(Hello, all! Heh, this is a lil chappy continuing the story… the ink thing doesn't become important until later. x3. :Glances at Baka Neko Moly-chan: …I dunno if I'm gonna be able to write this chap after writing that sidestory… x3;; Well, anyway… Sorry for the late update.)
Light the Flame
Chapter 14
Comfort
Asenath rubbed her hands together. The ink was still staining onto her hands. She sighed and rubbed harder, her palms turning pink. She just had to get it all off. If anyone saw…
"Asenath! Asenath!" a cry called. Asenath looked up quickly, drying her hands on her waist. The dark fabric made the paint stains invisible. Asenath turned on her heels and stood straight. Sekhem was running towards her, slipping in the wet grass.
"Asenath! You'll never believe this! Look!" he cried, pulling her by the arm. Asenath didn't reply, just allowed her younger brother to pull her.
Gasping for breath, he pulled her out into the open and pointed towards the northern sky.
Asenath gasped and froze.
A humongous, dark, disgusting, choking aura filled the air. A cloud just as ominous seemed to be forming over the city. It blocked out the sun completely. The cries of people could be heard as a steady rain fell over the land.
But it wasn't a soaking rain. Sekhem began to shiver and wrap his arms around himself. Asenath was fine. She glanced at Sekhem, confused.
"Sekhem? What is it?" she asked. She placed both hands on both of his shoulders and shook him lightly. "Sekhem?" But Sekhem didn't answer. The rain burned his skin horribly. It hurt so bad, he couldn't speak. All he did was push Asenath away, walk backwards a few steps…
He lost his balance. Asenath was almost watching in a suspended time – he fell so slowly, but so quickly, that she didn't have time to react.
His body connected with the ground.
It was happening all over the city.
They weren't given any time to react.
"Oh, shit…" Jono muttered as the cloud hung over them. "Oh, Gods…"
Yami was watching as well, hanging out of a window. He just shook his head.
There was only one way to stop this.
The Items.
"Oh my God…" Yami whispered, staring at the sky. He backed into the window until he hit the wall across from the window. This was it. His father was dead; they would either all be tortured here, or –
Someone has to control that damned Puzzle.
Yami rolled up his sleeves. He turned and ran, his cloak flying out from behind him. He made a sharp turn, skidding into the main hall, and took the stairs two at a time. His feet hurt; he was tired; his mind, heart and soul were all buzzing at different rates. If he let his guard down, he would fall to the ground, fatigued, tired, scared, and listless. It took all the energy he possessed to keep himself going.
If he remembered one thing – one thing – about learning to be Pharaoh—
You're people always came first.
Yami took a step onto the landing and fell. It was ultimate chaos. He landed on his knees on the hard, stone floor, and he rolled onto his side, clutching his knee.
"Ohh… Oww… shit," he muttered, wincing. He opened one eye and saw that he fell onto something small and sharp…
A piece of gold. Yami's eyes widened as he snatched the little piece into his hand.
It was a piece of the Puzzle.
"No…" he whispered, standing up. He ran down the hallway, seeing more pieces. It looked as if they had been kicked by accident. He found a huge cluster of them near the end of the hallway.
Oh, no, he thought, falling to his knees. He began scooping the pieces into his arms, his body shaking while he was at it. All he could think about was the state of the Puzzle.
What am I gonna do? The Puzzle is worthless unless solved. And… I'm the only one who can solve it. He stared at the pieces in his lap. As people rushed around, running down the hallway, yelling, screaming, falling, being impaled with this burning, sinful rain…
Yami took two pieces and connected them together. They made a small click. For a moment, he was the only one there. The only one that mattered.
He even thought he saw Jono trip and slide through all the scattered pieces – maybe kicking a few as he went by. But it didn't matter. Something was driving at him; something, something inside pushed him. Sekhem wasn't around, anyway. He could just solve it and give it to him – right?
Right?
Jono felt his body give way. The burning sensation was too great. He knew down in the city people were collapsing left and right. They were failing, dying. They're lives were shortening with every moment that passed.
