"Do me a favour," Atem growled stomping into his and Yami's chambers where his mate was sitting on the bed with a book in his hands. Heba had recommended a book to Yami and he had been spending the past few days reading it while trying to relax. "Tell your brother to get a hold of his people."
"What happened?" Yami asked placing his bookmark in his book and closing it.
"It would appear that some of the resistance members have been attacking my people," Atem said with a huff. "The execution of Sean has sparked something in them and they are fighting back."
"Yugi did say that some of the members weren't happy to just sit and wait for a treaty to be done," Yami said with a sigh.
"Don't go defending them, the treaty takes a while to work everything out," Atem snapped giving a glare to Yami.
"I wasn't defending them, I'm just telling you what Yugi told me," Yami said returning Atem's glare. "You don't have to go biting my head off."
"I wouldn't if the humans would work with us and stand down until the treaty is done," Atem said with a roll of his eyes.
"I could almost say the same for the vampires," Yami said crossing his arms. "Yugi's told me some groups are still attacking the humans and the resistance camps."
"Well they wouldn't have to fight if the vampires would stand down," Yami said with a glare. "The humans have stood down the longest, yet the vampires still continue to fight."
Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted the couple's argument.
"Your Majesty?" Otogi's voice called out from the hallway.
"Come in," Atem called out with a sigh. The door opened and in walked Otogi, followed by Heba, Bakura, and Marik. "What is it?"
"The Council wishes to speak with you," Bakura said with a roll of his eyes.
"When don't they?" Marik added with a scoff.
"Enough, I'll go see what they want," Atem said giving Yami one last before storming away and slamming the door behind him.
Yami let out a sigh before sitting down on the bed and placing a hand on his stomach.
"Did something happen between you two?" Heba asked sitting down beside Yami and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Just the normal, arguments that start out of nowhere," Yami said with a wince as the child in him kicked where his hand was.
"It's so strange for you two to be fighting this much," Otogi said to which Yami nodded.
"I agree," Bakura said with a soft nod. "Sure you two butted heads when you were first brought here and forced to work under Atem as basically a slave and-"
"I think what he means to say is that sure you two butted heads at first but it's strange to see you now as a couple fighting this much," Marik interrupted.
"I don't know what's gotten into him," Yami said with a sigh.
After the four left, Yami was left alone in the bedroom. That was, until Angeline arrived.
"Yami," Angeline called out getting his attention.
"Angeline," Yami said with a soft smile.
"I have news," Angeline replied, sitting on the bed beside Yami. "And you might not like it."
"I was afraid you were going to say that," Yami said with a sigh. "Well, let's hear it then."
"After my investigation of the palace, I returned to Queen Lorella and told her what had been happening here and what I found."
"And what did you find?" Yami asked.
"I noticed a trail of dark magic, that of which only belongs to the dark fairies," Angeline said with a shiver. "It was heavy in the Council meeting room, which leads me to believe that they are working hand in hand with a dark fairy."
"Would they be able to manipulate people's minds?" Yami asked. "Say that the Council wanted Atem to agree to something they knew he would never agree to."
"Oh yes, which makes them dangerous," Angeline replied with a nod. "However, there most dark fairies refuse to work with vampires due to a war a century ago, only one person would agree to work with vampires."
"And who would that be?" Yami asked.
There was a few moments of silence before Angeline let out a soft sight.
"My younger sister, Helena."
Yami wasn't sure when it happened but time to pass by faster than he could blink. Before he knew it, fights were breaking out everywhere. Humans starting fights with vampires in some areas and vampires starting fights with humans in others. Humans who were not previously involved in the resistance were now joining the ranks and fighting back, their families either killed by vampires, hiding in the resistance base, or taken by vampires and put into blood camps.
Yami could only watch helplessly as Atem pulled further and further away from him and became something he was slowly starting to fear. Atem wasn't Atem anymore. It was as if a demon was possessing him and turned him into something terrible.
One day when Atem was off making plans, Yami and the others met up in a secluded area of the palace.
"We have to leave," Yami said as their little meeting started. "I need to talk to Yugi and we need to come up with a plan to stop this, as long as I'm here I can't help him."
"What did Yugi's last letter say?" Heba asked knowing Yami received a letter from Yugi a few days ago.
