Chapter 11: The Ties That Bond

Nothing could prepare us for the events that happened next. We're not even sure if it could have been done another way. But when the first domino fell, all we cared about was right now. Our Pharaoh Akunumkanon...was dying...

Juliana sat in the weapon room, hammering the blade of a sword. Making weapons was the only thing that kept her mind busy, besides training. And this situation was the last one she wanted to think about. Pharaoh Akunumkanon was dying, and he was calling in different people for last words.

"Lady Juliana?" said a man. He was a tall built man with dark skin, which was covered in burn scars, and dark eyes. He wore just a regular Egyptian skirt, which was as dark with soot as his skin was.

Juliana looked up at him. "Yes, Dakarai?"

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine...why do you ask?" She stood up and dipped the sword into a pool of water.

Dakarai followed her. "Because you always come here when you are troubled, and I know that face. Lady Juliana, we all understand how you feel about Pharaoh Akunumkanon. He was like a father to you. We know that this will impact you just the same as Prince Atem and Prince Sethos."

She looked into the steam intensely. "...Nothing will be the same..."

"Of course not. I'm sure Prince Atem will do his best to continue Pharaoh Akunumkanon's wishes though."

Juliana nodded then removed the sword from the water and stared at it. "It's just...I sense something big...something evil...is about to approach." She sighed. "I am not sure what to do."

He smiled. "Well, you know you are welcome here at any time, my lady." He bowed.

"Thank you, Dakarai."

An Egyptian soldier walked in and looked at Juliana. "Lady Juliana. Pharaoh Akunumkanon wishes to see you now."

She nodded, then handed the sword to Dakarai. "I will speak with you later."

Dakarai, as well as the other blacksmiths, bowed as Juliana and the soldier walked out.

Juliana and the soldier walked up a stair well and slowly approached Pharaoh Akunumkanon's chambers. After a few moments of silence, Juliana looked at the soldier. "Akins, tell me. How does it look?"

The soldier frowned. "I'm sorry, Lady Juliana, but it does not look well. He doesn't have long to live..." They walked up to a door and he knocked. "My Pharaoh, Lady Juliana is here."

"Enter..." Pharaoh Akunumkanon said, his voice weak behind the door.

Akins slowly opened the door and Juliana entered. The door was closed behind her. She took a deep breath and walked toward Pharaoh Akunumkanon's bed. Atem and Sethos stood kneeling at one side of the bed, so Juliana went over and kneeled on the other side and bowed her head. "Pharaoh."

He slowly turned his head to look at her. "Juliana...I have so much to tell you...and so little time to say it..."

"Then I ask that you say nothing. Please do not waste your strength on me, Pharaoh."

"No, I must say this..." He closed his eyes and sighed. "Juliana...your parents never meant for what happened to them to happen...but I am pretty sure that they would be very proud of you." He slid his hand over and gripped Juliana's hand. "Please remember your promise...watch over my sons..."

She nodded. "I swear it. I will die before breaking my word."

"But...remember you have your own life as well. Live the way you want...as long if you feel it is the right thing to do..." He removed his hand and put it back to his side. "You may leave..."

Juliana bowed, then slowly stood and walked out.

Just a few hours after that, we recieved the word. Pharaoh Akunumkanon was dead. The year was 3,104 BC...and Atem was crowned Pharaoh not too long after his father's death. Of course we mourned for the death of a loved Pharaoh, but our time was short. Already we had recieved word that an army to the south was forming to attack our kingdom. It was suspected only a matter of months until the began moving. Everyone believed we were ready, but Atem wasn't going to take any chances...

Atem walked down the hallway wearing his golden crown on his head, and the Millennium Puzzle around his neck. His long, purple cape swirled behind him as he walked with Juliana to one side, Vash to his other, and a few guards behind him. "What's the status of our men?"

"About 30 strong...and 20 not so strong. Most of them are out in the Valley of the Kings. We expect a large number of theives to try and get through there for a while." said Vash.

"And everything else?"

"We have enough spears and swords for the entire village if they somehow reach the city, which is very unlikely. A few priests will also stay behind just in case." Juliana explained.

"Good, good..." They continued walking.

Sethos ran up behind them and squeezed passed the guards. "Atem!"

Atem ignored him and continued walking. "What is the guard schedule, Juliana?"

"Um, we have about 20 around the palace during the day, and about the same during the night. Of course I'll make sure they are all alert." she said.

"Atem! Back here!"

"Excellent. I think we should have a small one-on-one duel tomorrow, just to make sure the priests are prepared."

