Authors Note: I hope you enjoy this chapter, I felt it was time to spark something between Atem and Mana. Please read and review. Your comments are wanted and appreciated. Enjoy!

"I found it!" Mahado yelled out in the library. Mana lifted her head up from the table and Isis put down the scroll she was looking at. The three of them had been searching for any answers towards the creation of the thought-form two months ago. Mana had even paid attention in her classes searching for an answer. The two girls joined Mahad where he was standing at looked down at the scroll.

"'Upon the imprint of a ceremonial creature the intended mark can morph based on the creatures current thought or dream. However, this can only be possible in a ritual performed under the new moon with a small animal sacrifice'" Mana and Mahado quit reading and looked at Isis.

"Of course I didn't make a sacrifice! If I had, my mother's search of my heart would have provided a monster." Isis said offended.

"What was that about a ceremonial creature? I don't understand" Mana asked.

"A ceremonial creature would be a deity, a demi-god, or some other powerful being," Mahad said dropping the scroll and setting it on the nearest table. The idea of Isis sacrificing anything abandoned.

"But I'm not a god,"

"But you are powerful. It's the prime reason you live here," Isis said bluntly. Mahad and Mana just stared at her. "Well it's true,"

"I still believe that the rune changed on its own. I think it just collided badly with Mana and her…power," Mahad suggested. "What type of rune did you say you used Isis?"

"A dream rune, something simple. I planted it with the intent of giving her nightmares," Isis blushed at this confession. She still felt bad for what she had done and what she had put Mana through. Isis began to hope that with every day that passed that she and Mana could truly become friends.

"What moon cycle?" Mana asked surprising them. Mana didn't usually have knowledgeable judgments in magick.

"A… A half-moon. I think," Mahado checked the charts to be sure.

"Yes, it was a half-moon. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"I remember my teacher telling me about the properties of the moon and its effect on magick. With a half-moon magick would be more unpredictable, like flipping a coin. There is only a fifty percent chance that it would turn out like you wanted it to."

"Mana I don't think that would have caused the change," Isis said slowly, not wanting to put her down.

"But what if it wasn't just the moon, but a collection of everything? My power, Isis' intent and specific rune, and the moon cycle,"

"I could see how that would work in theory," Mahado said surprising them both. He put his hand to his chin and closed his eyes. By now Mana knew he did this when he was seriously considering his options. "It might be possible,"

"Then we've found our answer?" Isis said hopefully.

"Maybe. We should keep looking to be sure, but Mana might be right,"

Mana smiled and felt a warmth in her chest of satisfaction. She could be right about her theory and that in of itself was something to be proud of. Then suddenly she felt a wash of sadness. She couldn't share this triumph with Atem, or rather, the prince since the Pharaoh's orders prohibited it. She missed him, in more ways than she had ever missed anyone because he was so close, yet out of reach. She saw him some days in the one class the four of them shared, but Atem was cold and distant and didn't speak to them unless he had to. The three of them hadn't been allowed to speak to him in any other fashion either. But Mana felt more for Mahado and his relationship with Atem. He saw Atem in all of their training, classes, and exercises every day, yet he wasn't allowed to speak to his best friend out of turn.

Suddenly Mana felt like going to bed and not coming back out until the morning.

"It is late. I suggest we all retire," Isis mentioned and all of them nodded in response. They dispersed and said good night to one another before separating. Mahado usually walked with Mana until separating, but this night Mana remembered him mentioning an errand he had to complete before retiring to bed.

Mana was alone in the near darkness of the hallway, but she was no longer frightened. Guards lined every corridor and if she yelled out for any reason someone would immediately come to her aid. She started to hum a song that, ironically, the thought-form had reminded her of. Her mother's lullaby always calmed her down when she was frustrated or scared usually being sung in her head. Since she was alone she hummed it aloud and almost pranced to her room.

She was happy that they had found the possible answer to what had transpired two months ago and almost felt like what happened between her and Isis was starting to disappear.

Maybe she and I can truly be friends.

