Patron Series

by LauraLynn

*CHAPTER 14 UP* The continuation of Patron!!!!!!!! BOY is it gettin big!!! R/R

14. Patron14

Patron 14 Previously: okay, I'm getting tired of writing these things. All you need to know is Mozenrath is a Disney character and if you don't know him just think really evil dark sorcerer dude. Nefret is the minion and belongs to me, your webmistress Laura. Chroias is Mozenrath's lover/girlfriend and belongs to Kalynn. Chroias and Mozenrath have 2 children Tristram and Zakurum who are also property of Kalynn. Apepe is a minor character with a bigger part in this story and also Nefret's half brother. He belongs to me also. Trist and Apepe just got married, despite much objection. Now, after a our break from the action more chaos befalls our hero's. er anti hero's, whatever. Chapter 316 (by Chroias) Mozenrath looked at his window at the setting sun of Agrabah. His little girl was gone from his life now, married and soon to have children of her own. Despite his treatment of the boy, Mozenrath felt somehow at ease knowing that the messenger would take care of her. He was a good man...would be a good father. There was an odd contentment in having his child bearing a child. The sort that comes with knowing your line will continue on into the future...even when your long gone. For the first time in a long time Mozenrath fingered the sharks tooth. He'd be there to see it all. For generation after generation he'd watch his children grow and live ...and die. That did not set well on his stomach. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefret walked around the lab, cleaning up some equipment Mozenrath had been using when the familiar smell of feline appeared in her nose. She grimaced. "What do you want?" she spoke without turning around. 'Oh Annoying Incarnate.' she mumbled Mirage merely smiled. "Ohh just to see how my son's little minion is doing." she hummed and lightly grazed a claw over some glass bottles. "Tell me Nefret..."she surprised the girl by using her name instead of superior to subordinate. "How does it feel?" Nefret turned around and arched a brow. "How does what feel?" she backed away as she noticed Mirage was far to close to her for comfort. "Being alone." Mirage smiled with malicious glee. "After all...Tristram is gone...Mozenrath has Chroias...Zak is heading off this evening." she made a small pouty face. "And who is the dear sweet little minion left with?" Nefret felt her heart sink. "When was the last time any of us saw you on a date?" she spat back and went back to cleaning while Mirage chuckled. The cat woman knew she'd scored a point with that one and took her leave while she was still wining. Nefret began cleaning rather viciously. What that damn cat had said was nowhere NEAR the truth. After all, she'd had her fair share of lovers. Lucus back in Egypt. Don...whom she'd be reunited with in the future...Aladdin......well...Aladdin had only been once...but that still counted ...didn't it? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chroias listened to Zak's words. She could have guessed. Things around the Citadel never just came one at a time, when somebody dropped a bomb, it was always a doozy! "Ohh Zak..."she whispered. "Baby you picked a really bad time to come up with this." she said, not really scolding. Zak shrugged. "I'm sorry mom. Really I am." "You don't have to be sorry for it! I'm not angry..." she whispered and tried to think. There was no logical way to try and think this through. Of course Zak had a legitimate right to choose his own life for himself. She would not under any circumstance deny him that. But...ohh HELL what a path to choose. "Your father will not be happy about this." "Well I was kinda wanting to pick the right time to tell him...ya know..."Zak smiled lightly and shrugged. "Like on his death bed maybe..." Chroias gave her son a disapproving look. "Long wait you have in store..." she mumbled. "No... Mozenrath will have to be told." she said strictly. "However..." she said upon seeing her son's rather terrified look. "There is no reason we need to tell him right this very second." she said with a small smile. Zak threw his arms around his mother. "Thank You!" he gasped out. "Of course I will be telling your aunt...she'll absolutely KILL me if I don't." Chroias snickered. "Zak...I want you to know...I'm okay with this....but..." she tried to sort her words properly. "Be careful...not everyone you meet will be." Zak shrugged. "It's alright mom. Domdi doesn't know...I didn't tell her. So nobody in Agrabah knows either." Chroias nodded. "All I'm saying is...be careful." she asked. "I always am mom...I always am." Chapter 317 (by Nefret) A knock came softly at Nefret door late that night. The girl muttered some sort of welcome though she was yet to know who was requesting entrance. She had her nose stuck in the pages of a new book, one that had been smuggled to her from the outside by her "connections" as she referred to anyone she knew who had free reign to step outside the boundaries of the land of the black sand. Apepe, though he could not read himself, thought the big hieroglyphs on the front cover made it interesting enough to deliver to her. "Nef. it's me." Chroias walked in and flopped down on the couch with an overdone sigh. Nef raised an eyebrow and set down the book, sensing something was up. "Spill it." Chroias looked at her a second with a blank face than smiled and looked away. "You always know when something's up." "Cause it usually comes knocking at my door late at night with a heavy look and a deep sigh." The girl laughed and settled back to hear the whole deal. "Trouble is in our mitts again I'm afraid, little Egyptian." Chroias warned. "So it has been and so it will always be. Yet who knows what tomorrow may bring." Nef rattled off the old proverbs of her motherland and motioned for her to continue. Less than three minuets later a shriek of laugher rang out, issued from the loud-mouthed Egyptian, which was quickly muffled by a pillow over her face. "Hush silly girl! This is serious!" Chroias growled and let up on the pillow since Nefret's struggles were starting to subside, either because she was getting serious or because the lack of air... Must have been the second because the second she had taken in a deep breath Nefret snickered again and whipped her watery eyes. "Oh I should have guessed it. He was just to cute." Chroias growled again and smacked her upside the head. "Accursed minion." She huffed as Nef fell over clutching her sides. "Okay okay.. I'm okay now." Nef breathed deeply and composed herself. She looked sheepishly at Chroias. "Well now what?" she asked. Chroias shook her head for a long time, looking off into the stretch of the room. "I don't know." ***

Zak sighed and walked out the door, pulling up the hood of his coat and leaving the doorstep of the Citadel, off to his own world again and leaving behind his loved ones in relative darkness. Chapter 318 (by Chroias) Zakurum walked along the streets of the new city. He could have headed for Agrabah, stayed with his sister for a bit, but it wouldn't have proved worth anything. Thanks to their mind link, Tristram had figured out long ago about her brothers controversial lifestyle and given only a simple smile. Having spent nearly a year knowing the most intricate secrets of each others minds, they knew all to well the acceptance that comes only from one's siblings. She had not, thank all Gods, told Daddy. Zak tossed his black pony-tail over his shoulders and smiled into the sunlight. It was a damn fine day outside. This tropical weather suited him just fine. For now it had struck him as the best thing to get as far away from home as possible, let the Citadel cool down, and find himself....a companion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefret controlled her giggling down to a minimum as Chroias sighed deeply. "Just one tornado after another hey minion?" she said in a weak and tired voice. Her hair had grown back a bit from the time when she'd cut it in order to reassert her individuality. It now hung in wild frays about her shoulders and she twisted her finger through it, thinking. Nefret bit her lip and hugged Chroias close. "It's called life my friend." she whispered in a small voice. "All we have is the choice to keep on livening it...or subject ourselves to the alternative." Chroias smiled. "You know.. sometimes I forget that you were trained as a priestess and scribe." "Yeah well...I try" she kissed her friends cheek lightly and Chroias returned the gesture. "Well...when are we planning to let Daddy dearest in on the good news?" she smiled as Chroias groaned. "Zak said not till his death bed...but when he comes home with a...friend...that will require explanation." Chroias rubbed her temples. "Nefret...did you ever...know anyone whose interests were separate from that of most young men?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mozenrath sat in his lab brooding until he heard the door behind him open. A soft female hand way laid on his and the wisp of green hair told him who was present. "Hello Chroias..."he whispered and kissed her. Chroias smiled and wrapped her arm close around him. "Mozenrath....are you alright?" He shrugged. "As alright as I ever am. I'm sorry I was being such a..." he tried to find the right words. "Over protective basterd?" she smiled when he popped her rear lightly. "No you weren't...you were just being a father." she hugged him tighter. Mozenrath sighed and pulled her up onto the windowsill to rest on his lap. "So what comes next m'love?" Chroias shrugged. "Who knows...we could always start by cleaning out the old lab..." she snickered as Mozenrath groaned. "Well it does need to be redone and now that Zak's on his own he will be needing some equipment." Mozenrath frowned. "Yes...very well....I'll have Nef clean it out tomorrow." He felt a sharp jolt of pain as Chroias's hand landed none to gently across his rear. "What!!" he looked her in the eyes. "Fine..I'll go down there tomorrow and HELP you two clean it out." Chapter 319 (by Nefret) A low voice came from behind a heavy cast green door. "May he rot!" Nefret hissed and leaned against the door, staring in awe at the piles and piles of junk that no earthly creature could need. For and Egyptian it was the worst wish to ask for, and never had Nefret implied it to Mozenrath, though all the horrid things he had done. Not till now. For this bright idea he deserved oblivion. The old lab was an impressive room, or could have been and would have been had it not fallen into such disrepair. The floor was like that of a mirror so that to walk on it you'd be afraid of sinking into the reflection. now it was covered in a good layer of brown/gray dust and only mirror like footprint were left as Nefret awaited the others. There were tables, and book shelves, and beakers, vials, strange workings of metal and wood, boxes, globes, crystals, jars and jars of bizarre contents, leafs of paper, and remains of some unspeakable animal in small cages. The room hadn't been cleaned in years and the smell of still water and choking dust collided in the air as the door swung upon. Nefret shifted the red turban she had wrapped about her head and set a finger on a stack of strange carved sticks, instantly they fell in shambles on the floor, a few fell apart at the disturbance. The sounds of the lord and lady of the house floated nearer to the doorway. They appeared in the door a second later and the look of apprehension shown on their face as they looked around. Neither of them remembered the room being this bad before, but since they had last left it the mess had seemed to breed. Ever the logical one Moze set out his plan. "We will make two piles. things to be resorted and one to go to Zak." "May I suggest a third?" Nef piped up. Glad to have someone ready for his plan Moze nodded for her to continue. "We'll call it 'useless crap' and just put EVERYTHING in it!" His face fell and he turned away, ignoring her existence on the earth. "Just hold something up and I'll tell you were it goes." And so Mozenrath's plan worked rather well, surprising given his track record. There were soon two heaping piles, carefully stacked and sorted, ready to be either re-archived into the old lab or to go to Zak. And yes even a small pile of 'useless crap' that Nefret took great pride in. "Hey! I didn't know we had one of these!" Chroias sprung up form behind a desk holding a metal swan that sprang to life and played a pleasant melody through the plucking of the metal feathers on it's outcast wing. Moze smiled at it and motioned to the 'to keep' pile. Nef sorted though a box of small crystals, dividing them as she had been told by clarity and color. Mozenrath, doing his part, dusted off what was to be kept, but mostly he dawdled and played with things he forgot he owned. Now that the smaller things were cleared the group moved on to the bulkier objects. Large caldrons were put on their side and rolled to a more suitable place, tables pulled out and dusted, and heavy pieces of furniture moved. All present put their back into moving a large cabinet to be chopped for kindling. The dust rolled into the air as the cabinet hesitantly moved away from the corner it had been catty cornered in. As it's shadow was pulled back Chroias peered into the dark corner. Now showing was a set of flat bed boards, set upright at an angle. A simple looking enough contraption with two metal cuffs at each side of the boards. "Well hello there." She breathed to no one inperticular. Moze raised an eyebrow and cocked a head to see. "Oh that." He growled. Nef joined them and tapped on the contraption. "And what's an evil lab without an evil streatcher!" she leaned back against the angled board and put her arms across her chest and hung her head to the side with tongue sticking out as if dead. Moze, glad for the distraction, chuckled and leaned against the other board, casually setting his arms at the side as the locks strapped themselves over his lower arms. "No no, like this. See?" he instructed. "Oh." Nefret followed