A/N: Sigh. I didn't enjoy my break. It's unfair, my classmates get to spend one whole week doing whatever they want to do and I go to school to help on our school paper. Darn. I apologize for the delay of the chapter. Once again, thanks Yami Val and dragonlady222. I really thought everyone hated the previous chapters coz nobody reviewed, until you two, of course. So there...

Chapter 8: The Eve of A Nightmare

Akunadin watched them hurrying here and there, preparing for the swift battle that would fall on them with no trace of hesitation or fear, only loathing. The elder's brow furrowed knowingly. It was of no wonder that Ranmen gathered these hateful men so easily. They all wanted to get their revenge, and with such fierce determination, it was likely to happen. He didn't know if the pharaoh's troops can survive this battle, and for a while, he felt himself worry like the parent that he was.

His son would lead the troops today. Seth would fight recklessly again. Ranmen wanted to kill Seth.

Before he knew it, he was already rushing inside, looking for the man he swore allegiance to. He despised the pharaoh, no doubt, but he loved his son. He wanted Seth to be pharaoh, not his weakling of a nephew, and now he was sending his beloved son to his death. He wouldn't allow that to happen, would he?

"Ranmen, I need to talk to you," he said.

Ranmen looked up from the scroll that he was reading then smirked, "What do you want, priest?" he asked, knowing the other's full intentions of talking to him. Akunadin glared at him before speaking, "You must not hurt the priest that would lead them."

The onyx-eyed man rose from his seat and stood with all his glory in front of the priest, "Why would I do that?" he asked, his eyebrow raising a bit.

"Just this once," Akunadin reasoned out, "Besides, didn't you just want to wipe the army out?"

"Quite. But not exactly, I want that priest dead and you know it, Akunadin," Ranmen answered.

"Ranmen, don't hurt him," Akunadin replied, hoping the other would reconsider. The man, however, chuckled at him mockingly, "Our agreement stated no such thing. And this is specifically not the best time to change our agreement, is it?"

"Ranmen--" Akunadin started.

"I refuse."

Suddenly, Akunadin brightened up with an idea his vicious mind has come up with, "Would you really gain much from his death?" he asked.

"Of course. Without him in the picture, you know what I mean, Akunadin," the other answered.

"Atemu is not easily defeated. He's as powerful as his father, and he could be powerful enough to defeat your every game, now that would be a pity, wouldn't it?" the priest stated, staring at the younger man before him.

"What are you trying to get at?" Ranmen asked, recognizing that evil twinkle in the other's aged eyes.

Akunadin gave a small sigh of exasperation, perhaps at the immaturity of the youth, "If you could abduct High Priest Seth and order the pharaoh here, you could get what you want without any resistance. That would be easier than failed attempts at the pharaoh," he said.

"And after that? What do I do with the priest?" Ranmen asked, liking the suggested.

"Well... you could give him to me, and I'll erase his memories, or you could just kill him," Akunadin said, 'But not if I can save him,' he thought.

"Hmm..." Ranmen paused, it was a faultless suggestion. It would work, knowing the pharaoh would do anything not to get his priest hurt. The plan's perfect!

"I like that," he admitted, "Fine. I won't hurt that priest now, but after I get Atemu, he'll die."

Akunadin smirked, matching his, "Agreed."

XXX

Atemu woke up with a smile, staring at his cousin, who was of course, watching him sleep. Crimson eyes danced with mirth as his priest's own widened at the idea of being caught. Seth blushed before kissing his now awake cousin, "Good morning, Atemu," he said.

The pharaoh returned the gesture before kissing the other chastely, "Good morning, dear cousin," he replied. He was still sore after the previous night's activities, he figured out after failing to sit up. Seth eyed him worriedly, wondering if he had hurt his pharaoh.

"No, you didn't. I'm fine, Seth," Atemu answered, as if reading the other's mind. "I'm glad to hear that," Seth replied before helping the other.

"I am going to leave today, Atemu," he told his cousin, who looked at him.

"Why?" Atemu asked.

Seth sighed, "There were reports about your assassin's identity. As it turns out, someone named Ranmen paid him to kill someone in the palace, and that's you," he told him. Atemu's eyes widened at the familiar name.

"Then I would just have to make sure he never gets you," Ranmen had said. Did he mean--?

Putting pieces together, he cried out and embraced his cousin, "Don't go, Seth," he said.

"Atemu?" Seth asked worriedly. What did he say?

"Don't go, please," Atemu pleaded. Ranmen hired the assassin to kill somebody all right, but it wasn't him. The assassin was paid to kill Seth. That time when he was hit, it wasn't a threat to his life, he unconsciously protected his cousin.

"Seth don't go," he said.

"Atemu, I can't stay here. I'm going to lead the troops," Seth reasoned out. What could he have said to stir a reaction like this?

Atemu shook his head, "No, you don't understand, Seth. You're going to get harmed there," he said.

"Regardless, I still have to go," Seth argued. Atemu looked up at him, letting the other know how greatly affected he was.

"Ranmen's going to kill you, Seth! I figured it out, he wanted to kill you, not me," he explained. Seth's brow furrowed in confusion, "What are you talking about?" he asked.

Atemu sighed, "Ranmen hired the assassin to kill you. He only attacked me accidentally because I was blocking his way when he fired the arrow," he said.

Seth's eyes widened before narrowing in suspicion, "How did you know? Who took you during the celebration? Atemu, what's going on?"

"Please, just... don't go," Atemu said.

"We have to tell the other priest about this, Atemu."

"If you won't leave, then go," the pharaoh replied.