A hand reached out and covered her mouth from behind, choking her mother's lullaby in her throat. She tried to yell out to the guards she could see around the corner, but the figure dragged her away from them, away from torch light and safety.

…

"Isis, may I walk with you?"

"Of course Mahad,"

The pair made their way down the hall in silence with every other step proving that they were alone. Mahado wanted to say something to her, something that would make her smile. When Isis smiled Mahado couldn't help but think about how her smile could have melted the coldest heart. She was beautiful, there was no mistaking that, but it wasn't just her beauty that Mahado liked about her. She was resilient, strong-willed, and passionate about her duty towards her people. But she was also impulsive, hard-headed, and stubborn.

"I think it is very mature of you to look for an answer behind the thought-forms creation,"

"You think I am not usually mature?" Isis said giving him a look of pure repudiation.

"Marking Mana in the first place wasn't very mature," Isis dropped her mouth open in disbelief, but Mahad was correct. What she had done to Mana hadn't been mature or right. But dammit, she was not going to let Mahad bring her down to that level again.

"It may have not been, but throwing it in someone's face isn't a show of maturity or friendship in my understanding," and with that she stormed off to get away from Mahad.

"What have I done?" Mahado said aloud. He began to contemplate what was wrong with him to keep setting Isis further and further away from him.

…

Mana started to fight her attacker in any way she could. She remembered a few moves that she had seen Mahado and Atem use on each other when they practiced. She tried uselessly to use them, but her attacker kept her still from behind. So she stomped on his foot with hers and struggled against her attacker even harder. He let out a groan of pain and surprise, but didn't let go.

"Mana stop fighting me!" Mana stopped mostly out of surprise, but partly because she recognized the voice as Atem's.

She obeyed and he let her go turning to face him. It was Atem, his features darkened from the lack of light.

"My prince," Mana said remembering her place and bowing. "I apologize, please forgive me,"

"Stop that,"

"Pardon?"

"Stop that form of recognition towards me. Of all the people I thought wouldn't do that to me I didn't think it would be you,"

"Your highness—

"I said stop it!" Mana went silent and started to feel tears brim her eyelids. She quivered partly out of fear and partly out of cold. Atem had yelled at her and done it with the level of intensity that reminded her of the time she saw Pharaoh and the instant level of respect he demanded. Atem demanded her respect with just a gesture or a few simple words. He was gripping her arms tightly with each word he spoke.

"You're crying," Atem said, his voice immediately softening and his grip loosening. "I'm sorry, I've just been…frustrated over what has become of our friendship. The three of you are important to me,"

Mana continued to whimper and tried to fight back the tears that were now free falling down her cheeks.

"Mana," Atem said softly, raising his hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. He kept his hands cupped on her cheeks and raised her head to his.

He's so close…He could kiss me and I wouldn't be able to escape. But then she had to ask herself why she would even want to escape, because deep down, she knew she could never be with Atem. No matter how painful it would be to see him with someone else, to have a family with someone else at most Mana would be a magickal guardian and that was not enough for her to be recognized in the royal court. She would grow old and watch him from afar, protect him with her Ka, and obey him like a good servant of Egypt would.

"Mana, I don't understand. Please help me understand," Atem's eyes pleaded with Mana for her to give him an answer to why his friendships had disintegrated overnight.

"I'm— Mana started. Not sure if she was allowed to discuss it. But Pharaoh hadn't forbidden them of speaking to Atem about it. Perhaps it was ok as long as she wasn't breaking any orders by her king.

"I was ordered by my Pharaoh to no longer call you by name, and to end our childish relationship. As were Isis and Mahad," At once fire erupted in Atem's eyes but he kept silent allowing Mana to finish. "He said he was preparing you to assimilate to the throne,"

Atem's lips drew into a fine line.

"My father," Atem let Mana go and stepped back his hands running through his hair. From here Mana could see his crimson eyes filled with anger and sadness. He took a deep breath and moved towards Mana again. "If Pharaoh wished it, then it shall be so,"

Mana nodded sadly.

"But there is no reason why anyone has to know of our friendships should they?"

