The battle in the dungeon was just getting underway when an ear-piercing scream rent the air. Everyone, even Fafnir and Colchis, froze at the sound. Ishizu went pale, turning from where she was slapping a rowdy and raucous member of Fafnir's army to look at Rishid in horror. He looked back, the same knowledge passing between them—it was Marik screaming. He was in pain.
Sapphire looked alarmed. "What was that?" she wanted to know. Still she was hovering in the air, shielded from attacks, and powering up the Talisman to its full strength. She recognized a tortured cry when she heard one. Someone was in agony.
Fafnir started to smirk, looking wickedly triumphant. "My Red Zealot hasn't failed me yet," he remarked. "It sounds like he's killed another poor soul."
Rishid clenched his fists tightly. "No," he snarled. Unbidden came a horrible, haunting image to his mind of Marik laying dead on the marble floor, bleeding profusely while his Yami stood over him, cruelly grinning. He couldn't let it become the truth! Marik was his whole heart and soul. The boy would not perish! Without another word the man ran for a door at the back of the room, grabbing two enemy soldiers and knocking their heads together when they blocked his way. Nothing would keep him from the one he recognized as his brother.
"Go, Rishid," Ishizu whispered, wanting more than anything for him to leave this scene. Marik needed his elder brother. Rishid had to get to him now, while there was still hope for his life! Ishizu couldn't forget her premonition. She wanted to follow after Rishid now and get to Marik, and she turned to do so—but Colchis grabbed her arm before she could. His eyes gleamed evilly as he tried to get her in a headlock.
"Now look, Isis," he hissed in her ear, "look what you've done to your siblings. If you had only told me the truths about your visions, maybe this wouldn't be happening. Maybe Marik wouldn't be dying." His grip tightened while she struggled to get away. Such a beautiful woman, he thought in his malicious way. Such delicate skin and hair of silk. . . .
Ishizu stamped down on his foot. She only felt loathing and hatred for this man who had kept her prisoner, lying and deceiving and secretly wanting her for his own. "Release me!" she demanded as the battle resumed around them.
Colchis started to slowly choke her. "But don't you want to know the truth?" he retorted. "Fafnir and I both know that you, 'Lord Odion,' and the blonde teenager are siblings. The one Fafnir calls the Red Zealot told us all about the Ishtar family. We found him traveling through this land, creating his infamous destruction and devastation. He was the perfect key in our dark plan." As he spoke, he tried to find the way to unhook the Millennium Tauk from Ishizu's neck, in addition to concentrating on not being distracted by the woman's futile attempts to free herself.
"And what has been your 'dark plan'?" Ishizu spat out coldly, wondering why he was telling her. Was it a way to taunt her? Or did he have some other sinister reasoning behind it? Slowly she tried to work herself free, but she soon became rattled when a soldier's body flew overhead, crashing against the opposite wall. Then another crashed into Colchis from behind, causing him to lose his grip on the lovely Egyptian woman. Immediately she pushed him away, running free and looking about for Adelpha. Somewhere in all the confusion she had lost the rebel leader. And though she still wanted to know what Colchis and Fafnir had been plotting, now was not the time to learn.
Sapphire looked down at her, all the while gathering her magic for a water attack. "Go," she instructed. "Go to your family before it's too late, Ishizu Ishtar. I couldn't save my husband. I don't want the same fate to befall your brothers." She gave no explanation as to how she knew Ishizu's name, but the truth was that the Talisman had revealed it to her. Now she knew the identity of all who had ever touched even one of the pieces. And she knew Ishizu was a friend.
Ishizu gazed at this noble woman. If circumstances were different, she would have liked to have spoken with her more. As it was, she knew she had to go. Marik's scream had been so pitiful! Rishid might need assistance with finding and helping him. Ishizu hated leaving the others in their battle, but she knew she wouldn't be much help in combat. Surely with the Talisman activated, good would be victorious here. But did Fafnir have another plan? Ishizu was almost certain of it. He had sounded so satisfied when he had made his dark comment about Yami Marik killing someone else—a someone else who most likely was Marik. But she couldn't believe he was dead! No!
