Chapter 43

Shattered

He found himself sitting alone in the dark a lot this past week. Mainly because that's the way he felt. He realized how cruel and evil he really was. And since Anna never returned, it was proven that he was right. He hurt her, even if he didn't mean to. He went back on his promise to always protect her. He couldn't keep her safe, not even from himself. He had this sinking feeling since the day she left that her life was in danger, but he couldn't face her, not even to make sure she was okay. He had done enough damage. But still the feeling got deeper and the more time passed the harder it became to fight it. He did break down midway through the week and called her cell phone. He was curious to see if she would even answer. She didn't. Her phone was no longer in service. If she changed the number than it was obvious that she didn't want to speak with him ever again. But the deepest cut came from Mokuba. He blamed Seto for making Anna leave, he was probably right. And after two days Mokuba stopped speaking to Seto. He refused to even be in the same room with him until he apologized to her. So Seto resorted to hiding in his office. He hoped work would distract him. He managed to get things done, but it didn't help ease his mind. Everything reminded him of her. Even the stapler that he threw across the room the last time she left. He felt like throwing it again. Maybe that would be her cue to come walking in the door. But he knew it wouldn't happen. He was lost without her.

Seto felt foolish as he stood outside Anna's apartment door. He had finally gotten up the nerve to say he was sorry. He didn't regret it; he just didn't know exactly how to say it. He should have brought a gift, flowers or candy, something to ease the mood. He hadn't thought about that when he was talking himself into this. He knocked. No answer. He took a deep breath and knocked again. Still no answer. She either wasn't home or she was ignoring him. He was going to camp out on her doorstep if he had to. Luckily a guiding influence came into his life.

"She's not home." Came this whiny annoying voice from behind him.

He turned to see a little old lady struggling to get up the stairs with her arms full of groceries.

"She's not been there all week." Continued the elder-lady.

"Do you know where she is?" Seto asked bluntly.

"Oh sure, I know where she is. She's such a sweet girl. She always helps me with my groceries. No matter what she's doing, she stops everything to help me. Not many young people would stop to help an old lady with her groceries."

Seto got the hint. If he didn't help this lady she wouldn't give him the information he required. "Let me help you with those." Seto took the bags from her. They were quite heavy; he wondered how she managed to get up the stairs with them. He also wondered why she would live on the third floor of a building with no elevator.

"I know who you are." Chimed the old woman as she tried to find the right key to open her door. "You're Seto. She talks about you a lot."

"What does she say?" She got his curiosity up now.

"She worries about you. She worries a lot." The lady gestured for him to follow her into the apartment. "You shouldn't make her worry so much."

"Was this just in the past week?" Seto set the groceries down on her kitchen counter.

"No, she's been saying that for a long time."

"What has she said this week?"

"Silly boy! She hasn't said anything to me this week. I'm not a mind reader." She saw Seto's puzzled look. "Oh that's right! No one's told you. It's a shame what happened to her."

Seto's heart began pounding and his stomach did somersaults. "What happened? Is she all right?"

"I'm afraid not. She got hit by a car; she's in the hospital."

Seto didn't wait for the lady to explain anything else; she bolted for the door and to his car. He drove like a maniac as he sped through stop signs and ran a few red lights. He had to get to her. All the time he was thinking of what an idiot he had been. She could die and he would never get to make amends with her. Just because of his stupid pride. With the squealing of the wheels he came to a fast stop at the doors of the hospital. He left the car there; he didn't care if it got towed away. He plowed through a few people to get to the main information desk.

"I'm looking for a patient named Anna Sung. Which room is she in?" He wasn't polite and that was the reason the lady at the desk wasn't nice to him.

"I'm sorry sir, visiting hours are over."

"I didn't ask you what the visiting hours are, I want to know what room she is in."

"If you just come back tomorrow..."

"Do you know who I am? I have enough money that I could buy this hospital and have your ass fired! Now tell me where she is!" He slammed his fist down on the counter, causing some wary looks from people in the lobby.

