Chapter Twenty-Three, Execution

Yami entered the room where the meeting was taking place; aware of the silence that seemed deafening when he went in.

"What is it?" He asked behind the dark folds on his cloak. If Julian saw him, then all hell would break loose!

"We have a traitor on our hands," one of the other heavily cloaked men announced smugly.

"Oh?" Yami feigned innocent query, but inside he was panicking. Have they found me out! "Who?"

"Sofia, Hathaway's broad." The same man replied, shooting a nasty look at Hathaway, whose eyes narrowed in the gloomed hood of his cloak.

"Don't call my wife a broad, Cornwell!" Hathaway hissed in rage. "If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it you that went to the ball where my daughter and Bakura were?"

"So what if I did? I offered to take her out and we went. Are you jealous that she found me more exciting in bed, eh, Hathaway?" Cornwell's face was brightened by candlelight, showing his distinctive leer.

"You didn't lay a hand on my wife!" Hathaway barked out. "She would have – "

"Told you?" Cornwell suggested, before roaring with laughter. "You old fool! Why would she?"

"Enough," Julian interrupted softly. "You two can quarrel over Lady Sofia after this meeting, no sooner than that." Taking a swift swig of his brandy, Julian's eyes washed over the cloaked men in the room. He was the only male that was naked (in other words, had no cloak on).

"Any progress with Bakura?" Yami inquired. Julian sighed.

"No," he grinned. "But I have had progress with Anzu."

"Really?" Yami put a curious, eager lilt to his tone, even though he knew what Julian meant. "Come on now, Julian, tell us. We're all very eager to hear of your...Expedition." Julian chuckled at Yami's choice of words.

"I've gotten Anzu's virginity. She is mine. Mine." Hathaway shuffled in his seat, swallowing the conspicuous lump in his throat. "Yes, Hathaway?"

"She did allow you to do this, right?"

"Oh, no." Julian smirked. "I took it by force."

"That wasn't what you said you would do, Master!" Hathaway exploded.

"Are you going against my actions just as Lady Sofia had?" Julian asked him in that same, slow, deliberately calmly dangerous tone.

"No! It's just...You...You said, 'If she does not cooperate, then I will take it by force. But only if that'. End quote."

"If she does not cooperate." Julian repeated purposefully.

"You didn't even try!" Hathaway stood up, anger playing around the edges of his mouth and eyes. "You wanted to rape her, didn't you? Didn't you, Julian?" Anger flared up around Julian at the fact Hathaway had not called him 'Master'.

"Call me Master, Hathaway! You forget your place, slave."

"NO!" Hathaway whirled around, his cloak's hood flying off. "I will not call you Master, no one is my master, you got that, Julian?" And then he flew off (not literally), his cloak billowing behind him. Yami took the seat where Hathaway had been seated and chuckled.

"It seems your servant must be punished," Yami murmured softly.

"Slave," Julian corrected him, straightening in his seat. "But you are correct, friend. He will have to be punished. Later, however. Later..."

X

Anzu sighed, petting the kitten that had roamed over to her. Her other hand braced her chin as she gazed up at the sky inquiringly.

"You know, kitty, life has become a lot more difficult than normal. I can't believe all the things that have been happening." Her hand slid down the kitten's body. "It's become so hard since I've met Bakura and since Duke gambled so much money away, you know kitty?" The kitten's response was the humming purr from deep within it's throat. Anzu smiled at it, sighing.

"Anzu." She turned to see Bakura, whose brow was furrowed.

"Yes?"

"The wedding, Anzu, the wedding!" He threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Huh?"

"We've been so distracted by Julian, we've forgotten about the wedding." Bakura pointed out. His gaze flickered to the kitten, but returned to Anzu nearly immediately.

"The wedding, of course." She stood up, the kitten's purring halting. "When shall we do it?" Bakura's brows snapped down and he glowered at her.

"Soon. All I have to say is soon."

"Shouldn't we take care of Julian first?" Anzu asked, grimacing.

"Anzu," he took her shoulder firmly, causing their eyes to meet. "I need this marriage more than you can imagine."

"I don't understand." Bakura dug in his pockets, until he came out with parchment.

"This," he handed it to her, crossing his arms across his chest. She took it cautiously. "It's a will that is for me. My father set it up before he died. See there?" He pointed to the bottom. "I have to be married with an heir alive before my twenty-sixth birthday."

"That's why you suggested marrying me in the first place..." She whispered, her eyes downcast. He shook his head.

