Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tales of Hierakon's Empire ❯ Chapter 12

It didn't take long before the palace went from normal activity, to a swarm of chaotic distress, the news of the younger Princess missing alarming the entire squadron of guards. It started with the two at Rehema's door that had allowed Bennu inside to have a private word with the distraught young woman, hearing the call of her name to send up a red flag. Bennu had left the room in a rush after that, her beaded attired heard clacking down the hallways, afraid that the Princess might leave the empire in her current upset position.

 

The healer halted in her steps abruptly, right outside the doorway leading into the throne room upon the noise of angry voices, the Queen not a bit impressed. Oddly enough, Djoser wasn't heard, which set Bennu off guard for the moment, silently listening to the conversation.

 

“What do you mean she ran away? How did she manage to escape her room from so high up?” Omorose demanded, looking down upon two guards kneeling side by side before their beloved Queen and Pharaoh.

 

“Healer Bennu went into her room to check upon her and upon investigation; the sheets were tied securely to make a perfect escape route, my Queen. The Princess has not been seen since. I have not heard word from the squadron out in the city searching for her as we speak.”

 

Narrowing her sapphire eyes further, she thought about the slaves, Rehema very passionate about them before she was sent to her room. Something didn't smell right to the Queen all the sudden, she digging her fingers into the golden plated arms of her throne.

 

“Go down into the dungeon to see about the redheaded slave and his demonic friend. I want that pale skinned rat brought up here to me with his obnoxious protective companion,” Omorose hissed, pursing her lips. “If they are not in their cell, take a platoon of ten men to their shack of a hut where they were plucked up in the first place. Their lives are about to change dramatically from what they already had.”

 

Both of the guards kept their gaze upon her feet in respect, looking up upon the rulers a form of dishonor and a disgrace. Not even their eyes were to make contact with any of their eyes, including the younger princess, no matter how ludicrous or joyous a situation may be at the time of appointed gathering.

 

“Yes, my Queen. Your command has been buried within our flesh. If we come back empty handed, may you execute me in front of the public eye as a form of failure.”

 

Djoser put on a pleased smirk, propping his chin upon folded ringed fingers in his seated position. Omorose was clearly angry and fed up with the actions of the two slaves, seeming to have a great punishment in store for them. He could tell from the corner of his eye she was holding something back as he watched the two guards leave their presence, tilting his head to peer at her directly.

 

“Well done, my love. Perhaps now that abomination will get his last wishes before being taken from his spot upon the fury of the sands. Such devious plotters, those slaves. Those two have been a great problem to us lately,” the former Pharaoh felt need to mention in his smug appearance.

 

“She went against my word and let those two mutts back out into the city. I know she did!” Omorose sneered, casting a nasty glower upon her royal lover. “I ought to put her in a cell of her own to be sure she doesn't escape again. She must be punished if I find out for sure those two are back in their abode where they don't belong. She will be interrogated,” she continued, looking away from Djoser. “If she fails to answer the questions placed upon her, then Horus' talons will gnash!”

 

Gasping, Bennu brought her hand up to her mouth, staring into the throne room with wide sea green orbs. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from a woman she once knew to be pure and innocent, willing to fight for the wrongs of the kingdom when it came to the slaves. Furthermore, she feared the fate of Rehema with how brash Omorose sounded when referring to her punishment. Was the eldest going for the throat of the youngest to keep her position? Taking two steps back, the royal physician avoided the gaze of many of the guards on high alert, slipping into the shadows to take the secret passage way to the Temple of Ma'at to speak to High Priest Darwishi.

 

 

Rehema had been at the small house of the two slaves for several hours. She carried on fluid conversations with the two and even had a meal with them consisting of the soup and stale bread their little sum of money could afford. It felt refreshing to the young princess seeing lives from a different point of view where you had to struggle to survive instead of being waited on hand and foot to get all the service you needed. Touya didn't stay up long after the meal provided, worn and sore from his beating earlier in the day. Thus, it was left to Jin to keep the princess company, the two moving from the small wooden table, to a half worn wicker bench with fresh hay as bedding cushion.