"That sounds like fun." Vash smiled and stretched his arms up.

"Will you inform them, Vash?" Atem said looking at him.

"Atem! I have to talk to you." Sethos said, trying to reach his older brother.

"Sure, no problem Pr- uh...Pharaoh."

Atem smiled. "I'm still me, Vash. Titles don't change anything."

Sethos stopped and watch them continue to walk. He even stared as the hallway emptied into nothing. "They change something..."

That wasn't the first time either. A lot of us didn't see it, but I noticed more differences around Sethos and Atem then needed. We were all just too busy, and Atem never assigned Sethos anything to do to help with the upcoming battle. I don't know about the others, but I noticed some changes.

Juliana walked down the hallway toward Sethos' room, trying to think of what to say to him. 'I pray to the gods that nothing shall happen...' she thought. When she reached the Sethos' door, she stopped. She heard voices inside.

"I can't believe the nerve of him! All of a sudden he's pharaoh and has no time for family!" Sethos yelled.

"Well Sethos, you have to understand that having so many people count on you is a lot to have on the shoulders of one man." said an unknown voice.

"It's not all on him! He's got all those priests around him, doing his bidding!" There was a loud crashing sound.

"Calm down. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about you."

"I'm sure too. He just doesn't care!" Another crash.

Juliana blinked and knocked on the door. She slowly opened it. "Prince Sethos?" She walked in and only found Sethos in the middle of the room, holding a pot he was probably ready to throw again.

"What do you want!" he asked angrily. He turned and looked at her. "Did my brother send you to check on me! Too lazy, too busy to do it himself!"

"No...I came on my own to see how you were."

"Oh good...the Pharaoh's favorite has come to pity me. What an honor..."

She looked at Sethos sternly. "I don't come to pity you, Sethos. And it matters not if I am the Pharaoh's favorite or not. If I am given orders, I will carry them out to my fullest. But right now I am worried about you. I know Atem hasn't been able to be with you lately, but we're on the edge of a war."

"It shouldn't matter! I'm his flesh and blood! There should always be time for me!" he gripped the pot in his hand.

"I know...it's just...he just became Pharaoh. I'm sure once this whole battle thing is over everything will go back to normal."

"No! Nothing will be the same!"

"Sethos..."

"Go away! I want to be alone!"

Juliana sighed. "Alright...I'll come back later to check on you if you wish." She turned and started walking but stopped. She looked down and saw a small white feather laying delicatly on the ground. "Hm...?"

"I said go away!" Sethos threw the pot at her, but missed by a few inches. The sudden crash did cause her to run, however, and he watched her close the door behind her.

"That wasn't very nice..." the voice spoke once again. "She sounded like she was trying to help."

"I don't care. My own brother should have came first." He sighed. "Tell me where it is."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Tell me..."

A few days passed and I never went back to see him. I didn't want to upset him again, and I was sure I would if I went in when he wasn't ready. One day I decided to see him, but when I arrived to his chambers I found him not present and most of his belongings missing.

Juliana ran into the throne room where Pharaoh Atem sat on his throne. Everyone quickly looked at her curiously. "Pharaoh Atem! Sethos is missing!"

Atem's eyes widened. "What?"

"I searched everwhere. Even his belongings are gone."

He stood and looked over at the head guard. "Form a search party and look over the entire kingdom-"

"That won't be necessary..." Sethos walked into the room before Atem could finish. He carried a strange staff in his hand, and his face was covered in anger and hatred. He was covered in scratches and bruises and he walked rather slowly as if from exhaustion.

Atem smiled at him. "Brother, you're ok."

"No thanks to you!" He glared at Atem. "You think you can toss me aside like some sort of slave!" He pointed the staff at his brother, with every intention of killing him. The staff's end began to glow. "Well i won't be treated like a piece of garbage like them, it's time you got what's coming to you!"

"Sethos...what are you doing?" Juliana said, staring at the staff.

"What I should have done when this all began...DIE!" Suddenly there was a flash of light that covered the entire room. When the light faded, there was no trace of Sethos anywhere.

Everyone looked around in shock, Atem just staring at the place where Sethos was. "...Where is he...?"

"Search everwhere!" The guard named Akins yelled. All the soldiers in the throne room ran out and began searching the palace.

We searched all day and night, for days but with no hope. Prince Sethos just...vanished. Atem was taking it very bad. He isolated himself from everyone else. He mostly locked himself in the library and read from the ancient books. One day, he called the six priests in and asked them to borrow their Millennium Items. None of us knew why exactly, but it wasn't long until we found out.