I know, I know. It's been how long? Never fear! I have a nice, long, lovely update to make up for my absence—aaaand you might not like how this one goes.
...Seriously now. Please don't kill me later for this.
Content warning: while there is no blood, there is semi-graphic description of a facial injury. Jean Claude also has gaslighting behaviors going on in this chapter.
Ryou clambered over a fallen log, turning to help Sivya over it. Rishid was helping his sister over the fallen tree as well. The group was hurrying through the forest now, trying their best to make a good pace. The air around them was thick and humid, the threat of rain rapidly growing. A late summer storm was on its way, and no one wanted to be caught in it.
"We're not far now," Ryou told them, studying his surroundings. "From here, it's only a couple of hours. If we go even a little faster, we might be there sooner."
"Bakura's lair is so close to the city?" asked Rishid, visibly surprised.
Ryou shook his head. "Bakura's one for taking risks to ease his boredom, but he's never that bored," he replied with a wry smile. "No, we have a different route we're taking. It's not that far from where we are now, and when we get there our travel time will be exponentially shorter."
One of Ryou's primary concerns about going to Hermos had involved returning to the lair quickly. He knew what Bakura's reaction would be, and he certainly did not want to be away longer than he had to. Bakura valued Ryou's life, but that was because Bakura would be trapped within the Ring permanently if the other man died.
Yami was also aware of Bakura's temper, although he had been more concerned for Ryou than the thief. That was why the spirit had used Shadow magic to create a pathway for Ryou; it was the same trick that Bakura used to quickly escape pursuers, and the same method they'd used to reach Kaiba's lair.
He only wished that they were not traveling at night. While dawn was approaching, Ryou could only hope the sun would be rising by the time they reached their route—it was safer to travel this path during the day. Shadow magic at night was always riskier, as darkness fueled the magic.
The ominous sound of thunder rumbling overhead broke the silence of the forest. The group looked overhead at the thunderclouds gathering above them, registering the humidity around them and the thick tension of the oncoming rain. Sivya looked uneasy, her grip on the staff tightening.
"A summer storm. They always come without warning," she said, looking around at them. "The wind alone can fell trees. My brothers always cautioned me about traveling during one."
Ryou caught the sight of lightning in the distance and quietly began to count, stopping when the rumble of thunder once again broke the silence. "It'll hit the castle first," he said. "With any luck, the storm will weaken before it comes to us. Still, we can't afford to be caught in this weather. We had best hurry."
Ryou was not fully worried about the storm, but he was concerned about the risk of encountering any other Shadow creatures. That monster had been summoned, and it had not been one that Bakura or Yami used—someone had sent that Shadow creature after Eatos. At the thought, he frowned. There had been something about that encounter that had bothered him, and as he thought on it he realized what it was. He allowed Sivya and Rishid to pass him, ducking back to speak to Ishizu.
"That creature back in the clearing…do you know why it was afraid of Rishid?" he asked her. "You hold a Shadow item, and you can see the future with it if I'm not mistaken. Do you have any insight?"
Ishizu stilled, and Ryou saw the aborted flinch. "I have been thinking on that matter, and I believe I know why. That said…Ryou, it is not a mark against you, but this is something best discussed with Marik first."
Ryou felt a pair of eyes on him and looked past Ishizu, his gaze landing on Rishid. The older man was watching them attentively; it was quite apparent that he knew what was being discussed, despite the fact he was a good distance ahead of them. Sivya was shooting confused looks to everyone, her eyes flitting from one person to the next in hopes of gaining an explanation.
Ryou held back a sigh. "I understand, but I cannot ignore a threat. That monster was sent after Eatos, and subsequently came after us. Ishizu, if it happens again I'll need to know what it is you suspect."
Ishizu dipped her head. "Very well," she replied. She shot her brother another look before they started forward once again. Ryou directed a reassuring smile to Sivya as he passed her. However, it faded as he passed them all, a troubled frown replacing it.
He remembered the night he had first met Marik. Rishid had been badly hurt, and Ishizu herself had been distraught. Marik had been the worst off that night, his eyes alarmingly blank and practically bathing in blood that was not his. He knew what had happened to Marik and his siblings, but…
The look that Ishizu and Rishid had just exchanged was the exact same one he'd seen them give each other years ago. Something else had happened in the catacombs, something Rishid nor Ishizu had told Marik.
And it had something to do with whoever had sent the Shadow creature.
Thunder broke the silence of the night one again. Ryou turned, shivering in the sudden gust of chilling wind; he could see the clouds gathering over the distant castle, its outline appearing in the growing and frequent flashes of lightning. The storm was getting closer.
And in more ways than one, he mused morbidly as he led the group deeper into the trees.
"She's where?"
Jean Claude paced the length of the throne, glowering at the group of men standing in front of him. Most of them had enough common sense to avoid his irate gaze, but Gurimo and Keith both met the man's eyes. Keith did not necessarily seem to care that Jean Claude was agitated. He was slouching in place, his hands on his hips and looking completely bored.
On the other hand, Gurimo was standing at attention. When Jean Claude shot him an expectant look, he spoke. "We threw her in the dungeon because she had attempted to escape."
"I don't care why you did it! You put her in the dungeons where she could meet one of two people—and they both know exactly what's going on around here!" he snarled. "Do you realize what could happen if she learns the full truth?"
Keith snorted. "No offense, my liege, but we're all pretty sure she knows everything by now," he said, a derisive edge to his voice. "Learning a little more won't hurt her any—you erased her memories the first time, right? Why not do it again?"
"Because I don't want to addle her brains with magic, you twit!" snarled Jean Claude. "She's no use to me as a brain-dead vegetable! The less she knows, the less I have to have removed!"
"Ah, but Jean Claude, for once the pawn is correct," a smooth voice responded calmly.
All the men in the room jumped at the voice, their gazes darting to the throne room's entrance. Ishtar was leaning against the doorframe, looking distinctly bored. One of his hands was over his left eye, a black liquid oozing from between his fingertips; his arm also had what appeared to be a knife wound that had the same black liquid leaking from it. He did not seem overly concerned about his current condition, however.
