Chapter 25- Perpetual Doormats
The banquet bustled their conversations loudly as people gathered. Everyone was sidetracked from the main event of dueling. The science museum, as it was intended to be, was filled with aromas. With finely dressed garments, the turn of events has led more attendees to talk about the upcoming duel.
Marik revised his dueling strategies alone as Di'Ja Lien got ready on the other side as his opponent. He was ready. All his Rare Hunters were amongst the crowd. Although it looked like a convention, the ulterior motives were immensely hidden.
Luanne hasn't confirmed with him whether she wants to duel alongside him. Often this was complicated as she is constantly distracted by other things. He eyed the five from a distance. Luanne, who is currently chatting with Jun Yoon like she was cheering for a team. Bailey plays tagging with Bryn and Carissa. Still not posting any threats yet; the girl has obsessions with Secret Societies. Luanne was laughing with the Rare Hunters and allies as she knows them well. Marik ran his fingers down his hair like he could have used her differently. Di'Ja Lien was far more attractive than Luanne, in his opinion, but there were some aspects that the theory was wrong. Luanne was a social chameleon and a perfect one, a kind one.
"Do you think this pastry is too salty?" Bailey asked.
"Yeah, with underprepared fillings, the saline maintained its solid form." Luanne felt the spinach and cheese were very moist and too saline.
"I think it is not the finest I've tasted." Bryn sneakily tapped Bailey once more.
"Abbey made a great comeback!" Bryn presented the brunette woman with a pram and Oliver Reinhart beside her, holding Huxley's tiny hands. He clapped his hands.
"Well, it's just for the night. I heard you did the fashion runway with Carissa." Abbey patted Luanne's elbow.
"I wasn't even prepared. I mean, it was a long story, and I thought I wouldn't be here."
"But you're here, and you made it." Abbey smiled.
The wine was passed around, and each grabbed a glass from the waiter. "Mmmm, shut the hell up! This is like the best damn thing I ever tasted!" Bryn sipped the red wine.
"Cabernet Sauvignon, sir. Seventy years of storage." The waiter replied.
"Huxley, how are you? Luanne graced the toddler into her arms.
From afar, the Reinhart Family joined the conversation with their toddler Huxley. Huxley was very fond of Luanne as she picked him up. Although this sentimental scene was sweet, Marik didn't even smile. Instead, he rolled his eyes with scorn. Remembering how hard it was to find loyal families that serve him to this day wasn't easy. Every one of them he owns, the child, and the child's parents and the child's parent's siblings are all his. As he eyed his Lava Golem card, he slipped it into a secret compartment of his. Some may call it cheating, but he makes the rules as long as he wins.
"Are you ready?" Di'Ja Lien asked him.
"I'm always ready," Marik smirked. "Ladies first…."
Luanne found the duel was about to begin, so she pointed to the Dueling Arena. They all glanced at Marik and found he had told Luanne to stop where she was.
"Before we duel, we have to set the stakes." Di'Ja Lien chuckled. Marik knew the risk already as a valuable asset, such as Luanne being out of the game. He could have taught her more; as Luanne saw the signal, she turned around.
"Name the stakes…." Marik was ready to bargain with his opponent as he leaned forward for this negotiation.
"If I win, I will take this girl with me. Luanne Khait." Marik gritted his teeth as Di'Ja Lien demonstrated interest in her.
"And if I win, I shall take all your Elites along with your Rare cards, and Luanne remains with me." Marik wanted more than what was at stake.
"Now, hold on a minute; how come you take more than I ask for?" Di'Ja Lien protested.
Marik chuckled as he decided to rattle further. "Oh, it's greed. I can, as you have failed our previous task in Moscow, my dear."
"Fine! Don't be too attached to the girl." Di'Ja Lien growled.
Luanne was trying to hear what was going on from the other end. As the dueling platform elevated, Bryn understood the task of keeping Luanne with him and his family and friends. "What's going on?" Luanne asked Bryn as people surrounded them. They took off their formal attire and revealed an emerald Kung Fu uniform.
"I don't know how to explain this, Lu, but the Jade Feists want you if Marik fails a duel. So you're the price." Bryn explained.
"I beg your pardon! Why would anyone agree to such a negotiation to gamble for one's life?" Luanne shrieked. Huxley held Luanne tighter.
"Master Marik will win, and we ain't gonna give you away either way." Bryn, the Elite Rare Hunter, didn't like where the stakes were going.
Huxley started throwing tantrums as he saw strangers surrounding them. "At least don't keep my child captive…." Abbey, skilled with her Kung Fu drop, kicked the nearest her.
Thump!
"Come on, Luanne!" Abbey pulled Luanne and Huxley out of the cornered position, and the other Rare Hunters followed Abbey.
"Sorry…"
"Sorry"
The Jade Feist were now chasing the Rare Hunters in a full circle of the venue.
Marik looked around as his Rare Hunters and Luanne was running to. "Master Marik, why are Jade Feists chasing us?" Bryn yelled.
Since Rare Hunters are being threatened, he clicked his fingers as he had set his trap for the Jade Feists. The captive was a child Gina Yu Lien as his Rare Hunters brought the child out. Then two old couples, Yao Lien and Ting Mu Lien. They were tied up, and their mouths were secured with masking tape.
