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…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.
Author's Note: This chapter has been edited to comply with the rating. If you want the unedited version, email me and I'll send it over to you. Other than that, there's not much to say this time, except keep an eye out for Set and his plans.
Summary: Atemu doesn't know Priest Set as well as he thought. The proud man has taken an affront to his Pharaoh and now plots his downfall, only for his own world to come falling down when he his discovered.
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Chapter 17: Mahaado's Discovery
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Neith hugged the shadows of the pillar, which was engraved with myriad inscriptions and depictions, and as she watched the royal court she found herself growing ever more worried for Set. After the previous day's escape, she was in a bustling chamber where Atemu and his remaining five priests were trying to deal with the problem an absent Set posed. She had no idea where he was but wanted to see him. And it weighed down her heart. She wanted him back…
I miss you. Please come home.
"Neith? Is that you?"
"Mana? What are you doing here?" She smiled weakly at the young trainee and looked away, still deep in thought. "This isn't a place for kids."
"I'm waiting for my Master. He's busy talking to Atemu. You know, he says that Set's going to turn traitor one of these days. You can see it in his face, he says. What do you think?"
"I think that little girls who don't grasp the wider picture should keep their mouths shut. He's done nothing wrong. All he wanted was to be accorded due honour and respect, and you all castigate him like he's a traitor! He hasn't done anything yet!"
She walked away from Mana and the pillar and glanced around. Akunadin was standing quietly on his own, a silent pillar amongst the guards who were coming and going. From what she could hear Set was still free. He was doing fine, thank the Netjer. She then smiled; he always had been a survivor.
"Priestess! I've got this letter for you!" She looked at the kilt-wearing soldier who was now in front of her and curiously took the small rolled-up scroll he offered her, Mahaado looking on. "I was told to hand it to you personally."
Unfolding it, her eyes widened.
"Please, wait over there."
He obeyed her, walking away to wait near the entrance of the hall. Once he had gone, she looked down at the scroll and unfurled it, her heart beating faster as she recognised the seal of the Hem Ntjr Tepey at the top of the parchment. Quickly looking around to make sure she was alone, she read the words.
Lotus,
I apologise in hindsight for my abrupt departure late yesterday evening. But I assure you that I am in good health. There were feelings raging inside me, terrible feelings, which I wished not to subject you to. But it is my desire to make it up to you. The man who handed you this letter is my loyal servant. Follow him, and I shall meet you shortly.
Eternal Blessings,
Set.
Breathing hurriedly, she wrapped up the scroll and stuffed it away down the front of her dress. No one seemed to have noticed the letter, but at least Set was aware of her. He did care after all.
"Blessings upon you too, my love," she whispered quietly, not noticing that Mahaado and Karim were now both watching her, conversing darkly.
Their eyes followed her as she made her way up to the soldier who had handed her the letter. It was good to know that he was all right. Soon, they would be together once more.
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The soldier had then lead Neith to a large house located within sight of the royal palace, and her heart beat increasingly faster as she was guided into the entrance hall by the soldier. She allowed herself to be seated by him and then waited for him to fetch Set. She looked forward to seeing him, yet she wanted to chide him for his making her worry. He was someone very important to her and she found it difficult to see him treated in such a manner that would make him act like this.
That was when she heard someone walk into the hall. She looked up from the chair and saw a pair of blue eyes watching her, beneath which was a smirking pair of lips.
"Pleased to see me, lotus?"
"Set! I've missed you so much!" she cried happily, bursting out of her chair so she could fling her arms around the bemused High Priest. "Even if it's been a day I've missed you." She was kissing his neck as she spoke, clutching his cape and pulling him closer. "Where have you been?"
She happily ceased her actions and looked up at him with a smile, his hands slowly stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry if I caused you undue upset or alarm, I just needed to get out of that place. I fear I would have been driven insane," she heard him murmur as he kissed her head. "But I did not wish to leave you behind."
"I know. I was thinking about you so much…"
And he was still stroking her hair, not that she minded.
"I know lotus, I know."
