Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tales of Hierakon's Empire ❯ Chapter 11

Author's Note:

Raist: I apologize for it being SO long on this chapter. It's mostly my own fault because of college classes and added stress from it. I am getting my writing groove back, so the next ones that follow shouldn't take a month or even several months. Oreana has been very patient, and I appreciate it a lot. Keep on reviewing, and we both hope you like what's to come.

 

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The years that followed the death of Pharaoh Kafele were grave; filled with sorrow from a Queen's broken heart. Queen Este grieved after one month of her husband missing, not able to take the pain of her beloved's torn soul. Slowly she deteriorated as her daughter's watched grimly from the growing shadows that dared to overcast the torrid sunlight, unable to hold their concentration on studies of becoming the next in line to rule the throne after the Queen's final breath.

 

It wasn't long until it happened. The Empire fell hushed as the sand billowed in swirls of grainy particles that stung the skin of those wearing knee length skirts, fallen tears staining every tan skinned face to drip and mix with the golden-white earth to soak in and evaporate with the heat. Even the slaves shackled away in the dungeons fell upon their knees in sadness despite the sentences they had scarred into their backs from once broken skin, afraid of who would torment them on the second rein.

 

“It is horrible to hear of such tragic news. May Lord Horus and Lady Hathor guide Queen Este into the Afterlife safely to be with her long lost husband, Pharaoh Kafele,” High Priest Darwishi announced sorrowfully as a squadron of soldiers put their backs into pushing a boulder over the entrance to the tomb where the Queen was ceremonially wrapped, placed in her sarcophagus of painted gold and blessed to take her journey into the Afterlife by the gods and goddesses.

 

Omorose and Rehema, now older and more mature, bowed their heads in respect, though silently wept, hit the hardest since they watched their mother waste away for the months Este remained living. Rehema wrapped her arms about her elder sister for comfort as her emerald eyes washed over with tears, her sight blurry as she looked her sister right in the face.

 

“We are all that is left of the family. You alone cannot uphold this Empire by yourself, it is forbidden for a female to take the role of a Pharaoh,” she whispered, allowing the gathered tears to slowly cascade down her cheeks.

 

A pair of chocolate orbs fell upon the youngest sister, accompanied by thin lips curled into a light smirk. “That is why I am here, Princess Rehema,” the prince of Maladraad coolly stated. “For the past decade I have watched you grow into such marvelous beauties.” Taking Omorose's left hand, he brought her knuckles to his lips, kissing them as his devious, though charming gaze hooked sights with her sapphire oculars. “Your sister is a lucky woman to have me at her side to soon rule this Empire.” His words were directed at Rehema, his gaze remaining exactly where he wanted them planted upon Omorose.

 

Lidding her eyes in both inner sorrow and regret, she hid her façade of sadness to leave it as happy for the prince, staring back at him as he kept her hand in his. “I suppose I am. It should be a challenge to place what I've learned into real life experience.”

 

Rehema kept her arms about her sister's waste, resting her head upon her shoulder with a soft smile. “I know you'll both do a perfect job.”

 

He could feel the resistance in Omorose's actions, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. His seed hadn't been planted well enough, apparently, and during the moments she was now down in defense was his most crucial time to make the impact he wished to receive.

 

One year later…

 

“MMM!” Gripping the leather restraints until his already pale knuckles turned even whiter, the cerulean haired slave hissed with gritted teeth as the warmth of fresh blood oozed from the torn skin of a new whip wound, the previous slashes caked with dried blood from hours of torment. He hung his head as his body trembled lightly from the damage it was receiving, his entire body aching with excruciating pain.

 

“Stop hurting him! He's had enough!” Jin roared from the cell he was currently imprisoned within, nearly snarling with the hatred that emblazoned from his broken soul.

 

“Close your maw, you worthless mutt!” one of the guards yelled as he turned to face the slave, pointing a spear towards the redhead. “The Queen will have you hanged with one more outburst from your filthy mouth!”

 

Laughing sardonically, Jin sat back upon the straw that covered the stone floor stained in blood, urine, and feces, scuffing his nose for measure in sarcastic amusement. “We are better off hanged than kept in this moldy dump!” Gesturing toward the cells across from his own, he continued, “For example, the three men there. They are slowly dying of blood poisoning due to the wounds YOU dealt them without medical assistance. I'm sure they'd beg for the Queen to do away with them.”

