Chapter 3: Seekers of the Millennium Items
"I'm beat." Celene yawned as she entered school. Writing a four-page English essay was anything but fun. Her usual upbeat eyes struggled to remain open as she drowsily entered her first class. As she entered, a small crowd was gathered around two students at a desk.
The first one was a hotshot student that Celene never really liked. The second student had long platinum blonde hair that was spiked on his head. Whatever strands of hair that would not stand up on his head was tied back into a short, wild ponytail at the back of his head. His ocean blue eyes seemed to have a certain daring and coolness to it. Around his neck was a chain that dropped down to his chest where it was attached to a golden spherical object. The golden sphere had the same insignia as Celene's golden pyramid.
The hotshot kid got up from the table, taking his dueling deck and muttering curses under his breath. "Nice try but we all can't win them all now." The blue eyed kid said getting up. Once standing up he was almost toppled over with a hug by the blonde haired beauty. "Darius! Its you!" she said happily.
"Yea, but I might be in the hospital if you keep hugging me like this. Your going to break one of my ribs." he joked with her. As the two friends began talking another student approached Darius. He slammed a large amount of cash on the table. "You and me. One on one right now.". Both students shuffled their decks and prepared to duel.
"So have you been well?" Darius asked as he put a card down. His opponent put a monster down and attacked. "I've been fine. Nothing too much has happened since you left." Celene replied. Darius put a monster in attack mode and looked Celene in the eye. "Nonsense. I heard you beat the champ herself. Now that's certainly something." he said. Darius's opponent, getting annoyed he wasn't even paying attention, put another monster on the field and attacked. "You lose 1000 life points." he said.
Darius gave his foe a nod, took a card in his deck and placed it in his hand. He then shuffled his deck, placed another monster on the field in attack mode and continued his conversation with Celene. "It was only a fluke. I just got lucky in the end." Celene told him. Darius gave her a smile. "I doubt that. You've beaten some strong duelist in the past and I doubt any can get a fluke over Calisto. I guess being a strong duelist runs in your family.". His opponent attacked with a monster on his field.
"You've just lost half your life points." The student said with a grin. Darius happily nodded at this, took the monster off the field and began searching through his deck for a card because of his monster's effect. "Now I have a question for you. Where did you go for the last couple of weeks?" Celene asked.
"I had to go host a couple of tournaments in Europe for a while."
"So why did you come back a day earlier?"
"I got bored."
"Hey! Can we get on with the duel?"
"In a second."
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were going? You didn't tell Josey, Jase, Ryo or even me." "Sorry but I guess I just like to surprise people."
"Let's get on with this duel or I'll consider it as you forfeit."
"Ok, ok. Jeez some one is grouchy today."
"I'll play this card which will allow me to draw three cards at the price of discarding two.". After discarding his cards, Darius gave a confused yet daring look on his face. "Well that's a shame." he said. Celene looked at Darius's hand and let out a giggle. "Too bad for you." she told the student. "Just make your move you scrawny punk." To student angrily said to his platinum haired adversary.
Darius laid five cards on his field. Each card had a bronze color with a magical symbol behind them. Four of the cards had chains on the monster in the picture. Two of the cards look liked strong muscular legs while the other two looked like brawny arms. They were all like pieces to a puzzle that led to the head of the creature. The bronze colored head of the creature seemed to be of Egyptian culture with a black face that could scare the bravest of men.
The kid stammered as he looked at the pieces. "There. All five pieces of Exodia which means I win. Nice try though. A little bit more damage and you would have one." Darius told his opponent who was walking away in shame. "Ohh yea thanks for the money.". "You should stop playing with your opponents. They might come back and beat you." Celene kindly reprimanded him. "I was just trying to keep the duel interesting now. It wouldn't be fun if I beat a novice like him in one turn now." He replied. "Since when did you turn your deck into an Exodia deck?" Celene asked him. "I'm just trying out this deck. I have to mail these five pieces off to a kid who won at one of the Tournaments in Europe. My real deck is left in my mansion." He replied once again this time with a cocky grin.
Celene's kind face now showed slight frustration. She turned away from Darius and started walking to her seat.
"Hey wait where ya going?"
"I'm still ticked that you didn't tell me you were going away.". Darius let out a frustrated gasp. "Ok, I'll tell you what. Get the rest of the gang and I'll have a surprise set up for all of you at the end of the day.". Celene turned back and gave a reassuring smile that they would be there.
