Here's the next installment. Enjoy.

Chapter 9:

Violation, III

More tears come, and I choke on the words. I figure I need to tell him now before it eats at me for the rest of my life. "Atem, I was… he… I…" He blinks and looks at me. "I… I was… I…" I swallow. "I was raped…" I break down in sobs again. "Twice… the… night before last… and last night."

I can see the rage mounting in his eyes. "WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!" he demands.

I'm terrified. I've never seen him like this before. I almost can't find the words to speak. "It was… It was…" I choke on the words. "It was Sethos. Sethos did this to me… He told me he'd kill Alex if I don't. Atem—Atem please don't—" I get out before he storms off.

I am left alone to worry about what Atem is doing. I flinch with the horrible thoughts that run through my mind. Ra only knows what he's done by now. I can only pray that he isn't hurt. That is my worst nightmare. Just as he doesn't want to lose me, I don't want to lose him either.

I get up and begin to pace the room. This doesn't help. I keep imagining different scenarios, none of them good. I face the window again and begin to walk that way when the door bursts open. "Atem, I am SO—" I get out before turning around and realizing to my horror that it is Sethos, not Atem, glaring at me. He looks upset and ready to kill. "Sethos, you—"

"WHAT did I tell you?!" he demands through clinched teeth, the anger prevalent in his face, voice, and overall demeanor. "ANSWER me!!!"

I try to blink back my tears in vain. "I… I…" He rages toward me as I try to back away from him. He is soon in front of me and punches me in the jaw. I fall to the floor and swallow, dreading but already knowing what's going to happen.

He then gets down and on top of me. "I'm not going to such extreme measures just yet… but you will be punished," he says as he starts to beat me. I scream and cry each time he hits me. "That won't work," he tells me, "no one can hear your screams. But keep on though; I love to hear you scream for more." He is sick. I continue to cry until I take a sharp breath as he enters me once again. He won't let up, either. He keeps going, deeper and deeper, until he reaches my limits, and I have to scream at the top of my lungs, and even then he keeps going. I can only hope and pray that Atem can hear my screams and save me.

At last, he is through with this punishment. I swallow as he leaves me and rises to make his exit. He gets down and grabs my face. "I swear to Ra, if you tell ANYONE, I will KILL Alexandria right in front of you. Do you understand me?" I nod, and he lets go. He leaves me here, bare of all clothing, in my own room, just a heap of desolate bones and skin on the floor. I stay like this for hours. I do not deserve to move from here, not ever. Tears start to roll down my face and a scream leaves my mouth. Again, I pray that Atem will come to my aid.

I am surprised when the Chief Priest to Osiris, Solomon, and not Atem, knocks and enters. "Queen Nefertiri, I came to… My God, what's happened here?!" He rushes to me and wraps my cloth around me. He even holds me close. "Here, let me help you." He helps me to bed, and then tells me he'll get Atem and leaves. I just sit and cry.

Atem and Solomon return in a short while. Atem's face is a mixture of emotions: hurt, anger, rage, but the most prevalent is sadness. He comes to me and lifts my chin. I move to one side and lose his hand in the process. I continue to look at the ground. He takes my hands and pulls me up. We share a long embrace. His body is so warm. I feel safe. We slightly release each other. I look in his eyes only to see tears forming. I blink a few times and wipe them away. "Nefertiri, I'm… I'm so sorry," he says. He can barely speak.

"Sorry for what, Atem? You did nothing—"

"That's right. I did NOTHING. I stood by and let this happen to you. Again. I've failed you as a husband. I'm supposed to be able to protect you, and I've failed." He looks away and begins to cry.

I cup his face in my hands and turn him to me. "No, you haven't"

"Yes, I did. It's my duty to protect you, and I haven't. I'm…" He shakes his head and lets go, and then walks to the balcony. I tighten my cloth and follow him. He puts his hands on the railing and continues to cry. It really pains me to see him this way. Every tear he sheds is like a needle in my heart, each one piercing completely and making my heart cry blood tears of its own.

I swallow and try not to cry myself. I have to keep strong for him. He needs someone to lead on, and as his wife, that is my duty. I put my hand on his shoulder to try to turn him to me, but he moves his face. A tear rolls down my cheek and my voice cracks. "Atem, please… please just look at me," I beg. He bites his lip and does so, his cheeks stained with tears. "I'm all right, and you did nothing wrong. I swear. PLEASE don't feel this way, love." I look into his eyes and see the hurt in them. It goes so deep; it's disheartening to say the least.

