Marik sighed, holding the small, sleeping child on his lap. Kade had finally dozed off after crying for his mother for what had seemed ages. Marik was at a loss to know what to do. If the woman was dead, and they never found her, what would they do for Kade? What, indeed, could they do? They couldn't very well take a small child with them on such a dangerous venture as they were undergoing. But he seemed to trust Marik so wholly. What if he wouldn't want to leave the teenager if his mother couldn't be found?
Marik bit his lip, pondering over the events of the day as if that would help him determine where he could look for (and find) Kade's mother. She had to be somewhere, after all. The Yami could have easily killed her or . . .
Wait.
Marik frowned, looking around the quiet camp he and Rishid had made. "He took her," he said in a low voice.
"Hmm?" Rishid looked up from where he was deep in thought.
"My Yami. He took Kade's mother." Marik shifted position, trying to get comfortable as he felt his legs going numb under the boy's weight. "He must have. It's the only explanation we've got left."
Rishid threw a stick into the fire. "What would he desire with her?" he growled. Actually, Rishid admitted grimly to himself, he thought he had a pretty good idea of what that madman might want with a woman. He clenched his fists, vowing not to ever let Ishizu fall into the wicked being's clutches. The being, he was sure, would be cruel and merciless.
"He may be trying to draw me to him," Marik replied darkly. "As I said, he won't kill me—not yet—but he wants me to witness every bit of his evil. If he took Kade's mother, he knew all too well what he was doing. Perhaps he was taking a bit of a gamble that I'd find the child, but he was certain that somehow I would. And that I would try to help, thus ensuring that sooner or later I'd realize the truth about Kade's mother's disappearance and seek my Yami out again." Unconsciously his grip on the young boy's form tightened. Marik was very protective of children due to his own horrid experiences that he had suffered as a child. He couldn't bear to see innocent souls going through agony and pain. Such things filled him with hatred, almost to a dangerous extreme at times.
Rishid looked down at Kade, who was clutching at Marik's shirt in his sleep and not wanting to let go. Another image came to his mind then, unbidden. He saw himself, sitting as Marik was sitting now, with a child curled up on his lap. Kade's sandy curls became straight blonde hair and his pearly white skin a soft tan. Rishid knew he was seeing Marik as a child. He smiled, the image calming to him. "Don't fear, Marik," he said aloud. "Whatever is amiss here, we will find and fix it."
Marik gave a low sigh, but then smiled as Kade shifted position and snuggled closer. It was a bit of an unusual experience for the teenager—looking after someone. Usually he himself was the one being looked after. But ever since arriving here and discovering Rishid and then Ishizu, Marik had felt that he was watching over them. As long as they didn't completely remember their lives, Marik had to sometimes guide them along, teaching them of anything strange that came up that ordinarily they'd know about. And now there was Kade to look after. . . . And yet Marik knew that in spite of his siblings' handicaps, they were still taking care of him. Without them nursing him back to health after he had been severely wounded, he knew he would have perished. He started to doze, these thoughts turning over and over in his mind.
Suddenly he snapped back to full awareness, remembering something lost in all the confusion. It was a wild thought, a horrid thought, but still it came. "Rishid," he whispered urgently, "what if even Denva knows what happened?" It was terrible for Marik to suspect one who should be an ally, he knew, but that was just the problem. Denva should be on their side, but Marik honestly didn't know if he was, especially after the display with the bloodied sword. What on earth had Denva been doing with such a thing and why had he done it!
Rishid blinked at him. "What do you mean, Marik?" he asked.
Marik, recalling that he hadn't told Rishid of what he'd seen earlier, explained now about his encounter with the man. He spoke in quiet tones and made certain not to say too much, just in case Kade wasn't entirely asleep and could hear the conversation. There was no need to frighten the child with such ideas, especially when they couldn't be confirmed true.
Rishid frowned. "If we can find Denva, we must question him," he said at last. Marik's thoughts were very disturbing, and unfortunately, possible. Rishid understood this only too well. Denva's actions were a mystery, one that definitely required solving.
