Chapter Five
How am I going to do this? That was all she thought. When Seta stole that necklace for her, the guards found out, and he was killed. Now this stupid thief wanted her to steal something called a Millennium item. She didn't even know what that was. She may have heard something about it, but she didn't remember.
What if she was caught? The Pharaoh didn't like her anyway, so he would definitely kill her. What could she do? She could either attempt to get the item, risking her life to be in a clan with this thief, or she could forget about trying and let herself be disgraced by this thief for proving him right.
There was no way she would let that happen. Zoe was a thief, and she would prove it. Forget about the stupid Pharaoh, she wouldn't get caught.
~*~*~*~
That night, she waited outside the temple, hiding behind a building to keep an eye on the two guards. They just stood there, not moving or making a sound, or even holding a conversation. It bothered her. The sun had already gone down, and it had cooled off quite a bit. But she was used to the cold, and she wasn't about ready to let that keep her from her challenge.
After a few hours, Zoe had grown tired of waiting. About the only thing the guards had done at all was scratch their heads at what she guessed to be possible confusion from being immobilized for so long. She glared with disapproval. Usually the guards would have at least fallen asleep by now. Obviously, she had to give it to the Pharaoh. Apparently he had chosen a pretty stable security.
A scrap of papyrus flew down the walkway. The guards jumped up, spears in hand. When they discovered what it was, they retreated to their original position. She practically fell over in disbelief. Had they been sleeping with their eyes open the whole time? Well, they were awake now, and more alert than the last time. There wasn't much she was capable of right at that exact moment, so all she could do was wait..................................again.
After another half hour had passed, her eyes became heavy and began to close. Then all of a sudden, a loud shatter sounded in a nearby alley, causing her and the guards to turn their heads. Both the men took off, giving her an open opportunity to run in there. So she did so, assuring that there wasn't anyone near to rat her out. How lucky, she thought.
While she snuck inside, someone stood there watching. He laughed, all at the thought of shattering a glass bottle in the distant alley to distract the guards. He laughed at the thought of her actually going into the temple for him, to get what he had wanted forever.
"I knew she couldn't do it on her own."
Walking into the temple, she continued to check for guards. So far there wasn't any in sight. Zoe refused to believe that the royal temple was only guarded by those two imbeciles. She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized she had no idea where she was going. The Millennium Items. She had completely forgotten to find out what they were. How on earth could she go through this whole temple looking for something she had never seen before without getting caught?
"And I call myself a thief?" she thought to herself.
Real thieves always thought strategically. If it was a serious break in, they would plan the entire thing out days before they actually attempted it, but she had not had enough time to do so. That "one-man clan" thief told her it needed to be done that night.
There was no way she could pull this off.
She heard something from around the corner. Footsteps. Immediately knowing she needed to find someplace to hide, she found an open chest just big enough for her to fit in. Quickly she jumped inside, closing it barely enough for her to still see out of it without being noticed. Two new guards walked by, most likely taking over for the last two morons, who were probably still searching for whoever made that noise.
"Don't you agree that our Pharaoh is doing a fine job?" one of them asked.
She rolled her eyes.
The other one contradicted. "If he doesn't get his act together soon, this whole town will be destroyed."
She could believe she had actually discovered a sane guard. The Pharaoh- loving guard frowned.
"How could you say such a thing about the Pharaoh? If he or his higher officials were to hear this, they would surely incinerate you!"
Did he mean to say that the Pharaoh's higher officials weren't guarding the temple doors?
When they had both completely left, she climbed out of the chest. Looking both ways before getting to the end of the walkway, she turned left.
The temple didn't look exactly like she had imagined it, but it was close enough. The walls were piled with straightly aligned golden bricks. She wouldn't have been surprised if the bricks were real gold, but they weren't. The floors felt icy against her feet, but the flaming torches hanging beside the wall made up for that.
It seemed as if she had walked endlessly for hours, and time was something that she didn't have. Where could the Millennium Items be? And most of all, what were they? She felt like screaming, but it was definitely the not the right time and place.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Do you seek the Millennium Items, young girl?"
