"Are you sure you should be there?" Atem asked as Yami got Anita ready. "I don't want you or Anita in harm's way."
"I don't like it either," Yami said with a sigh, smiling softly when Anita grabbed onto his finger. "But we don't have a choice, the Council wants all of us dead, they would get suspicious if I wasn't there."
"I know," Atem said with a sigh. "Well, let's hope this works."
"It will," Yami said turning to Atem with a smile.
A knock at the door interrupted the couple and in walked Otogi a few moments later.
"We're ready."
An hour later, they arrived a little ways from the palace. They had met up with Mai, apparently, Otogi had sent a letter to Mai under the alias of an old friend. In reality, he had sent Mai the letter with the hidden message inside and she had agreed to help them.
"Thank you for helping us Mai," Atem said with a smile.
"Of course," Mai said with a nod. "I'd like nothing for than to take down the Council."
"I think we all do," Bakura said with a smirk.
"Anyways, who is this cutie?" Mai said smiling down at Anita who was in Yami's arms, wrapping in her lavender blanket to keep her warm.
"This is Anita," Yami said with a smile. "Our daughter."
"She's beautiful," Mai said reaching her hands forward and tickling the infant, soft giggles escaping her mouth.
"Where is the Council now?" Heba asked.
"Last I saw they were in the throne room," Mai said with a sigh. "They've been a mess ever since you left to fight the resistance at the base, they're anxiously waiting for your return."
"Well then," Atem said with a sigh. "Let's go meet them."
"They're so life-like," Mai commented as she walked with the group to the throne room, her eyes staring at the illusion guards Angeline made. Angeline herself was disguised as Helena walking by Atem's side as Helena would.
"Hopefully they'll be enough to fool the Council," Atem said, adjusting Anita in his arms as she squirmed. He could tell she wanted to be in Yami's arms but for right now, she would have to be in Atem's arms for the plan to work.
Vampires watched as they walked past. Some who had been under Helena's influence had been sought out by Mai and asked to act as if they were still under the spell. However, a good majority of the guards were on the Council's side and didn't need to be under the spell. Mai nodded at the guards she recognized as ones she had spoken to and the group headed off.
They entered the throne room and the Council turned as they entered. Their faces lighting up seeing Atem, "Helena", and Mai.
"Your Majesty, I can see your mission went as planned," James said with a smile.
"Yes," Atem said with a nod. "We managed to capture the traitors and the resistance leader, and my daughter."
"That's excellent Your Majesty," Raoul said with a smile, his eyes glaring down at Yami. "Though we owe our thanks to Helena for aiding us."
"Agreed," James said with a nod. "Though we wouldn't have her without Maxius."
"What do you plan on doing with them Your Majesty?" Julien asked. "Execution perhaps? Along with the rest of the traitors in the Royal Court."
"I plan on doing nothing with them," Atem said handing his daughter over to Isis.
"What?" Darius asked, the Council's eyes widening. "Your Majesty-"
"Silence!" Atem yelled with a glare. "You are all under arrest for treason against the monarchy."
To the shock of the Council, several vampires jumped down from the ceiling and surrounded them, their swords pointing towards them.
"Helena!" James yelled turning to the fairy. However, his eyes widened seeing Angeline where Helena had been standing.
"Helena isn't here," Angeline said with a glare. "She's been taken care of, sorry to disappoint you, Lord James."
"Then the Emperor has-"
"Broken free from Helena's magic," Atem finished with a glare. "Your little plan has failed James, it's over."
"Not quite," James said with a glare. He turned to Vincent with a nod, Vincent nodded back and used his magic to create smoke and when it cleared, the Council was gone.
"Fan out!" Atem yelled. "They could be anywhere!"
"Take Anita out of here," Yami said turning to Isis who nodded. "Take Honda, Anthony, and Angeline with you."
"Right," Isis said turning to Honda and Angeline who nodded.
"Mai! Go get the Court!" Atem yelled pulling out his sword.
"On it!" Mai yelled back, rushing out the room.
"Watch out!" Heba yelled as he pushed Yami out of the way just as an ice spear was thrown his way, the spear landing in the floor.
