AN: WOAR! Long time no see :P sorry for the long pause here. Didn't feel like writing in a long time, but finally I was motivated to continue. Enjoy 3

CHAPTER XXII
Dreamcatcher

The sounds of loud motors, honking cars and motorbikes were almost excruciating. The sun's heat was so intense that it felt like being burned alive. My throat felt dry like the Egyptian desert. Not a single breeze of wind stroked my skin and even the palm trees didn't spend enough shadow to hide myself from the sun. I could feel how the heat of the sun burnt on my cheeks. People passed my way hastily like time was passing by at double speed. No one even looked at me like I was a ghost.

Ancient walls - almost weathered since their birth millenniums ago - all over decorated with hieroglyphs were right in front of me. I knew this temple and the piece of history it told. I've been there before. I didn't pay a lot of attentions to my surroundings, because I couldn't take my eyes off of the beauty of the giant Obelisk in front of me.

The noises got louder by every second and I felt the anxiety in me intensifying. My heart started to beat faster and harder by the second and my breath became heavier… like I knew that something bad was about to happen.

Suddenly a loud noise - like a thunderstruck - made me cringe. A majestic monster with large wings and gigantic hands raised right in front of me. The sky changed and got covered with dark clouds like the world was coming to an end right here and now. I could tell from the blue, smooth skin of the creature that this was no other than… Obelisk the tormentor.

Panic flooded my veins and every cell in my body when the creature easily destroyed the obelisk of the temple with nothing more than a little wipe of his arm. I wanted to run for my life like all the people around me did, but I couldn't move. I literally felt like my feet were glued to the dry, sandy ground.

I shot up in the bed when I awoke from my dream, which felt so overwhelmingly real. My fingers dug deep into the fine linens of the bed while I was fighting for air. My heart beat a million miles a minute. My hand touched my chest and I tried so hard to calm myself down - but to no avail. Was this….a panic attack?

Suddenly I felt the touch of a hand on my shoulder and another one on my back. They stroked softly over my skin and I knew it was him. „Jesara, what's wrong?" Marik asked with concern in his voice. „It was just a bad dream. It's alright. I'm here. Try to breathe deep and slowly."

„Karnak." I gasped between heavy breaths.

„Karnak?" Marik repeated my words.

„I dreamed….of…the Karnak…temple". I panted heavily and there was no chance in doing this just a little slower.

Marik was silent for a few seconds while his hand stroked down my back to calm me down. „What about this old walls did scare you so much in your dreams?"

I swallowed and wiped the sweat from my forehead. „Obelisk… I saw… Obelisk, the tormentor. He destroyed everything around me…it was…just chaos."

Again Marik was silent and his hand literally froze on my back. For another countless seconds there was just my heathy breath and the silence. I felt the sweat running down my cheeks slowly, cooling my heated skin.

„Odion, get the Rare Hunters together. We're going to Karnak. Now." Marik suddenly said after he grabbed for the Millennium rod from his nightstand. He jumped up and threw on his dark purple cloak.

„W…What are you doing?" I stuttered between deep breaths and stared up at him. Was he really about to leave?

„This wasn't just a bad dream, Jesara. I think this was a vision and I believe - no - I am absolutely convinced that Obelisk the tormentor is hidden somewhere in the temple of Karnak."

I stared at him in disbelief. „What makes you think that this wasn't just a nightmare, Marik?"

He sighed and he took his time before answering my question. „I don't know, but I think so." Marik said dryly as he was about to leave the room.

„Wait!" I said loudly and he stopped in his tracks. His lavender irises peered at me over his shoulders. „Your arm is still wounded… And after the mess that happened at the museum… I.." My brain was searching for the right words.

„You?" Marik pressed.

„I'm afraid, Marik. I'm afraid that something happens to you." I explained with tears building up in my eyes.

He turned around. „Jesara. There's no need to be afraid. But it's a chance to reach our goal and that's why I need to go."

„Okay then." I took in a deep breath and jumped out of bed. I grabbed for my own cloak and Marik eyed me with a serious expression. „Then I will come with you."

„No you won't." Marik protested. „You will stay here."

I threw a sharp look at him and tightened the belt around my waist to keep the cloak in place. „That's out of question, Marik. I'll stay here when you stay here too and I will come with you when you decide to go."

A silent growl left his throat. „That's a stupid idea, Jesara."

„It's not. Think about it. Ishizu has seen every step you took long before you did even think about it. That's why almost every attempt of yours to get the god cards have failed. Maybe she can't see you coming when it's not…you?" I suggested. „Please Marik… stay here - with me. Send Odion and a team of Rare Hunters to Karnak and stay here."

He said nothing while he wrapped his head around my inquiry. „I have to admit that it makes sense to me."

His words took a load off my mind and I let out a sigh of relief. „Thank Ra…"

Right then Odion knocked on Marik's door. „Master Marik, we're ready to go." I cringed when his knuckles hit the wood. My eyes the focused on Marik and I waited for his reaction. I knew how hard it was for him to stay here while Obelisk The Tormentor was within touching distance. But I was afraid. Afraid to loose him. How far would Ishizu go to protect the god cards from being taken by her brother? I didn't know, but I didn't even want to take the risk to lose him forever.

