Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sins Of The Pharaoh ❯ Through the Eyes of the Enemy ( Chapter 11 )

Through the Eyes of the Enemy

 

 

Seth stood on his balcony, watching the sun rise in the distance. In the sky, a flock of birds flew overhead and landed some distance away towards the homes of the Nobility. In the streets, Seth could hear the sounds of vendors calling to the masses to buy their wares.

Below, he could see the troops training. Aten jumped back to dodge an adult swinging at him. The boy's blond hair dirty and covered in brown mud.

Behind him, he heard Aria stirring in his bed. He slowly entered his room and saw Rayna laying beside Aria.

“Good morning, Seth,” Aria smiled.

“Good morning, Aria,” Seth smiled back. He tried to fake the smile, but Rayna knew him better.

“Ahmose should be back in the harem by now.”

Seth sat beside Aria and stroked her white hair. “I'm not so sure of that. I've been up all night and I haven't found her back there. I went back every hour.”

Rayna stood up and wrapped a robe around her. “I will check the harem, my lord. Aria, stay here and take care of Seth.”

“Yes, mother.”

Aria rolled out of bed and stretched. She ran for the bucket of water nearby. She carried it to Seth's feet and placed a blanket on the floor.

“There we go, Seth.”

Seth put his feet on the blanket and watched the little eight-year old wash his feet gingerly. She smiled up at him. “Don't worry about Ahmose, Seth. She's very strong. I've seen her! She's a strong fighter.”

`But can she stand up against the strength of the pharaoh? From what I heard last night, she may have lost.'

Aria poured some oil over Seth's feet and massaged them. “This will make your feet stink good,” she giggled.

Seth kept his ears attentive for the sound of Ahmose's cries. But, he heard nothing.

Rayna returned and shook her head. “Ahmose must still be with the pharaoh, my lord.”

An icy chill swept across Seth's soul and he stood up. “Aria, my robe! I must go see my daughter!”

Aria ran for Seth's robe and brought him his sandles. “Seth, may I come?”

“Aria, I cannot guarantee what shape Ahmose will be in….”

“Please, sir, I don't want to leave your side.”

Seth sighed. “Very well. But you must follow every command I give you.”

Aria bowed. “Yes, sir.”

Seth stopped beside Rayna. “Pray for my daughter.”

Rayna nodded. “I have done so since she was taken away.”

Seth lead Aria out of the room and down the hall towards the pharaoh's chambers. The High Priest stared at the door.

Should he open it himself? Should he wait for the pharaoh to awaken?

Before he could respond to his own uncertainty, Yami opened the door to his chamber.

Seth was standing beside the door with a scowl on his face. Yami crossed his arms with satisfaction as the High Priest saw Ahmose on the bed.

“I am done with her. She offered me little amusement.”

 

The bloody linens were torn off of the bed and lay crumpled among shattered glass and broken pottery.

Seth's chest became tight with fear for his daughter laying on the bed, broken and bleeding. “What have you done to my daughter?”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Your daughter knows her place now. I know I will not have to teach her these lessons again.”

Yami brushed past Seth and turned to the guards. “When Seth is finished with the female, bring her to my throne room. I'm not done with her body yet!”

Yami made his way down the hall, satisfied that he had put another one of Seth's daughters in her place.

Seth rushed beside his daughter's moaning, whimpering body. He carefully touched her cheek and felt the same cold chill freeze his soul. “Ahmose…..open your eyes, child. It's your father.”

The corner of Ahmose's right eye was black and red. Her left eye opened and looked unfocused. A bloody hand inched its way to him and covered his hand. “Father……I tried to fight him.”

“What did that demon do to you?” Seth whispered quietly to his daughter.

Aria ran beside Seth and her eyes widened at the naked, bruised, and bloody girl on the bed. `The pharaoh did this?'

Seth ran his fingers through her black hair. When he withdrew his hand, it was covered in broken glass and stained red. “By the gods,” Seth whispered quietly. “What did that pharaoh do to you last night?”

Ahmose's eyes blinked her eye. “Father...come closer. I can't see you.” Seth leaned into her and she smiled. “I love you, father.”

Seth reached over for a towel in a bowl. Seth wiped her forehead free of blood and she moaned. The cloth went to her right eye and she let out a wail.

