Chapter 1: Acceptance: Part I
Chapter Text
Year: 1338 B.C.
Location: Outskirts of Thebes, Egypt
Atem always knew.
He knew he was special the times that he play-wrestled with his friends, the other boy was always pulled off of him in a hurry. "Do not harm the prince!" they said.
He knew he was different when, instead of getting to play with the other palace children, he was sent away with his father to visit foreign lands – "To observe political diplomacy first hand, my son." His father's voice echoed in his mind.
He knew he was important when he realized that no one could speak normally to him or that he couldn't go anywhere without someone watching over him, making sure he wasn't attacked, or poisoned or, God forbid, inconvenienced in any way.
At the time, this confused him. What was so harmful about wrestling for fun? Why did he have sit through these boring meetings when he could be outside playing games and practicing his swordsmanship? Why couldn't he have a moment... or a day… alone?
Eventually, he accepted it, being different and important. For the most part at least. It was even a source of pride at some point – after all, it was he who was destined to succeed his father as ruler of one of the most powerful civilizations in the world. At the ripe age of 13, Atem thought he felt confident about his ability to take over his father's duties should the time come.
But now, as his father led him into the dark, eerie sanctuary, he finally began to comprehend the gravity of the responsibility he will be inheriting.
It was only him and his father, as no one else was allowed in there, except the ones chosen by the Gods. The tunnel was pitch black, illuminated only by a lone torch held by his father, and the only thing Atem could see in front of him was the darkened silhouette of his father's blue tunic. The atmosphere was unsettling and every step he took, it felt like he was being watched by a thousand eyes.
It was downright creepy.
"Must I go with you father? What are we even doing here anyway?" Atem asked his father.
"This is something you need to witness, my son." The pharaoh stated quietly. "You needn't be afraid. This sanctuary is protected by the Egyptian Gods themselves. As long as you show your respect, nothing here will harm you."
"I won't go any further." Atem said as he stopped in his tracks. He had enough. Everything about this place gave him chills that ran down his spine.
His father continued walking. "This is not a matter of choice…"
Atem had to follow his father, or risk being left alone in this eerie place. He was so preoccupied with the hair standing up on the back of his neck that he didn't hear his father's warning to pay attention.
Before he knew it, he was walking too close to the edge. The bridge they were walking on had to be at least a thousand years old and the stone edge crumbled below him. In desperate panic, he reached out and grabbed a rock, narrowly missing a tumble to his death.
"Help father!" Atem cried out as he held on to the bridge with one hand. His father watched him calmly.
"Lift yourself up my son." He said. Atem looked up at him. Initially, he felt a sting of betrayal, but it was short lived as he remembered these hard lessons his father taught him were only meant to make him stronger. He slowly pulled himself up, landing on solid ground again.
As they continued on, Atem gazed upon the old frescoes of the pharaohs before him. He briefly wondered if he would be on these walls too, before turning his attention back to his father.
His father knelt in front of the large altar in front of them.
"Egyptian Gods, hear me. I have committed a crime beyond atonement and for this I am truly sorry. By bringing the seven millennium items into this world, I have destroyed the lives of thousands. I bear full responsibility for these actions. Please… spare my son. Do not punish him for the misdeeds of his father."
What was going on? Atem was bewildered. He was witnessing his father cry for the first time in his life. Abruptly, a several bolts of lightning shot down in front of him. Atem stared with wide eyes.
"My son, fear not. You are safe now."
-o0o-
Atem tossed and turned in his bed, the events of today coursing through his mind like a bad dream.
He already knew the millennium items were formed with evil magic using the dark tortured souls of those thought to have deserved their fate.
But what he didn't know until today, was that the repercussions of these dark actions could continue to affect his family's rule for years to come.
As long as the millennium items continued to exist, the spiritual balance would forever be upset. He witnessed today first-hand the power and fury of the Gods over the blatant exploitation of 99 innocents. How on earth could he make this right? He had a foreboding hunch that this would not go away… and that although his father sacrificed his safety in order to ensure his own, something terrible would happen to him eventually as a result of this.
He briefly wondered what it felt like to have regular problems instead but he quickly pushed these thoughts away. This was his fate, whether he liked it or not. However, his brief acceptance of the situation did nothing to assuage the anxiety that simmered in his mind.
He grew frustrated trying to sleep, only to open his eyes again completely alert. And that's when he finally decided, he needed to escape.
Not running away from his palace life, but just a brief nighttime venture to get his mind off things. Atem had been sneaking out for a few months now, starting after he accidently found a way out of the palace directly from his room. Of course he never told anyone, both of the secret passage and of his sneaking out.
His adventures so far have been limited to exploring Thebes. But even then, it was amazing to be able to explore without being watched constantly all the time, to be able to blend in, to actually interact with the common people.
He wasn't sure where he would go tonight, but for the first time, he decided it would be somewhere farther away. Just looking at this place and being in it made him feel nauseated and there isn't a single area in the entire city of Thebes that you cannot see the palace.
He had a regular looking brown cloak that he used for his nighttime excursions for the sole purpose of blending in, as he couldn't afford to be recognized. He quickly threw it on over his regular clothes.
How he actually found this passage was through pure observation. It was located in his bathroom and wasn't actually a passage way, more like a large old hole for chamber pot drainage. It clearly hasn't been used in decades. The hole has been concealed with a large tile over it and a stone vase placed over top the tile for further concealment. One day, Atem happened to simply notice an incongruity between this specific tile and the rest of them and of course, he had to investigate it.
As he moved the vase and tile out of the way quietly, the large hole came into view. Luckily there were rocks jutting out from the sides to aid in him climbing down. He knew based on his experience that this hole led to small defect in the palace wall, just large enough for him to climb out.
He reached the bottom of the hole and saw the glow of the moonlight peeking in. There, he waited silently, trying to see if anyone was outside. It was imperative that he is not seen sneaking out. The coast seemed clear, so he emerged carefully from the hole.
Living here in this palace for his entire life allowed him to learn about all sorts of interesting facts about the building, including secret passage ways. There was an old underground one that led from the kitchen to the outside of the palace, originally meant as an easier way to transport food but now unused.
He darted down the pitch-black passageway and eventually emerged on the other side of the palace area, where the stables are.
His favorite horse greeted him with a soft nicker and seemed to know what would happen next. Atem quickly prepared his horse and they set off into the night.
-o0o-
Atem wasn't sure what he was thinking when he decided to do this. All he knew was that he took off as fast as he could in the complete opposite direction of the palace, trying to get as far away from there as possible. They had traveled for a while and he thought he would have at least reached a nearby village by now.
But no, absolutely nothing other than earth that spanned for a great distance.
He was ok with it though, at least he was away from it all. It was actually invigorating to be outside without so much activity around.
He continued to push his horse forward without a second thought. After all, once he was ready to go back, he could just simply turn around and go the same way. He stopped briefly and looked around.
Everything looked the same.
And then he suddenly realized he couldn't actually remember which way he came.
A wave of panic shot down his spine, but Atem quickly calmed himself. He was going to be fine. He quickly looked up at the stars and tried to figure out directions from the constellations, like he had learned in his classes, but couldn't seem to remember all the details of how to do it.
Atem sighed. He must not panic. He will find his way back. Somehow.
As he and his horse wandered through the desert, the landscape started to change from flat earth to hills and valleys. This was different. Atem saw where the tributaries of the mighty Nile river ended as they gently flowed into the valleys, creating lush green swamps.
He decided to follow one. Maybe he can stop there and get his bearings.
And he was glad he did, it was simply beautiful there. The opalescent full moon cast its glow over the water surface and the surrounding reeds, while crickets hummed and the lotus flowers cautiously exposed their yellow centers. The wind was calm and the night was still young. He felt his horse quiver under him.
Atem felt at peace. He continued down the river bank.
Suddenly, he felt his horse lurch sharply. It darted sideways away from the river and reared on its hind legs with a loud whinny. Confused, Atem quickly scanned the area, trying to figure out what the disturbance was.
Sitting in front of him on the ground was an enormous dark reptile. A Nile crocodile. It must have tried to ambush them from under the water. Seemingly ready to lunge forward and attack again, it sat there with its mouth wide open and its body position squared to them.
Now the panic had really set in. Atem quickly pulled on the reins to back his horse away from the animal.
But just when he thought he was at a safe distance, he saw another streak of black from the corner of his eye. Another one had lunged toward them, this time from his horse's rear. His horse was beginning to panic as well as it tried to kick the second crocodile with its hind legs.
'Now what…'
They were backed against the stone wall, with one crocodile on each side. His horse was becoming skittish and Atem was trying his best to keep a level head as the crocodiles looked at him with ravenous eyes.
He would have to escape by passing one of them. After that, he could take off running to lose them.
Atem quickly turned his horse to the left, trying to steer it as far away from the crocodile as possible. But the reptile lunged forward again. His horse shot back and took off running down the river bank.
"No!" Atem cried out, having lost control of his horse. He saw another flash of black as a third crocodile lunged toward them, now in front of their path.
They were surrounded now. The crocodiles growled at them menacingly, mouths gaping open and baring their sharp teeth. His horse continued to jump around in panic as it knew its fate.
Atem couldn't see another way out and his heart began to pound. This can't be it for him. There has to be another way….
Out of nowhere, there was a white flash and a cracking noise. He felt a white lightning bolt zip past him and saw it strike one of the crocodiles straight in the head. The lightning ricocheted off the water, creating bolts of electricity that danced and twisted in the air. Stunned, the crocodile went limp briefly before it regained consciousness and retreated back into the dark murky river.
Atem shot his head around and looked up.
A girl was standing at the edge of the rockface above the valley. Both of her hands were glowing white with what looked like balls of lightning. She raised an arm and cast it toward his direction, sending another white flash his way. The lightning hit the second crocodile on the head too, but also spooked his horse so bad that it reared up again on its hind legs. Atem redirected his attention to trying to calm his horse down as a third flash whipped past them again, taking care of the final crocodile.
Atem looked back up at the rockface. The girl appeared to have gone.
But he knew better. There was no way she could have gone so quickly.
There was a large rock next to where she was standing previously. She had to be hiding behind there.
"Hello!" he called out to her.
No response.
He tried again. "Hello..."
Nothing.
Atem paused. If she didn't want to come out, then that was fine.
"Thank you." He called out to the rock.
Having given up on a response, Atem tugged on the reins of his horse and turned around, feeling the strange sensation of being watched while doing so. He decided to leave the valley the same way he came in, as he didn't want to get himself more lost.
"So you almost get eaten alive and you're gonna continue back the same way? Are you trying to die?"
The small but sharp voice cut through the night air like a knife. Atem's head shot up to the rockface again. And there she was, the girl from earlier, standing behind the large rock with her arms crossed and an incensed expression on her face.
He stared at her, not sure what to make of it.
"Either that or you must be completely stupid. You don't even know what you're doing." She scoffed condescendingly.
Atem turned around indignantly and looked at her, his face flushed hot with anger. He was lost, not stupid.
"I'll be just fine." He grumbled.
"The crocodiles feed at night and where we are standing is thieves' territory. If you go back out alone, you're an idiot." The girl snapped.
"Well YOU'RE out alone, aren't you?" Atem retorted.
The girl's eyes widened and she panicked. "I … uh..". She blushed.
"So then what are YOU doing out here by yourself?" Atem retorted, turning his horse around to face her.
"That's none of your business!" She snorted and stared back up at him. "Fine then. Go. But don't cry like a baby when you get ripped to pieces."
Atem fumed inside. He wasn't used to being spoken to in that manner. In fact, he was pretty sure that if they were back at the palace, this girl would likely be in chains and publicly whipped.
But, he didn't blame her one bit for her behavior. She didn't know who he was... and maybe he was stupid for going this far out alone. He looked up at her; She shot him a nasty glare.
And then, he swallowed his pride.
"Do you know where we are?" he asked.
"Of course I do!" the girl declared. "You're far off of any path. The Valley of the Kings is beyond those hills, making this a popular getaway area for grave robbers. Unless, of course, that's what you are…"
Atem's eyes widened in surprise. "Absolutely not." He barked in disgust.
A grave robber? Him? How preposterous. But then again, the cloak he was wearing probably wasn't doing him any favors in making him look innocent.
"Then who are you anyways? And what are you even doing here?" the girl questioned, cocking her to head to one side slightly.
"…Uhhh.…" Atem trailed off, caught off-guard. He didn't have an intelligent reason to give, at least on the spot. What was he even doing?
"Well?" The girl persisted, putting a hand on her hip.
They were at a standstill. Atem stared at her. Maybe hostility wasn't the best approach.
"I'm… lost. I mean no harm." Atem said delicately.
Immediately, she looked taken aback and he watched as her features softened. She regarded him carefully. After a moment, she finally spoke.
"This area has been plagued with bandits and tomb robbers for years. All they've done is wreak havoc and I am tired of it. And I swear on Ra, if you're lying to me, and you're here to scope out this area for your little thief friends or trying to hide the things you stole here, or any other nonsense… I will teach you a lesson you will never forget... " She glared at him, her hands glowing with electrical bolts oscillating in her palms.
A threat. One that Atem certainly did not want to be on the other end of, but thankfully wouldn't need to worry about. It was hard to believe those powerful words came out of such a small and unassuming girl.
"Well I assure you, I am neither and my intentions are good. You have my word." Atem stated. The girl clutched her bag and stared at him in response, her face was unreadable.
Before Atem could speak again, his breath caught in his throat. Unexpectedly in the distance, the faint sound of horses' hooves thundering and a nefarious cackle pierced the night air. He shuddered and looked over his shoulder. There, above the valley, was a group of cloaked men on horses flying across the Egyptian sands, carrying large sacks behind their backs in one hand, with more full sacks attached to their horses' saddles. They appeared to be heading toward their direction.
The girl also stared in horror and looked back at him.
"We shouldn't be here." She hissed under her breath. And swiftly, as if she had done it a million times before, she hopped down the steep rockface to meet him, somehow managing to find the perfect combination of rocks to never break her stride.
"Quick! Follow me!"
Atem quickly dismounted, grabbed the reins of his horse and ran to follow her. She darted toward the rockface and stayed close, tracing the surface with her hand as she ran parallel with it. She delicately evaded the rocks on the ground and studied the side of the rock, clearly searching for something.
At last, she found it – a giant, upside down V-shape fissure in the rockface. It was almost invisible from the top but toward the bottom, it opened up to make a narrow cavity. It was small, but roomy enough to fit one person, perhaps two?
"In here!" she beckoned toward the opening.
Atem struggled to push his horse behind a rock and against the rock face.
"Hurry up! They're coming!"
He said a silent prayer that his horse would stay put and ran to the crevice. The girl went in first and jammed herself in as far as she could. Atem squeezed in after. They both faced each other, their bodies squashed together by the two opposite sides of the rock. There, they held their breath and stood there frozen, waiting, praying. He could feel his own heartbeat from outside his chest and he was positive she could feel it too.
The sound of the rumbling of horses surged at full volume above them, accompanied by the sharp clanking of metal on metal and the characteristic howling and high-pitched whooping of people with malicious intent. Atem clenched his jaw in trepidation as he felt the crushing forces above them sustained by the sturdy rock, translating into mere faint vibrations on the rock's surface.
After what seemed like an eternity, the noise subsided. Atem cautiously turned his head to check - it seemed clear. He gently freed himself and emerged from the fissure.
Plumes of dust were suspended in the air after the unexpected disturbance. The mood was uneasy. But it was almost as if the last few moments had never happened. The water was still as calm as ever, the lotus flowers now in full bloom and the moon's reflection on the water's surface unbroken.
Atem looked back at the girl and nodded.
"They're gone." He said.
She sighed in relief and cautiously emerged from the crack.
"We should leave this place," she stated. Atem nodded in agreement and went to retrieve his horse. She led the way and they left the canyon the opposite direction Atem came in, both on foot and Atem leading his horse by the reins.
As they walked, the girl scanned the water's edge wordlessly. 'Checking for crocodiles', Atem assumed. He glanced over at her, trying to appear inconspicuous. She looked as if she was around his age, could not have been older than 12. Her dark hair was long and slightly tangled, her dress was simple, her eyes were large and dark.
They continued along in silence. As he looked at her, she gave him an uneasy side-eyed glance from her periphery. His cover must be blown.
"I never got your name." Atem said quietly.
"..Naima", she said. "What's yours?"
"It's.. Atem." He said.
They walked in silence again. She continued to be focused on the water's surface.
"You saved us both back there. Thank you." Atem said.
"Heh… yeah…" Naima mumbled and looked at her feet.
"How did you learn to do magic like that?"
Naima turned to look at him briefly and then back at the water, her face became stone.
"My temple... and my mother. She's gone now."
Atem looked at her. "I'm sorry." He said gently.
"Don't be. I'm fine." She replied tersely and continued to stare at the river bank. A sharp snapping thud and a splash occurred behind them in the lily pads. They both jumped and quickly turned around.
Nothing.
"A fish.." Naima mumbled and continued walking in silence for a moment.
A thought came to his mind.
"I want to ask you…Earlier back there.. if you thought I was a thief, why did you save me?" Atem inquired.
She looked at him, almost scrutinizing him silently, before lowering her eyes to the water once more.
"Thief or no, it is easy to get lost in these valleys. A crocodile does not discriminate between guilty and innocent…and it is a terrible way to go. I do not recognize your face, which means you probably are not from these villages. But, thieves have been known to recruit young people around our age. One must never be too cautious these days."
Atem nodded at her in acknowledgment. Deep down, he was intrigued. Her world was completely different than his. How many times tomb robbers and bandits have been mentioned in his father's political meetings, but the reality of it never really hit home for him… until now.
They had been walking for a while now, in mostly silence. He didn't realize how far he had traveled into the valley, but thankfully, he could now visualize the end of it from here. However, the path became narrow as the river widened and the reeds were overgrown. It could only accommodate one at a time.
He decided to go first, gingerly leading his horse over the muddy trail. The horse struggled some against the suction of its hooves with the quicksand-like texture of the mud. However, his faithful animal followed Atem's lead and successfully crossed the muddy patch.
Now it was Naima's turn. Atem watched her carefully. She stepped cautiously over the worn mucky trail but was still slowed down by the suction of the mud.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Atem saw some movement in the shallow water – a submerged animal with a slow, almost undetectable approach, the only visible trace being a small sliver of black that peeked above the waterline.
'Oh no…'
A jolt of adrenaline shot through him like lightning. Without thinking, he bolted to Naima, grabbed any part of her he could grasp and pulled her away with everything he could muster. There was a quick flash of black, a panicked scream and the sound of jaws snapping shut before they both landed on the nearby ground with a loud, painful thud.
Immediately, Atem looked over at Naima. Her face was flushed and she was breathing heavy but her entire body was intact. He sighed in relief.
"Are you ok?" he asked her. Naima looked at him and nodded, still catching her breath.
Atem stood up and offered Naima his hand who took it gratefully.
"Thank you…You saved me…." She said, seemingly awe-struck. She looked up at him, her big brown eyes full with gratitude. They glistened in the moonlight.
Atem smiled at her. "As you did for me."
Naima continued to look up at him for a few more seconds. And at last, she gave him a smile. This surprised him. After all that happened tonight, did he finally win her over?
They both began their ascent upwards toward the valley opening. Atem was grateful, as he couldn't think of anything else he would rather do at that moment than get out of there. He sluggishly trekked up the path with his horse, Naima following him close by.
As the mainland came into view, a strange sight was awaiting them. Clouds of smoke appeared in the distance above the rocky hills. Atem was perplexed. What was going on?
"That's the Valley of the Kings! It's on fire!" Naima exclaimed.
His eyes widened and a wave of nausea jolted through his stomach. Surely the work of the group of thieves from earlier. The resting spot of his ancestors desecrated.
No, he didn't want to deal with this. Not now, not ever.
He shook his head. There was no way they could stay there any longer.
"We have to get out of here. It's not safe for you to travel on foot. I will take you back to your home."
Naima initially hesitated, but nodded in agreement. With new determination, Atem mounted his horse and then helped her up behind him on the saddle. He caught a glimpse of her anxious expression as she climbed up behind him.
"I've never ridden a horse before…" she admitted.
"Hold on tight." Atem said to her as he nudged his heels against his horse's side. The horse responded with an enthusiastic head toss and with a surge of energy, began trotting. He felt Naima lurch backwards and immediately place her arms tightly around his waist for balance.
"This way!" Naima said, pointing westward. Atem nodded, turned his horse and kicked his heels and the horse launched forward, sprinting across the sands.
Chapter Text
The dry wind whipped against their faces as the sand dunes whizzed by, becoming a blur. The full moon illuminated the landscape in an almost comforting way, which Atem was grateful for. He had no idea where he was. Everything looked the same. He glanced in the direction of the royal burial site, smoke and flames still billowing and visible even at a distance. Atem cringed inside. What if this was his fate too? His future legacy diminished to nothing more than a treasure heist, his promised afterlife faded into mere ash and rubble.
'I never asked for this.'
But somehow, fate chose him. Why, he would never know.
"Up there! The road!"
Naima's voice tore Atem away from his thoughts. At last, they reached a paved road. It was deserted, but it was wide and appeared traveled-on. Atem slowed his horse down to a walk.
"Just follow this road down." Naima said from behind him. Atem nodded. The landscape around them was barren, an ocean of beige dotted by the remains of dead bushes and dried up grass. They continued onward until in the distance, Atem was able to see what appeared to be a modest-sized village. The houses were small and simple, made of mud bricks with grass roofs. Farm animals roamed in their pens behind the houses. There was a water reservoir towards the end of the village and behind that, an enormous rockface that provided an impressive backdrop.
As they walked through, they were met with the curious whickers of some goats who took notice of the unusual activity at this hour. All the houses and buildings were dark inside but everything appeared peaceful and serene, a stark contrast to the events that unfolded earlier not too far away. They continued down the road until the end where they reached a small house on the right.
"That's me." Naima said. Atem stopped and dismounted, and Naima swung her leg over the horse to follow. He grabbed her waist to support her as she climbed down.
They looked at each other, unsure what to do.
"Thank you for taking me home. You're very kind." Naima said, with a small smile.
"You're welcome." replied Atem.
"You can follow this road down all the way down. Eventually, it will take you right into the center of Thebes."
Atem nodded. Naima paused, and looked in the distance.
"Since we live within distance of the Valley of the Kings, our village has become familiar with the behaviors of tomb robbers. On the nights that they raid, they are extremely dangerous and will travel over all over the area wreaking havoc. They raid towns and villages, they take the women for themselves, and they will kill wandering travelers that come across their path. I'm afraid it might not be safe for you if you travel tonight." explained Naima.
Atem's eyes widened in surprise.
"You're welcome to stay here until morning, when it will be safer for you to travel home." she said.
He hesitated. Morning? He needed to be back by morning that's for sure. But how much time did he have? How much longer would the thieves continue their devastation? He must return back to the palace undetected, but the thought of meeting a tomb robber during his journey home made him shudder. Especially if they found out who he actually was.
"You don't have to stay if you don't want to." Naima muttered, sensing his hesitation. She appeared uncomfortable.
Atem emerged from his thoughts. "Oh no, it's not like that." He paused. "Staying here would be a smart idea."
Naima smiled. "Come."
She led him to the back of the house where Atem was able to secure his horse and they both entered. Atem stood by the doorway and observed. Naima's home was small and minimal with no furniture. There were two main rooms, one appeared to be a living area, the other a sleeping area with the door closed. Naima placed her empty leather bag in a corner and went toward the closed door. She carefully pulled the door open just a crack and peered inside. Then, she smiled and closed the door.
"Naima…." A small childlike voice inside the room cried out. "Did you see her tonight?"
Startled, Naima opened the door again.
"No, I didn't. Tomb robbers are out again tonight. Go back to sleep Zahra." Naima whispered.
"Ok." said the small voice, sleepily.
Naima closed the door again and looked at him.
"My sister Zahra…" she said. "We can sit out here in the back if you'd like." She gestured to where they came in.
Atem nodded. The back part of the house overlooked a barren field of sand leading to the rockface he saw earlier. They both sat down next to each other.
He watched as Naima sighed, curled her legs into her body and looked up at the stars. They dotted the night sky like little diamonds, surrounding the milky way that swirled in a purple and white haze.
"Our village used to be attacked by thieves often. With the help of the Gods, we have been able to create our own defense through our temple. That's why you are safe here tonight." Naima said, gesturing toward the large rock.
Atem studied it. It didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. But he then noticed ornate carvings that formed a pattern. He was too far away to make out anything else.
"You and your sister live here alone?" Atem asked.
Naima nodded. "This was my mother's house. Ever since she was taken from us, I've become a mother to my sister." she said.
"How have you managed?" he asked.
Naima looked toward the rock face. "It's been really hard... Our temple has helped a great deal."
She smiled. "Nafi, our head priest, he's like a father to me. He taught me magic." She said fondly as she held out her right palm. A small, white electric ball materialized in the middle of her hand, small sparks jolting out from the sides.
Atem looked at her, a million questions building in his throat. Naima closed her hand and the ball dissipated. She glanced back at him.
"You've been wearing that cloak this entire time. Why?" she probed.
"..Uhh….. I'm…. cold." He responded, awkwardly.
Naima raised an eyebrow. Her eyes darted straight to his face and Atem could feel her studying it, taking in everything she could. Although his cloak covered the majority of his body, he somehow felt exposed. He turned away from her, embarrassed.
"So, why were you out tonight?" he asked, changing the subject.
Naima paused and looked contemplative. "I was visiting my mother… We buried her in that valley. I try to visit her often but it's been so dangerous lately…" She said pensively. "What about you? Why were you out tonight?"
Atem looked down.
"I'm.. not ready for what is planned for me... I just needed to get away." he answered and looked off into the distance. "I'm destined to bear a huge responsibility and many people will depend on me... I fear the consequences of what might happen if I fail."
Naima looked at him curiously and then back up at the stars.
"If the Gods have entrusted you with this destiny, they know you will succeed. You must have faith in yourself." she said.
Atem glanced at her. Everything he has done his entire life can be summed up as preparation for him to eventually rule as pharaoh. But what could have prepared him to handle the fury of vengeful departed souls? For actions he didn't even commit?
His father bravely stood before the Gods and took responsibility. However, he knew this wasn't the end. But Naima's words rang true in his mind. He must have faith.
He nodded at her. "Yes, you're right."
"I can see that you care about others… and you care about your purpose. Although you doubt yourself now, it seems that you are dedicated to your success. You should not worry." Naima said and smiled at him, her hopeful eyes bright like the sun. "You will be glorious."
And at that moment, it was as if a golden light had shone through the darkness in his mind. Naima barely knew him, but it was as if she saw something in him that he himself didn't see. An indescribable feeling welled up in his chest. She trusted him to succeed and he was determined to be worthy of her trust.
They sat wordlessly for a moment as Atem continued to ruminate in his thoughts.
Naima perked up and looked over at him. "I have an idea. Do you want to play a game?" she asked.
"A game?" he said as felt himself come to life. Games are one of the few things he felt he truly understood. It's simple – there are rules and there was always a solution, no matter how impossible it seems.
Naima stood up, went back into the house and returned with a faded, well-worn Senet board.
"Do you know how to play?" she asked as she set up the pieces on the board.
He nodded. "Of course." He's been playing Senet since he was four.
"You start" she said.
Atem took the sticks and threw them - and so began their game. Atem got a quick lead on the board, but was soon overtaken by Naima who had 3 lucky rolls in a row. They played into the night, one turn after the next, slowly trying to overtake the other. It was a close game, but Naima had a slight lead with less pieces on the board than Atem.
"Hmm…." Naima mused, smirking as she removed yet another one of her pieces off the board. "I don't see how you're gonna recover from this."
Atem smiled, brimming with confidence. "It's not over yet."
And he took his turn rolling the sticks. In situations like this, somehow he always managed to turn the tables. Like how he managed to roll the exact combination to overcome Naima's pieces. He couldn't explain it, it just came naturally to him.
"Hah… I win." Atem grinned with pride as he cleared the rest of his pieces off the board.
Naima stared at him dumbfounded, wallowing in the sting of defeat. "How…."
He was used to this reaction.
"You played well, Naima." Atem said to her gently.
She looked at him, her brief sulking turning into a determined smile. "Thanks, but clearly not well enough. Next time, you won't be so lucky.."
A challenge? He looked forward to it.
Naima yawned and stretched her arms. The night was small, quiet and still. The milky way had shifted to the left, as if making room for the sun's arrival in a few hours. Atem noticed her eyes fill up with the familiar cloudiness of fatigue.
"You're tired." He said.
"No I'm not." Naima responded quickly. They both sat there quietly. After a moment, he looked over and saw Naima's eyes closed, mouth slightly agape and breathing steadily. He smiled to himself.
'I must leave before the sun rises'. But he still had time, at least he thought? A light snore came from Naima, which reminded him of his own sleepiness. Her head slumped to the side and somehow made it on to his shoulder. Quickly he felt his own exhaustion wash over him like a warm bath.
'Maybe just a few minutes..' He closed his eyes and felt himself floating away..
-o0o-
Atem's eyes shot open.
'Where am I?' 'What time is it?'
He looked around. Naima's head was still resting on his shoulder. The sun was just starting to emerge from the horizon, making purple, pink and orange rays across the sky.
'Oh no…' Panic shot through his body. He needed to leave. Now.
Atem gently picked up Naima's head and did his best to straighten her sleeping body before standing up to retrieve his horse.
"Wha…" he heard a voice murmur. Atem came back around with his horse to see Naima, groggy with sleep still swimming in her eyes.
"What's going on….?"
"I need to leave." He said hastily, mounting his horse.
Naima looked at him confused.
As Atem primed himself to leave, he caught a glimpse of Naima's sleepy and bewildered expression. He acknowledged her briefly with a nod, before digging his heels into his horse's side and trotting off to the main road, only to launch into a full gallop once he reached the end of the village. Clouds of dust rose up behind him as he raced against the clock, praying he would make it back early enough to slip back inside undetected. He continued to push his horse faster, but still had no idea where he was, only going off the directions that Naima gave him. 'Just take this road and it will lead back to Thebes', her voice echoed in his mind. He hoped she was correct.
Unexpectedly in the distance, it appeared the path forked. The left path going back into the mountains, the right leading to a large city. A large palace was adjacent and visible even from far away.
'Thebes'. Relief washed over him. Home. He briefly wondered how he even managed to get out this far before turning his horse to the right and bolting toward the city.
The buildings and trees became larger and larger as he neared the city perimeter. Now he was back in his element. He took his familiar path circling the outside of the large palace walls and then approached the stable area, quickly dismounting his horse, removing the saddle and bridle in record time and throwing them somewhere.
"Ahh, late night again my prince?". It was Binra, the head stable hand.
Atem smiled sheepishly.
"Don't worry about all this, just get going." Binra said.
Atem made a mental note to gift him with something later and started running, retracing the same way he always used to escape.
He finally clambered up the rocks of the tunnel and emerged in his bathroom. In one swift motion, he threw his cloak somewhere and ran toward his bed, throwing the covers over himself.
Just in time to hear a persistent knock and subsequent opening of his bedroom door. Anit, his maid and caretaker since he was small, quickly let herself in. She was a slight woman of old age but had a wicked temper and could outwork anyone.
"Good morning my prince." She said with a bow.
She walked in and looked confused. "..Did you just run from there.. to there?" pointing from the bathroom to the bed.
Atem played dumb. "….what?" He murmured with a sleepy confused look on his face, picking his head up from the pillow.
"Oh nevermind..." she said, opening the curtains sharply. The sunshine streamed into the room. Atem squinted, the constant fatigue from lack of sleep weighing on the back of his eyes like two small bricks.
"Big news this morning…" she announced to him in a hushed tone. "The tomb of Thutmose IV has been robbed and burned! Last night….. Can you believe that? Those disgusting tomb robbers, defiling everything they touch.. If I ever see one of them I swear on Ra I would tear him to pieces.."
Atem found her last statement slightly amusing, as she was probably half of his weight on a good day. She continued to putz about, setting her sights on Atem's bed sheets. She stripped the top ones off in one swift movement and looked at him.
"Well, you don't even look surprised! What's wrong with you?"
"Oh… I am." he muttered, not even trying to hide his lie. Anit gave him a scolding look.
"Well you better be because your father is FURIOUS. I haven't seen him this mad in a long time. You'd better not be late for breakfast again today, because today is NOT the day." She fussed and looked him over.
"Did you go to sleep in those clothes? You look like you've been rolling around in dirt all night! Go get changed!"
-o0o-
"How could this have happened…" The pharaoh Aknamkanon mumbled, placing his weary face in his hands.
"I have been saying for months now that we needed to replace him. If we had more power on our side, we could have prevented some of the damage" said the high priest Aknadin, exasperated
"Brother, you know that we started our search immediately after Priest Amun's death. We cannot be too hasty in choosing the right person." The pharaoh said.
"If you continue taking your time, there won't be any tombs left for them to take." retorted Aknadin.
The pharaoh sighed in frustration, rubbing his forehead.
Atem sat next to his father, quietly listening in his chair at the breakfast table, wishing he could use his plate as a pillow. He picked up some bread covered in honey and took a small, quiet bite.
"So what do you propose that we do?" the pharaoh inquired.
"My pharaoh, if I may," said priest Karim. "Maybe our defense strategy could be changed. Our guards were overpowered and did not receive back up in time. If we set more magic traps around the area and in the tomb, that could bolster our defenses."
"I agree. Please, see to it that this is done." Said the pharaoh. Karim nodded in agreement.
"In the mean time, what is the status of Priest Amun's replacement?"
Priest Shadaa straightened up. "My pharaoh, we are still unable to find anyone worthy of his replacement. We continue our search."
"There has to be someone out there worthy…" said the pharaoh in frustration.
"Perhaps there is, we just aren't searching the right way.." Shadaa proposed.
"Instead of us searching out talent, maybe we should let the talent come to us. What if we opened a school, only for those with elite abilities? That would attract the most skilled people."
Pharaoh Aknamkanon pondered this for a few minutes. "Very well, we could try this. We must find a worthy replacement as soon as possible."
As the pharaoh dismissed his court, Atem stood up and planned to leave quietly.
"Wait, my son. I wish to speak with you." The pharaoh said to him.
"Yes father."
Atem sat back down. His father leaned back deeply into his chair and took a deep breath.
"I hope that yesterday did not cause you too much distress." The pharaoh said. Atem looked down.
"I wanted to wait until you were older to take you to that place, but felt it could not wait any longer." He paused.
"The millennium items were originally created to restore peace to Egypt. However, I feel now that they have had the opposite effect. There is so much darkness now. This was never the legacy I hoped I would pass down to you."
Atem looked at his father - the worry lines etched into his skin, the grey hairs peaking out from his head covering, his kind but tired eyes. Was he staring into his own future?
His father placed his hand on his millennium pendant, removed it from his body and placed it in front of Atem.
"You will inherit this when I make my journey to the afterlife. This will be the key to your power and you must use it wisely. The pendant is capable of many things, both great and terrible. My hope is that you will use its powers for justice and for good." he said.
Atem looked at the golden pyramid, something that he has always been fascinated with since he was small. He remembered playing with it as his father held him and couldn't recall a time where the pendant ever left his father's body. The pendant appeared to glow in the sunlight as he reached down and touched the Eye of Udjat carved onto the surface. The eye illuminated, and Atem was filled with a strange sensation. He looked up at his father who placed the pendant back on his body.
"In due time, my son. Now, carry on with your studies."
Notes:
I know we are still in Atem's POV but we will definitely NOT be staying there, I promise! Stay tuned!
Chapter 3: Acceptance: Part II
Chapter Text
"Wake up Zahra." Naima called out to her sister from the entrance of the bedroom.
She always took too long getting out of bed. In fact, this was their morning routine. Naima would wake up early every day, get herself ready and then make at least three attempts to wake her younger sister. Why Zahra had to make it so tedious all the time, she didn't know.
Naima watched as Zahra's tangled bedhead moved slightly to look at her, eyes peering at her under a giant mane of hair.
"Five more minutes…" Zahra muttered.
"No. Now…" Naima said sternly to her younger sister. Zahra let out a huge groan, kicked off her covers and stood up from her bed mat.
Naima smiled internally and went back into the kitchen to make breakfast, the sounds of Zahra getting ready in the background. She and Zahra shared this house together, the original home of their mother.
Their home was small, but definitely comfortable for two people, even though it was originally meant for three. After her mother's death, the entire village offered to take them into their homes instead.
But, Naima insisted on staying in their original home with Zahra. Even as a six-year-old, she violently refused to leave her mother's house.
Naima smiled to herself as she remembered all the times she ran away from others' homes at night, carrying her sister in her arms, and faithfully returning back to the house her mother called home.
This happened so many times, eventually the village left them alone and accepted it.
As she cleaned up the kitchen area, she thought of how many meals she made for herself and Zahra in that kitchen, how many hours she has spent worrying about Zahra's safety and wellbeing, instead of worrying about toys or games like a normal child.
She never remembered what it was like to not feel responsible for another human being.. to be carefree and lighthearted like the other children in her village.
This was because after her mother died, Naima insisted she would care for herself and her sister alone.
However, Nafi, the village temple leader, wasn't having any of it. He immediately stepped in and assumed a father-role for both of them, since Naima and Zahra's real father has never been in their lives.
Of course there was some initial resistance from Naima. Heavily at first.. but little by little, Naima came to trust him. After learning that Nafi and her mother were close friends, that's when she finally grew to affectionately accept him as her adopted father figure.
And he certainly objected to Naima and Zahra living alone. He didn't understand it, along with the rest of the village. But Naima decided – they didn't have to understand her. The only thing that mattered was the connection between her and her mother that felt strongest in their home, thus keeping the invisible strings attached in any way that she could.
While she pondered her fate, memories from last night began to resurface. She felt something pricking at her heart, a feeling of compassion. The same feeling she got the first time when Atem finally told her what was on his mind, his purpose for being out so late at night and so far out into the desert.
He is definitely cryptic and was careful with what he said. But Naima could somehow sense his anxious mind. She didn't need to know him for a lifetime to see that he was good; His actions toward her that night showed his character more than any words could.
Naima felt for him. She understood what it was like to be shouldered with responsibilities you're not ready for. If only she had the opportunity to escape to somewhere new, like he could… even for a moment.
The morning rays of sun streamed in the room and into her eyes, interrupting her thoughts. Naima lifted her head; Usually she enjoyed seeing the morning glow, but today in particular, she simply stared it, hoping it would wake her up.
She was tired this morning, having barely gotten any sleep last night. She didn't intend on staying up that late.
She sighed as she pulled out yesterday's bread and lit a fire to cook on.
"Naima, who was that guy you were talking to last night?" Zahra asked as she pulled her dress over her head.
Naima froze.
"You heard us?" she asked.
"Of course silly! Well.. only a little bit." Zahra giggled. "But he was here for a loooong time."
Naima pursed her lips. There was no way she could let Atem travel back to… where ever he is from… when tomb robbers were out last night terrorizing the area. Especially after he saved her life. But, he also left so abruptly; it was almost jarring.
'He must have really needed to leave…'
She continued preparing their breakfast. "I met him last night while visiting mother. His name was Atem."
"And you guys played Senet?" Zahra asked
Naima smiled. "Yes."
"Did you win?" Zahra asked.
"No."
Zahra gasped. "He beat you at Senet?"
Naima smiled clumsily. "I'm not sure how.. but yes."
"Well I wanna play Senet with you! Maybe now I can finally beat you." Zahra exclaimed and beamed her innocent smile.
Naima finished warming the bread and set out 2 pieces of fruit.
"Maybe tonight. Now eat." Naima said to her sister. "We're going to the temple after this."
-o0o-
On a day like today, Naima was grateful that the temple was so close to her. Her head was pounding and her eyelids were heavy, but she continued on the path that she has walked for years. Zahra trailed closely behind her, skipping through the sand and making it a game to try to touch all the dead bushes they passed.
Zahra was 7 years old now, but Naima could still remember the day she was born. She held the newborn baby in her own child arms, afraid to drop her. She recalled hearing her newborn cries throughout the night, a huge annoyance to her at the time, but now a faint and pleasant memory.
Naima wasn't ready to be responsible for baby Zahra when she was a mere 6 years old. But she wasn't given a choice. That fateful day when her mother's life was taken…. Naima's heart darkened. No, she wouldn't think about that today. She must focus.
Finally, they reached the towering overface, the ancient ornate carvings snaking up the side. There was a large opening in the rock and stairs that appeared to descend into the darkness. Naima and Zahra walked through the familiar entrance and the carvings on the rockface flashed blue for just a moment, as if it was sensing their very souls. The torches on the side of the staircase - previously inert - immediately ignited and were set ablaze, illuminating the way down.
As they descended the staircase, the sounds of conversation, chanting, and the clinking of metal became louder. Finally at the bottom, a large, torch-lit room with several pillars came into view. Various statues of Egyptian Gods lined the walls with areas to pray and provide offerings. There were several hidden rooms in the back and a large alter in the front.
"Ah.. Naima, Zahra. You are here!" A slender, middle-aged man wearing a robe approached them beaming, arms outstretched.
"Good morning Nafi." Naima said with a smile.
"Nafi!" Zahra exclaimed, running towards the man and jumping into his outstretched arms.
"My little Zahra…." Nafi said affectionately as he hugged her tight and threw her up in the air playfully. Naima looked around. The temple was active with at least a dozen people in the large room they were in.
Apparently, this temple was very special. It was the only one of its kind – one where all members of the public were welcome to worship the Gods, not just a select few, making it a popular spot for people in her area.
Several people were in a small group chanting a prayer to the goddess Hathor, a newly married couple and their family wishing for fertility. Another lone person offered a prayer to the statue of Osiris for his newly departed father. The clinking of metal religious ornaments, the rustling of the pages of ancient texts, the smell of incense and fragrant flowers... all stirred up feelings of fondness and familiarity in Naima. This was her true home - where both she and Zahra were raised.
"Ok my little fiend!" Nafi said, finishing his play-wrestling session with Zahra. Zahra giggled and ran back toward Naima.
"The usual today, Nafi?" Naima asked. Nafi smiled, a spirited glint in his eye.
"Yes, but I have something new planned for you today, Naima" He said. Naima cocked her head in curiosity.
"You will see soon enough. Now, Zahra, run along with Rashida. Time for your reading and arithmetic lessons." Nafi said sternly. Zahra face lit up with a giant smile. A kind looking woman appeared from a back room and gestured toward Zahra.
"Ok!" she said and ran towards the woman.
"Come, Zahra." Rashida said gently with a smile, her arm outstretched as Zahra met her. They both went into a room and closed the door behind them.
Nafi turned toward Naima, the glint still in his eyes, his smile as large as ever. "I will see you later on today." he said to her.
Naima nodded, excitement and anticipation growing in her mind.
And so her day began, a laundry list of tasks that she has done in the same order since she could remember. Sweep the floors and then scrub them, organize the scrolls and texts, remove the old food at the alters, clean the statues, make the food offerings for the Gods and finally…wash the dishes. After all this, it would be the best time of the day and her reward – a magic lesson from Nafi.
As she launched into the comfort of routine, her thoughts wandered. She glanced over at the room that Zahra was in and reminisced about her own lessons with Rashida, sitting at the table and learning hieroglyphs and Hieretic, reading texts, and practicing math problems while little Zahra toddled around her. Naima knew that women were not usually given an education and wondered how she was so fortunate.
Then her magic lessons with Nafi… the hours he spent with her when she was young, gently helping her harness her inner power, praying and chanting to the gods together, slowly helping her become stronger, teaching her useful things about magic, guiding her through life in general. Ever since she could remember, he was determined to turn her into a somebody. Naima's heart swelled with affection.
'I need to pay it back, I will dedicate my life to this temple.' She thought to herself as she scrubbed and scoured. Nafi has always told her that she was capable of great things and to not limit herself to his small remote temple. But what else would she do? What else could she do? Naima pushed those thoughts away.
'I will stay here. This is my home.'
-o0o-
Naima could see light reflecting off the ceramic glazed dishes as she finished drying them. She smiled in satisfaction, exited the kitchen and looked around. The temple was as clean as it could be.
She gathered her cleaning supplies and ventured to the back part of the temple, heading to the very last room down the hallway. She came to a torch lit room and saw Nafi sitting at a table, papyrus scrolls scattered all over. Nafi appeared to be in deep thought before she came, but his face lit up when he saw her approach the door.
"You're finished! It's about time, my dear Naima. We have much to accomplish today!" Nafi exclaimed. Naima grinned. She had been anticipating this moment all day.
They both left his chamber together and came to another room in the underground temple. As they walked in, torches immediately ignited, revealing a relatively large arena with multiple stone targets.
"What is your special plan today Nafi?" Naima asked.
"Ah, impatient are we?" He said with a grin. "That is for later. For now, we practice."
Naima nodded. She turned toward the stone targets of various sizes and concentrated on her own energy. Taking deep breaths and channeling her power, she could feel bolts of electricity forming in both her palms. She opened her eyes, she was ready.
Now focused, she quickly raised her arms and flung the electricity at a large target, hitting it head on. The stone exploded into many pieces and Naima beamed with pride and satisfaction. Suddenly the ground began to quake as the previously destroyed target began to reassemble itself, setting up to be blown into pieces once more.
"AGAIN! FASTER THIS TIME." Nafi called out to her. Naima lowered her head in concentration, focusing on the electricity. The bolts came to her palms much faster than last time and she threw them at a medium sized target. The stone burst on impact and clouds of dust heaved upward.
"KEEP GOING!" Nafi coached.
Naima continued practicing like this until she was able to form bolts in her hands almost immediately. She tried to clear the entire field before the rocks were finished reassembling themselves but came up short by a minute or so.
"Ok! That is good for today, Naima." Nafi called out and ran toward her. Naima took a deep breath, the mental fatigue just starting to settle in.
"You must always continue to improve your mental stamina and your concentration. Without those two, you are nothing. Remember also, the three pinnacles of successful battle magic. Stren-" Nafi said but Naima could already finish his sentence.
"Strength, speed and precision." she said with a grin. Nafi smiled.
"That's my girl." He said fondly. "Now, for the second part of your lesson today. Come with me."
Naima's heart leapt in anticipation. This was unusual for Nafi. What could he have up his sleeve?
Nafi led them both back to his chamber and they sat down across from each other, a table between them.
"My dear Naima, we have spent years developing your battle magic. But you must be aware of other types of magic that are equally as useful." He said to her. Naima perked up.
Nafi produced a sharp knife from his pocket and held it in his hand. Naima's eyes widened and she looked up at him. Slowly, Nafi dragged the sharp edge down his arm and created a clean cut. Bright red blood seeped out from the wound.
"Nafi, what are you doing?!" Naima cried out, exasperated. Nafi shushed her.
"Behold, the power of healing magic." He said as he put his knife down. He took a clean towel and dabbed up the extra blood. Then, he closed his eyes and held his hand over his wound. Several golden, shimmering beams gently materialized from his fingertips and combined into one larger beam that seemed to trickle into the wound like warm liquid. Slowly, the wound edges appeared to heal themselves, starting from the deepest part and moving outwards to the surface of the wound. After a few minutes, there was virtually no evidence of any abrasion.
Naima looked at him in awe as Nafi's characteristic big smile returned to his face.
"Eventually, you will be able to do that. But for now, we practice—" He said, pulling out a basket of figs. "On fruit!"
"And the best part is, we get to eat them afterwards!" he chortled to himself.
Naima eyed the basket of figs. "How long until I can do it on real skin?"
"If you can do a fig, you can do a goose. If you can do a goose, you can do a human." Nafi said to her as he plucked a fig from the basket and made a small cut in the flesh. He placed the cut fig in front of her.
"Now.. let's begin."
-o0o-
Naima sighed in frustration. She was already on her eighth fig and was having little success. Her various tries have all ended poorly, ranging from burnt fig to electrocuted fig to making the cut in the fig worse.
"Hah! At this rate I won't need to have dinner!" Nafi teased as he popped her last attempt in his mouth. Naima groaned.
"Not to worry my young one, practice makes perfect" he said as he cut another fig for her. "Let's try to concentrate more."
Naima closed her eyes and gathered her energy. She was tired both from her magic practice today and from the lack of sleep but mustered all the power she could. She opened her eyes and focused on her hands and on the fig. Without warning, a golden beam shot out of her index finger and hit the end of the cut, mending part of it quickly and haphazardly.
"There you go!" Nafi exclaimed and threw up his arms in celebration. "See? Progress." He said with a big smile. Naima beamed. She did it. Well, sort of.
"And now the best part of this lesson…" Nafi said while popping the last fig in his mouth. Naima giggled, her spirits lifted a little.
"Naima! NAIMAAAAAA!" A tiny voice called out from the end of the hallway. Naima heard tiny footsteps come closer and then Zahra's face appeared in the doorway.
"Well that concludes our lesson today, my dear. I will see you back here again tomorrow, bright and early." Nafi said with a wink.
Naima smiled and nodded. "Thank you Nafi."
They both left the temple and walked up the stairs to the exit. As they stepped outside, they were immediately bathed in the evening glow of the Egyptian sunset with its pink and orange hues. Naima squinted as her eyes adjusted.
"Come on Naima! I'll race you back!" Zahra yelled to her and started sprinting.
"Zahra! Wait!" Naima cried out as she ran after her.
'Holy Ra that girl is fast..' she thought to herself as she tried to keep up. Naima was exhausted both mentally and physically. Luckily the house wasn't too far.
"I win!" Zahra shouted at Naima as she reached the back of the house in record time.
"Yes… you win." Naima said to her as she finally caught up with her, catching her breath.
Zahra giggled as they both entered the house together. They freshened up and changed out of their day clothes.
"Remember you said we would play Senet together tonight?" Zahra said to her after they both settled into bed.
That memory seemed like it happened a lifetime ago.
Naima smiled. "Yes, I do." She said as she went to get the old Senet board.
"You're on!"
Chapter Text
"…So you see, the Assyrians did not want to invade, but because of their partnership with the Hittites, they were forced to.."
Atem sat at his desk with his tutor in front of him, staring at hieroglyphs on papyrus, wishing the words that his tutor was saying didn't all somehow blend together. He wanted to concentrate, but his mind continued to drift away.. the hot afternoon sun on his forearms and face, the rustling of the papyrus scrolls, the speckles of dust that floated freely in the rays of sunlight that filled the room.
Anything to alleviate his boredom, he randomly wondered to himself - what could everyone else be doing right now? Probably something much more interesting than this...
"...The invasion was quick and brutal. Over 3000 Egyptians died in the first battle..."
His tutor's voice once again entered his mind, and promptly exited as Atem pushed it away with another day dream. He was tempted to run through a mental list of everyone he could think of and what they could possibly be doing at this exact moment. Mahad.… his father .… Shimon… Mana… Naima…...
Naima.
What would she be doing right now? Atem wracked his brain but still had no clue. He couldn't resist reminiscing about what happened a few nights ago… the bizarre circumstances that led to their meeting, their conversation under the stars, their Senet game, and finally his sudden exit. Despite knowing that he needed to get back quickly at the time, he couldn't squash the feeling of guilt about leaving so abruptly.
Atem wrinkled his forehead in contemplation. Somehow, it was surprising to him to realize that Naima was the first person his age that he has met who is outside of his palace bubble. Dare he say… being around her was oddly refreshing. How many rooms inside these palace walls and somehow they all seem to blend together. He does the same things every day. Everyone talks the same, looks the same, acts the same – at least toward him.
However that night, although dangerous at the time, was different. Granted, his regular night adventures into Thebes help to break up the routine. But this time, what he saw and experienced, he could never go back from. The adrenaline rush of being in danger without an army of guards to protect you, the adventure of seeing a new place – without having a large parade of servants and guards to babysit you… there was a whole other world he was missing out on…
And Naima.
Everything around him is carefully controlled so he's never really had the opportunity to socialize with girls his age, apart from the occasional royal party his father would throw to appease various government leaders. The visiting girls were often stuck up, vapid and tedious. He hoped to Ra he would never be forced into marriage with any of them. Mana briefly flashed into his mind… but she is so young and they've been friends for such a long time, he couldn't think of her as anything else.
He has never actually touched a girl before in a manner that wasn't accidental or completely platonic. And although his physical contact with Naima that night was technically platonic, it was the closest he has ever been to a girl. When she wrapped his arms around his waist –
"My prince, are you listening?" Atem's tutor's stern voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh.. yes, I am." Atem mumbled.
His tutor continued droning onward. Atem looked up at him and tried to refocus his thoughts. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small face peering at him through the top window and then disappear. The face appeared again and flashed a huge smile, then disappeared. Atem knew that face.
'Mana...'
The face reappeared as Mana jumped up, grinned and waved. Atem smiled.
"Helloooooooo Prince!" she called out through the window and disappeared again as gravity brought her downward.
"Hiiiiiii!" Mana said as she jumped up again and reappeared in the window, waving.
"Mana! Stop that! Don't bother the prince." Atem heard Mahad's stern voice reprimand her outside.
"But I just wanted to see him!" Mana pouted.
"He's very busy with his schoolwork…" He heard Mahad say to Mana, voices fading as they walked away.
Atem's tutor sighed, walked over to the window and closed the shades. Atem smiled guiltily and looked down at his papyrus, trying remember what today's lessons were even about.
"The Assyrians suffered huge losses to their troops after the Egyptian army ambushed them…" his tutor continued on.
Atem groaned internally. 'I need to get out of here...'
-o0o-
It was nighttime and Atem sat as still as possible, listening for noises. Any noises. Anything that would indicate someone was awake.
But there was nothing. It was as silent as ever.
Atem sighed. It's now or never. He threw on his cloak, escaped the palace silently and left on his horse.
He wasn't exactly sure what he would do tonight, but the nagging guilt of his hasty departure has been weighing on him all afternoon. He could visit her tonight. But would she even be awake? Would she even want to see him?
'It's worth a shot.' He thought to himself as he took the path on the left and galloped toward the hills.
Naima inhaled deeply, savoring the cool and crisp night air. She tried to sleep but was feeling restless and came outside. Zahra, however, was fast asleep, her little snores barely audible from where she was sitting.
Naima reflected on her day. She was making good progress with healing magic. Over the last few days, she had gone from botching everything, to having at least partial success on all the figs she tried on. But still, she felt impatient. Surely practicing on figs isn't the same as on actual skin? Where in the world would she find a goose to practice on?
She glanced over at her leg and the thrill of temptation enticed her.
'I could just make a small cut and try it...'
She pulled out the tiny knife that she always carried on her and lightly dragged the dull edge against her leg, as if marking the spot she would cut. But at that moment, her previous failures came to mind, including the time the fig grew uncontrollably after one attempt. She stiffened and immediately put her knife back into its sheath.
'Maybe later.' She thought to herself. She sighed. Healing magic was harder than she thought it was and totally different than anything she's done before.
Naima opened her palm and closed her eyes. Immediately, a white ball of electricity appeared in her palm. She opened her eyes again and smiled. At least she could depend on these skills being solid.
She continued to sit against the back outside wall, deep in thought as she absentmindedly practiced summoning balls of electricity to her hand and manipulating them in her palm and fingers.
She began to focus on one electrical ball, trying to make it float upwards above her hand. It rose high into the air, jolts of electricity projecting out from the sides of the sphere.
Naima was so engrossed in her practice that she didn't hear the soft thudding of horse footsteps behind her. A horse and rider seemed to appear out of nowhere from the side of the house and they stopped in front of her.
She jolted upward in surprise, her electric ball dissipating into thin air. Her eyes were still blurry from the sudden change in lighting. However, in the darkness, she was able to make out a cloaked figure in front of her... a familiar looking boy….
He dismounted his horse and looked at her. Naima stood up.
"It's you…." Naima breathed, wide eyed.
Atem looked at her sheepishly. "Yes."
They both paused, awkwardness filling the air.
"Uh ... I came to apologize for leaving so suddenly the other night." He said.
"Oh..…." said Naima. "It's alright."
Another pause.
"Did you come all the way here just for that?" She asked, confused.
"...I guess you could say that." Atem said. "I just didn't feel right about leaving things that way."
"Oh… I see. That's very thoughtful…." Naima answered. "I'm glad that you made it back ok."
Atem smiled uneasily.
"Were you in the middle of something?" he asked.
Naima shook her head. "Not at all. I just couldn't sleep."
He paused.
"Well, I was planning on going somewhere tonight... Would you like to come?"
Naima looked up at him. "Where?"
Atem smiled at her.
"You'll see."
Naima felt excitement creep into her body. She hasn't ventured far outside of her village in years; she has never needed to. But the inexplicable allure of the unknown called out to her like the cries of a caged bird eager to take flight; slowly at first, but with increasing intensity. Her mind became hazy with exhilaration.
She looked behind her toward the bedroom where Zahra slept soundly and felt a twinge of guilt. Although Naima has left Zahra alone at night before, this seemed different, almost like abandonment.
'She will be ok.' Naima thought to herself and forced the doubt away in her mind. This would be no different than her occasional trips to the valley where her mother is laid at rest and other places within walking distance.
With new resolve, Naima turned toward Atem with an anticipatory smile, met his gaze and walked towards him. Atem returned her smile. He mounted his horse and extended his arm to Naima to help her up.
As Naima struggled behind him into the saddle, she took one final look toward the house.
'Just for a little while...'
"Ready?" Atem said. Naima nodded.
And with that, they took off across the desert.
-o0o-
Naima watched as the mounds of sand flew past her. Although the landscape looked similar, she could tell she was far from her village. The agile horse underneath both of them seemed to handle their weight with ease. She couldn't help but to savor the feeling of the wind whipping through her hair, the weightlessness of being carried by a powerful animal, and dare she say - the euphoria of escape.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed since they left. But when she was able to make out the forked path in the distance, she knew they had been traveling for at least little while. As they neared the fork in the road, Atem slowed his horse down and turned to the path on the right, continuing toward the massive city in the distance.
Naima's eyes widened. "We are going to Thebes?" she exclaimed.
Atem looked over his shoulder at her with a smile and nodded.
Naima grinned with excitement. She hasn't been to Thebes since she was a small child. Although she has hoped to return again, the huge city has always been out of her reach since it's at least a half day walk from her village. But now that the great metropolis was finally in front of her eyes, it all seemed surreal. There were more houses and shop buildings than she could count, statues and pillars taller than ten times her height, and numerous boats both large and small that were docked for the night on the mighty Nile river that ran through the heart of the city. An enormous palace tucked in the back of the city was its own attraction as it towered over the skyline and stretched a great distance.
She could see that although nighttime had long since arrived, the city was still very much alive and bustling. As they entered the city gates, a plethora of sights, smells and sounds met them. The streets and market stalls were lit by torches. Vendors selling sundry items lined the streets, calling out to them as they passed. Street performers at every corner competed for an audience. There were food stands that made dishes that Naima has never even seen before, but smelled delectable. The constant low rumble of background chatter and activity filled the air.
Naima felt almost drunk with sensory overload. She continued to take it all in as they slowly and carefully meandered down the narrow city streets on horseback. People strolled passed them without a second thought, engrossed in their own worlds. A disheveled, sickly-looking beggar on the side of the street eyed them both.
"Do you have any spare money?" he asked wearily. Naima shifted her eyes away from him. Of course she didn't.
But Atem reached into his cloak and pulled out three larger-sized gold coins. Naima stared at Atem in surprise as he reached downward to give them to the beggar with a smile. The man's face lit up with glee.
"Thank you.. thank you... bless you…" the man said to Atem as they continued down the street. Atem looked onward, oblivious, as if giving away the equivalent of 2 weeks' worth of wages was the most normal thing in the world. But after witnessing that display of generosity, Naima sat back in the saddle incredulously.
Eventually they made a right turn into another alleyway and went a little further down until Atem stopped his horse in front of a food stall. He dismounted and helped her down from the horse. As she turned toward the stall, the delicious smell of deep-fried food and spices filled her nose and she felt herself salivate.
A short, skinny, bearded man stood behind the counter and as soon as he saw Atem's figure, he grinned.
"Ah, welcome back." He said.
"Two, please." Atem said as he produced two small silver coins from his cloak and placed them into the man's outstretched hand.
"Yes sir, right away." He said as he turned around toward his workspace. His area was small and simple, but efficient. There was a whirr of activity as the man placed something in scalding hot oil and proceeded to make fresh flat bread on an iron grill, flipping it every few seconds until delicious brown scorch marks formed on the surface. At last, he assembled the final product by folding the fried items in the bread with thin slices of cucumber, topped generously with two different light-colored sauces and garnished with parsley.
"Enjoy." He said with pride as he handed both of them his creations. Naima stared at her wrap with hungry eyes. After years of eating simply-prepared legumes, vegetables and bread, she had never seen anything look so delicious. She looked over at Atem who had already taken a bite, so she went in for a bite of hers. A symphony of savory, creamy and tangy met her tastebuds and she couldn't help but to let out a small moan. She grinned at Atem in gratitude, who gave her a knowing smile.
After thanking the man, they both left the stall - wrap in hand - and walked for a little while, still eating.
"This is delicious." Naima said between bites. "What's it called?"
"Ta'amiya." Atem said.
"Mmm, I would eat this everyday if I could!" Naima gushed as she took another bite.
As they finished eating, they ended up at an abandoned building that seemed taller than the other buildings around them. Atem tied up his horse outside and gestured for her to follow him.
They entered and Naima looked around. The majority of the area was hidden in darkness, but she could make out some cob webs on the walls and dust on the surfaces. Atem led the way and Naima blindly followed him, eventually grabbing his cloak as she lost sight of his figure. He led her to some questionable looking stairs and began climbing them, but Naima stopped, unsure.
He looked back at her.
"Don't worry. It's ok." He said and offered his hand. Naima smiled and took it. His grip was firm but gentle as he supported her up the rickety stairs. As soon as they emerged from the dark stairwell, she was blown away.
A panoramic view of the entire city met her eyes, illuminated by the cover of numerous stars and a gibbous moon. The palace stood facing them in the distance, its regal pillars and walls overlooking them in an almost intimidating manner.
Naima looked out in appreciation and sighed as she felt the euphoria from earlier seep back into her core.
"It's so beautiful up here..." she said dreamily and sat down on the ground, curling her legs into her body. Atem sat down next to her.
"This is the best view of Thebes." He said quietly as they both admired the view.
"Do you live here?" she asked.
"Yes… sort of." He responded.
"Must be nice..." Naima mumbled.
"Sometimes." He said.
"Why only sometimes?"
Atem paused. "Well, it can be quite loud.. and dirty. It's hard to find peace and quiet."
Naima looked outward toward the skyline and lingered.
"Wouldn't it be nice to live there..." she mused.
"Where?" he asked.
"There." Naima said, gesturing toward the palace that towered in front of them in the distance.
Atem stiffened.
"Why would you want to live there?
Naima sighed wistfully. "It's probably amazing. Everyone worshiping you like a god. Getting to live in luxury. Being waited on hand and foot."
Atem shook his head. "It's not like that." He said. Naima gave him a curious look.
"At least, I don't think it is. But I wouldn't know." He added quickly.
Naima paused. What an odd exchange. But then again, Atem was quite… odd? And mysterious. She could probe, but something told her that wouldn't get her anywhere, at least not tonight. She reckoned that for now, she would just appreciate this strange and beautiful city, with this strange boy next to her… who could also be beautiful… but the cloak kept her in suspense.
There was splashing noise in the distance. Naima looked over toward the ship dock. Two men had wandered... rather, stumbled onto the dock. Their speech was slurred and practically unintelligible from where they were, but Naima looked closer. They were both unkempt and clearly inebriated, one was carrying a cup in his hand. Their drunken hollers carried surprisingly far.
"Ohhh man, I don't feel good…." One man said as he bent himself over the railing.
"Can't hold your beer?" The other man laughed. "I knew you were a weakling!"
The first man groaned as he turned around and retched, vomiting all over the other man's feet.
"Those are my shoes! Watch where you're puking, asshole!"
"HEY! YOU TWO!" A guard rushed toward the two men on the dock. "GET OUT OF HERE, BEFORE I HAVE YOU BOTH ARRESTED!"
"Oh shit!" "Sorry!" they said as they ran away, their drunken voices still bellowing down the streets.
Naima chuckled to herself, sufficiently entertained.
"Are you sure you still want to live here?" Atem said to her with an amused smile.
She wavered. "At least there are things to see and do... All there is for me is sand and rocks, and the occasional tomb robber.." Naima said dryly.
"Sometimes, I wish things for me were different... Simpler.. A life with sand and rocks sounds more appealing every day." He said to her.
Naima closed her eyes sighed. "I think we all wish we could have been born different. But, Nafi always told me that in the end we all struggle the same.." She looked up at him. "Just different fate."
Atem met her gaze and then looked down, saying nothing. He seemed to become lost in thought.
"Are you still cold tonight?" Naima asked quietly, only half-teasing, as she eyed his cloak with a playful smile. Atem broke out of his thoughts and gave her a sheepish look.
The torches on the streets and market stands seemed to have dwindled in number and an eerie calm had slowly descended over the city as the small hours of the night arrived. However, the activity never completely ceased – a rat scurrying across a small alley way, a lone passerby strolling to who-knows-where, a distant shout from a street far away from them.
Then out of the corner of her eye, Naima saw a soft twinkle of movement in the sky. A small white ball jetted across the night sky closely followed by a tail of shimmering silver mist. Naima gasped.
"Look! A comet!" She exclaimed and pointed to the left. Atem looked up. The white orb made its way across the celestial sky, as if it were paying tribute to the constellations it passed underneath.
"My father says that seeing a comet is an omen, either good or bad." Atem said forebodingly.
Unshaken, Naima stared after the fading silver trail, the shimmery white ball having already having finished its trek across their tiny corner of the world and continuing its journey onward.
She smiled. "I think it's good."
"Let's hope..." Atem said.
He paused. "I should get you home, it's getting late." he said.
Naima nodded. She felt a pang of sadness having to leave the city she's dreamed about for years, but she pushed it away.
Atem looked at her and seemed to sense her despondence. "I can take you back here again sometime, if you want."
Naima perked up and smiled. "I would like that."
They eventually made their way back to the stairwell. This time, Naima went first and Atem followed, grasping her hand from behind to support her. It was pitch black, but Naima had an idea. She held out her palm and produced a small ball of electricity. Immediately, the surrounding area was filled with light. She floated the ball upwards and forward, creating a lit pathway for them both. Atem smiled at her in appreciation.
They exited the building and embarked on their journey back through the streets of Thebes. Initially, it was rather uneventful, other than a rather noisy fight between feral cats in an alleyway.
But as they turned a corner, they came across a disturbing sight.
"…You all are useless…. I might as well feed you to the pigs…."
A group of five young, disheveled-looking boys, some even younger than Zahra, cowered before an old man in a dark cloak.
Naima couldn't believe what she was seeing. All of them looked malnourished and were covered in a layer of dirt. Their clothes were mere rags that hung off their skinny bodies. Some of them were grotesquely disfigured – limbs that were missing and looked like they were haphazardly cut off, or limbs and spine contorted in unnatural ways. One was missing an eye.
"This is all you could come up with today? This measly change?" The man belligerently shook his outstretched palm, a few coins rattling in his hand.
"This is NOTHING!" he shouted and violently threw the coins at the children in anger.
"But sir, that is all the people would give today…" one of the boys spoke up.
A deranged look appeared on the man's face.
"You… VERMIN." The man spat as he reached into his cloak and pulled out a long, thin stick. "You dare speak up to me? I'll show YOU…"
Several sharp cracking noises pierced the air as the man began whipping the boy. The boy whimpered in pain and writhed on the ground in front of him.
As Naima sat and watched in horror, Atem swung his leg over the front of his horse in an instant and he ran toward them.
"STOP." He shouted "LEAVE THEM ALONE."
Atem now stood between the old man and the boy, arms raised in front of them like a shield.
The old man recoiled in shock.
"And what do you think you're doing…" The man hissed. "GET OUT OF MY WAY. OR YOU'LL BE JOINING THEM, BOY."
"I won't let you hurt them anymore." Atem stated.
The man's face became red with anger and in a frenzy, he raised his arms up to strike Atem. Swiftly, Atem dodged the blow. The man stumbled in surprise, but then regained his footing.
"YOU THINK YOU'RE CLEVER, BOY?" The man raged and pulled out a knife.
As Naima saw him reach his arm back to strike, instinct took over.
She quickly formed a lightning bolt in her palm and shot it toward the knife, knocking it clear out of the man's hands. But she decided, that wasn't enough. She produced another ball of electricity in her palm and hurled it in the man's direction but toward the ground purposely, narrowly missing his feet. He leapt up in surprise and let out a small yelp.
Naima swung her leg over Atem's horse and slid down clumsily. Then, she faced the man. His expression was utterly bewildered, and Naima had to resist the feeling of smug satisfaction.
"Next time, I won't miss." She declared. Her voice was confident, but her heart was pounding in her throat from her nerves.
The man continued to stare at her for a few seconds, anger mixed with fear on his face, before he turned back to Atem.
"These boys belong to ME." He spat as he looked between her and Atem. "We need them for our…. operations."
"And what operations are those?" Atem asked.
The man sneered. "You FOOL. The only thing these brats are useful for anyways… conning people into feeling sorry for them and giving them money." He cackled. "Then, WE keep the money."
"So they're your slaves." Atem said darkly.
"Hah! Your word, not mine. We prefer to call it…. coercion. You think these kids could survive one day alone… like that?" The man gestured to the disfigured children. "We're doing them a favor!"
The children cowered on the ground behind Atem, but one boy, the same one as before, spoke up again.
"But YOU did this to us, sir! You took us from our family and made us like this!" the boy cried out as he clutched Atem's cloak from behind.
The boy looked up at Atem and sobbed. "He chopped off my brothers' arms and legs.. so that people would feel sorry for us…and give us money."
Naima froze in horror. She watched Atem's angry scowl becoming deeper as the truth revealed itself.
The man glared at the boy and let out an angry growl. "YOU BE QUIET."
"This is UNFORGIVABLE. This ends tonight." Atem shouted.
The old man paused, a devious smile slowly forming on his face. He began cackling.
"So what did you think would happen? I would just allow you to take these ugly little shits away from us without a fight?" he said.
The man glanced over at Naima. She felt a chill down her spine as she looked at his depraved grin.
"You both know too much." He muttered slowly. "We can't have you going around telling everyone our business, now can we?"
Suddenly, Naima felt something in the air change. A strange force seemed to swirl around all of them. The old man continued to stare at Atem with his evil grin.
"Since you think you're so brave, how about we play a little game." The man said.
The little boy clinging to Atem gasped. "NO! NOT AGAIN! NO DON'T DO IT! PLEASE!" he shouted and began crying.
"What game?" Atem asked confidently over the little boy's cries.
The man laughed. "You'll see soon enough."
"This will be no ordinary game. It will be played in the shadow realm. A place where the stakes are much, much higher." The man said darkly with a sneer.
The little boy continued to cry behind Atem, muttering "No.. no.. no.." and clutching onto him.
"If you win, you can keep these little brats. But if I win… " the man smiled bigger as he eyed both Atem and Naima. "Both of your souls will belong to me…"
Naima reeled in fear. Her soul would belong to him? How could this be?
Atem's eyes widened and he glanced over at Naima. "Leave her out of this!" he declared to the man.
The man laughed. "It's too late! The terms have already been accepted."
Naima watched in terror as darkness swirled around them and a shadowy haze began to envelope everyone into what seemed like a large bubble. It felt as if they were being transported to a different dimension...
Notes:
Ta'amiya is an Egyptian food made from fava beans and spices that is deep fried (basically falafel but with fava beans instead of chickpeas). According to some sources, it is Atem's favorite food. I found it interesting that his favorite food is a common street food, instead of something fancy. To me, this not only highlighted Atem's interest in the "common people", but it also meant that he probably sneaks out of the palace sometimes (which is what inspired these beginning chapters of this story!).
Also, I realized that so far, all of my chapter titles have started with "A". This was totally non-intentional (lol). Not sure how that happened.
Chapter 5: The Shadow Game, and The Origins of Kuriboh
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A large table materialized in the middle and both Atem and the old man sat on opposite ends of it. On top of the table, there appeared to be a myriad of different miniature landscapes, everything from trees to desert to mountains. Strangely, there was movement around the board as clouds drifted and animals roamed, like it was an entire world on its own.
The entire scene felt like she was in a strange dream. Thanks to her training, Naima was familiar with magic, but never knew that things like this could be possible. This wasn't regular magic, this felt dark. She could feel the forces tugging at her mind, attempting to eat away at her mental stamina. But she felt she could hold her own, for now.
The group of boys appeared next her and sat on the ground in fear. The same one who spoke up from before looked at Naima and he stood up and went to her side.
"He has played this game before… many times… and he always wins…" the boy mumbled sadly. Naima knelt down and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"We will get through this. No matter what it takes." Naima said to the boy, in an attempt to comfort him. Deep down, Naima was scared. But she put on a determined face, for the boys' sake.
"What is your name?" she asked him.
"Khouri." He said as Naima stood back up. As they waited for this so-called shadow game to begin, he clung to her dress and they all watched anxiously.
"Now that we are in the correct venue, I will explain the rules." The old man said. "We will each start off with one monster."
Two figures appeared on each side of the table. On Atem's side, a miniature blonde haired man wearing armor and wielding a large sword appeared on the board; And on the man's side, a giant rat.
"We both start at our own respective ends of the board. The goal of the game is to travel to the middle and fight the opponent's monster. The strongest one wins." The man said.
"There are ways you can power up your monster. The best way… is to destroy the other ones you find on the board." The man smirked.
After he said that, a large bird monster appeared on the field from the trees. His rat jumped up and attacked it and the bird let out a loud, desperate screech. As it disappeared, the silhouette of a young woman appeared briefly before being sucked inside the rat. The rat then grew larger in size.
Atem stared in surprise. "What is this? Are these monsters actual people?"
"They were…." The man sneered. "Until they lost."
The man started cackling again and Atem looked at him in horror.
"There are... other ways... to power up your monster. But I'll let you figure that out on your own." He said.
Naima watched as Atem glared at the man from the opposite end of the table, before looking back down at his end of the board.
"Time starts…. Now!" the man cried out.
Atem's monster turned around to look at him. And to everyone's surprise, it spoke.
"I am a soldier, born of Celtic descent. I am honored to be your guardian in this noble fight." It said valiantly to Atem.
Atem smiled briefly at him and nodded. Then, there was a small rustling in the trees.
A monster appeared, what looked like a young girl with wings – a fairy. She smiled up at Atem and greeted the Celtic Guardian.
"Well? Aren't you going to attack it?" the man said from the other side of the table. It appeared he was finishing an attack on another monster, his rat growing even bigger.
Atem looked briefly at the man and then looked down at his board, the two small-scale creatures staring back up at him.
"No." Atem said plainly. "I will find another way."
"Hah! Suit yourself, foolish boy." The man scoffed.
The fairy girl beamed upward at Atem, before turning toward the Celtic Guardian and beckoning toward the forest.
"Hm, what is this?" Atem mumbled as he watched both creatures weaving through the trees.
Eventually, they both reached a large stone pillar. The fairy pointed at it and looked at the Celtic Guardian.
"So these pillars are another way to power up?" Atem said. The fairy nodded to him excitedly.
The Celtic Guardian stepped up to the pillar and touched it. Immediately, it grew in size. However, as Naima glanced toward the other end of the table, she knew Atem still had a long way to go. The man's rat was enormous, and only getting bigger by the second as it terrorized every creature in its path.
"We must find every pillar we can." Atem instructed his creatures. They both gave him a determined nod before taking off together to a different location, the fairy leading the way. As the creatures traversed the landscape, they came across multiple different monsters, all of which the fairy and Atem's Celtic Guardian befriended. They were able to find a quite a few more pillars along the way and the Celtic Guardian eventually became triple its previous size.
All of a sudden, the table itself moved. Both ends began to shorten as parts of the landscape disappeared, reducing the size of the field by about half.
"What is happening?" Atem exclaimed in shock.
"Did I forget to tell you? This game has a time limit. Eventually, the board will become small enough to where you will have no choice but to fight me." The man said haughtily. Atem glared at him in response.
Naima continued to watch closely as Atem's creatures raced against the clock, finding every pillar they could. As the table became smaller and smaller, the Celtic Guardian was now an impressive size. However, so was the man's rat. In fact, it was much larger than Atem's creature.
Finally, it was time. The table's length no longer allowed for a separation. They must fight.
"This is pathetic. My rat will slaughter you!" The man shouted. His Giant Rat stared back them as it growled and salivated.
Naima's stomach clenched as she looked at Atem's worried face. The man's Giant Rat towered over his Celtic Guardian. It was only a matter of time. Khouri saw this too and he began crying again, burying his face in Naima's dress.
'Please Atem… I know this can't be it…' Naima thought to herself as she put her hand on Khouri's back. She clenched her fist. 'It can't be…'
"Now my Giant Rat, ATTACK HIS GUARDIAN!" The man called out to his monster.
The rat leaped forward and began sprinting toward Atem's Celtic Guardian. The Celtic Guardian braced himself and clenched his sword, eyes open and ready to face its fate, as Atem looked forward in dread.
Unexpectedly, there was a sharp rustling in the forest behind the Celtic Guardian. Out of the trees emerged a multitude of creatures – the same ones that the Fairy and the Celtic Guardian befriended during their pursuit of the pillars. There were creatures of all different sorts, shapes and sizes. They all moved quickly, surrounding the Celtic Guardian as if they were shielding him.
"WHAT IS THIS!?" The man bellowed. "I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE!"
The rat stopped clear in its tracks, unsure of what to do.
Naima saw Atem close his eyes and smirk.
"Brute force isn't the only way to get ahead. The creatures you destroyed to power up your rat might have given you a strength advantage, but the disrespect you've shown toward their souls does not go unpunished." Atem said calmly.
The man growled under his breath, made a fist and banged it on the table.
"Well? What are you waiting for? ATTACK THEM!" he roared to his Giant Rat.
The rat sprang forward again and ran towards Atem's end of the table. As soon as it came within striking distance, the creatures began to attack. Some jumped up onto the rat and stuck it directly, others stood around it and struck it from a distance.
The rat eventually began to succumb to the assault of multiple monsters. It shrank in size as it screeched in pain.
"NO! ATTACK THEM!" The man called out to the rat. His rat obeyed. It began to pull the creatures off its body in a hurry and used its bite attack to destroy them. Both Naima and Atem grimaced as the souls of the creatures who bravely defended him shrieked in pain one by one and faded from the field.
"Where are your little protectors now?" the man taunted as the rat finished off the last one.
It was now down to the original two. Fortunately, the rat had shrunk a considerable size thanks to the brave assault from their creatures they befriended. However, it was still larger than Atem's Celtic Guardian.
"All that trouble and my Rat is still more powerful than your Guardian." The man smirked.
"I've had enough! Let's finish this! ATTACK HIS CELTIC GUARDIAN!" He called out.
Naima felt Khouri's body tense up next to her.
"No! NOOOOOOOOO!" Khouri cried as he watched the rat dart toward the Celtic Guardian once more. The boy began to tremble and Naima broke her eyes away from the table to look down at him.
There was a sharp hissing noise and somehow, Khouri suddenly disappeared from Naima's side and reappeared onto the field, now miniature size.
"WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU DO, BOY?" The man yelled as he saw Khouri standing in front of the Celtic Guardian, a determined look on his face. And then somehow, Khouri's shape began to transform. Instead of the small boy he once was, his form liquified and reformed to become a round, brown furry ball with large purple eyes and green paws.
Naima couldn't believe this was actually happening. Khouri just turned into a creature in front of her very eyes. As she looked at the field, Khouri floated in front of the Giant Rat and bobbed up and down threateningly. He cried out, his animated squeal reminded Naima of a small animal.
It was quite cute actually. But Naima tried to remain focused on the battle.
"RIDICULOUS… DESTROY THAT LITTLE PIPSQUEAK!" the man shouted.
As the rat rushed forward for its third attempt, suddenly another creature emerged from the trees.
It was the Fairy. It seemed that she managed to escape from the previous slaughter. The rat continued to scurry forward, eyes locked on Khouri's form as Khouri boldly stood his ground. The Fairy darted toward Khouri and quickly touched him with both hands.
Instantly, Khouri's form multiplied into dozens… hundreds… even thousands of tiny furry creatures. They surrounded the Celtic Guardian like a wall. It was too late for the man to call off his attack and the rat ran headfirst into Khouri's wall of multiples.
It was explosive. Massive fireballs formed as multiple brown furry creatures detonated on impact. The rat wailed in pain and shrank down massively in size as Khouri's furry multiples continued to ignite. Naima stared in awe at the fireworks before her, having never seen anything like it. Eventually as it died down, she saw Atem's confident face emerge from the flames.
"No….My rat…..How could this be?" the man moaned in despair.
"You thought you could succeed by abuse and intimidation. But you were wrong. Your cruelty ends tonight." Atem said boldly as the smoke around him cleared.
"Now, my Celtic Guardian, ATTACK HIS GIANT RAT AND END THIS SHADOW GAME!" he cried out.
The Celtic Guardian grasped his sword and ran toward the rat. At this point, the rat was almost at the original size that it started at. It recoiled as the Celtic Guardian towered over it. With one quick slash, it was over and the rat dissipated into thin air.
"You lose." Atem declared.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The man howled with his face in his hands.
Meanwhile, Khouri's furry form was still present on the field. He turned around and faced Atem, bobbing up and down excitedly and giving him an affectionate nudge. The fairy hovered in front of him and smiled.
"Thank you, to both of you. Without your help, we would not have won." Atem said. Khouri let out a loud, high pitched cry and then finally, his furry form dissolved into a bright light. He materialized again next to Naima in his human form once more.
The rest of the group of boys who previously trembled on the ground in fear miraculously began to emerge from their shells. The ones that could stand, stood up. Rare smiles were plastered their faces and they gazed at Atem in admiration.
"Since I won this game, you will free these children." Atem said.
The man knelt on the ground and was silent. Immediately, Naima felt a change in the air again. The shadows began to dissolve and light seeped through the cracks of the dark bubble. Slowly, she began to feel normal. As the mental tugging gradually went away, she realized how tired being in that dimension made her.
The back streets of Thebes eventually appeared around them once more. Having just spent the last few hours in some strange dimension, returning to the normalcy of the sleeping city gave Naima a peculiar feeling. As she attempted to acclimate herself once more, she saw the group of children along with Atem had also returned and stood next to her. The man was nowhere to be seen.
Atem approached the boys and knelt down.
"You are free now. Go back to your family." He said.
The group of boys looked at him, all their eyes glistening with tears. Khouri stepped up to Atem and threw his arms around him.
"Thank you…." The boy mumbled. "We will never forget this."
Atem nodded at them in acknowledgement. "Take care."
The group of boys then departed down a darkened alley way. Naima blinked once, and suddenly, they were gone. She reeled in shock. 'Where did they go?'
As she stared down the dark path, she could have sworn she heard the sound of the high pitched cry of Khouri's creature softly echoing down the alley across the stone walls. And with that, there was no further trace. The streets were abandoned and an eerie, but quiet peacefulness surrounded them. Life went on as if the crazy events of tonight were a mere hallucination.
Naima glanced over at Atem who continued to stare toward the abandoned alleyway where the group of boys had vanished.
"They're gone…" Naima said.
"Yes." He said pensively. "But I have a feeling… we will see them again."
Naima hoped so. Not only to make sure they were ok, but simply as definitive proof to herself that the events that just occurred weren't some weird dream.
After what she just witnessed, Naima was now reasonably certain that Atem wasn't a normal 13 year old boy. As they both walked back to his horse, she stared at his figure and studied it from behind. Everything about him exuded quiet confidence, from the way he carried himself, to the way that he spoke. He was so sure of himself, both in saving the boys and playing the man's shadow game. It was like he has done this type of thing before, all his life, like it came naturally for him. But interestingly … Naima remembered... even he was still not immune to self-doubt.
Naima continued to contemplate while they slowly made their way out of the city. She also just couldn't get over how normal everything seemed compared to the alternate universe they were just in. Seeing a board game come to life before her eyes, souls trapped inside monsters, a little boy turn into a furry creature himself… What else was out there she that she didn't know?
"You've been quiet…" Atem remarked from the front of the horse as they continued down an empty street..
Naima jolted out of her thoughts. "Just thinking." She mumbled, flustered.
"About what?" he asked.
Naima hesitated, unsure what to say. She was thinking about so many things…
"That man… he took us to.. the shadow realm? And you both played a shadow game? ... what is all of this?" she asked.
"Yes. The shadow games have become quite a problem in Egypt over the last few decades. As you've seen, they can be very dangerous with high stakes, and anything being possible during them. They are played by summoning monsters using dark magic." He stated.
So she was right. This was a form of dark magic she didn't know about.
"You seem to know a lot about this. Have you played a shadow game before?" Naima said.
Atem looked behind his shoulder at her. "Yes." He said.
Naima stared at him in surprise.
"When?" she asked.
Atem paused. "I first heard about them as a child, and I've witnessed many. Over the last few years, I have played them with others as a strength exercise."
"And you always win?" Naima asked.
"At first, no… but with more practice… yes." He said quietly.
"How do you get to practice? How does someone learn this?" Naima asked eagerly. "I would like to learn…"
Atem looked behind at her again. "Naima, this is powerful magic. There's a reason it has become such a problem here."
"So how come you know how to do it?" Naima questioned.
Atem turned his head forward again, seemingly avoiding her question. Awkward silence ensued.
"Is it a secret then?" she asked after a few moments. She saw Atem's shoulders tense up in front of her.
After a little while, he finally spoke. "I know how to do it because my future duties will require me to, eventually." He said.
Of course it was another carefully crafted answer. And that was probably all she was gonna get tonight. But at least it was something. She wanted to be careful not to push it.
Naima smiled. "I'm gonna learn some day… you'll see. And maybe, we can practice with each other." She said
"Perhaps." He said.
Finally, they passed through the city gates of Thebes. As she looked at the darkened skyline of the large city, she felt a pang in her chest. They haven't really even gone far and she already wanted to return. Right now, going back to her small, sleepy village seemed like such a drag.
She looked behind her shoulder as they left, almost bidding the city farewell. 'More like.. Until we meet again…' she thought to herself.
Atem glanced behind at her once more. At that moment, Naima happened to notice the fabric of his hood was bunched up and folded, partially exposing what lied underneath.
"Hold on." Atem said to her.
Naima couldn't resist sneaking a small look under the folds… Perhaps she could finally see something… anything. And unexpectedly - a faint shimmer of gold…. or so she thought…. It was entirely possible she imagined it.
She quickly snapped out of her guilty thoughts and nodded at Atem, holding on to his waist. He smiled confidently and with a light tap, they sped off.
-o0o-
Although Naima still longed for the excitement of Thebes, there was something comforting about the way her home looked, especially at night. It was tucked in the back of the village and easy to miss, so small, but so cozy and quiet. Almost the complete opposite of where she just came from. A warm feeling emerged in Naima, a new appreciation. Although she decided she adores Thebes, nothing can beat home. As they arrived at the house and dismounted, they both looked at each other, still giddy from their nighttime escapade.
"Will I ever see you again?" Naima inquired.
Atem's face lit up and he smiled. "Of course. There's still plenty of Thebes left to explore."
"Orrrr… maybe we could go somewhere else next time." she suggested playfully.
"Like where?" he asked.
"Hmm... you'll see." Naima teased with a wink.
Atem looked taken aback for a moment, but then his smile turned into a grin – the first big smile that Naima has ever seen on him.
"I should head back soon." He mumbled as he went to mount his horse.
Naima looked at him as he swung himself up. "Will I know when you come?"
He looked back at her, seemingly in thought. "I will find a way to tell you." he stated confidently after a moment.
Naima nodded at him and watched as he steadied himself on his horse.
He looked down at her with a gentle smile. "Until next time…" he said. And he began his journey.
"Safe travels ..." Naima called out after him and waved. She watched as he waved back at her without turning around, his figure becoming smaller and smaller as his horse picked up speed.
She was alone now. It felt strange, almost deflating, to return to normalcy after everything that happened tonight. A spontaneous excursion across the desert with a mysterious boy.. to a city she didn't know… and then subsequently ending up in the middle of a shadow game….
She has never done this sort of thing before, and has never thought to do it until now. Somewhere in the far back reaches of her mind, her common sense was screaming at her. But right now, at this very moment, her mind felt clearer, freer than it's ever been before – like a fire has finally been ignited in her soul. She wished she could bottle up this sensation and savor it forever.
As she inhaled the sweet, cool night air, the thought of Atem returning made her stomach flutter.
'Come back soon….' She thought to herself as she finally went back in the house for the night.
Notes:
Author's note:
So there you have it, Kuriboh's origin plus the origin of Celtic Guardian. The five brothers in this story are the spirits of the "Five Kuriboh Brothers" (Kuriboh, Kuribah, Kuribee, Kuribeh, Kuriboo) – part of a Kuriboh-based deck strategy that Yugi/Yami Yugi used in Season 4 of the anime, including the Kuriboh we know and love (the spirit of Khouri) who has faithfully defended Yugi/Yami Yugi throughout the entire anime.. in gratitude for saving him and the rest of his brothers long ago…
Chapter 6: The Oasis
Chapter Text
"Try again." Nafi directed to Naima. They were both in Nafi's chamber for Naima's regular lessons, continuing to work on healing. Having already mastered the fig, Naima thought she was done with fruit. But she was wrong.
Today, instead of figs, there was a basket of grapes in front of them, many of which have been somewhat messily joined back together after being cut in two.
"Tell me again, why is it we are practicing on grapes now instead of real flesh?" Naima grumbled.
"Hah! Child… you are too impatient. You must build the basics first." Nafi asserted.
"But why grapes…."
"Grapes!….. are juicy! And succulent…. And…" Nafi raised his eyebrows with a mischievous smile. "Fleshy…."
Naima stared at him.
Nafi pumped his fist in the air enthusiastically. "You think a wound is going to be dry and seedy inside like a fig? ABSOLUTELY NOT."
"The humble grape can simulate both… flesh and blood vessels… from its size, skin and texture." He said, enunciating his words carefully. "Master the grape and you will truly master the art of healing from the inside out."
Naima sighed. "Okay…"
She grabbed another grape from the basket, this time a small one, and rolled it around in her fingers. It accidently split open from the pressure and the juices leaked over her fingertips. She studied the rip in the skin – it was tiny, trivial even. But it didn't seem to matter, the juice leaked out anyways.
She held the smushed grape in one hand and held her other hand over it. Several tiny golden beams emerged from her finger tips, tinier than she's ever made. This small rip required finesse, something Naima did not have...yet. The end result was messy.
"Keep trying, dear… Eventually it will all come together." Nafi smiled. "Now, I believe that is enough for today. We will pick up from here again tomorrow."
Naima smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Nafi."
She still had to finish her chores. Thankfully, making food offerings was the last thing she needed to do and then she could leave. She left his chamber and headed to the kitchen.
A mountain of various ingredients awaited her. There were giant vats of flour and dried legumes, fresh eggs and cheese that were brought in by temple-goers. A pile of vegetables stared at her, waiting to be chopped. As Naima got to work making bread, she became lost in old routines – the same measurements for flour, water and salt, mixing together the same way until everything is combined – no real thought required, allowing her mind to drift away from the present.
It had been at least a week since her and Atem's adventure to Thebes. She hadn't heard anything from him since then. He said he would find a way to tell her when he comes. Maybe he forgot about her…
She finished kneading the bread dough, put it aside to rest and set her sights on the pile of vegetables. A head of celery was on top; She grabbed it and began chopping.
No.
There was no way he could have forgotten about her. Granted, they've only seen each other twice, but why would he say he would return if he wouldn't? Maybe he's busy…. But with what!? She barely really knew him, she didn't even know what he looked like. Why was he being so secretive? What did he have to hide? Whatever it was, she knew she wasn't going to force anything out of him. He would tell her when he's ready… She would just have to wait.
Naima exhaled and threw her knife down in frustration.
His face came to her mind – staunch, violet eyes with nose and mouth framed by blonde fringe, everything else covered by a brown cloak. But behind the eyes and cloak was a brave, kind and noble heart. The first person she could have a similar-age conversation with. He was also the first boy her age that she has met in years….
Naima felt the butterflies again and then cringed to herself. How silly was she to be preoccupied with someone whose full appearance she's never actually seen before. She forced the butterflies away.
She was being ridiculous. Atem was her new friend, nothing more and nothing less. He will come when he wants to come. And that's that, she decided, as she finished chopping a carrot.
Their adventure made her realize she had been living inside of a box her entire life, seeing and doing the same things day in and day out. After Atem left last time, somehow she began to feel like a different person. The old her would have dismissed their Thebes adventure as impulsive... reckless even. And it certainly was. They could have both lost their souls, been kidnapped or stranded in the desert… who knows what else. But now, the thought of consequences seemed distant in her mind. It felt good.
It seemed like spontaneity and the thrill of the unknown was exactly what she needed to finally understand what being alive should feel like. She was hungry for more.
The door burst open. Naima shot her head up in surprise, jolted out of her thoughts. A temple patron she didn't recognize strode in carrying two dead ducks, one in each hand.
"Caught these this morning… Thought you could put them to good use…" he grunted as he placed them on the countertop.
Naima, still in shock, stared at the ducks and then looked up and nodded back to him. As he left, Naima stared at them. An idea formed in her head. Was this her chance to finally practice on something other than fruit? It wasn't a goose.. but it was close enough.
She quickly defeathered the birds, laid them down, and made cuts of various sizes and depths. Then, she got to work practicing. Her success was variable at first, but toward the end, it was as if the bird had never been cut in the first place. Naima smiled at her work as she finished up healing the last cut. This was so much better than fruit.
She began to cut up the birds for real this time and finished up cooking as quickly as she could. Today was a long day and all she wanted was to lay back in bed.
"NAIMA!" Zahra's shrill voice cut through the air as she ran down the hall, signaling it was time to leave.
She quickly cleaned up, met her sister and they both left for the day.
-o0o-
"What did you learn about today, Zahra?" Naima asked her
Both Naima and Zahra were walking their typical path home, bathed in the Egyptian evening glow.
"Adding and subtracting…" Zahra trailed off. "I hate math! It's hard..."
Naima smiled. "I did too… You'll get it eventually."
They both looked toward their familiar home and Naima sighed gratefully. But something wasn't quite right. Naima squinted her eyes.
On the roof of her house was a brown and white falcon. A big one.
'That's strange...' she thought. Her stomach lurched.
"What's that bird doing, Naima?" Zahra said as she pointed to the roof.
"…I don't know…" she answered.
They both walked quickly to the house. The bird caught sight of them, spread its wings and took flight above them. Naima gazed upward and saw the bird was carrying something in its claws, which it promptly released above her and came tumbling into her outstretched palm.
A rolled up piece of papyrus.
Naima's heart began to pound. She quickly unrolled it. There, written in messy Hieratic, was the word 'Tonight' scratched onto the paper in ink. Her eyes widened.
"Let me see! Let me seeeeee!" Zahra cried out as she jumped up and snatched the paper out of her hands.
"Zahra!" Naima exclaimed, attempting to grab the paper back.
Zahra unrolled it and furrowed her brow to try to read it.
"Tooo..niiigh..t… Tonight!" she shouted proudly. "Does this mean that guy is gonna come back again tonight like he did last week?"
Naima felt her cheeks become red and hot. "How did you know about that?! You were supposed to be sleeping!"
Zahra giggled. Naima looked at the paper again and her stomach did a flip.
He didn't forget about her.
-o0o-
Naima made sure to not make any mention about the paper, Atem or going out tonight at all this evening in hopes that somehow Zahra would forget. She even played a game of Senet with her to tire her out. Luckily for her, Zahra didn't bring it up either. She hoped this was a good sign.
She got Zahra ready for bed and pretended to get ready too, even going so far as to put on her night clothes. They both got in bed.
"Goodnight Naima!" Zahra said cheerfully as she rolled over.
"Goodnight."
Naima laid there for a while, slowly watching the moonlight trickle into the room as it rose high above the night sky. It was half shaped tonight, but that didn't stop it from bathing the earth below in its luminous glow. The shadows of flying night time insects outside danced across the walls. Crickets chirped as a soft breeze flowed into the room.
She observed Zahra's breathing becoming deeper and louder as her sister drifted further and further into dreamworld.
'Finally…'
Naima slowly and carefully got up from her mat and left the room, making every effort to not make a sound. As comfortable as her nightclothes felt on her at the time, they had to come off. She put on a regular dress, washed her face and ran her old hairbrush through her hair to get the tangles out. While she was doing this, Zahra's deep breathing turned into small snores. Naima smiled; She was probably in the clear.
She sat by the wall next to the door. The fatigue she felt from earlier in the day seemed like it had been pushed to the side and excitement took its place. The butterflies in her stomach were back again. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself as she waited.
What would they do tonight? Last time, Naima said she would pick. But she wasn't sure of many places that were interesting. She did know of somewhere though…. she just hoped she could actually remember where it is. She did recall that it was quite a far walk from her village, but on horseback, it should be manageable.
Finally, she heard a noise – Faint at first, the dull sound of hooves against sand. Naima felt the cool sensation of adrenaline run through her body, her heartbeat quickened. Was he finally here?
She got up quickly, walked outside…
And there he was, sitting high on his horse striding toward her. She grinned at him and he smiled when he saw her. He stopped in front of her, dismounted and they stood face to face.
"I see you got my message." He said
Naima nodded. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well." He said and they exchanged smiles wordlessly.
Unexpectedly, a small voice called out from the house.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
Naima shot her head around in alarm. She couldn't believe her eyes – Zahra was wide awake, peeking her head out from the window and waving her arm energetically at them both.
"Zahra!… Shhhhhh! Be quiet! …What are you doing?!" Naima hissed under her breath.
"Oh.. sorry." Zahra said in her tiny normal speaking voice. "Hello" she whispered as loud as she could.
"Hello Zahra." Atem said to her with a smile. Zahra beamed at him and Naima shot her a stern glare.
"Zahra, go back to bed." Naima scolded. Zahra giggled and disappeared from the window.
Naima looked back to Atem, closed her eyes and sighed. "My sister can be a handful sometimes…"
"It's quite alright." Atem said.
He got back up on his horse and helped her up behind him. Naima settled herself in the saddle, feeling the familiar excitement of another adventure.
He turned his head behind to look at her. "So, where would you like to go tonight?"
"I'll show you.." Naima said to him. "This way!" She pointed to the left, away from the hills toward the desert.
Atem nodded and smiled.. and they headed out.
-o0o-
Naima wracked her brain. She could have sworn they were going the right way. They very well might be. Or not. She had already come to the realization that perhaps her directional memory from years ago wasn't reliable at all.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…
They had been traveling for a while and all they've seen is large rocks and barren land. But this has to have been the right way. She's been this way before…
"Are you sure we are going the right way?" Atem asked from the front.
"Uhhh.. I think so.." Naima mumbled. She closed her eyes and dug deep into her memory, trying to recall any details at all while Atem continued straight. A few pictures of rock.. tree..water.. flashed before her mind, but they were blurry.
She began to panic inside. Why, oh why did she think this was a good idea. Was she even there or did she just dream it? She scrunched her eyes shut and tried to focus.
"Maybe we should turn around…" Atem's uncertain voice interrupted her thoughts. She opened her eyes briefly and then abruptly felt like she was mentally slapped in the face. A large uniquely curved rock, skinny at the bottom but wide at the top almost like a mushroom, stood before them. It was the same one in her memory. A mixture of relief and determination washed over her.
"No.. this is the right way.." she said with more confidence. "Keep going."
Atem nodded.
Naima was still not completely sure, but seeing the same rock from her memory gave her assurance. They continued on, and Naima looked around continuously to see if anything else looked familiar.
But no, more barren land. Naima sighed. "Maybe we should have just turned around…" she said, defeated and embarrassed.
"Wait…." Atem's body stiffened. "There's something over there."
Naima looked up and squinted her eyes. Something was on the horizon - A dark thick slit, but as they neared closer, the faint outline of trees. A mirage? Her intuition said no. She's been here before, she knew it.
"This is it! The oasis!" Naima exclaimed in elation. Seven years later, it was still as lush and verdant as ever. It didn't quite look as how she remembered, but her memory from when she was 5 years old was spotty at best.
They neared the tree line and Naima craned her neck to get a better look.
There was a large pool of water with varying shades of blue and black with light ripples on the surface, the moon's reflection wavy and distorted. Large stones, reeds and date palm trees surrounded the lake and extended outward, creating a relatively heavy forest cover. A dry desert breeze moved through the area and caused the leaves and reeds to shimmer; Some tree fruits dropped to the ground making a thud. Although the night cast its darkness over the water, it still kept its aquamarine glow. Out of the corner of her eye, Naima spotted a grey and white heron, frozen against the reeds and almost undetectable as it stalked its prey. It was paradise in an ocean of sand.
Naima dismounted hurriedly and ran to the trees, Atem following her close behind. The entrance to the water was guarded by thick bushes and reeds but Naima pushed through it. Small cuts formed on her arms as she forced her way through the brush.
"Naima, wait! Where are you going?" Atem called out after her as he tried to keep up.
Naima stopped and instantly felt guilty as she saw Atem struggle through the bushes.
"Sorry.." she mumbled sheepishly. He was caught by a few vines coming from different directions. She helped free him and he finally joined her.
They were almost to the water. Naima briefly considered blasting her way through with electricity, but the image of this place engulfed in flames immediately made her reconsider.
"Here, this will be easier.." Atem said. He reached down to his waist area and from the inside of his cloak, pulled out a medium length sword. Naima's eyes widened, she's never seen a real sword before. The metal glinted in the moonlight as Atem cut away the remaining brush. He handled the blade skillfully, as if he had done it all his life.
One final whack and a path was cleared. Naima's heart filled with excitement and she ran toward the water. It sparkled invitingly under the starry sky. She felt an odd sense of comfort, a connection to her past – she has been here before. Her mother's face now appeared in her mind.
As she took in the view, Atem walked up next to her.
"I can't believe this place is still here…" she muttered and looked around. Rocks surrounded the edge of the water, some higher than others. But there was one rock that towered over the rest.
She had to climb it.
"C'mon, let's go!" she shouted as she grinned at Atem over her shoulder and pointed to the rock. She grabbed his hand and led the way, speed walking past the bushes and reeds.
"The rock will still be there, no need to be in such a rush." Atem teased. Naima looked back at him with an infectious smile.
"There's no time to waste tonight!" she shouted as she walked faster.
They reached the base of the rock and started climbing. It wasn't too difficult, it seems others before them had already created a path up. Naima reached the top and Atem shortly joined her. It was a large, flat topped rock that offered a view of the entire oasis. The turquoise water sat below them, gently lapping at the sides of the surrounding rocks.
Naima sighed and laid down flat on her back, her hands behind her head. Atem sat next to her.
"So.. what did you do today?" she asked him as she wiggled her body to get comfortable.
He looked over at her. "School.. and military training."
"You train in the military?" Naima asked.
"Sort of.. Not all the time, but often..." he said casually.
An idea suddenly popped into her head. "So you're in the Egyptian military then? That's what you do?" Naima asked, excited that she might have figured it out.
"Well, no..."
She paused and stared at him, fighting the urge to get annoyed. Atem looked over at her with a sheepish expression.
"How about you? What did you do today?" he asked, changing the subject.
Naima groaned internally. Apparently tonight wasn't the night.
"Well, just more of the usual. Temple chores and magic with Nafi. I don't really get a chance to do much else..." she said.
"Me neither." Atem mumbled. "My days are usually very busy."
"At least you have a horse though, you can go places." she said.
"Yes but... it's not that simple. If I was caught doing this, I would be in a lot of trouble..." he said.
Naima's eyes widened. No wonder it took him a long time to come back.
"So why do you do it?" she asked.
He looked back at her, smiled, and then looked down at his lap. "Sometimes it's nice to get away from it all…"
"I think I feel that way a lot too…" Naima said. They both looked at each other in mutual understanding.
Atem turned to look at the water. "Why did you want to come to this place?" he asked her curiously.
"I've been here once before, a long time ago.." she said to him. "With my mother… and Zahra when she was still a baby. I don't remember a whole lot, only that we were here for a little while. But.. just being here… makes me think about my mother…" Naima closed her eyes and pursed her lips.
She then felt Atem's hand on hers and opened her eyes. He looked at her softly.
"I also know how it feels to grow up without a mother." he said to her. Naima looked back at him in surprise.
"She died a few days after I was born. They said she became very sick after giving birth. I never knew her…" he trailed off.
Naima looked back at Atem with empathy welling up in her heart.
"And your father?" she asked
"I am fortunate to still have his guidance. He is a great man… brave, fair and just. I hope to be as great as him someday…"
Naima smiled. "Whoever your father is.. I think you will. I have faith in you." she said. Atem's eyes glimmered in the moonlight.
"Thank you Naima…"
She sighed. "I remember my mother used to say that whenever someone departs this life, they don't ever truly leave. They become stars in the night sky…"
She looked upwards. "I think both of our mothers are up there, looking down on us right now."
Atem looked at her wordlessly, his face was unreadable. Then, he lowered his body next to hers, both of them laying side by side. He gazed upward at the sky.
"What do you think the afterlife is like?" Naima pondered.
Atem paused for a moment. Naima noticed darkness briefly flash across his eyes before returning to normal.
"I'm…not sure.." he said pensively. "Perhaps, the afterlife is where life can finally be enjoyed…without pain or suffering."
"I hope you're correct..." Naima mumbled. "Although, this whole concept of the afterlife is kind of strange to me."
"How so?"
"Well.. it's just, I know of a place where souls don't immediately go to the afterlife. They kind of just.. stay there, until they're ready."
Atem's interest piqued and he looked at her curiously.
"I don't really know much about it. Nafi never explained a whole lot to me, he said I was too young... and that it's dangerous. But.. maybe next time we see each other, I can show it to you." Naima said.
He smiled and nodded. "Okay."
They sat for a moment quietly, basking in the peaceful night air.
Then, Naima sat up and looked down, an idea popping into her mind. The water below them sat still, quiet and deep – she already knew it was deep enough to swim in. Its turquoise hue looked too enticing to pass up. She knew what she wanted to do and she was going to do it tonight.
Atem sat up with her. "What is it?" he asked.
"I'm gonna jump in." Naima said, grinning as she looked behind at him.
Atem's eyes widened. "What?"
Naima yanked her shoes off and threw them down from their rock onto the lower bank.
"Naima, wait…." She heard Atem say to her, but she already stood up, her feet at the edge of the rock.
Before her mind could tell her otherwise, her knees launched her body up and out. As she fell forward to the water, she caught a glimpse of her surroundings which were blurred by the speed of her dive. Her body collided with the water and she plunged face first into the blue depths, opening her eyes. The water was dark, but clear enough to see the bottom, which was dotted with rocks, gravel and various aquatic plants. Naima felt herself become starved for oxygen and made her way back up to the surface.
Her head broke above the water and she gasped for air, blinking as water drops clouded her vision.
"Naima, are you ok?" she heard Atem shout. She looked around and saw him. He must have climbed down from the rock as he was now at the edge of the water, looking at her concerned.
"Of course!" she shouted with a big smile, giggling with exhilaration. Atem's concerned look slowly turned into a smile, and eventually he laughed a bit with her – the first time Naima has ever seen him laugh.
Naima floated up on her back and sighed. The water was warm and comfortable. Her dress billowed out in the water from the bottom, but she didn't care. It's been so long since she has swam. Atem sat on a rock and watched her.
"Why don't you come out of there..." he half-teased.
"But why…." Naima trailed off as she looked over and smiled playfully. He said nothing.
She turned over and stood up in the water. "Why don't you come in here instead…." She grinned at him.
Atem looked over at her, his sheepish expression returned. But this time, he almost looked like he was tempted. He hesitated, as if he was fighting with himself, but ultimately relaxed back down into the rock.
"We probably should leave soon…" he said quietly, almost dejectedly.
Naima sighed. "Already? Okay…."
She slowly walked toward the shoreline, slogging through the water and feet sinking into the gravel as she came closer. Her dress clung to her body and every part of her was dripping. As she walked onto the shore, she wrung her hair out, and out of her periphery she saw Atem looking at her. He then looked away and blushed. Naima suddenly became self-conscious and her stomach did a little flip. She felt her cheeks becoming hot but she continued drying off, bunching up her dress to wring it out. Atem continued to look off toward the water.
Finally she went to grab her shoes. They had landed in two different spots thanks to her impulsive swimming decision.
"Ok I'm ready!" she said as she pushed both feet into her shoes. Atem stood up and smiled, and they both walked together back to his horse.
Thanks to the dry Egyptian air, Naima already felt halfway dried off but her dress was still damp.
"I might make your back all wet.." she joked as she settled behind him in the saddle. He looked over his shoulder and smiled.
"That's alright." he said. Naima held on to his waist and bid a silent goodbye to the oasis she visited once so many years ago.
With the moon above them, they headed back out into the barren desert...
Chapter Text
Author's note:
PLEASE READ (TW): Out of an abundance of caution because I know this is a sensitive topic, I want to warn readers that this chapter contains threats of sexual assault/sexual exploitation (but does not actually happen). It's only a few lines.
For those who would rather skip over it, I have made a small notation at the beginning and ending of the section with one dash (–) on the left side.
*This chapter also contains violence*
With that out of the way, happy reading!
Naima tossed her hair with one hand as she felt the last of the moisture dry up from it. Thanks to the dry wind and their fast speed, it didn't take long for her to dry off completely.
They were traveling at a comfortable pace and it seemed like they were going the right way back.
Eventually, they reached the large, mushroom shaped rock. Naima eyed it gratefully as if it were a beacon for their way home. However, something was different this time.
There was a group of men on horseback lingering next to the rock, around ten or so. They were far, but Naima could tell that the men were looking at them as they crossed the desert. A cold chill ran down her spine. Atem noticed them too and urged his horse faster away from them.
Naima looked over her shoulder. It appeared that they had gotten away from the group; there was no sign of them for a few minutes. However, the thundering sound of ten horses soon emerged behind them. Naima looked back again and saw them, much closer this time. Bandits, with malicious, wicked smiles trailed behind them, sneering as they caught up to them. Atem pushed his horse even faster but it was no use. The group of men surrounded them on all sides, creating a circle around their horse while galloping at full speed.
"There's no use running, we've got you now!" One of them shouted. "You might as well stop and have a little chat with us…"
She saw Atem look around them, his face wrought with apprehension. They were surrounded and there was no way they could escape their circle. Naima felt a sense of crushing fear set in. There was nothing they could do to get away. Unless….
Naima held out her palm and forced an electrical ball to form. All of the time that she has practiced, it has been under normal circumstances. But now, Naima realized that trying to perform magic with the stress of an actual combat scenario changes everything. She was unprepared mentally and had difficulty concentrating.
The electric ball she formed was moderate in size, but that was the best she could do. She hurled it to the side of her and it struck one horse in its side, causing it to stumble and fall to the ground and sending its rider hurling into the nearby earth.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, YOU LITTLE BITCH…" Naima heard behind her before she felt a powerful blow to her back and arm, knocking her off the horse.
She felt herself hit the ground hard, rolling a few times over in the dirt. She was dazed for a few seconds, but quickly tried to come back to her senses and opened her eyes again. Her vision was dotted with faint stars. It appeared Atem was knocked off the horse too – he had fallen onto the ground near her.
As they recovered from their fall, the parade of horses turned around and eventually surrounded them again. They both stood up and Atem quickly reached into his cloak, bearing his sword from earlier. He stood close to her with both hands on his sword.
"Aye look what we have here boss…. It's a couple of kids!" one of them called out. The bandits dismounted from their horses with dark smiles plastered on their faces.
"What is it that you want from us?" Atem growled.
A young looking white-haired man emerged in front of the group of men. Naima squinted her eyes and saw that the man had a large scar on one side of his face.
"Well, well, well…. What do we have here…." He muttered and smirked as he looked them over. His voice was dark, raspy and menacing. "I wasn't expecting this…"
One of the bandits came running toward the main group. "We just searched their horse, boss. They had nothing."
"Well what would you expect from a couple of kids, bricks of gold and fine jewelry?" the white haired man barked toward his henchman. "Your idiocy never ceases to amaze me."
"Sorry boss…"
The white-haired leader turned back toward them and smirked. "Usually how this goes is we steal all your things, and then we kill you… But, given that you have nothing… We can skip a few parts." He grinned.
Naima felt Atem tighten his hold on his sword next to her. She then closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts so she could summon her electricity again. But her heart was pounding so hard, her thoughts were racing.
Now was her chance to give these pests what they deserve…
"And you….." she heard the white-haired man growl. Naima opened her eyes.
"Don't even think about using those little lightning bolts of yours." The leader spat at her as the henchmen near her came closer to her, swords drawn. "Unless of course, you prefer a slow, painful death…"
"Boss, don't you think we could use the girl?" a henchman called out.
"For what…" the leader snarled back.
–
"She's a real pretty one, eh? Let's sell her to that whore house in Thebes, they're always looking for fresh pussy. We'd get a lot of money for this one…"
The leader appeared to stop and contemplate for a moment.
"Hmm… I do like that idea." He smirked. "Maybe you're not as dumb as I thought you were..."
Naima felt her stomach drop.
'Ra…. Please….. This can't be happening…'
–
Naima clenched her fists and her whole body trembled; she wanted to vomit. She felt Atem next to her, stiff as a board, his breathing shallow.
"Kill the boy… and take the girl….. But.." The leader looked at Naima. "Make sure you give the girl a little gift first … as payback for what she did earlier.." The leader cackled.
One man grabbed her arm and dragged her in the dirt away from Atem.
"NO! NAIMA!" she heard Atem's voice cry out as he disappeared behind the thieves.
"NOOOO!" Naima screamed as she saw in her periphery Atem being surrounded by four henchmen, swords drawn. She heard the clanging of metal.
The next thing she knew she was being thrown backward onto the ground by her arm like a rag doll. Six men had come over to surround her. Naima stood up quickly, trying to recover.
"NAIMA!" she distantly heard Atem's voice cry out. But Naima was frozen in trepidation, staring up at what could be the end of her life as she knew it. She forcibly tried to summon her bolts of electricity to her palms, but struggled to produce even a spark. She couldn't concentrate. The six men closed in on her with sneering, menacing smiles on their faces. One of them grabbed her shoulder and she saw another reach for his sword.
Then, Naima fell to her knees. The men cried out victoriously, thinking how easily they overpowered her. Atem's frantic screams were in the background. But everything seemed to go still.
Suddenly, her eyes froze and she became stuck in a perpetual stare. A force that somehow felt similar to summoning her electrical magic arose from deep in her soul, but this was magnitudes stronger than anything she ever experienced before. She felt it gather in her chest, before seemingly bursting out from her body like a cannon.
Naima felt herself rise up from above the circle of men, but strangely it wasn't through her own, original form. It was as if her consciousness were split in two, with two sets of vision and two forms to control.
She saw the circle of men below her look up in terror and disbelief as they cowered below her larger form. Her vision in this new form was darker tinted, but sharper than anything she ever experienced. She could see the tiniest of details, and she saw herself in the reflection of one of the men's eyes.
A fearsome, demonic figure with large, angled, black wings stared back at her. Her head was shaped like a ram's skull, giving rise to two long, thick and sharp horns and eyes that were mere slits hiding two dark eyeballs. The rest of her body looked as if she had white skeleton-like armor covering a deep purple, muscular frame. Her hands and feet were large and bore three great, razor-sharp claws at the end of each limb. She looked like she had just stepped out of the deepest layer of Anubis's underworld kingdom after living there for ten thousand years. A dry, throaty snarl came from her mouth.
Inexplicably, Naima was unafraid and did not try to resist. She felt as if she had known this creature her entire life, like an old friend. Through her new form, she looked down at herself, kneeling in the middle of a circle of six terrified, pathetic-looking men. Her original face was blank and her own eyes were glowing white and fixated.
She looked outward and saw the other group of men, including the leader with the white hair. He was also still with fear, transfixed on her form, looking horrified. She saw Atem wounded on the ground with his hands clutching his sword, like he was fighting for his life before Naima's strange figure appeared out of thin air.
A surge of what could only be described as pure, unadulterated rage rippled through her demonic form as a lightning bolt formed from her body and split across the sky. She let out a resounding, thunderous roar.
The entire group of thieves cowered and the circle of men who previously surrounded Naima's original form ran away to the rest of the group.
Naima felt another rush of energy as she produced a wicked thunderbolt from her body. It shot out of the sky and struck one of the thieves directly. There was a brief crackling and sizzling noise before the man collapsed onto the ground, silently clutching his chest. His eyes rolled upward and he went limp.
She then stared menacingly into the small crowd of people, as if daring anyone to be her next victim.
The terrified men backed away from her direction and darted to their horses, trying to escape as fast as possible. They all left as quickly as they came, but the white-haired leader lingered a bit longer, as if trying to study her form and figure out what happened. Naima turned toward him and growled as sparks formed from her body. The leader's eyes widened in fear and he galloped away on his horse, joining the rest of his group.
It was as if someone had breathed life directly into her lungs. Naima felt her other form dissipate into a fine mist as she slowly came back into her own mind. Her original vision returned to its inferior but normal human capability. Her body again looked like the same body she's had for the last 12 years. But her mind felt... tired, like she had been reading books non-stop for a year.
Naima groaned and allowed her body to flop onto the ground. It was crying out for rest and she wanted to obey.
"NAIMA!" she heard Atem call out, his hurried footsteps coming closer as he ran to her side.
"Naima….." She felt him close to her. She could barely open her eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked as he checked over her body for any damage. Naima wanted to respond, but couldn't. She felt herself drifting off as Atem tried to move her body and lean her up against a nearby rock.
'Just a little nap…'
Her consciousness faded into black.
-o0o-
"Naima….Naima…. We mustn't stay here for too long…."
She heard Atem's soft voice in her ear as he gently rubbed her shoulder.
Naima opened her eyes. The night sky and the stars greeted her vision. She saw Atem sitting next to her, looking over her with concern on his face. She felt a sharp sting on her right arm and looked down. There was a medium sized cut on her wrist that seemed to have already clotted off, but was still painful and red.
"What happened?" she mumbled.
Atem stared at her with uncertainty.
"That creature saved us…. The creature that came out of you..." he said. Naima looked back at him. She remembered exactly what happened, she just didn't know how to process it.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red on Atem's arm. There was a large area of blood matted on his cloak where his left arm was. It appeared still wet as fresh blood continued to collect on the surface.
Naima gasped. "You're hurt…"
"I'll be ok." Atem said, his eyes fixated on her.
But Naima continued to stare at the wound as it trickled blood, making the blood stain larger.
"Please… I can help…." She said feebly to him. She reached for his arm. Atem hesitated, but allowed her to examine it.
She rolled up his sleeve carefully and had to fight the urge to act surprised. There was a huge gold band on his wrist probably worth more than her. But Naima couldn't focus on that right now. Above the giant gold band was a large gash with a deep cut into his inner forearm actively oozing blood.
Naima was still weak mentally, but she gathered up any mental reserves she could and prepared herself.
Atem looked at her in confusion. "What are you doing?"
Naima didn't answer. She couldn't. She needed to preserve all the mental power she had.
After attempting to wipe away as much extra blood as possible, she took a deep breath and concentrated.
She was ready.
Naima held her hand over the wound, her fingers bent lightly. And as if she were still back at her temple, golden beams began to gently emerge from her fingertips and seeped into the wound. She tried to keep in mind her lesson from today - the details, the small vessels and structures that required finesse; Her fingers moved gently and methodically. The bleeding slowly stopped as blood vessels healed. She could see the tissues inside of Atem's arm mending themselves almost as if they were being sewn back together. As the wound mended from the inside out, small golden flakes floated above the surface of the arm, suspended in the soft glow. And at last, she reached the top layer of his skin. With one last gush of mental energy, she sealed off the wound.
She let go mentally, took a deep breath and surveyed her work. There was a scar and it was rather dark, but Atem didn't seem to care as he looked at her in astonishment.
Naima then turned to look at her own right arm. Her wound wasn't as bad, but she might as well fix hers too. The golden beams came from her left hand this time and she sealed off her wound in half the time as Atem's, forming a dark scar on her own arm as well.
Normally, she would nitpick her work more. Nafi told her that the hallmark of a great healer was to heal without a scar. Clearly, she had a long way to go. But the fact that her first-time healing on an actual person was a success made her swell with pride on the inside.
However, Naima didn't have energy to think about much right now. She exhaled in exhaustion, the healing having taken up whatever mental energy regained from her brief nap. Her breathing was shallow and she felt like she needed to sleep for three days straight.
"We need to get out of here..." Atem urged. Naima nodded to him weakly. He helped her stand up and walked her to his horse, eventually hoisting her up and then sitting behind her. She was grateful for this as she didn't even feel like she could support her own back. He reached his arms around her and grabbed the reins with each hand, his arms supporting both sides of her and her back against his chest.
They began walking. The rocking motion of the horse caused Naima's eyelids to droop. She drifted in and out, her head bobbing back and forth as she struggled to keep her head up. She felt the horse pick up speed and she suddenly slouched forward, only to be pulled back into Atem's chest by his steady hand on her stomach. Her head somehow found itself resting under his chin and the fabric of his cloak rubbed against her cheek.
His body heat radiated onto her skin and his scent filled her nose. Naima inhaled deeply, feeling the butterflies in her stomach again. She became keenly aware of where his body made contact with hers, which was essentially on all sides of her, protecting and supporting like a fortress. Is this what it was like to feel safe? She didn't know. But she did know that she has never felt anything like this before.
-o0o-
Naima could have sworn that only five minutes had passed since their departure from that barren land but time is a strange thing. Somehow, they were almost in front of her house.
As she felt Atem slow his horse down, she attempted to come out of her somnolent state and finally opened her eyes.
She was bleary-eyed and dizzy as Atem stopped and dismounted, extending his arms out to her to help her get down. She practically fell into him, but not on purpose.
"Sorry…" she mumbled as he rebalanced himself.
He slung one of her arms around his shoulder, put his other arm around her back and walked her to her house, opening the door and quietly leading her to the bedroom. As they both entered, Naima looked around and saw Zahra fast asleep on one side of the room.
'Thank the Gods...' she thought to herself.
As Atem gently lowered her onto her sleeping mat, Naima looked up at him and caught a glimpse of his face. She saw his blonde fringe peaking out from the hood of his cloak. His rounded violet eyes were fatigued, but focused on her. She felt his hand on the back of her neck as he gently lowered her head onto her pillow. And for a moment, both of their eyes met.
They studied each other's faces. Naima felt her heart skip a beat.
Without warning, she found herself surging up to face him. She turned her head and her lips grazed his skin, her cheek lightly brushing against his. She lifted her hand to his opposite cheek and her fingers lightly stroked the other side of his face.
She then pressed her lips into his soft skin, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.
Naima felt warmth radiate from underneath her fingers and lips as he became hot with nervous excitement. As she pulled away back down to the mat, she saw Atem's face was blushing, with mouth agape and eyes wide with surprise – He was in a daze. Naima smiled to herself. She carefully leaned back and found Atem's arm once again. It trembled under her weight as he gently lowered her to the ground.
"Until next time…..?" she said softly to him, her eyes half closed.
The last thing she saw was Atem's eager nod before she drifted off, everything becoming black.
Notes:
In case it wasn't obvious or you don't remember all the Duel Monsters in the series, Naima's spirit creature is the Summoned Skull (or Summoned Demon/Demon Summoning as the Japanese translation of this monster). Its signature attack is "lightning strike" in the dub or "magic thunder shock" in the Japanese version.
Chapter 8: Angst
Chapter Text
'How beautiful….'
Naima was kneeling in front of the water, a freshly picked Egyptian lotus rested in her palm. Its blue and yellow hues … exquisite.
She gazed at the flower and the flower appeared to stare back at her. Suddenly, it floated upward above her hand and began to sparkle before her eyes as if it were overlaid with diamonds. She gasped.
And she found herself on horseback, galloping over the Egyptian sands with a starry sky above her. She urged her horse faster. Faster. They weren't going fast enough. Eyes wide, breath shallow.
They launched upward and now, a clear path up to the cosmos. Her horse galloped on air across the sky. The stars were almost within her reach.
She then saw Atem close behind her, trying to keep up.
"Hurry up!" she shouted to him as she stopped her horse and waited. He quickly appeared by her and they dashed across the sky together.
"Naima.."
Abruptly, she was alone, in a dark room with four walls. No, she wasn't alone.
The demon creature inside of her... it now stood before her.
She stood perfectly still and stared at it. Maybe if she did nothing, it would go away.
It stared at her back.
Naima cocked her head to the right, confused.
And as if she were looking into a mirror, it cocked its head to the right simultaneously,
"Naima...…."
Startled, Naima snapped back to her original standing position.
It snapped back too.
She watched as she slowly extended her arm out, hand and fingers outstretched. The demon stretched its massive arm out too like her own mirror reflection. Closer and closer. They were almost touching. Her fingertips finally met its claws, but she felt no solid presence on the other end.
Its dark eyes stared back down at her as she stared up at it.
And inside the far reaches of her mind was the unexpected sensation of being aroused from a deep sleep.
Now, she was finally free.. and... Awakened.
Awake.
….
"Naima!..."
'Huh?...'
Her mind warped to the present. It was as if someone had smashed her in the face with a brick of reality. Where she was at felt real, but this now was unmistakably real. The scratchy feeling of her sleeping mat, her tangled hair scattered all over her face, the hot sun rays on her arm. Her face and neck were sticky and covered in drops of sweat. She was hot… really hot.
"She's coming around…."
'Is that… Nafi?'
Her eyelids felt like they were glued together as she tried to open them. And her first view of the day was two people staring back at her, both kneeling in front of her sleeping mat as if they had been waiting the entire day for her.
"Here we go…" Nafi said.
"Naima! You're awake!" Zahra exclaimed.
Naima sat up, her eyes still half shut and throbbing from such a huge change in lighting. She threw off her covers.
"What's going on…" she mumbled sleepily, looking at them both.
"Naima… it's three in the afternoon…." Nafi said.
"..What…..?"
That woke her up a little more. She never sleeps that late. Nafi regarded her with a mixture of concern and uncertainty.
"Zahra came and got me this morning, saying you wouldn't wake up." He said, studying her. "Are you feeling sick?"
"…No."
His eyes checked over her body. Naima looked down too and realized she needed a bath desperately. She was dirty from head to toe and she was covered in bruises and small cuts. There were smears of old blood on her arms and legs, likely Atem's as well as her own.
She looked back up at Nafi and his expression changed from concern to suspicion. A wave of dread washed over her.
"Did something happen last night?" he asked
"No—" Naima tried to answer as quickly as she could.
"Naima has a boyfriend! They went out together!" Zahra piped up loudly to Nafi.
Naima was mortified. She cringed as she felt herself die inside.
"Zahra.. please…."
Nafi stared at Zahra in surprise. His eyes slowly went from Zahra to Naima and he raised his eyebrows inquisitively.
"Oh really? Naima? Who is this boy? You've never told me about anyone." Nafi inquired in a fatherly-like way.
"We're just friends…" Naima said quickly.
"You kissed him on the cheek last night!" Zahra exclaimed loudly.
Naima felt like she wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
She gritted her teeth. "Zahra…." she growled and clenched her fists, shooting her little sister a death glare.
Nafi closed his eyes. With a small smile on his face, he took a deep breath, sighed and shook his head.
"I knew this day would come..."
Naima looked up at him anxiously, a lump developing in her throat as she felt the sting of humiliation from her secrets being out in the open. He opened his eyes again and looked back at her. His eyes again darted over her blood-stained arms and legs.
"Why are you covered in blood?" he demanded suspiciously.
"Ummmm…." Naima stammered. Her heart started pounding.
"And don't lie to me either." Nafi said sternly.
What should she say? Of course if she divulged everything that happened last night, she would never be allowed out of his sight again.
"I fell off a horse last night…" Naima said. That was technically not a lie.
"How did you fall off a horse... last night… There are no horses in this village… Did this boy have a horse?" Nafi continued to prod.
"Umm…. maybe…." she trailed off.
"… You sneaked out last night with this boy on a horse?!" he inquired incredulously.
Naima blushed but said nothing. She couldn't deny it, Zahra would catch her on it. She looked over to her sister who was quietly observing, engrossed in her interrogation and seemingly enjoying herself.
'What a jerk….'
"Well, Naima?" Nafi probed.
Naima lowered her head, eyes to the floor.
"Yes…." She admitted quietly.
Nafi closed his eyes again and rubbed his forehead with both hands. He paused for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right course of action. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door and someone came inside.
"Master Nafi, please excuse the interruption. You are needed in the temple."
Nafi sighed loudly in frustration and shook his head.
"We will discuss this later." He said to her.
Naima silently thanked the Gods for their interference.
"I expect to see you back at the temple again tomorrow, bright and early?" he said, giving her a stern look.
Without looking at him, Naima nodded.
-o0o-
After Nafi left, it became very uncomfortable between her and Zahra. Naima was furious with her. She refused to even look at Zahra while she got her bath ready.
She knew that Zahra could sense her anger, as Zahra kept on looking over at her with sadness in her eyes and was hesitant, seemingly not sure what to say. For Zahra, this was unusual behavior. But Naima continued ignoring her.
As Naima washed off last night's blood and dirt, she stewed in her feelings. Everything was all a big jumble in her mind, but right now, she was angry. Why did Zahra have to open her big mouth? Why couldn't she just mind her own business! She scrubbed her legs furiously with excessive force, causing them to redden, and had to fight back tears. She knew she desperately needed to get out of the house.
She dried off, put on a fresh dress and put her shoes back on. Zahra was staring at her the entire time from the bedroom.
"I'm leaving…" Naima mumbled as she headed toward the door.
