Chapter 2: Pharaoh's Pale Pair
Harker crouched amongst the greenery of the palace courtyard, Sechi panting beside him. He glared at the soldiers lining the stairs they would need to climb to get into the building.
"Sechi, do you know if there's a servant's entrance door? Or something similar?" He asked, turning to his companion.
"Not as far as I'm aware." Sechi responded, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, we'll take you in the front."
The two boys jumped at the voice, and yelped as they were grabbed from behind, strong beefy hands locking around their biceps and dragging them to their feet.
Sechi yelped as they were forced up the stairs, servants and guards turning to look at the two captured teens. Harker growled at a guard whose hands moved too low, snapping his teeth at the hand when his arms couldn't move enough.
"No! Let me go, I'm not a slave!"
Harker and Sechi looked up and saw Carol being manhandled by the Pharaoh, making Harker growl louder and Sechi gasp.
"Your Majesty! We've captured these slaves who were trying to sneak into the palace!"
"Sechi! Harker!" Carol cried, relief mixing with fear.
"Carol!" Sechi called back.
"Oh, so your name's Carol, huh?" Menfuisu asked, looking down at the girl in his grip.
Menfuisu had yet to find the male of the 'Golden Set', but he had to first secure the girl.
"Carol, if you're not obedient, then those youths will be punished." He said silkily, a smirk on his face which only grew when he felt the girl in his grasp tense.
"Take those slaves and whip them!" He ordered, pointing to the kneeling pair.
'At least, I could maybe help one-!' Carol though, panic clouding her mind.
"Wait!" She yelled, making the Pharaoh stop the guards for a moment to hear her plea.
"Harker! If I tell them that you're like me, you won't get hurt! At least I can help you!" She yelped in English, getting Harker's attention.
He roughly shook his head, his face contorting into a glare.
"Don't do that Carol! If I'm with Sechi, I can help him!" He tried to reason, ignoring the looks they were getting from around the room.
"How can you help him? He'll still receive the same amount of blows!" She asked, moving forwards slightly only to rebound against the Pharaoh's hold.
"I'm going to tell them, you'll be safe at least!"
"Carol, don't!"
Carol turned to Menfuisu and looked up at him, grasping the arm that held her and drew his attention, ignoring Harker's English yells.
"Pour water over Harker, the tallest one!" She exclaimed, looking pleadingly up at the tyrant.
Menfuisu blinked before turning to look at the growling man, his own eyes widening when he saw the man's. Blue.
"You! Get a bucket of water and pour it over the largest man!" He demanded, pointing to a servant who was watching.
She bowed and scampered off, leaving the room in tense silence.
Carol looked everywhere but Harker, knowing full well that he was burning holes in her face with his eyes.
"Carol, I swear to God, when I get out of this you are in big trouble. Do you hear me?" He hissed from across the room, making her flinch and even think about hiding behind the man holding her.
Menfuisu looked at him and leant forwards slightly, an eager grin on his face, despite the obvious anger of the other.
"What's that language you're speaking? I've never heard it before! What are you saying?" He asked, his grip tightening in his excitement.
Both Carol and Harker looked away, not willing to talk to the man who was so dead set on getting a hold of them.
Menfuisu sneered and walked forwards, dragging Carol along with him. Grabbing Harker's face, he forced him to look up at him, black clashing with blue. Anger clashing with annoyance.
"What do you want, Pharaoh?" Harker hissed, straining against the arms restricting him.
The teenaged king frowned down at him before pausing and began rubbing Harker's face with his thumb. The dirt was coming off.
"Water! Now!" He yelled, making the servant girl come running around the corner.
He stood back as she upturned the large bowel, dumping the contents over Harker's head. Black dirt peeled off and revealed white skin and golden hair, and an even angrier man underneath. Harker shook his hair like a dog and snarled up at the Pharaoh and golden girl through his dripping fringe.
"I've found them, sister! I've found the Golden Set!" Menfuisu called over his shoulder, drawing Harker's attention to a woman who standing in shock. Ashisu, was what Carol called her.
"Ah-I see, Menfuisu…Congratulations." She said, a half-hearted smile on her lips.
"You don't seem all that happy about this, Ashisu." Harker called, a raised eyebrow following his comment.
She whipped around and pinned him with a look of outrage, fists clenched and her shoulders thrown back.
"How dare a lowly dog like you call me by my name?!" She hissed, stalking over and raising her hand to hit him.
Harker stuck her with a glare and snapped his teeth warningly.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, princess. Even a dog can bite." He growled, flashing her his teeth.
Menfuisu laughed suddenly, drawing Carol closer to him in a sort of twisted hug. He waved his sister off and ordered for Harker to be allowed to stand.
Harker grunted and he was suddenly yanked onto his feet, feeling a little bit of pride when he noticed that he was an inch taller than Menfuisu, at least.
"Take the other to the prison, do as I instructed!" He ordered, not taking his eyes off Harker as he squeezed Carol.
"Oi! Let 'im go!" Harker snapped, struggling as another man came to help the two soldiers holding him.
"Stop! Stop! Sechi snuck in because of me! Stop!" Carol cried as Sechi was dragged off.
"I'll be fine, you two! I'll find a way out of here!" He reassured them, his own voice shaking.
Both of the Westerners recoiled when they heard the crack of a whip and Sechi's scream ring out. Harker snarled and struggled against his captors as Carol pleaded with the King. He looked back and hissed when he saw Carol getting on her knees, growling when he caught up on what was happening.
