Hey guys, I'm back. With a longer chapter too. Anyway, hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warnings: fluff, characters might be a little OOC.
It was late the night after the duel between Jaden and Nightshroud and after Chazz went back to the Slifer dorm Aurelia headed up to see Jaden. He was still asleep when she walked in, Syrus sitting vigilant by his bedside.
"Hey Sy, he still out?"
Syrus looked up at her and nodded. "Hasn't moved since we brought him here."
Aurelia nodded and pulled up a chair on Jaden's other side. She worried about Jaden, pushing himself so hard. One of these days he's most likely to burn out and she didn't want to see that happen to him.
Aurelia grabbed the hand closest to her and held it. Come on Jay, wake up.
"Ahh!" Suddenly Jaden sat upright in fear then grabbed at his ribs in pain.
"Jaden!" Syrus said as Aurelia put a hand on Jaden's shoulder and pushed him back down gently. "Are you okay?"
"Aw, weird dream. I saw a girl." Jaden said quietly.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Seriously Jay? You almost die on us and you're thinking about girls?" she glared at him.
"He must be feeling better then." Miss Fontaine came to see him.
"How is Nightsh-I mean, Alexis' brother?" Jaden asked.
"He hasn't woken up yet. He's stable though, which is good."
Aurelia glanced over at Nightshroud's bed and Alexis. If this was Alexis' brother then what could have possessed him to do those things?
Later that day Aurelia along with Chazz, Zane, Banner, Bastian and Dr. Crowler were called into Sheppard's office. Sheppard had a frown on his face which meant this wasn't going to be good news.
"There's a vampire running around campus." he said bluntly.
Chazz reeled back. "Vampire?"
Aurelia glanced over at him with a smirk. He caught it, humphed, crossed his arms and looked away. Aurelia shook her head with a smile. She knew he wasn't really mad he just reacted that way when embarrassed.
"Yes, I'm afraid those rumours aren't rumours after all." Sheppard said.
"Please, it's a practical joke." Crowler stated.
"A practical joke? It wasn't a joke that put Jaden in the hospital." Bastian said slowly.
"Do you think she's a shadow rider?" Zane asked.
Aurelia nodded, "Most likely. She's probably looking for us."
"Us? You don't even have a key!" Crowler said.
"Nevertheless, I will stand between the shadow riders and those cards. They don't deserve to see the light of day again." Aurelia said and calmly walked out of the room.
"Let's see that vampire try to get the drop on The Chazz." Chazz sifted through his cards.
"Why would she do it when I could have ages ago?" Aurelia stepped up from behind Chazz.
He jumped and tossed his cards everywhere. "How did you get in here?"
Aurelia smirked. "The perks of owning a school." she sat down next to him and pulled out one of his cards, staring at it. "Actually I was here before you came back. I was waiting for you."
Chazz smirked. She knew it because she could practically feel it. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "Really? Waiting for me?"
Aurelia smiled and rolled her eyes. She looked up at him. "Yes you." he returned her smile and kissed her gently. Aurelia pulled away. "We need to talk."
Chazz sighed dramatically. "But I've already done all my homework, and making out so much more fun." Aurelia gave him a look and he sobered. "Okay, what are we talking about?"
Aurelia looked away. "I want you to be careful. These shadow riders only seem to get worse. We're facing a vampire now and even if we defeat her, who do we face after her?" Aurelia turned back to Chazz. "Just be careful alright?"
Chazz stared at her. "Aurelia, it's just a duel."
Aurelia stood up. "No it's not! You could…she could…there's a possibility you could lose your soul if you face her."
Chazz stayed on the floor while Aurelia started pacing. "You should have never picked up that key. You should have never gotten involved with this."
Chazz grabbed her arm to stop her. "Aurelia, I asked you this before. If we don't protect the keys then who will?" he said gently. He tugged once on her arm and she followed, plopping down ungracefully on his lap.
Aurelia's brow rose. "Really?"
Chazz smirked. "It's not like you haven't been on my lap before."
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "I was in the middle of a panic attack brought on by you! I wasn't really thinking about that." she smiled for a few seconds until she was brought back to the present and leaned against him.
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
Chazz wrapped his arms around her and just held her; not really knowing what to say.
Aurelia suddenly felt like they were being watched. She turned her head slightly so Chazz wouldn't notice and stared up at a large black bat hanging from the ceiling. Her eyes moved to the window and saw it was open.
She moved to stand but Chazz stopped her. "What are you doing Aurelia?"
"Relax, I'm just closing the window. I'm cold."
"But it's still warm outside." Chazz argued.
"I know." she closed them anyway. "I just wanted to trap the little spy we have among us."
She turned back to Chazz who gave her a very confused look. She shook her head and walked slowly toward the bat. It tried to fly at her to make her duck but she just grabbed it instead.
"What the hell?" Chazz shouted when she showed him the bat. "That's not a real vampire is it?"
Aurelia looked it over. "Nah, vampires don't really turn into bats that's just a myth. This is, I'm guessing, a spy for the real vampire. She's seeking out the key holders and using bats so she can see her opponents and choose which one she wants first."
"Okay, that's creepy." Chazz shuddered.
"Do you have a box or something to keep him in?" she asked him.
Chazz glanced around. "I might…ha! There it is!" Chazz picked up a large shoebox and showed it to her. "I've had this since the last time I went shoe shopping. I just carry random stuff in it now."
