Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Crossing the Boundary ( Chapter 12 )

 

Crossing the Boundary

 

Aria stepped through the portal to the Shadow Realm. She looked down and saw Rhett looking up at her with a wide smile.

“DA!” Rhett smiled, pointing at her.

“What are you doing awake, young man?” she asked, propping the Millennium Trident against the corner. She picked up her baby and cuddled him. “I'm Ma. Can you say `Ma'?”

“Da!” he exclaimed, putting his hand on her face.

Aria grinned and kissed Rhett's hand. “My little boy.”

“DA DA DA!”

“I'm glad to see you, too, cutie pie.”

“Aria?! Where were you?” Umi asked, walking up the stairs. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

Umi looked her up and down. Her dress look disheveled and her hair was messy.

“I went to the Shadow Realm.”

Umi picked up Rhett. “Alone? What if something happened to you?”

“I can take care of myself.”

Umi looked at the sleeper in Aria's hand. “Where did you find it?”

“The Shadow Realm.”

Umi raised his eyebrow and held Rhett close. “You sent his sleeper to the Shadow Realm? Were you frustrated with the buttons again?”

“No, I didn't send his sleeper to the Shadow Realm, wise ass. I don't know how it got there.”

Umi looked down at Rhett. “Maybe you didn't realize you sent it there.”

Aria shook her head and giggled. ”I have to concentrate to send something to the Shadow Realm. I can't just send something away for no reason.”

Aria looked down at Rhett. “Did you send that naughty sleeper to the Shadow Realm?”

Rhett cocked his head to the side and began playing with Umi's hair.

Kai walked up the stairs and ran to Aria. “Hi, mommy!”

“Hi, sweetheart!” Aria smiled as she picked up the child.

Kai giggled and saw the blue sleeper in Aria's hand. “Where did you find it?”

“I went to the Shadow Realm and found it.”

Kai swallowed hard as his eyes shifted back and forth. “That's where it was?”

Aria nodded. “Sure was. Well, it is getting late and I think that it's time for you boys to get to bed.”

“I'm glad you're home safe,” Umi said, following her down the stairs.

“I'm glad to be back. I have to go see my father. Can you hold down the fort?”

Umi opened the door to Rhett's bedroom. “Yeah, I can handle these two.”

Aria put Kai on his feet. “Go brush your teeth and get dressed for bed.”

Kai ran into his room.

Aria followed Umi into Rhett's room and placed the sleeper in the dresser.

“Aria, have you seen Rhett's yellow pacifier? I can't seem to find that now.”

“Is it out on the deck?”

“No, I make sure everything is inside before I lock up for the night.”

Aria searched in a drawer. “It's not here.”

“Are you sure you didn't send that to the Underworld or something?”

“Kiss my butt. No, I didn't send it to the Underworld. Maybe it's in the living room. I'll check.”

Aria searched the living room as the phone rang. She picked up the phone. “Hello?”

[Hi, Aria, it's me, Robbie.]

“Hi, Robbie. What's up? Something wrong?”

[Something very odd happened.]

“Did Aten freak out on you or something?”

[No, last night, a baby was left in front of our door. No name, no ID, nothing. I took the baby to the doctor and notified the police.]

“A baby? Just left there?”

[Pretty much, yes. I opened the door and there she was in a basket.]

“Hmm…that's very strange.”

[Do you have any blankets or baby stuff that Rhett isn't using? I don't have anything and I don't know if anyone will claim the baby.]

“The cops didn't take the baby?”

[No, they let me keep her.]

“What did Aten say about it?”

[Well….he's not too thrilled.]

“I can imagine.”

[He won't listen to me. He seems angry.]

“Did you talk to him about it?”

[I tried and he just left saying he had a headache.]

“Aten won't ever admit he is angry. He's always had an issue with that. Just go talk to him. He'll listen to you, Robbie. And if he doesn't, let me know. I'll pick his brain for what is going on in that head of his.”

[Okay. I will.]

“I'll bring over what I can spare.”

[Yeah, I don't care about if the stuff has boy colors on it.]

“I'm coming over to see my dad, so I'll drop the stuff off when I'm done.”

[Thank you, Aria.]

“No problem. Bye.”

Aria hung up the phone and searched for the pacifier. “It's not here. How come things have been disappearing?”

She returned to Rhett's room. “I didn't see the pacifier.”

“I got him the red one,” Umi said, tucking the baby into the crib.

