Chapter 37

To Protect and Serve

Anna set the table for dinner while keeping an eye turned toward Yugi. He was talking to someone on the hall phone and he didn't seem happy to speaking to him or her. She couldn't exactly hear what was being said, but she could tell by the grimace on his face that it wasn't to his liking. Grandpa brought out the food and distracted her; by the time she looked back Yugi had hung up the phone and was walking toward them.

"Is everything okay?" Anna asked.

"Yeah." Yugi said in a depressed tone.

She wanted more information, "So who were you talking to?"

"My mother." Yugi answered as he plopped down in his chair.

Grandpa was wise enough to stay out of the conversation, but Anna was terribly curious and never minded her own business. She sat down and started dishing out the food.

"So what did your mother have to say?"

"She wants me to come visit next week." Yugi was even more depressed at that thought.

"And you don't want to?"

"I don't want to waste my school break dealing with her."

Anna was wondering what could have happened between them that made him so angry. "There must be some bad blood between you two."

"I don't want to talk about it, okay."

Anna nodded. She had never seen Yugi like this before. He was, by his nature, a happy guy. But something about his mother sent him into an instant depression.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Anna asked with a smile.

Yugi just stared at her in surprise. He couldn't believe that she would want to go with him on...a vacation. It would be just the two of them together, well including Pharaoh, but still. She wanted to be with him. That was the best thing she could have ever said to him.

"I'd like to meet your mother." Anna added and Yugi's happiness melted away. He wasn't ashamed of Anna; he just didn't want her meeting his mother. It was her he was ashamed of and Anna might think less of him if they met.

"Thanks, but no. I think it would be best if I go alone."

Anna gave him another smile to try and cheer him up. It worked a little, but the thoughts of his mother still loomed his mind. But he tried to make the best of it. His mother may have been a thorn in his side, but he was thankful to have Grandpa and Anna there.

"With Joey off visiting Serenity and Anzu out on auditions, you'll have the no one to hang out with. What are you going to do all week?" Yugi asked the question, but in his mind he already knew the answer.

"I'm sure I can come up with something." Anna smiled at him.

Anna strolled to Seto's office with her normal flair. As she poked her head in the door she noticed he was on the phone. He spotted her and gestured for her to enter. She silently walked over and sat down on the couch. Seto finished his call and leaned back in his chair, just looking at her.

After a moment and an exchange of smiles Seto spoke. "So what was this news you said you just had to tell me?"

"It seems that all my friends are going out of town, so you'll have me all to yourself for a whole week."

"In other words, since I'm the only person around, I'm stuck with you."

"Exactly!"

"Why do I have the strange feeling that roller skates are in my future?"

"Because they are."

"Considering I'm stuck with you, I guess I should try and make the best of it. Have you eaten?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Anna bounced up off the couch but after a few steps she had to grab for the wall to steady herself.

Seto came up beside her and took her arm to help support her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Anna said blinking her eyes. "I'm just a little dizzy. I must have stood up too fast."

Seto didn't take that answer in full; he lifted her wrist so he could read the display on her watch.

Before he could comment Anna explained. "I've been having a little trouble leveling out my blood sugar lately."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Only a couple of weeks. It's nothing to worry about."

"Have you seen you're doctor?"

"Yes, I saw him on Friday. He doesn't think I'm taking enough insulin so he upped my dose. I even got two new bottles this morning. Everything is under control."

"You have to take care of yourself."

"Sure thing, Dad! I'll remember that." Anna said sarcastically.

Seto took that as a sign she was all right, and he walked with her out.

The desert wind was particularly cruel that night. It whipped about Seto as he walked to the entrance of the tomb. The sand kicked up and stung him mercilessly. This was not a task he was looking forward to. Pharaoh should have come here himself. But in a way High Priest Seto was glad it was him. He had heard the report. The royal entourage was ambushed while presenting offerings to Pharaoh's father. When they didn't return a search party was sent out. The witnesses said the scene was grizzly and that they found no survivors. Pharaoh should have come; it was his wife after all. He should pay his respects to her and not send someone else to collect her. But at least it was him. Seto knew her, he respected her, and he would bear her the way she deserved to be treated.

