Master Of PuppetZ
Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YGO! Nor the song which belongs to Metallica…I'm here only for the ANGST.
FAB: I want to thank the one who reviewed me, and I want to remind you reviews are required to the writing process. Thank you.
Master Of Puppets – Chapter 6 – The Pentagram Dangers
Seto placed Crystal gently on his bed, brushing caramel curls away from her face and wrapping the blanket around her slender body. Her slumber wasn't disturbed, and her eyes were still closed. He looked at her face, admiring her features like he did back in high-school. She used to sit in front of him, and every time she turned around, her light hair free in the air and her grey eyes blinking so they looked almost green…His heart skipped a beat though he never let it show. It looked so stupid to him back then…But it lost every thought of stupidity…This girl meant something really important for him. And she was very important to Mokuba too…
/I…I wish she never leaves…I want her to be always near me and Mokuba…But what does this mean? Does this mean I love her?.../ Seto studied her face carefully, his eyes hovering on her closed eyes for long moments, caught in a train of memories leading him deep into the past. He was somehow tired when he got home, but now…The tiredness was just washed away. He could sit there and watch her all night long, hear her soft and steady breathings…
She turned a little in her sleep, grasping the blanket. She looked somehow stressed, as if she knew in what situation she was right then. It caused the smirk to return to Seto's face, as his hand slowly made the way up her arm to her cheek. He glanced at her and removed his hand.
He got up, and walked into the bathroom. /Well, she has all the time to wake up if she wants./ he thought as he stood under the shower of warm water, letting it wash away all the stress and unpleasantness he underwent that day (Marik: Or shall we say the day before…) in the business meeting. He let the water wash the words Pegasus said, the offending comments about his company, and the worry for his brother. When he got out the shower, he felt a whole better. He put on his night clothes and headed toward his room once again.
He stood near his bed and stared at her once again. Only then he became aware of how small and frail her body was, especially in his double sized bed. Why did he need so much space sleeping there all alone? Anyway, it looked much better with her there. He tugged her up to him, bringing her closer. Her skin was warm and soft against his and he let his arms wrap around her waist, inhaling the kiwi scent of her hair. She stirred a little and he looked at her, hopeful she didn't wake up. His wish was fulfilled, and she stayed asleep. He lay beside her, holding her gently. His eyes slowly closed, as he let himself wonder.
/How can I make her stay with me? I want her to be with me like this forever…I never felt something like this before…She is very reliable, I feel I can trust her, but will she trust me? Will she trust me enough to stay?.../
Slowly, one of his hands traced the smooth skin of her back, caressing the slightly stressed muscles beneath. /I want just to stay like this. I want her to stay with me, with Mokuba and me./ And as he continued this slow exploring of her back he fell asleep, feeling her pounding heart so close to his.
Dartz held the pliers as he worked on a silvery necklace, giving some final touch to the little, delicate beads that were crossed one into another to create a perfect silver string. He took the burner to weld a small lock to the necklace from behind. His experienced fingers found the perfect place and within seconds the work was complete. Well, almost complete. He admired the jewel, turning it over between his fingers, allowing the hot metal to cool a bit.
The necklace was perfect, every little twist and turn in it. Yet the medallion in the middle of it was still empty. The silvery base was on place, but the core of the necklace was a little black void.
Dartz took out a decorated jewel box, opening its cover. Orichalcos stones were laying there, their evilness gleaming in dark malachite color when the light of the candles shone upon them. They waited, waited the next victim of the DOOM. They knew too much about humans' souls, and in a one wicked way or another they had their own lives and desires. And their biggest desire was to consume human souls…They happened to know the truth and all they wanted was to let the truth be known.
Years ago these sacred stones have shown Dartz the ultimate truth. Actually, it was 10,001 winters backwards in time, back when Atlantis was on its place, a great island in the middle of the forgotten sea, before ancient gods imposed their wrath upon its people. Soon the true faces of humanity was revealed, everyone who was evil deep inside his heart was turned into a monster. The curse of the truth had no pity for rich or poor, young or old ones. It only did what it was created to do. And Dartz was chosen to be the one who led the continuous struggle through time and blood toward the ultimate goal: the destruction of the humanity.
The more Dartz has lived, the more he became convinced that humanity must be destroyed: Millenniums of development and evolution brought only more crime and hatred, filling the world with poisonous gas and evilness. The Orichalcos was the unique answer for this problem, the undoubted solution for everything. /Soon the peace rules this earth. Maybe I can't revive my great whale because it is destroyed, but I can use Saigo's ancient power to turn myself into the greatest creature ever…My soul and her mystic legacy are going to wipe the unworthy beings away to the Hell…/
Dartz picked one of the stones. When in his hand, the stone glowed harder, radiating rich green aura all around it. Dartz took the lathe into his right hand, holding the stone in his left. He engraved the Orichalcos sign – the infamous pentagram – on the stone, his hand steady and confident. The stone glowed even more, lighting Dartz' different colored eyes. The yellow one started glowing as well. Finally, the stone was ready, and Dartz took the burner to fix it into the medallion.