Aria looked down at the infant and smiled. Umi put his arm around her and smiled down at his son. “Special little guy, isn't he?”

“He has your smile, I think.”

Umi placed a little octopus plushie beside the baby. “There's your toy, little guy.”

“I have to take some things to Aten's place. Robbie needs to borrow some baby basics.”

Umi looked at Aria. “What? Don't tell me one of them had a kid.”

“Not exactly. Some baby was left on their doorstep and they need some things.”

“Really?”

Aria nodded and sifted through the baby toys. “That's what Robbie said.”

Umi looked down at Rhett and watched the baby reach up for the mobile hanging above the bed. Umi flipped a switch and watched the mobile play a gentle lullabye and turn. “Robbie's good with kids. He won't have a problem.”

“No, I know he's good with kids. It's my brother I am worried about. I don't know why, but when my brother is around kids, he always acted a little strange. I don't know why, though,” Aria said, removing a stuffed fish toy from the box. “I have a pacifier I can give them. The box isn't even opened yet. I'd like to find the old pacifiers before opening a new box, though.”

Umi cocked his head to the side. “He looks a lot like you.”

Aria chuckled. “Now we're even. Kai looks like you and Rhett looks like me.”

“Mommy, Daddy, I'm ready for bed!” Kai called.

Umi followed Aria into Rhett's room. Kai cuddled his whale plushie tightly against him. Aria pulled the covers over Kai and kissed him on the cheek.

“Goodnight, baby,” she said, nuzzling him. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, mommy.”

Umi ruffled Kai's hair. “Love you, too, Little Minnow. I'll be back to read you a bedtime story.”

“Are you leaving?”

“I have to go to see Pop Pop, so daddy will read you a story.”

“Can you read me my story tomorrow?”

Aria nodded. “I sure can, sweetheart.”

Kai hugged her and she hugged back. “Thank you.”

“No problem. I have to speak to daddy for a moment outside, okay? He'll be right back.”

Umi and Aria stepped out of the room and partially closed the door. “What time will you be back?”

“It depends. If my father wants to go back to the Shadow Realm, I'll have to go.”

“What did you see? You look….bothered.”

Aria leaned against the wall. “I saw…..or I thought I saw my grandfather.”

“Grandfather? Is that the one that Aten talked about?”

Aria nodded. “That's the one. I don't know if he was really there, but I do have to talk to my dad about it.”

“Okay. I'll stay here with the kids. Please be careful.”

Aria grinned. “I always am.”

Umi chuckled and put his arm around her. “A little goodbye kiss?”

Aria giggled and pulled Umi close to her. She kissed his lips and held him close. She slipped her tongue between Umi's lips and moaned softly into the kiss. Umi closed his eyes as he deepened the kiss. Umi raised his hand and pet her hair as he kissed down her neck. Aria held Umi close, her nails digging into Umi's back, encouraging him to continue.

Umi pulled back slowly. “I'll wait up for you.”

“If you're tired, go to bed, Umi. “

Umi grinned and licked his lips. “It's no big deal. I'm wide awake now,” he smiled, licking her lips playfully.

“We'll see what happens, handsome.”

“I'll see you when you get back.”

“See you then,” Aria said,walking towards the steps.

“Aria?”

She turned around with a grin. “Yes?”

“Can you wear that blue thing tonight?”

Aria winked. “We'll see, naughty boy.”

Aria walked up the steps, feeling Umi's eyes on her as she climbed the steps. She stood at the top of the steps and heard Umi enter Kai's room. At the top of the steps she heard a voice whisper.

“Aria…..”

Aria turned her head and looked down the stairs into the hallway. Nobody was around.

“I must be hearing things,” she said as she gathered baby stuff for Robbie.

 

********************************

Robbie leaned against the couch, feeding the baby a bottle of formula. The baby looked into his eyes as she sucked hungrily at the bottle. He lifted his head to look up the stairs. Aten was still upstairs in his room after requesting some time alone.

Robbie felt the baby twitch as she ate. He put the bottle down and watched her forehead drip with sweat. “Poor baby girl. What did your mommy put into you?”

Robbie covered her with a blanket as her bottom lip trembled. “Does it hurt, sweetheart? I don't have any medication to give you.” Robbie placed a kiss on her forehead.

“I keep wondering whose kid she belongs to,” Daniel said.

“What mother can do that to her own child?” Miranda asked, shaking her head.