"Go!" Sapphire cried, releasing a huge wave at a large group of soldiers led by Colchis.
Ishizu turned and fled, running toward the door Rishid had used. As she approached, Fafnir lunged at her, bejeweled sword in hand. He would have her dead! She and her brothers had not helped his plans move along, as Yami Marik had obviously conned him into believing. Now they would all die and Fafnir would start over, without his brother Colchis around to screw things up. He would have the throne and the Talisman yet.
With lightning speed Adelpha sprang to Ishizu's defense, crashing her sword against Fafnir's. "Don't touch her," she hissed coldly. "Let her go to her family before there's no hope!" She had lost Paul yesterday and had almost gone mad. And she would see to it that Ishizu wasn't too late for Marik and Rishid.
Ishizu turned back in stunned surprise, taking in the scene and realizing what had been about to happen to her. "Adelpha," she breathed. She now owed her life to this rebel.
Adelpha gritted her teeth, looking over briefly. "I don't want you to suffer as I'm suffering!" she yelled. "Don't hang around here. Go, Ishizu. I'll be fine!" Her sword and Fafnir's screeched as they began to disengage from each other.
Ishizu nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly, hurrying out. Please, she cried silently, be well, my brothers!
She didn't see the ensuing battle she was leaving behind. She didn't see Adelpha wounding Fafnir deeply in the shoulder, nor Fafnir stumbling but then stabbing Adelpha harshly in the chest.
The woman fell to her knees, her life flashing in front of her eyes. She saw the two most painful events of her life—her mother's death and then Paul's. She remembered her determination to save Juno and restore it to the free country her mother had loved. Juno would be saved now, wouldn't it? Sapphire had called the Talisman forth and was using it.
What about the Ishtars? Would they be saved? Would that family be able to continue journeying through life together? She looked in the direction Ishizu had gone, praying it wasn't too late. Ishizu loved her brothers so much and they both loved her in return. Adelpha had seen that plainly. If Ishizu lost her brothers, she would feel as alone as Adelpha did now.
Then she saw Fafnir struggling to go to the door. He was still determined to find Ishizu. And Adelpha wouldn't let that happen. As her breathing became labored, she used every ounce of her strength to raise her sword. Somewhere she heard Paul calling to her, encouraging her, telling her not to give up. Paul hated violence, but he knew that sometimes it was necessary in times of tyranny, to bring about its destruction. That was why he had helped her with her rebels.
With a feeble war cry Adelpha plunged the weapon into Fafnir's back and then watched him sink down silently in an eerie way, a shocked expression gracing his features. Then Adelpha collapsed as well. It was over for them both.
Rishid made it to the roof just as Marik and his Yami hit the water far below. The man went pale as he heard the splash, seeing the wounded teen disappear under the surface. "NO!" The scream tore from his lips as he ran forward, clutching at the edge of the wall. His eyes scanned the water, watching in horror as blood began turning the aqueous surface to a haunting red. Marik was down there, injured—and not returning to the top. He could swim—somehow Rishid knew this—but now he was too hurt to do so. He would drown.
But no! No, he wouldn't. Rishid would never let that happen. He would save his brother. He had vowed to always protect him. And so he jumped off the roof, plunging into the frigid ocean. As he went under, he strained to see any sign of the boy he loved. The water was clear for the most part, save for the blood tainting it crimson. Sickened, Rishid swam forward, holding his breath.
Then he saw the sight. Marik was below him, near the bottom, struggling weakly against his Yami. The madman was attempting to choke him to death, his fingers wrapped wickedly around Marik's neck and pressing the choker into his flesh. Marik went limp just as Rishid arrived.
In anger the protective brother punched Yami Marik, causing his grip on Marik to be loosed. Rishid then snatched the boy into his arms, holding him close and heading for the surface. Yami Marik sneered viciously before vanishing. Marik was barely alive, if that. The Darkness had set up this entire plan just to torment the Ishtars. And it was working.
