Thanks goes to Merciless Ruby, drkmagiciangrl25, Tevana, Cream-Bunny156 (Yeah, I don't think I'd like to get bitten by some raging, dark-based monster with really sharp teeth and poison in its saliva, either...(pause) (x.x) Ick,) Nikki (I usually try not to have a lot of guys going after her, but their hormones are going bonkers, lol, so it's only natural. I envy her, too, though!), Impashence, Star Princess, and Monkeyluv4646 for reviewing. You guys rock my socks off! Seriously!

Chapter Six

Anzu felt a hot, blistering pain and woke with a shriek, struggling against the hand that was pinning her down. The pain continued, piercing her wound with needles, stabbing her. She kicked and screamed and sobbed, "Stop! Make it stop!" She wasn't even aware of who was causing the pain, only that something was being ground into the wound on her arm and that it hurt worse than anything she had never experienced.

Gradually, her screams turned to whimpers as the pain began to lessen. She stopped struggling, laying on the soft quilt she had been set on. She never opened her eyes, never tried to. She was afraid of what she would see. Then the pain was gone, even though something was still being forced into her wound and rubbed; then it, too, stopped. Careful hands lifted her arm and she rolled her head to the side, her eyes fluttering open. She stared uncomprehendingly at Malik Ishtar, the prince of the castle she was staying in. He was bandaging her arm and looked tense. His usual elegant appearance was gone. The room was warm, she noticed at seeing his long, dirty blonde hair sticking to his neck, his shirt torn open to the waist, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Anzu closed her eyes again, feeling his careful fingers finish the bandaging. She heard him sigh and she opened her eyes to see what he was doing. He was vanishing two bowls and some towels. He glanced to the bed and, seeing her watching him, he moved back to the bed and leaned over her, asking in a quiet, weary tone, "How does it feel?"

"...Fine," she answered hoarsely. Surprised by her own voice, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion; but then she remembered her screaming and thrashing. "Were you the one here the whole time?"

"Bakura sleeps like the dead after he falls asleep and Ryou and Yami wouldn't be able to bear to hear you scream, let alone be strong enough to hold you down," he answered, rubbing his face, "so yes, I was the one here the entire time."

"...Thank you."

"I'm not to thank," he brusquely answered. "I should have taken care of that creature sooner, just as you said, but I neglected it and so it found you. You're my guest here, Anzu, and therefore my responsibility. You shouldn't have been attacked as you had."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Malik," was her quiet response. He didn't bother telling her that his whole life was made up of mistakes because it wasn't any of her business what his life had been before this. It was none of her business how the curse had come upon him, nor what would happen to his only companions after he died. She didn't need to know anything. After he died, she would go back to her village and there was nothing more to it. He admitted to himself, though, that he regretted his negligence to his castle for five years. She could have been killed if he and Yami hadn't taken notice of the creature's absence in the ballroom and if they hadn't been just at the bottom of the stairs when her screams had begun. Why he cared if she died was beyond him, but he did want to protect her. There was just something about her that was envious.

"Go to sleep, Anzu," he told her, stumbling to his feet and towards his personal washroom. "You need the rest." She gave a soft mumble of assent and began to fall asleep.

Malik shut the door to his washroom and after undressing, he ran the warm water in his marble, white tub and settled in it. When it was full, he shut the water off and washed his sweaty hair and body before dropping his head back against the tub's edge, remembering that day five years ago when that old hag had come to his castle...

- Five Years Ago -

Malik smiled idly to himself as he descended the smooth, stone steps from his room. Upstairs was a woman dressing. He hadn't bothered with getting her name. She was just fun for himself. He had had better women, but he supposed she would have to do until he found someone better. He would have to smack her around if she boasted about her conquest.

Bakura glanced at him as he exited the library and smiled at Malik in greeting. "Have fun, you dirty bastard?" He asked as Malik shut the door that led up to his room. Across from him was the door that led to Bakura's room. As far as he knew, Bakura hadn't had a woman in his bed that night yet. He was feeling picky and would take nothing but the best. Apparently Yami had won that round tonight, because he was nowhere near to taunt Bakura. Malik doubted he was with Ryou, because the younger brother of Bakura's preferred to keep to himself in his room at night. Well, that was just fine by Malik. He didn't care either way.

