Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Twilight. That's Kazuki Takahashi and Stephenie Meyer's job. I just shove their characters in leather.

Okay, so this was supposed to come out last Sunday on Seto's birthday (Happy B-day you dork!), but I seriously fried my brain getting carried away and ended up writing 2 chapters instead of one. So sorry if this first one's a bit slow, gotta get some details down first though and then we can get to the good stuff. I will be posting some pics that inspired and helped me on my profile and hopefully a playlist of music soon enough. I highly recommend getting your hands on the Da Vinci Code soundtrack if you can.

Again I don't have a beta so ignorh dah bad grammah. And reviews and critiques are always welcome. Tell me what you think!

Alright *rubs hands together* I hope you had a happy birthday Kaiba. For my gift: I'm gonna kill ya! :D *throws bloody confetti*

So give me back to Death --
The Death I never feared
Except that it deprived of thee --
And now, by Life deprived,
In my own Grave I breathe
And estimate its size --
Its size is all that Hell can guess --
And all that Heaven was --

Emily Dickinson

~*~

__~*~__

PREFACE

This was the end.

One of us would die here. Tonight.

Through narrowed eyes I glared at the monster that had done this to me, who had taken away my life for his own personal gain, without a second thought to mine. Venom pooled in my mouth, my hands bent like talons itching to tear him limb from limb.

I could hear Carlisle and the others still fighting off the henchmen he'd collected. His new 'superior army' he called them. I was supposed to be apart of his sick delusion, his right hand man, obedient just like the rest.

But there was one thing he didn't count on.

I took orders from no one.

The vampire in the corner stopped me from using my power, however that wouldn't stop me from reaping my ultimate revenge: His destruction.

Mokuba shuddered at the inevitable scene playing out before him, scared of both the demon in our path… and of me.

Pain and guilt ripped through my chest. I forgot how similar I looked to the enemy. Dark purple bags underlined my little brother's empty eyes, evidence of nonstop nightmares. His face was sallow and he'd lost too much weight.

The guilt turned to anger.

Smooth and lithe, the conceited frame of my 'creator' taunted me forward.

By my hands I will kill him.

For the agony he put me through,

For destroying my family,

For killing me,

For my little brother.

With one last glance back at my brother, I crouched and then lunged.

~*~

__~*~__

Chapter 1: Epitome

-

"… Tonight's headline, game king turned technology prodigy Seto Kaiba, CEO of Kaiba Corp Industries, announced today its plans for expansion into U.K. This comes no more than two years since Kaiba Corp's shocking takeover of the western seaboard. Producing advances in computer technology, Kaiba Corp has always remained ten steps ahead of the competition, but critics are convinced Seto Kaiba will be stretching their resources thin-

… Seto Kaiba was named the world's richest man, beating out Bill Gates and Warren Buffett…-

… on our list of most eligible bachelor? It's CEO Seto Kaiba-"

I turned off the radio, letting my head fill with nothing but the glorious wind, turning my attention to the blazing orange California sky. The golden sand beaches were still lined with lingering swimmers and surfers, and couples enjoying the sunset The heat still warmed my face, my hair blowing wildly in the wind and my tie whipping over my shoulder. I was burning down the highway, my Maserati convertible roof down. Living young, wild and free.

Life was perfect.

Three years ago, when I was planning my company's expansion to L.A., all the headaches and nights with no sleep, everything was worth it. I had more success and prosperity here than anyone could have envisioned, including myself.

Kaiba Corp, my company, had been one of total destruction when my stepfather ran it. Building weapons, lethal machines, selling only to the highest bidder and not giving one damn about those caught in the crossfire. I thank God everyday that that old bastard is dead and burning in hell where he belongs.

I changed everything when I took over ownership. I saw the potential. I saw it's true worth.

I shut down the missile testing sites and the tank assembly lines. The board of directors, critics, even other companies all told me it was corporate suicide, but I knew it was now or never to make my name famous. Everything was changed to be a mass producer in gaming technology. Profit quadrupled in the first year alone.

