D.H. A.N.: Sorry it's been so long. This is only the prelude to the duel. The idea of The "Millennium Seal" comes courtesy of my fellow authoress, Ghost Wulf. This chapter is dedicated to her, and all the hard work she has done helping me with this. If you want to see her work, read Coming Home. It's great. Please read, review, and enjoy! Here's Chapter Nine: The Phantom's Seal
A.N.2: Memories and flashbacks are different, you'll see why about mid way through here. In most of her memories that I show in this story , Mhera is referred to as "Arlomhe". It's just an anagram of her full first name. If you've read my other Fic, Powers Revealed thru Chapter Ten, you're already familiar with this fact, and that her last name is anagrammed as well.
Chapter Nine: The Phantom's Seal
Seto Kaiba stepped in front of the tryouts, eyeing each one as if to see who would be best to fit his unique idea of a callback. He finally decided that Keimo and Bakura would be the duelists for the role. Those judges really need to learn how to make up their minds, otherwise they'll leave the decision making to me. And this is the way I decide. He smirked at the thought. "Roland, get over here!"
"Yes Mister Kaiba." Roland, Kaiba Corp.'s announcer, came to where Seto Kaiba could whisper something in his ear. Afterwards, Roland boomed, "Attention tryouts! The parts are all decided, save exception of one. We are undecided on the role of Erik, the disfigured genius, who is more commonly known as The Phantom of the Opera. Would Bakura Royou and Keimo Ishtar step forward and present your dueling decks!" Both duelists did so, with Roland inspecting them carefully for basic adherence to general rules. Keimo stuck his deck back into an inner pocket of his jacket, a look of apprehension crossing his face. Bakura merely smirked at his future opponent's face, and placed his deck in a pants pocket
Bakura watched Mhera next. She was busy restraining Joey Wheeler; a look of terror across her face in reaction to the information. The foolish girl! She must surely consider the idea that I will make certain that she doesn't spoil the pleasure of my surprise. Bakura smirked again. He touched one of the Ring's Points, and let his vessel's mind take hold.
Mhera was instantly drawn to the dark look in Bakura's eyes, but unsure of why. But moments later, she was drawn into her mental chamber. At least, that's what she thought at first. But she realized that this was a mental crossroad, something she had experienced with more than two people in the mind. Seth had entered shortly after Mhera arrived. "Is there some reason we're here, rather than in your mind?"
"I only know it's a crossroad, I only have experienced this once when…" she couldn't bear to think about that event
"Yes, I know. I knew that this would be hard for you. You wish to speak of this no farther?" His voice was gentle and soft, not at all like his present self. Mhera only nodded. She then tensed up, and Seth knew that the third person had entered.
"Well, we meet once more Mheralo Ishtar. I suppose my Item won't only attract other Items, but people who possess them as well." He chuckled maliciously at his own joke.
"If you can't guess already, I am not amused. I don't trust you one bit." Mhera answered.
Bakura stepped towards her, a greedy look in his eyes. "I could say the same about you, but you are trustworthy in some matters" He sneered, taking another step towards her. " However, I don't trust that you'll keep my strategies from your brother's mind. I know all about the bonds you share."
Mhera's eyes went wide. "How?" In response Bakura touched one of the Ring's Points, and the chamber faded from view. Seth grabbed onto Mhera's shoulder, knowing the memory the malicious Spirit of the ancient thief would show her, and that he would have to support her through this.
Mhera looked below and saw the Kaiba Corp. Blimp, and it wasn't a fear of heights that made her stomach flip. It was the fact that Bakura had stopped at this particular scene. Mhera remembered it as the last instance of telepathic contact with her father before the final match, and in between the first four duels, and the semifinals of the tournament. After the memory was finished, Bakura had a small smirk on his face. "Is there a reason he didn't ask you to do this for him?"
"He did. But I told him I wouldn't duel. I couldn't watch it happen…" Mhera said calmly, but she began having an undesirable combination of guilt and fury. "How dare you show me that!" Mhera was shaking, tears flowing down her face, and fury coursing through her body. "HOW DARE YOU!" She shouted, and the whole chamber shook.
"My, you really do have your father's temper." Bakura said with a shaking head. He tsk'd at her. That did it.
"DON'T YOU DARE MENTION MY FATHER! DON'T YOU DARE!" Mhera panted, grateful, for Bakura's sake, that Seth was strong enough to hold her back. Without him, she would have flung herself on the insolent thief who had taken so much from her already, and fought hard. She was sick of his twisted games. Bakura only smirked.
"You realize that I hold your father's fate in my hands."
"You said you would release him after the final performance."
"Correction, I said after your final performance. That means if you don't get the role, I can keep your father in the Point of No Return for as long as I please." Bakura smiled darkly as the realization sank into Mhera's whole body. "You do realize that you could always convince the judges to choose you."
"You're tempting me to cheat? There was a much better audition than mine, and I believe you have enough sense to realize that."