 

Glaring upon the redhead, the guard stabbed his spear through the bars to the point the metal, sharpened edge and point, dared to gouge his carotid artery. “One more bout of insults toward the Queen and her ruling and you'll be sentenced to the same slow death!” The words of the guard oozed through his clamped teeth like seething poison as his eyes remained suspended daggers of death upon Jin.

 

“Dammit Jin, shut up!” Touya hissed, managing to peer over his shoulder at the current situation. “Just be quiet! I'll be—FINE!” he bit out as the whip came crashing down upon his back once more, tearing across a wound already formed. Throwing his head back best he could, his eyes shot open in surprise at the sudden impact of the wound being retouched by the blooded whip, tearing away at his skin. The pain was so sudden and so unbearable that Touya couldn't find the sound to make to express the agony. With his body having enough, he ended up passing out—his head lowered, rolling off to the side in silence.

 

Jin witnessed Touya's actions through the iron bars, his breath hitching in shock before he cried out his friend's name. “Touya!” His shocked expression turning into pure anger and malice, Jin curled his lips to bare his teeth like an enraged jackal. His abnormally sharp fangs near the front were hardly noticed at the time as he tried to lunge at the guard responsible for what he had done to his friend he had known since childhood. “You bastard!” The chains and shackles clanking together, he attacked the iron bars, about to pull them apart as if he could, only to be stopped by a demanding voice.

 

“Stop this madness!” The voice ordered from the winding, stone staircase leading down to the dungeon.

 

Everyone looked over at the commanding presence to find Princess Rehema standing there upon the last cobblestone step. She wore a very elaborately designed dress resembling the pattern of the Isis wings, which started from the gold belt about her waste and then fanned out in front of her off-white dress that was sleeveless and stitched in gold fabric. She wore much high class jewelry about her neck, wrists, and arms to show her position above those nearby. Her russet hair rested against her upper back as her head was wrapped in a princess' circlet, which had an emerald encrusted scarab on the front with very detailed Egyptian wings.

 

Rehema's ivy green eyes darted about the situation, widening her eyes at the redheaded slave, now in his 30s, sitting there behind the iron bars while the other was lashed to death. Her shaky eyes kept a hold of the ivory skinned slave for a moment before regaining herself, frowning upon the guard who was causing such misery for the workers. “What is the meaning of this!” She demanded to know, her ruby red lips firm upon every word.

 

The guard faltered in his position, bowing quickly before the princess as he stuttered at first though eventually finding what he wanted to say. “I am sorry, Princess Rehema, but your sister, Queen Omorose ordered us to imprison the white skinned demon. When we tried to take him, the redheaded slave attacked us and insulted the Queen. We had but the laws to insure that we act as we do.”

 

Jin turned his head to the trembling guard, growling in the depths of his throat at his words. The growling itself would sound demonic to any who actually heard it, but he kept it low, continuing to listen in on the guard's excuses.

 

Rehema couldn't help but feel her heart ache at the very thought her sister was responsible for this type of behavior. She about faltered before everyone though finding her strength once more to continue. “I want you to release these slaves and allow them back to their homes!” She demanded angrily, pointing at the guard responsible. “You and your fellow men will escort them personally and with a healer to tend to the wounds you gave them. For this behavior, I should have you either endure the same treatment, or worse, be beheaded.”

 

The guard gasped at her words, remaining on his knees in front of the princess. “B-But, Princess! It was the Queen's orders! Why should we be punished for something she ordered us to do!” He exclaimed in worry, wishing to save his own hide.

 

Hearing it was her sister's orders once again; Princess Rehema closed her eyes and rolled her teeth over her lower lip in inner pain.

 

“E-Enough…!” A weakened voice beckoned from not too far away. Touya tried his hardest to regain his consciousness over the yelling bringing him back to the situation. “It is pointless, Princess…there is no point in causing more pain and suffering to others. What good would it do?” He asked wearily, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

 

“Shut up, you foul beast!” The guard demanded, moving from his bow to punch the man in the stomach causing Touya to cough up more blood. His fist hitting his stomach, the guard felt something abnormal for someone belonging in the heated desert. He widened his eyes at the realization of it. My Ra…! His skin…is…! It seemed at that moment that Touya wearily looked over at the guard out of the corner of his eyes, a deep, icy anger hidden there that made his skin crawl and his heart stop.

