AN: Holy shit, an update! Sorry for letting you wait so long, but life got in the way and due to a surgery about two weeks ago I was just laying there and trying to give my body the time it needed. So I didn't get to writing as much as I usually do. But here's the new chapter! Enjoy it! :-)

CHAPTER XVI
Traces

"Stop playing games with me." I mumbled between heavy, excited breaths when my hands grabbed for the collar of his night kaftan to pull him down to me. I was craving for him so badly and couldn't hold back my desire of feeling his lips on mine.

But suddenly he packed my wrists and pinned them down beside my head, using just the right amount of strength to hold me in place without hurting me. His lavender eyes glared down at me in a soft but yet so demanding way. A smug smirk snaked across his lips.

"Promise me to never act against me again." He said and leant down to me, his mouth just a centimetre away from mine. He treated and tortured me by using my desire for him like a hungry dog, who wasn't allowed to get the little treat that hung right in front of his nose. I squirmed a little under his grip and shot him a begging glance.

I let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't act against you, Marik. I did it to save you. So please…"

"And put yourself in danger." He retorted whispering, his breath stroking my lips like silk.

"To get you out of it." I countered, biting my lip.

Marik smirked down at me. "You're so stubborn."

"Look who's talking."

"I just care about you." Marik then said dryly. "Deeply. Just…don't do anything so reckless again."

His words left me speechless for a moment. Somehow he let me discover new facets of his mind literally every single day, changing from the control freak to the honest and caring boy so fluidly.

"Okay." I agreed and nodded at him. With this little word spoken he loosened his grip on my wrists and let go of me. His lips then gently stroked across mine and satisfied my craving.

xx

The next morning I insisted on Marik to stay in bed and thank Ra he didn't complain about it. First I let out a sigh when I thought back to the massacre of last night and how Ishizu literally slaughtered Marik's servants while the soothing warm water ran down my naked body. Never did I expect her of being capable of such a thing, but after all she just did it to save the god cards and the power of the pharaoh from being stolen. She just did what the Ishtar clan had promised thousands of years ago - the pharaoh's memories. Within a second I felt guilty and I knew I was fighting on the wrong side. I felt guilty for being the same betrayer as Marik, but I promised to stay by his side - whichever it would be. Mentally I questioned myself what might be more important… loyalty or integrity. What was right and what was wrong?

Marik seemed quite unfazed by the loss of more than a dozen of his Rare Hunters. It didn't matter at all for him, like his heart was cold as ice. All that mattered for him was that he didn't get Slifer The Sky Dragon into his hands and somehow I was sure that there was no price too high for him as long as he would get his will. Marik would sell his own grandmother to get his hands on those cards.

How far would he go and how would it affect Odion and me? The thought of Ishizu's words at the gala sent a shiver down my spine. I wished I knew what she wanted to tell me. But whatever it was why she warned me about Marik and my future when I decided to stay beside him… maybe I would bitterly regret my loyalty towards him one day and it scared me.

I gently massaged the well smelling foam of my shower gel onto my skin and within a second my dark thoughts were replaced by the romantic moments we shared yesterday. I bit back a little grin when I remembered his bittersweet play and somehow I liked how he used my desire for him. My fingertips traced slowly along my collarbone and down my upper arms - just like he did last night to fuel the fire that burnt inside my veins. A fire I never knew.

I was falling deeper and deeper in love with him.

xx

I peered into our private kitchen and grimaced a little when I found Odion in there, sitting by the marble table with his coffee mug in his hand. Several newspapers were spread out on the table and his gaze looked hardened.

"Good morning." I greeted feeling awkward after that weird faux pas yesterday when he came into Marik's room in the literally worst moment possible. Honestly. 'Worst moment possible' was the understatement of the millennium. My cheeks turned bright red when his attention fell on me and we both looked at each other with the same awkward wrinkled brow for a minute.

"Oh, good morning." Odion said with his shoulders slightly tensed. "Did you have a good night?" He then asked and immediately grimaced awkwardly at his own words, realising he definitely didn't want to know the answer at all after what he had witnessed yesterday. Also I bit my lip and closed the door behind me.

"As good as can be expected after the current circumstances of last night…" I answered and helped myself to a cup of freshly brewed coffee. I really didn't want to know how that situation must have looked for Odion. "And you?" I asked casually. 'Besides being traumatised for life?' I added mentally.

