WHEN MEMORIES WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH
Chapter Eleven: Whose Side Are You On?
Dark clouds mostly covered the full moon, the stars, and the Egyptian night skies.
In the middle of the night, quiet and intent footsteps approach a set of heavy wooden doors. After unlocking them and pushing the doors, the footsteps' owner was greeted by a group of sentries guarding a cell. As the guards bowed, they hurriedly opened the cell.
As that figure entered the cell, the guards closed the door behind the visitor and the prisoner.
Azure eyes eventually landed on the dainty and foreign prisoner - its owner possessing a mixture of curiosity, anger, and some pity within his heart. The prisoner, on the other hand, remained in her unconscious state since Set had saved her from being stoned to death by the townspeople.
"Just because she is different from us, it does not mean that she is evil," the high priest mused, as he continued to stare at the mysterious young woman with the flaxen hair and alabaster skin. "Could it be that the prophecy might come true with her? Could someone truly possess that much ka?"
His heart became heavier, as he tried to filter out his feelings. Part of him felt that holding her prisoner and leeching her out of her ka - just like he intended to do with the lowlifes that he had his soldiers arrest for the past days - was warranted. After all, every single action or sacrifice that he ever did was for the sake of Egypt and the throne. As long as he could gain the most power for the throne's sake, then he had done his job.
His conscience, however, had been pestering him - making him lose nights' worth of sleep. He kept questioning his motives -holding this woman prisoner, having hoards of scoundrels arrested without cause, keeping these activities secret from the counselor and his fellow priests.
Well, most of his fellow priests except for Akunadin.
Most of all, for the first time in his life, he hid such an important secret from his two childhood friends - Atemu and Xandra. What made him feel most guilty was that in spite of their different social station in Egypt, the two still treated him with the utmost warmth, regard, and respect. He, on the other hand, placed himself within the confines of his duties as high priest - adding to it the dedication and sacrifice that only a friend, and a patriotic citizen could ever deliver. In turn, his concern and love for his two friends was shrouded with the facade of cold and formal priestly responsibilities.
The very question that plagued his mind was this: was he doing everything for the greater glory of the throne, or for the greater glory of Set? Before the town massacre, as well as Thief Bakura's infiltration of the palace, his actions were undoubtedly for the good of Egypt, her throne, and for his friends. What bothered him most was that after these incidents, the distinction between the two was getting more blurry as the days passed. What was clear to him, though, was the hatred filled within his heart and his desire to set matters in favor of the high priests and the throne.
"I still could not believe that the power of the white god was promised to me," mused Set, as he clenched his fists. "Why was it not promised to someone more befitting, such as Atemu or Xandra - the current rulers of the land?"
He then closed his eyes to gain a semblance of peace within him. However, his last conversation with Akunadin kept seeping within his brain - plaguing him further into guilt and doubt.
"A foreigner rules the land alongside the Pharaoh. Where do you think her alliances lie, Set? Once people have tasted power, they change. Their values and morals become warped. She is an Atlantean, and corruption flows within her veins. Her people now lie in the bottom of the ocean - fated by the Greek gods as food for the fish. Have you not thought of the possibility that maybe her gods saved her people before she ascends the throne? Her people's salvation now becomes Egypt's doom, as she continues to reign with the Pharaoh. Unfortunately, for Egypt and the throne, the Pharaoh is too blinded to see that truth."
Through clenched teeth, Set said, "Your treacherous tongue ought to be cut for saying such slander against the Queen and the Pharaoh! Why do you speak such blasphemous accusations against them? They have sacrificed their lives many times for the good of Egypt. You ought to be the example for the rest of the high priests. Yet, if I did not know you too well, I would think that you wish to lead a revolt against the throne."
Without blinking and in the outmost seriousness, Akunadin remarked, "Do not be surprised if your friend's true colors show. Your friendship with them blinds you, as well. You are blinded to see the hole that we are about to enter, and too blind to see that Fate has much more in store for you."
Azure eyes narrowed, as its owner snickered, "You jest, old man! Being a high priest is already a great honor from the throne and from the gods."
"It is a sin to be contented to matters that are beneath you. If you wish to amass power, Set, open your eyes. There are no permanent allies, or permanent enemies for people who hold great power. For those who learn this lesson early, great power awaits them."
As Set's eyes then widened from shock, Akunadin continued, "Yes, my young priest. If you so will it, even the throne and the power of the gods may belong to you. As long as you will it, everything is within your grasp...."
He approached and then sat on the cot that the young woman was lying in. Gently stroking her flaxen hair, he pondered, "Such an angelic face to hold such a strong ka; moreover, the ka of the white dragon god." As his conversation with Akunadin once again drifted in his mind, he deeply sighed and muttered, "If you wish to be damned, old man, then so be it. Why, though, do you wish me to be damned along with you? Moreover, why am I so repulsed but equally intrigued with what you have to say?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Loud screams permeated inside the palace walls.