 

“Stop it!” Rehema demanded, clutching her fists at her sides. “I order you to stop this! Now do as I say, or I will have you pay for it with your life!”

 

The guard appeared more frightened by the realization of what Touya could possibly be than the orders given by the princess. “Y-Yes, my Princess!”

 

Jin breathed a sigh of relief from where he was stationed behind bars. The cell door opening and his shackles clanking to the ground, he got to his feet to rub his free wrists. “Thank you, Princess Rehema,” Jin said gratefully as he made his way over to the distraught princess. When he saw the pensive look on her face, Jin hummed in wonder of what was going through her mind. “Princess…?”

 

Rehema had her eyes closed tight with her fists remaining tightly at her sides. Not able to take it anymore, she quickly turned around and dashed back up the staircase with her dress flaring about her, her jewelry clicking together due to her movements. Sister, what is wrong with you! She wondered as tears blurred her sight.

 

Omorose remained upon the throne, which once belonged to her deceased mother. Her fingers gripped upon the golden chair's armrests with her back straight against the backboard. She appeared stern and more of a hard ruler than her father was. The crown of Hathor resided upon her head, allowing her short, dark brown hair to frame her face up front while the rest flowed down to her mid back. Djoser sat next to her while they enjoyed the entertainment for the evening there within the throne room.

 

The sandaled feet of the young princess tapped furiously against the marble crafting of the floor, Rehema making it into the throne room to make her way up to her sister breathlessly. “Sister, whatever is the matter with you!” She demanded to know, causing the carefree commotion to hush into wonder of what was going through the princess' mind to barge in, in such a fashion.

 

Omorose looked down at her frantic sister, creasing her brow in anger. “What is the meaning of this, sister?” She asked confused as to what was dashing through her younger sister's mind.

 

“You ordered the guards to beat upon innocent slaves!” Rehema explained, her hands grasping her chest.

 

Djoser couldn't help but laugh out loud at Rehema's words, his body shaking with the spasms of his laughter. “Whatever would cause you to care for such a worthless class, Princess?” The now Pharaoh Djoser wondered, placing his wicked gaze upon her with his ivory hand resting close to his lips. “Are you worried over that pale skinned abomination?”

 

“He is not a—!”

 

The Pharaoh's fists slammed down upon the armrests of the throne he was upon and claimed as his own. “He is a demon!” Djoser growled angrily at Rehema's coming words of redemption for the white skinned worker. “He is so evil that not even Ra's sun will touch his skin! We need to execute him for bringing such evil down upon this empire!” Turning to his wife and queen, Djoser smirked at her as he grasped her wrist to squeeze it reassuringly. “Wouldn't you agree, my love?”

 

Omorose closed her eyes, still expressing her anger upon her features. She had been poisoned from the very moment Djoser accepted her as his queen, using the slaves that killed her father as ignition for it all. Omorose was beginning to think all slaves were evil and plotting against the higher classmen, mostly beginning with the pale skinned worker. “The Pharaoh is right,” Omorose replied unflinching in her words. “If such an evil is walking about the empire our father created, it is only for the sake of my people that I have him executed.”

 

Rehema's eyes shined with the tears threatening to fall before the royal court. “Don't do this, sister! What would one innocent man's life do for an empire that is already poisoned day by day by the bad omen sitting next to you!”

 

Hearing the young princess say such a thing caused everyone to gasp and for Djoser to snarl down at the disobedient woman. Darwishi and Bennu remained off to the side, worried for both sisters as the anger continued to rise within the throne room. All the two could do was stay locked in prayer for the sake of them both, hoping the other wouldn't make a reckless decision everyone would regret.

 

“This conversation has gone on long enough!” Djoser growled. “Guards, take the Princess to her room and keep her there!”

 

Seeing the guards working against her, Rehema panicked as she was grabbed by the wrists as if she were just a commoner. “Sister, don't let him do this! Omorose, do something!” She pleaded.

 

Omorose merely turned her head to the side as if to avoid her very own sibling's sight.

 

“Your sister is Queen now to the Hierakon Empire, Princess,” Djoser felt need to remind her before the royal court. “She has more power and authority over you. You would do good to remember that. Now, take her away!”

