Announcements: Okay it has been over a year since I our last chapter of the story. Apologies are being written and printed in mass amounts from my chibi factory. Seriously everyone. I am so sorry for this long wait. Yes, I have had all the time in the world to work on it, and yes I owe you some good fucking story... I just hope most of the readers out there have still stuck with me. Though many of you probably grew easily bored of the wait and moved on, I do await your return. I cannot promise anything, for fear I'll just lie again about updating, but maybe I'll have the next chapter up in a few months... I'm just trying to work with what I've written. I want to make it so good.

So again, thank you all who have still waited for my return. I'm so glad I have readers still wanting to continue on with this story. I apologize again! The threats that you guys sent me... Jesus. (Laughs)

Malik's name is permanently being changed to "Marik" (for some reason I think that Malik is made up and is just a myth created by a fan… sorry.)

Pairings:
(Main)
AtemxAnzu SetoxAnzu
(Other) JonouchixMai SetoxShizuka (slight!)


" " – dialogue
' ' – thoughts
( ) – a/n, add ins
Italics – important facts, flashbacks, sayings, thoughts, or mental telepathy

Chapter 7
Signs of the Cross
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Clouded in a mist that darkened all of my surroundings… My vision focused in and out, only darkening the blackness that engulfed me. What had happened to me? What exactly had I just gone through? In the midst of all the chaos and panic I felt a wave of nausea. Everything that I saw had at once suddenly rushed back to me, striking me as it swept through my brain. My head ached with a stabbing pain and my stomach lurched with an uneasy stir.

Atem had left me, he had gone for good this time.

No… I couldn't allow that. I couldn't let my heart give up and lose hope.

Atem is gone. He's dead.

No, he wasn't dead. I wouldn't let him die, I have the power to save him, I can restore his life… He isn't dead. NO! I WON'T BELIEVE IT!

A swirl of gold and white burst through and exploded in an array of shimmers. My eyes closed tightly in attempts to block out the brightness. It stood no use though, reflexively my arm came up over my eyes as my nude body curled into fetal position.

FLASH!

"They have discovered our attempts to restore the machine you have designed. Death-T is not a secret anymore sir. You must destroy all the plans and abort the operation immediately in order to keep it from being stolen by your rival's enterprise." A slim man with piercing cobalt eyes looked up to his assistant. "Keep your pathetic thoughts to yourself. Just because they know about my plans doesn't mean that they will decide to rush into things and take over a.s.a.p."

"But sir…"

He stood and walked over to a large machine that was hooked up to many tubes and wires that hung from a black abyss. Pressing lightly against the cool glass he saw his reflection in the clear solid and the figure that was placed underneath it. "My plan cannot go to waste. It has already backfired on me and I won't let it happen again. This time I have what my rival wants and also needs. He will not make any decisions to lash out until it's too late. By then I'll have completed the restoration of Death-T and also the final transformation of all the people on Earth."

There was a green glow that spread from the capsule. Small air bubbles released themselves from the breathing mask that was placed onto the figure inside the machine.

A solemn stare looked onto the girl that lay helpless in the capsule. His glacial eyes examined every inch of her nude skin that was surrounded in water. Small sensory cords and suctions were placed on her body evenly and wired to the sides of the inner capsule.

There was a bit of a silence as the assistant straightened himself and moved over toward the taller male. "She won't be fully healed in time sir." The sound of running water from the capsule filled the silence once again. "If you finish the repair of Death-T you will not be able to use it on her. She will be in no condition and most likely will die from the impact of neuron force. If her levels of WBC's and RBC's go into an paroxysm then her body will most likely shut down in a hibernation state as last attempts to save it. This reflex generated coma can seriously damage her. It won't kill her over time. Her body will just stay in the same sleeplike state; she'll eventually become a human vegetable."

His hand slowly fell from the glass, the small area of fog that was left from it evaporated within an instant.

"Anzu…"

FLASH!

Nothing in my life has turned out to be normal. I felt the hot tears form between my lashes. They fell in a quick haste and dropped into a never ending hole of darkness.

I wasn't cared for, only used, only being an item for testing. That's why I was different from every other human woman in the world. That's why Seto Kaiba didn't want any other female and that's why I was the only exception. He was the master, I was the experiment. No questions asked.

