NOTE: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, I just own my character, Zaria. Originally called 'A Servant, Priestess, or More?' but was later changed as of 12/14.

This story has been rewritten so many times, so hopefully it is up to perfection.

Murderer. The only word people use to describe me. No beautiful, kind, honest, or special. Not like they used to say. Before the incident. It happened when I was eight, living a happy life with my beloved parents. Father… was a bit off that night. He had tried to hurt me. Mother tried to stop him. Something snapped inside me; the next moment they were both dead. I've been cursed with that ability ever since. It's been seven years, I'm now fifteen, and nothing has changed. In my village, I grew up alone, but people still found the opportunity to make me work for them and abuse me. Fear was a common emotion.

I've grown away from that. Fear only makes us weaker, but it's hard to ignore. Everyone was horrible to me. After my parent's death, I was constantly beaten, the scars still remain. Some new, most old. The blood is recent. A matter of days ago, I was serving another man of my village. More beatings. It snapped again; he died. I cannot control my abilities and I only hope one day this curse will end. I've injured many, but I've only killed three; my parents and him. Having heard of the man's death, everyone in my village ganged up on me. That is why I stand here now.

People walk around the slave trade waiting to buy someone useful. A man grips my shoulder to make sure I don't run, but even if I did escape, I wouldn't go anywhere with the shackles placed on my wrists and ankles. I move my bare feet to keep the soreness of my legs away and his grip tightens, "Stay put." He growls.

It's not like I was trying to escape. I nod anyway. Two particular men in the trade catch my eye. One is youthful and wears robes of blue and white. The other is bald wearing only white. Accompanying them are several guards. They must have some relation to royal status judging how they appear. Both of them scan around the trade and pick out a few people here and there. They look trustworthy, but as I've learned many times, looks can be deceiving. "How much for the girl?"

I look up to see a heavyset man standing in front of me. His grin makes me glare at him and I want to run away as fast as possible. His features and just the feeling coming from him make him untrustworthy. I shake my head explaining I'm not interested. The grip on my shoulder increasingly tightens, "Two-hundred silver pieces. No less." The man holding my shoulder says.

The man's eyes grow narrow as he stares from me to his pocket. I need to run. But where? My eyes scan the area to search for an escape route. There are too many people around; I won't make it one step. "I believe I can pay." The heavyset man says, "I will take her."

The grip on my shoulder dissipates. The other man grabs the shackles from around my wrists and yanks me forward. I do not move. Another yank, but I barely take a step. The man's glare focuses on me on yanks harder. This time, I fall to the sand. Men surrounding me laugh at this and shout crud things. I don't bother to get up to my feet; there is no purpose, even though I realize the consequences. The man yanks on the chain again, but I still don't move. "Damn it… get up you brat!" he shouts kicking my side.

I try not to yelp, but it escapes my mouth. The agony within me threatens to surface, but I do my best to suppress it. The man kicks me again and this time laughter is heard. I can feel it starting to snap… my being losing control. The power within me surges, but I have no control. The aura around me forms and everyone takes a step back. Then it comes; the single huge burst of power. Everyone falls backwards and I can tell the injuries must be serious, no deaths though. I get up onto my feet weakly and scan the area. Dust rises into the air and people lie on the ground helpless. The shackles on me have broken and I'm free to run.

I'm weak, but I manage to run. My bare feet slipping across the grains of sand until I trip. I glance up to see that one of the guards that accompanied those two men earlier now stands a top of me as I lie on the ground. His weapon held fiercely in his hand and pointed at me, "Master Shada, what do you suppose we do with her?" the guard asks.

I glance over to see the bald man from earlier and the younger one standing behind me. I notice a golden key in the bald one's hand and it starts to vibrate and glow. Who are these guys? "Do you sense a Ka within her?" the younger one asks.

"Yes Seto, her powers are the strongest I've seen. We must bring her to the palace." The bald one says.

Palace? They cannot mean the palace, in which the Pharaoh presides, do they? I do not understand any of this. Before I can do anything, a sharp pain hits my head. I lie there until all I see is black.

~.~.~

My head throbs desperately. I open my eyes and notice the metal I'm lying on. I sit up and look at the metal bars around me. Not the first time I've been in a cage. I look around to see I'm in a dark room with neatly organized stone work on the walls, its most likely underground. I look down at myself to see that I'm back in shackles but still wear the same dirty dress I always wear. The door on the opposite side of the room opens up to reveal a pair of guards.

The two of them start walking into the room, making me scoot to the back of the cage. One opens the cage door and they glare at me as if expecting me to come crawling out. "I'm not moving." I say.

Their glares only increase. Unfortunately, it's not a particularly large cage, so one of the guards easily reaches inside and grabs my wrist to yank me out. So much for not moving. Great job, Zaria. The guard has a firm grab upon me and yanks me out of the room. The hallway is just the same; neatly packed stones.

They lead me down the hallway and then up a long staircase. Judging by the characteristics, I'd say that was a dungeon. We finish climbing the stairs and they now lead me through another hallway on ground level. What will these people do to me? What could be done in the palace that they couldn't do in the desert? The guards stop by a pair of large, well-made doors. They push them open to reveal a large throne room, where five men and one woman stand.

I recognize two of them as the ones referred to as 'Seto' and 'Shada'. My eyes wander over to the throne in the back of the room, which remains empty. I had heard a rumor that the Pharaoh had died about a year ago, which I guess the empty throne confirms that. People say there's an heir, but I'm surprised they haven't taken the throne yet if there was one.

My attention returns to the six people in the room, who then dismiss the guards much to my surprise. "Shada, please confirm your suspensions for us." An older man says.

Shada nods and takes a step closer to me. He takes out that same golden key from before and holds it so it faces me, "Millennium Key, lead me into her soul." He says.

Millennium Key? Soul? My body grows stiff and I feel unable to move. I eventually get feeling back into my body and Shada steps away from me, "I am correct. A great beast still resides within her soul." He says turning toward the others.

What do they plan to do? Are my abilities what they refer to? The one called Seto smirks, "Alright, guards bring us forth a tablet!" he orders some guards lingering around the room, "The Millennium Trial is in session!"

Millennium Trial? Moments after the guards leave the room, they come back pushing in a large, flat stone tablet. It towers about ten feet tall and is (obviously) rectangular. "Master Aknadin, you may begin." Seto says.

The older man now walks up to me, "The Millennium Eye will now judge you." He says. My body goes stiff once again and I feel the energy of my abilities rising within me. I try to suppress them because no matter how confused I am, I don't want to harm anyone. "Impossible! The beast within will not release itself! But, my fear is that it's too powerful to control."

"Yes, the Millennium Key senses it now as well." Shada says, "That sealing tablet is far too small. The beast within is too powerful."

"That's preposterous!" Seto says.

"What other option is there?" the woman asks.

"Bring her to the dungeons. Her fate will be decided later."