Okie doke, Chap. 8 peoples. Teehee Im getting close to ten. Hah, Yay. ANYWAY. There is like a little fluff in this chapter, so yeah. Hehe. I may suck at it, but ...yeah. Enjoy.

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"...No?" Mina hesitantly looked back.

"At least not from the ones we know." Atem said observingly.

What is this thing... she thought hastily.

"Mina Giovannah!" [yeah thats her name...like middle name...if Egyptians HAVE middle names...oh well here they do xD

Mina looked back to see her mother's furious face. "Mina, what are you doing?"

"Well, mother. To them its called dueling." she replied.

"Do not get smart with me."

"By all means mother, what are you talking about?"

"I made sure you would not get involved with this sort of things when I raised you," she scolded.

"So you knew about this?"

"Of course I knew, your grandfather getting killed in that."

Oh so that is how he died...

Her mother got closer. "Now you...put that monster ..thing away. Or something." She dragged Mina away to a remote area of the garden. "I do not want you to be dueling ever again, you understand me?"

Mina gulped, she didn't know her mother would be this upset about this, "Yes, mother"

Her mother gave her a serious look, "Alright, go back with your friends," she said and walked away.

Mina watched her walk away, confused. Maybe she was worried that she'd get hurt like her grandfather. Although she did not see much harm in this. But its better not to disobey her.

Dusk had fallen quicker than Mina had imagined, and she could not sleep at all.

Mina sat up from her bed, I shouldn' have drank that weird drink. But what can a girl do in this time of night?, she thought. And came to the thought of walking around the palace, hoping it wouldn't be much of trouble...

Atem was strolling around the hall that was near his room, just to think When he heard footsteps coming from the hall. He looked from the corner. He could only see a shadow, and saw it walking down the hallway. And he had an urge to follow the figure, and did so.

The figure was walking at a normal pace, as if it was broad daylight. And yet, he could not decipher in his mind who that figure was.

Mina felt a weird feeling that she was being followed, but every time she looked back she would see only the dark, and everything to be still. But she was sure was being followed.

Atem saw the figure looking back many time, but he hid in the shadows. And kept on following. Then when the figure stepped in the shining moonlight, he saw that it was Mina. But what was she doing walking around at night?

Just as he too stepped in the shining moonlight, she turned around.

"Atem?" she said. "Where you the one following me?"

He didn't know what to say. "I w-was just," he cut himself off. Atem just observed her in the moonlight, her eyes shined brighter, and he saw more appealing than before.

Mina looked at him weird. He just stood there. She walked closer to him, to see what was wrong, "Hellooo" she waved her hand in front of his face. Atem just looked at her. "What is wrong with you?"

He didn't respond.

"Well, if you are going to continue to act this strange, I will be going back to my room." That was re-, her thoughts were distorted when she felt a sharp tug from her arm. She looked to see that it was Atem holding her back. And with another tug Atem infiltrated her lips. ( ;D ) Mina's eyes widened as she broke from the kiss. "What in the name of Osiris are you thinking?"

"...", he stayed silent as he looked deeply into her eyes, and kissed her one more time except this time she followed it.

For the next two days, Atem and Mina had avoided each other since the incident in the night. It had been awkward, because they had hated each other yet they did what they did that night.

Anyhow, there were guest coming from some countries like France, Italy, and the U.S.S.R. Mina thought it was possible that it would get a little cramped in the enormous palace. And the party was only a day away, and she still had to look for a dress. Out of all the parties she had been to, and had attended, this was one she did not want to go to.

That afternoon, while being in the garden admiring the flowers and the pond with water lilies. There was a lot of commotion going on from down the hall. It seemed like people had arrived from other places for the party. Mina decided to get a closer look.

"Oh, Dis iz a vonderful palace! Do you like it, daughter?"

"Yez, yez fathar" the girl beside the man spoke.

"Oh, such a veautiful vlace!" the other woman said.

