I'm in a REALLY good mood! This must be the fastest I've ever updated this story! Anyway, I hope everyone's enjoying it so far, and apologies if the last chapter was a little over the top for some.

Anyway, here's chapter 4...

"Isis; wait, please!"

The young woman turned her head to hear the call from the other side of the corridor, and watched as Mahad quickly paced towards her. Remembering his previous demeanor from the other day, she subconsciously took a few steps towards him. She briefly noted that any other person probably would have stepped in the other direction if they had seen that darker side of him as she had the other day, but paid it no regard. If her parents had been any sign of it, it was clear that a taste for danger ran in the family.

"Mahad." She greeted him as he came up to her. She looked over his face and hands, searching for any indication that he may still be the same way as he was yesterday. finding no visibly different traits to him, she ventured forward. "Good morning; how are y...?"

"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, grabbing her shoulders and gazing into her eyes. "I'm sorry for my actions yesterday; there is absolutely no excuse for how I treated you! I apologize for my words, for my actions. I apologize for kissing you; that was especially inappropriate of me! I'm sorry for..."

So he's back to this, is he? Isis though, partly disappointed, partly irritated, and partly relieved. Well, in the very least, this side of his personality was easy to predict, and as such, easy to manipulate. Maybe she could get an explanation out of him for what happened yesterday. As she drew out of her thoughts, she was not surprised to find that he was still apologizing to her.

"...and I'm sorry for being so rude to you. I would completely understand it if you didn't want to see me again. I promise I'll stay away from you. And again, I'm very, very sor..."

"Mahad." she said firmly, causing him to shut up immediately. "Stop, please. You don't have to apologize; I'm not mad at you, trust me."

Apparently, this was news to Mahad, as his eyebrows raised up in shock, and he took a step back, looking very disbelieving.

"Y-you're not?" he asked, face slightly flustered when she shook her head.

"Mahad, you saved me from those three. That's not a bad thing."

"But I was so rude to you afterwards; that's the part I'm apologizing for."

"I've had worse happen to me." she assured him with a small smile. But her expression quickly drew serious again and looked at him expectantly. "I'm not interested in what happened so much as I am curious to why it happened. I was hoping you wouldn't mind telling me why you suddenly disappeared, then reappeared with such a completely different demeanor."

Mahad's face paled slightly at this and he looked away. "A-actually," he started tentatively, "I had hoped that we could avoid such a topic..." he looked back at Isis, and saw the disapproving scowl on her face, arms crossed over her chest, clearly not liking this suggestion. He could feel his shoulders stiffen under her gaze, and took another step back. Who would have thought that Isis could look so terrifying?

"B-b-but, you're right, of course!" he stammered nervously. "You do have a right to know!" as he continued, his expression sobered. "The truth is, I... I have... difficulty controlling my magic."

Isis's stern expression softened, though her brow was still raised in surprise. Having seen his magic firsthand, twice, she was a bit skeptical of this explanation, but didn't question him, allowing him to continue.

"When I get angry, or upset, it opens up a door for my heka to escape through, and my emotions take control of me. Things happen on their own sometimes, but most times I'm acting on my will rather than my common sense. I came to the Palace, hoping that Master Akil could train me to detach my heka from my emotions, and it has improved, but it hasn't gone away. It's a bit ironic; I'm the strongest magician in my class, even stronger than Master Akil to some extent, but he says that I cannot possibly hope to advance unless I learn self-control."

It made sense, Isis thought, going over yesterday's events. If Mahad had been hiding, and spying on what happened with her and those obnoxious boys, she could only imagine what had built up inside of him. Rage, jealousy, maybe even some possessiveness over her. And when he had kissed her and claimed her as his... had that been lust? A physical desire for her? That was a strangely comforting thought, and it sent pleasant chills over her body.

"So you were spying on me through that whole ordeal the other day?" she asked, not able to think of anything else to say at the moment.

"I'm sorry!" he went back to apologizing, and Isis immediately regretted that she had said anything. "I should have done something sooner. What's more, I should not have left you to begin with; that was completely discourteous to you..."

"I think I should start making you pay me every time you say that you're sorry for something." Isis said quickly before he could get anymore apologies in. "And I've already told you that I'm not angry with you, especially since what happened isn't your fault. Also..." She began, walking closer to him and placing a hand on his arm. A coy smile spread over her face. "I must admit that I found your anger very attractive. I didn't think you were capable of being so bold."

Mahad's face turned bright red, and turned away from her sparkling blue eyes in embarrassment. "W-well, b-be that as it may... I'm still ashamed at the way I treated you. Those creeps deserved what they got, but I should have been more respectful to you."

