Author's Note: A thousand apologies for being so late on this, I had a hard getting it right and I still feel it could be better. I hope you like it. AND NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO…..WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ANXIOUSLY WAITED FOR…. Disclaimers etc etc okay lets do this!

Chapter 12: Rebirth

"I have a really bad feeling about this…" Marik whispered to Kisa, gnawing on a loose hangnail. He swore everyone could see the anxiety rolling off him in waves. The tiger girl stood next to him shooting equally nervous glances round the room from their designated spot by the doors. They watched as the Council spread out in a large circle about an arm's width apart, creating a sectioned area in the center of the room while Aeva prepared ingredients just inside the new circle. She went about things methodically, placing lit candles and smoking incense at various points on the floor. Marik noticed there were lines all over the floor of the Chapel, creating various designs and shapes-one of which they were now using. Next, she whispered over a handful of large brightly colored gem stones. He cocked an eyebrow in surprised when they glowed dimly from within-and stayed lit as she chose four big ones from the group and placed them in a rectangle shape within her circle. Blue, red, green and purple. All the while the robed figures sat still as statues.

Marik eyed the Council members warily-he was a little peeved that none of them seemed moved to helping Aeva at all. And how she was able to pay no attention to her eerie audience Marik didn't know. Their white robes covered them completely-only their mouths could be seen from under the hoods. They didn't speak. Or move much. He could barely make out their chests moving with their breathing. They just stood in their formation like emotionless zombies. Marik didn't know what creeped him out the most in this situation… the occult-like gathering he found himself now witnessing, the creepy ass casting circle drawn out on the floor or the candles throwing strange shadows all over the room. Does it always have to be dark to cast spells? What ever happened to the fancy light runes?

As one, the Council members all slowly turned to face the door. "Yeesh...okay, that's not super creepy or anything." Marik mumbled, looking about to see just what the hell they were staring at. He jumped and wheeled around as the doors opened with a creak.

"Oh.." He gasped. His mouth fell open as the angel-faced lady walked in with Captain Brigan-looking slightly better than he had moments ago-just behind her. Marik felt a small twinge of satisfaction at his lack of cockiness. But his feeling of victory disappeared as the Council members all spoke as one in monotone, "Hail, Queen Seraphine!" and bowed their covered heads before turning back to face the center of the room. Kisa curtsied, and noticing Marik staring dumbly with his mouth hanging open she nudged him, prompting him into a hurried bow. The white lady nodded her head at them and strolled up to Aeva, leaving a strange sensation in her wake. For some odd reason Marik found his mind's eye drawing up pictures of wildflowers. Brigan closed the doors with an echoing boom and walked to stand on the opposite side of the circle.

Aeva greeted her Sovereign with a bow of her head, "My Queen, again I offer my thanks for your help but I must impress upon you that a sacrifice on your part is not necessary. With the moonlight and the Dark Tome I can do this on my own." The white lady smiled gently down at her and rested a delicate hand on her shoulder. Marik's mouth went slack again as her otherworldly features practically shone.

"Oh my dear Catalyst, you do a fine job protecting your Sovereign from any threat. However, as I said earlier, a shared sacrifice is much greater than a lone sacrifice. Please, tell me what I must do." Her sweet voice sounded like bells to Marik's ears. He had a hard time taking his eyes off of her for any length of time.

"Very well my Queen. If you will, stand across from me. There, yes.." They stood at each end of the rectangle. "For this all I shall need right now is your concentration and trust. I will tap into your power to help call forth the spiritual Gateway while you focus on helping the Council harness the magic and keep it contained within this circle. You'll know if more is necessary from you so I urge you to trust your instincts. We will be performing not one spell, but three in tandem. A renewal of the body, calling forth his soul and severing all ties to the afterlife so he will not be called back. If we do this right he will be as he was before his death, perhaps even better. Now before we begin we must go over what we are about to experience-oh, but first...Brigan, I'll need your cloak please."

