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: Women often wore their babies in slings that were wrapped around their bodies. That style is used here. And something happens in this chapter that will surprise you, but remember that it's been planned. Akunadin is evil, that's all I'm saying. Comments will follow in the next chapter. Plus I have good news - this fic has been completed! All that's left is to update. And per Lazerwulf's question, Set did reject Akunadin, though this is explored at greater detail in a separate one-shot I have already uploaded.

Summary: When Set's message is received, the carrier of it returns with bad news. News so grim that with it are more questions then answers for the Hem Ntjr. Set and Neith prepare for the worst as Akunadin continues to use his powers to achieve his goal.

-o-

Chapter 40: Framed And Fierce

-o-

An unnamed soldier quietly guided his uneasy horse through the lonely city streets, trying to avoid glancing back at his load. He eventually brought his horse to a stop once he was close to the royal palace. It had taken the lone man a lot to get past the guards, but they were not the ones he feared.

His master, Lord Set of Naquda, had given him a mission to complete. To return a failure was not an option: literally!

The soldier shivered as he glanced back at the body of the slave his master had killed, the man's bludgeoned face hidden beneath a shawl.

Soon enough, the shadowed figure had dismounted and was carefully placing the dead body in front of the palace doors. As he pulled back the shawl he grimaced. Yes, the Hem Ntjr was not a man to be crossed.

"You there! What are you doing?" a voice yelled.

The soldier swiftly dumped the body and ran to his horse to flee the guards, running away for his life on horseback with the guards shouting threats at him. It was strange, though; why were they screaming about a murder?

-o-

"I don't believe he stole it from me! How could he?" Set screamed.

Neith gazed up at her yelling husband, Sobek held securely in a sling she had wrapped around her as her son gazed up at her face with his little eyes. The young woman smiled and stroked Sobek's cheek, the child's face turning so he could suck on his mother's finger. Neith could not believe Lord Akunadin had stolen the Sennen Rod, or that he was Set's father! Even worse, Set seemed to be denial about the truth of his father's fate that had been revealed to him.

Ever since I comforted him on the balcony he hasn't even talked about it once, Neith thought pensively.

"Do you know why he took it?" the young woman enquired gently. "Is it because he was disappointed you – "

"We shall not talk of that nonsense!" Set snapped. "And I have no idea why he's taken them; the Rod and the Ankh!"

Neith continued to look at Set as he cupped his chin, deep in thought. Something else had to be bothering her husband.

"Are you all right?" Neith asked, moments later.

"No; something else is troubling me, lotus. My ceremonial mask has been stolen," Set replied gravely. "After all that's happened it's too much of a coincidence to not be related to the theft of the Rod and the Ankh. And news has reached me that Lord Akunadin has not yet returned to the capital; he seems to have gone missing, despite what he told me the night he left; that he was returning to the palace."

"Hmmm, it sounds like something's going on. But what?" Neith remarked.

Suddenly, they both jumped as a commotion echoed from just outside. Neith followed Set as he ran out into the courtyard and watched on as the messenger her husband had sent out dismounted his horse, almost falling off its back to the ground. She did not know why the soldier had been sent away, but she had heard rumours of a spy.

Set was attempting to calm the man down, his hands on the soldier's shoulders. Neith could not hear what was being said, but it caused her husband to pale.

"Neith, go back inside," Set told her over his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Neith asked, seeing the fear in Set's eyes.

Set remained silent before he spoke, walking up to Neith to clasp her hands.

"The Per A'a's wife was murdered a few nights ago; she was found slaughtered in cold blood. Apparently, she was with child." Set's hands clasped Neith's more tightly, his face dropping. "And Atemu seems to think it was I who committed this foul deed; my mask was found at the scene, which means – "

"Akunadin must have done it!" Neith gasped. "But why would he do such a thing?"

