I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh but Elizabeth/Sagira is mine. Reviews are welcome and flames mean more s'mores. Warning: Mention of rape and some gore.
Chapter 3
Sitting in her office on the top floor of the Pegasus Corp. building, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. This day is not going well. She glanced at the clock. Damn, it's only three. I could take the rest of the day off, but it's almost Christmas and the stupid Christmas rush will be upon us. Sometimes I just hate being CEO.
Sitting up, she looked at her computer, but couldn't focus. Looking out the window she smiled. It was snowing, and she knew that she could let everyone out for a snow day. Telling her receptionist to let everyone out for the day. Hurrying down to the parking lot, she hopped into her limo and signaled the driver to take her home.
As soon as she got into the house she headed for the phone. Ohkami would love to come over trail ride. The phone rang and soon she heard Ohkami's familiar voice.
"Hello?"
"Ohkami, how about a trail ride in the snow?"
"Sure, I'll bring Snowball over."
"Great, see you in a few." She smiled and hung up the phone.
Hurrying to the stables, she made her way to her horse's stall. An elegant thoroughbred head stuck out of the top half of the door.
"Hello Princess." She said, rubbing the black horse's face.
Princess nickered in response, and then nudged her with her soft muzzle. Liz smiled and went to the tack room to get her tack. Grabbing a red race saddle and Princess's bridle, she paused for a moment to look at a couple of the pictures on the wall. Many of them were of her horses winning races.
I can't believe that all of this started with Princess. I guess Uncle Max and Aunt C., didn't know what they were doing when they gave her to me. Ever since then I've been obsessed. Now, look at me. I have one of the world's most famous racing stables in my backyard. Poor Seto, he has to deal with them. Oh well.
Hurrying to Princess's stall, she tacked her up and grabbed her helmet. Leading the big black mare outside, she mounted up and then headed out. She trotted Princess over to one of the trails. There she saw Ohkami trotting up on her Friesian, Snowball.
"Hey Ohkami." She yelled, "Ready to ride?"
"Of course Liz," Ohkami replied, smiling.
Then they headed onto the trail. Without saying anything, they cued their horses to canter. Standing in her stirrups, Liz reached up and pulled down one of her pairs of goggles. The wind was picking up, but neither girl cared. They'd been out in worse storms.
Reaching one of the galloping lanes, they both stopped. Lining up, she glanced at Ohkami.
"Ready to get beaten?" she asked.
"In your dreams." Ohakmi replied, smirking.
Then they were off. Liz stood in her stirrups, leaning over Princess's neck. She could see Ohkami out of the corner of her eye, on her left. Smiling, she squeezed with her legs and encouraged her mount to give her more. Princess gladly responded, leaving the smaller, heavier horse in the dust. Smiling, she pulled up at the end of the lane and looked back, waiting for Ohkami to catch up.
"About time." She said as Ohkami finally caught up with them.
"Well, I can't help it if Friesians are slower than thoroughbreds." Ohkami replied as the wind started to pick up.
"We better get back," Liz told her friend. "Don't want to get caught out in this."
"Good idea." Ohkami replied, turning Snowball towards home. "See ya later!"
Liz smiled as she watched Ohkami gallop away. Then she turned Princess and asked her to gallop. Princess galloped through the winding trails. Suddenly, there was a loud crack and a tree, as wide as the trail, came crashing down. The big thoroughbred came to a sliding stop, almost throwing Liz over her shoulder.
Princess stood there, rooted to the spot. Liz stopped for a moment and tried to stop her heart from racing. After about a minute, she realized that the tree was blocking her only way home. No problem, Princess knows how to jump, I just hope she will.
Cueing Princess into a gallop, she aimed the black mare at the tree. Lifting out of the saddle she squeezed with her calves. She felt Princess lift up off the ground and then they were soaring. Grabbing a hunk of mane, she prepared herself for the landing. Princess landed and galloped off.
Sitting up in the saddle, Liz pulled back on the reins, slowing her mount to a trot. They trotted through the knee-deep snow for what seemed like hours. Liz looked around. The woods around her didn't look familiar at all. She pulled Princess back to a walk and then stopped her. All around her was different.
Liz clucked to Princess and they walked on. About ten minutes later they came to a hill. Maybe we can see home from here. With that she trotted to the top of it. When she got there all she could see was what looked like a mansion in the distance. There was no sign of her home, the stables or any other type of evidence that humanity inhabited the area. Just the mansion.
What the heck, that mansion is the only sign of shelter and the storm is picking up. Once the storm subsides I'll try and find my way home.
