The Millennium Ritual
Chapter 24: Soul Keeper
Kaiba stared at Maeve unbelievingly. '.....What?' He thought, as he stared at the Egyptian's tired form. 'Egypt. . . Yami. . . Sister. . . High Priestess?' Suddenly the word High Priestess and sister sparked a memory into mind.
~*~Flashback~*~
"... It says that long ago the Pharaoh was not an only child. According to this, he had a sister, an older one. The sister was overly protective of the Pharaoh ever since their father had been assassinated. She vowed that her brother would become Pharaoh, and that she would be his protector for life." Ishizu said.
~*~
His eyes widened as he fit the pieces to the puzzle. 'This woman, whoever she is, is. . .'
"You're the Priestess on that tablet!" Kaiba exclaimed aloud. Maeve stared at him strangely, as she withdrew her weapon and proceeded forward to him. As she approached, Kaiba remembered what Shadi said before.
~*~Flashback~*~
"The sister got trained into all fighting, learning, and magical skills, and was then known to be wise beyond her years." Shadi said, as he stared up to the tablet.
~*~
That was then when Kaiba knew that he had to be careful with this woman, for she had much more knowledge than he.
"You," She murmured, walking closer and closer to him. Maeve raised her hand high in the air, as if to strike. Kaiba gritted his teeth, ready for the attack.
She took his hand and lifted him to his feet, as Kaiba stared at her in surprise.
"... You are not Set," Maeve said, turning around and walking in the other direction. Confused, he followed her, his cape billowing behind him. Her staff made a soft click against the hard marble floor as Kaiba ran up to her and blocked her path. Maeve stared at him unbelievingly.
"Get out of my way," She ordered, crossing her arms and tapping the staff against the floor.
"I want some answers, lady," he said, "First of all, how do you know Aura? Second, where am I? And third. . ."
"My, my, aren't you a curious one," Maeve interrupted, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She inspected Kaiba, looking up and down. "But, I do not see a trace of Shadow magic OR Egyptian colors in your aura." She snapped her fingers, and out of thin air came two golden chairs, quickly setting the two people on the seats of the chairs. Kaiba was astonished.
"Now then," Maeve said, smiling at his astonished face, "I believe you are not very comfortable in your Egyptian attire. I must apologize for that. The magic in this room likes to do things on their own, like changing our clothing, for example." As Kaiba watched, Maeve waved her staff, and just as sudden as last time, Kaiba's Egyptian attire changed into his original trench coat. He touched his coat, just to see if it was real. Then he looked up to Maeve.
It looked like her clothing changed as well, for she wore the exact same clothes as Aura did. The cape was there, including the sleeveless leather shirt, skirt, leather boots, golden arm and wristbands, golden earrings and necklace band, everything. The only difference was the color, as Aura's was black, and Maeve's was a very dark violet.
She was like an exact duplicate of Aura.
"Staring is not a very proper manner, Kaiba," She stated amusingly. Kaiba would not have noticed this statement, if Maeve hadn't said his name.
"What? How in the world do you know my name?" he asked accusingly.
Twirling her staff, she replied, "In Aura's young days, I remember seeing you and a small black haired boy. And now, I saw you once more, only instead of Aura feeling admiration, she feels resentment towards you. Hm, the irony."
Kaiba said nothing.
"As for your questions. . ." Maeve said, "Like I said before, I am Aura's Yami, and Aura is my Hikari. We are whole together, halves apart. You should have seen this with Yugi and my brother Yami."
Kaiba, who did not listen to the last sentence, stated, "Halves apart, you say? You seem to be pretty whole yourself, even without Aura."
"I do not take flattery," she said sternly, "She may seem like a stone in a river, refusing to continue on with the water's flow. What Aura experienced in her youth was a dreadful thing, and I suggest that you do not doubt that." Maeve stared at him like a cat with a mouse cornered. "Or else."
"As for where you are," she continued, "You happened to appear in my soul room, which I might ask, how in the name of Ra did you come here?"
And so Kaiba explained what happen. How Aura's stone and her journal caused an explosion, and suddenly it brought him there. Maeve nodded her head in response.
