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A few days
have passed since the encounter with Adrien. Lady Kayura
returned to the Netherworld to not only resume her duties as the
last of the Ancients, but to give Anubis and Mia their privacy,
seeing how it was their honeymoon and all. Although at first
she was reluctant to leave. She was worried about Mia and
the whereabouts of Adrien. Anubis had gone and searched
nearly the entire area but found no trace of the enigmatic assassin
or his ninjas. Of course Kayura
stayed behind with Mia in the lake house. But what she and
Anubis found odd was that Mia acted as though nothing had happened.
When
she had first awoke on the night of her return from Adrien's castle,
she seemed quite surprised to see Kayura at the house. Even
when both Anubis and Mia questioned her about Adrien, she was
shocked that they happened to know about Adrien...
"Mia?"
Mia looked up with a start, glancing at Anubis.
She saw that they were standing out on the dock of the lake.
Behind them, the lake house stood. The red jeep was
parked beside it as always. Inside the living room light
was on, giving the "home away from home" effect.
Unsure of what to say to Anubis, she murmured, "Something
wrong?"
"What is wrong?" Anubis asked, trying
to hold back his frustration.
"Nothing's wrong," she replied calmly,
gazing out at the lake's surface. The moon's silvery rays
shined upon the water, making it shimmer.
Anubis sighed heavily. That's all she
said whenever he asked what was the matter. Nothing's wrong.
No, something was wrong. He could feel
it. He was told that on honeymoons, the happy couple would
spend their time together, being intimate, romancing one another,
and that sort. Yes, that did happen the first couple of
days. After Mia returned from Adrien however, she seemed
rather distant. Often when he would give her a hug or kiss,
she would brush him aside, making an excuse to leave. Other
times when she would return his affection, it seemed expressionless.
Her kisses were crude and her hugs felt cold and empty rather
than warm and fulfilling.
"I'm going inside."
Anubis shook his head, forgetting his thoughts.
He turned and discovered that Mia had made her way off the dock.
He sighed and followed her. "Mia, stop. We need
to talk."
The young woman frowned, her blue-green eyes
dark. "Why? There's nothing to talk about."
"You know very well what we need to talk
about," Anubis growled. "Ever since you came back,
you've been acting strange."
Mia was taken back. She looked as though
she had been slapped across the face. "How... strange?!
How can you say such a thing?"
***
"Master,
it's working," the ninja announced.
Adrien was leaning against the cold walls of
his domain, his eyes gazing upon the mysterious green fire.
Within the flickering flames he saw the image of Anubis and Mia
on the dock. He smiled. "Yes, it is. My
powers combined with those of the Cessation Stone has indeed done
a wonderful job."
The ninja laughed. "And soon, you
shall get your prize and rule the Dynasty's Underworld!"
"Yes! You are correct! I shall...
r-rule with an iron fist..."
"Master?"
The ninja turned and discovered Adrien kneeling
on the ground. His hand was over his right eye which was
glowing a strange color. He panted heavily and groaned.
"Master! Shall I--"
Adrien shook his head. "No...
this is wrong... Mia, I'm sorry... I won't do...
ARGH!"
The young man's body was suddenly consumed
in a pale light. The ninja hissed and took a few steps back.
The light washed over the entire room like a huge tidal wave.
Yet this only lasted for a few moments. The
light faded into the darkness and Adrien stood. The ninja
was in a state of epilepsy on the solid granite floor of the keep.
Adrien simply ignored the ninja and gazed at the fire once more.
"Enough of this," he snarled, both
eyes glowing blood red. "Time to take this into action."
With that said, he lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.
***
Mia cried
out as pain electrified inside her head. She clutched her
head and sank to the ground. Her whole body trembled as
she felt immense pressure. Crushed by the thoughts of others,
she couldn't keep them all out. She heard voices shouting
from all around. She could no longer hear her own thoughts.
However, one particular voice boomed throughout her head.
::Kill::
"MIA!" Anubis cried. He knelt
beside her and gathered her in his arms. "Love, what
is it? What's the matter?"