((Scene Change))

"What do you think is going to happen to him Isis? I mean, after all he's done not only for the people working for him, but for us. He's helped us as we have helped him." A small pause between Marik's words made Isis cover her face once again. The wet droplets began to pour from her eyes as she tried to hold back another sob. "There has to be something you can do Isis!" The blondes hands clenched into fists, "You should have known of what to do, you're the person that Atem always relied on! His father treated you with the utmost respect; you were the Motou family's miracle worker! Surely you know what to do now, Atem can't die!"

The cries from Isis grew softer and eventually died down. Marik's voice echoed down the long corridor within the mansion as he released his fists and ran a hand through his hair in desperate attempts to settle the anger rising within him. "I'm sorry sister… It's just that I'm getting really worried now, it has been two weeks and Atem's body hasn't showed up."

"I know brother, I know…"

"Isn't there something you can do? Anything?"

She sat up and leaned against the wall, Isis' raven locks fell over her shoulder. "When we reached the car Anzu had already disappeared, leaving behind no trace of where she left. Atem's body wasn't there and neither was the person who took Anzu…"

Marik crossed his arms and leaned on his hip, "Which we know that it had to of been Kaiba."

"Right." Isis nodded her head in agreement. "But we can't get to Kaiba at all… I know a lot about him from Atem, but that was years ago, everything has probably changed hundreds of times since." She let out a sigh and then stood, "Who do you think could help us? We've been wandering around for two weeks and haven't come up with anything. As far as we know Atem could be dead, there was shattered glass and blood. And the blood was sent to the lab, they replied with a confirmation that it was in fact Atem's."

Isis began to cough harshly and doubled over, Marik quickly ran to her side. "Sister! Sister is everything okay?"

"Y-Yes… I'm fine." She closed the hand that covered her mouth and put it on her lap. "All of this worrying has probably made your conditions worse, maybe you need a different medication."

"No I'm okay… But we need to hurry, this is taking too long. Get one of Atem's secretaries on the phone I need to speak with a friend of his." She smiled lightly as Marik nodded and began walking down the hall. 'This is going to be a decision I'll end up regretting…'

Isis cast her gaze downward towards her hand that she slowly opened; it was covered with blood…

"Yeah, well I just need a few numbers… No. No it's not for me it's for my sister… What do you mean I can't have the numbers?... I need a goddamn password for that too?!" Marik rain a hand through his bleached looking locks. 'Where's my sister when I need her?...'

"Marik is everything alright?"

His lavender eyes lit up happily, "Well it's about time… You changed?"

She looked a bit surprised, "Oh um… Yeah." She took a look at the fashion statement. Black shoes, light denim jeans, and a blue collared shirt unbutton with a black tee underneath. "Anyway… What's the problem?"

Marik sighed and held out the phone to Isis, "Stupid secretary won't let me get anywhere. I need passwords and all that other crap, everything's in a lock down just because Atem is missing. They want no fowl ups." She blinked and walked forward towards the phone, "I'll take care of that." Marik left after Isis began talking to the secretary. He wandered down the dimly lit hallways, admiring the Victorian style paintings of kings and queens.

'So spooky… Are all Vamp houses like this?' Marik continued to walk. His disheveled hair moving with him, the carpet dulled Marik's footsteps as he walked down small and large halls. "Jeez… This place just doesn't end. I'm not going to be able to find my sister for awhile… I kinda hope the secretary keeps her busy…" As soon as a large seating area opened up after Marik passed through an arched dome entrance way, he rushed to the first empty couch. "Thank God! Finally a place to rest." He lay down and took off his shoes before putting his feet up. 'I'm so happy that I'm back together with my sister and that she's not stuck in that retarded hospital any longer… What happens if Bakura finds out though? He'll kill me for sure, okay maybe torture me… But, I don't know what to do. I love my sister and he only wants her out of his way. Bakura is a ruthless man and will do anything possible to fulfill his unjust desires. How can I stop him?' The male lay still for moments sulking in his dilemma. 'Atem is truly the only one who can stop him, him or Seto… Sadly. But where the hell did he go?!'

