"Sisters of the Moon"
By: Heikou and Janime Lee
An hour was passing by slowly and the group of nine were waiting in Domino Stadium, the place the blimp took Battle City finalists for the end. Seto, Yugi, and Malik each held the god cards within their pockets but they were also nervous. Joey kept counting to ten and back, over and over as a way to keep himself calm. Tristen kept looking at his watch; just a few more minutes and the time would be up. Seto was scanning the area for anything and everything. Ryou looked nervous as he gripped the leather thong holding he ring around his neck. The girls were also worried but they were doing their best to keep their boyfriends calm.
Tea looked at Yugi and saw his hand clenching and unclenching. Reaching out she took his hand in her hand and smiled when he looked up at her. He returned the smile and squeezed her hand tightly, thanking her. Keriam wrapped her arms around Joey's waist, resting her cheek against his shoulder. Cheri was looking around worriedly as well but kept jumping at every sound. She relaxed though when Seto pulled her against his side.
"… Times up." Tristen looked up from his watch as he stuffed his hands back into his pockets. "It's been an hour."
Joey snorted as he held onto Keriam's arms tightly. "So where are they? Kaiba, you sure you got the message right?" he asked without looking at him.
"I'm positive. He said for all of us to meet him and his brothers here," he said coolly as he closed his eyes. "A god card in exchanged for his 'guests'."
"Guests he kidnapped."
"Relax Joey, he'll be here," Keriam tried to sooth.
~She's right. Perjiem won't keep them around once he gets the gods,~ Marik said from within.
"And after he gets them? What's to keep them from pulling this stunt again to get us?" Tea asked with a bit of worry.
~… I don't know. But he must have something planned.~
"Well I wish he'd hurry up and get here. I didn't notice it at first but this place is creepy with night coming in and all," Tristen said as he looked around.
Cheri sighed as everyone talked she looked up at the sky and blinked. The moon… It was just as she remembered it when she first came here only this time the stars seemed to be glowing even brighter. Stepping forward she kept her gaze upward, feeling the same haunting melody fill her mind.
"Cheri, what are you looking at?" The dancer looked up as well and was memorized at the sight above. Stepping forward her hand slipped free from Yugi's and she stopped just next to Cheri. She could feel something stirring.
"Hey girls, what's up? What's so interesting?" Joey asked then blinked and watched as Keriam released him and stepped to join them. "Hey what's going on?"
Marik could hear, a song--no, it was more like a chant being sung over and over. Looking through Keriam's eyes he noticed that the crescent moon seemed to be glowing as the two stars at the curved points glittered like diamonds. 'Two stars closest to the moon… and the gateway to the Shadow Realm will be opened…' That's it! he thought to himself. The formation, it's a door and the Sisters of the Moon are the key!
"Guys there's something happening to the girls!" Malik pointed out. True enough on their brows there seemed to be symbols, slowly flickering to life the longer the girls looked up at the sky.
"Oh boy..." said Cheri as she touched her forehead, the feel of electricity tingling through her body.
"Don't look!" Seto covered her eyes, and Joey and Yugi did the same to Keriam and Tea.
"That won't stop their awakening," Perjiem's voice floated around them.
"Show yourself, you cowards!" Malik shouted.
"Come, come, Marik." The black taffy like creatures slithered across the ground and stopped about twenty feet away from the group. Perjiem, Haziem, and Deliem slowly rose up from the ooze, each one holding a 'guest'. So far, besides frightened, they looked alright.
"The Three God Cards," said Haziem, gripping Solomon's arm. "Show them."
Yugi, Seto, and Malik took out their God Cards and held them up.
"Release them," Seto demanded, still covering Cheri's eyes.
"Toss them over first and we will," said Deliem.
Yugi looked at Tristen and the taller boy replaced Yugi's hand with his over Tea's eyes. Yugi stepped forward and tossed the card to Haziem. As soon as he caught it, Haziem released Solomon and the old man ran to his grandson.
"Grandpa!" Yugi cried and hugged him.
"I'm alright," Solomon returned the embrace.
Ryou covered Cheri's eyes as Seto moved forward and tossed Obelisk to Deliem. When the card reached his fingers, he let go of the younger Kaiba.
"Big brother!" Mokuba ran to Seto and hugged his waist.
"Mokuba," Seto hugged his brother.
Man, I've never seen Kaiba with that expression, Joey thought and turned his attention back to Serenity.
Malik stepped forward. He looked at the Winged Dragon and sighed, tossing it to Perjiem. The oldest brother released Serenity's arm and she ran to Joey, hugging him.
"Joey!"
