A Tomb-Keeper's Lot, Chapter 8

"Brothers, Sisters… we have guests in our home."

Marik stepped out from behind his uncle, who had entered the chamber first to soften the shock, and gazed upon the group of men, women and children gathered in the large, torch-lit vault.

The Tomb-Keepers stared at him in confusion and trepidation, and he cowered under their piercing gazes.

He hadn't known what to expect upon seeing the rest of his family.

He found now that he could hardly bare to look at them, with no idea what he was supposed to say or how he was supposed to face them after so long.

Odion placed a heavy hand on his little brother's shoulder, and Marik found himself gaining a little courage from the gesture.

It would be alright; he did have family that loved him.

His head lifted slightly and he managed to look into the eyes of his extended family, but he still didn't know what to say.

He tried to clear his throat, but his mouth was parched and the sound of him swallowing echoed in his ears and he cringed at its loudness in the hushed room.

"He-hello everyone… I know it's been a long time, but… I-I'm Marik Ishtar, the heir of the Tomb-Keepers."

For a moment it was silent, and Marik could see the shock on everyone's faces build and morph, and all too suddenly those expressions turned to anger and resentment, and they were advancing, fierce words and accusations and grilling questions dripping from their tongues like poison.

Marik couldn't react; he was immobilized with fear, shock, and rising in the back of his mind: pain.

He should have prepared for this.

His experience with his uncle had given him some hope that he would be forgiven by the clan, even welcomed, but it seemed that this had been too much to hope for.

They crowded him still, jabbing their fingers in his face and throwing their insults into the air.

He tried to stand his ground, to stay calm in the face of their anger – after all, he felt he deserved it – but his feelings of self-preservation were beginning to take over and he felt himself backing away, right into the solid form of his brother, who glared out across the mob but could really do nothing more.

Marik could hardly understand their words at this point; the cacophony had reached its peak, and he feared it would soon come to blows.

Before the group could become violent however, a throaty yell of "SILENCE!" rang out through the chamber, and everyone turned to Fenuku, whose ferocious expression caused the entire room to become still.

"How dare you…" He seethed, glaring out across the room, "all of you! Our family's heir returns to us in our hour of need, and you attack him with hatred and wrath. Such behavior is shameful!"

Some of the Tomb-Keepers looked sullen, but the majority was unmoved, though now most of their glares were directed at Fenuku.

A tall and strong looking man stepped forward, a hood draped on his head and a deep frown set on his face, and Marik recognized him as Zuberi, one of the priests of the clan.

"Don't you speak to us of shame, Fenuku. You are partly responsible for this mess that we are in. But you," he turned deadly eyes to Marik, "you are to blame for our family's pain. This 'hour of need' as your uncle puts it is all thanks to your betrayal. We would not be in this mess if you had not abandoned your family in the first place."

Marik hung his head. He had known this was coming, but it still stung.

His balled his fists, eyes clenching shut as he fought back the tears pricking at the corners of his eyes; he would not cry in front of these people.

He did not need to show any more weakness in front of them.

As far as they were concerned, he was worthless anyways.

"I know. And, for what it's worth… I-I'm sorry."

"Sorry? SORRY?" came another voice from the back of the room, this one much younger. The group parted and a young man pushed his way through. His black hair fell across his deep, hate-filled eyes as he stood before Marik, staring up at him as if sizing up to attack. "I'm afraid that's not worth much. You have no idea what we've been through, all because you couldn't handle your duties. You never cared about the rest of us. We were nothing to you! As long as you got your freedom, we could suffer and die down here for all you cared. And now…" he seethed, his teeth grit and eyes wide, "now you come crawling back to us, begging forgiveness? Men in this place have died for less than that!"

He lunged, and before anyone could stop him he had grabbed Marik's arms, twisting them behind his back, and had a small, sharp dagger poised directly at Marik's throat.

Odion cried out, reaching for his brother, but the young man shouted "NO!" and laid the edge of the knife against Marik's unprotected throat, forcing his head back as Marik tried to get away from the blade.

"No one will help him! He deserves this – for all the pain his actions have caused us, he deserves nothing less than to die and have his soul devoured by the beasts of the underworld."

One of the elder women stepped forward, reaching a hand towards the young man saying "You musn't do this Paki; he carries the Pharaoh's secret! Your soul will be in jeopardy if you harm him."

"I don't care!" he spat, twisting Marik's arms sharply and pressing the blade against his skin, "I'd willingly surrender my soul to avenge our family against this miscreant!"

The force of the young man's hold was beginning to cut off the circulation of Marik's wrists, but he was distracted by the sudden rush of memories brought to his mind from hearing the boy's name.

