She came to him, not too long ago, in a ray of light.

She looked angelic, though not merciful, all the while carrying with her a demonic fearsomeness, as she towered over him. Blond strands were bravely restrained by her braids, though she managed to carry a civilized aura he deeply envied. A deep, scarlet dress covered her long, slender frame, with a tiny, golden necklace dangling from her pale, creamy throat. Feral, emerald eyes reflected back his own fear sharply. A cruel gleam was embedded in those eyes, as she stared down at him, a deep scowl carefully forming upon her face. But even that was brief, the emotions upon her face clearing once again, in favor of an impartial, judgmental look, one he couldn't even begin to forget about.

Silence draped around her presence, a horrendous, suffocating silence, one where he couldn't help but shy away from. He could feel himself trying to get up, to stand without making a fool of himself. He didn't want this beautiful creature to see him like this, didn't want her to believe that all she saw was a pathetic man with only his shattered pride to keep him aloft. He didn't want her to leave, believing that she had nothing to gain after seeing him, after all the promises he's made to himself, the lies the only thing keeping him sane. He couldn't handle it, if this frightening person had left, couldn't describe the dread that would overcome him, should this ostentatious, tainted light left him.

And yet, no matter what he did, he couldn't move. His limbs were numb, his lungs even refusing to obey him. He endeavored taking a breath, only for pain to settle in his chest, stabbing him with all its might. He resisted the urge to flinch, and continued, attempting to overcome this tiny, insignificant obstacle. Darkness covered the corners of his eyes. He was beginning to lose consciousness, but he didn't care; he wanted to show her that he could do it, that he was strong enough to handle the pain he was thrusted into.

He had to show her.

He had to show someone.

He was the former leader of the Arcadia Movement. He was powerful, charismatic, manipulative; he was a man who managed to conquer an army of psychics, and if it weren't for Goodwin, he would've been able to destroy the world. He was strong enough to control the Black Rose witch, was kind enough to give her a home, become her mentor, even guide her down the path she was destined for. He was strong enough to enact upon her, as well as the rest of the society, the judgement too many criminals had managed to avoid. He was going to become the savior of this twisted race, was going to be a light that helped psychics from all over, was going to be the warrior that brought them from the depths of darkness. He didn't care how crazy he sounded; he knew he could do it.

This pitiful world he'd been thrusted into, a world that he hadn't thought had even existed, was just a test for him. The light wanted to see if he could overcome this obstacle, wanted to know how far he would take things, if only to make sure he had the strength to fulfill his promise. Roses and thorns, amaryllises and belladonnas; in the end he would annihilate all of it, just to catch a glimpse of his fleeting dream. There was no possible way he wouldn't do it; no matter how much blood he had to spill, or how many agonizing screams he'd have to listen to, night after night after night after night, he wasn't going to let things end like this. There was no possible way; his vanity would allow it.

So why?

Why couldn't he stand?

This was his last chance to prove himself! He needed to show everyone that he was worth something! He needed to show off his power, as he did time and time again. He couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore; he needed to, at the very least, illustrate the simple fact that he was the same man with the same principles. He had to get everyone to look at him, to see him for what he truly was. He had to, no matter what it takes.

But even then, he could see that light-filled woman coming toward him, with an icy look settled across her face. She stood there for a single moment, though it felt as if an eternity had passed her by, never minding the time slipping carelessly from her. Finally, she sighed breathlessly, a wave of cool air washing over him. "You're pathetic," she whispered finally.

He clenched his fists.

He can do this.

"Why keep trying?" she continued, as she slowly crouched down, both her hands on his shoulders. "You know how weak you are."

That's not true.

"Why don't you rest? After all, with all the failures you've been dealt, the least you could do for yourself, is sleep."

He tried shaking his head, but froze at the pain erupting from his collarbone. He bit back a cry, as he continued to struggle against her words. There's no way he was going to let it end like this, absolutely no way. He would've had to be insane to give up now.

"Like a little child," the woman cooed, as she pushed him to the ground. He felt her cool fingers brush back his bangs, the softness of her touch lulling him mercilessly to slumber. "I guess you're done playing then, aren't you? Done being pushed around by the bullies on the playground?"

Sayer can't give up.

"Weary of life, weary of everything around you."

Sayer shouldn't give up.

"Close your eyes child."

