Here's chapter twenty. The second to last chapter (I think) I will post before school starts. School starts earlier for me and we get less vacation time EVEN THOUGH we get out of school at the SAME TIME! School sucks. And since the majority of my summer was spent on the computer, I'm going to have withdrawal when I go back.

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Eryn, whose mother passed away last week.

-Show Me How It Ends-

Stage Twenty: Escalation

Seto's grasp on the phone was tightening.

"Who is this?" He said; his voice dangerously low.

-That is no way to speak to your master-

"No…"

-Something you must learn my fledgling, is the art of subtlety. The paper trail you left behind could have been followed by a child.-

Shizuka was beginning to worry. Seto was shaking with what appeared to be rage, his knuckles white as he clutched his phone like a lifeline.

"What do you want?"

-You know what I want Seto. As I recall, we had a deal. You got your little boyfriend and now I get you.-

"Go to Hell!"

-I already have. Seto, if you do not wish to cooperate with me, I will be forced to take desperate measures.-

The CEO laughed darkly. "What could you possibly do to me? I'm undead, remember?"

-I created you, and I can just as easily destroy you. But why risk your own life? Better yet, why risk the lives of the ones you care about?-

Seto froze. "You wouldn't…"

-As I recall, your brother means the world to you.- The brunet's eyes widened in horror. –But, there is the one person who you quite literally sold your soul for- He whipped around and stared through the window pane at the sleeping blonde. Realization dawning on him as quickly as the morning sun. –And he is very much alive.-

"You leave Katsuya out of this!" Seto yelled in to the phone, his voice a mixture of anger and fear.

-I seem to have struck a nerve. Consider your options Fledgling. Serve me for the rest of eternity, or allow those you love to perish-

Seto was in shock. Being a slave to Matthew until judgment day was not one of his ideal fates. But, if he didn't agree to it, then Katsuya would suffer. Not to mention Mokuba! He closed his eyes and hung his head in shame. He couldn't let anything happen to them because of him.

"Matthew…"

-Yes?-

"I'll do it. Just promise me…promise me you won't hurt them." Seto could almost see Matthew smirking at those words.

-Your brother is missing you. You should go see him.-

The line went dead and Seto closed his phone slowly. "Seto?" The brunet jumped at the sound. Shizuka stood before him. He had almost forgotten she was even there. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you-"

"It's alright." He cut her off abruptly. " I have to go, tell Katsuya I'll try to come back if I can."

Seto leapt from the balcony, his wings spread to slow his decent to the ground. He couldn't fly around New York in broad daylight, he'd have to walk. Possibly hail a cab…maybe…

He hit the ground running. He had to make sure that Mokuba was okay, Matthew sounded a bit to cocky for his liking. Katsuya was fine. The blonde was most likely still asleep, and Shizuka would take care of him if anything were to happen.

The brunet folded his wings against his torso; luckily, they looked as if they were part of his outfit. Rushing onto the sidewalk, he made his way through the slight crowd. He bumped against a nicely dressed, black haired man. "Excuse me," He muttered half-heartedly. He began to run when the throng of people thinned.

The man Seto had collided with smirked candidly.

"No, please, excuse me."

I know it's short; I wanted to get out the conversation as soon as I could. Next chapter will have a confrontation between two of the characters. Please don't hate me for the shortness. The next chap will be out by Friday, August 19th