"It's okay, sis," his whispered, hugging her with one arm as he kept his other hand over Keriam's eyes.
"Thank you very much, gentlemen," Perjiem chuckled as he looked at the God Card. "I'm very surprised, Marik that you traded this for a girl who isn't related to you."
"You forget I do have a sister," answered Malik.
"True," Perjiem put the card in his pocket, "maybe it is a good thing that Ishizu isn't here right now. Oh, I almost forgot one last thing." He snapped his fingers and the black ooze creatures shot up from the ground, knocking away Joey, Tristen, and Ryou from the Sisters of the Moon. The creatures then surrounded the girls, covering them.
"Help!" Cheri cried.
"Yugi!" Tea reached out her hand.
"Let go! You slimy piece of rejected Twizzler!" Keriam struggled to break free.
Those still standing, grabbed the three captive girls' hands as they were pulled into the black mass. Their grips on the trio were soon severed and the ooze quickly moved over to their masters.
"No!" Malik shouted.
"Keriam!!" Serenity cried out in fear.
Seto growled as he got to his feet. "That wasn't part of the deal!"
"But it was. To summon the gods we need the Sisters of the Moon," Deliem smirked.
"A two for one deal as one would say," Haziem said.
"You think we're gonna summon the gods just because you tell us? Fat chance!" Cheri yelled as she tried kicking.
"You will never get away with this now let us go!" Tea shouted as she tried pulling away.
"We have what we came for so let us be on our way," Perjiem nodded to his brothers even as they began to sink into the ground.
"No I won't let you take her away from me!!" Joey growled as he ran at them before lunging forward but just as he reached them they were gone. dropping to his knees he wordlessly pounded his fists into the ground. I lost her again... Damnit no!!
The ooze deposited the girls in a room with a door as the only access. They watched as the black mass slipped under the door and out of sight. Keriam ran at the door, slamming her left shoulder in hopes to force it open but all that action did was make her yelp in pain.
~That wasn't good,~ said Marik.
"If you got any ideas, I'd love to hear them," Keriam groaned, rubbing her shoulder. She walked over to the adjacent wall, leaning against it and slid to the floor.
Tea and Cheri also sat on the floor leaning against the other two plain walls. "Now what do we do?" Tea sighed.
"Beats me," Keriam closed her eyes. "Marik, what are you doing?"
~Looking around in your memories,~ the spirit replied. ~I just want to--WHOA!!~
"Marik!" Keriam's face turned red and she covered her eyes. "Get out here, right now!"
He appeared next to Keriam and gave her a rather incredulous look. ~I never would have guessed!~
"Poke around in my mind again and you will arrive in your next life a lot sooner than you think," Keriam growled.
"Let me guess," Cheri pointed at Marik, "the purple leash and spiked collar?"
Marik nodded. Tea looked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Keriam's favorite hentai pic of Joey," Cheri explained.
"Don't you talk about my favorite hentai pics," Keriam glared at her best friend, "what about Officer Kaiba?"
"There is nothing wrong about using handcuffs like that!" Cheri protested.
"Says you."
"Says me!"
"Hey do I really have to hear this?" Tea said with a face.
"What do you mean? There was some damn good ones of everyone!! Except I will never watch a marathon of YGO and Miyuki-chan in Wonderland in one night ever again. I kept dreaming that Pegasus was the bondage Queen of Hearts!" Cheri said with a shudder.
~Ooh gross now I did not need a mental image of that!!~ Marik said, making an ugly face.
"Mental image?" Keriam looked at the spirit. "At least you didn't hear about what happened in the dreams for the next ten days!"
"Could we please change the subject?!" pleaded Tea, looking completely mortified.
"Okay, sorry," Cheri apologized and sighed.
Long silence passed. ~So what else is on the websites besides those pics?~ Marik finally asked.
"Stats on everyone," Keriam said, "and a little background info." She closed her eyes, and then smiled. "On this one web site, Tea, you were described as a closet necrophilia."
"A what?" Tea narrowed her eyes.
Keriam looked at her. "Because of your crush on Yami, you were classified as a closet necrophilia."
"It was just a crush," Tea said through her teeth.
"On a five thousand-year-old dead guy," Cheri raised her hand. "But look at us. In our world, the guys we like are anime characters. Where does that put us?"
The frown slowly faded and she giggled before it turned into a full out laugh. Cheri and Keriam looked at her before they felt an urge to laugh as well. it was quite funny but Marik just watched them.
~You three are weird,~ he sighed.
"we are not we're unique!" Cheri sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Oh I think we needed that."
