Yugioh: The Hope of Six

Chapter 21: Kaiba Arc - Part 11

"It isn't over yet. According to Noah, Chopman is still waiting." Duke reminded everyone present. Suddenly, he got a buzz on his cell phone. He had set it on vibrate so he and the others would not be easily disturbed while watching everyone. The caller I.D. says "Unknown". This made Duke feel suspicious.

"Who's that?" Mokuba asked. Duke shrugged.

"Don't know." He felt he should let it go to voicemail, but he picked up anyway. If it was something related to Noah, he didn't want to hear it in a message. "Hello?" He replied casually. As he listened to the person on the other end of the line, his eyes widened and tensed up instantly. He kept quiet while the caller spoke. Aqua and the gang watched with both curiosity and concern. After a minute, a now pale Duke hung up.

"Duke, what's wrong?" Yusho asked. Duke turned his back to them.

"I... have to go upstairs. There's something I need to do. I promise I'll be back. Keep watching our friends and fill me when I return." He instructed them, an edge in his voice now.

"Where are you going?" Mokuba demanded. He was stunned one of Yugi's friends was about to leave without an explanation at a time like this.

"Stay here. No one leave. I'll be back soon." Duke said, ignoring the little boy's inquiry. He then stepped out of the room and into the hallway. After climbing up the staircase, he came to the door that led into another guest room.

Duke was still shaken by that phone call. Surely the person on the other line couldn't be who he thought it was, could it? Regardless if it was him or not, the threat given to him was clear. That was why he came up here. Scared but determined to protect those under his roof, Duke opened the door.

The bedroom was not quite mostly how he left it when he last entered. A bookcase and desk on the left, a queen sized bed on the right, and a table in the middle with a couple of chairs. Around the table and chairs was a large black circle with runes that gave him an odd chill he didn't like.

Sitting in one of those chairs was a plump man wearing a clown mask, who grinned when he saw the teen. "Duke, my boy. I was hoping you would drop by." Duke didn't return the smile. Even with that creepy mask, the young man could tell it was the same man his mother said had vanished before his life had even begun. And now he came back, apparently with some not so good agenda in mind.

"You didn't exactly give me a choice on the phone." He replied in a not so friendly tone. The man chuckled.

"I may look like a clown, but I don't joke around when I make threats... especially when I make good on them." Duke glared at him.

"Like threatening to destroy this whole building if I didn't show up?" The man snickered.

"Glad you're taking me seriously. I take it no one has followed you?" The stranger asked. Duke shook his head.

"Just you and me, old man." He said.

"Good, good. Now come here and sit down. We have some catching up to do." The man said, offering the other chair. Duke scowled as he closed the door behind him and approached the table. Once he sat down, he eyed the man opposite him with contempt. "Why the face? Aren't you happy to see your dear old father after all this time?" Duke flared his nostrils.

"My father died years ago, Hector. Or maybe I should just call you "Mr. Clown" instead. Goes with your new look. Either way, you're just some mask wearing wacko who threatened to kill some innocent people if I didn't agree to meet you here." Hector Devlin snorted, but still smiled.

"Name calling isn't nice, you know. If you were still a toddler I'd put you in time out." Duke's patience ran out as he slammed his fist on the table.

"Enough bull crap! Tell me what this is all about! Now!" Hector laughed at his son's outburst.