~~The Taste of Revenge~~
Chapter 2
"Marik, come here." Zalika began sorting through the large boxes of belongings she had brought over to her new 'friend's' house. She pulled out a small wooden chest, and smiled.
"What is it?" Marik walked over and sat down on the sofa beside her.
"I have something I need to give you." Zalika pulled out a large stack of duel monsters cards from the little box. "This is my deck. Well, some of it anyways. A card I hold in it deserves to be yours, and only yours."
Marik moved closer, acting as if he just wanted to get a better look. She had several powerful and rare cards. He expected that from Maximillion Pegasus' kid. She held her father's copy of Toon World, five Exodia pieces, a Jinzo, and several other rare cards, many of which even he hadn't seen. He continued to watch her flip through her deck, wondering which of these prized cards he would receive.
"Why are you giving me one of you cards? Nothing I have ever done in my life lets me deserve something so special." Marik held his head down low in shame. Zalika found the card that had been lost in the little box. She took his hand off of his lap, and gently placed the card in his palm. She moved his hand back over to where it originally was... right between his legs, and drew her own back.
"Nonsense. You just saved me last night. Is that not worth honoring?" Zalika stared at him. No longer did she feel any burning hatred towards him like she had from Yugi's stories. She could feel herself growing closer to him, and wanted to forget her hateful memories. Yugi had obviously misjudged him, even if they were lifetime enemies. Marik, like all other people, had a heart, and a very lonely one at that.
Marik looked up at her, forgetting for a slight moment about the card in his palm. "You really mean that?"
"Yes I do." Zalika moved closer to him, and stared into his handsome lavender eyes. "Now put that card in your deck, my pharaoh."
Marik blinked when she said 'my pharaoh'. His eyes then broke away from hers and glanced at the card he was holding.
"Can it be? For real?"
"It is, Marik. Yugi gave it to me for my birthday this summer. But I know now whom it rightfully belongs to. The Winged Dragon of Ra is yours again, Marik." Zalika continued to look at his face. He looked so happy to finally be reunited with his soul card. It reminded her of when she was a little kid, and her father's friends' kids would have that same expression when they received a cool remote-controlled truck or the newest video game.
Marik's eyes soon returned to her. "I can't believe it... You're giving me this? I don't have to take it from you in a duel?"
"No Marik. There is no need to."
"You don't know how much this means to me," he said quietly. "I've never felt such a strong bond with another person before. Not even Odion or my sister."
"What do you mean?" Zalika asked.
"My big sister is Ishizu," Marik replied. "I'm sure you've heard of her. Odion was my servant and my best friend. Actually, he was more of a big brother to me. They both cared for me and loved me to death when I was a little boy. Over the years though, when my... evil... side became present inside of me, they drifted away from me. I mean, they were still there but, not as close. I became an evil psychopath. It's my fault they are so distant from me now. If I could turn back the clocks and restart my whole life, I would." Marik lowered his head again and looked at the incredible power in front of him. "I should have just been a lonely tomb keeper. I should have stayed in the darkness. That way none of this chaos would have even started."
Zalika moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. It was the same way she'd hug Yugi when he was having a down day, only now she felt an attraction much deeper for Marik. "We all make mistakes, Marik. But we have to take the opportunity to start over once we realize what we have done. It's not too late for you. Don't just sit there and be upset. Start over now and this time you will be more successful."
"What makes you say that?" He asked, pulling her firmly against him.
"You already know what you did wrong, so eliminate that this time. And you have me here to help you now, so it won't be as difficult to get what you want as it was before."
Again, Marik looked up into her ocean-blue eyes. Oh Ra, I wish I could kiss her. This girl has made me feel so much better in so little time, it's incredible. Even in this freezing home, I feel warmer than ever.
But as quickly as it happened, Zalika pulled away from him. She stood up and set her stack of cards on the table. She grabbed her jacket from the armrest of the sofa and quickly slipped it on. "I'm going into town for some food," she said. "I'll be back in a little while. Do you want anything?"
"Just you...." Marik replied, half-daydreaming.
Zalika blinked, turning red in the face. At the absence of sound, Marik looked back up at her. Seeing her embarrassed expression, he snapped back into reality.
"I mean.... No, I'll take you into town so you won't have to walk." Marik felt himself go red with embarrassment as well. 'Damnit you fool! How could you say it so fast! She just had a fucking break-up for Ra's sake!'
