Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Dria
The once cherished diadem now felt foreign across my forehead. The green stone hung just low enough to be within my vision, to remind me of its presence and threaten me with its power. If I wasn't careful, the stone could overwhelm me as it had tried to do all those years ago. Only by destroying the source would I be able to remove the headpiece and be free once more. I wouldn't be able to do it myself though; the stone would prevent me from personally harming the Beast or my former king. I would need all the help I could get.
Suddenly, Croquet's assistant Richard came bursting through my door. "Ma'am, we have a problem. The car Mr. Pegasus had arranged to pick up Yugi Muoto and his guests has 4 flat tires just off the highway, and the driver was just discovered unconscious in the nearby ditch. Their flight arrived at the airport in San Francisco an hour ago, but when we contacted airport security about the issue, we received word a car claiming to be ours had already picked them up. How would you like to proceed?"
I kept my expression as neutral as possible, but a chill ran down my spine at the news. I already knew who had conceived of this plan. He was going after my friends to force my hand, to take away the people who had become dear to me so I would be alone with no choice but to seek him out. I had to get to my friends before anything happened to them. It could possibly force me to reveal my magic on a more public scale, but the consequences of allowing the alternative to happen were more than I could bear.
"Report to my father immediately. I will handle the rest."
"But ma'am, we don't know where they are. How are you go-"
"Please, we must act now. We can't waste precious time."
He nodded and disappeared down the hall. I quickly changed into more appropriate attire, wishing my beautiful bracelet was still around. Aristokles had disappeared again after Battle City, and I had hoped he would return to me soon. As a guardian of a former gate, however, I suspected I might not see him for some time given the current situation. Returning to the balcony, I whistled loudly for one of my companions. With the barrier destroyed by the Beast, it would be much easier to request their aid when I needed it.
She appeared in all her glory, shining brightly against the sun. I extended my hand towards her nose, petting her gently, before climbing onto her back. She stretched her broad wings before lifting us into the sky. Richard had been right; I had no idea where Yugi and the others were. The Pendant began to glow and lifted itself off my neck, pulling me in a direction of its choosing. I had nothing to lose by trusting it, so my companion and I followed it out into the desert.
After at least an hour of flying, my companion needed rest. The California sun, while usually pleasant and comforting, was taxing in the dry lands outside of the city. I had pushed her as far as she could go. Stroking her head gently, I thanked her for helping me and reassured her I wouldn't stop until our worlds were normal once again. Her blue eyes judged the strength of my statements, and when she nudged my cheek with her nose, I knew she believed me. She soon disappeared, having returned to her world after fulfilling my request.
The Pendant soon began pulling at my neck again, and though I had no idea where I currently was, I continued to trust my dearest possession. I could see an abandoned gas station in the distance, where I might find a map to get my bearings before continuing further. As I began walking towards the structure, a sudden change in the wind compelled me to look upwards, just in time to see a band of five Orichalcos soldiers hurtling in my direction. Within moments, I was surrounded. These beings were former Atlanteans who'd fallen prey to the curse of the Oricalchos. They'd wanted power, and in exchange, not only did they lose their physical humanity, but they lost their reason as well. All they could do now was follow orders; they could no longer decide for themselves.
At first, they stood still and showed no intention of attacking. If I tried to move, they readjusted to ensure that I remained surrounded. Perhaps they hadn't been sent with orders to harm me. I tightened my fists as I prepared to push my way through. Though I was not the hardened warrior I had been the last time I saw these figures, I was a more willing and driven combatant this second time around. I had people I wanted to protect with all my strength, and I wasn't wavering on which side was the correct one.
"I have no intention of going with you. My place is no longer with Atlantis."
As my declaration echoed in the desert, the eyes of the soldiers glowed red, and the Seal appeared on their foreheads. My hunch had been correct; they'd been sent to collect me, and if I refused to go quietly, they were to beat me into submission. Lacking my usual magical strength, I would have to move quickly if I wanted to find the Pharaoh, Yugi, and the others. Lifting my right hand, I began the battle with a powerful blast of magic upon the first soldier I saw.