"Must you be this picky with securing my people, my dear Di'Ja?" Marik found this duel to be more exciting. "Your family was far easier to capture. Perhaps settling in the Shadow Realm isn't such a bad idea." Marik shuffled his cards.
"YOU LET MY FAMILY GO!" Di'Ja Lien screamed.
Marik looked at his fingernails. "Hmm… No."
"Did your feeble mind forget that I can control you too? Your men are greatly outnumbered, and so is your feeble deck. I wanted a peaceful game, but you wanted stakes, so I kindly arranged for a tremendous bargain. Don't you think it's fair?" Marik tilted his head.
"I draw…" Di'Ja Lien resumed keeping a wary eye on Marik's foul play. "Of course, Rare Hunters were never to be trusted; how do I know you won't be using your powers on me?" Di'Ja sneered.
"You have my word… and we aren't strangers Di'Ja," Marik smirked. He could use his Millennium Rod to cheat this game, but he will restrain from that. He placed his Millennium Rod in front of him and drew his cards. Both their points are in 4000 points, as this was the original rule.
"I place my card face down and end my turn." Di'Ja Lien said shakily.
"Are you sure you want to end your turn so fast?" Marik chuckled as he tapped his fingers.
"Yes…."
"Very well, I will summon Gil Garth in attack mode and set my cards to face down. Did you forget to equip some valuable spell cards and trap cards? Fool!" Marik insinuates her inability to protect her first card. "I suppose I'll go ahead and stack your face-down card."
Di'Ja knew she did prepare her spells and traps, but luck wasn't on her side. Gil Garth of 1800 points would immediately annihilate her Galaxy Serpent of 1000 points.
Bryn didn't expect the duel to have a conflicting motif. However, Marik still accepted the stakes. That's something he can never understand. Theories flooded his head about why his teenage Egyptian Master had placed Luanne on the frontline. One would be Luanne's position in politics, and she is the best distraction for the opponents in the world of criminality from Marik's primary goal. Second would be his versatile confidence in dueling allowed him to gamble Luanne's name, and Marik had no intention of losing Luanne or the game. The third would ultimately be Marik's thrill of causing chaos to the Jade Feist and other organizations in hegemonizing the Rare Hunters in reputation, domination, and wealth. However, whatever he thought of led to the possibility that Marik was also trying to protect Luanne as he left her outside, even though he had expressed his interest in dueling alongside her.
Huxley reached for his mom to carry him, so Luanne allowed him to go to Abbey. "We should split up," Bryn whispered to Abbey.
"Carissa, Jun, and Abbey in one group go East in the Oceanographic. Luanne, Bailey, and I, in the second group, go West— the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia— and most likely will confuse those guys to forget who Lu is. Yeah, I will protect you with all my life. Huxley and Oliver, in the third group, go to the North as it is the safest there, and Lu will join you guys when we meet up and exit. This will buy enough time until Master Marik's duel is over with Di'Ja at the Hemisféric. Regardless of win or lose, we must protect Lu at all costs. I have notified the other Rare Hunters for backup, and they are on their way." Bryn devised the plan.
As the group split, Bryn, Bailey, and Luanne headed to their assigned position. Luanne remembered watching Home Alone, and she decided to make her traps in her room as she experimented with all of Kevin McAllister's tricks. It did get Nubit good as her elder sister was always snooping on her journal. Her hand was super oily; Nubit couldn't open the doorknob.
Bryn pulled out his phone to watch the progress of the duel between Marik and Di'Ja''s live stream. "Hmmm…. Di'Ja is an amateur." Bryn laughed.
Luanne looked closely as Marik used the cheating device he had hidden under his sleeve. She was surprised, "Whoa! Did you see that?!?!"
Bryn grinned, "That is called 'extra hands'; it's classified as hidden legality; you should try it sometime." As a Rare Hunter, it was customary to cheat.
"Still illegal!" Luanne exclaimed.
"However, if your name is at stake, you have no choice but to accept the cheat," Bailey added. "Come on this way!" They hid in the hallway as the crowd that was chasing them bypassed.
"—BUT—"
"—Shhh!"
"This is not the time to debate. These guys are heavily armed, and we gotta survive." Bryn got a pistol he had.
Luanne was surprised as Bryn loaded a weapon from his pouch. "If this were a game of cat and mouse, we'd be the mouse." Bailey gave her a pistol.
"For self-defense?" Luanne asked.
"For self-defense," Bryn replied. "This is load, this is unloaded, and if you run out of bullets, just run to either the Hemisferic where Master Marik is, or we all congregate at the North."
They emerged out of their hiding and sprinted. Before they could reach the exit, a significant individual appeared before them. Bryn bumped into a prominent individual.
"Going somewhere, Trifolium lad?" The familiar voice resounded.
It was Kjetil, the man who was filled with tattoos. Luanne had met him before. Kjetil threw a spare Rare Hunter cloak over Bryn.
"Whoa, how'd you know I need one?" Bryn giggled.
"Yeah, our Master telepathically told me to bring a spare from your luggage because you broke the strangest code in the Rare Hunters." He glanced at Luanne as she wore Bryn's former cloak as a dress.
