KT: Konnichiwa!
YKT: KT, you deserve to die!
KT: Doushite? What I do? I do nothing!
Christina: You haven't updated in, like, forever!
KT: Oh, Ok. Can you guys believe it?? Chapter TEN!!!!!!
YKT: Took you long enough.
KT: TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christina: Shut up. Now start typing, please.
KT: Gomennasai! Well, here's the chapter!
KT: No, wait! THIS IS IMPORTANT!! Please read it!!!!!!!!!!!
Throughout this book, the setting has been Thebes, changed to Memphis. But after doing some research, it turned out that since Upper Egypt was South of Lower Egypt, the capital that Shayla went to was actually Thebes. However, when Lower Egypt conquered Upper Egypt, the capital of all of Egypt would become Memphis. Later, it changed to Thebes, then Amarna (not even going to be mentioned in this book). So just to make this book make more sense, I'm going to say, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN THEBES, IT'S JUST THAT THE AUTHORESS IS A STUPID IGNORANT PERSON, SO SHE WAS CONFUSED IN THE HEAD SO SHE MADE STUPID MISTAKES! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!!! Also, I realized Atemu's age has been wrong. He's 16, going on seventeen, and Syala is fifteen, going on sixteen. Atemu's birthday party age was a typo. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! tear
Previously, on Engaged to a pharaoh…
Shayla was nearly raped by Merrick (the bastard), but her Ka, the Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon, saved her and she killed Merrick. When she woke up, she was in a cottage and there was a young girl named Larissa who lived there along with Malik and his sister, Inara.
Now she's living with them, at least, until she can find out where exactly she came from.
Chapter 10. Heartbreaking Reunion
It was a month ago that Shayla had awoken and found herself in Larissa's cottage. And now, she couldn't imagine her life any other way.
She'd found out that Larissa was a sorceress, and though she wasn't that powerful, she had found a way to put her magic in herbs to make a living. The cottage was one of her larger works of magic. Though from the outside, the cottage looked small, the minute you walked in, you could tell otherwise. There were at least four bedrooms, each supplied with a small washroom. There were also countless other rooms in there that Shayla couldn't keep track of.
Shayla herself had also found a way to contribute to the family. She had an unusual ability in making sculptures out of the smooth, shiny rock found on the banks of the Nile. They were intricate things, usually signs of protection or luck and there was the occasional animal statue.
Malik and Inara helped Larissa around the house and with picking and crushing the medicine. And Malik occasionally helped her when she went to sell her sculptures.
However, this week was the week that would change Shayla's life as she knew it now.
"Going to the market again, Shayla?" Malik asked.
Shayla turned and smiled. "Yeah. Want to come? I made a lot this week, since they always sell out by noon." She smiled sheepishly.
"Love to," Malik replied, picking up two baskets full of sculptures.
The two of them saddled their mounts and, after telling Larissa where they were going, left for the market in Thebes at a slow trot. "Hey Malik?" Shayla asked suddenly. "Do you know what it feels like to be in love?"
"What?!" A blush raged across his face and his heart beat faster. –Yes, of course I know. I've known since the day I met you. –he thought. But he replied with, "well…you see…"
"Hey! We're here!!" Shayla yelled, interrupting Malik in mid-sentence and making him anime fall. Their village was just off the Nile River, a mile or two from the capitol of Upper Egypt, Thebes. "It looks like today's a really busy day; wonder what kind of event is going on."
"Oh well," Malik said, recomposing himself. "Let's go get a booth now, before everyone else steals all the good spots."
Shayla set up a booth by a blacksmith and a weaver. "I don't think today was the best day to come," she muttered. "There's too much commotion. What the hell is going on? Hey look! It's Kisara!"
Malik looked up. There was a young woman running towards them, waving. She was tall and slender, dressed in a knee-length tunic that was rather tattered. Kisara had white hair with a blue tint in it, which framed her clear, blue eyes. Shayla had met her a few weeks ago and the two became the best of friends. Oftentimes, Kisara liked to help them when they came to the marketplace to sell Shayla's statues.
"Kisara!" Shayla yelled, jumping up and down in excitement.
"Hello, Shayla, Malik. It's been a while!" Kisara called, smiling.
