Myria's eyes narrowed as she watched the young princess snuggle against the Pharaoh's chest. Sitting besides the nobleman was his best friend—High Priest Seto. The sister of the king's face filled with disgust as she watched both men coo over the young girl. Darkness shadowed her eyes. She was no fool. She knew what her brother has in mind. But after all those year, after mother tried to get him a bride, he would not listen. Now, out of nowhere, this little pauper appears. And by Ra, she was going to be queen of Egypt.
From her seat in the night banquet, Myria could hear Priest Seto's laugh. She sighed. Such a handsome man, she eyed him longingly. But no, she scowled. That sorcerer only had eye for the young princess. No wonder he was the pharaoh's best friend. They both enjoyed the little angel as if she was some sort of precious treasure. Her eyes burned with pure hatred as she watched the trio.
She would make Delphinium pay. Pay for being the princess and heiress of a pharaoh, for catching the comely priest's eye, of being the one that Yami protects, for simply being…in existence. Not to mention how much closer the wretched Myra had became with her brother, simply because of Delphinium. Myra was only a half-sister. Myria thought bitterly. Yet, that despicable wench had the approval of her brother, which would have belong to her. Oh, Delphinium would pay all right, for turning her chances of being queen down.
Myria never forgot her hatred for the young princess. Out of the many disapproving sisters, she was known as the most vicious one. She would not sit idly by, like the other princesses of the palace, and watch Pharaoh Yu-Gi-Oh make a fool of himself over this little deception. Her chance soon came, as the pharaoh held a conference in the Temple of Isis with his six priests. She sent for the young princess as soon as her brother left the palace.
When Delphinium visited her Aunt Myria late that afternoon, the older deity was soaking in the heated pool that was in the center of her atrium. Her maids were about her, pouring in fragrant oils and washing her back, others were airing out the silk bedcovers and pillows. Delphinium recognized the high voice of her favorite male slave, singing from behind a lattice partition. He was playing a lyre, the small harp preferred in their royal court.
Delphinium murmured an afternoon's greeting and sat down in front of this non-favored aunt. At this, Princess Myria raised herself out of the pool.
"You dare to sit in my presence?" She said. Two guards, who were standing on the balcony, took one step toward Delphinium, touching the sword that were strapped to their waists. Delphinium lowered her eyes to show respect. But because Yami had left her the position of a princess and queen of Egypt, she will never bow or curtsy to simply a noble.
"When you are queen, Aunt Myria, I will kneel before you." Though her voice was quivering, her musical and refined voice had a yet firmer tone than the older princess had expected.
Myria coolly sunk back into the pool up to her shoulders. After a moment, she tipped her head back to soak her hair in the water then raise her hand, snapping her fingers. A maid leaned over the pool with a tiny jar of oil, which she poured over her scalp then combed through her dark hair.
"You know, my dear," she began smoothly. "You are no longer innocent in this court."
"What do you mean, Princess Myria?" Delphinium's alarm rose. The noblewoman stepped from her pool and her maid immediately brought forth a silk robe to drape across her shoulders. She swirled about, her eyes cold and deadly. Jealousy and rage filled her as she eyed the little innocent princess. The longer she looked at her, the more anger and sickness she felt. The hatred blazed within her and she knew she had the upper hand. Yami had always taught the little princess to respect her elders, now that rule is going to cost her. She was going to regret ever entering the palace.
"First of all, Delphinium, you are to address me as queen Myria of Egypt and second of all, this is not your position to question me."
"I beg your pardon, madam," Delphinium spoke respectfully, yet unfearfully. "According to Your Excellency, it would be a deadly iniquity to address one more of their rank." That learned her a stinging slap across her ear.
Her attitude, Myria could barely contain her satisfaction. Now, this couldn't have worked better than if she had planned it herself. The princess had corrected her and in Myria's book, that was disrespectful and rude to an elder. But the little princess had also picked on a sore point, the point that Myria would never be queen.
"You little leech!" Myria spat.
Another slap. "Who do you think you are?! You are speaking to a queen! I am the pharaoh's sister and you are nothing but a pauper, a fraud! You have been sent from the death gods to indoctrinate our pharaoh. When are you going to admit to your crime?"
Slap. Slap. Slap. Her ears rang. Slap. Blood dripped on the chamber floor. Slap. She was on her knees. Slap. She was knocked to the floor. Slap. Slap. Slap.