"Because I'm his son and he wants to force me to take the throne, never mind how I feel. I think he did this because any child of Atemu would have rights to the throne he is so set upon having me upon. I cannot believe Lord Akunadin could be so heartless as to murder a pregnant woman in cold blood." Set sounded bitter as Neith felt her husband loosen his grip on her hands.

How could he kill that woman? It's hard enough finding out that mother died because of his lies, but this is awful, Set thought. Atemu will have no doubt in his mind after the way I led that attack on that enemy camp that it is me whose hands has his wife and child's blood upon them.

Neith then paused, deep in thought. Someone she had known was dead at the hands of a man who had held her child and claimed to be family. The young woman may have fallen out with Subira due to circumstances, but the news of the girl's murder still sent shockwaves through her heart. It was as if a still pond had been violently disturbed by a predatory thief seeking to pluck a defenceless fish from beneath the peaceful water, just as their peace of mind had been greatly disturbed by the news of another predator who had heartlessly destroyed someone they knew.

"How dare he kill in my name; how dare he!" Set seethed, and Neith yelped as he clasped her hands hard. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. How are you feeling?"

Neith sighed heavily as Sobek wriggled around in his sling, starting to cry, sensing that there was something wrong. Neith spoke softly to the young child, soothing him and gently bouncing him against her in his sling.

"I really don't know," she replied. "But I worry for you; you're in a lot of danger, Set. If what the soldier told you is true then Atemu will surely come seeking vengeance against you. I need to know our child will still have his father there to guide and support him."

"Of course he will! I have no intention of dying. Now come, let's get you both back inside," Set answered.

The young woman allowed Set to guide her back inside the house, his arm around her waist. The mask he wore had not gone unnoticed; it was as if Akunadin still weighed heavily on her husband's mind. Something told Neith this was not be the end of the matter. Rather that this was only the beginning of something more sinister.

-o-

Later that night…

Neith was hard at work in the library, a scroll unravelled before her. Although unable to properly write, the young woman could read certain things, and her eyes trailed down the magical text that her father's spirit had guided her to. Neith's father had told her that Atemu would soon come to take Set to his death, and she could not allow that to happen.

You know I'm right, my dear, Neith's father whispered from behind her. You must do this to protect yourself. If not for yourself, then for your family.

"I don't know if I can do it. It seems so drastic," the young woman murmured.

I know, dear. But what about all those who were opposed to you and Set in the first place, Atemu included? They will not be so merciful this time around, Neith's father replied. And what's more…

What her father whispered into her ear made Neith freeze in shock. So, that girl the traitorous slave had run off with dared to threaten her husband and instigate the other priests distrust of him? And they had subjected her to so much hate when she had announced she was expecting Set's child it made her blood boil. Who were they to judge her? Her father was wise to guide her to this spell; it would surely bring about the end of that hateful instigator in a painful way, just as Anuket had caused her husband and herself such horrible pain; such pain that had began with her lies so long ago.

Neith's eyes narrowed hatefully as she focused all her will upon memorising the spell that she needed to learn to protect herself, Sobek and her husband. Therefore, she did not notice the evil smirk on her 'father's' face. This was not over, not by a long shot.

-o-

Meanwhile…

Akunadin smiled as he stirred from his trance and locked his fingers together, stretching out his arms with a pleased sigh.

A woman's mind is such a fickle thing, so easy to manipulate. Especially within dreams, the old priest thought, an evil fire alighting his eyes.

He had heard of the raid Atemu had planned to drag his son out of his hiding place, and the woman chosen to lead it would soon meet her demise at the hands of his son's wife. It was almost too perfect. Everything was going according to plan and all he had to do for now was wait and watch the ferocious struggle between the young antelope and the lion he had trained so well over the years. Yes, he would live to see his wish come true; of that he had no doubt.

-o-

Several days later…

Neith was anxiously pacing the temple floor obsessively, her small child held against her in his sling. It was late morning and she had gone to the temple where her husband was Hem Ntjr to give her libations to his patron god. Her father was right and the Netjer had confirmed it. Anuket had to go.