"How have you been these past few days? Not injured or starved in any way?" Malik asked.
"Not at all. I have gotten a couple of odd jobs and I'm absolutely fine!"
"Great! Now do you think you could tell us what seems to be going on here? There're so many people! Not that I'm complaining; it just means that I'll get more customers, but seriously, it's so crowded here!" Shayla scowled.
"Truthfully, I don't know what's going on," Kisara said. "Oh, look. Here comes the usual train of customers."
"I'd like that blue teardrop stone," a man said.
"How much is the statue of Ra?" another man asked.
"Could you possibly make another one of those Eye of Horus stones?" was another question.
Within twenty minutes, Shayla was half sold out. "Good Ra. This is a pain in the butt. Malik, take care of the booth for me? Me and Kisara are going to go buy some cool water." (A/N: Note that Shayla is talking improperly. Trying to keep this as realistic as possible. She lives with regular people now, and they're not going to walk around talking all formal and such.)
She grabbed Kisara's hand and ditched a pissed-off-looking Malik. Laughing, the two girls wandered the stalls looking at all the booths on display much like a person would at a mall. As Shayla found no clean water, She and Kisara contended themselves with cold beer, drinking at a booth together, talking. (A/N: Trust me. I did research on this. Water was mostly unclean and it was safer to drink beer. Had she been at the village or something, she could have boiled the water, then wait for it to cool, but since they're in the marketplace, we'll settle with beer.)
After they finished, the two girls continued to wander around the bazaar, occasionally stopping to buy an item, when suddenly, a rider came galloping over, making the crowd part hastily.
"Oh my! LOOK OUT!" Kisara exclaimed, looking at the street with wide eyes.
Shayla followed her gaze and saw a little boy had fallen over, and the rider was headed straight towards him! Weaving through the crowd, she leaped at the boy and pushed him out of the way.
But she had no time to get out of the way herself.
CRACK.
She screamed in pain as the horse stepped on her leg, snapping it with a sickening crunching noise.
"Shayla!" Kisara yelled, running onto the road towards the fallen girl.
"Make way, for the future Pharaoh of Egypt!" a voice yelled.
Everyone scrambled out of the way, leaving Kisara and Shayla in the middle of the road.
"Hey, Kisara?" Shayla gasped out through gritted teeth. "Could you kind of move me to the side of the road? I can heal my leg slightly there." The older girl nodded.
As Shayla gently used her magic to roughly connect her leg, the Prince came into view, mounted on his horse. (Yes, I know they normally use platform thingies, but hey, Atemu's not normal.)
When he saw Shayla (who didn't even bother looking at him) he immediately stopped the procession. "SHAYLA!?"
Startled, Shayla saw the Prince staring at her. "Um…"
The Prince walked up to Shayla. "Sh –Sh –Shayla? Is –is –is it really you?" he asked quietly.
"My name's Shayla, but I don't—"
She didn't finish due to the fact that the Prince had bent down and swept her into a hug. "A whole month." He said in her ear. "I've searched for a whole month. Do you know how hard that month was? Just not being able to see you was too much to bear. Do you know how much I've missed you?"
When he first swept her into a hug, she was too stunned to do anything. But now she got control of her wits and pushed the Prince away. Then she scampered behind Kisara, hiding like a little kid. (Well, she's around 15, and I'd be creeped too if a person I didn't know came and hugged me.) "Kisara, who is he? What is he talking about? Why did he hug me? Who is he??"
The man looked as if she'd just stabbed him. "Shayla? You don't remember me?"
"I've never seen you before in my life! Who are you? How do you know me? What do you want?" she yelled back.
"How do I know you?" he repeated incredulously, raising his voice. "How do I know you? I know you…because you were, and still are, my fiancée!!"
Silence.
"N –N –NO! My name is Shaylana Kahlim!!" Shayla screamed. "I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE! I COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE YOUR FIANCEE! YOU'RE LYING! IT'S NOT TRUE!!!!" She scrambled up, turned and ran off into the crowd.
"Shayla!" Both Kisara and the prince yelled.
But she paid no attention. –No. It's a lie. I don't know him! He's lying! I couldn't have been! –she heard footsteps gaining on her. –IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!! –
"Shayla!" Kisara yelled, grabbing onto her wrist. "Wait!"
