Disclaimers are located in the first chapter.
CHAPTER-SPECIFIC WARNINGS/ALERTS: Implied violence and perverted intentions. Implied torture.
Chapter 2
The Attack
The dark form of Nut* slowly dissipated as Ra's light graced the sky. The warm glow passed over broken walls, homes, and numerous people sleeping near the rubble. Some stirred. Some rose. Some tried to block out the light trying to rouse them.
Dozens of soldiers patrolled the walls, focused on the gaping hole that was once the main gates, where the demon forced his way in.
All was well, until two fell from their post at the top of the broken wall with arrows sticking out of their immobile forms.
The soldiers were yet to process what happened, were yet to converge on their fallen comrades, when hundreds upon hundreds of arrows rained upon them. Cries of men rose with Ra. Some out of fear and some hungry for the blood of Kemet*.
…
In the royal chambers, the Pharaoh slept restlessly. Throughout the night, whimpers escaped him, hands clenched into fists, body tossing and turning. Seto could do nothing but watch and remain by his side. He never woke when roused. Only temporary reprieved from the nightmares. Seto had his own demons to deal with. His thoughts were a mess, still struggling to grasp the promise he had made to his weakened king. He was unworthy of the throne. He could never be half as good as his Pharaoh. He could never bring the peace and prosperity his king did. The blood of a traitor ran in his veins, after all.
So deep was he in his thoughts that he failed to notice dawn creep into the room… and a frantic Isis who burst in with Mana at her heels.
"Priest Seto!" she gasped, snapping the priest out of his reverie.
The tone of her voice. The sheer dread and fear it was laced with, Seto quickly turned to her in a flurry of white linen.
"The Tauk has shown me a vision," she said quickly, hand creeping up to her neck where the Item rested. "Invaders are attacking the city!" Her words were confirmed by a couple of shaken guards, followed by some screams bubbling from beyond the palace.
First the demon. Now this?
"What should we do, your grace?" one of the guards asked.
The Pharaoh had woken, yet was still weak. Not in any condition to lead, Seto realized. Crossing lines wasn't a habit of his but, for his king, he was willing to do so. "Your grace," He began with a step forward and a bow. "You need not fret. Allow me to take charge"
For the second time, the Pharaoh smiled and relinquished control to his priest.
Seto nodded reassuringly before taking an authoritative stance. "You!" he addressed the guards. "Stand your ground for as long as you can! Ensure they cannot breech the palace!" Once the two guards were out of sight, "Isis, you and Mana must flee with the Pharaoh."
"But—" A loud crash, like stone rammed against wood, cut her off. It shook the entire chamber. Seto took the king in his arms, deaf to the latter's surprised yelp and weak protests, and exited the room. The rest of the occupants were quick to follow, forced out into the open corridor above the throne room.
The guards were all gathered around the main entrance, majority with their backs against the doors. The rest were armed and ready to fight to the death. Another strong crash. The gold-plated wood was starting to fall apart.
One soldier—the captain of the guards—took notice of the four. "Your grace! You must flee! The doors cannot hold out much longer!"
A third crash and the doors finally fell.
Dozens of invaders poured in from the gaping hole. The throne room became a battlefield for a few seconds before turning into a ruthless bloodbath. Seto wasted no time and took off, Isis and Mana right behind him.
Their escape wasn't unnoticed.
"They're following us!" Mana screeched upon seeing the enemy ascending the steps towards their hall.
They turned a corner. Seto swore under his breath. "We must head to the lower chambers and find a way out of the palace!" He came to a sudden stop, eyes wide in disbelief.
A dead end lay before them. The savage battle-cry of the enemy was getting louder and louder.
"We have them!"
More than a dozen soldiers had them cornered. Victorious smirks were upon their lips. They approached, carrying an air that promised pain and misery. Seto growled, intuitively holding his disgruntled king close. He didn't have enough Ba to summon his Ka, or any other Ka for that matter. The helpless look on Isis' face revealed a similar plight. But Mana stood strong. Staff held out with both hands, she muttered an incantation.
A vivid pink aura encompassed her form. Four large headdresses dropped from above. The men cried out in alarm as one veiled them while another sheltered their summoner and her fellows.
There was a pop and a gush of smoke. The Magical Hats vanished from view.
…
While the invaders ravaged the city and the palace, the Pharaoh's private garden remained untouched. The walls stood tall, protecting the serene oasis from the horror surrounding it.
The only interruption was a large headdress that appeared out of thin air. It sat underneath a plum tree amidst fragrant, flowering bushes. Fading like smoke blown by the wind, four individuals were revealed, a disoriented one being carried and a young magician who nearly collapsed from the sheer exhaustion of casting the spell.
"Mana!" Isis gasped as she took hold of her. "You shouldn't have overexerted yourself like that," she chastised.
