Chapter: 11

Previously: Bakura found her sensitive area and sucked on it. He pulled away and sneered. "Even if the Pharaoh had your body," he whispered into her ear, "you still taste exquisite." He licked her cheek, sending shivers down Tiara's spine. "I think I'll enjoy this first and then take your life." He licked her other high, sharp cheekbone.

Tiara's eyes shot open with horror in them. Atem. She thought. Please hurry. I need you…

- -

Tiara's brown stallion suddenly took an unexpected turn towards a cave that had a very large mouth.

Atem stopped his white stallion and looked at the brown horse. "I wonder if he can tell if Tiara's there." He muttered. He turned his horse towards the cave and rode after the brown horse. Tiara. He thought. Please hold on a little longer.

- - - -

Tiara let out a scream as Bakura gnawed on her breast. She tried to kick him but he held her legs down. Her face was cherry red and her eyes were pinched shut. "STOP!" She cried at the top of her lungs. Tears ran down her face like rivers as she squirmed to get free, but Bakura had her tightly pinned and would not let her go. ATEM! She screamed in her head. She began to sob and Bakura pulled away from her.

He was chuckling as he rose to his feet. His grin was so evil that evil itself would fear it. His piercing cold eyes glared down at the Tiara's weak, trembling body. "I really do not see why the Pharaoh cares about you." He scoffed. "I do not even see why the gods seem to favor you over all other pathetic mortals on this plain of existence."

Tiara sniffed as she brought her knees up to her bare chest. She whimpered and hiccupped. She wanted him to kill her now. She couldn't stop trembling. At last she muttered, "I don't see why the gods favor me. I don't even know why I came with my father to see Egypt and the pyramids."

Bakura snorted and brought the dagger to her neck. "I hope your father picked a pleasant place for your rotting corpse." He hissed. He pressed the blade hard and pulled it across Tiara's throat.

Her eyes grew wide as her pupils grew small. She closed her eyes and blacked out.

Bakura laughed as he licked off the crimson liquid. "She still tastes exquisite, even in death." He turned and left. "That pathetic girl cannot protect the Pharaoh if she isn't alive anymore." He placed his dagger back into its place under his wide-open jacket. He stopped and listened to fast footfalls coming towards him. He sneered. "So her lover came after all. It's sad that he is too late." He drew his sword. "Now it is time for him to join her in the afterlife." He hid in the shadows, waiting for Atem to appear.

He got his wish—Atem came running down in the darkness, completely unaware of Tiara's demise and the man who would ambush him.

Within moments, Atem was close enough and Bakura pounced him—sending them both to the ground. They rolled in the dirt as they tried to get on top of the other. Atem soon dominated, slugged Bakura with his fist, scrambled to his feet, and drew his sword. "Where is Tiara, Bakura?" He snapped.

Bakura chuckled as he rose to his feet and held his sword. "She's a little tied up right now." He scoffed. "And she's bleeding tremendously."

Atem's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "What?" he breathed.

Bakura laughed. "So narrow minded." He spat. "She's dead, Pharaoh. I killed her after I had some fun with her."

Atem could hear his heart ring in his ears. The loud beating of his heart drowned Bakura's laughter out. He fell into a blinded rage, making his eyes seem more red than violet. He charged at Bakura as he let out a roar of anger.

- - - - - - - -

Tiara felt like she was as light as a feather and on a soft cloud. She opened her eyes and saw brightness all around her. She sat up. "Where am I?" She muttered.

A woman with black hair that reached to her feet and dark eyes appeared. She wore a similar dress to Bastet and she was pale. She also had black wings and she held a single black feather in her hand. She was very beautiful, like Bastet, and she was smiling coolly. "I am Ma'at." She introduced. Her voice sounded like soft velvet. "I am the goddess of truth and justice. I am here to judge your heart."

Tiara slowly batted her coal black eyelashes. "Ma'at?" She breathed. "What is this place and what do you mean by judging my heart?"

"This is my domain." Ma'at explained. "This is the border between life and death." A balance appeared next to her and she placed the black feather on one side of the balance. "If your heart is lighter than this feather, then you are full of light and good. If that is the case, then you will be allowed into Heaven. However, if your heart is heavier than this feather, then you are full of darkness and evil. Then, you will be sent to the Underworld to be forever punished for your sins."

Tiara trembled slightly. She stared at the balance and waited for her heart to appear.

For a long moment, Tiara's heart did not appear and Ma'at was beginning to get irritated. "What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.