He continued speaking, assured he had their attention. "If she is in the dungeon, it can only mean that she already knows far too much. We have no choice—we'll need to erase her memories once again," he said, sounding almost gleeful at the thought.
Jean Claude's face clouded. "But if I have to erase her memory too many times she could be turned into a brainless doll!" he snapped furiously. "I can't just—!"
"I was under the impression that she already was a brainless doll," Ishtar replied with a shrug. "If you're worried about the captain, though, you'll know it if he says anything."
He tipped his head to the green amulet around Jean Claude's neck, turning his gaze to the guards. "Return to your posts before I decide to throw you to the Shadows—and mark my words, your demise will not be swift and painless."
The group of guards instantly scurried out of the room, not glancing backward even once. Judging by the look on the Enterran's face, this course of action was the best decision the men had made that night. Ishtar watched them leave with a predatory expression, only turning his attention to the irate man when they had all left. "My, but don't you look worried."
"Of course I am! My carefully laid plan is going down the drain, and you morons don't seem to care! You assured me she wouldn't remember anything! Yet she's in the dungeon, her memory almost fully intact!"
"You'd be wise not to loop me in with your peons," said Ishtar coldly. "I never said that she would permanently remain under the spell—I merely stated that recovering her memory would be nearly impossible to accomplish."
Jean Claude whirled on him to possibly snarl something else, but he finally took notice of Ishtar's current condition and he paused. "What happened to you?" he asked, frowning. His upper lip curled, and his eyebrows furrowed in disgust at the sight of the viscous liquid dripping between Ishtar's fingers. "What have you been doing?"
Ishtar's eyes flickered. "Nothing requiring immediate concern from you," the Enterran replied nonchalantly. "As for the woman, she is a liability as she is now. There is a chance of having company in a few days. It would be to your advantage to have the woman under control when they arrive."
"C-Company?" stuttered the other man, his eyes widening. "What do you mean by that? Who's coming?"
"You have little to worry over," replied Ishtar carelessly. "It can be handled as long as the woman does not remember everything she's discovered—a matter I will be more than happy to personally see to."
Jean Claude's lips pressed into a thin line. "Very well," he said at last. "I will go with you when we go to the dungeon. We'll try to negotiate with her first before we resort to using magic. Perhaps she would better understand my position if I explained myself to her."
Ishtar's visible eye rolled.
"In the meantime, I want you to tell Gurimo to round up all of Prince Jousef's men and lock them in the guardhouse. I've let them run around long enough. I have more important things to worry over. When that is done, send someone to find Mai's handmaiden and bring her here—I don't know where that woman has gone, but I want her found and locked away."
Ishtar's remaining eye darkened. "Do not order me like I am one of your servants," he retorted. "I do as I please."
"Yes, but as long as your master and I are doing business you do answer to me!" Jean Claude retorted, his voice rising. "Now go—and please do something about your face."
Ishtar deliberately uncovered his eye, allowing Jean Claude to see the empty and torn socket. The dark substance that was still leaking from his eye stained his cheek, dark wisps of shadow hovering around the damaged eye.
Jean Claude visibly recoiled, looking green. Ishtar sneered at her and turned away, leaving the throne room. He could not deny that he was amused by Jean Claude's reaction as he entered the darkened hallway.
Jean Claude was a fool. This whole ridiculous plot involving the kingdom had long since lost his interest. The only reason he was even here was to deal with the Shadow wielders and to take the items from their cold, dead hands. Ishtar had the patience to suffer with his idiotic behavior, as his reward was the destruction of the Nameless King and the promise of at least three Shadow Items.
He glanced down at the cut in his arm with disdain. The one thing he could not have predicted was the presence of that man. The thief's vessel had also surprised him with the poisoned dagger. He was fortunate he had been controlling a Shadow creature, rather than going in person to the clearing; the advantage was that he could not be killed if the creature died, but it did mean that he took on any injuries it gained.
Even with that dagger, however, he could have easily dealt with the thief's vessel had it not been for him.
The crack of thunder broke the silence of the castle. Lightning lit the sky outside, the first raindrops hitting the windows. He looked up with mild interest, coming out of his thoughts. A late summer storm had arrived—what perfect timing.
He held the Rod to his arm, watching as the shadows seeped into the wound. The flesh was pulled back together, the remnants of the poison lifting from the cut. It evaporated in the air in a puff of dark purple smoke. He flexed his arm experimentally, making a fist before a cold smile lit his features.
The woman would be the first thing he dealt with, he decided. She had escaped the Shadow Game by sheer dumb luck—after he was done with her, she would be lucky if she could even scream. His smile grew, revealing pointed eyeteeth. Oh yes, he would have such fun destroying her.
He held the Rod to his face, tapping the cold item to his cheek and covering his empty eye socket. There was a gleam that lit the hallway and after some pressure his eye completely reformed. He had his own agenda, and he'd put up with the orders, and the insults, and the never-ending whining to meet them.
"For now," he hissed, his eyes glinting in the darkness.
"I think you've worn a path in the floor by now with all the pacing you're doing."
It was the first thing Raphael had said since Mai had used the memory gem on her. She looked at him. "It helps me think if I stay moving," she told him. "I don't have the markets to distract me this time."
Normally there would have been a defensive edge to her voice, or even a sarcastic retort. However, Raphael's dejected countenance and the weight of the memories she had seen made Mai reluctant to antagonize the man.
She returned to her thoughts instead, all of which were racing a mile a minute. Now that she knew what was at stake, she would have to be careful from now on. She nearly had the entire story now, but there were still a few details she was uncertain about. How was it that the entire kingdom of Hermos didn't know that Jean Claude was a fake prince? Yes, he had Ishtar on his side, but she doubted he could put a memory spell on the entire kingdom. Maybe Raphael had some insight.