Everyone thought twice before questioning my actions, especially when I expanded my company to America.

Since then, the fad of gaming changed like every other fad. In one day out the next. Yet keeping up with these trends, mostly trends of my own doing, I'd managed to stay on top. Moving from games, to movies- even the medical field and military had learned to use my technology to help people.

And now I was living the dream. My dream. Taking the world one continent at a time, and Europe was next on my list.

My cell phone rang and I reached up and pressed the speak button on my Bluetooth.

The young annoyed voice of my little brother flooded my ear. "Finally! You picked up! Gah!- And you think I take forever!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Hello to you to, Mokuba."

"Dinner's almost ready and you're not here," he accused.

Since I'd been so busy he'd made it a point to make sure we had dinner together. It was important to me to. Dead parents and no other family made something normal like simply eating a home cooked meal together strengthen our bond as brothers, as the only family we had left was us. Mokuba had been neglected most of his fifteen years and though I couldn't give him those years back I could sit down and eat the burnt macaroni he made with a smile.

"Sorry, I just have to swing by the office and pick up a couple of things-"

"Setoooo!" he whined.

"Ten minutes- fifteen tops. I promise." I amended.

I heard a huff on the other end. "Swear on your deck?"

"Cross my heart and hope to be die," I promised. "I'll even make it up to you, we'll go down to the beach and I'll buy a round of rocky road, okay?"

That cheered him considerably. Ice cream made everything better. "All right, see you in ten."

"Okay. Be careful and don't burn yourself again."

He scoffed. "Aw Seto, I only did that once, let it go already- Oh it's boiling! Love you bro."

"You to, Mokuba." I was still chuckling as I flicked off my phone.

Kaiba Corp. head quarters quickly came into view. It wasn't something easily missed. Standing out like the highest mountain peak the building towered monstrously over all the other skyscrapers. The disappearing sunlight glinted off its glassy sides in all its glory. The corners of my mouth twitched into a prideful smirk.

Directing my car into the underground garage, I nodded at the security guard stationed at the entrance.

"Back so soon, Mr. Kaiba?" he asked after tipping his hat. "Everyone else has already called it a day." The man was white haired and wrinkle faced. He'd be retiring soon if I remembered right.

"No rest for the weary, I suppose." I answered back. He'd caught me in a good mood. Normally I wasn't this talkative.

He laughed lightly, flicking a switch to let me in. "Have a good night, sir."

Inside was noiseless, opposite that of the loud beehive it normally was during the day. People running back in forth, yelling figures, computers humming. Sometimes I couldn't tell if this was a technology inventor and supplier or a stock market trading floor. It was nice to stroll down the hall and not have to a horde full of people firing off questions 24/7.

I was almost to my office when I sensed it.

I hadn't heard anyone; no footsteps and no one joined me in the elevator, but I had one of those hair raising, shiver down your spine feelings. I felt the eyes boring into the back of my head.

I turned around to confront whoever it was… but there was nothing. Silence, not even the whisper of a breath.

"Hello?" I called, feeling like a complete idiot. Being scared wasn't my thing.

No one answered.

Faster than I normally did, I stepped into my office, shutting the door securely behind me. I pressed my back against the flatness momentarily, declaring to myself under my breath that I was being stupid.

Still, I felt safer in the familiarity of this space. The expensive Persian rug, the floor to ceiling mahogany bookshelves, standing like sentries on either side of my massive granite desk; it was like a second home.

Setting my briefcase aside I went about collecting the papers I'd forgotten. I'd left my desk in total chaos but someone had gone out of his or her way to stack everything in neat little piles. Not something I'd normally condone, having the dislike for people messing with my things that I did, but right now I just wanted to get those papers and hightail it home to a homemade dinner and the beach. My eyes searched for the blue folder I needed. Good, they were right where my secretary said they were. Carol had been working extra hard lately, maybe it was time for a raise-

Suddenly an icy breath fluttered against my neck sending goose flesh sprawling into my hairline and I swear I heard a dark chuckle. Instantly my hand went to the back of my neck and I whirled around, jumping at what I saw. My own reflection stared anxiously back at me from the glass wall of windows that lining the one side of my office, blue eyes wide and hair askew. …

A soft breeze hit me almost making me jump again. One window had been left open. I didn't remember ever opening it but didn't give it much thought as I closed it. Carol was always complaining about how stuffy my office was. She'd probably opened it to let in some fresh air and forgotten to close it.