Kade opened his eyes sleepily, blinking up at Marik as if seeing him for the first time. "What's your name?" he asked, and Marik recalled that, indeed, he hadn't introduced himself. Somehow in the confusion, it must have slipped his mind to do so.
"I'm Marik," he said gently.
Kade pondered over this. "I'll call you Mr. Marik," he grinned, immediately dropping off to sleep again. He was safe and secure. He knew his new friend wouldn't let harm come to him. And soon they'd find his mother.
Marik sat still, thoughts continuing to tumble over in his mind. "'Mr. Marik,'" he repeated at last in a rueful way. "That makes me feel so old." He leaned back against the tree trunk, attempting in vain to ease the discomfort in his spine. He longed terribly for something soft.
Rishid laughed softly, amused at Marik's words. "Perhaps in a four-year-old's mind, you are," he remarked. "But if so, I must be quite ancient to him."
Marik found himself snickering. "So sixteen is old and twenty-five is ancient." His eyes started to close again and then snapped open as it occurred to him that he and Rishid were talking and laughing the way they always had before. He had actually forgotten for several all too short moments that his brother didn't remember everything. But it had all seemed so normal, so natural, the time they were sharing. Maybe Marik could take heart and hope from all this. Maybe it meant he would soon have his siblings completely back.
"Actually," Rishid said after a brief pause, "I believe he wants to call you 'Mr. Marik' because he respects and admires and looks up to you. Perhaps he even adores you." He himself was so caught up in the moment that he hadn't entirely noticed how freely he was speaking to Marik. Later on he would remember and realize, during one of the darkest points of this experience.
Marik grew silent at this. "I'm not really one who should be admired, Rishid," he at last said quietly. "I'm just a normal human being struggling to survive like everyone else." And after everything that had happened during Battle City he was certain all the more that this was true. If anyone knew of everything he'd done, how could they possibly say that he was to be admired?
Rishid smiled kindly. "But unlike 'everyone else,' brother, you are trying to do good. Not all people are that way. Yes, I believe there is reason to admire you." Gently he put his arm around the weary teen and Marik smiled in a way that was both happy and melancholy as he again began to doze. This was quite likely one of the most peaceful and serene moments these brothers would experience in this land, especially since more hard times were just ahead. Both would keep it in their hearts through the next hours.
The brothers were startled out of their dozes by the sound of worried footsteps in the grass. Rishid came alert first, followed almost instantly by Marik. Who was roaming about now? A villager? A rebel? Could it possibly be Kade's mother? Or was that too much to hope for?
Their questions were soon answered as Ishizu ran into view. "Brothers!" she cried, an expression of complete and utter relief and joy coming across her face as she saw them both alive and well. They hadn't suffered a tragic fate yet. And . . . was that a young child on Marik's lap? Ishizu blinked and came closer.
Marik brightened happily. "Sister!" he exclaimed, moving over to make room for her. He made certain not to disturb Kade by his actions.
Ishizu smiled, lowering herself down and brushing Marik's bangs aside. "Who do we have here?" she asled, glancing down again at Kade. It seemed to her that the little boy wanted to stay close to Marik. And the teen seemed to be taking good care of him. Marik's arms were around the small body, protecting the child from falling. He was being very gentle and kind, worthy of the obvious admiration bestowed upon him.
Marik sighed sadly. "This is Kade," he explained. "His mother is missing." In detail he and Rishid told how they had met Kade and how they had searched everywhere for his mother to no avail.
Ishizu listened grimly, her eyes narrowed in concern. She could imagine what Kade was going through. She had just come from the heartbroken Adelpha, who was feeling shaken and lost. Ishizu had been torn between offering comfort and looking for her own brothers. But Adelpha had wanted some time alone with Paul. And Ishizu was understandably panicked after her premonition. So she had come to find Marik and Rishid. She doubted Adelpha really knew she had left, though Ishizu had said a goodbye to her.
"Where have you been, sister?" Marik asked, noticing the silence.
"You seemed in a state of worry when you approached," Rishid added. He hadn't interacted as much with Ishizu as he had with Marik, but he had come to accept her as his sister and was rediscovering that he loved her very much. He couldn't imagine a world without her and Marik. The thought of Ishizu being worried over something filled him with a deep concern.