"Good job, though," Seto acknowledged, eyes scanning the area. The Pharaoh's private gardens. If memory served correctly, there was a hidden exit somewhere—one his Pharaoh cherished when he was younger. He had to find it, ensure that Isis and Mana escaped with the Pharaoh before he could act. He didn't have much Ba to summon a Ka but he still had enough to use the little magic he knew. Mahado would've been more useful in this situation, as much as he hated to admit. "Mana, do you remember where the hidden exit is?"
Mana lit up in remembrance. "Oh yeah! I forgot about that. Um…" She thought for a moment before pointing to the other side. "It's over there. Behind those bushes."
Seto growled. They had to cross an area where, judging from the voices and approaching footsteps, they'd be in the enemy's line of sight.
It's a risk. But what choice did they have?
"Come on and be quiet," Seto hissed. He led the way, careful yet quick in his gait. But before they could make it to the other side,
"Nice place!"
"Careful! We're not supposed to destroy anything that isn't in our way."
"Like we need to. Tch. Some Capital. Didn't take much to kill off their defense."
"Well, they were attacked recently. But whatever. It's good for us. We get the spoils without much trouble."
A handful of soldiers emerged from that dreaded entryway and into an oasis devoid of human life, from what they could see. Seto and his companions had hidden behind a wall, well within hearing range.
"The master wants the Pharaoh alive. The rest are for us to decide."
"Nice. Can't wait to find those two ladies."
A chorus of lewd laughs. It sent shivers up Mana and Isis' spines.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
A shadow loomed over them, cast by three bulky soldiers. Seto mentally cursed himself. He had forgotten about the discrete corridor beside their hiding place. Such a careless mistake. It's going to cost them dearly.
Two reached out to grab them while the other called out to their companions on the other side of the wall. Mana had exhausted herself. Isis didn't know much offensive spells. The ones she did know cost too much Ba to cast. Seto was still combing through his mind for something. Anything.
Before the enemy could lay a hand on any of the priests, a force blew them away. A dark portal opened on the solid wall that once hid and trapped the four.
It was a Dimension Hole*
But who cast it? Not Seto. The look on Mana's and Isis' faces implied it wasn't them either. That must mean… Seto's eyes widened in realization.
"Go! Now!"
Whether his Pharaoh pushed him or he stumbled when the king struggled out of his grasp, the priest didn't know. But he fell back and landed on… sand?
He shot up as though burned, eyes darting around. They were at the edge of a small oasis, surrounded by the desert.
"Seto!" Isis looked as lost as he was. "Where's the Pharaoh?"
The priest momentarily forgot how to breathe. Isis' eyes were beginning to water in response. Mana was found a small distance away, silent and staring ahead in horror.
The Millennium Puzzle glinted in her hands. The Priests feared for the worst. But following her gaze made them realize the extent of their troubles.
The broken entrance to the fallen Capital had been shrunk by the distance. Smoke rose from within the walls. Cries and screams reached them despite the immense span. Isis couldn't bear it. She fell to her knees. Both hands flew to cover her mouth.
Seto stood in shock. He wanted to believe that the Pharaoh was just in the oasis behind them. But he knew he wouldn't be there.
All of them knew where he'd be.
…
It was dark. Water rhythmically dropped from the ceiling, some dribbling down the chains that bit into small wrists while the rest ended up in a pool by tiny feet.
Even though he'd been captured, the Pharaoh's thoughts weren't about his well-being.
Seto, Mana, and Isis.
The entire time, he was helpless. Pathetic. Seto had to carry him. Mana used too much of her power to save them. But when they were about to be taken, the Pharaoh had forced himself to take action. Using the last ounce of his strength, he cast a spell—one he picked up from Mahado—that sent them as far away from the Capital as possible.
He honestly thought that death would claim him; that he had used the last of his Ba; but the fact that he woke up sore and dangling from the ceiling of this dark dungeon proved otherwise.
Hopefully, the others weren't in the same boat as he was.
"What do you mean you haven't found it?!"
Voices echoed just beyond the door to the Pharaoh's cell. Incoherent pleading drowned by a thundering shout. He strained to hear, chains suspending him rattling slightly.
"We searched everywhere, my lord. There's no sign of—."
SMACK! A dull thud against the door. More pleading.
"Rather than beating this ignorant buffoon, why not just ask the Pharaoh?"
The door was flung open. Light flooded into the dark chamber from behind human silhouettes. Footsteps clacked against the stone floor. A couple of soldiers lit the torches that lined the sides, bathing the room in a warm orange glow. It chased away the darkness, enabling the Pharaoh to see just who his captors were.
Of the two people who stood before his eyes, only one face was familiar.
The Viceroy of Kush.
He was surprised. Shocked. But some part of him expected it. The man was one of those against the policies he'd implemented during his reign. He's also the most vocal about it. From the law giving servants and peasants a voice to the destruction of the slave trade, the man often led the protests. He was also the last to back down.