Soon, they would all be dead. With the exception of the few who were immune to this devil rain.
Asenath was one of them. As Jono knelt on the ground, head bowed, panting, Asenath put her arms around him to protect him from the rain.
"Jono! You have to get that to my brother!" she said, the rain picking up pace. Jono opened one eye.
What piece? She expects me to move in this? If I go any farther, I'll die! he thought. He cast his eyes to the ground. What about… my family?
He then noticed the glint of gold. It was a little spec, but one itself. Both Asenath's and Jono's eyes widened.
It was a small piece of gold, embedded with the shape of an eye. It was a few inches from Jono's left hand.
They both stared at it for a moment. Then Asenath reached out and grabbed the piece, slamming it into Jono's hand.
"Wha—Asenath!" he said. Asenath took the cape from around her shoulders and put it around Jono instead.
"This'll protect you from the rain," she said. She smiled a weak smile. "For a time."
"Asenath, why can't you do this! I have to go down to the city and—" Asenath covered his mouth with her hand. She had a look in her face that was a mixture of sadness and anxiety.
"Listen," she said in a soft voice. "I know it doesn't make sense. And it won't, for a very long time. Just trust me on this, okay? Get this to Yami. Now." With that, she stood and ran down the path, headed towards the city.
Jono stood, pulling the dark cape over his head. He ran back to the palace, barely standing up. All he could think was that he had to get the piece to Yami as fast as possible.
"Oh, God, where is it? Please – let it be near—" Yami stopped short in the hallway. He could see the downpoor of firey rain. He gulped.
Although he was a Prince, and supposedly, in the God's eyes, still heir to the throne, he wasn't immune to this kind of thing. He would be impaled like everyone else. He had seen servants and others being treated in the palace from the rain. But it was only so long that this could keep going…
Soon they would all have perished.
And he was missing a piece!
As he put more pieces together, the easier it became to decipher. The easier it was to put together. It became easier and easier, the Puzzle once more forming an inverse pyramid—
There was a piece missing. He already combed the same hall twice, as well as surrounding hallways.
It was gone.
"Shit! No!" he cried, shaking. He looked at the almost-complete Puzzle in his hands. No, this couldn't be happening! Not now!
Not when he needed this Ra-forsaken thing the most!
Yami ran down the hall until he came to the balcony over the courtyard. The one he had seen his entire life. The one that his father used to stand on, watching over the crowds…
Yami looked out at the devastation this had caused.
Almost instantaneously, right after his Father died… after the connection to the Items was disbanded, with no proper owner… Hell opened. Yami knew that it was a reaction, and it would soon end.
But not before cleansing this land of all the life.
Yami fell to his knees. He laid the Puzzle onto the marble ground, and just put his hands over his face. Was this happening everywhere? He wondered. Not just in—
Teana.
Yami's eyes shot open. His hands over his face, he lowered them and slammed his fists into the ground.
"Damnit!" he cried. The pain of his fist connecting with the ground shot through his arms, searing pain ricocheting through his fragile body.
He clenched his teeth together to keep from crying out. But was it true? Was Teana… Was she in danger of death? What about Zvallah?
The realization that he may never see her again began to sink in. All the of the time, all of the heartache and pain they went through… everything they'd done… was it all worthless? Would it come to an end now?
"No…" he shook his head. "No, it won't. They'll see. Teana'll see…" He leaned forward, his body shaking. The fatigue was setting in; his heart felt as if it would explode from all of the feelings it contained. All the emotion was becoming too much for him to bear…
He fell forwards. His body connected with the floor, and he lay motionless on the stone balcony, lying on his stomach, his arms near his head.
The Puzzle was laid on the floor near to him, glinting. The hole in the front vibrant and noticeable… The city was still slowly burning. The rain was still falling steadily. It was a surprise; it was unwanted, uncalled for. No one knew what an effect that the precious, fragile unity of the Items had on their lives. Not the way they lived their lives, but their very lives.