Menfuisu smirked up at him when they made eye contact, knowing full well how mad he was making the other male. Harker narrowed his eyes at him when the Pharaoh gestured to his other foot with a graceful hand movement.
"If you don't want your friend to be whipped to death, kiss my feet. Now, dog."
Harker let another growl rumble in his chest, clenching his fists.
"Harker, please! I don't want Sechi to get hurt!" Carol pleaded from the floor, looking up at him desperately.
Harker glared at Menfuisu for a moment longer, before the Pharaoh perked up, a sly grin sliding over his face.
"No, dogs don't kiss feet, do they? They bark. Go on, Harker, bark for your master."
Both Carol and Harker froze at the comment, Harker shaking as he snarled at him.
"Go on! Bark!" Menfuisu commanded, his demand punctuated by the crack of another whip.
Harker flinched when he heard his friend scream again, a sob following after. He let out another growl before, slowly opening his mouth.
"Woof…" He muttered, still glaring at the hateful man in front of him.
"I'm sorry, are you a pup or a dog? Louder!" Menfuisu demanded, a giddy tone to his voice.
Harker sighed before a grimace flicked onto his face, he glanced at Carol before opening his mouth again.
"Woof, fucking Woof!"
Menfuisu looked stunned for a moment, before laughing and reaching out to pat his head in a demeaning manner.
"Good boy!" He praised.
Ashisu walked forward, holding a hand to her chest as she addressed her brother.
"Menfuisu, you have Harker, give Carol to me."
He only smiled and shook his head, drawing the pale girl closer.
"No sister! These kinds of things must come in a set!"
He then turned to the head maid and ordered her to bathe both of the pale teens, the maid sent to girls to grab Harker only to have him snap at them. He growled but followed after Carol, shrugging off his holders.
"I know how to take a bath!" He snapped as a woman walked over to him with a cloth in hand, Carol saying something similar as she was forcefully stripped by less skittish maids.
"You'll bathe in the same bath, it'll be easier that way." The head maid said as she forced Carol into the steaming water.
Harker reeled back and snapped his eyes to the stone ceiling, avoiding looking at Carol.
"Um, you sure about this miss?" He asked, ignoring the younger maids' giggles.
"Yes, now get in there!"
He yelped as he felt himself get pushed, his loin-cloth getting pulled off as he fell. Gasping as he came to the surface, he glared at the old woman.
"The water's too shallow for a stunt like that, you old coot!" He yelled, moving away from the very naked Carol beside him.
"My so pretty… You have such delicate white skin that non-Egyptians have." She commented, making Harker raise an eyebrow.
"That's oddly specific, don't you think? Non-Egyptian? I can think of many races who aren't tic-tacs either."
"We need to escape! We need to get back to the future!" Carol cried, grabbing his arm to get his attention, her other arm still covering her breasts.
Harker turned to her, anger resurrected at her tug. He glared down at her, no longer worried about their unclothed bodies.
"Perhaps if you had let me stay with Sechi, we could have done something about that! But no, you had to get the idea that calling me out would help! What did it do, other than humiliate both of us and get us separated?" He hissed, looming over her.
She whimpered and looked down into the water, the servants had become quiet and were distancing themselves from the pair in the water.
"I'm sorry, I was scared and… I got selfish! I didn't want to be alone with Menfuisu! He wouldn't stop touching me and- I'm sorry!"
Harker raised his hand making her flinch and the others in the room tense up, only for Harker to bring his arm down in the water, making a loud splash. Carol looked up slowly, unsure of what to do.
"Leave me alone for a little while, let me cool down." He muttered before turning and wading through the water to the far edge and taking a washcloth from a servant girl.
"I'm sorry, Harker, Sechi." She whispered before turning back to the head maid, who was sending her worried glances.
"What was that about?" She asked as she scrubbed her hair, getting the sand and dirt out.
"We were having a… disagreement." She answered.
"That's one hell of a disagreement. But he has restraint, most men would have just struck you." She commented as she dropped a bucket's worth of water on Carol's head.
"Yes, Harker's nice." She sighed.
()()()
"Quickly, you must change! We let you soak at your leisure, but now we must hurry!" The head maid urged as she conducted the maids to the pale pair.
"Here, dress the girl in this! Oh, she'll look so lovely!" She gushed as Carol was dragged to the far side of the room.
"Now, for the young man." She said, spinning to face the now dry Harker.
She walked around him twice before 'aha'ing and running into another room. She came back, hands full of gold and white.
"You two, help me with him!" She called, summoning two other maids from the corner.
"What are you doing?" He asked, uncomfortable with the sheer amount of girls circling him with either studying or dull gazes.
"Dressing you, of course." The head maid answered, grabbing another golden arm brace and clasping it around his wrist.
"Ah! What is this?" She asked, tracing the tattoo on his bicep.
"Why do you bear the symbol of Ra?" She traced the dark ink in wonder, before Harker shifted away from her.
"I got it on my 18th birthday as a gift." He answered, feeling a tad uncomfortable.
"Um, could you put something over it? To hide it? It draws too much attention." He mumbled, bringing a hand up to rub the spot.
She frowned but nodded, walking off before coming back with a cape of sorts.
He quickly thought of a question, wanting to change the topic of conversation and fast.
"Um…So, what's your name, miss?" He asked, lifting his chin to allow her to place on a golden broad collar.
"My name? Neferdina." She answered, clipping the collar.
"Nice name." He commented, shifting when his kilt was pinned by a belt.
"Hm, there done! How's the girl going?"
