Chapter 4: Only in a Dream

Morning approached bringing on the usual heat, the usual day of work with the usual cloudless sky. Benjamin stood still watching Tia as she tossed and turned under her so called bed which was only straw. The sun hit her cheek so perfectly that Benjamin couldn't help but look at. She was so beautiful in so many ways that Benjamin could never describe. She stirred again, but this time, her eyes opened. Benjamin quickly ran away back so she wouldn't know that he was stalking her all night.

Tia sat up; stretched and yawned which was a usual routine for her. Her eyes were still closing and opening. When she opened her eyes fully, she watched out the window at the yellow sun that always shone on this town in Egypt. The other women of the hut were going on chattering away about the day ahead of them. Each one was not looking forward to it the same work every day was no longer appealing as it was. But it was a job, and made some money to barely make ends meet.

"Tia, are you just going to sit there all day? There's work to be done!" Jezebel said with annoyance.

"I'm up, I'm up. Jeez, don't be hasty." Tia replied groggily still in her dream mood.

"Well, we can't be late, you know how the mister is, never be late or deduction of pay. We need all the money we can get."

"I know, I know." Tia got all the way up, straightening her only outfit out from the wrinkles of sleeping. She looked out the window again.

"And why do you keep looking out that window?" Jezebel complained once more.

"I don't know. Something tells me that someone was here last night, watching."

"Please, watching! You definitely have a mind of your own. No one was here, except that guy you were talking to last night. Who was he?"

"If I told you, you would never believe me." Tia turned and stared at her roomy.

"Try me." Jezebel challenged looking Tia directly in the eye.

"Remember that beautiful young man at the restaurant yesterday?"

Jezebel nodded waiting for Tia to go on.

"He was talking to me. That was the man who came here last night."

"Get out of here! Seriously?"

"Yes." Tia said.

"Well, what's his name? What is he like? Come now answer all of our questions." The other two girls crowded around to here the information themselves.

Tia took a deep breath, bracing herself for many answers. "His name is Benjamin."

"Benjamin?" The girls interrupted. They had to get used to the name.

"Um-hm. He is a nomad, has no permanent home. He just asked about me, that's it. Oh, and he gets his eye color from his mother."

"That's it?" Jezebel questioned.

"Yes, I say all that happened."

"We've gotta find out more about him today. Do you know if he's going to be at work today?"

"I don't know, I think he will be."

"Well, I say let's not waste time, let's go, ladies." They all left out of the hut and Tia stayed behind for a moment more. She once again looked out the window and around their hut at the living condition they were in. It was going to get better, or they're going to go their separate ways. She once again straightens herself up and walked out the door.

OoooO

"Where have you been all night?" Amun asked with Kebi at his side as they sat on their floor.

"Out." Benjamin responded.

"Well that's obvious. I meant where. You were watching her, weren't you?"

"Yes. Not only that, but I talked to her. Her name is Tia."

"Tia?" Amun stood up to face Benjamin properly in his golden eyes that were now growing darker. Kebi stayed on the floor watching the two men. "You got her name?"

"Yes, it's good to know your love's name, is it not?"

"I will warn you again, you're making a big mistake Benjamin. Kebi here," he pointed. "Was a different case, you're making a mistake, Benjamin. A big one. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Amun. You and I see differently through our eyes. We think differently as well. What I think is right, you think it is wrong. I promise you that Tia is no mistake. I've never felt this way about anyone before. Do you remember when you fell in love with Kebi?"

"I do. But you, you have a power like no other. As I said before, you can marry another vampire and be the most powerful or our kind. What will you do with a mortal? Kebi and I are different; we don't have any special quality. You can join any clan in the whole world. That's what you must aim for. Not a mortal."

"Has it ever occurred to you that I do not want to join any clan? Egypt is the only place I know. I would love to marry an Egyptian, Tia is perfect. We can be together in our home land. She loves Egypt too, and so do I."

"And how are you going to make her fall for you as well? Magic which you don't have?"

"Ok I haven't gotten that far yet, but Amun, I'm working on it." Benjamin said in desperation. "I promise you that she will become one of us, she will."

"So be it, Benjamin. So be it." Amun said. There was silence for a moment, but then asked another question changing the topic. "What are you going to do today?"

"Do you really have to ask? I'm going back to see her once again."

"My friend, I wish you luck with your little scheme you're bringing up. We'll hunt in the next few days. Me and Kebi will find people today in areas unknown to these people. Do at your will, I do not care what you do and I will not get into your affairs. I will not stop you. Consider yourself warned. Kebi, come." Kebi immediately came to her husband's side. The both of them ran, and kept on running. Benjamin left shortly after walking in the blazing sun down to where Tia awaited.

OooO

"Well?" Miriam pressed as she was wiping the tables and talking to Tia at the same time. It was more of a grunt than a word, but Tia understood it. Her hard eyes studied Tia with anger.

"Well, what?" Tia questioned as she faced the other woman.

"Where is he?"

"What am I, his keeper, Miriam? I don't know his schedule and what he does all the time. Besides, as I said, I'm not sure if he's even coming. There are no guarantees."

"He better come." Miriam said bitterly then walking off to tend to the people.

Tia went, continuing with her own thing when the door opened and appearing was Benjamin. He looked around, eyeing Tia. Tia looked up and saw him. She smiled, and walked towards him. "Hi."