Robbie shrugged and held the baby girl closer. “I don't know. I wouldn't call that a mother at all. This poor baby has to suffer.”

A knock on the door came and Robbie stood up slowly with his cane. He winced as he put pressure on his foot. He limped to the door, gripping the cane with a tight grip. Daniel stood up and opened the door for Robbie.

“Hi, Aria, come in.”

Aria carried a diaper bag, some toys, spare formula, some diapers, a rattle, and a clean sleeper. “I hope this gets you started.”

“Come upstairs, Aria, you can put it in the spare bedroom. We're making a room for her there until we know what's going on.”

Aria carried the bags upstairs. “Did you hear anything?”

“Nothing yet. I'm still waiting.”

“Where's my brother?”

Robbie sighed and walked into the spare room. “You can just put them in here.”

“Where is he?” she asked, putting down the bags.

“He's in his room. He wanted some time to himself.”

Aria sat on a chair in the room. “Doing naughty things?”

“I don't know what he's doing. I've been downstairs holding Mira all night. She hasn't cried much tonight, but she's cold and clammy. She keeps sweating and shaking. I'm just doing what I can to make her a little more comfortable.”

Aria looked at the baby and smiled. “She's a cutie.”

“Aten's not adjusting well. He has become very withdrawn.”

“He gets that way sometimes. What did he say about all this?”

Robbie sat on the spare bed in the room. “He thinks this is a bad idea.”

“Did he tell you why?”

Robbie shrugged.

“Robbie, Aten can clam up when he's feeling uncomfortable about something. Seriously. I've known him for longer than you have and I can tell you…my brother is a clam when he doesn't want to hurt someone's feelings. He's not the sharing type. You have to pry it out of him. Sit down. Talk to him. If you can both discuss this, then maybe he will open up a bit.”

Robbie nodded. “Yeah, I'll have to see if I can pry it out of him again.”

“Keep on him. He'll open up. I don't know where he learned to be so quiet, since nobody in my family really keeps quiet when uncomfortable.”

“I really don't know what to do.”

Aria stood up and pat Robbie's shoulder. “When my brother is quiet, he has a lot to say.” She touched Mira's hand and shook it. “Welcome to the family, cute stuffs.”

Aria left the room and Robbie looked down at the baby.

“Do you think I can talk to Aten, Mira?”

Mira yawned and closed her eyes.

“Tired, baby girl? Aww….tired girl.” Robbie placed Mira in the crib he picked up from a second hand store.

He limped out of the room and stepped in front of his bedroom door.

Robbie limped into the room. He shut the door behind him and saw Aten reading a book in bed. Aten looked up at him and placed the book on the side table. “How are you holding up?”

“What do you mean?”

Robbie limped over to the bed and sat beside Aten. “I'm proud of the way you stopped that reporter from putting her hand on you.”

Aten shrugged. “Nobody has any right to touch me if I don't want them to do that. I was protecting myself and you.”

Robbie turned towards Aten to face him, placing his bad leg on the bed. “Aten, are you okay with all this?”

Aten looked down at the floor. “No. I'm not.”

“Why not?”

Aten opened up his mouth, then closed it again quickly.

“Aten,” Robbie said, taking Aten's hand in his own. “I care a lot about your feelings. Your opinion is very important to me. If you are not comfortable with this, I want to know why.”

“Well…..Can we really take care of her? I don't know how we can take care of her. My health isn't exactly the best. I'm dying, Robbie. Can you really take care of both of us?”

Robbie gave Aten's hand a reassuring squeeze. “This might be an opportunity for you to help yourself, too, Aten.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I know you had some nasty stuff happen to you when you were a kid. Maybe you can help Mira avoid situations like that. Maybe you can help her be as strong as you have become.”

Aten chuckled. “Me? Strong? I still can't get the image of that cabin out of my mind. I keep having nightmares. You call that strong?”

“Well, you are stronger now that you are older. I think helping Mira will help yourself, too.”

“You still didn't answer my question. Do you think you can take care of us both?”

Robbie nodded. “I want to do this, Aten. You know, when you die…..I won't have anyone else.”

“You will still have your parents.”

“That's not what I'm talking about. Neither one of us can have kids, Aten. Maybe, I want to keep her because, in a sense, she will be ours. I'll have a piece of you after you pass on.”

Aten tilted Robbie head up and saw tiny droplets forming in Robbie's eyes. “Does that scare you? Having nothing to remember me by?”