“My daughter, can you open your eye?”

Ahmose shook her head. “He placed a scorching metal to my eye.'

“It's fused shut,” Seth said with a sad sigh.

Seth clenched his fists. “Yami will not get away with this,” Seth growled. Seth ran out to the pharaoh's balcony and saw Yami enter the library.

“He can't do this to my own flesh and blood.”

Aria ran to the other side of the bed and crawled onto the sheets. She took Ahmose's hand. She lifted her other hand which had stuck in a small puddle of a white, sticky substance. “Eww,” she whispered. “It's sticky now…”

Aria wiped her hand on the clean part of the sheets.

Yami's piercing “NOOOO!!!!” was heard throughout the palace. Yami found the scrolls in shreds. What he needed to pursue ultimate power! The pharaoh left the library in anger and Seth snickered.

`Now you can't get your hands on the power you seek!'Seth returned to Ahmose. “My daughter, I wish I could take away your pain.”

Ahmose shuddered. “With Ra's good grace, I will recover, father.”

Yami burst through the door. “Some snake has broken into the library and destroyed ancient scrolls! When I find who is responsible, they will be put to death!” Yami held a scroll in his hand.

He had destroyed the scrolls before he had left the library.

“I don't know who did it, sire.”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “My scribe copied the destroyed scroll, but only finished half of the necessary incantations! I still have what I need to test my theories. GUARDS! Bring this woman to my throne room! It's time to test to see if this type of magic truly does exist.”

Seth hugged his daughter as the guards advanced.

Aria held Ahmose's hand. “Don't hurt her!”

Yami's gaze shot coldly at Aria. “You're not safe from me, little one.”

Aria swallowed hard. Seth stood up defensively in front of Aria and Ahmose.

“You will not harm these girls!”

Yami shook his head. “You can't protect her forever, Seth. Guards, take Ahmose and follow me.”

Seth took Aria's hand and helped her off the bed. They followed the guards to the throne room.

Before entering, Seth kneeled down to Aria. “Aria, what you may see in here may frighten you. Do you wish to enter with me? I will keep you safe.”

Aria wrapped her arms around Seth's neck. “Where you go, I will follow, Seth. I can't let the pharaoh hurt Ahmose.”

Seth hugged her back. “Keep hold of my hand.” Seth lead her into the throne room where Ahmose was held by the guards. A large stone tablet was standing by the wall of the room. Yami stood in front of his throne holding the open scroll.

“Let's see if this works. Seth, I hope you said farewell to your daughter! This is the last time you will see her mortal body!”

Seth gripped onto Aria tightly. “What do you mean?”

Aria returned the grip. “You can't hurt her! You hurt her enough!”

 

Yami opened the scroll and read:

 

Soul of Purity, Soul of Light

Magic of Dark, Shadow, and Night!

Magic Dark, take the Soul of Light

Seal it away in Stone of Might!

 

 

Take the soul from Mortal Coil

Listen to your Servant Loyal!

Separate the soul, Take it Alone!

Seal it here within this Stone!

 

Ahmose fell to her knees, her body shivering and shaking. Her hands clung to her stomach as she fell on her hands and knees. A bright green light surrounded her. Seth and Aria shielded their eyes from the light. A loud pain-filled cry tore from her throat and she fell to the floor limp. Seth opened his eyes, despite the intensity of the light and felt his heart seize.

“AHMOSE!” Seth raced towards his daughter and pulled Aria with him. Aria turned Ahmose's head.

“Ahmose! Wake up! Please!”

Seth listened to her heart. Her heart was beating, but her left eye was open in an emotionless stare. “Daughter? Daughter? Speak to me!”

The large stone tablet fell down, but did not break, much to Seto's surprise. Tears escaped Seth's eyes as he gently tried to nudge his daughter awake. Seth cradled Ahmose against his chest. “My daughter……by the gods! Ahmose, please speak to me! Say one word to your father! Please!”

Silence.

Seth gathered Ahmose to his chest, his body wracked with sobs. “I lost another child……my own flesh and blood. My daughter…..my baby girl…”

Suddenly, at Yami's feet, a card appeared. Yami picked it up and looked at it. It was the picture of Ahmose wearing a white dress and a blood-red tattered piece of material. The name of the card was on top: The Loving Servant.