"Is something wrong, my Prince?" a new voice asked.
They turned and saw a tall brunette with blue eyes rush over. "Are these commoners causing trouble for you?"
"Seto," the Prince said. "Look at her. Is she not Shayla?"
The young man looked at them and his eyes widened. "The –The –The White Dragon??!"
But the prince paid no attention. He pointed to Shayla. "Look, Seto. Is she not Shayla?" he repeated.
Seto's gaze traveled from Kisara to Shayla and he gasped. "Shayla?" he stammered. "H –h –h –how? After an entire month, she just turns up? Is it possible?" But then he frowned. "I don't know, Ate—I mean, your Majesty. She could be an impersonator. Anyways, her hair and eyes are nothing alike to Shayla's." (A/N: Remember the color change?)
"But just LOOK at her, Seto."
After a minute's consideration, he nodded. "Guards! Bring these two to the palace with us. I will interrogate them and get to the bottom of this!"
"Yes sir!"
A group of soldiers surrounded Shayla and Kisara.
Shayla gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. "Oh, fat lot of help bringing Red Eyes was, seeing as how I can't wield a sword for CRAP," she said to Kisara ruefully.
"Well, we've had Ka fights before, right?"
"Yeah," Shayla said apologetically. "But I haven't figured out how to call it out yet."
"Oh," Kisara sweatdropped. "I see."
"Alright, alright! I'll try!" Shayla closed her eyes. –Come on, Red Eyes. I need you right now! You know how much I've been practicing every night just so that I could call you out! Just come out this once so I don't make a total fool of myself, OK?-
She felt something like a sigh within her, and suddenly, a pillar of red light slammed down on her physical body, making her legs buckle.
-Oh, all right, -the metallic voice sighed. –But just to let you know, I was SLEEPING. –
A large black dragon appeared above her, roaring.
"No way!" She heard a voice yell. "Is that really what I think it is?"
"But Shayla never had a Ka! And how could she master a summoning without a Ka disk (What are these things called?)in just one month?? However, she did have that sword!" The Prince's voice called back. "But why isn't she using the sword?"
"Ha! That's funny," Shayla said, standing up, her eyes glowing slightly. "This beauty? I couldn't wield her if my life depended on it!" She raised a hand at her Ka. "But I'm not completely helpless in a battle!"
"Shayla! Please stop!" the Prince cried. "I don't want you to hurt anyone, especially yourself!"
"If you don't stop bugging me, it'll be more than the guards hurt!"
"Dios!" Seto summoned. Then he looked at Shayla. "Princess, please don't make me do this. I have so much more experience with fighting than you! You could easily get injured!" (A/N: haha, I just noticed something. This procession had turned from a formal viewing of the capital to a Ka battle. I really suck at writing. )
"Drop it already," Shayla called. "Try to focus on not getting hurt yourself, first!"
Seto sweatdropped. "The chances of her being Shayla just rose up. Only Shayla would have such an attitude."
"Enough talking," Shayla called, and Kisara gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Will you let us go, or do you wish to fight?"
"Insolent girl!" a guard yelled, advancing on her. "How dare you speak to the Pharaoh and the priest like such? You will pay for that!" He raised his sword.
"Stop!" The Prince yelled.
But Shayla gave him a cold look. Red Eyes roared overhead and bent his head down to rest right above Shayla's head, mouth open, an attack gathering there. The guard stopped in his tracks, looking at the dragon nervously. "Go on," Shayla smiled. "Go on and make me 'pay for that' as you claimed I would."
"Shayla, that is quite enough," Seto called out. "Come back with us; your parents are worried sick about you."
Shayla froze. "My parents? You now who my parents are?"
"Of course! Pharaoh Karimu and Queen Kisandra are your parents! Now come, you shouldn't worry them any more; all four ruler's health are poor out of worry!"
"STOP IT!!" Shayla screamed. "They aren't my parents! I don't have royalty as my parents! I don't even know who you people are!"
"I'll take you back, even if it means I have to use force," the Prince suddenly said, patience snapped. He raised his Ka-armband (Does anyone know what these things are called?) and called, "I summon you, Chimera, King of mythical beasts!" A beast materialized in front of him. "ATTACK RED EYES!!!"