Without question he strode forward and unhooked his cloak, placing it in her waiting hands. She whipped it open and laid in out directly on the floor inside the rectangle of gems-all while ignoring Brigan, Marik and Kisa's confused looks. All eyes followed her as she walked over to a small podium and unwrapped the Dark Tome from a dark cloth. Marik could feel his stomach drop and goosebumps prickle on his arms. How had he not noticed that damn book there earlier?

Marik gruffed out lowly, "Is it just me or did it just drop a few degrees in here?"

The room had seemed to dim and get colder the moment Aeva revealed the Tome. Kisa visibly shuddered, further proof of Marik's statement in his mind. He shot an uneasy look at Aeva, who only gave him a wry smile.

"Peace Marik, soon it will all be over and you never have to set eyes on this again."

"Promise?"

"You have my word." She didn't waste any time, moving back to her spot. Waving her hands in the air the book floated in midair before her. With a stabbing motion, a wisp of her magic assaulted the heavy lock and it popped open with an audible click, flapping to a page in the middle of its bindings. Marik's skin prickled as the room grew even colder and Kisa moved to stand closer to him. "Be on your guard. Shadow magic like this is not to be trifled with. Like all forms of power it is almost sentient...it can think and act of its own accord. It is raw and unforgiving. You can either control it, or be controlled by it." The pendant on her finger began to glow and everyone watched with wide eyes as glittery black smoke materialized around her. She brought her hands close together and held them in front of her breast, cupping them over her heart. Taking a deep breath, she made a pulling motion-Marik and Kisa gasped as a ball of energy literally came out of her chest. He couldn't make out for sure what was in it but he had a gut feeling he was about to find out. The spinning ball of black smoke suspended itself a couple inches above the floating Tome.

She continued, "The magic will stay within this circle as long as you do not break your concentration. Council, remember the chant we discussed-do not stop until it is finished. My Queen, we need to put up a barrier to keep the magic contained. Brigan. Marik. Kisa…" She looked each of them in the eye, "..you are to stay back. Do not attempt to break the circle or interfere in any way for everyone's safety. Captain, should we be disrupted at any point you are to take care of it-no one and nothing stops this ritual. Am I clear?"

He fisted a hand over his heart, "Yes, my Lady."

Aeva nodded, taking several deep breaths and looking up to the ceiling. Her magic danced up through the air and formed a swirling hole in the stone above them. It opened the stone wide, like a window, till the sky could be seen. Marik gaped in astonishment as two insanely huge moons filled the casting circle with opaque light. The pendant ring on her finger-and thousands of runes etched into the ceiling and pillars lit up with a warm fiery glow. An unexpected breeze ran through the room ruffling robes and hair. Aeva directed the magic orb to float down onto the cloak. As it came over the center of the cloth it grew in size before falling apart, and what looked like dark ash fell in wisps all along the material. The grainy substance began to take shape….

"Oh no fucking way!" Marik exclaimed. Bones. A series of separated bones lay on the cloak. In the form of a skeleton. His skeleton. He could see the skull, a pelvis, the longer arm and leg bones and smaller finger and toe bones. 'I knew it!' The dead Pharaoh's bones were in the room and Marik just knew he was gonna be sick. He held a hand to his queasy stomach. The idea of being close to a mummy back home had been bad enough but being close to his actual bones? This was too surreal. Was this really happening? He pinched himself to make sure, and didn't find the pain comforting at all. "Oh shit, tell me I'm not seeing this..".

"As a matter of fact you are Marik. Now please, if you would be so kind as to stay silent. I need to focus." Aeva and the Queen began to glow-Aeva with her starlight black and Seraphine with a soft yellow. A shimmery see-through curtain of their combined magic descended over the casting circle encasing herself, Queen Seraphine and the Pharoah's bones inside. As soon as the shield touched the floor it began to pulsate. Kisa let out a small squeak as a hum could be heard and felt throughout the room. It made the hair on the back of Marik's neck stand up. At once, the Council began to softly chant something Marik couldn't understand. If he had to take a guess it sounded like Latin, or something similar to it. He patted Kisa's arm to comfort her-or himself, cause he wasn't sure at this point. Truth was he was pretty freaked out right now.

