| Title: The World We Loved Author: Anna Disclaimers: Same old, same old. Author's Notes: Well, I realize not a lot of people will like the vampire twist. But I hate leaving things unfinished, so I am going to finish my first attempt at a serious Star Wars fic. :o) Also...I'm going to advertise for one of my favorite songs, (obviously) "Pachelbel's Canon" (also spelled Canons, Cannons, Kanon, Kannon, etc.) That's what Obi and Cerasi are dancing to. Chapter Eight Cerasi wondered if Qui-Gon knew. The music was almost painfully sweet, so soft in its flow, that it made her smile in spite of her fears, and even Obi-Wan had managed to relax. They danced slowly, alone in the darkened room, following each other's footsteps. Obi-Wan gave a soft laugh as she stepped on his toes, and her smile became that much more sincere. "Sorry," she whispered. "No you're not," he answered, sounding playfully amused. Cerasi giggled so softly it was almost a whisper, too, but then let the music lift her heart again. "How do you feel?" he asked, voice still hushed so as not to interrupt the music. "Shh," Cerasi breathed. The music became tremulously louder towards the end, the notes longer, until at the close it all came together and fell into silence. They stepped apart, standing at arms length. "I'm better," Cerasi told him earnestly. ******** Qui-Gon looked decidedly cautious, as Cerasi watched him from her spot on the couch. Obi-Wan had told him, thirteen seconds before, about their discovery. The Master couldn't have looked more like he was trying not to look aghast if he'd tried. After a moment, Qui-Gon kept glancing from his apprentice to Cerasi's mouth, as if to reassure himself it was real and he was not, in fact, insane for asking, "How did this happen?" "I'm not sure. Well, I am sure...I was given something...but I'm not sure what it was." Qui-Gon nodded, looking-just barely-consoled. "What is it?" Obi-Wan asked. He shook his head in answer, but at their looks, he smiled, sighed, and went on, "It's...something Yoda said earlier. And I am relieved that" he looked embarrassed, "You weren't...ah, changed the way we were taught as children." "Of course I wasn't," Cerasi answered. "That's a stupid legend, isn't it? Walking dead?" Qui-Gon didn't answer at first. "I think we should get you to a Healer, Cerasi. If chemicals are doing this to you, then perhaps they can find a cure." "He always was good at that," Cerasi told Obi-Wan as they walked out. "Good at what?" "Oh, saying 'nothing to worry about', of course," she said, in her naturally sarcastic way. "Yes, he's very in touch with his emotions," Obi-Wan said. Cerasi looked at him. They were both still laughing as they entered the medical ward. Qui-Gon had called ahead to tell Healer Cahr what had happened. He motioned Cerasi to a seat next to a table well stocked with needles, vials, and bandages. Obi-Wan settled on the arm of the chair, earning a bemused look from the Healer. "I'm going to need to draw some blood," he informed the girl. She paled. "Is something wrong?" "No," she managed to say firmly, and pulled her left sleeve back. Obi-Wan did a double take at the bruises up and down the inside of her arm. The Healer found an unblemished spot on her vein at long last, and, as gently as he could, stuck the needle in. As the vial filled, the crimson liquid turned almost black, and as thin as water. The Healer arched an eyebrow, and carefully placed an empty tube in place of the full one. Cerasi looked exhausted as the seconds dragged by, and as Obi-Wan watched her, the air felt just a little more chilled. Her eyes lost the crisp green color, tinged with a molten gold luster instead of a crystalline sparkle. "And...we're done!" the Healer removed the needle and placed a bandage over the puncture with all the flare of a magician. Cerasi pressed her hand over the gauzy strip as if to stop any more blood from escaping, and let Obi-Wan help-drag-her to her feet. Her breathing became harsh when he helped her onto the sofa, but it didn't seem to be doing her any good. He struggled to release his anger to the Force as he wondered who could do this to her, but at the moment his resolving his emotions was of no use to her. "I'm going to go talk to Cahr," he told her. "I'll be back soon." She didn't look like she was even listening to him. He ran back to the Healer and asked for two pints of donated blood. "Ordinarily, an odd request," the Healer told him cheerfully. "But for me?" he smiled as he handed him the blood packets. "Good luck." ***** Cerasi didn't offer any resistance when Obi-Wan handed her a mug, filled to the brim with cool, thick, dark liquid. She swallowed so much of it so quickly he opened his mouth to warn her about a choking hazard, but she stopped him by holding out the cup. Obi-Wan, on his trip back, had wondered if he would be disgusted to see his friend guzzling...blood, but seeing color return to her face... He refilled the mug and gave it back. She drank slower this time around, and even slower the next, until on the last half of the second pint she was only sipping. With a shy glance at him, she mumbled something about her eating habits and took another sip. "This is gross, isn't it?" she asked. "Depends," he replied, settling down next to her. "How deeply are you thinking about it?" She shrugged one shoulder. "Thanks." He smiled. "I thought I owed you for the dance earlier." She gave him a mock-suspicious look. "What'd you put in it?" he laughed. She let the conversation stay still, clearly not wanting to talk about anything having to do with the mug. She placed the empty container on the small table in front of the couch, and then sat back again, staring at it with an odd expression on her face. She seemed as unaware of Obi-Wan watching her as she had earlier. ^She's so different now...^ Cerasi refused to let her reaction to his thought show. She was different in more ways than he could possibly guess. ~That's a tad mellow dramatic, isn't it?~ Obi-Wan leaned forward, intending to kiss her cheek, but his movement had attracted her attention, and she turned to him at just the right moment. She was surprised at first to find his lips on hers-he was surprised, as well, undoubtedly-but got over it quickly. She returned his kiss, unintentional though it may have been, and leaned into him. ~Ah...ahem...blood...? Ringing any bells?~ She jerked back before she would have to hear his reaction to the coppery taste coating the inside of her mouth. Obi-Wan looked confused, but she just shook her head and stood up, taking the mug into the kitchenette. Once there, she looked at the sink, and then at the porcelain in her hand. Why would they want to drink out of it after it had been filled with blood? She placed it on the counter, wondering where they kept a trash bin. Obi-Wan seemed to know what she was looking for. "You don't need to do that," he said quietly. "You want it?" "You'll need it for later, won't you?" Cerasi stopped rummaging and let the cupboard shut on its own. "Not a lot longer," she muttered reluctantly as she rinsed it out. "No," Obi-Wan agreed. "But for now it's yours." "I ask again; you want it back?" "Yes. I like that cup." Cerasi smiled, and Obi-Wan put an arm around her shoulders. ***End Part Eight*** |
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