The necklace was ready. Dartz examined it again, making sure everything was just perfect. /A little gift for our friend Saigo…/ he though as he placed the done jewel into another box, covering it gently with small piece of velvet.
/It's really funny, to think about the damage some rocks can cause…These stones of mine, they've already turned the hearts of people, played with their consciences and made them turn their back on everything beloved and dear to them. And I wonder…How long will it take to break our little queen of Egypt? Maybe Isis was strong enough to get away from me…But the girl, Crystal, can do nothing…And the more angered she is, the more desperate she is, the more her power strengths. Hence, the Kaiba brothers are the perfect targets…And speaking about Kaiba, I shall pay him a visit soon…Now that I can't have his company (New security systems everyday and constant changing of the codes of his bank accounts and other stuff) I shall at least have his new program engineer…/
Dartz wrapped the box closed with a blue ribbon and put it into his pocket /Very soon, Saigo Crystal…We'll meet again…/
"NO!" she screamed her voice twittering and annoying. He only chuckled in response, glaring at the miserable body on the ground in front of him. The ground was slightly stained with bright red. The Rod gleamed in his left hand.
"Be silent." he whispered, his voice spitting a low command into the air, the sound of warning screaming in his words. Yet she wouldn't listen, trying to crawl ahead she kept the wailing "Ma-Master…Please…"
"You shall die, dear. You are so worthless…" he said slowly, as the Rod gleamed once again. Another scream, this time weak and faint, was heard through the alley. Then her body fell on the cold asphalt. He bypassed her, never looking at her. His third victim already, but her blood wasn't what he looked for. The slight smell of it reached his nose seducingly, yet it just wasn't it. The taste wasn't the same as he loved…Like the blood of the one who bore all the ANGST. Like his hikari's blood…
He left the body behind him, not even bothering to look and see where it lay. He headed toward the next killing, the next person who would get in his way. Now he was the Master of this city, and everyone should be really…Careful.
/I need some blood tonight…And I hope I find some before the dawn, or else…/ Marik looked on his slashed wrists in disgust /I will do this again…And as for my hikari, I think I'll leave him there for a while…After all, his blood is the most delicious I've ever tasted…I'll keep him for the dessert…/
The night engulfed his figure, until the last rim of his black cloak was swallowed by total darkness, living her lying there, her eyes hollow.
He woke up early, although his sleep lasted only four hours or so. The sun was rising somewhere in the distant horizons, and though his room was located in a wing that turned away from the sun, it was full of pure morning light. The gentle rays fell on Crystal's face, lighting her fair skin and glowing in her caramel locks. He admired her face again, just as if he saw her for the first time of his life. His hand lightly touched her cheek, feeling out her smooth skin.
She moved a little in her sleep, unconsciously getting away from him. He leant even closer to her, not letting her get away. His hands trailing down on her arms, he gently placed a soft kiss on her neck. The feeling of her tender skin under his lips brought thrills into his heart. He softly kissed her collarbone, feeling her moving slightly. He stopped, looking up at her. Eyes still closed, Crystal was on the edge of waking up. It took him a second to decide, and in a swift movement he leant down and toward her face, his lips were pressed against hers.
He felt her obvious shock and surprise at first, but then she moved away, tearing her lips from his. He looked at her, slightly surprised himself. "Crystal," he whispered "What is it with you?"
"What…? What am I doing here?" she asked, greatly shocked "And why?…How…?" he suddenly remembered she was asleep when he brought her there, and maybe she didn't want to be when she was now from the initial begging.
"Crystal, clam down. Everything is Ok, I brought you here." he answered, putting a hand on her exposed shoulder. The look in her eyes was still confused and somehow frightened "But…Why?" she whispered, he felt her heart beating through her whole body with fear. And what was more surprising, he had no good answer for this question. "I…" he started, letting the sentence die then trying to bring it back to life "I wanted to be with you, Crystal."
The feared expression still hovered on her face, but blinks of disbelief appeared in her eyes "I…I don't understand why you did this anyway. It is not appropriate…" she couldn't find the right words for this "You shouldn't…" she said, suddenly angered "I wonder how many like me were babysitting your brother and ended up here."
The last comment was supposed to be very insulting, but it didn't really offend Seto. Not after all the comments about him he heard in that business meeting last night. But still, it struck a nerve deep down. /I don't get it…She is the first girl I've ever felt something special for, and she is…Just turning everything down./ he closed his eyes "Crystal, you didn't mean what you said. And you know what, you are the first." he said, fake amusement in his voice. Her eyes almost burned when she looked at him.
"I…" she said, wrapping herself in her blanket "…I can't stay here any longer. I trusted you Seto, I don't believe you tried to do something like this to me."
"But I did nothing!" he said rapidly, looking at her getting away "I wasn't going to do anything to you unless you wanted me to."
"I'm sorry, Seto," she said, her voice trembling and her expression was suddenly fearful again "I have to go." and she opened the door and got out the room, closing it silently.
