Chapter Four: Love's First Touch
As the plane touched down, a part of Eve soared. She went through customs in a dream-like state, but none of the officials paid much attention to her. Everything was in order, so they did not detain the young red-head.
Once outside the airport, Eve waited for her ride to Marik. One of the Rare Hunters was supposed to pick her up. "Where is he?" she asked, tapping her foot with impatience.
"The Rare Hunter is not coming," hissed a voice.
"Who's there?" demanded Eve. "Show yourself!"
"Why should I do that?" asked the voice. "That would spoil my fun."
Eve realised that the voice was female, and that it was not coming by way of a Millennium Item. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?!"
"I am not going to tell you, Eve. All I want to know is this: Where is Marik?"
Eve did not answer.
"Tell me where he is!"
"Never!"
"Then," whispered the voice, "I will ask you later. But be warned. I am far more powerful than your precious Marik."
Eve stood there, trembling. Who - or what - was that? How did it know her name? Was the voice really female, or some trick of her mind?
"Madam Eve?" asked a voice.
Eve turned. Behind her was a Rare Hunter. "You are late," she said.
"Yes, madam. Please forgive me. I will take you to Master Marik immediately."
"Do that," Eve ordered.
*
[Marik watched as Eve took command of some of the Rare Hunters. She had been ordered by Marik to oversee some of his experiments with forgeries of Duel Monster cards. He was not surprised when she showed no sign of panic when one of the Rare Hunters was destroyed.
"He was weak!" she announced to the remaining Rare Hunters. "He was weak, and so was not worthy of such power! Only those who are truly loyal to our great master will be rewarded! And those who are not," she added, "will be destroyed!"
Marik was pleased with Eve. No, with himself. He had done such a good job moulding her, that the original Eve had almost never existed. This Eve was truly remarkable: cold, cruel, and beautiful, perhaps even more so than she had been when she had first arrived. Marik had done well. And Eve was going to be the servant closest to Yugi Motou.]
*
As soon as she entered the chamber, Eve threw herself at Marik's feet. "I have returned, master. Forgive this unworthy servant if she has displeased you."
"I do not forgive," said Marik.
Eve looked up, and smiled coldly. "Of course, master."
"Come!" ordered Marik, leaving the chamber. "You have missed much during your absence. And tell me, what more have you learned of the boy's weaknesses?"
Eve smiled again, and hurried to catch up to her master.
*
Marik was pleased.
Eve had brought back more information about Yugi Motou and his friends. Not just Yugi's weaknesses, but his friends' as well. Joey Wheeler, in particular, would be easily influenced.
But for now, all that he was concerned about, was the return of Eve.
*
["Master," said Eve quietly one evening. "It is almost time for me to return home."
"Home?" asked Marik. "This is your home now."
"Yes, master. But people will be suspicious if I do not return. Besides, I live not far from Yugi Motou. Perhaps I would be in a better position to help you by watching the boy?"
Marik looked away. "Yes. Perhaps you are right. But do you know why Yugi Motou is so important to my plan?"
"No, master."
"This is why," said Marik, and with one fluid motion removed the clothing that covered his back, revealing it to Eve.
Eve gasped. Then she looked around the chamber. It was empty, but if someone was to come into the chamber at that point, more than a few questions would be asked.
"Are those. . . tattoos?" asked Eve.
"Yes. I received these as part of the Tombkeeper's Initiation."
"But. . . you were twelve!"
"Yes, I was. I had to undergo such pain at such a young age, and do you know why?" asked Marik, his voice rising with anger.
"No, master."
"I was forced to wear these because of the pharaoh! Because of Yami! And do you know what has happened to Yami?! Where he is?!"
Eve nodded. "With Yugi, his vessel."]
*
The memory of when Eve first saw the marks of Marik's back was painful. At least in the beginning. But later, when he had calmed, he had allowed Eve to examine the scars.
The thought of that one and only time she had touched Marik sent chills down Eve's spine.
*
The thought of that time also affected Marik. The way her hands had touched him, so gently, almost lovingly. Marik had never really felt something like that for a long time.
And that was possibly one of the reasons why Marik was so possessive of Eve.