Yami dropped the scroll. “I found a way to harness Shadow Magic! I can trap people's souls in tablets of stone!”

Aria looked up at Yami, terrified. “Seth, I'm scared!”

Seth wrapped his arms around Aria, cradling her against him. “I'm here to protect you, Aria Kanika.” Seth kept his servant girl close, not knowing what to expect from the unpredictable pharaoh.

Yami looked down with a grin. “You cannot protect her now that I have this magic, Seth! Your servant girl will be mine!”

Seth pulled Aria close to him. “You will not have her!”

Yami held up the card. “The Loving Servant! Come forth!”

Aria screamed as the stone tablet stood upright. In front of it appeared Seth's daughter as she appeared on the card. In her hand

She held a dagger.

“Ahmose!” Seth cried out as he ran to her. Seth found himself going right through her. He turned around in shock. “Daughter?”

Ahmose turned back to Seth and looked at him sadly. Seth approached her slowly and reached out to touch her.

Seth's hand went right through her. “My child?” Seth tried to reach out for her again.

He failed.

Aria approached her friend and tried to touch her. Aria's hand went through the apparition. “Ahmose? What has the pharaoh done to you?”

Yami looked at the scroll. “This scroll mentions ways of directing this apparition. Attack mode? Maybe she'll attack the High Priest's servant girl. LOVING SERVANT! ATTACK MODE!”

Ahmose drew her dagger at Aria and she fell backwards onto the floor.

“No! Don't hurt me, Ahmose! It's Aria!”

Seth ran to Aria, pulling her against his chest. “Don't hurt her!”

Yami raised an eyebrow. “Defense mode? Maybe she can defend me! LOVING SERVANT! DEFENSE MODE!”

Ahmose went to her knees and held her open hands out in front of her to defend herself.

Yami snickered. “Interesting. LOVING SERVANT, BE GONE!”

Ahmose disappeared and the stone tablet started falling down, ready to crush Aria and Seth.

Aria froze as the large stone tablet was plummeting towards her. Seth stood up quickly and pulled Aria out of harm's way.

Aria shook nervously. “I was almost killed!”

Seth picked Aria off of the ground and held her in his arms.

The guards picked up Ahmose's body. “Where do you wish for us to put her?”

Yami shrugged. “Her body is nothing but an empty shell now. Take it outside of the city for the beasts of the desert to feast upon!”

“My pharaoh, she is my daughter! She is entitled to a royal burial!”

Yami laughed. “She was a dog! She died like a dog! She deserves nothing!”

Yami sat on his throne with a smile on his face. He threw the card down at Seth's feet. “There's your daughter, Seth. Enjoy.”

Seth picked up the card and left the throne room. “Let's go, Aria.”

Seth walked to his chambers with the little girl in his arms. Aria followed him closely, watching his sad face look at the card.

Rayna had gone back to Seth's harem. When she heard what had happened, she sat beside him and put her arm around him. Seth sat on his bed, clutching the card against his chest.

“My daughter…..how could I have let this happen?”

Aria kneeled at his feet and beside his right knee. “Seth? I'm sorry about Ahmose.”

Seth wiped the tears from his eyes. “She was my last daughter from Neferu. Despite her noble blood, she's going to be thrown to the jackals. They'll tear her apart…..just like her mother before her.”

Aria shifted closer to Seth. When Seth opened his eyes, he saw she was kneeling between his legs. She looked up at him and wrapped her arms around him. “I'm sorry, Seth. I can make it better.”

Aria reached up and pulled Seth's face down to her. Aria planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. Seth's eyes widened. “Did that make it better?”

Seth looked at her brown eyes, sparkling and bright. For a moment, he saw Ahmose when she was Aria's age, standing in front of him and greeting him. Seth's eyes watered at the servant girl who he considered as an equal. He considered her his own flesh and blood.

Aria was compassionate, happy, loyal, and obedient.

She was everything he always wanted. None of his servants ever came close to making him feel powerless against his own feelings. Seth wanted to hold her, to embrace her, to love her.

“Aria….can you kiss me again?”

Aria smiled and brought Seth's face down for a kiss again. She kissed his cheek in the same spot and rubbed her cheek against his.