"Interesting," Maeve muttered, looking down into her lap. "The lapis lazuli stone brought you here, into my soul room. All I am wondering is how it had the ability to do so."
Kaiba grunted, replying, "I don't know. But right now, all I want to do is get out of here."
He stood out of his chair and was about to leave, until Maeve said, "You cannot."
Turning his head, Kaiba asked, "And why not?"
And with a sad and lonely face, she answered, "Because Aura is not here. Her mind is still in the Shadow Realm."
Kaiba stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"Since I am still weak, Aura is the only one with the power to get us out of here, and since her mind is in the Shadow Realm, it isn't possible. Especially with that Shadow Monster taking over our body." Maeve said sadly, pointing to a dark corner. "Do you see that? That is the effect of Lucian's power slowly growing in my soul room. I do not know how long I can hold him off. I need Aura to help me, for I am still weak." Then she shook her head. "I can't feel her anymore, which means, she is as good as dead."
The CEO sat down once more, asking firmly, "What was that room I went into? The one with the statue of the Egyptian goddess?"
"That particular room," she replied, "was a memory of a temple I made to the goddess Isis. Often I go there to pray. Why do you wish to know?"
"Because I saw something in there that made me think, that somehow, Aura is still alive."
Maeve eyes widened in surprise, saying, "What did you see? Tell me!" It looked like she was about to shake the answer out of Kaiba, but he can see the frustration and hope growing inside her eyes, which looked so much like Aura's.
He took a big breath. "I saw Aura in there, playing with a ball. Only she wasn't my age. Instead, she was at the age of seven, and the strange thing is," Kaiba continued, "Aura was laughing. Laughing. Now that is not a trait the Aura Riordan I know has."
But Maeve just sat, eyes wide open and mouth gaping. Suddenly she jumped up, taking Kaiba's hand and walking to the door Kaiba was in not so long ago.
"W-where are we going?" He asked uncertainly.
"Do you realize what you just found?!" she cried, ignoring Kaiba's question.
"What?"
"You have just found Aura's Soul Keeper! Oh thank Ra for this sudden change of fates." Maeve said happily, dragging Kaiba toward the door and opening it.
Unfortunately Kaiba had no idea of what a Soul Keeper is.
__________________________________________________________________
Yami, Tea, Joey, Tristan, and The Healer all gathered around the hospital beds that held the sleeping forms of the Kaiba brothers. Mokuba was making a slow recovery, but as for Seto Kaiba, he was in a coma, and they were not sure if he was ever going to recover.
"Poor Mokuba," said Tea, sadness filling her eyes.
"If only Seto had listened to my warning," The Healer said, "this may have not happened."
But Yami thought of something else. "Why in the world would Aura give us a weapon? So it can kill us, or help us?" He thought aloud.
Everyone was silent.
"I just can't believe that we already lost four people, Duke, Aura, Mokuba and Kaiba. Who's going to be next?" Tristan stated.
There was silence once more.
Yugi was the only one who was thinking about Aura. 'Where are you?' He thought, kicking the stuffed animals out of his way in his soul room. As Yugi had his own thoughts, he was also listening to their conversation. 'Why Aura? Why did you leave, when you just could have stayed with us?' Frustrated, he was still confused about Aura's motive.
He sighed, not knowing what to do. And just when Yugi was going to ask Yami to take over for a while, he heard a small voice, calling his name.
'Yugi... Yugi...'
Yami heard it also. He turned his head, searching for the speaker.
"Everything alright, Yug'?" Joey asked thoughtfully.
"Y-yes," replied Yami slowly.
'Pl-please.... Someone.... Help him....'
Yami turned his head again, thinking he heard someone. 'Yami, did you hear that, or was it just me?' Yugi asked through mind link. 'Yes, I did hear it.' Yami replied.
'Someone help him!!'
"Aura!" yelled Yami, looking this way and that. Everyone was confused at his sudden antics.
"Is everything alright, Yugi?" asked the Healer.
"It's Aura, she calling me!" he said, as his companions eyes widened.
'He's in trouble!!'