She smiled as he continued to calm her down and peered around his shoulder, seeing that the house's owner was standing nearby, a blank glaze to his eyes. It was as if he did not acknowledge her presence at all. That was strange…
"Set, what have you done to him?" She pulled away from him, a look of abject horror on her face. "Don't tell me you've – "
"Whatever I've done I've done for both of us, lotus."
She glanced up as he coolly gazed down at her, daring her to resist him with those cold blue eyes as he continued to stroke her hair. Sure, she would resist him, and then he would get all the satisfaction by forcing her to submit to him. She was not in the mood for it, not today, and especially not after the stunt he had pulled. Besides, she liked it when he took charge, but she wanted pleasure too. She was not content to lie back and take what he had to give.
She stepped forwards and raised her hand, intending to slap him for all the worry he had caused her, only for him to swiftly grab it from the air.
"How could you have me so worried? How dare you!"
He smirked evilly, as if enjoying himself, twisting her arm behind her back.
"I see you still care for me… You're in a feisty mood today, aren't you, lotus?" He leaned closer, his other arm coiling around her. "But I like that. Come, I wish to talk with you."
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"So what do you want to tell me?"
He guided Neith into the room he had commandeered. Seating her in front of the desk, he then seated himself behind it.
He was reluctant to leave her behind, but he also held no desire to get her involved unless it proved necessary. It was better he kept her in the dark, not that she would lose her beauty if she were to become entangled in his plans. He would do this, for honour and for justice. Besides, he wanted to keep her safe from harm, and to do that, he needed power.
"I just wanted to see if you are all right," he said, resting his chin on his hands. "To see if you wish to spend the night laying next to me."
"You bring me here and that's all you have to say?"
"You are mistaken, Neith; there is indeed more I want to say, but I cannot possibly tell you in words. You know how I feel about you, my little black lotus."
"Flatterer."
There was a feminine giggle and he smirked, unfolding his hands so he could rest them on top of hers.
"You know you can't resist me, lotus." He leaned across the desk so his face was right in front of hers, whispering something that made her blush. "Yes, that's what I want to do to you."
He then rose from the desk and held out his hand, experiencing a strange feeling.
This way I feel… is it love?
"What do you say, Neith? Do you find it within yourself to lighten the darkened days of a condemned man? Will you grant me my last request?"
There was a smile on her face as she took his hand. The two of them departed the room and she smiled at him as he rested a hand on her shoulder and pulled her close to him. He was then pulling her up behind him on the stairs, eager to get started.
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"Anyway, this is my humble abode. It's quite fitting of someone of my status, don't you think?"
Taking in the entire room with a good sweep of his arm, he showed her what was for now his domain. A dull bronze brazier crackled away in the centre of the room, its orange flame illuminating the large chamber. A canopied bed lay behind him; this very room had belonged to the master and his wife, the second of whom had needed no further persuasion when he had offhandedly commented about needing a room for the night. And another special thing he liked was that said bed would easily fit both him and his lotus…
He held out his hand, beckoning her towards him.
"Lotus, lotus, lotus. I'm going to do things to you tonight; terrible things that you will be unable to describe. You'll make so many pretty noises that I fear it shall lead Atemu's soldiers straight to me."
"Oh really? What about the master and his wife?"
"They don't matter; both are under my control." He took her hands once she had come up to him and raised them to his lips. "As are you, woman. You're coming with me."
He swooped down to pick her up, an arm coiling around her to hold her securely as he flung her over his back. Her legs were kicking furiously in front of him as she protested noisily, which soon turned into laughter as he carried her over to the bed.
"Put me down this instant!"
"Gladly," he replied, dropping her on the bed.
He then got on after her, firstly kicking off his shoes and climbing onto the soft mattress. At least it looked as if he would have a bit of respite in these dark times. She suddenly moved away from him but he quickly stopped any chance of escape by grabbing her by the ankles, bringing her back down to the bed with a thump.
"You have such pretty toes, lotus. And a pretty face."
He raised his right index finger and trailed it down her face.
"A pretty neck, too. I wonder what else I may find."