"By the name of Ra, you imprudent little worm. You have crossed your last line. You have gone too far this time." She smirked. "I will just have to punish you in the place of my brother. He wouldn't have you sass me." A snap of finger, the servant sank to their knees fearfully and backed out of the chamber. Only two of the maids remain and one was carrying a flat slate. On the flat slate laid needles.
Princess Myria smiled and her eyes narrowed with evil glee. She laughed at Delphinium's cry and plea. Again and again that needle drove into her tender flesh, until she was covered from head to toe with tiny pinpricks. Her arms, her leg, her back, her bones… The eight-year-old cried out for mercy and Myria laughed louder and louder…
"Daphne? Are you all right?' Joey's voice sliced through Daphne's memories. She realized that she was rigid and limp on her dining chair. Beads of perspiration shone on her forehead and her hands were shaking.
"I'm fine." She tried to sound fine. She was in the hotel. Dinner was over and the teens were spread out on the dance floor. Yet, these haunting memories wouldn't go away.
"Ya don't look so—"
"Please, Joseph, I'm fine, just a bit tired. Please go back to dancing with Mai. You two look great on the dance floor."
"Okay, if that's what ya want." Disappointment and confusion lined his voice, but Daphne didn't hear him.
After the needles were worn out, Myria thought of something even more entertaining to do.
"Get the hot irons." She ordered her maids. "And the lead. Heat them in the fire."
Delphinium was drifting through conscious and unconsciousness. But before Myria could continue down her road of torture, there were heavy knocks on the chamber door.
"Who is it?" Myria's voice couldn't contain her panic.
"It's me," a muffled voice said through the door. "Priest Seto."
Myria's face turned to delight. She turned and ordered, "Tie her up and gag her, then keep her in there for now." She pointed to large chest. Delphinium was gagged and bonded, then tossed into the oak chest.
"Oh, Seto," she began, but the tall, lanky priest brushed pass her. He looked around and turned to face the princess. His eyes were solemn and his body was stiff with anger.
"Where is she?" He asked quietly.
"Who?"
"The princess." The answer was slow, deliberate.
"She hadn't came by." Myria's hatred for Delphinium grew. Even in her own personal chamber, Priest Seto only cared for Delphinium. Well, she'd pay for it after she's had her fun with the priest.
"It was said that you summoned for her as soon as we left for the Temple of Isis. Don't lie, Myria." Was the deadly tone.
"Where's Pharaoh Yu-Gi-Oh?" She changed the subject. Surly, if the meeting was over, the pharaoh would be searching for Delphinium himself.
"Still at the meeting, he told me to leave early. He had sensed something evil during the meeting that would endanger the young princess." The Priest stated simply. "Now, madam, I must ask you this one more time, where's Princess Delphinium?"
"Alright, I had a few words with her, then sent her on her way. She must have stolen her way out to the agora. We both know how wild Yami allows Delphinium to get." She snapped. Seto's midnight blue eyes stared at her steadily, then he spoke.
"First of all, madam, it's Pharaoh Yu-Gi-Oh you're addressing and Princess Delphinium. Do not ever address them so insolent again."
"Well, she isn't here anymore." Myria said crisply. "Now you must excuse me, I'm—" Seto interrupted her.
"Princess Myria," he began softly. "Is that not the princess's earring I see there, lying on the ground? Between the drips of blood?" His voice became deadly.
"No!" She snatched it up. "It's mine!"
"You have lied for too long, madam. This game had gone on for too long." Seto shook his head. "Those earrings, I had ordered them for the young princess from the land of Ethiopia. I watched them being made. There are no duplicates of the wind chimes in the world." Then he turned to the soldiers behind him. "Search this room." Then turned back to the paralyzed princess. "Madam, surly, you remember the penalties of lying to the pharaoh.
"Your lordship," someone called out before Seto could continue. He was standing by the oak chest. His face was stark white and he was visibly shaking like a leaf. "You'd better come here."
Seto's long legs reached the chest in three strides. Then he grew so white that he was whiter than paper. He was shaking with rage and fear and hatred.
"Take them!" He snapped to the soldiers. "The trial will be tomorrow." He scooped Delphinium up and ripped the gag off her mouth. She coughed weakly and he felt his heart breaking into tiny pieces.
"I was simply teaching her a lesson, she was sassing me!" Seto turned to Delphinium, her eyelids flattered.
