A Deadly Embrace
Chapter Six: Escape is but an Illusion
The chase was on and the vampires were rapidly gaining on the terrified slayers. Each woman desperate for escape with freedom but a door away.
Just don't let them kill the others because we've fled the scene. Rebecca begged frantically in her mind. She knew that the creatures would be furious at losing control over the two powerful huntresses but she could only hope and pray that the other victims (if they were still alive) wouldn't pay the price for it.
Dina nearly tripped on the giant rug at the end of the steps. Quickly regaining her footing she strained to hear what the elder of the white haired vampires had just screamed. Something along the lines of, "No matter what you do or where you try to go you'll still always be MINE!!"
What could he have meant by that? It wasn't important now, what mattered was getting the heck out of this hellhole.
The two slayers held their outstretched hands towards the handles of the double doors. Protecting the victims was their first priority but it was also a priority that required them to be alive and armed.
Thrusting open the doors both women stumbled forward only to be thrown back by some unseen force. Each female hit the floor near the base of the staircase with a loud THUD!
Evil laughter came from overhead as Dina forced open her eyes only to see Yami Bakura looming over her, laughing down in her face. "Foolish mortal," he chided, "I'd think that a head vampire slayer like you would know enough about my nocturnal breed to realize that once claimed the victim may not stray from the vampire's domain without the claimer's consent."
Cringing the redhead sneered, "Must've skipped that lesson in training."
A cold hand grasped Rebecca firmly by the back of her neck and pulled her forcefully into a standing position. "That, slayer-" Yami glared at her with fiery red eyes, "-was a shameful attempt at escaping. And now, you'll wish that you had had better aim when you buried that 'stake' into my chest."
"What?!" Yami Bakura exclaimed, "You allowed that pitiful mortal to stab you?!!"
"Allowed is hardly the word," Yugi spoke up, "she's a crafty one."
"I'm taking that as a compliment." the blonde responded.
Bakura grasped Dina's left shoulder tightly and jerked her upright. "You'll pay for what you did to me."
"Will I?" despite her precarious situation she was still fighting back a grin as she recalled the way Bakura's face had looked when the stake had pierced his backside.
A snarl from the young vampire stopped the ends of her lips from curling. Yami Bakura glanced at the dim light peeping through the slit between the thick curtains and the window. "We should retire to our bedchambers once more…dawn approaches."
"Consider yourself fortunate slayer," Yami tossed Rebecca up the steps, "you have until sunset before your punishment begins."
Her emerald eyes shimmered with fury as the woman reluctantly climbed up the remaining steps. You won't be so cocky the next time I get my hands on a stake.
There won't be a next time. Yami mentally informed her.
Dina grasped the banister upon nearing the top of the staircase. Dizziness from blood loss was taking over. A pale arm slid around her waist for support. The familiar appendage shocked her, glancing sideways she spotted Yami Bakura looking off down the hallway as he helped her along.
What's going on now? she wondered. "I thought you were mad at me."
"I'm extremely infuriated with you." he replied, "But now that you're mine I intend to exercise full control over you. You're only to be harmed if I deem it necessary. And of course, Bakura enjoys such privileges over you as well."
Dina's eyes narrowed, "So you're only helping me out here because it'll result in more vile and bloody fun for you later?"
"Precisely." a sinister smirk played on his face.
"Parasite."
"Slave."
Before she knew it Rebecca was back in the dismal bedchamber of The Scarlet Clan's leader and his lighter counterpart. The first object her eyes traveled to was the rope lying at the foot of Yugi's bed.
Yami looked to his apprentice, "You know what to do. Make sure you spare the mortal no comfort, she can writhe all day for all I care."
"How gentlemanlike of you." Rebecca scoffed.
Yugi placed a rope in front of the slayer and secured her to the bedpost. "This will hold you slayer. Serves you right for trying to stake your host."
"When will I ever learn?" she mocked. "Maybe I'll just slouch against this thing and rant and rave about how disgusting and heartless you bloodsuckers are? I bet I could keep it up all day."
"Have it your way." Yami turned towards her wearing nothing but his spiked collar and denim pants. The blonde drew back while he positioned himself less than an inch away from her bound body. Bringing his open mouth to her neck's pulsing vein he pressed his fangs into the soft flesh and drew out her essence.
Wriggling against him Rebecca tried to break away but regrettably couldn't budge from the post. She felt lightheaded as her blood coursed forth from her vein and down the throat of the demonic predator.
