Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Under The Sun; Book 1: A Slaves Tale ❯ Chapter 7

Author Note: Please Read it is Important!

A big thank you to sonata hirano for her fantastic work on this and previous works I've written such as Shades Of Grey, which without her help wouldn't have come to you at all. And quick note to all my readers that I thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my works.

This is an AU, alternate universe story, and I have no connection to the writers or creators of Yu-Gi-Oh! Nor do I profit from the creation of this Fan Fiction. Abuse both mental and physical are mentioned and will later be detailed. Sexual contact of both consensual and non-consensual, hetro and homosexual will be apart of this story so if these things offend you I surgiest you don't proceed in reading the actual story. And lastly reviews are very welcome along with any constructive criticisms you may have of what has been written.

Especially our friend The Light Shadow for all his/her reviews.

Thank you for Reading

Aghony

A Slaves Tale

Part Seven

I woke to the ache of my wounds and a roar of sound, voices and words mingling together, the clatter of feet on hard ground and the crackle of burning flame, my back on a bed that felt much like my old one at my old masters place. Itchy and slightly hard. My stomach ached and felt hollow, as if I hadn't eaten in days and I probably hadn't, I don't recall how I came to be there, and wondered briefly if the memories I had of my beloved Pharaoh were all dreams, and wishes made by a desperate mind. Some how I doubted it.

“Oh, you're awake, that's good,” a young voice came from beside me and I turned my head, letting my eyes open to take in the young sandy haired child beside me. His eyes a lavender colour that was truly beautiful and looked rather startled as he jerked back with a gasp. “You…” he stumered fear flashing over his face, into his shadowing eyes, the emotion flooding over me like a sandstorm and I swallowed before managing, “Water…please,” my throat was raw and dry, my mouth tasting of old, dried saliva.

A taste that is not and will never be pleasant.

“Malik, go,” a deep voice said causing memories to crash through my mind, Yugi, Father…Akefia's rescue of me from the Ant pit. My eyes drifted to him, standing by the open door, the curtain, a torn, dirty piece of cloth, falling back into place as the boy left, his arms crossed over his chest. His crimson eyes narrowed in thought and another memory, one that was not mine to carry, flashed before my eyes.

“Oh! Ugh!” a voice filled my ears, a voice I thought I knew but couldn't be quiet sure, as I had never heard it laced with passion, though the person who's memory I was seeing, hearing, feeling had. “H-harder! Please!” the voice cried as sensations bounced through me, warm heat, a tightness I had never experienced gripped my member, though it remained limp. Heat spread through my veins like wild fire and I gasped as I got a visual, Yugi, Prince Yugi, my masters baby brother, nude, flushed with passion, need.

His body covered in a sheen of sweat, his eyes heavy lidded as he stared up at me, he was under my, no not my, the one whose memory I saw's body, his short, thin, delicately muscled legs wrapped tightly around the others waist. His hands on the others shoulders, gripping as he grinded and gasped the others name, “Ak-ak-ef-ff-ra! Akefia!” his words bringing me out of the memory.

The hands that shook me through the corse sheet also helping to bring me out of the magical stupor. “Oi, kid, what's wrong?” Akefia asked and I knew I was staring at him as if he had grown a second head. “I…you…Prince Yugi…eeerr,” I managed blanching as he reeled back as if struck, his eyes narrowing dangerously as near visible waves of malicious rolled off of him and a whimper crawled from my throat as I made myself as small as I could.

“Please,” I whispered now staring at his feet, radiating submissiveness, “I meant not to see,” I told him and he stiffened confusion mingling with the malevolent aura he possessed. “See?” he asked and I curled up, even as my body protested, every muscle ached and I could feel some of the healing wounds opening, the warm liquid of my blood slowly leaking out as I answer.

“Some times, I just know, others I hear and feel and sometimes though rarely I get a visual,” I murmured figuring if I did as told he wouldn't hurt me and mayhap even help me get back to my Atemu…my Pharaoh. My Master and my brother, I needed to get back to them. Slowly, after a brief silence he moved forward his hips moving a deadly swagger, and sat beside me on the bed.

