Chapter 1: Painted in Blood
The early morning sky was painted light blue with pink as the sun was rising up, and a group of five officers were patrolling the streets of London in search of any suspicious activity from the night before. All of a sudden, they paused at the sight of Zygor's corpse lying on the road and rushed over to him.
"What happened to him?" the first officer asked.
"I think he may have been targeted by the masked man," the second officer assumed. "Let's examine the body."
The moment they turned him over, the officers were horrified by the condition of Zygor's body. The wound was still fresh, and the blood was smothered all over his clothes as a result of the stabbing. There was also blood dripping from his lower lip, and some had already dried on his chin and neck.
"I don't believe this…," the first officer breathed.
"I was right all along. It is the masked killer who's done this to him," the second officer said to his colleague.
He then spotted Zygor's mask lying near him and held it up to his colleague as he then added:
"And look. There's a mask right next to him."
The first officer gasped in alarm as he examined the mask. There were blood splatters on the mask, thus proving of Zygor's demise. However, he wouldn't be the only one the authorities would find.
They suddenly glanced over at the third officer calling out to them, pointing at Sid's body slumped against the brick wall:
"There's another one, over there!"
The two officers rushed over to Sid's corpse and examined him closely with their colleague. His tattered clothes were covered in the blood that was from the stab wound to the chest, and his mask was lying next to the corpse as clear proof that he was among the ones marked for death by the killer.
"He must have died the same way the first victim did," the first officer concluded.
"Yes, as because both have stab wounds to the chest," the second officer pointed out. "Not only that, but they also had masks on hand. What would they be doing out last night, wearing these masks?"
"Perhaps to challenge the rumors of the masked killer?" the third officer assumed.
All of a sudden, they turned to see their two additional colleagues approaching them, as they had gone to investigate earlier when the other three were examining the corpses of Zygor and Sid.
"Look what we've just found," the fourth officer said, holding up Bonz's mask.
"A mask…," the second officer said, as he examined it.
"That means we may have a third victim!" the first officer concluded.
"Correct," the fifth officer replied with a nod. "We discovered this mask in the alleyway nearby the crime scene, and it's only a minute away from there."
"However… we did come across a crime so gruesome, it's left us shaken," the fourth officer said in a grim voice.
The five officers sauntered into the alleyway, leading up to Bonz's body. They could feel their blood run cold the moment they glanced at the corpse, the wounds still fresh from the night before.
"This is the most graphic crime scene in our careers' histories," the first officer said darkly.
"Throat slashed, stab wound to the chest," the second officer noted, examining the corpse.
"This must be the masked man who's behind all of this," the third officer hypothesized.
"You may be right about that," the fourth officer said to his colleague.
Willing to divulge the details to the rest of the city's police, the fifth officer informed his colleagues:
"We have to report these findings to the chief. And while we're at it, we'll hand the bodies over to the medical examiner for an autopsy."
"Yes, sir!"
Word had spread throughout the entire city like wildfire since the horrendous discoveries. There was every emotion the residents felt upon hearing the tragic news: devastation, horror, and grief. They would be even more fearful of when the killer would strike, but the worst fear they had is that the killer may target them next.
Even Seto Kaiba was aware of the killings; however, he had his mansion beefed up with additional security for evening patrols, to ensure that he and his younger brother Mokuba would be safe from the madman.
At a café downtown, Yugi Muto and his friends Tèa Gardner, Duke Devlin and Tristan Taylor were gathered around their close friend Joey Wheeler, reading a newspaper announcing the latest murders.
"Dis is insane," Joey said, his brown eyes skimming over the headline on the front page. "Da masked killer is on da move again, takin' three lives in one night."
"It says that according to the police, the victims were identified as Bonz, Sid and Zygor," Yugi added, reading the exact details.
"What were they doing last night?" Tristan asked.
"I dunno," Joey answered. "Maybe they wanted to challenge da rumors about da killer?"
"Actually, it says here that their masks were found on the street by the police," Tèa pointed out, her finger moving across the exact words in the paper. "From what I've heard, they were partaking in some silly prank that involves scaring people away at the cemetery."
