Chapter 14- Night Siege
Luanne fell asleep in the shamrock sidecar beside Marik as he drove the motorcycle that was now wearing the usual Ghoul gown and the diadem. Marik gave her a spare robe but earlier she was joking about how she is off to do death reaper journalism right after helping in the event in the hospital. She only used it as a blanket and Marik's scent was evident from the time he wore them. The Tahrir Square was never crowded at this hour.
"Odion… do you think mother would have our family defy 'Pert Em Hru'?" Marik asked his brother came down to regret him.
"Why do you ask that Marik?" Odion asked
"Because of you… she was willing for a dissident heir before I came into existence." He polished his Millennium Rod with his fingers.
Odion was silent and decided not to answer. Then Marik continued, "This may be the first time I felt Ishizu's Millennium Necklace alive again since Luanne's Side Effect dissipated." He chuckled somewhat wanting so see his sister and talk some sense into her.
The Shadows covered the premise as the red Egyptian Museum. An army of Marik's own Ghouls awaits him humbly beseeched the boy upon his arrival. They knew the order their Master has founded upon exalting Marik as their leader. Marik stood tall remembering how he started the organisation with little resources and with only his brother by his side. It was only the means of introducing the power of his Millennium Item, which exploited many men that stood before him.
"We begin the siege my Hunters. Make sure all witnesses are disposed if we encounter them. I want the Egyptian God Card in my hands and if any of you fail, you all will be banished. Do I make myself clear?"
They replied and Marik watched as his Rare Hunters planning the break in from the main door of the museum.
"Odion, wake the girl up. I need her to follow us when we leave the museum." Marik instructed his servant.
"I'll mummify your Batman, Atsu and I take you life points!" Luanne blurted about her dream. Marik raised his brow.
"Right… Luanne… you might like to get off the motorcycles as I need you run. How fast can you run?" Marik asked her.
"Should I stay in the Tahrir Square?" Luanne was confused. Marik snickered and then looked stern again as he did plan for his Rare Hunters to run to The Tahrir Square while he rides on the sidecar.
"On second thought, Odion will take you back to the Tahrir Square and we shall meet there once he picks me up." Marik was serious about his plans. She could tell he was very tense and very anxious to finish the siege. She nodded and smiled. Marik tucked her hair behind her ears.
Odion did so leaving Marik and his hooded henchmen dispatch for his prize waiting inside the vault.
As they entered the vault was the most obvious place to assail. The Rare Hunters dashed towards swiftly. At last Marik waited for his Rare Hunter made way for him to seek the Obelisk the Tormenter.
"Excellent work my Rare Hunters." He scanned around the museum vigilantly. Coast was clear.
"Now open the vault." He watched as the vault unravelled the chamber within. "Time to obtain the third Egyptian God Card."
Lights turned on and that surprised Marik. Fast calculated footsteps of Ishizu approached him. "You have arrived too late my brother. The card you seek is no longer in this vault." Ishizu informed Marik with composure.
"Well if it isn't my sister, what an unexpected surprise. Now tell me what have you done with Obelisk." Marik revealed in his snide remark as he pulled down his hood.
"Marik! The Egyptian God Cards don't belong to you, nor does the sacred power of the Pharaoh." Ishizu retaliated assertively.
"The Pharaoh?! I refuse to waste my time life waiting for him. It's time to put destiny in my own hand Ishizu. So hand over the card to me, RIGHT NOW!"
"That's enough Marik, you're a Tomb Keeper remember?"
"Of course!" Marik growled and pulled his robe off. "How can I forget? The day I was initiated, I was in charged of keeping the Pharaoh's secret on my back, as our father did before me. Well, that tradition ends here!" Marik reminded Ishizu indignantly.
"Marik!" Ishizu had enough, hurt enough that her own little brother said those words.
"It's no use opposing me sister. The power of my Millennium Rod always gets me what I want! So I will ask you again nicely one more time, What have you done to the last remaining Egyptian God Card my dear sister?"
"Brother, I shall never reveal that!" She remained firm and Marik growled.
However the security guards assembled against the Rare Hunters. He was peeved that they pointed their weapons at him however he has something that their petty machete couldn't hurt him. Suddenly an explosion shattered the window behind Marik and the smoke covered Ishizu's senses. Marik laughed and jumped down from the window. Ishizu ran to the edge of the window.
"I'll find it Ishizu."
"Odion! But why?" Ishizu was surprised that even Odion who was holding a bazooka would help Marik escape.
"I'm afraid you have made a very foolish choice today Ishizu." And from behind Marik could hear Ishizu calling out for Odion. His goons kept running behind him and off they went to the Tahrir Square.
Luanne was waiting alone at the Tahrir Square fountain mouthing 'No Diggerty' and bouncing to the beat from the blurring music from a local car. A dark skinned girl with navy blue dreadlocks came over with a keyboard. "Hey, I couldn't help but to look at your fondness with rapping. Name is Petra Ty. You can call me Pete or Penny and I'm from Ethiopia." Luanne looked up and instantly blushed. "Uhm no no no, I was just… you caught me. I am Luanne and welcome to Cairo." Luanne smiled hoping Marik could come sooner. The car left and Petra took out her phone. "Here do you want to rap with me?" She got the lyrics out.