"Go ahead and suck me dry," she put on a display of false confidence, "but you'll just ruin your breakfast."
While nothing would give me more pleasure than to turn you into a shriveled corpse, Yami responded through thought, it is possible that you may yet prove useful to me and my kind. Therefore, I must let you live…for the time being.
"Trust me vampire," Rebecca struggled against the pain and dizziness to speak, "I only help your kind in one way, and that's staking them so they can meet their maker."
Yugi winced as Yami buried his fangs deeper into the young woman's neck and drew out a last, long gulp of her life-force before storming away. Rebecca let out a faint whimper and then slumped her head forward against her chest.
Sighing Yugi climbed into his bed and stared at the unconscious figure he'd bound to the post. It was going to be harder than ever now to convince her that vampires weren't the sadistic monsters that humanity had made them out to be.
******
The sun's harsh rays faded from the eerie mansion known as Malice Manor. For the vampires, this was a welcomed event. It was a time when all nocturnal creatures were free to emerge from their safe havens and preside over the all concealing night. For the victims, it was the fall of hope. Their doom was sealed with the disappearance of the sun. The glowing orb in the luminous sky was their only means of protection against their nightmarish captors.
Taylie grudgingly fought to regain consciousness. Marik and Malik had all but killed her the previous night. She shivered to think what this grim night might hold in store for her. As she opened her eyes a strange and alarming sight nearly made her jump right out of her skin.
Lavender irises with contracted pupils stared down at her…Oh great, it was Malik. "It's official," she muttered, "my life is a living nightmare."
Malik seemed unfazed by her comment and continued to watch her with a disturbingly cheerful expression, "Good evening Detective."
After trying to set up she noticed that Malik had her pinned down to the bed. "Let me guess," she groaned, "you're one of those guys who wake up hungry?"
A small fang-revealing smile answered her. He had a certain dashing quality about him when he smiled like that; the glistening white fangs stood out perfectly against his tanned skin and complimented his eyes and platinum blond hair.
Taylie was captivated for a moment as she regarded him silently, but a moment can pass all too quickly when you're at the mercy of a hungry vampire…
A tiny cry of pain escaped her lips when Malik rapidly zipped down to take her neck in his fangs. The crimson liquid gushed down his dry throat as his tongue lapped at the fresh wound. Why in the netherworld would Marik go downstairs before tasting her again? he puzzled as the familiar sensations of overjoyed insanity surged through his body like water out of a burst dam.
The detective cursed herself for not obeying the chief's orders-for once-and returning to headquarters. If only she had listened…but this was no time for regrets. If she was going to get out of this alive she'd have to start thinking strategically without revealing any signs of scheming so that the vampires wouldn't delve into her thoughts.
It just doesn't make sense that they haven't killed me yet. I've never heard tell of a vampire letting a human live after biting them. On the other hand, this sicko seems to be interested in more than just my blood. And his elder buddy just wants to use his magical item on me, the Millennium Rod? Taylie tried to piece the facts together and make sense of the whole situation. Regardless of how she viewed her predicament there seemed to be no logical means of escape. Marik and Malik had their Millennium Rods and all the powers of vampires. She merely had her training as a detective and a tad too much vigor.
She felt Malik's tongue graze her puncture wounds again; he seemed to be sealing them. Vampires did appear to have an uncanny ability for healing both themselves and victims of their choosing. In the beginning, before they had taken over the city, they would cover their tracks by healing the bite marks on their victims before abandoning them in the streets or alleyways. Taylie wondered if she would soon be part of the countless case files of vampire victims back at the precinct.
Malik lifted his head to stare down at her once again. He seemed to be studying her face, memorizing her features. It was distressing and alluring all at the same time. But then again, Malik was a vampire and vampires knew exactly how to manipulate their prey.
A question arose in Taylie's mind as she laid there locked in a fixed gaze with one of her captors. "Malik right? Why did you stop Marik from taking over my mind last night?"
At first Malik could only stare down blankly at his meal as if turning the question over in his mind and posing it to himself. In all reality, he wasn't so sure that the reason he'd given Marik was the true reason for his wanting the raven haired woman to stay alive. "As I told Marik last night, I merely want to try my hand at mastering the Millennium Rod on a strong willed human. If I'd allowed him to kill you then I'd have lost my chance to seize control of your mind. And brainwashing you would have been no real challenge with your mind and body in the state that they were last night."