She was also worried about Vivian. Had she successfully escaped? Had any of the other guards seen the black-haired woman leave? She suspected there had been a few of Jou's remaining guards on sentry duty. If they had seen her, they could have chosen not to sound the alarm—but they hadn't, and it gave her a small amount of hope. As far as she knew, the guards who had intercepted her in the stables had not seen Eatos leave, nor had they realized Vivian was gone. If she was careful not to say anything about either of them, they would more than likely make it to safety.
A sudden thought struck her. She paled, eyes darting to Raphael. She had peered into his memories to find the truth, but what if that had activated the gag spell? What if she had inadvertently brought harm to Serena and Elya, as well as the other guards? What if she had killed Serena? The younger girl was too weak to withstand a full blast of that spell!
"Nothing's changed." Raphael was looking at her, his expression a careful neutral.
She stared at him. "What?"
"Nothing has changed," Raphael repeated, as if making a point.
She felt the beginnings of an irritated sigh rising in her chest. He was babbling at her now—fantastic. She was about to offer a sarcastic reply when she processed what Raphael was trying to tell her.
The spell didn't activate. They're safe.
Mai leaned against the wall, relief replacing her anger. She offered him a small smile before looking around her. "Speaking of change, this place could use some redecorating. Seriously, all this gray moldy stone is so monotonous. Would it kill them to add drapes and some comfortable furniture?"
Raphael offered a wan smile. "I'm sure that the architects of the dungeon had other priorities aside from tailoring a cell to accommodate royalty."
Mai grinned and readjusted her position on the bench. She started when her foot caught something on the floor, the object skittering across the stone-paved ground. Two pairs of eyes swung to it, and Mai bent down to lift the item. It was the memory gem, now cool to the touch.
"You'd best put that away," Raphael told her. "That's a very useful item to have—I don't think you want Jean Claude having it."
Mai couldn't argue with that. She reached for the violet pouch at her side and opened it to put the gem back inside. Her eyes caught sight of the bundle of string resting inside. It took her a moment to identify it in the dimly lit cell before she recognized it.
Mai lifted out the necklace Eatos had given her, keeping it in her hand before clearing her throat to catch Raphael's attention. "When I was in your memories, I saw Elya."
Mai recognized the way he flinched at the woman's name—he was afraid of activating the spell, even if someone else had said her name.
"Valon mentioned that she'd married a good friend of his, but I didn't realize he was talking about you."
She held out the hand holding the necklace to him. "I think this belongs to you more than it does to me," she said gently.
Raphael did not immediately move, squinting at her hand in the dim light. It was apparent that he was suspicious of anything she was offering him—he had not forgotten what had happened the last time she had given him anything. Mai rolled her eyes and reached for his hand, dropping the necklace into the man's palm and closing his fingers over the top of it before he could react. "It won't bite, I promise," she assured him.
Raphael looked down at his hand warily, fingers uncurling. His eyes landed on the necklace and they widened. His face crumpled, pain and sorrow mingling in his eyes. He looked back up at Mai, completely at a loss for words.
She felt a wave of sympathy rise. "This morning, your eagle gave it to me. I thought at first it was something she had found in the city and was giving to appease me—you know, because of our argument this morning," she told him softly.
"No," he said almost immediately, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, his eyes meeting hers. "You won't find that particular necklace in the city. You won't find it anywhere, except on El—her neck. She wouldn't take it off willingly."
Mai had not missed the way Raphael's breath had hitched when he had been about to say Elya's name. Her anger at Jean Claude was renewed—Raphael wasn't even allowed to say her name.
Raphael did not speak, his eyes on the necklace in his hand and completely lost in thought; his thumb ran over the oak pendant gently. "I carved this for her," he said, his voice unusually soft and fragile. "It was for her birthday."
"You did a good job," she said earnestly. She knew how much it meant to him to have even this much of her—he hadn't seen her since this nightmare had begun. She could not even begin to imagine how it felt to have someone she loved ripped away from her in such a brutal fashion.
Jou's face came to her thoughts suddenly. Mai had trouble pushing it away, and she shook her head briefly.
"Raphael…I know they didn't get hurt tonight, but are they all right?" she asked him.
He remained silent for so long that Mai didn't think he'd heard her. She was about to ask him again when he looked to her. "They're together, and they're close by. As near as I can tell, they're not badly hurt. I can't tell you more than that.
Mai read between the lines. "They're both here in the castle? Are you absolutely sure about that?"
"Remember the unspecified punishment Jean Claude gave me, shortly after you had been rescued?"
Mai nodded slowly, suddenly not liking the direction the conversation had taken.
"I was beaten and whipped, Alister was unstrung—and a weaker version of the gag spell was used on everyone except me," he said, his voice hollow. His eyes were dark and cold.
Mai stiffened, her lips thinning when she realized what he was telling her. "When you say everyone," she said slowly, dread and the beginnings of anger starting to surface, "do you mean…?"
"Everyone aside from me, Highness." There was no masking the brief flare of helplessness that now filled his features. "He had Ishtar cast a viewing spell so I could see everyone outside the dungeon, and then Jean Claude made me watch when the spell was activated. I saw them, together in a room that has the flag of this kingdom on the wall. That's how I know—and to be honest, I wish I didn't."
Mai shot to her feet, suddenly furious. She was so angry that she could barely think straight. "I've seen what that gag spell can do. If he's killed Serena, I'll rip him to shreds myself, to say nothing of what Jou will do to him!" she burst out angrily.
Serena was not dead, Mai recognized dimly through her anger. Jean Claude could not afford to have the sickly girl die from the spell. He would need a bargaining chip if Jou returned to the castle, and he needed her to keep everyone else in line. Even so, it did not stop the waves of fury that nearly blinded her—Serena was too fragile for such treatment.
"Do you know where the room is?" she asked, her voice still trembling with anger. She took a steadying breath, forcing her voice to remain calm. "You had to have recognized something about their location when you were watching them."