"But Naima…" Zahra called out, a concerned expression on her face as she watched Naima in the doorway.
Naima glared at her.
"I'm just going for walk..." she snapped and swiftly exited the house, loudly slamming the door in the process.
'Finally…'
The evening was still young, the sun just starting to make its journey toward the horizon. Naima squinted as the sun's rays hit her face, but continued to trek through the barely visible dirt pathway, kicking some rocks down occasionally. Eventually, she reached a body of water - a small tributary of the Nile that ended in a grassy swamp.
Naima flippantly wished she could disappear in the reeds and never come out. Or perhaps get eaten by a crocodile. She didn't care. Anything to escape her feelings. She sat down on a rock in the reeds and buried her face in her knees.
'What is happening to me….'
The creature inside of her from last night, now appearing in her dreams. The same creature that arose from her body, generated the most powerful electrical attacks she's ever seen and killed a thief last night. So why does it feel like this creature is somehow a part of her? Or is the creature actually her?
'Who am I….. what am I…'
The memory of the thief's death flashed in her mind. Naima could still smell the stench of burnt, electrocuted flesh.
'Yes, he got what he deserved.'
But is she now a killer? Does this mean her soul is forever tainted with the stain of murder? Naima tightened her arms around her knees as a heavy sob rippled through her whole body.
'Ra, I didn't mean to kill him…I'm sorry…'
A gentle breeze flowed over the marsh, rustling through the reeds. It helped to dry Naima's tears somewhat.
'No one must ever know what I did…'
The only other people who knew were the other thieves... and Atem.
Atem.
Naima wondered if he thought differently of her now, after everything. She wasn't sure what came over her last night and why she was having so many feelings. Ever since she started getting her monthly bleeding, everything has gotten so complicated.
But would he still want to see her again after witnessing the monster inside of her?
Naima heaved a deep sigh. Maybe soon it would all become clearer to her. But right now, her mind was still weighed down with the confusion of many different emotions muddled together.
She continued to sit among the reeds for a while watching the sun slowly set, the quiet activity of the fauna and flora around her oblivious to her inner struggles. The soft breeze occasionally blew past her and it was comforting.
Then, she spotted some movement through the reeds – a lone duck. It waddled past her. As it entered the water, Naima focused in on it.
Surely if she wanted to become a better healer, she needed to practice regularly on something other than fruit. Her healing job last night was decent, but not good enough for her standards.
Naima formed a small electrical bolt in her palm. The duck continued to swim, completely unaware of her presence, and its fate.
It turned away from her and Naima seized the opportunity. She fired the bolt from her hand and it hit the duck square in the head, killing it instantly.
She retrieved the duck from the water and briefly glanced at her reflection, the dead duck in her hands limp.
Another life taken by her hand. And she felt numb to it.
'It is for a better purpose…' she justified as she plucked its feathers off and made cuts in the flesh with her knife.
The repetition of practice helped to ease her mind a bit. Naima was cognizant of the dwindling daylight as she healed and cut again, her own shadow disappearing slowly as the night rolled in. So when another shadow suddenly appeared over her head, she jumped.
Circling above her was a falcon. The same one as yesterday. It screeched as it made eye contact with her and swooped downward, dropping a piece of papyrus in front of her lap.
Naima rushed to grab it and opened it with shaking hands. She then saw the familiar looking, messily scrawled Hieratic writing.
Sorry to leave you while you slept. Hope you are feeling better today.
She clutched the note in her hands and closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding. After a moment, she looked at it again and her heart began to soar. He really was kind.
Instantly, her mood shifted from melancholy... to tolerable, even happy. She quickly tucked the note away into her dress.
The falcon hung around her general vicinity, Naima initially thinking that it was waiting for her response. But she noticed it eyeing the duck carcass and realized the real reason it was still there. She cut off a piece of the duck and threw it at the large bird, who caught it happily.
Naima eventually made the trek home while the last of the sunlight dwindled, the falcon trailing behind her as she continued to throw it chunks of duck. As soon as her house came into view, Naima saw Zahra's head peeking out at her from the window and she remembered again why she left angry.
Naima sighed, the brunt of her emotion already released long ago. As she opened the door, she saw Zahra sitting on her bedmat, her knees clutched to her chest. She looked like she was going to cry.
"Naima please don't be mad at me!" the words seem to explode from Zahra's mouth.
"…I didn't mean to make you mad."
"Zahra…" Naima said softly.
Zahra got up from her mat and ran to Naima, wrapping her arms around her legs and bawling into her dress.
"I was really worried about you… all last night…..and all day today" she wept and sniffled between sobs.
"…Zahra..."
"I thought you were never gonna wake up..… you kept on sleeping and sleeping and sleeping…"
"Zahra.."
Naima knelt down on one knee and looked at Zahra's face swollen with tears.
"It's ok, Zahra.." she said as she smoothed Zahra's hair on her head. Zahra threw her arms around her and they both shared a tight embrace.
"In the future, can you please keep some things just between me and you?" Naima said gently. Zahra nodded vigorously.
Naima was happy to clear things up with her sister. They have had their scuffles before, but none where Naima was this angry. Nevertheless, they were all each other had and they couldn't afford to be at odds.
A distant squawk came from outside the house. She peered out the door and saw the falcon was feasting on the rest of the duck carcass that she had left outside. That's when Naima remembered the rustling paper inside of her dress.
"Zahra, do you have any papyrus and ink?" she asked hurriedly. Naima knew that Rashida always gave Zahra extra supplies to practice her writing at home.
Zahra nodded at her.
"May I use some?" Naima asked.
Zahra retrieved the supplies and handed them to her. Naima tore off a small piece of papyrus and dipped the reed pen in the ink.
"What are you writing Naima?" Zahra asked curiously.
Naima looked up at her. "A note to Atem. But, keep this between me and you."
Zahra's eyes widened. "Ok…"
Naima took Atem's note out of her dress and read it over again. In her periphery she could see Zahra's eyes straining to read it too without being obvious. With her pen ready, she jotted down her message, her neat handwriting a noticeable contrast to Atem's.
It is alright. Thank you, I am feeling fine.
Satisfied, she rolled up the papyrus sheet and walked outside. Fortunately, the falcon was still there, continuing to pick off small bits of meat from the duck's bones. Naima knelt down and extended her outstretched hand to the bird, the paper in the center of her palm.
"Atem." Naima said to it, not sure if it would make a difference or not.
The bird, however reluctant to abandon its meal, seemed to know exactly what to do. It grabbed the paper with one foot, its claws tightly secured around it. Swiftly, it spread its wings and launched itself upward, taking off toward the darkened skyline.
Naima stared after it until its figure disappeared.
-o0o-
It was the next day and Naima's stomach grumbled. Not out of hunger, but out of uneasiness. It always grumbled when she was nervous.
The dishes were almost all washed, the kitchen already cleaned, the floors swept and scrubbed, the alters and statues polished.
Her hands were pruney from the warm water. As she scrubbed and rinsed the last bit of food, she went over the exit plan she has been scheming all day.
After many hours of deliberating, her final plan ended up being ridiculously simple. Once she was finished, she would simply exit as quietly as possible without talking to anyone and then make a break for her house. It shouldn't be a problem - the temple had very few people currently.
The dishes were finally done. Naima snuffed out the torch and closed the door.
'Excellent..'
There was no one to be seen. She quietly skulked away toward the stairwell, praising herself on how clever she was.
"Oh Naima…. There you are."
Naima cringed and her heart dropped to the floor.
'Dammit…'
She turned around, bewildered. It was one of Nafi's temple personnel.
"Nafi asked me to tell you to come see him when you are finished." He said to her.
"….Ok..." Naima said.
She tried to hide the panic on her face as he looked at her with confusion. She then sighed and swallowed the cold brick that somehow materialized in her stomach.
'Let's just get this over with…'
She trudged over to Nafi's compound and peeked inside. He was hunched over his desk, focused on some boring looking scrolls. He glanced up and his face brightened.
"Ah.. Naima... Come, sit with me."
Naima sat in the chair across from him, her usual spot.
"So…." He said as he cleared away all the paper on his desk and folded his hands. "Tell me about this boy."
The moment she's been dreading all day. Naima squirmed inside from the awkwardness she felt and pursed her lips.
"..Um… I don't know…." She mumbled
"Who is he? Where's he from?"
"He's from Thebes... I'm not really sure who he is.." she said
Nafi cocked his head in a scolding manner. "Naima, you know better than this. You shouldn't hang around people you don't know."
"But he's nice though… really nice… I can tell he's a good person." she said.
"Do you at least know his name?" he asked.
"Atem." she said.
Nafi paused and looked at her with a wrinkled brow. "Atem…." He repeated under his breath as if deep in thought.
"Yeah..." Naima said.
He looked at her curiously.
"How did you two meet?" he asked.
Naima blushed. "Well, I met him while I was visiting mother… he was lost.. and about to get attacked by crocodiles.."
"So you saved him…" Nafi remarked.
"Yeah." she said.
"It's extremely dangerous out there Naima, he could have been anyone. You know how much I hate that you go out at night like that." Nafi said
"I know, but it's much too hot to go out during the day." Naima said.
"Yes, I understand that." He said regrettably. "So he comes to see you at night then…"
Naima nodded.
Nafi sighed and shook his head. "Seeing boys at night now…." He mumbled.
"I can't stand that you and Zahra live so far away from me, and alone for Ra's sake. It's so hard for me to keep an eye on you both."
Naima turned her head away from him. This was a sensitive topic.
"I only want to protect you Naima. How can I protect you if I don't know what's going on?" He exclaimed.
"I want to stay in my mother's house..." Naima muttered. This was non-negotiable.
"I know you do. But, Naima, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you, or Zahra." He said and paused.
"This ridiculous arrangement might have worked ok before, but now for whatever reason, crime and violence has seemed to skyrocket over the last year or so. I fear for your safety…. Especially with you now going out at night visiting your mother, visiting boys, doing Ra knows what… And, the worst part is –"
He made a fist and banged it on the table. "You don't even know who this boy is…!? Did you even ask him!?"
"Of course I did!" Naima cried out, on the verge of tears.
"Well?" Nafi demanded. "He didn't tell you?"
Naima hesitated. "He's very private…"
Nafi scoffed. "Friend, boyfriend, girlfriend... whatever… All relationships are built on honesty. If he can't tell you who he is, what does he have to hide?"
She wavered. It was hard to argue with that point.
"He isn't a bad person though, I promise you." Naima said quietly.
"Naima… find out who he is." Nafi ordered.
She sighed.
'Easier said than done…'
Nafi rubbed his face with his hands. "It's such a shame what Egypt has become. We have never had to be so careful as we are now. Thieves and bandits everywhere. How is anyone supposed to feel safe anymore."
He lingered. "I also despise that your mother's gravesite is now a thief den. It was never like that before." He looked away from her in thought.
"I have considered exhuming her and moving her to rest here, only because I know how much she hates it too."
Naima looked up at him in shock. Disturbing her mother's rest? The thought of it was appalling.
"Don't look at me like that..." Nafi said to her. "It's only a thought at this point. Maybe if they begin destroying things down there, I will seriously consider it."
Naima understood. Then, a thought popped into her head.
"Nafi… can you tell me more about my mother?" she asked cautiously. She asked him numerous times before, only to be given the same answer. But she truly hoped, maybe today will be different.
Nafi looked at her, caught off guard. A look of sadness and frustration flashed across his face.
"Naima… when you are older, I will tell you everything. I promise."
The same answer. But for some reason, this one hit harder than the previous ones. Naima's heart fell and a combination of despair and disappointment clouded her mind. Her lips quivered as tears formed in her eyes and escaped down her cheeks.
"Oh child, come here..." he said with outstretched arms. He embraced her as she wept in his arms in anguish. Once her cries subsided a bit, he looked at her and held her face in his hands.
"Trust me, I understand how you feel. I am not keeping this information from you to hurt you. Once you are older and you know the truth, you will understand why I am doing this. Please, just trust me." He stated.
Naima nodded, even though she felt like she wanted to scream.
"You remember your mother's name though, right?" He said gently.
Of course she did. How could she forget. It was one of the few things he revealed to her about her mother.
"Samira." Naima said as she wiped the rest of her tears from her face.
"Yes." Nafi said. "And your magic power comes from her."
Naima nodded.
"So although your mother isn't here physically, she's still present... in you." He said tenderly as he held her hands and placed his thumbs on her palms. "She loved you so very much Naima…"
Naima felt a fresh batch of tears build up as Nafi hugged her again. She yearned for her mother. Now... more than ever.
"Focus on your studies, and on your magic Naima. It's what your mother would have wanted for you." He said.
"Now you rest up tonight. We have much to do tomorrow." His bright smile reappearing briefly on his face.
"Ok…" Naima said as she straightened herself up.
"And Naima.." Nafi called out to her as she went to leave.
She turned around.
"I'd like to meet this boy sometime."
Chapter Text
It was only mid-morning, but the sun was already merciless.
Naima wiped the sweat from her brow and tried to ignore the rays of sun beating down on the top of her head. She was in the Nile wetland again, but this time for a different purpose.
There were two duck carcasses next to her. She had been hunting all morning, trying to find ducks to use to practice healing. Naima was never much of a hunter before, always sticking to legumes and bread. But, after she successfully hunted her first duck the other day, she was determined to get more.
Some movement in the reeds.
Naima craned her head. She was careful with which ducks she killed, trying to avoid the ones with babies.
A lone duck appeared, and it was a male. Perfect. Naima quickly shot a small lightning bolt toward its head, and it was stunned instantly. Its body collapsed limp in the water.
She stood up and entered the knee-deep water to retrieve her third and final carcass. But as she picked it up, something dropped into the water in front of her.
It was another rolled piece of papyrus, quickly becoming waterlogged. Naima's eyes widened and she clambered to retrieve it before it was ruined, losing her footing in the process. In one swift movement, she scooped it out of the water and did all she could to hold it up as the rest of her body became submerged in the muddy swamp.
"Ugh…" she mumbled to herself as she felt mud coat her back. But the papyrus was safe in her hand.
The brown falcon that previously went undetected let out a sharp screech and perched on a nearby date palm, seemingly satisfied with its delivery.
"You could have dropped it on the ground instead…..!" Naima shouted at it, annoyed.
She hurriedly shook off the mud on her hands and opened the papyrus. The ink was smeared but still readable.
Was busy this week. Will come tonight.
Her heart leapt. Another correspondence. The last time she heard from him was a week ago when she first caught the duck. She figured he was busy, but it was nice to have the confirmation.
He would come see her tonight again and Naima already knew what they could do. She would show him the soul cave, what they talked about before when they visited the oasis.
Naima was so excited she almost forgot she was covered in mud in the middle of a marsh. She waded back toward land clutching the duck and papyrus. As she grabbed the other two ducks and went to leave, the falcon flew down and perched on a rock next to her, eyeing the birds in her hands.
"Oh so you want a reward now?" Naima said. The falcon looked at her and cocked its head, as if it was trying to understand. She sighed, cut off a piece of the duck and threw it toward the bird.
It followed her home like last time and perched on the roof of the house. Naima walked in to an empty home, as Zahra was at the temple alone without her – Nafi wanted to work with Zahra individually and allowed Naima the day off.
Grateful for some alone time, she quickly found some papyrus and ink and jotted down a response.
See you soon
Ready with another piece of duck, Naima walked outside and threw the duck flesh toward the bird who caught it eagerly. It then flew down, ready for another delivery.
"Atem…" Naima said to it and held out the rolled-up papyrus in her hand.
And with one swift movement, it launched upward and away towards Thebes.
Naima watched it wistfully until it disappeared in the sky, knowing that it would end up in Atem's hands but wondering exactly where... Perhaps in a government building, or a temple…or a shop? She didn't know, but she wished she did…
She went inside and bathed, careful to get all the mud out, and then spent the next few hours hunched over at home, practicing on her newly acquired carcasses.
Having grudgingly spent some more time with Nafi practicing with grapes, she was surprised to find that she was actually improving. Maybe healing fruit wasn't so crazy after all…
Naima barely noticed as time passed and the sun had slowly descended, its rays changing from bright yellow to golden and orange. By the time she was satisfied with her practice, it was already late afternoon.
The door burst open abruptly and Zahra strolled inside, a giant smile on her face.
"Naima! Naima!" she shouted as she ran to her, dropping her things on the floor in a hurry. "Look what I can do!"
Zahra stopped in front of her and Naima looked up from her duck.
Zahra held out her hand. A small flame briefly appeared in her palm and quickly disappeared.
"Did you see? Did you see?" she cried out as she jumped up and down excitedly.
Naima beamed at her sister with pride swelling up in her heart.
"That's wonderful, Zahra."
"Nafi said my magic power was fire!" she shouted excitedly. "I can make fire like how you can make lightning!"
Naima was delighted. She wondered when Zahra would finally get to learn to harness her power like she did so many years ago, and Zahra had been very impatient to learn once she saw what Naima could do. She was grateful that her mother passed down her magical gifts to the both of them.
"Eventually I'll be just as good as you!" Zahra exclaimed.
"Perhaps… maybe even better..." Naima smiled.
-o0o-
Zahra spent the rest of the evening running around and trying to make fire again, with variable success.
"You're going to tire yourself out… just stop for the day." Naima said to her sister as she finished cooking one of the ducks she caught this morning.
They both ate and settled down for the night. Zahra ignored Naima's advice and continued trying to make fire.
'Perhaps its better this way' Naima thought to herself, hoping Zahra would be too tired to spy on her tonight.
But then Zahra almost set her own clothing on fire.
"Zahra…..! You need to be more careful!" Naima admonished. There was now a large burn mark on Zahra's dress.
"Ok…." Zahra said, abashed. Naima sighed and grabbed Zahra's night clothes.
"Aren't you gonna change Naima?" Zahra asked as she got ready for bed.
Naima looked at her carefully. "Atem is coming tonight."
Zahra gasped, her small face filled with surprise.
"Please don't tell anyone ok… ", Naima implored to her sister. "We won't be going far anyways."
Zahra stared up at her briefly, before nodding her head silently.
Maybe if Naima were more open with Zahra about her business, she would be less tempted to snitch. But this was brand new territory, so time will tell.
Night time approached and Zahra seemed to be relatively tired from her excitement today. Naima watched as she fell asleep and started snoring. She knew better though, based on what happened last time, Zahra could wake herself up if she wanted to.
Naima waited a while by the door, her anticipation building. She took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. The night continued to deepen and the stars above her twinkled soothingly.
Finally, the soft sound of horses' hooves. Naima leapt from her position and hurried out the door.
Atem was still a small distance away, but Naima stood by the house and watched him approach. He perked up when he saw her and she could see that he was smiling. Her heart leapt into her throat.
Eventually he reached the house and dismounted. He smiled awkwardly at her.
"Hello-" he said, but Naima interrupted him as she threw her arms around him excitedly.
"You're herrrree!" she exclaimed. She felt Atem's arms slowly tighten around her back. As she let go of him, she saw that he was blushing again and giggled.
"You can keep your horse here tonight. We won't need to go far." Naima said. Atem nodded and secured his horse to a rail in the back.
As Naima watched him, out of the corner of her eye, she saw some movement from the window.
Zahra.
She was trying so hard to keep her head down and be inconspicuous, but failing miserably. Naima saw her lift her head up slowly to look and they briefly made eye contact. Zahra gasped as she realized she was caught, and her head shot downward.
Naima sighed internally. Some things never change.
Atem finished securing his horse and he walked toward her.
"Follow me." Naima said to him.
They both followed the path to the rock face quietly, a crescent moon above them.
"Where are we going tonight?" Atem asked.
"We can visit the soul cave, where the spirits stay. Like I told you about last time." Naima said.
"Is it dangerous?" he asked.
"No. I used to hide in there all the time when I was younger." She said to him.
Eventually, they reached the temple entrance, the symbols glowing as it sensed a new presence. Atem stopped and stared at it, taking it in.
"This isn't it, it's further down…" Naima said. Surprised, Atem broke his gaze from the entrance and looked at her.
She beckoned toward him and he followed. Eventually they reached three large rocks that were touching the larger rockface.
Although Naima hadn't visited the soul cave in a little while, she knew exactly what to do. She knelt slightly, put her hands on the largest of the three rocks and pushed hard. The rock, having not been moved in at least a year, seemed to be embedded into the ground. Naima struggled.
"Here…" Atem said and they both pushed together. Eventually, they managed to move the large rock aside, revealing a small entrance. It appeared pitch black inside.
Naima crouched down and slowly made her way into the hole. As she climbed down, she looked back up at Atem, who looked apprehensive.
"It's ok." She said with a smile. He nodded and climbed in after her.
There was a small pathway of rocks they had to traverse in order to enter the cave, and it was difficult because it was completely dark. They both held hands to keep from losing each other while Naima led the way inward.
Finally, they rounded a corner and at last, Naima saw the familiar blue glow of the cave.
They both entered together and their eyes had to adjust. In front of them was a large, underground cave. But instead of darkness, the sides and ceiling were illuminated with numerous small, blue lights seemingly attached to the dark rock, twinkling and glowing like stars in the night sky. The ceiling of the cave was covered in these glowing blue lights, giving it an almost other-worldly appearance. Some lights occasionally seemed to detach themselves from the ceiling and gently floated around at will. At the floor of the cave, there was a pool of clear water that gently flowed. A small pathway was worn into the rock toward the side of the cave.
As soon as they both stepped foot in the cave, several blue lights detached from the cave ceiling and quickly floated toward them.
"It's me again…" Naima said to the lights fondly. The blue lights slowly circled around her and she heard faint, muffled whispers in the air.
Then the lights moved to Atem. They surrounded him, and he looked around in alarm.
"Don't worry…" Naima said to him. But then, something began happening that she has never seen before.
He was suddenly surrounded in a blue beam of light. A mysterious wind blew from nowhere, encircling him and rustling his cloak as the floating lights swirled around him like a whirlwind. A tidal wave of unintelligible whispers filled the air. The light changed from blue to golden as the wind died down and eventually, the larger beam of light faded. The smaller floating lights lingered around him a few seconds longer before slowly floating upward and returning to their place on the cave ceiling.
"What was that?" Atem breathed as he looked incredulously toward Naima.
"I'm not sure…" she said to him. That was something she wasn't expecting. She looked at the ceiling pensively.
"This cave has been dedicated to Osiris, the god of the dead. And these blue lights… they are actually souls that haven't made their way to the afterlife yet." Naima said.
"Somehow, a connection between the earth and the afterlife has been made in this cave, and these souls rest here, until they are ready for the next journey into their final resting place. Nafi said that the souls in this cave can sense your mind and your spirit. If they detect bad intentions or malice, you would be expelled from here and punished severely."
She then looked at him uncertainly. "But you, I've never seen that happen before. I think that the souls here detect something special in you…"
Atem gazed at her, his face unreadable.
"Would you still like to explore?" Naima said quietly.
He paused for a moment, and then nodded. "Of course."
They moved toward the small path that scaled the side of the cave and walked carefully. The pool of water lightly flowed throughout the entire length of the cave, reflecting the twinkling lights off the ceiling. Soft drips from evaporation echoed throughout and an occasional soft whisper glided past her ear.
It was unexpectedly peaceful, serene and beautiful. The atmosphere somehow seemed to exert a calming effect.
Naima looked back at Atem as they walked further into the cave.
"I used to hide from Nafi in here when I was mad at him.. He used to spend hours trying to find me." she said amusingly.
The cave wasn't large, so it didn't take long to reach the end. Interestingly, several floating blue lights were suspended in the air, as if they were waiting for them to arrive. The lights slowly floated toward them and stayed for a few seconds in front of them, before they gently drifted back toward the end of the cave.
"I think they want us to follow them." Naima said to Atem. He nodded.
They both followed the lights until they reached the end. Naima had been to the end of the cave before.
There was a rock statue of Osiris, and next to it was two drawings carved into the rock – One depicting Osiris's human form, the other of a large, long, snake-like dragon.
The lights led them in front of the statue and drawings. Atem studied them curiously.
"They say that when the time comes, Osiris will come to protect human kind in the form of an enormous red dragon in the sky…" Naima said as she pointed to the dragon carving.
The blue lights began to surround Atem again, and this time they encircled his arm.
"What's going on…" he said. Naima couldn't answer, she didn't know either.
Slowly, Atem lifted his arm.
"They're guiding me." he said incredulously as he raised his arm toward the dragon carving and touched it. Immediately, the lines of the dragon carving lit up and glowed gold. The faint sounds of a dragon roar echoed throughout the cave.
Naima gasped. She has never seen anything like this happen. At first, Atem's eyes were wide open with surprise, but then he closed them. His expression was meditative, as if he was in a different world.
After a few minutes, the carving went back to normal, and Atem lowered his arm to his side again.
Naima stared at him. "What just happened?"
Atem paused and looked down. "…I don't know…. I felt the dragon's energy, I felt a connection with it."
"So what does this mean?" she asked.
"I'm not sure…" he said as he continued to gaze at the dragon carving.
"Perhaps you were meant to see the dragon…" Naima said.
Atem looked at her curiously.
"The things that have happened to you tonight in this cave… They have never happened to anyone else." Naima said.
"So, what does this all mean.. for me?" he mumbled .
Naima paused. She had no clue. She hadn't expected any of this to happen in the cave tonight. She saw Atem's perplexed expression, buried in his thoughts.
"Don't worry. We will figure this out, together." Naima said with care.
Atem looked back at her, and nodded.
Eventually, they left the end of the cave and headed back down the other way. Naima had thought maybe, given everything that happened, it would be best to leave. But Atem held back a little.
"We don't have to leave this place so soon." he said.
Naima smiled. "Okay."
They eventually found a spot to sit by the water, both leaning up against the rock face, the blue lights above them glimmering softly.
"Do you know anything else about this place?" Atem asked.
Naima shook her head. "Nafi won't tell me more about it. But he said it had an important purpose."
She then closed her eyes and shook her head. "I've just been so irritated lately. I wish I knew more… about this cave… about my mother… about everything." She mumbled. "And now, I've been having really strange dreams. Ever since that night…"
Atem eyed her inquisitively.
She looked down at her legs.
"Atem…" she muttered. "What happened with me that night? I felt like I turned into a monster."
He lingered for a moment. "I believe that was your soul, your Ka."
Naima lifted her head up to look at him in shock. "My soul?"
"Yes. We all possess a soul creature, a manifestation of our inner essence, and power. That creature was yours." he said
"But why is mine so… scary… " she said.
He paused. "I'm not sure."
"I felt as if I could control it, like it was an extension of me…" she said.
"One can control their own Ka if their magical skill is powerful enough. It does not surprise me that you can control yours." he said.
"What does your Ka look like?" Naima asked.
"I don't know. It has not manifested itself yet." Atem said.
Naima clutched her knees to her chest. "My Ka felt so powerful…"
"Yes, it saved both of our lives." Atem said.
"But… it also killed someone that night… which means… " she lowered her voice to a trembling whisper. "…I killed someone…."
"They would have killed us if you hadn't done that." He said to her.
Yes, he was right about that.
"Well if that evil creature is actually my soul, then… doesn't that mean I'm evil….? " she buried her face in her knees.
"You are not evil, and neither is your soul." Atem said.
"How do you know..." she asked.
He looked at her with conviction. "Because your heart is pure, and the heart is the most important element of all." He said.
"A heart weighed down by evil cannot heal another, as you have done for me." He smiled gently as he held out his left arm. The dark scar coursed across his skin.
She eyed his scar, and then looked over at her own. Atem didn't think she was evil after all. In fact, he thought she was good.
"This has been weighing on your mind it seems…" he said.
Naima pursed her lips. "Yes."
He put his hand over hers. "You have nothing to fear."
"Okay." She smiled at him and nodded. "I trust you."
They sat in silence for a moment, blue lights twinkling above them, the swishing of the calm flowing water in front of them. Atem continued to stare at the water.
"The first time we met, you said you would have a huge responsibility in the future." Naima said. Atem turned to look at her.
"Do you think maybe all the stuff that happened to you tonight might be related?"
"It is…" he said quietly. "I am sure of it."
"But how…? And why?" she asked.
"It's still unclear to me too." He said. "But I trust that my destiny will reveal itself eventually."
"If Osiris has appeared to you, it must be important." Naima said.
He stiffened. "Yes."
"But you were the one who reminded me to trust in the Gods, and in myself. When it is time, I will be ready." He said.
Naima turned and looked at him. His violet eyes were gleaming. He returned her gaze and smiled at her warmly.
"I feel as though you tell me everything... and nothing... at the same time." She said to him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Naima looked into his eyes, searching through deep violet pools.
"May I please know…who you are?" she said to him.
Atem broke eye contact and looked down, frustrated.
"Trust me.. it's better if you don't…" he said gently.
Naima turned away from him with hurt welling up in her eyes. She could feel him looking over at her, but she couldn't bear to see him right now. It seemed as though every part of her life has been surrounded in mystery and no one wanted to give her any answers. At that moment, all she wanted was to feel like she fully understood something in at least one aspect of her life…
She could feel the tears coming and clenched her fists to force them away. She sensed Atem's gaze still on her, but she continued to stare at the dark ground as she put her full concentration into trying not to cry.
After a moment, Atem turned his head to look at the ground. Then, he sighed and stood up slowly. Naima swiftly turned her head around.
"Stand up." He said to her.
She did. They now stood face to face.
She watched him as he closed his eyes and raised an arm to his hood. Slowly, he then removed it from the rest of his head.
Naima could have sworn she was dreaming again. But no, this was real. His hands then went toward his collarbone area and he proceeded to unfasten the rest of his cloak, pulling it off in one swift movement and letting it drop to the side.
His features were striking and it was all too much to take in at once. Naima looked down towards his feet and slowly made her way up. He was adorned in gold, from his shoes to a golden crown on the top of his head inscribed with the eye of Udjat, golden bands on both arms and legs and a large chest plate. The linen that his clothing was made of looked finer than any she had ever seen.
"Are you royalty?" she asked softly.
He looked into her eyes, lifted his chin, and in a regal manner she didn't even know he possessed, he declared, "I am the son of King Aknamkanon, the heir to the throne of Egypt."
Each word felt like a hammer had dropped on her. All she could do was stand there, her mouth agape, as it all crashed down on her at once. It made so much sense that she wondered why she didn't figure it out before.
"So you're… the prince?" she breathed.
Atem nodded.
His eyes were fixated on her and bore into hers as he waited intently for her reaction. Naima met his intense stare.
She gently took both of his hands into her own and smiled.
"Thank you. It's wonderful to finally get to see you... and know you."
Atem said no words in response. His eyes said it all.
She wasn't sure when Atem's arm drifted around her waist, but it probably happened while she was busy being transfixed by his gaze. It wasn't an ordinary gaze. It was magnetic. She couldn't help but to be caught, trying to find her way through the depths of his stare and getting lost.. only to be drawn back in, unable to resist.
So when a gentle push by his hand on her back told her to move closer to his body, she obeyed. This time, she was the one who trembled as her hand lightly touched his chest. She couldn't even remember what his clothing felt like. All she knew was that they were close, closer now as his head moved toward hers, close enough to where she could feel his breath on her lips.
His lips found hers. His familiar scent was intoxicating, but his kiss was more so. Sparks flew in different colors behind her eyes. And all she could think about was his sweet taste on her lips, her own pounding heart along with his, the slow fire that smoldered between them.
The mysterious wind picked up again from nowhere and softly circled both of them. She heard the faint whispers in her ear once more.
Naima had never kissed anyone before, and had always secretly dreamed of when she would experience her first. She thought she would be a nervous wreck, that she wouldn't be sure of what to do in the moment. Kind of like how she wasn't sure about most things, especially regarding her own life.
But now, at this moment, she was never surer of anything in her entire life.
Everything in her mind told her that this was right.
That everything was,
how it should be.
Notes:
A few things:
-So now we've encountered another monster, one that becomes very important to Atem in his future battles both in ancient Egypt and modern day – "Slifer the Sky Dragon" in the dub or "Osiris the Heaven Dragon" in the original Japanese version. I mention the Japanese name so you know where I got Osiris from, in case you've only watched the English dub.
-The appearance of the soul cave was inspired by the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, a series of bioluminescent caves lit up by glowworms. I have never been there but would like to visit someday.
-Also, just wanted to say that this has to have been my favorite chapter to write so far. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Chapter 10: Fractured
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Zahra..…. Will you please.. knock it off?"
Naima was at her wits end. Zahra has been running around the house all morning with fire spurting out of her hands. Naima has now counted seven fires she has had to put out so far.
Of course Zahra ignored her. She was completely oblivious as she hummed to herself and danced around with her arms outstretched, flames shooting from her palms.
Naima tried to recall her own experience – Was she this obnoxious when she first learned her own magic? No, surely not. Nafi always told her to be careful.
Naima would never think to make electricity inside the house. Ever.
…..Well… there was that one time –
The acrid smell of smoke interrupted Naima's thoughts. There were now black clouds billowing from the bedroom. Naima rushed in and saw a small fire on the sheets and quickly stomped it out. Thankfully, it was a small one.
Naima had enough.
"THAT'S IT. OUTSIDE… NOW!" she shouted.
Zahra stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide and seemingly full of innocence. Someone who didn't know Zahra would certainly be fooled by that look, but Naima knew better.
"But Naima… it's too hot!" Zahra protested.
Naima rolled her eyes. "It's hot? You can make fire… I'm sure you can handle it." Naima dismissed as she pushed Zahra out the back door.
'That girl….' Naima thought to herself as she listened to Zahra continuing her mischief outside without a second thought.
Zahra was so different from her, so brazen and sometimes thoughtless in her mannerisms. At times, she wondered how they were even sisters. But then, there was always something to remind her that they were.
Of course they both shared their magic ability, but Naima has also noticed that they shared the same determination and the same thirst for knowledge and improvement. It was clear that Zahra wanted to be good at magic, shown by her annoying but persistent practice. And as Naima reflected on her own long practice sessions over the years, knowing Zahra was simply trying to do the same was the one thing that kept her from going over the edge.
"NAAIIIIIMAAAAAAAA!" Zahra's high-pitched voice penetrated through the walls.
Naima sighed. This better be important.
"WHAT." she shouted from inside.
"NAIIMAAAAA!" Zahra repeated, her voice higher now in exasperation.
Naima threw down her hands in frustration and went to open the back door.
"What is it?!" Naima hissed as she opened the door.
Zahra looked up at her with an anxious expression and pointed to the roof. It was the falcon again.
It finally arrived, and was carrying something valuable – Atem's correspondence. Naima swiftly retrieved it from the falcon and gave her sister a guilty smile. She clutched the papyrus and went back inside, unrolling it as she walked.
The Festival of Opet will begin shortly. Will try to visit.
Of course. How could she forget about the Festival. Every year this time, there would be a lavish, two-week long celebration in Thebes. Naima longed to experience it herself in person, but so far, has only experienced it through others' stories. Naturally, Atem would be more abreast of these religious and political events. Naima assumed he was probably heavily involved in the festival in some capacity since he was the prince.
'The prince.'
Ever since their night in the cave, every time those words came into her mind, she felt a strange pang in her stomach. She was still adjusting to the knowledge of Atem's societal status, but at the same time, she tried not to remind herself of it – because it really didn't matter anyways. It didn't change how she felt.
After they had exited the cave that night, Atem had asked her not to share his status with anyone, even Zahra. Naima wasn't planning to anyways, no one needed to know. She finally understood why he has been so secretive and felt honored that he was comfortable enough with her to share such information. She wanted to uphold his trust in her.
She remembered that they had kissed a second time before he finally left, and Naima felt the butterflies return as the memories of that night flashed in her mind for the millionth time. It has been so hard for her to wait patiently for Atem's next visit.
She dipped her reed pen in ink.
Come soon
-o0o-
"Where are you running off to all of a sudden?" Nafi asked Naima.
Naima had just finished her chores and was anxious to leave. The day had finally come – Atem could come tonight, but told her he would come just after sunset. This was different.
Naima hurriedly gathered her things and went toward the door. "Umm… I need a bath, I'm all sweaty…" she said
Nafi raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about being sweaty…"
"…Well it makes it hard to sleep at night….And look at me, I'm covered in dust... and I smell bad..." Naima trailed off.
Nafi stared at her in silence. Naima avoided eye contact at all cost.
"Zahra! Where are you?" Naima called out down the hallway. She finally spotted her sister in the training room. Zahra now practically lived in there, spending more time practicing than she did on her schoolwork now.
"Zahra, time to leave!" Naima said.
Zahra turned around and the fire in her palms vanished, her face frustrated from broken concentration
"Awww Naima! But I don't want to leave just yet …." Zahra grumbled.
"Well, it's time to go." Naima said unsympathetically as she went to grab Zahra's hand.
"Don't worry about Zahra, she can stay here with me." Nafi's voice suddenly emerged behind her. Naima shot her head around and Nafi was in the doorway to the training room, a blank expression on his face.
"Ok… I'll see you later." Naima mumbled as she awkwardly brushed passed both of them and hurried out of the temple.
-o0o-
Naima realized that she had never really been able to appreciate Atem in the daylight. It has always been at night. She watched his figure from afar slowly get larger as he neared her village, shrouded in the soft glow of the dwindling sunlight. It was dusk – usually a prelude to nighttime, darkness and mystery. But the way the light illuminated Atem's features in a way she had never seen before, the dusk instead reminded her more of dawn.
Normally the details of their features stayed somewhat hidden in the comfortable shade of the night. Now, both of their bodies burnt a fiery orange underneath the twilight sky. Atem's eyes shone in the light, glimmering with warmth and affection.
"I tried to come as soon as I could." he said.
"You're early today…" Naima said.
"Yes. There are so many people in the palace right now," Atem smiled. "I don't think I'll be missed."
"They won't notice you're gone?"
Atem shook his head.
"Leaders from regions all over Egypt are visiting with their families. My father has his hands full."
"You are not interested in the festivities?" Naima asked.
"No." He said plainly.
He gazed down at her warmly and held both of her hands.
"I would much rather be here, with you."
His words made her stomach flutter and her heart soar. She didn't know what to say in response, she just knew that she wanted to be with him too.
Naima leaned in and they both shared a slightly clumsy, but gentle kiss. She was still getting the hang of it.
After they pulled away, Naima noticed that night was just starting to set in, and it was darker than usual. It was a new moon tonight. The stars were just beginning to twinkle above them as the last of the orange and pink hues faded into a deep blue.
"Let's get out of here…" Naima said.
Atem smiled. "Yes. Let's go."
They both departed the village on horseback. Naima didn't care where they went, as long as they were together. Atem didn't seem to mind either, seemingly content following a dirt path with no set destination. It eventually led them to the same wetland area Naima had gone to before.
"We can just stay here if you want." Naima said from behind.
Atem nodded.
They both dismounted and headed toward a grove of bushes that surrounded a medium sized tree. It was an olive tree – a wild one. And by the size of the trunk and its shape marked by deep twists and curvatures, it was old. Atem sat on the ground against the tree, nestling himself in a deep-set groove in the trunk.
Naima decided to plop herself in between his legs with her back toward his chest, her head resting in the crook of his neck. She then felt Atem's body and arms stiffen behind her, like he didn't know what he should do.
But Naima caught his eye and flashed him a playful smile as she took both of his hands and placed them on her stomach, his arms wrapping around her body comfortably. She looked up and saw him already gazing downward at her attentively. He held her tighter to his body.
She closed her eyes and sighed, enjoying his touch, his scent. His cloak was mildly annoying as it scratched her face and made it hard to sit between his legs comfortably.
"Here." Atem said as he lowered his hood. Naima's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"I doubt anyone would be out here this late." he said.
Naima looked back upward again to appreciate the full view of his face, only her second time so far. She took the opportunity to study every detail, in case she missed something the first time when they were in the cave.
He looked back down at her.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
Naima shook her head and smiled. "No. Just looking."
Atem had removed his hood for her to be more comfortable, not for her to stare at him. She lowered her head to the crook of his neck once more and finally savored the skin to skin contact she didn't even know she craved. Her cheek rested against his bare neck.
They sat there for a while in silence. But it wasn't awkward, it felt natural. They were simply enjoying each other's company and no exchange of words was required. The crickets continued to hum away, accentuated by the occasional splash of a fish or the croaking of a frog.
Naima kept her eyes closed and her breathing became steady. The sounds of nature and Atem's gentle touch were making her sleepy. She wouldn't sleep though. She can't. Not here.
But it would be so easy. She was comfortable… and Atem was warm… She was tired….
'Maybe for 5 minutes….'
Suddenly, she felt Atem stiffen again behind her and she heard a rustling in the bushes. Naima's eyes shot open. Before she could even register what was going on, the cover of the bushes above them was hastily pushed aside and the silhouette of a person appeared.
It was Nafi, now peering at both of them through the branches and leaves of the grove they were hiding in. He proceeded to push aside the last layer and stood above them with his arms crossed, eyeing them both.
"Nafi!" Naima exclaimed as she sat up quickly, the idea of sleep now a distant memory. "How did you get here?!"
"You were so busy trying to leave that you forgot your bag…." Nafi said matter-of-factly.
"So I walked to your house to return it, and you were gone. And then interestingly, I saw fresh horse footprints in the sand… so I followed them…"
He raised his eyebrows and his lips curled into a slight smile.
"…. and here we are."
Naima shrank uncomfortably. She couldn't believe she forgot her bag at the temple. How could she have made such a dumb mistake.
"Well.. this is the boy?" he asked sternly, finally eyeing Atem for the first time. As soon as he got a good look at Atem's face, Nafi's entire demeanor changed. His face shifted from serious to distressed.
"Naima… The prince?! The pharaoh's son?!" His voice escalated in panic. His arms quivered in his nervousness as he eyed them both, mostly Naima, wide-eyed.
Naima started to panic as well. "What do you mean? He isn't the prince..." she said quickly in her attempt to keep Atem's secret.
"Naima, you know I follow politics, so I am well aware of what the prince looks like –"
"He's not." she said.
"…He is."
"NO HE ISN'T!" Naima yelled, her voice high pitched in desperation.
"Naima…. Stop." Nafi ordered.
"I can't even believe this…..How you both even managed to find each other is beyond me…." he said incredulously as he continued staring at them both.
Naima and Atem both looked at each other and blushed.
"Naima… you're playing a dangerous game here… This is unsafe.. for both of you." He said as he nervously glanced at Atem.
"But why?!" Naima shouted, a lump forming in her throat.
"Because he is the pharaoh's son, Naima. His only son. If the pharaoh ever finds out about you both together, he will punish you." Nafi said.
"That will not happen." Atem spoke up.
Nafi glanced at him nervously and bowed his head. "My prince, I am only trying to protect Naima. If this were to continue, I fear for her safety.I know the pharaoh likely already has marriage plans for you."
Marriage plans? Naima quickly looked at Atem who shook his head.
"There are no plans for me yet." Atem said.
Nafi sighed. "It doesn't matter. The pharaoh and his court would never allow this… " he trailed off.
"So what are you saying? We can't be together anymore?" Naima said defensively.
Nafi paused and studied them both, and as he did, Naima noticed a trace of a distant emotion welling up in his eyes. It looked like… regret. While he remained deep in his own thoughts, his features softened slightly. He then shook his head and looked at Naima with gentle but solemn eyes.
"Naima, this relationship as it stands would be a death sentence to you. I cannot allow it."
She scoffed. A death sentence? That wouldn't happen. They both would be just fine. This can't be it for them. There's so much more they still needed to do…..
"But then who is going to help Atem figure out his destiny?" Naima exclaimed.
Nafi looked at her with confusion. "What are you talking about, Naima?"
Naima glanced at Atem uneasily, unsure if it was ok to proceed. She saw no immediate objections on his face.
"The sky dragon of Osiris… Slifer… it appeared to him…" Naima said.
Nafi's eyes widened and he looked at Atem, and then back toward Naima, now irate.
"It was you both who went into the soul cave, wasn't it?" he demanded furiously.
"Well… yeah…" Naima said.
"Naima, how many times do I have to tell you…. You can't just go in there whenever you feel like it!" Nafi yelled in disapproval, now exasperated.
"And especially bringing in an outside person?! You know what happens if the wrong person enters…."
"Yes I know…. But that didn't happen.. I already knew it wasn't going to happen…" Naima said. "Nafi, the souls did something that I have never seen happen before…."
She proceeded to explain what occurred that night – the strange lights that appeared, the blue orbs leading them to the Osiris carvings and statues, Atem feeling the dragon's energy and the sound of the dragon's roar. Everything beyond that though, she made sure to keep quiet about.
"Could it be….Osiris has finally made his choice…" Nafi said as he looked at Atem curiously. "It appears that he has chosen you, my prince."
"For what?" Atem said.
"My prince, I mean this with the utmost respect, but it is no secret that Egypt is in turmoil. Our country seems to be headed down a dark path of destruction." Nafi said.
"You will be the pharaoh one day. Perhaps Osiris knows that your role in Egypt's history will be important enough to require you to wield the power of Slifer, his almighty sky dragon. Whatever will happen… it is sure to be something great."
"Please…what else can you tell me about this?" Atem asked.
"I do know that there are two other Gods that have chosen to dwell on this earth to protect human kind – Geb, the god of earth and stone…. And Ra, the god of the Sun and the king of Gods. Their locations.. I do not know. But the ancient texts state that one who wields the powers of all three is the true king, and will triumph over all." Nafi said.
"I do not know the reason why Osiris chose you, only that.. to be chosen by an Egyptian God –" Nafi advised in an almost fatherly demeanor. "Is both a great honor and a great responsibility, one only entrusted to the most powerful souls. I look forward to the outcome, my prince."
Both Naima and Atem sat in silence, continuing to process the words that Nafi spoke.
"Now.. it is late. We should not be out at this hour. Naima, the rules haven't changed. I do expect you in the temple tomorrow. Early." Nafi said sternly with his arms crossed.
"And my prince, it is the Festival of Opet. Surely you will be missed in the festivities."
Atem and Naima traded uneasy glances and Naima reluctantly stood up.
"Come, let's go back." Nafi said.
They all followed the dirt path back on foot with Atem leading his horse by the reins. Eventually, Nafi ended up splitting off from them, stating he needed to go back to the temple to collect Zahra.
"I will not be gone for long. When I come back, I expect you to be at home in bed, Naima." were Nafi's parting words to her as he took a separate path toward the temple.
Atem and Naima walked along in an uncomfortable silence. Naima wasn't sure how Atem felt about everything now. Yes, Nafi disapproved of them together, but he didn't clearly forbid them seeing each other.. right?
She desperately didn't want this to be the end, it couldn't end like this…
"I think we could still see each other… if you wanted to, of course… We would just have to be more careful." Naima said quietly.
Atem looked over at her. "I can understand Nafi's reservations. I would hate to be what drives a wedge between you both."
Naima shrugged. "I disobey him all the time. This would be no different." She said as she glanced at him with an impish smile.
Atem smiled back at her. It appeared they both had a certain level of aversion to the rules – Naima particularly of the parental variety.
They eventually both reached the house and turned to face each other.
"We will see each other again, right?" Naima asked. Atem nodded and smiled. Naima clutched both of his hands as they both leaned in for a kiss.
However, out of the corner of her eye, Naima caught a glimpse of some movement around them. She pulled back hastily and looked around.
Flying above them was a human-like figure. It was dressed in purple with a pointed-cone shaped hat that surrounded its entire head and it was holding a staff. Its face was darkened and not visible, with the exception of its eyes that glowed white through the dark depths of its head covering.
"What is that…..? Naima exclaimed.
Atem's eyes widened.
"The illusion magician…." He mumbled incredulously as he looked around. "…Mahad…"
The purple figure continued to float above them and stare downward. Naima stared back up at it in bewilderment, barely noticing Atem becoming anxious next to her. Before she knew it, the sounds of horses galloping in the distance filled the air. There was an entire calvary of people that appeared on the horizon, and they were getting closer. The group eventually slowed down and entered the village, heading straight for them.
"Atem, what is going on?" Naima questioned, trying not to panic.
Atem's jaw was tight and he looked tense.
"They're from the palace… I must have been seen leaving..."
Naima looked at him in horror and then back at the fast-approaching calvary of soldiers now beginning to encircle her house.
There were at least ten soldiers on horseback dressed in armor, sharp spears in hand and large swords attached to their bodies in sheaths. They began to surround both of them and stared intimidatingly at Naima.
One of them, however, was not a soldier. He had long brown hair and wore a large, gold chest plate that covered his shoulders. On his body was a medium sized ring, embellished with five pointed ornaments and a pyramid with the eye of Udjat carved in the middle. The same symbol as what was on Atem's crown.
The man with the ring stopped his horse near Atem and held out his hand toward the illusion magician. The purple figure then began moving toward him, as if it was being sucked in. It then scattered into a mist and disappeared into the man's body.
One soldier finally spoke up.
"My prince, under the orders of Pharaoh Aknamkanon, we are to collect you and bring you back to the palace. Immediately."
Atem closed his eyes and exhaled. He shot a brief, apologetic glance at Naima before he went to mount his horse. Naima stared up at him. She felt terrible. This was probably her fault. Maybe if she hadn't told him to come soon... this wouldn't have happened.
"Atem…" she said quietly as she watched him settle on his horse.
"You dare address the prince in that manner? KNEEL BEFORE HIM!" A guard screamed at her as three spears were immediately pointed straight at her face.
Instantly, Naima's body became weak with panic and she collapsed on her knees in tears, her palms flat on the ground in front of her, touching her forehead to the dirt. She heard Atem's voice cry out in fierce objection, but everything around her seemed to be happening in slow motion.
"I'm sorry…." She whispered through her tears.
"STOP! NO! DON'T HURT HER! SHE'S JUST A CHILD!" Nafi's voice cut through seemingly out of nowhere, his footsteps pounding in the sand as he raced toward them.
"PLEASE! DON'T HURT HER!" Nafi pleaded as he ran to her side, falling to his knees with his arms outstretched in an attempt to shield her.
"Get away from her!" she heard Zahra's voice cry out around her and heard little running footsteps.
"ZAHRA, NO! STAY BACK!" Nafi shouted at Zahra, who then collapsed in the dirt where she stood and began crying.
"WITHDRAW YOUR WEAPONS, NOW. There is NO NEED FOR THIS." Atem shouted furiously.
The guards looked at Atem and withdrew their spears. With a contemptuous look, they turned around and joined the rest of their search party.
Naima picked her head and palms up from the ground and was immediately swept into Nafi's arms. The tears overflowed from her eyes as she sobbed into his chest. Still on their knees, they both faced the search party as they made their exit from the village.
Naima knelt there in Nafi's arms, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked onward. Zahra had joined her on her other side and hugged her, crying as well.
Atem rode side by side next to the man with the illusion magician – named Mahad. As they left, Atem continued to look behind at Naima, watching her despondently. She saw Mahad place his arm around Atem's back with a somber look on his face, and Atem broke his head from Naima's figure to exchange glances with him.
It became difficult to see the group as they traveled further beyond the village. The stars continued their soft glimmer, but it was not enough to break the dark haze that fell upon them as the night grew deeper. Their figures slowly and quietly disappeared into the distance.
Naima stared blankly at the ground, her cheeks coated with the salty remains of tears that had long since evaporated. She could see some of her neighbors in her village were looking out their windows and some had even come outside to see what the commotion was all about. But she ignored them. She didn't want to see or talk to anyone right now.
"Come Naima." Nafi said gently. He hoisted her up from the ground, took her inside and put her into bed. Zahra climbed in after her and she nestled up close.
Naima was silent. She felt Zahra fall asleep by her side, but sleep didn't come for her. She turned in bed and looked out the window. Despite the quiet starlight that crept into the room, the night was dark – it was missing something. Without the light from the moon, the night was merely an empty, shadowy void that continued endlessly into the abyss.
She curled her body up into a ball and felt a similar void now forming in her heart, empty and hollow. So why did her heart somehow feel so heavy..
The darkness in the room began to shroud her vision but she kept her eyes open, staring ahead vacantly and allowing desolation to engulf her.
It was over, she already knew it …. seemingly gone in an instant, snuffed out like a torch in the wind.
"Atem, come here." The pharaoh said to his son.
Pharaoh Aknamkanon stood by the window and gazed outward at the remains of today's festivities, his hands clasped behind his back. The room was dark, lit only by a single torch.
Atem walked further into the room and stepped up to face his father.
"My son, do you understand your own importance?" he asked. Atem was silent. He thought he did.
"You are my sole offspring and will replace me when I die. It is you who will keep the throne in our bloodline and carry on my legacy." his father stated.
Atem knew this already. He knew it well.
"I was greatly disappointed to learn that you missed today's festival.. and what's worse, you left the palace walls and went off into the hills?" his father glanced at Atem. "Why were you there?"
"I was curious as to what lies beyond the Valley of the Kings." Atem said quietly.
"They said you were with a girl." his father said.
Atem was silent. His father paused for a moment but continued to look at him.
"I cannot have my heir running around all over Egypt, chasing girls." his father said. "You are not to leave these palace walls again, Atem, unless there is an official purpose. Is that clear?"
"…Yes, father."
-o0o-
Atem stared out his window emptily, unable and unwilling to sleep. He heard a soft knock at his door.
It was Mahad. He let himself in.
"I knew you would still be awake." Mahad said to him as he entered Atem's room and went to join him at the window.
"My prince, I am sorry for what happened tonight. You were seen leaving the palace. There was nothing I could do..." Mahad said.
"It is alright…" Atem said quietly, his words betraying his emotions.
"I must tell you… I know that tonight was not the first time you have sneaked out of these palace walls at night." Mahad said.
Atem looked over at his best friend in surprise.
"Being in palace security and your appointed protector, it is my job to know after all." Mahad said with a subtle smile. "I have covered for you at times when you were gone."
Mahad continued, "But in order to ensure your safety, I want you to know that you were never truly alone every time you left. I sent my Ka in an invisible form to watch over you. I hope that does not anger you, my prince."
Atem stared at Mahad, unsure how to feel.
"Although it didn't seem that you needed it…There were a few instances where I almost intervened… But you always managed to make it through, thanks to some help from the girl… Naima." Mahad said.
Her name. Atem felt a pang in his chest.
"Due to the events that happened tonight, I don't think I will be able to cover for you anymore. I would be ousted from my position here and punished severely if it were found out that I was aiding you." Mahad said.
Atem nodded at his friend in understanding.
"Mahad…" Atem called out as he went to exit his room. Mahad turned around.
"Yes, my prince." Mahad said
"Thank you."
Notes:
Author's Note:
-First, DON'T PANIC! I know this ended on a sad note, but this story is not finished by any means and it is first and foremost an Atem romance! We're still getting started and there is more to come and so much left to uncover!
But can I just comment on how hard this chapter was for me to write.. for so many reasons…!-The Illusion Magician, Mahad's Ka, made its first appearance.
-Lastly, a quick note about the Egyptian God – Geb. Although not explicitly stated in the canon (to my knowledge at least), some sources infer that Obelisk the Tormentor is the manifestation of Geb but with a cooler sounding name, due to it usually being depicted as rising from the earth when summoned and it kind of looks like a giant stone.
Chapter 11: Normal Day... Or Not
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Year: 1332 B.C. (*6 years later*)
Location: Remote settlement near the Theban Hills, Upper Egypt
Somewhere in the Saharan Desert, an eagle took flight. It soared over the cracked rocks of the hills, the deep valleys and canyons, the parched earth. It was in search of something – life. Plants were uncommon. Most attempts at growth end up dead from the torrid heat, unless lucky enough to be sown into one of the fertile banks of the Nile. But for those that were not, their remains were destined to tumble over the earth and disintegrate into dust, eventually returning to the earth from whence it came.
The bird, no stranger to the harsh and unyielding sunlight, did not escape into the safety of a shaded area as the sun's rays beat down on its wings. Instead, it relished in it. The sun of course, was the cornerstone of life, capable of both sustaining it and taking it away. But the eagle knew that those who are resilient enough to withstand the sun's power are often rewarded – a panoramic view of the world offering rare sights not normally seen… unless sought out.
The scene below it was a rare sight, indeed. It was an epic battle between two girls, of fire and lightning. The eagle circled above them; It found what it was looking for – life. Like the sun, the power of fire and lightning could be destructive, merciless… but also life-giving.
And like the few plants that can thrive in the desert, those that not only survive, but blossom in the face of adversity are some of the strongest life forces of all.
As it looked downward at the two girls who clashed using forces and power unfathomable, it let out a resounding screech in tribute before disappearing off into the horizon.
…
Naima looked upward and furrowed her brow, her concentration broken. She thought she heard a bird above her, but it must have been her imagination. She immediately regretted her brief lapse in focus, however, as a large fireball came hurling right past her head.
"Aw man…" she heard Zahra mumble to herself. Naima smiled. Zahra couldn't even get her while she was distracted. She clearly needs more practice.
Losing her concentration was an amateur mistake that she wouldn't make again, Naima decided, as she regained her focus. She shot two bolts of electricity at her sister who blocked her shots with two flame balls produced in her palms.
"Hah!" Zahra exclaimed.
Not bad. Time to turn it up a notch.
Naima sent a continuous current of lightning toward Zahra, but Zahra stared at her unfazed and blocked it with ease.
"You think you're clever, Naima?" Zahra shouted with a confident smirk. "Well watch this!"
Zahra raised her arm in the air and formed an inferno in front of her, then sent it hurling toward Naima with a trail of fire behind it from her palms.
Naima quickly countered by forming her own massive lightning ball in her arms and sent it forward with a surge of electricity from her hands. It collided with Zahra's inferno and with a sharp crack, produced massive sparks that ricocheted off the rocks around them and disappeared into the sky. The intense heat produced by both forces together scorched the earth below them and heated the surrounding air quickly, causing rumbles of thunder around them.
It was now a battle of will and strength. Both balls of fire and lightning were stopped in the middle at a standstill as each side tried to overtake the other. Naima maintained her focus on her lightning ball, holding up well against Zahra's fire inferno. She could see Zahra weakening and having difficulty maintaining the energy needed to keep her lightning ball at bay. This was the perfect time to strike.
With a surge of mental energy, Naima pushed her lightning forward and her own massive electrical ball grew bigger, sparks surging and crackling out of the sides. She saw Zahra's eyes widen in fear as her own fire inferno weakened and eventually disappeared, giving her a clear path to victory. She quickly sent a stream of electricity forward to Zahra as her sister stared ahead at her own imminent defeat in panic.
Naima aimed her bolt of lightning straight ahead with a clear shot at Zahra's neck. As Zahra shut her eyes and braced herself for the impact, Naima stopped short, the lightning bolt only a small distance away from Zahra's skin.
She let go, and the lightning bolt disappeared with a sharp hiss – the battle won.
Zahra collapsed onto her knees in exhaustion and was doubled over out of breath. Naima slowly walked toward her sister overtop the black scorch marks that denoted their previous battle. She then stood in front of Zahra and offered her hand.
Zahra looked up and took it, her maroon-brown eyes cloudy with fatigue.
"Good work, Zahra. But you have much to learn still." Naima said, hoisting her up.
"I almost had you…. " Zahra said as she looked at Naima with a self-assured smile.
"Hmm, the key word is… almost." Naima said smugly. She had to gloat, they were sisters after all.
"Whatever. One of these days Naima… you better be ready! I won't go easy on you just because we're sisters.." Zahra exclaimed zealously.
"We will see." Naima smirked, but on the inside, she looked forward to the day when now 13-year-old Zahra could match her. Then, they would truly be an unstoppable pair.
They always did their practice battles on a rocky hilltop a short distance away from their village to prevent any unintentional crossfire. But now that they were finished, Nafi was expecting them back in the temple.
"Naima, let's make some sweets together tonight! I found some dates and honey in the kitchen today." Zahra said as they both walked back together.
"You're always thinking about food...!" Naima teased.
"Well, yeah! How come you're not?!" exclaimed Zahra.
"I am … just not as much as you…!" Naima said.
Zahra giggled. "Well what else is there to do around here anyways besides eat? God, I'm so bored…" she said.
Naima smiled. "I know what you mean.."
"I feel like I'm dying here in this tiny ass village. I wanna see stuff, Naima! I wanna go places and do things!" Zahra moaned.
"You will… when the time is right for you.." Naima said with a gentle smile.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah… Nafi said the same thing… All I know is, I'm getting the hell out of here as soon as I can… I already know what I'm gonna do…" Zahra said.
"What's that?" Naima asked.
Zahra pumped her fist eagerly. "This fire power won't be going to waste! Maybe I'll try my hand at making glass, or pottery… It can't be that hard, right?"
"Um… you've never done those things before…"
"Oh I'm sure it will work out… it always does... How hard could it be?" Zahra said.
Naima gave her an uneasy smile, but allowed her to have her moment.
It was late afternoon, the sky just now starting to become golden-orange. Zahra kicked a large rock down the pathway as they neared their village.
"Ow! What the hell…" Zahra cried out, apparently stubbing her toe on it.
"I don't know what you expected from that.." Naima joked.
"I don't know either… "
They both laughed together as they made the short trek back to the village. The evening light cast shadows on the rocks around them and Naima thought nothing of it. Until out of the corner of her eye, one of the shadows moved. Or at least she thought it did. She shot her head over to the right and froze.
Nothing. Everything seemed still again... normal….
"What's wrong Naima?" Zahra said as she looked over.
"Nothing… nevermind… Let's go." Naima mumbled as she pushed away her thoughts.
It must have been her imagination again. Or her tired mind hallucinating.
They finally reached the temple and went inside. Nafi was there, of course, joking around with several other people. He looked over at both of them and his face lit up with a big smile.
"You're back already? So who won?" he said.
Naima said nothing, but crossed her arms over her chest smugly.
"Yeah, go ahead and gloat, Naima…" Zahra groused.
"Hah! Well Zahra, now you know how much more work you need to do.. Harnessing your own power doesn't come easy." Nafi said.
"And speaking of work…." he eyed Zahra.
"Yeah…. Don't worry, I remembered…" Zahra grumbled as she went to get her cleaning supplies and started cleaning the floor.
No matter how many times she watched Zahra, it was still strange watching someone else do all the things she had previously done by herself for years. While Naima watched Zahra mop and scrub, the feeling of nostalgia crept into her mind.
As they both got older, Nafi gave both of them more responsibilities, with Zahra taking her place doing all the menial chores she had previously done, and Naima taking a more active role by assisting Nafi with whatever he needed. She was proud to be a part of this temple, and enjoyed what she did for the most part. Just as she decided many years ago, she planned to spend her life here as Nafi's assistant.
"Naima, come. I wish to speak with you." Nafi said to her.
"Okay.." Naima said and she followed Nafi back to his chamber. They sat at his desk that was somehow always messy and piled up with scrolls, across from each other like they always did.
"You are a girl of 18 years now... a young woman. What are we going to do with you…" Nafi said as he looked at her, his hands clasped in front of him.
"What do you mean?" Naima asked. But she already knew where this was going.
"Naima…. You know we must find you a marriage suitor." he said. "You are not making this easy for me."
Naima said nothing. Inside, a feeling of dread welled up in her stomach.
"So, what is wrong?" Nafi asked gently.
Naima shrugged. "Nothing."
"We have tried many different men for you.. We have even gone to the match-maker... and still, you refused all of them…" he said.
Naima fidgeted in her seat.
"You know… I did hear that you were quite rude to some of them as well…" Nafi said.
She looked up at him. "I was?"
"Naima, the lieutenant's son… they said you called him a pig…"
Oh yes, now she remembered.
She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Well maybe I wouldn't have called him that if he didn't stare at my breasts the entire time we were together."
Nafi sighed. "Fine… But there have been others, many others… How many men have we tried for you… perfectly nice and respectable men."
Naima snorted. "They were all boring…"
Nafi looked at her skeptically. "I find it hard to believe that none of them had anything you found interesting ..."
"Well, it's true. And besides, I already decided… I will never marry." Naima turned her face away from him. "I am already married in spirit to Ra himself."
He rolled his eyes. "Married to Ra? What is this nonsense…. Child, don't be foolish. I will not be around forever to take care of you."
"What if I want to be alone? What if I want my life to be here? In this temple?" Naima said.
Nafi made a fist. "This is not the life for you, Naima. It would be a waste for you to rot away here."
"And for what? For me to instead rot in the arms of a man I do not love and who does not love me?" Naima folded her arms. "I am perfectly content rotting here. I will die in this temple, alone and happy."
Nafi exhaled, lines of frustration appearing on his face. "Must you be so stubborn…"
Naima said nothing, still refusing to look at him. But she could still see in the corner of her eye that he was studying her carefully as if weighing what he should do.
"Since we have not found any suitors for you, perhaps there are opportunities for work in Thebes that we can pursue..." Nafi trailed off.
Naima perked up and she decided to look at him again, this time in excitement. The opportunity to work for actual money? And in Thebes?!
"I have some acquaintances in the religious district on the south side. With your healing skills as good as they are, they would take you on to do healing work in their temple." he said.
"Really?!" Naima exclaimed. Excitement jolted through her body. "Please tell me you're serious."
"I will not force you to get married if that is not what you desire, Naima. I just want you to be happy and to have a future." he said.
A cool wave of relief washed over her entire body. Naima felt like crying, but this time tears of joy.
"So when can I start?" she said quickly.
Nafi held up his hand gently. "Hold on. I must get into contact with them first. Perhaps you and I will take a trip into Thebes to meet them in person once I receive a response."
Naima beamed at him. "Thank you Nafi. I won't let you down, I promise."
"I know you won't. You've worked hard, you will do well there." he said affectionately.
-o0o-
As Naima left the temple for the night, she couldn't stop thinking about her future. This was the first time she actually felt excited about it. All the years she has spent practicing healing, her hours-long sessions, how many ducks she has had to kill to practice on…. it seems like her hard work has finally paid off. Before, she never thought about doing anything other than staying at her village temple. But now, the possibilities seemed endless.
And to actually be in Thebes! Her favorite city… the bustling metropolis that she had visited years before….. but that was long ago, in a different time…. Naima swiftly pushed those memories away.
This would be a fresh start for her, a new opportunity for a better life. And if she hated it, she could always return to her village. As she walked home, she eyed the small house she and Zahra had lived in their entire lives and felt a pang of guilt. She would be leaving her mother's home, and Zahra. She somehow felt the invisible strings that tied her to her childhood home tugging her every time she thought about moving to Thebes. Zahra would understand, but what about her mother? Would she still feel close to her mother even though she would be so far away from one of the only connections to her she still had?
Now she was confused… and possibly having second thoughts. And she hated this. Some of the best news Nafi could have given her… and now she's second guessing herself.
'Why does everything have to be so complicated?' she thought as she looked out at the dark orange sky. She stared at it, wishing Ra would give her an answer. But whatever epiphany she hoped would come to her mind never came. She put her head back down and kept walking…but then something strange caught her eye.
It was a light in the distance. Naima squinted. It appeared to be a small fire, located where she and Zahra had practiced battling.
Naima blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating again. This would be the third time today that she was imagining things. But the fire in the distance continued to burn.
Perhaps it was so hot that it never fully cooled off and something caught on fire later on..? That was the only reasonable explanation she could think of for a fire in that area.
She continued to stare at it, unsure what to do. She should go over and check it out… just to make sure everything was ok. And after her display of electrical power this afternoon, who in their right mind would pick a fight with her?
Now reasonably confident, she turned on her heel and began walking to the battle site. She was alone tonight; Zahra still had to finish her chores at the temple, much later than Naima usually liked to finish. Zahra was a night owl and a late sleeper, and Naima smiled to herself thinking about the many fights Nafi had with Zahra about her coming late. But eventually he had given up and accepted it.
She continued to walk, focused on the fire in front of her. It was strange, it looked like someone had purposely made the fire as there was kindling material on the bottom. She was close now and the fire crackled in front of her, the smoke burning her eyes. This was definitely not a hallucination.
"Hello?" she called out. No answer.
It was now getting dark. Naima made a ball of lightning and floated it upward and around to look for any clues hidden by the dark cover. But there was nothing out of the ordinary, other than a fire seemingly built intentionally. She decided to leave it alone, perhaps someone decided to stay there for the night and left briefly.
As Naima turned to leave however, she heard the sound of gravel crunching, rocks underneath feet. Fear trickled up her spine.
She turned around quickly. "Who's there?" she said as she looked into the distance behind her. It was silent and still.
Naima fought to resist the rising panic she felt growing in her body as she turned around again to quickly walk back home. She made a lightning ball in her hand, just in case she needed it. However, the huge change in lighting made it difficult to see in front of her as her eyes struggled to adjust to both bright and dark. The world turned into a blur around her but she continued her fast stride, afraid to know what would happen if she stopped.
Out of nowhere, she felt a heavy blow to her arm. The surprise impact jolted her mentally and she inhaled in shock. Her electric ball disappeared instantly as her concentration broke. Her arm began to sting.
Naima reeled around in terror. In the process, she tripped over a rock that wasn't there before. But there was no one around her. She took off running, not even sure which direction she was going.
Her legs didn't take her very far before she was struck a second time, this time in her back. It knocked the wind out of her. She couldn't breathe… struggling, sputtering, coughing, flashes of black before her eyes.
And then more rocks came. She was being pelted. It stung everywhere. She tried to protect her head, exposing the rest of her body.… She fought to remain standing. But one hit her in the back of her knee and her legs finally buckled.
Her knees hit the ground and her palms broke her fall. Before she could recover, there were more flashes of black around her. Someone grabbed her arms and held them down. A damp cloth was quickly placed over her face, and an unfamiliar strong scent filled her nose and mouth. It burned her throat and she coughed, inhaling more in the process. She tried to resist. But to no avail.
And then she began to drift.. away… floating… into a dream…..
-o0o-
"…..you're going the wrong way, idiot…."
"Shut the hell up, I know what I'm doing…."
….
"Hey, how much you think we're gonna get paid for this?"
"… better be good…"
Her mind stirred, but she was still floating on a cloud… somewhere…
"The boss is gonna be pleased…"
Voices…. Who where they….. She had just enough energy.. to lift her chin… and listen…
"…We haven't even done anything yet…"
"But you know Bakura, his plans always work out…."
Plans…. What….. She tried to turn her head...to open her eyes….
"….Shit, I think she might be waking up…."
Naima felt the cloth on her face again… it burned, but she had no energy to cough.… She floated into the clouds again…..
Notes:
Author's note:
-I'm so excited to finally be starting this part of the story! Now that we've established the foundation with the previous chapters, we can progress to the real story arc (with many new and original twists and turns coming!).
- Regarding future chapter updates, I anticipate being quite busy in the next few months (grad school life). The most important thing to me is maintaining the quality of this story. So to give you guys a heads up, updates will likely have to be every two weeks instead of every week like I've been doing (but if I have extra time, I will certainly post earlier). Sorry, I know that was a buzzkill.
But, hoping everyone has a great week :) see you in the next one.
Chapter 12: Coercion
Chapter Text
For chapter specific content/trigger warnings, scroll down to see the Author's Note at the end of the chapter.
"Hey…. girl….. Wake up."
Pain. She was in pain. Stinging.. throbbing… everywhere. There was a dull stabbing behind her eyes. Her head was pounding.
Slowly, her mind roused. The world around her seemed to materialize from nowhere. Sounds of background noise… horses.. clanging… distant conversation. She was laying on the ground, the rough, dry dirt rubbing her palms. Her eyelids felt heavy.
"Yeah.. there we go.."
"..Wake up time..."
"C'mon girl…"
Voices around her. Male voices. Familiar… like the same ones as earlier. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry and sticky. She attempted to open her eyes.. just a bit, then a bit more…. Slowly… the world came into focus.
Three mens' faces stared down at her. Naima squinted. The sunlight burned her eyes.
"Finally…" one of them growled. They stared down at her with dark sneers, arms crossed over their chests.
"W-What happened? Where am I?... Who are you people?" Naima mumbled as she sat up. They all smirked at her in response.
"Don't ask too many questions."
She fought a rising panic. Where was she? Naima hastily eyed her surroundings, trying to resist the persistent bleariness in her vision. They were on a rockface, overlooking a large city – Thebes. She knew the skyline well. How could she forget? It was burned into her memory. They were right on the outskirts near the city wall.
"Who are you… and why are we here?" Naima said groggily. The men above her snickered.
"We need your…. help." One of them said.
"Oh really. What kind of help?" Naima said suspiciously.
"Help with this…" The other one muttered and gestured lewdly to his genitals. Naima looked at him and wanted to puke.
"Shut the fuck up, Sen."
"Yeah, shut up."
They turned toward her.
"Sorry about him... My name is Akar, this is Bek." The man named Akar said, and pointed to Bek next to him.
"Why did you take me here?" Naima demanded.
"We have a proposition for you." said Bek.
"…Okay?" Naima said.
Akar stepped up to her and offered Naima his hand. "Here."
Naima glared at him. "No."
And she slowly and carefully picked herself up off the ground, ignoring her swollen, painful legs.
Akar shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Naima felt a wave of dizziness and nausea as she stood upright, but she swallowed it and faced the three men in front of her.
"What do you want from me?" she said, clenching her fists.
"Girl, you are highly gifted." Akar said with a smile, his voice smooth and silky. "We could use someone with your talents on our side…"
"We saw you back there in the hills and thought 'Hey.. this girl should be with us.'" said Bek.
"So you throw rocks at me, and then kidnap me…?" Naima said.
"A minor precaution that we took. We knew you wouldn't take well to us." said Bek.
"Gee… I wonder why…" Naima said sarcastically.
"No matter. We are all here now. We might as well become.. good friends." Akar said with a dark smile.
Naima was done playing games.
"Quit screwing around with me…. Why am I here?" Naima snapped.
"Oh my… feisty are we?" Akar said. "I guess we will talk, if it will make you stop asking questions."
"Our boss needs something done…. And you're gonna help us do it." Bek said.
"Who's your boss?" Naima said.
"Don't worry about it.." Bek said.
"Is it Bakura?" she said
"Who is Bakura?" Akar said, almost convincingly. If Naima didn't know better, she would have been fooled.
"The one who is supposed to pay you…. Sounds like a boss to me." Naima retorted.
Akar shot a sharp glare at Bek and Sen before smacking them both upside the head.
"You two were supposed to be making sure she was asleep…."
"We were! The girl must have been pretending. Not much we can do about that." said Sen.
"You both are more useless than a sack of shit…" Akar mumbled. "You had one fucking job and couldn't even get that right.."
"So what does Bakura need done?" Naima asked plainly. All three of them turned back toward her and grinned.
"You see that?" Akar turned his body and pointed out in the distance to the palace that loomed over the rest of the city.
Naima's stomach lurched. Memories long since buried in the remote crevices of her mind began to flash before her eyes.
"Yes." she said.
"You see, the boss put us in charge of figuring out a way to create a little distraction for him… a diversion tactic if you will…. And we were thinking after we saw you out there, your lightning stuff would be perfect..." Akar purred.
"Why would you need a distraction?" Naima asked.
"Well, the boss has some… business.. that he needs to settle with the pharaoh and thought that the quickest way to do so would be to just… walk right in." Akar said. "But, the pharaoh's security wouldn't take too kindly to that. They're a minor inconvenience really… we could take them out pretty easily, but that's messy."
"So the boss thought hey… why don't we just distract them… that would make it easier on both ends… Less people killed… only one building destroyed…." Bek snickered.
"And what better distraction is there than a big, giant explosion," Akar said. "That's where you come in."
"You know all that crazy lightning stuff you were doing? Well, we need you to do it again. But this time, aim it right there." Bek said as he pointed to the center of the palace.
"BOOM!" Sen yelled as all three of them burst out laughing simultaneously.
Naima stared at them for a moment. She couldn't believe they were serious.
"So, you want my help so that you guys and your little boss friend can go and raid the palace?"
"Essentially, yes." Bek said.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Naima said. "You actually thought I would agree to this?"
Akar smirked. "We thought you might say something like that… so how about we sweeten the deal a little."
He rummaged through his robe, pulled out a medium sized black sack and held it in his hands. He then smiled at her and shook it. The sound of coins jingled from the inside.
"There's enough money in here to last you an entire year." he said.
"And what good would that do me? If I agreed to this, the pharaoh would have my head." Naima said.
They all snickered.
"There won't be a pharaoh once we get through with them…" Bek said darkly.
Naima's eyes widened and she felt nauseated again.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "Why would you do something like this?"
"Why? You ask why?! … You silly, stupid girl… why do you think?" Akar said condescendingly. "The pharaoh and his little gang of priests have ruined peoples' lives."
"His trading policies caused my family's business to fail..." Bek growled. "I watched my father die of starvation. Now, the only thing that can scrub that vision from my memory, is watching the pharaoh die too."
"He's taxing the fuck out of us… for what? So he can build more statues of himself?" Sen said.
"They claim to give a shit about the poor and destitute, but have done absolutely nothing to help. People are on the streets eating rats and insects just to get by while they sit on their asses getting pampered. Not to mention the wars Egypt has fought in his name and the men who have died because of it…" Bek said.
"Now I hear that they're going around looking for people who commit crimes and sucking the evil out of them or something like that…"
"They think they can beat us into submission with those… millennium items." Sen said. "Pfft, I'm not scared of that shit."
"There are so many who are sick and tired of this regime… lots of us, an entire group… and there is strength in numbers. We need a new government, not one run by some incompetent fool. The pharaoh is supposed to be a God incarnate? My fucking ass he is…" Bek said.
"So you see, girl… just wait. There will be a new regime coming, a new ruler. The incompetence of this dynasty will be erased from existence. Our army will make sure of it." Akar said.
"And you could be a part of this revolution… if you join us…"
Naima shuddered on the inside. This wasn't just some rogue gang… they were a part of something much larger, and much more sinister. This fight was something far beyond her and she had no desire to be in the middle of it.
"So whaddaya say, girlie?" Bek said as he took the bag of coins from Akar and shook it once more.
"Go find someone else to do your dirty work. I want no part in this." she said.
"Heh… that's funny…" Akar laughed. "You actually think you had a choice in this?"
Naima stared at him. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
"If you remember what I said earlier, we prefer the easy way… the least messy approach. We asked nicely. You said no." Akar said and shrugged. "Fine. But now, that means we gotta do things the hard way."
"You know that other one you were with? Your sister, is that right?" Bek said. "Well, her head might just become detached from the rest of her body someday. But don't worry, we'll give it back to you..." He snickered.
Naima tensed up, her body becoming numb.
'Zahra…'
"But of course, you can prevent that from happening." Akar said with a sneer.
Her heart started to pound. Why in the world did she have to go look at that fire last night. Right now, she would give anything to be able to go back and stop herself.
"Well, girl? We can't wait too long. We have people waiting at this very moment, ready for your distraction. Once that's done, the transition to a new dynasty can finally start." Akar said.
Naima had an idea. She's not completely helpless.
"You sure I'm the person you want to threaten?" she said as balls of lightning began to flash and crackle in her hands.
They began laughing.
"You better put those lightning bolts down, girl. Because we already knew you would do that. Look up there." Bek said and pointed to the top of the ridge adjacent to them. Sitting on top of the ridge were five others on horseback, watching them from afar.
"Any funny business from you, and they've been instructed to immediately leave to go find that fire-bitch sister of yours. It would be such a shame… her pretty head would look so much better attached to a body." Akar snickered.
Fear pulsed through her. She had to find another way out of this. Somehow. She looked down. It was a steep drop, but maybe she could survive if she slid down the rockface.
"Don't get any ideas.." Bek said as he grabbed a hold of her arms.
"LET GO OF ME!" Naima shouted, struggling against his hold.
Bek pushed her down and Naima fell on her knees, her arms still being held by Bek. She was now facing the palace. Akar walked from behind her to her front, now facing her.
"Now, what do you say? Are you going to do it, or not?" Akar said delicately.
"I won't… I won't do this…!" Naima exclaimed as she continued to struggle against Bek's hold on her.
"Oh really…." Akar smirked.
The next thing Naima knew, Akar reached back and slapped her in the face with the back of his hand. She felt the hard, stinging blow to her cheek. Her neck hung to the side as the blood rushed to her face. It began throbbing and she tasted her own blood in her mouth.
Her eyes were closed and her tangled hair covered her face partially, but she could still sense that he was standing over her. She could also feel the smugness radiating off him.
"Hmm… Life is full of choices, isn't it… You had the choice to make this easy, but you refused. Now, look what you made me do…" Akar said softly as his fingers cupped her chin, lifting her head up to meet his eyes.
"To ruin such a beautiful face…. what a shame." He looked into her eyes.
Naima stared back blankly. Her face stung, but she was numb. Blood trickled into her mouth, but she no longer tasted it. At that moment, any emotion she was capable of felt distant.
She reeled back and spat in Akar's face. He recoiled in initial shock.
"You stupid bitch!" Bek yelled as he pushed her down on the ground. Naima felt a sharp blow to her side as his foot made contact with her ribs.
"No Bek, stop. We still need her." Akar said.
Naima writhed on the ground in the dirt. She heard footsteps behind her and felt her body being jerked upward by her arms. She was placed on her knees again and she looked up once more to see Akar staring smugly at her with his arms crossed.
"I WON'T DO THIS…. I WON'T DO THIS!!" Naima shouted at him as she continued to struggle against Bek's hold.
Akar reached up to her head and grabbed a fistful of her hair. Then, he lowered himself down to her eye level and stared into her eyes once more.
"Oh yes…. Yes you will." he muttered.
The last thing Naima saw was the outline of a sinister smile on his face before she felt like she was being sucked into a never-ending hole. Many different colors flashed before her eyes. She wasn't sure how long this happened for, but she finally saw a light in front of her. She reached for it.
And then suddenly she was back in her own body again. Only this time, everything around her was blurry. She couldn't move her own limbs, she was stuck. Unexpectedly, she now saw her own legs move, but not by her own control.
Naima watched in horror as she saw herself get up from the ground through no command of her own. She felt trapped inside her own mind, unable to do anything. Trying to control her own body felt like trying to swim in a lake full of thick honey.
Her body stood up and faced the palace.
'NO….… NO.. NO..NO..' Naima screamed in her head. But no sound came out of her mouth.
Her arms were raised to her chest level and she saw an enormous ball of lightning being formed from her hands.
She had to do something. Anything. She needed to figure out how to stop this immediately. The ball continued to grow larger in front of her eyes as it gained power from her hands. She thrashed internally, struggled, tried to resist. She screamed in her own mind.
'Don't resist, just let it flow through you…' a tranquil voice said. Instantly, she felt a calming sensation fill her. She stared at the ball in front of her growing larger by the second, but for some reason, she didn't care anymore. All she wanted.. was peace. To float weightlessly through her mind.. to be free…..
She heard distant cackling, but she ignored it. It felt too good and she wanted it to continue. As she watched her body brace itself to launch the enormous lightning ball in front of her, she tried to remember why she even cared in the first place.
A mental image of the palace bursting into flames flashed before her. But she still didn't care. She felt herself lean back to float away again… Until she felt a gentle, but firm push on her back, seemingly attempting to guide her. Naima turned her head slightly and saw a bright red flash in the dark abyss of her mind.
Then somehow, she felt clarity cut through her mind like a knife.
Oh wait… this was bad.
'Oh no…..'
She was watching herself again, her arms reaching back in preparation to launch. She began thrashing in her mind with all her might, fighting off the good feeling, screaming internally.
'No! Stop!' the voice said in her mind. But she continued to resist as much as she could. Slowly, the thick honey feeling that seemed to surround her body dissolved.
As her body finally went to hurl the lightning ball into the palace, she fought hard. At last, she could feel something. She quickly laid as much sideways force as she could against the electrical ball before it released against her fingertips and was sent hurling off into the air.
'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!' the voice inside of her head screamed.
Naima watched as the lightning ball traveled through the air quickly, but missed the palace by a long shot, instead exploding in the air next to it. Everything remained intact.
Immediately, she felt something zip through her body. There was a brief weightless sensation before Naima felt herself collapsing on the ground again, struggling to catch her breath.
She felt normal again. Finally.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" a voice boomed above her.
She looked up at Akar standing over her, still catching her breath.
"HOW DID YOU DO THAT? NOW EVERYTHING IS RUINED." Akar screamed.
Naima stood up and stared into his eyes. "I said I wouldn't…. and I meant it…." she said menacingly.
Akar paused for a second before his entire face became contorted with rage. He pushed her and Naima fell to the ground once more.
"I WILL.. KILL YOU!" he screamed. Bek and Sen had come over to join him on each side.
Naima stared up at them. Bek pulled out a large blade from his side and Akar balled up his fists, ready to strike her. But for some reason, she was unafraid. She felt calm. The light reflected off Bek's blade and flashed in her eye. And that was the last thing she remembered seeing before something burst open inside of her.
She soared upward, high above them. High enough to see the second group of gang members jaws' drop as their horses danced around in fright. Her vision was incredible, and she saw herself again, this time in the reflection of the blade.
Her demonic figure. Her Ka. It was back.
An earsplitting roar escaped from her mouth as sparks flew from her body. The three men, previously so confident, now stood below her shaking. Her own original body was laying in the dirt, her eyes white and motionless.
Sen turned around and began running away from her to the other group. He reached them and they all turned to escape toward the desert.
A wave of energy rippled through Naima's body and a lightning bolt whipped across the sky and struck the ground in front of the group, startling their horses. They reared up and bucked off their riders, escaping to freedom and safety without their owners. Before the gang members could go any further, Naima generated a massive thunderbolt from her body and aimed it toward the group, striking everyone. They all dropped to the ground motionless.
She then noticed the two men below her, still staring up at her in shock and cowering like children. She growled at them from her throat and clenched her hands.
They screamed and ran away from her. Naima formed another lightning bolt from her body and struck Bek, this time letting the electricity surge through her. It was concentrated into one single bolt, forming a crooked, white line from her body to his. She let it stay like that, a steady stream of white hot voltage filling his body and scorching him ... until she was satisfied. His body burst into flames from the immense heat and she inhaled the metallic, sickly scent of burning flesh.
Naima turned her attention to the last one and saw that Akar had attempted to run off, but had stopped briefly to witness his friend be burned alive before resuming his escape. He ran off toward the adjacent ridge but Naima was faster.
She quickly caught up to him and picked him up off the ground. There he was, struggling against her grip. She peered down at him and laughed in her mind. He looked like a scared little boy. How the tables have turned.
"Please…. I'm sorry….. have mercy on me…" he pleaded as he stared up into her dark, narrow eyes.
Naima snarled.
Slowly, she began to tighten her grip on him.. harder… stronger… She heard the crunching of his bones and felt the jagged edges protruding out into her hand as she squeezed his body into a pulp. Blood trickled out of his mouth and he began to choke on his own secretions and fluids. His eyes rolled up into the back of his head.
Electricity surged into her hand as she focused her energy into his body… burning him from the inside out. It smelled like burnt flesh around her, pungent and cloying. She savored it.
Finally, she reached back and hurled his body into the rockface. He collided hard with the side of the rock before sliding down, limp and lifeless.
She eyed his body, Bek's body which was still on fire, as well as the others on the top of the rockface. They were all dead. And they deserved it.
Naima turned her massive body around and saw more people around her. What looked like palace guards, clutching their spears and staring up at her. She felt her demonic form dissolve slowly into a mist… and she returned to her normal body with what felt like a breath of fresh air….
Fatigue washed over her mind like a tidal wave. The last thing she saw was being surrounded by palace guards, before her mind faded into black…..
Naima looked down at her outstretched palms. It was dark… and she was naked. Where did her clothes go? She needed to find some clothes quickly. What if someone sees her like this?
She wrapped her arms around her body and looked around for some clothes. But there was nothing around her, only black.
Whispers.
'Hello?' Naima called out, still clutching her arms to her body. She was lost and needed help.
Look behind you – a voice echoed in her mind.
Naima whipped her body around… and a mirror stood before her. It was large and square. She saw herself, naked and afraid. Her hair cascaded over her body and her eyes looked like large beads in the darkness.
She blinked. But now, the figure that was staring back at her… was no longer her. Her Ka – it glared at her, her mirror reflection.
More whispers.
Naima looked down at her palms again. They were covered with smears of blood.
'No….'
She looked up. Ghostly white silhouettes of men appeared behind her Ka and stared back at her, glaring. She recognized Akar's face... and Bek… Blood began dripping from her own finger tips, and also from the massive claws of her Ka in her mirror reflection.
'No…. please….'
She began to panic. She tried to furiously scrub off the blood from her hands, her Ka mirroring her every move in her reflection. But it seemed to be making it worse. Her hands were stained.
'Help!'
She thrashed and flailed.
'Please…'
…...
Her mind roused. She heard her own steady breathing and felt her eyes shut.
She had been dreaming.
'Thank Ra it was just a dream…'
She opened her eyes and once again found herself in an unfamiliar place. Except this time, she appeared to be in a dungeon of sorts. The torch-lit corridor they were in was dark and dank and the ground was paved but dusted with sand. She was sitting on the ground with her legs extended.
She tried to stretch out but suddenly felt strong resistance. Looking down, she realized her arms were bound by chains that were set into the wall.
'What the hell…'
"Hey girl, are you ok?" a voice next to her said.
Naima looked to her side. An old man sat diagonal from her. He had a long scraggly beard, his clothing was dirty and he was missing a hand. He was also in chains.
"Where are we?" Naima asked.
"We're in the palace dungeon... where the prisoners stay." he said.
Prisoners?... Palace dungeon? Naima's heart dropped and a brick materialized in her stomach. How could this have happened. She closed her eyes tightly in dread as the gravity of the situation sank in.
"So.. whaddja do to land yourself here?" the man asked her.
Naima stopped, the images of what happened flashing before her mind. An indescribable mix of bewilderment and horror welled up in her chest. Her Ka hasn't emerged from her in years…. The only other time being that one night, long ago. She had stored that experience in the back of her mind like all the other memories that belonged there, and had sort of hoped that since she hasn't seen or felt anything from her Ka, it just somehow went away, never to be seen again.
But no, she was wrong. It never actually went away, no matter how much Naima would have liked it to. It was, after all, an extension of her – her soul.
The extension of her that once again took lives. She didn't want to do it, she didn't want to be a killer. How could this creature be an extension of her when it didn't actually reflect her thoughts and desires?
… Or did it?
She winced on the inside as the years-old feelings of confusion reemerged to the surface once more.
She was in prison now. Perhaps this was finally the justice she deserved. A sob rippled through her and tears began flowing down her cheeks.
'Maybe I belong here…'
"Don't cry girl… " the man said.
Naima ignored him and buried her face in her knees. None of this would have ever happened if she just went home like she was supposed to. Instead, she had to go looking around for trouble like an idiot. Now it's too late… and she's in deeper than anything she could have ever imagined. Her side ached badly from where she was kicked in the ribs and her whole body felt swollen and bruised.
"Are you the one they were saying conspired to destroy the palace?" the man asked her.
Naima's head shot up. Conspiracy?! Somehow, that sounded worse than regular murder.
"I didn't conspire anything….. I was forced to. They controlled my mind somehow." she said.
"Interesting… very interesting…" he said.
Naima buried her face in her knees again. "They're going to execute me… aren't they…." she said hopelessly.
"But you're saying you're innocent…?" the man asked.
Naima paused. Was she truly innocent in this situation? She wasn't sure. But one thing was certain, she did all she could to prevent the palace from being destroyed.
"I believe so. But I have no proof.." she said.
"They can look into your mind…. They will find out the truth." the man said as he tapped his head. "If you are innocent like you say, they will see."
Naima stared at him. "But how… How can they do that?"
"It's those gold things they have with the eye on them.." he said. "I don't know how it works, those things probably have all the Gods infused into them or somethin'…. But it's some weird magic stuff they do to get into your mind and see. That's what they did with me at least."
The man looked down at his wrist stump where his hand used to be.
"Was caught stealing a soldier's armor… wanted to sell it on the streets for some extra money... Got mouths to feed you see… But anyways, they took me into that big hall of theirs and next thing you know, they're reading my mind.. looking at my soul... Didn't even get a chance to lie or nothin'…"
"Was hoping I could get away with a few hundred lashes … but since it was technically stealing from the royal military…." he paused and sighed. "They took my hand off too…"
Naima felt a pang of sympathy for him. "Sorry…" she said.
"I'll be alright, girl... still got my head between my shoulders.. that's all I need.." he said, giving her a toothless smile.
Naima smiled back awkwardly.
"Hey what were you dreamin' about earlier? You were screaming and squirmin' all over the place." he said.
"Uhhh…. Just a nightmare…" Naima mumbled and looked down.
"Must have been somethin'… They dropped you off yesterday and you were asleep then…and you've been sleeping ever since…" he said. "Was afraid you weren't gonna ever wake up."
Naima let out a rueful laugh. Maybe staying asleep would have been the better option… At this point, she would rather relive her nightmares a thousand times than have to face the pharaoh's court…
There was a sudden banging and the sound of a door opening. Quick, purposeful footsteps sounded as if they were approaching their area. Before Naima knew it, she saw three guards round the corner and look at her.
"She's finally awake."
Authors note:
-Content/trigger warning: This chapter contains depictions of violence that might be disturbing to some. Also some minor political talk (nothing related to modern day).
-Yes, another cliff hanger! Plan for next update to be approximately same time frame (2 weeks, unless a miracle happens). Take care, everyone!
Chapter 13: The Trial
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The guards approached her and one went to open the cuffs on her arms, the other two held onto the rest of her body tightly. They picked her up off the ground and led her out of the cell. Naima shot one last helpless glance at the man before she felt a piece of fabric being placed over her eyes. She was blindfolded.
The only thing she could see was black, but she felt one guard on each side of her body holding her arms, a third one walking behind her. They were steering her through, walking along what felt to be hallways and turning every so often. Her heart was pounding the entire time they were walking, wondering how much longer it would be until she met her fate. She tried to prepare herself and think of what she should say… if she would even get a chance to talk.. before they read her mind like the man warned.
After walking for what seemed like an eternity, she felt the air change. Noise echoed off the walls differently. The soft hum of muted voices filled her ear. They must be close. Naima swallowed and braced herself.
She felt them lead her inside a room and she struggled to keep up, stumbling as they dragged her by her arms. She was then forcibly shoved down onto her knees. A hand grabbed the blindfold around her head and gruffly pulled it away.
Her eyes stung briefly as they adjusted to the change in light. She saw that she was now in an enormous hall. It was large and long with stone pillars and high arched ceilings, accentuated with red and gold furnishings. She stared straight ahead and quickly took it in.
There were at least 25 people in the hall and they were all staring at her. At the end, there was a set of steps leading to a large golden throne– the pharaoh Aknamkanon himself was seated there. In front of him were three people, two men and one woman, and they were each in possession of a golden item with an eye symbol on it. Naima recognized that symbol, she had seen it once before. Were these the millennium items she has heard so much about?
Off to the side stood another man. He was tall, had brown hair and blue eyes and was carrying a golden rod with the same eye symbol. A large, dark blue, winged creature carrying a sword hovered above him which the blue-eyed man seemed to be in control of. It eyed her menacingly and growled. She winced.
Finally, there were three people standing on either side of the pharaoh. Two older men on one side….. and then on the other, what appeared to be…..
Atem.
'Oh Ra….'
It was actually him. She cringed hard inside… somehow she knew this was going to happen. Perhaps death would be preferable at this point.
She hasn't seen him or heard from him at all since that last fateful night, and over the years had expended more effort than she cared to admit trying to keep the memories of him and their adventures together out of her mind. But now, he was right in front of her. She didn't want to know what he was thinking right now. Hopefully he forgot who she was. For them to finally meet again under these circumstances … she was embarrassed and ashamed.
Naima kept her eyes glued to the floor.
"You, girl, stand accused of murder and conspiracy to destroy the palace." a stern voice boomed in front of her. Naima closed her eyes tightly, her mouth becoming dry.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" the voice said.
Naima exhaled, her breath shaky. Anything she rehearsed earlier had completely left her mind. She racked her brain desperately but nothing came to her.
"Speak now. Or your silence will be construed as an admission of guilt." the voice said.
That's it, it was now or never. Naima gathered all the courage she could muster and looked up.
"M-My pharaoh, and the court… I… I am innocent…" she stuttered quietly.
"And why do you say you are innocent? You were found in the area where the lightning blast was thought to have originated, surrounded by the bodies of men that our guards witnessed you kill… with your positively monstrous Ka…"
It was one of the older men that stood next to the pharaoh who spoke. He was tall and wore a white robe.
Tears began to stream down her cheeks. A wave of desperation washed over her and the words started vomiting from her mouth.
"I didn't want to do it… I swear to you…" Naima cried out. "They gave me something to make me fall asleep and then they took me away from my home. They tried to bribe me into doing it for them, they even threatened to kill my sister…. but I said no."
"And then they did something to me… He got into my head and forced me to use my magic… I had no control over myself…. I did everything I could. It was aimed directly toward the palace, but I managed to make it veer off course…. I tried to stop it… I really did…" she wept.
There was a pause, the entire hall silent. Her sobs reverberated off the walls.
"So your claim is that you are innocent because you were forced? Is that correct?" the older man said after a moment.
"Yes.." Naima said quietly through her tears.
"Quite compelling. But your defense is one we hear quite often, so we will certainly verify the authenticity of your claim. Our exalted pharaoh and this court are fair and just. We punish only those who are guilty of their crimes." the man said.
"Thank you…" Naima said and she bowed her head.
"What is your name, girl?" he said.
"N-Naima…" she stammered, still looking down.
"Your father's name?"
"…. I don't know…." she said.
"And your mother's name?" he asked.
"…Samira." she said.
There was a pause and a quiet rumbling of discussion.
"It can't be…" "Samira?…The Samira?" "Does anyone remember what Samira's daughter's name was?" "She looks just like her…"
Naima tried hard to listen, but didn't dare look up. She was confused as to why there was so much discussion regarding her mother. To her dismay, much of it was inaudible.
"Is your mother the Samira who used to serve in this palace?" the older man said after a moment.
Naima briefly glanced upward and saw the man looking at her carefully.
"...I don't know.." she said again, pushing away a pang of frustration.
The man stared at her.
"What do you mean 'you don't know'..? How would you not know this about your own mother?" the man asked.
Those words stung. She looked up at him in anguish as she felt desperate tears forming behind her eyes again. She didn't know what to say.
"Master Aknadin asked you a question." one guard said gruffly to her before she felt him grab the hair on the top of her head and pull down, forcing her chin upwards.
Naima gasped and cried out in pain, jerking away from him as a reflex. But the guards took it as resistance and pounced on her. Two more guards grabbed her arms and held them tightly and the other one tightened his grip on her hair and pulled back even more. At least 3 spears were pointed straight at her neck. The position she was now in contorted her body in a weird way, putting extra pressure on some of her already bruised areas.
She whimpered in pain and her breathing became shallow.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW." a deep, resonant voice filled the room – a different voice this time. Everyone looked up and Naima struggled to lower her eyes enough to see.
Her vision was partially obstructed, but she was still able to see that Atem had quickly moved from his spot next to the pharaoh's throne and was now striding toward her, his dark blue cape billowing out from behind him. His eyes were fixated on her as he came closer.
He stopped in front of her and the group of guards.
"Let go of her." he ordered. Immediately, the guards followed his command and released their vice-grip on her arms and hair. Naima fell to the ground on her hands and knees and clutched her side, the pain in her ribs now excruciating. She coughed as she tried to catch her breath.
While she was on the ground regaining her composure, she felt a presence close. She saw Atem's legs as he knelt down next to her. He lightly placed his hand on her shoulder.
And then, she finally gathered the courage to look up and see him… for the first time, in six years…
Change was an understatement. Gone were the glistening eyes of his youth, now replaced with an intense violet haze, powerful and serious. In fact, any traces of his youth had disappeared. He was still slender, but he was taller and his frame boasted more muscle. His jaw was defined and hard set. His voice, no longer a boyish trill but now a rich, deep tone that commanded authority and respect.
He was now a man.
"Naima… is it really you?" he whispered to her, studying her face carefully.
Naima looked at him wordlessly for a moment.
Six years had passed and she never forgot him. Of course, in her own mind to make herself feel better, she assumed he forgot all about her and that she should do the same. But no matter how hard she tried, the memories they shared together still ended up flickering in her mind occasionally. Her assumption was wrong, though. After six years, he didn't forget her either.
She smiled. Slowly, she lifted her right arm and turned it palm-side up, revealing the faded, brown scar on her wrist that had formed so many years ago. Atem looked down at it, confused at first. But then, his face lit up with realization.
He lifted his left arm and Naima looked at it curiously. He was wearing an enormous golden arm band with a gold plate that projected outward. She had noticed that some others in the room were wearing the same thing also, including Aknadin and the blue-eyed man.
But he unclasped it from his arm, revealing a similar looking scar on his skin, except his was longer and thicker. It had faded quite a bit with time, but it was still unmistakable.
They exchanged silent smiles, both seemingly basking in the knowledge that the events that transpired that night to form their scars was shared only by the two of them. Atem moved to her side to help her up, supporting her arms and shoulders. They now both stood in the middle of the hall side by side.
"Atem? What is the meaning of this?" the older man from before – Aknadin said.
"Our prisoners should be treated with more respect," Atem asserted as he looked toward Aknadin and the Pharaoh. "Especially if their guilt is yet to be determined. If we hope to gain the favor of our people, we should show them mercy."
They both looked back at Atem, at first in scrutiny. But after a minute, the Pharaoh smiled.
"Yes, my son." the Pharaoh said as he looked at Atem proudly. "I have taught you well. You will be an excellent ruler."
Aknadin glanced at the pharaoh and Naima noticed that darkness flashed over his face, only for a brief moment, before it returned to his normal expression.
"Very well then. Let us now proceed with the millennium trial." Aknadin declared. "Shada? Your key, please…"
A man with a shaved head and markings on his face stepped up toward her. He was carrying a golden ankh shaped key. Naima shot a quick, nervous glance at Atem who was watching intently.
"My key will reveal your mind and your soul... Any secrets you have will be made known to me. Behold…" he said as he held up his key to her forehead.
Beams of light shot out from the key and entered her chest and head. She felt a strange sensation in her body, as if something was sliding its way into her heart and mind. Then, she froze and her vision became black for a moment, before she glimpsed Shada walking through a dark corridor until he reached a large, dark, wooden door at the end. He opened it…. and her vision became black again.
And like a curtain being lifted, her vision was once again restored. She saw the remainders of the bright rays of the ankh slowly returning from where they came from.
Shada stared at her closely. He then glanced briefly at Atem and then back at her, before turning around and facing the pharaoh.
"The girl speaks the truth about what happened." Shada announced. "She was under a mind control spell, a powerful one. Somehow, she was able to regain enough of her mind in time to shift the course of her own attack, thus preventing destruction of this palace."
After hearing these words, relief coursed through her. She didn't even realize how tense she was until she felt her shoulders relax from what seemed like a permanently crunched-together position. It finally seemed like she would get some vindication.
"Her soul appears pure," Shada continued. "And yes, the girl is indeed, the true flesh and blood daughter of the great Samira."
'..The great Samira…'
Why were they referring to her mother like this? Was her mother really…. great?
She looked around and saw everyone staring at her. Aknadin was looking at her as if he had seen a ghost.
"Then the girl is innocent.." the other older man who stood next to the pharaoh said. This one was short, with grey hair and wore blue hat.
"We must still finish the trial Shimon… Now that Shada has unlocked her memories with his Millennium Key, the members of the court must all see what occurred so that we can judge for ourselves." Aknadin said.
"Seto… please."
Aknadin gestured toward the blue-eyed man who walked toward her, clutching his rod to his chest. Seto's face appeared set in a constant scowl and his cold eyes seemed to consume her, penetrating into her very soul. She suddenly felt vulnerable.
He took his place in front of her and towered over her with his arms crossed over his body. As he looked down at her and she looked up at him, his presence over her exerted a subtle unspoken power differential which he seemed aware of.. and seemed to enjoy.
"The power of my millennium rod will extract your memories and reveal them." he declared.
He held up his millennium rod to her face and it flashed. Suddenly, she felt surrounded by a golden fog. And then, in front of her very eyes, the exact scene that occurred two days ago replayed like it was happening again right in front of her. Except this time, everyone was watching.
After it finished, the entire room was silent and all eyes were on her. Naima shifted uncomfortably and fumbled with her hands, unsure what she should be doing.
"Well, her plea is consistent with the memories we extracted from her." the pharaoh finally said. "As far as the charges against her, I believe the answer is clear. The girl was forced. And since the men she killed at the scene was done by nature of self-defense, we will not put her on trial for their deaths. Additionally, they were enemies of the throne of Egypt and would have been put to death anyways. As far as we are concerned, she has done us a favor."
"But her Ka…," Aknadin remarked. "An absolute monstrosity… We have seen what it can do. Do you think this warrants extraction from her body?"
The pharaoh sighed and looked at her in seemingly deep thought, his hand on his chin in contemplation.
"We should see it for ourselves before we make any decisions on this matter." he said and nodded at Seto.
Seto turned toward her once more, except this time, he was smirking. He looked like an animal ready to seize its prey. A chill suddenly rushed down Naima's spine. But before she could object, he clutched his rod with both hands, aimed it toward her chest and with a heaving motion, lifted his rod into the air.
While he did this, she immediately felt the familiar bursting feeling she experienced the last time her Ka appeared and she fell to her knees once more. Her eyes froze.
She then felt herself ascend toward the ceiling, towering above them all. Looking down, she saw everyone staring up at her, some in awe, some in terror and others in thought. The dark blue creature from across the room growled at her.
It dared to challenge her? Naima turned her large, skeleton-like body toward the creature, sparks emerging from her chest and circulating through her massive figure. Her throaty snarl filled the entire room. As they stared at each other with menacing eyes, Naima prepared to strike.
"Seto! Your Duos, she will destroy you. Her Ka is more powerful. Put it back, quickly!" Aknadin called out.
Seto nodded and wielded his rod in both hands. Naima felt it link to her and with one swift movement, Seto motioned her Ka back into her body.
Naima sputtered and coughed, the sudden rush of life flowing back into her original form. She keeled over again and struggled to catch her breath. Atem knelt down with her, his hand on her back.
"This is strange indeed. A creature of such darkness and power… inside this girl who we are told has a pure soul. It does not make sense." the pharaoh mused.
"This Ka has more power than some of our mightiest creatures.." Aknadin said.
Seto stepped forward and faced the pharaoh.
"Then why are we wasting our time with this?" Seto barked as he turned around and glared at her. "We should take it and seal it away for ourselves. It would be put to far better use under our control than trapped inside the likes of this one…"
"Seto…. That's enough." Atem growled as he stood back up with clenched fists and shot a sharp glare at him.
"You know very well that would kill her. She has done nothing to deserve this."
Seto crossed his arms smugly and smirked.
"My prince, the difference between me and you is that I am willing to do what it takes to protect Egypt. We need as much power on our side as possible. And if it means some must die –" Seto growled darkly. "Then so be it."
"That approach would make us no better than our enemies." Atem said.
"Perhaps this attitude is why we are losing to our enemies… " Seto retorted.
"That is enough." The pharaoh declared. "We are not losing, and we will not be taking the girl's Ka. It is a dark creature, but I see no reason to take it from her just yet. As powerful as it is, if the girl is innocent then we have no right to it. It stays in her. Is that clear?"
Aknadin then walked up to stand in front of Seto and put his hand on his shoulder with a concerned look on his face.
"Seto, please… our power must be used judiciously."
Seto paused for a moment, still scrutinizing Naima with piercing blue eyes. He then turned and bowed his head.
"As you wish."
"Good. Now, where did we leave off with this?" said the pharaoh.
Aknadin then turned his body to face her, studying her with a stony expression.
"So, daughter of Samira, Naima is it? You are grown now, and we all meet at last." he said.
Naima was taken aback. She had never seen Aknadin in her life, much less heard of him. Was she supposed to know who this man was? Everyone here was acting like she knew something that she definitely didn't.
"I'm sorry... I don't understand." Naima said quietly.
Aknadin studied her carefully. "Do you not know of your mother?"
"The girl seems unaware of her mother's legacy..." Shimon remarked.
"Is this true?" Aknadin said
Naima looked up at the court. "I am.. uninformed.. of these things about my mother of which you speak. I have been told very little about her."
Aknadin appeared to gather his thoughts and then clasped his hands together over his chest.
"Your mother once served as a high priestess in this court. She was known throughout Egypt for her magical talents. She was a powerful sorceress and a true asset to this empire. Her ideas and her work have helped Egypt to become the powerful kingdom it is today." he said.
"However, your mother developed a rather disturbing interest in dark magic. She was always reading.. experimenting… She fell down a dangerous hole and could not be helped. It had gotten to the point where I personally witnessed her take host to evil itself…" he said
Naima's eyes widened.
He continued.
"We could not allow such dark forces to taint the dwelling of our pharaoh and our court, at the risk of insidiously infecting our minds and compromising our sacred relationship with the Egyptian Gods. We had no choice but to exile her from this city." he said.
Disbelief jolted through her body. Impossible.
But as she looked around and saw everyone's eyes on her, some people nodding in agreement, perhaps this strange man wasn't lying after all….
Could this really be true? She bit down on her tongue purposely to make sure this wasn't some strange dream. It was all too much to process at once.
"Girl, what has become of your mother?" the pharaoh asked gently.
Naima bowed her head hastily, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of her mother.
"My pharaoh, she has been dead for a long time."
Gasps echoed throughout the court.
"Dead?" "How could that be?" "Samira? Dead?"
"How did she die?" the pharaoh asked.
"She was murdered… I do not know why or by whom." Naima said.
The pharaoh looked at her pensively, his hand stroking his beard in contemplation.
"I am sorry for the loss of your mother." he said softly.
"Although Samira has been disgraced from her position, her legacy still lives on. I did not ever think we would see the day where Samira would once again grace this court with her presence. You are not Samira, but you look like her, your flesh comes from hers and her blood flows through you. And I see you have also inherited her magical talent. I expect great things from you."
Naima looked up at him briefly in surprise. She had never thought she would receive such warm words from the pharaoh himself. She quickly bowed her head.
"Thank you, my pharaoh."
Aknadin crossed his arms.
"After your mother was ousted from this palace, it was discovered that she stole a valuable set of scrolls from the royal library. Do you have any knowledge of this?" he interrogated.
Naima shook her head. "No, I do not."
"Shada?" said Aknadin, turning his head quickly to look at him.
"The girl speaks the truth, master Aknadin." said Shada.
"I see…." Aknadin as he eyed her.
"Although my brother sees it wise to just let all this business go about your Ka, I still have my concerns. Your Ka has an evil appearance and its power is great. Usually when a Ka looks evil, it indicates an evil soul and heart. But yet, I am told you have a pure soul. How did this happen?" Aknadin asked her.
Naima was at a loss for words. "I'm… not sure.." she stammered.
"I suspect this might have something to do with your mother... Her own evil and darkness must have reflected off onto you." he said.
Naima looked up at him and then bowed her head deeply.
"With all due respect, my mother was not an evil person… and neither am I."
"Oh really..." Aknadin said. Suddenly, something glinted underneath his hair. "Your thoughts betray your words."
Naima shrunk back in surprise, her eyes wide in bewilderment. Aknadin's hair parted, revealing a golden eye where his real eye should be and Naima grimaced. She didn't want to know how that happened.
"My millennium eye gives me insight into your mind, all your thoughts are now visible to me." he said.
"Hmm yes.. I see. You say your mother is not evil? But you admit you know next to nothing about her. And your Ka… its power frightens you.. because although one would justify the men you have killed as self-defense, even honorable, as they were vile creatures with malicious intentions... killing is still an inherently evil act, and it weighs on your mind just the same."
Naima stared up at Aknadin in horror. How could he possibly know this. She felt tears form from behind her eyes. Never has she felt so exposed in her life.
Atem took a step forward toward Aknadin and looked at him squarely.
"I don't think this level of interrogation is necessary." he said. "She has been through enough. We should leave her mind alone."
Shadaa approached them.
"Master Aknadin, the key tells no lies. Consider that the menacing appearance of her Ka may likely not be a reflection of her misdeeds or any darkness in her soul, but rather of the magical power she holds within. Or that perhaps, our assessment of the evilness of one's spirit based on the appearance of the Ka may be flawed." he said, and then looked toward her.
"For what truly makes something an evil monster? Simply its appearance? If that were the case, there are monsters born every day and monsters walking the streets of Thebes at this very moment."
"Shadaa, you are always so philosophical." Aknadin said dismissively.
"My pharaoh and master Aknadin, allow me to use the power of my Millennium Scale to solve this issue. It will weigh the darkness in her heart. The Egyptian Gods will tell us with certainty if evil lives in her." one of the priests in the court said. He was carrying a golden scale with a gold feather on one side.
"Very well, Karim. Proceed." said Aknadin.
Karim stepped toward her and looked into her eyes. Slowly, he raised the scales and placed them in front of her heart. Naima's heart began to pound.
This was it, the judgement that would finally seal her fate.
Notes:
Yay! Atem is back :) A lot happened in this chapter. Also, an appearance from Seto's original Ka – Duos.
As for me, I've been extremely busy, so next update will be in 2 weeks again. Hope everyone is doing well, take care!
Chapter 14: Warning
Chapter Text
See Author's Note at end of chapter for chapter specific content/trigger warnings.
At first, the scales fluctuated wildly and Naima stared at them, her heartbeat pounding in her chest. She didn't quite know what was going on, but the mere fact that it couldn't seem to make a decision heightened her anxiety.
But just when the scales began to slow down, three men burst into the hall. Everyone's attention shifted, and to her dismay, Karim's as well. The millennium scale lost its focus and stopped. Two guards followed a large man dressed in white and gold wearing a long necklace with a large golden ring. She had seen this ring and this man before, a long time ago. It was Mahad, but now older and much more muscular.
Mahad and the guards walked quickly toward the middle of the hall. They bowed their heads.
"My pharaoh, I truly apologize for this interruption. I must inform you that moments ago, there was a threat at the palace walls and now we have received word that a large group of people have infiltrated the external layer of our security forces. It is entirely possible they are making their way through the palace at this very moment. This is emergent, and we must prepare for attack." Mahad said.
Concerned chatter filled the hall.
"Can your ring sense where they are, Mahad?" Shimon asked.
"My Millennium Ring is sensing a strong disturbance, but it cannot tell me exactly where." he said. The ornaments on the outside of his ring were pointing in all directions. "There must be quite a few of them who have subverted our forces."
"The head of security failing to do his job…Why does this not surprise me?" Seto said, his low voice dripping with vitriol and arrogance. "But then again, it's obvious that competence isn't your strength."
Mahad glanced over at Seto and his eyes narrowed in a silent glare.
Meanwhile, the Pharaoh Aknamkanon sat stiff in his chair, staring outward almost blankly. His mind appeared far away. Aknadin stood next to him with a similar look on his face.
Naima and Atem both exchanged concerned glances. Atem then looked at Mahad.
"We must stop them.." Atem said. Mahad nodded.
"We will." Mahad said.
The atmosphere became more and more panicked. Some people got up and hurriedly left the room, apparently seeking safety elsewhere. A few others decided to hide under the table or take refuge behind the larger statues. Suddenly, Naima felt exposed. Perhaps she should be hiding too?
Then, something small and narrow entered her periphery. It flew passed her noiselessly and she turned her head somewhat to see, only to be met with the sight of a silent arrow piercing into a man's eye and embedding itself deep inside of his head. The unlucky victim was one who had been observing Naima's trial and whom she didn't know the name of. He had stood only a small distance away from her. Time slowed down enough for Naima to have discerned the tiniest splatters of blood spurting from his eye, the shadow of the hole where the arrow entered... the way his arms flailed as he collapsed to the ground silently.
As others around realized what happened, a whir of activity formed near her. People rushed over to the man who was now clearly deceased on impact. The noises of screaming and crying were in the background. But all Naima could hear in her mind was the memory of the subtle thud and grating of broken flesh and bone, repeating in her head over and over.
She backed away, a sudden wave of nausea and dizziness overtaking her, and she was only vaguely aware of the people around her. Atem stood next to her in a defensive stance, searching the room with eyes wide in an attempt to find the silent attacker. Mahad was rushing around and shouting commands at guards, but all his words sounded like muddled babble to Naima.
The distant clanging of metal permeated the air. It came from outside the hall.
"They're attacking our guards outside..." Atem exclaimed.
Naima heard the muffled screams of someone in pain, before it became silent again.
And before anyone knew what was going on, the rumbles of what seemed to be an explosion suddenly flooded the entire room, followed by the sound of wood and stone cracking. Everyone's head shot up. There was more screaming around her.
With another crack, the main door to the entrance of the hallway flew off its hinges along with pieces of the wall it was attached to. Splintered wood hung from the door frame and the cracked wall that was forcibly blown off, now baring a giant hole where the door used to be. And in the middle of it stood an army of around 40 men carrying various weapons, some carrying none at all. The deceased bodies of the brave guards who defended the outside of the hallway could be seen laid strewn across the floor.
The army of intruders began to proceed into the large hall and one of the men stepped up to the front. He had white hair and a linear scar down the right side of his face that led to a wicked smile.
Something inside Naima's mind clicked and she had to do a double take. Could this be…. the same man from so many years ago… A sudden coldness trickled up her spine.
"Hello Pharaoh, I hope we didn't interrupt anything too important…" the white-haired man said as he chuckled.
The entire room was silent for a brief moment, before the Pharaoh Aknamkanon's voice came thundering across the hall.
"Who are you, and what is the meaning of this?" he said.
"Who am I?" the man asked in mock surprise. "Why… I'm almost insulted… After everything we've been through…"
He crossed his arms and smiled maliciously.
"But don't worry, I do understand. I can imagine how hard it must be to truly know your enemies when all of you stay cooped up in your safe little palace, making decisions that impact millions at a distance… never truly knowing the impact of what you've done…" he growled. "So I figured we would come pay you a little visit instead…"
"I am Bakura, a King amongst thieves .. and I appreciate all the treasures you have left lying around for us in those tombs that have been so carelessly guarded. It's almost as if you want us to steal them…" he snickered.
The pharaoh's eyes were wide and his fists were clenched.
"You?" he whispered incredulously.
"Yes… me. Or more specifically, us." Bakura said and gestured to the army behind him. "This here is just a small taste. You see, my pharaoh, when you fail to live up to your duties to serve and protect all citizens of Egypt, not just the ones you like, you create people like us…. The ones you have failed and disregarded. So we're here today to take you and relieve you not only of those Millennium Items you all seem to enjoy a little too much – " He smiled wickedly. "But your duties as Pharaoh of Egypt as well. If you come with us, no one else has to die today…"
The Pharaoh Aknamkanon stood up quickly from his throne.
"What is this madness… We will not give in to these threats."
Bakura chuckled under his breath again.
"We thought you might say that. Suit yourself… pharaoh…"
Full blown chaos ensued. The army surged into the hall and scattered. The palace guards responded swiftly, but the fighting skills of the intruders proved to be better than expected as some guards began to fall, succumbing to their injuries.
It became difficult to track everything that was going on, there was too much happening at once – screaming, crying, people running around to escape, blood flowing freely on the floor from multiple bodies on either side, the clashing of metal and the sound of flesh being torn and ripped.
Creatures suddenly began appearing in the hall, originating from the bodies of the invading army. Naima stared in awe. The creatures were their own Ka… they were somehow able to control them freely. She looked over to the other side and saw the pharaoh and all the others who were wearing the large gold wrist band springing into action. The gold plates on their wrist shot outward, and to her amazement, creatures began appearing above them as well.
"I summon my Curse of Dragon!" the priest Karim shouted as his golden wristband flashed and an enormous light brown dragon appeared above him.
The others followed suit, summoning their own respective monsters above them. Ferocious looking animal-like creatures, soldiers wielding enormous swords.. Naima also saw a blue winged creature appear above a woman who was wearing a golden necklace with the same Eye of Udjat symbol.
"Attack them, my Spiria!" the woman called out to her blue creature. It swooped upward, but was shot at from the side by another monster. The woman clutched her chest, seemingly in pain.
"Are you alright, Isis?" Karim called out to her.
Isis grimaced in pain, but looked over to Karim and nodded.
Near to her stood Bakura and Mahad, facing each other with shoulders squared.
"I refuse to allow you to continue making threats against the pharaoh and terrorizing the people in this palace. I will finish you… today." Mahad declared as the gold plate on his wristband shot outward.
"Hah! Your loyalty is admirable, but sadly misplaced. Mark my words, you will perish like the others have." Bakura snarled.
Next to her, Atem stiffened.
"Mahad!" he called out.
"Please, my Prince, allow me to finish him off. As head of palace security, it is my duty." Mahad said, his eyes still fixated on Bakura.
Atem hesitated as he looked at Bakura apprehensively, but eventually nodded in agreement.
Bakura and Mahad glared at each other from both sides.
"Duel!" they both shouted.
"Prepare to meet a creature like none you've ever seen before… my Diabound, come forth!" Bakura shouted as a large grey monster appeared above him, half human on top and half snake on bottom.
"I call upon my Illusion Magician!" Mahad said, his purple magician materializing over his body seemingly from thin air.
And so they began their battle, one amongst many in the large hall. There was a flurry of activity around her. Bright flashes of magic beams, giant swords clashing, the sounds of enemy Ka being destroyed in battle. Enemy soldiers who were not able to recover fell to the ground screaming before the life faded from their bodies. Scattered amongst the battles between Ka were battles between swords and shields, spears and fists.
Naima had never seen so much violence at one time in her life.
"You must be the Prince…." A voice growled behind them. Both Atem and Naima shot their heads around.
An enemy soldier stood before them, ready to fight.
"Your plans to ascend to the throne and take your father's place end today. Get ready to meet your demise…" he said.
Atem turned around and faced him.
"Hmph…."
And to Naima's surprise, a confident smirk played at the corners of his lips, a gleam in his eyes.
"That won't happen…"
"Oh really? You've spent your entire life being pampered. I, on the other hand, have spent years struggling every step of the way, and the strength of my Ka shows for it. Can you measure up to real power?"
"Why don't we duel and you can find out..." Atem said. "Or are you going to continue wasting my time?"
The enemy soldier chuckled.
"As you wish… my Prince."
The man's animal-like Ka appeared over him, snarling and gnashing its teeth.
"Gazelle, the King of Mythical Beasts… Come forth!" Atem shouted next to her as the gold band on his wrist shot outward. A brown, horned, furry creature appeared above him.
As Naima stood and watched them battle in amazement, she suddenly felt a sword come dangerously close to the side of her face as a nearby melee battle came near her. She let out a small yelp and backed away quickly as they continued to battle to the death right in front of her.
"Naima!" Atem shouted, briefly turning to look back at her in alarm
"I'm alright.." Naima said to him. Atem nodded before he redirected his attention back to his own battle.
With Atem distracted and so much going on around her, Naima knew she had to move.. to do something… at least hide somewhere, she was too easy of a target. But she continued to stand still in her tracks.
She looked around, almost in a daze, and saw some others who she recognized being present at her trial, cowering under tables and behind walls. She could join them and hide too.
But was that who she wanted to be?
She looked down at her palms. What was the point of having powers if they're not used? This is what she has trained for her entire life. The powers given to her by her mother.. a former high priestess who likely walked this very hall before her.
Naima wanted to make her proud more than anything.
And now was her time.
She swallowed and gathered up all the courage she had. With new focus, she quietly looked around and spotted a large, tall statue near her.
'Perfect.' she thought to herself as she ran over to it, leaving the commotion in the middle.
There were two people hiding behind it, already taking up all the available space behind the statue. They glared at her as if telling her to go find another spot.
But Naima ignored them, hopped up onto the statue and climbed to the top. She held on to the head and balanced her feet in the crook between the statue's arms and hips.
Now she had a bird's eye view, and she looked out toward the scene in front of her.
From where she was perched, she began to notice something peculiar. Random arrows from up top continued to shoot down one by one, all landing their targets. They were enemy arrows, as the targets were always palace guards. One by one, the guards fell to the arrows due to being distracted on the ground and never knowing that there was even a threat at the top to be aware of.
This had to be the stealth archer from earlier.
Naima squinted her eyes. Another arrow shot out from toward the ceiling and instantly she fired a small bolt of electricity, zapping it in thin air. It crumbled to the floor in a pile of ashes.
Her heart leapt in excitement. She was helping.
She hid back behind the statue and continued to watch. Then, she saw another arrow shoot out, and she zapped it again. While she waited for more arrows, there was a pause. Naima peaked her head out from behind the statue and looked around.
And immediately from the corner of her eye, she noticed a small thin line of movement shooting directly toward her. She ducked behind the statue just in time for the arrow aimed at her to miss and hit the statue instead.
'Shit…..'
That was close.
She looked out again, but then noticed the silhouette of a man hiding in a corner near the ceiling. He was crouched behind a small pillar that was hidden by a red decorative curtain and was looking straight at her as he reloaded his bow.
"HE'S UP THERE! THE ARCHER!" Naima shouted and pointed to the man, desperately hoping someone would listen.
To her surprise, one guard did. He quickly reached back with his spear and launched it upward toward the ceiling corner. Before the archer could hide again, he became stuck to the wall, impaled by the spear through his belly. As he began to collapse, his body fell from the balcony and hung off the wall from the spear, limp and dripping with blood.
She cringed at the sight and her eyes darted around the room in an attempt to purge the picture from her mind. She saw the battle between Mahad and Bakura still continued on, both now noticeably fatigued. Mahad now had two monsters summoned on his side, to Bakura's single Diabound. She watched a green, insect-like creature seem to appear from nowhere, passing through walls quickly and silently before attacking Bakura's Diabound from behind, causing Bakura to hunch over in pain and exhaustion.
There was more commotion happening at the other end and as she looked over, a disturbing sight met her eyes. Four enemy fighters were attempting to kidnap the Pharaoh and had covered him in a large cloth, trying to sneak him out despite his struggles. One of the fighters also appeared to be carrying the Pharaoh's millennium item, a golden pyramid, in his hands by the rope which was seemingly ripped off his neck. Aknadin and other guards were trying to stop them but more enemy fighters came and held them off. With Aknadin and the guards distracted, the three others pushed the pharaoh to the ground and attempted to tie him up in the cloth.
'Oh no….'
While all this was going on, Naima noticed the person who was carrying the Millennium Pendant carefully step away from the action, pull out a sack and inconspicuously place it inside.
Instantly, Naima knew what she needed to do. The suspicious man was quietly heading toward the exit, oblivious to her in her lookout area. As he neared the door, Naima blasted a large electrical bolt toward the door, stopping him in his tracks as he recoiled in shock and surprise. Then she fired another bolt toward the sack, blasting it clear out of his hands, into the air and on the ground.
In a split second, their eyes met briefly before the man took off running toward the sack. Adrenaline began to surge through her. Thanks to all her years of climbing up and down steep canyons, Naima quickly leapt down from the statue and ran toward it also. The man was rushing to beat her to it, but Naima shot an electrical bolt toward the sack again, pushing it further away.
He was still ahead of her and Naima started to panic. He would surely reach it before she did. She had to try something else.
She shot a continuous current of electricity in front of him, forming an electrical wall. The man stopped in his tracks in surprise, and she took advantage of this to run ahead of him.
The dark sack sat on the ground and Naima was so close. Almost there… she reached down to grab it…. but then felt a sharp blow to her side.
She was knocked off balance and stumbled. In her periphery, she saw the man swoop next to her and grab the bag quickly before he turned to run off the other way.
Still high from adrenaline, Naima reacted quickly and shot a large electrical bolt toward the sack. The force jolted it out of his hands, up in the air toward her…. She quickly reached up …..and at last managed to catch it with both hands.
Naima initially clutched the sack to her body after she landed. But the sack had caught on fire from multiple electrical shocks and the fabric was burning quickly. She hurriedly opened the sack, ignoring the burning heat coming from the flames, and pulled out the golden upside-down pyramid, holding it tightly with both hands.
While she clutched it, she glanced down at the precious item, only to be met by a single eye staring back up at her, a flicker of gold briefly flashing across its surface.
"You better give it up, girl…. Or you'll be sorry…." a nearby voice snarled.
Naima's head shot up and she realized that multiple eyes were now staring at her. Enemy eyes. They were looking at her with the Millennium Pendant almost ravenously.
"All of you can go fuck yourselves." Naima barked as she glared at them. "You'll have to pry it from my dead, rotting corpse."
"That will be sooner than you think, you dumb cunt." someone said to her.
Several men began marching toward her wielding swords and she instinctively panicked, attempting to summon her electrical bolts to her free hand.
"You all are done." she heard a voice growl behind her.
Naima whipped her head around.
And there stood Atem with his arms crossed, his shoulders squared. There was a Ka above him – a large soldier with long, reddish hair, dressed in ornate armor of dark blue and gold and wielding a massive sword and shield. It charged toward the men as it clutched its sword, shooting a massive gold beam toward them. After the impact, the men collapsed to the ground in a bloody mess.
Atem turned to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Naima nodded.
"I'm okay. Are you?" she asked as she looked him over. His entire body was covered in splashes of blood, but it didn't appear to be his own. Any wounds on his body looked minor.
He smiled. "I'm fine."
Naima couldn't help but look again at the sight of the creature that sat confidently above Atem. Its lavish armor twinkled in the light of the afternoon sun and it stared down at her proudly, an expression very similar to Atem's.
"Is this your Ka?" she asked quietly.
With his chin lifted and his shoulders back, he nodded with pride.
"Wow…" Naima muttered under her breath as she looked up again in awe, watching it slowly dissipate into a mist above him.
She suddenly became aware of the pointed object in her hands as the sharp edges brushed her finger tips. For something that barely fit in both hands, it was surprisingly lightweight.
"Here... this belongs with you.." Naima mumbled, handing over the precious Pendant to Atem.
He took the golden pyramid from her hands, looking at it briefly before his eyes returned to her.
"You're still just as brave as you were before." he said.
Naima felt her cheeks become warm and she looked down.