"Ok, Red Eyes, it is time to try the new technique!" Shayla called raising a hand up to the dragon's head. Power gathered at her hands and flowed into the dragon, who roared loudly.
"Counterattack with Molten Fire Blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Shayla yelled, releasing the dragon from her power and allowing it to fly up into the air, meeting Chimera's attack head-on.
Frowning in concentration, Shayla focused on her magic and forced all noise out of her head until she could hear nothing except the sounds of the battle overhead.
She gripped the hilt of her sword, drawing small amounts of power from the opal embezzled in the eye of Horus and channeling it to her Ka.
-Alright. Are you ready for this?-she thought mentally to her Ka. –We're going to try THAT attack next.-
-I'd be more ready for it if you'd let me sleep more. –her dragon grumbled, but she smiled.
-When we're done, you can have all the rest you need. Now let's do it. –she said.
"Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon, Attack with Spiral Flame!!"
"What? What kind of attack is that?" Seto yelled.
"You idiot!" A familiar voice called from the crowd. "You've never tried such a powerful attack! You could get injured, you stupid girl!"
The dragon flew up higher than Chimera and blasted it.
However, it was far from being a normal blast.
Halfway to the target, the attack split and spread until it was coming at Chimera from all six sides, leaving the monster with no way of counterattacking, or blocking.
Chimera was killed upon impact, and both Shayla and the prince fell to their knees, the Prince clutching his chest, and Shayla gasping, fatigued from using up so much energy. Then she gasped as the world spun, and she fell forward towards the ground. Her Ka disappeared.
"Shayla!" Four voices cried.
Kisara rushed forward and caught Shayla as she fell, both the High Priest and the Prince, who had gotten up, started forward, but another figure darted forward and caught Shayla in a warm hug. "Shayla, you idiot! Why'd you do that? You could've died!"
The girl smiled up at the boy. "But I mastered it! I really mastered that attack!" She sounded so excited, despite her tired voice. "It was so gorgeous and—MALIK! You left our booth open?"
He laughed. "No, I packed up and dropped the things off at an inn. You look like you could use some rest. Come on and we'll go home." He picked her up bridal-style and stood up. Kisara followed suit.
"Halt, in the name of the Pharaoh!" Seto said. "What business do you have with Princess Shaylana?"
They stopped and turned to face him. "Begging your pardon, my lord, but she's not a Princess. She's just my blood sister," Kisara said with a small smile. "And from what she's told me, she has lived with Larissa as long as she can remember."
At this, the two men exchanged glances. "But after seeing that sword, there is no doubt that she is the Princess Shaylana Gydion of Lower Egypt." Seto said. "We must take her with us."
"NO," Malik said. "Forgive me, your Lordships, but Shayla is an important member of our family. And if she doesn't want to go, I will not permit you to force her against her will."
Startled, Shayla looked up at Malik. "Wait…Malik, you don't have to do this." She struggled to get out of his arms and Malik obliged, setting her on her feet gently. For a second, she swayed, as if she were about to collapse, but composed herself quickly.
"Your Highness," she said, her voice frosty. "I'm sorry if you have lost someone important, but whoever she is, I'm not her. Larissa has been my guardian for as long as I can remember, and Malik has been like a brother to me. I think I would've been told if I were royalty."
"I WILL make you remember," The Prince said fiercely. He took out something from his pocket. (A/N: Did they have pockets back then? O.O) "Does this look familiar to you?"
Curiously, Shayla reached out to take the object. It was a ring. A ring with an emerald dragon wrapped around an Eye of Horus. "Nope, first time I've seen something like this," she replied, handing it back to the crestfallen man. "Honestly, don't you—"
She froze. Pain lashed through her right eye; the one that was as red as her dragon's eyes. Clutching her eye, she fell to one knee, panting in pain.
"Shayla!" Malik knelt down beside her. "What's wrong?"
Grimacing in agony, she looked up at him. "M-M-Malik…I…my eye…it's…" she stopped as a scream of agony escaped her lips and she went limp in Malik's arms.
She was in a large room, and there were a couple doctors there carrying out a girl that looked dead.
Then a voice said, "Except for you, Shayla."