“Love my Seth,” Aria sighed with contentment.

Seth kissed her on her forehead. He looked at the card in his hand. “I cannot allow Yami to gain the power he seeks! I don't know where the Items are located that would give him the power he craves.”

Seth looked into the brown eyes of his servant girl. “Aria, stay here with the women. Veria, keep a good eye on her. I am leaving.”

“But, my lord, what are you going to do?”

“I'm going to steal the scroll that points to the location of each of the legendary Millennium Items.”

Aria grabbed Seth's robe. “Steal the scroll? What if the pharaoh catches you? He will take your soul, too!”

Seth turned around to Aria. “We cannot allow Yami to get his hands on the Millennium Items, Aria! I don't even know where to begin looking for them!”

“Seth, I want to go with you,” the little girl protested.

Seto shook his head. “You are not going with me, little flower. It is too dangerous for you.”

Aria took Seth's hand. “I do not care what happens to me, Seth. You brought my mommy here to live with us! The least I can do is do this for you!”

Seth was ready to protest, but Aria's brown eyes filled with tears.

The High Priest nodded. “It will be dangerous. I can't risk your life. Rayna, I need your help. Yami is searching for some powerful objects that will make him immortal and give him power beyond imagination. If I get the scroll which locates them one by one, we will need to locate them and hide them from Yami.”

Rayna brushed back her hair. “So, we have to find these items and hide them?” A smile crossed Rayna's face. “I think that can be arranged…and I know just the two to do the job.”

Seth nodded. “Okay. Who are they?”

Rayna reached out for Aria's hand. “The one man is Aria's father. He's a famous thief. Bakura Osiris Itemri.”

Seth crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “He was the one who escaped Yami's chambers five years ago, wasn't he? His name keeps being mentioned still. His latest victim was a twenty year old girl he murdered. Can we really trust him?”

Rayna nodded. “He may be a murderer and a thief, but, my husband, I love him. I loved him many times. He is the father of Aria. If you need anything found in tombs or in the city, Bakura is your man.”

“What of the other one?”

“Marik Ishtar. He has been with Bakura for about twelve years.”

Seth looked down at Aria as he thought of Ahmose. “I cannot let

Yami attain his power. Rayna, do you know where to find these two men?”

Rayna nodded. “They live in an Oasis in the Valley of the Kings.”

Seth nodded. “We'll need an escort. We need a soldier who won't attack these men. We need them.” Seth grinned. He knew just the soldier for the job…..a certain kid with blond hair and purple eyes.

“Aria, you must not tell anyone where we are going. That is something very important that you can do for us.”

“Seth, maybe we should bring her. She hardly gets a chance to see her father.”

 

Seth looked down at the smiling child's face. “Very well, but you must not tell anyone where we are going or that we had talked to your father and his companion. Understood?”

 

“Yes, Seth.”

 

Seth leaned down and kissed the child's cheek. “Good girl.”

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

Seth took the scroll he required and went to Anubis. He concealed the scroll beneath his cape.

“Anubis, we need three horses ready to be ridden immediately.”

Anubis bowed. “Yes, sir.”

“Also, we require an escort.”

Anubis nodded. “Yes, sir. Akiri will escort you.”

Seth shook his head. He saw Aten sparring with another boy. A fresh bruise appeared on Aten's neck and Seth suppressed a growl.

“I want Aten.”

Anubis raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Aten couldn't protect you from a gentle breeze!”

Seth narrowed his eyes. “Making me repeat my self is something I am not accustomed to, Anubis! Now, get Aten ready to leave with us immediately!”

Anubis narrowed his eyes and grumbled. “Yes, sire. ATEN! FRONT AND CENTER!”

 

Aten stopped sparring and ran over to the general. He bowed, his body shaking. “Yes, sir!”

 

“You are to accompany the High Priest and this woman! Saddle up and prepare to escort them!”

 

Aten saluted Anubis. “Yes, sir!”

 

Anubis looked up at Seth. “Are you certain you want that little runt?”

 

“Yes, general. That is the boy I want. I would not choose him if I did not feel secure with him.”

 

Anubis bowed his head slightly. “As you wish, sire. Your servant girl is accompanying you, too?”

