Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…)
Author's Note: Sistra was the word for a rattle. Akiiki means friendly and Hasina means good. Soon, you'll be seeing a dark side to Set. After all, he's not a sweet loving character, is he? I've also included a special scene where Set remembers just why he calls Neith 'lotus', and Mana makes her first appearance! I hope you enjoy the especially long chapter, packed full of action.
Summary: They say that you don't know what you have until you lose it. Set begins his search and then discovers just who was responsible. Thus begins a journey to take back what was stolen from him as he chases down the thief in question.
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Chapter 10: Confined
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"Hey? Hey! Are you all right? Come on, please wake up!" a voice called.
Neith barely heard the young-sounding voice as she began to awake, her vision still blurred. The young woman looked around at her hazy surroundings, feeling groggy, and as she did, Neith managed to perceive that she was indoors. As her vision began to clear, Neith could see that the room had only the barest furniture, a chair and table, and that the only source of light came from a small window to her right.
Just what… happened? Neith wondered. Gods, I feel so thirsty. What am I doing here?
All Neith could remember was being in the temple, several minutes before she was due to leave for her appointment with Set. How had she gotten here? Neith was confused. She had been in the temple and now she was here. Was she dreaming? Who would have the nerve to do such a thing? The young woman's right hand grasped at her chest, and she could thankfully feel her golden amulet, her father's sacred artefact, within her palm. At least she still had that.
Or maybe I've been kidnapped. But who would want to do that? Neith considered.
Her mind was then illuminated. There were Syrian spies in the city. It had to be them! It explained it perfectly!
"Ah, you're awake, priestess. It's a blessing. For a moment there, I was worried about you," the same voice announced.
It was that young voice again, a girl's.
They have the nerve to take children?! The grip Neith had on her pendant tightened.
"I thank you for your concern, but what am I – we – doing here?" As her eyesight cleared, Neith saw that a young girl of about thirteen years was watching her curiously, sitting back on her legs like a cat, and she found herself wondering why she was here. "And who are you, if I might ask?"
The black-haired girl proudly folded her arms.
"Sistra. Akiiki and Hasina's youngest daughter!" the girl announced.
Neith smiled weakly at the girl and brought her knees up to her chest, suddenly feeling alone and scared as she realised that chains bound her feet. The girl was obviously proud of her family and that was a good thing. Neith then found herself thinking about Set. Her hands clasped around her pendant as she silently prayed to the Netjer that they would be found safe and well.
Set, where are you? Neith asked inwardly.
"Are you all right, Priestess?" Sistra asked.
Neith sighed and looked at the girl, who seemed to be in high spirits even though she was in the same situation as herself. If only she could have such hope and faith. Lately, the young woman had been feeling depressed about the dilemma between Set and herself.
"Not really, seeing as I've been kidnapped. As have you, apparently," Sistra spoke.
The girl looked down apologetically, and that was when Neith saw that the girl's hands were bound by rope.
"I – I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you! It's just that I… I miss my parents!"
Sistra's lower lip wobbled as Neith heard the first strain of tears come from the young girl. It was despicable. Why take a child? Had they no honour? And to tie her up and treat her like an animal was unforgivable!
"Shush. I shall protect you while they are unable to do so. Come here," Neith whispered, holding out her arms.
The young woman took the girl in an embrace as Sistra shuffled over to her, her feet unbound. Stroking the girl's hair soothingly, Neith attempted to quieten her down. Set would find them, and then he would meet out punishment.
Neith hated to make judgements, but she inwardly felt that they deserved to be punished, especially after what they had done. That was when she realised that a young face was looking up at her and she could see that hope was still present in the young girl's eyes. Perhaps all was not lost after all.
"But we'll be fine, won't we? I mean, the Hem Ntjr himself is here, so we'll be fine!" Sistra spoke.
Of course we will. It's Set, after all…Neith thought. Hang on.
Neith looked down at the girl, her arms still protectively surrounding her.
"Did you say the Hem Ntjr? What do you mean?" Neith asked.
"Don't you know? They haven't been able to get us out of here. We're still in Per-Bast!" Sistra announced.
Neith gawped in shock at Sistra and found it odd that they were still in the city. Perhaps they had been captured on impulse? If so, the spies were being irrational and offered her a greater chance of escape. She still had her pendant, so they obviously had no idea as to its true importance. And something told Neith that Set would be swift in using any means to discover their whereabouts.
