"I don't feel like talking," I said sternly, still staring out at the world beyond my window and contemplating what would become of me soon.

"I didn't say anything," came the response from the doorway.

"Better that you didn't.� I'm really not in the mood to deal with anyone's paltry little problems right now."

"Lord Osiris wants to talk to you in the—"

"I know.� Tell Him I'll be there shortly."

The messenger, Khalid, bowed respectfully and left my company, fully aware that I was known to lash out at my allies for no reason at times.� That, and I was officially second-in-command.� I bowed to Osiris only and no one else.� But why, I often asked myself, why did I kneel to one I did not care for?� The only answer I had ever found was that He was Ammon, He was Yugi and no matter how much I wished to free the innocent child I could not bring myself to harm the deadly god with the black heart.� Whenever I look at Him, I see Ammon and Yugi.� So the only thing I could possibly do was the very thing I had pledged never to do again.� Yet here I was, walking down the dark corridors toward my master's room in morose, pensive silence.

I passed Khentimentiu on my way there.� He didn't even spare a glance at me.� I barely looked at him.� Since our quarrel a few hours ago we hadn't spoken or even made eye contact.� He was definitely one to hold a grudge and I wasn't about to go and admit that I was wrong to say those things.�

The doorway to Osiris' room was slightly ajar.� He had been expecting me, that was for certain, but I knocked just to be sure that I didn't upset Him and incur his fury.

"Enter," His voice said from inside.� It sounded of death.

I, hesitantly, pushed the doors open.� The room was red.� Completely.� The world's new king was perched upon a bloody throne made of human bones; the cushion was their soft insides and their supple flesh.� Long entrails, the intestines more than likely, hung from the ceiling in thin banners, continuously dripping fresh red blood to the floor with little splashes.� He had placed a variety of skins of all colors and sizes (more than likely taken from the corpses of last night's slaughter) in front of the windows and from the tall stone pillars on the sides of the room.� It was every bit as I'd imagined it would and was a bit too large for my liking.� I could barely see the ivory tiling anymore.� It was basically an empty room yet it was filled with death and the essence of pure iniquity.� And there He was, sitting upon His wicked throne like the bodies weren't there at all, like He had little regard for what He had done to the one regal throne room.

"Come," He hissed.� His voice reverberated off the walls, amplifying its evil sound twofold.� I felt like He was all around me, watching me from every possible angle lest I should turn and betray Him like I had millenniums ago.� He beckoned toward me with a long, bony finger.� I slowly stepped forward.� I wouldn't go so far to say that I was nauseated, but I was incredibly close to becoming ill due to the overwhelming scent of death in the room.� I consider myself tolerant to such things but this had crossed the line.

When at last I was standing in front of His throne, I took a knee and bowed my head in something that might be considered respect.� "You summoned me, my Lord?"

Osiris was, when I had bowed, picking His teeth with a sharp bone that I suspected used to be a part of someone's ribcage.� After I approached, He licked his teeth, cleaning the pieces of human flesh that lingered there still, and flicked the bone away.� "Seyumi.� Look up at me."

I was hesitant to do as He asked.� In fact, I refused with a slight nod of the head.� I could not look Him in the eye.�

"Do as I command, Seyumi.� I don't think you want to end up like the bodies in this room."

My hands shook angrily.� "They aren't bodies anymore.� They're…they're…"

"Memories.� Piles of bones.� Torn and bloody mutants," He said, seeing that I could not finish my sentence.� "Now, look up at me."� He raised a hand, fingers spread out wide.� My head lifted against my will and held still in place.� I was completely unable to move it.� I couldn't even close my eyes, much less blink.� He was smiling.� Smiling.� "Seyumi," He said, "I have no regrets.� I am proud of what I have done and will gladly wipe the human race from this planet.� The others, my so-called subjects, will die shortly after from hunger, but you and I…we will live on forever, preying on the very life buried underneath the earth's surface until it rots away and dies.� And then…we can return to our slumber until the environment is rebuilt and my foolish brother restores all life to the planet.� After, the cycle will continue.� It will be a ne'er-ending spiral of death, a spiral of horror.� Together, we can rule.� And all you have to do is complete a few miniscule tasks for me."

Power.� Eternal life.� Being near Him for the rest of eternity.� Appealing, yes…but also frightening.

"I want them back," I whispered.

"Them.� You want them back.� You want them back so you can break free of the darkness I have placed around your heart.� You want them back so you can send me back to the Underworld.� You want them back so you can feel secure, loved, like you belong, like you have someone you can relay upon."� Osiris stood up quickly, approaching me with that same seductive grace that I had often been subdued by.� He placed a foot on my chest, pushed me over, and pressed down so hard that the floor broke underneath the pressure.� I didn't make a sound, but my face twisted painfully.� He knelt 'til His face was near mine and spoke in a mere whisper.� "Let me tell you something.� They are dead.� They live within me, but that does not mean that you can awaken them with simple talks of love or longing.� You pledged your life to me and I intend you make you uphold your promise, even if I have to force you to comply by stripping you of your free will.� Have I made myself clear?"

I blinked and nodded in affirmation.� He removed His foot from my chest and retreated to His bloody throne, a satisfied smile on His gorgeous face.

"Now…here's what I want you to do…"

I sat up and massaged my battered chest, making sure to listen attentively.

"I want you to kill Khalid and Khentimentiu."

I didn't say anything.

"Did you hear me, Seyumi?"

I still didn't say anything.

Osiris grew angry.� His eyes flashed and I suddenly felt a massive surge of pain throbbing in my temples.� I heard the same shrieking noise that I had heard back in the museum when I was separated from Yugi.� My hands were suddenly clutching my head and I was screaming loudly.� Osiris, the monster, was laughing at my pain and with each moment that passed my pain only grew greater and greater until it felt like my head was going to burst.� Then, after long last, my pain subsided and I stared up at my master.� My mind bustled with activity…but I was not in control of my own body.

"Yes…your will be done, my Lord…" my lips said, but it was not me that said it.� He had kept His word.� He never was one to break a promise.� I could no longer control my own actions.

I was now a prisoner within my own body and my darkness, the darkness within Seyumi, was about to unleash hell on Khalid, Khentimentiu, the remaining civilians in the city, and myself.� I was not used to such power, such evil, and would probably be torn apart in little time flat.�

I now know what fear is.