Seto climbed out of his limo, feeling completely exhausted. By now it was well after midnight and all he wanted to do was sleep. He hadn't really learned anything much from talking to JP's sister, only that her brother often accidentally wound up with the wrong kind of people. Tomorrow he would have to try talking to some of JP's friends and the other deejays.
He opened the door bleary-eyed and instantly Mokuba leaped into his arms in delight. "Seto!!" he exclaimed happily. "Oh big brother, I'm so glad you're home!"
Seto held the younger boy close, relieved that he was alright. "I'm glad to be back, kid," he said softly, and then he noticed Velma standing in the doorway to the sitting room looking shaken. "What's wrong?" he asked her sternly.
Velma shook her head, not wanting to say anything as long as Mokuba was still there. "Nothin', sir," she tried to assure him. "It's just been a long day."
Seto wasn't fooled. "Hey kid," he said to Mokuba affectionately, "it's way past your bedtime. How about I take you up to bed?"
Mokuba nodded slowly. He was quite exhausted himself, and now that Seto was back he felt that he could finally go to sleep. "Okay, big brother," he agreed, snuggling close.
Seto smiled at him and carried him up the stairs to his room. After he had tucked Mokuba into bed and waited until he had fallen asleep, Seto went back downstairs to speak with Velma. "Now. . . . What happened while I was gone?" he demanded.
Velma twisted the dust mop in her hands nervously. "Well, sir . . . see, I got this awful phone call. . . ." She shuddered, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Mr. Kaiba, I'm so glad it was me who answered instead of that poor boy. . . ."
Seto moved closer, staring sternly into his maid's eyes. "What was said? Tell me."
Velma continued to twist the mop. "They . . . they were threatenin' you somethin' awful, sir!" she cried, trying to speak low enough so that Mokuba wouldn't awaken and hear. "Oh, they said such terrible things. . . ."
Seto wasn't surprised, but he was frustrated. "What did the voice sound like?" he asked now.
Velma blinked. "I don't know, sir. . . . I think they were using one of those things to disguise it. . . ."
Seto sighed in irritation. It figured.
****
Ishizu stood up, feeling an extreme sense of unease.
"You have felt it too?" Rishid asked. Marik should have been home before now, he thought to himself.
Ishizu headed for the door of the Ishtar home. "Yes," she said softly. "I sense something is amiss with Marik."
Rishid followed her, his eyes narrowed in concern. "We must go then," he said gravely.
Before long they had arrived at the museum. "Marik might have come here," Ishizu remarked, looking gravely at the open door.
"It is late," Rishid said grimly, going inside and turning on the lights. "Master? Are you here?" he called.
Ishizu followed after him and walked forward. "Oh!" she cried suddenly, seeing dark red blood-stains on the floor.
"This is not good," Rishid said, looking around. "Master?" he called again, spotting the open door to the basement. Quickly he descended the stairs and found Marik's lifeless body at the bottom. "Brother!" he cried in utter horror.
Ishizu appeared at the top of the stairs, her blue eyes shining worriedly. "Rishid, what has happened to him?!" she exclaimed. Usually the Egyptian woman managed to appear calm and collected, but when one of her brothers was badly hurt she couldn't hide her true feelings.
Rishid gathered the boy's body into his arms, searching frantically for any signs of life. "He has been deliberately attacked," the man said grimly. "It might be best if you do not come down." This was too much like deja vu. Neither Rishid or Ishizu could forget how Marik had been shot down back in Egypt under mysterious circumstances. And now he had been hurt again—under circumstances that were just as mysterious.
Ishizu didn't listen to Rishid's warning. Quickly she descended the stairs as well and knelt next to them. "Marik!" she cried, touching his bloody arm gently. "Marik, it is your sister," she said softly, her voice cracking. "I am here with you. Can you hear me?" She surveyed his battered body, horror evident in her eyes. "He was stabbed!" she exclaimed in alarm, seeing a glint of metal and pulling a knife out of the boy's flesh.
Rishid had hoped to remove the knife before Ishizu found it. The poor woman was completely shaken, just the way Rishid himself felt.
"Oh Marik. . . ." Ishizu bent over her brother, tears glistening in her eyes. She looked up at Rishid, an unspoken question on her lips.