Liz sighed and cued Princess to a canter. They headed off toward the mansion.
Untacking Princess in the stables on the side of the mansion, she let the mare relax in one of the stalls. The stable looked as if the grooms and horses had just left. There was still manure in some of the stalls and in wheelbarrows. All of the stalls had a luxurious layer of straw and shavings.
She filled the water bucket and found some hay in the hayloft. After using one of the blankets to cover the black thoroughbred, she headed up to the mansion in hopes of finding someone there.
Making her way up the snow-covered path she came to a large oak door and banged on it with her fist. There was no answer. She tried the doorknob. It was open, and as the door swung back she saw a dark interior, it looked as unwelcoming as the outside.
"Hello?" She asked, stepping inside.
Hearing no reply, she felt around on the wall for a light switch. Finding one she flicked it on. A chandelier on the ceiling soon illuminated the hallway. Closing the door behind her, Liz walked toward a staircase in the back of the room, intent on finding out what happened to the occupants of the house.
"Where's Liz?" Seto asked Mokuba as he walked into his little brother's bedroom.
"I don't know. I didn't see her when I came home big Brother." Mokuba told him.
"I wonder where she could be." He mused as he walked out of the room.
Seto Kaiba headed toward his office, intent on making a couple phone calls. Just as he reached down to pick up the phone, it rang.
"Hello?" He said.
"Hey, I was wondering if Liz got back safe." Ohkami answered him. "The storm really started to pick up when Snowball and I got home."
Kaiba's heart stopped.
"When did you last see her?" He asked franticly.
"About an hour ago. Has she come back?"
"No," Kaiba told her shortly, "I'm going to call the police."
"I hope she's alright." Ohkami told him as she hung up the phone and got on her jacket. She headed out the door with the intent of finding her best friend.
Kaiba hung up the phone and immediately dialed 911. He knew Liz was tough but had no idea if she could survive in these conditions. Please be okay.
"Where is everybody?" Liz asked herself as she continued exploring the mansion.
She wandered through the empty corridors and peered into the many rooms. Walking down the main hall there was a room that caught her eye. Making her way towards it, she carefully opened the door.
"Hello?" She said as the oak door creaked open.
The room was decorated in the greatest magnificence. The walls were adorned with paintings that looked to be older then her. What was visible of the wall looked somewhat purple. Though covered with dirt, she could see that the floor was also a rich purple. On the far wall was a pine desk.
Getting closer to it, she saw that it was covered with dusk. Under the dust was what looked like letters. Brushing a little of the dust off she could see that they were very old, maybe fifty years. Leaning closer she read one:
I have been stuck here for six days now. The storm refuses to let up. I really hope I don't die in here. God, this place is starting to give me the creeps. I swear I heard a woman screaming last night. But this place is deserted. I also saw a man with an axe sticking out of his head sitting at the table. He just sat there, as if nothing was wrong, while the blood from the wound poured all over his face. I've also seen people that have been hung, just hanging, in the middle of doorways. I don't want to die here.
The letter ended there. It looked like it had been written a long time ago, the paper was aged and the ink was beginning to fade. Suddenly, she heard someone walking behind her. She spun around, but all she saw was the doorway.
I was just hearing things. She thought to herself. There are no such things as ghosts.
Then she heard the footsteps again, but this time, they were above her, on the second floor. She raced toward the stairs, hoping to find someone, but being terrified of what she knew was probably the truth.
Ohkami urged Snowball into a gallop as they searched the woods for Liz. Yami, Téa Joey, and Tristan rode behind her on ATVs. Yami's ATV matched pace with Snowball. Ohkami glanced over at him.
"Where did you last see her?" Yami yelled over the roar of the ATVs.
"The galloping lanes." She yelled back. "Doubt we could follow her though, this snow has probably filled in the prints."
Then, they heard the roar of another ATV, and saw it come out of the path ahead of them. Ohkami slowed Snow down to a trot as she approached the other ATV. The ATV's driver glanced at her.
"Where did you last see her?" Kaiba growled from under his helmet.
"The galloping lanes, but I doubt she's still there." Ohkami replied.
"Then where the hell could she be?" Kaiba asked himself.
Ohkami could hear a bit of panic in his voice. Then she heard something. It sounded like Princess. Snowball whinnied back. Immediately the ATVs were kicked into high gear. Ohkami squeezed Snowball into a gallop and they headed in the direction Princess had been heard.
Please be safe Liz. Kaiba thought as he barreled through the snow.
Liz came to a sliding stop at the top of the stairs. Her hand covered her mouth, stopping a scream. There, in front of her was the figure of Gozaburo Kaiba. He turned and she could see his face was bloody and deformed. Then, to her horror, he began to move towards her.
