"Okay," Saraya told them. "I lost it somewhere between the attic and the kitchen. Let' split up and look."
"Yeah? Well I'm not going anywhere near that attic," Joey replied firmly.
"None of us are going in the attic," Yugi decided. "It's apparently way too dangerous up there."
Téa nodded. "Agreed. I'll go look outside the attic."
"I'll check the stairs," Joey offered.
"I'll check out here in the foyer," Tristan said.
Yugi raised his hand like a schoolboy, smiling. "I'll look in the kitchen."
"Great. I'll look down here with Tristan since it's so big." Saraya smiled. "Thanks, guys. But if we don't find it soon, we'll leave."
They all nodded and separated. Yugi went into the kitchen. He searched the counter, the floor, the sink, and even wandered around a little in the opening of the house where Tristan and Saraya were. He found nothing.
How on earth are we supposed to find an earring in this gigantic house? Yugi wondered.
Aristaela set three cards on the altar. They glistened a starry white, as well as the arch on the wall in front of her. It was large, set right in center on the wall, curving a graceful U. It wasn't nearly as tall as the wall. The indent in its center glowed the same color. Aristaela whispered an incantation in a language other than that of humans.
Shirar ker haes cher (Arise from your sleep)
Nil tor shan aes kré ( Listen to my call)
Moray haes fital ësh tor creh (With your final oath to keep)
Rach tor haes cahs belan amistaraly ( Return to your world before moonfall)
Bracklar, diaha tames! (Awaken, Duel Spirits!)
Three ghostly shapes stepped from the lit arch and bowed to her.
She immediately ordered, "Blue, go to the Hall of Reflections. Ninja, go upstairs and find that brunette girl." She turned to the last one with an evil hint of crimson in her amethyst eyes, complete with a cruel smirk. "And you, Chaos," she nearly purred. "You know what to do once you find Cindy." He nodded. All three of them slipped past her. She watched Blue Eyes White Dragon, Armed Ninja, and Magician of Black Chaos leave.
"Good luck, you three," she cooed as they all went straight through the door, Blue Eyes flying through. Then the coo turned into an ugly snarl. "Destroy them all!"
A dark shape sprang down from the eaves in the ceiling. A gloved hand slapped over Téa's mouth before she knew what was happening. With a swift punch, he knocked her out, tying her hands and feet together with rope. Throwing her limp body over his shoulder, he ran with inhuman speed away from the staircase before Joey turned around, entering one room and jumping through a wall of glass, shattering the window as he fell.
Meanwhile, Yugi, Tristan, and Saraya were still searching the house, having heard nothing. Saraya had found a thin, barely noticeable hall that was few feet long, leading to a plain wooden door. Curious, she opened it. She knew it didn't have anything to do with her earring, but ignoring that fact, she stepped inside, leaving it open to provide light. She stood in a closet, which was empty except for a door in the ground. A trapdoor?
She carefully lifted it by its handle, expecting to be unpleasantly greeted by a rush of rancid air, but instead smelled fresh air, with a hint of flowers. She looked down in. There was misty light, and an ample amount. There were no stairs. Too inquisitive too ignore this, she leaped down, landing like a cat on the slightly damp ground steadily on her feet. There was a long tunnel stretching out above her. The vaporous light came from an unknown source. Lining the tunnel was tall mirrors, some cracked, some in good condition.