The Pharaoh hadn't been kind to his resistance either. He had (reluctantly) punished him, sentenced him to months of hard labour. Threw him in the dungeons. Had him tortured (by illusions) in a bid to make him understand the horror of what he was fighting for.
But he couldn't strip him of his power or his life. The former due to his immense influence on Kush. It could lead to a rebellion. The Kushites shared his hatred of the Royal Family, according to his Court.
Even though his betrayal wasn't so surprising, accepting it was a different matter.
"Y-you," the Pharaoh gasped.
The viceroy chuckled, a hand on his jutted hip. He sized the half-naked king up. "Yes. Me. Such an amazing observation," he purred. The Pharaoh was about to speak. In a fit of sudden madness, the viceroy punched him on the side of the face before the words could get out.
Chains rattling, a pained yelp from the king, and an exasperated sigh from the pale, unfamiliar face were the only things audible afterwards.
"You've no idea how I've longed to do that," the viceroy admitted. He was panting. Pupils were dilated. A grin stretched across his face. It was a frightening visage to anyone. He grabbed the king by the neck and raised his fist, veins and knuckles vividly taut. "You've NO IDEA!"
His fist propelled forward. The fallen king closed his eyes.
But there was no impact.
"Must you always lose control, King of Pain?" came a fluid-smooth voice, the owner gripping the wrist of the offending fist. "Do you always have to be so… barbaric?"
Preventing the blow just inches from the Pharaoh's face.
It was the unfamiliar face. Everyone but the still-defiant Pharaoh and this foreigner held their breaths. The Viceroy was a man famed for his extreme cruelty, especially when restrained from doing what he wanted. This strange man with even stranger eyes was about to find out the hard way.
The Viceroy growled and pulled away. But the ones expecting violence against the foreigner were surprised for he simply snorted and chuckled. "Oh, Dartz," he said in mock-flamboyance. "This isn't even half as bad as what I usually do."
The man named Dartz narrowed his dual-coloured eyes in irritation. "I thought you want to know where the Seven Treasures were."
The Pharaoh's eyes widened. The grin returned on the Viceroy's face. "Oh right," the latter recalled.
Stifling a yelp as he was painfully grabbed by the hair, forced to tilt his head up, the Pharaoh glared angrily at those maniacal lavender eyes.
"I'm sure you know the answer, little Pharaoh," the title was spat like rotten filth. "And given your new position…" He yanked hard, delighted that the Pharaoh couldn't stop his pained cry this time around. "…denying me isn't in your best interests."
The Pharaoh's spitting response hit the viceroy's face, earning him a brutal backhand to the right cheek.
Watching an angry king of pain swipe at the spittle, Dartz clicked his tongue. With an amused smirk on his lips, he shook his head. "That was very unpharaoh-ly of you, Your Highness," he commented. "Were you not taught manners?"
A growl. "No matter what you do," the Pharaoh snarled. "I will never tell you!" Teeth clenched. Form tensed. He was prepared for the blow his defiance surely earned.
Imagine his surprise when the viceroy replied with crazed laughter! The sound chilled him to the bone.
The sight was no less frightening. Wild eyes. His grin practically ripping his face apart…
"It's exactly as I dreamed it'd be."
The Pharaoh barely heard it over the man's laboured breaths. He involuntary shut his eyes when he raised a hand. It snapped open in shock when he felt those fingers caress his face. Specifically, on the bruising cheek he was struck a few moments prior.
Sharp tongue darted out of the viceroy's mouth. He eyed the Pharaoh hungrily, relishing in the fear expertly concealed by that unyielding face. "You. Resisting after I've taken over." Dry lips were licked. "Before slowly, very slowly, breaking…" He leaned forward, mouth just hovering over a delicate ear. A smirk formed on his lips when he felt the slight tremors on the king's skin. "…when you experience how I became known as the King of Pain."
Widened red eyes finally took notice of his surroundings, of the shadowed dungeon and the wide array of tools no doubt the king of pain knew best.
He swallowed despite himself.
A/N: Yes. I'm still a torture-loving wierdo with a love for cliffies. This chapter's shortened. But no, The chopped bits won't be here due to it being too graphic and past what's allowed on this site (from what I recently learned). It will be posted in my AO3 account soon. Can't say when exactly. The AO3 version won't just be illustrated, it'll have some scenes that this site won't allow.
Notes:
Kemet - Ancient Egypt
Nut – Egyptian goddess of the sky. Portrayed as a woman whose nude, star-spangled body arched over the earth. (wikipedia)
Dimension Hole – Spell Card/Normal/Select 1 monster on your side of the field and remove it from play until your next Standby Phase. While the monster is removed from play, the Monster Card Zone of the selected monster cannot be used. (yugiohwikia)
Next time on For the Greater Good:
Dartz merely shook his head, the smirk still in place. "I just want to show you an effective way to get our dear Pharaoh to talk."
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Date Posted: June03,2015 (GMT + 8)