The best laid plans of mice and men…I didn't imagine this would go on so long, the story has taken on a life of its own, I can only let it unfold, and hope you all are still enjoying it, and want to read more. Much thanks for the reviews, they are the food on which I feed. So here's another chapter, YGO is only mine in my imagination. :D Please Read and Review.
Chapter 13: The Rescue
I stopped in my chambers long enough to grab a hooded cloak and quickly bandage my bleed ankles. My hands shook, not from the chill of the night air, but from the sharp twist of worry in my chest. What could I possibly do to help Yami? I knew no magic, had no skill. Maybe he didn't even need my help; perhaps, he'd already dispatched Seto and he now was in the mist of enjoying the Games. I shook my head--the words rang hollow. The evil unleashed within the palace, the strange creatures attacks, all pointed to the fact that the Pharaoh was in trouble. Before us stood the massive stadium, strangely silent save for the grunts and howls of the battle inside.
We entered through the servant entrance on the ground level, and made our way to a landing just out of the view of the crowd. We had an excellent position and the entire arena was visible from our location. I found Seto first, down on the lowest floor calling attacks to his giant warrior beast on the field. The blows shook the stadium with their intensity. No doubt remained; the monsters were no longer conjured images. They were tangible, and could unleash their power not only on the field, but also on the world itself. I continued my visual tour; my hand flew to my mouth to stop the sound as I saw him.
A pale white light framed his still form, and bathed him in a ghostly nimbus. Suspended by thick iron shackles on his wrist and ankles, Yami's head rested against his chest. He looked to be sleeping, or exhausted, or…dead. No he can't be, my heart constricted. No reason to chain a dead man, I thought, and released my breath. Next to him, wearing a tight-lipped grin stood the High Priest.
"OK, our goal is to free the King without arousing the attention of the Vizier." The men nodded. Ma'Kat just wrung her hands and kept repeating, "Oh, dear." I placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are our lookout. Should anyone come toward the stairs or try to block this exit, you just scream."
I investigated father, but found no temple guards near the captive. "It looks like only the High Priest is guarding the Pharaoh, so it shouldn't be hard to overpower one…" The words stalled in my throat. Heisien stretched out his hand, Seto's opponent was bathed in cracking green lightening. His faced drained of life, and he was lead away.
"M'lady, the Priest looks to be a mage," Valerian offered, one eyebrow cocked.
"You are right, brute force alone won't work. I will distract the High Priest," I pointed to the largest soldiers, "You two free the Pharaoh and get him out of here. The rest of you scout to find any royal guards, mages, anyone that is loyal to the Pharaoh, we are going to need all the help we can get. Understand?" They assented. I turned without pausing, my eyes set on the limestone steps before me. It was up to us to save the monarch. I swallowed hard and started the climb.
I held my breath as we approached the squat man and went onto the balls of my feet to lessen the noise. Every scrape multiplied a hundred times by my desire for silence, my heartbeat like a hammer in my chest. No words, or action could stop the Priest from destroying me. What was I thinking? I wanted only to escape, run and hide; then Yami appeared on the horizon.
Not the lifeless rag doll I saw in the distance, but a possessed Voodoo icon, pins impaling his every nerve. He shook as power radiated out of him and was reflected back by the enchanted pentagram, shocking him into spasms of pain. His skin was pallid, sweat covered and luminous. He hardly appeared human, more spirit than flesh. He uttered a low moan, the only indication that he was conscious. All doubts left me as I rushed up the last few steps. I just wanted him down and safe, High Priest be damned!
Heisien's back faced us; he was absorbed in the next duel. Lucky for us, I almost breathed a sigh, almost. I motioned for my two men to go to the Pharaoh, and I moved toward the evil mage.
"Nice view from up here, you must have paid a fortune for these seats." I walked to the edge of the platform, my hood concealing my face.
"What!?! Who are you?" I didn't see him, but his tone betrayed his surprise.
"Curious? Answer me this then. Who's the last person you would expect to see here?" I kept my voice, light and relaxed.
"You mock me. I will find out your identity." Out of the corner of my vision, a sneer crossed Heisien's face, a hieroglyphic third eye appeared on his forehead, and pale green light enclosed his hands again.
"I can't read you?" The sneer faded from his face immediately. His question was replaced by a new, darker tone, " I don't care who you are witch, I don't need surprises. This is my moment of triumph, and nothing is going to deter me." The lime toned light, darkened to a murky emerald, and shined with deadly vigor. The crash of metal against metal caught the Priest's attention; he hesitated.
With two strong strokes, my compatriots hewed the iron links, releasing Yami's arms from their restraints. The king fell forward to his knees, head still lowered.
"So you thought to take my prize before I am done with him— You were clever to distract me, but you underestimate my powers."
Heisien's sphere of molten energy crackled, as his target changed. Through eyes glazed with rage and hate, he took aim at my soldiers and released the lethal beam. I dove between the hieratic and the Greeks, taking the full impact of the scorching beam directly in my torso. I slammed into the floor with fire exploding in my chest. The dull crunch of breaking bones filled my ears. I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Yami, so sorry, I thought, as my eyesight blurred, and darkness enveloped me.