Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tales of Hierakon's Empire ❯ Chapter 6

Author's Note: Raist here—again, sorry for the long wait on the chapters, folks. College work keeps you on your toes when it comes to work and finding time for stories in between can be a tad difficult. However, I hope the next chapter won't be so long in waiting. Thanks for being patient.

 

And the note below is just for some mindless idiots on FF.net, so ignore it here unless you want to hear me rant. xD

 

And Oreana to apologize for having to delete this story and repost it, but some annoying hick thought it to be hilarious to list all the faults in this story. Guys, a constructive criticism is filled with the positive and the negative in that order. If you list all the `horrors' of the story, that is considered a flame and not to mention a big question of “WTF are you doing reading this story if it is that bad to you”? And FYI, our characters are not Mary-Sue for they are humans, they have emotions and are not stuck on one feeling, they have NO magic powers whatsoever, are not loved by everyone, and the only reason people scream such a blasphemy term is because OMFGZ they are royalty. Guys, get your heads out of your asses for a moment and realize that even regular characters can be royalty whether OC or not. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it. Raist and I are doing it for our own enjoyment, and if others enjoy it, wonderful—comment and say so. If you don't like it—go whine to your little friends about how we had the audacity to write `such an eyesore'. I am sure they care more than us.

 

And, by the way, if you have to critique this story by looking up on the web what we wrote wrong when you yourself don't even grasp the meaning of some grammar issues that you copied and pasted off of some `grammar help links', don't waste our time. ;)

 

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Mu'dra sat in his shackles with an aching body thanks to the lashing he got the previous night for screwing up the dinner settings for the royal family. The action the Pharaoh placed upon him broke the straw on the camel's back, and he was itching eagerly for vengeance. All day and night he served for the family when it came to meals, ninety percent of the meals ending in discord on his behalf. It was as if he were a target of all pent up tension to be placed upon.

 

Grumbling constantly to himself, he rocked in his thoughts of evil planning, psychotic in the way of being rid of the Pharaoh that kept rubbing his face in the mud like a worthless hound.

 

“So you're going to go through with it?” Sadren inquired as he presented the corked vile of liquid to his friend, wiping his runny nose with the back of his opposite arm.

 

Maddened gaze hardening, Mu'dra hissed at his companion, swiping the vile from his hands greedily. “There is nothing that can stop me from what I'm about to do. I am sick of this place; sick of this life! The old woman selling fish guts would be a better ruler than this stuck up, temper flaring demon we have towering over us now!” Stuffing the vile between his worn sash and what was left of the hem of his pants, the crazed slave couldn't wait to be free of his shackles to help with the next meal, his plan golden since he knew exactly which goblet the Pharaoh drank from.

 

The brown eyes of Sadren watched Mu'dra's actions through the bars since he had been placed in `time-out' for a while due to his behavior, slipping his calloused hands within his burlap pockets. “I only hope this doesn't backfire and put us all in more danger than we're already in. I've never been one to doubt your words, so I suppose I still trust you.” Pausing a moment from his gesture to walk away, he added, “Even if you've become a rabid rat pursuing a lion whose been constantly on your ribbed tail.” Smiling, Sadren made his way out of the dungeon hall to get back to his duties in the kitchen area, wiping his nose again since his allergies were atrocious due to the build up of sand dust.

 

Unkempt and crooked teeth slicing through the dim lighting of the cell, Mu'dra merely laughed to himself, still rocking on the bench he sat upon. “Soon it ends. Soon we will have our freedom!”

 

 

 

 

“It's about time you got the water we asked for minutes ago, you worthless flea bag!” Yanking the pails away harshly, each guard spat upon the redhead to further `thank' him for his services, making him flinch lightly. “Now get your ass back out there and do something productive! The lot of you are all so lazy, I doubt this wall will be finished on schedule.”

 

Fetching his chisel and hammer, Jin turned to walk back down to the part he was previously hard at work on, running his dirty fingers over the etched sandstone thoughtfully. “Another phoenix would look nice here with the sun beaming above outstretched wings.” He spoke mostly to himself, looking over to the side to see no one there right beside him like there normally was. Touya was meant to be there but since his last beating the pale skinned man had been bed ridden. Sighing through his nostrils, the weary cobalt orbs of the redheaded slave positioned the wedge-shaped part of the chisel against the soft sandstone, using his small mallet to hammer at the blunt end while he moved the tool to create his drawing. “Your first day back is tomorrow, Touya. I can only hope that you won't be beaten as badly again.”

