Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sins Of The Pharaoh ❯ Rescue ( Chapter 14 )

Rescue

 

A guard entered Yami's throne room and bowed. “My lord, there has been a disturbance at the Temple of Isis.”

“Disturbance?” the pharaoh growled. “What kind of disturbance?”

“The Millennium Eye hidden within the statue of the goddess Isis has been stolen.”

Yami narrowed his eyes and stood up from his throne quickly. “WHAT?!”

The guard swallowed hard. “The Millennium Eye-----.”

“STOLEN?! BY WHOM?”

“The thieves Bakura Itemri and Marik Ishtar.”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Were you stationed at the temple?”

The guard shook his head. “I was outside the temple when it happened. I saw them running away.”

“And you did not stop them? You didn't kill them before they could flee?”

The guard swallowed hard again. “No, sir. I missed.”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Tell me you brought the guards from inside the temple.”

“I did, sir. The ones that survived.”

“Bring them in so I can kill all of you together!”

The guard turned nervously. “COME IN!”

Three guards entered and bowed before the pharaoh.

“Explain to me what happened before I trap you all in stone for eternity as punishment for your stupidity.”

All of the guards held their weapons, trembling.

“How could you let Bakura Osiris Itemri, one of the land's most famous fugitives, and Marik Jibade Ishtar, hailing from a influential family, get away from you? WHY DO I NOT HAVE THEIR HEADS RIGHT NOW ON A SILVER PLATTER! EXPLAIN RIGHT NOW!”

One guard broke away from the group. “They must have arrived in disguise, sir. We were standing guard when we saw a worshiper wailing and claiming to be possessed by Isis herself!”

The guards nodded in agreement.

“The people in the temple flocked around the worshipper, so it was difficult to make out his identity. The person gripped onto him---.” The guard pointed to another guard. “And claimed that he was under Isis' power. He said that he was having visions of you as pharaoh of the world!”

The guard who was the focal point of Yami's sneer began to quiver.

“Is this true?”

The guard nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“We began to recognize them as Bakura Itemri and Marik Ishtar, so we blocked the exits.”

“THEY STILL ESCAPED YOU! YOU ARE WORTHLESS! ALL OF YOU!”

“Some woman screamed that the Eye was missing and we knew we had them.”

Yami narrowed his eyes and yelled angrily. “YOU HAD NOTHING! YOU CAME HERE WITH NOTHING! If you had them, I would have them here in front of me and I would be slicing their throats open like common animals that they are!”

The men were quiet.

“You were the only ones to survive out of ten guards?”

Silence.

“You are worthless to me, the lot of you! Worthless people are expendable.”

Yami went to the book sitting by his throne. He opened it up and saw the guards fall to their knees.

“No, my pharaoh, please reconsider!”

“We will succeed the next time, my Grace!”

“Think of our families!”

Yami growled. “You are all worthless to me in life! In death you will mean so much more!”

Yami stood up and raised his hands. The Millennium Puzzle glowed around his neck.

 

Forces of Dark

Forces of Light

Forces of Demonic power and Might

Grab their souls, shed their skin

So that we may prevail and Evil win!

Contort their bodies without remorse….

Make them my new elite attack force!

 

The guards screamed as their bodies contorted. Their skin turned green, their armor turned black. Their bodies became smaller and distorted. A bright light showed as Yami shielded his eyes.

When the light dimmed, he saw a card laying at his feet. He picked it up.

“'Goblin Attack Force.' That looks like a powerful card. That will come in handy.”

Yami walked out of his throne room and down the hall. He walked casually to Anubis, who was training his soldiers.

“Anubis, I must have a word with you.”

“Attention, men!”

The guards stood still at attention.

Anubis walked a bit aways from the crowd. “Yes, my pharaoh?”

“I need you to post men at the Temple of Isis. Bakura Itemri and Marik Ishtar robbed it today. The Eye is missing.”

“Those thieves! It will be my pleasure to cut their heads off when they are caught!”

Yami grinned. “The fewer people that see their execution, the better, General.”

“What do you mean, my lord?”

“Bakura and Marik are well-known through the criminal folk here in Cairo. If they are executed publicly, we risk becoming a target for snipers in crowds. No, we must keep their execution as private as possible.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I must read what part of the scroll the scribes were able to copy onto another parchment. I will need for you to post guards at those places….and retrieve the Items before those bandits get their hands on them.”

General Anubis bowed before Yami. “If my men encounter Bakura or Marik, we will shoot to kill.”

Yami nodded. “No Nobles are to be injured in the process. Marik Ishtar is the exception. Shoot him on sight for deserting his station.”

“Yes, sire.”