"Oh, that…. I didn't want him spreading that embarrassing part." Bryn scratched his head. He started slipping into his Rare Hunter attire, and warmth instantly enveloped his body.
"Yeah, well, you ought to get them, tiger. Show them what you're made of and kick some Jade Feist butt." Kjetil playfully pushed the Irish Nepali.
Marik's offense to Di' Ja has reduced her life points to 3200. "I see you have ended your turn far too prematurely." Marik derided Di'Ja. "I draw…."
Di'Ja grunted as she knew she had no defenses on her side of the field. "I summoned the Gravekeeper's Assailant. Oh, I activate Necrovalley and double-summon. So I will summon the Gravekeeper's Heretic."
"Perhaps you might want to attend a refresher course for pathetic duelists like yourself. You really shouldn't have requested the stakes, my dear." Marik was amused that his opponents were this clueless. He tilted his head sadistically as he placed his non-dominant hand over his Millennium Rod.
"Odion, go take Lady Verdant to meet Bryn. I will be with them very soon. This girl is just a fool to think she could have Luanne. Perhaps if she surrenders before losing this game, I will let her keep what belongs to hers."
"Yes, Sir, I will gather the rest as you say."
"Speechless now, are we?" Marik observed his opponent's confidence departing gradually.
"No, you're right… I shouldn't have asked for the stakes. I should have snatched it when I had the chance!" Di'Ja was infuriated.
Di'Ja Lien and Marik were not enemies, it was just that they had a turbulent history as allies in history; they had become rivals.
"By all means, take Luanne, but she will not stand by your organization. Besides, my goals are far more valuable than yours. Wait, what were your goals again? Were they to transform all Government into a mafia world? Arguably, the government is a mafia group that creates laws. But we criminals love breaking them."
"I don't need your political lessons…and I also don't need your criticism," Di'Ja said as she was concerned with her family's safety.
"Criticism? I could insinuate you all day, but I chose not to if you lose your beloved organization and your family tonight."
"Are you going to attack me?"
"Of course! I was genuinely worried about your fall. Perhaps you should brace yourself for the shock." Marik mocked her again. "Now I attack your life points directly with Gravekeeper Assailant– and I end my turn."
Di'Ja screamed as her life points plummeted to 1700. Marik chuckled as he watched his opponent suffer as the electricity pulsed through her body, but then he held back on the Gravekeeper's Heretic. "Your agony is truly wonderful music to my ears. You see, I don't forgive one's mistakes that easily, and you should have known this from the time we met. Leaving me in Moscow was your gravest mistake."
Odion untapped the child's mouth. "Surrender Di'Ja!" Gina called.
"Your beloved little sister is very worried about you. Perhaps you should surrender, and destiny might side with you one day. However, destiny is always on my side." Marik pointed out.
The arena was all screaming Marik's victory as none of Di'Ja's monsters appeared. Regardless of the traps and spell cards, she has no defenses. "I– I…. su–surrender…."
"Good…. Odion, release them and bring Bryn and the others back to me." Marik instructed Odion.
"Pew, Pew!" Bryn pretended to shoot, but he was just playing around.
Luanne then followed him, being ridiculous as Bailey was playing spies with their pistols. "Oh no, you shot me!" Kjetil carried Bryn on Piggy's back, along with the other Rare Hunters. Luanne laughed as all three were mucking around as Odion found them.
"Bryn, proceed to Master Marik." Odion rolled his eyes at Bryn.
"Huh? That soon?" Bryn looked down at Odion as they were walking back to the Hemisferic.
Luanne took her pistol and unloaded all the bullets in case real weapons could trigger anytime. Instead, she used her hands as pistols.
As they entered the Hemisferic, Luanne pretended to be shooting Bryn. "Pew pew pew." Bryn then pretended to die in Kjetil's back.
Marik was shocked at how childish all three were. He rolled his eyes as he collected his deck from the dueling arena. "Bryn, Bailey, and Luanne…. Can you three be any more childish than this?"
Luanne blushed and then saw the girl that was dueled Marik previously. "Did she win or lose?" Luanne then asked Odion, but Odion ignored her. "Am I going with those guys or staying—"
Marik walked over to Di'Ja, who was distraught from the stakes, ignoring Luanne. He grabbed Di'Ja's chin and her arms and pinned her down. Luanne was troubled as she saw her relatives being held captive. A simple game wasn't meant to be this person. Whatever it was, Marik did have fun scaring and even breaking his opponent with his domineering personality.
Bryn answered for her as he knew the result just by the glances of the scoreboard. "She surrendered, I think. So it means that you're no longer a prize."
"Why is he always invading personal spaces?" Luanne pointedly asked.
Bryn shrugged.
"You think you won, but again my eye is still on Luanne," Di'Ja snapped her fingers, and the people in emerald had returned. Di'Ja had called her henchmen to surround them all. Marik's mocking face changed to a stern look as he held his Millennium Rod in the air. The blinding light caused Di'Ja's henchmen to collapse. They had all fallen unconscious, not sent to the Shadow Realm.
Luanne saw the terror of the female before Marik. Schemes of retaliation had fled from Di'Ja's pupils. "Pl-please could we negotiate?"