 

Having come back from their riding trek outside of the empire walls, Omorose and Rehema led by the two guards bypassed the working wall in order to get back to the palace entrance. It wasn't so close they could see all the slaves or the guards swatting whips at them, but they could see in the distance how the wall was coming along thanks to the progress. Both of the princesses wished the wall didn't have to be crafted since it was costing so many innocent lives, however, they didn't make the rules, so all they could do was pray for their safety.

 

A stallion with a black pelt came trotting out of nowhere to ease up beside the elder princess, the Maladraad prince smiling charmingly to her the closer they got to the palace. “There you are, my princess. Did you have a nice time on your relaxing horse ride?”

 

“I know I did!” Rehema butted in even if the question wasn't directed towards her, playing with her doll in her lap with the excitement she held towards the redheaded slave.

 

Keeping her gaze in front of her, Omorose released a tense sigh through her nostrils, involuntarily gripping the leather reins tighter. “Yes, I did. It does my sister and I well to get out of the walls of the palace every once and a while.”

 

Ignoring the tense attitude of the elder daughter, Djoser lifted a hand to daringly stroke a finger against Omorose's delicate cheek, a sly expression softly etched upon his handsome face. “You haven't spent any time with me yet this day. I do hope I am next on your list of important things to do,” he chided, pulling his horse to a stop when both of the fillies were forced to halt at the palace entrance steps. Her resentment was apparent, she boiling over the rim of all that is good to try her best not to react foolishly in front of her younger sister.

 

“You are next on my list, sadly,” she pressed, talking through clenched teeth. “Why don't we all go inside where we belong? I have a father to report to so he knows we made it okay on our ride.” Sliding off the saddle to allow her sandaled feet access to the sandy ground, Omorose looked up at the still mounted prince. “You can trail along if you so desire.” Tearing her sapphire oculars away from the dark prince, she hunted her sister down to take one of her dainty hands into her own, heading up the stone steps while a few slaves fetched the horses to place back into the stables.

 

Pharaoh Kafele was sitting proudly upon his throne with his beloved wife next to him, the throne room coming to life with the sound of music and guests that were allowed within the palace walls. It was obvious he had grown tired of sitting within the silence and commenced a small banquet to take place within the throne room's perimeters. When the doors of the palace opened to reveal his two daughters and the Maladraad prince, Pharaoh Kafele stood to his feet with a raise of his hand to cease the music and the dancers that danced before him.

 

“My dear daughters,” Kafele began as he descended the royal stairs in front of his throne, “how did your ride go?”

 

“It went wonderfully, father,” Omorose responded as she bowed respectfully to her own dad.

 

Rehema ran up to her father to embrace his leg seeing as she was still young. “We had a wonderful time out there, daddy. The trees that can be seen are turning colors.”

 

His strong, ivory hands gracing his youngest daughter's shoulders, he smiled to her before eyeing Djoser and Omorose once more. “It appears that the gods bring us winter soon this year. I guess it is best we get prepared for such a thing.”

 

Bennu walked forward from where she was standing previously next to the young Queen of the empire. Outstretching her delicate hand, she accepted Rehema's in return with a tender smile gracing her features. “Come with me, young princess, and let us fix Prince Djoser and Princess Omorose's meal for this coming evening. I know you always enjoy helping me fix such things.”

 

The young Rehema smiled with an excited nod as she followed the wise, healer into the many corridors, which littered the palace, to head to the kitchen with Bennu close by.

 

Omorose stayed close to Djoser against her will as she watched Rehema and Bennu take haste in leaving the throne room. Embracing her body that stood nervous among those nearby, she looked off to the side not wishing to openly express her discomfort towards the foreign prince. She didn't wish to be with him alone. Even if she was of royalty, if he forced himself upon her, she would have to obey due to still being born a woman in Egypt's sand.

 

“Excuse us, father,” Omorose softly said with a bow. “Djoser and I…wish to spend time together in his bed chambers he temporarily has for his stay.” Bowing once more to her father, Omorose looked at Djoser briefly with a neutral expression pressed across her face. “Shall we, Prince Djoser?” She asked hesitantly, motioning towards the east archway.

 

“I thought you would never ask,” Djoser snickered as he walked on ahead of her. He wanted to get the young princess alone. He was aware that Omorose was quite hostile towards him, but Djoser was intent on breaking her in anyway he was able to.

 

Omorose knew that look on the young prince's face and didn't like it. Her body went numb as she was able to find her feet, walking after Djoser. The princess' hands folded in front of her, she tried to keep her head up though it was tempting to bow her head in submission sometimes to the overbearing Maladraad Prince.

