Bound
Chapter Eight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The High Priest leaned against the temple wall, waiting for Isis to come in. Usually she met with him each morning to converse about their day's duties, but she hadn't for the past few days. He knew why, too. Even though he was suspicious of her brother, he never should have accused Malik in front of her. He now realized, albeit too late, that she was protective of her brother and sensitive to any possible threat. He still suspected Malik, but he would have to keep his thoughts to himself for now.
Seto tapped his sandled foot impatiently. He really didn't know why he was bothering with trying to make amends with the High Priestess. She wasn't worth this much trouble! He ignored the lump in his stomach which stemmed from her anger. Isis caught him completely unaware when she stepped around the corner. He mentally slapped himself for seeming so unprepared.
She seemed to be waiting for him to speak, her eyebrow raised. He could sense that she was still angry.
"Isis, I would tell you that I do apologize for accusing your brother the other day," he told her diplomatically. He inched back slightly when her features took on an apalled look.
"Well, I can tell you mean that!" she snapped sarcastically and turned away furiously.
"I did mean that!" he yelled back. His eyes were wide with disbelief. She didn't so much as glance back at him as she stormed out of the room.
~*~
Anzu wiped impatiently at her normally bright blue eyes, now sullen and damp with tears. It simply wouldn't do to have her moping about. She may hate her new 'master' and the duties he had given her, but crying wouldn't change anything. In all actuality, she should be happy to be able to do normal household duties like she had done in her old village instead of dancing for the pleasure of others, but she felt sorrow for herself. She pitied her situation and only disliked herself more for her own pity. Pity was another weak emotion which wouldn't change her circumstances.
She had to accept her fate. Some people were born fortunate and some weren't. Just because she fell into the latter category didn't mean she was any less of a person than the stupid Pharaoh. Stupid asshole! her mind shouted in dismay. Not only had he given her household duties to complete each day, he had insinuated that she would join him in his bed if he deemed her worthy. The nerve! How dare he? I'll never let him take me, she thought furiously. If he deemed her worthy; she scoffed at the thought. He wasn't good enough for her, in her opinion anyway. A man who dishonored a woman was scum of the worst kind. If she ever ended up in his bed by some miracle, she vowed to herself that it would be because he had forced her with no possible exit!
Anzu sighed deeply and turned onto her other side. At least she had a warm, soft bed to sleep in instead of on a small pillow. She had a blanket, too, which was something she hadn't had in a while. She refused to voice her gratitude to him though. Her mind berated her for all of its wandering thoughts. If she had any hope whatsoever of getting any sleep that night, she had better clear her mind.
However, as her mind drifted into a welcome slumber, an unwelcome dream began...
---
"You would just throw us on the streets?!" Anzu's mother screamed furiously. Little Anzu, merely a toddler, looked on in fear and in awe. The bald, bronze-skinned man before her mother looked away coolly and shrugged his shoulders.
"I care not about you or the girl," he replied coldly. Anzu's mother struck him across the face, and he glared at her, clearly contemplating whether or not to return the blow. Thankfully he chose not to in that instant. Anzu started to cry, her mother's distress seeping into her own self. This seemed to snap her mother out of her thoughts. She picked her daughter up forcefully and stormed out of the room.
At her mother's soft cooing, Anzu quieted her sobs and clung to her mother's chest tightly. She was too young to know what was truly going on, but she knew when her mother was upset.
"Mother, what's wrong?" she asked softly, still sniffling every once in a while. The woman spared her daughter a haphazard glance before continuing her swift walk down the richly marbled floors.
"We're going on a little trip, just you and me. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Anzu could do nothing but nod, not being able to grasp the situation at such a young age.
---
Once again, Anzu awoke in a cold, lonely sweat, only this time, she couldn't stop the scream that often escaped her soft lips after one of her nightmares. Moments later, Yuugi, still fully-clothed in his evening attire, along with Lord Jounouchi, came running into her room. The candlelight from the meeting room filtered in through the open door as they stared around the room dumbfoundedly.
"What is wrong?" Jounouchi asked once they realized that there was no danger. Anzu was thankful for the darkness in the room, so that her embarrassed blush would go unnoticed.
"I-I'm sorry. I just had a simple nightmare and couldn't control myself," she replied lamely, feeling like a young child. In the darkness, she could barely see Yuugi's look of concern fade immediately. She flustered angrily. Jounouchi, however, walked up to the side of the bed.