"It's too late. Your soul is mine now, to banish into the Shadow Realm." Marik mellowed gravely like a child; his fondness for this individual had left him like an old broken toy.
Bryn ran to Marik, "WAIT! Madam Di'Ja, did you want Luanne because of her political knowledge and influence? I mean, you and Master Marik were close. Did you guys have a relationship or fight or something?"
"Bryn… enough… no seriously, stop this nonsensical presumption, BRYN!" Marik yelled. His face was an instant flush of crimson as he felt immediately revolted by the idea of having a relationship with Di'Ja. His Third-Ranked Elite Rare Hunter was the most difficult to control and still has been.
"Sorry…" Bryn whispered apologetically to Marik for the presumed without checking the facts.
"No, it was a request from my dear sister to find a Khait family. Gina is the only genius in our family, and she wanted to meet you, Luanne. She won the Nobel Peace Prize." Di'Ja pointed at her sister, who was only a child.
Marik looked at the child with doubt and pure loathsomeness. All the more, he knew Di'Ja was lying again. Then he looked at Luanne as she was the spectator to all this commotion. Luanne wondered how she became so well known as she only had joined Marik last year.
"The question is, I don't trust anyone with a Nobel Peace Prize because they are all hypocrites. A child can't win that award and remain anonymous. I tried it, and the damn award went to the Left Senates with secret money laundering and people over thirty and posted mid-life crises. I would have slammed the door if someone left me stranded in a city. Huh, are all ENTP boys always this large of a pompous prick? Ne and Ti are his major functions. I think Di'Ja is an unhealthy ESTJ." Luanne muttered audibly to herself with a sigh like a deadpan comedian.
Marik smiled, seeing how Luanne was siding with him subconsciously and subtly, throwing shade at him simultaneously. Luanne noticed people were listening to her, and she turned away, trying to leave the auditorium in awkward silence.
Marik searched the little girl's mind and found all the answers to the fable in Di'Ja's excuses. However, in front of the family, he will save that terror for later. He wants to see them suffer eventually.
Odion then passed Marik his robe. He chained his Rare Hunter ensemble and dusted the fibers off. He wasn't sure whether to fuel his rage at Di'Ja or Luanne. He knew Luanne was a genuine person from the start that is inquisitive.
"And why would I be a pompous prick?" Marik directly questioned Luanne wryly. Luanne stopped in her path.
Luanne caustically glared at him. "It's a compliment for sending many souls to your 'Silhouette World.'"
"Shadow Realm." Marik corrected her. "Shadow Realm," Bryn interjected at the same time.
"Yeah, whatever."
"I will send you to the Silhouette World, muhahahaha!" Bryn mimicked Marik as a joke.
Marik rolled his eyes. He released Di'Ja and her family. The girl he had feelings for was no longer someone he was interested anymore. Di'Ja was a mere working partner. If he could change one thing about their relationship, it would have been the time in Moscow. Only he knew deep down why she had ditched him in the city. She still has pressure from her family; he didn't. She had won before him and managed her organization to aid others, such as Rare Hunters, but it was too much for her.
Luanne was pondering leaving the Rare Hunters organization too. Has she done enough for attention? Ones that attract people to her and use her. No doubt Marik can manipulate her once he figures out how to use the Millennium Rod on her, but for now, she is in the classified safe zone: She cannot be controlled autonomously. However, she's wondered if Marik will ever consider her his enemy.
Bryn was feeling glum as what was left of the night was his final song was about to be a Paramore cover of 'Ain't It Fun.' From above, Marik and Odion wished to be alone while watching Bryn perform. At least they get entangled by the fans and their annoying repertoire of cheering. Luanne was swaying on stage as she listened to Bryn riffing. Carissa was playing the keyboard and keeping up with Bryn.
"Hey Luanne, do you wanna cover this song?" As he showed her this song, Bryn asked Luanne to sing. "I mean, I have seen you sing, and I think you are pretty awesome. You have a rocker's voice." Bryn played the song on his phone while teaching Luanne this track. He then went and retrieved the guitar from the stage and came back.
Luanne wore her Red Converse Shoes, Bryn's former cloak made into a dress with trinkets, with a denim jacket with a symbol of the Rare Hunters painted by Bryn.
"I know 'Still into you,' but not this one." Luanne chortled.
"That's my jam!" Bryn gleamed. "You're truly a social chameleon! I meant that– I mean–a compliment." Bryn snickered.
She tied her fuzzy hair into two high buns, and she felt like a Hayey Williams fan once again as Carissa pinned her hair up and applied makeup. "You need to remember to deep clean your face because of tonight's caking of cosmetics." Carissa nudged her.
"Of course!"
Abbey also joined Luanne as she was the main singer. Bryn then tuned his guitar again and started playing the chords of C's sharp minor riff to the song.
"So it goes, 'I don't mind,
Letting you down easy, but give it time;
If it do hurt now, but wait, just wait a while
You're not the big fish in the pond no more. Anyway, from the top!" Bryn started singing.
"Hey everyone, this is our final song for the night, and we have a guest. Her name is Luanne Issa Quibila Khait. She joined me on this trip to Spain, and little did I know she could do a catwalk unrecognizable, and she has a rocker's voice. We went from strangers to good friends by her just freeloading. Isn't that cool? SO GIVE IT UP FOR LU! WOOO!"
