Chapter 8

Mulling over the Cheshire Cat's words as he caught his breath, Marik rolled onto his back and stared at the sky. The night was bleeding away to give way to the dawn, and one by one the stars were blinking out along with the fading moon. A cool breeeze washed over his heated body, feeling utterly delicious in addition to the chilled grass. Next to him the Cheshire Cat sat up and stretched his aching muscles, looking completely erotic as he did so. Marik refused to look at him lest he ended up pouncing on the cat again.

"Mmm, I have to be going now, Mr Lion." The Cheshire Cat told him, suddenly straddling the lion's waist without him noticing. "I'm going to be late for a tea party."

"Let me guess, the March Hare and the Mad Hatter." Marik concluded, frowning when the other tanned blonde poked his nose with a slender finger.

"And you would be guessing correctly." The cat chuckled, standing up and looking down at the blonde below. "I never did catch your name."

"Marik." The lion replied. He was actually fed up of telling people his name now.

"Wow, that's my name too." The Cheshire Cat didn't sound as surprised as his words would've suggested. He grinned broadly before yanking Marik into a sitting position and plonking himself down on his lap again. "I'd love to have you again sometime, Mariku." He teased, twisting a lock of the lions hair around his fingers.

"Don't think that will be any time soon." Marik said, shoving him off and getting to his feet. He looked at the other on the ground, sprawled out and not making any attempt to get up. "I thought you said you'd be late."

"Yeah but he doesn't mind." The Cheshire Cat smirked as he darted into a standing position, swiftly turning and walking away. He looked over his shoulder for a moment, giving Marik a long look at his back that was as elaborately scarred as his own was. "See you around, Marik." The purple and black cat purred before continuing to walk away stark naked, and finally vanishing completely.

Marik shook his head in disbelief before hunting around for his shorts. No way would he be caught walking around naked if everyone was a pervert like that damn cat. Yawning widely, he realised how tired he was, even if that little screwing session had left him less frustrated and more refreshed. The blonde hoped this time to reach the Duchess's mansion pretty soon, and a part of him hoped he wouldn't come across the Cheshire Cat again.

The golden sun had fully risen by the time the tired lion reached the elaborate iron-cast gates surrounding what he guessed was the Duchess's mansion, if the harpie statues decorating the perimeter and standing guard on the roof were any hint. Marik grasped at the polished balck metal and looked through the bars up at the huge building. There was no way of getting in. There wasn't even one of those speakers you could call the house with (then again, why would there be? Marik thought. Wonderland isn't exactly bursting with technology).

But then, to his utter shock, the gates opened quickly and sharply inwards, causing Marik to fall flat on his face. He winced as he got up again, the scratches and bites from his encounter with the Cheshire Cat becoming aggrivated. He took the opening gate as a sign he was welcome and proceeded to sleepily trudge over to the elaborately carved wooden doors, which swung open upon his approach. In the doorway stood some sort of servant dressed in a rather revealing maids outfit.

"Welcome, sir." They greeted, and as Marik got closer he could see it was a harpy, this one real unlike the others he'd seen. She had long blonde hair and a youthful appearance, so the lion wouldn't have put her age any older than sixteen at least. "If you wish to see the Duchess, please follow me." She turned and made her way up a large red velvet lined staircase and left Marik to catch up with her.

It took all of his willpower not to gasp and 'wow' in astonishment at the size and scale of the place. If this was the home of a mere Duchess he couldn't even imagine how big the Queen's palace must be. The blonde girl led him to what seemed to be a large library that was pretty much the size of the big top tent back home. Marik couldn't help but gape at the sheer size of it, and the total volume of books that were in the place.

By a large window that stood ceiling to floor, looking out on the forest and hills in the distance, was a set of tables and plush chairs. In one of the armchairs sat a very beautiful blonde woman reading a book with an elaborate cover. She looked up as the two blondes approached her, and she smiled whilst putting her bookmark in to save her page. She had just set the book down on the table when Marik stood in front of her.

"Well, its about time you made it here." She smiled warmly, a hint of seduction in her voice but the lion ignored it. He had no feeling for women what-so-ever. "When I heard from the White Rabbit you were on your way here I was expecting you last night, not this morning."

"If you wanted me here then why didn't you send for me?" Marik asked, noticing off-handly that the blonde harpy servant had left the room, closing the doors behind her.

"Oh where's the fun in that?" The Duchess giggled as she stood up and adjusted her long skirt. It was split at the front up to her knees, revealing a pair of black stiletto boots which reminded the tanned lion of the ones his Bakura had to wear for burning the King's hat. "Now I suspect you're hungry." No sooner had she said that Marik's stomach grumbled quite loudly. Marik looked down and glared at it while the blonde woman laughed. "Come on, it's time for breakfast."

