Sorry about the odd underlining and italics. Fixed!
She swept her fingers along the walls, amazed at the smoothness. It was beautiful, the gleam of polished wall in lamplight. They hadn't made it to the Priestess's chamber yet, and but the walls of the maze-like halls that led up to the room increased in mysterious lavish as they got closer. In fact, it was because of the maze that Setine was amazed Siris had ever found it in the first place. Already she was perplexed by the number of turns they'd taken.
Ahead, there was a torch alight with fire. "It's just up here." His voice was soft. She glanced over her shoulder at him walking a pace behind her. He was watching her, the smile on his face holding a hint of fondness.
"Tell me," she said, clasping her hands behind her back. "How did you find this?"
He slid his hands into his pockets, walking up beside her. He held her gaze, steady and curious. "My father and I visited often once it was discovered. I wandered as he made deals and preparations. With the help of a line and markers to remind me of where I'd been, I managed to find map this place out in my head."
They stepped into the chamber and Setine's breath was taken away. Something moved inside of her, and with fascination she stepped further into the room. Scanning the room, she took in the dimly lit walls, the light of one torch in the doorway being the only light. Siris took the torch and walked around the room, lighting more torches.
"Siris!" Setine exclaimed. "Look, there's the line, and the circle. The Priestess would stand in there, and those that would seek her wisdom would stand no farther than the line. And behind the circle, behind the Priestess, was the door where mirrors would catch the sun's light at various times of the day."
She ran around the room, walking along the wall so she didn't go into or near the circle, until she reached the doorway. Beyond it rain poured angrily from the storm, wind howling. Soon, thanks to Siris lighting torches, there was barely any darkness in the room, and Setine continued to explain different aspects of the room.
"Yes! They are still here!" Setine cried from the doorway. "The mirrors, they're still where they were all those years ago. And when they captured the sun and aimed it right in, it made the Priestess look like nothing more than a shadow. A brilliant theatrics trick, to intimidate those that came before her and make her look other-worldly."
With a sly smile she posed in the doorway, arms stretched out. Siris leaned against the wall, watching her again, with his hands in his pockets.
"I thought you might enjoy this."
Her smile turned into a full grin. "I love it." She looked away from him, hesitating. "You know, it's strange, the feelings I have."
"What are you feeling?"
"I… I'm not sure how to describe it. It's deep… like my soul. A pull."
"Fate," he whispered, his look intensifying.
She frowned, glancing at him. "What?"
"Setine, why did you stop writing me?" Siris shifted and stepped toward her. His gaze never left her.
"You never answered."
He sighed. "I wanted to. Oh, I must have written a thousand replies!"
Her eyes dropped. "I never received anything."
"How could I send them?"
"It's simple, Siris!" Setine snapped, throwing her hands up. "You send them!"
His eyes finally left her, looking instead at the dusty floor. "I realize now that I've hurt you. At least I can prove myself, my devotion, to you once more."
"You think it's that easy? After all this, don't you understand that will happen? You will be going back to England, and I shall remain with my father."
"But, Setine, can't you see what Fate has done for us? It had given us a second chance!
He took her small hands in his own, searching her eyes. What met him there was disbelief and distrust. Setine took her hands back and crossed her arms, but her eyes never left his.
"Is that was you think this is?"
"Well… yes. What are the odds that you and I would meet in America? A mix up of addresses? And then that… embarrassing exchange of shopping bags. Imagine my discomfort of discovering a pair of ladies'…"
She interrupted, "I don't have to imagine it, Siris. I was there!" Her voice echoed off the walls, surrounding them. When the voices had drifted away, her voice cracked a couple times as she ventured to say, "There has been a question that burns within my mind that I have to have you answer. Tell me, is that the only way you would have talked to me? Chances? Mere chances?"
"But it's Fate at work in our lives! This is proof, your father being the archeologist my father hosts a party for."
Setine shook her head. "I don't know, Siris," she said softly, looking away. "You still ignored me tonight."
"I did not!"
"Forgive me. You didn't ignore me, but I was nothing more than a pretty stranger!"
