THE DESCENT OF LOST SOULS

Chapter Eleven: Words of Advice

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To the Reader

This Chapter has references on or contains the following: the supernatural,

angst and depression, death, and cursing (cussing).

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Day Five of the Quest - Ten in the morning

Location: Bed-and-Breakfast, Isle of Crete

Shadi's Point-of-View

I have been watching Emrys and the Pharaoh since they met at Domino City months ago. I had no doubt that she was the reincarnation of the Queen of the Two Lands. She bore the same intensity as she did millennia ago.

Unlike what I did with the Pharaoh and his friends, I was not going to test her strength.

Why?

In due time, someone else would come to test her. That figure would place her under much more stringent measures to prove her worth and power. That figure would show no mercy in making her suffer should she fail.

Everything would depend solely on the choices that she would make....

Looking into her deep hazel eyes, I told her, "I thought that you would be pleased to see me again."

She let out a sigh of relief. "You just caught me off-guard."

"You wish to ask me something?"

Sorting through her thoughts with a raised eyebrow, she said, "The Pharaoh's mummified body…."

I quietly interjected, "You wish to restore it."

"Yes, I do. I want to know if I'm on the right track."

I was tightlipped when I replied, "Almost all the means are within your fingertips. Someone must perform the spell. If it is successful, then the same person who chanted the spell must do the ritual to have the spirit return to the body.

"That is, if the gods grant me the gift to resurrect." She then stared at the hardwood floor.

After a brief pause, I then continued. "As to the other two individuals, you just need to choose them and perform the incantation. If your petition is granted, the two spirits will be allowed to travel back into their bodies."

"I see…."

Even though I knew part of the answer, I still asked, "Who would be the other two you wish to restore?"

Looking up, she replied, "Most probably Cynthia. I still need to decide on the third person."

I approached her by the foot of her bed. "You would be crossing the line by disrupting the souls in the Afterlife. Only the ancient gods could lift the veil between life and death without any consequences. As to mortals, they mostly end up paying a heavy price for such acts."

Unflinching, she said, "I don't care, Shadi. All I know is that it must be done."

I deepened my probing glance. "Are you willing to trade your life, as well as your beliefs, to restore him? Are you willing to do so, even if it meant that your very life and soul would be at stake?"

With the same conviction, she replied, "Yes, I am."

"I wonder, though, if you have the same spiritual tenacity as he does."

"I might not – or never – be as strong as the Pharaoh or Yugi in any aspect or respect. Weak or not, I'll do my best."

With a faint smirk, I told her, "Pegasus would appreciate your willingness to help him. The Pharaoh, on the other hand, is another story. He deeply cares about you. Have you asked him if he wanted such sacrifice from you?"

Sighing, she said, "I'd rather give him such news, once I succeed. I don't want to anyone to have false hope."

I then turned around and returned to the shadows. My white robes billowed around and behind me. Before I merged with the darkness, I said, "We will see each other again, dear Queen, if you pass the test."

She stood up from the foot of the bed, as she called out from behind me. "What test, Shadi?"

Without replying to her, I mused, "It was not within my station to disclose it to you...."

Since I did not turn around to respond, her tone became more desperate. "Wait! What test?"

Walking towards the corner whence I came from, the darkness enveloped me once again. I left her alone in her room, and allowed fate to decide what would be in store for everyone involved.

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Pegasus' Point-of-View

It was already ten thirty in the morning.

I sat at the veranda for more than an hour now – enjoying the beauty of the sun-kissed Grecian island. I knew that Alexa did not have time to pick what bed-and-breakfast to check in, but she made an excellent choice.

I did not mind waiting for the inn to serve brunch, even though I was hungry. Nor did I mind waiting for Alexa to join me and fill me in about the artifacts that we retrieved last night. The view before me was so spectacular that the wait became a welcome treat.

Anyway, I might not have wine before me; but this orange juice would do for now.

Under the shade of the sun at the bed-and-breakfast's second story, I saw the seemingly idyllic life in Crete. The lush greenery, the bluish-green waters, the cool breeze, the perfectly warm sun, the wonderful scenery, and the exotic people – everything was delightfully relaxing to the eye and mind. My current surroundings were far different from the demanding hustle and bustle waiting for me in the United States two days from now.

It also was definitely far different from the dark caves we escaped from.

I greeted the familiar figure approaching my table, "Good morning." I then pulled out a chair for the new arrival.

As she took the seat that I offered her, Alexa murmured with a slight nod, "Thanks...."

Although I wanted to ask her about last night's retrieval, I waited for a couple of minutes. I stared at her from an angle, and I was bothered with what I saw: sunken eyes with dark circles that indicated consecutive days' worth of lost sleep, stiff movements, grimaces of pain, and an obvious wavering of her attention. Heaven help her if she continued spiraling down as Shadi revealed to me the other night.

An attendant brought Alexa a glass of orange juice, and gave me a refill.

Interrupting the silence, I said, "I'm coming back to the United States. My private jet will fly me back tomorrow morning."

Even though she was looking at me, I could tell from her eyes that she was distracted. "I'm leaving for Thera tomorrow at noon. I promise to fill you in about my findings there, if I find any that can help you."

After taking a sip from my glass, I asked, "What did you manage to retrieve last night at that shrine?"

While gazing at the scenic view, she responded, "The Scrolls of Passage. Isis spoke about these scrolls at the museum. It answered some of the questions I had about my past."

Tight-lipped, I interjected, "Did you uncover any additional information about resurrecting the dead?"

