Anzu sat up, alert.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"You're alone, Anzu," He whispered hoarsely, taking a step.
"No, get away from me!" She heard a crack of lightning and jumped. He grinned, the white of his eyes showing. He lunged, knife in hand. Anzu rolled off the bed and ran out of her room, adrenaline pumping in her veins. Oh God, it's the killer. She thought, fear washing over her.
"Come back, you wretched girl!" She heard thumps as he ran down the stairs after her. She let out a terrified cry, hoping to wake any of the servants.
"Miss?" A maid came out, only to be stabbed in the breast by him. She let out a shriek, before falling, her body sprawled on the stairs. He jumped, knocking Anzu down.
"Nooo!" She crawled on her knees as she scrambled to her feet. His knife swiped at her leg, drawing blood. Anzu let out a desperate sob, feeling the pain radiate through her left leg.
"Damn!" He swore. She's a lot more challenging than her family. He grinned. I always enjoy a challenge.
X
Lucifer and the cadet stopped at the Mazaki manor. They heard a scream from inside and Lucifer reacted. Marik frowned, not liking that he was about to play hero with the police.
X
Anzu threw open the doors and stumbled down the drive, glancing behind her. No one. When she turned her head, she crashed into someone. She kicked and screamed.
"Anzu!" She stopped struggling and her eyes met with Marik Ishtar's.
"O-Oh...It's..." She twisted her body to look back at her home. "The killer...He...And the maid...Lisa...A-and..." Marik's eyes widened.
"Hush," He brought the hysterical female to him and nodded to Lucifer.
"He's in there?"
"So it would seem," Marik assumed.
"All right, everyone in!" Lucifer shouted to the other officers. "Are you okay, Anzu?"
"I think so," She pulled from Marik's embrace, still trembling. "How did...?"
"Marik's so-called hunch," Lucifer clarified, watching as Marik gazed at the manor, now lit up by light.
"Anything?" Lucifer asked as the men came out.
"Nothing, sir," The cadet murmured. "We found the maid's dead body, however." Lucifer sighed. Anzu shook her head.
"He was right behind me, I know he was. I...How could he have escaped?" Anzu was still trembling quite badly.
"The men are checking all the grounds – thoroughly," the cadet explained. He shook his head, sighing. "I don't know, Anzu, but we should have found him." Lucifer took her hand gently.
"Don't worry, we'll find the bastard," she just nodded uncertainly at Lucifer's proclamation. He hugged her softly. "You're trembling, Anzu!"
"I...I can't stay here anymore...He'll come back, I know he will," She brought her round eyes up. "My brother and father...They're dead, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid so," Lucifer told her sympathetically.
"But," Anzu gulped, "where will I stay?"
"We'll figure something out," Lucifer assured her.
X
"I'm glad that Marik brought you here," Isis told Anzu, locking the bedroom window. "Knowing him, if you were in his household he'd probably ravage you." She smiled at Anzu's horrified face, chuckling. "But don't worry. You're safe here, love."
"I hope he doesn't find out where I am," Anzu muttered.
"Even if he does, my mansion has high security, so you have nothing to worry about," Isis hesitated.
"Not exactly, right?"
"Right," Isis muttered, hating to admit it. "Well! Why don't you get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning, okay?" Anzu just nodded. Isis gave a tender smile, shutting the door behind her. Anzu locked it and went into bed, not bothering to turn off the lights. She settled into the covers of the Victorian four-poster bed as she gradually fell into a slumber. Unfortunately, she sleep was haunted with nightmares of her predator.
X
"Did you have a good sleep?" Isis asked.
"Not exceptionally," Anzu admitted. "I kept having nightmares." Isis' face constricted in worry. "But I'm fine, really." Isis nodded, tentative.
"And your leg? Is it feeling better?"
"Yes. Quite." Isis nodded, sipping on her tea.
"My brother, Malik, is coming back today. I promised to visit him as soon as I got that chance to," Isis leaned forward. "My lover, Seto, needs either Marik or Malik's approval to marry me."
"Oh, my," Anzu murmured. "Marik doesn't seem the type to...Uh, agree with marriage."
"Yes," Isis sighed, "I know." She brightened. "But I'm depending on Malik to!"
"I've never met him," Anzu confessed. "Or heard of him for that matter."
"Malik and Marik are not in the ton. They have a friend – I think that's what he is – that is. Occasionally, to pick up women, they go with him to balls or parties." Anzu choked on the smoldering tea. "They're rogues, my brothers."
"I can tell," Anzu muttered. Isis smiled.
"You can't deny that Marik's handsome," Isis put in casually.
"No," Anzu paused. "But I already fancy someone." Isis leaned forward again, in eagerness, this time.
"Do you now? Might I know him?"
"Well...You might. He was with Marik last night – "
"Lucifer?" Anzu flushed. "Oh, famous! He's quite handsome too. And a gentleman, for a policeman, that is." Isis leaned back, smiling. "You have good taste."
"Well...Um, thank you," Isis giggled. (A/N: Don't worry, I'm not going to hook Anzu up with any OC. It just fits the plot – somewhat.)
"Marik was grumbling about how everyone knows you. Is that true?"
"My mother used to introduce me to everyone, so..." Anzu shrugged in a ladylike manner. "I suppose so." Isis smiled at her again, her eyes twinkling.
