Chapter Thirteen

He stared warily at it, sitting on his bed still in his clothes. The clock had struck midnight hours ago, and Seto was still up. The Millennium Rod sat on the dresser across the room. Its golden sheen gleamed in the moonlight filtering in through the window. It looked so innocent, the Eye of Horus appliquéd onto it winking in the reflections of the stars. But he had seen what it could do. He had witnessed its limitless evil. He did not want something like this in his hands.

The door opened silently. His muscled tensed, preparing him to flee.

Samira's head poked around the door. "You should be asleep," she admonished, closing the door behind her.

Seto looked at her suspiciously, eyes narrowed. "How did you get in? I thought I locked the door."

She shrugged. "A lock was never a barrier to me."

He sighed exasperatedly. This girl just would not go away. "Look, I don't mean to be blunt- wait, actually, I do. Get out of my room," he spat.

Ignoring him, Samira sat calmly, cross-legged on the floor. She leaned back against the door. "You're afraid of it, aren't you?"

"Afraid of what?" he said brusquely, though he knew what she was talking about.

"The Millennium Items were not made for evil purposes," she said. "The Rod is evil only in the hands of evil. And I don't think you apply to that category."

"You don't?"

Samira looked genuinely dumbfounded. "What? You thought I did?"

"No, it's just that… well, other people…" he trailed off into silence, deep in thought.

Samira let him recount the past for a moment before she went on. "To control the Rod- well, there's a verse from the Book of Ages- wait, I haven't told you what that is yet."

"Oh, please, I'm just dying of suspense."

She glared at him before going on. "There are three books that house the laws, the beliefs and the guidelines of the ancient Egyptians. Your people have only discovered one of them. The Book of the Gods tells of the ancients' mythology, their creation story, you know. It's like their bible. The Book of the Dead, which has been unearthed in your world, is a guide to life and afterlife. The Book of Ages contains poems and prophecies of the future. There's a chapter in there that talks about the Millennium Items—

Puzzle, scepter, key and ring,

Darkness doth their praises sing,

Many souls are doomed to die

By the necklace, scales and eye.

In their sevenfold they triumphed

But divided now they fall

Turned from light unto the darkness

And they answer Falragh's call.

Foremost is the piece of kings,

Two great rulers its fate brings,

Only one shall live again,

And the other shall be slain.

"Who's going to be slain?"

"That verse related to the Puzzle. The 'piece of kings.' It is prophesized to be worn by two great rulers, and it was. First the pharaoh Akunamon, and then his son, the great Pharaoh Atem. Akunamon was slain by the powers of darkness. And Atem is alive again, in Yugi. See?"

He nodded, knowing what was coming next.

At His right hand is the Priest

Guarding throne and slaying beast

Once depraved of rightful place

With his scepter restored grace

"That's me, huh?"

"Yes. And that's why you must use the Millennium Rod. You will die without it."

He looked at it warily. "Are you sure it won't… turn me evil, or anything?"

She gave him a warm, reassuring smile. "Positive."

He crossed the room and slowly lifted it, holding it in front of him, getting used to its weight.

"At its core, there is a sphere of power, concentrated," she explained. "Reach out with your mind. Can you feel it?"

'Reach out with your mind?' What did that mean?

Tentatively, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the Millennium Rod. He cast his consciousness out toward it, and drew back in shock as he came into mental contact with a small, whirling mass, like a ball of fire.

Carefully, he tried again, and cautiously poked it. The mass stirred like some small animal waking from its slumber.

From somewhere far away he could hear Samira saying, "Now grasp it and flick it like a whip! Take control!"

Almost as if out of habit, he let his mind flood around it, holding it, and with a flicking motion, a cord of power lashed outward, visible in his mind as a shimmering purple coil unfurling and striking away from him.

It sped unbridled toward a new presence in his mind, a shining blue shape, resembling a bird. It was almost blinding how brightly the being shone as it darted in and snatched the coil between its talons and pulled.

He was tugged back to reality by a jerking motion. The Millennium Rod was being pulled away from him. Samira stood by the door, blue fire glimmering between her hands. She grinned devilishly and released.

Seto was thrown backwards, barely managing to keep his balance as the pull relinquished. Panting, he regained his footing and glared at Samira. "What was that for?"

"It was good, for a first try. You'll have to be quicker than that to get me, though." She let a spark of blue light crackle between her fingertips, daring him to "be quicker."

What? To 'get' her? What the hell-

With a small sinking feeling, he realized that he had been aiming the whip at Samira.

"I… um… sorry…" he trailed off lamely, not really used to saying the word. She was regarding him with a strange look on her face that made him feel really stupid.

"Seto," she said gently. "I know you didn't mean to. It's really all right, I mean it."

He nodded gruffly, embarrassed.

Samira put her hand on the doorknob and yawned. "It's really late," she remarked unnecessarily. "You should be getting some sleep. Good night." She gave him a little nod, a small smile, and was gone.

Boy, he felt like such an idiot. Why did he aim the Rod's power toward Samira? He had just done it, as he had so many times before…

Wait. He had never held the Millennium Rod before in his life.

Or had he?

His head suddenly spinning, Seto sat down on the bed, propping his chin on his hands. This was all too much. It was like déjà vu… he had done it before, yet never done it before… did that make sense?

No, he told himself. This is all complete nonsense. Why did I even get on this stupid ship of lunatics anyway?

Because of Mokuba. Mokuba is hurt, and now he is being healed by the people you call lunatics.

Shut up.

No. The old Seto is back. You can't get rid of me now. You are warped by Gozaburo and bitter from the hard years you have faced. Leave, now, and don't return.

Never!

Leave. I banish you! Leave, imposter! I know you not!

Nooo…

The Millennium Rod sparked to life next to him, giving off a blinding flash. He shielded his eyes, but could not stop the sudden flow of memories, the flood of images flashing past his vision…

A sapphire-blue river, sparkling in the setting sun… a gleaming white palace, flags snapping in the breeze… a sword… broken shackles… a bird, soaring far above the clouds… the harsh yet melodic cry of a falcon, echoing in his mind…

He could not stop the pictures… it was too much… it was like a heavy hammer suddenly being brought down full force on his head…

Spent, Seto collapsed on the bed, falling into the black oblivion of unconsciousness.

Somewhere far away from earth, an owl smiled.