 

Rehema's sandaled feet tapped against the marble flooring, echoing down the hallways as she remained close to Bennu's side. Her doll flopping about in the nook of her arm, she gazed up at the towering woman. “I spoke to one of the slaves today on our way out,” Rehema blurted out in the large hallways.

 

“Oh, really now?” Bennu wondered as she continued towards the kitchen with the young princess. “And what exactly did you say to this slave?”

 

“I lost my doll when I was riding out of the market place and I found him making his phoenix necklace, which he promised to give to me!” The young princess exclaimed excitedly.

 

Bennu hummed in thought as she kept a firm grip on Rehema's hand seeing she was currently responsible for the young girl. “He was willing to give this necklace he hand crafted to you, did he?” Bennu was slightly worried. A young princess was to never be caught conversing with the slaves no matter the circumstances. It was considered bad towards their image. “Princess Rehema, I think you should be cautious when talking to the slaves out there in your father's empire. You are a princess to be after your sister. You don't want to have your father's name look bad, do you?”

 

“I just talked to him,” Rehema said innocently. “I can do that, can't I? I was told that I could talk to anybody.”

 

“Indeed, princess, but if you befriend this slave, it will be bad for the empire,” Bennu explained, her dress swerving about with her walk down the long halls.

 

Furrowing her brow in confusion, Rehema looked down at her reflection within the marble beneath her. Humming in thought, she gazed back up at the healer that had been close to her family since her sister's birth. “But, he isn't that bad. Why can't I just talk to him?”

 

Turning down the next hallway that came within view, Bennu saw the door, which led to the kitchen chambers. “You can speak with him; just don't be caught with him too often. It will cause the lower and middle class citizens to draw conclusions.” Making it to the kitchen with the young royal daughter, Bennu helped Rehema sit down on one of the stools nearby so that she could get to work. Fixing her dress and freeing it of all wrinkles, she grabbed the utensils she needed to make the early dinner for the young prince and princess.

 

Rehema watched from the wooden stool she sat upon as Bennu grabbed a vile of some sort of liquid that the princess didn't recognize. “What is that, Bennu?”

 

“I use this liquid to make Djoser groggy for your sister, young princess,” Bennu explained. Popping the cork off of the vile, she poured the substance inside into the drink that was to be given to the prince of Maladraad she poured. “I know she has difficult times with Prince Djoser, so I help her out with this medicine to help relax the young prince.”

 

Swinging her legs gently from the stool she sat upon, the young princess tilted her head further in question, holding her doll within her lap against her belly. “That's another thing I don't quite understand. Why does sis have a problem with Djoser? I think he's nice and wonderful.”

 

Stirring the wine mixed with the herbal liquid, the noble healer hummed softly to herself, tapping the thin stirring stick on the side of the goblet before placing it on the tray. “Prince Djoser has opposite feelings from her in various fields. I am sure you've noticed her behavior as of late. Uptight, trying to push the frustration she feels aside to keep the bloodline pure in their hopes of eloping to create a glorious empire after your father passes in the future.” Placing some cheese, bread, meat, and fruit upon the dinner tray, Bennu turned around to face Rehema, peering at her with her sea green orbs through her hanging beaded tassels. “You relieve your sister of a lot of that stress, and I am proud of you for that. Your parents are oblivious of how Omorose really feels towards the prince, but she cannot voice those opinions without being punished or ridiculed. It is hard keeping such secrets, even the one that you have about speaking with the slave. You have to promise me word will not get out about either incident.”

 

Nibbling on a piece of the rich cheese she snitched from the tray that wouldn't be missed thanks to quite a bit being placed upon it to begin with, Rehema hooked gazes with the healer, nodding. “I promise, Bennu. Can we take the food to them now?” The youngest daughter didn't like awkward situations, obviously trying to bypass the tension of the latest heated topic.

 

Keeping her gaze upon the princess a moment longer, Bennu helped Rehema down off the wicker stool she was seated upon. “Of course we can. Come along,” the healer encouraged, smiling softly to the young princess, though mentally she frowned in worry over the backdrop of hidden secrets that could very well place both of the princesses in danger. What a deadly web we weave…

 

The double doors etched in gold with hieroglyphic design opened wide for the Maladraad prince and Hierakon princess. The lighting was dim due to the sun residing on the western side of the palace, his guest room on the east, the yawning doors spilling in the only bright light to provide passage into the room. A lowly servant was permitted to follow the two to light the candelabras, placing more light within the spacious room for better comfort. Djoser was glad to see the servant leave, sneering at the cowering woman in disgust. His upbringing from his father rang well within his bones since the Maladraad held no respect towards the servants or slaves running rampant to do the royal family's bidding, and since the prince's father rarely showed compassion to him, much less the rest of his royal family, the eighteen year old had the soul of a sly snake; wishing for his own rule with the perfect queen that measured his every thought with mutual feeling.

