Your fingers drum rhythmically on the red-felt surface of the table. The cards clutched in your other hand were facing secretively away from the other players sitting at the gambling table. Your eyes flicker over them one more time, before you look around at your competition. It was quite easy to read them; most men were. Just by the quick once-over, you were able to tell who was bluffing, confident, or nervous. You could also tell that they were trying to read the blank expression on your face, but you didn't give them anything to work with. Over the past few years, you had perfected your so-called poker face.

Klikklak was a game made just for gamblers. It was addicting and intoxicating. The constant reward of money was a beacon for greed. It was the perfect game to play at a place like Canto Bight. The casino was practically a trap for anyone who entered it. One's senses would become overwhelmed by the heat, the music, the noise, the alcohol, the temptations, and the sexual atmosphere. Canto Casino was just the place for low-lifes looking to make a few credits or the richest of the rich to come and gamble their savings away. They would bet on cruel races, drink their nights away, and end up in a hotel room with some sort of prostitute. There wasn't a man in the entire building who didn't have a woman by his side. This was extremely common and if anyone knew this, it was you.

Canto Bight hadn't only swept unsuspecting men and women through its doors. You were one of their many victims. Your cycle of grief had been held together by alcohol and gambling for a while, until you realized that you can benefit from it greatly. Now you were one of their regulars and many teased you by referring to you as the 'Queen of Cards.' It was a fitting title. There wasn't a single player who had challenged you that you hadn't beaten. Many tried and none succeeded.

You look up when you hear a grunt of annoyance. Four men had been going back and forth for a while and they were finally knocking each other out of the game. Took them long enough, you think with a small scoff. The final player turns his body to face you and his eyes narrow at you over his cards. A crowd had begun gathering around the table. People and creatures were excited to see the so-called 'Queen' beat another egotistical gambler. They begin to mutter among each other as they pass bets around over who was going to win. Most of them were towards you, which was pleasing to say the least.

Your eyes glance over your cards one last time, before you closely inspect him. He was leaning forward and one arm against the table; the hand with his cards. His eyes were filled with emptiness and held glimmers of confidence. Then you spy something. His free hand was moving ever so slightly and he was rubbing the pad of his thumb against his forefinger. Nervous, you realize.

"Nervous, are you?" You decide to make things more interesting for your audience.

He chuckles throatily. "You wish, little girl. Today is the day a new king of the casino is crowned. You'll never be able to show your face again if you lose now."

"I'm willing to take that bet." You pass your cards into your other hand and decide quickly on his cards. "Higher."

"Higher," he echoes your words, eying you closely for any sign of a reaction.

"Higher or lower, which one will it be?" You were trying to confuse him and it was clearly working.

"That depends on if we're talking about you or me." The man chuckles coldly.

Gotcha, you think gleefully. Everyone around you was beginning to realize it as well. It takes the man a few moments, before he begins to realize that he had slipped up. With a puff of frustration, he tosses his cards down, revealing that they were truly lower than yours. You spread your cards across the table and stand up with a big smirk.

"Good game," you stick your hand out for a shake.

The man scoffs and storms away, trying to ignore the mocking jeers coming from the crowds. They applaud for you as you pull the credits across the table to you. You put them in your bag and push through the group, starting toward one of the bars in the casino. Your black heels click softly on the ground as your red cocktail dress glides over your skin smoothly. As you sit down on one of the bar stools, you press your red lips together. A well-earned victory, you think happily.

"Xian." You call out to the bartender.

Xian grins at you and he strolls over. His green eyes glitter with joy at the sight of you. There weren't many people whom you had gotten close to at the casino, but he was one of them. He was always there when you needed to talk and always seemed to have a corny joke or witty remark up his sleeve. As Xian leans in and lowers his voice, his brown hair flops in front of his eyes.

"I'm guessing you want a victory drink. How does a Merenzane Gold sound?" He reaches for a tall tube-like glass beneath the counter.

