A/N: I really should start updating, right? This is so stupid, I mean, I was almost finished with this chapter when my annoying brother pulled the plug. And I wasn't even able to save it! Damn.
Also, I would like to announce that 'All I Want for Christmas' is on-hold until I finish this story. Sorry.
Chapter 17: When Seeing Nothing is Blindness
The night is known for two poetically-good things—one, for darkness, and second, for being the best imagery of doubt. And while it may be serene and calm most of the time, like man, it was a pretense, dedicated to hide a secret.
It can be embroidered with clouds that hint rain, cleansing and purifying, or it can even be starless, a symbol of hopelessness. It can also be littered with bright, twinkling stars, seemingly offering refugee to someone who was lost when all along, it was the worse of all three.
Betrayal was said to be one of the most painful wounds one can inflict on another. It was heart-wrenching, catastrophic, and yet be so difficult to avoid. And no matter how we try to deny that we have devised plots after plots to avoid it, we'll end up being stabbed in the back by the very person we least expected to harm us.
Eventually, it's not about how far you'd go for your comrade or family, it's all about surviving a game of betrayal. And the worse game is nothing else but love.
It's not about whom you can trust and love, it doesn't work that way anymore. It's not about what one can do to avoid it but how to cope with it. And frankly, there's a huge difference between surviving a betrayal and hiding from one.
But when you've been ripped off of your dignity and pride by someone you trusted with your life, how will you overcome that fact?
XXX
Charcoal-black orbs glistened evilly under the moonlight as the priest all but maneuvered the main gates and entered using the path Akunadin had instructed.
A quirk of his lips indicated how pleased he was with everything that was going on. Bluntly said, everything was going out perfectly in plan. As promised, as desired.
"The night ends with you screaming my name, dear Atemu," he whispered to himself, chuckling lightly at the dark intents of his plan.
XXX
Mahado stood watch by the pharaoh's door, knowing full well that the amount of guards stationed to protect the pharaoh will not be strong enough to stop any attacking magic-bearer.
He folded his arms squarely and stood proudly than ever. Now that Seth was still away, he was tasked to protect the pharaoh at all times, and by Ra will he give anything to accomplish that.
Eastward, he heard someone approach and he readied himself with his Millennium Item.
"Relax, Mahado! It is only I," Atemu said, placing a hand on the other's shoulder.
"But were you not inside a few minutes ago?" the priest asked, wondering how the monarch was able to slip through his guard. Then again, Atemu was always an expert in sneaking in or out. He shook his head.
"Please, my pharaoh, you must always tell me where you are going. Security has been raised and the number of attacks may increase," Mahado said.
Atemu sighed, "I apologize, Mahado. But really, you have to relax. By a minute there, I really thought you were a statue of some kind," he answered with a hint of amusement.
The priest shook his head at his pharaoh lightheartedly before watching the monarch enter his chambers. Once the king was gone, he went back to his 'duty'.
XXX
Atemu prepared to go to sleep but knew that it would continue to avoid him. It was annoying, really. To be completely worried and yet, be so utterly stubborn and indicate no signs whatsoever. Seth was probably injured on the way, or was delayed by an unexpected incident. And he wouldn't even know about it.
The pharaoh shook his head, ridiculing himself of his thoughts. Shouldn't he start moving on, as his priests promptly suggested? But it was a difficult thing to do. It would ruin him to forget. There were a lot of things he wished didn't happen, but he came to learn not to regret them, but this was one thing he would give everything to change.
Questions raged his mind and threatened his self-control. Questions about Seth, about his feelings, about basically everything that he stood up for. Was it wrong to stand up for what he believes in was right? Was it wrong for him to love his cousin? There was nothing wrong with loving someone. Love was pure, it knew no sin, and yet, why do all these things happen? Why to him?
Flashback
"My prince, I am glad to see you again," the man greeted, bowing ever so cordially in front of the soon-to-be king. Atemu smiled and greeted back, placing a hand on the other's shoulder.
"Ranmen, please, you need not be so formal towards me. You are my friend, are you not?" the prince asked, careless and ever so trusting.
The man nodded and smiled sheepishly before catching glimpse of the prince's friend watching them from a reasonable distance. He frowned. That priest was too suspicious for his own good, he thought.
He turned and smiled at the prince, "Would you like to have another drink?" he offered the wine. Atemu shook his head.
"I don't think I can handle another one for tonight. You may have one if you wish it, Ranmen," Atemu replied. Ranmen shook his head and suddenly grasped the other's wrist.
Curious and surprised crimson met his eyes and he all but chuckled, "I want to show you something," he said, eyes gleaming with an unknown emotion.
