Chapter Nine:
Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina were taken to a table in the rear of the restaurant. It would afford them the privacy they desired and gave them an exquisite view of the dance floor.
The maître d', who had led them to their table, put down their menus, gestured for them to have a seat, and left. Before Nefer-Tina could sit down, Ja-Kal stopped her and pulled out her chair for her in the time-old tradition. She again smiled at him warmly and gracefully sat down.
As he pushed her in under the table, he noticed something. On her back, barely visible beneath the layer of heavy make-up, was a criss-crossing network of scars. It was obvious that she had taken great care to cover them and, if it weren't for his keen hunter's vision, he would have missed them altogether. On each shoulder he saw two lines that worked their way down her back, the four meeting in the middle before continuing on to disappear beneath her dress.
As far as he could tell, they appeared to have been inflicted by a knife. A knife at extremely close range. When and where had this happened to her? He did not remember her ever being injured in that manner during their tenure as the prince's guardians in Egypt. In fact, she probably had the lowest injury record of the four of them. So, it must have happened before he had met her.
There are a lot of things you don't know about me... Her words echoed through his head. There was something in the way she had said it... For some reason, that bothered him. A lot. He considered her his closest friend and hoped she thought the same of him. Why didn't she trust him enough to let him in? Why couldn't she tell him what was bothering her so? He became more determined that they were not leaving until she told him everything.
His mind returned to the scars. Looking at them again, he realized they were familiar to him. He had seen that very same injury somewhere before, vaguely recalling an incident that had occurred before he had come to guard Rapses. Something involving a young girl...
He finally sat down across from her. She was still smiling. The past would have to wait. The present was what mattered most. Maybe once she trusted him enough with what was bothering her now, she would tell more about herself.
Before either could say a word, the waiter came and asked what they would like to drink. Ja-Kal took Nefer-Tina completely by surprise and ordered champagne. He nodded and quickly left.
Nefer-Tina cocked an eyebrow. "Champagne, huh? What's the occasion?"
"A promotion. I've decided that it's time to appoint a second-in-command," he told her.
"I see," she said. "If I told you that it took you long enough, would you get angry?" There was a glint of wicked humor in her eyes.
"Do you want to really find out?" he teased back. The fact that she was bantering with him was a good sign.
"Maybe some other time," she said. "So, what brought on this sudden decision to change things around here?"
"I was just thinking about the young prince's first dance. If I am ever unable to lead again, I need someone ready to take my place. I don't think any of you would appreciate a repeat of what happened."
She smiled at the memory. "I totally agree. That was a disaster if there ever was one. So, who can the lucky mummy be?" She began to exaggeratedly tap her head. "Let me see. I've got it! Our new second-in-command is: Armon!" she grinned playfully.
Ja-Kal shook his head. "We aren't very fair to him, are we?"
"He's just so easy! The poor man tries so hard and we just keep picking on him," she agreed. "We are pretty mean sometimes. But, really, who did you choose? If I had a guess, I'd say Rath."
"You'd be wrong," he said, suddenly very serious. He met her eyes. "I chose you."
"Me?!" she said, totally taken aback. "This is a joke, right?" He said nothing, never taking his eyes off of her. "You aren't kidding, are you? You're serious about this."
"Aren't you the one who's always saying I don't have a sense of humor?"
"Ja-Kal! That's not fair. I'm being serious for once and you're cracking a joke? How could you even consider me? After all the times I've lied and deceived you? How can you trust me?"
"I did the exact same thing to get you here tonight. How can you still trust me?" he reminded her.
"It's not the same. You had a valid reason for your actions. I've always acted selfishly," she pointed out. She looked away from him. "I'm the wrong choice."
Ja-Kal suddenly reached across the table and took both her hands. She let out a gasp of surprise at his uncharacteristic action. He'd never been that demonstrative with her before, usually only putting a hand on her shoulder. She slowly turned to face him once more.
"Nefer-Tina, listen to me. You know me probably better than anyone. Would I have even considered you if I didn't have total faith in your abilities as a leader? If I couldn't trust you? I chose you because I know you're the best one for the job. Do you understand?" She nodded slowly and he released her hands. "Good. I'm glad we have an understanding," he finished just as the server returned with the champagne and two glasses.
He poured a glass for each of them and then asked if they were ready to order. They each chose an entree from the menu and the waiter disappeared once more.
Nefer-Tina raised her glass. "A toast," she proclaimed, "to my unexpected promotion."
Ja-Kal did the same with his and the two glasses met with a clink. He repeated her motions and said, "And, to friendship. May ours continue for a long time."
"Here, here!" She toasted with him again. She took a sip of her champagne and assumed a contemplative expression. "But, you didn't bring me here just to promote me, did you?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Oh, no you don't. Feigning innocence isn't going to work here. As you said, I know you too well. You went out of your way to get me here when you could have announced your decision at any time. Why?"
"As I mentioned in the bar, I just want to talk. That's all," he told her.