Ishizu smiled sadly, reaching for Marik's and Rishid's hands. "Paul has passed on," she told them quietly, reluctant to say anything about her premonition. She knew she most likely needed to, but she was still praying that it wasn't real and that what it spoke of wouldn't come to pass.
Marik drew his breath in sharply, thinking about how Adelpha must be feeling. He hadn't seen her interact much with Paul, but he had been able to tell that they were loving siblings. His heart went out to Adelpha now. If he lost either Ishizu or Rishid, he didn't know what he'd do. But at least he'd still have one or the other there. Adelpha didn't have anyone now. The one person she loved, the one bit of family she had, her only brother, was dead.
Rishid narrowed his eyes, feeling stunned by this news. He had known Paul the best out of the three of them, but now it dawned on him that he hadn't really known him at all. Perhaps, though to him Paul had been nervous and edgy and without backbone, he had been entirely wrong about the boy. Paul had fought bravely, getting fatally wounded in the process. And though his pain had been enormous, he had desired to find Adelpha instead of resting. Paul wasn't so unlike them . . . not so unlike Marik. They had shared the same age, but more than that—they shared courageous spirits. Now that Paul was dead, Rishid wished that he had treated him better. Unconsciously he drew Marik closer to him.
The rest of the night passed without further incident. When the first lights of dawn shone upon the lonely village, Rishid found his eyes slowly opening. Marik, with Kade in his arms, was sound asleep on the man's shoulder. Ishizu was dozing on his other side. Rishid smiled, watching these treasures in their slumber. It had been like this before. He remembered holding them both. He always had looked after his siblings.
Marik shifted position, moving closer to Rishid. He mumbled softly, his shirt pulling up and revealing one of the healing wounds he had borne since first arriving. Rishid frowned as he saw it, hoping it would not leave a scar. Marik had more than enough of those. Carefully Rishid reached out and pulled his brother's shirt back down as far as it would go—which, admittedly, wasn't much more.
A shadow fell across him and he looked up. Adelpha was standing in front of them all, her eyes clouded and dark. She had stayed up all night, holding her own private memorial service and burying Paul. Now she had a renewed determination to stop Fafnir and especially the Red Zealot. Her brother was dead because of their wickedness, after she had vowed to herself that he wouldn't die because of this war-torn country. A change had taken place in this tattered heart over the last several hours, one that may or may not be good for her soul. Whatever it took, she vowed that she would bring justice upon her enemies. This land had suffered long enough.
Rishid stared into the haunted orbs, recognizing the flicker of righteous fury that fueled one's soul when their family had been wronged. Something told him that he had seen Marik look that way before, many times. It bothered him, but he wasn't entirely sure why. "I am sorry about your brother," he spoke quietly and sincerely.
Adelpha drew her sword, studying it coldly. "You still have your brother and sister," she remarked. "Do you know what it's like to lose someone precious? Do you?" She didn't want anyone's sympathy or pity, especially not when they couldn't even begin to understand the pain she was feeling.
Rishid frowned, recalling the Battle City memories that had caused him so much confusion and confoundment several days before. Though Marik had changed now, once he had been that angry soul from Rishid's recollections. He had once been lost, not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Rishid knew this. Indeed, Rishid knew the pain Adelpha felt. Only Rishid's sorrow had been that Marik's soul, not his body, was lost.
He looked down at the slumbering teenager again, feeling him shift slightly. Marik let out a soft sigh, as if weary of the many burdens that had been heaped upon him during this journey. The boy had proven himself capable and mature enough to handle it all, but he needed a rest. Most boys his age were obsessed with cars or girls. Marik's only desire was to get his siblings and himself back home . . . and to find Kade's mother. Rishid realized, as he held the sleeping form close, that Marik most likely could never be interested in what most teenage boys were. He had experienced too much and his innocence was gone.
"You're silent." Adelpha's voice cut into his ponderings like an icy knife.