"I know it was in the castle," Raphael replied, looking visibly frustrated. "If I tell you anything else—"
"I know," she said with an impatient wave, flopping onto the bench. She was willing to bet Jean Claude would not let any of Jou's remaining guards inside the castle without an escort; it would allow them an opportunity to look for his prisoners and help them, and she knew he wasn't that stupid.
She cupped her chin in her hands, her frown deepening as she continued to think. Mai had been everywhere in the castle and she had seen nothing out of the ordinary. Jean Claude had shown her every room and the entirety of the castle grounds more than once, and she would have remembered seeing a locked room.
But there had to be some clue to help her. Jean Claude was only human, and he was arrogant to boot. He was bound to slip up, she just had to find out how and where he had given her ground. He had never been uncomfortable in showing her any part of the castle, and she had been in every part except for—
She sat up suddenly, snapping her fingers with excitement. "The northern tower."
"What?"
"Raphael, how long has that tower been under construction? Jean Claude said that there was damage inside that was being repaired."
The burly man frowned. "I wasn't aware of that at all."
Mai's smile held triumph. "Jean Claude told me on my very first day to stay away from there, as it was under construction. When your eagle gave me that necklace, she had come from that tower and returned to it soon afterward."
A look of dawning comprehension lit Raphael's features. For the first time during their conversation, something close to hope entered his eyes. "Then that means…"
"You said yourself that Elya wouldn't take that necklace off willingly. She must have been trying to tell you where she and Serena were being held, except Eatos came to me instead of you," Mai finished, grinning. "It worked. We both know where she is— all we have to do is tell someone where they are."
Raphael's face fell. "How are we going to do that? We're not exactly walking out of this cell anytime soon," he said, gesturing to their surroundings.
"Correction: you won't be walking out of here. I might, if Jean Claude does what I think he's going to do," Mai replied grimly, tapping her temple in emphasis.
"…he's going to wipe your memories again."
Mai nodded unhappily. Jean Claude would not allow her to run around with her memories intact. He would instead have Ishtar take away her memories again. If that happened, Ishtar would initiate another Shadow Game—and Mai knew for certain that she would not be as lucky as she had been last time.
"I can't afford to play another Shadow Game," she muttered. She ran a hand through her hair before resting her chin in her hands.
Raphael started, his eyes widening with disbelief. "You beat a Shadow Game?" he asked, stunned. "A simple memory spell would have done the job!"
"Tell Ishtar that," she replied wryly. She repressed the grimace and the shudder at the memory. She had not yet forgotten the chill of the Shadows, nor had the feeling of sand been erased from her skin. "I don't think he understands what 'overkill' is."
"He's also a sore loser. If he gets a hold of you, he's going to make it hurt."
"I know. That's why I've got to fool him," she continued. She rose to her and resumed her pacing. "I've got to avoid playing that Shadow Game at all cost. I have to get him to use an actual memory spell this time."
"I don't mean to be the pessimist, but Ishtar doesn't strike me as one who can be easily fooled."
To his surprise, Mai grinned at him. "Oh, I don't think I can fool him either—but he's not the one I need to dupe."
Raphael studied her for a long moment. "You have a plan?"
Mai smirked, winking at him. "You better believe it, buster," she replied cheerfully. "Jean Claude's had the advantage over me because he knew what was going on, but he's lost that now. Now, I'm playing the game, and he'd better watch out."
"What do you have in mind?"
Mai shook her head, brushing back some of her hair when it fell over her shoulder. "You're better off not knowing what I'm up to. If they ask, you can answer honestly—we can't have either Elya or Serena hurt any further, and I won't have Valon lose you."
Mai untied the violet colored pouch from her belt and handed it to him. "Take this," she ordered. "If my plan backfires and my memory ends up erased, I'll need a way to bring it back. That's why I'm giving you the memory gem. Don't let Jean Claude find it."
Raphael took the pouch and leaned over the side of the bench, stowing it in a small crevice that was hidden from view; he also placed a loose stone over the crevice, further shielding the pouch. He then took Elya's necklace and then looped it several times around his wrist, tucking the pendant into the string so that it was hidden from view. She did not miss the way his fingers lingered on the string, nor the way his expression softened.
The sound of rattling chains nearby caught Mai off guard. She froze, listening intently. Was there someone else down there with them? It had not immediately occurred to her that there might be others, but it would make sense—they were in a dungeon, after all.
Raphael seemed to have realized what Mai was currently thinking about. "I've heard them too, but they didn't answer," he said. "I don't know who else he's imprisoned. I've only been here for half a day."
"I don't think we're lucky enough to have that be Elya or Serena," she said, going to the door. She peered out through the barred transom of the door, trying to see if she could find who had called out. She was greeted by a dark and empty hallway, but she was not able to see anything in the hallway save for evenly placed thick oak doors. "Hello?" she called.
There was no response at first. Mai almost thought she had imagined the chains until she heard them again. "Who's that?" called a wary voice.
Raphael started, eyes widening. Mai recognized the voice as well. She had not been as close with this person as Jou had, but she knew him all the same—he'd often been accompanying them as they'd all grown up. "Tristan?"
"…Princess Mai?" Tristan's voice was incredulous, and it was coming from one door across the hall from Mai. "What are you doing down here?"
"Oh, you know, decided that I wanted to room in that dungeon chic," she said wryly. She sobered. "Tristan, you okay?"
"Sure, I'm fine," came the sarcastic retort. "I just love being in this cell as some jerk runs around and completely burns this place down. I thought you were in on that bonfire."
"Nope—memory spell."
"Ah. Makes sense. You alone?"
"I'm down here too," Raphael said, coming to the door. "Have you been here this whole time?"
A bitter laugh reached them. "Yeah. He ambushed me, and I didn't even get to fight back. How stupid is this? I'm supposed to guard the kingdom, but I couldn't even do that much. Now look what's happened—Jou's dead, we're down here, and if Jean Claude succeeds in his plan we're going to lose Serena and this kingdom."
