Chapter 12: Loose Ends

"I offer my deepest condolences to the both of you." High Priestess Isis said, hands held behind her back, standing in the middle of the Pharaoh's bedroom, facing the open closet door. "A miscarriage is a true tragedy, and for it to happen within the palace of the Pharaoh is truly sad."

Teana was within the large closet, picking items off of the rack, throwing them into a large burlap sack behind her. Atemu sat on the opposite side of the room, in his desk chair that he had pulled out to the foot of his bed. He sat back in it, lands folded in his lap, staring at her as she made her choices. High Priest Seto stood at his side.

"And I also extend my condolences for the unfortunate state of your marriage. It is truly a shame that it has come to this. But, perhaps it is for the better." Isis added as Teana poked her head out of the closet.

"I'm finished." She said hoarsely, her cheek still a faint red from the previous night.

Isis beckoned toward the door, and two muscular guards entered. Teana pushed the large sack out into the main room, where the two men took it between them and began to carry it from the room.

"I'll escort you to your new home." Isis offered as Teana came up to her. "It's a nice little house, downtown, good neighborhood. We'll make sure you're taken care of."

"Oh-thank you." Teana said in barely a whisper. "You don't have to-"

"I insist." She took her right hand between hers. "You've been through a lot, I want to be there for you. You're still part of the royal family, I want you to know that. We're here to support you."

Teana gave a tiny nod. "Thank you. I think I have everything."

"Let's go." She moved toward the door, Teana following for a few steps. When they got to the door, Teana slowed to a halt and looked back at her former husband.

Isis turned to look back at her from the adjacent room. "Teana?"

"Go on ahead. I'll meet up with you in a bit." She replied. Isis nodded, walking off right behind the two large guards.

The outside door closed, leaving just the three individuals in the area.

She stared at him for some seconds, mouth open a crack as she tried to figure out what to say. Nothing came to her. Atemu simply sat there, returning the stare. Seto uneasily glanced back and forth between the two, afraid to say anything.

She turned to leave, and Atemu took that moment to finally open his mouth.

"Do you think Anubis will take pity on you because you're stupid?" He hissed, drawing her eyes back to him. "What you've done here will offend Anubis more than anything else you could have possibly done. Do you honestly believe the gods will pat you on the back when you stand to be judged in the afterlife, congratulate you for having high moral character? Anubis will not let you into the land of the Two Fields just because you're stupid."

She swallowed audibly, taking a deep breath, then turned to leave again. Again, Atemu held her there with another parting barb.

"I should have seen this coming." He rasped, again prompting her to turn back around, just a half step outside the room. "You could never understand. Never grasp the gravity of a Pharaoh's responsibilities. There's no god in you. You're just a mortal. A spoiled, bratty mortal. An outsider. I...foolishly...foolishly...thought I could bring you in. How stupid I was, you could never understand." He swallowed, adam's apple pulsing. "I should have known you'd turn on me. You mortals aren't fit for this. There's no god in you."

She sniffled a few times, looking down at the ground in front of Atemu. Slowly, she opened her mouth. "I thank the gods that there is none of them in me."

Atemu stood up from the chair, Teana drawing back slightly in surprise. Each step taken heavily, he approached her, she bravely standing her ground. Seto watched, forehead wrinkled in worry, carefully watching the scene.

She started to shake a little, eyes reflecting fear, but did not budge even as Atemu stood just a step in front of her, just within the threshold of his bedroom door. With wide eyes, he looked her up and down, before finally reaching to grab the door to his left. Slowly, he eased it shut, their stares not dropping as the slit they viewed each other shrunk to nothing.

Finally, the door slid shut and Atemu turned back to his High Priest, face still that unreadable, stony mask.

"Mighty Pharaoh, I...I don't know what to say." Seto blurted out as Atemu slowly walked back toward his chair. "I have little tongue for these sorts of things. I feel awful for your loss."

Silently, Atemu sat down in the chair, glaring at the still-open closet.

"It's truly a terrible thing to lose a child and a wife. I can only imagine the turmoil in your mind right now." Seto continued. "But-" Atemu turned to glare at him, sending a crackle through his nerves. "...but. With all due respect, and I mean no offense, a miscarriage is a freak accident." He swallowed hard as Atemu continued to direct his fiery stare at him. "I know you're mad at her for other reasons, but...perhaps your anger is not entirely...not...entirely..." his tongue frantically searched for the right word, his face going red as he failed to find it.

Atemu looked behind Seto, at the closed door to the room, then back to him. "It wasn't a miscarriage." He mumbled, turning back to the closet door.

"Sir, I'm sorry?" He leaned forward slightly.

"It wasn't a miscarriage." He repeated, voice irritable. "It was an abortion."

Seto blinked several times in quick succession, then shook his head rapidly. "An...an abortion?" He repeated stupidly. "Wh-...no, that's...that's insane. That's...what are you talking about?"

"An abortion." He spat, looking up at his high priest. "You know what that word means?"

"Ye-...of course I do, sir. It-it's unthinkable, why would she-"

"Yes." He stood up, walking toward the door that Teana had just departed through. "Why would she?"

Seto quickly followed, face still flushed. "My Pharaoh, are you positive?"

"She looked me in the eye and told me." Atemu replied, moving to the desk near the back, windowed wall of his pseudo-work room. "Produced paperwork and everything."