"How do you mean?"

"I don't want to lose you as a friend Mana, you are important to me,"

He just said I was important to him…Could he really mean that?

"I am?"

"Why would you think you were not?"

"Well, I've not been kind to you the last time were together. Nor have you known me for very long,"

"You don't want to be my friend Mana?"

No. I want more…

"Yes, I have so few. I cherish your friendship,"

"I'm sorry,"

"For what Atem?" Atem smiled at hearing his name once again from someone he trusted.

"Your arms," He said touching her with the tips of his fingers. "I left bruises," Mana looked where he was touching her. To her surprise there were red marks on the top of her arms. She didn't think that Atem had gripped her so hard; she didn't even feel any pain.

"I suppose you did," Mana said lightly. Atem took her hand and led her out of the hallway into a part of the palace that she hadn't been into. Mana looked around mostly because she was shocked at Atem's sudden movement leading her by her hand. Soon they found themselves in a room with many tools that Mana didn't recognize. Jars of colorful liquids lined the endless amount of shelves that filled the floor. On the far corner was a high window with a couple beds underneath it lining the wall.

"Please sit," Atem said gently pointing to a chair sitting next to a desk Mana hadn't noticed before. She obeyed and sat silently while Atem rattled through a few jars.

"Atem?"

"Hmm," He answered behind a cabinet.

"How did you find me in the hallway? It isn't the usual way I take to my chamber,"

"In all honesty I was waiting for Mahad," Mana felt her happiness deflate in her heart. "But I'm glad I ran into you instead," He said coming back with a sealed jar and a soft towel.

"Why?" Mana couldn't help smiling.

"You were most likely to tell me the truth," Mana gave him a confused look on her face. "Not to say that Isis and Mahado would lie to me, but you of all of my friends I knew you would tell me what I need to hear rather than what I want to hear," He opened the jar and a wash of peppermint wafted into her nose. "I respect you for that Mana," He said handing her the jar.

"This is very good for bruises. Take a damp cloth, rub some of this on it and apply it to the wound. Healing will take an hour rather than a few days,"

"Thank-you,"

Atem turned around and let Mana help herself.

"You didn't have to do this for me Atem," She whispered.

"I know I didn't, but I have a habit of taking responsibility for my actions,"

"I know it wasn't on purpose," Mana applied the covered rag to her arms. It was cool and refreshing to her skin and winced from the sharp change it temperature.

"Mana, there is something I've wanted to speak with you about,"

"Yes?"

"Among demolishing my friendships my father wants me to complete another task before my assimilation to the throne. I wanted to ask your advice on the matter,"

"Hmm,"

"My father has ordered me to take a wife,"

Oh god… He needs a wife. Mana felt like crying. She knew that Atem would be fifteen in a few short months, far past the normal age of a prince to take a wife.

"How can I offer any help?" She said with Atem's back still facing her.

"I have no interest in getting married, least of all to a woman who is only after power. How is a woman like that in any way going to be a good thing for my country?"

"Do you have someone already in mind?" Mana couldn't help but ask.

"There is no one,"

"Mana I have to ask you," Atem finally turned around and saw Mana. Her face was red and sad. Her blue eyes stood out from between her brown hair. She had the salve covered rag twisted in her hands. He felt the sudden urge to take the cloth and apply the salve to her arms himself. He was angry at what he had done to her, a person he admired and respected. Atem had felt something towards Mana since the thought-form had tried to hurt her. He knew it when he felt fear for her safety, throwing himself into danger for her, and when he had held her while she had cried. He had not been more wrathful towards Isis when he had found out she had committed it. Mana had been right of his judgment towards Isis that morning; he had been unfair and disloyal to a long-time friend. He had stayed silent that morning, promising to let Mahad and Iaia handle most of it since he had felt he was no longer in the correct state of mind. He had fallen in love Mana and now he wasn't sure what to do with his revelation.

"I am sorry," He said taking the cloth from her.

"Please stop Atem. I know and I understand," Mana said softly a smile making Atem's heart race. "What were you going to ask me?"