Rishid looked up, fixing her with a firm stare. "Yes," he said quietly. "I was thinking of the answer to your question. And I remember—I do indeed know what's it like to lose someone precious. I lost him to anger and hatred." He didn't remember details, though. It was more like feelings. He remembered Marik's rages and vengeance. He remembered how his heart broke, knowing that underneath it all Marik was scared and even terrified.
Then he had to choke back his feelings of alarm, realizing all the more how heartbroken Marik himself must have been several days before when Rishid had started to reject him because of the Battle City memories he had gained. Though Marik must have hurt him countless times during that period, it was never intentional. And Rishid had the feeling that he had never lashed out about it at Marik before. For him to have suddenly done so must have crushed the boy tremendously. He found himself holding Marik a bit closer.
Adelpha made a sound of anger under her breath. "I lost Paul to hatred as well. He was murdered by a madman. And I'm not going to allow that madman to go free." She reached into her shirt, drawing out the pendant. Rishid blinked as he saw it. It glimmered in the pre-dawn light, seeming attracted to Ishizu—or more likely, Rishid concluded, Ishizu's pendant.
"What do you mean to do?" he asked then. According to Marik, the madman wasn't any sort of mortal creature. It—well, Rishid supposed it was a "he" by default, but its action were so vile and contemptible that it seemed impossible for it to really have a gender—but Rishid was certain that it—he—couldn't be destroyed any ordinary way. What was it the demon had called himself? The manifestation of the world's evil? If such a thing were so, then evil would have to be completely extinguished for him to die. And Rishid sadly knew that that wasn't likely to ever happen. There would always be evil or else there could never also be good. It was a constant battle being fought in this mortal world.
"Anything and everything I can," Adelpha retorted. "Wake your siblings. We're setting out to get the third pendant." She sheathed her sword as she turned on her heels and spun off. She had left no explanation for where they would go. But she knew. They were going to retrieve the third pendant. She would make certain that Geates' Talisman rose again. And Fafnir and his cronie, The Red Zealot, would both be vanquished.
Rishid frowned as he watched her disappear into the brush. He didn't know how to explain to her about who this Red Zealot really was, but he knew someone would have to. Not that it would make any difference in her state. Rishid recognized it all too well, even without all of his memories intact. But what on earth did she mean by the third pendant? His sister hadn't had time to fill him in on the discussion she and Adelpha had had the past night or he would have understood. But he supposed it had something to do with the pendants both Adelpha and Ishizu were wearing. And he supposed that Ishizu would understand what was meant.
Ishizu opened her eyes first. Though she had been mostly asleep, vaguely she had heard parts of Adelpha's and Rishid's conversation through the haze in her mind. It disturbed her to hear Adelpha's cold tones, though she had known that the other woman could very well undergo a change of personality after Paul's death. Ishizu had almost sensed it with the Millennium Tauk. "Hatred lays strong over her heart," she said softly, straightening up. The raven hair tumbled down her back, glistening in the rays of the dawning sun.
Rishid took his arm away from around her shoulders, watching the delicate woman take out her own pendant and gaze at it thoughtfully and silently. Ishizu and Adelpha were so very different in nearly every way. Ishizu's hair was long and dark, her skin softly tanned, while Adelpha's tresses were cut short and naturally light, her skin a gentle, whitish tone. And their personalities. . . . Ishizu was so ethereal and soft-spoken—and very much a preferred pacifist, though she understood wars were sometimes necessary—but Adelpha's roughness and bold speech pattern were suited to the soldier she had strived to be. Now she was driven by hate and revenge. Rishid didn't like to think what would happen if Ishizu ever started behaving in such a way. He couldn't even imagine it.
"And I believe," Ishizu spoke again, disturbing Rishid's train of thought, "that it will be her undoing." She sighed, running her hand over the gem's smooth surface. It was mostly the calm blue color at the moment, but she could see the faint fiery glow near the back of it. There would be much danger for all of them today. Ishizu was certain of it. And the gem sensed it as well.
Marik stirred now, slowly returning to the world of awareness. He started to stretch but then remembered Kade sleeping in his now-sore arms. With a wry smile he raised his gaze to meet Rishid's, who smiled back.
