Alright! So, thanks to all those who read my first fic, "Our First Kiss"! That one was a cute, fluffy little drabble of sorts. This next one will be a full, multichaptered fanfiction full of violence, horror, and some suggestive themes here and there. This was inspired by Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera, but it won't be to the letter. I own nothing, except what I do own, and I do not own yugioh OR Phantom of the Opera! Warnings were aforementioned, so don't like, don't read. The main two pairings will be Pleashipping (MahadxIsis) and Floatshipping (Thief BakuraxIsis). OCs are used. U HAVE BEEN WARNED!
I dedicate this fic to my sis, Rhoades (AndromedaeDecepticon on DeviantART), Who loves Phantom of the Opera as much as I love Pleashipping! On with the fic!
The capital looked so beautiful from here, especially during this time of day when Ra was just ascending into the skies, and the land was bathed in his golden light. The royal city lay just beneath where they stood on that giant dune of sand, with the Nile located just behind it. It was one of the most beautiful things Isis had ever seen in all her sixteen years.
They had travelled through the night to reach the city, she, her father, a few servants, and two escorts, personal guards of the Pharaoh himself. It had been her father's idea, and it seemed that he was right: this view had certainly been worth the journey through the night, braving thieves and wild beasts to get here. Not that she had been worried; her father had kept in the company of many less-than-acceptable characters in his youth, and knew just how to deal with those sorts. There had not been a single doubt as to their safety.
"Well." Her father said with a smirk, riding up to Isis on his horse, "didn't I tell you the view would be worth it?"
She didn't want to respond at first. Really, she wasn't in the best of moods as it was. The view was nice, and soothing in a way, but she knew her father was just trying to lift her spirits by doing all this. She had been to the royal city numerous times already since her childhood, she had even been inside the palace! Both of her parents were part of the Pharaoh's Sacred Court, as well as guardians of two of the eight Millennium Items. Her mother lived in the Palace, but her father absolutely hated being trapped in one place for too long (Isis guessed such anxieties stemmed from his previous life as a thief), so he was always travelling to different cities across Egypt, sometimes to even different countries. Eventually, the Pharaoh had put him in charge of diplomacies. The rumor had been that he had done so only because he had gotten fed up of him leaving the palace without notice, and the two had fought and bartered, rather humorously as said by the palace servants, until they had come to this compromise.
For the first few years of her life, Isis had lived in the palace and had been cared for by her mother. But soon, her father began to take her whenever he went on these diplomatic missions for the Pharaoh. Honestly, she enjoyed it very much. She had never been particularly close to him before because he was always coming and going, and never stayed with she and her mother for longer than a few days. Now, they had become closer, and she fully thought of him as her father, and didn't just say the word as though it were a title. They had been travelling to her father's birth village not two days ago to visit with her aunt. That was when the escorts had arrived, requesting their immediate return to the palace this day. And that was where they were now.
The truth was, her mother had died. Just the day after they had left. Isis knew that she had been sick, but she had never expected her to die from a simple flu. Many people were able to recover from sickness; it just wasn't fair that her mother didn't. It wasn't fair that she had to die when she and her father weren't there to say goodbye to her. And it wasn't fair that her mother wasn't able to hold on long enough for them to return and do so. She had expressed this to her father, but he had not responded. He just held her and told her they would be returning to the palace for the funerary rites. Now he was trying to distract her with beautiful views and silly games.
"It's still just the capital city. We see it whenever we come back from your diplomatic missions." She responded quietly.
Her father sighed in response to this. "You say that, but I know you think it's beautiful this time of day."
"How can you be so sure?" Isis asked with a raised brow.
"Your mother would have." he stated simply.
Isis didn't respond to this.
"Hey." her father said, reaching over to put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll see her soon enough. You can still say goodbye to her."
"It won't be the same." she replied.
Her father sighed again, and retracted his hand. He wouldn't fight her anymore on the matter. She would feel better eventually. He didn't need to force it on her.
One of the escorts rode up next to them. "Master Seth." he said. "Do you wish to continue, sir? The city is but a short ride away now, and the Pharaoh awaits you."
"Yes, let us make our return." Seth agreed. "Isis, would you care to race your old father to the city gates?"
"I would rather not, father. Forgive me for not being as ambitious of our return as you."
Seth tugged at the reins of his horse gently, bringing the beast to a gentle trot down the slope of the hill. "As you wish." he agreed. "But." he continued, slowly bringing his hand towards the necklace she was wearing. "You will have to if you want your necklace back!" In a flash, he had unclasped the necklace from around her, hitched the reins of his horse, and took off down the hill, with her necklace in hand.
"Father!" Isis exclaimed. "Bring that back! Mother gave that to me!"
"What's that, dearest?" Seth called back. "I can't seem to hear you from all the way over here!"
