Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sins Of The Pharaoh ❯ Tyrant ( Chapter 6 )

 

Tyrant

 

Seth woke up and stretched. It had been a long time since he had woken up alone. He stood up and walked onto his balcony. He looked down at the arena below him.

The young child soldiers were already sparring. Aten, Ravana, and Hamadi were sparring against each other. Aten's infected wound looked as if it was healing. Hamadi winced as he moved to Aten's other side to attack him from behind. Aten dodged Hamadi's attack and sweat in the heat of the sun.

A knock sounded at the door. Seth turned. “Come in.”

Veria entered the room slowly with Aria. “Good morning, my lord. How are you?”

Seth sighed as he sat on his bed. “I've been better.”

Aria ran and threw herself at Seth. “Morning, Seth!” The little girl hugged Seth with a bright smile. Her big brown eyes glistened as she looked at him.

Seth hugged her back. “Did you sleep well?”

Aria nodded. “I slept with all the mommies! It was fun!”

A guard burst into the room. “Pharaoh Yami wishes a word with you, High Priest.”

“I will be right there.”

Veria went to the table and grabbed two bottles of oil. She handed one to Aria.

“Here, Aria. Put some oil on your hands like this. Then you have to coat Seth's skin with it.”

Aria sniffed it. “Do I have to wash his stinky feets again?”

Veria laughed. “I can do his feet, sweetheart. Why don't you do Seth's hands and arms?”

Veria lifted the girl on the bed. Seth gave Aria his arm.

Aria rubbed the oil into his hands and arms. Seth watched Aria closely as her tiny hands brushed the oil into his skin.

“This stuff smells pretty, Seth.”

“It does smell nice.”

Veria washed Seth's feet and grabbed his robe. Seth stood up and Veria dressed him. Aria slid off of the bed and grabbed his sandals.

She put the sandals on his feet and smiled up at him. “Now you look all pretty to see the pharaoh!”

Seth sighed and looked up at Veria. “I better go see what that butcher wants. My linens on my bed need cleaning. Show Aria how to clean them properly, Veria.”

“I will, my lord.”

Seth looked down at the child standing by his side. “Be good for Veria. She is going to show you what you have to do as my servant, okay? Be good and listen.”

“I promise, Seth.”

Seth pat her on the head and kissed his wife. “I had better see what the Butcher of Cairo wants.”

Seth left the room and walked down the hall to the royal throne room.

Inside he saw a little slave girl washing Yami's feet.

“My pharaoh, you summoned me?”

“Yes. That girl that I gave to you the other night….is she pregnant yet?”

Seth bowed and fell to one knee before the pharaoh. “I will not bed a young child, Great One. I suspect that one of the women in my harem may be with child.”

“Which female?”

Seth shifted his eyes. “A woman I have chosen outside of my harem.”

“I hope she delivers a male heir….for her sake.”

A guard opened the door. “Great One, a woman seeks entrance to speak to your worship.”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Who?”

“A common woman.”

Yami wrinkled his nose. “Regarding what?”

“Her lover, Bakura Osiris Itemri, has been arrested and she wishes to beg for his life.”

Seth stood up and the slave girl moved to clean the pharaoh's nails.

Seth stood beside Yami and saw Rayna walk in.

“What do you want, commoner?” the pharaoh growled.

Rayna walked towards the pharaoh and kneeled before him. “Sir, I have come to beg for Bakura Itemri's release from your prison.”

The pharaoh's lip curled in disgust. “The King of Thieves? What is he to you?”

“He is my lover, sir. I came to plead for my lover's life.”

Yami stood up and laughed. He approached the woman slowly. “You look like nothing but a common whore. A common girl.”

The woman looked up at Yami fearlessly. “I may be a common girl, but I love him.”

“GUARDS! Bring Bakura Itemri in so that we may see how much she loves him.”

Rayna nodded. “I love him, sir…unconditionally.”

Seth covered his mouth as he saw Bakura being dragged into the throne room naked, panting, and bleeding. The soldiers threw him to the ground.

Rayna kneeled beside her lover and stroked his hair. “Bakura?”

“I…know that voice……Rayna…darling?”

The woman leaned down to speak to the man. Seth noticed the prisoner's white spiky hair.

`This has to be Aria's father!' Seth gasped. `The prisoner looks much like her.'

Seth was snapped from his thoughts as he saw Yami grab Rayna and pull her to her feet. He removed a dagger from his belt and Seth's heart froze.

“NO! SHE MAY BEAR YOUR HEIR!”

The dagger stopped short of her neck.