"It's…my fault." She said hoarsely. Then, seeing that Yami's best friend knew the truth of this whole thing, she pleaded. "Don't tell Yami." Seto clenched his teeth. For the love of Ra!
"Don't worry, when His Excellency knows the truth he'll punish Myria. Being jealous and taking anger out on a princess is for sure a death penalty." He said as soft and as soothing as he could, but the girl in his arms shook her head.
"No!" She gasped. "He must never know the truth. Don't trial her for that, I don't care. But Yami must never know about this. It would break his heart."
"Take her!" Was Seto's bellow at the hesitating guards. "The penalty of touching a princess is death at any cause. No exceptions." Delphinium sighed, knowing she could trust the priest for now.
"But, Yami's my brother!" Myria cried out as the guard took her hand. "Surly, he can't sentence me to death! He would make an exception. He would speak for me!" Seto turned to her.
"Madam, when it comes to the loyalty between his princess and his sister, you don't stand a chance."
"Hey, Daphne," Ryou came sauntering over. "Would you like some punch." He handed Daphne a cup then took a closer look at her face. "Daphne! Are you coming down with something? You're whiter than chalk!" He demanded, looking worried. He dropped to his knees and looked into her eyes. His yami would do more than kill him if something happens to Daphne.
"I'm fine, Ryou, go enjoy yourself." Daphne said dully. Another memory drifted into her head.
"My lady!" The adviser shook an enraged finger at her. "You will never rule a successive country this way!"
"I know what I'm doing," Fourteen-year-old Delphinium said calmly. "My father has taught me well, better than any teacher could have ever done."
"Your father, was one of Egypt's biggest mistakes." Another man pointed out, also angered.
"Well, I've given up!" The man threw his slate tablet down. The rest of the council did the same.
"You ruling the country will never work out, madam!" One council said on his way to the door.
"Yeah, what was the late pharaoh thinking," another muttered.
"His death was a blessing to us all, until this plague were sent upon us."
"Pharaoh Yu-Gi-Oh ruled with compassion, what's the use. Now that Priest Seto and Marik turned on him. His death was in vain."
Knives could not have hurt Delphinium as much as those words did. She closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Friends have become enemy, those who once trusted them have turned away, those who they have once helped have turned to someone else, and those who she had counted on have walked away.
"Oh, daddy, are we doing this right?" She whispered. "Why did you have to leave me? I need you so much. I feel so alone. The whole kingdom is against me. I have no one. I'm so cold, daddy. I'm so very, very cold."
"Daphne!" She looked up, her vision blurry. Tears were streaming down her face without her acknowledgment. Her friend crowded around her.
"My God!" Mai's voice rose. "What's wrong with her?"
"Daphne? Daphne sweetie…" Téa knelt down beside her. "Joey, she doesn't look very good." She cried.
"I know that, Téa." Joey scratched his head. "But what's wrong with her."
"Ever since we arrived here, she's been quiet and had refused to join us." Ryou said,
"Maybe it was something she ate." Bakura suggested.
"She didn't eat anything, remember?" Yugi reminded. "She had only picked at her food until Joey ate it for her."
"Well, it doesn't matter now," Tristan said firmly. "I'm bringing her home. You guys stay and enjoy the rest of the party. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"No!" Daphne struggled to stand up. "All of you stay. I'm going home by myself. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening."
"Daphne—" Serenity started, reaching out for her friend. Daphne shrank back as if it was a snake reaching out for her.
"No, please…I just want to be alone. I'm sorry if I ruined your evening but—" She stopped and spun around, grabbing the hem of her dress and running for the limo. Before anyone could come after her, she raced into the limo and slammed the door shut.
"Kaiba Mansion." She said.
"I'm sorry miss, but I was told to—"
"Here." She tossed Bakura's thick wade of money at the driver. "Take me home, then come back. Please." She almost begged. The chauffeur watched her, then to Daphne's relief, put the limo into gear. She was silent the whole way home. She was miserable and feverish. She doesn't know what had overcome her, it had began as a pleasant evening, now…haunting memories wouldn't leave her alone.
