I am so sorry that I didn't acknowledge the one person who had it all figured out long ago…I can't remember who you are—I even e-mailed you and asked you not to tell about your awesomely quick guess…you figured it out so darn long ago! Anyway, review and remind me or e-mail me. I apologize…Time Twins you had it as well and I believe xxMadeInChinaxx did too… Late in the game to mention, but I kept forgetting—forgive me! To all of you who guessed...congrats...now guess who is behind the assassination plot...I dare you! LOL
Chapter 14
The Strong Will Thrive
Iolite awoke in a delicious haze of sunlight. Could it be morning already? She yawned as she stretched under the down comforter. She turned and noticed he was still next to her. She sighed as she gently stroked the hair from his eyes. Her heart pounded as his sapphire eyes slowly opened. A sensuous smile curved the corners of his lips. How could someone look this amazing in the morning?
"Did you sleep well?" Kaiba asked as he sat up, revealing a bare torso and chest.
"I think I did," She watched him with appreciation.
"You think?" He smirked as he lay back down, turning on his side so he could stare at her delicate features. It really was true—you don't know what you have until you almost lose it. What if he had lost her yesterday? It still made his heart skip a beat.
"Between the wonderful bath, the pain medication…and your attention—sleep was a given. I mean," she exhaled deeply. "I never expected so much of your…time."
He wanted to shoot himself in the foot, or the head. Did she think she meant so little to him that he wouldn't care for her in this state? His stomach lurched.
"I only wish I could do more for you, I wish I could take the pain from you and bear it myself." He moved closer, staring down into her eyes, which were a bit clouded from the painkiller she was taking. She could have died; she would have sacrificed herself for him. Loyalty and love like that were rare. A major part of him felt he deserved none of it.
"I'd keep this pain and take more if it meant saving you," she whispered. His mouth claimed hers. He deepened the kiss immediately, needing to taste her and feel her warmth. He settled in comfortably and continued to kiss; stroke and whisper gentle words to her. She felt as if she had died, and gone straight to heaven.
"Has anyone seen Edward?" Gertrude asked in a haughty voice. The question was directed at Raine, but she never addressed the man.
"Actually, no one has seen him since yesterday morning." Bessy shrugged. "One would think he would be here—at his daughter's side."
"Don't you insult my brother in such a manner, you—servant." Gertrude growled. "He probably has more pressing matters to attend. You just don't understand royalty."
Raine stood and glowered down at Gertrude. "Hold your tongue, or I assure you I will deal with you personally. Edward should be by Iolite's side—nothing is more pressing than your child's safety. Then again, a mother like you would tend to eat their young—wouldn't you?" There was such contempt in his eyes for her; she shuddered.
"Don't forget your station in this house—you are a mere bodyguard." Her eyes snapped with anger.
"I no longer work for the monarchy, I work for Seto Kaiba. I answer to no one with blue blood, except for Iolite. Don't push-I will push back." Raine stood and started to leave the room. "One more thing Gertrude," he addressed her using her first name—earning him a sharp look from her. "If I find you are treating the Kaibas' staff badly, I will take great pleasure in kicking your sorry ass out." He mumbled other assorted words as he left the kitchen and stormed into the library.
Where the hell had Edward disappeared to? He spoke with a few more guards, hoping to find more people who could give him answers. It was fruitless. They had seen him, but he disappeared before the attempt. It just didn't make sense. Edward had planned the party—why wasn't he there? Then again, if memory served him correctly, several people were missing yesterday, aside from Iolite and Mokuba. Edward was absent, as were Gertrude, Collin, and butler. Could one of them be involved with this? Maybe none of them were—possibly they were all together at the time. He needed answers to questions and he needed them fast. The sooner he figured out who did the hiring the faster he could insure Kaiba, Iolite and Mokuba's safety.
"Do you honestly mean to keep me in bed all day?" Furious blue eyes began mixing with amethyst. "I never lay in bed and now you expect me to stay here—all damn day?"
"Don't make me tie you down Princess." Raine tried to be cross, but was more thankful that she was alive—he couldn't be. "The doctor specifically said no unnecessary movement. The best place to stay still is in bed."
"The doctor obviously doesn't know me." Iolite fumed, or my husband—she blushed at that thought...
"I would be better off downstairs around everyone than trapped up here on my own. Please Raine…I'll stay on the couch even, just don't confine me to…here." She looked miserable. He knew she was never the type to stay in one place for too long, so, with great reluctance, he lifted her up and carried her downstairs to the couch.