/What have I done now? And she is right. I shouldn't have done anything like this anyway. Will she be able to forgive me? And that look on her face…/ it was obvious he scared her, really scared her. /I wonder why she was so scared…Well she woke up in unknown place…And I'm afraid to wonder what she might be thinking about me after this incident…But she can't be angry with me forever…/
Crystal made her way through the corridor to a room she has never seen. /Hell, I don't want to lose my way here…And I don't want to be here anymore. Not with Seto around…I really trusted him, especially after he saved me, and now he does something like this. And if I wouldn't wake up in time…/ a shiver went down her spine as she thought about what might have happened.
Finally she found the right way to Mokuba's room, and there was hers. She got inside the room and quickly opened her bag, pulling out more decent clothes than the ones she was wearing before. She dressed up quickly, before Seto came and check on her. She packed her bag again, taking everything she left out in the room and shoving it inside in a very untidy way. Glancing around to make sure she took everything, she pulled the bag up her back and strode out of the room only to bump into Mokuba. "Oh, Crystal," he said, looking at her.
His sleepy gaze fell on her flushed cheeks, her clothes and the packed up bag on her back. "Are you going? But why? I thought you would stay today and work with my brother," he said. Crystal hesitated /Poor Mokuba, it isn't his fault…I want to stay with him, yet I don't want to see Seto ever again after what he tried to do…/
"Yes, Mokuba…I have to go, I'm going to be late…" she lied.
"Where are you going on Sunday morning?" he asked, confused.
"I-…Promised to visit a…Friend of mine. Yes, and I really need to go to her now. I'm sorry Mokuba, but I have to." she started to pace on the direction of the stairs, moving down. Mokuba ran after her. "Wait, Cris, how will you get there? The city is away from here, and you can't walk alone! Wait till Seto comes back and…" Crystal turned around "He is already home. Please Mokuba, let me go now. Actually I want to walk, and my friend's house is not far away from here."
She continued walking down, Mokuba following her, stumbling on the edges of his pajamas' pants. /What is going on here?.../ he thought /Yesterday she told me nothing about this 'visit' and Seto is already home – so why won't he come to talk with her? Something is definitely wrong here…/ they got into the entrance hall, and Crystal walked toward the doors with Mokuba at the heel.
"Crystal, are you sure?" he asked when she opened the doors. She looked at him, kneeling down "I have to go now. I'm sorry. Bye Mokuba," she said when she lightly kissed his cheek. He stood on his place, frozen. "I'll miss you," she said and then got out.
Mokuba stood there, the sudden chill passing through his body. The feeling that something was really wrong and bad ate his core to his very BoNeZ. He shivered, realizing he was standing feet bare on the cold tiles.
It was really cold outside, great masses of clouds were gathered up in the sky, and it was obvious that heavy rain would pour soon. /I hope I make it before it rains…/ thought Crystal as she started walking. She passed near the security team, and the duty guard waved her and looked slightly puzzled, yet she smiled at him and waved back, walking into the road.
Mokuba was right, she was far away from the city. However, the thought of staying in the mansion made her sick so she paced patiently toward Domino. The road was absolutely clear, neither cars nor people moved on it. While Crystal was walking she wondered about what happened /What will I do now? I don't want to think about what happened during this weekend…How will I go to work like this? Well, I just want to get home now…/
She quickened her pace when small rain drops started falling from the cloudy sky up above. And suddenly, a noise of steps reached her ears. Crystal turned around, yet saw nothing behind her. /It is strange…I could swear I heard someone's steps…Who is here?.../ she studied the road carefully, to find it completely empty, just like a road on early Sunday's morning should be, without any cars or walkers, just the rain drops and the wind. Yet she felt it, she was not alone there.
Her heart beat twice quickly than normal. Her whole body shuddered when rough wind passed through the horizon. /It is nothing…Just nothing…/ she thought to herself, walking again /And I have to walk faster before I get really wet. I don't want to be ill right now…I have a lot of work to do…/ then she remembered she was working for Seto Kaiba, and again the memory of waking in his room, in his bed…/I can't believe!.../
/You can run, dear, but you can't hide…/ Dartz hovered in the air, slowly letting his body to lose the height and stand on the solid ground below. Crystal was almost running now, not very far ahead of him…He walked behind her, not running or anything. /She can't get very far…She has nowhere to run. And everywhere she is, I will find her. And take what I want./
Crystal walked for a half an hour now, her clothes slightly wet from the rain and her bag heavy on her shoulders. Yet she never stopped, walking as fast as she could. Although she felt much better than when she starved, her general weakening started affect her. Her legs hurt, her breathing was dried and shallow, and an annoying pain in her side made her stop walking for a while. She sat on the side of the road, letting her heart calm down and her breathing return to normal. Soon she stood on her legs again. /The city isn't far away from here, and the rain is getting stronger. I have to go home./
Finally, step by step, she reached the city. New neighborhoods were being built on that side, when she crossed few streets Crystal reached the River. When she looked on its steel surface, thick layer of frost slowly growing on it, Claira's face floated in her memory /I wonder why…Yet who knows…Maybe it is just the way of life. It makes us fall sometimes. We can get up and walk, or we can stay lying. Did she do this to herself? Did she stare down, counting the seconds to her decision?.../
Finally, she reached her apartment. She was so tired and her legs hurt so much after the walk she couldn't use the stairs. She had to take the elevator (And hate every single second of it) to reach the seventh floor. She walked towards the door numbered 13, and opened it. When she was inside, she let the tears stream down her face.