Harker looked up and stalled, before him was Carol, decked out in fine Egyptian clothing, gold glistening and beads colouring the pale material. The only problem with the image of the pale princess, was she was frowning and her eyes were downcast.
"Wait here, I'll go announce you. Oh, this'll be so amazing!" Neferdina gushed before walking out the door.
Carol and Harker stood in silence, tense in each other's presence. Harker sighed leant against the wall behind him as Carol fidgeted, playing with the material of her dress.
"Well, you look nice at least. That's a plus to the situation, I suppose." He mustered up the courage to say, gesturing to her with his hand.
She gave a small smile and thanked him before giving him a once over with her own blue eyes.
"You look pretty handsome yourself, Harker." She complemented, wringing her hands.
"Please, call me Hark, all my friends do."
The two smiled at each other, before snapping their heads towards the door when Neferdina called for them. They looked at one another, tension leaking back into their forms.
"Let's go, we're in this together." He said, before offering his hand. "I'll be your guard dog."
"Thank you, dear hound." She laughed quietly as she took his offered hand.
He smirked, "Woof."
As they walked towards the archway, the sound grew louder and their smiles dropped until Harker was once again glaring and Carol's eyes were downcast.
The two tensed as the room quietened upon their arrival, Harker giving a growl when he saw a man reach for Carol's hand. He narrowed his eyes and stood to his full height, making the men slink away a bit.
"This – These are the slaves called Carol and Harker?" Menfuisu asked as he walked up to them, face showing a pleasantly stunned expression.
"You threw us in a tub and slapped a bunch of cloth on us, you didn't change our faces." Harker grumbled, making Carol laugh quietly.
"And they speak a different language!"
Harker felt Carol fidget under the attention and pulled her into him, using his thick arm to circle her thin frame. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the bald man again, his gaze still giving Harker bad vibes.
He growled before looking to Menfuisu, they made eye contact and he guided Carol over to where the Pharaoh draped himself over, plush seat, chubby with cushions. Harker looked at it and thought of the hard bed back in Sephora and Sechi's home, frowning at the state of the country.
He gave a short, quiet swear as he and Carol were tugged down onto the seat, Menfuisu watching them with amused eyes. Carol closed her eyes and stiffened, rearing back into Harker's side.
"Do you plan on disobeying me? If you keep on being stubborn, what will happen to that friend of yours…you know?" Menfuisu cooed as he rested his elbow on her shoulder, stunning her.
"Despicable! So despicable! He doesn't even act like a king!" She cried to Harker, the teen king letting out a loud laugh as he raised his wine-filled cup.
"It's better if you just say something!" He cheered, pouring the alcohol down his throat.
"What a beautiful golden haired girl!"
The two Westerners turned sharply, coming face to face with the bald man. Carol stiffened and looked at him with stunned confusion as he reached out and grabbed a lock of her hair. Harker growled and pulled her into his lap, away from the two men's hands.
"Are all Egyptian men so grabby?" He asked, placing a plush pillow in Carol's arms as a source of security.
The man frowned before retreating back down the stairs and standing before the trio, he raised his hand and spoke loudly over the royals.
"Tonight, all the officials are present here. I shall the report to his majesty Menfuisu."
The music stopped and the people's chatter died down, all attention focussing on the man at the centre. Harker glanced down when he noticed Carol begin to fidget, she was looking around him a worried expression on her face.
"What is it, Grand Priest Kapta?" The Pharaoh asked, taking another mouthful of alcohol.
"According to the prophecy of the Gods, I would like to advise the King Menfuisu of Upper and Lower Egypt, that you should marry. For the pride of Egypt, we hope that your Majesty will find a beautiful bride, and expect descendants soon." The priest said, getting varied reactions from around the room.
Harker looked away from the old man and dragged his eyes across the room, taking in the sights around him. A happy gasp drew his attention, making him look to a woman sitting quite close to them, a royal then.
She was tanned like the others, but her hair was a pale brown instead of black, making him raise an eyebrow. Not Egyptian then, Turkish maybe?
He looked down at Carol, smiling slightly when he saw how rapt her attention was on the new information. He sighed before looking back up at the old man, to see his holding his staff up as he exclaimed the next words.
"We Egyptians have always valued the preservation of the royal bloodline since the ancient times. Therefore, His Majesty Menfuisu new bride is his sister! The prophecy has stated the only Her Highness Ashisu is the perfect bride!"
The crowd rung out with cheers as people toasted happily, agreeing with the new royal couple.
"Okay, I understand. The wedding will take place in a month." Menfuisu declared, raising a hand to calm the crowd.
Ashisu leapt up from her seat, wrapped her arms around her brother's neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Menfuisu stood stunned, eyes wide as his sister moved against him before breaking off. Harker raised an eyebrow at the scene, amused by the Pharaoh's stunned expression.
"Hey, is that okay? What about inbred diseases?" Harker asked, slouching to whisper into Carol's ear.
"In ancient Egypt, it's common for brothers and sisters to marry. Pharaoh Chutan married his sister too!" Carol answered before turning back.
"A real wedding will take place, right before my very eyes!" Harker gave a laugh as she swooned at the thought.
Ashisu turned and declared her intentions of leaving the palace to purify herself before attending to the Gods, making Carol gasp and fling herself out of Harker's lap. Harker blinked before leaning back and watching Carol grab Ashisu's attention. They traded words shortly, before the princess turned and floated down the hall, obviously on cloud nine.
A sudden presence made him glance to the side, the other Princess was fast approaching the Pharaoh, a look of confusion on her face.
