Chapter Eight-Busted!
Marik knew something was going on with Victoria the next morning. His sister was actually chewing on a beef stick, which she'd sworn off of a long time ago. She was also a lot quieter at breakfast. He decided to cautiously find out what was going on with her. "So, how is it at the theater?" He figured whatever was bothering her had to do with the stress of being the lead in Phantom of the Opera.
"It's fine. We got through our entire duet without me cracking a note yesterday." Victoria replied through a mouthful of beef stick.
"Please don't talk with your mouth full, Victoria." Ishizu requested softly. She, too, was worried about Victoria. "Can I expect you at the museum after rehearsal today?"
Victoria swallowed her beef, and looked at her elder sister. "Maybe...I was going to help Bakura at his store for a while though.." She hated lying to the Ishtars. She kept telling herself what they don't know won't h urt them, but she was having a hard time believing that.
"I see..." Ishizu's eyes narrowed slightly, detecting a bit of dishonesty from her adopted sister. "Perhaps you w on't though. Where will you if not there?"
"I........." Victoria shook her head, glancing at the clock. "I'll be at the museum sooner or later. Before your shift is over." She gathered up her script, and left the house quickly. She didn't notice her cat try to follow her.
"Something is definitely going on with that girl." Marik remarked, frowning. "I think she might be doing something behind our backs, but I don't know what."
"I agree, but let us wait it out a bit. If we try to stop her now, she'll just keep doing it." Rishid suggested. "If it gets too out of hand, we'll intervene."
"I suppose. I just hope she's not doing anything illegal."
"I doubt it. She's rebellious, but she's not stupid." Ishizu pointed out, standing up to get ready for work. "If either of you see her later, please tell her to come to the museum. My advisor was asking about her not too long ago."
"Alright." Marik nodded. "I believe I will go and see their rehearsal. Mokuba wanted me to come down a few days ago, but we were doing other things." "Alright." Rishid nodded. "I shall stay and keep her cat company. He seems to be needing some attention. She barely sees him anymore."
"She's barely home anymore...." Marik said softly. "She's been keeping away from all of us since Jo's death." A thought crossed his mind, and though he didn't like to think of the idea, he voiced it anyway. "She maybe blames us for it."
"I don't believe she does. It may be that we remind her of her friend. It is for that reason that I doubt it is Bakura she has been helping out all this time. " Ishizu replied, putting a hand on Marik's shoulder. "All we can do is pray that she will come clean on her own in time."
"Yes." Marik nodded, getting up. "I hope your day will go well, Sister."
"And yours." The young woman hugged both of her brothers gently before leaving to head to the museum.
"You were supposed to come play laser tag with us, Victoria. Don't you remember?" Christien asked. He looked crestfallen that the girl had forgotten their plans again.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Duke really needs my help though, Chris. I promised him."
"I thought we agreed that you working with Duke was a bad idea?" Christien whispered fiercely. He'd known for a while that Victoria had been sneaking off to work for Duke, but now, he'd had enough, and was worried about his girl's well-being. He'd never bothered to tell Mokuba because of the relationship the young Kaiba had with Victoria's elder brother Marik. He'd been trying to help Victoria on his own, since she seemed to respond to him normally.
"No, you agreed. Please, Chris, don't make this such a big deal, okay?" She whispered back now, her voice shaking. She'd just spotted Mokuba and Jonathan come back from their lunch break.
"I have to! I can't believe you'd be so stupid!" Christien raised his voice slightly, pulling her into the wings. He shoved her into a wall a little more roughly than he intended. "I want you to quit! Before he tries to hurt you, Victoria. You know he will!"
"Who hurts her?" Jonathan wanted to know. He'd come up behind the pair silently. His eyebrow was raised at the manner Christien was using to deal with Victoria. Wow, she really must be upsetting him!
"No one." Christien told his elder brother coldly, glaring at Victoria. "If I didn't care, I wouldn't be making a big deal out of it. If you don't quit, I'm going to tel l the Ishtars." He let Victoria go, hearing the director calling him. He sighed deeply, hearing her break down against his brother's chest. It's for your own good, Victoria. Please don't think I'm jealous. I'm not. I wouldn 't be jealous of that creep if you paid me billions!
Marik watched the rehearsals intently. He had to admit that Victoria was perfect for the role of Christine Daee. Her demeanor in the character was perfect. But,Marik noticed that this particular run through seemed especially authentic. Christien and Victoria seemed to be at odds over something. The Egyptian boy gathered they'd recently had an argument. Their performance was very well done though, and he decided that regardless of any of her other talents, Victoria was a grea t actress. He walked up on the stage, to talk to Victoria about her performance after the director gave them all their notes. "I'm greatly impressed." He told her with a smile.
"Thank you, Marik. I didn't even know you were here..." Victoria replied softly.
"Do you like doing this sort of thing?" Marik asked her now. It had occurred to him that maybe Victoria had had previous dreams before having her life back in her world disrupted.
"I do...I don't know why, but...I really feel free up here, Marik." There was no lie in Victoria's eyes now. This, she could be honest about. "There's going to be a school opening next fall for theater students."
"I see. Would you like to go to this school?" Marik smiled. "Perhaps we can work that out." He hoped by showing that he was,indeed,interested in what she would tell him, he would eventually get her to tell him what it is she is being sneaky about.
"I would like to go, but I don't want to go if Christien can't afford it." She replied. "We're family, us theater people. No one gets left behind." She smiled over Marik's shoulder. "Marik, meet my friend Xena. That's not her real name. She just likes it."
Marik turned around to greet her friend. "Hello. It's nice to meet you. I'm her brother, Marik."
"The pleasure is all mine." The girl named Xena replied. She looked at her watch, then gave Victoria a Look. "You're running late. Duke'll have your head."
Victoria's eyes widened, realizing that her secret had been exposed. She looked at Marik. "I can explain..."
"Oh you will. Let's go." Marik took her hand firmly. "And I hope you have an excellent explanation prepared too."
Victoria swallowed hard. "I....do....." She felt so helpless now. First she'd get lectured by Marik ,then Duke would probably lecture her again for not showing up to work.
"Good." Marik rode them both home on his motorcycle. When they got home, he let them into the house. He turned to Victoria. "You need to feed Ishtar, then I suggest you go think up that explanation up in your room until our sister gets home."
"But....Marik......" She really wanted to call Duke, to let him know she wouldn't be coming in. "I should call Duke..."
"I'll be calling him soon enough. Please do as I ask." Marik said quietly. He was deeply hurt by Victoria's lies and deceit. Though it was not normally his way to deal out punishment, he had to do what he thought was best for the situation. "The rest of your punishment will be decided later."
Victoria merely nodded, and knelt to feed Ishtar. "I really blew it, Ishtar. I'm sorry."
The cat merely stared at her before going to get his food happily. Victoria went upstairs to her room, closing the door. She knew the next time she saw her siblings, there would be unpleasant conversations.