Disclaimer: (sigh) I still don't own it…

Chapter 3

Isis tapped on Atemu's door quietly and receiving no response she tapped louder.

"Who is it?" Came a muffled voice from behind the door.

"It is Isis my Pharaoh."

Sounds of footsteps could be heard and one of the ornate doors opened to reveal a pair of crimson eyes that were filled with so much heartache that Isis longed to gather him into her arms and soothe him but she knew she couldn't. He was still the Pharaoh and the name demanded respect.

"Can I come in and talk to you?" She asked and Atemu nodded swinging the door open wide for her.

She stepped in and Atemu returned to the bed he had just risen from. He sat down and hung his head sadly.

"I am sorry my pharaoh I should not have said such harsh things." Isis said.

"It's alright Isis, you are right after all. I can't go back no matter how much I want to I will just have to stay here for eternity." The latter part of what he said came out in a whisper and Isis felt so sorry for him.

"Truly I am sorry. I'll go and excuse you from the throne for the remainder of the day."

"How about the remainder of eternity." Atemu whispered but Isis had already gone.

A sound in his chambers made him sit up suddenly.

"Who is there?" He demanded.

"Fear not Pharaoh," a voice said. "I have come to grant your deepest wish."

"Show yourself." Atemu said and stood up to face whoever it was.

A figure cloaked in black came into view. He was short and all Atemu could see of his face was a pair of piercing green eyes.

"Who are you and how did you get in here?" Atemu said frowning at the newcomer.

"My name is Sulchi and I came in to wait for you while you were in your throne room earlier. Please don't harm me as I have come to answer your prayers."

"My prayers?" Atemu asked, his heart taking a sudden leap in hope. Could it be this stranger knew of his wanting to return to the real world?

"Yes you wish to return to the real world and be with those you care about am I correct?" Sulchi said.

"Yes." Atemu whispered.

"You would give anything for the chance to return?"

"Anything." Atemu responded, hardly daring to believe what Sulchi was saying.

"Then follow me. I know of one who can help you." Sulchi said and shuffled over to the door.

Atemu seized his cloak from a chair and almost ran to the door.

"Lead the way Sulchi." He said and they left the room. Sulchi led the way to a door that Atemu couldn't remember having seen before but his thoughts were on Yugi and the imminent possibility of seeing him and all his friends again and paid the door little attention.

"This way." Sulchi said and led the way through the door and began to descend the steps beyond it. After the door was shut it vanished without a trace leaving only a blank wall in its place. Atemu was too eager to follow Sulchi to notice.

They followed the steps which, seemed to go on endlessly. Deeper and deeper they went and Atemu began to think they were never going to end.

After what seemed like an eternity, they came to the end of the steps and emerged through an archway into a large cavern. Atemu looked round with interest. There was an unearthly red light that gave the cavern a dim glow and he faltered sensing that this place wasn't a good one. On the other hand he wanted his wish fulfilled so badly that he put his concerns out of his mind and began to follow Sulchi through the cavern.

They passed through many similar caverns all lit by the same eerie red glow which made Atemu feel cold for no real reason.

"What is this place?" He asked Sulchi eventually.

"It is where your deepest desires can become reality." Sulchi said and that was enough to make Atemu push and bad thoughts to the back of his mind again.

Sulchi continued to lead the way occasionally turning back to make sure Atemu was still following. He would smile and nod receiving the same in return. When he turned back though his face contorted and became evil. He was relieved the Pharaoh hadn't worked out that they were actually in hell itself. A far cry from the sumptuous palace and surrounding area that was heaven for the Pharaoh and his friends.

Sulchi came to a door and turned to Atemu.

"The one who can grant your wish is behind this door. Please." He said indicating that Atemu should go first.

Atemu swallowed a nervous lump that suddenly appeared in his throat and opened the door.

He walked into what looked like a cosy study. Books lined the walls on every side and contrary to the caverns they had walked through, this room was lit by soft and welcoming candlelight. The room was warm and there were two cosy chairs seated opposite one another.

In one of them was seated a man with a long beard and silvery flowing hair. He wore deep red robes that were embroidered with intricate designs and by the looks of him, he seemed to be sleeping.