Dartz stared at the 13th locked door of the seventh floor, wondering. /I can feel her crying…I can feel she is too stressed…It is good, because her inner power strengths…I think this is one of the most basic rules of our world: only someone who is living in pain and grief can be granted a real power. The happy ones don't need it. They have enough joy to share…I want to make the suffering shorter for her…Yet, if she lives more pain, the fire inside her soul will leap up, burning furiously. I think I have to wait a little longer…I'll wait until I feel she can't bear more…/
Marik let the rain wash him, not really feeling the cold. He held his pocket knife close to his arm. Old scars of cutting, and half healed wounds were visible when he slashed once. Twice. Again and again, new wounds were opened. Then he brought his right arm to his lips, licking the colorless substance. It made shudders run down his spine as the unpleasant taste flowed into his mouth. It wasn't what he loved, it lacked the taste of…Life…The absence of the sweet flavor of up-coming death was just not that. Yet he had to live, to exist. And it was better than nothing.
Stretching his arm once again to find place, he made another group of cuts, drinking again. /It isn't that bad…Yet it is not like my hikari's…I want his blood, but I know I need it later…And when I get this girl, I can have hers…She won't need it, taking out her power means taking out her soul…And then she'll lose her memories, her wants, everything that makes her unique and special, everything that makes her human. Her body will be left a void peel and worth nothing. But she will be able to live for some time…And her blood will be mine…/
Marik closed the wound carefully, making sure the bleeding stopped. Then he lay on the roof, not caring if the rain drops fell right into his eyes, and let himself rest a little, his hands on the millennium Rod. How many memories it brought back…The times when he still had to share a body with his hikari…Yet the feeling of having someone else in his mind vanished, the mind link to his hikari was weaker than ever. /He is losing it…/ thought Marik. He felt no concern toward him, neither worry nor pity. /He deserves this. After all, I master his broken life and position. If he hadn't been a regretful fool, I could have been a Pharaoh right now…But don't be so sad, hikari…I can realign again…All I need is to get the power of ancient Isis, sealed into this girl…I wonder how it happened…/
A relaxed expression floated over Marik's features. He was really frightening when he was angered, his veins standing out and his voice hoarse and full of malice, yet he was even more horrifying when he was so calm and silent. Because you can never know what is under the skin.
Crystal's teacher would have said (You can never judge a book by its cover…). And there are some people who believe you can't judge a FIC by its sixth chapter (Or I hope there are) but seeing Marik like this, looking so peaceful caused few thunders to roar in the distance. Marik wasn't sleeping, he had never slept…Yet he let his memory take over for a couple of seconds, feeling the warmth of the Rod in his hands, as warm as it was the day he sent Malik's father to the eternal shadows…
Mokuba looked at Seto silently. His brother hadn't talked for the all day long. Sundays were always sort of boring in the mansion, but at least they could spend the time talking or something. Mokuba could tell his brother was in a very bad mood, it wasn't so hard to notice it. It was such a pity all Seto's 3,004 secretaries didn't know when to shut up and let him calm down. This was one of the reasons why he had so many of them, except the tradition of firing. Yet Mokuba felt strange sensation in his heart, the feeling that something was terribly wrong only grew during the day. The tension was really thick in the evening, when he sat and watched TV, or more exactly watched his brother typing on his lap top like his soul was inside of it.
Mokuba really wanted to talk, he wanted to ask what happened with Crystal, or more possible – between Crystal and Seto, yet knew this question was a dangerous one. And though Seto was rarely angry with his young brother, Mokuba felt Seto would just yell at him if he asked something like this. He felt the uncertainty slowly biting into his troubled mind, and kept his eyes fixed on the TV. He couldn't forget how much fun he and Crystal had just yesterday, and the frightening movie they watched…
The evening news started, and since Mokuba had nothing better to do he watched them. He glanced at Seto several times, but his brother was still busy typing and didn't even raise his eyes. Mokuba rolled his own /I think an earthquake won't make him stop his work. I wonder how his business meeting yesterday was, though I better not ask because of that idiot Pegasus./
Mokuba was lost in thought when familiar words brought him back into the reality "…Again death struck Domino City. Today, the body of Cindy Xalgo was found in an alley near the port. Xalgo is the third victim found in Domino since the death of Claira Saliago several days ago. The police suspect these deaths are somehow connected…" an officer appeared on the screen, and gave his interview "…Her body was found on the ground, it appears she was wounded, yet the doctors still can't state the cause of her sudden death. We assume there is a serial killer somewhere in the city, and the police are doing everything possible to stop him. It also appears the murder attacks very randomly and his victims are mostly women. No connection was found between the killed ones, and the police are…" at that point Mokuba noticed that Seto was paying very close attention to what was shown on the screen.