Luanne starts singing and bopping to the music. "I don't mind
Lettin' you down easy, but just give it time
If it don't hurt now, but just wait, just wait a while
You're not the big fish in the pond no more
You are what they're feedin' on
So what are you gonna do
When the world don't orbit around you? (Ooh, uh-uh)
So what are you gonna do
When the world don't orbit around you?"
"You got it, Lu!" Bryn commended her. She started prancing on stage and hyping the crowd as Bryn continued strumming his guitar.
Abbey joined the chorus in lower octave harmony.
"Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
Ain't it good
Bein' all alone?
Where you're from
You might be the one who's runnin' things
Well, you could ring anybody's bell and get what you want
You see, it's easy to ignore trouble
When you're livin' in a bubble
So what are you gonna do
When the world don't orbit around you? (Mm, uh-uh)
So what are you gonna do
When nobody wants to fool with you? (Oh, uh-uh)
Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
Ain't it good
Bein' all alone?
Ain't it good to be on your own? (Oh-oh-oh)fun you can't count on no one? (Oh-oh-oh)
Ain't it good to be on your own? (Ah-ah-ah)
Ain't it fun you can't count on no one? (Ah-ah-ah)
Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Not to your mother)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (Don't go cryin')
Don't go cryin' to your mama (To your mama)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (Hey, baby, don't cry)
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Yeah, oh)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (This is the real world)
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Hey, don't go cryin')
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (This is the real world)
Ain't it fun? Ain't it fun?
Baby, now you're one of us
Ain't it fun? Ain't it fun?
Ain't it fun?
Luanne then fell backward with the crowd and began to crowd surf. Bryn laughed, and then he looked up at Marik as he was stunned at Luanne's boldness. Then she rejoined the stage.
Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
Ain't it good
Bein' all alone?
Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
Ain't it good, ain't it goo-oo-ood
Bein' all alone?
Ain't it fun
Livin' in the real world?
('Cause the world don't orbit around you)
Ain't it good, ain't it goo-oo-ood
Bein' all alone? (Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah)
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Not to your mother)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (Don't go cryin')
Don't go cryin' to your mama (To your mama)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (Hey, baby, don't cry)
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Yeah, oh)
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (This is the real world)
Don't go cryin' to your mama (Hey, don't go cryin')
'Cause you're on your own in the real world (This is the real world)
This is the real world, this is the real world
(Don't go cryin' to your mama) Don't go cryin'
('Cause you're on your own in the real world) Oh, oh
(Don't go cryin' to your mama) Don't you cry to your mama
('Cause you're on your own in the real world) 'Cause you're on your own
(Don't go cryin') Don't you go, don't you go cryin'
(Don't go cryin') You're on your own
(Don't go cryin') No, don't go cryin' to your mama
(Don't go cryin') Don't you cry, don't you cry."
The last moment was adorable when Huxley ran to the stage to hug his mom, Abbey. The crowd gave an "AWW." Abbey cuddled the little boy and held Luanne's hand high up for a final bow, and hugged each other. Then Huxley wanted Luanne, so she spun the child around as he laughed.
Marik and Odion watched Luanne perform their final song. With his Rare Hunter hood on, he was unapproachable by anyone. He was surprised Luanne could pick up the mic naturally. Bryn didn't bother approaching him, even though he could, but it was late.
At the Hlius Brand New Apartments, Luanne shared a room with Cariss, Bryn, Abbey, Oliver, and Huxley, as that was the place they chose to stay for the night. Luanne checked for the bookshelf as she needed some time off. She saw The Great Gatsby on the shelf while perusing all the classics. The smell was exactly what she missed, of books, and her Introverted Energy seemed to have drained out, and perhaps her phone too. She remembered Marik never returned her phone. She gasped and then scrambled to the door. Luanne tripped on the pile of clothes she had accumulated over the night and groaned. As she stood up and regained composure from her fall, she went down to the living room where the others were gathering.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Carissa asked Luanne.
"Oh, I'm just going to take my phone back. I think Marik still possesses my phone." Luanne sighed.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Carissa asked her.
"Oh no, it's fine. I'm within the compound, so that no crazy thing will happen to me. I had a bath and a nap, and I ate, so I am fine." Luanne replied earnestly.
"Okay then."
Luanne didn't even know where Marik was, but she left their room. She palmed her face feeling idiotic for that, and not only that; she left her keys inside again. She shrugged as she knew they were inside, so she could always knock on their door. As she walked past the corridor, there were familiar Rare Hunters she had seen before.
Perhaps she could go downstairs to the lobby and figure out where Marik is staying, but wouldn't that be stalking? "No, of course not; I need to find my phone." She walked over to the reception and just sat in the lobby with nothing to do.
"So what are you gonna do
When the world don't orbit around you? (Mm, uh-uh)
So what are you gonna do
When nobody wants to fool with you? (Oh, uh-uh)"
Luanne sang as she found this song very relevant to her state of mind right now. As she tapped her barefoot, she remembered how fun it was at her first performance with Bryn's band. If only she had her phone to record that moment. She wondered what had happened to Di'Ja and Marik. Marik didn't eliminate the Jade Feist, and she surrendered midway.
