Chapter 7- Side Effect


The morning in the hotel was aggressively loud as Luanne woke from her slumber by Marik was talking to Odion in a language she could not understand but it sounded like a one-sided heated argument. They were wearing street attire, and sorting out cards. She pulled the blanket higher to pretend she was sleeping.

"Miss Khait would you like something to drink?" Odion asked as she tried to settle back in but too late. She got up and yawned.

"Yes please, tea or water is good enough." She wore the spectacles.

Odion nodded and started making tea whereas Marik was busy with his deck and piles of maps on the coffee table.

"Good morning…" Luanne said politely just in general.

"Good Morning Miss Khait." Odion replied but Marik glared at her coldly as he flipped a card. She located the shopping bags with clothes and took it to the bathroom ignoring his hostility, whatever it was…

After being dressed in mustard yellow blouse, Luanne looked in the bathroom mirror and realized her hair was absolutely messy with the thickness of her hair in great disarray. With her hands she quickly brushed it and used a ribbon from the shopping bag to tie a really thick ponytail.

"Your tea is ready", Luanne heard Odion said to her through the crack of the door. She took her bags and opened the door and the tea was on the table next to Marik who was now shuffling a deck along with another deck. As she walked over to have a sit on the olive cane woven chair next to Marik, she took the cup and saucer in her hands, suddenly Marik slammed the deck right in front of her. "Take this!"

"You could've just placed it gently…" Luanne commented.

"Why to not make my point clear and have my cards lost again? We are going to Zifta and I want to you wear a hijab, as the Islamic persecution presence is strong in that district of governance and they would slaughter any non-Islamic individuals. Even me… " Marik informed as he pointed to an oversized ebony material.

"Can't you use that magic wand of yours to control them in rescue just in case?" Luanne asked

"No. You have no idea what is my agenda for today for this disguise… besides if I use my millennium rod in your presence, your side effect activates. We wouldn't want that now, do we?" Marik scoffed and followed by a sigh.

"Master, would you like me to gather the Ghouls now? Odion asked.

"No need Odion, I am ahead of you." Marik chuckled. "Besides I will be paying a little visit to our dear sister."

All three were in the black Volvo towards Airport of Mit Ghamr/Zifta, Luanne in the back seat wedged in the middle. As no one was in the front seat next to the driver, it was hard to move around beside two men beside her. Neither had spoken until an unexpected traffic jam.

"Master Marik, there is a traffic jam ahead." The driver informed.

The Egyptian boy pulled out his millennium rod at the driver and said, "Take the nearest exit pass the traffic controllers."

"But sir-"

The rod glimmered and the car reversed to an illegal detour pass the usual traffic as the driver was under the rod's influence for an instance and released it. Odion noticed Luanne's holding her chest in pain. "Not this agai- Agh!"

Odion patted her and held her hand trying to comfort her as the side effect kicked in. Marik glared at both of them and pointed the rod at Odion. "Take your hand off of her!" Marik snatched Luanne's hand of Odion and held it.

"Sorry Master Marik but you have to remove the side effect soon from the contract, if you want to use your powers.". Odion sincerely said.

"No, only I say when it is time as the side effect varies in quantity." Marik leaned back and felt her pulse. Realizing he could be wrong as Luanne has a short and minor convulsion and leaned towards the front and it stopped. "What's wrong with you now?"

"This is a discrepancy against your powers and her life full of commitments from this contract alone and her family in national politics, as you would know better about minds than I having the side effect will hinder the agreement from you and her… stop the car…" Odion ordered the driver. Odion got out and told the driver to get in the other front seat and he drives. Luanne found the space to lie down as the car started moving, her head where Odion once was sitting.

Marik pulled her back up and invited her to lie on his lap. "Luanne, a head support should be better. I will start to remove the side effect." He placed his hand on her forehead and entered her mind once again.

Luanne was looking around in a pure white dress, as Marik in his Rare Hunter hood materialized. Luanne started to hum a melody walking towards the pyramid. "Luanne you shouldn't be here in you mind in this process. If I had the Millennium Key, the Labyrinth would probably reveal right away…" Marik found her odd, she doesn't seem to respond but kept humming and walking.

"Can you see the entrance has your marks from the rod? Do you know what they are?" Luanne asked

"Yes, it means that you are protected from my control unless each entrance is lightened up with the oculus. It is a strong spirit that prevents my millennium rod from controlling you in full length. Your faith in that salvation religion, dear Luanne is the only thing protecting you from the long-standing experience of my millennium rod. However since the contract manipulates the power giving you the side effect from the mirror to the prism rather than being controlled will inflict great harm to the soul. In other words, you have made a deal with the devil." Marik now explained what it all meant and smirked.