"Do you want someone to stay with you tonight? I could call in one of the ladies--"
"No, please," she cut him off quickly, "I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Lord Jounouchi," she added extra emphasis on his name, glaring at the Pharaoh standing in the doorway all the while. Yuugi rolled his eyes. It was so like Jou to treat a mere slave like a lady. Nevertheless, Yuugi had to admit, the girl did have a commanding presence about her that betrayed her status as a slave.
After another assurance from Anzu that she was perfectly unscathed, Jounouchi left her side and followed Yuugi out of the room. Once the door was closed, Yuugi turned on his friend.
"Must you make her feel like a princess? A slave shouldn't be pampered in such a way," Yuugi scolded. Jounouchi crossed his arms.
"My sister used to have nightmares. Slave or lady, it makes no difference. She is still a woman and women need comfort sometimes."
Yuugi said nothing to this, but instead congratulated his best friend on his engagement once again and bid him goodnight.
~*~*~
A week had passed since Anzu had been given the job of the house-slave to the Pharaoh. Her days passed by horribly slowly considering the fact that most of her days were spent alone. She drudged around his quarters, cleaning random items, but rarely paying them any true attention. She had everything spic-and-span clean within the first few days and having to clean them all over again each seemed pointless to her. She looked forward to cooking the meals each day because it was the only diversion to be found in her duties.
Anzu rarely saw the Pharaohs, usually only during meals. She was more often than not in bed by the time he returned to retire each night. She had just finished scrubbing the evening meal dishes and putting them away, when Yuugi entered the room. She looked at him, surprised at seeing him before she went to sleep. She dared not say a word to him; he was in a fine rage, it appeared.
"Fool lords. Waste my time on such trivial matters. I'm a busy man. No time for things," he muttered angrily as he stalked into the kitchen and plopped down ungracefully into one of the mahogany-wood chairs. She hid a satisfied smirk at his obvious bad mood. Good, she thought, I'm glad he's unhappy like I am.
"Give me some pear juice, girl!" he snapped, making her jump a little. She glared at him, but quickly began pulling a pear and goblet out of the cabinets. She stabbed a blade into the pear forcefully, earning a raised eyebrow from her master. He said nothing, however. She squeezed the pear tightly, envisioning herself squeezing the life out of Yuugi. The mentioned man stared at her curiously as a look of triumph came over her face when the pear had been spent to its maximum.
She's insane, he thought. She slammed the goblet down in front of him, spilling some of the juice onto him in the process.
"Clumsy slave girl! You got some on me!" he yelled, standing from his chair in outrage.
"Only some?" she retorted hotly. He growled at her menacingly and for a brief moment, she was actually frightened. Her anger took the reins back over, however, in the next moment.
"I swear, sometimes I think I ought to..." he trailed off, leaving the threat hanging in the devastating silence that followed. A few minutes later, she crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.
"Go ahead. I'd be better off dead than serving you. Come on, show how powerful you are, almighty Pharaoh," she mocked. Yuugi fought to keep his anger in check. He wouldn't kill her, but he was seriously considering throwing her against the nearest wall.
"Prideful bitch. You should be honored with your life, yet you are not. Why?!" he all but screamed the last word. Anzu longed to flee from his rage, to run far from Egypt and never stop running, but she fought to hold her ground. She clenched her fists to keep them from shaking. Her stomach flip-flopped as she licked her suddenly dry lips.
Her voice was hoarse with the next statement, "I have nobody here. I spend my days cleaning over and over and cooking for you. You never say thank you! You think you're too good to thank anyone! My family dies on me, and then I am captured to be a slave to the cruelest man alive. I hate it here. And most of all, I hate you!"
The silence that hung between them was like the plague. Anzu was almost afraid to hear what he would say next. She was starting to wonder if he had even digested what she had said when he finally spoke.
"Fine. You'll be returned to your dancing duties immediately," he replied tonelessly. This was what she had been hoping for! She would finally get out from underneath his control, if only a little. But for some reason, the dropping feeling in her gut told her of a feeling of remorse instead of joy. She could only nod numbly when he motioned for her to leave, calling for a guard to escort her to the Pleasure Ladies' chambers as she opened the main doors.
She felt abandoned as she walked behind the guard who paid her not a glance. She was used to being abandoned though.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Yuugi is not a happy camper and the court feels it. Jounouchi talks to Anzu, but she isn't too happy either. Although Anzu is like a doll now, she dances again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had planned on her staying his house-slave, but I had a different idea. The end result of this story will still be the same though. That's why there was no surprise in this chapter, though there will be that same surprise in a future chapter somewhere down the line. Although Bakura/Malik weren't a part of this chapter, nor will they be in the next, they are still important to the story, so fear not. Please review and I'll see you in the next installment. ^^
Chapter Eight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The High Priest leaned against the temple wall, waiting for Isis to come in. Usually she met with him each morning to converse about their day's duties, but she hadn't for the past few days. He knew why, too. Even though he was suspicious of her brother, he never should have accused Malik in front of her. He now realized, albeit too late, that she was protective of her brother and sensitive to any possible threat. He still suspected Malik, but he would have to keep his thoughts to himself for now.