"I know all of this, I was there. But I still don't buy those excuses." Taylie prodded the young vampire for the truth. "I think that there's something else you're not telling anyone."
"And what might that be?" Malik went on the defensive, a mixture of nervous and wicked laughter resounded from the depths of his throat, "Did you really think that I asked Marik to spare your life because I had grown attached to you? Don't fool yourself mortal, you're just a toy for me. A puppet on strings for me and my Millennium Rod to manipulate. So don't think that I see you as anything worth protecting. Once I've had my fill of you you'll just be another happily forgotten victim."
Anger flashed in her blue eyes and she managed to push him off onto the floor, "Creep! Don't think that I plan to just lie down and die. I'm not going down easy and you're in for one hell of a rude awakening the instant you try and kill me!"
Malik looked up from his stance on the floor, "Your threats don't frighten me in the least human, just remember who is the victim here and who is her master."
"I'm not the one who had to practically beg my darker half to spare his little mortal crush." Taylie snapped back.
With a burst of amused laughter the vampire replied, "Crush?! I already told you you're nothing to me. And you're certainly not the last mortal I intend to manipulate with my Millennium Rod. So go ahead and make your vows but when the time comes nothing (not even foolish notions of love) will save you from my invincible powers!"
******
Downstairs Marik was staring down into a mug of pure black coffee. He heard the footsteps of two more approaching vampires. The other two clan members conversed solemnly as they made their way to the kitchen.
"And you truly believe that this slayer could be one of the humans destined to bring about the unification of the human and vampire race?" Yami Bakura sounded skeptical.
"I'm not too certain of anything just yet," Yami admitted, "but we can't afford to destroy her if she is the key to fulfilling the prophecy."
"And just what are you two babbling about so early?" Marik griped from his seat at the far end of the table.
"It's actually getting quite late, by human standards." Yami Bakura responded.
"Damn the humans!" Marik exclaimed, "What have those wretches ever done for us anyway?"
"Someone got up on the wrong side of the coffin this morning." the tomb robber smirked.
"What's on your mind Marik?" Yami inquired.
"Nothing."
"Oh come now," Yami Bakura chuckled, "if anyone's typically ill after first awakening…it's me."
"Well tonight it's me." Marik snapped.
"Something wrong with your mortal?" Yami continued to question.
"Nothing that a good draining wouldn't cure." Marik murmured.
"I thought that you only needed her to teach your young counterpart how to properly wield his Millennium Item?" Yami said, "Why have you not yet consumed all of her essence and moved on?"
"Because that young brat Malik doesn't want to try his hand at brainwashing the mortal until she's at her full strength." Marik responded sourly.
"That's understandable," Yami went on while Yami Bakura fell silent, "if he's to master the item then he needs to seek out challenges."
"Yes but I'm not convinced that his motives for sparing her were entirely selfish." the tomb guardian stirred the already ice cold java.
"And what makes you say that?" Yami Bakura had finally rejoined the conversation.
"It's the way he acts around her." Marik explained. "At first it appeared to be mere lust and hunger. But now I fear that he may actually be harboring some feelings for this meaningless mortal."
"I see," Yami nodded, "and do you share any of those feelings for this detective?"
"What?!" Marik seemed enraged by the question, "And why should I? I'm no slave to worthless human emotions!"
"Your evasiveness is enough to make one wonder." the ancient pharaoh stated.
"Yami…" Yami Bakura spoke as if his thoughts were miles away, "…when you said that the mortal stabbed you after you left her soul room, was there anything else that occurred that night?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, did you give the female some of your blood?" the tomb robber clarified, "She wasn't able to flee the mansion so she must have consumed blood from Yugi, yourself, or the both of you."
"That's correct," Yami admitted, "I did force her to drink the blood of both Yugi and I. But I assure you that it was only a precaution taken to guarantee that she could not escape."
"For a female with the potential to end the feud between the species she certainly isn't very willing." Marik observed bitterly.
"No doubt, but she is a slayer," Yami reminded him, "and most humans in her situation would be equally as resistant to such a fate."
"Do you think that her partner might play a role in the unification as well?" Yami Bakura inquired.
The other vampires exchanged baffled looks, "Why? Have you sensed such a connection?"
Yami Bakura met Marik's gaze, "Perhaps. But I want to be sure."
"And how will you go about that?" Yami raised an eyebrow.
