Hello, great reviewers and authors all! The third chapter of Blood in the Sands of Time is now underway! Kairma has been challenged to her first Shadow Game. Will she win, or risk her own life to save the Pharaoh? Read onward and find out!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story. Thank you.

"Now then," Stafon whispered, activating his diadionk that he received from Seto. "Let the Shadow Game commence!" Kairma activated her diadionk as courage took hold of her, as if it were grasping her hand, pulling her along, giving her hope.

"Diahah!" they shouted, and the game was one.

"Silver Fang, come forth!" Kairma shouted, and a grey wolf appeared, its yellow eyes glowing as it snarled gruesomely.

"That pathetic puppy is no match for this creature!" Stafon laughed. "Come hither, Battle Ox!" A large ox in red and gold armor, grasping an ax growled at the wolf. "Now, attack her Silver Fang with Battle Ax Swipe!" Soon, Kairma's wolf companion was destroyed in one hit.

"No matter," she whispered, summoning another monster. "Say hello to my friend, Wolf Axe Wielder!" A wolf holding a large axe and a shield loomed over Stafon's Battle Ox, growling. "Now, Wolf Axe Wielder, attack!" The wolf attacked with a blinding force, causing Stafon to stumble onto the ground, groaning.

"Fine then," he muttered, staggering to his feet. "You win…for now." With that, and a cloud of smoke, he was gone. Kairma just stood there, wondering why the battle had ended so quickly.

"I can't believe that she had a certain…connection to those monsters," Stafon growled, hitting his fist against a stone wall.

"Don't hurt yourself, Stafon," whispered a voice, as Aknudin stepped out of the shadows, along with Seto. "I saw that she had a great power within her, but it had yet to be released. That's why we allowed her to join us, but soon, all that will change. Isn't that right, Seto?"

"Yes, father," Seto said, bowing. "It seems that Kairma isn't a threat to us…yet. Soon, I will rule Egypt, and not Atemu."

"What can I do?" Stafon asked, grinning. Seto leaned forward and whispered something into Stafon's ear. "Oh, Master Seto, you deceive me so! That is a great plan!"

"Soon, Stafon, we will rule over Egypt with an iron hand, and Atemu will fall!" Seto laughed evilly, and disappeared into the shadows of the alley, along with both Stafon and his father, Aknudin.

Meanwhile, back at Atemu's palace…

"You did well, Kairma," Atemu whispered, stroking the girl's hair. "I wonder why Seto brought a commoner to battle you."

"I'm not sure, Pharaoh," she replied, laying her head onto the pillow of her bed. "It seems that maybe Seto may be planning something. I'm not sure yet. Everything is so unclear to me at the moment."

"Perhaps," Atemu sighed, standing up from Kairma's side. "Get some rest, Kairma. You've had a long day." The girl nodded, and tried to fall into dreams. Something was beckoning her from her sleep, as though a light was shining through her. Suddenly, a wolf was in Kairma's place, white fur, but with a yellow patch on top of its head. Its yellow eyes glowed through the darkness of her room. It softly padded through the palace to the outside gates. Pacing, it seemed to sense something that was slowly unfolding before the kingdom of Egypt. It uttered a soft howl, the night sky glistening with bright stars and a half crescent moon. The animal trotted back into the palace, then suddenly transformed back into Kairma, racing off to speak with Isis.

"Isis?" she asked the female guardian, who was before a blue fire, trying to get the Millennium Necklace to show her the future of Egypt.

"Yes, Kairma?" Isis replied, not looking up at her.

"Could you tell me of the future of Atemu?" Kairma asked quietly, which caused Isis to open her eyes.

"Most certainly, my fellow Guardian," Isis replied, closing her eyes once more, concentrating on the Necklace. "Millennium Necklace, please show me the future of Atemu. I beseech thee." Suddenly, the Necklace glowed, and Isis's eyes opened sharply.

"What did you see, Isis?" Kairma asked, but Isis only replied by trembling violently.

"I cannot say," she whispered, ushering Kairma back to her room. "You need some rest, fellow guardian."

"I can't," the girl began, but the door to her room slammed shut. "Why must there be events that I cannot know of? Why do I not have any family?"

You do have a family now, a voice inside her head whispered to the through the darkness. The Pharaoh and his guardians.

"I know, but my old family is no longer here to protect me from this evil." Tears flowed from her eyes as she slowly clamored into her bed, her yellow eyes closing from weariness.

What did Isis see, and what is Seto's plan to get rid of the Pharaoh? Find out in chapter 4, First to Die.

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