HD: here is chapter 11!
COH: Please enjoy!
Alvar: HD no own!
Chapter 11
Yugi found he could breathe easy once his friends had fallen into deep sleep and he was left in his own mind, quiet and content.
He rolled over in his silk sheets he still found little comfort. He feared the Pharaoh and what could happen. He had heard of how Pharaoh Atemu's father had ruled and he was scared that his darkness had passed down to Atemu.
What if the Pharaoh hurt him? What if he decided he didn't like or want Yugi? What if he killed him?
That question made Yugi's blood run cold and his heart to pound in his ears. Yugi tried to close his eyes but images of death haunted him and he snapped them back open.
Finally when Yugi's mind slowed down and sleep bought him into a comforting darkness, one that wrapped around him and held him contently.
Atemu sighed and watched the Lords of his court argued over the problem of Egypt's rivals. The cursed man who had wanted the Pharaoh's powers and had deemed that he would rule, no matter what.
The threat didn't scare Atemu much as it had been made to his father; Besides Atemu had power on his side and an army twice as large.
"You don't seem at all concerned." Seth drawled from Atemu's left. The High Prist had his usual cold mask guarding his emotions from viewers.
Atemu tossed the comment aside carelessly. "It is not as though he'll dare attack me while I'm in a palace swarmed with high ranked guards, besides this man is powerless and defenceless against me." Atemu's cockiness was answered with Seth's cold frown.
"Do not be so sure." Atemu wasn't the least concerned by Seth and let his mind wonder.
He thought of the young Prince and frowned. He still hadn't properly met the boy, something he would need to change soon.
"Enough." He called to the men who fell silent. He wished Amber-Lee were here. She could have easily done things for him, he didn't trust the court as he knew of their lies to gain his trust, Amber-Lee was much better at seeing through lies. But his sister had declared herself busy for the morning so Atemu would have to deal with things.
"We will continue tomorrow when Ra hangs in the sky." He didn't bother explaining what he was doing but merely walked off with Seth following.
Once outside of the Throne Room Seth confronted his cousin.
"What are you doing?"
Atemu stoped and looked him in the eye. Icy-blue met fiery-crimson. "I'm going to formally meet the Prince, when Ra falls." Atemu smirked and left his bewildered cousin.
"You mean he will be properly meeting Yugi, talking to him and not the court?"
Once Seth had heard Atemu's explanation he had set off to find Amber-Lee and reveal everything to her. She hid her emotions inside her sparkling eyes but he could tell she was excited.
"Yes." Seth nodded making himself more comfortable on Amber-Lee's silk padded sit.
Her room was darkly decorated and lightly furnished. She held a lot of valuable and expensive things scattered around. She was seated on a chair across form Seth holding a silver goblet of rich wine.
"If I am not mistaken," She raised her jewel eyes, "when my brother properly does things he…"
"…Makes sure it is done the way it should be." Seth finished. Both could remember the taint, the late Pharaoh had gone about the same way.
"Should we be worried?" Amber-Lee smirked.
"Only if that boy is scarred of 'true darkness'." Seth smirked.
"Hmm…then maybe we should be scared."
Yugi had found it strange when a small servant girl had knocked at his door, looking thoroughly scarred.
"My Prince," She bowed low and Yugi just caught, "The Pharaoh wishes your presence at the entrance of the Throne Room when Ra falls." She left silently and swiftly.
Yugi closed the door and was confronted by his four curious friends.
"Who was that?" Jou asked, getting straight to the point.
"A servant from the Pharaoh." Yugi answered lightly.
"What did he want of you?" Amaya asked, anger and curiosity sparking in her eyes.
"He wants to meet me when Ra falls." Yugi answered, eyes dropping.
"Be careful." Ryou advised lightly.
"I will." Yugi smiled lightly.
Amaya glared at Ryou.
"What are you going to wear?" Jou asked, grinning lopsidedly at Yugi.
"Um…" Yugi blushed and gave a small shrug. Jou and Malik rolled their eyes and tugged him away.
"Come dear Prince, your Pharaoh awaits!" Malik sung happily. Yugi blushed darker and tried to protest but was muffled by the clothes thrown at him.
When Ra descended and the guards starting lighting torches Yugi slipped from his room with the advice and warnings from his friends ringing in his ears. He walked quietly and made as little noise as possible, not wanting to attract attention.
When he came to the Throne room he found the Pharaoh already waiting. He was clad in black, as usual. He pushed off the wall and came to Yugi.
"So we finally met face to face." Atemu smirked. Yugi nodded shyly and took the Pharaoh's offered arm.
Atemu took Yugi down to the Nile room that Amber-Lee had taken him to. Except this time a small table had been set up with a silk cloth, two padded chairs and all of Yugi and Atemu's favourite foods.
"My Prince." Atemu pulled out a chair and offered the seat to Yugi, who sat down with a small smile. Atemu sat across from him and watched Yugi with interest.
Yugi was quiet and shy, he was small and fragile, he seemed breakable to touch and absolutely cute.
"I have heard much about you." Atemu stated calmly. Yugi flushed a pale pink and looked at his hands. Atemu picked at the food for awhile. Silence had dropped over them and they ate in silence.
When the torches became brighter and the night darker something glinted and caught Atemu's eye. The glint was coming from something around Yugi's neck. When Atemu looked surprise surged through his body followed by a wave of numbing shock.
He hadn't seen that necklace since…well, since the day that Amber-Lee left.
"An interesting necklace you have." Atemu commented with a light voice.