This made Luanne thought of how unmusical she is. "I am not that musical though." Luanne confessed.
"How about this song?" Petra showed 'Dark Horse'. Luanne only knew the Chorus. Luanne nodded shyly. It was mesmerising hearing her sing and soon she joined. Sunrise was upon Cairo and a few people saw the basking interesting. Soon Marik and Odion drove up, turning from the roundabout, she could tell Marik wasn't pleased and therefore the last one was a failure. He marched right up to Luanne and dragged her to the side. His robe was still on and he cared less for anyone looking at him.
"You were too late Luanne, the Egyptian God Card was gone!" Marik almost screamed at her until Petra brought Luanne's bag to her.
"Sorry, I'll leave now." Petra smiled and pranced back to her keyboard basking post.
Marik scowled at the girl, "Who is she?" The Egyptian boy asked.
Luanne rolled her eyes. "Her name is Petra and she is from Ethiopia. And why do you need to know all my acquaintances?"
"Is that so…? Commoner…" Marik glared at the girl again.
"And you are a classist!" Luanne shot back. Marik ignored her but her was about to reply.
"Be careful Luanne, do you have any idea to whom you're dealing with?" Marik growled, he was angry just as the way his sister previously confronted him, he didn't want Luanne to push her boundaries. Yet he has no personal issues with Luanne, it was definitely the Side Effect, her Side Effect that concealed the future from Ishizu until it was removed.
"If this is an attempt to break the 'misinterpretation', I get it. You are the leader of this Ghoul organisation and you hate slip-ups. I gave you Idogbe's deck and it is yours now. Neither of my family wants the Duel Monster deck and it is gift. Unless you want me to treat you like 'I hate you' why is this 'Obelisk' so important anyway?" She tossed her arms up; her elegance was gone for that moment.
"Like you know anything about Firewalls… it wasn't just my device they have hacked into. It was many that came including yours." Luanne stayed calm. "Look, you were in a hurry to find Ibrahim Feisal and track your sister's movement and my Side Effect was a problem. You can't be irrational to think that I can handle everything." Luanne argued as though she was talking to her little brother. She couldn't believe she just defended herself.
Marik growled again, "Then I will find the card myself! As much as I like to play Duel Monsters for fun, I still have to pursue what is rightfully mine."
"Honestly, what you are pursuing is still a conundrum. I don't care whether you choose to reveal you personal issues." She was annoyed with Marik.
"First of all, you said you left your identity somewhere, where is the card's tracking site? The card is still important. I will possess it with or without your help." He tightened his grip on Luanne's wrist. "Secondly, I have a destiny to fulfil… Only the three Egyptian God cards are needed and your brother's formal deck does not harness the same qualities… how should I put it, no pale comparison to the particular card I seek. Lastly, you are able to get past my sister's prediction because of our little mishap with the contract and that earned you the Side Effect. Is that the most rational thought?"
"What happens to the Rare Hunters you were with?" Luanne saw fear encasing their faces, one man was missing from the group, and the three were missing. The rest were panting.
"Are you now understanding how incompetence is intolerable? " Marik took his Millennium Rod in his hand and ran his fingers though Luanne's Rose Gold hair as he held her. "That's right, they went to the realm of eternal darkness." He whispers to Luanne's ear. Petra went to one of the Rare Hunters whom she knew while Luanne and Marik were still conversing.
"Ray, you look very beat. I have water here." Petra squatted next to a Rare Hunter. Luanne just stared at them, wondering what it would be like for someone you love to work as a Rare Hunter. Must be dangerous…
"Thanks Penny."
"However before we make our way to Luxor," Marik continued as he saw the couple distracting Luanne. "I want a new Rare Hunter. You owe me one and you have no choice in the matter." Luanne knew for one instance what he meant. Wati, her brother is in Marik's interest and she detested the idea.
"Oh No!" Luanne gasped. Anxiety overcame her and she could barely breath.
Marik chuckled, "Oh yes, soon your beloved brother will be employed as one of my Rare Hunter and all will be fine for him and your family." She fainted to Marik's surprise he quickly caught her. "Luanne!" It was blackout.
Odion drove the car to Luxor with Marik and the passed out Luanne beside him. He left a letter to Wati to meet them in Luxor as his remaining Rare Hunters aided him to take him with them.
The girl was anxious and normally he enjoyed watching people anxious, but not Luanne. She was different; Luanne will talk just about anything and when they reach the point of anxiety. For know he need to look for two more items, another Millennium Item and the Obelisk the Tormentor.
Although he needs a little rest from pursuing them, perhaps test the cards he has recently obtained, especially the two Egyptian God Cards. For now he will settle in his home away from home and think about how he could try and replicate some cards.