As the plane touched down, a part of Eve soared. She went through customs in a dream-like state, but none of the officials paid much attention to her. Everything was in order, so they did not detain the young red-head.
Once outside the airport, Eve waited for her ride to Marik. One of the Rare Hunters was supposed to pick her up. "Where is he?" she asked, tapping her foot with impatience.
"The Rare Hunter is not coming," hissed a voice.
"Who's there?" demanded Eve. "Show yourself!"
"Why should I do that?" asked the voice. "That would spoil my fun."
Eve realised that the voice was female, and that it was not coming by way of a Millennium Item. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?!"
"I am not going to tell you, Eve. All I want to know is this: Where is Marik?"
Eve did not answer.
"Tell me where he is!"
"Never!"
"Then," whispered the voice, "I will ask you later. But be warned. I am far more powerful than your precious Marik."
Eve stood there, trembling. Who - or what - was that? How did it know her name? Was the voice really female, or some trick of her mind?
"Madam Eve?" asked a voice.
Eve turned. Behind her was a Rare Hunter. "You are late," she said.
"Yes, madam. Please forgive me. I will take you to Master Marik immediately."
"Do that," Eve ordered.
*
[Marik watched as Eve took command of some of the Rare Hunters. She had been ordered by Marik to oversee some of his experiments with forgeries of Duel Monster cards. He was not surprised when she showed no sign of panic when one of the Rare Hunters was destroyed.
"He was weak!" she announced to the remaining Rare Hunters. "He was weak, and so was not worthy of such power! Only those who are truly loyal to our great master will be rewarded! And those who are not," she added, "will be destroyed!"
Marik was pleased with Eve. No, with himself. He had done such a good job moulding her, that the original Eve had almost never existed. This Eve was truly remarkable: cold, cruel, and beautiful, perhaps even more so than she had been when she had first arrived. Marik had done well. And Eve was going to be the servant closest to Yugi Motou.]
*
As soon as she entered the chamber, Eve threw herself at Marik's feet. "I have returned, master. Forgive this unworthy servant if she has displeased you."
"I do not forgive," said Marik.
Eve looked up, and smiled coldly. "Of course, master."
"Come!" ordered Marik, leaving the chamber. "You have missed much during your absence. And tell me, what more have you learned of the boy's weaknesses?"
Eve smiled again, and hurried to catch up to her master.
*
Marik was pleased.
Eve had brought back more information about Yugi Motou and his friends. Not just Yugi's weaknesses, but his friends' as well. Joey Wheeler, in particular, would be easily influenced.
But for now, all that he was concerned about, was the return of Eve.
*
["Master," said Eve quietly one evening. "It is almost time for me to return home."
"Home?" asked Marik. "This is your home now."
"Yes, master. But people will be suspicious if I do not return. Besides, I live not far from Yugi Motou. Perhaps I would be in a better position to help you by watching the boy?"
Marik looked away. "Yes. Perhaps you are right. But do you know why Yugi Motou is so important to my plan?"
"No, master."
"This is why," said Marik, and with one fluid motion removed the clothing that covered his back, revealing it to Eve.
Eve gasped. Then she looked around the chamber. It was empty, but if someone was to come into the chamber at that point, more than a few questions would be asked.
"Are those. . . tattoos?" asked Eve.
"Yes. I received these as part of the Tombkeeper's Initiation."
"But. . . you were twelve!"
"Yes, I was. I had to undergo such pain at such a young age, and do you know why?" asked Marik, his voice rising with anger.
"No, master."
"I was forced to wear these because of the pharaoh! Because of Yami! And do you know what has happened to Yami?! Where he is?!"
Eve nodded. "With Yugi, his vessel."]
*
The memory of when Eve first saw the marks of Marik's back was painful. At least in the beginning. But later, when he had calmed, he had allowed Eve to examine the scars.
The thought of that one and only time she had touched Marik sent chills down Eve's spine.
*
The thought of that time also affected Marik. The way her hands had touched him, so gently, almost lovingly. Marik had never really felt something like that for a long time.
And that was possibly one of the reasons why Marik was so possessive of Eve.