She turned around as though someone was spying on her or that she was being watched, but there was no one. Now she is just overthinking about everything. She just surrendered her phone to the leader of the Rare Hunters. "Ain't no crying to my mama, cos I'm in the real world with the Rare Hunters. It is so fun that I'm one of their allies. What if I was ostracized and killed in the process of venturing?" Luanne lay on the seat, and a spike of melancholy hit her. She was feeling sluggish from all the thinking and slept alone and dosed off.
The intuition of a spy was accurate as Marik used a tenant of the apartment as his mind slave. The vessel placed a robe on her to shield the cold. Marik was on his throne, tending to some of the Rare Hunter's insubordination to a task.
"No, please, Master Marik– Spare me!" the hapless figure kneeling before him, wailing. Marik despised this lowly-ranked Rare Hunter.
"Perhaps in your task, your intel retrieval is incomplete, which led to some of the Ultra Rare Cards stolen."
"Please spare me…." The terrified man was in agony as the man was driven to the back wall hard by Marik's powers. The subject shrieked deafeningly.
"No, you fool!" Marik aimed his Millennium Rod at the man again. "I think you must have been born on a highway. That's where most accidents happen. And perhaps we can arrange your funeral, as you are now entitled to rot in the Shadow Realm."
"Yes, weep, as it is your fault, Dennis, for underestimating the task." He chuckled as he indulged in tormenting his Rare Hunter. He sent Denis to the Shadows as he had enough of the failures.
"No, it was the only intel left. Charlie saw the only ones left were there." Rivah, who was one of the Elite Rare Hunters, addressed Marik.
"When we return to Egypt, I need all the intel restored," Marik ordered the Rare Hunters responsible for that particular assignment. As he stood up, he had forgotten Luanne's phone was on his lap the whole time. The device tumbled as Luanne's photos stopped at her taking a photo of her braces in the mirror. Marik smiled as he saw her pictures. Perhaps insulting her would be the start of an exciting relationship.
He wore his black leather jacket and took the elevator down where Luanne had just welcomed her demise outside her accommodation. He knew, even without his Millennium Rod, what she wanted.
Where the mind-enslaved person left off, Luanne was still on the seat—somehow shivering under the covers of his cloak. He released the mind-enslaved person as he moved him to the elevator. He strolled towards Luanne, who was sound asleep. He sat beside her and stroked her cheek. "It will never happen." He finally answered. "Ostracizing will never happen to you, neither hurt nor killed."
His phone rang instead, and it was Bryn. "Yes, it's me… well, I think she was locked out, and she will spend the night with me. Of course, she is fine! See it for yourself, you lost our little pet, and I found her. Thank Ra for that!" Marik showed him Luanne was sleeping beside him in the lounge.
"The meeting was the usual. Rivah will deal with Intel. And Dennis is in the Shadow Realm now." Marik nodded as he didn't demand the Harkins and the Reinharts to attend because of their long night. "I'll see you tomorrow." Marik switched off his phone.
Marik lifted Luanne and brought her to his room at the penthouse in his arms. He placed her on the couch.
"Master Marik, we have packed, and we are ready to head back to Egypt." Marik lost interest in Spain since last night's incident with Intel and Di'Ja. Perhaps she could show him around the parliament. He plans to be a Pharaoh. A flick of a smirk came into sight as the thought derived.
Luanne suddenly sneezed. "Oh, how did—- where am I—?"
"The act of absent-mindedness once again gave you that cold." Marik sat by her as he twirled his Millennium Rod.
"How did you know I was down at the lobby?"
"Why were you at the lobby?"
"I was finding my phone, and I forgot my keys and— "
Marik smiled, "Repeating your mistakes, are we? You barely check your device, and you still want to carry one. Another would be leaving the room without notice. I guess I had to call a mind slave to keep an eye on you. I have other means of monitoring you." He walked over to the kitchen and set two mugs on the countertop. Switching the kettle on as he asked, "You want an Earl Grey tea with almond milk, true?"
"Yeah, I'm that girl that bores the heck out of you." Luanne rolled her eyes.
"Now, don't get ahead of yourself; I merely asked about your beverage preference for the morning." Marik poured hot water and tossed the tea bag swiftly into the mug.
"Yes, that is… the tea I drink."
"No sugar?"
"None."
"Could I add a touch of honey?" Marik suggested.
"I suppose if you give me a Honey Lemon tea, then no honey." Luanne coughed again.
"Why don't we combine them? Fuse the aroma, and I would guarantee you'll prefer this to your usual almond milk for your cold."
"Okay, whatever…" Luanne surveyed the room. Marik stared at her for a few seconds.
"Remember our little MBTI intellectual conversation we had earlier? Shall we explore more about that? You say I am an ENTP, and you are an INFJ. Meaning I have an extraverted intuition, extraverted feelings, introverted thinking, and introverted sensing. You have introverted intuition, extraverted feeling, introverted thinking, and extraverted sensing." Marik was researching this topic quickly.
"But that isn't enough to determine one's personality as there are enneagrams you should consider. I am an enneagram of 9w1. I'm a peacemaker." Luanne pointed out.