Marik's thin fingers opened the door for him.

„I will stay here, Odion. You're free to take how many of my Rare Hunters with you as you wish. This operation is in your hands now, but I'll keep contact to you via mind link." He explained dryly.

Odion shot him an asking glance with his olive eyes. I knew that this was beyond belief for him. „But… Why?" He asked in disbelief.

„There's no time for explanation now, Odion. Take my slaves and get going already. Bring me Obelisk the Tormentor and don't you dare to disappoint me." Marik hissed. Odion bowed a little, nodded and disappeared. Then we were to ourselves again when the door closed behind him.

xx

I sat on the steps that led up to Marik's golden throne in the great hall of our headquarter. Marik sat behind me on his throne with the millennium rod in a tight grip. His lavender irises stared into the nothing while he waited for updates from Odion via mind link. My head rested in my hands and I listened to the great silence. I let out a sigh. At least the boredom was a lot better than hours and hours of being afraid that something could happen to him.

„Jesara." I cringed when Marik spoke up suddenly. „You don't need to sit here for the next hours. Go back to bed and try to get some sleep."

My cheeks blushed a little, because he just cared.

„No, Marik. I'm fine. You decided to stay here because of me and now I will stay awake until you come back to bed with me. We're in this together." I answered and turned around and our eyes met. „But thanks for caring."

Marin's lips formed a little smile. „I always care about you, even if it doesn't seem like it every day."

I smiled back at him. „Anything new from Odion and the Hunters?"

„They're still on the way, but almost there." He answered. „Odion updates me every 15 minutes."

My answer was just a smile and a simple nod. Now we couldn't do anything more than wait and hope for the best. I hoped so much that Odion would be successful, because otherwise… I didn't know how Marik would react.

„How about coffee?" I asked, because I needed just something to do and I felt the tiredness overwhelming me slowly.

„A wonderful idea." Marik said and nodded. So I made my way through the dark hallways to the kitchen and switched on the coffee machine. While the irresistible odors of freshly brewed caffeine filled the air my mind tried to understand the dream I've had and why Marik was so sure about it being reality. What if he was wrong and Odion's mission in Karnak was nothing more than a sightseeing tour?

With two cafe lattes in my hands I came back to the great hall. Marik didn't move from his throne and his fingers were still wrapped around the rod. I stepped up the stairs and handed him the cup. A thoughtful expression was literally written to my face. He glanced up at me and thanked for the hot beverage.

„Are you really sure about my nightmare and the location of Obelisk?" I asked cautiously. „What if there's just nothing but sand and stones?"

Marik took a sip from the coffee. „I don't know it for sure, Jesara. But what if it is actually true? When you want to reach your goal you need to take a risk." He answered pretty emotionless. I believed him without saying anything else about it. Little did I know that it would take another few years to find out that he lied to me in this particular moment.

„May I ask you something?" I spoke up after a few moments of silence.

„Of course." Marik answered.

I inhaled deeply before speaking. My hand was slightly shaking. „How do you imagine the future… I mean… when you finally got all the three god cards and the power you're aiming for? How do you imagine our future…?"

He put away the coffee mug and after a silent sigh he stood up from his golden throne. „Do you remember the days when we were doomed to live underground and never see the sunlight in the first years of our lives? We both were sentenced to a life in suppression, strict rules and nothing else to do than wait for something that probably won't ever happen. My plans for the future are simple. As soon as I obtained the power of the pharaoh we can do whatever we want. We won't have to run an underground organization like this to make a living. We will be able to make the rules. You can wish for everything you dreamed of by now. The only plan that I have for us is a life in happiness and freedom." Marik explained in a silky tone. His fingers stroke along my hand while he spoke. I felt how little tears built up in the corner of my eyes. That was exactly what I needed to hear right now. „And your plans?" Marik then asked and rested his forehead on mine.

I snuggled myself against him. „My only plan is you." Then my nose stroked against his and then our lips melt together in a soft kiss that felt like silk. I wrapped my arms around his waist and just enjoyed the moment.

xx

Finally Odion and the Hunters reached the temple of Karnak. Marik sat in his throne again and his rod in a tight grip. His jaw tightened and his lavender eyes were glued to the ground while he observed the happenings in Karnak via mind link. I didn't even dare to breathe because I didn't want to disturb him. It's been a while since I've seen him stressed like this.

I sat down on the steps again and folded my hands like I wanted to pray. It needed to work this time. Odion needed to be successful. Minutes felt like hours and I felt how my heart started to beat faster and louder.

„NO! THAT CAN'T BE TRUE!" Suddenly Marik shot up from his throne and the coffee mug broke into millions of pieces when it hit the marble floor. His angry voice echoed through the hall. „YOU WORTHLESS IDIOTS!"

With that I knew that things didn't go as planed…

AN: Finally ADE is coming to an end :-) hope you enjoyed and I'm excited to read your reviews and thoughts.