Angela added soap to her wash basin, before cleaning her hands of the yellow-green pigment that was splattered on them. She had spent the whole morning grinding herbs for tinctures and mixing up remedies. It was hard work...but she loved it. The scent that the herbal plants released always calmed her. Once her hands were washed, she took a basket out to her small garden on the side of the house.
John and Angela drew some vegetables, as well as some herbal plants that were common. Such as Aloe and a few others. The young woman took pride in her plants; tending to them, weeding and pruning them so they'd grow strong. Many said that she had a 'magic touch', for the plants bright colors and scent were the strongest they had ever seen. Even the Butterflies and Honey Bees came to her garden more than any other; to have the nectar of the few regular flowers that grew there too. Which was mostly Cornflowers, Jasmine, Red Poppies and Iris.
The young woman kneeled in front of her garden that had vegetables and pondered a minute. "Now...what would Godpa like to eat when he returns? Knowing him, he'll want something warm from traveling in the cold. But we don't have any meat left, heaven knows it's expensive...hmm. Vegetable Stew? Boiled Cabbage and Potatoes?" She eyed all the vegetables before her and finally settled on a soup. It would be quick and easy, plus she could clean the kitchen as it cooked over the fire.
For the next hour or two, Angela washed, diced and chopped the bounty from her garden. Once the water was hot enough; she popped them in, before adding some seasoning and a bit of sage. Along with salt and pepper.
"There! Now that that's finished, I'll start cleaning up the kitchen. And if I finish early, I can relax a bit." She looked at the knife and cutting board on the table, as well as the bits of herbal leaves on the floor. With a determined smile, Angela tied back her hair before getting started.
"Are you sure about this, Bakura?" Ryou asked.
He and his older brother were heading to Angela's house. The young teen knew something was up, when he found Bakura adorning more gold trinkets than usual...and he almost fainted when he found out what his brother had in mind that day. Now here they were, heading to the house where the Mercenary would ask Angela the 'question'.
"Stop asking foolish questions, Ryou." Bakura snapped. "Of course I'm sure! Once Angela sees me in all my glory, robed in the splendor I can give her...she's bound to say 'yes'."
The younger sibling frowned. "I know she's pretty-"
"Gorgeous, you mean!" Bakura growled.
"Ok, I won't deny that. But shouldn't we think this through, a bit more?"
The Ex-Thief snorted, which meant the conversation was over. When they arrived at the house, both saw the woman in question come out to dump some soapy water onto the sandy ground. Her face was flushed from cleaning the kitchen and a lovely smell of soup wafted to greet them.
"Good day, Angela! Lovely weather, isn't it?" Bakura said casually, but loudly.
When Angela heard him, she closed her eyes in dismay before looking up and seeing Bakura there. "Hello, Bakura. What a...pleasant surprise." Of course it wasn't, really.
"I'm full of surprises. Many ladies find it...thrilling."
"Oh lord, give me strength." Angela prayed.
Ryou tried to not cringe, when his brother walked up to Angela...but did so by cutting through her garden. Not caring that he stepped on the plants. To which, the young woman was furious. But held her Irish Temper. "Is there something you wanted?" She asked.
"Actually...yes." Bakura said, fiddling with one of necklaces around his neck in a playful manner. "I was hoping you'd have a remedy or tonic for...perhaps...a 'love stuck heart'?"
She raised an ebony brow. "...what?"
"You may think I have it all, my dear girl. But there's something missing-"
"I can't imagine." She replied, walking back to her door. Sadly, the Mercenary followed.
"A wife, is what I need."
Angela stopped dead in her tracks, her body tightening. "By the Standing Stones, is he serious?!" She thought, before turning around to face him. "I'm not ready to settle down."
"Maybe you haven't met the right man." He suggested.
The young woman fought to roll her eyes, "It's a small village, Bakura. I know them all, and half of them my Godpa helped bring into the world."
"Perhaps you should take another look." He was getting too close for her liking, but he didn't care. He was the wolf and she was the rabbit or deer he had long been chasing...
"I actually don't." She said, snapping him out of his day dream. "And I may be a peasant girl from across the sea, but I'm not naive." She turned and headed into her house. "I'm sorry, Bakura. But I will never marry you." She slammed the door behind her, and for a minute the Mercenary didn't move.
Ryou, who had been watching with awe at Angela's actions, regained his senses and saw how his brother's face lightly becoming pink, then slowly becoming a darker shade. Quickly he went up to him, "B-Bakura?"