Mai had been surprised that Tristan had been able to say Jou's name—it meant he was not under the same spell as everyone else was, although she suspected it was because he was here in the dungeon. She had been about to correct Tristan about Jou's status, but as he finished speaking she felt a frown form. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Serena's only ill. She's not dead yet."
"She will be if Jean Claude marries you."
Mai felt a chill drop down her spine, anger and worry warring with each other. "What do you mean?"
"Princess, Jou's told you before hasn't he? The story about how this kingdom was founded?"
The memory of a maze rose in her memory, the setting sun painting the sky and grass with a world of color. Jou's smaller hand wrapped around hers, a grin on his face as he helped her through the maze… "Let me tell you a story to pass the time, since we're gonna be in this for a while…"
"I do," she said slowly, "but what does it have to do with anything?"
"What story?" Raphael asked, frowning.
Mai shifted, suddenly recognizing an uncomfortable parallel. "It's a child's bedtime story. Short version is that a princess comes across a cursed knight, who's been trapped in the form of a dragon. She helped him."
"Do you remember what happens at the end of that story?" Tristan's voice was heavy and tired.
Mai nodded slowly. "The knight had two brothers who were trapped in similar spells, so after marrying the princess he left on a quest to help them. He told her that if something happened to him, she would be permitted to choose a new ruler. But he came back in the end, and they lived happily ever after."
"Right. Go back to the part about what the knight told her—what do you think that means in this current situation?"
A pause fell between the three of them, two of them trying to understand what Tristan was telling them. Mai felt that there was something important she was missing…Tristan was obviously concerned about it, but she couldn't understand why or how it applied to this situation.
"Tristan, I don't get it," she said at last. "Can you just tell us what's going on?"
"It means—"
A sudden gust of cold air swept through the hallway. Tristan's voice was cut off sharply, a thick and tense silence falling. Mai stumbled back away from the door, as did Raphael—they both recognized the feel of Shadow magic as it approached them.
"My my, Tristan's been rather naughty."
Ishtar stepped through the door to enter the cell, leering at them both. "Hello," he continued, his eyes glittering. "You seem to be rather healthy and whole—I can fix that."
The cell door unlocked behind him, and Ishtar stepped to the side with no small amount of reluctance.
"Now, now, Ishtar," said an all too familiar (and unwelcome) voice. "We aren't to terrorize our guests."
Mai's eyes narrowed at the man that entered the cell, her arms folding. Raphael took a step closer to her, not quite in front of her but certainly in a defensive position. Even though Mai was not afraid of Jean Claude, she felt touched by the gesture. I guess he's buried the hatchet when it comes to me.
From outside came a particularly loud clap of thunder, the sound of rain slashing at the castle and the wind starting to howl as it grew in strength. As muffled by the stone as it was, they could hear the fury of the storm as it was unleashed on the castle.
How appropriate, she thought wryly.
"Hello, my love," said Jean Claude graciously, directing his attention to Mai. "I've come to ease your concerns about what happened this evening."
Vivian pulled back on the reins of the horse, peering into the darkness around her anxiously. She heard thunder in the distance, and the light rain that was falling was on the border of turning into fat raindrops instead. She had just passed a river whose current was both dangerously high and far too fast; she had been lucky that the route she was taking apparently did not require crossing the river, but she'd rather not be caught outdoors if the storm caught up to her .
"Are you sure you even know where you're going?" she asked the horse, the question bubbling out of her before she could stop herself. Why she was expecting an answer from the horse was anyone's best guess, but it was not as if there was anyone around to judge her for it. "I know Mai said not to steer you off course, but—"
The horse took off down the path, starting to canter deeper into the forest. Vivian pulled back on the reins to pull the horse to a halt, unwilling to let the horse go beyond a walk. She had been riding for the better part of two hours now; to prevent the animal from running itself to death, she had to allow it to rest. Whatever Mai had done to ensure the horse would take this path had been quite effective.
An anxious frown marred her face. Vivian's worry for the woman who doubled as both her friend and a princess had increased in the amount of time since she had left the castle. Was Mai all right? Was she safe? It was more than likely she had been captured by now, but would Jean Claude and the others with him hurt her? Would Jean Claude go so far as to…to…?
Don't think like that, she ordered herself firmly. Jean Claude won't hurt her. He cannot afford to bring her harm.
Jean Claude had proven before that he cared a good deal for Mai. He would ensure she remained safe, even though she had discovered so much about his plans. He would not kill her—but that did not mean he was not above casting another spell on Mai or imprisoning her. What if he turned her into some hideous monster to ensure her silence?
There was a far worse alternative than that, she amended with a shudder, because Jean Claude was not the one who had magical abilities. What if Ishtar was the one who cast those spells? At least Jean Claude cared enough about Mai to avoid hurting her, but that other man…
While her own encounter with that menace had been short-lived, it was more than enough to convince her that he was a true, dangerous, and sadistic threat. Who knew what that monster had planned for Mai?
"All right, time to ride," she muttered, and then she kicked the horse's sides. The horse started and its gait shifted into a full-blown gallop. She hunkered down and leaned forward to avoid hitting any low-hanging branches, wincing when the inside of her legs throbbed but holding on all the tighter.
She would have saddle sores before this was over, but it was worth it if her efforts saved Mai's life.
Mai folded her arms and scowled at the man across from her. "Don't 'my love' me, pal," she spat venomously. "That ship has officially sunk."
"Dearest, surely we can work this out," said Jean Claude, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "I know my men were a little…rough."
Mai viciously jabbed at her own face, where the still-forming bruise throbbed. "A little?"
"Had I been there, I would not have allowed you to be harmed."
"That implies you have control of this situation. I'm not about to give you that much credit."
Raphael snorted, holding back the laugh at the last second. Amusement crossed Ishtar's features as well.
Jean Claude's face reddened, and he cleared his throat. "Come now, Princess," he said, his smile becoming forced. "I am not an incompetent buffoon."