"My arms hurt," Marik said ruefully.
Rishid chuckled. "But do you regret it?" he asked, realizing how his own arms hurt from keeping them protectively around Marik and Ishizu all night.
Marik glanced down at Kade, who was happily hugging the teen and thinking of Marik as a surrogate father/big brother. The child gave a sigh in his sleep, burying his face in the lavender softness of Marik's shirt.
"No," the Egyptian acknowledged, "no regrets. None at all." He saw himself at that age, snuggled in the warmth and comfort of Rishid's arms. Somedays that had been the only thing holding Marik's sanity together. If Rishid had not been loving and kind and patient, letting Marik stay in his embrace for however long he needed to, the boy was certain that his story and his battle with the Yami that culminated in Battle City would have been much different—and perhaps a disaster and tragedy. Rishid's deep, unconditional love for Marik had been what had kept Yami Marik at bay for so long. And it had been what had convinced Marik to keep fighting and not to just accept his Yami's plot to have him killed.
Ishizu smiled over at him, her eyes bespeaking her concerns. "Good morning, my brother," she greeted. Disturbing thoughts traipsed through her mind as she wondered how much longer she would be blessed with seeing those lavender lilac eyes looking back at her or if Rishid's strong presence would remain with them still. She couldn't forget her premonition from when Paul had died. One of her brothers would die. She would lose one of these two precious souls, very soon. And she didn't know how she and whichever brother was left would handle it.
Marik smiled at his sister, but the agony in her eyes wasn't lost on him. He was about to ask what was wrong when Kade began to rouse and Marik turned his attention back to the child.
As Kade started to focus, he saw Marik looking down at him. A smile immediately came over his features. "Mr. Marik!" he exclaimed, hugging the teen tightly. "We're gonna find Mommy today, aren't we?"
"We'll try our best," Marik replied, not wanting to give any false hopes. He was touched by Kade's innocence and prayed that it would remain, unlike his own.
"Adelpha wishes for us to retrieve the third pendant," Rishid spoke quietly, not especially feeling that Kade needed to hear about it at this point. He looked from Ishizu to Marik, wondering what they would think about this. Ishizu already seemed to know, it was true, but Marik had no idea of it.
Marik raised an eyebrow. "What in Heaven's name is that?" he demanded to know.
Rishid sighed, looking to Ishizu.
Ishizu also sighed. She had known this was likely to come, but she had feared it. With Adelpha in her current state of mind, Ishizu knew things would not go well. Slowly she began to explain to her brothers what Adelpha had told her the previous night. Marik and Rishid both listened carefully, deeply concerned, while Kade simply blinked and wondered what was going on. He knew about the pendant Adelpha wore, and that it was important, but he hadn't realized there were others like it. And he certainly didn't realize the gems contained magic.
Marik's eyes narrowed as the full gravity of the whole situation dawned upon him. "I'm sure it won't be easy to get it," he muttered low. And he didn't think that Kade should be involved any more than he had to be. None of this was what a child should witness. If it wasn't for Yami Marik, Kade wouldn't be involved at all.
Ishizu's eyes were sad as she fingered her own pendant again. "No, it will not be easy," she agreed. "It will be dangerous for all of us." But with Adelpha's reign of fury, Ishizu felt that she would be in the most danger.
"I don't fear what may come," Adelpha's voice came to Rishid's ears for the second time that hour. She stepped into the sunlight, followed by her band of rebels. Denva, Marik observed, was there as well, looking as cruel as ever. "You're all awake. Let's go now."
"We cannot go rashly," Ishizu said, standing up with ease. "The one who holds the third piece will not relinquish it without a battle."
"I'm aware of that," Adelpha retorted, her pendant beginning to glow red as it sensed its owner's inner turmoil. The woman swiped at the blood-stained grass in her way, sending it to the ground in wilted pieces. "But when we all surround him, if he's still alive by then, he won't have any choice but to surrender. Two gems have twice the power of one."