The lady behind the counter gave into his demands and checked her computer. "She's in the Intensive Care Unit, room #3214."

Without even a thank you he stomped away and into an elevator. He checked the room numbers as he charged down the hall. He was getting close. A nurse called out to him to stop, but he didn't listen. He paused only a second before entering her room. He didn't know what to expect, he was almost afraid to know. He turned the knob and walked in. It was a small room, but adequate for it's needs. Then he saw her, lying on the bed. She looked so pale but that was completely overshadowed by the monitors and tubes attached to her. Her face was slightly obscured by the breathing tube down her throat. He knew it was bad if they needed to assist her breathing. He plucked the chart off the wall and sifted thought it.

"You can't be in here." Said a nurse as she walked into the room.

"Get her doctor in here; I want to speak to him." He barked out his order.

"Sir, you can't..."

"Get him now!"

The lady ran away frightened. Seto was hoping she was going to get the doctor and not security. He walked over to the bed and picked up her hand, the only part of her that wasn't covered with some kind of device.

"Anna, can you hear me?" He ran her long slender fingers between his hands. "This is all my fault. I should have protected you. If I hadn't yelled at you, you would have never left. Then this wouldn't have happened. But I promise you; from now on things will be different. I'll always be there and I'll take care of you. Please just get better."

He pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed. Still holding onto her cold hand he began rocking back and forth to the rhythm of the machines beeping out their tune.

"Be strong. Fight. Live." He whispered to her.

He was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall. He glanced toward the door as a man in a white coat entered.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Tofu. The nurse said you wanted to speak with me."

"How is she?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm only allowed to discuss a patient's medical condition with family members."

"I am family, she's my sister."

"Strange, her fiancee said she didn't have any siblings, only an uncle."

"He doesn't like me. I'm sure he wishes I would just disappear. Please can you tell me what happened?"

"Last Saturday she was struck by an automobile. When she came into us we had to do surgery to stop some internal bleeding and a couple of days ago we did a minor surgery to correct a torn ligament in her right knee. Otherwise the physical damage was minimal. Mainly reserved to bruises and a couple of cracked ribs. But we are more concerned with the brain damage. She suffered a severe concussion, which effected the area of the brain that controls innate reactions and motor reflexes. She couldn't breath on her own so we put her on a ventilator. In the basest of terms, she's in a catatonic state."

"What are her chances?"

"From the readouts we're getting her brain waves are still strong, and there is a good possibility for recovery. The brain is an amazing instrument, I think if you give it time, you'll see it will heal itself."

The doctor went over to the machines on the opposite side of the bed and checked the readouts. "Let's see how she's doing, shall we?"

Seto stood up to see what test he was going to perform.

"I'm going to disconnect the ventilator for a moment. If she breaths on her own then we can remove it, but if not we'll have to keep her on it a while longer." The doctor made a few adjustments to the monitor then with a snap he removed the tube supplying her with air. It was a tense moment. Seto squeezed down on her hand, trying to will her his strength. Then there came the lightest little whistle as air squeezed in and out of the tube that still lodged in her mouth.

"There she is!" The doctor said with excitement. "You must be good luck, that's the most progress we've seen in a week. Maybe you should stick around."

"I'm not going anywhere."

It is said that when someone is in a coma that they can't hear or see or even think. Anna didn't know about all of that. After all this was her first coma and she didn't have much experience with them. But she could tell you one thing for sure. She could dream.

The Queen walked gracefully to the throne room. High Priest Seto by her side as usual. Pharaoh demanded that the High Priest keep a close watch on her. Especially since they heard the news. They entered the room with no fanfare or celebration; it was just them and High Priestess Isis who was waiting. The Priestess bowed as the Queen took her position on the throne. High Priest Seto took up his post a few feet away from her.

"Good morning High Priestess." The Queen addressed her friend in a cheery tone.

