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.
Summary: Priest Set has lost everything – his home, his freedom and his life. But then he found someone special. Will he lose her as well?
--
Chapter 43: Liars
--
Meanwhile, Set and Atemu were staring at each other across the chamber Akunadin had left. This was yet another time Set was confronting the young ruler, except this time there would be no escape for the pointy-haired youth. Even if the God of Evil threatened the country, Set was tired of being put second all the time.
The Hem Ntjr's eyes then narrowed as Atemu stepped back, no doubt intending to follow the Evil One who had ascended to the world above. Set hurriedly raised the Sennen Rod and waved it at the chamber's entrance, forcing a landslide that blocked off the only way out, save for the rubble behind him that led up to the world above.
"No one is getting out of here until you deal with me first," Set announced.
Atemu and his entourage whirled back around to face the angry young man.
"What do you think you're doing, Set! Get out of my way; there are more important things at stake than carrying out your exectution, you murdering traitor!" Atemu snapped at Set.
Set's lips drew into a cold, thin line.
"Like I just said; not until you deal with me," the Hem Htjr affirmed again, only this time more coldly.
Feeling high with expectation, Set stepped down the stairs and away from the casket, from which he had retrieved his Sennen Rod. Atemu clenched a fist, stepping forward to meet Set against the advice of Isis, Karim, Shimon and Shadah. Set smiled as he towered over the smaller male, not desiring to let the spiky-haired boy out of his sight until he had said what needed to be said.
"Now get this into your thick head, Atemu. I did not murder your wife," Set growled, leaning over the smaller boy. "Though you saw fit to attempt the same with mine."
A firm look appeared on Atemu's face, causing Set's fingers to coil tighter around the Sennen Rod.
"I know nothing about an attack on Neith, but I know you're guilty for what happened to Subira!" Atemu retorted, pointing at Set accusingly. "Your mask was found by her massacred body, along with my unborn child, you heartless coward! How dare you stand there and deny it to my face!"
Set's face fell; he had known nothing about a child.
"Akunadin. I can't believe he'd do such a thing," Set thought aloud.
The Hem Ntjr then heard someone walk up to him and Atemu. Isis was looking at him calmly but with concern, as if she knew something that could explain everything that had happened.
"Set, is it true that Akunadin is your father –?" the priestess asked.
"Be quiet!" he snapped, glaring furiously at Isis. "Keep your foolish mouth shut about things you can't possibly understand!"
Atemu looked up at Set in shock and Set bristled with raw nerves. Now everyone knew, it seemed, about the relationship between himself and the older priest. The Sennen Rod Set clenched even tighter, the other six items still in place in the casket behind him. Atemu would have to go through him in order to reclaim his Puzzle.
"Set, is what Isis says true? Is Akunadin really your –?" Atemu began to ask, only for Set's mind to finally snap.
"It's none of your business!" the young man roared.
Set blasted Atemu backwards with the power of the Sennen Rod, Atemu being caught by Karim and Shadah. Looking at Shimon, Set noticed that the old priest had a calm expression. Shimon was too calm for his own good.
"You knew," Set breathed, Shimon looking guilty. "You knew all these years and failed to tell me, didn't you!"
Isis checked over Atemu for any injuries before she turned to face Set.
"We shouldn't be arguing amongst ourselves," she announced. "Akunadin and the God of Evil are our true enemies. Set, you must try and see reason!"
Set smiled, looking somewhat insane.
"Oh, I see reason, Isis. I see a would-be murderer vulnerable and all alone. But I'll make him pay; I'll make you all pay. And then I'll deal with Akunadin and Zork in my own way," Set said quietly, his voice loaded with danger.
--
Several moments later, Akunadin reappeared inside the tablet chamber to a most unwelcome sight; Atemu was still breathing. The old priest had expected, with the way he had manipulated Set into feeling, to find Atemu's mangled body. All those measures he had gone to and still Akunumkanon's brat remained! Now Akunadin was glad he had taken precautions to deal with the stubbornness of his son; he just had to lead Set along and the only option open to Set would be revealed.
"Set, we need to talk," Akunadin announced.
Stepping towards his son, the old priest could see through the Sennen Eye that Set was glancing at him coldly, as was everyone else present.
Even now you refuse to accept me. Why won't you let me into your life? Akunadin thought sadly.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Set grumbled, sounding disappointed. "I know what you did. How dare you do such a thing and claim it was in my best interests! You set me up and now you want to talk? Ridiculous!"
"If I'm a murderer for wanting to protect my son, then what does that make you, my boy?" he replied, their gaze meeting.
"Akunadin! Is what Set told me true? Did you kill Subira?" Atemu demanded to know, stepping forwards.
Akunadin ignored the Per A'a and walked down the steps. Stopping close to Set, the old priest rested a hand on his son's shoulder and felt Set tense upon contact. He then leaned in closer and whispered something into Set's ear. Immediately, Set's eyes widened in horror as Akunadin withdrew a bloodstained silver necklace from inside his dark robes.
Handing it to a shell-shocked Set, the only sound in the underground chamber was the clattering ring of the Sennen Rod as it fell to the floor.