"Yes, and I'm sure you'll like it here," the queen encouraged. "Now follow me, and I'll take you to your rooms."

"Mother, father, I will stay behind to look at ze garden." she smiled to her parents.

"It iz fine."

As the girl entered the garden, Mina was leaning with crossed arms one of the pillars, grinning. "Hello, and welcome."

The girl looked startled from the voice that came out of nowhere, "Voah, you ztarled me."

"My apologies," Mina said as she walked over briskly towards the girl. "My name is Mina." She held out her hand.

"Oh, hello. My name iz Svetlana." She took the hand a shook it.

"Svetlana..." What an odd name, well she does come from a foreign country. "That is a pretty name," she lied.

"Why, zank you! "

"Anytime." Mina said and putting a fake smile.

"Well, I vust leave you, I am to veet up with vy parents, zank you for your hozpitality"

Mina nodded and saw her walk away...Svetlana, has a ring to it.

When Mina had nothing else to do, beside wander around the palace, she had seen Atem quite a few times, but made sure he had not seen her.

While taking her detours avoiding the prince, she had found yet another family coming. And, yet again, her curiosity took the best of her.

"Oh, cest[I cant make the little accent thingies so...you'll have to play along xD magnifique!" squealed the woman. "It is incredible."

"Yes, I have heard that the palace is a nice place."

"Oh, et eez more bettah than 'nice'. Angelique is sure to love eet 'ere."

Where do they come up with these names? She wondered.

"Mina!"

Mina turned around to see an energetic dark haired girl, running towards her. "Hello, Mana"

"Mina," she wheezed. "We were looking all over for you!"

"We?"

"As in me and your mother," she answered.

"Oh," she sighed. "What is the matter?"

"You still don't have a dress!"

"I told her I'd look for one later," Mina whined.

"Well, that party is only a day away, and you need it by tomorrow morning!"

"I will make sure I have one by this evening ok?"

"Hmm, alright."

And it did turn out that she did, in fact, have a dress for herself. It was made while she went out into the markets, just like she did back in her palace. Mina did not want to compete with the rest of the girls who were going to be there. She did not feel that she should do that. It was an elegant, but subtle and simple. [Im not describing xx But Mina had done more things to the dress. Just so it would suit her. After all, she wanted to feel comfortable in the dress to have a good time.

That evening, more guest arrived this time it was four people who had came to stay, a mother, a father, and a daughter as always, and then there was a boy. It clearly must have been there son. Mina did not get a close view of the boy. And it did not really matter to her, but the girl looked like she was from here. So most likely they didnt travel far.

"We certainly are inquisitive today."

Mina turned around to see Seth with crossed arms, They sure do cross their arms a lot around here. "What do you want, Seth," she questioned. "I am already busy enough."

"Snooping around?"

Mina gave him an annoyed look, "No, trying to see where they came from," Mina lied

"And is it your business to know? But lets get to what I was looking for you for. I heard you and Atem had a moment a few nights ago."

Mina froze. "I do not know what you are talking about."

"Are you certain?" Seth asked.

"Yes, I am certain," putting her hands on her hips. "Now, if you excuse me I have things to do, and people to see."

"I would not be one to stop you, but you do know," he smirked, Mina stopped walking. "You do have feelings for him. Do not deny it. You are like a carving on a wall, easy to read. Anyone could see it in your eyes, Mina, the glistening. The way you tend to avoid the subject. It is like you have admiration for him."

Mina opened her mouth to disagree and looked quite irritated, because he had hit it right on spot, but she didn't want to give in or admit. She had turned around to give him a mouthful, but he was gone.

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Hehe, I liked writing that part. But anyway. I almost have Chapter 9 done, and its when the story starts getting into its plot. That I came with. Haha, but yeah reviews are love. hearts And thanks to Sakurelle and Spirit Elma for there since teh very first Chapter. You guys are the best. xD