"They've terrified five people that night," Duke said. "Bonz, Sid and Zygor chose to pull off the prank unaware that the killer was on the move, hence why they ended up slaughtered by him."
"That's why people should care more about their safety by being cautious about their surroundings," Yugi pointed out. "Going out alone at night can be dangerous, and that time of day is when the killer strikes."
"Yugi's right," Tristan said. "We have to use the buddy system to ensure we'll be safe when walking out on the street at night."
Joey glanced over at Tristan, his brown eyes leering at him as he insisted in a serious tone:
"Tris, you better keep my sister safe for me if she's walking home."
With a nod, Tristan replied to his best friend proudly:
"You can count on me, buddy. I've always stayed by Serenity's side since we first started dating."
Joey felt thankful for Tristan to be by his sister's side, as because Serenity meant the world to him aside from his sweetheart, Mai Valentine, and his world would be crushed in the event that Serenity would suddenly fade from his life.
"As for me, I've gotta protect Mai," Joey declared. "She's just as important to me as Serenity, and our first anniversary as a couple is coming up."
"That's right! This year will mark exactly one year since you and Mai first met," Yugi clarified.
Joey closed his eyes dreamily, the scene briefly flashing back to one year earlier as he briefly explained:
"I remember like it was yesterday. It was at a garden party thrown by Pegasus last summer, and da moment I laid my eyes on her, I knew dat she would be da one for me."
"And how would you make it special for her, Joey?" Tèa asked him.
"I'll give her a promise ring," Joey answered her. "I found one at da jewelers last week and I plan to give it to her tonight at Pegasus's gala."
"Pegasus is hosting a gala?" Tristan questioned.
"Have you forgotten, Tristan?" Yugi reminded him. "Pegasus is about to unveil a new painting that will soon be displayed at an art museum in London, and we will be the first people to see it at his gala tonight. He sent us invitations and we gladly accepted it."
Now that he finally realized the upcoming gala, Tristan stood up from his seat as he said:
"That reminds me. I have to pick out the perfect suit and tie so I can impress Serenity."
"And I've gotta get mine ready," Joey added. "I did pick it out already, but it just needs a little sprucin' up and Joey Wheeler is all set to take Mai out to da gala!"
"That's the spirit, Joey!" Yugi cheered. "As for me, I've got mine all set to go so I can be Tèa's escort."
"And I, too, will be among you guys attending," Duke added. "Bakura and Selena are also coming to the gala, as they are just as curious about Pegasus's newest masterpiece as we are."
"What about Aurora? Is she coming too?" Tèa questioned.
"I think so," Tristan assumed. "Though she's not been herself lately."
"From what Mai told me, she's been feeling depressed since Marik disappeared out of da blue," Joey explained to them. "And they just started dating for one month when dat happened. It's not like him to just up and vanish in thin air."
"Exactly," Yugi said, nodding to him.
Willing to move forward from the subject of Marik's abrupt vanishing, Yugi said to his friends:
"Alright, enough of that. Let's go home and prepare ourselves for Pegasus's gala."
As the sun was starting to set and the Big Ben chimed throughout the city, Mai was spritzing on perfume that had the sweet-smelling fragrance of a fresh red rose. She was dressed in an emerald green gown that had a sweetheart neckline and a sheer train that covered the lower length of her dress. It also had puffy straps that fell beneath her shoulders, exposing them and a pair of long white gloves worn on her arms. Her golden blonde locks were neatly curled at the ends, and she preferred them to be worn down since she didn't have the patience to pull it into an updo.
"And that should do it," she said, smiling at her reflection in her white vanity's mirror.
In her bedroom, Aurora was sitting at her vanity, staring at a picture of Marik. It had been five months since she suffered from a broken heart, and she recalled learning of his disappearance from Marik's older siblings Odion and Ishizu. Even the city's police was no use to her, as they had searched high and low with no sign of him anywhere. Not even a piece of evidence was left from him, and she was starting to lose hope that she would see him alive.
