed at his throat. She flicked her wrist. Consequently, his hands were yanked behind his back and held firm. He squirmed to free himself, but to no avail. She tilted her head and grinned as if toying with him. She raised the blade and he closed his eyes, waiting for the blow to come. But it didn't. He slowly opened his eyes to see horror drawn on her face clear as day. Her eyes had returned to normal, and her breath was heavy. She took a step back and slowly shook her head.

She whispered as if reminding herself or scolding another. "I do not give into the darkness. I will not kill."

He breathed with relief. All was quiet and at peace for only a second. He gasped and she screamed as the red saber violently ripped through his chest. His eyes rolled up into his head and Evangeline covered her mouth out of instinct. The body slumped and gravity dragged it to the ground, leaving Kylo Ren and Evangeline to stare at one another. The cross-guard turned off and the world between worlds was lit purple by the sole lightsaber still on.

Kylo Ren gestured to those that stood behind her. "Close the rift. My issues here are resolved."

Without another word, he turned and left... and she let him. Her eyes drifted to the body on the floor, and she couldn't force herself to look away until a hand was placed on her shoulder. She didn't realize that she'd been crying until Rey wiped her tears away. Although they hadn't seen eye to eye since the time that they met, nor had they been on amicable terms, they'd both been betrayed and abandoned. They didn't have to like one another to understand the other.

Rey extended a hand, and she accepted it. Once on her feet, Evangeline quickly wiped her eyes. "Alright, now what?"

"We do what we came here to do," Rey replied and gestured back to the other five.

"And how do we do that exactly?" Evangeline asked.

Rey shrugged. As with the rest of their journey, the witch hadn't been overly explicit about how to accomplish their goal. Evangeline started to turn her head, but something from the corner of her eye caught her attention. She faced the small glowing orb of light that had guided her before.

The light grew brighter, and she was forced to shield her eyes to stop herself from going blind. As she looked back, the orb had changed its shape into that of a woman of breathtaking beauty. The wings on her back gracefully set her on the ground. She folded her hands in front of herself and waited to be addressed.

"Who are you?" Evangeline gently asked in awe.

"I am Atria," the woman explained, "One of the guides to those who travel among the world between worlds."

Evangeline slowly nodded her head and looked back at Rey for support. Rey took the hint and stepped up beside her. "Do you know how to close the rift?"

Atria nodded her head as she looked between the two. "I sensed there was something off about the balance... follow me."

Evangeline and Rey glanced at one another. Their distrust and skepticism were evident but not wrongfully so. They cautiously followed after the woman as she led them past several gateways.

Although she'd originally expressed curiosity toward the portals, Evangeline wanted nothing to do with them for the time being. She'd dealt with enough surprises and confusion, and revisited enough trauma for a lifetime. She kept her head forward and stopped as the woman gestured to a quite literal tear in the fabric of time.

"Any ideas on how to repair it?" Rey asked.

Evangeline shook her head. The brilliant creature stepped forward and gestured to the living dead. "The living tore the fabric. It will take the deceased to mend it... At least one of the light, one of the dark, and one tempted by both."

Han took a step back and motioned for the Jedi to step forward. "All yours."

Anakin stepped up first, followed by Kenobi, Yoda, and then Luke. The woman stepped aside to give them additional space. They stretched out their hands and closed their eyes. Their breathing synced with one another. Compared to the original process where Rey and Evangeline had been hooked up to a machine, the repair was much more peaceful and natural. Slowly, the tear grew smaller until it was nonexistent. The four seemed exhausted when they were finished.

After a moment of nothing, Anakin looked around in confusion. "Wasn't something meant to happen—"

Yoda stepped forward with a mischievous grin and laugh. "Been a pleasure, it has." His form immediately melted away as it was restored to the spirit realm.

Everyone took a step back in surprise as they processed what had happened. Han took a step forward and placed his hands on his hips. He scoffed to himself and then chuckled as he looked up from the ground. "I guess this is it... thanks for giving me a bit more time with my family." He nodded his head appreciatively and also disappeared.