He took a torch from one of the guards and entered the tomb. He knew this place; he had been here before when they laid Pharaoh's father to rest. He made his way into the main chamber. He used the torch to pick up details of the room. The guards' bodies had long been removed, but their blood still stained the stone floors. He went to the sarcophagus next. It had previously been this man's target, but now lay undisturbed. Only a pair of bloody handprints marred its facade. 'He didn't take it' the High Priest said to himself. Looking around he discovered that nothing was missing. The items were there, just tossed about. 'She fought back. Good for her.' He had only one more thing to find, the one thing he dreaded seeing, the queen's body. He searched the floors, but all he saw was blood. The guards would not have removed her from the tomb; she was royalty and could not be touched by commoners. But she wasn't there. A reflection on the wall caught his eye. There was a dagger stuck into the wall, the same dagger he had given the Queen before she left. He hoped it would protect her. A small drip of blood marked the wall as it slid past the dagger. He took a step back and aimed the torch higher. There on the wall written in blood were the words, "She's mine now!"

Seto jolted out of sleep. He was breathing heavily and sweat poured down his brow. His dream had been so horrible, and so real. Remembering its course he panicked and quickly glanced around the room looking for Anna. Unlike him, she was peacefully dozing on the couch. He let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his face with his hands. He closed the laptop and removed it from his lap. He didn't even care that he hadn't finished his report. He walked over to see if she was all right. She was sleeping, not a care in the world. He gently brushed the few strands of hair out of her face and ran the back of his fingers along her soft cheek. He was so happy to see she was safe, but he also feared. It was a strange dream, he had been having so many lately, but only when she was near him. He concluded that it must be his subconscious mind playing out his fears and fantasies. But he couldn't shake the thought that something was coming. Something bad.

Seto couldn't have been happier to have Anna staying with them all week. It was like their time in Italy, but better. When he woke in the morning she was there, when he came back from work, she was there, and she stayed all-night so he would have someone to be with. He was sure he would have gotten tired of her after seeing her so much, but he didn't. Being near her only made him want to be near her even more. He was right in what he had said before; he was addicted to her. She was a drug and he needed his fix. And now his need was constant. When she was away from him he felt miserable and ached like he was going through withdraw. But as soon as he saw her again he was flying high and filled with inspiration. He needed her more than he needed anything in the world. And he'd give anything to keep her there with him.

As usual he couldn't sleep. He sat in his room trying to work, but he couldn't find the energy. What he really wanted was to talk with Anna. She always kept him company on these long nights. But he dare not disturb her. She looked so weary earlier that he made her go to bed. Noting her condition, it was better that he let her sleep. He decided to give up as he tossed his paperwork to the side and searched for his bedclothes. He managed to put on his pajama pants, but as he pulled off his shirt he heard a strange beeping. It sounded vaguely familiar. He followed the noise out of his room and across the hall to Anna's room. That's when he realized what the noise was.

"Anna?" He said as he pushed open the cracked door. There was no response so he went in.

The light from the hallway slightly illustrated the room and with it he could see Anna passed out on the floor. He rushed to her. Flipping her onto her back he checked to see if she was breathing. She was but erratically. The alarm still buzzed at him, so he turned to her watch. The display showed her in the danger zone. She needed insulin and fast. He gently laid her on the floor and went to mini-fridge. He had it installed in her room so she could keep her insulin and juice in it for the nights she stayed there. He flung open the door and pulled out a bottle. Grabbing the kit from the table he was about to fill a syringe when he stopped. Something she had said to him a few days ago caught him as strange. He tilted the bottle to look at the date. This was one of the new bottles she had just gotten. He set the bottle down and raced barefooted to the kitchen. He didn't bother switching on the kitchen light, he went straight for the refrigerator. He desperately searched the shelves. He knew he had seen it in there. Finally he found what he was looking for, another insulin bottle hidden behind the leftover Chinese food. He checked the date; it was old, but still good. He ran back to Anna's bedroom and dropped to the floor next to her with the newly acquired insulin. She had started to convulse as the chemical imbalance in her blood started effecting her brain. He did his best to steady her as he injected the medication. He then sat her up, and sitting behind her, wrapped his arms around her. He had read about these kinds of reactions. It was best to try and control the convulsions, to semi-immobilize the person so they don't harm themselves. He held on to her for dear life. Her body heaved and contorted and her legs kicked the air. He held her as tight as he could in order to stop the flailing. He placed his lips next to her ear and tried to sooth her.