"Pharaoh, was your proposal a joke? I do love you!" She asked, heartbreak clear in her actions.
Harker frowned at the teen king, not at all impressed by the notches in his belt. He sighed before bringing his knee up to his chest, turning away from the brown haired princess – Of Hitato he found - to face Carol. He raised an eyebrow as she beckoned him to follow, an urgent look on her face.
"Quickly, now's our chance! We need to see Sechi!" She whispered, before turning and running from the room of drunk officials, Harker hot on her heels.
()()()
Harker sighed as he followed after a cloak-clad Carol, both of the keeping their heads down. He tilted his head, trying to catch the wind when a barely there noise caught his interest, screaming? Not surprising, considering where they are.
"Sechi's cell should be around here, I think." Carol mumbled, drawing his attention.
He gave a hum in agreement, walking a little closer to her as to obscure her shadow that stretched along the wall.
"Here he is." Harker said, jumping to Egyptian for Sechi's sake.
"Sechi! Your wounds look so deep, it's all my fault…I'm so sorry." Carol cried as she dropped to her knees by the bars of his cell, blanket falling to pool around her feet.
Harker grabbed the metal bars and tried his luck as the two smaller teens spoke, he grunted before relaxing his grip, didn't work.
"Carol, Harker! There you are…" The two turned sharply to see the Pharaoh stalking towards them, annoyance clear on his face.
"Finally remembered us, eh?" Harker mumbled, one arm dropping from the bars as he shifted to face the teen king more.
"You don't have permission to be around here! You should be obedient and stay by my side!" The king yelled as he dragged Carol away, knowing that Harker would eventually follow, even if he couldn't drag him himself.
Harker growled but turned to Sechi quickly.
"Sechi, we're doing our best up top to keep the lashings to a minimum. We'll get you out as soon as we can, for now just stay on your best behaviour. Carol's really sorry, I'm sorry. We're sorry that we dragged you into this mess."
"Harker!"
He turned to the call and sighed, giving Sechi one last smile, he jogged to catch up with the Pharaoh.
()()()
Harker grumbled as he leant against the backboard of the plush seat, narrowing his eyes at the Pharaoh that sat between himself and Carol. He closed his eyes and let his head loll back, trying to see if he could just sleep through the party.
"Here, drink this." Menfuisu urged, handing Carol a cup of wine, his other arm draped along the board behind her.
"I don't drink alcohol." She rejected, turning her head away.
"Are you saying you won't drink my liquor?" He asked, anger seeping into his tone.
"I don't know how!" She tried to explain, turning to him with a pleading expression.
The Pharaoh snarled and grabbed her hair, dragging her closer before forcing the contents of the cup into her mouth.
Harker snapped up when he felt the harsh shift in the fabric, a small swear falling from his lips when he saw the scene. He reached out sharply, strong arms wrapping around the king's waist and dragging him away from the small girl.
"What did you do, little king?" He growled into the man's ear, using one had to rub Carol's back soothingly.
The Pharaoh stayed silent, stunned by the sudden warmth that spread along his back. He watched as Carol gagged on the burn of the alcohol, unsure if she was faking it. From the way Harker was reacting to her pain, however, he could guess it was real and that she had never taken a drink before.
He reached out from the constrictions of Harker's arms and dragged her towards him, before planting a kiss on her mouth. The girl was pretty enough, and her body would be a sight to see, all of its pearly white skin on display.
The reactions he got, however, were not what he expected. Both of the pale people tensed before responding, Carol reared back and slapped him across the face, successfully releasing herself from the lip lock and Harker tightened his grip to the point of painful.
"What are you doing!?" The two yelled, their voices giving off a harmony of shock and anger.
"I'm not your slave!"
"Dude! You can't just kiss people!"
Menfuisu stood sharply, breaking free from Harker's arms, a hand covering the reddening part of his face. He looked down at Carol, face deadly calm.
"How dare you hit me?"
The people surrounding them broke from their shocked silence, breaking out into whispers and mumbles of the death penalty.
Carol gasped and recoiled from him, realising just who she had hit. Harker tensed, leaning forwards slightly, ready to bowl the king over should he need to.
"Hold on for a minute!"
The people quieted as the Pharaoh turned and began walking away, cape fluttering dramatically behind him.
"I thought I'd be killed immediately…" Carol whimpered as Harker walked up behind her, giving a stuttered hum of agreement.
()()()
"That could have gone worse, I suppose. I mean, neither of us are dead." Harker spoke, dropping down on the large bed in the chambers they had been discarded in after the scuffle with the Pharaoh.
"He kissed me! I'm no slave! Oh, how am I going to face Jimmy after this!?" Carol cried, throwing herself beside her fellow westerner.
"Who's Jimmy, you're boyfriend?" He asked, shifting to sit up against the wall.
"Uh huh, I miss him so much!"
"Oh God, please don't cry."
Harker scrambled to his knees, hands hovering around Carol hastily.
"Oh God, what do I do? What do I do? Can I hug you? Give you a pat you on the back? Hold your hand? Give you chocolate? Twelve years of school never prepared me for this!"
Harker's hands hovered unsurely as he stared down at the sobbing girl, his arms dropping by the twentieth minute.
"Hey, what's going on in there?!" Someone called from the outside, making the the white skinned boy try to silence the girl.
"I want to go home, please! We can't be here! We're not Egyptian!" Carol cried, pushing herself from the cotton sheets.
