Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duel of Love ❯ Hero ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh nor do I own the song (Yes, I shall be using a song for this chapter!)   A/N: Wow!  Yeah, sure I’ll update.  Okay, a note…I’m using a song because it fits perfectly for this chapter and because I want to.  Alright?  This is another no holds barred chapter so I’m not holding back…much…but I’m including warnings for you all specially!  This is one of those times when the A/N comes in handy, eh? Warning: Torture Warning: Mental and Physical abuse Warning: I ain’t gonna try to hold back on purpose Warning: Strong emotions Warning: Song might cause people to wonder why I used it!   Duel of Love   Chapter 17: Hero   Where have all the good men gone And where are all the gods?   Pharaoh Atemu        I knew where she was now…and getting her back would not be an easy thing to do…  I had my servants prepare High Priest Seto’s and my horse as we prepared to leave to ride out to rescue Miss Katiana.  I could only hate to think of what lies she was being told, what damage was being done to her.  She was being hurt now because I was a fool.  She was suffering so someone could cause me pain…and it was working…but I would not abandon her.  I love her…even if now she doesn’t think so…  Ra, guide me and let me save her.   Where’s the street-wise Hercules To fight the rising odds?   High Priest Seto        After what High Priestess Isis told me and the way the pharaoh reacted to Katiana’s disappearance confirmed it all for me…but I wouldn’t give up…not just yet.  I still loved her and that would never end… I didn’t want her to stop smiling…I didn’t want her to stop being happy…   Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night toss and turn and dream of what I need   Unknown        She didn’t look like she was in the best shape.  That was all thanks to me of course.  A small pool of blood had begun to collect itself around her and she had this defeated look in her eyes.       “That’s right…” I began, the words I spoke haunting the deepest recess of her mind, “He never did love you…it was just a game…it has always been games for him, he never can do anything without making a gamble, a bet…or just to amuse himself…”      “…” she didn’t respond to me so I sliced her arm, and she screamed as the fresh blood ran down her, the cold edge of the knife resting just where I had finished cutting her.      “You were his greatest game; take comfort in that at least, his greatest challenge…” I continued, “He had to get you to say you loved him…and he would do whatever he needed to do to get it…”      “Uh-uh,” she moaned and I laughed.      “Oh, but it’s true…he said those three sweet little words so easily after a while…he’s so good at pretending…” I said, “And you know that if you really had said his true name he would have killed you?  Take comfort in the fact you were respectful no matter what…”      “B…But…” she began and I slapped her across the face.  Her lips looked cracked and dry save for the blood that ran down them.  Her left eye was swollen shut and her hair tinged crimson.      “What’s worse…is your High Priest, the one you trusted so much…was in on it,” I said slowly, and watched her eyes widen.      “No…” she moaned weakly.      “Silly child…you are such a fool…” I said and sliced at her leg, and she cried out, fresh tears seeping down her face.  In a while she will most likely become dehydrated from crying so much…and then her tears would be blood…   Pharaoh Atemu   I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night        “Are the horses ready to ride?” High Priest Seto asked me, walking up quickly, looking as though he was ready to go to war. He had his sword in his belt, along with his rod.      “We are,” I replied, adjusting my clothes slightly and tightening my own belt where my sword and dagger lay, “We need to find her and get her back…I have some idea as to where she might be…”      “Then you lead the way Pharaoh,” he said, “And we better get her back…”
     “Alive,” I added under my breath, “I better get her back alive…or else…”   He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast        We mounted onto our horses and began going towards the gate, people waving us off as we passed them.      “You better find her and bring her back safe Pharaoh!” a voice called out, one that sounded more than familiar to me.  I looked down to see Madera, hands planted on her hips looking very cross.      “You should know better than to threaten me,” I said, looking at her.      “And you should know better than to do what you did,” she said smugly.      “How do you know?” I asked her and even High Priest Seto had come over to see who I was arguing with.      “Madera, don’t be foolish,” he said.      “Who’s really the fool here…if the pharaoh doesn’t find and bring back Katiana safely I sure as hell don’t want to be around when the gods seek vengeance…” she said, and added softly, “The gods punish those who abuse love…”      “I didn’t abuse anything!” I exclaimed and my horse snorted angrily.      “If you didn’t she wouldn’t have been kidnapped,” she said and began to walk away, “I just know everything…don’t I?”      “Why you…” I began but High Priest Seto put a hand on my shoulder, “That was disrespectful…I can’t believe the things that…”      “It’s true though Pharaoh,” he said gently, “Don’t get mad at her.  She has been Katiana’s only friend.  She used to run to Madera’s when she was being teased and Madera would always scold me for letting things like that happen…she’s in many ways the mother Katiana wanted when growing up.  She cares for Katiana deeply…”      “That still doesn’t give her the right to talk to me…” I began.      “I know that…but when we’re worried and confused…we all act undesirably, don’t we pharaoh?” he asked and I lowered my head.      “I see your point…” I said, “Come on…let’s go…”      “It appears everyone in the city knew of how you cared for Katiana…and she cared for you…it seems the only ones who really didn’t or didn’t admit it at the time were you both,” he said smugly, “Lead the way…”      “Why are you acting so differently towards this?” I asked as I began to get my horse to walk towards the gate again.      “…” he didn’t respond to me, merely squeezed his horse’s sides to bring him to a trot and headed out ahead of me, “We don’t have much time.”      “Very well then…I’ll ask later,” I murmured, “This doesn’t make sense…he seems completely changed…”   And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero   High Priest Seto        Madera’s behavior back there didn’t surprise me at all.  She looked out for Katiana and would speak her mind even if her life was at risk.  I admired that in her…and Katiana simply loved Madera.  If the pharaoh punished Madera…Katiana would probably hate him forever, and that was something I don’t think he wanted…   I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life…   Unknown        I don’t think she understood completely why I would heal a few of her wounds and let her rest for short periods, but I didn’t care she didn’t know or understand.  What good was torture if she died before I finished having my fun?  I could conjure a few spells to harm her with…harnessing acid, lightning and fire…but not just yet.  She was broken…a broken child…a broken heart.  I slammed my hand against her arm, shattering the bone and she cried out in pain, sobbing heavily.  She screamed when I dug in a little bit and I think the shattered bone fragment nearly pierced her skin.  More blood fell from her wounds and I tasted a little of it, savoring its odd sweetness.      “He never loved you and you’re paying the price he should be paying,” I said with an amused sigh, “It’s almost a pity I’m making you suffer for it but it’s not like I should care… your innocence and kindness won’t save you here!”  I cut her again along the shoulder, making it light, not too deep.  Her face, her arms, were ravaged by scars.  Her clothes were torn in various places, soaked in blood.      She moaned in pain, loosing the strength to scream.  Time to take another break, and then I’ll start with the acid…      “I almost pity you…almost,” I muttered in her ear.   Pharaoh Atemu   Somewhere after midnight In my wildest fantasy        We rode hard, having our horses keep up a grueling pace.  We had to cover much ground and even if we rode our hardest it would still take us time to get there…and we didn’t want our horses to give out on us, forcing us to set up a makeshift came in a small area of rocks.  We were along the Nile so High Priest Seto took the horses to get water while I built a makeshift fire for the night.  We didn’t bring along any guards or armies or anything of a sort, we couldn’t or else it would be too much to have to monitor so many people…and if any more than just us went…I knew that they would loose their lives quickly out here during this.  Just having two people made it easier to get around… unseen.  I knew who had her and he would pay for this…he would pay dearly.   Somewhere just beyond my reach There’s someone reaching back for me…   Priestess Katiana        Would anyone be coming for me?  Could what my captor said be true?      “I might as well let you rest and recover through the night…give you strength to scream tomorrow…open you mouth,” a voice said and I felt a hand on my chin and I opened my mouth weakly and found water poured on my lips and I drank a little, “But don’t let this fool you…the best tormentors want their tormented to be able to feel pain time after time again…your screams feed my torture…your blood feeds my hunger…”  I didn’t respond…too tired…too weak.  Someone…anyone…please don’t let his lies be truths…please…   Unknown        I was going to let her sleep the night…recover some of whatever strength she had left so I could hear her scream fresh and new tomorrow.  Her throat couldn’t scream if it was dry, so I gave her a little water.  She was barely conscious to drink it and she fell out of it as soon as I let her be.  