"Oh...oh, gods." He watched Atemu sit himself down on the large, cushioned chair behind his desk. "I am...exceedingly sorry, had I know, I would never have-"

Atemu waved his hand dismissively at Seto. "I don't know what to think, High Priest. I don't know what to do."

"Well..." Seto cleared his throat. "I...I don't know what to say. I...I suppose she's gone now. Out of the palace. Living in the city."

Atemu squinted at the desk surface in front of him. "Is that enough?"

"I would never try to defend what she did. No one could." Seto assured the man he served. "But perhaps the best thing to do now is purge her from your mind. Focus on the triumphs of your armies, the expansion of your lands. Perhaps take another wife, one wh-"

Atemu slammed his right fist down on the desk, silencing Seto instantly. "I will not allow another mortal woman into into the royal family!" He shouted. "They're a poison, Seto. A disease, intent on destroying us from the inside out. We have to be kept separate. I see it now."

Seto closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to settle himself. "My Pharaoh. I feel I would be doing you a disservice if I did not remind you that your mother is a mortal woman."

Atemu reached for a large glass bottle on the desk in front of him with a yellow liquid inside, popping the cork out of the neck and taking a large swig from it. He slammed it back down, a tiny smirk on his lips. "Yes. I wonder how my father did it?"

"Did what, my Pharaoh?" Seto asked, shuffling toward the smaller chair on the other side of the desk.

"My mother." Atemu said, his voice low. "Sit down." He pointed at the chair. "My mother always kept her mouth shut, never whined or complained, and just sat back and enjoyed the royal life. What did he do that I didn't?"

Seto took a seat as instructed, sucking in another deep breath. "What will you do?"

Atemu shook his head. "I don't know. I won't decide now. Even now my anger controls me."

Seto nodded. "I'm sorry."

Atemu leaned his head back against the back of his chair, contemplating the ceiling. "Nothing changes. The attacks continue as planned."

"Of course." Seto stood up, bowing. "I should go."

"Seto." Atemu said sharply as the High Priest turned to leave. "No one finds out. No one."

"Of course."

"No one." Atemu repeated, his glare focused at the back of Seto's head. "That includes Isis, that includes Mahad, that includes your albino girlfriend."

"It will never leave this room." Seto assured him.

Atemu nodded, taking another deep drink from the bottle as Seto departed.

""""

The aged, wrinkled, yet still beautiful figure of once-queen Amaunet lay on the stone tablet, placed just outside of the palace entrance hall, near the top of the marble steps. Hands clasped over her chest, eyes closed, face blank of all expression. Two tall, muscular guards flanked the long stone slab. Atemu stood just in front of it, looking down the stairs at the massive congregation of Egyptians that covered the entire marble staircase and much of the courtyard below.

"My father found Amaunet around thirty five years ago. She wanted to become a dancer in the palace. She was very good. My father liked what he saw. And, of course, eventually my father took a special interest in her. As is the nature of the way things work, she found her way into my father's bedchamber." He paused. "By all reliable sources, she was very good at that too."

A throng of laughs came from the crowd, Atemu smiling and nodding along with them.

"She was a wonderful woman." Atemu continued. "Behind great men sit great women, and my father was no exception. She always stood behind him, always offering advice, always keeping him grounded. She was very intelligent, always keeping up on the affairs of the day. She didn't just want to sit there and look pretty all the time." He raised his right fist up to his mouth, clearing his throat. "As a mother, she was always supportive, a kind and loving figure. I could ask for no better parent. She taught me so much. I am happy that she was able to die of natural causes, warm in her bed, surrounded by the people she knew and loved. She truly deserved at least that much. She deserves much more. I hope her dwelling in the afterlife is more magnificent than any one we could grant her in the mortal realm."

Everyone broke out into applause for several seconds, Atemu scanning the crowd with his eyes.

"Today is a day for paying your respects to former Queen Amaunet." He gestured toward her lifeless body. "You will all have the opportunity to see her up close, perhaps say a little prayer, before this day is done. Follow the instructions of the soldiers, they'll organize the line."

With that, he turned around and swept past the stone table, buzzing of the crowd kicking up behind him. He quickly retreated back into the palace, where Seto and Isis were waiting for him.

"A splendid speech, my Pharaoh." Seto bowed, Isis copying him at his side.

"Truly, today is a sad day. You have been through much pain over the past weeks." Isis added thoughtfully.

"There is no sorrow in today." Atemu corrected. "My mother lived a good, happy life, and died of natural causes. I meant what I said out there. There's no sorrow in dying of old age." He heaved a sigh, glancing back out at her corpse. "Although...I do regret these last weeks."

The two high priests held silent as Atemu stood there, chewing on his bottom lip.

"I've been so...so pre-occupied." He moaned. "I knew she didn't have much time left. I wish I had spent more time talking to her. Now, she's gone and I can't help but feel she deserved more of my attention."

"You have been very busy." Seto said. "I'm sure she would understand."

"This feels so...sudden." He lamented, turning back to face his priests and starting to trudge past them into the main hall. "I wish there had been more time."

"I wish you the best, my Pharaoh." Isis said, bowing. "I have to go tend to my flock." With that, she departed their company.

Atemu waited for her echoing footsteps to die off before turning to Seto. "Walk with me."

Seto complied as he began heading deeper into the palace.

"So, are things proceeding well?" Atemu questioned as they swept into a hallway, carpeted with persian rugs.