Just then, she turned to see Mai opening the door and placed the portrait back on her vanity, still dressed casually.
"Aurora, are you feeling alright?" she asked her sister. "And you're not dressed for the gala! You don't want to miss seeing Pegasus's newest creation, do you?"
Aurora simply shook her head and replied to her in a melancholic tone of voice:
"It is just not the same without him by my side. Marik would never choose to suddenly abandon me, and we have only started dating for one month when he vanished."
She's been feeling down since her beloved Marik disappeared, Mai thought, with a look of deep concern in her eyes. He didn't leave behind a single trace of evidence that he would be alive and well. I wonder what happened to him?
As much as she wanted to support her sister, her priority at the moment was getting both girls primped for Pegasus's gala. She didn't want them to miss out on seeing him unveil his newest creation, and they were among the people who he invited.
"Why don't you worry about him later? We can't be late to Pegasus's gala, so you should be getting ready right now."
Though she was still heartbroken about her beloved's sudden vanishing, Aurora knew she had to prepare for the gala, so she nodded to her sister and began searching through her closet for the perfect dress to wear.
An hour later, a horse-drawn carriage paused at the front door, and out came Joey, Tristan and Serenity. Joey was dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a pine green vest, matching tie and white shirt. His shoes were as silver as the finest silverware money can buy, and they had been neatly polished as they were sparkling in the street light. A top hat in the same charcoal color was the finishing touch for Joey's refined look.
As for Tristan, he donned a black suit with a matching top hat and shoes, a classic white shirt, and navy vest and matching tie. Serenity was dressed in an elegant gown that was the same color as Tristan's vest and tie, and it had an empire waistline with sheer long sleeves. The hem of her gown lengthened to her feet, and she had to lift it up just to walk carefully. Her auburn hair was worn into an elegant bun adorned with a diamond accessory.
Joey knocked on the door three times, and it only took a second for Mai to open the door.
"Wow! Mai, you look stunning and your dress matches my tie and vest!" he complimented, earning a smile from his lady.
"And don't you look like such a gentleman in your finest?" Mai replied, making him blush a bright shade of pink as he giggled.
She called me a gentleman! Joey thought gleefully.
"Hey, where's your sister?" Tristan asked her. "The gala will be starting soon, and we can't keep the coachman waiting."
"She's almost ready," Mai answered her. "Just give her a second and she'll be down before you know it."
"I am ready," Aurora's voice said, grabbing everyone's attention.
Aurora was standing at the top of the stairs, dressed in a lavender gown with an empire waist, puffy sleeves that rested beneath her shoulder and a sheer flowing train. A pair of ivory gloves added the finishing touch to her look, and her blonde hair was worn into an elegant curled ponytail adorned with a diamond circlet on the top of her head.
Joey and Tristan's jaws dropped in astonishment at the sight of her elegant attire, and they had never seen her dress so sophisticated before. She was finally blossoming into a woman, just as Mai had expected.
"Wow! Your sister looks wonderful, Mai!" Serenity complimented.
"Thank you, Serenity," Aurora replied with a light smile.
"It's about time, little sister," Mai said to her. "Now, shall we head out into our carriage?"
"Alright!" Joey and Tristan cheered, jumping up in the air in front of the girls.
The dusk had transitioned into an early evening as the full moon rose upward, and the sky was painted navy. The carriage escorting the foursome parked right outside of the entrance to Pegasus's estate, which was just as grand as Seto's mansion.
"Alright! We're here!" Joey said, as he stepped out of the carriage first, gently grasping Mai's hand. Mai emerged from the carriage as she held onto Joey's hand, carefully watching her step.
Tristan and Serenity soon followed, and then Aurora was right behind them as she carefully lifted the hem of her lavender gown just to step out of the carriage.
But little did they know that the masked man was observing their arrival from a tree nearby the estate. It was another night for him to carry out his massacre, and he had to think carefully about who to target this evening and how to avoid being discovered by security.
Now, which of these shall I kill first? he thought to himself, examining the group. I'll save Pegasus for last, because he's the host of his grand gala and his artistic skill is what he is well-known for.
