Chapter 8: Shared Nightmare
(Nicole's POV)
The area around me was dark. I reached out trying to find something anything that could help me identify where I was. My fingers brushed up against what felt like rough stone wall. The ground at my feet also felt like a form of cold stone. Where was I? I could make out a small light some ways ahead and decided that would probably be my best bet to getting solid answers.
I kept my hand along the wall as I walked toward the light. As I drew closer, I could tell that the light wasn't normal. It flickered and changed color as if it was moving? I paused for a moment before leaning my head around the doorway to look inside. The room was huge. The entire room was stone with a high vaulted ceiling. But instead of lights, the walls were lined with what looked like torches.
"That's one way to save on the electric bill..." I muttered as a made my way into the room to get a better look. The walls were ordained with colorful intricate mosaics of monsters and men. They looked like something from a museum, but the colors were so bold and not faded that it had to be more recent work. I walked along the wall tracing along a couple of the pictures trying to find something I could identify. I paused when I came up to a symbol of an eye. It looks like the one on Yugi's necklace! I thought to myself.
"Maza! What are you doing here?!" A voice snapped my focus off the wall art.
"Y-Yugi?" I questioned as I looked over and barely noticed my friend standing near the door I came in from. He looked weird though. It looked like he was dressed for some costume party.
"Guards! To me!" Yugi yelled his voice echoing all around the room.
"G-Guards? Yugi, what is going on? Whatever game you're playing, I don't like it!" I took a couple steps back looking for a way out.
"You think this is a game? You are the one that killed your own master! You put this upon yourself!" Yugi sneered. I had never heard the guy this angry before, and he sounded just as serious.
"I did what?! What are you talking about?" I asked in shock.
"Rubin! I didn't want to believe it, but I saw you standing over him with blood stained hands! He was nothing but a father to you, and you killed him!"
There was a sound like footsteps. Lots of them. Looking around, I noticed a number of men dressed much like Yugi entering the room. Unlike Yugi, these men were armed with what seemed to be an assortment of spears and swords. All seemed to be focused on me. The hell is going on here?!
"Lady Maza, for your crimes against this court and for the safety of this kingdom, I have no choice but to relieve you of your post and sentence you to death. Seize her!"
It was then that the scene was starting to sink in. Yugi was not playing around, and the guys with the weapons were about to follow through with his order. Yugi wanted me dead! I had to get out of here somehow.
"Stay away!" I yelled as I held my hands out in front of me. I was shocked when all the men were swept off their feet flying back into one another. I only waited a moment before turning around and darting for a nearby doorway. None of this nonsense mattered. I just had to get somewhere and hide. I would try to figure the rest out once I was not about to be skewered.
I could hear the rustling and clinking behind me as the men got back to their feet. There was yelling and I knew they were taking chase. I had no idea where I was, but I just had to take what turns I could and hope I lost them. Maybe I could hide in one of these rooms? I turned down one hall then darted into the next. I could hear the echoes of running footsteps telling me they weren't far off. I looked around for a place to hide, but I was startled when someone grabbed my arm pulling me into a dark room. Thinking it was one of the men chasing me, I went on the defensive and tossed my free hand at the figure behind me. The figure caught my wrist and used my momentum to press me face first into a nearby wall.
"Maza stop! It's me!"
The voice. It was familiar, but in the dark, I couldn't place it. Why is everyone calling me by this weird name? "Look, I don't know who you are but-"
I was interrupted by the feeling of myself being turned around so it was my back against the wall and the feeling of something warm against my lips. Wait! Is this guy kissing me? My body was frozen as I had no idea what was going on. The familiar stranger pulled back after several moments but he was still close enough that I could feel his breath as he spoke.
"Does that help you remember My Lady? Considering not a day has past these several seasons that I have not thought of you and dreamed of your return."
I wasn't quite sure what to say, but my awkward moment was saved by the loud pounding of feet. The stranger took hold of me again and ushered me to a corner of the room putting me behind something.
"Stay here." The man whispered as I felt a light kiss on my forehead. Whoever this guy was, he was acting as if he and I were seeing each other or something? More weird stuff to figure out, but go with the flow.
