Chapter Twelve

Ishizu had to admit she was exasperated. The new day had dawned cloudy and cold, and she and Rishid had been desperately searching for information on powerful vodun amulets and other artifacts for some hours now, without much success.

Their first stop had been the Historic Voodoo Museum in the French Quarter. It had been crowded despite the early hour, and after seeing what the museum had to offer, Ishizu had mixed feelings. While the contents of the museum were intriguing, and she had enjoyed looking over the exhibits, they had been very little help under the circumstances without a tour guide to explain. The siblings had been invited to return later for a cemetery tour with a very knowledgeable guide, and Ishizu had consented to book it.

"If the situation wasn't so dire, I could really take time to enjoy the uniqueness of the culture," she told Rishid as they walked down the street.

"I suppose we should try to enjoy what we can," Rishid said. "We may not have another chance to return to New Orleans."

Ishizu sighed. "I just have the terrible feeling that if we don't stop this madman soon, something tragic will happen. I don't understand why Shadi couldn't simply tell us what the artifact is and whether Lector's father has it."

"Shadi has never been completely up-front with us or anyone else," Rishid remarked. A bit of bitterness had slipped into his voice. If it hadn't been for Shadi twisting the truth about Mr. Ishtar's death, Marik might never have become bent on seeking revenge on the Pharaoh.

Of course, Rishid silently added, he could have revealed the truth on multiple occasions but chose not to. He had desperately feared Marik's reaction, whether that would have been killing himself or losing control and Yami Marik taking over. But it hadn't been fair to Marik or to all the innocent people he had hurt to have allowed Marik to fall into crime. Rishid had considered himself a lowly servant despite Marik's addressing of him as "brother," someone not worthy of doing anything but quietly serving his master. And he had hoped that by keeping Yami Marik at bay, he had been doing what he could to protect the world. It had been such a complicated situation and such a sad and dark time.

Ishizu laid a hand on Rishid's and silently squeezed. She could only imagine how horrible those years had been, for both Marik and Rishid. She herself would never forget her own helplessness yet determination to save Marik from himself and from the evil being he had created.

Rishid could at least be grateful that those times were over. As they turned onto another street with local businesses, he perked up at the sight of what looked like a voodoo gift shop. "Shall we try there?" he wondered.

"Let's," Ishizu said. "If someone knowledgeable is running it, we may not need to take that tour for any reason other than to enjoy it."

Rishid pushed the door open and walked inside with Ishizu.

The interior of the shop was much like Dr. Raven's shop in some ways, but both Ishtar siblings immediately noticed a difference. The gentle candles and incense burning felt warm and welcoming to Ishizu, and the assorted beads, dolls, and figurines seemed to smile on them. Ishizu doubted that Oreo the cat would hiss at any of these objects.

"Good morning," a smiling woman greeted them, coming from around the counter. "How may I help you?"

"Good morning," Ishizu smiled back. "We're looking for some unusual information regarding voodoo that we hoped you might be able to help us with."

"I will certainly do my best," the woman said. "My name is Mama Lola, by the way."

"I am Ishizu Ishtar, and this is my brother Rishid," Ishizu announced. "We're trying to find out information about rumored vodun artifacts that might have enough power to control the world."

"Oh, I see." Mama Lola's eyes flickered and she looked troubled. "For what purpose?"

"To keep it from falling into the wrong hands," Rishid said.

"Well . . . we don't really have the power to do such things as taking over the world," Mama Lola said. "We never have."

"And yet I hear a 'but' in your sentence," Ishizu remarked.

"Someone who is practicing a corrupt form of vodun may indeed seek such a thing," Mama Lola said. "And if they tamper with things they shouldn't, they may find it."

"Oh dear," Ishizu said.

"There are always rumors that such artifacts exist," Mama Lola continued. "I don't even keep up with such stories, as there are so many."

"Can you give us any examples?" Ishizu pleaded.

"I do remember hearing of an amulet that several shady characters were looking for," Mama Lola said. "It was green and diamond-shaped, with a skull in the middle."

Ishizu perked up. There had definitely been something like that in one of the photographs Seto had found of the missing crates' contents! From Rishid's expression, he remembered it too.

"Thank you so much," Ishizu said.

"Of course," Mama Lola said. "If you do run across such an item, I hope you will be able to keep it from falling into the wrong hands."

"These 'shady characters,'" Ishizu prompted. "Who are they?"

"Mostly corrupt priests," Mama Lola said.