"You went shoe shopping?" Aurelia asked as she stuffed the wriggling bat into the box.
"What? Everybody needs shoes." Chazz defended.
Aurelia put her hands up in surrender as Chazz poked holes in the top of the box. Aurelia wrapped tape around the box so the bat couldn't push his way out. She grabbed the box and shook her head. "We need to tell the others."
Chazz nodded in return. "Sheppard's office. Everyone's meeting back there in a few minutes."
Aurelia handed him the box. "You can pretend you caught it while I pretend that I wasn't just here snuggling with you."
"Snuggling?" Chazz scoffed. "The Chazz does not snuggle."
Aurelia snorted. "Could've fooled me." and walked out the door. She headed up to the school with Chazz following a little ways back. They still had to appear that they weren't just in the same room together. Alone.
Aurelia stood with the others as Chazz showed off the box that contained the bat. "I caught this little bugger in my room watching me. You've all probably had one too you just didn't know."
"How do you know this bat has anything to do with the vampire?" Sheppard asked.
"Because of it's eyes. They were bright red. Bats are supposed to be blind." Chazz stated looking very proud of himself. She had to admit, even she had missed that fact.
"Vampire!" Chumley shot in, running faster than she'd ever seen him run." I saw her, she's at the lake."
Aurelia bowed her head. Of course the vampire was at the lake. Water. Not good.
They all started out with Chumley leading. Aurelia made sure she followed at a distance from them. Trying to psych herself into facing the water.
Chazz glanced behind him every once in a while but stayed a distance between her and the rest. She knew he wanted to tell her it would be alright but she was busy trying to tell that to herself.
When they reached the beach of the lake, ominous mist had rolled in and she distracted herself with how cliché it was. Suddenly a red carpet rolled out to greet them and Zane commented on how cliché that was too.
"So who will face her?" Chazz asked the mist.
Meanwhile she watched as Crowler and Banner scared themselves and Crowler jumped out in front of everyone.
"Wow, you are so brave." Chumley praised him.
"We'll be right behind you." Bastian said.
"Yes, by a good ten feet." Banner added.
"I have an idea. How about we draw straws to see who goes. Now I'll go look for straws and you just don't follow me." Crowler said.
Aurelia rolled her eyes.
"Sorry Crowler, you're up." Chazz said.
Chumley went back to the school to tell Syrus about what's happened. Crowler stood immobile before the lake. That's about what generally happens when Aurelia is faced with water. Total body freezing.
"So Crowler, what's the hold up?" Chazz asked.
"If you're in such a hurry why don't you go first?" Crowler growled.
The breeze picked up then and cleared the mist away. A lone figure, definitely a woman's, stood in a boat. "Gentlemen, why don't I just come to you?"
She stepped out onto the carpet and walked to them over the water. Man, if only I could do that. That would solve a lot of problems. Aurelia stared.
She stood tall and regal before them when she reached land. She stared at Crowler with disdain, "Who are you?"
"I am your challenger." Crowler stated, only sounding a little panicky.
"You are not worthy." she replied simply.
"I beg your pardon! I have a PHD in dueling! That takes nine years in duel school!" Crowler screamed.
"Fine. If you're that anxious to lose your key, you may duel me. Camula, vampire mistress of the Shadow Riders." Her eyes glowed red for a minute then returned to normal. Aurelia's eyes returned to her normal in response to the challenge but she forced them to look human again.
"So this is the vampire? I need to get new horror movies." Banner said.
"Your tricks don't scare me." Crowler stated defiantly.
"How about this then? If you lose I get your soul, well, actually, this little doll does." Camula held up a faceless doll to them.
"You want his soul too?" Chazz asked.
"Is that it? Don't want to get anything for your pet werewolf to chew on?" Crowler taunted.
"Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." Camula threatened.
Aurelia sighed. "Seriously enough with the horrible clichés. We get it, you're a vampire. Scary." she said.
Camula's eyes drifted to Aurelia. "I did not see you there Daughter of Sekhmet. You I will deal with later." she said in her lilting accent as she took up a spot opposite Crowler.
Chazz glanced over at her with a question burning in his eyes. Zane was quicker.
"Who's Sekhmet?"
Aurelia faked a confused look. "Egyptian goddess of War and Destruction. In other words, I have no idea why she called me that." In reality she knew exactly what that meant but how did this vampire know what she was?
While she puzzled over that Crowler and Camula started their duel. Crowler wasn't doing so well. He was down to 2700 life points and he had finally figured out that this duel was for real. She could see it on his face when he stood up after that attack. But he defended Zane when Camula stated she wanted to duel him.
"But you can barely stand Crowler!" Chazz said.
"Don't worry about me." Crowler replied.
But they couldn't help it. Camula just beat down his life points until they were at 1700. Crowler ordered them not to help.
"We can't just stand here and do nothing." Zane said.
"Yes I completely agree with you darling. Please step in, save your teacher, because obviously he can't save himself." Camula said.
"Okay that is enough." Aurelia walked out from behind everyone and faced Camula. "You are threatening my students and my staff and I won't let you proceed any further." she smirked. "Bitch."
She heard the boys behind her suck in air in fear for her. They needn't fear for her, she can face off against a vampire any day.
Camula glared at her. "You would call me a vulgar name you…beast?" she said with contempt.