Isis's smile become more gentle at hearing these words, and she leans in closer to him. Shocked, he looks down at her, mouth agape at how close she is to him. Could this really be happening to him? Could such a beautiful young woman really be... in love with him!

"You do not need to worry so much about such things, Mahad." she promised him. "Because I like you, Mahad. I like everything about you." That said, she leaned up and brushed her lips against his cheek. She pulled back seconds later, to find that the blush on Mahad's face had deepened, and he looked as though he was about to faint, but a smile was evident on his face, as was the feeling of his arms wrapped around her waist.

Q.N.

A few days later, Isis and Mahad could be seen walking, hand-in-hand, through the palace together, enjoying the company of one another. They were lovers to some degree, but how serious their relationship was could not be determined yet, even by them. After all, they still weren't very well acquainted with each other yet, but they both knew that they were attracted to one another, and liked each other in a way that was deeper than that of friendship. Physically, their relationship had gone as far as sweet embraces and kisses. Of course, the flowers kept showing up at Isis's doorstep every morning, which she happily gathered and placed on her bedside stand.

She had been surprised when her father had approved of their relationship, protective as he was over her. She had reasoned that he saw Mahad as a distraction for her from her mother's passing, but she did not question his motives, lest he decide to change his mind and forbid their being together. Not surprisingly, however, her father had genuinely liked Mahad as a person, complimenting the fact that he was a gentleman who had "discerning taste in women". Isis had remembered leaving the room at this comment, not without hearing her father scold her for her lack of humor. Speaking of which...

"What was it that my father was talking to you about this morning?" she asked. "He wasn't trying to talk you into being a gambling partner for him, was he?"

Mahad laughed a little nervously at that. Isis's father had proved to be a very... different personality than Mahad had initially expected. When he found out that Isis's father was not only the Guardian of the Millennium Rod, but also the head of diplomatic affairs, he had expected some profound, dignified scholar. Master Seth was the opposite of his expectations. He liked to drink, gamble, race his horse through the palace grounds, and most interestingly of all, he did not take orders if he disagreed with them. Mahad was unsure whether to respect such a brazen, headstrong man, or be completely terrified of such radical behavior from a man who held so much power. He was even more surprised that Isis was neither embarrassed or terrified of him. Instead, she seemed to endure his unpredictable quirks in a way that only a truly loving daughter could. It left Mahad with the impression that, beneath everything, Master Seth was an honorable, fair and kind person, who, if nothing else, was loyal to his family.

"No, it was nothing like that." Mahad said honestly. "Although, it was about something he would prefer that you didn't know about."

"Oh?" Isis asked curiously.

"He asked me not to tell you if it came up in conversation, but I think that you have the right to know." Mahad continued. "There's talk going through the court about the potential of a war between Egypt and one of its neighboring countries." Isis looked up at Mahad, genuinely surprised. This had been the first that she had been hearing of this matter. "Although the Pharaoh wants to avoid any controversy at all costs, the other side feels threatened by Millennium Items' powers, and wants to take them for themselves. Master Akhenaden is urging the Pharaoh to protect Egypt's borders, even to invade the other country before they invade us. Some others of the Court are in agreement, Master Akil particularly."

Isis listened carefully to this information, though was still confused. "So there's talk of war; but why does my father not wish for me to know?"

Mahad sighed. "Well, in the event that we are faced with war, your father would be expected to be among those on the battlefield and..." he hesitated, but only for a moment. "I would be expected to join my master as well. In the event that something happens to him, it is my duty as his selected heir to take his place."

"I see..." Isis responded quietly. She had not even thought of this possibility. Of course, Mahad would be expected to fight along with the soldiers and the other magicians; if nothing else, he was the strongest magician in the palace, perhaps in all of Egypt. He would be a valuable weapon on the battlefield. As for her father, his diplomatic experience would make him a representative for the Pharaoh in battle and wartime relations with the enemy nation. They would both be forced to leave.

"Your father was worried about how you would take the news." Mahad stated. "He didn't want you to worry about the possibility of a war when you already have so much on your mind."

"At this point in time, the only bad news my father could give me would regard the Millennium Necklace." Isis said with a shake of her head. She looked back up to Mahad. "Did he mention anything of it to you?"

Mahad shook his head. "You know I can't ask; even if I did, it is not the place of anyone other than the Guardians themselves to know the workings of the Millennium Items." Mahad paused for a moment. "Why are you so worried about the outcome of this? The Guardians will choose only the one they consider to be best fit for the position; if they choose you, then you must trust their intuitions."

"But I was never trained to take my mother's place." Isis said. "I think I would stand a better chance if I were to take my father's; I have spent more time learning from my father than from my mother."

