HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Just a reminder this story is rated M for a reason... No lemons (as I'm staying within the guidelines) but this chapter does contain strong themes that may not be suitable for a younger reader.

Chapter Twenty Six

When Rita opened her eyes it took her a moment to realize what had happened. When she saw him, slumped down on the floor of the boat, she sighed. Alas, the unexplainable always came back to Bakura.

She stared down into his brown orbs. He had lived too long and his eyes showed that. No-one should have to live forever. In her opinion, immortality was a punishment not a blessing.

She waited for him to speak. He wasn't quite sure where to start so he decided just to blurt it out.

"I need your help," he admitted.

She laughed in a way that showed she was disgusted by his plea. "Why should I help you?" she asked.

He didn't have a decent answer. He wondered if a simple 'I love you' would suffice. Probably not, he decided. He knew those words meant nothing to her anymore.

"You shouldn't," he said instead. "But if you do, I promise, once this is all over I will walk out of your life forever."

As desirable as it sounded she wasn't sure that was exactly what she wanted.

"That person's not me," Bakura continued. "It's-"

"The curse," Rita finished.

Bakura nodded.

"How can I trust you?" she asked.

"You can't."

Rita was surprised by his honestly. She crouched down and took his hands into her own. Even after all the pain he had caused her, she couldn't help but love him.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Destroy Aknadin, the spell should leave with him."

"I need the book then."

Bakura nodded. "You'll find it," he said.

She cast her eyes down.

"He's going to hurt you," Bakura said. "This other side of me."

"I know,"

"I'm sorry."

She smiled meekly. "I know that, too."

Bakura closed his eyes. He could feel the pressure building in his mind, the demon was trying to take control.

"You need to go," he said.

Brining his hands to her lips she kissed him softly. "I'm not leaving you," she said.

"You have to."

"No, Aknadin will kill you if you don't return with me."

"I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me. Now go!"

Rita didn't move.

"Go!" he yelled one last time.

Before she could move Bakura grabbed her by the hair.

"You really should have listened to him, Rita."

"You," she growled. "Who are you?"

"My name is Zorc Necrophades," he said.

"What do you want with Bakura?" she asked.

"Bakura? Oh, nothing really... Let's just say he's merely the pawn in my game."

"Your game? …I don't understand. I thought you were working for Aknadin?"

"Working for him?" Zorc laughed loudly. "My dear you are confused. You see, Aknadin is working for me."

"What?" This doesn't make any sense, she thought. "But Aknadin cursed Bakura."

"No, I inhabited Aknadin. When you threatened to destroy him I needed to find myself a new host. Coincidentally Bakura and I go way back, but he just happened to be at the right place at the right time."

"What's your motive?" Rita demanded. "What do you want?"

"That is not really your concern right now, my dear."

"It's my brother, isn't it?"

Zorc changed the subject. "I was surprised you were able to summon the Skeleton of Ra. Only those with a tainted soul can summon a beast like that." He raised a brow. "Yet, you didn't attack… Why?"

Rita didn't answer and so he pressed further. "Were you scared? Or did you simply not wish to hurt Bakura?"

Zorc moved forward and took hold of her wrist. Pulling up her sleeve he displayed her un-bandaged wound. Despising the sight of it, Rita refused to look down. It was the result of her stupidity and her weakness. She looked at Zorc instead.

"A memento of our time together," he smiled. "You know I really didn't want to hurt you Rita, but you just wouldn't shut up."

Rita tried to pull away but his grip tightened.

"Your body is like a canvas," he said and traced the length of the cut with his thumb. "The result of an artist's pain."

He moved his hand to her neck and did the same to the abrasion there.

"You're no artist," she said. "You're a monster."

Ignoring her insult, Zorc ran his hand down her chest.

"You're very beautiful, Rita," he said. "It's no wonder Bakura kept you around."

When she looked away he grabbed her jaw and forced her back. They stared at each other for a few minutes and then Zorc released her.

"I want to show you something," he said.