"Carol, you've already said this. Saying it louder and again won't make any difference." Harker hissed, his own nerves frayed and the useless repetition not helping.
"But Harker, we-"
"No buts, be happy you're alive and –for the most part- well. Focus on getting Sechi out of the prison we put him in, that means we have to be on our best behaviour."
The taller Westerner glared down at his female companion warningly, only withdrawing when she gave a defeated nod.
"Good, now let's get to bed. I'll sleep by the window."
()()()
Harker watched silently as the royal siblings farewelled each other, both preparing for their own travels.
"Carol! What are you doing?! Don't be slow!" Menfuisu snapped, glaring at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Again. He only knows how to yell." Harker hummed in reply to her whisper as he stood, following after the Pharaoh tiredly.
"Keep pulling!" The young king yelled, raising his fist as if to threaten the slaves beneath them.
"What is this, an intimidation tactic?" Harker mumbled quietly, shifting behind Carol as she admired the historic sight before her.
Harker grunted when he saw a slave fall, only to be lashed when he attempted to stand again, the others trying to keep away.
"How weird, that means she disappeared without a trace." Carol whispered, looking to the new party of people.
"Who?" Harker asked, coming to attention.
"The princess of Haiti, she hasn't returned home, but she isn't in Egypt anymore." She replied, turning to her taller companion.
"Isn't in Egypt, huh?" He hummed, mind glancing back to the scream he had heard.
Harker glanced at the soldiers turned back, noticing a certain something about their atmosphere that was…off-putting. He watched passively as a servant brought out a large horse, handing the reigns to the Pharaoh before scuttling away.
"Your Majesty, the statues from the obelisk stone factory have arrived!"
"Excellent, we'll go there immediately!" The king responded, mounting the horse as he did.
Harker sighed, before following after Carol as she walked with a maid carrying a box of sorts.
"So how did the talk with Ashisu go?" He asked, folding his hands behind his back, looking down at his smaller companion.
"Not good, she says that she can't get me home. That the tablet is the source of her power, and that since it is broken, I can't go back."
"Tablet?"
"Snake!"
"His Majesty Menfuisu has been bitten!"
The two Westerners stalled before turning to the main building in surprise, their blue eyes wide as they listened to the chaos.
Glancing over at Carol, Harker blinked when he saw her face jump from understandable worry, to stubborn bitterness, giving a huff as she spun around and walked away.
"Bitten by a cobra? This is karma, so serves him right. Let Menfuisu suffer."
"Damn, that's cold." He hummed, stepping up beside her.
"But," Harker started, pausing the girl with a hand on her shoulder. "If he dies, things could very well get harder for us. The next in command is Ashisu, and from what I can tell, she and you aren't exactly buddy-buddy."
Carol brought her hand to her mouth in a moment of thought, glancing from her male companion to the castle dorms frequently.
"The Pharaoh is dying!"
"The doctor can't save him!?"
"I don't want him to die, he should just experience a bit of pain!"
The white skinned teens paused as mutters reached their ears, silencing both of them as they listened, horror and shock painting their faces as they pieced together the ancient dialect.
"Menfuisu is still unmarried, so it's no problem."
"Then who will be the next king?"
"King Menfuisu sure was a scary person."
"Oi, he's not dead yet! Shut your traps!" Harker roared, silencing the gossiping officials, and by extension, the remaining occupants of the panic-stricken room.
"Harker, when I was bitten, my brother Ryan told me to carry around the medicine everywhere in case it happened again. It's from the 21st century, so it should be able to fight off the venom from the cobra! He'll be alright if I give this to him right now!" Carol explained, showing the Australian her small black pill.
"If it's for cobra bites, the antivenom should work. Okay, let's give it a try." He nodded, before the two turned and ran through the crowd, reaching the panting king with surprising ease.
Carol raised up the young king's head and forced her fingers into his mouth, slipping the pill between his teeth with the abridged explanation of her intention, begging the dark skinned man to swallow it for his own sake.
"Ow!"
Harker tensed as Carol withdrew her bloodied fingers, teeth marks beading with blood as she cradled it to her chest. As the pill fell from the teen king's lips, the pale boy lurched forwards, prying open the Egyptian's mouth and forcing the pill back in, an English curse on his lips.
"Swallow it, you bloody fucker. You'll die otherwise!"
The two white Westerners let out mirroring yelps as guards and servants grabbed them, the General Minue exclaiming their treachery.
"What did you make him swallow?! You must really hate him to do so when he's in such a state!"
A long and loud sigh left the lying man, causing the people to turn their attention to his form, relieved whispers bursting forth as he relaxed into his bedding.
"His face is regaining colour." Carol breathed, a hand resting over her fast beating heart.
"It was medicine, General, not poison." Harker sighed, yanking himself free from the loosened hands.
"I'm sorry, I jumped to conclusions." General Minue apologised, turning to look at the disgruntled pair of Westerners.
"Please, could you care for him?"
The tallest pale skin turned to Carol, an eyebrow raised in question as she let out a breath, her face setting into concentration as she tried to remember remedies for snake bites.
"The medicine is doing most of the work, but we're going to have to get the Pharaoh to sweat out as much of the poison he can." Harker stated, stepping forwards as he gestured to a servant girl.
"We need to change his dressing."
"Yes!"
"You, bring hot water."
"I-immediately!"
The golden haired teen sighed as the room burst into action, Carol asking those who could serve no purpose to leave, spare Minue and the royal doctor.
"You seem to know a lot about snake bites, Hark." She hummed, coming up next the to man as he shifted the teen king lower down the bed to allow him to lay, rather than be propped up.