Marik's lilac eyes scanned the room in haste as to avoid the matter of thinking, "I hate to say it… But I need Atem so I can find the other Millennium Items, I'm still in debt to Bakura, I still have a job to do." He rolled over and sighed in the pillow, "I'm such a pathetic idiot."

The couch was a dark brown burgundy leather that curved around the room, it had an exquisite velvet blanket hung down the center in a half diamond; covered with imprints of vines and flowers. Nestled in the corner about thirty feet away was a beautiful cherry oak book shelf with glass casing on either side. Marik squinted trying to look at the objects that were being dimly lit behind the glass in their own array of light. "They look like picture frames…" He stood once again and walked over slowly, staring at the pictures his eyes were level with. "… No way…"

Right before him, was an old antique picture. There was a man with a sharp and narrow face, fierce looking crimson eyes and wild hair. He was much taller than the woman he stood next to; oceanic blue eyes with mid-length raven locks and bangs swift to the side. "That's my sister… This means that… She has to be standing next to Atem's father. Isis and— Oh what's his name?"

He closed his eyes and brought his fingers to his chin, "Adunk… Anumin… Oh hell what was it?" Marik gazed back over the picture for a brief second. "Akunumkanon?"

A green neon light began to glow on the solid grey wall next to the book case. It formed one line down the wall and then separated into a square. There was a holographic projection of a number board with a space above.

"Shit…" Marik stared wide-eyed and agape, he ran over to the wall, though it was three steps from his current position. He gently leaned his hand against the surface.

"Three-three-three-three-three-three- Incorrect" Marik jumped back startled, "AH!"

"I am sorry, please try again. Type in the Password." The female voice broke amongst the silence, not sounding robotic at all. "Wh-what in the world did I come up upon?"

"Marik? Marik…" Isis' shouts were muffled as she walked down a different hall. "Shit." Marik cursed under his breath, 'I need to get in fast… My sister will be here any second.' He looked up at the wall and frowned lightly, "I don't want to do this…"

He pressed a few numbers again, the voice replied, "Incorrect. Type in the Password."

"Fuck… If I get it wrong again I know that the police will be here."

"Marik where are you? Helloooo? Marik can you answer me!" He could hear the aggravation in her voice as she came closer to where he was.

"Shit! Shit! C'mon what's the password?!" He looked around and his eyes focused in on the picture he was just looking at. It's silver frame old and worn. "There's wording on it." Marik cast a close eye on the bottom right of the picture, six little scribbles MMXIII. "M M X I I I? What the hell is that?... Master Man Xenon Isis Is Included? … I highly doubt it." Marik looked back at the hologram, "It's only numbers… What is it?!"

"MARIK WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?!" Isis was growing extremely loud, 'She's probably right around the corner… C'mon think Marik… Numbers, letters, numbers, letters, numbe—ROMAN NUMERALS!' He smiled widely before rushing over to the screen, "Now just to type it in fast… Wait… What does M mean?" He went back to the picture. "XIII… That's thirteen… Two M's. Well it has to be a date if it's on the picture… Oh my God why am I so stupid?" A tan hand rushed through his cream tresses, "The year now is 2034… And if my sister was looking like that she had to at least be twelve or thirteen…. I GOT IT!"

Quickly and quietly he rushed back to the screen and typed carefully, "Two zero one three." A green light flashed over the numbers "Correct, unlocking." The wall spilt in half as two doors separated to show a long, dimly lit, hallway. Marik walked down quickly and ended up in front of a steel door. He grabbed the handle gently and turned it, pushing the door open. "Marhaba, Master Atem."

The room lit section by section, it was a circular shape with a light beaming down towards the center. Marik was blinded for a few moments, but when his eyes focused in on the center piece he stepped back in awe. "Oh… My God… Bakura, I know now how satisfied you will be."

"MARIK WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW! WHERE ARE YOU?" Her voice was right near the entrance, Marik turned his head towards the entrance way and then looked back at the object placed before him.

"I swear Marik you need to- Oh, there you are." She leaned against the wall and looked over at him. He was currently looking at something. "What are you doing?" Isis questioned as she moved towards him. "Just looking at something." The raven-haired women walked up behind him and looked into the glass. It was the picture of her and Atem's father, "That's an old picture…" She looked back at him, and he smiled. "Let us leave, we are already late." Isis turned and left, Marik took one last glance and the old photo. "Yes, it is old… Yes indeed."