Right outside, after school, Jase, Celene, Josey, Ryo, and Kura waited for their friend. Soon Darius and his sister, Mia, came walking up to them. "Hey look. It's a porcupine." Jase teased, referring to Darius's hair. Darius shot him a mischievous grin. "So why'd you call us out here?" Josey questioned him. "Well since most of you seemed a bit peeved at me for not giving you any calls while I was away, Mia and I decided to have all of you over by my mansion.
Everyone had a surprised look on their faces. "Wow! This is great I've never been over by ya!" Ryo exclaimed. "Come to think of it has anyone ever stopped been by your house." he then asked. "I've been there once when I was younger...I think." Celene said trying to remember.
The gang started wondering what his mansion would look like, all except a confused Kura. This is the first time he had met Darius. "You must be pretty rich to have a mansion." he told the blue-eyed teen.
"That I am, but you are..."
Jase then intervened. "Let me introduce you two. Kura this is Darius Pegasus. Darius, this is Kura Imay, a friend I met while you were away." he told the two boys.
"Hmph. I'm away for about three months and you already try to replace me with someone else. Darius said gripping his friend in a headlock. "Will ya stop acting like a cry baby and forget about that. Besides you didn't tell me where you were going either." Jase struggled to say, reversing Darius's headlock into one of his own. "Man the two of you act like some kind of married couple." Ryo replied to the as the scene between the two boys continued. Everyone laughed.
"Well any friend of Jase can't be all that bad now." Darius said shaking Kura's hand. Kura exchanged friegndly gestures with him but then his eyes sparkled with amazement as his gaze followed the silver chain around Darius's neck down to the spherical object. "Where did you get this object from." he exclaimed.
"My father gave it to me before he died. I believe he called it a Millennium Eye. Why do you want to know?"
"I was just hoping I could find out where you and Celene found those items from. There're quite beautiful. Only thing beautiful on me is this key chain." Kura chuckled.
The key chain was a chibi version of a young boy. The boy had on blue jeans with a cream sweater and white hair down its back. The boy had large brown eyes with an innocent yet sad expression on its face. "Cool key chain." Darius said. "Yea it's cute." Mia stated after. "So do you want to join us?" Darius asked him. "Sorry but I have to do some errands over the weekend. Perhaps another time I can join." Kura stated and walked away from the group.
"Well the rest of you get home and get ready. I'll have a limo pick you guys up later." Darius said as he and his sister walked towards a limo that was waiting for them. "Hey let me come with you guys since my house is on the way there." Ryo asked. Darius and Mia nodded in unison and gestured Ryo to come. "Ok I'll see all of you later then." Celene said.
*
The black limo stopped at a small game shop at a corner. "Wait in the car Mia. Ryo and I will be back in a moment." Darius told his sister. They both enetered the store together. Darius glanced through some video games while Ryo bought a pack of cards.
"Aww man! I still got nothing good." Ryo groaned. "Don't worry about it," Darius said. "Your deck is ok how it is."
"Its ok but it needs to be better. The strongest normal monster in my deck is the Beast of Talwar. I mean he's strong but I don't think he might be enough."
"Well if you want some good cards you have to know how to pick the packs."
Darius called the cashier over and asked him for a pack with a skull like monster on it. "This one?" the cashier asked.
"Yes but could you get the one from the top shelf."
"But there're all the same."
"I know it's an unusual request but could you do it for me."
The cashier, now slightly annoyed, put down the pack, grabbed a stool, and gave the youth the pack he pointed to. Darius then pointed to a pack at the opposite bottom end. The frustrated cashier gave him that pack too. Darius gazed at the shelf of packs and made his final decision at the end of a rack that was lined with cards.
"That will be twelve dollars." the cashier said. Darius paid the cashier and gave Ryo the packs. "These should be good." he said with a grin. Ryo gave back his friend a skeptical look. How would he know if they were good or not before opening the pack? He opened the packs and his face brightened with joy from each passing card.
"Wow! These are great!" he said with joy. The first card was a demon behemoth. It had green eyes with two white horns, curved downward from the sides of its head. On its back were two short, dark blue wings. The second card had the same monster on it with volts of electricity coming from the monster. The monster was also standing in rain. The final card had a long chain striking through three cards.
"This is great. With the Summoned Skull, Demon Rain, and Chain Destruction my deck is surely going to be stronger.". Darius watched as his friend looked at the cards. It always pleased him to give his friends such pleasure.
*
"Hey pops! I'm out for the weekend. See ya on Sunday." Jase left his house without waiting for a reply. He didn't care weather or not his father would reply. He probably would not have cared anyway.
