Chapter Three---

"Karim? It can't be!" Isis exclaimed in incredulity, "The Pharaoh said you were killed by Zork!"

"He was sadly misinformed then.." answered Karim, "..because when I was sent out to search for Zork...he did indeed attack me…and I was instantly confirmed as 'dead,' but..I soon awoke, and went off towards the Pharaoh. On the way to his throne, I stumbled upon you and Seth-"

"That's High Priest Seth, to you…" she interrupted while casting him a glare.

"Oh yes, my apologies, High Priestess.." he said in a sardonic tone, "..so as I was saying..I stumbled upon you and 'High Priest' Seth, while you were reciting your dying words to him. I distinctly remember you saying that you two would meet again…so…after you two had exhaled your last breath, I simply put on a slight 'enchantment' on your dear High Priest."

"What kind of curse, Karim?" she questioned knowing that, for him, an enchantment and a curse were two completely different things, "What did you do to Seth?"

"All I did was banish him away from his reincarnation's memories, so he would cease to exist….I then took the liberty of filling in that position for him…" he replied as his grin widened.

"You..," she began, " -- You loathsome…wicked….despicable monster...How dare--!"

"Tsk tsk tsk…watch your mouth if you care about that High Priest…." Karim said, unaffected by her words, "..one more negative word from your mouth, and I'll banish him….permanently."

"I thought you said he already ceased to exist." Isis answered, taken aback once more.

"I felt pity for you, High Priestess, so I let him remain in a deep, hidden cavern within this boy's mind." he replied.

"…Why do you torture me so, Karim?" Isis asked.

His grin flickered, and he said nothing, so she went on.

"Why must you torture Seth and myself? What grudge do you have against us? Why do you hate us so?" she questioned, as she took her tone of voice back to normal.

He hissed, and his eyes flashed in anger.

"…I knew that you once, and still, love him, and he you.." Karim said, in dismay, "..but answer this, High Priestess…what do you see in him? When you arrived, was it not he who spoke harshly to you? Was it not he who seemed resentful towards you? He doesn't deserve you! You could do so much better than that maniacal..cold..cruel…heartless...arrogant..disgraceful fool of a High Priest…"

"Don't you dare ever speak lowly of him in my presence…" Isis said as her temper flickered once more.

"Empty threats, my dear..empty threats…." he said as a smirk formed around his face.

Isis stood in silence as she looked at the person before her. Her eyes fell upon the strange attire. He wore a long silver-toned, almost cloak-like covering that went out behind him while underneath it was a black, long-sleeved shirt that went up to his neck and had straps on various parts of his arm, then at his waist was a rather odd looking belt which had the symbols ''KC' written on it, followed by dark black pants made of an unusual looking material, and black shoes.

She eyed it thoroughly, and then realized this was not Seth to begin with. He indeed looked like Seth, he had his voice, his height, and everything else, but this wasn't Seth.

Then it struck her.

It was his reincarnation…

So if Seth was reincarnated, did that mean she was as well? She looked down at the marble floor beneath her, and gazed at her apparel. It was a fawn dress that went meekly below her shoulders, but was long-sleeved, and went all the way down to her feet. She was surprised to see that her reincarnation, just as Seth's, looked conspicuously as they did the many years before. Suddenly she realized something. The Sennen Tauk, it was at her neck, why hadn't she realized it before?

"Having exuberance in looking at thyself, High Priestess?" questioned Karim, interrupting her thoughts.

"And why exactly do you care?" she asked coldly, presuming the stance she had before.

"Oh I care….more than you know.." he replied, eyeing her, not even bothering to hide the desire in his eyes.

"You disgust me." Isis stated in repugnance.

Karim answered her question with a malicious, licentious grin, and swiftly walked up to her.

"Now…onto phase two." he whispered.

Reaching his right hand towards the left side of her neck, he trailed his fingertips down all the way until he came across the lining of her dress. Lifting his hand up slightly, he placed it onto the top of the dress and began to slowly pull it down..centimeter by centimeter.

In an instant, Isis slapped his hand away and moved back.

"How dare you!" she exclaimed as she began to quickly rearrange the features of her dress.

Karim, undiscouraged, took hold of her wrist and forced her towards him.

"There's no use, High Priestess..so stop this foolish nonsense, and surrender," said Karim as he threw his head back in insane laughter, as she tried aimlessly to escape his grasp.

"Remember your vows!" Isis exclaimed once more.

"My 'vows?'" he questioned, "Woman..this is a task I've wanted to do for over five thousand years! The vows mean absolutely nothing to me!"

And with that, he leaned his lips towards her mouth. As a last resort, Isis did the only thing she could do and shoved him away with her free hand.

Even though the impact or pressure he received from the thrust was weak, he was forced back, and his grip on the Sennen Rod loosened. It was in a matter of time that the golden rod plummeted to the floor, causing clinking sounds as it hit the ground.

"What've you--"

Karim silenced suddenly as the rod, that was now on the floor, began to glow. Isis sighed silently to herself in relief, but in no time became aware that her item had begun to radiate, also.

They both stood in silence, neither of them blinking for quite some time...as the light emitting from the Sennen objects began to fade...