Aeva began to chant, "I call upon the divine elements from which we are made and to which we shall return.. Earth, Wind, Water and Fire! Come forth! I summon forth the divine powers which we conjure to do our bidding and grant us balance! Light and Dark! Come to me! Aid and protect us as we ask the void to open!" The bright stones exploded with colorful light and a strong wind blew through the room. Aeva's mane of raven hair blew about, giving her a rather intimidating appearance. She looked strong and powerful and every bit as dangerous as Marik was coming to understand.

"I, Aevangeline, Catalyst of Avhall, bid the Gateway to the Otherrealm to open! The realm that serves life beyond death! Open in the name of the Sovereigns Beira, Seraphine and Nicias! " Her ring glowed. She began to chant in her foreign language followed by the Council. The room shook and Marik swore loudly as the universe ripped a hole in the air above their heads, creating a similar door of light like the one she had brought them here with… only this one was a dark purple-ish light. The rippling surge set the bystanders back on their heels, trying to keep their balance-eyes wide with awe.

Marik felt heat coming from his chest. Looking down he found his pendant glowing too. Whatever she was doing was causing the magic in his pendant to react-he could feel the power thrumming through his chest. He didn't have much time to contemplate on this as Aeva began to recite a passage from the book. As she spoke she extended her hands out, palms up. He gasped as magic sliced deep across her palms and drew blood that dripped to the floor in thick rivulets. What was more shocking is that the Queen mirrored her movements and her palms too were opened. Chills went down Marik's spine as red stained her beautiful pale skin. Aeva shot her a disapproving look only to be given a stern look right back from the white lady. Marik found himself quite liking this Queen...

"Ancient beings of Dark and Shadow vale

Heed my cry, part from thy hallowed veil

Accept my humble sacrifice of blood

So through me your gifts will flood

And bestow upon me thy power

To call forth the chosen one this hour

Behold!

From ash and dust a form reborn

Awaken his soul to a new morn

Breathe into this vessel new life

His body and being returned from Paradise

Make new the bone, blood and skin

Rebirth anew from within!"

Marik's eyes narrowed as he studied Aeva's chanting. It was strange...her lips were moving but the shapes and movements she was making with her mouth didn't quite fit with the words. Even the Council members words weren't matching up with their utterances. Listening closely he caught a bit of what they were saying..

"...Avhallian spirits hear my cry, let nothing cross the threshold to this side! From the powers we bear hence, we bind this circle in defense. Let nothing tear asunder we, who protect this realm! So mote it be!"

He lost his train of thought as the wind in the room whipped harshly, creating a whirlwind-growing smaller and smaller until only the Pharaoh's remains were encircled. Sand materialized from nowhere-a mini dust tornado taking up the inner circle. Aeva and the Queen simultaneously raised their arms and the sand tornado halted-freezing for what felt like seconds before they made a dropping motion. A whoosh of magic spurred the whirlwind in the opposite direction. Marik's jaw hit the floor as he witnessed bit by bit...piece by piece...the bones were falling back together. Through the sandstorm they could see ligaments and tendons and muscle forming at a rapid pace. Sinewy pieces pulled and tugged and connected, filling out and taking shape. Veins filling with blood started to appear. Kisa gave a horrified gasp and covered her eyes. Marik felt like he was watching the decomposition process of a living being on Discovery channel...only backwards and so so so much worse. He barely blinked as dark flesh began to morph and stretch over the red muscle and white bones, replicating exotic features he knew well followed by hair and nails and-! Dear Ra..

Suddenly the whirlwind dissipated, leaving a prone naked figure lying on top of Brigan's cloak. Marik shakily moved forward to get a better look.

"I'll be damned.." Brigan inched closer, eyes wide with amazement.

"You did it. You fucking did it!" Marik whispered, his voice carrying in the moment of silence. His hands grasped the sides of his head. He was sure disbelief was etched into every inch of his face-cause it was mirrored in Kisa's and Brigan's.