Yami turned his head. “What?”

“You cannot kill her, sir. She may be pregnant with my child. This is the girl whom I have taken to bed to father a child by her womb.”

Yami growled and released her. “For your sake, woman, you better bear me a male child. A female child will be fed to my lions along with you. Leave my throne room and bear me an heir. That is YOUR duty! That is all you are worth! Guards, get this prisoner out of my sight!”

Seth and Rayna watched the guards drag Bakura out of the room. Seth took her hand.

“I will show her out, pharaoh.”

Rayna looked to Yami. “But, sir, please let Bakura go!”

Yami growled and returned to his throne. “Get out of my sight!”

Rayna lowered her head, tears in her eyes.

“Come with me, Rayna. I'm going to show you to your daughter. You will see that I followed my part of our bargain.”

Seth lead Rayna to his harem. Inside, Aria was standing by another woman cleaning Seth's linens.

The little children squealed as they saw their father enter. “FATHER!”

Aria's head snapped up and she squealed. “MOMMY! SETH!”

Aria ran to her mother and threw herself into her arms.

Seth cleared his throat. “Aria? As my personal servant, you are to bow to me.”

Aria pouted and returned to where the other children bowed.

“She is your slave, sir!” Rayna exclaimed.

Seth nodded. “She is my slave, but she is special to me. She is well cared for.”

“I see that. She looks more healthy than those little soldier boys in the arena.”

Seth shook his head. “I have discussed that with the general. I told you I would take care of Aria. I always keep my promises.”

Aria bounced up and down. “I have a fend now! She's mating Seth's room all clean wif her mommy!”

“A High Priest needs a clean room,” Seth said. “We should go.”

Aria hugged her mother. “Seth wook after me. I be otay, mommy.”

Rayna picked her daughter up and kissed her cheek. “Remember that your mommy loves you, baby girl.”

“I know, mommy. I love you, too, mommy.”

Aria kissed her and watched her mother leave. When Rayna and Seth left, she walked to the door and sniffled.

“Mommy…I want my mommy back…”

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

Seth and Rayna were walking along the halls when they heard soldiers training below. They looked below from a balcony.

These kids are learning combat quickly. Anubis is quite upset at one of the

kids in particular. He raised this kid after rescuing him from the desert. There

he is!"

Seth pointed out one child with blond hair. "His name is Aten. He's a good

kid, but is not as strong as the others."

Aten raised his dagger uncertainly towards a twelve year old boy.

"You better beat Baruti, Aten, or you can forget dinner for a second night!"

Anubis growled.

Aten lunged at Baruti, ducking the swinging of an axe. Aten slid between the

boy's legs and brought up his hips to kick the boy's back. Baruti fell forwards

as Aten jumped to his feet.

Baruti spun the axe around as the three-year-old jumped back.

Aten's hair flew in the hot wind, the blond strands twitching.

Baruti lunged at Aten, who caught his arm. Aten's sharp nails dug into

Baruti's skin as his dagger sliced Baruti's bare leg.

Baruti screamed, fell, and Aten put one foot on his chest. Aten panted

heavily, his vision beginning to fade from lack of food. The three-year-old

pointed the dagger at Baruti's chest.

Anubis smiled in satisfaction. "So, boy, starvation is how I make a ruthless

killer out of you? Maybe if you go one more night without food, you will

become merciless. One more night without food for you! One crust of bread

before bed is all you are entitled to tonight. Consider that reward for your

victory!"

Aten's eyes widened and became unfocused. He dropped the dagger at

Baruti's side. His body began to sway in the heat. "Need….food…..sir."

Aten fell limp as a doll at Baruti's side. Anubis growled.

"Drag him to the shade. He'll come around….eventually."

Hamadi and Ravana dragged Aten to the shade. “Aten? Aten, wake up!”

Hamadi whimpered. “Anubis hasn't fed him lately.”

Ravana stroked Aten's cheek. “Aten, open your eyes, please!”

Hamadi shook his head. “He won't wake up until we give him some water!”

Seth shook his head as he watched the two boys struggle to revive Aten.

“Anubis has no mercy. He's no better than his stepbrother, Pharaoh Yami."

Rayna gasped. "General Anubis is the pharaoh's stepbrother?"

Seth nodded. "Yes. He works that poor child senseless. I'm amazed he's still

alive. I would bring him into my harem to stay with my children, but, if I ever

have Aten in here, Yami would have his hands on him in no time. Yami

favors boys his age. He favors their innocence. It makes me glad I have

females. He won't lay one finger on girls. I would never dream of hurting

Aria or any of the other children. Let's go. I think you've seen

enough."