"Yes, but I have more leverage over you, which in turn makes the play more believable" He took another step toward Mhera. "Of course, if you should refuse, I could always, say, have someone join your father, someone that you hold very dear." He kept his eyes fixed on Mhera the entire time. "Say you'll share with me one night, one experience, one date."
"Do you mean refusing to accept your offer of a date, or refusing to cheat to gain the role?" Mhera asked, slowly backing away from him.
"Both." He replied firmly
"Well, keep dreaming. I already have a boyfriend."
"Ah, yes. But after I take care of your brother, he'll be next" Bakura was satisfied by the look of horror that crossed Mhera's fair features.
"I'll do anything, just don't hurt them." Mhera's voice was unusually submissive.
"I want a Seal." The Spirit said eagerly.
"A what?" Mhera was clearly perplexed.
That's when Seth stepped in. "She knows not of what you speak. Though you," He spat the pronoun out with contempt, "must be very desperate to attempt to make a Seal. Give a few minutes to understand what you're asking." It could be seen that Seth had a great grasp of negotiation, something that the Spirit of the Ring couldn't deny.
"Agreed." The Spirit stated simply. He then left the two be.
"Please tell me what you mean by a Seal. What am I getting myself into?"
"I can explain all of that later. Right now, and I apologize in advance for this, I need to show you something." He glanced at Mhera hesitantly. "May I please see the Rod, Mhera?" Mhera calmly surrendered the object, something that she would only do if she truly trusted that Seth would be able to help. Seth took Mhera's hand and gazed into the Rod's ornamental eye and the chamber faded from view.
Mhera had that déjà vu feeling yet again. She only got that feeling when she visited less desirable memories. And this was definitely one of them. She was watching a warehouse floor from an exceptional vantage point, on a hidden balcony with Seth at her side. "You remember this place?" Seth asked.
"Yes I think so." Mhera then suppressed a slight whimper as two of her father's former lackeys brought a bound figure into the warehouse.
Her father's voice came out sharply, "Leave us be." The two then shuffled out almost tripping over one another in their haste to escape their boss's glare. Mhera gripped the rails so hard that her knuckles went white.
Seth understood why. "I didn't want to show you this part, but it seemed to be the best place to start, chronologically of course." He was sincere in his apology.
"It's alright. I need to reacquaint myself with the kind of person I'm dealing with. I see why my father was so inclined to attempt a deal with Bakura to obtain what he so foolishly sought." Mhera's violet eyes watched, her mind waiting for her memory to fail her, as she had been knocked out soon after. Her father's voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
"You dare go against me? I must say that is the most foolish choice you have made, Arlomhe, and I won't allow it to go any farther." He stepped towards her. Mhera and Arlomhe both went equally pale as Marik's voice ran cold and icy through their minds.. "You have tested me for the last time, Mheralo!"
The Rare Huntress was about to speak when a gold flash from behind Marik's back silenced any pleading that could be uttered. The memory grew a little dimmer, as only the Rod was able to show what happened next. Marik began speaking more to himself than to the unconscious figure before him. "It is a shame that she has no Item, as I would make a Seal with her. Because she knows my identity, and given her rash behavior, would probably expose me. But what could I promise her in exchange for her silence?" A dreadfully drawn smirk crossed his face. "I would vow, perhaps, not to harm that precious boyfriend of hers. She is weak in that she will do anything to protect those she cares about. But I see no point in dwelling on this any farther, as she has no Item."
The same two figures came to receive orders on what to do with the bound figure at their leader's feet. "Take her to the docks." Marik snapped. The scene then faded from view.
Mhera was breathing deeply, either trying to calm herself down, or trying to decipher her father's cryptic statements. "He spoke of a Seal, and that I had no Millennium Item at the time, other than that, I understand nothing more."
"A Millennium Seal is a pact made with the power of your Millennium Items, and" Seth paused "if either of you break it then the powers of your two Millennium Items are turned against you – irreparably."
"Are you crazy? I'm not going to make a deal like that!" Mhera began, but Seth cut her off.
"It's your duty, as that is the only way you can insure your family and friends suffer no longer by the Spirit's hand. Your father, I'm afraid, will have to stay where he is. The Seal can only prevent, it cannot undo the damage already done." Seth waited, then sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry that I cannot help you more."
"Can you at least tell me how to make one? As much as I hate this predicament I'm in, I would make a fool of myself if I knew not how to do it."
"So I can assume that means you'll do it?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, it's the only way I can get out of this." Mhera could only bring herself to nod soon after. This was a difficult choice that she shouldn't, that no one should have to choose between. The safety of those they care about, or their own safety. Her father was right in that Mhera would do anything to protect those she cared about, but, as he realized later, that only made her stronger.
"So, how do I use it? Is there some sort of format that one has to follow?"
"Somewhat, but it varies. You have to mention your end of the pact, as well as what you make it for. Not only that, but it is highly recommended that you say what should happen should your end be broken. It's very risky, if I haven't made that minor point important, then I have done a very poor job." Seth halted there, as there was only a limited amount of time, and he wanted to make certain that Mhera knew what she would say.