Luanne looked disappointed, what have she done now. She knew secret societies were something she should not have tampered with. "Oh, then can you please nullify the contract. I'm afraid…"

Weakness 4: No Salvation… perfect… Marik inwardly smirked, "Luanne Quibilah Issa Khait... daughter of Vice President Badru Khait… and a devout Christian holding a high status. A perfect youthful role model of the Egyptians is afraid of a blood contract made with her personal devil, Marik Ishtar who is just a mere entrepreneur that runs a group of Ghouls. Does that sound ironic to you at all? Two unlikely individuals crossing paths." He chuckled.

"What choice do I have but to let you claim the entrances, so that I will not suffer…?" Luanne realized the context to why lighting up the oculus with Marik's magic will erase the pain but cost her, her salvation of modern religion repels it.

"Very perceptive of you little one, shall I light one up to relieve you of pain? Though I will do it now to show you the difference." He did so the first oculus lit up. Then a fragment of her memory was played within the prism and only Luanne and Marik could see it.

Luanne as a four year old holding her mother and sister's hand at a beach, "Mommy, what is love? Can we see it?" Luanne asked.

"Do you know Luanne, mommy showed you in the Bible." Samara said.

"It's in One Cowinthian-

"1 Corinthians 13: Love is…?" Samara asked

Nubit smiled and started reciting, "'Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.' So Luanne love cannot be seen but God can show it. I don't know the rest…"

"Good girl Nubit." Samara commented.

"I think I'm patient when I go to the preschool, the teacher said to take turns…"

"Luanne, when we have time, I will explore more of the labyrinth. But for now don't mention about this Labyrinth to Odion or anyone else you know." Marik offered his hand and she took it. Luanne remembered that memory and cherished it, next thing she knew she was back in the car, awakened from her mind.


Marik's hand was in her face and she sneezed. "Girl, you don't need to spread your repulsive germs on my hands!" Marik rolled his eyes as she was still lying on his lap. She got up and took a tissue out of her pocket and started wiping his hands.

"Sorry…" Luanne shyly went to the corner of the seat.

"Thank you very much, now why don't you blow your own nose too." Marik snatched the tissue from her.

"Not my fault if your hand was right at my nose…" She took another tissue and wiped her face. Marik then growled thoroughly wiping his hand rapidly.

"We've arrived Master Marik." Odion informed. Marik rolled his eyes and looked out the window. Odion have parked where the jets were. As all four got out of the car the other teenagers from the other night greeted them, mainly their master. Inas, Carlton, Bianca and Halima all followed Marik as he cockily made his way to the private jet like an entourage.

As they entered the large jet, Marik and Odion sat in front with the two large seats and a large bed in an exclusive room. The rest were seats and they were allocated. Luanne was at the very back end. At the center was a meeting table and behind Luanne's seat was a kitchen and bathroom. This was definitely an idea of a joke. The cooking daughter of vice president gets the cooking done. Marik and Odion came out of the room and sat on those luxurious seats. Luanne still figuring out how would she sleep if the screen shielding her from the front. Odion walked over to Luanne to see if she was okay.

"Miss Khait, do you need anything to eat? We didn't have breakfast so I will be cooking while we settling down for the trip." Odion asked and kindly offered. The other four went downstairs to work on their tasks so that Marik could be left alone and the plane started roaming by ground.

"Anything simple will do Odion. I could help you in the kitchen as well." Luanne offered seeing the awkwardness that will occur with just Marik and her.

"If you insist, you may help in the kitch-

"Odion, I'm famished from all this traveling so make me Koshari. And you Luanne, tell me about your family." Marik said curiously

"Uh, I'm going to help Odion in the kitchen. Maybe later…" Luanne got up and heard Marik chuckle as his smug demeanor overcomes their decision.

"Odion is sagacious enough to plan the meals within a confined space of this kitchen and he is grown man who is capable of simple task. So I like to hear what is it like living in a household of politics?" He walked over to her as his earring jiggled.

"It's Master Marik's birthday, you better accompany him." Odion informed him.

"Oh, okay, I forgot…", Luanne nodded and then Odion left for food preparation.

"Well could you imagine…?" Marik locked eyes with her waiting for what she might say that would interest him since the memory was played in her mind. "It was the best childhood I had and I long for the same as my twin brothers I guess. My well… my parents are wise with academia influences. They were respected within law, political, socio- cultural sphere."

"I see why you live in such a high expectation. Anything else?"

"My mother is a currently undergoing her last year of Honors in Psychology and one of her major was something about Psychosis and Language Lateralization."

"Now that's interesting, learning about the mind is one of the most fascinating when you know how to experiment with cerebral lateralization. For example, hearing voices is hallucinatory with abnormal activity to the hippocampus and the parahippocampal cortex." Marik's tan fingers traced along the oculus ridges of his millennium rod.