There was a loud banging of a fist on the door to the room. I couldn't make out much from my hiding spot, but I heard the door open and a small exchange.
"Guardian. My apologies on the intrusion, but we are under command of the pharaoh to check all rooms for a fugitive."
Pharaoh? What does everyone think this is? Egypt?
"Fugitive? I think I'd recognize if one of those got in here Captain." The man spoke smoothly bringing my attention back to the conversation.
"As a close friend of the lady's, we were instructed to specifically search yours as well as Lady Kira's quarters in detail. You understand?"
There was a small shuffling of feet as a light entered the room. From the small gap of my hiding place, I could make out a guard looking man holding a torch light in the center of the room.
"Where are your candles sir? The room is dark." The guard pressed.
"Seeing as I was getting ready to turn in for the night, I had doused the flames captain." the man replied as I noticed the light get a little brighter. Looking in, I could see a second man holding what seemed to be a small candle. The small flame was just bright enough to make out his features. Is that Kaiba?! The man from earlier was Kaiba? No way! I did not just make out with my boss! Sure, the guy was decent looking, but he was not like the guy I just interacted with. The personality was way off!
The guard began to look through the room. I just pulled back into the little space and held my breath. Regardless of who the man was, I could not get caught here.
"Tell me guardian, do you believe the lady innocent?" I could hear the guard ask as he moved and searched through things on the other side of the room.
"I do. And you?" the Kaiba look-a-like sighed.
"I want to sir. The lady was always just and fair to us, but the Pharaoh saw her himself. There is not much to deny with that evidence."
"The woman the Pharaoh saw was not the women we know."
The rustling stopped and the room fell silent, "Can you prove that claim Guardian?"
"At the moment, no. But we will be able to soon I am sure."
"For the sake of our lady, prove it before we find her Seto. If you cannot prove it, find her before we do and get her far away from here. The guard is loyal to the lady, but we are loyal to our king first."
"If I knew where she was, I would captain. Believe me."
There was another long silence before more footsteps. The light in the room dimmed and there was the sound of a shutting door. Another long awkward silence. I was trying my best not to breathe not sure who left the room and who stayed.
"Maza? I think you can come out now."
I let out a big exhale of air I had been holding and slid out from behind the large stone. Looking up, I noticed it was an intricate carving of sorts that was flush to the corner making a little hiding place.
"Seto?" I whispered trying to look in the dimly lit room.
"You know, he's right." the voice was right at my ear as two arms wrapped around me from behind in a protective embrace. The feeling was... nice?
"Who's right?"
"The captain just now." The embrace was dropped and I turned to see the man up close. He looked so much like Kaiba, but a lot tanner skin and shirtless, "We need to get you out of here and far away. I know you wish to take on the witch yourself, but considering the guard now have the order to kill first. We can't risk losing you."
"This witch... she's the one that killed that man isn't she?" I asked trying to keep my focus off the bare firm chest.
"Yes. Kira and I will do what we can to prove that. Until then, we must find Kira and have her use her power to take you far from here." He went into a trunk of some sort near the make shift bed. He seemed to find something he was looking for and walked back over slipping something around my shoulders. It was then I noticed it was a large cloak of some kind. "Cover your face. We might be able to make it to the Lily garden and call her down." he pulled the hood of the cloak over my eyes and put a similar piece on himself.
There was a tight grip as he took my hand and pulled me with him. He kept us along the shadows and weaved in and out of various halls and spaces. "We're almost there." I heard him whisper as he lightly squeezed my hand in assurance.
"Halt right there!" boomed a voice ahead.
The man stopped and I bumped into him from behind.
"I had a feeling she would find you Seto.." echoed another voice. This one I recognized. Looking around the Seto guy, I saw Yugi with several armed men.
"My king... Please believe us when I say the lady is not the one you seek. There is-"
"I saw her myself Seto. Hand her over, and there will be no punishment for you."
This guy was trying to protect me, but I couldn't let him get hurt on my behalf. I lightly gripped his shoulder. "Seto?"
"No. We are so close. I won't let them take you for something you did not do." He whispered.
