Chapter 13

Z

I

A

Brooklyn House

December 22nd

"How is he?" Carter asked from where he sat.

"Unresponsive but stable" I answered sitting down right next to him, "What about Sadie?

"Responsive and unstable" He answered.

Sitting down on the couch, we both looked at Khufu as he binged on Doritos. It was like that every morning, starting his morning first by visiting Anubis. He would just sit around looking aimlessly at the TV, not even celebrating when the Los Angeles Lakers won the championship. He just sat there. People usually think that a sad puppy is heart breaker, that's because they have never seen a sad baboon.

"She's both shocked and sad. She didn't know about Anubis being married, which is shocking since she was always googling him up before they started dating." Carter said, laying down his arm over my shoulders.

"I thought she knew about it too." I rested my head on his shoulder, and he rested his cheek on my head. "I don't know what she will do if he doesn't wake up."

"It's to early to say anything, I'm just happy that nothing happened to you." He pulled his head away, looking down at me. "Zia I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

His lips touched mine and I immediately melted into his arms. These moments for us were rare. Always going on missions for the lookout of new magicians, high school proved to be pretty difficult to handle, and the moments that we got to be alone were always interrupted by someone. Plus my experience with guys had been limited, while being in Egypt the idea of a girl being alone with guys was not seen as something correct and those few times that I was they felt threatened by my skills as a magician. Besides I was the favorite pupil of Iskandar.

The only guy I had ever with has been Carter. Well, until yesterday night. And somehow, no matter what I tried, those few seconds seemed to last forever. And those lips, by the gods those lips, I couldn't help but compare to Carter's. This is not the best thing to think about when kissing your boyfriend. I quickly pulled away, looking anywhere but him.

"Zia are you okay?" He asked, trying to capture my gaze as he squeezed my hand.

"Yeah its just that– I haven't been able to go out since the accident."

"Okay, let's go just let me go grab my coat and–" He said starting to get up, but I stopped him.

"I was thinking about going out myself" I said, putting my hand on his lap in hopes that it would bring him comfort.

"Oh okay" But by his expression it was anything but okay.

"Carter– "He pushed my hand off his lap and got up in order to look at me with what could only be called disappointment.

"You know Zia tell me when you actually want to go on a second date with me." With that he crossed the room and went up the stairs, leaving me alone.

Sighing I got up and reached for my coat, but was stopped by Khufu's hand. Looking down at him, he just looked at me and shook his head before returning to his spot on the floor and watched the commercials.

By the time I was out of the house I had wandered around with no sense of direction, and it was only when I found the only open area that had trees did I realize I was in Central Park. I had only been in the cold a few times in my life, snow was rarely something I ever truly took the time to contemplate. Even though my nose was red and my teeth kept chattering as a breeze of cold passed by, I couldn't help but stare in wonder at the white wonderland. I kept on walking for what seemed hours until I came upon a castle, the Belvedere Castle to be exact.

I moved on the patio, past the columns where tourists were taking pictures, and leaned over the balcony overlooking the frozen lake. The sun had finally decided to peek out of the clouds and now was warming my skin. Then I remembered that the one in charge of the sun was Ra. Ugh. How could I be so stupid? If I could scream right now I would, but since there was a bunch of people around, all I could do was put my head in my hand as I rested my elbows on the edge. Before I could resume on my ongoing internal reprimanding I was interrupted.

"Is it guy problems?" A voice said. which belonged to a girl that was a few feet away.

"Do you usually talk to random people?" I asked, letting my arms dangle over the edge as I turned my head towards her direction.

"No but your not a New Yorker, New Yorkers seem to always be in a hurry, you know? Especially when there pushing around in the street, then again I'm a slow walker and some people actually have a life." She explained turning around and leaned back against the wall, looking at me as if it were obvious.

"So you don't have life?" I snarled, annoyed that my time of quiet was over.

"Nope I'm just aimlessly walking around in New York City." She answered looking up at the sky. "How about you?"

"Trying to get away from my life." I answered sincerely. Then it hit me.

"Wait how do you know I'm not a New Yorker? I questioned, beginning to reach for my wand in back pocket.

"You got an accent like me so I'm going to say your not from here." She said tilting her head. That was true, my accent while barely noticeable for the years I had been speaking still had that Arabic hint to it. Her's was more noticeable compared to mine.

"Didn't your parents ever tell you not to talk to strangers?" I asked moving around to be in the same position she was in.

"Yeah well I've never been good with following the rules, and if you don't talk to strangers how do you expect to make friends." She answered, she got up from her position and stood straight "Plus we do know each other."

