chapter 26

Neesa breathed heavily, tightly grasped the knife in her hand as she stood over the beast's body. The blood covered her hand, the knife and dropped to the floor near her foot. Her face was covered in the blood. Menes watched on and circled her as she turned around suddenly but realised there was no blood. No blood on the knife she possessed in her hand, no beast laying on the ground.

It was hot, in the middle of the desert. Menes stood silent. Neesa approached him but he appeared to be floating away from her reach, so she continued to reach him and called out to him. "Menes, where are you going?"

Finally he vanished, she dropped to her knees and rose her eyes to the burning sun. The light was so bright, her sight vanished. Losing her sight, as her eyes changed white and begun to gasp. Something had grasped her throat, unable to claw the hold of whom or what had grasped her throat. She had fallen onconscious.

Menes stepped close to her onconscious body, sighed and said. "Get up, you are not dead. You must wake UP!" Driving his staff near her head to wake her as she opened her eyes and pushed herself up and looked around then saw she was in forest this time. Growing irritated and impatient, standing up. The leaves ruffled, feet ran through the muddy ground and she turned each time followed where whomever was stalking her.

Menes appeared, said nothing. Threw a carved staff to neesa and the attacked leaped out, driving the sword edged staff over head. Neesa luckily defended herself, blocking the attack as she dropped to one knee for support. Pushing the attaker back and twirled her staff then invited the attacker to attack.

Pointing the sword edged staff toward her before attacking again, as he circled her. Neesa carefully observed his movement and waited for a opening. Then she found it, he attacked with the same technique and she blocked then drove her staff into his jugular, breaking it and making him choke on his blood. Dropping his weapon, falling to his knees and before meeting the ground. His body materialised into floating petals. Menes smiled. Neesa turned and faced the guardian.

With a open hand, he invited her to walk with him. She approached, slowly and followed. Immediately realised as she witnessed the scenery returned to the dark room, torches alight and shadows returned of thier figures. Taking the staff and placing back in its place, he instructed.

"Sit down. First test is complete." Neesa glanced with risen curious brow. "What is next?" She asked. Menes handed a bowl, said. "Drink, rest. You will need it." Neesa obeyed and asked again. "Why would I need this?"

Taking the bowl and answered. "You are to face your fears." Meanwhile in another chamber of the pyramid, rashida revealed and shared the history of egypt with Raphael as he was informed to be the family's protector as predicted. Learning to read the hieroglyphs with the help of the pyramid's guardian. He deeply grunted, and gritted his teeth.

"This can't be right, I am the second son of the greatest master of bushido. Yes, I do believe I am the strongest, even the most protective. But..." he sighed, abruptly as he closed his eyes and lowered his gaze. Rashida approached his side, gently grasped raphael's shoulder.

"Even though you are the second son, but your part plays a massive role in your family. You are needed more than ever, especially now my friend."

Reaching up, gently grasped rashida's hand and opened his eyes as he rose his gaze and looked to the beautiful pyramid guardian. He smiled, instead of calling her the pyramid guardian. Raphael had thought of what he was familiar with but before he could mouth the name, rashida smiled and said.

"You may call me, the shrine maiden raphael." Raphael glanced rashida surprised and asked. "How did you know what I was thinking?" Rashida smiled, and replied. "Here in egypt, I am the pyramid guardian. In your custom belief, I am the shrine maiden. No matter what or where we, practitioners originate. Our magic, talents even skills are linked together. May be practiced differently but may be similar in belief although, all returns to the source when our time has ended on this earth."

Turning on her heel and walked two steps away from the red clad terrapin, called over her shoulder inviting him to follow. "Shall we continue?" Raphael nodded, and followed without hesitation as he felt the familiar presence of his late father. Turned around and saw master splinter standing close by. Raphael nodded, bowed. Master splinter nodded, smiled and gave his blessing.

"Master raphael, you coming?" Rashida called again. Raphael smiled, as master splinter faded away and he replied as he liked the sound of that. Addressed as master. "Yeah, I am coming."

Oracles chambers

Gathered her ingredients, mixed in large stone bowl. Twirled her long sharp clawed finger in the blood, creating a light whirling swirl. Waited patiently until she finally saw, watching over her servant travelling through the desert.

Amunta tightly held the reins, as she rode the camel and held the cloth over her face. Keeping the sands entering her nostrils and mouth. The sandstorms were reckless and unpredictable. Her plans were working according as she hoped, looking over her shoulder and worried for her wellbeing but that didn't concern her as she prayed her servant shall reach the Benu temple before nightfall of the rising equinox eclipse.

Returning back to the bowl and whirled her finger through one last time. Closed her eyes and telepathically sent her message to her servant.

Amunta halted her camel, the camel whined and grunted as she looked around. Hearing her name called. Keeping the cloth over her face and looked ahead of her. Her eyes widened, she saw her mistress standing clear as day. The oracle smiled, nodded and pointed the direction of her location and said.

"Time is running out, you must reach the temple before the rising equinox eclipse."

Amunta exhaled alittle, looked up to the sky above her and ushered her camel to resume but fasten the pace. Amunta leaned in close, held the reins tightly and prayed she arrived in time not before it is too late.

Meanwhile, waiting and smiled as she glanced over her shoulder. Tealana stood by, silent as she rose a eye ridge. Curiously wondered, kauket approached the demonic fiend and grasped her hand then placed upon the flat abdomen of the vessel possessed.

"It is done?" Kauket asked, smugly smiled with a low whisper. With a nod, a smile and replied. "Yes, it is done."

No further words spoken, with a light wave. Three cloaked cobra priests slithered in the room, the demonic possessed mother to be knew what was next. Obeying her queen, turned on her heel and allowed herself to swooped off her feet and carried to the birthing chamber. Kauket watched until the curtains were dropped as they left, turned on her heel and faced tealana.

"So, what was that about?" she asked. "That." Kauket paused and stepped forward, then stood still as she resumed with her reply. "Is one, you need not to worry yourself about my love." Kissing her cheek tenderly and walked out to the balcony as she rose her open hands and addressed her army that waited, deep in the bowels of hell's fire.