Chapter Two

When Pegasus awoke, Cecelia was no longer by his side. "Cecelia? Cecelia!"

            'Was it all a dream? Did I just imagine her?' That had occurred often, after her death. There had been times when he was sure that he had seen her, felt her touch, but then she was gone, as if she was never there.

            He dashed out of the bedroom, still dressed only in the cotton pants he wore at night. And there she was, in her nightgown, standing in the balcony overlooking the island. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

            She jumped a little. "Oh, Peega-chan. I didn't expect you." She glanced back out to the expanse of land. "What is this place? It's beautiful."

            Pegasus pulled her to him. "It's my—our home. This is our palace, and out there is The Duelist Kingdom. People come from all over to play a card game I created."

            Cecelia turned in his arms to face him. "You made a card game? The cards you designed must be beautiful."

            Standing there, staring at his beloved after so long, finally holding her in his arms, Pegasus couldn't speak. She was really here, really back with him. After so long, he could finally hold her. Instead of responding, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. Her arms came up around his neck and ran through his hair, just like they had so very often before.

            Every touch, every word, every glance came back to him, everything he loved about her that he had forgotten, that he had pushed aside, that he had hidden. Deep within him, a hole was made in the dam that held back his own soul.

            Cecelia was given free reign of the castle. That is, except for the dungeons. Fortunately, they were well hidden. The men knew that she was not to go down there, ever, nor was she to ever be allowed to see the soulless shells that had once been Pegasus's enemies.

            She didn't seem to notice. She often explored the island, and talked with the duelists there. They all had a story as to why they were dueling, and Cecelia wanted to help them all. However, Yugi's friends had long since left the island, going back to gather resources before returning en force.

            "Peega-chan? What did happen to your eye?" Cecelia had long since learned that she could brush her hand across his left eye without hurting him. It was smooth and cold, not fitting of the man she had loved.

            Pegasus smiled down at her. "I had it replaced. This one is an ancient artifact, and my other was…damaged. I can still see with it, which is more than could be said for a glass eye."

            "It is? Where from?"

            "Egypt. Ancient Egypt."

            "Oh," she smiled, moving her hand from his eye to his hair, brushing it with her fingers. The silkiness of it still amazed her, even after all the time she'd spent with him. He smirked a little as she found a hairbrush and began brushing his hair.

            As she roamed the island, Cecelia met more and more people who talked about this Yugi boy, who seemed to be considered one of the greatest duelists of all. Yet, after entering the palace to duel Pegasus, he had disappeared. There were rumors flying all around, that Pegasus had killed him, that he had run from the battle, that the duel was still going on…

            She didn't know what to think. The man she loved had changed, that was sure, and she didn't know what had gone on in her absence. She didn't even really know where she had been, or why. But she could still see his goodness, and the man she had loved would never hurt anyone. Never.

            Pegasus wrestled with himself. Cecelia was out exploring the island again. She had become fascinated with the game, and he had provided her with a deck of cards. Now, she played all the time, but always for fun. She had never bothered to get a star chip wristband, and she didn't care to try to win the money. With each battle, victory or defeat, she learned something new. It wasn't always about the game.

            That was part of what scared him. He couldn't stand the hatred he was sure would appear in her eyes if she found out what he had done. The dam blocking his soul was weakening, and no longer could he gloss over what he had done.

            Banishing those people to the Shadow Realm was as good as killing them, he knew. He had the blood of three people on his hands. Three people who had done nothing more than get in his way. What could he do?

To Be Continued