"I'm here. So, talk," Nefer-Tina said, all humor gone from her voice.
"I've noticed lately that there's something bothering you. I want to know what it is." She looked down at her lap to avoid his gaze. "And, since you've been avoiding me, I had no choice but to take drastic measures. That's why I followed you and brought you here tonight. I need to know what's wrong." He paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words to say. "I've been worried about you."
He'd been worried about her?! She raised her eyes, startled by this statement. "You've been worried about me?" she asked, desperately trying to keep the hope out of her voice. Was it possible that he had feelings for her after all this time?
The way she said that... Was it possible... Ja-Kal met her gaze, the feelings of attraction to this woman stronger than ever. "Of course," he replied, "I-" He cut himself off, the guilt returning full force.
This was wrong. He couldn't allow himself to feel this way for her. Especially now that she was his second-in-command. Emotional involvement in this situation was forbidden. Besides, he still loved Tia with all his heart. It would be wrong to allow himself to love another...
"For the good of the team. We can't function without you," he finally spoke.
"Yes, for the good of the team," she said softly. She felt her hopes slip away once more. "Always for the team." She hoped that he did not hear the disappointment in her voice.
What else had she expected him to say? That he was worried about her because he cared for her as more than a friend? That he loved her? The team always came first for Ja-Kal. She knew that. It had always been that way.
"I've been thinking about my past lately," she said after a long silence. "Something happened to me... Something I've never told anyone."
"Tell me," Ja-Kal quietly said. "Please."
"Have you ever really wondered why I disguised myself as a boy," she asked instead.
He shook his head. "I thought it was so you could drive the chariot. At least, that's what you've told me."
"That's only part of it." She looked away from him again. Should she tell him? What would he think of her if he knew? "I was running away, trying to escape my life, my...shame. I just wanted to forget what had happened. But, I never did. It still haunts me, even after my 'death.' It's something that will never go away, no matter how much I wish it would." She felt the tears welling up at the memory but refused to let them fall. She would never let anyone see her cry, especially Ja-Kal. "You'll probably be disgusted with me."
"Nefer-Tina, I am your friend. Nothing you can ever say or do will change that. Believe me," he told her. "I'd like to hear. Please."
She nodded and looked up at him. "When I was sixteen, I was living at the palace in Memphis as a court musician. I liked to sneak out every night to take a walk and have some time to myself. We unwed maidens had a curfew and were supposed to stay in our rooms all night. But, as you well know, I've never been one for following the rules," she laughed bitterly.
"The night it happened started out the same as any other night. I followed my usual route. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Suddenly, I was grabbed and dragged into an alley. It all happened so fast I didn't even have time to scream."
She stopped and hugged her arms tightly to her chest. "He raped me. I was only sixteen years old and he raped me!"
Oh my gods, Ja-Kal thought. Rape was a horrible experience no one should ever have to go through. She had only been a child, a young girl when it happened. She had had to live with that pain for two lifetimes now. What she must have gone through...
She took a deep breath and continued her story. "The first thing he did was gag me. He didn't want anyone hearing me scream. Not that there was anyone who could. There was a reason I walked in that place every night. It was deserted so no one would see me disobeying the rules. Who wanted to be punished, right?" She smiled weakly at him.
She broke off for a moment, pain in her expression. "He didn't force himself on me right away. He decided to have a little fun first." She hugged herself tighter at the recollection. "He-he did things to me. Things I don't want to talk about." Suddenly, to Ja-Kal's surprise, she stood up. She walked around the table, carrying her chair with her. She put it down next to his and sat down, her back facing him. "I don't know if you can see them, but he gave me scars. He took a knife and just ripped me from my shoulder to the middle of my back. Not once, but four times."
Ja-Kal again looked at the healed slashes that covered her back. He began to reach out with his hand to feel them when he caught himself. What was he doing? He couldn't just touch her like that without asking her. He was her superior officer, her leader. It would be inappropriate for him to do so.
Yet, they were not here as the prince's guardians. They were just two old friends having dinner together, just a man and a woman. A woman who was trusting him with her darkest secret. A woman who he was extremely attracted to... The urge to touch her was very strong.
Finally, he gave in. With an unsteady hand, he reached out and, with a single finger, slowly began to trace the first line down her back. Nefer-Tina gasped as he made contact with her skin and he felt her stiffen. He immediately stopped. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," he apologized.
"No, it's all right," she barely whispered. "Go ahead. I give you permission."
Ja-Kal nodded slightly and continued his examination of her back. They were the result of very deep knife wounds. The man who had done this to her had known exactly what he was doing. Although horribly inflicted, the precision in which the rapist had wielded the blade showed. He had not been an amateur.
Nefer-Tina could hardly breathe. She was so close to him. And, now, he was touching her. The only other time a man had touched her there had resulted in the scars she now carried. This time, it was different. It was so gentle, so soft. She had never known anything like it. She had dreamed of him touching her for so long. Now that it was happening...