 

Raising a hand to the guards, the immaculate double doors closed with a light creek, sealing shut with a clank of metal, leaving the prince and prince alone to themselves.

 

“Are you happy now? You are always eager to get me alone these days.” Omorose stood on the opposite side of the room, placing her once folded hands at her sides; one hand resting upon her shapely hip as she cocked her thighs slightly. She felt she was within a chamber with the dark god Seth with the way the prince looked upon her with predatory orbs of chocolate brown flecked with amber, standing her ground against how weak she felt on the inside.

 

“You're feisty attitude is alluring. I only wished you would give in to it to have a heart of ice,” the prince relayed, slowly making his way into the territory the princess currently held. “Those worthless slaves mean nothing; are nothing. Why can't you grasp that fact to hold such empathy for them? Perhaps because you are confused…” he hinted, his voice dying to a mere hissed whisper as he circled around her like a panther intimidating his prey, lightly scrolling a finger down the side of her delicate cheek. “I will make you see their fickle nature. Why they don't deserve pity or empathy; only punishment and ruthless torment.”

 

Omorose felt numb once again, frozen in place by the prince's actions. Way too close for comfort, the prince's lips brushed across her petal soft orifice as her frightened sapphire oculars hooked gazes with his fierce chocolate. The elder princess remained rigid in her stance, tensing up further when his hands felt over the contours of her body, her mind screaming for the help she couldn't voice. Djoser followed through with the kiss even if Omorose wouldn't comply to submission, ignoring the vice grip her hands placed upon his sides when he pressed his body against her helpless form.

 

Carrying the tray filled with refreshments, Bennu couldn't help but eye the double doors with a certain hint of concern, erasing the notion when she placed her gaze upon Rehema. “Stay here until I deliver this. I will be right back and then I'll take you to Darwishi to speak to you further about your new friend,” she simply put so suspicion wouldn't rise to the duo of guards flanking the doors, a knock rapping upon the door in respect.

 

Rehema kept her emerald gaze upon the doors in understanding, wishing she could help her sister if she appeared to be bothered.

 

“Prince Djoser, healer Bennu brings your early meal. Do you wish for her to bring it in or place it here at the door to retrieve yourself?” The guard's voice had a booming baritone quality to it, clearly heard even through the thickness of the surface of the door.

 

Turning his head to glare upon the closed doors, he growled inwardly. “Leave it at the door! I'll come and get it!” Sighing irritably through his nostrils, he placed his eyes back upon Omorose with a smirk, placing a finger under her chin. “Stay right here. I will go and get the food you'll need for your energy.” Pulling away from his prize reluctantly, the prince hopped off the canopy bed to trail his way to the room's entrance.

 

Bennu frowned at the muffled tone of the prince on the other side of the door, sighing. “Well, it appears I have to leave it here.” Kneeling, the gracious healer placed the tray of wine and food onto the marble floor in front of the double doors before standing. “Rehema, let us go. We've tarried here long enough.”

 

“Right behind you, Bennu!” The homemade doll held in the crook of her arm, the youngest of the two Hierakon princess' skipped after Bennu without another bad thought in the world, loving to visit High Priest Darwishi because of his mystery.

 

Djoser opened one of the doors to reveal himself, leaning over to pick up the tray. Placing his gaze upon both of the guards, he narrowed his eyes considerably. “If anyone else comes to these doors, we are not available. Tell them to come back later, do I make myself clear?” he tensely stated, curling the corner of his lip into a sneer to show perfect teeth of alabaster.

 

Both sentries exchanging looks, one spoke up for the whole. “You have our word, Prince Djoser. We apologize for any other interruption that is to come your way.”

 

“There will not be any,” he bluntly countered with an extra shot of a glare, making himself scarce of the corridor to be back into the room he wished not to be bothered in with Omorose.

 

 

 

The sun was still beating down on Jin as he worked tirelessly on the slab of stone there before him. His sweat beading from his forehead and dripping down his chin, he wiped away his perspiration to gaze up at the horrible heat that the Egyptian gods dared have beat upon his burning skin. Gazing through his fingers up at the blazing sun in the sky, Jin sighed through his nostrils. “It is so hot,” he grumbled, turning back to the design he was working upon on the marble. “Touya sure is lucky he doesn't have to work today. Of course, given a day he will be back out here with us again.” A whip cracking through the air caught Jin off guard as he dropped his utensils he was working with out of shock.