Yami looked up at the sun beginning to set. “When you are done training, come see me in the dungeon. I have something I must return to you.”

Anubis nodded. “I will be there, my lord.”

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

Yami stood by the dungeon door waiting for Anubis and Seth's arrival. Seth arrived first.

“Glad you could make it, High Priest.”

“My servant girl better not be dead,” he said quietly.

“And what if she is? What will that matter? She's a girl born of a thief. She should be executed for being Bakura's daughter.”

Seth looked into Yami's eyes. “It was not her choice who her father was destined to be. She could not choose her father.”

“The sins of the fathers are visited upon the sons. The daughters are no different in that case, my dear High Priest.”

Seth crossed his arms. “Who are we waiting for?”

“For him,” Yami said as Anubis approached.

“Why is he coming?”

“He is taking the boy……if he is still alive.”

“That child will need food and care if he is to live, my pharaoh!”

Yami shrugged indifferently. “That boy is better off dead as far as I'm concerned, High Priest. His only real value is in my bed.”

Seth felt himself cringe inside.

Yami lead Seth and Anubis down to the dark dungeon, lit only by torches. There were no cries or screams coming from the end of the hall. Seth wrapped his cloak around him as he walked down the hall. The prisoners' were exposed to the chill of the night air, contributing to the quick and high mortality rate of the prisoners.

Yami removed his key and handed Seth back his key for the room.

“I had better return that to you before you run off with your servant girl….that is….if she is alive.”

Yami opened the door and an overpowering stench slipped out from the door.

Yami covered his nose as he entered, followed by Anubis and Seth.

Seth's eyes widened and his heart sank as he saw Aria chained up to the table on her back. Her dress was dirty and her eyes were closed.

“Aria….Aria….”

Anubis walked over to Aten and lifted his head by the hair. “Attention, soldier!”

Aten's eye weakly opened. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Anubis' nose wrinkled in disgust. “You soiled yourself, you pathetic child!”

Yami opened the door. “They have been chained to the wood for four days. I haven't moved them at all.”

Seth leaned down and rubbed Aria's hair lightly. “Aria? Sweetheart. It's me. Seth. Open your eyes.”

Aria's eyes didn't open.

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Neither one of them has told me what I needed to know. I hope this will prove to them that I am not to be trifled with.”

“Unlock her chains, pharaoh!” Seth barked.

“OH, High Priest? Do you want her chained there for another four suns?”

Seth shook his head. “My apologies, my pharaoh.”

Yami slowly reached for his keys and unlocked Aria from her chains. He unlocked Aten as well.

“When the boy recovers, bring him to my chambers. That is, if he survives.”

Anubis nodded. “Yes, my lord.” The general picked Aten up and draped him over his shoulder.

Seth carefully picked Aria up in his arms and held her against his chest. He walked quickly, hearing her breathing become faint.

“Aria, stay with me, sweetheart. I don't want to lose you.”

Aria opened her eyes. “Seth……food.”

“I know you are hungry, Aria, but we have to clean you up first.”

Seth hurried to his harem where he had ordered a bath started for her. Rayna gasped when she saw her daughter.

She could hardly recognize Aria at all.

She was dirty from head to toe, her clothes were stained and dirty. Her wrists were red and cut. Her eyes had become sunken.

Seth carried her to the bathing tub. “Veria, hold her for me. Rayna, I don't want to injure your shoulder more.”

Rayna watched as Seth removed Aria's dirty robe. `Please tell me she's not bleeding…..'

Veria held Aria's limp body as Seth carefully checked her.

“It doesn't appear that Yami forced himself on her. That's to be expected. Help hold her up in the tub, Veria.”

Seth took a cloth and wiped Aria's body down carefully. Her eyes opened slightly as Seth splashed her with warm water.

“Aria? Hold on for me.”

“Food…..”

Rayna ran some water over Aria's head. “When we are done, sweetheart. We'll get you food.”

Seth grabbed some scented oils from Sharifa. He rubbed his hands together, covering them with the oils. He rubbed Aria's arms, stomach, back, and legs with the oils. With a nervous swallow, he washed Aria's private parts with the oils, careful not to harm the little girl.

When she was clean, Veria picked her up and Seth wrapped her in a towel.

“Bring me some soup.”

Rayna left the room.

Seth held Aria on his lap and looked sadly at the weak child. “How Yami can be so cruel to a child astounds me…..Aria, you are going to be okay. Your mother has gone for food for you.”

Aria opened her eyes, wrapped in a soft towel. “Seth……Aten.”

“Aten's okay, Aria. You're here with me now. You're safe.”

“Aten…….dead?”

“No, Aten's not dead. Aten's okay. You will live, too. You are a very brave little girl. I'm proud of you.”