Sayer won't give up.

Her hand covered his eyes. "And disappear."

Akiza watched Jaden and Alexis fly in and out of her room. Sometimes, it'd be to bring her something to do, whether it be to watch a horror movie, or to play a simple game of chess, neither of whom could grasp the strategic implications of the game. Other times, they'd just sit in her room and talk about anything, discussing philosophical thoughts they found confusion, describing the idiocy of the current government structure (Jaden), or merely asking why cotton candy was pink (Alexis), and why it tasted so sweet. Despite the fatigue she felt after each incidence, Akiza still entertained them.

She didn't know what else to do; the question she asked before, the confusion she held just hours after she woke up, was now the furthest thing from her mind. The frustration died away from her, as the her own tiredness gradually overcame her, her own will slipping through her mind.

Throughout the day, Akiza kept staring at the spider-lilies resting against her wall. A small, white ribbon dangled from the stem, the pristine edges growing lighter and lighter by the hour. The thin, delicate petals swayed to the tunes of an artificial breeze.

She scrutinized them for the longest time, before turning back to the door. She could hear their footsteps resonating from down the hallway. She clutched her sheets, and turned toward the window, particles of light dancing around the edges of the afternoon twilight. Soon enough, she heard the door creak open. From a distance, she saw the two come into the room, with triumphant smiles across their faces, smiles she couldn't help but return.

It's funny; they were both incredibly smart, but for some reason, they could never remember what moves failed the last time, nor could they even begin to familiarize themselves with the traps she so obviously sets for them. It was hilarious too, to see them bicker about concepts Akiza already understood.

"We've figured it out!" Alexis chimed happily.

Akiza blinked. "Figured out what?"

"And it's not gonna work!" Alexis continued, that familiar, vacant expression coming across her face Akiza could practically see her question go through one ear and come out the other. Apparently, Jaden saw it too, and he shrugged. "She thinks she can beat you this time."

"We think we can beat you this time."

"I'm not apart of this."

The two picked up with their endless bickering, with age-old arguments resurfacing. Akiza settled back in her pillow, and turned back to the bright red flowers staring back at her, their mournful shadows softly drifting through the quiet. She felt the chessboard plop onto the bed, and before she knew it, she saw Alexis sitting in front of her, with an expectant grin on her face. "What color?" she pressed.

Akiza looked down, the familiar pieces gazing up at her. Even now, she could still make out her reflection, the sharp edges, once again, taunting her, with all their fragmented vanity.

Have you heard the name Amaryllis Nite before?

"Who is she?"

Jaden turned toward her, while Alexis moved the chessboard so that Akiza played black. "What?"

Akiza found one hand moving toward a black pawn, one that was positioned directly in front of the king. However, she hesitated. She stared at the board again, before addressing the confused air. "Who was Amaryllis Nite?"

Silence draped across the room. Shock enveloped their faces, as she knew it would. She closed her eyes, then stole a glance towards Alexis's side. White was supposed to go first.

"Nite?" Alexis finally asked.

"That's right. I was just wondering if either of you knew who that was."

"Where'd you hear that name?" Jaden asked stiffly.

They weren't very fond of Raines, were they? So Akiza shrugged, as she relayed all the possible moves Alexis could've made on her own. "I read it in the library," she lied effortlessly, not even bothering to take in their reactions. "It was in the occult section. It seemed like something you'd both be interested in, so I figured…"

Jaden looked taken back. "Okay, first of all; Alexis is into all that. I'm normal."

Alexis glared at him. "Hey!"

"And secondly, why are you interested?" he continued, as he leaned against the wall. "It's not like it affects you in any way."

"Just curious is all. Alexis, make a move."

The girl stared at her for a while, then looked down. "R-right."

"So, have you heard of her?"

Jaden folded his arms across his chest. His dark gaze shifted towards the brightly lit windows, the quiet that enveloped the three now coming undone. "I have," he said finally. "I heard she was a witch."

"Really?"

"Some village idiots burned her at the stake."

She moved her pawn, Alexis. Afterwards, she looked up, and waited patiently for Akiza to make her move. Only after a moment of contemplation, Akiza moved her pawn, two squares to the left. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yeah…"

"Salem Witch Trials, right?"

He shook his head. "No. Back in the 1600s, there was a massive witch hunt across Europe. A lot of innocent people died."