*
"Josey. A limo's here to pick you up.". She picked up a small bag and headed out towards the limo. This is the first time she would be in a mansion. Even though her family has a good income it was no where compared to that of the Idustrial Illusions president. She also felt a little left out from the rest of the gang. This would be a good chance for her to get intricate with the rest of her friends.
*
The limo's horn beeped twice signaling it was time for Celene to leave. "Bye mom. I'll see you on Sunday." she said. "Ok. If anything happens, give me a call and I'll come and pick you up." her mother replied. Celene gave her mother a quick hug and left. This would be the first time she stayed at Darius's house. Even though they were best friends she didn't know anything about him. Hopefully Celene would get to learn more about his past.
*
After a ten-minute drive to the estate and another five-minute drive to the mansion, they arrived. The mansion was huge with two angel statues at the sides of the steps. They went inside the mansion and walked down a long hallway. As they walked Ryo and Jase had noticed the red carpet they strode across. Josey was wondering how many rooms were in the mansion as it felt like they had passed quite a dozen. Celene's mind was wondering about paintings on one side of the wall. The first painting was of a tan skinned man with a turban on his head. He had an expressionless face to match his cloudy blue eyes. The second painting she passed was of a woman with the same complexion as the first person. She wore a hood and under that hood was a determined face with a dark blue set of eyes. The final picture was if a beautiful woman. She had on a lovely blue dress, with sparkiling light blue eyes with a loving smile to match.
"Hey guys you're here." Mia said approaching the group in the hallway. "Come on inside here. My dad is playing Darius in Dungeon Dice Monsters.". The group went into what was a large living room, furnished with a millionaire's luxuries. Inside at a table was Darius with his chin on the table. "Man how could I lose." he sighed heavily. A man across the table chuckled.
The man looked to be about in his mid forties. He had dark black hair that hung at the sides of his face. He had the same jungle green eyes as Mia and had an earring that resembled a die. It took the teens a few seconds before they recognized who this man was. "Hey! This is Duke Devlin, the Dungeon Dice Monster creator." Ryo exclaimed.
Duke gave a daring smirk as he got up from the table. "I have to go do some business now." He told his daughter, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Hey I want a rematch!" Darius said but Duke ignored him to annoy the youth more. "If you need me I'll be in my business room." Duke said and disappeared through a door.
"Wait of Duke is Mia's father that means he's your father too?" Ryo said asking Darius. "Wow. Good job for stating the obvious Sherlock." Jase told his younger companion, who gave him back a nasty look. "Yes and no." Darius told his friend as he packed away the mat of the Dungeon Dice monster game. "My father was Maximillion Pegasus until he died.".
"Sorry to hear that..." Josey interrupted.
"Eh, don't worry about it. My dad kicked the bucket before I could truly remember him. Duke stayed by my father's side till the end, or so I heard. Pegasus left Duke as my caretaker but I have to go and see my other relatives in Europe too every now and then.
"So who runs Industrial Illusions?" Jase was next to ask. "No offense but aren't you a little too young to be running a company?"
"Well...," Darius began, "I don't run all of Industrial Illusions. I only run about half of the company. Until I'm twenty I won't get full control. Although I don't know why. If Seto Kaiba could run his company then I should to." he grumbled to himself. "But anyway, a guy named Henshin Rubian holds control of the other half of the company and helps me run the place.".
"But anyway," Darius said brushing back his silver hair, "enough about me. You guys came here to have fun right?" he smirked.
The teens first had a grand treat of assorted foods for them to eat in the dining room. Everything from avocados to a plump roasted turkey was set before them to eat. After the teenage group stuffed their faces, they went to a game room where they dueled, played pool, sports and other exciting activities. Finally they went into the living room where watched television and told stories.
"And when Celene used her own Harpy Lady Sisters to beat her, her eyes went big and looked like she was about to pass out!" Ryo told his companions as they laughed at his antics. He then got up, pretending to be Calisto, and showed his friends exactly how her defeat looked. Celene tried to contain her laughter within, Mia almost dropped a glass of juice she was drinking, Josey held her head back with laughter while Darius and Jase hugged each other with laughter.
Just then Duke came down from upstairs. "Ok kids. I think its time for all of you to get some rest before my children die of laughter." he said jokingly. The teens gave Duke an expression of approval and made their way upstairs.
They were amazed that Darius and Mia each gave them a room with a balcony to look outside, a bed made for a king as well as other things. They all told each other good night and went to their rooms.