"How does this sound?" Mhera paused, trying to get her thoughts in order. "For the safety of my friends and family, I invoke the power of the Millennium Seal, thus binding myself and the wielder of the Millennium Ring into a pact that shall be kept. If I fail to keep my end of the Seal, I understand that the powers of The Millennium Rod and Ring shall be turned upon me. In return for the safety of those I care about, I shall gain the role of Christine by any means necessary, keep your strategies secret, and go on one date with you." Mhera's face showed an undesirable look. "Is it just me, or do the villainous always have the easier end of a deal?"
"I'm sorry, but that's the way it works out in a lot of instances. About your attempt, it was a tad too wordy, but you sound like you have seriously thought this through." Seth paused, and attempted a small smile. "Am I right about that?" He asked.
"Half, only about it being too wordy-"
"That will just have to do then, won't it?" Bakura had returned to the mental crossroad, wearing the same sneer that Mhera fought the urge to slap off his face. She put her right hand behind her back to allow Seth to inconspicuously place the Rod in her hand, and slyly gave the appearance that it had been drawn from her belt, rather than in the care of one of its former wielders.
"I guess it will have to do. Are we ready?" Mhera could be seen showing minute second thoughts about what she was doing. "You go first."
"No, ladies first, I insist."
"You should know by now that when I am in this kind of situation, lady is the last descriptive word that should come to mind. There has to be another word that can be used." Mhera said vehemently
"Fine. Heiresses first, then." Bakura couldn't help but watch Mhera glower darkly at him, and see her not realize that she was giving him the reaction that had been desired from the start.
"Fine!" Mhera yelled. She then calmed herself just long enough bear to say her vow quietly and calmly. "For the safety of my friends and family, I invoke the power of the Millennium Seal, thus binding myself and the wielder of the Millennium Ring into a pact that shall be kept. If I fail to keep my end of the Seal, I understand that the powers of The Millennium Rod and Ring shall be turned upon me. In return for the safety of those I care about, I shall gain the role of Christine by any means necessary, keep your strategies secret, and go on one date with you." Mhera's face once again showed an undesirable look at the last portion of the deal. A white glow surrounded Mhera as well as the Rod.
"Impressive. For the secrecy of my strategies from your brother's eyes, I invoke the power of the Millennium Seal. In return for this favor, I shall not harm him, or any other person linked to you by your care. You will gain the role of Christine by any means necessary and you will go on a date with me. Should my part of this pact be broken, I am fully aware that the power of The Rod and Ring will be turned on me."
"Wait, how do I know you won't let your vessel take the penalty for you?" Mhera snapped.
"Very quick on the uptake aren't we? Pity, I guess I can't pull that one over on you." Bakura's tone returned to how it had been before Mhera had caught wind of the possible loophole. "And my vessel shall not be harmed if I choose to break it." There was a crimson glow around him, and the Ring. White merged with crimson, and heat emanated from Mhera's whole being. She held herself upright as both glows went gold, then vanished.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you Mheralo Ishtar. Can I trust you to speak with no one about this, or must we make a second Seal to prevent you from revealing the secrets of the first?"
"No. I kept one secret for ten years from someone who is very difficult to keep secrets from." Mhera replied slowly.
"You mean your father?" Bakura asked, awaiting a reaction.
"I said don't mention him!" Mhera grew furious at the thief's insolence..
"I'll see you silent in the audience to your brother's defeat."
"You are far too overconfident!"
There was no response from her antagonizing co-sealer. He left the crossroad, leaving Seth and Mhera there.
"You better get back out there. Your brother is probably thinking you've zoned out on him again." Seth somewhat urged.
'Thanks." Mhera then left.
Back at the theatre entranceKeimo was standing over his sister who had apparently fainted at the news that Bakura and he would duel. "Mhera…Mhera? Come on, I can't duel without you there to inspire me, or give me great ideas, whatever the case may be."
Mhera slowly opened her eyes, glad to see that her brother hadn't rushed off to duel without her. "How long have I been out for?" she then bit her lower lip, half out of surprise, and half out of pain. Keimo quickly grabbed her right hand, which was a huge indication that something was wrong.
"Fifteen minutes- Mhera, what did you do? Your scar is glowing!" Keimo then removed his hand from hers, and sure enough, Mhera's eye shaped scar was glowing, and unknown to Keimo, causing pain she hadn't felt since she had received it.
"Come on let's go inside.' Mhera quickly suggested, not prepared to answer Keimo's questions should they come. She could somewhat answer one though.
"Mhera, are you all right?"
"I think so, Keimo, but I'm not sure."
DH: Well, I hope that was interesting. Next Chapter: That duel I spoke of in Chapter Eight is up next, but will Mhera be able to hold her tongue through it? Find out in Chapter Ten: Phantom Vs. Phantom. Happy Holidays, and please Review