"Someone's in trouble," Yami repeated, "Who is it Aura!? Where are you!?"
'Don't let him find me!!'
"Who?!" he said.
'He's coming!!'
Now everyone else can hear her voice also.
"Aura?!" cried Tea, "You're alive!"
"No way. . ." Tristan and Joey said at once.
'Don't. . . Don't let him take me. . . Please don't!'
"Who, child?!" asked The Healer firmly.
'Seto! Get out of here! I beg of you!!'
'Yami! Tell him to go!! Please!!'
Yami didn't understand. Kaiba was here, so what was she to fear?
"His mind," the Healer murmured.
Then Aura stopped talking. They could not hear her anymore, and they still did not understand what she meant.
________________________________________________________________
Maeve opened the door, motioning Kaiba to go inside. And so, just like before, they went forward in an exceeding speed, until they stopped at the temple of Isis. Just as before they walked up to the statue, looking at its tall structure. They were silent for a moment.
"What had happened when you met her Soul Keeper?" asked Maeve quietly.
"She giggled, held her ball up to my face, and asked if I wanted to play with her." He said, remembering what happened.
"And your answer was?"
"I'm not sure. I didn't really answer to that."
"Hmm."
They were silent once more, as if waiting for an answer to pop out.
"So, how did you meet Aura?" Kaiba asked, breaking the silence. Just as she was about to answer, happy giggles and laughter filled the air, as a ball rolled up to their side. Maeve and Kaiba stared at it.
"Cookie Seto!" the seven year old Aura cried, running up to Kaiba and hugging him. He grunted as the small girl embraced his legs.
"Hey kid," he muttered.
"What are you doing here?" she cried, as she turned to get her ball. Aura looked up at Maeve.
"Who are you? Why do you look like me?" the seven year old ordered, pouting and tapping her foot. Maeve smiled sweetly.
"My name is Maeve," she said, smiling once more. Aura's eyes lit up.
"Yay, another friend!" Aura cried, taking both of their hands and dragging them toward her ball. "Wanna play?!"
"Yes, we would like to play." Maeve replied.
"Yay! Let me get my ball!" Aura ran the other direction to pick the ball up. Maeve turned toward Kaiba.
"Such a sweet child." She murmured. Kaiba nodded as they followed the little girl.
Aura picked up the ball, saying, "Come on! Come on! Let's play in the fields!"
As Aura turned though, she bumped into another person. "Oops! Sorry mister!" She looked up at the person's face as Maeve and Kaiba stared in horror.
Lucian was standing in Aura way, smiling a devilish smile.
"Maeve, Set, welcome to the party," Lucian said, sneering. Aura turned to Kaiba.
"Friend?" she asked thoughtfully.
"No, he isn't," grunted Kaiba, staring at him angrily.
"How did you get into my soul room?" Maeve ordered, clutching her staff. Lucian smirked.
"This too is my body, Maeve. So now, this is my soul room." He said.
"You don't have a soul, you fiend. How dare you take Aura's body, sending her mind to the Shadow Realm, making her suffer!" yelled Maeve, as she murmured a curse toward Lucian. He held up his hand, making the curse waver to nothing.
"You are pathetic. But you were smart enough to lead me to her." Lucian said, sneering once more. "To Aura's Soul Keeper." He wrapped his arm around Aura, as she held her ball tight.
"I'm scared. . ." Aura whimpered.
"Let her go!" Kaiba yelled angrily, stepping forward and grabbing Aura out of Lucian's grasp. The little girl hugged Kaiba's coat, wanting to go home.
"How dare you." Lucian said. He stretched out his arm, as it grew to a large blade. He struck the blade down, as Aura screamed.
Maeve met contact with the blade with her staff, stopping his attack. 'As her Yami, I must protect her.'
"Persistent fool, give up." Said Lucian lazily, tossing her against the statue of Isis. Maeve fell to the ground, unconscious. That was when Lucian approached Aura and Kaiba. The seven year old whimpered more, as tears fell out of her eyes.
"Leave her alone!" Kaiba yelled, "What do you want with her?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" He said, "Without her Soul Keeper, Aura will cease to exist, and after that, Maeve will be easy kill."