"I have already taken the same measures as you and your counterpart to assure that she doesn't stray from the confines of the clan." the tomb robber explained, "Now all I require is evidence that she is to play a key role in our objective."
"And what kind of proof will you need?" Marik hoped that the answer would aid him in determining what was to be done with Taylie. She had admittedly ensnared him as well with her complex and captivating style. And he was not easily impressed with anyone these days…especially mortals.
"At the rate my willpower is deteriorating now it will not take much." Yami Bakura confessed. "The strain alone is enough to make me suspicious of her true destiny."
Yami sat there listening to the deliberation between his two allies, So this is it then? The day of our unification is finally upon us. We now have our counterparts and the mortal women. Through our crossed paths we can pave a new way of life for all the generations to come-provided all goes according to Isis's vision.
"Pharaoh?" Marik's voice caught the tri-colored vampire by surprise.
"…Yes?"
"You've grown quiet, is there something we should know?" the tomb guardian seemed anxious for instructions.
"I believe that the time has come to proceed with the next faze of our primary goal." Yami informed them, "We have 'turned' our modern day selves and now we must introduce our mortal captives to their new roles."
"But how can we be sure that these are the correct humans?" Yami Bakura demanded.
"Has any other mortal ever possessed such a hold over you?" Yami questioned him. The tomb robber did not answer but dropped his gaze to the table, "Then these are surely the women that we've been waiting for. Our destinies lie with them along with all our hopes of inhabiting the Earth with the humans who've condemned us. We shall never again be forced to flee from the sun's rays; at last we will finally be free to embrace the dawn!"
"And then all those who have hunted and ridiculed us will be at our mercy." Marik grinned evilly.
"If it involves torturing our tormentors then I say we don't waste another moment," Yami Bakura's voice carried a malicious tone.
"First thing's first," Yami said gravely, "Marik, you and your counterpart must claim the detective. We can't risk any of these mortals escaping. I'll inform Joey and Tristan while Yami Bakura instructs Kaiba of this new development."
"I understand informing Kaiba, he's nearer to our rank, but why are we bothering to tell Tristan and Joey?" Marik asked.
"Because the unification will require the participation of every clan member we have." Yami replied, "No vampire with a living victim in this mansion can be oblivious to our goal. These women are here now for a reason that goes far beyond a mere feeding ritual. Now is the time to utilize our good fortune and act in accordance to Isis's prediction. All of the vampire race will benefit from what shall soon come to pass."
******
Tristan stretched out on his bed and yawned loudly enough to wake the sleeping brunette beside him.
"OW!" she screeched as his outstretched hand slapped her on the forehead, "A simple it's time to get up would suffice."
Sitting up Tristan walked over and grabbed a change of clothes off a chair in the corner. "I don't cater to humans."
"So you really are a jerk 24/7 huh?" Tea remarked.
Pulling his trench coat up over his arms Tristan turned back to Tea and ruffled her hair. "I've never had a meal with a mouth as big as yours before."
"Hey!" Tea tried to smooth her hair back into place, "Cut it out! Do you know how long it takes to get it this straight??"
"Not really," Tristan ran a hand over the top of his army-style haircut, "I'm just naturally attractive."
"And full of yourself."
"Speakin' of being full," Tristan grabbed Tea by the chin and hauled her to the floor, "I'm running on empty."
"I don't cater to vampires." Tea mocked him.
"You do now." Tristan grinned as he pressed his fangs inside her pulsing vein.
Tea moaned as her tender flesh gave way under Tristan's harsh bite. He wasn't quite as hostile as he had been the previous night but he was none too gentle either. Her body was almost limp when he suddenly let her go.
Falling back onto the bed she stared up at the vampire in confusion, "I thought you said that you were gonna finish me off today?"
"Huh? Oh yeah-ha ha-I guess I kind of forgot." Tristan placed an arm behind his head.
"What do you mean you forgot? You're a vampire, killing innocent humans is what you do." Tea glared at him angrily. Of all the vampires out there she got stuck being the victim of their biggest idiot.
A serious expression swept over Tristan's face, "Boy have you been misinformed. Vampires aren't some species of mass murderers. We got feelings too ya know?"
"Yeah," Tea agreed, "anger, ruthlessness, and hunger."
"You just don't get it." Tristan was getting annoyed again, "None of you humans do. Maybe that's why we don't bother sparing your lives after we feed?"