She turned around. Then she realized that she was not 'herself'. She was wearing clothes that were too costly and she had on a small crown. –Who's body am I in? –she muttered, trying to examine herself but found that she had no control over the body whatsoever. But since the girl had responded to the other voice, Shayla assumed that this girl's name was also 'Shayla'. –OK, MAJOR headache coming on. –she though with a groan.
'Shayla' bit her lip. When everyone had gone away, she snapped, "What do you want?" But who was the heck was she talking to? –This is some kind of trick! –She thought desperately. –I mean, it's like I got my body switched or something, but I can't control this body! Is this a dream?–
"What in Ra's name was going on? I know you and Teana aren't exactly friends, but don't you think killing her was just a bit too far?" the same voice asked.
-What the hell? –Shayla thought. –Why can't I see his face?- She tried harder to make out his features, but all she got were shadows.
The 'Shayla' stuck her chin out slightly. "No, I don't, as a matter of fact." She retorted. "But you have to admit, that girlfriend of yours just is a bit too bitchy sometimes."
The person took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. "She's NOT my girlfriend, for the last time. But here's the biggest problem. Think what would have happened if you actually succeeded in killing her! You should really learn to control that temper of yours. It could get you in to some serious trouble one of these days." He said, concern in his voice.
'Shayla' looked at him, startled. –Did I just hear concern in his voice? I'm hallucinating.- But instead, she said, "Hm. Like you care? You'd most likely drop dead of happiness if I died right here, right now."
"That's not true," he said quietly.
Shayla wanted to scream in frustration. She was currently sharing a body with another girl who shared her name and she had no idea what the heck was going on! "Who are you?" she wanted to ask. "Why am I here?"
But she could do nothing.
The vision was now getting blurry and she desperately tried one more time to make out the other person's features.
But to no avail as darkness clouded her vision.
"Shaylana…"
Someone was calling out to her.
"Who are you?" she yelled.
"Shaylana…answer this call! Shaylana…"
"I'm answering, goddammit!"
"Shaylana…"
The call was going faint.
"Shaylana…Shaylana…Shaylana…"
"SHAYLA!!"
Her eyes flew open as Malik's voice cut through her dream.
Above her were the worried faces of Malik, Larissa, Kisara, and the Prince.
"A…dream?" she asked.
"Good gracious, child," Larissa huffed. "You had us all worried there. I thought for sure you were a goner, but then your fever suddenly plummeted and your breathing started again."
"Oh. Well that's—my breathing STARTED again? I stopped breathing??" she blinked in confusion. "Wait. And a fever?"
"Yes," Kisara smiled at her. "You've been out for nearly five hours."
"FIVE HOURS??????"
Shayla sat bolt upright in bed and nearly fainted as her head spun uncontrollably. Strong arms supported her as she fought to stay conscious. "Ma…lik…"
"I'm right here, Shayla."
Slowly, her vision came to focus and the people in the room became more definable. "God DAMN my head hurts." She muttered, slowly standing up.
In a flash, the Prince was next to her supporting her gently.
But she scowled and yanked her arm out of his grasp. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much." She staggered a couple of steps. "Where's Red Eyes?"
"Here," Malik said, "But you can't have her just yet; you can barely support yourself, much less a sword." He then grinned. "Then again, you're Shayla."
She smiled, then looked at the prince. "Oh dear! You're bleeding! What happened?" (KT: AHEM. YOU'RE what happened, idiot)
Startled, the man reached up and found that there was a shallow cut on his face. "Oh. It's nothing, real—"
"Oh, stop." Shayla said, reaching under her bed for a first aid kit. "You're so pale! You are NOT okay!" Gently, she took out some bandages and ointment. "Kisara, could you get some fresh water? Malik, please show her where it is." She then proceeded to gently drying up the wet blood from the Prince's face.
"Shayla," he said quietly. "I know this will sound strange if you really aren't HER, but do you honestly not remember anything?"
"Hm?" She said absently, focused on cleaning his wound with water that Kisara had just brought in. "Well, to tell you the truth, I can't really say." She stopped washing his cut and smiled sadly. "You see, I couldn't tell you if I don't remember anything about you, because I don't even know truthfully who I am." (At this part, Malik and Kisara slipped out.) "I have no recollections of anything in my past. When I woke up, they, Larissa and Malik, that is, told me I was found on the banks of the Nile River, badly beaten." She looked at him with a forced smile. "But that's OK. I live a—"
Without warning, the Prince reached over and kissed her on the lips.
