Love eternal (book 5)

Chapter 7: second appearance

Heba and Atemu have both left the room several minutes ago. I have been sitting here in silence ever since. My mind is swirling like smoke in the wind as I think over everything that has happened. I attacked Heba, locked myself away in a bathroom, was visited by the spirit of my deceased father, was told that I have two souls waging a war inside of me, and now I am sitting here alone in my dining room thinking about what I should do next. The truth of the matter being that I have no idea what to do next.
Memories of my loneliness creep back into my mind. The hours that I spent just sitting on the ledge of my palace looking out over my kingdom, dreaming of someone to come and take away my pain. To shine some light, no matter how small, into my dour existence. To alleviate the pain that had made itself a home inside of my heart. I had lived like that for years, ever since the death of both of my parents. There were people who had tried to help me but I was too proud and hurt to accept their aid. I had rather suffer alone than have them tell me how to help myself.
Tears prick in my eyes as I think about the miserable life that I have lead. How could I have allowed myself to live like that for so long? I don't even know the answer to my own question.
"Have you tried asking him what he wants?"
Atemu, my dear, sweet boy has grown so much faster than I believed to be possible. He has changed from the small infant that I would cradle in my arms at night and soothe back to sleep. Faster than I could even begin to fathom he has become a man who would have been more than worthy of the title pharaoh if it were still mine to give away. Bittersweet tears spill from my eyes and splash onto the smooth surface of the table. Tears of sadness and pride splattering on the wood like raindrops. Two gentle hands come to rest on my shoulders making me shudder from the sensation of the sweet touch.
"Hello Yugi." I whisper, struggling to keep my voice from wavering.
"Why are you crying?" He asks as he rests his head on top of mine, his face nestling into in my tricolored locks. "How can I help you?" I sigh softly as I bring a hand up to rest on his. Thin fingers tighten on my shoulders slightly.
"I don't think there is anything that anyone can do to help me."
"It's not hopeless." Yugi says seriously. "I won't allow for you to simply give up."
"Believe me Yugi, that is the furthest thing from my mind." I smile slightly as a stray tear streaks down my cheek. "I have no intention of giving up, nor do I believe this situation to be hopeless. It's just hard for me to believe that anyone other than myself can truly help me."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well," I chuckle slightly. "Our son seems to have had a rather profound epiphany, which I would have to say seems to be a fairly good option at this moment in time."
"Atemu?" Yugi asks as he comes to stand in front of me. "What exactly did he say to you?" I smile faintly at the beautiful, pure face that stands in front of me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He asks suspiciously as he kneels down to my level, his face tilted slightly as he looks into my eyes. I can't help but chuckle at the thought that he no longer needs to look up at me, he has grown enough to be the same height as me. I place a gentle hand on his cheek and stroke his face with my thumb.
"I'm just remembering how much you mean to me and how lucky I am to have you." I smile fondly as he blushes softly. "You truly are my light Yugi. My soul and life partner, my aibou."
"Don't get all mushy Yami." Yugi says teasingly. "I might have to start calling you softy now since you've grown to be so sentimental." He plants a gentle kiss on my cheek and that's when the familiar scorch begins underneath my skin. I flinch away from him and he looks upon me in confusion and shock. "Yami? Are you alright?" I quickly slide off the chair and stagger away from him.
"Get away." I choke out, my throat beginning to close due to the severity of the pain coursing through my system. "Please, stay back." His eyes glance down at my hand which is quickly turning tan and his face goes pale. "Please." I plead. "Stay away." Yugi shakes his head ferociously and comes to grab onto my hands. I try to yank my hands free but he holds on as tightly as he possibly can.
"I'm not going anywhere." He says sternly. His eyes piercing me to my very soul, something inside of me shivers at the intensity of his gaze. "I'm not afraid of you. I never was and I never will be."
"Yugi, please." I beg desperately as the dark pigment continues to spread, just now beginning to spread up my neck. "Get away."
"No." He snaps as he crashes his lips onto mine, the shift just now beginning to take over my head, my eyes beginning to cloud over. His lips dance on top of mine and someone else took control of my body and moved my hand to cradle the back of Yugi's skull. The intense scorch has begun to subside but I no longer have any form of control over myself anymore. Someone else has taken the wheel and I am helpless to stop them just as I was when I was trapped within the puzzle.
"I've missed this." A soft voice carries on the darkness making my heart pound in my chest. The voice was mine but I can't seem to find the source. What is this absolute madness?
"Atem?" Yugi whispers softly as he pulls away from the kiss. His hands cradle my face and his eyes look up at me with hesitant curiosity. "Are you there?" For a moment there is a silence inside of my head but that is quickly destroyed by the abrasive buzzing that consumes me.
"I have so many things to say to him." My voice carries through the air like a swarm of locusts buzzing incessantly. "Where do I even begin?" Just as my mouth opened to respond to him Yugi was ripped away from me. Something inside of me begins to weep. I can feel the sadness, despair and outrage that is raging within me with such an intensity that I can't even seem to breathe. Seth and Yugi look at me from the other side of the room. Seth gives me a hard stare as he meets my stare. We both remain silent as we regard each other but I already know what it is he intends to do.
"Forgive me, Atem." He whispers before blowing a dark purple powder at me. My eyes widen as I feel the deep, body trembling chills that wrack through my form making my other soul begin to disappear back into the oblivion, though this time I can feel the silver trail of tears that he has left behind on my cheeks. I look into the eyes of Seth and Yugi who look upon me with concern. I smile slightly before collapsing to the floor losing consciousness.