Rishid broke the surface, gasping for breath. He held Marik's body carefully, feeling blood running over his fingers from the deep wound in the teen's back. Water poured out of his mouth when Rishid gently opened it. His skin was a ghostly pale color and felt icy to the touch. At first Marik made no voluntary moves, worrying Rishid greatly, but then he choked, coughing up more water and shuddering.
"Rishid," he whispered, grabbing the man's clothes. "You came. . . ." He smiled, though he felt the pain shooting through him. The wound, coupled with the near-drowning and strangling, was fatal. He knew he was dying. Right now he was barely conscious. Practically the only thing he understood was that Rishid was there. He would not die alone.
"Brother . . . of course I have come," Rishid cried, panicked as he felt Marik's body grow heavier. He realized Marik was dying, most likely from loss of blood, but he wouldn't accept it. There had to be a way to save him! If he could just get Marik to the shore, he might be able to find a doctor who could do something. . . .
Marik looked up at him blearily. "I was so worried when . . . you didn't answer. . . ." He snuggled closer to his brother, calmed by the sound of his heart beating. "Are Ishizu and Kade safe?"
Rishid swallowed hard. He knew Ishizu was alright—at least, she had been when he'd left. And as for Kade, Rishid was certain he'd seen the child when he was running frantically for the roof, but he'd been far too panicked to stop and talk to him. He checked Marik's pulse, seeing with alarm that it was slowing. "They're safe, my brother," he reassured Marik, his voice cracking. What was he going to do? How could he stop the inevitable?
Marik relaxed. "It's so good to hear you call me that, Rishid," he said softly, closing his eyes again. "It makes me feel like . . . like you do remember me again." He felt Rishid gently pressing a cloth against his back, trying to stop the bleeding. It seemed fruitless, but Marik didn't protest. He knew Rishid understood that he was dying. But neither of them really wanted to accept that.
Now he looked up again, sadly. "I won't be able to keep the promises I made to Ishizu and Kade," he realized. "I'm dying, Rishid." He spoke the words both dreaded to say. He hadn't thought it would end this way, not at the beginning of this adventure, but when he had known he would have to fight his Yami, the suspicions arose that he might not live through it. Now his Yami was winning. Marik felt heartsick.
"No!" Rishid protested, his hands shaking as he held the form of his younger brother. "You are not dying! Do you hear me, Marik! I will not let you die!" If Marik perished, Rishid's life would have no meaning. Marik was Rishid's life. Frantically he looked for the nearest way to shore. They had to get back there. Ishizu would be waiting for them. They had to return to their sister.
Marik's voice interrupted his search. "I'm sorry," he choked out, tears falling from the lavender lilac eyes—the same eyes that Rishid had been drawn to when Marik had first arrived. They had been the window to the boy's soul—and to Rishid's. It was largely in part from seeing those eyes that Rishid had come to believe Marik was telling him the truth about everything. "We can't kid ourselves, Rishid." He became uneasy as his vision started to go out of focus. Immediately he clutched Rishid tighter. He didn't want to slip off into the water again. But he knew Rishid wouldn't let him. Rishid would protect him.
Rishid kept his arms around the teen protectively, laying a hand in his blonde hair. "You came into my life such a short time ago," he said quietly, shutting his eyes as he couldn't bear to face this reality. "You reminded me of who I am and what I fight for. And while I may not remember you, I know that everything you told me is the truth. I know you are my brother." Again and again in his mind he was suffering with seeing the cruel, thoughtless things he had done to Marik those first couple of days. He couldn't bear that, either. "That is why. . . ." Rishid swallowed the lump in his throat, but it only returned instantly. "That is why I cannot lose you. If I lose you, Marik, I lose my life."