'Paki? Uncle Najja's youngest boy?' Marik's mind was racing, but the knife at his throat restricted his speech. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, pressing dangerously against the cool metal of the blade; but he managed to choke out the words "I remember you… cousin."

"Heh, do you now? I feel so honored." He leaned in, hissing in Marik's ear "I never liked you; so high and mighty, just because you were heir to the clan… you were spoiled. There were plenty of us who would gladly have devoted their lives to guarding this tomb, and yet the task was given to you: an undeserving and unappreciative little rat!"

"You know nothing of devotion."

Marik craned his neck to see Odion glaring at Paki, his hands twitching as he struggled not to attack – one false move and that dagger could easily slide across Marik's throat and kill him. Odion could not risk that.

But it seemed he could not control his tongue any longer.

"Marik has done more for this clan than you know; but more than that, he was destined to be the Ishtar heir. No one could have taken his place." He paused for a moment, his eyes unfocused and mind reflecting on the past, to a time when he, too, had wished to be heir. "You have no idea what he has suffered because of his fate, and what he has had to overcome." Odion regained his focus and turned a stony expression on the man threatening his brother, saying "You would not last a day in his place."

Paki's face contorted in rage as he spat "Silence! I refuse to be lectured by some lowly servant! You do not share our blood, so keep your mouth shut."

Odion seemed unfazed, head still high in defiance, but Marik could see the hurt hiding behind his eyes.

And it made his blood boil.

"No one…" he seethed, his voice low and menacing, "calls my brother a servant."

Paki laughed, sliding the dull side of the knife against Marik's throat tauntingly and said "Brother, huh? I knew you didn't care about all of us anymore, but apparently you forgot the importance of blood ties while you were frolicking about the surface. I wonder what you poor father would say if he heard you referring to this outsider like that?"

"He's more deserving of our blood than you are!" Marik fumed, but his voice was weaker as he struggled not to move too much against the blade his cousin continued to shove at him.

He realized for a fleeting moment that if he continued his obstinacy, no amount of begging or pleading would save his neck; at that moment however, he didn't really care.

No one insulted Odion.

Paki sneered, ready to retort, but a sudden pounding of rock from the other side of the room drew everyone's attention.

Feeling the grip around his wrists slacken, Marik seized the opportunity to wrench his arms free, bringing one up to grasp Paki's wrist holding the dagger while his other formed a fist which collided against the side of Paki's face.

The young man stumbled, dropping the knife, and Marik stooped quickly to pick it up while Odion moved forward to place his brother behind him.

Anymore attempts to attack Marik would have to go through him.

Paki barely moved to retaliate, still distracted by the sounds of sliding, scraping rock emanating from the back of the room.

At the source of the noise was a wall, covered in hieroglyphs and pictures of Egyptian gods and monsters. A great tablet depicted on the wall drew Marik's attention, as it seemed to be shaking and moving steadily inward.

Slowly it swung back on unseen hinges which creaked noisily and echoed in the chamber, revealing a dark void behind it.

Marik stared at the opening, his overactive mind creating nightmarish visions of shadowy figures with glowing eyes emerging from its depths, but suddenly his imaginings were replaced by the slim form of a woman emerging from the doorway, shaking dust off her robes as she helped another, shorter woman stumble out of the opening, holding her head and coughing; and following the two was another, very familiar young woman with long black hair and bright eyes, her tan dress and shawl patched with dust.

Both brothers gasped loudly as they spotted her from afar.

"ISHIZU!"

Marik forced his way through the crowd of Tomb-Keepers, Odion on his heels as they rushed towards their sister.

Her eyes grew wide at the sound of his voice, and she quickly spotted him, his blonde hair standing out against the room, along with Odion's tall and imposing form.

"Marik! Odion!"

She had hardly been able to take two steps before Marik was upon her, hugging her so tight he lifted her off the ground.

She laughed for joy as he set her down, and was soon enveloped in Odion's massive arms as he hugged her, gently, love and relief seeping from his form, and she burrowed into his protective embrace.

Marik glommed onto them, and both older siblings spread their arms wide to include their dear little brother in the embrace.

For the first time in those caves Ishizu felt peace, held lovingly by both of her brothers, and tears streamed from her eyes as she thanked her ancestors for keeping them safe and allowing her to find them again.

Odion gazed at both of his younger siblings, his ever-present feelings of responsibility and duty momentarily outweighed by the joy he felt in having them near.

And for a moment Marik was able to forget where he was, forget the fear and anguish he had only just experienced, even forget his own self-loathing and guilt, as he was filled with feelings of love for his siblings, feeding off their love for him in return.