After he vanished from my strike, I managed to usurp his weapon, a sword slightly longer and heavier than I was proficient with, but it would have to suffice. Gripping the hilt with both hands, I thrust forward, piercing the second in the chest as he charged toward me. A third approached me from behind before I could remove the weapon, intent on crushing my head from above. The fourth appeared from behind the vanishing second, his weapon swinging upwards. Rather than take on both together, I released the weapon and thrust my open palms toward them. Small chains emerged from my hands, flying at my opponents, and wrapped around their sword arms. I felt both soldiers pull against me, realizing my intentions. Jerking on both chains, I redirected the angle of their swings. At the last moment, I dove into the sand and out of the way. They struck each other with the blows they had intended for me, destroying themselves instead.
Finally, only one was remaining, but he was nowhere to be seen. I waited on bated breath for him to reveal himself. Only when I felt his weapon slash my right arm did I realize that he'd vanished into the wind so I wouldn't be able to see him. I yelped in pain from the wound, conjuring as much of a shield as I could with my uninjured arm as he swung again. His sword struck the shield with a mighty clang, and he was sent careening backwards from the recoil. Lashing out with the final burst of magic remaining in my body, I was alone in the desert once again.
I dropped to the ground, pressing my palm as hard as I could against my arm to staunch the flow of blood with the bottom of my shirt. The weapon had torn straight through my flesh, so there would be enough blood to cause concern and to become a hindrance to me. My hand glowed white as I attempted to use healing magic, but it was hardly effective, only enough to staunch some of the blood. I grunted in irritation as I tried to stand again.
Healing magic required the most power, something I was severely lacking right now, especially considering my use of magic in the fight I'd just endured. I would just have to wait for the wound to heal on its own and hope it didn't prevent me from what I needed to accomplish. A dark red line stretching from the mid humorous to mid forearm throbbed at every gentle desert breeze, and it burned with each drop of sweat that gathered on my arm.
Keeping as much pressure as I could on my injury with a portion of my shirt, I managed to walk the rest of the way to the abandoned station. I scoured the interior for anything I could use as a bandage but to no avail. I considered tearing my own clothes, but quickly realized I wouldn't be able to wrap my arm properly alone. If I'd been at full strength, I could have conjured something to use as a bandage and wrap it well, but the little healing I'd done had wiped out my remaining physical energy. It would take time before my body restored enough of the magical current for me to use for any purpose again.
Stumbling back outside, I lowered myself to the ground and leaned against an empty gas pump. My eyesight had become slightly clouded and an unnatural chill descended over my limbs despite the heat of the sun. Closing my eyes to rest and think of my next move for a few moments, I felt my mind drifting into yet another memory.
"Hey commoner, you missed a spot."
A cup of honey was dropped onto the floor of the palace's courtyard, leaving behind a sticky mess on the marble I had just finished cleaning. My father and I had become part of the royal court when I had turned 6 summers so I could train my magic skills. We traveled to the palace every day, but the home my father had built with his own hands remained our main residence, at my request. Leandros would leave me with the magic tutors for the day to work on various projects for the king, and he would come collect me in the evenings to return home. This routine had been followed for almost 3 summers now, with only a few times where we'd had to stay at the palace overnight. Everyone in the palace knew who I was, and that the red dragon had chosen me as his host, so no one questioned my constant presence.
I would practice magic during the morning with the tutor, but then would have the afternoon to myself. I only had a few friends to play or train with, and they were often in their own lessons at this time, so I instead offered to help the king's many servants complete simple tasks to keep my mind and hands occupied. What I didn't foresee, however, was the reaction of the nobles and their children, who quickly began to see me as their personal servant and not an honored guest of the king. The children, more so than their parents, were particularly cruel with their hurtful jokes and insensitive pranks.