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Set, meanwhile, was being escorted through the city by a troop of his guards. Flanked by men wielding spears, the tall priest was an imposing sight.
People immediately cleared out of the Hem Ntjr's way, fell to their feet and bowed as he passed. They were obviously scared of arousing his anger, Set believed.
The young man ignored the townsfolk, arriving in a large open space where he could conduct his search from a more centralised area.
When Neith had disappeared, Set had immediately sealed off the city and was now conducting his search the morning after in daylight. No one could enter or leave without his personal permission. Let them stew. This whole business reeked of underhandedness and the enemy, and although this method was extreme, and had generated several complaints, Set felt perfectly justified. The scene of crime would be preserved and no one would get away with abducting something he held precious. People were being questioned, houses were being searched, and he was sure he would find the priestess.
If they've remained here, they've made a big mistake, the Hem Ntjr thought, certain that what he had on his hands was abduction.
And that made Set mad. No one but him could have Neith; not after all the trouble he had gone to.
"How inconsiderate of them," Set muttered, glancing around coldly at the city square, which was situated right outside the Temple of Bast. "They shall have to be punished. Severely punished."
He then saw a soldier running up to him, and he listened to what the man had to say.
"Hem Ntjr! I've just been told that two men who looked like foreigners were seen removing a bundle of rolled-up fabric from the temple early yesterday evening." Set shot a sceptical look at the guard, who gulped. "… But the man claimed that he saw them drop the roll and pick it back up, and that was when he saw a pair of feet dangling out of the end!"
"Then why didn't he say so before? Bring him to me!" Set demanded.
The young priest saw the soldier retreat into the crowd, returning moments later with a man in tow. The man lowered himself to his knees, prostrating himself at Set's feet.
"Don't waste my time," Set drawled. "Tell me what you saw, and why you didn't view it as imperative that you tell me earlier."
The man twiddled his thumbs.
"I – I was drunk at the time, you see, Hem Ntjr. My wife's just given birth to our third child and I was out celebrating. I wasn't really sure what I saw…"
"Get on with it." Set sounded bored.
"… But I was sure that – I thought that – I saw a pair of feet, women's feet, sticking out of the end of the roll, my Lord. I neglected to tell you because I thought that in my condition I was seeing things," the man mumbled, bowing again.
Strange… Set thought.
"Offer prayers to the Netjer that I find myself willing to offer you mercy. Now be gone," Set answered.
The Hem Ntjr then turned his back on the man and waved his hand, the soldier escorting the man away.
Folding his arms, Set rued darkly. Neith had disappeared, and not knowing anything more concrete about where she was made him feel confined; he felt helpless and unarmed. That feeling he hated. No one made him feel like that, no one.
And no one got away with taking his lotus.
For that was what she was. Neith was a lotus, fragrant and beautiful. Set could remember when he had begun to think of her as such and smiled to himself upon remembering just why Neith had earned that name.
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A year ago…
Beautiful.
That would be the word used to describe the flower garden that lay inside the Royal Palace complex at Waset. It was a place where one could seek quiet sanctuary, or so Set had thought. Now, the young Hem Ntjr found his solitude being disturbed by the young girl called Mana.
It was annoying, to say the least.
Lotuses and other exotic flowers lined the walkways, and upon hearing Mahaado's young apprentice yelling frantically for some sort of aid, Set closed his scroll with an exasperated sigh and rose from his perch on the wall. A floral scent hung in the air as Mana ran up to him and jumped up and down in alarm, a pensive look on the brunette's face.
"Hem Ntjr! Have you seen my master anywhere?" Mana asked.
"Just calm down!" Set replied, seething behind his hand before he gazed at the brunette. "Your master is inside. Why do you ask?"
The young apprentice magician looked sheepishly at the floor and twisted her foot.
"Well, I was practicing the sleep spell my master taught me on my pet bird, except I had a little – ah ha – accident," Mana mumbled nervously. "I don't know how to undo it or anything!"
This mention of an accident piqued Set's interest. No doubt the bird had managed to fly away. The Hem Ntjr then smirked as he pocketed his scroll and folded his arms, one hand clasping the Sennen Rod. He then gazed down at Mana, who was about Atemu's age.
"What have you done now, little one? Well, well, well. Your master must have failed to teach you correctly. Never mind; it's your lucky day that I happen to be familiar with that spell. Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" Set chuckled.
Mana swiftly nodded her head, after which she ran off down the flower-lined path, ignoring Set's dig at her master.
"Quickly! She's over here!" Mana called.
