Mariku's beauty was know threw out Egypt clear bronze skin and golden blond hair, she moved with cat like grace men and woman alike would stop and watch her like they would a rare treasure. It was nearing her fifteenth birthday, the day that she would be engaged to a prince and become queen. They had decided on a young prince that went by the name of Atem her parents had heard about the achievement of bringing peace to most of Egypt with the strange golden items plus his family was by far the richest in the land.

How ever Mariku wasn't as thrilled about the idea, the bronze skinned girl frowned her arms crossed as she paced in her room her finger's running along the transparent glittered silk sleeves over her strapless top her cloths made from the softest of cottons, gold belt and a long lavender skirt with gold trim on the edges. Mariku frowned as she looked at the white dress placed in the corner of her room, wedding dress, she despised the thing, Mariku frowned as she sat onto her bed and punched her pillow.

She didn't want to marry the young prince she didn't want to marry period, she didn't want kids she didn't want any of it and having to be forced to marry she knew he other things would come as well, when she was sure her parents were asleep the young princess dressed in a long black robe and slipped out of her window, being careful not to fall, moments like this she thanked her cat like balance.

Mariku walked along the thin line coming to the edge of the city walls hopping down she made a dash staying within the darkest spots.

She ran and ran, no she wasn't running away she was simply paying some one a visit, Mariku stopped as she came upon the pyramids were the past kings had been buried, knocking away two large stones he princess wiggled her way into a rather large crack that was on one of the walls, the worker's that had built the thing hadn't caught it and her father had them put to death.

Mariku walked threw the dim cobwebbed and spider infested halls, she knew exactly were she was heading, coming upon a coffin she closed her eyes and bowed her head in respect "Grandfather" She spoke before sitting on the floor beside the object "Grandfather, I'm stuck I have no idea what to do, my father and mother both ant me to marry prince Atem because of his richest and popularity".

She spoke shaking her head "I don't want to be married, I know as the only daughter that it is mu duty to marry and have children but..I just don't know Grandfather.. I'm so confused.. I have no idea what to do" Mariku sighed as she remained by her grand father's tomb drawling within the sand that covered the ground below, however i was getting later and later, the young princess soon fell victim to sleep.

Meanwhile on the outer skirts of the city a figure on horse back stood his grin evil and dark, his eyes pale almost lifeless and full of greed and want, his left eye was decorated with three scars each one telling a story of gore and violence. his hair pale white, like the moon that lit the sky above was covered by the hood of his inner sand colored coat which was overlapped by a blood red robe that had belonged to his father. He had heard that the Ishtar's previous king had been buried with all of his belongings and riches.

Snapping the ropes that led to the horses muzzle said animal leaning up and charging forward, he was a tomb robber, entering by force and taking what he wanted, He was a wanted man some wanted him dead, some wanted him for his body and some wanted to be him, he was the Thief King, Akefia. Him and his men made their way down, a brown arched Akefia pulled at the ropes spying the opening "Well looks like some one got here before us" He spoke as he dismounted his horse and made his way over to the opening pushing his hood back. The Thief king leaned down to examine the foot prints leading in "We're in luck, the prints only lead in and not out, seems we caught ourselves a ra-".

He stopped in his sentence and looked closer at the foot prints in the sand "Mouse" he finished "Judging by the size I'd say I have caught myself a mouse" He spoke as one of the other frowned "Awe but boss can't we go aft-" Akefia stood and silenced the bunch "If anyone is going after this little thief it's me" He spoke turning to the opening yanking bricks and such away growling as he did so, making his was into the tomb, finding his way to the center, he remained quiet as possible, slipping into the room.

True to the stories he whole room was full of jewels and gold and treasures of every kind "Damn" He whispered to himself "I wish you were here grandfather.." He heard a female voice and stopped moving into the shadows "Ah, here's our little mouse" He whispered to himself as he drew closer and closer until he was able to get a good look a her.

She had dark skin, as dark as his own, long golden hair that was oddly styled into spike's her eye's were a deep piercing lavender, he watched as she stood up, the dark burgundy now dusted with sand. She did her best to bush it off, Mariku cursed to herself quietly as she tried to rub off the sand that suck to the fabric, she didn't even notice the danger that lurked behind her.

Once she was satisfied and thought that she had gotten most if not all of the sand off she stood up, she got the strange feeling that she was being watched, her heart sped up slightly, her eyes scanned the area the best they could in such a dim place. Mariku only shrugged.

Akefia watched her silently, like a wolf waiting for the right moment to strike it's pray, he ran his tongue over his fangs, this woman was nothing more but an obstacle in getting the jewels and riches he desired, then again, he thought to himself, men would pay to have such a beauty in their bed. He stopped his movements when he noticed the markings on her back and the golden thin crown that crossed her forehead.

"A princess" He spoke to himself, this put a whole new light on things, he could capture her and use her to his advantage. Akefia grinned as he continued on his move until he as directly behind her, reaching out he cupped a hand over her mouth and arm around her middle. Mariku screamed against the hand over her mouth and fought against her attacker, she was able to get one arm free instead of flailing and yanking t his hand she gave him a strong hit of her elbow to his shoulder.

When that didn't work and bit his hand drawing blood " Ah! you bitch!" He growled yanking his hand from her mouth, Mariku growled as her mouth was free and wiggled from the arm around her middle, taking off or at lest attempting to, a hand grabbed her by her elbow and yanked her back, her back collided with the stone wall knocking the breath out of the girl. Her eyes flickered to her attacker, in the dim light and her blurring vision all she could really make out was his white hair.

She tried to push him away even punch his chest, which only led to her hurting her own hand "Damn it, unhand me!" She yelled Akefia opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by one of his follower's voices "Sir the guards re coming!" The bronze Thief growled "Your annoying" He spoke to her as he lifted Mariku up and over his shoulder walking out of the tomb. Mariku blinked in confusion "The hell do you think your doing!? let me go!" She growled and hit his back "Damn it some one tie this thing up and gag it, it's giving me a headache" Mariku growled "Oh your poor baby".

She snarled at one of the Thief's men who chased her hands around and finally tied them "Her wrists bound?" Akefia asked the male who was rubbing his cheek "Yea she is " . "Good" The Thief King spoke throwing her over his horse "And for good measure" Akefia spoke as he tied a blind fold and gag on her. "Sir the guards have spotted us!" Akefia smirked "Good now move out!" He yelled as they took off voiding the arrows and spears that flew their way, the guard frowned they had captured the princess, the one who's marriage would have saved their kingdom "Quick assemble the others and wake the King and Queen and tell her King to be to gather his guards, we must get the princess back!"