"Fight it Anna." He whispered softly. "You're stronger than it is. Take control. Don't let it beat you."

After a few minutes the shaking and kicking diminished. He wasn't sure if it was his words or the insulin finally taking effect, but he didn't care as long as it stopped.

There were only slight tremors now. "That's it." He spoke to her. "Calm down. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you." He rocked her back and forth as the shaking finally came to a halt. Her eyes fluttered as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She leaned her head back onto his shoulder and faded into sleep.

She was thankfully out of danger, but this did leave Seto in a very unusual position. He was now holding in his arms the woman that had completely bewitched him, the one he felt like he couldn't live without. They were so close and so devoid of clothing. He was only wearing his pajama pants and his bare chest pressed against her back. She was in her standard silk pajama pants and spaghetti string tank top. But what was more interesting to him was that during the convulsions one of the straps to her top slid down her arm exposing her entire shoulder and a glimpse of the top of her breast. Wild thoughts started running though his mind. He remembered all the places he wanted to touch her, all the things he had wanted to do. His mind filled with all the fantasies he had ever since the day he saw her at that photo shoot. He wanted her and she was helpless to stop him. He knew it was wrong, but he just had to see what she felt like. He leaned down and starting at the tip of her shoulder he ran his lips across the curves and up her neck. When he reached the nape of her neck he kissed it, which brought about a moan of pleasure from Anna. He looked to see if she was awake, she wasn't, but her body was reacting to the stimuli. He leaned in and again kissed her in that same spot. He gained the same reaction. He wondered what other noises she could make. But that's when his brain finally kicked in.

'No! This isn't right!' He scolded himself. 'Yes, I want her more than anything, but not like this. I'd be no better than that man who tried to rape her.' Seto lifted his face away from her shoulder and neck. 'I want her to come to me. I want her to need me as much as I need her. I want her to be mine. Forever.'

He sat there for hours just holding her. Maybe in his mind he was hoping she would wake up and see how he had cared for her. But also he was afraid that she would wake up and wonder what he was doing. He was still ashamed of the way he had acted. All he could do was hold on. His eyelids started to grow heavy and he found himself fighting off sleep. Eventually sleep won. The dreams he had feared quickly came back.

He found himself riding through the desert, the sun beating down on him. He rode as hard and fast as he could, he had to get back to the palace. His horse's speed caused a bumpy ride, making him hold onto his package tighter. The figure he cradled was wrapped in his cape and blood was beginning to soak through the fabric. Seeing this he spurred on his horse. He didn't care if the horse died from exhaustion as long as he got to the palace in time. The streets of the city were busy with merchants and pedestrians. His horse plowed through them knocking over carts and people along the way. He didn't slow down as he approached the palace gates. He yelled for the guards to stand aside, recognizing him, they obeyed. He drove the horse through the courtyard and up the steps into the palace itself. He dismounted in a flash and took the cloaked figure with him. Servants and slaves came running to him as he marched through the corridors carrying his bundle. He ordered for the healers to be summoned and the servants ran to fetch them. He no longer cared for proper manners; he kicked in the door to the royal chambers. He placed the figure gently on the bed and uncovered the bundle to reveal the queen. Her face and lips were burnt and cracked by the sun. Her clothes torn and shredded. Every inch of her covered in dirt and blood. There was so much blood. The wounds were innumerable. It hurt him so to see her like this, beaten and bruised, barely clinging to life. He took the water from a side table, but she could not even part her lips to drink. So he tried to dab it to her face and wounds. He didn't know what else to do. He started calling again. Ordering for the healers and throwing things at servants who weren't moving fast enough or doing what they were told. As soon as they arrived he scolded the healers for their tardiness and set them to work. From that point on he was useless, he stood back and watched. He couldn't handle it anymore and he left the room. He didn't go far, he stopped outside the door collapsing to the floor. For the past week he had pushed himself to the boundaries of human endurance, and now he was paying the price. He sat there waiting for news, waiting for something, anything. The noise and commotion from down the hallway signaled the return of Pharaoh. The High Priest struggled to stand, he knew Pharaoh would not be pleased at his actions. His suspicions were correct, as Pharaoh came into sight his eyes were enflamed as he caught sight of the High Priest.

"How dare you disobey me!" Pharaoh shouted. "I gave you an order to pursue."

Seto was exhausted but he stood his ground, "I was not willing to leave her majesty in the desert to be feasted upon by vultures and jackals."