"I do as well," Isis admitted to her, glancing over Anzu's shoulder at something. "Seto introduces me to everyone." She laughed softly. "Why don't you come with me to get my brother, Anzu?"
"Well, if you insist." Isis beamed.
"Let's get ready then!"
X
Lucifer walked in the room, the silence deafening. Marik glanced up from a paper on his desk, raising his eyebrows at Lucifer.
"I'm surprised to see you, Lucifer," Marik remarked, setting down the quill and leaning back in his chair, propping his feet on the desk. Lucifer wanted to scold him, but knew better than that. Marik might seem the calm, serene male on the outside, but he knew what Marik was really like. This certain Ishtar was nearly worse than the temperamental rake, Bakura. There was no doubt that he was worse than his brother, Malik. Marik had one of those careless, sardonic attitudes that came by only once every Season. Not surprisingly, it had always been Marik. He might not come to balls, but he did come to town with his brother and sister. Only for the women, though. Bakura, on the other hand, stayed in town all year 'round, unless he had some business elsewhere.
"Well, after last night, you should have expected me to come by, Ishtar." Lucifer sat down and Marik watched him closely, scarcely blinking. "Where's Anzu, Marik?"
"With my sister," Marik replied, finally looking away from Lucifer. "You want to fuck her, don't you?" Lucifer frowned at the wording.
"No, I don't want to fuck her."
"Okay, so you love her."
"No," Lucifer watched as Marik's eyes snapped to him, his brows furrowed.
"Well, which is it, Lucifer? Either you want her or you don't."
"She's..." Lucifer rubbed his chin, the whiskers scratchy underneath his fingers. "Like a sister." Marik raised his eyebrows and Lucifer shrugged. "Hathaway had paid me a long time ago to be her body guard and she's become like a sister to me."
"Six."
"I beg your pardon?"
"She was six and you were twenty-one, am I right?" Lucifer nodded. "No wonder you'd think her as a sister. She's fifteen years younger than you." Marik stood up, an eyebrow arched. "But if you haven't already noticed, you're a lot more than a brother in her eyes." Lucifer met his gaze steadily, his lips in a thin line. "You can visit Anzu at my sister's and tell her what you think of her." Marik nodded to the door as he sat back down, smoothing his breeches. "Good day, Lucifer."
"Can't say it will be, chap." Marik smiled mischievously, his lavender eyes fixed on the lawman.
"Hm," Marik picked up his quill and went back to the paper he had been working on before Lucifer entered.
X
"Malik!" Isis hugged her brother, who flinched slightly at the strong scent of perfume clinging to her.
"Isis," Malik pulled from her embrace, his gaze trailing to Anzu, who watched with shyness. "Who is this?" A charming, harmless smile slid on his lips.
"This is Anzu Mazaki," Isis took her companion's arm, smiling broadly. "She's staying with us for awhile. Well, for me at least." Malik just nodded, taking Anzu's hand, clasping it with his.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Anzu." His voice didn't have a seductive purr to it that Marik's sometimes had. It was a completely innocent greeting, Anzu was sure of that. No wonder Isis favored him over Marik. He dropped Anzu's hands and eyed Isis. "Marik didn't give Seto his approval, I'm guessing?"
"You know Marik," Isis sighed, shrugging. "He never approves of anyone that's male." She smiled then. "Except for you and Bakura, that is."
"Hardly," Malik flashed a doubtful look at Anzu, who couldn't help but like Isis' youngest brother. "Let's go, I'd rather not stay when those other passengers get off the boat."
"Those other passengers?" Anzu repeated it with the same lilt Malik had had in his voice.
"Anyone other than him," Isis explained, grinning. "Did something happen on the boat?"
"No," Malik rolled his eyes. "Nothing except those meddlesome people always insisting on bothering me." Isis laughed and Anzu smiled softly. Isis noticed and grinned in triumphant. She had known the younger female would like Malik. "Can we go now?"
"Of course, Malik." They went in the carriage and for a full five minutes, no one said anything. Then, "So, Malik, what do you say?"
"I knew you couldn't resist," Malik told her, smiling slightly. "I don't known about Seto. He's power-hungry with a blown up ego." Anzu slapped a hand to her mouth, turning from them, her shoulders shaking.
"Something the matter, Anzu?" Isis asked in concern, frowning. Anzu shook her head, holding her laughter it. Malik smirked at Isis' disapproval.
"I just don't like him that much," Malik shrugged, crossing a leg over the other. Isis' face fell.
"I had hoped that at least you would approve of Seto. He's gotten better since he's been seeing me, that much you must admit!" Malik bobbed his foot up and down, contemplating.
"You have seem to be breaking him," Malik admitting, glancing at Anzu as she smoothed out her skirts. "I'll think about it and tell you tomorrow. How does that sound?" Isis brightened.
"Excellent! It sounds excellent!" Malik simply nodded. He felt the weight of Anzu's gaze on him and he turned to her. She blinked, turning her face back to the window. Malik chuckled, tapping his knee with one of his tan fingers.
X
DIS: Ah, finally I've finished this chapter! And I want you all to know that – I've gotten a new laptop! (hugs laptop) I've named it Satin. But I might have to change it because if I get a cat, I'll name it Satin if it's a girl, Jean-Claude if it's a boy. Anyway, please review! Next chapter, Bakura comes in! (rubs hands together eagerly) See y'all!