“Man!
That was good!” Xander exclaimed as he threw himself across one of the plush couches.
“I ain’t ate like that in foreva!”
“And that bread!
Did you make it yourself?” Xaria asked, walking around trying to select a seat.
“I’ve never tasted anything like it!
You are a much better cook than Sene , no offense.”
“None taken,” Senemut said, sitting down beside the pool.
“Everything was delicious,” Raylin said begrudgingly as she walked over to sit next to Xaria.
“Thank you,” Hatshepsut said with a smile.
“I was hoping you would like Egyptian food.
I was thinking that it was something out of the ordinary for you.
Being here inspired me.”
She walked over and stood next to where Senemut sat.
A thrill went through Hatshepsut as she stood next to him.
Her mind going back to the kiss he had given her in the kitchen.
Senemut’s embrace felt so natural even after all these centuries.
She had allowed herself to slip away in the moment.
She quickly pushed the thought aside as she focused on the matter at hand.
“Now that you’re full and have gotten a little rest,” Senemut began, “we need to discuss our little expedition.
Later tonight we’re going to sneak into Deir El Bahri.
Hatshepsut had a dream that we could find some answers there to questions we all have.
Like, for instance, who is trying to capture Xander and Xaria?”
“We’re chasing dreams?” Raylin scoffed.
“I am not one that sleeps,” Hatshepsut interjected.
“When I do sleep, I do not dream.
When I do dream, it is a message sent to me by the gods.
So I do not ignore them.”
Raylin rolled her eyes.
This infuriated Hatshepsut, but she didn’t say anything.
She knew this witch would be of use to her.
She turned her gaze to Senemut so that he may continue.
“What is Deir El-Bahri?” Xaria asked.
“And where is it?”
“It is a memorial temple that Hatshepsut had built in her own honor when she was pharaoh,” Senemut replied.
“While I was overseeing its construction, I had a secret room built.
It can only be accessed in one area of the temple.”
“So what was tha room used for?” Xander asked.
“That is not relevant.”
“Oh, I see,” Xander said, grinning.
“We’re fixin’ to sneak into y’alls love shack.”
“Anyway,” Raylin interrupted, “what are our plans to raid these ruins?”
“Ruins?” Hatshepsut interjected again.
“My temple does not lay in ruin!
It stands as it did when it was first built.
Well, there is damage that my stepson inflicted after my ‘death’, but other than that, it stands.”
“Which means it’s guarded,” Senemut said.
“The temple is nestled in a valley not too far from here.
Since it is a tourist attraction, there will be guards.
I was thinking we could come from the cliffs above.”
“It will be clear tonight,” Xaria said, going into a trance.
“We’ll be seen.”
“Then we’ll need a distraction,” Senemut said.
“I can take care of that,” Raylin said smiling.
“I’ll create a sand storm.”
“There will be guards inside,” Xaria said, staring blankly at nothing.
“Not to mention the ones outside will come in.”
“We can get past them,” Hatshepsut said.
“No one knows those corridors better than Senemut and I.
We should be able to walk around them.
If not, I can take care of it.”
“We’re not killing the guards,” Senemut said, looking at Hatshepsut.
“I have no intention of killing anyone,” Hatshepsut said, sighing.
“Xaria?” Senemut said, looking over to her.
“What do you see?”
“Everything is going to work.
Except .
.
.
I see something in the room.
Something dangerous .
.
It’s going to–” Xaria blinked a couple of times and was back in the present.
“What did you see?” Xander asked.
“I couldn’t get a clear picture,” Xaria said frustrated.
Then she turned to Senemut.
“I feel as if something is blocking my visions.
But I saw enough to know that something is there waiting on us.
We will have to be very careful.
The danger was triggered by something.
I couldn’t see what.”
“Okay, we know what we’re going to do,” Senemut said.
“You all go and get some more rest.
We leave at midnight.”
There was no argument from anyone.
Between the meal and jet lag, they were exhausted.
Hatshepsut watched them drag up the stairs and to the rooms leaving an awkward silence.
Hatshepsut was hoping that Senemut wouldn’t bring up what happened earlier in the kitchen.
She feared that if he did, she may let him know how the kiss made her truly feel.
She turned and stared into the pool instead.
As she had feared, Senemut got up and stood beside her.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“The children,” she lied.
“Is it wise to bring them along?
They are only human.”
“They gave you a run for your money.”
“Yes, they did.
While we are on the subject, I have been meaning to ask you about that.
I can see that they are only human, but they fight with inhuman skill and strength.
How is that?”
“It’s their weapons.
Raylin designed and imbued them with magic.
As long as they are in contact with their weapons, they are stronger, faster, and invulnerable to most attacks.
The skill, of course, comes from years of training.
I’ve had them take martial arts or fencing classes since I’ve had them.
Xander is already a third degree black belt and is quite an accomplish swords man.
Xaria is a world champion marksman, something I heard you witnessed firsthand.”
“Ha ha,” Hatshepsut said as she rolled her eyes.