"You're telling me. So now what?" Keriam looked around. "We're stuck in here for the time being."
"Marik, can Perjiem and his brothers make us summons the gods?" Tea asked, looking at him.
~Possibly,~ the spirit sighed. ~But there's something with the inscription on Malik's back. Why was it on the scroll in the tomb? And how did father know about it?~
"Guess the only one who can give us the answer is Ishizu," said Tea.
Marik nodded and he looked at Keriam. ~You know, Keriam, I have to confess that I did want to get closer to you but I didn't mean it like this.~
She laughed lightly and leaned against him. "It's okay; who knew that I'd take you back with me."
Marik smiled a little and put his arm around her.
"Aw, you two look so cute," Cheri grinned.
"Joey would be pissed if he saw you two like that," Tea smirked.
~Don' remind me. He still doesn't trust me.~
"Oh Marik you still have us."
~Thanks.~
Cheri nodded before yawning and leaned back. "Man I feel sleepy for some reason." She yawned again.
"Hey don't start it's-" Tea ended up yawning as well, "contagious. There I go."
"I guess we should rest for a bit," Keriam stretched and looked at Marik. "Staying out?"
He smirked and faded. ~Not this time,~ he said from within her.
"Why am I not surprised?" Keriam settled against the wall and closed her eyes.
"I haven't translated much," Ishizu said, "but what I did is without a doubt very important."
"What did you find?" Malik asked his sister. Everyone was sitting in Seto's office, listening patiently as possible to the elder Ishtar.
"The hidden star will be revealed when the song of the gods is sung," Ishizu began. "A gateway to the Shadow Realm will bridge two worlds, something about levels and the Child of Ra blessed by Isis."
"Would that be Keriam?" Joey asked. "She can summon the Winged Dragon."
"That seems to be it but even translate it's a bit confusing to make out."
"At least we know what to expect more or less," Seto spoke up.
"The only problem is to locate the girls before it's too late but how are we going to find them?" Yugi asked.
Bakura looked at Malik. ~What about your connection to Marik?~
"I already tried," the Egyptian shook his head. "I guess that when he went into Keriam our link weakened. Even when we were in the living room and you two were fighting, I could barely feel him. Now I can't feel him at all."
"What if you used the Millennium Rod?" Seto asked.
Malik forced a laugh, and then glared at Seto. "There is no way in hell I am ever touching that thing! Besides, it's yours again, oh High Priest."
Seto just frowned at him.
"We gotta think of something," said Tristen. "For all we know, Perjiem could have them opening the Shadow Realm right now!"
"Bakura?" Ryou looked at him.
~We would have sensed it if they had,~ said the tomb robber.
Joey leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. Keriam... I wish I knew how to find you...
Ishizu could feel the tension in the air she couldn't' help but feel a bit sadden by this turn of events. "Everyone... I know I may not be able to do much here but I will do my best to translate the scrolls some more. maybe there's something that can help you all."
"Thanks sis, that's a start. Let's just hope we're not to late," Malik smiled softly.
"best of luck to you all and be careful Malik." The line then clicked and went dead as Seto hung up the speaker phone.
"So now what? If Marik were here he could probably tell us where Perjiem just might be hiding."
"You mean other than under all the rocks like the slimy snake he is?" Joey asked without looking up.
"Nice comparison," Malik sat down and folded his arms, "and very accurate."
Marik found himself standing at the end of a short light tan colored hallway. He looked around, noting the three doors and the picture of a black labador drinking from a Jack Daniel's bottle.
"What the hell is this place?" Marik couldn't help asking out loud.
He heard a crash coming from down the hall, and then the door on his right opened. A young girl with green eyes and reddish-brown hair timidly looked out from the room and down the hall.
Keriam... Marik realized. I'm in her dream. But she didn't notice him.
"Mom?" Keriam called quietly, creeping down the hallway.
Feeling curious and concerned, Marik followed her.
The sound was getting louder and coming from a closed door. Keriam looked nervous as she wrapped her hand around the knob and slowly turned it. "Mom?"
I have a very bad feeling about this, Marik said to himself but he followed.
Suddenly the door flew open and there in the doorway loomed a man with gray-ish hair and bloodshot eyes holding a broken beer bottle. Behind him on the floor near a stove was a woman, holding her hand against her cheek as if to stop the blood that ran down.
Marik's eyes widened in horror. This wasn't just a dream--this was a nightmare that Keriam had lived through.
"You little bitch!" Keriam's step-father grabbed her arm, dragging her into the kitchen and threw her against one of the chairs. "I said to stay in your room!" He raised the bottle.
