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  By the time they returned to their home, the sun was starting to paint the sky with the colors of the dawn, and although Aneksi was really tired, she simply knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. There were too many things swirling in her mind for her to be able to close her eyes and sleep. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the appropriate hour for her to slip out of the house and go for a walk across the city. The place was slowly coming back to life, and she knew it would be too dangerous to go out now.

  Instead, she went to the kitchen and started to help the servants with the food. Cooking was one of the things that relaxed her the most. Alhough her mother didn’t seem to understand her love for cooking, she didn’t stop her from doing it. Aneksi’s food was too delicious to deny herself the pleasure of eating it.

  Later that morning, when she finished all the preparations for lunch, she decided to go for a walk with Kiya. She needed some distraction and going to the market would work. She was always looking for new ingredients, new spices, and even new recipes. Most merchants already knew her and greeted her with familiarity.

  Mustafa, one of them, had the first oranges of the season and Aneksi was delighted. The smell was heady, and she loved it.

  “I have been saving the best oranges for you, Mistress Aneksi. I was sure you would come,” the merchant said, with a full smile.

  “Thank you very much, Mustafa. I can’t wait to prepare a delicious orange juice for my father’s lunch. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it very much,” she replied, as she handed him her basket. She would need at least two dozen of the juicy fruits.

  “I also have some tangerines if you want.” The man offered her, and she agreed, with a pleased smile.

  She paid for her fruit, and she was about to walk away when she felt someone was watching her intensely. Startled, she looked around trying to find who was looking at her, but she didn’t see anyone.

  Aneksi walked to the place where an old woman was selling mixed spices. After talking to her for a few moments, she still felt like someone was watching her, but ignored it as much as possible.

  She visited a few other merchants, and when she completed her shopping, she turned around to return to her home, always feeling her moves were being watched by someone she couldn’t find, hidden in the small crowd surrounding her. Whoever was watching her, observed her until she reached her house. It was a relief to escape from the intense scrutiny of her watcher.

  Back in the safety of her home, she quickly forgot the whole incident, concentrating on the house activities, since her mother preferred not to be disturbed by such things.

  By the end of the day, her mother came looking for Aneksi, looking even more excited than she had been when she had come to announce the emissary’s arrival.

  “We’ve been invited to the palace,” she said, waving a papyrus in her hand.

  Aneksi was in the kitchen, finishing the dinner details and raised her head surprised. “To the palace? When?” she asked her mother.

  “Tonight. I’ve just received the invitation.”

  “Tonight? Isn’t that a bit of a last minute invitation?” she asked, intrigued.

  “Well, yes, but we can’t say no. It has the Pharaoh’s seal,” her mother explained, but Aneksi could tell she was quite excited.

  “Why do you think we have been invited?” Aneksi asked, still puzzled by such invitation. Typically, things related to the palace followed a strict protocol and last minute invitations didn’t happen unless there was a very good reason for them.

  “I have no idea, but I can’t say I really care,” her mother replied, with a wide smile on her face. “Please, go get yourself ready, we leave as soon as possible.”

  “Do I have to go?” Aneksi’s frown became deeper.

  “Of course, you have to go. It’s an invitation for the whole family, and that includes you,” her mother pointed out in a tone that didn’t allow for any arguing.

  Sighing, Aneksi gave a few last instructions to the cook and went up to her room. Kiya was already waiting for her with the bath ready, as well as her clothes, wig, and jewelry.

  “This is such an annoyance. I haven’t slept for over a day. Now, when I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home, we’re invited to a dinner at the palace,” she protested.

  “You should feel honored, young mistress.”

  Aneksi huffed, but didn’t add any comment to that. Kiya knew her too well to know she didn’t feel honored, or pleased.

  She preferred to stay as far as possible from the palace and all that went on there. She didn’t have the patience for the tiny conspiracies to gain the Pharaoh’s favor. She found them demeaning.

