"I seem to be in an abandoned building, maybe I'm scouting out a new location for my nightmare factory, but other than that, why would I be here?"

- Markiplier, Black Rose | FREE HEART ATTACK/Marikplier Animated|MARKIBEAST

Mahaad hates that he was banished to his workshop to wait, but at the same time, he acknowledges he should not have lost control of himself in such a way. Bakura was his friend, was the one who controlled the Ring as he controlled the Ankh, but whatever had happened during his trial, it had driven him mad. Akhenaden's method of attempting to destroy the former thief had sent him away, and what he'd said…

Mahaad does his best to focus as he hears Isis and Mana come in, the younger girl obviously worried and upset as Isis slowly walks over and places a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing yet?"

"Even she is not so fast, though the last report is she followed his trail to the Necropolis."

That didn't bode well at all, not for anything or anyone. The main necropolis was where Bakura had been found before, near the small settlement that had been built there to house the protectors of the dead, but also sometimes held those that stole from them as well. But unlike the time they'd gotten him, this place hadn't housed the tomb of the former Pharaoh.

If what Bakura had been rambling was what he truly believed, than…

"Isis, why tell me this? Why torment me in such a way?"

She is silent a long moment before saying, "It was not my intention to torment you, but to let you know. You and he were guardians and thieves to the necropolis before accepting the Items, and now that this is occurring, I wonder if...no, I know you must go and speak to him there. Stop him from what he is about to do."

Mahaad blinked at her, confused. Isis never advocated for disobeying ma'at, and yet now she was demanding he disobey the Pharaoh, walk into the line of the maddened Sakhmet, and confront a man hurt and driven insane by the power of the Items, driven to darker Shadows? He sees her touch the Tauk on her neck, the gold flashing briefly, and she looked down, upset. "Something is coming, Mahaad. Something I cannot understand. We must be prepared for it, and that means we must speak to Bakura, calm him, and show that calmness to Sakhmet. Once we know what is going on, why he said what he did, than we will be able to fully defend ourselves. I am worried over what I see, and to what the others are planning. I think the others are upset over what Bakura implied, over the hint that maybe the Pharaoh will listen to him and take away that power. I'm even more afraid of…of what Akhenaden will do to Bakura." She moved her hand away from the Item and looked over at him. "Please, go find Bakura and calm him. Save us from the fate I have foreseen."

He's quiet, thinking for a long moment, before saying, "I must speak to the Pharaoh first. I will not disobey his order, Isis. Not even for this."

Isis finally nods in agreement, the two heading out as Mahaad sees Shada walking up to where the Pharaoh and Seth are, the priest and new holder of the Rod looking upset as they all approach, but the Pharaoh at least quiet over the inclusion of Mahaad as Shada bows, saying, "We have sent men out, but there are no signs, and the few we have show that approaching Sakhmet at this time is unwise at best. The path, though, appears to be heading towards the Necropolis."

Seth is obviously displeased and glances at Isis, who normally does not speak up. "You have foreseen something, Isis?"

Shada looks annoyed but Isis nods, touching the Tauk again. "I have seen that a specific tomb in the Necropolis is in danger...your father, the former Pharaoh...his tomb needs protection. I also have seen that it is imperative that Mahaad travel there."

"You would put another one of us in danger over this thief?" Shada demands, before Seth says, "Quiet. If Isis has foreseen this as the best route, we cannot argue it."

"She favors the thief and-."

"-and her prophecies have all come true," the Pharaoh says, quieting Shada at least, "and it is through the Tauk that we see even the barest glimpses of what we must steer towards. Were it not for those powers, we would not continue to enjoy this peace." He looked over at Mahaad, his red eyes serious. "I also know that it is best to send you because of the other power the Ankh, the Key, has. I do not ask you demand to see what Bakura has, but that you learn the truth. The nekhekha is angry and demands vengeance, but I will not let it fly before we learn the meaning of Bakura's anger." He glanced at Shada. "Bakura is a member of the priests, and has proven himself. That he's carried the Ring this long and whatever he has seen during the trial, that is what has driven him mad, and created this strife. We will discover what this is, and balance it out."

Kalim, the often silent one who tended to side with Shada, was quiet before he slowly nodded, saying, "We need balance. Something is pushing against that, and if we don't work quickly, it will not be restored. The Items guarantee our peace. We must ensure that the one chosen by the Ring is by our side, not against us. It will poison the Ring."

