Author's Note: Hey guys! thx sooo much for the reviews...im glad people actually read my work!
This chapter is basically set a moon after the first chappie (so they can have the feast...remember??). Bare with me here because not too much happens until towards the end - it'll get better...I promise! There will be a few some characters introduced to us and we also get to see the mean side of Seth (duh duh duh!).
Anddd Anzu is making a special guest apperance as a servant - There will be abit of Tea bashing...literally! --Evil grin--...yay!
And just incase some people are confused: ...Re can be spelt both as Ra or Re (it is still pronouced Ra), but mostly it is commonly spelt Re - I'm not quite sure why everyone else on this site spells it as Ra. But yea...just to get that cleared up.
Don't forget to REVIEW!
Disclaimer: (Unfortunately) I don't own Yugioh T T
---------------------------------------
----------------------------
---------------------
----------
---
Chapter 2
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will no heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
(Linkin Park - Crawling)
-----------------------------------------------------
A familiar rage steadily burned within his chest once more. Seth could feel his face beam with heat, reddening his cheeks and ears. A sudden burst of anger once again filled the chamber. "Incompetent fool! You dare defy my wrath?!" A chill roar bellowed the halls of the palace. The servants were already use to the priest's temper and casually, continued with their daily routines as if nothing had happened. Seth was at it once again exploding his dangerous fury, this time to a new servant who looked as if she were to faint. "
It, it was a mistake...I would not dare-"
"What is your name?" The priest asked, "Answer me peasant!" He roared after a moment's silence.
The woman had tried to seize her sobbing and replied, "Anzu, your grace. Please I beg you-"
"Well ANZU", Seth instantaneously interrupted. "After this you WILL learn to follow my instructions correctly in the future! Send her away. Seven lashes!" Seth signalled a palace guard. His anger seemed to abruptly cool with the impending punishment. At least this bitch was not going make that absurd mistake again, the young man thought with contentment.
"Please high priest. I am new, I did not know..." the plea was suddenly cut off with a wave of hand.
"Ten lashes. Dare defy me once again peasant and you WILL TRUELY feel my wrath", Seth declared, keeping his tone solid and cold. His anger now fully subsided; he could not help but to be slightly amused at the pathetic creature. She slumped in the guard's firm grip and was weeping uncontrollably. The peasant was roughly dragged away helplessly, sobbing.
Weak, pathetic fool. A silent snigger meant his lips.
Once the bitch was out of his sight the priest turned his attention to more pressing matters.
The dreaded grand feast was to be held tonight, Seth had naturally been redundant to organise himself, it was in less than an hour's time and he would need to bathe and change. The idea of mingling with some random fool was not his ideal way to waste a evening, for he merely wanted to spend it isolated and secluded with only the company of his work as he did most other nights. With the late lack of sleep and the upcoming feast, Seth was in the foulest of moods and as many could see; he had taken it out on the poor, ill lucked servant.
"Prepare my bath and clothes", he instructed a servant, who scurried away as quickly as possible to fetch the water and various outfits.
Seth could not be bothered to decide what special garment was appropriate for the occasion and simply chose his formal high priest outfit, which seemed suiting enough. It was a white, sleeveless and adorned with stiches of blue and gold. He despised the garment for its whiteness, a shade he hated, for it was too clean and pure. It was not him, but would have to do since he did not bother to prepare anything else.
He bathed, slowly and solemnly, lingering in the cool water and taking his time until his hands wrinkled. The priest dreaded the feast. Sluggishly he got up, dried himself and dressed. Seth hated the thought of some grubby peasant bathing and dressing him so although quite peculiar, the young priest allowed no one in the room while he bathed and dressed.
Wearily, he put on the robe, a dark blue cloak and two golden wristlets, which had inscribed along them, fine Egyptian artwork on each wrist. A wide, golden armband engraved with the eye of Horus was slid securely up his left, upper arm. He thought of his headpiece, but could not be bothered with the heavy burden. Most that would be there, knew of his status anyway.
There, he thought. The young priest looked into his reflection in the mirror, trying to brush away the bangs of his short, brown hair that eternally shadowed his intense eyes. They immediately fell back into their normal places; at least he looked like he put in some form of effort for his appearance.
It shall do.
-------------------------------------------
"Atem!" A tall, golden haired boy exclaimed while knocking on the pharaoh's door. He was dressed in light armour and his mob of yellow hair was slightly ruffled.