Aurelia's eyes became slit and she widened her smirk so her newly grown fangs could be seen. "You don't scare me vampire." She lowered her voice so the others couldn't hear her, meanwhile she knew Camula could. "You know I would tear you to pieces before you could even touch me." the boys couldn't see her so they couldn't see her new features.
Camula and Aurelia faced off until a voice broke through. "No Aurelia. Crowler can win this duel."
"Jaden?" Aurelia wheeled around. Her features quickly turning back to human. Her eyes went back and her fangs shortened into regular eye teeth.
"I know because I've dueled him myself. He can throw down. He can find a way to beat you. So get up Dr. Crowler and get your game on." Jaden continued.
Crowler managed to get to his knees and glared at Camula. "I'm not giving up."
"Oh are you still here?" she mocked.
Crowler gave her a long winded speech and then the duel reconvened. Crowler destroyed her castle and brought her life points down to 1200. Somehow she just got uglier though.
"Oh my god I didn't think it was possible. You just became uglier than before." Aurelia stated, crossing her arms.
Camula glared at her before turning back to Crowler. Because of the effect of her trap her Zombie Werewolf returned in attack mode. And she also gave away the fact that she had sent bats out to spy for her.
"Yeah, Princeton already caught one of those. It's in a box back at the school." Aurelia said.
Camula's glare returned to her. "Give him to me." she demanded.
"Medium or well done?"
Camula hissed and it looked like she would attack Aurelia but instead she turned back to Crowler. "I play the Book of Life. It resurrects my Vampire Lord and I'll remove your Ancient Gear Beast so that you can't use it. Then I remove Vampire Lord so I can summon Vampire Genesis." Vampire Genesis' attack points were 3200. More than enough to take out Crowler's Ancient gear Golem. Crowler lost.
"Avenge me Jaden." he said as he fell.
Aurelia glared at Camula but restrained herself from fighting her. Zane had to restrain Jaden from stopping her. Camula took Crowler's key and then his soul. But she tossed his doll back on the ground, dissatisfied with it. She promised to return and take more keys, then vanished back to the castle that suddenly appeared in the distance.
"We'll find you!" Bastian yelled.
"And duel!" Chazz added.
"Children, that is exactly what I'm hoping for." Camula's voice echoed out.
"Children?" Aurelia growled. Her proverbial hackles rising. She stomped back to Jaden and glared at him.
He blanched. "Uh, Aurelia?"
"What are you doing out here Jaden?" she asked deceptively calm.
"I was here to help Crowler…"
Aurelia glanced back at Crowler's doll and watched as Chazz went over and picked it up. She turned back to Jaden. "Well good lot that did. Back to bed Yuki."
"But Aurelia, Crowler's gone!"
She held up her hand. "I know Jaden. But right now there's nothing you can do about it. We'll come back tomorrow when she returns." she pointed to the school. "Infirmary, now."
Chumley and Syrus helped him onto Chumley's back and they all travelled back to the school. Chazz lingering back with Aurelia. He stared at the ground as he walked and she stared straight ahead seeing nothing. Everyone was silent.
"I understand what you were talking about earlier." Chazz said quietly so the others wouldn't hear him. He took out Crowler's doll as Aurelia looked to him. "You can lose your soul in these duels."
Aurelia nodded. "Shadow duels. There is no winner in the end, only the one who survives and the one who doesn't." she sighed. "I just wish they hadn't returned. I was hoping for a somewhat normal life."
"Returned?"
"Years ago, when Yugi was still out doing tournaments. Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, they all had shadow games in the finals. You can barter for souls to be returned as well, which is what Yugi did so no one really died in those tournaments. But still…"
She looked up into Chazz's eyes and saw the many questions haunting them. She also saw the fear.
"How do you know so much about shadow duels?" he asked.
She looked away out over at the forest surrounding them. "It's a part of who I am. My parents were a part of the shadow games, the good part mind you, but a part nonetheless. It's the reason I have the power to transform duel spirits." her gaze shifted to one of her hands. "I get that power from the shadows. It's only a small piece and using it, depending on the monster, is not dangerous. I know others who can use the full potential of the shadows" she smirked. "Luckily they like me." she snorted a laugh. "And they suck at poker so they owe me."
Chazz shook his head. "Who are you talking about? They sound like Shadow Riders."
"No. They used to be evil, and in some cases they can be seen as a little…off…but they're my uncles. They make my life a hell of a lot more fun."
Chazz nodded. "Now I understand when you said family was more fun dysfunctional."
Aurelia smiled when she saw his smile. "It is."
Jaden was asleep when they reached the infirmary. He was immediately put back into bed and everyone else found a seat. They were going to have to talk about Camula.
"I'll play a trap and then I'll play a spell, and then I'll attack!" Jaden shouted. "Well, just a soon as I get better I will." he added seeing Aurelia's look. He hid his face under his arms. "Camula's gonna get it sooner or later. I mean taking the spirit key is one thing but Crowler's soul too." The next day brought Jaden rearing to fight Camula.
Aurelia pushed him back down when he sat up to elaborate. "I told you. Those are the stakes in a shadow duel and don't say it's not real." she pointed at the Crowler doll in Chazz's hands. "I think he would disagree."
"You should rest Jay." Syrus said.
"Sy's right. If we're not at full strength then it could be our souls in dolls and our bodies could be catatonic." Banner freaked and squeezed Pharaoh a little too hard. Pharaoh jumped out of his arms and hid under the bed, Banner crawling after him.