Zalika let out a deep sigh. "Okay then. Thanks a lot." She watched him carefully, somewhat afraid of what he just said. She thought to herself, Well I wasn't expecting him to actually like me like that... and so... fast.... If I tell him how I feel, what would he do? Would he actually go believe it or would he be afraid to? Am I even ready for another relationship? Oh, shut up and go, Zalika, too many questions for your feeble mind to answer right now.
Sighing again, she followed her "friend" out to the parking ramp.
~~~~10 minutes later~~~~
Zalika looked at the clock. It was only 1:37 in the afternoon, and it felt like 10 pm. She was tired, and wasn't sure why. Instead of pacing, like she normally would be doing while waiting, she leaned up against Marik's motorcycle and got lost in thought. He was taking forever to order their food in Burger World, even though there was a large number of customers, most of which she had never seen before.
It had been nearly a week since Zalika had seen Yugi and his friends. She missed his smiling face, in a way, and wished she could go back to him. But then the image of Pharaoh Yami and Joey Wheeler popped into her head. She growled quietly to herself, wishing them dead. Months had passed since she had violently put an end to Téa Gardener's life. Quite a satisfying day of her life that had been, especially when she saw the look on everyone's faces when they found her bloody corpse on Yugi's doorstep.
[flashback]
Midnight. The perfect time for the perfect crime. The day had gone by too slowly, but it had been worth the wait. Zalika had been preparing and planning it all day.... That is, the execution of Téa Gardener. After hours of thought, she had finally decided on a nice stabbing torture. Nothing fast... Just nice and slow. ''I'll put her through Hell before she even gets there, she had thought.
She walked up the dead road. Nobody in sight, not even the occasional stray dog or homeless man. A dagger in one hand, a whip in the other, Zalika walked up the small wooden stairs that lead to Téa's front door. The freshly painted door was unlocked. Too easy. Zalika entered, making no sound. The door didn't even squeak. All that could be heard was the snoring from her father in one room, a television in another room, and the faint creek of the floor beneath her feet. The kitchen, living room, and visible halls were all dim. A night-light illuminated the entrance to the stairs that lead up to Téa's bedroom. Soon now... She'd locate the girl's room and take her out. Zalika crept up the stairs, thankful that Téa's dog was fast asleep outside in its doghouse, and that her cat always slept in the parents' room.
Reaching the top, Zalika observed her surroundings. Again, no light, but that made it even more fun. The upstairs was small, only a bathroom, a vacant storage room, and Téa's bedroom took up the upper section of the house. Téa's room was quite obvious. The door was loaded with girly "spirit" posters and pink peace signs. Zalika rolled her eyes with disgust and walked into the dimly lit room.
Téa was asleep at her computer. Her desk lamp was still on, and there were a few instant messenger windows still open. Zalika quietly walked over. She took the mouse from under Téa's hand, and clicked on each of the windows. She appeared to have several online buddies. Zalika pulled out a notepad and a pen, and quickly scribbled down some random e-mail addresses or screen names. She also took note of Joey's and Tristan's, and even that of her ex-boyfriend, Ryou.
Téa moved slightly, but didn't wake up. Zalika remained silent, and snatched some of Téa's personal belongs from her desk. She grabbed Téa's notebook, a phone-number book, and her diary and placed them on the desk. She looked at Téa, grinning evilly. Now came the fun part....
Zalika removed a cloth from the bag she had brought with her to Téa's house. She then located a pair of handcuffs and a dagger. She carried the three objects over to the desk.
Snickering, Zalika grabbed Téa violently by the hair. Téa's eyes flew open, and almost immediately she tried to scream. Of course, Zalika was too fast for her. She wrapped the cloth tightly over her mouth, leaving her no opportunity to scream or bite. She then grabbed Téa's wrists, and clamped the handcuffs over them. Téa continued to struggle violently, but weakly. She still had no idea who was attacking her, and she desperately tried to scream and escape.
Zalika spun Téa around. Téa's eyes went wide. Whether the thin brunette was shocked or flat out terrified, Zalika couldn't tell. Grabbing the girl by her neck, Zalika slammed her forcefully into the wall. Posters fell off, and a lamp was toppled. Téa's head jarred against the wall, and almost instantly she fainted.
"That was easy..." Zalika muttered to herself. She let go of Téa's neck and fetched the belongings from her bed. The girl slumped over, but Zalika grabbed her by the back of her shirt. She dragged Téa out of the room, and quietly down the stairs.
Still, no one had woken up. Zalika knew that Téa's weak-minded family would be no threat to her. She pulled Téa out of the house, and into the back yard. There she found a storm cellar. Perfect. No one would hear Téa if she screamed down there, especially since the door was metal and most storm cellars go underground quite deep.