suit and laughed as the straps locked down. Chroias rub her hands together and hunched her back, getting in the fun. "Their alive alive!!" She cried in an insane voice and did a little jig, knocking a stack of book over, which in turn fell upon a lever. "Oops" All at once the room seemed to fill with colors and the air charged. The smell of Nile mud mixed with sandalwood along with the smell of the eastern woods after the rain mixed with the velvet smell of darkness burst into the air and then evaporated. All was deadly still for a moment before Mozenrath and Nefret opened their eyes, looked at Chroias and then at each other. Bewilderment evident in their eyes. ((As a memo...to help avoid confusion in further chapters, if a characters name is done like this: Nef/Moze that means it is Nefret's spirit in Moze's body. If it is Moze/Nef, then it is Moze's spirit in Nefret's body. Consequentially, The body of Moze will have Nef's voice and the body of Nef will have Moze's voice. Lets hope you can keep up till then)) Chapter 320 (by Chroias) Within a few second both Nefret and Mozenrath had collapsed on the floor, out cold. Chroias rushed to their side. "Nef! Moze...guys are you okay?" she called out and started feeling frightened. A quick assessment of the two calmed her. They were out colder then snow, but alive and breathing normally, so nothing could be too wrong. Sighing she hauled Nefret up on her shoulder and took her back to her bedroom, brushing the Egyptians hair aside and covering her in a blanket. Next came Mozenrath. As Chroias hefted her lover onto her shoulders she made a short 'oofing' sound. "Honey.. after this...you go..." she started up the stairs. "On...a diet!" she growled and put the unconscious sorcerer on the bed. "Well...at least now you can't tell me your busy." she chuckled and slipped his clothing off, tossing it down the laundry shoot. She tickled his rib cage for a moment and left a glass of water beside the bed stand. "I suppose I'm going to be the one stuck cleaning the rest of the lab. If I didn't know better I'd think you'd orcastrated this intentionally!" she scolded and tickled much lower then his rib cage. Mozenrath shifted slightly and mumbled something. Chroias chuckeled, stood and walked towards the door, blowing him a kiss goodnight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nefret woke up and groaned. Her head was killing her! Even her spine felt like it was about to break in two with the slightest touch. "Chroias!' she moaned out and rubbed her face. Her hand suddenly stopped still. She felt over the firm full lips, then over the rather large nose. Then over the wide, almond eyes and onto the limply curl hair. With every fiber of her being she dreaded the next move. Keeping her eyes closed, Nefret looked down. And promptly covered herself with the sheets. Nef let out a long, low whimper. "Oh nonono!" she covered her eyes and stood up, wrapping the sheets around her. Slowly she made her way to the bathroom and stood, eyes closed in front of the mirror. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes wide. And stared into the face of Mozenrath. From the thick black hair to the bone hand down to the ...feet. Mozenrath. The urge to scream was killing her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mozenrath stood up at the side of the bed. "What the.." he looked around at the mix and match decorated room. "What am I doing in Nefret's room?" he wondered allowed and took a step forward. "And why am I so damn hungry all of the sudden?" his stomach growled. He put his hand to his tummy and frowned. "And I'm gaining weight!" he looked down past the two well shaped breasts... Mozenrath did a double take. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anubis slapped his paw out at an 'attacking' Mepho, knocking the kitten to the ground and holding him there. The small devil played with the paw, nipping and biting at it as Chroias plodded down the stairs. The demoness scooped her kitten up and hugged him gently, patting Anubis on the head. "Your mistress is in a spot of trouble. Might want to go up there and comfort her." she nodded upstairs and Anubis, ever the intelligent one, trotted up the stairs." And as for you you little trouble maker..!" she winced as Mepho clawed at her earrings. "You and I are going to make Nef and Moze some soup!" Mepho chuckled in his mind. 'If I'm correct, then that magical explosion I just heard upstairs is going to mean a whole LOT of fun around here!' he laughed outright and nearly coughed a hairball when Chroias plopped him down, her red eyes boring into his. "Did you just say something?" she looked into those mischievous green eyes and Mepho gave her a kittenish grin. "You did just say something..."she murmured. "Or maybe I just inhaled too much smoke from that blast..."she shook her head and groaned. 'Or maybe your finally starting to come about...'Mepho whispered to himself and again smirked when he saw her head turn in confusion. Chapter 321 (by Nefret) Anubis skipped up the stairs, his head bobbing and tongue hung out the side of his mouth as most dogs look when climbing up staircases. Having reached the summit he turned the corner and trotted down the hallway, the pillars passing him in a blur, the dog being single minded. With a quick nudge of his nose the door to the Red Room cracked open enough for the wirery dog to slip though. The plum headed girl stood in front of the full length mirror, muttering incoherently and tugging at her cheeks and hair. Anubis cocked his head at her unusual movements. She leaned in close to the mirror, right into her own eyes before rearing back and growling, spinning on her heels from the reflection and waving her fists to the sky. He was used to his mistresses cursing and liability to be on the aggravated side, but never at. herself. Moze/Nef took in a deep breath while combing fingers though his hair. now volumus in masses of curls wrapped around each other. he just had to calm down, just calm down. Worst-case scenario: he was in the body of his minion, he was a woman. at that Moze/Nef slapped his hands to his new wide mocha face and muffled a long whine. His noise was emulated by the dog as it licked the back of his mistresses knee. Moze/Nef jumped and screamed out, "Away from me dog!" The voice roared out of the feminine soft throat, powerful and masculine. It was his normal voice, not Nef's low honey ring. "Well at least I get to keep one thing my own." Moze/Nef muttered as he shifted his legs. ** Anubis fled the room. It looked like Nef, smelled like Nef, but didn't sound like Nef.. This would confuse even the smartest dog. Nose to the ground he followed the human trail to the master bedroom where he found the person of Mozenrath wearing a track into the carpet as he went hither and thither, not sure of what to do. Currently he noticed the sheet had long since fell off in the path behind him. With a little 'eep' the boy ran to the armoire and tore thought the clothing, finally pulling out a long robe that seemed to contain enough material to suit him. Anubis approached carefully, for he was not in the custom of being in close company with the sorcerer, but he had a feeling this time he wouldn't mind. Sure enough the male crouched down and hugged his neck. "Yes it's me boy." Came the low honey ring the dog knew so well. "Forgive me, I'm not quite myself today." Nef/Moze chuckled, on the verge of trashing the room, and stood back up. Nef/Moze teetered a bit, she wasn't used to being so damn tall! The floor seemed so far away and her center of gravity was now in a grossly different place. Not to mention there was a slight ache in her right hand. Anyone who would live with it long enough would not notice it anymore, but it was driving her to all ends. A thought occurred to her, if she had Mozenrath's body then hers was.. Apparently both switchies got the thought at the same time, for they nearly knocked each other down as they raced in the hallway to see one another. Moze/Nef growled and reached out to grab his minion by the shoulders, as he normally would to reprimand her, yet he found it was a long reach. With a gulp he looked up. His own body stood towering head and shoulders above him. By Allah he had forgotten what it was like to be so much sorter than someone. Not since childhood had he had to look that far up! Yet he now resided in Nef's body and saw from her perspective. If he hadn't been in such direr straits he would have noticed that from this view he was quiet intimidating, and taken pride in that thought. Nefret blanched for a moment as she looked down to her own body, now standing in front of her. We all see our own mirrors reflection but it's just so much different this way. Perhaps is she had not been in this situation she might try judging the size of her rump in a more effective way than craning her head around to look into the mirror, but than again her butt was the last thing on her mind then. Both of them pointed at each other and voiced simultaneously "It's me!" Then their faces fell at the sound of the voices. "Its you!" They stood silently for a moment, pointing at each other and staring dumbly. Slowly Moze/Nef opened his mouth A sound came from the stair, shooting terror into both of them. Oh boy would Chroias find this funny. With a panicked look Nef/Moze reached out and grabbed the smaller person that was now Mozenrath and pulled him into the closest room. Moze/Nef sputtered and struggled, not used to someone being able to out power him as such. The door was shut behind them and they began to pace in circles in thought, Moze/Nef rubbing his chin and Nef/Moze rubbing her now gauntleted hand. "Okay okay. we've just accidentally switched souls.Souls are the essence of a person, therefore I am still Mozenrath!" He seemed to brighten at that though. "No matter if I'm in the horrid state of womanhood I'm still the master of this house and." He thought out loud before Nefret took offence and grabbed him by the shirt front, which had much more dramatic effect now that she was bigger than Moze. "Horrid state?" She growled out though clenched teeth. "Oh no offence on your being, it's just that being male is superior." He stated as if it was common fact. His deep voice sounded so odd coming from the plump painted lips. Nef/Moze felt like punching him right in his shiny lined eye. but therein was the problem it wasn't his eye it was hers, and when she returned to her own body (which she determined would happen come hell or high water) She rather not deal with injuries she caused herself. Quickly she let him go. "Your words are as the buzzing of flies in my ears." She huffed and moved away. Moze/Nef clenched his fists and grabbed arm. "I don't care who's body I have I'm still master here!" He ordered, wavering a bit as he looked up to her eyes. Quickly he set his foot stern again. "I am Lord Mozenrath greatest sorcerer of our age and I will have my gauntlet now!" He thrust out his hand. Nef/Moze backed away and glared. "You shall not put that thing on MY body! I wont end up like YOU!" She cried and pointed her borrowed right hand. Moze/Nef crossed his arms, he hated to admit but she was right, he couldn't ask such a thing of her. Suddenly he grimaced and whined to her. "Will you kindly explain why I feel so hungry even though lunch was not even two hours ago! How much fuel do you need to keep this Volts Wagon of yours going?" Nef/Moze scowled at the insult as to her weight. "Oh look at me I'm Mozenrath the twig." She cried out in a high mocking voice while striking dainty poses and swinging her body as a woman does, for she knew no other way to move. "Look now I'm a piece of paper, a blade of grass, now I'm a stick." Moze/Nef grimaced as he watched her move his body with a bobbing head, limp wrist, and shifting her weight with graceful moves, which would have suited her woman body just fine, but on his body it just looked.. "Will you stop!?" With that sudden out cry Nef/Moze stopped, they both huffed and looked away for a moment, simmering in silence. Moze/Nef grumbled and absently shifted one side of his new chest, for he was not used to the.. Extras he now carried. This brought Nef back to a boil "Get your hand off those!" She raged and stamped her foot. Moze/Nef gave her a mocking face and shifted them both, shaking them at her direction quickly and sticking out his tongue. Nefret was in his face in a second, huffing and trying to control herself. "You may be borrowing it for a while Moze but all that is mine and I still have jurisdiction over it!" She pointed a finger inches away from his face. "I don't even want you looking down when dressing!" Moze/Nef smiled, a smart-ass smile, and tugged at the sleeve of the robe. "Well I wasn't wearing this earlier. I'm taking it you've had occasion to look down." A positively evil grin spread over the painted lips. A blush of anger. yes of anger I'm sure of it, rose in her cheeks and she pulled back a fist, not carrying if she would be denting her own face. With impeccable timing Chroias knocked once and opened the door, caring a tray of soup. Both occupants of the room eep'ed and tried to act normal. Chapter 322 (by Chroias) Chroias opened the door, her back turned as she carried the tray in and spun on a clawed heel. "Well there you two are." she murmured. "Help a demon out will ya!" she groaned and struggled with both keeping the door open and holding the tray. Just as it began to spill, a gloved hand shot out, steadying it." Well..." Chroias said in surprise. "Thank you..." she smiled and kissed Nef/Moze's lips lightly. A short half growlish sound came from Moze/Nef. The body of the sorcerer turned around suddenly and grinned. It was an odd sort of grin. It was on Moze's face, but had just a touch of Nef's cheeky smart-assishness around the corners. Suddenly "Mozenrath" took the tray politely from Roi and sat it on a table, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her passionately. Now there was a definite growl from "Nefret" .She suddenly gave a determined strut over to the sorcerer and shocked