  “Please, behave yourself, young mistress.” Kiya scolded her in a soft tone.

  Aneksi chuckled, “Don’t I always?”

  “You really don’t want me to answer that question, young mistress,” the older woman said, shaking her head and Aneksi laughed louder.

  CHAPTER 4

  After a several minutes, she was finally ready, wearing her best jewels and her new wig. Kiya had applied kohl around her eyes, emphasizing her hazel eyes. By the time she looked at herself in the mirror, she had trouble recognizing herself. She hated the way all of this changed her, but not even she would dare to go to the palace with her natural look. That was unacceptable, and she knew it, even if she hated it.

  Her parents were ready, so they all left at once. It only took them a few minutes to reach the palace and soon they were being guided to a huge saloon where the Pharaoh was gathered with several other people. They were announced, and the Pharaoh nodded in their direction acknowledging their arrival.

  Fortunately, for Aneksi, her friend Berenib was also there, so she walked in her direction, hoping her friend would have more information about the invitation.

  “Aneksi, I wasn’t expecting to find you here,” her friend said in a tone that almost sounded disappointed.

  “We were sent a last-minute invitation,” she explained, in a puzzled tone.

  “Us, too. The invitation arrived this afternoon, when the sun was starting to go down on the horizon,” her friend explained.

  “Do you have any idea what’s going on?” she asked, too curious.

  “No. There was no explanation. Though, rumor has it that the god’s emissary wants to choose a woman to accompany him while he’s here,” she replied, in a lower tone.

  “And he wasn’t able to choose her amongst all the women who were here last night?” Aneksi asked in a sarcastic tone.

  “Apparently not. So, there’s still a chance for us.”

  “May the gods forbid that,” she muttered, horrified.

  “Aneksi!” her friend protested. “How can you say that? It’s our duty and our pleasure to make things easier for the god’s emissary.”

  Aneksi let out a deep sigh, scolding herself for not keeping her opinion to herself. “Of course, Berenib, you’re absolutely right. And I shall pray that he chooses you,” she said, with a fake smile on her face.

  “Oh, yes, that would make me the happiest woman in the land,” her friend said fervently, oblivious of Aneksi’s attitude.

  “Is he here?” Aneksi asked, instead, looking around.

  “No, he still hasn’t arrived.”

  Aneksi smiled, relieved, deciding to stay out of the way as much as possible. There were several massive columns scattered around the room where she could easily hide, just in case. She doubted she would be chosen. After all, there were much more beautiful women gathered in that room, but she had no intention of tempting fate.

  “Oh, my mother is calling me,” she lied, waving at no one. “Good luck and I’ll see you later.” Berenib nodded and walked to a small group of girls standing nearby.

  Aneksi walked to the nearest column and after a discreet look around the place, sighed when she was able to hide without being discovered.

  After a while, she got tired of being there, so she moved to where her parents were talking to some friends, accepting some food on her way.
r />   “Do you know why we were invited?” she asked her mother, discreetly.

  “No. No one seems to know,” she replied, sounding intrigued for the first time.

  “Well, at least the food isn’t that bad,” she said, enjoying the tiny balls of falafel.

  “Of course, you would notice that,” her mother pointed out, shaking her head, a bit desperate about Aneksi’s behavior.

  “What else is there to be noticed? The emissary hasn’t even bothered to honor us with his presence,” she pointed out in a scornful tone.

  “Aneksi, please, someone could hear you,” her mother scolded her, looking around.

  She chuckled and retrieved a new bite from one of the trays carried by one of the servants. “Don’t worry, everybody is busy trying to find out why we’re here,” she appeased her mother’s nervousness.

  In that moment, Aneksi felt that someone was looking at her. It was the same sensation she had that morning at the market, but this time it was even stronger, as if the person was close to her and determined to let her know she was being watched. Discreetly, she looked around, trying to find the source of the feeling, but once more she wasn’t able to see it. It was driving her insane.