He closed the distance between them, putting his hands on her waist, his fingertips tracing where her blouse tucked into her skirt. He captured her gaze once more, his voice low and enticing. "I don't want you to be just a pretty stranger."
She swatted his hands away in answer and walked past him. "I'm not so easy, Siris. For you to behave so is insulting. I am not some simple-minded harlot to be toyed with until you've had your fun."
Siris growled. "Don't be difficult, Seti."
Pausing at the name "Seti," she turned to face him again and peered at him, her eyes narrowing. "Don't call me Seti."
"Ah, right, right. No pet names. It's not lady-like." Siris reached for her and she stepped once more out of his grasp, her lips thinning in an uncomfortable grimace. "Come, now, don't be difficult. A gentleman has requested…"
"And I have declined, Siris." Setine turned back toward the door to leave, but he grabbed her from behind and spun her around in his arms. She looked up at him defiantly and rose a hand to slap him, but he caught her by the wrist, stopping her mid-swing. And then he assaulted her mouth with his, pressing their lips together in bruising manner of force. She fought against him, but him clutching her so strongly to his body left her little room to maneuver to properly fight back. When she brought her knee up fiercely, he groaned and threw her down harshly upon the dusty floor.
Setine looked up at him through disarrayed hair, her eyes wet with tears of betrayal. "What is wrong with you?" she screamed at him, struggling to get to her feet. The shakiness of her limbs kept her from moving quickly away from the hands that grabbed her by the blouse. He yanked her into him, a hand entangling in her hair.
"You know, Setine, love, I've always found you attractive. It's that mysterious beauty of yours that is so captivating."
"Help!" she cried out, trying to run for the door, but his hand gripping her hair kept her reined in place.
"Hush, it's rude to interrupt. Don't they teach you anything at those finishing schools. As I was saying… your beauty is so captivating."
Once more, Setine cried out, "Help!"
"No one can hear you," he assured her. "That is the beauty of this place: we are completely alone." He sighed, looking over her body. "It is such a pity you refused my appropriate affection. It would have worked out for the both of us."
"You monster," she said through gritted teeth as he tore the blouse from her body. For the moment he was occupied with pushing her skirt up her legs as he held her down on the dusty floor. The sleeves of her undershirt fluttered in the breeze that came from the doorway, drifting through the room. It was the fluttering that drew his attention to her arm. His eyes got a strange light in them as he stared at the birthmark. He was entranced by it, taking one hand to reach out for it. He traced the loop and then the cross, his gaze never lessening. It was on that floor that he was truly close to something that resonated with him. Something was there, in that room, with them. Like Setine said, he felt… feelings, deep, indescribable feelings. When Setine screamed, it barely registered in his mind. It was when Horus's knife plunged into his back that anything changed. He coughed, spitting up blood on Setine as he hovered over her. He felt a foot kick into his side, but he tried not to take his eyes off of her birthmark. It was his calling.
"Setine!" Horus cried out, taking her shaking body from the floor into his arms. "Did he hurt you?" The Medjai began to fuss, checking her face or bruises, anywhere for blood that was not Siris's. She only stared at him, her jaw trembling. He sighed and pulled her close, holding her tightly. She was quiet, eerily so. When he pulled away, it was to check to make sure he hadn't stabbed her as well when he attacked Siris. Seeing she was still breathing, and probably only in shock, he scooped her up and carried her out, leaving Siris on the floor. Glancing back, he looked coldly at the pool of blood leaking out of Siris's body. The way she clung to him almost distracted him from being able to navigate their way out. Truthfully, when he saw Siris the first time the man had made him uneasy. In the moment it took for him to register what was happening, he wanted to snap Siris's neck. But Setine was there with him…
"You… killed him," he heard Setine whispered. That was it. She had wanted it from that pompous brat. Maybe she wasn't a victim after all.
Furiously, he set her down. Seeing she could barely stand, he took her shoulders and held her up against the wall. Tears started to fill her eyes, he saw. Was it fear of him? Was it sinking in what he had done to her lover?
"What did I do, Setine? Tell me that right now!"
Her jaw continued to tremble. "You k-killed h-him."
Horus shook his head and let her go. She slid to the floor, the tears falling freely as he accused. "I do not know what I saw, to be honest with you, Setine."