"Such as a Dr. Raven?" Rishid suggested.

Mama Lola paused. "I don't specifically remember hearing his name in connection with the amulet, but he is certainly someone who would be interested in something like that. Among actual practitioners of vodun, he is considered a disgrace."

"I am glad to hear that," Ishizu said. "Currently he is wanted by the police regarding the matter of trying to freeze two people to death in a walk-in freezer."

Mama Lola's eyes flashed. "I didn't know he would go quite that far. That is absolutely outrageous!"

"It most certainly is," Ishizu agreed in disgust.

"His bad actions will catch up to him eventually," Mama Lola prophesied. "I hope you will find the artifact before he does, if it truly has such power."

"Thank you," Ishizu said. "We are certainly going to keep looking."

Both siblings were in much better spirits as they left the shop. "I will call Marik right away with this news," Rishid said. "Perhaps he and Kaiba can examine the photographs more closely for the amulet in question."

Ishizu nodded. "And I suppose Mr. Lector will have to talk to his father again, this time to try to determine whether he has the amulet in his possession. I don't envy him that task. . . ."

"Nor do I," Rishid frowned as he took out his phone.

xxxx

The Tolliver Arms hotel parking lot was always very busy, so much so that the valets didn't tend to notice every vehicle there, particularly an out of the way van that every so often quietly changed its position.

Inside, Dr. Portman was hard at work. Yami Marik's magic had powered her monitors, allowing her glimpses into all the suites of the guests she was interested in. And so she watched and waited, intrigued by every new development. When anyone left the hotel, Yami Marik's magic enabled her to follow them via the monitors.

"There's always something new going on with these people," she mused. "And I would say some of them are being pushed towards their breaking points without me actually stepping in at all."

"Yes. That Dr. Raven really is good at what he does," Yami Marik sneered. "Although we're better. And I'm sure there will be a point where we can jump in and actively control a situation to make it worse."

"I'm sure as well," Portman mused. "Especially as the web tightens. They seem to be making some progress as to what this is all about, but I doubt that will solve all of their confusion. It may only make things worse."

"I can hardly wait," Yami Marik grinned.

"I'm also eager to see how Seto Kaiba and the Big Five handle their new charges as apparent heroes," Portman said. "None of them seem particularly pleased about it. It is a great deal of responsibility, and they don't seem to feel worthy to handle it. I always love that."

"Kaiba just doesn't want to have to wield magic," Yami Marik laughed. "He's always detested it. And the Big Five don't think they're hero material."

"Maybe they're not," Portman said. "But that makes things all the more fun, I'd say."

"It does indeed," Yami Marik said. "So many feelings to prey upon. Let's see what happens as they try harder to locate that mysterious amulet."

Portman paused. "If they find it, would you want it for yourself?"

"Perhaps," Yami Marik said. "Although I like my own way of spreading chaos and destruction. I'm curious to see if anyone will try to wield that amulet, and if so, what will happen if they do."

"Yes," Portman whispered. "So am I." Her eyes gleamed eerily from behind her glasses.

xxxx

It didn't take long for Seto and Marik to determine that there was indeed an amulet in one of the crates that resembled what Mama Lola had described. Armed with that knowledge, Seto sent the picture and an explanation to Lector, and with a heavy heart Lector prepared to see his father once again.

Mokuba met the Big Five as they were leaving their suite. "Hey, Lector," he greeted. "I'm really sorry about this. . . ."

Lector sighed. "He'll just deny that he has the amulet, I'm sure," he said. "But I'm not sure what else there is to try."

"There's also the possibility that it's someone in your father's organization who's doing this and not your father himself," Gansley said.

"I know," Lector agreed. "Mr. Kaiba was going to look up all of the people employed at the warehouse. I hope he has some success. I don't want the thief to be my father."

"Yeah, seriously!" Crump exclaimed. "That wouldn't just make him a hypocrite; it'd mean that he knows full well why Dr. Raven's after him and he wouldn't tell you squat!"

"I hate this," Lector said, gritting his teeth. "Not being able to trust my own father . . . !"

"I've never been able to trust my parents," Crump said. "But it'd be way worse to have been able to once and not anymore."

"You are certainly right," Lector said, rubbing his forehead.

Mokuba shifted. "Um . . . I was just thinking that maybe it would be good if someone went with you guys to talk to your dad now that we know about the amulet," he said. "Since we're supposed to defeat the 'great evil' and all. Maybe we could present that angle and see if that would get him to open up."

