Tensions had risen in the days that followed after Sean and his group's execution.
Not only with the humans who seemed to be more and more against the vampires than ever before.
But Yami also noticed tensions between him and Atem had grown.
Atem seemed more closed off as of late. At first, Yami played it off as stress from keeping the vampires in line as tensions rose and the long meetings with the truce but now he wasn't so sure.
He had asked Atem how the meetings were going and if there was anything he could do to help but Atem had snapped at him and avoided him for the rest of the day until it was time to go to bed. Even then, though he apologized, Yami wasn't sure if he meant it.
At the moment, Yami was with Mahad outside working on his powers. Ever since Mahad heard what Yami did to protect him and Heba, Mahad wanted to help see what he could do.
"You're doing great Yami," Mahad said with a smile. "Now, picture the fire starting to swirl around us."
Yami followed Mahad's instructions. The fire ball he was concentrating on started to swirl around him and Mahad.
"Perfect, now, try to cast the spell on the ground and create the fire wall," Mahad said casting a protecting barrier around the two just in case something went wrong. God forbid that something happened to the Emperor's mate, let alone his unborn heir. With how Atem had been acting lately, Mahad didn't want Atem to go on a rampage.
Yami took a deep breath and waved his hand. Mahad watched as the swirl of fire smashed into the ground and formed a circular wall of fire. Granted, it wasn't as large as Mahad's but it was still impressive for a first try.
"Well done Yami," Mahad said as Yami opened his eyes and glanced around at the fire wall around them. "I'm impressed that you managed to do this on your try."
"It's not as big as yours was," Yami said as Mahad lowered the barrier as the fire fizzled out.
"No, but you managed to do what others have struggled to do," Mahad explained with a smile. "Mana is still trying to figure out how to properly create a fire ball."
"Let me guess, I'm one of the special ones," Yami asked with a smirk. He had heard this from a few of the Royal Court who heard of his progress with his powers.
"Indeed," Mahad responded with a nod of his head.
Yami walked down the hallway, wincing as there was a kick to his side. Lately, their child had taken a liking to kicking, very often.
"I know, you want to see Daddy," Yami said as he rubbed his side. "But he's-"
Suddenly, the door down the hall where Atem was in a meeting with Yugi and the others burst open and out stomped Atem, his eyes glowing red.
Yami had to actually step out of the way or else Atem would have stomped him down, clearly something had happened. Yami took a look in the direction Atem stormed off in but found that he wasn't there.
With a sigh, Yami turned and headed into the meeting room. Joey seemed to be seething as he was shaking. And not in fear. But in anger.
"Yugi?" Yami asked getting his brother's attention from where he was trying to calm Joey down. "What happened? I saw Atem storm off."
"Joey and Atem had a little bit of a disagreement," Yugi explained with a sigh.
"A little bit," Joey muttered under his breath with a roll of his eyes.
"The Council thinks the humans are demanding too much," Seto explained as he closed up the folder which contained the meeting details. "And Atem is starting to agree with them."
"What are they wanting?" Yami asked sitting down on a chair Bakura pulled out for him with a wince. He was surprised Bakura and Marik didn't follow after Atem but they had probably figured he needed space to cool off.
"Well, most villages are still overrun by the vampires so they want at least half of the villages returned to human rule with an elected human ruler," Malik explained as he managed to get Joey to sit back down.
"And there's still blood camps that have yet to be taken down because the vampires in charge of them are resisting against it," Ryou added with a sigh. "It would be nice to reunite those still enslaved in them with their families."
"But the main thing is they want a change with the Council," Yugi added. "The Council is made up of eight individuals so it would be nice to have at least four of those positions filled with human representatives."
"Make it equal for everyone," Yami added to which the group nodded.
"Guess you can guess how that last one went by," Joey said with a sigh.
"I'll try to talk to him," Yami said with a sigh.
"Try being the key word there," Marik added from where he leaned against the wall.
"Has something happened between the two of you?" Yugi asked turning to Yami.
"Not personally but Atem has been acting strange ever since Sean's execution," Yami said with a shiver. "He's not really been himself."
"Well, let's just hope that whatever phase Atem is going through, he gets over soon," Seto said with a sigh as he stood up from the table. "If you'll excuse me."
When Yami returned to his bedroom that evening, he was met with Angeline sitting on one of the chairs.
"Angeline, you're back," Yami said as he closed the bedroom door behind him.
"I apologize for being away for so long, my meetings with Queen Lorella were quite long," Angeline said with a soft smile. "You look troubled, has something happened?"
"It's just Atem, he's been acting strange ever since Sean's execution," Yami said with a sigh, sitting down on the chair across from Angeline,
"I don't believe I have met Sean, was he a friend of yours?" Angeline asked, pouring Yami a cup of tea from the teapot and handing it to him. Luckily, the servants always made sure there was hot tea in the teapot, even if neither Atem nor Yami would be there. It was always full.