"Your father tells me that your clairvoyant abilities rival that of your mother's." Mahad insisted. "If that is true, then you would have no trouble at all assimilating to the position of priestess."

Isis sighed. "Maybe you're right, Mahad, but it still doesn't change my fears any." Expecting some sort of comforting response from him, she felt a bit surprised when she was met with silence. Curiously, she tilted her head up to see that Mahad wasn't looking at her, but at something else to the left of them. Following his gaze, her eyes were met by the three boys from the other day, only today they were accompanied by two others, who seemed less than happy to be in the other's presence. They were resting against the walls of another corridor, and although they were gazing intently at she and Mahad, they made no move to get up or walk over to them. Isis looked back up to Mahad, whose face was contorted into an angry snarl, much like the one from the last time he confronted these boys. She could even feel that his aura seemed to grow thicker around him.

Fearing that he may be prone to attack again, she quickly untangled her hand from his, and chose to instead place her arm around his waist. she leaned her head into his shoulder, and sighed contentedly. She was successful in taking his attention off the unwanted guests, and back at her. His hand came up to stroke her hair, and he smiled affectionately at her. However, a dark glint was still present in his eyes.

"Don't mind those fools, dearest." Isis said softly. "You have me, and they do not."

Mahad could feel that monster that had just moments ago been raging inside of him calm down and purr softly at the nourishment its ego had suddenly been given, but was not content to leave its threat alone.

"That I do." he agreed. "But, if they, or anyone else for that matter, does anything like that to you again, mark my words, I'm going to kill them."

Isis laughed at this comment, lying to herself that he was not being serious, and that he was only making a point. "I'm afraid you won't get that chance, because I would have killed them long before you would reach me." she said with another laugh, to which he joined in.

In spite of the lighter mood, however, Mahad continued to glare at the group of boys until they disappeared from his sight, not knowing that someone else was doing the very same thing.

Q.N.

To say that Isis was nauseated with what she found outside her door the next morning could be considered a heavy understatement. As per usual, it was Mahad's daily offering of a flower to her. It was what the flower was covered in that disgusted her. It looked as though it had been dipped in... in blood! It couldn't be blood, though, especially not human blood. If Mahad had brought it to her, he'd never do anything so dark and disturbing.

...unless his darker side was in possession of his actions.

This thought disturbed Isis even more, and that bolder side of Mahad's personality, for the first time, completely terrified her.

But that couldn't be the correct conclusion, Isis continued to reason with herself. There was a much more logical explanation to this disturbing scenario. ...obviously...surely... someone had seen Mahad leaving her the flowers in the morning, and decided to soak today's bloom in pig's blood or something else to put her in the state she was in now. Yes, that had to be it.

Regardless, she still didn't want this... thing in front of her door. Looking around quickly, she called for the first servant she saw and asked them to dispose of it. When she saw the questioning, scared look on their face, she said it was someone's idea of a prank to unnerve her, and that it had effectively worked. She oversaw the insulting gift's disposal until she knew it would be gone, only to return in her nightmares.

Afterwards, she took a walk to the magician's wing, hoping to find Mahad there and tell him about the disturbing gift she had received this morning. As she passed by Master Akil's study, she caught a piece of a conversation the Priest of the Millennium Ring was having with Master Akhenaden, Priest of the Millennium Eye.

"...Must we make such a dilemma out of this, Akil? You should know as well as anyone that apprentices go missing all the time from the palace. They find the strain of their training too much to bear, and in their shame of failure run away. They do not even return home, they run to the next village where no one knows who they are and start life afresh."

"That's not the predicament." Master Akil spoke. "I didn't even like those three; nothing but a bunch of delinquents, disrupting my lessons, harassing the female servants, and worst of all, using their magic for juvenile pranks! Two of those boys, I only accepted them because their parents were of the nobility class, and they were paying me royalties to keep their brats out of their hair."

"So what is the problem, then?" Master Akhenaden asked.

"A parent can hate the hassle of raising their children to no end. But when a complication arises, when that child becomes sick or runs away, they are no longer a hassle. They are an heir. This is especially true amongst nobility. And if an heir disappears while in the care of another, who do you suppose they will blame for that heir's disposal?" Akil seethed. "They will be at my throat before I can get a word of protest in."

Isis had a sickening feeling that she knew who those three missing apprentices were.

Left a bit of a cliffhanger there, huh? Muahahaha! So, what does everyone think? Is Mahad a murderer? Was that bloody flower a prank? Or is something more going on in the sidelines? Will I tell? Hell, no! You'll all have to keep reading to find out!

R&R at your leisure... but if I get a lot of reviews, I may just be tempted to write faster...just a thought...