"Come in Jouno", the pharaoh said, profound friendliness apparent in his voice.
"How's it feelin' to be 17?" The taller man winked. "Can't wait for tha feast, hope you invited some fineee women", he nudged the pharaoh playfully.
"I shall hope so Jou for there are many nobles who are accompanied by their young daughters attending", laughed the pharaoh.
They have been friends for many long years, the two. Jouno was one of Atem's closest friends. Both were the same age with Jouno slightly older and both lived in the palace, they had grown up together since childhood.
Jouno's father was the commander of the great Egyptian army and would be away for many moons fighting. The young blond who had accompanied his father to live in the palace, often found himself with only the company of his cruel, cold uncle. The man had seemed to take a liking to beating the young boy and without the company of his father or beloved sister, for she was taken to live at their humble country farm with his mother, Jouno felt alone and miserable.
But it was there at the magnificent palace that he met the youthful prince Atem. The pharaoh had taken a peculiar liking to his odd, rebellious, yet loyal attitude and would often seek out his company while Seth was deep in his tedious studies, which often he was. They had thus been close friends since youth.
However, for a strange reason, Seth and Jouno despised each other from the first day they met. Thus the young Atem's time was usually divided between the two, Jouno during the long hot days and Seth during his few free hours at night.
"Are you to wear that to the feast?" Atem asked, pointing to the blonde's armour. Jouno was in his usual toughened uniform; the young man intended to follow his father's footsteps and had already been promoted to a captain.
"What's wrong with this?" Jouno said confused as per usual, he was good with a sword, but unlike his father, a master strategist, he was not very bright.
"Well...you're wearing your uniform with the armour and all", the young pharaoh stated indicating to his friend the short sword, which hung off his leather belt. Jouno erupted in a wide grin and lightly patted Atem's back.
"My friend...Did you not know ladies like men in uniform?" Atem laughed and let the matter rest. If Jouno was not thinking about food, he always had some odd and bizarre idea in his head.
"Anyways let's get this feast started! I'm dyin' of hunger!" Jouno said as they begun to make their way down to the great hall.
-------------------------------------------------------
The vast hall was richly decorated. Lit with a thousand brilliant candles, the magnificent room was bathed in a golden aura. Seth made his way through the large crowd of people towards the pharaoh, nodding in acknowledgment to a few familiar faces on the way. It was a surprisingly cool night and Seth had thanked Horus for it.
"Man, look at all this food!" Seth abruptly stopped. That voice, that irritating, aggravating, agitating voice. It could be of no other than that dog Jouno. O' Re, as if this petty feast was not bad enough, the young priest cringed.
"Greetings High Priest", Atem said smiling, brushing his golden bangs away from his distinct, violet eyes as Seth approached.
"Pharaoh", the priest replied with a slight bow. It was a formal occasion and they both knew it was appropriate to address another by their proper title in public. "Jouno", he said flatly, looking down upon the shorter male.
"It's Captain actually", Jouno replied in the same cold tone. Seth ignored the correction, eyeing the grubby outfit the blond was wearing. The priest wore a scornful expression on his face,
"Why, what an interesting outfit. Here only for the food I presume?" Clear derision and mockery was evident in his tone. Seth knew that the soldier could not react and it gave him satisfaction to see the tall boy try to restrain himself. He could see Jouno's filthy hands clench and tighten into a fist. He saw his gritted teeth and menaced look in his eyes.
The fool was pathetic and Seth loved to ridicule and deride the stupid youngster.
Atem sensing the tension arising between the two once again had to separate them. "Let us be seated, the feast will commence soon".
Seth smirked at Jouno as they made there way to the royal table, for as the dog he was, he would not be sitting with them. The table where they sat was reserved for only the Pharaoh and other royalty or high ranking nobles. The young priest eyed the soldier who took a seat at a lower table with the other invited militia with satisfaction.
"You should not be so unkind to him", Atem said firmly.
"I was merely stating the obvious", Seth sniggered.
The young pharaoh sighed. Every attempt of friendliness between the two had been abandoned long ago and they were clearly not going to start now.
------------------------------------------------
The tables were richly packed with a great variety of foods. Various meats, roasted, stewed and dried were present, as well as an assortment of vegetables, grains and breads. Seth took merely some roasted meat, stew as well as honey bread and ate in silence with the wine as Atem conversed with his vizier, Kathept and the high priestess, Isis. The young priest sat stilled and once again seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
About two hours went by and most seemed to have finished their dinner that was except for Jouno, still stuffing his face with the delicious food. Seth groaned on the inside with weariness as the dancers appeared. There was forever work to be done and he was fed up with the little uncomfortable conversations that kept coming his way from the various royals and nobles around him.