"What did you expect? I'm Australian, sweetheart." He smirked, flashing her his teeth teasingly as she flushed at the pet name.
"Honestly." She sighed, before taking a bowl of hot water from a girl.
Harker and Carol fussed over the bedridden Pharaoh well into the night, maids and servants coming to refill their lamps as they burned low.
"Oi, can you go and reheat this? Thanks." The tall Westerner sighed, fighting off a yawn as another nameless servant ran from the room.
Turning back to the bed, he paused when he saw Carol fast asleep on the edge, kneeling on the floor as she rested her head of gold on the white sheets. Harker took a moment to glance at the running water of the nearby Nile, the idea of an easy escape flashing through his mind, before a faint whimper escaped his fellow Westerner. He sighed quietly, before a bitter smile touched his face, letting walk forwards and gently scooped up the lightly clothed girl.
"Can you get her some blankets and a pillow?" Harker whispered, sending another girl on a quick run to their dorm.
He stood, waiting for a few minutes, before accepting the thick blankets and chubby pillow. Organising the material in the corner as a kind of nest, Harker lowered his female companion into it, draping a thinner sheet over her body.
"Hm...Harker?"
"It's fine Carol, I'll burn the midnight oil tonight. You get some rest." He breathed, waving her off as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"Okay...I'll do...tomorrow.."
The pale skinned boy smiled quietly as he watched Carol drop back into sleep, her body curling further onto the soft material.
Harker leant against the wall beside the Pharaoh's bed, all of the castle staff and occupants had retired for the night, and the same could be said about the rest of ancient Egypt. Blue eyes watching as lamps were put out, one after another along the inky black horizon.
"You better get well soon, little Pharaoh. There's a lot of things you've still got left to do on this Earth." He muttered, taking the damp towel from the steaming bowl and patting down tanned skin.
()()()
"Why is it taking him so long to recover? It's been more than a day." Carol fussed, gently forcing the sleeping Pharaoh to instinctively swallowed another mouthful of water.
"Give it time, Carol. He's on the mend, just a bit longer. A day, tops." Harker sighed, resisting the urge to rub his eyes.
The tallest of the two Westerners hadn't slept since the Egyptian king had gone under, keeping himself awake by constantly busying himself, not trusting the tanned teen to remain stable should attention be shifted from his health.
The two white-skinned teens bustled around the room, the General Minue and his fellow aristocrats watching from the doorway, Harker making the strict rule that only those who could be of use could enter the room. The Australian boy rung out another damp cloth before draping it over the young king's forehead, reaching around Carol to feel for a pulse, nodding when he found it steady. Stepping back, Harker looked to the noisy market streets a ways away from the castle, gossip about the king's health being traded like drugs under the guard's watch.
"Ah...Harker?"
"Hm?" He responded, turning away to look at Carol, blinking when he saw her uncomfortable fidgeting.
"What's up?"
"Menfuisu, he-ah- he...he wet himself."
Harker stared blankly at Carol for another moment, slowly turning her statement over in his head, before a loud slap echoed through the room as his palm met his face.
"He wet himself. Like, as in, 'wet the bed', wet."
"Uh huh."
"What's going on? What are you two talking about?" Minue asked, stepping forwards, before shifting his foot back when Harker looked at it pointedly when it crossed the line he had drawn in kohl.
"We're going to have to give the Pharaoh a bath. Right now." The tallest Westerner sighed, placing his hands on his hips as he glanced over his shoulder at the damp cloth sticking to the king's thighs.
"Why? Does it have something to do with the venom?!"
"Well...Yes, and no." Carol tried, coming up next to Harker.
"What do you m-"
"Your Pharaoh just wet himself!" She squeaked, stepping back as the men surged forwards.
"Behind the line!" Harker roared, freezing the aristocrats in their place.
"Now, you blokes watch yourself. Carol here was just answering your question. It is completely normal for unconscious people to have little control over their bladder. Their muscles aren't responding to anything right now, so they just leak." He lectured, crossing his arms and he set his lips in a firm line.
"Now, what we're going to do is give him a hot bath, wash him off and get him back into bed. Simple as that."
The men at the door mumbled to themselves, parting to let a trio of maids scuttle into the room and stand ready for their next order.
Grimacing, Harker bent before picking up the soiled king, cringing as dampness touched his skin.
"Quickly. Quickly." He urged, forcing the girls to run faster, preparing the bath at a rapid speed.
"Carol, cover your eye please." Harker called, English making the golden girl respond faster than any Arabic order.
With her blue eyes hidden from the outside world, Harker gave a loud sigh before removing the teen's kilt, lowering him immediately into the misty water.
"Clean him." He breathed, stepping from the Pharaoh as the girls came, cloth and soaps in hand.
"The General says that you're the only ones who can touch him." One mumbled, bowing quickly.
The trio flinched when Harker spun around, sharp blue eyes cutting into the military man behind them.
"Really, General? Really?" He asked, his face scrunched up in defeated disbelief.
"I only trust you and Carol with his Majesty's health right now."
"Ffffffffuck!"
Carol let out a quiet giggle.
"Don't you be cackling over there, you'll do this next time!"
Harker grumbled to himself as he snatched the rag and soap from the girls, the three of them scrambling away as they saw his blue eyes flash with every English curse. Dropping to his knees beside the submerged king, the Australian teen began to lather the cloth with the aromatic soaps, transferring the cleansers to tanned skin. Shaking his head, Harker sucked up his pride and began to clean his ward properly, getting layers of poisoned sweat off the royal's skin. He hesitated for less than a second, before he began to properly clean the site of the mess, swearing to never let Priti find out about this.
