Authors Note: I wanted to thank all of you for your support and kind words. I greatly appreciate your input as it helps me to make my story better. Please continue to review. I must warn you, this chapter might make you sad. I know I was sad when I wrote it. Expect a new chapter for Fallen soon As always, enjoy!
Isis had known she had done wrong. Fear and sickness over her action began to make her heart race and thoughts run wild. What will happen to me if my mother finds out? Her mother would have so much disappointment in her that she couldn't even bear it. To have High Priestess Iaia know that her daughter, the next in line to receive the Millennium necklace had committed such an act. It would destroy her. Painting that rune on Mana's back while she slept was only meant to give her nightmares. Scare her a bit. Not create a thought-form. Thought-forms are often wild, unpredictable, violent creatures.
But what had gone wrong? She had to find out and she fully intended to.
But first she had to deal with Mana…
…
Mana opened her eyes, her mind foggy. Slowly images started to pop up in her head, the red light, the creature, her own child-like face looking back at her… Her eyes widened and she bolted so fast up in her bed that she felt dizzy. She put her hands to her cheeks feeling the heat in them as they reddened from blushing.
Atem…Atem rescued me. He had followed her, touched her shoulders, whispered in her ear, and…. And held me as I cried.
Atem certainly was a strange prince, diving in and rescuing a random civilian from the dangers of their own thoughts. But then again how many princes did she know besides Atem? None. And her previous image of the Royal family did not involve chivalry, darling rescues, and holding the frightened. But here she was, remembering what yet another amazing thing Atem had done for her. She thought of her past few months here in the palace and how kind Atem and Mahado had been. Most of the Priests treated her kindly, but she made it a point to avoid the two that caused her pain when they brought her here.
A draft came through her window and shook her out of her thoughts. She noticed it was dark and she wrapped her arms around herself and burrowed back under the blankets. She shivered and felt something strange on her back. A warmth that was hot while than the rest of her body was freezing. She reached behind her and felt a welt, not unlike the ones she would get from her lashings. She felt around and traced it with her finger and realized it was a symbol. She got up, jumped out of bed, and ran to the floor length mirror across her room. Turning around and pulling her shirt down she looked for the odd welt and there it was, an ugly mark in a shape she didn't recognize.
"How in the world?" She said out loud to herself.
"Maybe I could tell you," A meager voice cried out. Mana spun around, covering herself to face the intruder.
"Isis?"
…
"You're sure that Isis did this?" Mahado was pacing while Atem sat on an overturned vase. He tried to sit comfortably with one foot hanging down and the other tucked under him. He was sure he had an exhausted look on his face as he leaned it on his propped fist with his hands wrapped in the damp cloths that Isis had abandoned. His hands were still stinging with the amount of magick he had just poured out of them.
"I'm sure," he said forcing strength into his words. "It was Isis' signature on her magick,"
"This is unbelievable," Mahado sighed and let himself collapse on a bench nearby.
The two boys had never left the room, discussing what plan of action they needed to take. Isis had used her magick willingly to cause pain and menace. Her decision to act on a civilian and cause harm had literally damaged her. Isis, Mahado, Atem and the others had been training since they were little children to let no evil seep into their hearts. To let good judgment and kind actions determine the fate of others. When the time comes to let them bear the burden of the Items, they must have pure hearts.
Otherwise the Items would destroy them from the inside out.
What Isis had done had sent her back through her entire training process. It was as if all of her training and preparation had had no purpose at all or had never happened.
But they didn't know for sure.
To do that they would need the Millennium Items, but that was out of the question.
"Isis hasn't given us very many options to work with," Mahado said leaning his head back on the wall.
"No, she hasn't," Atem sighed, rose, and began to pace just as Mahado had.
"What should we do?"
