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Chapter 3-Friends and Enemies
The "Lord" stood before me, every muscle tense. I swallowed hard. Well, first I could tell him I'm not Cassandra, but some other, future girl, who somehow got stuck in his girlfriend's body,... yeah and I didn't even believe that one. The other option would have to do.
I fell to my knees, "M'lord," I bowed my head, "I am back to be sure, but my mind is hazy, I need time to remember." I looked up at him, "Please don't kill me."
"How do I know what you say is true," he was gripping his swords so hard that his knuckles were turning white. His eyes narrowed as he glared down at me.
"You don't," I stated simply, "You just have to trust me." The harsh glare in his eyes was replaced with a grudging consent; he nodded and extended his hand to me.
I knew by taking his hand, I somehow accepted this reality. I hesitated; then took his hand in a firm grip.
I leaned against the white column and stared out at the glistening blue-black Nile River. As the gentle breeze cooled my flushed face, I wondered what I was going to do. The "Lord" had lead me to these open air rooms and told me to get some rest, he would be back "Soon."
I sighed. Stuck in this strange body, in a different land, and different time. I cast about in my mind for some solid ground, nothing I believed could account for what was happening to me. Either by some magic or miracle I'd been transported to ancient Egypt, or I was stark raving mad.
"Magic." I spoke aloud, shaking my head.
"Magic indeed. Cassandra, I never expected to see you again."
I spun on my heel, to find the vizier standing in the doorway. He leaned lazily against the frame, and seemed to have been there for sometime. I sucked in my breath, "What are you doing here!" In my private room, I'm sure it couldn't be normal for him to take such liberties.
"The Pharaoh is planning a grand celebration this evening in your honor. I just wanted to make sure you are up for it." He spoke in hushed tones; something about his attitude troubled me. I assumed my "Lord" was the Pharaoh and my stomach dropped, I hadn't expected a confrontation so soon. I felt tears building in my eyes, what am I going to do.
The vizier's sneer transformed to a frown." You really don't remember anything do you?"
I pressed my lips together and tried to stop the tears, yet one escaped and rolled down my cheek. The tall Egyptian crossed the room in three steps his robes flowing behind him like a trench coat. He reached out and brushed the tears away, sweeping me into a warm embrace. "It will be different this time." I stiffened in his embrace, this is wrong, a voice screamed inside of me, but it felt so comforting within his strong arms.
"No!" I pushed him away from me with both hands. A look of hurt was quickly replaced by livid rage.
"You will regret that." He left the room, leaving me more confused than ever.
.
Servants arrived to prepare me for the celebration. I found them friendly, after they realized that I wasn't a ghost. The outfit that I was expected to wear was spare. The top not much more than a bra with gold accents, and the rest a series of sheer veils and silk bound by a belt made of coins. I tried to quiz the elderly slave for information.
"So, what happened before I "left?"
"Oh, thank the goddess you have returned to us." It was going to be hard getting anything out of this one.
"What did I do here?"
"Oh, you made the Pharaoh happy."
"How did I make him happy?" I asked really worried now.
"You danced for him of course, like you will tonight."
"Dance? Tonight?" Could things get any worse?
Chapter 3-Friends and Enemies
The "Lord" stood before me, every muscle tense. I swallowed hard. Well, first I could tell him I'm not Cassandra, but some other, future girl, who somehow got stuck in his girlfriend's body,... yeah and I didn't even believe that one. The other option would have to do.
I fell to my knees, "M'lord," I bowed my head, "I am back to be sure, but my mind is hazy, I need time to remember." I looked up at him, "Please don't kill me."
"How do I know what you say is true," he was gripping his swords so hard that his knuckles were turning white. His eyes narrowed as he glared down at me.
"You don't," I stated simply, "You just have to trust me." The harsh glare in his eyes was replaced with a grudging consent; he nodded and extended his hand to me.
I knew by taking his hand, I somehow accepted this reality. I hesitated; then took his hand in a firm grip.
I leaned against the white column and stared out at the glistening blue-black Nile River. As the gentle breeze cooled my flushed face, I wondered what I was going to do. The "Lord" had lead me to these open air rooms and told me to get some rest, he would be back "Soon."
I sighed. Stuck in this strange body, in a different land, and different time. I cast about in my mind for some solid ground, nothing I believed could account for what was happening to me. Either by some magic or miracle I'd been transported to ancient Egypt, or I was stark raving mad.
"Magic." I spoke aloud, shaking my head.
"Magic indeed. Cassandra, I never expected to see you again."
I spun on my heel, to find the vizier standing in the doorway. He leaned lazily against the frame, and seemed to have been there for sometime. I sucked in my breath, "What are you doing here!" In my private room, I'm sure it couldn't be normal for him to take such liberties.
"The Pharaoh is planning a grand celebration this evening in your honor. I just wanted to make sure you are up for it." He spoke in hushed tones; something about his attitude troubled me. I assumed my "Lord" was the Pharaoh and my stomach dropped, I hadn't expected a confrontation so soon. I felt tears building in my eyes, what am I going to do.
The vizier's sneer transformed to a frown." You really don't remember anything do you?"
I pressed my lips together and tried to stop the tears, yet one escaped and rolled down my cheek. The tall Egyptian crossed the room in three steps his robes flowing behind him like a trench coat. He reached out and brushed the tears away, sweeping me into a warm embrace. "It will be different this time." I stiffened in his embrace, this is wrong, a voice screamed inside of me, but it felt so comforting within his strong arms.
"No!" I pushed him away from me with both hands. A look of hurt was quickly replaced by livid rage.
"You will regret that." He left the room, leaving me more confused than ever.
.
Servants arrived to prepare me for the celebration. I found them friendly, after they realized that I wasn't a ghost. The outfit that I was expected to wear was spare. The top not much more than a bra with gold accents, and the rest a series of sheer veils and silk bound by a belt made of coins. I tried to quiz the elderly slave for information.
"So, what happened before I "left?"
"Oh, thank the goddess you have returned to us." It was going to be hard getting anything out of this one.
"What did I do here?"
"Oh, you made the Pharaoh happy."
"How did I make him happy?" I asked really worried now.
"You danced for him of course, like you will tonight."
"Dance? Tonight?" Could things get any worse?