“I'll have your paintings. But of course I want something to remember you by, Aten. I don't want us to fight about this.” Robbie sighed, removing his hand from Aten's grip. “I love you, Aten. I do want a little piece of you. But, I also know that I can understand what this baby will go through. I think both of us can! I'll find some way to get her more mobile than she is now. And you know, if she gets placed in an orphanage, I don't know if anyone will adopt her. It will take someone with a big heart to care for that little girl. Once it gets out that she was born drug addicted and with a birth defect, she could be one of the last kids adopted, if she gets adopted at all.”

Aten sat back against his pillows. “They have special homes for kids like her, though.”

Robbie shook his head. “I can't do that. She needs a family. She deserves a family that will love her and take care of her.”

Aten crossed his arms and took a deep breath. “I'm not comfortable with this.”

“Why not?”

Aten sighed. “I don't want to hurt her.”

“Are you thinking of hurting the baby?”

Aten shook his head. “No, I just don't want to hurt her. I don't want to be like my grandfather.”

“He was a very sick man, Aten. He was sick. You are not sick.”

“I still don't feel right even holding her.”

Robbie pat Aten's knee. “You'll get used to it. It just came naturally.”

“I'm afraid that if I change her diaper or bathe her, I'll hurt her and I don't want to do that.”

“Aten, you won't hurt her. You can be a good role model for her. You'd be an awesome dad! You just have to have more faith in yourself.”

Aten rubbed his forehead. “I don't know if I can be that for her.”

“You can. You just have to believe in yourself. I know you can do it, Aten. Can't you give it a chance?”

Aten raised his eyes and looked at Robbie's blue eyes. “I'll try….for you.”

Robbie took Aten's hand. “That's all I can ask, Aten. This is going to take adjustment and a lot of patience on our parts, but I know that we can get through this together. I love you, Aten, and I think this would help you.”

Aten sighed and opened his arms. “Come here?”

Robbie shifted closer to Aten and hugged him. “I'm proud of you being strong.”

Aten rubbed Robbie's back. `I want to make you happy, Robbie. If this makes you happy, I'll try to make it work.'

 

 

***************************

 

Aria arrived at the parents' home and saw the crowd back away. She stepped out of the car and approached the house without incident. She knocked on the door and Malik opened it.
”Aria! Come in! What's up?”

“Is my father home?”

Malik shook his head. “Nope. He said he had some business to deal with down on Langer Street. Is there anything you need?”

“No, I just need to speak with him.”

“I'd call him on his cell, but he didn't take it with.”

“Where's mom?”

“Sleeping upstairs.”

Aria sighed. “I know where Langer Street is. I'll go look for him.”

“He could be anywhere. How do you know where he could be?”

Aria laughed. “My father always had an interesting twist on `Take Your Daughter to Work Day.'” She hugged Malik and kissed his cheek. “Tell mom I was here.”

Malik nodded. “I'll do that.”

Aria left and returned to the car. `It's a good thing dad used to take me with him on occasion. I learned my way around the city easily…including the best place to hide from the cops,' she thought.

She drove to Langer Street, located near KaibaCorp. She looked up at the building and heard a whisper. “Aria…”

Aria shook her head. “Not again,” she groaned, rubbing her temples. “That voice isn't real. It's just a memory. I just have to find dad and get away from KaibaCorp…then maybe the voice will stop.”

She started walking along the dim street. The streetlights didn't illuminate much of the sidewalk. A light at the end of the street flickered.

“Daddy?” she asked as she saw a dark figurre race across the street. The figure disappeared into an alley.

One person was staggering down the street in a drunken stupor. She heard a sound behind her and whipped around.

Nobody was there.

She growled and turned back around walking to the next doorway.

“Father?”

A hand cupped over her mouth and an arm around her nek. She screamed into the hand, struggling against her assailant. She was pushed against a brick wall.”

“Well, well, what have we here?” the toothless man asked. “You're a pretty one.”

Aria growled into the man's hand. She quickly bit him and found a knife pointed at her throat.

“You'll pay for that, my pretty sprite,” the man smiled at her with a wide, toothless grin.

“You better let me go!” she snarled.

“Or what? You gonna cry home to your mommy and daddy, little girl?” the man laughed maniacally.

“She doesn't have to fun far for her daddy,” a deep vice said from the shadows.

Aria and the man turned to see red eyes peer from the darkness.

“Release her. Now.”