 

Rehema was pulled away against her will, she struggling against the guards though unable to break through given her petite figure. “Sister! Sister!” She cried out several times, hoping Omorose would reconsider the circumstances only to have her be ignored.

 

Darwishi watched from the darkness of the court, more than shocked and disgusted at the current display by the young Queen and Pharaoh. He looked over at the two with a frown evident upon him, though only Bennu could see it through the darkness where they stood. “He is poisoning the young Queen's mind,” Darwishi said between the two of them. “Something isn't right with that Djoser…I felt something unnerving about him from the very moment he stepped upon the sands belonging to our former Pharaoh.”

 

“Darwishi, don't go doing something foolish,” Bennu begged softly, grabbing onto his ivory arm pleadingly. “With how coldhearted the current rule has been, I fear for you.”

 

Shaking his head, the high priest grumbled. “What good is my life if I can get through to the bottom of this to save hundreds of others?”He inquired, turning to the young woman. “I will be at the Temple of Ma'at, praying for order to ascending upon this once great empire. You go talk to the young princess.” Using his staff, Darwishi headed off secretly out of the royal court to the Temple of Ma'at.

 

 

 

 

The moon had risen over the mountains by the time Bennu had made her way to the young princess' bedroom. She was standing outside of the golden door before the guards watching over her room from the outside. “I have come to speak to the young princess, move by order of the Queen.”

 

The guards didn't question Bennu as they parted from their post to allow the healer access to the princess' bedroom. Sighing softly, she tapped her knuckles against the golden encrusted door. “Princess Rehema, I need to speak to you about your sister, the Queen. May I please enter?”

 

Nothing came from the other side.

 

“Princess, are you there?” Bennu wondered, pressing her ear against the door. Worried over not being able to hear her at least sobbing, Bennu looked about the detailed entranceway, frowning at the silence. “Open the door, NOW!”

 

The guards did as they were asked, opening the door quickly to allow Bennu inside.

 

The wind blew heavily from the outside to hint a coming rain storm from the smell of dampness on the currents as Bennu rushed quickly into the bedroom to find papers being blown everywhere with the balcony curtains untied. It was evident that Rehema had made a mad dash out of the bedroom by using her bedcovers, which she tied upon her bedpost and tossed over the side of the balcony. Bennu ran over towards the balcony's railing to see she had indeed made it out of reach of the palace. “REHEMA!” She yelled over the thrashing, wailing winds.

 

Rehema heard her name. She looked over her shoulder up at the palace through the darkness of the hood she wore over her head to hide her princess status from everyone in the lower class robe she had upon her. Knowing that the guards would possibly be hunting for her soon, the young princess ran quickly through the market to try and find who she was looking for.

 

Weary steps were taken by the beaten duo as Jin tried to help his partner through the cold night to their home. Not able to take another step forward, Touya collapsed face first into the sand beneath him, exhausted from the beatings he had taken from the guard. Jin hurried down to Touya to try and help him back to his feet.

 

“Touya,” he whispered to him, “we're almost there. Just hold on.”

 

Touya wearily opened his eyes to look out over the sand, which covered him up to the slope of his nose. Helped to his feet once more, he coughed heavily to be rid of the sand, which escaped into his mouth. “I am so tired…,” he mumbled between the two of them as they continued onwards to their home.

 

“I know; I know you are,” Jin sighed as he made it to the entrance of their house. His hand reached for the tarp hanging before their doorway only to stop at the feel of somebody close by. He got on the defensive quickly, considering how tired they both were and what they had endured earlier. “Who's there!”

 

Stepping into the moonlight, Rehema made her appearance known though trying to conceal her face with the hood. “It is me, Princess Rehema,” she answered in a hushed tone.

 

“Princess, what are you doing here?” Jin wondered, cocking his brow in confusion.

 

“Can I come inside?” Rehema practically begged as she hurried over towards the two. “I cannot be seen out here for the guards are looking for me.”

 

“Come in quickly,” the redhead urged as he allowed her to come in first before he followed behind with the injured Touya.

 

Touya was rested upon his chest on his bed in the darkness of their bedroom. Rehema sat upon the bedside to look down upon the blooded marks, which overlapped one another multiple times on his pallid skin. She felt her stomach churn with illness at the very sight of it. “I am so sorry about all of this…my sister…she is not how she used to be,” Rehema said sadly.