"It's disgusting how Anubis treats that boy!"

Seth nodded. "I know it is. But, at least I can protect Aria from him and

everyone else who wants to hurt her. That is why I brought you to your

daughter. While she is my slave, I treat her well, which is more than I can say

for the other servants."

Rayna and Seth left the balcony as the sounds of clanging metal faded.

“Thank you….for taking care of my daughter, Seth.”

Seth smiled and took her into his arms. “I made a promise to you, Rayna. I don't break my promises.”

Rayna smiled. “It's nice to know that my daughter is well cared for.”

“She always will be, Rayna.”

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

Yami sat in his royal chair overlooking the training arena. A cloth above the royal seats prevented the hot afternoon sun from hitting he and Seth.

Aria sat beside Seth as she looked down at the arena. “What is dis, Seth?”

“This is a battle, Aria.”

Aria shrugged. “I see no ones down dere.”

Yami stepped up. “Bring out the prisoner!”

The same prisoner from the throne room was shoved into the arena.

Aria's eyes widened as she looked at the prisoner. “Daddy?”

Bakura staggered to his feet with no weapons in his hands.

“Let the games begin!” Yami exclaimed to the cheering crowd of the arena.

Anubis, armed with a sword and shield stepped into the arena. The unarmed victim backed away into the wall.

Yami laughed. “Anubis, teach this criminal a lesson!”

Aria screeched. “NOT MY DADDY!”

Anubis charged at Bakura, screaming wildly and flailing the sword.

Bakura ran around the arena, fleeing the sword.

“Daddy!!! Seth, tell them not to hurt my daddy!”

“Aria, I can't do anything to stop this.”

Aria sobbed. “But that's my daddy!”

Anubis grabbed a rope hanging at his side and tied the end in a knot. He threw the rope and was pleased to see the rope fall around the victim's neck. Anubis tugged and Bakura fell onto his back, choking.

The prisoner felt the rope tug his neck and constrict him.

“No hurt my daddy! A-NA-BI!” the child screamed in fear.

Anubis kicked Bakura in the arm and laughed. “This is all you've got? Pathetic!”

Bakura rolled away as the sword stabbed the sand where he was laying.

Anubis stabbed the sand again where Bakura was laying and he missed.

“Anabi is twying to hurt my daddy, Seth! Peas stop dis!”

Yami smiled in approval of the violence below.

Anubis raised his sword and brought it down, ready to pierce Bakura's head. The thief rolled out of the way as the sword rained down into Anubis' foot.

Anubis cried out in pain as the rope around Bakura's neck loosened. Anubis dropped his sword and Bakura picked it up.

The thief struggled to his feet, his body bruised. Yami growled and pounded his fist angrily on the side of his throne.

“FINISH HIM, ANUBIS! KILL HIM!”

“KILL BAKURA! KILL BAKURA!” the crowd chanted angrily. “KILL BAKURA!”

Aria screamed. “No kill my daddy! ANABI! No!”

Sweat formed on Bakura's body.

“Take this, Anubis!”

Anubis dodged Bakura's strike and slammed his shield on top of his head, knocking the thief down.

“Stab him!” Yami cried.

Aria screeched. “DADDY!”

Bakura struggled to get to his feet as Anubis kicked him to the sand again. The crowd cheered louder.

Aria fell to her knees as she looked through the bars of the royal box. “My daddy…..”

“KILL BAKURA! KILL HIM!” the crowd screamed at Anubis.

Bakura struggled to get to his feet again and Anubis tied the rope around Bakura's neck tightly. He dragged the exhausted, injured thief around.

Yami stood up. “This is what criminals face if they continue to violate my law! MY LAW IS ABOSOLUTE! MY POWER IS UNMATCHED BY THE GODS! I AM RA! And I'm telling you, Bakura Osiris Itemri, that your life is almost at its miserable end!”

Aria looked up at Yami with contempt. Her eyes narrowed and her teeth clenched angrily.

Begging for her father's life would not work and she knew it. The child ran to Seth and reached out her arms.

Seth brought the child into his arms, knowing it may anger the pharaoh. He didn't care. He knew that Aria recognized the man to be her father.

Yami relished in Bakura's pain….much like the pain of every commoner in his realm.

Seth narrowed his eyes at the cheering tyrant.

Someday….Yami had to be stopped.