Shayla's eyes widened. –What the heck? Why did he just--?And why--?—
She was in that girl named Shayla's mind and body again, standing in some place that was DEFINITELY NOT in Larissa's cottage.
A hand reached out from behind and grabbed 'Shayla's' wrist.
"Let me—" she never finished her sentence. Lips eased over hers, cutting her off and sending her plunging into a world of pure bliss.
The kiss was slow, sweet, and romantic, not at all rough or demanding. 'Shayla' arched her back and allowed him to deepen the kiss as her hands fingered his collarbone and wrapped around his neck.
-Who IS he????—Shayla thought in annoyance and confusion. –I can't make out his face and— No! Don't freaking close your eyes!!!-
The girl whom she currently 'shared' a body with closed her eyes, melting into the man's arms. They stood there for quite some time before the man finally pulled away, much to 'Shayla's' disappointment.
'Shayla' took some deep breaths. She was craving for more. In fact, she had to keep her gaze determinedly at the floor to keep her self-control. But the man lifted up her chin. "I Love you," he whispered in her ear.
'Shayla's' arms flew around his neck and she hugged him close, breathing in his scent. Her head rested on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and she thought about his words. And he hugged her back, his cheek resting on the top of her head and his arms wrapped protectively around her.
"NO!!"
Shayla broke free of the Prince's kiss and scrambled backwards.
But he didn't move, just looked at her with a sad look in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. But I can't. I don't know who you are; it must be just a coincidence that I look similar to your fiancée. I'm sorry for your loss." She stood up. "I hope you can find her, Your Majesty."
"Atemu," he said as she turned to leave. "Call me Atemu. And please don't forget this time."
"Isn't it dangerous to give out your name, especially the future Pharaoh's name to just anyone?" Shayla asked without turning around. (A/N: for those who do not know: Egyptians believed that if you knew someone's name, you had absolute power over them, so to know the future Pharaoh's name is like…yeah. You guys get my drift, right?)
"But I'll trust you. Even if you claim you're not Shayla, I'll trust you with my name. And I swear on Ra Osiris and Obelisk that I'll get you to remember." Atemu said fiercely.
Quietly, Shayla walked out.
It had been a week since Atemu had gone to her village and Shayla was plagued everyday since that day with waking dreams.
Every time, she shared a body with another girl that had her name.
—God DAMMIT! That girl is NOT me! I would know if some guy kissed me, if I lived in a luxurious mansion like that one and moreover, I'd KNOW if I was in love!!—
She sighed, fingering her sword, which was buckled to her waist. Kisara left that same day Atemu did, disappearing without a trace, and she missed the older girl DESPERATELY. But right now, more so than anything else, she found herself thinking about Atemu. "Why?" she muttered to herself as she sat on the banks of the Nile. "Why HIM? He's a Pharaoh, I'm a peasant girl. Besides, he's kind of creepy. There's no way I could like him, at least, not that way."
Lying down, she stared at the sky, thinking. –But now I'm curious. Just WHAT happened to me in my past…?- Slowly, her eyes started drooping…
She was awoken by the sound of screaming in the distance. Startled, she sat up and looked around. It was already nighttime and pitch dark everywhere …no.
There was a bright fire burning over the hill.
She scrambled up and ran towards the hill…and froze.
Below her, the village was burning. The Pharaoh's army rode through the streets, killing left and right, looting…
-No…!- Shayla's eyes widened in horror.
She ran down to the burning village, calling on her Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon. "LARISSA!!! MALIK!!! MALIK!!! WHERE ARE YOU?????????"
LARISSA
Larissa had been talking with Malik when it happened. "The wheels are turning. But after what happened last week, I can't trust fate anymore. Shayla won't make it unless—"
Suddenly, a boy burst into the room. "Larissa! The Pharaoh's army is headed this way!"
"WHAT??"
Larissa and Malik burst out of her house and paled when they saw the scene. There were guards everywhere, driving people out of their homes, trampling over shattered pots and spilled food. People were frantically scrambling out of their way or hastily grabbing their belongings. Some soldiers were even looting houses.
