A/N: Mantra...Don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but I own my characters. I hope last chapter pleased everyone, this one might not...but it will get better I promise. I needed this in there, my friend (who reads this right before I post) is a bit annoyed...Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! You guys are the best! You really keep me going.
Chapter 18
Iolite made her way up the stairs and into the room her and Kaiba shared. She was completely numb. She didn't know what all of this meant, was it over? She closed the door behind her and leaned her back against it for strength. She had lost him. She slid to the ground. After propping her chin on her knees and wrapping her arms around her legs she let the torrents go. She cried until sobs devastated her body and she thought she would die. He hated her. She had ruined everything. Gone was the man she had feelings for, replaced by a cold hearted fiend who was a typical male in every respect.
The more I let you in the weaker I grow. I'll grow cold and lock you out now Seto. I almost lost myself in you, thankfully you revealed your fangs before I bared my throat. I have to forget everything that was waking up. I had my soul buried so deep, you started to uncover my secrets and my desires, but now my hopes have fallen. I'd never do anything to hurt Mokuba, but you Seto, God help me I will resist you.
After awhile she slowly began to focus. She scanned the room realizing it would probably be a matter of days until this place was a memory. A knock at the door behind her caught her off guard and she jumped to her feet.
"Who's there?" She asked, trying to sound composed. She wiped furiously at her tear soaked eyes.
"It's Mokuba. Can I come in?"
She closed her eyes tightly. He couldn't see her like this.
"Just give me a minute!"
She raced towards the bathroom and called for him, "come on in!"
She looked around the bathroom, then at her face in the mirror. She was a mess. There was no way she could explain her disheveled appearance. Quickly she wet her hair in the sink and pulled it into a towel, she placed a few drops of visine in each eye and then she wet a washcloth with some cool water, she was ready to face the small Kaiba.
"What happened Iolite?" He jumped off the bed, leaving his book behind, and raced over to her.
"Stupid me, I tried to wash my hair in the sink and ended up getting soap in my eyes and my hair caught in the drain. It was quite painful, but I'll make a quick recovery." She was quite pleased that her voice sounded so even.
"My brother just called," Mokuba started, "that's why I came to talk to you."
She panicked, did Kaiba tell Mokuba everything and now she was caught in another lie? Where would this all end?
"He said that he had to go to an emergency business meeting. He'll be gone a few days so I'm in charge of entertaining you." He smiled so brightly at her, it almost broke her heart. Kaiba didn't tell him anything...she wondered why.
"He said to entertain me?"
"Well," he blushed, "he said to keep an eye on you. I figured that meant to entertain you. So, I was wondering if you could continue reading to me."
She smiled, "of course. I'd love to. At this rate we'll be on our second reading of the stories before Goblet of Fire hits the theaters!" She was rewarded with his giggles as they jumped on the bed and snuggled down with the book.
They read for quite awhile, until dinner. She had no appetite. She had no desire to see anyone or talk. Mokuba kept up both ends of the conversation while the events of the day recycled in her mind. This house actually seemed more oppressive without Seto there. She always thought it would be cheerier in his absence.
Raine knew something was wrong, in the last few days she had been happier than he had ever seen her. Now, here she was, sullen and depressed. The few smiles she granted were forced and cold. She tried to play it up for the child, but he knew her, she couldn't hide from him. He wondered where Kaiba went. Something wasn't right and he would figure it out soon and try to correct the problems he was sure she caused.
Kaiba wasn't fairing any better than his distraught wife. He kept on going over the events of the day and kept coming up blank. He looked around the penthouse suite he was in. He wanted her here, despite how mad he was. Did he really care what she had said or done? She had married him, stayed with him, and last night he didn't initiate anything, she did. Her eagerness to kiss him was intoxicating; it took every ounce of his strength to uphold his vow to her. He remembered cursing himself well into the night about how stupid he was to promise not to touch her. After midnight he wanted to wake her and say it was morning, hence, his promise had ended. On the other hand, she had wrapped herself around him so tightly that he was afraid to wake her for fear she would move away. Was she that good of an actress?