"Good Morning, your majesty."

"What news do you have?"

"Should we not wait for his majesty? I'm sure he will want to hear."

"Pharaoh is still exhausted from yesterday's activities; he will not be joining us."

Isis nodded her understanding.

"So, tell me. Can you see? Will my child be a son? Will I give Pharaoh an heir?"

"The necklace has great powers to see into the future, and it blesses us with many things. But I cannot direct its images; it shows me only what it wills me to see. I have tried your majesty, but I cannot foresee the life of your child. The necklace blocks its view." Isis could see the look of disappointment and maybe even fear projected on the Queen's face. "But do not be discouraged, your majesty. It does not mean bad omens. There are some people whom the necklace will not see for; you are one of them. Pharaoh has asked me many times to seek out your future together, but it will not show me. You have an aura about you and the necklace's sight cannot penetrate it."

The Queen sighed. "Then it is my destiny to wait, and if the gods favor me I will give Pharaoh a son. I thank you for your pains."

Isis bowed with a smile.

The Queen rebounded quickly from the discouraging news and went on to other royal duties. "What other visions have you seen? Should we expect a good harvest?"

"I'm afraid to say that the Nile will not raise its banks as high this year. I fear it will not yield as much fertile land for the harvest."

The conversation was interrupted when a servant came into the throne room. He bowed deeply and avoided eye contact.

"Excuse me, your majesty. This is the messenger I sent for." Isis bowed and walked across the room to receive the report from the envoy.

That left the Queen and High Priest Seto alone and she decided to seize the opportunity. "You have been out of sorts lately." The Queen said in a whispered tone. She didn't turn toward him or look at him while she spoke. "Are you ill?"

"I thank you, your majesty for your concern, but it is unwarranted. I assure you I am well."

"You have not been available to play senet for many nights."

"My duties occupy me."

"It occurs to me that your strange behavior began around the time it was announced I was with child." Seto remained silent so she continued her examination. "Do you not wish for Pharaoh to have an heir?"

"On the contrary, it will be a great day for Egypt. Pharaoh will have a son and the stability of the kingdom will be secured."

He said it so plainly that she didn't know if he truly meant it. It sounded almost rehearsed. "Find time for senet. I think we have much to talk about."

Silence befell them again as High Priestess Isis approached them.

"I beg your pardon, your majesty. Where did I leave off?"

"You were speaking of the harvest." The Queen informed her. "I will recommend to Pharaoh that we ration the grain we have in the warehouses. That will provide us with enough food for the year. Also..." The queen suddenly stopped as she felt her head get dizzy. She closed her eyes and braced her head in her hand.

"Your majesty?" High Priest Seto came closer to help her.

When the queen reopened her eyes she was in a panic. "No!" She yelled then darted down the hallway. High Priest Seto took a few steps to pursue when the glow from Isis' necklace caught his attention. She was being visited by a vision.

The queen rushed as fast as she could. It wasn't like royalty to do so, but that was the last of her concerns. She couldn't run fast enough, or so it seemed to her. So she flung off her sandals in order to get better traction on the marble floors. Then she was there, the royal chamber. She burst through the doors. The noise of her arrival made the Pharaoh stir slightly in bed. She approached the bed with caution and catching sight of her adversary; she climbed on top of Pharaoh. She put herself between it and him. It was this gesture that woke Pharaoh. He went to speak, but she muffled it with her hand. She whispered to him to stay silent as her eyes motioned to the other side of the bed. He tilted his head slightly and was able to catch a glimpse of the serpent as it made it's way out from under the sheets. For a moment is looked as if it would slither away, but something caught its attention. Whether it was the heavy rise and fall of their chests as they tried to stay still or the heat from their bodies, it made the snake take up a defensive position. The s-shape indicated that it was posed to strike.