"Malik, find Shayla!!! Whatever happens, don't let her die!" Larissa ordered.
Malik nodded and left.
The so-called-leader of the pillaging rode up to Larissa minutes after Malik left. "Are you the medicine woman, Larissa?"
"I am. But you aren't the Pharaoh's army."
The man chuckled. "Very good, girl. We aren't. But isn't our disguise wonderfully clever? No one gives us a second thought."
"What the hell do you people think you're doing, dressing up as the Pharaoh's army?"
"Shut up." The man grabbed her by the arm. "You're a pretty little thing. You're coming—"
"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU FILTHY SONUVABITCH!" an enraged voice roared.
Looking over, the two saw Shayla and Malik standing on the road, her eyes blazing and Red Eyes held in front of her. "YOU HEAR ME? GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!"
"What can you do?" he snarled, but Shayla heard panic in his voice.
A smile flirted on her lips and she sheathed her sword. "I may not be able to do anything, but I believe my soul can."
"What?"
Shayla's head lifted and everyone was stunned to see her eyes glow red. "THIS IS YOUR PRICE TO PAY! FEAST YOUR EYES ON MY KA, THE RED EYES BLACK METAL DRAGON!!!"
A dragon exploded up behind her.
"What the hell is that thing?" the man yelled, releasing Larissa, who scrambled away.
"That, boy, is the being of your destruction," Shayla smirked. "No, say goodbye!" She raised her sword. "ATTACK!!!!!!!!!"
The dragon hurled a ball of energy at the man, incinerating him.
Shayla's eyes stopped glowing as she slumped to the ground, and her Ka dissolved.
"Shayla! Are you alright?" Larissa yelled. "Shayla!"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Oh thank goodness. We must get out of here," Larissa looked around at the burning homes and the frantic, screaming people. "The village is large, so we can escape easily. Come on!" She grabbed Malik and Shayla's wrist and dragged them off. "Wait here," she said as she pulled them in an alleyway. "I'll go see if the coast is clear." She scampered off.
"Wait! Larissa!" Shayla cried, but it was too late.
But she didn't have to worry. Seconds later, Larissa came back. "It's alright. There aren't any guards here yet, but we must—"
She froze ridged.
"Larissa? What—" Malik started.
Blood sprayed from Larissa's mouth and she fell forward, three arrows in her back.
"Larissa?" Shayla asked, her eyes widening. "NO! LARISSAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"
"Shayla, come on!" Malik urged, grabbing her hand and tugging her towards the end of the alleyway. We must get out of here!"
"NO!" Shayla screamed, drawing her sword. "I'LL KILL THEM! I'LL KILL THE BASTARDS THAT DID THIS! THE PHARAOH IS RESPONSIBLE! THAT'S THE PHARAOH'S ARMY OUT THERE! I'LL KILL THEM ALL! THE PHARAOH WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!"
But Malik was firm. "SHAYLA! WE HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME? SHAYLA!"
Angrily, Shayla wrenched her hand from his. "Malik, leave if you must, I'm not going to leave until I've avenged Larissa's death. She was my 'mother', more so than my real mother, probably. I can't let this slide by."
After a second, Malik nodded. "Then I'm coming with you."
"No you're not," Shayla said. "You'll get killed for sure. You can't even fight with a sword."
"Well, niether can you! And I made a promise wwith Larissa; I'm coming along. I can't let you go out there by yourself."
After a few seconds, Shayla nodded with a grim smile."Let's go." She ran out from the alley and immediately ran into three soldiers.
"Well, well, well. You're a beautiful little thing. I think you'll do just fine for the three of us. I say we have our fun with her before killing her."
Sweat formed at Shayla temples. "I'd like to see you try."
The men advanced on her and she brought her sword up. She felt the sword's power and her Ka's energy running through her and she gained confidence. "You asked for it. RED EYES, MOLTEN FIREBALL!!!!!"
A column of fire burst out in front of her and spiraled at the men, killing them instantly. Her Ka did not come out, but she could sense its presence next to her and she stood taller to face any other foes that may appear. Then…
"Shayla! LOOK OUT!"