Atem had been asking himself that question ever since Mana had been safely tucked away. When he originally saw the signature he hadn't believed it. It had to be a mistake, a forgery somehow, but he knew that was impossible. Isis, his friend, had willingly caused harm to another. Why would she do something like this? And to Mana! A civilian girl that has no threat to her…Atem tried to sort through his thoughts. He had to stop thinking like a friend from the outside and try to think where Isis' thoughts had come from.
"If I were Isis what would I think?"
"Hmm?" Mahado murmured not following.
"If I were Isis what would I be thinking?" Atem repeated.
"I—
The boys were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Enter," Atem yelled.
The door opened with two guards entering, one at the door and the other protecting Iaia. Iaia had been awoken abruptly and it did not fare well with the expression on her face. She looked outraged, but behind her eyes was a look of hope. The hope was that of a mother thinking of her daughter's actions.
"Out," Atem ordered to the guards. They left and closed the door and posted themselves outside the doorway to keep others from interrupting.
"Is it true?" Iaia said with the hope that it was a nightmare instead.
Of course, Iaia is the bearer of the Millennium necklace. She must have seen the vision in her sleep and thought it was a nightmare.
Atem nodded thinking it was best to have Iaia know.
"Oh—
Iaia nearly collapsed from the news. She gripped her chest as if from a strike, and her eyes grew wide and lost. Atem and Mahado reached for her hands and eased her into a sitting position on a bench. Iaia's breathing became shallow as he heart began to race out of control.
"What—How?"
Neither Atem nor Mahado answered.
They didn't know what to say.
…
"Isis," Mana said more firmly as Isis moved from the shadows and revealed herself in the moonlight from the window.
"Yes,"
"What are you doing here?"
"I—
Isis didn't finish. She burst out in tears and ran for Mana. Before Mana knew what was going on Isis was buried in Mana's shoulder with tears freely falling.
"There, there," Mana comforted as she patted her back, Mana couldn't help it. No matter how ugly Isis had been to her she couldn't turn her away when she was in pain. Mana took Isis gently by the shoulder and sat her down on her bed. The two girls faced each other and Mana looked at her consolingly.
"Breathe, just breathe. I can't help you if I don't understand the problem,"
"You can't help me anyway," Isis said in between breaths.
Mana didn't answer deciding it was better if she just let Isis talk.
"No one can help me. After all I do not deserve it."
"Why not?" Mana reached to touch her shoulder to comfort her.
"Pah," Isis shooed her with her hand like one would swat a fly. "You do not understand."
Mana sat silently as Isis began to cry uncontrollably, saying things that Mana couldn't understand.
How can I help her calm down?
…
Atem knew his body was starting to shut down from the lack of sleep and the complete drain of his energy earlier. His vision was starting to blur as Iaia, Mahado, and he talked over the correct course of action. They all spoke in hushed tones knowing full well that guards were posted outside the door. To Atem's surprise Mahado seemed more aggravated towards Isis' innocence than he or Iaia did.
But Mahado didn't see what Iaia and I saw with our own eyes.
Nonetheless Atem was surprised at Mahado's level of compliance with the possibility of a mistake.
"Possession," Mahado said point blank. "If she were possessed it would explain everything,"
"Possession is impossible. Need I remind you of the wards and levels of magick surrounding this city?" Atem spoke irritably.
"Well there has to be something!" Mahado nearly shouted. He rubbed the crease between his eyes and scowled. "I apologize, I meant no disrespect,"
Atem waved his hand in a casual manner. He knew that all of their levels of patience were running thin with no resolution in sight.
"We are solving nothing by bickering with each other. I think the answer to this problem is best saved for morning. We meet here after exercise," He spoke to Mahado. His friend nodded in agreement and he turned to Iaia, calmly and kindly "Iaia I promise to come to you first if we decide on the best mode of action. Until then act like you never saw anything and that everything is normal between you and Isis. Can you do this?"
Iaia looked at him with sadness and Atem felt his heart drop. Iaia had been like a second mother to him, Isis like a sister. They were family and he had just ordered family.
"Yes, you're Highness. I will do my best,"
"Get some rest,"
And with that they dispersed.
