CHAPTER 10: THE SHADOW GAME

Rishid was looking after the inconcious Tashat. He poured some tears over her, thinking about what had happened. If he hadn't promised Isis he wouldn't hurt her, he'd have killed his own little sister.

-Don't you die, Tashat- Rishid said in a very low voice- don't you die, Neftis...-

-You shouldn't have stayed- Tashat said, opening here eyes and hardly breathing- I'm already lost, and they need your help to stop Pegasus...-

-You will live- Rishid said- but don't give up...-

-I won't- Tashat said, pressing her teeth- please, take me with them...-

-What?- Rishid said.

-I may be of use to them- Tashat said- please, Rishid...-

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-Almost all the Millennium items are on its place- Pegasus said, holding the Millennium Key on his hand- now what, Shadi?-

Shadi didn't reply.

-You don't answer?- Pegasus said- well, then, I suppose I'll just have to put the Key in its place, and...-

-Don't do it!- Shadi said. Pegasus smiled. Shadi had just finished untying himself when Pegasus finally put the Millennium Key on its hole.

-Stop!- a voice called. Shadi and Pegasus looked back. Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Duke, Bakura, Isis, Marik and Kaiba were there.

-What are you doing here?- Pegasus said- Ramose was supposed to...-

-...stop us- Kaiba said- he couldn't-

-But I see two persons are missing- Pegasus said- Rishid and Tashat-

Isis and Marik lowered their heads, sadly. Pegasus laughed.

-So, the little brat finally died- Pegasus said.

-I didn't die, Pegasus- Tashat said, walking along with Rishid. They could all see that every step was very painful.

-Tashat...- Shadi said.

-You shouldn't be here- Marik said- you're wounded...-

-Unfortunately you are too late, poppet- Pegasus said- the Millennium items are now in its place, and it's just a matter of time for the Sun's Eye to come alive...-

-The power of the Sun's Eye can just destroy!- Shadi said- Ramose lied to you-

-It's true- Tashat said- don't open that door...-

Too late. The huge stone door began to open. A flash of golden light got out of it and hit Pegasus in the chest, sending him some meters away.

-Get out!- Shadi said- this force can destroy you...-

Everyone gave a step backward. Shadi, however, didn't. He stepped forward in front of the door, closed his eyes and opened his arms. He was surrounded by a golden aura. The golden light emerging from the door backed off. A few seconds after it, he fell on his knees.

-Shadi!- Yugi said. Tashat got off Rishid and walked next to Shadi.

-Tashat!- Rishid said- come back!-

Tashat oponed her arms just like Shadi, closed he reyes and got surrounded by the same golden aura. The light of the Sun's Eye got back. Yugi an the others could see Tashat's wound close, the same thing happened to the cut on Shadi's face.

-Strange- Duke said. Joey and Tristan nodded.

-Look, the items...- Kaiba said.

A little white vapor came out of the Millennium Puzzle, and took Yami's shape.

-They need your help, Yugi- Yami said- do the same... they need the help of all the holders of the Millennium items...-

Yugi nodded, and did the same thing as Tashat and Shadi. So did Isis, Marik and Bakura.

A minute later, the light came back to its chamber, and the stone door closed completely. All of them fell on their knees, exhausted.

-We made it- Yugi said- we stopped the Sun's Eye-

-Isis, are you okay?- Seto asked.

-Yeah, thanks- she answered.

The Millennium items flew from their holes and floted to the hands of its owner: the puzzle to Yugi, the taunk to Isis, the rod to Marik, the ring to Bakura, the eye to Pegasus, the key to Shadi and the scales to Tashat's hands.

-Tashat?- Rishid said- why does she has the Millennium scales?-

-She is its true protector- Shadi said, and then he turned to Tashat- you don't imagine how I'm happy to see you okay-

-Me too, Shadi- she said- I was very worried about you-

-Let's hurry- Shadi said- we've got something else to do. Tashat...-

-Yes?- she said.

-That's it- Shadi said- Pegasus has already been punished for trespassing the territory of the Egyptian gods, but Ramose hasn't-

-I agree- Tashat said. It seemed like she understood what Shadi has just said. The others didn't, but they followed them to the exit. Once the statue of Rameses II moved, they met Ramose's weapon.

-I might have lost- Ramose said- but I'll send you to hell...-

-The only one going to hell it's you- Tashat said icily, sounding very different as usual. She was still holding the Millennium scales.

