I Will Wait

Chapter 2 – Unfair Treatment

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Once Atemu got to the room and they were both in, he locked it with shadows. The boy looked around carefully and ended up backing against the door and fell to his knees. Atemu disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes and came back out with a bowl of water, cloths and bandages. He placed them on the ground next to the bed.

“Come here.” He called firmly.

The boy slowly got up and started walking towards him. Atemu had been digging through the draw next to the bed when the boy stood next to him. He motioned for him to sit down on the bed while he continued rummaging. He eventually took out a long knife and sat it down beside himself. The boy’s eyes didn’t leave the knife and he trembled. Atemu took the rope in his hands and notice the boys fear. He picked the knife up and then the boy started crying. Atemu brought it to the boy’s hands and slid it underneath the rope and cut the rope with it. The rope fell to the ground and Atemu put the knife away as to not frighten the boy further.

“Hey what’s your name?” He asked, the boy didn’t answer. “Alright, do you have a name?” the boy nodded. “Cool, do you have a family to go to?” the boy suddenly cried.

He brought his knees up and wrapped his arms around them and cried with his face in his knees. Atemu got up and sat next to him and put his arms around him.

“Hey I’m sorry. Look I want to clean up those cut you have. Could you take your tunic off so I can get to them?” the boy nodded and Atemu go down on the ground. The boy removed his tunic and sat there quietly while Atemu cleaned them up and dressed them. The cuts were only on his front where he had been beaten. Atemu took hold of his hands and placed the cloth on it. The boy held back a cry and Atemu dressed it and did the same to the other hand.

Once it was done Atemu walked into the bathroom.

‘By Ra, he was skinny. He had his ribcage showing fully. I could count clearly how many ribs he had.’

Atemu walked back out to find the boy in the back corner of his room. He was curled up on the floor crying. Atemu walked over and picked him up bridal style. The boy struggled.

“Hey settle. I’m not going to hurt you.” He said as he walked over to the bed and laid him on it. “I want you to get some sleep. But first I must know your name.”

The boy shook his head and tremble, knowing from what the other prisoner had told him, he was most likely going to get beaten. He heard Atemu sign and looked at him.

“Listen if my father, who is Pharaoh comes and asks who you are I won’t be able to…”

“OPEN THIS DOOR ATEMU!!! NOW!!!” a voice yelled angrily.

“Shadows return to me.” Atemu commanded. “Yes father?” he asked bowing as the Pharaoh came through.

“Two questions. One why is that slave in your bed when he shouldn’t be? Come here boy, Now. And two…” the boy go up and quickly looked at Atemu who only nodded and he went to the Pharaoh. “What makes you think you can tell the soldiers of the city not to punish?”

“The answer to your first question is he needed rest and as my slave he does what I say. And two, I didn’t say they couldn’t punish, just only hit three times. They were beating the living hell out of him and he only took a piece of food. Have you seen how thin he is, he has no family?” Atemu replied

“Oh, no family. That’s no excuse. What is your name boy?” Akhenamkhanen asked and he just looked at the ground. “I asked you a question slave. What is your name? Has he told you Atemu?”

“No father.”

“Fine then. Bring it to me.” He commanded.

Atemu knew exactly what he asked for and was terrified from the boy’s sake. The boy looked at Atemu’s face whose eyes were wide. He instantly knew he was being punished. A guard came through holding a large whip also know as the Cat-of-Nine Tails whip. The boy trembled.

“Father no!” Atemu cried as the whip was handed to his father.

“Hold him.” He commanded and two guards came forward and held the boys arms.

“Father he’s just a kid, please don’t.” Atemu cried out.

His father ignored him and raised it above his head and brought it down fast with a crack as it his, ripping the boys tunic instead of skin. The boy cried out loud, even though it didn’t cut the skin the pressure was enough to hurt. He raised the whip above his head again and brought it down hard with another loud crack. The boy screamed as he felt it rip through his skin.

“Tell him your name and it won’t happen again.” Atemu told him. “Father please stop!” he pleaded.

He watched in horror as the Pharaoh lifted the whip again. It was then that the boy finally spoke.

“It’s Yugi!” He cried.

“What?” Akhenamkhanen asked surprised to hear the boy speak.

“My name is Yugi.” He cried.

Akhenamkhanen smiled evilly and brought the whip down again. Another crack as the whip hit the boy’s back ripping deeper into his back. Yugi screamed out in pain again.