demon, seperating the both of them. "Alright alright!" Moze/Nef yelled out loud and suddenly remembered her voice. "Umm..." Moze/Nef gulped as Chroias looked at her oddly and Nef/Moze tried not to giggle. "Nefret" made a pretense of rubbing her throat. "The dust..." she explained. "It's got to me..." Chroias waved her clawed hand. "No biggie. A bath will clear that right up. I'll even let you borrow my sandalwood oil..." Moze/Nef smiled, directing it more at "Mozenrath." "Yes I think a bath would do me much good" The sorcerer's body suddenly pushed between them to. "No..." surprisingly enough the voice DID sound a bit like Moze's...not exactly, but not a bad try either. "I think Nef still has plenty of work to take care of in the lab." Chroias smiled and simply pressed herself a little closer to Moze. "Silly sorcerer. She can take a break..."The look on Moze/Nef's face turned to a grin. Chroias sniffed the robe suddenly and grimaced. "And so could you." she waved her hand in front of her nose. "I don't know what exploded down there but the BOTH of you need some serious scrubbing!" The look on "Mozenrath's" face looked exactly like what "Nef's" had been. "He" passed a now-we're-both-in-the-same-boat look. "Nefret" gave a stiff nod. "Well I suppose we do need baths..."she sniffed her clothing and made an ugh face. "Badly..."she turned and looked angrily at "Mozenrath", waiting for a moment as her face scrunched slightly. "If we can both promise to say NOTHING about it later." Nef/Moze nodded slightly, but with a slight grin. "Why Nef...you act as though something might be...inadequate about this situation." Chroias cocked an eyebrow at the both of them. "Do I even WANT to know?" she murmured. As both of them began to answer she held up a hand. "Nope! I'm positive I don't." she gestured to the bathrooms.. "Now for the love of Zeus the BOTH of you go get washed up!" She turned to walk away and suddenly grabbed Moze's arm. He'd been heading for Nef's bathroom. Again she arched a brow and "Moze" merely gave her a cheekish smile. "Ummm..oops?" he smiled lightly as Chroias dragged the body of Mozenrath from the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Moze/Nef sighed and looked about. Mozenrath had never really had a reason to look about in the room before and meandered about, curiously poking at his minion's things. "Where does she keep a robe?" he opened a drawer and pulled out a silky piece of undergarments of such a design that his eyes widened. He hastily shoved it back and closed the drawer, promising not to open it again. He checked the closets and fund a suitable white robe with small symbols on it that was obviously meant for bathing materials and began to take it down. As the robe came off the hook a small package fell at his feet. The hands of Nefret picked it up immediately and inspected it. It was nothing special looking, just a simple leather bound book wrapped up tight with a purple cord. Despite the fact that it was Nefret's, Moze's insatiable and hereditary curiosity got the better of him. "The Diary of Merit..." The name rung familiar and he flipped through the pages a little, waiting for it to click. A certain page had rather excitedly punctuated hieroglyphs and he paused for a moment to glance them. "My child is born. She is as beautiful as the violets of a sun set with the hair to match. I can feel my body growing weaker...My child suckles at my breast as I write these words. She is strong and healthy. I shall not live much longer...but I shall give her a name..." Mozenrath closed the journal and wrapped the cord around it again. He had no need to read further to know who it had belonged to. A cold feeling crept over the mocha skin and "Nef" shivered. "Her mother cared about her...wish I could say the same about mine... " He cut the thought off. No time for pity...not now. Sighing, Moze/Nef headed for the bathroom and began to undress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chroias groaned as the messenger demon handed her the message. "Are you sure this is ABSOLUTLY necessary?" she questioned the ugly little troll thing. It nodded. "Absolutely. Your father needs you on this one. The Styx is flooded with souls thanks to the recent Minotour slaying..." Chroias waved away the explanation. "Very well.. I'll leave my friends a note..." she quickly scribbled a message down on a sheet of paper. "Hopefully they'll get the idea." she groaned. "Daddy owes me big." Mepho suddenly hopped onto her shoulders as she began to walk out the double doors of the Citadel. "And where do you think your going?" she smirked and the kitten mimicked her gesture. "I still say you spoke to me you little devil." she murmured as a claw played with her earring. "Take care of 'em Anubis." she kissed the mutt good-by and headed for Tarturus. Chapter 323 (by Nefret) Little known fact: bodies are haunted. Like grand master houses of the soul they pick up resonate vibrations and soak up the atmosphere till every cell has it's own memory. And as with haunted houses new owners are not immune to the lingering tones that course from the body. Nef/Moze hummed, as she closed the door, so light was the haunting that she barely registered it, but it did in fact feel different to be Mozenrath. Now that she was alone she felt an odd chill, a forlorn feeling without being lonely perhaps. so hard to explain yet she narrowed her eyes, cast them down and ran a hand though her hair with slumped shoulders. With a sigh Nef/Moze cast out one now pale leg and started into the room. Mozenrath's changing room was elegant and handsome. She ran a gloved finger over the beveled edges of marble tables and the plush pillowing of upholstered stools. Only the best. While Nef was treated well her furnishings weren't to these standers. So she enjoyed the luxury she was borrowing. The soaps and bath oils smelled of heavy dark spice, eastern forests, and other such masculine scents. Not quite to her taste, and she considered going to get her own toiletries, but if Moze objected to her fliting his body here and there like a dancer he certainly wouldn't like her coming out of the bath carrying his body and smelling like Lotus blossoms. Laughing at the entire situation she slipped off the robe, careful not to look anywhere that wasn't absolutely necessary and spurning the mirror. She only hoped Mozenrath would be so kind. Breathing deep she slipped off the gauntlet and stopped.. Did anything ever look so different.. Mozenrath's hand had become mundane to her, but now she realized it was only because he kept it masked most of the time and because she could simply forget about it. Now it was hers and she could not cover it and forget it, she could not turn her eyes from it and pretend it wasn't there for the ache it caused, and she could not get away from it. For the first time since she first saw it she felt repulsed by the appendage and her stomach heaved as to jump from her throat. And then she closed her eyes, feeling guilty for her reaction. Who was she to feel so put upon when Mozenrath had carried this hand for years? No pity for Mozenrath, not ever! She had promised that, and Mozenrath would have slapped her if she ever did pity him. Perhaps she only now understood him a tiny bit better. "Walk a mile in a man's shoes." She smiled slightly as she slipped into the water, for whoever coined that phrase would have never envisioned it lived out so fully. **** Moze/ Nef hummed and slipped from the water, slipping in turn into the robe. Humming to himself he strolled back into the dressing room, in the adjoining Red Room Anubis raised his head from the bed and trotted down to see him. The dog was still most curious about this whole thing and still sought the attentions of Nefret's hands and old familiar things. "I still say that is the oddest place for a birthmark." Moze chuckled and dried his now purple hair. Quietly he wondered if he should put on makeup, for the old had washed off and, he noted as he looked in the mirror, Nefret's face looked almost foreign to him without black-rimmed eyes. But the had a foreboding that it would be a disaster, a big messy disaster so he left well enough alone. "Now for some clothing so Neffie doesn't slap me." Moze/Nef flung upon the closet and pulled one of her split side skirts halfway out. He rubbed the material between his now mocha fingers and grimaced. To a boy used to silks even second and third grade Egyptian linen felt rough. Her wrap top felt even rougher even though to anyone less discerning it would have thought it a fine garment. With a huff he flung open the chest containing old dresses from Egypt, muttering that somewhere she had to have something good enough to suit his standards, after all those shopping trips Chroias took her on that leached his pockets. The few fine quality linen dresses were, as Egyptian fashion prescribed, near see though. Another Egyptian dress that had been in great fashion in Nef's homeland was suitably soft but for the fact that from the waist down the front was open... "What are these people thinking?!" He huffed and shoved them back into the chest. Never again should a man complain about the length of time a woman takes to dress, for even the male minded Mozenrath took half an hour to find an outfit that he was happy with for his new female body. Nef/Moze was already down in the great hall, picking up the note, when Moze/Nef came down the stairs dressed in her one of her open front dresses which he had made appropriate by wearing her valumounus riding pants. As for Nef she had felt odd when she contemplated his fancy and pretentious customary outfit and so spurned it and choose crisp linen billowing pants under a straight lined tunic, both of a soft and clean black color. Nef/Moze opened her mouth as if to say something, but "Nefret" raised a hand to silence her and spoke in his deep voice. "Never to speak of it." Nef/Moze nodded and turned back to the note. "By Set and all the Devils sometimes I think that maybe, just maybe, we haven't fallen completely out of favor with the great gods." She sighed and handed Moze/Nef the note. He smiled also, if not a bit sad. "Well at least things will be easier now and we may drop this pretense." He stood proud and put his hands on his hips, looking with his old air even if he was in the body of his minion. He would be master of this house yet, and shall not give up his position, his possession, or his routine even if he lived it for now with the body of a slave. Nef/moze huffed and mockingly raised her hands in reverence and fear. "Oh yes great master. What shall we do now?" Moze/Nef paid no attention to her mockery. "The only thing we can do." He raised a finger into the air and puffed up his chest. "To the study!" Chapter 324 (by Chroias) Moze/Nef reached for a book on the sixth shelf and grimaced when he realized that it was unobtainable. He checked around behind him and saw his body comfortable nestled in a chair and reading through a Soul Transference for Dummies book. A scathing comment would have made him feel better, but he didn't want Nef realizing that he couldn't reach a bloody book. Crouching down a little, Moze/Nef jumped for the book. Unfortunetly "her" fingers barely grazed the bottom of the shelf. Huffing, Moze turned back around to make sure that Nef was still focused on the book. Again he crouched and made a higher jump. This time the tips of Nef's nails scrapped the spine of the hard leather cover. The book edged out a little, but didn't move enough. As Moze/Nef prepared to make another jump, a gloved hand shot out above the purple head and grabbed the book, taking it from the sixth shelf with ease and handing it down to the shorter person. "Need a hand?" Nef/Moze inquired and received only a short and ill intentioned mutter in return. Nef merely patted her body on the head and smiled at the look of death she was given. Moze/Nef thumbed through the book as she tried to concentrate. The growling in her stomach was absolutely frustrating. He grimaced and tried to continue working until again a gloved hand appeared with an apple. Again a murmur as he took the apple and nodded thanks to Nef/Moze. Damn this body and it's quirks. Nefret was noticing that her new body had it's own problems. To start with, Mozenrath's frame wasn't used to the style of sitting she preferred, Indian style with her legs all nice and crisscrossed. The muscles protested as she stood to take a look at another book. And then there was that aching in the glove. At first it had been a dull thudding, like someone hitting you with a pillow, but the pain was grating on her nerves now. It ached up and down as if protesting to the new essence involved in it's cycle. Nef/Moze removed the glove and rubbed the bone hand. Her bottom lip trembled. Moze caught the all to familiar grimace on his lush lips. He felt a twisting in his gut. The gauntlet knew that the essence in there wasn't the one it was used to. It was having the same reaction that white blood cells would to a foreign object. It was attacking. He walked over without thinking and took the boned hand in the slender mocha fingers in the same fashion Nefret had done for him so long ago. The shock on his own face was an amazing thing to see as he caressed the bleached digit till he felt the magic pressure in them relax. Nef/Moze waited patiently as the hand was massaged. A suddenly blush rose to her body's cheeks as Moze/Nef pulled away. Moze/Nef settled her stomach. Apparently Nef's body DID have an attraction to him...No...not an attraction...it didn't go that deep. More of..a care. The kind of feeling rushing through Nefret's body wasn't the typical male to female attraction. It was like one from a friend to a friend. The kind that you feel when someone you care deeply about is in pain. It made the body twitchy and worried. It wasn't something Mozenrath was used to feeling for anyone. Nefret saw the blush on her own cheeks and tried to figure it out. "Hey Moze...are you okay?" she asked gently. Moze/Nef waved it off. "Fine...stop stalling and get back to work!" he ordered, still the same