Strange… that hadn't felt like a breeze

I took a deep breath, scolding my newly discovered overactive imagination. Perhaps I should take my doctor seriously when he says my coffee intake is beyond the healthy norm.

I gazed through the glass down at the city below. The Kaiba Corp. building was taller than any of the others, forty floors and with my office at the top. There was no way in other than the door and it was flatly impossible for anyone to scale forty floors just to stare in my window. My logical side seemed to have taken the night off.

I need to relax.

Stuffing the papers under my arm, I picked up my briefcase and ran a hand through my hair in an attempt to return my usual look of self-assurance.

I waited for the feeling to return as I descended down the many floors but it never came. I couldn't stop my eyes from flashing back and forth across the almost empty parkade, my body tense like I expected something to lunge at me.

Definitely going to lay off the caffeine.

I climbed into my car, tossing the papers and my briefcase on the passenger's seat and yanking it into gear to fast I'm sure I left tire marks on the concrete.

"Good night, Mr. Kaiba." The guard barely got the words out as I streaked by without a backwards glance.

I relaxed more once my house came into view. Surrounded by a heavy iron fence interrupted every so often by stone pillars, the Kaiba residence stood with the air of a palace. Trees encompassed it closely guarding it almost. They gave us the golden gift of privacy, where in this town there was very little privacy to be found.

I drove up the long cobblestone driveway, passing a soccer field, a tennis court and a pool- the essential Californian staple for those hot summer days- as I headed into the garage to park. Mokuba was already there, waiting for me.

At fifteen he was only half a foot shorter than me and going through that awkward, gangly phase. He'd lost the softer curves of childhood, his large gray lilac eyes no longer doe-eyed but more narrow and adult looking. He'd also discovered and utilized the full-blown Kaiba attitude, which was combined with the grungy fashion trend that had taken him and his peer's hostage. Donning a black vintage T and a pair of conveniently faded skinny jeans he topped it off with two downright decrepit looking, unlaced Doc Martens and an old flannel shirt left unbuttoned. His unruly black hair was pulled back, his hand brushing though his bangs several times to try and make the locks fall in a certain direction. It made me laugh, remembering how fickle high school could be, especially on the teenage psyche.

"What's so funny?" Mokuba asked, scratching his nose. I noted his blackened fingernails.

"You. I didn't know girls found Sharpie painted nails attractive." I teased and he rolled his eyes as we headed for the kitchen.

"I was bored during science. Mrs. Bender wouldn't stop droning on and on about something or other." He waved his hand half-heartedly in the air, like it wasn't worth mentioning.

"That would explain your mark then, painting your nails instead of paying attention." I scooped myself a bowlful of Kraft dinner, happy to see that he'd gotten creative and added sliced up hotdog pieces. I shoveled a spoonful into my mouth actually enjoying the processed cheese flavor. "Hey, you practically didn't burn it this time, I'm proud of you."

Mokuba sent me a dry look over the table. "Har har. Did you get what you needed at the office?"

"I did. Just a few blueprints I forgot to grab." I paused, eating more and pondering the quietness. Considering that only the two of us lived here our house was usually quiet but it sounded unusually empty tonight. "Where's Domino?" I asked.

"Out back- Oh, speak of the devil."

Of course as soon as I said the name a black and white blur tore through the doggie door and made a beeline for me. He rested his head on my lap, tail still frantically waving, hoping for a scratch and a scrap of food.

I petted his black splattered face, chuckling.