"No? Could've fooled me, former Lord Jean Claude. You don't have a drunk rejected court jester for a stand-in this time, but I almost prefer his company over yours," she said scathingly.
Jean Claude sighed. "So you do have your memories after all," he said. "I had truly hoped that there was at least something you didn't remember."
"You're lucky you had Ishtar help you with altering my memories—you screwed up so badly that it's permanently engraved in my brain." Her eyes narrowed. "That's the only thing you have succeeded on."
Jean Claude's jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed. Mai had clearly hit a nerve. "My dear, look around," he said, clearly struggling to maintain composure. "You are in a dungeon. I am in charge here. You have no allies, no one to help you escape, and you are completely at my mercy. I urge you to think carefully on your position."
Mai bit back another retort. She knew she could continue to rile him up, but that would not help her, Raphael, or anyone else in this castle. Her arms folded even tighter over her chest, waiting for him to speak again.
Jean Claude relaxed. "Good. We can reason with you," he said. "Look, my love—"
"Don't call me that again."
Jean Claude actually flinched at the ferocity in her voice. He cleared his throat, recovering. "Princess Mai," he started again, "we don't have to take this route. My offer still stands. There are many benefits to having me as your husband."
Mai stepped around Raphael, smiling at him sweetly. "Jean Claude," she said, her voice warm. His face brightened at her initial response, but when Mai next spoke her voice was cold and hard. "If it was a choice between you or the plague, I'd choose the plague."
Ishtar's eyebrows rose. "That can be arranged," he commented, twirling the Millennium Rod absently.
Jean Claude exhaled hard, his fingers raking through his hair as he turned away. His shoulders slumped and his expression fell. He looked away for a long moment, then returned his gaze to Mai. "Aren't you even going to give me a chance?"
Mai planted her hands on her hips, scowling. "After everything that's happened and after everything I've learned? Yeah, no. I don't think so."
"I suppose something of an explanation is in order, Princess. Maybe if you heard more of the story, you'd sympathize with me," he replied gently. "Don't I get that much?"
"Short answer? No."
Jean Claude laughed, looking more amused than intimidated. "And that's another reason I love you—you're so feisty!" he exclaimed. The sudden shift in behavior caught Mai off guard, and Raphael moved in front of her once again. "I'm still going to tell you anyways, because it's apparent you need context.
"After that fiasco at the tournament, your father stripped me of my lordship title," Jean Claude began. "A benefit of living in Thystia means that you can buy your way into one of the lesser nobility titles. Unfortunately, the risk is just as proportional. Losing your title means you lose everything that comes with it.
"You can believe that I was ruined when I was forced out of my title. My lands and most of my gold were taken from me. I was little better than a peasant. I'd lost everything because one idiotic fool did not fall from his mount—it was a stroke of luck on his part that he bested me."
Mai bristled, her lips thinning and eyes narrowing at Jean Claude's words. You weren't the one who faced him, you coward.
"As you can imagine, I was left in quite the predicament," he continued. "I was going to lose my one chance to rise up in the world, to become a prince—I had been cheated of the honor of a kingdom and of having a beautiful wife. I wouldn't stand for it. I vowed I would get what was mine, no matter what.
"So, I sequestered myself in a comfortable place and began planning my next move. It's not easy taking over an entire castle, you know. I had to figure out how to get Jousef out of the picture, then there was the matter of the steward and of what to do when you arrived…and that wasn't even the half of it! I was at my wit's end, at a dead end, and I needed help.
"Then one night, an interesting man graced my doorstep. He was well versed in magic and had with him the answer to my conundrum—a curious but powerful little gem called orichalcum."
Mai straightened up, her arms dropping to her sides. "Dartz," she said, frowning at Jean Claude. "The man that's helping you is Dartz, isn't it?"
Jean Claude looked surprised. "You know him?"
"Met him once, heard of him more than once. Let me go ahead and take the reins for a moment, because I think I know where this is going," she said grimly. "He offered you magic, orichalcum, and Ishtar's assistance, provided you met his price. You told me banished the magic casters because they were in league with Tristan's supposed plot. But that's not what you did—you gave them over to him."
Jean Claude looked pleased. "You'd be right. Smart and beautiful…I knew I made a right choice when I decided to pursue your hand in marriage," he said brightly. "Yes, Dartz and I made an accord. If he helped me win your hand and this kingdom, I would give him the magic casters of this kingdom in turn. As my plan was proceeding beautifully, I gave them over early.
"Princess Mai, we both stand to gain from this. No one in this kingdom knows who the real prince is. It's the perfect opportunity for the both of us. We are so close to our happily ever after. Forget Jousef. He was an inexperienced, bumbling fool who couldn't handle his kingdom, let alone a beautiful and classy woman such as you. Why, if you knew even a quarter of what was happening here before I arrived, you wouldn't even be considering—"
Mai crossed the room in three swift strides. Without any hesitation, she slapped Jean Claude hard enough to make her palm sting and throb. Jean Claude staggered backward, staring at Mai with an incredulous expression. She was too angry to care, her vision flaring red. "What Jou deserves is not for you to decide!" she snarled. "Jousef might only be a boy, but he's more of a man than you are!"
"My dearest—"
"I care little for men who can't fight their own battles, who hide behind those who are more powerful and then claim to be brave! You can't even hold a jousting spear without resorting to cheating. Jou's proven that he's more of a man than you can ever hope to be!"
"But—"
Mai gestured to Raphael, her voice rising and trembling in anger. "You didn't think I wouldn't find out about what you did to Jou and Tristan? To Raphael, and to those he cares about? To Serena? If you thought I wouldn't ask or care, that just proves my point! You're nothing but a bully and a coward, Jean Claude, and I will never marry you!"
Ishtar chuckled, tucking the Millennium Rod into the crook of his arm before offering a slow clap. He did not seem upset by Mai's words, turning to Jean Claude. "It seems that the woman won't listen to reason after all—you know what that means."