ole Moze. Nefret scooped up the gauntlet off the floor and stared at it for a few moments, unwilling to put it back on. She tucked it into the belt and felt a slight ache return steadily to his hand. Nefret made a mental note to get some warm rags and a bit of opium for later. Mozenrath returned to the book and flipped through the pages silently for a few moments. It was a basic essence reference book, nothing exotic or out of the ordinary. "Misplaces souls. See Soul Transference." He groaned and flipped the pages. "Ahha!!" Nef/Moze looked over. "Did you find something?" "Not just something..." Moze/Nef took the book and searched frantically for a sheet of paper. Once that was procured, a feather pen came up. Mozenrath growled. He grimaced which still looked adorable on Nef's pudgy face. "We need a Truth Mirror." Nef/Moze scrunched up her nose. "A wha...?" Mozenrath smirked. "A mirror that shows the truth behind appearances. My mother was ever so kind enough to allow Aladdin to procure one a few years ago." he shrugged his shoulders. "With any luck he still has it hanging around." "Aladdin..."Mozenrath's face turned a slightly red color. "But that means we'll have to go to..." "Agrabah." Chapter 325 (by Nefret) Nef/Moze shook her head as Moze/Nef held out his hand, well her hand. whatever. "Nu huh. To risky." She said firmly. Moze/Nef huffed and dropped his hand. "Listen, I should still be able to use my magic no mater what body I'm in. The teleportation should be just as safe as it has always been. Now for the sake of Allah take my hand!" he jutted it out again. Nef pulled the lips of Mozenrath into a 'well just see' mope and took his hand. "That's better." Moze/Nef smiled proudly and flung his arm up. Nothing happened. Confused he looked at the arm his face fell. "Oh.. No cape." He mumbled. To her credit Nef/Moze held in a mocking laugh that was just killing her. Instead she draped a throw around him retook his hand. Trying again Moze/Nef whipped it up in a satisfying swish of fabric was gone.. Leaving Nef/Moze, who had smartly let go of his hand a second before, still in the library. Sighing she inspected her nails and counted down, "Three.. Two." Moze/Nef reappeared in the doorway growling. "I ended up beside the accursed Nile! And on the way back landed in the pantry!" Nef/Moze smiled pleasantly. "The heart wants what it wants." She sighed and breathed deep for he did now smell of fresh Nile mud. Moze/Nef raised a finger and shook it, mouth working in odd directions, as if he wanted to say something. Finally he gave up the ghost and turned swiftly on heels. "We're taking horses!" *** The horses slowed to a trot as they left the desert and entered building lined streets. Nef/Moze scratched the back of her head and gulped. Moze/Nef continued to ramble on. "..so don't let the cat out of the bag on this one! Oh if that street rat was to know that I'm now trapped in the common body of a slave girl.." He grimaced. "You seem to have my voice down pretty well, just act like me. Got it?" Nef's own sharp eyes shot a masterful glace at her. She had a hundred insults waiting on her tongue but relented, simply nodding. "I suppose I'll either have to learn to talk like you or keep quiet.. no keeping quiet is out of character, they'll know something's up. hum lets see. *clears throat* by Hathor! No that's not quiet it. *hack, weez* hey stick boy. almost. *throatier voice* yes 'o kind and merciful master. hey I think I got it. I don't know, what do you think Nef.. Did it sound like you. Nef?" Nef/Moze had stopped listening long ago, she only worried the reigns of her horse. "Uh yeah, sure thing." She muttered and waved the matter off. Suddenly she turned to Moze and slowed the horse. "You know you might just want to stay away from Aladdin." Moze/Nef gave an odd questioning look. Nef/Moze turned and started back up the street. "Just a thought. That it might be easier if you just didn't get into a situation where you would be alone.. or talk. at all." "Why Neffie, I do believe being male has gone to your head. Still you are in no position to order me." And with that he pulled his horse ahead and led her on. At the palace gate they were allowed in and announced. Both transferees seemed jittery as they waited to be taken to the throne room. But they could pull this off. Allah and Hathor bidding. A broad smile was plastered across the hero's face as they entered, real or face, that was unknown. "ah Agrabah's closest alliances!" He greeted. Moze/Nef swaggered in and waved his salutations away. "No need for formalities street rat." The performance was near on point! Aladdin laughed grimly at "Mozenrath" and sat back down. "Of course, never one for formalities." He turned his gaze on Nef, an odd gaze. "Neither, as I recall, is your minion." And something glinted in his eye, something Moze/Nef caught but was unable to identify, still it unnerved him. Taking Nef's normal lax pose Moze/Nef smiled slightly and pulled his now painted and plump lips into a smirk. "More riddles than the sphinx." Another performance near the target! Aladdin smiled again, one that unnerved him even more. "Well since you never come for friendly visits I'm taking it you need something?" Al sighed, only half annoyed by their appearance. "Not as dumb as we appear!" 'Mozenrath' chuckled. "Yes, we have a little request for something possibly held in your possession." Al raised a hand quickly to silence them. "True enough. And it's probably something of great value?" he didn't wait for an answer before rising, talking as he approached them. His form was slightly rambling but the swaggering way with which it was delivered was truly kinglike. He would twist this to his advantage yet. "Well then we can't exactly just relinquish it now can we? We'll have to hold a few counsels. I'm sure we can work something out. And if it is as you say, that I MIGHT have it, I will probably have to look for it a while. All this could take. days! So," He stopped and grinned broadly, a grin that seemed be, oddly enough to the sorcerer, cast at Nef. "You'll have to be our guest again for some time. No no, no arguments. I insist!" And with that he patted 'Nefret's' hand between his when 'she' raised it in protest. There was that glint in his eyes again. Moze/Nef gulped as his cheeks flushed and his heart speed up as if he'd just raced a mile. He searched for an answer.. One other than 'he was crazy.' It was this body! Nef's body... Moze had no time to dwell on his before they were ushered away to their rooms. Chapter 326 (by Chroias) Moze/Nef paced in his room. It was of course separate from Nefret's, but still that was a benefit. It allowed him time to think without interruption. He munched on a pastry and felt his stomach settled down. There were many thoughts that should have come to mind, but only one did. The one concerning Nefret's body's reaction to Aladdin's smile. THAT was a reaction between male and female due to attraction. Of course logic did contribute itself. Mozenrath was forced to admit that Aladdin WAS a handsome man. He couldn't truly blame Nefret's body for being attracted to him. 'The little slut.' He mused and grimaced. It was a horrid thing to say. Nefret wasn't really a slut, her culture was just expressive about their feelings. Still, he didn't like the way that smile from the hero had made the body react. He especially didn't like the sudden...sensation...that had drifted to certain areas. Just thinking it made the stomach flip flop again. Mozenrath shook and continued his thoughts until the door opened. His body walked in, looking rather nervous at that. Nef/Moze simply smiled and grabbed one of the creamy pastries for herself. "Umm yummy." she smirked and bit into one. Moze/Nef shook her finger. "Don't you go putting my body into the same sorry shape yours is in!" he snatched the for the pastry and nearly lost it when Nef simply raised her hand, bringing the sweet treat well out of her fingers reach. "Your body is already in sorry shape! Not due to eating pastries but rather for lack of eating period!" Nef/Moze smiled and a sudden thought came to her. "You know..."she smirked and looked down at her frame. "..I'm actually kind of glad this happened." Moze/Nef growled. "Why...so you can be taller then me and ruin my fine figure?" Nefret merely smirked. "No silly...because guess what time of the month it is for my body right now?" Mozenrath sat down...hard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jasmine walked past the room Nefret was in and tried not to hate the girl. Her son was suckling comfortably at a bottle. She pushed a bit of hair from his face and cooed at the child. He looked so much like Aladdin. Whispy curls of poofy hair already crowned his head. The shape of his face and the shape of his lips also bore resemblance to his father. But the almond eyes and nose came from her side of the family. She knew Aladdin still loved her. He told her so and proved it at every oppertunity. The times he'd saved her, the things he'd done for her. Not a piece of his body mind or soul had the capacity to make her feel unloved or unwanted. He showed the same affection to their child. Aladdin loved her, she was positive. But was it possible that he loved Nefret too... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mozenrath moaned as a cramp racked her body. "Oh...." several curses in old Farsi were sputtered out and he bent over, holding his stomach. 'I guess this makes up for Nef having to deal with the gauntlets pain.' he groaned and tried to stand up, only to feel a sharp pain and sit back down again. When Chroias had made Mozenrath into a female, her powers had removed all the nifty little things like periods and menstrual cramps and such. Now, for the first time, Mozenrath was experiencing why women always got so damn testy about once a month. A whimper escaped his throat. 'How in the HELL did Nefret deal with this crap!' He was tempted to go and ask the Egyptian, but wouldn't submit himself to seeing another smirk from that damn face. His damn face. 'No wonder she's always trying to punch me...' Another cramp tore through and Mozenrath lied down flat on the bed. Chapter 327 (by Nefret) Moze/Nef craned her neck back to stare at the fabric billowing from the vaulted ceiling. She was unused to receiving such fine rooms for her stay. Secretly she chuckled, for she knew the horror that was falling upon Mozenrath this hour, she knew her own body above all. She had also seen the blush on her own face when Aladdin had taken her hand, which was now in the possession of Mozenrath. Oh it was horrid horrid horrid! Nefret smiled broadly at that and drummed her fingers together despite the pain of the gauntlet. At that moment the smell of incense drifted into her fine room though the grand window and transported her back to a better time, a more innocent time when she roamed the perfumed halls of the life house of Hathor and was not evil and held no such contempt for people. How this life had hardened her! Never 10 years ago was she so cold, she had been warm yet ever sarcastic, and she didn't fear open emotion as she did now. She had been taught that fear. Nefret longed to be that young girl again, happy and free as she moved though the pillar lined hallways. However, young days slip by fast, and are hard to recapture in their full glory. She had grown old before her time, her heart jaded and head hardened. Nef/Moze sat down heavily. Maybe it was just this thin gangly body that made feel this way, either way it gnawed at her. *** Moze/Nef made a mulling sound and turned over in a ball, no sleep would come to him though he ached for it. The pain was inescapable and followed his every movement. Softly he panicked as the mattress beside him indented and the sheets rustled as someone sat down to his left. "It's only me." Came a soft low female voice. Moze/Nef felt relief and horror seize him all at once. With a sneer he turned to see his own body sitting beside him in the darkness. In the dim light of the moon he could see his own countenance turned in profile to him looking more peaceful than he ever imagined he could look. It was amazing to his himself that way, with no secret worry on his face, no crease in his brow and his mouth in a lazy peaceful smile. He himself could never put his face that way. Wavering he turned back around, for the sight was almost frightening. "What do you want?" Nef/Moze took a hot towel and arranged it on the small of the mocha back, which she bared for it was her own and she held no shame for it. "Your in pain. I know how to help best." It was so simple, and no insult was hidden in the words. Moze/Nef felt his muscles clench and he made to protest but Nefret suddenly grazed her fingers at the nape of his neck lightly over and over again, and immediately his eyelids fell heavy and all this limbs went lax. Damn this body and its quirks. They stayed for a while that way, Nef/Moze changing the towels over to new and hotter one every now and then until the pain eased. Then they simply stared into darkens. However, quiet moments like these between them never lasted long. In a lazy voice Moze/Nef ventured the question, for he was quite relaxed now. "You like the streetrat?" Nef/Moze felt her cheeks blaze. "It's none of your concern!" She growled out and balled the towels together. "It is. You are my slave and I have exclusive rights over ALL your life!" Moze/Nef grew angry now, relaxation fading and pain returning. "You always seem to forget you're a slave!" He turned suddenly causing Nef/Moze to jump off the bed and storm about. "And who has the weight of the anklet pulling at their leg now! Huh?" She pointed a gloved finger at him and shook it. "Now you feel it! Now you feel the weight of slavery pulling at you. Do you understand yet?" She sneered. "Of course not. You've never known oppression." Moze/Nef huffed. "Oh no?" The words wavered on his trembling lips. Nef shot a look at him and then, remembering and feeling guilty, raised her arms up and turned, not able to look at her own body anymore. Just about this time Aladdin