"Did she have anyone else with her?"

"What?"

"You know, other people?" Akiza clarified, all the while chuckling at Alexis's wandering eyes. When the blonde smiled, Akiza could already see the disorganized trap, just waiting for her to escape. Alexis really did need a poker face. "A coven, if you will."

"I don't think she did." he quickly answered, his eyes narrowing. "Where's all this coming from?"

"I heard she was the original Black Rose," Akiza answered, as Alexis forced another pawn forward. She'll be going for the knight next, that much Akiza knew. She's probably trying to free up her bishop, and then, if she got the chance, slaughter the king. That, however, was a fatal move on its own. "And since there were terrorists running around before, I just wanted to know a little more."

"What does history have to do with anything?"

"Everything."

"Aki."

"They've had to get the symbol from somewhere," Akiza explained, moving her knight to counteract Alexis's pawn. That girl might try freeing her queen next, though that'd leave her own king defenseless. "And I doubt they're going to copy some duelist with the same name, right? That's just too easy."

Jaden smirked, as he watched Alexis move her bishop. "What? You think those terrorists were the ghosts of those innocent witches? The descendants trying to get revenge for their ancestors?"

Akiza laughed emptily. "I suppose."

"Come on Aki; you're supposed to be done with all that, remember? Dark Signers and all that? You're supposed to live a normal life now."

"I could say the same for you."

"Huh?"

His full name is Nikolai Izinski, and he's got ties with the Senator.

She smiled at him. "What with the antics you two get yourselves into, I'm surprised you call yourself normal."

"Hah!" Alexis cried. "Check!"

Akiza switched the rook and king, creating a simplistic trap for the blonde into. Sure enough, it worked, and Akiza's queen ended up taking the bishop. It was funny, seeing her hopeful face falter like that. Jaden scoffed. "What? Like you're one to talk?"

"Fair point. How about Nikolai?"

"Nikolai?"

She nodded. "There's talk that about someone named Nikolai Izinski. From what I've heard, he's supported the Arcadia Movement from day one."

Jaden paused for a brief moment, trying to read an unreadable light in Akiza's eyes. "I thought you were done with those guys."

"I am."

"So why-?"

"If people found out about it, the police would think we were related or something."

He laughed lightly. "Just because two people have the same last name, doesn't mean they're related."

"Normally, yes. But considering how corrupt our government is…"

"I've got no idea who that is."

"Really?"

"Aki-?"

Akiza smirked. Carefully, she took Alexis's piece and set it aside, the utter look of despair on the girl's face a testament to her sensitivity. Akiza surveyed the board. If she moved that next pawn, Akiza can take it out with her knight. Then of course, her defenses were still strong, and so far her queen can move. If it does, that'd leave Akiza at a disadvantage. If she could move her rook, it'd make things easier. Ah, she didn't see that before; it looks like Alexis was getting a little better, though of course, not by much.

"So you're concerned then?" he asked. "I mean, with your dad being the senator and all that…"

"Yeah," she said, continuing to see through Alexis's clearly rash movements. "I was in the Arcadia Movement, and knowing the public, I don't want to hurt Papa's image anymore than I already have. You think Nikolai Izinski could be just an alias?"

"Maybe. I mean, unless you've got some long lost cousin we've never met, then yeah, it's plausible."

They had aliases too. Christoph and Arisé Izinski.

"But still, you shouldn't worry too much about it," he assured, traces of comfort entwined within his voice. "That Movement is done, so I doubt anyone will go poking around." He fell silent suddenly, as he leaned over Alexis's shoulder. "Why'd you do that?"

Alexis blinked. "Do what?"

"That. If you do, then-"

"Check," Akiza said easily, as she maneuvered her knight toward the piece. Alexis's lips parted slightly, as she did a double-take on the board. She bit her lip, and moved her king out of the way.

Akiza cocked her head, before moving her rook out to greet the king. "Check," she repeated, knowing full well Alexis had no place else to go.

Alexis sighed frustratedly, as she sat back, clenching both sides of the board. "I can't believe it; I thought that strategy was supposed to work."

"What strategy?"

Jaden chuckled. "Told you it wouldn't work."

"Bite me," Alexis muttered. "You didn't do anything."

"I tried helping you."

"Yeah, with one move."

"A very important move."

