Chapter Twelve-Selfishness Causes Pain

"Victoria!" Christien looked up in surprise when his girlfriend walked into the auditorium the night of the final dress rehearsal. "I......where have you been?!"

"I've been getting some voice lessons from....a friend." Victoria seemed oddly calm, for the stir that was being caused by her sudden attendance. She watched as Christien walked up to her. "I'm sorry I haven't been here. I'm back now." She gave him a gentle smile.

"But where have you been?! It's been nearly two months since anyone has seen you except for Kenny Underwood. She said you were attending some music conservatory. Is that true? Who's paying for it?"

"I told you. A friend." Victoria reminded him. "Can't we just get this over with? I'm already pretty exhausted."

"I can't believe you! You worried us all to death, then you walk in here like nothing's wrong!"

"Because nothing's wrong. I'm fine, Christien, okay?" She walked into her dressing room, and closed the door.

"You're not fine! Someone's been messing with your head!" Christien exploded in exasperation. "If we didn't have to do this play togther....." He caght himself. I can't think like that! Victoria's been brainwashed. It has to be that. Just like Christine! "Don't you even miss Marik in the least? He's going to be here tonight, you know....."

The door flew open. "What did you say?!"

"You heard me. Marik's coming, but I doubt he's coming for you. He's been playing older brother to Mokuba since you disappeared. He misses you so very much."

"Why would Mokuba be here?" Victoria wanted to know.

"You......do you remember your lines? You've certainly forgotten a lot since you've been gone..." Christien stared into her eyes in concern.

"I remember." Victoria replied softly,her eyes full of tears. "I..I have to get ready to go on now,Christien."

"Tori....." The middle Roba watched Victoria return to the dressing room in despair.

"What's going on, Christien?" Jonathan came up to his brother's side.

"Victoria's back........but something seems really wrong." He frowned. "She's really out of it, and she seems to feel afraid for no appearant reason."

"Hmm....." Jonathan looked him. "We have to tell Marik. He's here."

"I'll go." Christien went out into the house, and found Marik sitting in the middle row.

"Hello,Christien." Marik smiled kindly, but there was sadness in his eyes, as if the very sight of the Roba reminded him of his lost sister.

"Marik, I have news for you. Victoria's here."

"It cannot be!" Marik was startled by the boy's news. "Where is she? Is she hurt?"

"No. She is in her dressing room, getting ready for the dress rehearsal. I'll have to go into make up in a minute,but I wanted you to know about Victoria. " Christien stood up, and left Marik to gawk in disbelief.

How can she be alright, after everything she's put us through?! Why would she suddenly come straight here, without stopping at home to tell us that she was back? Something does not add up, and after they're done, I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Marik narrowed his eyes, as he watched the action on stage. He then decided he needed to call his siblings, since they most definitely would want to know that Victoria is safe. He got up, and went into the lobby to make the call.

Rishid was in the kitchen when their phone rang. He walked into the hall to get it quickly. "Ishtars' residence,this is Rishid speaking."

"Rishid, dear brother! I have good news." Marik's voice said on the other end. .

"What is it, Marik?" He asked in curiosity.

"Victoria is alive and well."

Rishid's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you certain? People can play horrible tricks..."

"She's here at the theater, Rishid. She just returned out of nowhere." Marik explained. "Christien just told me."

"Have you seen her yet?" Rishid wanted to know.

"No,but I am about to. Their rehearsal is starting as we speak. Will you and our dear sister please meet me here in about two hours? I want you to be with me when I confront her for the first time. I'm not sure how she will react."

"Of course we will come." Rishid told him. "Wish Mokuba luck from Ishizu and I."

"I will." Marik replied, before hanging up.

As promised,Ishizu and Rishid met Marik in the theater lobby. The elder Ishtars were anxious to know where their little sister had been all this time, but they weren't sure if Victoria would even tell them. Ishizu expressed this to Marik. "There's a chance we may not get a word out of her about her experience."

"I know." Marik replied. He did hope,however that Victoria would at least tell them who had taken her. "Here she comes." He moved forward to talk to her. "Victoria!"

The young girl turned at the sound of Marik Ishtar's voice, but she looked at him without moving to go to him.. "What does he want,James?" James was her escort. He took her everywhere.

"I don't know,Miss. He looks like he wants to talk to you." The tall man replied. "Should I ask him to leave you alone?"

"No. I will go..." Victoria then walked over to the Ishtars, blinking. It had been so long since she'd seen Marik and his siblings, she had begun to forget what they looked like.

"Victoria....." Marik hugged her to him tightly. "We've been so worried....." He spoke softly. He held her away from him when she didn't show the slightest emotion. "Where have you been all this time? Who took you?"

"I've been living with Duke.....he adopted me....." Victoria swallowed hard.

"But that's not possible......you live with us! Everyone in Domino City knows that!" Marik's eyes were full of fire.

"He says you guys never officially adopted me. I wasn't in the records at the city hall. They were going to take me away. He saved me from that!"

"Victoria, I can assure you, Duke has been lying to you. You have to be in the records if you're going to school." Marik took her hand in his. "Come on, let's go to the police. We can sort this whole mess out now."

The girl pulled away sharply, backing up. "No! I won't let you ruin this for me! I'm happy where I am right now! I won't let you do what my father used to do!"

"Victoria,no! Duke has been manipulating you!!" Marik attempted to grab for the girl again, but her escort stepped in front of her to stop him. "That child does not belong to Duke. She is my little sister, and you can deliver to him a message. We will do everything in our power to bring him down!"

Ishizu spoke quietly. "Come,Marik....let us go home and talk this over."

"I think I'll go riding." Marik replied, before throwing Victoria a cold look, and walking out to his motorcycle.

His siblings watched after Marik, worried. Rishid sighed deeply. "Come, we should go home."

"Yes,I suppose we should..." Ishizu followed Rishid out. Neither one of them even gave Victoria a second glance.

I can't believe Duke would go so far! He's turned my best friend into a selfish,spoiled brat! Well,fine. If she wants to stay with him, so be it! I won't fight with her. But if he should ever hurt her....there will be fireworks. Marik allowed his angry thoughts to continue,as he sped down the street, going faster and faster. He was so unfocused on his driving that he didn't notice when a curve came up suddenly. Before he knew it, Marik was lying on the side of the road,scraped up,and almost unable to move. His head hurt,and he felt really heavy. And now,I will end my life angry at the one person I thought loved me unconditionally. Marik closed his eyes tightly, as he felt all his limbs go numb at once. Then he moved no more. Therefore, it is no surprise that he didn't feel himself being picked up by three dark robed figures which left his motorcycle on the side of the road.