"There, done. Get a towel." Harker called, throwing aside his damp rag.
The young Australian scowled as he fell back on his heels, letting his forearms hang off his knees and his hands drip into the bath waters. As the girls came back into the room, armed with towels and clothes, Harker scooped up the teen king, allowing for him to be rubbed of the water and wrapped in cloth again.
Carol smiled as she came up next to her fellow Westerner, his grumbling and cursing amusing her more and more.
"Hush, girly. Or do you want to hold the Pharaoh?"
Her jaw clicked shut, and he gave a gruff breath of victory.
()()()
"His fever has gone down." Harker sighed, leaning against the wall as he tried to hide the shaking of his legs.
"Yes, and colour is returning to his face!" Carol cooed, gently swiping away the new sheet of sweat from tanned skin.
"How is he? How is the Pharaoh Menfuisu?" General Minue asked, returning from a meeting he much rather of not gone to.
"One more night. He should be conscious by the morning, perhaps early afternoon." The Western boy responded, turning to the excitedly chattering crowd by the door.
The smile the black haired official gave him was nothing short of absolute gratitude.
()()()
"One more night. Just one more night, Hark. C'mon, you can do it." Harker sighed, slapping his cheeks with damp hands as the last lamp went out on the horizon.
Carol was curled up in the corner on her nest, the officials and servants had retired for the night after providing the last bowl of water and fresh towels, leaving the tallest man in the castle to tend to the resting king.
A groan made him jump and spin around, dashing back to the bedside when a dry cough burst forth from the young Pharaoh's lips.
"I look away for one second and- Jesus!"
Harker quickly filled a bedazzled cup with cool water and slipped his arm beneath the tanned teen, shifting him tell he rested against Harker's chest, his body sitting up against the pale flesh behind him. Carefully, the Westerner began to fill Menfuisu mouth with the liquid, pausing to let him swallow.
"You're not allowed to die, Pharaoh Menfuisu. There is still much for you to do here in the land of the living."
()()()
The Pharaoh winced as he sat up, holding his head as a wave of nausea hit him.
"Ah, my head hurts." He groaned, opening his eyes as a servant rushed to his side.
"You're awake? You're alive! This is great!" She gasped, her voice grating against his ears.
"How did I survive? Cobra bites are fatal, it should be impossible!"
"It's all because of Harker and Carol! They nursed you day and night, they haven't slept in three days!"
Menfuisu gaped at the woman, turning his attention to the head of gold that lay slumped at the foot of his bed, steady breaths leaving her slim body.
Then...While I was still in pain, the people who appeared before me for almost the entire time. They were Carol and Harker's pure white faces!
A scowl stretched across his handsome face as his ears filled with phantom voices, irritation bubbling beneath his skin.
"Quick! Eat something!"
"You're not allowed to die!"
"Stay strong!"
"You still have so much to do!"
How annoying, how dare they speak such nonsense?!
"Huh..." Carol drawled, sitting up as his shifting finally woke her.
A wave of emotion hit him, the tender graces making him pause his violent advance, instead, creating it into one of a much different intent.
"Huh? Menfuisu, what are you-!?"
"Oh? Has the Pharaoh finally awoken, then?"
Menfuisu looked up from Carol's fearful face to see Harker walking in, a faint slouch in his posture catching his attention, as well as the faint darkness beneath his eyes. There was a soft smile on his face that disarmed the teen king for a moment, his heart pausing for less than a moment as the taller male placed down a fruit platter next to his bed, handing off a bowl of cooled water to a servant.
"So, you feeling better there, Little Pharaoh?"
"..." The tanned teen opened his mouth mutely at the elder boy, trying to form words, only to be saved as a slam rung through the room.
"Menfuisu!"
"Ah, sister!" The Pharaoh breathed, turning his attention to the rapidly approaching relative.
"My prayers to the Gods worked," She gasped, collecting her younger brother in her arms. "If you had died, I wouldn't have been able to live either!"
Her prayers?
The teenaged king let out a laugh, placing a hand on the priestess' shoulder to draw her attention to this expression.
"No sister, Harker and Carol are the ones who saved me!"
Ashisu stilled as she watched her brother lay himself out on his plush bed, a whimsical look painting his tanned face.
He's...No, no, no!
()()()
Menfuisu hummed to himself as he let small flecks of memory dance behind his eyelids, the pale faces of his two caretakers flashing against the black.
"I look away for two seconds and- Jesus!"
A firm warmth was pressed against his feverish form, the burning sensation reaching an almost pleasing point as cool contrast was slipping into his mouth, fingers prying his mouth open.
They stayed like that for a while longer, a solid warmth supporting his frail form, periodically feeding him water and small portions of food.
It was Harker's chest he was leaning against, no doubt. He remembered it well from the banquet.
"More water, thank you."
A small, gentle hand was placed on his forehead, the soft texture measuring his temperature before wiping away the sweaty build up. Cool flesh leaving trails over his own skin.
Carol's hand, just like when he first grasped her.
A firm warmth. A gentle cool.
The smiling Pharaoh felt a lightness in his chest, unaware of the poisonous expression that marred his sister's face.
()()()
"Why did we save that despicable Pharaoh, Hark?" The Westerner girl asked, gathering up a large bouquet of water flowers.