The man released her.

Bakura stepped out of the shadows, licking his fingers covered in blood. “What were you planning to do with my daughter?”

The man looked alarmed. “Your daughter?!”

Bakura nodded and picked up a baseball bat covered in red. “She is. You have violated my first law: Do not touch my family. You should have known that by now. You have known me for many years. I guess I need to remind you of what happens to anyone who touches my family.”

The man fell to his knees. “Please, Thief King! I didn't know!”

“Aria, please step out of the alley while I discipline my minion.”

Aria stepped out of the alley and leaned against eh building, letting out a yawn.

Pain-filled screams and furious snarling came from the father and his victim. Aria scratched her head calmly as the raucous in the alley continued. She turned her head to look at the looming KaibaCorp building. Her eyes lifted to watch the top floorof the building.

She closed her eyes as a disoriented feeling washed over her.

 

****Vision****

Seth held her hand as they stood on the balcony. The sun was rising over the distant horizon.

She watched the city slowly become brighter as the sun rose.

“Aria,” the high Priest said, holding her hand. “I fear for your life. I fear that the pharaoh is determined to destroy you, something that I could not bear.”

“The pharaoh cannot touch me as long as I have my item. His power is no match for mine.”

Seth cupped her cheek. “The pharaoh is a madman, Aria. He is very dangerous. There is only one way I can think of to keep you safe.”

Aria looked into Seth's eyes. “I am not leaving you! I can't go to Greece or Italy. Yami would find a way to eliminate you.”

“No, he needs me. He won't get rid of me. Yami still wants to have an heir and he won't destroy me. And I do not plan to send you to Italy or Greece. Aria, I wish to know one thing.”

“Ask away.”

“I would like to take you as my wife.”

Aria's eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“I am. Yami will not be able to touch you without just cause. It will not keep you immune to his fury, but it would make certain he could not take you to his bed chambers alone.” Seth stepped close to her and placed his forehead against hers. “I love you, Aria Kanika. I don't want Yami to take you away from me…like he took your mother.”

Aria sighed and stepped away from Seth. She walked towards the edge of the balcony. She put her hands on the stone and looked below. “Yami has taken something from everyone. He has taken the money from the poor to line his own pockets. He has executed the rich and yet they worship him beside Ra. He has my

Father's blood on his hands.” Aria closed her eyes and grit her teeth. “He tortured and killed my own father. He suffered so much. My father died in so much pain. I won't let Yami die without making him feel the pain my father felt as he was dying. Yami has made many people suffer because of him. Aten has no father, too. He's been an orphan longer than myself. Yami is hard on him.”

Seth approached Aria and stepped behind her. He placed his chin on her shoulder. His arms wrapped around her and rubbed her stomach. He kissed her neck and whispered in her ear. “I'll protect you.”

*******End Vision*****

 

Aria shook her head and the screaming had stopped. Her father was stepping out of the alley, the bloody baseball bat dripping with new red blood.

“Gavin was a slacker…and a rotten thief anyway. He couldn't steal a penny from a blind man. He knew my rules.”

“Thanks for the help, daddy.”

Bakura grinned and tossed the bat aside. “Anything for my little girl.”

“Dad, I went to the Shadow Realm and I…I thought I saw Grandpa in the Castle of Dark Illusions.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “You did?”

“I was there, personally. I saw him.”

Bakura leaned against the building beside her. “In the Castle of Dark Illusions?”

“Yup.”

“I went there looking for him earlier. The Castle of Dark Illusions is a deceptive place. What you see may or may not be there.”

Aria crossed her arms. “But if we BOTH saw him, wouldn't that make him actually there?”

“We both knew him. The castle feeds of memory.”

Aria uncrossed her arms. “Just what are we going to do about this?”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, but I was lucky to get the hell out.”

Bakura ran his fingers through his hair. “It's hard to say what is truth with the Castle of Dark Illusions.”

Aria leaned against the brick. “What do you plan to do about it?”

“I took your mother and the Ishtars and we went there. I believe I saw him there, but it is hard to tell if it was real. I remember the illusion of him I had seen. He looked real, but he certainly wasn't real. He cannot escape the Shadow Realm, Aria. The only card made for him was destroyed many years ago. He is stuck in the Shadow Realm. He cannot cross the boundary between the living and the dead.”

“He came into my home! He tried to get to Rhett!”Aria growled.