So far, Tristan and Serenity were out of the question for the time being, since he felt that they hadn't sparked his interest just yet.
These two will have to wait, he thought of them. And…
His eyes behind the mask suddenly lit up and a gasp emitted from his mouth as he was fixating on Mai walking down the path with Joey. He was left speechless by her radiant beauty, and not a single word was emitted from his mouth as he continued eyeing on her.
Hair yellow as the sunlight, skin fair as a porcelain doll, eyes purple as amethysts and lips red as a freshly blossomed rose…, he mentally described of her lovely appearance. Out of all the females I've encountered, this one is the most beautiful I have ever seen!
The masked man had never experienced a feeling of love before, as because he would normally search and kill anyone he would encounter in the streets of London. In this case, his sighting of Mai gave him the feeling of being struck by Cupid's arrow.
"So, are you excited to see Pegasus's newest work of art, Mai?" Serenity asked her. "Tristan and I can hardly wait!"
"Of course, Serenity," Mai answered her. "I've seen many of Pegasus's artworks at the city's grand museum before, and he's appeared in several newspaper articles praising his work."
"Mai…," the masked man whispered her name.
This woman, Mai… she will be my prize for tonight's murders I will carry out.
To his dismay, however, he growled lowly as his eyes leered at Joey grasping her hand and gazing into her amethyst eyes.
It appears that she already has a special someone of her own. I'll have a new competitor for her, so all I have to do is lure her away from him and I will make her mine…
In an instant, he disappeared into the wind, the leaves dancing along with it as they soared into the early night sky, which was filled with stars and a luminous full moon.
As soon as the foursome arrived and presented their invitations to the guard, Kemo, they made their way into the chalet and entered the grand ballroom, which was filled with additional guests. They consisted of the Kaiba brothers, who were dressed in black suits and contrasting colored vests and ties: Seto's was purple, and Mokuba's was yellow.
Duke, dressed in a crimson suit and black vest and tie, was flirting with a group of girls who were squealing in delight over seeing his handsome face. He was telling them a story about how he defeated a guy in a game of duel monsters one night, and his easy victory made the girls swoon over his confidence and good luck.
Yugi and Tèa were examining a statue, admiring its impeccable details. Yugi's attire consisted of a navy suit and pants, a white shirt, and a black vest and tie. His black shoes were neatly polished, as they shimmered in the lights above the couple. As for Tèa, she was dressed in a pink gown with ruffles on the sleeves, a pale pink bustle with a big bow adorned in the back, and a white underskirt. A pair of white gloves added a fine touch to her look, and she also had a pair of pearl drop earrings and a pearl necklace on her.
The moment Joey and Mai entered the room with Aurora, Tristan and Serenity, Yugi's eyes lit up with excitement and a big smile formed on his face.
"Joey! You've made it!" he cheered, running over to his best friend.
"I sure did, Yuge," Joey replied, giving him a high five. "Now, let's have a night to remember!"
"Yes!"
"Hey, guys," Tèa said to Tristan, Serenity and the Valentine sisters. "Great to see you tonight."
"It sure is, Tèa," Tristan replied, grinning at her.
"So who else is here?" Mai asked her.
"Bakura and Selena are here, too," Tèa answered, "along with Duke."
The moment Aurora laid her eyes on her best friend and Bakura Ryou, a small smile formed on her face and she headed over to them with a warmhearted greeting:
"It is good to see you two on this moonlit night."
Selena Weston was dressed in a purple gown that was slimming for her figure, and it had silver trimmings on the bottom hem and neckline. Amethysts were added onto the neckline and the waistline for a little extra elegance. A simple pair of black gloves were the finishing touch to Selena's look, and her long purple hair was tied up into a beautifully braided updo with white ribbons.
As for Bakura, he was stunning in a white suit and pants, light blue vest and tie, and silver dress shoes. Even though the suit matched his white hair, it was what he wanted to wear for the gala and Selena respected his decision.
"Good to see you as well, Aurora," Selena replied to her, giving her a polite curtesy. Bakura followed suit with a bow, earning a smile from Aurora.