"Now, if I see you stray from here I will march you right back up." Raine promised as he shook his head.
"Don't worry, I'll stay put…honest!" She was so thankful to be where she could see people and have access to a television she could hardly contain her happiness. "Thanks Raine!" He grimaced, doubting the intelligence in this move.
She smiled as she flipped through the channels, finally settling on an old movie. She sat there contentedly until Gertrude interrupted her nirvana.
"Well…well…well, I see you've managed to make the world stop around you as usual." The woman was eyeing Iolite with disgust. "You made quite a scene yesterday, hardly appropriate behavior for a Princess. One would think you had been raised on the streets instead of in a palace. Where is your common sense?" Gertrude looked at her with hard eyes. "Drink your juice dear, we can't have you passing out and making a bigger spectacle of yourself."
Iolite's eyes began to tear a bit, as her head drooped. She was being scolded like a child. Part of her mind raged against the insanity of feeling bad, but another, the child in her, felt she deserved this.
"That's probably why your father is no where to be found. He's probably so embarrassed that his daughter is so…unkempt. I mean, really! Riding a horse into the middle of an archery tournament? You should have heard the commotion you made! Tatiana would never do such a thing, but then again she has manners."
Iolite felt her throat tighten, "was it really that bad?" Her mind had snapped yesterday when she realized Seto's life was being threatened. She hadn't thought at all, her only concern was his safety. "Surely they must have understood…" Iolite tried.
"Your husband has bodyguards. There is no excuse for your plight. He would have been well taken care of, or were there other reasons for you racing in like that?" Gertrude asked.
"What do you mean?" Iolite asked. She longed to tug her hair down and start playing with it, but instead started pulling at the threads in the blanket draped across her lap.
"What I mean is jealousy is unbecoming on a young lady."
"Jealousy?" Iolite whispered, not understanding.
"Your husband clearly didn't want you there yesterday, or you would have been there. Maybe he wanted to pursue other interests?" Gertrude smirked, as a silent tear fell down Iolite's cheek. "He and Tatiana have become…close. You should have seen that coming. Honestly, dear," Gertrude leaned forward and patted Iolite's good hand. "These things happen in a marriage. People get bored and stray, it makes no difference; you wear his ring…" The words hung in the air.
Iolite wanted to shrivel up into a ball and die. No, she didn't wear Seto's ring; he wore hers. How humiliating.
"I'm sorry dear, I never did see your ring." The old woman sneered. Iolite wasn't even looking up anymore.
"I don't have a ring," Iolite managed, finally, with a strained voice—which tried to control a sob.
"A husband who doesn't give his wife a ring to show marriage? How sad… I'm sorry I even brought it up. Just forget I mentioned it. I'm sure it's a mere over sight." Gertrude waved her hand, as if dismissing the topic. She then sat there, hoping Iolite would break before her eyes. "You know what I believe dear?"
"What's that Aunt Gertrude?"
"Maybe you're simply too boyish and he believes that jewelry is more for a 'dainty' female." She nearly snickered at this; it was ripping Iolite apart.
"That isn't true," Iolite looked up then, it was a soft rebuttal. "He bought me a beautiful necklace for Christmas." She smiled as she thought of that morning, how he had been so nervous and sweet. How he had found her stone. A perfect iolite stone—so unlike his flawed wife.
"Why don't you wear it dear?" Gertrude baited.
"Well, I went horseback riding and I didn't want to lose it while Mokuba and I played…" Even as the words tumbled out she found herself regretting them.
"Tsk…tsk…tsk. You see dear? You're probably more boy to him than girl. You never did grow up and acquire lady-like manners. I blame your father for letting you run wild. You never did learn your place." She watched as Iolite's eyes darted down, once again. "What type of necklace dear?"
Iolite smiled softly, "He bought me an Iolite…on a platinum omega necklace." She bit her bottom lip and blushed.
"An Iolite? How…quaint. You do know it is a common stone. Perhaps he believes that you aren't responsible enough for something more precious?" Planting seeds of doubt and hacking into her self-esteem.
Iolite shrugged; suddenly the gift didn't seem as special. She no longer felt special to Seto. Why did he marry her? It was to save her from a screw-up he had made. Was she foolish to think he could ever love her?