"Why are you so heartless?! This isn't a game!"
"That I know, which is why you, my Priest, will be her downfall."
Kaiba stared at him in disbelief. "What?"
Ignoring him, Lucian turned his attention toward Aura, and said, "Do you like your friend, Aura?"
She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "Y-y-yes?"
"Will you do anything for him?"
"Y-y-y-yes?"
"Will you die for your friend?"
That was when Aura collapsed, weeping out tears, crying. Kaiba, who never liked bullies, said, "Look at what you did, you snake!"
But Lucian didn't answer. He stuck out two fingers, as they slowly turned into an arrow. It launched out of his hand, as it headed straight for Kaiba's stomach.
"Noo!!"
The little girl jumped into the arrows' path, as they both made contact with her heart. Kaiba stared in disbelief as Aura slowly turned from a seven year old, to the 17 year old girl she was now. Her outfit was exactly the same as Maeve's, only a black color. The small bang of gold hair hanging on her forehead was stained with blood. Aura staggered backwards, as she turned her head toward Kaiba.
"S-Seto. . .? It. . . It hurts. . ."
She fell, and as she did, she changed back to the little seven year old girl. Aura fell into Lucian's arms.
He grinned as he said, "If you ever want your brother and Aura to see the light of day again, you will help me." Lucian laughed menacingly as he threw the dead corpse to the ground and disappeared into the shadows.
And Kaiba just stared at the dead seven year old. 'She's dead.' He thought. 'She's dead, and it's all my fault.'
"Aura!" Maeve cried, suddenly conscious and running toward them. She pushed Kaiba away, as Maeve held the little girl and sobbed into her hair. "No. . . No. . . Wake up. . . Wake up, I order you!" Tears rolled down her face, but Aura did not listen.
She set Aura's head slowly on the floor, went to the statue of Isis and prayed. Kaiba watched. When she was done, Maeve stared into space, as her hands turned into hard fists.
"Maeve. . .? I'm sorry, I really am. . ." Kaiba started.
"Get out." She murmured, her fists shaking.
"GET OUT!" Maeve screamed, raising her staff swinging it toward Kaiba. Kaiba was sent flying backwards as he fell into a vortex, sending him out of the soul room and into the real world. Maeve stood there, fists shaking. Then she collapsed, and cried and cried, like she would never stop.
__________________________________________________________________
Lucian stepped into the light of the sun, as he approached his two servants, Shanek and Y. Bakura.
"What happened, my lord?" Shanek asked as Lucian came to them.
"I have done what was needed to be done."
Y. Bakura grinned. "So, that means. . ."
"That the Priest is now our loyal lapdog," Lucian said, smirking.
"What about that wench, Maeve?" sneered Shanek.
"A royal pile of tears."
Shanek raised his eyebrows. "And of Aura. . .?"
"I 'killed' her Soul Keeper," Lucian said devilishly.
Y. Bakura's eyes widened in surprise. "You 'killed' her Soul Keeper? Her ka?"
"Not exactly. . ."
"What do you mean my lord?" asked Shanek.
Lucian grinned. "Let's just say that, little Aura is no longer better than the Priest."
Shanek and Y. Bakura understood, as they grinned.
"So you mean. . ." Y. Bakura said.
"She will work well against the Pharaoh, and the Priest especially, since his heart is now filled with guilt for her 'death'."
"Quite ingenious my lord," Shanek replied.
"I'm quite impressed myself." Y. Bakura said.
Lucian ignored them, as he walked up to the bank of the Nile to stare at his reflection. What he saw was Aura, only with white hair and strange markings on her face.
'Soon Pharaoh, soon.' Lucian thought.
"Let's move, I believe we have a kingdom to demolish," Lucian ordered to his servants. They grinned, as shadows appeared from beneath them and took them to the city where Yami and the others were being held.
And so the battle began.
To Be Continued. . .
So sad. I hate writin' stuff like this. Okay, so Aura is dead pretty much. Yup. Dead. Oh wait a second, what about her mind. . .? Want to know what happens? Read the next chapter.