had come up to the closed door and stopped once he heard the voices inside. The voices of Mozenrath and Nefret. Grimacing at the volume he pressed an ear in to listen. Nef/Moze crossed her arms and shivers. "You're a horrible man." She flinched, for the words were more to defend herself than to attach Mozenrath. "And you're a moralless woman!" Moze bellowed Nefret's borrowed face twisted in agony and anger and she rented her clothing. "I am not a woman to be despised!" Nef/Moze hollered out. Moze/Nef felt his heart tear but he couldn't stop his tongue, not where Nefret was concerned, and never could. "Lire!" came the low bellowing voice. Aladdin rushed from the door when the voices stopped suddenly and the heavy sound of feet burst forth. The doors slammed open, the form of Mozenrath stomping out and down the hall. Slowly Aladdin bit his lip and walked quietly through Nefret's room, to her form, huddled on the bed, back to him, heaving deep breathes. Moze/Nef closed his eyes when someone once again sat on the bed and placed a hand on his side, for he thought Nefret had come to her senses quickly and come back to make peace. "I heard he fight Nefret." Came Aladdin's voice. Terror stuck Mozenrath senseless as he realized who sat beside him. "Are you okay?" the hero questioned softly and reached to stroke her cheek. Chapter 328 (by Chroias) Aladdin touched Nefret's cheek gently and felt her tense under his scrutiny. "Why do you put up with him like that?" he questioned softly. "I can't possibly see how, after all you've done for him, he can treat you in such a way!" The hero's voice was a combination of anger and protective instinct. But his touch aroused something far more then protective from Nefret's body. "Go away Aladdin..."Moze/Nef said in the softest voice he could manage. Anything above that level might give something away. Mozenrath bunched up the covers around Nefret's body and looked away. Pain clenched his gut and he grimaced. Aladdin saw the pain and sat closer. "Nef...it's okay...I'm here..."he again touched her cheek gently. "I...I'll help you if you want me to...I'll take you away from him..." Something inside Nefret's body reacted to that statement. Perhaps it was his soul housed here, but Nefret's heart still beat strong within the breast. That emotion combined with the pain of menstruation as well as the recent fight with Nefret/Himself overload made something come lose inside. Aladdin slowly stroked the purple hairs as Nefret cried on his shoulder. He knew it wasn't anything he'd done... but it made him nervous all the same. Seeing a woman cry always hurt some part of him inside. "It's alright..."he whispered in a soft voice and felt Nefret quake slightly. "Nefret...please...tell me what he did...if that basterd has hurt you..." Mozenrath suddenly jerked away, a bright red appeared on his cheeks as well as fear and appalling at what he'd just done. "It's the body..." He promised himself and sat back away. "He didn't do anything...we just yelled..." still Moze/Nef kept the voice soft...it might sound like fear...but it was a risk worth taking. "I know.. I heard..." he nodded to the door. "I want to..." he tried to piece the words together correctly. "I wanted to thank you for last time..." he said suddenly. Nefret facial expression didn't change. "Last time..." she whispered. It didn't take a geniuses to figure out what had happened between his slave and the hero. But that didn't make things feel any more comfortable. 'He'd better not think he's going to get a repeat of that time...!' Mozenrath thought with sudden ferocity. Aladdin leaned in gently and noticed it when Nefret leaned away. "I'm sorry..."he stated and Nefret shook her head. "It's not t-t-that.." She said in a hurry, searching for an excuse. "It's just um..umm.." another cramp brought up the perfect solution. "It's my...time of the month." Aladdin backed up and sat on the edge of the bed. "Oh...ohh I'm sorry...I can have some hot cloths brought up if you like.." he offered and Nef shook her head yes. "It'd be nice of you.." she tried a little braver and managed a soft smile at the hero. That was a move Mozenrath would find himself regretting for a long time. Aladdin's lips pressed briefly to Nefret's. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nef/Moze paced back and forth in the room. After what she'd done...after she'd taken the time to help HIM out!! After that and he couldn't so much as give her a single word of thanks!!! Not so much as a grumbled reply that sounded like gratitude! Nefret paced over to the mirror and stared at Mozenrath's face. She grimaced and watched the nose twitch into that funny little position. She sneered and Mozenrath's face mimicked it's usual arrogance. Right now she felt like slapping this face... She rubbed her cheek...that hurt like Hell. Sighing she bit down on an apple and munched violently. "If nothing else Moze is at least going to gain a little weight during this thing." she growled out and stuck her tongue out at the reflection. It looked so damn funny...she cracked up laughing and nearly choked on her apple. Feeling a little bit better, she lied down on the bed and listened to the sounds of the night settling in. So far nothing had gone too very wrong. Aladdin still didn't know about the switch...they'd have the mirror soon enough...and all would be well. She heard voices from the room next to hers and froze when she realized it was Aladdin speaking with what sounded like a whispering Mozenrath. She was caught between insane laughter at what Aladdin might try to go for while he still thought it was her, and insane fear at what Mozenrath might do to him for it! There was a sudden silence and her nerves got the better of her, she bustled over to where her body was housing itself. Chapter 329 (by Nefret) Nefret slid though the doors in Mozenrath's body just as Aladdin slipped his lips from Moze/Nef's mouth. Eyes wide the hero snapped his head to see the wirery form of Mozenrath in the doorway looking just as shocked as he did. Moze/Nef had a horrible aghast expression as his splaid fingers slowly rose nearer and nearer to the streetrat's throat. Al was oblivious to the threat nearing as he continued to watch 'Mozenrath'. Nef/Moze cringed as her own fingers made to wrap around Aladdin's throat. In her deepest voice, "Slave!" And with that Nef/Moze rushed forward and grabbed the taunt hand and pulled the girl's body off the bed, dragging her sputtering hell-bent form safely away. The body of Nefret kicked and clawed the air, trying to get back at Aladdin but to no avail as the stronger arms of Mozenrath's body, now posed by Nefret, pulled him across the floor and spun her around on her knees, letting her drop to a heap. Aladdin was unaware his life had just been saved from the straggling caress of the mocha fingers and viewed the whole deal as an out and out act of abuse. "How dare you, you yellow Jackal!" He growled out before charging forward and hitting "Mozenrath" squarely on the jaw. Nef/Moze shot a hand to her mouth and blinked several times with vacant eyes.. That hurt like hell! Slowly she sawed her jaw back and forth like a cow and gave a small smile. It was the sediment that counted, he had made to protect her. or who he though was her. ah it was all so confusing. Moze/Nef stood up with as much dignity as he could scrounge up from the situation. An evil idea was forming in his brain, oh big surprise. Sure he had just had a fight with Nefret and he should be doing his best to get back on her good side.. That would be the normal train of though of a sane person. Mozenrath however just couldn't help himself when it came to his minion. As it was her job to taunt him so it was his to hinder her in anyway possible. If you didn't know these two you'd think they were mortal enemies. Ah, he'd make it right later, he always did. "Nefret" suddenly fended weak feminity and raced to cling to Aladdin's arm. "I wont stand more of your abuse Mozenrath!" Moze/Nef hissed in a low voice, shooting a smart-ass smile to the body of Mozenrath. "I wont let you put your hands on my again! You wont have me as your punching bag. Oh Hathor make the abuse stop." His small pleading voice was over done and too melodramatic to be believed by anyone but the slightly naive hero. Aladdin exerted all the characterizes of an over protective male, pushing Nefret's body behind his own and growling deeply at the form of Mozenrath. "You wont hurt her again!" He growled and pulled back a clenched fist. Nef/Moze sputtered in expiration, looking from her own body, smiling and tinkering her fingers at her from behind the bulky body of Aladdin, and then to the hero himself. Nef/Moze managed to lower her voice again and protest. "Now hold on one moment! There's no need.' The fist landed again in her face. Nef/Moze mulled and backed up, holding her cheek. "Come one.." Another swing was narrowly missed. "If you'll just listen." Nef/Moze cut off as she ducked quickly, Mozenrath's body protesting to the sudden leaps and bounds she was making, damn it she was going to start in on a stretching program! "She lies!" Nef/Moze growled out and received a smarting blow. "Owwww!" Escaped Nefret's high pinched cry. Aladdin seemed caught off guard at the high voice. Nef/Moze's eyes shifted for a moment, had she blown her cover.. not yet. Sniffing and clearing her throat like a man Nefret stood up straight and dusted off her shirtfront with all the pompous attitude of her master. In a deep voice, "Now now, this isn't boding very well as to our upcoming bargaining conferences. I suggest we all just retire to our rooms and meet in the morning, fresh and new." Aladdin huffed but relented. "Alright." He opined a finger inches from Mozenrath's nose. "We'll meet in the morning to bargain." And with that he turned around to march heavily to the door, stopping to caress 'Nefret's shoulder. Nef/Moze followed him out, giving Moze/Nef a look of death and mouthing to him, "You are in sooo much trouble you don't even KNOW!" And then the two "men" were gone and Moze in was left alone in the room and alone in Nefret's body. With a growl he fluffed a pillow to near disrepair and whipped off his mouth with a blah. 'Aladdin and Nefret.. Really.' He thought with a sneer. He'd thought it bad enough when that riffraff Don had used his property, now the hero was stealing away his belongings.. It was robbery I tells ya robbery! Chapter 330 (by Chroias) Moze/Nef tossed and turned on the bed, the cramps still seeing his stomach. Once he remembered what Nefret had done he removed the top again and managed to settle the hot cloth on Nefret's back. The soul confused thing let out a low sigh. It felt good. Wonderful in fact Only down side was that it made him drowsy. Too keep awake, Mozenrath continued brooding over the Aladdin/Nefret issue. Truthfully, he wouldn't have minded so much...if it hadn't lead to that kiss!! Never in his entire life had he felt so...so...humiliated. And the sudden desirer to strip the street rat of all his flesh was amazing. The cloth turned cold and he replaced it with a new one, haveing to shift the breasts slightly and find a new position. He didn't like having to touch Nefret's body,but the fact was that daily necessities had to be taken care of. Everything from food and drink to bathing. The small comfort was that Nefret was having to do the same in his body. Somehow that was no comfort. ~~~~~~~~~~ Nef/Moze rearranged the flap of clothing with the gold spirals on it and grimaced. Damn natural body functions! She huffed and flopped down on the bed, rubbing her jaw. She swore up and down to mutilate Mozenrath once he was back in his own body! And she'd meant every damn word she'd said to him! Of all the impertinence! Acting as though she had no right to her own body! By Hathor she WAS a Priestess of the Goddess of Pleasure!! To avoid the affection of her body was damned near a sin! And it was NOT like she went out and bedded every man on the streets! Three lovers... She was nineteen now and only three real lovers had gotten the joy of becoming a bedmate to her. Lucas, Don, and Aladdin. That did NOT make her a moraless woman. And of all the PEOPLE to talk about being without morals! She looked at Mozenrath's face in the mirror and stuck her tongue out at it. It felt good to be able to do that too his face...very very good. And who is he to call me a slave anyhow? What does he know about slavery? When has he ever had to submit? A flash of gold in the outfit caught her eyes and she stared at it for a while, watching the light patterns swirl around and around. The effect was hypnotic. Soothing even... One of the few things a person hopes never to experience in their life the act of being forced into contact with another. And even worse, to relive that moment through their own dreams. Though a dream stays with a soul for all eternity, the body is the part that remembers the feelings it had experienced throughout it's life. And no feeling is worse then pain. No memory is worse then that of someone you hate. Nefret recognized Destane's horrid face the moment she saw it. She shot awake in the bed, beads of sweat dripping down her forehead and slicking back the lush black hair. She hadn't had a full dream, just the kind where bits and pieces come together. Enough to wake a person. Suddenly the room felt so incredible cold, despite the temperature of this body. Mozenrath's face looked wretched in the mirror, the eyes wide and pupils small, the little twists at the corner of his mouth opened and humiliation shown on his cheeks. She'd never seen him after a dream had occurred, and Chroias had never described the moments to her. He looks so terrified... A small, delicate hand landed on the shoulder. She didn't even have to turn to recognize her own fingers. "I came in to talk to you..." Mozenrath's voice said softly. "I know what I look like when I dream about that..." There was a note in the voice she'd never heard before...maybe...tenderness? It was impossible to tell. "So what...you decided to let me dream it out? Know how it feels?" she