“Hmm, well, we'll talk about that later. How did you get out in the Ant Pits? Did the Pharaoh?” he asked growling the last and I felt his thoughts, his utter belief that our Pharaoh would do such, even to one he supposedly cares for. “…Master would never do such, he is not a cruel man,” I whispered closing my eyes, suddenly so very tired, “Pharaoh Atemu would not do that to me or anyone. It was…Fa- Priest Akhenaden,” I told him.

“What were you going to call him?” the Thief asked sharply and I shrunk into myself, fear pure terror flooding my already drained system. “F-fa-fad-fath-er-father,” I stammered out and he paused staring down at me, his gaze a heavy weight as the curtain-door moved and the lavender eyed boy walked in with a small basin and a cup. A cup he filled and handed to Akefia after placing the basin onto the small table by the bed I lay in.

A strong arm hooked under my neck and shoulders, a surprisingly large, long fingered hand cupping the back of my head as the King of Thieves lifted me effortlessly, making it seem as if I weighted as much as little Yugi. The cup was placed to my lips, the clay rough against my skin and the water was dry, slightly warm and stale, but it was water and I more than grateful to have the drink.

“So the old prick is your pap…which makes him Seths pap…interesting, does your brother know of this?” Akefia asked and I shook my head slightly as I swallowed, “No…neither does Pharaoh…its one of the things I know and please…do not tell…” I whispered. “You don't wanna be punished do you?” the boy asked his voice surprisingly mature and I glanced at him and shook my head.

“I want to more pain…” I whispered as Akefia lay me down again, his hands, his treatment of me very gentle, almost tender and he frowned, saying, “if you didn't want any more pain why in the blazes did you step between the Pharaoh and the whip?”

“That is different. For my Pharaoh, for my brother and young Prince Yugi I would endue the worst that even the Hell Gods would bestow upon the blackest (1) of people. Taking pain meant for them is easy and makes me feel that I am worth something to them, that I do not just stand by and watch those who have done me no wrong be harmed. To cause trouble or to anger those who can punish me is just foolishness that will harm me needlessly,” I whispered as I met his gaze.

“You…you are very different,” he whispered and glaced to the boy, saying “Food, and Miya, please,” getting back a quick nod and the hurried steps of the child. Akefia watched me quietly his hand brushing through my oily and messy hair, “Yugi spoke of you much in his time here, young one,” he whispered and I blinked, the gentleness of his touch comforting to me as I drifted.

“He told me that you were pure of heart and I did not believe him, not until I saw you, watched as you protected your Pharaoh. I still do not understand why you would do such as thing, though Yugi, Yugi told me that through you I would come to understand…” he told me before lapsing into silence.

This lasted until the screen was pulled away and the boy walked in carrying a tray with a middle aged woman followed him in, just as I was beginning to fall to sleep, startling me into consciousness. My eyes snapping open, to watch them warily, my once relaxed muscles tensing, my magic coiling around, already protecting me from the flood of unwanted information that it itself drew to me.

“Its good to see your wake young one, my name is Miya I'm Akefia's healer,” she murmured smiling down at me, and even Akefias' gentle petting could not calm my raging pulse. “Ake, I brought the food,” Malik said as I took in the hard looking woman, her thick black hair was pulled back tightly, her face weathered with age and sun exposure and experience shone from her black eyes. Her hands were strong and oddly large for a woman of her statue, being around the same hight and size as my Pharaoh though not nearly as beautiful.

“I would clean and tend your wounds, sit up and be calm,” she murmured as I eyed her distrustfully, slowly easing up with Akefias' hands guiding my body, though I wanted to deny the need for healing. Though I wanted to tell her I would heal on my own I knew that if I was to have any chance of getting back to my Pharaoh and Seth I would have to stop bleeding like a gutted goat.