Domino was our pet of exactly two years. Mokuba was depressed and anxious about leaving the town where we'd grown up and moving halfway around the world to a place so different than what we were used to. So I did the most uncharacteristic thing ever: I got him a dog. My first plan had been to get him a puppy but after seeing a late night ASPCA commercial he decided on a rescued dog. Taking him there to choose was one of the hardest things I think he'd had to deal with. Seeing all those animals, I'm sure he would have brought every single one home if I'd let him. Of course when he saw a stray Dalmatian with big brown eyes and lopsided ears I knew he'd made his decision. Mokuba named him Domino after the city we'd left behind.

Mokuba and I chatted over dinner and continued as we put our dishes in the dishwasher. We'd both caved to Domino's whining and let him lick the plates before we put them in. He licked his chops happily before disappearing back outside.

"So Kaiba Corp.'s decided to make it official, huh? The move to Europe, I mean." Mokuba pulled out a bucket of ice cream and I was about to protest when I decided something sweet and comforting was probably needed for this topic.

"When I asked you about it you said it was okay," I said, hedging slightly.

He frowned, jamming a spoon into the vanilla. "I know. I just don't look forward to moving again, is all. We just got settled."

"If you want to stay here longer I can put it off for a year." I didn't like the idea of risking the opportunity but I would do it for my little brother.

Mokuba looked at me, knowing my unspoken thought, the corner of his mouth turning up in a grateful smile.

I flashed a smile back and then bent over to put the ice cream back in the freezer. We'd have more at the beach anyway.

"You could stay here while I go to England." I said, "Dorms are another option." I didn't like that idea either but if he wanted it I would accept it.

He turned away, thinking it over as he dropped his spoon into sink with a clang. Then he spun around, hopping up on the counter and grinning.

"Stay here while you go off to eat bangers and mash? Nah, I could never do that, bro. I go where you go."

That statement, I go where you go, as simple as it was, was something only he could say so easily but with such meaning. Mushy sentimentals were never my thing. But he understood what those rare little words meant to me.

I ruffled his mop of a hairstyle affectionately, garnering me an annoyed elbow to the side. I laughed, easily dodging his attack. A few well aimed kidney jabs later it escalated to full blown rough housing, and it didn't stop until I had him pinned to the hardwood and threatened to really mess up his hair before he finally admitted defeat.

Brushing myself off, I caught the time on the stove. "Let's get to the beach before the sun goes down, all right? Go get changed, I'll get Domino."

With a mocking eye roll his hopped down and flew up the stairs, the sound of his heavy boots clunking behind him.

As I picked up his leash from the shelf, I heard the loud, bellowing barking of our Dalmatian turn into frenzy.

"S' probably a squirrel or rabbit or something." Mokuba said, reappearing, this time dressed much more beach appropriate with a t-shirt and a pair board shorts. "Do you want me to go get him?"

"No I got it." I said, sighing.

The screen door hissed as I pushed it aside, shutting it behind me to keep the bugs out. My scuffling footsteps made no noise as I strode off the concrete patio and out down the yard. Domino's barks were mixed with growls and snaps now. I'd never heard him so riled. Suddenly he yipped.

Then, it was silent.

I stopped in my place.

Nothing. Not even a cricket chirp.

I didn't know what to make of the sudden stillness, so cautiously I called for him. "Domino! Here boy!" No response, just the rustling of the trees. I made my voice more authoritative. "Domino, come!" I frowned, worry and confusion trickling into my gut. He'd never disobeyed me before.

"Seto, what's wrong?" Mokuba walked to my side. His face was apprehensive, sensing the uneasy tension in mine.

I put a finger to my lips and he fell silent. Both of us now listened for some sort of hint as to where our dog was. I decided to take the initiative, striding forward. Mokuba clung one handedly to the back of my shirt, a habit he'd had since he was a kid.

I was headed around the garden shed when I smelled it.

Coppery, metallic.

Blood.

I turned the corner and recoiled at what I saw. Impulsively I threw out my arm to stop Mokuba. He didn't need to see this.