He knew she was innocent. Could a person with hardly any experience fake the zeal she clearly had for him? He just couldn't wrap his mind around why she had she kept such an important fact from him. He had to protect his corporation; in doing so he protected Mokuba. Iolite was a diversion, nothing more. He wanted something to occupy his bed and she fit the bill. There was nothing more to this than that. Still, a nagging voice in the back of his head wouldn't let his mind be. He could have given her the shares he had acquired from Mortimer and saved himself from this 'unholy' union, as Ryan put it. He chose not to...why? For sex? For power?
He sat at his laptop and tried to work, tried to do something besides think of his angel. He looked at the tray room service had brought up earlier. He wasn't really hungry, except for maybe the fresh peach slices he had ordered.
"Do I really have to go to bed this early?" Mokuba whined as Iolite pushed him towards the stairs. He was excellent at stalling, it was nearly midnight.
"You are up way past your bedtime." He spun around as if to plead his case, but her hand going up silenced him. "Not another word about how you can set your own schedule on the weekends. I think I know how things work around here enough to know it's a great imagination you have, maybe you should become a trial lawyer Kiddo. Lord knows you can argue intensely." She was gifted with a huge smile from the little one.
"I want to be a champion duelist like my big brother!" He saw sadness touch her eyes. He was afraid it was because of his refusal at her career advice, so he amended, "maybe I can be a lawyer part-time."
She was dreading going to bed without Kaiba in the room. "Maybe you can convince me to read to you just a tad bit more before it's lights out."
Mokuba fell asleep almost instantly, but she knew she had hours of walking the floors ahead. She went into their bedroom, noting how the maid had turned down the covers on her side only. She wondered how the girl knew where she slept. She walked over to Kaiba's side and stroked his pillow. Tears welled in her eyes again. She lay down and rested her head where his should have been. Softly she began to sob.
Kaiba paced, it was now 1am and he wasn't even ready to sit down. He was miserable. He wondered what she was doing. Suddenly he was afraid that due to their fight she would leave the grounds. Dread filled his heart; she could get killed out there. Quickly he dialed home.
"Answer the damn phone you incompetent ingrates!" Finally on the sixth ring someone did.
"Hello?" Iolite's voice answered.
There was a long pause; she quickly sat up in bed, swinging her feet over the side.
She knew it was him, "Kaiba? Please say something."
His eyes closed, he was flooded with relief that she was safe. He was still furious with her, but she was safe.
"Don't break any promises while I'm gone." He managed.
"What promise?"
"Don't leave the grounds."
He heard a slight hiccup from her, as if she'd been...crying?
"Does it matter if I do?"
"Iolite," his voice had a warning tone to it.
"I won't." She lowered her eyes, "When will you be coming home?"
"I can't say at the moment."
"Should I leave? Do you want me gone? I will if it means that you and Mokuba can be together again."
"You are to stay there, don't arouse suspicion. I'll deal with you when," when I can cut off my feelings for you, "I can deal with your treachery."
He hung up.
A knock sounded at his door. He had alerted a friend to his being in town. He walked over and opened it. There she was, looking as amazing as she always did. The low cut red dress hugged her curves and her green eyes were lustful. "I was wondering when you would come back Seto."
He didn't like how she said his name, it dripped with hunger. He also hated her dress, which left nothing for the imagination. Iolite had more amazing curves, but it seemed her unawareness of it made them more appealing. Tanya stank of a rich perfume, which probably cost her father plenty, but was nauseating. Iolite usually smelt like soap, there was a soft fragrance that surrounded her but it was more of an aura than a perfume.
"Why, did you miss me?" He asked absently, not really caring if she did or not.