…
Mahado couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about Isis and Mana and what had transpired between them. From the sidelines he what had form between Atem and the two girls. Isis and Mana would never come to agreement as long as they both felt for the same person. It wouldn't work. Atem would continue to remain oblivious to the fondness coming from Isis and Mana. Mahado knew that he only saw Isis as a sister and a dear friend and would continue to become the sport of her affection. Atem never seemed to notice how close and intimate Isis tried to get to him.
It is because that is how it has always been between them, laughter, small embraces, and friendly smiles.
Small actions only close friends would commit was all Atem would allow.
Mahado actually laughed silently to himself at the pouts she would make when Atem had turned her down and had his back turned.
She has such a cute pout…
But Mana…
Mana was a whole different playing field for Atem.
She had grabbed his attention from the beginning with the result of driving Isis mad. He had hand-carried Mana himself when she was weak. Atem never did that for any other person that he knew needed help. Sure, Atem would go to the annual food handouts and give to those who needed it. When it came time for the Pharaoh to insure the annual floods would continue to bring nutrients to the farm lands, Atem would be at the ceremony even when he didn't have to. But Atem seemed to take care of Mana personally and Mahado knew that was what drove Isis mad.
What an odd little love triangle.
Finally with exhaustion taking him he let himself fall into sleeps deep embrace with the thoughts of Isis penetrating his dreams.
…
Isis had been almost inconsolable until Mana eventually got her to calm down. Mana wasn't even sure how she did or even why Isis was so upset, but when Isis asked her if she could sleep in her room what was Mana to say besides yes? The bed was big enough to let the both of them sleep comfortably anyway. Mana hadn't slept much the whole night; she had woken up several times not knowing how long she had slept or how close the sun was to rising. So she walked around her room a while pacing and going over her magicians scrolls to pass the time and quiet the thoughts in her head with little success. The faces of her childhood self and her father on that creature's body imprinted in her mind. Atem had called it a thought-form, a creature created by one's will. Had she really brought it into creation? Was it the power that everyone was after that had caused the problem? If it was true, then Mana was dangerous and out of control with this power.
How did I get into this mess?
Mana sighed and heard a knock at her door. She contemplated not answering with Isis asleep in her bed. She didn't want her mysterious guest to disturb Isis, nor interrupt her thoughts over what had transpired earlier that evening. Another more forceful knock came from the other side of the door and she knew that she could not ignore the summons.
"Coming," she whispered.
When Mana opened the door she was expecting a handmaiden to alert her to some chore she had to complete the next day. She was surprised to see Mahado on the other side.
"Mahad?"
"Can we talk?"
"Of course," She looked back and saw Isis still sleeping with her chest rising and falling gently in slumber. She quickly moved out into the hallway and shut the door behind her. Mahado and Mana moved without a word into the dimly lit hallway. Mahado started walking and motioned for Mana to follow. The pair walked silently together, Mana swiftly trailing behind Mahado knowing her place.
"May I ask?"
"Hmm?"
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere private, what we have to tell you must not be overheard,"
A moving light erupted from the end of the hallway. Mahado pulled Mana aside and around another corner to hide from sight and they both waited for whoever it was to pass. Mana wondered as they waited in the secluded hallway and why Mahado didn't just walk around and ignore whomever it was they were about to run into but she didn't question him or his actions. As expected two guards walked by a few seconds later. They waited a moment and then shifted out into the hallway with Mana following obediently behind him. Mana started to let her mind wander again, with them silently stalking to an unknown destination. In the distance she heard a rooster crow.
So it is near sunrise and I have yet to sleep this night.
Mana shook her head.
Listen to yourself! Complaining like some noble girl that you know you will never become…
"Mana were here,"
Mana looked up and saw the room where she and Atem had banished the thought-form. She was surprised to see that it wasn't just her, but Atem and Iaia were there as well.