"I'm a little anxious about the consequences of yesterdays … failed mission." Odion responded and his olive eyes travelled back to the various newspapers in front if him. "It's the cover story of every newspaper…"

"I didn't expect anything else." I sighed and looked over his shoulder to see the headlines. "What does the media and police know?"

'Mass shooting at the Egyptian Museum.' , 'Attempted burglary at Cairo Museum.' , 'Criminal squad breaks into Egyptian Museum.' All those headlines made my blood freeze.

"Obviously they don't know our identities and they think we were after the death mask of Tutankhamun. And our IT experts also made sure that the surveillance system of the Museum crashed during the mission. So they don't have any footage or pictures of us. That's the good news." He explained and took a huge sip from his coffee. I wrinkled my brow at him.

"And… what's the bad news?" I swallowed and nibbled on my lip nervously.

"Well." He tried to find the best words. "Ishizu would do everything to stop her brother and save him at the same time… It would be easy for her to tell the police Marik's name and about our organisation. But since she's his sister they would also blame and lock her away too. So it's just in her interest that nobody knows that we are behind it all."

"An interesting way to save the once she loves. But it makes sense." I added dryly. „So, spit it out. What do they know?"

Odion flipped one of the news papers open and pointed at a big photo. My blood froze when I saw myself on it. I recognized my eyes and parts of my blood stained face, the rest of it was covered by some hair strands and the reflection of the rear window of our car. Obviously it was taken in that one moment when I sat in the back seat of the SUV and took a look back. "Someone was able to take this photo when we drove away. Thank Ra that it doesn't show your full face."

„Shit…" I sighed in shock and the coffee mug in my hand almost fell out of my trembling hands. „Do you think they may be able to identify me? Photoshop may help them with the missing details of my face?"

Odion shrugged his shoulders. „I don't know. I hope not. If they can photoshop your whole face out of it we're in big big big trouble."

My face went pale and my fingers became cold. „Then let's hope for the best… Does Marik know it already?"

He just shook his head. „No. Not yet. Honestly, I'm afraid to tell him."

„After all the shit that happened last night I wouldn't want to tell him more bad news either." I whispered and sat down beside Odion, because my knees started to get weak.

„I guess it will be better for all of us when you avoid going into public for at least a while now." Odion suggested.

I nodded at him and gave him a fearful glance. He patted my shoulder softly. „Don't worry, Jesara. If it's Master Marik's destiny to become pharaoh himself this won't stop us."

„What won't stop me?" Marik's voice sent a shiver down our spines when he entered our private dining room behind us without even making a sound. His piercing lavender eyes scanned us carefully, but sternly at the same time. He was dressed in his dark purple cloak like usual and his hand held the golden millennium rod in a firm grip.

„M-Master Marik." Odion stood up and bowed down. „I'm grateful to see you well and on your feet today. How do you feel now? May I serve you with anything, my Master?"

„An answer to my question would be adequate, Odion." Marik said dryly and stared down at him like an eagle observing his prey. I could sense Odion's unease becoming stronger and stronger.

I remained seating by the table and watched them both. Odion was struggling to find the right words to tell his Master the bad news. So I decided to step in. „Marik." I said as calm as possible, knowing it would cause a storm anyways. „It's about yesterday… I- I'm in the newspapers… someone was able to take a photo… I'm so sorry." With that I handed one of the newspapers to him. His lavender eyes checked the paper and headline carefully.

Silence.

With a loud bang Marik threw it against the wall, leaving a mess of loose papers on the floor. „HOW COULD THIS SHIT HAPPEN!?"

I cringed at his loud screaming, unable to say anything in return.

„Someone must have witnessed when we drove away rom the Museum…" Odion explained. „But Jesara's face isn't fully visible. I'm confident that this trace would go cold for the police. She's nothing more than a stranger for them."

„I hope you're right!" Marik spat angrily. „And what about the SUV? What if this so called witness has also seen the license plate!?"

„I've taken the liberty of commanding a few servants to get rid of it while we treated your wounds. They brought it into the desserts and blew it up. The license plate was stolen anyways." He soothed his furious Master.

Marik let out a growl. "Fine. At least there's something positive in this misery. Good job, Odion."

I watched Marik in concernment and I couldn't hide my remorse. Everything would be fine if I wasn't so dumb and reckless to look back. What if we all get caught by police because of me? Why couldn't our life be just… normal?

Odion nodded at his Master approvingly. "What now, Master Marik?"