Seto sent him a quick glance, which meant 'No talking.' Mokuba sighed and listened about the football game held in Japan. When he looked at the sports broadcaster who was yelling nasty things about the trainer, he felt something was missing. The typing sound. Mokuba turned his head to see his brother was gone.
Seto stood in his office, and quickly dialed Crystal's number. The phone rang once. Then again. And again, but she didn't pick it up. /Hell, why didn't I stop her in the morning? I shouldn't have sent her alone like this, with a serial killer wandering in this city!…Come on, Crystal, answer me!…/ he thought desperately when no one answered the phone. He put it down and paced from one side of the office to the other several times. Then he called again.
/Please, Crystal… I just need to know you are alright…/
Crystal stayed in bed when she heard the phone ringing. It was located in her living room, and she wasn't exactly in the mood to talk with anybody. And what more annoying – she couldn't get Seto out of her head. She was still somehow angry with him for what he had done to her, she felt so betrayed it ate through her heart. She didn't bother making herself dinner, and practically laid unmoving the entire day.
Since she didn't do anything, she had plenty of time to think. Firstly, she thought about her mysterious past, though she vowed she wouldn't do that because it was so useless. Secondly, she thought about Mokuba and Seto…Especially about Seto, and her heart beat faster as she remembered herself waking up in his arms /What do I actually know about him? Back in high-school he was the silent one, everyone thought he was arrogant, yet I knew he was just too busy to notice anybody, running his company and bringing up his brother…And Mokuba, Ra bless his sweet eyes, he is such a great child…Seto has changed, it is obvious, but I have changed also…Would this phone stop ringing? I bet this is another stupid commercial firm…I can't stand them…/
It was cold inside the room, inside her bed, but she didn't move. She remembered falling asleep on the floor near Mokuba's bed…Seto must have entered to check on his brother, and saw her there, on the floor. /He should have woken me up then, and everything was fine now. Oh, make these rings stop…I won't get up for a call…I feel as if I move my hand it will shatter./ Crystal moved only a little under her blanket, trying to warm her numb limbs. The phone rang one more time then stopped.
/Good, now I can sleep and forget some disturbing things…/ she thought. Some minutes later she was deep inside an unpleasant cold slumber.
/Maybe she is sleeping and she doesn't hear the phone…Or maybe she isn't home right now…But it is really dark and cold outside...And the serial killer…I wish she won't do anything stupid again, her starving and dying in front of my eyes was bad enough…/
He returned to the living room, spotting Mokuna sitting there. The boy wasn't looking at the TV or at anything else. He just stared into the distances, completely disconnected. Seto slowly approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder "Mokuba, I think it is time to get prepared for tomorrow. You are going to school."
/I don't want to go to school…/ thought Mokuba, but he never dared let those words cross his lips. He got up and walked toward the stairs. Seto was on his place before his lap top, typing again. Mokuba looked at him for some time, studying his brother's expression. Then he climbed up, and walked into his room.
When he looked to the dark outsides behind his window, he wondered where Crystal was at that time, and when he would see her again. (I'll miss you,) her words played in his mind over and over as he arranged his bag, throwing notebooks and workbooks inside.
/Please come soon, Crystal…/ he thought.
The morning light was grayish and the cold was great when Crystal tried to pull a bunch of clothes on her slim body. She was depressed, and if she thought mother sleep could help her last night she was absolutely wrong. Because the nightmarish halls she was wandering through that night left an awful feeling down her throat and stomach. She brushed her hair and got ready for work. She looked into her kitchen, but the suffocated feeling in her lungs was so strong she decided against eating.
Closing the door, she took the hatful elevator down. Once in the street, she felt a little better. The way to work was never so long and ugly as it was that morning. The clouds seemed like they were about to pour rain again, yet they waited and prolonged the fear of heavy showers falling down. Crystal's legs were as heavy as lead when she reached her office. She almost fell before her computer, opening a program and checking the systems she connected. Some sort of ANGST filled her heart when she examined and tested the systems…They were good, no doubt they were, but…They weren't enough. /I can make it better…I want to make it better…/
She began typing, feeling small jolts of pain in her stomach. She didn't care /I feel somehow trapped…What is going on here? Everything is just losing control…/ The computer shut itself down automatically. /To the Hells with this. Why is the backup system freaks out today?.../
Few floor above her, Kaiba Seto glanced at his 3,005 secretary impatiently. "I brought the newspapers, Mr. Kaiba," she said, placing them in front of him. His eyes returned to the lap top screen, and he didn't look at her when he said "That's fine. Now go and do your work." she nodded rapidly and practically run out of the room. Seto typed a few more commands, and then took the newspapers into his hands. He didn't read them usually; all he wanted was the economical addendum. Yet the picture on the first page caught his eyes. The title said "Another Victim in Domino, identity wasn't stated yet." the picture showed policemen gathering around an ambulance. The caption near the picture said "The body of a girl about 20 years old was found near Domino Highway…"
Seto dropped the newspapers and dived to get his phone. Picking it up, he said "Teri, check if Saigo Crystal from the programming department is on her place."