"Be ready to move." She silently whispered. She shifted her position slightly trying to push more of herself between them. This movement agitated the snake even more and it coiled back. Just as it struck the Queen pushed Pharaoh off the bed and onto the floor. While simultaneously reaching for the serpent. She managed to grab it and toss it across the room. She bounced off the bed. Her task was not finished; she had to make sure it didn't come near Pharaoh. It regained its form and quickly began slithering across the floor. It didn't get very far before one of the sharp axe-like blades of the Millennium Rod swooped down and decapitated it.

"Pharaoh!" High Priestess Isis yelled as she went to tend the Pharaoh as he lifted himself off the floor.

"I'm fine." Pharaoh said as he brushed himself off.

But High Priest Seto wasn't interested in the Pharaoh's condition. He was distracted by the way the Queen seemed to wobble and teeter where she stood.

"Your majesty?" He said cautiously as he approached. He came up beside her and she collapsed. Her legs had given out from under her, luckily he was able to catch her. He cradled her as he brought her to the floor. He noted that she was gripping her arm and that two small streams of blood flowed from under the pressure point. She had been bitten. He immediately ripped the bottom of his long ceremonial tunic and tied the fabric in a turnicate around her upper arm. Taking out a knife from his belt he cut her flesh along the line of the bites. Pressing his lips to the cut he sucked out the blood and more importantly the poison from her system. The space around them was tainted with splats of blood as he spit mouthfuls onto the floor. She was going limp in his arms and he feared that he was too late.

Word spread quickly throughout the palace and Mahade quickly appeared. He was not only an item barer he was also a healer and magician. He tended to the Queen's wound and made her drink a potion designed to reverse the effects of the poison. She was still clinging to life, and he was determined that she would not die.

High Priest Seto was furious. "Where were the guards! The royal family is to be protected at all times. Find out who was slack in their duties and bring them to me!"

"You must calm yourself, Seto." Mahade advised as he exited the royal chamber. "The guilty parties will be severely punished, but you must lower your voice. I do not want any unnecessary stress placed on the Queen."

He knew Mahade was right, but he didn't have to admit it, or like it.

"You did a risky thing today." Mahade warned.

"I had to draw the poison out; I didn't care if it killed me."

"That's not what I meant."

Seto threw a suspicious eye toward Mahade.

"You drew royal blood." Mahade warned. "You could be put to death for that."

"I am willing to die as long as the Queen lives."

"I'll speak to Pharaoh about this. He's angry, but he also knows you were only trying to help her. I'm sure he will pardon you."

"Will she live?" Seto was unconcerned with his own life.

Mahade nodded. "You saved her life today. But don't think that makes up for your behavior of late."

"My behavior?" Seto gave Mahade an evil glance.

"Don't think we haven't noticed." Mahade said as he started to walk away. "Just remember, she's Pharaoh's wife, not yours."

Inside the royal chambers another conversation was taking place.

"Do you still doubt her loyalty?" High Priestess Isis asked Pharaoh.

"How could I?" Pharaoh said softly as he stroked the Queen's hair.

"Isn't that why you asked me look into her future? You wanted to know if she was faithful to you. I think you have your answer."

Pharaoh stood and walked across the room, Isis followed quickly behind him.

"Your Majesty, there is something we must discuss."

Pharaoh turned to face her. "Go ahead."

"I had a vision of the serpent, that is how we knew you were in danger." Pharaoh nodded, he knew this already. "But I think the Queen had the same vision moments before I did. In the Throne room she swooned and when she recovered she sped to your side. It was only after that that I received my vision. Those few extra seconds were what saved your life."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I believe she has the gift. I have said many times that I cannot see her future, it is clouded from my sight. Her aura is too strong. It overshadows me and my visions have grown dim."

"You think her presence is effecting the necklace?"

"Not exactly. As you know, the necklace, unlike the other items, chooses its own wearer. It chose me when I was a little girl. And today I think was proof. It has chosen it's next barer."