The worst part is now that Camula has Crowler's key she needs only six more to release those beast cards." Bastian stated.
"And then it won't just be our souls at stake but everyone's in the world." Alexis said from the next bed over.
"That's it, I'm dueling her tonight!" Jaden shouted.
Aurelia glared and was about to say something when Chazz jumped up and grabbed Jaden's covers. "You? Duel? You can't even win a fight with a sheet!" to prove his point the threw the covers over Jaden's head. "This duel is for The Chazz." he said pointing at himself.
"Yeah, right." Aurelia scoffed while Jaden fought with his blankets. "You'd end up just like Crowler." translation: please don't duel her.
Chazz rolled his eyes. "No I wouldn't."
"There! I won!" Jaden shouted as his head popped out from under the covers.
"No you didn't" Chazz pushed the blanket back over his head. "It's two out of three." and pushed Jaden back.
"Look, Jaden's not up to snuff so one of us is going to have to face Camula." Chazz said.
"And by us you mean you." Bastian replied. "Sorry Chazz but I'm not entirely convinced you're the man for the job. I should go."
"Look if you guys want to whip it out and see whose is bigger then do it on your own time." Aurelia crossed her arms and watched Jaden struggle. She didn't see everyone's mouths drop and simultaneous colour gain in their cheeks. "We need to stick together. We'll figure out how to deal with Camula." she looked over at Zane. She nodded imperceptively. He turned and walked out, Syrus following.
They all eventually drifted to their own rooms. Aurelia stayed in hers until she couldn't take it and she knocked on Chazz's door. He answered it, glanced around and let her in. His deck was all over the bed and Yellow was floating above the cards talking about how he could be a big help, he really could.
"Sorry about the mess." she heard Chazz say before he appeared at her side. "And for him" referring to Yellow.
"It's alright, I knew you were a messy person when I first met you." she smiled.
"Really?" he smirked and sidled up to her. "So did you come over to help me clean?"
"If this is your way of coming on to me it sucks." she wrapped her arms around his neck when he was close enough. "I came to see how you were doing and to see how Crowler's holding up in his new body."
Chazz's eyes widened. "What?" he disentangled himself from her and walked over to the doll on his dresser. "You mean Crowler's-"
"She did put his soul in there remember?"
"Would you mind easing up on the grip a tad? You're wrinkling my coat." Crowler's voice came from the doll.
Chazz looked back at Aurelia. "Yeah, that's Crowler."
Suddenly wing beats could be heard outside the window. "It's starting again." Chazz said as he rushed from the window where he had caught a look at the many bats filling the sky.
Aurelia sighed as she leaned against the window. "It's starting again." she repeated. After a minute she followed Chazz.
They met up with Bastian, Chumley (with Jaden on his back), Syrus, Alexis, Banner and Zane, who was leading the way…onto the carpet stretched out across the lake. Aurelia stared at the carpet with unease. She had watched as everyone else had stepped onto it and it hadn't sunk yet. She touched her toe to it, it felt rock solid. She stepped carefully, pointedly avoiding looking at the water. Syrus appeared next to her.
"Aurelia?" she looked over at him. "Need some help?"
"No I'm fine." she glanced down at the water and immediately looked up at the sky. "Just fine."
"How about you don't look at it. Just stare at the castle or everybody in front of us and don't look down." he suggested.
"I think that only works for heights."
He shrugged. "Same principle applies here right?" he held out his arm and she smiled as much as she could in this situation and grabbed his arm.
"Yeah, okay." she said.
They made it across slowly, while Jaden and Chumley waited on the other side. Once they were inside the castle Aurelia was fine. Chumley wasn't however, and he made that known quite often. When they reached the room where Camula stood overlooking everything they stopped.
"Looking for me?" she asked.
"You bet we are! We want Crowler back!" Jaden shouted.
"Got that right. So hand him over." Chazz said and stepped forward.
"Yes, or else." Bastian too stepped forward.
"I have no interest in little school boys." she said.
"She must mean you." Bastian said to Chazz.
"No she means you."
"Boys, on your own time, remember?" Aurelia said. They both blushed.
"Are you ready darling?" Camula asked Zane.
"Let's duel."
Camula went first but Zane threw in his most powerful monster on the first turn. Zane's Cyber End Dragon stared down at Camula from the other side of the field. Zane and Camula battled it back and forth, with her throwing in little pet names every now and again.
Aurelia rolled her eyes after she called him precious. "Yes we get it, you have a creepy crush on Zane. Tone it down you cougar."
Camula turned a glare on Aurelia. "You again."
"Me again." she shrugged. "Can't be rid of me that easily."
"Oh but I can." Camula smirked.
"I'm shaking in my boots." Aurelia returned her smirk.
"You aren't wearing boots." Jaden said.
Everyone face palmed. "Jaden that's not the point." Syrus said.
The duel continued as Camula lost interest in Aurelia. She had two sacrifices in quick succession to summon her Vampire Genesis.
"Ugly." Chazz said.
"Scary." Syrus added.
Aurelia yawned. "Boring." making sure Camula heard her.
To her credit, Camula said nothing. And she still said nothing when Zane dropped her life points down to 800.
"That's totally the same move I would have made." Chumley said.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. Jaden leaned over. "Yeah, totally Chum. In your dreams."
"Now you can see why my brother's never lost a match huh guys?" Syrus said. "Still, mom says I got the looks."
