Transcending Memories – 006

Tea paced throughout the room. She watched as the guard moved around the room, checking each spot that might lead to some escape. The only person who left the room was one of the handmaidens. She left to retrieve food, water, and some gowns for Tea to wear. Tea didn't want anything from the pharaoh. Her anger had died down from his actions, but the very thought on what he said, it still made her unsure of everything that was happening. If she was honest with herself, it only proved that she needed to leave the palace and figure some way back home to her own time.

Tea stopped her pacing and took a seat in one of the chairs near the window. She watched as the shadows danced across the floor as clouds disappeared and reappeared upon the full moon. The same handmaiden moved around lighting the candles that were placed throughout the room. Tea watched as within the shadows of the drapery. It seemed as if someone was hiding within the material. When the handmaiden was finished, she bowed before Tea before walking out of the room. The guard eyed her carefully before following the young lady out of the room.

"Wow, I was wondering when they would all leave," said Mana as she moved out from the shadows and raised her arms above her head.

"What are you doing here?" asked Tea as stared at the young woman before her surprised she made it into the room especially with the guard that was placed near her.

Mana shrugged before walking back to the wall. She pressed against it causing the stone to move and small, dark hallway to appear before her. "I heard your fight with the pharaoh."

Tea dropped her head, "I never seem Atem so mad. He even threat…"

"I know what he threatened to do. That is not like him. You are wanting a way out of the palace, right?" Tea nodded. "Take these tunnels. They should lead you straight out, hopefully with no one finding out you are gone."

Tea smiled and took one of the single candles hanging near the opening. Mana smiled at her and watched as she disappeared into the darkness of the tunnels.

The tunnels were not very wide or even very tall. There were no directions. They just lead in one direction for a length of time before turning sharply left or right. Occasionally, a bright light would dance across the floor. Tea would walk to the small hole and noticed it was another room within the palace before she continued her way

zZz

Mana closed the wall behind her and walked out of the chambers, closing the door behind her. She was halfway down the corridor when Priestess Isis stopped in front. "Mana, you need to follow me," she said softly as she walked around the magician-in-training. Mana swallowed but followed as she was instructed.

"Please let Pharaoh Atem know that I am needing to speak with him," spoke the young priestess as she stopped before the chambers of the pharaoh.

One of the guards nodded before disappearing within the chambers. He reappeared moments later, "The pharaoh will receive you within the throne room."

Isis nodded and turned to head towards that direction. Mana followed, keeping quiet for she had a small idea on what was about to happen. She could only cross her fingers and pray to Ra that Tea had made her way out of the tunnels and away from the palace.

Atem was sitting within the throne when the guards open the door to allow Priestess Isis and Mana inside the huge room. He was leaning against one of his arms as he glanced out towards the women. He wasn't really in the mood to listen to anything. After the confrontation with Tea, his energy was spent. However, the only time Isis ever wanted to see him was if she saw something with Millennium Necklace.

"My pharaoh," said Isis as both her and Mana dropped down to bow before him. He nodded allowing the women to rise. "My necklace has granted me powers on seeing something that you might want to know of."

"What is it? Should I be concerned?" asked the pharaoh as he sat up in the chair.

Isis shook her head, "It is nothing dangerous, my pharaoh. More like, someone disobeyed. Mana, would you care to explain something to the pharaoh on what has transpired?"

Mana raised her hands to rest them behind her head. "Not really," she replied quickly while turning her head away from her childhood friend and mentor.

"If she will not explain, please allow me instead." Atem nodded allowing her to continue. "Your friend, she will no longer be within her room. Instead, she has taken the hidden tunnels and will be exiting them shortly."

The women didn't get a chance to say anymore. They watched as anger bled into the eyes of the pharaoh as he ran out of the throne room. Those tunnels were used when Atem was a child. He would escape from the teachers and mentors by using the tunnels. Once outside the palace, he would escape into the village before finally being caught. Nobody knew how he escaped till he was much older and both Isis and Mahad had finally caught onto him.