"Athens will fall by morning." Seto assured him as they turned into a stairwell. "That I can promise."

"Very good. The remaining remnants of greece will be forced to the north. Without their precious capital, they'll have nothing to rally behind." The pair ascended the stone steps. "It's been a long time since an entire country was wiped from the map."

"Congratulations, sir. As for our special prisoner, I think if you head down there tonight you'll be very pleased with what you see." Seto adjusted the shoulders of his shirt to line up with his body better.

"I want him entirely broken." Atemu came up to the door that led into his double-chambered bedroom, twisting the doorknob. "Nothing left of his pride."

"He's been begging the interrogators to let him see you for hours now." Seto followed the Pharaoh into the shelf-lined room. "I think he's ready to say whatever you want him to say."

"Good. Very good." Atemu spun into the chair on the far side of the desk as Seto came to seat on the chair on the opposing side. "Tonight...should be a good night."

"Absolutely." Seto paused, licking his upper lip. His stomach tightened as he felt the conversation approaching a place he didn't feel comfortable with.

"There's something I'd like you to do for me tonight." Atemu said. Seto's heart accelerated.

"Anything, my Pharaoh." Seto said inspite of his fear.

"We still have to deal with the traitor." Atemu said simply, leaning back in his chair.

Seto blinked a couple times before giving his head a couple shakes. "The...the traitor?"

"Yes. You remember, don't you?" Atemu cocked his head.

"I...I thought that issue had been...handled." Seto said delicately, leaning forward toward the large wooden desk.

"I know who it is." Atemu said, his face void of emotion.

Seto suddenly swung his head around, hands raised up to his head. But a quick look around revealed nobody in the room. He heard Atemu chuckling behind him, and quickly turned back to face him, going red.

"My apologies." He mumbled, eyes slightly downcast.

"Don't worry, I know it's not you." Atemu comforted. "But you already knew that."

"But...you mean to say that my father-"

"Your father loved Egypt, and served me faithfully until the moment he died." Atemu said, finality in his voice. "I never suspected him."

Seto squinted at the Pharaoh. "B-but-"

"That was a test. I wanted to see how the rest of my inner circle would react to my accusation." Atemu explained. "I had full confidence he was not the traitor, and given his track record, so should the rest of the inner circle. And they all vouched for his loyalty, with one exception."

Seto swallowed hard, hanging onto Atemu's every word.

"Buhen seemed to think the idea had merit. Said the pieces fell into place." Atemu recalled. "Everyone else couldn't wait to remind me of Aknadin's loyal service to Egypt all these years."

"You mean...you think Buhen took the opportunity to try to deflect suspicion from himself?" Seto said, realizing immediately after that his words sounded rather stupid and he was simply stating the obvious. He bit his tongue.

"Yes. That's exactly what I mean." Atemu nodded. "It was a lead. Nothing definite, but something. This morning, however, my suspicions were confirmed."

He rolled a piece of parchment in front of him across the desk, flying off of it and toward Seto, who caught it and opened it. His eyes scanned the page.

"It's the schedule for the shift change at the Thief King's cell." Atemu explained. "As you can see, the times have been altered very slightly."

"Hardly the picture of ideal security." Seto admitted. "It looks like there might even be a short window where-"

"The cage is unguarded." Atemu finished. "It would probably amount to nothing, the Thief King has many more obstacles to overcome than just the guards. However, it would present at least a crack he might attempt to squeeze through."

"Who wrote this up?" Seto asked, brow furrowing. "Are you saying that Buhen did this?"

"I've been watching him carefully over the past weeks." Atemu picked a reed pen off of his desk and tossed it up into the air. "Buhen was behind it."

"That's...stupid." Seto tossed the paper back onto the desk. "It would never work, and someone was sure to notice anyway."

"It's a desperate move, made by a desperate man." Atemu agreed, nodding. "Practically no chance of success, but at this point I suspect it was the best he could do." He steepled his fingers in front of his chest. "There's no doubting it. Buhen allied himself with the Thief King, at some time months back, and has been conspiring against me ever since. My paranoia seemed to keep him from doing too much damage, but I have no doubt he has done many things to disadvantage me in recent times."

Seto cleared his throat. "How would you have me handle it?"

"I've already sent a thousand soldiers to place him under house arrest. You're going to go talk to him, I can not stomach seeing him right now."

"Yes, but what is to be his punishment?" Seto asked.

Atemu looked up at the ceiling, realizing the reed pen had lodged itself into the ceiling. Shaking his head, he looked back at his High Priest. "He and his family have served Egypt for so long, it's almost...unthinkable that it could come to this." He shrugged. "Offer him the easy way out."

"Understood." Seto stood up, bowed, and quickly attempted to turn to leave.

"I'm sorry about your father." Atemu said to his retreating back, causing him to spin back around. "I never suspected him of treason, and I never wanted him to die."

"I understand fully, my Pharaoh. It is I who should apologize for doubting your wisdom." Seto insisted, bowing again. He tried to turn again to leave, but Atemu held him there with his words.

"There's one more thing." Atemu said, looking at the door to the other section of his bedroom, to his right. "I swore to myself I'd do nothing while my mother was still alive, but now...I need to make a decision."

Seto closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, before turning around. "Yes, my Pharaoh?"

"I promised myself I wouldn't touch her so long as my mother resided in the realm of the mortals. It would have been an insult to her to do such things with her still alive."

