My heart raced as the boulder came rushing down. It seemed to take hours for that thing to fall and crush me, like a frail bird being hit by even the smallest rock. Yet the darkness of the pale glare of Anubis did not meet me. At least four paces across from me sat the boulder, and right next to it sat Yami. Those clear blue eyes looked at me with fervor as he passed out. That was the first time that a man had ever looked at me like that before. Marik, however, delivered a hard kick to Yami's side. The limp body that was my pharaoh moaned, and attempted to turn over. I rushed to his side, glaring at my own insane brother the entire time. The young man from before walked up and knelt next to me. "The pharaoh made it so that each item that the power of the shadow games was focused into would only lend its power to one soul, one that its spirit thought worthy."
"I see," I said, holding back tears, "You know who they were destined for, and I am a mere puppet, a helpless lamb in the midst of wolves."
"No, my young friend. I do not know whom these items were destined for, and nobody ever should. It is a dangerous business, interfering with destiny. Unfortunately, the pharaoh was willing to go to any extremes when he enlisted seven followers to come with him into these catacombs."
I rose to my feet, and a question came to my mind. "What is your name, guardian?"
"I am Shaadi, and you needn't call me guardian. Just do me a favor and protect the pharaoh."
I nodded and watched as Yami slowly awakened and pulled his leg out from under the rock. He staggered getting to his feet, but despite his limp, he was still strong and healthy.
The depths of the passageway that I had boldly led my brother through looked foreboding, as if someone were waiting for us to trip up, or leave. My brother stood up and leaned forward eagerly, that golden rod held firmly in his hand. He expected me to take something, so I did. It was a cold chain, with a scarab charm hanging from it. I slipped the necklace on and smiled. A new sharpness, rather an awareness, swept over me. No wonder it had overcome my brother with his longing for long lost power. Only the fear of what had happened to my brother stopped me from succumbing to its might. This necklace contained the power of the shadow games, the most dangerous game in this world.
Yami looked at me fearfully, then sighed with obvious relief. "You were lucky it did not kill you. The consequences could have been dire if you had not been one of the seven that I chose. You are one whom I felt had the wit to do such a thing as handle the power of the shadow games." My eyes widened as the necklace glowed a bright gold. I breathed nervously and looked from Marik to Yami. Both young men showed dislike for the other. Nothing would break their enmity, unless I could find a goal that they both shared. Of course, this was easier said than done.
We headed off to leave the catacombs a short while later. Yami refused to talk to me, and only looked at Marik warily. His limp was strangely near impossible to notice. "Yami, why did you take seven followers, why didn't you take any guards?"
"I was the only person who knew about this passageway until you found it. I didn't think it necessary."
I froze, feeling the sweltering heat of Egypt's midday sun creeping through toward us. We had almost arrived at the entrance to the passageway.
Upon coming out into the sweltering heat of Egypt's surface, Yami dismissed Marik from our presence and told me to stay with him for the night. What argument did I have? I followed him through the crowded streets hoping that I would not have to share a bed with the young pharaoh.
"I see," I said, holding back tears, "You know who they were destined for, and I am a mere puppet, a helpless lamb in the midst of wolves."
"No, my young friend. I do not know whom these items were destined for, and nobody ever should. It is a dangerous business, interfering with destiny. Unfortunately, the pharaoh was willing to go to any extremes when he enlisted seven followers to come with him into these catacombs."
I rose to my feet, and a question came to my mind. "What is your name, guardian?"
"I am Shaadi, and you needn't call me guardian. Just do me a favor and protect the pharaoh."
I nodded and watched as Yami slowly awakened and pulled his leg out from under the rock. He staggered getting to his feet, but despite his limp, he was still strong and healthy.
The depths of the passageway that I had boldly led my brother through looked foreboding, as if someone were waiting for us to trip up, or leave. My brother stood up and leaned forward eagerly, that golden rod held firmly in his hand. He expected me to take something, so I did. It was a cold chain, with a scarab charm hanging from it. I slipped the necklace on and smiled. A new sharpness, rather an awareness, swept over me. No wonder it had overcome my brother with his longing for long lost power. Only the fear of what had happened to my brother stopped me from succumbing to its might. This necklace contained the power of the shadow games, the most dangerous game in this world.
Yami looked at me fearfully, then sighed with obvious relief. "You were lucky it did not kill you. The consequences could have been dire if you had not been one of the seven that I chose. You are one whom I felt had the wit to do such a thing as handle the power of the shadow games." My eyes widened as the necklace glowed a bright gold. I breathed nervously and looked from Marik to Yami. Both young men showed dislike for the other. Nothing would break their enmity, unless I could find a goal that they both shared. Of course, this was easier said than done.
We headed off to leave the catacombs a short while later. Yami refused to talk to me, and only looked at Marik warily. His limp was strangely near impossible to notice. "Yami, why did you take seven followers, why didn't you take any guards?"
"I was the only person who knew about this passageway until you found it. I didn't think it necessary."
I froze, feeling the sweltering heat of Egypt's midday sun creeping through toward us. We had almost arrived at the entrance to the passageway.
Upon coming out into the sweltering heat of Egypt's surface, Yami dismissed Marik from our presence and told me to stay with him for the night. What argument did I have? I followed him through the crowded streets hoping that I would not have to share a bed with the young pharaoh.