I was proud of some of the scars…when I began the acid…I’d turn her to her back…carve some nice designs across her back…burn a little into her hand…  I was good at making my acid tattoos…  I had given her a nice scar across her cheek…scars that would never fade away…  It was almost a pity to ruin something so pretty…so pure…but if it hurt the pharaoh…I would even stoop to raping her…   Pharaoh Atemu   Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat It’s gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet        I couldn’t sleep, I told High Priest Seto I would keep watch but he didn’t want to sleep either.  I kept staring towards the stars, praying to the gods that they would watch out for her…help her where I had failed.  Praying that they would do what I could not…  I was unable to do anything…I was pathetic…hopeless…I couldn’t save the one I loved the most…and now I was paying the most horrible price.  If I lost her…my light…my love… I knew I would die…   I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night   Unknown        Morning came, time to begin anew what I had started the day before.  I ate a light meal, savoring every taste and got ready to begin my day.  I looked for where I had stored the acid and brought it out, seeing the child, Priestess Katiana; awake, although still looking weak and pathetic.  I don’t see what the pharaoh saw in her…she couldn’t speak properly, she wasn’t beautiful…at least not anymore…she was rather plain to begin with and I just made her worse.  I went up and began to unhook the chains that bound her and she fell into the pool that was her own blood and let out a moan.      “W…What?” she asked slowly, trying to pick herself up but fell down with a small splash.  I raised her head by gripping her hair and she cried out in pain.  I smiled and wiped some of the blood away from her face and stared into her eyes.      “I have something different in mind today for you child,” I crowed and dipped the tip of my dagger into the acid and brought it to her back, trailing it down one of her side and she screamed.  It was music to my ears.  The rest of the clothing covering her back fell away, leaving her back bared to me.    She still had her sleeves holding her flimsy clothing to her front; just enough to cover her breasts but it probably didn’t matter to her anymore.  I trailed a line down her back with new acid and she cried out again.  I trailed it from her right shoulder to her left hip, letting the acid burn into her skin.  The scorched black skin began to form and she screamed in pain as I did it again…I didn’t stop…didn’t ease the pain…not while her screams were fresh…not while she was conscious.  I trailed another line down her back, same lines I had been making earlier.  It would be permanent shaming her to no end.  Scars, the ones I could create…she would never be considered beautiful again…not that it mattered.  I don’t think I was going to let her leave her alive but I had to weigh the choices…which would injure him more…having her alive and hating him or having her dead and his uncertainty as to whether she forgave him in the end…      “This is his entire fault you know…if you had stayed away from him…not fallen for his simple tricks it would have been so much better for you…” I said, “You know I’m not lying… he tried so hard…even created an alternate personality just to make you believe that his actions the night he tried to rape you…tried to sate his lust for you were due to someone else…someone that wasn’t him…is that really so hard to believe?”   Pharaoh Atemu   He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast        We were off on our horses again before the morning sun rose, seeing a thin line of light seep over the horizon as we headed off again towards Miss Katiana.  I wouldn’t leave her…wouldn’t abandon her.  Even if she hated me now…even if she despised me.  I knew she would never trust me again…her heart would close…and maybe…she would even stop smiling…  I couldn’t bear that…to not see her smile…not hear her laugh…an angelic voice that would rival that of a goddess…  And now…nothing…I would be empty…  I had no right to ask for her forgiveness…no right to ask for her love…  High Priest Seto was better for her than I was…he wouldn’t have let this happen.  I could feel the tears rush to my face and I slowed my horse down and leaned forward, feeling the wetness flow down my cheeks.  I should just take my dagger now…end my life… that would bring her peace…wouldn’t it?  To let the one who hurt her die…never to bother her again…      “My Pharaoh…” High Priest Seto said riding up beside my mount, “I don’t mean to be rude but we need to move on…”      “I can’t…” I said through tears, “Don’t you see?  She’ll never…be the same… She’ll never trust me again…I can never…  She’ll never forgive me…I pushed too far this time…”  In my mind I kept repeating ‘I don’t deserve her…I never deserved her…”  High Priest Seto reached over and turned me towards him and lifted my head.      “You’re pitiful…” he said and slapped me across the face.  I stopped my tears in an instant and brought a hand to my cheek.  That hurt…no worse than I deserved but it HURT!      “What did you do that for High Priest…?” I began dangerously.      “Grow up, we all make mistakes,” he said angrily, “Will you honestly give up now, leave her to torment and death and confirm whatever lies that thief tells her?  Will you leave her to suffer now because you’re in pain?  Do you not see that she’s suffering as well?  Don’t you see that?”      “I do…but all I’ll end up causing for her is more suffering…” I said, “She’ll never smile for me…and I…”      “And for that you’d let her die while you pity yourself for your mistakes?” he asked.      “I don’t want to be the cause of suffering for her anymore…” I said, looking away.      “Then get her back…now,” he said dangerously, pulling out his sword and pressing it to my throat, “If you make her suffer now in the hands of a thief I will not hesitate to make you suffer just as much…my father taught me forms of torture unimaginable to your eyes…”      “What she’s going through right now,” I said, glancing in his direction, and his eyes went wide and he lowered his sword, “What you suffered at the hands of your father as well…”  His hand flew to his shoulder and I let out a weak smile.      “I’m going on ahead,” he said, putting his sword back in his belt, “I know where we’re going now.  Pity yourself if you want but I’m not leaving her to death…”  I reared my horse to attention and began to move and he followed after, a surprised look on his face, but accepting nonetheless.  His words had gotten to me.      “It was Miss Katiana that had tried to heal that scar High Priest…wasn’t it…she had used all she had learned to try and heal it…even High Priest Mahado had been unable to remove that scar…” I murmured, “How many scars will she have?  Ra…please guide my steed, let us not tarry!”  I spurred my horse to gallop faster than before, I would not abandon her…I would save her… and then I would disappear.  I didn’t deserve her, not her love, nor her trust.  It was all I could do, so maybe…maybe that someday when I saw her from a distance…I would see her smile…see that smile that she was able to give… something I would never bring to her face again… Gods Miss Katiana…please don’t die!   And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life   Unknown        After I had carved a nice long thick scar along her back I tied her back up, but let one of her arms, her left arm hanging down.  I took it into my hand and dipped my dagger in the acid and brought it to the back of her hand.  The look in her eyes was priceless.  I let it drip and her screams filled the cavern.   Pharaoh Atemu   Up where the mountains meet the heavens above Out where the lightning splits the sea        We were getting closer.  All I could do was pray she was alive…pray she wasn’t too late…   Flash        “Father, what does it mean when a person tells someone that ‘they love them’?” I asked my father one afternoon.  I was around eight years old at the time.      “It means that someone cares about someone so deeply that they want to be with the person they love…they want to protect this person and make sure that this person never suffers…” he said and pulled me onto his lap.      “How will I know when I’m in love?” I asked.      “You’re heart,” he began, putting his hand over my heart, “It will tell you when you love someone.  Do you love me?”      “You’re my father, the pharaoh, of course I love you!” I replied, eyes wide, “Does that mean you love me?”      “Of course…” he trailed, “You’re my son, the prince…”      “Do you think I’ll find someone who loves me?” I asked.      “That my son is up to you…” he replied.      “How?” I asked but he hushed me with a finger to my lips.      “So many questions about such a complicated subject.  Save something for our next conversation…I do believe its time for bed.  The sun is setting my son…” he said.      “I know father…but still…how is it up to me?” I asked.      “You can’t possibly understand that at your age…with time and experience you’ll learn…” he said laughing, “You’ll find out what love is on your own…experience is the best teacher son, but remember…it is the best, even though it is not the kindest…”   Flash   I would swear that there’s someone somewhere Watching me        Experience…I knew what he meant now…not the kindest teacher.  But it taught me… a very hard lesson at that, one I would not recover from…and that hurt me most of all.   Unknown        “Does that hurt little child?” I asked as I dripped a few more drops onto her hand.  A deep scar embedded her hand…it hadn’t burned through, just was quite deep.  It bled and she had fainted once again from the loss of blood.  No matter…I was boring myself with acid now…and wished to move onto something a little more…just something a little different.  I wouldn’t mind taking out a few lightning spells on her…just to hear her scream… I believed water…even a little would make it more enjoyable…her screams I mean…although it would cause her to bleed from the mouth…I wouldn’t mind.  Maybe I should steal her first kiss as well…   Pharaoh Atemu   Through the wind and the chill and the rain And the storm and the flood        “One more night…one more ride during the day and we’ll be there,” I said, leaning against a rock and massaging my backside.  