 

Jin managed to light one of the candles in his possession, placing it upon the wooden table in the center of the bedroom to give the room some light. “Yeah, I noticed that.” He sighed moving towards the kitchen to get the medicine he would need for Touya's wounds. “She doesn't seem the same person she used to be when she saved Touya those many years ago.”

 

Rehema brought her knees to her chest with a heavy sigh as well. “She wants to kill your friend…she wants to kill him as she sees him as a bad omen to the empire.”

 

The redhead merely hummed at her news. “That doesn't surprise me. Everybody thinks he will bring the entire empire down with a wiggle of his nose and merely because his skin is of a different color.” Jin pulled the bowl and bandages from the kitchen and the jar holding the medicine to clean the whip wounds and help them heal into the bedroom. “Excuse me,” he said to the princess, motioning for her to get up so he could bring the wooden chair closer to the bed belonging to Touya.

 

The young princess got up and moved to the table where the other chair was resting about the flickering flame. She watched as Jin attended to the moaning, bi-colored hair slave. Rehema could only flinch every time she heard Touya groan and hiss in pain. “That must be painful.”

 

“You have no idea,” Jin replied through his teeth as he had a slip of the bandages in his mouth. Pulling the bandage from his mouth, he dipped it into the medicine to place upon one of the wounds he healed. “So, why are you out here in disguise?”

 

Rehema recalled why she was out and about in such a fashion, causing her to look sadly at the flame. “I confronted my sister about her actions upon the slaves, and she had the guards take me away to my bedroom.” Her hands clutched into shaking fists there upon the wooden table. “That is not my sister. I promise you, it is not!” Tears made their way down her ivory cheeks as she thought about how cold and distant her sister had become compared to how she used to be. “All of this misfortune has fallen upon us…why has my family been cursed with such bad luck lately…?”

 

Jin could hear her cries as he finished bandaging up Touya in the dimly lit room. Walking over in his knee high loin cloth, he placed his hand upon her shoulder to reach for the necklace she still wore that he made. “I see you still kept this with you after all this time,” Jin remarked, running his fingers over the phoenix necklace. “Do you know what the dragon and phoenix together mean overseas?”

 

Rehema was confused by his words as the Egyptians were concealed within the walls of the empire they were born within unless seeking death out in such harsh climates.

 

“It is said that a dragon and phoenix seen together mean great luck,” Jin explained, showing the dragon about his neck. “If you ever need any luck your way, just come to me, Princess.”

 

His soft words were reassuring as she silently listened to the redheaded slave, feeling a soothing warmth encircle her once chilled form. Tears streaking her cheeks under the hood she had over her head, the Princess brought a hand up to clasp both Jin's hand and the phoenix pendant hanging about her neck.

 

“Thank you, Jin. Thank you very much…” Stealing a gaze at the light skinned Touya, Rehema sighed deeply, not sure how to save the man from more punishment he honestly didn't deserve.

 

Yet something else caught the attention of the princess. She recalled another pendant being made at the same time the phoenix pendant was being crafted. The details were vague in her past memories, and blurred as they were she noticed a glimmer from a teal colored jewel from where she sat to a side table by the light skinned slave's bedside. Sniffling lightly, she pointed in the direction the shimmer derived from, asking curiously.

 

“What is that? I see a teal sparkle upon that small table top.”

 

Blinking softly, it took a moment for the redheaded slave to comprehend on what exactly the princess was asking him. Placing his hand upon the object, he smiled softly, slipping it into his hand. A thin silver chain seeped through his fingers as he brought it over closer to Rehema, parting his calloused digits to show the item to her.

 

“It is a griffon, Princess. It was a work in progress after I finished the phoenix you have around your neck. It was a three part series I created; the dragon, the phoenix, and the griffon.” As he allowed the curious Rehema to examine the griffon, the craftsmanship was remarkable, just as it was on the dragon and her phoenix. The finest jewels were used, the strongest of non-tarnished metals—it was simply something the eyes couldn't pass up even if they tried.

 

“It's so beautiful,” she whispered, offering a soft smile. “Very beautiful, indeed. Like the soul of someone I've felt I once knew and now lost.”