Without replying or acknowledging their presence, I wiped up the sticky honey and collected the broken pieces of pottery to dispose of them. I hoped they would quickly find me unamusing and move along to find a new target. Usually, my hopes were well-founded, except for the presence of the Head Priest's son Hermocrates, who bore an unexplained grudge against me despite being 5 summers older. My head suddenly felt wet as the older boy poured a full cup of wine over me. I couldn't fathom why he would be so unpleasant when I had never faced him in a practice magical duel or even spoken to him before. Perhaps if I'd embarrassed him in front of the others, I could've understood why he'd treat me so poorly. Though my father would be disappointed, I couldn't help hoping I'd have the opportunity to unleash my power on him in a duel in the coming days.
"You're the girl who's supposedly partnered with the red dragon, aren't you? Why don't you call him out then to prove it? Or will you finally admit that the whole story is false?"
The other children laughed alongside him. Though I was unsure of the instigator, a rumor had begun permeating the palace in recent months that the red dragon hadn't actually selected me, and it was nothing more than an elaborate story concocted to strike fear into the monarchy. I had never revealed him to anyone at his request, not even to the king. Slifer was my creature, no one else's, and he wasn't interested in anyone taking advantage of either of us. In hindsight, it had been a wise decision on his part; as my father had warned me, many people sought the power Slifer and I could wield together, and not always for honest reasons.
"Look at the mess you've made now, commoner. You're a disgrace to Atlantis and the Dominion of the Beasts."
Before I could react, he slapped my face with the back of his hand, and I fell to the ground. A sharp sting burned my cheek where his beautiful ring had cut my skin, leaving behind a deep cut. I gingerly touched the wound and willed myself to not cry. I didn't want to give him that satisfaction. He raised his hand again, and I shut my eyes tightly as I braced for the next hit. I waited in anticipation, but the strike never came. Suddenly, I heard a scream.
Red was all I could see when I reopened my eyes as Slifer curled his comforting, scaly body around me. The priest's son stumbled backwards, his face pale with fear in the face of the monster that was my dragon. Slifer's mouths snapped together in anger towards my attacker; I wasn't positive, but based on the small puddle beneath him, it seemed like the poor boy wet himself in terror as my dragon's body continued to grow and his teeth inched ever closer to the one who'd harmed me. I gently touched Slifer's side, and he immediately turned back towards me as I sat upright, setting his head in my lap as his coils relaxed around me.
"Children! What's going on?"
The king and his head priest came running into the courtyard, likely having heard the boy's shriek. I wrapped my arms tightly around Slifer's head, preparing to be punished for having caused a scene. He growled lightly as the thought crossed my mind, and he hugged me more firmly with his tail.
"She attacked us with her dragon, Father! We were just passing by, and she set her dragon on us for no reason!"
Hermocrates immediately accused me of having started the squabble. His father turned an angry gaze onto me, only to falter when Slifer responded with a almightier stare, as if daring him to attempt harming or even blaming me.
"No, she didn't. He struck her first, after purposefully dropping a cup of honey on the floor and pouring wine over her. He then struck her when she didn't retaliate to any of his taunts. Look at her wet clothes and the blood on her cheek if you need further proof, Your Majesty."
My heart leapt into my throat as someone came to my defense. He appeared from behind one of the columns with three more boys accompanying him. Though I hadn't met him personally yet, I knew who he was without needing an introduction; his long blue hair and piercing golden eyes couldn't be mistaken. This was the crown prince of Atlantis, a boy equal in age to the one who'd insulted and assaulted me. Had he been here the whole time and seen everything? His friends bowed to the King before they spoke.
"We saw everything, my King. The girl didn't do anything wrong. Her creature was only defending her and rightly so."
As the prince and his friends explained what they had seen, the color drained from the priest's face as he heard of his son's cruel actions from an impartial third party. The prince gained nothing from defending me. In fact, it would have been smarter for him to defend the noble child, giving himself yet another ally for the future. So why defend the commoner? I tried to ignore the voice in my head saying it wasn't me that he was protecting, but rather Slifer.