"Elizabeth, how good to see you." He said as he made his way towards her.
"How are you?" Liz backed up slowly, unable to believe what she was seeing. "You're dead."
"Not here." With that, he lunged at her.
Liz turned and ran. She could hear him pounding after her. Quickly, she jumped up the stairs toward the attic. As she got to the top, she ran behind the door, slamming it behind her. Her breath was coming in short, shallow gasps as she heard him bang on the door. Backed up against the opposite wall, staring at the door, she prayed to Isis that he couldn't get through.
Kaiba and the group made their way to the top of the hill and the mansion came into view. They stopped only for a second before hurrying down the hill, with both Ohkami and Kaiba in the front.
Ohkami trotted toward the stable and dismounted in front of the door. Leading Snowball inside she saw the lights on and Princess stick her head out of one of the stalls. The black mare was about midway down the barn. She had hay and water. There were still footprints on the dirt floor, showing that someone had been there recently.
After quickly untacking Snowball, Ohkami saw Liz's tack in the tack room. She swallowed. Liz was here, she just knew it. Kaiba was waiting for her as she exited the tack room.
"Her tack is in there." She told him.
"Then she must be in the house." Yami said.
"Let's go." Kaiba led the way to the mansion.
As he pushed open the door a blood curling scream. Both Kaiba's and Ohkami's hearts skipped a beat. It was Liz!
Maximillion Pegasus pushed open the door of his niece's house. It wasn't unusual for him to stop by unannounced, and she didn't mind. This visit was sparked by an unfounded fear. He didn't know why he was afraid, but knew that he had to make sure she was all right. Fifteen minutes earlier he had called but had gotten the machine, so he decided to come over for himself.
Then he spotted a note in Kaiba's handwriting on the counter. Perhaps that would give him a clue to where his teenage niece was. Leaning over he tried to make out the sprawled handwriting.
Mokuba,
Liz has disappeared. I've gone out to find her. Ohkami said she hadn't seen her. I'm going to search the galloping lanes and the trails. Don't worry. If you get hungry, ask for something. I probably won't be home before dinner.
Seto.
Moments later Pegasus urged a steel gray mustang into a gallop as they headed for the galloping lanes. What have you gotten yourself into this time Liz? He asked as they galloped into the white air.
The banging stopped. Liz slowly moved away from the wall. Then a figure came through the door. It looked like a human, not a ghost, with its body having the textures of someone that was alive. She gasped when she realized who it was and backed back up against the wall.
"Relax Liz," her Aunt, Cecilia Pegasus, approached her.
"Stay back." She whispered, unable to find her voice.
"You must listen to me Liz," her aunt's voice was urgent. "You must get out of here now. The spirits of Kaiba and your father are here and there is very little your mother and I can do to protect you."
"My mother?"
"Yes, this place is a haven for those who aren't ready to leave the mortal world. Your mother and I remained to protect you. And to comfort..."
"Uncle Max has missed you."
"I know, I remember the whole thing with the Millennium Eye."
"That defiantly wasn't his best moment."
There was a moment of silence before movement could be heard in the house.
"You must go. It is Seto Kaiba and your friends." Aunt C. told her. "Be careful Liz."
With that, the figure of her Aunt disappeared. Then the door burst open and Seto stood in the doorway.
"Are you alright Liz?" He asked as he rushed in and embraced her.
"A little shaken up but fine." She whispered, relishing the warmth of his embrace.
As they let go she saw the rest of the group standing near the doorway. She smiled at them. Suddenly, a cool wind blew through the attic. A cold laughter echoed throughout the corridors. Liz went stiff. It was her father's laugh.
"Oh no." She whispered hoarsely, shrinking into Kaiba's arms.
"What was that?" Ohkami's voice had a hint of fear in it.
"This place is a haven for lost souls." Liz told the group. "And that was my father."
Pegasus galloped his mount to the top of a hill. In the distance he could barely make out a mansion. Then a whinny broke the silence. His mount replied and then he recognized it. The horse was Princess. Another whinny echoed through the air. It was Ohkami's horse, Snowball. Without a second thought he cued his horse to gallop and made his way through the snow toward the mansion.
Liz sat in Kaiba's arms as they sat in the living room. It was too dangerous to go outside in the storm so they sat in the living room. After about ten minutes of Joey, Tristan, and Ohkami almost burning the mansion down, Seto had lit a fire. Now all of them were sitting near each other around it.