snapped. Moze/Nef scowled, makeing the present face looked unattractive. "For your information I woke you up!" she spun on her heel, fists clenched and began to walk out the door. "Wait!" Moze/Nef turned and saw his own face. Flushed with color, sweating and terrified. How many times had Chroias had to hold him tightly and kiss him? How many times had he just barely held back tears in her presence? No one, no matter who the person...deserved that. Nefret had the good fortune of copulation with men she appreciated and who returned the appreciation. Never had her pride been threatened with something had bending as force. He hated her for that. And he envied her for it. "What?" He asked, not sure of how to place his tone. Chapter 331 (by Nefret) Nef/Moze gave a deep sigh, Turing from him and ruffling the black hair upon her borrowed head. "Just wait... Don't leave me alone again." Nef closed her eyes and grimaced, she shouldn't have said that. Never EVER let them know when your weak, it was a policy that had served her well. Moze/Nef nodded, slipping into a chair. "Alright." And no more did he say. Nef/Moze made a small pacing circle before taking a chair of her own, sinking into the cushion across from him, eyes closed and sighing tiredly. There was a long moment of silence before Nef/Moze put her head in her hands and gave a musing smile to her own body. "Well here we are sorcerer. On the other side of the fence, through the looking glass, in each others place." She pulled her eyes away and shook her head. "I know you now, yet I don't. I've seen your scares, yet I don't feel them. I've looked though your eyes, yet I cant see from your point of view. We should understand each other now, yet we do not. And the one question I hoped to answer is still a mystery, why do we treat each other as we do?" Moze/Nef looked serious now and tilted his head. "So it has been and so it will ever be." Moze did his best to mimic her voice, then retuned to his own. "That is what you Egyptian say is it not? It is your nature to dislike change. Ah Egypt, where everything stays the same forever to eternity. Perhaps I have a bit of Egyptian blood in me also." Nef/Moze smiled and stood up, slowly padding to the window. "All evil comes out of Egypt." Her voice barely a breath. Mozenrath stared at her for moment, not understanding. "I also dreamed." He finally said. "Oh? And what did you see from my minds eye?" Nef/Moze asked without turning from the window. "Bits and scraps pulled from the fibers of your body. I saw a red river, I saw alabaster and gold ablaze in heat vapors, I smelled alcohol, I saw the ebony face of a Nubian woman and felt terrified.. That I might be her." Mozenrath's voice fell off in confusion. Nef/Moze nodded, they were whispers of her own dreams. The smell of alcohol invading the evening air of her home. The prospect of ebony.. Mozenrath's voice came again. "What did you see?" "Flashes of emotion. A face.." And there she was at a loss for it was all so blurred together. Moze/Nef made a rough groan and ran a hand through the purple locks, ah well he remembered. Slowly he let his hand fall down. "You have a ridge scar on the back of your skull." He stated simply. Nef/moze nodded. "I needed to be 'sedated' when Uncle donated me to the temple." She said calmly. Moze raised a head to look at the back of hers, but said nothing. "You have faded scares on your back." she continued. "Whip." Moze said gravely. Nef nodded and swallowed something forming in her throat. Moze/Nef rose from his chair and walked to where his own body stood. Nef/Moze shot out a hand, pushing back at his shoulders. "At an arms length?" Moze/Nef questioned with a smirk. Nefret dropped her hand and Moze took a single step forward. Another round of silence as they both looked out the window. "We need to get that mirror soon." Nef finally said. "So we can go back to normal." Moze/Nef only half questioned. "So it has been so it will ever be." Nef/Moze nodded at the sad truth. "Foolish Egyptian." Moze/Nef laughed deeply, breaking the blue funk between them. "Twiggy." Nef/Moze assed off. Then they both fell from the window, chasing each other with excited crying insults and deadly pillows in hand. Down in the archives Aladdin pulled a heavy cloth off a mirror, letting the dust fly. With a little smile he looked in the reflection. "I'd give it to you Nef for nothing if you'd only take up my offer." Al said in a small voice, half to himself but almost thinking she would hear it. Chapter 332 (by Chroias) The dawn finally came. And a more unusual sight for it's vibrant lights could not have been asked for. Mozenrath's body lay nestled against that of Nefret's. Anyone with stupidity present in their brains might have assumed the two were involved somehow. But that could not have been the case. Both subjects were fully clothed without so much of a fiber out of place. One was on top of the sheets with the other underneath them. You could not have painted a more innocent picture of the two. Moze/Nef's arm was wrapped slightly around his own body, more of a comforting pose then anything else. Both looking as though they'd had the most comfortable sleep in their lives. Moze/Nef was the first to open his dusky hazel eyes. With no small amount of shock he saw his own face sleeping peacefully and discovered a nearly insane though. We didn't....! It didn't take more then a moment to wipe that thought away. Sighing, he shook his body awake. Nef/Moze came around with a yawn and a muffled growl. "Is it morning already?" she hummed and saw where she'd fallen asleep. "Oh....!" she backed away, a look of shock momentarily present. "Nothing happened." Moze/Nef promised. "You asked not to be left alone. We slept together, but only in the most literal sense of the word." he assured her. Nefret looked doubtful. "Are you SURE nothing happened...?" "Well you did try to cop a feel off me around midnight ...kidding!!!" he yelled out as a look of pure terror crossed his own features. "Nothing...we were both dead to the world...I promise..."he stood and washed Nefret's face free of overnight oils. "There's something I've been meaning to mention to you..." he turned around. "The first night this happened...I...I was looking through your closet for clothing..." Nef/Moze blanched. "I swear that underwear was a gift!" Moze/Nef laughed ,a clear laugh, one Nefret's wasn't used to hearing. "No...no not that...I...I found your mothers diary." The expression there was hard to read. "You...you had no right to look in it..."a low whispered comment. "I didn't read it all...just took a glance." He promised and could see his eyes scrunch at the corners, like...like she was about to cry. "And I put it back where it was..." Something inside Nefret was seizing up. A very, very uncomfortable feeling. Her mother was a subject she had never mentioned before...and she certainly wasn't about to bring up the topic now. Not with him... "Well be late, I'm sure the new Sultan will want us to join him for breakfast." she whispered and immediately began to act as Mozenrath would, storming from the door. Mozenrath felt a deep burning somewhere inside his new body. Not a painful sort, just...worry. He tried to shove it away, but it remained, nagging inside somewhere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jasmine was cooing softly at her son as the guests entered. This being the first chance she'd actually had, Nef/Moze took a moment, looking over the baby, her heart swelling up. 'Must...keep...control...must...not SQUEEL!' It must have taken every last bit of control she had, but she kept dignity present. Moze/Nef on the other hand, felt the results in his body push up in Nef's and promptly squealed at the sight of the child. The mocha cheeks turned bright red but continued making smiles at the baby. There was something absolutely IMPOSSIBLE about controlling a female body when a baby was involved. The look on Jasmine's face was a somewhat confusing one. She was obviously being polite to a respected guest, but..."I know about you and Aladdin..."she whispered quietly. Chapter 334 (by Nefret) Moze/Nef was still Mozenrath in essence and did not let his expression change. Instead he petted back the babies black hair with mocha fingers and said simply. "I suppose you would." Jasmine was up off for an answer to that one and simply bundled her baby closer, inching him away from the brown fingers. "I have not yet found a way to feel for you Nefret." Moze/Nef drew upon his knowledge of his minions more pious side. Sounding a bit like Nefret given a cold. "Let your Ka be appeased, that at the moment of my birth the Seven Hathors gathered around my cradle and spun a tale of what fates I may fall upon. To Anubis I tell what path I have chosen and my heart will be heavier upon the scale for it. You shall forgive me as I shall forgive myself or I will give myself to the Great Devourer and throw myself into oblivion and be nothing, for far better be it to be nothing than to turn a great door upon my eyeball." at this he cast the plum head up and made the holy sign of Amoon. This had its desired effect. Jasmine was completely thrown off. She blinked several times at the gobbly gook. She understood not a word of it but tried to cover her ignorance by clumsily making the configured sign back and looking off into space, trying to understand what had just been said. The form of Nefret sat down two chairs down from the head of the table on the left. Mozenrath from took the seat at the immediate left of the head. Nef/Moze cast a look to the dumfounded queen and leaned in to whisper in the her own ear, "Impressive, ever thought of becoming a priest?" The painted lips of Nefret gave a laughing smile. "Not a chance in hell." He was cut off as Aladdin entered and scooted back his chair, sitting heavily, more kingly than anyone had ever seen him before. "Are we prepared to deal?" He asked the sorcerer. 'Mozenrath' sat back and nodded. "We were only waiting on you, street rat." Boy, Nef was getting better and better at this pretence, it was almost scary. Aladdin nodded once and leaned forward, clasping his hands together on the table. "I have the object you ask after but I have a set of demands." With that he looked down and cleared his throat. "One, You shall not try to conquer the lands held between Kush and India. Two, one tenth of your Mumluk army is to be disbanded. Three, you will pay a fee of 30 pounds gold to help the debt you dealt this city. Four..:" The body of Nefret was shaking in anger; finally Moze/Nef forgot her act and stood up pointing a finger. "That's ridiculous!" Everyone looked at 'Nefret' cockeyed. Realizing his mistake Moze/Nef coughed a few times and returned to the higher voice. "I mean it has to be more then 30 pounds debt." And 'she' sheepishly sat back down and Al gave a gentle smile and motioned for her not to worry. "Four." He contained. "Hence forth trade routes will be allowed to pass through the Land of the Black Sand. And finally Five," Aladdin stopped to smile at the face of Nefret. "Once a year your minion will be given a months vacation where she may travel uninhibited at her own will." The body of Mozenrath sat back in its chair and opened it's mouth. "Well that sounds.." The pale mouth suddenly clasp shut in apparent pain. Under the table Nef/moze rubbed her now sore leg. "What I mean is I'll have to deliberate." And so they all stood at the same time, nodded to each other and left, the feet of Nefret hitting the floor a bit to harsh as grumbles escaped her mouth. From there the bodies of Mozenrath and Nefret wondered to the garden. In the relative safety of the midway of a shrub maze Moze/Nef let out a curse and slashed a hand though the greenery. "Who does the street rat think he is!" He hissed and crossed his arms. Nef/Moze strolled along in thought. "All in all he didn't ask for much. One tenth of the mumluck army is nothing! You can make 30 pounds of gold in a night. Trade routes though the land are an annoyance." "No lands from Kush to India!" Moze/Nef hollered. "You conveniently left that one out! That is unacceptable, perhaps no lands between the Atlantic and Kush, but not land east of that." "That's why it's called negotiation." Nef/Moze remained. "Agree to the disbandment, the fee of gold, set trade routes to the extreme north of our land and then bargen to loosen up on the land restriction." Moze/Nef slowed and looked up at his own body, blinked once and hummed. Perhaps it was now because she had the body of a male, or maybe it was the fact that they had let down their defenses last night, but Nefret no longer seemed like the illogical brash imp of a girl he thought he'd known. The veil he's placed on her he's peeked under, and beneath it she was an educated woman from a higher variety of life he's placed her in. He shook his head. "Yes, that was my thought exactly." He lied. "You know me to well." Moze cleared his throat and walked ahead of her, direction the turns they made in the maze, knowing already how to get to its center. "Sadly so." Nef/Moze fell in behind him, hoping he knew where they were going because one shrub wall looked the same as the next to her. "Wonder what Chroias is up to." Nef/Moze sighed to herself. "Knowing dear Roias, kicking major tail." Moze/Nef chuckled, brining a whimsical smile to the lips of Nef/Moze. "Ah. we aren't going to tell her about any of this. are we?" Moze/Nef gave a worried look to his own body. Nef/Moze seemed appalled. "Lie!? To my best friend? Never! If she happens to ask if we accidentally switched bodies, went in Agrabah and fell asleep together I'll tell her the truth. Otherwise I wont bring it up." The body of Moze breezed of with a cool shrug. "I say the chances of that question coming up are a trillion to one. Wouldn't you say so?" Moze/Nef chuckled. "We need to get you out of that body, your starting to THINK like me." "Noooo!" Nef/Moze gave a melodramatic yell and was quickly batted on the head by her own hand, now in the control of another. "Hey it's not so bad to think like me, it gets you ahead in a cruel world."