Ishizu frowned at this. "Last night you told me that the talisman cannot activate without all three pieces," she said slowly. "But . . . perhaps each pendant contains part of the power, which can be utilized if one knows how to make it come alive?" She was sure that her suspicion was correct. She had seen some sort of powers, however strange they may be, within the gem she kept safe. If she could harness the power instead of being helpless as it ran rampant, then she might be able to accomplish something.
"That's right," Adelpha nodded coldly. "And Fafnir will regret crossing me."
Marik growled, letting Kade climb off his lap before standing himself. He couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. He, perhaps more than anyone else right now, saw how this could go out of hand. And so he looked Adelpha right in the eyes as he spoke. "Power isn't necessarily everything. It's how you use it and why. You want revenge, Adelpha, and I don't blame you for it in the least. But even if we do get the third piece because of you and these gems that you and Ishizu possess, your very soul will be affected by your actions. Revenge eats away at every part of you until it and hatred are all that's left." He made a gesture of finality with his hand to illustrate his point. "And you don't have your brother physically here to bring you back to the light, as my brother was there for me." Marik's voice quieted at this, looking down.
Rishid blinked as Marik stepped forward, but then smiled softly as he heard the boy's words. He got to his feet as well, laying a hand on Marik's shoulder as he, too, looked at Adelpha. Marik truly had found his way now. He was wise and courageous, just as Rishid had known in his heart and had seen during their stay here in Juno.
"Marik is right," Ishizu agreed, coming forward as well. "He speaks truths."
Kade looked at Marik with wide eyes, seeing the teen's outburst. At first he shrank back in fear, but when he saw how melancholy his new friend looked, the child ran forward and grabbed at his hand. "It's okay, Mr. Marik," he chirped. He knew that whatever Marik was upset about, it didn't involve him. And even if it did, he wanted to make amends for it. The last thing he wanted to do was to make Marik angry or sad.
Marik froze, having completely forgotten about Kade's presence. As he had spoken, it had only been him and Adelpha there. Then Rishid had come and Ishizu had stepped forward as well. And now Kade was here. Marik completely snapped back into the present, smiling down at the child and gently squeezing his hand. Then he turned his attention back to Adelpha, who still hadn't spoke and was studying the four of them as if attempting to decide what to think. "I do know this, Adelpha," he said softly. "If Paul could see you now—and I believe he can—he would be sorrowed to see your grief becoming anger and hatred. That was my mistake. I suffered with it for six years, since I was ten—and the scars I'll have to live with for the rest of my life."
Adelpha narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not you," she retorted at last. "I'll decide how things will go for me—and for Juno. Fafnir and the Red Zealot have to be eliminated before they can do any more evil. Is it wrong for me to want to speed up that process?" Fire burned deep in the flashing green eyes.
"No, it is not," Ishizu said calmly. "But when your motives are more for revenge than rescuing the people, your judgement will be clouded. You may only endanger everyone worse instead of being able to save them."
"My motives are for justice!" Adelpha screamed in reply, raising her sword high above her head. "Who's with me? Do I stand alone?" She glared coldly at Ishizu. "I'll do this all by myself if I have to."
Ishizu pressed her lips into a thin line. She had a dark feeling about how all of this would turn out, but she knew it most likely would be worse if she and her brothers didn't go with Adelpha. If damage started to be administered, perhaps they would be able to fix it before it became drastic. "We are for justice as well," she said quietly, but was cut off before being able to say the rest.
"Justice!" her rebels echoed in unison, also raising their swords. They had sworn to follow Adelpha in life, assisting her with whatever she deemed necessary. Some were reluctant to give the battle cry, however, as they could see what the Ishtars could—Adelpha's usually sound judgement could become marred by the tragedy she had suffered. But still they felt they must follow her. Perhaps they, also, hoped to be able to avert a disaster if their leader unintentionally created one.
Kade looked up at Marik, puzzled. "What are they talking about, Mr. Marik?" he wanted to know. He had seen Adelpha and her men around the village many a time, and he knew that they were fighting against the enemies of Juno, but he didn't understand the harsh voices and big words. He did understand that nothing seemed to be being said about his mother, and for this he worried. Marik had promised to help Kade find her! What was going to happen now, the boy wondered. Had something "more important" for all these grown-ups come about and they would all leave without helping him, including Mr. Marik?