  “I need some fresh air. Do you think anyone would notice if I go out to the terrace?” she asked her mother, rubbing her neck, gently.

  Her mother looked around and nodded. “Just don’t be long. I don’t want you to miss the emissary’s arrival.”

  Aneksi rolled her eyes but accepted. “I won’t, I promise.”

  She slid out of the saloon to an ample terrace, with a fantastic view of the pyramid still only halfway constructed. Unlike what she had hoped, the feeling of being watched didn’t disappear when she left the room. Instead, it was stronger than ever. Upset, she swirled around trying to find the cause, to no use.

  “Who’s there? Show yourself,” she demanded, losing her patience.

  A chuckle was her answer as a man stepped from behind one of the columns. “Good evening, free woman,” he said, and she gasped, surprised.

  The man from the desert. “What are you doing here?” she asked, startled.

  “I was invited,” he said, slowly closing the distance between them.

  Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Of course, I better go back inside. It wasn’t my intention to disturb you,” she replied, as she took a step away from him, heading back to the saloon, but he didn’t allow her. Once more, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to stand in front of him.

  “No, you’re not going anywhere. I haven’t gone to all this trouble to find you to let you slip out of my grasp,” he said, in a husky tone.

  The torches lighting the terrace allowed her to see the lust shining in his gray eyes.

  “What do you mean? You were trying to find me? Why would you do such a thing?” she shot the questions, feeling the heat of his skin against hers, and how it radiated to the rest of her body.

  He cupped her face with his other hand, and instinctively she leaned her face against it. “I had to find you and see if the magic we conjured that night was just a spell from Nut or if it was real,” he said, in a seductive tone, his eyes locking on hers.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about…” she tried to deny it, but he didn’t allow her to.

  Before she could utter another word, his lips claimed hers in a fiery kiss that ignited a powerful fire inside her, taking her to an alternate universe, as swirling into the one they conjured with their passion.

  For a split second, she tried to resist and push him away from her, but the minute his lips touched hers, she surrendered to his passion and allowed him to once more steal her breath away. His tongue slid through her lips and assailed her mouth, conquering it, making sure to mark every inch of her as his.

  He released her lips for a few seconds allowing them both to breathe, while his forehead rested on hers and he looked deep into her eyes. “What kind of spell have you cast over me?” he murmured against her lips. But he didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he kissed her again and again, sending jolts of pleasure through her whole body. Only the sound of people approaching broke the bubble they had been in, and he allowed her to step away.

  “This is insane…” she mumbled, covering her shivering lips with her hand, still heaving.

  “No, this is fate,” he said, with a self-deprecating smile. “Tell me your name, sweet sorceress.” He asked, looking around, trying to find those who had interrupted them.

  “Why do you want to know that?” she asked, not sure she wanted him to know her name. Now that the fire was out, she was starting to feel a bit ashamed of her surrender to this man, a total stranger.

  “It will be easier to call you by your name,” he replied, with a naughty grin.

  She shook her head, unable to understand what he was talking about. “I better go back inside, my parents will be looking for me,” she muttered, and before he could grab her again, she escaped back to the saloon.

  Her parents were chatting with a few friends, and her mother smiled at her when she approached. “Has the emissary showed up?” she whispered to her mother, curious.

  “No, not yet. Apparently, he will be staying here for a few weeks, while he checks how things are going with the pyramid’s construction,” her mother explained, stepping aside to talk to her. “They say he’s looking for someone to be… his guide while he’s here?”

  Aneksi raised her eyebrow, sarcastically. “Guide? That’s what they will call it?” she asked.

  Her mother frowned. “Yes, guide. You know, we must serve the gods and those sent by them.”

  “If you say so, mother.” She sighed. “Is this the reason we’re here? He’s choosing his victim?” she asked, feeling a bit upset.

  “Aneksi, please,” her mother scolded her, horrified, but before she had the chance to answer her question, a man’s hand took hers, in a firm grip.