Celene slipped into her pink pajamas, sat at the edge of the bed and brushed her long blonde hair in front of a mirror. She always did this every night. It was probably a trait she picked up from her mother. Finally she immersed herself in the fine covers of the bed and soon fell asleep. It was the softest bed she ever slept in. She felt safe. She could not even hear the door to the balcony opening.
*
Darius got up from his room and began to wonder the halls. He finally made his way to the third floor of his mansion and into his previous father's sanctuary. He would always go there when his mind was troubled.
Inside this room were once again paintings of the man with the turban, the Egyptian woman, and the blonde haired woman. Duke had once told him that the man with the turban had saved him and his friend's life once. Duke also told him that the blonde, light blue eyed woman was his late mother Cecilia Pegasus.
Darius always had doubts of if that woman was truly his mother. The blue eyes marked both of them to be alike, but his eyes were a darker shade of blue, unlike the pretty woman's. Also Darius had a darker shade of skin resembling that of the man with the turban. Then there was the hooded female who no one seems to know about. "I guess father took all his secrets with him to the grave." Darius thought.
In one corner of the room laid a few unfinished pictures by both Maximillion and Darius. It seemed almost hereditary that Darius also took up art. Above the window, which was opposite the door, was a picture of the Duel Monster creator himself with a young, three-year old Darius holding the Millennium Eye in his hand. It was one of the few memories he had.
On the other side of the room were two glass cases. The bottom case contained two golden items similar but different to his Millennium Eye. The first was a long rod with two blades at the top of the rod and the same eye emblem that was inscribed on both Darius's and Celene's items. The other seemed to be a strange necklace with the same insignia. They were labeled as the Millennium Rod and the Millennium Necklace.
The glass above that had three cards in it. The first card had a giant blue demon on it. The second card had a long red dragon on it whose body seemed to stretch on forever. The last card had a golden mechanical-like dragon on it that seemed to scream power. These cards were named The God of Obelisk, The Saint Dragon of Osiris, and The Sun of God Dragon Ra. Darius never touched those cards or the items. If his father left them in those locked glass cases then there must be a good reason why.
Darius shut off the light in the room and headed for his bed. Just then he heard a glass break. The blue eyed youth rushed back to the room to meet three hooded figures clothed in black robes. One had the three special cards in his hand while the other had the golden items in his hand. Darius quickly pushed a button on the wall and called for help. The three figures rushed back to the window from which they came. The teen threw him self at them but was easily discarded to the side. Five men in black suits bolted in to see the three figures and a prone Darius. "Stop those bandits!" he managed to yell out from his prone position.
It was too late though. The three men had left. The suits talked on their walkie-talkies to secure the perimeter. Some of the guards urged him to go back to bed while they take care of the rest. The young duelist decided to take their advice and made his way to his quarters.
As Darius passed the rooms where his friends slept he felt something that he rarely felt. A feeling as if sensing someone else's feelings or their mind. Darius looked down at his Millennium Eye. Maybe it had something to do with it? "I'm so scared. Who is this? What does he want?". These urgent words seemed to be rushing through his mind and felt like they were coming from Celene's quarters.
He rushed inside the room to see Celene cornered by another dark figure. "Hey! Only guests are allowed here!" Darius yelled. The figure turned to glare at Darius. This gave Celene enough time to slip away from danger and to the side of Darius. "You have the strangest boyfriends." Darius told her keeping an eye on the figure. "Do I look like I'd date something like that?" she replied also keeping an eye on the stranger.
Upon closer inspection the stranger had on a white sneakers with blue jeans. He had on a black short sleeve shirt with a black scarf tied around his head only revealing his pink eyes. "What do you want?" Celene asked. "I want what you and your friend have." replied an evil, malevolent voice.
Just then a golden item appeared out of the black shirt. The item was a ring with seven golden cylinders appearing out of the ring. Inside the ring was a flat pyramid with the eye symbol as the other golden items. Two of the cylinders pointed at Celene and Darius.
"Open the door." Darius whispered to Celene. She cautiously opened the door keeping her eyes on the opposing threat. A chuckle came from the wrapped face. "You mortals cannot escape the darkness." The figure said. Just then the golden ring glowed brightly and the room seemed to be engulfed in darkness.
Darius turned to his purple-eyed friend. He shoved her outside the room to the floor. "Sorry it's a guy thing." He said and closed to door making sure she could not get back inside. Darius then turned back to his adversary. What this person or thing is, it was not here for the luxury room.