"Meeting in 30 minutes. Drum them all up, Odion." Marik commanded in a harsh tone, definitely pissed off by the news. "At least everyone who is left." He added dryly and left on calculated heels.

xx

Odion did how his Master had commanded and convened an organisation meeting in the big hall. I took my so called 'new place' next to Marik's golden throne at the rear end of the hall. My hands were trembling and I was anxious about his next steps. From the corner of my eyes I looked down to the boy with the sandy blonde hair beside me, who was sitting with his legs elegantly crossed in the kinglike golden chair.

The whispers of his servants fell silent as soon as everyone stood in his place, awaiting their leader to speak. Most of them checked their surroundings with curious expressions, searching for the one's who weren't there. Their faces were hidden under the capes of their purple Rare Hunter attire. I scanned the audience carefully and unmissable that a lot of them were missing due to the shooting of last night. But I was surprised to recognise Carter and his burned half face in the third row. His burns had already healed a little - well enough to attend organisation meetings again. But will his bruised soul heal again? Maybe - maybe not.

"How you all may have noticed a few of you are missing and to say it quick and simple: They won't come back." Marik explained with slight resentment in his undertone. "Last night's mission at the Cairo Museum failed and we lost them in a mass shooting, which my sister initiated to prevent us from stealing Slifer The Sky Dragon. Odion, Jesara and me just barely managed it to get out alive."

I knew how hard it must have been for Marik to say that. He never failed. Failing wasn't part of his nature and saying it out loud must have been torture for him. When he told his servants about what happened at the museum it was like I was reliving it again. I literally felt the warm blood that splattered all over my face while I pressed my palms onto my ears because the sound of the machine guns was so deafening loud. I pressed my eyes shut and tried to shove those memories out of my head - far away from me.

"Unfortunately it's getting worse. While police still has no idea that our organisation is behind it someone was able to take a picture of Jesara during our getaway, which now is everywhere on the media. They weren't able to capture her whole face, nonetheless they got a trace now and we need to ensure that this trace runs cold as soon as possible." He said and tightened his grip on the rod.

One of his servants stepped forward and kneeled down, waiting for the allowance to speak.

"What is it, Ethan?" Marik hissed.

"Master Marik, may I tell you my personal recommendation to deal with this problem?" His servant asked carefully while he still stared down to the ground. I looked down to him, curious about what was coming next.

Marik let out a growl. "This better be good, Ethan. Go on."

"As you ma know, my Master, I've been police officer in Cairo before I had the honour to join your organisation. Because of that I know how investigations work and which officers work on the case." Ethan explained.

"Get to the point, Ethan." Marik urged with a growl.

"What I want to say is that I could use my knowledge as an insider to get rid of our problem. We could kidnap the responsible officers to brainwash them with your power, my Master. And after that our IT experts could hack into the police server to delete the evidence. I hope my suggestion will help, my Master." Ethan said and glanced up at his youthful blonde master with respectful eyes.

Marik was silent for a moment while he thought a bit about his servant's suggestion. I watched him carefully when he rubbed his temples and I let out a sigh. 'If I just hadn't looked back we wouldn't be in such trouble now…' I blamed myself mentally and bit my lip.

He stood up and stepped down the platform and then came to a halt in front of his servant. "Don't dare to disappoint me, Ethan. I expect that you know what you do. Bring the officers, who work on this case, here and as soon as I erased their memories and after everything has gone to plan you will receive a bonus. Understood?"

Ethan stood up and looked Marik straight in the eye with a determined look. "Yes, Master. You can trust me."

"Then what are you fool waiting for!? And all of you!? Get the fuck going!" Marik spat his commands. Without loosing time his servants hurried out of the hall. As soon as they were gone there was silence. Just the two of us were left. Cautiously I stepped down to him and carefully wrapped my arms around him from behind.

"You need to rest, Marik." I whispered. "And I need to change your bandages."

"I will rest, but this needs to be fixed as soon as possible." He said and glanced back at me.

"I'm sorry for getting you in trouble again." I apologised and buried my face in his back. "I feel awful…"

Marik then loosened my grip on his waist and turned around to look down at me with his striking lavender eyes. "It's not your fault. Without you I won't be here now." He said gently and stroked over my cheek with the back of his hand. With those words spoken I felt a lot better, but a shiver shot down my spine as I imagined what could have happened to Marik if I didn't act against his will yesterday.

"I'm grateful that nothing worse happened to you." I mumbled and locked eyes with him. "I hope we can fix that problem with the photo of mine."

He smiled down at me and nodded. "Nothing this organisation couldn't fix." Marik said before his soft lips met mine in a kiss.

AN: Hope you enjoyed it :-) and now: Review