"Totally Sy." Aurelia said as she watched Zane. She happened to glance over and notice Chazz's look of annoyance. She gave him a totally innocent look until he finally cracked a smile and then she grinned.
"Darling, you're forcing me to show my ugly side." Camula said.
"Side? What side? You're just ugly." Aurelia quipped.
"Silence beast!" Camula screamed at her. "I will have no more from the likes of you!"
Aurelia crossed her arms. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Aurelia I don't think you should prompt a vampire." Syrus whispered.
"Aurelia." Zane's voice rang out in the empty room. "Enough."
She glared at him for ruining her fun but sighed and looked away nonetheless.
"Perfect." Camula said as she played her Illusion Gate and explained what it does. "There is a little catch, I must sacrifice a soul to the Sacred Beasts should I lose." a clone appeared next to her, probably her soul.
"Good that's what you deserve for taking Crowler." Chazz said.
"Ah, I said a soul not my soul. In the shadows, it's all the same to the Sacred Beasts." Camula said. She looked down. Aurelia followed her gaze to Syrus. "Syrus. Oh yes, those beasts will find your soul to be a tasty treat I'm sure."
"Syrus run!" Aurelia heard from Zane before she jumped in front of him. The Camula clone stopped in her tracks as she faced down Aurelia.
Aurelia smirked. "I. Don't. Think so." the Camula clone growled at her. She was tempted to growl back.
Camula glared at her as well. "Fine, if Zane doesn't mind, how about I take you instead?"
"What?" the clone grabbed her around her middle and pulled her up into the air. "Aurelia!" she heard Chazz shout. Bastian, Jaden, Syrus and Chazz all tried to grab at her but the clone was too fast. Aurelia was standing next to Camula before she knew it.
Camula faced her and tilted her chin toward her with a finger. "Now, Daughter of Sekhmet, we will see if Zane chooses to lose or win and kill you." she leaned closer. "Or you could just tear me to pieces like you promised last night."
Aurelia faltered and glanced down at her friends, mainly Chazz. "Ah, I didn't think so. You don't want them to know the monster you are."
Aurelia glared at her. "I am not a monster. I don't play with people's souls. You're the monster Camula."
Camula backed away with a smirk. "Have it your way."
No one else heard the conversation.
"Now I summon the mighty Cyber End Dragon!" the dragon appeared out of the gate, zapping her energy along the way. The dragon was feeding off her soul. Aurelia felt weak, boneless. She flopped back in the other Camula's arms, not really caring about anything at the moment.
Suddenly Athena and Ruin appeared next to her. 'Aurelia! Let us help you!'
No. Don't risk yourselves right now.
'Aurelia.' Ruin said plaintively.
No. This is the price Zane has to decide on. This is a shadow duel girls, cheaters don't get to live.
"Now what will you do Zane? I have your best monster and your friend. Actually, I suppose they're really one in the same now. If you manage to do in the Cyber End Dragon, you'll doom Aurelia's soul as well. So as I said, whatever will you do?" Camula taunted.
"If I'm considered a damsel in distress does that mean you're the wicked witch?" Aurelia asked weakly.
Apparently Camula had had enough. She backhanded Aurelia across the face and yelled "Silence!"
Aurelia spit out blood from her split lip. Okay, real vampire. No human could have hit me that hard.
"Decide Zane. Your soul?" she pointed to Aurelia. "Or hers?"
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to her Zane. Do it! Destroy her! If she wins she'll get another key. It doesn't matter what happens to me right now, you can't let her win."
"Silence!" Camula interrupted.
"No you shut up Bitch!" Aurelia yelled. "If I'm gone that changes nothing! You won't get a key! You hear me you won't get a key!"
"I stand down." Zane said.
Aurelia wheeled around. "What!"
"So be it." Camula whispered. "Cyber End Dragon destroy him!"
Cyber End targeted Zane and wiped away the rest of his life points. Zane's key fell to the floor and disappeared just like Crowler's had. "Zane!" Aurelia cried as he fell to his knees. The clone disappeared when Illusion Gate did and Aurelia dropped to her knees as well.
"Zane why?" she asked.
"Because you saved my brother. I figure I owe you. Debt paid." Zane said and winced.
"That wasn't the point. I stopped her from grabbing Syrus so you wouldn't make that decision."
"Oh blah, blah, blah. Looks like your plan didn't go quite as you hoped did it?" Camula taunted.
Aurelia saw red. This vampire needed to go, now. She flexed her fingers and her claws slipped out, her fangs lengthened, her eyes changed.
'Aurelia no!' Athena's voice cut through the haze of her instincts. She took back control of her body and her fangs retreated, her claws returned and her eyes took on their human look again. She looked away as Camula took her trophy: Zane's soul.
Camula disappeared after that taking the doll version of Zane with her. Now she had two keys. She heard the others running up the stairs to get to her. "Aurelia!" Jaden was set down in front of her. He kneeled and she looked up at him. "Are you alright?"
"Peachy." she managed. She tried to stand but everything came at her so fast she faltered and someone caught her. "Easy." Chazz's voice blew softly in her ear.
"I'm okay just a bit woozy. That dragon was feeding off me for energy." Aurelia explained.
"You're also bleeding." Chazz pointed out and glanced at her lip.
"Yeah, bitch hits hard." Aurelia tried to walk but her legs just weren't listening to her. Come on I've been through worse than this.