"Thank you." She said as she got out of the limo to walk to the Kaiba Mansion door. It was raining heavy now and she paused to look up at the sky. Dark, black sky with crystal raindrop that showered down upon this world. Like thousands of pain in release, thousands of hurt to let go, and thousands of angels crying with her. She trudged slowly toward the door, taking no care that she was drenched. Her dark hair plastered her face, the makeup she had so carefully applied on was running, and her dress was heavy on her. She knocked on the door.
"Oh, by the love of Ra!!" Bakura's voice rang out. Daphne felt herself yanked into the house. Kaiba was tapping on his laptop in the living room, while Yami was flipping through her book of ancient Egypt, written in Latin.
Daphne felt like a robot as the guys came charging up to her. "I'm fine." She said automatically. She walked up to her room with the three mother hen trouping behind her. She closed the door and undressed. Then she slipped into her bed and closed her eyes. Memories flashed before her eyes once again, then everything was black.
When Daphne awoke, she found Yami leaning over her bed, concerned. At first she though it to be a dream, a recollection, but it was quite real. Kaiba's worried fussing could be heard from the hall.
"Yami...?" She whispered. She tried to sit up but fell back. Her guardian frowned in concern. The pharaoh stretched out a hand. His daughter looked flushed and deep in distress, as if she had just fallen into a hole that she could not climb out of. Her eyes were unrecognizable and held no life.
"Are you all right, Daphnia?" Yami asked. When Daphne didn't answer and continued to look right through him, Yami placed a hand on her forehead. Daphne drew back from it, giving a low whimper like a very frightened animal.
"You've got cold hands, Yami." She whined as she pulled the blanket over her head. Yami frowned to himself, then placed a hand on his own forehead.
"No, Daphnia," He gently pried her comforter from her face and put his hand back on Daphne's forehead, "You've got a fever. A bad one." Daphne didn't say anything for a moment, then she whispered,
"Daddy, I'm so cold." She whispered, tears of pain in her eyes. "I feel as if I'll never get warm. So cold." Her body shook under the blankets and Yami stood staring at it. Then he panicked and almost tripped over his own feet, trying to get outside to Kaiba.
"Kaiba, turn on the heat!" He scrambled toward him in his own office. "Daphnia is shaking, she's never caught a cold before, not even when she was young. She doesn't get sick, not ever." He shook his head viciously. Kaiba raised an eyebrow at Yami's blabbering, then complained,
"I've already turned the heat so high that I'm cooking." He complained, pulling the collar of his indigo shirt, but turned the heater thermometer up a notch. "Now, don't bother me. I'm trying to find a trustworthy doctor in Domino City." He waved Yami off.
"Where's Bakura?"
"Off somewhere muttering about modern society and modern teenager and how he's going to give Ryou a fine thrashing as soon as he could contact him. He is downright angry at his light for leaving Daphne by herself. He thought at least Ryou had more sense then the rest of the morons."
"Gee, like he only wants to thrash Ryou." The pharaoh growled. "I want to thrash every single one of those teenagers, even the girls. Especially that aibou of mine. You would have thought he had more sense than this. What, they're having such a good time, they just packed her off in a limo and sent her home?"
"What are you mortals jabbering about?" The white-haired spirit stomped into the room. "Don't you find it weird about what the last doctor said?"
"Yeah," Kaiba chimed in. "Why else do you think I'm searching for another more trustworthy doctor?"
"He said that she doesn't really have a fever, that the fever was caused by herself." Yami recalled thoughtfully. "Why would he say that?" Kaiba shrugged.
"I don't know, all I know is that doc is the most expensive in the whole city and if he's wrong, I get to sue him and bring his reputation down to ground zero." There was an evil gleam in Kaiba's eyes that Bakura and Yami shrank back at.
"What did he mean when he said she's causing her own fever?" Bakura wondered.
"I don't know, all I know is that the doc has lost it!" Kaiba exclaimed, slamming his fists onto the table, making both spirits jump. "The doctor is nuts!" Slam. "He's crazy!" Slam. "He's weird!" Slam. "And not to mentions how much he had costed! Now I'm going to sue him till he doesn't know who he is!" Slam. Slam. Slam. Slam.
"Calm down, Kaiba. Not for nothing, but Bakura and I actually think this is worth thinking about." Yami said.
"How could she possibly make herself sick?" Bakura muttered under his breath. The threesome was quiet for a while. Yami suddenly looked sick. "What's wrong with you?" Bakura looked at him strangely.
"Excuse me," Yami managed to muttered as he flew back into Daphne's room.
She wasn't there.