There Domino was, blood spattering his black and white coat, the crimson getting thicker in patches until it was solid red at his mangled throat.

"What is it, Seto?" Mokuba demanded. I tried to stop him but he forced his way past me. "Where's Dom… ino…" His face went rigid with horror.

"Mokie…" I started, but I froze.

It was that feeling, that burning sensation of being watched, like back at my office. I could feel the eyes return, this time trained on my back. The bushes rustled.

"Mokuba." I gripped his shoulder, tugging him back. "Get inside. Right now."

"We can't just leave him out here!" His entire body was shaking, angry tears in his smoky violet eyes.

"I know, I know," I appeased, trying to calm him. "And we won't. But I need you to go inside. Now."

The feeling intensified. It was getting closer. I whipped my head back and forth, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was and I all but threw Mokuba over my shoulder and sprinted back to the house, locking the door behind me.

I kept chanting the mantra that this was all in my head, but a feeling in my gut was told me something considerable was brewing that whatever it was following me was something big and something dangerous.

~*~

An hour later I was talking to Animal Control. Mokuba was curled up on the couch, arms wrapped around his knees. He hadn't spoken or moved since the grim discovery.

I thanked the officer, watching as they left- escorted off the property by a security guard.

The feeling that had me glancing over my shoulder every minute seemed to have lifted, for the moment anyway. That didn't stop me however, from staring out the windows, thinking I'd seen a shadow jump between trees or the blur of an unknown entity.

I sighed. Cleary I was losing it. Maybe it was all those years of sleeping pills, coffee binges, and uppers finally catching up with me.

Mokuba's fetal positioned form didn't move as I sank onto the plush leather of the tawny colored couch.

I didn't know what to say. What were those psychologists always saying? Family of victims needed… closer. That's what he needed, closer. Inhaling a deep breath through my nose, I set a hand on his hair and for once he didn't protest.

"They said an animal got him." I said quietly. "Apparently someone's been breaking into the zoo and some of the animals have gone missing. One of them was a cougar, so that might've been it."

It was quiet for a few minutes as he processed my words.

Mokuba sniffled, face buried in his arms. "This sucks."

"Yeah, it does." I agreed.

His body tilted until he was leaning against my shoulder, keeping the same position. "He was my first real friend here."

"I know."

The rest of the night was spent watching some stupid romantic comedy on TV that I mocked to hell and back. And after a while Mokuba cracked a smile, adding his own insult to the clingy protagonist. We polished off the gallon of ice cream, devoured two bags of extra butter popcorn and made enough Nesquick chocolate milk to drown an army.

After the above and beyond cheesy movie ending- that had me seriously worried over the direction of the film industry- the topic delicately returned to the night's unexpected tragedy. Mokuba wanted to bury Domino next to the patch of poppies we had growing near the back of the yard, a place special and private. I agreed and told him I'd have someone over in the morning to dig but he protested that he'd do it. I nodded my head, understanding.

Another forty-five minutes later and I announced that it was time for bed. Mokuba went without much of a fight. I'm pretty sure he was out before his head even touched his pillow.

I headed up to my room, which was right across the hall from Mokuba's. I began pulling off my shirt and going to my closet to find some suitable nightclothes, when out of habit I glanced at the window.

I yelped.

Two scarlet eyes stared straight back at me.

… Or at least I thought there had been. I made the mistake of blinking and when I opened my eyes they had vanished.

I swore under my breath, running a hand through my hair. Stalking over to my phone I called down to the guard station and told them to make an extra, detailed search of the property. I didn't even bother telling them why or thank you, just slamming the plastic back in its cradle.

There was no making sense of it. I ran a hand over my face, dropping down onto the edge of my bed. Maybe I'd finally snapped. But I'd seenthose eyes. That wasn't a cold gush of air or thinking someone's watching me. I saw them.

Was I going crazy?

~*~

If I really was going crazy I wished my brain would just hurry up and toss my mind out the window and be done with it. Going crazy slowly was worse than the actual going crazy part.