Minutes later, heavy sprints echoed against marble as a large group of sentries ran after an adrenaline-rushed and maniacally laughing Thief Bakura. Other panicked sprints joined the pandemonium - particularly Atemu, Shimon, Isis, and Karim.
Frantic screams from some of the servants reverberated within the hollow walls, with only one clear message being understood: Thief Bakura ripped Elder Akunadin's Millennium Eye!
Atemu, without waiting another second, ran outside the palace and towards the stables.
As everyone followed him, Xandra - who ran a few feet behind him - yelled, "It is a trap, Brother! Let someone else run after him, or go with you!"
He jumped on the first available steed, and took its reigns. Amethyst eyes burned, as its owner firmly said, "The Thief needs to pay for his crimes against our high priests!" As he galloped away into the night to catch the platinum-haired thief, he then hollered, "Take care of everything, Sister! I will return soon!"
Shortly thereafter, another horse whinnied as it took on a rider and galloped behind Atemu's horse. Shadah forced every ounce of strength that he could muster from the steed, until he was only a few feet behind the Pharaoh.
"May the gods be with you," mused Xandra, as she sadly stared into the night. "With the thief gaining the Ring and the Eye, may the gods preserve both of you from his trap...."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As the sun rose again to herald a new day, Xandra walked towards the throne room - still worried since Atemu and Shadah have not yet returned since last night. Even though everyone bowed and greeted her, as everyone customarily did, there was a marked silence that did not sit well with her.
Upon entering the throne room, she was surprised to see Shimon, the three remaining high priests, and the majority of the royal army and sentry commanders gathered inside. All of them bowed, and maintained their bow, until she was seated in her throne.
Heavy silence and suffocating tension permeated the air inside the room.
"There has been another massacre, my Queen," a tightlipped and somber Shimon stated. "The same parties who committed the massacre did this one as well."
She leaned her elbow against the arm of her throne and rested her chin. After letting out a heavy and weary sigh, she then asked, "Were there any survivors?"
"No, my Queen," said Karim. "I took the liberty of taking a handful of men to scout the town. There were no survivors."
She tightly closed her eyes, as she tried to regain the last of her composure that had been worn thin for days past. With a firm and controlled voice, she ordered as she clenched her fists, "Bring Hyperion to me. He must answer to this latest atrocity, as well as to stand up for his past crimes."
Almost everyone was ashen-faced and silent, except for Set. The azure-eyed high priest intently observed his Queen and friend.
Hazel eyes glowered, as its owner saw that no one was budging. Sensing that the tension within the room became worse, she annoyingly asked, "Has everyone gone deaf?"
"My Queen," one of the sentry commanders knelt before her as he stammered, "The Atlantean prisoner has been released last night, as you have commanded...."
Incensed, she stood up and retorted, "I did not order such nonsense! Who gave the order of his release?"
Another sentry commander meekly spoke up, "A thousand pardons, my Queen, but it was you who issued the order...."
"I did not issue such directive!" she once again repeated in a louder voice. "If I would have had my way with Hyperion, he would be dead by now - not released!"
Azure eyes narrowed, arms smugly crossed in front of the owner's chest, and an eyebrow raised. "If it was not you, my Queen, then who do you propose it is?"
Hazel eyes burned, as it met azure. "I would watch your tone, if I were you, High Priest Set!"
Maintaining a tone of arrogance, Set retorted, "I would also watch where you step! The people have a legitimate matter before the throne, for you - our Queen - released a prisoner unpunished by our people. If it were not for his release, then the entire town that was massacred last night would have been saved from that butcher!"
"As the gods are my witnesses, I did not have anything to do with Hyperion's release!" she said through clenched teeth.
The heavy doors swung open, as a familiar figure used every ounce of strength and sprinted towards the throne. The figure then staggered, as his knees gave in.
Everyone's eyes widened, most especially Shimon and Xandra's.
She abruptly stood up, ran, and knelt to help the weary Shadah - her surging rage being quickly replaced with a wave of worry and fear.
Charcoal gray eyes watered due to a myriad of reasons, as its owner stared into hazel and said, "F - forgive me, my Queen, but the thief.... The thief now has the Puzzle...."
Her heart raced, and her eyes welled up. "Where is the Pharaoh?"
Tears then flowed from Shadah's cheeks, and he muttered in between panting breaths, "Pharaoh Atemu has been pushed into the abyss.... He is dead...."
End of Chapter Eleven
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Author's Notes
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Emrys / Xandra, Hyperion, and this fanfic are the author's property.
This fanfiction was written for entertainment purposes only, thereby releasing the author from all liabilities.