"Or maybe it's because you don't bother sparing out lives that we feel that way?" Tea countered.
"Stop trying to confuse me mortal, I know how it really is. Vampires aren't the enemy, humans are."
"Are you sure?"
"YES!...Well…uh…CRUD! STOP WITH THE MIND GAMES!" Tristan was practically pulling his hair out.
Crossing her arms Tea shook her head, "I don't think you know half as much as you think you do."
"Well maybe not but I know enough to know that your opinion of vampires is totally bogus!" Tristan pointed a finger before her face as he spoke.
"Whatever," Tea scoffed, "since you don't seem ready to finish me off just yet and you've already fed…what do I get to eat?"
A knock at the door silenced the vampire. Tea watched as he unlocked it and cracked it open. "Yami? What's up?"
"Tristan, I have urgent news for you." the elder vampire answered, "Please, step out into the hall so that we may speak in private."
"Sure." Tristan nodded to the pharaoh and then glared back at Tea, "And you'd better stay put if you know what's good for you. You've given me a big enough headache for one night."
Sticking out her tongue Tea huffed and turned away.
Once the two vampires were alone in the hall Yami proceeded to inform Tristan of the ancient prophecy and the suspected roles of their current captives.
"Whoa, Yami man, are you sure about this?" Tristan was awestruck.
"Fairly so," Yami confirmed, "I have seen many signs that these women will play a key role in the unification of the species. We must not let them get away."
"All right man," Tristan sighed, "if you say so."
"Good, now I must speak with Joey. Time is of the essence and we must act quickly to see that the future of this world is one that no vampire need fear." and with that Yami was off down the hall leaving Tristan to contemplate this strange twist of fate.
"HELLO!" Tea's voice rang out from behind the door, "I'm still hungry here Fang Boy!"
"Oh," Tristan slapped a hand to his forehead, "so much for having a future that no vampire need fear."
******
Inside his room Seto Kaiba watched mesmerized as his victim lay sleeping in his arms. She would sigh in her sleep and stir slightly every now and then but it served only to enhance her beauty and further entice him.
Last night had not gone as well as he had planned but with the setting of the sun came a much needed second chance. He would win her over-this time.
As he continued to watch her sleep he felt compelled to plant a kiss on her soft pink lips. They seemed so overlooked yet inviting. He wondered if she'd ever cared for anyone romantically before. A quick glance into her memories showed him that she hadn't. But he was certain that she soon would. He'd see to that personally.
Edging downwards cautiously he covered her lips with his own and enjoyed a much longed for kiss. The heat between their mouths increased as he pressed his lips further down upon hers and slowly parted them with his tongue. As he was deepening the kiss another gentle sigh escaped the young woman and her eyes flickered open.
What Serenity beheld when she dared to awaken was one of the most frightening sights of her life. Seto Kaiba, the cruel businessman/vampire that had killed her beloved older brother, now had the audacity to force a kiss upon her while she slept! In fact, it was he who had rendered her unconscious to begin with!
"MONSTER!" she screamed as she pushed him away.
Seto fought back and pinned her wrists against the pillow, "I'd have thought that you learned not to call me that."
"You'll never be anything else to me!" Serenity declared, "You're just a bloodsucking coward! Now get OFF of me!"
"Do I really need to punish you again like I did last night?" he asked threateningly.
"I don't care how many times you attack me I'll never give in to you. I'll NEVER be yours!" her eyes were swelling up with tears.
"It's too late for that," Seto informed her, "you already belong to me."
"Kaiba!" Yami Bakura barked from outside the door, "Get out here immediately! I don't have all night to waste!"
Groaning Seto pushed himself off of the young Wheeler girl and went to answer the door (and possibly wring the neck of that annoying white-haired prude).
"What is it?"
"It's about the prophecy we mentioned to you." Yami Bakura responded.
"What about it?"
"The next faze is at hand."
Seto stepped out into the hall and shut the door behind himself. He didn't bother pushing down the latch, just let her try to defy him again…"I'm listening."
Yami Bakura explained the situation to the vampire before him and waited for Seto's response. He was taken aback when the brown haired man began to shake with mad laughter, "You halfwit! Did you honestly think that I didn't sense this? I haven't been pursuing Wheeler's sister just for fun you know. She's definitely playing a role in the unification. I'll stake my afterlife on it."
"Very well then," Yami Bakura started off back down the hall, "but if you're wrong Seto Kaiba, that young woman in there just might cost you your afterlife. She certainly doesn't seem to be warming up to you."