"As much fun as I can with twits like her." Bakura let out a bark of laughter just as a servant came scuttling towards them. Malik glanced lazily to him, smiling pleasantly. "What is it, Tsuge?"

"Sir, Mr. Hero seems to have a problem at the gates." Malik and Bakura exchanged looks, frowning. All the guests had arrived, so whoever was trying to get in wasn't invited. Malik never allowed anyone uninvited in his castle at one of his balls and wasn't about to start. "He says it's an old woman."

"An old woman?" Malik repeated, laughing. "And he's having a problem?" The servant shrugged nervously. "Very well, I'll be right there." The servant gave a relieved look. It was apparent that he hadn't been sure whether Malik would get angry or not. He left briskly and Malik followed him with an easy pace, Bakura beside him. "What could that idiot possibly need me for with an old lady? He knows I won't allow anyone of the peasant kind in my castle."

"Perhaps the pansy can't handle her," Bakura teased, chuckling. Just as they were passing through the ballroom, Yami intercepted them, his smile charming as ever. "Get the hell out of the way, you whore." Yami let out a laugh, his face shining with a normal cheerfulness that he held.

"I'm not a whore, and no, I won't. I'm curious as to where you two are heading off to." He fixed them with a look and Malik almost slapped him. Yami was as impudent as ever, but he supposed it wouldn't hurt to let him come along. He paused in his thoughts, seeing Ryou hovering hesitantly behind Yami. Bakura noticed as well and glared at the youngest of the four. Ryou hung his head and Yami glanced behind him at his friend. "Since I seem to be the preferred man," Yami cockily told Bakura, "I thought to help your brother get himself a woman, but it took some time to force him out of his room, I must say."

"Later," Malik interrupted as Bakura opened his mouth to retort. "I have something to take care of."

"And we'll be coming along," Yami piped up, nodding to Ryou, who meekly nodded in agreement. Bakura gave a sound of disgust at his brother's association with his enemy. The four of them headed outside, swinging their cloaks around them, covering them from the briskness of the cool, outside air.

Mr. Hero, at the gates, nodded to Malik as he came forward. "Sir, I know your feelings about not allowing anyone in when they are uninvited, but this old woman stumbled out of the forest quite wounded and seems to need a place to stay. I was thinking – "

"Thinking what?" Malik cut in mildly, peering down at the slumped form between the open gates. He could smell a strange odor emanating from the elderly woman and felt disgust rise in him. She spoke not one word, but listened to them patiently. He could see a bloodstain where he supposed her shoulder was, but could care less for what happened to this woman. "It is her own fault for being in the forest. Why should I care for the stupid old hag?"

"Now, Malik," Yami began, smiling patiently.

"Shut the hell up, Yami. I don't give a shit what you think I should do. I don't want some filthy beggar in my castle. Kill her to take her out of her misery if you have to, Mr. Hero, just keep her away from here. She'll only scare my guests away." He started to turn away with a hesitant Ryou and irritated Yami, but a rasping voice spoke to him, making him turn.

"Is that all you care about?" The old woman asked, her voice hoarse with disuse. "Entertaining your guests and keeping your castle in order? Do you have no heart?" Malik glanced at Bakura. They exchanged an amused look.

"Why, of course I don't," Malik responded, chuckling. "Stupid woman. Does it look like I give a damn what you think about?"

"You will regret speaking that way to me. Reconsider, prince. Reconsider carefully. I will forgive you if you give me a place to stay for the night."

"I don't need your forgiveness, old hag," Malik snapped, not liking the tone of voice she was using. It sounded as though she were threatening him. "Leave, now."

"Malik," Yami tried again, but Malik ignored him. "Ah, well, alright. It won't be my fault if some psychotic old lady starts running around the castle." He laughed at the scenario playing out in his head.

"I will not leave," the old woman proclaimed simply.

"Perhaps I'll make you, then," Malik suggested coldly, raising his hand, fire building in his hand to shoot at her. But suddenly it stopped. He stared at his hand in bemusement and then looked at the old hag, who had raised her head, her wrinkled face placed in a solemn expression. He growled and tried to summon his magic, but there was nothing there. But that can't be! He thought in despair. I am a mage! I will always have a reservoir of magic unless I use all of it, which I haven't! The reservoir should be full! "What have you done, you bitch?" He snarled at her.