Shada relents on his obvious discomfort, and Seth very obviously notices it but doesn't speak on it, instead looking to Mahaad. "Go and calm Bakura, learn what has happened, and return to us. We will balance this out."

Mahaad bows, the Key heavy against the rope on his neck, as he says, "I will do as you ask." It will not take him long to prepare, and it will take him less time to get to the Necropolis, if he uses his powers right. He must, if he is to enter the tomb unnoticed, and calm Bakura from his pain and suffering.

I will have to call upon my swt as well. I pray that Sakhmet will allow us time to at least bring her back, and let the Pharaoh and Seth calm her.


Seth waits until after Mahaad and the others have left before he walks down, thinking of going to follow them, before his Pharaoh says quietly, "Seth, leave them."

He glanced back at the other young man, finally kneeling. "I don't like this."

"I don't either. Something has been itching at me, some doom that I cannot foresee but know will come, no matter what precaution we take." He looked older, sadder, as he finally says, "I don't like what secrets Siamun or Akhenaden are keeping either."

Seth frowned at that, looking up from where he knelt, "What would they be hiding? Akhenaden is proud, and-."

"He is proud, but he is controlled, and do you truly think he threw such a spell when he knows plenty of others that would not have hurt and enraged Sakhmet?" That got Seth to look down again, his loyalty to the man who had helped to prepare him for his role as a priest warring with what he'd seen and how the man had reacted to something, escalating it to the point of them now having to deal with an enraged Sakhmet and maddened Bakura.

The Pharaoh looks sad and tired, prompting Seth to slowly rise, saying, "You should rest, my Pharaoh. We will alert you when Sakhmet and the others return."

He's grateful when his Pharaoh doesn't protest, instead saying, "I hate to ask you to remain at watch for me, but…"

"You are used to being watched over by lions, my Pharaoh. I will do my best to live up to that, and keep you safe."


It's not hard to find Bakura, oddly enough, and it's a sign of how upset the thief is that Mahaad is able to stand before him, the swt hissing angrily at his face as Bakura sits on the outer coffin of the former pharaoh, looking angry, the wounds still on his skin and the Ring glowing faintly, an answering glow from his scar that made Mahaad frown as he waited, not moving despite the threat. He'd seen what the swt could do, and he wondered if Bakura would kill him without any threats being shown.

"What are you doing here?" Bakura growled out, looking upset in the same way he always did when Mahaad finally found him after one of the older priests or others insulted him, early on in their friendship. Then, he hadn't been in control of a swt of this size or power, nor had he been mad on pain and anger from whatever the Ring had shown him. He'd been trusted by few and only now had enough hold to be considered their friends, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't slip back into the old mentalities if he continued this attack.

"I came here to see how you were. Akhenaden attacked you, hurt you and Sakhmet. I was worried, but I had to speak to our Pharaoh first. He was upset with me for being harsh towards the old advisor for his insolence and for attacking another priest."

Bakura appeared surprised at that, the snake swt slowly coiling more around him than hissing at Mahaad. "You never were kind to him, even in the presence of…" he stopped, looking away and balling his hands into fists, the shimmer of gold more apparent. "He's a liar. It's his fault. All of this is his fault."

Mahaad is quiet, watching Bakura as he began to shake, before asking, "You called us all liars and hypocrites. You didn't attack the Pharaoh, but you're here in his father's tomb, and you went after Akhenaden. What is it that happened to make you so upset?"

The snake hissed again, coiled around Bakura, but not in a way that said it was attempting to control him. Instead, it looked to be protecting him, as Bakura said, "Why do you care? You're one of the priests."

"As you would have been as well...and as you can be still."

Bakura snorted before Mahaad said, "The Pharaoh is upset with Akhenaden for attacking you when the situation could have been easily handled by talking, by understanding what it was that upset you so. He was angry at me for talking out of line, but he sent me here because he knows that I can either speak to you, or ask you to let me see what happened." He motioned to the Key, not moving close enough to touch it or even allow its power to work. "I am willing to hear you out, or speak to you in front of witnesses. I won't use the power unless you come after me, with the intent to kill, and I will take your side on this, but you must tell me what you have seen."