She turned, only to find five arrows pelting at her. Her eyes widened and she hastily raised her sword.
Too late.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
Four arrows hit.
And Malik slumped to the ground, four arrows in him.
"No! Malik! Why?" Shayla knelt down next to him. "Why?? I was just another girl standing there! WHY?" Tears were steaming down her cheeks. "You didn't have to save me! Why'd you do it?? I wasn't worth it!"
"Shh…" Malik grinned at her. "You're worth it, Shayla. You ARE worth it, and don't you think otherwise. I know we've only known each other for, a month or so, but I feel like I've know you for a lifetime. I love you, Shayla, like a little sister, and maybe more. You were worth it."
His eyes started closing.
"Malik…NO! DON'T DIE ON ME! PLEASE!"
"I hope you…find the one for you Shayla. Look for him. And when you find him..."
He closed his eyes, a smile on his face.
"MALIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Nearby, a raider was riding at her, not bothering to stop.
"RED EYES!!! COME OUT AND SHOW THESE PEOPLE THEIR PLACES!" Shayla screamed, outraged. Her Ka reacted to her anger and appeared beside her, incinerating the man.
"Go!" She yelled at the dragon, fury driving her insane, the thirst for vengeance pushing her to her limit. "THE PHARAOH WILL PAY FOR THIS, I SWEAR ON MY SOUL! NOW SEND ALL THESE BASTARDS OF HIS ARMY TO OSIRIS'S HELL!!!!!!!!!!!"
The dragon let out a blast so powerful it shook the earth when it slammed down.
Dead bodies of the raiders were everywhere around her, the sword she gripped in her hands now coated in a sticky, crimson liquid, but Shayla just knelt down next to Malik and Larissa's bodies and sobbed.
She didn't know how long she stayed there. The raid was over, but houses were still burning and people were salvaging for belongings. Shayla felt miserable. The only two people she knew in her life had died.
A hand was placed on her shoulder. "Look at me," the voice commanded.
It sounded so familiar…but she swore she never heard it before.
Looking up, her red and emerald eyes bet blood red ones. "Who are you?" she hiccupped, looking the man head to toe. He had, strangely, white hair and red eyes. An X shaped scar was on his cheek and his muscles stood in stark contrast to his skin.
"That doesn't matter. Come with me right now, and we'll avenge all these people." The man's eyes were hard.
"Who are you?" Shayla asked. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face dirty and streaked with tears.
"I am the Thief King Bakura. Come with me, and together, with our joined strength, we will take down the Pharaoh."
He extended a hand down to her. "Do you accept my offer?"
Tentatively, her hand slowly edged towards the offered hand. But something in her heart screamed at her to stop.
"Together, using the combined force of your power and Ka with mine, there is no way we could loose," Bakura whispered to her with an evil smile. "I'm in the same boat as you; my only family was killed by the Pharaoh's army. Our purposes are the same. Accept it, girl. This was preordained by fate."
Her eyes hardened, a madness to take revenge boiled inside her, fighting with the voice of her heart.
Bakura still didn't waver. He held his hand, unmoving. "We can take vengeance for your loved ones together. Now agree to what destiny has planned, girl."
In one fluid movement, she grasped his hand, got to her feet, a bloodied sword gripped in her hand, and gave him a smile almost as sadistic as him own. "Shayla. Call me Shayla, Bakura. And I swear I'll follow you. And, with you, bring down this dynasty of the Pharaoh."
KT: OK, so it's finally typed out! Please don't kill me for the extremely long wait?
YKT: No, you deserve to die.
KT: Thanks. You're such a supportive person.
Christina: Type, you nut!
KT: I'M A CASHEW, FOR THE LAST TIME!
Christina: NO, YOU'RE A NUT!
KT: A CASHEW!
Christina: A nut!
YKT: SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU! KT'S A PISTACHIO!!!
KT and Christina: OO OK!!!
KT: BTW, I'll try to update in a month, but I'm really busy and I haven't even THOUGHT about the eleventh chapter yet, so sorry. But yeah, this chapter was 19 pages long, so I hope you enjoyed it! For those of you who bothered coming back to read my up date (in six months), please review! If I'm lucky, I might reach 170 reviews! Love all you!!!