"I'm beat." Celene yawned as she entered school. Writing a four-page English essay was anything but fun. Her usual upbeat eyes struggled to remain open as she drowsily entered her first class. As she entered, a small crowd was gathered around two students at a desk.
The first one was a hotshot student that Celene never really liked. The second student had long platinum blonde hair that was spiked on his head. Whatever strands of hair that would not stand up on his head was tied back into a short, wild ponytail at the back of his head. His ocean blue eyes seemed to have a certain daring and coolness to it. Around his neck was a chain that dropped down to his chest where it was attached to a golden spherical object. The golden sphere had the same insignia as Celene's golden pyramid.
The hotshot kid got up from the table, taking his dueling deck and muttering curses under his breath. "Nice try but we all can't win them all now." The blue eyed kid said getting up. Once standing up he was almost toppled over with a hug by the blonde haired beauty. "Darius! Its you!" she said happily.
"Yea, but I might be in the hospital if you keep hugging me like this. Your going to break one of my ribs." he joked with her. As the two friends began talking another student approached Darius. He slammed a large amount of cash on the table. "You and me. One on one right now.". Both students shuffled their decks and prepared to duel.
"So have you been well?" Darius asked as he put a card down. His opponent put a monster down and attacked. "I've been fine. Nothing too much has happened since you left." Celene replied. Darius put a monster in attack mode and looked Celene in the eye. "Nonsense. I heard you beat the champ herself. Now that's certainly something." he said. Darius's opponent, getting annoyed he wasn't even paying attention, put another monster on the field and attacked. "You lose 1000 life points." he said.
Darius gave his foe a nod, took a card in his deck and placed it in his hand. He then shuffled his deck, placed another monster on the field in attack mode and continued his conversation with Celene. "It was only a fluke. I just got lucky in the end." Celene told him. Darius gave her a smile. "I doubt that. You've beaten some strong duelist in the past and I doubt any can get a fluke over Calisto. I guess being a strong duelist runs in your family.". His opponent attacked with a monster on his field.
"You've just lost half your life points." The student said with a grin. Darius happily nodded at this, took the monster off the field and began searching through his deck for a card because of his monster's effect. "Now I have a question for you. Where did you go for the last couple of weeks?" Celene asked.
"I had to go host a couple of tournaments in Europe for a while."
"So why did you come back a day earlier?"
"I got bored."
"Hey! Can we get on with the duel?"
"In a second."
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were going? You didn't tell Josey, Jase, Ryo or even me." "Sorry but I guess I just like to surprise people."
"Let's get on with this duel or I'll consider it as you forfeit."
"Ok, ok. Jeez some one is grouchy today."
"I'll play this card which will allow me to draw three cards at the price of discarding two.". After discarding his cards, Darius gave a confused yet daring look on his face. "Well that's a shame." he said. Celene looked at Darius's hand and let out a giggle. "Too bad for you." she told the student. "Just make your move you scrawny punk." To student angrily said to his platinum haired adversary.
Darius laid five cards on his field. Each card had a bronze color with a magical symbol behind them. Four of the cards had chains on the monster in the picture. Two of the cards look liked strong muscular legs while the other two looked like brawny arms. They were all like pieces to a puzzle that led to the head of the creature. The bronze colored head of the creature seemed to be of Egyptian culture with a black face that could scare the bravest of men.
The kid stammered as he looked at the pieces. "There. All five pieces of Exodia which means I win. Nice try though. A little bit more damage and you would have one." Darius told his opponent who was walking away in shame. "Ohh yea thanks for the money.". "You should stop playing with your opponents. They might come back and beat you." Celene kindly reprimanded him. "I was just trying to keep the duel interesting now. It wouldn't be fun if I beat a novice like him in one turn now." He replied. "Since when did you turn your deck into an Exodia deck?" Celene asked him. "I'm just trying out this deck. I have to mail these five pieces off to a kid who won at one of the Tournaments in Europe. My real deck is left in my mansion." He replied once again this time with a cocky grin.
Celene's kind face now showed slight frustration. She turned away from Darius and started walking to her seat.
"Hey wait where ya going?"
"I'm still ticked that you didn't tell me you were going away.". Darius let out a frustrated gasp. "Ok, I'll tell you what. Get the rest of the gang and I'll have a surprise set up for all of you at the end of the day.". Celene turned back and gave a reassuring smile that they would be there.