Atem had completely forgotten what he was going to ask her.

"You know," He said moving her hair out of her face. "I don't remember,"

They both laughed at Mana felt true happiness being with Atem and being so care free.

"I missed you," Atem said surprising them both.

"You did?" Mana couldn't believe her ears. This had to be a dream, another prank caused by Isis. But that was impossible, her and Isis had become fast friends since the indiscretion two months ago and they had received their orders to treat Atem like a true prince. Why does he say such mean things to me?

"Yes, in the past year you lived here at the palace I have grown accustomed to you being around. And having you getting me into trouble,"

"I remember getting you out of trouble,"

Atem smiled. He pushed more hair out of her face and left his hand to cup her cheek.

"Mana,"

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you?" Mana didn't know how to react at first. Atem, the prince of Egypt, had asked for her permission to have a kiss. Atem, I have wanted to kiss you since you showed me kindness. Mana nodded and suddenly felt his lips on hers. His other free hand cupped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. It was as if the sunlight had risen in her heart and Atem had been the key to such happiness. She broke the kiss first and took a deep breath.

…

Atem didn't know what had changed in the last few private moments he had with Mana. Perhaps it was the time he had spent being distant and cold towards her. He had asked to kiss her before he knew the words escaped him, but he had wanted to. He wanted to kiss her, to be close to her and feel his hands running through her hair. She was beautiful, but a she held a beauty hidden behind years of sadness and despair. He wanted to make everything right within her, to stop any other form of harshness from reaching her.

His lips were on hers and finally, finally he felt happy and complete. He had been telling the truth when he had said he had missed her. He missed her smile and the comfort that she offered him. He had grown to seeing her every day and spending time with her, but he didn't feel the same towards her as he did his other friends Isis and Mahad. With Mana his heart felt lighter, the weight he had started to bear more stable. She broke the kiss first and Atem had to refrain from reaching for more.

"A… Atem, I—

"Mana," He said cupping her cheeks. "I do not know how this has occurred between us, but I can't help but feel," He pressed his forehead to hers. "The most unbelievable freedom when I am with you,"

"I…" When she hesitated Atem knew then that he had scared her. "I don't know what to do. You tell me you need a wife and yet you kiss me like you do. How can that be fair? Surely you do not expect me to be accepted by your father as your wife,"

"I do not plan on taking a wife—

"You are a servant to your crown Atem. How can you yield from a family? An heir?" Mana interrupted letting her emotions get the better of her.

"I do not plan on taking a wife while I am still prince of Egypt. Mana, I love my father, but that does not mean that I agree with his methods of teaching me to be Pharaoh,"

Mana got up and turned away from Atem. Her hands pressed to her eyes to stop tears. Atem rose and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Mana, can you say that you do not feel the same way towards me?" He whispered in her ear.

"That is the problem Atem," She turned to face him. "I do feel the same," She reached for him and kissed him again. Atem tightened his grip around her waist. This time there was no hesitation, the kiss between them deepening with every second. They stayed there, pressed against each other not caring of time or place. This time Atem broke the kiss first.

"Atem, can we keep this, keep us a secret?"

"Why?"

"Your father's orders, I fear for his retribution. Can we keep it a secret just between you and I?"

"If that is what you choose,"

"Mahad and Isis as well?"

"If you choose to, I could not deny you," Atem kissed her forehead and felt Mana completely relax against him laying her head on his chest. "I see the wisdom of keeping us a secret," He rubbed his fingers through her hair.

"Atem, please don't let this be a dream," She whispered. He chuckled in response.

"No Mana this is not a dream," He kissed her one last time and released her. "But I think it is time we both retired and let ourselves dream this night," Mana nodded knowing that Atem would be missed.

Mana and Atem left the medicine room keeping their eyes open for guards or anyone else that would be lurking the halls at night. He walked her to her room wishing that the night would not end.

"I trust you will have sweet dreams," She said to him as he bid her good night at her door.

"I'll be thinking of you," and with his final words he disappeared into the night leaving Mana warm and filled with happiness.

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