"Alright. I'm not gonna watch your pathetic attempt to walk back to the Slifer dorm." Chazz said from somewhere behind her.
Suddenly she was in the air, in Chazz's arms, again. She glared up at him. "I'm not pathetic and I don't need your help."
"Do to."
"Do not."
"Do to."
"Oh for the love of-fine." she pouted as she watched the smirk spread across his lips. "We have got to stop meeting like this." she whispered and his smirk widened if at all possible.
"Why? I kinda like it." he whispered back.
They travelled like that out of the castle and across the lake. Aurelia, too focused on playing back what Zane had last said to notice, didn't even flinch at the water. When they reached the other side everyone took one last look at the castle.
Syrus fell to his knees on the banks and Jaden followed him screaming at the castle. "That's it. You hear me? No more Camula! I'm through with you messing with my friends. Got that! What you did to Crowler, to Zane, it stops here. And I'm gonna be the one who stops it."
"Jaden." Alexis said silently.
"Sure I may not be up to snuff but I don't care. I'm taking you on and one way or another, I'm getting my friend's souls back."
"About time." she heard Crowler say snidely from Chazz's pocket.
"Camula!" Jaden screamed as loud as he could. "Camula. Here I come so get set to get your game on!" his voice echoed across the water.
After a tense silence where Jaden held his fist in the air and everyone waited for him to say something else, Chazz broke it.
"Well, I don't know about you guys but Aurelia's getting heavy and probably needs to sleep."
"Hey! I am not heavy." she denied. "Besides, Jaden needs more rest than I do."
"That he does. However, you need your rest as well." Bastian added.
"Bed time." Chazz said as he started walking away.
Aurelia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine." and added in a mutter. "I'm getting bossed around by my own students."
"Damn right." Chazz said. "Besides, I'm your boyfriend. It's my job to take care of you. Isn't it?" he looked a little unsure of himself there. "I don't know, never done this before."
Aurelia smiled. "Me neither. But I'm pretty sure you're getting the hang of it."
He smiled back at her as they made it to the Slifer dorm. He walked her into her room, or rather, into her mess.
Chazz stared at the mess of clothes, books, more clothes. "And you say I'm messy."
Aurelia coloured. "Sorry." he placed her gently on the bed, which was surprisingly clean.
"Do you have any washcloths or something?" he asked.
"What?"
"Your lip is still bleeding."
"Really." she felt at her lip and winced, pulling away her fingers to reveal red sticky blood. "Yeah, next to the sink."
Chazz skirted a pile of books to get to the sink while Aurelia spaced out. Back to what Zane said about being even. That didn't matter to her, she was just protecting her friend. He had to have known that.
Chazz returned with the damp washcloth and brushed gently at her wound. She winced and he drew back immediately.
"She really did hit me hard." Aurelia said.
Chazz nodded and continued. Aurelia stared away.
"Thinking about Zane?" he asked. She nodded. Silence.
"Why'd you do it?"
Aurelia turned. "What?"
"Why'd you offer yourself like that?"
"To save Syrus of course, and to stop Zane from making the same stupid decision that he made. Lot of help that did." she scoffed.
"If he didn't you would have been a doll just like Crowler." Chazz said. "Your soul would be gone."
"And Jaden would have figured out a way to get me back. And even if he didn't…I would have found a way." Aurelia said. "Speaking of which, where is Crowler?"
"Still in my pocket."
"And you're letting him hear this conversation because?"
"Right." Chazz pulled the doll from his pocket and with some coaxing and some magic from Aurelia, got Yellow to take him back to Chazz's room.
"Now, no changing the subject. How exactly would you have gotten out? From what I've heard the trip to the shadow realm is one-way."
Aurelia sighed. "Look Chazz. I have faith in Jaden, he'd find a way."
"Oh because he's your friend or because he's just that great?"
"Because he's my friend, the first friend I made here."
"Are you sure it's just that? You two seem pretty close to me." Chazz said before looking away.
Aurelia stared at him perplexed. Why was he acting this way? Then the pieces clicked. She grabbed Chazz's arm and pulled him onto the bed beside her.
"Chazz Princeton you listen to me right now. Jaden Yuki is my friend, you are my boyfriend okay? I feel for Jaden like a little brother, Ra knows he's got the mentality of a little kid. You are different, I like you. As in like you like you." Aurelia shook her head. "I am not good at this at all." she sighed. "Look, I don't want to fight. Jaden is my friend and I care about him just like Syrus and Chumley and Zane and Bastian." she cupped the side of his face. "That isn't going to change, but I care about you too. A lot more." she paused and pursed her lips. "Do you get what I'm saying?"
He nodded with the starts of a smile. "Yeah, I think I got it." and leaned in and kissed her.
Aurelia pulled away suddenly with a wince. "Okay, Ow. No kissing, at least until I've healed."
He laughed. "Okay." but brushed a kiss to her forehead instead. She snuggled into him and sighed. She could hear his heart beating next to her head, the sound so clear and already familiar to her.
"Do you play guitar?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"Guitar. You have one." he gestured to it in the case on the floor surrounded by sheets of paper.
"Yeah, I play. I've been trying to write a song recently but I've come up with nothing." she furrowed her eyebrows at the guitar like it was it's fault.
"And she writes. Does she sing?" he asked.
"Maybe."
"Will she sing for me?"
"Perhaps in the foreseeable future." Aurelia joked.