Bakura looks at Mahaad for a long moment, his swt looking upset, before he finally slid off the coffin. He slowly walks over to Mahaad, close enough for either to use their power, and says, "Akhenaden created the Items...through a profane ritual that killed my family, and possibly the family of the one called Sakhmet. But while she gained three lesser Items somehow, I got this," he motioned to his scarred cheek, "and now, I saw what has happened. He has created and continues to create an imbalance for ma'at. I saw this, I accepted the Ring and what it would do," he once more motioned, this time to the prongs dug into his skin, "and I will kill that man."

Mahaad slowly nods, accepting what he said, even though his mind was reeling from the information. Akhenaden had created the Items, of that they knew, and they also knew it was from the Millennium Tome, a book that no one else has seen. It's likely that the method used created an imbalance, one that was now making itself known despite everyone's attempts-

Mahaad suddenly remembered the old Pharaoh's sudden illness, his continued insistence that he pray to all the gods, to give them favor, and that his son do so as well. He remembers how weak the man got, and how worried the current Pharaoh had been...but more importantly, he remembered how upset Akhenaden had been, and how the former Pharaoh had refused his company.

"Our Pharaoh's father had no knowledge of this until shortly before you arrived," Mahaad said, getting Bakura to glare at him as he continued. "He died suddenly, after going to as many temples as he could, after shunning Akhenaden's offers of help, even Siamun's offers, and demanded his son keep ma'at. He did all he could to retain balance, and sacrificed his life for it. Bakura...the old Pharaoh knew, but I believe he only thought there was one survivor. If he'd known you were one as well…"

Mahaad's voice trailed off as he felt the odd shift in the Shadows, slowly turning to look back as he saw the chimera walk out, the low growl of it nearly drowned out by its Master appearing, Sakhmet looking very much like the untamed one that was described by the older priests, when she first came to the palace and took up the Pharaoh as her sebah, her star. It's obvious the pain of the blast from Akhenaden and the events of the day before have taken their toll on her, not to mention finding Bakura in the tomb of the Pharaoh who took her in and gave her someone to protect.

"What are you doing here, Mahaad?" she growled out, looking at him with her normally tawny eyes ringed in red, the look one of murder she used to visit upon others in this area, those caught sneaking into tombs that she either let her swt eat or disembowel, leaving them for jackals to deal with as she patrolled other areas.

"I came to calm down Bakura," Mahaad said, "as your sebah calms you. What he has told me is disturbing, and I wish to bring him back, alive, so that the Pharaoh and others might hear what he has to say."

The chimera hissed as the sphinx shifted, Sakhmet looking angry at whatever they were saying but also calming a bit, as if the mention of her Pharaoh hearing of whatever injustice was done was enough to make her reconsider her path. "He called my sebah a liar."

"What he learned was very disturbing," Mahaad said, hearing Bakura's own swt hissing at the chimera, returning the threats, while Bakura himself seemed upset with whatever was said or going on. "We believe it also has something to do with your own Items, and how you came about them. If what he saw and remembered is true, it will imply a great deal of things for us, and for the events of recent times."

Peace had reigned, but nearly was thrown off, before the old Pharaoh had died. Now there was peace again, but for how long? If what Bakura said was true, that meant that Akhenaden had much to answer for, and too many others had been trying to cover for him for whatever purpose. Mahaad cannot think of why the old Pharaoh would give up himself in Akhenaden's place, if he knew the evils done, or even had an inkling. Had it been guilt of allowing it to happen, or simply wishing to keep this secret away from all, even the Shadows?

Sakhmet is not known for taking things into consideration, which is why she is the flail, and Mahaad finally says, "We must return, for Seth is the crook and flail while you are gone, and the others are debating if they really want Bakura to remain. Please...what he has to say must be heard by the Pharaoh, no matter how painful it is."

She looks upset over the idea of causing her Pharaoh pain, but after another shift and glare at the huge snake swt, she finally nods.

"I will take you both back, then. He will hear this."


The inner sanctum is too quiet, filled with shadows cast by the torches and natural light that streams into the place, and is dominated by a huge obelisk. Around them were the frescos and paintings of their history, of the events and powers that had lead them to where they had almost two generations of rulers, long-lived compared to the rabble, had peace and prosperity for their land.