Yugi looked down at it and smiled. "Thankyou. A…distant friend gave it to me…" Yugi smiled at the far off memory.
Atemu couldn't with hold the jealousy that rose at the found smile that wasn't directed at him.
"Is that so?" Atemu sat back and eyed the necklace.
How could someone get a hold of that necklace? He had speciously made it for her sixth birthday, so how could he posses it? Then it hit Atemu.
"Who was this friend?" Atemu asked a little too forcefully then he wished.
"Um…" Yugi's eyes shifted. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know the Pharaoh but then he was meant to be God. "Actually…A thief gave it to me. I do not know who." Yugi fingered the ruby.
"Do you know anything of this thief?" Atemu already knew that it was Amber-Lee who had given it to him, who ells?
"She was female and she had a partner, he was male, that's all I know." Yugi glanced up through his thick eye lashes too look at Atemu.
He had a thoughtful look on his face. "What if I were to say, I know these thieves?"
"Who?" Yugi's eyes widened slightly.
"Princess Amber-Lee and her personal guard."
Yugi was astonished, to say the least. He had known the Princess had run away but he had not known that she was a thief.
"I gave that necklace to Amber-Lee for the sixth summer of her birth." Atemu had to admit that the necklace suited Yugi; he would have to order another to be made for him, maybe in the shape of one of the Gods.
"I did not know any of this." Yugi admitted quietly.
"Little do…." Atemu murmured. Silence once again filled them. Finally Atemu broke it once more. "What do you think of my palace?"
"It is beautiful, my Lord." Yugi answered truthfully, he had never seen such a place as the Pharaoh's palace.
"I'm glade you think so." Atemu watched Yugi as he looked around the moon bathed water. It was a perfect setting and Atemu felt proud of the beauty it held.
Something in the sky stirred, a rumble of thunder, but the sky was clear. The air grew hazy and the lights flickered. Atemu frowned, the last time it had become like this someone had let Slyther the Sky Dragon lose from the Shadow Realm without his consent.
"My Pharaoh!" A young guard ran to the startled pair. "My Pharaoh, someone has opened the Shadow Realm portal."
Atemu's blood ran cold. Nobody but skilled Shadow Masters was capable of such a thing.
"Who?" He demanded, starring down at the guard as if it were his fault.
"I do not know my King, but Prist Seth and Princess Amber-Lee wish for you to come to The Throne Room at once." Atemu nodded and turned to Yugi.
"I beg your pardon Prince, but this business is urgent." Yugi nodded and got to his feet as well, confusion and fear placing in his amethyst eyes. Atemu turned to the guard. "Take the Prince back to his room." The guard nodded and left with Yugi.
Atemu burst through the doors and into the Throne Room were all the council, Lords and Priests were gathered.
"What has happened?" He demanded of a short balding man who was part of his council. The man looked frightened at the enraged Pharaoh.
"It was him," The room turned to Amber-Lee, she was sitting on Atemu's throne wearing a revealing black dress and an annoyed expression, "He came into the Temple of Ra and called Slyther. Hashim was in the city."
A hush fell over the room, fear was thick and worry was passed.
"Impossible." A man shouted, his usually strong voice was tight.
"Bakura saw him leaving." Amber-Lee growled, her eyes flashing.
"Why should we believe a thief?" Another man sneered. There was a flash of black and Amber-Lee had a silver blade at his throat.
"Amber-Lee." Atemu warned, his eyes boring into his sister's head. She reluctantly pulled back but still held the weapon.
"What do we do now?" Seth asked, he looked paler than usual, his icy-eyes guarded but unsure.
"We bring back Slyther, and try to figure out what Hashim is doing." Atemu announced in his ordering tone. "Seth and I will bring Slyther back; Amber-Lee will set up the council for a meeting."
The room nodded, not questioning the Pharaoh and moved about. Seth walked briskly to his cousin's side and followed him out.
"What happened with the Prince?" Seth asked, grabbing the offered cloak from a servant.
"Nothing really." Atemu sighed bitterly, also taking a cloak. "I think he is frightened of me."
"Are you going to try and 'woo' him?" Seth questioned as they mounted.
"Of course." Were Atemu's words before he rode out of the gate with Seth on his heels.
They rode into the darkness with blind directions, keeping their eyes on the sky for the great beast.
"Atemu!" It was Seth who called from the distance as what seemed to be a large red snake plumaged towards them, its large mouth open. Atemu growled and pulled back narrowly missing the ball of energy.
"Be gone back to the Shadows!" Atemu yelled, rasing his free hand and concentrating on his energy.
The Dragon faltered and starred at the Pharaoh, it recoiled as thick black, blue and purple shadows wrapped around him and brought him down, he gave a screeching cry as he disappeared.
Seth pulled up beside the shaking ruler.
"Well done." He managed through gasps of breath. Atemu nodded to him and scanned the desert; there was no sign of anyone being there.
"Where could he be?" Atemu voiced the question that was set on their minds.
Far back in the Palace Yugi stood on his balcony and watched the fight from a far. Never had he seen such a monster.
The young Prince was too focused on the battle to take notice of how drained he was after the Pharaoh had sent his attack.
TBC…
HD: well there is chapter 11, the meeting wasn't quiet how I wanted but it'll do.
COH: next chapter Atemu will start woowing Yugi!
Alvar: what's woowing?
Bea: -grins-
COH: Never you mind!
Cole: damn, the dragon should have killed the Pharaoh.
COH: oh please!
HD: thanks to everyone who reviewed! And please REVIEW!
HappyDevil, COH, Alvar, Bea and Cole!