"Don't you touch her!" Keriam's mother screamed. She got up from the floor and slammed into her husband.
"Mommy!" Keriam cried, looking fearfully at the two adults from under the table.
"Keriam! Run, baby!" her mother shouted.
Marik watched as Keriam scrambled out from under the table and ran for the back door. She bumped into the broom that was leaning against the wall next to the stove, and ran outside. The broom fell towards the counter, knocking against a couple liquor bottles that were next to the stove, which was in use. The bottled shattered from the heat and the liquor ignited, spreading throughout the kitchen.
Even with the fire raging like a crazed beast the two adults were still fighting. But Keriam's mother was holding the other man back, to keep him from chasing the young girl. She was willing to give up her life to protect her. He wanted to help, despite this being a nightmare but even as he tried to reach forward a wall of fire blocked his path.
"Shit! Keriam, wake up!!" he yelled as long as he could, slowly backing up as the flames grew. "Wake up now!!"
The image fevered and faded and with a start he felt himself jerk awake. Blinking he quickly separated from Keriam and could see that Cheri and Tea were already awake, both looking at him worriedly.
Keriam woke with a scream and tried to move away but only pressed back into a solid wall.
~Keriam!~ Marik grabbed her arms. ~It's me! Snap out of it!~
She blinked a few times before focusing on who was in front of her, then she broke down into tears.
Marik pulled her close and rocked her back and forth. ~It's alright, Keriam,~ he whispered soothingly. ~Shh, it's alright.~
"What happened?" Tea asked.
~She had a nightmare. I saw it.~
"Mom..." Keriam whimpered as she clung to Marik.
"Keriam…" Cheri slowly crawled to her and rubbed her back. "It's okay Keriam, we're here for you."
~She's right. Everything is gonna be alright.~ Marik couldn't remember a time when he was this caring or comforting but Keriam needed him. She needed all of them.
Tea slowly made her way over, not sure what to say but she reached out and gently brushed the bangs from her face. "Keriam? Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly.
She shook her head, sniffing as the tears slowly began to lessen but didn't move from the strong embrace. "I can't talk about it… not right now," she said softly.
"Hey no problem, talk when you're ready okay?" Cheri moved closer and wrapped her arms around her and Marik as much as she could. After a while Tea moved in as well and they just stayed like that, trying to comfort their friend who needed them. Marik smiled at the girls, reaching out and held onto them as well.
Everything will be alright ladies. I swear everything will be alright, he promised fiercely.
Footsteps outside the door walked by and everyone froze. They stopped and three knocks penetrated into the room.
"Sisters of the Moon," Haziem said, "I hope you three are fairing well."
"What the hell do you want?" Cheri yelled.
"To inform you that your presence will be requested very shortly; and we will have your attire ready for you as well." He walked away and everyone stared at the door.
"I'm afraid to even think about what they have in mind," Keriam shuddered.
We've gotta get out of here, Tea thought.
Agalameia and Theliane watched their sister move closer to the guard tied down to the litter. He was thrashing and screaming curses, but this did not bother Peisimemne. She looked at him, frowning at the image of a black snake encircling his chest. Whoever had this man under control had called upon Set to enslave the guard, and use him to assassinate the Pharaoh.
Fortunately, the attempt had failed. And the Pharaoh's other bodyguards had brought their comrade in arms to the Sisters of the Moon. Peisimemne had the ability to cleanse the soul of the weakened spirit or those possessed.
Raising her hands up, Peisimemne looked beyond the ceiling of the temple towards the heavens. "Mother Isis, hear me. Your brother Set has taken the will of this man and turned him against the Pharaoh. Please, have pity on him. Release him from his torment and heal his soul."
Peisimemne knelt besides the deranged guard and held out her hands. A crimson light glowed from her hands and went to the possessed guard. He arched, screaming as smoke came from the snake image on the man's chest, and slowly disappeared. A loud hiss was heard through the temple.
The smoke collected together and dark orbs glared down at Peisimemne. "Do you think that you can be rid of me that easily? You have only sent me out of one man with the aid of my brother. I have many followers who would gladly kill the Pharaoh without hesitation."
Peisimemne stood up and glared at the dark god. "You have no power here! This temple is for those who worship in the light! They are blessed by the gods who love their people! You know nothing of that!"
"I know how to love," Set hissed; the smoke thickened as he looked at Agalameia. "My wife gave birth to my brother's son. Anubis is a bastard! He should not be a legitimate god!"
"Isis adopted him," Agalameia stepped forward, unafraid of the one who mocked her patron deity. "She loves him as much as she loves Horus. Anubis forgave his mother for leaving him, because she knew you would kill him as you killed Osiris."