Rita rubbed the side of her cheek and saw the Millennium Ring glow. The eye of Horus appeared on both hers and Zorc's forehead. She could feel the air cool and her surroundings faded to black. Zorc was nowhere to be seen but his voice penetrated her mind.

"I was born out of violence," he said, and an image appeared before her.

It was a village.

Bakura's village.

Kul Elna.

The scene was red with violence. Soldiers came, they slaughtered, they burned. Civilians ran, their skin on fire. Rita could smell their burning flesh and she could hear the cries of small children. They were innocent and they begged for their lives. The adults ran. Some fought back, while others stopped to pray to a God that would no mercy. The sight was horrific.

Rita fell to the ground with her hands to her head.

"Make it stop," she pleaded.

Her nails dug into her skull. She could feel the villager's pain inside her mind as if it were her own.

"They took their souls," Zorc said "but I was left, born of their hatred… created to avenge."

She heard the soldiers' uproar and the children's cries grew weaker.

"Help us!" They ran to Rita. Their charcoal limbs outstretched. Grabbing at her body they tugged on her arms. "Please help us!"

"Make them stop," Rita cried.

Seemingly Zorc obliged and everything fell silent but the soft crackling of the fire.

Rita looked up at the scene of the massacre. The spirits of the dead rose up like smoke at the command of the Pharaoh's priest.

"Why are you showing me this?" Rita asked.

"So you'd understand," he said.

Rita closed her eyes and when she opened them again she was back on the boat. Her body was shaking. The images were still vivid in her mind and she knew they would never leave.

"This is what Bakura sees every time he closes his eyes," Zorc said.

"Then why punish him? Has he not been through enough?"

"I never intended to punish him," Zorc said.

"But you said he was your pawn."

"Yes, but soon he will be the King."

"Bakura doesn't want any part of your plan."

"Don't you see, Bakura and I are one in the same? He helped create me."

"You lie."

"I am his mother, his father, his sister, his brother, his friend-"

"Stop it!"

"And you, you will be our queen."

Zorc attempted to caress her thigh but she batted his hand away. "Don't touch me!" she growled.

He smirked and pushed her down on the floor. When Rita began to scream he put his hands around her throat, silencing her. Her eyes rolled back into her head as her oxygen was cut off. While he choked her she could once again hear the cries from Kul Elna. Her body burned with them. She could hear her voice calling for help as her flesh melted away and her body slowly turned to ash.

Bolting upright she now sat on the bed in Bakura's bedroom. Zorc turned the lock on the door and the sound sent chills down her spine. He removed his shirt and approached her slowly.

"I'm not going to be gentle," he stated as he unbuckled his pants.

Tears welled in her eyes, knowing what he was going to do. "Bakura, don't do this," she begged.

"He can't help you."

Rita tried to run but Zorc grabbed her and shoved her down on the bed. He straddled her, using his weight to his advantage. Pulling his Millennium Ring over his head her placed it around her neck. The item paralyzed her body and all that she could move was her head.

"You don't have to enjoy this, Rita," Zorc whispered in her ear. "But at least try to be responsive."

Yami lay on the floor of his soul room, staring at the maze above him. When he thought he heard someone call his name he sat up and scanned the room suspiciously.

"Yami." He heard his name again, louder this time.

"Who's there?" he asked.

His voice echoed.

"Yami, it's me."

"Rita?"

He turned around and she was suddenly there behind him. Transparent, but there. He reached out to touch her but his arm fell through her body.

"Rita what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Brother, please find the Book of Shadows. It was laid to rest here with you."

"Rita, what are you talking about?"

"I didn't tell you before because I wasn't sure who I could trust. But it's here Yami, somewhere in your soul room."

"Then we must look for it together," he declared.

"I have no time," she said.

"No time? Why not?... Rita, you must tell what's going on!"

"I can't."

"Rita!"

Her voice echoed softly as she slowly disappeared.

"Help me..."

So, Rita knew where the Book of Shadows was this whole time. Guess it's up to Yami to save the day… go figure.

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