 

“Stop slacking off, you worthless being, and get back to work!” A guard demanded as he trotted over towards the ivory skinned, redhead. He was eager to complete the wall and he didn't want to have anyone sitting doing nothing. The Pharaoh had grown impatient himself over the progress of the empire's wall.

 

Jin grumbled, snatching up his tools back into his hands so he could go back to working. “I am almost through with this wall,” Jin boldly replied, chiseling the rest of the design into the material resting there in the hot sand.

 

The guard wasn't going to accept a mere slave speaking to him in such a manner. Rearing back the whip once more, he let the leather strip crack against the tanned, raw skin of the redheaded slave. Jin's skin ripping off from the contact of the whip, the guard watched as the slave flinched in agony before placing his heel into the back of the lower classman. “Don't backtalk to me, you arrogant slave!” The man hissed irritably, his heel placing more pressure into Jin's back.

 

“Alright, I am sorry!” Jin hissed through his tightly clenched teeth. He hated to apologize to the overbearing guard watching over his every move.

 

“Now get back to work,” the guard growled, removing his heel finally from Jin's tender back.

 

Shaking his red hair, damped in his own perspiration, Jin went back to chiseling away at the slab to work on wrapping up the design he had planned for the wall. Tying his hair back to keep it off of his neck, Jin eventually managed to finish up the curved of the design he was crafting so it would blend in with the design on the last slab of stone that he designed. Sighing once more, he hefted himself up off of the sand to lift the marble with him with the help of some of the slaves nearby. “Alright, here is another piece for the wall,” Jin grunted as he tried to keep the large stone slab from falling on anyone.

 

“Move that piece into place,” one of the several guards on duty demanded with a crack of the whip he held. Pointing at Jin, he used his whip to get the man's attention. “Help them with the wall before you get started on the next one!”

 

Jin grumbled once more as he put all of his strength into helping the other weak slaves put the part of the wall he had worked on most of the day up into place. Thanks to the sun beating down on him all day, he nearly slipped a few times. Labored breaths expelling through his nostrils, he dug his bare feet into the sand as the guards behind the five slaves whipped harshly at their bare backs. Feeling the sting to his back, Jin hissed through his teeth as he used everything he had to finally place the stone where it was to rest.

 

Bringing his right arm to rest upon the hot marble for a moment, Jin placed his sweating forehead upon his scarred forearm. “Damn, could it be any hotter?” He mumbled mostly to himself.

 

The sound of the whip cutting the air startled all of the slaves working on the wall. “Get back to work! We don't have all day! The Pharaoh wants this wall completed soon!”

 

Touya remained at the house, his back continuing to heal from the brutality he received days ago. Gazing up at the window on the opposite side of the room, the bi-color, haired demon pushed himself up from his bed covers steadily so the pain wouldn't rush through his body so forcefully to get to his feet. His bare feet touching the hard floor, he managed to make it to the door of their house for a moment so he could gaze up at the sky above.

 

“I wonder how many days I will be able to witness before my sentencing,” Touya wondered aloud to himself. He knew his days were coming to a slow halt. The pale skinned slave was aware that the wall was being rushed into completion. His fingers gripping onto the windowsill, he sighed through his nostrils as he watched the sun set slowly into a sunset. “I sure wish Jin didn't have to work today. He could enjoy the sunset this evening with me.”

 

The marble castle walls glistened in the setting sun, the curtains on the balcony dancing with the evening wind currents that bound across the sand covered desert. Omorose placed down her goblet crafted in that of an Egyptian Griffon's claw and in the finest gold. Djoser was there upon her bed, sprawled out on the royal princess' bed with his goblet of wine slightly spilled on the tray that it came upon. The wind teasing the young prince's hair, he dared not move thanks to the hidden, harmless drug the healer slipped into his cup.

 

Pushing herself up off of the bedside, Omorose walked over to her balcony to watch the sky dance in different colors of pink, orange, purple, and blue. Moving the red liquid in her cup with a sigh, she rested against the railing on the balcony to get a better view of the sunset. “I sure wish Rehema was here instead of Djoser. She would enjoy seeing this sunset with me.” Looking over her shoulder back into her bedroom past the swirling curtains to spy Djoser's drugged body, she rolled her eyes miserably at the foreign prince she wasn't looking forward to spending her life with. “Maybe one day I can actually spend it with someone I really care for.”