Téa's eyes flew open, and she saw what her soon-to-be murderer was planning. Tears streamed down her face and her heart pounded insanely out of fear. Zalika opened the steal door with ease, and threw the girl down the stairs. Again, Téa hit her head on the ground. She didn't faint, but she was stunned. Zalika turned on the light, and pulled the door closed. She gripped the dagger in her gloved hand. She held it up to her own mouth, and licked the blade. Blood slowly trickled down the jagged knife and onto the sable glove. Téa backed away from the insane Egyptian that stood before her, crying softly. She had given up struggling, knowing now that there was no escape. She would either be killed instantly, or tortured until there was nothing left.
Zalika licked away the blood that was dripping down her mouth. Her ice-blue eyes burned with insane hatred.
'If looks could kill, she'd be dead right now.' Zalika thought to herself, snickering.
She moved towards Téa, who was now pinned in the corner against the wall of the storm cellar.
"How about some target practice?" Zalika asked casually.
Téa's eyes widened, hoping she had heard her wrong. Zalika ripped away the cloth that bound her mouth shut.
"Any last words?" She sneered.
"Somebody!!! Help me!!! Mom!! Dad!!! Please!!! Yugi!! Joey!!! ANYBODY!!" Téa screamed loudly. "AHHH!!!..."
Zalika slammed her hand against the girl's neck, forcing it tightly against the wall.
"Yugi is mine, Bitch. And because you've tried to take him from me, and gave it no thought, you are going to be punished. I will banish you to the Shadow Realm, where you will endure far greater agony and torment than what I will present to you now." Zalika threatened.
Téa whimpered, trying to back further away into the corner. Zalika backed away a little and raised her knife. She then hurled it at Téa, targetting her directly in the stomach.
Téa's screams were like music to her ears... and eyes. She cackled, watching the girl cry in pain and yank the dagger from her wound. She flung it weakly across the room, and it landed against the dirt wall.
Zalika pounced on the girl after retrieving the dagger. She removed her glove, and pressed her bare hand against the girl's wound.
"Who's ridding the world of waste now? Once you're gone, the world will be a far less polluted environment." Again, Zalika began cackling madly.
Téa cried, and Zalika only laughed harder.
"You preach to scared and depressed people, yet you're sitting before me, crying your ass off like a weak infant. How pathetic...."
"You're sick." Téa whispered. "I feel bad for Yugi... If he only knew what a.... AHHH!!!"
Zalika shoved her hand into Téa's wound. "Shut up Bitch. I never said you could talk."
Téa disregarded what Zalika commanded. She continued screaming as Zalika ripped her open even further. Her nails were sharp claws, and her hands felt dry and rough. Zalika pulled her hand out and snatched the dagger. She then shoved it inside of Téa's stomach, and cut her right up to her heart.
Téa felt herself growing weak from the loss of blood. She forced herself to endure more pain, knowing she was doomed anyways. Zalika removed the dagger once again, and put the blade up to Téa's mouth.
"Lick it, whore." She demanded harshly.
Téa tried to pull her face away, but the weakness and pain became overwhelming. She felt the life slowly drifting away from her. Zalika could see that she was becoming light-headed and was almost gone for good.
"I said lick it!"
Téa reluctantly took the blade in her mouth, and let the blood drip onto her tongue. She clamped down on it lightly, almost wishing she could taste the metallic substance that was being drained from her. As more of her nerves fired, she fell limp into the corner.
Zalika knew this was her chance. She stabbed Téa one last time with her bare hand, right in the heart area that she had cut. She gripped the slowly beating organ, and tore it from her chest, rendering it useless forever. The last thing Téa saw was Zalika's evil grin, and a mysterious gold light glowing on her forehead. After that, everything was dark.
Zalika stood up, holding her victim's heart in her palm. It bled only a little, which Zalika didn't like. She picked up the dagger, and stabbed it. Blood squirted from the warm organ and trickled down her hand.
"Broken hearted. Just like I had planned."
"HEY JOEY!! LAY OFF!!"
[end flashback]
Zalika looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. What she saw did not please her, especially since she was enjoying a nice memory of her 8-month ago past. Sure enough, Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor were there for food.
Oh please, great Ra, don't let them see me! Zalika thought to herself.
The two friends were approaching her, and she knew that this time there would be no escape. She only ducked her head down, hoping for the best.
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Okay umm.... That's chapter 2. Sorry Téa lovers! XD Anyways... Please read and review! I promise to have some romancy stuff in the next chapter. Yaoi will come later on too. Byez!