He finally does face me and puts his arms around my waist. "I can't help; it, Nefertiri. You're my wife, and I love you. I can't stand to see you hurt. Not when I could have prevented it." He hugs me and holds me close. I don't want to let go. I feel his head on my shoulder and take a deep breath as he begins to cry. This is what I wanted. I wanted him to cry on MY shoulder. I want to be there for him, to be needed in my time of need.

"My Pharaoh, I should go. Clearly you two need some time alone." I have completely forgotten that Solomon was still here. I am shocked and appalled at what he's seen. It's so rude to let someone in on your personal struggles.

Atem raises his head and wipes his eyes. "No, I'll go with you. We have some things to discuss. Will you be all right in here?" He says as he looks deep into my eyes. It feels like his gaze pierces right through my soul. I have to blink a few times. I finally manage to nod to him. We kiss, and he leaves once more. I put my hands on my hips and sigh. I turn to the window and look out at the river.

A couple of sets of footsteps snap me out of my trance. I turn and look at the doorway. To my surprise, I see Shadi and Mahado standing here. "Oh, hello… Please, come in. What brings you here?"

"We were worried that something was wrong. We both had a very bad feeling." Shadi begins.

"Oh, well I thank you for your concern. Please, come in. Sit down." As they make themselves comfortable, I put my hands to my face. I know that talking about it will help. It's not healthy to keep such things bottled up, but it's just so hard to talk about. Being violated the way I was. I'm not entirely sure I can get the words out coherently. "I don't know where to begin. I mean, there's so much…"

"Wherever you're most comfortable, Your Highness. We don't want to pry," Mahado says.

I have to take a few deep breaths before I can go on. "Listen. What I am about to say cannot leave this room. Do you understand me?"

"If there is anything you need from us, we'll be happy to oblige," says Mahado.

"I just need someone to listen…"

They surround me on both sides. Each of them wraps an arm around me protectively. Before I can go on, another priest of Ra knocks on my door. "Mahado, we need you with us. It's urgent." Mahado looks at me, and I nod to him to tell him it's all right.

Shadi pulls me into him. I find myself blushing. "You said you need someone to listen. I'm here. I'll be your shoulder, your confidant."

"I was raped… three times… the night before last… last night… and just a couple of hours ago…" I finally manage. I start to cry again.

"Oh… I didn't know it was anything like that."

"I don't feel comfortable, talking to Atem about this. Because… I just don't think he'd understand what it feels like to be violated, like I have…"

"Understandable."

"It felt so horrible. It was like he was taking a piece of my soul from me. An intimate part of me that I can never get back. I feel like I'll never be whole again."

"Queen Nefertiri, I… I'm so sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help."

"Trust me, you're doing enough."

"He said… he said that… I was a horrible queen. That I was ruining Egypt. That I was whore and that I could do nothing right."

"Listen to me." Shadi pulls my chin up. "You are a wonderful queen. You are doing wonders for Egypt. You are the best thing to happen to this country in a long time."

Tears brim my eyes. "You really mean that, Shadi?"

"I really do." Before either of us truly realize what happens, our lips come together in a kiss. I release a moan, and he wraps his arms around my waist. His kiss feels so good, almost the same as Atem's. Atem. Thinking about my marriage, I pull away from him.

"Shadi, I—"

"Oh, your Highness. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—I've put you in such an awkward position now."

"Shadi, it's okay. Just don't tell anyone about this. Okay?"

"Yes, your Majesty. I'll leave you to your thoughts." I nod and look out at the river. I get up and leave the palace. I go out to the other side of the imperial grounds, where the lotus blossoms grow. As I look out at the flowers, all the pain and heartache come spiraling back to me. The tears just release themselves.

I ask myself why, why this had to happen to me. I couldn't think of an answer 8 years ago, and I can't think of one now. I just can't fathom why anyone would do this, let alone a Priest. A man who is supposed to serve the Gods.

After a couple hours, I realize that I've cried all the tears out of myself, and that it has gotten dark already. I look up at the Moon. Khonsu is only a sliver of his true self. I look down at the river and His reflection on the waters.

A heavy burden comes on my heart as I come to the conclusion that I can no longer stay here. I've practically cheated on Atem, and there's no way he can still love me after this. I have to go. Atem needs to find someone better than me. Someone who'll love him whole-heartedly. Someone who doesn't have the secrets that I have.

I decide right here and now that I have to leave. I go back into the palace. Servants and guards can tell that I am upset, but no one dares to ask me what's wrong.

I make it to our room and begin to pack my things. Just then, Atem comes in.

I changed this chapter around quite a bit, but I think it's still good, and that it goes along with the story a little better this way.

Either way, please leave a review. They are always so appreciated.

Thanks for reading

Dead Reckoning