The conversation ended very quickly after the prince's testimony. The priest's son was removed from the hall and temporarily banned from the palace complex. The king would consider lifting the ban after a period of time, but he allowed himself the possibility of making it permanent. It would be a devastating political and social blow to the priest's family if his own son was forbidden from being seen amongst other noble families and learning from the palace educators.
The adults then dispersed, returning to their duties, until only myself, the prince, and his followers remained. I kept my head low, not knowing how I should act in this situation. A hand came into my field of vision, and I looked up in confusion. The prince was looking at me with a soft smile.
"Are you alright? Can you stand?"
Nodding silently, I took his hand and stood. Slifer vanished in a puff of red smoke, seemingly satisfied with my safety for the time being. I wished he had stayed so I wouldn't have to face the prince alone.
"On behalf of my father's priest, I apologize for the way Hermocrates treated you. It was unbecoming of a potential future priest of Atlantis. I know it won't make up for what's happened under our roof, but would you like to join me for an afternoon snack?"
"Dria! Dria, please wake up!"
I felt a hand on my good shoulder, shaking me awake, and I groaned a little in response as I awoke from my nap. I couldn't be upset for long though because the smaller version of the man I wanted to see most was kneeling in front of me. I smiled as I leaned toward him, but felt my smile slip into a small grimace as my injury made itself known to me once again. His counterpart noticed immediately, as if he were already looking for a wound on my body. I could feel his concern and rage pass through the Puzzle to my Pendant as he stared at my injured arm.
What happened to you? You're badly hurt.
Yugi placed his hand above mine, and though the added pressure increased the pain for a moment, the warmth of his hand relaxed my tense body. I steadied my breathing so I could respond to his questions coherently.
"I was informed that you weren't picked up by our driver, so I came looking for you and was attacked on the way here. I've done what I can, but with most of my magic gone, it's not much. I hope it looks worse than it is, and it certainly can't be worse than it feels."
Tea suddenly appeared beside me with some torn cloth in her hands. Carefully, she and Yugi wrapped my wound as tightly as was comfortable. I hissed quietly as the bandage pressed against my injury, knowing I would have to endure it if I wanted to be of any use in this situation. I wasn't sure where she'd found the cloth, but based on the color, it must have come from her clothing. I would be sure to replace it as soon as possible.
"Do you hear that?"
I leaned back against the gas dispenser once again, keeping my breathing as quiet as possible and trying to focus on the sound Joey could hear. I soon recognized it as a motorcycle engine, and by the increasing volume, there must have been many headed this way. Yugi and Tea rushed out to the street to see if they would offer us help, while Tristian helped me stand once again, being careful to avoid my arm as he placed his arm around my waist. I pressed my useless arm as close to my body as possible and tightened my grip on the bandage. Trouble was coming, and I couldn't afford to be weak at this time.
A large group of motorcyclists appeared in the road, and they didn't look friendly. Joey pushed Tea behind him while the Pharaoh, who'd switched places with Yugi, stood in front of me. When the bikers didn't move, the boys pressed closer to us. I felt my power flicker as I tried to summon the strength for some kind of spell, but the magic inside sputtered and failed before anything could happen. I hadn't recovered enough yet after my fight with the Oricalchos soldiers.
"Didn't I tell you to get lost?"
"I don't believe they're taking your advice."
"I guess the spiky-haired kid is the smart one." The apparent leader of the group revved his engine again, making a grand show of himself. "Give us the priestess behind you."
I narrowed my eyes at him, at last comprehending the force behind this group. He, or maybe his followers, had sent them here, expecting to find an easy, exhausted target. The first group of soldiers may have been ordered to weaken me, even at the cost of their lives, so I wouldn't be able to defy these bikers if their services were needed.
"Hey, I just got a great idea, guys. Run!"
I clenched my teeth against the pain as running aggravated my injury, and I pressed my useful hand against the now bloody bandages harder. My magic had been able to slow the bleeding down, but it wasn't enough to stop it altogether, and it didn't come close to removing the throbbing. Even so, I kept up with the others as we headed for the limo that had collected them from the airport. Unfortunately, human legs against motorcycle engines led to a predictable conclusion.