Marik hugged his brother as tightly as he could manage. "But you have to keep living, Rishid," he whispered. "There's Ishizu. . . . She'll be so sad. . . . And Kade, too. . . . But he'll have his mother. . . ." Marik trailed off, realizing something. "Was she found, Rishid?" he asked urgently. To his mind came Kade's worried blue eyes and his innocent voice, pleading for Marik to help him find her. He had tried to keep his promise. Now, perhaps, he was dying for it.
"Yes," Rishid managed to reply. "She was." He felt tears coming to his eyes. What was this? He hadn't cried . . . not for ages. But now, suddenly, he couldn't stop the crystalline drops from falling. His heart was shattering a million and one times, into twice that many pieces. He was going to lose Marik.
This only made Marik cry as well. The last thing he wanted to do was die. "Tell them I'm sorry," he whispered. "I tried. . . ." Now his eyes were focused on a point just beyond Rishid. It seemed to him that he saw a light. He gazed at it with a certain awe and curiousness, though he continued to hug Rishid close. Is it Mother? he found himself wondering. Is she here to take me away? He bit his lip.
"Do you see the light, Rishid?" he asked.
Rishid glanced around, feeling the horror grow steadily worse. There was no light. But Marik was seeing one. His brother was truly going to leave him. And how would he tell Ishizu and young Kade? Marik was right—they were going to be so crushed, as Rishid was. For days Rishid had been thinking and hoping that they would all return to the home Marik kept insisting they had. He wanted to go there and live a normal life peacefully with his siblings. And Marik had longed for it so much. But now he was going to die here, in this forsaken land. They would never be able to all return home now. "No," he said finally. "Marik, I don't see a light. . . ." His voice completely broke, along with his heart once more.
Marik snuggled closer to Rishid. "I feel warm, Rishid," he said softly, feeling oblivion claiming him. "So warm . . . and loved. . . ." He slumped against his elder brother, but not before whispering something softly in the Egyptian tongue that Rishid still didn't remember.
Rishid's blood went completely chill. He stared down at the boy's body, seeing the closed eyes and the soft blonde bangs falling over them. Blood was soaking through the cloth Rishid had pressed against the stab wound. The limp arms were still wrapped around Rishid's waist, but he felt their grip loosening. And to him this said most certainly that his brother had just passed on. Sure enough, when he checked the vitals signs, there were none. No breath, no heartbeat, no pulse. Nothing.
What was most horrifying of all to Rishid, though, was the sudden slam of memories that overwhelmed him all at once. He saw an infant Marik, cooing and giggling and adoring his elder siblings. He saw how he had slowly warmed up to the boy, whom he had initially despised because of their mother dying while giving birth to him, and how he had strived so hard to protect him always. Images of the cobra biting Marik and of Mr. Ishtar beating Rishid for the accident came next, including how Rishid had become incensed at Marik for gaining the acceptance that Rishid was starved for. And he saw glazed eyes opening, trying to focus on him. "I'm sorry, big brother." He heard the sweet, innocent voice echoing all around him.
Rishid didn't know it, but he was completely pale now. He grasped the limp body tightly, as if letting go meant losing the one he couldn't lose. But he had lost him. He remembered him now, that he was dead. And he now knew what Marik had spoken in Egyptian just before he died. He had said, "I love you, my brother."
Several minutes later Rishid knelt on the grassy bank next to Marik's still form. Gently he smoothed the bangs away from the boy's forehead and then pressed on his chest. He hated doing that, knowing it could irritate the wound on his back more, but if his brother still had water from the ocean within him, Rishid had to get it out. Marik jerked, more water spilling from his mouth, but then he lay quiet once more. Though Rishid tried for several more minutes and was able to remove the rest of the water, he was never able to accomplish more than that. Marik could not revive.