Aeva waved her hands again and the cloak wound itself around the body until only the tops of his shoulders and head remained visible, giving the naked form some privacy. Time seemed to slow and it quieted in the Chapel as they marveled at him. Smooth bronze skin and a mane of tri-colored hair tipped in red. Bright blond lightning shaped bangs fell onto his face and a few more zig-zagged up into his hair. Long dark lashes graced his sharp cheekbones… His toned chest suddenly rose and fell-breathing! Holy hell he was breathing. Had anyone walked in at that moment they would have assumed the man on the floor was only sleeping. Shit he was so perfect. Not a blemish or scar or even a freckle was visible. Just a few moments ago he had been bones and dust and now...A strong sense of nostalgia overtook the sandy blond at once again looking upon the face of his ex-nemesis. He was real and he was here and alive…

"I think I need to sit down.." Marik moaned, weak-kneed and wobbly. Kisa came to his side and grasped his elbow. She looked a little pale herself.

His voice spurred life back into the silence. Noise slowly filtered back into their consciousness, snapping everyone back to the task at hand. The Gateway trembled above them, it's gaping depths yawning over them ominously. Aeva quickly recited the second part of the spell from the Tome.

"From beyond I call away from the Light

He who will liberate us from this plight

I beseech the void to relinquish it's hold

Deliver unto us he who reigned as King of old

I beseech thee, Death, undo your claim

On him, whose soul I shall name!

Come forth, Pharaoh Atem!"

Aeva, Queen Seraphine and the Council all looked up as purple lightning came bursting out of the Gateway-it left spots on the floor, scorched by the heat. Brigan flinched and jumped to the side as a bolt zapped the floor where he had been previously been standing. The purple darkness seemed to roil and writhe as a bright substance trickled its way out. It shone more brightly than anything Marik had ever seen. He squinted, trying to make out a shape of some sort from the glowing mass. He compared the thing to the mist that came off of dry ice but thicker. It hovered and danced down, down, down towards the waiting host.

"So that's what a soul looks like.." Kisa gasped, eyes so wide Marik could see the light's reflection in her gaze.

A soul? That halogen-bright thingy was a soul? He looked back at it and guessed that that would make sense...it was kinda beautiful in an ethereal way. Suddenly the so-called soul halted in its movements, freezing a mere foot away from the Pharaoh's new body. It froze and became stiff, like ice, and grew so bright all eyes were forced shut to its rays. Aeva's and Seraphine's looks of surprise barely registered in everyone's minds before all hell broke loose.

With a mighty FROOSH! sounded and the protective barrier shattered. The Council members were knocked to the floor. What felt like a physical sonic boom rang through bodies and eardrums at a deafening level. Marik and Kisa's cries of fright were lost in the tumult. Aeva and Seraphine were being pushed backwards by an unseen force as the light unfroze and slowly inched its way back up towards the open Gateway. The ancient book was blown into a far corner of the room. Everyone cried out as flamelike heat burned their arms and icy cold fragments formed on the legs. Kisa screamed in pain and fear and fell to her knees. Marik knelt and pushed her half underneath him to try and shield her from the shitstorm exploding around them. The Council had ceased their chanting and lay powerless against the onslaught of wild magic. Marik could hear Brigan screaming about letting go or disbanding the circle..he couldn't be sure. Seraphine's cries were mixed in as well as she and Aeva desperately tried to hold their ground.

"He's fighting us! ….on just a little...barrier back up now!"

"I can't hold...It's not closing! Aeva what…"

"Stop this madness NOW! Something is wrong!..."

"NO! It will work…..get that barrier….Oh gods...I have to..!"

"NO AEVANGELINE! DON'T!"

Marik forced his eyes open. Through the dots in his vision and the tempest tearing through the circle he zeroed in on Aeva's determined face-following her stare he could see the white mist disappearing through the Gateway. All at once time seemed to freeze again as Aeva's eyes grew dark-the whites completely disappearing. 'What the hell?!' Her magic flew out of her with renewed force and completely shrouded her and the Gateway. A new barrier exploded forth and blasted Seraphine and the Council members backwards several feet. Marik and Kisa yelped as they too were knocked backwards onto their butts. The wind died down to nothing and the ceiling went back to normal. All magic had been contained within Aeva's glittery forcefield, which hummed almost innocently. Brigan jumped up and rushed over and helped Queen Seraphine sit up.