The scene appeared to have died down quite a bit as the last of the rebel fighters in the hall were taken out. The battle between Mahad and Bakura appeared to be reaching an end, both of them slumped over from fatigue after sustaining multiple attacks.
But then she saw Bakura finally drop to his knees, his eyelids were drooping and there was a distant and glazed-over look in his eyes.
"You have terrorized this country for the last time. With this final attack, I will destroy you. May Osiris have mercy on your soul. Be gone!" Mahad cried out as his Illusion Magician lifted its staff to deliver the finishing blow.
Bakura grimaced, his eyes wide in fear. But somehow at what seemed to be the last moment, his Diabound disappeared above him and the Illusion Magician's purple beam destroyed the wall behind it instead. Bakura then produced a loud, high pitched whistle from his lips.
"What is this…." Mahad muttered in surprise as he stared at his opponent in confusion.
A horse came galloping into the hall toward Bakura who quickly hopped on top, briefly glaring at Mahad before making a hasty exit from the palace.
"After him! Don't let him escape!" Atem cried out. A large group of guards ran out of the hall in pursuit.
There was another pause as the energy in the hall died down once more, the majority of the action now occurring outside of the hall. Everyone still left finally took a moment to breathe. The floor of the hallway was covered in bodies, both of palace guards and of the enemy army.
Naima also noticed the pharaoh sitting down and recovering at the other end of the hall with the help of others. Aknadin was next to him.
But then out of the corner of her eye, Naima noticed some small movement near the ceiling. She ignored it at first. She was tired, perhaps she was seeing things.
…But it happened again.
She turned her head and looked upward. All she saw was the static, impaled body of the archer from earlier, still stuck to the wall near the ceiling.
She then looked closer… and she saw his body wiggle.
Fear and nausea fluttered in her stomach. There was no way he could be moving. He was dead. But to her horror, his body slowly started to come to life against the wall. He began to twist and contort into strange positions, growling low, deep and raspy like a crazed animal, foaming at the mouth with teeth barren. There were gasps in the hall as people saw what was happening. Everyone stared up at the ceiling in terror watching this dead body somehow come back to life, dancing around against the wall and bellowing unintelligible syllables. The constant force of his movement against the spear seemed to have loosened its grip against the wall because the next thing Naima knew, the archer's body came tumbling down, the shaft of the intact spear still lodged comfortably in his abdomen. He hit the floor with a loud thud.
Except it wasn't over. He continued moving, contorting and twisting himself upward until he was standing, now facing everyone.
His eyes were crazed and dark.. and to everyone's surprise, he began to speak. The voice that came from his mouth was not a normal human voice. It was sinister, low and guttural, as if a monster from the underworld had taken possession of his body.
"You thought you defeated me so easily… This was nothing…. Consider this a warning….You haven't seen the last of me..."
The dead archer let out a wicked sounding cackle before gripping the spear that was firmly lodged in his belly and with all his might, he ripped it out. With the spear in hand, he reached back and launched it clear across the room.
While Naima watched in dread as the spear traveled in the air, somehow, time seemed to slow down again. The way the dead archer had thrown the spear, it was almost random. But the path the spear took was clear, deliberate ... and aimed straight at Mahad. Naima saw Mahad's eyes widen as he realized what was going on, and he turned his body quickly to duck.
The spear had narrowly missed his face. But instead, it sliced open the side of his neck, catching the rope of his Millennium Ring on the prong and slicing that too before it flung the rope with the attached ring across the hall toward the other end.
And before anyone could react quickly enough, someone appeared from around the corner and snatched it off the ground, before booking it straight out of the palace.
"No!" Atem exclaimed in horror.
"THE RING!"
"GET THE RING BACK!"
There was so much commotion. Multiple people ran out the door of the hall in an attempt to pursue the stolen ring, including Seto, who clutched his rod and summoned his Duos which quickly took to the skies.
Naima was speechless and didn't know what to do. She stared at the scene in bewilderment.
"MAHAD! HELP!" Naima heard someone shout.
Her head shot sideways.
There, kneeling on the ground with a puddle of blood around him was Mahad who was clutching his neck and gasping for air. The spear was nearby on the ground next to him.
"Oh no…" she heard Atem exclaim behind her. "Mahad!"
Naima immediately stiffened, and then instinct took over. She launched into a full run across the hall, hopping over bodies and sliding on blood, Atem following her closely behind.
As soon as they both reached him, she looked him over. Mahad's breathing was quick and shallow, his face was pale and there were droplets of sweat on his forehead. He stared up at her and Atem, wide-eyed in desperation.
Naima knelt down next to him.
"Please let me see your neck, I can help you." Naima said as she gently tried to pry Mahad's hands off.
His hands moved slightly and blood quickly began to ooze out from underneath. In his panic, he clenched his hands again, giving Naima a frantic look.
"Mahad, you must let go. It is okay. I have seen it." a woman's voice said behind her. Naima turned her head quickly and saw Isis had appeared next to her. Her necklace flashed gold as she knelt down beside Naima.
As he continued to gasp for breath, he looked at her again, and to her surprise, he dropped his hands to his side.
Right away, a torrent of blood gushed out of his left neck area. Without his hands to cover, his neck wound spurted blood freely. There was so much blood and it was difficult to see.
Naima started to panic initially. She wasn't used to this. When was the last time she had healed a wound of this size and in this location? Especially for someone who was a thousand times more important than her… If she screwed up, there would certainly be consequences.
But she hurriedly pushed those thoughts away. He was bleeding out. He needed her or he would die soon. She quickly applied pressure on both sides of the wound and used her dress to soak up the excess blood so she could see better.
It appeared that the blade of the spear had grazed the side of his neck and slashed it, creating a deep wound that severed a few large blood vessels and several layers of tissue, but thankfully had spared the precious structures in the middle. A distance of a fingers-length seemed to make all the difference between life and death.
After a few minutes of holding pressure, the bleeding subsided a bit and Naima gently separated the wound with her fingers, now able to see traces of flesh. She quickly got to work.
Meanwhile, a small group of people had surrounded both of them.
She raised her hand to his neck and the golden beams she knew all so well emerged from her fingertips, carefully and methodically mending the wound in Mahad's neck.
It was difficult. Not just because of the complexity of the wound itself, but the fact that everyone was staring at her while she worked. But she tried to remain focused, remembering everything she has learned from all her experience as she methodically repaired the blood vessels first, then tissue, and then lastly, the overlying skin on top.
'Mind the scarring…' she reminded herself as she came to the top layer of the skin. Very carefully, she mended it using all the finesse she could muster. As she finished, she surveyed her work, looking closely.
No scar.
She was satisfied.
While she was busy silently admiring her work, she heard hurried footsteps approaching her.
"OUT OF THE WAY." Seto's low growl pierced through the air abruptly. Naima looked up. Seto was barging his way through the large crowd that had formed around her and Mahad to watch the spectacle.
He stopped in front of them and his eyes grazed over Mahad, who was now breathing normally and getting help to sit up from the floor. Other than being covered in blood stains, Mahad's neck looked completely normal and one would never guess what had occurred only moments ago.
As Mahad sat up, he looked over at Naima. He appeared still weak from the blood loss, but his eyes were filled with soft emotion.
"Thank you..." he said to her.
Naima felt her whole body light up and she smiled at him. "You're welcome." she said.
Seto then turned and stared at her with his narrowed, blue eyes, almost as if he was shooting daggers into her soul.
"Get Penthu, now." Seto snarled to the guards, his eyes still on her.
'Who in the world is Penthu?'
Is Penthu the one who will execute her…? Perhaps she did something wrong… maybe she messed up somehow. Maybe she shouldn't have tried to help. She wasn't even qualified, really. Who did she think she was and what was she thinking trying to do this….
She stood up, her legs quivering in nervousness.
'Ra… please… I was just trying to help…'
Her breathing began to hasten from her increasing anxiety and her hands shook. But then, she felt a firm, reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Atem had come up next to her with a smile on his face, and he nodded to her, as if he was trying to tell her that everything was okay. Naima met his gaze and studied his eyes once more. She remembered how she used to get lost in them. His entire demeanor radiated warmth and comfort.
After a moment, the sound of a door closing and two sets of footsteps filled the air. Naima looked over and saw a man accompanied by a guard. This man was short, round and balding, with a look of perpetual worry etched onto his face. His eyes darted around the hall and he looked at the scene in horror as he took everything in. Bodies were still laying limp on the floor.
He approached Mahad silently and knelt down next to him, proceeding to examine Mahad's neck closely, touching the skin and feeling the structures underneath, looking at the skin gradients carefully. He did this for a few moments, and finally looked upward at Naima with an incredulous look on his face.
He then turned and nodded at Seto.
Seto looked at Naima again.
"Penthu, I think we've just found your new apprentice."
Author's note:
Content/Trigger warning: Violence and blood, some gore (mild)
-This chapter was PACKED with stuff... And let me just say that this particular chapter has been scrapped and rewritten FOUR times, but I was finally glad this version worked.
-In the anime, it is implied that Black Luster Soldier is Atem's Ka, which makes its first appearance here.
-See you all again in two weeks, take care everyone :)
Chapter 15: Aftermath
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Twelve.
There were exactly twelve grooves inside each of the decorative squares on the edge of the large table she sat at. Twenty larger squares at each section of the table. And one pointed crest at the top of each chair leg, making four per chair.
Naima counted.
She also counted two doors, four stone pillars, one decorative rug and one window.
Because as she sat there and stared out the window in the room she was told to wait in, counting things was the only thing that kept her mind occupied enough to prevent her from sleeping. She wasn't even exactly sure why she was here… apparently to discuss an apprenticeship with the man named Penthu. That was all she was told before she was hurriedly shoved into this room and told to wait there.
"We will deal with this matter later. The sanctity of our palace has been defiled and disgraced. A threat has been made against us. Our first priority is enhancing our security as well as searching for more intruders." the Pharaoh had stated moments after Seto had made his declaration and things seemed to calm down.
She was then personally ushered into a secluded chamber a small distance from the great hall by Seto and Aknadin along with some guards. The last thing she remembered was Aknadin's cold, hard stare at her before the door was slammed shut. And so she sat there, and waited.
By the looks of the sun's position from the window, now setting over the horizon, she had been sitting there for at least two hours. It has been a long, long day, and entirely surreal. She still couldn't tell if this was a dream… or if she actually died and went to some alternate universe.
At this point, anything could happen today and Naima wouldn't be surprised. She has seen more action the last few days than the entirety of the last three years combined. There was so much to think about... but one thing continued to return to her mind – her mother.
A high priestess... a powerful one at that. Perhaps her mother had been in this room as well and sat at this very table. The thought of this made her elated.
She started to fidget. The room was now getting darker, the golden rays of the sun slowly making their way across the walls. Her mind was restless from sitting so long and she began to aimlessly tap her fingers on the table surface.
Abruptly, five men burst into the room in mid-conversation – The Pharaoh, Aknadin, Penthu, Seto and Atem.
Naima practically jumped out of her seat.
"Brother, that group is getting stronger and bolder… Just last month did they not ransack three different villages in the span of one week…. We must destroy that leader." Aknadin said as he entered the room walking next to the Pharaoh.
Naima had never seen the Pharaoh this close up before. His figure was tall and broad, but his face was haggard. He moved slowly, taking small but determined steps to the head of the table in the room they were in. Then, Naima noticed his breathing. It was short and staggered, as if he was slightly starved for air but was unable to take a deep breath. Faint wheezes could be heard throughout the room.
The Pharaoh gently lowered himself into a chair with help from Aknadin and Penthu.
"I have already ordered a manhunt throughout Thebes and the surrounding areas. What more can we do? Short of interrogating every man, woman and child in all of Egypt…" the Pharaoh said.
Naima broke her eyes away from the Pharaoh to see that Atem had taken a seat next to her and smiled at her as he settled in the chair. She felt a nervous pang in her stomach before she returned his smile clumsily. She was secretly delighted that he was there. He was, after all, the only familiar face in this entire building.
"Yes, I just hope that will be enough." Aknadin said. "This movement must be dealt with swiftly. After they conducted a riot in the palace and got away, all Egyptian citizens will think of us as a joke."
Penthu had just taken a seat at the table directly across from her and nodded at her in acknowledgement. Seto did not take a seat at the table and instead opted to stand in the corner of the room.
"Well, at our security meeting tomorrow morning, we can discuss this further. Hopefully Mahad will feel better by then so he can attend. There clearly needs to be some changes made around here.." the Pharaoh said.
As they finished their previous discussion and prepared to transition to the next, she felt everyone's eyes on her.
"Now, what is this matter at hand?" the Pharaoh asked as he looked at everyone from the head of the table.
Penthu turned toward the Pharaoh.
"My Pharaoh, you are well aware of my need for a new apprentice. Ever since my last one decided to take his skills and run off to Memphis," he said bitterly. "The workload to manage everything that needs to be done around here has been absolutely unbearable."
He then turned to look at Naima.
"My apologies, because of today's events, I did not get a chance to formerly introduce myself to you. I am Penthu, the chief physician of this court and the head of medical and religious studies in this region." he said proudly.
"Although the events of today were unfortunate, it appears that there was an unexpected silver lining. A member of our court was gravely injured, and you rose to the challenge. By doing so, you have not only showed your courage and dedication to the practice of healing, but also your remarkable skill. Tell me… where did you train?"
"I have not received any formal training. I was taught in my village temple, by our head priest." she said.
Penthu looked at her in bewilderment. "No formal training you say? But how?"
"Well, I started learning with fruit.. and over the years I have practiced on many, many ducks… I've spent countless hours…" Naima trailed off.
Penthu scoffed.
"Ducks and fruit? That teaching method is an old way of doing things, quite archaic really.." he said, studying her closely. "Regardless, it seems to have done you well.."
"But these results from ducks and fruit… even the most dedicated student would take twenty years to get to your level with that method…" Penthu said in confusion.
"Penthu, this girl is Samira's daughter." the Pharaoh stated.
Penthu's eyes widened. "Samira's daughter?" he exclaimed. "Well.. no wonder… Talent tends to run in families."
Naima stared at him.
"So," Penthu continued as he clasped his hands together. "If you accept this apprenticeship under me, you will have the opportunity to hone your skills under my guidance. There will be a training period, after which you will be expected to do tasks on your own after you have proven your competence. There will be no wages, but you will, of course, stay here in the palace for free with clothing, food and whatever else you may need provided." Penthu said.
"Brother, are you sure you are okay with allowing this girl to live here? Do not forget what occurred with her mother.." Aknadin said to the Pharaoh. "This girl is from a disgraced lineage…"
Penthu stood up, placed both of his hands gruffly on the table and glared at Aknadin, now furious.
"This girl's work is impeccable, something that rivals the work seen in the most highly trained healers. I have been waiting and waiting patiently for someone with enough skill to be able to work under me… I finally find someone and you want to take her away from me because of some grudge you hold from fifteen years ago?!" he exclaimed.
"I do not care who her mother or father is or what they may.. or may not.. have done. I need an apprentice and I need one soon. I cannot handle everything here by myself."
"We technically did not finish her trial and were interrupted before the Millennium Scale could judge her heart." Aknadin retorted and glared back at Penthu. "We do not know this girl at all, but now you are saying you want her to live here to help treat the most intimate problems of everyone in this palace because it is too much work for you? This is madness…"
"Are you implying that I am lazy?" Penthu barked.
"No, not lazy. But irresponsible –"
"QUIET." the Pharaoh shouted above them and banged his fist on the table. Everyone was suddenly silent, looking up at the Pharaoh in alarm.
Raising his voice must have taken a lot out of him because he proceeded to let out a series of wet-sounding coughs. After he finished, he took a moment to catch his breath afterward.
He finally spoke.
"Aknadin, I do not understand why you are so vehemently opposed to this girl. It's almost as if you have a personal vendetta against her. She does not inherit the sins of her mother. She has proven her ability in this most complex magic of healing and Penthu has already given his approval." the Pharaoh said
Seto, previously listening silently in the corner of the room, now spoke up.
"This girl may have proven her skills, but she has no experience. How do we know she can handle this position?" he said in his usual condescending tone.
Naima looked at him, now becoming insecure. Maybe he had a point. She's never done anything like this before, let alone a position of this magnitude.
Everyone was now looking at her and expecting an answer. She became flustered.
"… Well I ... um…" she stammered. For some reason, she couldn't get any words out.
"I believe from what we have seen today, as well as what she has shown us from her memories, she is more than capable of holding her own." Atem stated.
Naima turned her head and glanced at him with silent gratitude.
The Pharaoh began wet-coughing again and reached for a small towel from inside his sleeve. He then coughed up what appeared to be a pink, frothy sputum into the towel.
Penthu looked at him from across the table, concerned.
"My pharaoh, please, perhaps you should lay down. The stress of today must have worsened your condition." he said.
The Pharaoh held up his hand as he finished off his latest coughing spell.
"No. I am fine." he said between breaths.
"This girl not only saved my Millennium Pendant from being snatched away like the Millennium Ring, but she also saved Mahad. I think she is more than deserving of a chance here." the Pharaoh said as he nodded approvingly at her.
"She may stay and learn the magic and art of healing under our Penthu." declared the Pharaoh, who then looked at Naima. "That is, of course, if that is what you desire."
All eyes were on her again. Naima froze. Is this what she wanted? She wasn't sure. She glanced at Atem who smiled and nodded at her in encouragement.
Now with newfound courage, Naima looked at Penthu.
"You mentioned this position would not include wages. Since I will be expected to do work alone eventually, I believe including a wage after the set training period would be a better offer." Naima stated.
The air of the entire room shifted into surprise. Naima, too, was surprised those words came from her mouth, especially with how badly she fumbled the previous question she was asked.
Penthu, whose initial facial expression was shock, eventually curled his tight lips into a smile.
"This one is tactful and can negotiate. I like that." he said. "How about this.. after your training period, I will provide you a small stipend that you can use for whatever you wish. Keep in mind that it is not normal for an apprentice to receive monetary compensation for their work… but I am in desperate need of help."
Naima paused in deliberation.
"And what about my sister back home in my village? I cannot just leave her.." she said.
"Hmm.. unfortunately, I believe that matter is out of my control." Penthu said and looked at the Pharaoh.
"Ah yes, the little one. What was her name again?" the Pharaoh said.
"Zahra." Naima said.
"She is welcome to stay here with you." the Pharaoh said
This was it. She lingered again and everyone looked at her once more, waiting for her response. Naima's heart skipped a beat and she looked at Penthu.
"I accept." she said.
The finality of the words that just rolled off her tongue felt distant and bittersweet.
"Oh thank the Gods…" Penthu exclaimed happily. "I finally have an apprentice."
"We welcome you here.." the Pharaoh said warmly before launching into another coughing fit.
"My Pharaoh, this has all been too much today. Come, let's have you lay down…I'll get your medicine…" Penthu said as he quickly rose out of his chair to run to the Pharaoh's side.
With each grasping one of his shoulders, Penthu and Aknadin helped to hoist the pharaoh up from his chair and lead him out of the room to the opposite door. Atem quickly got up from the table and followed them, a worried expression on his face. Seto followed suit.
Naima was alone in the room again. She could hear voices and the sounds of a bed creaking. His bedroom was so close; This must be part of the pharaoh's personal chamber.
She wasn't quite sure what she should be doing, so she sat there and waited... again. After a few minutes, the door to the chamber opened once more and Mahad emerged from the doorway. He was still very pale-faced, his jaw was tightly clenched and his movements were strained. He should be resting after his ordeal, but the look on his face was clear that under no circumstances would there be rest for him tonight.
He walked in the room and briefly acknowledged her with a nod, before taking the other door and heading into the pharaoh's bedroom. She heard distant, muffled conversation coming from the other room.
It was now dark outside and Naima wondered what would happen for her next. Would she ever return home? She wanted to soon, even just for a moment.. only to make sure Zahra was okay. Perhaps they would allow her to borrow a horse.
As she pondered her options, she heard the door open. Atem and Mahad emerged silently from the doorway and looked up when they noticed her.
Naima stood up from the table.
"Naima..." Atem said in acknowledgement.
Naima paused, and then looked at Atem in slight desperation. "A-.. Uh.. I mean… My prince," she said, remembering her manners.
"I must go back home tonight… I need to find Zahra to make sure she's safe…" she said quietly, anxiety laced in her voice.
Both Atem and Mahad exchanged glances and then turned back toward her.
"It would be unwise for you to travel tonight." Mahad said. Atem nodded in agreement next to him.
"You should stay here. It will be safer for you." Atem said.
Reluctantly, Naima sighed. They were probably right.
But, she hesitated. "Did you find any more of those thieves around here?" she asked.
Mahad shook his head.
"We have searched throughout the palace and all over the palace grounds and have not found any others. We have also placed extra security spells around the area. Rest assured, you are safe here." he said.
Penthu then emerged from the doorway to the Pharaoh's bedroom and closed the door behind him. His mind appeared distant and his face was deep in thought. He didn't even look up to acknowledge the others in the room as he passed through.
"Penthu, what were your plans for Naima's living arrangements?" Mahad asked as Penthu rushed past him.
Penthu stopped and looked up at them. He appeared slightly disoriented.
"Ah yes. Naima, your room will be next to mine, in the medical wing of course. You can move in whenever you wish and we will begin your training shortly after." Penthu said as he looked at Naima with a small smile.
He then hurried out the door. "I will have someone come show you to your room once it is ready for you." he said from behind him.
Both Mahad and Atem glanced at her briefly again before continuing out the door behind Penthu.
Naima sighed. Back to waiting again. Everyone seemed to be in such a rush. She sat back down at the table.
Eventually, she heard a soft knock at the door before it opened gently. A man peeked inside and entered. He was young and tall with dark curly hair to his chin, bushy eyebrows and a beard. He stood in front of the table, bowed his head and then looked at her.
"Are you Miss Naima? The new apprentice of Penthu?" he asked with his hands behind his back.
"Yes." she said.
"My name is Eliyah. I am a servant of the medical ward under Master Penthu. I have been assigned to tend to your needs." he said. His words were thick with a foreign accent.
A servant? Naima wasn't used to this.
"Oh…okay." she said.
"Come with me, I will take you to your room." he said.
They left the room and he led her through the palace. Naima felt like she was going through a maze. Every time they turned down one hall, it led to another series of halls. But finally, they stopped in front of one that led to a dead end. There were two doors on either side of the hallway and at the end were two double doors that were closed. Eliyah led her to the door furthest from the end.
"This will be your room." he said. "The other room further down is Master Penthu's room, and then at the end of this hall is the hospital where you will be spending most of your time."
He opened the door to her room, and Naima couldn't believe her eyes.
There were so many things.. and so much space. There was a large, comfortable bed with white cotton sheets and a vanity with a mirror at the other end. An Egyptian lotus was tastefully cut and placed in a glass bowl of water on the vanity table. A large wardrobe stood at the end of the far wall and there was a separate bathroom attached with a large basin for bathing. The entire room was clean and decorated elegantly.
"I hope your room is to your satisfaction, Miss Naima." Eliyah said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
It was overwhelming. Naima felt a lump form in her throat.
"It's… beautiful." she said quietly.
She walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. There were several dresses waiting for her of various styles that hung neatly inside. She gently ran her fingers over them, admiring the stylish cuts and feeling the soft fabric.
"Please let me know if your clothing is not to your liking. Your arrival was unexpected, so I was unsure of your preferences." Eliyah said.
Naima turned around and smiled at him.
"They're lovely." she said softly.
He looked taken aback at first. But then he smiled, large and genuine.
Naima then walked to the vanity to admire it and noticed many small boxes containing various hair accessories, jewelry, and kohl.
It was then that she noticed her reflection in the mirror. She almost didn't even recognize herself. She was covered in blood, dirt and bruises from head to toe. Her dress was filthy. Her face sported a large bruise on one side and her lip was split open, the wound red and still wet.
She sighed and pulled out the chair to the vanity to take a closer look, holding her fingers over her lip and feeling the familiar warm liquid seep into the wound as it mended itself. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Eliyah staring at her as she was doing this. He continued to watch her reflection in the mirror while Naima examined the rest of her face.
"Would you like to bathe, Miss Naima?" Eliyah asked quietly from behind her, breaking the silence.
Naima turned toward him with a smile. "Yes, please. That would be nice."
"I will prepare your bath. It will be just a moment." he said as he went into the bathroom.
Naima stood back up and headed to an arm chair in the room. She sank into it.. and then she immediately felt herself drift away…
…
"Miss Naima.."
Her consciousness snapped back.
"Huh?" she said sleepily as she opened her eyes again. Eliyah was standing above her.
"Your bath is ready now." Eliyah said.
Now groggy, Naima blinked the tiredness away from her eyes and headed to the bathroom. Eliyah left, closing the door behind him.
The room was warm and steamy and the water smelled floral. There were various soaps and shampoos beside the basin. It all looked wonderful. She quickly disrobed and stepped in the warm water, submerging herself and enjoying how the water soothed her aching muscles.
She then looked down and her heart dropped as she eyed the massive bruise on her left side from where she was kicked. It was still painful for her to breathe and move around comfortably. She leaned over slightly while lifting her left arm up, placed her right fingertips over her ribs and concentrated hard. It was a strange grating feeling as she felt her own ribs heal from the inside. She felt immediate relief though and she sighed deeply, finally able to take a deep breath without pain.
She heard a soft knock but was focused so hard that she ignored it. The door opened.
"Miss Naima, I brought some towels." Eliyah said, but then stopped in his tracks and stared at her side as she finished healing herself.
Naima exhaled in relief and saw that the massive bruise was no longer there. She glanced over at Eliyah who was still looking at her and she panicked, throwing her arms over her body quickly.
"What are you looking at?" she demanded, now self-conscious and irritated.
"Miss Naima, I'm very sorry. I was only watching you heal yourself, not looking at you in that way, I promise. I'm sorry… I'm so, so sorry.." he mumbled apologetically, now flustered.
He looked sincere, and was visibly distraught. Naima softened.
"It is alright. Thank you for bringing me towels." she said as she took them from his hands. He nodded and quickly exited.
Naima finished bathing, wrapped her sore body and her hair in the soft towels and walked back into her room. Eliyah was gone, and she was finally alone. As she laid in her new bed dressed in comfortable linen, she couldn't stop looking around at her new place. It still didn't feel real.
Then, she noticed the natural light from the night sky that streamed inside from her window. It was too much for her to resist. She got up from her bed, went to the window and opened it. As soon as she did, the dry breeze began to stroke her face, the air thick with the musky scent of reeds and mud from the river. The view from her bedroom included a part of the city overlooking a small area of the Nile, the gentle ripples of the river sparkling as the moon and the stars above reflected their light downward.
She inhaled deeply. It was peaceful and she smiled.
She then heard a soft knock at her door. Perhaps it was Eliyah coming to check on her? She quickly headed over, the towel wrapped around her hair coming undone and falling to her shoulders. She grabbed it as she opened the door.
And to her surprise, she saw Atem waiting for her on the other side.
"Oh…" Naima exclaimed, looking at him with wide-eyes. "... Hi…."
He looked at her with a small smile.
"They said you were still awake.."
They both stood in the doorway, looking at each other, unsure what to do.
"...Would you like to come in?" Naima asked. Atem nodded and Naima moved to let him inside, closing the door behind him.
"I wanted to make sure that you are comfortable." he said as he looked around.
Naima walked up by his side and smiled at him, throwing the towel on the bed.
"Very." she said and looked toward the window. "This is more than I ever could have asked for.. in my entire life."
"Good." he said. He then paused for a moment and turned toward her.
"It has been a while…"
"Yes…" Naima said.
She lowered her eyes to his feet, briefly sweeping up his body once more and eventually landing on his face, lingering for a moment. She met his gaze.
"…You have changed.."
He smiled.
"So have you." he said quietly.
His eyes then wandered to her face, tracing the bruise on her cheek where she was slapped, and then wandering downward to her arms.
"I hate that this happened to you.." he mumbled.
Naima smiled, turned her body away from him and took a step toward the window, looking out into the distance. A cool nighttime breeze filled the room, rustling the curtains and her hair. The moonlight shined on her face.
"It is alright. If it didn't happen, I wouldn't be here." she said. "And, I wouldn't have found out about my mother… For that, I would have endured it ten times over…"
He stepped up to meet her, both of them now standing in front of an open window, faces to the breeze and bodies bathed in the milky glow of the moonlight. Naima looked up at him and he turned his head toward her, regarding her in his typical fashion – deep, stoic, yet always attentive.
"Did you know her?" Naima asked him quietly.
Atem shook his head. "No. All of the events surrounding her exile happened when I was very young. I knew of her, but her name was hardly spoken afterward."
Naima sighed. "That is alright." she said. "I am happy to simply know what I know.. after so many years."
She looked down at her feet. "It is still hard for me to believe this is really happening.. it doesn't feel real.."
He looked at her. "Yes. I was extremely surprised to see you today. But, I am happy that it all seemed to work out in your favor."
"It couldn't have happened without your support." she said. "Back in the hall.. and in the room… you saved me..."
"It was your own strength and your bravery that allowed you to prevail." he said. "It is clear that this is where you belong."
Naima hesitated.
"I am excited to start my journey here." she said. "But I'm not sure how I will fit in… I've never done anything like this before. Everything is all so new…" she trailed off.
Atem turned toward her, his eyes glistening with warmth. "Do not doubt yourself. You will be great." he said.
His voice… confident and authoritative. If he declared it, it must be true. She studied his face carefully, the same face she remembered from years ago. And suddenly a memory washed over her, of him looking down at her exactly like this.. so many years ago… She felt it…
Naima blushed and looked down at her feet, trying to hastily push her feelings away.
She tucked her hair behind her ear nervously.
"I don't know what Zahra will do when she gets here. Perhaps she can clean... or work in the kitchens… She will be a good worker, I will make sure of it.." she rambled.
Atem looked at her curiously, then shook his head.
"No. She can attend our school here. It is for young people who have shown great aptitude for magic. I will make arrangements for her." he said.
Naima's heart leapt and she beamed at him. "Really? You mean it?"
Atem smiled at her in response.
Before Naima could stop herself, she threw her arms around him in a big hug.
"Thank you so much…" she whispered into his shoulder. "She will love it there ..."
She felt his arms tighten around her back. But then, she again remembered her manners. She was in the palace now, and this was the Prince.
Naima pulled away hastily.
"Sorry…"
Atem's hands had still lingered around her waist for a moment, seemingly not expecting her sudden pull back. But then he dropped his hands to his side slowly.
"…You do not need to be sorry." he said softly.
They both stood there for a moment, silently basking in the nighttime ambiance. Naima felt her eyes droop a bit, but she forced them open.
Atem turned toward her. "You look tired, I won't keep you any longer."
"No, I'm not… really. I'm fine" Naima said as she yawned, resisting the urge to stretch her arms.
Atem smiled.
"Today was a long day, you should sleep." he said as he turned around and headed toward the door.
Naima smiled at him. "You as well."
As he left the room, he turned in the doorway as he was leaving and looked at her.
"It's good to see you." he said.
Far away, in the middle of the desert, a large fire crackled under the soft glow of the moonlight, projecting a muted orange glow onto the rock behind it. Huddled around the fire sat five men, the precious golden ring lay on the ground in the middle of them.
Bakura stared into the fire pensively.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like that…" he mumbled. "It was a good thing we had a plan for escape…"
"It's because you put those three idiots in charge." said one of the other men. "Akar was a fool trying to use that stupid girl….. If it weren't for that meddling little bitch, we would have gotten that Pendant too.. "
Bakura scowled and glared at him.
"When I put them in charge, I thought they would have come up with something better than that girl... Akar's stupidity cost him dearly, I was glad to see him torn to shreds..."
"We sure did fuck up the pharaoh and his guards though…" another one chuckled. "That'll teach 'em a lesson..."
"Hmmm.. yes.. Although that magician priest needs to die a slow, painful death." Bakura growled.
"..We can make that happen.."
Bakura shook his head.
"It should have happened with the spear, but your sources say he survived…." he said with disgust.
He looked toward the fire again.
"I have a feeling we will see him again." he said as he eyed the ring on the ground. "We took something of his.…. If he wants it back, he now has to come to us…"
One of the men picked up the ring off the ground and studied it in his hands.
"What do you think this thing does…"
"Who cares what it does…" Bakura snarled. "That rod is what we need, that's what they're going around terrorizing people with… and of course that precious pendant, only because the pharaoh seems so fond of it."
"Let me see that…" the other man said as he caught the ring in his hands and looked at it. "What we really need is that mind-reading golden eyeball..."
"Who wants to volunteer to wear that one.."
Silence.
Everyone snickered under their breath.
"Well don't hog that thing… give it here…" someone else said. He clutched it in his fist, holding it up close to his face and squinting his eyes to examine it.
"Hey boss… this thing kinda feels weird…" he said. He then shook it like a child shaking a toy rattle, the prongs clinking as they bumped into each other.
"Ow!" he cried out, instantly dropping the ring on the ground. "What the hell… I think it burned me."
Bakura rolled his eyes.
"That ring isn't meant for children, you imbecile…Give it to me.." he hissed, snatching it from the man's hands.
He then studied the ring carefully. "You must have forgotten that the Millennium Items were crafted from souls… The souls of Kul Elna, my people. I will do what it takes to avenge them…"
He continued to look down at the ring in contemplation, until unexpectedly, a flash of light glistened across the ring's gold surface.
"What's this…." he exclaimed, standing up in surprise.
The ring seemed to take on a mind of its own, drifting upwards out of his hands and hovering in front of his chest.
No one dared say a word. All eyes stared ahead in terror at the floating ring.
And then without warning, the ring shot forward with its prongs extended to the front, the pointed tips plunging deep into Bakura's chest.
A scream like none other echoed across the desert. Blood did not emerge from his wounds. Instead, it was fire – the angry flames of ninety-nine malevolent souls, an inferno of vengeance that filled his body and circulated throughout. But it didn't choose to reside there. It left through any orifice it could find, a torrent of liquid lava escaping his eyes, ears, nose and mouth, oozing down his body until he was covered in it.
Bakura collapsed to his knees and clutched his head as everyone else stood by watching in horror. His breathing and screams became choppy, frenzied, and disturbed. But after what seemed like an eternity, his noises began to subside.
"Boss… are you ok?" one of the men mumbled shakily.
The stillness of the desert air hung above them. Despite the violent firestorm he endured, he still appeared to be very much alive somehow, his chest and back continuing to heave up and down, albeit with strain.
And to everyone's astonishment, the corners of his lips curled into a small smile. His sides now heaved in what appeared to be.. laughter. At first, it was slow, deep and ominous. But then it crescendoed, and he shot his head upward and began cackling, loud and maniacal as if he was just reborn from the flames of evil itself.
The wind picked up and began to howl, and the ashes of the fire in front of them burst upward and created white plumes of dust. Through the ashes, the glow of the ring could be seen, continuing to burn itself into Bakura's chest, fusing to him like a companion and a parasite both at the same time. And yet Bakura no longer cried out in pain, his breathing remained steady and calm. Once the ring was finished, there was no trace of what occurred on his body.
He stood up slowly. With a murderous glint in his eyes, he looked toward his comrades.
"We have work to do…Let's go.."
Notes:
Author's Note:
-This last scene depicts when Bakura was first chosen by the ring
-The character Penthu is based on a real person (whose name actually was Penthu). He was chief physician to the Pharaoh Akhenaten and was Tutankhamun's Vizier. He even has his own Wikipedia page!
-Expect next update in two weeks (will be either Saturday Nov. 13 or Sunday Nov. 14 instead of the usual Friday). Hope everyone is doing well and have a great couple of weeks!
Chapter 16: Catharsis
Chapter Text
Author's note: For clarity, scenes that are memories will be notated and separated with a dash (-) on the left side.
Naima woke up to the sound of soft knocking on her door. Still tangled in her sheets, she opened one eye just wide enough to see the door open gently and Eliyah tiptoe in. He closed the door behind him and peered at her uncertainly.
She was cozy, but she grudgingly decided to emerge from her comfortable nest of pillows and sheets.
"Ah, Miss Naima, you were already awake." he said. She could see that he was carrying a tray filled with food.
Naima rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned. It was mid-morning, the sun just starting to make its way over the horizon.
"I have received instructions from Master Penthu that today, you may return to your home to gather your belongings. Your sister may return with you as well. Then, you will begin your training tomorrow." Eliyah said as he set the tray down on the table next to her bed.
"And if I may add, he was quite insistent that you start as soon as possible. So we must hurry, I believe the travel time to and from your village will take the longest."
"…Okay." Naima mumbled groggily as she sat up in bed and looked down at the tray filled with food. Meats, eggs, bread, fruit, cheese - It was practically a buffet. Some dishes she had never seen before. She tried at least a bite of everything, not even realizing how hungry she was.
"I did not know what you liked to eat for breakfast, so I provided a variety." he said.
He then walked to the wardrobe and looked inside.
"And, I have already taken the liberty of selecting your outfit for today."
"..Oh… wow…." Naima said with food in her mouth.
He took out a fashionable looking linen dress with a pair of sandals.
"Comfortable, but stylish. Just because you are traveling doesn't mean you can't look good while doing it." he said.
"And to go over top–", He pulled out a dark purple hooded cloak that opened in the front. "To protect you from the sun and sand."
"Eliyah, you don't have to do all of this…" Naima said guiltily.
"Oh but it is my job, I enjoy it. Unless.. you would prefer me not…" he said.
"No, no…" Naima said. "I'm just not used to this, that's all."
"Yes, you are from the villages." he said. "But now, you are here. So enjoy this life for all it has to offer, Miss Naima. You will be doing very important work, your lifestyle should reflect the magnitude of responsibility you hold."
His last few words caused a brief pang of anxiety to shoot through her. Such high expectations placed on her already and she hasn't even started. She swallowed the food in her mouth with some difficulty and decided she was done eating, her stomach now uneasy.
With Eliyah's help, she dressed in the outfit he picked out and admired herself in the mirror. She looked good. Really good. She had no idea she could look like that.
"I love it!" Naima exclaimed and beamed at him, turning as she looked at herself. "Okay, let's go. I'm ready."
"You're not going to use any kohl?" he asked as he grabbed the vial off the table top. Naima stared at it, taking it from him hesitantly.
"Uh… okay…" she said as she pulled the top off and looked at the applicator stick. It looked like it could stab her in the eye with one wrong move. Clearly she had never applied makeup before in her entire life.
She turned toward the mirror nervously.
"Like this?" Naima said as she brushed the tip of the kohl applicator against her eyelashes.
"No no no no, stop. You will get black powder all over your face." Eliyah said as he took it from her.
"Here…. Like this…. Close your eyes…." he said to her.
Naima closed her eyes and felt him place the applicator between her eyelids, gliding it smoothly across her waterline in one quick movement and doing the same to the other eye.
"There…"
She opened her eyes and almost didn't recognize herself. Her eyes were sultry and reminded her of two wisps of smoke. She no longer felt like a girl, she felt like a woman.
"Eliyah, you made me look so beautiful today." Naima gushed.
"Ah, well… I couldn't help myself Miss Naima, I must admit that it is much more fun to dress and groom a woman than it is a man. So many more options. All of Master Penthu's apprentices have been men, all the time wearing the same thing every day and they all shave their heads bald. Where is the fun in that?" he exclaimed as he ran a brush through her hair.
Naima smiled.
"So you will be serving me from now on?" she asked him.
"Yes." he said
"Then please, no need for formalities, just call me Naima." she said as she looked at him warmly.
His face lit up and he smiled big.
"Okay."
-o0o-
As they both traversed the seemingly endless maze of hallways, Naima clutched the soft fabric of her cloak to her shoulders while she walked next to Eliyah, following him blindly.
"For extra security, you will be traveling with guards. I am unsure how much stuff you and your sister have to bring back, but obviously it cannot be much. There wasn't time to arrange a bigger cavalry for you, I hope that is alright." he fussed.
"Yes, we don't have much anyways." Naima said.
They continued on until they finally reached something she recognized– an entrance to the large hall. There were several people inside who appeared to be cleaning and restoring the interior along with the door and wall that was destroyed. She then spotted Atem standing near, observing their work with his arms crossed and his back turned toward her. As the sound of their footsteps came closer, he turned around and finally noticed her.
His eyes lingered. She smiled at him and her cheeks became flushed.
"Naima…" he acknowledged after a moment with a small smile.
"Where are you off to?"
"I'm going home," she said to him excitedly. "To pick up my things and find Zahra … and to say goodbye…"
"Please," he said. "Have a safe journey home."
Naima nodded. "I will."
Eliyah hurried her along and they continued down the hall. As they left, Naima felt the urge to look back behind her... only to find Atem still gazing at her figure from the back. Their eyes met again before she turned a corner and disappeared from his view.
They eventually ended up outside the stable area, the air full with the scent of sweat, earth and dust. A distant but sharp horse whinny pierced the air. Three guards stared at her expressionless as she stumbled her way over, already mounted on their horses and seemingly ready to go.
"Binra!" Eliyah called out as he walked inside.
A man peaked his head out from behind a wall.
"Finally…." The man named Binra exclaimed as he dropped what he was doing and strode over to meet them. He was coated in a thin layer of dirt and sweat.
"We are ready now. Sorry for the delay." Eliyah said.
"I was starting to get worried. Penthu threw a fit this morning." Binra said.
"Yes, anything to delay even one day of her starting and Master Penthu will personally see to it that my cock and balls are severed with a dull blade." Eliyah said under his breath.
"He'd probably keep them in a jar somewhere..." Binra muttered and they both snickered together before they realized Naima was standing right there.
"Ah, please excuse our rudeness … you must be Naima, the new apprentice." Binra said, grabbing the reins of a horse nearby.
Naima smiled. "Yes."
"Have you ridden before?" he asked. He led the horse toward her. It stood tall, but its demeanor was gentle.
"Uh… a long time ago, but not by myself." she said.
"Don't worry, it's easy. You'll get the hang of it fast." he said. "Come on, let's get you up.."
With his help, she clumsily mounted her horse.
"Will you be coming with me, Eliyah?" Naima asked as Binra led her toward the small group of guards.
"No." he said. "I will see you when you get back."
One of the guards turned toward her.
"The desert and hills can be dangerous, so we must travel quickly. Keep up." he said sternly.
Naima nodded.
"Safe travels." Eliyah called out.
All three guards swiftly launched into a full gallop in front of her. She felt the horse underneath her lurch forward to follow and then she felt like she was flying. They left the palace grounds quickly through the city gates before nothing was in front of them except the wide-open desert, brown and barren.
The wind and sand got in her eyes, her body was stiff and she struggled to stay on her horse. But how good it felt to see the rocky hills and valleys in the distance, a sign they were heading in the right direction. She couldn't help but to look at the harsh and unforgiving landscape with a certain fondness, the place she has called home for so many years.
At last, they slowed and continued on in silence until the outline of her village finally came into view. She had only been gone for less than a week, but it seemed like an entire year. It felt like she was coming back as a completely different person… and in a way, she was. She now knew the truth, and she spent the rest of the time wondering how she would broach the subject with Nafi.
As they entered her village, people began to peer out their windows and exit their homes to see the parade of palace guards walking through.
"It's Naima! She's here and safe!"
"Naima!"
"What happened to you, Naima?"
A small crowd formed and Naima wished she could stop and chat. But she could sense she didn't have much time; It was already mid-day.
"Whatever business you need to take care of, please do so quickly. We would prefer to avoid traveling at night." one of the guards said to her.
After briefly stopping at her house and seeing it was empty, they headed to the temple. The guards stayed outside while Naima walked in and descended the familiar rocky staircase, inhaling the scent of incense, the sounds of bustling activity in her ears.
But when she entered the hall, all activity ceased. Everyone stared up at her like she was a ghost.
"..Hi everyone.." Naima said with an awkward smile.
She quickly scanned the area and spotted Nafi in between a group of people, gawking at her in astonishment.
"Naima?! You're safe?" Nafi shouted incredulously, immediately dropping what he was doing and rushing over.
He embraced her tightly. "You're safe…. " he muttered into her hair.
He then pulled back, looking at her face for the first time.
"What happened… Where were you? We were all so worried about you…." he said.
"Naima! NAIMA!" Zahra's voice came out of nowhere and Naima felt herself being hugged from the back.
"Where were you?! We all thought you were dead!" Zahra said.
After a moment, Naima pulled away to look at them both in the eyes.
"I have so much to tell you…." she said.
-o0o-
The sound of Naima's voice echoed across the walls of Nafi's chamber as all three of them sat around his desk huddled together. Nafi and Zahra sat across from Naima, both hunched over and listening carefully to Naima's tale. The torches flickered against the walls, burning steadily and shrinking as the wood was consumed, causing three large shadows to descend slowly down the wall as the light dwindled. Zahra's face was always so animated and she listened in awe. But Nafi continued to sit quietly as she spoke. She told them everything that happened to her… but made sure to purposely leave out one thing.
When she finally finished, Zahra looked at her in amazement while Nafi sat back in contemplation.
"So you'll be leaving me here all alone then, Naima?" Zahra moaned.
Naima looked at her sister and smiled.
"Well, not quite. They allowed you to come stay with me, and you can go to school there… The Prince allowed it." she said.
Both of their heads shot up.
"Prince Atem?" Zahra said.
Naima nodded.
"I get to go to THEBES?! AND LIVE IN THE PALACE?!" Zahra shouted and stood up from her chair, both of her hands balled up in elation.
Naima nodded again.
Zahra let out a loud screech.
"YES YES YES! FINALLY!" Zahra exclaimed, squeezing Naima's body tightly in a hug.
"I'm so excited.." Zahra mumbled, still embracing her.
"Me too. I'm glad you could come with me." Naima said while they hugged, rocking back and forth in excitement.
As they both pulled away and sat back down, Naima noticed that Nafi hadn't said a word this entire time. He sat in his chair, looking at her pensively.
"They used the millennium items on you…. So the stories about them are true then…" Nafi said quietly.
Naima looked at him.
"There is one more thing I haven't said yet… it's about our mother..." Naima said. She saw Nafi stiffen.
"When they used the Millennium Key on my mind, they told me that I was the daughter of Samira, who was a high priestess in their court long ago… and was exiled…" Naima said.
Nafi stared at her, a blank expression on his face. Zahra's eyes became wide and her head darted back and forth between Naima and Nafi in shock.
"Is this true, Nafi?" Naima asked him.
Nafi closed his eyes and exhaled, pausing for a moment.
"Yes." he finally said.
"….What?!" Zahra hissed.
Naima hesitated.
"They also said that she was evil… that she practiced dark magic, and that they were forced to exile her for their own safety…"
Nafi's face, previously calm and expressionless this entire time, immediately contorted into rage. His hands clenched the armrests of the chair.
"That is a disgusting lie." he barked. "I can't believe they're still saying this about her after all these years."
He shook his head and sighed.
"Your mother was an extremely powerful magician. Specifically sought out by the pharaoh's court and appointed as a high priestess. She was highly respected. Indeed, she did have a profound interest in dark magic. However, not to use it for her own benefit, but to gain a deeper understanding of how to fight against it. Unfortunately, that detail is often.. conveniently.. left out when people retell her tale." he said bitterly.
Meanwhile, Zahra was becoming more and more tense. Both of her fists were clenched and her eyes burned with anger.
"I can't… even… believe you…." she muttered as she glared at Nafi. "How could you keep this from us for all these years?!"
"Zahra… please calm down and try to understand…. I was just trying to protect both of you…" Nafi pleaded.
"You say that ALL THE TIME…." Zahra snapped.
"Yes, and now you both can finally understand…Naima, you have seen first-hand the power of the pharaoh and his court, the information they were able to extract from you so easily. Back when it happened, years ago, there was still a target on your mother's back. One wrong move and they could have executed all three of you if they wanted to…" he said, looking at both of them.
"Naima… Zahra… I am truly sorry.. but even after your mother's death, it was best for you both to just stay away. I could not trust that you, as children, would simply choose to leave that type of information alone. The consequences of any recklessness with such sensitive information would be too much. And now knowing how both of you are.. I do not care how mad you are at me, it was the right decision and I do not regret it." he declared, glaring back at Zahra
"What do you mean 'how we both are'?" Zahra retorted.
"Well, since you asked… Zahra, you cannot keep your mouth shut…" Nafi countered. "I highly doubt that you are capable of keeping that information to yourself."
Zahra snorted and sat back in the chair with her arms crossed indignantly.
"And what about Naima?" she said.
Nafi sighed and glanced over at Naima.
"Naima... somehow... had a teenage romance with the Prince, of all people." he said. Naima blushed.
"God forbid if the pharaoh's court ever figured out who you were…." he mumbled and rubbed his temples.
"I had planned to tell you both eventually… When you married and settled down. My goal was to keep you as far away from palace life as possible. But despite my best efforts, it looks like I still failed."
"So you purposely kept us away in this shithole.. nothing to see.. nothing to do.. telling us nothing of our past until you marry us off to some guy far, far away.. and you expect me to be ok with this?!" Zahra bellowed.
"Zahra… please be reasonable…" Nafi implored.
"NO!" Zahra screamed as she got up from her chair.
"Fuck this …." she mumbled and stormed out of the room.
Nafi placed his head in his hands. "Her temper will be her own undoing…"
"I will talk to her.. after she calms down." Naima said.
They both paused, allowing the emotion in the room to level out.
After a moment, Nafi looked at her hesitantly.
"..There is something else that you should know… Since everything is now out in the open…"
Naima looked up at him.
"It is about me… and your mother.. and how all this came to be." he said. "It will be easier if I just show you."
He then reached over and placed two fingers in the middle of her forehead. As soon as he did, Naima felt her vision melt into black. Another world entirely of its own began to materialize around her and she felt herself floating in the air. She looked downward.
-
It was mid-day in the middle of the desert, large rocks and cliffs spanning for miles. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted some commotion below her and she swooped down to get a better view.
There was a group of six men, five of them encircling one man in the middle. The one in the middle was young with long black hair that flowed to the middle of his back. His face was very familiar… a younger version of Nafi.
They began to close in on him and young Nafi's face looked around in terror. He quickly raised his arms above his head, a white flash forming between his hands before one of the men countered with his own magic and blocked it.
"Don't you even dare try that shit with me…. There's no getting out of this. Do you know what happens to people who snitch?" the man snarled as he got in Nafi's face.
He then punched Nafi in the stomach. Hard.
Nafi keeled over in pain and the man took the opportunity to punch him again, this time in the face, bringing him to the ground.
"Heh… not so tough now, are you?" the man said as he stood over Nafi and placed his foot over Nafi's cheek, stepping on his face and scraping his head into the hard, rocky ground.
After a moment, the man finally removed his foot.
"Get up!" he growled.
He then grabbed Nafi by his robe and forced him upward by the collar. Nafi's eyes were still dazed from the blow he took to the head.
"You are nothing but a worthless rat… and that's all you'll ever be…" the man said. And in one swift movement, the man pulled out a dagger from his clothing and thrust it into Nafi's abdomen, burying the blade deep.
Nafi's eyes bulged in distress as a drop of blood trickled out from his mouth onto his chin. The man stared into Nafi's eyes with a depraved smile before heaving his arm backward and removing the blade from his belly. Blood began to gush from the open wound.
"And just in case you thought you had a chance…." the man said.
He held Nafi's head with his arm, exposing his neck. And then, swiftly, the man reached back with his dagger and slit Nafi's throat.
A small, red waterfall spurted out from Nafi's neck and created a puddle on the ground before Nafi collapsed onto the dirt, twitching and shaking.
The group of men laughed as they mounted their horses.
"Bye bye… rat…" they said as they turned around and galloped away into the desert.
Naima watched Nafi lay there in the middle of a dark red pool, clutching one hand to his belly and the other to his throat. His breathing was shallow and accented with the gurgles of his own blood. She wanted to help him badly, but every time she reached down to try to touch him, her hands would pass right through his figure. She was forced to watch him lay there, slowly suffocating and bleeding to death in the sweltering heat. She cringed as she watched him struggle to roll himself by a nearby rock to try to escape the sun.
But then, Naima noticed a small figure emerge in the distance – a person, who was walking slowly across the desert in Nafi's direction but upon noticing him, immediately ran over and knelt by his side. A red, hooded cloak covered the person's face, but then they reached up to remove it.. and Naima squinted her eyes closer to see.
It was a woman. Someone who looked very similar to her, the same eyes and facial structure…
Her mother.
Naima gasped and placed her hands over her mouth in pure shock. She wanted to cry, but no tears would come to her eyes, no sobs would come out of her mouth.
She watched as her mother sat by Nafi's side and looked him over. His eyes were weak and he watched her feebly, unable to speak.
"Oh my…. You're hurt badly." her mother said as she placed her own hand over Nafi's, his bloodied hand continuing to clench his neck.
"Please… I can heal you…" she said softly.
He stared up at her in desperation while he continued to choke and struggle. But as he looked at her, a light seemed to appear in his eyes. He released his hand.
Her mother hurriedly placed her hands over his neck. And to Naima's astonishment, golden-orange beams trickled out of her mother's finger tips and into the neck wound, eventually leaving a dark line of a scar on his neck. She then moved downward to his abdomen, repeating the process until he had another dark scar on his belly.
"Here…" her mother said as she pulled out an animal skin filled with water. Nafi took it gratefully.
"I'm Samira."
"…Nafi." he muttered with difficulty.
"Do you have a home or anywhere to go?" she asked.
Nafi shook his head. "No.. not anymore.."
"Neither do I." her mother said.
She stood up and extended her arms to help him to stand.
"Let's stick together. It's safer that way." she said to him. "Luckily there is something close by here."
Naima watched as they both walked together in the desert, her mother leading the way. But as she looked around, she noticed the way the rocks looked was oddly familiar. She had definitely been there before. And then like a beacon, in front of her was the strange mushroom shaped rock. It was large, tall and unmistakable – they were heading to the oasis.
But once they arrived, instead of going to the water edge like Naima did, her mother followed the outside perimeter leading to a hidden cave in the rock. She entered the cave with them…and when she saw what was inside, it took everything in her power to keep herself from breaking down.
In the back of the cave sat two small children huddled together against the cave wall. Her and Zahra. Naima watched herself clutch her baby sister tightly in her arms as her mother returned with this strange man next to her, her little eyes wide with fear.
Her mother knelt down in front of her.
"Naima, this is our new travel companion." her mother said gently.
Her younger-self peered at Nafi with uncertainty and clutched Zahra tighter in her arms.
Deep in her mind, she knew this old repressed memory existed somewhere. Seeing it unfold in front of her very eyes now, however, the sensation she felt was indescribable.
-
It dissolved into black and Nafi's chamber materialized around her. She felt him take his fingers off her forehead.
And then, he looked at her with heavy, serious eyes.
Naima couldn't help but to glance down at his neck. A light colored, faded line that she has looked at her entire life – one that she had always dismissed, thinking it was a mere wrinkle that had been darkened by the sun. But now, it looked much more sinister.
"What you just saw occurred right after your mother had been cast out of the palace in exile... destined to wander the desert." he said. "In her search for a new home, she found me instead."
He sighed heavily.
"You also saw me... when I was much younger." he said.
Naima studied him carefully, the metal picture of his younger form still fresh in her mind. Lines and spots that have formed from time, weather and stress now decorated his face, and his long black hair was now replaced with a more practical shaven head.
"There is a lot you don't know about me." Nafi said as he stood up and faced away from her, focusing instead on the books atop a shelf. "I grew up in the back alleys of Memphis… I learned magic on the streets. Both of my parents were drunks and eventually, I had nowhere to go. So naturally, I joined a gang."
Nafi then closed his eyes.
"And of course we went around and stole things and broke every law you could think of. I didn't care though, I had people I thought were my friends. They were magicians too, and we learned from each other and tested our skills." he said.
"One night, we went to scrounge around the western district of Memphis… that was where all the nobility stayed. It was just me and the man you saw, nobody else wanted to come that night. He never liked me very much. But anyways, we broke into a house, thinking it would be a simple in and out mission…"
His eyes appeared far away as if he could see it playing out again in his own mind.
"Well, one of the women woke up and saw us. She tried to attack us with a kitchen knife, but he got to her first… and killed her. He took her body and threw it in the Nile, thinking he wouldn't get caught, and we both got away and promised to never speak of this again. But somehow, the officials found out and he ended up getting arrested. Since I hadn't been arrested with him, he thought I had snitched on him. And then you know the rest…"
Nafi sighed again and finally looked back at Naima. He studied her face and she could tell that he was waiting for her to say something.
But there were no words.
"…May I please see more…. of her…" Naima said quietly.
Nafi nodded, returned to his desk and placed his fingers on her forehead again.
-
She was in the desert once more, watching all four of them walking along a barren pathway. Her mother was holding Zahra in her arms and her younger self was clasping Nafi's hand. On the horizon, a village was in sight.
Her village. This must be the first time they arrived.
It flashed.
And it was nighttime – A different scene now. There was chaos all around. It appeared a large group of thieves had infiltrated the village and were raiding it. Houses were set on fire, people were running around screaming. There was nowhere to hide.
Inside their small house sat her mother in a corner with both children cowering in her arms. Young Naima was quietly clutching her mother's dress, while Zahra fussed into her mother's chest. Nafi stood near, watching over them with a tense look on his face.
"Shh…. please be quiet Zahra…" her mother whispered as Zahra continued to fuss.
Then, the door slammed open. A group of men barged inside.
"Well, what do we have here… how sweet…." one of them said.
Nafi stepped up to the group and faced them, now the only thing standing between her mother and the thieves.
"Get out. Leave this place. Now." he said.
"Leave?! Hah! That's funny…We're just getting started…." the man said as he looked around the house. "There isn't shit in here… Except the woman…"
"You touch that woman and those children, and you will pay…" Nafi warned.
"You…" the man mumbled as he glared at Nafi. "You're getting on my nerves…"
He raised his sword.
But the man didn't even get to see what was coming before Nafi quickly threw his arms up and in between his hands were two flashes of light which he cast to the ground, forming a massive white magic ball that cracked and shot forward, aimed straight toward the group of thieves. It exploded on impact with them, and Naima saw multiple dead bodies scatter across the ground.
Nafi then returned to her mother's side and knelt down next to her, taking Zahra in his arms.
It flashed again and daylight appeared around her – now the following day.
In the middle of the village was a large group of anxious-looking villagers huddled together, all facing Nafi and her mother who were both standing in the middle.
"Last night was a travesty that we cannot allow to happen again." her mother declared. "You have all welcomed us with open arms to your village. Now we will return the favor."
At that moment, her mother's royal background truly shone through. Naima couldn't stop staring at her as her heart swelled with pride. Her mother's speech was clear, confident and firm and her demeanor was sincere, yet commanded a distinct air of authority. Her status as a political exile meant nothing – she was still royal, through and through.
She continued to watch as her mother turned toward Nafi.
"I cannot do this without you.." her mother said to him. "Are you ready?"
Nafi nodded.
Together, they both raised one arm to the sky, placing their hands next to each other. Something erupted from both of their palms and shot upward. There was an explosion of massive gold sparks that created a green and gold circular outline around the entire village. The circle spun around quickly as strange symbols appeared around it, enclosing the village in a golden shield that eventually disappeared in a sparkling gold mist above them.
When it finished, the entire village clapped.
"This place is now protected, anyone with bad intentions who tries to enter here will be trapped, unable to move forward. You are safe now." her mother announced as the cheers of villagers echoed around them.
-
It went black as the real world finally appeared around her again. Nafi removed his fingers from her forehead.
"That was the first time we witnessed our new home village raided by thieves. And you already know about the protection spell..." he said.
Naima nodded.
"It has still held up after all these years… magic from both your mother and I. That spell was so powerful, it required two people." he muttered fondly, his facial expression distant.
It became silent again, the air was still heavy with emotion.
"I didn't want to tell you any of this..." Nafi said as he looked away. "I didn't want you to think differently of me. But I understand how frustrating your life must have been, not knowing anything. And I am sorry…"
On the outside, Naima's face was emotionless, but underneath the surface was a whirlwind of emotions that she didn't even know how to begin processing.
"Naima… You should also know... that I loved your mother more than anything in this world. She saved me… in so many ways." he said.
He shook his head and looked off to the side.
"After she revealed to me that her former husband... your father… abandoned her with two small children for some whore, and then somehow got himself killed… I desperately wanted to give her the love she deserved."
Her father. At the mere mention of him, Naima felt her heart darken. She had ousted that man from her mind since a very long time ago. Once she had learned long ago that he had left his family, that was enough for her father to become totally irrelevant to her, and Nafi's comment further confirmed her feelings.
Nafi's fist began to tremble and he closed his eyes.
"I wanted to marry her." he muttered. "… But it was difficult, you see. How could a woman like her.. be with someone like me."
His voice broke and he buried his face in his hands. "I'm a criminal, a nobody."
His heavy sigh, broken by the sound of tears in his throat reverberated throughout the room.
"But it didn't matter anyways, the Gods had other plans…. All I know is that she is the kindest soul I have ever known. She didn't have to save me, she could have just left me there to die. But she is the reason I'm here. Every day that I am alive, I think of her. But now, every day is another day without her, and so being alive is both the greatest blessing... and the worst curse imaginable…"
Everything Naima had experienced within the last hour had been piling up in her mind, but this proved to be one too many. She felt the tears that she had been stifling for the last hour form in her eyes.
And as soon as the first tear rolled down her cheek, the rest of them poured out like a waterfall. Naima's body rocked as her sobs heaved through her. They cried together, both in mourning and liberation, both of their outwardly strong exteriors briefly crumbled, if only for a moment.
At last, Nafi finally took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure.
"Ah… well, that's enough about this… let's talk about you." he mumbled. "So, you both will be leaving me…."
Naima averted her eyes, still swollen and red from her tears. She knows she should be excited, but couldn't help but feel guilty somehow.
"What is that look for? You should be proud, Naima." he said.
"I am… but I'll be leaving you. We will be leaving you." she said.
He waved his hand dismissively at her.
"Don't you worry about me. I'll be just fine. Yes, I am sad. But there are no words to express how proud I am of you, Naima…" he said, his eyes now bright for the first time in what seemed like ages.
"My Naima, skilled enough to be Penthu's apprentice. He is known all over Egypt you know… And my Zahra, going to be trained by the best teachers in the country."
As he gushed over both her and Zahra, Naima felt the tears come to her throat again and tried to swallow them. Why would she ever need her real father…when she has him.
"Clearly, this is the path you were meant to take." he said with a sigh. "I find it absolutely incredible that you somehow find yourself involved in royal affairs not once, but twice, and this time for good. Despite all the effort I put into keeping you away, you come back to it again. Keeping you away was a losing battle for me … I cannot fight it anymore…"
"Will Zahra get to know any of the things you told me today?" Naima asked.
He paused and pursed his lips.
"I will tell her once she is ready to hear it.."
Naima nodded. They both stood up.
"Now, my dear child…." he said. He eyed her, and his enthusiastic smile appeared on his face once more.
"It is finally time for you to spread your wings, and soar."
Author's note:
- As an aside, I was listening to "Dynasty" by Miia while editing and it sure gave me the feels :'(
-See you in 2 weeks! Take care everyone.
Chapter 17: A New Life
Chapter Text
As Naima finally made her way up the steps of the temple entrance, she was suddenly struck with a wave of nostalgia. She stopped briefly, only to appreciate the smooth stone walls of the stairway, the torches that always seemed to know when someone was coming. Throughout the years, she always ignored them in her rush to get to the real destination, which of course was inside. But now as she looked behind her, she realized it was very possible that it might be a long time before she walks through this entrance way again, if she would even be allowed to visit her home at all. The possibility that she might forget her childhood home began to stir up the doubts in her mind again.
'I will never forget my roots, no matter what.'
Although both her mind and her decision were already set, the fear of the unknown future still lurked surreptitiously in the back of her mind. But she already made her decision; she cannot go back on it now. With a determined mind, she pushed away her hesitation and forged ahead through the doorway, meeting the soft glow of the outdoors.
Somehow, it was already late afternoon. Where did the time go? As soon as she emerged from the entrance, she saw the three guards turn their heads to look at her in frustration and she realized they had likely been standing there, waiting for her for hours.
One of them glared at her.
"Are you finished yet…?" he asked, his voice heavy with irritation
'Oh shit…'
She completely lost track of time.
"Uhh… almost… sorry…" she mumbled sheepishly. "Give me a few more minutes…"
The guards continued to glare at her as she ran toward her house. She desperately hoped Zahra would be in there, there was no time to go looking for her.
She threw open the door.
"Zahra?!" she called out.
There were noises in the bedroom and Naima hurriedly peaked her head around to look. Thankfully, there sat Zahra, sitting on the bed and stuffing various things into a sack. Her face was strained with anger and she looked like she had been crying.
Naima softened.
"Zahra…." she said, looking at her sister gently.
Zahra briefly glanced at her, still silent, before she looked back down again despondently.
Naima sat down on the bed next to her.
"Tell me what's going on..." she said.
"Nothing…" Zahra mumbled, shifting her eyes away from her.
"..Please, talk to me…" Naima said.
Zahra pursed her lips.
"I'm just angry, Naima…" she burst out. "I don't understand why it had to be like this. All these secrets… all a bunch of horseshit. Everything could have been so much different."
Naima shook her head.
"I really don't think so Zahra. Even if we knew everything, what would we have done with it? The only reason we are welcome in the palace at this point is because Penthu needs someone to be his apprentice. But otherwise, if we knew, our whole lives would have been spent thinking about what could have been…"
"Maybe… I don't know… At least we would have known…" Zahra mumbled and glanced at Naima. "Maybe you're ok with all this Naima, but I'm not. I can't stand being lied to, and I feel like my whole life so far has been one big lie."
Naima's heart lurched. She felt that.
"I know you're angry, Zahra, and I understand how you feel. I can't say anything to make things different. But, Nafi really does love you… and he always had your best interests at heart." she said, putting her hand over Zahra's.
Zahra continued to stare at the floor. Finally, she nodded.
Naima smiled.
"Now, weren't you saying before about how you wanted to explore and go on adventures? Well, we're about to start a new adventure, possibly the greatest adventure of our lives." she said as she clutched Zahra's hand in her own.
"Are you ready?"
Zahra looked at her, her large reddish-brown eyes gleaming in the sunlight. At last, her face broke into a smile.
"Yeah…" she said as she pumped her fist. "Let's do this!"
The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon as they both finished packing and prepared their final exit from the house they lived in their entire lives. Naima took one last look.
This was it. Unlike her original plans, she couldn't simply just leave and come back home if it didn't work out, which meant she was finally leaving her childhood home and everything she knew, for good. It was a strange feeling and the thought of it felt almost foreign and unreal. She recalled how difficult it was for her to fathom parting ways with the village she knew and the home that had once been her mother's – one of the only physical reminders she had of her. But now, the sting was not so bad. Because now, she would be returning to the palace, her mother's true home.
Nafi had arrived and met them both by the house, followed by the three guards who still looked very irritated.
He stopped in front of both of them, a distant sadness in his eyes.
"My girls…" he said. "I can't believe it... This is all so sudden."
Naima stepped up first. They both hugged tight.
Next was Zahra. At first, she scoffed and crossed her arms, looking at him with derision. But then, she seemed to remember that she was leaving for good, and looked back up at him again with tears brimming in her eyes.
"Nafi…." she mumbled, and embraced him.
"Zahra, remember that you are loved.. always…" Nafi said to her.
They finally broke away and the angry stares they were getting from the guards indicated it was time for them to leave.
"Okay… Make me proud…Don't forget to send me a falcon once in a while…" Nafi said while Naima mounted her horse and Zahra climbed up behind her.
As they both called out their final goodbyes, the calvary of guards in front of her began to move and Naima caught one last glance at her home before turning her head forward. Finally, with the sun above them and the open desert ahead, they all broke into a full gallop.
"Whoa…" Zahra said as she lurched back. This was Zahra's first time on a horse and she struggled to balance herself. But after a few minutes, she appeared to be just fine holding on to Naima's waist.
"Woohoo!" Zahra cried out, her hair blowing in the wind. Naima looked back behind her with a grin.
"This is amazing, Naima!" Zahra said.
"I know!" Naima said.
One of the guards quickly turned around on his horse and shushed them.
"Do not attract attention to us." he chastised.
Zahra rolled her eyes.
"Oh whatever… " she mumbled under her breath.
Naima smiled to herself. As they made their way across the desert, she couldn't help but to ponder the future. Yes, there were still so many unknowns waiting for her ahead. But right now, she didn't care. This opportunity was everything she had been wanting and more. She was on her way to start a new adventure, a new beginning, and the thought of it electrified her senses. Finally, her life had a purpose.
The afternoon sun kissed her face, the wind whipped through her hair, and exhilaration raced through her body. Tonight, she was invincible.
-o0o-
At last, the skyline of Thebes appeared on the horizon. Naima glanced behind her and caught Zahra staring in awe at the bustling city before her, having never seen it before in her life. The enormous palace appeared into view as well, towering dauntingly over the city buildings before it.
"Naima, is this real life?" she muttered from behind.
"..I think so…" Naima said.
Zahra's reaction brought up memories of her own visit to Thebes when she was Zahra's age, somewhat fuzzy in her mind as they briefly flashed before her eyes.
As they walked through the city gates and headed toward the palace entrance, dusk was just beginning to settle in. They had made it just in time. Naima looked back at the desert they just crossed, now shrouded under the cover of darkness. But in front of her, the palace seemed to glow through the many torch-lit hallways that emitted a soft light, cutting through the dark of the night sky.
Upon arriving to the stable, Eliyah was there to greet them.
"This must be your sister." he said with a smile.
"Yes, this is Zahra." Naima said, gesturing to her sister who struggled to get off the horse, eventually resorting to falling on her behind.
"Ouch…" Zahra mumbled from the ground. "Didn't realize it was that hard."
Eliyah helped her up.
"Let's get you to where you're supposed to be." he said gently to Zahra.
After grabbing their things, they walked around the outside of the building to a secluded area, one large building connected to another smaller one.
"This here is our school… " Eliyah said gesturing to the large building.
"And the smaller building next door is the student dormitories."
He knocked on the door and a woman appeared. Her eyes quickly fixated on Zahra.
"Is this our new arrival?" she asked.
Zahra nodded and smiled confidently.
"Sure am." she said. Her eyes sparkled with zeal.
"Welcome." the woman said. "We've been expecting you. Come, let me show you to your room."
As Zahra stepped inside, she looked back at Naima in hesitation.
"You mean I won't be staying with you?" she asked, a hint of worry on her face.
"I guess not, Zahra." Naima said. "Don't worry. We can visit each other."
Zahra nodded, but still looked uncomfortable. The door closed, and Naima caught the last glimpse of her sister's nervous face. She quickly waved goodbye.
"She will be fine." Naima said with a smile. But her words betrayed the small but persistent knot of worry that suddenly materialized in her stomach. They were separated again.
"Indeed." said Eliyah. "Now, I'm sure you're tired. How was your trip home?"
"It was… memorable." Naima said as they walked inside the palace. "I will miss home very much."
"Yes, I know. But now, we will make a new home for you… here." he said, leading her down the maze of hallways again.
Naima smiled.
"Of course."
Upon reaching her room, she was thrilled to find the mess she left in the morning was gone. Blankets and sheets previously in a large pile now laid neatly atop the bed, the kohl and hair accessories that had laid scattered on her vanity table were now neatly organized in their respective areas.
Eliyah stood in the doorway.
"I've already prepared your bath so I will leave you for the night. But first, I must inform you." he said. "For your first day, Master Penthu expects you in the medical wing right at sunrise. Do not be late."
-o0o-
The next morning, Naima made sure to wake up while it was still dark. She got ready, putting on the outfit Eliyah had laid out for her the night before and attempted to put on kohl.
Her attempt looked… okay. Only okay.
Eliyah could fix this, but of course he was nowhere to be found.
'Whatever…' Naima thought to herself as she wiped off the excess powder with her fingers.
While walking up to the double doors, she felt butterflies in her stomach.
She knocked.
"Come in." she heard Penthu's voice echo from inside.
She opened the door and was met with the sight of a medium sized hall. There were beds lined up along the wall presumably where the sick were meant to stay. And off to the side was a separate smaller room seemingly filled to the brim with shelves of books, scrolls, and piles of strange looking medical instruments. In that room was Penthu, who was sitting at his desk with a reed pen in hand. The sound of soft scratching against papyrus permeated the air.
"You're late." he said flatly, without looking up.
Naima glanced at the windows on the far wall, a sliver of the orange sun now peeking over the horizon.
"…Sir?"
"Early is on time, on time is late." he declared and looked at her in a stern manner.
Naima attempted to hide the shock on her face.
"It is your first day, so I will not fault you. But from now on, you will join me here. Early. We will eat together." he said, gesturing to the breakfast of fruit and bread on his desk.
"We will review the work for the day, and then, we will see our patients."
She nodded.
"These," he said, gesturing to the dozens of books and scrolls on several shelves behind him. "I expect you to read and memorize… Starting with this one."
He grabbed a stack of scrolls from the shelf. Naima glanced at the title –
The Study of the Human Body
Penthu placed the set of scrolls in front of her before proceeding to reorganize his desk and shelves roughly.
He then continued on.
"This vocation is not for those who are lazy or those who are weak of heart. It is a life filled with study and sacrifice. But, the ability to healinjuries, to cure ailments, to connect with people... that is a feeling and reward that measures up to very few things in this world."
Naima felt anticipation grow inside her. She wasn't entirely sure what she got herself into, but she was excited to delve in nonetheless.
"Do you have any questions?" he asked, finally looking at her.
Naima shook her head.
"Good. Now... let's begin." he said.
-o0o-
Day after day, week after week, Naima slowly began to adjust to her new life. The routine itself was rather predictable – every morning, the sick would come to receive care and medicine, many being the old and frail who lived and worked in the palace, along with distinguished people from Thebes. In addition, there were some who traveled a great distance from all over Egypt to be healed under Penthu, and Naima understood why.
He was truly a master at his role and Naima felt both privileged, and slightly intimidated, to be his student.
But this all came at a cost. Throughout her time working under him, she truly came to understand what exhaustion felt like, both mentally and physically. She would arrive in the morning before sunrise, and usually left long after the sun set when she would then spend her spare time reading the mountain of books and scrolls she was told to read.
And if she didn't, she already knew she would be called out for it.
"What is the typical treatment of warts?" Penthu asked her one day.
"…A mixture of honey and pomegranate juice…" Naima said, recalling from her reading.
"For how long?"
Naima froze. She forgot.
"…Until the wart is gone?"
"Wrong. You are to continue treating the affected area three days after the wart has disappeared to ensure it does not come back. You would know that if you read page twenty-four more carefully." Penthu admonished.
"If you continue to waste my time with your stupidity, I'll have to double your training time."
Naima groaned internally.
Penthu was a strict teacher with extremely high standards, and it was clear that being under his guidance was not for the faint of heart. He was a difficult man with a sharp tongue and was certainly not shy about telling her when she was wrong or when her work was sub-par. In fact, his default reaction to her failures tended to err on the side of extremely rude.
The medicine for the sick was made by servants, but still had to be imbued with healing properties by someone skilled in healing magic. From Naima's very first day, she had attempted such magic under Penthu's guidance, but her final product still has yet to receive his official approval.
At some point in her training, Naima had sat crouched over the table for hours, practicing on several small bowls of pills meant for headache. One by one, Naima held out her palm and a golden cloud radiated downward and surrounded the pills. They sparkled as they received her energy. She looked closely at them, and thought they were satisfactory. But Penthu definitely didn't. He grabbed one pill, mashed it in between his fingertips, and then glared at her.
"You call this good?" he said. "How dare you insult me like this…"
He took the bowl and threw it across the room.
Or her personal favorite after another attempt –
"What the hell is this…I'll tell you, this is shit. Let me show you where this belongs..." he said as he took her latest batch and threw it into the chamber pot, bowl and all.
After weeks of this treatment, the question of why his previous apprentice left was always in the forefront of her mind. Normally, Naima would have some choice words for anyone who spoke to her the way he did. But early on, she decided to just hold her tongue and take it – not only because she was still getting a feel for her new environment, but also because deep down she could sense that in Penthu's own screwed up way, he just wanted her to learn and improve. Nevertheless, it didn't matter how strong her resolve was; The constant slog of always being wrong and being reamed for it continued to grind on her day after day. At times, she would leave on the verge of tears, holding it in just long enough for her to cry out her frustrations in the privacy of her own room.
Fortunately, the best part of this was that she actually found she was enjoying her work more and more everyday. And while it has been extremely difficult, Naima has learned more under his guidance than she ever thought she would learn in her entire life.
One of the more frequent visitors, who also became her favorite, was Shimon. He would come regularly for his medicine and check-ups. Naima always enjoyed his stories about his younger days, and how he would make jokes and lighthearted banter with her.
"You remind me a lot of your mother.. you know." Shimon said to her one day as Naima handed him his medication.
"I've heard that a lot lately…" she said with a smile.
"Well, that's because it's true! Back in the day, your mother was quite the fireball. Ohhh the arguments she would get into…. She would rip those old priests a new one…." he said.
Naima felt her whole body light up.
"You knew her?" She asked.
"Why of course, my girl… When you get old like me, you know everyone. She and I used to have a good old time together…" he chuckled as he looked out the window fondly.
"What else can you tell me about her?" Naima said quickly.
"Hmm... well –" Shimon began.
"Naima, a word please."
Somehow, Penthu appeared behind her, his sharp voice jolting both her and Shimon out of their pleasant conversation.
Naima briefly glanced at Shimon with a look of silent exasperation before she was forced to follow him to the other side of the hall.
"Some other time I guess..." Shimon said to her with a wink as she left.
Throughout the weeks, she slowly began to feel more comfortable honing her skills.
"Once you are done with your training, these daily tasks will be your responsibility." Penthu had said to her. "I have far too much to do to be burdened with these everyday things."
She was excited, and a bit nervous. But if someone like Penthu had faith in her, she must be more than capable.
She also finally understood why Penthu was so desperate for an apprentice. He was a busy man. Not only was he responsible for all the medical care in the palace, he was also personal physician to the Pharaoh, whose health has apparently been rapidly declining.
"He has a disease of the heart. His heart is failing, you see. I worked so hard to get his condition under control, he was doing so well… and then after that terrible day, he has never been the same. He was already weak, and all that stress has affected his heart all over again. Now he is in worse condition than ever." Penthu muttered to her while they were alone together one day.
He now had to carve out a few hours everyday to tend to the pharaoh's medical needs. That, combined with all his other responsibilities, was a lot for one person to handle.
Her nights away from the hospital were her only respite. Despite the never-ending mountain of books that stared at her expectantly on her tabletop, patiently waiting to be opened and perused, she found relief in the simple comforts that awaited her every night. Her bed was always made, her bath was always prepared for her and infused with perfume, her clothes for the next day always chosen with taste and elegance in mind and carefully laid out for her, and there was always a fresh lotus flower sitting in the glass bowl on her vanity, a small touch but one that Naima always looked forward to seeing. She doesn't see Eliyah as often as she would like, but he still makes his presence known in his small but thoughtful actions to make her days easier.
So on one particular night, after Penthu had yelled at her all day for how she examined a sick patient, all she wanted to do was sit down in silence and lay her head in her arms. His harsh words continued to echo in her mind – "I will not tolerate your stupid mistakes. At this rate, it will be a miracle if you didn't kill anyone. I expect better from you…"
With a heavy sigh, she sank into her vanity chair while she attempted to clear her mind.
"Hi Naima!"
Naima jumped, now ripped out of her thoughts. She quickly spun around. Standing behind the armchair in her bedroom was Zahra, a bright, mischievous look in her eyes.
"Zahra?! How did you get in here? How did you find me?" Naima asked incredulously, her heart still pounding out of her chest.
She smirked.
"Oh you know… I have my ways…" she mumbled.
Of course she would. Naima eyed her.
"What did you do?"
"I may have done some sneaking around…" she giggled.
Naima raised her eyebrows. "And?"
"I saw your servant walking around and decided to follow him." she said nonchalantly. "It wasn't that hard to find."
Naima gave her a stern look.
"Zahra, we're not back home anymore."
"Yeah, yeah I know…. But I miss you, Naima! I feel like I haven't seen you in a bazillion years!" she exclaimed as she walked up to her bed and hopped up on it.
"Oooh cozy… much better than what I have…"
Naima smiled. She hasn't seen Zahra in what felt like ages, ever since they had gone their separate ways. But looking at her sister's face now brought her a feeling of nostalgia. And that's when she realized that she had almost lost herself.
"How have you been?" Naima asked.
Zahra sighed heavily.
"Bad. I hate everyone at that school."
"Why?" Naima said, turning toward her.
"All my classmates are so snooty and mean, thinking they're better than me because they grew up rich. They always call me 'the Village Dog'... well, I told them they can shove all their fancy clothes up their ass. The girls in my dormitory are jerks and they all talk about me when I'm not there." Zahra said. Her face, usually so lively and spirited, was now cast in dejection.
"Those bitches are just jealous that my test scores are better than theirs… All they want to do is put on makeup and talk about boys. Pfft, I have better things to worry about. Like trying to beat out everyone in that class… Once I top everyone, I'll show them who the dog is…"
"I'm sorry Zahra…" Naima said.
She felt for her. This environment was all brand new, for both of them.
"Can I just stay here with you?" Zahra said while looking at her with big, desperate eyes.
Naima exhaled and shook her head.
"I don't think that will work, Zahra. Things are difficult now. But you cannot just run away from your problems."
Zahra's face fell. "Alright…" she said.
This behavior was unlike Zahra. As Naima noticed the gloom and frustration that darkened her face, she began to worry.
"Will you be alright there?" Naima asked gently. "Maybe I can speak to your teachers about this…"
Zahra looked down and began fumbling with the creases of the bedsheets.
"I'll be fine." she mumbled.
Naima got up from the chair and sat down on the bed next to her sister.
"You might never earn their respect, Zahra. All you can do is be true to yourself, so show them what you can do." Naima said with a smile.
"..Okay…" Zahra said quietly, still picking at the bedsheets absentmindedly.
"Will you visit me soon?"
Naima put her hand over Zahra's. "Of course. I have been so busy lately. But I will make time." she said.
She finally smiled.
"You should see me now, Naima. I wanna show you how much I've improved."
There it was. The spark in her eyes briefly flashed again.
"I don't doubt it…" Naima said.
Zahra left shortly after, and the room was empty again. But her heart wasn't.
The promise she made to herself weeks ago rang in her mind as she pulled out a piece of papyrus and a reed pen from her vanity drawer. And she began to do something she had been meaning to do for a long time.
Dear Nafi…
-o0o-
The next day, on a particularly busy morning, Naima sat with Penthu in his chamber in silence.
They were already finished seeing the sick this morning and Naima was busy reading while Penthu appeared to be engrossed in some project he was working on, the ink pen in his hand scratching away furiously.
There was a soft knock at the door.
"What is it now…" Penthu barked, his face still buried in whatever he was writing.
The door opened, and Aknadin's face appeared behind the door. Penthu looked up hastily.
"Ah yes, Aknadin. Our meeting, I completely forgot." he said.
Aknadin proceeded to let himself in.
"Naima, will you excuse us for a bit? You… you take a lunch or something. Come back later…" Penthu rambled dismissively as he cleared off his desk.
Naima stared at Penthu in slight surprise before standing up from her chair and glancing at Aknadin briefly. Aknadin looked at her like he did all the other times he looked at her– with complete derision. She wasn't sure exactly what she did to deserve this treatment, but as she got up and left the room, she decided she was getting tired of it.
She had a bit of free time now and the feeling of having nothing to do felt entirely strange. What now?
The first thing that popped into her mind was the mental image of the unsent letter she wrote last night, still sitting on her vanity. She should probably figure out where the falcons were kept…
After grabbing the letter, she ventured out into the maze once more, hoping there would be someone that she could ask… a servant perhaps… or a guard? But alas, there was not a soul around. As she wandered through the halls aimlessly, she rounded a corner and ended up facing a large court yard filled with people who seemed to be watching a spectacle. Naima moved in to get a better look, opting to stand behind a large pillar and watch from a distance.
In the middle of the action stood Seto and Atem, facing each other and shooting hostile glares at the other with disdain on their faces.
"Seto, you sadly do not understand what real power is if you believe it comes from hurting those around you…" Atem stated.
Priest Seto crossed his arms, a contemptuous smirk outlined on his face.
"Well, how naïve of me." he said. "Since the great Prince is so skilled in real power, why don't you come teach me something… with a duel."
Atem looked at him for a moment.
"Alright." he said.
"Are you going to summon your mighty black soldier Ka? I look forward to seeing him, and watching him get crushed by the sword of my Duos." Seto declared.
Atem closed his eyes. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
"I won't be using him."
"What…." Seto hissed. "No other monster can defeat my Ka…."
"Please, do not hold back." Atem said calmly.
They both moved to face each other head on.
"Duel!" they both shouted in unison.
Seto clenched his fists.
"I summon my Duos!" he cried out.
And a dark blue, winged monster erupted out of his body, releasing a low, feral growl. It took its place overtop Seto as it stared at Atem menacingly.
"For my Ka, I choose…. this one!" Atem declared.
Instantly, a stone slab raised up behind him and on its surface, lines began to etch themselves into the stone. A figure was being drawn.
Naima squinted her eyes and tried to make it out – a round ball… with large round eyes.
'Is that…. Khouri?'
Indeed, it was. His round, furry figure emerged from the tablet and he squealed his battle cry, glaring courageously at the monster in front of him who was three times his size.
"What is this…. Some kind of trick? You mock me?" Seto barked from across the courtyard.
Atem stood there in silence, his face expressionless as he watched Seto struggle to comprehend the battle in front of him.
After a moment, Seto's body tensed up, and he moved to attack.
"Duos, destroy the tablet!" he shouted.
His Duos lurched forward and its sword met the surface of the tablet, crushing it into small pieces.
"Your little pipsqueak is no more..." Seto sneered as he eyed the broken shards of stone.
"…Is that so?" Atem said, smirking. There was a confident gleam in his eye.
As the pieces of the stone tablet remained suspended in the air after the attack, they began to change. Hundreds, even thousands of pieces, no matter how small, began to take the likeness of Khouri's form.
"What is going on?" Seto cried out as a look of panic washed over his face.
"This Ka has a special ability, the ability to multiply whenever the stone slab that houses it is broken. Now…. Surround his Duos!" Atem cried out.
Thousands of furry figures suddenly materialized from the stone pieces and completely surrounded Seto's Ka, now rendered useless.
"Now Seto… do you see what real power is? One must understand the strengths and weaknesses of each creature and show respect for its abilities... If you do not think first and instead rely on the strength of your creatures to win, you will lose every time." Atem declared.
Seto was silent as he called back his Ka and it disappeared above him. He then sauntered off without a word as Atem stared after him pensively. The majority of the crowd dispersed, with the exception of Mahad and the other members of the court who stayed back to congratulate him on his victory.
As Naima stood behind the pillar still watching silently from afar, desire burned in the pit of her soul. She wanted to learn to duel. And she decided that somehow, she would find a way to learn. While her mind continued to spin with pictures of the battle that just transpired, an image flashed before her – a picture of herself standing proud, her Ka sitting above her.
She froze internally. The more she tried to force the image out of her mind, the more it became ingrained into her vision, until eventually she found herself face to face once again with the infernal creature that somehow resided deep within her soul, and she stared into its dark, slit-like eyes.
It glared back at her, expressionless, without a trace of emotion. Naima felt herself begin to recoil… until she stopped, an unexpected emotion welling up inside of her body.
Anger.
How dare this creature exert so much power over her. Appearing in her dreams, controlling her body… her thoughts. Newfound rage surged through her like a wildfire.
'You may reside in me, but you aren't me, and you do not control me …' she thought to herself as she glared back at her creature in disgust. It was silent, as she expected. And while she continued to stare at the dark figure in front of her that mirrored her every move, right down to her facial expression, she realized that it was as if she was afraid of her own shadow.
That was when she decided, she was done living in fear. She was ready to take control.
Author's note:
-Headcanon-esque musing (feel free to ignore) + some background info: According to canon, Pharaoh Aknamkanon became "ill" after hearing about the true origins of the Millennium Items. To me, this can be (loosely) explained by a real-life condition called Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy or "Broken Heart Syndrome", which is a form of short-term heart failure brought on by severe emotional or physical stress (abuse, assault, grief, etc.). Most people who develop this condition make a full recovery. However, a percentage of people can develop chronic heart failure (and other heart issues) as a consequence of this… and in Chapter 15, we saw Pharaoh Aknamkanon exhibit multiple signs of heart failure exacerbation brought on by the stress of the events of that day.
Chapter 18: Arrival
Chapter Text
"Back again, Shimon?" Naima asked as she peaked her head out from behind Penthu's office door and peered at the short, grey-haired man who just walked inside the hospital wing.
"Oh yes my girl, my back is acting up again. These old bones just aren't what they used to be." he said as he took a seat. "But whatever you gave me last time really did the trick."
Naima smiled. It was another typical day in the palace hospital. As she went to grab medicine to imbue, a flash of light caught her eye and drew her attention to the large gold band that he was wearing on his wrist – one that everyone always seemed to be wearing but no one has ever offered an explanation for.
"Shimon, what is that thing you're wearing?" she asked while doling out pills into a small bowl.
"This?" he said as he lifted his arm up to admire it. "It's called a diadhank. I'm sure by now you've seen what it can do."
"Diadhank…" Naima muttered to herself while she worked. "How do you get one?"
"Well…" Shimon said, scratching his chin. "You cannot find them. They were specially made by our very own Priest Seto, for the Pharaoh and the court."
Naima's face fell. "Oh…okay."
He seemed to sense her despondence. "Why the long face? You have an interest in dueling?"
Naima smiled at him.
"Absolutely. Ever since I witnessed it for the first time…"
Shimon's face lit up.
"Ah, you should have said so! What do you think keeps the enemies of Egypt in fear and the criminals in check? Of course our Millennium items, but also the fear of our mighty Ka, a great and powerful tool, one that must be used responsibly. The dueling skills of the Pharaoh, the Prince and the court are unmatched." he said proudly. "And who do you think they all learned from?"
He jumped up from the chair in enthusiasm and pointed at his chest.
"You're looking at the one who taught everyone here all about dueling, about mastering one's Ka, and about respect for the spirits they control." he said as he puffed out his chest with pride. But this seemed to be a bit too much as he immediately recoiled and placed his hands on his back.
"Ow….no…. not again…." he whimpered.
"Here… careful… " Naima said, putting his hand around his shoulder and supporting him as he gently sat back down in his chair. She then placed a hand on his lower back and concentrated her own healing energy into her fingertips.
"Thank you, Naima." he said, sighing in relief.
He then looked at her.
"You know, I believe we have some extra diadhanks lying around. I'm sure no one would notice if one went missing." he said with a wink.
"You don't think anyone would mind?" she asked.
"No one has to know… it will be our little secret…" he said.
Naima grinned. "You're the best, Shimon!"
"It is the least I can do. You always fix up my back really nicely, until I go and ruin it again…" he mumbled.
Naima smiled to herself as she finished imbuing his medicine. But since she was still in training, there was one more step – Penthu's approval. She grabbed her finished product, excused herself and took the short yet nerve-wracking walk toward Penthu's office.
-o0o-
"Hmmm…."
Penthu was at it again. Staring at the batch of medicine she just imbued and scrutinizing it meticulously. He did what he always did – stared at it, smelled it, smushed it between his fingers… After watching him do this to her work for weeks, she already knew the drill and was fully prepared for the inevitable biting comment that always followed.
The worst part wasn't failure or even the insults, it was the silent expectancy that hung in the air while he examined her work, always hoping for success… but disappointment seemed to follow every time. After he was finished with his inspection, Penthu looked up at her and paused.
"This is…okay." he said.
Naima almost fell out of her chair.
"…What?" she said
"What you have done here is passable. This is the kind of work I expect of you from now on." he said, passing the bowl toward her.
Naima's jaw dropped. She sat back in the chair incredulously.
"Don't get a big head." he declared, looking at her in an exacting manner. "You still have much to learn. If you stay under my guidance… you could even replace me one day."
"…Replace you?" Naima asked.
This was news to her.
"You think I can work like this forever? I need to retire. At my age, it's getting to be too much." he said and sighed heavily in frustration.
"This process should have happened a long time ago. Seto was supposed to be finding me a new apprentice since last year. I figured since he graduated with top honors from that magic academy of ours, he would be familiar with what comes out of it… You would think there would be plenty to choose from, given all that talent in one place…"
He scoffed.
"But sadly, there is nothing. Kids these days… not willing to put in the work.. always wanting something for nothing. I had to resort to finding someone in Memphis… I hate that city. Disgusting place. After he disappeared I had almost completely given up hope…Until you came along. It was surely a work of the Gods…"
She glanced around Penthu's large but messy, windowless office. Each wall was piled to the top with scrolls and books. Various medical instruments were casually scattered throughout, seemingly placed in any spot where there was space. Naima also couldn't help but notice the permanent hunch in his back, likely from spending many hours bent over reading and writing.
Would this be her future life?
"I do believe that now, you are ready to handle hospital duties by yourself." he said. "And as promised, your payment."
He opened a drawer and reached in, pulling out a small gold coin.
Naima's heart leapt as she accepted it into her hand, the coin twinkling under the light of the torches. She stared at it lovingly as it sat in her palm, her smile practically glued onto her face.
"Now, I have business to attend to in Thebes this afternoon, which means you will be in charge." Penthu said as he stood up from his desk. "It should not be busy tonight."
She watched as he quickly grabbed his things, bid her a brief goodbye and left. Through Penthu's open office door, she saw Shimon still continuing to wait patiently.
"Success, I presume?" he asked as Naima walked back toward him.
Naima nodded proudly. "He said that I'm officially done with training."
"Or so you think! Because your training with me starts tonight." Shimon said as he stood up from his chair to leave.
"When the moon is high, meet me at the Shrine of Wedju."
With those parting instructions, he left shortly afterward.
And now, Naima stared out into a completely empty hall, all alone. It was silent and a bit eerie, now able to hear each creak and bump clearly echoing throughout the large room. She returned to Penthu's office, the full realization dawning on her that this would be her first time entirely on her own, for better or worse. Fortunately, there were no patients to see, and Naima secretly hoped it would stay like that.
Now what should she do? She was required to stay until sunset, but there was nothing to do. In the corner of her eye, the books in Penthu's office were calling her name. The mere sight of them was enough for guilt to spark in her mind, telling her that she should be studying. Always and forever.
But she took a seat at Nafi's desk, deliberately ignoring the books' silent but belligerent nagging. The flames of the torches above her flickered soothingly and mid-afternoon sun streamed in from the windows, heating up the air in the room and making her feel very lazy. Her eyelids began to droop and she decided to indulge herself by laying her head down onto his desk.
And then she closed her eyes…
'Only for a minute….'
-o0o-
The door burst open. Naima's mind jolted and she immediately shot upward from Penthu's desk.
Noise.
Footsteps.
Shouting.
Something was going on.
She hurriedly stood up and ran to the doorway of the office, still bleary eyed and half asleep, knocking over several things in the process.
"Place her on a bed." Seto's voice boomed throughout the hall.
A group of guards quickly marched into the hall carrying a woman in their arms, closely followed behind by Seto. They gently laid her on one of the beds in the hall.
Naima stood to the side a small distance away and looked at the woman carefully. She appeared unconscious and badly beaten, covered in dirt, bruises and cuts.
Seto finally noticed her, and his eyes narrowed.
"Where is Penthu?"
"He left for the evening. I am in charge tonight." Naima said.
Seto stood there staring down at her in silent scrutiny. He then turned back toward the woman. The look in his eyes was a strangely intense mixture of ire and confusion, carefully masked by his rigid facial expression.
"What happened to her?" Naima asked.
He ignored her question, instead opting to watch carefully as the guards laid a blanket on top of her.
"Who is she?" Naima asked again.
His head shot to the side and he glared at her.
"That is none of your concern." he barked. "Do your job and take care of her."
Seto's sharp retort left her wondering why she even tried to talk to him in the first place. She turned around in a poor attempt to hide her hard eye roll and headed toward the woman.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him turn around sharply and stride toward the door, making a hasty and silent exit.
Naima stared after him. Such strange behavior, even for him.
She turned toward the guards.
"What happened?"
"Priest Seto found her in the streets of Thebes. She is a foreigner. A crowd of people were throwing rocks at her and calling her a witch." one guard said. "She is now a prisoner of the palace."
"…Why would this girl be a prisoner?" Naima asked.
Both guards looked at each other.
"She is a menace to society. Her Ka is one of the strongest that Priest Seto has ever seen, rivaling that of a God.. and it takes the form of a white dragon. It has attacked others before."
Naima glanced down at the girl and studied her. Her gentle face was framed by a river of long white hair that flowed down to her body which was dressed in rags. How on earth could this girl be considered a menace? Something about this situation touched her in her core. It now felt personal.
Naima took her place next to the bed and looked over at the guards.
"Please, leave us."
"Priest Seto ordered us to stay and watch her." one of them retorted.
"I must undress her so I can know the extent of her wounds. It is not appropriate for you to witness this." Naima said.
Both guards shifted in their stances uncomfortably but stayed in their places, neither side willing to back down.
Naima glared at them.
"Leave."
"We cannot allow her out of our sight." one shouted back at her.
"Then go somewhere else at least.. and give us some privacy, instead of just standing here." Naima snapped.
They both looked at each other and rolled their eyes before they finally moved away from the girl, proceeding to make their way across the hall and park themselves in a separate area.
With a sigh, Naima took a seat next to the woman and got to work. She removed the girl's clothing, revealing gashes of all sizes all over her bruised torso. Her hands were covered in purple welts and were swollen, indicating she tried to use her hands to shield herself… to no avail. Her final inspection yielded a broken finger, broken arm, several broken ribs, and numerous lacerations.
And so began the healing process. As the sun slowly descended in the sky, the glow from the window turned from golden to dark orange, to finally dark blue as Naima sat bent over the bed for hours, meticulously mending the shattered bones and cuts on her body. It disturbed her to think that every single wound that she healed was created out of fear. But moreover, she couldn't stop thinking about the very unusual set of events that were currently unfolding before her eyes. The fact that this girl, a supposed prisoner, has been given such a high level of protection and care, along with the troubled look in Seto's eyes…. almost as if he was fighting an internal battle when he looked at the girl. This was all quite bizarre.
By the time she was finished, her mind was practically numb. She stood up from her chair and she noticed the girl who had been peacefully sleeping this entire time begin to stir. The girl opened her eyes and Naima was met with a sea of gentle blue.
Naima reached for her hand, holding it in her own gently.
"You were injured and now you're in the palace.. I took care of you." Naima said to her softly.
The girl was weak, and she continued to stare up at her with feeble eyes.
"What's your name?" Naima asked.
"…..Kisara." the girl murmured.
"My name is Naima. Here, drink this." Naima said as she grabbed a bowl of water and offered it to Kisara.
She accepted it. After drinking, she sighed heavily and closed her eyes again, falling back into a deep sleep.
Naima carefully placed blankets over her body, stood up and looked around. Eliyah, who had appeared mid-way through to help her, stood near the bed. The guards from earlier still sat at the other end of the hall with their backs to her, clearly bored.
"I am finished." Naima announced.
She then looked at Eliyah. "I have to leave. I trust you to watch over her."
He nodded. "Yes, Naima."
-o0o-
She realized her exit was rather hasty, but the sun had already set and she didn't want to be late. As she hurriedly threw her cloak over her body and exited her bedroom, she glanced back toward the double doors of the hospital wing and pushed away the twinge of guilt she always felt when she left work.
'Kisara will be fine…She has Eliyah watching over her.' Naima thought to herself as she made her way out of the hospital wing. Although the sky was already dark, the night was still young, a gibbous moon still hanging close to the hilltops in the near distance.
"Shrine of Wedju…" she muttered to herself as she traversed the halls. Navigation was not one of her strengths. But somehow, miraculously, she ended up outside around the perimeter of the palace. Several pyramid formations faced the main palace building in the distance, what she presumed to be part of the Shrine. Directly adjacent to her appeared to be some sort of fenced-in garden that was well-kept, with more greenery than what would be expected in a desert. However, outside the fence was the typical barren desert landscape, dotted with rocks and dead bushes.
Naima stared up at the night sky, a swirl of deep blue and amethyst. She was early still. While she waited, she held out her palm and absentmindedly formed a lightning ball in her hand, now appreciative of the fact that she had not practiced this magic in what felt like ages. The electrical energy in her palm was comforting and familiar, like an old friend. She took aim, shooting it toward a large, dead bush a small distance away.
The amount of satisfaction this gave her was unexpected, and Naima watched in contentment as the bush ignited into a scorching blaze. She wanted to do it again, but there were no other bushes near her. There was, however, a lone cloud in the sky. Could she reach it? The challenge was tempting.
She looked up and shot her arms upward, heaving her electricity as far as it could travel. The large bolt discharged from her palm and briefly touched the cloud. But one touch was all that was needed for lightning to zip through it like dozens of thin, white-colored snakes, and for a brief moment, the night sky was lit up like the day.
"Very impressive," a familiar voice declared behind her.
Naima whipped her head around only to find Atem standing behind her, watching her in the garden.
"I didn't see you there…" Naima said sheepishly. Atem gave her a small smile and passed through the fence to walk up next to her.
"Your skills have grown immensely." he said as he looked at the burning bush in front of them. "Nafi should be proud."
Naima looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you."
She then looked at him inquisitively. "What are you doing out here at this time?"
He took his eyes off the bush to look back at her with an amused expression.
"I should ask you the same question."
Naima paused, unsure of what she should say. "I am meeting Shimon tonight at the Shrine of Wedju." she said.
Silence ensued, and Atem looked at her curiously. She could tell that he was waiting for her to elaborate. But, it took everything in her to stay silent as Shimon's words repeated in her head- 'It will be our secret…'
The resultant pause was awkward enough to make Naima's toes curl inside of her shoes.
Thankfully, Atem eventually moved his gaze outward toward the night sky above them.
"I haven't seen you around here in a while." he remarked.
She sighed ruefully and let out a soft laugh. "I don't think Penthu believes in the concept of free time." she said.
Atem smiled. "He certainly works hard. He seems very happy to have you with him."
"And I am happy to be here." Naima said. She then glanced up at him.
"I wanted to thank you again for helping me get this opportunity, and for allowing Zahra to attend school. This has changed the trajectory of both of our lives."
"You're welcome. I only wanted to make things right." he said quietly as he fixed his eyes on the burning bush, now beginning to form a rather large pile of coals on the ground.
"It is crazy to think that my life would have been totally different." she mumbled, smiling to herself and appreciating the way the flames danced in front of her. "Nafi tried so hard to marry me off. But I said no…"
Atem looked over at her again.
"If I had left it up to him, I would have been married a while ago, spending every day on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor for some man I only met twice." she said. "Training with Penthu has been difficult, but for me it is better this way."
Atem appeared pensive as he listened to her.
"I believe you and I are similar in that regard." he said after a moment.
Naima glanced over at him.
"By now, I would have already been forced to marry someone within my bloodline. But, there is nobody, only my father and I are left." he said. "Because of this, he has stated in the past that he will allow me to choose."
"And… have you chosen?" Naima asked.
"No." he said.
"Why not?"
Atem looked outward, his expression still contemplative.
"Naima, you will come to know that this life does not allow for many genuine relationships." he said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Especially in my position, it is hard to know who is truly your friend."
"That must be difficult." Naima said quietly.
"Yes. But this means that the friends I do have are very dear to me." he said.
Naima looked up at him only to find him now smiling down at her.
"Naima, I'm very happy that you have chosen to stay here." he said softly but with conviction, as he looked at her in earnest… with so much warmth in his eyes.
The way he looked at her made her want to melt into a large puddle right then and there. She knew that she was currently wading in dangerous territory, but she didn't care. The air between them was now filled with unspoken words that had no business being articulated. And amidst the deafening silence that hung between them, Naima knew that their admiration for the other was mutual.
She studied his face at the same time as he studied hers. With age, his features have changed to more closely reflect his level of importance and responsibility. But if she looked hard enough, she could still see traces of the young teen that had once shared in her own juvenile, teenage desires to rebel against the unfairness of life. The same teen who helped her discover a different side of herself – playful, vivacious, and adventurous – that had been previously locked away by years of self-imposed discipline, the result of having to grow up too fast. The more she looked at him, the more she felt herself open up once again.
She broke eye contact, instead opting to stare at what remained of the large bush, now a smoldering pile of coals.
"And what if I had chosen not to stay?" she asked him quietly, but with a slight hint of mischief in her small smile. She couldn't help herself.
"I suppose I would just continue to wonder what you're doing." he said, his steady gaze still directed at her.
She then glanced back at him.
"Well, now you don't have to," she said as she closed her eyes, throwing her head up to meet the breeze. Her hair rustled in the wind
"The Gods have decided that they want you to know what I'm doing."
Atem smiled.
"And why would the Gods decide that?"
Naima turned her head to grin at him.
"You tell me, you're the one wondering…" she said.
He looked caught off guard and smiled sheepishly before his eyes returned downward to the mound of ashes on the ground.
"I don't think you ever answered my question." Naima said after a moment.
He glanced at her. "What was it?" he asked.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"Sometimes I like to come here to think," he said. "It is quiet and secluded."
"Excuse me, My Prince… Miss Naima.." a female voice called out from across the courtyard.
Both Naima and Atem turned around. There was a servant girl standing in the doorway, her hands clasped together in the front of her body.
"I was sent by Master Shimon to inform Miss Naima that he is ready for her."
Naima sighed and looked up at the moon that was now high and bright in the sky. She glanced at Atem.
"I will leave you to your thoughts…" she said softly.
And as she turned her body to leave, she gently tilted her head toward him in a small bow of formality. "My prince…"
She caught his eye coyly, managing to steal a glimpse of his wide-open eyes that watched her intently as she sauntered away from him, his face and body that never turned away from her figure, and she smiled to herself as she saw him in the corner of her eye continuing to gaze after her while she departed from his line of sight.
-o0o-
"There you are…" Shimon said with a smile as Naima walked up to him, led by the servant girl from earlier.
He stood in front of the entrance of one of the large, pyramid shaped shrines.
"Sorry I'm late." Naima said guiltily, attempting to suppress her giddiness from her latest encounter. But to no avail, she glowed on the inside.
"Not to worry, we have plenty of time." he said. They both walked inside and Naima was immediately blown away. Each wall was covered from top to bottom in stone slabs, their surfaces decorated by carvings of all sorts of creatures imaginable.
"What is all of this, Shimon?" she asked.
"These are all Ka that I have collected over the years." he said. He then walked up to a nearby shelf, grabbed a diadhank and gave it to her.
Naima eyed the golden band that now sat in her hands. She had been waiting for this moment for so long, but now that it was here, she felt a bit of hesitation.
"As you already know and have even done yourself, one can call forth their own Ka without the help of a diadhank. This can be done through many, many years of training, or in the right circumstances. But using this ingenious device makes it much easier to call upon your own Ka, as well as others that are available to you." he said.
Naima secured the diadhank around her wrist and it immediately shot outward, a strange euphoric feeling now rushing through her body.
"Yes, very good." Shimon said. He then walked to the other side of the shrine and faced her. "We are ready to start."
"Which Ka should I use?" she asked him as she looked around, admiring the many stone slabs once again.
"… Which one? Naima, you must master your own before you even think about using another Ka." he said.
She was afraid he would say that. As she stared at the gold band on her left wrist, the mental image of her Ka appeared in her mind and she felt herself darken inside.
"Now, you must concentrate." he said.
She sighed. It was now or never. She closed her eyes and focused on her Ka, feeling the gush of euphoric energy flow through her once more.
A small gust of air, then a burst inside of her, and Naima opened her eyes again. There it was, her Ka in the flesh. It hovered above her and faced outward toward Shimon, a throaty, guttural snarl spouting from its lipless mouth. But Naima really didn't even need to open her eyes, because she could see and hear everything that was going on in her mind through the eyes and ears of her Ka, as if she had two minds. Their link to the other was strong and intuitive, a mystical thread forming their subliminal connection. Like the strings of a puppet, or a reflection in a mirror, their movements and their thoughts were one in the same.
"Good work." Shimon said. "Now, I will summon my own Koumori Dragon to the field."
One of the tablets on the wall began to glow, and a purple dragon appeared in front of Shimon. It growled at her, slobber dribbling from its mouth.
Pathetic. She could tear that thing into pieces. One shock would be enough to set that creature ablaze.
She felt herself harness the massive amount of electricity inside of her, and she wanted nothing more than to annihilate the creature that dared to test her power.
'No…Stop…'
"Control yourself, Naima." she heard Shimon's voice. But his words sounded distant in her mind.
She watched as the dragon licked its lips in front of her, smiling, taunting her.
Kill it. Rip it to shreds and watch it burn. And once that ridiculous creature is dead… kill the man too…
Electricity formed from deep inside of her bones, filling her core, gathering in her chest, her hands. All she wanted to see was the blank, hollow stare of death.
'STOP THIS...'
That was it. Naima felt the link in her mind sever as her concentration broke.
"No no no NO NO!" Naima screamed, clutching her head and falling to her knees. She hurriedly ripped the band off her wrist and threw it to the side of her, panting as she clutched her knees to her chest. The diadhank slid on the floor to the far wall.
"No more..." she whimpered as tears of distress formed in her throat.
Shimon called back his Ka and walked toward her, placing his hand on her shoulder gently
"What happened?" he asked.
She closed her eyes. "All it wants to do is kill… It wanted to kill your dragon, and then it was going to kill you..."
"Ah yes, that does not surprise me. Your Ka is a dark type. Very dark, but very powerful." he said.
"I cannot allow this thing to be released again. Who knows what it will do next…" she said.
"Naima, whether you like it or not, it is a part of you. You can choose to fight it, or you can learn to understand it, and use its powers to your advantage." he said.
"How can I control it when it has its own mind? Its own thoughts?" she cried out in exasperation.
"Are you sure that it is a totally separate entity?" Shimon said. "Or is it an extension of you? Remember…"
She paused. She wanted it to be separate, but she already knew the answer.
"If it is an extension of me, then you're saying those thoughts are actually mine?" she asked quietly.
Shimon cocked his head slightly to the side, looking at her gently but firmly.
"They originate from the same place, a place of darkness. Your own darkness." he said.
"But how… How?! Why?! I am a healer, Shimon, the exact opposite of a killer." she said in exasperation.
"It is not for me to know why the Gods have gifted you with this particular Ka, only that this not the curse you believe it to be… quite the opposite, in fact." Shimon said.
"Do not shy away from the darkness, Naima. Clearly, it is in your core, so embrace it. It will only serve to make you stronger."
Naima stared at her diadhank that was now sitting idly on the floor up against a wall.
"If this is too much for you, we do not have to continue." Shimon said.
She continued to stare at the golden band as Shimon's words echoed in her mind.
"No. You're right." she said. "I want to continue. I need to."
"That's the spirit." Shimon said with a smile. "Next time, we will pick up where we left off."
Chapter 19: Return: Part I
Chapter Text
"Naima…" Penthu growled. "I am getting tired of these guards in my hospital…. Ridiculous. This is a place of healing, not a prison."
A few days had passed since Kisara first arrived in the hospital wing, but it didn't appear that she would be leaving anytime soon. She would only wake for a few minutes at a time, at which Naima would offer her water or food, before she would fall back into a deep slumber once more. She was not ready to leave the hospital, which meant that the guards were here to stay, for now.
Naima shrugged.
"Blame Seto. I wanted them to leave too, but they won't."
"I must have a talk with him about this. They are scaring the patients. This is not a good look for us at all." he said.
'Like that would go anywhere…' she thought to herself.
Whoever this girl was, Seto seemed adamant to make sure she stayed put. Naima glanced at her from Penthu's office, still sleeping peacefully as two guards stood motionless around her bed.
Next to her, Penthu looked at the sundial by the window and proceeded to let out a listless sigh.
"And now it is time for the Pharaoh's treatment." he muttered.
"How is he doing?" Naima asked.
Penthu shook his head.
"It is not looking good for him… I am doing everything I can, Naima. But, I am not a God. No matter what I do, if Osiris decides it is time, then it is time."
The Pharaoh's treatments have gotten progressively longer and more involved over the last few weeks, so at least for tonight, Naima knew this meant she was in charge again. As he gathered what he needed and left, Naima mentally prepared herself for another afternoon of full responsibility.
Fortunately, it went quick, and she soon found herself watching the slow setting of the sun from the large window, its rays teasing across the edges of the stone columns in the hall. While she sat in Penthu's office, she stared at what remained of the sun in the evening sky, begging it to hurry as she counted the minutes until she could leave.
A little bit more, and she was in the clear. Or so she thought.
Out of nowhere, there was a loud bang and a creak as the door of the hall opened, and Naima's heart sank. Of course, the person who strode in this late in the evening was none other than Priest Seto.
He stood in front of Kisara's bed, crossed his arms, and glared at the two guards around her who somehow knew to leave immediately, scampering out of the hall. Seto then walked closer to Kisara and stood close to her at the side of her bed. The entire time that Naima has cared for her, Kisara would not wake for anyone. But somehow, Seto's presence caused her to stir, and she opened her eyes.
Naima continued to watch carefully from the office. Although Seto had his back turned toward her, Naima could see Kisara's face clearly as they both looked at each other. Naima was fully expecting to see fear, or perhaps uneasiness on the girl's face. But instead, Naima stared onward in surprise as she beheld the warm, relaxed look in Kisara's eyes.
"Seto…." Kisara mumbled softly, lifting her arm gently toward Seto's hand.
Seto stared down at Kisara's fingers as they reached toward him and touched his hand briefly. A gentle smile graced her face, before she proceeded to fall back into a deep slumber.
He continued to stand there for a moment in silence. Then, he turned around, finally noticing Naima peering curiously at both of them from the office. With an icy glare, he quickly marched passed her and left.
What in the world did she just witness? Naima had no idea… and perhaps it was best for her to not know. As the night took hold at last, she snuffed out the torches and decided to leave quickly while she had the chance, before more strange things happened.
"I am leaving for the night. You know where to find me." she said to the night servant who watched over the hospital ward while she and Penthu slept.
"Yes, Miss Naima." he said.
-o0o-
She realized her exit was rather hasty, but she felt an edge coming on, the result of too many hours spent in the same place. But even though she was tired, the thought of returning to her bedroom wasn't the soothing retreat that she craved. It wasn't that she disliked anything in particular about her new abode, it was simply the fact that every time she looked down the hall after exiting the hospital wing, it began to feel more like a box, becoming smaller and smaller every time she walked the twenty-three steps it took her to get from the double doors to her bedroom.
'Five.. six.. seven…'
The mental fog began to descend, her mind now becoming hazy. And then, there it was. An obnoxious, dull throbbing in the front of her head, announcing itself, demanding to be addressed. The only thing that kept her from marching back into the hospital wing was the fact that she would be the one that would have to produce her own cure. She decided she would just deal with it and if her head exploded, then so be it.
'Thirteen.. fourteen.. fifteen…'
Kisara…. Who was this girl anyways? She had never seen Seto act like that with anyone… –
And again she realized she was thinking about work. For her own sanity, she decided that work-related thoughts were now forbidden.
'Twenty-two… twenty-three…'
She stopped in front of her door, sighed, and pushed it open reluctantly. The familiar sight of her neatly made bed was a welcoming scene, but did not appeal to her. A thin shadow skipped across the far wall, and she glanced behind her shoulder at the hallway window that faced her doorway, one that she had been looking out for the past several weeks. From the inside, of course. The outline of a desert palm danced across the window's edge, the deep green hue of its leaves hidden by the dark of the night.
Green. An unusual color in this arid land, one that Naima considered herself lucky to have been able to enjoy through the years. The memories of the countless hours she spent in the marsh near her village and all the times she came home wet, muddy and sunburnt were something she looked back on fondly, and she suddenly felt a pang of homesickness.
She closed the door of her bedroom half-heartedly. Her room was dark, but Naima didn't feel like lighting a torch. Instead, she opted to sit in her armchair in the darkness, glancing around at her area and briefly eyeing the mountain of books piled on her vanity before she turned away, the sight of them making her physically ill. Her eyes darted elsewhere, now focusing on the rays of the moonlight that freely streamed into her bedroom window. Although there was no lit torch in her bedroom, she did not need it.
Naima stood up from the chair and opened the window. Immediately, the night breeze surrounded her, filling her nostrils with the fresh musky odor of the outdoors.
How she missed this. Being inside for so long was a difficult adjustment and at that moment, the call of the wild echoed strong and fierce in her mind. But then, she hesitated. Was it not last week that Mahad had announced stricter security measures around the palace? Walking around at night was probably not the smartest idea.
While she was occupied by her thoughts, she noticed something scurry across the floor in her periphery. The tiny, black figure paused briefly and Naima squinted her eyes. When she finally realized what it was, she let out a small screech.
A cockroach.
'Ugh.'
She quickly zapped it with a small spark from her index finger and watched it shrivel up and die on the floor right in front of her.
'That's it… I need to get out of here…'
She stood up quickly, grabbed her cloak and threw open the door.
-o0o-
Why was it so hard to figure out where anything was? She swore she had just passed the exact same statue three times before. All she wanted to do was go outside and for some reason, it was harder than it needed to be. But how nice it felt to finally leave her box and explore the palace on her own. Maybe Zahra had it right.
Zahra. She had promised to visit her, and now felt like the worst sister in the world. That's what she would do tonight – she would go outside to find Zahra's school and visit her… if she could find it.
As she rounded a corner absentmindedly, it didn't even occur to her to look before she walked. If she had been watching, she could have avoided a collision. But it was already too late, and she felt her body crash headlong into someone else.
"Shit…" she exclaimed in surprise. As she looked up, her heart skipped a beat. Standing in front of her was none other than Atem.
"Naima?" he said.
"Oh Ra … sorry… I wasn't paying attention…" Naima mumbled awkwardly.
He glanced down at what she was wearing.
"It's late.. Where are you going?" he asked.
Naima froze. Her lip quivered as she tried to come up with something on the fly.
"You know…. around…" she stammered.
In her haste to leave, she had forgotten to consider the fact that other people might see her in her grand escape. And also that other people might ask very reasonable questions of her, such as 'Where are you going?' and 'What are you doing roaming around the palace late at night?'... to which she had no reasonable answer.
Atem's response of pure silence and a blank stare was all the indication she needed to be reminded that she is a terrible liar.
Naima sighed, and she smiled at him in good-humor.
"Alright..." she said. "I couldn't stand another minute locked up inside that hall. I just wanted to go outside, that's all. I know it's not a good idea to be wandering around by myself. I guess I'll be going back…"
She clutched her cloak and turned slightly to leave, but not before briefly glancing at Atem to see his reaction. She had been fully expecting him to nod in agreement, perhaps with a comment about how important it was to be cautious at this time.
But instead, he looked at her with a slight smile on his face.
"Wait…" he said to her.
And with that, Naima knew that returning to her room was not the plan for her tonight.
-o0o-
Naima had already grown used to the feeling of having no idea where she was or what was going on, realizing long ago that palace life was a universe entirely of its own. She was now accustomed to people leading her around, already knowing that she wouldn't have the faintest clue of how to find her way back by herself.
This was no exception.
So when Atem told her to follow him, she reverted to what she always did – follow while trying to make a mental map in her mind, only to realize that there were still so many parts of the palace that she hadn't been to. At this point, the halls all looked the same with their tall and wide stone walls embellished in gold and curtains made of fine cloth, occasionally accented with stone pillars or statues. The hall they both walked down looked no different, except when they finally reached a door, Naima noticed that there was a guard standing outside who bowed his head upon seeing him.
Atem seemed to think nothing of it, giving the guard a soft nod of acknowledgement before opening the door. The area they walked into was unlit but not dark, thanks to the moonlight that poured into the room from the enormous windows that lined the far wall. In fact, everything about the room they were in was enormous, from the tall ceilings to the large bed. The translucent sheets that hung from the bed canopy shimmered as a soft breeze rolled in from an ajar window.
Naima glanced at him. His bedroom? He was oblivious though, instead gesturing to the hallway to the left of the entrance. She stole one last parting look at the room in front of her before following him onto a large balcony that was adjacent. But they didn't stop there. Instead, he led her to the small, winding staircase in the corner.
"Where are we going?" Naima asked as they both descended the stairs, lined on the side with decorative vases.
He turned his head to look at her.
"Outside. That's what you wanted, right?"
Well, yes.
Naima sighed internally. She wasn't quite sure what she expected from a man who always spoke so deliberately and was clearly unafraid of silence.
As they continued to climb down the staircase side by side, she looked outward. At the bottom was a grove of reeds and bushes, the sprawling line of green eventually leading to the bank of the Nile itself. On the other side of her was the palace wall which was dotted with guards that watched them both carefully from a distance.
They walked quietly along the line of the reeds and ended up next to the riverbank. Naima looked in appreciation at the jumble of plants next to her, wild and free to roam and grow as they wished. The reeds sighed as another breeze rolled through.
"It's nice to see green again…" Naima murmured, reaching her arm out to brush her fingers against the reeds as they walked, their thin leaves sharp against her fingertips.
She glanced over at Atem, who continued to walk next to her in silent contemplation.
"Thank you for taking me here." she said with a smile.
As soon as she spoke, he glanced at her, his thoughts appearing to come back to the present. He nodded in acknowledgement before looking back outward.
"Something on your mind?" Naima asked gently.
Atem sighed.
"Lately it has been difficult for me to sleep." he said as he stared into the distance.
"I'm afraid Egypt continues to grow more dangerous by the day. The millennium ring is gone. There are now riots in the streets. Cities and villages continue to be looted. Shadow and Ka violence has risen sharply."
Naima studied him. On the surface, he was straight-faced as usual. But from the vague hint of worry in his eyes, she knew that his stony expression masked the troubles that appeared to swirl around endlessly in his mind. The reminder of the current state of the world made her realize how disconnected she has been from everything lately.
"So, what will we do?" she asked quietly.
Atem paused. He then turned his head and for the first time that night, his violet eyes met hers straight on.
"Naima, do you remember, years ago, that night in the cave?"
As soon as he uttered those forbidden words, she was immediately caught off guard. Her cheeks instantly became hot.
"...Yes…." she mumbled.
She was pretty sure he had witnessed her become flustered before he turned his head and gazed outward toward the hills.
"What happened that night has always remained on my mind…" he said.
Naima froze and began to panic inside.
"Over the years, I have continued to wonder about Slifer, when it would be my time to harness its power…" he trailed off.
Oh.
That's what he was talking about.
"At first, I thought I might wait until I ascend to the throne after my father passes. But now, I believe Egypt needs the protection of a God more than ever before. Your arrival here has only served to strengthen my decision that it is time…" he said.
Slifer, the mighty sky dragon who had chosen Atem to wield its power. Naima didn't pretend that she had not returned to the cave multiple times over the last six years, each time examining the carving with that night in mind and wondering if she would ever see what would come of it.
"So, you plan to return to the soul cave?" she asked.
Atem looked at her and nodded.
"Do you see that opening over there?" he asked, pointing to the hills in the far-off distance. Naima squinted, but eventually saw what he was referring to. The faint line of rocky hills was broken by a sudden dip, the bottom of which was shrouded by the nighttime darkness.
"That area will be my father's tomb." he said. "I'm sure you are aware that he is very sick."
Naima looked up at him with sympathy.
"Yes." she said.
"I have already discussed this with him. Although he is pharaoh, we both have agreed that it should be me. Right now, he is much too weak to withstand the force of an Egyptian God." he said.
Naima nodded.
"I do not believe Slifer would obey the command of any person wielding it who it has not chosen. It must be you." Naima said.
Atem glanced down at her. "Because it resides in your home village, I would need your assistance…" he said.
She smiled. "Yes, of course." she said.
"With the power of Slifer the Sky Dragon on our side, hopefully peace will return to Egypt at last." Atem said as he continued to gaze outward.
A thought popped into her mind.
"The white-haired man from the day of my trial… Don't you remember seeing him before…" Naima asked.
Atem looked at her and nodded. "Yes. I haven't forgotten him. He is our number one target at this moment. He must be stopped."
"I look forward to it." she said, looking at him once more.
By this point, they had both been walking slowly and aimlessly down the Nile riverbank, their footsteps crunching in the wet gravel. Atem continued to be engrossed in his own thoughts, his face melancholy and slightly withdrawn.
Naima felt for him.
"You know.. I watched your duel the other day, with Priest Seto. You were incredible..." she said.
Once again, he broke away from his thoughts and looked at her in surprise.
And then miraculously, she saw his face brighten into a smile.
"You did?" he asked. "I did not see you there."
She grinned.
"I was hiding behind one of the pillars." she said. "But I saw you beat him.. with Khouri."
"Yes. He is small and therefore easily underestimated, but his heart is strong, and so is his spirit." he said.
"How did he come to you?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. He showed up on a tablet in the Shrine of Wedju one day, and after that he has fought by my side ever since." Atem said.
Naima saw his smile still lingering on his face as he basked in her praise and the memories of his victory, a brief respite from the quandaries that plagued his mind and the many predicaments where there was no easy solution. Most of the time, the closest he would come to smiling would be a prideful smirk, his resting face usually set in a look of dignified stoicism. But the times he did give a rare and genuine smile, he exuded a certain warmth that could thaw even the coldest heart.
And thus, she took it as a challenge – how many times could she make him smile in one night.
"You seem to have adjusted well to life here." he commented.
"I suppose I have. I do miss my home…this all has been a huge change for me. But I am so thankful for my servant, Eliyah. He is the reason that my life isn't a complete mess, my clothing isn't mismatched and why I haven't stabbed myself in the eye with kohl yet…" she said.
Atem smiled back at her, a hint of amusement on his face.
Two.
"He has certainly done well. You always look beautiful." he said as he quietly gazed at her from the side.
Naima felt her cheeks become hot.
"Thank you." she said, glancing over at him with a smile.
She then sighed wistfully. "If only beauty could help in figuring out where in the world I am in this massive palace… or keep Penthu from throwing a fit, then my life here would be all the better…"
Atem stole another glance of her before looking back at the water, both continuing their lazy nighttime stroll along the riverbank.
"Shimon told me something interesting the other day. He said he was teaching you how to duel." Atem said.
Naima stiffened. 'Dammit Shimon…'
Wasn't that supposed to be their secret?
"You don't mind... do you?" she asked.
He looked at her in surprise. "Why would I mind?"
"He said the diadhanks were only for you, the pharaoh and the court… so he made me keep it a secret."
Atem paused.
"It is fine by me, I see no harm in it." he said. "But Naima, you must exercise caution. The stakes of these games are high, so please, choose your duels wisely. You have already seen what happens if you lose…"
"I will be cautious." she said. "With everything going on, I think it would be foolish of me if I didn't learn. I want to be prepared should the time come. And when it does, I'll be ready…"
He continued to look down at her, until Naima looked up to meet his gaze. His eyes were pensive and thoughtful.
"Hopefully it will not be necessary…" he finally said.
"Well, even without all of that, who wouldn't want to learn… And," she said as she looked at him.
"Don't think I've forgotten that you beat me in Senet… I need something else I can beat you in." she mumbled at him impishly.
His eyes shot toward her and he grinned in silence, clearly amused at her statement.
That now makes three.
"What? You think I'll lose?" she teased.
Atem said nothing, but the light smirk on his face told her all she needed to know.
"Just you wait until Shimon gets through with me and I finally master my Ka. Unlike Seto, I do not allow my ego to get in the way of winning." she said.
"We will see.." he said. "But you know that I never back down from a challenge..."
She smiled up at him with a playful glint in her eye.
"Neither do I."
They had been walking for a while now and Naima hadn't even been paying attention to where they were or how far they went. She glanced back behind her, the outline of the palace now much further away than she remembered.
But in the near distance in front of them was a very large pile of rocks, what seemed to have been a building that had long since crumbled. Several formations still remained intact though, the cracked remains of stone pillars and piles of brick still standing tall as what remained of the foundation.
"What's that over there?" she asked, pointing to the ruins in front of them.
"That used to be the old Temple of Geb. The new one was finished last year and is now on the other end of Thebes." he said.
She eyed the remnants of the holy site, now a forgotten relic whose fate was to eventually crumble against the wind, heat and sun of the desert. Having grown up inside of a temple herself, somehow this seemed unthinkable. Between the broken slabs of rock that had once formed the walls were the stories of everything that happened in this temple, the magic that occurred within and of course the secrets it held. And for some reason it called to her, begging to be acknowledged as something more than simply an eyesore.
"Is something wrong?" Atem asked after she had been silent for a while.
"Can we go see it?" she asked quietly as she stared ahead at the old temple.
"Yes, of course." he said.
As they neared the site, Naima was able to further appreciate the beauty of the ruins. The stone walls that remained were bleached white by the sun and eroded by weather and time. Piles of stones of varying height were scattered throughout. And the full moon above them that continued to emit its pale, silvery glow onto both of them the whole night, now radiated in full power downward, enhancing the whiteness of the stone and making it appear to glow underneath the night sky.
She broke away from Atem and began to gingerly climb onto the stones like makeshift steps, reminiscent of when she would spend hours climbing in the valleys and gorges around her village. As she climbed, she glanced back behind her at the palace in the distance.
"Those guards back there…" she said. "They keep on staring at us."
"So?"
"What if they see me do something silly?" she said as she looked down at her feet in concentration, hopping from one rock to another while holding her arms up for balance.
"Then they'll see a beautiful girl do something silly." Atem said.
Naima grinned at him from her spot high up on the rocks.
"They probably would enjoy it. Watching us walk down the riverbank all night barely counts as entertainment." she said as she continued to climb higher.
"Might as well give them something to look at…"
She glanced back over at Atem and caught him smiling as he continued to watch her.
Four.
She crossed over onto what remained of the far wall, climbing to the top.
"If I fall, will you catch me?" she called out.