Right outside, after school, Jase, Celene, Josey, Ryo, and Kura waited for their friend. Soon Darius and his sister, Mia, came walking up to them. "Hey look. It's a porcupine." Jase teased, referring to Darius's hair. Darius shot him a mischievous grin. "So why'd you call us out here?" Josey questioned him. "Well since most of you seemed a bit peeved at me for not giving you any calls while I was away, Mia and I decided to have all of you over by my mansion.
Everyone had a surprised look on their faces. "Wow! This is great I've never been over by ya!" Ryo exclaimed. "Come to think of it has anyone ever stopped been by your house." he then asked. "I've been there once when I was younger...I think." Celene said trying to remember.
The gang started wondering what his mansion would look like, all except a confused Kura. This is the first time he had met Darius. "You must be pretty rich to have a mansion." he told the blue-eyed teen.
"That I am, but you are..."
Jase then intervened. "Let me introduce you two. Kura this is Darius Pegasus. Darius, this is Kura Imay, a friend I met while you were away." he told the two boys.
"Hmph. I'm away for about three months and you already try to replace me with someone else. Darius said gripping his friend in a headlock. "Will ya stop acting like a cry baby and forget about that. Besides you didn't tell me where you were going either." Jase struggled to say, reversing Darius's headlock into one of his own. "Man the two of you act like some kind of married couple." Ryo replied to the as the scene between the two boys continued. Everyone laughed.
"Well any friend of Jase can't be all that bad now." Darius said shaking Kura's hand. Kura exchanged friegndly gestures with him but then his eyes sparkled with amazement as his gaze followed the silver chain around Darius's neck down to the spherical object. "Where did you get this object from." he exclaimed.
"My father gave it to me before he died. I believe he called it a Millennium Eye. Why do you want to know?"
"I was just hoping I could find out where you and Celene found those items from. There're quite beautiful. Only thing beautiful on me is this key chain." Kura chuckled.
The key chain was a chibi version of a young boy. The boy had on blue jeans with a cream sweater and white hair down its back. The boy had large brown eyes with an innocent yet sad expression on its face. "Cool key chain." Darius said. "Yea it's cute." Mia stated after. "So do you want to join us?" Darius asked him. "Sorry but I have to do some errands over the weekend. Perhaps another time I can join." Kura stated and walked away from the group.
"Well the rest of you get home and get ready. I'll have a limo pick you guys up later." Darius said as he and his sister walked towards a limo that was waiting for them. "Hey let me come with you guys since my house is on the way there." Ryo asked. Darius and Mia nodded in unison and gestured Ryo to come. "Ok I'll see all of you later then." Celene said.
*
The black limo stopped at a small game shop at a corner. "Wait in the car Mia. Ryo and I will be back in a moment." Darius told his sister. They both enetered the store together. Darius glanced through some video games while Ryo bought a pack of cards.
"Aww man! I still got nothing good." Ryo groaned. "Don't worry about it," Darius said. "Your deck is ok how it is."
"Its ok but it needs to be better. The strongest normal monster in my deck is the Beast of Talwar. I mean he's strong but I don't think he might be enough."
"Well if you want some good cards you have to know how to pick the packs."
Darius called the cashier over and asked him for a pack with a skull like monster on it. "This one?" the cashier asked.
"Yes but could you get the one from the top shelf."
"But there're all the same."
"I know it's an unusual request but could you do it for me."
The cashier, now slightly annoyed, put down the pack, grabbed a stool, and gave the youth the pack he pointed to. Darius then pointed to a pack at the opposite bottom end. The frustrated cashier gave him that pack too. Darius gazed at the shelf of packs and made his final decision at the end of a rack that was lined with cards.
"That will be twelve dollars." the cashier said. Darius paid the cashier and gave Ryo the packs. "These should be good." he said with a grin. Ryo gave back his friend a skeptical look. How would he know if they were good or not before opening the pack? He opened the packs and his face brightened with joy from each passing card.
"Wow! These are great!" he said with joy. The first card was a demon behemoth. It had green eyes with two white horns, curved downward from the sides of its head. On its back were two short, dark blue wings. The second card had the same monster on it with volts of electricity coming from the monster. The monster was also standing in rain. The final card had a long chain striking through three cards.
"This is great. With the Summoned Skull, Demon Rain, and Chain Destruction my deck is surely going to be stronger.". Darius watched as his friend looked at the cards. It always pleased him to give his friends such pleasure.
*
"Hey pops! I'm out for the weekend. See ya on Sunday." Jase left his house without waiting for a reply. He didn't care weather or not his father would reply. He probably would not have cared anyway.