Atem marched through the hallways, his hands by his side within tight fists. Guards that were moving would come to complete stand still against the walls of the corridors. Even the servants were moving out of the way. He continued to the back of the palace, walking out the doors and turning a sharp right to where iron bars were covering a dark hole. He stood leaning against the wall, waiting, hoping the anger he was feeling once more would soon leave.

zZz

Tea kept looking through each bright light, hoping that one was leading her outside the palace. After three turns, her legs were beginning to burn. Finally, after another three turns, she noticed a bright light at the end of the tunnel. This light was different from the previous ones. A smile broke across her face as she realized this was the end. She quickly quickened her speed before arriving before the iron bars. They were not attached but used to close the hole and prevent others from entering.

Tea breathed with realization that she finally made it outside, that she would be able to make her way from the castle and hopefully find some solution back to her time. She wouldn't allow her existence in a time she didn't belong cause any issues. Pushing against the bars, she stepped outside and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze upon her skin.

"Did you really think you could escape?" Tea gasped and quickly turned. Atem stood leaning against the wall, his arms crossed against his chest. Tea couldn't see his eyes for they were hidden by the few bangs that fell across his face.

Tea took a step backwards, but Atem was much quicker. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. She wrestled against his arm causing both to stumble and fall upon the ground with him on top. Atem growled deeply as he gripped the young woman's hands within his own. He placed his legs over her own, forcing her to stop and look him in the eye. He saw the fear dancing upon her azure eyes, but this time, he wasn't about to go soft.

Rolling to the side with the young dancer's hands still within his tight grip, he pulled the sash from his attire and tied them around her wrists. Her eyes were wide and her mouth voiceless as she watched him tie the sash into a strong knot. He rose to his feet, dragging her with him. Once at the gate, a guard moved to take Tea from Atem, but the pharaoh shook his head. He didn't care what people thought of him. Even though he was pharaoh, this young woman had pushed his limits.

Tea tried pulling away from him. He shouldn't be doing this. He had a kingdom to rule, a marriage that he needed to go through with. He didn't have the time to deal with a young woman trapped within either a strange dream or a time period that she didn't belong. Atem felt her tug against him. Rolling his eyes, he turned and grabbed the young woman around her waist, lifting her from the ground, and throwing her over his shoulder.

"Atem, stop this at once. You are pharaoh. Put me down. This isn't right," yelled Tea as she banged her tied hands against the back of the young man.

Atem shook his head as he turned down one of the corridors, "You are making this difficult. I already explain to you that the marriage between Lady Ebonee and myself is over. I rather court you, instead."

"Don't be stupid about this. I am from another time. I should be working towards finding a way home, not messing with your future."

Atem stopped near a wall, banging his free fist against it. "Damn it Tea. I don't want you to leave. Losing you destroyed me. I will not allow that to happen again."

"You know this isn't right, though. I shouldn't be here, as much as we both wish for it."

Atem dropped his head, allowing his bangs to cover his eyes. Pushing away, he continued marching down the corridors towards the door that lead stairs below. Tea's eyes widen as she watched the long hallway become dark. He reached for a single torch, never stopping to look over at his shoulder towards her.

After a few minutes of complete silence, Tea was pulled over and placed upon her feet. Atem stepped back, torch in hand but also a set of keys. Once more the young dancer's eyes widen as she watched iron bars close, separating her from the pharaoh. She ran to the bars and gripped them tightly. "You can't do this," Tea yelled, fear leaking into her eyes.

Crossing his arms over his chest the pharaoh turned to the side, "Yes, I can. Just because you are my friend, doesn't give you rights to move around and speak to me as you did. Maybe a night here will teach you some respect."

"Atem, please. This isn't right."

No respond back, just the echoes of footsteps walking away. Tea stepped away and dropped to her knees. Okay, she might have argued with him, but she was only saying the truth. Tea recalled seeing the tomb with Ishizu. Everyone watched him disappear to the afterlife through the doorway after his duel with Yugi. She even recalled the memory of him coming to her room, of what almost happened.

Tears began to pool and drop onto the sandstone floor. As much as it felt to be back in his arms, Tea knew that this was just some weird dream. She couldn't really be back in the past. She really had to find some solution on getting away from the palace and back to her time.

As time dragged on, the young dancer knew that the pharaoh wasn't returning. However, just as she was going to close her eyes, a shadow developed over her. Tea looked up as a silent scream echoed her lips.

a/n: Short chapter, but I promise there is more to come.