"Of course I will." he said as he watched her skillfully hop across the rocks. "But you won't fall."
As she balanced herself on the highest brick, she looked out into the distance, the land now completely bathed in the light of the full moon. Another cool breeze moved across the desert and her hair blew freely in the wind, her cloaked billowing out from behind her. She felt Atem's gaze on her.
"Come back here." Atem said.
"Why?" she said, continuing to gaze outward toward the distant hills.
"Because, it's better if you're with me." he said quietly. "A girl like you shouldn't be alone..."
Naima spun around on the rock to face him and she stared, the sudden feeling of hot, fierce annoyance swiftly welling up in the pit of her stomach.
"Really? Because I was alone for the last six years..."
Atem watched her in silence.
"Why didn't you write to me? Why did you just disappear?" she barked at him. "How can you tell me that you cherished what we had together when you basically forgot that I existed..."
He closed his eyes, a faint sigh escaped from his lips.
"Naima, it was complicated."
Naima scoffed.
"What is so complicated about a letter? ... A visit?" she snapped. "If you had died and gone to the afterlife, I would not have known the difference. If that is your idea of friendship, I would rather stay standing on this pile of rocks for the next thousand years."
He took three steps toward her, and looked up at her while she glared downward at him, her arms crossed in silent indignance.
"I knew that this would come up eventually." he said to her. "We were both young, and very careless. Now that I am older, I understand the impact of what my actions could have done to my father, and the rest of Egypt, if we were not as fortunate as we were. But, if it had not been for those events, I would not have met you. And for that, I am forever grateful."
He continued to gaze at her with utmost sincerity.
"Naima, I know that I hurt you, and I am sorry. My hope is that we can put all this behind us, and continue where we left off…"
She watched him as he carefully walked to the bottom of the tall pile of rocks she was perched on.
"Come here." he said to her gently.
She hesitated, but something about the look in his eyes made her soften, and eventually she found herself making her way downward toward him. He waited for her at the bottom and as she made her final hop toward the ground, he reached his arms up to grab her waist to support her.
Except his hands never returned to his side. They remained on her waist, gently gripping her to him, and he pulled her into his body as if the mere notion of her escaping from his grasp once again was unfathomable.
"You thought I forgot about you… about us…" he muttered softly.
Naima's heart began to race. She felt him all around her, his arm in the small of her back, his chest against hers, a hand that had somehow found the nape of her neck. And the sweet scent of him, drifting into her nose and unlocking a deep, almost primal sensation. As her eyes wandered anxiously across his neck and shoulders, she couldn't help but to notice the way the toned muscles of his arms and neck rippled underneath his skin. She didn't dare look further up.
But his fingers left the back of her neck to lightly trace her jawline, before they eventually found their way underneath her chin, slowly guiding her head upward to meet his gaze. She followed his lead, only to be suddenly engulfed by an ocean of violet.
"Never." he whispered.
Time stood still as she felt him wash over her like a warm flame. As soon as his lips collided against hers, she melted into him, sliding her arms around his shoulders. He was gentle, yet demanding, hungry for her as she was for him. The way they both moved was as if they had never separated, together in harmony, quickly remembering each other's lips, each other's taste. And through their fervor, she felt her knees begin to buckle and he pulled her into him tighter, his hold on her sturdy, reliable and true.
Eventually they pulled away, gently and reluctantly, looking at each other once more. The moonlight continued to pour over their bodies like milk as he held her in his arms.
"Naima…" he muttered, brushing the stray hair from her face.
His face was still so close to hers, his eyes so soft and attentive. She drank it all in.
How long it has been since she felt such a fire blazing in her heart. Not since… the last time they kissed, six long years ago. So many men over the years had fought to win her heart, all of them failing miserably. But none of them compared to the man who stood before her. None were so thoughtful, sincere and generous, none able to command so much respect with their presence while still wielding their power with such care and reverence as the man who now looked at her so, so affectionately.
That's when she decided, for him, maybe she would once again yield her heart…
And in that moment, there was no one else in the world, except them.
Chapter 20: Return: Part II
Chapter Text
That same night…
The darkness was a sheet of black over the land, vast and infinite and deep.
Although it appeared peaceful, there was a war happening in the midst. The endless battle between light and darkness – a daily occurrence, and an unintended consequence of the laws of nature, the natural shifting of the earth. The moon and stars offered themselves as saviors for those who fear the dark of the night. But understandably, the night was resistant, reluctant to share its space with forces that undermined its purpose. And thus, it was a fight as old and as universal as time itself.
Nighttime in the Theban hills was always a maze of shadows with both forces attempting to nullify the other, a constant clash of opposites. Darkness did its best to snake its way in between the crevices of the rocks and peaks, some shadows as opaque as obsidian. But on a night like tonight, with the full moon high and radiant like a gleaming pearl, the battle was seemingly already lost, beaten by the incessant rays of moonlight that seemed to throw themselves onto the ground, desperate to illuminate the shadows that hid so many secrets.
So when the Thief King Bakura lurked stealthily by the rocks near the palace, he found the cover of darkness to be unusually scarce, the only coverage being mostly from the bushes that were nestled in the rocks, whose leaves dappled his skin with light and shadow. As he looked outward at the palace and thriving city before him, the dark layer of nighttime was cast in a silvery glow. For him at least, the cover of darkness was welcome, but not necessary.
He was alone tonight, and for good reason. Tonight, he was on a mission. As he slinked away silently toward the palace wall, toward the shrine where he knew his target would be, he became invisible. Not by simply disappearing underneath a cover of shadows, but truly invisible.
It surely had to be a joke, a wild twist of irony, that the vanishing ability of the insect Ka that was controlled by the High Priest Mahad and was specifically summoned for the purpose of his own demise, was now at his disposal to use as he wished, thanks to the powers of the Ring that never left his neck and now commanded his soul. Only through its power was the vanishing ability able to transfer to his own Ka, and now, he was unseen.
He smirked as he walked past the guards who were completely oblivious to Egypt's most wanted criminal right next to them, freely wandering the palace grounds. And upon walking through the entrance of the shrine where his target was in, he had the delight of catching the tail-end of a rather interesting conversation.
"My search for Ka in the city has been successful. It will not be long before Egypt will return to its previous glory..." a declaration by the voice of none other than High Priest Seto.
"Did you arrest them Seto? I hope to the Gods you didn't..." Aknadin said.
Seto sneered.
"Why shouldn't I? They are just our pawns. What is the value of a single human life if it means that our entire civilization as we know it will crumble? Everything I have done has been to support the current regime, so that Egypt can be restored. I have done nothing wrong." Seto barked.
"Now, if you excuse me, I have work to do."
Still hidden, Bakura leaned his body idly against the stone wall as he watched Seto stride out of the shrine in a huff.
"Seto… you will make the same mistakes I did…" Aknadin mumbled under his breath as he stared at Seto's disappearing figure in the distance, thinking that no one was listening.
He was wrong.
Bakura eyed Aknadin with derision as he watched him turn around with a wistful expression on his face, clearly wading in his own thoughts. But, the time for thoughtful reflection was not now, far from it.
It didn't take much for Bakura to remove his cover of invisibility, having already mastered the power of his Millennium Ring. And as he stepped up to finally meet Aknadin face to face once more, the Ring around his neck clinked.
The look of pure shock on Aknadin's face as the man laid his eyes on Bakura standing there in plain sight made him cackle. Uncontrollably. Because the things he was planning to do to the old Priest tonight were hilarious. At least to him.
"My apologies… did I interrupt your family affair?" Bakura smirked.
"..Bakura?…" Aknadin muttered in horror, wide-eyed, as he began quivering under the muted light of the torches.
"Why yes… What a shame that it takes a riot in the palace for you to remember who I am. I see all the years I've spent raiding all of your precious tombs wasn't enough of a statement. But, now that I finally got your attention, let's you and I have a little chat, shall we?" Bakura said.
Aknadin took two steps back.
"What… what are you doing here…"
"Wait, and you'll see, you foolish old man." Bakura snarled.
He licked his lips.
"Hmm.. what is this smell in the air? ...The smell of fear… You should be scared. Because once I'm done with you, you'll wish I had killed you tonight instead."
The air chilled, and a pool of shadows began to twist around Bakura's body until the faint outline of a truly heinous creature emerged from the darkness. Winged, half-snake, with skin that was a deathly shade of grey and scarlet eyes that, although barely visible, would singe you with one wrong look. The aura in the room turned ravenous as the emerging spirit seemed to consume any energy it could find, only leaving evil in its wake.
A yellow bolt shot out of the monster's chest and struck Aknadin directly in the chest, flinging him toward the back wall. He slammed into it and then collapsed face down onto the stone floor of the shrine.
Bakura's cackles resounded throughout the large room of the shrine as he took slow steps toward the old, beaten-down Priest that lay before him.
"…Why…" Aknadin grunted, attempting to roll himself onto his side.
"…Why?! Is this a serious question?" Bakura spat. He pressed his foot into the center of Aknadin's chest and pushed his torso back down onto the stone floor.
"Tell me, the night that you murdered the people of Kul Elna, did you honestly think you would get away with it? Did you honestly think you wouldn't be exposed for the tyrant that you are? Ha! And they say I'm the monster… You brainwashed your men, thinking they were the only ones who witnessed your massacre…. But you were wrong…"
"You…you were there?!" Aknadin croaked.
"Finally catching on now, aren't we… I am all that remains. I am their voice." Bakura said.
And as if answering a summons, the shadows of spirits emerged from behind him and began to swirl and weave throughout the room, their murky, black tails slithering behind them and swallowing up the light, a swarm of death and despair.
Aknadin looked up at him feebly with dread and shame outlined on his face as he realized he had nowhere left to hide.
"Please, just allow me to explain…I only did what I thought was right… I bloodied my own hands, so I could protect Egypt…"
"Yes, anything it takes to justify your actions… Like father, like son… how disgustingly touching." Bakura said.
At the word "son", Aknadin cringed. Panic gleamed in his eyes.
Bakura smiled maliciously.
"Yes. I know how you abandoned your wife, and your son… your precious Seto, who has taken after you quite nicely, don't you think. You must be so proud of his inclination for the slaughter of innocents and disregard for human life, because it is a trait so obviously inherited from you." he growled.
"Now, I can't help but wonder how Seto's thirst for power will play out… because as I recall, the Millennium Items weren't your first… nor your last.. venture into your hunt for power, hmm?"
Aknadin's eyes shot upward to Bakura yet again.
"How do you know this…." he demanded, his voice sodden with anguish and desperation.
The wickedness of Bakura's smile burned on his face.
"A Thief knows many things… and keeps many secrets. You needn't worry yourself about the ways I get my information." he said.
In what appeared to be a final, desperate plea, Aknadin cried out, "What is it that you want from me?"
"From you? A few things… Your Millennium Eye, for one…" Bakura snarled.
Aknadin closed his eyes and pursed his lips, his face now brimming with realization.
"You will not get away with this." he muttered. "If you want to take it from me, you must kill me first. But, perhaps that is my fate. For the things that I have done, I do not deserve to live…"
"How pathetic…." Bakura taunted. "No, to take your eye and then kill you would be too easy. I have something better in mind…"
He took his foot off Aknadin's chest. Then, with an outstretched palm and the ancient magic he now controlled, he commanded Aknadin's body upward with one ascending motion of his forearm. The Priest's body rose into the air and floated freely in front of him.
"No matter how many shackles you put around the evil in your heart, you can never hide from it. So now, I will return you to what you are, and always will be – a slave to your own darkness." Bakura said.
"No… please…." Aknadin pleaded.
"Oh yes… For what I'm about to do to you is a fate worse than death, which I believe is most fitting for the likes of you." Bakura said.
"Inside of you will live a piece of me and as the evil inside grows, all you will eventually become is a hollow vessel to do my bidding. By the end of this, your spirit will wish you had never been born… Prepare to finally face the consequences of what you have done…"
A hideous promise; One made without a moment to spare as the room suddenly stopped, white and frozen in time and movement as both men's facial expressions, one of absolute horror and one of depraved satisfaction, remained stationary. A small piece of him… so small, yet equally as poisonous, aimed straight toward the pupil of the Eye of Wjdat that decorated the Millennium Eye, the precious item that sat so unjustly in the eye socket of its perpetrator.
But as quickly as life appeared to cease, it resumed again and Aknadin fell to the floor, his screams high, desperate and pleading.
A seed has been planted.
In the wake of the madness of guards who stormed the shrine, looking for the source of the Priest's gruesome screams, Bakura once again slipped into the shadows as the night fell over once more. His work was done. For now, at least.
He didn't care to witness the aftermath of his handiwork. All he cared about was the thought of the impending misfortune that would most certainly transpire, and of the newfound evil that surged through every fiber of his being – courtesy of the deity of whom he was honored to be a vessel, grateful to utter his name… Zorc.
Evil had infiltrated the palace.
And now, with all that occurred, perhaps it was the darkness that had won tonight.
-o0o-
"Aknadin.. please, this isn't safe…" Penthu pleaded at the man who now sat upright on the hospital bed while Naima stood next to him observing.
Everyone has been on high alert after the most recent events that surprised everyone. Aknadin was rushed to the hospital wing two nights ago after he was found unconscious inside the Shrine, the eye socket that contained his Millennium Eye bloodied and scratched. No doubt the work of Bakura or someone under him. Fortunately, Aknadin had regained most of his strength by this morning, enough to be able to sit up and look around… which he did a lot of, taking a special interest in sleeping Kisara whom he stared at with a strange look on his face. Naima didn't particularly feel like delving into all the possibilities of why he acted this way, right now at least. Perhaps he was simply a strange man.
As Naima glanced at the bandages on his face, she really wanted to care, and normally she would. But, it was difficult when this was a man who has only scowled at her from day one for no apparent reason.
Plus, there were so many other more interesting thoughts that took precedence in her head – the constant butterflies in her stomach being the main reason it was difficult for her to concentrate on anything except the feeling of Atem's arms wrapped around her. Not just once, but twice. When he walked her back from the temple remains, holding hands under the moonlight by the river, they kissed once more among the reeds. Despite the effort she put forth to remain in the present, she was sucked into her daydreams again…
The only noises around them were the soft lapping of the Nile River against the dirt, the distant chirping of crickets.
And in the distance, she spotted a wooden dock built on the shore. It was flimsy looking and appeared to not have had much use, other than maybe as a scenic overlook toward the lily pads. But for her, it was simply an excuse to be anywhere at all with him.
She was giddy, drunk on life and love, as she grabbed his hand and pulled him with her toward the dock.
"Come on, lets go!" she said, flashing him a radiant smile from behind her shoulder.
But she met resistance as he stopped her, instead pulling her into his arms once again by her outstretched arm.
"This first…" he said.
And he kissed her - Long and soft at first, but then became short and clumsy as she giggled into his lips, feeling his smile against her mouth. She caressed his cheek with her fingertips.
"What is it.." he mumbled between kisses, in reference to her giggles.
"I think my feet are stuck…" Naima said as she attempted to move her feet to no avail. Her shoes were sucked into the thick, gooey mud.
Thankful she decided to wear slip-on shoes tonight, she loosened her feet from insides and, in one swift motion, she hopped out of them, opting to clutch her knees and legs around Atem's waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He gladly obliged, further lifting her up onto his body and supporting her weight as she tightened her knees around him, both of them blushing in the moonlight.
While she clutched his shoulders, she noted the starry night sky reflected in his eyes as he gazed up at her attentively…. before she felt him sink slightly beneath her and she let out a small yelp.
"Now you're stuck too!" she exclaimed and they both laughed together –
Right before they were so rudely interrupted by the rush of guards who came to inform him of these most unfortunate events.
Considering it caused their night together to be cut short, it was most unfortunate indeed.
Especially since it also got her the first scolding she's had from Penthu in weeks – for not being available in the emergency that presented itself. But really, Penthu was just angry he was woken up in the middle of the night.
She would, however, be lying to herself if the thought of Bakura and his cronies being in the same vicinity as her and Atem together at the same time, while they were both distracted by each other, did not send a chill down her spine. Would there ever be a time where they could live carefree?
But, she decided that with everything considered, it was worth it. As the events from that night ran through her mind for the thousandth time, she bit her tongue to resist the goofy smile that was threatening to form on her face, trying her best to pay attention to the scene in front of her.
"You need just one more day Aknadin, to regain your strength." Penthu said as he looked desperately at Aknadin who was struggling to stand up from his bed. He stumbled a bit, and Penthu grabbed onto his arm to support.
"Get away from me." Aknadin growled, snatching his arm away. "I don't need you."
Penthu recoiled from his nasty reply in surprise, and Naima too was stunned at such a rude response. She knew they both had a tendency to bicker, but this was on another level. As Aknadin staggered his way toward the exit, they both stared after him in silence. Naima glanced at Penthu who had confusion plastered all over his face. He eventually shook his head and waved dismissively at the exit before walking to his office.
Author's note:
So this is the second installment in this three-part chapter series, the first part of this chapter being an elaboration of that pivotal moment in the canon. Apologies for the late-ish upload for this one, I just spent the last few days moving (ick).
Chapter 21: Return: Part III
Chapter Text
Naima splashed warm water on her face and inhaled as she sunk deeper into her bath. The thick, steamy air was filled with the rich scent of sandalwood, her skin slippery and soft from her soap. A few small candles were lit on the table next to her.
How nice it was to relax after a long day.
She laid her head against the side of the tub and closed her eyes. From outside the bathroom, she could hear faint noises coming from her main bedroom. Eliyah was there, preparing her wardrobe for the coming week. This new life was certainly filled with its own set of challenges, but after getting a taste for the finer things in life – the fine food and clothing and having someone else take care of all the menial tasks of life, it was hard to think about ever going back to living an ordinary life now.
As she allowed the quiet, ambient noises of her dwelling to fill her mind, she began to drift off… until a different sort of tapping filled her ears. Sharp, staccato, hollow taps.
She opened her eyes again. What is that obnoxious noise?
She looked around in annoyance, only to find a small, dark figure perched outside of her window – A falcon, looking expectantly at her.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, hurriedly standing up as water splashed up the sides of the basin. "Don't leave! I'm coming!"
She stepped out, careful not to fall on the slippery marble tile as she ran over, still naked. As she opened the window, the rush of air felt chilly on her wet skin.
The falcon looked at her with its beady eyes as it stuck out its leg. A small piece of folded papyrus was tied neatly to it.
She had been expecting this correspondence.
The bird quickly flew off and Naima unfolded the paper, water still dripping off her body.
Naima,
It would be an honor to accommodate the Prince in his endeavors. I am ecstatic to see you again. Please see if Zahra can come along also.
Regarding your Ka, trust in Priest Shimon. His wealth of experience and wisdom will guide you. It is imperative you understand that the magic of healing was born from the shadows of pain and suffering, from compassion and understanding of the darkness that lives in the human mind. And what is darkness other than the mere absence of light? The two energies are fluid. They exist simultaneously and thus, are one in the same. If you master one, you can master the other.
Nafi
Naima clutched the note in her hands, reading it over a few times more. She then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body.
"Eliyah!" she called out from behind the door.
"Yes, Naima." Eliyah said, opening the door a crack.
She handed the letter to him.
"Can you please inform the Prince that we can proceed with our journey? And… can you please find Zahra and tell her to come to my room?"
-o0o-
"Geeze you're so fancy and royal now, Naima…sending your servant for me. Soon you'll be carried around instead of walking." Zahra declared as she inspected the contents of Naima's vanity table.
She opened the jewelry drawer.
"Look at all this stuff." she exclaimed and held up a rather complicated looking chain necklace. "How the hell does this even work? Weird…"
Naima smiled weakly as she sat crossed-legged on her bed in a thin cotton robe, her wet hair wrapped in a towel.
"Sorry for not visiting you when I said I would. I've been a bit.. distracted.. with a few things…" she trailed off.
"Yeah, every time I come around here you're always either sleeping or inside that hall." Zahra said, gesturing toward the double doors.
"The servants here said you work all day and then crash in your room afterwards. Rough life Naima… can't believe you signed up for that…"
At that statement, Naima stopped. She then furrowed her brow and turned toward her sister.
"Wait a minute… You've been walking around here, and talking to servants…?"
"Well yeah, of course I have silly! Why the hell would I stay cooped up in those stupid dormitories when this place is sooooo much more interesting." Zahra said.
"Did you know that Mahad has a girlfriend?"
Her last statement…so nonchalant that she could have just as well been talking about the weather.
Naima raised an eyebrow.
"…You've been spying on Mahad…?"
Zahra giggled.
"Not spying, just sneaking around. Because who would suspect me? A sweet, innocent little girl…" she said as she puffed out her lips and made big doll-like eyes.
Naima rolled her eyes and gave her a look.
"Can't you just quit doing stupid stuff for once in your life? The last thing I need is for you to get kicked out of here after the Prince vouched for you…"
"You're just worried I'm gonna embarrass you in front of your beloved Prince…" Zahra retorted.
Naima's cheeks instantly became hot and she shot a furious glare at her sister, who now held such a revoltingly satisfied look on her face that she was lost for words at first.
She exhaled and waved a hand dismissively.
"Alright, whatever. I'm not gonna go there with you tonight. You do what you want." Naima said, knowing full well that at this point, telling Zahra not to do something would be useless.
"I won't get caught, okay? Just trust me…" Zahra said with a wink.
Naima eyed her again before looking down at her bedsheets.
"Have you heard from Nafi lately?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject.
As soon as the question left her mouth, the light on Zahra's face seemed to be immediately snuffed out.
"No." Zahra said flatly.
Naima raised her eyebrows. "You haven't written to him?"
"No."
"Well," Naima said. "The Prince wants to visit the soul cave. We will probably leave for home in the next day or so."
Zahra's eyes shifted. "Okay."
"You don't want to visit home?" Naima asked.
"No." Zahra said.
"Why not?"
Zahra's lips twitched and she averted her eyes
"I can't. I have an exam." she mumbled.
Naima set her eyes on her sister, who now looked very uncomfortable.
"How is school?"
"It's fine." Zahra said.
"No its not. What's going on …"
"I don't want to talk about it, Naima." Zahra said, dropping the chain necklace back into the drawer while she slowly and carefully rotated her other arm behind her back… in what appeared to be an attempt at keeping something inconspicuous. If Naima had not been paying attention, she would have missed it.
Naima quickly got up and wrestled Zahra's arm away from her, revealing the back of her hand covered in red and purple welts.
"Zahra…what is this?" Naima exclaimed, clutching her sister's hand.
"They whipped me, the teachers did… as punishment…" Zahra muttered as she turned her head away.
"… For what?"
Zahra whipped her hand away and looked down.
"I set my roommate's hair on fire… but she deserved it, Naima, I swear! They were all teasing me and… I just lost it." Zahra said. She clenched her fist and Naima noticed a whisp of fire appearing briefly between her fingers, her eyes flashing crimson.
Naima sighed and pursed her lips, resisting a chuckle at the mental image of Zahra's vengeance.
"Give me your hand." she said.
As she made the welts on Zahra's hand disappear, she couldn't help but to feel some level of guilt.
"Maybe this is my fault. Maybe coming here wasn't the best thing for you…. Do you want to go back home?" she asked.
Zahra shook her head. "No. I just don't fit in. I don't think I'll ever have any friends."
"I will talk to your teachers. This isn't right." Naima said.
Zahra's eyes flashed in panic.
"No, you won't. Please don't say anything." she pleaded.
"I want to help you Zahra…" Naima said, desperation in her voice.
"Just leave it alone, please! You'll make them hate me even more. My teachers hate me because they say I make trouble for them all the time. My roommates pretend to be nice to me and then talk shit about me behind my back to the rest of the class, so now everyone else hates me because they're a bunch of idiots who just follow the crowd." Zahra said.
"Why are you having so much trouble with your roommates?" Naima asked.
Zahra sighed. "Well…"
She proceeded to launch into a ramble about all the cliques in her school and who hates who… and how apparently, ever since a boy had shown interest in her, one of the girls in her dormitory had completely turned on her. It became worse when the girl found out that Zahra's grades were better than hers.
"I don't even like him anyways, he isn't even cute and he hangs out with all the other kids who just love to say that I'm a village mutt who wears 'poor-people clothes'…. What a fucking tool." Zahra said.
"Those kids don't even know what they're talking about. If they knew who our mother was, they wouldn't be saying that…" Naima said.
"No, Naima. It would be even worse. I could hear it now… Instead of 'dog', it would be 'Spawn of Evil and Treachery'." Zahra mumbled. "If I had to pick one or the other, I'd pick 'dog'."
"Well, do you want some of my clothes then?" Naima offered. "So they don't tease you about that?"
Zahra's face brightened a bit and she looked toward Naima's wardrobe.
"I don't think we wear the same size…"
She walked over, took out a dress and held it up to her body in front of the vanity mirror.
"It's kind of too big… maybe in a few years it will fit…"
Naima smiled. Zahra's body was still in the midst of change.
She watched as Zahra spun around to look at herself in the mirror. But as she twirled, her arm accidentally made contact with the glass bowl on her vanity table. It fell to the ground, shattering into tiny pieces as water spilled and glass went everywhere, dozens of small shards resting on top of the soft petals of the lotus flower that now sat on the marble floor.
"Oh…" Zahra whimpered. "Sorry Naima…"
She looked like she was on the verge of tears as she knelt down to pick up the pieces.
Naima knelt down with her.
"Hey.. it's alright. It's just a bowl.."
She gently put her hand on Zahra's arm.
"Don't worry about this, I'll see if Eliyah has a broom to sweep this up."
They both stood up and Zahra handed the dress back to Naima.
"Let me see what I can do about some new clothes for you, okay?" Naima said as she put the dress back in her wardrobe.
Zahra smiled, her face big and bright again.
"Okay!"
-o0o-
Today was the day.
After what seemed to be a brief planning period, Naima was informed yesterday afternoon that they would plan to depart early the next day. The servant who delivered the message noted that her presence was "specifically requested by the Prince", which was wording that she found peculiar. It was her village, after all… She had just assumed she would come. But perhaps this was naïve of her, because in any other context, her presence in such official business would have been strange. The wording did help, however, to curtail some of Penthu's grumbling about him losing his apprentice for one day, since it was a decision above his head.
So there she sat, atop her horse in the outdoors stable area, ready and waiting as last minute preparations were underway. Atem was still nowhere to be seen.
She briefly glanced over at the outer palace walls that now loomed above her, tall and alabaster white stone surfaces that were speckled with shards of orange and gold as they met the rising sun. She sighed in appreciation; No matter how many times she looked at it, the outside view of the palace never ceased to take her breath away.
From where she sat, she had been quietly monitoring the progress of the group that was now convened before her, the ones who would accompany the Prince to her home village. Dozens of guards and some servants along with four Priests and one Priestess. As she waited, she couldn't help but to silently note the group dynamics. Karim, Shada and Isis stood next to each other, while Aknadin and Seto stood off to the side, separate and aloof. All their diadhanks shone brightly in the sunlight and appeared heavy on their arms. One priest was missing, but the others didn't appear to be worried. It was hard to believe that such an impressive cavalry would ever even think about her tiny, sleepy village to the west of Thebes, let alone visit for such an important, official purpose.
"Naima!" she heard from behind her, and she turned around to see none other than Shimon, walking up from behind on horseback.
"Good to see that you're tagging along with us today…"
Naima grinned at him.
"I finally get a day off!" she joked.
"Yes, well deserved I say! But it is nice to have you here regardless." he said.
He got close to her ear and whispered, "And don't forget, your next lesson awaits."
Naima nodded.
"Soon."
Finally, there was a ripple in the crowd.
Atem and Mahad had emerged from the grand entrance doors of the palace together, walking side by side toward the rest of the group. Both of their faces were tense and they mounted their horses in silence.
As Atem settled onto his horse, he clutched his reins while it sidestepped eagerly and impatiently underneath him, sunlight glimmering over the gold that adorned the strong column of his body. He then scanned the group of people that were assembled in front of him. His facial expression was as hard and strong as a stone, but Naima could have sworn she saw something flash across his face as their eyes met briefly. Her heart jumped in her chest.
With a swift nod toward the collective group, Atem turned his horse around toward the hills with everyone following his lead.
-o0o-
Naima's position toward the back of the group allowed her to stay relatively unseen, and she had hoped that it would give her the opportunity to study the group dynamics of the palace court a bit more closely. But instead, she spent the majority of the journey learning everything she never wanted to know about the intimate details of the lives of a palace guard.
She was unfortunately situated behind two guards who seemed to have forgotten that she was right behind them, as they had no problem discussing all aspects of their personal lives. Subjects that were so far off her radar suddenly took a front seat in her mind – midnight drunken antics by a campfire, exercises to build muscles, sexual encounters with various palace women. They spoke very quietly of course, quiet enough to not be heard by the rest of the group at large, but her close proximity meant that she still could hear most of it.
Moving to another spot in the group would have been too obvious, so she grudgingly decided to just stay there and deal with it. To maintain her sanity, she alternated between listening and staring at the back of everyone's head as the hills slowly passed one by one. Occasionally, she would glance over at where Atem and the court rode. From the outside, Karim, Shada, Mahad and Isis all appeared to get along rather well. If she listened carefully, she could hear some pieces of conversation between them – idle chatter about various goings-on and inside jokes. Atem would pop in here and there, but he mostly stayed quiet and focused. They would sometimes include Seto in the conversation, who would grudgingly participate with a snide comment. But Aknadin did not participate at all and opted to separate himself from the rest of the group, a dark, stormy look on his face.
The guards' voices slipped into her ears once again.
"Did you guys fuck?"
"Yup."
"Nice."
"If we can get back soon from wherever this shithole is that we're going to, she and I could meet again tonight –"
Perhaps it was the sun and heat and the extraneous personal information, or the lingering worry about Zahra being bullied at school and forbidding her to intervene that made Naima more irritable than usual. But it was the slight against her former home that set her off.
"The 'shithole' you are referring to is the village I come from." she declared icily from behind them.
Both guards' shoulders stiffened as they realized her presence, and they whipped their bodies around, only to relax once they saw that she was not, in fact, someone they deemed important.
One of them looked her up and down.
"And who are you…"
"…Does it matter?" she said.
He scoffed and smirked.
"A servant girl.. with a mouth…" he mumbled. "You better watch your tongue or you'll see the business end of a whip soon enough."
Naima's eyes flashed in instant rage.
"…Do I look like a servant girl?" she snarled with gritted teeth.
His assumption would not have been an unreasonable one, but that was simply not her title.
"Well, you are a villager by your own admission…." he said.
"So villagers are not capable of being more than mere servants?" Naima snapped.
Now a slight against her former social class? Especially after Zahra is being bullied for the same. She seethed in anger, ready to draw blood with her words.
The other guard was silent throughout this encounter as he studied her and he finally spoke up.
"This is Penthu's new apprentice. She was there during the riot. She was the one who saw the archer by the ceiling." he said.
The first guard's eyes widened and his lips made a thin line as he realized his mistake.
"..My apologies." he quietly forced out.
"If I were a servant, would you have still apologized?" Naima said.
"You ask so many questions…." he said.
"All I'm doing is highlighting your ignorance and obvious lack of respect." she spat at him. "Although I'm sure that's a hard concept for you guards and military men, since you all have no problem doing things like pointing your weapons at twelve-year-old girls and pulling people's hair …"
The look on the guard's face went from annoyance to confusion.
"Geeze lady… What are you even talking about…"
"Is everything alright, Naima?" said a voice that made everybody jump.
Between the arguing, nobody seemed to see that Atem had come up and flanked them on the other side. How long he had been listening for, Naima didn't want to think about.
Naima glanced at him and sat haughtily in her saddle, anger still simmering inside her mind.
"My Prince, as you know, I am new here and still learning the ways of the palace. Tell me, is being an insufferable ass a prerequisite to becoming a palace guard," Naima said as she shot another glare at the guard. "Or do they all learn that in training?"
Atem glanced at the guard who, now in the presence of the Prince, looked nervous enough to soil himself right then and there.
"I am sorry…" the guard mumbled with anxious, shifty eyes.
Atem gave a small, quick side-nod, a gesture for the two guards to leave.
"Go on." he said.
At his command, they hurriedly steered their horses to the other side of the group. Naima continued to silently fume as he rode up next to her.
He looked at her from the side.
"Naima, do you know why the Egyptian military has been among the most feared in the world for hundreds of years?" Atem asked quietly.
Naima met his gaze, a look of surprise outlined on her face. What a strange, unrelated question.
Her eyes fell to his diadhank. Surely because of the Ka they commanded, and the Millennium Items…
Atem followed her gaze, and then with his eyes closed and a smile on the corners of his lips, he shook his head.
"Good thought, but not quite."
"The millennium items and diadhanks are a more recent development. Our military traditions go back to even before the time of the pyramids." he said.
"I have spent years training alongside our soldiers, so I can personally attest that the training is long and grueling, for one specific reason... to win. For them, they train their bodies and minds for killing and nothing more. To show one iota of weakness could mean death."
"But for me, a Pharaoh must lead his soldiers into battle, so the weight of crafting a winning strategy rests on my shoulders. From the time that I was very small, I have studied and practiced and fought and dueled, all with the expectation that by the time I become Pharaoh, every strategy that I devise is one that will lead to victory. And so I have learned that often, especially in times of duress, there is no easy choice. To win, you must do what is necessary, even if it causes harm. Our soldiers know this well, and oftentimes this makes one callous to the feelings and needs of others."
"But you are not." Naima said.
He lifted his chin and looked out toward the vast expanse of desert in front of them.
"An effective leader cannot lead without empathy." he said. "But, make no mistake. I will do whatever I must do to win."
Naima took a brief moment to reflect on what he just shared, before realizing that she had just indirectly insulted him.
"I am sorry, I... believe I may have overreacted. I did not mean any disrespect toward your men, or your training."
Atem turned his head to look at her and gave her a small smile.
"You are correct, though. I understand how you may feel. We are far from perfect."
As a cool wave of relief flowed through her, she quickly noticed the familiar fork in the road out in the distance, a signal that they were close. An image of a dragon suddenly appeared in her mind.
"Are you nervous? To meet a God?" she asked Atem.
"No." he said. Naima raised her eyebrows and looked over at him in confusion. He looked back at her.
"Although I do not know what is yet to come, I trust in my destiny."
His face, always the picture-perfect definition of determination and strength, did not falter as he said those words.
"How can you be so brave all the time?" she asked.
"I do not have a choice, Naima." he said quietly, his eyes now back on the dirt road in front of them.
And then he turned toward her, a rare, teasing smile on his face.
"You really are quite full of questions today."
So he had been listening for much longer than what it seemed.
She smiled and blushed. "Is that so bad?"
"Only when I do not know the answer to them." he said.
She smiled at him.
"Well it looks like I'm okay so far." she said with a grin.
Was it really only moments ago that she felt as if she could strangle the guard who was in front of her? That seemed so long ago and so trivial in her mind. There were so many more important things to think about, like how close they were riding to each other and how the sides of their legs could almost touch. She had forgotten to count how many times he had smiled as he talked to her, his warm demeanor a contrast to the focused intensity she had seen from him earlier this morning.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Which was perfectly fine with her, because as the faint outline of her village slowly became larger and larger on the horizon, so did the anxiety in her stomach, and she wasn't even really sure why. Her breath caught in her throat as she eyed the tiny houses made from mud and stone, the pens filled with bleating goats and chickens. Everything looked different, yet somehow the same.
Passing through the village felt strange as well. Her fellow villagers lined the main road as a formal welcome to the royal party. They bowed their heads as a sign of reverence as the group passed through.
Some of them recognized her and their faces brightened with recognition and pride. She smiled and waved at them.
Finally, as they reached the end of the road, the large stone walls of her temple loomed above. And there in front, waited Nafi.
She had never hopped down from a horse so quickly in her life.
"Nafi!" she shouted and strode towards him, practically running as her purple cloak flowed in the rush of air behind her. Atem dismounted after her and followed closely behind.
Nafi was beaming as he embraced her in his arms.
"Look at you…" he whispered as he held her face in his hands and looked her over. "You look so healthy and… polished, and elegant. They are treating you right there, it seems?"
"Absolutely." she said.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Atem appear a small distance away from them. Nafi turned his head and took a brief moment to study Atem. And with a grin and the ever-present glint in his eyes, he bent his head and shoulders in a deferential bow.
"Welcome, My Prince." he said.
Atem smiled and extended his hand to him. Nafi took it and clasped it in his own.
"I see that you have changed considerably since I last saw you…" Nafi said. "I am glad that the years have treated you well."
Atem looked at him with bright eyes.
"Indeed."
"I know you are all weary from travel, and you have a long journey back. So, we haven't a moment to spare. Shall we?" Nafi said, gesturing toward the direction of the cave entrance.
Atem nodded.
Nafi examined the large crowd of people in front of him.
"My Prince, if I may… the fewer people who go down there, the better. As you know, this is a holy and sacred site, highly volatile to the spirits of those who enter." he said.
The Priests looked at each other.
"Well, the Prince should not go inside alone..." Karim said.
"I will go in." Seto declared coolly as he dismounted his horse.
The four of them headed to the cave entrance and the three men pushed the rock away together.
One by one, everyone went inside.
Despite the new opening in the ground, the cave air was musty and stagnant from condensation. But it looked just as she remembered – quiet, bright, and untouched, just as it should be. Gentle, flowing water glowed a bright vivid turquoise, a reflection of the thousands of tiny lights that quickly and silently surrounded all four of them in greeting. The orbs sparkled like jewels in the darkness, tiny bursts of cosmic energy. She had noticed that they were already waiting at the front of the cave for them, somehow seeming to know what was to come.
"What is this…" Seto exclaimed as lights encircled his body.
"They are souls of those who have already passed and the guardians of this cave, a shrine to Osiris. As souls, they can sense your own. I pity the ill-intentioned individual who enters, as they will receive a fate that is most horrendous…" Nafi said.
Just as Naima was about to ask Nafi what that horrendous fate might entail, there was a flash of light next to her where Atem stood.
Blue orbs had encircled him from top to bottom, surrounding his body in a golden light.
Seto's eyes widened as he looked at Atem in alarm.
"What is going on?" Seto said.
"It's okay. This happened before." Naima said.
Atem closed his eyes and inhaled the gust of air that moved through the cave, before he took several steps forward, still trailed behind by at least a hundred spirits that hovered around his body. The sound of soft whispers filled the cave.
Atem's eyes became fixated straight ahead.
And then unexpectedly, Naima was filled with the urge to move. She felt her body impelled forward by forces that were beyond her control. It seemed everyone else felt the same too as they all began to walk in silence together through the cave, trudging over the dark, wet rocks, the only sounds between them being the soft dripping of condensation into the glowing pools of water.
At last, they reached the end. The statue and carving looked the same as ever to her, but as she looked over at Atem, she saw that he was fixated on them, as if they were calling his name but he was the only person who could hear it.
He stepped toward the carving and stared at it for a moment, before reaching his arm up and lightly brushing the surface of the rock. Upon his touch, golden light snaked through the lines of the carving and a strong breeze filled the cave. Blue orbs continued to hover around them.
Atem's chest heaved in a sigh as the air rustled his clothing. Then, he opened his eyes, and looked directly at the carving.
"I return to this place, not for my own pursuits, but as a servant to the people of Egypt. People who have entrusted their lives to me." he declared, his hand still on the carving.
"Whatever fate will befall this country, I will face it with honor. I intend to use your power for good."
Pure energy filled the cave, the impact causing Naima to stumble. The ground shook and she struggled to maintain her balance. How the walls of the cave did not crumble around them was beyond her understanding. As a bright red light blinded her, the shrill screech of a dragon's cry rumbled in her ears and echoed across the stones of the cave.
"Outside! We must leave here!" Nafi shouted over the sounds of wind and shifting rocks and growls from a creature that was certainly not from this world.
As Naima exited the cave with everyone in a jumbled hurry, she squinted her eyes in preparation to be blinded by the abundant afternoon sunshine. But instead, darkness had befallen the land. The sun was concealed by dark, furious-looking clouds, the only source of light being the bolts of lightning that snaked freely across the sky, and the red halo of light that surrounded a massive beast.
She beheld the creature in front of her; Its body, long and lithe like a snake, with massive, pointed wings and coarse, scarlet-colored skin covered by millions of tiny scales that sparkled rainbow against the storm of electricity that filled the clouds. And then its head… not just one mouth, but two. Two sets of razor-sharp teeth and two ferocious, all-seeing golden eyes.
Naima quivered, and she watched in horror and awe as its enormous body slithered about atop cloud and wind. And as it roared, its power finally freed from the shackles of whoever, or whatever had harnessed it in the first place, sound and vibration thundered across the desert like a tidal wave. In front of her very eyes sat the ruler of the skies.
A God incarnate.
In the midst of this, all the lightning around her stirred something deep inside. Her Ka, perhaps sensing the immense amount of electrical energy generated by the creature. It was strangely invigorating, and she was suddenly filled with the need to soar through the clouds.
'Not the right time for this…' she thought to herself, smashing that feeling back down into her subconscious.
Now thoroughly distracted, Naima finally unglued her eyes from the dragon to take a glimpse at everyone else around her. Priests, guards and servants, all with similar looks of astonishment on their faces. Naima glanced over at Priestess Isis as she clutched the Eye of Wdjat pendant of her necklace, muttering something inaudible under her breath.
Despite the divine fury that whirled around all of them, Atem walked toward the dragon, albeit with wide eyes and clenched fists. Slifer, with its all-seeing golden eyes, watched his every move and when Atem finally came close enough to face the dragon head-on, an ear-splitting roar erupted from its bottom jaw and rippled through the land.
Everyone shuddered in its wake.
"My Prince," Nafi announced to Atem over the howling of the wind. Atem shot his head toward Nafi.
"You must defeat Osiris in a duel. Only then will he consider you worthy of wielding his power."
Atem nodded and braced himself in a readied stance as the golden plate of his diadhank shot outward.
"Slifer," Atem cried out to the raging dragon in front of him. "If it's a duel you want, then it's a duel you will get. I will defeat you. I must..."
The subsequent screech of acknowledgement that came from Slifer gave Naima gooseflesh. She watched as Atem stood silently for a moment, in what appeared to be contemplation of his opening move.
"I summon Gaia, the Fierce Knight!" Atem shouted as a large, purple horse ridden by a man wearing armor appeared overtop him.
'How many Ka does Atem even have?' Naima thought to herself, watching the horse stomp its hooves impatiently overtop Atem. Perhaps fifty? A hundred?
But her question would have to be for another time.
"ATTACK!" Atem roared, pointing his monster in the direction of the dragon-God. At his command, the horse charged forward.
True to its name, the creature's movements and attack stance were fierce indeed as it careened toward the mighty dragon that was five times its size. But around halfway, the red dragon reared its long body upward, threw its enormous head back, and released a huge ball of power that met the horse and rider head-on. The Ka met its instant destruction as its image shattered into dozens of tiny shards.
On impact, Naima saw Atem's knees buckle and he clutched his chest, letting out of groan of pain. Such a powerful Ka, and a sizable part of his own life force, decimated so easily.
"That Ka was one of his strongest…" Karim muttered off to the side.
"This dragon's power is beyond measure." Shada said as he clutched his Millennium Key. "The Prince now knows he cannot fight it with pure strength alone."
Atem took a moment to regain his composure before straightening himself out and resuming his readied stance once more.
"Next I will summon the spirit of the dragon warrior… Buster Blader!" Atem shouted as one of the eyelets of his diadhank flashed.
A mighty soldier with purple armor and a massive sword emerged, and upon seeing Slifer, it grew in size.
"This spirit, because of its former past as a dragon slayer, has a special ability against dragon-Ka. It grows in attack if the opponent has dragon-type Ka on the field." said Shimon.
"My Prince, please, allow me to offer my own Ka to aide you in this battle." Mahad called out from the side of Atem and glanced at Karim.
"Perhaps we can use Karim's Millennium Scale to fuse our monsters together…"
Mahad summoned his own Ka above him, the Illusion Magician, who drifted toward Atem at the command of his outstretched hand.
Complete control, Naima noted.
But as soon as it neared the duel ring, it jumped back, appearing to have met an invisible wall.
"It will not allow me to proceed…" Mahad noted.
"It appears that only one person may challenge the dragon, the one whom it has chosen." Nafi said.
Atem and Mahad looked back at Nafi and they both nodded.
"Then I must do this alone." Atem said, turning his attention back to the Ka he summoned.
"GO, BUSTER BLADER! Attack Slifer with your mighty sword of destruction!"
The spirit eyed the dragon with calm confidence as it leapt forward. But as soon as it met another blast of the dragon's power, its sword shattered into pieces in the air before his figure did too.
His second Ka, destroyed in an instant. Atem collapsed to his knees in severe pain as his chest heaved up and down with strain.
"What can defeat a God…" Naima heard Atem mumble under his breath.
Naima clenched her fists. Atem was hurt. She had to do something. Anything. Without thinking, she leapt toward the field.
But Nafi grabbed her arm before she could go too far.
"Naima, you must not interfere." he said.
"But the dragon will kill him!" Naima shouted in panic. "He won't be able to survive another attack."
"Unfortunately, this is the true test…" Nafi mumbled as he watched Atem intently.
"I can't lose…" Atem mumbled, still breathing heavily on his knees.
The mission, now appearing to be a fruitless endeavor, one that may cost him his life. What can be done. What could possibly be more powerful than a God. Naima desperately wracked her brain for any ideas as she stared helplessly at Atem who was still panting on his knees.
"Get on your feet, and stop embarrassing yourself."
A snarl from the side, so sharp that it cut through the air like a knife.
Seto came up from behind and appeared by the side of Atem. His arms were crossed, his usual scowl on his face, his figure as imposing as ever.
But something was different in his eyes this time – hunger.
"Seto?" Atem looked at him with weak eyes.
"Since when does a Pharaoh bow to anyone, oranything… including a God." Seto growled.
At those words, Atem seemed to straighten up a bit and he lifted his head up in realization.
"Never." he said.
"You're going to allow yourself to be defeated by some dragon?!" Seto scoffed.
"Just think about it. If it wants you to defeat it, there has to be a way. Everything has a weakness… you just need to find it. Unless of course, you've lost your touch."
A few gasps echoed throughout the crowd.
"You speak to the Prince in that manner Seto?" Karim said.
But Seto held up his hand toward them as he maintained his razor-sharp focus on Atem.
"If you still have what it takes, then get up, and prove to me that you're worthy of a God." he said with a ferocity that Naima has never seen before.
Rivals. They were rivals. Naima could see it in both of their eyes as they looked at each other with a certain intensity. She had noticed traces of it before when she had watched their battle in the courtyard. But now it was on display in full force.
During their last battle, Atem had pushed him and shown him how to become a stronger duelist. And now, Seto was returning the favor.
Atem proceeded to heave himself upward from the ground, albeit with great difficulty, still clutching his sides. As he stared at the dragon before him, his face wrought with fatigue, his eyes suddenly lit up in realization, and he smiled, the shadows of confidence returning to his face.
He glanced to the side at Seto once more.
"Thank you, Seto." he said quietly, before an eyelet on his diadhank lit up, and a figure appeared over his head.
A figure with familiar, shiny armor and a familiar expression. His expression.
His Ka.
Gasps again echoed throughout the crowd.
"My Prince, if you use your own Ka, you will surely be killed." Mahad said.
This had to be Atem's final attempt. Any further blows, his human body simply could not withstand, the majority of his life force already drained by the two battles he lost and withstood the force of. But Atem said nothing as his Ka's armor sparkled overtop him in the flashes of lightning that still rattled through the sky.
He silently commanded his spirit forward. Its movements were quick, precise, and lethal as it shot toward the dragon, aiming straight for its head. Slifer attempted to attack, forming another ball of power in its mouth. But Atem's Ka was too quick and it landed right on the back of Slifer's enormous head – one of the only spots the dragon's immense power simply could not reach, dodging the deadly blast.
The dragon roared in fury of being denied its third victory and it threw its head around in an attempt to dislodge the soldier Ka from its only blind spot. But Atem's Ka clung to it, almost proudly, riding out its movements with ease. The dragon's arms, although studded with enormous white claws, were too short and too stubby to reach the soldier that stood on the back of its head.
Slifer roared again, a roar of futility as it thrashed and writhed in the air. Its head bobbed and the blue jewel-like oval on the top of its head glinted in the light, before the soldier plunged its enormous sword deep into the dragon's head with one immense yellow bolt of power.
The world shook with the bellowing of the Egyptian God of the Skies as its earthly figure crumbled in defeat. But its spirit remained, a red silhouette in the form of two massive, sharp wings that rose up in the sky in a beam of light, before it shot upward and straight toward the palace. Atem's diadhank then glowed red for a few moments, before it returned to its normal form.
He had done it. The power of Slifer the Sky Dragon was now at his command.
A brief moment of silence ensued as everyone began to realize and process what had happened and normalcy finally resumed. The clouds began to dissipate and the sun peeked out to brighten the land once again.
The eerie quiet was quickly broken as cheers and clapping resounded. Villagers who had cautiously left their houses to witness the epic battle between God and man, now revered Atem with awe and deference. They surrounded him, fell to their knees and bowed. Some walked up to him on their knees, a sign of respect.
"Prince… vessel of the Gods.. wielder of Osiris, messenger from above… save us." They said to him. Some collapsed near his feet in tears.
Atem stood there proudly in the center of it all, watching as his people threw themselves at him in veneration of their future ruler. His stance was dignified and confident as he beheld them …
Royal. The stance of a King.
"Please, do not bow to me." he declared in a voice that could have commanded the entire world. "Save your energy to care for yourselves and your children. Under the protection of Osiris, you can rest peacefully tonight."
Another cheer rippled through the crowd.
"Long live the Prince Atem, our next Pharaoh." they cried out.
"Brilliant…." Nafi muttered next to her. Naima finally broke her eyes and attention away from Atem to look at Nafi's pensive expression.
"Despite the dangers, the Prince used his own Ka because he knew he could control it better than the other Ka he used, allowing him to maneuver it to the correct spot to beat the dragon that had already been weakened by the other two battles."
Naima glanced back over at Atem again, everything still a large jumble in her mind. But one word still rung loud and clear.
Pharaoh.
Atem would be Pharaoh. A bridge between human and God, an intermediatory. The ruler of one of the most powerful civilizations in the world. Something Atem has been training to do since birth.
Yes, Naima knew this logically. But it never truly registered in her mind, until just now. To her, he would always be the slightly awkward boy who went on adventures with her. But now looking at him like this, in this new light, it finally dawned on her who exactly she was dealing with.
Eventually, the crowds dissipated and the cavalry made its preparations to return to the palace. Naima was quiet as she waited off to the side next to Nafi, observing the activity around her and still processing what happened. As soon as the afternoon sun began its descent into evening, it became clear that it was time to leave.
Naima turned to Nafi, the silent sadness of goodbye hanging in the air and they both hugged.
"You must leave me again… " Nafi mumbled. "But, I see you now have a different life to return to... He is waiting for you."
Naima had felt his eyes on someone else during their hug and she broke away briefly to look behind her shoulder, only to see Atem looking onward at both of them. Despite all the people around him, his eyes were on her.
Naima turned back toward Nafi and blushed.
"Go." he said, nudging her toward Atem.
As she walked away, he called out, "And I know these days you are busy and important, but please, do not forget to write to me. I very much look forward to your letters."
"I won't forget." Naima said over her shoulder with one last smile at him, before she turned her head forward.
Atem continued to look at her, the golden light of early evening bathing one side of his face and body as he held the reins of her horse in his hands.
She looked at him and smiled, noticing the traces of strain and fatigue still on his face.
"You must be tired." she said.
He nodded.
"Let's go home." he said.
Author's note:
-So I know the battle for Slifer during Battle City was much more complex, but I guess my interpretation of Ka battles in this era of YGO is it being much more rudimentary than the complex duels we see in seasons 1-4, simply because of the absence of clear rules and the lack of abundance of magic/trap cards that make it a more sophisticated game.
-The section about Atem's time training in the military refers to how Pharaohs were considered leaders of the military and were expected to lead their soldiers into battle. It also gives a bit of background for his ability to create winning strategies, and also his desire to win – sometimes at any cost, which is in reference to his battle against Seto in Duelist Kingdom where he was prepared to let Seto fall off the ledge (or, in the sub, jump off) in order to win.
-The fusion between Buster Blader and Illusion Magician (Dark Magician) was a reference to the Monster "Dark Paladin", used in Battle City during Yami Yugi's battle against Seto. The scene between Seto and Atem was also a reference to when Seto helped Yami Yugi pick himself back up during the battle for Slifer after becoming discouraged.
Chapter 22: Obligation
Chapter Text
Author's note:
It has been a little while so it might be helpful to refer back to the beginning of Chapter 4, a couple of lines toward the middle of Atem's "monologue"(?soliloquy) for better context of this chapter. Also the convo between Naima and Atem about marriage in chapter 18.
Tucked away in the middle of the palace was a chamber that was hidden from plain sight, the series of halls that it took to get there being ones not usually taken by the normal foot traffic in the palace. It was only the people who had a reason to be there who had knowledge of how to navigate to it – The Pharaoh Aknamkanon's chamber. It was made this way on purpose, to make it as difficult as possible to find should the unthinkable happen. But despite its location, the chamber had received much more traffic than usual over the last several weeks.
The reason for this being that the Pharaoh Aknamkanon was now physically unable to leave his bed, completely dependent on the care of his servants. His days were spent with members of his staff and his court at his bedside, receiving reports about the state of affairs of the country that he had actively ruled for three decades. This method allowed him to at least maintain some semblance of control. But, to rule an entire country from his bed made him feel more like a bystander in his own kingdom than anything else. His illness has made him a shell of what he used to be.
Discussions that customarily would have been done around a table in a meeting room, were now occurring at his bedside. Decisions regarding the fate of the country, and the world by extension, were now made in the space between these walls. At times, up to twenty people would be present in his chamber. However, right now, it was only two – the Pharaoh Aknamkanon, and Aknadin, who were now engrossed in a private conversation.
"Brother, this has been put off for far too long. It must happen. Soon." Aknadin declared, sitting hunched over in a chair that was pushed right next to the Pharaoh's large bed.
The Pharaoh's immediate response was a series of coughs. The bed creaked with the weight of a sick man as his servant repositioned him to make it easier for him to breathe. After coughing up a rather large wad of white mucous into a towel, he laid his head back down on the pillow and sighed.
"You are right. I'm not sure what issue Atem has with picking a woman for marriage, but he is already beyond the appropriate age and has stalled on it long enough." the Pharaoh said. "I wanted to see this happen before I cross over to the afterlife. I believe I can hold out… long enough…"
"This is what happens when you allow them to choose. The more choices you give, the longer it takes. As I recall, you were not afforded such a luxury." Aknadin said.
"Yes. I was not. But you were." Aknamkanon said, turning his head to glimpse at his brother. "I was fortunate that the Gods blessed me with a happy marriage. But I can easily see how it could have gone the other way. Marriage is business, but I would still prefer my son to be happy in his union."
Aknadin waved his hand dismissively. "He can just take a concubine. Or ten. Or a hundred."
"Concubines are not the answer to happiness, Aknadin. Trust me. The more women in your life, the more complicated it gets. Keeping them all happy is a delicate balance." Aknamkanon said.
"Yes well, I suppose you would know that better than most." Aknadin mumbled.
"So, let us invite all governors and their daughters of marriageable age to come for another get-together and visit. They can stay here while Atem finally chooses a girl suitable for him. It will also be a nice excuse to get everyone together under one roof for a bit of interpersonal collaboration. Some of them I haven't seen in at least a few years." the Pharaoh said. "We can invite the Assyrian princesses as well as their representatives, for good measure. Extra diplomatic ties never hurt."
"...Haven't we been through this before…" Aknadin mumbled, rubbing his forehead with his fingers in frustration.
"You have had these events in the past, so that Atem can meet and socialize with these girls. Many of the girls will be the same ones. If he didn't choose any of them then, what makes you think he will choose one now?"
"Because then, time was not of the essence. But now, Aknadin, it is. And I will make sure that he understands how important an heir to the throne is now, more than ever." Aknamkanon said.
"Then why are you even wasting time by giving him the indulgence of 'choice'? He refuses to take advantage of it." Aknadin declared. "And besides, there is already a suitable match right in front of your face."
"Who do you mean?" Aknamkanon asked.
"What of the daughter of Kerpheres?" Aknadin said.
"Kerpheres…" Aknamkanon mumbled. "The governor of Memphis… Ah yes, I remember. She and Atem have met before. A few times even."
Aknadin hunched in closer to his brother for emphasis.
"How fitting would it be to unite the two largest cities in Egypt through marriage ties? Communication between us has been strained lately." Aknadin said.
"They act as if they are independent from us, being so far from Thebes… as well as being a port city influenced by the countries across the Mediterranean Sea has allowed them to become quite bold in their demands and their demeanor. Judging by their reports to us, and the representatives they send, they believe themselves to be self-governing."
The Pharaoh coughed again and closed his eyes, taking a few short, shallow breaths.
"I promised Atem I would allow him to choose…"
"And what has that gotten you so far? He has not chosen, and it is even thought that he might now be.. involved ..with that new apprentice healer you allowed in here." Aknadin spat.
"You'd better prepare for your lineage to be muddied by the bastard that will wind up being your heir, and the subsequent decimation of your bloodline. Our family's bloodline."
The Pharaoh paused and proceeded to let out a deep sigh.
"What is Atem doing right now?" he asked.
"I believe he is in Thebes, representing you at the meeting regarding the budgets for the upcoming year…" Aknadin said.
"When he is finished, please have someone send him to my chamber." the Pharaoh said.
-o0o-
"My son…." The Pharaoh Aknamkanon looked on Atem with frail eyes. But a gleam of pride shimmered on his face.
"How did the meeting go?"
Atem sighed. "There are more and more demands but less money. We discussed where cuts can be made, but there must be another meeting to finalize everything."
"Good." Aknamkanon said.
Atem sat down in the chair that was next to his father's bed and looked upon his figure. The Pharaoh's face was gaunt. His collar bones protruded and all of his limbs were spindly from muscle wasting, with the exception of both of his ankles which were swollen and covered in itchy-looking red and purple patches.
"Atem," Aknamkanon said after taking a few shallow breaths. He looked his son in the eyes.
"I am inviting the daughters of the Governors back to the palace… so you may finally choose a wife."
At that news, Atem tensed up.
"You know that I do not have much time left in this world." the Pharaoh croaked to his son.
"And my last wish… is to see you marry and bear a child, so I can know that my bloodline will continue on."
Atem's eyes shifted downward.
"Atem, do you not want that for yourself? A woman to call your own, who will bear you many children that have your resemblance? A Pharaoh is not a Pharaoh without his Great Royal Wife." the Pharaoh said.
"Yes, I do want that." Atem said.
"They why have you fought me on this time and time again?" the Pharaoh exclaimed, before he began coughing again.
"Must it be one of them, Father?" Atem mumbled. "I have spent enough time getting to know them over the years, and their motivations are apparent. They are not actually interested in me… they are only interested in what I can offer them."
The Pharaoh's eyes flashed.
"Well then, who else?" he declared in annoyance.
An abrupt, expectant silence ensued.
"My son, I have blessed you with the gift of choice, so that you may have a wife who is acceptable to you. But make no mistake," the Pharaoh Aknamkanon said to his son.
"A Pharaoh does not marry for love. A Pharaoh does not bear children simply for the sake of doing so. As Pharaoh, our lives are not meant to be satisfying.. our lives are not our own. Everything we do must serve a purpose. And the purpose of marriage is first and foremost to forge alliances and to maintain the status quo. After that, to bear children so that your lineage will pass on. Love is nice, but not of importance."
The Pharaoh continued on.
"You already know that the Gods have cursed me by making my seed infertile. If they had given me any daughters at all, that would have allowed our bloodline to remain pure. However, this is not the situation. If we must look outside the family for marriage prospects, a marriage uniting two cities, or two countries, for the purpose of improved relations would be ideal, and what I hoped would have happened by now. I believe I am being more than generous and patient with you."
"Father, right now there are more pressing demands that take priority over this… We must continue to work toward the capture of Bakura and stop his army from continuing to terrorize Egypt and destroy everything we know and hold dear. Now that I have the power of Slifer, we can fight back against him and defeat this darkness once and for all." Atem stated.
"That is where you are mistaken, my son, for this is the most important time to be doing this." the Pharaoh said.
"One responds to chaos by creating stability. You, as it stands, are alone with no wife, and no heir. You have nothing to anchor you. It only takes one thing, an assassination on your life perhaps, or a sickness… and someone else can easily seize the throne. Do you have any idea, any understanding, of how precarious this is? A blood heir from you will act as a sort of security, it will make it that much harder to establish a new ruling line."
Atem looked at his father in silence.
"Perhaps it may be difficult for you to understand this now. But in time, you will. Now, do as I say." the Pharaoh said.
That same day…
Naima was busy. There was so much to do, between caring for her patients and the piles and piles of paperwork that needed to be done. Penthu liked to take detailed notes about different medical conditions and treatments – "For our future generations," he stated. "So they can learn from what we did."
Penthu was gone for the day, sent to oversee some of the local healing centers in Thebes, so Naima was in charge again. One by one, she made sure everyone was taken care of. For today, it was a cook who burned himself, a servant girl with a cough, the pregnant wife of a soldier … and the list went on and on..
But each day, no matter how busy she was, she always made sure to set aside time to take care of Kisara, making sure to give her a bath and feed her when she did awake. Lately, she woke a bit more often, but was not yet lucid enough to speak.
So when it was finally time, Naima glanced over at the platinum white-haired girl as she prepared some warm bath water in a small basin, before grabbing a washcloth and heading to Kisara's bedside. There were always two guards that stood next to her who switched off every twelve hours. At first, Naima almost had it out with them for never allowing Kisara a moment of privacy to be bathed and changed. Now, fortunately, they have both reached a tentative understanding, allowing Naima to pull the curtains around her shut while she tended to more sensitive matters.
Naima bathed her, washed her long hair and brushed it. Her hair… it was so blonde that it looked white. She admired it lovingly as she took a towel and dried the long locks of hair that fell past her waist. When Naima finished, she grabbed the basin of dirty water and headed to the chamber pot to pour it out.
But as she turned away, she heard a light murmur from behind her, almost a whisper.
"…Naima…"
Naima stiffened. She turned back around quickly, almost dropping the basin of water that was in her hands.
Kisara's eyes were open, and at last she spoke. Naima quickly ran to her bedside.
"You're awake." Naima said with a smile.
In her first real movement since she arrived at the palace, Kisara moved to sit herself up in the bed with a weak, labored sigh.
Naima hurriedly fetched a basket of bread and a cup of water in an attempt to make the most out of Kisara's newfound energy. She set the food down in front of her and watched as Kisara took small bites.
Kisara ate slowly and then glanced up at her. A new light now flickered in her gentle blue eyes.
"Do you know Seto?" she asked softly. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she was incapable of speaking anything foul.
"Yes." Naima said.
"Where is he?" Kisara asked.
"…I'm not sure…" Naima said. "If I had to guess, he is probably working."
Kisara set down the piece of bread she was nibbling on and proceeded to take a drink of water. She took four large sips, and then coughed.
"Easy now… just take it slow." Naima said.
"Seto brought me here, didn't he…" she said between coughs.
Naima pursed her lips.
"Yes."
"He saved me.." she mumbled, glancing toward the window.
"I don't even remember what happened… I was only trying to buy some dates.. and they grabbed me and…it went black after that."
"You were hurt pretty badly." Naima said.
Kisara glanced down at her arms and legs. Her skin was scarless and intact, without any trace of the violence that occurred that day.
"You were the one who healed me… weren't you?"
Naima smiled and nodded.
Since Kisara's arrival, the amount of questions Naima has had regarding this entire situation has only multiplied exponentially… Questions for her, about her… Her appearance was unlike any that Naima had ever seen in this region. Who was she exactly? Where was she from? How does she know Seto? And not to mention, her Ka…
"Would you like more bread?" Naima asked her. Kisara had already eaten the first piece.
"Yes, please." Kisara said.
Naima turned around to grab another piece from the basket.
"Do you have a home to return to?" she asked, tearing a rather large piece of bread in half for her.
"I do… But to return, I'm not sure…" Kisara said.
"Where is home?" Naima asked.
Kisara stared out the window.
"A land in the north… very far away from here…" she mumbled. "It has been years since I've seen it."
Naima had some knowledge of the lands outside of Egypt, but not much. What she knew of the northern lands came only from the stories she was told as a child – Frozen realms of snow, mountains and ice, with green forests of tall trees and armies of fearsome warriors who could rip a human body cleanly in half with their bare hands.
"So what brought you all the way here, to Egypt?" Naima asked.
At that question, a flurry of hurt and memories appeared in Kisara's eyes and the raw emotion was too much for her heart to bear, especially while she was still weak. She clutched her chest, breathing heavily.
Naima's stomach sank in guilt.
"Sorry…" she said. "I didn't mean to upset you…"
"No.. it's not you.." she whimpered, a lone tear running down her cheek. "…It's just too much…"
Naima put her hand on her shoulder.
"Just rest…" she murmured to her.
Kisara breathed deeply and shut her eyes.
"Naima…" she muttered.
Naima put her hand on hers.
"Thank you…" Kisara said, before her head sank into the pillow behind her, falling back into a deep sleep.
-o0o-
The familiar click of the door and a gust of cool air met her as she entered her bedroom after her long day. Eliyah must have left the windows open.
Something rustled next to her feet – A folded piece of papyrus that appeared to have been slipped under her door. As another breeze came through the window, the small paper began to slide and tumble across the floor.
Naima hurriedly ran over, grabbed it off the floor and opened it.
Meet me in the garden at sunset, after you're finished with your day
She smiled to herself.
He didn't even need to sign it – one look at the familiar chicken-scratch handwriting scrawled on the papyrus told her exactly who it was from. She didn't bother to freshen up or change. The evening sky was now quickly becoming twilight as the last of the orange hues of the sky melted into dark blue. Hopefully he hadn't been waiting too long for her.
But it was bold of him to assume that she would know how to get there by herself, let alone in a timely fashion. She simply just pretended like she was trying to get to the Shrine of Wedju like the other night, walking around the perimeter of the building and probably taking twice as long to get there than if she had just asked someone.
She finally eyed the familiar fence and spotted him in the garden, standing and leaning up against a desert palm. He noticed her approach and looked at her in confusion.
"Why did you come from there?" he asked from across the garden.
Naima smiled sheepishly at him.
"It was the only way I knew how to get here…"
His expression, previously its usual state of vigilant stoicism, was now thoroughly amused as he watched her go through the fence from the outside. As she walked over to where he was standing, she noticed him subtly looking her up and down, taking her in.
"You see something you like?" she said coyly, stopping in front of him.
Caught in the act. He didn't even try to hide it.
She eyed him as he smirked guiltily, and she reveled in his unabashed silence. No words were needed for her to feel his pull, a silent command to come closer to him, to his body. She stopped just close enough to see the details of his face.
Warm, caring, with a confident half-smile, and traces of his smirk giving the slightest hint of cockiness. Or was it pride? She wasn't sure, and she didn't care either.
She reached down to take both of his hands in her own, and she looked into his eyes.
Something was different. Underneath the mask of his expression were hints of strain, a certain uneasiness that she couldn't put her finger on.
Naima hesitated.
"What's wrong?" she asked, dropping his hands and taking a step back to study him fully.
Atem closed his eyes and sighed as he rested his foot against the trunk of the tree he leaned against, crossing his arms over his chest.
He regarded her tensely and looked at her straight on.
"Naima, there is a problem." he said quietly.
At those words and tone of voice, Naima's stomach began to twist into knots.
"I wanted to tell you in person first, before you heard from anywhere else." he said.
She stared at him incredulously as she waited for something terrible.
'Out with it, for Ra's sake.' she yelled in her head.
The situation he explained was something she really should have anticipated. He was young, single, and ready to take the throne. The next logical step would be for him to marry and have children with some beautiful girl from a rich, well-known, highly trusted family. Or perhaps with a princess from a neighboring land, for the purpose of strengthening political ties. That's what it seemed like the Pharaoh Aknamkanon wanted for his son, at least.
But certainly not to be with someone like her, whose family's name and reputation were permanently tainted with the dishonor and shame of exile. And still being a mere apprentice, she could not yet redeem herself through any merit.
She and Atem were simply on entirely different levels.
She wasn't really sure what she expected, being romantically involved with the Prince of Egypt. She had just assumed it would work out somehow and didn't bother to think too far ahead, instead choosing to cave in to the irrational desires of her heart. But thinking about it now, as he continued to speak of his father's most recent decision, she regrettably admitted to herself that it surely was bound to fail.
Atem continued on.
"I do not agree with what he says or his decision. There is no point to waste time and divert resources to ensure the survival of my lineage if Egypt is in ruins." he said.
"But, he is my father, and the Pharaoh. While he reigns, I must respect his command."
With those final words, Naima simply stared at him as she considered her freshly made wounds that were now starting to bleed. Not even a month, and he already hurt her. Again.
Perhaps this was her fault and she was stupid for trusting with her heart a second time. Perhaps this hurt was her punishment for betraying her religious vow to Ra… she should have just said no to Penthu's offer and spent a life in celibacy and service like she had originally planned and promised.
She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her skin.
But as she contemplated his words and his face, she briefly pondered what seemed to be a common theme for those lucky, or unlucky enough to be born into royalty. An apparent lack of freedom – shackles of obligation to tradition, to family and country.
This was not something of his doing. This was something beyond both of their control. And between her own feelings of shock and disappointment, she also felt sympathy for him.
He eyed her reaction, his stare on her focused and penetrating, with a frontal stance that was as if he was fully prepared to take any onslaught of angry reactions she may throw at him.
But instead, she swallowed her bitterness, clenched her jaw and was silent. She was more hurt than angry, and as much as she wanted to blame someone and create a target for her feelings, directing them at him wouldn't be fair.
After he seemed to realize that she was not, in fact, going to unleash the Gods' anger onto him, he got off the tree and stepped toward her.
"So I guess that's it then? So much for 'us'…" Naima mumbled bitterly, her voice quivering as she turned her head away from him.
"No." he said.
Naima looked up at him again. He now stood squarely in front of her.
"What do you mean 'no'?"
"I believe that everything will work out, eventually." he said.
She raised her eyebrows and stared at him.
"Oh really… Do you mind clarifying that for me?"
But he was silent as he stared back at her. His expression was evasive, careful not to reveal what he was thinking. There was something he wasn't telling her.
"Well? I'm waiting for an explanation." Naima declared, her frustration growing. "Because unless this somehow includes telling everyone to fuck off and leave you alone, I don't see how you're gonna get out of this. You're gonna make a lot of people angry with you." Naima said.
"You'll find that despite my title and my duties, there are only a few people whose opinion I actually care about." he said.
She snorted at that.
"Am I on that list?" she asked.
Atem smiled and locked eyes with her.
"Naima, do you trust me?"
She scoffed at him. "Should I?"
But there was no escaping the question. His eyes bore into hers.
"Do you trust me?" He repeated himself, this time his voice lower and clearer.
Naima sighed. If he insisted…
"…Yes, I do."
He reached down to her side to gently take her hand in his own.
"Then please, have faith."
She looked down at her hand in his, resisting the lump in her throat and the tears forming behind her eyes. She didn't want him to see her upset like this and she bit her tongue to keep herself from crying.
But it didn't work. One look at her face and he immediately scooped her into his arms and held her tightly to his chest. She buried her face into the fabric of his cape, and quietly let out a few tears as he stroked her back.
"Everything will be alright, Naima." he murmured, his voice deep and gentle.
"How do you know?" she said as she lifted her head up from his chest to wipe her eyes.
He smiled.
"Because if it is not, then I will make it so."
A powerful statement, and if it came from anyone else besides him, it would have been absolutely absurd. Naima couldn't help but to giggle a bit and smile at the charm of his endearing optimism, his desire to please.
As she sank back into the comfort of his arms, she sniffled the last of her tears, brightness finally returning to her mind. With that came a bit of clarity. Despite the doubt and disappointment that still lingered in her mind, if he told her to trust him, she would trust.
"Sometimes I forget that you are… you." she said.
"Good." he said.
"Why 'good'?"
"Because sometimes, it's nice not to be 'me' for a little while." he said.
For obvious reasons.
She grinned and glanced up at him.
"Oh, I see. So you're only using me for escapism. That's not very nice of you." she teased.
Atem closed his eyes.
For a tiny moment, she panicked. Perhaps that comment was too much.
And then, a smirk appeared on the corners of his lips.
"It's not nice of you to be as lovely as you are, Naima. In fact," he said as he opened his eyes and locked them onto hers once again.
"I would even say it's cruel.. because I can't get enough of you."
Did her heart just melt instantly? It did. But she didn't dare show it, not with that cocky grin on his face.
"Well," she said, in feigned seriousness. "Please accept my deepest apologies, your royalness. Will I be punished for this grave offense?"
He tightened his arms around her.
"Never." he growled, a low, feral rumble in his chest.
"Good." she murmured as she nestled her head further into his shoulder.
Underneath the watchful eyes of the young starlight, they both held each other. Naima took note of how comfortably their bodies fit together as she savored the feel of his touch, both his arms resting comfortably around her waist. Another memory to imprint in her mind.
But then she felt an arm leave her waist and reach up to her neck. A gentle touch of her hair, a brush of his fingertips on the side of her jaw near her ear. His hand quietly made its way down to her shoulder, to the seam on the sleeve of her dress, and he slid his fingers underneath the thin fabric, idly stroking the small area of hidden skin.
An innocent gesture, likely done with the intention to soothe and relax her. And it was only a little spot on her shoulder. But Naima had never been touched like this before in her life.
His fingers on her bare skin, skin that was not supposed to be seen or touched… unless somebody removed what was covering it. His strokes were light and lazy, both calming her and driving her crazy at the same time. Such a simple, harmless act that made her heart pound like a drum in her chest. She could sense Atem's eyes on her, quietly admiring her figure and somehow oblivious to the small fire that he lit in her body.
The sound of his voice in her ear briefly pulled her back into reality.
"How is it that you become more and more beautiful every time I see you?" he said.
And there it was… she was now on the precipice, about to spiral into the fiery depths of infatuation. It took all her willpower to pause in an attempt to remember her wits. She blushed, swallowed her desire and closed her eyes.
After pulling away a bit, Naima eyed him squarely.
"You're very smooth.." she said with a coy grin. "Who taught you how to talk like this?"
He now looked very satisfied with himself.
"No one. I can't help it if it's the truth."
She looked up at him, a playful smile on her lips, and she placed both hands on his chest.
"Well, you look the same." she crooned.
"Strong…"
She gently pressed both her hands into his solid chest and slowly worked them upward to his shoulders.
"Powerful… "
Her hands briefly rested at the tops of his shoulders before she traced her fingers down the sides of his arms, perhaps lingering a bit too long on his upper arms, mounds of muscle adorned with two gold bands. When she reached his hands, she clutched them and placed them both behind her back, where they belong. He already knew what to do, pulling her closer into him once again and making the space between their bodies practically nonexistent.
"And so, so serious …." she purred, arching her neck upward to brush her lips against his.
She felt him lap up her words.
Their faces were so close, enough for her to feel his hot breath on her own lips, and she couldn't resist stealing a glance at him. His eyes… soft and loving, shining with warmth, and focused on her.
But she didn't get to admire for too long, because he seized her lips. For the first time tonight, she finally savored the soft caress of his mouth, the smoothness of his lips against hers.
They broke away, and Naima turned her body around while still in his arms, her back now against his chest. He leaned against the tree as he held her.
"So I'm supposed to assume you're a self-taught flirt with no practice with other ladies whatsoever?" she said as she leaned her head back against his shoulder.
A test, and an unfair one at that.
"Yes." he said.
"Hmmm, I'm impressed." she murmured.
"You should be." he said.
Naima snorted and giggled.
He looked down at her.
"What about you?" he said.
"I've flirted… all with men who didn't deserve it, though." she said. "Each one of them drove me further and further into almost taking a vow of celibacy… just so I could get away from them, and so that Nafi would quit trying to match me with any man with status he could find. I was planning on living the rest of my life inside my temple as a Priestess anyways, so it would not have been an issue."
Atem was silent in contemplation as he held her, his hands splayed securely across her stomach.
Naima glanced up at him from over her shoulder.
"I suspect that I'll soon be having to watch you canoodle with other women… Did you consider that in whatever your plans are?"
"Naima, I have no intention of doing that." he said.
"Wouldn't you be expected to, though? To please your father?" she asked.
He sighed.
"Since my father's health has declined, he has been unable to perform his duties and I have taken over. Even if I wanted to court those women, I simply do not have the time. My days are extremely busy. I cannot be in two places at once." he said.
That made sense. So that's what he does all day.
"Naima, believe it or not, this is not the first time my father has done something like this." he said with a gentle smile. "I know how to handle it."
She looked up at him in surprise.
"Really?"
He nodded.
Still in his arms, Naima turned back around and gazed up at the sky, a myriad of stars twinkling softly above them. She turned her head to rest her cheek against his chest, the faint sounds of his steady heartbeat in her ear.
"Don't forget about me…" she murmured.
"If you were still on my mind after six years, how could I forget now?" he said.
Chapter 23: Secrets
Chapter Text
Author's note:
Caution for sensitive readers – mild emetophobia warning.
The next few days were brutal.
It seemed like the entire palace was bustling with nervous energy as preparations for the upcoming party were underway. Between the special food deliveries, extra foot traffic in the halls and servants rushing around cleaning everything in sight, it was a lot to take in.
Naima attempted to drown it out in her mind, for once preferring to stay inside of her hallway-box and finally deciding that maybe this was the perfect time to tackle the rather large pile of medical reading that she has been putting off for weeks. Perhaps it would be dull enough to quickly lull her to sleep after her long days.
But on the day of the party, the feeling of urgency around the palace seemed to hit an all-time high. Penthu felt it too.
"Naima, let us try to finish early today. If we are late for the party, it will look bad on us." he mumbled to her over his desk, where they both sat across from each other.
Naima's head shot up.
"What do you mean? I thought I would take over hospital duty while you attend the party."
Penthu wrinkled his brow at her and glared.
"What is this nonsense you speak of…." he said. "You will be attending the party, you are my apprentice and an essential part of normal operations here in this palace. And as such, you will be seated next to me. There are also some people I want you to meet who will be in attendance."
Naima felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She wanted to vomit. Her plan of escape just went right out the window, slipped right out of her hands in an instant.
He noticed her face.
"What?" he barked impatiently. "What is it?"
"N-Nothing…" she stammered and hurriedly shifted her eyes back to the medicine she was imbuing.
He eyed her for a moment more before he turned back to the papyrus he was scrawling on and sighed.
"Prepare yourself for the next few weeks, Naima. It will be chaos."
"Why do you say that?"
"More people here means more people getting hurt and sick… which means more work for us. It is inevitable that some sort of mishap happens… In my decades here, there has never once been a gathering such as this where everything went smoothly."
Great.
He lifted his head up and studied her while she worked.
"Finish up with this, and then you may leave." he said. "I imagine you would like time to prepare your appearance. I am unsure about all the preparation a woman does, if you need to style your hair or whatever it is you women do..."
He shook his head.
"Things like that make me grateful to be a man and not have any hair to worry about…" he mumbled.
Naima smiled and glanced briefly at him, admiring his simple style of dress, the wrinkles on his face from time and stress, the shiny skin of his bald head glinting in the torchlight.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and held her hand over the last bowl.
-o0o-
Somehow, Eliyah knew before she did that she would be attending this party. As soon as she walked in the door of her bedroom, she saw him carrying a garment on a hanger and placing it in her wardrobe.
He turned around to look at her.
"No time to waste, Naima. We only have a few hours." he said.
"Eliyah… what's that?"
"Your dress, of course." he said.
"But how did you know? I didn't even know." Naima said, exasperated.
"I also was unsure if you would be attending at first. But today I saw your name was on the seating assignments. So I rushed out to Thebes to find this…" he said.
He walked back over, took the garment out of the vanity and removed the cover over it.
It was the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen.
Instead of the customary beige linen she was used to wearing, this dress was black, with a plunging neckline, low enough to show off her chest but was still elegant. The entire waist was embellished all around with tiny golden beads giving the appearance of a belt. The skirt was loose, lightly pleated and flowed to her feet.
"Come on… let's get you cleaned up and polished."
-o0o-
There she sat, naked and submerged in warm water in the large basin, as Eliyah scrubbed and scoured her body with a soft rag.
How many times has he seen her naked already, either helping her to bathe or dress, or accidently walking in while she was still asleep… it was more times than she can count. Yet he never blinked an eye or made her feel uncomfortable. So at this point, her self-consciousness about her body had disappeared since long ago.
"Eliyah, I have noticed something peculiar…" Naima said.
"What?" he said as he lathered some rose-scented soap into her hair.
"Everywhere else, the domestic servants are female. But you are a male…" she said, closing her eyes and feeling his fingers massage her scalp.
He was silent for a moment.
"Yes." he said quietly.
He turned away to get another basin of water for rinsing, seeming reluctant to add more information.
But Naima was persistent. "Why is that?"
Eliyah pursed his lips.
"I can answer your question, but you must not repeat this." he said.
"I won't." she said.
He began to gently pour water over her hair to rinse.
"There has been much speculation that Master Penthu... prefers the company of men over women. He has requested no female servants in his chamber, only male servants to attend to him."
"….Oh." Naima said. "Has he ever had a woman in this position before?"
"No, which is why he didn't anticipate ever requiring a female servant for a female apprentice." Eliyah said.
"I must admit, it was a bit awkward for me at first." Naima said.
"You needn't worry about that Naima. As with Penthu, I also prefer men." he said, his words embellished with his familiar accent.
Now, it all made sense.
"..Oh…" she said and smiled. "Okay."
"You're not from Egypt, are you..?" Naima continued.
"No, I am not." he said. "I am Assyrian. During the most recent Egyptian occupation of Assyria, I was captured as a boy, destined to be a slave. Fortunately, I was spared from hard labor and was deemed more appropriate for domestic work. I have worked here under Penthu ever since."
"I see." Naima said. "Do you like it here?"
He froze, and Naima realized how unfair of a question that was.
"Sorry... " Naima said. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to."
Eliyah turned around to grab some towels.
"I am grateful for what this palace has given me in exchange for my service." he said. "But, and I am sure you can understand me, it is not my home… and it was never what I envisioned my life would be like as a boy…"
"What did you envision?" Naima asked.
"As a boy? Many things, but never a slave. I will never forget the look on my mother's face when I was torn out of her arms. They ravaged my village… my small tiny defenseless village.." he said.
"If you could go back, would you?" Naima asked.
"In a heartbeat, Naima…" he said, turning around to organize the things on her bathroom shelf.
"I will not pretend that I have not thought of returning. My initial hope was that my time here would allow me the opportunity to learn something, a skill. I am deeply interested in the art of healing, and hoped that perhaps I could become a healer in my own home village. But alas, I am a lowly servant, not even Egyptian. Not worthy of teaching. My only use is for labor and that is all."
Naima's face brightened. She turned to him.
"You want to learn?"
He looked at her with surprise.
"I am still a student myself, but I will teach you what I know." she said.
Eliyah's eyes widened.
"You would do that… for me?"
"You take care of me every day, I will return the favor." Naima said as she stood up out of the basin, water dripping off her.
Eliyah's face sparkled with excitement.
"I am going to make you look so beautiful tonight."
-o0o-
As Eliyah brought the dress out and hung it up near her vanity, Naima eyed it.
A gorgeous dress, wasted on such an unsavory occasion. Another wave of angst crept into her mind as she looked at herself in the mirror while Eliyah brushed her wet hair.
He notices her face.
"Everything alright, Naima?" he said.
"Yes." she lied.
He tensed up.
"…Do you not like the dress?" he asked quietly.
"Oh no, no… not at all…I love it…" she trailed off and forced her lips into a smile.
But her traitorous eyes said it all.
Eliyah dropped his arms to his side.
"Oh….right. Is this perhaps because of you… and the Prince…." he asked quietly.
At those words, a panicked yelp erupted from her mouth as she spun around to stare at him in horror.
What a vague question he just asked her. It could mean anything or nothing at all. But the quiet care in which he said it made it clear that he knew so much more that Naima had given him credit for. He simply stood there, hairbrush in hand, looking at her with sympathy.
"How do you know about that…" Naima hissed.
"Naima…. You both… you two don't exactly do the best job at… hiding yourselves…" he mumbled with shifty eyes.
Naima blushed.
How reckless and stupid she has been with this. So many people… guards, servants , even the pharaoh's court, have seen them both together.
"Us servants… I'm sure you can guess that we talk." he said.
People gossiping about her and Atem. Of course they would. Nobody likes to mind their own business.
Horror and raw fury boiled in her veins as she jerked her head around to look at him incredulously. With him as her servant, he knew so much about her… Her life, her secrets… now put on display for people's entertainment…
"I never share anything about you, Naima, and I would never." Eliyah added quickly, seeing her face. "You have been so kind to me, I would not betray you like that."
Naima relaxed a bit.
"But unfortunately, I cannot help what I hear. My position makes me privy to much of the inner goings-on around here, for better or worse." he said.
"What have you heard…?" Naima probed, silently hoping she would not regret asking.
"Just that you both have been seen multiple times together alone as well as around others," Eliyah said.
"And –" His entire face seemed to pause. He chose his words carefully.
"Interacting in a way that is not customary for a Prince to do so with… his healer's apprentice. I have even heard that you both are being spoken about even amongst the officials in court."
Naima looked down in silence and cringed hard as Eliyah turned around to grab her kohl and some eyeshadow.
"This did come as a surprise to those who are familiar with the Prince." Eliyah mumbled as he rummaged through the drawer of makeup.
"Why is that?" Naima asked.
"Because before, he really has not expressed any interest. Not in any of the girls that visit, at least. Many of them… gorgeous women with perfect lineages, invited on purpose by the Pharaoh himself, so that the Prince will find one suitable to marry." Eliyah said.
"However, I have heard that many of these women have a reputation for being quite unpleasant… always trying to outdo each other, all wanting to be queen as you can imagine… So I suppose I don't blame him."
Naima snorted. Who in their right mind would sign up for that job, let alone fight for it.
"He does have a female friend who used to be around a lot… what was her name… Ah yes… Mana! Apprentice of Mahad … Yes, she had to take a leave from her studies with Mahad to tend to some family business of sorts. They would always hang around each other, quite the trio those three…. But it was always friends, as far as anyone could tell… " Eliyah mused.
"What else?"
"Other than some rumblings of him sneaking out to see a girl some years ago… that is all." Eliyah said as he turned toward her, kohl in hand and ready.
At those words, Naima's stomach did a flip and she commanded her face into stone. Fortunately, this actually was perfect timing as Eliyah carefully applied her eye makeup.
"The Prince is very much a quiet, focused man. Very private. Despite his outward confidence, he is definitely not a ladies' man by any means… in fact, he used to be quite awkward around girls." Eliyah muttered as he worked. "He does seem to enjoy and excel at undertakings of strategy and puzzles… games.. riddles…"
He dabbed a small brush in a bit of powder to fill in her brows.
"So if I may be so forward, I do find it remarkable that he has taken an interest in you." he said, and then suddenly looked embarrassed.
He began to ramble. "Not that you're not someone worth being interested in, that is… –"
She cut him off.
"Eliyah, that girl… the one you mentioned about sneaking out… that was me." she said.
Eliyah froze and simply stared down at her, his eyes wide in shock.
"You mustn't tell a soul… Please." she uttered to him.
"I will guard your secret with my life, Naima…" he said and bowed his head slightly.
They sat in silence for a moment as Eliyah finished applying her makeup. He then proceeded to rub some rose-scented oil on her neck.
"Do you know what happened to him… after that…" she asked quietly.
"It was long ago, so some details are amiss, but I believe that was the same time that the visits from the girls really increased. They had been sporadic before, but really picked up after that. There was some talk about arranging a marriage between him and one of the daughters from the ruling family in Memphis, but that never came through. The Pharaoh has always been against arranging a marriage for his son, but he seems to have grown impatient." Eliyah said.
"Eliyah, do you think that they're doing this now because they've noticed Atem and I together?" she asked.
"Perhaps…." he said. "It would seem so…Or maybe it is for another purpose entirely…"
"I have lived in this palace for many years, Naima. I know you are inexperienced in the intricacies of this life so I caution you to never take anything for face value. Underneath the surface, palace life is a web of lies, backstabbing and people trying to one-up and outsmart the other for their own gain."
Yes. She understood that now. She must be smarter, more cautious, than she had been before.
Eliyah snapped his head up.
"Ah! I cannot believe I forgot." he said as he turned away from her. "While we are on the subject, this came to your room this morning, while you were working…."
He stepped away from the vanity, walked across the room to a shelf next to the window and retrieved something that had previously gone totally unnoticed by her.
A vase, containing a bouquet of flowers.
As soon as Naima laid eyes on it, her jaw almost hit the floor. It was an arrangement of white lotus flowers and pink Damascus roses. As Eliyah walked closer with the vase, the fragrance of the roses hit her nose. The oil on her neck was nothing in comparison to the real thing.
Her eyes were wide as she admired the bouquet that Eliyah set on the vanity in front of her.
She had never received a gift like this before.
"What's this…" she mumbled.
"There was a note stuck in here somewhere…" he said, turning the vase around. A small folded piece of papyrus sat in the middle.
Naima snatched it up, eyeing the familiar messy scrawl between the fold.
In a sea of faces, the only one I see is yours.
First the flowers.. and now this… Naima clutched the note in her trembling hands.
She didn't know how she was supposed to feel.
Trust him. She had to trust him.
"I did not know he was such a romantic…" Eliyah said as he went to grab her dress off the hanger.
But she did.
As she stepped into her dress, she sighed wistfully.
"Would you care to tell the story of you both?" Eliyah asked quietly from behind her as he helped secure her dress in the back.
"Yes," she said, looking at herself in the mirror. "But.. perhaps another time."
He stood behind her and smoothed out her hair as she studied herself in the mirror. She did indeed look beautiful. With her sultry eyes and painted lips, she almost didn't recognize herself.
But still, something was missing.
She glanced over at the bouquet and an idea struck her.
Reaching over, she picked a smaller-sized lotus from its stem, and attempted to place it behind her ear, in her hair.
"Can you pin it, Eliyah?" she asked.
Eliyah proceeded to pull her hair back into a gentle twist on one side of her face and pin the flower in her hair securely behind her ear.
"Perfect…" she said.
-o0o-
Although Naima had purposely avoided the rest of the palace over the last few days, the amount of work that had gone into preparations was now glaringly evident to her as she walked the halls making her way to the party.
Everything was spotless. There was not a single speck of dirt or a smudge anywhere that Naima looked. New red drapes were hung, the stone walls of the hallways were donned with ribbons and ornaments of gold and silver, and the rugs were new and clean. Servants were rushing around everywhere. The delicious smell of roasted food wafted in the air.
And the noises. The rumble of chatter and the clinking of dinnerware, distant now, but getting steadily louder as she walked through the hall. Closer. She passed by several groups of people that she had never seen before, all of whom stared at her as she walked.
As she passed through the large doorway to the hall, she gaped. The large hall, the same hall where blood was poured so many weeks and months ago, was now bright and sparkling, lit up with numerous torches and decorated so ornately that it appeared to be lined with gold. Tables donned with fine dinnerware in preparation for a large feast filled the hall in rows that led to a longer table in the front – The head table, presumably where the Pharaoh, Atem and the court would sit.
It was currently empty.
While she scanned the room, she spotted Penthu at a table near the front. He noticed her and waved her over.
As she walked toward him, she took this opportunity to discreetly scan her surroundings. There were at least sixty people inside, either seated at various tables or standing around in groups, talking and laughing in merriment.
Around ten girls stood or sat together in groups of two or three. All of them were groomed beautifully and dressed in their finest, nervously looking around as they chatted amongst themselves. Many of them looked around her age and seemed nice enough, normal even… maybe thrown into this situation themselves. Perhaps in different circumstances, Naima might have been tempted to socialize and try to make friends.
There wasn't any sign of Atem anywhere, though.
Naima stopped at Penthu's table, of which she noted was only two tables away from the head table, thanks to his high rank. She glanced at the people seated there whose company she would be in for the night – Around five others, all of them being old men, balding and wrinkled… not unlike Penthu himself.
"Ah, finally, you have made it." Penthu mumbled as he stood up to pull out her chair for her.
"Everyone, this is Naima, my apprentice."
Naima nodded to all of them as she sat down.
The introductions to everyone at the table were a waste of time because she instantly forgot all their names, only remembering that they were all prominent healers from Thebes and the surrounding areas.
"It's nice to meet you all." she said, forcing a smile onto her face.
"Well, this is a nice change of scenery Penthu… a woman? As your apprentice?" one of them said, with a good-humored smile.
Penthu turned to him, and his eyes narrowed.
"Hmm, yes? What about it?"
"Just not something we normally see, that's all. Especially a pretty one." he said.
"Yes well… let me just say that she has surpassed all of the male apprentices I've had as of recent," Penthu muttered, glancing at her from the side as he picked up the goblet in front of him and took a sip.
"I am unconcerned with whatever genitalia they have between their legs, only that they can keep up with me."
"Always the progressive, you are…" another one said. "Maybe that is why you are here and we are not."
Penthu shrugged his shoulders and took another sip.
The discussion soon launched into a rather boring debate about the proper way to birth a baby. The others preferred to allow a midwife to do the entire thing, while Penthu would rather take a more active role. Either way, Naima was much more interested in the plate of appetizers in front of her, now hyper-focused on the crunch of the cucumber in her mouth. The conversation around her went in one ear and out the other.
But soon after, a sudden silence rippled through the hall and new movement caught Naima's eye. Could it be? The man of honor has finally decided to grace everyone with his presence?
Indeed.
All noises and conversation immediately ceased as two servants stood in the large entranceway.
"Please join in celebrating the arrival of our glorious Pharaoh, and the Prince." one of them announced.
Everyone in the hall stood up in a show of respect and Naima followed the crowd. As both servants stepped aside, the Pharaoh emerged through the doorway. Except he was not on foot. He was sitting atop an open palanquin, hoisted in the air by two wooden beams on each side that were held up by servants. They swiftly carried him to the front table. Atem appeared shortly after and followed closely behind.
"Long live the Pharaoh Aknamkanon!" the servants shouted.
"Long live the Pharaoh Aknamkanon!" the congregation responded in unison
As Atem took his place at the head table, Naima sneaked a covert look at him.
He sat with his arms crossed, observing the crowd of people before him. He looked neither happy, nor sad; His expression was unreadable. She briefly wondered what he was thinking about.
The pharaoh cleared his throat.
"Welcome, and thank you for joining in this most festive occasion in honor of my son Atem, the future King of Egypt." the Pharaoh announced.
His voice was weak, raspy, and could barely project through the hall, a huge difference from when Naima last saw him weeks prior.
"Many of you have traveled a great distance to be here on such short notice, and I thank you for your flexibility and your dedication. As you know, we all gather here so that your women of marriageable age will have a chance to mingle, in the hope that Atem may choose a wife that suits him."
As the Pharaoh spoke, Naima eyed Atem in her periphery. He didn't move a muscle, except for his eyes that were now angled toward the floor.
"These are dark times we are in. So what better way to brighten up the mood than with fine food, music, and a beautiful union?" the Pharaoh said as he raised his goblet.
"I look forward to our future alliance. Now, let us feast!"
"Long live the Pharaoh Aknamkanon…" everyone in the hall chanted again in unison before the entire hall bowed at the waist to their Pharaoh.
Naima followed suit.
But as she straightened her torso, she lifted her eyes to glance at Atem again, only to find him now looking straight at her. His expression was blank, save for the barely discernable smile in the corners of his lips, and eyes that hastily took in her figure and devoured her, if only for a fleeting moment.
Nevertheless, it was a look especially for her, a daring move considering where he sat. And for only a few seconds, she dared to stare back, until the air was broken by a rush of servants into the room, carrying trays upon trays of food.
Naima hurriedly took her seat next to Penthu and a plate of delicious food was promptly placed in front of her. As she dug in, a servant girl carrying a tray loaded with goblets approached her from the side.
"Would you like some wine, Miss?" she said to her.
Naima perked up.
"Yes, please." she said quickly, grabbing a goblet off the tray and immediately taking a sip. Rich, full-bodied flavor… the acrid aftertaste on her inexperienced palate a bit jarring at first. But it was good enough for her, for now.
She wasn't entirely sure what possessed her to do it. Back in her village, beer was a treat, and wine was something she had only sipped twice in her life. Although both beverages had been offered to her many times while in the palace, she always declined, preferring to maintain her mental clarity to keep up with Penthu's expectations.
But now, Naima drank to her fill as the beer and wine flowed freely at the table. And then she drank again. At first, she convinced herself it was for the taste. But the lightheaded tingle in her mind that took the edge off her feelings made it all the better. Now, she was able to withstand the boring conversations with five boring old men she was forced to listen to and participate in as she sat. At least she could laugh about it in her mind.
By the time the music started, her stomach felt like it was going to burst. With her sixth goblet in hand, she giddily turned around in her seat and watched as people began dancing.
But her seat might as well have been a cloud, floating on the highs of inebriation. It barely even registered in her mind when Atem left his seat to go mingle with the crowd of girls that stood eagerly around him, his father of course watching carefully from the head table. In fact, she didn't even care. Right now, she was floating higher than the Giza pyramid.
Perhaps this wasn't so bad.
Dancing.
Fun.
That's what she should be doing.
But ohhh… her stomach… Beer and wine and entirely too much food all churned together in one spot.
As she sat there and stared around with bleary eyes, her senses dull as a rock, she was grateful for the alcohol… how it blurred the outlines of the cursed party she was at, the lines of the women who surrounded Atem, touching him, dancing with him, laughing with him.
Is that a smile on his face?
How dare he.
"Naima, are you alright?" Penthu said from behind her. Naima craned her neck back to look at him, with her drooping eyelids and a half-open mouth. She was positive she looked absolutely ridiculous.
"Yeah… Imokay..." she mumbled quietly, her words slurring together.
What a stupid, drunken lie.
Penthu's response was nothing but silence and one of his signature scrutinizing stares. Naima couldn't care less though, not when she just saw some girl with her hands all over Atem giving him bedroom eyes.
She wasn't sure if it was that sight or the alcohol that was making her nauseated.
…Was this even worth it? Who the hell did she think she was and what was she even thinking? She can't be with Atem, the fucking Prince of Egypt, the next in line to be King…? And then what would that make her?... A queen?
Yeah right.
This was dumb and pointless and a massive waste of time and energy. She was done. With him. With this party. With everything.
'Fuck this shit.'
"I'm getting tired…" Naima mumbled. "IthinkImma go to myroomansleep."
"Yes…" Penthu said warily, his scrutinizing eyes boring into her like tiny needles.
Bastards.
Both of them.
She quickly and stupidly shot up from her seat, and the room began to spin around her. Not badly enough to make her trip, though, while she scurried across the hall and out the main door. The halls whirled around her as she darted across the palace, and her stomach lurched again.
Bed. She needed her bed. Now. And possibly the chamber pot.
"Pssst…"
What the hell was that? What an annoying noise…
"Hey… Naima…" a voice hissed.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she whipped her head around, only to see her sister peeking out from behind a stone column.
"Oh Zahra…" Naima mumbled, slightly out of breath as she tried to focus her eyes on her sister, but was now seeing double. "What the hell areyeweven dewing inhere? Don't you have schoolwork?"
"Did you just come from the party?" she asked.
"…Yeah.."
"Can you pleeeeeeaaaaase sneak me back some food? I'm desperate for something that isn't fish and bread." Zahra said.
"I'm not going back there…" Naima mumbled.
"…Are you drunk?" Zahra said, eyeing her.
"…Kind of…"
Zahra shot up and proceeded to spout a series of words at her. But Naima had no idea what she was saying. She was too focused on the room spinning around her.
"Zahra… please…" Naima murmured, clutching her face in her hands.
"Hey.. are you okay?" Zahra said.
No, she wasn't.
The hall spun. And her stomach ached, it ached so bad. And it burned in her throat… and her mouth became bitter.
And the next thing she knew, she lunged toward the nearest large object she could find – a potted plant – and promptly emptied the contents of her stomach into the pot.
With her last wretch, she coughed and knelt down, leaning her head against the cold ceramic edge. When she finally cracked her eyes open, she expected to see only one pair of feet – Zahra's.
But she saw two instead, the second pair belonging to Aknadin, who was staring down at her in disgust with a wrinkled nose.
Great. What a perfect ending to a perfect night.
As Aknadin strode away in a huff, Naima picked herself off the floor.
"I need to lay down Zahra… I really can't hang out tonight." Naima mumbled.
But Zahra appeared to pay no attention to what she said, she was too busy staring after Aknadin.
"Did you hear what I said?" Naima asked.
Zahra finally turned her head toward her. "Yeah. That's alright. Feel better."
-o0o-
The night was still young.
Although the festivities in the large hall were the main attraction tonight, there were other, smaller things happening around the palace, if one knew where to look. At the far end of the palace, one could hear the echoes of sharp retches and coughs of vomiting, loud enough to be heard even though a closed door and beyond.
But on the opposite end, in a remote area that was hidden under the cover of groomed bushes, something quieter and more covert was happening in the midst.
As Aknadin slinked through the halls, his lips still curled up in disgust, it was clear that he was heading to meet someone who was waiting patiently for him outside by the bushes.
A man with a cleanly shaven head, sharp, pointed features and what seemed to be a permanent arrogant scowl etched into his face looked up as soon as Aknadin passed through the doorway.
"Aknadin.." he said with a nod in greeting.
"I'm surprised to see you out here, Kerpheres… I would have thought you'd be watching your daughter closely…" Aknadin said.
The man named Kerpheres waved his hand dismissively.
"She knows what she has to do."
The air was heavy with a knowing silence as Aknadin stepped up to stand next to the man, and he clasped his arms behind his back. Both men looked out into the distance pensively.
"I was under the impression that ship had sailed years ago when the Pharaoh refused an arranged marriage with my daughter and you told me you were a changed man. But as always… you are full of surprises." Kerpheres said. "I must say… I was quite astounded to see the invitation for my daughter's hand. I'm presuming this was orchestrated by you, as per usual? There was no way your brother could have done this, he looks like a sick animal on its last legs."
At Aknadin's nod, he continued.
"I was under the impression that ship had sailed years ago when you told me you were a changed man. But as always… you are full of surprises." Kerpheres said.
Aknadin stared straight ahead, his pursed lips forming a firm, unmoving line.
"Yes."
"So tell me, what changed your mind." Kerpheres asked.
Aknadin turned his head to look over at him silently, studying the man briefly.
"It is time for a change." he said quietly.
"Ha! You know I have been saying that for years. I'm glad it has finally sunk into that thick skull of yours." Kerpheres said.
"Well, I am glad regardless. If this works out like it should, both of us will get what we want. With my daughter as Queen, my beloved city will finally get the resources it needs to return to its former glory. And you…"
Kerpheres turns to look at Aknadin.
"If all goes according to plan… once the current ruling line is finally extinguished… your dream since boyhood, to be the Pharaoh, will finally be realized. I will ensure that my daughter will be a good Queen to you."
Aknadin's eyes narrowed.
"It will not be me…"
Kerpheres shrunk back in surprise. "Then who?"
"It will be Seto." Aknadin said.
"Seto?" Kerpheres said incredulously. "But why?"
"Do not question me." Aknadin snarled venomously. "It will be as I say."
Kerpheres shifted his weight onto his heels, stunned for a moment, before he nodded his head briefly.
"Of course."
"Need I remind you to ensure that your daughter's mouth remains shut about this, lest all three of our heads will be mounted on spikes and paraded through Thebes. Do not think for a second that I had not noticed her loud gossiping this evening, even from across the hall." Aknadin said.
Kerpheres pursed his lips.
"Yes. I will speak with her. You have my word that this will remain between the three of us."
But, unbeknownst to them, their seemingly private conversation was on full display for another set of ears. One whose small form lurked in the shadows after she silently trailed Aknadin, her fiery red eyes fixated on the two men who stood next to each other. Zahra remained frozen in place while she listened, as silent as a mouse and both men none the wiser to the fact that here in the palace, no secret is safe.
Author's note:
The plot thickens! And I am back after a much-needed mental health hiatus :) It feels good to be back at it again. I love this story and have no intention of letting it die, no matter how long it takes me to finish it!
Chapter 24: Perception
Chapter Text
"He came back again this morning." Kisara said. "That man with the mean face…"
Naima wrinkled her nose.
The morning after that stupid, godforsaken party, Naima had stumbled back into the medical ward for work despite her raging hangover, only to find Aknadin standing over a sleeping Kisara.
And he was doing nothing but staring at her with his arms crossed. Of course he left in a hurry once he saw that he was no longer alone. But he had now come back two more times in five days, each time very early in the morning, before anyone would notice him.
"What did he do?" Naima asked as she helped Kisara sit up.
Kisara sighed, carefully swinging her legs to the side of the bed.
"He just stared at me again. I pretended to sleep so he wouldn't try to talk to me."
Very strange behavior.
"I will speak with Penthu about this. He should not be in here making patients feel uncomfortable." Naima said.
She grabbed both of Kisara's hands and gently pulled her up to stand.
"He gives me the creeps." Kisara muttered, and Naima felt a small shudder down her body. "His face looks so dark and mean."
She was right. She had not noticed such dark shadows across his face before. Either Naima had not paid much attention to his face, or something had changed.
Naima held onto Kisara's waist for support as she took small steps from her bed to the chamber pot.
She was finally walking, Naima noted, which was remarkable progress. A huge change seen in such a short period of time.
"You've done so well. You might be ready to leave here soon." Naima said with a smile.
A tidal wave of despair crashed over her face in an instant.
"Leave?" Kisara croaked.
Her hands began to tremble while Naima held them.
Oh Ra. This does not sound good.
Naima turned to face her and watched as Kisara wrapped her arms around her small torso, tears forming in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.
"What is wrong, Kisara?" Naima asked gently.
"I don't want to go back…" Kisara whimpered through her tears. She reached up to clutch Naima's arm.
"Please… I can't go back…"
"Back to where?" Naima said.
"…Back to them…" she whispered, her face in her hands.
"Who is 'them'?"
Kisara sniffled, as she wiped the tears from her face and looked at Naima. The sorrow and dread that were heavy in Kisara's deep blue eyes hit her like a palpable thing.
"It's… really hard for me to talk about…" Kisara mumbled.
Naima took her hand, squeezed it and looked Kisara in the eye.
"Please, if you are willing to share…I would like to know.. to understand…" she said.
Kisara's face changed as something seemed to click inside her, as if Naima had just granted her permission to unlock the torrent of memories she kept hidden in her mind.
She closed her eyes with another sigh and pursed her lips.
"When I was very young – "
"HELLLOOOOOO!"
Both of them jumped at the sudden, jarring shout that exploded in the air from seemingly out of nowhere, ruining the moment.
Naima looked over her shoulder as the sounds of multiple pairs of footsteps filled the previously silent hall. Kisara's bed had been moved away from the main area to a more private corner behind Penthu's office, and with increasingly complacent guards now only appearing a few hours of the day, she did not notice the people who so rudely entered and announced their presence.
"HELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?!"
The voice was persistent. Perhaps this was an emergency.
Naima glanced back over at Kisara apologetically and sighed.
"Later?" she said to Kisara, who nodded.
Naima gave her one last glance before she swiftly turned around and marched back into the main hall.
As soon as she rounded the corner, she spotted three women, none of whom she had seen before.
Visitors, most likely.
"Yes? How can I help you?" Naima said as she strode over, quickly assessing the group.
"Oh finally… the healer has arrived." one of the girls exclaimed. She had large eyes, shoulder length hair and an expressive face with eyes that were now frantic. Even before they conversed, Naima could sense that her entire demeanor exuded drama, as if everything was a crisis.
Another woman stood next to her with her arms crossed against her chest. Her long and dark spiraled curly hair spilled down her back, with narrowed cat-like eyes and a downturned mouth in what seemed to be a continuous expression of scorn, accentuating the small beauty mark on her cheek.
Both women were absolutely gorgeous, dressed in the finest clothing, the cut and style of their dresses modern and flattering. Their skin was smooth and their faces perfectly made up. And Naima could notice even now that they carried themselves with a certain elegance that could only signify nobility.
The dramatic one lifted the right side of her dress up, revealing a large, swollen foot and ankle.
"You must fix this."
The one with the cat-like eyes scoffed under her breath and rolled her eyes.
"Will you shut up, Halima…" the dramatic one shouted, glaring at the woman next to her.
Halima wrinkled her nose in a sneer.
"Only a fool would walk around in the garden with no shoes."
"I already told you that one of the straps on my sandals broke. How could I have not walked back barefoot?"
"By not going there in the first place, Aria…" Halima retorted.
"Well I heard the Prince likes to go there… You're just jealous because you didn't think of it." Aria snapped back.
Naima groaned internally and gestured to a chair and nearby table.
"Please, sit."
Aria hobbled to the chair and slumped down in it.
"What happened?" Naima said as she knelt down to take a closer look at Aria's foot.
"I was stung by a scorpion in the garden. Those wretched creatures…" Aria grumbled.
"What did the scorpion look like?" Naima asked.
"My servant caught it and killed it… Here it is…." Aria said and gestured to the third person in the group, a young girl. She approached carrying a folded cloth and opened it, revealing a limp, light brown creature with large claws and a fat tail.
"Ah… you were very lucky. A sting from this one is harmless." Naima said with a small smile.
"You can reduce the swelling by soaking your ankle in cold water. It will take a few days to go down. I will give you some pain medicine."
Naima opened the drawer under the table and began to put some dark colored pill-like balls in a bowl.
Aria sat in the chair and stared at her in disbelief.
"So you can't just... heal it?"
Naima shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. This is not something I can make go away. It will go away on its own."
"What bullshit is this?" Aria exclaimed with insolence, her voice high pitched in desperation. "You are Naima, correct? The apprentice of the great Penthu, known throughout this area for the healing of wounds, and yet you cannot heal this?! What is wrong with you!?"
Naima took a deep breath in and out, clinging desperately to whatever patience she still had.
"This is not a wound. This swelling is your body's reaction to the scorpion venom. There is nothing to heal. It will go away in a few days."
"Hmph… Ridiculous….." she spat. With some difficulty, Aria rose up from the chair and stood over her.
"I don't HAVE a few days! I need to be okay NOW!"
She clutched her hands to her face in despair, her voice high and dramatic. "I can't have the Prince seeing me like this!"
Next to her, Halima leaned to the side and smirked, arms still crossed over her chest.
"You actually thought he would go for you?" she said, her voice dripping with arrogance.
"Puh-lease… Give it up. Unlike you, the prince and I have... history."
Aria glanced over at Halima and shot an exasperated glare at her, briefly looking as if she had just crushed her entire world. Aria then turned her attention toward Naima. In her rage, Aria raised her arm and swatted it across the table, knocking some glass bottles off. They shattered on the floor, their contents going everywhere.
"DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!" Aria screamed at Naima as she pointed toward her ankle.
Stunned and wide-eyed, Naima stared up at the crazed woman. It took everything in her to resist the growing list of expletives that burned on the tip of her tongue.
"I—"
"Is there a problem here?"
Everyone in the room froze and looked at the entrance. There, standing in the doorway, was Mahad. His arms were crossed over his large body and his entire demeanor was stern. He glared at the two girls across from Naima.
And as if they both had split personalities, all evidence of hostility erased from their appearance.
"Oh Mahad! Nooooo not at all!"
"There's no problem at all"
They both gushed with sugary sweet smiles and voices, hands clasped together. "We were just leaving…"
Both of them covertly shot one last disgusted scowl at Naima before Aria snatched the pain medication off the table, and they both headed toward the exit. Mahad turned his body to let them through, watching them the entire time with an unyielding glare. They left quickly, whispering to each other as they scurried off.
Mahad turned back around and looked at her.
"Naima…" he said in acknowledgement and bowed his head lightly before leaving.
The hall fell silent again.
Still in shock, Naima walked over to the broken glass on the marble floor and crouched down in front of it. She really should get a broom to sweep it up.
But instead, she sighed deeply and rubbed her face in her hands.
These girls. They were beautiful nightmares.
They were rude and nasty and… so incredibly different from her.
Despite their supremely unpleasant personalities, the two girls, along with the others that were here, all moved with a certain grace that only came from having worn such delicate fabrics and intricate jewels from a young age, of being raised in an environment of etiquette and the intricacies of political dealings, of knowing the finer things in life.
Although Naima was also dressed in her own stylish clothes thanks to Eliyah's work, her own dress today made from fine silk, she could recall a time when she fashioned dresses for both her and Zahra from the fabric of leftover sacks of wheat. She lived in this palace, but even despite the knowledge that her own mother lived here, she has not yet shaken the strange sensation of foreignness she felt at times, as if she still didn't belong there… contrasted to how all the visiting girls walked around the palace so comfortably like it was their home.
This further validated her own conclusions that it was for the best that she and Atem go their separate ways. It was better for him this way, she told herself. He needs to be with someone who fits into his life, who understands how to live as a royal, who wants to be his queen and perform whatever duties that entailed…
Naima was content in her position as it is.
And she was mad at him anyways. She wasn't really even sure why. But she was.
Maybe because he came back into her life and was now turning it upside down. Or maybe in the back of her mind, she had naïvely hoped he would have turned those girls down that night and ignored them, despite all the watchful eyes on him including his own father.
No matter. They haven't been together since the night in the garden anyways, and she intended to keep it like that by avoiding him at all costs.
She was done and this was for the best.
Let those girls have him. She would be too busy giving him the silent treatment for the next ten years to care.
And yet…
Wasn't she supposed to trust him? Is this what he meant when he said that to her? He even went out of his way to send her flowers and a sweet message as a reminder… He must have already known it was going to be a rough night for both of them.
Naima finally stood back up, grabbed a broom from the closet and began to sweep up the mess.
Perhaps she was thinking too much.
She considered this as she swept the floor clean, the only noises in the room being the gentle scratching of the broom over the floor, the clink of broken glass.
'One day at a time.' she decided, before she allowed her mind to get ahead of itself.
After she finished up cleaning, she went back around the corner to go check on Kisara, remembering their unfinished conversation. However, as she rounded the corner, she saw that Kisara was fast asleep again.
Naima sighed. Perhaps another day.
-o0o-
"Shimon, you promised…!" Naima said as she took her place across from him in the Shrine of Wedju.
"Yes, yes I did, didn't I? Alright then –" Shimon said as he fixed his Diadhank on his arm. "If you can hold your own against me tonight, I will tell you about your mother."
"Deal." Naima said.
"Ready to try again, Naima?" Shimon said as the plate of his diadhank shot outward.
Naima sighed.
"As ready as I'll ever be." she said, glancing down warily at the golden plate on her forearm. It was ready for her though. She felt it.
"This time, Naima, do not shy away. Whatever you feel, embrace it." Shimon said.
Naima nodded.
"Okay."
"Now, I will summon…. my Giant Soldier of Stone!" Shimon shouted from across the room as what seemed to be a massive pile of rocks with beady dark eyes materialized in front of her.
It was her turn now, and before she could change her mind, she closed her eyes and concentrated.
A tug in her mind, like someone gently knocking on a door. Naima yielded to it, to whatever it was.
And then, a burst inside of her chest and her own hideous, throaty growl roared in her ears.
She towered above all. She was power and wrath and might. She was lightning embodied, splayed across a cloudy night sky, an ancient storm of light and darkness.
Two minds. Or one?
Naima's eyes burned as they adjusted to her new vision. Claws scraped against her palms, and lightning coursed through her body like a deadly, caustic river.
Then, she felt it. Tendrils of darkness…snaking into her mind, leeching into her core…. Something that Naima had vehemently fought against before.
'Don't fight it, embrace it.'
This time, she relinquished herself. All of her. Everything.
And as if her surrender had unlocked a barricade or mental chains of sorts, it all slammed into her all at once.
The power she had been resisting, that she had feared for so many years, gladly seeped into her bones. It felt right, like a puzzle piece had been missing this entire time. And for the first time ever, she welcomed it into her body.
She stared down at her hands, her claws pointed and pristine.
Claws that will annihilate the stone creature in front of it. Claws that will scratch its eyes out, grab its arms and hurl it toward the wall, crushing it into pieces.
She snarled and felt her mouth water at the thought.
Yes.
"Naima, you must attack!" she heard Shimon's voice cry out in front of her.
Attack you? Gladly.
She felt her body rear up in a ferocity she had never known before as she summoned bolts of lightning from the sky, the pent-up wrath of her own angry, demonic spirit swirling like a windstorm inside of her. It was so much, and yet not enough.
Not nearly enough.
Naima roared as her electrical storm spun in the air and came crashing down onto the stone creature. The subsequent sparks that flew, the ensuing explosion, the smell of burnt earth and rock, the sight of the scorched gravel… it besieged her senses. Maybe it was too much….
…As if she could have stopped it. Because the darkness answers to no one.
But it was the sizzling in her ears that finally caused her to falter. The hissing noise that spewed from the cracked remains of the stone creature triggered her mind to stir with memories of a similar event.
When instead of rock, it was flesh, fat and sinew that burned and crackled from the intense heat of her electricity.
And instead of gravel that flowed from her victim, it was blood… spurting and spraying in her hands…
Oh Ra, she was truly a monster on the inside.
Something caught her eye and she looked down again. Her claws, now stained in dark red blood, dripping off the tips and onto her forearms.
No.
"Naima…."
It did not matter how many people she helps and heals, how much good she puts out into the world, she could never atone for what she did.
How dare she call herself a healer when her hands were so filthy.
"…..Naima…."
Perhaps she did not deserve to live. Perhaps she should have died long ago, that night when Atem had the shadow game with the mysterious man.
No, a fitting death for her would be to die by her own hand, struck dead by her wrath and cruelty, electricity boiling her brain in her skull … like the fate of the hundreds upon hundreds of ducks she had killed.
Animals sacrificed in the name of "healing", for "practice" she had told herself. She was a fraud.
"Naima!"
Her concentration finally broke, and she felt herself dissipate in the air, her human form coming to life once more.
Naima blinked. Everything was normal again.
Everything except her hands. She splayed them out in front of her, gaping at the smears and stains of caked blood on her palms.
Immediately, she began to furiously rub them together. Hopefully the friction will take the blood off before Shimon notices. She needs water… she needs to wash this off… right now…
"Well done, Naima." Shimon said as he walked toward her, the plate of his diadhank withdrawing back into the wrist band.
Naima looked back down at her hands, still stained. Her rubbing seemed to have done nothing.
"Ah… uh… " Naima stammered with shifty eyes. "Shimon… there's blood on my hands…."
Shimon raised his eyebrows and stopped, studying her hands from where he was at.
"I do not see what you're talking about." he said, resuming his stride toward her.
How could he not see?
"What do you mean?" Naima cried out, exasperated. "It's all over my hands!"
Shimon stopped in front of her and glanced down at her hands.
"Naima, are you feeling alright? I know this must have been a lot for you."
"You don't see it?! How can you not see it?" Naima cried out, holding her palms up for Shimon to see.
Shimon took her hand and examined it.
"I do not see any blood." he said. "Are you okay, my girl?"
Was she okay? She wasn't sure. Probably not. The blood on her hands was clear as day to her, how could he not see it?
…Maybe it was only visible to her?
"The first time someone accepts the energy of their Ka is always an intense experience. But yours seemed to be even more so." he said, patting his hand on her shoulder. "Despite this, you have done well today…"
"Did I hurt you?" Naima asked.
"Not at all. My stone soldier was placed in a defensive stance. It would not drain my lifeforce if destroyed." Shimon said.
Naima sighed in relief. At least she had done something right.
"Now, as promised, a story about your mother. And then, we will pick up again from here another time. How does that sound?" he said, his fatherly tone gentle and nurturing, yet persistent.
Naima sighed. She honestly wasn't in the mood right now. All she wanted to do was bathe and scrub her hands until her skin peeled off. But to turn down the opportunity for a story about her mother would be insanity.
She forced a smile onto her face.
"Alright."
They both sat down on the steps of the stone floor.
"Your mother," he began. "Was an absolutely brilliant woman. As you know, she was a high priestess in our court and when she had first arrived, at the time so young and fresh and full of new life and ideas, I knew that Aknamkanon had made a good decision in recruiting her."
"The water reservoirs you see in all the villages … they were her idea. The weekly giving of bread and milk to the poor in Thebes, her idea. Cutting the taxes collected from farmers to encourage more food production, her idea of course. She wanted to repair the roads and build more bridges across the Nile, so our lands would be more interconnected. She felt it would allow our economy grow and help our people connect." Shimon said.
"She had so many plans, and she had the will and follow-through to see to it that her ideas turned into completed projects. Your mother was simply good at her role, a natural leader, one with pure intentions and a true desire to help humanity."
"Why was she hated then?" Naima asked.
"Hah! You are obviously new to politics, my girl. Anytime you have a newcomer doing better work than the ones in the position for decades, you're bound to make some enemies. Especially when the newcomer is different from them." Shimon said, bowing his head slightly with a knowing look.
"The old priests at the top, already used to congratulating themselves everyday on being masters of the world, simply could not handle that a young woman was doing so well, so much better than they were."
"What came of it?"
Shimon shrugged.
"Samira had enemies, and people who were very critical of her. But, Aknamkanon respected her opinion, admired her deeply… adored her even. And why would he not? She made him look good. Everything she did has been listed as an achievement under his rule. But everyone who knew the situation saw that she did all the work, he just put his name under it. And so, as you can imagine, she began to grow frustrated with this arrangement over time…."
"So what happened?"
"She continued to do as she had been doing. But she was still restless …. She wanted to be Queen." Shimon said with a smile.
Naima's eyes widened in surprise.
"She did?"
"Oh yes, everyone knew she wanted to be Queen." Shimon said and then laughed under his breath. "Everyone except Aknamkanon of course. He was as oblivious as ever. But she felt since she was already doing the job, she should rightfully have the title."
He then paused and smiled to himself, seemingly lost in a memory.
"Keep going, Shimon!" Naima said.
"Oh, would you look at the time… It's almost time for bed!" Shimon said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know us old people like to sleep early."
Naima groaned.
"At your next lesson, we can continue." he said. "Have to leave some for later, of course, so you will come back for your lessons.."
He winked.
Naima smiled, her mood lifted slightly, images of her mother providing a brief reprieve from the horrible thoughts that had taken occupancy in her mind only moments ago.
She quickly made her way out of the shrine, her hands clasped in front of her in an attempt to hide the blood-stains on her palms, in case she was mistaken and others really could see. As she walked, she rubbed her palms together.
'Filthy… so fucking filthy…'
"Naima?"
That voice, that familiar deep voice… Atem. Somehow he was both the last person she wanted to talk to, and the only person she wanted to talk to.
Naima's stomach did a flip and she turned around.
And of course, there he was, striding toward her from another building in the area, likely his own Shrine, sporting a warm, eager smile on his face. He was clearly excited to see her.
He stopped in front of her, and Naima gave him an uneasy look, still fidgeting with her hands.
'Please don't look at my hands… please don't look at my hands…'
He glanced down at her waist, toward her hands.
'Fuck…'
There was confusion on his face as he took her hands into his and examined them briefly. Naima looked at them too.
The blood was gone…. Her hands looked normal again.
He looked back up at her face.
"Is everything alright?" he said.
The thoughts in her head whirled. No more blood… Why….
But, no time to mull it over right this second. Isn't she supposed to be done with him and his stupid crap? Wasn't the plan to give him the silent treatment for the next ten years? Let him have those pretty girls, let him have those bedroom eyes and roaming hands –
"I heard about what happened today… I am sorry for the trouble that Halima and Aria have caused you. I have already spoken to them and they have apologized." he said.
Naima stopped and looked at him curiously. That's what he thinks she's upset about?
What happened with Halima and Aria this morning was like a mere speck of dust compared to what was weighing on her currently.
"You are still upset." he noted, peering down at her with his large, violet eyes.
She silently cursed her obvious facial expressions.
"Um… not about that."
"Then what?"
Sweet silence.
She felt a wave of irritation rising and she glanced briefly at his face with a slight glare, before turning away.
"You're angry with me…" he said softly, a question in his words.
Why yes. Yes she was.
Her eyes shot toward his face again, and he gave her a small, knowing smile that made her stupid, idiot heart soar in her chest, despite her anger.
"Whenever you're upset with someone, you turn your face away from them." he said.
And with that comment, Naima was floored. He was right.
A guilty smile broke out over her face, which he gladly returned. He took her hands.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" he asked.
Naima sighed. She had lost this battle.
"All these girls here, trying to win your attention. I know you said to trust you but this is hard for me… And the night of the party, they were all over you… It just made me really angry."
Atem looked as if he was going to respond, until he suddenly tensed up and looked out into the distance.
"Come with me.." he said, turning around and gently pulling her arm toward one of the shrines.
Naima followed him inside, the interior previously pitch-black, until a series of torches had lit up by themselves. They now stood pinned behind the stone walls of the entrance.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Atem looked at her and placed his finger over his lips, a directive to stay silent.
After a moment, the soft voices of women conversing and giggling carried through the not-too-distant air.
"Where did he go?"
"I thought I saw him over here…"
"Yeah, I did too."
The voices came and went relatively quickly. Once the silence returned, Atem peered outward and nodded to her, indicating the all-clear.
Naima couldn't help but giggle.
"You're hiding from them?"
Atem rubbed the back of his neck, looking at her sheepishly with a slight crooked grin on his face as he stepped back into the hallway of the shrine. His expression made her giggle even more.
Her change in mood seemed to take him by surprise, but he reveled in her laughter and smiles nonetheless, his own half-smile plastered on his face as he walked closer to her.
Naima leaned her back against the stone wall of the shrine and gazed up at him, his smile now replaced with a look of anticipation, like he wanted to say something.
"Naima, I know what you saw that night. Their advances were unwelcome, and I assure you that they have been dealt with and will not touch me, or anyone else for that matter, without consent. I have not spent time with any of them." he said. "These girls and their families are... very desperate.. for what I can provide for them. You must understand that they are willing to do whatever it takes…"
"Do they know you're not interested?" Naima asked.
"Yes. They do not care." he said. "I know many of these girls very well. I have known them since childhood even."
"What about the one who you were arranged to marry before?" Naima pried shamelessly.
He looked at her curiously.
"You mean Halima? It was never arranged, just discussed."
Naima shrank back and stared at him in surprise. He was supposed to marry her?
He saw her face.
"Halima is three years older than me, and as you have already seen, can be a lot to handle… as are the other girls." he said. "In many ways, I consider myself fortunate. I would prefer…not.. to be married to her."
"So you don't like any of them, then?" she asked. "How come?"
He looked over at her and paused for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"They will make fine wives for good men. But they are not for me. I would like something else… something different..."
"And that is… ?"
He simply smiled at her and swept the loose hair away from her face, his fingertips brushing against her cheek, before he playfully grazed the end of her nose with his thumb and forefinger.
Oh.
Naima blushed.
"Did I answer all of your questions?" he said with an amused look on his face.
Naima smiled guiltily and stifled another giggle.
"I think so…"
He reached down and took one of her hands into his own.
"Naima, this is temporary. I promise you." he said, squeezing it.
The sincerity that emanated from his words glimmered like fine gold in her mind.
Was she feeling insecure? Yes. Was she a jerk for being mad at him and wanting to give him the silent treatment? Maybe.
Perhaps it was unwise to make decisions based on the drunken thoughts and musings that had festered in her mind for five days. If she is choosing to be with him, she really should be better about trusting him, trusting his plan, whatever it may be. Nobody said this would be easy.
"I believe you." she said gently.
He lifted up her hand, her shameful, guilty hand, and as he looked into her eyes, he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it.
"I meant what I wrote to you." he said. "That night, I watched you for a time, but then you disappeared…"
Naima let out a small laugh.
"I left early. I got drunk and then I threw up in a pot –," Amusement lit up on his face.
"And then I went to bed. Not nearly as interesting as your night."
"I would have much rather been in your company instead." he said, interlacing his fingers with hers.
She rubbed her thumb over his forefinger affectionately.
"I wanted to thank you for the flowers. They were gorgeous, and a wonderful surprise."
He smiled at her in acknowledgement and moved closer toward her. Naima felt the smoothness of the stone wall lightly pressing into her back as he gazed down at her with eyes so loving that it took her breath away.
"I've missed you…" he murmured, a husky note in his deep voice as he caressed her cheek with his thumb. "There wasn't a single day that passed where I did not think of you… I am always thinking of you…"
How in the world did she think she could stay mad at this?
"I missed you too…" Naima said, leaning into his touch. She slid her hand atop his, gently pressing his hand to her cheek as she looked into his eyes.
It was the truth. All week she tried to ignore the fact that her frustration stemmed partly from how much she missed him, his gentle touches and eloquent words and the warmth that simmers between them every time they are together.
Atem placed one hand above her head against the wall behind her and looked down into her eyes. His fingers traced the bottom of her jaw, lifting her chin up slightly, only for his mouth to meet hers, placing sweet, soft kisses on her lips. Her mouth opened in response, and she kissed him back deeply, wrapping her arms around his neck. He gladly responded to her enthusiasm, his mouth and hands eager for her.
She eventually felt his arms wrap around her waist, and to her surprise, he squeezed her to his body, lifting her feet up off the ground.
Naima yelped in surprise and laughed against his lips, feeling his smile on her mouth.
As he let her back down gently, his hands caressed her cheek and jawline and he pressed another gentle kiss to her mouth.
"Come with me." he said as he took her hand. "I've been wanting to show you something."
She followed him down the hall of his Shrine, silently taking it all in as she held his hand.