Chapter 24: Soul Keeper
Kaiba stared at Maeve unbelievingly. '.....What?' He thought, as he stared at the Egyptian's tired form. 'Egypt. . . Yami. . . Sister. . . High Priestess?' Suddenly the word High Priestess and sister sparked a memory into mind.
~*~Flashback~*~
"... It says that long ago the Pharaoh was not an only child. According to this, he had a sister, an older one. The sister was overly protective of the Pharaoh ever since their father had been assassinated. She vowed that her brother would become Pharaoh, and that she would be his protector for life." Ishizu said.
~*~
His eyes widened as he fit the pieces to the puzzle. 'This woman, whoever she is, is. . .'
"You're the Priestess on that tablet!" Kaiba exclaimed aloud. Maeve stared at him strangely, as she withdrew her weapon and proceeded forward to him. As she approached, Kaiba remembered what Shadi said before.
~*~Flashback~*~
"The sister got trained into all fighting, learning, and magical skills, and was then known to be wise beyond her years." Shadi said, as he stared up to the tablet.
~*~
That was then when Kaiba knew that he had to be careful with this woman, for she had much more knowledge than he.
"You," She murmured, walking closer and closer to him. Maeve raised her hand high in the air, as if to strike. Kaiba gritted his teeth, ready for the attack.
She took his hand and lifted him to his feet, as Kaiba stared at her in surprise.
"... You are not Set," Maeve said, turning around and walking in the other direction. Confused, he followed her, his cape billowing behind him. Her staff made a soft click against the hard marble floor as Kaiba ran up to her and blocked her path. Maeve stared at him unbelievingly.
"Get out of my way," She ordered, crossing her arms and tapping the staff against the floor.
"I want some answers, lady," he said, "First of all, how do you know Aura? Second, where am I? And third. . ."
"My, my, aren't you a curious one," Maeve interrupted, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She inspected Kaiba, looking up and down. "But, I do not see a trace of Shadow magic OR Egyptian colors in your aura." She snapped her fingers, and out of thin air came two golden chairs, quickly setting the two people on the seats of the chairs. Kaiba was astonished.
"Now then," Maeve said, smiling at his astonished face, "I believe you are not very comfortable in your Egyptian attire. I must apologize for that. The magic in this room likes to do things on their own, like changing our clothing, for example." As Kaiba watched, Maeve waved her staff, and just as sudden as last time, Kaiba's Egyptian attire changed into his original trench coat. He touched his coat, just to see if it was real. Then he looked up to Maeve.
It looked like her clothing changed as well, for she wore the exact same clothes as Aura did. The cape was there, including the sleeveless leather shirt, skirt, leather boots, golden arm and wristbands, golden earrings and necklace band, everything. The only difference was the color, as Aura's was black, and Maeve's was a very dark violet.
She was like an exact duplicate of Aura.
"Staring is not a very proper manner, Kaiba," She stated amusingly. Kaiba would not have noticed this statement, if Maeve hadn't said his name.
"What? How in the world do you know my name?" he asked accusingly.
Twirling her staff, she replied, "In Aura's young days, I remember seeing you and a small black haired boy. And now, I saw you once more, only instead of Aura feeling admiration, she feels resentment towards you. Hm, the irony."
Kaiba said nothing.
"As for your questions. . ." Maeve said, "Like I said before, I am Aura's Yami, and Aura is my Hikari. We are whole together, halves apart. You should have seen this with Yugi and my brother Yami."
Kaiba, who did not listen to the last sentence, stated, "Halves apart, you say? You seem to be pretty whole yourself, even without Aura."
"I do not take flattery," she said sternly, "She may seem like a stone in a river, refusing to continue on with the water's flow. What Aura experienced in her youth was a dreadful thing, and I suggest that you do not doubt that." Maeve stared at him like a cat with a mouse cornered. "Or else."
"As for where you are," she continued, "You happened to appear in my soul room, which I might ask, how in the name of Ra did you come here?"
And so Kaiba explained what happen. How Aura's stone and her journal caused an explosion, and suddenly it brought him there. Maeve nodded her head in response.