"What should we do?"
"Whatever we have to."
Our pursuers all revealed solid metal pipes from the back of their rides. I hadn't spent much time in a modern classroom, but the sound of the pipes scraping against the road reminded me of nails on a chalkboard. They circled us in an intimidating fashion, waiting for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Half of my vision became blurry as I tried again to summon forth the little magic that remained within me. I reached as deep within myself as I could, preparing to borrow from my remaining physical strength to gather the power I needed. As one came flying towards us, the pipe ready to strike, a card struck his hand and the pipe fell to the ground. I felt my power immediately dissipate once again, and I leaned into the Pharaoh's back for support.
"What just happened?"
A lone rider came out from behind the plateau nearby and began striking the unfriendly gang with more cards. It wasn't exactly how I'd intended for the game to be played, but the cards apparently made for sharp throwing weapons. Taking advantage of the confusion, the Pharaoh grabbed my waist and pulled me towards the limo. Tristan took the driver's seat and started the engine. Everyone was aboard when a loose motorcycle struck one of the gas pumps. Flames suddenly appeared from within the machine, which was never a good combination with gas.
Tristan pressed the gas pedal as far as it would go as the flames encircled the abandoned building. Twisting my body around in the backseat, I regathered the earlier strength I'd compiled, borrowing from any physical power I had remaining, and thrust my palms forward, creating the strongest barrier I could manage to protect the car from the explosion. The flames, pieces of the building, and various rocks struck the barrier as we hurried away as quickly as possible and ricocheted back towards the now ablaze station. I held the shield as long as I could, ignoring the feel of the bandage grow heavier as it became soaked in blood.
A groan slipped from my mouth as the barrier faded, and I resumed keeping pressure on my wound, which was now causing more severe side-effects. My eyesight blurred once again, the chill reoccupied my limbs, and my stomach twisted as nausea rose. Tea quickly replaced the first bandage with a second, and I made another mental note to replace any clothing she'd been kind enough to dismantle for my sake. Even if we weren't the best of friends, I always repaid my debts. The Pharaoh placed his hand on my shoulder above the wound, looking for a way to help but only succeeding in raising his own anxiety.
"Dria, how can I help?"
I shook my head in response, turning back around in the back seat to sit like a normal human, and tried to manage the side-effects of my injury. He brought his face closer to me, touching my uninjured shoulder gently.
"Please, Dria, there must be something."
Before I could restrain it, my temper flared. "I'm fine," I snapped at him as I jerked my shoulder out from under his hand.
He pulled back from me, eyes widening as he stared at me in surprise. Catching a glimpse of myself in the window behind him, I realized what had caught him off guard. My eyes were red, and the green stone in the center of my diadem was glowing. Not even a full day, and already the power of the Oricalchos was threatening to overtake me. I closed my eyes and leaned against the back of the seat. I took a few deep breaths, willing the stone to return to its slumber and my temper to dwindle. The Oricalchos granted power, but it took away something even more precious: reason. If I wanted to stop this war from repeating, I had to keep my wits about me. I had tried using power once before, only to fail miserably and lose everything.
I reopened my eyes after some time and looked back at him, speaking in softer tones. "Thank you for your concern, but I'll be alright. There'll be something I can use at headquarters, so I just have to hold on until then."
We fell silent for a few moments, neither sure of what to do next. The rest of the gang was pointedly looked elsewhere, giving us as much privacy as they could in this shared vehicle. I wasn't sure if an apology would be enough, but he needed to know that I wasn't upset with him. I touched his hand with my fingertips and lowered my head to him in deference.
"I'm afraid, Pharaoh. My magic, the skill that sets me apart, has been stolen and sealed against our enemy. The gods have been drained of their strength, and innocent souls are being targeted and taken. Still, this doesn't excuse directing my anger towards you, and for that I am sorry."
