Chapter 14

'I knew this was a bad idea,' Lus stared round at the desolate wasteland they now found themselves in, 'seriously I don't like it here one bit.'

'Me either,' Arados swallowed hard, 'but somehow I think that's the point. I mean, they were punishing her, right? Why else would they send her to the worst part of Giya?'

'I know,' he glanced about, 'but I didn't think it would be quite so... unwelcoming.'

'Well who cares,' Taylor shrugged, 'this is where we're going to find her, so quit complaining about how bad it is and help me look for her.'

Nodding, the three of them fell silent and slowly began making their way through the barren wasteland they found themselves in. Lus could feel the shivers running up and down his spine with every step he took. It's like he could sense a storm cloud on the horizon and every second it was moving closer. Or, more to the point, they were moving towards it. His eyes darted towards his friends. From the expressions on their faces, he could tell they were thinking the exact same thing he was; whatever was about to happen, wasn't going to be good.

They'd been walking for no more than half an hour, when they came across a large cavern. Exchanging cautious glances, they quietly entered. On the floor of the cavern was what appeared to be a large version of the Yatnuh, something they'd only seen when the Mistresses Chamber in the Temple of Set had been filled with light.

'This must be where they finally defeated the Reganna,' Arados grinned.

'And where my Dad…' giving an embarrassed laugh, Taylor lowered his head.

'And where your parents told everyone else they were in love,' Lus teased, 'we all know the stories Tay.'

'I know,' he blushed, turning his head away, 'but I also know what you guys are like about it.'

'And what's that supposed to mean?' Arados folded his arms.

'Nothing,' he shrugged. 'Look, I don't think she's in here. Lets…'

'Who's in where?' An unfamiliar female voice sounded from behind them; making them all jump.

Turning, they saw her; a dark haired woman in her early thirties with serious, dark eyes and a piercing gaze which held them all in place.

'Well?' Her voice was almost too calm to believe. 'Are you going to answer my question or not?'

'We… we're looking for Nayta,' Taylor eventually managed to stammer out.

'Really? And what could you three kids possibly want with an exile like her?'

'We… we want her to take the curse off of my Dad.'

'Oh really and why would she do that for you, Taylor Kaiba?'

'How…?'

A vicious laugh cut him off.

'I am Nayta, you little twit. Your Dad was the first and last person I ever got to curse, so it doesn't take a genius to work out who you are.'

'Hey,' Arados took a defensive step towards her, 'no one calls my friend a twit and gets away with it. You're asking for this now.'

Balling his fist, he went to hit her. But she simply stepped out of the way allowing his hand to collide with the wall, causing the rock beneath the impact to crumble.

'Arados Lutoni,' a knowing smirk spread across her face, 'you really have your father's temper you know. And with a gift like that, it's no wonder they call you a little thug.'

'How...?'

'You really think a person like me is incapable of making friends?' She laughed. 'You'd be surprised just how many like minded people there are amongst the dead. Those unsatisfied with their lot. Those who can't let go of the ambitions and desires they had in life. And those who just need a leader to follow. Oh yes, you'd better believe I have friends up here; friends with the freedom to gather all the information I could possibly want.'

'Okay, so you know who we are,' Taylor tried to remain unfazed, 'big deal; it's not like you can hurt us.'

'I can't hurt the two of you, but little Lus is still mortal, if I remember correctly; I don't need any powers to kill him.'

'Yeah, but you won't,' Arados again became defensive, 'me and Taylor would never let you; you'd be dead before you could even lay a finger on him.'

'And you'd have my blood on your conscience.'

'It would be worth it.'

'Really?' Nayta gave a cocky tilt of her head. 'Well then I guess it's lucky for me I have no intention on killing any of you, isn't it? Although I dare say anyone would really miss Lus, even if I did.'

'You take that back,' Taylor felt a snap of anger inside of her, 'me and Ara would miss him like crazy.'

'But his parents wouldn't. Certainly not his mother. She didn't even want him to begin with. In fact, I'm probably the only reason he was even born.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Lus frowned.

'Didn't you know,' she shot him a covert sideways glance, 'I kidnapped your Mummy from outside of an abortion clinic. Just before she went in.'

'You're lying.'

'Oh I'm not, believe me I'm not; ask your Mummy dearest if you don't believe me.'

'Look, enough of your head games,' Taylor glared, 'can you give my Dad his vision back or not?'

Casually she glided across the chamber towards a partially covered hole in the back wall. Out of this gap she pulled a large wooden box, which she opened in order to show them the golden cuff bracelets contained within.

'It was my plan to use Giya as my home base long before I was exiled here,' her voice was almost too casual, 'so needless to say I was far from unhappy about your parents' choice. I may not have had my powers anymore, but I had everything else I needed. The only problem with Giya is that although the dead make for good friends, their access to the world of the living is limited. And I needed the living in order to fulfil my plans, so it just became a waiting game, because I knew one day the living would seek me out, I just never thought it would be the three of you; although I did hope.'

'What... what are you talking about?' Lus took half a step back.

'I'm talking about recruiting you boys,' a cruel grin spread across her face. 'Of course, I don't have the power to force these cuffs on you, but you will wear them and you will obey me.'

'Yeah right,' Arados folded his arms, 'why would we do that?'

'Consider it a trade. You work for me and in exchanged Taylor's Dad gets his eyesight back.'

Her words caused the trio to exchange wary glances. They knew they wouldn't get what they were after for free, but this...?

'We're not working for evil,' Lus shook his head, 'that's not an even trade.'

'Isn't it?' She gave a strange half laugh and ran her tongue along her teeth. 'I mean, it is a pretty powerful curse. And I should know; I was the one who placed it on him.'

'It's still not an even trade.'

'And what do you think Taylor?' Her gaze shifted to him. 'Do you think it's an even trade?'

'No,' he lowered his gaze and shook his head, 'if you can really take the curse off of my Dad, then I think it means we still owe you.'

'Tay,' Lus's jaw dropped open, 'how can you say that?'

'You haven't seen him,' his eyes became large and pleading, 'you don't know… Please…'

'I don't know Tay,' Arados's voice was dry, 'I really don't think we should do this. I mean, we're supposed to be the Heirs to the Light, not to the Darkness.'

'But I have to do this for my Dad. He almost died for me. I owe him.'

Lus and Arados exchanged a glance. They both knew this wasn't a good idea, but somehow they could see that whether they agreed to do it or not, Taylor would anyway. And it was safer for him to be with them than without.

'Tell you what,' Nayta's voice interrupted their train of thoughts, 'I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide.' Shutting the box, she made her way out of the cavern. 'Return here tomorrow with your decision. And boys do be prompt, because I hate to be kept waiting.'