Marik sighed, ruffling the child's curly locks. "They're trying to determine the best way to defeat our enemies," he replied. "Now they've perhaps started to disagree on the methods, but the end result they want is the same." He knew this was true. Even he, in his moments of confusion and rage, had in the end only wanted justice done.
Kade blinked at him. "What about Mommy?" he whispered, his voice shaking. "You promised we'd find her, Mr. Marik! What's gonna happen now?" Angrily he wiped the tears away as they fell stubbornly from his eyes.
Marik knelt down in front of the poor boy, drying his tears gently. Determination shone in his eyes as he saw how lost and forlorn Kade looked. He knew he wouldn't break the promise. That had never entered his mind. "We'll still find her," he said firmly. Remembering his theory that Yami Marik had taken the woman, he brought Kade close in a hug. "I think, maybe, if we go with them, we'll find where she is," he added then.
"Really?" Kade said hopefully, throwing his arms around Marik's neck. Yes, Marik would come through for him. He had put all his trust in this gentle soul and it wouldn't be unfounded. The teenager was worthy of the trust and he would help at all costs.
"Yes," Marik said softly. Yami Marik would no doubt know of Adelpha's rage and hatred and want her to come to him. He would show up, Marik was certain. And then Marik would confront him about Kade's mother. He paused, his thoughts racing. He hated to take Kade with them, but what else could he do? Kade might be safer with him than if he stayed in the village. Once they had all left, it was possible that Yami Marik would return to finish the massacre he had started. It seemed, though, that he hadn't ever done such. Once he attacked a village, he usually went on to another one. But still Marik didn't want to leave Kade behind. He paused, drawing back to look into the child's eyes. "You do have to promise me something," he said now.
Kade stared into the lavender depths of Marik's orbs. "What's that, Mr. Marik?" he chirped.
Marik smiled. "You have to stay with me at all times," he replied, "and if we run into a problem, you have to let me and the other adults handle it." True, he wasn't really an adult yet, but in Kade's eyes he knew he was. It was hard to get used to being called "Mr. Marik," but he could tolerate it from this sweet, innocent child.
Kade nodded in agreement. "Okay," he smiled. "Just as long as we find Mommy!"
Marik prayed that they could and that it wasn't too late. He straightened up slowly, turning his attention back to the others. Now Adelpha seemed to be in a heated discussion with one of her scouts. Ishizu and Rishid were standing by, their expressions grave. When Rishid saw Marik looking over, he beckoned for him to come.
"What is it, Rishid?" Marik asked as he and Kade approached.
Rishid shook his head slowly. "That . . . being has struck again," he said darkly, still not certain what to call Yami Marik. He was still the Red Zealot and yet . . . now that Rishid had seen him and had seen his madness, that name didn't seem quite appropriate any longer. "Never before has he attacked villages two days in a row. And this time he set the village on fire." He pointed to a pillar of smoke in the distance.
Kade clutched at Marik's belt in fright when he saw it. Smoke and fire to him meant people dying. His father had died in a fire, his mother had told him. Kade had been too little to really remember it, but still the sight of the smoke made him anxious and upset.
"Adelpha is speaking with her scout to determine if our help is needed in that village right now," Ishizu spoke up quietly. "Part of her still does want to go to those people, but the other part wants to see revenge—or 'justice'—delivered to our enemies now. I am not certain which part of her will win." Her blue eyes shone with the concern she felt.
Marik put his arm around Kade gently. "Rishid," he said, looking back to his brother, "you said that . . . my Yami has never attacked two days in a row. Now that he has, what do you think it means?" He had a sneaking suspicion he already knew too well what it meant, but he was hoping, praying, that Rishid would tell him different.
Rishid had apparently been hoping the same from Marik. He narrowed his eyes, turning his gaze to the fire again. "It means that Fafnir and his cronie no longer see a need for the teasing suspense they have been putting us through. They must feel that Juno is almost conquered now."