Marik nodded, figuring out he was between an Enneagram 6 and a 7. "As an ENTP, I don't troll much. Let alone internet trolling is a weak facade. I handle people with ease. A loyalist, perhaps; I'm not all that negative, am I?"
"My mom seriously interviewed an ENFJ 6w7 once, and the patient was very anxious. So you're a 6w7. A Loyalist or a confidant? How could an ENTP be a 6w7? That's very rare!" Luanne crossed her legs on the couch.
"I do have anxieties too, Luanne. It's how I handle them." Marik furrowed his brow. "You are a peacemaker, which makes me wonder if you are easily pushed around." Marik handed Luanne her tea.
"Yeah, I am perpetually anyone's doormat. Your doormat." Luanne is now hugging her mug and taking a sip.
"I love causing pain to my Rare Hunters. If they fail, they deserve their punishment. That is not an unhealthy sign of an ENTP." Marik now wants to challenge Luanne.
"WOW! Hold on, that is very unhealthy. All you do as a Leader of the Rare Hunters by tormenting and torturing sadistically is unhealthy! I know you have psychopathic tendencies, but you are not. Your Se demon is just something we all need to look out for" Luanne disagrees wholeheartedly with Marik.
Marik chuckled now that he knew he could trample this girl before him with the analysis of psychology. "Unhealthy for you to be part of my confidant? I prefer you call it my fun mode. Examine it from this point of view, if you were in a group assignment and one individual decided to flank your score, wouldn't you take matters into your own hands? It's not a discussion of human rights." Marik argued.
"Well, I would refrain from taking revenge–" Marik pushed some items onto the ground so that Luanne stopped mid-sentence.
"Perhaps you're not who I think you are…." Marik began to second-guess Luanne.
"You are acquiring Se right now. With your extraverted sensing currently in play, you will second-guess me. I mean, I had let you keep my phone for this long. I mean, you're pretty selfish. You really shouldn't second guess at all." Luanne calmly explained.
Marik relaxed as he almost lost his logical thought. He must maintain his composure. "Interesting, Lu; your mother taught you well."
"You are healthy enough to keep my phone for this long."
"To run away to the lobby and get lost is very concerning, Lu. Don't be shy. Your loneliness is very unhealthy. You had to find me to have your solitude regardless of your pathetic desires," Marik smirked.
"I enjoyed being alone…until you whisked me away from my solitude." Luanne finished her tea as Marik was starting to consume his americano.
"But you enjoy my company more." He added. We are returning to Egypt, and we will part and resume our lives as usual. "Except I will be seeing you spontaneously during your time at school, meeting friends and families. All of those will be my accompaniment."
"Are you asking me to go out with you?" Luanne asked directly.
"Yes." Marik walked past her to throw his Rare Hunter cloak in one of the luggage.
"But I'm not ready for romance, nor am I a girlfriend material to anyone." Luanne is shocked.
"We're both Egyptians, and I will eventually ask you for another overseas trip, so we better keep in touch. Not a serious romance, just friends with benefits. I mean, we could move on romantically if you want." Marik is still moving his clothes around.
"Then no, I'd rather not."
"Afraid people will judge you? You are still part of us, with the blood contract."
"Yeah, I know that, but why am I a significant other? Why can't I be a step-sister or a secretary?" Luanne is a bit nervous about discussing the future as they are both intuitively compatible.
"Well, I need you for another dueling match in two weeks. I will also be useful to you if I am your significant other at your school." He turned the tap on to wash some dishes.
"That's right… my prom. I don't care about that event." Luanne tried to avert the topic.
"And how come you don't go to school?"
"My education is sufficient for this occupation. Besides, your bullies are still attending your school, are they not?" Marik smiled.
"Yeah, they are."
"Okaaay– but the dueling tournament?" Luanne was curious.
"Toronto, Canada. Bryn's original hometown." Marik added.
"May I say yes for now because I want to go to Canada for once?" Luanne agreed.
"Excellent! I knew you couldn't resist bringing me into your world. Before I forget, here is your phone, and I'm glad you took those braces off before I asked you out." Marik smirked.
"Well, that is so egocentric—You looked through my photos?!" Luanne looked through her phone. Interestingly enough, there was a recording of her on stage with Bryn singing.
Marik heard a knock on the door. He used his Millenium Rod to sense who it may be. As Bryn and Huxley were in his arms, Marik placed the cup down to tend the door.
"–remember Master Marik, right?" Bryn said to Huxley.
"Mazdu Mawiky, baddy dada. PFT PFT!" Huxley laughed as he saw the teen. Marik's face softened as he saw the child. He cupped his hands on Huxley's chubby cheeks.
"Good Morning, little Huxley!" Marik bopped his nose.
"Huxley has not eaten, and I have to leave with Abbey and Oliver for a quick stopover. Sorry Master Marik, Thank you, Master Marik! " Bryn handed over Huxley to Marik along with Huxley's bag.
Marik had to accept Bryn's abrupt leave and growled. Luanne giggled as Marik turned around with the toddler. Marik plopped the child on a lounge chair as there was no high chair. "For Ra's sake! Why is this child here?" Marik browsed the bag for his premade breakfast.