((Scene Change))

Isis pulled the Porsche into the back parking lot, pulling in a spot underneath a broken street lamp. "Now, just stay quiet okay." She looked Marik directly into his eyes, "If you make any mistake, say anything, touch anything... We may not get anywhere." Marik nodded; wide eyed. There was a moment of silence... "Good." Isis replied, making her way out of the car and shutting the door behind.

"Um. Where exactly are we?" Marik walked alongside his sister while they made there way to the back entrance of a worn and tattered building with neon signs barely lighting the back porch.

There was a sigh that escaped Isis' lips, "We are returning to an old friend of mine... I don't know what has happened to him since everything. Hopefully he isn't too distraught over the loss of his grandson, but he can help if he's willing. Without any information, we have no hopes of finding Atem."

Marik nodded as Isis knocked on the metal door. Instantly a little eye box slid open on the top of the door, they both looked up into the dark eyes that loomed over them. "Excuse me, I would like to see Mr. Motou Sugoroku. I have come here on an urgent call."

"Get outta' here." The male voice grunted.

Marik noticed the aggravation in her sister's sigh, "Sir, let me in, I am apart of the Motou's family my name is Ishtar Isis. We need to talk to Sugoroku because we are looking for Atem."

The door opened and the guard looked down upon them eerily, "Go down the hall, make a left at the first stairs. You'll eventually come to a room." She nodded, "Thank you." The door shut behind them as they walked down the dark wooded hall. It creaked with every one of their steps, Marik's eyes wandered to the cobwebbed corners, and over the pictures of naked women hanging on the walls. "Woah, what kind of place is this."

"Don't worry about what kind of place it is brother... We are not staying long." Isis turned up the staircase and walked into the dim lighting. "Hmph..." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in annoyance. Marik watched his sister walk up the steps and began to follow, but then he caught a glint in his eye. 'Maybe I'll just wait downstairs.' He smirked, and then slowly backed down and continued to walk down the hall. He came to the end and opened a door, leading to a larger lit hallway. Beautiful wallpaper pasted down the walls and golden lamps hanging from them. The carpet was a olive green with red and gold designs moving about. "This place just got a whole lot better." He turned his head at the sound of two women leaving a room, their giggles made him perk up, "Yeah, it really got a lot better." He closed the door and walked towards the girls' voices.

((Scene Change))

Isis walked cautiously into the room eyeing the tinted windows in the back and the dim yellow lights that hung from the ceiling. It was dangerously quiet. The room itself was made of thick oak floors with paste green walls, she muttered about the malfunctions of the room décor. Placed in the center of the 20x15 foot room was an oak table, with two chairs on either side. Isis walked in and sat in one of them, then turned towards the door to the side of the room as it opened with a loud creak.

"What a pleasure to see you again." The blue-eyed girl got back up and hugged Sugoroku, "My, my. How lovely to see you my dear Isis. It has been so long… Why haven't you visited."

She looked sympathetically into his eyes, "I… I haven't been feeling to well for a long time."

The elder nodded and then walked past, at five one she had to really bend over to hug him. Both of them sat in the chairs across from one another. "What is it you need Isis?"

"Do you know anything about Atem?" Urgently the question flowed from her lips, the words were fast and quick. Sugoroku looked down and noticed her hands gripping the table tightly. His deep grey eyes stared hard into her own orbs. A long silence filled the room. Isis sighed and leaned back, her eyes became glossy as the minutes passed. There was no information here was there?

"My grandson… I have had people trying to track him. It was so difficult since no one has kept an eye on him for the past few years." Isis looked up gently. "But… I think we may have something. If you can give me some information."

"There was a fight over Anzu. It was Atem against Kaiba… They were down in a parking lot near his house and we heard a gunshot. By the time my brother and I got to where they had been everyone was gone. Atem was the one who was wounded, we have lab reports that the blood spilled was his own."

Sugoroku lifted a hand to his chin and closed his eyes, seemed to be in deep thought. "My operates have overheard rumors in some parts of where Kaiba's men hang. They talk big, to big for there hold in the world. It has made me think that Kaiba feels like alpha. Not only that. But every corporate of his has been spotted wearing crosses… Something isn't right with the picture."

