Chapter 9: The Sleeping Darkness

"What? I don't understand. What is going on?" Seto said, looking at the group, then at Juliana.

"Please get back, Priest Seto." Priestess Illana gently pushed him back to the others and took a book from Naru.

Seto looked at Illana, then back at Atem and Naru. "Will someone tell me what's going on!"

"I will, Priest Seto." said Pharaoh Akunumkanon as he walked in. "The day Juliana came to the palace, she was tried as a theif. Her ba was measured an equal level of light and dark. That of course is probably difficult and comes with a price."

Illana opened the book, turned a few pages then began chanting. Juliana began to glow a dark dark purple. She continued to twitch, and had begun to yell at times.

"So...she's having a nightmare?" asked Priest Seto.

"To put it simply, yes. Not just one, many at the same time. It's the darkness part that absorbs all her fear and anger into whenever she falls asleep. If she's asleep any longer, you can forget the Juliana you knew before."

"Will Priestess Illana be able to wake her?" asked Atem to his father.

"Now, hopefully. The sooner the better, and easier."

A few minutes later, Illana stopped chanting and everything went quiet. She sighed and closed the book, smiling at the others. "She should wake up in a few seconds."

"Excellent. Well done, Lady Illana."

Naru smiled and was about to walk to Juliana's bed when she heard a snicker. She turned around a saw a figure dressed in black, hidden in the shadows. He then ran at a quick speed that looked like he took not even three steps to leave the room. "Hey!" She ran after him, as the others yelled her name, asking what was going on.

The man looked back at Naru and laughed. "Catch me if you can, girl!" He quickly curved around a corner.

Naru continued running, but when she passed the corner, the figured disappeared. "What the...?" She walked back to the room and looked at Juliana, who was starting to get up.

Priest Seto looked at her. "Why did you run off?"

"There was someone else in the room...he disappeared before I could get a good look." She shook her head, then walked over to Juliana. "Hey...how do you feel?"

She stared at the ground, shaking. "Fine...thank you."

Atem walked over and put a blanket around her. "Can someone get her some water?"

"Right away, Master Atem." The servant quickly walked out.

"...Pharaoh Akunumkanon. If it is alright with you, I would like to be alone for a bit..." Juliana said, still staring at the ground.

"Juliana, are you sure?" Naru said looking worried.

Juliana nodded. "Alright then. Come on, everyone out." Akunumkanon said.

Everyone began to slowly walk out, Seto staying a bit longer to stare at Juliana. Soon he too left, leaving Juliana alone with the images she had seen in her nightmare.

----In some cave in the middle of the desert---

A tall, well-built man stood facing a table. He wore a long, black cloak with a hood over his head. He looked up when he heard the figure Naru had seen walk up behind him. "Report." he said deeply.

"The girl is alive. She's living in the palace." the other said.

The built man laughed. "Excellent. You had no troubles did you?"

He shook his head. "Vazu and Illana's daughter spotted me but not well. That was it."

"Good..good..." He held up a small, red orb into the light. "How much longer...until the next anniversary?"

"Hm...a few weeks. About...8 full moons."

He laughed again. "Good. We shall make our first move then." He clenched the orb smirking. "Then a Happy birthday."