New Orleans, LA
Senemut strolled across campus lost in thought.
He was thinking about what he had told Raylin last night.
When she got up this morning she behaved as if he hadn’t spoken of London.
The only thing she said that acknowledged that they had spoken was that she wasn’t going to tell Xaria and Xander.
She felt that it would shatter their trust in him.
Then she gave him a box and told him that was a peace offering for Hatshepsut.
Senemut felt like that was what he deserved.
He didn’t deserve any of their trust.
He should have let them known in the beginning.
He could picture it.
Telling an already scared pair of five year olds that you’re a man-eating demon, but you will protect them from the other demons.
He began wondering if he should just leave.
No, they needed his protection more now than ever.
He was pondering over his dilemma when he bumped into someone.
Books and papers scattered to the ground.
“Oh!” Senemut cried, shocked.
“I am so sorry!
I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No, I’m fine,” the woman said, bending over to pick up her books and papers.
“It’s my fault.
I should’ve watched where I was going.”
Senemut kneeled to help her with her things.
He stacked the books and papers neatly on each other and handed them to the woman.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling.
“I guess I need to keep my head out of the clouds.”
Senemut paused as he finally looked at the woman.
Her hair was black and cut boyishly short, slightly spiked.
Her skin was a rich milk chocolate that seemed to gleam in the sunlight.
She was tall but still quite a few inches from his height.
She was dressed business like in her yellow jacket and skirt.
What dazzled him most was her smile, it was blinding.
Senemut blinked a few times and finally spoke.
“There’s nothing wrong with being in the clouds every once in a while,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Hello, my name is Demond.
I’m a history professor here at the university.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen you.”
“Probably not,” she said, shifting her load to one arm so that she could shake his hand, “I don’t work here.
I’m a curator at the museum.”
“That’s nice,” Senemut said, looking at the woman with expectation in his eyes.
“Oh!” the woman cried, realizing what she had done.
“My name?
I’m Annalise.
Wait a minute.
Aren’t you an archeologist as well?”
“Yes, I’ve donated quite a few pieces to the museum over the last year.
I don’t remember ever seeing you there.
I would never forget such beauty.”
Senemut could make out a soft blush in her cheeks as she began smiling again.
“I started a month ago,” she said breathlessly.
“The last curator just up and left suddenly.
I’m trying sort out the mess he left behind.”
“It must be hard work,” Senemut said, smiling.
“It is.”
“I’m sure you work up quite the appetite.
Perhaps I can take you out to lunch sometime?
Or maybe dinner?”
“My,” Annalise said smiling.
“You don’t waste time.”
“No, he does not,” a familiar voice said from behind him.
Senemut turned to see Hatshepsut standing behind him with her arms crossed.
She stared at Senemut with amusement with her unmarked eye while the other was covered with a large cream colored eye patch.
“What are you doing here?” Senemut asked, shocked.
“Demond,” Hatshepsut said, pushing past him, “are you not going to introduce us?”
“Um, sorry,” Senemut stammered.
“Annalise, this is .
.
.”
“Kare,” Hatshepsut said, holding out her hand, “Kare Ma’at.
“Likewise,” Annalise said, looking a bit awkward.
“Are you two .
.
.?”
“Colleagues!” They both said in unison.
“Oh!” Annalise said, her tone relaxing.
“So, you’re an archeologist, too.”
“I am more of a treasure hunter,” Hatshepsut said.
“But is there really a difference?
We are both glorified grave robbers, no?”
Annalise chuckled nervously as Senemut gave Hatshepsut a sideways glare.
Hatshepsut smirked, seeming very pleased with herself.
“Well, I must be going,” Annalise said, walking away.
“It was really nice bumping into you, Demond.
We’ll have to do it again soon.”
“Yes, most definitely,” Senemut said as he watched her walk away.
Hatshepsut reached into her handbag and pulled out a handkerchief.
She waved it towards Senemut.
He took it from her and looked at her confused.
“That is for the drool,” Hatshepsut said.
“Do you find her that mouthwatering?”
“Ha, ha, HA!” Senemut said, throwing it back at her.
“Aren’t you funny?
Is there a reason for your unexpected visit?”
Hatshepsut gasped.
She placed her hand on her chest, feigning offense.
“Do you not enjoy our visits,” Hatshepsut said with a pout.
Senemut turned to look at Hatshepsut finding her pout had transformed into a sly grin.
He rolled his eyes with an exasperated sigh.
“Actually, I’m glad you’re here.
I have something for you.