"Interesting," Maeve muttered, looking down into her lap. "The lapis lazuli stone brought you here, into my soul room. All I am wondering is how it had the ability to do so."
Kaiba grunted, replying, "I don't know. But right now, all I want to do is get out of here."
He stood out of his chair and was about to leave, until Maeve said, "You cannot."
Turning his head, Kaiba asked, "And why not?"
And with a sad and lonely face, she answered, "Because Aura is not here. Her mind is still in the Shadow Realm."
Kaiba stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"Since I am still weak, Aura is the only one with the power to get us out of here, and since her mind is in the Shadow Realm, it isn't possible. Especially with that Shadow Monster taking over our body." Maeve said sadly, pointing to a dark corner. "Do you see that? That is the effect of Lucian's power slowly growing in my soul room. I do not know how long I can hold him off. I need Aura to help me, for I am still weak." Then she shook her head. "I can't feel her anymore, which means, she is as good as dead."
The CEO sat down once more, asking firmly, "What was that room I went into? The one with the statue of the Egyptian goddess?"
"That particular room," she replied, "was a memory of a temple I made to the goddess Isis. Often I go there to pray. Why do you wish to know?"
"Because I saw something in there that made me think, that somehow, Aura is still alive."
Maeve eyes widened in surprise, saying, "What did you see? Tell me!" It looked like she was about to shake the answer out of Kaiba, but he can see the frustration and hope growing inside her eyes, which looked so much like Aura's.
He took a big breath. "I saw Aura in there, playing with a ball. Only she wasn't my age. Instead, she was at the age of seven, and the strange thing is," Kaiba continued, "Aura was laughing. Laughing. Now that is not a trait the Aura Riordan I know has."
But Maeve just sat, eyes wide open and mouth gaping. Suddenly she jumped up, taking Kaiba's hand and walking to the door Kaiba was in not so long ago.
"W-where are we going?" He asked uncertainly.
"Do you realize what you just found?!" she cried, ignoring Kaiba's question.
"What?"
"You have just found Aura's Soul Keeper! Oh thank Ra for this sudden change of fates." Maeve said happily, dragging Kaiba toward the door and opening it.
Unfortunately Kaiba had no idea of what a Soul Keeper is.
__________________________________________________________________
Yami, Tea, Joey, Tristan, and The Healer all gathered around the hospital beds that held the sleeping forms of the Kaiba brothers. Mokuba was making a slow recovery, but as for Seto Kaiba, he was in a coma, and they were not sure if he was ever going to recover.
"Poor Mokuba," said Tea, sadness filling her eyes.
"If only Seto had listened to my warning," The Healer said, "this may have not happened."
But Yami thought of something else. "Why in the world would Aura give us a weapon? So it can kill us, or help us?" He thought aloud.
Everyone was silent.
"I just can't believe that we already lost four people, Duke, Aura, Mokuba and Kaiba. Who's going to be next?" Tristan stated.
There was silence once more.
Yugi was the only one who was thinking about Aura. 'Where are you?' He thought, kicking the stuffed animals out of his way in his soul room. As Yugi had his own thoughts, he was also listening to their conversation. 'Why Aura? Why did you leave, when you just could have stayed with us?' Frustrated, he was still confused about Aura's motive.
He sighed, not knowing what to do. And just when Yugi was going to ask Yami to take over for a while, he heard a small voice, calling his name.
'Yugi... Yugi...'
Yami heard it also. He turned his head, searching for the speaker.
"Everything alright, Yug'?" Joey asked thoughtfully.
"Y-yes," replied Yami slowly.
'Pl-please.... Someone.... Help him....'
Yami turned his head again, thinking he heard someone. 'Yami, did you hear that, or was it just me?' Yugi asked through mind link. 'Yes, I did hear it.' Yami replied.
'Someone help him!!'
"Aura!" yelled Yami, looking this way and that. Everyone was confused at his sudden antics.
"Is everything alright, Yugi?" asked the Healer.
"It's Aura, she calling me!" he said, as his companions eyes widened.
'He's in trouble!!'