*
"Josey. A limo's here to pick you up.". She picked up a small bag and headed out towards the limo. This is the first time she would be in a mansion. Even though her family has a good income it was no where compared to that of the Idustrial Illusions president. She also felt a little left out from the rest of the gang. This would be a good chance for her to get intricate with the rest of her friends.
*
The limo's horn beeped twice signaling it was time for Celene to leave. "Bye mom. I'll see you on Sunday." she said. "Ok. If anything happens, give me a call and I'll come and pick you up." her mother replied. Celene gave her mother a quick hug and left. This would be the first time she stayed at Darius's house. Even though they were best friends she didn't know anything about him. Hopefully Celene would get to learn more about his past.
*
After a ten-minute drive to the estate and another five-minute drive to the mansion, they arrived. The mansion was huge with two angel statues at the sides of the steps. They went inside the mansion and walked down a long hallway. As they walked Ryo and Jase had noticed the red carpet they strode across. Josey was wondering how many rooms were in the mansion as it felt like they had passed quite a dozen. Celene's mind was wondering about paintings on one side of the wall. The first painting was of a tan skinned man with a turban on his head. He had an expressionless face to match his cloudy blue eyes. The second painting she passed was of a woman with the same complexion as the first person. She wore a hood and under that hood was a determined face with a dark blue set of eyes. The final picture was if a beautiful woman. She had on a lovely blue dress, with sparkiling light blue eyes with a loving smile to match.
"Hey guys you're here." Mia said approaching the group in the hallway. "Come on inside here. My dad is playing Darius in Dungeon Dice Monsters.". The group went into what was a large living room, furnished with a millionaire's luxuries. Inside at a table was Darius with his chin on the table. "Man how could I lose." he sighed heavily. A man across the table chuckled.
The man looked to be about in his mid forties. He had dark black hair that hung at the sides of his face. He had the same jungle green eyes as Mia and had an earring that resembled a die. It took the teens a few seconds before they recognized who this man was. "Hey! This is Duke Devlin, the Dungeon Dice Monster creator." Ryo exclaimed.
Duke gave a daring smirk as he got up from the table. "I have to go do some business now." He told his daughter, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Hey I want a rematch!" Darius said but Duke ignored him to annoy the youth more. "If you need me I'll be in my business room." Duke said and disappeared through a door.
"Wait of Duke is Mia's father that means he's your father too?" Ryo said asking Darius. "Wow. Good job for stating the obvious Sherlock." Jase told his younger companion, who gave him back a nasty look. "Yes and no." Darius told his friend as he packed away the mat of the Dungeon Dice monster game. "My father was Maximillion Pegasus until he died.".
"Sorry to hear that..." Josey interrupted.
"Eh, don't worry about it. My dad kicked the bucket before I could truly remember him. Duke stayed by my father's side till the end, or so I heard. Pegasus left Duke as my caretaker but I have to go and see my other relatives in Europe too every now and then.
"So who runs Industrial Illusions?" Jase was next to ask. "No offense but aren't you a little too young to be running a company?"
"Well...," Darius began, "I don't run all of Industrial Illusions. I only run about half of the company. Until I'm twenty I won't get full control. Although I don't know why. If Seto Kaiba could run his company then I should to." he grumbled to himself. "But anyway, a guy named Henshin Rubian holds control of the other half of the company and helps me run the place.".
"But anyway," Darius said brushing back his silver hair, "enough about me. You guys came here to have fun right?" he smirked.
The teens first had a grand treat of assorted foods for them to eat in the dining room. Everything from avocados to a plump roasted turkey was set before them to eat. After the teenage group stuffed their faces, they went to a game room where they dueled, played pool, sports and other exciting activities. Finally they went into the living room where watched television and told stories.
"And when Celene used her own Harpy Lady Sisters to beat her, her eyes went big and looked like she was about to pass out!" Ryo told his companions as they laughed at his antics. He then got up, pretending to be Calisto, and showed his friends exactly how her defeat looked. Celene tried to contain her laughter within, Mia almost dropped a glass of juice she was drinking, Josey held her head back with laughter while Darius and Jase hugged each other with laughter.
Just then Duke came down from upstairs. "Ok kids. I think its time for all of you to get some rest before my children die of laughter." he said jokingly. The teens gave Duke an expression of approval and made their way upstairs.
They were amazed that Darius and Mia each gave them a room with a balcony to look outside, a bed made for a king as well as other things. They all told each other good night and went to their rooms.