 

“I'm very sorry we don't have anything fit for a royal here when it comes to providing comfort. I hope that this seating arrangement isn't too coarse for your body, Princess,” Jin apologized, bowing his head, his shaggy red hair shifting forward to cover his baby blue eyes and his tanned cheeks.

 

Waving a hand, Rehema tucked the tail of her dress under her as she sat upon the hay covered flat surface of the bench, pulling the cowl of her cloak back further away from her head. “I'm fine, Jin. You don't have to worry about babying me just because I'm from the royal family. I always wanted to see how the slaves lived. It seems I'm getting to do that now,” the Princess stated with a smile.

 

“Ah, very well, then,” the red headed slave replied with a light chuckle, taking the empty spot beside her to sit upon. “How do you feel about staying here so far? Is it as you thought it would be?” he asked, placing his hands upon his thighs, looking over at her to show she had his full attention.

 

“Well,” she began; lifting her head to peer upon the rafted ceiling coated in sun baked clay mud, her jeweled circlet along with her other jewelry glimmering in the candlelight. “It's actually a little better, in a way. Dad always said that the poor were infested with sand fleas or disease, fighting over each other's food to survive. He even called them heathens, the damned of the kingdom only good for strenuous labor.” Placing her ivy eyes upon her hands in her lap, she sighed heavily. “I can vouch to say this is nothing like he described. Not even outside of this household. I hear no commotion; I see no insect infestations or even major disease. He just really disliked your kind, I guess.”

 

Jin couldn't help but wrinkle his nose in disapproval, snorting derisively. “It is a pity the royals think of us in that fashion. I had faith at one time after the rein of your father—the gods rest his soul out of respect to you—that things would be better for us out here. Touya wouldn't believe me, he thought I was daft and had lost my marbles. Very bitter, he is. I honestly do not blame him. His condition says enough.” Scratching the back of his head due to an annoying itch, he hung his head, leaning over towards his lap with arms crossed upon his thighs. “I've lost all hope now. Your sister is harsher than your father ever was. Even working on the wall I slave over in the hot sun, the dehydrated workers that die get thrown into the ditches dug out to place the heavy stones, buried with no respect or remorse.”

 

Thinking about her sister only made Rehema more saddened than she had been previously, rolling her teeth over her bottom lip painted in cranberry red. “I don't want to go back to the palace. I hate it there now. My sister has been brainwashed by Prince Djoser and no one can make her see the light she used to believe in.” Leaning over on the redhead, she stared in front of herself sorrowfully. “If something doesn't change, the gods and goddesses will curse our kingdom.”

 

Lifting his thin brows at the sudden leaning upon his body, Jin wasn't sure whether to touch the princess, or just let her have her moment to express her feelings. He wanted to wrap his arm about her in a type of consoling embrace, but due to being a lower being to her, he feared it would be disrespectful. Nevertheless, the redheaded slave couldn't just sit there; it would look like he didn't care about her emotions. Gradually bringing his powerful arms about her small frame, Jin gave a firm embrace to the princess, letting her know he understood.

 

“Everything will be okay, Princess Rehema. We'll work together somehow to prevent such a fate happening to your sister since she has a viper sitting on the throne next to her.”

 

Rehema buried her face as much as she possibly could within Jin's bare, ivory chest. “I am probably putting you all in great danger right about now,” she muttered in worry, looking up at the slave. “I should-I should get going.” Reluctantly, the young princess pulled from the redheaded slave. “If she finds me here, we're all in trouble.”

 

Jin widened his eyes as he witnessed Rehema hurry for the entrance of their house. “Young Princess, please wait!” He demanded as he rushed after her. Pushing the flap out of his way, he managed to stop her from going any further. “Right now is not a good time to be confined within the worse possible place in this empire your father made. I understand that you fear your sister's wrath as well as her venomous husband who has poisoned her mind, but understand that this place will always be open to you for when you feel the need to escape again.”

 

The princess wanted to cry from the relief she just received knowing she would have a place to retreat to, yet overwhelmed by questions of doubt. “I-can't…”

 

“Princess, please,” Jin seemed to plead, creasing his brow in worry.

 

“I can't right now!” Rehema insisted tearfully as she hurried away from the house.