"Someone's in trouble," Yami repeated, "Who is it Aura!? Where are you!?"
'Don't let him find me!!'
"Who?!" he said.
'He's coming!!'
Now everyone else can hear her voice also.
"Aura?!" cried Tea, "You're alive!"
"No way. . ." Tristan and Joey said at once.
'Don't. . . Don't let him take me. . . Please don't!'
"Who, child?!" asked The Healer firmly.
'Seto! Get out of here! I beg of you!!'
'Yami! Tell him to go!! Please!!'
Yami didn't understand. Kaiba was here, so what was she to fear?
"His mind," the Healer murmured.
Then Aura stopped talking. They could not hear her anymore, and they still did not understand what she meant.
________________________________________________________________
Maeve opened the door, motioning Kaiba to go inside. And so, just like before, they went forward in an exceeding speed, until they stopped at the temple of Isis. Just as before they walked up to the statue, looking at its tall structure. They were silent for a moment.
"What had happened when you met her Soul Keeper?" asked Maeve quietly.
"She giggled, held her ball up to my face, and asked if I wanted to play with her." He said, remembering what happened.
"And your answer was?"
"I'm not sure. I didn't really answer to that."
"Hmm."
They were silent once more, as if waiting for an answer to pop out.
"So, how did you meet Aura?" Kaiba asked, breaking the silence. Just as she was about to answer, happy giggles and laughter filled the air, as a ball rolled up to their side. Maeve and Kaiba stared at it.
"Cookie Seto!" the seven year old Aura cried, running up to Kaiba and hugging him. He grunted as the small girl embraced his legs.
"Hey kid," he muttered.
"What are you doing here?" she cried, as she turned to get her ball. Aura looked up at Maeve.
"Who are you? Why do you look like me?" the seven year old ordered, pouting and tapping her foot. Maeve smiled sweetly.
"My name is Maeve," she said, smiling once more. Aura's eyes lit up.
"Yay, another friend!" Aura cried, taking both of their hands and dragging them toward her ball. "Wanna play?!"
"Yes, we would like to play." Maeve replied.
"Yay! Let me get my ball!" Aura ran the other direction to pick the ball up. Maeve turned toward Kaiba.
"Such a sweet child." She murmured. Kaiba nodded as they followed the little girl.
Aura picked up the ball, saying, "Come on! Come on! Let's play in the fields!"
As Aura turned though, she bumped into another person. "Oops! Sorry mister!" She looked up at the person's face as Maeve and Kaiba stared in horror.
Lucian was standing in Aura way, smiling a devilish smile.
"Maeve, Set, welcome to the party," Lucian said, sneering. Aura turned to Kaiba.
"Friend?" she asked thoughtfully.
"No, he isn't," grunted Kaiba, staring at him angrily.
"How did you get into my soul room?" Maeve ordered, clutching her staff. Lucian smirked.
"This too is my body, Maeve. So now, this is my soul room." He said.
"You don't have a soul, you fiend. How dare you take Aura's body, sending her mind to the Shadow Realm, making her suffer!" yelled Maeve, as she murmured a curse toward Lucian. He held up his hand, making the curse waver to nothing.
"You are pathetic. But you were smart enough to lead me to her." Lucian said, sneering once more. "To Aura's Soul Keeper." He wrapped his arm around Aura, as she held her ball tight.
"I'm scared. . ." Aura whimpered.
"Let her go!" Kaiba yelled angrily, stepping forward and grabbing Aura out of Lucian's grasp. The little girl hugged Kaiba's coat, wanting to go home.
"How dare you." Lucian said. He stretched out his arm, as it grew to a large blade. He struck the blade down, as Aura screamed.
Maeve met contact with the blade with her staff, stopping his attack. 'As her Yami, I must protect her.'
"Persistent fool, give up." Said Lucian lazily, tossing her against the statue of Isis. Maeve fell to the ground, unconscious. That was when Lucian approached Aura and Kaiba. The seven year old whimpered more, as tears fell out of her eyes.
"Leave her alone!" Kaiba yelled, "What do you want with her?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" He said, "Without her Soul Keeper, Aura will cease to exist, and after that, Maeve will be easy kill."
