A/N: Hello Again! Let me just say that I'm sorry it took so long to post this. That being said I am sure the wait will be worth it. Thank you for the follows and faves! Enjoy!
Mahaad stopped dead in his tracks as he found his mother lying limp on the stone floor. Swallowing his panic, the priest kneeled down and gently checked for a pulse. He let a sigh of relief escape his lips.
"Mother," he whispered softly. There was no reply. He picked her up and laid her on the small bed. He didn't turn to see who came in, instead he kept his eyes fixed on his dear mother.
"Is she alright?" Isis asked hesitantly. There was no reply. Isis sat on the side of the bed and placed her hand on Meena's forehead. "She's burning up Mahaad we need to move fast."
"Not to worry," the calm hard voice of Seto came through, "I have brought help with me."
Mahaad moved aside and let the healer (Isis) do her job. Isis pulled out a tonic and spilled some of its contents into Menna's mouth.
She quickly noted something and turned to the now complete group of priests, "Her condition is stable as of now."
"But what's the cause?" Mahaad asked in a steady voice. He gripped his mother's hand tighter.
"It seems as though someone has tried to poison her," The priestess said carefully.
"That makes no sense," Seto interrupted, "Surely, it would take more than a tonic-" the priest stopped abruptly upon seeing Mahaad's pale face.
"Not to worry, it wasn't a particular strong poison, one that would need several doses to kill." She explained.
Seto turned his attention to a cup of tea on the bedside table. He looked at Isis who then nodded and pick up the cup, "Someone must have slipped something in her tea."
Mahaad took the cup out of her hands and took a sniff, "Atracurium," he whispered, "A drug used to cause numbness, an overdose can cause paralysis."
Isis nodded, "Whoever did this must have taken it from the palace medical chambers."
"I don't mean to interrupt," a small voice came from the doorway, "But I've brought some lime juice do you think it will help?" Laila said turning towards Mahaad.
"Thank you Laila," Mahaad said taking the tray from her hands, "But I don't think it will be needed."
"The question is still posed: who has done this?" Seto asked. He questioned the brunette, "Do you know anything of this miss?"
Laila looked downwards, her eyes never leaving the floor.
"Speak!" Seto demanded.
The servant maid obliged, "I was making tea for Lady Meena when the prince came into the kitchens and inquired about my doing. He asked if he could finish making the tea then take it to Milady. I allowed him to do so. I came to see if his highness or milady required anything else when I found Lady Meena in this state. The prince was nowhere to be seen."
Seto turned sharply towards the maid, "You dare accuse the prince of such a thing!"
The maid took a frightened step back, "Oh no, I wouldn't dare to say such a thing Master, I'm merely saying what I know!"
At this Mahaad spoke up, "Enough of this Seto, leave her be. If the prince is nowhere to be seen, we need find him. Something must have happened." Even during the toughest times Mahaad has always been one to keep his cool.
The rod wielder nodded followed the magician out the door.
But the magician couldn't help thinking to himself:
Besides there's no reason for the prince to do such a thing. Why on earth would he want to kill my mother? No, the prince would never want to hurt her. But is it a want or a need?
"Do you think it worked Mana?" the prince asked as they were sitting by the poolside.
"Of course it worked, you stupid prince. We took a lot of time crafting this plan." The magical apprentice replied.
"This is the only option we have left Mana. I don't know what else to do."
Mana sighed and put a hand on the prince's shoulder, "Hey, it's going to be okay. I'm here with you." She said with soften eyes.
The prince smiled and hugged the silly little girl, "Thanks Mana."
She hugged him back and smiled, "We'll make it through this."
"I hope," he whispered.
"There's no way the prince did this." Seto said refusing to let the matter drop. Something about that girl was not right. How dare she accuse the prince of such things?
Mahaad kept looking out to the garden his concentration fixed somewhere else. "I'm not saying he did it's just-"
"It's just absurd to think such things Mahaad!"
"Calm down Seto! I have no such thoughts." Mahaad said looking shamefully downwards because of his half-lie. Seto watched him closely looking at the magician's disordered face.
"Something lingers though doesn't it? Something of the sort is racing through your mind," Seto hissed quietly.
The priest remained silent.
"Mahaad answer me!"
Mahaad sighed, "I'm only trying to put the pieces together Seto."
"The pieces? The only proof you have is what that servant girl has told us!" Seto said jumping out of his seat.
"She wouldn't lie." Mahaad said calmly as he remained seated.
Seto bent down to the magician's ear level, "How would you know such a thing? Do you trust her more than the prince?"
Mahaad's head shot upwards, "It's not a matter of trust Seto. It's the facts!"
"How could you say such a thing? She's a servant!" Seto said exasperated at Mahaad's foolishness.
In a fit of rage Mahaad jumped out of his seat also, "She's my friend!"
"He's your prince!" Seto exclaimed pointing outwards to wherever the prince was.
Seto did not tear his gaze away from the court magician. His emotional brown eyes whispered betrayal.
Mahaad clenched the Ring that hung from his neck and without removing his gaze he said with a dreadfully calm voice, "He's Egypt's prince."
And with that Mahaad swept out of the room.
A/N: NOOOO MAHAAD WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Haha I let the drama bomb explode! Anyway don't forget to review (Yea I know when someone doesn't review that doesn't mean they forgot, it means they didn't want to.) I was so sad to see no one reviewed the last chapter :(