"Seto. What you are talking is treason!" Yugi warned. "Seize him as well."
The men started to move as if to comply with the order. Though I wasn't sure what was actually happening, I did know I could not let them follow through with it. I was getting ready to take the place in front of him when another voice called out.
"Stop this!"
Everyone seemed to pause and eyes glanced back to the small hooded figure behind the guard line. I couldn't see much, but I could vaguely make out the shape of a woman. "My lady. It is best if you return to your quarters. I don't wish to see you caught up in all this." Yugi stated slowly, but I could hear the edge in his tone.
"You are sure she is the one that killed him my king?" The woman asked her voice cold.
"I am My Lady. I saw her myself. Now please, let the guard handle this."
"No!" Her voice was quick and stern. "Given the crime, I think it is only fitting if you'd let me handle this?"
There was apparent shock on Yugi's face, "You don't mean..."
The woman only nodded. Yugi looked over at me with a stern and dissecting glance as he held out his weapon. "I'll allow it if you think you can My Lady."
The figure took hold of the weapon and suddenly disappeared making me wonder if I were seeing things, but that's when a sharp pain erupted in the center of my back. I went to scream, but the sound was muffled by a hand over my mouth as the figure pulled me back against them digging whatever was in my back deeper. The world seemed to slow as the faces around me erupted into shock and surprise. There was a voice that sounded like soft crying in my ear as everything went dark.
"Please forgive me sister. We are defeated in this time, but I promise we will find a way to save you in the next. "
I woke up gasping. Looking around, I noticed I was in my small room. What kind of weird scary nightmare was that?! I rubbed my eyes trying to focus on what mattered. It was all a dream! None of it was real! I was not in some weird world where my friend was trying to kill me and by boss was trying to date me!
I glanced over at the clock. "2am?! No more weird teas before bed Nic." I cursed myself as I laid back down and tried my best to think of anything other than that weird nightmare so not to repeat it.
(Seto's POV)
I rubbed my eyes sighing at my own ridiculous antics. How could I have even pondered a bit of that dream would be any way real? I looked back at the information I pulled up from Silvers' pre-employment background check reading it through one more time.
Full Legal Name: Nicola Ellanore Silvers
"Interesting name. Russian maybe?" I found myself asking aloud as I kept reading.
Parents: Ellie Marie Silvers & Marco Silvers (Both living)
Siblings: None
It was all I had to read. "Siblings: none" She has no sisters, and her father was very much alive. The dream was just that. A bogus dream! Still, I couldn't get how it felt so real out of my head...
~*~*~*~*~ Dream ~*~*~*~*~*~
I found myself in a strange room when the sound of a door creaking open behind me caught my attention. I couldn't quite make out who it was on account of the room being dark.
"Who's there?" I asked as my body went rigid with tension.
"Relax Guardian. It's only me." I heard a female's voice lightly laugh. This voice. I know it?
"Who would me be exactly?" I questioned still on edge.
That's when I felt something take one of my hands pulling me downward a couple inches and my lips covered in an odd yet satisfying sensation while her other hand slipped to the back of my neck pulling me down the rest of the way. Whoever this girl was, she was bold. I had to give her that. She smells nice too. Natural not doused in perfumes. I was mostly distracted that I almost missed her pulling away.
Ok! I have to be dreaming! I thought to myself as the current events caught up with me.
"A lady goes away for a couple seasons, and you already forget about her? And to think... I fell for that 'There won't be a day I won't miss you my lady' line you gave me." Her voice was teasing. Playful. All while keeping her face inches from my own.
Oh yeah. Totally dreaming, but looks like I scored a good one for once!
"I do apologize, but it would be easier to remember if I could actually see you... you know?" I played into the scene.
"Your wish is my command Guardian." I could hear her laugh again just before a small flame seemed to dart past and land on to a couple candles right behind me.
"What the hell was that?!" I quipped staring at the now lit candles. Dream Seto! It's a DREAM! Weird shit is bound to happen!
The laughing caught my attention again, "Did you fall off your horse while I was gone and hit your head Seto? That was just a simple spell."