"What happened? What is she doing in there?" Brigan asked, panic evident in his voice.

Seraphine moaned, "I'm not sure. It's as if his soul rejected the host. The spell wasn't enough to hold him here long enough for him to reunite with his body." There were visible wounds on her hands, arms and face. Brigan gently helped her to her feet. "He has a strong connection with the shadows...it's unlike anything I've ever felt before. Our spell was thrown in reverse somehow and as a result our circle was broken."

"But what is happening in there? What is she doing?!" Brigan pushed. The white lady only shook her head sadly.

"I can't be sure… There are very few ways to tether a soul to one place. None of which… are ethical or without great cost. For our Catalyst's sake, I pray she understands the consequences of her choice.." Her grave eyes never left the glittery barrier. Marik felt chills run up his spine at her words and glanced back at the forcefield. He felt a spike of fear for Aeva-she was caught in a storm of magic that had torn the whole damn room apart-and almost them along with it. He felt helpless knowing there was nothing they could do. She was on her own…

"No! It will work! Give me your strength, I must get that barrier up! Oh gods above! Forgive me for what I'm about to do! What I have to do!" Aeva cried.

"NO AEVANGELINE! DON'T!" Seraphine screamed, trying to pull her side of their magical bond closed. She wasn't fast enough. Aeva had already reached deep within and pulled on the combined magic from herself and her Sovereign and let it loose-pushing the Queen out of harm's way and encasing herself, the soul and the Gateway within a strong barrier.

As soon as the force field was complete she was hit with wave after wave of unhindered magic. Her hands instantly went to cover her ears against the screaming winds and crashing lightning. The barrage was overwhelming-a dull throb from her knees indicated she had collapsed to the floor under the never-ending onslaught. Using that pain to center herself she reached out blindly into the swirling darkness and pulled as much of the energy into herself as she could. It burned like being scalded then thrown into ice water...Slowly, she could feel her energy regenerating...the pain began to recede before disappearing all together and her senses brought everything into perfect clarity. She smiled-perks of being the Catalyst was the ability to absorb almost all forms of energy, especially Dark energy, and utilize it to her advantage. The storm slightly calmed and looking up she could see the last threads of the Pharaoh's soul trying to escape back into the void.

"Not so fast my King!" She wobbled to her feet and threw her hands out to the sides, "I bind thee to me! A soul taken from peace can only be rectified by a soul willingly given from chaos! I shall bind you to me and call you forth from the Shadows!" As she said the words her soul bled outwards from her being-her eyes rolled back in her head as excruciating pain enveloped all that she was. She threw her head back and her mouth fell open in a silent scream. A small piece of her soul broke away from the whole and shot forth like an arrow into the Gateway. It made contact with the Pharaoh's and fused them together-likewise a piece of his brilliant soul detached and fell, becoming apart of Aeva's own. The second his soul touched hers the color crimson flooded her vision-a moment within a moment-before it was gone. Her soul receded back into her body and she came to gasping for breath, doubling over in her pain.

"It is done." She gasped out, "Now, return to the living!" The blinding white soul trembled visibly before shooting straight down into the body-his vessel flooded with light, jerking violently and then becoming still once more. Aeva reached a hand above her and chanted the closing of the Gateway. The door became smaller and smaller before fading completely, and in her relief she crumpled to the floor. It was finished. The last thing she saw before passing out was the King's chest rising and falling with vigor… 'Consequences be damned...so long as he lives..'. She smiled and succumbed to sleep.

"How do we break through?" Brigan asked, pacing in front of the force field. His eyes covered every inch of it, inspecting it for weaknesses.

Marik sat with a trembling Kisa on the floor where they had fallen. The Council members rose steadily and as one filed out of the room.

Marik found his voice, "H-Hey! Where are you going?! She's still in there!"