 

The slave had not the strength to chase after her. His acute hearing also picked up the sounds of guards coming towards their house, prompting him to back up quickly into the archway of their house. Jin hid in the shadows of the house, watching as the armored stallions charged past their house. One or two did manage to stop just outside of the door making him growl angrily in the back of his throat.

 

“The Princess is around here somewhere,” one of the guards mentioned irritably. One of them looked over at the house they had stopped beside before eyeing the other guard with a smirk. “Until then, we might as well carry out or next command given by the Queen.”

 

Jin watched as the two guards dismounted their horses, armored with their swords as they headed for the house. He parted from the front door and hurried into the connecting sleeping area to shake the slumbering Touya. “Touya, get up! We have to get out of here now!”

 

Touya was unable to get up in time as the two guards came through the front door, knocking over their eating table and destroying any other items they had managed to afford. Managing to force open his eyes, Touya witnessed the pointless attack on their house, grumbling irritably as he raised his hand slightly as if to stop them only to fall short as he was unable to muster enough energy.

 

“What do you want? Get out of our home!” Jin demanded, putting his arm around Touya's waist.

 

One of the guards made their way over towards Jin to punch him into submission. The knuckles of the man hitting the slave clearly in the stomach brought the redhead to his knees. “Shut up, slave! You have no status to speak to us in such a manner! We are ordered to capture you both and throw you back into the dungeon where you were unrightfully removed against the Queen and Pharaoh's orders.”

 

Jin quivered there upon the floor, fighting to regain his breath, which was knocked out of him. “The-the P-Princess Rehema released us…!” He was forced to his feet and his arms bound behind him as was the weary Touya.

 

“The Princess Rehema is merely that,” the guard reminded the two slaves as they forced them from their home once more. “She has no say over the ruling Pharaoh and Queen. She will be punished upon being found!” Stopping for a moment, the guard looked over at the table where some of Jin's crafts were. He smirked before taking his foot to force it over, destroying some of the things he was working so hard on.

 

Watching his crafts break upon hitting the ground, Jin widened his eyes in shock before closing them tightly in pain as he was led off back towards the palace. It was becoming so hard to repress his feelings, but he knew he had to for the sake of remaining alive.

 

The giant, golden doors opened before the guards, who practically dragged Jin and Touya back before the Pharaoh and Queen. Jin fought against the guards slightly only to be forced to bow. The guard behind him grabbed onto his red hair to force him to touch his forehead to the marbled floors. The pallid skinned slave was too tired to fight and nearly fell to the floor when he was released.

 

Djoser narrowed his eyes at the two there before him yet again. He felt more anger towards Touya, eyeing his unusual skin coloration with distaste. “You two were brought here for previous orders by the previous Pharaoh.” His eyes stared hard upon the scarred and bandaged back of Touya. “Your death was foreseen by Lord Horus long before you were born given the evil that surrounds you.” Djoser then turned to criticize the redhead who was snarling at him angrily. “And you!” He couldn't stand the constant retaliation of the taller slave. “Your continuous interference with this slave is frowned upon! Allowing this evil to remain here, you will be executed for it!”

 

The palace doors opened once more as Rehema was forced back before her sister and brother-in-law. “Let go of me!” She ordered angrily, hoping as a Princess she had at least some authority. The guards refused her demand as they helped her back before Queen Omorose.

 

Omorose didn't know what to say to her sister at this point as she tried to hold her tongue, which dared to lash out in anger. “Rehema, how could you go against my word—the word of father!” She pointed angrily at her sibling having undermined her. “You know as well as I that this slave was to be killed upon the completion of that wall. His services were no longer desired!”

 

“But, sister!” Rehema began in tears. “He has done nothing wrong!”

 

“He is an evil omen!” Djoser interjected, slamming his fists down upon the armrests of the throne he was sitting within. “I don't want that abomination remaining here!” The Pharaoh couldn't think of the empire's possible downfall no thanks to him being around.

 

“I will not have his death delayed any longer!” Omorose continued with a wave of her jeweled hand. “I want him placed back into the dungeon and ordered to be executed upon the rise of the sun tomorrow!”