  “Actually, I’ve already chosen her, Aneksi,” he said, standing next to her.

  The turmoil of emotions rushed through her as she paled right before blood rushed back to her cheeks.

  “Ah. Prince Setau, there you are,” the Pharaoh’s voice sounded behind them, and they turned to face him. The man he had called Setau nodded, with a pleased smile on his face. He was still holding her by her wrist, and despite her discreet tugs, he didn’t seem to be willing to let her go.

  “Yes. I’ve finally found her,” he announced to the Pharaoh, as he pulled Aneksi even closer to him.

  The Pharaoh was surprised, to say the least. “Are you sure? I mean… You haven’t met…” he said, with a frown.

  “Yes, I’m sure. I was looking for her. Now that I’ve found her, I don’t need to keep looking,” Setau explained in a firm tone.

  “Of course, if that’s what you desire…” the Pharaoh acquiesced, and Aneksi couldn’t believe what was going on. The man next to her was the emissary? How was that even possible when she had met him the night before his arrival?

  “It is.” There was such determination in his tone, the Pharaoh didn’t insist.

  Instead, he turned to her parents with a polite smile on his face. “Rahotep, Maia, I believe you haven’t met God Anubis’ emissary, Prince Setau,” he explained to her parents, confirming Aneksi’s suspicions.

  Her mother was flustered, and her father was having a hard time finding words to reply the Pharaoh’s introduction. But the man didn’t seem to notice since he continued with the introductions.

  “Prince Setau, please allow me to introduce you to Rahotep and Maia. Rahotep was my father’s cousin as well as Maia, his wife. And she is one of their daughters…” he made a pause there, since he hadn't met Aneksi yet.

  Her father finally seemed to come out of his amazement and completed the Pharaoh’s sentence. “Yes, she’s my youngest daughter, Aneksi.”

  “Ah, a lovely name, for such a lovely young woman.” The Pharaoh complimented, and her father seemed pleased with that, though she could tell he was still a bit fl
ustered with what was going on. “Prince Setau will be staying with us for a few weeks, and he has requested to be guided by one of our noble women. In fact, he has just told me he would like that woman to be your daughter,” he finally announced.

  “Oh, it’s a great honor, Your Majesty,” her father replied with a deep bow.

  Aneksi didn’t feel that honored. In fact, she wanted to tell him to go get another woman, because she wasn’t available to become his toy for his time on Earth, but she knew she couldn’t. That would mean a terrible disrespect for the Pharaoh and for the god he represented. She was sure only her death would pay for such a deed, and she wasn’t ready to join the god Seth in the underworld.

  So, when the Pharaoh looked at her, she smiled and curtsied as well as if she was the happiest woman on the planet. “It will be a pleasure guiding Prince Setau during his stay with us.” She confirmed her father’s words and the man holding her wrist, tightened his grip as if he didn’t believe a word she was saying.

  Smart man.

  “Perfect. Now, let’s enjoy our dinner. I’m sure we’re all hungry,” the Pharaoh said, raising his voice for all around to hear.

  They were escorted to the banquet room and to her dismay, Prince Setau took a seat right next to her. She could feel the other girls’ looks of envy, and she wished she could change places with any of them.

  “You don’t look as pleased as you said you were,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Of course, I am. What girl wouldn’t be happy to serve the god’s emissary?” she replied, pasting her best smile on her face before she turned to look at him.

  “You, apparently,” he replied, with a slight frown.

  “Then, I’ll have to try harder to show you just how pleased I am. I guess I’m just a bit overwhelmed with the honor conferred to me, your highness.” She retorted, in her most mellifluous tone. He looked at her with a somber expression on his face but, to her relief, he didn’t insist on the topic.

  The banquet was long and boring and despite the fact that the food was good, she couldn’t focus on anything other than his presence next to her. Each time he moved and grazed her, jolts of energy would rush through her whole body, making her breathing a bit hard.