Verklempt
Verklempt (adj.) completely overcome with emotion
Clicking could be heard down the polished hallway as a dapper aid swiftly walked toward the office of the rising powerhouse. Maids and servants bowed their heads as she breezed by. As they should, she thought to herself with a smirk. After all, she was the best of them, the best experiment their master had created. No one else could claim that title. No one else.
But them.
The smirk on vermillion lips melted at the thought. She had been the first breakthrough. Yet, it was always them that would be the most cherished. Even though they had escaped. Even though they had been nothing. They were the one’s her master had been searching for tirelessly. They were the ones who would always come first.
Oh, how she hated them. Hated what they represented. The very fact that she was not perfect. That she was not whole. Unlike them.
Slanted blue eyes flashed red at the thought.
But it didn’t matter now. No. It didn’t matter. Her wayward siblings had finally been found. It was an occasion to be cherished. The fact that all her master’s–all of her–tireless searching had finally paid off.
Stepping through the gilded outer doorway of her master’s office the aid breathed in deeply. She would beat her siblings bloody and drag them back bound and gauged if she had to. They were the key to all her masters’ plans. Not even their unwillingness to listen to their lord and masters orders would stop what was in store for them, and more importantly the world.
After all, there where ways to deal with unwilling slaves.
Golden plated doors stood before the aid. She stopped infront of them to straighten her suit and blank all emotion from her face. It would not do for the man behind these doors to think she was degenerating. Pain flashed through her skull for a moment and double vision distorted the swirling designs on the door before her.
She did not flinch. She did not wince. Nothing about her form showed the agony she had been in moments before.
With gritted teeth the aid lifted a hand to knock. She would give no reason to the man behind these doors that she was degenerating. Not when there was a chance that they could save her life before she ended theirs.
The man inside the office called for her to enter seconds before her discoloring knuckles could touch the doors golden surface.
“Enter.”
Breathing deeply the aid opened the door and entered the richly decorated room. Large windows engulfed the room in predawn light as shadows congealed in corners and under furniture. A large desk sat in the center of the room. The leather throne like chair behind it held the aid’s master.
“What news do you have for me?” The man asked.
The aid bowed lowly. “They have been found, master.”
“Truthfully.” Her master demanded.
“Yes,” the aid stepped forward and placed a folder on the desk.
The master swiftly opened the folder spilling photos over the desk. All the pictures where of three teenagers with other non-important persons sprinkled throughout. Her master shifted through the photos until he came upon one that proved the three teenagers in question where his.
A tan finger traced the intricate design of the brand on the back of the smallest teen. Even after nine years the brand was still visible. As it should be. It had been made with the master’s blood, only the masters death would dissolve proof that the teens belonged to him.
Green eyes looked up from the photo to stare at the woman standing before their desk. She had been his first success and his most loyal servant. A leer came and went across the master’s face in seconds. She had done everything she could for him, been everything he had needed her to be. And once again she had proved why she was the best.
“You have done well,” the master said, “where did you find them?”
“Domino, master.”
He hummed. Domino…he should have known. The vampires of Domino had been a wrinkle in his plans for years. He could get no information as to what was really happening in Domino. Glancing once again at the photos the master finally understood why.
Fledglings are always to be protected. The master thought to himself.
“It’s time to retrieve you’re wayward siblings. I expect them here before the blood moon.” The master stated as the aid slowly backed out of the room.
“Of course, master.”
“Oh, and Anzu,” the aid – Anzu – stopped at the door, “I want them alive.”
Anzu clenched the doorknob. “As you wish, master.”
The warm glow of lamps danced with dust particles as the Pharaoh walked through the mansions massive library. It had taken him hours, but the Pharaoh had finally escaped his court’s pestering. Isis wasn’t letting him out of the mansion without an escort for the next few day. Not after he had disappeared for two nights.
With a sigh the Pharaoh flopped down on a velvet chaise. The chaise was in a hidden reading nook. It wouldn’t hide the Pharaoh from his court, but it would give him the privacy he sought at the moment. He had finally found his little game. Had talked to him. Or the Pharaoh should say. Atem had talked to him. To Yugi.
Yugi.
A bitter chuckle left the Pharaoh’s lips.
He was still in shock that Atem hadn’t done anything to the human. Or should he say his human? Yugi was his. Atem had decided that the moment he had noted that differences between their dead mate and the human. The Pharaoh after reviewing their memories agreed. Yugi was his, was theirs. The Pharaoh and Atem’s.
Hmmm, how would Yugi deal with a vampire with a broken psyche that claimed him as its own?
Sliding down the chaise until he was horizontal the Pharaoh placed one of his sepia arms over his eyes. He couldn’t deal with this. He didn’t know how to deal with this. This, these feelings that where bubbling up in his chest.
Hunts didn’t happen with the Pharaoh, he didn’t hunt. Yet. Yet, he had fallen into a hunt. Initiated it all because a human looked like his lost mate at first glance.
Ra! How could this have happened!
A growl escaped the Pharaoh as he flopped onto his side. The worst part was that the hunt was still existent. It should have ended when he realized the differences between Yugi and his pale vampire.
And yet…the Pharaoh was feeling things he had never hoped to feel again. For a human no less. This wasn’t a normal hunt. This hunt wasn’t about feeding from a human that fit his requirements, for finding a feeder.
Chatoyant eyed squeezed shut tightly as the feelings swirling inside of him became painful.
This hunt was for a mate. A new love to spend the rest of eternity with. What would his court say when they found out? What would his people say?! Yugi wasn’t even a vampire!
Mmh, mmh, mmh!
The Pharaoh’s cellphone vibrating derailed his thoughts. Only the court had that number. Only the court and…Akefia! The Pharaoh rolled into in seated position and fished the phone out of his back pocket. Checking the caller I.D. it was confirmed Akefia was calling.
“Yes?” The Pharaoh asked.
“Atem,” Akefia’s breathless voice crackled through the speaker.
The Pharaoh sat up straighter, something wasn’t right. “What is it? What happened?”
“Nothing yet.” Akefia breathed out. “Something is going on. Something important and I’m going to find out. I’ll be doing some research, so don’t panic if you can’t get in contact with me.”
The phone creaked at the pressure the Pharaoh was putting on it. “DO you need some assistance?”
A barking laugh came through the speaker. “Oh, no.” Akefia gaffed. “I head you’re under house arrest, Atem. Stay in the mansion. Act as you would normally. We don’t want those involved with whatever is happening to suspect anything.”
“And the Pharaoh going missing would be a sign that something is up.” The Pharaoh finished with a sigh. “Very well, be safe Akefia. I except to hear back from you Thursday.”
“Using the human’s weeks now? Never mind, I will talk to you then. May the night guide you.”
With the ancient blessing spoken Akefia quickly hung up, leaving the Pharaoh once again alone with his thoughts. Huffing the Pharaoh once again laid down on the chaise. He didn’t have anywhere to be for five hours. That should be more than enough time for the Pharaoh to figure out what in the name of Ra the gods where punishing him for.