His fingers touched my chin, lifting my gaze back to meet his. His facial expression remained neutral, but his eyes revealed the love and understanding in his heart.
"I understand, habibi. Don't keep your fears to yourself. Share them with me and let me bear them with you."
He was using my own words from Battle City against me. I wasn't sure exactly how he could help with this burden, but with my magic weakened, I couldn't bear it alone. I gave him a small smile, which he returned and gently kissed my forehead. I leaned against his shoulder, pressing my uninjured side against him. Wrapping his arm behind me, his right hand joined mine currently keeping pressure on my freshly bandaged wound. I winced slightly at the additional strength, but soon the throbbing and subsequent pain lessened, my body at last relaxed, and I fell asleep.
Pharaoh
Dria slept peacefully beside me as we continued our journey to Pegasus' headquarters. I kept a tight grasp on her wounded arm, hoping to prevent it from reopening again. She hadn't explained yet how she'd been injured, but I didn't anticipate she would if I prodded her. I could only hope that she might tell me of her own accord, and that whatever had happened to her wouldn't occur again.
We only made it about 30 minutes further before the limo's engine overheated, causing the car to stop. Dria groaned as the unexpected stop dragged her out of the nap, and she swayed slightly as she tried to shake off the fatigue, both physical and mental. Slowly, we exited the vehicle and gathered our belongings from the trunk. Dria stood off the road, still clutching her wound but with less force than she had been using earlier. The bandage was a deep red, so it was unclear whether her injury was still bleeding. I glanced between her and the luggage we'd brought, preparing to carry her on my back while pulling our stuff along.
I'm fine, Pharaoh. Don't overexert yourself on my account.
I rolled my eyes at her smirk but couldn't keep the smile off my own face.
Stay out of my head, woman. At least let me pretend like I'm your knight in shining armor.
She stuck her tongue out at me in return, her eyes dancing with amusement. I offered my arm instead, which she accepted, and we began our trek towards our destination. Though it would be a very long walk, Dria promised that her father's headquarters were straight ahead.
"So the car overheated. Sue me."
"Do us a favor: from now on, let a pro do the driving."
"If you hadn't taken your sweet time getting in, then I wouldn't have had to drive so fast, and the car would be fine."
The stress of our travels, along with the heat, was beginning to weigh upon the group. Joey and Tristian, unsurprisingly, took it out on one another. Dria giggled beside me, while Tea and I sighed in exasperation.
"This is not the time to be fighting one another. The first thing we need to do is locate Pegasus."
"Yugi, it seems like whoever is after Pegasus knows we're here, and I bet they got to him first."
Dria's head dropped at Tea's words. Had Pegasus known that he was in danger and sent her here instead? Dria's eyes lifted back to mine, and she shook her head at my thought; she had come alone, having chosen to protect us instead. I gently touched the side of her face with my free hand, and she leaned into my fingertips. I wanted to ask if she knew anything about her father, but the pain I saw lingering in her eyes kept the question from arising. Even when she opened her mouth to respond, I placed a finger over her lips. The answer wasn't important. She was with me, and she was safe. That mattered more. I turned back towards Tea and the others.
"Phase two: how do we get there without a car?"
"Someone will pass by here soon enough. It's a common enough highway."
Dria's prediction came true sooner than expected. Someone was driving down this open stretch of road. Dria and Tea pushed us behind a large boulder, claiming that the driver would stop if he or she thought it was only two women who needed help. They both smiled and winked at the driver, whom I almost felt sorry for; he stood no chance against these two ladies. He slammed on his brakes and came to an immediate stop. He was pleased at first, only to scowl when he understood the situation.
After much convincing, our driver agreed to take us to Industrial Illusions headquarters. Dria sat up front with the man while Joey, Tristian, Tea, and I rode in the open truck bed. Despite being injured, she maintained a long conversation with the driver, occasionally laughing and placing her hand on his shoulder. I tightened my fist each time. I knew why she was flirting, but I couldn't contain my jealously regardless.