"My Lady," Mana bowed and Iaia acknowledged her with a nod. Mana noticed dark circles under her eyes. Perhaps she wasn't the only one that hadn't slept last night.
"Mana, the three of us brought you here to discuss something very serious," Iaia spoke first. Mana looked around and glanced at Atem hoping to receive some sort of clue to her summoning, but he was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and his head bowed with his eyes closed in deep thought.
"Is this about the creature I summoned?"
"You summoned?"
Mana was taken back, as if she had said something she wasn't meant to and she didn't know what to do. They brought her here to tell her what they were going to do with her. Am I going to be kicked out of the palace? Killed?
"A—Atem said that is was a thought-form, something brought into creation from my thoughts,"
"You need a rune to focus your thoughts into a creature Mana. I don't suppose you placed it perfectly on your back yourself?" Mahado said his tone course and harsh.
"No," Mana said thinking of the welt on her back.
"I saw what happened with my necklace Mana, you are innocent in this matter,"
"Then why—
"We brought you here because I believe you needed to know who did do this before we punished them," Mahado said, with no triumph in his voice, almost as if it pained him.
"Punish who?"
At this Atem finally spoke.
"Isis,"
At first Mana thought he wasn't serious, there was no way Isis would be this cruel, this vindictive, but then things started to add up. The welt on her back was in the shape of a rune that Mana hadn't recognized, but Isis had been training in the magicks for years, surely she knew what it could do. The way she had been acting in her room earlier in the night, almost guilty. You wouldn't understand Mana…Of course Mana wouldn't understand id Isis had tried to kill her.
What have I done to earn her wrath?
"But—
"The rune held Isis' signature on your back. There is no mistaking it." Atem's voice was grave and Mana heard the sadness in it. When he spoke it aloud Mana knew it was difficult for him to say. They had been friends for years, before Mana had come and intruded.
"There is no mistake," A new voice erupted in the room. Mana turned and saw Isis standing in the doorway. Her hair was messy and her clothes wrinkled. Her face was red and puffy, dried tears streaked down her face. "It's true; I put the mark on Mana…"
"Isis!" Mahado and Iaia yelled at once. Iaia got up at once and moved over to her daughter, she knelled and rested her hands on her shoulders. Atem kept quiet his face stone silent and impassable. Isis was quivering in her mother's arms, a whole new level of fresh tears flowing down her face.
"I… I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted to scare her a little bit…"
"I think you did more than scare her. That thought-form was going to kill her." Atem said moving forward towards Isis and her mother. "You know what that rune could've done,"
"It was only a dreaming rune,"
Atem grabbed Isis and brought her over to Mana.
"Turn around," he ordered to Mana.
Mana obeyed and felt him lower the top of her shirt.
"Look at this! You know what this rune is!"
"But… But that isn't the rune I used!"
"Isis, you've been caught. Give up this ugly rampage!"
Mana could hear Iaia whimpering for her daughter who was helpless to Atem's anger.
"But it's true!"
"Wait!" Mana cried and turned around to face the both of them. "If Isis says she didn't do it then I believe her,"
"Mana, you haven't studied magick long enough to know— Mahado started.
"Is it possible it changed? Or someone else did it?"
"Mana, Isis has already admitted to marking you,"
"I only wanted to give her bad dreams…"
"The bad dreams… it's just a prank we play on each other. The dreams are usually comical. Isis taught me how to do minor playful runes." Mana lied through her teeth. She wasn't sure why she was doing it. Isis had been nothing but ugly to her from the day she arrived in the palace. But the look of fear and hopelessness on Isis' face reminded Mana of her time with her master. The endless whippings and beatings she would receive, most of the time not knowing why had come close to breaking her. Mana couldn't bear Isis to feel that same fear.
"That's right, just a joke between friends," Isis said catching on.
"But my vision,"
"My Lady if I may ask. Did you see Isis marking me with this specific rune?"
"I—No I don't believe I did," Iaia was relieved and let out a whoosh of air in relief. Mahado looked at Isis like he was seeing her for the first time. Atem however had a face that was unreadable.