"Let them go." Marik's protests died as Queen Seraphine came to stand in front of them, "They have done what they were asked. There is nothing more to be done now." She gracefully knelt and took Kisa's hands in hers. "Child, I need your gifts please."

Kisa tearfully looked up and nodded. Her hands began to glow orange and Marik watched in awe as it traveled up the Queen's arms and healed her wounds. He flinched as Kisa then grabbed his hands and healed him as well. He watched his burnt and frost-bitten patches faded away.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that." He whispered, and the Queen flashed him a gentle smile. 'Whoa...so pretty!' His face warmed up as he made his lips turn up at her. 'Don't be awkward, don't be awkward.'

"My Queen!" Brigan called out suddenly, bringing their attention to the dissipating barrier. They all jumped to their feet and crowded around as Aeva's and the Pharaoh's forms came into view. Marik felt his heart sink at Aeva's limp form. Brigan ran over and pulled her into his arms, beckoning Kisa to him. The tiger girl placed her trembling hands on her chest and pushed waves of orange light into her body. After a moment she pulled back.

"S-She is healed now. I b-believe she is alright. J-Just exhausted, like before." She wiped tears away and sniffled a sigh of relief. Brigan nodded and picked Aeva up as Kisa crawled over to the newly resurrected man and repeated the process.

"Well?" The Queen asked.

Kisa looked up at them in awe, "He's alive! The spell worked! This body is perfect! No wounds..nothing! The magic never touched him."

Marik piped up, "What about his soul? Was she able to make it stay?"

Seraphine knelt down and caressed the reborn Egyptian's face, "Only time will tell…" With that, she stood. "Captain, have the Catalyst and Lord Atem moved to the private healing ward. Choose only a handful of trusted healers to look after them until they wake. Child, run to the kitchens and alert the cooks to their patients needs. After extensive magic like this it is unwise to eat anything heavy. I trust you know who to speak to. No one is to disturb them while they rest under any circumstances. These are my orders."

"Wha-what about me?" Marik blurted out, hand half-raised. He was having a hard time sorting through the emotions tearing through him. Mostly he just felt numb.

"Hm? Oh yes, Aeva told me about you. I suppose it would be alright for you to assist looking after them. For now though, I suggest we all retire early. We are all spent after tonight's events. Good night." They all bowed as she strode out of the room.

"Alright, let's get them to the Healers. Boy, pick him up." Brigan barked, already moving towards the door.

"Boy? Pick up what?" Marik wheeled around to face him.

"Not what, who. Pick him up and follow me." Brigan motioned to the still form still wrapped in his cloak. Marik eyeballed the sleeping male. 'He can't be serious..' What if he woke up? What if he lashed out? He was naked under that cloak! Nope. He wasn't doing it. He shook his head side to side vigorously. Brigan could see the anxiety on the young man's face and sighed. "He will be out for at least a few hours. Now I need you to find your courage and pick him up. Unless you're too frightened of him." The Captain smiled evilly at his flustered expression. For someone with a black and blue face he still managed to look snarky.

"I'm not scared! He's-I just-bu..oh, fuck me!" He fumed at basically being called a wimp. Kneeling down, he gently lifted Atem into his arms. Goosebumps erupted all over Marik's body as Atem's head lolled onto his shoulder. Okay, this wasn't too bad. He was totally not freaking out at holding the new, and still naked, body of a (previously) dead Pharaoh who most likely still distrusted him. Marik kept his head forward so he wouldn't stare at him. Once he was situated he nodded at Brigan who then led them out of the Chapel. They climbed up several flights of stairs with Kisa bringing up the rear. Sweat beaded at the nape of his neck as he huffed after Brigan.

"How much f-farther?" He groaned out through clenched teeth. For a small guy Atem was surprisingly...sturdy.

"Almost there. Surely you're not winded already? Come now, make haste!" Brigan wasn't hindered in the slightest with his load. Marik glare a resentful hole into the back of his head but said nothing. Instead he focused all his energy on more important things.

Like not dropping the Pharaoh.