-Don't you dare talking to me like that, poppet- Ramose said- don't you know I can shoot you dead?-

-You cannot harm me anymore- Tashat said in the same tune- you have defied the territory of the gods, and you'll go on trial right now...-

Tashat and the scales were surrounded by a gold aura. She let go the scales, floating in midair. Yugi and the others looked at her very surprised. Shadi, however, looked at her without any expression on his face. A white feather appeared on Tashat's hand.

-You know the Final Judgment in the chapter 139 of the Book of the Dead- Tashat said, showing him the feather- this is the feather of Maat, goddess of justice...-

-Stop!- Ramose shouted, pointing the gun to her head- stop or I'll kill you...-

-Detente- dijo Ramose, apuntándola con la pistola- detente o te mataré...-

-You know the rutine- Tashat said, as if he hadn't said anything, and putting the feather on one of the plates of the scales- this is a game. A Shadow Game...-

-Stop!- Ramose shouted again.

-The rules are simple- Tashat continued, ignoring Ramose again- I'll ask questions, and you must answer with the true. If you lie, the plate opposite the feather will fall. When it falls completely, you'll get a penalty game...-

-I told you to stop!- Ramose shouted, firing the gun. But the bullet didn't reach Tashat. It stopped and fell- what the...?-

-First question- Tashat said, ignoring what had just happened- how many girls have you murdered, saying you were sacrificing them to the gods?-

-I have murdered no one!- Ramose said. The plate fell a little.

-Second question- Tashat said- did you murder your son Semek and his wife Aset?-

-I didn't murder them!- Ramose said- they deserved it...they deserved to die...-

A tear fell from Tashat's eyes to the plate and it fell some inches more.

-Last question- Tashat said- did you trick Maximilan Pegasus to free the power of the Sun's Eye and keep it for yourself?-

-I didn't trick him- Ramose said- I just...-

But the plate finally fell.

-Ramose- Shadi said, surrounded by a golden aura too- you have lost the Shadow Game. I have seen the room of your soul with the help of the Millennium Key, and have found nothing but your thirst for power. Your soul will be eaten by Ammit, the legendary beast that eats the souls of the sinners-

-Noooooooooo!- Ramose shouted. Seconds later, he fell to the ground. He was dead. The aura around the scales, Shadi and Tashat disappeared.

-Wow, you're brilliant, Tashat- Joey said- you're just a bit scary when you do that...-

Tashat just smiled.

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-End of business- Joey said.

-You're okay!- Mai shouted, hugging Joey.

-Mai, I'm shocking... I'm not breathing...- Joey said.

-Oops, sorry, Joey- Mai smiled.

-It's good you're all okay- Serenity said.

-What happened?- Tea asked.

-Long story- Yugi said- later...-

-Don't you tell me that- Tea shouted- I want it NOW!-

-Shhhhh lower your voice- Joey said- you'll wake her up...-

-Who?- Tea asked.

-Isis- Joey said- she's sleeping-

Inside the bedroom, as Joey had said, Isis was fast asleep. Seto Kaiba was sitting next to her, watching her.

-What are you doing here, Kaiba?- Isis asked, opening her eyes.

-Nothing- he answered. Proud Kaiba would never admit he was worried about her.

-Okay- she said, closing her eyes again. Kaiba rose.

-Sweet dreams, my goddess- he said before he left.

-Sweet dreams- she repeated before she fell asleep again.

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While Yugi and the others were at Isis and Marik's house, Shadi took Tashat to her apartment.

-There was no need for you to bring me here- Tashat said.

-Yes, there was- Shadi said- you're exhausted and, despite you were healed, you had a bullet inside your body. You need rest-

At the door, Tashat took a bad step and fell to Shadi's arms.

-I'm so sorry- she said.

-Don't worry- he said. He took her and put her on her bed.

-Shadi?- she asked- why did you give yourself to Pegasus? Why did you give them your Millennium Key?-

Shadi didn't answer. He sat beside her, and began to pass his fingers through her long raven hairs, relieved to see that over.

-Shadi?- she said again.

-I couldn't let that man hurt you- Shadi said- I... I knew he wasn't your relative, and I knew that he wouldn't stop until he finished what he started sixteen years ago...-

Tashat smiled. She leaned forward, and kissed Shadi's cheek. Then she went backward and closed her eyes, letting a sweet dream to take over her. Shadi looked at her. And he smiled. It had been a long time since he smiled. Shadi didn't move all night. He wanted to be next to her... the only woman who had made him smile.

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THE END