A man with bronze colored skin appeared. He wore the crown of a pharaoh. He had one dark eye for the other was gouged out a long time ago. He had a bright disk behind his head as he approached. He wore amazing clothes of a pharaoh. He wore gold jewelry that seemed to glitter like the sun. He looked at Tiara and smiled. "It is not time for you to pass into Heaven." He told her, his voice softer than velvet. "I am Ra, the sun god."

Ma'at bowed respectfully. "Forgive me." She apologized. "I had no idea, Sire."

Tiara cocked her head to one side. "What do you two mean?" She asked.

Ra smiled. "You must be Tiara, the child I picked so long ago." He said. "It is not your time to join us in Heaven. Atem still needs you."

"But what can I do?" Demanded Tiara. "I'm dead, my throat was slit!"

Ra closed his eyes and sighed. "I shall allow you to return to the land of the living, without your injury." He replied. He held his hand out to her. "However, it is your choice to return to Atem or remain here for all eternity."

Tiara looked down at her feet. "I wish to return to the living and save Atem." She muttered.

"Then take my hand." Ra ordered calmly.

Tiara looked up, stretched out her hand to his, and took it. She saw a bright golden light surround her and then there was blackness.

- - - - - - - -

Tiara opened her eyes and was surprised to see that she was alive again. She still felt like she was still light as a feather. She didn't feel the chains around her wrists and the slit in her throat was gone. She snatched up her tank top and threw it on. She scrambled to her feet and saw a staff leaning against the wall—waiting for her. She snatched the staff and ran towards the sound of blades knocking against each other. She felt her body grow back to its normal weight as her soul was anchored to it.

She found Atem and Bakura fighting and Atem's eyes were blinded with rage—making his eyes appear red instead of violet. "Atem." She breathed. She ran at Bakura from behind and struck him in the back.

Atem saw her and his rage vanished. "Tiara." He muttered.

She smiled softly. "Hello Atem." She replied.

Bakura got up slowly and saw Tiara. "How is that possible?" He demanded in a venomous hiss. "I killed you."

"Ra gave me a second chance." Tiara said, more to Atem than to Bakura. Her smile turned into a wildly delighted grin that seemed to say, "Let's take this bastard out together."

Atem grinned in return and nodded. He and Tiara charged at Bakura.

Bakura parried Atem's blow but was hit with Tiara's strike. He knew the sword would do more damage but Tiara was getting in several blows with her staff. He began to laugh and knocked them both down—cutting into Atem's chest with his sword.

Tiara scrambled to Atem. She reached out and touched just above the wound.

It was deep and blood was gushing.

"T-Tiara." Atem muttered weakly.

She shook her head and her hair fell over her shoulders. "Don't you dare say yer going to die, 'cause I ain't about to let that happen." She spat.

Bakura charged at them and swung his sword.

A bright golden light sprang from Tiara's chest and Bastet appeared. A staff appeared in Bastet's hand and she blocked Bakura's attack.

Tiara looked at her guardian spirit. "Bastet." She breathed.

Bakura snorted, "Relying on your spirit to protect you. How worthless."

"It appears you do not know who you are speaking to." Said Bastet. "I am Bastet, goddess of protection and I have vowed to protect Lady Tiara and the Pharaoh."

Bakura's eyes grew wide. "This street rat has a goddess as her ka?" He shouted. "This cannot be possible."

"Ra has chosen Lady Tiara to protect Pharaoh Atem." Bastet venomously spat. "Lady Tiara is not an ordinary girl and you know that."

Bakura snarled and charged at Bastet.

Bastet parried his attacks and dodged his lunges. She struck him with her staff over and over until he hit the ground—this time he was dead because his neck was broken.

Tiara's eyes grew wide as she stared at Bastet. "You—" She began.

Bastet looked at her. "You must get His Majesty back to the palace as fast as you can or else he will die here as well." She disappeared.

Tiara tore off his cape from his shoulders. She tore it into strips and tied a few of the strips tightly around his wound. She picked him up and hurried out of the cave. She saw his white stallion and her brown stallion waiting for them. She set him down and heaved a sigh of exhaustion. "Do you think you'll be able to ride?" She asked.

Atem nodded slowly. He slowly rose to his feet and stumbled to his white horse.

Tiara helped him mount his horse and quickly mounted hers. They hurried back to the palace as fast as possible. She saw how limp Atem's body was getting. Oh no. She thought. "Atem!" She shouted.

To be continued…

Character Chat

Tiara: dragonchild247! Please don't let Atem die!

dragonchild247: *prays to Ra* I don't want him to die either, ya know.

Tiara: Please, don't let him die. *prays to Ra*