"Thanks Tristian. This is much better than the limo."
"No one thinks you're funny, Joey."
"I've got a question," Tea interjected. "You said Mai helped us out back there. But how do you know it was her?"
"She was carrying Harpy Lady. It's Mai's trademark."
If it was Mai, why didn't she stick around?
I agreed with Yugi's confusion. Glancing towards Dria, I was hoping that she would chime in with her thoughts, but she seemed to be deliberating ignoring the question. She hadn't been too forthcoming with information recently, but I knew better than to push her. I could only hope that she would trust me enough to let me hear her thoughts. I kept an eye on her throughout the ride, making sure that her wound wasn't becoming worse. She somehow managed to keep it out of the driver's sight throughout the ride.
About an hour later, the driver dropped us off at Industrial Illusions Headquarters. Dria placed a final kiss on his cheek as thanks before jumping out of the car. He touched his face in surprise, and I could see the hope in his eyes that if he asked, she would stay with him. But before he could voice the question, she wrapped her uninjured arm around me, which I happily responded in turn. The man drove off before Dria could turn back to say farewell. I smirked, my jealously somewhat mollified.
The front doors were wide open when we approached, but the central lobby was deserted. No one was working at the front desk, nor did anyone respond when Tristian called out. Dria worriedly looked around, searching for a familiar face. She probably knew everyone who worked in the company, and she must have been concerned for each individual person.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
I suspect the thieves who were after Pegasus may have already found him. If that's the case, I'm sure they're expecting us.
Dria began rummaging through the drawers of the front desk. After a few moments of searching, she revealed a prepared medical kit, smiling sheepishly when I raised an eyebrow.
Father had every floor keep one of these on hand. It wasn't unusual for me to have some injury that needed bandages replaced.
As much as Pegasus irritated me, I appreciated the man for how much he doted on his daughter. After stripping off the well-used bandage, Tea helped Dria apply a salve and wrapped a more reliable dressing around the wound. From a distance, it looked like it had stopped bleeding, but the healing was still fragile and could reopen at any time. Dria smiled brightly in thanks towards Tea when they finished. Tea was surprised by the movement, and a faint blush appeared across her face; the affect Dria had on people, even those who didn't consider themselves her friend, was astounding. Dria then replaced the kit, and Tea checked the phone line. Suddenly, gates dropped down in front of all the exits, locking us inside the building.
"These things won't budge!"
"We've been tricked!"
Dria returned to my side as I shook the gates, even though I knew it would have no effect. She touched my shoulder and directed my attention to the upper level. At the same time, a red motorcycle leapt from the second floor and dropped to our level. The driver was skilled, unafraid of the drop, and managed to land with ease. It was the same motorcycle that had come to our rescue out in the desert. Joey had been correct. The rider was Mai Valentine, but she didn't look happy to see us.
"What brings you to San Francisco, Mai? The trolleys?"
"I'm not Mai. At least, not the Mai you knew."
Drawing a card from her deck, Mai displayed the front side. I heard a strangled gasp beside me. Dria's eyes widened in shock, and she slowly dropped to her knees. It was Pegasus, his soul trapped within the card. Dria covered her mouth with her hands, attempting to hold back her grief for her lost father, but her sharp intakes of breath were audible. I kneeled beside her, wrapping an arm around her.
"Question: did you do that to him?"
"You'd better start talking!"
With tears still in her eyes, Dria glared at Mai with all the force she could while Tea and Joey interrogated Mai, and her eyes began to flicker red. It was clear that our former friend had betrayed us and attacked Pegasus with this new dangerous card.
"Or else what?"
An unknown voice responded from the floor above. It was two members of the biker gang that had stolen the god cards from us. Glancing back down at Dria, her eyes were now fully red, and the stone in the center of the circlet on her forehead glowed brightly. Taking her hand in mine, I helped Dria stand before turning back to Mai.
"Time to explain yourself."
"I'm going to break you apart one by one. And Wheeler, I'm starting with you."