"No, It's just bad to dream like you." That shouldn't have made it past her train of thought but it did. There was silence for a moment as they walked deeper and deeper in to the maze. Finally Moze opened his borrowed lips. "I didn't dream last night." Moze/Nef said simply as they came to the center of the maze, a pool teaming with giant eastern fish. "At dinner we'll continue negotiations, you'll have to tell me what you want said." Nef/Moze reminded. "I have yet to think on it. And don't think I've forgotten about that last demand. I know what he's doing. He's setting it up for you to disappear on me!" "Awww, I'd never run away!" Nef/Moze made her eyes big and shiny, than a broad grin crossed her face, crinkling her eyes. "Because I know if I did you'd hunt me down like a dog and kill me painfully." "Hell yes!" Mozenrath laughed and started to lead the way back out of the maze. Chapter 335 (by Chroias) Nef/Moze humphed as Moze/Nef pushed her into the room. "I don't like it...not one single bit!" she argued as he forced her to sit on the bed. They'd discussed what she was to say and what he'd begin negotiations with. Of course settling for the first offer would have been ridicules. They needed that mirror desperately, but to appear as though they needed it THAT desperately would be beyond foolish. So Mozenrath's forever scheming mind had brought up a solution. One that Nefret was not at all pleased about. "We haven't much option Nefret. I'm getting so damn tired of swinging my hips every minuet of the day! And..." he grabbed a pastry from the basket in the room and munched. "And I'm sure you've gained five pounds since we've switched." "But the way you said it! It makes me sound...." she grimaced. "It makes me sound like a lady of the evening!" she pouted and flung herself on the bed. Truly what he'd said had been cruel. Part of what he'd insisted they ask for was...financial compensation for Aladdin's night with Mozenrath's minion. "You're more of a whore then I am Mozenrath!" she spat out at him. The look on Nefret's pleasant face mimicked Mozenrath's perfectly. "And how exactly am I to be defined as a whore?" Rage was building up inside. "I have Chroias and am quite content with her thank you very much!" he spat out. Before she could stop herself, Nefret spat out. "Betcha thats not Distane's point of view!" Dead silence fell over them both. Moze/Nef's eyes grew wide and a stunned gasp of breath was the only interruption. Those pretty lips were opened wide and the bottom one trembled slightly, Nefret could see the welling of tears behind her sweet brown eyes and could tell she'd taken the fight to far. "Moze...Moze it's this body...I can't help it...I'm getting all these feelings off of you and ..." She didn't stop him from smacking his own face. She rubbed Mozenrath's cheek as she saw her body disappear from the room, racking with controlled sobs. 'You absolute idiot!' She screamed inside her mind. 'By Hathor you tactless woman you KNOW how it hurts him!' But it was more then just that...it was the sudden realization of how deep her words were taken. Distane was the one part of Mozenrath' life where he'd been completely vulnerable. Where he'd shut his mouth and taken it quite literally lying down. Something like that could break a person's spirit eternally. Yet he'd persevered...but... Nefret allowed herself to feel what Mozenrath's body knew. He thinks of himself like that...he feels like he should have run away or tried to stop sooner....Hathor have mercy he actually thinks of himself as a whore!' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'I will NOT let those words effect me! I will not!' Moze/Nef disappeared into her room and tried to control the chocked crying inside. 'It's being in this DAMNDABLE female body!! Hormones and cramps and all this estrogen....'Another sob tore out and Mozenrath felt like throwing himself off a balcony. He knew it was a foolish thing...if there was one thing Distane taught him, it was that crying was utterly useless... He forced Nefret's body to stand straight and started pushing the tears away. He would not cry!! No way possible! As he'd been taught to do so many years ago, Mozenrath let the wall begin to build itself around him. No emotion, nothing allowed to interfere with him in any way. He felt a sort of coldness in his chest somewhere and continued, letting it drip down Nefret's body. No tears...never any tears. 'Oh Allah how much I wish Chroias was here...' No!! None of that....that was weakness too! He was a fool for dwelling on something this stupid for so long! It happened, he couldn't change the past, whats done is done. And oh how it still hurt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aladdin and Jasmine spoke to one another in soft words. It was a difficult thing, true love... "I know about it Aladdin...and I know you still love me...it's just." Aladdin held Jasmine close. The baby boy lay asleep in his cradle, comforted by blankets and protected by his mother and father. "I won't. If you tell me to stop...if you tell me you don't want me to...then I won't..." Jasmine shook her head. "I couldn't stop you from it love. She's a good woman...a well respected one among her own people. It is your right as Sultan to have more then one woman..."she tried her best to be diplomatic about the whole thing. "My only question is this...can you handle who she belongs to? She IS Mozenrath's ...we've offered her escape before...and she hasn't taken it. Even when she believed him dead she grieved for him..." "Your suggesting that...that I may not be her only partner?" The very though sent shivers up the hero's spine. When they'd first met, Jasmine had asked Nefret if the relationship of slave to master was of a bed partner nature and the priestess had laughed at the idea. But then again...that had been nearly three years ago...and Nefret was an attractive woman. "But Chroias would never allow such a thing. I don't know her very well...but she doesn't seem the type to allow Mozenrath another to love." "I know...but appearances can be deceiving, Aladdin. Mozenrath...for all we have known him as...still signed the treaty with Agrabah, still protected his family and his children, still was willing to give his life for Nefret and Chroias..." Jasmine hadn't yet decided on the point she was trying to make. Perhaps she was merely attempting to bring a bit of reality to the situation. "She belongs to Mozenrath...and if he does agree to the month off...you know he'll figure it out soon enough as to the nature of your relationship being more then friendly." Aladdin rubbed his temple. So many complications. "No one ever said love was easy..."he smiled and kisses Jasmine passionately. "We know that better then anyone I love you Jasmine..."he promised before she could speak. "Nothing could stop that...not in a million years..." "But is it so wrong to love another?" she smiled and accepted his embrace of her. Chapter 336 (by Nefret) Mozenrath sat in a window seat overlooking a little hidden courtyard. His borrowed smooth mocha face was still and emotionless. Perhaps his essence was finally permeating into the cells of Nefret's body, changing its look. All emotion had been pulled deep inside and held in a little box. What remained was a strictly rational bare bones skeleton of a person. That was Mozenrath's best way of coping, the only one he knew, to be distant and numb. Nefret had no right to say what she said. He still couldn't believe the words had passed her lips. Allah forgive him, the past few days he'd let his feelings of her change, even if he didn't show it. Being in her place brought them closer together no matter if they wanted that imminence or not. In just the last few days he'd allowed. Allah forbid, emotions for her to show. Look what it had brought! Look what happened when the wall came down! Arrow whizzed over the lowered defense, striking him in the heart. And the archer? The one that had beguiled him into opening up! The little innocent eyed witch. Emotion was weakness, and weakness was naturally pounced upon by others. Well no more would he open the case of ice around his heart for the claws of the cat! No more forever! Mozenrath pulled his knees into his chest and set his head down upon them. He only wished now to be back in his own body, back in his comfortable home, to have Chroias there, Nefret back in her place, things as they should be. Where he could shut out his feelings again and be content to live in his self sustaining darkness, a forced forgetfulness. From out the window Mozenrath watched his own body swaying on the back of a willowy horse. "Bah!" Mozenrath snorted and sprung up, waving an arm away. "Stop being such a child Mozenrath!" He ordered himself. "You must be strong. You ARE strong. Be a man." An ironic smile crossed his lips as he caught a glimpse of his new body in the mirror. Suddenly he was back to normal, cool, calculating, cunning. And heart behind an impenetrable fortress. No respectable Egyptian would be seen on horseback. Still, Nefret secretly liked to ride though it was inconsistent with her dignity to admit it. A lot of things were inconstant with her dignity to admit. Oh what had she done? Why? Why did she say that, why did he say that? She couldn't answer for him, but she. she held a certain intuitive want inside her to keep him away and even hurt him because she hated her fate with him.. She did not really hate him as a person, only what he represented. Somehow to accept him was to accept her slavery, and that was inconstant with her dignity, and it scared her senseless. It was basic instinct, he held it too. But sometimes they slip.. Mozenrath had said, "I found your mothers diary." Nef/Moze looked up suddenly, eyes wide, memories overcame her. *** "Neffie? Come here child." A strong smooth voice called. A child's laugh rang out as a young girl flew to his side, plunking down at his feet to look up wide-eyed with loving admiration. "I want you to have this. I think your old enough to read it now." The man smiled softly and handed the child a small book. "Pappa?" "Just read." And the child read for some time. ".. I shall not live much longer...but I shall give her a name, Nefret, because she is beautiful. And the greater name of Apet. Let no man hear this name so they cannot manipulate her with sorcery, but so that the gods know her, may she live forever to eternity. Now the gods come to claim their daughter Merit." "But I don't understand father. Why wasn't mother afraid when she knew she was going to die?" The young girl cocked her head and wiped a runny nose on her arm. "Why fear that which is to be. It will happen and you will only be the more miserable for it." "But you must fight!" Little Nefret had protested. The man sighed and gathered her up. "Let me tell you a story daughter. There was once a prince born who the seven Hathors said would die by either the snake the crocodile or the dog. The parents were horrified and ordered him to raised in a locked fortress. But one day the boy saw a dog and wanted one, being a prince his command was followed. Then one day he became bored of seclusion and asked why he was isolated, when told of his fate he laughed and said 'so it has been said so it will be no matter where I am.' And so the prince left the fortress and wandered the world with his dog." "What a fool! I don't understand it at all!" "Someday you will little daughter." **** Nef/Moze shook her head again and looked up, into the sunlit landscape. A small smile had come to her face. "I understand now." The door to Moze/Nef's room creaked open. Moze/Nef didn't bother to look back to see who it was. If it was Aladdin, Nefret, a maid, they could all go to hell for all he cared. "It is time to meet Aladdin again." Came Nefret's voice. Mozenrath flinched and turned further from her. "Will you walk with me, Brother?" She said a bit on the soft side. Something inside that new soft body almost slipped, letting the emotion flood, but it was quickly pushed into place and Mozenrath managed to say emotionless while he joined her in the hallway. "Are you ready to accept my terms?" Aladdin asked as he sat down and took out a contract, Jasmine preparing the pen and ink. "We certainly are not." 'Mozenrath' scoffed. Well done with the acting Nefret! "The political arena is just like the market place Al, not to bargain is quite rude!" A smart smile graced the pale lips of Mozenrath as Aladdin sighed and sat back, waiting. "One 12th of the army will be disbanded, that's about ohhh.. 100 mumluks. Trade routes will be limited to those carrying spices, silks, and other high value items. They will also pass though customs at the Citadel. Since by our treaty I cant try to conquer agrabah anyways, how 'bout we set the restrictions to no lands from Gaza in the Sinai up the coast to Smyrna in Syria? I believe you have some friends in thought that coastline." Aladdin rubbed his chin and hummed. It was a small strip of land, but it was true they had a few alliances there he could protect. "Allow all caravans no matter what the cargo and it's a deal." "Ah but there is one more thing to be settled street rat." 'Mozenrath' raised a hand. Inside Nef/Moze cringed but she was a good actor. "You claim I owe 30 pounds gold for damage to the city." Aladdin looked to Jasmine and she nodded. "I'm willing to drop the cost down to 20 pounds." "Ahh good. You see, I figure you owe me at least. 50 pounds for the services you procured from my minion." 'Mozenrath' quipped. The room fell silent and Aladdin turned beet read. The hero sat stunned, Mozenrath knew. and he was asking for money? The hero's gaze fell on Nefret. The girl sat quietly, almost unaffected until she caught the glance, she too seemed embarrassed. Funny, when Aladdin looked at him like that Mozenrath felt so. odd. Even if it wasn't him that did the deed, it hurt almost personally when Aladdin looked at that way, that questioning way. "p.pay?" Aladdin spit out, his face plunging to a new shade of red as he said the words. "You.. knew?" Nef/Moze felt horrible, but the act was going on to far for her to give it up, no matter how much it hurt. "Of course I knew!" a sneer. "You thought you could be so smart and secretive with my property? You betray yourself Aladdin." Al scratched his head as Jasmine looked to Nefret, completely horrified. Pay? The girl caught sight of the look and slumped down in her seat. By Allah! Mozenrath wished people would stop giving him those looks! It triggered something, some sort of reflex Nefret had. shame.. oh yes shame. He remembered that feeling. "Well I'm willing to take out the 20 pounds I owe you out and you may pay me 30 pounds of gold. I'd say that's fair. Wouldn't you?" Nef/Moze breezed.