"I said!" Isis exclaimed, hitching the reins of her own horse and having it run at full speed. "GIVE IT BACK!" She chased after him, not even caring that the rest of their group was either laughing or giving them disapproving looks. Now she was irritated. How could that man be so foolish and carefree? His wife had just died! The woman he had loved more than anything! If she had found out her lover had died, she would be devastated. She was devastated! Her father was just impossible at times!
They ran through the sand, all the way to the city and right up to the gates of the palace. The guards opened the gates for them as they saw them riding up, seeing the raised hand from Seth. He stopped his horse the minute he had entered into the palace walls, and dismounted. Isis did the same, and ran up to him holding her hand out. "Now enough of this foolishness, father. Give me back my necklace!" she said for emphasis.
"You won't have much use for it anymore, Isis."
Isis and Seth turned to see the Pharaoh, Akhenamkhanen walking up to them, along with son, prince Atem. They dropped to the ground immediately, bowing in reverance to his majesty.
"Rise." Akhenamkhanen commanded. "You would be much better off kneeling at your wife's bedside than before me and my son."
"Yes, my lord. Thank you." Seth said, lightly grasping Isis's arm and pulling her up. "And if I may request that we discuss other... matters at a much later date." he gestured to Isis.
"Of course." the Pharaoh agreed. "Please, allow me to escort you to Lady Nephthys. Come along, Atem."
The prince glanced up at his father, looking scared and disgusted. "I don't want to see a dead woman, father!" he complained.
Isis cringed at this. She understood that Atem was still young, no more than eleven or twelve if she remembered correctly, and was not aware of the rudeness of what he had just said. But if he had not been the prince, she surely would have slapped him then.
"Atem!" the Pharaoh scolded. "That is incredibly rude of you to say. Lord Seth and his daughter have just suffered a great loss. Watch your words!"
"I am sorry, father!" Atem exclaimed, looking nervous. Tears started to form in his eyes. "I-I didn't mean to! Really! Do you forgive me?"
"You do not have to apologize to me, Atem. Apologize to Lord Seth and Isis." His father demanded.
"Yes, father." Atem said turning to the other two. "Please forgive me, Master Seth! And you, too, Isis! I didn't mean to insult either of you! I'm sorry."
"That's alright, young Prince." Seth answered. "It was not your intention to be hurtful."
Atem nodded. "It was really sad when my mother died." he continued, looking at Isis rather than at Seth. "So I know how you feel. But if I go with you and father, I would have to see you sad, and I don't like seeing people I know sad, and..."
"We understand, son. We understand." Akhenamkhanen said. "You do not have to join us if that is your wish. But I don't want you roaming around the palace alone, so go seek out Mahad and have him look after you."
"Yes, father." Atem agreed, turning to go back inside the palace.
After he left Akhenamkhanen turned to them. "Atem still remembers his mother's death very clearly. No matter how many times I say the Afterlife is not something to fear, he will not listen to me."
"It is understandable." Seth stated. "You do not have to apologize, Pharaoh, nor does the Prince."
The Pharaoh nodded. "Thank you for your understanding, Seth. Now, please, let me escort you to your wife." The Pharaoh gestured for them to follow him into the Palace, and led them through the corridors. For most of the trip, they seldom talked, and Isis was quiet the entire time, hoping the older men would ignore her presence. She just wanted to be with her mother right now, and the sooner she was able to see her, the less she would have to continue to hold in her tears.
"Isis." The Pharaoh said, turning to her. Isis internally sighed. "How are you holding up, my dear?"
"Well enough, my Pharaoh." she said as respectfully as she could. "Thank you for your concern." He nodded, this response seeming to suffice for him. "You are a very strong young woman, Isis." he added.
"Thank you, my Pharaoh." she responded. This was all, thankfully, that she had to say, as no more was said to her. She allowed her mind to wander as they continued. Servants bowed to them as they passed. She thought she saw some people she knew personally, but didn't pay them any notice. They came to one of the courtyards closest to where the Guardians' chambers were located. Isis looked out at it, taking every single flower, every leaf, every blade of grass, every detail put into the patch of land. This had been one of her mother's favorite places to take her in the palace when she was younger. They would play here, and her mother would tell her stories. Her favorite had always been about a little girl named Nefrit, who was friends with a guardian spirit known as the Messenger of Osiris, who guided and protected those who had lost a loved one to a most devastating tragedy. Isis didn't remember all of the story, but the girl and the guardian's names had always been in her mind.
"MAHAD!"
She was suddenly pulled from her thoughts as she heard Atem's voice echo into the courtyard, and turned to see the face of a young man her age turn red before he retreated into the bushes he was standing over. Isis's eyes widened, watching the bushes closely to see if he would reemerge. Had he been watching her? And was he still watching her?