Seto tapped his sandled foot impatiently. He really didn't know why he was bothering with trying to make amends with the High Priestess. She wasn't worth this much trouble! He ignored the lump in his stomach which stemmed from her anger. Isis caught him completely unaware when she stepped around the corner. He mentally slapped himself for seeming so unprepared.
She seemed to be waiting for him to speak, her eyebrow raised. He could sense that she was still angry.
"Isis, I would tell you that I do apologize for accusing your brother the other day," he told her diplomatically. He inched back slightly when her features took on an apalled look.
"Well, I can tell you mean that!" she snapped sarcastically and turned away furiously.
"I did mean that!" he yelled back. His eyes were wide with disbelief. She didn't so much as glance back at him as she stormed out of the room.
~*~
Anzu wiped impatiently at her normally bright blue eyes, now sullen and damp with tears. It simply wouldn't do to have her moping about. She may hate her new 'master' and the duties he had given her, but crying wouldn't change anything. In all actuality, she should be happy to be able to do normal household duties like she had done in her old village instead of dancing for the pleasure of others, but she felt sorrow for herself. She pitied her situation and only disliked herself more for her own pity. Pity was another weak emotion which wouldn't change her circumstances.
She had to accept her fate. Some people were born fortunate and some weren't. Just because she fell into the latter category didn't mean she was any less of a person than the stupid Pharaoh. Stupid asshole! her mind shouted in dismay. Not only had he given her household duties to complete each day, he had insinuated that she would join him in his bed if he deemed her worthy. The nerve! How dare he? I'll never let him take me, she thought furiously. If he deemed her worthy; she scoffed at the thought. He wasn't good enough for her, in her opinion anyway. A man who dishonored a woman was scum of the worst kind. If she ever ended up in his bed by some miracle, she vowed to herself that it would be because he had forced her with no possible exit!
Anzu sighed deeply and turned onto her other side. At least she had a warm, soft bed to sleep in instead of on a small pillow. She had a blanket, too, which was something she hadn't had in a while. She refused to voice her gratitude to him though. Her mind berated her for all of its wandering thoughts. If she had any hope whatsoever of getting any sleep that night, she had better clear her mind.
However, as her mind drifted into a welcome slumber, an unwelcome dream began...
---
"You would just throw us on the streets?!" Anzu's mother screamed furiously. Little Anzu, merely a toddler, looked on in fear and in awe. The bald, bronze-skinned man before her mother looked away coolly and shrugged his shoulders.
"I care not about you or the girl," he replied coldly. Anzu's mother struck him across the face, and he glared at her, clearly contemplating whether or not to return the blow. Thankfully he chose not to in that instant. Anzu started to cry, her mother's distress seeping into her own self. This seemed to snap her mother out of her thoughts. She picked her daughter up forcefully and stormed out of the room.
At her mother's soft cooing, Anzu quieted her sobs and clung to her mother's chest tightly. She was too young to know what was truly going on, but she knew when her mother was upset.
"Mother, what's wrong?" she asked softly, still sniffling every once in a while. The woman spared her daughter a haphazard glance before continuing her swift walk down the richly marbled floors.
"We're going on a little trip, just you and me. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Anzu could do nothing but nod, not being able to grasp the situation at such a young age.
---
Once again, Anzu awoke in a cold, lonely sweat, only this time, she couldn't stop the scream that often escaped her soft lips after one of her nightmares. Moments later, Yuugi, still fully-clothed in his evening attire, along with Lord Jounouchi, came running into her room. The candlelight from the meeting room filtered in through the open door as they stared around the room dumbfoundedly.
"What is wrong?" Jounouchi asked once they realized that there was no danger. Anzu was thankful for the darkness in the room, so that her embarrassed blush would go unnoticed.
"I-I'm sorry. I just had a simple nightmare and couldn't control myself," she replied lamely, feeling like a young child. In the darkness, she could barely see Yuugi's look of concern fade immediately. She flustered angrily. Jounouchi, however, walked up to the side of the bed.