"Monifa!"

The three siblings were startled to hear the worried tones of Fenuku as he fought his way towards them all, moving with surprising speed until he reached the young girl holding her head.

She fell into his arms, and he cradled her close, worry etched on his face as he looked her over.

"Daughter, what happened to you? What is wrong?"

"There was a cave-in in the tunnel." Sharifa said, in her usual stern tone, but she placed a comforting hand on Monifa's shoulder. "She was hit by a falling rock, but she seems to be doing better now."

Fenuku leaned back to look in concern at Monifa, and she offered a weary smile to him. "I'll be alright father… I just need some rest."

He nodded slightly, but he didn't look anymore reassured. "You're lucky you were able to make it out alive."

"It wasn't luck," Sharifa said thoughtfully, "We managed to escape because… we were protected… somehow."

"We were saved," Ishizu said, turning to her brothers, "by a spirit… the protector of the Millenium Items."

Marik gasped "You mean Shadi?"

Ishizu lifted a brow in confusion. "Yes… how did you.…"

"He helped us too. That Chief had us trapped in the embalming room, but Shadi freed us, and he also took care of the guards outside this room so we could get in."

Ishizu smiled; she knew little about the mysterious spirit, but it seemed her whole family now owed him their thanks.

But not all of the family was feeling so grateful.

"So… the other disgrace is here as well now."

Marik and Odion glared at Paki as he stepped forward, barely glancing at Ishizu as he passed, but he didn't say anymore to them; his focus was on Sharifa.

"Why are you helping her?"

Sharifa crossed her arms defiantly, saying "Why shouldn't I be helping her? She is family."

Paki gave an angry humph and turned towards Ishizu, staring past her; ignoring her.

"I don't consider any of them to be family anymore."

"You're a fool Paki. An immature, angry little child."

Paki's eyes were livid as he turned back to her, his teeth grinding as he started "How dare you-"

"Oh I dare. I am your older sister, and you must listen to me with respect."

He held his tongue, but the anger didn't leave his eyes.

Satisfied for the moment, she turned towards Marik and his siblings, and a smile spread across her face as she bowed her head respectfully to him.

"It's good to see you again Master Marik. I'd welcome you home, but I think you've had enough of a welcome already."

"Sharifa…" he said softly, surprising even himself with the sudden shyness in his voice.

He remembered her very well, and those memories were making it difficult for him to even talk to her.

She had been more or less betrothed to him when he was little – marriages were planned early and carefully for such a small population – and though his views on such things had changed over the years he'd been away, he couldn't help but notice that she was in fact very pretty. He had always thought she was pretty.

He mentally smacked himself for the heat he felt rising in his face. He knew he could never bring himself to marry a family member, but old attractions were hard to let go of.

"Uh, thanks." He said, regaining his composure, "It's good to see you as well. Though… I kind of wish the rest of the family shared your sentiments."

At that she looked around the rest of the room, taking in the weary looks of the group as they watched the interactions, and her smile fell.

"What is wrong with all of you? Why are you all so angry? These three have come to help us: to save us from our fate! Have you not heard the news they've come all this way to share with us?"

"No." Paki said spitefully, "They have shared nothing of interest. And whatever news they have, I don't care to hear it."

"Oh?" Sharifa gasped in mock surprise, "You mean you don't care to hear that they have successfully fulfilled our Tomb-Keeper's Mission?"

Paki froze, his eyes wide, and aside from the gasps of the clan the tomb was silent, everyone waiting with baited breath to hear more.

Sharifa cast a sideways glance at Marik, prompting him to speak.

He nodded slowly, and looked out over the crowd.

"It's true. I… we… have found the nameless Pharaoh."

*Author's Note:

I'm sorry! This is WAAAAAAAAAY overdue.

Uh, I mean… it's a gift for Thanksgiving Day. Yeah.

So Happy Thanksgiving!

I should really stop promising that I'll get my chapters up in time – it seems that the minute I do, I end up being late.

This chapter was difficult to get right… it took a lot of revisions and thought before I was finally happy with it. And then it got long….. so I kinda cut it off.

The next chapter will go a lot smoother because it's a continuation of this one, and I have a bit clearer of a plan for it than I did with this. So… yay.

And no, Marik is not going to get with his cousin. Or anyone. This isn't a shipping fic. I just like exploring the more… strange and taboo traditions of a group of people having to live for thousands of years underground. I think it's necessary to understanding Marik, even if it does get… uncomfortable.

No one ever said his family was normal. They're far from it.

Anyways, once again, thanks for the reviews and faves everyone! Please feel free to leave more reviews and tell me what you think! I really would love to know!