Finally he gathered his brother into his arms again, rocking back and forth slowly and turning his gaze to the skies, splashed with colors as the sun set. "Please," he said in a pained voice, offering his heartfelt prayer, "trade my life for his. Marik deserves to live. He's only a boy! He has his entire life ahead of him. And I. . . ." He trailed off, looking down at the pale face once more. Marik looked only somewhat at peace. Tears were still on his cheeks. "I," Rishid managed to continue now, "would find my life well fulfilled if only I knew that Marik would have the chance to live. He wanted to live! Please . . . do not rob him of that chance!" He held the boy closer, longing to feel him reaching out to hug him again. "Save him!" he begged now. "Save my brother. Please!" But Marik did not revive and Rishid was left to his own thoughts as he cradled the body to his heart.
It was in this heartbroken state that Ishizu found him a few moments later. She approached slowly at first, then quickened her pace, fearing the worst. "Rishid?" she breathed in alarm, kneeling down beside him. She took in the sight of her brothers' drenched forms and Marik's stillness and felt her heart being squeezed. She could piece together what had happened without even asking. Marik was either serious hurt or he might be . . .
"Dead," Rishid choked out, looking up at her with tortured eyes. "He is dead and only now do I remember him! Only now!" Did Ishizu remember too? In Juno, she had always trusted Marik more and had been more accepting of him than Rishid had been. How could Rishid ever forgive himself now? How could he possibly? He loved Marik more than anything else, but he had forgotten him here and had turned cold and harsh. He had said so many things he wished he could take back now. But he would carry it all with him now until he died. Oh! How he would love to just die now and go be with the boy! But he knew he could not. There was still Ishizu to think of. And Marik wouldn't want him to kill himself. But Rishid loathed himself now. How was he going to bear living knowing that he had hurt his prized brother so deeply during his final days? How?
Ishizu felt as if her heart was stopping. No! No, Marik couldn't be dead! Indeed, she did remember him now—and Rishid as well. When she gazed into the golden orbs she could see all of what her elder brother was currently feeling. And she felt her heart shatter for both of those poor souls. Marik had promised her that they would meet again, but he had known there was a chance this would happen and that he wouldn't get to keep the promise—not until Ishizu and Rishid both died as well and met him in Heaven. Ishizu had prayed so hard that this would not come to pass. She had warned her brothers of her premonition. She had hoped that they could be more cautious and stop any possible deaths from happening. But maybe this had been destined to happen. Maybe there was nothing at all that could have stopped it.
For now, Ishizu could only throw her arms around Rishid and hug him tightly, Marik's body in between them. She didn't ask how it had happened or why they were both drenched. That didn't matter right now. All that mattered was that their family had been ripped apart once again. "My brothers," she whispered, tears slipping from her blue eyes and memories, good and bad, swirling through her mind. "My precious, dear brothers. . . ."
Twilight fell upon the land of Juno. The word went out that the true enemies of the land had been defeated and that the rightful queen was still alive and had come forth again. Many of those in the land were stunned at the news of Fafnir's involvement with the carnage and destruction. Others, mostly those who had been in touch with Adelpha and her rebels, had suspected or knew it all along. Still others refused to believe this was true. Sapphire was saddened by this, though she had been certain that there would be some citizens who were still loyal to Fafnir, even after everything. They might cause trouble in the future, but she would worry about that if and when it happened. There were more pressing matters at the moment.
Word also went out that many noble lives had been lost in the fight and that there would be a memorial service for them all that evening. Once the battle was over, so many of Adelpha's warriors had lain dead, as well as Adelpha herself. Sapphire had seen how the other woman had perished. She had spoken to her right before the brave soldier had breathed her last. "I didn't want Ishizu to suffer," Adelpha had told Sapphire as her eyes glassed over. "There's no greater pain than . . . to lose someone you love." Then her eyes had cleared once more and she had cried out with a happy voice, "Paul! Mother!" and then had gone still.
Sapphire told all of this in private to Ishizu, offering her sympathies for her own loss. "Adelpha and I . . . we both understand your pain," she said softly, laying a hand on the Egyptian woman's shoulder. "But your brother's sacrifice will not be forgotten. He will be hailed as a hero in Juno, just as all who have fought for right." Her Talisman glistened as it hung around her neck. It would remain with her, now, never to be separated into its three gems again. Later it would pass on to Kade. Sapphire had healed Marik's wound with the Talisman's power, even though she knew it wouldn't do any good. She could not bring back a spirit from the afterlife. He was still dead. But Rishid had wanted it done nevertheless. It haunted him, feeling the injury in the boy's back when he held him.