"…Very well."
Jean Claude's voice was heavy with regret. He offered Mai an apologetic expression. "I had hoped it would not come to this, but I can't afford for you to keep your memories. I'm going to have to erase them again—I can't take any chances of you remembering this conversation. Once your memories have been erased, you'll accept my marriage proposal and we'll be married."
"Lucky me," she spat, glaring at him.
Ishtar stepped forward, brandishing the Millennium Rod. He looked morbidly delighted. "Finally, I get to do things my way," he declared, smirking at Mai. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Mai realized what was about to happen, taking a silent but steadying breath. All right, Mai—time to play the game.
She put a clamp on her emotions, outwardly schooling her expression into a confident one. "Oh please. You think I'm afraid of a dog whose bark is worse than his bite? What's wrong, upset I called you for what you are?" she continued, watching Ishtar's face darken murderously. "You're stronger than anyone in this room, yet you serve under the coward in the corner."
Ishtar's grin did not falter. If anything, it grew in size—but it did not travel into his eyes. "If you believe me to be a dog with only a bark," he replied, almost baring his teeth at her, "you have yet to see my fangs."
Provoking Ishtar was definitely not among her smarter ideas. She knew better than to push him too far, but she had to goad him just a little further. "Go ahead, then. Show me your so-called fangs. I beat your Shadow Game once, I can do it again!" she said, smirking at him.
Ishtar's smile stretched even further. He lifted the Rod, directing it at a point between her eyes. "Wish granted."
Even as the Rod began to glow, however, Jean Claude stepped towards Ishtar. He slapped the item down, nearly knocking it from Ishtar's grip. "A Shadow Game? That was what you did to her?" he said angrily.
Ishtar's eyes flashed as he glared at Jean Claude. "Touch me again, and you'll lose your hand."
"You told me that you wiped her memory with a simple spell!" Jean Claude snarled, ignoring Ishtar's threat. "You mean to tell me you nearly turned her into a Shadow?"
"Oh Jean Claude, didn't you know that?" Mai asked mockingly. "I thought you were in control."
Jean Claude did not reply, though his jaw tightened as he glowered at Ishtar. Raphael caught her eye and mouthed what are you doing?
She smirked, waiting until both Ishtar and Jean Claude were not looking at her before winking at Raphael. So far, her plan was working. But she wasn't out of the woods yet. The trickiest part of her plan had yet to come. If what she had planned did not work, she would be left at a huge disadvantage—her memories would be gone once again, potentially leaving her in a worse position than she had been in before. That something she simply could not afford.
"My deal with Dartz is that I marry Mai and he gets the magic users! I can't marry a Shadow!" snapped Jean Claude. "You cast a simple memory spell on her lady-in-waiting and on her parents and I want the same done to Mai! You know her name—something you said you would need to cast the memory spell on the others! No more of this Shadow Game nonsense, Ishtar!"
"A memory spell can be broken much easier than any spell cast with Shadow magic," Ishtar replied. "But you're clearly right. I have her name, after all, and you are so desperate to ignore my warning. Who am I to blow against the wind?"
In a sharp motion, Ishtar lifted the Millennium Rod and pointed it at her once again. "Mai—memoriam obscurum."
Mai had no time to brace herself. Immediately, the room spun wildly as she felt a wave of dizziness hit her. A hot spike of pain lit behind her temples, nearly blinding her. Her legs weakened and buckled, and she could not stop the wave of darkness that was rolling over her.
I really hope…that this works…
Mai crumpled soundlessly, unconscious in seconds. Raphael lunged, catching her before she would have hit her head on the cold and unforgiving floor. He lowered her carefully, but he had no chance to find out if she was all right—Jean Claude had also moved towards them, and he shoved Raphael away to check on Mai himself.
The man took her wrist, feeling for a pulse; the relief that lit his face when he found one spoke volumes of her condition. Seconds later, he rose to his feet and whirled on Ishtar. "What did you do?"
"What you told me to," retorted Ishtar, looking perfectly at ease. "It's a complex and powerful spell you asked for me to do. There is always a different reaction to it. Everything after the dragon carried her away has been forgotten. Her mind is a blank slate."
Jean Claude bit his lip, struggling to reign in his temper. "Yes, yes, I suppose…all right, then, Ishtar. You did a good job."
He clapped his hands twice. Footsteps rapidly approached the cell, and two men entered the cell. "Your Majesty?"
"Please take Princess Mai back upstairs," he said to them. "I'll be along shortly."
One man bent down and scooped Mai's limp body into his arms, and after giving a short bow to the man left the cell. The other also left, but they could hear him take up a position outside the door.
Jean Claude then turned to Raphael, raising his eyebrows at the taller man. "Don't think I forgot about you. Mai knew about Princess Serena and your charming wife, despite having no memory of the matter. I know I certainly did not tell her anything about it."
Raphael tensed. "You would have known if I had told her," he said tightly. "I did not speak of what happened to her."
Ishtar seemed interested by this turn in the conversation. His eyes went to an area of the wall nearest Raphael. The burly man noticed where Ishtar was looking, shifting in place but otherwise stoic.
"Even so, Raphael, Ishtar told me about your little lapse in judgment in the stables," said Jean Claude. He wagged a reprimanding finger at Raphael. "You warned her about me. That little decision was certainly was not cooperating with me, as we discussed when I first arrived. I'm going to have to address that."
Raphael stiffened in place, fists clenching at his sides.
"Let's see…I could have that Aurosian boy brought up here and have him flogged and imprisoned? Yes, that seems reasonable…or perhaps, your wife should have a turn with having her memories completely erased? Maybe I could even marry her off. Hell, I should unstring them both. We should ask Alister how that went. Oh, but wait. We can't. He's already dead," Jean Claude said, laughter in his voice. "I wonder how that went. Maybe Gurimo should recount Alister's final moments to us—"
The punch Raphael threw was hard enough to knock Jean Claude to his knees.