"He's terrible, that Menfuisu! Oh, I don't care anymore!" She shouted, stamping her foot on the heated stone flooring.
"Carol," Harker breathed from his seat on the steps, the said girl turning around in the patch of lilies. "I'm really tired. Maybe we should get back to the room?"
His blond companion jolted at the mention, speedily stepping up in front of the older boy and grasping his face. Blue eyes scanned his complexion, Harker's own blue clouded with weariness.
"You didn't sleep once, did you? Oh, Harker, you should have told me to stay awake instead of putting yourself through that!"
"You're already emotionally drained as it is, no need for you to be physically drained." He responded, grasping her wrist weakly.
"But-"
"You! Slaves!"
The two Westerners jolted as Carol's arm was grasped by an Egyptian man, another coming to grab Harker and haul them both to their feet.
"I will buy you! Come, quickly!" The man shouted, drawing them away from the grounds.
Harker gritted his teeth, strength sapped easily as he fought to keep himself awake.
"Let us go! Who are you?" Carol gasped, trying to dig her heels into the sand.
"Quiet! Come obediently!"
"Oi, drop her!" Harker tried, weakly trying to pry his arms out of beefy hands as he was forced to walk after his flailing companion.
"Shit! It's just one thing after another, isn't it!?"
()()()
The white skinned boy snapped his teeth at the hands that wandered close to him, his arms and legs tied up after he was tossed in the corner of the room. Harker gave a look of disgust as the smell of decomposition, oils and smoke reached him, a look around the room assuring him that he was in a morgue.
Shit.
"Someone told me to make you a mummy! My family specialises in this! I'll be getting a lot of money out of this. Get on the table, quick!" The man holding Carol laughed, all too giddy about the situation.
"No!" She shrieked, throwing herself against the wall.
"Harker, help!"
"I would, but I'm in a bit of a bind, myself!" The frustrated teen responded, trying to loosen the ropes.
"God damn it- Carol, if he's not holding you, get out of here!"
At the shout, the blond haired girl turned and tried to flee, only to have all of the people in the room descend on her, hands grasping pale skin and splaying her out on the stone table.
"Stop! Let me go! Harker!"
"Golden hair, hey? Such a pretty colour, shame I have to kill you." The undertaker hummed, grasping Carol's locks.
"No choice, though. If I don't follow orders, she'll kill me as well."
The shouts of the two Westerners came to a harmony as they both wrestled their bonds, spent bodies working fruitlessly.
"We're not going to-" Harker growled, wrists rubbed raw.
The boy fell silent as a flash shot through the door, a blade burrowing into the undertaker's back, hitting his heart.
Carol gasped as the man slipped off her, his co-workers crowding his fallen body. Her blue eyes gleamed with tears as she vaulted off the table and knelt at Harker's side, wrestling the ropes off his wrists and feet. Giving a cry, the girl threw herself at the older boy, her heart racing as her body shook.
"Menfuisu." Harker breathed, wrapping an arm around Carol protectively as the teen Pharaoh slumped against the doorway.
"Harker...Carol..."
"H-he's still weak." The Western girl hiccupped, looking up at the wobbly king.
The teenaged royal dropped to his knees in front of the floored pair, a look of absolute relief on his face as he let his hands glide along their skin.
"It's a good thing I made it in time." He said, a tired smile coming to his face as he cupped the girl's face.
"I've decided," The two Westerners blinked at the strength in his voice, conviction working to overpower physical drain. "I no longer want to marry my sister."
'I don't blame you.' The white boy though, looking to the dead body, an inkling telling him who set this up.
"I want you to be my wives, Ancient Egypt's Wives." He claimed as embraced the two Westerners.
"Ah, no. Firstly, you're roughly 3000 years Carol's senior, 3050 for me." Harker denied, face deadpanned. "And secondly, I ain't a wife, I'm a guy!"
"Harker's right! I don't want to marry you, either!" Carol exclaimed, pushing the man off them and dragging her companion to his unsteady feet.
"...I don't understand." Menfuisu breathed, looking between the pale pair.
"I don't love you!"
Harker jolted as Carol was pressed against the wall, a furious Pharaoh binding her hands.
"Why!?"
"Pharaoh, stop!" He tried, stumbling as a wave of dizziness hit him.
"Harker!" The golden girl exclaimed, moving to him, only to have her hands bound again.
The free hand of the Pharaoh shot out, grasping the weakened Westerner male by the golden collar and dragging him closer to the royal.
"Why do you reject me?!"
"You're acting spoilt, that's why!" Harker shot back, nerves frayed and head pounding.
A shout left Carol as General Minue wrestled the teen to the ground, Menfuisu doing the same to her. The nobleman winced when he noticed how easily the man in his grasp went down, wondering just how far he was pushing himself to stay awake.
His attention was pulled away, however, as the teen king began to sway, heavy breaths leaving him.
"Your Majesty! You're still unwell from the bite!"
He turned to the door and called for the soldiers standing by to collect the king's ailed body, only relaxing when he was placed on a stretcher.
Looking over his shoulder, the General watched as Carol scrambled to the golden boy's side, gently rubbing reddened wrists. The Westerner's own hand came to rub away a tear trail, both of them speaking to each other in an otherworldly dialect.
Whether they want it or not, these two were going to be the Pharaoh's Pale Pair.
AN: Hi, I've had people asking for the rest of this story, so I might become a bit more proactive with this, but I will be focusing more on TBD, than anything else. If you want more, be sure to ask. Relentless Pestering = Motivation, according to most parents.
LeNoRi, over and out!