The hall was relatively narrow, lit up by torches that ignited when they sensed their presence. It was lined on each side with large stone tablets, the surface of which was carved with drawings of various creatures. There were so many of them.
"Are these all of your Ka?" she asked him
"Yes." he said.
They passed a tablet on her right that caught her eye.
Naima inhaled sharply.
"Is that Khouri?" she exclaimed.
Sure enough, the lines of the carving that depicted the cute, brown furball lit up and Naima gasped once again as his ghostly, translucent silhouette appeared before her eyes.
He squealed a greeting to her, bouncing up and down, snuggling his face to her cheek and Naima laughed.
"It's nice to see you again, Khouri…" she said to him. He cried out once more, before his figure dissipated in the air.
Atem silently gestured toward the other side of the hall, where another carving of a familiar figure stood out.
"The Celtic Guardian…. He came to you as well…" Naima said in awe.
He looked down at her.
"Yes. All of the Ka here that serve me have some sort of personal connection. Friendship and mutual respect are the best way to bring out the true strength of the Ka … strength that comes from the heart."
They continued down the hall to reach a much larger room. It was filled with carvings of different Ka, like Shimon's, but Atem walked down to the far wall, stopping short of a set of four stairs that led up to a platform that hugged the perimeter.
"Look." Atem said, pointing straight ahead to one of the carvings.
Naima made out what appeared to be three stone tablets in front of her. They were arranged in a set, two side-by-side and one above it, laid out as a trio and connected with lines.
The one on the right, and the one on top were blank. But the left one…. Intricate lines formed a familiar dragon-like figure.
"Slifer?" Naima exclaimed, looking at him. Atem's demeanor had returned to his usual seriousness as he continued to study the carving, his arms crossed over his chest.
"He is housed in that tablet now?"
"Yes." Atem said. "But look… there are also blank tablets. Which means… there are more."
"Nafi did mention that before… That there were three that roam the earth." she said.
Atem nodded.
"So what do you plan to do?" Naima asked. "Will you try to find the other two?"
Atem continued to gaze up at the carvings in front of him in contemplation.
"I have spent many hours thinking about that very question. And I have decided.. that I will not attempt to find the other two. If I am destined to control them, they will reveal themselves to me eventually." he said.
"But, the way the tablets are arranged seems to imply that they will be housed here, with me."
"All three Egyptian Gods under your control…" Naima muttered under her breath in awe. "But why?"
Atem's face was as hard as granite, his eyes still transfixed on the stone.
"I believe that we will all be in great danger in the near future. To require the power of one God is enough, but all three? Something big is coming, Naima. We must prepare ourselves." he said ominously.
Perhaps he was right. She felt the sudden urge to pack up all her things and escape to the furthest corner of the desert. But, that would make her a coward.
She glanced over at Atem beside her. Whatever he thought would happen, he intended to see it through to the end. He fully accepted this responsibility without question or complaint.
A true leader.
She reached down for his hand and squeezed it comfortingly, stroking the back of it with her thumb.
"One day at a time."
Atem finally tore his eyes away from the stone to gaze down at her, his solemn, stoic face unmoving in the torchlight.
He nodded.
-o0o-
They both left the shrine together without much conversation afterward, Atem continuing to stay deep in his thoughts. As they walked outside through the entrance, the night had settled in comfortably. It felt later than what she would have preferred since she had to be awake at dawn. Her eyes drooped a bit.
"Oh there you are!" a shrill voice cried out. "I knew you were over here…"
Both of their heads shot upward in surprise.
Two women were running toward them across the palace grounds.
One of them was Halima, the other one Naima didn't recognize.
Atem's eyes widened, and something that looked like regret appeared on his face for only a mere second, before his expression returned to normal.
The two women quickly strode over as fast as their outfits would allow, the thin, sheer overlay of their dresses trailing behind them in the breeze.
"My Prince, we've been looking all over for you." Halima said in an overly sweet tone, a giant smile on her face.
Her eyes then wandered over to Naima, initially glancing at her like she was some dirty peasant. But realization dawned on her face, and she did a double-take at her, her eyes wide and incredulous, darting back and forth from her and Atem suspiciously.
The other girl caught up to Halima and also gave Atem a big smile. "Would you like to join us on a walk, My Prince?"
"Hello Halima… Nour…" Atem said in greeting. His voice was distant.
"We were just leaving. It is late, and it can be dangerous here at night. You both should not be out here alone."
"Well you will come and protect us, right?" Nour gushed.
Atem sighed, a quiet groan under his breath.
"If you wish to take a walk, I will have a guard to escort you both."
Nour pouted. "But why not you?"
Atem ignored her and gestured to Naima to follow him.
As they both began down the path back to the palace, Naima heard both of the girls follow, their footsteps trailing close behind…
Until Halima had suddenly come up behind them, barged her way between her and Atem and inserted herself by his side. She quickly tried to loop her arm around his.
Atem shrank back and looked appalled.
"Halima… please…" he muttered.
"I haven't seen you all day! In fact, it's been at least a couple of years since we've seen each other. What have you been up to?" she cooed with big eyes and a flirtatious smile.
Atem quickly looked around.
"Mahad!" he called out.
In the near distance, the figure of a large man seemed to perk up and he hastily ran toward them.
"Mahad, will you escort these ladies on their walk?" Atem said.
The subsequent sulking and pouting that ensued was something Naima had considered herself fortunate to have never seen before in real life until now.
Halima glared at Mahad like he was garbage as he walked toward the girls expectantly.
"Come, Naima." Atem said.
Out of the corner of her eye, Naima glanced over at the two girls. Nour looked like she was going to cry, while Halima stared at Naima with a mixture of shock, disbelief and disgust.
"I see what you mean…" Naima whispered to Atem after they were a safe distance away.
But something continued to prickle in the back of her spine, like something was not right, and she had the sudden urge to look back behind her again. The two girls were still there like she and Atem had left them. But while Nour was busy arguing with Mahad, Halima continued to stare after her, a dark, menacing scowl a murky shadow over her face.
And that's when she got the feeling, she would not see the last of Halima.
Author's note:
These chapters are getting longer and longer lol… it's always a challenge for me to communicate everything I want to say in fewer words. I am not surprised that I am already over 100k words, and based on my outline I anticipate crossing the 200k word mark easily.
Chapter 25: Naqada
Chapter Text
Author's note:
-*See end author's note for chapter specific content/trigger warnings*
-Naqada is a town that is approximately 15 miles/25 kilometers north of Thebes or what is now modern day Luxor
"I'll get to you in a moment." Naima said to a servant girl she had never seen before, eyeing the long line of patients that overflowed out of the doors and into the hallway.
Penthu did not lie when he said there would be chaos.
Ten extra families to care for including their servants and even their pets had both of them scrambling most days, not even having a spare moment to eat at times. From forgotten medications to stomach aches to even a pet cat who had somehow picked up a bad case of parasitic worms, which was a first for her and even Penthu. She had never thought to treat a pet, so she and Penthu had decided to simply give a lower dose of what she would have given a human. The cat is still alive, so Naima considered that a success.
This day, along with many others, both she and Penthu were firmly in "work-mode". So when Naima noticed three soldiers march past the large line outside and into the hospital ward out of the corner of her eye, she subtly turned away, careful to not make eye contact. Penthu ignored them too. If they wanted to be seen, they should wait in line like everyone else. But they walked through and approached Penthu, their stride hasty and purposeful.
Naima turned her attention back to the patient in front of her - a soldier with a nasty looking broken arm after a chariot accident this morning - and pretended they weren't there. A piece of his bone jutted through the skin and blood trickled down his forearm.
This took much higher priority in her mind.
The soldiers were likely here to complain about something or another, or some official political business that Naima didn't care about. Not anything that would concern her.
She leaned over the soldier as she worked, but when several shadows eventually fell over her and partially obstructed the sunlight from the window she was using to see, she became aggravated.
"Naima…." A gruff, male voice said to her.
"…I'm.. a little busy right now…" Naima mumbled as she continued to mend bone, unwilling to break her concentration.
"This is urgent."
Urgent.
Naima gritted her teeth. She rolled her eyes and groaned in irritation as she looked up with a glower in her eyes. The three soldiers along with Penthu now stood over her, looking at her expectantly with grim faces.
They obviously needed her attention. She sighed and glanced down at her hands, now coated with the soldier's blood, and quickly wiped them on a clean towel.
"There has been an attack on the city of Naqada early this morning. There are many dead and many more injured. The Prince has organized a rescue party to come and survey the damage and provide whatever help they need. We will require the skills of a healer, as their own healer was killed in the attack." the soldier said to her.
Naima gawked at him in response.
"Attacked by who? Who did this?" she asked.
The soldiers eyed each other warily, as if not wanting to say too much in front of so many others.
"A large group of thieves…" one of them said quietly, giving her a look that made it clear there was much more to the story than that.
Naima continued to stare at them in shock as Penthu turned his head toward them and nodded like he was ready, as if it were a given that it would be he who would accompany the party… Which would make sense really, he had likely done this type of thing many times before.
The soldier briefly glanced over at Penthu before turning back to her.
"The Prince has requested by name the apprentice Naima accompany us to the city."
Penthu shrank back in surprise as if someone just told him the sky had turned bright green. He stared at her, the tiniest hint of suspicion lurking in his eyes, and he looked like he was going to protest as he glanced at the long line of patients still needing to be seen. Naima, too, was surprised. Deep down, she felt a slight tinge of satisfaction, affection swelling in her chest at the thought of Atem purposely picking her to accompany him in his rescue party, even though she was not the most obvious choice.
After a moment, Penthu shook his head in defeat.
"Very well…" he mumbled.
The soldier turned back to her.
"We leave as soon as possible. Please make your preparations quick. There is no time to spare." he said, before all three of them marched out of the hall as quickly as they entered.
Penthu pursed his lips, still eyeing the crowd of patients needing to be cared for.
"You know what you need to bring?"
Naima jolted. Bring? Of course. She would need supplies.
"Umm…" she mumbled.
"A bit of everything… do not be stingy." he said.
Naima nodded. She then cast a guilty look at the injured soldier who was now anxiously looking down at his half-healed arm.
"You… Go." Penthu grumbled to her as he took a seat in her chair across from the soldier. "I will handle this."
As she quickly turned to leave, she glanced back around toward Penthu, briefly admiring the sight of him effortlessly mending bone and tissue, fingers dancing over the wound like an art-form.
One day, that would be her, she decided.
-o0o-
"Eliyah?!" Naima called out as she entered her bedroom hurriedly.
Eliyah, who was clearly in the middle of cleaning her bathroom, peered behind the door.
"Naima? You are back early." he said, putting away his cleaning supplies.
"Eliyah, there has been an attack in Naqada. I am to accompany them while they go to survey the damage. I need a favor." she said.
"Of course." Eliyah said.
"Please get a bag and grab me everything you find from the medicine room. The stores will need to be refilled after this. When we both have a free moment, I will show you how to make pills we use for imbuing." Naima said with a smile.
Eliyah's face lit up. He nodded and left quickly.
After changing into sturdier shoes, she sighed and glanced around her room. What else would she need?
Something caught her eye. It was her diadhank, sitting atop her vanity table. Its golden surface was catching the sunlight and glinting right in her eyes. She could feel it practically shouting her name.
She considered it for a moment before hastily shoving that thought away. How terrible would it be to have her Ka emerge and terrorize the city that had already suffered so much. It would be more harm than good.
No, she would not risk bringing her diadhank. Not until she had more lessons with Shimon.
Eliyah had returned shortly after with a bag practically bursting with supplies, and he carried it for her as they both walked outside.
A small army seemed to be patiently waiting for her - at least a dozen soldiers, along with Atem, Seto and Karim who were all ready on horseback. Everyone looked at her in silence as she approached and mounted her horse, their faces steely and serious, and the air around them forbidding. Atem's face was no different as he watched her.
Eliyah secured her supplies to her saddle.
"Safe journey, Naima." he said.
Naima nodded to him.
"See you in a bit."
-o0o-
The journey to Naqada was mostly spent in silence, serving to heighten the pervasive sense of anxiety that hung throughout. Thankfully it was relatively quick, taking no more than an hour. As the outline of the city appeared on the horizon, Naima could already tell the magnitude of destruction that had been leveled on the city. Dark smoke billowed upward ominously, the city walls appeared smashed in many places and a pungent stench that smelled of burning and misery began to fill her nose as they approached.
As soon as they passed through the city walls, an eerie quiet assaulted her. A small gasp escaped from her mouth before she could help it as she gaped at the sight before her.
The city was destroyed.
Buildings and homes had been pummeled into piles of rock, the backdrop to the small piles of dead bodies that laid strewn on the dirt roads. Various heaps of debris were scattered about and scorch marks pitted the ground and the pieces of broken buildings like scars on a body. People, survivors, moved through the town slowly, as if they were in a daze, as if they themselves still could not believe what fate befell them only hours ago. They moved quietly, working to dig through the rubble or lay another body on top of their pile of dead. The stench of rot, blood and ash mixed with scorched earth and wood was now intensified by the heat and their proximity, and it made Naima's stomach churn. She swallowed as she eyed the body of a dead horse, one of its legs broken and jutting upward.
"This is terrible…" she heard Karim mutter to Seto a small distance away from her.
There was a sudden shriek from the side of her.
"The Prince is here!" someone called out from afar.
Immediately, a small crowd began to form around their group and it quickly became chaotic. People pushed and shoved and cried out and screamed. They came up as close as they could, squeezing their bodies against their horses, causing their animals to side-step nervously. Atem seemed to have gotten the worst of it, his own horse rearing up in fear.
"Please, help us!"
"Save us, My Prince!"
They cried out.
"Stay back." the soldiers commanded, their spears extended outward. But their small army was not enough to deter the panicked crowd.
A middle-aged, battle-worn man quickly marched toward them from the city center.
"Get out of here! All of you!" he shouted ferociously, pushing through the crowd and shoving them back.
"Is this how you treat your future king? Acting like a bunch of damned animals…"
Whoever he was and whatever he did, the crowd listened to him, finally backing away. They still stayed in the general vicinity however, looking upon Atem and the rest of their group with desperate, forlorn expressions on their faces.
"My Prince." the man said and bowed deeply to Atem as he dismounted his horse.
"Omari." Atem said with a certain fondness in his voice. They both clasped hands.
"Many thanks for coming on such short notice." the man named Omari said.
"As you can see, my city-" He grimaced. "Is destroyed. Those rats are a plague upon this land. We need all the help you can spare."
Atem nodded.
"We have come to help with rebuilding, and we will discuss the resources needed to do so. We have also brought a healer." Atem said and nodded toward Naima.
Eyes immediately shot toward her and Naima could practically feel the hungry desperation radiating from the crowd.
"Where is your brother, Seb?" Atem asked as he glanced around.
Omari's eyes and face darkened with rage.
"Come with me. I will show you what they did to him." he said grimly.
Everyone dismounted and followed, walking in silent anticipation toward the city center. Whatever had happened to Seb, it must have been bad. Bad enough to warrant the audience of not just the Prince but their entire group.
Their city center was surrounded by another stone wall and housed their temple. As they walked inside, Naima eyed a lush garden area that appeared trampled over and several stone arches that decorated the perimeter of the temple.
She continued to follow the group blindly, currently positioned right in the middle of a bunch of soldiers who towered over her.
Everyone suddenly stopped though, and Naima heard a few quiet gasps. She could not see what everyone was looking at, and she proceeded to crane her neck to glimpse what the others were seeing.
But once she finally saw it, she immediately wished she hadn't.
In front of her eyes was a dead man.
Hanged, dangling by a rope that was tied at the top of the front stone arch, his hands tied behind his back. But whoever did it, did not stop there. A large slit was made in his belly, his long entrails spilling out of his abdomen and dragging on the ground as his body swayed with the wind.
And then the sight of dark red behind him, a message smeared onto the stone wall of the temple. The words appeared to be written sloppily with many droplets trickling down the wall, now becoming caked in the heat of the sun.
It was clearly not written in ink, it was written in blood. The man's blood.
DARKNESS WILL RULE ONCE MORE
A stunned silence iced over the entire group. Naima swallowed as she felt a chill run down her back, her eyes darting back and forth from the man and the ominous message.
After a few moments, Omari's voice finally broke the quiet.
"I have ruled this city for years alongside my brother, Seb. But now, I have no brother, and no city."
He turned toward Atem and bowed his head.
"My Prince.. my Pharaoh, if there is to be a war, or a battle, or something against the ones who have taken everything from me, I wish to be apart of it. The rage that now lives in my heart will never be placated. Both you and your father have always been good to me, and my people. I place my full trust in you, and I am certain that when you take your father's place as King, you are the light that will return Egypt to its former glory. My life.. and my loyalty belong to you."
"Your words honor me, Omari." Atem said solemnly, putting his hand on the man's shoulder. "Seb was a great man, and I am deeply saddened that this happened. There is still hope for the great city of Naqada and its people. I promise to bring you, and your brother, the justice you both deserve."
Omari nodded.
"Should we begin with the rebuilding efforts, then?" Seto said, his usual cold expression on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.
"This will take many days."
Everyone eventually separated into groups. Atem left with Omari to discuss the logistical and financial aspects of things, while Seto and Karim took the majority of the soldiers with them to search for survivors in the wreckage.
Naima was left with two soldiers for herself, and while Seto and Karim were discussing who would be where, a rather large group of injured-appearing people began to form around her, looking at her tentatively.
She looked over at one of the soldiers.
"Where should we do this?" she asked.
He shrugged and looked over at the temple, gesturing to it. Seb's body had since been cut down, and people were already in the process of cleaning the message of the walls.
It was roomy, central and as good a place as any.
Naima nodded, heading to the front steps and setting her supply bag down.
At first, she was unsure why she would need soldiers. But now she was grateful to have them. The people had begun crowding around her again in their panic and desperation, some even pushing and shoving each other. The soldiers helped to keep everything calm and orderly, even getting everyone to form a line which was now long enough to extend far beyond the city center into the streets.
Naima braced herself as she stared ahead at what would most certainly be the longest day she has had in a while, briefly wondering if she was crazy for being excited about doing this. With statues of Ra, Osiris and Geb at her back, she sighed heavily.
"Bring the first patient." she said.
A frantic looking woman approached her holding two children to her chest who could not have been older than the age of four.
Except something was clearly wrong. The children she held so tightly to her breast were completely still, sitting like stones in her arms.
Naima took a closer look. Two sets of small, hollow, unblinking eyes… and two sets of small lips.. devoid of their pinkish hue and were now grey, along with the rest of their bodies. Their limbs were stiff as a board. The flies already knew, now gathering at the corners of their mouths and along their small arms. They always knew.
The children looked like they had been dead for over an hour. But the mother held them in her arms, rays of hope still shining in her tear-filled eyes as she stared at Naima desperately.
"Please…. Please…" she cried, shoving her children's bodies into Naima's arms.
And as Naima took them and carefully laid them down on the temple floor, she already knew the answer. But still, she pressed her fingers into the sides of their necks in search of the pulsing that signified life, desperately hoping that she was wrong.
She felt nothing.
Naima looked back up at the woman and a pang of dread hit her instantly as she noted how the woman seemed to hang on her every move, darting to every twitch of Naima's mouth or movement of her eyes, looking for any single shred of hope on Naima's face for her babies.
Naima closed her eyes and shook her head.
"I'm sorry… There is nothing I can do."
The heart-wrenching wail that split through the air and echoed across the city is something that will forever haunt her memories. Naima watched, almost in a daze, as the woman collapsed to her knees, threw her body down over her children and weeped.
"No.. no.. no… no…." the woman muttered through her tears.
Naima continued to stare, unable to speak, as a soldier eventually escorted the woman out of the temple. There were no words in existence to console this, and no words that she could utter without bursting into tears herself. She listened as the woman's cries became more distant, and each one of her sobs felt like a knife in her chest.
Naima sighed, closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. She was numb.
There was some shuffling of feet near her, a reminder of her responsibilities. Naima looked up only to see many pairs of expectant eyes still looking right at her.
But as the next patient walked toward her, she just couldn't bear it anymore.
"Please.. excuse me." she mumbled, getting up and leaving the area in a hurry. In a secluded spot behind the statues, she released the floodgate of tears that she had been trying so hard to hold back, her sobs both fierce and quiet.
'Ra.. please give me the strength to get through today…'
But there wasn't much time for her to linger, so she quickly wiped her face and returned to her spot on the steps. As she eyed her second patient, a man who was holding his own severed finger in his hand, she sighed deeply.
"I need a basin of water…" she called out wearily.
-o0o-
This day has been an endless barrage of gashes, broken bones, severed limbs, head injuries, and burns… oh, the burns that she had seen today. It has been without a doubt one of the most difficult days she has ever experienced, taxing every ounce of her physical, mental and emotional being. So much that she had begun to compartmentalize her emotions, lest she burst out crying every three patients she saw.
She had not received many details about what happened before this. But even after only a few conversations with her patients, she was able to understand how these tragic events unfolded.
A large group of thieves, along with various other outlaws, and a few recently recruited political dissenters and enemies of the regime, wielding weapons of bronze and copper, as well as their own Ka. Naima chilled in remembrance of her brief encounter with these dissidents… how they spoke of toppling the regime through violence, how there would be a "new era". Even before the reign of Aknamkanon, there had long since been smaller bands of thieves and outlaws that had terrorized Egypt. Only recently had these smaller factions been united by the man who referred to himself as the "Thief King" Bakura, the same man whom she had the misfortune to have met so many years ago.
They came in the small hours of the night. They broke into homes and burned down buildings and raped and pillaged and stole. They killed children and the elderly and anyone who rose up in resistance. They were merciless.
The people of Naqada spoke highly of their leaders Omari and Seb, who fought bravely alongside the modest-sized army of soldiers in their small city. But their own army had perished, succumbing to larger enemy forces. The army of thieves left only when the city had been pummeled into piles of dirt and ash, when there was nothing left to destroy, and when every ounce of spirit once belonging to the lively city known for its art and pottery had been wrung dry.
They were still at large.
Knowing this made Naima feel very uncomfortable. Not for her own safety, though.
No. It was the mere fact that they existed. The fact that their sole purpose was to terrorize and destroy in order to advance their own horrendous agenda, something that Naima did not care to know or understand one iota about.
Thieves.
Murderers.
Vermin.
That's what they were.
A pestilence that needed to be eradicated.
It was thieves who had long terrorized the entirety of Egypt for decades, and now stormed a city of innocents without mercy. Thieves who had murdered a woman's children, leaving her a lifetime of emptiness, a hole that can never be filled.
And thieves who had killed her own mother, so many years ago.
At that moment, something in her began to stir. Hatred? No. It was much worse.
Loathing grew like a seed in the pit of her stomach and became the fuel that sustained her throughout this horrible day once her own resolve had dried up.
As she worked through the seemingly endless line of injured people, she had ample time to contemplate when exactly she became so complacent. Thieves had killed her mother after all. But it seemed that over the years, the raw, caustic hatred that had burned so fiercely in her young heart had slowly dampened into quiet acceptance as she moved toward what she thought was her fate – to quietly live out her days in her village temple, to grow old and die there and be buried next to her mother in the same canyon, overlooking a patch of Egyptian lotus flowers. And to accept that her mother's fate was simply what happened and no amount of hatred would change that, or bring her back.
After all, what would she even do? Lead a solo rebellion against a group that even the highest authority of Egypt cannot contain? Perhaps a duo with Zahra…?
Likely not. Although, Zahra would probably jump at the chance to do something of the sort.
Instead, she viewed her work today as an act of resistance, an undoing of sorts. And as she continued to work through the heat of the afternoon and the golden hues of the evening, she felt exhaustion like she had never known, and also tremendous pride.
The quiet darkness of night came furtively, and it was not long before Naima had difficulty seeing her hand in front of her face. She had no energy to light a torch and her soldiers were nowhere to be found.
She stared in front of her, only to barely see that there was one more person left, an older woman who was favoring her right foot. The last one. Finally.
Naima yawned and gestured for her to come sit. While the woman hobbled toward her, she took the opportunity to close her eyes for a moment.
"Hello, girl."
The gruff voice of an elderly woman jolted her out of her brief respite.
Naima opened her eyes and did her best to focus.
"Hello." she said, looking the woman over briefly and noting the large, bloody gash on her right foot.
"Is it only your foot? Or do you have more injuries?"
"Just my foot." the woman said as she eyed Naima's face.
Naima proceeded to work in silence, having no energy to fill the quiet.
"You have worked yourself to the bone today. You are exhausted, girl." the woman said.
Naima nodded wordlessly, still concentrating, her fingers slippery with blood. Her weariness must be written all over her face.
"The people of Naqada, my people, appreciate this more than you will ever know." she said.
Naima forced a smile to her face despite her fatigue.
"It is both my pleasure and my duty. The people here have suffered greatly. It brings me happiness and fulfillment to contribute whatever I can, however small it may be."
"Hmm… such words can only come from one with a pure heart.. and a soul filled with kindness. Believe it to be true." the woman said.
Naima ignored her words, letting them go in one ear and out the other as she worked. This woman did not know her.
The woman eyed her reaction, and her smile became larger.
"My name is Mona." she said. "I am a seer… an oracle of sorts. And, I see you."
That got Naima's attention. "What do you see?" she asked.
"Girl, there is much that you seek." Mona said as she stood up, a glint in her eye.
"Come to me when you are ready to find it."
Mona tested her weight on her right foot, and gave her a large smile.
"Farewell, Naima." she said, turning to leave. "Or shall I say.. until we meet again…"
Naima watched as Mona walked out of the temple. But after just one blink, the woman had disappeared from her line of sight.
Strange.
She was alone now and took a few moments to collect herself. Despite the darkness, the shadows of dark blood smeared on her palms and fingers caught her eye.
Blood.. on her hands.
From healing, she noted, not cruelty… the sight of it a hazy, dark cloud in her mind.. and then a wave of dizziness suddenly hit her. Exhaustion? Perhaps. The world swirled around her, a sea of dark blue and obsidian sky, of moonlit stone and dusky shadows of bushes and reeds melting before her eyes, turning sideways and upside down until the smears and drips on her hands became imprinted into her vision, a tattoo.
A healer will always have blood on their hands, as will a killer. She is both. She is a poison and an antidote.
She whipped her body around and glared into the hard, stone faces of the Gods themselves, and their vacant faces stared back at her, their likenesses firm, stolid and unmoving.
'What do you want from me…'
Blood on her hands. Maybe her fate was not the quiet life with a happy ending like she had always wanted. Every.. single.. time that she had set her sights on something, her life had taken a completely different path. What she wanted, she has never received. She will never have peace, and perhaps it was time for her to accept that it was likely never meant for her. How could it, when both light and darkness roiled around inside of her like a turbulent storm.
But if this was her fate, then so be it. And if she were to burn in the underworld for simply existing and living as the Gods have directed.. then so be it. And when it comes time for her judgement, her heart will burn with the ferocity of a wildfire and the heat of a thousand suns… and she would be proud for it.
"Naima?"
The voice doused her thoughts like cold water, pulling her out of her mind. She turned around and saw her two soldiers looking at her.
"Are you ready to leave?" one asked.
She nodded, and quickly pushed her thoughts away.
Eventually, they left the temple to find the main group, now gathered toward the front of the city near the main gates. Omari was there, along with Seto, Karim, Atem, the rest of the soldiers and a small group of people from the city. Mona was not there.
Atem noticed her and watched her as she walked over to her horse. She gave him a small smile. Casual gestures and short glances were all that could happen between them at the moment. There were simply too many people around.
But oh, how she longed to be in his arms right now. She needed comfort, she needed to be held by someone who understood how she felt. She needed him.
She briefly considered coming to his chamber tonight after everyone had settled back in for the night, just to see if he was not too tired for a late night visit, however short it may be.
As the men talked and bid their goodbyes, Naima barely listened. She was too busy dreaming about a certain Prince's touches… how good his hands would feel against her skin right now, how much she wanted to rest her weary head against his shoulder.
She barely noticed the distant shouts from across the road, or the way everyone's attention shifted. Was this worth tearing her mind away from a happy place? Likely not.
But then someone started crying, and people began rushing around, and the surface of the Nile, previously as smooth as a carved jewel, now rippled ominously.
"Up there! On the cliff! It's Bakura!" someone called out.
Those words clattered in her mind like stones in an empty jar.
A dazed horror took hold in her mind and Naima whipped her head toward where everyone was pointing.
Sure enough, there he was, perched high up on a cliff overlooking the city. His figure was distant, but Naima could still see the sinister look on his face and in his eyes, the long-since missing Millennium Ring around his neck glinting forebodingly in the starlight, his wild mane of white hair blowing in the breeze.
Everyone stood in horror as his cackling filled the air, the sound dark yet hollow.
"Well, well… if it isn't his Highness who came to save the day…" Bakura growled with a smirk practically dripping in arrogance and menace.
"Bakura…." Atem shouted, his face now an angry whirlwind. "What have you done to this place?"
"Who? Me? You think I am solely responsible for this work?" he simpered. "No, you can thank all the enemies you and your father have made. But.. I will take some of the credit if you insist…"
Atem clenched his fists.
"Why would you do this?"
"You think I care about this pathetic city and its worthless people?" Bakura snarled. "As far as I'm concerned, this city deserved to burn for its loyalty to the Pharaoh Aknamkanon." He practically spat those last two words.
"Mark my words… you will pay for this." Atem said, his face darker than Naima had ever seen before.
"Guards! Arrest him!"
At his command, their army of soldiers charged forward with spears outstretched. Omari joined them as well.
"So confident, yet so foolish… you are so predictable aren't you…" Bakura shouted from above. "You think I did not come prepared with my own men…?"
A legion of hooded, cloaked men, an army of shadows on horseback, quickly appeared behind Bakura. Atem growled under his breath as each side's forces began to clash.
Bakura crossed his arms.
"It was so easy to lure you out of that protective fortress you all love hiding behind. I knew it would be you who would come to save this pathetic little city, and not that old fool of a father of yours." he said.
"It's a shame… killing that old man would have brought me the greatest pleasure I have ever known, but it appears that time will do that for me. But… to kill his precious only son, his heir…. Now that will be my greatest achievement. And then… the real fun will begin."
Atem's eyes widened.
"Now, my Prince, I hope you've prepared for your journey to the afterlife." Bakura snarled as an enormous dark figure materialized over his head. "Because it looks like you'll be meeting Osiris much, much sooner than you thought."
Naima looked on in horror as a familiar half-monster, half snake creature took its place over Bakura's head and bellowed a vicious, menacing roar.
But then, shock suddenly washed over Bakura's face and he appeared to falter a bit.
"What is it? Why are you smiling?" he barked as he glared at Atem's face.
Despite everything around him, Atem sat quietly atop his horse with his eyes closed and a confident half-smile plastered on his face.
"I have already met Osiris…" Atem declared quietly. He then opened his eyes, violet blazing with fiery determination and raised his arm to the sky. The plate of his diadhank shot outward.
"But now, Bakura, it is your turn! Come forth, Slifer.. the Sky Dragon!"
At once, a massive white beam shot out of Atem's diadhank into the sky, erupting into a silhouette of sharp wings that folded over the city, eventually giving way to the long, lithe body of Slifer itself. As it slithered in the sky atop the clouds and wind, it threw its head back in a full-throated, terrifying roar aimed straight at Bakura, the sheer force of it rustling his hair.
"WHAT…?!" Bakura howled, his eyes as big as plates. "How could this be? An Egyptian God?!"
"Yes." Atem said. "This ends now, Bakura."
Bakura snarled in anger and frustration, showing his massive canine teeth. For a moment, he appeared unsure what to do, and he clenched his fists indignantly.
"Diabound, ATTACK!" he cried out, seemingly doing the only thing he could think of.
Both he and Atem proceeded to exchange attacks. But after being on the receiving end of one particularly nasty, direct hit, Bakura attempted to regroup as he clutched his chest.
"I still have the advantage here…." he muttered. "DIABOUND, ATTACK THE CITY!"
"NO!" Atem cried out.
As green balls of light began to rain down upon the city that had already been ravaged, Slifer's massive body moved overtop as a shield. Atem hunched over as he took the brunt of the attack.
Next to her, Seto and Karim tensed up.
"Come Karim, we must help the Prince in this battle! Bakura has gone too far." Seto growled, raising up his arm and activating his diadhank. The blue figure of his Duos appeared overtop of him.
As Bakura saw he would soon be outnumbered, he turned around and galloped off with Atem following closely behind.
"That coward…." Seto growled. "After him!"
Karim nodded, briefly glancing behind him at Naima before he took off with Seto toward Atem, leaving Naima by herself. She continued to watch in a quiet stupor as Atem, Seto and Karim battled in the distance.
She could not fight alongside them; She had no diadhank. The silence was hollow around her as she slowly realized the mistake she made. There she sat, utterly useless. She could not help because she did not bring her diadhank this morning like an idiot, even though that thing was practically screaming at her. Why didn't she listen to it? Why?
If Atem loses this battle, it would be partially her fault for being too stupid to listen to her instincts.
There has to be a way she can help. She refused to simply sit and watch as people fought around her.
Perhaps she could somehow will her Ka out of her body like she had done before, and like many others were able to do with theirs without a diadhank. She closed her eyes and concentrated hard, trying to remember the feeling.
'Come on… come out….'
Nothing.
It comes out when it wants to, but now when it's supposed to come out, it does not come out. It was not just her that was useless, her stupid Ka was useless too. Naima clenched her fists and screamed to herself in frustration.
"Fuck!…" she shouted to no one in particular.
She continued to watch Seto and Karim as their Ka fought against Bakura's diabound. Karim's Ka was destroyed, and he collapsed over his horse.
"KARIM!" Naima shouted, urging her horse into a gallop across the large expanse of desert that separated them. Hopefully he was not hurt. If he was, at least she could do something.
"Karim! Are you alright?!" she said as she neared him.
She saw Karim grimace.
"I am fine." he said, catching his breath and briefly touching the Millennium Scale that was attached to his side. He glanced back toward Seto and Atem, now very far off in the distance.
"I must leave here to catch up to them."
"I'll come with you! Please, I want to help you! We can't let Bakura win." Naima pleaded.
Karim glanced down at her bare wrists, before shaking his head.
"No. You do not have a diadhank."
"Please Karim! I can use my own powers against him… I have trained them for many years for a situation like this!" she said.
"Do not use your own powers against a Ka." Karim warned in a stern voice. "A human's magic comes from their Ka, meaning the Ka will always be stronger. If you battle human against Ka, you will lose every time. You must fight Ka with Ka."
'Well, now's the time to come out, you useless fuck…' Naima yelled internally.
Still nothing.
Naima sighed in defeat and closed her eyes tight. She wanted to burst into tears.
Karim walked toward her on horseback and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"This is what you can do." he said. Naima's head shot up hopefully.
"Leave this place and return to the palace. Deliver a message to the rest of the Priests and Isis of what happened and ask for them to send back up."
Naima's heart sank. She has been reduced to a messenger.
"Can't you just send a falcon? Are there no falcons here?" she said, desperation in her voice.
Karim shook his head.
"All of the falconries here have been destroyed."
He saw her forlorn expression and looked at her firmly.
"You have no way to summon your Ka, so you cannot fight against his. It is also unsafe for you to be here without protection." he said. "You will be most helpful by delivering a message to the palace."
Perhaps he was right. She sighed.
"Alright." she said.
Karim nodded.
"Do you need a weapon?" he asked her.
Naima shook her head. "No, my hands are all I need.'
Karim gave her a small smile.
"May the Gods protect you on your journey, Naima." he said. "I must go now and fight by the Prince."
"Be safe, Karim." Naima said, before both of them turned in the opposite direction of the other and galloped off.
-o0o-
It is amazing the things that necessity does. Naima never would have thought in her wildest dreams that she would be able to figure out her way back, but the adrenaline that now pumped through her veins made her mind sharper and more resourceful than she had ever felt. She found herself recognizing some landmarks, even remembering some of what people have said passingly around her about the route.
So much so that when the outline of the palace appeared on the horizon, she felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
Her poor horse who had been galloping for an hour straight was tired and dripping in sweat by the time she reached the palace gates. But as the guards approached her for an explanation, she snapped in her panic.
"No time… I need someone… Where is Mahad? I need to talk to Mahad… or Shada.. or Isis… quick!" she shouted at them while running toward the main door and storming her way inside.
"MAHAD! I need Mahad! Someone! A priest… Where are they?!"
A few startled guards pointed her down some halls while following her as she ran as fast as she could to an area she had never seen before. She finally reached what looked to be a study of some sort, with large pots in the floor that held pits of fire.
"MAHAD!?" she called down the hall. "MAHAD!"
After a moment, he emerged from one of the doors, the look on his face absolutely dumbstruck.
"Naima? What is the matter? Is everything alright?" he said. Meanwhile, Shada and Isis had emerged from two of the other doors. There was now a crowd gathered around her from the massive spectacle she was making.
"We need help, we need reinforcements! Atem, Karim and Seto are fighting Bakura right now!" she said.
She then proceeded to rattle off the series of events that happened, likely incoherently and with many missed details. But they seemed to get the idea well enough.
"Gather the troops! We leave soon." Mahad called out.
Naima watched as troops assembled and horses were prepared. The court of Priests and Priestess readied themselves to leave as well.
Should she come too? Yes, she determined. Even though her Ka was a pointless waste of energy, she would be their healer again, even if that was all she could contribute.
"Look! It's Karim! And Seto!" someone called out.
Naima reeled.
Sure enough, the figures of Karim and Seto had appeared on the horizon, quickly approaching as their horses flew across the sand. The palace was a blur as everyone rushed out to meet them. Naima followed close behind.
As soon as they arrived and dismounted their horses, Naima knew without a doubt that something was terribly wrong. Where was Atem? Shouldn't he be accompanying them?
A chilly brick of dread appeared in her stomach. He cannot be dead, there was no way he could be dead…
There was an agonizing hush among the crowd that formed around them as everyone waited for the Priests to speak.
At last, Seto opened his mouth.
"The Prince has fallen off a cliff and into a chasm in the canyons, pushed by Bakura himself." he announced.
No.
No.
No.
No.
"So he's… gone? Dead?" a panicked voice shouted behind her.
Both Seto and Karim paused. Each second that they did not speak was torture. The looks on their faces were not comforting.
"We don't know." Karim said after another harrowing pause. "Both Bakura and the Prince went deep into the hills and we were unable to keep up with them. We could not find where he fell. Fortunately, it appears his tablet shrine is still intact, and his soul still controls Slifer. All signs indicate… that he may still be alive."
Alive.
He's alive.
"Then we must find him!" another voice shouted.
Seto nodded.
"Gather a search party! Now!" he commanded. "I want him found, even if we have to drain the Nile itself."
-o0o-
Naima marched back to her chamber, still high on adrenaline. She slammed the door behind her, took a deep breath and began pacing around her room, unable to allow herself to be still.
Luckily no one was around.
There was a search party already out for Atem. They would find him, surely.
Somehow, Naima was skeptical.
The hills and canyons were her home. She spent her life climbing up and down steep rocks and peaks. She knew how to climb over rocky, dangerous terrain.
…She was sure that they didn't.
'Amateurs…'
The thought of a large army of burly soldiers with their big swords and spears gingerly picking their way up, down and across steep rocks made her want to laugh and cry at the same time.
No. By the time they would even get down into the right canyon, Atem would likely already be dead from heat and dehydration, or Ra forbid, attacked and eaten by a Nile crocodile if he fell in the right spot.
It would not take long.
It only took a split second for her to decide.. she would search for him. Alone. Without a large army slowing her down. She would not need them anyways.
There was no time to spare. Not a single second. Naima hurried around gathering some supplies in a bag, making sure to grab a skin of water.
But then, she stopped.
There it was again.. that nagging feeling. She looked over at her diadhank, still sitting in the same spot as this morning.
Her eyes narrowed. There was so much resentment building in her mind right now that she wanted to take it and throw it out the window.
But, had she listened in the first place, perhaps things would have been different...
Naima rolled her eyes and strode toward it, snatching it off the table angrily and jamming it onto her wrist.
'You were right, happy now? You'd better fucking behave…'
Even if it didn't, her Ka was the scariest weapon she knew of.. and deep down… she pitied the fool that would be on the receiving end of her unbridled assault.
She was ready for Bakura and his army now…
Naima was surprised at the wave of vengeance that formed in her, the taste of it foreign in her mind. It went as quickly as it came though, her focus now returning to finding Atem in the Canyons.
And so, with new resolve and a fire burning in her heart, she sneaked out..
Into the quiet, starry night.
Author's note:
*Content/Trigger warning: Contains descriptions of post-battle violence/gore (mild) including depictions of dead children/grieving mother that might be upsetting to some*
-0-
A few things:
-So as you've probably already figured out, this is an alternate timeline of the Episodes 34-35 in Season 5, and the first time we really explore what happened before Yugi: No Winged Dragon of Ra, no hourglass/time reversal thing, and Yugi not there to search for Atem after he falls in
-Atem's first time summoning Slifer here against Bakura was meant to be the mirror (sort of) to the first time Yami Yugi summoned Slifer during the Battle City Finals in his duel against Bakura
-You probably noticed that the actual battle between Bakura and Atem was very brief and lacking detail. I did this on purpose simply because I would rather use my precious word space for new ideas rather than to rehash it, since this chapter is long enough as it is!
Chapter 26: Coalescence
Chapter Text
'Hurry up.. hurry up.. Go, go, go…'
She continued to chide herself. With her diadhank firmly on her wrist, she hurriedly set out, traversing the halls of the palace as quickly and quietly as she could.
"Where are you going?"
A sharp, snide voice to the side of her. The hair on her neck stood up, and she whipped her body around in a slight panic, only to see Halima, staring at her with her arms crossed and leaning against a wall.
'Fuck off…'
Naima wrinkled her nose and continued on through the palace, ignoring her completely as she went to the stable. She had no time or patience for stupid, catty games right now.
But the thing that finally stopped her in her tracks was when she noticed a slight problem - Where were all the horses?
Every single horse stall was empty. Of course the horses would be gone. They were all taken by the search party for Atem. A painfully obvious detail that she overlooked in her haste.
Naima sighed, feeling herself quickly spiraling down into an endless pit of hopelessness and despair. How can she find him if she can't even leave the palace..?
"Naima? Is that you?"
A voice from across the grounds tore her from her own miserable thoughts.
Two men were peering at her - Binra and.. Eliyah. Standing together at the opposite end of the stable. Binra was covered in dust as usual, skin shining with dried sweat, and Eliyah looked extremely confused.
"Naima, what are you doing out here so late?" Eliyah asked her as they both approached her.
Technically, she should be asking that same question to him as well.
"Uh …" Naima stammered. She wondered how much of the truth she should tell.
Fuck it.
"I'm going out to find the Prince.." she declared.
They both stared at her like she was insane. And she stared back, practically daring them to try to talk her out of it.
"There is already a search party, Naima…" Eliyah said.
"Search party, my ass … how the hell are all of them gonna get up and around the hills and into those canyons? There are too many people and the terrain is too rough for a large group. I'll be much faster than them." she said.
Binra and Eliyah exchanged looks and Binra eventually gave her a toothy grin.
"Alright, if you say so…" he said.
Eliyah shot his head toward him.
"What do you mean?" he retorted in his accented words. "It is dangerous for her."
Binra shrugged. "She wants to go, let her go… She might be correct, you know." he said. "Plus, you want the Prince back, don't you?"
He raised his eyebrows at Eliyah playfully. "Or would you rather have Aknadin be your Pharaoh?"
Eliyah shot a glare at him.
"Hey don't look at me like that, just look at her face -" Binra said and gestured toward her. "We're not changing her mind."
Naima shot Binra a grateful smile.
"I need a horse, Binra, just to get me to Naqada at the very least. Then I'll probably have to travel on foot through the canyons at some point." she said.
Binra nodded. "Our horses can find their way back if you need to leave them. Their sense of navigation is quite remarkable really… amazing creatures…" he said fondly.
"Are there any left?"
"Well, not really.. but…" Binra trailed off and glanced at her earnestly.
"You may take my own horse."
Naima's eyes widened at Binra's generous offer. He looked Naima fiercely in the eye.
"I want the Prince to return safe." he said to her "I've known him his whole life, since he was small… and he has always been good to me. If is any hope for his safe return, then I have no problem entrusting my horse to you, Naima."
Eliyah's eyes glowed with admiration.
Naima grinned and threw her arms around Binra's neck.
"I won't let you down…" she said.
After getting set up with Binra's own brown gelding, she mounted it and settled into the saddle for what felt like the thousandth time today. With a short wave at both of them, she took off in a gallop straight north, but not without a small covert glance behind her when she was far enough away, only to see Binra with his arm around Eliyah walking back toward the stable.
-o0o-
Her journey ended up being quick and uneventful, thankfully. It is much easier to travel when the sun isn't beating down on your face. She wasn't even worried about running into any gangs of bandits or thieves either - If they wanted to try her tonight, let them try her. She was in no mood. When she eventually passed Naqada to her left, as quiet as ever now, she eyed the hills in the distance while she tried to figure out a plan.
The Theban hills were a vast expanse of large mounds, rocks and cliffs with steep canyons that were home to some tributaries of the Nile. With how unpredictable the drop-offs could be, it would be easy to lose one's footing. The flat canyon floor also allowed for quiet flowing water with many swampy areas, making it a good home for Nile crocodiles.
Overall, not a good area to be stranded in.
As she stared at what seemed to be an endless stretch of hills in the distance, the sheer magnitude of the task ahead finally dawned on her.
How in the world is she going to find Atem? He could be anywhere, and it would take her weeks to traverse the entire area on foot. A horse is useless in the deeper hills once the terrain turns steep and unstable.
Naima clenched her fists, wracking her brain for a plan. She had gone this far… only to be stopped at this point. She should have thought this through better.
Another sharp wave of hopeless frustration welled up in her chest.
'There has to be a way…'
Abruptly, she felt a tug in her mind, like someone just tapped her on the shoulder. Her eyes shot to her diadhank.
It was her Ka, trying to get her attention.
'Not now, you stupid jerk.'
But whatever it was trying to do, it wouldn't let up. The flurry and tugging inside of her kept on intensifying to the point where any attempt at resisting it was pointless.
'What are you doing …?!'
It continued to build up in her chest. Naima already knew what was coming and braced herself for the inevitable burst, an ensnarement like before, trapped and drowning in the pits of the infernal abyss that lived somewhere deep inside of her.
Only this time it wasn't a burst that took her mind, but a gentle opening, an unfolding. Darkness bloomed throughout her body and embraced her, wrapping around her consciousness with a soft caress. It felt like an old friend had come to say hello and she welcomed it. All around her was shadow and whispering spirits and ancient night, but it was soft… soothing almost, a restful sort of ambiance, and she sank into it like a pillow. Behind her eyes sparkled tiny, obsidian stones like stars in the night sky, like flowers blossoming in the dead of night, small rays of moonlight reflecting over the gentle Nile.
It felt like home.
As she finally opened her eyes, she saw her Ka in full form staring down at her.. at the same time she also saw herself through the eyes of her Ka, peering at her own human figure. Her human eyes were glowing white, blank, and they both stared at each other for a moment completely still. What a strange feeling it was to see herself through its eyes. There were two sets of vision in her mind, two sets of senses that were split, a clear demarcation.
And her hands, both sets… They were clean.
'Let's try to keep them that way tonight…'
Naima took a step forward toward her own spirit, gazing at it fully in all of its mighty, vicious depravity, its large muscular legs and sharp pointed wings, its demonic face.
The rage and thirst for blood and violence were noticeably absent in her mind, even though they had been there every other time her Ka had appeared. But she noted that each of those times there had always been an opponent, a threat. Right now, there was none. It was just them, alone under the twinkling, sapphire sky. There was nothing but peace in her mind and thoughts, and she sensed no desire to hurt. It wanted to help.
She was unsure what exactly she had done, what she invited inside of her that had changed her mind or soul, if she had somehow unknowingly surrendered some key piece of herself to gain another that night when she trained with Shimon. But through an awareness she did not have before, she found that she could actually control her Ka. That she could switch back and forth between her own mind and the mind of her Ka if she wanted to, or experience both simultaneously. Both at once quickly became overwhelming, though.
She could also will her Ka to move at her conscious command, or she could allow it to move on its own, still under her control but instead through a sort of primal instinct that existed in her unconscious mind, the invisible threads that bound them together. Even though they were one, they were still somehow separate entities. Separate but the same.
Trust.
That word echoed in her mind like slow drips of water into a porcelain bowl. It was not a conscious thought of hers, it came from seemingly out of nowhere.
Perhaps her Ka knew something that Naima did not. The concept of a Ka, especially her Ka, was still mysterious to her.. because somehow through their new connection, she could sense that her Ka was an ancient creature. Its ferocity came from a darkness that was old and deep, enduring, knowing… much different from a Ka that was newly-made dark from evil deeds by its beholder. But whether it was created with her at birth, or had simply chosen her to unite with and become one, Naima did not know nor did she understand.
Urgency began to stir in her heart.
Through no conscious command of her own, her Ka took a few steps back through instinct, and she realized she was still in her own mind.
She switched over, now firmly in the consciousness of her Ka.. -
The urge to move was palpable, and instead of trying to control, Naima allowed instinct to take over her movements. She continued to step backward, her large, clawed feet crunching over the dirt. Through one swift motion, she unfolded her large, membranous wings.
It felt good to stretch.
Finally.
But she only enjoyed it for a moment before she braced herself, launching herself upward, and with two strong beats of her wings, she took off into the sky. The dry, night air whipped around her as she soared, higher and higher, the hills and cliffs below her quickly becoming tiny, miniature versions of themselves, pyramids in the far-off distance.
She was flying. Soaring through the air like an enormous bird, wind rippling past her hard skin. It was instinct that guided her movements and she tried not to overthink it, lest she break her concentration and come crashing down. As she continued to beat her wings, she savored the clean, night air in her lungs, and she looked up and outward. So much nearer to the stars and the moon…. she longed to touch them.
A breeze rolled across the desert and she rode the wind. This must be how birds felt everyday. It was incredible.
She couldn't help but to feel joyous, something that has been lost on her for what seemed like ages. Laughter echoed in her mind and through her elation, she let out a thunderous, resounding roar as a burst of lightning erupted from her chest and ripped across the sky.
Release.
Free.
She was free at last. But her thrill was quickly cut short as she eyed what appeared to be a group of people moving through the desert. With her being so far up in the sky, they appeared tiny. But she focused her eyes, her vision still extremely clear despite the night, and she eyed a small group of soldiers along with Karim and Mahad.
Ah, she almost allowed herself to become distracted. No matter how much fun she was having, this was not a joyride tonight.
She swooped down toward the hills and razor-focused her senses once more. Her vision was sharp and her hearing was tuned to the environment. From there on, she scanned for footprints, Atem's voice or breathing.. any clues she could find. She noted her own human form a small dot on the horizon from where she flew, and she realized how far she had flown from her original spot.
This would not do.
Her Ka could move on its own volition, willed and controlled through their shared connection. It can search for Atem while Naima made her own way through the hills.
She relinquished her conscious control over her Ka and was promptly sucked back into her own mind. Although grainy images of her Ka's viewpoint still flashed in her vision, she attempted to block it out as she eyed the rocky path she needed to traverse.
"C'mon, let's go.." she urged to Binra's horse as they set out into the hills and down a well-worn, rocky trail.
This is going to be a long night.
-o0o-
Naima took a drink from her water skin.
She had been quietly monitoring the progress of her Ka in her mind while she made her own way through the hills on horseback, flashing back and forth between consciousness. Her Ka had been flying closely above the expanse of canyons using its sharp vision to scan for anything it could find. So far, a few stealthy crocodiles, but no Atem.
At least a couple of hours have passed based on the position of the moon. Since then, she had seen some flashes of magic or perhaps a Ka in the far-off distance both in her own periphery and through her Ka, from what she assumed was a part of Atem's search party.. or what she had hoped at least. But so far for her, it has been rocks and more rocks and dirt and silence.
The crunching noise underneath hooves became musical as she wallowed in her own thoughts, doing her best to resist the endless barrage of second-guessing that plagued her. The light in her dark mind, and what kept her going, was knowing that he would do the same for her if the tables were turned. She let her mind drift off… to counting rocks, to thoughts about how high up they were now, to how long it would take for her to fall to her death if Binra's horse took a misstep… She had almost forgotten about her Ka.
One huge gust of air jerked her mind awake. Her Ka was circling above her, readying to land on a nearby rock.
'Ah..'
She had been purposely blocking out the images and sounds from her Ka, as it quickly became overwhelming to be in two minds at once. But something…something was on its arm.
She looked closer. It was dark blue and flappy and… Was that.. Atem's cape?
Naima almost shouted in elation. A clue. Something.
Her Ka dropped it from its forearm into its claws as it shook out its wings, looking at her. She dipped into her Ka's mind, glimpsing at her own, white glowing eyes from its perspective.
'Where? Where did you find it?'
She attempted to dig.. only to hear one resounding word ring in her consciousness.
Come.
"Show me.." she mumbled aloud. Immediately, a keen sense of urgency hit her. Her Ka launched into the air once more and bolted through the sky. Naima clucked to her horse and kicked its sides in haste before they took off further into the hills trailing it.
The terrain had become increasingly steep and unpredictable as they went deeper. So when her horse tripped over a pile of rocks for the fifth time, especially next to a particularly nasty drop off, she sighed and reluctantly dismounted.
It was no longer safe to continue on horseback. She must go on foot.
"Go home." she said to Binra's horse. It stared at her blankly in response.
She shook her head and swallowed the guilt in her stomach. She had to leave it.
Grabbing the reins, she turned it in the opposite direction, and gave it a firm slap on its haunches.
"Go!" she shouted.
As it trotted off, she tried to ignore the horse's retreating figure in the distance and the sense of aloneness that she now felt. There was no turning back now. She turned around to look for her Ka, quickly spotting its figure still in the air but growing smaller as it flew further over the canyons.
'Um… wait for me…?'
Instead, it descended straight into a chasm.
'..Alright then.'
Now what.
What was it even doing anyways?
Naima quickly lunged back into the mind of her Ka… -
Dirt crunched under her claws again and she folded her wings, tucking them neatly into her back and facing her body toward a small cavern in the rock.
He is here.
Eventually, there was some small movement in the darkness. A familiar, beaten down man emerged from the crevice and looked at her with astonishment on his face.
"…Naima? Is that you?" he mumbled, looking at her with confusion.
She stared back at him in silence.
'Yes! YES!'
Naima zipped back into her own mind again. He's alive. She found him. Her Ka found him.
Her Ka shot a bolt of lightning upward into the sky, not too far from where she stood.
She had to get there, she had to get to him. However, there was one glaring problem - the terrain they were now in was positively treacherous. There was no way that anyone could have found Atem in this particular area on first glance, unless they had explored the area on foot. It was simply difficult to reach, surrounded by high clifftops, bushes that somehow grew out of tiny cracks in the rocks, and boulders that were so large they blocked the view of the stream the flowed at the bottom of the canyon.
The temptation to rush down into the chasm was something that she fought against vehemently, and as she eyed the rocky canyon and the steep drop off that she knew she had to climb down, she reminded herself to not be foolish. Countless minutes passed as she meticulously picked her way downward, reaching the bottom of the canyon before she continued on, climbing up, down and in between boulders, passing nests of crocodile eggs, sloshing through mud and swamp until she eventually made out the distant outline of her Ka, staring blankly ahead at a small figure… Atem.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
"Atem!" she cried out, and he turned around.
They eyed each other.
"Naima…?" she heard him mumble from afar, and the absolutely dumbstruck look on his face made her want to giggle.
They quickly stumbled their way over to each other, and Naima noticed that Atem had a slight limp to his gait. The look that was painted on his face though, a mess of excitement, shock and amazement all in one, made everything worth it. As they neared each other and he approached her with shining eyes, she had never been so relieved, so tired… and so grateful.
"…You're safe…." she mumbled to him.
Her Ka stood silently off to the side in her periphery, and she glanced over at it.
'I would not have found him without you…'
She held up her arm, and her Ka began to dissipate into the air, into tiny particles of dust that somehow dissolved back into her mind.
'…Thank you…'
Atem took a step toward her with a smile on his face.
"Naima…" he said, his voice incredulous and breathy. "I cannot believe you're here… you found me… "
She turned toward him with every intention to throw her arms around his dirty, battered shoulders. But at once, a torrent of exhaustion crashed over her, hitting her instantly like a punch to the face. Everything began to spin, and she wasn't sure if she was falling, or standing, or fainting, or if anything was real anymore. All she knew was that she was going down and down and around and around, spinning into black nothingness.
"Naima!" Atem shouted, and she felt arms catch her before she fell to the hard dirt, into the black.
-o0o-
She was warm.
And comfortable.
And awake.
Her eyes were still closed, but she felt her hand resting up against an arm, her head against a chest. She stirred and then felt arms tighten around her, a touch she knew well.
She was cradled in Atem's arms.
She grudgingly opened her eyes, only to see a glorious, familiar face peering down at her. Atem's eyes were soft against his bruised, dirtied skin, but the rest of his features remained grainy in the thick cover of darkness they were now in.
"Naima…" he said softly. "Are you alright?"
She sat up a bit, lifting her neck to peer at their surroundings while she took in a few shallow breaths. They were huddled in the back of a small, narrow cave, leaning against a rocky wall and surrounded by darkness, save for the faint starlight that trickled in through the cave opening. Outside the cave was a rocky outcropping and a small, gentle stream in the distance.
"I'm .. alright.." she mumbled and looked at him as he continued to peer down at her with concern.
"Are you?"
"I'm fine." he said.
Naima realized that she was currently laying across his lap with her legs curled to the side of him. As she moved to sit up, she was promptly hit by a wave of dizziness. A slight, yet persistent layer of delirium sat forefront in her mind, blanketing her thoughts and words.
"How long was I down for?" she asked, her words slightly slurred.
"You fainted earlier. You have only slept for around twenty minutes." he said.
Her mouth was dry and sticky. She swallowed and tried to remember what she did with her supply bag, her eyes still closed.
"I can't believe I found you…" she murmured.
"You put yourself in danger, Naima." Atem said, a stern note in his voice. "You should not have come after me."
Naima shifted against him in an attempt to get comfortable.
"Well.. I did anyways." she said obstinately. "So here I am."
"Why?"
She finally opened her eyes and gave him a square look, the sides of the cave still unsteady in her vision from the constant vertigo.
"Why would I not?" she said to him. "You think I could just sit back and wait for you to be found? Meanwhile it could have taken days, and you would have died by then."
"I would have been fine." he insisted. "There was no need to risk yourself and your safety just for me. It was very dangerous for you to have ventured here tonight."
Naima sat up even more. Despite the darkness, she looked into his eyes, the purple intensity of them still visible despite the shadows of the cave.
What a stubborn man he could be.. although she reluctantly admitted to herself that she was certainly not one to talk. Thankfully, the impatience that stewed in her mind has been dulled by her delirious state. Slightly drunk but with no alcohol, that's what she likened it to… and maybe it was a good thing. In their situation right now, snapping at him would not be helpful.
"Atem," she said gently. "There are many people around you who care for you, who you can rely on when things get tough," She found his hand, gently interlaced her fingers with his and buried her face into his shoulder.
"I am here for you. You don't always need to be so strong… You are not alone…"
His response to her was simple, unsurprising silence, which she gladly accepted. It was better than more of his objections. He lowered his chin to gaze at her with a soft expression on his face.
"Naima…" he mumbled quietly after a moment, a certain pain in his voice. His fingertips were tight against her body. "…I cannot lose you…"
She reached for one of his hands, gently and absently touching her own fingertips with his, grazing over the calloused surfaces of his fingers and palm.
"You didn't. We're both here, and alive, which means that Bakura did not win. I'm just happy you're safe." she said, raising her head and resting it in the crook of his neck.
"What happened to you?"
Atem paused briefly, stroking her arm.
"He had this planned in advance. While Karim was distracted with attacking, he had one of his men knock him off his horse and steal his diadhank, I presume so he could use it for himself." he said.
After both Seto and Karim had returned, Naima paid attention to very little other than what they said, but she didn't remember seeing a diadhank on Karim's wrist.
She cringed. This was another loss for them.
Atem continued.
"I believe he led me this far out on purpose, so he could try to kill me in this manner." he said. "Somehow, Slifer lost his power and was unable to defend me, and I bore the brunt of an attack from his Ka as Slifer was destroyed. I lost my balance and he pushed me off the ledge."
"I thought for sure.. that I would have died from this. As I fell…-" he trailed off, and then shook his head.
"I landed in some water which helped to break my fall. But still, a fall from that height should have killed me, or at least left me more injured than what I am."
He closed his eyes.
"I do not know how Slifer lost its power. It all happened so suddenly. By virtue of it being an Egyptian God, it should have beaten Bakura's Diabound." he said, and he opened his eyes again to look at her once more.
"Perhaps I was wrong, Naima. If Slifer alone was not enough, then maybe… maybe we do need the other two Gods."
"Then we will find them." Naima said. "We must."
Atem nodded and looked at her wistfully.
"When I was a child, I dreamt of the day that I would rule Egypt. I imagined a peaceful, prosperous kingdom. Now, it seems I have the opposite. I have trained for this role my entire life. But nothing could have prepared me for this.."
Naima looked into his eyes again and stroked his face with her fingertips, his complexion now mottled with dark smudges of dirt and bruising. It was obvious that Atem was now the acting Pharaoh, just not officially… not yet at least. But nobody dare say anything openly about it, or about the Pharaoh Aknamkanon's impending death. And Naima dared not ask about it, especially not to Atem.
"I cannot imagine a better person to lead Egypt, especially at a time like this." she said with care.
He reached for her hand as he gazed into her face, and they shared a kiss in the darkness, loving, sweet and sensual.
At the touch of his lips to her own, though, something seemed to snap into place in her brain. For the entirety of this endless day, she had longed for this. For his touch. For his company. For him.
Perhaps it was the persistent delirium that both heightened her emotions and loosened her inhibitions, because when their lips finally parted, it somehow wasn't enough. She needed more of this… She pressed her lips to his jawline, planting small, sweet kisses along it, slowly trailing to his ear.
"All I wanted today was to be in your arms…" she whispered in his ear shamelessly, kissing it lightly before moving down to his neck. Gentle, sweet, soft pecks on his skin felt like heaven against her lips.
A soft groan rumbled in Atem's throat as she slowly trailed down his neck, and he nuzzled his cheek against the side of her face affectionately, stroking her hair as he inhaled her scent.
"Naima.." he grunted softly in her ear as he ran his hand up and down her left side.
Her position sprawled across his lap was not a good one. Not good for what she wanted to do at least. She could not stroke both of his strong shoulders at the same time like she wanted, could not put both of her hands on his cheeks before pressing her lips against his like she wanted, could not stand the fact that he was only caressing one side of her body and not both…
She sat up, and ignoring the wave of dizziness that hit her, a clear protest to her movement, she swung one leg around and quickly straddled him on his lap.
This took him by surprise. His eyes were wide as he stared up into her face, but after he hastily wrapped his hands around her waist, Naima knew that there were clearly no objections.
She grabbed the sides of his neck and pulled his face toward hers, and he eagerly obliged. Their kiss was hot, breathy, as if they could not get enough of each other, and he gently nibbled on her lower lip as he stroked her back.
If he touched her body, then it was only fair that she touched his. She placed both of her hands on his sides, a part of him she hadn't touched yet, and slowly, very slowly, made her way up to his broad chest, taking note of every flat surface and ridge of muscle under her hands, eventually reaching his shoulders. She leisurely ran her fingers over the tops of them, admiring both the hardness of bone and muscle, and the softness of flesh.
"..Naima.." Atem murmured to her again. His eyes were closed, his jaw tense, as if he was trying to control himself. How very noble.. how very misguided.
"..Hmmm..?" Naima crooned softly as she lifted her chin to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. Her fingers slowly and carefully trailed down both his shoulders as she pressed sweet, loving kisses to his face.
Lower and lower her fingers went, down his arms -
Until she reached something wet.. and oozy.
She snapped up in surprise. Something wasn't right.
Her head darted to his left arm where she felt it, and she immediately spotted a large, open gash, obvious even in the darkness.
"Oh.. you're hurt.." she exclaimed. Her concern was like a sopping wet rag over the hot coals of her lust. But… what healer would she be if she simply ignored this?
It was far too dark in this cave for her to see what she was doing, so she improvised, creating a small lightning ball in her hand and floating it upward toward the ceiling. The new light allowed her to see both his arm and his face better, and she tried to ignore him as he watched her in silence, a dazed look on his face with his heavy-lidded eyes, his mouth slightly agape.
He probably didn't even care about this wound. But she did.
It had not occurred to her how drained she actually was, how far she had actually pushed her body today, because after she had sealed his wound without any visible trace, it seemed that any remnants of energy she had recovered from her brief nap earlier had vanished instantly, and she slumped over his shoulder with a groan. The ball of lightning above them flickered and eventually sputtered out.
From healing people all day, to traveling with her Ka all night, her body officially had enough.
Atem wrapped his arms around her once more as she breathed heavily into his shoulder. He rubbed her back with his hands, not in lust, but in comfort.
"No more for today, Naima." he whispered into her ear. "Just rest. You must conserve your energy."
"Mmmm…" she murmured, closing her eyes.
Her head wouldn't stop spinning. They both sat in silence as the subtle outside noises filtered into the cave.
"Some day this has been, huh…" she mumbled in passing, her eyes still closed.
He stroked her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"You did well today, Naima, and I'm proud of you." he said quietly. "You are perfect for this…"
Naima sighed and swallowed.
"It was the most difficult thing I have ever done, Atem. I had to tell a woman that her children were dead, that there was no hope left.." she muttered. She mentally cursed herself as tears quickly began to form in her eyes at the memory and roll down her cheeks, the hated images flashing in her mind again.
"It is hard not to still feel responsible, even if it is something you know you cannot fix."
Atem gently wiped the tears on her face with his thumb.
"You are a single person who has healed an entire city." he said, caressing her cheek gently. "Some things cannot be helped, no matter how unjust. You are best to focus on the things that you can change."
She lifted her chin to look at him, her vision still clouded from her tears. He met her gaze, a small yet gentle, loving smile on his face.
"You are strong, Naima." he murmured to her.
Ironically, those words broke her, and the flood of emotions that she had been hoarding and piling away all day, all week even, finally broke loose from the shackles that she had so carefully placed around them.
She had always been the strong one, the one who helped everyone else fight their demons while ignoring her own, the one everyone brought their burdens to… but right now, her own was too much to bear.
She weeped violently into his shoulder and her sobs echoed off the cave wall as she clutched onto him for dear life. And through each tidal wave of cries that rolled through her body, he held her tight and would not let go.
Eventually through some miracle or act of the Gods themselves, she settled, thoroughly empty of everything she had, every teardrop that had gone unshed and simply stored in the recesses of her mind. A gentle cloud of sleep began to slowly descend upon her. But as she drifted off… to the events of the day.. of the night… she was suddenly struck with a stark realization. Despite the fog of delirium that was now thick and heavy in her mind, she shot up.
"The search party… they're still looking for you…" she mumbled, her words muddled and slurred as if she had drank ten cups of wine. "We have to go find them."
"Naima…" Atem said gently yet sternly. "You are tired. You have overtaxed your body and mind today, and you need rest. Sleep."
A soft command in his words, laced with a hint of high authority. He was used to this, to taking charge and giving direction, to getting his way. No doubt.
But before she could object further, his comforting arms tightened around her and he gently stroked her shoulder and arm with his fingertips… up and down…
She should be doing this for him…
She should be comforting him… he had a worse day than she did…
She should be trying to find the search party right now…
She.. should be…. -
Sleep took her in an instant.
-o0o-
Was it day time already? It must be. That was the only reasonable explanation for the rays of light that somehow made it between her eyelids, despite them being firmly shut.
She heard Atem grunt and felt him stir under her.
"… Who is there…" he mumbled.
Who was he talking to? …Was he sleep talking?
Naima didn't want to get up. Her body was screaming at her to go back to sleep. It wasn't enough rest for her.. not nearly enough.
"Naima…"
She felt gentle hands shake her.
'No.'
Her head began to pound, and the obnoxious slit of light between her eyelids became brighter.
'Go away…'
"Naima… wake up…" Atem's voice was firmer, the hands that were rubbing her arms and back more urgent.
Maybe she was dreaming.
She cracked her eyes open, only to be blasted with more light. It was blinding and shining right in her eyes. This was definitely not normal sunlight.
Their dark, dingy cave was now completely engulfed in light, and for a brief second, she thought maybe she had died and gone to the afterlife. Her eyes stung as if they were being poked by a dull knife and she rubbed them sleepily. In a daze, she reluctantly twisted her head and body around, now utterly bewildered in her sleep-deprived state.
Yes, she definitely had to be dead. Or dying. Because standing right in front of the entrance of their cave was a large man who was wearing a golden funeral mask on his head. As if he was the sun himself, rays of bright yellow light poured out from behind him as he slowly made his way toward them.
"Atem.. son of Aknamkanon," the man announced. His footsteps made no sound as he continued down the cave.
"I am Hassan, messenger of the Gods and protector of Pharaohs."
The man now stood over them as light spilled from his body. There was not a single trace of the dark that had previously blanketed their surroundings, and being in his presence was as if the mere concept of night or shadow was ludicrous.
"I have been sent by the Gods themselves to offer you guidance in your noble fight." Hassan said.
'I have to be dreaming right now.. or dead. Dream or dead or fucking going crazy.'
But if any of those explanations were true, then why was Atem equally as bewildered as she was?
"You have done well by obtaining Slifer. Osiris is pleased. But you are far from finished, young one. Your next step is to gain control of Obelisk the Tormentor, the incarnation of Geb. He is closer than what you may think, very close even. But, I must warn you… to beware, there is much treachery afoot." Hassan said.
"And then what? Please, tell me what I must do.." Atem muttered under his breath, desperation in his voice as he stared wide-eyed at the divine being in front of them.
"After you obtain control of Geb, only then can you make the Journey." Hassan said.
"A journey?" Atem urged. "To where?"
"To Abydos, my young King. You must complete the trio and obtain the deity of light and life itself, Ra. Only with Ra can you save Egypt from the darkness that has been unleashed. In Abydos, your spirit will be judged by not just the souls of the Pharaohs that have come before you, but by the Gods themselves. If you are deemed worthy to wield all three Egyptian Gods, you will be granted their ultimate power, and Egypt will be saved from certain destruction." Hassan said.
Abydos.
Could it be? The mysterious, holy and ancient city that housed the remains of the oldest ancestors, and was even thought to be a home to the Gods. People from all over made pilgrimages to this sacred land. Naima has only heard stories and assumed the mysticism that surrounded this city was merely a tale that was told to children. But if it was true…
Hassan's figure began to retreat back toward the entrance, the bright light he brought with him finally dimming.. to the relief of Naima's eyes.
"Farewell for now, Atem, successor to Aknamkanon, and bringer of peace." Hassan said. "Know that the Gods are watching.. always."
Atem lurched forward, his arm outstretched toward Hassan as his figure became more grainy, the darkness returning into the cave once more.
"No.. don't leave.." he said.
But within seconds, Hassan had left as quickly as he came, and the quiet, dark night returned. It happened so fast that it was jarring, almost as if Naima had just hallucinated the entire thing. That would not have surprised her in the least though. There were no traces of the sunrise that she could see, which meant that delusions at three in the morning from sleep deprivation were a very real possibility.
They both sat in silence afterward, completely awestruck.
"Atem.. was that real?" Naima mumbled.
"..I hope so…" Atem said.
They exchanged glances, an unspoken air of uncertainty between both of them.
But after a moment, he kissed her forehead and rubbed her back gently.
"Go back to sleep." he murmured.
"..Okay…"
-o0o-
The sunrise came quickly. The real one, not.. whatever it was.. that happened last night. It was also a welcome ending to the worst sleep she has had in a long time, which firmly meant that she was not, in fact, dead.
However poorly rested both of them may have been, the daylight meant that it was time to figure out a way out of the chasm and back to the palace. Although Atem's Ka could do many things, it could not fly like hers could, so luckily Naima felt recharged enough to summon her own Ka to try to flag down whatever search party may still be out looking. It did not take her long to spot Isis' Spiria Ka flying a short distance away where they were, and with some awkward nonverbal gestures between Ka, she was able to show where they both were. After that, a search party consisting of Mahad, Isis, Karim, Seto and Shada along with a dozen soldiers had reached the top of their canyon within the hour.
The question remained still… how would they get out? To Naima, it was simple - find an easier spot to climb up and out. Her idea was quickly shot down by the court though, Atem being too valuable to risk him falling while climbing apparently. But while their objections made perfect sense on those grounds, Atem himself being a bit hesitant to scale a rock face, it also served as a small, subtle reminder of her place in the order of things. She was an apprentice, her opinion held little weight despite whatever contributions she has made.
So while everyone else was busy making some contraption with a rope, Naima had wandered off to find a more ideal area to climb up for herself. She had little patience for such things when she has climbed similar before with no issues. In the end, both of them made it up out of the canyon their own way, Atem with the safety of a rope tied to his body and Naima the old-fashioned way, with tired arms and dirt and scratches on her palms.
Fortunately, the journey back to the palace was short and quiet. She sat directly behind Atem doubled up on the same horse after Isis generously gave up her own and doubled up with Mahad. As soon as they were in the vicinity of the palace, Naima saw a crowd begin to form outside, slowly getting larger as word spread that the search party was returning with Atem. It was a nice feeling to be welcomed. But to her horror and total irritation, she realized that front and center of Atem's welcome-home group were all ten girls in his quasi-harem, cheering exuberantly at him as everyone dismounted.
And of course they were all beautifully dressed with their hair brushed and their faces perfectly painted while she sat there behind him covered in dirt and sweat, tired and exceptionally cranky.
In front of her, Atem swung his leg over the front of his horse and quickly slid down to dismount, before grabbing her waist to help her down as well. Naima didn't even have a chance to take a breath before they were ambushed by the women.
She was swiftly pushed and shoved out of the way as they surrounded Atem, crooning at him sweetly, touching him, saying how happy they were that he was alive and safe.
'Yes, but not because of any of you…'
Naima stared at them with a clenched jaw as fury began bubbling in the pit of her stomach. Atem appeared to have been totally blindsided by this sudden influx of attention, his expression utterly staggered as he looked around at them in bewilderment, seeming to have no idea what was going on or what to do.
She decided she had to leave quickly, before she lost her temper and made a fool of herself. After rolling her eyes, she turned around and stormed off toward the palace.
"Naima.. wait!" she heard Atem call out after her.
She ignored him, feeling the angry words already building in her throat. It was better this way. She did not need to lower herself fighting over a man. As she walked back inside the palace, she found herself again wondering how long this would take, how long these women would be here… if there would even be an end to this stupidity. But remembering the promise she made to herself and Atem, she made sure to quickly squash whatever doubts were beginning to surface, and it was surprisingly freeing. She needn't worry about it.
She simply had to trust.
Author's note:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, especially the spicier bits! These last few chapters have been an absolute bitch to write but I guess its my own damn fault for making them almost 8k words lol.. sometimes I just can't help myself
Also just wanted to give a heads up that next update MIGHT be a bit late, I have some IRL stuff going on in the next 2 weeks. Take care everyone :)
Chapter 27: Respite
Chapter Text
"You look like you had just been dragged through the bowels of the underworld." Penthu muttered to her pointedly, a slight curl to his nose as he scrutinized her with a quick once-over.
Of course she had marched right back to the hospital wing after storming off from Atem's welcoming party and all of his adoring girlfriends. Semi-private and secluded, there was no better place to escape to, and she much preferred Penthu's officious looks to what had waited for her outside.
"Sorry for being late today…" Naima said breathily, her voice slightly hoarse from sprinting across the palace to get there.
"I…found the Prince…"
As if it was no big deal. As if it was some small consolation for shirking her responsibilities.
"…Yes, I heard." Penthu's mouth was a tiny line of thinly veiled displeasure.
"Well, I suppose the Prince's safety does take precedence, doesn't it?" he said. Naima could not tell if the sour tone in his voice was just more of his usual or specifically directed at her.
"I can make up the time…" Naima said as she played with her fingers nervously. "I'll stay overnight… I'll —"
Penthu waved his hand dismissively at her.
"Don't worry about it." he said. "I trust that you tended to his medical needs then?"
"Uhh…" She had tended to one of his medical needs, just now remembering the limp that had slipped her mind.
"I think so…" she lied. She will check on him sometime soon.
Penthu eyed her suspiciously for another moment before he gestured toward the far right corner, a man's figure laying still underneath a white cotton blanket.
"Aknadin is back here… again…" he grumbled.
Naima's expression wrinkled in confusion.
"But why? What happened?"
"Last night, he was found in one of the Shrines of Wedju, collapsed on the floor with a sword next to him." Penthu said as he shook his head.
"I don't know what's going on with him, Naima. I have considered the medical causes of such strange behavior… a parasite, or weakening of the mind from old age, or perhaps he hit his head and did not tell anyone… I have even considered poisoning. None of it fits."
Naima studied him closer, her mind whirling.
"What was he doing?"
"The Gods only know…. It wasn't even his own." Penthu said.
"…Which shrine was he found in?" Naima asked, a likely answer already forming in her mind.. one that she dearly hoped was not correct.
He looked at her after a slight pause, as if he too suspected something deeper.
"The Prince's…"
Naima side-eyed him, and he did the same to her. The glance they shared was silent but knowing, full of words that neither of them dared say aloud.
"What needs to be done today still?" Naima asked after a moment.
Penthu gave her a strange look and again raked his eyes over her figure, noting the dirt on her clothes, the cuts on her hands, the tiredness on her face.
He shook his head.
"You need rest. Do not worry about me today. It is empty." he said, gesturing to the vacant hall, save for Aknadin and Kisara behind Penthu's office.
"Just take today off."
Today… off? A day off? An actual day off?
Naima almost jumped for joy, but she quickly leashed it and got a hold of herself before Penthu decided she was too happy and changed his mind.
…
After returning to her bedroom and taking a much needed bath, she hopped in bed and took a nap. Which seemed to be exactly what she needed. How glorious it felt to be lazy during the day, to wake up at noon and lay in the mid-day sun that streamed through her window.
There was a soft knock on her door before it opened a crack and Eliyah's face appeared behind it.
"Ah, Naima. I thought you might be hungry. I brought you some lunch." he said, setting a tray of food in front of her— bread with an assortment of other dishes. "I am not used to seeing you this time of the day."
An idea popped into her head while she ate.
"Are you free Eliyah? Would you like some lessons?" Naima asked.
Eliyah paused.
"Unfortunately I cannot right now. There are many tasks I still have to do. I must run to Thebes to pick up your wardrobe by tomorrow."
Her clothes… Naima has been truly blessed. He is the only reason why she looked presentable all the time. Everything in her wardrobe has been perfectly and thoughtfully curated for her, and it has only improved the longer she has stayed here. The best part was that he seemed to enjoy doing it too.
"Eliyah, why don't I pick it up for you? It's not like I'm doing anything right now." Naima said.
He looked up from wiping the dust on her bedside table.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course!" she said.
"Ah, Naima, you are a godsend." he said.
-o0o-
With some directions from Eliyah about the location of the dress shop, she was all set to go.. except for one thing.
She bent down to open the bottom drawer of her vanity, grabbed her makeup case and removed the bottom of it, revealing the stash of gold coins that she had been hoarding. Her weekly payments from Penthu. She now had enough gold coins to fill both of her palms and then some. With a warm fuzzy feeling in her chest, she put them in a small pouch and tucked it away in her clothing.
Ever since she began saving her money, she wondered what she would do with it. She had nowhere to spent it and nothing to spend it on. But the discussion of dresses made her recall a certain promise she made to Zahra a little while ago about buying her new clothes, and she bit back the guilt for taking this long.
As she walked out the palace gates and made the short walk into the city, she felt quite ridiculous for not doing it sooner. After all, she was so close, but somehow never thought to purposely venture out to experience the sights and smells that made Thebes the bustling capital city that it was. It was certainly loud and smelly and slightly crude… but the change in scenery invigorated her, and when she passed by a food stall selling Ta'amiya, she of course had to buy some.
She picked up her own dresses, as well as some nice dresses for Zahra at the dress shop, and then set out back toward the palace to find Zahra.
Naima had never actually bothered to explore the school side of the palace before. It was tucked far away toward the end of the grounds, away from the main action and distractions of the palace, the path and surrounding areas lined with a thin grove of palm trees and bushes. She squinted as she eyed the set of multiple buildings — one large one and many small ones — and figures of children walking around.
But while she walked across the grounds, still a good distance away, she concluded that she was a bad sister. All the times Zahra had come to see her, all the times she had spotted her in the halls sneaking around the palace because she was bored or needed some sort of outlet, not to mention how Zahra admitted that she was having a difficult time in school… Naima felt terrible for not being as present as she should be.
She clutched the dresses she picked out herself in her arms, hoping it was a start to somehow making up for it.
As Naima continued down the path, she ignored the fact that she had no idea what Zahra's schedule was and that she could very well be busy. She also thought nothing of the laughter and yelling in the distance. She was at a school, it is to be expected.
Except what finally caught her interest was that in the mix of laughter was shouting… taunting… Naima turned and carefully positioned herself behind a bush.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"
The familiarity of that voice, and the distress that colored it.. Naima's throat became dry.
It was Zahra… Zahra that was shouting at a group of five teenage boys, her eyes flashing red and flames appearing in her palms.
"Why are you so weird?"
"Yeah no wonder why no one likes you.."
"Go back to your stupid little village."
They laughed, and then one of them threw what looked to be old seeds from a date palm at her.. taunting her..
Naima had never felt such murderous fury shoot throughout her body as she did at that moment, so quick like a lightning bolt from her Ka. She was going to teach those stupid boys a lesson they would never forget —
Heart now pumping with adrenaline, her legs began moving even before her thoughts fully registered.
"Guys, knock it off why don't you… leave her alone."
Naima stopped dead in her tracks, still behind some trees and bushes. Another boy had appeared and approached the group, now standing in front of Zahra.
"Why don't you bunch of numbskulls get a life? Leave her alone and go bother someone else." he said.
"Why should we listen to you?"
"Because if you don't, I'll kick all your asses so hard you'll have to shit sideways." the new boy shouted with his fist clenched above his chest.
Despite being clearly outnumbered, this boy seemed to have the size, the confidence.. and the mouth.. to make the group of boys back off a bit.
"Whatever man…."
"Yeah, you suck."
They muttered before they skulked off.
The boy turned to Zahra.
"You alright?" he asked her.
Zahra turned to him, still furious.
"How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone, you dipshit!" Zahra yelled.
She glanced at the group of boys disappearing to their dormitories.
"I could have handled those fuckers myself." she mumbled under her breath.
"Yeah, not likely. And who you calling dipshit?"
Zahra turned to him again, her nostrils flaring, her face positively ferocious.
"I'm calling YOU a dipshit."
A massive, satisfied smirk appeared on the boy's face.
"I see how it is. Why's it gotta be 'dipshit', huh? Why can't it be 'Thank you, Jono, you're the best' or 'Thank you, Jono, you're the most handsome guy in the school —'"
"Will you shut up!" Zahra shouted, her cheeks now very flushed.
The boy named Jono chuckled under his breath.
"Alright Zahra… Tell you what, if you need someone to study with, just holler…" he said still smirking at her, raising his arm to her casually as he turned and walked away.
"I won't!" Zahra shouted as she glared after him furiously. Jono just smiled to himself while he walked off.
Naima, who had been observing this exchange the entire time, watched behind the bushes as Zahra stood still in her tracks, continuing to stare after Jono's retreating figure with an irritated look on her face, her cheeks flushed.
"A fire rages inside of her…" — A familiar, female voice sounded behind her from seemingly out of nowhere, ripping her mind away from her eavesdropping.
Spooked, Naima turned around. There, standing behind her, stood Isis. She was beautiful as usual, her long, dark hair tucked neatly underneath her headdress, her blue eyes cloudy with something that Naima couldn't quite pinpoint. She was absently rubbing the carved lines of the Eye of her Millennium Necklace with her fingers as she looked at Naima.
"Isis.. I did not see you there." Naima said quietly.
Isis took a few steps toward her, studying her face silently and continuing to softly stroke her necklace in a sort of distracted trance.
"Is there something wrong?" Naima asked.
Isis perked up a bit at the question, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Being able to see the future is both a blessing, and a curse. I have said goodbye to the luxury of having peace of mind long ago."
She walked up next to her by the bush that Naima stood behind, looking toward Zahra's retreating figure in the distance
"It is nice to finally be able to speak with you, Naima. Your presence here has been a change, but certainly one that is welcome.. and needed." She paused briefly, pursing her lips. "There is an old saying that the past has a tendency to repeat itself. I have found this to be true time and time again."
"What do you mean?" Naima asked.
"I mean that it is no coincidence that you are here with us today. I have seen your arrival long before you came, and… many other things… but I was unsure what they meant."
Her Millennium Necklace glinted in the sunlight.
'Mahad, you must let go. It is okay, I have seen it.' — Isis's words from what seemed to be ages ago had emerged from the trenches of her long forgotten memory of that terrible afternoon. Naima at the time, having known nothing about her, had completely ignored Isis's prediction and the gravity of her words as she forged onward with more pressing issues at hand.
But now…. now—
Isis continued, her expression forlorn.
"I am still unsure. Lately there seems to be a dark cloud over my visions.. Everything that my necklace shows me is hazy."
She put a hand on Naima's shoulder. "Trust that you are more important than you believe yourself to be, much more. And already you have proven this to be true." she said with a smile. "Do not shy away from your destiny. You will be great."
A bunch of words that held meaning, but that meaning was lost on her. Although Naima never spoke much to her, Isis obviously knew much more than she let on. A myriad of questions began budding in her mind.
Isis glanced over Naima's shoulder, at where Zahra once stood, her outline now a dot on the horizon that eventually disappeared into one of the many small houses.
"And as for your sister… I urge you to pay close attention to her." she said. "Rage burns inside of her, to her very core, and a monster will be unleashed…"
"A monster?"
Isis nodded.
"Yes. Know that it is not simply a coincidence that she is here, with you." Isis continued to study Zahra. "She is much more than she seems… and her power is great."
Isis paused briefly, touching her necklace and closing her eyes. Her hand trembled slightly as the Millennium Necklace glinted again.
"She will live on."
Naima has never heard Isis talk in so many riddles.
"This haze that you spoke of… it has really hampered your powers, hasn't it?" she said.
Isis nodded again.
"And it will become worse as this darkness descends further upon us. Prepare yourself."
There was a faint shout in the distance and they both turned, eyeing the source of the noise — a group of people Naima didn't recognize.
"I must leave you now. Please, Naima, take care of yourself, and…." she said with a small, knowing smile. "You must follow your heart, no matter where it takes you."
"Isis," Naima called out to her as she walked away. Isis turned around.
"Does your necklace let you see the past too?"
Isis shook her head.
"No, it does not. I am sorry." she said, before she turned around again and left.
Naima stared after her as she walked away. Isis's words to her were as hazy as her own visions and instead of providing any semblance of an answer, they only led to more and more questions.
She then turned toward one of the smaller buildings that Zahra had disappeared off into.
"Zahra…" Naima mumbled and she set out in her direction.
-o0o-
Naima knocked on a small, wooden door, and a distracted looking Zahra eventually appeared.
"..Naima?" she said in surprise, her face immediately brightening into an ecstatic smile.
Naima beamed back at her sister, still clutching the dresses in her arms.
"Better late than never, right?" she said and extended her arms out. "I got these for you."
Zahra squealed and threw her arms around her.
"You're finally here! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't wait to try these on. Come inside." she said.
"Zahra… there's no one else in here.." Naima said as she walked inside and looked around. Zahra's dormitory was small and rather empty. There were two bare beds next to her small area, making it appear to be an extra dormitory,
"Yeah, they moved me here… you know, because…." she trailed off, placing the dresses on her bed and plopping down next to them.
"Because why?"
"I was fighting with my roommates too much…" Zahra said matter-of-factly. "They were always looking for ways to make fun of me, Naima. First it was because I was poor, now it's because I'm not 'lady-like'…"
She crossed her arms over her chest and wrinkled her nose.
"They say 'Ladies don't swear.. ladies don't eat food like how you do…'.. I don't give a FUCK, Naima. I'll eat, talk and act however I want."
Naima smiled and studied her sister. Some things certainly had not changed. But there was, however, a difference in her eyes - the brightness of them now replaced with a certain, exhausted heaviness.
"Zahra, you know, the offer is still there to go back home if this is too much for you…"
"Nah, I'm fine. It's soooo much better now that I have my own room, and just in time too before I clawed their stupid eyeballs out with my bare hands." Zahra said. She then turned to look at her and immediately got an eyeful of her very conspicuous diadhank on her left wrist.
"You have one of those? What in Ra's name are those things?"
"It's a diadhank.." Naima trailed off as she eyed her sister's expectant face, knowing that if she gave too much information, Zahra would certainly want to dive straight in head first. Naima wasn't even supposed to have one herself, and she didn't want to push her luck trying to convince someone to give one to Zahra.
Thinking quickly, she looked around and spotted Zahra's small vanity.
"Zahra…" Naima said as she walked over to it, eyeing a shiny looking object on top. "Is that…. Is that glass?"
"Oh…" Zahra exclaimed with a blush. Her face reeled from the sudden change of subject, her mouth still open from the barrage of questions that were apparent all over her face.
"..Yeah. I found a book about how to do it one night when I was in the palace. Gets pretty boring here sometimes."
Naima picked it up. It appeared to be a bird, or at least something with wings.
"What is it?" she asked.
Zahra shrugged. "I don't know. I dream about it sometimes, so I figured I would make it."
She jumped up from her bed.
"That reminds me…"
She reached under her bed and eventually produced a glass bowl, almost identical to the one that broke the other day.
"Here you go." she said.
Naima was touched, and her heart soared.
"Zahra… you didn't have to…"
"No, I wanted to. It was fun anyways, don't worry about it. Between this and exploring the palace, it keeps me out of too much trouble." she said with a wink.
"I'm actually surprised you haven't been caught yet." Naima said, amused.
"Oh I have, plenty of times. But being your sister has its perks. And," she said, screwing her face up into the worst impression of fake sweetness that Naima had ever seen.
"Who can resist this charm?"
Naima snorted and they both giggled, loud and girly and deep from their bellies.. almost like how they used to when they lived in their tiny house together, joking around in the evenings while Naima cooked dinner and Zahra cleaned or folded laundry, brushing and braiding each other's hair at night.
The feeling and sound of their carefree laughter, of her sister's familiar presence.. It wasn't even all that long ago, but in thinking about her old life, there was something that felt distant. As if she was reaching forward into thin air, attempting to grasp but never fully gaining hold… and she realized how far removed she was from the person she was before.
"Me and the guards.. we're all buddies, we're like this—," Zahra grinned as she held up her hand, crossing her middle finger over her index. "They sure look like a bunch of scary ass mother fuckers, but alot of them are actually alright. Definitely a lot different from that other guy who's also scary but literally has no redeeming qualities about him whatsoever. He's like an angry, bald crocodile that's always in a bad mood."
"Who are you talking about, Zahra?"
"You know, that guy from Memphis who stomps around like he owns the place and is always whispering with Aknadin when they think no one's around." Zahra said. She stood up proudly. "No one except me, that is."
"Are you talking about Kerpheres?"
Zahra shrugged.
"That's probably his name. I just call him the mutant crocodile spawn. Naima, I'm telling you… I've been following him for a little while now and there is something majorly off about that guy…"
Naima stifled a small giggle under her breath.
"… I mean, there's something off about all of them, I think…"
"I'm being serious, Naima!" Zahra quickly sat back down in front of her on the bed, the frenetic look in her eyes reflecting the racing thoughts in her mind.
"That guy… I think there's some sort of plot happening… like a plot to take over or something. I'm not exactly sure though. I've been wanting to tell you this earlier but you're always fucking gone or busy."
Well, that came from out of nowhere. Naima paused and stared at her sister for a moment, crinkling her eyebrows.
"..Zahra… you know that's a really serious accusation."
Remembering Eliyah's sage advice, she lowered her voice to almost a whisper, "You need to be careful saying those things out loud. There are people all over this place that are listening."
"I know, that's exactly what the guards said to me. When I brought it up to them, they told me to never speak of it again, and to stop tailing him. But I swear Naima, I'm not making this up. I've tried to follow Aknadin too but he's harder to tail cause he's gone or just stays in his chamber all the time. He's weird and creepy as fuck, though. But Kerpheres… that guy is a rotten snake."
"Do you have any proof, Zahra?" Naima asked.
Zahra's face fell.
"…No. Just the stuff I've heard and the feeling I get whenever I spy on him. Stuff about marriages and becoming Queen and getting more power and money for his stupid city. He's always planning stuff and talking in code words. Probably has something to do with all those girls running around here like they're something special."
She glanced up at her.
"You're better and prettier than all of them anyways. You should be the one marrying the Prince."
Naima's cheek's instantly became hot.
"Zahra…" she hissed as she quickly glanced out the window to make sure there was no one passing by. "Shhhhhhh!"
"What?" she exclaimed. "Literally everyone knows about you and him. Even all my classmates know. They gossip about it sometimes and I tell them to shut up. This morning, everyone was talking about how you traveled far into the hills and found the Prince after he was stranded, and how you both came back sitting together, and how mad you were when all the girls rushed him—"
"Alright!" Naima said, holding up her hand. She couldn't take anymore of the truth. "That's enough…"
"And I wasn't mad, I was just really tired."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Zahra smirked. "Whatever you say, sis…"
Zahra knew her way too well.
With her cheeks still aflame, she was determined to change the subject, "Perhaps we should tell Mahad about this." she said.
Zahra made a small, frantic noise, and she hesitated. Her eyes became huge.
"Mahad? The super high-up head security guy?"
"Well.. yeah.." Naima said with a smile. "He's very nice, don't worry."
Zahra's eyes shifted as she looked at her.
"Maybe to you, especially since you're with the Prince. I'm just a kid, remember? No one takes me seriously."
"You're not a kid anymore, Zahra." Naima said firmly, eyeing her sister's face. It was clear that Zahra was growing into a young woman. Granted, her large eyes were still full with innocence, but it was often overshadowed by her determination and hunger to prove herself.
"I don't know, Naima, I kind of have a bad feeling about this. Crocodile Spawn already knows I'm onto him and hates my guts. I'm positive that if it's his word over mine, he will definitely win." Zahra said.
"The problem is that you have no proof." Naima said. "And getting it will be difficult."
Zahra looked down, playing absently with the folds of her bedsheets.
"Yeah." she said. "You believe me, right?"
"Of course I do. We just need proof." Naima said. "Don't worry, we will get to the bottom of this."
Zahra nodded and glanced out the window. Her face lit up. Naima knew that face. It was the face she made when she had some sort of plan or scheme, and she waited for the inevitable.
"Hey, what do you think about us having a battle outside? Like we used to do, for old times sake?" Zahra said excitedly.
Naima looked at her sister's eager face. The heaviness that was in her eyes only a few moments ago had vanished, and the spark returned. How it should be.
She smiled.
"Zahra, I would love to."
-o0o-
"Wait until you've seen how much better I've gotten Naima," Zahra said from across an expanse of dirt a small distance away from the school grounds.
"I won't hold back."
"Neither will I." Naima called out.
A promise of the best from both of them.
Naima gathered all the power inside of her, seemingly scooping it up from the depths of her consciousness, and it surged upward at her will, the snarl of her Ka a distant hum in her mind. And with one large heave, power erupted from both sides.
The resulting blast from the impact of both fire and lightning tore through the air and rocked everything in the vicinity. The ground shook, the scorching heat that radiated from their power became unbearable, and Naima began to sweat as she struggled to maintain her ball of lightning against the strength of Zahra's fire inferno. She pushed and pushed against it, but it fought back against her just as much, hard and firm like a stone wall against her own.
'Well done Zahra..'
It was a stalemate.
Who would be the first to cave? Naima decided that it would not be her as she summoned another wave of power from deep within and felt it it rip through her body into her palms. But while she continued to struggle against Zahra's massive fireball for what was probably the first time ever, she saw that her lightning began to curl around Zahra's fire at the same time as licks of flame began to curve around her own bolts of lightning.
Slowly.. slowly, both forces began to engulf the other, until their individual energies combined into one massive ball of searing, scorching, crackling destruction that sat firmly in the middle of both of them. Fire swirled and rippled inside of a white hot, forked crown of electricity that flashed and hissed through Zahra's raging inferno ball. Their energies have merged together — A lethal amalgamation of two powerful forces, a devastating combination.
Naima glanced across the field toward her sister whose face was still scrunched up in concentration and strain. There was no way to win this, and Zahra's brief glance back at her told her that Zahra was thinking the same thing.
"Zahra! Up!" Naima shouted. A brief nod from both of them, somehow knowing exactly what the other was thinking, and they both heaved their arms upward. The furious-looking sphere of energy followed the motion of their arms. It launched high up into the sky, and promptly exploded.
The resulting sound was a deafening roar in her ears and the heat singed and nipped at her face. Naima quickly shielded herself, closing her eyes tightly. But still, lights flashed before her eyelids and the distant sound of crackling filled her ears. She cracked an eye open, eyeing remnants of smoke and bolts of electricity still snaking through the clouds, the aftermath of their seemingly innocent practice that somehow took a different, more explosive turn.
But unexpectedly, the sounds of clapping and cheering eventually materialized around her, and she tore her eyes away from the scene.
"Wow, Zahra, that was so cool what you guys did!"
"Yeah Zahra, how did you guys do that?"
"Fire is such a cool power to have, I wish I had that."
Kids and teenagers— likely students— who all began crowding around them, mostly Zahra. They cluttered around, uttering their praise and admiration.
"Zahra, you're gonna have to teach me to do that some day."
"Yeah! Me too!"
"Uhhh…" Zahra mumbled as she stared at the crowd with wide-eyes, the perpetual look of defensiveness now replaced with confusion as this new, unexpected flood of positive attention appeared to have made her completely dumbfounded.
Naima noticed the boy Jono standing back with his arms crossed, a pleased smile on his face as he watched Zahra from afar. When he moved to approach her, Naima determined it was a perfect time to make a quick exit. Zahra can soak up her newfound fame without her interference.
"I have to get back Zahra. I'll see you soon, okay?" Naima said.
Zahra turned to her, her face utterly baffled.
"…Okay…" she muttered.
-o0o-
Naima tromped back to the main palace building and the golden glow of the sunset warmed her face as she clutched Zahra's homemade glass bowl in her hands, fingertips absently grazing over the small, barely noticeable ridges of imperfection that marbled the surface —small marks, reminders of something made by human hands with love and care.
Only once she reached her bedroom door, she stopped as she noticed Kisara sitting idly outside the hospital doors.
"Kisara? Is everything alright?" Naima asked, walking over to her.
"Naima, I'm so happy to see you." Kisara said.
She looked upset, her distress a dark cloud on her pale, delicate face.
"What's wrong? What are you doing out here?" Naima asked.
"I can't stay in there anymore Naima, not with him." Kisara whimpered as she shook her head, her white-blond locks of hair shimmering over her shoulders.
"Did something happen?"
Kisara cringed.
"I was sleeping, and he and another person were standing over me again, this time with something that looked like a key. It flashed right in my eyes and made me feel really strange." she said with a shudder.
Her face brimmed both with hesitancy and an inkling of shame as she looked at Naima.
"I hate to be a burden on you. I know you have allowed me to stay here.. passed what I should…"
It was true. Kisara has long since been ready to leave the hospital, and with any other patient, Penthu would have had them out the door as soon as they were ready. But after their conversation that one morning, Naima had always managed to find excuses to convince Penthu to let her stay just a bit longer.
So of course she offered Kisara to stay with her for the time being. How could she not.
"Don't worry about it." Naima said as she opened the door to her bedroom. It welcomed her with a cooling gust of air through the wide-open windows, fragrant with musk from dirt and reeds.
Kisara stepped inside hesitantly.
"Make yourself at home. You may use any of my things. My servant Eliyah will care for you." Naima said as she placed Zahra's glass bowl onto her vanity carefully.
After Eliyah had brought them dinner and they both bathed, Naima hopped up on her bed to join Kisara. They both dried their hair in the flickering torchlight, the scent of myrrh soap still lingering in the room. Naima watched as Kisara brushed out the knots in her mane and she became mesmerized by its pale color, its sheen and texture like a bolt of fresh, white silk with undertones of blue.
"Have you ever painted your nails before?" Naima said.
"No." Kisara said.
Naima got up and grabbed a container of henna and a brush from one of her vanity drawers.
"Would you like to?" she asked.
Kisara's face lit up and she smiled.
"Sure."
They both sat cross-legged on the bed as Naima took one of Kisara's fingers and began delicately painting her nails with the henna.
Kisara eyed her as she worked.
"I owe you an explanation, Naima." she uttered softly. "About why I can't leave. You deserve to know."
At last, this moment.. answers to the questions that she has been asking for days and weeks, but never has it been the right time.
Though, something inside caused Naima to hesitate.
"..If you don't want to talk about it…" she trailed off, grabbing another unpainted fingertip.
"No." Kisara said, anxiously clenching and unclenching her other fist overtop her bedsheets. "I want to. I need to… I need this…"
The only noise between them was the tinkling of a brush rubbing against the small marble container of henna.
"I am a slave… I — was a slave." Kisara said.
Naima tried not to stop what she was doing in an effort to appear like she wasn't surprised, commanding her face into whatever seemed natural at the time.
"As I have said, I am from what the Egyptians refer to as the northern lands, across the Mediterranean Sea.. and even further north than the Mycenaean territory. My entire family is. I have not seen them, or my home, in many years… and I cannot bring myself to hope to.. ever again."
"My father was a trader of Amber. He became one out of necessity after our farm had succumbed to disease. Our small village was a popular stopping point on the Amber Road, where traders would journey from north of the Lusatian territory on their way south, to trade Amber for gold, salt and spices. My father saw their riches and their happiness. He wanted to provide that for his own family. So he joined a group of other traders, and for one entire year, he was gone. He returned to my mother and I as a new man, with stories of his travels to many far away places such as this land… Egypt. To my mother's satisfaction, he also returned with a modest fortune.. enough to pay back our debts, fix our house and ensure that we had enough to eat for at least half a year."
"When it came time for him to set out again, I refused to let him leave. I was a young child who missed her father dearly and I had finally gotten him back. I remember hugging his leg as he went to leave, and I wouldn't let go, and I cried and cried and cried… enough that my father.. suggested that I come with him."
Naima continued to concentrate on painting while attempting to capture every word that Kisara said.
"But of course my mother had a fit. She refused at first, said it was much too dangerous for a young child like me… but my father and I eventually won her over. My mother agreed to a half year on the road with him, the other half at home with her. I didn't care, I just wanted to have my father back. And from that day on, my fate was sealed."
"After journeying north to pick up a shipment of Amber, we went south, through Mycenea, and eventually to the Hittite empire where we were to drop off our load and receive our payment. I was to return home to my mother afterward. Well…that never happened."
Kisara wavered a bit, swallowing quietly.
"We had always been warned about rival trader groups on the Road. There are no laws when you're traveling through a barren desert. We had been fortunate that everyone we met had been neutral at worst. Among traders, there seems to be a sense of camaraderie so my father had a false sense of security. We heard stories of groups being raided and pillaged on the road but it never happened to us or any of his other travel partners, so we paid no heed and took no precautions.
"One night, we had settled down outside of a village. The next thing I knew, I woke up to screaming. I saw my father's body on the ground, and there was blood everywhere… so much blood. I didn't see what happened to his partners, if they ran off or if they were killed too. All I remember was that there were so many strange, scary men yelling in a language I didn't understand. I was so young at the time and I had no idea what was going on or what to do. I remember trying to hide inside of a large bag. They raided everything, they took all the money, all the food and supplies. They took the bag I was in, thinking it was more goods, and they threw me and everything else into the back of some carriage thing."
Kisara glanced back over to her again as Naima started on her other hand. Her blue eyes teemed with some indistinct mixture of emotion.
"I was eventually found. It turns out my captors were Hittites and they were not only involved in Amber trade. They were slave traders as well… and they made me a slave. Apparently I was a commodity because of my looks. So instead of being bought and sold like a regular slave, I was rented out. They could get far more money that way, renting me out for a period of time as some sort of 'special rarity', a freak-show for people to ogle at. I spent my childhood going from place to place to place, different masters every few months, each time having to learn what to do and what not to do, how to behave to please everyone… before they gave me back whenever they got bored. When I was not rented out, I was locked in a wooden cage while we traveled. I hated it. I hated everything, and I vowed to escape… one day."
"But then…. Then —" Kisara's lips wobbled. "Someone came…. He rescued me…"
"Who did?" Naima asked.
"Seto." she said, her voice barely a whisper above the crackling torches.
Seto. The man who stomped around the palace day in and day out like he hated every single person in it. Seto, the man whom Naima has never had a single positive interaction with..
Seto… the man who declared in front of an entire court that he would rather take her Ka for the pursuit of power, than spare her life.
"He freed me, and gave me his own horse, and told me to run to his hometown… And I did. They ended up coming after me since I made them too much money for them to just lose me like that, and when they couldn't find me," Kisara closed her eyes and clenched them shut. "They wrecked the village and set it on fire."
"I've always known I've had some sort of power inside of me. My father spoke of it too. And that night… that night I was so upset and angry.. and I wanted to hurt them for what they did, I wanted to protect Seto… so it came out."
Her eyes and face were distant, staring forward blankly as if she was watching it happen again in front of her. The torches in the room continued to flicker and hiss as she continued.
"After that happened, I made it into Thebes somehow, and worked out an arrangement with a local family who provided me food and housing in exchange for housework and childcare. I was fortunate that they never berated me for my appearance or made me feel strange. I never left the house, ever. I didn't need do, nor did I want to. I was still a slave, but at least I was treated like a human."
She clenched her fists again, her knuckles becoming white.
"But then, my master's wife became sick. Very sick. Sick enough to where he refused to leave her side. She would not eat, and he asked me to go out and buy some dates for her, her favorite food. As a slave, I could not refuse. I went to the market…" she swallowed and shook her head, lowering her voice to a whisper. "..And somehow, they were there… My old slave masters…"
A lone tear slid down her cheek.
"Everything happened so fast. They yelled toward me, and I tried to run, and then I felt their hands on me…." she cringed. "I heard this roar in my mind. It felt like my chest exploded, and I saw a white flash.. and then it all became black. The spirit inside of me.. it attacked them. And then the next thing I knew I was here, being cared for by you."
There was a brief pause, much needed after all that Kisara had uttered. Naima had long since finished painting Kisara's nails, and Kisara silently motioned to Naima that she would paint hers now.
"I owe him so much… Seto. I will repay him someday." Kisara said as she dipped the small brush in the henna paint. "But now you understand why it is difficult for me to leave here."
To live as an outcast for her appearance, in constant fear of being kidnapped again… Naima couldn't imagine.
She smiled at Kisara.
"Then you will not leave here. I will try to find you a more permanent arrangement. Perhaps we can find you work here in the palace." she said.
Kisara smiled back and seemed to ponder for a moment.
"Seto is here, right?"
"Yes, I believe so."
Kisara pursed her lips. "He would help me."
Naima watched as Kisara carefully slid the brush over her thumbnail.
"You have a lot of faith and trust in him." she remarked.
"I know that he might not be the most pleasant person. But he has a good heart underneath it all, I have seen it firsthand." Kisara said.
Naima stayed silent, opting to say nothing than something that might offend her. Kisara eyed her face with a look and smile that told her that she knew exactly what she was thinking. They both burst out into giggles.
"I promise you, Naima, you'll see. You'll see how good he is." Kisara said.
"I hope I do." Naima said.
A soft knock thudded on her door.
"Coming!"
Naima hopped up out of bed to answer it. It was probably Eliyah there to empty the bathwater.
But no. It was Atem who stood on the other side of the door, looking at her with a small smile.
He had definitely cleaned up since this morning. His skin was free of dirt, he had changed clothes and Naima couldn't help but admire how attractive he looked in the half-light of the torches as he stood there in her doorway.
"Hey.." Naima said. A large goofy smile had somehow appeared on her face.
He had come to see her.
Atem smiled down at her and for a second, she allowed herself to sink into the warm feeling she got whenever she looked at him. She had almost forgotten that Kisara was still behind her watching. She vaguely heard Kisara gasp before emitting a small, distressed yelp when she saw Atem.
Atem glanced to the side and looked at Kisara in confusion, and Naima could see the silent question in his eyes.
"Atem, this is Kisara." Naima said. "She.. um.. was one of our patients, and is staying with me tonight."
Atem nodded at Kisara wordlessly in acknowledgement, and Kisara continued to stare wide-eyed at him with her hands clasped tightly over her mouth.
He glanced back over at Naima.
"Is this a bad time?" he asked.
"Uhh…" Naima stammered as she briefly glanced back over at Kisara. It kind of was, but she didn't want to tell him that.
"..Well.."
Thankfully, Atem seemed to have read the room, and he smiled at both her and Kisara.
"It is alright. I can come back another time. I'll leave you both." he said quietly.
He then reached to grasp her hand gently before giving her a kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight." he whispered against her skin.
As he pulled away, Naima caught his eye and she quickly reached up to catch her lips with his own, planting a short kiss on his lips.
"Tomorrow night?" she said to him as they pulled away.
He smiled at her and nodded, his eyes subtly tracing downward to admire her briefly. To her disappointment, he ducked out of her doorway with one last look and she eventually closed the door, sighing internally.
He wasn't even gone for ten seconds and she already missed him.
Kisara continued to stare at her with her hands clenched over her mouth as she walked back to the bed.
"What was that?" Kisara hissed through her fingers.
Naima grinned awkwardly at her and couldn't help but giggle at the incredulous look on her face.
"You.. and him? You and the Prince?" Kisara said.
Kisara must have been the only person in the world who didn't know about her and Atem, and it was oddly refreshing. Naima climbed up into bed and pulled the covers around her, silently wishing they were Atem's arms instead.
Kisara continued to stare at her.
"Just keep quiet about it, okay?" Naima said. Not a direct admission, but heavily implied. Kisara studied her, and eventually nodded.
Naima yawned.
"I'm tired. Let's get to bed."
Author's note:
-First off, apologies for the late upload on this one.
-We finally get a day off! And what a perfect opportunity to tie up a few loose ends. This chapter is a bit lighter than what I usually write but we've been going pretty hard and heavy so I think we were due for a break. Don't worry though, we will be right back at it in the next one ;)
-I hope you enjoyed my take on Kisara's back story. She's quite mysterious and a bit difficult to pin down
-The Amber Road is a real historical trade route used for hundreds of years to transport amber from the Baltic region southward, including down to Egypt. Apparently Tutankhamen's funerary breast ornament contained Baltic amber. There is a whole Wikipedia page about it if you want to read more.
-The land of Mycenea ("Mycenaean") referenced in this chapter refers to what is now present-day Greece, Lusatia ("Lusatian") refers to land that is now modern day Poland/Czech Republic/Germany, both of which were on the Amber Road and/or involved in amber trade
Chapter 28: Shift
Chapter Text
Scroll down to the end author's notes for chapter-specific trigger warnings.
The Pharaoh Aknamkanon is dead.
The proclamation that rocked an entire palace, a whole country, even the world.
Eliyah had rushed into her bedroom before Naima left for the Hospital that morning and quietly informed her and Kisara of the news.
This came to no one's surprise. But still, the gravity of what this meant, of the inevitable changes that would happen as a result… the air inside the palace was already thin. Daily life seemed to have stopped clear in its tracks. So when Naima came into work that morning, Penthu was gone. Apparently having spent the night with the Pharaoh, keeping watch over him while he made his initial journey into the afterlife.
One look at the empty hall told her that today would obviously not be a normal day. She instead decided to follow the motley of whispers and rumblings, of people who seemed to be heading in the same direction, to where she presumed everyone was gathered to pay their respects.
Immediately, the scent of strong incense wafted into her nose and the sound of monotone chanting reverberated across the stone walls. After politely pushing her way to the front of the group gathered in the room, she eventually eyed the body of the Pharaoh Aknamkanon laying lifeless, supine atop a stone table in the middle.
The body of the Pharaoh.
His face was painted, but even the paint was not enough to hide the evidence of the suffering he had experienced as a consequence of his disease. He was thin, gaunt, barely recognizable. But Naima could still see the traces of the man he once was, what he was probably like in his prime. Wrinkling next to his eyes, where the skin was upturned, Naima could almost visualize in her mind the smiles that had once graced his face a time ago. The various lines on his face could almost tell a story.. of stress, of the burden of responsibility that he held. But there were also imprints of kindness, consideration for others, joviality… Naima would never forget what occurred during the meeting in his study, what he did for her and Zahra, how he was kind enough to give her a chance to prove herself despite her family's history.
Something tickled in her throat, and she realized she was standing in the path of a cloud of incense wafting her way. But through the swirls of white smoke, Naima's eyes fixated on something else, the sight of which caused a wrenching in her chest.
The Pharaoh Aknamkanon's death would bring change, that was a given. But this was true for no one moreso than Atem, whose entire world had shifted in the span of only a few hours. This was at the forefront of her mind as she watched him kneeling over the stone table, his face weary and distraught, traces of wetness sparkling over his cheeks in the firelight.
People came and went, staying for a time to pay respects before they invariably left to continue with their duties. But for Naima, as she eyed Atem standing over his father's body in tears, somehow that seemed inconceivable. She didn't want to leave. It felt wrong, like abandonment.
So she stayed, and watched Penthu pour palm wine over the Pharaoh's body, and listened to the crinkling of old papyrus scrolls, to Shada sing chant after ancient monotone chant… and she prayed.
-o0o-
Penthu had met with her during a short break from the funeral proceedings and they both made their way back to the medical wing.
It was stress, Penthu told her privately. The stress of hearing what happened to Naqada.. to his own son.. that had pushed the Pharaoh's weary heart too hard, and it finally gave out. Penthu looked especially sleepy today, only having had a few hours of sleep before he was notified very early in the morning to come to the Pharaoh's side.
"Have you ever taken part in death rites?" Penthu asked her as they both sat down at his desk.
Naima nodded. "For my villagers back home."
Penthu glanced at her briefly before he began noisily rifling through his collection of old, dusty scrolls on his shelf.
"You'll find that these death rites are much different compared to what you're probably used to. Death rites for the Pharaoh are much more involved, and will take seventy days. You saw what we did this morning. Now we continue with washing the body in the Nile. And then," He seemed to find what he was looking for, pulling out some worn-out, tattered scrolls and placing them on his desk. "We begin the mummification process."
His eyebrows crinkled as he studied the top page. "You will, of course, be present with me and assist me." he said, eyes dancing over hieratic scrawled on the page. "You must learn, for someday when I am gone, this will become your duty."
Naima instantly became nauseated and her lips tightened involuntarily. It wasn't that she was squeamish. No, after her months here being vomited on and bled on, healing any type of wound under the sun, seeing bones sticking out of flesh, she had long since lost any queasiness she had in regards to the inside of a human body.
But the fact that it was Atem's father. She thought of him, wondered what he would think and how he would feel about her being one of the people who would help to bury his beloved father and send him off to the afterlife, if it would change how he felt around her. She thought of what that process entailed, of the things she would have to do.
She could never speak of it to him.
Her mind was a jumble for the rest of the morning while they set sail on the Nile for the next part of the Pharaoh's death rites.
The sharp cries of mourning and sobbing rained down in their direction as a crowd of people larger than Naima had ever seen had gathered by the barge they were taking. Apparently they were headed to a remote, sacred area, closed off to the public where the silt was said to have been touched by the Gods themselves, for the purpose of washing the Pharaoh's body in the Nile according to the customary burial practices. Naima stood stiff next to Penthu on board.
People continued to gather on the banks of the shore, shouting their grief and sadness and throwing flowers into the Nile as they sailed down the calm water slowly. Despite the noise around them, everyone on the barge was silent, save for Shada's chanting. The air around them was so thick with gloom that it was almost suffocating.
They had finally reached their destination — a small, secluded temple that sat on the bank. Naima watched as the Pharaoh's stiff, naked body was carefully hauled out. He had been draped in fine, white cloth but it was promptly removed as he was placed into a large, man-sized basket made of reeds and gently lowered into the muddy water.
As soon as she learned that she would be helping Penthu with the death rites, Naima avoided eye contact with Atem, but doubly so as she gently washed his father's thin skin, the white silt from the riverbank forming a light film overtop. All thoughts had ceased in her mind except ones related to the task at hand.
Wash.
Dirt.
Wash.
Water.
So many rituals this morning, many of which Naima did not understand. But this one.. it was strangely comforting to her. A reminder that our worldly bodies were born from the earth, and will return to the earth at death.
A perfect circle. Like the shape of the sun and moon. And despite all the existential dread that had been buzzing around in the background of her mind all morning, there was finally a bit of quiet.
-o0o-
It had been much too long since she had spent so much time outside in the middle of the day. Although she had been underneath the merciful cover of the linen cloth on the barge for half the duration, her skin felt absolutely parched by the end, shriveled up like a raisin and crying out for relief by the time that she and Penthu made it back into the palace. And to do what, exactly? She had no idea. For someone who wanted her to learn, Penthu had given her relatively little to go off of. She found herself simply following instructions—
"Wash this"
"Hold this while Shada chants."
"Burn the incense now."
"Pull the death cloak over — no, not like that —"
Her head spun and ached from the heat and sun, and she wanted today to be over with.
"This way…" Penthu muttered to her, gesturing to a hallway in their vicinity where a group of people were already gathered.
Penthu's strides were quick and purposeful as he made his way through the group, and Naima struggled to keep up. But then they had passed a man on the left who stood with his arms crossed. Penthu glanced at him briefly, and Naima could almost see a shadow of regret cross his face, internally lamenting his decision to make eye contact with him.
Kerpheres. Naima recognized him. Even though most of that party was a blur to her, how could she not have remembered his scowling, vigilant face. Zahra's words remained in the back of her mind as she watched both of them regard the other with the utmost loathing.
"Ah, Penthu." Kerpheres muttered. "I see you haven't keeled over and died yet."
Slivers of darkness flashed across Penthu's face. A muscle twitched in his jaw as his lips thinned.
"Indeed, I have not."
Kerpheres's words and tone in the midst of this solemn, reverent occasion were startling, like taking a bucket full of cold water to the face. There was clearly some unresolved tension as they eyed the other with total derision.
Kerpheres's eyes slid over to her.
"And you brought a servant girl, just who I wanted to see.." He snapped his fingers at her. "My linens haven't been changed in two days, girl."
Naima blinked and stared at him. Was he speaking to her? She was so shocked that a response was lost on her. It was as if he had just come up from behind and slapped her right across the face without any warning.
To the side of her, Penthu's eyes flashed and silent disgust practically dripped off his face, his lips getting thinner and thinner. Naima knew that look — the preamble to the fiery temper that she knew so well.
"She is not a servant." Penthu barked. "She is my apprentice."
"Oh.."
That word echoed from his mouth as he studied her coldly, a hint of curiosity in those steely eyes. His nose wrinkled.
"My apologies." he muttered quietly through gritted teeth and tight lips.
"When I heard that the royal court was slipping, I didn't realize it had slipped this far to allow a woman into that position. Most women cannot read, let alone possess any skill in magic, and why should they?"
His nose curled as he looked at her with utmost disgust. "What a waste."
"If this is the prevailing attitude in Memphis, then you and I have a much different definition of 'slipping', I'm afraid." Penthu said coldly.
"My apprentice is my extension, so an insult to my apprentice is an insult to me. Do you need a reminder of who trained your court? Your healers? Perhaps if it was so important to you for a male to be in this position, you should have told the last before her—" Penthu gestured toward her with a small nod. "To not run off like a coward. "
"And you will not let me forget it, now will you?" he sneered. "I am well aware of that fool. He is an embarrassment to our city."
He raised his chin, studying Penthu as if he was King and Penthu was one of his subjects. "I'm not even sure why we even need your help anyways. The Mycenaeans are known across the lands for their scholarship, especially in the healing arts. We can renegotiate our trade agreements to allow for their healers to come to Memphis."
"Then you do that. I do not care." Penthu spat. "Do it and then you can explain yourself to our new Pharaoh why you trust foreign healers over our own."
Kerpheres scoffed and waved his hand dismissively as he looked out the courtyard window, his nose curled again.
A few curious faces were beginning to look over in their direction.
"Now if you excuse us, we have business to attend to." Penthu mumbled.
Kerpheres smirked. "A pleasure, Penthu, as always. And you —" he threw a dismissive glance over at Naima, raising his chin at her as if she were some animal.
"Do us all a favor and behave yourself."
Naima's temper ignited into a fiery blaze. She raised her eyebrows at him and gave him a cold stare of death, her head held high.
"I will do as I please." her voice chilled with menacing quiet. A challenge in her words. They stared at each other, and she practically dared him with her eyes to push back.
Kerpheres sneered at her.
"And she has a villager's accent too…" he drawled. "How precious…"
Villager's… accent?
She was horrified. How come no one had ever told her… ever said anything…
She was going to wring his neck with her bare hands and snap it in two. Knock all of his teeth out with her fists. But Penthu subtly placed a wise arm in front of her and with a brief side-eye, he shook his head and gestured for her to follow him away.
One last look at his arrogant face, and Naima turned her head.
What an asshole.
She continued to fume as she walked with Penthu toward where the Priests were at, forcing herself to douse the fury inside of her before she embarrassed herself in front of everyone.
Villager's accent. She was so angry and taken-aback that she could cry. Those two words together continued to whirl around in her mind. It sounded ridiculously obvious to her now — she was from a small village, and she grew up in poverty. But no one had ever insulted her… like that. To use her background to make her feel inferior, as if it was something she should be ashamed of. Perhaps she was lucky in that regard, especially considering where she was at.
Her thoughts went to Zahra briefly, remembering she was bullied at school for the same, and now had a new appreciation for her anguish.
"I did not know that I had a .. villager's accent..?" she mumbled quietly to Penthu. She was feeling quite vulnerable, the realization about her speech still raw in her mind.
Penthu waved his hand at her, a bit more aggressively than usual.
"Who cares about that." he growled. "It matters for nothing. Truly. You do not earn respect by speaking a language a certain way. You earn it by doing good work."
"This —" he continued, quietly mumbling to her under his breath. "Is why I left and will not go back to that wretched place. For a city that cries out so loud about how worldly and educated it is…" He shook his head. "Looks nice on the outside, but it is horse-shit on the inside. Trust me."
She did.
-o0o-
The rest of the day was a blur of endless chanting, rituals and sadness. Naima had lost count of how many times she subtly glanced at Atem throughout the day, how much she watched him in her periphery out of the corner of her eye.. watched him as his face progressed from teary-eyed to grim and somber as the day went on, standing silently at his father's side and participating in the death rituals without a word. It pained her to her very core that all day, she could not simply walk over and give him a hug or any semblance of comfort. Instead, she was forced to stand there frozen like a statue, listening to Shada sing what sounded like the same thing over and over again in some incomprehensible ancient language.
They still were supposed to have a date tonight, technically.
Naima chewed on this thought as she turned the latch to her door and saw Kisara laying in bed, already asleep. The darkness had already set in, the day having run very late. Naima plopped down in the chair next to her bed and sat quietly as she weighed what to do next, what she would want if she was in his position. Her conclusion that she should pay him a visit, even just a brief one to show support, became stronger with each passing second until she could take it no longer.
It did not take her nearly as long to find Atem's chamber as she thought it would and the correct door was an obvious one. A soldier stood guard outside, and he eyed her suspiciously as she approached.
"No visitors." he barked at her.
Perhaps some convincing was needed.
"Please.." Naima said. "He would want to see me."
"No."
"Can you at least just let him know I'm here?" Naima implored. She was not accustomed to pleading.
His face scrunched into what seemed to be his best threatening expression.
"NO," he boomed in her face. "Now leave.. at once."
He towered over her and was twice her size, making sure to flex the muscles in his arms and chest. Naima didn't care. He may have the brawn, but she had her Ka and knew that she could rip him into pieces and fry his innards with half a thought if she wanted to. He obviously didn't know this though, acting as if his display of masculine brute would make her shriek and run away like a scared little girl.
So to his utter bewilderment, Naima glared back at him and stood her ground, matching his energy, quite determined to do the exact opposite of "behaving".
She gave no warning, not a single hint of what she planned to do, swiftly launching forward and delivering three short, staccato knocks onto Atem's door, before she was immediately grabbed by the waist and thrown back into the hallway several paces.
"Get out of here," he growled at her, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword as she regained her footing. "Before I report you."
Naima smirked.
"Oh really? To whom? ..The Pharaoh?" Naima said, gesturing her head toward the door. "Go ahead."
His frustrated growl came from deep in his throat.
"You girls and your —"
Whatever gripe was on the tip of his tongue would have to wait. Because Atem's door opened while he was mid-sentence, and he slowly emerged from behind it.
Finally, a chance.
"At—" Naima bit her tongue mid-word, "—My Pharaoh…" She was still unsure of the lines, the boundaries of their relationship while they were not alone. She strode up to him from across the hall.
His eyes were a clutter of fatigue and gloom atop his otherwise vacant expression.
".. I hope this isn't a bad time. I just came to see how you were doing.." Naima said gently. "…Can I come in?"
"Of course." he said quietly, without hesitation.
The shock that appeared on the guard's face was immensely satisfying, and Naima almost felt bad for him.
"My deepest apologies, My Pharaoh." the guard said with his head bowed. "I did not realize it was her."
Atem nodded to him in brief acknowledgement before leading her inside and closing the door behind them.
She had only been in his chamber once before, barely getting a decent look before she was ushered away. But now, she tensed as she quickly took it all in, all of its opulence and space. It had to be at least three times the size of her own abode, lit up by so many torches she didn't have time to count. The large windows on the far end were a nice touch, overlooking the lofty, cluttered desk piled high with papyrus scrolls, and adding an abundance of natural light to the spacious interior. On one end was a large bed with white cotton linens, and on the other was a hallway that Naima presumed led to a bathroom. The furnishings were minimal but tasteful.
Atem waited next to her as they both lingered at the threshold of his chamber. She turned to him, taking in his face, the slump in his shoulders, the grief in his eyes.
"I'm sorry…" The words fell from her mouth in a whisper as she took one step toward him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He returned the gesture silently, his arms wrapping around her back as he pressed his face into her hair.
"I know how much your father meant to you." Naima muttered into his shoulder. "He was a great man."
"Yes." he said. They pulled away, and Atem gazed down at her thoughtfully. "He is gone now… But, he is no longer in pain, and for that I am grateful."
Naima nodded and looked at him.
There has been something nagging at her all day. She wanted to clear the air. "I was asked by Penthu to help with the burial proceedings. I hope this doesn't make you.. uncomfortable.."
Atem peered at her for a moment, before he smiled and shook his head.
"I am honored, Naima."
His words were like the antidote to the subtle yet constant gnawing in her mind all day.
A calm, full silence wrapped around both of them. What to say in this situation.. She had never been the most articulate, and words were especially lost on her now.
At last, he took her hand. The muted torchlight seemed to emphasize the exhaustion on his face.
"Thank you…for coming tonight."
Naima smiled at him. "No need to thank me. Today must have been very difficult for you. I wouldn't dream of leaving you to be alone tonight." She stroked the back of his hand with her thumb. "… Unless you would prefer it." she added gently.
Testing the waters, if he preferred company or privacy right now. Naima had long since noted his tendency to guard his emotions at times, putting others' feelings above his own and not revealing how he really felt. But tonight was not about her. She would accommodate whatever he needed.
"No." he said, reaching to brush a thumb against her cheek. "Stay here, with me. I would like that."
He then gestured to the couch at the back of the room and both of them curled up on it together silently. Naima settled into his body, leaning the back of her shoulder against his chest as he wrapped an arm around her waist, his hand resting on her stomach. The side of her cheek may have been pressed to his chest, but her eyes still trailed throughout the room, making a mental note of how everything looked, how he lived.
Her sights settled on the large desk. Sheets of papyrus were stacked erratically on top, and a long reed pen lay beside a half written-on sheet, the ink still wet at the pointed end.
"Were you in the middle of something?" Naima asked, running her fingers over the tops of his absently.
"Not really. There is always work to be done.. But.. I cannot focus tonight." His voice was a quiet, soft rumble against her body. But as he spoke, her eyes fixated on the other end of the desk, where a golden upside-down pyramid object sat illuminated in the moonlight from the window. It laid eye-side up, and the eye was pointed straight in their direction.. like it was watching them.
"The Millennium Pendant.." Naima murmured, staring into the eye as if it could hear her. "..It's yours now…"
She felt Atem behind her pick his head up from the arm of the couch, and saw him open his eyes from her periphery. He must have been at the start of dozing off. Naima pushed away a twinge of guilt.
"Yes, it is. Although it has been promised to me since I was a child." he said.
Naima continued to stare at it. "Have you… worn it yet?"
Silence behind her, before a resounding "No."
Naima turned her head, peering at him over her shoulder. The side of Atem's face was bathed in the torchlight, making his eyes appear to be two different shades of violet.
"What is it?" he asked.
"What happens when you put it on?"
He shifted his weight behind her. "Each Millennium Item is different. It will judge your soul to ensure you are worthy of wielding it."
"And are you… worthy?"
He turned his face to her and crooked an eyebrow at her playfully, the corners of his mouth upturning in a small smile. Naima realized what her words subtly implied and cursed her brief lapse of tact.
She shot him a guilty, sheepish smile. "You know what I mean.."
His eyes settled toward his desk, fixating on the golden object.
"I have never wielded it, but I have held it, seen and felt its power. I believe that if it objected to my ownership, I would have known it by now." he said.