"So, any update on Marik's whereabouts?" the white-haired asked, causing Aurora's sadness to resurface.
"We have contacted the authorities and asked them to search for him, but they could not find a single trace of him in the city," she answered lowly.
"We'll have to keep trying until we find him," Selena said, placing a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "I'm sure you will see him again, so don't lose hope."
Aurora simply nodded to her, albeit her sadness of her missing beloved was weighing on her like a ton of bricks.
Jenelle Rosenberger, dressed in a light blue gown and her blonde hair worn into a braided updo, was eyeing on a china vase that caught her attention as soon as she and her best friend Drake Malfroy entered the chalet. She was about to reach for it when her hand was roughly swatted by Drake, dressed in a navy suit and top hat, white shirt and black tie and vest.
"Can you not read, Jenelle?!" he snapped, a red vein popping up on his head.
"Huh?" Jenelle asked, tilting her head to the left.
Drake pointed out a sign below the vase, which was written in big red letters as he read out to her:
"Do not touch!"
Realizing that the sign would prohibit her from touching the vase, including holding it for one second, Jenelle sighed lowly:
"Ohh… Bummer."
Another guest was Vivian Wong, a sassy socialite who specialized in martial arts taught to her by her family. She was wearing a yellow long-sleeved gown that had gold trimmings on the neckline, sleeves and hemline, and her black hair was worn into a big bun with adornments sticking right through it. A grand statement necklace that had pearls and a teardrop-shaped ruby was worn around her neck for the finishing touch.
The crowd suddenly went quiet when Croquet arrived, and they were left wondering whether the host would be coming as well.
"It's one of Pegasus's suits," Yugi whispered to Joey.
"Presenting your host: Mr. Maximillion Pegasus!" Croquet announced.
There was a round of applause from the guests as the doors swung open and Pegasus entered the room. He was pleased to see the attendees applauding him, as because he never ceased to amaze them with his artistic skill.
"Welcome one and all, and thank you for coming," Pegasus said to them. "Tonight is a special night, as before the main course, I will present you with my newest masterpiece. That creation will be displayed at London's largest art museum for the entire world to see, and I can guarantee that I may inspire some people to become artists themselves!"
Another round of applause soon followed, and Pegasus was basking in his glory from their praises. He had put all of his hard work into his newest creation, and he was eager to unveil it when it would be time for the main course.
"I can't wait to see Pegasus's newest work!" Yugi said optimistically. "I'm sure that it will turn out to be amazing!"
Tèa nodded in agreement, and she could tell from the look on her beloved's face, as well as that of the host, that it would be a night for everyone—not just them—to never forget.
"While our host prepares for the revealing of his newest work, please enjoy the appetizers that we have for you to indulge in," Croquet announced.
The guests soon made their way to the tables that had delicious appetizers, which consisted of bacon-wrapped scallops; shrimp with cocktail sauce for the dipping; crostini with pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese; miniature meatballs drizzled in tomato sauce and sprinkled with parmesan cheese; and garlic bread bites painted in olive oil.
"I'm going first!" Joey insisted, roughly shoving Seto and Mokuba out of the way.
"Joey!" Mai, Yugi, and Tèa grimaced, with the others watching in awkward states.
So much for being a gentleman, Selena thought, rolling her eyes as she frowned.
"Get to the back of the line, Wheeler," Seto chastised him, sounding serious. "It's not polite for one to be cutting the line."
"Hello? I'm da hungriest of them all and you wanna get da food first, rich boy?!" he snapped, a red vein popping up on his head.
Mai grabbed Joey by the back of his black jacket and she dragged him to the back of the line, causing him to start flailing his arms around. She could hear him demanding that she release him, which she flatly ignored.
"Come on, Joey," she scolded him. "You need to act like a gentleman for once, even though you dressed up like one for the evening. So comply with Kaiba's order and wait patiently in line!"
Once they finally reached the back of the line, Mai released Joey's jacket from her grasp and headed off to the bar with a glass of red wine in mind. Joey folded his arms as steam was rising out of his head, and for sure, he was starting to see red about Seto and Mokuba being the first ones in line for the appetizers.