Celene slipped into her pink pajamas, sat at the edge of the bed and brushed her long blonde hair in front of a mirror. She always did this every night. It was probably a trait she picked up from her mother. Finally she immersed herself in the fine covers of the bed and soon fell asleep. It was the softest bed she ever slept in. She felt safe. She could not even hear the door to the balcony opening.
*
Darius got up from his room and began to wonder the halls. He finally made his way to the third floor of his mansion and into his previous father's sanctuary. He would always go there when his mind was troubled.
Inside this room were once again paintings of the man with the turban, the Egyptian woman, and the blonde haired woman. Duke had once told him that the man with the turban had saved him and his friend's life once. Duke also told him that the blonde, light blue eyed woman was his late mother Cecilia Pegasus.
Darius always had doubts of if that woman was truly his mother. The blue eyes marked both of them to be alike, but his eyes were a darker shade of blue, unlike the pretty woman's. Also Darius had a darker shade of skin resembling that of the man with the turban. Then there was the hooded female who no one seems to know about. "I guess father took all his secrets with him to the grave." Darius thought.
In one corner of the room laid a few unfinished pictures by both Maximillion and Darius. It seemed almost hereditary that Darius also took up art. Above the window, which was opposite the door, was a picture of the Duel Monster creator himself with a young, three-year old Darius holding the Millennium Eye in his hand. It was one of the few memories he had.
On the other side of the room were two glass cases. The bottom case contained two golden items similar but different to his Millennium Eye. The first was a long rod with two blades at the top of the rod and the same eye emblem that was inscribed on both Darius's and Celene's items. The other seemed to be a strange necklace with the same insignia. They were labeled as the Millennium Rod and the Millennium Necklace.
The glass above that had three cards in it. The first card had a giant blue demon on it. The second card had a long red dragon on it whose body seemed to stretch on forever. The last card had a golden mechanical-like dragon on it that seemed to scream power. These cards were named The God of Obelisk, The Saint Dragon of Osiris, and The Sun of God Dragon Ra. Darius never touched those cards or the items. If his father left them in those locked glass cases then there must be a good reason why.
Darius shut off the light in the room and headed for his bed. Just then he heard a glass break. The blue eyed youth rushed back to the room to meet three hooded figures clothed in black robes. One had the three special cards in his hand while the other had the golden items in his hand. Darius quickly pushed a button on the wall and called for help. The three figures rushed back to the window from which they came. The teen threw him self at them but was easily discarded to the side. Five men in black suits bolted in to see the three figures and a prone Darius. "Stop those bandits!" he managed to yell out from his prone position.
It was too late though. The three men had left. The suits talked on their walkie-talkies to secure the perimeter. Some of the guards urged him to go back to bed while they take care of the rest. The young duelist decided to take their advice and made his way to his quarters.
As Darius passed the rooms where his friends slept he felt something that he rarely felt. A feeling as if sensing someone else's feelings or their mind. Darius looked down at his Millennium Eye. Maybe it had something to do with it? "I'm so scared. Who is this? What does he want?". These urgent words seemed to be rushing through his mind and felt like they were coming from Celene's quarters.
He rushed inside the room to see Celene cornered by another dark figure. "Hey! Only guests are allowed here!" Darius yelled. The figure turned to glare at Darius. This gave Celene enough time to slip away from danger and to the side of Darius. "You have the strangest boyfriends." Darius told her keeping an eye on the figure. "Do I look like I'd date something like that?" she replied also keeping an eye on the stranger.
Upon closer inspection the stranger had on a white sneakers with blue jeans. He had on a black short sleeve shirt with a black scarf tied around his head only revealing his pink eyes. "What do you want?" Celene asked. "I want what you and your friend have." replied an evil, malevolent voice.
Just then a golden item appeared out of the black shirt. The item was a ring with seven golden cylinders appearing out of the ring. Inside the ring was a flat pyramid with the eye symbol as the other golden items. Two of the cylinders pointed at Celene and Darius.
"Open the door." Darius whispered to Celene. She cautiously opened the door keeping her eyes on the opposing threat. A chuckle came from the wrapped face. "You mortals cannot escape the darkness." The figure said. Just then the golden ring glowed brightly and the room seemed to be engulfed in darkness.
Darius turned to his purple-eyed friend. He shoved her outside the room to the floor. "Sorry it's a guy thing." He said and closed to door making sure she could not get back inside. Darius then turned back to his adversary. What this person or thing is, it was not here for the luxury room.