 

“NO!” Jin yelled, widening his eyes in fear for his partner. “You can't do that!” Upon speaking his mind, the guard behind him, shoved his face harshly back down upon the cold, marble flooring making him grunt him pain.

 

“You blame everybody else's misfortune on one person,” Touya remarked wearily, silencing the room for once as he tried to look directly at the Queen. “In your case, you blame a whole majority. It is sad you hold so much hate for the people who strive to make your living much easier.”

 

Omorose couldn't stand to be lectured at that moment by somebody who wasn't her parents. “Take him away!” She ordered bitterly feeling a sting at his icy words.

 

Touya said nothing else as he closed his eyes, his hands bound behind him as they forced him to stand. Ushered towards the dungeon, he looked angrily over his shoulder at the Queen, a part of him knowing that she knew better than to act this way.

 

Jin was forced up from where he was upon the marble floor as well, forced to follow his friend. His blue eyes darted desperately back and forth to try and think of a solution. I have to save him this way. There is no other way to do it!

 

Rehema watched helplessly as Jin was taken away as well as the shorter slave. Shaking her head with her mouth slightly open, she turned to her sister with tears pouring from her eyes. “Sister, how could you do that!” Pushing away from the guard, Rehema ran towards her room through the west wing, covering her eyes as she ran. How can she feel no remorse for all that she does? This isn't the sister I grew up with…this isn't her at all…!

 

Stopping at her bedroom door, she grabbed onto the pillar resting just beside it to support her shaken form. Rehema moved past the guards and made her way into her bedroom upon regaining her composure. Her sandaled feet tapped against the fine rug upon her floor before making it to her terrace overlooking the empire. She pushed apart the flowing curtains to make it to the balcony, resting her arms over the railing. “Everything is falling apart,” she sobbed to herself. “Why have we been cursed?”

 

The wind seemed to comfort her at first until the currents became more aggressive. Her hair blowing about, she brought her hands to the side of her head to keep her wild strands out of her face. Rehema witnessed as a storm started to randomly brew. The clouds got darker before forming into a funnel, which struck the ground to cause many more to start forming about the outer area of the kingdom. She watched in horror as the sand started to make the town below difficult to see.

 

“Bennu!” She cried out, backing away as the vicious sandstorm continued. “Bennu!” Rehema yelled once more, hurrying towards her front door. Just as she was about to put her hand against the doors, Bennu opened them to allow herself inside to embrace the young princess. “What is going on!”

 

Breathing heavily from her quickened pace of getting through the palace back to the young princess, the royal physician cupped the back of Rehema's head tenderly, looking beyond the balcony with wild, sea green orbs of unknown mystery.

 

“There is another unknown power causing the sandstorm not connected to that of the deities. Darwishi explained to me something I still cannot start to understand about this power,” Bennu explained, gradually pulling the princess away from her own bedroom. “The Maladraad Pharaoh has been studying the text of Seth, worshipping the god's evil way of corruption. We have been deceived—your father was tricked into giving your sister Djoser's hand in marriage so that the Maladraad bloodline could wipe out the Hierakon and their way of rightful ruling. They revel in seeing the innocently poor tortured for their own amusement to use as wounded drones to their bidding until they perish of exhaustion and sickness. It's all for their own personal gain!”

 

Rehema couldn't believe what she was hearing, staring past Bennu's shimmering beaded necklace further down the corridor. The guards were in a blundering rampage again due to the random sandstorm blinding any view outside of the palace, yelling phrases of question not to mention curses towards the pallid skinned slave.

 

“This is all that abomination's fault! The curse is getting worse—the kingdom is being blinded with sand!”

 

“Why wait until the shining of Ra? Behead him now, my Queen!”

 

Pulling away from Bennu slightly, Rehema looked into the beautiful woman's face, cupping her hands together near her chest. “How can we stop this sandstorm, Bennu? You can't even see your hand in front of your face out there!”

 

Placing her sea green gaze upon the young princess, Bennu grabbed both of her hands into her own. “Rehema, take the redheaded slave and leave the kingdom. Darwishi will meet you at the back corridor to lead you into safety.”