She froze.
"W-Who is it? Who's there?"
A man dressed in white cloth appeared before her. She nearly shrieked, but he calmed her.
"Do not be afraid. I do not wish to capture you."
"What do you want?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"You never answered my question."
"Alright. I am seeking them, but they're not for me."
"I don't see why not," he replied. "I can already sense that you have a great potential to be a beholder of one of those items."
What was he talking about? Potential? Beholder? It didn't make any sense to her. All she wanted to do was get one of the items and leave. She didn't care whether she could have one or not. Then, the man began to turn around.
"Hey, where are you going?" she asked.
"Follow me, and I will show you the chamber to the Millennium Items."
Zoe couldn't believe it. This stranger that came out of nowhere was going to show her the Millennium Items. This was fantastic, and a lot better than wandering aimlessly around a temple by herself. She just hoped that they wouldn't get caught, and the stranger knew what he was doing.
He led her into one of the temple's rooms that looked just like all the other rooms she had passed by. The man walked to the left side of the room, and began to chant something. She tried to make out what he was saying, but he spoke so quietly she could barely even hear him at all.
Following the almost silent chanting, the stranger stood up. Loud rumbling sounded throughout the room, making her jump. She screamed at the stranger, who acted as if he couldn't hear her over the rumbling. Frustrated, she yelled,
"What is going on here?"
The stranger said nothing, which frustrated her even more, and backed away from the wall. She hoped and hoped that the loud noises wouldn't cause them to be caught. Creaking noises began to dismiss the rumbling, and the wall was opening! That was why he was chanting; to open a secret entrance.
There was a set of stairs in the opening of the wall that led down. It was so dark that all she could see was a few steps. The stranger took a torch off the wall and persuaded her to move quickly. She followed him down the stairs, still worrying about whether they would get caught, and then something struck her mind. What if this stranger wasn't trying to help her and it was all a trap?
"Wait!"
The stranger halted.
"How do I know that you're really taking me to the items? For all I know, you could just be one of the Pharaoh's loyal minions."
He grinned. "You're very wise to ask that of me, but there is nothing to worry. I only wish to aid you on your quest."
Even though he claimed to that, she still debated on confiding in him. Throughout her whole life she never really trusted anyone. It seemed as if the only people she could trust were Master Sayaru................and Seta. Both of them were dead now, and it was all because of the Pharaoh. What she wanted more than anything was revenge against him. Stealing one of his "beloved" Millennium Items would help.
They had finally reached the edge of the stairs, but she still couldn't see. It was almost completely dark, except for the small torch that the stranger held, but it barely lighted anything. Then, the stranger did the unexpected, and put the torch out. This action did not please Zoe at all.
"Would you kindly explain what you're doing?! I can't see a thing down here, and how the heck are we going to get back-"
"Hush," the stranger whispered. "Torched will begin to light up in flames if a chosen one is here."
"What?"
Suddenly, it began to grow brighter and brighter in the room. Torches were lined up all along the walls, and were all blazing at the same time. The stranger had been right, but she was still confused. What did this all mean? The stranger began to speak up again.
"I was correct all along. It seems you can be a beholder of the Millennium Items."
"Me?!" she exclaimed.
"Not just anyone can wield the true power of a Millennium Item."
There had been something that she didn't notice. In the middle of the room, there was some kind of table lying there. She walked up to it, and couldn't believe her eyes. Shaped perfectly inside were seven golden items that sparkled beautifully with the flames of the torches all around. No wonder the Pharaoh hid them. To think of how much they would be worth!
"Even though you are a chosen one, I know one of these would suit you," replied the stranger.
She was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Look at the items again."
Doing so, she knew what he was trying to say. In the very center of the items, there was a heart carved in. Another item was missing.
"Would this look of any similarity to you?"
The stranger held up something that would change her forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe: A cliffhanger! It's been a while since I've done one of those before!
Random Reader: *throws dagger out of anguish*
Zoe: *ducks* O.o;;
Yami Zoe: Some people are really irate.................