"Would you like it if I said yes?" She looked at the hard eyes that were on her. He had been an amazing lover, but that was all. After he and her father had wrapped up business he left without as much as a 'good-bye'. She didn't care, she had enough men to occupy her time. His call tonight caught her off guard, she had had an itch all day and he was just as good as the next man to scratch it, maybe better.
She glided over to the couch and sat, crossing her legs after she hiked up her dress. He smirked, Iolite would already be barefoot and would have tripped over her shoes. He remembered how she tugged down her skirt self-consciously. He was beginning to get disgusted with the tramp before him.
His original plan was to use Tanya to prove that he didn't need Iolite, he had only wanted her to fulfill his needs. That plan was backfiring quickly. It seemed everything Tanya did forced him to compare the two. However, there was no comparison, Iolite was in a league of her own.
"Where do you want me?" She purred as she pulled her hair out of its clip. He watched as the over processed bleach blonde strands fell to her shoulders. Iolite's was natural, cascading down her back, rich golden honey colored, thick and full, she played with it too much, but that was part of her charm. Unlike Tanya she never used her looks for seduction. Tanya made a hobby of her sexual conquests. He honestly didn't know what he had seen in her.
"You're awfully quiet Seto, if you're afraid I'll tell your wife anything be rest assured, I don't want to break up your marriage. I just want to satisfy our mutual cravings. She never needs to know. Hell, I wouldn't want to form a real relationship with you, it would complicate the sex." She stood up and unzipped her dress. His eyes grew harder, he remembered a dress that had nearly suffocated his wife, he also remembered unzipping it for her. A black dress on their wedding day, it set the mood didn't it?
"Are you ok?" She asked as she approached him. He hadn't said a word, he was so deep in thought. She started kissing his neck, sliding her hands along his body. He could feel her skills, she was a pro. He had once benefited from of her expertise. He mentally labeled her a whore, the only difference between her and a street walker was she was filthy rich. He knew she did it for kicks not a paycheck.
She slid her mouth over his, her tongue instantly demanded entrance. Iolite was still learning how to kiss. He remembered when she straddled his hips so she could kiss him. She had no idea what she did to him. His wife's kisses were getting braver, but she was still so naïve and her mouth was so sweet. He wanted her, not this. He abruptly broke the kiss.
"I'm sorry." He grumbled as he pulled away from her grasping hands.
She looked at him with anger in her eyes. "You called me over here in the middle of the night to throw me out?" She looked him up and down. "I'm up for anything you have in mind Seto." She drawled trying to convince the CEO to take her. Slowly, realizing it did no good, she tugged the zipper back up.
"As you said before I am married, I guess I just found a few scruples."
She looked mad, but then turned. "I never thought I would see the day that a woman could call you to her heel. This wife of yours must be something else." She sneered at him.
He watched as the door shut. The only thing he really wanted was a certain Princess. Over a hundred miles away and she consumed his thoughts. He felt haunted by her. He was beginning to realize he didn't just want her body, if that were the case he would be having sex with another warm body by now. He wanted her laughter, her smile, he wanted her tenacity, her intelligence but above all he wanted her heart. He sighed deeply, looking at the book on his bedside table Turn of the Screw...She had gotten to him, and as damned as he felt he wouldn't let her leave.
A few days passed and Mokuba noticed Iolite looked more despondent. He needed to devise a plan to cheer her up.
"Maybe we could decorate your room, so you like it better." He suggested, it seemed whenever she went in there she would get teary-eyed.
"Seto used a horrible decorator to handle that room, but seeing as he hardly ever uses it he never changed it." Mokuba tried to get her to look at him, but she was staring out the window at nothing.
"Princess?"
"I'm sorry Mokuba, I'm just feeling sorry for myself is all. It sounds like a wonderful idea. I like decorating. Do you think Seto would mind?"
"Nah, he likes change!" Mokuba knew otherwise, but figured if it made her smile it would be worth the effort. Besides, he could blame it all on Raine.