"Well, I guess you may like to chat with my mum about that then since you have researched considerably when you meet her. I know it is your birthday, does it mean you are seventeen?" Luanne asked.

"That Identity Card was a mistaken fraud, I'm sixteen now, I was actually fifteen because of the national service age cut off they made me sixteen". Marik said as the plane took off.

"Even the card you have is false… geez, mine is 4th of January and you have to come over to my house so that you can meet my brothers." She palmed face herself mentally for inviting him.

"Then I'm forced to act as your lover because of the complicated incident at the pool… after I pay a visit someone very special…" Marik smirked.

"Yeah…that… too, unless we act a break up in front of my family." Luanne scowled almost with pure indignation.

"Here is breakfast sir and Miss Khait. Happy Birthday Master Marik." Odion said

"Oh ok thanks, I'll be right back. Going to the bathroom." Luanne quickly left.

Marik looked at Odion in a peculiar way. "You know all this time you haven't said a word about my birthday plans Odion. Do we have time to go to the Cairo and back to Zifta just to meet the Vice President's household?"

"I will follow whatever plans that you have affirmed, Marik. I'm not in a position of voicing a new plan." Odion said

"What new plans do you have to resolve against mine? Do you mind elaborating further? I simply desire your opinion and of course I make the decisions. I will stick to my plans in staying in Zifta and Luanne will too."

"What! I have to visit a community service? I'm heading to Zifta and go home straight after though…. Agh! I can't believe after all this, the community service is part of our holiday plan!" Luanne said as she was checking her phone as she came out of the bathroom. She glanced nervously at Marik.

"What kind of community service is it?" Odion asked

"On 25th of December, I have to visit a group of Asylum Seekers that were victims of human trafficking and my whole family is going. I also have to take part in this inquiry to support the social workers and write reports regarding many arising issues." Luanne said to Odion.

"Master Marik, what should we do?" Odion asked

Marik superciliously folded his arms and glared at Odion. "No changes!"

"The spontaneous plan is the new plan then." Odion said

"I need to join my family!" Luanne said sternly

"Fool! Odion you said you have no new plans and I simply disagree with you going to your family in the community service. Your contract is one of commitment after all, dear Luanne so you are going to Cairo and you are staying with me the day after. You can do that petty inquiry online and anytime when I don't have a schedule planned." Marik was about to explode.

"Did the contract forbid me to stay away from my family? Is it such a violation to join my family for just a day?" Luanne asked shakily. Odion then patted her back and to Marik's shock he growled.

Odion simply said with reason, "Luanne's contingency appointment is naturally unplanned so I second, spending the time with her family there."

"Why do you two fools continue to conspire against me? Especially you Odion!" Marik stood up and slammed his palm on the table, pointing his millennium rod at his brother glaring with daggers dangerously glowing slightly but Marik decided against it.

"It's not like that Master M-Marik…" Odion tried to explain.

He sniggered as his tone stained with mockery, "Of course, you're always loyal to me Odion. I will consider where you and I go after Zifta and not be influenced by spontaneity. Oh, my dear Luanne, your food is getting cold, come and join me; hunt a few special cards and then I may consider the alternative plan." Marik smirked

"Bastard…" Luanne said then scowled at him and grabbed her plate of pancakes and stomped to the isolated front room and shut the door. Then Odion sat next to Marik, "Should we console with her Master?" Odion asked.

"Console…? No need Odion, you on the other hand should remember where your loyalty lies and that is not with this little wench." Marik said nonchalantly.

Luanne felt another pang in her chest after what would have happen with Odion but she will keep it quiet from the leader, as her salvation is more important.


Zifta, Egypt

Luanne finally came out as Odion opened the door and left with the other Rare Hunters. Marik was still on the plane waiting for her to join him but when he can no longer wait, he stepped in and perhaps the consolidation would help some how with a daughter of a politician.

"My dear sweet little Luanne, times to come out now and remember the disguise. Hopefully you're still not angry with me…" Marik mocked

"You don't have to address me in a sugarcoated way… Marik, I don't know how to wear a hijab…" Luanne said as she was holding the material.

"I don't know either, Bianca already left and yes you will have to figure this out yourself." Marik leaned on the doorframe. "Luckily I only have to wear my Rare Hunter outfit for this and add a Jellabiya."

"I still think you are a bastard for speaking to Odion like that…" Luanne rolled her eyes.

"Dear, how does the birthday boy deserve such a title from an important girl of the nation?"

Luanne shrugged, "On my birthdays, I don't trampled my family's decision over mine... So that make you a very selfish."

"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear what I just heard. Anyway, the simplest way I could remember a hijab is this." He places the light material over her head and a thicker mauve material and tucked the sides under her ear.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to wear a hijab and then you surprise me. So why are we here again?" Trying to see her reflection on the window she caught a glimpse of her covered head. "You know, I can still go without this disguise because I'm the daughter of the politician."