She sat nestled in his arms and buried her face in his chest. Then a cold wind whipped through the room, making everyone shudder. Liz looked up as she heard footsteps.
There, in the doorway, was her father. He had blood soaking his shirt and the look in his eyes was menacing. She shrunk back. Seto stood up in front of her.
"Well, well, well." Her father said as he took a step toward her. "Elizabeth Isis Pegasus. You've been a very bad girl."
"What are you doing here monster?" Kaiba asked, keeping Liz out of his sight.
"Shut up boy. I have no business with you. But." He paused. "Your stepfather might."
On cue, Gozaburo Kaiba stepped out from behind the doorway.
"It is so good to see you again Seto." His voice was as cold as ice. "But I'm not here to dawdle with you. I'm here for Liz."
"Over my dead body." Kaiba told them through gritted teeth.
"That can be arranged." Liz's father said as he pulled a gun from his pocket.
"Stop!" A familiar voice yelled.
Liz's jaw dropped as she saw her mother materialize in front of him.
"You will not harm her."
"Get out of my way bitch."
"You cannot hurt her while I am here. She is protected by my love."
"That is bullshit. Now out of the way."
"Never."
A blinding light filled the room and when it disappeared, only her mother stood by the doorway. Slowly, she turned and faced the group. A small smile crossed over her face.
"Elizabeth, it is good to see you again my daughter." She said, making her way toward Liz.
Kaiba stepped between Liz and the figure of her mother.
"Be assured Seto Kaiba," her mother told Kaiba. "That I will never hurt my daughter. She has gone through so much, too much. I would never hurt her. Would you?"
"What?" Kaiba seemed taken aback by the question. "Never, I love Liz."
"I hope so. Now I must be going. And," she looked at Yami. "It is good to see you my Pharaoh.'
With that she disappeared and the group was left in shock.
Pegasus dismounted and led his gray mount into the barn. The lights were on and the heads of Princess and Snowball stuck out from two stalls. He quickly untacked his horse and put him in a stall. Then he hurried up to the mansion and pushed open the large oak doors.
Elizabeth turned her head as she heard the doors open. Both Ohkami and Tristan stood up to see what it was. She lay quietly in Seto's arms as she heard the footsteps of three people.
"Is everyone alright?" Uncle Max asked as he stood in the doorway, looking at the group.
"A little shaken up." Yami replied.
Liz sat up and saw him in the doorway. She relaxed a bit. If he was here then they had one more person to fight the two ghosts. Suddenly, the fire in the fireplace went out and the room was thrown into darkness.
There were thumps around the room, and suddenly, she felt a large hand clasp over her mouth and she was knocked out.
Ohkami searched the room but couldn't find Liz. She knew she had heard someone and she was afraid that Liz's father had taken her.
"Where's Liz?" She asked the group as the lights came back on.
Seto's and Pegasus's faces went sheet white.
"No." Whispered Seto.
"You must find her." Liz's mother said urgently from the doorway.
Pegasus started.
"Aziza?" His voice was uncertain.
"It is good to see you again but we must hurry. Liz is in great danger. Clay and Gozaburo-"
"Who?" Tea asked.
"Her father." Aziza's voice was urgent. "You need to find Liz now. She's been through enough of this. Find her before it is too late."
With that Kaiba bolted up the stairs, unaware that he was heading in the complete opposite direction.
Liz came to tied to a large bed. Everything around her was damp and the air was freezing. She shivered and then realized that she was in just her bra and panties.
"No," she whispered as Gozaburo came out of the shadows.
"Yes my dear. Your father and I want to punish you for being a very bad girl." He said before pouncing on her, forcing her to relive her worst nightmares.
Ten minutes later Liz sat on the cold floor, shaking and scared. Now the only thing that covered her was a sheet that she had pulled off the bed. Gozaburo had just left the room and she was scared to death that he would come back. She didn't want to go through that again. It was bad enough that it had happened now, but she didn't know what she'd do if it happened again.
Silently, she sat on the cold floor, shivering not just from cold, but fear as well, praying that she would be delivered from this fate soon.
Ohkami searched the top floor and didn't find any hint of Liz. Just then, she realized that she and Yami weren't alone. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in the side of her neck and then everything went dark.
Yami watched Ohkami look around. Then he tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around. He got down on one knee.
"I know that this may not be the best time Ohkami, but I thought that it would be a good idea to do this before we get killed by these mutant freaks. Will you marry me?"
Ohkami grabbed Yami by the throat and pinned him against the wall. Just as Yami was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, he heard people racing up the stairs. Before they got there, Ohkami dropped him. She fell to the floor, knocked out cold.