"What happened to her is a tragedy, but there was nothing more that we could have done." Pharaoh continued to shout his disapproval. "But all of us may have been able to catch him and make him pay for what he did. We would have come back for her."

"She deserved more respect than that."

"I promise you, she will be held in the highest regards and buried in a manner befitting her stature. But if we had caught him then her death would not have been in vain."

A sharp cry interrupted Pharaoh. His eyes widened at the sound.

"The Queen is not dead." Seto said bluntly.

Pharaoh rushed past Seto, pushing the door open wide. He couldn't believe the sight. The queen was very much alive.

"He said she was dead. He said he killed her." Pharaoh said in shock.

"If I had delayed, she would be." Seto had a smug look on his face.

Pharaoh approached the figure on the bed. Shooing away the healers that cared for her. They had covered her with a sheet, but her condition was obvious. The wounds were clean now and that made the horror of the situation clearer. He cut her so many times. The marks from the restraints on her wrists and ankles were highly visible now. She had a split from where the healers had just finished setting her broken leg. He reached out to touch her, but pulled back. Instead he turned to address the healer in charge.

"How is she?"

"She has been greatly abused, your majesty." The man said with downcast eyes. "We do not expect her to live through the night."

Pharaoh nodded with sad eyes and walked away from the bed. He took the healer to the far corner of the room to speak in private. Seto took the opportunity to go back to the queen's side. He tried once again to give her water. She was more awake now, but she refused.

"You must drink, Your Majesty." Seto said softly. He was answered by a slight wisp of a voice coming from her raw throat. He bent down to listen. Pharaoh saw this and came closer.

"What is she saying?" Pharaoh asked as he watched.

"Mountains...Alter...Ancient throne." He looked toward the Pharaoh. "I think she's trying to tell us where she was being held."

"Get me my maps!" Pharaoh demanded as he stormed out of the room.

Everyone left save for a few healers and servants and High Priest Seto. He had to see this through.

He presented her again with drink, but she turned her head away. He could tell by the look in her eyes she had given up. She was ready to die. He couldn't have that. He knelt by the side of the bed where only she could hear him and he spoke softly.

"I know you are in a lot of pain and that you have suffered. You have suffered more than any of us could ever know. But do not let this be the end. You must fight. There are so many things still to be done. Egypt needs you...I need you." Seto paused, he knew he had gone too far, but it was too late now. "I've been scared all my life. I put up this brave facade to keep people away, but you saw through it. You gave me your friendship and strength when I needed it most. And all I could do in return was protect you. And even at that I have failed. I couldn't save you; I couldn't stop him from hurting you." He stopped for a moment then gently touched her hand. "Let me give you my strength to replace that which you have lost. May it bring a smile back to your face and a peace to your spirit." He stood and tried one last time to get her to drink the water. "Please, Anck-su-namun, drink."

She didn't fight him anymore, and with some difficulty parted her lips and sipped from the cup.

He heard the footsteps enter the room but he did not turn to see who it was. "High Priest Seto, Pharaoh is demanding your presence."

Seto put down the cup. "Inform me at once if her condition changes," he ordered the healers. Begrudgingly, he followed the man who was sent to summon him. The servants closed the door behind them as they left.

As the doors slammed shut, Seto's eyes flashed awake. He leaned his head forward and breathed heavily. It was another dream, another nightmare. And this was the worst one yet. He was determined now that he never wanted to sleep again, especially if he was to be subjected to such horrors. He suddenly remembered what he had his head propped on. She was still there, still in his arms. He wiped the sweat from his face with his hand then tilted her down so he was now cradling her.

"Anna?" He noted she was still pale, but otherwise seemed to be sleeping soundly. He gently touched her cheek. "That's not me. The man in my dreams. I'm not him. I can't live my life not knowing your smile, or your touch, or your lips. I won't stand on the sidelines and admire you from a distance. You will be mine."

He pulled her in closer. He placed a soft kiss upon her forehead, then another on her cheek. He hesitated to go any further, but his logic was overruled, he just needed a taste. When he pressed his lips against hers, he intended it to be a light brush, but what it ended up being was a deep sensual kiss. He didn't know that such passion lived within him. It was there and she brought it out of him. Suddenly he realized what he was doing and quickly broke the kiss. He stared for a moment at her kiss-swelled lips. "I'm a coward." He bowed his head in shame. "I haven't the courage to do this when you're awake, so I've resorted to ambushing you while you sleep. I'm glad you're unaware, I wouldn't want you to see what a fool I am." As he tried to stand up pain shot through his back and legs from sitting in such a position for too long. He was tired but he found the strength to carry her to the bed and tuck her under the blankets. He grabbed the three bottles of insulin from her mini refrigerator and left her room.