The other man howled in pain, clutching at his newly bleeding nose. It was clear he was struggling to stay conscious, blinking rapidly and breathing with harsh whimpers. "He just broke my nose!" he gasped, his voice thick. "How dare—Ishtar!"
Ishtar rolled his eyes and lazily waved the Rod at Raphael. The burly man was thrown to the other side of the cell, hitting the wall hard enough to drive the breath from his lungs. There was a loud, sickening crack, and Raphael cried out in pain.
Another casual wave of the Rod, and chains flew out from the wall behind Raphael. The manacles fastened around his wrists and hauled his arms above his head. One final wave had conjured a sackcloth hood that dropped over Raphael's head. The man recovered and struggled against the chains furiously, his voice muffled by the hood but unable to free himself.
Jean Claude staggered to his feet, glaring at the Enterran. "Why didn't you stop him?"
"I can do many things—reading minds is not one of them."
Jean Claude glowered at him and then scowled at Raphael. "You will pay for that punch, you great oaf. I'll let you think on the worst possible scenarios that will happen to you or those you love—they're all going to come true," he hissed.
He turned away in disgust. "Come, Ishtar. I have a princess to propose to."
Ishtar grinned as Raphael slumped in place, head bowing; he had no doubts the burly man was beginning to despair. He hummed as he tucked the Rod away, closing the door behind him as he followed Jean Claude.
Ishtar absolutely loved the power that wielding a Shadow item gave him. It allowed him to punch that buffoon of a man without ever lifting a finger. As a bonus, Raphael was the one who ended up punished for Ishtar's actions.
"All in a day's work," he chuckled.
"She should be awake by now," Jean Claude fretted to himself, pacing Mai's bedroom anxiously. "Why isn't she awake?"
Ishtar had assured him that Mai's unconscious state was only temporary and that she would soon revive. That had been ten minutes ago, and he was getting impatient. He never should have agreed to have Ishtar work with him; if Dartz had not been so adamant about having him around to deal with potential threats, Jean Claude would gladly send the man back.
During the time that Mai had been unconscious, Jean Claude had planned his next move. By now he had discovered Vivian was gone, but he had decided this was to his advantage; he could easily pass Vivian off as a trouble-making servant, especially now that Mai did not remember anything past being taken away by the dragon. The state of her memory was just as it was on the first day of her visit, according to Ishtar.
There was no way to hide the bruise on her face, nor had there been anything that could be done for Jean Claude's swollen nose. He would blame these injuries on his "victorious battle" with the dragon—after all, it was not as if she could contradict him.
A soft groan rose from the bed. Mai was beginning to stir, her eyes slowly opening. Relief washed over him, and Jean Claude instantly crossed the room. "Oh, thank Heaven," he said, sitting on the edge of the mattress and taking her hand. "I was so worried about you."
"…Jean Claude…?"
Mai stared up at him blankly at him, her violet eyes dazed and glassy. She sat up slowly, grimacing and holding her head. All the while, she did not pull her hand away from his. Jean Claude inwardly smiled.
"Where…where am I?" she asked him, looking confused. "I don't…"
He pulled her into a hug. "You're safe in my castle. I rescued you only hours ago from that vicious brute of a dragon," he told her. "I was so worried for you, my love…but you're awake now. That's all that matters."
Mai remained silent for a few moments before hugging him back. "I was so frightened when it took me away," she murmured into his shoulder. "I was so scared. I think I must have hit my head…I can't remember anything. That's so frightening to me."
"Never fear, Princess Mai," he said soothingly. "Some things are best forgotten. The important thing is that I've rescued you."
Mai pulled away, surprised eyes locking onto his. "You were the one who saved me?"
"Of course, dearest. You will always be safe with me." Jean Claude shifted so that he was facing him and took her hands in his. "I'm afraid I don't know where your lady-in-waiting is. In the chaos of the attack, she vanished. I have men looking for her, but until her return I shall see to your every need myself."
The woman hesitated, then smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Jean Claude," she said kindly. She winced and her smile faltered. "I must have hit my face earlier. It feels swollen and hurts to smile for long—oh! Your nose! I've just seen it! You poor thing, what happened to it?"
Jean Claude laughed. "I'll be all right, my love, but your concern is well appreciated," he told her warmly.
So far, the woman had not reacted poorly to his pet name for her, and it was clear she did not remember what had happened. She also seemed to have lost some of her fiery personality, but he attributed this to having her memory erased once again. He felt bold enough to take a risk—the reward would be worth it.
He slid from the mattress to take a knee in front of her, taking her hand once again. "Dearest Mai, I asked you a question when you first came to the castle."
Mai frowned before her expression cleared. "You wanted me to marry you, I believe," she said slowly. "At the time, I said I wanted to wait and see."
Jean Claude nodded, barely keeping the excitement off his features. "I hate to push, but I need an answer from you now. I've shown you the castle, and you can see for yourself that I can provide for you—and I've saved your life. I even proposed to you on our way back here, and while you don't seem to remember it now you did say yes."
Mai blinked, startled. "I…I did?"
She said nothing, looking thoroughly conflicted. Jean Claude's hand tightened around hers. "My dear, I can give you a life of luxury. The finest silks, the loveliest flowers, the most beautiful jewelry…it's all yours. You'll also have me, and I'm a true gentleman and a rare prize to have. Let me ask again: will you marry me?"
The woman's brow furrowed as she processed the information. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her—why was she being so hesitant?! Honestly, he was giving her so much and even without her memories she was still playing hard to get! He'd chosen now to ask her about marriage, knowing that she was still disoriented from the spell…but surely her mind wasn't that addled!
Outwardly, however, he did not let these thoughts show on his features. He kept the fond and caring smile on his face, his hand resting on Mai's. Jean Claude had always prized his acting abilities, and he felt his talent was highly valued for such situation.
Finally, Mai looked back up at him. There was a light in her eyes, and her smile was slowly growing as she gave Jean Claude her answer:
"Yes."