Yami then looked down the hall. Cecilia Pegasus stood down the end, hand raised.
"She'll be fine." She told Yami. "I had to stop her from killing you. She was possessed by one of the demons from here. She should wake up in a few hours."
The footsteps stopped. Kaiba stood at the top of the stairs with Tea behind him. Cecilia Pegasus turned to face them.
"Hurry, she is in the basement. Go before it is too late."
Everyone stared as she disappeared before rushing down the stairs to the basement.
Liz sat in the fetal position, rocking to and fro. The sheet around her wasn't doing much to protect her from the cold, and she was starting to feel the effects. Now her breath was coming out in short puffs and her fingers were starting to go numb. Being in the cold room didn't help and slowly, ever so slowly, she drifted off into a welcoming darkness.
Pegasus pushed the door of the kitchen open. He entered, followed by Joey and Tristan. They had decided to search the pantry when the room became abnormally cold. Suddenly, the figure of Clay Pegasus appeared before him.
"Hello little brother." His voice was cold like the snow outside.
"Where is Liz?" Pegasus demanded.
"Shouldn't you be more worried about your wife?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"She's here. She'll be here until I'm gone. Why don't you go see her?"
Pegasus looked at his brother with a look of hate in his eyes.
"First you will go to where you belong, hell."
With that, a portal to the shadow realm appeared behind Clay Pegasus. The ghost seemed to struggle against the winds before being sucked into the dark abyss. Pegasus collapsed onto the floor. Breathing hard, but for one of the first times since his wife died, happy.
Kaiba pulled open the door leading to the cellar. Then he saw the figure of his stepfather. He was zipping up the fly on his pants and was smiling. His smile only grew larger as he saw Kaiba.
"Well Seto, I envy you. Liz is really good in bed."
Within seconds Gozaburo Kaiba disappeared into a black abyss and Kaiba stood, looking furious, but then rushed toward the door at the bottom of the stairs. When he pushed it open he saw Liz laying limp on the floor and his heart stopped.
Liz slowly came to. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light and she saw the familiar surrounding of her room. She blinked, and then she saw her Uncle Max sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a book. He smiled when he saw she was awake and put his book on his lap.
"What happened?" She asked slowly, sitting up.
"You drifted off in the cellar. Why didn't you tell me your father and Gozaburo Kaiba raped you?" His voice was soft and calm.
"I didn't..." She looked down at her lap. "I was afraid of what they would do to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Aunt C. knew, and so didn't Mom. That's why they were killed."
The room was silent for a moment. Then Pegasus leaned down and gathered his niece into an embrace.
"I promise Liz, they'll never be able to hurt anyone ever again." He whispered into her ear as he held her close.
Ohkami shook her head as she came to. Suddenly she sat up. This wasn't her bed and this wasn't her house. Her eyes quickly adjusted and she realized that she was in the Kaiba mansion. Then she realized something else. She wasn't wearing her clothes.
"Relax Ohkami." Yami tried to suppress a laugh as he saw Ohkami's face. "I changed you."
Ohkami relaxed a little and leaned against the headboard. Yami sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in to kiss her. When he sat back he spoke.
"When we were in the haunted mansion," he began. "And we were looking for Liz, well I guess that place makes people do crazy things. Well, I proposed and it would honor me if you would become my wife."
"Huh?" Ohkami looked confused. "How come I didn't say yes?"
"You were to busy trying to kill me."
"You do know I'm only like, fifteen."
"Why shouldn't we be engaged? Kaiba and Liz are."
With that Ohkami smiled and looked into his eyes.
"Yes, I'll marry you." She said before kissing him.
Liz sat at her desk in her study. It had been a week since the incident and she hadn't really recovered from it. Sighing, she didn't notice the door open but heard the footsteps behind her chair. She slowly turned her head. Suddenly, Seto picked her up bridal style.
She couldn't help it, she smiled and laughed as he sat down and put her on his lap. Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest. Seto held her close and finally broke the silence.
"They're waiting for us." He whispered in her ear.
"I just don't think I can." She replied quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"The two people who had found out ended up dead and I didn't want that to happen to you."
Seto gently kissed her forehead, before picking her up. She smiled and looked into his eyes.
"They are waiting for you." He told her. "And they will not wait any longer."
Liz laughed as he carried her out to the living room, which was decorated with Christmas splendor. Everyone was there, including the newly engaged Ohkami and Yami and Uncle Max. They all sat around the Christmas tree, chattering and for once, Liz felt that people who really cared about her surrounded her. Smiling, she got down from Seto's arms and made her way down the stairs and was greeted by a round of applause.