He quickly got cleaned up and went to one of the lower floors of the building. It was still early, but some of the night crew and more ambitious employees were there. He picked one of his tech crew out; "I want to know what's in these." He placed the three bottles on the table. "Give me a full spectrum analysis. You have an hour." With that he stormed out of the room and the man quickly went to work.

Mokuba was looking forward to breakfast, especially when Anna was around. Seto was always in such a good mood whenever she visited. It amazed him the change he saw in his older brother. He was never so glad that his brother accepted a challenge to duel. He searched around the usual places in the apartment but there was no sign of Seto or Anna. He wondered if they had pulled an all-nighter out on the town again. He still didn't get the full story of what they did last time. He decided to backtrack and went to the bedrooms. Seto's door was open but no one was in there. Anna's door was cracked. He pushed it slightly and poked his head in. He saw Anna asleep on the bed and caught a glimpse of Seto sitting in the chair. He walked toward Seto, but he didn't seem to notice. He was clutching a piece of paper and staring at Anna as if in deep thought.

"Is everything okay?" Mokuba asked quietly.

"I don't know." His gaze never turned away from her.

"Did something happen to Anna?"

Seto stood up and gave his brother a gentle push. "Come on, we should let her sleep."

A few hours later Seto re-entered Anna's bedroom carrying a glass of orange juice. He placed the glass on the side table then gently nudged Anna trying to wake her. Seeing this wasn't completely effective he propped her up and sat behind her to give her something to lean on.

"Come on, you need to wake up now." Seto insisted as he brought the glass to her lips. "Drink this." She turned her head refusing the item that was placed before her. "You slept through breakfast; you need to get something in your system." Still groggy she tried to push the glass away with her hand, but Seto held steadfast. "This isn't a game, now drink!" He forced the glass to her lips and she was able to swallow some of it. He sat the glass down and wiped away the juice that had dribbled down her chin.

She wiggled as she became more aware. "What happened?" Anna asked in a raspy voice.

"You had an attack last night."

Anna rubbed her face and groaned. "I don't remember that."

"What do you remember?"

"I remember...giving myself a shot, but it didn't seem to help. I was still having trouble...so I tried to get more, but I was so light headed..."

"There was a reason it didn't work. That wasn't insulin."

"What do you mean?"

"I had the bottles tested. They were tainted."

"Some kind of mix up at the pharmacy?"

"I checked the two new bottles you got and the one from two weeks ago, they were all the same. It was done deliberately. Someone is trying to kill you."

"Kill me?"

"And it's not the first time. The man in the garage, his name was Al Simms, he's was a professional hitman and wanted by Interpol."

"That may be so, but how do we know I was his target?"

"Because he told me."

Anna's face was full of confusion.

"When he and I struggled he said that he had only been paid to kill you, but that he would kill me for free."

Anna was upset now. "You never told me that."

"I didn't want to alarm you until I had all the facts."

"But who would want to kill me?"

"There is only one person who would benefit from your death."

Anna thought for a split second, "He wouldn't do that, I'm his only family."

"You're also worth millions."

"But even if I died he still wouldn't get the company. It's in my father's will that I can leave my assets to whomever I choose, even if I died before inheriting."

"Maybe he's banking on that fact that you haven't written a will. In such a case he'd get everything. Or if you did, I'm sure he would contest your decision in court."

"I can't believe this is happening." Anna leaned back against him and let out a sigh.

"You have to promise me that you'll think about your safety. You need to protect yourself."

"But that's what I have you for." Anna smiled and took his hand in hers.

"I may not always be there to protect you."

"Are you leaving me, Seto?"

"No, never. I'm just worried about you."

Anna nuzzled against him a look of concern returning to her face, "What am I going to do?"

"First you're going to finish your orange juice, then you're going to get out of bed, get dressed, and go see a lawyer."

"If we are going to do this, we're going to need more proof than your suspicions and my bad insulin."

"We'll get it."