"Not at first." Bakura admitted. "It doesn't matter at the moment. We need to set this wedding up – Quick!"

"But Bakura – "

"Oi!" They turned to Malik who had called to them. "We have an unpleasant visitor! Come take care of him, will ya Bakura?"

"Sure, hold on." Bakura glanced at Anzu through the corner of his eye. "We'll finish this later, all right?"

"Okay," she whispered, bowing her head.

"Anzu?" There was a warning tone in his voice.

"Yes, we will." She assured him.

"Excellent. Now, come with me to see who it is." She nodded, following him.

If I don't tell him my feelings soon...Anzu sighed, not finishing the thought as they approached the entryway. Her eyes flew open in astonishment.

"Anzu!" Hathaway gasped, his eyes going wild and round. Malik and Marik both were on either side of him, warily watching him. "Thank God you're okay!"

"Move out of the way, chaps." Yami squeezed through, sighing. "Hello Hathaway. Didn't like the meeting?"

"The..." Hathaway turned his wide eyes to Yami. "The devil you talking about, Lord Yami?" Yami waved a hand, chuckling.

"Pardon, pardon. I meant nothing by it." He turned to Bakura and Anzu. "Shall we hear what he has to say, chaps?"

"Sure," Anzu waved a hand carelessly at her father, who sighed in relief.

"Going to confess?" Bakura grunted, glowering at him, not quite yet trusting him.

"Yes," Hathaway replied steadily, "I am." Surprise was written all over their features, except Yami's.

"Go on," Yami urged him. Hathaway pursed his lips.

"Patience." He told Yami, sighing. "May I sit?"

"Of course."

"Since when are you the one to make orders around here?" Bakura demanded of Yami.

"I beg pardon, Bakura." Yami bowed low. "You may take it from here by right."

"Actually," Anzu spoke up, smoothing her skirts out, "I am going to take this charge."

"Says who?" Bakura growled softly, eyeing her through slit eyes. Anzu turned wide, evocative eyes to him. He glared, then sulked, muttering, "Fine. Go bloody ahead." Anzu beamed while her father looked from one to the other.

"I don't want any trouble, Bakura, I do hope you trust me when I say that." Hathaway began quietly, smoothing his cloak out. "You see, I went to a meeting – I have no doubt that you know of these – " he glanced meaningfully at the two blondes who were frowning, not at all trusting him. "Anyway, as I was saying, Julian told me that he had – had raped Anzu." He frowned. "He went back on his word, you see. That's why I've decided to join with you and my daughter."

"No," was Bakura's single word answer.

"Bakura!" Anzu wailed, her eyes shooting wide. "At least give him a chance."

"No."

"Actually," Yami smiled slightly at Bakura, "you don't have to worry, Bakura, I've looked into it. I was at the meeting and trust me on this. Hathaway did indeed defy Julian and the chap is absolutely livid."

"Lady Sofia came in and gave her condolences to Anzu as well," Bakura reminded them. "I think it's much too big of a coincidence that you both are giving up on Julian." Hathaway's expression hardened.

"Sofia has betrayed me with her infidelity. She's attached to Cornwell," Hathaway gave a weary look at Bakura. "I'm sick of fighting with you, Bakura." He lowered his gaze. "I have a strong feeling that you have already claimed my daughter, anyway."

"Yes," Bakura crossed his arms without shame, "I did." Hathaway merely nodded. "Julian did not cause Anzu to be pregnant. When I..." He gestured impatiently. "Bedded her, she was completely safe." He hesitated.

"But you may have gotten her pregnant," Hathaway deduced.

"Possibly," Bakura shrugged, shoving his hands his pockets. Anzu lowered her eyes, careful not to attract attention to her, but Marik was much too intelligent for that. He dropped his arms at his sides, staring at her, dumbfounded.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" All eyes turned to her and Anzu raised her eyes to them anxiously.

"I do have the...Symptoms." Hathaway smiled lightly, his age showing on every wrinkle and crease in his skin.

"I suppose I'm about to have a grandchild," the eldest murmured, barely glancing at Bakura's pallid face. "That's lovely. I might not be happy of the fact that it's Bakura's, but..." His lips twitched slightly, showing he was trying hard not to laugh – or simply explode.

"Enough," Bakura snapped out to him, coming out of his daze. "You're serious, Anzu?" She nodded sheepishly.