"Ra knows of your treacherous nature, Set," Theliane spoke, "that is why he never granted you back your full status. Osiris is alive and rules the heavens."
"Return from whence you came, Set," Pesimemne raised her hands at him as the red glow surrounded her. "In the name of Isis and Osiris, I command you!"
Set howled and the smoke vanished.
Peisimemne turned back to the guard, no longer thrashing about. He was asleep. Smiling, Peisimemne nodded to the other guards who picked up the litter and carried the unconscious man out of the temple.
Tea gasped at the flashback. That's it!
"Are you okay?" Cheri looked at her.
"There's a way to get the guys here!" said Tea, excitement in her eyes.
~How?~ Marik asked. ~I can't talk to Malik. Even since I went into Keriam, I lost my link with him.~
"Marik, I can send you back to him!"
"You didn't by chance fall over while you were sleeping and hit your head, did you?" Keriam asked.
"I'm serious," Tea knelt beside the spirit. "I just had a memory of when I was Peisimemne. There was a man possessed by Set and I sent him out. Marik, I can send you out and you can bring everyone back here."
Marik and Keriam looked at each other. ~It's worth a shot,~ he said.
"Just make sure that you send him out, not me," said Keriam.
"That would not be good," Cheri said then smirked. "It would be funny in a way but not good."
"Okay," Tea held up her hand and closed her eyes. A crimson light glowed from her hands and surrounded Keriam. The other girl gasped at the feeling and the light shifted from her to Marik. He could feel his connection to Keriam wan, and then was cut off. Tea opened her eyes. "Return from whence you came, Marik. In the name of Isis and Osiris, I command you!"
Marik was suddenly jerked up through the ceiling by an invisible force and was gone. Looking down as he sailed through the skies, the spirit recognized the area where they were. Smiling, he looked ahead, flying at an incredible speed towards Kaiba mansion.
The guys were still in Seto's office. Tristen had taken Serenity home and returned to the mansion, wanting to stay with his friends until they heard anything about the girls. Seto had sent Mokuba to bed and let Solomon stay in one of the guestrooms. Mostly everyone was quiet, jumping whenever one of Seto's private guards called in from where they were sent only to deliver that nothing was out of the ordinary.
Malik looked out the window just out of an odd sensation that he should. He saw a crimson light streak through the sky and it was heading towards the mansion. "Uh, guys," the Egyptian backed up from the window.
The others saw the light and jumped up. "Incoming!" Tristen shouted as the light went through the window and slammed into Malik, knocking the boy flat on his back.
"Malik!" Joey ran to him and helped him sit up.
~Ouch!~ Bakura flinched. ~That's gotta hurt.~
"It does..." Malik groaned.
~You have no idea...~
"Marik?"
~No offense to Keriam and don't take this the wrong way, Malik, but I prefer being in your body than hers,~ Marik said. ~Although, I did enjoy bonding with her.~
"Why you...!" Joey growled.
"Joey! Please! My arm!" cried Malik.
"Whoops! Sorry, man." Joey release his grip and help Malik stand up.
"Wait Marik you're back?! How?!" Yugi asked, his eyes wide.
~Tea remembered a spell she could do back in Egypt. But I never want to go through that again.~
"Are they alright?" Seto asked quickly.
~They're fine but we gotta hurry. The brothers are going to use them to summon the gods.~
"Oh that's not good news. We gotta save them before it's too late!" Tristen said.
"Already ahead of you," Seto said as he called for transportation. "Quick, where are they located, Marik?"
Marik took over. "Cancel the limo," he said, "where they are, we have to use the bikes. Mine is still in the garage, I hope."
"Parked between mine and the black and blue one," said Tristen. "Whose bike is that, anyways?"
"It's mine," said Seto, grabbing the keys from his desk drawer. "Custom made."
They left the office and went to the garage. Seto ordered Nan to tell Mokuba and Solomon that they'd be back soon. After picking out helmets, Marik, Tristen, and Seto started up their motorcycles.
"I hope you drive better than Tristen," Joey said as he sat behind Marik.
"There is nothing wrong with my driving!" Tristen yelled.
"Tristen, don't let it get to you," said Yugi as he hopped on behind him.
Ryou looked at Seto. "How long have you've on a motorcycle?"
"Three months," the CEO flipped down the visor.
If this is anything like the car... Ryou gulped.
~You know that I can handle this better than you,~ said Bakura.
"By all means." Ryou let Bakura take over.
They eased the bikes out of the garage, and with Marik in the lead, sped down the driveway and vanished down the street.