“Something else.
How did you know they were being attack?”
“Aren’t we curious this evening?” Senemut asked suspiciously.
“You do not have to give me that tone,” Hatshepsut said annoyed.
“I am intrigued that is all.
I have told you once before I have no nefarious purpose.”
Senemut looked at her briefly.
He flicked his forked tongue quickly to taste the air around Hatshepsut.
He tasted genuine curiosity.
Hatshepsut looked at him expectantly.
“Satisfied?” Hatshepsut asked with a roll of her eyes.
“Quite,” Senemut said matter-of-factly.
“The weapons they used on you were very special.
They look like everyday jewelry until they’re removed with urgency.
That is when they are activated.
Thanks to Raylin, when their weapons are activated, the mark Amun placed upon me throbs.”
“Ingenious.”
“Believe me when I say they can hold their own.
You act as if being human is a handicap.”
“Is it not?” Hatshepsut said, turning to look at Senemut.
“Humans are weaker and less resilient then we are.
They are vulnerable.
Human life is fleeting.
Every day they age; growing closer to death until one day death comes and takes them.
And what is left?
Heartache and grief.
After all the time and love you have invested, you will have nothing but sorrow to keep you company in the night.
We are immortals, Senemut.
We could possibly live until the end of days.
I frankly do not want my heartbreak to come haunt me every time I am not distracted from it.
” Hatshepsut quickly turned from Senemut.
She hadn’t expected the sudden deluge of emotions.
She knew her words were more for herself than for Senemut.
She stood silent as Senemut leaned over to look at her face.
“Of course it is.
What else could it be about?”
“I really hope that is not the reason you decide to seclude yourself from society all these years.”
“I do not seclude myself.”
“Then what do you call it?
Lurking in the shadows?
Coming and going like the wind?
Not establishing any relationships with anyone.
The Hatshepsut I knew loved to be seen, to be worshiped.
The Hatshepsut I knew used to love without care.
Now you have shut your heart from the world because you fear .
.
.
sorrow?
You have become as cold as the ice you wield.
Have the centuries been so cruel?”
“Why should I subject myself to future misery for a few years of possible happiness?”
“Let me tell you a story,” Senemut said, sitting back down beside the pool.
He looked up at Hatshepsut and patted the empty spot next to him.
Hatshepsut let out a sigh and sat down.
“About two hundred years ago, just before the last time I saw you, I was traveling the western area of the U.S.
when it was wild.
I thought to myself ‘Why not?
It sounds like fun!’ During my travels I came across a town.
It was small and unruly.
You know, one of those boomtowns that sprang up overnight thanks to the gold rush.
It looked like a challenge, and I needed the distraction.
So, I became the lawman of this town.
After playing sheriff for a few weeks, I met Rosaline.
She was this beautiful Mexican girl with shiny black hair and light brown eyes that danced every time she smiled.
Her skin was the color of the desert sand.
I don’t know if it was her big heart I fell in love with or the fact that she reminded me so much of you.”
Senemut stared into Hatshepsut’s eyes.
She looked away, reluctantly.
Half afraid that he would kiss her again and yet hoping he would.
Senemut continued.
“After some months of courting Rosaline, I realized I would never be happy until I made her mine, but I didn’t want our relationship built on lies.
She thought I was this dark-haired white man.
I couldn’t marry her while I allowed her to think I was someone else.
So, the night I planned to propose, I revealed my true self.
She was shocked, but she accepted me for who I am.
“On the day we were to be married, a guy that I had run out of town decided to come back and pay me a visit and he brought friends.
They shot up my wedding and killed my Rosaline.
I watched her die in my arms.
I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life for so many reasons.
Sometimes I think about what I did to those men afterwards.
Sometimes I think about how I failed to protect Rosaline.
But what I think about the most is all the good times I had with her when she was alive.
I’m not going to say when I’m alone and have time to think that I don’t become depressed.
Sometimes the sadness is almost unbearable, but so is the happiness.
All I’m saying is that while you are trying to avoid the sadness, you’re missing out on the happiness.
You’re missing out on the opportunity to love and to be loved.
And it is very nice to be loved.
No matter how temporary the situation may seem.”
Hatshepsut looked at Senemut for a while, thinking about his words.
Was that all that truly mattered?
To enjoy the now and forget about how it will all end?
Hatshepsut wasn’t sure whether or not that was good enough.
But could she really write off Roman and go through life wondering what could have been?
Hatshepsut didn’t want to think about this.
Not right now and not with a man that she was locking lips with only hours before.
“I need to clean the kitchen,” Hatshepsut said abruptly as she stood up.
“I’ll help.”
“There is no need,” Hatshepsut said as she began to walk away.
“It’s okay to love him.”
Hatshepsut stopped abruptly, but did not turn around.
“Your friend, Roman, it’s okay to let yourself love him.
It may be the thing that will help open your heart.
Maybe he can find the woman I used to know and fell in love with all those years ago.”
Hatshepsut let out a shaky sigh and walked away.