 

Seth nodded. “Where I go, my servants follow.”

 

“Very well, sire.”

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

 

Seth turned to Aten after they left the city gates. “Aten, I order you not to show anyone where we are going. You will not tell anyone about the Oasis. Do you understand me?”

Aten nodded. “Yes, High Priest Seth. I promise.”

“Why are we going?”

“To stop the pharaoh…..”

Aten swallowed hard as he rode beside the High Priest.

Aria smiled at Aten. “We're going to see my daddy!”

Aten sighed sadly.

Seth, Aten, Rayna, and Aria rode to the Oasis. Rayna directed them towards the Oasis. “It's been years since I came this way! Very little has changed.”

When the Oasis came into sight, she pointed towards the trees. “That's where Bakura and Marik live!”

As they approached, they saw both men holding weapons.

“DON'T ATTACK!” Rayna called out.

Bakura saw Rayna approaching and put down his sword. “Rayna?”

Bakura stepped outside of the Oasis as their visitors approached.

Rayna and Aria jumped off of their horse and ran for Bakura. The white-haired man grasped Rayna and Aria to him tightly. Bakura leaned in to kiss Rayna when he stopped.

Rayna was royalty now. She was a noble….royalty. He remembered standing in the back during the ceremony. He had disguised himself and hidden among the crowd. She wasn't his anymore.

Bakura dropped to his knees and bowed before her. “It's good to have you back, my lady.”

Rayna leaned down. “Bakura, you don't have to kneel before me.”

Bakura stood up. “Yes, I do. You are royalty. I'm….a common thief.”

“And a murderer,” Seth said jumping off his horse.

Marik went rigid as he saw the High Priest jump off his horse. Was the High Priest going to arrest them? “Are you here to arrest us?”

“No,” Seth said flatly. “I've come for your help.”

Marik looked at the soldier and saw it was his own son.

Marik approached the boy. “Aten?”

Aten jumped off the horse. He remembered this man's face from when he had broken into the palace and was trying to save him. “Father? Is that really you?”

Marik brought the eight year old boy into his arms. “I'm sorry I couldn't stay that night that I first found you!”

Aten cuddled into Marik. “Daddy, I'm sorry I couldn't leave the barracks. I tried to, but Anubis wouldn't let me go!”

Marik sat on the sand and held Aten on his lap. “Just sit here, my son. Let me hold you.”

Seth approached Bakura. “You are the infamous thief, Bakura Itemri?”

“Daddy!” Aria squealed, running to her father.

Bakura picked up the little girl and cuddled her against his chest. “Hello, baby girl.”

“I will not ask you again. Are you the thief Bakura Osiris Itemri?”

Bakura withdrew his dagger and smiled. “In the flesh. Why?”

“Rayna told me if anyone knows how to search for obscure treasures, it's you. Is that true?”

Bakura brushed back his white hair. “I can do anything, High Priest. I can find anything. I'm a master thief. But….it would cost you plenty! Why? Are you asking for my services?”

Seth threw the scroll at Bakura. “You are to search for these seven items.”

Bakura looked at the illustrations and removed the Millennium Ring from his neck. “I am the owner of the Millennium Ring. I stole this from the tomb of Yami's grandfather.”

Seth's eyes widened at the sight. “Your item is very powerful, Bakura.”

Bakura looked down at the gold piece of jewelry. “I just kept it because it looked nice. But there are six other Items. Your job is to find them and hide them from Yami and his soldiers.”

Bakura looked at the scroll and tilted his head to the side. `I don't know how to read this Noble garbage…..'

Bakura crossed his arms. “And what do I get if I find these pieces of junk and hide them away?”

Seth narrowed his eyes. “These are powerful Items, thief! They are not part of the normal stuff you steal and sell for a profit.”

“Hey!” Marik exclaimed. “We keep no profit! We sell the items we steal as a way to feed our bellies! We are not in this business for profit!”

Bakura brushed back his hair. “Profit sickens me, noble! I do this to survive! I don't do this because I want to build wealth! If I do this for you, I receive a full pardon for my crimes!”

“You ask me to pardon the murder of a twenty year old girl?”

