Chapter 27- Another Attempt
Yugi and Heba were sitting in Heba's room.
"So, Yami's been a bit protective of you of late." Heba said.
"Ever since that assassination attempt. I can't really blame him. After all, it could have killed me and the baby if it had hit me." Yugi said.
"Yeah. I was scared to death. I'm just glad that nothing happened to you." Heba said.
"I think that Yami's glad of that himself." Yugi said.
"Something on your mind?" Heba asked, noticing that his brother was districted.
"Yeah. I was trying to figure out why someone would want to kill me." Yugi said.
"Yugi, you're married to Yami, and he's one of the princes of Egypt, which would technically make you a Prince of Egypt as well since the Pharaoh declared when we were married that you and I were Princes. That's all the urging some people need to either hire an assassin to kill for them or do the actual killing themselves." Heba said.
"I know that, but it just doesn't make any sense. I mean, if an assassin is going to kill someone, wouldn't it be someone connected to the heir." Yugi said.
"I see your point. It would make sense that someone would go after Atemu and his family more than Yami's." Heba said.
"Don't get me wrong. I don't want anything to happen to Atemu, Hasan, or you. It just doesn't make any sense." Heba said.
"I know what you mean. Than again, just being a part of the Royal family can make you a target." Heba said.
"I know that, Heba. I'm just looking at all possibilities for why someone tried to kill me. We can't rule anything out." Yugi said.
"Which also means that we can't rule out someone wanting to kill us because of the fact that we are married to Yami and Atemu." Heba said.
"I don't know. Most of the nobles, royals, and higher ups of other nations wouldn't try that because of the conflict that it would cause with Egypt, and no one is that stupid." Yugi said.
"True, but we can't rule it out." Heba said.
"We also can't rule out someone coming after us because of our pasts." Yugi said.
"Yugi, there is nothing in our pasts that would warrant killing us." Heba said.
"Heba, you know that people in the village we lived in hated us. If they wanted to, they might would have done this." Yugi said. He thought a moment and then said, "You didn't happen to make any enemies when you first came to the palace, did you?"
"Only the women who wanted to be with Atemu as it made it impossible." Heba said.
"Why? What did you do in the palace?" Yugi asked.
"Well, at first I just washed some of the floors in a few rooms, and Atemu happened to see me one day. Well, technically it wasn't his choice. I heard a scuffle and walked out to see Atemu struggling with an assassin. Having fighting knowledge, I helped me and actually took the assassin down. Atemu was very grateful to me for that, and that's when I became his personal servant. After that, I became friends with him and from there fell in love with him. The reason that a lot of the women hated me was because as Atemu's personal servant, I was required to be there with him at all times unless he told me otherwise. When women would come onto him, they would basically order me away, but I couldn't because Atemu didn't order, and he let them know it, too. They hated me even more so when it was announced that I was no longer a servant, but the beau of Atemu. Needless to say, there were a lot of people that hated me. Then that whole mess with Vivian started, and I don't think I need to tell you what happened there." Heba said.
"No, but it makes sense. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like anyone other than Vivian would have had a reason to try to hurt either one of us, and she's dead, so we know that it couldn't have been her." Yugi said.
"I know. There doesn't seem to be a clear answer to any of this." Heba said.
"Well, with any luck, we'll find that answer soon." Yugi said.
"I tell you, Atemu, I am worried. I cannot shake the feeling that that attack on Yugi wasn't a one time thing." Yami sad as he and Atemu walked down the halls of the palace.
"I have the same feeling. I doubt that Odin actually acted by his own will." Atemu said.
"I know, and I am really worried about him. I don't want anything to happen to Yugi or the baby." Yami said.
"Don't worry. Since the assassin attacked them in the gardens, Father has tightened security on the palace. He isn't letting anyone into the palace that doesn't have a good reason to be here." Atemu said.
"I know. I'm just not sure if that will be enough. Assassins have a ways of getting in." Yami said.
"Don't worry. We are going to make sure that nothing happens to Yugi." Atemu said.
Yami nodded absentmindedly.
Atemu knew that his brother was worried, and he couldn't blame him.
"Those idiots! Do they really think that tightening the guard around the place will stop me from killing that bastard and getting my revenge!" the woman sneered.
"You can't ask me to do this! I have nothing against him!" a male voice said.
"I don't care if you like those bastards! Either you get into that palace and kill that damned bastard Yugi, or I will let my men have your wife and daughter. I'm certain that they would enjoy the pleasure of making them scream when they rape them before they murder them. The woman snapped.
The man gulped. Despite the fact that he didn't have anything against Yugi or Heba, he couldn't deal with the thought of that happening to his wife or daughter. "All right. I'll do it." the man said.
"Good, and just in case you fail, tell them anything, and your wife and daughter will be treated as I have said. Do you understand?" the woman demanded.
"Yes. I understand perfectly." the man said.
"Good. Now go, and don't you even think of double-crossing me." the woman told him.
The man knew that he didn't have a choice and went to do as he had been told.
The woman smirked. 'I know that he will fail, and he'll be killed for attacking a member of the Royal family. Then, I can send that letter and get that bastard here.' the woman thought before she started to laugh evilly.