Ishizu swallowed hard. Now that it was all over, now that Juno had been saved, Shadi had reappeared to her and Rishid. They no longer had to remain, he had said, and they could come home to Domino City if they wished. There was a ship in the harbor that would take them. And so that was what they planned to do. They would take Marik's body back with them and give him a proper burial in the city cemetery. And then . . . then. . . . Ishizu didn't know what would happen then. Shadi's words upon appearing had pierced her very soul. "Marik's journey is ended," he had said solemnly, looking from one to the other. Rishid had only held the still form closer. He hadn't let Marik out of his sight since the tragedy. Right now he was out on the balcony of the palace, still cradling him and waiting for Ishizu.
"I'm so sorry," Sapphire spoke again, guilt sweeping over her. "If I'd only acted sooner, maybe none of this would have happened at all. I shouldn't have ignored my queenly duties." She had explained to Ishizu all of what had taken place in her and Kade's lives and how they had been hiding in the village after Fafnir's treachery. He had been stalling for time by recruiting the various kings he had, all the while searching for the three gems that would make up the Talisman. He had wanted that before claiming the throne as his own. But in his quest he had only retrieved one gem, the one that Colchis, his brother, had claimed. Ishizu had found the second right before Colchis would have taken it as well, though it hadn't been him entering the treasury. That person's identity was still unknown. Adelpha had possessed the third. Fafnir had known it had been found, but he didn't know how to retrieve it—until Yami Marik had approached him and they had made their deal of death. He would massacre the villages, looking for the third pendant in every house and on every person. Since he enjoyed destruction, he was quite agreeable. And after abducting Ishizu and Rishid he had set things up with Fafnir so that they would be in the palace, unbeknownst to each other and not remembering each other anyway if they met up. The whole plan would enable Yami Marik to bring grief upon the family he hated most—and to help Fafnir achieve his goals at the same time.
Ishizu shook her head slowly, turning to face the tortured woman before her. Sapphire would carry this burden always with her, as Rishid would forever carry the knowledge of how he had treated Marik during the first part of their stay in Juno. "You cannot be blamed," Ishizu said softly. "You only wished to protect the young child you love, for you knew he could be killed if Fafnir found you both again." She turned to look out the elegant window at the night sky and at the candles for peace that the people were lighting below. "This was all a horrible tragedy, brought about by wicked hearts. We must rise above their hatred and cruelty. Those who have perished would want that." Her voice choked. "Marik . . . would want that."
Sapphire nodded sadly, knowing Ishizu was right. But that didn't change the pain she still felt. Kade didn't even know of his friend's fate yet. She had put him to bed after the battle ended and they had found each other once more. He was awake now, though, and would come looking for news of Marik. Sapphire closed her eyes, tears emerging from them as she thought of how stricken he would be when he learned the truth. He had such a tender heart, one that broke when he learned of sadness and agony and death. She couldn't forget his heartbroken expression when he realized his father was not coming back. How could she bear to put him through that again?
She looked back to Ishizu. "It's time for the service," she said quietly, "but I know you and Rishid wanted to slip away on the ship before it took place."
Ishizu glanced out at the balcony, where Rishid was standing and coming slowly over to the doors, Marik still in his arms. "Yes," she responded. Though she did want to pay her respects to Adelpha, especially since she had sacrificed herself for Ishizu, she felt that Adelpha would want her and Rishid to get away as soon as they could. At least the two elder siblings still had each other. That was such an immense blessing. Neither one would have to go on alone, as Adelpha had struggled to go on without Paul. Perhaps she and Rishid would be able to give strength to each other to survive.