The man stood up gravely, Marik's lifeless body in his arms. "He is still alive, but only barely," he told her. "He needs immediate medical care."
Marik's head fell back, sending his long blonde hair flying messily in all directions. His normally tanned skin was now a deathly pale color and blood was everywhere. He looked very close to death.
Ishizu tried to get her emotions under control. "We do not have time to wait for an ambulance, do we?" she spoke quietly.
Rishid shook his head. "He is too far gone. We must take him to the hospital ourselves."
Ishizu knew that was true. "Come then," she directed, hurrying to the door. "There is no time to lose."
Quickly they went back upstairs and outside to Ishizu's car. "I had best drive," Rishid said quietly, seeing that Ishizu was in no condition to do so. Frankly, he wasn't sure how he was managing to stay so calm. He felt as if his world was collapsing around him. His blood boiled at the sight of their brother's brutally attacked body. Someone had purposely done this abomination. But who?!
Ishizu nodded shakily and climbed into the passenger side. Rishid gently laid Marik's body across her lap before going around to the driver's side and also getting in. The Egyptian woman held him close, pressing a scarf against the worst of his wounds to stop the bleeding. "Please, dear brother," she whispered. "You must survive!"
****
Seto was startled out of a light sleep by a small hand touching his shoulder. "Seto?" he heard Mokuba's quavering voice say.
The older boy stirred, forcing his deep blue eyes open. "Hey kid," he said in confusion, "what's wrong?" He rolled over and raised himself up to look at the younger boy, who had climbed onto the bed and was looking immensely close to tears.
Mokuba collapsed into the older boy's arms, sobbing now. "Oh Seto. . . . I . . . I was having this horrible nightmare!"
Seto held his brother tenderly. "Can you tell me about it?" he asked softly.
Mokuba looked up at him, tears chasing each other down his face. "You . . . you were just laying there, big brother," he wailed. "I . . . I couldn't wake you up! . . . You . . . you were . . ." He couldn't finish, again burying his face in Seto's chest.
"It's alright, kid," Seto whispered. "I'm never going to leave you." He laid his head against Mokuba's. "That's a promise."
Mokuba continued to cling to his beloved brother, his little shoulders shaking with sobs. "Seto, can I stay here with you tonight?" he begged.
Seto laid back into the pillows, Mokuba still in his arms. "Of course you can, kid," he assured him, pulling the quilt up around them both. He kissed the little boy softly on the forehead.
Mokuba sighed happily, snuggling close. Seto gently tousled his brother's hair, praying that he would be able to keep his promise.
****
Joey woke up bright and early the next morning to the radio blaring loudly with an old song from the '80's. He grumbled, preparing to turn it off and drift off to sleep again, but then he paused when the deejay's voice came on.
"Hello, darlings," Vivalene's voice purred. "This is Viper Vifa here to take you through another morning with all the marvelous songs you remember from the decade you can never forget—the 1980's!"
Joey grinned and perked up. It was going to be a great day, as long as Vivalene was in every minute of it.
The phone rang abruptly and Joey looked at it in irritation. Why did it have to ring during Vivalene's show? "Hello," he said distractedly into the receiver. "Make it snappy!"
"Joey," Yugi's voice came through the telephone then, "Marik's in the hospital!"
Joey blinked. "Whaddya mean, Yug?!" he demanded. "Did he fall down and sprain his arm or somethin'?"
"I wish it was that simple," Yugi replied gravely. "Joey, he's almost dead!"
Joey couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No way," he gasped. "He was fine just last night! What the heck happened to him?!"
"Someone beat him," Yugi said sadly. "Apparently they cornered him in the museum after he left the radio station last night and just attacked him violently!"
Joey was floored. "Man, who would do that to him?!" he cried in disbelief. "And why?!"
"I don't know," Yugi said after a pause. ~Yami, do you think Vivalene was responsible?~ he asked the spirit worriedly.
**I'm afraid it's a strong possibility, Yugi,** Yami Yugi replied grimly. **I am certain she didn't appreciate what Marik was telling us last night. I don't doubt that she would want to silence him permanently.**
Yugi shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe anyone could actually be so diabolically evil.
"Hey, Yug? Are you still there?!" Joey demanded.
Yugi blinked, startled out of his mental conversation. "Yeah, I'm still here, Joey," he assured his friend.