The Queen's body began to rustle under the sheets as she regained consciousness. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was High Priest Seto. He was sitting in a chair next to bed. His eyes were closed as if he were asleep, but he wasn't for his eyes popped open when he heard her move.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." The High Priest said.

The Queen stretched and rubbed her face. That's when she noticed the bandage on her arm. She rubbed the spot.

"Mahade treated your wound and he gave you a potion to neutralize the venom."

She ran her hand across her stomach. "My child?" Her voice squeaked.

High Priest Seto just shook his head.

The Queen rolled over on her side so he couldn't see her face. She didn't want him to see her cry. She was queen; she had to be strong. She couldn't show weakness.

"Your Majesty," The High Priest began. "I know things look dark. But there are many days of your life. And in those days many things will happen. There will be days with sadness and pain, and there will be days with happiness and joy. Today is a day for rest and recuperation, for tomorrow you are destined for great things. And I promise you; there will be a day for children."

The funny thing about being unconscious is that some things are clear and some are not. Like Anna could tell that there was someone in the room, even touching her hand. But she couldn't tell who. And she heard voices, but couldn't make out what they said. There was so much motion around her, and she couldn't talk to them. She couldn't tell how long she had been there, but it seemed like an eternity.

The first things she saw when she opened her eyes were the lights. The dull florescent lights that hurt her eyes. She fluttered her groggy lids as she adjusted to the brightness. She could pick up objects in the room, like the opposing wall and the turned off television. She could hear the beeping of the machines. She tilted her head to see where the noise was coming from. That's when she saw the monitors. That was her first clue she was in a hospital. She looked to the other side and saw a hunched over figure and a mass of brown hair. She struggled to move her fingers, but she managed to touch his hair. The brush of her fingers through his mane woke him. Not that he was able to sleep. He raised his head out of his crossed arms and looked over at her.

"Anna?" His hoarse voice called out to her.

She tried to speak, but her throat was too sore. But if she could have spoken she would have told him that he looked like crap. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair unkempt, and his whiskers grown out. He had been there a while. He grasped her hand and pressed it against his face, kissing her fingers. She smiled as the back of her hand scratched his unshaven face.

"I am so sorry, Anna. Please forgive me."

The thing he dreaded, that he didn't think he was capable of doing came so easy to him. He didn't even have to think about it and the apology found his lips. And when it did, it was short and sweet. He didn't need to butter it up with long explanations; it said what he felt.

He didn't have to wait long for her answer. She couldn't speak with her voice, but she spoke volumes. She stretched her fingers out and touched his cheek. Seto nuzzled into it like it was the most alluring thing in the world. Then her eyes shone upon him. Loving and sweet eyes. He knew then that she forgave him. Maybe she did it because he was shaking. Shaking with joy at her recovery or for fear that she would reject him. Or more likely she forgave him because she needed him and she learned a long time ago that he was her soul mate and she didn't want to be parted from him. She would forgive him any injustice as long as he kept her close for protection, held her in his arms when she was scared, and smiled to give her strength.

He stayed with her all that night and into the next afternoon. He told her everything. All about how miserable he was and how Mokuba wouldn't talk to him. And the story of Anna's wacky neighbor and how he came to find her. Eventually Anna's throat soothed enough for her to whisper. That's when she sent him home. The excuse was that she wanted him to get Mokuba and bring him to see her, but really she wanted him to get cleaned up and take a break. He looked terrible and he was exhausted. She hoped that if he went home that he might get some sleep or at least make himself more presentable. Reluctantly he left. But he was determined he would return within the hour.

After he left a nurse came in to check the monitors and I.V. "You're lucky to have a guy like that." She commented as she wrote down some readings. "He didn't leave your side for three days. He probably would have been here longer if he had known you were hurt." The nurse gave Anna a friendly smile. "I wish I had a fiancee like that."

Anna shook her head. "He's not my fiancé." She whispered.

"Too bad, he should be."