The next thing anyone knew, a fight had begun.
The first to fall was the guards who had been on Atem's side.
As strong as the others were, the Council was stronger.
Nine of the ten Council members had made an appearance and were fighting with the others. However, James had yet to make his appearance.
"James is staying out of the fight," Yami said as he and Atem were back to back keeping an eye out.
"He'll make his move when the time is right," Atem said as Cassius went to take a swipe at him. Atem clashed his sword with Cassius's, the two in a face-off. With Atem distracted, Vincent took the opportunity to swipe at Yami, his sword glowing with ice magic.
Heba turned from where he and Yugi had just taken down Killian and his eyes widened seeing Raoul sneaking up behind Yami.
"Yami! Watch out!" Heba yelled, Yami's head turned from where his sword was clashed against Vincent's and his eyes widened seeing Raoul making a move to strike him down. Atem turned and his eyes glowed red in anger. Cassius's eyes widened as Atem moved his sword and flamed burst from his sword just as Atem stabbed it into his chest and swiped up.
Cassius fell to the ground, his body burning and turning to ash. Atem swiftly turned to Raoul and Vincent.
"Move!" Atem yelled to Yami who quickly withdrew from the fight, wincing as he landed on the ground. His body was still sore from giving birth to Anita.
Atem was quick to slice Raoul's head off and send a fireball to his body, turning it to ash. He then turned to Vincent who had wide eyes but still tried to fight back. Which ended with Atem's sword in his chest and his head swiftly cut off.
"Are you alright?" Atem asked helping Yami up from the ground, his eyes giving him a once over in concern.
"I'm alright," Yami said with a forced smile. He turned hearing Bakura and Marik laughing and he rolled his eyes seeing the pair were having the time of their life. During the fighting, several of the guards who worked under the Council had come in. Apparently, they had beef with Bakura and Marik as the pair were killing them with no hesitation.
Ryou, Malik, and Otogi had managed to take down Julien and Damon. However, Ryou had a stab wound in his shoulder and a cut on his cheek. Malik had a cut on his forehead from where he had been tossed into one of the pillars in the throne room. Otogi had a few scratches on his arms but was otherwise alright.
Seto and Joey had managed to take down Mathias and Maxius. Though Maxius was killed by Seto because he had tried to use Joey as leverage by breaking the man's wrist and dislocating his shoulder. Of course, Seto's vision went red and Maxius was killed easily.
Yami turned to Yugi where he had just taken down a guard. He was relieved to see that he was alright and had no visible wounds on him.
The only ones left were Darius and James. James had still yet to make an appearance but Darius was also in hiding.
At that moment, the throne room doors opened and in ran the Royal Court, freed from the dungeon and ready for a fight. Isis had left Anita and Anthony and Mai to keep safe.
"I see we missed a good majority of the fight," Karim said with a smile as he eyed the throne room.
"It's not over yet," Atem announced with a shake of his head. "Darius and James are hiding somewhere."
"I can sense them, they're still in the room," Mahad said as he glanced around the room.
"They're waiting," Shada said. "Waiting for an opportunity.
"You'd be correct about that," Darius's voice called out. A ball of dark energy was then sent flying in the middle of the group. Mahad went to create an ice wall to protect them but was unfortunately too slow. The dark energy ball exploded and sent everyone flying.
When the smoke started to clear, the group was quick to get to their feet. Isis saw something move out of the corner of her eyes and turned to Heba who was closest.
"Behind you!" she yelled. Heba turned and his eyes caught Darius moving. Heba quickly dived towards Darius and his sword struck his chest. Darius cried out and tried to swipe at Heba but Karim appeared and cut his head off, Mahad using his power to burn his body.
By the time the smoke cleared, Darius was dead.
"Is everyone alright?" Atem asked, turning around at the group and taking account of how everyone was. However, his heart stopped seeing Yami wasn't anywhere.
"Atem," Yami called out from behind. The group turned and Atem's eyes widened seeing James standing with an evil smile on his face. Not only that but he had Yami standing in front of him, a silver blade held to his throat.
"Let him go James," Atem said with a glare. "This is between you and me."