"I think it is time for all of us to disperse. This… prank has been resolved. I suggest that all of you get started on your day," Atem said at last.
"Isis, Mana I suggest you no longer play pranks on each other. You might spur a war,"
Isis looked at Mana with new kindness that Mana had never seen aimed at her before and left the room with Iaia wrapped around her like a protective blanket.
"I believe I should start my work for the day," Mahado said and left the room leaving Mana and Atem alone. There was a silence between them that Mana had never before known. Neither of them said anything, until Mana decided to work up the courage.
"I should start on my chores before my classes," She moved to leave but Atem spoke pausing her in her tracks.
"I know what you said was false,"
"I know," Mana said not turning around.
"Why did you do that?"
"Why did you persecute and judge her instantly?"
Atem threw his hands into the air out of exasperation and moved in front of Mana.
"Mahado is right Mana, you don't know enough of the magicks to—
"Please Atem," Mana said lowering her voice. She felt like her voice was going to crack. She couldn't explain to Atem why she had lied for Isis, because she couldn't explain it herself. Telling it to Atem wouldn't make it any easier. "I know that Isis didn't mean to hurt me. I believe her when she said she only meant to scare me,"
"The result is all that matters. Her actions resulted in her creating a dangerous creature that could have killed innocent people. My people!"
"I believe her when she says that wasn't the rune she drew on me. Why don't you believe her? She and I aren't even friends and I stood up for her," Mana turned on her heels and left the room in a huff leaving Atem alone completely silent.
…
Atem was completed taken by surprise. He wasn't sure how to react. Mana had claimed him to be disloyal to a friend and to have forsaken her. But she was wrong! She had to be. There was no way that he could be seen that way by her. How dare she! She doesn't even know him or Isis very well, how can she see the situation and judge him like she had? Atem left the room and made his way to the exercise room where no he had no doubt Mahad was waiting for him. He made his way in that direction not expecting to be stopped.
"My Lord?" A handmaiden whom Atem recognized as his mother's called out to him.
"Yes?"
"My Lady and King require your presence," Atem's heart picked up a couple beats. Did they know about Isis and what happened between them and Mana? No, that was impossible. He had made sure that they hadn't been followed, but then again Isis had followed Mahado and Mana without a problem.
"I will come,"
He didn't bother asking where they were, he already knew they resided in the throne room. It was where they always met when they had to discuss something serious with him. The handmaiden had already disappeared and Atem took a deep breath.
When he entered into the main room his father was sitting on his throne with his mother standing beside him.
"Bhe Steala, my son," Welcome. "Come and join us," His mother beckoned her arms wide and inviting. Atem hugged his mother and bowed to his father, his hand over his heart and his left foot forward. The traditional sign of respect, by offering the side where the human heart lay the Pharaoh knew that he had your loyalty.
"Come sit my son," The Pharaoh offered Atem the steps before the throne offering a relaxed environment. Atem obeyed his father and sat on the steps looking up at his father.
"We must discuss something very serious Atem,"
"My Lord?"
"You are fourteen years of age. It is time we discuss you taking a wife,"
"A wife?"
Aknamkanon rose from his throne and placed his hands behind his back.
"I cannot stop the aging process my son. It is our duty to secure a blood line and keep the people safe with our rule. You have yet to select a woman to be your wife and it is time you did. It is time to grow up and toss away childish things."
"Childish things? What actions have a done that can be considered childish?" Atem rose and faced his father.
"You are not to argue with me!" Atem swallowed his anger and looked to the ground trying to rein in the rising boiling point inside of him. His father had called him childish. Yet he had done everything and beyond what was required of him as prince of Egypt. How could his father accuse him of such a thing? The lack of sleep, the fight with the thought-form, and Isis' actions had weighed heavy on him. All of these things chiseled away at his patience and his father was only adding to the aggravation.