For almost a week, I was distracted, jumpy and absentminded. Any little thing would startle me, making my secretary, Mokuba or whoever else who noticed send me worried glances.

The feeling returned, as I expected it to. Every evening as I sat alone in my office, only disappearing when Carol or any other employee came in. Another time I was in the basement labs overseeing a technology test. Other times were back at the house and even once while I was driving.

And weird things started happening to, like my stuff would go missing. Little things like my sunglasses, an old jacket I kept at my office, photos on my desk. My desk would be immaculately clean to, but whenever I asked Carol if she was the one going on a cleaning blitz she'd always shake her head no and tell me that nobody had been in there but me. It irritated me as much as it startled me.

I didn't see the haunting red eyes again, at least not in reality anyway. I frowned over my computer screen, downing almost half my coffee in one swig as I recalled the nightmare-induced pool of cold sweat I'd woken up in this morning; all night I'd been plagued by the images of two crimson irises peering out at me from total darkness. My memory had outdone itself, retaining every little detail about them, the white around them that seemed too ghostly, the specks of lighter ruby around the pitch-black pupils.

In my dreams I felt a tug in my stomach, like I knew those eyes belonged to a predator that would devour me whole but they were seductive and inviting, full of promises and better things I could only imagine in my wildest dreams. I walked a very narrow line, unsure whether to take a step close to the eyes or run away from them. In the end my curiosity got the better of me and I walked to them, but as I neared the crimson turned to black and two white hands grabbed me while a mouth of inhumanly shaped, sharp teeth tore out my throat then dropped me to the ground beside an equally dead Domino.

That's where I woke up.

I'd had nightmares before, having a stepfather like I did will do that to you, but this one was something else entirely.

Heaving a sigh, I stood up from my desk and headed downstairs. I could hear Mokuba rustling in the kitchen, in search of more ice cream no doubt. I myself stopped in the doorway, leaning my shoulder against the frame.

He moved about, opening a cupboard for a bowl, every once in a while throwing a devastated look at the empty food and water dishes in the corner. He'd been trying to hide it but I knew Domino's death still hurt him.

I needed a way to take his mind off things. I'd remembered our forgotten trip to the beach. That sounded like a good idea.

It took some time, picking through excuses of homework I know he didn't have and a lot of pestering on my part, but soon enough we were in one of my many cars, an Escalade this time, with our surfboards in the back, winding down the road to cove that was known for great waves.

It felt like heaven, having the blazing hot sun on may face and the cool temperature of the water on my legs. I sat on my board, watching as Mokuba attempted to ride a wave but miscalculated and fell over instead. Growing up in Japan had not helped either of our surfing expertise but it was something fun to try. Laughing, Mokuba got back on his board and I teased him about how his too long hair made him look like the hairy uncle from The Adams Family. He tipped me off my board for that. When my head broke the surface we snickered at each other's appearance. Him like Uncle Earl, me like a drowned Q-tip. By the looks of it my distraction was working.

We stayed at the beach for the remainder of the day. I managed to catch some waves myself, Mokuba laughing as my tries ended mostly the same way his did, in failure. I'm pretty sure we both got a little burnt, but together we sat happily in the back of the SUV, exhausted but content as we watched the sun set. It was nice though to get home and have a shower. Smelling like seaweed and salt was not my favorite thing.

I was toweling off my hair when my phone rang and I grabbed it from my pile of clothes, pressing it to my ear.

"Kaiba."

"Sir, the board has requested an emergency meeting. They're asking for you to come down at once." It was Carol.

"Right now?" I asked, both surprised and a little annoyed. I didn't mind coming in on weekends usually but today wasn't the usual.

"Yes, sir."

"For what? Did something happen?"

"I don't know, sir, but they require your presence."

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling. "Fine I'll be there." I hung up tossing it aside. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something sounded… off. For a bubbly woman her voice was strangely monotone.