"That may be," James said stepping back as Atem stepped forward. "But this one has been a thorn in our side ever since you brought him here."
"There's no getting out of what you've done James," Heba said with a glare, his hands behind his back motioning a plan to Bakura and Marik who luckily caught on.
"That much is obvious but if I'm going down, I'm taking this one with me," James said digging the silver blade deeper into Yami's throat. Yami winced as the blade dug into his throat, his skin sizzling as it did so.
Mahad could see Bakura and Marik making their way quietly behind James. The Council leader luckily hadn't noticed them because his eyes were never leaving Atem.
"I have an idea," Mahad said turning to Karim and the others.
"Let's hear it," Karim said with a nod.
"The plan was going well until this brat got in the way, "James said glaring down at Yami. "Now it's all gone to shit."
"You should have known it wasn't going to work out," Otogi said with a roll of his eyes. "Just like all your other plans."
"It would have it-"
"Now!" Mahad yelled to the others. James's eyes widened as a giant ice ball was thrown his way, Karim and Shada then summoned a fireball and tossed it to the ice ball. The two collided and a cloud of steam erupted from the explosion. Yami managed to wiggle his way out of James's hold and move out of the way.
As the smoke cleared, James found himself pinned to the ground, Bakura and Marik's swords stabbed into his shoulders, their feet pinning his legs down.
Atem and Isis hurried over to Yami, helping him off the ground.
"Are you alright?" Atem asked as Isis checked on his wound. Yami nodded softly with a soft smile on his face.
"I'm fine," Yami replied.
"It's not too serious," Isis said with a sigh of relief. "It should heal in a few days."
A few moments later, Mai walked into the throne room. Guards behind her, Anita in her arms and Anthony and Honda by her side.
"We rounded up all of the Council's guards and threw them in the dungeon," Mai said with a smile.
"That's great," Atem said with a smile as Yami headed over to Mai and grabbed his daughter who smiled up at him. Atem turned to James who had been sat up to kneel on his knees, Bakura and Marik each holding an arm.
"Can we kill him now?" Bakura asked.
"Not yet," Atem said. "I have a plan for him, lock him in the dungeon."
Bakura and Marik were disappointed but did as Atem said anyways and handed him over to two guards who cuffed him and dragged him screaming to the dungeon.
"Where's Angeline?" Yami asked noticing the fairy wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Right here," Angeline said appearing in the throne room. A chained up Helena by her side. However, Helena was different than before. Her hair was black and in a pixie cut and her eyes were yellow. She was dressed in a black dress with off-the-shoulder black sleeves, a bronze belt around her waist and a red sash. "I'm glad to see the fight is over."
"As am I," a voice said from the entrance. The group turned to see a woman with pale skin and black hair tied into a bun. She wore a blue and white dress, white fingerless gloves, a pearl necklace around her neck, and a white floral crown on her head. Guards stood by her side, dressed in royal blue clothes.
"Who are you?" Atem asked pulling Yami close to him.
"You need not worry Your Majesty," the woman said with a smile, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked towards the group. "I am not an enemy, my name is Queen Lorella."
"Lorella? As in the fairy queen?" Yami asked remembering Angeline told him about her a few times.
"Correct," Lorella said with a nod. "And you must be Yami, wonderful to finally meet you."
"Oh joy," Helena said with a roll of her eyes. "My favourite person has come to see me."
"Hush child," Lorella said with a snap of her fingers, Helena's lips were suddenly shut. "I do apologize for the trouble my daughter had caused you all."
"DAUGHTER!?" the group exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Yes," Lorella said with a nod. "Angeline and Helena are my daughters, however, Helena turned to dark magic years ago and defected from the family."
"We've been trying to track her down for years," Angeline said glaring down at her sister. "And now we finally have."
"Thankfully," Lorella said with a sigh before turning to Atem. "I won't keep you, I'm sure you have much to take care of with your kingdom, I will be taking Helena and returning to give her a punishment."
"Very well," Atem said with a nod. "I wish you all the best."
"And you as well," Lorella said as two guards walked up and grabbed Helena from Angeline. "Please do let me know if there is anything we can do to help."