Diverting her gaze back at me, she shook her head. "I'm afraid not. If you'd like to take a look at them, as well as the translations I did - "

Raising my right hand with a light smirk, I replied, "It's not necessary. I trust you."

Another long period of silence passed. I started telling her in an uncomfortable tone, "About last night – "

Still gazing at the view, but obviously irate, she abruptly asked, "What about it?"

With my energies and attention focused on her, I intently stated, "You're a loose cannon."

She now focused her attention towards me. This time, her anger ensured her presence of mind in our conversation. "I'm the loose cannon? No thanks to you, we had to jump off a cliff!"

Refusing to have the tables turned against me, I demanded from her, "What was a well-bred young lady such as you doing in a place of debauchery and occultism last night?"

"I went there to save you."

"That glint in your eye last night gave you away," I quietly commented, as I repeatedly shook my head in disbelief.

She stood up from her chair, and then slammed both hands on the wooden table. "Do me a favor, will you? Save your platitudes and sermons. You were there, too. You could've left without me, but you didn't. You stuck around, just like I did."

Trying to keep calm, I leaned back on the chair while gazing into her eyes. "I'm not playing games with you, Alexandra Emrys. I followed you because it wasn't safe. You had plans other than saving me, and getting us out of that forbidden place."

Incensed with my last comment, she sneered, "We are seeking for the same thing, Pegasus. You followed me there because you felt left out. You didn't trust me that I'll share whatever I could possibly find out from last night."

"You didn't know who you were dealing with there."

Her eyes narrowed, as she glowered at me. "I knew exactly who I was dealing with. I've dealt with them before."

I frowned and gazed into her eyes, as I tried to understand what she just told me. After adding two and two together, my eye widened. "You already knew what type of people we were dealing with, and you still came back last night at the caves? Are you insane?"

While angrily pointing towards the caves, she said, "Look, I stuck my neck out there to save your scrawny hide. Call me whatever you want. Call me by my whole name. Call me insane. I really don't give a rat's ass what you, or anyone else, might think! Calling me by my whole name never worked for Uncle Arthur. What makes you think it'll magically work for you?"

I then sat back in my own chair, and kept my silence.

She then intently looked at me for many minutes. This time, tears slowly glistened her eyes and some streamed down her cheeks. "I want him back, just as much as how you wanted to get back Cynthia. Wouldn't you go to the ends of the earth to get her back?"

Shaking my head, I muttered, "You've just crossed the line. I know the dire consequences of what you're doing to yourself because I've done it before, and hurt many people in the process."

She sarcastically interjected, "Just like how you've hurt the Mutou and Kaiba families, as well as their friends? So what makes you qualified to stand behind the pulpit and start preaching to me?"

Undaunted, I continued, "I know Cynthia wouldn't want anything to do with it, and I owe it to your parents to forewarn you."

"Leave my parents out of this, Pegasus!"

Even though the tension between us worsened, I gently told her, "Your parents were wonderful people. They didn't judge me, like most of their peers who thought I was too eccentric. They helped me in so many ways. Being long-distant friends with them, I knew that they would raise a wonderful child."

My companion then shot back, "If you were such good friends with them, why didn't I see you at their funeral?

"I was there, and I saw you. You wore a black lace dress. Professor Hopkins and your governess stood beside you, as your parents' caskets were lowered to the ground. You did not pay much attention with anyone there. You also had that glazed look in your eyes. You were not crying, but you must have wept your heart out after everyone left. That was also the first time I saw you wear Ariadne's necklace."

I then lifted her gaze towards me, as she realized that I told her the truth. For the first time since this morning, I saw her expression and demeanor soften.

She remained silent for a long time.

I gazed at the horizon, and tried to pick the best words to convey my message. "I know your pain. We both lost the ones dearest to us, but what we lost along with it was much different. I lost my passion to paint, while you lost your childhood. What I lost, I got back. Although you'll never get back what you've lost, you could always start with the life you have now."

"It's easier said than done," she resignedly murmured.

After giving her a few minutes to absorb my words, I then said, "I'm warning you now, before it becomes too late. If you continue to give in to this darkness, you'll be sucked in."

"I already know what you're talking about. I've been there before…."

Tight-lipped, I responded, "Yes, you've bailed yourself out before. If you continue your return through this blind path, you'll be in much deeper than you previously were. If that happens, you may not have the strength to pull yourself out again for the second time."

She tightly closed her eyes, deeply sighed, and then slowly opened her eyes. "What about you? Where are you now when it comes to dealing with what's inside you?"

"I'm living through it day by day. It took losing that Shadow Realm duel against your Yugi Mutou to teach me that."

"Yugi..." she quietly uttered, as she slowly closed her eyes. Teardrops then fell on the table, as she covered her face with one hand.

As empathetic as I possibly could, I told her, "Cynthia would always be my saving light. Yugi boy could be the same for you, too, if you'd let him. For your sake, let him be your saving light...."

End of Chapter Eleven

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Author's Side Note

Okey dokey, now that Pegasus talked with Emrys, will she listen to his words of wisdom? What will happen at Thera? Will Emrys be able to pull herself out of her feelings of confusion? Will she be able to uncover the secrets from The Portal of Osiris and The Dead Incantations?

To find out what happens, tune in for the next chapters.

Zatken

Normal Disclaimer

Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Alexandra Emrys, Yoshiko, the Scrolls of Passage, The Portal of Osiris, The Dead Incantation, The Orichalchos Medallion, other original characters, and this fanfiction are the author's property. This fanfic is written for entertainment purposes only - thereby releasing the author from any and all liabilities.