Slowly, Seto walked toward Atemu, feeling his pulse quickening. He wanted nothing to do with this.

"It's been three weeks since she told me. Three weeks since she left. I don't know what to do." Atemu looked down at the desk in front of him helplessly. "I have been consumed by these thoughts every night, even amidst everything else. I remain angry, but that anger no longer controls me, I know I'm ready to make a decision. But I don't know what to do."

Seto again sighed, then began to speak. "I could not possibly relate to the tragedy you have experienced, so it's difficult for me to offer anything meaningful in advice."

"I value your input in all things, High Priest." Atemu insisted. "What should I do?" He tapped his forehead against the desk surface, letting it rest there. "I loved her once. She was once a beautiful young girl, become a beautiful woman. I wanted to grow old with her. I promised her we'd grow old together. But...but this. She killed my child. Killed a potential heir to the throne, a being with the blood of the gods running through it's veins. As surely as if she took a knife and carved it's heart out, she killed my child."

"What she did is...unforgivable." Seto said carefully, Atemu still resting his head on the desk. "A horrible, inhumane act. However, all she wanted was to leave the palace. She has that now, she has no reason to hurt you ever again. She possesses no means to hurt you. Perhaps the move is to simply let things be."

"And let her win?" He growled, picking up his head a half inch to slam it back down onto the desk.

"It's not about winning or losing, my Pharaoh." Seto said quickly. "Do you honestly believe she'll enjoy the rest of her life? Out on the streets after ten years of palace life, the knowledge that she murdered her own child...to say nothing of the punishment that Anubis will hand to her in the afterlife. Perhaps the gods should decide her punishment."

"Am I not the mortal extension of the gods?" Atemu straightened himself back out in his chair, flattening his shirt on his chest. "By all rights, I am a god."

"I really don't know what to say." Seto rubbed his forehead with his right hand.

"I...I think I know what I need to do." Atemu looked up at the ceiling. "I think I've known for awhile. I just couldn't do it while my mother was alive." He closed his eyes, sighing. "Oh, who am I kidding? I don't know what I need to do."

"You don't have to decide right now." Seto shrugged. "We do have other business to attend to."

"Come see me before sunrise tomorrow." Atemu stood up. "I need to sleep on this one last time."

"Very good, sir." Seto left his chair as well. "I'll be here."

""""

The crowd had been worked into a frenzy by the time Atemu actually stepped beyond his palace walls. He surveyed the scene with satisfaction. The Thief King had been tied to a stake, hands above his head, just outside of the cage. His half dozen interrogators waited on the opposite side of him, watching as the Pharaoh slowly approached what remained of his foe.

His skin hung from his body in testament to all he had been put through over the past moon cycle, deep cuts, gashes and bruises in every imaginable place. His torso had been shrunk due to lack of food, showcasing every last one of his ribs. But Atemu knew his agony went far beyond what was physically seen. He knew of the many forms of pain that left no marks, for one, but the psychological impact of being in this position alone would drive Bakura to madness. He had been coming down to see him every few days ever since his torture began, and had thoroughly enjoyed watching the pride get beat out of him.

Bakura meekly looked down at the ground as Atemu approached, eyes wide in fear.

"Well. They say you've been wanting to tell me something?" Atemu said, coming to a stop just in front of him.

"Y-yes, almighty Pharaoh." Bakura said, voice trembling.

Atemu smiled. He recalled the many days on which Bakura had simply spit in his face, saying that he'd never give him the satisfaction. Or the times he had haughtily agreed to take back his insults in exchange for death. Or his offerings to acknowledge him as the true Pharaoh. Or his many offers of humiliation and supplication. But Atemu was a thorough man, and he wanted to purge every last piece of dignity from his being before he ended this. Every time, he had still seen a tiny glimmer of pride in him, but this time...perhaps he would get what he wanted.

"Well, what is it?" Atemu prodded, as the crowd fell deathly silent.

"I...please, mighty Pharaoh Atemu." His voice continued to quiver. "Let me serve you. Grant me the honor of serving you, following your orders."

Atemu put his arms at his sides, nodding. "Good, very good. Now, who am I?"

"The most powerful mortal on the planet, the finest Pharaoh Egypt has ever seen." Bakura blurted out, his face beet red with embarrassment.

"And who are you?" Atemu continued, smirking as he bent down to look at Bakura's face.

"A pitiful lowlife who deserves to suffer all the pain the mortal world can inflict for my blasphemy." Bakura answered, his face burning with the hot sweat of shame.

"Did you all hear that?" Atemu called out, and a roar of approval echoed through the Egyptian evening. "Now, do you remember what you said when I first brought you here, nearly a moon ago?"

"Y-yes, mighty Pharaoh." Bakura replied, forcing himself to speak the words he knew the Pharaoh wanted to hear.

"You said no amount of pain could force you to stoop so low." Atemu recalled wistfully. "What do you think now?"

"Foolish, stupid words spoken by a foolish stupid man!" He exclaimed, shutting his eyes and hanging his head.

"Yes. Now, here's what I want from you." Atemu pressed his right index finger into the center of Bakura's chest, drawing a cry of pain. "I want you to say, that I am the rightful Pharaoh, and that your Thief King lineage is made up entirely of pathetic lowlifes."