With that, Queen Lorella and Helena disappeared.
"So, now what?" Yugi asked turning to Atem.
There was a few moments of silence where Atem was staring down at Anita who had fallen asleep in Yami's arms.
"We announce an end to the war," Atem said turning to the group with a smile. "Once and for all."
A week later, the fighting had finally ceased. The humans who had been in the blood camps were released and returned to their families. For now, the humans were under the care of the resistance members who remained. Any vampires who opposed the cease of the fighting were tried under treason and sentenced to death. The same went to any humans who still wanted to fight. While it wasn't treason for them, Yugi still declared punishments be in place.
Mai was currently watching Anita. At the moment, a trial was taking place.
"Lord James, you are accused of treason against the Empire, accused of attempted murder of my mate Yami Sennen, and accused of the attempted eradication of the human race," Atem said glaring down at James who was kneeling before the throne. "How do you plead?"
"I plead innocent Your Majesty," James announced.
"And why is that?" Atem asked with a roll of his eyes.
"I was doing what was best for the Empire," James said. "The humans are nothing and the vampires are the ones who should be on top."
"I see," Atem said turning to Yami who nodded softly, grabbing his hand. Atem turned back to James and stood up. "Lord James you are found guilty of high treason against the Empire, accused of attempted murder of my mate Yami Sennen, and accused of the attempted eradication of the human race, you are sentenced to death."
"You can't do this!" James yelled standing up. However, Bakura and Marik were quick to grab him before he could do anything.
"Take him away!" Atem called out. "He dies at sundown tonight!"
"No!" James yelled as Bakura and Marik dragged him out of the throne room, kicking and screaming for his miserable life.
"Bakura and Marik are going to have fun with that one," Yami said with a soft smile as he and Atem exited the throne room. "Is it really over?" Yami asked softly.
"Not quite," Atem said with a shake of his head. "We have a treaty to finish after all."
That evening, James was killed and his body was disposed of. Yami didn't want to know the details but he figured with it being Bakura and Marik, it was bound to have been torture.
Yami picked up Anita from Mai and headed to the bedroom with Atem. When they entered, they were surprised to see the group standing outside their bedroom.
"What are you all doing here?" Yami asked.
"We have a surprise for you," Heba said with a smile. He led Yami down the hall to a door beside their bedroom. He opened it and allowed Yami to walk inside.
Yami's eyes widened when he entered the room. The room was decorated exactly how he had described it to Atem when they were discussing nursery designs.
The room was painted with lavender paint with white clouds decorated on the ceiling. On the left side was a wooden crib with light blue stars hanging from the ceiling on different lengths of string, a few feet away was an oak wood dresser to match the crib. On the dresser sat a stuffed brown bear with a red bow around its neck and a candle beside it.
On the right side was a brown bookshelf with books for children on it. Beside it was a wooden rocking chair that sat beside a plush couch against the wall. The windows had sheer white curtains in front of them, as did the balcony doors.
Yami turned to Atem who was watching him with a smile.
"Did you do this?" Yami asked to which Atem shrugged.
"I had help," Atem said motioning to Heba, Bakura, and Marik. "Do you like it?" Atem asked.
"Like it?" Yami asked with a soft chuckle. "I love it."
"I'm glad," Atem said walking forward and kissing his mate on the cheek and staring down at Anita who was staring up at the clouds with wide eyes.
"We'll let you two have some alone time," Heba said shooing out Bakura and Marik closing the door behind him.
"There's more," Atem said pulling Yami to a door beside the crib and opening it, the door opening to their walk-in closet and into the bedroom. "This way if she needs up we can get to her easier."
"How long did this take you?" Yami asked.
"Let's just say they've been working on it since the day after we defeated the Council," Atem said with a smile.
"Well, I'll be sure to give them my thanks," Yami said with a smile.
"Agreed," Atem said with a nod. "Now, let's get her to bed."
Author's Note:
Apologies for the short chapter but I wanted to get another chapter out. We are so close to the end of the story. I would say probably one more chapter and then an Epilogue chapter to finish it off.
I'm already working on the next chapter as this one is being posted.
Until then!
~Alchemygirl8