“Be gentle, Miya, this one is specail,” Akefia told her sharply and she smiled, her eyes flashing some knowledge that no one eyes held. “I know my king, his eyes, they tell of the gods blessings and the burdens that oft come with their favour,” she answered as I turned giving her my back, allowing her to start there, as the front was less likely to be dirty.

“Seto, eat,” he ordered shoving the tray into my lap, upon it a small piece of bread, a cup of what looked like milk, cheese, lettuce, garlic and onion with a few pieces of cooked fish. A good meal; more than what I would have received at my last Masters home, but no where as good as the food I now ate with Atemu and Seth. “I know it's not as good as what you're probably used to but its what be have,” Akefia said as I looked at him.

“You need not spear food for me, I am sure there is on among you who will go hungry because you try and feed me,” I whisper, not sure if I should speak while the others where in the room. Surprise filtered across Maliks' face, a light chuckle came from Miya as Akefia smirked over at me, “Eat kid, no one goes hungry to fill your stomach. You have my word,” he said and even as I allowed him to place a slice of onion into my mouth I watched him sceptically.

Laughter burst from his mouth his crimson gaze filled with amusement and bitterness as he spoke, “Can't trust a thief? I see they have you brain washed as well.”

“No, I do not doubt your word, you have my Princes trust and that gains you mine. I just do not understand why you would be willing to save, feed and help me heal, when you will gain nothing as I have nothing to give,” I told him and it was true. Father had removed my collar, my kilt, the thin sheet all that covered me from their view and I owned nothing, another already possessed my body and loyalty, and with those my name.

“You are the key to getting me closer…” he trailed off and I blinked as he seemed to project his thoughts to me, you can get me closer to Yugi, you can convince Atemu to let me stay with him. “I can but try, what my Pharaoh and High Priest believe are not up to me nor the will of others. Only themselves and the gods,” I told him and he smiled, “But they trust and listen to you,” he said and I shook my head, “You saved me thus they would mayhap deem my judgement impaired and unreliable.”

Miya's voice broke in before Akefia could argue his point her voice worried; “I know not how you came upon these wounds young one, might I ask your station in the Pharaohs house? And what it is you have done to warrant a banishment or death by the red eating Ants.”

“I am but another servant in my Pharaohs home, I know not what I have done to anger those in the house of the gods but if they see me punished then punish me they will,” I said not wanting to give any one ideas. Akefia raised his eyebrows his crimson gaze confused and I gave a minute shake of my head, my eyes translating my plea, tell her nothing, not my station nor why I was punish and by whom.

His shoulders moved slightly up then down, a tiny shrug as before her eyes turned to him and I could feel her question before she asked, “Do you answer to the Pharaoh or the head of staff?”

“I am a lower slave, answering to the head of staff in his Highnesses house. My Pharaoh knows of my ability to find the lost,” I murmur, giving a reason as to why I would be in the postion to be at the Pharaohs side during the hunt for Prince Yugi. I could tell that the tale had gotten around the walls of the hut having `talked' to others the rumours and thought of my protection of the Pharaoh known to all in the area.

“That was why you were with the Pharaoh when he got Yugi right?” Malik asked his eyes excited and I nodded, “My Pharaoh knew not where to look.” My answer brought silence to the group and for that I was grateful, though the hum of out side activity made the quiet more comfortable for the others. To me it was deafening, already too used to the eerie silence that enshrined the Pharaohs house.

Whispers of feelings and thoughts crept closer as a darkness flooded me and I gasped my eyes rolling back into my head and then I could feel them.

My Brother, Seth and My Pharaoh.

They were using their magic, searching for me and I knew they would not find my place, their magic not strong enough and the gods not willing to help.

I could see them, Seths eyes cold with worry and fear, anger and determination, Atemu's face raidating is worry and anger, his need as he whispered softly, “Come back my pet, we need you. I need you, return to me.”