 

Giving the physician an incredulous look, Rehema shook her head frantically. “But what about Touya? Jin won't leave without him, and neither will I!”

 

Sternly grasping her wrist, Bennu tightened her grip to get Rehema's full attention. “The pallid skinned slave must stay to teach your sister a lesson. Now do as I say and flee with the redhead!”

 

“Bennu—“

 

“Go!” Bennu pushed, showing she wasn't going to take anymore stammering, making sure the princess was headed straight down to the dungeon before turning her own back upon the situation. Taking one more look into the treacherous sandstorm, she casually made her way towards the throne room where she was reported to stay for not only her own purposes, but for tending to the eyes of guards being caked with the sand whipping into their oculars to leave then dry and irritated, possibly scarred through the corneas.

 

“Uhn!” Thrown into the same cell as before, Touya was too weak to move after being thrown back into his pit of misery, his body aching immensely from reopened whip wounds. Warm blood crawled down his pallid, scarred back as he curled up into a fetal position with his face towards the stone wall. Jin was being forced inside with him until a male's voice stopped the guards from finishing the job, both of the soldiers glaring upon the High Priest.

 

“I'm sorry, men, but its time you took a break,” Darwishi hinted, smiling humbly, bowing his head to the confused pair of guards that soon fell into a standing slumber. The High Priest laughed softly to himself, placing his ice blue gaze upon Jin specifically. “You, my friend, have a mission ahead of you. Princess Rehema will be down here any moment and I am to lead the two of you out of the kingdom to a cave of shelter outside of territories. There, you will take care of the princess until the curse is lifted upon this empire.” Reaching for the belt of one of the slumbering guards, the High Priest snatched the key ring to find the shackle key, freeing the iron rings from Jin's wrists. “There we are.”

 

Looking into the cell where his companion lay, the redhead shook his head, kneeling beside him. “I can't leave Touya here. He'll be killed without me to defend him!”

 

“Unfortunately, you have no choice,” Darwishi grimly stated, leaning upon his golden staff gently. “I am aware you and your living companion have no faith or inclination of believing in deities. So I will have to ask you to trust in what I have seen and flee with the princess as soon as she presents herself down here. Your friend here,” he further explained, pointing the butt of his staff towards Touya from where he stood, “has his own purpose to bestow regarding the Queen. He has to do it on his own.”

 

Furrowing his brows, Jin placed a perplexed expression upon the High Priest. “He is sentenced to death. How could he possibly—“

 

“Darwishi?” Rehema called as she made her way down the stone steps into the cold, dark dungeon. “Is that you I hear?” Coming into view, she could see both of the guards once hauling the two slaves down into their cells dead asleep while standing, prompting the princess to give a clueless look at the High Priest.

 

“There is no time for questions. We must go while this unknown force is still working to lead us to a clean escape from these kingdom walls.” Beckoning the redhead and the princess, Darwishi started further down into the dungeon.

 

Jin couldn't help but frown upon the notion of leaving his friend behind, the very male he had tried to save numerous times, especially now, to end his suffering of being placed upon his death bed. The raging sandstorm was to be their way out, but now it was a totally different turn he didn't expect. Feeling dainty hands upon his chest, he looked down upon the princess with saddened baby blue eyes.

 

“Jin, you have to trust Darwishi and Bennu. They have helped me and my sister since we were born and have never been wrong in anything they used to tell us even if it was so bizarre it seemed unreal.” Tugging at his wrist, she beckoned him further. “Come. Darwishi is getting too far ahead. Maybe Touya can…somehow help me sister.” Her voice came as a whisper as she clutched the griffon pendant in a small pouch attached to her beaded belt, rubbing a finger over it involuntarily.

 

Kneeling down beside his partner, Jin embraced his abused friend gently so as not to harm him any further. “Stay alive for me,” he whispered. “I will be back for you. I promise.” The redheaded slave was reluctant as he left the partially opened cell with the young princess to try and retrace the tracks the High Priest had made to lead the two out into safety. Neither of them knew where they were going, nor what kind of place the physician and high priest had for them out in the desert, but it was certain neither of them would be seen in the kingdom until the wrongs had been righted in the eyes of Horus.