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

That night, Seth brought Aria to his chambers. The girl ran to the balcony and looked down on the city. Seth watched her white spiky hair flowing in the night wind. Her white linens fluttered in the wind. Seth watched her tiny body standing alone on the balcony. He was grateful to see that she had not been too affected by what she had seen this afternoon.

It bothered her, but after her nap, she seemed to largely forget about the `game' as Yami called it.

“Seth! Tum wook at dis!”

Seth approached her and looked down at the city. “What is it?”

“Is it pity?”

Seth saw the child smiling at awe at the city below. “Come in, child, or you will catch cold.”

Aria skipped behind him happily. He watched her every carefree movement. When he looked at her, he could only see the beaten and bloody form of her father.

“What we going to do, Seth?”

“I am going to show you what you have to do for me.” Seth put a bowl of water on the floor. “You are to wash my feet and hands.”

Aria smiled. “I tan do dat. When I was wif my mommy, I keened da daddies dat came into the house. I keened dare feets and hans. I give dem dwinks, too.”

Seth watched her remove his sandals. Her soft hands took the towel and rubbed his feet. Seth watched her, her spiky hair falling around her shoulders.

`How could Yami want to spoil innocence like this?'

She giggled and looked up at him. “Seth's feets tinky.”

Seth giggled. “Just never make fun of Yami's feet. That would be dangerous. He could hurt you.”

Aria put her hand on Seth's hand as she washed him. “Yami no hurt me. He tant hurt me, Seth.”

Seth saw the confidence in his slave's eyes. He had never seen such confidence from a child her age. Since her father was a thief, maybe it came from him.

“You will be responsible for drawing my bath, Aria. Let me show you how.”

Seth watched the girl dry his feet and he showed her how to fill the tub and scent the water with oils.

He slipped into the tub and bathed himself. “When you get older, Aria, you will bathe me.”

Aria cocked her head to the side. “Why?”

“Because that is what my servants do. That is your duty, Aria.”

“Oh, I see.” Aria turned and ran onto the balcony again to look down at the city. She saw the poor in the streets surrounding torches trying to keep warm. He could see the dogs fighting over meat in the streets. The Nobles walked confidently around the streets as the starving children begged for food.

She yawned as her eyes roamed below. Aten and Hamadi were sparring still. They had been training all day and now the stars were out and they were still training.

Aria yawned and returned to Seth. “Tired, Seth.”

Seth placed new linens on himself. “Let me take you back to the others.” Seth held her hand and lead her outside of the room.

Aria stopped short when she saw the guards drag a prisoner down the hall. The prisoner's white hair was stained with crimson. “D—Daddy?”

Bakura moved his eyes to look at his daughter. “Aria….my daughter….”

Aria shed a tear. “Daddy, did Yami hurt you? Does it hurt, Daddy?”

Anubis growled as he hovered over her. “He's going to see the pharaoh, kid! He doesn't know the meaning of true pain yet. He will when Yami is done.”

Aria kneeled in front of Anubis. “Peas don't hurt my daddy! Please!”

Anubis growled and backhanded the child, sending her to the floor. Bakura snarled and struggled with the guards. Anubis punched Aria's father in the ribs and watched him sink to his knees.

Seth kneeled to Aria and took the crying child into his arms.

“If she is going to be your servant, Seth, you should teach her that servants do not plead for mercy! Servant don't deserve mercy!” The general picked Bakura up by the hair. “Neither do common thieves.”

Anubis pulled Bakura into Yami's bedroom.

Seth rubbed the child's hair. “It's okay, Aria.”

Aria sobbed. “Seth no leave me! Don't make me go! I want to stay wif you! Peas? Peas, Seth?”

Seth brought the child back into his chambers. “Aria…”

“No let me leave, Seth.”

Seth held the shaking little girl. “Don't cry, Aria.” The child quivered violently in his arms. He could only imagine what Yami was doing to Bakura. If it was anything like Yami did to his male child servants, Bakura would be in deep trouble. “You're really scared, aren't you?”

“I…want…my mommy.”

Seth brought her head down to his shoulders. “I'll keep you safe, Aria, I promise. You can stay with me tonight.”

Seth slipped into bed with his linens on. “There will be one rule of this bed, Aria: You will not kick your feet.”

“Why?”

Seth bit his lip. “It would hurt me….alot.”

“Otay. Promise.”

Seth looked down and watched the child drift into sleep. He let out a sigh as he held the child against him. He buried his face in her tuft of white spiky hair and closed his eyes. “I would never hurt you, Aria Kanika.”

The child yawned. “Goodnight….Seth.”

Seth smiled. “Sleep well, Aria.”