[Hehe, I'm baaaaaack... Back from Canadia... I had fun n.n It was pretty cool up there. Both literally and figuratively xD Well, here we are, again, with this fic... I wrote a new plot thingy for Asenath, it'll show up muuuuch later.... now... onwards.]
.
Light the Flame
Chapter Two
Fight for Freedom
.
.
Blood hit the sand like sun hits the water. Teana fell to her stomach, flipping over in time to dodge a fallen horse.
"Oh--!" she yelled, too frightened to move. She stared up at the large man hovering before her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up.
"Hey, I got 'er!" the man called to his comrades. Teana wriggled her hurt wrist, to try to free herself, but to no avail. The man just laughed.
"Gods, Pharaoh will be so pleased we caught the little buggers," he said, tying Teana's wrists together.
Bury me softly in this womb…. I give this part of me for you…. Sand rains down and here I sit…. Holding rare flowers… In a tomb... in bloom…
"Let--me--go!" Teana cried, kicking the man's leg. He dodged it easily and pushed her to the sand.
"You bitch, shut up and stay still!" he growled, Teana shivering under his might. She glanced over at Yami, who had been beaten into submission. His wrists were also being tied, although the other man had to hold him up. Teana winced as she saw his face was drenched in dark blood.
"Alrighty, now that we got 'em... What do we do?" the first man asks. The other one hit him in the hit.
"Bastard, we bring them back! Then we get rewarded," he said greedily. Both men grinned at each other. The first one picked Teana up easily.
"C'mon, prec--"
Teana saw it happen. She saw the faint glow grow brighter on his forehead...
The man was cut off. He had received a sharp blow to the stomach. Yami had silently snuck up on him and had punched him. He glanced up at Teana and grabbed her arm, slicing through her binds with a sharp knife.
"Come, Teana," he hissed, untying Angel. "Let's get outta here!" Yami hopped onto Angel's back, pulling Teana up. Even with the injuries he received, Yami flipped the reigns and Angel started galloping away.
They left the man, since the other had been killed by the strong surge of magic that had coursed through Yami. Teana, still stunned they had gotten out of that situation, let Yami lead and leaned on him, wondering what happened.
After a while of silence, Angel became antsy and stopped, leaning into the Nile to drink. Yami hopped off without a word, helped Teana down, then sat down in the grass and started bandaging his arm and his face. Teana stared at him, still in shock.
"Umm... Yami?" she asked slowly. Yami turned a bit to her. "What happened back there?" Yami scoffed and wrapped a white bandage around his wrist.
"Just... shadow magic," he explained, as if that told the entire story. "Something I 'inherited'. That was the second time I've used it in my life... I used it to free myself from that damned rope… They didn't even notice… But now..." he stretched and yawned, lying down in the grass. "If anyone attacks in the next few days, unless you know some tricks, we're dead." With that, he closed his eyes and turned onto his side in the long grass, eventually falling asleep. Teana stared at him, eyes wide.
How can he talk like that so easily? He makes it sound like a game! Teana thought. She touched her cheek and felt dry blood on a wound. Truth is, if we don't get there soon, we'll shrivel up and die out here... It had already been a long time since they'd seen someone else, besides those bandits. Teana ran her fingers through the sand.
"If anyone else attacks... We'll die..." Teana whispered to herself. She heard Yami take a breath and roll sideways, facing her. She glanced his way.
He was sleeping soundly, his chest rising and falling gently, his arms spread beside him. She watched him sleep, wondering how he could rest so easily. Her heart felt like it had ten thousand pounds resting on it. She was so worried...
Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved… See my heart I decorate it like a grave… You don't understand who they…
"Yami," she whispered, lying down in the sand beside him. "We'll make it... They can't hurt us anymore then they already have..."
.
.
Stomps could be heard in the distance. Angel lifted his head, snorting and standing up and erect. He backed up a bit, stepping on the edge of Teana's skirt. He turned and nudged Teana's shoulder, trying to wake her. She moaned and pushed Angel away.
"Angel, not now... go away..." Angle whinnied and backed up some more, nearly tripping over Teana's body. Angrily, Teana sat up, somewhat drowsy from her nap, and glared at Angel.