"Man, I hope the guy's gonna be alright," Joey said softly, shaking his head sadly.
"I do too, Joey," Yugi agreed, his violet eyes worried and sad. "I do too."
****
When Seto awoke the next morning, Mokuba was still curled up next to him, breathing peacefully. Seto just watched the younger boy for a while, not wanting to disturb him. They had come through so much together. . . .
It was going to be another busy day today, he knew. He had to work hard to find out what had happened to JP—and to the money that had disappeared from his company's accounts. Obviously this mystery was very serious, what with everything that had happened last night.
The phone jangled sharply and Seto quickly reached over and answered before the ringing could awaken his brother. "Kaiba," he said coldly.
"You just don't know how to stay out of other people's business, do you?" an equally cold voice shot back.
Seto's eyes narrowed. "I assume you're referring to the disappearing deejay case."
"That's right." The voice paused. "Marik Ishtar has already been killed, and you're gonna be next if you don't stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong!" With a sharp click, the caller hung up.
Seto stared at the phone in disbelief. "Marik Ishtar is dead?" he muttered low. That was something he definitely hadn't been expecting.
Mokuba stirred then and awoke, looking up at the older boy with his innocent gray eyes. "Hi, big brother!" he said sleepily, grinning.
Seto looked back down at him and smiled warmly. "Hey kid," he said softly.
"Is everything okay, Seto?" Mokuba asked worriedly. "I . . . I thought I heard the phone ringing, and you answering and sounding upset. . . ."
Seto wasn't sure what to say. He certainly didn't want to introduce Mokuba to a death first thing in the morning—especially not the death of his best friend—so he tried to change the subject. "Why don't we go downstairs and get some breakfast?" he suggested, ruffling Mokuba's hair.
"Okay, Seto," Mokuba said agreeably, but he still looked worried. "But you didn't tell me if everything is really alright," he said as they got out of the bed and went to the door. "Seto, I heard you saying that Marik is dead!" he suddenly cried in horror.
Seto paused again. So Mokuba had heard him. "Someone told me that he is," he said carefully. "But I don't know if it's really true."
"It can't be true!" Mokuba sobbed. "It can't be!!"
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Velma was there to greet them. "Mr. Kaiba, sir, someone slipped this into the mailbox," she said, handing him a sealed envelope.
Seto took it from her, his eyes narrowed. It looked so mysterious. . . .
"What is it?" Mokuba asked, trying to see.
Seto tore it open and a single sheet of paper fell out.
Mr. Kaiba—
Come to my house at noontime.
I have something to show you
pertaining to my brother's disappearance.
—Lila
"Is it more bad news, Seto?" Mokuba wondered worriedly.
Seto shook his head. "I don't know, kid," he said truthfully. "I honestly don't know."
****
Ishizu sat in the chair by her brother's side, holding his hand gently and brushing his long blonde bangs out of his closed eyes. "Marik," she said softly, "you must fight, dear brother. You are strong. I know you can make it!"
She and Rishid had brought Marik to the hospital ages ago now, and the poor boy hadn't awakened at all. The doctor had told them that Marik was barely alive and that it would be touch-and-go unless he could completely revive.
The door opened slowly and Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Bakura all came in. "We're so sorry about Marik," Yugi said softly. "We're all praying that he'll get better."
Ishizu nodded slowly in acknowledgment. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I know my brother will not give up without a fight." She paused, worry flitting across her face.
"What is it?" Yugi asked in concern. When he glanced at Rishid, who was standing at Marik's other side, he saw that the man had that same worried expression.
"This is not the first time my master was nearly killed," Rishid said gravely, and explained about when they had found Marik mysteriously shot in the chest back in Egypt. The teens were horrified.
Now Marik stirred slightly, seeming to become agitated in his unconsciousness.
"Marik?" Ishizu stood up, leaning over him worriedly and at the same time hopefully. This was the first time he had moved at all since she and Rishid had found him. "I am here, dear brother," she said softly. "What is wrong?"
"Vivalene," Marik rasped, his voice barely discernible. "It . . . it was Vivalene."
Joey stared at the other boy in disbelief. "What's he mean?!"
Rishid came over to the bed now as well. "Brother?" he asked worriedly. "What is this about Vivalene?"