My gaze followed the voice shocked to see the smiling face attached to it. Silvers?! The girl before me looked like the odd girl that I had working for me, but there was something about her. She was sporting a much darker tan than I remembered her, but it was those same dark eyes and dark long hair. The dress she had on looked homemade, but still fitting.
Her eyebrow raised in intrigue, "And now you look like you've seen a shabh." Her hands went to either sides of my face before one felt my forehead, "Do you feel ok Seto?"
I was panicking on the inside. What was Silvers doing here? Better yet, what were we just doing?! What was she doing touching me now! Pull yourself together. This is a dream Seto! This is a DREAM! None of this is real, so nothing you may or may not do actually matters. I mentally told myself.
"I-I feel fine?" I told her as I took hold of her hands pulling them down.
She was about to say something more, but there was a thudding sound that seemed to catch her attention. "No... They couldn't have..." she muttered as she got to her feet.
"What is it?" I asked.
She remained silent as the noise grew louder. Closer. It almost sounded like footsteps on the ground.
"You stay here." She commanded in a whisper just before ducking into the darkness.
"Silvers!"
My voice was unheard as the thudding seemed to be right outside the room's entrance. Next thing I knew, the door swung open and several figures stepped in. The light from the recently lit candle let me see that all of the figures looked like extras in an ancient history feature. Plain smocks with light leather armor pieces and swords at the belt.
"Pardon our intrusion Guardian. The Pharaoh has ordered all rooms searched for a fugitive."
"A fugitive?! Pharaoh!? What kind of game are you dolts playing at?!" I couldn't help but exclaim.
"As you were good friends with the lady, the Pharaoh requested we extensively search your quarters for her."
"Who the hell are you people talking about?!" Come on head! Stop being a damn killjoy! Cut the crap and bring back the girl already!
The two or three men started looking around the room which I could now see was a very archaic make shift space. Dirt floors. Stone walls. No place I'd be caught dead in, That's for sure.
"The Lady Maza is wanted before the Pharaoh to seek punishment in the death of High Sage Rubin."
"Rewind that. Who is wanted for what?!" I questioned.
Another of the men paused, "The pharaoh says he saw the Lady Maza kill her father, Master Rubin. She also went to attack the Pharaoh, but Lady Kira stayed her blade."
"She is wanted for murder and attempted murder of the Pharaoh. We must find her before she hurts others Seto. Where is she?" The one is charge questioned sternly.
"If I knew where this lunatic was, I would definitely tell you!" I sighed trying my best to appease them so they would go away.
The men searched for a couple more moments before turning to one another as if to tell each other they had found nothing.
"Listen close Guardian. The Lady... is not herself. The woman you know, is not the woman you will find. The Pharaoh has already ordered her servant destroyed so she may not call upon it, but she still carries her magics and her wit. If you cross her, run."
With that, the men all left the room making their way further down the hall.
"Who in Ra's name trained these men in my absence?! That was probably the worst room sweep I have seen!" I heard Silvers jeer softly as she slipped out of the shadows.
"You're telling me, but I for one am glad they are gone."
"I do commend you for your wonderful performance. I'd almost think you didn't know who your lunatic was." She sighed as if relieved.
"So.. With the goon squad gone," I pointed out as I took the spot next to her, "do you think we-"
She placed a finger over my lips and smiled lightly, "As much as I have missed you these past couple seasons. I came here with a purpose Seto. As you so overheard, the witch with Tyron is already here. She killed the closest thing I had to a father and turned my own guard against me. The Pharaoh is in danger, and as a sworn guardian of this kingdom, I must ensure his protection. Please stay here, and I will see this all ends tonight."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.
She stared at me for a moment before leaning up and kissing me again. Though the feeling was sudden and weird, it was lightly satisfying.
"Remember moments like this Seto." She whispered as she pulled away, "These will be the last we have in this time."
"E-excuse me?" I asked kind of taken back.
"T-The witch was never completely unbound from me. A crucial part of her being is connected to mine. I think that is why despite all the chances she has had to kill me... she hasn't. That being said, I will not be long for this world. Either we kill the witch and that will kill me in turn or I will fall and I'll take the vile woman with me." The last part her voice was dark, angry, and frightfully determined.