A fair assumption. But still, a feeling of uncertainty tugged at her as she contemplated his words. Ever since the day of her trial, she found herself intrigued by these golden items, catching herself staring whenever she saw one in her vicinity, always looking and wondering… but never privy to their secrets or power. How some object can look into your soul and see your deepest secrets, your thoughts, and memories, even what lies beneath your consciousness. What ancient magic could possibly empower a mere human to such divine, mystic powers.
"What if it doesn't accept you?" she asked.
"It will." His voice was firm and unwavering. "I have faith."
He was certainly brave. To march into occult territory armed with only a feeling, a hunch.
Naima was silent, continuing to stare at the pointed object while laying in his arms.
"You have doubt in me.." he said.
"I— No, it's not that," she said, glancing behind her shoulder at his face. "I just worry for you, that's all."
A partial truth, if she had to admit it. But it seemed that he saw right through her. His small, answering smile to her was more of a smirk than anything.. prideful, bold, reminiscent of some sort of boyish competitiveness.. determined to prove her wrong.
He tapped her shoulder lightly, motioning for her to get up from his lap.
"What are you doing?" Naima said warily as she moved out of his way, watching him stride toward his desk.
As soon as he put his hands on the Pendant, picking it up and resting it in his palm, Naima immediately shot upward, racing to his side as panic shot through her.
"You're gonna do this here? Now?!" she exclaimed next to him. She was utterly horrified. Wouldn't he need a Priest there, or at least someone who knew about these sorts of things, knew what to do in case things went awry. But he was so confident in what he felt… what he thought to be true. And dare she say, almost reckless.
He brushed a finger over the edge of it, lightly tracing over the raised lines of the carved Eye of Wdjat. Its gold surface flashed in response to his touch.
"What better time is there, than in the presence of an accomplished healer?" he glanced at her, that small smirk still lingering on his face as he said those smooth words.
More of his flattery. At a time like this, she strongly suspected an ulterior motive, likely to distract her from trying to stop him. Naima resisted the blush that crept up onto her face and tried to remember her purpose. She could heal physical wounds, treat physical ailments… but a spiritual wound? A dissonance between human and divine? She was useless.
She knew she would not stop him at this point. Nothing would. And as she watched him close his eyes and slowly place the necklace over his head and onto his body, the Pendant resting against his chest for the first time, her breath stilled in her chest. She stared at it, at him, jaw clenched, eyes wide. Each second felt like an eternity.
There was nothing at first, nothing but stillness and quiet as they both stared at each other. But then, a phantom wind filled the room, extinguishing the torches on the wall and rustling the papyrus on the desk, the drapes that lined the closed window. Naima shivered in both cold and fright.
"Atem… what's going on.." she hissed to him. The last thing she remembered seeing was his face staring straight at her before a stream of yellow-orange light shot out from the Eye of Wdjat, totally blinding her. She was surrounded by an ocean of wind and light, reminiscent of the visit from Hassan. But this light appeared more like a bright, incandescent fire that radiated outward from his figure. It eventually dimmed enough to see the outline of his body in front of her, standing there, wind blowing his cape and hair from side to side. Whatever remained of the light eventually disappeared back into the Pendant as he opened his eyes. The chamber was dark now without the light of the torches, and it was a shadowy blanket over her eyes as she looked at him.
It was over.
And somehow, something was… different. Physically, he was the same. But the weight of his stare as he gazed down at her. It was heavier, full of… knowing.. somehow with more intensity than before.. and hunger, an appetite that must be sated.
Naima held her breath as she searched his eyes for answers.
"Well?" Her voice was anxious, her heart in her throat. "Do you feel different?
"No."
To have that happen and then to feel no different afterward. Naima scoffed inwardly as she scanned over his whole body, searching…
He continued to gaze down at her, the quiet heaviness between them lingering.
"Naima, I am fine." he said gently. "I promise."
"You would tell me if you weren't fine, right?" she said.
He reached up to stroke his thumb against her cheek lovingly, and then brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Yes."
He said he was fine, and she would trust that he was fine. That was that, she decided, as she watched him hold the Pendant in his hands, looking down at the Eye of Wdjat that stared back up at him. His eyes were distant, distracted, like he was replaying something in his mind.
Who knows what was going on in his head, what he had experienced just now. She decided not to probe or push, and she would respect his privacy and his thoughts. He will share when and if he chooses.
"Are you tired? ..Should I leave you so you can sleep?" Naima said after a moment.
He turned his head to meet her gaze, and something flashed deep in those melancholy eyes, like a hint of agony or disquiet. He shook his head.
"I do not sleep. I cannot sleep." His mouth tightened and he grimaced. "It has been like this for months."
..Months? Naima's heart twisted into pieces at that revelation. For months he had been unable to sleep, and even after he had briefly mentioned it before, she did not think to probe further. She assumed it was perhaps a transient thing, as everyone occasionally has. But months?
He was clearly very good at hiding it. Still, Naima couldn't help but to feel the shame of incompetence, as it was her job as a healer to identify and tend to these types of issues after all.
"Maybe I can help.." she said. It was the least she could do. She gestured to the chair of his desk.
"Sit." she said
He continued to look at her with a curious expression as he sat down, his gaze following over his shoulder as Naima positioned herself standing behind him while he was seated in his chair.
"Can you take these off?" Naima said, patting the cape and gold collar necklace that covered his shoulders. He did as she asked.
She placed her hands on top of his shoulders, and then dug her thumbs deep. Deep into the muscles and tendons that were knotted with stress, injured and strained from recent events.
He groaned into her initial movements, eventually loosening a sigh from his chest as he slumped forward.
"Just relax," Naima said, kneading her hands across his shoulders and back. So many knots.. so much tension. Through each press of her fingers, she sent a small amount of healing energy into his body, and he slumped down even more.
"Naima," he eventually grunted. He leaned into her movements with his eyes closed. "This is not a normal massage…"
"Of course not. I don't think a normal one would have sufficed." Naima teased, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek from behind.
He groaned again while she worked down the muscles in the middle of his back, equally as tense as his shoulders. She continued to massage him until she saw his neck slacken to the side a bit, eventually resting his temple to the side of the chair.
She dared to peer around. His eyes were closed, mouth slightly open and breathing heavier than normal. Sleep at last, perhaps? She could only hope. Naima quietly grabbed a pillow from the nearby couch and gently placed it under his head, watching as he sank into the side of the chair, sleep claiming him. She was satisfied.
But as she glanced at the door and then back at him, his sweet sleeping face so pure and wholesome, the thought of just leaving him for the night… it felt wrong. She walked over to his large bed, kicked off her shoes and curled up in a small corner of it by the edge. And as she laid her head atop one of his soft pillows, she listened to the slow rhythm of his breathing on the other side of the room, and eventually her own matched his as she drifted off into sleep.
….
Her sleep was fitful, a mess of frequent waking to adjust herself as she stuck to her self-imposed corner, not feeling comfortable to sprawl out onto a bed that wasn't hers. She curled her knees up by the edge for what felt like the thousandth time as she squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself back to sleep…until she felt the bed shift next to her….
A warm body curled up behind hers and a hand curved around her stomach, a face nestled into her hair. Naima leaned into him, stroking her hand over his sleepily. She cracked an eye open, noting the window that framed a still-dark sky, the rays of moonlight having shifted to the side wall, and she moved to turn her body over. Her fingers brushed against skin.. much more skin than she was expecting. She opened her eyes in alarm, and tried her hardest not to gawk.
Because she definitely wasn't expecting him to be shirtless.
…She didn't know where to put her hands. Around him? Against his chest? On her stomach? Each of those felt weird in their own way, but she settled for around him, since his arms were already around her. He pulled her closer to his body as she settled against him, tangling her legs with his.
Sleep danced in the periphery of her mind as she idly stroked her fingertips against the bare skin of his back. And as she nuzzled her face deeper into the pillow and closer to his, she could feel the heat and force of his breath on her nose and lips.
She was floating around in a sleepy haze, in the fog that was the boundary between sleep and awake — And then his lips were on hers, gently feeling, exploring. She happily responded to him, albeit sleepily, before his mouth pressed deeper into her own, savoring her.
Kissing him… she would never tire of it.
Atem finally settled his head next to hers and Naima nestled in close, cracking an eye open at him again, just to see if whatever sleep he got earlier would be it for the night. But his eyes were firmly shut.
"..Sleep?" she whispered.
"..Mmhm.." he murmured only moments before his breathing became heavy, and he drifted off into sleep.
-o0o-
That same night…
"You asked for me, father?"
Halima stepped inside the temporary chamber of Kerpheres nervously, the thud of her footsteps resonating through the small foyer as she made her way toward him. The room was dark, lit up with only a single torch and filled with the sound of the soft scratching of a reed pen against papyrus. Halima squinted as she eyed her father hunched over his desk.
He glanced up at her, and dropped the pen onto the desk in a repulsed fashion, leaning back in his chair as he glared at his daughter.
"No progress, I presume?"
"Father…" Halima mumbled, looking down at her feet as she played with her fingers. "He does not want me."
His eyes narrowed. "And why not?"
"…He is interested in another."
There was an expectant pause, before Kerpheres raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"She is a healer," Halima muttered. "The apprentice of Penthu…"
Silence.
Kerpheres stared at her, a foul, malicious look darkening his face.
"Well?" he growled to her. "You're going to let that stop you?"
Halima glanced up at her father hesitantly.
Kerpheres stood up from his desk, the movement causing several empty glass wine goblets on top to wobble precariously as he moved out from behind it and stood in front of her.
"You know there is nothing I would not do for this family, my city." he hissed to her. "The day your mother sold her jewelry to pay our family's debt, is the day that I died inside."
Tears began to stream down Halima's cheeks.
"But why, father… Why me?" Her voice was choked with her tears and sniffling. "Why must I be the one to do this?"
Kerpheres scoffed and crossed his arms, leaning his hips against the edge of the desk. "Don't tell me you no longer want to become Queen.."
"..Not like this…" she whimpered.
"Sometimes in life," he patronized. "We must do things we don't like in order to get what we want."
"But.. you want me to…to—-"
Kerpheres held up a hand to silence her. "Enough."
The echoes of Halima's soft, restrained weeping were met with more silence from him as he continued to glare down at her distastefully.
"You have been talking to that man again, haven't you?" Kerpheres's voice was low and quiet. "That man from Avaris… Your lover…" he spat.
"No." she said hurriedly.
"Don't.. lie.. to me."
"I haven't.. I swear it." she said.
He raised his eyebrows, turned his body toward the desk and gingerly picked a folded piece of papyrus off the top, holding it in front of her face.
Halima's eyes lit up in horror.
"I can explain.. Please," she begged. "..Please…"
Kerpheres held up a finger to silence her and proceeded to rip the papyrus sheet into tiny pieces. He glared at his daughter for a moment, before he reached up and slapped her across the face with the back of his hand.
The sharp crack of flesh against bone and skin rippled across the walls in the stillness of the room.
"Your selfishness will be the death of everything we hold dear." he said quietly.
"Now, do what I ask, and get out of my sight."
*Trigger warnings for this chapter: Death of parent, misogyny, classism, family abuse/familial violence*
Chapter 29: Yearning
Chapter Text
Wake up, wake up, wake up.
Naima's eyes fluttered in response to that internal voice in her subconscious that was trained to wake her up before dawn every single day. She rolled to the side, slowly kicking her legs out from the mess of sheets she was under and noted the softness of the fabric against her bare feet and legs. Her dress had bunched and gathered up by her thighs in her sleep, but she didn't care. Cracking open an eye, she squinted at the dark sky that held the promise of morning, and then at the mound that laid next to her, the limp arm that was draped across her stomach and angled down to her hips. Atem, bare chested, breathing deep and even, sleeping like a rock.
She slept in Atem's bed last night. With him in it.
And it felt good.
It was for comfort, she told herself, as she gently.. ever so gently so as to not wake him, slid out from underneath his arm and out of bed without a sound. But she made sure to subtly take in his form as she straightened her dress out from the side of his bed, the sight of which she was unfortunately too groggy to appreciate last night. His bare naked chest, golden brown skin that showed off the ridges of hard muscles underneath, toned pectorals leading up to strong, sturdy shoulders.
He looked so… peaceful. Laying there with closed eyes and an open mouth, his sleep quiet and heavy, as if all of his cares and worries were far, far away. She fussed around with her messy hair a bit while she continued to look at him, both in admiration and trying to decide how she should exit.
It would be silly to further deprive him of precious sleep in order to announce her departure. So, she crept over to his desk and grabbed a piece of papyrus and his reed pen.
Sleep found you at last. I did not want to wake you.
Anything you need, do not hesitate.
She folded it carefully and placed it on the pillow next to him. Hopefully now, he would not think she just sneaked out and abandoned him without a word. As she quietly crept back out of his chamber and opened the latch to his door, she found a different guard from last night standing outside.
The look he gave her was nothing short of bewildered as Naima shot him an awkward smile and scuttled away as quickly as she could. The less people who see her walk out of Atem's chamber this early in the morning with the same clothes on, the better.
Her day ended up being a hectic blur. Penthu was already in his office before sunrise, and they both spent the entire day at the palace temple where the Pharaoh's body was held. According to Penthu, after the silt dried out the Pharaoh Aknamkanon's body overnight, they would proceed with the removal of the organs today as part of the mummification process.
The temple room they were in was small, hot, and smelly as both she and Penthu worked alongside Karim and Shada. It was grueling, tedious work, worsened by the fact that she of course had never done this before, therefore everything she did was wrong. Penthu's shouting and the fear of making mistakes was reminiscent of her first days in the palace as a brand new apprentice, but concentrating all day had strangely helped to stamp out any remaining awkward feelings she had surrounding the task.
"You should bathe.." Karim said to her with a side smile as they finally wrapped up their first day of this. The remaining rays of twilight were peaking through the small windows of the temple room and caught the light of the Millennium Scale tied securely to his waist.
"Thanks, Karim." Naima said dryly, rinsing her hands in a bowl of water scented with strong herbs. "You sure know how to compliment."
"It's not that you smell bad. You are just very sweaty." Karim mused as he watched her.
Naima glanced at him briefly while she scrubbed her hands. "It gets way too hot in here.." she mumbled. Karim grabbed a linen towel and threw it toward her, and she wiped away beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.
"You ready to go tomorrow, Karim?" Shada said passingly, placing the religious items he used today back on a nearby shelf.
Karim turned to him and nodded.
"What's going on tomorrow?" Naima asked.
They both glanced at her.
"The Pharaoh must travel south to Nubia to discuss several issues. His court will accompany him." Shada said.
"Oh alright." Naima said. There was a brief but anticipatory silence while she considered.
"What's going on with Nubia?"
They looked at each other, as if unsure how much information they should share.
Karim threw a small smile at her.
"There is.. unrest there. Civil unrest." he said. "Ever since Egypt annexed Nubia two hundred years ago, they have had difficulty accepting Egyptian rule. Now with the Pharaoh Atem stepping up to his role, he hopes to smooth over any issues regarding the change, as Shimon has wisely advised him. There are also some issues regarding gold production that need to be discussed."
Politics.
A game of power, strategy and wits, of who can outsmart the other and who can obtain the most without managing to start a war or burn too many bridges. Naima never, ever cared about any of these things before living in the palace and didn't understand why Nafi did. She never had to care and was so sure that she never would, until she wound up living in the one place where being around politics would certainly be inescapable.
But, this surprisingly did not bother her, and she felt that she owed it to herself to not simply be a fly on the wall while she was directly in the center of all the action. And to her mother, whom Naima was absolutely certain would be turning in her grave if her own daughter ended up becoming a complacent nobody in the same palace where she had once dominated in the court as a High Priestess. And to Atem, who.. she knew should be with someone that can understand and support him in his role.
"Yes because Nubia ignored their invitation to bring one of their women, practically spat on it. This all could have been taken care of here." Shada muttered.
Karim rolled his eyes.
"They like to cause problems."
Shada smirked. "Well, whatever girl they would have sent would fit in with the rest of them then."
Karim and Shada both snickered.
"Ra have mercy… The Pharaoh has much patience…" Karim said.
Anger and darkness began roiling inside of her.
"Why do you say that?" Naima said, trying to hide her irritation and failing miserably at it.
"Those girls are just very annoying. They serve no purpose here, other than to look pretty and bother everyone, but unfortunately they and their families cannot leave yet." Shada said.
"Why not?"
Shada glanced at her as he polished his Millennium Key with a cloth.
"The one good thing that has come out of this gathering is that there has been much less bickering among the rulers of each city. Better communication. I believe the Pharaoh would prefer to keep this arrangement going as long as possible, because there is much… disorganization… to resolve."
"Disorganization.. like what? What do you mean?" Naima said. Judging by their hesitant looks, perhaps she was prying too much.
"The late Pharaoh Aknamkanon," Shada said in a reverent and careful manner. "Had many difficulties performing his duties in the last few months of his life. Communication has been strained, things that should have been taken care of right away have been left to fester. Many issues have been ignored or mismanaged. The hope is that these can be resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible with the change in leadership."
Karim nodded.
"Especially now with Bakura and their group. They are a force that now threaten the entire country. Many incidents have been occurring, all of them claiming to be connected to Bakura. We must have cooperation from all parts in order to succeed against them."
So Atem had inherited a big mess. There seemed to be so many pieces to manage all at once, mistakes to fix that were not of his own making, and that wasn't even considering the things she didn't know about. No wonder he could not sleep.
Naima's mind whirled as she considered everything. She couldn't help but to think of Atem handling all this alone, especially after the stress of losing his father. She had never once heard him complain about bearing the burden of an entire country, or question his fate. He accepted it with grace and without protest.
She did reluctantly note that this was in stark contrast to her own selfish thoughts — how she wanted nothing more than to ask him to send these girls and their families home, and she immediately recoiled in shame. If having them here made his job and his life a little easier, then she would bear it without complaint as well.
-o0o-
The next day ended up being more of the same, except Karim and Shada left mid-day for their departure to Nubia after their role in this step of mummification was finished. She and Penthu ended up working late into the afternoon and had developed a good working pace, before the door creaked open behind them.
"Master Penthu…" a male voice called out.
"What." Penthu barked. He did not turn his head or look up toward the source of the noise, and sweat continued to bead on his brow while he worked.
"You are needed in the palace. The general's wife is giving birth. She has been in labor since yesterday."
Penthu finally glanced over his shoulder and Naima looked up as well, at a servant whom Naima recognized.
"It is time?" Penthu asked.
The servant nodded.
Penthu sighed heavily, either in frustration or exhaustion, and glanced at Naima as he wiped his hands on a cloth. He then threw it down onto his workstation after he finished and leaned on the table on both hands.
"I guess the timing could be worse." he muttered.
Naima had never seen a birth before. She had only heard stories of how painful it was, so she braced herself as they eventually left the temple and made their way back into the hospital wing. They found the woman sitting in the far corner of the hall, sweaty and hunched over in a chair as she breathed deeply. A few female servants were at her side muttering soft, encouraging words to her. Within a few hours, the woman had given birth, assisted by her and Penthu. And as they left the woman to breastfeed her baby in private, Penthu had an unusual jaunt in his stride.
"Ah yes, I always enjoy a birth. One of the best parts of this position, I'd say." he said fondly, a pleasant smile on his face. "I remember all of the ones that I have done."
Naima glanced at him briefly and tried not to let the amazement show on her face as she witnessed what she knew to be a rare moment when he isn't spitting fire.
"And," he peered at her as they walked out. "I even remember your birth. I pulled you from your mother. She had a bit of difficulty, but—" He looked at her up and down proudly. "It all seemed to work out alright."
Naima stopped dead in her tracks as Penthu's words raced around in her brain so fast she was unsure if she even comprehended them. She stood still. The entire world stood still.
"What…?"
Penthu stopped with her, giving her a strange look. Some of the fire and tension had crept back into his eyes as he studied her face.
"What… What's wrong…"
"I was… born.. here? In this palace?" Naima sputtered.
"Well, yes. You didn't know that?" Penthu said, his sharp tone more from confusion than anything.
Of course she didn't. She felt like she was a child, learning everything all over again. The words had hit her like a giant bell had just been struck inside of her mind, the message echoing over and over —
She was born here.
She was born here.
She. Was. Born. Here.
Why had she never thought of it before, never connected the pieces, never thought to. It was right in front of her face after all.. she had already arrived at her village a young girl, where else would she have been born at? But.. then why could she not remember a single thing…
"You.. knew my mother?" Those words she practically choked out.
Penthu glanced at her again as they left to return to the temple to finish their work.
"Of course I did. Not very well, mind you. But well enough to know that whatever she was accused of is total and utter shit." He spat that last word vehemently.
"She may have been a formidable opponent in the court, but there was not an evil bone in her body, and believe me," He made a fist and zealously pointed his finger to no one in particular. "I can stiff out a person in a heartbeat."
Naima wanted to know. Everything. Badly and deeply. But.. what to even ask? Where to start? She might as well have been looking outward at a wide expanse of nothing, having no idea where to go or how to move forward.
Her world continued to turn upside-down as she walked next to Penthu in silent thought. Penthu studied her face from the side as inconspicuously as he could, which isn't saying much.
"You are… confused." he said eventually.
Naima bit down on her cheek to keep herself from crying.
"I don't know anything about my own life, Penthu." she said, the frustrated tears creeping into her voice. "Everyone else seems to know more than me. But nobody tells me anything."
Penthu looked forward thoughtfully as they walked. He exhaled through his nose.
"I suspected as much." He shook his head. "I am sorry for you. Your situation was not a good one, and when your mother was exiled, we all feared for you and the little one, just a tiny thing at the time. I had birthed her as well."
She really did live here. She and Zahra.
This was her home, or at least it used to be. She couldn't fathom why she had no memory of it. Granted, she was very young when it all happened, but if she somehow had memories of the journey through the desert, still able to find the oasis they stayed at… It made no sense. Suspicion crept into her mind and she had to force it down, force down the thought that it all seemed like one giant conspiracy to keep some sort of truth from her, covered up in multiple layers involving many different people, all with varying levels of knowledge.
Penthu clasped his hands behind his back as he glanced at her.
"I was.. very pleased to have learned that you were Samira's daughter. The daughter who had returned to the palace at last and reclaimed your family's honor through your own hard work and diligence. It was a very fitting turn of events, however strangely they might have unfolded. And you have certainly earned your place here, something I expected no less of from having descended from your mother. You look very much like her too."
Naima had not thought of it like that until now. She had never really considered what she has done to be a reclaiming of honor, had never intended it to be. She had simply followed the path that seemed the clearest at the time. Her decisions were a result of both her own desperation and her deep-down desire to make something of herself, whatever it may have been.
"I wish I had more to offer you, but like I said, most of my interactions with her were relatively cursory. Although-," he said to her.
"You might try the library. There are court records there, all the court meetings and proceedings. Everything that is said and done has been recorded and stored in those records… If you wish to dig."
Library?
Naima had never been to a library before. She knew there was a library in the palace, yes. Zahra had somehow found her way into it. But for her, it just always seemed so.. out of her reach. Back home, the nearest library to her was in a larger village a two hour walk from her own, and only those who were of great importance would make the trek there. She heard rumors about the city library in Thebes, how it was three times as large as her entire temple with scrolls dating back hundreds or even thousands of years.
And now, to be allowed access to the private palace library… it felt like attending a secret, exclusive party that nobody knew about. Images of stacks upon stacks of papyrus scrolls piled together filled her mind and intrigued her. A place of knowledge and ideas and scholarship.
But.. court records. She did not have to know what a library looked like to understand the tediousness of having to look through stacks of court records. The mere thought of it overwhelmed her immediately.
"Not tonight though.." he added hastily, eyeing her. "There is much to do."
There certainly was, and perhaps it was a good thing, since her mood was rather foul and the thought of perusing court records all evening made her want to bang her head against the wall. They both worked late into the night, finishing up the rest of the preparation just the two of them. Naima sniffed at her clothing as she headed for her bedroom. The solutions they used were a questionable mixture of a plethora of ingredients. It would not be surprising to her if the smells somehow permeated into her hair and skin, causing her to permanently smell like a mixture of myrrh, old fish and rotten melons.
But while she pondered whatever lasting effects these scents would leave on her, two dark flashes emerged outside a nearby window.
Falcons. Two of them, looking at her expectantly as she cracked the window open and grabbed two separate pieces of folded papyrus.
She had only been expecting one letter though, her regular correspondences to Nafi to update him about her life. After sending the two falcons on their way, she tore into the first letter —
Naima, the entire village has heard about what happened. I cannot be more proud —
Her letter from Nafi. She would read the rest of it later. But this other one… she unfolded it.
I hoped to say goodbye before I left on my journey to Nubia but you were gone. Just know that although we are apart, I am always thinking of you.
The sight of Atem's unmistakable scrawl after this long, frustrating day, the echo of his written words in her mind… Naima could almost hear him speaking them to her, soft, low and sweet. Her spirits lifted, and as she made her way back to her chamber looking at his note, she did so with a goofy smile on her face, and happiness in her heart.
-o0o-
It is quiet and lonely without you here. Your note brightened up my day. Thank you.
She had penned the note early this morning on some spare papyrus before folding it up and dropping it off at the falconry prior to starting her day. The initial work to prepare the Pharaoh's body was finished and now it would be left to dry for weeks before he would be wrapped in linen, which seemed to indicate a return to normalcy for now. But without the bustle of Atem and the rest of the court here along with the large crew they had taken to Nubia, it was rather calm… eerily so. Even Shimon had left, and Naima had missed their weekly appointment together where she fixed his back for him.
So the day crept by and Naima found herself daydreaming about the library, about what it would look like, what secrets she would find hidden in one of the most important collections of scrolls in the entire country. And when the time finally came to leave, she practically bolted out the door before Penthu could find something else for her to do.
The library was tucked away at the end of a modest-sized hallway, and the double doors to enter it were unmarked. Perhaps done on purpose… Naima would never know.
She quietly opened the latch and the scent of old papyrus and dust crept into her nose and almost made her sneeze. The room before her eyes was large but cramped, filled with tables and chairs, some stacked high with papyrus and some empty. Many shelves were carved into the rock and filled with neat piles of scrolls or stacks of loose papyrus sheets. Torches jutted out from the wall in between the sections of shelves, and they lit up by themselves as she entered slowly. It was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the torches and the echo of her footsteps against the granite floor.
"Hello?" she called out.
No answer.
Maybe she was alone here, and the thought was strangely comforting. She looked around, eyeing the bits of exposed papyrus, many of which were browned from age and use. The way things have been carefully stacked and organized to preserve the integrity of these written records demonstrated an obvious reverence for history and knowledge.
Naima glanced out the clouded window next to her, eyeing the bits of evening light that were slowly disappearing in the sky, and briefly wondered which important figures in history may have also spent time in this same library, perhaps even standing exactly where she stood now looking out the same window. The thought was both overwhelming and humbling, to be surrounded by so much antiquity, so much… oldness.
She wasn't sure where to start. So naturally, she started at the front.
Volumes upon volumes of scrolls, organized in some fashion that Naima could not seem to figure out. She was under the impression that there were usually keepers or scholars that helped to organize the library and find things for people… But maybe this library did not have anyone.
It ended up being a long night of searching. She did not find the court records she originally came there for, but she did find many other things. Her arms were bursting with a large stack of scrolls that had nothing to do with court documents. Items that piqued her interest to read for later — scrolls of magic, scrolls of history, scrolls telling stories. She hadn't given herself the indulgence of a story since childhood and she felt like a little girl as she clutched the scrolls in her hand, quiet excitement bubbling through her.
So excited that she had almost missed the falcon that was tapping furiously against the library window.
"Sorry.." Naima muttered to it as she fumbled around with the scrolls in her arms, eventually grabbing the note tied to its leg.
The only thing that would brighten up mine would be seeing your face.
"Don't leave.." she said to the falcon, clamoring around like a madwoman for some spare papyrus and a pen and ink. She found some scattered on a desk a small distance away.
My notes are not enough? I am offended.
She smiled to herself as she sent the falcon off to Atem with her cheeky response, and headed back to her chamber with her treasures in her arms. Although it was dark, sleep was the last thing she wanted to do. She couldn't help herself, plopping down onto her chair and reading her scrolls well into the night while Kisara slumbered.
Another tap on a window, and Naima picked her head up from a scroll of spells, eyeing the same falcon that had visited her a few hours prior.
'Wow, that was fast…'
Your notes will never be enough. Not after sharing a bed with you. Not when I now lay alone every night, wishing you were here next to me again.
A wave of.. something.. washed over her, those words. Naima's heart twisted. She could almost feel his longing through the haste in his writing, the force of the words scratched on the paper. She clutched at Atem's response and crinkled the papyrus in her hands, rays of light from a crescent moon illuminating her fingers through the window.
Not when I now lay alone every night… wishing you were here…
He was lonely.
And so was she. So when she finally crawled into bed, she thought of him as she wrapped her arms tightly around her pillow and pretended that it was him instead, the memory of his touch in her mind as she drifted off to sleep.
-o0o-
Then what are you doing all the way over there, wherever you are? Come back. Last night was miserable without you.
Her reply to him was sent out early this morning, and by the time evening rolled around, she had still received nothing.
Perhaps he was busy, as he should he.
She returned to the library again that evening to return some of the scrolls she borrowed last night, and to again hunt for the elusive court documents that she could not seem to find. But while she still did not find the court documents, she did find more scrolls to read for herself.
She spent the rest of the evening lounging in a comfortable chair in the library and reading deep into the night, trying not to notice that the same erratic mess of papyrus and ink had somehow moved desks from the last time she was here. The pile appeared to be clearly used and rifled through.
Someone had been spending some time here. But right now it was just her, and as she leaned her head back into the chair, the words of her reading material dancing around in her brain, a merciful tap on the window kept her from falling asleep completely.
One glance brought a knowing smile to her face as she eyed the falcon.
Soon, I promise. For now, I will settle for reading your notes during the day, and dreaming of you at night.
Naima did not feel the least bit guilty as she took a sheet of papyrus off the top of that erratic pile for the second time and penned her response, smirking silently to herself.
My Pharaoh, surely you have better things to do with your time?
…
Naima wound up dozing off again, finally awaking a few hours later to find herself draped over the chair with a mix of different scrolls and sheets of papyrus covering her lap and chest in varying states of disarray. She chided herself for not at least waiting to take her scrolls back to her chamber as she picked up her things and left the library for the night, figuring she had at least two or three more good hours of sleep until the sunrise.
So as she made her way down the dimly lit halls to her chamber, she kept her stride quick. At this hour, the only signs of life were the silent shadows of the branches of palm trees swaying in the moonlit breeze, skipping across the stone floors. She felt comfortable enough to allow herself to remain in her dazed, half-asleep state.
Sleep. She was so close, she could almost feel her sheets and pillow against her skin.
But to her dismay, a bit of commotion caught her ear.
"I know you are here…" A distant voice sounded from what seemed to be a few hallways down, nowhere near her really.
She should just leave it alone. Let the guards deal with it. Nosing around in other's affairs at two in the morning was never a good idea. And yet… —
The lingering curiosity was enough to push the sleep out of her eyes. Now fully awake, she crept across the hallways as silent as a mouse, until a shadowy figure appeared in front of her.
It was Kerpheres.
Naima's breath caught in her throat. She slammed her back against the wall and held tightly to it as she crept closer and closer.
"Come out from the shadows and face me, you little bitch…" he growled to no one as he stood facing a stone pillar.
Naima stopped in her tracks and eyed him, watching as he stood in the middle of the empty hall. His fists were clenched at his sides, watching, waiting..
Then, he launched forward, reaching behind the pillar and pulled toward him…. A resisting Zahra.
"Get your nasty hands off me!" Zahra shouted as she attempted to shove him away.
Kerpheres held Zahra by the front of her dress and glared daggers into her face as if he could kill her right then… and then Naima shot forward, her legs moving before her mind could fully consider the situation.
"What's going on here?" Naima said as she confidently strode over. In the corner of her eye, she saw that all the chaos seemed to have caught the attention of a nearby guard who also came over to see.
Zahra gasped. "Naima?!"
Kerpheres's face was nothing short of baffled as he eyed Naima walking toward him, the guard trailing her from the other side.
Naima did not need a guard near her… for what she wanted to do to Kerpheres….
The moment he put his hands on her sister, the sight of it was enough to make her want to kill him slowly. She stalked toward him as violent images began to flash in her mind, faster and faster.
"Get.. your hands.. off my sister."
He sneered at her in mocking arrogance and then glanced at the guard, completely ignoring her as if she was not worth his time.
"This girl has been following me." he stated to the guard.
"Because you're a worthless, treacherous, scheming snake." Zahra shouted at him, a small, shiny red glow now appearing in the middle of her dark burgundy eyes.
Kerpheres lowered himself down to Zahra's face as he continued to clutch the collar of her dress.
"And you are a smartass, lying cunt who would be more useful if you were fed to the dogs." he sneered.
Zahra clenched her fists and snarled at him, her teeth bared, the red glow in her eyes now bright like two shining rubies. That look on Zahra's face, Naima knew that it meant trouble. That it was likely taking everything inside of Zahra, every bit of her self-control, to not burn this man alive with one single burst of flame from her palms.
Naima took two more steps toward him.
"If you do not unhand my sister, you will be sorry."
Her words were quiet, calm. But underneath, in whatever gaping darkness that was the current state of her mind, the sounds of gnashing teeth and tearing flesh echoed in her soul. A dark, deadly raging river that flowed inside of her, patiently waiting to be released. Somewhere in a distant corner of her mind, her Ka snarled.
Kerpheres laughed, practically throwing Zahra away from him with one strong motion of his arms.
"You." he said, turning his body and facing Naima now. "I know exactly who you are."
He took a threatening step toward her.
"Word has it that you are Samira's daughter, which means," he threw a scathing look at Zahra, practically spitting his words. "So are you."
He turned back toward her. "You must think you're something, don't you.. Prancing around here next to Penthu, like your blood hasn't been disgraced…like you aren't a disgrace. What arrogance could you possibly possess to have the audacity to live in this palace after your filthy mother defiled it with her wretched ways. You don't deserve to be here."
"Shut up!" Zahra screamed at him, launching forward with her eyes blazing red. She was going to kill him, Naima was sure of it. Her eyes blurred as a fire flashed in her vision.
Naima shot toward her sister's figure.
"No Zahra—" She reached forward and tried to grab anything of Zahra's, a piece of her dress or even some hair, before she could do anything stupid.
"How dare you speak to me like that, you filth —"
"That is enough." It was the guard who had long been silent and observing this interaction between the three of them, that had finally intervened. The guard came between them and faced Kerpheres, placing a cautious, yet authoritative arm on Kerpheres's shoulder, who quickly shrugged away from it.
"Get away from me." Kerpheres shouted at him.
He reeled back and spat on the ground, looking between Naima and Zahra with vehemence, before he turned around and marched down the hall away from them.
A sudden, eerie quiet descended around them. Naima glanced at her sister.
Zahra continued to stare down the hallway at Kerpheres's retreating figure. Her eyes still held their bright red glow, somehow even more vivid than before, and she bore her teeth toward him in an almost animalistic way, a soft yet venomous hiss coming from her mouth as her palms smoldered.
Naima had never seen her do this before.
"Zahra…" Naima said, taking a slow careful step toward her sister.
But Zahra continued to stare.
Naima reached to place a hand on her shoulder.
"..Zahra…? Are you alright?"
Zahra's head shot toward her, eyes wide in bewilderment, and she flinched at the sight of Naima's outstretched hand. The bright red glow in her eyes slowly began to fade away as they stared at each other.
"What happened to you?"
Zahra's eyes, now faded into their normal color, were still bewildered and muddy with anger. Her body was tense.
"Nothing." she mumbled, shaking her head.
"Zahra.. something's going on with you.."
Zahra growled in her throat and shot Naima a positively ferocious look.
"It's nothing, Naima." she snapped, rolling her eyes. "Just leave me alone, okay? I've got enough to deal with."
Whatever Zahra meant by those last words, Naima would not find out, because she quickly turned around and stormed away.
"I have to go." she muttered as she passed Naima and quickly disappeared.
Zahra's parting words struck her as odd.
Naima watched her sister stalk away and out of the palace, feeling so helpless to do anything. She had never seen that look in Zahra's eyes before. She was unsure what to do. Zahra insisted on privacy… but..—
'I urge you to pay close attention to her'
Isis's words.
Naima mulled this over as she returned to her chamber, torn on how to handle this.
She hardly slept that night. And she couldn't concentrate at work all day either as last night's events kept replaying in her mind like it was some sort of sick exercise in her own self-torture. It was not only Zahra's strange behavior, but.. she hated to admit to herself that Kerpheres's vile words about her and her mother had hit their target, causing her to fumble all day in her work.
'Disgraced blood… You don't deserve to be here…Villager's accent..'
The words would not leave her head no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. All the times she has felt like a foreigner in this palace, so out of place that at one point she had feared that someone would tell her that it was all a mistake, to pack up all her things and go back to her tiny, poor village where she belonged…
For her to now know that she wasn't a foreigner here at all. Far from it.
At least, that's what she thought before last night. She punched down the thoughts questioning her own worthiness here, even questioning her own value, and she despised to her very core how the seeds of insecurity that Kerpheres had planted in her seemed to be taking hold, despite how much she fought it. She wanted to stomp all over those seeds and burn them.
She returned to her chamber in a dark, sullen mood, wanting nothing more than to curl up in bed without a word to anyone. Opening the door, she spotted Kisara sitting in a chair and helping Eliyah fold linens.
Kisara gave her a gentle smile, and Naima instantly became aware of her own sour expression.
"Those arrived for you this morning, and the note too." Kisara said, gesturing to her vanity.
A lovely arrangement of white daisies and red windflowers was placed there, a striking pop of color in her otherwise neutral toned room. And as Naima snatched at the accompanying folded papyrus, her mood finally lifting out of whatever dark place she had been all day, she read Atem's note to her and could have cried right there.
I cannot think of a better way to spend my time than thinking of you. I await the day that I return to you, Naima. But in the meantime, here is something that is almost as beautiful as you are.
Chapter 30: Augment
Chapter Text
See end author's notes for chapter specific content/trigger warnings.
A few more days had passed in between and Naima had reluctantly begun to grow accustomed to the quiet days and lonely evenings. She had paid one brief visit to Zahra who made it clear that she wanted to be alone. So, discouraged, she spent her evenings with Kisara or in the library instead.
Until one calm morning when Penthu had peeked his head toward the window.
"Arrived back just in time…" he mumbled.
Naima scurried toward the window where he stood, squinting her eyes at the large cavalry that had appeared outside the palace grounds, scanning…
"Just in time for what?" she mumbled, only half-listening as she finally eyed him… and a girl.. who sat behind him on his same horse. Atem dismounted, and then helped her down.
Penthu moved away from the window and went to fiddle around with some tables and chairs in the hall for no clear reason, other than what Naima suspected was his constant state of being wound up.
"There is scheduled to be a very large meeting shortly, leaders of many cities will all be there along with the entire court. The state of the country will be discussed, budgets, security, taxes, health, that sort of thing. We usually have these every couple of months or so, but things have been delayed as of late because of… well, you know. My presence is required, of course."
"Oh, okay."
Penthu could have said he would leave to go travel to the moon and she wouldn't have cared. She was too busy watching as the girl jumped up and wrapped her arms and legs around Atem in an enormous hug, and then ran to hug Mahad, and then to Isis and the other priests.
"You will accompany me."
Naima finally tore her eyes away from the window to stare at Penthu blankly, his words finally settling into her mind like stones settling at the bottom of a pool.
"..What?"
"These meetings are a giant waste of my time." he muttered over the scraping of the bronze legs of tables and chairs against the stone floor. "Eventually I'll have you attend them for me. Most of the time they discuss things that are not relevant to me or our work here anyways…"
A meeting, but with what she assumed required little of her, other than her attention and presence. That did not sound too bad, so she did not think much of it all morning.
But when they arrived at the meeting hall, Naima did not quite know what to expect. As they entered the threshold of the medium sized room, she eyed a massive rectangular table sitting directly underneath a large window, sunlight pouring into the room and casting shadows on the tabletop that was littered with stacks of important looking scrolls and papyrus sheets. The chairs that were squeezed together to fit at the table were almost all occupied. Some people in the room she recognized, like Omari, who smiled at her, and Kerpheres, who rolled his eyes and immediately scoffed at her. But many others, she had no idea. They all seemed to know each other, though. Middle-aged to old men, either balding or bald or clearly hiding their baldness with a wig, chatting amongst themselves as if they were all in some sort of club where invitations were only extended to few and far in between.
She followed Penthu to a single empty seat, and he stopped in front of it in what seemed to be realization. There was only one empty chair.
"Shit…" he hissed. He threw up his hand in annoyance and glanced around.
There was no chair for her.
"Oh.. It's no problem," Naima mumbled. "I can just stand…"
"What a bunch of nonsense, Naima…" Shimon's voice boomed behind her. "Standing while we all sit… Don't be silly."
She turned her head and saw him a few paces behind her. He patted her on the back with a jovial smile. "These meetings do get long, you know."
He turned to a servant.
"Another chair for her, please."
Naima smiled gratefully at Shimon, who winked at her before he went to have a seat at the first chair to the right near the head of the table.
So there she sat, squished between Penthu and some other man who appeared visibly annoyed that he had to be cramped up next to her. She could barely see the front of the room behind everyone's head, and it became worse when everyone drew silent and stood up from their chairs, all the attention in the room directed toward the front. She almost tripped over herself and practically knocked her chair over in her own attempt to follow suit.
Atem strode into the room followed closely behind by Mahad and Aknadin. His eyes, jaw and face were hard as stone, and his pace was brisk as his cape trailed behind him, the Millennium Pendant sitting closely to his chest. It was the posture and walk of someone who was very important, and very aware of it. He did not even look up once at the crowd of people who now bowed their heads toward him in deference. To him, it was simply expected, and as Naima bent her own torso and neck downward to him, she knew that this was not the man who sent her flowers and sweet, loving messages at night, this was the Pharaoh of Egypt.
He took his place at the head of the table and before he sat, his eyes dragged across from one side of the table to the other with his unrelenting gaze, seemingly making a note in his mind of who was present. Naima's head was still bowed, her back and neck straining and stiff when she felt his eyes graze over her.
"Please, sit." Atem said.
Everyone did.
"Welcome to all of you." His voice was careful, formal. "Let's begin."
The meeting commenced with a brief report of recent events of the country. Slave rebellions, more riots, the rebuilding of Naqada, tax collection at the end of this month, and of course no sign of Bakura despite multiple sightings of gang recruitment, increased theft, and an attempt to break into a tomb.
But once they started discussing financial numbers, she could not keep up. How many million gold coins collected from taxes this month, how many were still owed, which regions still owed, which regions required more financial help… her mind began to drift off…—
It was highly likely her own mother once sat at this very table, and of course seated much more to the front than she was. Naima considered this as she glanced to the front where the court sat, trying to picture her mother in those seats.
A light glinted in her eye.
She traced it to the source, to the Millennium Necklace sitting on Isis's neck. And as soon as she stared into the stone eye, white light scattered in her vision and a scene materialized in front of her. Of a much younger, stronger-looking Pharaoh Aknamkanon in his prime, sitting where Atem now sat, looking closely to his left at a woman who was speaking. The features, the hair, the facial expression… it was her mother.
It had to have lasted only seconds before the present snapped back into her mind like a brick to the face. It was so quick that Naima thought she might have simply dreamed it, or perhaps fabricated it as a result of her own boredom. But she knew this could not have been the case as she met Isis's silent, bewildered stare from far across the table. Naima took in the puzzlement on Isis's face, watching her reach up to reflexively stroke her necklace with her fingertips.
How strange.
The necklace could not show the past, but …
She sifted through the images she just saw in her mind… barely a glimpse of the gold and jewels that adorned her mother's body, a flash of a red shawl that covered her neck. Her mother sat in the second, or perhaps the third chair to the front. More details of her… Naima burned them into her memory while someone's monotone voice droned on and on about financial numbers in the distant background.
"Next."
The sharpness of that word ringing in her ear brought her attention firmly back to the room.
"My Pharaoh, may we please discuss the crowding in Thebes."
A short, balding man with a frantic tenor voice stood up from his chair and bowed his head.
"It has become worse and I do not believe we can take anymore of this. The homelessness on the streets is now unbearable and I fear that disease will spread amongst us."
"Yes, we are well aware of the crowding situation, the result of Bakura's rebel groups stealing land from villagers and claiming it for their own, destroying crops, trying to take over territory." Shimon said to him. "Villagers are now migrating to the cities because their homes are destroyed. I believe this is also becoming an issue in your city, is that correct Kerpheres?"
Kerpheres nodded curtly.
"It is. Perhaps not as bad as Thebes is, at the moment. But I anticipate it worsening in the coming months."
"As governor of the city, I can say with confidence that we do not have enough food for everyone, not enough resources. People lay dying in the street from starvation. We must put a stop to this, my Pharaoh." the man said.
Atem sighed and rubbed his temples in contemplation.
"Shimon, what are your thoughts?"
Shimon rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"We can send more soldiers to the village areas, increase our military presence throughout the country, but… we only have so many soldiers, and training soldiers takes at least half a year. Ultimately, we must cut the problem off at its source, which means cutting the head off the snake. Without a leader, this should all disband into smaller groups like it was before. And in the meantime we can provide additional rations and set up makeshift shelters in the city.."
The governor of Thebes nodded to Shimon before discussion began around the table.
"We must capture him —"
"Why can we not at least have some soldiers in the villages? That might act as a deterrent."
"It will not be long until they invade the cities as well.."
The image of her mother at the table was imprinted in her mind and vision as she pondered and considered, waited.. her thoughts practically bursting on the tip of her tongue…until she simply could not stand it anymore.
"Why don't we teach the farmers and villagers how to defend themselves? Provide them with weapons? Show them how to place a magic barrier around their lands?"
Those words had erupted from her mouth like an exploding dam.
Immediate, hard silence struck the room and thrummed around her as she was pelted with stares from all directions. A small cough echoed in the otherwise noiseless hall. There was so much quiet, but not in her mind, not with the sound of her wild heartbeat in her own ears, her throat. Meanwhile, Penthu had craned his head to give her an incredulous look, as if he didn't know what to do with her in that moment, to shut her up or allow her to keep talking.
Eventually, someone from across the table shifted uncomfortably in his chair and looked at her.
"Your suggestion… Is that not implying that we have failed them as the government? That our resources are not enough to keep them safe so they must do it themselves?"
"This would not be a permanent solution, but maybe it is a start." Naima responded. "The real failure to the people would be to do nothing."
Kerpheres threw her the most disgusted, hateful look she had ever seen.
"Giving people weapons, purposely teaching them magic… what an atrocious idea…" he spat.
"What is your reasoning, Kerpheres?" Someone else had chimed in.
Kerpheres crossed his arms and looked at him.
"The more weapons they have, the more we should worry about them slitting our throats in our sleep."
Omari, who sat only a few chairs down from her, straightened up and gave him a withered look. "Why should we need to worry about that if we lead our people with integrity and honor?"
Small pockets of discussion now began to form around the table —
"Well hold on… if we do not have the soldiers to defend them, then what other choice do we have? We cannot simply allow them to succumb to these thieves."
"We must attack the source of the problem."
"But what about in the mean time…"
The absence of immediate rejection and dismissal, it emboldened her even more.
"If we do it this way," Naima declared, projecting her voice over the gaggle of male voices in her vicinity.
"Rather than increasing military presence throughout the country, maybe we can instead use those resources to reclaim the stolen lands and allow the displaced people to return, thus mitigating the overcrowding in the cities."
A proposed solution, one that was a bit more creative than simply relying on catching Bakura, or throwing more soldiers at the problem.
"My Pharaoh, you are going to do this? What she said?" someone said.
Everyone's head turned toward the front of the table as the remaining discussion hushed.
Atem paused and glanced at her, a slight smile at the corner of his lips while he looked around.
"Are there any other suggestions? Objections?" Atem's eyes hardened as his eyes shot toward the governor of Memphis. "Kerpheres?"
There was more silence as Kerpheres rolled his eyes and waved his hand in forfeit.
Atem sat back in his chair.
"I believe it could be a viable, temporary option."
Another man a few chairs down from her put a fist on the table.
"My Pharaoh, who is going to teach a bunch of villagers how to use a sword?" He shot a glare at her and pointed his finger at her aggressively. "Will you do it?"
"Come to my region and teach a bunch of farmers how not to stab themselves?"
"You do not give your villagers enough credit." Naima retorted. "Trust me, they do know to avoid the pointy end and stick their enemies with it instead."
There was light snickering around the table at that.
"You can have soldiers do it, only a few are needed for the job. It is a much less burden on resources that way."
After some notes were made and plans were drawn out to revisit the idea again, the discussion quickly faded into the next topic and Naima had decided to stay quiet for the remainder of the meeting. She knew she had to be careful. This had been an exercise of toeing the line between what was appropriate to say and when she should keep her mouth shut. Perhaps she had pushed that line this morning. Pushed it off a cliff and did her own thing.
Penthu had said nothing to her and was quiet, even after they had left and resumed their work for the rest of the day. If she was wrong for what she did, he certainly did not show it, which was uncharacteristic of him. She knew he would have no hesitation telling her to shut her mouth and keep quiet like the good, obedient apprentice that she was, that she should be.
At the end of the day, Naima left the hospital wing to find Atem, only for the guard outside his chamber to say that he was away.
Now what?
Disappointed, she putzed around the hallways like a lost animal, debating if she should return to the library or try to go visit Zahra again. She thought of her last attempt to visit, how Zahra had barely talked and made excuses for Naima to leave… Annoyance and impatience flared inside of her. This time would be different, she decided. She had no choice but to confront Zahra, to try to get her to say what was going on with her…—
"You must work on your spells, Mana. You have had too much time off."
"Whaddayamean? My spells are great. Didn't you see my vanishing spell earlier?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by Mahad's voice and another light, airy female voice that echoed down the hall. Naima peered at them from around the corner.
Mahad crossed his arms and looked at Mana sternly.
"You also made your own hands disappear as well. And the servant's hands, and his feet. You scared him almost to tears."
Mana giggled sheepishly. Her innocent voice chimed like a song. "Oh… did I? Whoopsie!"
"Tomorrow, you and I will practice until you get it right." Mahad said.
"Ohhkaay…." she grumbled.
And then there was Atem, who was walking in the middle of those two and looking so… happily content, complete. They all stopped as they noticed her at the end of the hallway.
"Who are you?" Mana asked, walking toward her.
Naima felt a pang of awkwardness as she stepped forward, realizing how silly she must have looked standing in the middle of the hallway alone.
"My name is Naima, apprentice of Penthu." she said. "You are Mana?"
Mana's face lit up as she gasped. "You're Naima?! I've heard soooooo much about you." she gushed as she rushed over and threw her arms around her.
She had?
Naima couldn't help but to laugh, reveling in the warmth and vivacity that emanated from her. "It is nice to finally meet you, Mana."
Mahad had quickly moved to quietly usher Mana away.
"But— but… I wanna talk to Naima some more." Mana said as she turned to leave with Mahad.
"There will be plenty of time for that. Let's go." he said and they eventually disappeared down the hallway.
Atem turned toward her, contentment and ease still lingering over his features as he smiled at her.
"I hope I did not interrupt…" Naima said.
Atem shook his head as the guard opened the door to his chamber for him.
"Not at all."
She followed him inside.
"Mana is one of my closest friends since childhood." he said. "She has been studying under Mahad for years as his apprentice."
"She was with you this morning…? When you arrived back." she said.
"Yes, she asked to be picked up from her family's home while we were on our way back. It was no trouble." Atem said.
"She is.. radiant…"
Atem smiled and laughed under his breath. "That is one way to describe her, yes."
She turned to look at him, but not before he took one step toward her and wrapped his arms tightly around her torso.
"Welcome back." Naima said into his shoulder, her voice muffled by the fabric of his cape.
She pulled away to search his face, only to find peace and serenity in his eyes as he smiled at her.
"How are you?"
She held his gaze as she asked that short, simple question, and he seemed to sense that she did not ask it lightly. Too many changes lately, everything has been too much.. too fast.. the death of his father still new and raw.
"I am fine, Naima." he said, clasping her hand in his. "But, much better now that I am with you."
There was no time to waste, apparently. She saw perhaps a mere flash of a smirk or grin before his arms enclosed around her torso and he hauled her into the air and over his shoulder.
Naima squealed.
"Don't drop me!" she yelped through her own giggles as the inverted sight of the couch came into view.
"Next time I must leave, I will bring you with me." he said, placing her gently onto the cushion and settling next to her.
Still giddy, she snuggled up to him.
"Penthu will not like that."
"Penthu will get over it."
She nuzzled her face into his chest.
"Mmm," He smelled so nice, like wind and honey and cardamom. "I'll let you give the order then."
They had sat for a time in silence, holding each other, everything they had talked and dreamed about doing had it not been for the distance or their own worldly responsibilities.
"Naima, you were very bold this morning." he said quietly.
She flinched and stiffened.
"..Was that bad?"
"No, it was just unexpected." he said. "You are brave, but I did not know you could be like that."
"I couldn't help myself."
His eyes and face sparkled with some medley of amusement and affection. "I like it." he said softly, intently. "You impress me more and more everyday…"
He lifted her chin with his fingertips, peering down at her face.
"What other things about you are you hiding?"
Naima lifted her hand to trace his fingers with her own.
"That would be for me to know, and you to find out, isn't it?"
A fire kindled and began to roar in his eyes.
"Tell me."
"If I told you then it wouldn't be fun."
He cocked a brow, threw her an absolutely devilish smirk, and before she knew it, he pounced on her. His fingers prodded her ribcage and she squealed, collapsing into a fit of giggles as she silently cursed the fact that he now knew how ticklish she was.
"You can do this all you want, I'll never crack." she yelled between giggles.
His arms wrapped around her, squeezing her while she squirmed.
"Is that a challenge?"
"It is if you want it to be."
He pushed her playfully back into the couch cushion and laid on top of her, and she couldn't stop laughing, even as he paused to gaze into her face from above, so close to hers.
There were tears in her eyes. Tears from laughing so hard that her stomach hurt. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and black kohl smeared onto her skin.
"Shit…."
Her eye makeup was ruined, probably now resembling two tiny black holes around her eyes, she was sure of it.
Naima caught Atem's amused grin.
"Oh, you think this is funny?"
She brushed a blackened fingertip against his nose and winked, eyeing his smudged nose with petty satisfaction as she got up from the couch and went to a nearby mirror to fix her makeup.
Atem followed her to it, his predacious smirk lingering in the corner of her eye as he slowly moved in behind her, his arms snaking around her stomach.
His face and breath were dangerously close to her neck and ear as she tried her best to ignore him. But he knew exactly what he was doing, brushing his lips against her skin, demanding her attention. She almost melted in his arms right there.
"Stop…" Naima giggled. She had almost gotten all the kohl off as she rubbed her eyes with a finger, and yet she was barely holding onto her own self-control by a single thread. "It's smudged. I need to fix this…"
Her cries only increased his enthusiasm as he nipped at her neck and kissed it.
"You look fine." he growled. The low hum of his voice, the tickle of his breath and lips against her sensitive neck, something absolutely primal began to stir in her.
And then her eyes drifted upward to look into her own, watching herself… Who was this girl in the mirror, her eyes drooping and swimming with lust, her body wrapped in the arms of a man, her fingers tracing his hands as they touched her all over….
Atem's hand crept around her throat to her jaw, guiding her head toward his. With one hot breath on her lips, she was totally gone —
"Oh Ra…"
The force of their kiss nearly knocked her backwards, and before she could fall over, Atem grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.
They were a wild, fervid mess of kisses and touching, of teeth against skin, of lust in the air and hot fire between their bodies. But it was still not nearly enough for either of them. His hands wandered to her hips.. and then lower, down to her ass, before he grabbed her thighs and lifted her up onto a nearby table.
Naima wrapped her legs around his body, grinding her hips against his, the wetness between her legs serving to heighten the sensation. She needed more …wanted more...
Her hand began to drift downward, to his hips, brushing against his thighs as they kissed. He moaned into her mouth. She wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but he clearly liked it. She gently ran her hand up and down his thigh—
Atem shuddered and pulled away, turning from her. His pull-back was so abrupt that she almost felt whiplash, the sudden, lonely void now between them as wide and deep as a chasm.
She exhaled a shallow breath, trying to bring herself back to her senses. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Atem grimaced and shook his head. His body was still turned from her.
"If we keep going, I won't be able to.. stop myself…"
Stop himself from what? And why should that be a problem? Naima giggled, the sound of it almost musical in the echo of his chamber.
"Would that be so bad…?"
His jaw was clenched and he swallowed as he took another step away from her. "Give me a minute."
He looked… uncomfortable. Naima shrunk back in confusion. Perhaps she did something wrong… everything felt right, but…. She had no experience in these things.
"Is everything alright? … Did I do something wrong?"
She reached over to touch his shoulder, and he flinched.
Flinched at her touch.
A pang of horror struck her so hard that she became dizzy. Her throat went dry.
Oblivious to her, Atem shook his head, distracted.
"No."
No.. to which one? His answer could have gone either way, and each way had an opposite meaning.
He didn't appear to be in a state to talk, with his closed eyes and back slightly hunched over.
Maybe she did do something wrong, although she wasn't sure what.
She got off the table and stood up. This was embarrassing. Her mind began to spiral into a dark pit of shame.
"Maybe I should go for tonight then…?" she mumbled with her head down as she straightened her clothing out as fast as she could.
She hurried toward the door, trying her hardest to resist the heat on her flushed face from her own humiliation as tears formed behind her eyes.
His footsteps echoed closely behind her. "Wait Naima. Don't leave."
Naima stopped but did not turn around. She wanted nothing more than to bolt out of there and pretend that this had never happened. She didn't know what she was doing or what she was getting herself into… Maybe she should have talked to someone about these things beforehand. But it was too late for that now. Somewhere along the way she made a mistake and he had pushed her away.
"Why are you leaving?"
"I—" She didn't even know how to answer that.
"..You don't want me.."
Dead, hollow silence rippled behind her. So much that Naima had to peek her head over her shoulder, just to make sure he was still there.
"…You think I don't want you?"
The tone of his voice was one that could not be ignored and she turned her body fully toward him, albeit with great reluctance. And there he stood without a sound, staring at her, eyes blazing in an unholy light. Something in his expression had changed, like whatever it was inside of him had snapped cleanly into pieces.
"Naima…" His voice was hushed and deadly, little more than a whisper in the otherwise silent room.
"I have wanted you ever since you stepped foot in this palace.. in your dirty, ripped dress, with your tangled hair, and bruises and cuts all over your beautiful skin .. and fire in your eyes…"
"But I—" She bit back her embarrassment. "I did something wrong, didn't I…"
At those words, his eyes began smoldering into a furor. He stalked toward her with clenched fists as Naima stood trembling before him, and he didn't stop until he was close enough that his chest almost touched hers. He looked down into her face, his eyes burning into hers with so much passion that Naima wanted to look away. But she didn't dare to, not for a single second.
"You have done nothing wrong. You have never done anything wrong. The problem is with me and has always been with me."
His face was twisted in his own emotion.
"How could you even think that I don't want you? You have no idea…"
"What are you talking about, Atem?"
He stopped for a moment, his face blank as the air in the room seemed to collect itself, and Naima could sense that whatever she had said earlier, the jumble of words that had escaped from her mouth that somehow felt appropriate to say at that time, it had awoken something deeply repressed in him.
"You were upset with me that I did not make an effort to contact you after my father made sure to separate us by taking away whatever resemblance of freedom I had as a child. We were both children, young and foolish. The more time that passed, the surer I was that you had already moved on. Meanwhile, I had been subjected to years of parties with girls who were more interested in the title of "Queen" than they were of me, who could never speak freely with me in fear of ruining whatever chance they thought they may have had, who were scared to fully be themselves. You once asked me if I ever liked any of them. The answer is no. Not because there aren't some who are pretty or kind or intelligent or interesting… but because meeting you had ruined me, Naima. You see me, not as the Pharaoh of Egypt, but as a man. You have chosen me again and again without hesitation. You've shown me what I needed to be happy and fulfilled, and I refuse to settle for anything less.
"You have no idea how difficult it was to spend six years wishing that every single girl paraded in front of me was you… to wonder if I would ever see you again, to wonder if you were even alive, or if you had forgotten me, or slowly grown to despise me… or even worse, if you had grown to love another. The thought of you belonging to another man is something that I cannot bear. And do you know why, Naima?"
Her entire body was frozen, the only thing in her mind being his voice. Everything else around her was an empty abyss.
"I have never felt this way about any woman before, because no other woman has made me feel so alive, and seen … and loved."
Somehow, between the roaring in her head and the frenetic beating in her chest, his arms had curled around her, one at her waist and another behind her shoulders, his fingers tangled in her hair.
"Naima…" he whispered.
He gently pulled her head back, brushing his lips against hers as he held her gaze.
"I want you… all of you."
It became difficult to breathe, to even get a sense of who she was in that moment. Her own conscious mind had left a long time ago. The only thing she knew was this man in front of her, who had just now shown her his whole heart. She could think of only one thing to do.
"Then take me.."
As if she had just granted him permission, he crushed his lips against hers. But his passion was not furious and quick like it was before. Everything he did, from his touches, to his lips and tongue.. it was slow, deliberate, and burned fierce.
He hoisted her against his body with a grunt, her arms around his shoulders and his hands securely under her thighs as he carried her over to the bed. They held each other's gaze while he walked until he sat down on the bed and she wrapped her legs around his body, straddling him.
He took a moment to brush his fingers against her cheek and gaze into her face, her eyes, and she felt as if he was looking into her very soul.
"I have.. never done this before."
His words, the vulnerability in his eyes.. it was both a statement and a plea, a crack in his armor.
"I want to do it right." he said.
And then the realization dawned on her, what she should have seen before that was now clear as day. She wanted to kick herself.
His behavior earlier… He was very.. excited, and a bit self-conscious about it and … nervous. Probably as nervous as she was, maybe even moreso. Her hands grazed across the fabric of the front of his shirt, noting the warmth of his skin underneath her fingertips, and the heat of his gaze from above her.
"I have never done this either." she uttered. Although she thought of it… many, many times, touched herself to the memory of his hands on her skin.
"But the only way we know what is right.. is if we try."
Atem kissed her again, gentle hands roaming over her body, and they both slid back against the head of the bed.
Naima settled herself on him, straddling his legs and basking in his gaze as he marveled at her as if she was some divine, celestial being sent from the Gods. His arms rested comfortably around her stomach but his entire demeanor was careful, as if he did not want to do anything to spook her again.
Perhaps she should take matters into her own hands.
She reached up to the straps of her dress and pulled both of them down and through her arms, one by one. And then slowly, with trembling hands and a pounding heart, she pushed her dress down her body revealing her breasts and stomach. Her nipples were already hard, but they became even more taut in the open air as goosebumps pricked down her arms.
Atem feasted on the sight of her, his eyes making a slow path from her stomach upward, lingering on her breasts before returning to her face.
"You're so gorgeous." he muttered.
Naima smiled at him, a hint of coyness in her expression as she took one of his warm hands and placed his palm under the curve of her bare breast. He squeezed it lightly and brushed his thumb across her nipple, looking at her face the entire time, before he soared upward to her neck and kissed it. Naima groaned into his shoulder as he played with her nipple with his fingertips and trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder, the gentle touch of his lips sliding across her skin.
More, she wanted more. She moved her hips against his groin as a soft, sensual moan escaped from her mouth right next to his ear. He tightened his arms around her as he came back up to capture her lips with his own, and that's when she reached down and carefully hiked up the skirt of her dress revealing her thighs and bare ass.
So he likes bold, then? Modesty be damned. She was a minx, looking into his eyes as she held the sides of her bunched up dress around her torso, still holding his gaze as she carefully, gingerly, slipped it over her body and tossed it away from her. It fell onto the floor with a soft thud.
Naima leaned back onto his legs to allow him a view, the corners of her mouth upturned as she watched his eyes drink in her naked body. And as she looked into his eyes, she placed both of her hands by his hips and gently tugged at his shirt. He knew what she was asking and promptly took it off, and before she even had a chance to admire, he grabbed her body and flipped her over onto the bed.
The weight of his body on top of hers and the touch and slide of skin against skin, the soft pleasure from his kisses and gentle nips by his teeth down her neck and shoulders and breasts… She was almost sorry when he continued trailing kisses downward to her stomach, and then lower… and lower… Until…
He wrapped an arm around each thigh and rested his palms on top, fingers snaking down to gently but firmly grip her as he spread her legs open.
She laid there in silence, naked and completely exposed to him as he looked at her, all of her.
Her instinct was to close her legs, and she twitched as a breeze from an open window made the wetness between her legs bitingly cold. But his arms were firm against her fidgeting and his eyes continued to linger, almost studying her.
"Wha— what are you doing?" Naima murmured. Her breathing was shallower, heavier, and matched her own nervous mind and her fast beating heart. He glanced up at her again before he took a finger and gently, almost reverently… slid it down the folds of her wet, swollen flesh.
Another breath shuddered from her, and she couldn't help but to exhale a throaty moan. He continued to explore, parting her sex with two fingers and sliding delicately through her flesh. She knew she wanted more of that, his fingers, or whatever he was doing. But instead, he dipped down and pushed his head between her legs, and then his mouth was between her thighs.
Naima cried out, at the feeling, at the intensity, and then a small scream burst out of her mouth when he dragged his tongue down her slick, hot flesh from her clit to her core.
"Ah— Atem…That's dirty…" she cried out and tensed her legs.
"Naima, there is no part of you that is dirty…" he mumbled between her legs before he dove back down.
Up and down and in. The sensation of his mouth and tongue on her was beyond any pleasure she had ever felt in her life thus far. He took his time to explore her all over, always flicking over her clit briefly, but never staying. Either he didn't know, or he did and he was doing it on purpose. It was driving her mad.
So when he did it again, she grabbed the back of his head and directed him to where she wanted him.
"There, right there… Keep doing that…" she managed to get out. He certainly listened, his tongue darting back upward.
She sighed and sank back into the bed.
"Don't stop.." she choked out, her voice now a high-pitched whine. Close, she was so close, the muscles in her legs tightening in anticipation. But when she felt him close his mouth around her and suck her clit gently, that's when she lost it. She came apart and cried out as stars exploded behind her eyes, and he kept licking as he murmured something into her thighs that she couldn't understand.
She was limp and dazed and still seeing colors behind her closed eyes as she listened to soft movement around her that she didn't care to acknowledge. It took the shifting of the linens for her to open her eyes and see Atem laying next to her, now completely naked. Her eyes couldn't help but to drift downward.. to his completely erect cock. And in the corner of her eye, she saw the pride in his face, eyes and smile, relishing in how she was still totally wrung out from the orgasm he gave her.
That look on his face stirred some deep, animalistic desire in her. She wanted him in her mouth. She wanted to pleasure him like he did for her.
She rolled over.
"..Your turn.." she murmured, swinging her legs over and placing a hand on his chest, sliding down his body.
She took him in her hands and noted him watching her carefully, his fingers lightly clenching the sheets around him. He was tense as she rubbed his erection lightly with her fingertips. She had no idea what she was doing. But, he didn't seem to dislike it. So with one last glance, she dipped down and pressed a small, drawn-out kiss to the head of his cock.
He shuddered a breath, hands gripping the sheets even tighter.
Another layer of understanding struck her. Was he… could he not .. control himself when she touched him?
…. How cute. She kissed it again. His body jerked and he closed his eyes, now holding his breath.
"Everything okay?" Naima asked, rubbing her fingers up and down the shaft of his cock.
He blinked his eyes open at her and nodded stiffly, almost tersely, before he laid his head back down on the pillow and closed his eyes.
"..Feels good." he muttered through an exhale.
She ran a hand down his clenched thigh as she swirled her tongue against the tip of his cock and he moaned, bucking into her hand.
"You're so tense though…" she whispered, making sure her hot breath tickled the head of his cock.
He opened his eyes again to look at her. "Feels… too good."
Naima giggled at that, her voice and laugh sweet and sultry.
He watched her as she gently took him into her mouth and did her best, gazing at him while she licked and rubbed up and down his shaft, trying to gauge his reactions to figure out what he likes.
"Come up here." he eventually said. His voice was husky with need.
"…But you didn't come yet…"
He reached down and grabbed her upper arms, practically dragging her up to his chest and away from his cock.
She yelped and giggled again as he held her and gazed into her face. His playful smile was filled with lust.
"What are you doing?" Naima said to him.
Atem kissed her deeply, and she moaned into his mouth as he squeezed her ass. She wrapped her arms around his neck and a leg around his back, and let out another small moan as the tip of his cock unexpectedly brushed against her still-wet core. She quivered at the touch.
The desire to be filled overwhelmed her at once. Filled with him.
She wrapped her other leg around his body, grinding her hips and core against his length, the wetness of her sex sliding across his shaft. He groaned and tightened her arms around her body as he dove for her neck again, kissing and licking it, grazing his teeth against her sensitive skin. Naima moaned as she continued to move her hips against him.
She had enough playing. She wanted him inside of her. Now.
She rolled over and straddled his hips again and he sat up and pressed his body into hers, his erect cock resting behind her ass.
There they sat, facing each other. And as Naima reached behind her to grasp his pulsating erection and position it at her core, she looked into his eyes as she slowly lowered herself onto him. Immediately, she was met with stinging, stretching pain. She cried out and clutched at his body, stopping barely at the tip of his cock.
"..Naima..?" Atem grunted in alarm as he held her tightly against his chest.
"It.. hurts…" she whimpered. Her core stung and throbbed.
"If this hurts you, we can stop." he murmured in her ear.
"No." she said quickly. "No…I want it, I can do it."
She pushed through the pain. It ended up being a careful process and Atem was endlessly patient, cautious and thoughtful, rubbing her back and kissing her through her whimpering. But when she finally took all of him inside of her, she sat for a brief moment, savoring the feeling of him.
Atem groaned under her and began to thrust into her gently.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
"Uh huh.." She held onto him tightly.
His breaths became wheezy as he continued to grind into her carefully, and she could definitely tell that he was holding back. Her core still hurt, but not as bad as before since Atem's gentle coaxing had helped to maintain the wetness between her legs.
She moaned his name into his ear and that seemed to drive him over the edge as he quickly grabbed her hips and flipped her over onto her back. His body was blanketed on top of her and his thrusts became a bit more wild.
It did not take long for him to bury his face into her hair and neck, groaning, his whole body shuddering in his release before he collapsed on top of her, sweaty and panting. He rested his forehead against hers.
The moonlight sang a quiet, gentle song as they settled next to each other in comfortable silence. The feeling of safety as they held each other in their arms and showered the other with soft, loving kisses.. the warm, easy glow that enveloped them while they both laid naked together, skin to skin, breath to breath. This… this was a different kind of intimacy, she found. There was the intimacy of the hot, passionate lovemaking that they just did.. and then there was this… a shade that was quieter, softer, deeper.
Atem pulled the covers overtop of them, and as they drifted off into the calm, distant haven of sleep, she wondered if there could be anything better than this.. to share intimacy with another.. true, deep intimacy. But as a light snore from Atem broke her away from her musing, right then she knew the answer, and she followed in after him.
Content/trigger warning: SMUT, politics/political discussion
(*Quick disclaimer that the political talk in this story is not, nor will it ever be, a commentary on real life events, does not reflect my own views and any resemblance to real life events is merely coincidental*)
RIP Kazuki Takahashi :(
Chapter 31: Awake
Chapter Text
The sun had barely peeked above the horizon, and yet still its rays somehow snaked their way in between the tangle of sheets that Naima was hopelessly tangled in between. But it certainly was not something she minded. Not when she was snuggled up close next to a warm, sleeping Atem, his limp arm draped over hers in his sleep, his open mouth crunched up against the pillow, revealing some of his teeth.
She crept even closer to his sleeping body, leaning into him and nuzzling her face into his chest, savoring the solidness of his form, so much that when the sun emerged over the span of buildings in the distance, the eventual call to her duties rang in her head so loudly she was sorry she even remembered she had duties to fulfill.
But as she attempted to quietly slide out of bed from under the sheets, Atem's arm slid around her waist, effectively trapping her in his arms, preventing her escape. With a sleepy grunt, he pulled her back against his chest before he nestled back against his pillow.
Naima giggled.
"Atem?" she hissed.
There was no answer from behind her.
She turned over to face him and his hold around her grew tighter. He was still clearly feigning sleep.
"I have to go to work…." she whispered.
Atem's eyes opened at that, two sleepy wells of violet that gazed at her lazily in the thin light of dawn.
His response was simply pulling her even tighter against him and she sighed into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around his bare chest and back before he eventually rolled over on his back and took her with him. Naima straddled his hips as she laid atop his chest. And through the thin sheets, she felt his erection between her legs.
Oh. Round two?
They had barely exchanged a look of silent, lustful knowing before a knock thudded on the door.
Atem appeared to pay no mind to it as he pressed kisses against her neck and tore the sheets away from her body, his fingertips gliding against her skin.
"My Pharaoh?" An older female voice called out from behind the door.
My Pharaoh.
She just had sex with the Pharaoh of Egypt… and was about to again.
Naima craned her head upward to kiss his lips, and he kissed her back ravenously as he grabbed her bare ass with both hands and squeezed hard.
A rather strange sounding yelp of pain and surprise erupted from her mouth. One look at Atem's amused face and they both burst out laughing. She beamed at him, taking in his easy smile in the low orange light.
"Easy there…" she breathed into his ear as he nipped at her collarbone.
One small tug and the thin sheet that separated their bodies was gone. He pulled her hips downward toward him, and she was ready for it, to take him into her body once more —
The door creaked open.
"My Pharaoh, is everything alright?"
Naima shot up. Atem's arms dropped from her body like two flies.
A very tiny, old woman stood in the doorway, frozen, her face aghast. It had only been a mere second that everybody stared at the other, hard and long and horrified, but it dragged on for what seemed like a thousand years.
"Oh!" The old woman exclaimed, covering her eyes. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
She quickly excused herself from the room and slammed the door behind her.
Horrified was an understatement. Naima had never been so embarrassed in her life. She swallowed down a bit of nausea and turned to Atem, burying her face into his neck.
"Oh Ra…" she mumbled.
"What?" Atem said from above her. Somehow, he was impossibly amused, a shadow of a laugh on his grin.
"What do you mean 'what'? She saw us! Together!"
"It was only my servant, Anit.." he said. "She knows me well. She is like a mother to me."
So nonchalant, an easy look on his face toward her, as if to say 'Who cares..'
Well, of course he wouldn't care. He's the fucking Pharaoh.
"So it is as if your mother just saw you bed a woman."
Atem let out a low laugh and smirked, exuding the smallest hint of that cocky arrogance that both infuriated her and made her want to jump on top of him and fuck him for days.
"Naima, it is nothing to worry about." he said.
She began tracing her fingers along the muscle and bone of his hand.
"Easy for you to say…" she mumbled.
Atem gently placed his fingers under her chin, tilting her head upward to look at him and silently coaxing her to continue.
"Gossip seems to be a rather popular way to pass the time here… They won't dare gossip about you. But me…"
For barely a second, something fiery blazed in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by his usual mask of calm, stoic collectedness. His fingers drifted over to caress her jaw and cheek.
"It does not matter what people think, Naima. The only thing that matters is us."
There was such intensity in his eyes, tinted with a small hint of urgency.
"If anyone has a problem," he said in a quiet voice. "They will answer to me."
Answer to him.
Such immense power behind those soft, simple words.
Naima stroked her hands up and down his arms and glanced toward the window, cringing internally. She would be late today for sure.
"I should go." she mumbled.
Atem's mouth tightened as he gazed at her.
"I will not be able to see you again for a while, at least a few days." he said.
She waited for him to elaborate.
"It is part of the funerary practices for my father. There is a sacred shrine outside of Thebes where the spirits of Egyptian Pharaohs are said to reside. Me and the rest of the priests will travel there and stay to pay respects." he said.
The thought of him leaving again made her heart clench.
"I already cannot wait for you to return." Naima said.
He squeezed her hand. "Soon."
-o0o-
Somehow, it was a normal day.
Normal in the sense of routine of course, but her mind was one big blur, a jumble of emotions and memories of last night that drifted into her mind and made her stomach flutter and her knees go weak.
She had attempted to slip out of Atem's chamber as inconspicuously as possible, ignoring the stares and gawking of servants and workers who eyed her awkwardly as she scurried away in a wrinkled dress, their hasty whispers about her to whomever was next to them a soft echo in the hallways.
There was no time to bathe before work, so the small bit of dried blood between her legs became a nuisance that she tried to ignore. She was warned long ago that this may happen after she would give herself to a man for the first time. Apparently there were some men who liked it, enjoyed the sight of what was to them a sign or some sort of proof that the woman that they had just laid with had been with no others before him. Nafi and others in her village had cautioned her against these men, but luckily Atem did not seem to care about such things.
It became increasingly difficult to concentrate throughout the day. By the end of it, she had realized that half of the documentation she had to do was still unfinished. Penthu of course had noticed and raised a sharp, scrutinizing eyebrow at her.
"I will finish this by tonight," Naima said to him. "I promise."
She also had an appointment with Shimon this evening for another lesson. That combined with extra hours at work meant a very long evening for her, and no last minute visits with Atem before he left again. The mere thought of it made her groan in frustration.
When she returned to her chamber for the day, Kisara was sitting on her bed. Naima had a few moments before she had to meet Shimon so she freshened up a bit, wiping herself with a wet, floral-scented washcloth.
"Naima?" Kisara's voice piped up behind her
"Hmm?"
"I was thinking… I've been here, with you, for a while." Kisara said. "Maybe I'm ready to do… something else…"
Naima turned around and eyed her hesitant face as she fought back a twinge of guilt, the promise that she made to her that she would help her find something in the forefront of her mind.
"Of course." Naima smiled. "Did you have anything in mind?"
"Well, you have already done so much for me. Clearly I cannot stay with you forever. I was thinking… maybe Seto could help me…"
…Seto?
She cringed to herself as she stared into Kisara's hopeful face. She did not have the heart to tell her that she fully expected that Seto would tell her exactly where she could shove it. But… there was so much goodness in the blue of Kisara's eyes, so much hope…
Naima sighed.
"We can always ask…"
-o0o-
The short walk to the chamber of Priest Seto should not have given Naima as much anxiety as it did, but given their history, she could not help it. The tension was sharp as she knocked on the door. She held her breath, silently hoping that he was not in.
But to her disappointment, she heard a few distant noises inside before the door jerked open.
There stood Seto, scowling in the doorway as he eyed both of them with silent scorn, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowed even more as they drifted over to Kisara, then back to Naima.
"Um… sorry to bother you this evening." Naima mumbled. "We have a bit of a problem."
Naima glanced at Kisara. A few awkward seconds passed before Naima sighed.
"Kisara has long since been ready to leave the hospital, but she has nowhere to go. She has been staying with me in the meantime, but… that is not a longterm solution…"
Seto's eyes darted toward Kisara.
"Go home." he growled.
"…She does not have a home, Seto." Naima said quietly.
His glare and annoyed expression deepened on his features as he looked back at Naima.
"So instead of going to your Pharaoh, you thought to waste my time with this instead?" His smug tone was laced with arrogance.
"I do enough charity as it is, and I'm sure the Pharaoh would love to do a favor for his girlfriend…"
Naima shot him a sour, indignant glare. Somehow he knew exactly which buttons to push. She reminded herself to tread lightly.
"Well… you both know each other… right?" she trailed off as she glanced at Kisara again.
Kisara had her hands clasped at her hips, clutching her fingers nervously as she looked up at him with big blue, pleading eyes.
"Seto…" she uttered to him, practically a whisper.
Moments had passed that each felt like an eternity, both of them staring at the other, before Seto finally moved away from the doorframe and opened the door wider, gesturing for Kisara to come in.
She stumbled into his chamber.
And then, with one last, parting scowl at Naima, he promptly slammed the door in her face.
-o0o-
It was an effort to empty her mind of what just happened, to not worry about leaving Kisara with Seto. It would be fine, she told herself as she made her way outside. They knew each other and Kisara would be just fine with him. He would find a safe home for her, and it would be fine.
Determined to forget, she shoved any remaining worries out of her mind and attempted to focus on her upcoming lesson with Shimon.
Shimon met her and they both walked together to the Shrine of Wedju.
"Naima, it seems to me that you have made great progress with your Ka." he said in passing.
"What makes you say that, Shimon?"
"You no longer look like you want to vomit when you see your own diadhank." he chortled.
She glanced down at her diadhank and recalled her last lesson, how she had walked into the shrine with such hatred in her heart toward the power that lived in her, and how she felt now. Now, she would not take her diadhank off, only for essential movements and to sleep. To have desperately needed it, and for it to not be there when you need it the most — that was the most crippling feeling she had ever felt. And she never wanted to feel like that again.
And perhaps… perhaps her Ka was not so bad after all.
Naima grappled with this thought, how she had spent years trying to forget that it even existed, how she hated the thought of such a destructive force living inside of her, how she had wanted nothing but to punch it down and stifle it into nothingness. It had made her a killer without any of her own conscious decision, a hypocrite every time she stepped foot into her workplace, a place of healing.
And yet, it had saved her life. And Atem's. And to a lesser extent, Zahra's.
There had to be more, something that she still did not understand.
"Shimon, how does one get to know their Ka?"
He looked at her inquisitively.
"Get to know?"
"Like.. to understand it more, so we can truly be as one…"
Shimon scratched his chin as he looked at her. "You do not feel at one with your Ka?"
"I do, kind of.. but —" There was such a nagging feeling. "I want to know it deeper, where it came from, why the Gods gifted me with my Ka. I mean.. look at me…"
She was a healer, a girl wearing kohl and elegant clothing. Despite her family's past and a few… incidents… The majority of her upbringing was rather quiet and up until she moved into the palace, she thought her life to be.. dare she say.. relatively normal.
"It does not fit me, don't you agree?"
Perhaps it was some mistake or a mix up. Perhaps it was actually meant for a master of dark sorcery or a priest of the underworld. Naima considered this a very real possibility.
"Hmm.." Shimon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I can see why you feel that way. But, my girl.. a ka, especially a strong ka such as yours, is a gift from the Gods. We are not to question it, only to understand it and use it to its full potential. Trust that you would not be given something that is not right for you."
Naima's face fell and a familiar disappointment settled in her once again. She swallowed and continued to walk, the Shrine getting closer and closer with every step.
She searched for words to cover her feelings.
"What is your ka, Shimon?" she asked.
Shimon's head shot up.
"My Ka?" He began to rub his neck as he smiled nervously. "Well.. I don't know.. it's nothing really… Just your everyday Ka, you know, nothing special… "
"…Oh.. okay."
He peeked at her from behind his arm with eagerness in his eyes and smile, and she glanced back at him awkwardly. It was almost as if.. he actually wanted to show her?
A few more seconds had passed before he sighed, stretched his arms out and grinned at her.
"Well if you insist!"
He led her into his Shrine and eventually to a hidden chamber where five stone slabs laid stationary, bound with chains and sunk into the ground. There was so much dust, sand and cobwebs overtop that it was hard to make out the carvings on the stone slabs, but she did see the faint outlines of body parts — an arm, a leg, a head.
"What is this, Shimon?" she asked.
"This, Naima, is my Ka." he said, pride dripping in his voice as he gazed down at the decrepit-looking slabs.
"It is in.. pieces? And it's locked up."
"Yes, and for good reason." he said.
Naima tore her eyes away from the slabs to glance at him.
"Naima," Shimon shook his head with a solemn look on his face. "Some things are better this way. This here.. was the consequence of what you now know… this mess we are in."
He took two steps toward the stone slabs in front of him.
"You know," he looked at her from the side. "I was the original holder of the Millennium Key, many.. many years ago. I have since relinquished that responsibility to Shada, and I will never regret that decision. The first time I had known the power of the key also happened to be the first time I had truly known the extent of the power of my Ka. I had suspected before, but it was confirmed the day that foreign nations had sacked Thebes and came for the palace. We all called upon our Ka to defend Egypt with our newly created Millennium Items, and when I had called mine, I had never felt a force so powerful in all my days. I still have not."
He then closed his eyes in contemplation.
"A force of such magnitude does not need to be free on this earth, much less in the control of one person."
"But that person is you…?" Naima said. "Do you not trust yourself?"
"It is others that I am more worried about." he said. Naima waited for him to continue.
"Naima, the longer I live in this world, the more I see how power-hungry humankind is. I was once like you.. young, unknowing, idealistic. I did not understand the dangers of my own Ka, nor did I truly understand the destructive power of it, until the day the Millennium Items were finally unleashed against the foreign invaders who threatened to take over Egypt." he said.
He knelt down, brushing his fingers against the stone slabs, wiping away some of the dust on the surface.
"Locking my Ka away was the hardest decision I have ever made."
"When these nations invaded, what exactly was their goal? To annex Egypt?"
Shimon shook his head.
"Not at all. It was something far worse. They wanted the Millennium Tome."
Millennium Tome? Another millennium… something.
"What is that?" Naima asked.
Shimon smiled at her furtively. "It was how the Items were created, of course. A book that is said to be older than time itself, passed on from the ancients. It is said that the one who possesses the book and can access the knowledge it holds will have the ultimate power."
"So how come the items were created when they were? How come they weren't created long before if the book is that old?"
Shimon continued to smile at her.
"Because no one could read it. Many have tried and failed, including your mother. In fact, if I recall correctly, your mother had some very strong opinions about that book."
He chuckled to himself.
"What? What were they?" Frustration boiled through her.
"Shimon… please… You promised!"
"Well we have not actually had our lesson yet." he said. "But, how can I resist that face. Bend down for me a bit.. there we go, I'm not as tall as I used to be, you know."
Apparently this would not be a verbal account, Naima determined, as Shimon placed a finger on her forehead and then her entire world swirled around her, half there and half… elsewhere.. until she appeared again on the other side.
It didn't even feel like she was in another place, another time. The familiar sights of the palace unfolded in her vision. The hallways looked the exact same, different decor of course, but the same clean, white stone walls had embellished the palace years ago the same way they did now. Had it not been for the abyss swirling around in her own periphery, she would have felt it was a normal day for her.
Two people emerged from underneath her.
Naima whisped herself downward, silent and invisible in this memory, but the ground was remarkably solid underneath her feet as she beheld the sight of her mother in front of her. It did not matter how many times she saw her mother, each time felt like she was seeing her for the first time. And this time was no different.
Royal. Truly royal.
Whatever she had seen of her mother in Nafi's memories, the speech she gave in front of her villagers, it was only a mere taste, a small fraction of what she once was, what she could have been.
Her dress was made from silk, a simple style, but a nice offset to the brilliant red scarf that hung around her neck and billowed outward as she strode toward a door down the far hallway next to Shimon with a stance that radiated conviction and poise. Her gold bracelets, necklace and belt clinked and clattered on her body.
Naima's eyes drifted upward to her mother's face with the expectation of seeing something similar to her own. Nafi had always told her that she had her mother's eyes. But now after seeing them for herself, she had to disagree. Perhaps the color, and perhaps the overall shape.
There was no gentle softness. Not a single hint of anything tender or timid. There was only fire, calculated and cold with little give. They cut and burned like the blade of a knife. They were the eyes of a woman who was unsatisfied with anything less than what she wanted, or deserved. Gone was the dull, beaten down sadness that pervaded Nafi's memories. For this was before her mother's entire world had collapsed around her, exiled and doomed to wander the desert with two small children and a broken, battered spirit.
Here, right now… this was her mother in her prime.
Her mother and Shimon had walked through two double doors at the end of the hallway and Naima followed in after them, watching as they both sat at a small, intimate table with four others. The Pharaoh Aknamkanon was already present and chatting with Aknadin, the big boom of his voice echoing throughout the room. A thick, timeworn, leather-bound book sat on the table in front of him. Aside from Aknadin, her mother and Shimon, Naima did not recognize anyone else.
Aknamkanon looked down at the book in front of him with utmost distaste. He picked it up and tossed it toward the middle of the table.
"It is never-ending with this thing." he muttered. "It has given us nothing but trouble ever since we started with it."
He began to rub his face with his hands.
"They have us surrounded. Yesterday was a bloodbath and we cannot afford to lose anymore troops. I have half a mind to toss this thing into that fire right now."
"Then do it." Her mother said quietly, her arms crossed against her chest.
An older man who sat further down from her clenched his jaw and shoulders before he piped up.
"My Pharaoh," he said quietly. "I believe that would be.. unwise."
"Yes, yes, Amsi. I've heard all the arguments." Aknamkanon shook his head.
Aknadin reached across the table and slid the book back toward the Pharaoh.
"We should keep the book, my brother.'
Her mother's head jerked toward Aknadin.
"Why?"
That word was hissed so sharply that it seemed to slice into the air as she looked at Aknadin like he was the stupidest person on earth.
"It had been sitting around in some library for at least a thousand years before someone picked it up by chance and decided it was worth something. Nobody can read it, nobody even knows for sure what's in it, yet everyone has decided that it is somehow important enough to kill each other over. Why are we fighting a war over a book that has as much use as a paperweight? To destroy it will put an end to these ridiculous power wars."
Aknadin narrowed his eyes at her and they both gave the other a brief, silent exchange of loathing. He turned to Aknamkanon.
"Brother, I believe this to be incredibly unambitious. We will never be taken seriously as a country if we run away like a scared animal. It is not even a guarantee that our enemies will leave us alone after destroying the book. They could still attack us out of spite. We must show them that we are stronger."
Her mother rolled her eyes.
"What good is ambition if we are all dead, Aknadin…"
She turned toward the rest of the table, at the others who were now glaring at her.
"You would risk the safety of all of us, our people, for what… So that someday, we will have the potential to become rulers of the universe?" She threw up a hand in emphasis. "At what cost?"
She turned toward Aknamkanon. "This is madness. To risk all of us for the pursuit of power is truly madness."
Aknamkanon looked between the both of them, clearly torn.
"There has to be another way. As much as I would love to be rid of the book, Samira, the thought of destroying this ancient piece of work still pains me. We cannot understand it, but I do believe it holds value. Perhaps our children, or our children's children can decipher it if we cannot." he said.
"My Pharaoh, what about the children whose fathers will surely lose their lives fighting on the battlefield? We are continuing to paint a target over our heads. Let us destroy it, so that we may rebuild our fallen country in peace."
Aknamkanon continued to stare at the book in front of him somberly.
"This book contains the ultimate power." Aknadin said quietly. "Perhaps… there is a solution to this in the book."
Samira's eyes flashed toward him.
"We cannot.. read it…" she hissed at him.
"Then I will do the work to be able to translate it. I will do whatever I must do." Aknadin said.
Aknamkanon sighed as he deliberated in the silent room.
"I think it is worth one last try with this book. One more time. But, time is of the essence, my brother. If the situation gets too dire, we will have no choice but to destroy it."
The last thing Naima saw was Aknadin's solemn nod toward the Pharaoh before darkness and strange colors swirled around her vision, and she was once again back on her own two feet inside the dark, dusty room of the Shrine.
"They hated each other, didn't they?" Naima mumbled as she attempted to compose herself.
"Hate is a strong word. Their relationship was certainly rivalrous." Shimon said.
Naima shook her head.
"I think they really, truly hated each other. At least Aknadin did to my mother. He hates me now because he hated her."
Shimon studied her curiously. "He does not hate you, Naima. Nobody here hates you."
Naima looked at him with side eyes. The look on his face was so earnest, so unknowing. He truly had no idea that it was not one, but two people currently in the palace whom she was absolutely certain would love to see her die a slow, painful death. But to tell him the truth, the entire truth, would be like adding more fuel to an already raging fire.
"So why, Shimon?" Naima said. "If my mother was so valued and important, why did she get exiled?"
Shimon paused, turned his head away and closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"It was the biggest scandal this court has ever seen."
Scandal? That word rang through her mind with such a sour note.
"Could you ever even think of something happening of this magnitude with no trial? Even the lowliest of slave crimes receive a trial. But for her? It was as if she was no longer human." Shimon said.
"I remember that day like it was yesterday, Naima. One evening, Aknadin had left for what he said was an official mission. He would not tell anyone what it was for. Your mother had disappeared as well. The next day, Aknadin appeared with that we now know as the seven millennium items that he said he crafted from the book. And then once Samira reappeared, he claimed that she took darkness into her body and was now somehow evil incarnate. He showed us all a vision of her possessed and spewing some prophecy in a strange cave or temple or something… None of us really understood fully. But what he showed the court that day really instilled fear into everyone, and even the Pharaoh himself."
"But… how could people turn on her so quickly?"
"Naima, your mother… she loved to… experiment with things, especially with magic. She was quite talented, really. Outside of her official work, her interests were, of course, not benign. Every time I would see her, she would have some variety of scrolls under her arms about some dark magic or curses or death and whatnot. She worshipped Osiris heavily.
"I used to tease her that in this life she was simply training to be Queen of the Underworld, and she would smile and say 'You cannot beat an enemy that you do not know'. Those were wise words, indeed. I do believe that her intentions were sincere and that perhaps, through her own reading and knowledge, she saw an enemy that none of us saw at the time. Now, it is obvious, and looking back, we were fools to have cast her opinion aside.
"But everyone else was oblivious. They took notice of her strange behavior and it raised the eyebrows of many. Some people became suspicious of her. She would spend many hours locked in her chamber. Doing what? The Gods only know. There were many strange noises outside of her door. And it did not help that every time she went to the library, she came back with all matters of ancient, magical scrolls. A few suspected that she might be trying to raise an army of the dead. Right now, the notion of that is quite ridiculous. But, you've seen how she is, how she comes off to people. She was someone that people feared for many different reasons."
Shimon sighed.
"And then she became engaged to who, at the time, was the General of the Egyptian Army."
He looked at her. "Your father."
Her father was a .. General?
Shimon shook his head.
"What they saw in each other, I have no idea. Samira was always a quiet, careful soul.. so perhaps he helped to break her out of her shell. That man had always been a wild one and he certainly knew how to have fun. Smart with war, but stupid with everything else. Everyone knew he liked to visit the brothels. Rumor has it that he swore them off when he and Samira coupled together but as you know, old habits are hard to break…"
Anger and disgust flourished inside of her like a garden of thorny vines.
"He was… killed… right?"
The thought of her father visiting brothels while her mother was at home working and raising children made her want to vomit, and the image of him dying a violent death brought her so much satisfaction she almost cringed. Almost.
Shimon nodded solemnly.
"Of his own doing, of course. That man could not keep his hands off the ladies if it would save his life. A few goodwill military trips to Assyria and he had already taken a lover there and decided to stay for longer than what was called for. However, once the woman found out he was already married, she killed him. Made it appear to be innocent, from the bite of an asp. Of course, everyone involved said it was an accident but, the ones who believed that are fools."
"In the meantime, your mother always kept a straight face. But I knew her, I knew the anguish behind that face. I believe the only thing that kept her from going insane.. was caring for you and your sister. Between her work and her experiments and caring for you both, it kept her quite busy."
"Some suspected that your mother had trailed Aknadin that day so that she steal the Millennium Items and use them for herself. I do not believe that is true at all, and on the day of her exile, I fought for her with everything I had. But fear ultimately won in the end. Aknadin moved to have her ousted from the palace.
"Come to eventually find out," Shimon mumbled. "the brutal history of these items… what he did."
He went on to explain the dark magic of the items' creation, forged from dark souls through the instructions from the Millennium Tome.
"Of all the things this court had heard, all of the atrocities that had been committed that we were set to place judgment on… If Aknadin were not his brother's twin, he would have been burned for what he did. Anyone else would have received the ultimate punishment. But the Pharaoh could not do it, one of the things that led to the downfall of his public image. And as you have seen, it absolutely wrecked him. Perhaps he would still be alive today if the circumstances were different."
The air swirled with dust and longing and memories.
Naima shifted her feet. "And what of my mother afterward?"
Shimon sighed.
"At that point, there was no going back. Some people eventually went on to search for Samira, but she could have been anywhere, she could have been dead. We suspected she may have been, since we had received no news about her. But the confirmation finally came from you.. many, many years late."
"And now, you have seen the mess we are in. Nobody knew for certain what Samira was working on or researching, if it was possibly something to help us. But now, we will never know." he said.
His eyes drifted back down to the broken stone tablets of his Ka.
"For years, I was comfortable with this." He nodded to the tablets in front of him. "I had planned to have these tablets buried, the power of my Ka never to be used again. However…"
He shook his head as he trailed off.
Naima understood what was left unsaid. That he felt he might need to unlock his Ka despite the dangers.
"I thought that if someone separated their Ka from their body, they were killed." she said.
"You are correct. Technically, I should be dead. But," He winked at her. "When you are old like me, you know a lot of people. People who might know how to.. bypass that."
Shimon clearly held many secrets.
"Perhaps.." Naima wavered and considered. "I should do the same with mine…?"
Shimon quickly turned toward her and eyed her with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I would not advise that, Naima. Your circumstances are different. You are too inexperienced and are not ready to summon other Ka yet. Locking the power of your Ka away would leave you with little else."
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Whatever you fear from your Ka, whether it is losing control and unleashing violence or whatnot, is a wise thing to fear. But, that will hinder you in the end. Think of you and your Ka now at the beginning of a long journey together. There is something you have now that you didn't have before, and that is connection. Don't push it away."
At those words, something yawned deep inside of her and rumbled softly. It was practically pleading to her with an outstretched hand as silky soft fingers brushed across her consciousness. A request.
And immediately, she was ashamed that she even entertained the thought of locking her Ka away. All it had ever done was try to protect her by doing so in the only way it knew how — By harming others before they could harm her.
And yet..
Murderer.
But her hands were clean, she noted, as she glanced down at her palms in the dim light. The darkness inside of her hummed a sweet song and she sank into the softness.
"Well, now that's enough of that." Shimon's voice boomed next to her, jerking her out of her mind.
"Where did the time go? We've spent so much time talking that it's too late for us to practice now. I have a meeting close after dawn. Let's pick up again next time."
-o0o-
Naima's thoughts were in a flurry during the walk from the Shrine back to the hospital wing. So much that she had almost totally missed Mahad lurking around a nearby hallway doing Ra knows what. She had bumped into him on accident in her haste. After exchanging a short, awkward greeting, she hurried back into the hospital to Penthu's office where a large pile of paperwork was calling her name.
It was going to be a long night.
She had a few good moments of total silence and uninterrupted concentration before the large hall door creaked open and small footsteps thudded inside.
"Is that you, Eliyah?" Naima called out from inside the office, still writing.
No answer.
Ice pricked up her spine.
Naima froze as she clutched her reed pen in her now-sweaty hands.
"Who's there?" she called out into the darkness where a shadowy figure lurked, the movements as silent and fluid as a cat stalking its prey.
A face appeared in the office doorway, and the orange hues from the torch light chased away the shadows.
It was Halima.
"Halima?" That word loosened from Naima's chest with an exhale as relief washed over her. At least it was not… she wasn't even sure what she was expecting.. well, it could have been much worse.
"Hello, Naima." Halima said.
Something wasn't quite right. Naima noted the disturbed look in Halima's eyes, her pursed lips as the woman eyed her with a silent, calculating stare, and she knew then that she had severely misjudged.
Naima stiffened in her seat. The tiny hairs on her skin bristled and stood up straight.
"Can I help you?"
And as Halima took two silent, discerning steps toward her, Naima eventually spotted a knife clenched in her hand. The skin on her back went cold, and then hot.
"What are you doing?" Naima's voice shook in her breath, eyeing that blade, that unsettling stare.
Halima stopped in front of her.
"I'm doing what I need to do."
"….What?"
Halima sneered at her, the tips of her teeth flashing in the light as her nose wrinkled at the corners.
"I heard a little rumor today.. that you are now the Pharaoh's little plaything. How cute… how fortunate of you. Well done. Tell me… how did you do it?"
A silent, deliberating pause—
"It must be nice to have the liberty to spread your legs to get what you want. You have no idea what you've ruined, do you?"
Words.. words had escaped her. So many thoughts whirled around Naima's head, but her mouth remained frozen.
"You've.. ruined.. Everything." Halima hissed with such force that the torches flickered. Her lips tightened and her eyes simmered.
"How is it that someone like you.. a commoner with a disgraced family.. can come here and destroy everything that has been set into place? Every hour that I have spent with him, … now a waste. He and I were supposed to be married. I was supposed to be with him. I was supposed to be the Queen. Not you." Those last two words she spat with such vehemence Naima shrank backward in her chair.
"Now that you've come along.. he does not even look at me. He only looks at you… He only has time for you…"
Halima's breaths became ragged as she stared at Naima, sad and desperate.
"I am the mockery of my family."
"… Sorry…"
What a stupid, pointless thing to say. Naima had no idea why that word even came out of her mouth, as if it would matter… as if it was any sort of consolation.
"Shut up! You stupid, worthless whore.. pretending like you're so innocent with the Pharaoh wrapped around your little fingers. Meanwhile us girls have been trapped here for weeks, bored out of our minds with nothing else to do besides sit around and talk about the things our families would do to us because we failed."
This entire thing had become so much more complicated and dangerous than Naima had ever thought, and she now realized how naïve she had been, thinking it would be so easy as to just love who you love and ignore everything else.
She hadn't bothered to really think of how things looked from another's point of view, but now it made complete sense that Halima viewed her actions solely as an effort to undermine and gain the upper hand in some competition for a title. Being with Atem and becoming Queen and the people who would hate her for it… the gravity of her choices finally began to sink in, what she was actually signing up for. That she could not have Atem.. without the other parts.
She knew this. Deep down she knew. But every moment she spent with him pushed it further back in her mind. Perhaps to live in the present, to enjoy who she wanted to enjoy… to live a life that she wanted.
Some small, wretched part of her wanted to scream the truth — that she did not even want to be Queen, and that only a fool would covet that title and the responsibility that would go along with it. But screaming that at a woman whose life purpose seemed to have been to become the Queen at all costs would have been like rubbing salt in a gaping, horrible wound.
"Halima.. the way you think of me is not the truth at all. You don't need to do this… you really don't…" Naima muttered to her, a pitiful attempt at reason.
"Yes.. I do.." she said through gritted teeth. "You have no… fucking… idea…" Tears began trickling down her cheeks, the liquid glinting in the torchlight as her body began to tremble.
"Halima.. we can talk this over…please…"
Maybe there were better ways to reason with someone who wanted to kill you. But Naima could not think of anything right now. Everything in her mind was blank.
Halima grabbed some scrolls off the nearby shelf and threw them at her before she stalked over to another shelf and flung some heavy, bronze medical instruments in her direction.
"Be quiet!"
Something about the pain and the sharp impact of metal hitting her body had caused whatever rationality and reasoning that she still had to snap. As if the force of it had crossed some sort of imaginary line between talking and action. Whatever part in her mind that was tied to patience and understanding now felt as if it had tumbled far off into the distance, away from her grasp.
Naima collected herself as she gathered Penthu's scrolls from wherever on the desk they landed and straightened them in a pile.
"You believe you will not be found out for this?"
Halima scoffed. "There are ways, you idiot…"
"..Ways of what…"
"Ways to make it appear that you took your own life, or that someone else did it. Who else is here.. besides you and I?" She looked down, tracing her fingertips against the length of her knife.
"It could have been anyone."
The knife that Halima held between her fingers was relatively small, around the length of her own middle finger. Small, but could obviously do harm in the hands of someone who knew how to use it.
Naima had never been trained in the way of weapons or fighting with a clenched fist. The proper way to hold a sword or a bow and arrow in her hands, she did not know and did not care to know. For so long, perhaps much too long, her hands had been mere vessels of healing magic, magic that had been taught to her secondarily. But the air stirred and the darkness rippled around her, and her entire body tingled like she could jump out of her own skin at any moment.
And she remembered who she was.
Naima placed both hands on the desk and stood up slowly. The squeak of the chair legs against the granite floor cleaved into the pounding silence around them.
"..You have the nerve..—" Her voice was low and quiet, almost a whisper. "To come here as a guest.. And threaten me, in my own home."
A smirk meant to induce rage had appeared on Halima's face. But Naima did not falter. She would not, for inside of her invisible to all, she held her own weapon.
Naima's hands dangled by her side with her fingers curled slightly as a ball of electricity flowed into her palm.
Both of their faces glowed white in the light that flashed and quivered around both of their faces. Halima's smirk had since melted into an expression of utter shock, confusion and horror as she stared at Naima's glowing, crackling hand.
Naima raised her hand to her chest to admire the ball of electricity before her, cocking her head to the side affectionately as a current surged throughout her body.
"The last time someone threatened me like this," she said, the words dripping off her tongue like a smooth bolt of silk. "I picked him up.. crushed him with my bare hands.. and burnt him to a crisp from the inside."
Halima's eyes wrinkled as she squinted at her in confusion.
"..You…? You…But how…" Halima looked her up and down.
"You couldn't…" she muttered. "That's impossible…"
Naima's eyes tore from the ball in her hand and shot toward Halima.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do." she hissed venomously. The electricity in her hand sparked menacingly.
And then something inside of her, around her, within her… something had changed. The air grew thin. It was almost as if her own soul began to tremble inside of her body.
"Next time you want to threaten someone, especially.. with that…—" Naima spat, nodding toward the dagger that was in her clenched fist.
There had only been a moment of silence, perhaps a few perilous seconds, before a dark shadow began to emerge on the wall in front of her. A heavy darkness that spread and grew larger as the torches flickered and hissed, until the outline of two wings and two horns eventually materialized. A familiar ominous, throaty growl filled the room.
"You'd better… think… twice…"
Her words were barely a whisper that rode on the air between them, barely an utterance over the roar of her Ka or Halima's ragged breathing as the woman stared up at the truly terrifying creature that had risen up behind Naima's figure and now hung menacingly above both of them. Dark and ancient and terrible, Naima could only see the shadow of her Ka, the outline of claws and fists and small bolts of lightning that shot out from its body, but even that was a monstrous sight.
"Now…" Naima took a step toward her… and then a few more as Halima backed away… and as her Ka followed her every step, until she was halfway out of the hall.
"Get… out… of here.."
Halima fled the area, and wind and shadows and lightning roared after her, swallowing up the noises of her panicked footsteps and whimpers.
As the remnants of her Ka eventually dissipated into a mist, there was nothing that remained.. except the darkness.
Naima stepped into it, bathed herself in it.
And as it engulfed her, there was nothing but peace and contentment in her heart.
Author's note:
In this chapter, we got to look a bit more closely at both the Millennium Tome and Exodia. For me, Exodia had always been one of those mysterious monsters (?characters) that seemed like there should have been more of a story behind. It was not explicitly stated in the canon that it was Shimon's Ka, but it seemed to be implied and was the simplest explanation that made the most sense to me.
Also, apologies for being very late on this one. A combo of IRL stuff and a series of tough mental blocks to get this one out. This seems to happen to me every 10 chapters or so. But we finally got it!
Chapter 32: Uncaged
Chapter Text
The next two days were dreadfully slow and quiet.
Almost too quiet.
There were no further run-ins with Halima, and Naima had neither seen nor heard from her at all. Not that she had been looking for her, of course. But she couldn't help but notice that Halima had been mysteriously absent from the small groups of beautifully groomed women who would stroll around the palace in leisure.
This was almost worse. Naima couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps Halima's silence meant more time for her to prepare something more treacherous, or recruit more people for her cause. The urge to constantly look over her shoulder at all times was paramount and she found herself questioning every bit of food or water she put in her mouth. By the second day of this, she wondered how much more of it she could take before she went insane.
Maybe this meant she should open up to Atem and tell him the truth. Everything.
About her run-ins with Kerpheres. About Zahra's suspicions. About Halima.
The subsequent restless, anxiety-ridden nights gave her ample time to mull this over. She had certainly been avoiding it, especially since Zahra's suspicions were essentially mere speculation at this point. Still, she knew now that it had been a mistake to keep it all a secret. She should have told Atem the moment Zahra had divulged the information to her, especially since it involved something so dire as some plot to take over.. his safety. But…the risk of a false accusation of something of that magnitude was too great. Despite being generally well-liked here in the palace, after hearing about how quickly people turned on her mother, Naima knew now that she must choose her words and actions carefully.
Plus, she could handle her own problems. She thought as much, at least. She did not want to burden him with trivial things. But now, it was obvious that this was not something she could ignore anymore. This was no longer a stupid, petty rivalry or some empty words and threats.
There had been an attempt on her life.
It had shaken something deep down in her core. She could not sleep. She could not eat. Her performance at work was suffering. And the constant feeling of nausea from the anxiety was unbearable.
Naima knew that Atem would be furious if he knew what happened. She had hoped to avoid this confrontation altogether as this would obviously bring more tension to the already terse relations between the family of Memphis and the others.
That night had been the final straw though. It had gone too far.
As she tossed and turned in her bed, she considered what she would do, how she would even begin to approach this topic with Atem knowing that this could get very, very ugly in little time. She tried not to think that maybe her own inaction had allowed the problem to get bigger than it had to become….—
No, there is no use to beat herself up about it now. What is done is done.
When Atem came back from paying his father's respects, she would tell him everything that happened, including everything Zahra said, regardless of the consequences.
By the third day, she was exhausted and fighting to keep her eyes open at work. She barely slept at all last night, alert to every creak and bump that sounded in her chamber.
It was only mid-day and she had practically fallen asleep during lunch, resting her head against the stone wall of Penthu's office for a brief moment.
"Are you alright?" Penthu asked her.
"Mmm, yeah." Naima stifled a yawn as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Just tired."
"You sleep alright?" he asked.
"Not really… just.. nightmares."
A lie. She had told no one of her encounter with Halima, and thankfully, Penthu did not seem to have any idea of what happened.
He slid a plate of figs toward her.
"Eat. It will give you energy."
Eating was the last thing Naima wanted to do. But.. she would try. She reached toward the plate —
Footsteps clamored around her and the sound of rushed, panicked movements made her jolt upright. Her mind immediately flashed to Halima, perhaps she had sent some people to finish what she started. But, mercifully, it was Eliyah's face that appeared behind the doorframe.
"Naima!" Eliyah shouted. "Naima…"
He looked anxious and was panting hard, as if he had just ran across the entire palace grounds. Others in the hall had now turned their heads in their direction in alarm and curiosity.
Naima stood up. She had never seen Eliyah so panicked like this.
"What is it Eliyah? Is everything alright?"
"Your— your sister…" He clutched the doorframe and leaned against it to catch his breath. "…You.. must come."
…Zahra?
Naima stiffened. The only thing she could muster in that moment was a panicked, desperate look at Penthu.
Thankfully, he seemed to understand immediately.
"Go on." he muttered, waving his hand at her. That was all she needed before she bolted out the door, trailing Eliyah's heels.
She couldn't walk fast enough, her legs were much too slow.
"What happened?" She could barely breathe those words.
Eliyah's voice rattled as he walked next to her.
"One of the other servants alerted me of it so I do not know all the information. All I know is that your sister was found inside Kerpheres's room and they were screaming at each other."
Naima picked up her pace, even faster walls whirled around her as they neared Kerpheres's chamber….only to see it empty without a sound.
"Zahra?" Naima called out.
Her only response was silence in that hallway, seemingly void of any activity, until a sliver of movement in the foyer of the chamber caught her eye.
It was Halima, peering out from behind the foyer wall and looking as surprised as Naima was. Her cat-like face was tight and withdrawn as she eyed Naima from inside her father's chamber.
"Where is my sister?" Naima hissed as she strode through the foyer toward her.
They both stood face to face in the chamber, the air stiff between them. Halima's body was rigid with her arms crossed over her chest, but her guarded eyes still revealed a well of emotion — disdain, caution, with a hint of fear— as they glared at the other.
"Well?" Naima demanded.
Halima remained silent as she stood there, staring. It was infuriating.
"Halima… please. My sister!" Naima screamed and snarled. "If you have any.. fucking.. shred .. of humanity…."
More silence.
Her eyes narrowed in that cutting, critical way, before she finally lifted her chin like an empress would.
"Your sister was sneaking around in my father's chamber, spying on us."
Zahra… in his chamber? She had gone too far, done too much… Naima's blood chilled.
"Where… is she?" Naima gritted out.
Halima scoffed. "She ran off that way." she spat, pointing outside in a vague direction. "My father is furious and went after her. Your sister is an absolute fool and does not know when to quit. If this happened in Memphis, she would be thrown in the dungeon for three months. You best put a leash on that thing…"
Thing.
Of course Halima had to get one last jab. But there was no time. She had to get there.. had to find Zahra.
Naima turned around and bolted out.
They were not at all hard to find. Zahra's screaming and noises of distress from the far end of the palace grounds made it obvious. Her hair and clothing were disheveled, her glowing red eyes simmering with fury as she struggled against the hold of four or five of Kerpheres's servants, their hands on her, around her, attempting to keep her captive.
Naima resisted a flare of irritation as she noted several palace guards standing around watching, as if they were unsure what they should do.
"What is the meaning of this?" Naima shouted, striding toward them with Eliyah shortly behind her.
"Naima!" Zahra cried out. She looked like she was either going to burst into tears or burst into flames.
"He's trying to kill the Pharaoh! He's got a plan—!" The rest of her words were muffled by servants covering her mouth.
Kerpheres rolled his eyes when he saw Naima approach.
"Stay out of this you nosy bitch." he barked.
Naima faced him, head held high and shoulders square.
"Tell your servants to unhand her. You have no right to do this."
A cluster of flames streaked by in her field of vision, followed by screaming and shuffling of movement from Kerpheres's servants as they recoiled from Zahra's attack.
"Stay the fuck away from me or I'll burn you alive!" Zahra shouted toward them before she whirled toward Naima.
"Naima he wants to take over everything and he needs Halima to be Queen for it to work —"
"Liar!" Kerpheres spat. "I've said no such things. You make things up for attention."
Zahra's eyes glowed an even brighter red before her face looked like she was going to explode.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! JUST SHUT UP! YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE SAID!" she shouted at him. She was crazed in anger, franticly clutching at her hair in frustration before turning toward Naima.
"Naima, I wanna kill this guy so bad," she mumbled through gritted teeth. She looked as if she could snap at any moment.
"He deserves it, he really does…"
"…Zahra.." Naima muttered gently. A plea, an attempt to pacify. "Remember what Nafi said to us."
Once each of them had their powers known, Nafi had ingrained it into their heads that their powers must be used responsibly, never in anger. Naima took this very seriously, but Zahra being such a hothead…—
"You, a child, dare to insult and threaten me? The audacity that you have to speak to me in this manner… Mark my words, you will be punished for your insolence." Kerpheres said.
He turned toward the guards around him. "Seize her!"
The guards didn't move, but Naima quickly stepped forward anyways. "Don't you touch her!"
She then shot around to look at Kerpheres.
"How dare you try to command the palace guards as if you have any authority here. I don't care who you are. You do not live here. You will not command these guards as if they are your own. And… —" Naima seethed. "You would be wise to tell your daughter that next time she wants to try to kill me, she should bring a better weapon."
Zahra's eyes became huge. She looked absolutely feral.
"WHAT?! SHE DID WHAT?! WHERE IS SHE?"
Meanwhile, Kerpheres could not hide his own surprise and confusion, but his face quickly wrinkled back into anger.
"Hmph… more of your lies and false accusations. You have no proof of any of this, do you? Dishonesty must be a family trait. I wonder who you both inherited that from… your worthless father or your bitch mother?"
Kerpheres took two steps toward her, and Naima debated ending him right there, one single bolt of lightning and he would be done.
"You and your sister will regret the day you ever stepped foot in here. Mark my words. I will inform the Pharaoh that this little rat —" He jerked his head toward Zahra. "Was found in my chamber. What she was doing.. remains to be debated."
He took another step toward Naima. "Stealing my things? Stealing information?"Each word he said, he took a step closer to her. "I would not be surprised. I wonder what the Pharaoh would think about this."
His games were much more advanced than what she was used to playing. She willed her temper to cool down, the molten, murderous rage that burned in her veins becoming a cool mask of strength and poise once again. There was no room for error or impulsivity. She only prayed that Zahra could contain herself, to keep the lid on her emotions for just a few moments more…
"So while you go tattle to the Pharaoh about being followed by my little sister, should I also inform him of how disrespectful you've been toward me, my sister and everyone else here? Of all your threats toward me? Of what your daughter did to me?"
It didn't matter his response. She was going to tell Atem anyways.
A smirk darkened his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about. But, hypothetically, if it were true, it's a pity my useless daughter did not finish the job."
The noise that came from Zahra was like none Naima had ever heard from her before — a scream, a sob and a battle cry all at the same time.
And then Zahra growled.
She growled.
Kerpheres turned his head toward Zahra and wrinkled his nose at her.
"You disgusting little village animal. Go ahead and throw your little tantrum. You are a liar and you know it…a stupid.. little.. worthless child…"
There was not enough time to placate Zahra, to comfort her and drag her away before she did things that would get both of them in trouble.
It was as if the world stopped for only a moment. Zahra had been standing there… and then she was on the ground, collapsed into the sand as an enormous beam of red and fire tore and erupted from her chest. It shot up into the sky where the clouds gathered and the wind howled like some heinous, cursed thing had just taken hold of her.
And then came the fire, rippling around, flaring at Naima and nipping at her skin, singeing her. Zahra, however, was bathed in it. It wrapped around her body, forming an impenetrable sphere of fire and heat.
The wall of the sphere finally broke open at the top, that deadly surface of crackling flames. And the creature that emerged through it was one that Naima thought only existed in stories and nightmares. A bird of darkness and fire and blood… no, it was a dragon. With talons and horns that could shred flesh, and wings larger and more powerful than she had ever seen, all Naima could do…all everyone could do… was stare up at it in some sort of shocked stupor.
With an earsplitting screech, it rose up above all of them with only a few beats of its wings, the gusts from its movement fanning the flames and scattering bits of ash and sand in the wind, blowing more flames in her direction. The cry of the dragon in her ears was deafening, the flames against her skin felt as if she could never cool down, and perhaps this would be the end of her…the end of everyone here. A fiery, gruesome death, fit for a nightmare.
Naima could think of nothing except the twisted thought that came into her mind — the fact that this was what it felt like to be staring up at a Ka, and wonder if you would ever make it out alive.
Meanwhile, Zahra's human body laid motionless on the ground, her eyes red and blank. Everyone in the area seemed to have taken cover by a nearby grove of bushes, but in the corner of her eye Naima spotted Kerpheres, frozen in place and staring up at Zahra's dragon with a sort of dazed horror as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
The dragon spread its wings and sat in the sky like it was on a throne of flames, its red eyes like shining rubies against its obsidian skin… scanning… before it spotted its target, and locked on.
The pang of dread and panic was instant. Naima knew exactly what it was going to do.
"Zahra! No!"
She could barely hear her own scream over the roar of the dragon or the crackle of her own power as she shot an enormous bolt of electricity toward the fireball that came out of the dragon's mouth aimed straight toward Kerpheres. It collided with the fireball, blocking the attack, and the resulting explosion shook the air.
"Zahra! Can you hear me?!"
Naima's throat was already raw from her screaming.
"Please! Listen to me! Listen to my voice! It's me! Naima!"
Zahra's dragon roared again, this time even louder as it shot another fireball into the sky.
"Zahra! Do you hear me!?"
Nothing. No response except fire from that massive dragon that raged in her. This is what lived inside of her all along, this beast of fire and might and fury that made her eyes glow red whenever she was angry, and that sourced the fire that flowed from her palms. This dragon, a manifestation of the fire that burned in her sister's young heart, now released into the world and fueled by a lifetimes worth of her anger. Naima shuddered.
The creature took to the sky, flying through the clouds, the sunlight glinting off its shiny, black skin before it shot another fireball toward the direction of the barren desert, to the rock and sand.
'Show off…'
Perhaps Zahra was now distracted with her newfound power. Naima thought for a brief second that maybe… they were safe. Until it changed course back toward the palace and again spotted Kerpheres on the ground. The dragon's eyes narrowed in on the man before it threw back its head on its massive neck to hurl another fireball out of its mouth straight in his direction.
Again Naima launched her entire body and shot another massive lightning bolt from her palms to block it before Kerpheres jumped out of the way.
The dragon shot its head in her direction and gave her an annoyed, accusing stare. The look in its eyes was vaguely reminiscent of Zahra's facial expressions.
"Zahra…. STOP IT!"
This was clearly going nowhere. Instead of stopping, Zahra's dragon rained fireballs and embers down on the entire area, concentrating them on where Kerpheres hid.
It took all Naima's effort, all her energy, to block Zahra's attacks with a layer of electricity spread over them.
A veil of exhaustion crept into her mind, but she fought it voraciously. Karim's words echoed in her mind — 'you cannot fight against a Ka, you must fight Ka with Ka, otherwise you will always lose'.
She glanced down at her diadhank and felt an immediate response, a sense of readiness that swelled inside of her.
Of course. Her Ka wanted in on the action. It wanted to come out.
But…
Zahra.
This dragon was Zahra. And if she destroyed it.. She could destroy Zahra.
The gravity of the decision she had to make weighed heavily on her conscience. There was no other choice that she could see, no other way out of this.
While she was preoccupied in her thoughts, another fireball had narrowly missed her face. She had to do it, or else Zahra would surely destroy the entire area, possibly even the palace. People would lose their lives. Zahra clearly had no control over her Ka, and Naima knew this reality well enough for it to rouse her own memories of her first time, and the consequences of an uncontrolled Ka.
Things began to stir inside of her. Through her pounding heart and her shaky breath, she looked at the dragon in front of her and there was nothing else but urgency in her mind and the electricity in her palms.
I'm ready.
The need to strike became overwhelming. Naima swallowed, trying to maintain her own conscious control. But trying to keep herself contained was like fighting a losing battle.
Her Ka was ready. It wanted to fight the dragon. She wanted to fight the dragon.
Everything became too much.
'Oh Ra… please….'
She could stop herself, surely. She could just weaken Zahra and not destroy her. She shoved that thought throughout her mind, especially toward her Ka who was now rearing to attack. It was practically ripping and tearing at the mental chains around it, gnashing its teeth at the dragon in front of her.
It was now or never. Her diadhank shot outward, the glowing outline of her Ka inside one of the islets of the band.
She took a breath, and—
She rose up toward the sky as power and electricity flowed through her like a mighty river, wings outstretched, claws scraping her fists. She was free. Free at last.
Through the clouds above her, lightning rippled from the sky into her body and all around, encircling her, crackling in the air, a display of her power to anyone who dared challenge her.
Naima then fixated on the dragon in front and they locked eyes.
Finally…a worthy opponent.
She was in the mind of her Ka, and she knew it would be best to stay there for now to maximize her control over her Ka's rage and desire for destruction.
They both eyed each other, Ka to Ka, as if daring the other to make the first move. Until Zahra roared and threw her head back, shooting a wicked fireball at Naima.
Naima shuddered and roared, electricity coursing through her massive body and into her hands. Through a well of power she didn't even know existed in her Ka, Naima countered with her own a ball of electricity. They collided and the resultant explosion was deafening.
It was a draw.
This angered her deeply, and her anger became more rage. A draw.
Pathetic. She would crush that dragon's neck with her bare hands, rip its wings and talons out one by one—
—'Knock it off!'
Zahra's dragon unfolded its wings and took off into the sky. Naima launched up and followed her, quickly grabbing hold of her tail. The dragon tried to wrestle itself free with a distressed cry but Naima pulled her downward and the dragon stumbled in the air. Naima seized the opportunity, wrapping her arms around the dragon's body before hurling it toward the ground with all her strength.
The force of the impact of the dragon's body against rock and sand was as if it had shaken the core of the earth itself. Clouds of dust and sand flew everywhere. Naima attempted to clear the dust with gusts of wind from her own wings as she landed in front of the dragon.
There was an indentation in the dirt where the dragon had collided into the ground. There it laid, silent and still.
Was it… dead? Was Zahra dead?
Naima knelt down and reached a massive hand out toward her, a claw grazing her, each scale of dragon skin as hard and smooth as bronze.
A giant, red eye cracked open, and a fire raged in it. The creature began to stir.
'More…?!'
It had not been enough. Naima had practiced restraint and it failed. She snarled and backed away. She didn't want to… and at the same time she did.
The dragon struggled to get back on its feet and it screeched again as it stood back, facing Naima, challenging her. They both stared at the other again.
I will destroy you.
Naima growled and lashed out at that thought, conscious and unconscious.
Zahra's dragon flapped its wings and shook its head as it looked at her, and before Naima could even prepare, it opened its mouth to shoot an enormous fiery inferno ball toward her. Naima quickly countered and met her fireball with her own electricity head on. Her power roiled and raged through her, battling against Zahra's fire, and it felt strangely reminiscent of their previous battles.
Except this time, she would be victorious. This was not a fight between hands or even between humans, but between Ka. And she could sense that deep down, her Ka had been waiting a long, long time for this.
Zahra's inferno ball was like a giant, blazing wall fighting vehemently against her. They were deadlocked, again. But this time was different. Her Ka raged inside of her under the strain of it, and she could feel that this was certainly not the limit to its power.
She had to bring it out.
So much energy and darkness churned around her in clouds of mist like some wild storm. Naima gathered it to her and focused it, launching it in Zahra's direction. It shot out of her like an arrow and hit Zahra's inferno straight on, destroying it, before launching toward the dragon itself.
There was a crack and an explosion and then a screech that Naima heard and felt throughout her entire body, before Zahra's Ka exploded into tiny pieces right before her eyes.
And then nothing.
There was a sudden silence, a peace around her that felt surreal after so much chaos. For a few moments, all Naima could do was stare at Zahra's body from across the grounds as her own Ka became mist again, not sure what would happen next… if her sister's body would explode into tiny pieces as well, or would instead grow still and stiff with death.
That thought was a slap of reality. Naima's heart dropped into her stomach.
"Zahra!" she screamed. Her throat felt like a mound of raw, pounded flesh.
She ran toward her.
And as she neared her unconscious sister, noted the steady rise and fall of her chest, her body still in a deep slumber, cool relief flowed through her.
"Zahra…"
Naima knelt down and gently shook her limp body.
Nothing.
Zahra was in a deep sleep.
"Eliyah please.. help me get her up.."
Eliyah ran over, his face dazed and shook. He gently slung Zahra over his shoulder and carried her back into the palace, to the hospital wing.
Author's note:
So I'm sure that many of you have already figured this out a looonnng time ago (there were so many hints!), but yes, Zahra's Ka is the Red Eyes Black Dragon.
Regarding the battle, although Naima's Summoned Skull (ATK 2500) is pretty evenly matched to Zahra's Red Eyes (ATK 2400), Summoned Skull would still win in the end. But since the difference is only 100ATK, Zahra would only lose 100 lifepoints so she wouldn't be killed by the attack. But considering its her first time wielding her Ka especially without a diadhank, she definitely needs some time to recover from it like Naima did.
Chapter 33: Rectitude
Chapter Text
"How is she?"
Penthu's voice was near, ripping into the quietness of early dawn and the hazy, tired mist in Naima's mind. She had spent the night with Zahra in the hospital, falling asleep in a chair by her bed and waking sporadically, only to eventually wind up slouched over Zahra's legs. Naima's back ached from the twisted position she slept in, but Zahra appeared comfortable, slumbering peacefully despite Naima's movements around her.
"Still resting, I think." Naima said. Her eyes were dry and fatigued, but she fought it back as she laid eyes on her sister. Except for the steady rise and fall of her chest and an occasional twitch, Zahra had not moved at all. Exactly as she expected. Naima couldn't help but to wonder what she was dreaming about, if Zahra's Ka had visited her in her dreams like Naima's did so many years ago.
Penthu nodded as he studied her from the end of the bed.
"Such a powerful Ka in a young thing like her." he said and glanced up at her with a slight smile. "Just like her sister."
The essence of Zahra, a dragon of fire. How fitting. Naima agreed silently. She swelled with pride at the thought of such a creature living in her sister, and couldn't help but smile at the team they would make together, how powerful they would be.
But something big and glaring stopped her every time — Zahra is impulsive. That was not a secret to anyone.. And stubborn, and a smart ass… She needs training.
Naima groaned internally. The responsibility would certainly fall on her, she already knew it. Shimon wouldn't do it, perhaps Zahra had teachers who could —
"What are your plans for her?" Penthu asked.
"Plans?"
"Yes, for her future. Once she completes her schooling." he said.
Plans.
Of course. Without Nafi, Naima was theoretically Zahra's guardian until she reaches adulthood. Thoughts of an arranged marriage immediately came to mind, and Naima snorted at that. Ra help the man who becomes shackled to Zahra without her full consent.
"We have not discussed it so I'm not sure. But, she will not be married unless she wishes it." Naima said.
"Of course not." Penthu scoffed. "She is far too talented for that fate."
His eyes continued to study Zahra. "Does she possess healing ability like you?"
His face was far too hopeful, and Naima knew where this was going. She shook her head.
"I don't think she's much of a healer." she said quickly before she paused in consideration.
"She has a very strong will. She makes her own path. Wherever she wants to go and whatever she wants to do, she will do it. It's just… —" Naima searched. "Sometimes she has difficulty with her emotions. I believe she has a lot of pent up anger, from a few different things."
"Ah, yes." Penthu mused. "The emotions… it can be normal for her age. How old is she? Around fourteen or fifteen?"
Naima nodded.
"Being that age is difficult, as I'm sure you can remember" he said. Naima certainly did. The change from girl to woman was not an easy one.
"Her will," Penthu continued. "Once she can learn to focus it into something productive, can be her greatest asset. But until then, expect more of the same, I'm afraid."
They both continued to look at Zahra in silent thought.
"I did hear about what happened with Kerpheres." Penthu said. "Very dangerous, what she did, Naima."
"I know." Naima groaned.