"However those politicians are tied to the Islamic militants and they are your father's opposition after all, they will do anything to kidnap you and hold you to a ransom if they are merciful enough. They would kill you first… and we wouldn't want that to happen now would we?" From the luggage, Marik pulled out the Jellabiya and tucked his hood underneath.

"Wait so you knew I led some people to Zifta right? A woman was working with the Antiquities sought for my advice online and unintentionally wanting to keep a powerful card quote on quote, 'safe'. I was typing things out when we were shopping, that was why I wanted to yeah keep a surprise for you." Luanne said

"You deserve to be commended for such determination. Does she know who you are?" Marik doubted Ishizu looked into this future and if so he wanted to be sure.

"No I don't think so, nor do I know who she is but she kept posting that the 'Middle Crown is in danger, it is an anonymous network. The lady said to find this man called Ibrahim Feisal."

"And does Ibrahim Feisal know the whereabouts of the special cards?" Marik asked again.

"The lady you're about to meet, is she your sister? from the photo Dixon showed me?"

"Indeed the lady is my elder sister Ishizu who is working with your father's opposition for hiding the special cards. Ibrahim Feisal is the director of the Egyptian Homeland Security. EHS is co-independent from your father's party."

"Yes he does know the locations of the special cards. What are you planning to do to them?" Luanne pulled her hair back and from her shoulders

"Relocate him out of the authorities' sight and interrogate him. I guess to move another person to a substantial distance without that person's consent by using force or fear. So that is my plan." Marik articulated.

"You mean kidnap in layman's terms…?"

"How fortunate of me to find the daughter of the Vice President to interpret my plans." Marik placed two hands on Luanne and chuckled.

"It's a harmless kidnapping I gathered including the 'force', just for Duel Monster cards…?"

"I guarantee that it won't hurt a single fly… If you have not been in a secret society, this is your chance to take up an ethnographical research on my Ghouls. My Ghoul subordinates and I will teach you many things about duel monsters but that is if I trust your confidential research will not be exposed in any reports you run as a Junior Correspondent of the United Nations."

"Besides the freaky thing on the contract and the shadow realm which, I have learnt about so far, my interest of research was only to serve Odion initially, Marik. I was hoping you wouldn't flatter yourself… but the contract was yours."

"Fair enough… You've proven to be a useful ally after all. You will be rewarded for your efforts. Shall we proceed?" Marik inquired and Luanne nodded as he offered his arm, Luanne complied. Waiting outside was another Limousine; Marik opened the door for Luanne to enter the car and so did he. Then the engine started.

"Have you ever considered dating in this age Marik?" Luanne glanced at the Egyptian boy who is currently putting his arms across her shoulder.

"I have never dated but it has come to my mind before my sweet Lu. Why do you find me attractive?" Marik smirked.

"Attractive as in you are substantially handsome Mr. Ishtar but you are not my type of guy. With the Jellabiya, you look like an oddball with the gold jewelry and your Ghoul robe." Luanne laughed in a graceful and non-mocking way, Marik grinned wondering why he was enjoying his pretense as though this girl was more than an acquaintance. "It's just really interesting that my father and Wati never wore jewelry. Well except my father's wedding ring of course. "

"Traditions are molded in my organization, that is why I wear what I wear apart from this white Jellabiya that is serving a purpose of this event's disguise. If you are referring to women in magazines wearing jewelry, I think there is a prominent dichotomy in how I dress and how ladies in the fashion industry are portrayed. Women will only wear what is advertised as a latest trend as well as being portrayed in a mindless two-dimensional entity conforming to what the industry expects of them. Men and women in my ancient traditions are equal; jewelry is symbolic to our religious rites according to the rituals and are equally entitled to- what are you doing?" Marik inched his head staring at her trying to touch his dangly gold earring.

"I can imagine this earring in Vogue Magazine… just saying this piece of gold is worth millions of pounds. I bet you will be in Men's section of Vogue" Luanne grinned

"Last time I checked, it will end up in the Louvre along with the other classified jewelry of Egyptian antiquities… so Do. Not. Touch." Marik glowered clasping her wrist firmly. He let go of Luanne and shuffled along the seat. He took two glasses and a bottle of Belvedere and some blackcurrant juice to make a mild and tasty cocktail in the compartment next to him and poured tiny amounts in each glass.

He then offered one to Luanne, "I don't drink but thank you." She took the glass and stared at it. Marik held his glass up and so she lightly clash with her with a wordless 'cheers' and both exchanging unfeigned beam.


A/N: Hey I'm back for this story, just sort of procrastinating with my Uni assignments for this. I have written the next chapter but I will need to recheck it again. I think this is a start of character development in action. I know it's been almost like 2 years since I updated this but it won't be as complicated as my last story. Yes I will take time to develop all my OCs.