"The humans are acting on their own, they won't listen to Yugi's orders," Yami said with a sigh. "Only select groups still listen to his orders, the others defected and created their own resistance to fight back."
"When do we leave? Cause Atem isn't making it any easier for us," Marik added with a roll of his eyes.
"He's changed," Bakura added glaring down at the floor. "And not for the better, he's become a demon."
"Atem has meetings until late tonight," Seto added. "We can leave while he's in those meetings, they'll more than likely go until late tonight."
"Alright, I can get us horses," Otogi said with a nod. "And I'll get a cart for you, Honda, and Anthony."
"Alright, we'll meet in the forest tonight," Yami said with a sigh.
That night, there was word that the Royal Court had been tossed in the dungeon. Apparently, they were heavily disagreeing with everyone that Atem wanted them to do. Thus leading Atem to charge them with treason and toss them in the dungeon. Luckily, Seto wasn't around and had escaped to help Otogi with horses and securing a cart.
Yami was the first along with Honda and Anthony to meet up with Otogi and Seto. Shortly after them, were Bakura and Marik.
The last to show up was Heba.
"Everyone ready?" Heba asked as Honda placed Anthony in the cart and then helped Yami in. "Alright, let's get a move on, tell us the way Yami."
"Right," Yami said with a nod.
"You sure this is the place Yugi?" Ryou asked Yugi.
"I'm sure, this is where Yami said to meet," Yugi said pulling out the note Yami had written earlier and sent Emeril to find him.
A few moments later, the group heard the sound of horses and the sounds of a cart.
"Yami!" Yugi exclaimed with a smile as he saw his brother in the cart with Honda and Anthony. He wasn't the only one happy to see the other group. Bakura, Seto, and Marik immediately jumped off their horses and pulled Ryou, Joey, and Malik into tight hugs. Almost as if they were afraid they would slip away if they weren't careful.
"This is about Atem isn't it?" Yugi asked seeing the look on Yami's face.
"It is," Yami said with a nod.
"What's happened?" Malik asked as Marik allowed him out of the hug.
"The Royal Court has been charged with treason and thrown into the dungeon," Heba explained climbing off his horse.
"What?" Ryou asked with wide eyes. "Why?"
"Atem is determined to keep the fighting going," Seto said pulling away from Joey. "He has made decisions that the Court was not too pleased with, so they were fighting back against his orders."
"I don't blame them," Bakura muttered with a sigh.
"I agree, he's become intolerable," Marik added with a sigh.
"So what do we do now?" Yugi asked turning to Yami and Heba. "The humans won't listen to us and the vampires will most likely not listen to either of you."
"I have reasons to believe that something is controlling Atem," Yami said remembering what Angeline told him about her sister.
"I bet that the Council is involved," Otogi chimed in with a roll of their eyes. "I'm sure they love having the Emperor make decisions that benefit them and having him agree with decisions they've been trying for years."
"I agree," Heba said with a sigh.
"So what's the plan?" Yugi asked.
"I want to try talking to Atem," Yami said which made everyone's eyes widen. "I'm his mate, maybe I can get through enough to him."
"I can't let you risk that," Heba argued with a shake of his head. "Atem's been unpredictable lately, what if he decides to attack you because you argued with him?"
"Heba's right Yami," Honda said brushing his fingers through Anthony's hair. "You are carrying his heir after all, do you want to risk your child's life if something were to happen?"
"I know," Yami said with a sigh, rubbing a hand on his stomach and smiling softly as his child kicked lightly. "But I don't want my child growing up surrounded by war, I have to try."
There was a few minutes of silence before Heba let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping softly.
"Alright," Heba said with a soft smile. "But if something goes wrong, I want to make sure that we have someone who can help."
"Who?" Ryou asked softly.
"Isis."
With luck, the group managed to sneak Yugi into the palace. Honda had gone ahead with Anthony, Ryou, Malik, and Joey to the resistance base with a letter from Yugi stating he was granted access inside along with the others.
"Do you think they'll be able to get Isis out?" Yami asked turning to Heba who finished scenting Yugi once again.
"Hopefully," Heba said with a sigh. "Seto, where would the meeting be happening right now?"
"Most likely in the throne room," Seto answered. "It's been the base room for the operations, it's likely to just be Atem and the Council."