"Do you want someone to stay with you tonight? I could call in one of the ladies--"
"No, please," she cut him off quickly, "I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Lord Jounouchi," she added extra emphasis on his name, glaring at the Pharaoh standing in the doorway all the while. Yuugi rolled his eyes. It was so like Jou to treat a mere slave like a lady. Nevertheless, Yuugi had to admit, the girl did have a commanding presence about her that betrayed her status as a slave.
After another assurance from Anzu that she was perfectly unscathed, Jounouchi left her side and followed Yuugi out of the room. Once the door was closed, Yuugi turned on his friend.
"Must you make her feel like a princess? A slave shouldn't be pampered in such a way," Yuugi scolded. Jounouchi crossed his arms.
"My sister used to have nightmares. Slave or lady, it makes no difference. She is still a woman and women need comfort sometimes."
Yuugi said nothing to this, but instead congratulated his best friend on his engagement once again and bid him goodnight.
~*~*~
A week had passed since Anzu had been given the job of the house-slave to the Pharaoh. Her days passed by horribly slowly considering the fact that most of her days were spent alone. She drudged around his quarters, cleaning random items, but rarely paying them any true attention. She had everything spic-and-span clean within the first few days and having to clean them all over again each seemed pointless to her. She looked forward to cooking the meals each day because it was the only diversion to be found in her duties.
Anzu rarely saw the Pharaohs, usually only during meals. She was more often than not in bed by the time he returned to retire each night. She had just finished scrubbing the evening meal dishes and putting them away, when Yuugi entered the room. She looked at him, surprised at seeing him before she went to sleep. She dared not say a word to him; he was in a fine rage, it appeared.
"Fool lords. Waste my time on such trivial matters. I'm a busy man. No time for things," he muttered angrily as he stalked into the kitchen and plopped down ungracefully into one of the mahogany-wood chairs. She hid a satisfied smirk at his obvious bad mood. Good, she thought, I'm glad he's unhappy like I am.
"Give me some pear juice, girl!" he snapped, making her jump a little. She glared at him, but quickly began pulling a pear and goblet out of the cabinets. She stabbed a blade into the pear forcefully, earning a raised eyebrow from her master. He said nothing, however. She squeezed the pear tightly, envisioning herself squeezing the life out of Yuugi. The mentioned man stared at her curiously as a look of triumph came over her face when the pear had been spent to its maximum.
She's insane, he thought. She slammed the goblet down in front of him, spilling some of the juice onto him in the process.
"Clumsy slave girl! You got some on me!" he yelled, standing from his chair in outrage.
"Only some?" she retorted hotly. He growled at her menacingly and for a brief moment, she was actually frightened. Her anger took the reins back over, however, in the next moment.
"I swear, sometimes I think I ought to..." he trailed off, leaving the threat hanging in the devastating silence that followed. A few minutes later, she crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.
"Go ahead. I'd be better off dead than serving you. Come on, show how powerful you are, almighty Pharaoh," she mocked. Yuugi fought to keep his anger in check. He wouldn't kill her, but he was seriously considering throwing her against the nearest wall.
"Prideful bitch. You should be honored with your life, yet you are not. Why?!" he all but screamed the last word. Anzu longed to flee from his rage, to run far from Egypt and never stop running, but she fought to hold her ground. She clenched her fists to keep them from shaking. Her stomach flip-flopped as she licked her suddenly dry lips.
Her voice was hoarse with the next statement, "I have nobody here. I spend my days cleaning over and over and cooking for you. You never say thank you! You think you're too good to thank anyone! My family dies on me, and then I am captured to be a slave to the cruelest man alive. I hate it here. And most of all, I hate you!"
The silence that hung between them was like the plague. Anzu was almost afraid to hear what he would say next. She was starting to wonder if he had even digested what she had said when he finally spoke.
"Fine. You'll be returned to your dancing duties immediately," he replied tonelessly. This was what she had been hoping for! She would finally get out from underneath his control, if only a little. But for some reason, the dropping feeling in her gut told her of a feeling of remorse instead of joy. She could only nod numbly when he motioned for her to leave, calling for a guard to escort her to the Pleasure Ladies' chambers as she opened the main doors.
She felt abandoned as she walked behind the guard who paid her not a glance. She was used to being abandoned though.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEXT CHAPTER: Yuugi is not a happy camper and the court feels it. Jounouchi talks to Anzu, but she isn't too happy either. Although Anzu is like a doll now, she dances again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had planned on her staying his house-slave, but I had a different idea. The end result of this story will still be the same though. That's why there was no surprise in this chapter, though there will be that same surprise in a future chapter somewhere down the line. Although Bakura/Malik weren't a part of this chapter, nor will they be in the next, they are still important to the story, so fear not. Please review and I'll see you in the next installment. ^^