Mia lifted her head and her eyes widen.
She saw Kayura standing behind Anubis. She had her arms
wrapped around his neck, embracing him from behind like
one lover would do for another. "W-What is she...?"
Anubis frowned. "Mia, what are you
talking about?"
He turned around and saw no one. Mia
suddenly gasped as she saw through her eyes, Anubis turn around
and smile at Kayura. She watched helplessly as the two gazed
at one another and move their heads closer together as though
for a kiss...
"NO!"
Mia shoved Anubis away and scrambled to her
feet. Anubis, totally in a state of confusion, stood up
and faced her. He shouted, "Mia! Please, what
has gotten into you?!"
::See? He loves the traitorous blue-haired
witch, not you::
"None of this is real!" Mia cried
as she squeezed her eyes shut. She shook her head and exclaimed,
"Who are you???"
"Mia!"
Anubis rushed to her side but she slapped him
away with such surprising strength. She held her head in
her hands and slowly sank to her knees, trembling. Opening
her eyes and lifting her head, she gasped as she she saw Anubis
and Kayura holding one another and laughing at her.
"Such a weak girl," Kayura hissed
as she rested her head on Anubis' shoulder.
He chuckled and added, "Yes she is.
I must have been drunk out of my mind to ever fall for such a
coward as her!"
Mia shook her head violently. "NNNOOO!!!
Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"
Anubis drew back as Mia got to her feet and
glared at him, fists shaking at her sides. Her beautiful
blue-green eyes were filled with tears. Dear god, he didn't
know what was going on! No... but he did know who
was beind this.
Adrien.
"Curse him," Anubis hissed through
clenched teeth. "Adrien! Come on out--NOW!"
The former Warlord quickly changed into his
subarmor and not a moment too soon, for Adrien appeared beside
Mia. Anubis rushed to her side but a strong force sent him
hurling back. He slammed onto his back and was sent sliding
hundreds of feet. It was only when he crashed into the side
of lake house that he stopped.
"A-Anubis!" Mia screamed. She
started to follow him but Adrien placed a hand on her shoulder
and drew her back. He shook his head.
"Don't go to him," he said to her in a
calm, casual voice.
The young woman scowled. "Let me
go, Adrien!"
"I don't understand. How can you
even think of helping him when you just saw him and Lady Kayura--"
"It's not real. None of it is.
Anubis loves me and would never do anything to hurt me."
"What?!"
Mia closed her eyes and shook her head slightly.
The dizziness and distortion gradually began to fade. She
opened her eyes and without another word, she raced over to where
Anubis was.
"Impossible," Adrien whispered to
himself in disbelief. She really does love Anubis, he thought
to himself. No, but she was mine first! If it wasn't
for me, she or Dr. Koji wouldn't have known much if anything about
the Netherworld and its people! This is no good. Time
to go back.
With those thoughts, he vanished into thin
air.
"Where did he go?" Anubis wondered
as he peered through the torn wall of the living room. If
anyone else had been thrown into a house like he had, they probably
would not have made it; if so, however, they would have suffered
from multiple broken bones, gashes, bruises, etc. Anubis
was not like anyone else though. He was very strong and
invulnerable to most
physical attacks.
Behind him, Mia sighed. "Anubis,
I'm sorry about what happened. I-I couldn't think straight
or..."
"No love, it wasn't your fault."
He turned around and faced her, a warm
smile on his face. "Adrien did something to you while
you were taken from me. Don't worry though, I promise you
we'll figure a way out of this. How do you feel now?"
"Horrible," she murmured. "Oh
Anubis..." She felt her eyes water but she brushed
them away with the back of her hand before they could fall.
"I promise I'll make it up to you... if only I had
realized it... I..."
He silenced her with a long, tender kiss.
He slid his arms around her waist and drew her close while she
wrapped her arms around his neck to lean into the kiss. Afterwards,
the two simply held one another as the sun began to set.
To Be Continued