And yet Akhenaden is unhappy as he kneels before the images, before the huge stone slab with the slow depictions of what happened, the top adored with a huge benu bird, crying out as the sun rises behind it, and around it, a gigantic serpent wrapped around the edge, rising and falling, with the scripture of the Dead on it's back. Thus far, the inscription was about the reign of this current Pharaoh - the one for his father was in the tomb that had been hastily built after Akhenamkhanen had decided to sacrifice himself.

The thought made Akhenaden almost make a sound of anger in this sacred space, and he held it in as he focused ahead. He never should have let the thief get this far, though when he'd grabbed the Ring, Akhenaden's problems had almost been finished. But now, the Ring was the thief's, not anyone else's, and it would take a rather harsh act to pull the two away and slowly move things back to where they were, to the peace of Akhenaden being the one to watch over things and ensure the fragile balance between duat and life that he'd managed to create. It would take even longer if he wanted to ensure his own lineage, not that of his weak brother, became the Pharaoh.

Then again, the thief's madness could be used for his advantage. He'd expected their father to give Akhenaden to the priesthood, as the second son and one who was always more inclined towards the gods and towards keeping ma'at, as well as ensuring peace no matter what was demanded. When Father had given him the Millennium Tome, ordering it to be translated, Akhenaden had thought only of protecting Egypt, and then of what the woman he'd been bedding had told him before she'd run from the palace and he'd found no way to order her back with his son.

Instead, he became to crook to his brother, and was tasked with finding the incantations and spells to grant them longevity, to protect Egypt from the Hittites and others, and to keep ma'at within the world. He'd done this for his kingdom, to keep the line at Qadesh, and because he'd heard he had a son. As he studied the Tome, the thought of his son and of the kingdom dominated his mind, so that all that mattered was keeping the kingdom for his son, be he a commoner (no! his mind rejected that idea right away, no, he will know his lineage, and gain his power, and become the Pharaoh should my weakling brother spill his seed or not) or priest or even the highest of the land, the Living Horus who was strong in a way Akhenamkhanen was not.

What he found was a spell that would have allowed for so much and more, depending on how many were given to the spell, he didn't hesitate to set up the ritual, picking the town within the necropolis area of Kul Edna, a known haunt of thieves and tomb robbers. Soulless thieves would only keep the magic to control those between life and Death for so long, and now, with seven bright souls holding lesser and greater Items, and the Rod becoming stronger than the Pendant...

Those two have the shine of that gold to them, though. Three of them...the thief who gained station, the bitch who watched over the Necropolis, and now the Pharaoh…

If they were given up, then one other of Royal Blood would have to take the place. As of now, that was Seth. No matter what, it would be Seth.

My son...my son, my guilt and shame, the one I gave up because of all of this, because his mother took him from me. He is the next one who will gain the throne. All that needs to happen is for me to finally acknowledge him, beyond simply being my student.

All I need to solidify this is to get him away from those two. From the Pharaoh and his watchdog…

I will need that girl.

He slowly shifted, standing and turning from the obelisk to walk a bit down, to where there was more ambient sounds, before speaking out loud, "Geblek."

"Yes, my master?" the older man, hunched over and covered in a dark robe, asked as his withered hand held up a small torch, lighting the area he had been waiting in, near the entrance where servants were told to wait, for fear of punishment or death.

"Go to the house and get the girl out. It is high time we deal with the imbalance in ma'at that the Thief and the Lioness have created."


It's dark in the house, full of the children and loves of the priesthood. She doesn't know why she's here, besides the fact that someone thinks she's important or worth the value that they paid for her. She's actually grateful for the darkness - the heat and constant sun of the desert and empty sky above only means she's more prone to burn or fall ill from lack of water, and with all of the people in the house in similar circumstances, they are not overly cruel to her. Some enjoy her talk and stories of her travels, others simply are grateful for her help.

When the troll, the old and withered man who sometimes came and demanded things, or children, from them, came in and pointed to her, Kisara froze in fear but managed to slowly get up and walk over, doing her best to stand tall and not shy away from the man. She would not let such a man see her fearful.

They end up being taken from the outskirts, nearing the desert she'd hidden in and been taken from, further into the city. The covered litter, carried by strong guards, cut a path quickly through the city and up towards the palace, where the Undying Pharaoh and his priests lived. The troll leered at her throughout the trip, but otherwise didn't touch her. None of the ones under the command of the priest who owned that house touched the others, not after what happened to that one guard. For all the troll was an evil man, he did the job of his master, and that meant he wouldn't hurt her. It also meant she didn't have to speak to him, no matter if his station was higher than hers.