"Perfect," Heba answered with a nod. They turned a corner and ran into Bakura and Malik, along with Isis. The healer had made a stop at the medical wing and grabbed any equipment and medicine she could fit in a bag and take with her,
"Are you really going to try and talk to Atem?" Isis asked to which Yami nodded.
"It's not the most logical," Yami said with a sigh. "But I have to try."
"Alright," Heba said with a nod. "Let's go."
"If we put bases here and here we can cut them off completely and wipe them out," Atem said pointing to two spots on the map laid out on the table.
"And would we be setting up another blood camp for those humans we capture, Your Majesty?" Cassius asked to which Atem nodded.
"Yes, that way they can't fight back."
James turned to Helena who was standing behind Atem with an evil smile on her face. He would have to remember to promote Maxius when this was all done. They wouldn't have gotten as far as they had without Helena's help.
James went to open his mouth to say something where the door opened and in walked Yami, followed by Heba, Bakura, Marik, Ootogi, Isis, and Yugi.
"What is the meaning of this?" a councilman named Mathius yelled with a glare.
"This a closed meeting Your Majesty," another councilman named Darius sneered.
"You may be the Emperor's mate but that does not give you the right to budge into this meeting," another councilman named Damon yelled.
"Oh bite your tongue Damon," Bakura snapped with a glare. "It's the only thing you're good at."
That seemed to shut the Council up.
"Yami? Heba? What is your business here?" Atem asked. "And with a human and traitor," Atem asked turning a glare to Yugi and Isis. Helena was also glaring at the group, although, she was mostly glaring at Yami.
"Atem this had to stop," Yami exclaimed. "Don't you see the destruction you're causing?"
"You can't stop the war, it's already begun," Atem said glaring at Yami. Yami could see Helena standing behind Atem, her green eyes glowing and a wicked smile on her face.
"We can still stop this Ate," Yami yelled, glaring at Helena.
"It stops when the vampires are on top, where they belong," Atem said, Helena's lips were moving as she chanted a spell. Almost as if she was influencing what Atem was saying.
"Whatever happened to making it even on both sides?" Yami asked. "We agreed to work on a treaty and now you're just tossing it out the window?"
"The treaty was a joke, I see that now," Atem said with a roll of his eyes. "You only wanted me to agree to it to give the humans an advantage over the vampires and win the war."
"That's not true," Yami said with a shake of his head.
"Isn't it? You probably let yourself get captured by us so you could be turned into a vampire and take us out from the inside," Atem growled out. Yami's eyes widened and his heart clenched. Atem knew why he was turned into a vampire and him saying that Yami allowed himself to get poisoned to the point where Atem had no other choice but to turn Yami into a vampire, hurt like hell.
"You know that's not true," Yami yelled back. "I-"
"And if that's true, what makes you think that I could continue loving you?" Atem said which made Yami's heart freeze.
The Council seemed to notice this which pleased them, their plan was falling more into place than before.
"Atem!" Heba snapped, pulling Yami back behind him where Yugi drew his distraught brother into his arms, sending a glare at Atem. "You can't possibly believe that, you said it yourself that you and Yami were soulmates."
"I may have believed that before," Atem said glaring at Heba now. "But not anymore."
"I don't like where this is going," Bakura said glaring at Atem while keeping Ryou close to him.
"I don't either," Marik chimed in, keeping Malik close to him.
"This is gonna go down really quick," Heba said noticing the guards that entered the throne room. "Ootigi, be ready to grab Yami and Isis and get out of here."
"Right," Ootogi said with a nod pulling his sword out as guards surrounded the group.
"Your orders Your Majesty?" the head guard asked.
"Kill them," Atem called out with a glare.
The fight had begun.
"We have to go!" Heba yelled as he pushed a guard away and sliced her head off.
Yami could only watch helpless as the others around him were fighting. Mahad had warned him not to use his powers too much with his pregnancy. However, Yami couldn't just stand around and do nothing.
With a deep breath, Yami swiped his hand in front of him and just as a vampire was about the collide his sword with Yugi's, a giant ice wall was created, blocking the attack off. Yugi turned back to Yami in amazement, only to panic when Yami's legs wobbled and he was barely caught by Ootogi and Isis.