"It's a little early to determine it, but I asked for a second opinion from Isis and..." she trailed off. Bakura blinked, just gazing at her in stupefaction. He shook his head, running a hand through his hair.

"It is a little early," Malik agreed, a corner of his lips curling upward. "For your standards, that is, Bakura. You hadn't expected it so soon, now did you?"

"No," Bakura admitted, glancing back at Anzu's worried face. He wrenched his hand out of his hair and took her hands softly, pulling her to him. "It doesn't matter though, I suppose." Anzu's face lit up immediately, a resplendent smile brightening her face.

"I'm glad that you're not..." She colored a bit. "Upset."

"No," he snorted, "not at all. Who the hell would be upset?" Anzu shrugged, still smiling.

"Who knows, eh?" She hugged him tightly, her fingers tracing circles on his back. Hathaway watched, feeling sorrow fill him. They were no match for Julian and his evil bastards.

The baby...Julian may want that, thinking it's his, however. Hathaway saw a plan twining itself around his mind and he licked his lips. Malik noticed and frowned.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but there is a problem," Hathaway brought agonizing eyes to their faces. "Julian's forces are much larger than you think." He smiled ruefully. "After all, Anzu, quite a bit of men fancied you." Anzu didn't reply.

"Well," Yami took a deep breath, "Julian's forbid you from meetings, Hathaway, so I'll lead Julian to believe that Anzu's child is his." He cast an apologetic look towards Bakura, who merely shrugged. "Anzu, to keep yourself from miscarriage, I'm asking you to stay home."

"But – "

"I'm not saying not to go to Isis', but it would be better if Malik, Marik, Bakura or I were with you. Even Hathaway." Bakura drew away from Anzu's arms and he poured himself a glass of brandy from a cabinet.

"We should nominate someone Anzu's body guard. I say Marik. Anyone disagree?" Silence. "Marik it is."

"What? But I – " Bakura raised his eyebrows as though asking if he wanted to start something between them. "Fine."

"That's what I thought. Now, Hathaway, what do you suppose will happen to Sofia?" Hathaway brought wounded eyes up to him

X

Sofia let out a shriek, feeling her limbs stretch out on the rack. Julian watched tears slide down her cheeks with a satisfied smirk.

"Again," he ordered. Cornwell hesitated, before turning the wheel again. Sofia shrieked so loud Cornwell closed his eyes. "Again, Cornwell."

"Yes, brother."

"NOOOOO!" Sofia screamed, thrashing her head wildly. She collapsed against the wood suddenly.

"She's dead," Julian reported to Cornwell. "Well, unconscious. Take a pincer, dagger or a thumb-screw and finish her."

"But I..." Julian sighed, taking a dagger and flinging it in Sofia's chest. Her eyes flashed open, her mouth opening in a silent scream, her body arching in pain. Her eyes slid closed, her body slumping to the rack, the blood seeping around the dagger and flowing onto the wood.

"Good, we have that done now. " Julian gave a cruel smile. "Next will be Hathaway."

"Yes, brother" was Cornwell's dull reply. He didn't care about Hathaway, but Sofia...His eyes flickered to the motionless feminine body of Lady Sofia's. She was dead. The woman he had fallen in love with was dead. By his own hands, merely because his brother had said so.

How much lower will I fall? Cornwell thought to himself, closing his eyes against the tears threatening to flow.

X

Anzu knocked softly on Bakura's door and entered. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I was thinking we have a small wedding. I mean, if you can get a special license." Anzu suggested, not daring to look at him.

"Of course," he agreed. "The sooner the better."

"The meeting's tonight."

"So it is."

"Do you think they'll buy it?"

"Do you think you'll be able to go through the wedding?" Anzu's gaze snapped to Bakura, who was frowning.

"I don't understand."

"Anzu, you told me you'd only marry for love. Is that still the conflict that's left unspoken between us?"

"I...I don't think it is." Anzu sputtered. Bakura frowned at her vague reply.

"Anzu."

"I don't know!" Anzu jerked her head from him, knowing that the glare was going to come and tear through her.

"Well, we better find out here soon, shouldn't we?"

"I suppose we should," Anzu agreed. She closed her eyes and whispered, "I already know what's wrong."

"Then tell me so I can try and fix it." She met his gaze, biting her lip.

"The truth is Bakura...The truth is that I love you."

X

DIS: Mwahaha! How will Bakura react? Will he admit that he loves Anzu? Find out in the next chapter of Whispers in the Night! Please review on your way out. See y'all!