It's for the best, for my family, Neith thought, just as the sanctum doors burst open.

"My lady, you must flee! The city is under attack!" her escort yelled, panic written on his face.

Neith's head shot up and she immediately held Sobek close, feeling him starting to squirm as if protesting the protective posture of his mother. Atemu had launched his forces already? Where was Set? Was he out there fighting? Neith placed an arm around Sobek and ran towards the soldier, only to be stopped in her tracks when he was dragged backwards and knocked unconscious.

That was when Neith recognised the attacker, and a wicked smile alighted her face. Father had gotten it right.

"My dear Anuket, I knew you'd come," the brunette chuckled. "But you should know; there's no escape for you and no one to save you from your fate."

The other priestess strode towards her, but Neith swiftly grabbed her point and whispered an incantation, hoisting the black-haired girl into midair. How easy it had been! Had Anuket grown slack? She was not as good as she was.

The hatred Neith felt for the enemy of her husband was palpable. She had never felt this strongly before about anyone, so why did she feel so now? It was as if she was not herself anymore but something entirely different: an instrument of the Netjer's wrath against one who had wronged his faithful servants. It was as if she was being controlled. But then her father's words resounded in her head and her fire was renewed.

"You're going to die, you know, on his side," Neith declared. "You've let yourself go since the last time we met, but then so have I. Have you met my son, Sobek? He's just like his father."

Neith chuckled as Anuket unsuccessfully tried to move in her powerful hold.

"You can't run and you can't hide. You wanted to kill me and now you're trapped like the rat you are. Did you get the present my husband left for you? He sent Sekani to the Afterlife early. Oh, I forgot. He can't actually get in now, can he?" Neith then chuckled. "I thought you'd be glad to see him one last time, but I see you're not."

Angrily, Neith was met with icy defiant silence.

"Oh, are you upset?" Neith taunted, flicking back her hair. "But don't worry; I'll end your suffering and that of your child."

Then it hit the young mother; the ultimate revenge. It coursed through her like the pain that had brought Sobek into the world; only this was not painful so much as it was pleasurable.

I'll pay you back for all the pain you put me through. I won't allow you or anyone else to wreck my family, Neith thought.

"It'll be hard raising it without a father, take it from me. But I'll solve that problem for you right here, right now," the brunette announced, smiling. "You can both rest together."

Neith began to chant, the words she had learnt rolling off her tongue, loaded with venom. This child, should it have survived, would surely have threatened her family. It would have sought revenge for its father and that could not be allowed to happen. Anuket had been so nasty to her husband with no reasonable explanation and it was time she paid the price.

-o-

"So how do you feel, knowing I hate you and your child as much as you hated Set's and my child?"

Neith could still remember what she had said as she ran out of the temple and away from the grisly scene inside, a sleeve held to her mouth, only to be greeted by the sight of the townspeople running to and fro. She did not know whether Anuket was alive or dead because, for some reason, she had lacked the energy to make such a dark spell work to its intended purpose. Plus it was something Neith knew she did not have in her. The very fact she had done it seemed wrong. The villagers were hurriedly seeking refuge from the invading royal garrison. They flowed past her into the temple and up towards the palace; Set generously rewarded those who were loyal to him.

How would her husband fare now he no longer held the Sennen Rod? And why, if only using it for the murder, had Akunadin kept it?

This kept Neith wondering as she suddenly found herself flanked by a multitude of Set's guards. Apparently, her husband had sent them down to safely escort her back to the palace; perhaps even to drag her back if need be, on pain of death. Neith was grateful for the help; she was more worried for their son and her husband than she was for herself.

Suddenly, Neith froze and looked back over her shoulder as Dious flew past overhead. Its wings were outstretched and its sword glinted evilly in the midday sun. Set had to be somewhere nearby. The young woman then hurried up with the guards towards the palace, but it did not stop her hearing the screams of the small battalion as Dious's sword began to make short work of them.

-o-