Bakura sheathed his dagger. “Are they still blaming me for her death?! Listen. I did not kill that girl! I was running from the soldiers when she stepped in front of me. My horse turned to avoid trampling the poor girl to death! The soldiers who were pursuing me ignored the fact she was in front of me and they trampled her with their horses! That is what really happened!”

Seth raised an eyebrow. “I was told that you slaughtered that girl in an alley!”

Bakura laughed. “That is not my style, High Priest. Lateef did that one. And it wasn't a twenty year old girl. It was a forty five year old male who lived in a different district! And it was a robbery. I don't slaughter people like that. Lateef cuts people ear-to-ear. I personally find that a little messy. Blood stains are very troublesome to remove from one's clothing.”

“But, you have murdered before, right?”

Bakura rolled his eyes and narrowed them. His fists clenched. “I do what I have to do to survive, Seth. If that means killing someone for shelter…so be it. If killing someone means I can eat for a day…..I must kill. Life isn't so easy when you don't have everything you need handed to you on a silver platter. Life is hard on this side of the palace walls.”

Seth grabbed Bakura and pulled him close. “Let's get something straight, thief! I just saw my daughter's soul leave her body and get trapped into a tablet! I lost one of my women to an illness this year. I have buried many infants who have died after their first breath! My first wife was killed because she did not bear a son and her daughter was slaughtered as soon as she left her womb!” Seth's lip trembled. “My daughter was taken my the pharaoh against her will last night! She was tortured, Bakura! How do you think you would feel if Yami raped, blinded, and beaten your daughter and removed her soul from her body? Let's not forget how you would feel to know that Yami didn't bury your daughter! No! What if he left her outside the city gates for the desert beasts to chew on her body? How do you think you would feel?”

Seth pushed Bakura away from him. “How do you think you would feel? You know, just because I live in the palace does not mean that I have anything easier than you! I loved my daughter just as you love Aria. It pains me to think of the ways that my daughter suffered before she died! My child, Bakura! The child I brought into the world! DEAD! Suffered! You know why she suffered? To keep YOUR daughter safe! Now….are you going to find these Items or not?”

“First of all, High Priest, I do not need to imagine how you feel at your daughter's death. I know how it feels! The pharaoh has beaten me, whipped me, scalded me, violated my person in ways that would curdle your blood and sicken you! Do you think I care about the life of a Noble or Royal when all the Nobility and Royalty have ever done is chased me like an animal and beat me senseless?” Bakura growled at Seth. “I get a full pardon if I find these things for you!”

“Fine. You find these Items and you are fully pardoned.”

Bakura grinned, his white canines showing. “Perfect. Okay, Marik. We have a job to do.” Bakura turned to Seth. “We'll find your treasure, High Priest.”

“That scroll will tell you where they are located. I will be back in one moon to see how you do.”

Bakura grinned. “No problem.”

Aria cuddled into Bakura and hugged him. “I miss you, daddy.”

“I've missed you, too, sweetheart.”

Seth watched the thief hug, cuddle, and kiss the girl. This cold-hearted killer was holding this sweet child and showing her fatherly affection, much to Seth's surprise.

“Aria, never forget that your daddy loves you.”

“I won't.”

Bakura handed Aria to Rayna. “Take care of our child.”

“I always do.”

“It's time to do what we do best, Marik.”

Marik kissed Aten's cheek. “I'm glad you could come see me, Aten.”

Aten nodded timidly. “Me, too….father.”

Seth mounted his steed again. “I will check back with you in one moon's time. I expect results.”

Bakura raised an eyebrow. “And I expect you to hold up your part of the bargain, but I don't see that happening!”

“I guess you'll have to trust my word,” Seth said.

“The word of a Noble is worth nothing in my opinion….I trust you only because the lives of Rayna and Aria are at stake.”

“I trust you to hold up your part of the bargain. Aten, it's time to go.”

Marik put Aten on his horse and handed him the reigns.

Seth gripped the reigns of his horse tightly. “I will uphold my part of our deal. Yami is dangerous as he is. If Yami was to achieve immortality, he would become ruthless.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes, the memories of Yami taking him in his palace flooding his mind. The pain….The hurt….The humiliation….Every memory came back to him. “The pharaoh has shown me how cruel he can be, High Priest. I do not need to see him become more powerful than he already THINKS he is. Egypt will fall into ruin by his hand. I do not want to be a part of his deranged plan of world domination. I will do everything I can in my power to prevent that.”