Meanwhile, Kemo was patrolling the corridor that led to the front door of the chalet when he heard the door swinging open. He turned to see the masked man walking down the corridor and he knew he had to act fast to evict the intruder.
"Hold it!" Kemo barked, stepping right in front of the man. "This is a private party, and it requires that you have an invitation to enter!"
"Who says that I need an invitation to gain entry to this place?" the masked killer interrogated, his lavender eyes leering crossly at Kemo.
"I've been ordered by Maximillion Pegasus to keep guard of his estate and keep out uninvited guests and intruders like you," he explained to him. "So leave now, before I call security!"
A devilish smirk formed on the masked man's face, and he pulled out his dagger from his rod and pierced it into Kemo's chest, causing the tall brute to cough up blood from his mouth. The stab wound was oozing a stream of blood that dripped onto the marble floor in front of Kemo's feet, and his vision was blurring as his body slumped against the wall. He finally closed his eyes and gave up his ghost seconds later, earning a satisfied smile from the malevolent murderer. He didn't take Kemo's warning seriously at all, as because he considered anyone making threats as nothing more than annoyances and their threats were empty to him.
"That was easy enough," he said, as he began walking away from Kemo's bleeding corpse. "Now… to find the woman."
Back inside the ballroom, Mai took a sip of the wine from her glass as she looked around the room filled with guests. They were complimenting on the lavish decor, ranging from a diamond chandelier to a grand golden piano that was considered as very rare. She could also hear a string quartet playing a lovely tune that Seto and Mokuba were enjoying. At the appetizer table Joey and Tristan were pigging out on bacon-wrapped scallops, crostini and shrimp cocktail, to the embarrassments of Mai, Tèa and Serenity.
"Are there more appetizers?" Joey asked Croquet, his mouth stuffed with the food.
"Yes, but it's best to save some for the other guests," Croquet answered him.
"He's right," Yugi said to his best friend, whilst taking a bite of a shrimp. "You'll need to save room for the main course, which will be served after Pegasus presents his new masterpiece to us."
"He's got a point," Tristan said, his voice muffled due to him chewing his food. "Though I have to admit that the appetizers are so mouth-watering!"
"You said it!" Joey chirped with a big grin.
In the midst of hearing the conversation between the boys, Mai abruptly paused at the sight of the masked man gradually walking past by the ballroom, causing her to release her wine glass from her grasp. It crashed to the floor, shattering into shards as she was still gazing at the mysterious man.
Who is this man? she wondered, her eyes blinking with inquisitiveness.
All of a sudden, she snapped out of her trance when she heard Joey say her name, and she immediately turned to him.
"Pegasus is gonna reveal da new artwork now. Are ya ready to see it?" he asked her.
Mai nodded to him, and they turned to see an unknown object covered by a white sheet being brought in by Pegasus and Croquet.
Gasps and murmurs could be heard from some of the guests, and they are all eager to see what was behind the sheet.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for," Croquet announced. "The newest creation by Mr. Pegasus!"
Pegasus pulled away the white sheet, revealing a grand painting of a woman with long blonde hair dressed in a periwinkle gown with pink bows and white ruffles all around. She had blue eyes that shimmered like the ocean, and her lips were as pink as cherry blossom petals dancing in the spring breeze.
"She's got a pretty face," Joey said, his brown eyes fixated on the woman. "She looks just like you, Mai."
He's right, Mai thought, as she gazed deeper into the painting. Almost immediately, she could tell that she and Cecilia have a striking resemblance to one another. I can tell that Pegasus loved this woman so much.
"This painting is dedicated to my beautiful wife Cecilia, who lost her life to an illness some time ago," Pegasus explained to the guests, attempting to hold back tears. "The anniversary of her death is approaching and I put all of my heart and soul into this painting. If she were here, she would have been proud of me for my accomplishment."
A round of applause broke out from the guests, and that was music to Pegasus's ears. He was right; it would have made Cecilia proud if she were still alive. Now he would make her prouder by displaying his masterpiece in the art museum.