"What in the world did she think she was doing?"
Naima sighed.
"Zahra thinks Kerpheres is trying to take over the palace and overthrow the Pharaoh. She was spying on him to try to get more information."
Penthu looked at her incredulously.
"How stupid." he spat. "What a foolish thing to do. You allowed her to do that?!"
Kind of. She encouraged it, actually. Naima fought the shame that rose up inside her. She failed as a sister.
"Even if I told her not to, she would have just done it anyways."
Likely true, but a poor, worthless excuse.
Penthu shook his head. "I am not surprised."
He stroked his chin in contemplation. "She could be great with that Ka, you know. But if she gets in the wrong hands, it would be a disaster. Make sure you keep her on the good side."
Naima's shoulders tightened. Another thing that she needed to worry about, to monitor. More responsibilities. She cannot be everything for everyone, especially not a dragon tamer.
A dragon that most likely had no desire to be tamed, who was as proud and free and feisty as its host. Naima shrank at the thought of taking it on a second time. So far, Zahra's Ka was the only one that her own Ka even felt was a worthy opponent and she had only narrowly defeated it. If Zahra could not somehow learn to manage her emotions, and quick, she could inflict untold amounts of devastation with so much as a single argument, and Naima was not sure if she could defeat her again. Images of flaming, scorched buildings amidst a crimson sky filled her mind, and she shuddered.
Red crept into her vision as she worked throughout the morning, continuing to contemplate Zahra. Mercifully, Penthu had been easy on her and allowed her to go at a much slower pace today, imparting some of the rare empathy and generosity he kept locked away and hidden for occasions such as this. As she worked, she continued to watch Zahra from across the hall and even caught Penthu throwing glances toward Zahra as well.
Just when both of them had begun to establish a comfortable rhythm, several bangs of fists against the large wooden door jolted everyone upright. The heavy clamoring of many footsteps followed, and before Naima could even fix her attention elsewhere, guards filled the entire hall. They marched inside without regard, swords clanking against their bronze belts and armor. Kerpheres appeared behind them.
As soon as they all assembled, there was an uncomfortable silence, as if they were waiting for something, an acknowledgement perhaps.
Finally, Penthu spoke.
"What is the meaning of this?" he spat incredulously.
One of the guards had gestured toward Zahra. "Is the girl awake yet?" he said.
Naima's blood chilled.
"No, she is not." Penthu barked at him. "Now, unless any of you are sick or injured, I need you all to get out of here."
The guard crossed his arms.
"Unfortunately, I cannot. Due to the nature of the girl's crimes and the events yesterday, we must collect her immediately."
He strode over to Zahra's bed, placed a hand on Zahra's shoulder and shook her.
Naima leapt up, a panicked fury taking hold. She bore her teeth as she pushed through the crowd of guards.
"Don't you touch her."
"Back away." the guard heeded.
Perhaps this was the day, the day where she would lose it and unleash her powers onto someone and ruin everything she has built for herself here. She could feel it at the touch of her fingers, her self control walking a fine line. For Zahra, she would.
"Leave her alone." Naima's voice shook, unsure if it was in anger or in fear or both. "She is resting. What do you want with her?"
"The girl is under arrest." he said.
She felt her heart drop into her stomach like an enormous brick.
"For… what.."
"For attempted murder of the governor of Memphis."
Attempted… murder?
It couldn't be. They couldn't do this.
"….What?"
Naima's head shot toward Kerpheres who was standing in the back of the group, quietly observing with a smug expression on his face. She wanted to punch him.
"Are you serious right now?" she shouted at him. "Are you serious?!"
Words became difficult. Her breath shook in her throat as she looked toward the guard now in desperation, panic causing her jaw and mind to freeze.
"She's a child." she managed to get out. "She didn't know what she was doing. This is the first time she has ever worked with her own Ka. You must understand."
She reached at anything she could find.
"Nobody was hurt. Whatever was destroyed, I will pay for. Just don't hurt her. Don't take her. Please."
Meanwhile, there was some small movement on the bed under the sheets. Naima froze.
'Please… please, not now…'
But Zahra began to stir, her burgandy eyes peeking out groggily from in between the folds of the linen.
"Seize her!"
"No!" Naima screamed.
Somehow, everything both slowed down and sped up around her at the same time. It was as if she was living in some strange, twisted dream where she did not have control over any of her limbs. All she knew was that she had to move as the guards lunged toward Zahra, as she lunged toward the guards, on top of them, in between them, trying to pry their hands off her sister and failing. Until the guards jumped on her too and pulled her back against her own screaming and thrashing and Penthu's bellowing in the background, as they dragged her sister, still weak from the ordeal, from her bed and into shackles.
"Naima?" Zahra croaked from the floor in between the tangle of arms that was holding her down. "What's going on?"
Zahra was still so weak, coughing and grunting against them. It was too much too soon.
They hauled Zahra up to her feet and Naima flailed against the arms and hands holding her back. She had to get to her. But, it was no use.
"SHE'S JUST A CHILD!" Naima howled at them and continued screaming as they dragged Zahra out of the hall.
"How dare you take a patient out of here without my permission." Penthu screamed after them.
But as quickly as they came, Zahra was gone.
-o0o-
Every minute was suffocating, every irritating voice around her another death knell to her sister's fate. The space around her in this wretched hall was far too small and there were too many people here, all presumably gathered under the guise of "official business" but Naima knew they were just here to witness a spectacle — her sister getting sentenced to death. Every few minutes, she felt curious eyes on her and a look of fake sympathy cast her way. She was close to breaking, to screaming at everyone to get lost.
Despite the amount of people present, the large hall loomed around her. Naima was no stranger to this room; The high, vaulted ceilings, tall pillars, polished stone walls trimmed with gold and accented with lavish red fabric, and the enormous throne in the middle were certainly pleasant on the eyes. But to Naima, this hall was connected to too many bad memories with this day being one of them. Every time she was in this hall, she felt so very small in more ways than one.
Her eyes scanned.
Zahra was nowhere to be found. Kerpheres stood in the middle of the hall in front of the empty throne with a bored, lazy expression, as if he had another hundred things he would rather be doing.
There had to be something, something she could say or do. But there was only one person who would save them now.
Atem. Where the hell was he?
He was her only hope. He could fix this. Let this entire thing go. The thought was a gleaming ray of hope that shone through in her mind.
Although, the thought kept needling at her — What if.. What if he didn't?
She couldn't bear to hope, to expect him to take her side, could she?
Naima shrank into the darkness of her thoughts, the image of Atem's eyes looking straight at her before sentencing her sister to death, stating that he was bound by the rules of the kingdom and that there was nothing that he could do… the sharp sting of betrayal. The sad story of her mother was a stark reminder that they were never safe. It could very well turn into both her and Zahra in the front of the hall, begging for their lives, or both kicked out to wander the desert back to their home village in shame.
He wouldn't do that to her… he couldn't…
It was difficult to ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach, the unsettling suspicion that if things did not go well, she would need to somehow escape with Zahra. The only other option was death. The thought of it made her mouth go dry and sour.
She needed a plan just in case things went awry. That would be their only hope. Or else they would go down together. Sparks and flames flashed before her eyes as she pictured what she hoped would be their last resort. If they had to use their powers, they would at least go down fighting…
'Think.'
Her eyes darted around the hall, noting all the doors and mapping out the possible ways to exit, narrowing down which would be the shortest, the easiest, the one that would lead them to the horse stable the fastest. There would be no time to collect their belongings.
A large bang echoed throughout and the noise almost put her over the edge as her mind continued to race, her heart hammering in her chest. People came to attention. All the noise in the hall ceased.
Atem appeared from the far doorway. He was trailed behind by a few of his court. Not the entire court, Naima noticed. She recognized Mahad, Aknadin, Seto and Isis, but Karim and Shada were not present.
Atem's expression was stoic and still as his usual. But his jaw was stiff and his eyes bristled in a way that showed that he was certainly not happy to be there. He took a seat on his throne while his court filed next to him quietly.
There was a long moment of expectant silence as Atem's eyes slid from one side of the room to the other, assessing, in an irritated, almost bored fashion, and they finally settled on Kerpheres in the middle, narrowing in sharp precision.
"Speak."
Atem's voice, his raw command, cut through the hall and echoed throughout. One single word caused everyone in the hall to stiffen.
"My Pharaoh," Kerpheres started, his voice polished and official. "I realize you are busy and I thank you for making time for this today."
He turned to his side. "Bring out the girl." He called out behind him.
The crowd parted as two or three guards pushed through, and Zahra appeared from in between, weak and shackled. She appeared disheveled, as if she had fought. But she stood steady on her feet and despite the fear that was paramount in her expression, a fire still blazed in her eyes.
"I have requested an audience with you because this girl has made an attempt on my life. I know you have been away, My Pharaoh, so I am unsure if you have been updated on the events that have occurred while you were gone."
Kerpheres paused. Atem made no gesture of acknowledgment and continued to look on at him with a discerning stare.
Unperturbed by the lack of response, Kerpheres continued.
"The girl released her Ka and was unable to control it. It launched multiple attacks on me, along with terrorizing everyone here in the palace. There are many witnesses. As a result, I am deeply concerned about the safety of myself, my family and everyone else that resides here. This girl has also been following me for weeks and appears to have some sort of vendetta against me. Based on this, I believe her attack on me was deliberate and should be treated as an attempted murder."
Another harrowing pause. Kerpheres shifted awkwardly in place.
"My Pharaoh," A very slight, almost indiscernible hesitancy now colored his voice. "I believe the standard punishment for attempted murder in our kingdom is beheading." He side-eyed Zahra with a thin veil of disgust.
"But, I understand that both your and your father's regime have been in search of powerful Ka due to the recent uprisings. Might I suggest taking that girl's Ka for your own use. I can attest to its power. I assure you that her Ka will be a great addition to your collection."
Absolute silence.
Atem eventually stood up from his throne without a word. The entire hall remained still, so quiet that every bump and shuffle echoed throughout. Through the ambient noise, Naima noted the sounds of a dull uproar coming from outside, possibly a large crowd of people that had gathered.
Naima held her breath, her heart pounding as she watched Atem walk forward slowly and silently, toward Zahra. He stopped in front of Zahra and they exchanged looks, her peering up at him with big eyes filled with trepidation, and him looking down at her, his face revealing nothing.
A few excruciating seconds passed when finally, a small smile cracked on his face.
"Go on." he said, nodding his head to the side toward Naima.
Naima's breath caught in her throat as she watched Zahra hesitate and freeze, as if she could not believe her ears, still looking up at Atem in disbelief.
"Go." Atem said again, gesturing toward Naima with a small, dismissive wave of his hand.
Cool relief broke open inside her, so much that she almost collapsed into tears right there at the sight of her sister scurrying toward her and pushing her way through the crowd. Zahra threw her arms around her neck, whimpering and trembling, and Naima embraced her sister as tightly as she could before quickly shushing her. The continued silence and stiffness in the hall were a stark reminder that this was not over. Far from it.
Atem took a few slow steps toward Kerpheres and stood before him, eyes piercing into him like knives.
"You interrupted my father's funeral proceedings… for this…?" Atem's voice was quiet, murderously calm.
Kerpheres appeared taken aback.
"Well I…—" he began to stammer. "I was almost killed, and many others were put in danger, my Pharaoh, by that girl. I realize this matter may complicate things with your… relationship…" he spat that last word, eyes briefly glancing over toward Naima's direction. "But this has gotten utterly out of hand. And since your guards are absolutely useless, standing around watching while teenage girls are allowed to follow people and wreak havoc as they please, I feel I have no other choice than to bring this matter to you. The fact is that when she released her Ka, she targeted me with her attacks. Additionally, I caught this girl in my chamber rifling through my things. So she is not only violent, but a thief. That girl and her Ka are danger to us all, my Pharaoh."
Zahra rolled her eyes and glared daggers at him, while Atem raised an eyebrow and waited another assessing moment as he continued to stare at Kerpheres.
The silence continued to fester, and Kerpheres began to fidget.
"If you do not believe me, you can see for yourself. May I suggest to do a Millennium Trial on the girl." he said
The corner of Atem's mouth curled upward into a smirk. "Yes, that is an excellent idea Kerpheres. I'm glad that you suggested it."
Next to Atem, Mahad turned to one of the guards, snapped his fingers and waved a hand. And to Naima's astonishment, within seconds, three guards appeared holding Halima by the arms. Her struggles and cries echoed throughout the hall as she was dragged to the middle and brought to her knees next to her father.
"Halima?" Kerpheres stared down at his distressed daughter in total surprise, before glaring at Mahad.
"What is this?"
Mahad crossed his arms over his chest.
"Your daughter has been lurking around this palace for weeks. A few nights ago, I happened to catch her sneaking around the hospital, where I witnessed an interesting interaction between her and our apprentice healer."
Naima froze.
All eyes darted toward her. Halima began to cry.
Mahad was… there? The entire time he was there, listening, seeing everything that happened. He knew, but never let on… until the right moment.
Realization crashed over her. Mahad…. Naima now understood that she had severely underestimated Atem's head of security. Somehow, between his connections and his powers and whatever else, he knew everything that went on, whether he was present for it or not. But how?
She took a few furtive glances at the guards who brought Halima out, the guards who stood at each entrance and around the hall. They were so silent, and as Kerpheres said, all they did was watch. Both confrontations with Kerpheres, they watched. Naima did not consider that perhaps they would report back what they saw, to their boss… Mahad. The palace guards were not only the muscle, but Mahad's eyes and ears when he could not be physically present.
Naima continued to stare at Mahad in utter fascination. He eventually caught her eye, as if he knew, as if he could sense her total bafflement at the situation. He gave her a small smile and a nod.
Atem looked over his shoulder, toward his court.
"Aknadin."
Only a single word was needed for Aknadin to move toward Halima, who was now sobbing so hard she had to be hoisted up by the guards.
Aknadin's face was expressionless as his hair parted, and a flash of light shone from the golden eye in his head to reveal what happened between her and Halima. Everyone saw her, and she saw herself. Dark and vicious and cold. Was it really her that she was watching… Only a short while ago, she wouldn't have believed it.
"Very interesting… " Atem said as his eyes slid between Kerpheres and Halima. "Tell me Kerpheres, why did your daughter attempt to kill my apprentice healer?"
Kerpheres wrinkled his nose and scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest indignantly.
"She wants to be Queen?" he snarled with a smart-ass tone in his voice. "How am I supposed to know. Maybe you should ask her."
Atem locked his eyes onto Kerpheres and smirked.
"I believe something in this story seems to be missing."
Kerpheres stiffened.
"Step forward." Atem declared.
Kerpheres shrank back in confusion at Atem's command.
"Me? Why me?" His head darted toward Halima. "What about her? She's the one who tried to kill the girl…. You saw it yourself. I have nothing to do with this. You should be examining her, not me."
Halima, who wept on the floor, simply looked at her father with such a tired, sullen emptiness. As if she knew better than to expect any sort of benevolence or kindness from the man who she called her father.
Naima felt disgust rising up in her stomach like bile. Kerpheres would throw his own daughter to the lions if it would save himself.
Atem's eyes narrowed, his expression becoming dark and deadly.
"…I said… step.. forward."
At that, guards came to attention, hands on the hilt of their swords.
At a total loss for words and fear shining in his eyes, Kerpheres obeyed and took two steps forward. Atem gave a curt nod toward Aknadin, a gesture for him to continue.
Both Kerpheres and Aknadin exchanged a look. It was only maybe one or two seconds, but it was… full. As if the eye contact between them held an entire conversation.
Very strange.
A white light flashed, and then scenes of Zahra following him, of Kerpheres screaming at her and yelling obscenities and threats followed.
"What else can you show us, Aknadin?" Mahad asked.
"Let me see…" Aknadin said.
His eye flashed again to reveal another scene, two people speaking together in a dark, torch-lit room — Kerpheres and Halima.
…
"Halima, this is the opportunity we have been waiting for. The Pharaoh finally wants his son to marry." Kerpheres muttered as he locked his eyes on Halima. "Don't you want to be Queen?"
Halima glanced up at her father mutely.
"We were previously denied this in the past, but now we are given another chance." Kerpheres said. "Do not waste this. Your failure may mean the collapse of our city as we know it. You know how much I despise begging for aid."
Halima cast a look off to the side with cold disgust on her face.
"Because of your mistakes… now we must beg for aid for our city… now we must lie and do shameful things so that I can embezzle money… for you.."
"Shut up." Kerpheres growled. "How dare you…"
He stood up and paced around his desk.
"I made some poor business decisions.…"
"A business decision?" Halima hissed. "Is that what you are calling it now? Who do you think you are fooling? Our harvests have been poor for the last five years and yet you have continued to spend money on lavish things despite mother's objections, you have avoided paying our taxes to the Pharaoh and you have gambled our own money away, as well as the city's money. Now we are in so much debt we cannot even bear to continue. Everyone knows this, and our great city is now a laughing stock. Everyone is laughing at us, father. We are a failure, because of you."
Kerpheres glared at Halima.
"Really… as if you did not enjoy those lavish things that you are now complaining about. You want to live like a slave then? You want to wear rags and eat nothing but stale bread everyday?"
Halima scoffed and crossed her arms.
Kerpheres growled in frustration.
"Enough of this. You are to marry the Pharaoh no matter what. Do you understand me? No.. matter.. what… And you will do whatever it takes to get there. And then, we discussed what you are to do afterward…."
"You want me to marry him, and then kill him. Kill the Pharaoh…" Halima muttered with disgust. "I still do not understand why, Father…"
"I have duties and a deal to uphold, daughter." Kerpheres said. "Once the Pharaoh is dead, you will be left as the sole queen and then you are to marry Priest Seto, so that he may become the new Pharaoh."
Halima simply stared at the wall next to her father, her face tight and unsettled. "You are only using me for your own purposes. I am just a pawn in your little game."
"Oh? And what other purpose do you have?"
Halima was silent.
"Let me guess… you want love..? Freedom?" Kerpheres spat. "Wake up from that dream, you foolish child. Those things only exist in children's stories."
Halima continued to stare ahead blankly.
"I don't care. I don't want to marry Priest Seto. I don't want to kill anyone." she mumbled. "I don't want to do any of this."
"Silence…" Kerpheres shouted as he slammed some papyrus against the desk. "You will do as I say, lest you shame our entire family."
…
The vision of the memory retrieved from Aknadins's eye dissipated into mist, and the entire hall was so silent and still that Naima was afraid to make even a sound. The air was heavy with shock, and people shifted uncomfortably in their spots.
"He said something about a deal…" Mahad said, finally breaking the silence. "Can you reveal more about that, Aknadin?"
Atem nodded in agreement.
Aknadin's face was hard and blank as he turned back toward Kerpheres. His eye flashed again.
"The memory of those details is blocked. I cannot access it." he said with a flat tone.
After a few moments, Kerpheres regained his composure. All eyes were on him.
"Why did you desire for Priest Seto to take the throne alongside your daughter?" Mahad asked Kerpheres.
There was a subtle flash of light from Aknadin's Millennium Eye that caught Naima's attention. It was so small that perhaps it could have been the sunlight… or maybe, something else…
"It was what made the most sense." Kerpheres said. "Since the Pharaoh is not married and has no children, he has no natural heir. Aknadin is too old, so Priest Seto would naturally be the next in line." Kerpheres said.
Atem sat back in his throne and appeared to contemplate for a few minutes.
"I believe we have seen enough." he said. The weight of his words hung in the room as he now focused his eyes on Kerpheres.
"Well Kerpheres? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
And for once in his life, Kerpheres was speechless. It appeared that he was trying to speak, but every time he did, the words kept getting caught in his throat.
Atem smirked. "Today did not go as you thought it would, did it?" he said.
"For someone so concerned about safety. you seem to have no regard for anyone's life except your own. Your hypocrisy and lies are sickening."
Kerpheres swallowed and clenched his fists.
"My Pharaoh.. please, there must be some misunderstanding."
"There is no misunderstanding. It is all very clear to me." Atem said. "Blinded by your own greed and desperation, you conspired and sought to overthrow me for your own gain. You used your own daughter as a puppet. Somehow, this does not surprise me. You are a stain on my kingdom, and on humanity."
"I formally charge you with high treason and for conspiracy to overthrow the Pharaoh, and I find you guilty. Now, for someone who is as familiar with punishments as you are, Kerpheres, I'm sure you know what the punishment for that is."
Utter silence.
"You will burn," Atem stated with a quiet, seething calmness. "Your ashes will be scattered to the wind. You will have no afterlife."
Atem lifted his chin now to face the crowd.
"Let this be a lesson to everyone here that I do not take kindly to betrayal." he announced to the silent, stunned crowd before him. "I promise that anyone who dares to conspire against me, will share his fate…"
And to the total astonishment of everyone in the room, Kerpheres scoffed at Atem's words. He hocked a ball of spit in his throat and spat it on the carpet at his feet.
"This is horse shit. I refuse to accept this decree from you. You are a disgrace to your father —"
Kerpheres's words became garbled as guards surrounded him, tied ropes around his limbs, and put a cloth over his mouth. They then dragged him through the middle of the hall and eventually out the now-open doors to the outside, into the front courtyard that faced the city. As they hauled Kerpheres down, Atem stood up from his throne and quickly followed after them, stalking down the burgundy carpet toward the doors.
Everyone quickly followed after.
How everyone in the city somehow knew that something was about to transpire was a mystery to her. Hundreds of people lined the streets and the edge of the palace grounds, enough that they needed to be held back by guards. They cheered and jeered and shouted and even threw things. Many were obviously drunk and expecting a show.
After a moment, more guards appeared with kindling material.
"Put that back." Atem said to them. "That won't be necessary."
His eyes searched the crowd and landed in Naima's general direction, but instead focused on Zahra. He pointed to her and motioned for her to come up toward him.
Zahra became stiff again. "Me?" she breathed and looked back at her.
"Naima…"
"Go… Just go…" Naima uttered, pushing her sister toward Atem. Now was certainly not the time to challenge him.
Zahra stumbled up toward him looking like a scared animal. But, mercifully, Atem looked at her with a small smile. He leaned his head down toward her ear and whispered something.
And whatever he said, Zahra's eyes became wide. She glanced at Kerpheres, and then toward Atem again, as if asking for confirmation.
Atem nodded toward her.
Kerpheres continued to mutter obscenities at them underneath the cloth over his mouth and struggle against the hold of the ropes. Zahra glanced up at Atem again. He stood a ways behind her on the front steps of the courtyard, his arms crossed over his chest and his cape blowing in the wind.
The crowd silenced, and Atem's voice thundered through the courtyard.
"Let it be known that I am Atem, the son of Aknamkanon, the rightful heir and ruler of Egypt." he declared. "Disrespect… disloyalty…—" He gritted his jaw and focused his eyes on Kerpheres. "Treachery… in any form, will not be tolerated."
Cheers erupted throughout.
Meanwhile, Kerpheres somehow managed to maneuver around the cloth tied against his mouth.
"Treachery…. My Pharaoh.." Kerpheres muttered. "You know nothing of treachery until you see what lies within your own walls." He glanced around. "How convenient, the snake isn't here —"
"Oh, shut the fuck up, you worthless sack of shit." Zahra snarled. She seemed to have found her nerve.
And then Kerpheres glanced over at her with such burning hatred in his eyes.
"Quiet down, dog. Nobody cares about you."
Naima froze in horror, witnessing her sister's entire body stiffen and crinkle.
"Be silent." Atem growled as the guards pushed Kerpheres's torso down again and adjusted the cloth back over his mouth.
What appeared to be a lifetime's worth of angst and pain passed over Zahra's face for barely a second, and then her eyes lit up in a blaze, crimson and raw and burning. She began to tremble.
"Zahra.."
Atem mumbled quietly as he stood behind Zahra on those steps. A gentle nudge.
Zahra turned around to glance at him once more before finally locking her eyes on Kerpheres in front of her, her face a bit crazed.
The air began to swirl with heat.
'Zahra….'
Is she going to… kill him? That was what Atem called her up for. To execute him. And she agreed.
Visions of her sister flashed before her eyes, of when they were both younger and wilder and happier… a simpler time when the only thing they had to worry about was temple chores and what was for dinner. Zahra was so… innocent. They both were.
And now, as she watched Zahra form a raging sphere of fire from her bare hands, an inferno so violent that it could have filled up the entire hospital with flames, she wondered if it was inevitable. If there was anything she could have done to save that innocent sparkle in Zahra's eyes that died so quickly only a short time ago.
Finally, Zahra hurled the ball forward, toward Kerpheres whose face was frozen into a mask of pure horror as he beheld the fire that would swallow him whole. And as the ball hit its target and flames danced and billowed upward, people around her began screaming. Screaming both at the sight of a man engulfed in flames, and at the creature that had now risen up over Zahra through the billowing fire and smoke, the black dragon that lived in her. Naima took in the sight of that dragon sitting so proudly atop Zahra with its wings outstretched, the scales on its head and belly flashing in the sunlight. It let out an ear-splitting screech, before dissipating into mist as quickly as it appeared.
Eventually, the flames subsided but the charred mound of flesh atop the stones of the courtyard continued to burn, crackling and spitting and sizzling.
The smell of it made Naima's stomach churn.
Atem glanced over to his side at Seto and nodded at him. Despite no words being exchanged, Seto somehow knew what he was to do, pulling his Millennium Rod out from his belt. A stone tablet was wheeled over toward him.
Standing over Kerpheres's flaming body, he wielded his rod and motioned upward as the awful noise of growling and gnashing of teeth filled the air. Naima was sickened as she eyed the silhouette of the creature that emerged from the charred flesh. It had far too many eyes, with claws and a gaping mouth where its stomach should be. It gurgled and writhed until Seto clutched his rod with both hands and waved it into the stone tablet with a loud bang.
Meanwhile, Halima stood by the doors. If two guards had not been holding her arms, Naima suspected she would have already collapsed to the ground in a weeping, screaming mess. She bawled and thrashed against the hold of the guards as she beheld the sight of her father's body burning on the ground and the tablet inscribed with her father's Ka being wheeled away. Between that, and the sight of her scrunched crying face, Naima couldn't help but to feel a wave of sympathy for her, to have just witnessed what she did.
Atem walked over to Halima, knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Halima…" he said gently between her sobbing. "This is very serious. I need to you listen carefully."
Halima certainly tried to as she looked at him, the volume of her sobbing tapering down a little bit. Atem stood back up and searched through the crowd again. Naima thought nothing of it, until his eyes finally landed on her and he gestured for her to come stand next to him. A pang of dread hit her.
'Oh Ra… what now..'
She staggered through the crowd toward him.
"Usually, someone who has committed a crime such as yours would be sentenced to death." Atem said to Halima as Naima made her way up the courtyard steps. "But since Naima was the one who was harmed, I will leave your fate in her hands."
Naima gaped at Atem in disbelief.
"..What…?" Her voice shook.
Everyone was now looking at her. She couldn't do this. Why would he do this. Put her in charge of this sort of matter… The weight of someone's life now felt heavy atop her shoulders.
He only looked back at her with that half-smile on his face.
"I leave it to you, Naima." he said gently. "Whatever punishment you see fit for her, is what she will receive."
Halima's fate in her hands. Naima looked down at Halima's face, tired and red and caked in tears and smeared makeup. Their eyes met, and the look on Halima's face was so dreading and so certain. Halima said no words, but her face said it all, her expression very clearly saying to her 'I know what I did to you, and I accept my fate.' Halima then bowed her head in defeat and closed her eyes in preparation, as if she was waiting to hear her own death sentence.
But, Naima wavered.
What good would it do to sentence Halima to death, or prison. What purpose would this serve other than to satisfy her own selfish desire for vengeance. No one was hurt. And Halima herself is not a danger to the public. Not anymore, at least.
Kerpheres's body continued to crackle in the background as Naima considered, and the doorway to the large hall next to her edged into the periphery of her vision. The same hall where she herself was also put under a trial and scrutinized, her darkest moments revealed for the world to see. It was mercy that had saved her from more torture and cruelty — mercy that no one except Atem thought she deserved, but was granted regardless.
Naima took in a slow inhale, and she saw Halima shoulders tighten as she braced herself for the worst.
"I understand why you did what you did." Naima said quietly. "I have no ill-will toward you. I believe you have suffered enough."
She looked back at Atem.
"My wish is that she is treated with kindness."
Atem studied her for a moment. He then nodded.
"A wise choice."
Halima's shoulders sagged, the look on her face incredulous. Fresh tears came to her eyes.
Atem turned toward Halima.
"I have known you for many years, Halima." he said. At those words, Halima bowed her head in shame. "I have watched you grow into who you are today. And through those years, I have seen your father's influence on you grow more and more. The Halima I knew from long ago would never have done this." Atem took two steps back, still looking at her.
"Naima's wish for you is kindness. I believe the kindest thing I can do for you is to release you from the evil that your father has imbued onto you."
Atem held out a hand, his palm facing her forehead.
"For your own sake," The surface of his Millennium pendant flashed and glinted in the sunlight as the wind picked up around him. "I dispel the darkness from inside your mind and your heart."
Then, Halima's entire body froze. Just stopped moving. Her face stopped, her eyes were stuck in the same spot. For a few seconds, she stayed like this until she finally collapsed onto the ground in a heap, unconscious.
"There…" Atem said.
Naima stared at him.
Did he just… what did he even do to her? What just happened? She looked closer. Halima didn't look any different. She looked at his face hoping for an explanation, but he simply stared ahead with his hand resting idly on his Pendant, watching as the guards gently picked up Halima's unconscious body and carried her away.
"Naima…"
Zahra's voice sounded behind her. Her sister looked so tired and ragged.
Naima immediately embraced her sister. "Zahra…. We're okay." she mumbled, more for her own comfort than anything.
"Yeah." Zahra said into her shoulder. "We're okay."
Author's note:
-Very delayed update this time - sorry! I went on vacation and I also spent quite a bit more time on this one in general, since it was essentially the culmination of everything that has been built up since chapter 22 and I wanted to make sure I included everything I needed to. I really enjoyed writing this sub-plot and felt it was important to include because I wanted to show Atem coming into his own power and basically showing "I am the Pharaoh now". We also see the first of Atem's/Yami Yugi's "mind crush" power as he learns the powers of his Millennium Item.
-The plot for Halima to marry Seto so he would become Pharaoh is inspired by the story of Ankhsenamun — Tutankhamen's widow. The speculation goes that after Tutankhamen died, Ankhsenamun was in a perilous position since whoever married her would become Pharaoh since they had no male heir. There is some evidence that she may have written a letter to the ruler of the Hittite nation asking for him to send one of his sons to marry so that she would not have to marry one of her subjects. The Hittite son died en route to Egypt (likely murdered), and Ankhsenamun ended up having to marry Ay, Tutankhamen's former vizier, presumably against her will. Ay became the Pharaoh after that.
-The burning alive punishment was an homage and a sort-of origin story to the infamous Season 0 manga scenes where Yami Yugi seems to have an affinity for burning people alive, in particular when he constructed a penalty game that caused the guy to be burned alive from a lighter and alcohol. I think it has even more significance when you consider that in Ancient Egypt, being burnt alive was one of the most feared punishments because without your physical body, you could not enter the afterlife.
Chapter 34: Hereafter
Chapter Text
A strange, yet comforting peace had taken hold.
Naima was silent as both she and Zahra made their way back to her chamber. Zahra chattered idly next to her as they walked while Naima only half-listened. It was only when they had reached the familiar wooden door, the sunlight slitting through the opening like a shimmering white thread, that she had finally broken from her half-dazed state.
The sight of her own chamber almost brought her to tears. Sunlight poured into the room from the windows, onto the polished stone floor, onto the freshly made bed with clean linens, and onto her small vanity where two large Egyptian lotus flowers sat in a vase of clean water — the vase that Zahra made for her. The sound of Zahra's laughter next to her and Eliyah's sweet, smiling, relieved face as he embraced both of them, it felt like a dream she did not want to wake up from.
She hadn't allowed herself to hope, to even think for a moment that she would return to this after this morning. But, here she was.
Safe.
Eliyah had drawn water for Zahra to bathe and given her a dress to wear, and once Zahra finished drying off, she plopped herself right in the middle of Naima's bed, sprawling out like a starfish.
"Ahh… nice." she mumbled. Her giant mane of hair laid like a thick blanket atop the pillows and took up a considerable part of the bed.
Naima smiled as she hopped up onto the bed and slid next to her, like old times.
"What a stupid day…." Zahra mumbled into a pillow.
"Tell me about it." Naima said. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
So nonchalant. Naima peered over to look at Zahra with a furrowed brow.
Zahra took one single glance at her and groaned, rolling her eyes.
"What now? What's that look for?"
Naima scoffed at the reaction. "It's almost as if you weren't on trial to be executed a couple hours ago …" She couldn't help the sarcasm that bit into her words.
Zahra shrugged. "He let me go didn't he?"
It was like this was some ordinary day for her.
"Zahra, you just killed someone…" Naima said.
"Yeah, so?"
Astounded, Naima turned onto her side. "You don't care? Not even a little?"
"No." Zahra said flatly.
"Why not?"
"Because that fucker was a giant bag of dicks and he deserved it." she said.
Naima stared at her, speechless.
"Oh for fucks sake…." Zahra rolled her eyes again and glared back at her impatiently. "Why are you so uncomfortable, Naima?"
Naima stopped, taking more time to consider her answer than she would have liked.
"Because…" The answer should be obvious. But still, she wavered. "I don't know. I guess I've spent all these months and years learning how to heal people and save them. Killing seems a bit counterproductive, don't you think…"
"Naima, what the hell are you talking about? I've watched you kill hundreds, maybe even thousands of ducks… And not even to eat them. Literally killed them just so you can cut them open and then practice healing them shut."
Naima cringed. "You think I'm proud of that? It was for the greater good… How can I heal a person if I can't even heal a duck.."
"Well.. how is this any different? Me killing crocodile-face was for the greater good… Just like when you killed all those thieves that kidnapped you. It was for the greater good!"
The memory of that day caused a piece of her to jolt a little.
"… I guess…"
"So stop feeling so guilty all the time and lighten up a little." Zahra said. "Man, being in your head must be so fucking depressing. You actually helped humanity, Naima, so stop feeling so bad about it."
Exposed. Utterly exposed. Why did Zahra have to be right? Why did she have to call her out so straightforwardly?
Naima gave her a disgruntled glare and threw up a hand in frustration. "How do I lighten up about the fact that I killed people…? Especially since wasn't even me that killed them..? Well, it kind of was but —"
"Just forget about it." Zahra declared loudly, cutting her off. "Who fucking cares about those people. It's in the past. And they were criminals, Naima. If they didn't die by you, they probably still would have gotten themselves killed anyways by robbing a tomb or a temple or something…"
"That doesn't excuse it."
Zahra was getting visibly frustrated.
"Did they not deserve to die? They hurt you! They slapped you in the face and kicked you! Like god damn, Naima… I could understand if they only stole from you or something stupid like that… but they hurt you and were gonna kill you if you didn't do it to them first. But you kicked their asses and they got what they fucking deserved."
Naima laid there in silence as Zahra's words settled in her mind.
"And," Zahra continued. "I have no idea why you let that Halima girl off so easy. Why do you let all these people walk all over you and get away with shit? If it were up to me, I would have had that bitch up in flames right next to her father."
"That situation was different, Zahra."
"Whatever." Zahra said. "You're waaay too nice."
"Probably."
Zahra sighed and laid her head back into the pillow again. "It's good that you're the healer then. I don't have patience for that shit."
Her eyes wandered down to Naima's table, where her diadhank sat.
"Speaking of killing," she said. "I need one of those now, don't I?"
She pointed at it.
Naima hesitated. "Do you even know what it does?"
"Nope." Zahra declared proudly. She sat up. "But you wear it all the damn time. And I remember you used it to call your monster to battle mine. I wanna be able to do that too, Naima."
There was a slight wistful note to Zahra's voice as she looked down at her hands.
Naima smiled and looked down at her diadhank shining in the sunlight.
"Your monster and my monster, the creatures that live in us… they're called Ka. The dragon in you is your Ka. Your soul, your essence."
"A dragon…" she mumbled to herself. There was such pride in her voice, in her smile. "I knew it was something…" She continued to absently trace lines in the fabric of the sheets with her fingers.
"I've had dreams about it for a while now. Every time I get angry or every time I try to use my powers, I just hear this roaring and screeching in my head and my whole body feels like its on fire. Making glass seems to be the only thing that calms it down. Not sure why… I think maybe it helps me concentrate and takes the edge off."
Zahra then turned to look at her.
"So that big, scary skull thing is yours?"
Naima snorted. Of course she would say that.
"Yes, the big scary skull thing is mine."
"How does it obey you?" Zahra asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well my dragon seems to just do what it wants. Which is cool and all, but it would be nice to be able to do what you did." Zahra said.
Well, at least she wanted to learn. There was no avoiding it. Apparently they were having this talk now.
Naima took in a breath, trying to formulate a quick response, but her breath caught in her throat as she was interrupted by a light knocking on the door.
"Come in!" she called out.
A female servant entered and bowed. "Miss Naima, the Pharaoh requests your presence."
Whatever breath was in her chest came out in a sigh. "Okay, thank you. I will be there shortly."
The door shut, and Zahra side-eyed her with a massive smirk.
"Ooooh, better get your cozy-time in with the Pharaoh."
Naima chucked a pillow at her as a blush crept onto her face. "Oh shut up. Me getting cozy with him is probably why both of us are still alive right now."
"Well, I'm not complaining." Zahra yawned and stretched herself out on her bed again. "Hey can you get him to give me a bed like this?"
Naima rolled her eyes as she changed from her wrinkled dress into a clean one and fixed her hair.
"Don't stretch your luck."
She left Zahra in her chamber to do whatever she wanted, as if she didn't already do that anyways. After a brief greeting to Atem's guard outside, she quietly slipped inside and stood in the foyer.
And there sat Atem at his desk, quietly pouring over some papyrus sheets with his face in hand. A wine goblet was set off to the side.
He turned to look at her. There was something cloudy in his expression, almost stormy and unsettled.
Naima hesitated. This was a bad day for him, clearly.
The shadows in the foyer danced over her skin and hung in her periphery as she stood in front of the doorway.
"You asked for me?" she said quietly.
"Naima." His expression was heavy and blunt as his eyes did a quick once-over.
"You changed clothes." he noted.
"Just for you." Naima said.
"Why?"
… Why?
Naima raised an eyebrow and words exited her mouth before she could filter them.
"Must I have a reason why?"
That came out more sarcastic than she would have liked. She bit her tongue, cringing inwardly.
He stood up from his desk. And to her relief, a bit of brightness returned to his expression.
"The smell of char had absorbed into the fabric of my dress," Naima added quickly. "And I had no desire to continue smelling it for the rest of the day."
"So it was not for me." he said plainly.
He had gotten her.
"It was for both of us." she said, determined not to admit defeat.
A small moment of perilous silence and at last, a small smile cracked on his face. He eventually stalked toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I want to apologize to you for this morning."
Naima was floored. She pulled away and peered at him.
"But… why? You have nothing to apologize for. In fact," Naima sighed. "I should be apologizing to you for my sister. I feel that this whole ordeal is our fault."
Atem shook his head. "That is not true, Naima. Nothing could be further from the truth."
"But she made so much trouble for you… perhaps if she had not done what she did, it would be different… you wouldn't have had to do.. what you did today…" Publicly execute someone, she meant. Not just someone, but a high ranking official in the second largest city in Egypt. Somehow it felt wrong to say it out loud.
"I imagine now that relations are strained, and your father's funeral was interrupted —"
He shook his head and quietly held up a hand.
"None of this is any of your fault, nor Zahra's fault. It would have made no difference if she had kept to herself. It has long been known that their family is not trustworthy. He would have been found eventually, Naima. I believe her interference was actually a good thing.
He looked at her.
"I got the impression that you had some prior knowledge of this..?"
Naima hung her head in shame.
"I… know you are busy, and did not want to burden you. Not that I didn't believe Zahra, but all I had were accusations. I was waiting until we had more than that before I went to you. I thought I could handle it myself…. I'm sorry."
Her voice trembled, and she was grateful for his reflective silence. A lump formed in her throat.
"Thank you for saving her. I thought today that I would watch my sister die, or that both of us would at least be kicked out… or need to escape."
He looked at her strangely. "Why?"
A furious, incohesive mess of feelings began to bubble up to the surface. It was too much for words. All she could do was look at him feebly while she fought back tears.
Before she knew it, Atem's arms enveloped around her.
"Come." he said gently, gesturing to the couch by the window.
They sat down together and he pulled her against his chest, an arm on her back and the other around her hip. Naima bit her lip as he rubbed her back, silently hating the fact that he saw her cry again. She attempted to collect herself.
"Naima," he said eventually. His voice was quiet, yet unmistakably kind. "I want you to feel safe here."
"I'm just scared of doing something wrong." Naima said. Saying those words aloud felt as if she was being released from chains, to finally say what she had been fearing ever since she arrived in the palace.
"One wrong thing, and we get punished. Or kicked out. Just like what happened to my mother."
He peered down at her as if he couldn't believe his ears. A distant spark of rage flickered in his eyes.
"That will not happen to you. Ever."
There was something so.. final, about the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes.
"I will always protect you, Naima, and I will protect the ones that you love. I promise."
And she believed him, felt the sincerity that radiated from him, saw the light in his eyes as he gazed down at her.
"And do not think that you cannot talk to me about how you feel, or come to me with your concerns." Atem said. "However big or small, I want to hear it."
It was as if he was reaching out a hand toward her, telling her it is safe. She had no idea how much she needed that confirmation, to just what extent she had lived every single day of her life here in some amount of fear. But.. to have someone tell her that she was safe and protected, not just with cheap words but to show her, as he did this morning…
"Thank you, Atem…" she muttered. Perhaps 'thank you' was not enough to show him how she felt, how truly grateful she was to him.
"You're so kind. You don't know how much this means to me."
He brushed a thumb against her cheek.
"It is nothing, Naima. I am merely giving you what you deserve."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that a woman like you deserves the world. Intelligent .. kind… hardworking… understanding…" His arms snaked around her once more. "Caring… and so very brave…."
She felt herself shrink as heat crept onto her face. "You flatter me again."
"It is not flattery." he said, "It is the truth. You are a wonderful person, Naima. You have empathy and compassion for others, you are humble, you are generous. Everyone sees this, except for you."
He was… right. It was as if his words had cut through some barrier in her mind, one built upon a foundation of insecurity and self-recrimination.
No one has ever said these things about her, to her. Naima sat in silence as his words echoed in her mind.
Deserve. The word was foreign. She has worked hard her entire life only to be told she must work harder. So she did. And now… to say that she deserved anything, that she was not as terrible as her own thoughts led her to believe… it felt strange. That it took him to realize her worth as a person. That she was not simply some disposable peon, but… someone. Someone who was worth protection and kindness and love and trust. Someone who deserved it.
And that he would be the one to give it to her.
This was evident as he gazed down at her with warmth and love in his eyes like a torch in the darkness. Much better than the stormy gloom that was present on his face such a short time ago.
"Are you okay?" she said, interlacing her fingers with his. "You seemed upset earlier when I came in. This has been a bad day for you, hasn't it…"
"I am fine, Naima."
He looked at her as if he expected nothing less of her to ask such a question.
A suspicious, nagging feeling arose.
"I know you told me to trust you, Atem, but when you say you are fine, I don't actually think you are fine. You just want me to think you are so I won't worry about you. I want you to be comfortable telling me what's on your mind too."
He stopped. The corners of his mouth tugged upward, and those fierce, discerning eyes narrowed in on her, so much that it made her hesitate.
"What is on my mind?" he said quietly.
"Yes."
And perhaps, she realized as she gazed at his face… perhaps she wasn't prepared for the answer to her own question.
He sighed.
"Today was the first time I executed someone. Not me under my father, but me, as the Pharaoh. It is never something to take lightly."
He appeared to gather his thoughts as he looked out into the room.
"And the more I think about it, the more I realize that today should have never happened… None of this should have happened. If I had been married already, with a child, as my father had advised me to do by now, my reign and lineage would have been secured."
Marriage.
Naima froze, unsure where he was going with this.
"I avoided marriage for as long as I could. For the longest time, my own marriage prospects were confined to the girls you've already seen, or some king's daughter in a neighboring country who very likely could not speak the same language, and would be completely terrified of me. The thought of my only two choices being someone who only wanted to be with me to be Queen, or some scared girl from another country who was forced to be with me under the threat of her parents… And me… having no idea how to make her feel alright about being torn away from everything she is familiar with in order to marry someone she does not know… It was not what I wanted at all."
He exhaled a breath.
"As I have said before, I consider myself lucky. My father is very practical. If it were up to him, I would have been married by age ten. But, he at least still considered my preferences. I was able to stall as long as I could. I was unsure what I was waiting for at the time, I just knew it was not right. And even though it caused some tension in the relationship between me and my father, I do not regret it. I did not agree with his views on marriage and did not understand why he felt it was so important to be married and have children so quickly. I thought I had plenty of time. Clearly, I was wrong."
He closed his eyes.
"And then, for some reason, the Gods put both of us together in that hall.. that one day."
Naima's stomach lurched.
"There knelt this long lost girl from my past who saved me from crocodiles and then yelled at me. Who thought I was a thief, and then befriended me without having any knowledge of who I really was. Who showed me a small piece of what life was really like, what I was missing from my own sheltered upbringing. The girl who I thought was gone for certain. But there you were… right in front of me…."
He looked down at his hands for a moment, and then took off his diadhank, running a hand down his wrist. Both of them eyed the brown scar that was now almost completely faded, and Naima couldn't help but to glance at her own wrist.
"I already knew you were innocent." he continued. "No matter how many years that passed between us, you would never willingly commit such an act. I simply had to figure out how to save you without raising suspicion."
He glanced at her, guilt swimming in his eyes. "I… often think about the fact that you were forced to endure a Millennium Trial, and I hate that I could not figure out a way for that to have been avoided. To have spared you the distress you felt on that day. For weeks, I kept thinking of what I could have done differently. I am sorry for that, Naima."
Naima opened her mouth to comfort him, to tell him it was okay. But before she even found the words, he kept going.
"The only good that came out of that afternoon was that everyone saw how brave and talented you were." He smiled as he glanced down at the floor. "I think I fell in love with you the moment I noticed you running across the hall to save my father's Millennium Pendant. When they surrounded you, I never felt so much rage in my entire life. I wanted to slaughter them all."
"You did." Naima said quietly.
"And then you saved Mahad's life. I prayed that you would accept the apprenticeship, only so that I could see you again and know that you were near and safe, even if we would live and work at opposite ends of the palace."
He smiled to himself. "I used to walk by your hallway just to catch a glimpse of you. You never noticed, though. You were always busy. I wanted to talk to you, but I did not know what to say. And I wondered what you thought of me. I have been in some very difficult situations, Naima. But getting up the courage to talk to you that night in the garden had been one of my greatest challenges. I'm not… the best.. at talking to girls…"
Well, that was obvious. Naima giggled and he smiled sheepishly at her.
"I wish I could have spent more time with you." he said wistfully. Cloudy regret danced in his eyes.
"It's okay, Atem." Naima said, tracing a finger down his arm. "We have plenty of time."
He shook his head. "No, we don't."
Naima peered at him.
"Today made me realize my mistake. I have put this off for too long, much too long. I decided long ago that I would rather rule alone than suffer in an unhappy marriage. But I now realized what I was waiting for." He sat up and looked into her eyes.
"I was waiting for you…"
He took her hand, clutched it, and her heart began to pound in her chest. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. His eyes burned into hers .
"Time is not a luxury we have anymore, Naima. There is nothing that would make me happier if you would honor me… by being my Queen."
It didn't even feel like she was in her own body. Both her mind and her mouth failed. The only sounds she could produce were a few garbled, throaty syllables.
Queen.
"Me…? Queen?" Naima stammered out. "Your Queen?"
Atem nodded.
His Queen. The Queen of Egypt.
She knew this was coming. Knew it for so long, suspected it ever since she opened her heart to him, that if she continued with him…
But now it was right in front of her and she could not ignore it any longer.
Atem waited patiently, watching her reaction carefully.
"You hesitate." His voice was gentle. "Tell me your thoughts."
His arms were warm and comforting around her. He wrapped his fingers around hers.
"It's just… a lot." Naima mumbled. "I don't think I can do it…What if I do poorly as Queen… what if the people do not like me… What if I make mistakes…"
He smiled at her concerns as if he was pleased. "The mere fact that you worry about this means you will be a great Queen."
A non-answer. Naima groaned inwardly.
"But you don't understand, Atem." she exclaimed. "I don't know how. I don't know what I'm doing!"
"You will learn."
Could it really be that simple. She glanced at him peering down at her with soft, patient eyes. Perhaps she was overthinking this. Perhaps… she really would do well as a… Queen.
Naima swallowed, the idea still looming in her mind like an enormous, hazy cloud before her.
She sat up to look at him.
"Atem, I don't understand why you didn't just do this when your father told you to marry… That seemed to have been the time…"
"Because it wouldn't have been fair to you." he said.
"What do you mean?"
Atem turned his head to look out the window.
"I could have taken you for myself right then. I wanted to. It was the perfect timing… my father would have been desperate enough to allow it. But…" he trailed off and glanced at her.
"You told me that you didn't want to marry someone you barely knew, and I didn't want you to feel like you were in that situation. Not with me."
He took her hand in his.
"I wanted to … —" He stopped himself. "I intended to court you. Like in the stories. I knew that's what you wanted, and what you deserve."
She stared at him, touched. He had really planned this, put more thought into this than she gave him credit for.
"I think…" Naima smiled, breaking away from his gaze as she traced her fingers along his. "I think that's what you wanted too."
There was a brief silence that followed an exchange of warm smiles, a confirmation of her statement.
"So… then we would be married? And I would bear you children? And our children would be royalty, heirs to your throne…"
Atem nodded.
"And what if we have only daughters?"
He shrugged.
"Then we have only daughters."
Naima turned to face him, making sure that he saw the firm look in her eyes, the clear line she was about to draw.
"If I am to agree to be your wife," she said. "There will be no concubines. No marriages to foreign princesses or any others… just me and you."
He shot her a strange, bemused look and Naima prepared herself for the worst — for him to say how ridiculous her request was, how it broke tradition, how he needed to have a minimum of seventy children or else how could he possibly have enough heirs….
Or maybe, as she considered his face, maybe he hadn't even thought of it at all, and concubines had been the absolute last thing on his mind. She hoped it was the latter.
"No concubines. No one except you. I promise." he finally said. "That means we must produce many children together."
Naima traced her fingers along his chest absently.
"I would like that."
And it was the truth.
He pulled her closer. Hope glimmered in his eyes like the rays of afternoon sun that now danced on the window panes.
"What else?" he asked.
As Naima raked through her mind, something hard and glaring crashed over her. She blinked.
"Atem, what about Penthu?" she hissed. "He will be so upset about this."
"He will find another apprentice."
He was so casual about it, so nonchalant, as if it was that easy. Maybe it was easy to him, since he would not be the one to inform Penthu that yet another one of his apprentices is leaving… again. Naima cringed.
Atem stroked the ends of her hair, watching her.
"Naima, you know that as Queen, you may have whatever you want." he said.
Naima snorted. "You have resorted to bribing me now?"
"If I must."
She sighed. Atem was determined, that was certain. She might as well be truthful about how she felt.
"My fear is that people would not accept me as Queen, especially your peers…." Naima said. "How can I be a Queen when my own mother has been disgraced from her position of power? No one would take me seriously. I would be questioned and mocked. It is as if I am… tainted."
Atem stiffened. It was like a burning wave of fury had risen up behind her. The look in his eyes was absolutely potent.
"First of all, you are not tainted. I never want to hear you say that about yourself again."
A command from the Pharaoh. Naima straightened.
"You have so many gifts to share with the world." Atem's eyes smoldered. "You learn quickly. You care about others. You care deeply for your family. You take pride in your work."
He held her hand.
"You are my light in the darkness, a kind face in a sea of nothing but emptiness and despair. When the world chooses violence, you choose compassion. I need you, Naima."
She began melting in his arms.
He continued. "I will never forget the time when you told me that you wanted to live out your life as a Priestess in your village temple… It upset me. Deeply. Because for you to hide yourself, your talents from the world by purposely choosing to live in a temple as a recluse for all of eternity… That would have been a crime against humanity … and against me."
"Secondly," he said. "I do not care about any of that business long ago, especially since it does not directly involve you. I only care about us, here and now. Because," His expression softened as he traced his fingertips over her shoulder and neck.
"Your are not your mother, Naima. You are you."
Tears began to prickle in her eyes.
"And," He was still not finished. He bristled under her with a certain smoldering rage that she had never seen from him before.
"If I so much as hear that anyone has even whispered any foul words about you… they will be punished. I promise you that."
She shuddered at those last words, at the raw power under them. There was such conviction in his eyes.
And as she looked at her hand intertwined in his, the sunlight hitting his face in the golden glow of mid-afternoon, any doubt in her mind had diminished, felt so minuscule in comparison to what it had been before.
"You think I could do this?" Naima mumbled to him. "I would be good… for this… with you?"
He nodded.
She looked up into those determined eyes.
"Atem," she said quietly. "I would be honored to be your wife, and your Queen."
A small sigh escaped from him as if he had been subtly holding his breath this entire time.
"…Naima…." he muttered. His voice was slightly hoarse.
He traced his finger along her chin before he tugged her tighter against his body, closing the space between them.
"Naima, I promise to treasure you, always."
Love shone in his gentle eyes. He looked so open, so vulnerable in this moment.
She wanted to respond but she didn't know what to say, didn't know if there were even any words for what she felt.
She reached her head up to kiss him and he deepened it with a hand on the back of her neck. She leaned into him, her arms wrapping tighter around his back and soon both of their hands were all over, roaming, savoring.
Atem groaned into her mouth and pushed her back onto the couch until her head rested atop a pillow and he was on top of her, his head in the crook of her neck, kissing her, trailing all the way down to her breasts. So reverent.. the way he touched her, how his fingertips grazed across her skin, how he practically worshipped her body. He nipped at her nipple over her dress and Naima moaned as need filled her.
There were too many clothes. Too much in the way of both of them. Naima tugged at his shirt before fruitlessly tugging at her own dress, getting frustrated. He eventually got off her and there was a brief pause as she stood up and slipped it off her body.
His eyes raked over her. Without even a moment to spare, he growled as he picked her up into his arms.
The friction of her skin rubbing against his clothing and jewelry as she clung to him completely naked, his hands under her hips gripping her bare ass, it drove her wild. He set her gently on the bed and she sat up on her knees and faced him, the skin of her naked body gleaming in the sunlight as she watched him take his clothes off.
He grabbed her waist and laid her atop the bed, covering her body with his. And as he showered her neck and collarbone and breasts with kisses, Naima arched her back into him and wrapped her legs around his torso, his cock at her entrance.
She braced herself for it, readying her hips. But instead, he reached a hand down and his fingers went between her legs. And gently, almost timidly, he explored her core with his fingers, sliding through her slick flesh, grazing over her clit, until he reached her opening and he slowly inserted a finger.
Naima cried out in pain and gripped his torso as she felt herself stretch. But the pleasure came shortly after and she moaned into his neck. He fingered her carefully, sliding in and out of her, taking time to ensure she had stretched enough to accommodate him, before he slid another finger in her. And then another.
She was full with him, his fingers, but it was not enough. She wanted his cock inside of her. Needed it.
"Atem…please…" she pleaded.
He gently removed his fingers, and for a brief moment it felt so empty that it almost upset her, until she felt the tip of his cock brush up against her. His eyes met hers and his lips covered her own before he carefully slid inside of her.
Naima gasped, her core stretching for him once again and he groaned as he settled in her.
He was gentle with her at first. Soft, careful strokes. The stretching pain had subsided quite a bit, buried by the waves of pleasure that rolled through her. It was clear that he was trying to control himself. But his hands trembled and the need between both of them proved too much. He grabbed her hips and flipped her over, his cock still inside of her as she straddled him on top.
With one arm around her hips grasping her, another arm reached up and lifted her chin to face him.
"Look at me…" he whispered. She obeyed and his eyes locked onto hers. And as he thrust into her, she watched him come undone, a sea of violet now clouded with ecstasy. Between the force of his thrusts and her own pleasure, she cried out. He immediately halted and stiffened underneath her.
"…Naima… Did I…" Atem's voice was hoarse. His expression had turned frenzied between his need and the worry in his eyes. Worry that he had hurt her.
"No…" she moaned. "Keep going… please…"
He gladly obliged, gripping her ass and hips fully with both hands as he pumped into her, groaning. Until she felt it build in her. It felt natural to close her eyes and concentrate on her own pleasure. But a persistent hand nudged her chin up gently.
"… Look at me.."
She blinked, following that guiding hand and once again became lost in amethyst eyes. That same hand was now on her breasts playing with her nipples but his eyes never left her face, watching her expression as she panted and moaned, as she rocked her hips in tandem with his movements. The muscles in her hips tensed and twitched in anticipation, but still he watched her face and she watched his… until she couldn't take it anymore.
She finally shuddered as release barreled through her. His eyes grew large as he watched her come apart on top of him, his own release following a mere moment after. His chest heaved and he grunted as he spilled into her.
She remained on top of him, holding him as he caught his breath and stilled at last. Their limbs were tangled together and eventually, she rolled off and sidled up next to him in comfortable silence. A bit of his spend began to slowly drip out between her legs and onto her thighs.
"I like doing that with you…" Naima murmured, nestling her head on the side of his shoulder.
He pulled her closer and stroked her hair.
"We have the rest of our lives to do it together."
The rest of their lives. The finality of it all had not sunk in quite yet.
As she laid there, she considered. How never in her wildest dreams did she ever think she would wind up here, especially not as a Queen. She laughed inwardly as she recalled how much she hated when Nafi talked about government and current events, how she lamented about how much she didn't care, how sure she was that she would never need to know any of this, and he chided her for it. And yet… here she was.
And to think that there are girls who had wished all of their lives to be in her position, prayed and fought and schemed and destroyed each other for it, only for the opportunity to be thrust in her face.
Naima sat up. "Atem…"
"Hmmm…?" His eyes were closed while he laid next to her.
"What are you going to do about, you know… those girls… They are still here…"
Atem's eyes shot open. He looked at her with a guilty, almost horrified look on his face.
"Naima, I… honestly forgot they were here."
She almost laughed, and then felt bad about it.
"Is there any way that they can leave…?"
For their own sake.
He looked embarrassed. "Absolutely."
"I know this makes your job harder…"
He shook his head. "No. Do not worry about that. It is alright."
Naima cozied up next to him.
"So I'm curious," she said. "Was that part of your 'plan' or no?"
He gave her another strange look, as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
Naima raised an eyebrow.
"You don't remember? You said you had a plan with all this."
Realization lit up on his face.
"Oh, yes I remember now." Atem sighed. "Not initially, no."
He appeared thoughtful next to her. "The plan was to wait until my father passed away. I knew it was not going to be long. Once he was gone, I could do as I please."
Naima stared at him.
"Well, that's not very creative." she teased. "I was expecting more from an expert strategist like yourself."
He smiled at her and looked down.
"Oftentimes the best strategy is the simplest, Naima." he said quietly.
"If you say so…"
She continued to look at him as he stared out the window.
"Why was it a secret? You could have just told me…"
He glanced at her and then looked away, and Naima noted the tinge of grief and guilt that colored his expression. She was taken aback by this, didn't consider how he may have felt, that perhaps this was more personal to him than she initially thought.
"It is… complicated." he said wistfully. "To be the Pharaoh, is to sacrifice your own needs for the needs of your country. All I wanted was something of my own."
His words were strange to her at first, but the more they echoed around in her mind, the more she understood.
Perhaps he felt bad about what he did, disobeying his father in order to do what he wanted to do, and then waiting for his death in order to do it. And that him not telling her what he was going to do was not meant to be a secret, but as something he felt guilt for.
Naima studied him, noting the tiredness in his eyes, the thoughts that swirled around in his mind constantly, the piles of papers on his desk and the sheer level of responsibility that was on his shoulders. The endless meetings, the fights between cities and regions and countries, the finances… He was the one person in this palace who was never allowed a break. Never a day off. Never a time when he was released of his burdens. He was expected to give all of himself, all the time. And despite being the most powerful man in the country, he did not have a life of his own.
But, not once had he complained about or shirked his responsibilities. He accepted it all with grace.
All except for this. The prospect of being trapped in an unhappy, loveless marriage was something he could not accept. To him, this was the line.
And perhaps in that regard, they were similar. Both of them had chosen to be alone rather than suffer in a marriage that would not make them happy, and were content to do so…. Until —
Atem wrapped his arms around her and her train of thought dispersed into mist. She sighed, inhaling his scent. The scent of a man who has sacrificed so much…
"Atem," Naima muttered into his shoulder. "You're doing a great job as Pharaoh. Your father would be so proud of you." She twined her fingers with his.
And as he looked at her, the cloud of gloom on his face seemed to dissipate and his rare smile shone through, proud and exuberant.
"There are so many things I want to accomplish, Naima." he said to her.
"Like what?"
He exhaled a small breath, and his eyes sparkled with such enthusiasm. Such optimism. It was almost child-like.
"I believe in equality for all people. I believe in a world where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has an equal say, an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents, to make their own choices. I want to make this a reality, Naima."
She had no idea that he felt such a way about his people, that he cared so much, that he held such radical beliefs. Radical in that what he wanted was at total odds with the current system. The notion of 'choices' was an unobtainable ideal for many.
But as she eyed him, the man who broke away from the traditions of his family to do what he felt was best for himself, she knew that if anyone would accomplish this, it would be him.
"You will make it happen." she said.
He interlaced his fingers with hers.
"We will make it happen."
Chapter 35: Union
Chapter Text
'Quit being a coward.'
Naima had been standing behind the wooden door to her chamber for longer than she cared to admit, the uneasiness gnawing at her like some ravenous black hole. She could not bring herself to open the door and face this conversation she knew was waiting for her. But the rays of dawn were blind and deaf to her plea. A slit of yellow and orange had appeared on the horizon, and she swallowed her dread and forced her legs to walk to the hospital where Penthu sat so innocently. So blissfully unaware of the fact that his world would be turned upside down in a few short moments.
She took a step inside the hall, surreptitiously glancing toward Penthu's office.
There was a silent pause while they exchanged looks.
"You're leaving me." His voice boomed like a clap of thunder.
All of the color drained from her face. She stopped clear in her tracks.
"How— how did you know?"
Penthu's hard, silent stare could have slapped her across the face even from where she stood.
"The Pharaoh came to my chamber late last night and spoke with me." he muttered. "He plans to take you as his wife. And you will be the new Queen."
She took a step back, bewildered. Atem somehow already handled it. He must have done it while she slept last night. Naima sighed in relief internally, grateful for his foresight, but outwardly she cringed. Underneath Penthu's angry glare, there was such pain in his voice. Such disappointment.
".. Sorry." Naima offered quietly. It became difficult to stifle the feeling that perhaps she had led him on or lied to him somehow.
Penthu simply glared at her in silence and Naima shifted her weight uncomfortably. After a few tense moments, his shoulders slumped and he let out a heavy, defeated sigh.
"Come in here…" he mumbled, gesturing her over to her usual chair across from him.
Naima settled herself while he took a long drink from the goblet next to him.
"This is the Pharaoh's order. I did not have a choice in this matter." he said bitterly. He raised an eyebrow toward her, throwing a hand up in futile, exasperated frustration.
"This came out of nowhere."
"Um.…yeah, I guess."
Penthu's hard, sour stare was unrelenting.
"I had my suspicions and I heard the rumors about you two, but still I did not believe it." He swirled his goblet, glancing down at the dark liquid in it. "How wrong I was… You and the Pharaoh…"
Naima did not miss the subtle eye roll he threw her way.
"That did not take long I see…"
"I.. did not see this coming, Penthu." Naima said. "I would have told you sooner, and helped you find a replacement if I had known."
Penthu's eyes narrowed in that sharp, precise way of his, as if he was a snake honing in on its prey.
"You did not see it? Or you did not want to see it?"
Naima pursed her lips, readying herself. A pit of anxiety began roiling in her stomach.
"Is this what you want? To become Queen? You do not seem very excited about it." he barked. "Most girls your age would be ecstatic."
Naima shifted in her seat as he continued, "One thing you must stop, Naima, is that when something is not right, you ignore it and put your head in the sand while everything around you crumbles."
It was as if he had shot an arrow directly through her chest. She clenched her fist as she writhed in her seat.
"Penthu, it is not that." she asserted. Tears prickled behind her eyes. "I am okay with being the Queen."
His lips curled, knowing fully that he had her right where he wanted her.
"Oh, you are okay with it…." His sarcastic, mocking tone bit her in all of the most vulnerable places. "Not very convincing, Naima. Who are you trying to fool here? Stop lying to yourself."
Her temper was a simmering pot that had just boiled over. She smacked the arm of the chair in indignation.
"I'm not lying, god dammit…" she burst out.
Penthu bore his teeth. "Then what?!"
"To be the Queen…—" Naima began loudly. And then she stopped herself, softening. Fighting with Penthu would do her no good. She took a breath, willing the flames of her anger to subside.
"To be the Queen is much more responsibility than I had ever dreamed of having, and I fear that I will do a shit job, and make a fool out of myself, and out of Atem."
Penthu remained silent for once. She slumped back into her chair, her face in her hands.
"I want to do well. I want to do a good job. I want to be a good Queen to the people of Egypt… and to Atem. But I'm not sure that I can. And what if I can't… I will be known throughout history as a failure."
Something twinkled deep in Penthu's eyes. He continued to stare, assessing.
"Naima… you are too hard on yourself." he said eventually.
This was quite the statement coming from him. Naima raised an eyebrow and fought the urge to laugh.
Penthu sighed. The mood in the room appeared to have calmed once again.
"Perhaps this is my fault, since I know I have been very hard on you. I do not deny that. But it is only because I believe in you… and look at how far you've come." he said, pride brimming in his voice.
"I don't know what I will do now, without you. But, what I do know is this. That Egypt has gained a truly remarkable Queen."
Penthu sat back in his chair, a shrewd smile at the corners of his lips.
"The Pharaoh Atem is like his father in many ways. He is not stupid by any means. He knows what will benefit him, and what will not. Which means, Naima, that he has the uncanny ability to know exactly what he must do in any situation. He picked you for a reason, and I guarantee that it is not because you will look pretty sitting next to him."
Naima's cheeks became hot.
"You seem to think that you will somehow single-handedly destroy Egypt by your own ineptitude… I am here to tell you that that is ridiculous, Naima. Sure, you will make mistakes, but do not be afraid of failure. Allow yourself time, and be kind to yourself. You will learn, you will adjust.."
He leaned forward, fire blazing in his eyes.
"I want you to know that if there is anyone I would trust as my Queen, it is you. I implore you Naima. Trust yourself, and —" He raised an eyebrow, lowering his chin, as if he knew more than he let on. "Do not be afraid to be daring, to make ripples…."
The chair legs squeaked as Penthu stood up.
"Now… what I want you to do is keep your head held high, and become the Queen that you were meant to be… make your mother proud. You will be great."
-o0o-
"What will you give to the Pharaoh?"
That question, innocently posed by Eliyah, had been slowly and painfully needling at her over the last week. Naima was aware of the royal custom of an exchange of gifts, but she was embarrassed to admit how grossly unprepared she was. Each day she stared hopelessly at her own stash of money, a laughable paltry sum compared to the resources that Atem had at his disposal. Anything that she would purchase for him would look absolutely ridiculous.
Meanwhile, picking the right clothing for the occasion had been a welcome distraction. Piles and endless piles of dresses from nearby cities were sent to her to try on, and Eliyah had stuffed her into every single one of them until they had finally found the perfect one — a fitted white silk dress with a simple neckline and a long, gold-flecked, sheer overlay that would float behind her in a warm breeze. It was important that she look the part, she was told.
Because apparently, there would be a ceremony.
A ceremony.
She had never felt more like a villager than when she had balked at the mention of a wedding ceremony. A marriage in her own simple village bore no expectation of any sort of marriage ceremony or lavish gifts. People simply moved in together. It was simple and practical.
But this was royalty. She was royalty. Or least, she will be.
Eliyah had informed her that typically a royal wedding ceremony and celebration would be absolutely enormous, with preparations spanning several months and foreign dignitaries from all over the world in attendance. But, considering the current climate, Mahad had suggested a small, discreet ceremony with only a few select guests, and Atem agreed that it would be best.
Despite this, there was no expense that was spared for such an occasion. Jewelry had been rushed to the palace from leagues away just for her to try on, and the palace was already being redecorated with whites, golds and reds, fresh plants and flowers. Apparently, only people of importance and proximity would be in attendance, although Atem had made sure to arrange a special calvary for Nafi to attend. And of course Zahra would be there.
On the morning of the wedding, she thought of them in order to distract herself from her nerves. She also thought of Atem, his kind and patient face awaiting her at the front of the temple where she would promise her life to him in front of the Gods. She thought of what she dreamt last night, both of them looking out into a kingdom of a million people as the sun rose above the city.
Naima also couldn't help but to think of her mother, and wondered what she would think of her, how she would now become the Queen of the land she had once cared so much for, and if she was watching over her in the afterlife…
People continued to flit around her left and right, walking in and out of her chamber, carrying things, telling her to do this and do that. But as she stood there in between the flurry of activity around her, she took a moment to close her eyes and breathe, the golden, buttery midday sunlight warming her face, and she savored this moment of calm —
"—Ouch…"
Those damned straps on her dress had pinched her skin again.
"I am sorry, my Queen." A servant mumbled as she tied up her dress from behind.
"Fit for a Goddess…" Eliyah said, straightening out the lines of fabric behind her.
There was so much gold on her body, so many jewels. She positively shone and sparkled in the light. The amethyst ring on her finger was probably worth a years worth of her pay, and the gold bracelets on her arms had been rushed from Nubia special for her. They were like bricks on her arms and clinked with every movement.
"Not a Goddess…" Naima said, adjusting the heavy gold breastplate atop her dress. "A Queen."
"What is the difference?" Eliyah asked her as he and a few other servants began to quickly braid her hair.
Naima considered the question before she smiled. "There is a big difference. A Goddess is immortal, a Queen is not."
"Mmm, I disagree." Eliyah said, squinting at her hair in concentration, his hands braiding furiously. A golden headdress was somehow woven atop her head in between the braids.
"As a Queen, you will be remembered throughout history. Just because you depart the physical realm, does not mean you will truly die. Statues of you will be built, pictures of you painted. Books will be written about you. Your physical body may die, but your spirit lives on through memory. That, my Queen, —" He smiled at her in the mirror. "—Is immortality."
Perhaps.
Her eyes glazed over her reflection in the mirror, the sight strange and unfamiliar. A Queen stood before her, but a girl's heart still beat in her chest, wild and frantic.
"Eliyah…"
He was bent down in front of her again, now painting her eyelids with a fine powder made from crushed Lapis Lazuli.
"I'm scared."
"I would be surprised if you weren't." he said. He lined her eyes with precision, the black kohl stinging at the moist pink of her eyelids.
"Does this mean we won't be together anymore?" she mumbled.
He smiled, his dark eyes narrowing in on hers. "I believe that is your call now, my Queen."
Oh, yes. This role did come with perks.
Naima smiled. "I suppose you're right."
Eliyah had quickly mixed a deep red pigment, dipping a brush into it and painting her lips. A swift knock on the door had startled everyone, but fortunately it did not cause Eliyah's careful hands to falter.
"It cannot be time already…" Eliyah muttered, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
Naima's stomach flipped.
The door creaked open and she could have cried at the sight of two wonderful, familiar faces that emerged from the crack, faces that she had not known she desperately needed to see until now.
Nafi and Zahra crept into her room with smiles plastered on their faces, and Naima had to bite down on her tongue in order to keep the tears in her eyes from ruining Eliyah's hard work. Zahra was wearing a fitted linen dress with a golden necklace and her hair was actually brushed and out of her face, and Nafi was wearing his finest clothing, perhaps borrowed, with what appeared to be every single piece of jewelry he owned.
She shot up and threw her arms around Nafi, whimpering like a child.
When Naima had written to him about her engagement, Nafi had not said much in his letter back to her, only to offer his congratulations and that he looked forward to seeing her. His lack of response had confused her, and she assumed that perhaps he simply did not know what to say. But as he stood before her, his eyes glowing with such pride and happiness, Naima considered that perhaps the proper words did not exist.
"Look at you… my little girl, the Queen of Egypt… I'm so, so proud, Naima…" he muttered into her hair.
"I never thought I would see the day. I thought surely that you would be alone forever, married to your work…"
Of course he would think that. Naima giggled a bit. "Did you think it would be to the Pharaoh?"
She watched as he looked at her. His silence spoke volumes. He smiled and laughed and appeared lost in a thought for a moment, and Naima almost pressed him for details.
Meanwhile in between the silence, there was a strangely palpable awkwardness between Zahra and Nafi that was obvious as soon as they entered. It was as if they had not spoken in ages and were trying to be cordial. It almost became difficult to ignore.
"You sure look like a Queen, sis." Zahra said and hugged her tightly. "Can't believe my big sister is getting married and gonna be the Queen… Hey, when you're busy with important things, don't forget about me, okay?"
"Or me either…" Nafi said. His smile was easy, but his eyes were solemn.
They both were serious. Naima was both floored and horrified.
"You really think I would forget…?"
But, that discussion would have to wait.
Because several servants appeared in the door, all of them smiling and bright and eager.
"The ceremony is about to start. The Queen must come now."
-o0o-
The hot, parched earth cracked against her ornate shoes as she made the walk toward the small temple at the far end of the palace. Two servants walked behind her carrying the back of her dress, and one walked next to her with a small parasol to shield her from the sun. She resisted the urge to wipe the newly forming beads of sweat from her brow, and mused that they would probably evaporate in seconds anyways. Any drop of moisture would not stand a chance in this arid, sweltering heat.
Only in the safe shade of the temple did she feel some relief. Her vision flashed white as her eyes adjusted to the lower light, and she eventually took in the sight of the shrine absolutely packed full of people, every single one of them looking straight at her.
Her heart began to pound. There were both familiar faces, and unfamiliar faces in the crowd. She quickly spotted Nafi and Zahra at the back, and then Eliyah standing inconspicuously off to the side. She saw Penthu further toward the front, his face in his usual stony expression. And then Mana, who was beaming and waving at her. The entire court stood by the front wall. But it was only when she fixed her gaze toward the front, at where Atem stood, that she finally remembered her purpose.
He was nervous.
Naima could tell as much. He didn't… look it, though. His face was blank, and his stance was one of a Pharaoh who was dressed in the finest of gold and linen and jewels. The Millennium pendant sat heavily against his stomach.
But it was the way his shoulders stiffened, or how he kept on clenching and unclenching his fist by his side, or how he couldn't stop looking at her as she stood there. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, and then their eyes met, and Naima couldn't stop herself from walking toward him even if she tried. The entire temple went silent as she made her way toward the front, next to him, the light tap of her footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
Atem extended his hand out toward her, and she took it, taking her place next to him. He cleared his throat as they faced the statues of the Gods, and he was so, so nervous. But he looked so cute like this, she could have giggled she weren't so stiff from her own damned nerves.
Shada appeared in front of them carrying a ragged book that looked older than time itself, the binding on it creaking like it could fall apart in any moment. But he paid no mind, opening it without hesitation before launching into a sermon of endless chanting, prayers, petitions… For blessings, for a prosperous union that was fruitful of many children, for happiness. This ceremony was clearly ancient, and likely one that tens or even hundreds of Pharaohs before them had underwent, and now it was their turn. Atem's turn. She thought of it as they lit a torch together— a symbol of their union.
"Now for the presentation of gifts to the bride and her family."
Naima's mouth became as dry as the desert around her. Her hand brushed against her pocket. But … it was a presentation… not exchange. She gave Atem a sideways glance.
Atem reached toward his side and produced something gold and shiny. An amethyst bracelet, set in a simple style, and yet from the size of the stone and the cut and weight of the gold, it could have been worth twenty years of her own wage. The stone shimmered in the sunlight as he gently took her wrist and slid it through her hand.
Before she could even react, he smiled, turned his head to the side and gestured.
Out of the shadows of the temple wall, Binra emerged leading a dapple grey Arabian horse behind him. A gelding, with soft eyes and a gentle demeanor. His coat gleamed in the light of the afternoon sun, a black mane and tail smooth like strands of fine thread.
The breath in her chest sputtered from her mouth.
"For me?"
Those words burst out of her without any thought. Of course that horse was for her, but… it was so much… too much. No one had ever given her such a gift.
"For the new Queen, from the Pharaoh." Binra said, bowing his head.
Everyone, including Atem, was silent. She was pelted with stares as people waited for her to say something, a word of thanks or appreciation.
"…I love it…" she mumbled.
What a pathetic response, truly. But anymore and she would have turned into a blubbering mess.
More servants now emerged from the sides of the temple, carrying baskets of anything and everything. Gold and coins, grain, fruit, fine fabric, jugs of wine, and so, so much more. They surrounded Nafi and Zahra.
"Gifts of thanks and gratitude to the family of the new Queen." the servants said as they set the baskets down.
That was all she could muster. Her lips began quivering with what was surely the beginning of tears. She looked at Atem, her face filled with everything she could not say, desperately hoping he would understand.
"This…" she muttered under her breath, in a small trembling voice that only he could hear. "All of this… means so much to me… no one has ever—"
He brushed his thumb against the side of her cheek, as if to say that he understood. Naima wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and say everything that was on her mind. But… everyone's prying eyes were still on them, noting every move they made.
Meanwhile, Nafi had emerged in the front.
"My Pharaoh," he said, bowing deeply. "You are too generous…"
She had never felt so much love swell in her heart when Atem shook his head and said, "You have allowed me the gift of your daughter. It is clear how much you love and care for her. You have raised a truly exceptional woman under extraordinary circumstances. You should be proud."
Atem placed his hand on Nafi's shoulder.
"I promise you that I will treasure her for the rest of my days."
Nafi lifted his torso to glance at him, an enormous smile on his face. "I do not doubt it, my Pharaoh. You are a great man."
He is. And perhaps that was when it dawned on her the true extent of how lucky she was. That she, a village healer of all people, was marrying the Pharaoh. How she even got to this point is something she still did not understand, and yet as she looked at Atem, every single doubt that had ever crossed her mind and every alternate path she considered just seemed so ridiculous.
Of course he was for her, how it was supposed to be. Her husband. Strong, smart and confident, and yet kind and gentle. He was the only one she wanted to be with, the only one for her.
The sun began to set and she hardly listened as the ceremony continued on. She caught herself glancing over at Atem, catching glimpses of him before she returned her gaze to the front, wondering how long it would be until the night fell and they could leave this stuffy temple. Until she could finally feel his arms around her in peace and quiet at last, without the curious eyes of too many people. Her hand brushed against her pocket again.
By the time Shada had finally made the closing remarks and ended the ceremony, the full moon had risen above the horizon like an enormous pearl amid hues of dark blue and purple, the stars above them glittering like tiny little diamonds. True to Mahad's orders, there would be no celebration, no dancing. No food or music or long winded speeches about the kingdom they would rule together. It was only the two of them, quietly bidding each attendee farewell in what was likely her very first official Queen duty.
Exhaustion was a blanket over her mind and senses. Even lifting her feet off the ground was too much of an effort. Naima debated asking Atem to carry her as they both quietly made their way back to his chamber, a cool night breeze greeting them as soon as they entered.
The first chair she saw, she sank into.
"Ra…" she muttered, kicking off her shoes.
It was a sizable chair, with wooden arm rests and an ample cushion against her aching back. She reached behind, impatiently fumbling around with that stupid golden breastplate on her chest that had been pinching her skin all day.
"Here.." Atem said. He slipped behind her quietly, and she felt his careful fingers loosen the buckle before he slid it over her head with ease.
It was like a brick had been lifted off of her. She rubbed her chest with her palm.
"Today was very, very long." she mumbled.
"Yes, it was." he said.
He remained standing behind her, gently rubbing her shoulders.
Fatigue began to spread down her body. She closed her eyes.
"I think you're trying to make me sleep…" she teased.
She did not need to see his face to hear the smile in his voice.
"Not at all." he said.
She almost objected when he paused, until she felt him lift the headdress off her head ever so gently. And then he moved downward to the heavy gold bracelets, delicately slipping those off her arms too.
"Feels much better…" Naima mumbled, eyes still closed.
Atem made a soft sound of agreement behind her.
Naima turned around, eyeing him in the darkness. The moonlight shone at his back, but the hue of his eyes still glowed in the low light.
"I love everything you gave me today, I really do… Thank you… And thank you for what you did for my family.."
He traced the outline of her jaw, her hairline. Her skin prickled with gooseflesh at the touch of his fingertips.
"Good. You're welcome" he said.
"You know," she said. "I got you a gift too…"
Atem perked up. He looked taken aback. "You didn't have to."
Naima smiled and stood from the chair. The sheer fabric of her dress rustled in the breeze as she faced him, moonlight bathing her face.
"I wanted to, because… tradition."
She reached down, fumbling with a small bag that Eliyah had covertly slipped to her after the ceremony and pulled out a cloth-wrapped bundle, still warm. The rich, aromatic scent of spices wafted around them as she unwrapped it.
"First, I thought after this long day, you might be hungry. It is Ta'amiyah." she said. "It's fresh. Eliyah went out into the city and got it for me just a few moments ago."
He looked down at the two bundles in her hands like he couldn't believe it, and then he began to laugh. He picked up the bundle and rolled it over in his hands.
"I haven't had this in years." he mumbled.
"I figured."
He eyed the food in his hands for a little longer, and smirked at her in that hungry, facetious way of his. Before she knew it, his hands were around her waist, and he pulled her to his chest.
Her face was against his body and his scent filled her nose.
"Do you like it?" she murmured.
"It is the best gift I have ever received." he said. He stroked her hair.
Naima snorted. "Is it really?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because," he said. "It is from you."
"Good." Naima said.
"I have something else."
"Hmm?" His attention piqued again and he finally released his grip on her, eyeing her carefully as she reached back by her side toward the object she had tucked close to her body for the entire day. Something she had spent hours working on, forever waiting for the right moment…
She placed a small jar into his hands.
He took it, studying it curiously.
"What is it?"
"Open it."
He pulled the cork off the top, and almost instantaneously the smell of strong herbs cut around them. An herbal balm that she had painstakingly created from scratch using whatever free hours she had, imbuing it with her own healing energy.
"For when your days become too much…" she said. "You breathe it in or you can rub it on your skin, and it will help you relax."
He stared down at the bottle both in curiosity and surprise. Naima held her breath as he took it from her and sniffed it lightly, pausing, as if he was trying to gauge how it worked on him.
And then he smiled, and relief flooded through her.
"This was very thoughtful of you." he said.
"I did not want to simply add to the pile of jewels you already own." Naima said.
He moved in, closing in on her again, and the young moonlight now shone upon both of them, streaks of milky white peeking in between the palm leaves. His eyes sparkled and the sight of it made her her knees almost buckle as he traced his finger along her chin, his other hand along her waist.
It was as if he could not resist touching her. She quivered as his hand wandered up her arm in a light caress, tracing the seams of her dress, the back of her neck.
A coy smile had crept onto her face. "The Ta'amiyah is getting cold." Naima said nonchalantly, relishing in his touch.
His answering smirk roused a fire in her and she did not even bother to fight it as he gripped her body, holding her to him.
"I'd rather have you instead."
"You already have me." she mumbled into his chest and neck. "I'm yours… And you're mine."
"I've always been yours." He pressed his cheek into her hair. Naima tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
The glimmer in his eyes was so soft and so pure as he murmured, "You looked so beautiful today… You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And now you're mine."
"Always…" Naima said, tracing lazy a finger across his collarbone. He shuddered under her touch.
"Atem…"
She tilted her head up. His expression was gentle, and yet somehow burning, unrelenting.
"Atem, I want you to know that I am proud to be your Queen. I am ready to take my place next to you, and help you to build the thriving, prosperous kingdom that you have always dreamed of. I want to be a part of it." She loosened a shaky breath from her chest. "I am learning, always. But I promise you… that I will do my best."
Pure joy lit up like a fire upon his face and his eyes shone like rays of golden sunlight. Before she could even react, his lips found hers. He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his hips. He was moving under her, walking somewhere, and she could feel the sheer trail of her dress dragging on the floor. She didn't care where they went, if only she could still feel his lips, his body against hers.
He stopped, and she was almost sorry when he laid her on her back, onto the soft cushion of his bed. She kept her legs wrapped around him while she sat up and made a frenzied attempt to loosen the tie that kept her dress in place. He also began to undress.
But the stupid strap would not loosen and she debated ripping the fabric as she struggled.
"Fuck this dress.."
He rolled his eyes, smirking, before he gripped the sides of her dress with both hands and forcibly pulled it down her body and she squealed. He slid it through her legs and tossed it off to the side flippantly.
He was ravenous and she was desperate as his eyes devoured her body and his hands gripped her rear. He crawled overtop her, his body covering hers, his skin warm and smelling of citrus and spice.
Their lovemaking was not a passionate storm, nor was it a slow steady ache, but a song between them. So lovingly he caressed her, his mouth and fingertips gliding across her skin and her breasts. As soon as he went lower in between her legs, Naima threw her head back into a pillow.
He took his time with her, now much more confident in his touches and gestures. He flicked his tongue against her and began steady circles until she was was moaning, writhing off the bed. And then it was after she came that he crawled back up as she caught her breath, still sweating and undone. He took a moment as she breathed, pressing his forehead against hers, before he found her core again and thrust into her.
Her back arched as he settled in her, his lips on her neck and her earlobe kissing her as her own soft moans echoed into the night air. The way he moved in her was not timid, nor harsh, nor gentle either. It was just… right. Everything was. She lifted her hips to match him before she felt him stiffen atop her and shudder, spilling into her.
His damp skin stuck to hers, and his hair was in her face, but she didn't care. Another breeze had rolled through the windows and offered some relief, but not much as both of them laid there in each others arms in a sweaty, hot mess.
Atem finally rolled off her and she sidled up next to him, basking in the lazy, sweet afterglow as they laid together in quiet, lightly touching each other.
"Do you want to bathe?" he asked eventually.
Naima smiled, her eyes still closed.
"Does that mean that I smell bad?"
He smiled sheepishly. "No. But, it has been a long day."
Naima nuzzled her head against the sweaty skin in the crook of his neck.
"Only if you bathe with me."
The granite floor was cold and slippery against her feet as he led her across his chamber into the bathroom, both of them still naked.
It appeared a hot bath had already been drawn earlier before they both arrived into the chamber, likely by thoughtful servants. The water had since cooled down to lukewarm but was good enough for her as she stepped into the basin, water enveloping her like a soft hug, the scent of citrus and flowers filling her nose.
Atem sat down next to her.
"Mmm…" She dipped her head back and wet her hair before drifting over to him and straddling his hips in the water, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Remember when we went to that oasis?"
His eyes were thoughtful as he looked up into her face.
"I wanted to swim with you, like this. But you didn't want to go in the water."
He appeared to be recounting a memory as he broke his gaze away from her, instead looking distantly at the far wall. His fingers rubbed the skin of her arm absently.
"Going there with you is one of my fondest memories." he said finally.
Naima raised her eyebrows as she glanced at him. Perhaps most adventurous.. but, fondest?
"All of them with you are." he said.
"Especially back then. But, that one…" He trailed off.
"Why that one?"
He brushed a stray lock of wet hair out of her face.
"I got to see you out of your shell."
"..My shell?"
"You are so protective of yourself, Naima." he said. "No one would ever know or even guess that you jumped off a cliff into water. But I saw you do it. And that night, I saw the real you. Funny, daring, adventurous. You hide it from others. But that night, you let me see it. You let me experience a part of you. It was an adventure I will never forget."
She pursed her lips. "Even what happened after?"
He was silent in thought.
"I wouldn't change anything." he finally said.
Naima found his hand in the water and threaded her fingers with his. "We will capture him." She grabbed some perfumed soap from the side and began to wash his torso.
"If I have to make it my own personal mission… I will."
And as she slid the soap over his skin, he placed his hand atop hers, stopping her. Naima looked up.
"We are a team." he said with a smile. "We will do it… together."
Oh, right.
He really meant it. And the realization pitted in her stomach that perhaps for this entire time, she has been quite silly. That she was never nearly as alone as she always thought she was… and that maybe, things would actually turn out… okay. Naima mulled it over as they both took their time washing until the water eventually became cold.
Her stomach rumbled loudly as they exited the bath, eyes fixating on the Ta'amiyah that still sat untouched on the table. She lunged for it and took a bite.
"Mmm… It's still good!"
Her mouth was full of food, her words muffled. She offered it to Atem. "Want some?"
He smiled and took a bite from her hand, and she giggled as she wiped a bit of sauce from his lips. And in that moment, she could not even fathom that she had so adamantly said no to this before.
Because she was home, he was her home.
His eyes shone when he looked at her, radiant in the moonlight as she smiled, took his hand and led him back to bed. And as they laid together, their love a quiet hum between them, she knew that there was nowhere else she would rather be.
Author's note:
-First, SO sorry for the delayed update! I promise this story is not dead! Over the last few months I moved houses and started a new job so that has taken up A LOT of my time and energy. I do anticipate being able to write a bit more now that things have settled.
-If you guys are interested in literary devices, I wanted to bring attention to the symbolism of horses in this story. Horses were very rare in ancient Egypt and only very wealthy, important people owned one. Note that in chapter 1, Naima had never ridden a horse and was hesitant when Atem invited her to ride with him. There is a slow progression throughout the story with her getting more comfortable around horses and better at riding. And now in this chapter she received one as a wedding gift — a symbol of her new status as royal. I wanted to point this out in case it was too subtle.
Chapter 36: Attune
Chapter Text
Naima had never worn so much gold.
It was necessary, Shimon informed her, to look the part of the Queen, even if she did not particularly care to wear so many expensive, glittering decorations on her body. Early on when she chose to forgo a gaudy display of jewels, it had certainly made a difference in how she was treated - and not for the better.
Naima had been mistaken for a High Priestess by several dignitaries on more than one occasion, but after a particularly nasty incident where she was mistaken for a concubine, Atem swiftly declared that the next person to call her such would be thrown into a pit of snakes and then burned. From then on, Naima was expected to wear her jewels at all times.
"The jewelry acts as a reminder of who you are, else you will not be taken seriously, I'm afraid." Shimon said to her. "A show of wealth is a necessary means to garnering respect."
Her lips formed a thin line.
"People do not already know who I am?"
Shimon shifted uncomfortably before shaking his head.
"Well, of course they wouldn't, silly.. You and the Pharaoh had such a small wedding with no official announcement. Word travels by mouth, but not as quickly as you think."
Naima's heart raced. Typical of Atem to make no proclamation despite what was expected of him. He must have a reason, forever meticulous in his decisions.
She inhaled deeply, his words settling into her like stones as she took in her new chamber. Well, their new chamber. He had broken tradition once again by offering her a choice - to share his chamber or to keep her own and stay separate from one another.
She immediately informed him that she found the latter choice quite absurd.
"Are we not husband and wife?" She had asked him with a quirked brow.
He only smiled in response.
"Some Pharaohs in the past had preferred to keep separate from their wives and consorts. And some Queens also preferred it." Atem's words were almost an apology.
Naima snorted at that, scandalized by the very suggestion. "If that were us, I would rather be single."
And before she thought she could love him more, he smiled, wrapped his arms around her and said, "So would I."
She relished in that memory as she bathed and dressed for the day. She had been gifted a rather large collection of jewels from Atem's court, with several pieces having belonged to the Queens who reigned before her. At first, Naima was unsure what to do with the entirety of it, afraid to even touch them, afraid that if she even removed them from the safety of the box, they would be stolen or lost or destroyed.
But today she opened the box of jewels that sat neatly inside her vanity, eyeing the contents - a priceless collection of all manner of different gems. Sapphires and diamonds, massive chunks of lapis and pearl. There was one milky green stone that she had never seen or heard of before that Isis called "jade", apparently a gift from a foreign land hundreds of years ago.
Naima draped a heavy gold necklace around her neck, a large garnet glittering in the center, and she felt its weight settle onto her collarbone. She proceeded to slip several gold bracelets onto her wrists along with the bracelet Atem gave her - her favorite - and she placed an intricate headpiece atop her head before meeting the eyes of her reflection.
The weight on her body was a reminder of who she was... Who she had become.
"There..," Shimon said with satisfaction as he adjusted the headpiece on her head. "Fit for a Queen."
Atem had been long gone from the palace by the time Naima roused from sleep, summoned away to Thebes on urgent business with the promise to return shortly.
So she had breakfast with Shimon on the balcony overlooking the Nile before their daily morning meeting with the court. They sipped tea and leaned into the morning sun, enjoying the lull of the waves of the Nile, the arrival of milder weather a long-awaited reprieve from the scorching heat.
The last two weeks had signaled the start of the cool season – A surge of damp winds from the north have replaced the dry, empty breezes that peddled across the desert for endless months. The Nile has now begun to overflow its banks, spilling into the parched ground and breathing life into an otherwise barren landscape. Aromas of blooming flora and sweet earth wafted through the open windows into every room and hall, beckoning everyone to abandon their responsibilities for something more exciting.
Naima herself was teetering on the brink of surrender, having settled into her chair and tempted to ask Eliyah to bring her a scroll to read, when a clamor jolted her from her headspace.
"Ah," Shimon remarked, putting his cup down with a clink as he peered at Atem and a few others marching towards the palace gates. "The Pharaoh is here, and we can finally commence this day.
The morning meeting - something that happened regularly, as consistent as the sunrise. It was a small gathering, often mundane. But it was where history was forged and the future of an entire nation hinged on the decisions made inside the chamber walls.
Although it had been a few weeks since Naima began to be involved, she still got a pang of nerves at the thought. This quickly subsided once Atem walked in and kissed her on the cheek.
"When should we expect an heir from you two?" Shimon asked jovially as he eyed both of them.
"Um.." Naima sputtered. Her cheeks reddened.
"Soon enough." Atem announced casually before Naima had a chance. One of his hands found its way to the small of her waist.
They were certainly doing their best, spending every one of their nights tangled up in one another making love - so surely it was only a matter of time until their efforts created an heir. Naima's heart sang with anticipation.
Producing an heir.. technically another one of her Queen duties, but one that was much more interesting and pleasurable. Better than the endless meetings she had to attend with Atem. Every day was an eternity of politics and posturing, filled to overflowing with diplomatic sessions, court hearings, and banquets with local nobility. But Naima never wavered in her vision for a brighter future.
They stepped out of the chamber and Naima grabbed Atem's hand out of habit. If it weren't for him, she would have surely been lost the first few weeks. She had clung to him initially, secretly afraid that alone she would flail and falter, that the confident and poised front that she so carefully constructed would crack beneath the unyielding pressure of this unknown world.
People looked at her for answers and she could not provide any. Not yet, at least. Every interaction was an opportunity to learn, to become the Queen that she wanted to be.
As they walked toward the meeting room, Naima's mind was a tangle of anxieties. Taxes and foreign trade and squabbles between regions about seemingly little things. All the while, the looming threat from other nations looking at Egypt like a conquest. And yet a more elusive menace still lingered within their borders - an army of bold, unruly thieves that somehow continued to elude capture. It was an issue that gnawed at her, a quiet fury building with each passing day.
"-Pssst -"
Guards immediately stood to attention and Naima's heart stuttered as she spun. But as soon as everyone saw Zahra's triumphant figure hidden behind a towering pot of acacia, her burgundy eyes shining through the foliage, a wave of relief washed over the group.
A mischievous grin danced across Zahra's face.
"What's up, sis?"
Warmth flooded Naima's cheeks as she caught Atem's court trying to contain their laughter from the corner of her eye.
Naima inhaled deeply, her breath filled with equal parts amusement and frustration.
"Skipping school again, I see..."
Zahra smirked. "Not skipping. I prefer 'taking a well-deserved mini vacation', thank you."
Naima raised an eyebrow, hating that she was unable to resist the growing amusement at her sister's antics.
"So what grand scheme are you up to now?"
Zahra eyed the guards, along with the members of the court that were looking curiously.
"I prefer to operate in secrecy." she mumbled with a wink.
Meanwhile, Atem had strolled over from across the hall, amusement sparkling in his eyes. Naima turned toward him, her gaze briefly shifting to the court behind him that was waiting patiently.
"I'll join you all soon." she said.
"Of course." he said and pressed a tender kiss to her hand before turning away with his court in tow, the hall echoing with fading footsteps. And at last once they were alone, Zahra fully stepped out from behind the plant.
Something gold shone on her arm – A diadhank. It glinted in the shadows of the palace hallway, sitting like an enormous golden flower on her wrist. Zahra looked so smug that Naima thought she would burst.
"Zahra...? How did you get that?"
"Found it." Zahra said nonchalantly as she adjusted it on her wrist. "There were a bunch laying around somewhere."
"Somewhere.." Naima echoed skeptically. "Where?"
"I dunno, somewhere. I don't remember." she said.
Zahra would absolutely be the death of her. Or her reputation. Whichever one came first.
Zahra's gaze collided with the displeasure radiating from Naima's face. "Don't worry about it, you're the Queen! If you say it's okay then it is."
"A queen that cannot keep her own sister from misbehaving in the palace..." Naima muttered.
Hope shimmered in Zahra's eyes.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Say it's okay!" Zahra said.
"You don't even know how to use it!" Naima said.
Undeterred, Zahra stood tall and proud, determination in every inch of her body.
"Then teach me!" Zahra declared.
"Please?"
Naima hesitated, caught between Zahra's unshakable will and her own inexperience. She could not teach something she barely knew herself.
"My Queen."
A small voice sounded behind them. They both turned to see Isis standing at the far end of the hall, her hands clasped at her midriff. Isis's gaze flitted between each of them.
"I cannot help but to have overheard.." she said, nodding to the diadhank on Zahra's wrist.
"Allow me to train her."
Naima stiffened, caught off guard by the suggestion. She looked over and saw Zahra's mouth open in disbelief.
Isis crossed her arms as she eyed Zahra sternly. Her lips twitched into an unreadable expression as she took a step forward, her gaze fierce and unflinching.
"You hold unfathomable power, unspeakable potential. But it is in vain if you do not have the discipline to wield it intelligently. To control your power, you must control yourself. I can help you to do that, Zahra."
Isis's offer struck Naima as a bit odd. Perhaps she was just trying to be nice, or curry favor with her. Either way, she supposed it didn't matter. Help was help.
Meanwhile Zahra continued to gape at Isis, speechless. Eventually, Naima felt Zahra looking to her - for guidance, or perhaps permission. Naima simply shrugged in assent.
"Sure." she said.
Zahra turned back toward Isis whose expression softened ever so slightly.
"So much power in such a tiny vessel requires great control." Isis said, her voice steady. "Train with me, Zahra."
"Um.. okay..." Zahra breathed, exchanging one last look with Naima.
"Thank you, Isis." Naima said, bowing her head in gratitude.
The priestess gave a single nod of acknowledgement.
"Come." she said and gestured Zahra over.
Zahra nodded mutely, still dumbstruck as she scurried over to Isis's side.
"I'll see you soon." Naima mouthed to her sister who, as she walked with Isis, kept turning around and looking back at her.. until they disappeared together around the corner.
-o0o-
The small study was more cramped than Naima remembered it.
Before becoming Queen, she had only been in there once, seemingly ages ago when she was just a bloodied, dirt-covered village girl quivering with anxiety as her fate was discussed around the table. Times changed, but the room remained largely the same with the exception of more people crammed into it.
The full court was present, along with herself and Atem while a scribe sat silently in the corner scratching away on papyrus, taking note of every syllable that was uttered.
Naima alternated watching him write furiously and monitoring the beads of sweat on everyone's foreheads as they tackled the agenda for this morning's meeting.
"Where is Isis?" Aknadin exclaimed, glaring at the empty seat across from him.
"She is busy this morning with another commitment." Naima said.
"Another commitment?" Aknadin said, glancing at Atem.
"Just leave her be." Mahad said quickly. "It's not our place to question. I will update her with whatever she missed."
Atem did not seem to mind, putting his hand up to signal quiet.
"Let's begin."
Shada folded his hands on the table in front of him, a pensive look on his face.
"My Pharaoh, it has been weeks since he has been sighted." he declared somberly.
Bakura.
The very name seemed to hang in the air like an oppressive fog.
Atem sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping across the room as he eyed his court.
"We must continue our search. And in the meantime, we will strengthen our forces. It is imperative that we are ready once the time comes."
"What do you think we will face, my Pharaoh?" Shada ventured hesitantly.
Atem fell silent for a moment, thoughts in his mind whirring behind a stony mask of focus.
"An army.. of anything and everything."
"And then what will we do? Once we find him?"
Karim interjected with an air of eagerness, his fist pounding against the wooden table.
"Execute him!" he interjected, his eyes burning with passion. "We should make an example of him. Public execution right in the center of Thebes."
Atem held up a hand to silence him.
"I will decide that once we capture him." he said, his firm gaze momentarily locking with Karim's before turning back to everyone else. "Right now, I am more concerned with finding him and the ones that aid him and his cause."
A few heads nodded in agreement as another voice spoke up from within the crowd. Aknadin's voice reverberated throughout the crowded room.
"Do you not feel that at this point we should do something more drastic, my Pharaoh? This has been going on for weeks with no resolution."
Atem eyed him carefully. "What do you suggest?"
The room went silent as the attention shifted to Aknadin.
"If we still cannot find him after all this time, then clearly we must be doing more. We need more power if we ever hope to find him."
Atem's attention piqued. "Go on."
"I suggest that we use our Ka to increase the scope of our search. We cannot sit here idly any longer – we must take action if we are to find him and bring peace back to Egypt. We could be doing more, instead of sitting here with our tails between our legs, waiting for him to come to us." Aknadin said.
Atem raised an eyebrow.
Aknadin held Atem's gaze. "Let us not forget what is at stake here; I believe it is time that we take bold action and put an end to this hunt so we may focus on your empire. For this to work, we must obtain more powerful Ka so that this can be finished once and for all.. instead of chasing some rat all across Egypt." Aknadin spat.
Atem studied him before finally answering. "I will consider it, Aknadin."
Aknadin folded his hands atop the table and looked at Atem with contempt.
"Your reign has been very quiet thus far, compared to your father's." he remarked.
"My reign is still young." Atem replied calmly.
"But by this time, your father already had several statues of himself commissioned in the center of Thebes and Memphis." Aknadin pointed out.
"I prefer to focus on things that are important." Atem said stiffly
"Yet, it may be those things you deem unimportant that might be very important to others," Aknadin said knowingly.
At last, Atem's patience began to wane. Anger flickered in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"I am saying that it is as if the people do not know their own Pharaoh." Aknadin remarked.
Heavy silence ensued.
"After your father made his journey to the afterlife, you simply assumed the throne. You made no announcement." Aknadin said.
"And then, your marriage.." Aknadin shot Naima a brief look. "A new queen had been chosen, but there was no celebration, no world leaders were invited - and yet it should have been one of the grandest events of all time."
"Safety takes precedence."
"Your decisions were perfectly reasonable, my Pharaoh. But just know that the people feel cheated of what was supposed to be a monumental celebration that they normally take part in. When your father married, there was a party in the streets for seven days."
Aknadin continued. "You must establish your presence, remind them who their ruler is, and you will earn their respect."
"Mahad," Atem said, turning toward him. "What are your thoughts?"
Mahad snorted, an incredulous expression on his face as he glared at Aknadin.
"You want to throw a party? You want to open ourselves up to more risk?"
Aknadin shook his head and met Atem's gaze.
"My Pharaoh, you have done well by keeping a low profile, and for good reason. But, you are the Pharaoh. I suggest that you not allow the current situation to keep you from serving the people of Egypt to the best of your ability. What message would it send if some thieving rat scared us into hiding for weeks? This is no way to garner the respect of the people. We mustn't let fear dictate our choices and lifestyle. If we change, he will have succeeded."
Aknadin's words seemed to have struck a chord within everyone. Atem paused, peering back at him thoughtfully.
"I have been hesitant to make any official announcement...," he began quietly. His gaze softened as he spoke.
"For fear of further disrupting an already fragile kingdom. To have brought in a new Queen so quickly could have been a dangerous gambit that I would not risk putting Naima through..." He stole a glance at her as his voice trailed off.
There it was.
Naima peered at him from the side, her heart swollen with love. He was only trying to be careful, to protect her and everyone else. His gaze met hers, a world of emotion swirling in the depths of those eyes. He held her gaze for only a moment before turning his attention to Aknadin.
"But there is merit in your words, Aknadin." Atem muttered.
"The day that we let fear control our lives.. is the day that darkness reigns supreme."
Mahad wore a look of surprise. "Do you really want to do this, my Pharaoh?"
Atem turned toward Naima.
"What do you think?"
Everyone's eyes were now on her.
"Ah.. um..."
Naima swallowed, her mouth becoming dry.
'Say something, dammit..'
She took a breath, regaining her composure. One look at Atem's face and she knew her answer.
"I agree with you." she said. Her voice was strong and determined despite her trembling body. She turned toward the court.
"We will not be undermined by a criminal. We stand together - no matter what comes our way."
Atem turned toward her and grabbed her hand into his. "No more will we be held back by fear."
"Then let us have a public announcement and a party! To celebrate your rule and your union.." Shimon piped up, joy in his eyes. "It has been quite gloomy around here lately and it's been much too long since we have had something to celebrate. I believe we all can use something to lift our spirits."
Atem nodded and smiled. The atmosphere shifted, a wave of anticipation and renewed hope washing over the room, something that seemingly has not been felt around here in ages.
"Mahad," Atem said. The two of them exchanged a silent glance, a moment of unspoken understanding.
"We will require extra security on and around the premises from now onward." Atem bowed his head slightly.
"I entrust this duty to you."
Mahad nodded, dedication burning fierce in his eyes.
"Yes, my Pharaoh. I will not fail you."
Atem then turned to face his court head on, the smile on his face gleaming with a brilliance that rivaled the sun.
"See to it that a public gathering shall be held in honor of me and Naima, their new Queen. A celebration will follow."
His voice was raw power, his words royal decree.
"Yes, my Pharaoh." They all said in unison.
Atem rose from the table, placing both hands on the surface.
"So let it be written," he declared. The noises of a reed pen were barely audible.
"So let it be done."
Chapter 37: Trials
Chapter Text
The roar of the crowd shook even the stone walls of the palace. Naima had never faced a crowd this large before; a crowd expecting a monumental announcement... She could only pray that they would be received positively.
Atem stood beside her in the antechamber, his arms crossed with an expression of deep thought upon his face. He was used to scenes like this, calm and composed in any and every situation. But for Naima, the gravity of it all nearly smothered her whole. Atem must have sensed her apprehension as he suddenly squeezed her hand tightly, grounding her and lending her strength.
Shada signaled for them, stating that the crowd was ready. In a daze, Naima floated along the hall next to Atem as if she was a ghost, her legs like mush, until they reached their destination - the ornate stone balcony that faced the courtyard that led into the city.
With Atem next to her, Naima took a deep breath and stepped into the light. The sight that awaited them was breathtaking. The crowd stretched out as far as the eye could see, a vast sea of faces all turned towards them. The air vibrated with anticipation, and the roar of the crowd threatened to drown out her very thoughts. Shouts, cheers and chants of "Pharaoh" rang out from every direction until finally Atem raised his hand high in the air prompting an even greater roar from those assembled. Naima was utterly astounded. The sheer enormity of the moment hit her then, a sudden clarity that both terrified and thrilled her.
"People of Egypt," Atem's commanding voice echoed off the stone walls, silencing the crowd. The sudden quiet was deafening.
"I am Atem, the son of Aknamkanon, and the rightful Pharaoh of this kingdom by blood."
As he spoke, the crowd went to their knees in a sweeping wave, their heads bowed in reverence. It was a sight Naima would never forget.
"As your Pharaoh," He raised his arms wide in a gesture of respect. "It is my privilege and solemn duty to serve and protect Egypt and its people. I vow to guide this kingdom through both prosperity and war and to protect the peace and justice that we have long held sacred."
Various cheers echoed throughout the crowd.
Atem's gaze swept over the crowd, taking in the sight of his people, before settling back on her. He took her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers.
"And, it is my honor to announce my marriage to Naima, your new Queen."
At those words, he took her hand in his and raised it to the sky as the crowd cheered. Smiling, excited faces looked at her.
"Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to our nation once more."
The roar of the crowd filled Naima's ears as she stood there before the people.
Her people.
They were cheering for her, their smiling excited faces peering up at her. She was filled with newfound courage. She turned toward Atem with a smile on her face, and she saw his warm eyes as he glanced at her, then faced the crowd once more.
"Please, join me in celebration tonight of the Festival of the Pharaoh. Eat, drink, and celebrate to your hearts content. For the future is bright."
The jubilant cheers of the people filled the streets as they dispersed into the night. Naima felt a bitter-sweet exhilaration dance across her skin, knowing what the evening would bring, and she couldn't help but smile as she followed Atem off of the balcony. But as soon as they stepped inside the hallway, she could barely contain herself from gasping at the scene before her.
The hall was beyond exquisite. Rich linen drapes hung along the walls adorned with deep purple trimmings and vibrant floral arrangements. The tantalizing aromas of freshly prepared dishes filled the air as servants circulated through the room with platters of succulent roast meats and exotic fruits. Female dancers twirled around the space adorned in shimmering bejeweled dresses that glinted in the torchlight.
The air hummed with revelry and merriment, the din of laughter and clinking of goblets echoing throughout.
They marched forward and a hush descended upon the crowd. Everyone got on their hands and knees, heads bowed in reverence as they passed by.
'Get up... why are you stopping for me.' A long lost part of her whispered in her mind.
Atem settled onto his throne and Naima followed, mesmerized by the dancing, the alluring music playing in the background. The servants were kind enough to bring them a variety of delectables of which Naima happily partook. Yielding to the allure of the moment, she even allowed herself two goblets of wine. Atem did the same, relaxing back in his throne as he enjoyed the festivities around him.
Naima barely registered the flash of Isis's necklace in her periphery and her concerned and fearful face until she spun quickly.
"Mahad, quick!" she shouted frantically.
Mahad immediately planted himself in front of them, his cloak billowing like a formidable shield. Bewildered shouts and cries from around them filled the air with a sense of tension that Naima could almost taste, yet it felt miles away due to her hazed vision.
"Seize him!" Seto commanded, his blue eyes alight with fury.
Naima whipped her gaze upwards, watching two guards tackle a man to the ground and bind him tightly with rope.
"What is going on?" Naima hissed to Atem, and to Mahad who was still in front of them.
Neither of them answered, fixated on the commotion in front of them.
"Bring this scum before the Pharaoh, now." Seto seethed.
A man appeared from the crowd and was brought before them, restrained by two guards. His face was a mix of defiance and fear.
"How dare you interrupt our celebration and sacred ceremony." Isis spat.
"Throw this man into the dungeon." Mahad growled darkly. "We will deal with him later."
Seto glared at the man menacingly, a cruel smirk flashing across his lips. "I've got a better suggestion." he murmured deviously. "Let us proceed with a Millennium Trial - to show all who oppose us just how powerful the Pharaoh's regime is."
Shimon and Aknadin both nodded in agreement next to her. And with Atem's final nod of approval, the full force of the pharaoh's regime stood before him.
"Let us commence with the Millennium trial of this man's soul." Aknadin declared.
Naima's blood ran cold as she remembered her own experience standing before the dreaded Eye of Wdjat. But as she came to understand that he had been sent to murder them with a poison dart, her empathy for him vanished.
As the trial progressed, a clawed, four-armed monster was extracted from the man, and eventually Seto ordered a large stone tablet be brought into the hall.
"The creature within you has no place in this kingdom. I will relinquish it." Seto declared. With a single wave of his Millennium Rod, it was sealed into the tablet, a fleeting growl echoing through the room as it set into the stone with a faint glimmer.
Seto waved his hand dismissively.
"Now that we have gotten what we require out of this fool, he can go rot in the dungeon."
Aknadin's eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms over his chest. "We have expelled the evil from his heart Seto. By decree, he should go free."
Seto paid no heed to Aknadin's words, instead shooting Mahad a cold smirk.
"Isn't palace security your job? How convenient that an intruder was able to crash the Pharaoh's party while you were off daydreaming. I guess it takes a special kind of incompetence to fail at your job so spectacularly."
Mahad's jaw clenched as he took in Seto's venom laced words.
He turned toward Atem and knelt before him.
"I am sorry for my failure, My Pharaoh... Not having the Millennium Ring has made things increasingly difficult."
The tablet was eventually dragged away and the hall descended into a thick and anxious silence. Naima sat back into her chair and sighed, scanning around the room and eventually catching sight of Isis's necklace glowing eerily. Her heart fluttered in her throat.
"What do you see Isis?" Karim hissed toward her.
Isis held her hands up to her neck, the glowing necklace almost pulsating on her skin.
"A dark force, worse than anything that we could have imagined. It is coming for us."
The energy in the room shifted, a tangible dread sweeping through. Then, the doors flew open and Naima's blood turned to ice as she realized who was before them.
Bakura.
He stood at the entrance mounted atop a black stallion, a large gold object tied to its body.
Terror clawed her insides as her heart skipped several beats.
'No, It cannot be...'
He strode through the doors atop his horse, the large object tied to its body dragging behind him on the granite floors.
Naima squinted her eyes, and her heart leapt into her throat. It was a sarcophagus.
The sarcophagus of Aknamkanon.
A bitter taste flooded her mouth as a chill swept through her. She was glued to her seat, unable to move while Bakura rode into the great hall atop his horse, dragging Akanmkanon's sarcophagus behind him. He halted in the center of the room and locked his icy eyes with her, before they slid away to Atem. A cruel smirk curved his lips.
"Well? Did you miss me? I am rather insulted that I hadn't been invited to your big celebration."
"Bakura." Atem growled as he eyed the sarcophagus on the floor, fury and disgust rolling off him in waves.
"Why are you here and what have you done?"
A sly smirk appeared on Bakura's face, the Millennium Ring glinting atop his chest.
"Why else my Pharaoh, but to add to my glorious collection of the Millennium Items," he crooned.
Bakura dismounted from his horse and untied the sarcophagus from its body.
"In exchange, I have brought you back something you have missed so dearly. But before I give it to you, I'll be sure to give it my own special touch."
He lifted his robe up to his hips, exposing himself. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips before a putrid stench filled the chamber. Naima watched, aghast, as Bakura proceeded to urinate onto the sarcophagus.
Bakura then stepped back, cackling, before giving it a final kick in their direction. Naima watched in horror as the sarcophagus skidded across the granite floor before settling right at Atem's feet. Fury lit up Atem's eyes as the gilded face of Aknamkanon lay defiled and stained with urine. Naima's heart pounded in her ears as she watched, helpless and outraged.
Atem's face was contorted with disbelief and outrage unlike anything she had ever seen before.
"Bakura," he snarled, his voice thick with rage. "Your disrespect is appalling."
A cruel smirk spread across Bakura's face. "It was only a joke, Pharaoh," he taunted. "Surely you can appreciate the irony of having the king of thieves blessing your reign?"
"You are an arrogant fool who will not escape punishment," Seto said coldly as he raised his Millennium Rod. "Behold the might of the High Court of Egypt!"
Atem stepped forward from his throne, his eyes blazing with ferocious intensity.
"Crossing us was a mistake you will regret," Atem said menacingly. "Now your soul must be judged by the Millennium Items."
"You think your little rules and court apply to me? If you have not noticed already, Pharaoh, your kingdom is one revolt away from anarchy." Bakura snarled.
"Bring us a sealing tablet at once." Seto shouted. "Let the Millennium trial begin."
It was a trial that evolved into a battle between good and evil, an examination and a test of skill. However, Bakura's Diabound proved to be too strong against even the High Court of Egypt.
"How can this be?" Karim exclaimed, watching as Seto recovered from a blow to his Ka from Bakura's Diabound.
"This is your weakness," Bakura spat. "You rely too heavily on the power of the Millennium Items and are unprepared to face an enemy with more strength and cunning."
He stepped forward, glaring at Aknankanon's sarcophagus with repulsion.
"This is what you get for trusting a ruler whose kingdom can't even protect itself against someone of my caliber," he sneered, before turning to Atem and Seto with an arrogant smirk on his face. "It seems this reign will be coming to an end soon."
"How dare you insult the Pharaohs of Egypt and descrate the great Pharaoh Aknamkanon's resting place." Karim growled.
"Great Pharaoh?" Bakura spat. "He was a tyrant! He wanted power... Which is why he destroyed my home and killed my people in order create those Millennium Items that you all use without any thought."
Naima's mind reeled as memories of her mother and Aknadin in the meeting room bombarded her.
"What you speak of is treason." Aknadin shouted.
"If you don't believe me, you probably are not aware of the Millennium Stone. It lies in my village. The one who gathers all the Millennium items in the stone will be given the ultimate power." Bakura replied with a glimmer in his eye.
"Treasonous lies. All of it. We will banish you and your evil from where you came." Shada said.
"Enough of this." Karim said. "Let us destroy him."
"There is nothing I would like better." said Seto.
Bakura grinned and his wicked laughter echoed through the palace walls. "You fools are no match for my single monster! Just one more Diabound attack and your kingdom will be rubble."
He was right.
After multiple losses, everyone was hunched over. Meanwhile Atem seethed in silent fury, his father's desecrated sarcophagus at his feet.
"How dare you defile this sacred space and defile my ancestors." Atem growled. "This is despicable, even for you. Now leave this palace before I remove you."
Bakura cackled, ignoring him.
"How pathetic. You and your puny weaklings will not defeat me. I will enjoy this victory, Pharaoh. And your Millennium Items will be mine."
One minute Naima was sitting there, the next she saw Atem's diadhank shoot out. A massive white cylinder of light blinded her and a roar deafened her ears. The light eventually faded to reveal a giant dragon, its red scales shimmering in the torchlight, and she realized she was now laying eyes on the Sky Dragon that found allegiance with Atem. He had summoned it, again.
"Hah! You fool... You unleash that dragon again? My diabound takes on the abilities of every monster it fights, and it grows stronger by the day." Bakura's eyes had an evil glint to them. "I beat your Sky Dragon once before, and I will beat it again."
The force of their powers collided in a blast that shook the entire room. Naima gripped the edges of her arm rest, watching as Slifer's scales dulled beneath Diabound's oppressive darkness, and she felt hope start to disappear. Bakura wore a cold smirk on his face as Slifer began to slowly fade away.
But as despair threatened to take hold, an unexpected glint flashed in the eyes of Slifer. Amidst the haze in the room, an awe-inspiring figure arose to loom over them— blue armor flashing like lightning against the torches, boasting a presence that could barely be contained.
A second divine beast had been summoned by Slifer from some hidden plane of existence, seemingly drawing from a reserve of power beyond comprehension.
A gasp of surprise rippled through the hall at the sight of a new entity. An unknown monster, draped in powerful magic that surpassed even Divine Slifer's formidable might. No one even dared to move a muscle.
Bakura's cocky smirk vanished in an instant. Magic radiated from the creature, and when it laid its eyes upon Bakura, the thief took an uneasy step back.
"What is that?"
"Geb?" Naima muttered under her breath. "Is that... Obelisk the Tormentor?"
Atem glanced at her when she spoke, understanding dawning in his gaze.
"That," Atem grinned confidently. "Is our reinforcement."
A deafening explosion reverberated through the hall accompanied by a blinding light. The two monsters clashed, unleashing their destructive forces upon each other. Obelisk the Tormentor's energy was far stronger than Bakura's dark monster, and with another wave of power, it seemed that Obelisk was about to win.
The balance of the battle had quickly shifted, and with it, the atmosphere in the great hall. Bakura paused, as if he could feel the fate of his victory hanging in the air. His smirk was gone now, replaced only by a sneer. He quickly barked an order to Diabound to retreat. With one more spiteful glance at Atem, he leapt onto his horse and rode away, leaving the hall awash in a stunned silence.
"Guards! After him!" someone shouted.
A flurry of movement erupted from all directions, people scrambling in pursuit of Bakura. But Atem's gaze stayed fixed on Obelisk, watching as the divine beast started to dissipate into mist until there was nothing left but wisps of smoke in its wake.
Naima climbed to her feet, joining Atem at his side. Their fingers quickly twined together. Atem squeezed her hand before leading her back to the balcony where they once stood together and addressed a cheering crowd. Now, when she peered out into the horizon, fires lined the city streets as guards worked frantically to contain the unrest.
A hidden moon lurked behind an impenetrable wall of navy clouds, and they stood together in awed silence. Atem's firm grip on her hand was the only thing tethering her to reality as fear crept through her veins.
The swish of fabric broke the silence, and they both spun around to find Mahad. He stood a respectful distance away, his gaze downcast, his features etched with regret. His usual aura of calm confidence was replaced with a palpable guilt.
"My Pharaoh, my Queen," he uttered. "I deeply apologize for the disgraceful incident that occurred."
Atem glanced at him, his eyes softening at Mahad's contrite stance. He walked over to him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Mahad, it's not your fault," Atem told him, his tone steady. "Bakura was an unforeseen threat, one that we weren't prepared for."
Mahad's frame tightened, his jaw like stone. His fierce gaze didn't flinch from the marble beneath his feet.
"I swear on my life, Pharaoh," he said with a fervor that made Naima's heart ache. "I will not rest until Bakura is brought to justice. I will make amends for my failure."
For a brief moment, a heavy silence filled the space between them, but it was quickly broken by the sound of quick, light footsteps echoing in the stone corridor.
A moment later, Mana burst onto the balcony. Her chestnut hair bounced around her face as she skidded to a halt, an excited gleam in her eyes.
"Mahad!" she cried, her voice full of concern. "I just heard... what happened." Her gaze darted between Mahad and Naima, taking in their serious expressions.
Mahad turned slowly to face her, his eyes heavy with regret. Mana visibly flinched at his haunted look, but then she squared her shoulders.
"Mahad," she said, stepping closer and placing her hands on her hips in a mock-angry posture, "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. You can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders!"
She poked him in the chest for emphasis. Mahad seemed taken aback by her outburst, but then his lips quirked upwards into a small smile.
"I know, Mana," he admitted, some of the tension draining from his face. "But it's not easy to forget."
"You can't change what's happened," Mana said, her tone softening. "But we're all in this together, remember?"
-o0o-
As dawn bled across the sky washing the city in a soft golden light, Atem and Naima were not cuddling in bed, or quietly making love like usual this time of the morning. Instead, they found themselves in an urgent meeting.
The tight space of the meeting room was heavy and fraught with tension. Naima could feel their collective anxiety in her bones, palpable beneath the flickering torchlight. They all sat close together around the wooden table.
Their recent encounter with Bakura had shaken everyone to their core. The unchecked power of the rogue thief, and now, the appearance of Obelisk the Tormentor, the divine manifestation of Geb who was sent to protect earth. The room was awhirl with questions, concerns, and fear.
"We must locate Obelisk," Shimon declared, his eyes hard with determination. "We can't afford to let this power fall into the wrong hands."
Shada nodded in agreement. "Shimon is correct. This divine beast is a significant asset. Our priority should be to secure it before anyone else."
Seto's gaze swept over the group. "We cannot allow such a powerful entity to get away from us. Who knows what could happen if it falls into the wrong hands."
Shada nodded in agreement. "That's correct, Seto. And considering the display of power we witnessed, it's not only a matter of keeping it away from the wrong hands, but also understanding its capabilities."
Aknadin, to Naima's surprise, was notably quiet. A flicker of suspicion danced in Naima's mind, but she quickly brushed it aside. Now was not the time for baseless accusations, especially when the safety of their kingdom was at stake.
Karim spoke up. "We need to act swiftly. We've seen how Bakura has grown in power. If he were to get his hands on this divine beast..."
He didn't need to finish the sentence. The implications hung in the air.
Isis interjected, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the anxiety permeating the room. "We must remember that Slifer summoned this entity. It only answers a call from a select few, just like Slifer answers to Atem. It stands to reason that it might not answer to another's call as willingly."
Mahad, still wearing his guilt like a shroud, was silent. His eyes were clouded with a mix of determination and regret. He had a score to settle with Bakura, and the rest of the court could see that.
The meeting continued, the room alive with heated debates and strategizing. They were the protectors of Egypt, sworn to ensure its safety and prosperity. They would find this divine beast, secure it, and ensure the power it held would not fall into the wrong hands.
Yet, amidst all the strategizing, Naima couldn't help but glance over at Aknadin every now and then. There was something off about him that she couldn't quite place.
Mahad, who had been silent throughout most of the meeting, eventually found his voice. He stood up, the faint traces of guilt still visible on his face, but his voice rang clear and strong.
"Rest assured," he began, "the tomb of Aknamkanon will never be disturbed again. My team of sorcerers is casting a spell right now to secure its walls as we speak. I shall personally ensure the tomb's safety myself."
"Thank you, Mahad." Atem said.
Seto crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.
"The illustrious Mahad is on the job," Seto drawled. "We can all sleep peacefully tonight."
"That is enough, Seto," Shimon reprimanded sternly.
"Yes, I agree." Atem spat as he glared at Seto.
Court was eventually dismissed, and everyone filed out of the meeting room with a muted rumble, their minds elsewhere. Naima stared after Aknadin as he stormed away to his chamber.
Atem gently grabbed her hand, his eyes searching hers.
"Everything alright?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.
No. But Naima didn't have the courage to admit it to him.
She bit her lip and nodded determinedly. "Yes. I am optimistic. We will figure all of this out, eventually."
Atem's eyes crackled with understanding. His lips quirked into an uplifting, if somber smile, before he finally murmured his agreement.
"I believe you're right."
-o0o-
Sleep came quickly to both of them that night. But despite her tired body, Naima's mind was alive with dreams. She found herself walking in a place neither here nor there—a nebulous swirl of twilight and nothingness.
A peculiar hourglass hung in the void before her. It was encased in translucent crystal, glowing with golden sands that sparkle like pieces of the sun within. An indescribable force drew her closer and closer, yet still out of reach. The grains moved gently, though not stirred by any wind she could feel. Images danced between the ripples.
Gentle hands appeared amidst the grains as if they were its creator. Naima looked on, a feeling of familiarity washing through her body. An ominous figure entered from the shadows, eyes ablaze with avarice as he grasped at the hourglass. The sands swirl again, and soon the hourglass is hanging alone in the void once more.
...
The next morning, a frantic knock on the door tore both Naima and Atem from their slumber, the insistent pounding echoing ominously through the stillness of the early dawn. Heart pounding, Naima scrambled out of bed as Atem did the same.
In the doorway stood Karim, his normally composed face drawn with worry. The sight of him in such a state filled Naima with a deep sense of dread.
"There's been an incident at the tomb of Aknamkanon," he said, his voice wrought with tension.
Without a word, Atem quickly dressed and Naima followed suit. The early morning air was cool as they hurriedly made their way through the silent palace, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors.
By the time they reached the tomb, the rays of dawn were beginning to paint the sky with strokes of pink and orange. But the beauty of the sunrise was lost on them, their attention drawn to the scene unfolding before them.
A crowd had gathered outside the tomb, the air thick with grief and confusion. At the sight of them, the crowd parted to let them through and as they approached, the reality of what had transpired began to sink in.
There, inscribed on a large stone tablet was the image of Mahad's Ka.
"What happened?" Atem demanded.
No one answered. A flurry of hoofbeats reverberated in the distance and Isis appeared on horseback, her eyes sweeping across the scene before her. She closed her eyes and breathed out as if she'd been expecting this all along.
"So it's true," she muttered.
Everyone looked toward her.
"Mahad lost his life defending the tomb of Aknamkanon." Isis said somberly.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
"He may have left us in body, but his spirit is very much alive and lives in that stone. In fact, he is even stronger now. He became the Dark Magician," Isis spoke, her voice steady despite the tears welling in her eyes. "His Ka and Ba are now one. His spirit will live on and protect us."
Silence fell over the crowd as Isis's words sank in. Naima felt a chill run down her spine, a cold sense of realization seeping in. Mahad was gone. But in his place, he had left a guardian.
Atem stood tall, his face a stoic mask, but Naima could see the pain in his eyes. She reached out, her fingers intertwining with his, seeking comfort in his presence as much as offering it. The tragedy of loved ones falling too soon and too close together was a feeling all too familiar to them.
Mana's cries shattered the silence. "Please, Atem," she cried, her voice choked. "Bring him back! I know you can do it. Please!"
Her words hung heavily. Naima's heart ached at the desperation in Mana's voice, at the raw grief etched into her young face. Atem moved towards Mana who was almost inconsolable. He knelt beside her, placing an arm around her shoulders.
"Mana," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"We must respect Mahad's choice."
The air seemed to grow colder at his words. Mana looked at Atem through her tear-streaked face, her breath hitching as she tried to suppress the sobs threatening to shake her small body.
Atem's gaze softened and he pulled Mana into a comforting embrace as she cried.
The sight of Mana was a somber reminder of the soul-crushing price they had paid for this fight; a reminder of what they had lost and why they must persevere - not only for their own survival, but to bring forth a more hopeful tomorrow.
Authors note: Guys, I am so sorry for the extended hiatus. I have been dealing with some personal issues. But now I am ready and focused on this story again. I know I've been MIA on here but I've been doing quite a bit of work on this story in the background. My goal is to finish this story by the end of this year.
For this chapter, it was based on episodes 201-205. I tried to remain true to both the original version while still incorporating important plot points from this story, all while trying to not simply rehash the episodes. We are now moving into the home stretch of this story :)
Chapter 38: Unraveling
Chapter Text
Naima found herself amidst the sand and rocks, a barren desert that stretched out before her in an infinite expanse until it met a cloudless, blue sky. But a distant figure in white broke the monotony.