"My Lord," Queen Tai intervened between her husband and her son. Aknamkanon settled down and turned away from Atem. Tai saw how alike the father and son were. Both would never stand down when they believed they were right. Both would fight for their people and both of them would be quick to anger if provoked by each other.
"Atem, we just want the best for you and for Egypt. It is imperative that you should have a son to carry on our line. Your line," Tai smiled and took her son by the hand. "We want you to be happy Atem," Atem wasn't sure how having an overbearing, power-starved woman controlling Egypt could provide him with any happiness, but he just nodded.
"You can have any woman you want. Have multiple wives if you choose, but you must select a future queen,"
"Yes My Lord,"
"You are dismissed,"
"May I ask how long I have to select a wife?"
The Pharaoh sighed at lowered his head in thought.
"Two years. You will be sixteen by then. You must have a wife selected by then,"
` "Yes my Lord," Atem said through gritted teeth.
"You are dismissed," Atem rose quickly and marched out of the room, when he was out of sight Tai spoke to her husband.
"Sixteen?"
"He needs a little more time to grow up and mature,"
"I see," Tai said remembering that at sixteen Aknamkanon had chosen her as his wife.
Aknamkanon knew that Atem needed time to grow, to have time and chose a wife carefully. The fate of Egypt was slowly slipping out of his hands and into Atem's. He was getting old, already grown past the age of the normal life span of a man. He had felt the time wither within him. He constantly felt the aches and pains of an old man and didn't know how much longer he would have before Anubis welcomed him in his arms. He saw the effects of time in his face and skin and how it wore on his wife. Tai worried for him and for the weight that bore on him. He was starting to lose the battle between him and the responsibilities he had to wear on his mind.
"My Lord what troubles you?" Tai asked.
"What doesn't trouble me?" He said joking while taking his wife's hand and giving a reassuring squeeze.
Tai didn't pursue into the issue, when her husband acted this way she knew there was no way to get an answer.
…
"They say I need a wife," Atem huffed as he struck a blow to Mahad. Mahad dodged the blow and moved to avoid another. Atem was angry and had decided to take it out on his morning exercise with Mahad. Today they were using Balli sticks and practicing martial arts from the far southern tribes. The loud sounds of blows being matched erupted each time Atem struck in anger.
"Are you sure they are wrong?" Mahado said dodging another blow.
"It doesn't matter,"
"Will you take one wife or take many?" Mahad didn't want to ask, but felt it was his place as Atem's friend to at least suggest the idea of marriage. After all it was his duty as prince of Egypt to continue the line.
"My grandfather took many wives and he ended up in an early grave,"
"So one then?"
"Can we just end this topic? I need to vent my anger,"
"As you wish,"
Their exercise continued and ended in silence, only being filled with the sound of battle.
…
"Mana can I speak with you?" Isis met with Mana after her lesson of basic elemental magick's. She cornered her when she was alone carrying her scrolls in her arms. Mana felt a slimmer of fear when she was alone with Isis, but she nodded all the same.
"Yes,"
"I wanted to thank-you, for what you did for earlier this morning,"
"I'm still deciding if what I did was right," Mana said truthfully. She and Isis had never been friends and she still hadn't come up with an answer as to why she had done what she did. She had argued with Atem and left him stunned alone with her answer for Isis.
"I understand,"
"Why did you want to scare me?"
"I—
"What have I done to anger you so to put such a rune on me?"
"Mana I was telling the truth when I said that I hadn't put that rune on you. The one I used really was just a dreaming rune,"
"Then how did it change?"
"I'm not sure, but I promise to make it up to you any way I can. We will figure it out together," Isis smiled. "Mana," She pulled Mana aside gently by her arm out of the way of a few noble girls. "I must admit I greatly disliked you when you first arrived."
"I knew that,"
"I didn't like how you acted towards my mother and how Atem threw himself at you,"
"I can hardly control what he does,"
"Yes I understand that now," Isis took Mana's hands warmly. "But after what you did for me, I know that I hadn't given you a proper chance. Would you like to be…friends?"