Akiza smiled satisfyingly, before looking up at the two, the sincerity in her grin slowly fading. "You're both glad that I left the Movement?"

Alexis peeked up. "Of course! I mean, the leader was arrested, wasn't he? It's better for you to stay away from people like that."

"Really?"

Naively, the girl nodded. "Well yeah! You've got your whole life ahead of you, don't you?"

"…I see."

Jaden stared at the board for a bit longer, before sighing. He kissed Alexis on the cheek, then straightened himself. He turned his heel, and headed out the door. "Hey," he called back, "I'm gonna go get something to eat. Want anything?"

"I've stashed some sodas in the fridge," Alexis supplied helpfully. She turned to Akiza, and, with eager eyes, pleaded for another game.

Akiza simply nodded.

She took care to see Alexis reseting the board, chatting on and on about whatever else was in her mind. All the while, she stared at the blossoming, crimson flowers, now enticed by the darkened light ahead.

Yusei could feel their frustrated gazes surrounding him, their uneven desperations dispersed throughout the crowd. Though fear resonated from within the air, there was a certain seriousness entwined within it. Their thoughts were scattered, but everyone came here under a certain goal.

More of their numbers were being picked off every day, and unless the nobles did something about, territories would rise up and rebel. They'd fortify themselves, and the elites would lose the only influence they had. Of course, pride had something to do with it too, but that was beside the point.

Yusei came to the center of his impatient audience, all eyes on him, the tension shrouding his intentions behind a polite, formal frown. A black, thin sweater covered his frame, with tattered sleeves and chains hanging from the fabric. Dark jeans hugged his legs, his bare feet touching the golden, sophisticated ground. The same, black rose was strapped to his neck, the flower immediately attracting the attention of everyone in the room. He stopped for a moment, before shoving his hands in his pockets, and regarding the nobles with the strictest scrutiny.

No doubt everyone was on edge, especially with the Black Rose's sudden return. From the looks on their faces, it seems no one planned on following his orders from the very beginning, to leave the innocent out of this. Then of course, no one wanted to speak up and confront him about the order, even if they knew it went against this society of theirs. It was strange, how they believed themselves to be speaking earnestly, even when their actions were anything but. It was as if they were all waiting for another one of their competitors to fall, before facing him, trying to see if there was some angle they could work, some ridiculous notion that if they attacked on a certain time, a certain day, if they could separate him from Akiza, that somehow, someway, they would get the title.

Monster.

Yusei turned his gaze to the empty space in front of him. "I thought I'd made myself clear," he began, "that you were not to endanger the innocent."

"Salem told us what was going on," one of the members stated. "That girl…she's not normal, is she?"

"Correct."

"You lied to us!" another screamed. "You said she was just a regular duelist!"

"Ophelia said that," he rectified. "And don't you remember? I specifically told you all, that if I was right, this game will end with the whole lot of you dead."

"This thing is rigged!" a man protested. "If you're just gonna keep springing stuff like this on us, how the hell are we supposed to win?!"

Winning, huh?

Is that all these people care about?

In that same second, he took a single step forward, causing everyone to back away. His eyes grew icy, the coldness of his subtle emptiness slowly taking form. He looked up, and, with a cruel smile, scoffed. "I'm here, aren't I?"

The offender clenched his fists. "Damn bastard…"

"Excuse me?"

"Like hell we'll obey-!"

And suddenly, he collapsed.

Bleeding here and there.

With nothing but his screams to satisfy the witch's pain.

Yusei stepped back, as he watched the man fall before him, his eyes wide with fear and shock. Before long, he turned back, an air of terrifying superiority surrounding him. "This is your last chance," Yusei stated emotionlessly. "Disobey me again, and you will all forfeit your candidacies. Understand?"

"W-what?!"

"Isn't that what you wanted us though?!"

"Why else would we disobey you?"

"It's Sam's fault! And he's dead, isn't it?! That should be enough!"

"On the contrary," Yusei hissed, causing everyone in the room to fall silent. "Sam's little stunt gave us more attention than we need."

"B-but what about-?!"

Yusei tuned out the rest of the members' protests. As of this point, they were only hindrances. There was no possible way he could utilize them; they barely made good jesters, in this decadent court of his.

He only stole his eyes down to the shadow on the ground, following the slightest movements without any hesitation.

He was late.