“SETO!” Miya's voice came and I jerked up my heart pounding my need to be by Atemus side so bad I whimpered as if I was dieing, tears pooling in my eyes, unshed but making it difficult to see. “I…I need to get home…I need to get back,” I whispered my body shaking so badly everything seemed to quack and Akefia wrapped his arm tentatively around my shoulders “Hush, kid, we'll get you back don't fret.”

“Promise?”

“I promise on Yugis' soul,” he whispered and I nodded slipping into the darkness of my mind, Atemus face floating there, his voice as he whispered my name, his touch as he swept me away and his smell as he held me promising to never force me to leave his side. And I knew as was my place to know that soon, very soon, I would see him and hold him and we would face something so dark and so fearsome that one of us would not survive.

--

The next Ra we set off, Mailk, Akefia. Ryou, who reminded me a lot of Prince Yugi his hair as white as his brothers, his eyes a soft brown, his skin a sickly white yet he moved with a confidence and strength I could only wish to obtain and four Deshrtians (2). Their names I had been told as Ra claimed the sky in shades of blue and grey and the beautiful shades of pink, purple and gold. The Deshretians named Ibai, a smallish boy, no older than fourteen who had a thing for knives, Mdjai, a stern, scared and rather scary man. Odji, who took after his name with a sinister smirk and narrowed eyes that were an eeri shade of blue foreign blood obviously in his veins. And lastly Wati who was a gentle man in his twenties who was good with the horses. (3)

We rode slow, my wounds not allowing a fast pace, I refused to wait, begging Akefia to take me home, reasoning that the long I was gone the more Atemu and Seth would be suspicious of him and his reasons. They may believe he himself had kidnapped me. Also saying that Father may try to pin the blame for the missing items at the palace, claiming I had taken them and ran, betraying my Pharaoh and brother, things I would never do.

The wind picking up as we rode, Ra beating down without mercy, the day hotter, the beginning of the Shomu (4), a harsh hot time which I really hated, hot during the Ra then cold during our Moon. Many died at this time from too much time under our god, his beauty too much for them and they dry and leave this plane, much like when our God leaves us cold in Peret, and many leave for lack of his love or so Mana told me.

“Seto are you sure you wish to head back still injured?” Akefia questioned and I nodded, “I need to be with my kin and my Pharaoh, I also feel something is about to happen and I do not know what but I fear…” I whispered wincing. My horse, which Wati named Noble having stumbled in an unstable area of sand, too soft to hold the beasts weight causing me to jerk and for pain to flood me again.

It was becoming a viscous cycle for me, pain every where I looked, pain of memory with my brother, pain of love for my Pharaoh, pain of body and spirit with my father who I know hates me, thinks me weak. Pain from Yugi who was so kind it was a sort of torture and the pain I had from my own being and my own decisions. I was tired of it and wanted nothing more than for it to cess and never be apart of my life again.

“You fear what?” he asked and I glanced at him, “I fear the death of some one I love, but I know not who,” I told him quietly huddling in on myself on Noble as he watched me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

“You fear the death of the Pharaoh,” he said bluntly and I nodded, “Or High Priest Seth and Prince Yugi, Mahado and his apprentice Mana…you,” the last little more than a ghost of a word yet he jerked in surprise. His eyes rounding as he whispered back “You fear for me? A no good, thief, the King of Thieves, a renowned Tomb Robber and you fear for me?” and I nodded.

“I am a slave, a pet I can say no bad about you, except that your profession harms other wether it is their memory or their belief or like Pharaoh their sense or right. You have done me no wrong and helped me when I truly believed I would pass from this world, would go into the arms of Anubis, Osiris, Isis or mayhap, Seth would take me. Brother told me a few weeks past that it was said that if a priest or priestess was faithful enough and loyal they would be taken to His home. They would serve him eternally and that if the god liked the priests or priestess' kin enough they too could be taken before Anubis was able to claim their souls and weigh them.

A pretty thought, being able to stay ever near one my brother loves so,” I whispered eyes on the horizon as he watched me with shadowed eyes. “You believe that I am a good person?” he asked softly and I nodded, “You have a past as shadowed as my own, you, in a way were lucky and not placed into the servitude I was. You have done what you can to servive as no one would help you do so and you have become bitter. You love few, Yugi, your brother and your self adopted son/brother Malik, yet you have many friends, and many loyal followers who you want the best for,” I said glancing at him.