"I…" She hesitated. "Would love to be your friend,"
Isis smiled and hugged Mana. Mana hugged back not knowing what else to do. After such a horrible experience and what few friends she had she took Isis' offer of friendship. She wasn't even sure if Atem and Mahad could be considered her friends. Atem was the prince and Mahado mostly treated her like a small irritable child. Isis could yet prove to be a wonderful friend, perhaps Mana just needed to give her a chance.
"We must figure out how it changed. I've never heard of runes changing on their own before, but perhaps some scrolls in the library will determine an answer." Mana nodded in agreement and they started to walk together to library but were interrupted by a handmaiden.
"Lady Isis, Mana, the Pharaoh requests your presence in the throne room." Mana was surprised at this request, she had never met the Pharaoh in her year living at the palace and suddenly he requested an audience with her.
"We will arrive shortly," Isis responded. The two girls looked at each other and went to answer to their king's summons.
…
"My King," Isis said upon arriving with Mana. They both bowed and stayed that way. They were both surprised to see Mahado there as well, his face lowered in a bow. Mana felt a new level of fear rise in her chest. Her heart was pumping blood rapidly throughout her body, her mouth began to water and her breathing became shallow.
"Rise," All three of them obeyed. Mana looked up and saw the Pharaoh Aknamkanon up close for the first time. He was a handsome older man, his face lined with the weight of Egypt. What part of his hair that Mana could see through his glorious crown was grey lined with black. He was covered in every part of silk and gold that he could bear and Mana could not help but gawk at the level of authority and respect he instantly commanded.
"I summoned the three of you here because I know what transpires between you and the prince,"
Isis didn't move, hoping that her face didn't give her shock away. Mana looked at her and tried to give her support through her eyes, but Isis kept her eyes glued on her Pharaoh.
"You must know that as all of you get older that you have responsibility as does your prince. The familiarities between you three and him must cease. You are not to call him by his name any longer and must obey him as your prince am I understood?"
"Yes my Lord," all three of them answered.
"You are all dismissed,"
…
Atem needed time alone, but he didn't want to be alone. He desired above all else to have his friends with him. To discuss what had happened the previous night and earlier that morning. He felt bad about neglecting Isis and his reaction towards her decision. If he was to be Pharaoh he needed to learn to control himself when such things arose in front of him. He knew that as king more shocking things would present themselves to him to be resolved. He also needed to apologize to Isis and Mana.
He looked to the sun to determine the time and found that he had a lesson with the three of them very soon, a perfect opportunity to talk.
Atem slowly made his way to his class and was surprised to have run into all three of them at once in the hallway.
"Hello everyone," He said smiling. To his surprise none of them reacted in their normal greeting. Instead he was greeted by faces pretending to smile. Mahado was the first to answer.
"Good afternoon your highness," he said bowing and moving into the study.
"My Lord," Isis bowed and followed Mahad.
"My Prince," Mana bowed. Atem was confused and angered. He took Mana by the hand in an uncomfortable and forceful way.
"Not you too," he said.
"My—My Lord?"
"I expected it from them; they sometimes treat me that way when the Priests, nobles, or my father is around. But they never treat me that way in private"
"I—
"You," he said angered. "You have never treated me that way, even with others around. So why now are you doing this to me?"
Mana and Atem stood there looking at each other, neither one of them moving. Mana wasn't sure how to answer. Could she tell him what his father had ordered? But why was Atem angered over such a trivial matter anyway? He was the prince of Egypt and there was no reason for her not to treat him in such a manner. No matter how close they had gotten.
"I live to serve you my prince," Atem's lips became a fine line and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Very well," He said disappearing into the study waiting for their instruction to begin.
I shall no longer have friends, but servants. Atem felt like he was losing a part of himself with every step he took to becoming king. Soon, he felt there wouldn't be anything left of him at all besides what was a perfect resemblance of the embodiment of the gods on earth.
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