Chapter 17: The Secret Comes Out
Seth and Shadi returned to the palace, seeing Isis and Karimu handle things. Akunadin was nowhere to be found while Vizier Shimon, on the other hand, was helping the two priests. No one knew the misfortune that happened.
"High Priest Seth, Shadi, you're back!" Karimu said as the two mentioned priests entered the throne room. All eyes focused on the newly-arrived priests, some wondering why the pharaoh isn't with them.
Isis stopped from whatever she was doing and went to them. Suddenly, Seth walked away and summoned the guards.
"The pharaoh fell from a cliff," Shadi solemnly said, answering the unvoiced questions of the others as they all watch Seth order the guards to set up a search party.
"How? Who?" Karimu asked, recovering from the shock.
"Bakura," Isis answered seriously.
The morning after, Shadi headed off with the party to continue the search. Karimu went from town to town looking for Bakura while Isis remained in the palace to try searching using the Millennium Necklace. Seth, with the help of Vizier Shimon, dealt with other matters while Akunadin was still nowhere to be found.
"We have searched the river, sire, but we cannot find the pharaoh," the guard said, cowering under Seth's scrutinizing gaze.
"Do not stop," Seth ordered, "The pharaoh must be found." He watched as the guard scurried away with the order.
Four unsuccessful days have passed already and yet there were no news on the pharaoh' whereabouts. This simple fact affected Seth greatly. He couldn't help but be guilty. Atemu had protected him, saved him from Diabound, pushing him away from harm. That Bakura! If Bakura hadn't appeared, Atemu would never be harmed.
"Where is the girl?" he asked.
"High Priest Akunadin took her, sire," the guard answered.
"What?" Akunadin was after Kisara's monster, he knew it. The White Dragon was, according to his father, very powerful. Who knows what Akunadin already did to her?
"High Priest Seth," a voice called and he turned around to see a small hooded man on the door, "Come. High Priest Akunadin is waiting for you."
With a scowl, he followed the man. What was he doing? He should be looking for his Atemu not following an old man to some underground place!
A roar caught his attention. What was going on? Why is there a monster in this place?
"Ah, you have arrived, my son," Akunadin said.
Seth looked at Akunadin before seeing the cage Kisara was locked in. In front of the older High Priest were the two men he sent to the dungeon days ago.
"What is going on here?" he demanded, waiting for his father to answer.
"These are dark times, Seth. We must call on everyone that might prove useful," Akunadin answered.
"Have you lost your mind? Those men are murderers, traitors to this kingdom. What can you get from them?" Seth argued.
"Power!" Akunadin replied before making his way to his son and placing a hand on Seth's shoulder, "Power for the new pharaoh."
Seth blinked in confusion, "New pharaoh?" he asked. Akunadin chuckled at him.
"You," Akunadin said, "are the new pharaoh."
Seth broke away from him. "Ridiculous!" Seth answered before releasing Kisara from the cage, "Atemu is the pharaoh of Egypt. We do not need a new one."
"Where is he then?" Akunadin asked, "He is dead, my son. You must accept the facts—"
Seth chuckled bitterly, "Facts? What facts? Atemu is not dead. He is our pharaoh. And we definitely do not need a new one," he interrupted before heading to where he entered earlier, "Those are the facts."
Akunadin shook his head before ordering the guards to seize them and bring them to him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Seth demanded, struggling.
"You will change your mind soon," Akunadin answered, "Bring her to the arena!" he ordered.
"Seth!" Kisara cried.
"Let her go, Akunadin!" Seth said.
"Begin!" Akunadin said, ignoring his son.
Seth watched helplessly as the monsters of the two criminals grew with each passing minute. How—?
"As you can see, their fear of death motivate them to fight," Akunadin explained, "Motivation can come from anywhere. Like you, for example, your desire to protect Atemu… he was your motivation."
Seth stared at his father in disbelief.
"No, don't look at me like that. I know all about your feelings for him," Akunadin said, looking at his son, "I know what happened between the both of you."
"And I care?" Seth answered defensively before escaping to save Kisara. Dios appeared to defend them when one of the criminal's monsters attacked.
The dueling arena shook beneath them as the attacking monster hit the chains holding the arena together. The second monster, spared from Dios' counter attacks, aimed at the platform beneath them. The floor begins to shake as the chains broke.
Seth, reflexively, held on a chain, relieved that it over as he held on Kisara with the other hand. He looked up to see a monster ready to devour them. Dios was caught in a web as Seth's eyes widened in disbelief. This never happened to him. Dios was never defeated.
Kisara began to glow from below. Before he knew it, the White Dragon appeared and attacked the spider-liked monster, its owner collapsing dead.
Seth gathered the unconscious girl in his arms the moment he stepped on the ground and he looked at his father.
"I will not report this so be relieved. Atemu is not dead and no, I don't need anything else. I have him and that's all that matters," he told the older priest, "Remember that, father," and he left.
Later that night, Seth found himself taking a stroll around the palace. Was Atemu really gone? But it can't happen. Somehow he knew Atemu was out there alive.
"Can't sleep, High Priest Seth?"
Seth broke from his reverie to meet Isis' questioning gaze. He found himself in Atemu's temple. "What are you doing here, Isis?" he asked.
"I should ask you the same thing," Isis answered, "He's not dead; you don't have to worry yourself too much."
"I know that," Seth said.
"You love him," the priestess pointed out.
Seth eyed him. "So what if I do?" he answered defensively.
"Relax," Isis replied, "You deserve to know."
"Know what?"
"The truth."
She had his attention. Knowing what must be done, she stared at the other priest. "Bakura was the cause of his misery," she said.
"That's plain to see, Isis."
"Four years ago, when Atemu fell into the river, he met Bakura," she started, "and took the name Aoujii. Bakura thought he was a thief."
Seth listened to her patiently, taking in the words as Isis continued. What's with the story? He already knows that.
"He was wounded once in their trips and Bakura tended to him. The next day was the day we went to the town. He found out who Atemu really was."
"What did Bakura do?" Seth asked, noticing the priestess was stalling.
"He raped Atemu."
A/N: Finally done with this chappie! Thanks for the reviews last time. I appreciate it. I'm still writing Chapter 18 but I'll try to update as soon as possible. Oh my god, classes are going to start next week! Damn. I really have to finish this. See ya!