“Father, that’s enough.” Atemu said standing between Yugi and his father. “He told us his name, now leave.”

The Pharaoh signalled for the guards to drop the boy, but it was a different signal that Atemu hadn’t seen before. He felt two guards grab him and spun him around. It was then he knew what was happening. The whip came down quickly and struck him hard in the back. Atemu didn’t make a sound; he wasn’t going to give his father the pleasure of hearing him scream. The whop came down another five times each being harder than the one before. Yugi watched horrified from the corner of the room as Atemu received his punishment.

“Let him go.” Akhenamkhanen told them handing the whip to a guard and leant over his son who was kneeling on the ground. “You will learn when I’m punishing someone not to interfere.”

The Pharaoh stood and left with the guards. Atemu stood up slowly and walked over to his bed. He laid down on his stomach breathing heavily.

“Shadows come forth.”

//Yes Master. Are you alright?”//

‘Yes I will be fine. The boy in the corner, bring him over gently, he is injured.’

//Yes Master//

Atemu got up again and went into the bathroom as the shadows carried Yugi over to the bed and laid him on his stomach. Atemu returned with a bowl of water, cloths and bandages again. He sat them on the bedside table and removed the shredded shirt from Yugi’s back. His face was turned away from Atemu, he was crying and trembling fear. Atemu grabbed the cloth and dipped it in the water. He squeezed out the water and wiped the blood from Yugi’s back. He screamed and his muscles tensed. He tried to get away but something held him there. Atemu quickly finished wiping up the blood. Yugi’s muscles tensed for a while but relaxed once the bandages were placed on his back. Atemu grabbed the water, cloth and left over bandages and left to the bathroom.

“I’m…I’m sorry, Prince Atemu.” Yugi spoke up.

Yugi still hadn’t seen the marks on Atemu’s back. He looked at him because Atemu hadn’t responded. He saw many long cuts down his back, all-bleeding freely. He came back out minutes later. Yugi was about to say something but Atemu did.

“Shadows, go find the High-Priests son and bring him here. I don’t care if his father is there and comes. Just hurry.”

//Yes Master//

“Prince Atemu, are you alright?” Yugi asked sitting up.

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. You rest, I’ll get food sent up once Seto arrives so you can eat.” He said sitting down next to the bathroom door.

Atemu’s breathing was becoming heavy; he was wincing and holding back screams every so often. The door burst open allowing a boy and an adult in. Yugi jumped and scurried over to the corner again. Atemu had jumped when the door burst open.

“Prince Atemu!” they said rushing over.

The boy helped him to his feet and over to the bed. The adult also helping.

“What did you do this time Prince Atemu?” the adult asked. “It looks like your father punished you with the Cat-of-Nine Tails but why?”

“I was defending Yugi.”

“Who is Yugi?” Atemu nodded to the corner where he was huddling in, tears down his face.

“Oh, Prince Atemu please lay on your stomach. Seto come. We are just going down the hall to get some things. We’ll be gone only a few minutes.”

“fine”

Seto and his father left the room, leaving Atemu and Yugi there. Atemu laid down after removing his shredded bit of clothing. Yugi watched through blurry eyes. Atemu looked towards him and smiled.

“Yugi, come here.” Yugi got up, wiping his eyes and walked over. “Could you do something for me? In the bathroom grab a towel and bring it back please.”

Yugi nodded and walked into the bathroom.

‘Wow, look at this. It’s amazing. I haven’t seen anything as nice as this.’ Walking over and picking up a towel. He walked back to Atemu. He approach the bed, Atemu wasn’t looking at him.

“Prince Atemu?” Yugi said nervously.

He turned his head to look at him. “Place it on my cuts. Lay it out flat.”

Yugi did, hands shaking. Atemu hissed as it touched his overly sensitive skin. Yugi jumped back, apologising many times. Atemu put his up and he stopped. He moved a bit further into the middle of he bed.

“Yugi, sit here.” Patting the side where he had just been laying on.

Yugi hesitated for a moment and slowly walked over and sat where he was told. Yugi trembled a little.

”Yugi, I know you haven’t got anywhere to go. Would you like to stay here and be my slave? No one but I and unfortunately my father can hurt you. It’s your choice, if you refuse I won’t force you, but you will have to go back to the village and I won’t be able to protect you there. “ Yugi thought for a moment then nodded.

“Um… Who were those two before, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“That’s the High-Priest Seth and his son Seto. Seto is my cousin. You don’t need to be afraid. They aren’t allowed to punish a servant without the royal families permission.”