"Immediately," he heard her typing on her computer, getting into the attendance system lists and checking /What takes her so long?.../ thought Seto. Finally she answered "Yes, Ms. Saigo is here, shall I connect her to you?" she asked.
"Yes." he answered shortly "Do it quickly."
"Right on the way," said the secretary as she dialed. Seto waited on the line, feeling the relief crawling into his heart /She is fine…I won't let her go out alone…Not when she might be in such danger…/
"Hello?" said her voice, slightly startling him.
"Crystal? Are you alright? I was worried about you, going alone in the dark when a serial killer is free in this city. Where were you last night?"
She didn't answer, yet he knew she was still listening on the line. /Why is he talking to me like this? I'm a big girl, I can do whatever I want and go out whenever I like. He has no right…/ (He saved your life,) said a voice deep inside Crystal's mind (He did so much for you! He has all the right…) /But what about yesterday's morning, huh? Only Hell knows what he was about to do with me!.../
"Crystal, answer my question, please." demanded Seto's voice. She hesitated, feeling the heavy weight of the gloom she lived the previous day in the left corner of her heart. She felt numb, like she hadn't moved her body for an eternity. Tears gathering in the corners of her eyes when the fear of yesterday's incident overwhelmed her.
"Are you still angry with me because of what happened? I'm sorry Crystal, I didn't really mean to do anything to you. You know perfectly well I wouldn't…" but then Seto heard a loud knock, and another voice, far from the other line called "Crystal! Crystal, where are you going?..." Seto put the receiver down, feeling guilty and angry at the same time. /What is the matter with her? And why did I have to do something stupid to ruin everything between us? Crystal…I'm sorry and you know I am. I wonder if she ever forgives me…/
He looked at his screen again, examining the scheme of his new Duel Disc. /There's nothing I can do now. When she comes back, I'm going to make her promise me she won't go out alone at night. These games of hide and seek are over. Maybe she is angry with me, but I have to…/ he stopped, and a row of "C" letters ran on his screen when he pushed the button on the keyboard. He erased the line, finally finding the right words /I have to protect her…/
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Crystal didn't know where she was going. She just ran, getting away from Seto and from his words /What is he trying to do, to take over me? I'm not an item, and I don't want him to command me around. I want him to leave me alone…/ the tickling in her stomach grew when she ran down the stairs, her steps disturbing the engineering department.
"Whoa, what was that?" asked a new worker. Some glanced at him when they realized he was new. "Eh, here goes Kaiba's 3,005 secretary…I think it is her, I saw her high heels this morning – and these sounds are horrible!…" said the director.
"She will break her neck," presumed another worker. "They are being fired like hot buns," stated his friend.
Crystal didn't hear all that, jumping from the stairs. Suddenly she found herself out of Kaina Corp. building, tears streaming down her cheeks, her stomach hurt and her body shaking furiously.
/Yes, it is definitely the time…She is feeling so lost right now, the one she trusted has betrayed her…Her desperation has several depths, she is afraid to lose her work and also that sweet pain of purifying by starvation…Now, Saigo Crystal…I think it is time for you to come with me…/
She sat on the bench in the park near the huge building, tears almost frozen on her cheeks. It was so cold outside and she didn't have her coat with her. She shivered, seeing the empty park crooked through her tears. Dartz approached her from behind, and before she noticed him his hand roughly grabbed her shoulder, making her twist in her place.
She turned around, recognizing the person who was painfully gripping her shoulder "You!" she said, drops of fear adding into the mix of gloomy emotions inside her core "Leave me alone!"
"Dear Saigo Crystal," she saw him moving lightly, raising his left hand "I would like to leave you alone but still you have something I want…" before she could protest, before she found something to say, before she could even realize she should run, his hand forcefully hit her in her stomach.
And he struck the right spot.
The pain so was sharp and intense Crystal felt the air emitting out of her lungs. She closed her eyes, falling to the cold ground beneath, choking and coughing. Dartz stood there and watched as the pain became too much for her, and she fell unconscious in front of him.