Why don’t you walk with me to my car?”
Hapshepsut looked at him with a raised eyebrow, amused.
She began to follow Senemut to the parking lot.
“Did you buy me a present?”
“No.
Actually, it’s from Raylin.
I think she is trying to make friends.”
“Hmmm,” Hatshepsut mused suspiciously.
Senemut fought back a smile.
“Here’s my car over there,” Senemut said, pointing at his shiny black Audi sedan.
“That is what you drive?” Hatshepsut asked incredulously.
“Yes, what’s wrong with it?
You didn’t mind it last night.”
“I was distracted with other matters.
If I had noticed this boring sedan last night, I would have ridiculed you last night.”
“It’s practical.
I am a family man after all.
What do you drive your majesty?”
Hatshepsut waved at the shiny gold Pagani that was illegally parked at the curb.
“Nice,” Senemut said, slightly impressed, “if you’re in a car show.”
“How do they say it?
Don’t hate!”
“Ooooo!
Look at you.
You’ve used a contraction and a common phrase.
Are you trying to sound like these peasants and vagabonds?”
“Bite your tongue!”
Senemut laughed.
He loved to ruffle her feathers.
It seemed the only way to get any real emotion out of her.
He pressed a button on his keys, making his car tweet as it unlocked.
He threw his satchel on the passenger seat and grabbed a box out of the glove compartment.
“Here you go,” Senemut said, handing it out to her.
Hatshepsut eyed the box skeptically.
“You open it,” she finally said after a pause.
“Are you serious?
Raylin wouldn’t hurt you…”
Hatshepsut raised an eyebrow. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Again,” he added.
“Fine, I’ll open it.”
Senemut lifted the lid on the box and lifted out the object that was inside.
Hatshepsut removed her eye patch, took it in her hands and examined it.
“It is a hilt,” Hatshepsut said, “without a blade.”
“There’s two of them and a note inside.
It reads: Think of the type of blade you want and apply ice.”
Hatshepsut looked at the hilt again and began to freeze it.
The ice came up through the top of the hilt and formed a jagged edge dagger.
They both gasped with surprise.
“Such a talented witch,” Hatshepsut said, absorbing the ice, “but I can do that without this contraption.”
“I guess she knew you would say that because the note continues with: Hilt should make your ice stronger and sharper as if made of steel.”
“Interesting,” Hatshepsut said, giving the hilt another look.
“I could have used this last night.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
“I finally met Geisha.
I must say I am not impressed.”
“You had a confrontation with Geisha?!?” Senemut exclaimed.
He could feel his heart jump into his throat.
“When did this happen?”
“Last night at the docks,” Hatshepsut said casually.
“She followed me around the majority of the afternoon.
If she had not finally shown her face, I was going to call her out.”
“I’m guessing it wasn’t a long encounter.
I didn’t even see her.”
“No, it was not.
I did not find her very impressive.
I like her taste in attire but other than that, not impressive at all.”
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable.
She was probably trying to feel you out.”
“Feel me out for what exactly?”
“She may have been trying to see how skilled you were.”
Hatshepsut gave Senemut a mystified look.
“What is it?” Senemut asked.
He wondered had he finally scared some sense into her.
“I hope she was not giving it her all.
If so, you have given her too much credit.”
“Ugh!” Senemut huffed, frustrated by Hatshepsut’s statement.
“Does your arrogance have no bounds?”
“You call it arrogance.
I call it confidence.
Besides, if you are so concerned about Geisha and I having a confrontation, you should ask Raylin if she could bring back Ochiru.”
“You’re friends now,” Senemut said.
“Ask her yourself.”
He watched as Hatshepsut looked at him, appalled.
This made him laugh.
“I do not see what is funny,” Hatshepsut said, crossing her arms.
“You wouldn’t understand.
Let me make it up to you.
Join me for lunch.
I have an hour and a half to burn.
I didn’t want to spend it on campus.”
“Is this you trying to continue our conversation from last night?” Hatshepsut asked suspiciously.
“No,” Senemut said.
“We’re over and now I know why.
I can live with that.
I was talking about taking you shopping.
You still like pretty things, don’t you?”
“Indeed.
The question is if you can afford to take me shopping with a professor’s salary.”
“Just like you, I have accumulated wealth over the centuries.
You don’t have to worry about my pockets or are you more worried about what your Roman may say?”
Hatshepsut glared at Senemut with loathing.
Senemut smiled back.
“Ha, ha, ha!” she said, turning to walk over to her car.
“I will drive Mr.
Funny Man.”