"Leave Serenity to me," Seto stated coldly, "I'll see to it that everything goes according to plan, even if I have to take more 'persuasive' action."
"As you wish." the tomb robber disappeared in the shadows of the corridor.
******
The last couple to stir from their day's slumber was Joey and Mai. And after the night that they'd had one could understand why. Joey's mind raced with fearful thoughts about his new form and all the devastation it could inflict upon his girlfriend and little sister. Neither had seemed to take the news well. Not that he could blame them, he was a vampire now. A few days ago he would've reacted the same way. And he certainly wouldn't wish this life on either of them.
Mai groaned in her sleep as she raced through the halls of Malice Manor in her dream. A crimson eyed monster was right on her heels. She could feel the creature breathing down her neck, calling out to her in a ghastly voice, and eyeing her like a piece of bloody meat. With her eyes tightly shut Mai rushed down another dark hallway only to discover that she'd met a dead end.
"No!" she slammed her fists against the wall as if she could trigger some hidden doorway.
"Heh, ran outta room to run eh Mai?" her stalker spoke again and she could tell from the volume of his voice that he was right behind her now.
As her predator's words resounded in her ears she realized that his voice carried an all too familiar tone. Her violet eyes snapped open and she slowly turned to face the creature, "J-Joey?"
"Why so surprised Mai?" the blond vampire chuckled as his icy breath swept over the bare skin of her neck, "It's like I told ya, I'm a vampire now. And you're-nothin' but some overpriced fast food."
Gleaming white fangs lunged towards her as she let out a blood curdling scream.
"MAI!" Joey shook her shoulders frantically, "MAI! WAKE UP!"
Still screaming Mai struggled against Joey regarding him as the same demonic being from her dream. "Mai what's up with you tonight? Shh…it was just a dream okay?"
When Mai failed to comply Joey groaned and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Enough already! Sheesh don't ya know the difference between a dream and reality?"
Calming down slightly Mai got quiet so that Joey could remove his hand. She was still panting from the nightmare and didn't realize that Joey was using his newfound powers to search through her mind and see the dream that had caused her so much fright.
"Aw Mai," his voice took on a sad and remorseful tone, "I'm so sorry that ya had to go through that. But ya gotta know, I would never attack you like that. I may be a vampire now, but I'm your boyfriend first and foremost."
Nodding Mai grinned at him, He picks now to get mature.
Rubbing the back of her shoulder comfortingly he flashed her one of his genuine Joey Wheeler smiles. Before Mai could remark on how much he looked like a deranged mutt there was a soft rapping at the door.
"Who could that be?" she questioned.
"Don't know," Joey answered, "but I'll go find out."
Yami was standing outside when Joey opened the door. "Joey Wheeler, we need to talk."
Assuring Mai that everything was going to be okay he stepped outside to have a word with the clan's leader. "What's this all about Yami?"
"To put it bluntly," the pharaoh answered, "our future."
And for the third time that night the conversation about the impending unification and the suspected roles of the recent captives was repeated. Joey could only scratch his head and stare blankly at his leader once the explanation was over.
"Oooookay." the blond was starting to think that maybe being a flunking high school student with a minor league dueling deck was easier than living it up with a gang of fierce vampires. "So you're tellin' me that these girls (my girlfriend and sister included) are gonna help the gang fulfill a five thousand year old prophecy about the merging of the vampire and human race?"
"Exactly."
"Oh man, what did Kaiba get me into?" Joey felt like he'd just been hit with a sack of bricks.
"Don't worry my friend," Yami was growing uneasy himself leaving his lighter counterpart alone with the combative slayer, "everything will work out for the better, we just have to stick to the path that fate has laid before us."
"Works for me," Joey spun around to reenter his room, "good luck with convincing the slayer about all of this though."
"Thanks," Yami started off back towards his bedchamber, "I'll probably need all the luck I can get."
Twisting the doorknob slowly Joey felt a giant lump rising in his throat, "I know what ya mean man. Mai's gonna stake me for sure."
________________________________________________________________________
*After many great reviews and pleading emails I've finally gotten my laptop in and managed to update my fanfic! More reviews would be appreciated, flames would not. Next chapter: The victims find out about the prophecy and where they fit into it. How will they react (aw c'mon, take a wild guess)? And be prepared for future *ahem* intimacy. ^_~ See ya next chapter!*