"Mahad!" Atem shouted, running into the courtyard from the corridors on the other side. "What are you doing hiding in the bushes? Come out! Father wants you to look after me!" Isis briefly heard some mumbling that sounded like, "Be quiet, my Prince. Please!", before she turned her head back so that she was facing the corridor again, and tried her best to ignore that that boy might just be spying on her.
"It seems that Atem found Mahad." The Pharaoh stated.
"Yes I was wondering about that." Seth replied with a laugh. "I almost feel sorry for the poor lad! Does the Prince always respond so in the other's presence?"
"Mahad is a new resident at the palace, and Priest Akil's newest apprentice in magic. I've left him with the responsibility of looking after my son for two reasons. The first is that he is old enough and responsible enough to take care of Atem and his rather excitable tendencies. The second is that he is young enough to be a playmate for Atem, and not just a caretaker. The two are very fond of one another, and I would very much like to offer Mahad a place in The court when Atem succeeds me.
He looks like a creeper! Isis thought to herself before following the other two up a flight of stairs. She turned back once more just in time to see a flash of light brown hair disappear into the bushes.
Down two more corridors, and up another flight of stairs. Finally, they reached the Guardians' wing of the palace, where the Pharaoh's court and their families slept. Her parents' bedchamber was to the immediate left of the corridor they were walking down, overlooking the courtyard below. It took all of Isis's strength not to run to that door, break the doors open, and go straight to her mother's side. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, and only grew in speed as they grew closer. She felt her father's hands on her shoulders, and knew he felt just the same way. The Pharaoh opened the door for them, and gestured for them to enter. Isis hesitated, now that they were so close, it had become terrifying and unreal. She couldn't believe they were actually about to go into that room and see her mother cold and dead. Her father gently squeezed her shoulders for reassurance.
"Go on, my dearest." he encouraged, "There's nothing in that room you need to fear." His didn't sound as confident as his words.
Isis's feet moved against her will, acting on order. She entered the main room of the bedchamber, and looked around. She took in the familiar setting, seats in one corner, a chaise against the wall next to them. The walls all painted to resemble the Nile and the desert surrounding it, with small cities in the distance. Tables used for holding bowls of fruit and pitchers of water, and statues and boxes of small treasures. Torches used for light at nighttime, scattered around the room. Carpets made of animal furs. This was all she could see before her father pushed her, almost desperately, towards a door on the other side of the room which led to the bedchamber. He released her to pull away the dark curtain that hung in the doorway, and she was the first one to go in.
The bed was bordered on all sides by thick red veils matching the curtain separating this room from the last one. This was the only thing Isis noticed as she walked towards the obstructing pieces of fabric. As she pulled the veil back, she was almost afraid that she would throw up. She was not at all prepared to deal with what she knew was behind. Her efforts yielded a sheet in the center of the bed, covering a very female figure. Isis did not even try to remove the sheet, she already knew what laid beneath, and the stress had finally become too much for her to bear. She let the tears fall, bowing her head so that she did not have to look at the corpse that had once been her mother.
Seth came up and sat down next to her on the bed, the only sadness that was visible was in his eyes. He reached out and slowly lifted the sheet, not wanting to disturb his wife's deceased form in any way. Isis looked up for the briefest second, and her tears turned into full, anguished sobs. She could only partly feel that her father had taken her in his arms, and was slowly rocking her back and forth, whispering hushed comforts to her. He kissed her forehead, and looked back at his wife, his love for almost seventeen years. Never would he have ever guessed that he would outlive her. They had always been reckless, but she had stopped all of her risk taking the day Isis was conceived. He had never changed, or ever tried to, always trying his luck, always gambling with his life. Even Nephthys had never been so extreme in her actions.
He pulled one arm away from his daughter to touch her dark brown hair. Still soft, even in death. He moved his hand down to her cheek, placing his thumb just below her eye. Isis had her mother's eyes, the deep blue. Seth remembered threatening to leave Nephthys if their child did not have her eyes. He had been drunk when he had said this, but he meant it just as well. Her eyes had been her most striking, beautiful feature. And now he would never see those sapphire blue eyes look at him ever again. He felt tears well in his own eyes, but he dare not let them spill, not with his daughter beside him. He had to be strong for her, he couldn't cry until she was gone.
So he just sat there, holding her in his arms, and whispered the same phrases to her over and over again. "...It's alright, now... it's going to be alright...don't be sad...she's moved on to the Afterlife...don't cry, Isis...don't cry..."
But she couldn't stop.
I was gonna make it longer, but the beginning was longer than I expected it to be. I really got into it, and this is the result. So, Mahad will be properly introduced in the next chapter, as will Mana! Yay! I hope I didn't bore anyone away from this story, and for those of you who read it all the way to this point, bless your hearts! free candy for all! I'll try to write the next chapter ASAP!
R&R at your leisure!