How am I going to do this? That was all she thought. When Seta stole that necklace for her, the guards found out, and he was killed. Now this stupid thief wanted her to steal something called a Millennium item. She didn't even know what that was. She may have heard something about it, but she didn't remember.
What if she was caught? The Pharaoh didn't like her anyway, so he would definitely kill her. What could she do? She could either attempt to get the item, risking her life to be in a clan with this thief, or she could forget about trying and let herself be disgraced by this thief for proving him right.
There was no way she would let that happen. Zoe was a thief, and she would prove it. Forget about the stupid Pharaoh, she wouldn't get caught.
~*~*~*~
That night, she waited outside the temple, hiding behind a building to keep an eye on the two guards. They just stood there, not moving or making a sound, or even holding a conversation. It bothered her. The sun had already gone down, and it had cooled off quite a bit. But she was used to the cold, and she wasn't about ready to let that keep her from her challenge.
After a few hours, Zoe had grown tired of waiting. About the only thing the guards had done at all was scratch their heads at what she guessed to be possible confusion from being immobilized for so long. She glared with disapproval. Usually the guards would have at least fallen asleep by now. Obviously, she had to give it to the Pharaoh. Apparently he had chosen a pretty stable security.
A scrap of papyrus flew down the walkway. The guards jumped up, spears in hand. When they discovered what it was, they retreated to their original position. She practically fell over in disbelief. Had they been sleeping with their eyes open the whole time? Well, they were awake now, and more alert than the last time. There wasn't much she was capable of right at that exact moment, so all she could do was wait..................................again.
After another half hour had passed, her eyes became heavy and began to close. Then all of a sudden, a loud shatter sounded in a nearby alley, causing her and the guards to turn their heads. Both the men took off, giving her an open opportunity to run in there. So she did so, assuring that there wasn't anyone near to rat her out. How lucky, she thought.
While she snuck inside, someone stood there watching. He laughed, all at the thought of shattering a glass bottle in the distant alley to distract the guards. He laughed at the thought of her actually going into the temple for him, to get what he had wanted forever.
"I knew she couldn't do it on her own."
Walking into the temple, she continued to check for guards. So far there wasn't any in sight. Zoe refused to believe that the royal temple was only guarded by those two imbeciles. She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized she had no idea where she was going. The Millennium Items. She had completely forgotten to find out what they were. How on earth could she go through this whole temple looking for something she had never seen before without getting caught?
"And I call myself a thief?" she thought to herself.
Real thieves always thought strategically. If it was a serious break in, they would plan the entire thing out days before they actually attempted it, but she had not had enough time to do so. That "one-man clan" thief told her it needed to be done that night.
There was no way she could pull this off.
She heard something from around the corner. Footsteps. Immediately knowing she needed to find someplace to hide, she found an open chest just big enough for her to fit in. Quickly she jumped inside, closing it barely enough for her to still see out of it without being noticed. Two new guards walked by, most likely taking over for the last two morons, who were probably still searching for whoever made that noise.
"Don't you agree that our Pharaoh is doing a fine job?" one of them asked.
She rolled her eyes.
The other one contradicted. "If he doesn't get his act together soon, this whole town will be destroyed."
She could believe she had actually discovered a sane guard. The Pharaoh- loving guard frowned.
"How could you say such a thing about the Pharaoh? If he or his higher officials were to hear this, they would surely incinerate you!"
Did he mean to say that the Pharaoh's higher officials weren't guarding the temple doors?
When they had both completely left, she climbed out of the chest. Looking both ways before getting to the end of the walkway, she turned left.
The temple didn't look exactly like she had imagined it, but it was close enough. The walls were piled with straightly aligned golden bricks. She wouldn't have been surprised if the bricks were real gold, but they weren't. The floors felt icy against her feet, but the flaming torches hanging beside the wall made up for that.
It seemed as if she had walked endlessly for hours, and time was something that she didn't have. Where could the Millennium Items be? And most of all, what were they? She felt like screaming, but it was definitely the not the right time and place.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Do you seek the Millennium Items, young girl?"