"I'll have her for my wife, Ryou." He growled, before stomping away. "Count on it!"
The teen sighed, he knew that Bakura would need sometime to cool his head. But before he would catch up with him, he knocked on Angela's door.
"Go away, Bakura!" Came the woman's muffled voice.
Ryou cleared his throat. "Umm...it's Ryou, Angela."
The door opened, and Angela was blushing. "Oh, hello Ryou. Forgive me, I thought you were your brother."
"I'm sorry about him, but I actually wanted to ask you if you had anymore of that powered..." He faltered, when she plopped a small bag into his hand.
She beamed. "I knew you'd be asking for more, sooner or later. I just had that batch in the grinder today; so it'll be stronger. Be sure to keep it safe."
The snowy haired teen smiled, and bowed. "Thank you so much!" He then sadly gestured to her trampled plants. "And I'm sorry about your garden..."
"It wasn't your fault, Ryou." She said, patting his shoulder. "Now, you better go after your brother before he does something idiotic."
With a wave, the younger brother dashed off and Angela watched before he was out of sight. With a sigh, she returned to cleaning the kitchen table and taking the soup off the fire. Dealing with Bakura had tired her out; in more ways than one. With an irritated sigh, she scrubbed the cutting board clean for the second time...only in a much angrier fashion. To think that self-centered man would believe she would be easily whisked off to the aisle, and wait on him hand and foot for the rest of her life; was practically madness! Part of her wished her Godfather had been here, if had heard Bakura try and propose...the Mercenary would be chased off with either the walking stick or the elders old battle sword while he yelled things in Gaelic. A smile appeared on her face at the thought; imagining the tough Mercenary running for the dunes as John threatening to teach him a lesson should he darken his door again.
"I hope he comes home soon." She whispered, while drying the cutting board before putting it away.
Her chores now done, Angela decided to go out to the back part of the house. The low stone wall that surrounded the back of the house, was covered with a kind of climbing plant. A small well stood off to one side along with a few clay jugs. Angela untied her hair and sat on a large stone, smiling as the sun warmed her face. A shrill screech was heard, and Angela saw a falcon circle above the house a few times before leaving.
Suddenly, another sound was heard. And Oberon came into view; tossing his head side to side...rearing up...coat streaked with dirt and mud along with scratches. The poor horse looked like it had been through the trenches and back.
Angela jumped over the wall and grabbed the reins, "Hush Oberon, easy boy!" She softly told him. "Calm yourself...steady!" The woman petted his black nose, before asking, "What happened? Where's Godpa?"
Oberon stamped his feet in urging, and making a gesture with his head towards the desert. A knot of fear formed in her stomach, but she refused to let it show. The young Irish woman raced into the house and grabbed her shawl, wrapped up some bread, dried fruit and cheese into a handkerchief before locking the doors. On her way to the horse, Angela spied a dagger that John used to whittle now and again, and added that to her bag. Oberon kneeled a bit to let her on, which she did quickly. With a whinny, the dark grey horse took off with top speed. "Hang on, Godpa...I'm coming."
Angela didn't need to know which way John had gone; the horse seemed to know all on his own. His hooves beat the sandy ground hard as they traveled down the path. The young woman saw the Oasis and had to wonder why she nor her Godfather had ever heard of such a spot. Her heart went into her throat when she spied the wagon on it's side, broken beyond repair, and heard the distant howl of a Jackal.
Oberon seemed to pick up the pace, and soon they were going through a stone gate. Angela looked around at the brown colored garden, before gasping and pulling on Oberon's reins to stop when she saw something. There on the ground...was her Godfather's walking stick! She got down off the horse and picked up the object; it had a few claw marks cutting into it, but was in one piece. The thought of her Guardian hurt and bleeding made her pale, so holding it close to her she gazed at the strange palace before her.
o~*~o
"You just couldn't keep quiet, could you?!" Seth ranted to Mahad. "Just had to invite him in, didn't you?! Even serve him the Pharaoh's food and drink-!"
"I was trying to be hospitable, Seth." The Dark Magician replied. "You can't blame me for trying to keep what's left of our humanity."
The Duos spirit growled, before hitting a wall with his fist. "Why did we have to be dragged into this?! We didn't throw out or scorn the Goddess...only he did!"
Mahad crossed his legs; while also hovering in mid-air. "That's not true and you know it. She pointed out that we are just as at fault for the way he is." A heavy sigh escaped the purple clad spirit. "It's happening faster with some of the others...but soon..."