Bakura swallowed hard as Atemu withdrew his finger. "You are the rightful Pharaoh, the Thief King lineage is made up of pathetic lowlifes." He said in a labored whisper.

"Louder." Atemu demanded.

"You are the rightful Pharaoh, the Thief Kings were pathetic lowlifes!" He yelped.

"Pretend this crowd is your gang of bandits, and you're giving them one of your little speeches." Atemu gestured out toward the crowd. "Put some life into it."

"You are the rightful Pharaoh, the Thief Kings were pathetic lowlifes!" He said, even louder, the crowd cheering at his humilating predicament.

"MORE!" Atemu roared, throwing his arms up into the air.

"YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL PHARAOH, THE THIEF KINGS WERE PATHETIC LOWLIFES!" Bakura was very nearly at tears, so thorough was his humiliation, but he had already resolved to do whatever it took to end this.

"THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU IN THE BACK!" Atemu screamed, eyes wild with glee as he continued to point out into the sea of people.

"YOU ARE THE RIGHTFUL PHARAOH, THE THIEF KINGS WERE PATHETIC LOWLIFES!" He hollered at the top of his lungs.

"Yes! Yes, very good!" Atemu enthused, moving around the bound and broken Thief King. "Now. The legend of the Blade of Heliopolis is a lie, you are a worthless mortal."

"THE LEGEND OF THE BLADE OF HELIOPOLIS IS A LIE, I AM A WORTHLESS MORTAL!" Bakura repeated.

"You are a disgusting blasphemer, and spreader of lies who deserves to suffer." Atemu added.

"I AM A DISGUSTING BLASPHEMER AND SPREADER OF LIES WHO DESERVES TO SUFFER!" Bakura screeched.

"GOOD! Yes, very good! I told you I would break you. I told you you would lie at my feet before I was done." He pointed at one of the interrogators, who quickly moved forward and sliced the rope that held up the hands of the Thief King. He fell to his knees, right in front of the Pharaoh. "Didn't I tell you that?"

"Y-yes mighty Pharaoh, you did. And you have." Bakura said, quickly collapsing to a prone position out of exhaustion.

"Now." He bent down over Bakura, enjoying himself immensely. "Is there anything you would like from me?"

Bakura again swallowed down some bile. "I most humbly beg for death, almighty Pharaoh." He mumbled.

"Now now, don't leave our adoring audience out of this." Atemu chided, again gesturing his right hand out toward the masses.

"I MOST HUMBLY BEG FOR DEATH!" He screamed, tears now streaming down his face.

"And why would I ever give you that?" Atemu said impishly, left hand on his chin.

"PLEASE!" He looked up desperately at Atemu. "Please, mighty Pharaoh, please! I MOST HUMBLY BEG FOR THE HONOR OF BEING PUT TO DEATH BY YOU, MIGHTY PHARAOH!" He buried his head back into the sands in front of him, utterly defeated.

"As you wish." He looked over at his interrogators and pointed down at Bakura. "Get him down to you-know-who. She'll know exactly what to do."

They nodded, bowing before moving forward to grab the broken Thief King.

"You have failed to live up to your reputation." Atemu whispered into Bakura's ear as he was lifted up. "Your ancestors would be disappointed.

Bakura could do nothing but give a great groan as he was pulled away amidst the jeers of thousands of Egyptians.

""""

"Seto! What is this madness!" Buhen exclaimed, Seto having just walked into Buhen's courtyard. The entire palace had been surrounded by armed Egyptian soldiers, a few of them immediately shutting the iron gate behind Seto after he stepped through. "They, they won't let me leave, they-"

"That's quite enough." Seto interrupted. "We already know."

Buhen scratched his tanned bald head. "What are you talking about-"

"The Pharaoh already found out. He's already made up his mind. You playing dumb isn't going to help anything." Seto said sternly, crossing his arms over his chest, towering over the much shorter man.

Buhen looked down at the ground, licking his lips. Finally, he rose back up to face the High Priest. "I was afraid of that." He mumbled.

"I'm disappointed." Seto said grimly. "Your family has served this country for half a dozen generations."

Buhen pursed his lips, tapping his right foot.

"Do you even comprehend the magnitude of this?" Seto hissed, leaning in closer. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Hey, look, I'm sorry to let you down!" He exclaimed, holding his hands out in front of him. "I mean, who do you think you are, my-"

"Oh, gods." Seto rubbed his eyes with his right hand. "What, you think this is a joke? You think this is funny?"

"You don't get it!" Buhen threw his arms out at his sides. "Half a dozen generations, what do I got to show for it?"

"A palace." Seto answered flatly. "A position within the inner circle. A guaranteed place in the Two Fields in the afterlife."

"You wouldn't understand, you've been pegged for the High Priest position since you and Atemu were playing hide and seek back more than two decades ago." Buhen retorted. "After all my family has done for Egypt, I'm not even looked at. What about me? Maybe I'm sick of being the fifth wheel."

"You're wasting your time if you're trying to justify yourself to me." Seto said coldly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You don't get it! What was I supposed to do? This Thief King came to me, said that if I gave him a hand, he'd make me the High Priest when he was finished taking over." Buhen explained.

"Thief King Bakura is a madman. If you'd honestly help him usurp the throne, you must possess no true love for Egypt." Seto glanced up at Buhen's palace entrance.

