The Priestess Legacy
Chapter 9
Deal With a Demon
Téa ran down the stairs of the palace, pushing various servants aside as she rushed to the palace courtyard. She met up with Mana as the young priestess emerged from another passage.
"Teana, what's going on?" Mana asked, following her.
"I don't know, but it's big!" Téa called back. The two emerged from the palace doors, and Téa's mind got ahead of her. "Kaiba!" She shrieked, running to the limp form laid out on a stone bench. The assembled people parted for the High Priestess as she ran to Seth's side and knelt down. "What happened?" She asked.
"He was attacked by Barakhan no doubt." Darek growled. "And what is worse, his Millennium Item is missing."
"It would seem we have vastly underestimated Barakhan." Otogi admitted. "And now he will be as dangerous as ever." Téa slid Seth's arm over her shoulder and pulled him to his feet.
"Let me see him." Peimune said, cupping Seth's chin and holding his head up. The Millennium Eye gleamed for a moment. "This is not good, his soul has been drained of much strength."
"He'll live, right?" Téa asked. Peimune nodded.
"Yes, but it will not be an easy recovery. Give him to me, I shall take him to his chambers to rest." Peimune took Seth from Téa and walked into the palace, Darek and Otogi following him.
"With the Pharaoh out of commission, how shall we repel Barakhan's attacks?" Darek asked. "We could barely equal him united, and now he has a Millennium Item."
"I do not know. The apprentices are not yet ready, but if he returns we will have no choice but to increase the pace of their training." Peimune replied.
"His powers are greater than any of us expected. To think that Barakhan may yet live to see another Pharaoh fall." Otogi muttered. As the three priests continued down the corridor, the door to the library opened, and Roslyn stepped out to watch them, blinking silently.
- - - - - - - - - -
"There must be some way in." Yugi protested. He and Yami had traveled around the entire outer wall of the palace, and so far there was no way in."
"There is a way Yugi. Remember, spies have been sneaking into the palace for years, well before my time. We will get inside." The two were walking by the gates of the palace, when Yugi stopped and looked up at them sadly.
"She's in there, I know it." Yugi whispered. Then, the doors to the palace slowly creaked open as teams of servants pushed them open. Two people walked out, and Yugi gasped.
"Duke…Mai?" Yugi asked, staring at the two figures in disbelief.
"We have not actively hunted Ka for quite some time." Otogi said.
"We have no choice, we will need the reinforcements. Find anyone who bears darkness in their mind." Mai instructed. "But do not extract their Ka right away, we shall let Darek the Millennium Scale judge when he is done seeing to Seth's care."
"Agreed." Otogi replied.
"What happened?" Yugi asked, watching them walk into the village.
"It would appear that Seth has been injured somehow." Yami explained. "Yugi, now would be the time to enter the palace, if ever." Yugi nodded and turned to the closing gates. Then his eyes widened.
"TÉA!" He yelled, running into the courtyard.
"I'm worried which of us he'll come after next." Mana was standing to Téa talking when Yugi skidded to a halt in front of them.
"I don't want you to get afraid, but you do own the Millennium Ring, the Item Barakhan once used." Téa pointed out. "He may come after you."
"Let him try, like Mahad before me, I'll give him hell." Mana sniffed, crossing her arms.
"I've no doubt of that." Téa laughed.
"Téa! Téa, listen to me!" Yugi said. Téa frowned and turned to him. "Yes! Téa!"
"Yugi…" Yami whispered, realizing what had been escaping him.
"What is it Teana?" Mana asked. Téa looked around the empty courtyard and shrugged.
"I'm not sure." She said. "Anyway, let's head inside, I want to check on Seth." Mana nodded, and the two walked inside.
"Téa, what's going on?" Yugi yelled.
"She can't see you Yugi." Yami said, shaking his head. "And evidently can't hear you either." Yugi fell to his knees as Téa and Mana vanished from view.
"So how the hell are we supposed to rescue her?" He spat. Yami reached out and pulled Yugi to his feet.
"I don't know." Yami admitted. "For now I think we should take a look around the palace. We must find out if anyone else can see us, and what has happened to Seth." Yami stepped towards the palace, and stopped when he noticed Yugi didn't follow. "Yugi." He called.
"I'm coming." Yugi grumbled, walking past him.
- - - - - - - - - -
Roslyn walked down a flight of stairs, turning down a side corridor. She opened a door to a small storage area and slipped inside.
"So, you decided to show up." Roslyn jumped as Barakhan stepped out from behind a shelf.
"Did you attack Seth?" Roslyn asked. Barakhan smiled.
"I recall some sort of event with him." He mused, pulling the Millennium Puzzle from his robe and hanging it around his neck. "Why do you ask? Don't tell me you actually care."
"He's the Pharaoh, of course I care." Roslyn protested.
"Yes, the same Pharaoh who disgraced you in front of the entire palace." Barakahn reminded. Roslyn visibly flinched but had no other reaction. "So, have you made a decision yet?"
"That depends. I know you, or at least know what kind of man you are." Roslyn said, crossing her arms. "You'll want something in return, and I want to know what before I agree to help." Barakhan sighed.
"Fair enough I suppose. I want you to help me in destroying the palace and collecting the Millennium Items." He explained. Roslyn's eyes widened.
"You can't serious." She cried. "You expect me to help you?"
"Why not? I'm offering power beyond your comprehension."
"Just what type of power?" Roslyn asked.
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss the full details with someone who may not be loyal. But I can tell you that the power I can give you will surpass even that of the Egyptian God monsters. Once I give you that power, I ask for your assistance in destroying the palace. After that, our debt is done and you may do whatever you wish." Roslyn thought for a moment, and sighed heavily.
"What do I have to do?" She asked. Barakhan stepped behind a shelf and beckoned Roslyn forward. Roslyn followed him to see a small window showing Téa and Mana entering the palace below.
"See her?" Barakhan asked, pointing to Mana. "It's quite simple." He drew his dagger and stuck it under Roslyn's nose. "Stick this, in that."
"Y-you want me to kill Priestess Mana?" Roslyn gasped, stepping back. Barakhan rolled his eyes.
"It's not a large step for you, is it? Let's be honest, you have a bit of practice with killing priestesses, don't you?" Roslyn's head snapped to the side as if she had been struck. "It is not too late for you to back out. If killing the priestess is too much for you, then I'll settle for her Millennium Item. That Ring holds a great deal of sentimental value to me, and I would like it back in my hands."
"You have a Millennium Item already." Roslyn said, pointing to the Millennium Puzzle around Barakhan's neck.
"It's not enough. All seven Millennium Items must be mine is I am to achieve my desires. They will be mine in due time with or without your help. However, I will admit that your assistance will make the task easier, which is why I am extending this offer to you and you alone."
"Yeah, that's another thing I don't understand." Roslyn said, crossing her arms. "Why me, of all the other Apprentices, why me?" Barakhan smiled.
"True, any of them would have done nicely. But you were different. I sensed a heart of darkness beating in your chest the moment I saw you. You were destined to follow a dark path Roslyn, I'm just helping you see that and decide which path." A lie, of course. He had just chosen her randomly. But the more she thought she was fated for darkness the better.
"You don't mean that. No one is destined to be evil." Roslyn said, shaking her head.
"Fine, believe whatever you wish. But sooner or later you will succumb to darkness. So, will you kill for me or not?" Roslyn gulped and stared at Barakhan's outstretched hand, holding his dagger out to her. With a shaking hand, she reached out and slowly curled her fingers around the weapon.
"Excellent." Barakhan sneered.
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