"Awe, in the future? What's wrong with now?"
"I don't feel like singing right now."
Chazz looked surprised. "Really? Being near The Chazz doesn't make you feel like singing?"
Aurelia snorted. "No. Maybe I just want to snuggle, which of course, The Chazz does not do."
"Of course not."
She smiled when she felt him pull her in closer. Of course not.
The next night Aurelia, Chazz and Bastian stood waiting at the red carpet for Syrus, Chumley and Banner to arrive. Syrus and Chumley were dragging Banner and coaxing him to duel Camula.
"This is obviously a job for Chazz Princeton." Chazz boasted.
Bastian scoffed.
"Here comes the cavalry." Alexis drove a boat over and stepped out onto the carpet. "We don't need Banner when we've got Jaden."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed as Jaden stood up in the boat. "You're supposed to be lying down."
"You're still sick." Chazz said.
"Maybe." Alexis glanced at Jaden. "But when we were back at the hospital Atticus woke up and told us about her shadow charm that helps her steal souls."
"I knew that choker looked familiar." Aurelia snapped her fingers. "It had the eye of Horus on it. Definitely something to do with the shadow games."
"Anyway, he explained that we need to cancel hers with one of our own. Fight fire with fire." Alexis continued. "He gave us the other half of Jaden's charm."
Aurelia finally nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me."
As the group started across the water, Syrus held out his arm for Aurelia again. She smiled at him in gratitude in took it. Of course Camula had to have a castle in the middle of the lake.
As soon as they entered the castle Jaden started shouting as he walked. Shouting about how he would beat her and that she should be ready. His voice echoing off the walls was starting to make her ears hurt. Luckily he stopped when he and Camula faced off.
Jaden started off with a bang summoning Tempest right away. But Camula brought out her Illusion Gate during her first turn too.
"Now, whose soul shall I take this time?" she appraised all of them. "Perhaps I will wager all of your friends."
Aurelia backed up. "Oh boy."
Black shadows emanated from the gate and choked the air from the room. Aurelia covered her mouth with her hand and coughed.
'Aurelia!' Athena and Ruin surrounded her and pushed the shadows away so she could breathe again. Ruin jumped in front of Chazz and blocked the shadows from him as well. No one but she and Chazz could see them in the haze and everyone else was choking.
"Aurelia, can you help them?" Chazz asked.
She shook her head. "Athena and Ruin can only do so much."
Suddenly a bright light flooded the room from Jaden's necklace. The light chased Camula's shadows away and they could breathe again. Athena and Ruin disappeared along with the shadows.
"Jaden's charm cancelled Camula's magic." Alexis said.
"Just in time too." Bastian replied.
The duel continued even if Camula looked a little put out that she couldn't sacrifice souls. She ended up putting her own soul on bargain instead. Jaden regained Tempest after she use him to attack. Camula then summoned Vampire Genesis.
Camula countered Jaden's strategy perfectly.
"How did she know to do that?" Syrus asked.
"She knows our decks inside and out." Bastian replied.
"That's because she's been using her bats as spies while you've been working on your decks." Aurelia said.
"Isn't the villain supposed to tell the charming hero how she did it, cause I'm all ears." Jaden said.
"I just told you how Jaden." Aurelia said.
"My bats told me all the weaknesses of your decks." Camula said. "You can't win." and with that she destroyed Tempest.
Jaden managed to stay alive with the card Camula had returned to his hand via Giant Trunade. He only had 300 life points left though.
"Jaden's hanging on but Camula's got more life points than him." Alexis said.
"For sure. Shadow charm or not how could we ever let him duel Camula. We might as well hand over our spirit keys right now." Chazz said. Aurelia elbowed him in the side. "Ow, what was that for?"
"For being a downer. Cheer up emo boy, Jaden can do this."
And Jaden pulled through with two fusions to create Shining Flare Wingman. He used Flare Wingman to destroy Camula's Genesis and the rest of her life points due to his special effect.
"Ha! Told ya!" Aurelia cheered.
Suddenly Camula's Illusion Gate reappeared and took her soul into it. Her body disappeared along with her soul leaving Zane's doll behind. A few seconds later it turned back into Zane and Crowler returned to normal as well. Chazz and Crowler started arguing about Crowler's stay in Chazz's pocket.
Aurelia face palmed. "Enough! Ra you're like two children."
"Hey!"
Suddenly the castle started rumbling and falling apart. Bastian and Chumley grabbed Zane and started hauling him out. Everyone high tailed it out of there and just made it to the other side of the lake when the castle came crumbling down in a cloud of dust. The clouds parted afterwards and the sun peaked through, revealing that the day had already started.
Aurelia brushed some dust off her shoulder. "Well that was fun."
"I'm glad the nightmare's over." Alexis said.
Bastian handed Camula's collar to Jaden. "Me too."
"It's not over though, Camula was only the second Shadow Rider. There's bound to be more." Jaden stated.
Aurelia plucked the collar out of Jaden's hands. "Oh definitely. But right now, let's just celebrate that we got past that one."
"Hey." Jaden made a grab at the collar.
"No Jay. I know a safe place where this won't be used again." Aurelia said.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
Aurelia knocked on the polished wood of the door in front of her. She waited a few seconds before knocking again.
"What do you want?" she heard a voice inside demand.
"Girl guides cookies." she replied in a singsong voice.
Suddenly the door in front of her swung open and she was tackled by a blond blur. "Where! Where are they!"