"Then again, dear, you have brought this on yourself. There is no one to blame but you. I mean, really…a girl corporate raider? Seriously, who does run your household? Do you compete constantly? A man will grow weary of that. Seto Kaiba would rather have a trophy wife, who values his opinion, doesn't try to overshadow him and is submissive. You exhibit none of those traits."
Iolite felt her heart sink more and more. Could a person like Seto Kaiba ever love a girl like her? They had been married for quite some time now. In all that time he had never said he loved her, she never received a ring, her heart cried when she thought of Yugi and Tea at Christmas. She was never romanced.
"Maybe we can work on it dear," Gertrude offered. "Make you more into a wife he would appreciate and really want. You could take a few tips from Tatiana, your husband is quite enthralled with her." She patted Iolite's hand and smiled, "it will take awhile to change you, but we'll start now. First of all…no arguing with him, just agree with all he says—let him be the boss. Also, no opinions just nod your head and smile. Most of all follow the golden rule—be seen and not heard. He will feel like he has your total attention and will appreciate the quite—lord knows how you do go on and on…"
"Yes, Aunt Gertrude." Iolite's spirit was breaking under the scrutiny. She was left alone to ponder about what a good wife would do…and sadly realized—she could stand for lots of improvement in every area.
Seto was busy on the laptop in the library. He had to keep his mind busy with work while he tried to sort out yesterday's events. Who the hell was behind everything, and where the hell was Edward?
Mokuba came in, slamming the door and tossing himself onto the couch. Kaiba's head jerked up at the ruckus. What the heck was wrong now?
"I hate her!" Mokuba growled.
Kaiba smirked. In this household 'her' could be one of two…"Which one kiddo?"
"Gertrude…" It was a simple answer. And Kaiba nodded. He hated the bitch as well.
"What did she do this time?" Kaiba asked.
"Why does she always make Io cry? I mean, every time Gertrude talks to her she sits there and cries." Mokuba flipped onto his back. "I hate Tatiana too. She won't let me ride my horse…Io said I could ride him anytime."
"When did she make Iolite cry?" Seto asked, a bit concerned.
"She's in the small living room. Raine put her in there earlier."
"Why don't you find Raine? If he agrees to go with you, go horse-back riding." Kaiba stood.
"Are you going to go make her feel better?" Mokuba asked Seto.
"I'm going to talk some sense into her, she has to stop letting her aunt get to her…"
Seto found Iolite sobbing softly into a small pillow. She was rocking back and forth, as if trying to soothe herself. It pulled at his heartstrings to see her so miserable. She never cried like this at home. Here—it was almost constant. It was that woman who always managed to push the right buttons.
He walked in and sat behind her. His arms wrapped around her and she began crying feebly into his shoulder. Where was the woman who fought him at every turn?
"Why do you listen to that bitch? I don't know what she says to you, but I swear I would glue her mouth shut if it would end your tears."
Iolite giggled at the thought of Raine holding Aunt Gertrude down while Seto spread crazy glue on her lips…the thought was perfect.
That night at the dinner table Iolite sat in stone silence as she pushed her food around her plate. Aunt Gertrude and Tatiana had wanted the seating arrangements to remain the same, as did Conner, but Seto had had enough. Seto also realized that Iolite would need help, seeing as her right hand was incapacitated. He tried several times to start a conversation with her, but all he received were blank stares and a mumbled 'yes' or 'no'.
Raine watched what was going on. He was beginning to understand how she was being controlled. Kaiba would speak, Iolite would look up, Gertrude would give a warning look and Iolite's eyes would look down. Just what in the hell was going on?
"Are you feeling alright dear?" Aunt Gertrude asked her.
"I'm okay," Iolite's eyes never left her fork as she scooted it through her potatoes.
"Maybe you should go lay down dear, you look pale and tired." Gertrude said in a strict, yet sweet voice.
Kaiba watched as his wife, a woman who would fight him to the death if he suggested she use black ink instead of blue, left the table and the room. Utter confusion lingered on his face. Gertrude turned back to the conversation she was having with Tatiana. Kaiba stood.
"Where are you going?" Tatiana purred. Her eyes were fairly devouring him.
His eyes narrowed on her, "I'm feeling a bit tired…not physically," he spat. "But most certainly of the company."
He caught Iolite as she was climbing the steps. "Why did you leave?" He grabbed her arm and pulled her around. She yelped as he pulled her off balance; she fell into him and his arms caught her, gently. "Why?"