"You don't need to remind me." Seth stood straight and took a calming breath. "I know...believe me I know."
"Godpa?"
Both froze at the sound of a new voice, and turned to see a human woman pass by. She had a shawl on and held the same stick the elder man had been carrying.
Mahad's eyes went huge. "Please tell me you see her too?"
"I can, you're not hallucinating. What's she doing here?"
"Don't you get it?!" Mahad exclaimed. "She's the one we've been waiting for! She'll break the spell!" He started to fly after her, but was pulled back by the collar by an annoyed Seth.
"I repeat: 'Have you lost your mind'?! We need to get her out of here, before the pharaoh wakes up again!" He then narrowed his eyes, at the girl walking down the hall. "She's carrying the staff the old man had...and she said 'Godpa'...maybe she's a relative?"
Mahad got out of Seth's grip, "I'm going to still going to follow her." And he then flew off, before Seth could respond.
o~*~o
In another part of the palace, Isis was sewing up a tear in her old robe. Even through she never wore any more...she still wanted it to be wearable should the spell ever be broken. As she finished the last stitch; Mana zoomed into the room while hanging on to her hat, narrowly missing a wall.
"Isis! Isis you won't believe the news!" The blue eyed girl said, breathlessly and a mile a minute.
"Yes, Mana?"
"It's the best news anyone's ever heard since...since...I don't when!"
The priestess chuckled. "What would that be, Mana?"
"There's a girl in the palace! I can't wait to tell every-"
Isis gave a stern glare. "Now Mana, I won't have you make up wild tales."
"But-But I'm telling the truth, really!" The female magician exclaimed.
A Mystical Elf ran into the room, "Lady Isis, have you heard?! There's a girl in the palace!"
"See?" Mana said, smugly. "I told you I saw her! And you know what? She's really pretty too!"
Isis looked at the cloth in her lap, in both shock and hope. "A human girl...after all this time..."
o~*~o
Angela was on edge as she walked through the halls of what must've been a beautiful place. It was dark, even with the torches. Art pieces were broken and webs were in the corners as well as cracks and damage to the walls.
"Godpa?" She tried again. "Godpa, please answer me?"
A creek was heard, and she spun with the Cudgel Walking Stick held high. But all she saw was a door that was slightly ajar, and a glow of light going down the stairs. So there was someone here after all.
"Wait!" The young woman ran after the light. "Please, I'm looking for my Godpa-" She stopped...there was a torch on the wall, but no one was there. The room she had come into was a dungeon. "I'm sure I saw..." she shook her head to clear it, then called out. "Is anyone here?"
"Lass?" Came a familiar voice.
"Godpa!" Angela ran over to where John was and kneeled to gasp his hands. "I've been so worried!"
The elder gave her hand a comforting pat. "I'm fine. But how did you find me?"
"Oberon. He came to get me, and brought me here-"
"You must leave here, Lass!" John ordered.
"I'm not leaving you, Godpa!"
All of a sudden, a growl was heard behind them. The sound made Angela's hair stand on end, and a chill go down her spine. She slowly turned around, shadows still covered the whole area...even with the torch. "Who's there?" She asked. "I know you're there; who are you?"
There wasn't an answer at first, just silence. Then a reply seemed to come from all around her.
"The master of this palace." Came a deep growl.
Angela kept trying to pinpoint the voice, but it was as if it kept moving from one spot to another. Or was it just her imagination making her think that? "The you're the one responsible for this; let my Godpa out this minute!"
"I am master of the palace!" The voice roared. "I do not take orders from anyone! He came into my home uninvited, ate my food, and then tried to steal from me!"
"My Godpa would never steal! You're lying!"
A loud bang was heard, like someone hit a wall with their fist. "I NEVER LIE! HE TRIED TO STEAL A ROSE FROM MY GARDEN!" The voice roared, echoing in the room. Angela and John covered their ears, from the sound then the young woman stood straight. "I asked for him to bring me a rose...but if my Godfather knew they belonged to someone, he would never have taken it. He's not at fault...I am."
"You won't change my judgement, girl. He'll stay here, until he rots! There's nothing you can do!"
"Then take me, instead!" She yelled.
"No Angela!"
All was still for a second, then the voice asked, "You would...take his place?"
John clutched the bars of the cell, "What are you doin' lass?!"
"Godpa, please..." She then turned to shadows around her. "If I did take his place; would you release him?"
"Yes, but...you must promise to stay forever."
