Sands of Time

Chapter Thirteen

Atem sat up in bed as the golden sun tickled his skin with citrus strings of light. He blinked a few times to water his eyes and stretched but paused when he saw a pair of big wet eyes watching him. "Nefertari?" he brought his legs up and sat cross-legged, "What's wrong?"

"I had a vision. Something bad is going to happen so I decided to watch you all night. Are you okay?" She looked him over.

His face dropped and he smiled dumbly, "Yes, I am just fine. You shouldn't worry about me so much." He smiled, "I am flattered though." She smiled and stood up. "I will come to see you later." He waved her off and she left the room as his chambermaids walked in.

As Atem sat on a stool being painted and dressed he began to think about how caring Nefertari was. She might have been way younger than him but she was of age and she cared about him enough to sit there all night without sleep and watch over him. Maybe she could be his queen. 'Well if Anzu doesn't show up by the time I have to take a queen then I will have to marry Nefertari' he sighed and blinked back into reality when Seth burst in.

"Ready?"

"For what?" Atem groaned, "oh, my lessons." He nodded.

"Come on then." Seth pulled him up as Atem was finished dressing and pulled him out into the long hall. "I'll be in the training room, get your father."

"Alright, do you know where he is?"

"I believe he is still in bed. You are the only one, aside from the pharaoh-queen, who can get him up without him being upset all day." Seth gulped remembering the time he had woken up, a certain incident with a dagger to the throat. 'And I was only a child then.' He shuttered.

"Okay. See you in a few." Atem ran off toward his father's chamber and walked in smiling at the sleeping hump in the bed. "Father it's time for my lesson." He took a step forward and laughed, "come on Father, you can't be sleeping still." Atem slowly jumped on the bed and smiled, "if you don't wake up I'll tackle you." He gulped when he felt no rise in his father's belly. "Father?" He swallowed hard and placed his head to his father's chest. Tears slowly drizzled down his cheeks as he heard no heartbeat. "Father!" He cried harder holding onto him tightly.

Meanwhile, Seth rested his chin on the ball of his palm and waited, "Where is he?" he sighed and looked up as Isis walked up to him gracefully. "Isis?"

"Where is Atem?" she asked solemnly. "Please tell me he is here with you somewhere."

"I am sorry. He is not. What is wrong?" He sat up and suddenly he could feel the hair on his neck stick up. "Is he in danger?"

"Where is he?"

"I left him to wake his father."

"NO." She winced and looked down.

"What is it? Tell me already."

"I had a vision only a few moments ago and came looking for you so this wouldn't happen. I didn't want Atem to see his father. For you see the Pharaoh died early this morning." She paused. "Atem is with him right now. We have to go get him." She pulled Seth up and ran back with him.

"I'm not ready! Come back." They heard Atem cry as the opened the door. "Please." He whimpered and slowly glared at Seth as he pulled him away. "Let me go!"

"Atem. Please, it's okay. He is with us still. But we need to prepare him for his long Journey." Seth held him tightly. "Please, Egypt needs you to be strong."

"I am strong." His tears dried up instantly. "Where is my Mother? Tell her I have made my decision. After my fathers Burial I will me marrying." He stood up and pushed away from Seth. "Well come on. The people need to know who their new Pharaoh is."

Bakura and Anzu stood cloaked in a sea of people as they gathered before the palace for the announcement. "That old man took long enough to die. That amount of poison would have killed a normal person instantly." He growled. "No matter, the plan will still go on as planned."

"People of Egypt!" Atem called out to the people. "I will take over my father's reign and I will try to be as great as he was! Make no mistake, I may be young yet but I am ready and I will stop all those who wish to harm our great land. I am happy to Rule as the new Pharaoh of Egypt!" Atem smirked.

"Ehem." Shimon Muran, the Pharaoh's oldest adviser and dearest friend cleared his throat and held up the millennium puzzle to the new Pharaoh. Atem lightly bent down and shivered when the cool chain hugged around his neck and stood back up. "You are the Pharaoh." Shimon bowed lightly as did the other priests.

Atem blushed slightly but and looked out at the sea of people who cheered and bowed toward him in acceptance and praise.

"Look at him. That is your charge." Bakura smirked "You are to bring me his heart when we are done with the other six." He smirked.

Anzu slowly looked up at Atem and her breath slowly slipped from her lungs. "I've seen him before. Somewhere."

"No you have not." He growled, "Now focus! Our next target is Preist Isis, with her necklace she can see the future and we must get it from her before she can warn anyone of our plan. Luckily she hasn't seen us with it yet." He smiled looking up at Isis as she smiled and clapped.

"She looks weak. May I?" Anzu smirked and Bakura nodded.