His finger delved lower, running down her neck and beneath the folds of her dress. She blushed as he ran it even lower, his left hand bunching the skirt of her dress up around her knees. At times, the voluptuous material could be annoying, but he could easily deal with that.
"Set, I'm warning you…"
"Oh, you are? Do it if you must, but you had better be prepared for a good hard spanking," he replied wryly, pushing her flat down with his palms. "On the other hand, role-play sounds quite pleasurable, my dear little subordinate."
"Oh please –!" A short, sharp slap to the cheek silenced her protest. "Please, just leave me be..."
"I don't think so. I'm the master here, not you, and you will show me the proper respect!"
He lowered himself closer to the young woman below him and bit her neck. She groaned in response. Perhaps once this business with the Pharaoh had died down he could start on moving their relationship to the next level, something more lasting and binding. But at least this way he got to release his frustrations in a way that brought him much more satisfaction.
Apart from power…Yes, he did want his fun; she could get hers later. Besides, she still had not paid him back for his loving attention the last time. After all, he deserved to have some fun. Atemu was driving him insane, and he would rather get something good for the constant pressure he felt. Yet, he tended to get carried away sometimes…
She was watching him with fear, yet she seemed astounded as he pressed himself even closer to her, running his right hand up her leg. And he took great pleasure in knowing that they would soon lose themselves in each other, experiencing the happiness only lovers could.
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Some hours later, he leaned back against the cushioned headrest and tiredly ran his left hand through the hair of the woman who was lying across his chest. He could hear her breathing softly, a lazy smile on her sated face.
Never let it be said that I don't keep to my word…
He gently pulled her closer and higher up his chest, still running a hand through her hair. She was just as captivating when she was almost sleeping as she was when awake. It had been a nice day today. He was out of that confinement of a palace and had shared a bed with the woman he loved. What could be better? He had two loves in his life: Neith and power. Power served to keep Neith safe and Neith herself, although he did love her, served as a means to more power. He closed his eyes and listened to the soft but excited breathing they both produced as it echoed throughout the room.
An alliance with her Temple brings me power and influence, but it also brings me something more. Hmmm…
Opening his eyes, he glanced down at her as she murmured something, wondering what she was thinking of. A smile crept onto his face as he gently pulled her eyen closer, so her head was beneath his chin… she looked so content. He then wound her hair around his left index finger and began to pull on it with his other hand, his lips curling even further upwards when he heard a small dissenting moan.
That was when he saw her glancing hazily up at him, her messed-up hair framing her face as she rolled her eyes and made a noise.
"You see, lotus? I do love you."
He stopped stroking her soft hair and wrapped both his arms around her shoulders, holding her close. Knowing that he had her love, he knew that the next thing would have to be her undivided loyalty, to make sure he kept her with him. But how could one secure something so precious? He murmured quietly, leaned his head to the side and wriggled his toes as the door was suddenly flung open. He exclaimed loudly and then turned his head towards the door.
"How dare you presume to interrupt me? I gave you no leave to enter! Who said you could… You!"
"Set, what's going on?" Neith sounded confused and half-asleep.
"I've come to take you back to the palace, Set. Your adventure is over. You'll have to explain your actions there. You can come quietly or I can drag you out myself."
He hurriedly looked down at Neith, who was hiding her face against him in embarrassment, and then he noticed the strange expression on Mahaado's face. How had he even been found? He had been so careful. He was not the sort of person who made mistakes, so for him to be found like this was demeaning. He then realised that it had to be that this naturally suspicious nitpicker had picked up on something. His knuckles strained as he clenched his fists. That stupid messenger...
"I'm going nowhere with you…"
His eyes narrowed, and he gently pushed Neith off him to the side, his hand reaching for the Sennen Rod below his cushioned headrest that he kept there for just such an emergency.
"Prey tell; what is she doing in your bed? I would never have expected to find you in bed with anyone, let alone her. In any case, I'm sure you wouldn't want to put her in the middle of a war zone."
"It's… Fine. I'll come, seeing as I have no other choice. But I'll only escape again, and then you'll all truly be sorry…" he growled, pushing Neith. "Come on, you, get up. It looks like we'll be leaving sooner than we expected."
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