"I don't know if you've noticed, High Priest, but there's not much of a difference anymore! That man you serve isn't the saint you imagine him to be!" Buhen pointed in the general direction of the grand palace, off into the distance to his right. "Have you been paying attention to the things he's doing? The things he's planning? I doubt the Thief King could be much worse."

"You keep telling yourself that." Seto looked out at the perimeter of guards, surrounding the palace. "Now, Pharaoh Atemu has seen it fit to grant you mercy in light of your many years of service to Egypt, as well as your family's reputation."

Buhen shrugged. "I know when I'm beaten. I pushed all my gold in the middle of the table and took a bad beat, I'll take the consequences."

"It's quite simple. The guards will all drop back to the wall perimeter. You will not be allowed to leave your palace grounds. But within your palace walls tonight, you may do as you wish. Throw yourself a little party perhaps." Seto explained.

"Well, that isn't sounding so bad." Buhen said dryly.

"Now, at sunrise tomorrow, the guards will storm your palace, go into your bedroom, and drag you to the dungeon. There, you will know the same pain the Thief King has known, and be executed in the same manner, forever marked in the afterlife for the greatest agony Anubis can inflict." Seto nodded. "Then, your name and the name of your predecessors will be wiped from the history books, made a taboo subject to ever speak of under penalty of death. We will destroy all traces that you and your family ever even existed. Everything your lineage ever did in service to Egypt, forgotten, thrown out, erased. Within a single generation of Egyptians, you will have been entirely forgotten."

Buhen grimaced, glancing down at the sands again.

"However." Seto withdrew a four inch steel knife from his belt and tossed it at the ground in front of Buhen. "However. If the guards were to go up to your bedroom, and find you have handled it yourself, that would be the end of it."

Buhen bent down, removing the blade from the desert ground. He twirled it around in his fingers, looking it over.

"Sunrise, tomorrow. If the guards go in there and find you have taken care of it, that will be the end. Your family's reputation may remain intact, your many services to the Pharaoh remembered. It may even be painless, and then you can face Anubis with a, as they say, fair trial." Seto gestured at the knife. "It's your call."

"So you want me to do your job for you?" Buhen said, putting the knife into the left lower pocket of his robes. "You want me to commit suicide?"

"It's your choice. Your choice entirely. We go up there, and find you dead, that's the end of it. If you're alive, then you will experience all the agony the Pharaoh can possibly put onto one man." Seto turned toward the gate, slowly strolling away.

"Think about it, Seto!" Buhen called after him. "Bakura, Atemu...it doesn't matter anymore!"

Seto paused for a half second, but decided to leave it be and simply beckoned for the gate to be opened for him.

""""

"Well, that's the end of that." Atemu leaned back in the chair behind his desk, hands behind his head. "Bakura should be meeting his demise any moment now."

"We'll soon find out where Buhen's priorities lay." Seto said from the other side of the wooden surface, hands in his lap, seated on the smaller chair.

Atemu heaved a deep sigh. "And soon, Greece will fall. So, all is well within my kingdom." He trailed off.

Seto nodded. "All is well." He repeated.

"Seto." Atemu tugged on the neck of his robe. "I...I am sorry for calling you here this morning." He sighed again. "There is only one course of action I think I can live with."

At that moment, as if on cue, the door to the room slid open. From the hallway emerged the muscular, tall figure of Mdjai, wearing stark white robes. He bowed low to the pair before entering.

"Take the children with you. Let her talk to them alone if she wants." Atemu instructed to the well-built man. "You know what to do after that."

Mdjai nodded, remaining silent. He was about to turn to exit, but Seto held up his palm.

"Wait." He uttered. "Pharaoh, perhaps a few more nights of considering this issue would be advisable."

"I have thought on this enough." Atemu insisted. "This is the best I can do."

"As your High Priest, I feel I would be doing you a disservice if I did not at least talk this out with you." Seto stood up, hands behind his back, holding himself up straight. "You won't be able to take this back. You won't be able to undo this."

"I know." Atemu grumbled.

"She's far removed from the palace now. She can't hurt you any more. You can simply forget about her, wipe her from your mind." Seto swallowed audibly.

"How could I ever forget her?" Atemu wondered out loud. "How could I forget how I once loved her, and what she has done to me?"

"She is still the mother of your children. She gave birth to them and raised them." Seto glanced back at Mdjai quickly before turning back to the Pharaoh.

"I know." Atemu nodded, eyes closed in thought. "I know. I have searched every fiber of my being for the will to let this go, but it's not there." His eyes started to water slightly. "You know what happened. I have thought on little else but this for the past moon, and can see no other way I can be content."

Seto slowly nodded. "Very well. I understand."

Atemu looked up and nodded at Mdjai. He turned and departed the room, shutting the door behind him.

""""

The door to Teana's bedroom slid open. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, turnd away from the door, but the squeak of the hinges prompted her to spin around.

Mdjai slowly stepped in, Teana looking him up and down. He left the door open as he took two steps in toward her. He then shuffled to the right, coming to sit down on a chair by the dresser.

"I knew he wouldn't be able to resist." Teana muttered.

"Your children are out in the kitchen." Mdjai said, hands on his knees. "Come back when you're done."

Teana gave a tiny, dry chuckle. "When I'm done." She repeated, standing up. "That's quite a way of putting it."

"I'm sorry." Mdjai looked at the ground inbetween his feet. "I don't want to do this."

"Has he told you why?" She asked, slowly stepping past him towards the bedroom door.