"Angel, I swear, if you don't..." she trailed off as she saw a dust cloud on the horizon. She could hear shouts and calls coming from the cloud, as well as horses.
Oh, shit.
"Yami," Teana muttered, shaking his shoulder, her eyes widening. Yami didn't respond. So Teana shook him harder, crawling towards him.
"Yami, we have to get up and go... they're coming!" she hissed. She glanced to the West banks of the Nile to see the sun almost set, red, pink, and orange hues casting the sky. Teana gasped in disbelief.
How long had they been sleeping? It was dusk already?
"Yami, please!" Teana cried, wiping some escaped tears away. Yami moaned, but his eyes remained closed and his body still. Teana crouched as low as she could, so the riders wouldn't see her...
No cigar.
"Oh, shit," Teana whispered as she recognized the riders. Her eyes widened and she backed away in fear.
They were the men who had brought her to Egypt in the first place. The ones she had had a horrible experience with... She was their slave...
Teana groaned, swallowed, and stood, her skirt billowing. The lead, a bastard named Katar, laughed out loud as he saw her and pulled his horse to a stop. The others did as well.
Teana could feel her body shiver as he approached her.
"Why, if it isn't our little Ana," Katar said, sauntering over to her. She stayed as frigid as possible, hoping to keep all the attention on her. If they saw an unarmed man... Especially a sleeping one...
"Yes, our delicate desert flower," another man said, following Katar. The other men laughed and watched her, snickering. Teana remembered the flower Yami had put into her hair days ago. It still flourished, even after separating from the vine.
"I thought you had died," Katar said, circling her like a vulture. "Amazing, ain't it, to see how well you've become... You certainly look older then fourteen, I'll give you that," he said, a huge grin plastered on his face. Teana saw him edge closer.
Thought I was supposed to be… Look at me now a man… Who won't let himself be…
Gulping, she stepped to the side, getting away from Katar.
"Leave me alone, Katar," she said, barely above a whisper.
"What, have you become all high-and-mighty all of a sudden, dear Ana?" Katar asked, looking her entire body over. "Why, just a few years ago, you answered to me. Remember?" Teana stayed silent.
"My name is Teana," she hissed. "I haven't gone by Ana in years."
"So, as soon as you escape you change your name, eh? Well, Teana," Katar said, emphasizing her name, "What's a pretty thing like you doing out here? On your way home, I suppose?" Teana glanced around at the other men. She hadn't noticed it, but they circled her, giving her no escape route. Teana stiffened.
Please, Ra, she pleaded in her mind, Don't let them see Yami unarmed. They will surely kill him, for he is obviously Egyptian and Katar hates Egyptians...
Katar noticed she seemed to be concentrating on something. He stood beside her, the side of his body pressed against hers.
"Something wrong?" he asked, frowning at her. "What, do you think you still don't belong to me? My father captured you from that dammed village, you with your crazy witchcraft and mountain hide-a-ways, and brought you to our country. But of course, those friggin' Egyptians had to free you and let you abide by your will, right?" he said, slapping her face. Teana gasped and stumbled sideways into one of the other men. Grinning, the man shoved her back into the center, where Katar lashed at her legs.
With a shriek she fell, amid the laughter of the men. She couldn't hold her cold front for much longer...
"Seems like they didn't do a very good job of building a defense, now, did they?" Katar remarked, speaking of her willpower. Teana held back her tears.
Never let Katar see you cry, were her reoccurring thoughts all the years she was a slave to Katar. Katar knelt beside her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," Katar said, his voice growing soft. He ran his hands down her arms. Teana lifted her head to face him, visibly shaking. Katar leaned his face so close to hers, he barely had to whisper to speak to back with me... Your beauty could make you wealthy..." Teana remembered how beauty was part of the reason she had become so successful in Egypt... She avoided Katar's eyes.
Down in a hole, feelin' so small... Down in a hole, losin' my soul… I'd like to fly, but my wings have been so denied… Down in a hole and they've put all the stones in their place…
"She isn't going anywhere," a cold, foreboding voice said from behind one man. The man's eyes suddenly blanked, his pupils dilated, and he collapsed, blood coursing down his back. Katar stood straight, glaring at the intruder.
"How dare you interrupt... You!" Katar cried, stepping back, pointing at the man with an accusing hand. "I-it's you! The Prince!"