"Hello. Missed you since last night." Benjamin said.

"Hmm, I don't know what to say to that, can't say that I missed you. You are not offended?"

"Of course not." Benjamin smiled taking a seat.

Meanwhile, the other women saw this and went forth pushing Tia out of the picture completely.

"Hi, I'm Jezebel, Benjamin. It's a pleasure to meet you. We've all heard so much about you. So, which one of us do you want to get to know?"

Benjamin's smile faded as he looked at the four women. Each one introducing themselves wanting to get to know him better. Tia noticed as she stood in the back being silent knowing that she couldn't fight them to get back through to the front.

"Ladies, ladies, please. I would love to meet every one of you, but I do not have the time, plus I wouldn't want you to get fired on my account." His words were steady and silenced the women right away and they admired him.

"Oh, no, not at all, our master will be fine, I promise you." Jezebel replied with a sly smile.

"HEY!" a man shouted. "Get back to work!!!"

Tia and the others scrambled back to their positions wishing Benjamin farewell, but never putting their eyes off of him.

All day the women came to him back and forth as service and telling him about themselves. First were Jezebel, Miriam, and the other two women. They were even happier when Benjamin talked back, but he didn't talk to them like he did to Tia.

He noticed that Tia didn't come near him all day. Probably because of the fear that the others will interfere with them. Or because that she was shy, unlike the others. Benjamin couldn't blame her. He would have done the same thing if he was in her shoes. He noticed some things about Tia than of the others. She wasn't pushy, and didn't show herself off. She was silent as was only spoken when spoken too. She was also slightly poorer than the others. Her dress was more ripped, than the others and dirtier. Sure the others were too, but there was a cleaner tint to them. Benjamin found that intriguing another thing he loved about her.

"Tia?" Benjamin called. Quickly, she came to his side. "Anything I can get you?"

"No, thanks. I was wondering if you would join me tonight for a walk. Would that be ok with you?"

"You still want to talk to me?" Tia said with some shock. "What would you want to talk to me about? Wouldn't you rather talk to the others but me? Compared to them, I'm nothing."

"Tia, if I wanted to talk to the other women, I would have said that I would talk to them, but I don't. I'm more interested in what you have to say. You are different than the others and I like that about you. You're just like me. I'm different from my…people."

Tia smiled and thought about the offer once more. "Hmm, I suppose I can sneak out tonight that is if you would like to still walk and talk."

"It would be my honor, madam." Benjamin replied. "Same time as last night sound find to you?"

"That would be perfect." Tia replied. "Then I will see you tonight?"

"Yes, you will."

OoooO

"Boy that was some day, don't you think?" Jezebel asked the other ladies inside their huts later on that night. "We've had a good day. Met the most handsome man in all of Egypt, had separate conversations with him, now we've got to think of a way to have him take us out of Egypt."

"I agree I can't stand working like this." Miriam complained.

"Don't you worry, we will conquer, I promise." Jezebel said. She turned to see Tia staring out the window near her sleeping area. She was completely out of the conversation and into a land of her own. "Tia, do you have anything to add."

Tia shook it off. "Huh, no, no not at all, whatever you say Jezebel."

"You have no clue what I just said, do you?"

"No," Tia admitted. "No, I don't."

"Well, that's ok, I mean after all, it's not like he's interested in you or anything. I mean look at you! You're poorer than any one of us!" She shot some laughter along with the other women. Tia ignored it, stood up, and left to go outside. "There she goes, running away from her fears." The others continued to laugh.

When Tia was outside, she calmed herself in the cool air that was still hot but was cooler than the day. She took a deep breath, like she always did and looked up at the starry sky. "Why me?" she asked whatever gods were up there. "Why me? What purpose do I have on this earth?" She was so frustrated with the other women ridiculing her about every little thing or going into her business. She hated it. Tia started to pace back and forth still asking what her purpose was in this world and why she must live this way. She continued this until Benjamin came. Assuming that she was talking to herself, he just ignored it for a minute. Seeing that it wasn't going to stop, he called her.

"Tia?"

She jumped. "Oh, hi… Benjamin." She showed off a little smile.

"Do I dare ask what you were doing just now?"

"No, not at all. Believe me; you do not want to know. Are you ready for that walk?"

"Yes." They started. Benjamin noticed the tension in Tia as she was looking down at the ground and not saying anything. "What is bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Come now, you can tell me anything. I'm all ears." Benjamin said.

"It's nothing for you to worry about, just something between me and the other women."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

"I'm positive." Tia confirmed. "What's on your mind, since you wanted to do this walk with me?"

"I just needed to see you again, without the others." He quickly added. "You look beautiful under the moonlight. But you're beautiful in general."

"Thank you. Well, you're seeing me. What do you think?"

"If I told you what I think, I'd be talking all night."

"I really don't mind, you know. It's not like I ever get a decent night sleep anyway."

"I've noticed." His young face looked at Tia not taking his eye off her. She was so beautiful and deserved to be admired by someone. Still seeing that she was bothered, he went on to some advice. "A word of advice: don't worry about the others; they'll get what they deserve sooner or later. You will triumph over them, I can feel it. "

Tia looked up at him with her face lit up, the first all night. "You really think so?"

"Tia, I know so. Something good will happy, you will see. " They continued to walk under the stars and the half full moon.