"Now, it wasn't that painful, dear…Are you feeling the relief now?" his arms scooped her up, and he carried her to a car on the next side of the road. When the engine started, Dartz looked onto her motionless form, his eyes admiring her beautiful face "I need your soul, girl…And there's a way I can get it out by dueling you…But you don't stand a chance against me, yet I know somebody who would like to play…" Dartz laughed maliciously "And when he wins, he'll lose you forevermore…"
Slowly the numbness and the pain made their way back into her thoughts…She heard a rustled whispering near her ear "You know this feeling…Life was rough with you too, but I can make it better for you, Saigo Crystal…I can open the doors of the eternal power and salvation for you, and you will help me to purify this black world. Waves of blackness are nothing compared to the power of light I possess…"
She moved slightly, the pain in her head sharp and fresh. She tried to move her arms, yet they were shackled and stretched over her head. /What the…?.../ she thought as she slowly opened her eyes into the semi darkness in the place she was in. Candles were lit on the floor near her, and something gleamed in the dark in front of her. Its color was rich green, and in a few second she realized it was Dartz' Orichalcos necklace "Let the lights of the truth bring you back to us, Saigo Crystal…Let your soul and will come into mine…"
She shook her head lightly, letting out a soft sound as a jolt of pain shot through her head once again.
"Saigo Crystal, don't you hate your current state? Weak and abandoned, even that Seto Kaiba of yours can't save you now. You know what made him let you work in his company? Your body, dear…I have to admit you look quite good. You can't get back to him, because – well, you know how he is. If he doesn't get what he wants, he throws the whole deal into the river…"
He approached her until he was only mere centimeters from her face "On the opposite, I can give you what you are looking for…I can tell you your origin…"
She shuddered as his voice rang in her ears, yet curiosity filled her broken heart "I-I want to know," she said weakly "But how do you know?" her voice was so faint it seemed as if it was coming from the other side of the room.
"The power sealed into this weak little body of yours, is the power of an ancient woman…She lived 6,000 years ago in Egypt…She is a relative of yours…"
"How could it be?" asked Crystal faintly.
"You are the reincarnation of Isis, the mythical goddess of the skies. Didn't you know? Didn't you want to know her name? So here you go – and all the power she possessed is yours now…It is deep within your soul, and soon dear, it will be mine…You will give it to me…"
"You are sick!" Crystal yelled, but her weakened state caused her voice to come out in a low hissing "Why would I believe you?"
"Because you know it is true. Because you were lucky enough to live till today – because that power saved you thousands of times already. Didn't you wonder how you, a weakling, beat a bully in your orphanage? How the power helped you to never give up back in school? It filled your heart when kindness and love weren't within reach for you, it kept you alive and sane. But you don't need it anymore…Admit it, your life is over…"
"Let me go! Now!" she demanded. An evil smirk formed on his face "But you have just come, dear. And we have many things to do, but firstly I want to give you something special…" she watched him taking out the jewel box, and slowly untying the ribbon on it.
"What is it?" she asked suspiciously, looking at the box as if it was an atomic weapon. He took out the silvery necklace, with the Orichalcos pentagram on it. It looked similar to the necklace he had, yet more delicate, perfectly done and so beautiful…"What are you doing?" asked Crystal in amazement, when he leant closer to her to put the jewel on her neck "I don't want to have this thing on me. Take it away!"
"It is a gift…" he said, closing the lock behind her neck "Oh it looks so great there, on your neck…" Crystal felt something warm washing her body, as the feeling was violently gaining control over her mind. She fought against it, trying to keep herself away from the shocking influence…It was so hard to not let the welcoming feeling of the power flow through her veins…
"Yes, dear, let it take over you, let it cure your life cuts, let it heal your soul…" /And take it…/ though she did everything she was capable of, the pentagram of the Orichalcos appeared on her forehead. It was the moment when the feeling of overwhelming power mixed into pure pain, and Crystal screamed while she still tried to get rid of it…And for a second she succeeded, breaking away, but Dartz held the stone on his neck in his fist, making his wills flow into the one on her neck. It was like she was struck by electricity, her screams filled the room once again, and then…She couldn't take it anymore…
"Poor Isis, you are so weak in the body of this girl…Couldn't you pick somebody else? Because I fear another taking over of her mind will break her down." Dartz moved the stone inside his hand "Now get up, Saigo."
Her body was pulled up like invisible strings were tied to her limbs. The symbol on her forehead glowed in the darkness of the room. Dartz' hands reached up to free her from the shackles, and she stood before him, not moving even an eyelid.
"Bow before your Master," said Dartz quietly. He needed to regain total control over her body before he sent her to the duel. People like Valon were willing to serve him and he needn't take control over their mind – their loyalty to him was strong enough, yet this girl – he felt it obviously – still tried to break free… /She is too tired to do this soon…/
He pushed her down by the mind link connecting them now as hard as he could, making her body fall on the floor before him. "Good," he said "Now get up." and again he felt her struggling…Yet she obeyed this time. He took her arm gently into his hand, placing a light kiss on it as he slid a dark object to fit her skin.
"Very good, Saigo Crystal…And now you are going to have a duel against a friend of yours…Follow me…" he walked slowly, watching her. Although Crystal tried, she wasn't the Master of her body and her actions anymore. Her legs moved forward, walking behind Dartz /Now what will I do? Where are we going? And why the Hell I can't control myself?.../
Kaiba Seto was greatly worried when he sat in his car, driving home. Crystal didn't come back after their 'talk', and she didn't answer to her apartment phone either. She didn't have a cell phone, so he couldn't connect her that way. And the more he waited for her to answer the phone, the more worried he became.