Marik obediantly followed her out of the room and down the hallway, decending another flight of stairs into what probably was a dining room. In the center of the room was a very long oak table, laid out with various meats, cereals and other breakfast eatables. He drooled at the sight before managing to control himself. The Duchess sat herself at the very head of the table, indicating that Marik should take the seat next to her, which he did.

Another harpy servant brought out drinks, the Duchess taking a moderately sized glass of what appeared to be orange juice, and Marik deciding to have milk. With a silent nod from the other blonde, the lion happily dug into the food laid out in front of him, heading straight for the meats. He threw etiquette out of the window as he wolfed down the food, simply happy to have a decent meal besides sandwiches and tea (seriously, what was with all the tea in this place?).

It took him half an hour to feel completely full, and once satisfied Marik slumped back in his chair and happily picked at his teeth with his claw, his tail lazily swaying in content. With a full belly he felt much more tired than he did before, and he proved this with a long yawn.

"I suppose you wouldn't mind a bed to sleep in, either?" The Duchess offered with a knowing look. "I suspect you've been having a bit of... ahem, fun, while you've been here." Marik almost blushed at what she was imply, but didn't admit to it. Nor did he deny it. He suspected that the Cheshire Cat was known to have 'fun' with a lot of people, and of all the ones to know that the cat's owner had to know the best. "Before I offer you a bed, can you answer me something?"

"Depends what it is." Marik told her, suddenly remembering the real reason he was here besides getting a bed and some food.

"Who are you looking for here? You came here with a reason." The Duchess asked, resting her chin on her folded hands, looking at him with intent purple eyes.

"I'm looking for the Ringleader, my master." Marik admitted, holding back a cringe that came with discribing Akefia as his master. He hated seeming so submissive. "The Mad Hatter and March Hare told me he was here."

"Well he was, but unfortunately you've missed him. He left last night." The Duchess explained, her heart going out to the boy before her as his face fell.

Letting out an annoyed and aggrivated growl, Marik lent forwards and banged his head against the table. "Damn it!" He cursed, banging his head a couple more times before sitting up again. "Where did he go?"

"Probably back to Spade's Forest." The blonde woman suggested. "Or maybe to Club Beach. He didn't say where exactly. The best bet would be to try Club Beach though, since your master has had a little falling out with the March Hare and probably doesn't want to bump into him anytime soon."

Not even wanting to ask what the falling out was about Marik stood and proceeded to try and leave the table but the Duchess grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "Let go of me." Marik warned, flashing his fangs.

"Before you do anything, Mr Lion, you're going to get some sleep. You can't be falling dead in the middle of the road simply because you're too impatient." She threatened back, standing up as well with her hand still holding into his arm. "Your Ringleader isn't going to go anywhere soon, and you'll be able to find him faster after a few hours sleep."

"Ok fine, just let go of me." Marik grumbled while he snatched his wrist out of the woman's grasp. The Duchess called over another of her harpy servants, this one with long flowing aqua shaded hair in a ponytail.

"Take this young man up to the guest quaters. He is to get at least four hours sleep." Ordered the Duchess, looking at Marik out of the corner of her eye. He folded his arms across his chest in a huff. "Once he is awake, please run a warm bath for him."

"Of course, Mistress." The servant bowed obediantly before turning around and leading Marik out of the room.

There were no stairs to climb this time, but there was a lot of long and winding corridors to walk through. Marik would never be able to find his way out of the building without help, and he supposed that was the Duchess's idea in order to make him get some sleep. He had to admit she was nice enough, just like the White Rabbit had told him. He wondered what sort of lady dealt with having the Cheshire Cat as a pet.

"Here you are, sir." The servant suddenly stopped and opened the double doors of one of the rooms. She took him into the room, and once again Marik was astonished at the look of it. "You have a bathroom to your right, and a walk-in closet over there should you require any more clothes." She gave him a slightly disgusted look at his current attire but Marik ignored it. He was comfortable in his beige cut-offs. "When you awaken another with take you to the main bathroom where you can bathe yourself. Is there anything else you require, sir?"

"Uh, no, thanks." Marik answered awkwardly, still staring about the magnificent room. With nothing else required of her the servant exited the room, closing the doors behind her. He vaguely thought he heard the click of the lock but dismissed it as his imagination.

Pulling off his shorts Marik climbed into bed, preferring to sleep naked. And he was glad he did. He purred at the feel of the satin sheets and proceeded to snuggle deep into the plush pillows and blanket.

He was asleep almost immediately.