Marik paused, breathing heavily. It was obvious that he still wasn't fully conscious. "She . . . she stabbed me," he managed to choke out before going completely under again.
He opened the door bleary-eyed and instantly Mokuba leaped into his arms in delight. "Seto!!" he exclaimed happily. "Oh big brother, I'm so glad you're home!"
Seto held the younger boy close, relieved that he was alright. "I'm glad to be back, kid," he said softly, and then he noticed Velma standing in the doorway to the sitting room looking shaken. "What's wrong?" he asked her sternly.
Velma shook her head, not wanting to say anything as long as Mokuba was still there. "Nothin', sir," she tried to assure him. "It's just been a long day."
Seto wasn't fooled. "Hey kid," he said to Mokuba affectionately, "it's way past your bedtime. How about I take you up to bed?"
Mokuba nodded slowly. He was quite exhausted himself, and now that Seto was back he felt that he could finally go to sleep. "Okay, big brother," he agreed, snuggling close.
Seto smiled at him and carried him up the stairs to his room. After he had tucked Mokuba into bed and waited until he had fallen asleep, Seto went back downstairs to speak with Velma. "Now. . . . What happened while I was gone?" he demanded.
Velma twisted the dust mop in her hands nervously. "Well, sir . . . see, I got this awful phone call. . . ." She shuddered, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Mr. Kaiba, I'm so glad it was me who answered instead of that poor boy. . . ."
Seto moved closer, staring sternly into his maid's eyes. "What was said? Tell me."
Velma continued to twist the mop. "They . . . they were threatenin' you somethin' awful, sir!" she cried, trying to speak low enough so that Mokuba wouldn't awaken and hear. "Oh, they said such terrible things. . . ."
Seto wasn't surprised, but he was frustrated. "What did the voice sound like?" he asked now.
Velma blinked. "I don't know, sir. . . . I think they were using one of those things to disguise it. . . ."
Seto sighed in irritation. It figured.
****
Ishizu stood up, feeling an extreme sense of unease.
"You have felt it too?" Rishid asked. Marik should have been home before now, he thought to himself.
Ishizu headed for the door of the Ishtar home. "Yes," she said softly. "I sense something is amiss with Marik."
Rishid followed her, his eyes narrowed in concern. "We must go then," he said gravely.
Before long they had arrived at the museum. "Marik might have come here," Ishizu remarked, looking gravely at the open door.
"It is late," Rishid said grimly, going inside and turning on the lights. "Master? Are you here?" he called.
Ishizu followed after him and walked forward. "Oh!" she cried suddenly, seeing dark red blood-stains on the floor.
"This is not good," Rishid said, looking around. "Master?" he called again, spotting the open door to the basement. Quickly he descended the stairs and found Marik's lifeless body at the bottom. "Brother!" he cried in utter horror.
Ishizu appeared at the top of the stairs, her blue eyes shining worriedly. "Rishid, what has happened to him?!" she exclaimed. Usually the Egyptian woman managed to appear calm and collected, but when one of her brothers was badly hurt she couldn't hide her true feelings.
Rishid gathered the boy's body into his arms, searching frantically for any signs of life. "He has been deliberately attacked," the man said grimly. "It might be best if you do not come down." This was too much like deja vu. Neither Rishid or Ishizu could forget how Marik had been shot down back in Egypt under mysterious circumstances. And now he had been hurt again—under circumstances that were just as mysterious.
Ishizu didn't listen to Rishid's warning. Quickly she descended the stairs as well and knelt next to them. "Marik!" she cried, touching his bloody arm gently. "Marik, it is your sister," she said softly, her voice cracking. "I am here with you. Can you hear me?" She surveyed his battered body, horror evident in her eyes. "He was stabbed!" she exclaimed in alarm, seeing a glint of metal and pulling a knife out of the boy's flesh.
Rishid had hoped to remove the knife before Ishizu found it. The poor woman was completely shaken, just the way Rishid himself felt.
"Oh Marik. . . ." Ishizu bent over her brother, tears glistening in her eyes. She looked up at Rishid, an unspoken question on her lips.
The man stood up gravely, Marik's lifeless body in his arms. "He is still alive, but only barely," he told her. "He needs immediate medical care."