It was her mother, clad in a flowing linen dress that fluttered around her ankles.
Samira stood alone in the middle of an otherwise desolate landscape, cradling an hourglass in her palm. Her face was calm, eyes fixated on the hourglass, watching as each grain of sand fell.
Then, her mother looked up and locked eyes with her, and for a brief moment, Naima felt a wave of understanding pass between them. The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.
"Naima." A female voice echoed in her mind.
And then everything began to unravel - the colors and shapes seeping into each other until finally fading back into the darkness.
...
Naima awoke with a jolt and immediately shielded her face. The sun's rays were blinding, piercing through her chamber like arrows. Her muscles ached, her skin was sticky from sweat as though she had spent hours thrashing in bed.
It was that same damned dream again. These past nights had been filled with vivid dreams. Scenes of sand spinning within hourglasses. Of her mother, who always appeared just out of reach. But sometimes the hourglass wasn't there. It was only her and her mother staring into each other's eyes in silence.
Naima's heart raced, but being safe in the comfort of her own chamber made her feel at ease. Her gaze darted towards Atem's side of the bed.
It was empty - he had already left for the day. She tried to ignore the lingering emptiness as she sank into the depths of her thoughts, but a sharp knock at the door brought her back to reality.
"My Queen," A servant stepped in gingerly, bowing, a cloth bag at his hip.
"The pharaoh wanted me to inform you that an urgent matter came about so he will be away for the day and did not want to wake you. He stated that he will explain at a later time. In the mean time," he produced an armful of scrolls from the bag.
"A gift from the Pharaoh to his wife.." He bowed low as he held out the scrolls to her.
"I present to you a selection of rare scrolls from the great library in Memphis, hand-picked by the librarians themselves for your reading pleasure."
The servant smiled gently with a note of admiration. "The Pharaoh did say that the Queen has a love for reading."
Naima's heart surged. All of her anxieties evaporated in an instant.
"Thank you very much." she breathed.
She glanced at him in the doorway, feeling a wave of generosity.
"You know what? You may take the rest of the day off."
The servant's eyes widened in disbelief before his face split into an ecstatic grin.
"Thank you my Queen.. thank you, thank you." he stammered, bowing repeatedly before leaving.
Naima shut the door behind him and returned to her bed, laying herself back down on the soft mattress with a languorous sigh.
"Eliyah?!" she called out.
Some distant footsteps.
"Yes, Naima?" he said from the bathroom. He was cleaning.
"Can you go find Zahra and tell her to come here? Hopefully she won't be too hard to find..." Naima said.
He grinned.
"Of course."
-o0o-
It did not take long for Zahra to arrive.
Her face was bright as she entered the chamber, and as she scanned around, the look on her face was nothing short of devilish.
"God, Naima. Look at this place." Zahra mused with a smile as she poked a decorative gold statue of a sphinx. It wobbled precariously.
"Who would have thought we'd end up here? You ruling an entire country while I get to play around in this grand palace."
"Wanna trade places for a day?"
Naima was joking, mostly.
"Fuck no!" Zahra exclaimed. "That's all you, sis. I don't rule anything and I don't want to."
Naima observed her sister's delight, feeling a confusing mixture of both warmth and concern. Zahra's nonchalance tugged at her. Naima bore responsibilities; she had a role, a purpose. But Zahra?
The question, unbidden, came to Naima's lips. "So then what will you do with your life? Sell glass figurines on the streets of Thebes?"
Zahra's indignation was immediate. "No. Maybe. I dunno."
She put her hands on her hips.
"So what if I did?"
Naima bit her lip, torn. She looked into Zahra's eyes.
"Zahra, it's not about what you choose to do. It's about the legacy we've inherited, the weight of our ancestry. No matter how much we deny it, this -" She gestured to the expansive chamber around them, the representation of their responsibility.
"This is our destiny."
"Pfft... Says who?" Zahra said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I make my own destiny."
"I used to think that too." Naima said wistfully, smiling. "But I learned the hard way, destiny has its own way of catching up with us."
Zahra frowned, confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Naima paused, pursing her lips.
"Zahra, do you ever think about our mother?" she finally said.
Zahra's eyes widened, all the playfulness dropping in an instant.
"Um... yeah.. sometimes." her voice sounded choked.
A strange response. Naima's mind whirred.
"I've been having dreams about her. About an hourglass. She's standing in the desert holding an hourglass."
Zahra stared at her with a spooked look on her face.
"You... you too?" she stammered.
"In mine, she's holding some necklace, trying to give it to me."
"That's... strange." Naima said.
"Very strange. And I don't know what it means."
"Maybe it's not the objects themselves that matter?" Naima mused, her gaze lost in the intricate patterns of the room's carpet. "Maybe it's the message behind them, or maybe just the fact that we're both dreaming of her."
"Yeah..." Zahra agreed quietly, her voice distant. After a moment, she shook her head, as if physically trying to dislodge her thoughts.
"Anyway, it's not like we can ask her."
Naima managed a small smile, reaching out to squeeze Zahra's hand comfortingly. "No, we can't. I wish we could, though."
There was an ache of longing in her chest.
The two of them sat in silence for a moment, lost in their thoughts. The dreams had unsettled them more than either cared to admit. But eventually, Naima broke the silence.
"Speaking of destinies," Naima ventured, "how is training with Isis? Are you getting a hang of your Ka yet?"
Zahra let out a huge groan. "Isis is making me meditate for hours, Naima. Hours! It's so boring! I just want to use my powers..."
Naima rolled her eyes. "My poor sister... doomed to a fate of quiet contemplation." Naima placed her hand atop Zahra's.
"The lioness must first observe before she pounces."
Zahra rolled her eyes.
"I want to learn all the cool tricks, not just how to 'contemplate'."
"Sounds about right." Naima said. "But if Isis thinks it's important, then it probably is."
Zahra rolled her eyes. "Only because you say so." she conceded.
Her gaze then softened, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"How are things on your end? Being Queen and all... I imagine it's a whole different world high up there on the throne."
Naima snorted.
"If only ruling a kingdom was about wearing fancy clothes and plopping my ass on a throne. But no, it's all meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. And paperwork."
She grinned impishly.
"You sure you don't wanna switch spots?"
"Nope! I'd take meditation over paperwork any day. You keep your fancy crown, sis. I'll stick with training my Ka."
Naima's eyes eventually drifted to the scrolls that laid scattered across her bed.
"I was going to go to the library to read." she said. "Do you want to come with me?"
Zahra bit her lip, as if she was considering heavily and was torn. After a moment, she shook her head.
"Nah, I think I'll pass today. I've got something else planned."
Zahra's reply was casual, but Naima sensed a hidden excitement in her eyes. She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Like what? I thought you'd essentially quit school."
Zahra grinned, her cheeks reddening. "It's a secret."
Naima forced herself to punch down her own burning curiosity as they both rose from the bed, their conversation still hanging in the warm air of the chamber. Zahra grinned over her shoulder as she exited, waving at Naima.
"See ya later, sis!"
"Try not to set anything on fire.." Naima called out after her.
As the echoes of Zahra's footsteps slowly faded, Naima turned her attention back to her chamber, catching sight of Eliyah just as he was about to exit.
"Eliyah!" she called, causing him to pause mid-step. "Could you do me a favor?"
Eliyah turned back, a curious glint in his eye. "Of course, Naima."
"Can you follow my sister and see what she is doing and what the big secret is? Just for the morning. Once you find out, then you may take the rest of the day off."
A slow smile spread across Eliyah's face. "Ah, so the tables have turned. Now I'm tailing the Tailer."
Naima shrugged and smirked.
"Well, it seems only fair, doesn't it?"
-o0o-
Excitement bubbled in Naima's veins as she marched down the hallway toward the library, the scrolls from Memphis clutched firmly in her grasp.
With a gentle push, she opened the heavy door and stepped into the chamber.
Silence greeted her, the room devoid of any presence except her own. As she took in the surroundings, the rich, musty scent of ancient papyrus wafted through the air.
Every corner of the room was a reminder of its purpose - knowledge immortalized and collected here from every kingdom and era. Towering shelves lined the walls, bending under the weight of countless books and scrolls. In this room, history whispered its tales and hidden wisdom, a slumbering beast guarding its treasures.
With a smile, Naima settled into a comfortable couch by a window overlooking the Nile, tucked away in a quiet corner. A few hours slipped by as she lost herself in tales filled with adventures, each story a gateway to another world. As she finished up the last few lines of "The Chronicles of Serqet," a sense of satisfaction mixed with longing lingered. She wanted more.
With the scrolls from Memphis neatly rolled up, she rose, her mind still hungry for more stories, and wandered through the library's labyrinthine aisles. But all she found were manuals, textbooks, religious writings... There had to be something more captivating in this massive library.
She continued to wander until she stumbled upon an area near the entrance, where a librarian's desk sat unattended. An old, forgotten piece of papyrus lay on the counter.
Catalog of the Royal Library of Thebes
Naima scanned the paper, her eyes skimming over manuals and religious texts. A twinge of disappointment crept in until something unexpected caught her eye - 'Court records'
...Court records? Naima wrinkled her brow, her mind racing.
The image of a scribe sitting silently in the corner at all of their meetings came to mind. Every single thing was documented. Every word.
The implications slowly sank in. This could be the storehouse of every momentous decision, every debate, every policy change that had happened in their kingdom. Every speech, every proclamation - even those of her mother - meticulously recorded and stored here. A subtle thrill began to pulsate through her as a realization dawned. Perhaps through these records, she could uncover more about her mother - the decisions she made, the words she spoke.
Naima's heart pounded as she approached the section of court records. The search for her mother's era amid the jumbled stacks was daunting. Scrolls from various periods lay mixed, their labels faded or missing, and frustration grew as she combed through shelf after shelf.
In the midst of her search, a faint rumbling from outside made her pause, but she shrugged it off. It was likely some commotion from the city.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally stumbled upon a pile of scrolls with a date that was from 20 years ago. Her fingers trembled with anticipation as she pulled the thick bundle from the shelf. As she heaved it onto a nearby table, a faint shadow in the corner of the room caught her eye.
It was an alcove, a nook tucked away in a corner with a desk cluttered with numerous scrolls and documents. Who had been using it? She had never encountered another soul in this library before. Curiosity gnawed at her, a quiet invitation.
It wasn't long before she had abandoned the bundle of scrolls in her arms with a silent promise to return and crossed the room to investigate further, her gaze flitting over the scattered scrolls. As she skimmed the contents, intrigue gave way to rising disbelief.
These scrolls were not related to any ordinary matter. All of them were about the god Obelisk. Historical records, theoretical discussions, descriptions of ancient rituals - it seemed like a comprehensive exploration of the deity. Someone had been researching Obelisk, and rather extensively.
Anxious, Naima immersed herself in this sea of documents. There was so much. The person who had been here had left cryptic clues. Circling of words, folded pages, but the disorganized state of the table left Naima wondering which documents were important.
At the top of the pile, an old text about Obelisk caught her eye - a passage mentioning how the god sought refuge in earth and stone. As she sifted through the scrolls, a faint connection grew more insistent, guiding her to a crumbling manuscript that detailed the tradition of constructing temples from materials associated with their gods.
Earth and stone for Obelisk. Her mind wandered, a half-forgotten memory tugging at her. The ancient temple she and Atem had visited, its weathered stones neglected and forgotten.
Then, among a set of architectural plans, she discovered a blueprint of a temple with unmistakable features. The design, layout, even the location matched that very temple. Could it be... Her heart skipped a beat as the pieces began to align.
A note within the blueprints described a hidden chamber within the temple, said to contain an ancient relic of the god.
Naima's heart began to race.
Could this old, forgotten, decrepit temple be the sacred residence of Obelisk, the manifestation of Geb? The very place where she and Atem had shared a kiss might hold a secret beyond their wildest dreams.
The words of Hasan echoed in her mind: "Obelisk is closer than you think." His cryptic phrase now held a different weight, its implications stirring within her. The home of Obelisk might have been there all along, hidden in plain sight. This person, whoever they were, seemed to believe it, their conclusions present in the array of documents spread before her. It was enough to churn her thoughts, to paint her excitement and anxiety with a new, potent shade.
Filled with resolve, Naima quickly scooped up the documents about Obelisk, along with the bundle of court records, her mind racing. A whirlpool of questions and possibilities swirled within her, along with an urgent desire to share her revelation with Atem.
For a moment, she hesitated, glancing down at the heavy load in her arms. It was too much.
The court records will have to wait for another day, she decided, and reluctantly returned them to the same spot she found them in.
With one last glance over her shoulder, she turned and briskly left the library. She needed to find Atem, and she needed to find him now.
As Naima stepped into the hallway, the ground beneath her feet trembled ever so slightly, a faint rumbling like a distant storm resonating through the stone floors. She paused, momentarily disoriented, but with urgency in her heart, she dismissed it.
In the hall, a guard stood at attention.
Naima approached him. "Do you know if Atem has returned?"
The guard paused and looked at her. His gaze held a fleeting, inexplicable look, as if he had seen a ghost. After a moment of stunned silence, he bowed his head low.
"He has returned, My Queen, along with the rest of the court," he said.
"The rest of the court...?" Naima echoed. "What do you mean? Where did everyone go today?"
"My Queen, forgive me," the guard replied, his expression reflecting a significant amount of discomfort.
"The palace has been in an uproar trying to find you. Your servant was nowhere to be found either."
A knot of embarrassment formed in Naima's stomach.
"I was in the library," she admitted, her cheeks flushing. The guard's face held an expression she couldn't decipher, as if he was privy to information she was not.
She swallowed hard, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
"What... happened?" she demanded.
The guard lowered his gaze respectfully. "I believe I am not the correct person to be informing you of the events that took place. I will take you to the Pharaoh."
With a sense of impending doom, she followed the guard, their journey taking them outside the palace walls.
Atem stood there surrounded by his court, his face tired, eyes distant, looking as if he had borne the weight of the world on his shoulders. The rest of the court's expressions were a mirror of Atem's weariness.
Fear drove her legs as she sprinted towards them.
"What happened?!" Naima demanded.
Atem turned to face her. His eyes were shadowed with a cocktail of emotions - sadness, worry, guilt. It was as if they all shared a secret that had been kept from her, a secret that weighed heavy in the air.
Naima could see the weariness in Atem's gaze, the edges of his mouth downturned, and the pain in his eyes unmistakable. He began to speak, his voice carrying a gravity that sent shivers down her spine.
"Aknadin betrayed us," he said.
Those words hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her mind spinning in bewildered chaos as Atem recounted the day's events.
She could scarcely believe what she was hearing. All while she had been goofing off with her sister and taking her time reading in the library, a fierce battle with Bakura at the abandoned city of Kul Elna had raged. They had won, but only for a fleeting moment, until Aknadin's unthinkable actions.
He had struck Shada and stolen his Millennium Key. And then it was not so much what occurred after that, but how it was done.
"An hourglass," Atem had revealed. Aknadin had used a magic hourglass to freeze time, allowing him the nefarious opportunity to steal all the Millennium Items.
The world was a blur around her, thunderous echoes of that same word ringing clear.. An hourglass.
The same object that had been haunting her dreams.
No, she tried to rationalize, it couldn't possibly be the same one. That notion was absurd. Fantastical. And yet...
She had trembled at hearing that word. The vivid dreams of her mother, the hourglass ever present, suddenly seemed less like mere fragments of her imagination and more like ominous premonitions.
But nothing struck her more deeply than the thought of Aknadin's betrayal. A trusted member of the court who twisted into something unrecognizable. He had denounced his loyalty to Egypt, pledged himself to someone.. something.. called Zorc, and turned into a creature called the Great Shadow Magus. And then, in a haunting divergence from what they had ever known, he had vanished, seemingly embraced by the shadows themselves.
A lingering dread hung over them as Atem spoke of the conclusion of their battle - Zorc's imminent arrival. The name was foreign to Naima, but the look in Atem's eyes, the fear and concern, told her all she needed to know. Something dark and dangerous was coming. Time was short, and uncertainty shrouded their future. As the words sank in, Naima felt a profound sense of foreboding settle in her soul, knowing that their world had changed irreversibly, and they were on a path from which there was no turning back.
-o0o-
"How could you?" Naima spat, her voice echoing throughout their dimly lit chamber.
She seethed as she glared at Atem.
"How could you have done all of this without me behind my back? You didn't tell me about any of this! Why didn't you just wake me up?!"
They were finally alone together, surrounded by the vast intimacy of their shared space. And yet, a chasm seemed to stretch between them.
"You should have woken me! You should have told me! But no. You left me here, thinking everything would be fine?! That I would be fine?!"
Atem sat on the bed, hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees. His face tightened, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and understanding.
"Naima, please. Listen to me. You must know that it was never my intention to leave you in the dark. It pained me more than you can imagine."
Fresh anger flared through her.
"Really. Well, you did, didn't you? You could have just woken me up! Do you have any idea how it feels to have all of this happen behind your back? With everyone else knowing what happened except you? It was almost like you were purposely trying to keep this from me."
Naima shot him a venomous glare.
"What? You think I'm some weak, powerless little girl who cowers and does nothing? Who do you take me for?!"
The storm in Atem's gaze deepened.
"No, Naima," he growled firmly. "You know very well that's not true. I've seen your strength, your courage, time and again. The notion that you are incapable is preposterous."
"Nice way to show it by treating me like a child, keeping me out of things, and giving me scrolls to distract me while you do the 'real' work."
"You have it all wrong Naima." Atem said.
"Then what?!" Naima's voice shook with rage.
Atem turned his head to the side and sighed, pausing for a moment before he continued.
"Naima, you must understand that I only had a small window of time to make a decision, and it was not taken lightly." His voice held a certain hollowness as he spoke.
"When Karim informed me early this morning that Bakura had been spotted, we did not know how long he would be there or the extent of his plans. Every second mattered and I had to make a decision quickly. Delaying could have been catastrophic."
"How long do you think it would have taken to wake me up.." she retorted nastily.
"It wasn't about the time it would have taken to wake you," Atem said, his voice strained with emotion.
"It was about me not wanting you to see us—me—... fail."
"Fail..." Naima shot back. "But why? Fail at what?"
"I had intended to give the scrolls to you at a later date. But... I didn't know if I would make it back to you today."
His voice broke slightly, and Naima saw the genuine torment in his eyes. She froze at his words.
"Naima, this morning when I received the word that Bakrura had been spotted, I had no idea what would come of today. I considered that there was a very real possibility that we would all perish. And that almost became true, at some point."
Atem's gaze was steady but filled with a burdened resolve.
"The legacy of the Millennium Items, the choices of my father, now weigh upon me. In his absence, I bear this burden. The ancient creed demands balance... a life for a life..." he muttered.
"You...what?" Naima gasped, a wave of horror washing over her.
"Don't tell me you were going to sacrifice yourself…? To fix this?"
Her voice trembled as a thousand fears raced through her mind. The mere thought of it was unbearable.
"If that was what it took, then yes, Naima." he said quietly.
She could hardly breathe, barely able to comprehend what he'd said.
"No," she said. "No, Atem. Don't you dare even think of such a thing!"
The air between them grew heavy as Atem simply sat in silence.
"Atem... please." Naima's voice shook. "You will destroy me."
Atem looked away briefly before meeting Naima's pleading gaze once more.
"And that is why I could not bring myself to wake you, Naima." he murmured
Naima stared at him in horror, too stunned to speak.
But Atem's arm came up and settled around her shoulders with aching familiarity, drawing her close against the warmth of him. His other hand settled over her stomach, fingers splayed in a gesture of care and protection.
"And, something else to consider..-"
His low voice held all the intensity of a raging storm as his eyes bore into hers.
"If there is a chance you are carrying my heir, I must keep you out of harm's way."
That touch, that look in his eyes dampened whatever fire was raging in her veins as he gazed at her with the utmost care and concern.
Naima softened, and a new lump formed in her throat.
"Atem... how can you expect me to go on living and raising our child.. without you..?" she muttered, tears forming in her eyes.
Atem took her chin gently in his hand, lifting her gaze to meet his own.
"You must, Naima." he said gently, but the grave tone in his voice could not be ignored. "You must be strong. For this is something greater than both of us."
Naima peered at him, a sudden suspicion in her heart. "You speak as if this will happen. Are you planning something and not telling me?"
Atem shook his head. "No."
Naima glared at him, gritting her teeth. "Atem?"
"I'm not planning anything, Naima," he said. "But the role of a Pharaoh, the path I was destined to tread... it is filled with unpredictable moments. I don't know what lies ahead."
His grip on her tightened slightly. "I don't want to leave you, but the realm of possibilities requires me to think ahead, to ensure my legacy continues."
She took a deep breath, her mind racing. "You speak of legacy and responsibility, but what about us? Our promises and our dreams?"
His fingers brushed away the tears that had trickled down her cheeks.
"They are the core of my every decision."
Naima shook her head in frustration, the weight of his words pressing down on her.
"I want to understand, Atem. But more than that, I want you here. If we were blessed with a child, I want them to know their father, not just the tales of a brave Pharaoh who sacrificed himself for the good of the people."
Atem's face contorted with pain. "I wish it were that simple, Naima. Our obligations... they compel us to do what we cannot bring ourselves to do.."
A world of unspoken emotion swirled in the space between them. Summoning her courage, Naima drew a steadying breath.
"Atem."
He met her gaze, unwavering, waiting for her words.
"Don't lose yourself in the duty of a Pharaoh. Remember what waits for you here, what you have to come back to."
"Naima, know that every choice I make, every battle I face, is guided by the heart."
Atem's expression was unflinching, his voice steady and assured. The earnestness in his words resonated with a truth she knew all too well.
"Your presence, our love, it gives me strength and purpose. I fight not only for the legacy of the Pharaoh but for our shared future. I will return to you, always."
Naima felt her heart swell, beating so hard against her ribcage she thought it would crack. The world seemed to still around them.
"And one other thing," she declared fiercely. "Never leave me out again, Atem. I mean it. If something is going on, I want to be a part of it."
He only looked at her, the expression on his face filled with objections.
"I'm being serious." Naima said. "I will not be remembered as some helpless woman waiting by the window, pining for her king's return. I can handle myself, and I want to be there with you, every step of the way. We're in this together, and I will stand by your side."
His expression softened slightly.
"It's not a matter of doubting your strength, Naima. It is my duty to protect those I cherish, especially from the shadows that lurk within this world."
"And it's my duty," Naima interjected. "To stand with you, not behind you. We face those shadows together, Atem. We are stronger together."
She searched his eyes, seeking assurance.
Atem's gaze was initially inscrutable, likely turning her proposition over in his mind. But eventually she found a reflection of her own determination.
He nodded.
"You are right, Naima," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "In our unity lies our strength. We have battled darkness before, and we shall face it again, together."
"Good."
Naima drew a deep breath, taking his hand gently. They shared a brief, tender moment, an oasis of calm amidst the storm that always seemed to be brewing around them. "Atem, there is also something else I need to tell you...It's about Obelisk..."
At the mention of that name, Atem's gaze sharpened, and as she spoke about her discovery that day, he hung onto every word she uttered.
Even though the path before them was shrouded with mystery, they held each other close, steeling themselves against the uncertainty that lay ahead. Unrelenting and united, they stood on the precipice of an unknown abyss, hand-in-hand, ready to confront their fate.
Chapter 39: Revelations
Chapter Text
The sun burned relentlessly, scorching the remains of Geb's temple. Remnants of its former grandeur lay scattered across the parched ground; all that remained was dust, and ash and memories.
Naima trembled with anticipation as she surveyed the excavation site. Activity bustled around her. Soldiers and servants worked ceaselessly under Atem's stern gaze, frenzied in their search for the Egyptian God Obelisk the Tormentor.
But a shadow hung over the scene - the notable absence of Aknadin. It wasn't just the void of his physical presence but the uneasy silence that seemed to have enveloped the space where he once would have stood.
"Keep going." Atem commanded to the servants.
Time seemed to drag on. With each passing moment, the weight of disappointment grew heavier. Any sacred relics had been pilfered long ago by scavengers. All they unearthed were stones and rubble. Naima's once unshakeable conviction wavered, doubt and questions blooming in her mind like weeds.
"My Pharaoh! Look!" A servant from across the site shouted, gesturing frantically toward a curious opening in the rocks, its geometry too deliberate to be nature's handiwork. It beckoned them – a passageway.
Everyone converged on the entrance. As stones were shifted and cleared, a stairway was revealed.
Atem strode forward, a blazing torch gripped in one hand, and Naima close at his side. Magic swirled through the dark corridors with each step, and the hieroglyphs that lined the walls seemed to whisper of an ancient god of unfathomable power.
Her senses heightened - the drop in temperature, the earthy aroma. The air was thick with tension as the group trekked down the winding hallways. Atem led them steadily forward, flanked by Naima and the court, while soldiers kept their hands near their blades. The only thing that filled the stillness was hushed whispers and the rhythmic thump of footsteps against ancient stone.
The narrow path suddenly gave way to a vast chamber, shrouded in darkness save for a lone object that drew everyone's gaze – a stone tablet. As the group approached, heartbeats echoing their anticipation, a realization dawned. The Tablet of Obelisk the Tormentor stood before them, but what they all saw was what no one wanted to see.
It was empty.
-o0o-
The meeting that followed was a tumultuous storm of emotions, all carefully hidden beneath a veneer of duty and decorum. Naima could feel the collective tension.
"How could it be?" Shada mused at the table.
"Where could it be?"
Everyone sat quietly at the meeting table, sharing a moment of contemplation. Isis, appeared deep in thought, her fingers absent-mindedly tracing the edge of her necklace. Karim looked to Shimon, both seeking and offering reassurance, while Shada's usually stoic demeanor betrayed a hint of frustration.
Naima felt the burden of leadership acutely in that moment, finding herself wrestling with a whirlpool of questions and fragmentary clues. The temple harbored no obvious signs of recent disturbance. Yet, Obelisk the Tormentor was gone, spirited away by someone with knowledge profound and arcane.
As she considered the possibilities, a chilling realization began to creep into her mind. Deep in the library, a person had searched through scrolls and secrets about Obelisk, possibly to find it and to gain control. The thief could very well be among their own. Aknadin? Or someone else altogether...?
Naima wracked her brain. Although Aknadin had betrayed them, there was no concrete proof that linked him to the missing deity. It could very well have been the act of someone else, perhaps many years prior.
She wrestled with her thoughts, trying to weave together the disjointed fragments of information and suspicion that danced at the edges of her mind. The coincidences were stacking too neatly.
A memory resurfaced in Naima's mind -
"There is much treachery afoot," Hassan had said to them in the cave
The conversation now seemed ominously prophetic. The weight of those words bore down on her now with a gravity she hadn't perceived then.
Perhaps... perhaps it was safe to say that betrayal was the first possibility.
"We must not let fear cloud our judgment," Atem stated firmly, his eyes locking onto each person in turn. "We are faced with an adversary who knows our world intimately. We must be equally knowledgeable and united to uncover the truth."
Shimon finally broke the stifling silence.
"Ordinary tomb robbers could not have achieved this, not without seizing the tablet, and certainly not possessing the capability to control the God Obelisk. This act bears the hallmark of someone deeply versed in the ancient arts, someone of significant stature."
Karim interjected, "Then our list of suspects narrows."
Aknadin.
No one wanted to say it aloud, but eyes darted to his empty chair at the meeting table.
He was certainly the most obvious suspect, the one who had a motive to do so.
Seto had remained silent throughout the meeting, a stoic figure amidst the growing unease, his gaze fixed firmly on a map sprawled on the table before them. The weight of the room's scrutiny seemed to settle on him, a silent plea for insight, for guidance.
"Seto, your network is extensive," Shada said. "Could they perhaps shed light on this matter? Find traces of Aknadin, or maybe even hints of other possible culprits?"
Seto's response was a solitary, defiant eyebrow arched upward.
"I'm flattered you think that I hold the answers to every mystery in this city, that I'm so powerful that I can pinpoint the moment a deity vanished, potentially years ago. How foolish. Use your intellect and realize I could never even begin to attempt such a task."
Isis's eyes narrowed at Seto's rudeness.
"Seto," Isis said cooly. "With your vast intelligence network, it would be plausible that you would have possibly obtained information about this."
Their eyes locked, a silent clash of wills.
"If I had any suspicions," Seto said, sarcasm dripping from each syllable. "You would be the first to know."
"We cannot afford to be at odds with each other," Atem said carefully, his eyes narrowing on Seto before sweeping over the others. "Our strength lies in our unity."
He then addressed the group.
"The situation demands our full attention. We will increase our vigilance and leave no stone unturned in our investigation. This is our top priority."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
As the meeting concluded and the words hung in the air, Naima's heart thudded with the weight of newfound revelations. And as the council members departed, a haunting thought lingered in her mind- Within these walls, where trust was the golden thread weaving them together, a serpent had slithered amongst them... and could still be... veiled by the very fabric of their legacy.
-o0o-
After a rushed meal, everyone hastened back to their quarters. Naima lingered next to Atem as he mentioned something about paperwork.
"I would like to visit Thebes this afternoon." she said as they reached their chamber. "To see an old friend."
Atem's face transformed, an unspoken question lurking in his eyes. It was a look she'd grown familiar with—partly protective, partly curious.
She hesitated for a heartbeat.
"I won't be long. Just need to drop something off," she added nonchalantly.
He studied her thoughtfully before nodding.
"The guards will accompany you," he said firmly.
Naima suppressed a sigh. She would certainly not be able to blend in with them trailing her closely.
The stables felt like a solace. There was a simple pleasure in greeting Binra, seeing her horse that she hadn't named yet. She simply hadn't thought of any that seemed right. The mare's gentle nature felt like a balm to her restless heart.
As she entered Thebes, the burst of color and cacophony made Naima's heart race and lifted her spirits. She tugged her hood closer, trying to be just another face in the crowd. Atem wanted five guards around her at all times. She settled on three, and when they were finally alone, she begged them to stay a distance behind her, so as to not draw so much attention. But, despite her best efforts, she felt the familiar sensation of eyes piercing into her back as she meandered through the streets, following Eliyah's instructions after she had sent him on another scouting mission.
The journey through the city was a blur. She eventually came to a nondescript house tucked far away in the residential district.
Naima hesitated on the threshold of the large home, her eyes meeting those of a stout, older woman whose expression was set in stern lines of suspicion.
"And who in Ra's name are you?" The woman barked before Naima could even draw a breath. "Waltzing up to my door like you own the place?"
"Uhh..." Naima stammered. "I am looking for Mona. Does she live in this house?"
The woman's eyebrow shot up, her lips pursing in suspicion.
"And who's asking?"
Naima tried to maintain her composure, reaching for words. "An old friend. She will remember me."
"You come here asking for Mona, and you won't even have the decency to give your name? Out!" The woman waved her hand forcefully at her. "Get out, you snake bitch!"
The directness of the insult made Naima reel. Such rudeness was so foreign to her now, a stark reminder of a world before her title.
"Please... I need to speak with her," Naima's voice held a quiet desperation.
The old woman scoffed loudly, her voice dripping with derision.
"If you were truly someone of importance, you'd give your name. We don't just let any vermin walk through these doors, mind you."
It was clear this was going nowhere.
"You really must know who I am then...?" Naima sighed, dreading what she was about to do.
The old woman's reaction to Naima pulling her hood off her face was immediate — her once fiery eyes, now brimming with pure terror, widened to an extent Naima hadn't thought possible.
"My-my Queen..." The words caught in her throat as she crumpled to the ground, her body wracked with tears. "Please forgive my impertinence...I had no idea... Please.. spare me..."
"No.. it's alright, really. Please get up," Naima said. With gentle hands, she urged the woman upright, hoping to assuage her terror.
Still sniffling and stuttering apologies, the woman hastily led Naima through a dimly lit hallway. Upon reaching the door at the end, the woman, her head bowed low, mumbled, "Mona's quarters, my Queen."
"Thank you." Naima said as she reached into her cloak pocket. "I trust that you will not tell a single soul that I was here."
She pressed ten gold coins into the woman's trembling hands.
"Your secret will go with me to my grave, my Queen. You have my word." the woman said.
"Good."
As the woman hurried away, Naima gave two swift knocks on the door, before she heard a resounding "Come in."
Naima opened the door, her cloak still shielding her face and body, and took a quick look around the room. The modesty of it struck her — a simple bed, a lone window letting in slivers of the afternoon sun.
Mona was as she remembered, perhaps slightly more worn by the sands of time, yet still harboring that knowing smile that seemed permanently etched onto her face.
"Eh? What's this?" Mona said, looking her up and down. "You come to murder me?"
Naima gently pushed back her hood, revealing her face fully. Mona's initial smirk blossomed into a full, knowing smile.
"Ah," Mona grinned. "I knew I would see you again."
She then stood from her seat and bowed.
"My Queen, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Naima took a step closer and placed her hand on Mona's shoulder.
"No formalities, Mona," she urged softly,
Mona smiled widely at her and gestured to the small table.
"You must forgive these conditions. I have no fitting accommodations for a queen."
"It is alright." Naima said as she took her cloak off. As she draped her cloak on a chair and settled into a seat across Mona, her eyes wandered over the peculiar trinkets scattered around — strange carvings on bones, foreign scripts on papyrus, feathers, and other mystical objects. A large swirling goblet of mysterious, dark multicolored liquid sat on the end of the table.
A tug of unease twisted her gut.
Meanwhile, Mona studied her from across the table.
"I am glad to see that you have found new accommodations. The relief efforts in Naqada are still underway. I can arrange for better accommodations if you desire." Naima said.
Mona shook her head and smiled.
"Only in power for a short time and yet you already have a reputation as a kind and generous Queen. Do not worry for me, this housing is just fine for my liking."
She squinted her eyes as she studied her and suddenly Naima felt bare.
"I see that you have accepted your Ka, the darkness that lives in you."
Naima's eyebrows jerked upward. No one could have possibly known that. But Mona clearly did. This woman clearly knew more than she let on. Much more. There was no use in denying it.
"I have." Naima said.
"Good. It will serve you well, for longer than you know, and in many lifetimes…" Mona trailed off, as she made an attempt to straighten up the table.
"Mona," Naima began slowly. "You said you were a seer…"
Mona eyed her from the table.
"Yes….?"
"Do you still possess the gift?" Naima asked quietly.
A glimmer danced in Mona's dark gaze before her grin widened.
"Ah, my dear." she purred. "Of course. If I may be so bold, I've foreseen your visit for quite some time."
"Can you see the past?"
Mona raised an eyebrow, regarding Naima with newfound interest.
"That.. is quite an unusual and unexpected request." she mused "Usually people seek knowledge of their future."
"I do not know if I want to know that…" Naima confessed. "I have enough to worry about as it is…"
Mona laughed. "If only the others thought the same as you. Knowing the future in advance will ruin lives. I have seen it countless times."
She settled into a chair across from her, looking upon her with something like pride in her eyes.
"From noble healer, to Queen." Mona said. "For you, I am happy to provide answers to the questions that burn within you."
As Mona spoke, Naima couldn't help but notice the goblet on the table. The liquid inside swirled and shifted on its own, as if alive.
Mona pulled it from the edge of the table in front of her.
"Don't you want to know what I want to know?" Naima said.
Mona shook her head.
"That isn't necessary." she murmured as she dipped two fingers in the dark, swirling liquid and pressed them in the space between her eyes.
"Prepare yourself, girl..."
Mona's voice floated like a whisper in the heavy air as she began tracing circles on the goblet's edge with her fingers, staring at her with a mysterious gleam in her eyes. The room seemed to spin with the motion of Mona's hand, of the liquid that now swirled in the goblet as if it had a life of its own. The world began to blur, while Mona's smile and laughter lingered in her mind like an echo.
Naima felt like she had been yanked through several dimensions, reality shifting and blurring. Eventually her surroundings bore a haunting familiarity; the palace once again.
She found herself in a chamber she had never seen before, darkened by night but lit by torches. At opposite ends of the room, Aknadin and her mother stood. Their postures were rigid, each emanating a palpable aura of enmity.
Aknadin's voice sliced through the tense silence.
"The walls talk, Samira. Word has it that there have been some.. interesting things... going on in that chamber of yours. Care to explain?"
Samira's face remained stoic, but her eyes flickered with a dangerous fire.
"Your penchant for poking your nose where it doesn't belong hasn't waned, I see. I'd be more concerned about the skeletons in your own closet, Aknadin."
"Ah, I see." Aknadin said. "So you are taking a walk in the darkness again? You needn't say anything more."
Samira's eyes narrowed, a silent warning.
"Oh, how rich coming from you. One might start to think you've become infatuated with me."
Aknadin's eyes narrowed.
"Watch your step, Samira. This palace has eyes.
"Is that a threat, Aknadin?
"Consider it advice." Aknadin said. "But then again, only the guilty feel the weight of a threat, don't they?"
"Oh, please, spare me your righteous act. I know what you are capable of."
Her words struck a chord, and Aknadin's facade briefly faltered, revealing a glimmer of rage.
"I have only done what was necessary for the prosperity of this kingdom, nothing more," he shot back.
Samira moved closer.
"And what makes you think I am not doing the same?" Her voice dripped with venom. "Perhaps, it's you who should tread carefully."
The scene morphed swiftly, thrusting Naima into another fragment of the past.
She found herself standing within the confines of a sprawling personal chamber, the elegance of the room, the decor, jewelry and the various dresses and cosmetics laid around hinted at it belonging to a woman of status, a woman like her mother.
Aknadin slipped into the chamber, the heavy wooden door barely making a sound as it shut behind him. His footsteps were muted against a thick, intricate rug. Every movement he made was deliberate, every step cautious.
His gaze scoured the room as he prowled around, darting from the bed to a large desk cluttered with papyrus and scrolls. He rummaged through drawers with a quiet, calculated frenzy.
And then, his movements stilled as he laid his eyes upon the contents of the open drawer in front of him.
A trio of hourglasses.
Hourglasses.
Naima's heart clenched so strongly she could feel it pounding in her chest. Could it be? The same hourglasses that have haunted her dreams? That were used to betray Atem and the court?
A sense of awe and fear washed over her.
Each hourglass was unique with its own intricate carvings. The grains within them seemed to gleam with an unnatural light. Aknadin was equally mesmerized by the sight before him. His hands trembled as he gingerly lifted one of the hourglasses, turning it over to inspect it. His eyes darted to the mess of notes scattered across the desk - blueprints and papyrus sheets covered in scribbles and sketches, all covered in notations that hinted at their true purpose.
Naima came closer to look over Akandin's shoulder as he viewed the papers.
"So this is what you've been up to, Samira..." Aknadin muttered under his breath as he rifled through the papers and scrolls.
"…Devices of boundless potential..."
Through the various scribbles and notes, Naima was able to discern through bits and pieces the function of the hourglasses, and her skin crawled in realization - they could do anything their user wished.
A shiver ran down Naima's spine. It can't be a coincidence. These same hourglasses must have been used against Atem and the court to unleash an unspeakable evil upon Egypt.
Creations that her mother made.
How had her mother, a pillar of strength and fierce loyalty, birthed objects that harbored the potential for such unspeakable acts?
"Crafting tools to meddle with the very fabrics of reality, intertwining dark magic with the sands of time... I shouldn't be surprised." Aknadin said as he gingerly set the hourglass down, his touch almost reverential with a hint of greed.
Aknadin's voice tore through her spiraling thoughts, and his words stung, carving deep furrows of doubt into her spirit.
So it was true. Her mother truly did dabble in the darkness to create these all-powerful hourglasses.
But how... and why? How could this have happened? How could they have gotten into enemy hands - Aknadin's hands?
And why did her mother create these objects? So many questions unfurled in her mind.
A spark of fiery defiance ignited in her. Her mother, though at times stern and caustic, had been a pillar of dedication and love. Her mother would not have created these items for a nefarious purpose. There had to be another reason, another purpose behind her creation of these dangerous objects.
With one last lingering glance at the hourglasses, Aknadin discreetly closed the drawer and retreated from the chamber, ensuring that no trace of his intrusion remained.
Naima barely had a moment to comprehend the scene she just saw when the everything around her shifted abruptly, transplanting her outside the palace walls.
Aknadin was in the middle of orchestrating a grim departure, flanked by the other high priests and a small army of soldiers whose vacant eyes bore the mark of a dark enchantment, what appeared to be a control spell. From a shadowed doorway, Samira observed, her presence undetected by Aknadin at first. But she had swiftly moved into the light as she confronted him.
"Aknadin!" She called out as she strode toward him.
"What is the meaning of all this?"
A charged pause preceded their exchange of disdainful glances.
"It is none of your concern, Samira," Aknadin dismissed, his voice carrying a grim finality.
"It isn't? Then explain the spells you've cast on these men. I believe I have every right to be concerned."
Aknadin snarled.
"Don't you have work to do?"
Samira said nothing as she walked away, but she made sure to linger close by undetected, and after they left she prepared a horse and went after them, making sure to stay a good distance away.
As her mother stealthily pursued them towards a distant city sketched on the horizon, Naima's perspective violently shifted, plunging her into a scene of unbridled terror.
Everywhere she looked, chaos and violence unfurled relentlessly before her. The palace guards were locked in a trance-like state, slaughtering anyone they saw before dragging the bodies into a nearby cave and tossing them into a massive cauldron. A velvety golden liquid roiled within it, seething with its own power.
Samira soon reentered the frame, dismounting with an expression steeped in horror and disbelief as she beheld the atrocities before her.
"What is he doing?" she hissed to herself, unable to tear her eyes away from the barbaric scene.
With mounting dread, Naima shadowed her mother as she approached the entrance to the cave cautiously, and observed Aknadin pouring the golden liquid into a round tablet with ancient writing.
Samira stood in the entrance of the cave, her presence slicing through the oppressive atmosphere.
"What kind of dark magic is this, Aknadin?" Samira exclaimed as she eyed the stone.
"What have you done?"
Aknadin seemed momentarily rattled by Samira's sudden appearance, but his face morphed into a mask of stubborn defiance.
"I did what was necessary, what was right to save Egypt!" he shouted back, his voice tinged with a deep, piercing anguish.
"What other choice did we have, Samira?"
"You murdered these people!" Samira cried out in horror.
"This is dark magic, Aknadin. Dangerous, dark magic. You have no idea what you have just done."
But Aknadin ignored her as he took a hammer and cracked the stone, shattering it and releasing seven mysterious objects that were hastily seized by the priests.
The air then curdled with a bone-chilling cold, and the ground shook violently. A hidden force flung Samira and two priests against the unforgiving walls of the cavern. Naima's heart clenched in helpless terror as she witnessed the priests' bodies disintegrate, swallowed by a swirling abyss that appeared in the ground, their essence vanishing into nothingness.
It eventually gave way to the emergence of a monstrous entity from the fractured rock, a figure that seemed to eclipse even the most terrifying corners of her imagination.
Zorc.
It must be.
The cave's oppressive air congealed into a figure of profound darkness, a being that transcended her deepest fears. A grotesque laughter filled the space as Zorc seized Aknadin, his malevolent grip squeezing the very life from him.
"Aknadin!" Samira called out.
From her prone position, her mother summoned a surge of magic, hurling it desperately towards the dark entity. It was a futile effort, as her attack rebounded back toward her with vicious force.
As Aknadin struggled in the grip of this dark being, and her mother was struggling to regain her composure after the blow she took, Naima watched in horror as Aknadin looked at what she now knew was the Millennium Eye, and forced it into his eye socket without so much as a single grimace.
A golden beam shot out from the Millennium Eye. The pure energy struck Zorc, causing the monstrous entity to waver, then retract begrudgingly into the stone from whence it came.
Gathering her battered form from the ground, Samira's voice rang out once more, a plea tinged with desperate urgency.
"Aknadin, you must reverse this! You must put the items back. They do not belong to us."
Aknadin had only turned toward her before a golden item, a necklace, the Millennium Necklace, propelled itself upward from the ground and shot towards her mother, attaching itself to her neck, encircling it with a force that sent her reeling backwards. Naima could only watch, her heart hammering in her chest, as her mother grappled with the necklace in a futile struggle for control.
Her mother's once vibrant, golden eyes turned black like a void, her consciousness overtaken by an invisible, malevolent force. Everyone stared up in horror, beholden to her mother's body as she began to float off the ground, the golden Millennium necklace secured tightly to her neck. And in that suspended horror, Naima felt a piece of her soul fracture, the image of her mother's levitating body and blackened eyes seared into her memory.
The Millennium Necklace pulsated ominously against her mother's throat. Her voice, once warm and vibrant and strong, now a chorus of whispers and voices that spoke as one, echoing through the cavern with a foreboding resonance, a haunting proclamation that chilled Naima to her very core -
"In a time where the darkness dances with dawn, the saga unfurls, bound by fate and drenched in the sins of the past. Behold, the reign of Pharaoh Aknamkanon shall crumble, a dynasty shadowed by the very darkness that seeks to engulf the world," her mother's voice echoed.
"From the seeds of his lineage, the lion shall rise, chosen to bear the weight of redemption. In him, the flicker of the eternal battle between darkness and light shall blaze, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit."
"But beware, for the darkness is not easily vanquished. Zorc, the entity born of malice and greed, is not so easily subdued. He lurks within the recesses of time, awaiting the moment to reclaim his throne and engulf the world in a darkness that devours both soul and flesh."
With a motion that seemed to defy the constraints of time, her mother extended her arm, her finger pointing towards the horizon that lay beyond the confines of the cavern.
"In the shadow of three millennia, the cycle shall commence anew. The darkness will surge forth, seeking to reclaim what was once lost, heralding a time of trials and tribulations. Yet, within the darkness, a sliver of light persists, a beacon of hope that challenges the might of the shadows."
"The chosen ones shall stand at the cusp of time, wielding powers ancient and profound. The duels of destiny shall be fought once more, battles that transcend time and space, where the future of the world hangs precariously in the balance."
Her figure, still engulfed in an aura of darkness, began to descend as a final declaration escaped her lips-
"The Pharaoh's legacy, intertwined with the destinies of those chosen to bear the burden of this eternal conflict, will echo through the annals of time. And yet, within the realms of darkness and shadows, he will find solace in a bond unmarred by time, paths marked by fate and guided by the moon and stars. Remember this prophecy, for in the darkest hour, the light of hope shall reveal the path to salvation, a duel that heralds the dawn of a new age."
As the dark hand that seemed to take hold of her mother released its grip on her, her eyes returned to their usual golden hue.
Grimacing, Samira clawed at her neck in a desperate frenzy as she sought to remove the necklace that seemed to have enmeshed with her very flesh. Each labored breath she took was an agonizing scream, reverberating in the shadows of the cavern. The necklace refused to let go, trapping her as it choked the life out of her. Her frantic movements grew more and more erratic, her labored gasping and heaving echoing in the silent chamber. A strangled scream ripped through Naima as she watched from the cave entrance, powerless. Aknadin galloped away with the last of his men, leaving her mother to face death alone, crawling for mercy.
Before Naima could fully grasp the weight of what she just saw, her vision blurred and shifted, bringing another scene into horrifying clarity. Samira, barely recognizable, her spirit flickering like a candle in the wind, limped toward the outskirts of the palace. Against all odds, she had forged a path through the desert, fueled by a determination that defied the cruel hand fate had dealt her.
Naima's heart lodged in her throat as she witnessed her mother's solemn entry into the palace hall, now surrounded by guards whose faces bore expressions of disbelief and pity. Inside, a tense assembly was underway, a grim council that paused at Samira's unexpected return. The Millennium Items lay ominously on a table at the center, their presence evoking an air of foreboding uncertainty, as no one yet understood the extent of their powers or their sinister origin.
The entire hall was silent as everyone looked upon her mother's battered form.
Aknadin's face blanched.
"She's... alive? She has returned?" he said, his voice betraying a blend of surprise and an undercurrent of fear.
"Samira?" the Pharaoh Aknamkanon breathed. "You are alive. Are you alright?"
Her mother was handed water by quick-moving servants.
"My children... my girls -?" she croaked, the words hardly more than a ragged whisper.
"They are safe and cared for." the Pharaoh reassured.
Samira tore the necklace from her neck, hurling it onto the ground with a clatter. It slid across the granite floor.
"This…" she panted. "These…" She pointed at the Millennium Items now sitting atop the table.
"They are items of evil." she cried out as she laid eyes on the necklace that was now on the floor.
"I want nothing to do with that... thing."
"Samira...? What do you speak of?" Aknamkanon said.
She turned her piercing gaze towards Aknadin, her eyes burning with a fierce fire. "Are you going to tell him, or will I?"
Aknadin's face remained still as a stone.
"Certainly. As you asked, Samira, I will show everyone here exactly what occurred."
With a look of calculated calm, he brought his hand to the golden eye embedded in his eye socket. The artifact glinted ominously, before a blinding light radiated from the Millennium Eye, forcing everyone in the hall, including Naima, to shield their eyes. When they dared to look again, they were met with a horrifying vision, projected for all to see - Samira, her body suspended mid-air, eyes swallowed in darkness, voice foretelling the prophecy in an otherworldly tone. Her face was twisted in a grotesque mask of malevolence, the Millennium Necklace glowing ominously around her neck as if marking her with the seal of the darkness itself.
The assembly erupted in fearful gasps and whispers, the grim reality portrayed before them fueling a wildfire of panic and distrust. The terrifying vision, combined with their unfamiliarity with the Millennium Items' powers, created a potent mix of fear and uncertainty, sowing seeds of doubt in the minds of even the staunchest supporters of Samira.
Naima wanted to scream, to declare the illusion for what it was, but her voice was lost amidst the mounting horror.
Aknadin capitalized on the mounting fear.
"You all see the truth!" he proclaimed.
"These all-powerful items are harbingers of truth, and now you see the truth before you. She speaks of the of the items' malevolence, yet they have brought out the true darkness in her for all to see."
"Her prophecy speaks of the downfall of your reign, my Pharaoh! This could very well be considered treason!" another priest exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger towards Samira. The hall erupted in whispers and murmurs.
The courtiers and priests in the hall, overwhelmed by the vision and Aknadin's calculated words, recoiled from Samira, and in that moment, Shimon's words from long ago had resurfaced in Naima's mind -
"She was someone that people feared for many different reasons."
"Her strange behavior raised the eyebrows of many."
"She would spend many hours locked in her chamber. Doing what? The Gods only know. There were many strange noises outside of her door."
The pieces began to click into place like a puzzle, forming an image Naima was not sure she wanted to see. Her mother had been working on the hourglasses in secret, their purpose remaining shrouded in mystery. And people, not knowing what she was up to, became suspicious.
And these same individuals who had harbored suspicions for years, who had seen her mother engrossed in forbidden realms of knowledge, continuously dancing on the delicate line between the sacred and the profane - Aknadin's fallacious vision now confirmed everything they were afraid of.
The undercurrents of fear that had gathered over the years now broke the surface, fed by uneasy memories and speculative fears.
Naima's heart bled, watching her mother being framed so cruelly in real time, the blatant manipulation of reality designed to tarnish her mother's reputation.
Pharaoh Aknamkanon, though visibly disturbed by the vision, interjected, attempting to seek clarity.
"Aknadin! Explain yourself! We must not jump to conclusions —"
But the murmurs grew louder, drowning out the Pharaoh's pleas for reason, a rising tide of fear and anger. Voices clamored for justice, for protection and safety against the perceived evil that now stood amongst them, the officials and dignitaries seeming to forget decorum in the face of such a shocking revelation.
Aknadin seized the moment, stepping forward with calculated grace.
"I did not wish for you to witness such evil, especially when they have walked amongst us in these palace walls." he declared solemnly. "But now you see the truth, what has lived inside one of our own for all this time. It is our duty to protect Egypt, to shield it from the encroaching shadows, even when it disguises itself in the form of someone we once held dear. I fear we have harbored darkness within our very walls. For the safety of our kingdom, we cannot ignore what we have seen here today."
"Brother," Aknamkanon began, his eyes flickering between Aknadin and the aghast figure of Samira. "This is a grave accusation."
Aknadin's eyes were cold, unyielding.
"Yet the evidence is before us. Can we risk the safety of our kingdom, of our children, by ignoring what has been unveiled today?"
"It's clear!" shouted a prominent courtier. "She is tainted by the same dark magic that these items harbor. We cannot risk the safety of our kingdom!"
The Pharaoh seemed to age decades in moments, his shoulders slumping as he met Samira's pleading gaze, a myriad of emotions dancing within his eyes – doubt, sorrow, and a fearful uncertainty that gnawed at the edges of his resolve.
"This council seems to have forgotten itself," Aknamkanon declared, his gaze sweeping across the gathered assembly. "Samira has been a loyal and invaluable member of this court, a trusted voice of wisdom and clarity."
Naima felt as if a vise was tightening around her heart as she saw her mother's form slump, vulnerable and alone amidst a sea of accusatory faces.
"..Aknamkanon..." Samira pleaded. "I have served this kingdom with all my heart. Do not let a vision cloud years of trust. You know me... Please... "
But her voice drowned in a tide of rising fear, a torrent that threatened to engulf all reason, all loyalty. The courtiers, advisors, all seemed to shrink back, their faces masks of dread, their faith crumbling under the grotesque vision and the whispers of treachery still lingering in their minds.
The Pharaoh Aknamkanon sat silent in the midst of chaos. Naima could almost feel the strain on his shoulders as he rubbed his temples with his fingers.
"I am left with no choice," he eventually muttered under his breath.
With a deep, soul-shaking breath, Aknamkanon raised his hand, demanding silence. The noise died down, replaced by an oppressive quiet, the collective breath of the court held in anticipation.
"I cannot ignore the voices of my court, the fear and concern that grips them."
He paused, his gaze lingering on Samira, a deep sorrow mirrored in her eyes, a silent conversation passing between them that transcended words.
"In this kingdom, we stand by the tenets of mercy and justice. Even in the face of the unknown, of fear and doubt, we must not waver from our path."
"But in the face of these revelations, brought forth by the powers of the Millennium Items…" he paused. "I find no choice but to act in the best interest of our people, of our kingdom."
He looked at Samira, his gaze holding an ocean of sorrow and apology.
"Samira," he declared. "I decree that you be stripped of your position, and exiled from this palace and the surrounding city. Trust that this decision is not based on vengeance, but to allow time to reveal the truth."
As the word 'exile' reverberated through the hall, a wave of shock seemed to emanate from every corner. Samira, her face pale, seemed to collapse inwards.
"Let it be known," Aknamkanon continued. "That this decision does not come lightly, nor without a heavy heart."
He locked eyes with Aknadin, a silent promise that this matter was far from settled.
"Exile? Exile, my brother?" Aknadin exclaimed. "You think exile will stop what you just saw?"
Fury ignited in Aknamkanon's eyes as he glared at Aknadin. Naima had never seen such anger on his face.
"You dare to question me?" Aknamkanon growled. The entire hall silenced.
"My word is my decree, Aknadin. It will be done as I have said."
Samira stood tall in dignified silence, her face stained with tears as she glared at Aknadin. Naima could sense the depth of her mother's pain as it echoed in her own soul, as the guards moved in to seize her.
"I have faith that the truth will be unveiled according to the will of the Gods." she spoke without taking her eyes off Aknadin for even a moment.
"And I'll be there to witness it. I will be waiting."
"Pack her things." Aknadin called out.
"My daughters…." Samira shouted as she fought against the guards' grip, her desperate eyes searching the room.
"Where are they?"
"Your daughters will be returned to you."
The guards began to usher Samira out, but not before she cast a defiant glare at the court, a blazing fire still alive in her eyes.
"Will you at least give me the decency to pack my own things?"
Before Naima could process the scene further, her vision transitioned sharply, depositing her back in her mother's chamber. There, she watched Samira move with frantic haste, stuffing essentials into a sack. Stopping by her desk, Samira carefully opened a drawer, retrieving the hourglasses gingerly and nestling them safely within her clothing, before selecting several scrolls and books from her desk and adding them to her sack.
The quiet intensity of the moment was shattered by two firm knocks. Guards, Naima knew, even before the chamber door swung open.
There was another jarring shift in time and Naima now found herself surrounded in the vast expanse of the desert. The blazing sun cast long shadows, painting a stark silhouette of the distant city of Thebes on the horizon. Sand danced around in the wind, and the heat was unforgiving.
Samira, clad in a flowing red cloak that billowed in the wind, trudged away from the fading city with a hefty sack over her back. But it wasn't just the sack that weighed her down. Two children were with her. A baby - Zahra - snuggled peacefully on her back, blissfully ignorant of the turmoil.
And then... Naima gasped as she saw her child self — a younger version of her adorned in fine linen and jewelry. This young Naima looked over her shoulder as she walked next to her mother, eyes glistening with tears as the only home she knew disappeared in the distance.
"Mama, I want to go back home…" her younger self cried.
With an aching tenderness, Samira stopped and knelt before her young daughter. She allowed the tears to fall for a moment before reaching out, catching them with her thumb. She gently removed the necklace and earrings from Naima's small body.
"I am sorry, my little one..."
And then, with a sorrowful grace, she pressed two fingers against young Naima's forehead. A golden light emanated from the contact, bathing the child's face in a glow that seemed almost ethereal amidst the desolation. Young Naima's eyes flickered gold before the light retreated, leaving a vacant expression in its wake.
A memory spell, Naima realized. Her mother had erased her memory. An act of protection woven from love and desperation, her mother had erased all memories of the palace from her young mind so they could start life anew, shielding her from the trauma of exile, loss and betrayal, and perhaps any future consequences should anyone find out who she was.
A sudden clarity descended upon her like a clearing of a fog, and it was at this moment that she had felt whole for the first time in her life. That she felt like she understood the person who she was, and who she was meant to be.
But before she could grasp any more, Naima felt a jarring pull, catapulting her through a tunnel of swirling vortex, a chaotic dance of colors enveloping her sight. And then once again she felt solid ground beneath her and the familiar sensation of air filling her lungs.
With a groan, Naima tried to shake off the heaviness in her head, akin to the aftermath of indulging in too much wine. She realized she was gripping the goblet and managed to crack an eye open, finding Mona observing her with a thoughtful expression.
"Why did it stop? I wanted to see more... There has to be more..." she murmured, her hands cradling her spinning head.
"Girl, one must not spend too long in the world of time and memories, lest they lose themselves in the process." Mona said.
Battling the disappointment bubbling within her, Naima replayed the vivid images in her mind, trying to anchor herself to the present. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before looking up at Mona.
"Being a seer," Mona began. "I am privvy to the personal matters of others. It is the nature of my work. I knew there was much that you sought, and much you still seek. I hope the visions I showed you brought some clarity and peace to your troubled mind."
But it only sprouted more questions, a garden of enigmas blooming within her. Naima remained silent, gathering her scattered senses.
"There is no way you can bring me back?" she said.
Mona shook her head.
"If I allowed you to do so," she said. "There is a chance you would become trapped in that world, your real self becoming a shell of what you once were as your soul continues to wander the realms of the past, forgetting who you are in the present."
Mona's smile returned to her face.
"Your husband would take my head clean off my shoulders for turning his beloved Queen into a drooling lunatic."
Despite the gravity of the situation, Naima couldn't help but return the smile.
"You seem to hold a deeper understanding of me than I do myself," she noted.
Mona winked, her grin widening. "Eh.. Perks of the job, like I said."
"You seem to know about my Ka?" Naima ventured.
"Somewhat."
"Tell me what you know." Naima said.
Mona raised an eyebrow. "Well, what would you like to know, my Queen? I know many things."
She stood up from the table and began to prepare some water over a fire.
"Your Ka sings an ancient song. It is a dark creature from the underworld, a fiend, as you will. Not created with you at birth, but partnered with you, your soul. It has chosen you as a worthy host, and the two of your energies have become one."
"But... why? Why does it exist? What does it want with me? How and why was it created and by whom?"
Mona raised her eyebrows, giving her a wary look.
"I know many things girl, but the intricate details and dealings of the Gods and the underworld and all of the creatures that inhabit those forbidden lands are something I do not have extensive firsthand knowledge of."
"I don't understand." Naima said, frustrated.
"What is not to understand?"
"Why is it with me?" Naima asked.
Mona was quiet as the water began to boil. She silently prepared two cups of tea and sat back down across from the table, passing a cup to Naima.
"I can tell you what I do know." Mona began as she held her tea cup with both hands.
"Many eons ago, before the sands of time shaped the realms as we know them, a pact was sealed between the Gods and the beings of the underworld. This pact stated that when the world was at the brink of a cataclysmic event, chosen guardians from the underworld would rise, to guide and protect the beings of the earth realm."
Mona took a sip of her tea gingerly.
"Your Skull Ka, a guardian, a warrior, was chosen from the underworld. When the time was right, it sought out a host capable of wielding its potent energies responsibly. Its search led to you, Naima."
"A Ka cannot dwell inside of a human that is not worthy of it. Your Ka was very fortunate to have found you, a powerful soul who could both complement and balance its energy as well as accept it into your own."
Mona put her cup down as she studied her.
"Your spirit resonates purity, bathed in light, filled with a healer's touch, a heart ripe with courage and kindness and care for others. Traits that made you the perfect vessel to carry the enormous responsibility that came with harboring this ancient entity, and your Ka could sense it, that you could stand toe to toe with it if you dared, embrace its dark flames yet not be consumed by it. It's not just anyone who can complement such a creature, But you... you were a perfect match, a marriage of dark and light."
"The prophecy... the prophecy that my mother foretold..."
Mona lowered her head as she looked at her solemnly.
"Your husband, the Pharaoh Atem, is the chosen one."
An icy brick hit Naima's stomach.
"And what does that mean for him... and for me..."
"You both are bound as one, woven together by the threads of fate. It was written in the stars that you would stand beside the Pharaoh, a united front against the darkness that threatens to consume the world."
"To defeat Zorc."
Mona was silent as she dipped her head into her tea.
"You are best to remember that prophecy, girl. The threads of that prophecy cling to you."
"I barely remember it, and I didn't even understand what it meant. Talking about three millennia... into the future? Duels of destiny... battles... something about hope and salvation..."
"Remember it." Mona said firmly. "Write it down, and place it in your records. And when they are found eventually, it will be a warning to all in the future. It cannot be lost to time. It is a miracle that there is a second chance to record it now."
Naima sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the responsibility now bestowed upon her. She cast a glance outside the window where the sun seemed to be sinking lower, painting the sky with hues of impending darkness. A sense of urgency began to pool within her.
"I believe I must go now, Mona." Naima said somberly. "But I thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
Mona bowed her head with a smile.
"It is the least I could do. You have a great burden, young Queen, yet I have faith that you will rise to meet it. I only hope that I could have helped in your cause, no matter how small."
"You did." Naima assured her, her voice thick with the beginning of tears.
As Naima went to leave, she cast one last look at Mona's face.
"As you step into the maw of darkness, girl," Mona said. "Remember that in the face of the shadows that seek to engulf this world, you and the Pharaoh are the torchbearers. Together, united in love and purpose, you harbor the might to reshape destiny itself."
-o0o-
The weight of Mona's words clung to Naima as she left the mysterious woman's dwelling. An urgency burned within her, driving her back towards the sanctuary of the palace where she could contemplate the enigmatic prophecy her mother had uttered so many years ago.
Yet, a lingering obligation pulled her steps astray, towards another destination that lay bathed in the evening light.
Not far from Mona's abode, she arrived at a quaint building, the clatter of looms lingering through the still air. She approached, finding the door slightly ajar. With a gentle push, she stepped inside, finding herself amidst startled faces turned towards her. Yet, it was one face that captured her attention.
Halima sat there behind a loom, garbed in simple linen attire and a surprised yet guarded expression that Naima knew well.
Naima pulled down the cloth that hid her nose and mouth, revealing her face, and recognition flashed in Halima's eyes.
"Forgive my interruption."
A palpable silence filled the space, the room holding its breath as its occupants awaited an explanation.
"Halima..." Naima said. "I have come to see you. May I speak with you privately?"
Seeming slightly startled, Halima nodded, her actions a flurry as she guided Naima to a simple yet secluded room within the home.
The air thrummed with an underlying tension as they seated themselves.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Halima said quietly, her voice slightly strained.
"... Have you come to dance on my grave?"
"No, Halima." Naima said. "I came to see how you were doing, and to perhaps mend what was broken. I was informed that you were still in Thebes... I brought you some things you might enjoy."
Surprise crept across Halima's features as Naima pulled the sack off her back, revealing the comfort package she thoughtfully prepared - a jug of fine wine, a delicate silk scarf, a small sackful of ripe figs and dates, and a piece of a delicious sweet and sticky dessert that many people in the palace were fond of.
Halima sat rigidly, clearly struggling to reconcile this with their complicated past.
"I never expected kindness from you," Halima muttered softly. "Not after... everything."
"Everyone deserves a chance at redemption." Naima remarked quietly.
"How has life been treating you?" she probed gently.
Halima shrugged slightly, avoiding Naima's gaze.
"I am better than before."
"Are you content with your work? The weaving?"
"It is enough," Halima replied. "I have come to enjoy working with my hands."
Naima nodded before turning her attention towards the window.
"You have chosen to remain in Thebes, over returning to Memphis."
A sliver of darkness flashed across Halima's eyes. "I have no desire to go back. There is nothing left for me there."
The words hovered between them, and Naima knew without further explanation what she meant.
"I wanted to make sure that you were okay," Naima said softly. "If you needed any help..."
Halima looked taken aback, and eventually shook her head.
"I'm alright for now, thank you. I have a place to live, food and I make a decent wage."
Naima nodded. "If you need anything," She added before turning to pull her cloak back over her body, "Do not hesitate."
As Naima prepared to leave, Halima spoke up.
"Thank you," Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"For giving me the chance to find peace, even when I didn't deserve it."
Chapter 40: Threshold
Chapter Text
By the time Naima stumbled back to the palace, her mind was a whirlwind of emotion and she was barely able to converse with anyone as her thoughts consumed her entirely. She struggled to maintain a facade of composure, forcing her face into a neutral mask, the opposite of everything going through her mind. Every piece of the prophecy that came to her, she jotted down onto a scrap of paper that she kept close at hand.
Atem noticed her distractedness immediately, scrutinizing her over dinner. He didn't say a word, just watched her with a perceptive eye that was somehow both gentle and piercing at the same time, a silent inquiry laced with concern. He continued to remain silent as they retired to their chamber for the night.
But when they finally settled into bed and he pulled her close to his warm body, he gently turned her face towards him and brushed away a stray lock of hair with a single finger.
"You have been very quiet today, you seem troubled." he said.
His voice was a gentle caress against the clamor of her thoughts.
"Everything alright?"
Naima stared at him, hesitant, the enormity of explaining what occurred settling onto her like a massive weight. She wondered where she could even start, what to even say. As she stroked her fingers idly against his bare skin, the words, though fragmented, came to her.
"When I was in Thebes today, I visited a seer." Naima said.
"Mona... I met her when we were in Naqada and, from all the strange dreams I've been having lately, I asked Eliyah to find her. She has been living in Thebes."
As Naima recounted the visions, the hourglasses, the origins of the Millennium Items, and the prophetic shards that now lay in her hands, Atem's face remained still as a stone. His gaze remained heavy on her as she explained the prophecy, showed him the pieces of it she was able to remember.
She stayed nestled in his embrace, letting the warmth of his presence sink into her bones as everything she said slowly sank in.
Atem sighed heavily, deep in thought, a stoic expression on his face.
"It is time."
"Time for what?" Naima said. Although she feared she already knew what he meant.
"We must seek out Ra," he declared. "Without the mighty Obelisk the Tormentor by our side, it is our last chance for victory."
Naima raised her eyebrows. The God Ra, its essence taking the form of a mighty dragon, its power dwarfing any monster or deity she had ever known.
"Hassan said that the dwelling of Ra resides in Abeydos, The holy city..." Naima trailed. "We will journey there, then?"
The silence stretched between them, thick with Atem's brooding thoughts. He said nothing for a long while, his face a well of contemplation.
"It would be best if you stayed here," he said eventually. "And for me to complete this task alone."
Indignant fury surged at his words, her eyes locking onto him with a fierce glare.
Did they not just recently discuss this... how they were a team. She inhaled a sharp breath, readying to give him a piece of her mind. But Atem quickly placed a finger over her lips, silencing her protests before she could even get a word out.
"Listen." he said softly.
She glowered at him, but he met her gaze and held it before continuing.
"The path to Abeydos, the path to obtain Ra, it will be dangerous, Naima." he said.
"Who knows how many obstacles we will face. While I am gone, I cannot fulfill my duties as ruler of this kingdom. It would also draw too much suspicion for both of us to disappear from Thebes without explanation. You must take on my role in my absence."
Naima gawked at him.
"You want me to stay here and rule in the interim while you seek out Ra."
Atem nodded.
"But I want to come with you." Naima pleaded, her voice shook. "This will be dangerous, Atem. How can you even think about going by yourself?"
He slid his fingers through hers.
"I will not make the journey alone. The priests will accompany me there."
More protests began to form in Naima's throat, but Atem continued.
"Naima, the sacred city of Abeydos houses the burial grounds of the earliest pharaohs, and in the center stands the temple of Ra. Only those deemed worthy are given the chance to enter and challenge Ra himself."
"And you plan to face Ra, in hopes that you may wield his power."
"I must." he said.
"You think you can do it alone..."
"I do not have a choice Naima." He looked at her in the eye.
"Even if you join me on this quest, there's no guarantee that you'll be allowed into the temple by my side. Abeydos holds great significance to my lineage, where the ancient pharaohs of Egypt are entombed. I hold faith that Ra will look upon me with favor, recognizing the blood of those who rest within its sands."
Naima turned her gaze to the far wall.
"And what about me?" she muttered. "I am supposed to rule here in your absence..."
Atem took her hand in his own and smiled down at her, his dark eyes burning with conviction.
"You will be fine, Naima." he said. "I will have Seto stay back with you for guidance."
Naima scowled.
"Seto..." she said, raising an eyebrow. "Out of all of the priests, you pick Seto. What about Shimon? Or Karim? ...Shada?"
Atem cupped her chin tenderly and brought her gaze back up to meet his.
"Naima, I know Seto may seem distant. But he is bound by the oath to protect and serve the kingdom. His strategic mind and knowledge of the kingdom's affairs are unparalleled."
"Atem..." Naima trailed off.
Something roiled in her stomach at the thought of him leaving on such a perilous journey while she stayed behind.
"How can you expect me to watch you walk into the unknown while I stay here in this palace and act like nothing is happening? You could be killed." she implored.
She had always stood by Atem's side, facing every challenge together. But now, the thought of ruling in his stead, of being separated from him while he undertook this journey... It was daunting.
"I have faith that you will rise to meet the challenge," he said with a smile. "And succeed, as you have done in all your other endeavors".
Naima sighed heavily, steeling herself.
'Get it together.'
She was now Queen, and it was an obligation she was honor-bound to uphold with dignity and grace, a responsibility that went beyond personal desires.
Perhaps now was the time to shatter the mold she had been inadvertently placed in. She refused to remain a silent figurehead that was merely something pretty to look at, a voice that awaited an invitation to speak. But instead, she would be a force to be reckoned with, a leader who was prepared to demonstrate that she could—and would—stand resolute and true in the face of adversity, for the sake of her kingdom and its people.
"I understand." Naima finally said. "I may not like it, but I understand the path that you must walk... your duty. And, I also understand mine. The kingdom needs stability, and if my role is to provide that in your absence, then so be it."
Atem closed the distance, his eyes dark and searching.
"Your courage never ceases to amaze me," he said gently. "You're remarkable, Naima."
His voice, a low, velvet murmur, caressed her very soul.
"It's our shared strength that will forge our future, Atem," Naima murmured to him.
The night encroached, bringing with it a certain kind of serenity, their shadows merging in its inky embrace. Each whispered word hung in the air, promises of a future they were slowly weaving together. Laying there on the bed, nothing else mattered but their fingers interlaced and soft touches they shared. Atem's lips seared against her own, and then he was gone, trailing a path of kisses down her neck and breasts, his hands making gentle caresses across her body with a familiarity that made her heart stutter.
She surrendered fully to him as he made love to her, and in the heat of their passion she whispered his name like a fervent prayer in the stillness of the night.
And in that moment, she had never felt so alive.
-o0o-
The air was thick with anticipation.
Naima felt it, a palpable energy that seemed to ripple through the very walls of the palace. For two days now, discreet preparations had been underway.
In the privacy of her and Atem's chamber, Naima stood by the window, staring blankly into the distance. The desk was a landscape of papyrus scrolls, evidence of her recent nights spent in the library. She had sought knowledge about Abeydos and Ra in hopes of arming Atem with information for his mission. Among these, she had retrieved the court records from her mother's time, hoping for insights about her that have remained hidden in the past. Yet, for all her efforts, the secrets she sought remained elusive.
The sacred city of Abeydos, as she had learned, was a place shrouded in myth and legend. As a sacred burial site of the earliest pharaohs, multiple texts confirmed its abandonment by humans several hundred years ago, but legend had it that Ra had chosen Abeydos as his terrestrial abode. The divine temple of Ra still rested in its center, adorned in gold and gemstones and untouched by time. Despite its opulance, no thief had ever dared to desecrate it, for it was said to be shielded by the might of Ra himself. Many sought to enter Ra's sacred chambers, lured by tales of divine knowledge, unparalleled power, and treasures beyond imagination.
Those brave enough to seek entry into Ra's sanctum faced a trial of the heart. Anyone with a tainted soul or with ill-intent would face severe repercussions.
Naima felt a chill at the notion.
Atem's caution about them not entering in tandem was well-founded, after all. The texts further detailed that those who endured the heart's initial scrutiny would then face a succession of trials, gauging the merit of the soul that sought Ra. The temple was apparently an enigma, designed to test the worthiness of those who dared to seek an audience with the god, known as the 'Trials of Ra'. The scrolls spoke of brave souls who entered and were never seen again, their spirits trapped forever within the temple's hallowed walls.
As Naima pondered the magnitude of Atem's task, images of him facing these trials filled her with dread. The risks were immense, each trial a step into unknown dangers. The possibility of Atem being ensnared or worse in the temple's depths was a thought she couldn't bear.
Yet, she knew she must remain steadfast. Atem's resolve had always been a source of strength, and in his absence, she had to uphold that same fortitude for their people.
Drawing a deep breath, Naima centered herself.
She could not let worry consume her.
Her eyes drifted back to the desk, to the stack of court records she had been sifting through in the meantime. Between the mundane details, she found a few amusing entries. One of them detailed a court meeting where in the midst of a heated debate about trade routes, a flock of ibises had suddenly flown through an open window, causing a commotion. The Pharaoh Aknamkanon, amused, declared it a divine sign to take a recess and enjoy the day outside.
Naima smiled.
With fingers stained from the ancient ink, she gently caressed the papyrus, then turned her attention back to the window.
A modest-sized caravan had since congregated outside the palace grounds—a handful of guards, several servants, and the court, with the noticeable absence of Seto, who was nowhere to be found.
Naima quietly made her way outside. Hidden from sight, she slipped silently back against the pillar near the door, just in time to witness with Atem checking his supplies for one last time and Mana flitting around him.
"Let me come with you, Atem." Mana grumbled.
"It's too risky."
"Come on. What can go wrong?" Mana said.
"A great deal." Atem replied tersely.
"Oh just relax, will you? We're all gonna be fine." Mana sang, her smile radiant and unwavering. "Have faith in me, your devoted apprentice magician!"
Though a part of her envied the adventure that awaited them, Naima also felt the gravity of her role in Atem's absence. She would be the anchor, the steady hand that would keep their kingdom thriving until his return.
Atem's sigh broke her reverie.
"Alright, Mana, you may come." he finally conceded, begrudingly.
"But please, you must be careful."
Mana's jubilant cheer echoed through the grounds, but Naima barely heard it, her nerves rattling as she watched final preparations being made.
She emerged from the shadow of the pillar and Atem caught sight of her immediately. His eyes, carrying the weight of his impending journey, softened as they met hers. The clamor around them seemed to mute for a brief moment.
"You are leaving soon?" she said.
Atem cast a glance over his shoulder, where the caravan sat mounted and poised, awaiting his signal.
He exhaled, giving a single, decisive nod.
His fingers met her cheeks, tenderly cradling her face in his hands.
Naima bit back tears as she looked at him.
"Safe journeys ahead." she whispered, "I await your return."
The unsaid fear of a final farewell lingered in the air.
But Atem, sensing her unspoken dread, pressed his forehead to hers.
"I will return to you." he murmured,
As they departed, their figures shrinking in the distance, Naima felt fragments of her heart leave with each step they took, a silent procession of hope and heartache.
-o0o-
As dawn broke the next morning, Naima rose, her h`eart fortified with a newfound resolve, stark against the empty spot beside her.
She dressed for battle, donning a white silk gown overlaid with delicate sheer purple fabric that draped behind her. Amethysts, gold, and a myriad of other precious gems glinted as they adorned her body, catching the soft light of the morning glow. Although her reflection radiated elegance, she was armored in spirit.
For today was no ordinary day. The sun burned bright above her as she marched out of her chamber with purpose, her stride a silent oath to embody her mother's regal poise and strength.
Today was the day of rulings - when the citizens of the kingdom could present their grievances to royalty, and it would be her first time making a decision on her own. She had attended these with Atem before, watched him preside over the hearings. But today, she stood alone.
Seto was already waiting by the hall's entrance, arms folded with a gaze as sharp as the jewels at her throat. Their gazes locked for a brief, intense moment before he motioned her forward.
The musty air clung to them as they made their way into the hall. Seto walked slightly behind her as her dress billowed out in the slight draft. The ornate room, with its high stone ceilings adorned with gold and red tapestry, was filled with the kingdom's elite.
A hush blanketed the room with her entrance. Eyes, many laden with curiosity and expectation, sought the figure they had anticipated - Atem.
Undeterred, Naima approached Atem's throne. The weight of their gazes followed her, and yet, she settled onto the seat with as much grace as she could muster.
Seto stationed himself beside her in an authoritative stance, his Millennium rod in hand with his arms crossed over his chest.
She sat tall, every inch the ruler, despite the chaotic sea of anxiety in her mind.
'Just do what Atem does.'
"Welcome." Naima said. The entire hall fell into a hush.
"I will be presiding over this week's rulings."
A charged silence ensued.
An old man with a kind face stepped forward.
"My Queen, it is an honor." he said, inclining his head. "If I may ask, where is the Pharaoh today?"
"The Pharaoh is currently attending to matters of great importance." Naima said. "Today, I am here in his place."
Her words carried an unspoken finality, a gentle yet firm reminder of her authority in Atem's absence.
"Let's proceed."
Immediately, two groups of people stepped forward. Naima recognized them - the Al-Masri family and the Bahari family, both titans of Egypt's trade, and were also known for their incessant disputes.
From the Al-Masri side, a burly man with a commanding beard spoke up,
"My Queen, for generations, the river route through the Nile Delta has been under the exclusive control of the Al-Masri family. But now, the Bahari family seeks to encroach upon our territory."
A statuesque woman from the Bahari clan glared at him.
"Your claim is baseless. Our ancestors have traded there long before you."
She then turned toward Naima and bowed low.
"My Queen, the Bahari family has always respected boundaries. But the river route is vast, and there's enough room for both families to benefit. The Al-Masri's greed knows no bounds."
The Al-Masri man scoffed,
"Your words twist the truth. We have watched you extend your trade routes slowly but surely, into territories long held by us."
"Because you have overreached and hoarded, leaving nothing for others." shouted a younger Bahari man who couldn't hold back.
"The Nile belongs to Egypt, not to one greedy family!"
"Enough," Naima interjected, shooting a stern look toward the Bahari side.
"This isn't a marketplace squabble. I expect you to keep your tempers in check."
The Bahari man bowed low after being elbowed by someone else in their group.
"My deepest apologies, my Queen."
"I have heard enough." Naima said.
The room crackled with anticipation, all eyes fixed on her as she drew in a slow breath, gathering her thoughts.
"Both of your families have contributed greatly to our kingdom's prosperity. Instead of fighting over a stretch of the Nile, why not share it? Divide the area equally. This way, both families can benefit, and our kingdom's trade will continue to flourish."
The Bahari woman nodded, her eyes revealing a touch of gratitude. "Your wisdom is commendable, my Queen."
But the Al-Masri man looked unconvinced.
"This is a drastic departure from the earlier rulings," he said, narrowing his eyes. "The Pharaoh always recognized our longstanding claims."
There were murmurs throughout the hall. Naima felt a flare of indignation. It took all her effort to keep her voice level.
"I respect and uphold many of the Pharaoh's decisions, but today, I sit in this throne, and it's my duty to ensure harmony and fairness for all. We must adapt and evolve for the betterment of our kingdom. Remember that peace is more profitable than endless disputes."
Naima exhaled, before continuing.
"My decision stands. Both families will work together for the greater good."
The Bahari woman stepped forward.
"We accept this decision and pledge to work with the Al-Masri family for the prosperity of Egypt."
Both families bowed in acknowledgment before leaving the hall.
Naima sighed and closed her eyes, taking a moment to steady her thoughts before a new string of people came to the front.
The weight of judgment bore down on her shoulders, every choice and command under intense scrutiny.
But she will not falter - she is Atem's replacement, yes, but also a ruler in her own right, determined to prove her worth.
-o0o-
The next few days became a blur for her. She was thrust into a world of governance, a realm she had only observed from the sidelines.
Seto, as Atem had promised, was a constant presence, his piercing gaze following her every move. It seemed he had embarked on a personal mission to scrutinize every minuscule thing she did, seeking flaws to exploit and opportunities to undermine her, making her appear inept in front of everyone. His watchful eyes, a constant in the background, became a daily test, eroding her resolve.
During a meeting about the harvests, Naima had sat at the head of the table, striving to project poise and composure amidst several regional leaders.
"We must distribute the harvest evenly among the provinces." Naima said. "Times have been hard, and all must have their share." Her eyes swept across the gathered faces.
Seto, standing to her right like a shadow, leaned in and whispered, "My Queen, while equality is an ideal, efficiency and loyalty should guide our resources. Allocating more to strategic provinces could ensure a stronger defense and economy."
Naima turned to him and gave him an incredulous look.
"All our people are loyal, Seto. We cannot show favoritism during times of crisis."
He conceded with a reluctant nod, but Naima did not miss the look in his eyes, sharp and calculating at all times.
The next day during another meeting, Naima proposed a temporary tax relief for the farmers affected by the recent drought. Before the council could react, Seto interjected.
"My Queen," he began, his voice edged with his typical arrogance. "Have you considered the financial implications on the kingdom's treasury? Our wealth and influence must be preserved at all costs."
Bastard.
Naima's lips remained in a firm, thin line as she regarded Seto with barely veiled contempt.
"Thank you for your input, Seto."
As she spent more time with him, Naima saw a pattern emerging. Seto would often counter her decisions, always with a logical explanation, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to his objections.
This suspicion deepened when Naima advocated for diplomatic outreach to neighboring countries. "Building alliances through dialogue is our path forward," she asserted.
Seto, however, raised an eyebrow in clear disapproval. "But a display of military might be even more persuasive in securing alliances," he countered.
Naima's eyes flashed with irritation as she bit back the urge to unleash a flurry of curses. The room grew tense, the other council members exchanging uneasy glances.
But she decided to hold her tongue, choosing instead to nod thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Seto. Your insights are invaluable. But I truly believe that true alliances are built on mutual respect, not fear."
Seto seemed to relish in these power plays. Each day was a challenge in that Seto would happily take every opportunity to undermine her in front of everyone he could. Additionally, the once lively palace now felt tense and somber, as if everyone could sense the power dynamic shifting. And Naima couldn't help but think that Seto was secretly reveling in it.
Naima had made countless attempts to bridge the gap between them, to extend a hand in peace. And perhaps, she would try once again...
"How is Kisara? What has happened with her?" she asked tentatively as they walked the halls after a meeting. "I haven't seen or heard from her in a long time."
"She's fine," he spat. "Why don't you go back to minding your own business."
Naima clenched her jaw, cursing herself for even trying. Some things never change, and their strained relationship seemed destined to remain that way.
-o0o-
In the heart of Abeydos stood the Temple of Ra, bathed in a light that seemed not of this earth. It shimmered like a mirage, a jewel amidst the endless sands where the divine touched the mortal, and the veil between the worlds thinned.
The shifting sands, guardian of secrets long buried, concealed the resting places of the earliest pharaohs, their spirits woven into the very fabric of the place. Here, amidst the silent vigil of the ages, the formidable Temple of Ra stood tall like an unyielding guardian, its facade a testament to the artistry of a bygone era. The entrance, guarded by massive pillars studded with blood-red rubies and lapis lazuli as deep as the night sky, stood tall and proud like guardians of a sacred stronghold, beckoning to those who dared to tread the path of the divine.
And there, standing before this threshold of gods, was Atem. The golden hue of the sun wrapped around him like a cloak, his silhouette etched against the timeless architecture. His eyes scanned the sacred expanse before him, an acknowledgment of the weight of history that pressed upon his shoulders.
Just beyond this threshold, the court stood in solemn vigil with their eyes fixed on him in silent support.
"...Who dares to disturb the dwelling of Ra..."
The voice, more a vibration than a sound, resonated through the very stones of the temple, through the sands beneath his feet and the marrow of his bones.
"It is I, Atem, son of Aknamkanon, descendant of the line of great Pharaohs who came before me. I come seeking the power of Ra, so I may safeguard the people of Egypt from the looming threat of darkness that approaches." he declared, his voice a steady thread between the slew of whispers that filled the air.
For a moment, time itself seemed to pause. Then, a deeper resonance, like the heartbeat of the earth, answered him.
"...Enter... Chosen one..."
As the words echoed into silence, the entrance to the temple seemed to widen. He took a step forward, then paused and turned back at the call of his court.
"My Pharaoh, remember that you do not walk alone."
Their voices, a unified swell of loyalty and faith, reached out to him. Then, with a nod that conveyed his gratitude, he turned back to the temple and with the unknown darkness ahead, he stepped inside and did not look back. The ancient doors of the temple slammed shut, leaving Atem to face Ra and himself, alone in the sacred darkness, where the only light was the faint glimmer of hope in his heart.
-o0o-
Atem's absence in the palace was acutely felt by all.
Naima, who had confined herself mainly to her chamber and leaving only when necessary, wrestled with a discomfort that intensified each time she ventured out. It was as if unseen eyes bore into her, scrutinizing her every move. This sense of paranoia, whether real or imagined, gnawed at her. She couldn't help but fear that Seto's relentless undermining had eroded everyone's confidence in her leadership.
Meanwhile, each day that passed without news from Atem and his entourage to Abeydos deepened the worry lines on her face. The lack of communication was not just unsettling; it was a foreboding omen that left her feeling on edge, wondering if the silence meant they had encountered a fate too grim to report.
In Atem's absence, the palace, once a symbol of light and hope, had somehow transformed into a maze of shadows and hushed whispers. Eliyah had mentioned servants speaking of unexplained cold drafts and flickering torches in previously warm hallways. Despite the ample light, a pervasive sense of darkness loomed for some strange reason.
Pushed to the edge, Naima's patience frayed, enough so that one afternoon, she resolved to confront Seto after a particularly frustrating day.
She found him in his study in the early evening, and her gaze fixed on him immediately.
Seto's usually sharp blue eyes now held a distant, almost haunted quality, causing her to hesitate momentarily, a mix of apprehension and confusion knotting in her stomach.
"I came to talk," she stated firmly.
Seto continued to peruse a scroll for a moment longer, as if to emphasize his indifference, before finally setting it aside. He looked up, his gaze cold and distant.
"About?"
Naima took a steadying breath.
"Your actions ... they're causing unrest. You're constantly undermining my authority. Why?"
Seto's expression shifted ever-so-slightly, just enough for Naima to catch a flicker of arrogance in his eyes.
"I'm taking necessary measures for the stability of Egypt," he replied cooly.
She fought to quell the surge of irritation that rose up in her.
"By sidelining me? By contradicting me every chance you get? How does this inspire confidence in the government by our people?"
His features hardened even further.
"The Pharaoh entrusted me with the responsibility of this kingdom in his absence."
Naima's fury simmered.
"And he entrusted me as well," she shot back. "Yet you act as if I'm irrelevant."
Seto leaned in closer through a charged silence, locking eyes with her, and for a few tense seconds, they did not speak.
"I refuse to let this kingdom succumb to foolish mistakes made by incompetent leaders who can't see the bigger picture. Egypt cannot afford to be paralyzed by indecision or misguided sentimentality." he growled.
"So you are challenging my authority?"
Seto's eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto her.
"I challenge the decision to place an inexperienced ruler on the throne at one of the most crucial times in Egypt's history. Leaving Egypt in turmoil is unacceptable. This kingdom teeters on the edge of destruction."
"You speak as if Atem is never returning. He will return soon enough." Naima seethed.
An eerie silence filled the room like a fog, only pierced by Seto's scathing reply.
"And if he doesn't return?"
A fire began to blaze in her chest.
"He will return." Naima's jaw clenched as she stared him down.
"He is the heart of this kingdom and its rightful leader, and he undertook this journey for the sake of Egypt and for all of us."
"Can't you see, you naive fool..." Seto muttered.
"You truly have no understanding of the risk the Pharaoh has taken. This journey will have cost us our king. His absence leaves Egypt vulnerable, a kingdom without its king... a void that I am prepared to fill."
Naima balked at his words, recoiling.
The audacity. Seto's true intentions were now laid bare before her... She scowled at him.
"How dare you... To even think such treasonous thoughts... Concealing your true loyalties until it benefits you? I should have you burned for this..." she hissed
"It's as if Atem is nothing to you, to any of us. Like he is just some obstacle in your way. Do you have any idea how much respect he has for you?"
Unmoved, Seto's eyes narrowed, and for the first time in a long while, Naima felt cornered.
He slammed his fist on the table.
"We need stability now, not chasing after stupid legends. Seeking out Ra is a fool's errand. Everyone who has entered that temple has never returned."
Naima's spine chilled at his words, and her breath shuddered in her chest as she attempted to control her own indignation.
"He believed in the power of Ra, believed it was necessary for the kingdom's protection. How can you question his judgment now?"
Seto's gaze was unyielding.
"Without him, Egypt is vulnerable. We need decisive leadership, not baseless hope."
"And you believe that leadership should come from you?"
Seto met her gaze without hesitation. "Yes."
Naima paused, taking a moment to let the tension subside while she circled the room. She stopped by a vase of lotuses, plucking one from the arrangement.
"Lotuses... They symbolize purity and resurrection, rising from the mud untainted. A fitting symbol for our kingdom. But even the purest lotus can be tainted if its roots are poisoned."
"Are you suggesting I'm poisoning this kingdom?" Seto barked.
Naima turned to face him.
"Our kingdom thrives when its leaders act with honor and integrity." she said. "Our pharaoh leaves to undertake a perilous journey, and yet you disobey his orders, and go behind his back and try to take his position right from under him. You're so sure that he is already dead, aren't you, Seto? Betrayal... is a poison that harms not just the betrayed, but the betrayer as well. Our kingdom has already suffered one betrayal, and now you plan to be the second?"
Naima took a step closer, her voice low. "What are you planning?"
His gaze remained steely.
"I plan to do what must be done to ensure the continuity and strength of Egypt."
Naima faced him squarely. "You've already assumed Atem is dead, that you'll claim the throne. But you forget I am the reigning queen. So, then, what will you do with me?"
Seto remained silent, his gaze intense.
"Will you have me disposed of as if I was nothing? Just as you wished that day we met in the hall..."
Silence hung between them like a heavy veil.
"Atem is alive and well. And he will return." Naima declared. "The kingdom is in capable hands. And it will remain so."
Seto stood, facing her squarely, their glares locked in a silent battle of wills.
"For now..." he said, before he left the room.
-o0o-
In the deep hours of the night, Naima lay awake, her heart thrumming with a restless fear. The shadow of Seto's ambition stretched long and dark across her thoughts, stirring a paranoia that he might exploit her vulnerability.
Therefore, she ordered three guards to stay in her chamber, and three additional guards at every entrance. As she lay there, Seto's ominous words haunted her, a relentless reminder of her precarious position.
'Atem... please be okay. Please come home soon...' she prayed. 'The kingdom needs you more than ever...'
The next day, cloaked in the solitude of her chamber, Naima sought refuge from Seto's prying eyes.
"Eliyah, what is the word around here?" Naima said as she poured both of them a cup of tea.
"It is tense, Naima." he said. "Very tense. People are whispering about a change, a shift in power that seems inevitable now."
Her decision to have guards in her chamber had not gone unnoticed, and apparently many were speculating about the reason, causing rumors to circulate throughout the palace.
Naima settled back, cradling her tea cup, the earthy aroma of the leaves offering a small respite.
"Do you remember Kisara?"
"Of course."
"I haven't seen her in weeks. Do you know where she might be? Have you heard anything?"
Eliyah shook his head, concern etching his features.
Naima took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of worry brewing within her. "Find out about Kisara, discreetly. I need to know she's safe.""
A few hours later, Eliyah returned with news.
Kisara was indeed safe but had been confined to Seto's chambers all this time. The revelation left Naima puzzled, her mind racing with questions about the implications of Kisara's seclusion.
Word had reached her that Seto was away on a brief excursion to Thebes and Naima recognized her chance. The risk of entering his chambers was significant, but the opportunity was too crucial to ignore. With a quiet determination, she made her way to Seto's chambers, slipping inside unnoticed.
The room was bathed in sunlight, its grandeur almost rivaling that of her and Atem's chamber. There, by the window, sat Kisara, her figure illuminated in the soft light.
Kisara looked toward her, her blue eyes widening in surprise and recognition.
"Naima?" she whispered, rising to her feet.
Relief flooded her. Kisara, despite her naturally pale complexion, looked well and healthy, a newfound sparkle in her eyes.
"Kisara... you're okay." Naima breathed out, embracing her. "I haven't heard from you in weeks... I just needed to see you were safe."
"I'm safe now." she said. "Seto has been protecting me since... since the incident."
Naima's brow furrowed with concern. "Incident? What happened, Kisara? I thought you'd be safe with Seto."
Kisara's eyes filled with a haunting mix of fear and relief. She glanced away, her voice a trembling whisper. "It was after you brought me here... Seto was kind, he made sure I was comfortable. But then... Aknadin found out I was staying in Seto's chambers. He... he took me, Naima."
Naima's heart sank, a cold dread washing over her.
Kisara's hands clenched into fists, the memory visibly paining her.
"He put me in chains and brought me to some underground place where others were forced to fight with their Ka. It was horrifying, full of chains and screaming."
Tears brimmed in her eyes.
"Seto found me there, in a cage. He couldn't believe it. 'You cannot be serious,' he said to Aknadin. But Aknadin, he spoke of destinies and armies, of needing creatures as strong as the Egyptian gods. He said he wanted to... take my Ka, and use it."
Naima's mind reeled, but she kept a steady gaze.
"He forced me into a battle. I was just supposed to stand there and fight these other prisoners' Ka. Seto, he couldn't stand it. He stepped in, said it was an outrage, that I'd done nothing to deserve this. I was so scared, but seeing him stand up for me... it gave me a bit of hope. But then, things escalated, and we both ended up falling into a pit. I had no choice; I had to call on my Ka. It was the only way. Afterward, I was so exhausted, I could barely stand. Seto caught me; he was there for me."
Kisara's eyes filled with tears, a mix of fear and gratitude. "Aknadin kept on rambling on about power and control, how I could be used as a weapon. Seto handed me over to the guards, told them to let me rest. Afterward, he said he told Aknadin that if he ever laid a hand on me, he would personally ensure that not even the shadows could hide him from his wrath. He vowed to protect me, no matter what it took."
Kisara's smile could have outshone the sun itself.
"Seto cares for me. He makes sure I'm well. I know I've been cooped up in here all this time, but I really don't mind. I feel safer than I ever have in my life. I like it here, with Seto."
A strange tumult of emotions swirled within, confusion and an unexpected warmth. To think that Seto, with all his hard edges and sharp words, could show such tenderness...
Naima took a moment to absorb Kisara's words, her gaze drifting around the room. The chamber was indeed a sanctuary, a place of comfort and luxury.
"Kisara, I'm glad he's caring for you. But be cautious. His behavior lately... it's concerning." Naima said.
"In Atem's absence, Seto seems to be positioning himself for the throne."
Kisara's eyes widened slightly, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. "Really? That's... alarming. I... I didn't realize."
She moved away from the window.
"Things have been different since... since the day we lost Aknadin."
Naima paused, absorbing her words.
"That was a dark day for us all." she said. "But why would that affect Seto to this extent?"
Kisara looked away, clearly struggling with her loyalty.
"Naima... there's something you should know. Did you know... he is Aknadin's son."
Naima shrank back in disbelief.
"No... I did not know that."
"It's true. Very few people know about it." Kisara said simply.
"I think despite Aknadin's disappearance, something of him... a shadow, perhaps... It lingers here, around Seto. I can feel it."
Naima was floored by this revelation. Perhaps... the darkness that had been pervading the palace... perhaps now they had an explanation.
"Seto became different after Aknadin disappeared. Darker, more serious. He always seemed to struggle with his identity, especially after Aknadin's betrayal and allegiance to Zorc. But now... it's just different."
Naima's heart quickened.
"Kisara, are you saying that maybe Aknadin is influencing Seto somehow?" she asked, her mind racing to comprehend the enormity of it all.
Kisara's voice broke, "I don't know, Naima. All I know is that Seto is torn. It's like he's battling an unseen force. He battles within himself. There are nights he doesn't sleep, just stares out of the window.
Naima felt a chill run down her spine. The thought of Aknadin's spirit, still present within the palace walls, influencing Seto...
A silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken fears. Naima gently placed a hand over Kisara's.
"Thank you for sharing this with me. We must help Seto, for his sake, and for the kingdom's."
Kisara looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "I want to help, Naima. But I fear for Seto. He's caught in a web, and I don't know how to free him."
Naima took Kisara's hands, squeezing them reassuringly. "We'll figure this out."
As Naima left the chamber, the weight of their conversation pressed down on her. The palace, with its grandeur and beauty, was becoming a battleground, and the stakes had never been higher.
-o0o-
Naima's mind was full. Not just with matters regarding Seto. But full... of everything. It is just too much. Everything is. It was hard enough without someone trying to take over the throne, without worrying if her husband is even alive.
She collapsed onto her bed, too defeated to even cry as a sense of defeat enveloped her. Tears refused to come; instead, there was only a numbing dread.
What if Atem was truly gone? What if silence from the court signified a greater loss than she dared to admit? Her position, she realized, was far more precarious than she could acknowledge. Her mind kept returning to Seto, his threats, and the dark transformation she had witnessed in him.
A curt knock on the door jolted her from her spiraling thoughts.
"My Queen, the High Priest Seto has come to speak with you." a guard said.
Naima's stomach dropped as she gestured for the guard to let him in.
Seto sidled in, taking an unamused once-over look around her chamber, before his eyes hardened on her.
"A word." he grunted.
"What is it?"
She feared she already knew the answer to her own question.
"I know about your little escapade into my chamber. You're playing a game you can't win." he said.
"A game? Is that what you consider this? This is far more than just a game." Naima's eyes hardened on him.
"This isn't you, Seto."
"Don't pretend you know about me."
"I know enough to know that the real Seto, despite being an arrogant ass, would never turn his back on his duties or his honor. But now, you're letting whatever this is consume you, and it's leading you down a dangerous path."
She stepped closer, her voice softening. "Seto, I don't want to be your enemy. I want to work with you, for the sake of this kingdom. But I can't do that if you're working against me."
Seto's gaze was unfathomable, a stormy sea of thoughts and emotions. He seemed on the verge of saying something, then closed his mouth before his cold gaze returned again.
"You think you can waltz into my private space and meddle in affairs far beyond your comprehension?"
"I comprehend it just fine and I'm not sorry for going into your chamber." Naima spat.
"Your behavior over the last week has been outrageous. You dare to threaten me and covet the throne in your own personal quest for power, you're lucky I haven't charged you with treason and ordered your head on a spike."
She stood up and faced him, and for the first time she was not afraid.
His scoff was derisive, igniting a fire within her.
"It's funny how quick you are to dismiss me, yet you and many others forget who you are dealing with. Do you remember the last time you challenged me, Seto?" Naima said as lightning crackled in her palms.
Seto burst out laughing, mocking and sharp, and his reaction made her pause in confusion.
"Your pathetic Ka is nothing compared to the power I possess."
"You lie."
"You don't believe me? Suit yourself." he said. "You see sooner or later."
The words were stuck in her throat, but she had to say it.
"This reminds me of... someone we both know. Aknadin." Naima said.
Seto's expression flickered, a brief disturbance. "What about Aknadin?" His voice was a low growl.
Naima stepped closer, locking eyes with him. "Remember how he changed? From trusted member of the court to a shadow lurking in darkness, who pledged himself to Zorc. I see that same shadow in you, Seto. Are you walking his path?"
Seto's scoff was bitter. "You compare me to that traitor? I'm nothing like Aknadin."
"You're not?" Naima pressed, her gaze unwavering.
"Both of you, brilliant, powerful, but then... something shifts. Can you honestly tell me you're not on the same descent?"
Seto's eyes narrowed.
"My actions are for the sake of Egypt's future."
"By threatening its queen? By trying to overtake the throne? What's leading you, Seto?"
Seto's stance stiffened, a sign she'd hit a nerve. "You know nothing of my intentions."
"Then enlighten me." Naima challenged. "Because right now all I see is a man shadowed by the same darkness that claimed Aknadin. And we both know how that ended."
As they both stood there, a subtle yet unmistakable change came over him. His posture straightened, and the arrogant glint in his eye transformed into something colder, more calculating. It was as if the shadows in the room gathered around him.
"You misunderstand," Seto said with an eerie calmness that sent a chill down Naima's spine.
"I'm merely being guided to my destiny, just as your mother tried to guide you to yours."
The mention of her mother, so unexpected and out of place, caught Naima off guard. Her mouth fell open in shock, a reaction that Seto observed with a faintly unsettling grin.
"Yes, Naima. There are forces at work here that far exceed your understanding. Aknadin sought power, true, but he was merely a vessel, as am I. A vessel for a greater purpose."
Naima felt a cold dread settle in her.
"...Aknadin?"
His eyes burned with an unrecognizable malice.
"You, Naima, are standing in the way of my destiny."
Despite her fear, Naima stood her ground.
"And you're willing to betray your kingdom, your Pharaoh, for this destiny?"
A tense stillness settled in the air, thick with unspoken tension, until Seto promptly turned toward the door.
"Stay out of my chamber," he said. "And maybe I will spare you when the time comes."
-o0o-
In the confines of her chamber, Naima tossed restlessly. Every creak of the wood, every whisper of the night wind, seemed to speak of Seto's growing power and her own dwindling influence. The fear that had been simmering within her since Atem's departure now boiled over. What if he never returned? What would become of her? Endless questions clawed at her mind. Visions of the future, grim and uncertain, paraded before her eyes. She must act, quickly, or else risk becoming a shadow, a forgotten regent, or worse, a traitor in the eyes of the new order. The safety and respect she had known under Atem's reign felt like a distant memory.
As the first light of dawn pierced the darkness, a commotion broke the heavy stillness. Naima, with a sense of foreboding tightening around her heart, hurried toward the source of the disturbance, leading her to the large hall.
The room bustled with activity, servants and guards in a state of barely controlled chaos. In the midst of it all stood Seto, his usual stoic facade cracked by a fierce determination burning in his eyes.
Seto's eyes met Naima's as she entered. He looked crazed, haunted. A flicker of something indefinable passed between them.
"Naima," he addressed her.
"Egypt cannot linger in uncertainty. You of all people should understand the need for decisive action."
Naima, gathering her composure, responded with a calm she did not feel.
"Seto, this is not the way. Atem—"
"Atem is not here," Seto cut in, his voice firm.
"And we cannot afford to wait for a sign that may never come. I do this for Egypt, for its people, for its future. As of this moment, I declare myself Regent Pharaoh."
Naima's breath caught in her throat. "You can't simply declare yourself ruler, Seto. This is madness, a betrayal of everything Atem and this kingdom stand for."
Seto's gaze hardened, a cold fire burning within.
"I do what must be done. Egypt needs a leader, and I am that leader. Stand with me, Naima, or stand aside. But make no mistake, I will do whatever it takes to protect this kingdom."
"I will not stand for this, Seto."
Seto's eyes flickered with a darkness that seemed to swallow any semblance of reason.
"Then you leave me no choice. If you will not stand with me, you will stand against me."
"Seto, you turn against your Pharaoh and your kingdom ..."
Seto's response was a chilling smile, one that didn't reach his eyes.
"No, Naima. I am saving Egypt from itself, from the paralysis of your inexperience and Atem's absence. I am its salvation."
"You're lost, Seto. But I will not let you drag Egypt down with you." Naima said.
Seto's patience, it seemed, had reached its end.
"Seize her!"
His command was a death knell ringing in her ears. She was trapped in the nightmare she had always feared, with no escape in sight. Never safe, no matter what.
The guards snapped their heads towards her, their expressions a mix of bewilderment and confusion, but they did not immediately grab her like she expected.
"Don't you dare touch me." Naima hissed to them.
The darkness within her stirred as the fierce growl of her Ka roared in her ears.
"I am your Queen."
Her thoughts spiraled into chaos as the guards stood around her, their faces etched with uncertainty and fear. None dared to move. Her heart pounded against her chest, a drumbeat of defiance and dread.
As Naima braced herself, the air itself seemed to shiver with a distant, primal roar that sliced through the thick tension, a sound so powerful it seemed to vibrate through the very stone beneath her feet.
Every head turned, eyes wide, as a colossal shadow swept across the sun, bathing the hall in an eerie twilight. Without hesitation, Naima surged towards the balcony, her heart thundering in her chest.
And the sight before her almost brought her to her knees.
Atop a cliff overlooking the city, Atem sat astride his horse, flanked by the court, their forms bold and resolute against the bourgeoning dawn.
But it was the sky above that held the true spectacle. Two mythic titans dominated the sky. Slifer, the sky's serpent, ribboned through the clouds with a deceptive grace, its body a living myth etched against the morning light.
And at its side, Naima's breath caught in her throat as she beheld the form that without a doubt was the Winged Dragon of Ra. Its body and wings were a breathtaking display of shimmering gold, adorned with iridescent scales that glinted like miniature suns, painting the land below with prisms of light.
Their deafening roars shattered the stillness of the dawn, reverberating through the souls of all who bore witness. It was a sound of primal strength and regal authority, of ancient power and unwavering protection.
Below, the people of Thebes spilled from their homes, their gazes skyward as they beheld their Pharaoh and the mighty beasts that protected them.
"Pharaoh!" they proclaimed as they bowed where they once stood.
Atem was back.
As Naima stood amidst the fray, her heart resonated with the cries of her people, their voices a lifeline in the storm. And with every roar from above and every shout from below, hope sparked anew.
Chapter 41: Consequence
Chapter Text
Deep in the palace, a tense meeting unfolded in a secluded chamber draped in shadows. Within this enclave, the air, thick with barely restrained fury, was a living entity on its own.
At the forefront, Atem dominated the helm of an elongated table. His stance was a display of unyielding power - arms crossed, gaze piercing through the dim light. The flickering torchlight had carved his face into a mask of resolve.
Naima assumed her place behind him, her silhouette merging with the darkness. She could feel the heavy tension humming in the air as the court surrounded them, their unspoken inquiries hanging thick and palpable.
Seto, positioned across from Atem, was a mirror image of defiance, an unspoken challenge emanating from every line of his being.
It was Atem who shattered the silence.
"Seto, your actions during my absence betray not only me but the very soul of this kingdom,"
His eyes were cold as they honed in on Seto.
"You sought power, you aimed to usurp the throne. Explain yourself."
Seto's eyes burned with a dark, almost unnatural intensity as he met Atem's gaze.
"I seized control to fortify, not just to rule. You left Egypt defenseless for a child's tale. I did what was necessary, not just for the kingdom, but for its inevitable destiny of greatness. My empire will make gods tremble."
Atem's gaze remained unwavering.
"I did not abandon our kingdom, I embarked on a journey to save it. The power of the Winged Dragon of Ra is essential to defeat Zorc, a threat you are well aware of. It was a calculated risk, taken with the kingdom's future in mind. You of all people should recognize the necessity of such actions for the greater good. Which comes to question what is it you truly seek, Seto? Is it the welfare of Egypt or the affirmation of your own power?"
"Leaving for a foolish gamble?" Seto retorted sharply. "You left your throne, your people, vulnerable."
"Egypt was never without its leader." Atem countered. "Naima held the throne with honor and wisdom. It was your actions that sowed doubt, not my absence."
Atem's eyes narrowed, "Order at the cost of division and fear is no order at all. Your methods have sown discord. True leadership unites; it does not intimidate or undermine."
Seto was silent.
"As you recklessly sought to seize power, did you ever stop to consider the darkness that may have followed you?" Atem said quietly.
"In your eyes, I see a reflection not entirely your own."
Seto growled.
"I am no one's pawn. I stand with no one. I bow to no man — they will bow to me."
Atem's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes blazing with a quiet fire.
"Understand this. Your actions have consequences. Egypt is not a game to be won with tactics. It's our home, our people's lives and futures."
He leaned forward.
"You must recognize the line between guardian and tyrant, Seto. One protects while the other consumes. Ask yourself, on which side do you stand?"
Seto's response was a cold, menacing laugh, a sound that seemed foreign even to him.
"You speak of protection, but under your 'guardianship,' Egypt teeters at the brink of destruction. I offer not tyranny, but a new order. An order where Egypt will ascend to its rightful place atop all others, a kingdom unmatched in strength and might."
The tension in the room tightened like a coiled serpent ready to strike. Atem rose from the table.
"A new order built on fear and oppression is no future for Egypt. It's a path to its undoing. I cannot — I will not — allow you to drag our land into darkness."
Seto smirked, a disturbing glint in his eyes.
"Then the choice is made. The old ways dictate that the gods will choose the rightful one through a duel."
"You challenge me?" Atem's expression flickered with surprise.
"You are treading a dangerous path. The power of not one, but two Egyptian Gods stands with me. Your Ka, no matter how formidable, cannot hope to overpower them."
"Do you honestly believe your gods guarantee victory?" Seto taunted.
"You stand there with the arrogance of one who holds two divine beasts, believing himself invincible. But let me remind you, the balance of power is not always what it seems."
"You challenge the might of the gods themselves?" Atem asked.
"Do not assume that I stand before you unarmed. I possess a power, a force you've yet to witness." Seto said.
Atem's eyes narrowed before he nodded solemnly.
"So be it. If a duel is what you seek, then a duel you shall have. But know this, Seto — I fight not for the throne, but for the very soul of Egypt. I will do everything in my power to stop this madness and bring you back from the darkness that has consumed you."
Seto stood, his figure casting a long shadow in the torchlight.
"Then prepare yourself."
His voice filled the room. "Now is the time for you to see the true power that destiny has bestowed upon me. Egypt's throne demands not just a ruler, but a conqueror."
-o0o-
As Naima stood at the edge of the grand hall, now silent in anticipation, her heart thudded in her chest. The coolness of the polished granite floor seeped into the soles of her feet, grounding her in reality.
From her position, she could see Atem and Seto facing off, their intense gazes locked in a wordless duel before the true fight even commenced.
"You have chosen this path, Seto." Atem called out. "Turn back now, and let us find a way to peace, for the good of Egypt."
Seto scoffed. "Peace? What Egypt needs is strength, power beyond measure. And today, I will show the world that I am the one fit to rule it."
He took a defiant step forward, albeit with strain etched into the tightness of his jaw and the fierce set of his shoulders.
"There is no turning back. Let the duel begin!"
With a solemn nod, Atem's diadhank shot outward. The room darkened for a moment and then, with a sound like thunder above them, two colossal figures began to materialize.
Slifer the Sky Dragon emerged first, and beside it, the Winged Dragon of Ra descended, a majestic phoenix bathed in golden light.
Onlookers gasped, and even Seto's unshakeable demeanor faltered for a moment in the face of these divine beasts. But then, his eyes hardened, and a fierce smile spread across his lips as he raised his arm to the sky.
"You see, I sought not only to rule but to understand the true nature of power. And in my quest, I found a force that recognized the strength and resolve of a true pharaoh." Seto's voice rose.
"Because I, too, have been chosen as the rightful heir to Egypt. Behold, the might that has deemed me worthy!"
The diadhank on Seto's arm thurst outward and the ground beneath him rumbled. Cracks like lightning appeared across the floor. And from the depths of the earth, a force rose with a deafening roar that silenced the cries of the dragons above. The giant was a colossus of strength and fury, its body a fortress of impenetrable blue whose eyes burned with a fierce light.
Seto's voice rose above the chaos, triumphant and clear.
"Behold! Obelisk the Tormentor, the third of the great gods, has been under my control all this time. I'm the one who uncovered its true strength hidden right here in our own land. Obelisk recognized in me the heart of a true Pharaoh, one who will lead Egypt into a new age of glory!"
A hush fell over the hall, thick and suffocating. Everyone stood silent as the reality of Seto's claim sank in.
He was the one who had taken Obelisk.
The truth hung in the air, sharp and unforgiving.
How could it be? And yet... it dawned on Naima that the clues had been there all along, scattered and overlooked, waiting for someone to piece them together, pointing to yet another person within their own circle.
The library... those scrolls on the table. It was him all along. And his strange behavior, the guarded looks — all a facade masking his true intent. Disgust twisted in her gut.
It was a betrayal of the highest order.
Seto spread his arms wide, embracing the power that surged around him.
"Today, the world will bow before me. Your time as Pharaoh is over, Atem. Under my reign, Egypt will reach levels of power never thought possible!"
Atem's composed facade momentarily faltered, his eyes widening as the true form of Obelisk the Tormentor emerged from the earth, a behemoth of power and ancient wrath.
Seto looked on at Atem, his gaze smug and arrogant.
"I scoured through the ancient texts, seeking the ultimate source of power. And I found it, hidden deep within the sacred ruins of the Temple of Geb. Obelisk laid in plain sight, awaiting a worthy master."
Atem, his initial shock subsiding, now looked upon Seto with a newfound respect.
"Impressive, Seto. To awaken and command the mighty Obelisk the Tormentor is no small feat. It speaks of your strength and determination. But remember, while you stand with one god, I stand with two. Slifer the Sky Dragon and the Winged Dragon of Ra are the guardians of Egypt. This duel was decided before it even began."
"You always were one for grand statements." Seto declared dismissively. "But don't delude yourself into thinking that numbers will dictate the outcome of this battle. With Obelisk's power, I will reshape Egypt. Your two gods stand no chance against Obelisk."
Atem's brow furrowed as he surveyed the field with keen, perceptive eyes.
"Seto, you may speak of power, but it is mere talk in the face of true strength. It is only through action that destinies are molded. Now, witness the might of the gods!"
Slifer, with its body coiling through the sky, unleashed bolts of lightning that erupted from its jaw. Yet, as the dust settled, a silence fell upon the arena.
Obelisk the Tormentor stood unbroken as Atem clutched his chest in pain.
Seto, his gaze fixed on the towering form of his God monster, smiled faintly.
"You see, your gods are indeed powerful, but right here, next to the temple of Geb, Obelisk taps into the raw power of the earth itself. Here, near Geb's temple, Obelisk's strength is magnified."
All eyes were fixed on Obelisk, its power growing with every word Seto spoke. Naima couldn't help but notice the dark glint in Seto's eyes, a looming shadow that seemed to follow him for longer than she had initially realized. His confidence never faltered, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept up her spine.
Atem, his expression betraying a hint of uncertainty, watched as Obelisk stood defiant.
"You underestimate the strength of the gods that stand with me, Seto," Atem finally said.
"The might of Slifer and Ra only grows in the face of challenges. It is in these moments that their true strength shines brightest."
Atem directed Ra to join Slifer in the assault. Yet, as their powers converged upon Obelisk, the temple's influence became undeniable. The earth itself seemed to rise in defense of Obelisk, its energy a shield against the storm of attacks.
"Behold, the true power of Obelisk," Seto cried out. "Witness what must be, Pharaoh. For the dawn of a new era begins with Obelisk reclaiming what was always destined to be under my command."
Seto turned towards the towering deity.
"Obelisk, use your special ability. Sacrifice the two gods so you may have infinite power! In their demise, your power will become absolute, and my right as the true Pharaoh will be undeniable!"
Obelisk, responding to Seto's command, reached out with hands that could sculpt the very fabric of reality. Its grasp extended towards Slifer and Ra, the air around them crackling with the tension of an impending cataclysm. Obelisk's fingers closed around them, pulling them towards its core.
And then, a tremor ran through Obelisk's form, a flicker of hesitation.
"What is this?" Seto commanded. "Complete the sacrifice!"
But the god did not heed his command. Instead, it paused. Its gaze met Atem's as if in a silent conversation.
A few tense moments where all were quiet, and then Atem's expression shifted, a knowing smile gracing his features.
"Your ambition blinds you, Seto. You see power where you should see responsibility. You sought to disrupt the balance for your own gain, but Obelisk recognizes the truth of kingship, a truth that eludes you. The gods are not pawns in our personal quests for dominance. They are the embodiment of order, protectors of the balance that sustains us all."
Atem stepped forward. "Obelisk will stand down, not because I command it, but because it knows its true duty. It will not forsake Slifer and Ra. To do so would go against the very essence of its divine purpose. And that, Seto, is something a true pharaoh understands."
Naima's heart fluttered with pride as she saw Atem stand there in righteous victory, not just as Pharaoh but something far more intricate. Seto, with his raw ambition, seemed almost childlike in comparison. It was in the way Atem held himself, in the restraint and depth behind each word he spoke, the quiet strength that Naima found herself drawn to, time and time again.
Meanwhile, Seto's face was a mask of stoic disbelief, a subtle twitch in his jaw the only betrayal of his internal turmoil. His eyes reflected a storm of realization and frustration.
With a wave of his hand, he directed the fading form of Obelisk toward Atem, gliding toward his shrine.
"Take Obelisk." Seto grunted.
"It is rightfully yours. But know this - this is far from over."
The tension in the hall was heavy as the god silently traversed through the air, an unspoken transfer of power. For a fleeting moment, a semblance of peace seemed to settle over the grand chamber.
But then, almost imperceptibly at first, the atmosphere began to shift. The air, previously heavy with the weight of the moment, grew colder. Naima felt a shiver run down her spine as a sinister quiet began to unfold.
The shadows in the hall deepened, coalescing into a darkness that stretched across the floor. From this abyss, a figure emerged, stepping into the sunlight that filtered through the high windows. What stood before them was not a man but a creature of nightmares, its appearance so radically altered that it defied recognition.
But one feature alone shone with an otherworldly brilliance - the Millennium Eye, gleaming with an unnatural light. It was this single, hauntingly familiar detail that confirmed the impossible.
Whispers cut through the air, a collective murmur around her.
"Aknadin," they uttered.
Naima's breath hitched, her eyes widening in utter disbelief.
Aknadin?
…This...? This is what Aknadin had become…. Nothing of the man they once revered remained. What stood before them was a being so twisted and grotesque, it seemed ripped from the depths of a nightmare. Aknadin, the once wise and spirited advisor, had vanished, replaced by this... thing that seemed as if it had clawed its way out of the darkest corner of the underworld.
As he stepped into the light, the room seemed to shrink, the air thickening. His eyes, now glowing with a baneful light fixated on Seto with an intensity that felt almost tangible.
Naima's gaze instinctively sought Atem's, finding him silent yet vigilant, his gaze sweeping the room.
"Seto," Aknadin's voice was a terrifying deathly grating sound.
"You have failed, despite my guidance, despite the power of Obelisk the Tormentor granted to you."
Seto's response was a searing glare.
"Guidance? Your so-called 'guidance' was nothing but a ploy to lead me to failure."
"Your battle was but a prelude, a mere stepping stone to a greater destiny." Aknadin said.
"Come, Seto. Your true path awaits."
And as if she were in some twisted nightmare, Naima watched as Aknadin thrust his arms toward the sky, ripping open a vortex of swirling colors and darkness.
And with one swift motion, he dragged Seto into the abyss with him.
-o0o-
The sudden appearance of Aknadin's terrifying figure sent shockwaves of panic through the crowd. People scattered, their cries filling the air as they fled the area. Naima watched in a mix of horror and fascination. Soldiers and guards scrambled at Atem's orders to organize a response, but all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart. Reality began to blur around her.
Amidst the chaos, she spied a figure moving with purpose through the frantic crowd. It was Kisara, her white hair billowing behind her as she navigated through the turmoil.
Naima pushed through the throng, her eyes fixed on Kisara's retreating form.
"Kisara!" she called out.
"What's happening? Where are you going?"
Kisara paused as she turned to face Naima, her gaze intense and unwavering.
"I can sense Seto's in trouble. I must find him. He needs me now more than ever."
Naima's heart raced. "But how? Where are you going? How will you find him?"
"I don't know exactly where, but I feel a pull. I'll follow it to wherever it leads me." Kisara said hastily.
As they spoke, Atem approached. He had been overseeing the efforts to stabilize the situation, but now his attention was on them, having caught the end of their conversation.
"Kisara, if you believe you can find Seto, then we must trust in your connection to him. This isn't just about rescuing Seto. It's about confronting whatever darkness has been unleashed today. We stand together in this." he declared. "We will follow your lead."
Naima nodded in agreement, and together they set off in pursuit.
As they left the city behind and entered the barren desert landscape, all that lay before them was endless sand and sky. The relentless sun cast a blanket of heat over them and the sands stretched, infinite and unyielding. Yet, guided by Kisara's sense of direction, they pressed on. Eventually, Kisara's pace slowed as she approached a hill scattered with ancient stones and broken columns, her gaze locked onto the horizon.
Catching up, Naima and the others took a moment to catch their breath. The quiet of the desert offered a moment of eerie tranquility. But this peace was short-lived. The faint sound of voices carried by the desert wind reached their ears, prompting them to approach with caution. Using the ancient ruins as cover, they moved closer.
Below the crest of the hill, Seto and Aknadin stood facing each other, locked in a heated exchange. The tension between them was palpable, even from a distance. Seto's posture was rigid, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Where have you taken me," Seto growled. "And what do you want with me?"
"Seto," Aknadin said. "You of all people should understand the nature of true power. The battle within the hall was merely a preliminary challenge, designed to prime you for the far greater destiny that awaits."
"You misled me," Seto said. "You claimed that Obelisk would grant me unmatched power, that it would ensure my victory."
Aknadin's laugh, dark and foreboding, filled the air.
"Obelisk was never the end, Seto. It was merely a means to awaken your true destiny. The real power that lives so close to you, the power of that girl's Ka, the White Dragon… that is what you need. It is a force that surpasses even the gods."
Seto's response was vehement.
"I am not your pawn." he uttered.
Aknadin advanced, his shadowy form looming over Seto.
"You will come to understand, Seto. You are destined for greatness beyond your comprehension."
Naima's mind spun with the weight of Aknadin's words and Seto's visceral response. Had Aknadin's promises ignited the ambition within Seto, or had it been smoldering deep within him all along?
But Kisara's voice had shattered her musings.
"Seto!" she cried out next to her.
Seto turned toward the sound, andNaima caught a glimpse of something new in his gaze - vulnerability.
"Kisara..." he muttered.
With a defiant lift of her chin, Kisara stepped forward.
"You saved my life, now it's my turn to save you," she declared.
But Aknadin's voice boomed across the hilltop.
"Don't be fooled by her innocence. She wields a mighty creature that belongs to you. Now take it from her! Seize the White Dragon!"
Kisara's eyes met Seto's.
"Don't listen to him."
"Use your Millennium Rod to seize the White Dragon, my son!" Aknadin cried out.
Seto's face twisted into a grimace of defiance, his teeth clenched in a silent snarl.
"Your son? I am nothing of yours. I renounced that title the moment you chose the shadows."
He turned to Kisara.
"Come, let's get out of here."
Aknadin's fury was palpable, a storm about to break.
"How dare you disrespect me, after all I've done for you."
The earth responded to his wrath, the ground trembling and convulsing as rocks rose from the ground and encircled Seto and Kisara.
"You leave me no choice. If you won't take her power, then I will," Aknadin declared.
At Aknadin's proclamation, Kisara pivoted gracefully, her true strength finally on display for Naima to behold.
With a surge of energy, Kisara called forth her Ka.
A white dragon materialized from her body in a blinding flash of light, its scales gleaming with an ethereal glow that illuminated the desert like a second sun as its roar echoed through the sky. It was a call to battle that sent shivers down Naima's spine.
The creature launched itself at Aknadin with a force that seemed capable of tearing the sky apart. But Aknadin stood ready. In one fluid motion, he managed to ensnare the essence of the dragon, redirecting it into a stone tablet.
Naima's mind reeled, struggling to wrap her head around the enormity of what she had just witnessed. She had always suspected Kisara possessed a powerful Ka, but the sheer strength and presence of the legendary White Dragon left her speechless.
And yet, Aknadin captured it so effortlessly, as if it were nothing. What kind of dark, twisted abilities did he possess to pull off such a feat? Naima shuddered at the thought. Fear coiled in her stomach as she speculated on what he was truly capable of.
Kisara gritted her teeth.
"I won't let him hurt you," she said.
"Hurt him?" Aknadin's voice rumbled. "I will transform him into the greatest Pharaoh that ever lived!"
"But at what cost? So I can become like you? A puppet of Zorc?" Seto cried out.
"I would rather be a peasant in a world full of hope, than a pharaoh of a world surrounded by darkness."
"So you choose her over your own flesh and blood?!" Aknadin's scorn seethed through every word.
"You are nothing but a weak old man with a heart full of darkness." Seto said.
Aknadin's fury erupted, his scream rending the air as he unleashed a bolt of shadow aimed at Seto's heart.
Time seemed to distort, stretching into an agonizing eternity. But then, Kisara sprang, a fierce, radiant blur, intercepting the darkness with her own body. The impact was a silent, heart-wrenching explosion, sending her Ka spiraling into the tablet. The sight of it… a bittersweet and haunting image that Naima could not tear her eyes away from.
"I knew if I took aim at you, she would protect you." Aknadin gloated.
"Now we can usher in a new era together as one."
Seto stood his ground, unflinching.
"I'll never join you." he said.
It was then, in the heart of the desert's silence, that a chilling transformation began. Naima froze as she beheld a sight that would haunt the corridors of her mind forever.
Aknadin's form dissipated, morphing into a sinister mist that sought union with Seto's body in an unholy melding of shadows. It was a spectacle of horror and fascination, the merging of two souls into one, defying the natural order, defying all that was sacred. This was beyond a battle for power; it was a struggle for Seto's very soul.
Breaking the heavy quiet, Atem's voice rang out,
"Aknadin, show yourself!" he demanded.
Naima's eyes clung to Seto, witnessing his slow, burdened movement. His eyes were pools of inky blackness, void of the Seto she once knew.
"It's me," he said, his voice a chilling blend of his own and Aknadin's.
"My son hesitated, so I've made the choice for him."
Seto's gaze, no longer entirely his own, fixed on Atem.
"Your reign ends now. You've disgraced the throne of Egypt like your father. But not for long. Because I'm about to take what was mine ages ago."
Seto's arm rose, and Naima's heart raced as he summoned Kisara's Ka from the tablet.
Atem sprang to life next to her as he extended his arm.
"I summon Mahad!"
In an instant, Mahad materialized in front of them as the Illusion Magician, a guardian reborn, who had returned from somewhere beyond the realm of time and space. The sight of him flooded her mind with memories, stirring a deep melancholy within her.
Yet, this bittersweet reunion shattered like glass under the force of Seto's command that sent Kisara's Ka into a devastating assault on Mahad, overwhelming him. A cold shiver raced down Naima's spine as Seto's gaze shifted, his eyes cold and triumphant, locking onto Atem with malice. As the dragon turned its attention to Atem, a silent prayer fluttered from Naima's lips, a fragile thread of hope cast into the chaos, begging for a miracle.
But to her astonishment, an unexpected hesitance shuddered through the dragon's body, its eyes betraying a sudden internal struggle.
Atem, unyielding and steadfast, met the dragon's gaze with a calm defiance. Then, in a moment that seemed suspended in time, the dragon let out a mournful cry and dissipated into the ether, leaving a hushed, heavy silence.
"Thank you, Kisara." Atem mumbled as the shimmery figure of the White Dragon disappeared into a mist.
A hush blanketed the field as a cloud of dark mist coalesced above Seto, and a ferocious scream echoed through the air before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
Silence, empty and hollow, ensued, and a stillness descended, so profound it seemed the earth itself had paused in reverence.
From the shadows, Seto emerged, his movements laden with a heaviness that spoke of a despair too deep for words. Yet, in his eyes—now clear of the shadows that had ensnared him—a flicker of the man he once was shone through. Each of his burdened steps echoed in the quiet as he carried Kisara's lifeless body toward the tablet that held her Ka.
Naima hardly noticed that Atem had left her side to approach him until she saw him place a hand on Seto's shoulder. In this moment, beneath the vastness of the sky, all rivalry and contention faded into insignificance.
The sun's descent bathed the world in a golden glow, casting long shadows over the sands and painting everything in a light that seemed to soften the edges of their reality. It was within this gentle illumination that Naima's understanding deepened, unraveling the profound truth that the pursuit of power exacted a price far too great, measured in the currency of souls and fragments of shattered dreams.
Darkness, like a creeping shroud, began its inexorable march over the horizon, and with it, the world seemed to hold its breath in mourning. The air hung heavy, laden with the sorrow of what had been and what was yet to come, of the innocence that had been sacrificed in the fires of conflict and the shadows that had fallen upon the heart of Egypt. In this solemn hour, Naima felt a connection to everything and nothing, a poignant solitude in the shared grief that enveloped them all.
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