“You would hand yourself over, to iron and a possible death if it meant that they would be free, and welcome to build lives that are less dangerous and a where they could build a family with out the fear that they would be pulled away and their wives and children would be left to fend for themselves if not persecuted themselves. You are a kind soul who has been harshly judged and treated and I can not condemn you for it nor can I pity you for in these things you have found strength,”

“You sure know a lot,” he said his voice slightly menacing, though it had an almost playful quality and I nodded “I know and I can not stop this knowledge though it oft gets me into trouble I would rather avoid.”

--

Ra swiftly turned to night, and the cool chill swept past as we sat around the fire, Wati with the horses, giving them water and food, as Odji, Ibai and Ryou cooked, served and handed out the blankets. Blankets that had been stacked on the back of the two horses that had been tied to Witis' steed, Thicket. Sandstorm and Bandit being too temperamental to be ridden yet worked well as pack horses.

“Seto…” Malik asked softly beside me and I glanced at the child, “What's it like in the Pharaoh's palace?” his question oddly loud, and causing the others to glance at us, everyone obviously wondering the same thing and I swallowed huddling in my blanket. I spoke slowly, in hushed tones that told everyone of my reluctance as I worded what I though it was like at my home.

“It's…magical, Priests and Priestesses walk the sandstone halls, food is abundant and we bathe everyday…as many times as we wish. There are four bathing areas, Royal, where the Pharaoh, Prince Yugi and Queen Teana bathe. The `Holy' bathing area, which is larger than the `Royal', but out side, a beautiful pool, that is often bathed in moonlight and warm from Ra's kiss. `Gurad' which is also outside though at the back, close to the guars barracks, its long, and many practise their swimming in it. And the Servant bathing chamber, which is inside and without the adornments of the other three though just as nice. There're all clean and have teams of servants just for them to keep in the best condition.

Every bed is clean and soft, rooms are spacious, though slaves and servant who live their share rooms, some in twos the largest group is six, Priests and Priestess' have sets of chambers, with a sleeping quarter, a study and an entraining area where they hold audience with others not the Pharaoh or Prince Yugi. The main hall, the Throne room is long and spacius and where we eat, where the Pharaoh's court hold counsel and where magicians and dancers entertain the Pharaoh.

My favourite area is the courtyard, a lush garden with a fountain and fish, where you can often find Priest Mahado teaching Lady Mana, his fifth year apprentice. She's very amusing, last spell I watched her learn she kept getting distracted and it would blow up in her face,” I told them with an airy laugh.

“Do you know what the Royal chambers are like?” Mdjai asked and I glanced at him before nodding as I whispered, “But I will not speak of them, they are my Pharaoh and his kin's privet chambers and not something to discuss.”

TBC

 

FOOTNOTES

Blackest as in evilest, amoral, harmful or depraved of all people not the skin colour of the person.

I found the name of Ancient Egypt along with the foods and clothing from a sight called www (dot) touregypt (dot) net, along with a few other interesting factoids like why I call the four extra's Deshretians, which isn't an actual word. Deshret is another name for Egypt, meaning “Red Land”. Kemet meaning “Black Land” because of the rich soil near the Nile Valley and Delta. People of Kemet where called “remetch en Kermet” which literally means “People of the Black Land”

Ibai meaning weak, Mdjai meaning Soldier, Odji, Wicked, and Wati meaning Rebel. Names found at Authentic Ancient Egyptian Names.

Ancient Egypt had three seasons, Shomu being the Harvest season (summer) and the hottest with temperatures as high as 49 degrees. Peret, the growing season, (winter) with temperatures going below 0 and Akhet, the season of Inundation, (Autumn). [This information gathered from www (dot) philae (dot) nu (/) akhet (/) Seasons (dot) html]