Marik's head fell back, sending his long blonde hair flying messily in all directions. His normally tanned skin was now a deathly pale color and blood was everywhere. He looked very close to death.
Ishizu tried to get her emotions under control. "We do not have time to wait for an ambulance, do we?" she spoke quietly.
Rishid shook his head. "He is too far gone. We must take him to the hospital ourselves."
Ishizu knew that was true. "Come then," she directed, hurrying to the door. "There is no time to lose."
Quickly they went back upstairs and outside to Ishizu's car. "I had best drive," Rishid said quietly, seeing that Ishizu was in no condition to do so. Frankly, he wasn't sure how he was managing to stay so calm. He felt as if his world was collapsing around him. His blood boiled at the sight of their brother's brutally attacked body. Someone had purposely done this abomination. But who?!
Ishizu nodded shakily and climbed into the passenger side. Rishid gently laid Marik's body across her lap before going around to the driver's side and also getting in. The Egyptian woman held him close, pressing a scarf against the worst of his wounds to stop the bleeding. "Please, dear brother," she whispered. "You must survive!"
****
Seto was startled out of a light sleep by a small hand touching his shoulder. "Seto?" he heard Mokuba's quavering voice say.
The older boy stirred, forcing his deep blue eyes open. "Hey kid," he said in confusion, "what's wrong?" He rolled over and raised himself up to look at the younger boy, who had climbed onto the bed and was looking immensely close to tears.
Mokuba collapsed into the older boy's arms, sobbing now. "Oh Seto. . . . I . . . I was having this horrible nightmare!"
Seto held his brother tenderly. "Can you tell me about it?" he asked softly.
Mokuba looked up at him, tears chasing each other down his face. "You . . . you were just laying there, big brother," he wailed. "I . . . I couldn't wake you up! . . . You . . . you were . . ." He couldn't finish, again burying his face in Seto's chest.
"It's alright, kid," Seto whispered. "I'm never going to leave you." He laid his head against Mokuba's. "That's a promise."
Mokuba continued to cling to his beloved brother, his little shoulders shaking with sobs. "Seto, can I stay here with you tonight?" he begged.
Seto laid back into the pillows, Mokuba still in his arms. "Of course you can, kid," he assured him, pulling the quilt up around them both. He kissed the little boy softly on the forehead.
Mokuba sighed happily, snuggling close. Seto gently tousled his brother's hair, praying that he would be able to keep his promise.
****
Joey woke up bright and early the next morning to the radio blaring loudly with an old song from the '80's. He grumbled, preparing to turn it off and drift off to sleep again, but then he paused when the deejay's voice came on.
"Hello, darlings," Vivalene's voice purred. "This is Viper Vifa here to take you through another morning with all the marvelous songs you remember from the decade you can never forget—the 1980's!"
Joey grinned and perked up. It was going to be a great day, as long as Vivalene was in every minute of it.
The phone rang abruptly and Joey looked at it in irritation. Why did it have to ring during Vivalene's show? "Hello," he said distractedly into the receiver. "Make it snappy!"
"Joey," Yugi's voice came through the telephone then, "Marik's in the hospital!"
Joey blinked. "Whaddya mean, Yug?!" he demanded. "Did he fall down and sprain his arm or somethin'?"
"I wish it was that simple," Yugi replied gravely. "Joey, he's almost dead!"
Joey couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No way," he gasped. "He was fine just last night! What the heck happened to him?!"
"Someone beat him," Yugi said sadly. "Apparently they cornered him in the museum after he left the radio station last night and just attacked him violently!"
Joey was floored. "Man, who would do that to him?!" he cried in disbelief. "And why?!"
"I don't know," Yugi said after a pause. ~Yami, do you think Vivalene was responsible?~ he asked the spirit worriedly.
**I'm afraid it's a strong possibility, Yugi,** Yami Yugi replied grimly. **I am certain she didn't appreciate what Marik was telling us last night. I don't doubt that she would want to silence him permanently.**
Yugi shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe anyone could actually be so diabolically evil.
"Hey, Yug? Are you still there?!" Joey demanded.
Yugi blinked, startled out of his mental conversation. "Yeah, I'm still here, Joey," he assured his friend.
"Man, I hope the guy's gonna be alright," Joey said softly, shaking his head sadly.