"My arm…it…it…hurts." She bit her lip and looked away. She was lying and he knew it. Something else was going on and he
He scooped her up, gently, and carried her outside. He was going to get to the bottom of this. He was tired of Iolite feeling so inferior and acting like she wasn't worthy of her title. The only thing he saw wrong here was her relatives—were any of them redeeming? The answer was yes—her father was—correction, her real father. Kaiba didn't respect many people, but Raine had earned his respect.
Raine excused himself soon after Kaiba and Iolite left. Mokuba was in the kitchen eating dinner with Bessy. Raine smiled as Mokuba helped himself to another cookie, thinking he couldn't be caught. Bessy would never reprimand the boy anyway.
"A letter came for Mr. Kaiba," Bessy told Raine as she dried her hands on a towel.
"I'll take it to him, where is it?" Raine asked, he picked it up after Bessy pointed it out. He turned it over in his hands. It came from within Valkaria, which was strange. Who would send mail to Kaiba from here?
He looked at Mokuba, "why didn't you eat out there with us?"
Mokuba looked up, "would you eat out there if you were me?" The small boy looked up at Raine and blinked twice. "Those women hate me—they're very mean to me and to Iolite. She doesn't smile anymore. I hate it here."
Bessy tousled the boy's hair and smiled, weakly, at Raine. Raine frowned; he hated it here too. It would be nice if Gertrude would disappear with Tatiana, but it didn't seem like the mother/daughter horror story were leaving anytime soon. He sighed and left Mokuba to his cookie.
Kaiba placed Iolite on one of the stone benches in the rose garden. He remained standing, pacing, and simply not knowing how to react.
"Why does she bother you so much?" Seto asked.
"She…she doesn't…I don't know what you're talking about." Iolite looked down at her hand. There really wasn't too much pain in her shoulder, but she would fake it if she had to. It was all so humiliating. Did Seto really think of her as boyish? Did he want someone like Tatiana?
"You don't lie well, not to me anyway."
"I'm sorry," she whispered shyly. His eyes narrowed on her.
"For what?" He asked.
"For annoying you." She bit her lip as a few tears slid down her cheek.
"You don't annoy me," he sat in front of her, stroking her tears away. "Your quiet is aggravating me, where is your fire?" He was so confused
"I'm so sorry," she hiccupped, wanting to tell him what Gertrude had spoken to her about, but she couldn't find the words.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but this came for you Mr. Kaiba." Raine handed him the envelope and noticed Iolite's blank state. Kaiba opened it and his eyes skimmed the page. Raine noticed how Kaiba's eyes widened and then narrowed. It couldn't be anything good.
Kaiba handed Raine the note.
I have Edward.
How would you like him back?
Two possibilities…
One makes you a hero
The other makes your wife hate you forever…
Meet me in two days, the far side of Valkaria—at the ruins.
Bring Raine if you need guidance—no one else.
Don't play with me and I won't hurt Edward.
I have valuable information for you Seto Kaiba,
and an old ex-King who doesn't want to die.
Choose Prince Seto Kaiba…
Kaiba couldn't bring Iolite, and couldn't leave Raine. He looked at her, sitting there not even showing an interest in the letter. His wife would have demanded to see it, hell she would have ripped it out of his hands and read it first!
"I'll leave Roland and the others here," Kaiba told Raine.
"Have Ryan come and stay as well. I know you hate him, but he could be useful, she needs…someone to protect her and he will." Raine mumbled, not liking it anymore than Kaiba. "I'll also call in some help…"
"Who?" Kaiba asked a bit confused. He was still annoyed that Ryan was coming. However, if left to that wench and her daughter his Iolite could be lost forever.
"I'll tell you tomorrow. I have some calls to make." Raine left Kaiba to tend Iolite.
Kaiba knelt before her and tilted up her chin. "Just a few more days, love, and then we get the hell out of here for good." He kissed her temple and took her in his arms—paying close attention to her wound.
"I'm so sorry…" She whispered against his neck. She apologized for disappointing him, for not living up to his expectations of a wife. She never said the words, but her heart cried.
He would have put her on the plane for home, if she weren't injured. He also needed Raine, and Raine was the only man he would trust Iolite to in her present condition.
He held her that night, feeling the distance getting wider. Tomorrow he would kick Gertrude and her daughter out. Iolite was far more important than them, he had had enough. She had cried too much and her tears would stop in the morning.
A/N: So, I hope I answered some questions…and brought up new ones. I hope you all enjoyed!