There was only a few moments to spare, as Atem had created a large flame and was slowly melting the ice wall.
"Otogi! Take Yami and go!" Heba yelled.
"Right!" Otogi nodded and together he and Isis grabbed one of Yami's arms and jumped up to the open window in the throne room and jumping onto the ground below.
Seto joined them with Yugi a few moments later. The group headed to where they had left the horses and the cart. Luckily, the horses hadn't run off and stayed where they left them.
Isis turned as Yami flinched with a soft gasp.
"Yami?" Yugi asked softly rushing to his friend's side.
"Are you alright?" Seto asked as Isis used her magic to give Yami a once over.
"I don't know," Yami said with a wince. "I think something is wrong.
"Where are the others?" Otogi asked. "We need to leave and fast."
"Otogi, help me get Yami onto the carriage," Isis said leading Yami towards the wooden cart which was attached to one of the horses. Otogi nodded and helped Yami climb into the cart.
A few moments later, Heba, Marik, and Bakura showed up.
"We need to leave," Heba said climbing into the cart with Yami and Isis. "And fast, Yugi lead the way," Heba said turning to Yugi who nodded.
"Right," Yugi said climbing onto the horse in the front. "Let's move."
As soon as they arrived at the base, they were met with angry swords being pointed at the vampires.
"Wait!" Yugi called out hopping off his horse and standing between the group of vampires and the group of swords from the guards. "They're on our side, I promise."
"Put the swords down already!" a voice called out from the crowd, and pushing his way through the crowd was Joey. "Are you deaf?"
"Thank you Joey," Yugi said with a sigh of relief. "Now we have to hurry, the vampires will soon be on us, get the horses and the cart inside."
The soldiers lowered their swords and hurried to work. Yugi turned and helped Yami out of the cart before him and Heba helped him inside.
Yugi led them to a spare bedroom which he reserved as Yami's in case he would ever find his brother. Yami was then sat on the bed and Isis gave him a once over again. Just as Ryou, Malik, Honda, and Anthony walked in.
"Is he okay?" Yugi asked worriedly.
"For right now yes," Isis said with a nod. "The fight in the throne room cause some stress but for right now, he's fine."
"So what do we do now?" Joey asked.
"I'm not sure," Yugi said with a sigh.
"We need a find to stop the fighting," Malik said.
"But how?" Ryou asked.
"Perhaps I can help," a voice called out. The group turned to the corner of the room to find Angeline standing there.
"Angeline," Yami said with a smile.
"Are you alright Yami?" Angeline asked noticing the grimaces Yami made every now and then.
"For right now," Isis said with a nod. "But I think it best we put Yami on bed rest, just to be safe."
"I agree," Angeline said with a nod.
"So how exactly can you help us with the fight?" Bakura asked, wincing as Ryou elbowed him.
"Helena's magic has managed to find its way into everyone's mind but I can reverse the magic," Angeline explained pulling a wand out of her sleeve. "That will make it easier to try and convince everyone to stand down."
"And then what?" Malik asked.
"Yeah we can't exactly just waltz in and say "Please stop the fighting", it's not going to be that easy."
"You're right," Angeline agreed with a nod. "Which is why Queen Lorella gave me this," Angeline said pulling a bronze chain out of seemingly nowhere.
"A chain?" Ryou asked, staring at it with curious wide eyes.
"Not just any chain," Angelina said with a smile. "It will prevent Helena from using her magic and therefore hopefully release the spell she has on Atem."
"But what about the Council?" Seto asked. "They'll surely prevent us from trapping her and preventing her magic, they always find a way to get what they want when they want something."
"What if we were to get Atem and Helena alone?" Heba suggested. "With Atem under Helena's influence, she's sure to follow him to make sure the Council's plan goes accordingly."
"Good point," Joey said with a nod. "But how?"
"I may have an idea," Angeline offered.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to check in after this chapter. I apologize for taking so long, I was in a bit of a creative funk and then I went on a camping trip with my family, and then a lot of stuff came crashing down on me.
But here is the next chapter of the story. I'm already working on the next chapter, so stay tuned for when that comes out (whenever that is, I apologize for not having a proper posting schedule, it's hard to schedule stuff for my stories)
Anyways, until next time!
~Alchemygirl8