You nod and grin at him. Being able to afford such a drink made you overjoyed. Compared to what you had grown up with, this seemed like heaven. Xian slides the glass across the counter and you raise it to your lips. The amber liquid burns in your throat, but is smooth going down. That was the sign of pure quality, or so you had heard.

The liquid swirls around in your glass as you observe the golden bubbles rising to the top. The bar behind you supports your back as you lean against it casually, observing the surroundings that had been serving you as home for the past few years. Nothing ever changes here.

A grand floor of brown and gold tile sprawls out beneath the massive expanse of the hall. Gold ceilings fitted with long strips of light arch up, making way to the night sky just beyond those impressive exits. Lights dangle from the ceiling, illuminating hundreds of gambling tables. All creatures and species alike huddle around, grasping drinks and yelling drunkenly over the blare of music. Droids roll through the crowd clutching large trays of sparkling glasses, careful not to roll over any exquisite dress trains or elaborate headpieces.

"My shift is over soon," Xian's voice pulls your attention back. He glances at the standard galactic clock above the shelf full of glasses. "That means we can go to the balcony tonight."

"Perfect," you smile, setting down your emptied glass.

The balconies in the casino offered the most beautiful views over Canto Bight. It was one of your favorite places and being there with Xian always made it so much better. After a few more minutes of chatter, he hangs up his black work apron and circles around the bar. Xian offers you his arm and you take it.

Together, the two of you walk through the hallway and up a flight of stairs. You and him had discovered the best balcony with the best views and no tourists knew about it. Xian pushes the glass door open and you step outside. A cool breeze kisses your skin and ripples through your velvet dress. Your hair blows gently in the wind, causing a smile to tug on your lips as you both lean against the balcony railing. It was so peaceful and beautiful, that it made Canto Bight seem like a place that wasn't filled with corruption and greed. If only that could be true. From here, you could see the entire city sprawling below you with its gold and dim lights. The ocean waves were lapping at the dark shore in the distance; the moon and stars reflecting off of the calm water. Fireworks crackle and explode in the night sky, painting the inky darkness with bright colors as a roar of cheers could be heard from the near-by racing stadium.

"It's so beautiful," you sigh.

"So are you," Xian's hand settles on your waist. "You don't even know how beautiful you are."

"How can you say that?" You laugh lightly. "Compared to the other girls at this casino... I'm nothing. You could have anyone that you want from here. Why choose me?"

"Because those other girls pay to look the way they do. They sleep with everyone and they run off with their money. I could never trust anyone else here the way I trust you." Xian places his other hand on your waist and turns you to face him.

You plant your hands on his chest and lean in to kiss him. Your lips connect just as another round of fireworks go off in the distance. It made it seem like it was the perfect evening. Xian chuckles as he guides you from the balcony and into one of the elevators. You knew exactly where he was taking you. Sure enough, the doors slide open and you both step into the elegant hallway. He leads you to the door of his room, swiping his card and pushing the door open.

His hands begin to wander all over your torso as you begin to kiss him again. The kiss quickly deepens and Xian begins to pull you towards his bed. You feel his lips smirk against yours as he pries your mouth open and slips his tongue inside. You are forced to pull away for a second.

"I'll be right back. Let me take off some of my jewelry before it gets tangled up and spoils our fun." You wink. "Don't go anywhere."

"I won't," he chuckles as he sits down on the edge of the bed.

You step into the bathroom and close the door, looking into the mirror behind the sink. You wince at the sight of your lipstick smudged all over your mouth. Not wanting to make a bigger mess than you already knew you were going to make with him, you wipe it all off. Just as you begin to un-clip your earrings and reach for the clasp of your necklace, you freeze. You feel your heart begin to pick up speed as chills run all over your body.

"No," you whisper. "It can't be..."

It had been so long since you last felt it. There was no way it was still lingering inside of you and yet somehow... there it was. The Force. It was stirring beneath your skin and bubbling within your chest. You felt it clearly and there was no denying its existence. It was balancing itself out again. Your face pales. There had been an awakening.