Aladdin sputtered for a moment, mortified, confused, and in deep painful wonderment. "I'll pay" He spat out the word with disgust. "But Nefret still gets off a month every year." From under the table Moze/Nef tapped Nef/Moze on the knee twice. It was a loss on her part, but Nefret just wanted to get this over with. "Two weeks." She sighed in a fixed deep voice. Al sighed also and wrote the terms down. The papers were signed and the mirror promised within 24 hours. Moze/Nef grinned in relief as he closed the door after Nef/Moze entered. "Well, we won." "Won." Nef/Moze repeated, her voice faulty. Moze/Nef lowered his eyebrows as he watched her shoulders clench up, arms crossing as if cold. "If you ever make me out as a whore again Mozenrath I will not live a day past it." And then she was gone into her own room, the door slamming, followed by agonized sobs. Chapter 337 (by Chroias) Nef/Moze signed the name of Mozenrath on the contract. It was difficult, since even with Mozenrath's hands her signature remained somewhat feminine. But she pulled it off. Simply giving the letters a little more loop to them and straightening out where there would usually be curves. Being the daughter of a scribe had advantages. She slid the document across to the hero and watched for a reaction. To her relief he mealy rolled it up and gave it an official seal. "Then these proceedings are closed?" Aladdin nodded. "Yes...now it's time for me to keep my part of the bargin." He brought out a rather large object wrapped in white leather. He seemed to take forever unwrapping it but soon enough the reflected light of a mirror shone onto Mozenrath's pale face. Nef/Moze froze as she felt a quick kick under the table. Her own sweet mocha face was showing in the reflection. Moze/Nef gave another kick and she angrily kicked back as if to say 'I know!' The shorter body made a small ow sound and robbed its ankle. "Well...if we are through here..." she trailed off and stood to take the mirror. Aladdin pulled back ever so slight. "One more thing...I wish to speak with Nefret...alone..." Nefret felt another forceful kick under the table "We do not have time for even the quickest of flings street rat..." Aladdin felt his lips pull back in an angry grimace. "No. I want to speak with her. Just talking." he put emphasis on the word talk and Nef/Moze finally sighed. "Very well..."she said past her counterparts violent shaking no of the hands. "But be quick about it...no doubt your used to hastily finishing things." Nef winced inside and saw Aladdin's face turn beet red. She hated humiliating him like this...she positively loathed it. But she had little choice. Mozenrath had a look of blind fear on his face as he stood to follow Aladdin, glancing back at Nefret as though she might save him. Nefret merely shrugged and sat down, trying to look important as she sipped the expensive wine. Let the sorcerer suffer for a few minuets. After what he'd put her through he deserved it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aladdin waited till they'd turned a corner before taking Nefret's curvaceous body in his arms and pulling her to sit on a bench. "Nefret..."he whispered softly and felt her cheek. Mozenrath jerked out of reach immediately. "What is it..."she said shortly.

"Oh Allah I know that had to humiliate you...we never should have....pressed attentions towards one another." He admitted. "How long has he know? " "The entire time." That was a lie! Of course Mozenrath wouldn't be able to face himself if he didn't pump up his ego just a bit. "He knew soon after I got home." "Has he made life difficult for you because of it?" "No more so than usual...oh.." Moze/Nef caught on. "No...he's not beaten me if that's what you mean. I don't think he has any plans to either." Mozenrath could say that without committing sin. He'd never been one for beating his mischievous minion, and he had no plans to start just for this little indiscretion. It was tempting though. Aladdin relaxed a little. "I wouldn't have lived with myself if I allowed you to go back knowing that he might..."Aladdin pulled her into a hug and seemed troubled when her arms refused to embrace him. "Nefret. Are you alright?" She nodded and clumsily put her arms around his body, squeezing a little. "Just dandy." the mouth promised. Aladdin tilted the chin up to his. "One more question..." Nefret attempted a smile. "Go for it." Aladdin took a deep breath "I asked you one....when we first met, what the nature of your slavery was with Mozenrath." he leaned in closer and Mozenrath stiffened when the lips became seductively close to the painted ones. Immediately his body reacted, lips opening partially to accept the kiss while only the back of his mind seemed to scream out at him. "What I wanted to know is...is has the nature of the relationship changed." Mozenrath snapped the partially open mouth shut., thankful that those words had snapped sense into him. "Your asking....your asking if I've..."searching for the right words, she put a hand to her mouth. "Your asking if I've bedded down with Mozenrath?" Aladdin nodded and brought her closer to him again. It was so tempting to allow the street rat to believe that he'd had an intimate relationship with his minion. Not only would it make Mozenrath's pride feel better, but it would quite conceivably keep Aladdin from ever touching his possession again. "Why do you need to know?" he dodged the question like a child caught in the cookie jar. After all, it wouldn't have been uncommon. Masters frequently took advantage of a woman's slavery to them. Mozenrath just...had never considered Nefret as an object of....the idea itself seemed somewhat repulsive. "Nefret...listen to me. If you have...if he...well...I know your his slave....and it might not have been optional....I would never blame you." He promised and kisses her cheek. "Please...If that basterd has hurt you...if he forced you to I swear to Allah....!" he tightened his hold on her. "This...this is just something I need to know." Chapter 338 (by Nefret) Oh the possibilities of deceiving Aladdin in such a way were delicious! But if Nefret found out he'd lied about it.. or worse, Chroias. It wasn't worth it. Besides it he did lie he'd ruin a happy part of Nefret's life. She had so little of those parts, largely thanks to him. That thought both made him proud and ashamed at the same time, how strange. Nefret was not an object as largely thought before, she was in fact human even if she was a possession. Moze/Nef sighed heavily in disgust of what he was going to do. tell the truth. Tell the truth, oh how vile! "No, he's never once touched me like that. He couldn't.." Mozenrath blinked several times, he wasn't thinking about his words, they were just coming. Maybe this was how the truth was, you didn't plan what to say, you just said it and it was Allah's honest truth. "He could never force me to just because I'm in service to him because. he has strong feeling against such things." Aladdin brushed back her hair and looked at her face in profile, she looked so deep in thought. Softly he brushed the tips of his finger behind the shell of her ear, setting the hair back. "But he does abuse you." Aladdin flinched at the thought. He wished he could rip her away from that horrible man and take her far away were no one would hurt her again. But it would be kidnapping, she was unwilling to go. Moze/Nef suddenly became evasive and shook her head away. "Not physically!"

Aladdin sighed and got up, deeply hurt that she was refusing to accept his affections. "He can hurt you with the sharp edge of his words just as much as a closed fist. You can take your two weeks as soon as you want. Soon Nef, take it soon." With that he helped her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her back, leading her back down the hall. Moze/Nef walked along silently back to the meeting room. What he had said was the truth; he could not take advantage of any underling of his because he was once a violated subordinate himself. With a man like Mozenrath one might wonder why he wasn't harsher with Nefret. Why he didn't use the stick to keep her in place, why he gave her a soft warm bed in a guest room instead of a cot in the servant's quarter, why he didn't treat her as other slaves at the time were treated. The answer was simple, he'd promised himself not to follow the lead of his mentor. he'd made himself vow never to abuse his little minion just because he was abused himself. He knew full well the cycle of abuse, a child is abused, grows up to abuse one weaker than himself, than that one grows up to abuse another and so on and so on until the wheel of life comes to a halt. He'd stopped the cycle.didn't he? Images flooded his mind, Nefret was so small compared to him when they were in their right bodies, and he'd thought nothing of the way he spoke to her. The constant put downs, criticizing her ever word and action telling her she was worthless, why did he even keep her around? The images in his mind blurred to his own childhood, the words that had flowed from Destatines mouth. They were nearly exact matches.. He was just the same. All this time he'd tried to get away, escape, dominate, become bigger and better than his mentor in order to squash him like an ant, physically and even in the lingering memories in his mind. As if by surpassing him he might wipe Distains existence off the record. Yet he was like him.. Oh Allah! All this running and he finds a piece of that man in himself! He is inescapable!! The body of Nefret suddenly shook like a leaf. This eye was not quiet as used to holding back tears as his own, almost but not quite, and Moze was having a hell of a time fighting against the sea raging behind his eyelids.

Aladdin took notice and pulled her away from the door just as they approached it. "What is it? You don't want to go back?" He questioned, looking to the door and then wiping her cheeks. "You don't have to." He trailed off, hopeful. Moze/Nef pried from his arms, his touch was weakening the damn holding back the rush of tears. Moze/Nef searched for a few seconds for words, the painted lips opening and closing helplessly. Finally he brushed past Aladdin and stomped though the doors, grabbing his own body by the material of the shirt and hauling it out of the chair, much to Jasmines surprise. Moze/Nef was little concerned with their pretence now, they had what they wanted and there was no need to stick around. "I'm ready to go home. lord." Moze/Nef hissed out, his heightened voice stressed now. Nef/Moze pushed him off and dusted her clothes with a hand. "Slaves, you give them an inch they want an mile." Nef/Moze joked with the princess, trying to save the act until she saw the tears sparkling in her own sweet brown eyes. The feeling of friendship pulled her hand up to Moze/Nef's shoulder, as if to say 'it's alright.' Catching the look of the new sultan and his queen Mozenrath threw back his shoulder blade, knocking his own hand away. "Please.. my lord." He hissed out and Nef/Moze nodded. Both took their leave there and then, taking themselves and the mirror out the door and gone. Aladdin falling heavily in the seat beside Jasmine as the bodies left sight. "There just must be something I don't understand." He breathed. No comfort came to Mozenrath until he'd set foot on the cool tile of his own manner. The chilling reminder of home came sharper than normal thanks to the fact that Nefret never wore shoes. Nefret felt relief to have the chance to drop the charade but little other comfort. "Moze. what's wrong?" she stepped towards him, towering over the plum head. Moze/Nef whirled around and grabbed the mirror from her. "I just want to be away." He grumbled. "Away from what?" Nef reached out but was again flicked away. Moze felt the a sudden surge of protective anger. She was getting to close, she could know. know what was going on in his head. He couldn't let anyone know his weakness was coming to the surface. "Away from you small, inferior feminine body, and away from YOU!" He yelled out and unwrapped the mirror with wrath. Nefret lowered her eyes. Just when they made a break through. "As you wish, you're the boss man." The words burned with sarcasm. "I'll be plenty far away soon."