Anakin grinned and took a step forward. "My turn... I know I didn't get through to him, but he's not a bad kid. There's still hope for him. He'll listen to the two of you. Don't give up on him."

"Never," Rey agreed with a nod of her head and a soft smile. Evangeline remained silent, but put on a soft smile for show and the weakest nod possible. Anakin opened his mouth to say something else, but he wasn't given the chance as he also faded.

Luke looked between the two girls as he stepped forward. His expression somber. "You each came to me in faith that I could teach you. I'm sorry that I failed... but you've both grown since I last saw you. Although I can't train you, I've reconsidered what I once thought about the old ways being dead. You both deserve someone who can bring the best out of you, more than I ever could. Find someone to refine your skills in the force, there may come a day when the order of the Jedi is needed."

Rey nodded her head eagerly as she took Luke's words to heart. Evangeline turned away and wrapped herself in her own arms. A few days ago, she had every intention never to use or think about the force again. Now she was speaking to her deceased mentor about breaking every vow that she'd made to herself at the age of ten.

"Evangeline..." Luke stepped forward and she took a step away from him.

"You lied..." Her voice was soft as she faced him. "I can't believe a word that comes from your mouth because everything that I have ever known has been a lie."

He didn't disagree. He nodded and sighed. "I thought it was in your best interest—but I know now that it was selfish of me to keep you in the dark. I don't expect you to trust me or forgive me, but I do ask that you listen... The only thing that I could do right by you is to let someone else train you who won't make the same mistakes that I did."

Luke turned but Evangeline quickly wrapped her arms around him. She heaved and sobbed. "I hated you for so long."

"I know," Luke said with a soft smile as his form shimmered and disappeared.

"The best for last I suppose." Kenobi broke the silence that followed with a half-hearted smile. "I don't know how much time I have left, but there's something that I desperately need to tell you, Evangeline."

She lifted her head from the ground, the tears streaming down her face halted by her confusion. Rey took a step closer, now also intrigued.

"Now I don't know for certain," Kenobi spoke quickly, "But at the mention of your father, I was reminded of a young girl I once knew who had a special attachment to him."

"You knew my father?"

"I don't have time to go into detail," Kenobi apologized and raised a hand to prevent her from interrupting again, "But there's a chance that the woman you're looking for, your mother, her name is Arimiya—"

He was cut off before he could finish the name. Evangeline and Rey were left standing alone in silence. Evangeline scrambled to her feet to the spot that Kenobi had vanished from. "Arimiya what?!" she cried out and turned as if she would receive an answer.

Rey placed a hand on her shoulder and gently tried to calm her. "He's gone."

Evangeline hung her head in frustration, but slowly accepted the fact with a nod of her head. "Yeah..."

When Evangeline and Rey looked up, the world between worlds was gone. They had returned back to the clearing with the others and what had remained of the mist receded. The witch blinked her eyes as if snapping out of a trance.

Evangeline looked around. Kylo Ren was nowhere to be seen. Leia met eyes with Evangeline and the girl shook her head to answer the mother's silent question. Leia looked down at the ground.

Finn paled. "Um... Is that who I think it is?"

Evangeline turned her head and that was when she remembered the former Supreme Leader. The gaping hole in his chest was more unnerving in the daylight. Nim slowly took a few steps forward and lowered herself to the ground. She solemnly closed his eyes and cradled him within her arms. Although she was silent, her posture wailed as she looked up toward the sky. Seth almost looked like a small child as she held his head close to her heart.

"What happened in there?" Poe asked hesitantly as he noticed the bruises that had formed around Rey's throat and the small burns that were scattered over Evangeline's body.

"There were some complications," Rey explained vaguely.

"We closed the rift," Evangeline added and dried what tears were left on her face. "Now let's get the blazes out of here."