Bakura shook his head. “No spirit from the Shadow Realm can cross the boundary between our worlds.”

“What about you and Marik?”

“We have our Items. We have special abilities to open portals to the Shadow Realm and tap into the magic. The monsters cannot cross the border voluntarily. They must be summoned. Unless someone from this plane beckons them, they cannot be called.”

Aria rolled her eyes. “Who summoned him, then? I certainly didn't.”

“I don't know if he actually crossed the border, but he shouldn't be able to cross this plane.”

“I don't want him coming over and hurting Rhett! I'm glad nothing happened.”

Bakura shook his head. “Steven cannot be summoned by ordinary means. He is dead to this world and that way he shall remain. He couldn't have voluntarily crossed the border.”

Aria threw up her hands. “Well, I don't know how he appeared in my baby's room, then.”

“I don't know either, but Rhett is safe, I assure you.”

Aria sighed. “I just want him to be safe.”

“He's safe, Aria.” Bakura stopped talking and let out a quiet growl. “Get in here.” Bakura pulled her by her dress into the alley. He crouched down and pulled her behind him. A police car drove past slowly. She hid behind her father as the flashing lights of the car passed.

“I should get going home.”

Bakura nodded. “Yes, I should, too. Marik's getting out of work pretty soon and I didn't want to leave Malik and Ryou home alone for long. I just had to attend to some personal business.”

Aria hugged her father. “Love you, daddy.”

He hugged her back tightly. “So do I, baby girl. You better get home.”

“Yeah, Umi's waiting for me to put that skimpy blue thing on.”

Bakura shook his head. “Where did I go wrong?”

“I'll go home and ride Umi's fishing pole for all it's worth. I'll enjoy riding his high tide.”

Bakura wrinkled his nose. “You're worse than Marik.”

Aria giggled. “I know. Bye, daddy.”

Aria walked towards her car, giggling. As she walked towards her car, the faint signs of dizziness returned. She stood in front of her car as a quick wave of disorientation flooded her mind. Her mind whirled and her surroundings spun around. She looked up at KaibaCorp's top floor. “Seth….”

 

**********************

Seto held Joey against him, pressing against Joey's back. His hands rubbed Joey's flat stomach as the blond began dozing. The blond let out a yawn as the CEO let out a contented sigh.

“So what do you have planned tomorrow?” Seto asked.

“Yugi's coming over to visit. I'm looking forward to spending some time with him.”

Seto grinned. “Yeah, it's been a while since he's been here.”

“Too long.”

Seto closed his eyes as the room became blurry. “I think I've been staring at the news reports too long. My eyes are killing me.”

“Rest them for a while. Close `em.”

Seto closed his eyes and saw Aria smiling at him. He opened them quickly and shook his head. “I think I need to take a day off.”

“Then do it. You can do that, you know. Who can you answer to?”

“It's tempting….really, it is,” the CEO responded.

Joey turned his head slightly. “You are a workaholic. Always were. You need to relax, Seto.”

Seto closed his eyes as his head begun to spin. “I think I've been working way too hard. This place is spinning.”

“Just relax, Seto. You've been under a lot of stress lately.”

`This has to be another vision…..it HAS to be,' he thought.

Joey yawned again and closed his eyes. “Just relax, Seto.”

Seto held onto Joey tightly as his sense of time and place disintegrated. “Joey?”

Joey began to snore quietly in his arms.

Seto pushed the covers off of himself and staggered out of bed. “This has to be a vision…”

The CEO staggered to the edge of the bed as a wave of disorientation hit him. He inhaled deeply and thought he smelled a subtle scent of roses.

“Aria…..”

Seto walked to his door on unsteady feet and opened the bedroom door. He leaned against the doorway to stabilize his footing. Down the hall, his office door was open.

Seto walked towards the office. “Hello?”

Nobody answered.

“Donny?”

Nobody answered.

“Kendall?”

Nobody answered.

“Asher?”

Nobody answered.

He stepped in the doorway and saw a figure sitting cross-legged on the desk. “Hello?”

“High Priest Seth?”

Seto approached the figure sitting on the desk. As he approached, Aria's face became illuminated by the moonlight. “Aria…..”

Aria reached up and touched Seto's face with her hand. “My beloved Seth…….”

Seto looked down and saw Aria in the white robe he had always seen in her visions. “My goddess Aria…..”

Aria looked Seto in the eyes. “The pharaoh requires an heir…….”

 

Updates: 6/15