For the next few days she dragged Mokuba, Raine, three other guards and the whole 'Scooby-gang' to store after store. Painters were hired to brighten up the cheerless tomb. She selected a paint treatment that resembled white marble. Mokuba suggested they make the tray-ceiling look like the sky at sunset. The dark rug was replaced with an ivory one and the drapes came down in exchange for roman shades. The furniture was now light oak. The bed was a magnificent mix of a rod iron canopy and an ornate carved cypress wood. It was a bit darker than the oak, but it was an incredible focal point. She decked the canopy with white gauzy material, which draped down the poles to puddle on the floor. She also replaced the chairs before the fireplace with a cream loveseat.
She now loved her bedroom. Mokubaand her would play games on the new coffee table, sitting on large overstuffed pillows before the fireplace. At night he took up residence with her as she read him to sleep. She willed herself to let go of the memories of Seto Kaiba, everything that could have been, because it was obvious he was done with her. He called Mokuba twice daily but never asked to talk to her. Everyone knew there were problems, but they all spared Iolite's feelings.
She had become quite the household fixture. She helped clean, cook and her gardening methods were unreal. A day didn't pass that she wasn't lending a hand to someone. Raine was so amused; she knew every staff member-their family-and friends. She had been the same way in Valkaria. She threw herself into work to drown out her real problems. He knew she still went on her laptop, but it would usually end in frustration. He attempted to find out what the problem was on a regular basis, but she had shut him out. It was unreal that they were going into their second week without Seto Kaiba in the house.
At night she would check into her company, then read countless e-mails, many from Ryan begging forgiveness. He was still at the same hotel, he refused to leave town until she came to see him. Maybe it was time to break the promise she had made to the great CEO of Kaiba Corp...
A/N: Please don't yell at me about this chapter...it adds insight...
blackcoat 245: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you like the story. I'm weaving a tangled web at this point. The way Kaiba is acting, evading her, does he deserve any explainations? lol
Sologirl: Ryan was a bad boy...I know...but hurt people do stupid things. She betrayed him too, she's not that innocent. I like lustful men, they tend to make life interesting. That's why I'm so fascinated with Seto Kaiba, under that ice cold exterior has to lurk...well...you know my train of thought...you have your own ideas on Marik and all! Kaiba wouldn't have raped her, he was hurt by her betrayal. I think it was a scare tactic and then he regretted it immediately when he saw how scared she was.
ssp: I'm glad you think I've pulled her away from being a Mary Sue. I didn't want that label! I think pissing off both men she cares about tells you what a screw up she is...and just wait til she tries to 'fix' things. This chapter lacked humor, but I had to get into Seto's head...and hers. Thanks again for the help!
Mariks1andonly: Glad you love it! Thanks for the review, hope I can keep your interest.
Frosty: I think we were the only two with our hands up...wanna share?! My fast turn-around updates may come to a screeching halt now that I'm back home. We got back last night 'cause we knew our power was back on. I went back to classes this morning. I have a ton of work to make up. Thankfully I did do a lot of reading and stuff when I was away. Hopefully that will be the last time we're refugees this hurricane season! I hate being away from home (glad I keep bringing my laptop!) Sophmore eh? You write ahead of your years! Ryan was very bad in the last chapter and Seto was bad in this one. I guess Iolite has to be next huh?
whitejellO: I'm glad you love the tension and thanks for the compliment about my building it well. You don't have to review before I post for grammer...I know how time is precious. Besides, I want you to enjoy the story and I love your reviews. Reading over my work would be hard seeing as I write and write, then jump ahead, paste and then redo constantly. I get ahead of myself, then have to go back and restructure because I forget to add things and all. You'd pull out your hair, like I do! I'm glad the get together was realistic, I was afraid it might not be. Self-doubt is a wonderful dramatic tool...glad I do it somewhat successfully. Thanks!
Tenshi: This was slower, I had to keep reworking this chapter. I'm glad you're eager to read. Thanks for reviewing as always!