Kisara hopes that the others in the house are alright, and remembers that only a few of them come to this place. Few if any return, and those who do are not whole. The palace is rumored to be patrolled by evil things, the restless spirits of the dead who were sacrificed by the old Pharaoh, and that the one with the Eye, who can read minds and control them, turn people into mindless puppets for his own amusement, will call you so that you might sleep with the demonic things. She'd only seen the results of visits to the palace, even though she knew she'd been bought for other, darker reasons. That's how it had been for years, since she came to this place.

Kisara steeled her resolve as they approached, thinking of the families and others in the house, or at the house near the Necropolis, the one protecting the huge stone sarcophagus, and the others a tomb entrance. Not protesting the works of the priests kept them safe, and their lines linked to the priests in some way or another. That meant they were important, and the priests always kept their children close, until the time for a new member to take up one of the Items and gain power and near-immortality.

The litter reaches the palace and they exit, Kisara slowly walking forward when the troll begins to grab at her, to pull her along so she wouldn't dally, when they hear a deep, commanding voice demand, "Geblek, what are you doing?"

"M-Master Seth! I...I was simply-."

The group, as one, turned and bowed. Kisara dared to look up, seeing a strange man standing before her, his dark skin having an odd, pale hue to it, and strange, blue eyes that bore into her, like the ones of that boy who'd rescued her years ago. She remembers that, and that the boy had been hurt afterwards. She doesn't remember everything, but she knows he was named Seth as well.

The troll, Geblek, is stammering out something, but a slight motion is enough to set him silent. Seth looks at Kisara, catching her eye, then glances back to Geblek, not even commenting on her looking at him. "You were to be with Akhenaden. Why are you not there?"

"I was...asked to bring him a new servant. The old one-."

"The Pharaoh does not indulge Akhenaden in his...choosiness, and I doubt he will do so now. If Akhenaden is dissatisfied, he can do as the Pharaoh does, and care for himself."

The admission nearly floors Kisara. The Pharaoh has no servants? What had he done to the others?

"Go back to him, and report that we have news. Upon their return, we will call for Akhenaden."

Geblek says something in an apparent attempt to pacify the priest, and quickly heads out as a new voice speaks up, this one cool and sounding tired. "Seth? What was that all about?"

"Something I wanted confirmation about for a bit, if the report we have is to be believed." She managed to look up and see a man with dark hair that seemed to flare out like a star-shape, purple and gold shining through to show his station even more than the gold and other items that adorned him, the main one that draws her attention being the pendant on his chest, the Wadjet eye almost glancing at her before she managed to look down even further. The Pharaoh himself was here! What was to become of her for daring to look upon him?

"Woman, stand up," the gruff voice of the priest called Seth said, getting her to straighten but not raise her eyes, for fear of what would happen if she dares that again. She hopes that they see her as obedient, and that they send her back to the house without any fuss or anger at her as they directed at Geblek for bringing her here.

"What is your name?" the priest asks, sounding curious. She swallows, not sure how much power they'd have over her with her name but finally tells him, "I am called Kisara, sir."

Silence meets that, and the Pharaoh's voice speaks up, "Kisara, do you know why you were brought here?"

"No, my Pharaoh, I only know that when we are called, we come. We all serve the Pharaoh and his priests."

"Of that I am certain. However, I am more surprised that neither I nor the other priests ever heard of his service."

She did look up then, surprised by the admission, and instead of looking at the Pharaoh, she found herself staring up into familiar blue eyes, aged since she last saw them, but with the same seriousness and wonder in them. He isn't looking at her because of her hair, or pale skin. He's looking at her because he's rescued her again.

"Seth, I leave her in your capable hands, and those of Isis and the others, to speak to. When the others return and have given their report, I wish to hear of where she came from, and the others there, so we can work on balancing out the imbalances created by our wish to turn blind eyes to these things."

The Pharaoh's words seem to break the spell, Kisara looking down as she hears Seth say, "Of course, my Pharaoh. But will you-."

"If I was unable to defend myself from simple things in my own house, Seth, do you not think that she would be upset? I was taught as you were. Care for the girl, and let us start to push the Scales back into balance."