The young woman took a breath, her heart was hammering in her chest. "Before I agree...come into the light." there was no reply. "If I'm to stay here, I wish to know who I swear this promise to."
Time seemed to stop, but then slowly a figure stepped into the torch light.
A being or creature revealed it's self; it stood on wolf-like legs, and covered in tan colored short fur. Claws were at the ends of it's hands and feet, furry pointed ears twitched slightly, and two long horns were on it's forehead. Black hair outlined in red covered it's head in a star-shape and blonde bangs, in the shape of lighting bolts, framed it's face. Some extra strands shot up into the hair line...making like a crown. Speaking of which; between the horns, sat a crown with an Millennium Eye in the middle. An ancient Egyptian tunic and calf length-kilt covered the body...through it was somewhat deduced to almost rags. Gold armbands adorned the wrists and two over lapping belts were on the waist. Lastly, a tail was seen behind it. Or rather 'him'. She figured that out from the sound of the voice.
But perhaps the one thing that shocked Angela the most, were the eyes. They were sharp, with dark lashes that made them look fuller...and the color was a deep violet purple. And yet they held such turmoil and sorrow...
"Well?" He asked, snapping Angela from her thoughts. "Decide!"
She turned to her Godfather, who was holding her hand. "I have no choice..."
"Angela, don't do 'his!" The elder begged.
But she didn't hear him. She looked at the creature before her, then closed her eyes. "I give you my word."
"Done!" He growled, revealing fangs before going to open the cell.
Angela sank to her knees, as her Godfather ran up to her. Eyes full of sorrow.
"Listen to me, lass." He said. "I'm 'uld, I've lived a long life-" John was cut off as the creature or beast dragged him away, by the collar. He tried to hang on to his precious godchild, but she pressed his staff into his hands. Then started to sob as her only parent was sent away.
The creature ignored the old man's pleas of sparing the woman, all he wanted was to get this annoying man out of his home. With a growl, he tossed the old man outside on the ground. His shadow swallowed him up, yet the old soldier wasn't cowering. Just like last time.
"If ye' harm un hair on 'er 'ead," John threatened. "I'll 'ake the Dullahan's come fer ye!"
A deeper growl was his answer. "Get out, old man. Should you ever come back...the deal is off. And you BOTH will be imprisoned." He made a motion with his hand, and a Giant Soldier Of Stone stood up from it's post. "Take him to the crossroads."
The Stone Ka Spirit picked up John in one hand, and carried out it's order.
When the creature made sure the Spirit wasn't going to lose it's path, he turned and headed back inside. He passed Mahad, who was standing just outside the door.
"My pharaoh?"
"What?" The creature, Pharaoh, snarled.
The Dark Magician silently gulped. "Since the young lady will be staying with us...for a while...perhaps you might wan t to offer her a more comfortable room?"
The Pharaoh's eyes hardened. "Why should I?! She's not your concern."
Now Mahad would've accepted the answer, and go on his duties. However, the chance that the spell would be broken wouldn't be so easily discarded. And with that in mind, he glided off after his monarch. "My Pharaoh, please. You can't leave her in-"
"I'll do what I want!" The Pharaoh snarled.
Mahad tried another tactic. "At least, you could let her sleep on something other than a prison floor."
"This whole place is a prison...so what difference does a bed make?" With a huff, he turned and disappeared down a hallway.
o~*~o
Angela had not moved an inch from her spot. Her whole world...everything she knew was now gone. She wiped away the lingering tears when she heard someone coming, and backed up against the nearest wall.
"Pardon me miss, I've come to show you to your room." Said a voice.
"My-My room?" She stammered, taking a step. "I thought that..."
"My lord wishes to make your stay, most welcome."
Angela felt nervous, but continued forward. "He didn't seem to want to do that."
"He can sometimes be...stubborn."
"That's an understatement." The young woman thought, and let out a gasp when she saw Mahad. Angela had never seen a Ka Spirit before, and backed up again. "What in the-?!"
Mahad held up a hand in an nonthreatening way. "Calm down, it's alright...I won't hurt you."
"Who-Who are you?!" Angela asked, golden eyes wide.
The Ka Spirit bowed. "I am Mahad; the Dark Magician. Pleased to make your acquaintance milady."
"Um...hello." She said, bobbing a curtsy.
He then gestured for her to follow him, "Shall we? I promise it's warmer than down here."
It was starting to rather chilly, and the thought of not having to sleep on the hard stone floor made her follow the Dark Magician.