Shortly after the new painting was unveiled, everyone was escorted to the dining room by Pegasus and Croquet. It had a grand wooden table with a velvet red table runner draped on top, a brass candelabra holding six lit candles, and a diamond chandelier hanging above the table. The plating, glassware and silverware were arranged in a neatly organized manner, and Pegasus would thank his maids and butlers for that.
"This dining room is lovely!" Tèa exclaimed, her blue eyes lighting up in delight.
"Perhaps I can use this as inspiration for my dining room decorating," Vivian said.
"My dining room is more lavish than this," Seto said, sounding arrogant.
"Take it easy, Seto," Mokuba advised his brother. "No need for you to compete with him on who has the most expensive tastes."
"Alright, everyone," Pegasus announced, as he seated himself at the head of the table. "It's time to take your seats. The grand feast will be arriving shortly."
The guests took their seats, which were assigned via tags that had their names neatly written on them. Joey was ecstatic to be seated next to Mai, and he wondered if it would be the right time for him to give her his special present: a velvet box.
It didn't take long for the maids and butlers to arrive with the main course: a big, juicy ham drizzled in a sauce; a tossed salad; and angel hair pasta with Alfredo sauce and grilled chicken.
"Dat ham looks so tasty!" Joey exclaimed, his eyes twinkling like stars as a drip of saliva streamed down his lip.
"And the chicken alfredo sounds delicious," Mai added.
Once the plates were served before them, the guests held out their silverware, ready to dig in.
"Everyone… enjoy your meal!" Pegasus chimed.
"Aww, dat was a delicious meal," Joey sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm stuffed."
"I thought that the ham was moist with flavor," Tristan said.
"My thoughts exactly," Yugi added.
"Did everyone enjoy their meal?" Pegasus asked the guests. "Well, expect a sweet ending to your meal, because dessert will be on the way shortly. Now if you excuse us, Croquet and I have to check on Kemo."
Once they left, the guests were left to do whatever they would need to do before the butlers and maids would arrive with the dessert.
"I think I should wash my hands now," Vivian said, rising up from her seat. "Now, where's the restroom?"
"Hey, Seto," Mokuba said to his brother. "I'm in the mood for gazing at more of Pegasus's artworks, if you want to check them out with me."
"Whatever," Seto replied with a disgruntled sigh. "Although, seeing his artwork gives me an opportunity to get a commission from him. Perhaps he can agree to make a portrait of me."
"I wanna look at the vase again!" Jenelle chirped, as she headed out of the dining room first.
"Remember, Jenelle: Don't touch!" Drake reminded her, whilst following close behind her.
"Well, Serenity," Tristan said to her, lightly grasping her hand. "How about a nice walk in the garden? We'll ask Pegasus where it is and we'll go there after dessert."
"Sure," Serenity replied to him. "A moonlit walk in the garden does sound romantic to me, Tristan."
As for Joey, he was fiddling around with the velvet box in his hands. He was eager to give it to Mai; however, he wasn't willing to do it in front of a group of people and he would rather carry it out when he would be alone with her.
I've gotta wait until da time is right to present Mai with dis promise ring, he thought, staring at the box. When I open da box right in front of her, she'll be happy to accept da ring!
Just then, the gang heard a horrified scream coming from the corridor, disrupting their socialization and Joey's thoughts of showing his gift for Mai.
"That sounded like Pegasus!" Yugi cried.
They raced out of the dining room and down the hallway, where they spotted Vivian, Drake, Jenelle, Seto, and Mokuba standing alongside Pegasus and Croquet.
"What's going on here?" Joey asked, sounding concerned.
Everyone was left in a state of shock at the sight of the scene; however, the most horrified were Pegasus and Croquet, who could hardly believe what they had just discovered.
"Kemo!" Pegasus exclaimed, his amber eye widening in horror.
Kemo's body had now been painted in blood as a result of the fatal stabbing. Soon, he would not be the only one marked for death on what was supposed to be a delightful evening…