"Perhaps I should starve this child to death…" Marik muttered to himself as he opened the container and placed the contents into a bowl to heat up on the stove. "Did you know, Huxley, that you are adorable?" Marik mused to the child as he stirred the contents.
"Ehh! Matu Mawig, ama hungry!" Huxley said a few words to Marik. Marik rolled his eyes. "So am I."
"Lu, can you pass me the ladle?" Marik asked as he pointed to the utensil.
"Uh yeah." Luanne walked over to the kitchen and handed it to Marik. Marik made some breakfast for Luanne and himself with Avocado on toast with feta cheese and pumpkin with sunflower seeds and a dash of salt and pepper on sourdough.
Then Marik finished making Huxley's porridge and prepared milk. "I didn't think a Leader of the Rare Hunters would babysit his Rare Hunter's child." Luanne snickered.
"This is the first time for me." Marik smiled as he stirred the porridge for the heat to subside. Marik took a bite of his avocado toast.
"A contrast to sending one to a Shadow Realm, you are nursing a toddler now." Luanne started laughing uncontrollably.
"Quite impressive, aren't I?" Marik smiled.
"Yes, but I prefer your current activity." Luanne's smile faded, and averted her gaze. So Marik's smile faded as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Marik stopped stirring and started blowing the porridge. He fed Huxley and gathered a smile from Huxley. "Open your mouth, little one."
"A Leader isn't just about bossing around subordinates, Luanne. My role as a Leader also serves the people. Like law, if you like to put it, it serves justice and punishes those who don't comply. So does a Rare Hunter."
"Except you break the law… and punish those who don't break it properly." Luanne contextualized what Marik was trying to counter. She shrugged and made it more awkward.
"Well, aren't you a little debater!" Marik snorted.
"More… more…" Huxley reached for Marik's hand and was given a spoon.
"It's not like I want you to feed the Rare Hunters and banish toddlers to the shallow world."
"Shadow. Realm." Marik glared.
"Mashda Mawig, MORE!" Huxley put his food in his hand, and the porridge oozed over his hand. He threw some on Marik's hand.
"You vile child!" Marik exclaimed, but Huxley continued to giggle. Luanne took some water-based wipes and helped Marik with his hands by wiping them. Marik smiled and gave a "Thank you, Lu."
As they finished their breakfast, Marik and Luanne spent time with Huxley drawing and reading children's books. Marik then paused as he had to go somewhere.
"Lu, bring Huxley to the Throne Room. Do come in; you are welcome to join." Marik handed Huxley to Luanne as he held his Millennium Rod and retrieved his robe again.
As they were down, Luanne was unsure what would unfold. However, there was an observation room next to the meeting she would prefer to go to. Again a bleak display of Shadow aura filled the chamber. She felt numb, and so was Huxley as he feared the darkness and struggled out of Luanne's arms. As the boy escaped as more Rare Hunters entered, she could lose the child within the crowd. Marik thought fast enough and caught up with Huxley. "It's alright, little guy." Marik quickly brought Huxley back to Luanne. He hugged both of them.
"The boy is terrified of… of this." Luanne shook her head.
"I KNOW! Just… it won't hurt him. I will keep this meeting underaged." Marik held Luanne's shoulders. "You can stand there if you need to. The room is vacant, or stand by me and don't lose Huxley." Marik sighed as the toddler was a detriment to this meeting if he didn't plan it properly. He helped the boy with his emotions by using his Millennium Rod. Luanne sat on the ground cradling the toddler while Marik held her other hand and rubbed her hands with his thumb.
"Master Marik, we have received further news about the intel." One of the Rare Hunters began.
"Very well; I will further examine the intel once we arrive in Egypt." Marik was pleased with the news.
As thirty long minutes passed, the meeting concluded. The men were no longer present. As they went back up, Bryn was waiting to collect Huxley. Marik was holding Huxley's right hand and Luanne on the left.
"Wait, Huxley attended a Rare Hunter's meeting?! Holy Guacamole! He's too young for that!!" Bryn was very shocked.
Marik just nodded and smirked. "Best if you keep this issue, disclosed from Abbey's ears."
"It was very brief and underaged," Luanne added.
"I guess that is alright. Since we'll be back in Egypt and Canada, I also wanna make a trip to the U.S.," Bryn added.
"Then that should be our plan then." Marik held Huxley up. "Shall we go then?" He signaled for Odion to help remove his robe as he had no more hands.
Odion then brought all of Marik and his belongings out. Marik nodded but didn't bother helping Odion with the luggage. Instead, Luanne helped and also took her own from Bryn. As they waited, a black Mercedes Benz pulled over so Marik and Odion could enter.
"Okay, I'll see you guys at Valencia port then," Bryn said to Marik and Odion. Luanne remained with Bryn as that was what she assumed to do with Huxley. Suddenly the Merc pulled over; Marik got out and helped Luanne with her luggage and Bryn's.
"There is still space for you too." He took Bryn, Luanne, and Huxley with him. "Abbey and Oliver are already there," Marik informed them. There was a child's capsule at the back just for Huxley. Odion being the driver, Bryn sat beside Odion at the front. Luanne is in the middle, and Marik is on the right side as they head for Egypt again.