"N-no." He shook his head. "Please don't try to run."

"I can't run from this." Teana said, walking through the doorway. "I thought it might come to this. I'm not running."

"T-take all the time you need." Mdjai stammered.

"How courteous of you." Teana said sarcastically, shutting the large wooden panel behind her.

""""

As the black masses enveloped his body, Bakura was dimly aware of the harsh reality of his defeat. It was all he had room for in his mind, the pain had claimed monopoly on it.

He had failed. Miserably, utterly, in every way a person could fail. He had failed to live up to his family's reputation, the reputation of his title. Every last scrap of riches his lineage had ever managed to steal was now locked deep away in the Pharaoh's vaults. All of his loyal men had either been killed or had surrendered to the Pharaoh. And his life was about to be taken, a painful and humiliating execution.

But he had never thought he would give up his pride.

He recalled his words, spoken in front of all of Egypt. The humiliating way he had conducted himself, the ways in which he was willing to degrade himself just to end the pain.

He thought back on the immense pain his ancestor had once suffered, for years on end, never breaking. The story he knew so well, and had come to live his entire life by.

He had failed him. Disappointed him.

All that to live up to, and he couldn't even withstand a month's torture.

As this final cruel realization consumed him, the sea of tiny creatures not of this world did as well, pushing even this single, simple thought from his mind.

""""

"Mom!" Ammon cried as she emerged from the hallway, stepping out onto the red carpeted floor of the main living room. He and his little sister, Asenath, jumped up from the chairs and ran over to hug her lower body.

"Hey, hey." She said softly, patting the backs of both of their heads. "How's it going?"

"Good." Asenath said simply, looking up at her mother. "We miss you."

"Oh, me too." She said, moving over to the big cushioned chair in the middle of the large room. "You can't even imagine."

"I don't understand, mom." Ammon said as he pushed himself up to sit next to her. Asenath took the spot on her lap. "Dad won't tell us anything, nobody will, you just left, and-"

"It...it's a long story." She said wistfully, pulling Ammon's head against her chest. "It's...it's okay. Don't worry about it."

"When are you coming back?" Asenath asked.

Teana's lip quivered. "I don't know, sweetie." She shook her head. "I don't know."

She took in a deep breath, a lone tear streaking down her face. "Now. Talk to me about anything. Tell me everything on your minds. Let's just...talk."

""""

A dozen armed guards burst through the bronze colored door, streaming into the large room with the white thick carpet. They spread out, all eyes immediately on the brown sheeted bed on the far wall. But the bed proved to be entirely vacated of people. However, of interest were the three bottles of wine, empty and resting on the right bottom corner, along with the shards of what looked to have once been a fourth.

The lead guard wasted no time in running up to the bathroom door, kicking it open with his right foot. It swung on it's hinges violently, slamming against the inside wall of the bathroom.

Inside was your customary Egyptian bathroom. Tiled surfaces with a few designs painted on the walls, a large pot against the back right wall that piped down to somewhere underground, and a massive basin adjacent it.

That basin was filled with still-warm water, the small steam vapors rising from it evidence of that. Within that tub of water was the half-submerged body of once Priest Buhen, his head leaned back and eyes closed. Both of his arms were hanging over the edges of the tub. He was not moving.

Quickly, two of the guards burst into the room, moving to light the wall torches. One was just to the right of the door, the other opposite it.

As these lights flickered on and illuminated the room, the guards spied streaks of thick, dark red staining the tub, pooling on the floor right beneath Buhen's left hand. Quick investigation showed the other side of the tub had similar stains, the source being his right hand.

The lead guard checked to make entirely sure, grabbing his right hand and holding it up.

The wrist had been cut, a deep gash reaching into the veins, blood still oozing from the wound. He nodded in satisfaction, pressing his index and middle finger up to Buhen's neck.

"We're done here." He grunted, pointing back at the bathroom door. Immediately, the dozen guards raced out of the room in an orderly line.

""""

"Now, I want you to be good, always, alright?" Teana said softly, hugging both of her children's head close to her chest. "B-be good. Be good for...for dad, and for everyone."

"We will." Asenath answered, nodding her little head.

"Now, you guys might not be seeing me for awhile, and I'm sorry. But...I might not be around for awhile, but it'll be okay."

"I don't understand." Ammon wrinkled his forehead in thought. "Where are you going?"

"It's okay. I...I can't talk about it, but you might not see me for awhile, so just remember to be good." Teana swallowed hard, another couple tears creeping out. She stood up, setting Asenath down on the chair next to Ammon. "Now, you guys stay right there, and Mdjai will be out in a few minutes to take you back to the palace. You stay there."

They nodded. Teana bent down and gave them both a kiss on the forehead.

"Mommy loves you very much, and...and I'm so, so sorry." She choked out through tears.

"Sorry for what?" Ammon asked, his tiny fingers reaching up to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

"I-i-it's my fault." She cried, wrapping her arms around their heads and hugging them one last time. 'It's my fault that half of you comes from him."

"What do you mean?" Ammon asked, distressed by her crying and starting to cry himself.

"N-nothing." She stood back up, holding her palms out towards her children. "Just stay there. Mdjai will be right back."

She turned her back on them and quickly departed the room, trying to put as much distance between them and her as she could before her emotions forced her to go see them again.