Lector raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to yourself, Mokuba?"

"Well . . . I thought maybe I could come and offer some support," Mokuba said. "If you'd like. . . ."

". . . It's not a bad idea," Gansley mused. "Would his heart be softened by a child?"

"I couldn't say," Lector said wearily. "Mokuba, does your brother know about this?"

Mokuba flushed. "Uh . . . I'd ask him before we'd leave, of course. . . ."

Lector shook his head. "I don't want him to think this was my idea. I raked him over the coals for using you."

"But I want to come!" Mokuba protested. "You wouldn't be using me!"

The door to the suite opened and Seto and Marik emerged, frowning at the scene. "What's going on here?" Seto asked.

Mokuba ran over to them. "Seto, I think maybe one or two of us should go with the Big Five now that we have this news about the amulet!" he pleaded.

"And you want to go?" Seto frowned.

"It was his idea, Mr. Kaiba," Lector insisted. "I did not say he could come."

Seto frowned more. "I have all this work I need to do looking up your father's employees. I can't go." He paused. "But Mokuba does have a point. I think Yugi and the Pharaoh should go with you. And maybe Marik." Another hesitation. "And if they're along, Mokuba can go with you."

Mokuba beamed. "Thanks, Seto! I'll do my best to get Mr. Leichter to tell us about the amulet." He hugged Seto and he and Marik hurried to round up Yugi and Atem.

Seto looked to Lector when Mokuba and Marik were out of earshot. "And you'd better take care of him, Lector," he growled. "He wants to go because he cares about you."

"I swear to you, Mr. Kaiba, I will guard him with my life," Lector replied.

xxxx

It was brunch at the Leichter manor when the Big Five and the others arrived. The butler let them in, his usual deadpan faltering to see them there. "Mr. Démas," he stammered.

"I suppose you weren't expecting to see me again," Lector said.

". . . It's not just that, Mr. Démas," the butler replied. "Master Leichter doesn't want to see you."

"I'm sure he doesn't," Lector said. "But I'm going to see him anyway." With that he pushed past the stymied man, the rest of the group in tow.

The butler stared after them helplessly. "He's in the . . ."

"The dining room. I know. I remember the schedule." Lector headed for the dining room.

Mr. Leichter looked up in indignation when the dining room doors flew open and his disgraced son stood there. "How dare you come back," he snarled.

Evangeline leaped up from the table. "Démas!" She beamed and ran over to him. "I was sure you'd be back!"

Lector smiled and hugged her close. "I would have said Goodbye to you in any case, Evangeline." He looked back to the table. Marie looked awkward and worriedly uncomfortable, while Mrs. Leichter tried to focus on her bacon and eggs.

Mokuba clenched a fist. He really wanted to chew them out for their behavior, especially Lector's mother. But he didn't want to cause Mr. Leichter to throw them out before they had a chance to talk about the reason for their visit, so he bit his tongue and vowed to keep quiet.

"I had a specific reason for coming here again, Father," Lector said, taking out his phone. "I wanted to show you this." He walked over to Mr. Leichter's chair, displaying the photograph of the second missing crate's contents.

The man went several shades of pale. "Where did you get that?!"

"Mr. Kaiba," Lector told him. "I see it has a profound effect on you."

"Only because no one is supposed to have that picture," Mr. Leichter sputtered. "The original is under lock and key in my warehouse's computer. Seto Kaiba must have broken the law in order to get it!"

"Is that the only reason for your reaction?" Gansley asked.

"What do you mean?" Mr. Leichter spat.

"There's something specific in this picture we wanted to point out." Atem came forward and held his forefinger to the green diamond-shaped medallion. "This piece here."

Mr. Leichter quickly brought his napkin to his lips and coughed into it. "What about it?"

"It's a vodun amulet that supposedly has the power to take control of the world," Lector said.

"If you believe that, it's one more strike against you," Mr. Leichter said in disgust. "I raised you to be a good Catholic, with none of this voodoo devilry that your mother and sisters so foolishly believe in."

Evangeline scowled at him. "It's not devilry! Anyone that uses it for evil isn't practicing true voodoo! And anyway, Daddy, you don't kick us out or think we're the lowest of the low because we believe in it."

"Evangeline!" Mrs. Leichter hissed.

"You're only acting like this because it's Démas saying it," Evangeline persisted. "But I want to hear what he has to say!"

"Dr. Raven has been looking for this amulet," Lector said. "My guess is that's the real reason why he's so angry about the missing crates."