Just my luck that when the dream is getting good, it gets weird! Way to go brain!
I was snapped back to the scene by the feeling of a hand on the side of my face. The Silvers look-a-like had a light smile but there was something wrong with her eyes, "I hope your theory of second lives is true Seto. If we do get a second chance at life in some other time, I promise, I will find you again."
The girl backed away a couple steps then turned to leave. I was about to leave the situation be and hopefully end this weird dream when a commotion outside caught my attention. I followed where the girl went and found myself in a bare stone hall. Looking over, I noticed the commotion was the girl and another woman in what seemed to be a fight with one another just a ways down the corridor. The other figure had her back to me so I couldn't see her face, but she was about the same stature as the dream Silvers with dark hair. Though unlike silvers, she looked like she was armed with a blade of some kind. I went to move, only to find I was frozen in place. Damn dream crap!
"You expect me to believe you witch!? I'm sure that's how you got our father to lower his guard!" I heard the woman snap as she looked as if she were about to lunge toward Silvers.
"I swear to the gods Kira! It's me!" The girl pleaded, "We have to find the Ph-"
"You are going no such place." The woman's voice suddenly began to break as she spoke again, "You made me promise that if you were to lose control again and hurt someone that I was to end it for you! Sister, do you know what you have done?!"
Sister?! Silvers has a sister?!
"Kira! Listen to me!" Silvers was trying to get her attention, but the strange girl went on a full offensive.
"Without Rubin, how are we to stand against Tyron?!"
To my surprise, Silvers was agile enough to dodge the onslaught and trade a couple blows of her own.
"Kira, I do not wish to hurt you, but Tyron is why I am here!"
"You don't wish to hurt me?!" The girl snapped taken back but back on the offensive once she recovered, "You lost control and killed our father! Then your claws went after our friend! Your King!"
"It wasn't me!" Silvers snapped trading a couple blows knocking the girl back some, "Rubin pulled her from me Kira! He locked her away just before I left, but Tyron found and freed her! She is the only thing strong enough to keep you from stopping him and he knows it!"
The fighting seemed to stop. But the Kira woman now had Silvers pinned to the wall, but at the same time, Silvers wasn't fighting back either.
"And what if this story of yours is true? How am I to believe it?"
"You don't have to. End me. Either way, the real witch will die and our father avenged. Tyron will no longer have the upper hand, and you can finally put all this to rest." Silvers spoke up as she grabbed the woman's armed hand and pulled the weapon toward her chest. "I can still help you sister. It just won't be the way we imagined it these past several years."
"My lady!" Glancing past the girls, I noticed the armed soldier types. The Kira woman looked from Silvers to the men and back to Silvers. There was a loud clank as I saw the blade that was in her hand drop between the two.
"Looking as you do, I can't fulfill that promise sister. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too Kira..."
The movement was quick, but Silvers suddenly grabbed the woman and turned so she was the one pinning the woman to the wall as if to choke the life out of her. The Kira woman was fighting, but Silvers was too strong.
"Well!" Silvers challenged aloud glancing back at the stunned guards, "You all going to save the Lady or are you going to let me kill her!?"
I tried to move, but the men were closer and one looked like he stabbed the girl from behind as he yanked her from the other. The Kira woman's face was shock and horror at the scene befalling her. The guard let the other girl go and the body fell limp onto the floor. The Kira girl suddenly began to scream in what seemed to be grief? Her world was shattered. That much was obvious. What the hell just happened? I couldn't process it myself either.
What kind of dream is this?! I want to wake up now!
~*~*~*~*~ Dream End ~*~*~*~*~
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I silently cursed myself. The dream could have felt 100% real, but that was just it. Not a bit of it was real. I pulled my cell off my nightstand checking the time.
Three o'clock. If I try I can maybe get another 45 minutes. I thought to myself tossing my phone back on the nightstand as I slipped back into bed. Things were stressful, and my mind was making crazy stories in my dreams to cope with the stress! That is what I told myself at least.