Riding hard like that hurt even if it was to rescue her.       “We could ride hard now…” High Priest Seto suggested.      “We need the horses for the return journey…” I said, “We’ll need them for the return journey…”      “I agree, it would be a shame to rescue her only to die trying to walk back to Egypt,” he said dryly, “I won’t abandon her to death…”      “I won’t either!” I exclaimed.      “Does this mean you’ll stay focused on the task at hand?” he asked severely, glaring as he sat down on the sand.      “Yes,” I replied, sitting down as well, “I must…”      “Do you love her?” he asked me and I looked at him, raising an eyebrow, “Do you love her?”      “What made you think differently?” I asked.      “Answer me…” he said.      “I love her,” I replied, “And I know you love her as well and hated when I was with her…why the sudden change?”      “High Priestess Isis had a vision,” he explained, a look of defeat on his face, “And she came to tell me shortly before I came to find you…”
     “And?” I prodded.      “You know her rules,” he said flatly, “She won’t let me say…”      “That I know…her visions are meant only for the person she tells,” I said, “But let me ask this…”      “I won’t reveal anything she said, not even the reasoning behind it…” he said, his voice remaining neutral.      “Very well…” I said.      “I will try to get some sleep…to face the thief we will need to be at our best,” he said and drew his cloak around his body, “Both of us will…”   I can feel his approach Like a fire in my blood   Unknown        She was completely unconscious…I couldn’t even torment her a little more before nightfall.  She was a pitiful weak little child.  Couldn’t even stay awake long enough for me to torment her a little more…  She was pale as well…most likely from the loss of blood.  I trailed my hand down her unconscious face and reveled in its scars.  I was a master of my art…stealing this girl and now she doubted reality.      “He hates you,” I whispered in her ear as her unconscious state wore on, “He never loved you…”   …        Morning came quickly enough and I was ready to begin another day.  I could sense the pharaoh coming closer.  His Ka wasn’t strong enough to fight against me…HA!  His love was near dead and he was too late to save her…or was he?  I could let her live…let him suffer the scars he caused her, suffer the burns and blood he forced her to suffer…and shed.      “Well pharaoh,” I said, “We shall see who is stronger…”   Pharaoh Atemu    I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast        We started out before the light rose above the horizon once again…we were so close and I could sense her.  Her life force was weakening, her power and strength seeping from her body.  No matter what…I would save her.  Even if my soul shattered in the process…if she was safe…that was what mattered…I loved her…I understood what my father meant…I loved her…      “We’re almost there!” High Priest Seto exclaimed and I noted the cropping of rocks and caves in front of us.  Miss Katiana was there…suffering because I was a fool.  Thief I swear, if she is harmed in anyway you will beg for death to take you…      “I see it…” I called back and urged my horse to go faster.   And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure   Unknown        They were almost here…and it was time for me to fly…  She wasn’t dead…at least she wasn’t dead… yet.  I set up a spell around her, one that would shock her and let them hear her scream as they came to her and tightened the chains, admiring my work once more.       “It’s a shame I didn’t get to touch you in all the ways I would have liked…I’m leaving you here… alone to die in this cold dark place.  The light I brought with me will fade and you will be left alone…as you always were, alone…” I murmured in her ear, “I don’t pity you for your ignorance…you deserve it for being a fool…”  I released the timed spell and her screams filled the cavern.  I smiled, watching a little bit of blood trickle from her mouth.  If she died now…it would be merciful…such a fool…a beautiful…pitiful fool…      “If we meet again, I might change my mind about not raping you…” I said with a grin and took off, leaving her to the darkness, leaving out the backside of the cavern where my horse was waiting.  I could hear her screams echoing off the walls even as I rode away.  The pharaoh would be crushed…and her heart was closed to him forever.   Pharaoh Atemu   And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life        “We’re here!” I exclaimed, dismounting and running towards the mouth of one of the caves.  I heard screams coming from it and knew they were Miss Katiana’s.  They were in pain and my eyes welled with tears.  High Priest Seto came up to my side.      “Hurry,” he urged and we ran into the darkness, the faint torches we brought with us our only light…the screams echoing off the walls the only sounds.      “Miss Katiana,” I murmured to myself, “Please…hold on…”   TBC

A/N: …