""""

Once a proud, glorious city of towering skyscrapers, majestic structures, clean streets and bustling activity, Athens was almost unrecognizable now.

Many of the buildings had been damaged, chunks of masonry and brick laying everywhere, piles of carnage strewn about. Bodies of Greek soldiers were everywhere, some in multiple pieces. The vast forces of the Egyptian army pushed forward without opposition.

The greek defenses had been shredded by great walls of flame that had torn down every street in the city, sending everyone into a chaotic retreat right off the bat. So when the actual soldiers had shown up, there was only light mopup duty remaining.

Every single Egyptian soldier was getting instant updates on everything happening in the battle, all of that information processed and neatly placed into the memory banks of their minds. A thousand miles away, a gifted little girl was facilitating such an amazing feat, making sure that every single man in the army was aware of everything that was happening, as it was happening, without distracting them from their own tasks or being completely overwhelmed by the information.

With that advantage, it was almost unfair.

A flock of fist-sized green glowing globes rocketed up and down the streets now, looking for any signs of Greek life and slamming into it with bone-crushing force. These magical spheres wreaked havoc on the last remnants of Greek defenses.

The towering, massive capital building, a shimmering white in the glow of the early sunrise, had been abandoned some time ago. But what it represented was just as valuable, and as such it had to fall. The soldiers only watched as a collection of gray rocks the size of horses rained down from the heavens, burrowing into the roof of the building, shattering the image of perfection it presented.

Mere seconds later, the structure couldn't take the abuse and simply started to collapse inwardly, a great puff of dust and debris flying in every direction as it was reduced to a pile of rubble.

Greece had fallen, now flying the flag of the Egyptian empire.

""""

Teana sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at Mdjai. He had not moved from his seat, hands still on his knees, eyes still on the ground. Teana glanced at the closed door, then turned away to face the back wall of the room, still grey and dull as it had been when she moved in.

"I'm...i'm sorry." Mdjai said, standing up.

Teana chose to lay down on her mattress, back still turned to Mdjai. "Let's get this over with."

"I don't want to do this." He insisted, slowly walking towards her, pulling a sharp, bronze, six inch blade from a loop on his belt. "Please, forgive me. I don't have a choice."

"Stop blubbering and do your job." She said, eyes glazed over as she stared at the wall.

Mdjai took in a deep breath, standing over her prone body. "Please forgive me."

She looked over her shoulder, up at the Pharaoh's assassin. "Do you want me to do it for you?"

"...s-sorry." He swallowed hard, holding the blade up, pointy end directed at her back.

She turned back over, closing her eyes, taking in a breath.

He lunged forward, the dagger easily sliding through her back, into her heart, and back out through her chest. She gasped, the breath expelling from her lungs as she rested her head on the cushion, a circle of blood forming on her back and on her chest. The stain crept out from her chest onto the bed.

Her body, stiffened from the sensation, relaxed and simply rolled over onto her stomach.

Mdjai tore his eyes away from the scene, then went over to the dresser, sweeping the contents of it off with his arms, sending them to the floor randomly and haphazardly.

""""

Mdjai went down on one knee as soon as he entered the room, Atemu's eyes on him from the opposite end, still seated behind the desk, arms on the armrests and an unreadable expression on his face. Seto turned to face him as well, standing at the side of the desk with his hands behind his back.

"It's done, mighty Pharaoh." He rasped. "The authorities will be arriving soon and will label it a robbery gone wrong."

Atemu nodded, closing his eyes in thought.

No one spoke for several long seconds, Atemu's face twitching slightly.

"No one will know." Atemu finally spoke, his voice throaty and quiet. "Both of you. Tell no one. Knowledge of this act will die with the three of us. Understood?"

"I will never speak a word of any of this." Mdjai assured him, getting up from his kneeling position.

"It will never leave this room." Seto concurred.

Atemu waved his right hand toward Mdjai, who quickly ducked back out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The Pharaoh immediately stood up, stepping past Seto and crossing the short distance to the other half of his bedroom. He pushed the door open, Seto on his heels as he walked heavily towards the desk chair to the right of the entrance.

"I offer my congratulations for your many victories today, mighty Pharaoh." Seto said, crossing his right arm across his chest and bowing slightly. Atemu ignored him, pulling the chair out, pointing it toward the far left wall, and taking a seat on it.

Flustered, Seto collected himself and tried again. "Y-your defeat of the Thief King and the crushing of Athens has been a most wonderful reminder of your power."

Atemu crossed his right left over his left knee, simply looking at the far wall, his face blank.

"And your-"

"Seto." Atemu said strongly, ending Seto's compliment. "I'd like to be alone."

"Y-yes sir. Of course." Seto again bowed, slowly backing out of the room. He stared at Atemu for a minute from the work room, door in his hands, ready to close it, concern written on his face. Atemu did not turn to look at him or given him any acknowledgement, so he simply eased the door shut.

Atemu took another deep breath, still glaring at the far wall, placing his arms on the armrests of the chair.

For the first time, he felt truly alone.

His father long gone and now his mother passed on.

His own wife turning on him.

One of his most trusted advisors scheming to murder him. Another the victim of the Thief King.

Even in those who remained loyal, he could see the fear in their hearts.

Even his High Priest now interacted with him with trepidation.

There was nothing left. It was just him.

Just The Pharaoh.

""""

THE END

This story will conclude in the near future with the final installment into the trilogy, The Pharaoh Part III.