"We do?"

"I would be offended but I'm used to people forgetting me." She said pushing her hair out of her face as the wind began to pickup. "Your Zia. We met after I ran into you the other day at the academy."

"Oh right, it's Malika right?"

"Yep." "So was I right? You're not from here."

"No, I'm from Egypt but I live here now" With my boyfriend, and his sister. But also a bunch a magicians in training and a god. Plus a baboon and a crocodile.

"Really?" She said excited, "So you actually know what a sahlab is?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed, it had been so long since I had one. "But I always seem to burn it."

"Me too, I probably should've put more attention when they were teaching me how to cook." She chuckled a little, then looked at me with a little bit of hope. "But I know a place that serves it, I don't know if it taste good, but it must be better than how I make it. We could go there if you want?"

Now most of the time I do not hang out with people I am not close too. Then again I had not been raised to just fight off and contain the gods, the idea of hanging out was not something that ever crossed my mind. But right now, it seemed that with everything going on in my life until now, besides I need a good sahlab.

"Sure you guide the way."

By the time we had arrived, we had undergone the torture of meaningless music about butts while the taxi driver complained about politics. In between those twenty minutes, we sat awkward silence had settled between us and was followed until I saw the sign of the cafe and restaurant. Horus Cafe.

"Are you serious?"

"I know Horus is so overrated." She said looking up at the sign. "I would of gone with Ptah Cafe."

Going in the decor was a little overly done, the whole middle eastern theme right in your face, while the two guitarists in the background setting the mood. There were groups of college students sitting on cushions as the made a circle around a hookah, which explained why it smelled so aromatic. When the waiter finally gave us a seat, the cold had been replaced by heat.

"So was I right about earlier? Boy problems?" She asked taking of her navy coat and put it on the chair next to her.

"Yeah." I said following her actions.

"Go on" She said as she was getting this year's biggest gossip.

"You're pretty noisy."

"No, I just like to give away my infinite wisdom out to those in need." "Oh can I have two sahlabs and one Hot Horus Combo for two."

"So is everything here named after Horus?"

"No" She said, playing with her straw paper. "So your guy problems?"

"Well– I'm friends with this guy this named is Ra–" Nope. "Randy and he kissed me the other day."

"And that's a problem because...?"

"I have a boyfriend"

"Oh okay I can see why this is a problem." She said, and gave a quick thank you as the waiter set down our food and drinks. "And does your boyfriend know?

"No! Carter kissed me this morning and I immediately thought of Randy so I pushed him away cause I don't want to be kissing my boyfriend and thing of another guy and now he's mad with me–" I flattered. "I don't know what to do."

She kept quiet for a few seconds, chewing on the fried calamari, "Let Randy know, he most likely thinks he has a chance with you and is disregarding your relationship with Carter. If your not honest now, you'll only have more obstacles to face with him. Besides if actually likes you he'll respect your decision."

"Yeah I'll do that."

"Are you going to tell Carter about what Randy did?"

"No, he doesn't need to know that." I said, that would just cause more conflict and it is something I did not need right now. "So do you have guy problems?"

"Oh thank goodness no. I currently managing my own feeling to add someone else's feeling to the list." She said reaching for another mozzarella stick.

By the time we had finished with our sahlabs and Moroccan cigars the restaurant had become full with people filling up the space quickly, with the music getting louder and louder. The belly dancer was ready to come out and dance so we collected our stuff and payed the waiter. When we left we were met with snow falling and us missing the warmth from inside.

"Thank you so much." Malika said as she pulled her hood over her head. "Most of time when I want to go for drinks with someone they always say Starbucks."

"I will always prefer a good sahlab over a starbucks any day."

"Same even if it is at place named after Horus." She said "He's my least favorite."

"How do you know so much on Egyptian mythology." I questioned.

"I went through a phase, most people go with a emo phase. Nope. Not me. Let me look at the incest relationships between the gods. "

"Oh my gosh" I laughed. "Which god is you favorite?"

"Bes. I love that guy I embraces his looks and is like 'you don't like it, then go away' to demons.' I wish I could do that people I don't like." "By the way can I have your number?"

"Sure" I gave her my number and she left after signaling for a cab.

As I rode in my own taxi, I began to contemplate what to say to Carter and Ra. Though it seems that the gods were against me as when I got out of the cab Ra was already standing in front of the entrance of the Brooklyn House.

Thank you guys for all the reviews. Please review for this chapter as I would love to see what you guys think about this story so far. As for the next chapter it is in the point of view of Anubis.

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