Sands of Time
Chapter nine
Atem Helped Nefertari off of his horse as Mana hyperly jumped off. "Run along, Mana so you don't get into any trouble for following me." Atem said softly.
Alright, But we'll go out and look some more wont we?"
"I'm not sure." He looked down sadly. "Please go."
"Oh, Alright." Mana said and jumped away.
"Prince?" Came a small voice behind him. He turned and smiled softly at the young dancer. "I am a pretty good dancer. Um, you seem a bit sad. I could do a dance for you, if you like."
"It's quite alright, little one. Right now I have to visit my father." Atem grimaced at the thought. "The woman's palace is across the pool." He pointed to a large building connected to the main palace. The others should welcome you happily. I will come and see you later." Atem smiled brightly and sighed as the little dancer left his sight.
Seth Smirked and slipped from the shadows, "You sure you want to go in there?"
Atem jumped lightly and growled, "Seth? I'm not in the mood."
"That's irrelevant. You should have followed my orders." Seth's smirk was filled with authority.
"I am the Prince of Egypt! I don't take-" Atem started
"Yes But you were placed in my charge by your father, the Pharaoh" Seth smirked. "Plus I am two years older than you."
"What has that got to do with anything? I am my own person and I don't have to… No! I WONT listen to you!" Atem growled out and pushed past Seth roughly and headed toward the palace.
"Good luck." Seth sighed and headed back to his chamber for the night.
Bakura smirked at his luck and held his prize close determined never to lose this one. He would refrain from killing her with all he had for his plan would be ruined if she died. Oh, he would get the Prince this time. With this girl missing there would be tension between the Egyptians and Libyans. The Pharaoh would be too distracted to notice anything.
Anzu lightly stirred and groaned as Bakura's shoulder was digging into her stomach since he had slung her over his shoulder. "Have you accepted your fate?"
"What else can I do?" she whispered. "Thief king Bakura."
"Ah, so you have heard of me?"
"Yes, everyone in my villa knows of you." Anzu paused, "so how will you do it?"
"Do what?" Bakura looked at her quizzically
"Kill me" she swallowed hard not really wanting to know.
Bakura threw his head back as a throaty laugh sprang from his belly. "Kill you! I'm not going to kill you?" He paused, "well not so long as you do as I say. No, I'm going to make you my apprentice."
"Me? A thief?"
"Yes, that's right." He smiled
"But why?"
"You'll learn of that when the time is right." He smirked and carried her through the desert toward his hideout and smiled. "Welcome to your new home." He smiled.
"But Father you don't Un-"
"Hush, Pharaoh speaks." His father bellowed, "I know that Anzu meant the world to you but you have duties and responsibilities as future Pharaoh." He sighed, "I know it's hard but I'm not going to be around forever and you need to grow up."
"I'm sorry Father." Atem looked down at his hands.
"Come, I have something to show you."
"Father?" Atem looked at his father quizzically.
Atem was lead down a dark dank cave and shivered as he felt something dead and cold nearing. "Father, do we have to come down here? I don't like it"
"Shh, don't be scared just follow me."
Atem nodded and saw a light at the end of a tunnel and shivered in fear as his fathered lead him to a room with a long narrow path. Atem stopped and cried, "Father I wont go any further than this."
"Come on." His father walked on leaving Atem in the shallow glow of the torches.
"Wait!" Atem ran up to his father and swallowed hard at the feeling.
"Just be careful, son."
Atem nodded and was so lost in looking forward that he hadn't noticed that he was coming dangerously close to the edge of the path until the rock fell away beneath him and he fell. "Father help me!" he called as he held on to the edge for dear life.
"Pull yourself up. You can do it." he watched silently as his son pulled himself up and walked on when he was sure Atem was behind him. At the edge of the path Atem's father fell to his knees. "All Mighty gods of Egypt hear my call! I have committed a horrible sin. In my quest to make the items I hurt countless innocents." he bowed as tears started to fall from his eyes. "But this was my doing. I ask that you not punish my son for what I have done."
"Father? Why is it you are crying?" Atem whispered as tears began to fall from his eyes but were suddenly halted by a loud crash and a bright light. Atem screamed softly in fear. "Father?"
"Shh, it's alright my son. You'll be alright now." His father stood back up and slowly walked back out with Atem.