He was not sleeping however as his hand rose and beckoned to Atemu indicating the chair opposite him. Atemu sat in the proffered chair and waited for the other to speak.

Slowly the other's eyes opened. They were grey and Atemu had the uncomfortable feeling that they could stare into his very soul.

"Welcome Pharaoh. My name is Anobi." He said and his voice was soft and deep. "You have come because my servant has told you I may be able to help you."

Atemu nodded and waited to see what he would say next.

"I can indeed help you. I can grant that you return to the real world and your friends. I can also give you a body of your own as I am aware that you had to share one before."

Again Atemu nodded unable to keep the joy from his face. He could go back? He could see Yugi and everyone else again? He could hardly believe it.

"I will grant you your heart's desire pharaoh but I want something in return."

"You can have anything if it is in my power to grant." Atemu said eagerly.

"That is good Pharaoh. Do you remember you said you would sell your soul for the chance to return to the real world?" Anobi said.

"Yes I remember."

"That is my payment. Sell your soul to me and I will grant your wish. Of course you do not have to do this. You can return to your palace and live for eternity with your friends here, or you can see your friends in the real world and live your life out with them and at the end of your life when you die, return to your palace."

Atemu sat in stunned silence. He had indeed said he would sell his soul for the chance to return but now he was faced with actually doing it did he really want to do such a thing? Why did Anobi want his soul?

"Why do you want my soul?"

"I don't want to keep it here. You will still have it when you return but it will belong to me. This is my standard payment for helping people. Think nothing of it. Remember your friends and how much you want to be with them again. Once you have returned you can forget about me."

Atemu thought about it. An image of Yugi swam in front of him smiling and laughing. He smiled at the vision. Yes, he would do it he couldn't bear the thought of living for all eternity without his friends and besides he had been cheated out of his original life in Egypt because of the god Zork. Did he not deserve a second chance at life?

"Very well, I'll do it." He said.

He did not notice the gleam that entered Anobi's eyes at his answer nor did he notice Sulchi rubbing his hands in glee. All he could think of was seeing his friends again.

"Rise Pharaoh." Anobi said the gleam in his eyes having vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Atemu stood and Anobi placed his hands on Atemu's chest and Atemu felt a burning sensation deep within him.

"Argh…" he cried as the burning intensified. Quite suddenly it stopped and Atemu gasped.

"It is done." Anobi said and began to chant in a strange tongue.

Atemu began to feel dizzy and sank to the floor. Images of his life with Yugi flashed before his eyes as he lost consciousness. Anobi finished the chant that would send Atemu back to the real world and looked at Sulchi.

They both smiled but they were not kind smiles, they were pure evil.

Slowly the forms of both began to change and the room also.

After a short time the once cosy study had become a cavern like the rest that Sulchi had led the unwitting Pharaoh through and in the cavern stood two black demons. One with green eyes and one with grey except now they were tinted with glowing red.

"The fool." The one with grey eyes said. "He has no concept of what he has just done."

"Master what would you have me do now?" The green-eyed one asked.

"Remain here for now Sulchi and watch what happens. We will wait for him to forget his payment for going back and then we will execute my plan. He does not realise that all the power he possessed as Pharaoh is still his and now that power belongs to me." He laughed then but there was no joy in it, it was truly evil. The green-eyed one, who was Sulchi, joined in the laughter.

The Dark One's plan would come to pass and then the world would face a new ruler. Anobi could hardly wait for the devastation he would cause to begin. After which he would rule these pathetic humans and they would be his slaves.

TBC…

A.N.: Anobi is The Dark One in case anyone is wondering.

Atemu: I sold my soul to him?

Yami Seirei: Yup you did

Atemu: What have I done?

Yami Seirei: Wait and see what happens…

Malik & Bakura: (sitting in the corner and muttering) Honestly all those times we tried to get his soul and never succeeded and now this punk comes along, makes one tiny promise and the baka pharaoh sells his soul! It's not fair!

Anzu: (glowering) quiet you two!

Malik & Bakura (cowering in fear of a forthcoming friendship rant) We're sorry! We'll be quiet!

Anzu: Good

Yugi: …

Everyone else: …

Yami KITG: Hikari…

Yami Seirei: heh… I'll erm continue soon promise!

Everyone else: You better…

Growls can be heard from round the room…