Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait in an update. Real life had gotten to me so I hadn't really been in the mood to really write anything. I still need to finish the next chapter for "Sands of Time"
Mahad sat and watched Merrilee closely by her bedside. He listened for the easy rise and fall of her chest.
He sighed, tightly closing her eyes as he replayed the day's events and winced. It didn't take a physician to tell them that her head was going to be sore when she woke up. His eyes travelled to the neatly wrapped bandages that were around her head. Mahad gritted his teeth, blaming himself for her getting hurt when she was in his care.
"Has she woken up yet, Mahad?" A soft and gentle voice spoke from behind him. Mahad lifted his head and saw Isis standing at the entrance of the room.
"Isis." He acknowledged, "No. She has not. Not yet."
The Priestess moved away from the door over to where they were. Upon reaching them she peered down at Merrilee's sleeping form before turning her attention back to him.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Mahad." She said softly, "It is not your fault."
He closed his eyes yet again, bowing his head, as if in shame. "Isis, I cannot help but feel this way. Especially where I am supposed to be her mentor and her safety should be my top priority; as it is with all my students. Perhaps I should not have been so hard on her on her first day."
Isis placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "My friend; please believe me when I tell you that you are not at fault for what happened out there," She then averted her gaze to Merrilee, "And I doubt Merrilee will blame you either. Stop being so hard on yourself."
"But—."
"No. Stop arguing, Mahad. The Pharaoh has requested that you come to the mid-day meal with us."
He looked at Merrilee, wanting to decline in going to the meal, but that plan was thwarted when his stomach growled. Loudly.
She gave a small laugh and stood up straight. Mahad looked at her for a moment, "Do you mind if I have a moment?"
She nodded, "Of course." She turned to leave, "I'll be right outside."
"Thank you, Isis."
"No need."
Once she had left the room he turned his attention back to Merrilee. His hands seemed to move on their own accord as they gently gripped her small, pale hands into his bigger, darker ones. "I shall be back, Merrilee. You rest."
Knowing that he wasn't going to receive an answer he stood up rather reluctantly, still holding onto her hand. His eyes swept over her for a few seconds longer before gently laying her hand back down onto the bed.
As he walked away from her he couldn't help but wonder why he was feeling so protective; so angry because of her. What are these feelings so deep within my heart?
She didn't know how long she slept but when she did she winced. Her head so bad that if felt as though an anvil had landed on her. Groaning she placed a shaky hand to her head, feeling a bit confused when she found that her head was wrapped around her head.
What had happened—? Her eyes widened when the days' events replayed in her mind, looking around at her surroundings, she soon realized that was in the same room she had been in a week prior. She felt her hope dwindling.
I'm not going to get out of here am I? Merrilee felt tears burning her eyes. She wanted to go away. She didn't feel welcome nor did she feel like she was in place here—all thanks to Priest Seto. She didn't know anything about this time, or its customs.
Her hand reached to the last thing she ever received from her mother; a silver dragon wrapped around a garnet heart, her birthstone located right in the looked up at the ceiling, tears flowing freely down her face.
"I miss you mom." She sincerely hoped that she would return so see her mother, father, and sisters, though, she seriously was wondering if they got transported here as well. That thought alone, caused a glimmer of hope.
Sighing, she slowly sat up and grabbed her knapsack that sat on the nightstand. Grabbing her iPod she slipped her feet into her sandals and headed for the balcony she noticed when she first arrived here.
Looking out over the balcony the last of the sun was slowly setting down in the horizon, she looked at it, her heart feeling heavy. She placed the buds in her ears and pressed play she turned to a song that her mother would sing with her. One that always made a smile appear on her face. Clearing her throat she began singing.
No no no no, no no no no, no no no no, Listen little child, there will come a day
When you will be able, able to say
Never mind the pain, or the aggravation
You know there's a better way, for you and me to be...
Her throat tightened, tears began spilling down her cheeks again.
Look for a rainbow in every storm Goodbye my friend (I know you're gone, you said you're gone,
Fly like an angel, heaven sent to me
but I can still feel you here)
It's not the end (gotta keep it strong before the pain
turns into fear)
Images of her mother's smiling face crossed her mind.
So glad we made it, time will never change it - no no no No no no no Just a little girl, big imagination Look for a rainbow in every storm
Never letting no-one take it away
Went into the world, what a revelation
She found there's a better way for you and me to be
Find out for certain, love's gonna be there for you
You'll always be someone's baby
She was so engrossed in the music she didn't notice that Mahad and Isis were standing a few feet behind her.
As soon as Mahad and Isis returned they began panicking, noticing that the Merrilee wasn't in her bed. They frantically looked around the room until Isis noticed that the door leading the balcony was ajar, and a soft, melodic voice floated through the door. Carefully, the two made their way to the entrance of the balcony, and sure enough, Merrilee was standing there, her head bowed, her voice low as she sang.
However, the stepped forward in concern when they heard a strangled sob escape her mouth. She slid down to the tiled floor, her hands over her eyes, as she silently cried, feeling for once in her life vulnerable.
She hated it.
Mahad stepped closer to her, his heart clenching in his chest as he knelt down in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She abruptly lifted her head, her eyes wide, puffy, and red. She ripped her gaze away from them, averting it to her lap.
"Merrilee, what happened? What's wrong?" Isis asked, kneeling in front of her, her hand grasping hers lightly. Merrilee didn't meet their worried gazes for a few moments before finally looking up again.
Her lips were trembling, her confession making both of their hearts freeze, "I want to go home!"