"For your words and cruelty, you will be cursed," she stated without answering his question. Mr. Hero stood by in horror at the scene unfolding before him. The old woman raised her hands and they glowed dully as she drew a symbol in the air that glowed briefly before fading. "The curse will cure your cold heart or else you will die. You have until your twenty-sixth birthday to find the one that you will love and who will love you in return. If you cannot, you will die on your twenty-sixth birthday and only then will the curse be broken."

"What nonsense is she talking about?" Bakura mumbled in boredom. Ryou appeared stricken with fear beside him.

"You will be unable to leave the castle," she continued without looking at Bakura. "You and these three who stand so close to your side, along with the other prince close to you. You will have your friends suffer because of your selfishness. Only these four shall be your companions for the next six years. You cannot escape your fate." Malik stared at her, and then laughed.

"Is this a joke?" He questioned, smirking. "You're not powerful enough to do any such thing, woman. Don't deem to believe you can curse me on my own grounds."

"You will believe it when you wake up." She snapped her fingers and suddenly, the mages saw black and fell to the ground, unconscious.

When Malik woke up again, it was to the calling of his hated enemy. He opened his eyes to see Seto Kaiba standing above him, his expression neutral, swept clean of all emotion as it always was. Malik blinked rapidly and then stumbled to his feet, swaying uncertainly. "What have you done, Malik Ishtar?" Seto wanted to know. Malik stared at him and then turned to look at his castle. He could hear nothing from inside. It was silent. In fact, it wasn't just the inside that appeared to be silent. Outside, it was mute except for the sound of the water running from fountains and the shifting of his friends on the ground. It had never been this quiet since he had become prince of this castle. "You fool," Seto growled as Malik turned to him. "You went and got us cursed."

"I suppose I'll have to kill you for that," Yami rumbled from the ground. He got to his feet and groaned, holding his head. "Ow. That smarts a bit."

"I tried to leave, but there are dark creatures outside the castle," Seto continued, glaring at him hatefully. "The forest redirects me here every time I try to leave through it. Transporting is useless as well. Look at what you've done!" Malik stared at him blankly for a long moment, unable to believe that he had gotten himself and his friends cursed.

"That cannot be," was all he muttered.

"Get used to it," Seto snapped, "because it's very real, Ishtar. Some prince you are." Malik didn't even reply. He turned to Ryou, who was helping Bakura to his feet.

"You and Yami," he ordered, "set up a barrier. Let the gates be the border of the barrier. I want it to be able to keep the creatures Seto spoke of out of the castle. I'm...going inside to think. I can't handle this right now." Seto snorted in reply and then paused, looking thoughtful.

"You four might be stuck here," he said smugly after a long moment of silence with them looking at him, "but I'm leaving."

"And how do you intend to do that since you just said – " Malik began to half-scream at him, but Seto ignored him.

"No curse can penetrate the soil of the Earth," he sneered. "Ta, idiot and pals." He laughed and sunk into the soil. Malik started towards him, but he was gone. Seto didn't return.

That whole night, Ryou, a more scholarly mage and knowing more spells than the others, tried everything he knew to try and break the curse, but it was no use. They knew, as they stood there at sunset, staring around them, that they were doomed.

- Presently -

Malik raised his head from the edge of the tub, swallowing. The four of them had tried to make the best of their life, but after awhile, they simply seemed to float around the land of the castle and the castle itself like ghosts. Their time had never been as alive as it was now with Anzu present.

Damn that hag, Malik thought wearily as he got out of the tub and dried off. If she wanted to teach me a lesson, making it so I died was unnecessary. She simply could have cursed me for my whole life. At least then Bakura, Ryou, and Yami – well, I don't give a shit about Yami – wouldn't have to die by Seto's hands. Something suddenly occurred to Malik and he swore softly, "Fuck." Seto's not going to let Anzu go. I should have known that. Damn it all to hell. He didn't say it to himself or aloud, but he knew that Anzu had never deserved to get involved in this mess. She had been lured here and then locked in by the curse. Nothing could save her.

End Chapter Six