"I do too, Joey," Yugi agreed, his violet eyes worried and sad. "I do too."
****
When Seto awoke the next morning, Mokuba was still curled up next to him, breathing peacefully. Seto just watched the younger boy for a while, not wanting to disturb him. They had come through so much together. . . .
It was going to be another busy day today, he knew. He had to work hard to find out what had happened to JP—and to the money that had disappeared from his company's accounts. Obviously this mystery was very serious, what with everything that had happened last night.
The phone jangled sharply and Seto quickly reached over and answered before the ringing could awaken his brother. "Kaiba," he said coldly.
"You just don't know how to stay out of other people's business, do you?" an equally cold voice shot back.
Seto's eyes narrowed. "I assume you're referring to the disappearing deejay case."
"That's right." The voice paused. "Marik Ishtar has already been killed, and you're gonna be next if you don't stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong!" With a sharp click, the caller hung up.
Seto stared at the phone in disbelief. "Marik Ishtar is dead?" he muttered low. That was something he definitely hadn't been expecting.
Mokuba stirred then and awoke, looking up at the older boy with his innocent gray eyes. "Hi, big brother!" he said sleepily, grinning.
Seto looked back down at him and smiled warmly. "Hey kid," he said softly.
"Is everything okay, Seto?" Mokuba asked worriedly. "I . . . I thought I heard the phone ringing, and you answering and sounding upset. . . ."
Seto wasn't sure what to say. He certainly didn't want to introduce Mokuba to a death first thing in the morning—especially not the death of his best friend—so he tried to change the subject. "Why don't we go downstairs and get some breakfast?" he suggested, ruffling Mokuba's hair.
"Okay, Seto," Mokuba said agreeably, but he still looked worried. "But you didn't tell me if everything is really alright," he said as they got out of the bed and went to the door. "Seto, I heard you saying that Marik is dead!" he suddenly cried in horror.
Seto paused again. So Mokuba had heard him. "Someone told me that he is," he said carefully. "But I don't know if it's really true."
"It can't be true!" Mokuba sobbed. "It can't be!!"
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Velma was there to greet them. "Mr. Kaiba, sir, someone slipped this into the mailbox," she said, handing him a sealed envelope.
Seto took it from her, his eyes narrowed. It looked so mysterious. . . .
"What is it?" Mokuba asked, trying to see.
Seto tore it open and a single sheet of paper fell out.
Mr. Kaiba—
Come to my house at noontime.
I have something to show you
pertaining to my brother's disappearance.
—Lila
"Is it more bad news, Seto?" Mokuba wondered worriedly.
Seto shook his head. "I don't know, kid," he said truthfully. "I honestly don't know."
****
Ishizu sat in the chair by her brother's side, holding his hand gently and brushing his long blonde bangs out of his closed eyes. "Marik," she said softly, "you must fight, dear brother. You are strong. I know you can make it!"
She and Rishid had brought Marik to the hospital ages ago now, and the poor boy hadn't awakened at all. The doctor had told them that Marik was barely alive and that it would be touch-and-go unless he could completely revive.
The door opened slowly and Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Bakura all came in. "We're so sorry about Marik," Yugi said softly. "We're all praying that he'll get better."
Ishizu nodded slowly in acknowledgment. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I know my brother will not give up without a fight." She paused, worry flitting across her face.
"What is it?" Yugi asked in concern. When he glanced at Rishid, who was standing at Marik's other side, he saw that the man had that same worried expression.
"This is not the first time my master was nearly killed," Rishid said gravely, and explained about when they had found Marik mysteriously shot in the chest back in Egypt. The teens were horrified.
Now Marik stirred slightly, seeming to become agitated in his unconsciousness.
"Marik?" Ishizu stood up, leaning over him worriedly and at the same time hopefully. This was the first time he had moved at all since she and Rishid had found him. "I am here, dear brother," she said softly. "What is wrong?"
"Vivalene," Marik rasped, his voice barely discernible. "It . . . it was Vivalene."
Joey stared at the other boy in disbelief. "What's he mean?!"
Rishid came over to the bed now as well. "Brother?" he asked worriedly. "What is this about Vivalene?"
Marik paused, breathing heavily. It was obvious that he still wasn't fully conscious. "She . . . she stabbed me," he managed to choke out before going completely under again.