Aurelia batted at his hands. "Marik get off. I don't have any."
Marik stood up straight in front of her. "You lied to me?" his face gave way to a shocked look. "How dare you! Malik-pretty, she lied to me!"
"I thought I told you to stop-Aurelia?" Malik appeared at the door. "Come in, we weren't expecting you til Tuesday."
Aurelia shrugged off Marik as he searched her pockets hoping for some cookies. "I needed to stop by. Marik stop, I'll bring you some on Tuesday."
"But I want some now." he whined.
"Go bug Bakura." Aurelia said.
Marik brightened and skipped off, probably to find Bakura. Judging by the indignant squawk from the living room he succeeded.
Malik lead Aurelia into the kitchen where Ryou was making dinner. "Aurelia!" he said and put down the wooden spoon he held. "We weren't expecting you until Tuesday."
She hugged him. "Hi Ryou." then she remembered. "Oh, I didn't hug you." she turned back to Malik. He rolled his eyes when she hugged him but accepted it anyway.
"So if it's not poker what brings you here?" Ryou asked as he turned back to the stove.
Aurelia winced and sat down at the island counter. "Actually, nothing good I'm afraid."
Malik leaned against the sink and Ryou's stirring slowed. "Okay bad stuff. Like what?" Malik asked almost dreading the answer.
"Like Shadow Games bad."
Malik froze and Ryou dropped the spoon into the pot. "No." he whispered. "Please don't tell me they're back."
Aurelia looked away. "It's just at my school at the moment. A group called the Shadow Riders is trying to take the Sacred Beast cards that are under the school. In order to do that they need the seven keys and those can only be won from a duel. A shadow duel." Aurelia looked up. "I'm sorry to even bring this back here but one of the Riders had this." she dug up Camula's choker from her pocket.
Malik came over to examine it but Ryou, if it were possible, tried to merge with the counter.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Bakura stomped into the kitchen. "I can practically smell Ryou's fear. Why is Ryou so scared?" he noticed her. "Aurelia? You're not supposed to-"
"Be here until Tuesday I know, but I had to come." she held the charm out to him. "Take a look at this."
Bakura grabbed the charm off her hand and examined it closely. "Looks like a Millennium item."
"I know, that's why I brought it here. It only has the power to steal souls, nothing else so it can't be a Millennium item, can it?"
Malik shook his head. "They're all buried. Ishizu is watching their burial place like a hawk too so this can't be an item. It's got to be something else."
"Well, whatever it is, it needs to disappear like the others. This took two souls before we could finally stop it's owner."
"Who was it's owner?" Bakura asked.
"A vampire named Camula."
Marik suddenly appeared at her side. "I thought vampires were all named Dracula?"
Aurelia gave him a look. "Stop watching crappy horror movies." she sighed. "Camula was a real vampire though," Aurelia's pointed to her lip. "She gave me this when she backhanded me."
"For being cheeky?" Bakura asked.
"Of course."
"Huh, I should've done that ages ago."
"Bakura!" Ryou elbowed him in the side. "You will not hit Aurelia."
"But Ryou-"
"No."
"Fine."
Aurelia turned back to Malik. "Anyway, I was wondering if you could get this out to your sister. I've never met her so it would be better if you guys go."
"Road Trip!" Marik screamed and ran into the other room.
"No!" the other three shouted back.
Aurelia's eyes jumped between them. "Do I want to know?"
"No." they answered.
"Didn't think so."
Malik shook his head and mumbled about 'stupid yamis' before putting the choker away in a box. "This is going to my sister anyway so I'll put it in with that stuff."
"Perfect." Aurelia said. "Well, I'll just be going."
"No, stay for dinner." Ryou said.
"I really was just here to drop off the choker, I'll be here on Tuesday anyway."
"Nonsense, stay for dinner." Bakura rolled his eyes as Ryou turned back to the food.
Aurelia winced. "Huh, do I really feel like putting my life on the line again tonight?"
"Hey, you've always liked risks." Malik said.
"True…"
"Besides, Marik will start whining about you leaving if you do."
Aurelia laughed. "Of course. I'll stay for dinner then."
"Then you can tell us all about these Shadow Riders. I bet I could handle them any day." Bakura boasted.
"Of course Bakura, you'd send them running for the hills." Aurelia winked at Ryou when he gave her an exasperated look.
Ego nicely stroked, Bakura left to go back to his program and Malik went to put the box upstairs were it was supposed to be before Marik decided he wanted to go through everyone's stuff and simultaneously bring it all downstairs. Aurelia helped Ryou in the kitchen and she talked about how the school was doing while he regaled her with stories of what Marik and Bakura had been up to lately. Apparently Marik had developed a fascination for glitter.
Dinner was spaghetti with plenty of meat for Bakura and Aurelia. She and Bakura fought over the meatballs while also fighting off Marik who wanted to eat off everyone else's plate and not his own, and Ryou and Malik discussed when they would call Ishizu. Of course Ryou wondered if she should be invited over for dinner to which Marik and Bakura both vehemently said "No!"
As Bakura and Marik started a fight with her in between and she got an elbow in the side; Malik and Ryou steadfastly ignoring them; Aurelia sighed and took another bite.
Now this was family.
Okay, another chapter finished! And this one had a fluffy scene between Chazz and Aurelia. Actually it had a few.
Reviews are better than girl guide cookies.