"Prince Atemu, may I talk to you?" Mahado suddenly interrupted, breaking the contact between the two.
The crown prince, upon seeing Mahado, slightly pulled his hand away from Ranmen and smiled at his friend, "Of course. You need not ask." He looked at the other and apologized, "I promise I will go to you after our conversation," he said.
Whatever the man's reaction was, he never knew. "Let us go somewhere private," he suggested to his friend and led the way. Once out of eavesdropping ears, he turned to his priest-friend.
"Ranmen is plotting something that might harm you, Atemu," Mahado revealed, finally dropping formalities. He saw the other widen his eyes in surprise before composing himself.
"It does not look that way," Atemu reasoned, "Perhaps he will have a change of heart?"
"I will not question you, you know that. I will only support you but you should remember that when he lays even a finger on you and hurt you, he will be dead before the morrow," Mahado replied.
Atemu nodded. "Thank you for telling me this, dear friend," he said, hugging the other, "Worry not for me, all right?"
Mahado smiled, "As you wish."
Side-by-side, they reentered and parted ways. Mahado stood beside the other priests, watching his prince go with Ranmen cautiously.
"Ranmen, where are we really going? We might be missed in the palace," Atemu said, reasoning out as they ventured deeper into the gardens. Ranmen insisted to keep silent as they traveled further, however.
"What are we—"
The man turned around and faced his prince, eyes gleaming with unspoken emotions, "We are here," he declared, breaking his grip on the noble.
Said noble looked at his once-gripped wrist before meeting the other's gaze. What were they doing there? And what did the other want to talk about?
Ranmen then shook his head all of a sudden, as if shaking away a thought, "I am such a fool," he said, catching the other's attention. He smiled sadly, "I would tell you, you know that, Atemu, but not if it would cost us our camaraderie," he added.
Atemu all but wanted to help the other, to find out what's going on, but hesitated, Mahado's words swirling in his head.
Before he knew it, he was pushed to the ground, rather forcibly, by the person in front of him, and he drew out a surprised gasp.
"Ranmen, what's going on?" he asked, trying to calm down. And as if some spell hung over the other man, he can only stare as the other fight within himself on what to do.
"I want you," Ranmen began, fixing his hunger-filled eyes on the fallen prince, "I need you…" before climbing on top of Atemu.
The confession shook the prince to the core, surprised him so much that when the man in front of him was already pinning him to the ground, he couldn't move or utter a single word. This was outrageous!
"Ranmen," he started, amazed to see that his voice already works, "please get off me," trying to talk the other out of it. But the man seemed hard-headed and refused to listen as he all but claimed prince's lips in a brutal, fierce kiss.
Now convinced of the other's behavior, Atemu pulled away and pushed the other away. "What is going on with you, Ranmen? Has the wine gone through your senses?" he demanded before calmly fixing his clothes and composure.
Ranmen, rather angered by the other's actions, started to make his way to the prince, "I will not answer to you, prince. I will do what I want to do, and right now, I want to feel myself inside of you!" he answered and rushed for the other.
And as Atemu drew a step back, Mahado revealed himself and pointed a sword at Ranmen, eyes narrowed into slits, "You will know better than to harm the prince," he said.
Alarmed and threatened, Ranmen started to move away before fixing his glare at the wide-eyed confused prince, "This will not be the end, Atemu. I will have you," he prophesized before vanishing into a wisp of air.
Atemu breathed shakily, knowing his priest's eyes bore on him before he embraced his friend, "I'm sorry, Mahado, I should have known," he muttered.
"It will be alright, Atemu," he heard the other reply, "I will be here to protect you from now on."
End Flashback
XXX
"Where is the pharaoh?" 'High Priest Seth' asked as he entered the palace, taking delight of the suspicious and alarmed gazes from the soldiers.
"He is in his chambers, my lord," one of the guards answered, "Would you like your presence be announced?"
The priest raised a hand and shook his head, "You need not. I will visit him personally," he said and he walked away, a small and deceptive smile gracing his face.
No one knew this was only the beginning of such an unexpected and disastrous end.
XXX
Feeling that sleep would elude him completely that night, the pharaoh rose from his bed and dressed. For a few minutes, he gazed over his kingdom, thoughts adrift, mostly around his missing cousin. He would have gone with the search party if he had but the chance but he knew it wouldn't make a difference. He sighed.
From outside, he could hear the footsteps of one of the guards assigned for the night and he all but shook his head.
A few minutes, voices were heard from the other and he turned to the door, wondering who they might be. "My priest," he heard the guard say.
Thoughts of his cousin drifted on his mind and he faltered.
Which priest?