Seth nodded. “I'm glad we agree on something.”

Bakura turned his back to the High Priest. “That is all that we will ever agree on.” Bakura disappeared into the Oasis.

Aria called into the oasis. “Goodbye, father of mine!”

No answer came.

Marik ruffled Aria's hair. “We'll do what we can, noble Seth.”

“See that you do.”

Seth turned his horse and the group left.

Seth turned and watched Rayna as they left. Rayna's eyes were wet with tears.

 

“Do you still love him?”

 

Rayna turned her head towards Seth. “I always will, my lord.”

 

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

 

The group returned to the palace. Anubis was waiting outside for his missing soldier.

 

Seth accompanied Aten to the general. “Here he is, returned unharmed.”

 

“I'm amazed to see you back in one piece, sire, considering this worthless imp was guarding you.”

 

“On the contrary, he fought valiantly. We were attacked by a thief on the way to our destination and he defended us. He is a very good soldier. You have taught him well.”

 

Aten swallowed hard at the lie. His biggest fear is that Anubis would make him prove that he was attacked and show him scars.

 

“Hmm….that amazes me, High Priest.”

 

“Make sure he gets a good meal tonight, Anubis. He earned it.”

 

Seth walked away, leaving Aten shaking in front of General Anubis.

 

“Get to your room, boy!” Anubis barked.

 

Aten ran to the back of the stable and into the room. Aten shivered in the corner as he heard Anubis approach slowly.

 

He hid in the dark corner. The only light came in from the barred window.

 

“Where did the High Priest take you?” Anubis asked, standing in the doorway.

 

Aten swallowed hard as he sat in the hay covering his floor. “I've never seen it before, sir. I don't know.”

 

Anubis narrowed his eyes. “You are an ungrateful child! Answer me this second!”

 

Aten felt his body tighten up as he sat in a fetal position in the corner, his thin bones protruding as he shivered in the cold, dark room. “Sir, I promise I don't know!”

 

Anubis growled deep in his throat. “Then you will pay for your ignorance! Be glad that my wife fed you!” Anubis slammed the door to his room tightly as the barn animals made startled noises.

 

Aten shuddered in the dark corner, his body tensing and his bowels releasing under him. He stood up slowly and walked to the bucket of water in the corner. Scooping water from his hand, he drank thirstily. Beside the bucket was a trough filled with stinky meat and wilted vegetables. The hay pricked his feet as he stood to eat.

 

The little boy spit out the rotten meat and crawled to a corner where a blanket lay. He scratched his cheek and head as lice and flies swarmed around him.

 

In the corner, he thought of his father holding him and caressing his head. That meant more than the vermin nipping at his body.

 

“One day…..I'll be able to be with my daddy…..and I won't have to sleep in the barn anymore….or eat rotten food…..or sleep on a bug-infested blanket. When the pharaoh is gone….everything will be better.”

 

The child curled up and fell asleep quietly.

 

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

 

Aria followed Seth and Rayna towards Seth's chambers. Seth held Rayna's hand.

 

Rayna gave the High Priest a smile.

 

As they turned a corner, Yami stood there sternly.

 

“Where were you all day?!”

 

“I had to run an errand. I took Rayna and my servant girl with me.”

 

Yami's eyes widened. “Are you mad? With all those thieves out there? Did you have an escort?”

 

“Yes, I brought Aten with me.”

 

“That weak thing?! I'm amazed you aren't dead!”

 

“Aten did his job very well. He defended us from an attack.”

 

“That goes to show you, High Priest! Never leave the palace without my permission!”

”Yes, my pharaoh.”

 

“I need to have a word with your servant girl.”

 

Seth blocked Yami's path to the girl. “Only in front of me.”

 

“I know she was the one who broke into my library. She needs to be punished.”

 

“Do you have proof that she did?”

 

“She is the daughter of a thief. What makes you think she is not capable of breaking into the secret library?”

 

“She never leaves my sight, my lord.”

 

Yami crossed his arms. “I will need to see her tomorrow. I will interrogate her myself….and I will do it on my terms….and I show no mercy.”