"He was part of the resistance," Yami said taking a sip of the tea, the warmth soothing his nerves. "He was a close friend and I trusted him with everything."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Angelina said with a sympathetic smile. "How did it happen?"
"I don't really fully understand it myself," Yami said shaking his head. "Everything was going well while treaty meetings were going on, there was very little fighting going on and everyone was staying away from each other."
"Then one day me and Heba were talking with Sean and he led us outside to the forest and the next thing we know we're attacked by Sean and a few other resistance members."
"Ah yes, I did hear about this from Mahad," Angeline said with a soft nod.
"Sean started yelling about how the treaty was just a huge joke and how nothing was going to change," Yami said with a shiver, he remembered the hateful glares Sean sent him as they were fighting.
"And of course because he attacked the Prince and yourself he was and his people were executed," Angeline said to which Yami nodded.
"And ever since then, Atem hasn't been himself."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, every little thing seems to set him off," Yami said with a sigh, remembering how just the other day Atem had snapped at him for complaining about his back. "Today he snapped at Joey, Ryou, Malik, and Yugi because he thinks the humans are demanding too much."
"That does sound weird," Angeline said with a soft nod. While she didn't know Atem personally and for very long, from what she had seen this was not normal behaviour from the Emperor.
"I played it off as just stress from the meetings but now I'm not so sure," Yami said with a sigh. "Lately he's been agreeing with the Council more and more, which isn't like him."
"The Council?" Angeline asked. "I thought he disagreed with pretty much everything they said."
"So did I," Yami replied with a nod. "But lately it seems to be the opposite, I don't know what's gotten into him."
Just then, the door opened and in walked Atem. He seemed to have calmed down from earlier but still seemed tense. Angeline studied him up and down before a frown formed on her face and she noticed something was off about him.
Yami flinched as a swift kick was delivered to his rib, it seemed their child could sense Atem was there. Atem turned to Yami and he seemed to melt seeing that Yami was in pain.
"Are you okay love?" Atem asked as he knelt down in front of Yami.
"Yeah," Yami said with a nod. "She has a strong kick."
"Listen in there," Atem said placing a hand on Yami's stomach. "Your mother is not a punching bag, be gentle with him."
"She missed you," Yami said placing his hand on top of Atem's.
"I know, I'm sorry I've been busy," Atem said with a sigh. "I've been so stressed lately."
Suddenly, a knock at the door caught the couple's attention. Angeline stood up from her chair and headed over to the door as Atem stood up.
"I apologize for interrupting Your Majesty," a servant said with a soft smile on his face. "But the Council wants to see you."
"Of course they do," Atem said with a sigh. "I'll see you later okay," Atem said kissing Yami's cheek softly.
"Okay," Yami responded as Atem left the room with the servant.
"There's something odd with Atem," Angeline said as she closed the door, placing a hand on her chin.
"What do you mean?" Yami asked.
"I'm not exactly sure," Angeline said shaking her head. "I could sense something in him that wasn't there before, it's powerful and growing."
"Do you think that's why he's been acting strange?" Yami asked to which Angeline shrugged softly.
"Possibly, it's odd though, I've felt this power before," Angeline said with a soft shudder. "But that's impossible, I'll have to speak with Queen Lorella about this."
"Will she know?" Yami asked.
"Hopefully," Angeline responded. "I'm going to walk around the palace and see if I can pick up anything, if that's alright with you?"
"Of course," Yami responded with a nod. "Whatever helps."
"Very well," Angeline said with a smile. "I'll return as soon as I can."
With that, Angeline disappeared, leaving Yami alone in the bedroom.
Angeline headed down the hall where the meeting rooms were. She had been all around the palace and had been following the traces of magic she had been sensing. What concerned her was how dark the magic seemed, nothing like her own. In fact, it was the opposite.
Outside one room in particular, the magic seemed to be the darkest. Angeline recognized the room as the Council's meeting room. She froze as the door opened and out walked Atem followed by the Council members. Angeline quickly used her powers to hide and conceal herself so the Council or Atem couldn't sense her.
"If there's nothing else to be discussed, I'm taking the rest of the day off," Atem said with a sigh.
"But Your Majesty-"
"James, it has been a stressful day today, I will be taking the rest of the day off," Atem repeated, his eyes glowing red showing his stress and frustration.
"Right, of course, Your Majesty," James said with a nod. Atem then turned and walked away, the Council watching for a few minutes more before turning and walking down the hall. Angeline waited for a few minutes before un-casting her spell and heading into the meeting room.
What she wasn't ready for was the strong wave of magic that hit her upon entering the room.
"What is this?" Angeline asked softly, the wave of magic made her chest feel tight. "It's as I feared, dark magic."
There wasn't just one spot where the magic was, it was the entire room.
"What is a dark fairy doing here?" she asked softly, trying to get a sense of who was here. Something caught her eye and she turned to find a dark red jewel that was under the table. Like it had fallen off of something, or someone. "I've seen this before but it can't be."