Mokuba run to him when he entered. "Big brother!" he said in amazement. The expression on Seto's face was horrible "What happened?"
Seto looked at his brother, hesitating for a moment. Then he said "Well, I sort of had an argument with Crystal the day before, and today she refused to talk with me and she ran outside in the middle of the day. I…Sort of lost her since then, I can't find her. She isn't home, and I'm afraid she is somewhere in the city…"
The brothers walked into the living room while Seto told Mokuba the story "…And I called her but still there's no answer. The police think a serial killer is lurking somewhere nearby, and he is killing young girls walking alone at night…I'm worried about her, Mokuba…"
"But she is a reasonable person, Seto," said the younger one "She wouldn't walk alone when she knows how dangerous it is. I'm sure she is home, or maybe she went to the store with someone…" Mokuba didn't believe the things he said himself. And now the worry bit deep down his heart, feeling the stress his older brother was radiating.
"I'll try again, and if there is no answer, we are going to visit her ourselves!" said Seto, making his way toward the phone. A loud sound was heard from the floor beneath. "What was it?" asked Mokuba, his voice fearful.
Seto put the receiver back down. "I'm going to check now. You can stay here, I'm sure it is just something that fell off…"
Mokuba shivered as he saw his brother moving to the stairs "Wait!" he called, not wanting to stay alone at all /And I can't let him go alone…What if the two headed monster is hiding under the stairs, waiting its next victim? Oh, get real, Mokuba, and don't involve stupid films in your life ever again! Poor Crystal, we have to find her…Where is she so late?…/
The entrance hall was all dark and empty. Seto went down the stairs, staring into the total darkness beneath him. It seemed to him something was glowing down there, something bright and green, in the shape of…Beads of cold sweat formed on his face, when the recognition slowly reached him /The Orichalcos seal…But I beat Dartz long time ago, it can't be…/
Mokuba finally reached the light switch, and pressed it on. A gasp of shock was heard as they saw who was standing down there.
"Crystal!" called the brothers together, as Seto hurried down to her. The symbol on her forehead glowed again, the green light making her grey eyes shine with slate aura. He stopped, knowing he might harm her if he got any closer. It was clear to him that the Orichalcos seal was dangerous even though he didn't believe in magic. But he saw people doing irrational things because of it, and he was too afraid something would happen to Crystal.
"Crystal, how did you get this damned thing? Take it off." he commanded silently, looking into her eyes. To his great horror, he saw her expression was somehow blank, and her eyes were so…Misty, so empty…
"I came here to play against you." she stated quietly, stretching her arm, the DOOM duel disc opening. Mokuba stared at her unbelievably /No! How could Dartz control her? He did the same thing to Amelda (Yeah, that Alister guy) some time ago, but we beat him and broke his powers!…How did he come back? And how did he capture Crystal?.../ a shadow crawled behind him.
"I won't fight against you!" said Seto Kaiba clearly, as a scream from behind his back made a shudder pass through his heart. It was Mokuba's voice!
"I think you will, Kaiba," said Dartz, holding the boy tightly in his arms. He tugged Mokuba's arms to the back, and a 'click' was heard, indicating the child was chained "Of course, if you want your brother back alive…Here, I brought you a Duel-Disc, and I believe your deck is always with you, won't it be?" Dartz threw the disc toward Seto, and he caught it, placing it slowly and hesitatingly on his arm.
"Shall we start?" asked Dartz. Seto sent him a death glare "Why are you doing this? You don't need any souls now that your whale is dead. What do you want?"
"Who said I don't need more souls? I've collected them for 10,001 long years (Whoa, this guy really needs a hobby!), and I want some more…Especially hers…" Dartz looked at Crystal "And she is anxious to fight you, isn't she?"
"What have you done to her?" Seto demanded coldly.
"Look, if you waste another second, I will make your little brother cry from the pain…" said Dartz, pulling a knife from his pocket. Mokuba looked terrified.
"Now fight your little girlfriend Kaiba, and when you send her soul to Hell, you can have her body if you like. I'm sure she won't resist you again…"
Seto looked Crystal deep in the eyes, trying to find the real her among the evilness of the Orichalcos in her soul…/You have to be there, Cris…You have to fight the darkness inside you, I know you can…I really hope…/
Seto pulled his deck and placed it into his disc. Crystal was ready, pulling six cards to begin the game…
/I have to think about something…If I refuse to play, Dartz will harm Mokuba, but if I play and win, Crystal will lose her soul…What will I do? How can I help her to surface again? I know she was angry with me, but she wouldn't join Dartz just because of that…/
And as he pulled his six cards, the glow of her Orichalcos necklace almost blinded him. It glowed with the gloom and the pure ANGST he released inside her soul the night ago…
FAB: Well, that's it for today. If you have some spare time now, please Review and tell me what you think about this. Every review helps!
Don't forget to keep reading!