Set shook his head as he calmly followed Mana, amused by the girl's energy. She needed to learn to calm down.
The young man then raised a curious eyebrow when he came across the havoc Mana had wrecked. They had come to a stop in front of the black lotus bed, except they were not alone. Facedown amidst all the flowers, snoozing happily, was a young woman clad in a red and white dress: Neith.
"Oh my, Mana. What have you done this time?" Set chuckled.
Chuckling still, Set's blue eyes rested on Neith. She looked so at peace amongst the lotuses; it was as if she belonged there. He then realised that his eyes were falling down to the prone woman's posterior, which was noticeable beneath the draping material of her dress. She looked so peaceful yet beautiful, like a lotus.
Set's cheeks briefly flushed red and he quickly moved his eyes back up to a more even level and breathed out, feeling strangely aroused. It was ridiculous! He was the Hem Ntjr himself! Why was he feeling so flustered over a woman? Even if she did have a body like a goddess…
"Hem Ntjr, are you feeling all right?" Mana asked.
Something within Set moved at the sight of Neith lying prone amongst the flowers, totally bypassing all rational thought. Like the lotus, Neith herself had blossomed into a young and beautiful woman. She was a flower, a lotus. He found himself wondering what it would be like if her were to pluck and wear her.
Beautiful, perfect, that's what you are, my dear. A lotus. That is how I will think of you, as a lotus from now on, for that is what you are.
"Hem Ntjr! Are you going to perform the counter-spell for me?" Mana asked again, her voice louder.
"What? Yes, of course. Just give me a moment to collect my thoughts," Set replied, somewhat hazily.
Set paused before beginning to chant the counter-spell, albeit reluctantly. If only he could capture this moment, Neith would be like putty in his hands. Once finished, he waited patiently for the sleeping woman to arise.
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Set glared angrily at the sky as he remembered the moment that held a special memory for him. It had taken all this time for him to pluck his lotus, and now she was swiped from beneath his very nose!
It's totally inconsiderate! the Hem Ntjr seethed.
He had sent word back to the palace, but Set knew that his messenger could take a while to get there. Once done here, he would have to see about magically communicating with his mentor back in Waset. Akunadin would surely be able to offer some advice.
Now pacing beneath a tall building, the young man failed to look up and see the young girl who was jumping up and down by the small window. Not only that, he could not hear her. A man then pulled the girl away from the window as Set tapped his foot and moved away.
He was so close; he could taste it in the air…
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The girl who Set or anyone else had failed to spot was thrown down onto the floor in front of Neith, and as she was, Neith found herself developing a more hateful contempt for those who would harm children. The moment the two spies had entered the room she had immediately picked up on their sense of panic. But to think that Set was just outside and could not hear her was like torture! She wanted to escape and warn him, to feel safe in his arms.
Yet, Neith was fraught with worry. If she escaped, what would they do to the girl? And what about the girl's family? She wanted to make sure that Sistra got back to them safe and sound.
I can't let her get harmed. She won't be, not while I'm here, Neith swore.
Why was Sistra not heard by those below? To think that Set was so close broke Neith's heart. There had to be a ward or an artefact of some sort that was silencing any sound that could be heard from outside, but they did not look like spell casters. The young woman then looked up at the taller of the two men, who was shouting at the young girl and telling her to be quiet as his smaller partner tugged on the man's arm.
"What on earth were we thinking, taking the High Priestess when the Hem Ntjr himself was in town? We're ruined!" the man said.
"She's our ticket out of here. They won't harm us while we have hostages. We could even take them back to our homeland. Now be quiet and let me think," the first man admonished.
This first man, obviously the ringleader, walked over to Neith, bent to his knees and grabbed her chin, twisting her head to the side.
"The priestess here would make a good slave," he said nastily. "Tell me, girl, have you ever experienced a man before?"
"I might do, but it won't be you!" Neith snapped.
Neith spat at the man and received a hard slap for her trouble. Sistra was then dragged before her, crying, and Neith scowled as she rubbed the side of her face with a hand. It was warm and she immediately recognised her mistake. She did not want to remain here; she wanted her mother, and she wanted Set.
Because compared to him, you're nothing, the young woman added inwardly.
"Now listen carefully. We are taking you out of here," the first man announced. "If either of you try to escape, call for help or you use your magic, she will be punished in your place. Do you understand?"
Neith nodded, glimpsing the knife in the man's belt, looking at Sistra.