"Even if that's true, it doesn't change anything," Mr. Leichter said. "I don't have the amulet."

"Mr. Leichter, I don't think you realize everything that's at stake here," Atem said. "The truth is, a lot of us came out here because we were told of a great evil we had to stop."

"That's right," Yugi spoke up. "We're pretty sure that evil is Dr. Raven."

"And we want to make sure he doesn't get that amulet, just in case it really does have the powers it's reported to have," Marik said.

"So if you have it, we'd really like to know," Mokuba said. "Please, Sir . . ."

"Shame on you," Mr. Leichter growled. "All of you! Coming in here, reciting this kind of nonsense! What's more, I already said I hadn't stolen those lost crates!"

"Maybe you were just trying to keep that amulet away from Dr. Raven and you weren't trying to steal all the crates," Mokuba said.

"There is no such thing!" Mr. Leichter boomed. "If he believes it, he's pathetic. If you believe it, you're just a child. But if you believe it, Démas, you should know better. Of course, you always should have known better, on everything. Get out of here, all of you!"

Crump took an angry step forward. "You ungrateful jerk!" he cried. "He only came out here for you!"

"How dare you get off talking to him that way?" Nesbitt snarled.

"Get out of here and find Dr. Raven!" Mr. Leichter yelled. "If you're out here to stop him, then do it!"

"Daddy, you're being horrible!" Evangeline declared. "You say Démas isn't being a good Catholic just if he says that amulet can supposedly take over the world, but you're not being a good Catholic if you can't forgive him for the past!"

"Evangeline, that's enough!" Mrs. Leichter burst out. "Apologize to your father!"

"No!" Evangeline screamed. "He needs to hear it!"

"What I need is for all of you people to leave!" Mr. Leichter boomed, pointing at Lector and the other visitors.

Lector gave his father a look of disgust mixed with disappointment and sorrow. "Alright, Father. This time I'm leaving for real. Don't expect to see me back." He nodded to the other unwelcoming souls at the table. "Mother. Marie."

"Démas. . . ." Evangeline hugged him again. "Please be careful. . . ."

"I will be," Lector soothed. He held her close. "I'm glad you haven't turned against me, Evangeline."

"Never," Evangeline promised.

Mokuba's eyes filled with worry as they left the manor and headed back to the van. "What do we do now?" he worried.

"I have to admit, I'm at a complete loss," Gansley said.

"I suppose if Mr. Kaiba had found anything out yet, he would have texted us," Lector said.

"He may not learn anything anyway," Atem frowned. "I can only think of one thing to do: go back to the warehouse and see if we can find out anything in the daytime."

"I can think of something else," Nesbitt said. "Why not try to talk to that Marcel Germaine and find out if Dr. Raven really is related to him? Maybe he knows where the guy lives."

"That's a good idea!" Yugi exclaimed.

Lector nodded in agreement. "We're not licked yet. We'll try that first. If Mr. Germaine doesn't have any ideas, I suppose we'll have to try the warehouse again." He sighed.

"We'll find Dr. Raven, Lector," Mokuba insisted. "And the amulet too."

"Another thing we could do is go back to that cemetery where the boys were put and see if there's any clues in the coffins," Nesbitt said.

"We'd have to sneak in somehow," Atem frowned, "since it's not open to the public."

"Actually, Ishizu and Rishid are going on a tour that will include that cemetery!" Yugi remembered. "They can check the coffins, if they spot them! Maybe the tour won't go past them. . . ."

"Or maybe Dr. Raven even went back and collected them after Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Taylor left," Lector said.

"Well, it won't hurt to ask them to try to check it out," Yugi retorted, taking out his phone to tap out a text message.

xxxx

Inside the manor, Mr. Leichter was highly restless despite the group's departure. At last, finding food a hopeless task right then, he got up and headed for the doors.

"Where are you going?" Mrs. Leichter asked in concern.

"I'll be right back," he said over his shoulder. "I just have to make a business call."

Within moments he was in his study and dialing a number. He shifted, anxious, until a voice came on the other end of the line.

"Yes, hello?" He narrowed his eyes as he looked towards the window. "I didn't want to have to resort to this, but I'm afraid we're going to have to go ahead and burn our bridges behind us, so to speak."

"Are you sure, Sir?" the other voice crackled.

"Yes," Mr. Leichter insisted. "Have them set to go off tonight."

". . . Alright, Sir. You're the boss."

He hung up the phone.