Isis looked at him patiently and sat upright, "But don't they wear crosses all the time? I mean Kaiba is not human anymore. If anything goes wrong then they need to have some form of protection." Sugoroku looked back, still tense, "Kaiba did not allow them to wear crosses or silver of any kind while they were working for him. That is why he had much power over them, they had no form of safety unless they obeyed. But now… Now they are wearing silver and crosses… The picture's just not right."

"If Atem isn't dead… Then it might be…" Isis watched the elders eyes widen as her serious gaze filled the room. The man was creamily skinned with thick wrinkles permeating across most of his features. Thick grey unruly hair spiked out from a black bandana he wore around his head, surprisingly he hadn't started balding yet.

Instantly the door burst open from where Isis entered. Two bulky men came in with brown leather jackets on. One had sunglasses and a pierced ear; the other had squinty eyes overlapped by thick black eyebrows. They both had short cropped hair and dark skin. The one in the glasses was black. "We found this nuisance "fooling around" with two of the ladies…" They threw Marik down onto the hard wood floor, when he landed on the ground with a loud "oompf" a shimmering gold object flew across the floor.

"Argh! NO!" Marik reached out automatically for the piece.

Both Isis and Sugoroku stood abruptly eyes scanning the floor for what fell from Marik's jacket. "Marik! How could you be such a troublemaker? I told you specifically that you obey what I say! And instead you go run off and start screwing women!" Anger filled her eyes as her fists clenched, she rested her attention to the matter at hand. Sugoroku walked to the back of the room to pick up what fell out of Marik's jacket.

"THEY WANTED IT! It's not my fault I'm desired by women!" Marik stood and yelled in his sister's face. The bodyguards walked out and shut the door behind them. Good, better to hear the screaming out of the room than in it.

"Do you know what this is Isis?" Mr. Motou asked. However the two siblings were still having their hissy fit. The woman put her hands on her head and walked back and fourth, Marik continued to ramble on like a child. "Sorry that I'm not a loser who can't date people!"

"YOU ARE SO IMMATURE!"

Mr. Motou sat down in his chair again. Heaving a sigh he looked at the two arguing and then threw what he picked up on the floor onto the table. It made a large "thud" as it hit the table, stopping both Isis and Marik. She gasped at the sight, he grew pale.

"That… That's a-" Isis was cut off. "A Millennium Item, yes. The Millennium Necklace actually." Two grey eyes stared at the standing figures. Isis immediately turned to Marik.

She swallowed hard, "How did you get this?" Her voice was low and calm. Marik looked down at his shoes, "I-I don't know what you're talking about…" His sister let out a sigh, "Don't play these games with me Marik."

An interrupting cough came from the back of the room, "If you'll excuse me, but don't bother with your brother about how he got the Necklace. You have it now. You are the wielder." Isis nodded in agreement, she turned away from Marik and put the necklace around her neck. "Be careful. It's been awhile."

"I know."

Marik looked back up with hatred filling his eyes, 'I need that necklace back…'

A dim light began to glow around the necklace as it grew into a large illumination of white it engulfed the necklace itself. Isis closed her eyes to shield them from the brightness of the light. "What's going on!" She let out stressed yelps of pain and fell into a black abyss.

Minutes later Isis's eyes blinked open repeatedly, "What… What's going on?" Marik held her up tightly, she was lying on the ground; a thin layer of sweat gleamed from her face and neck. "As instantly as the light appeared… You passed out. I caught you right before you nailed the floor." He smiled gently, "Thank you brother." Isis replied.

Sugoroku looked down to the both of them, "Are you alright Isis?"

She held her head and rubbed her eyes, "I… I seem to be okay." He took a step towards the both of them slowly, "Did you see anything?" Isis nodded in response. Marik pulled her up gently and sat her down in the chair that was nearest them. "There were many shadows… I felt like I fell through something hard and was cut all over. Th-Then there was this numbness that ran across my skin. I saw Anzu screaming, someone tall… Then a path of blood." She looked into Mr. Motou's eyes with intense confusion. "The path must mean something, like he's been taken somewhere…" He trailed off.

Isis jumped up, "If it was Seto who attacked him, then wouldn't that mean..." She looked at Sugoroku who licked his lips and slowly replied, "Atem's at his mansion."