"Are you serious?" Yugi asked.
"Yes, we are. The Pharaoh actually freed us from slavery, and now we're free to marry Seth, Bakura, and Marik." Ryou said excitedly.
"That's great, you guys." Heba said.
"Marik's already talking about when we get married. When he gave me the papers for my freedom, Marik proposed to me right then." Malik said.
"And I'm sure that you said yes." Yugi said.
"You better believe it!" Malik said.
"Well, when Seth gave me the papers, I was in complete shock. Seth then grabbed me in a real passionate kiss and asked me to marry him. What else was I going to say?" Jou asked.
"And Ryou? Has Bakura proposed to you as well?" Yugi asked.
"Yeah. He has. Bakura told me that since I was free, I could marry him now, and he asked me if I would. There was no way that I could say no because I wanted to be married to Bakura more than anything." Ryou said.
The doors opened, and Yami, Atemu, Bakura, Marik, and Seth walked into the room.
"What are you guys doing?" Yami asked.
"Not much. Ryou, Malik, and Jou were just telling us that the Pharaoh freed them from slavery and that they were free men now." Heba said.
"Did they also tell you that we are all getting married?" Bakura asked.
"Yes. They told us that, too." Yugi replied.
"These three couldn't wait to tell us that they were getting married." Atemu said as he sat down with them.
"Really?" Yugi asked.
"Well, we're rather excited because now, we do have the chance to be with them." Bakura said.
"Bakura, you barely had the words out that I was free before you were asking me to marry you." Ryou said.
"Well, I was excited about it." Bakura said.
"From the sound of it, all of you were." Yugi said.
"Can we help it?" Seth asked.
"I suppose not." Heba replied.
The group continued to talk about little things, enjoying the time of peace that they were able to have at the moment.
Aknankanon and Amara were sitting in the throne room as there were citizens that came in with their requests to him.
Aknankanon sighed and rubbed his head as the next commoner left.
"Aknankanon, calm yourself." Amara said, rubbing Aknankanon's shoulder.
"I know, but I am rather preoccupied. I am concerned for Yugi's sake. I fear that that attempt on his life will not be the last one." Aknankanon said.
"We don't know that, and you have tightened security, so there is nothing for us to worry about. We can only wait and see what happens." Amara said.
Aknankanon nodded and said, "Allow the next one in."
A man with green eyes and black hair walked into the room and kneeled.
"State your business." Aknankanon said.
"My name is Marx, my king. My village is in dire need of medical help. We have no healer, and our people are slowly dying from simple diseases that a healer could heal." Marx said.
"I see." Aknankanon said. He started to discuss the problem with the council, never noticing the way the man was fidgeting and looking around.
Amara did take notice and wondered what the man was so nervous about. 'Hmm. What is his problem?' Amara asked herself. She became concerned and wondered why he was really there.
Marx started to leave the palace, but hid in the bushes to avoid being see. He clutched the dagger at his side that he had kept hidden. 'I pray that the gods will forgive me for this, but I have no choice. It is to save my wife and daughter that I am doing this.' Marx thought.
Marx made his way back into the palace, skillfully avoiding the palace guards along the way. He came behind one of the guards and easily knocked him out. Marx then took the sword from him and continued on.
When Marx neared the west wing, he noticed that the number of guards seemed to have doubled.
'It looks like the Pharaoh took no chances since that first attempt on Prince Yugi's life. I guess this will be harder than I thought.' Marx thought.
Marx continued to go down the hall, managing to avoid the guards. He soon arrived at the doors that led to Yugi and Yami's chambers.
Marx made his way inside and found the room empty. He then walked over to where the balcony was and hid on it, waiting for Yugi to come so that he could do what he had been coerced into doing.
"I really don't want to go to another council meeting." Yami said.
"I know how you feel. I hate those things with a passion." Atemu agreed.
"Well, I'll be there suffering right along with you." Heba told them.
Yugi laughed. "I'm the only one that gets out of it." Yugi said. He received glares from all three of them. "What? It's not my fault that the Pharaoh let me out of this." Yugi said.
"You only got out of this because you're pregnant." Heba said.
"Well, the next time that you're pregnant, you'll be able to get out of meetings." Yugi said.
"Yeah." Heba said.
"What are you going to do while we're in the meeting?" Yami asked.
"I think that I'm going to go to our room and lay down for a little while." Yugi replied.
"Well, I'll se later then." Yami said, kissing Yugi before Yugi walked off.
"I'm surprised that you didn't want to walk him there." Atemu said.
"There's a lot of guards in that wing, so he'll get there safely, and our room is probably the safest place for him." Yami replied.
"You're probably right." Atemu agreed.
When they were almost at the throne room, Amara met them.
"Where is Yugi?" Amara asked.
""He's in our chambers laying down. Why, Mother?" Yami asked.
"I'm worried. There's a commoner that came in here earlier to talk to your father about problems in his village, but that's no why he was there." Amara said.
"What do you mean?" Atemu asked.
"This commoner kept looking around and fidgeting, like he was scared of being caught. He was searching for something, I think. I talked to the guards at the gates, and they said that they remember him coming in, but don't remember him coming out. I'm worried he might be here to hurt Yugi." Amara said.