“I told the pharaoh nothing…..wanted to be good….and keep secret.”

“You were very good,” Seth said, cuddling the little girl against his chest. “Just relax, Aria. You are such a good little girl.”

Aria smiled as she snuggled against Seth. “I'm your good girl.”

“Yes, you certainly are.”

Rayna returned with a bowl of soup. “Here you go, baby girl. Sip slowly.”

Seth cradled Aria against him as she sipped the soup slowly.

“How is the other boy? Did he make it?” Sharifa asked.

Seth nodded. “He's alive, too. I can't guarantee what will happen tonight with him, though. The pharaoh wants to see him in his chambers after he recovers. With any luck, it will take that boy a few days to heal. He seemed less responsive than Aria.”

“We'll have to pray for that little boy.”

Seth nodded. “I'm praying for both of them. Noble, Royal, or not…..that child deserves pity…and compassion. I have a hard time believing that right now he's getting a warm bath and a hot meal.”

 

 

 

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

Anubis paced the floor angrily keeping his eye on the object of his fury. He cracked his knuckles again, ready to deal another hefty blow to the shaking, weakened child.

“Where did the High Priest Seth take you, boy?! Tell me now or so help me Ra I'll let the pharaoh pound it out of you again!”

Aten cringed in the corner with his arms wrapped tightly around himself. His body shivered and bruised from Anubis' punches to his face. His neck throbbed with nearly being choked. “The High Priest ordered me to tell no one, sir. I cannot disobey him or risk the anger of the gods.”

Anubis' wife stood beside him scowling at the boy. “You ungrateful little wretch! The anger of the gods is nothing compared to the anger that my husband will show you! Do you want him to whip you again?!”

The thin, bony child shook in the corner on a small pile of straw. His body was still dirty, the flies buzzed around him, biting his skin.

“That straw is too good of a bed for you tonight, you little weakling! Tell me or you will regret it!”Anubis' fist crashed into the child's upper arm again.

The little boy let out a scream. “Please stop! Please!”

“Where did the High Priest take you?!”

Anubis grabbed the child's hair and threw him against the stone wall. The child let out a puff of air as the wind was knocked out of him. “Tell me or I will kill you myself, Aten!”

Aten's body started to go limp as his skull crashed against the stone. “My father….”

Anubis growled. “Your father, the traitor?”

Aten's breath came in sharp gasps as his body relaxed. He couldn't breathe. He was dizzy from having his head knocked against the stone of the barn walls.

He hadn't eaten in four days.

He had nothing to drink for four days.

He was starving and the current beating was not helping.

Anubis' wife looked at the walking skeleton in her husband's grasp. Aten's eyes and his stomach had sunk in and the boy was not putting up much of a fight.

The naked boy was thin and sickly. Bruises covered his body, his blood covered his body from Anubis' beating. The woman even saw evidence of the pharaoh's interrogation still plain on the boy's body. The naked child was clearly bruised and battered.

“Where did the High Priest take you?”

Aten's hand went to his chest, gripping it. “Can't……”

“Aten, you will tell me! Where did Seth take you?” Anubis growled as he punched the child in the face.

Aten's breath came in sharp, painful gasps. “He…took us to….the….the….”

Aten's eyes began to roll into the back of his head.

His eyes became unfocused.

His vision became fuzzy.

Ringing started in his ears.

His heart was beating furiously.

Anubis growled. “Tell me you little brat or I will burn you alive!”

Aten took a breath and coughed. Aten coughed up blood. The corners of his mouth began to trickle with blood.

“Oasis,” Aten whispered before losing consciousness.

Anubis dropped the child on the stone floor.

“The oasis in the desert? That's where they've been hiding all these years! They were right under my nose!”

The woman looked down at the crumpled body on the floor, watching the pile of bones breathe shallow.

“The element of surprise is critical. Tomorrow I will take my guards and surprise them. I hope they enjoy tonight. Tonight will be their last night of life!”

“What do we do with this thing? It looks like it's not breathing.”

Anubis shrugged as he watched eight-year-old struggling for breath on the floor. His breathing sounded unsteady. He could hear fluid in the boy's lungs.

Anubis left Aten's room, locking the heavy wooden door behind he and his wife.

“What are you going to do with the boy?” his wife asked him.

Anubis narrowed his eyes. “The boy will come with me tomorrow. He will prove his loyalty to me by killing his own father!”

“What if he refuses to kill his sire?”

Anubis narrowed his eyes. “Then we him to a pack of hungry dogs and let them tear him apart.”

“What if he dies before dawn?”

“Then we throw him to a pack of hungry dogs and let them tear him apart. It's not concern of mine.”