Rishid entered, pain evident on his face. "Please," he agreed, overhearing the conversation, "let us just leave." His and Marik's clothes were dry now and he had the boy wrapped tenderly within the folds of his cloak. He looks so calm, as if he is only sleeping, Rishid thought sadly to himself, knowing the harsh truth. Marik was not asleep. He had had enough of Juno for now. He only wanted to get away, even though he knew it would be impossible to run from this truth. Always he would carry it and the memories with him.
Sapphire nodded, leading them to a back exit of the palace. It would open out into the harbors. "I wish," she said softly, "that we wouldn't have to part on such tragic terms." Juno had always been such a beautiful, peaceful land—until greed and revenge had entered the hearts of some and brought about wars and tragedies. This tragedy she, also, would always carry. She still felt partially responsible. But she knew there really wouldn't have been anything else she could have done. She had searched for the pieces of the Talisman in the hopes of putting it back together, but as fate had had it, she had not found them. Perhaps everything had been meant to happen the way it had, even though it seemed so horrible.
Ishizu took a deep breath. "As do we," she replied, just as softly.
Ishizu and Rishid had just gotten settled on the ship's deck when a small figure came running forward from the direction of the palace, screaming Marik's name. Both elder Ishtar siblings froze with horror. It was Kade, coming for his treasured friend. They had hoped so badly to get away without him knowing. None of them wanted him to have to see Marik so still and cold, unable to speak to him. But there was nothing they could do now. Sapphire was also gazing with alarm, her blue eyes widening. She had known that this might happen, though she had prayed it would not.
"Kade," she said softly, but she was immediately cut off by the child's anguished cry as he ran up the steps onto the ship.
"Mr. Marik! Mr. Marik!" Kade flung himself at Marik's body as Rishid held the form on his lap. The child sobbed, hugging Marik tightly and burying his face into his lavender shirt. "You promised! You promised! Why didn't you come find us, like you said you would! Why!" He shook the boy roughly with trembling four-year-old hands, wanting him to answer. But he received no reply. In physical form, Marik could take no notice of the words or the shaking.
"Kade," Ishizu said quietly, laying her hands on his shoulders. She bit her lip, her heart breaking once more. She could not control the tears that flowed from her eyes. It all seemed so abominably haunting, for young Kade to have to come and see Marik here . . . this way. . . . It reminded her of when she'd seen her mother laying dead. She had been exactly Kade's age. Rishid had tried to comfort and explain to her, but her young mind had not been able to grasp any of it. Their mother shouldn't have had to die, just as Marik shouldn't have had to. "We are so sorry, Kade. . . . Marik . . . he . . . he was not able to make it." The words came out steadily, even though Ishizu didn't feel the least bit steady at the moment.
Kade looked up at her, tears streaming from his own eyes. "But he promised!" he wailed. "He should've kept his promise!" Part of him knew Marik was dead—that he wouldn't be coming back ever again—but the other part refused to accept it. Marik was going to open his eyes in a minute. He had to!
"Marik was sorry as well," Rishid said then, remembering Marik's final words to him. "He wanted me to tell you and Ishizu that." But then Rishid retreated within himself, unable to say more. He was broken.
Sapphire walked over slowly, gently taking her child's small hand. "Come, Kade," she whispered, trying to keep her voice calm. "They have to leave now. We have to say goodbye." She could hardly bear this. The pain of a mother seeing her child in agony is rarely, if ever, equaled. And she had seen Kade like this before. But it wasn't any easier this time. If anything, it was only harder.
Kade looked back down at Marik, seeming to be pondering over things in his young mind. At last he hugged the teenager tightly around the neck, feeling the blonde hair tickling his face, and whispered in Marik's ear. "I know you're gonna come back someday." He wouldn't believe Marik was gone. How could he be, when he had promised? No, Marik was going to return. He'd find Kade, just as he said he would. "You'll come back, Mr. Marik!" Kade pulled away, sniffling, and ran to his mother's side, hugging her now. No one knew of what he had whispered, unless, perhaps, the one he had whispered it to did.