“Oh” Yugi looked to his hands that were in his lap and started fiddling with them.

“Yugi, why didn’t you answer anyone’s questions? If you don’t answer you will always be punished.”

“I don’t know, I guess I was scared, actually terrified, horrified beyond belief.”

“Why not now?”

“I guess, seeing someone stand up for me even if they would be punished for it. In the village before you arrived I thought I was going to die. I’ve seen people die by just being beaten.”

Atemu was about to say something when Seth and Seto arrived back with all sorts of things. Yugi went to get up, but Atemu held him there. Atemu took a look at the bandages to find blood seeping through. Seth came up to them.

“Move kid.” Seth said to Yugi. “Stand here, I’ll need your help.” Yugi stood where he was told.

Seto walked forward with water and a cloth. Seth picked it up and ringed out the water.

“Yugi was it?” Yugi nodded. “Take the towel off Prince Atemu’s back.”

Yugi stepped forward and peeled the blood soaked towel off. Atemu hissed in pain. Yugi started apologising a lot.

“Yugi, settle down. It would of hurt if Seth or Seto did it.” Atemu smiled

“Oh”

Seth started wiping up the blood. Atemu gripped the pillow hard. Seth gave the blooded cloth to Seto and picked up a jar.

“Atemu this is going to sting.” Seto said passing a cloth to Seth.

Seth poured a little on the cloth. He started wiping it on the cuts. Atemu yelled in pain before plunging his face in the pillow, knuckles white. Seth finished and started putting a bandage on. Once finished Atemu stood up.

“Thankyou Seth.”

“Your welcome Prince Atemu.” He said bowing.

“Could you have a look at Yugi’s back while you’re here?”

“Sure. Please lay on the bed.” Turning to him.

Yugi started backing up, shaking his head. Atemu walked over, putting an arm around him.

“Yugi, do you trust me?” Yugi nodded, body shaking. “Come, it will stop infection and it will heal quicker.”

“O-Ok”

Atemu lead Yugi over and sat down. He told Yugi to lay his head on his lap. Yugi did and was holding Atemu’s hand. Seth approached and removed the bandage, Yugi’s muscles tensed. Seth held the bowl and cloth. Seth repeated the whole procedure he did on Atemu. Yugi was in tears and crying. He was gripping Atemu’s hand hard. Once the bandage was on he slipped Yugi’s head on to the pillow, stood up and walked to the door with Seth and his son.

“Thankyou so much both of you.”

“It is fine Prince Atemu. Is there anything else you would like?”

“Could you bring some food up for him?”

“Yes sir. I’ll get a servant to bring it up. Are you going to the dinner? It’s the whole palace dinner you have to come.”

“Yes. Otherwise it’s another 6 slashes from the Pharaoh. Have the food brought up.”

“Yes sir. Um… there is the dance as well. You have to look tonight for a wife.”

“Ra-damn it is that tonight? Yeah I’ll be there.”

Seth and Seto bowed and left. Atemu walked to the bed and sat on the edge. He stroked Yugi’s head, moving a gold bang from his face, he was still crying. Yugi looked up at him.

“Hey, I have to go to a ceremony. I have food coming up for you. There will be someone outside your door. Ok?”

Yugi nodded a little. “Wh…Where do I sleep?”

“See that door?” Pointing next to his desk, Yugi nodded. “It leads to your room. If you want you can stay here til I get back. Now just sleep, if you’re asleep when food comes I’ll keep it on my desk and when you wake you can eat. Ok?”

“Yeah alright.”

“Good, now sleep.”

Yugi laid his head down on the pillow and watched Atemu. Atemu walked over to the closet and started getting his clothes for the night. He went into the bathroom and got dressed. Atemu came out and saw Yugi was still awake. He went to grab something and saw the tunic he brought from the village. He picked it up and walked over to him.

“Yugi, here this is for you.” Placing the tunic next to him.

“You serious?” Eyes wide.

“Yes.” He frowned at him, like he had never been given something before.

“Th-Th-Thankyou.”

“It’s alright. Sleep now.” Atemu turned to his desk.

He sat there and put jewellery on and eyeliner. He turned around and looked over at Yugi. He was asleep and clutching the tunic that Atemu just gave him. He walked out the door and closed it. The guard bowed.

“Don’t let anyone but the servant with the food in. No one understand?”

“Yes sire. Understand sir.”

“Good.” Atemu headed to the ceremony.

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End of Chapter 2