Teana glanced over, her heart beating faster.
Could...
Yes.
It was.
Yami stood there, his hands balled into fists, staring at Katar with a look full of loathing. Teana backed away, staring at Yami with wide eyes.
"When did he become..." she whispered. He seemed so... different. It was almost if a different aura had completely surrounded him.
Stepping forwards, Yami extended his right arm, opening his hand to show a flat palm.
"Yes, it is me," Yami said in a low, haunting voice, "and if you don't leave her alone, I swear to the gods I'll kill you." Teana gasped, leaning back.
This isn't... she thought. He couldn't...
"Yeah, like a little punk like you could kill me," Katar said, rolling his eyes. "Your father isn't here to save you with his Item, Prince-sama, so I'd suggest re-thinking your threat." Yami smiled slowly.
"He isn't the only one with the magic of Shadow," Yami hissed, stepping forwards. Katar backed away as once again, a dull, white glow on Yami's forehead grew brighter. Teana had to shield her eyes from the glow then enveloped him. It died down quickly, though...
And all Teana heard was a blood-stopping scream... Then darkness.
.
.
Angel was nudging her head, lifting it slightly with his muzzle. Teana breathed deeply and opened her eyes, sitting up. As soon as she sat up, however, she instantly regretted it. Her entire body felt numb, weak, and she felt a ravenous need for food. She also felt dehydrated.
How long had she been there? It was dusk last time she remembered being awake... What happened to Katar and the others? What about Yami?
I've eaten the sun so my tongue has been burned of the taste… I have been guilty… Of kicking myself in the teeth… I will speak no more… of my feelings beneath…
All her thoughts, mixed with her physical pain, caused her to roll over and moan loudly. It was past midday, maybe only a few hours until dusk.
It must be a new day, Teana thought, lying on her side. That means I've been lying here for an entire day... without food or water...
After lifting Teana, Angel moved onto waking Yami. Teana glanced up, her eyes widening in fear.
Yami lay on his side, facing the setting sun. He didn't appear to be moving.
Angel sat down in the sand beside him, nudging him gently. Teana crawled over to Yami, placing a hand on his chest.
It was rising and falling slowly, as if he were in a deep sleep. She could tell that like herself, he had also been here an entire day, unconscious.
Teana looked up and saw the Nile only a few yards away.
"Oh, thank the gods," she said, sliding down the bank and into the river. The cool, relieving water washed over her body and then she greedily gulped as much as she could before retreating. She cupped some water into her hands and ran to Yami, throwing it over his hot, dry body.
It hit his face mostly.
Coughing, Yami opened his eyes and sat up, instantly rolling over. He was exhausted, dehydrated and hungry, as well as being injured. Teana stroked his forehead.
"That wasn't a smart thing to do, whatever you did yesterday," Teana whispered, sliding into the sand beside him. Yami opened his eyes wearily and smiled at her.
Sand rains down and here I sit, holding rare flowers (Oh I want to be inside of you)… In a tomb...in bloom… Oh I want to be inside... Down in a hole, feelin' so small… Down in a hole, losin' my soul… Down in a hole, feelin' so small… Down in a hole, outta control...
"Guess not. I couldn't think of much else," he whispered back, hoarsely. "I used up just about as much power as I had... Gods I'm... tired..." he said, sighing, his eyes closing. Teana stared at him.
"You know as well as I do that we're going to die out here..." she whispered, before closing her eyes. She thought she could hear horses again in the distance, and she knew they had moved away from where they had originally rested, but she didn't care anymore.
All she cared about was that she... got to... go back to... sleep...
I'd like to fly but my wings have been so denied…[1]
Hey, she thought, her mind going blank, we're finally free...
.
.
[1] Song: that song is "Down in a Hole" by Alice in Chains. I don't know why, but that song kept popping into my head as I wrote this… I dunno. ::Shrug:: BTW, that's not the entire song… I left like one chorus out… n.n
[Eeks, what's gonna happen? Well, I don't know, do I? OMG OMG OMGGG!!! freaks out Are they gonna make it? Next chap: I Don't Think They're Coming Home. Now we go back to Egypt to see what the final verdict is, after they've been gone nearly five days.]
Shibby-One