"He…" Setine weakly interrupted, but Horus continued.
"I thought perhaps something had gone wrong for you. Perhaps he was being cruel to you, forcing himself--"
"He was going to…"
"--on you. But perhaps I was wrong in thinking that. Perhaps I was wrong about everything, even speaking to you as a potential lover when you already had one! Was I wrong, Seti?" He turned to her, his intense gaze piercing her.
"He was going to rape me!" she screamed at him, and then covered her face with her hands, sobbing loudly. Her crying echoed off the walls, adding to her sorrow. "I was stupid! I walked into that!"
Horus's heart dropped into his stomach. No, he was stupid. Of course Setine wouldn't have done that. It was his blind rage, his jealousy he let get in the way of him seeing. Ashamed, he slumped down beside Setine, putting an arm around. She continued to cry and he allowed her to get it all out. And in the meantime, he mental kicked himself. There was so much he wanted to say but couldn't bring himself to say it, not after accusing her of that.
"Forgive me, Seti."
Only when Setine had calmed down and agree to it did they get up and walk out of the maze. He kept a strong arm around her, as she held onto his waist. Outside the maze, his father was keeping watch for others as the storm raged on, ready to lead them to the rest who waited in one of the rooms inside. When he saw his son and Setine he gasped and called for Rick.
"What happened?" Ardeth asked, seeing the blood on Setine's undershirt. He began to check her for the source of the blood and the bruises. Horus saw Setine's eyes begin to fill again at the thought of the answer, so he shook his head to his father. Rick and Evie came running, also examining Setine because of the blood.
Horus sighed. "It is not her blood! She was attacked, but it is not her blood."
Rick looked at him, his eyes narrowing. "Then, who…?"
Before Horus could answer, the director of the museum walked up to them, his anger lessened since the train had started. "It would appear that it is time for us urge our guests to board."
Setine's eyes widened as she caught sight of who walked behind the director. Taking an involuntary step back, she caught Horus's attention, and he frowned at her questioningly.
"Father," Siris said, coming up behind the director and placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. "Oh, Setine! What on earth happened to you?"
Horus glared at him, but he could say nothing. Siris was dead, back in the Priestess's rooms. He knew he was! He had stabbed him! But there was something different in Siris's eyes. No longer did Siris set him on edge, he made Horus want to murder him on the spot. It wasn't just something that was wrong with him, it was everything. Setine's gasp on his arm was painful, and he was sure he would have bruises where her fingers dug in.
"You were…" Setine managed to say, before her voice faltered. Horus admired her strength, and so fought to finished for her, swallowing hard, "Dead."
Siris frowned and then his mouth opened in an uneasy laugh. "You two don't look well at all. I wish I could ease your thoughts, but as you can see… I'm not."
"You are," Horus insisted in vain. "In the circle, that room you took Setine to!"
An uneasy silence surrounded them. Then Siris smiled and reached out a hand to Setine. His hand wrapped around her arm, right on her birthmark. "Come, let's get you cleaned up."
"Do not touch me," came a dark, otherworldly voice from Setine's mouth. Horus let her go, but Siris only looked at her, never breaking eye contact with her.
Rick cleared his throat and lightly, hesitantly, went to touch her back, to calm her down or urge her to do something, but Ardeth caught his wrist. "No, Rick. Tonight is when they awaken."
--
All right, my friends. I'm sorry for the delayed update. I graduated, found out my mom had a miscarriage and found out my wallet had been stolen at graduation (a little over 250 that was supposed to go to my mom). That was the beginning of my hectic summer I packed up my stuff and moved to another state. I packed again and took a train to visit my boyfriend and his family, which we ended up breaking up at the end of my visit. I got home, had to pack up AGAIN to go to a music festival…. And when I got home from that, I was ready to settle down, try to catch up, figure out how to write a (potential) rape and how much to write of it…. So here is my update!
And to save any questions you MIGHT have: I don't believe in evil twins. Siris was dead. DUN DUN DUN! I appreciate all the reviews. You're the ones who remind me to come back into my world of writing :P lol, thank you again!
-Kat-