((Scene Change))

Fluorescent lights shown brightly into a lonely room, illuminating the darkest corners and all of the filth and grime that covered the walls. Cobwebs hung from the pipes that spread like vines over the concrete surroundings. They dripped in different patterns, but managed to wet the floors and walls nearest them. The room was small and rectangular with a damp and moldy smell that usually came with all dark and grimy rooms. Alone, leaning up the furthest wall in dead center was a silver coffin.

"LET HIM GO YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!! LET HIM GOOO!" The shrieks and screams burst from a tender woman's lips. She struggled against the grip a man held to her wrist unable to break free. Dark unruly hair clung to her face by perspiration, the act of trying to free herself was tiresome, but no way would she dare quit. "PLEASE! RELEASE HIM! PL-PLEA-EASE!" Her screams and crying got caught in her words, she wiggled helplessly in an iron grip.

"What a lovely home, for a vampire." He smirked and looked back upon the girl. The mans cold glacial orbs stared deep into her soul. 'Don't look in a vampire's eyes… Don't look in a vampire's eyes.' She sniffed up the beginnings of snot that would eventually drip from her nose as well as used the other had to wipe the tears from her eyes. The black eye make up she had been wearing was smeared down her face, mascara running down her cheek.

"You son of a bitch." She mumbled, "That's the worst place for a vampire," she turned and screamed up at his face, "YOU'LL KILL HIM!" Again she fought him pulling and pushing, screaming and crying. The man let go of her wrist right before taking hold of the woman's neck and slamming it against the window on the wall. 'At least he didn't break my head open.' She began to feel the throb forming slowly at the back of her head, it hurt.

"Shut the hell up Anzu. I am not wasting time on your pathetic state." He turned and focused on the coffin in the room past the glass, "However, I do believe that your state is nothing compared to his." A sinful laugh escaped his lips.

Tears welt up in her blue eyes, "YOU MONSTER!" She brought her hand up and slashed it across his face. He turned with a death stare at Anzu, deep blue eyes turning bright as the pupils narrowed into slits. She gently backed down.

He swiftly brought his arm up to backhand her, she cringed and let out a small whimper. "No…" He spoke softly for a minute, blood beginning to drip down his face. He licked the small flow that came to his lips. White fangs showed momentarily, then disappeared. Anzu turned back and watched as his temper faded away. "You aren't worth my time." The scratches that went across his face slowly began to vanish. The thick lines of blood drew smaller and smaller. It looked like the skin was just pulling together and forming into one layer again. The lines of blood were still on his face, "Lick it."

Anzu moved stepped back.

"Drink the blood that you spilled Anzu." He grabbed her waist.

"DON'T TOUCH ME SETO!" She backed away, brushing the chestnut locks from her face. Seto eyed her sweetly his hand moved back to his side. "As you wish lady… For now…" The male brunette walked past her. Seto's hard eyes didn't even set on her small frame while leaving her to the dim depths of his mansion. Not only was she small, but being thin and not very strong limited her chances of fighting with him… And winning. Plus, he was a vampire.

Anzu turned back to the glass that overlooked the room. "…"

She gently placed her hand on the glass, it was just below her chin. Tears began to fall freely from her eyes, dripping down her face and onto the floor in delicate patters. 'I know so little of this man… Although he showed me images of my past that opened up so many doors, I still fear that there is something to not trust… But I don't want him hurt… What is this attraction I have to you?' Anzu whispered soft words into the silence that surrounded her.

After releasing a sigh she turned around and walked up the steps to lead out of the basement, with one last glance she looked at what lay in the room. A beautifully carved coffin made of the purest silver wrapped in thick heavy steal chains many times around, with a large cross and hundreds of small carvings chained along with it.

Anzu pressed a button to her side, and the lights went out.

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End


Closing: I do hope that all you readers out there enjoyed this chapter to the fullest! I had a great deal of fun writing it, I love my new sense of style. Some of the things in this chapter where built from ideas in a book series I'm reading by Laurell K. Hamilton. She is an amazing authoress! Anita Blake vampire hunter seires, I'm on the fourth book. Blood, murder, vampires, werewolves, and eventually... sex. (Laughs) But that's not what it's all about. However... This story may have some.

- peachi