"Set, something horrible has happened to Neith. There was nothing I could do for I arrived too late. I found this in your chambers and there was blood everywhere!" Akunadin announced, noticing the glares of Atemu and his priests.
"I can't… How can this be? Neith? I don't understand," Set whispered, confusedly, all the colour draining from his face.
"I am afraid that it is the truth, my son," Akunadin said sadly. "I can show you proof, proof that Atemu has been lying to you all along. Come with me and see for yourself how much of a liar he truly is."
Frowning behind his mask at his son's reluctance to move, Akunadin silently turned away and waved his arm, opening up a portal. The power he now possessed made such a thing beyond simple. He could see the others were stunned at his new abilities, which made him infinitely gratified. For far too long he had allowed others to direct his life and that of his son's, but that time was over. Absent-mindedly, Set leaned down to pick up the Sennen Rod he had dropped. Set still stood there, looking confused, as if trying to explain something to himself. All he had to do was persuade Set now and he would be his forever.
"Come along, son. You deserve to be in the company of much better people then these liars who've plotted against you all along," Akunadin whispered, Set still in silent shock.
"Don't listen to him, Set! He's been lying to you for the last fifteen years!" Shimon yelled, drawing Akunadin's attention. The dark priest's one good eye twitched behind his mask. "I didn't tell you the truth because he asked me not to!"
"Shimon's right! Akunadin's nothing but a liar!" Atemu added. "Ask him how the Sennen Items were created!"
You infernal child, Akunadin growled inwardly, raising his hand.
That was when the old priest heard Set mumble something, causing him to lower his hand.
"This coming from someone who's killed my wife," Set inarticulated, running a finger over the necklace. "I don't know who to believe anymore."
"Set! I can see now that it was Akunadin who betrayed my trust and my father's faith in him. Don't let him win! You must fight him! Join me and together we can rid the world of his evil!" Atemu yelled.
The Per A'a was waving his arms around in anger as he pleaded with his high priest, but before Set could decide otherwise, Akunadin immediately strode forwards and grabbed the Hem Ntjr by the collar like he would an errant child. Akunadin's son gasped in shock as he was hoisted into the air, hanging from a tight grip. Akunadin shot himself one last smile behind his mask at Atemu before turning around, throwing Set headfirst through the portal.
"Set! Akunadin, what have you done? Why have you betrayed your brother if you claimed to love him as much as you do?" Shimon cried, running forwards.
Gazing impassively down at his old associate and one-time friend, Akunadin's one good eye narrowed hatefully behind his white mask.
You never really liked me. You never really were my friend, the priest thought. You were always there for my brother and his child, never caring for Set or seeing that my son was stronger than that brat and should have been king.
"I'm tired of your whining!" Akunadin exclaimed. "All you ever did was support my brother. What about me? What about Set? You reaped the benefits of the Sennen items, yet you and my accursed brother, unlike me, never paid a heavy cost."
"What do you mean? I kept your confidence as you asked, despite feeling in my heart doing so was wrong." Shimon asked, causing Akunadin's blood, or what was left of it, to boil.
"You never had to give up your family!" Akunadin growled hatefully. "All these years you supported my brother and I'm sick of it!" The darkly-clad priest raised his clawed left hand and clenched it into a fist. "Now it's your turn to suffer."
Clenching his fist even tighter, Akunadin smiled in fulfilment as Shimon began to choke. The old man's fingers raised staggeringly towards his throat as his face started to turn blue. Akunadin was squeezing the very life out of the old priest and was enjoying it immensely. For years he had dreamt of squeezing the life out of Shimon for all his doting on his brother and Atemu.
"Akunadin, stop it! You'll kill him!" Shadah called.
"That's the point, you fool." Akunadin suddenly jerked his hand, causing Shimon's lifeless body to crumple to the floor. "And you, you infernal spawn of my brother, thank the fact you're not next; yet. Though I doubt Set'll be so willing to let you go once he sees what you've done to his wife."
With that, Akunadin turned around and walked through the portal, leaving them all behind him.
--
Set moaned unsteadily, sprawled out on a familiar stone floor. His head felt groggy and somewhat pained from where it had banged off the stone paving. As he closed his eyes in an attempt to block out the pain, Set clenched his left hand into a fist as he finally managed to claw himself back up onto his feet. He soon realised that he was back in Naquda, just outside his bedroom door.
Why do I get this dreadful feeling? Set wondered, gagging on his sleeve. And what's that smell? Is it blood?
"Set, are you all right?" Akunadin asked him, standing nearby. "I apologise for taking you here in such a manner, but I feel that you deserve to know the truth, even if you do hate me–"
"Let's just leave it at that," Set interrupted, still feeling somewhat sick. "Why have you brought me here?"
"I found that necklace inside your bedroom. I'm so sorry, son."
Silently, he opened his bedroom door. It creaked open, almost giving him a heart attack. The clean room the Hem Ntjr had left was now in a state of disrepair; the purple veil that led to the balcony drifted eerily in the small breeze and his bed was bathed in blood, upon which lay a long, dead familiar figure. Brown hair that had been stained by blood had slipped over the edge, dangling to the floor, and as Set stepped closer to the bed the Sennen Rod slipped from his hand.
--