She froze.
"W-Who is it? Who's there?"
A man dressed in white cloth appeared before her. She nearly shrieked, but he calmed her.
"Do not be afraid. I do not wish to capture you."
"What do you want?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"You never answered my question."
"Alright. I am seeking them, but they're not for me."
"I don't see why not," he replied. "I can already sense that you have a great potential to be a beholder of one of those items."
What was he talking about? Potential? Beholder? It didn't make any sense to her. All she wanted to do was get one of the items and leave. She didn't care whether she could have one or not. Then, the man began to turn around.
"Hey, where are you going?" she asked.
"Follow me, and I will show you the chamber to the Millennium Items."
Zoe couldn't believe it. This stranger that came out of nowhere was going to show her the Millennium Items. This was fantastic, and a lot better than wandering aimlessly around a temple by herself. She just hoped that they wouldn't get caught, and the stranger knew what he was doing.
He led her into one of the temple's rooms that looked just like all the other rooms she had passed by. The man walked to the left side of the room, and began to chant something. She tried to make out what he was saying, but he spoke so quietly she could barely even hear him at all.
Following the almost silent chanting, the stranger stood up. Loud rumbling sounded throughout the room, making her jump. She screamed at the stranger, who acted as if he couldn't hear her over the rumbling. Frustrated, she yelled,
"What is going on here?"
The stranger said nothing, which frustrated her even more, and backed away from the wall. She hoped and hoped that the loud noises wouldn't cause them to be caught. Creaking noises began to dismiss the rumbling, and the wall was opening! That was why he was chanting; to open a secret entrance.
There was a set of stairs in the opening of the wall that led down. It was so dark that all she could see was a few steps. The stranger took a torch off the wall and persuaded her to move quickly. She followed him down the stairs, still worrying about whether they would get caught, and then something struck her mind. What if this stranger wasn't trying to help her and it was all a trap?
"Wait!"
The stranger halted.
"How do I know that you're really taking me to the items? For all I know, you could just be one of the Pharaoh's loyal minions."
He grinned. "You're very wise to ask that of me, but there is nothing to worry. I only wish to aid you on your quest."
Even though he claimed to that, she still debated on confiding in him. Throughout her whole life she never really trusted anyone. It seemed as if the only people she could trust were Master Sayaru................and Seta. Both of them were dead now, and it was all because of the Pharaoh. What she wanted more than anything was revenge against him. Stealing one of his "beloved" Millennium Items would help.
They had finally reached the edge of the stairs, but she still couldn't see. It was almost completely dark, except for the small torch that the stranger held, but it barely lighted anything. Then, the stranger did the unexpected, and put the torch out. This action did not please Zoe at all.
"Would you kindly explain what you're doing?! I can't see a thing down here, and how the heck are we going to get back-"
"Hush," the stranger whispered. "Torched will begin to light up in flames if a chosen one is here."
"What?"
Suddenly, it began to grow brighter and brighter in the room. Torches were lined up all along the walls, and were all blazing at the same time. The stranger had been right, but she was still confused. What did this all mean? The stranger began to speak up again.
"I was correct all along. It seems you can be a beholder of the Millennium Items."
"Me?!" she exclaimed.
"Not just anyone can wield the true power of a Millennium Item."
There had been something that she didn't notice. In the middle of the room, there was some kind of table lying there. She walked up to it, and couldn't believe her eyes. Shaped perfectly inside were seven golden items that sparkled beautifully with the flames of the torches all around. No wonder the Pharaoh hid them. To think of how much they would be worth!
"Even though you are a chosen one, I know one of these would suit you," replied the stranger.
She was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Look at the items again."
Doing so, she knew what he was trying to say. In the very center of the items, there was a heart carved in. Another item was missing.
"Would this look of any similarity to you?"
The stranger held up something that would change her forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe: A cliffhanger! It's been a while since I've done one of those before!
Random Reader: *throws dagger out of anguish*
Zoe: *ducks* O.o;;
Yami Zoe: Some people are really irate.................