"Mokuba, I've got to down to the office for a while. Why don't you call one of your friends and have them come over?" I said, grabbing my jacket and keys off the foyer side table.

Mokuba's head peered around the corner, expression teasingly surprised. "What? You're actually telling me to have people over? Real human people?"

I glared at him flatly "Thanks for the sarcasm, and yes, I don't know how long I'm going to be so having someone here will give you something to do." And it would keep him from being alone in the house.

"Can I have a few over then? There's a semester group project due-"

"Alright, alright. Just no wild house parties, okay? And make sure you lock the doors." I ruffled his hair. "Back in a bit."

"See ya, bro."

I reveled in the purr of my car as I turned the key in the ignition. I made sure Mokuba locked the door and saw him bolt to the nearest phone. I rolled my eyes. The maids might have to come in a day early.

The hot Californian air cooled with the onset of night, no longer stifling but still warm enough to be comfortable. Across the western sky the horizon burned an angry red like it had set the ocean afire.

The commute was short; most people already home for the evening so there was less traffic to contend with. It irritated me more that I should be one of those people.

The elderly security guard wasn't surprised to see me here on a weekend. He tipped his hat and let me in. My car engine's purr doubled in noise, bouncing off the cave-like underground parking garage. With a quick flourish I turned off the ignition, pocketing the keys, and strode off into the elevator, pushing the button to the second highest floor. One half of the elevator was glass, a window I used for the moment to look over the sparkling lights of the city many stories below.

The bell dinged and the silver metal doors opened. I walked out, heading for the boardroom always used for this sort of thing.

But I frowned, noting how Carol wasn't waiting for me like she always had. In fact, it was a ghost town. Only one light was on, illuminating the hallway with its sallow, artificial glow. Something in my nerves jumped, raising a little red flag.

I slowed my determined pace, cushioning my footsteps to make less noise and switching to breathing through my nose.

Not a sound, save the hum of the light. It wasn't like the members of the board; they were loud, boisterous old men who liked anyone and everyone to know they were here conducting highly important business.

I could have heard a pin drop.

Creeping closer, I heard the distinct noise of a chair creak showing some sign of life. I reached out a hand, pushing the heavy mahogany door open and breathed a silent sigh of relief. Before that relief was once again snapped up by tense suspicion.

The entire room was eerily dark and almost empty except for the chair closest to me, which was facing away. Carol's bright bleach blond hair peaked over the back, her tanned hand hanging unmoving over the arm.

I took a deep breath, trapping the air in my lungs as I spun the high backed chair around. Her high-heeled feet dragged against the carpet.

I saw no outward signs of damage, but as I said her name my response was nothing. I brushed aside some of her hair and pressed my fingers to her pulse, afraid of what I'd find. I sighed shortly in relief.

A pulse, she had a pulse.

Pulling out my phone I pressed the numbers for an ambulance, deciding to deal with the absent members later after I saw Carol to the hospital.

"Emergency." Spoke a brisk voice.

"I-"

Suddenly something white blurred from the darkness, snatching my phone and hurled it to the ground, the pieces shattering on impact and sending technology in every direction like mini broken firework.

I whirled around, mouth open to snarl at whoever had done it, when my heart skipped a beat and my blood turned to ice.

It was that feeling.

Only, this time it was coming from every direction.

A dark, gruesome chuckle emanated from the far side of the room, the side still shadowed in darkness.

"Well, well, well. I'm thrilled you could join us, Mr. Seto Kaiba."

Dun duun duuuunnnn! They're coming to get you, Kaiba! RUN! Run as fast as those chicken legs can carry you!

Sooooo, what did we think...? Did you think Kaiba was too OOC or did he react like you thought he would? Was it too long winded or necessary for all the details? Who wants Mokuba's boots? :D *waves hand in the air*

I have never had such a hard time writing a chapter for a story. Seriously, Seto-vamp is harder to deal with than the regular Kaiba :| Next chapter will be a lot more exciting I promise. So stick with me just a little bit longer!

Reviewers get a preview of the next chapter B)