"We'd better tell Father so that we can go back there." Atemu said.
"Don't worry about it. I managed to get all four of us out of the meeting. We have to hurry." Amara said.
The four headed back down the halls at a fast pace.
Yugi entered the chambers and took off his clock putting it on a chair. He let out a sigh. 'I am so tired. I really need to lay down and get some sleep.' Yugi thought.
Marx walked out from the balcony back into the room. 'Forgive me, but I have no choice.' Marx thought. He walked forward with the sword in hand.
Yugi sensed something and turned to fond a sword coming at him. He quickly called one of his Sais and blocked it.
"What the-?!" Marx exclaimed.
Yugi managed to push Marx back before he punched him in the face.
Marx stumbled backwards.
"Who are you?! What are you doing in here?!" Yugi demanded.
"Who I am is of no consequence. I'm here to kill you." Marx said.
"If you kill me, you will be put to death." Yugi said.
"I have no choice! I don't want to kill you, but I must." Marx said.
"You have a choice. I don't know who hired you, but you have the choice to do it. You'll never get away with it." Yugi said.
"I don't care! I have no choice!" Marx said. He ran forward and brought his sword down at Yugi.
Yugi managed to block the sword, and he forced Marx back, but Marx flipped so that he landed on his feet and charged forward. Marx knocked Yugi's Sai out of his hand and then knocked Yugi down.
Being pregnant, Yugi was unable to stop himself.
"Please stop this! If you kill me, you kill an innocent baby!" Yugi cried, more scared for his and Yami's child than his own life.
"I don't have a choice!" Marx said. He brought his sword down at Yugi again, but Yugi called his other Sai and blocked the sword.
Yugi used what little bit of magic he could to force Marx back. He then managed to get up.
"Where do you get those things from?" Marx demanded.
"That's something you will never know." Yugi said.
Marx got up and went at Yugi. He brought his sword down at Yugi. Yugi managed to block it again and then force Marx back.
'Damn it! I wish I hadn't come here alone! I can't fight while I'm pregnant. Something might happen to the baby if I keep this up.' Yugi thought.
"I can't lose to you! You have to die!" Marx said.
"Why is it so important for me to die?" Yugi asked. He sensed that there was more to this than he thought.
"Because she will kill them if I don't." Marx replied. He went forward and struck out at Yugi.
Yugi managed to force him back and strike out with his Sai, knocking the sword out of his hand. Marx came back with his hand and hit Yugi so hard in the face that Yugi was thrown backwards and landed on his back, unconscious.
Marx gasped as he walked forward. "I have nothing against you, but I have to get rid of you for my wife and daughter's sake." Marx said. He raised his dagger to kill Yugi.
The door to the chambers were thrown open, and Yami, Heba, Amara, and Atemu ran into the room.
Heba saw Marx about to kill Yugi. "NO!" Heba shouted, lunging forward as he called his Sais and rammed into Marx from the side.
Marx crashed into the wall and looked to see Heba standing in front of him.
"You don't lay a hand on my brother!" Heba growled.
"Get out of my way!" Marx shouted, lunging forward.
Heba blocked the sword that Marx had retrieved and forced him back. Heba ducked at another swipe and swung out his leg, knocking Marx off of his feet. Heba then turned and kicked Marx, but he got back up.
Yami and Amara ran over to where Yugi was lying on the floor.
"Yugi. Yugi, come on. Wake up." Yami said urgently.
"He's unconscious." Amara said, seeing the bruise that started to form on Yugi's cheek.
Heba ducked as another swipe came at him. He grabbed Marx by the arm and then rammed his arm down into his knee.
Marx screamed as the sickening sound of the bone in his arm breaking sounded.
Heba then turned and kicked Marx so hard that he slammed into the wall and slumped down, unconscious.
Heba started to kill him, but Atemu grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Heba, don't! I know that you're angry that he attacked Yugi, but let Father deal with him. His sentence will be death for attempting to murder a member of the Royal family." Atemu said.
Heba nodded and banished his Sais before picking up Yugi's Sais.
The doors to the room were thrown open as two guards ran in.
"Prince! What happened?!" A guard asked.
Atemu pointed to the unconscious man. "Arrest him for the attempt on Prince Yugi's life!" Atemu ordered.
The guards nodded and went over to the man.
"Yugi!" Yami said loudly.
Atemu and Heba turned and noticed that Yugi was still unconscious. They ran over to where Yami and Amara were.
"He won't wake up, but he doesn't look injured." Amara said, starting to get slightly hysterical.
Yami the picked Yugi up into his arms and stood.
"What are you doing?" Atemu asked urgently.
"I'm taking him to Isis. She needs to look over him and see what's going on." Yami said.
Yami ran from the room with Yugi in his arms, and Atemu, Heba, and Amara were right behind Yami.
The guards took the unconscious Marx down to the dungeons and locked him in a cell before going to tell Aknankanon what had happened.
Hope that you liked it.
Next: You find out of Yugi is all right. Marx also has questions to answer. And another threat to Yugi.
R&R.