Only one person she knew had jewels like this.
"I need to speak with Queen Lorella," Angeline said placing the jewel into the hidden pocket of her dress. With a snap of her fingers, Angeline disappeared and headed off to find Queen Lorella.
"Your Majesty, Angeline has returned," a servant said with a bow before the Queen.
"Thank you Miranda, that will be all," the Queen replied with a smile. The servant bowed and left the pair alone.
"Queen Lorella," Angeline said with a curtsey.
"Welcome back Angeline, how is Yami doing since you've been gone?" Lorella asked.
The Queen was a woman with pale skin, black hair, and jade green eyes. Her hair was tied into a high bun with a white floral crown lying on top. She wore a dress of blue and white with a blue rose brooch on the front. Around her neck was a string of simple pearl earrings, in her ears were shimmering white teardrop earrings, and she wore white fingerless gloves on her hands.
"Well Your Majesty, his pregnancy is going along smoothly," Angeline responded with a soft smile.
"That's good to hear," Lorella said with a nod as she poured a cup of tea for Angeline and herself. "You're troubled, what is it?"
"When I went to visit Yami, he said his mate Atem had been acting strange lately."
"Strange how?" Lorella asked, pouring some cream into her tea.
"Yami said he's snapping at everyone over anything and usually he disagrees with what his Council said because of how old fashioned they are and lately Yami says he's been agreeing with them more and more."
"And this isn't normal for him I take it?"
"Not at all," Angeline said with a shake of her head.
"There's something else isn't there?" Lorella said as she studied Angeline's worried face.
"When I saw Atem I could sense there was something inside of him, something dark and powerful so I wanted to see if there any other traces of the same magic anywhere in the palace."
"I take it you found something, hence the worried look on your face," Lorella said to which Angeline nodded. She pulled the jewel out of her pocket and handed it to the Queen.
"I traced the trail back to one of the meeting rooms, the room the Council meets in and I found dark magic in that room, something dark had been there," Angeline said with a shiver remembering the overpowering magic that washed over her in the Council room. "I found this under the table in the room, only one person I know has jewels like this and with the power attached."
"Do you really think it's her?" Lorella asked.
"I do, which means we have a problem."
That evening, Yami, Heba, Malik, and Bakura were seeing Ryou, Joey, Malik, and Yugi off. Since Atem had been so tense, the group decided it was best to take some time off of the treaty. Plus, the resistance was in disarray since Sean's execution and Yugi needed to step up and talk to everyone to calm them down.
"We'll be back soon," Yugi said giving his brother a tight hug.
"I look forward to it," Yami said returning his brother's hug.
"Try to keep Atem in line for when we get back will ya?" Malik asked as he climbed onto his horse.
"We'll try our best, no promises though," Heba replied with a smile.
Bakura and Ryou were off to the side having a moment together.
"Looks like Bakura's gonna be in a mood," Heba whispered to Yami who smiled with a soft chuckle.
"Same goes for Marik," Yami said pointing out the longing look on Marik's face as he stared at Malik. It was obvious that he had a thing for Malik, he just had yet to act on it.
"Guess we'll have our hands full until they return," Heba said with a smile.
"It looks that way."
That was when Ryou and Bakura returned to the group, sharing a quick kiss before Ryou climbed onto his horse.
"Don't worry Ryou, you'll see your boyfriend again," Joey called out with a teasing smile.
"Shut up Joey!" Ryou cried out, his cheeks flushing. As did Bakura's.
"You'll have to make me!" Joey called out, taking off in the direction of the resistance hideout. Ryou smiled at Bakura before he took off after Joey, yelling at the blonde.
"I'll go make sure they don't get into trouble," Malik said to which Yugi nodded. Malik sent a look back to Marik before he climbed onto his horse and chased after the pair.
"Careful on the way back," Yami said turning to Yugi as he climbed onto his horse. "There are still vampires defying the truce and attacking humans."
"I will," Yugi said with a smile. "Don't worry, I can handle myself."
"I know," Yami said with a smile.
Yugi gave his brother one last smile before he took off after the three.
"Don't worry you two," Heba said turning to Bakura and Marik who appeared to be pouting. "They'll be back soon enough and then maybe Marik will be brave enough to confess to Malik."
"You're lucky, your arm is still healing Heba," Marik said delivering a glare to Heba. "I would kick your ass if I could."
"Guess you'll just have to wait until it's all healed," Yami said as the group started to head back inside.
"My money is on Marik," Bakura said turning to Yami with a smirk.
"I'll take that bet," Yami replied with a smirk of his own.
Author's Note:
Apologies for not posting in a while. I finally finished my semester for university and am on a break until the new semester in September. This is a little bit of a shorter chapter but I wanted to get a new chapter out and try to break my writer's block.
Anyways, I'm working on a new chapter as this one is posted so stay tuned for that.
Until then,
~Alchemygirl8