Atem had already left the table and asked Seth to join him, but the young priest decline. He did not feel like socialising with the guest anymore than he had to. The young priest instead stayed seated and watched the pharaoh as he mingled and chatted happily with the others. Seth sat there, paralysed by boredom as he surveyed the dancers. Sick of the feast and the people, he was exhausted and fatigued from the restless nights he had. The sinister nightmares did not cease and continued to be evermore constant. The dreams persisted upon haunting his very existence.
After the dance finished with a roar of applause, Seth began to eye the various nobles and royals with detachment. People had started dancing. He looked to his right; Atem was talking cheerfully to others and next to him Jouno, who seemed to be merry with too much drink was talking to a beautiful young woman. She seemed quite frightened and disgusted with Jouno's open drunken pursuit. The young priest smirked at the dog and looked away towards others, hoping to find a slightly more appealing situation to rest his tired stormy, eyes upon.
And indeed he did, for something astonishingly beautiful caught the sudden attention of those bored, bottomless, sapphire orbs.
-------------------------------------------------------------
She stood within the great palace hall feeling slightly uncomfortable and out of place. Although the daughter of a high official, she had never been in the glorious palace before and when her father had left her side to converse with other nobles, she felt oddly alone for she knew no one in this place. A few young men had stopped to talk to her and asked for a dance, but the young woman politely declined for she was not in the mood.
She leaned, unaccompanied on the wall and looked down at her dark green dress. It was indeed her most beautiful garment, specially made for this grand occasion. Adorned with a golden stash on the waistline, the costume was cut low in a deep V angle in the front and swept to her ankles with a long spilt up her right thigh, exposing a long, lean leg. Rimmed on the edges with thin, golden strips of fabric, the olive green dress further enhanced and emphasized her golden honey tan and rare emerald eyes.
She wore various decorative jewelleries. Elusive jade earrings dangled from both her ears, coupled with several golden bangles dangling upon both her wrist. A snake-like armband, engraved with jade rested upon her upper right arm.
Her dark hair was left unadorned, its natural beauty alone was simply enough. The slightly wavy, silky ebony locks rested pass her shoulders and down to her delicate waist, where they curled into loose ringlets at the bottom. Her dazzling emerald eyes were well-defined with black eye paint and her full lips were slightly red with ochre mix (what they used as lipstick in ancient Egypt).
The girl started gazing around. The dance had ended and she felt a tad bored as she scanned her eyes over the various guests. Soon she found herself resting her eyes on the handsome pharaoh. Baring an odd, yet enticing appearance she found him as equally attractive as the women had proclaimed him to be. She stared at him in a dazed, captivated by his presence.
Atem who was discussing temple matters with the Ishtar siblings, Malik and Isis had noticed the young woman's gaze and lingered his violet eyes upon her. She was indeed beautiful... in fact probably one of the most stunning he'd ever seen.
Abruptly her gaze fell as the pharaoh's eyes were fixed upon her. They directly locked eyes for a short moment. She turned away, blushing furiously. O 'Re he had caught her staring at him. She breathed for a moment and gradually lifted up her glance, scanning the room for the young pharaoh.
He was nowhere to be seen, but her emerald eyes instead linked with another pair across the room. The striking young man was staring at her with a stormy pair of azure orbs. They seemed to flicker with interest and she, this time unable to look away, remained bonded by their vivid, intensity.
He was darkly handsome with sharp and well defined features. His face, lightly masked by the eternal shadows of his deep brown hair held a darkness for which she could not explain. An alluring set of sapphire eyes shone of what could only be profound wisdom and pride. They gleamed, like azure storm clouds, forever a darkened shade of indigo.
She smiled. A faint, but elusive smile.
---------------------------------------------------
I'll leave it there for now. Hope you enjoyed it & plz REVIEW (I need some more motivation!)
PLUS (if anyone actually ends up ending this...--sigh--)...For every chapter I am planning to have a special guest appearance ( like Anzu in this one) by any yugioh character...and you get to choose! so when (if) u review plz indicate your personal choice of character and thier status (eg. noble, peasant, slave, etc.) & what you want them to be doing...and i will try to fit them into the story as best as i can.