One false move; one uncertainty, and they would all be dead… This chaos, it wouldn't stop here. It would continue, throughout any place that held life…
Slowly, very slowly, so slowly one might not notice at first… his breathing stopped.
"Atemu?" a soft voice said in his ear. Yami's eyes didn't open, but his ears perked up. He could feel the soft bed beneath him. It was warm, where ever he was. And it smelled inviting. Someone's hand was on his face. They were pushing his bangs out of his eyes, slowly caressing his cheek…
Amethyst met with gold. Teana smiled, lying on her stomach, her hand on his cheek. He was also lying on his stomach, his head turned to face her. He smiled. He felt warm and at ease.
This was the way it was supposed to be; not fighting a war against beings too powerful for them to even see. War waged against Gods… would always end in death.
"Are you… alright?" she asked slowly. Yami reached up and took her hand in his. He just closed his eyes and held tightly to her hand, stroking her fingers. He was tired and wanted to go back to sleep in this comforting place…
"Hey, you, wake up," she said, a giggle to her voice. He gave a muffled grunt in response.
"No. I'm tired. I want to sleep," he retaliated. Teana sat up and placed a hand on the back of his head.
"…Please?" she whispered. Yami looked up and pushed himself up to meet her face. He certainly looked tired.
"Please, Teana," he said in a soft voice. "I'm just… really tired." Teana shushed him and placed a hand on his lips.
"Don't be," she said, smiling. "The sun is up."
"So?" Yami asked. He yawned and leaned against her, fatigued. Teana just rolled her eyes.
"You'll be letting everyone down if you sleep longer," she said. "What about you're job? What you're supposed to do?"
"I'll do it later," Yami muttered. Teana frowned.
"But… what if there is no later, Yami? What if this is your last chance? You never know. What if something happens? Besides," she smiled devilishly. "You can always sleep afterwards. Then you can sleep knowing you accomplished something." Yami shrugged. Teana leaned in and kissed him gently. After pulling away, she closed her eyes.
"I love you."
"Yami! Yami! Yami, where are you! I have a piece! I think you might want it!" Jono called, running through the halls. He came to the balcony where the Pharaoh had always spoken…
"Yami!" Jono cried, landing on his knees. He flipped the unmoving figure over onto his back.
"Yami! Yami, wake up! Please!" Jono begged. After a moment of this, Jono did the only thing he could think of.
He slapped him. Hard. The sound of his hand hitting his face echoed throughout the halls.
Yami's eyes burst open. He rolled over and began coughing into his hand, breathing hard. He looked up at Jono.
Jono wasn't sure, but it seemed like his eyes were shining with tears…
"Are you sure you're alright?" Jono asked, alarmed. Yami nodded and swallowed.
"I just… just needed to rest… I think…." Jono looked at the piece in his hand. Then he looked at Yami.
"I think you'll need this," he said. Yami took it from him.
It was the piece he needed. He glanced at the Puzzle, lying on it's side, all alone. He reached over and picked it up, staring at it. Slowly, with all the strength he could muster, he stood, and pushed the last piece in.
Nothing happened. For a moment.
As suddenly as Jono's slap had been, the eye began to glow. It was soft at first, but the glow became brighter until it enveloped the entire Puzzle. Yami's eyes widened in surprise. Jono backed away as Yami's body also became engulfed in this… light.
People were peering out of windows and from behind doors, looking at the strange light emitting from the palace.
A strong wind began to pick up as the lights swirled and traveled around him. The Puzzle itself wasn't even in his hands anymore; it was suspended over them. Yami wasn't even aware of the glowing eye embossed into his forehead.
All he remembered were the words.
I have chosen you.
(x3 Well, anyway. I wrote this in about a half hour… Well, I finished it in about a half hour. And 'Dare You To Move' has ended, so now just normal grey lines as pagebreaks. I have midterms next week, so I'm going to try to update as many fics as possible. Happy New Year, and until then—Next chap: What was the ink on Asenath's hands? And how did Asenath know that Yami would be the one to solve the Puzzle? Why – how – does Asenath just… know? Next chap: Answers)
Shibby-One