"Good," the man muttered. He then turned to his accomplice. "The visitor from the Palace has sealed off the entire town. We shall have to make a run for it."
Neith crossed her arms, rested her hands on her face and felt the warm tears starting to flow. Set would sort this out. He would find her, rescue her and then punish the perpetrators. She felt sorry for them, almost. Set was a harsh man, one who turned even darker once angered. There was no telling how he would treat them.
Yes, Set would find her. All she had to do was have faith.
The first spy approached Neith and pulled the young woman off the ground by her shoulder, his hand tightly gripping her shoulder as both her and the girl were dragged out the room.
"There's no escape! The Nem Ntjr will find you, and then he'll punish you!" Sistra announced.
"Be quiet, Sistra," Neith advised the girl. "There's no use angering them."
"You would do well to listen to her advice, girl," the first man agreed. "Now be quiet!"
Neith was dragged into the kitchen ahead of the young girl she desired to protect. Using her Ka was not an option, not as long as they had the girl. The young priestess then saw that there was an enormous amount of red fabric upon the table. It spilled over the sides and the floor. Was that how they had abducted her from the temple? They had to be joking!
The young woman made a noise as she was manhandled, her hands tied behind her back with some rope before being pulled towards the table.
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As Set took in a slow gaze around the square, he quietly watched what was happening. People were clamouring to see what was going on, rumours of the High Priestess's disappearance had spread like wildfire. Construction was still underway on the far side of the square and two carpenters were carrying a bundle of fabric and tools out of a house nearby the site, escorted by a young girl.
Dammit, Neith! Where are you? Set wondered.
Frustrated, the Hem Ntjr stamped his white-clad foot on the ground. It was typical! As soon as he found something special, it was stripped away from him: Neith and his parents.
It was a lonely existence, and that was why Set knew he had been able to help Neith get through the loss she had suffered just under a year and a half ago. Then they had continued to grow closer now that they understood each other better.
And now she was snatched away.
Set walked forwards, parted the crowd and headed towards a nearby man who was on the edge of the square. He was with a woman and their three children, two young boys and a teenage girl. Not only had Neith disappeared, it seemed as if the same had happened to their youngest daughter. He eventually reached them and offered his assurance.
"We shall recover your daughter. Try to have faith," Set spoke.
"Thank you, Hem Ntjr," the father answered.
Set turned his back on the family and noticed that the two men he had seen earlier were loading their cargo onto a horse, and the girl that was with them seemed to be saddened. They looked foreign, and were just down a nearby alleyway, unaware he was watching them. Suspicious.
That was mistake number one.
Mistake number two was the young girl. What was she doing with those two men, and why did she look so sad? Why had she not tried to run away? Was she staying for the sake of another?
If that was the case, that led to mistake number three; no one took his Neith.
The final nail was that with his keen eyesight, the Hem Ntjr could swear that the tallest man was attempting to hold down a bucking roll of fabric. He immediately swirled around to some nearby troops.
"Guards! Over there!" Set yelled.
Set ran down the alley in their direction. The smaller of the two men looked in his direction and would live to regret that mistake. The young man raised the Sennen Rod, the eye of which glowed, bringing the man under his control. Perhaps he could be of some use.
"You! Get the girl!" Set ordered.
As he shouted, Set could swear that the rolled-up fabric was bucking even more furiously after hearing his voice.
The man's companion cursed under his breath as he dodged a fist from the man he thought was his comrade. He slung the rolled-up fabric over the back of the horse and rode off down the alley in the direction of the city entrance as Set ran up to the girl, who was now crying, followed by his guards. He gestured her in the direction of the soldiers and looked around for another means of transport.
Through a connecting street to Set's left, one of the temple's sem priests was leading two strong-looking horses up through the alley, no doubt returning them to the temple. Set ordered the soldiers to take the girl back to her family before running up to the middle-aged priest.
"You! Give me that horse!" the Hem Ntjr demanded.
"But I was told –!" the priest began.
"I don't care; I'm taking it! Out of my way!" Set yelled, swiping the reins of one of them out of the man's hand and mounting the tall horse as two guards brought the captured guard up before him.
The young man glared hatefully down at the man, who he lashed around the face with his hand.
"Get him out of my sight!" Set ordered.
Squeezing his legs into the horse, Set held on as it bolted down the alleyway, it's hooves echoing against the ground as he guided it and burst through the crowd that had gathered at the end. Shouting for the rest of the guards to follow him, Set flew across the ground and began his chase of the thief.
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