"Why are you so heartless?! This isn't a game!"
"That I know, which is why you, my Priest, will be her downfall."
Kaiba stared at him in disbelief. "What?"
Ignoring him, Lucian turned his attention toward Aura, and said, "Do you like your friend, Aura?"
She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "Y-y-yes?"
"Will you do anything for him?"
"Y-y-y-yes?"
"Will you die for your friend?"
That was when Aura collapsed, weeping out tears, crying. Kaiba, who never liked bullies, said, "Look at what you did, you snake!"
But Lucian didn't answer. He stuck out two fingers, as they slowly turned into an arrow. It launched out of his hand, as it headed straight for Kaiba's stomach.
"Noo!!"
The little girl jumped into the arrows' path, as they both made contact with her heart. Kaiba stared in disbelief as Aura slowly turned from a seven year old, to the 17 year old girl she was now. Her outfit was exactly the same as Maeve's, only a black color. The small bang of gold hair hanging on her forehead was stained with blood. Aura staggered backwards, as she turned her head toward Kaiba.
"S-Seto. . .? It. . . It hurts. . ."
She fell, and as she did, she changed back to the little seven year old girl. Aura fell into Lucian's arms.
He grinned as he said, "If you ever want your brother and Aura to see the light of day again, you will help me." Lucian laughed menacingly as he threw the dead corpse to the ground and disappeared into the shadows.
And Kaiba just stared at the dead seven year old. 'She's dead.' He thought. 'She's dead, and it's all my fault.'
"Aura!" Maeve cried, suddenly conscious and running toward them. She pushed Kaiba away, as Maeve held the little girl and sobbed into her hair. "No. . . No. . . Wake up. . . Wake up, I order you!" Tears rolled down her face, but Aura did not listen.
She set Aura's head slowly on the floor, went to the statue of Isis and prayed. Kaiba watched. When she was done, Maeve stared into space, as her hands turned into hard fists.
"Maeve. . .? I'm sorry, I really am. . ." Kaiba started.
"Get out." She murmured, her fists shaking.
"GET OUT!" Maeve screamed, raising her staff swinging it toward Kaiba. Kaiba was sent flying backwards as he fell into a vortex, sending him out of the soul room and into the real world. Maeve stood there, fists shaking. Then she collapsed, and cried and cried, like she would never stop.
__________________________________________________________________
Lucian stepped into the light of the sun, as he approached his two servants, Shanek and Y. Bakura.
"What happened, my lord?" Shanek asked as Lucian came to them.
"I have done what was needed to be done."
Y. Bakura grinned. "So, that means. . ."
"That the Priest is now our loyal lapdog," Lucian said, smirking.
"What about that wench, Maeve?" sneered Shanek.
"A royal pile of tears."
Shanek raised his eyebrows. "And of Aura. . .?"
"I 'killed' her Soul Keeper," Lucian said devilishly.
Y. Bakura's eyes widened in surprise. "You 'killed' her Soul Keeper? Her ka?"
"Not exactly. . ."
"What do you mean my lord?" asked Shanek.
Lucian grinned. "Let's just say that, little Aura is no longer better than the Priest."
Shanek and Y. Bakura understood, as they grinned.
"So you mean. . ." Y. Bakura said.
"She will work well against the Pharaoh, and the Priest especially, since his heart is now filled with guilt for her 'death'."
"Quite ingenious my lord," Shanek replied.
"I'm quite impressed myself." Y. Bakura said.
Lucian ignored them, as he walked up to the bank of the Nile to stare at his reflection. What he saw was Aura, only with white hair and strange markings on her face.
'Soon Pharaoh, soon.' Lucian thought.
"Let's move, I believe we have a kingdom to demolish," Lucian ordered to his servants. They grinned, as shadows appeared from beneath them and took them to the city where Yami and the others were being held.
And so the battle began.
To Be Continued. . .
So sad. I hate writin' stuff like this. Okay, so Aura is dead pretty much. Yup. Dead. Oh wait a second, what about her mind. . .? Want to know what happens? Read the next chapter.