When she had sat down in front of him, she had just wanted to show him what had been done to her. She knew that it would be difficult to be so near him. His actions were so unexpected, so unlike him. His examination of what had been done to her spoke volumes about the way he felt about her. He did care about her. He had proven that when he had admitted he was worried about her. He just didn't love her as she loved him. She closed her eyes and let herself relax as he continued to examine her back.
Ja-Kal followed each scar to where it vanished under her dress and stopped. He knew his boundaries. His finger lingered on her back for a moment longer before he removed it. Although he was loathe to admit it, he had enjoyed this more than he should have, in a way he shouldn't have. He did not want to stop.
Nefer-Tina opened her eyes as she realized his hand was no longer on her back. She stood up slowly, regretting the ending of the contact. It had been the most wonderful feeling she had experienced in a long time. She carried her chair back to its rightful place and sat down once more. For a moment, she could not meet his eyes.
Finally, she resumed her story. "He toyed with me like that for what seemed like hours. Doing countless horrors to my body for no reason. No reason! Just because he could. But, that was nothing compared to what he finally did after he finished playing his little games." She stopped speaking for a moment, shaking at the recollection. "The worst part was when he forced himself on me." She stopped again, trying to get a hold of herself. "I didn't think it was going to ever end. The pain I endured was so unbearable. I cried and cried, but he wouldn't stop. He wouldn't stop! He didn't care. I was sure he was going to kill me when he was done.
"But, he didn't. Sometimes I almost wish he had. He never even said a word. He just got up and left. He walked away, not even checking to see if I was dead or alive. I never even saw his face. I don't know how long I laid there before I blacked out.
"Well, the next morning I woke up in a strange bed wearing a clean dress. My wounds had been tended to and I had been washed up. I guess someone must have found me while I was unconscious and brought me there. I'm sure I would have died in that alley if that person hadn't come along. I wish I could thank whoever it was. I never saw who rescued me."
"Why not?" Ja-Kal wanted to know. Nefer-Tina had been through hell and she did not even get to thank the person who had rescued her. It did not seem fair. This whole story was leaving him deeply disturbed. The things that man had done to her...
"I left as soon as I woke up. Remember, I had a curfew. If I had not been in my chambers when it was time to get up in the morning, I would have been punished severely for my disobedience. I did make it back in time, but all that mattered was that I was alive. Any punishment would have been nothing compared to what that man did to me.
"A few weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant. I didn't know what to do. I had no one to turn to. Even if I did, I couldn't tell them. I was sixteen and unmarried. To be with child was a crime and a scandal. They would have turned their backs on me.
"I was all alone. There was only one thing I could do: I had to leave the palace before my pregnancy began to show. I didn't know where I would go or what I would do, but I did know I would be safe. I wouldn't even tell my parents. I would write a letter saying that I was going on a trip and would return someday. They didn't need to know my shame.
"As it usually happens, things did not work out as planned. My secret was discovered and word reached the pharaoh almost immediately. It was a scandal of great proportions for a young unmarried servant of the king to be in such a state. It reflected badly on Amenhotep, making it look like he could not control his servants.
"So, I was put on trial and humiliated in front of the entire court. No one believed I had been raped. They were convinced that I was protecting a lover, most likely a married one. In the end, I was banished from the palace and Memphis."
Ja-Kal remembered hearing stories of the palace musician and her lover. He had been out on a hunting trip during the trial. Tia had spoken about the scandal for weeks after he returned. He had remembered thinking she was strangely happy about it at the time. He could not imagine the pain Nefer-Tina had suffered. It must have been unbearable.
"Afterwards, I went to my parents for help. They would have nothing to do with me, their only child. I was a disgrace. They didn't believe my story either." She stopped once again, seeming to be near tears. "They-they disowned me," she said. She looked at Ja-Kal. "It was as if I was dead to them. I had no place to go. No one else to turn to.
"I finally found myself taken in by the priestesses at the Temple of Bastet. They cared for me until my baby was born. All I had to do in return was help around the temple." She broke off again. "They took my baby away as soon as I gave birth. I didn't even get to see it. They wouldn't even tell me what it was..." Her voice trailed off. She stopped for a moment before continuing. "I had nothing left now. Nothing. Except for one thing: chariots. I had loved chariots ever since I was a little girl. I had been told over and over that women did not drive them, but that didn't change how I felt. One of the farmhands took pity on me and secretly taught me how to drive over the years. He was impressed by my ability. He said I was the best driver he had ever seen. He was the one who taught me how to race.
"So now I decided that I had nothing else to lose and assumed the persona of 'Nefer.' I was determined I would never be hurt that way again. As a boy, I knew I was safe. I learned to fight to protect myself. I had a second chance at life. I could try to forget who I had been. Who I still was.
"For two years, I lived off of my winnings from racing. I learned to live again and I was happy. I was living the life I had always wanted. Then, I won the Nile Valley Championship and everything changed.
"The pharaoh was looking for a new charioteer. He decided that the honor would go to the winner of the race. They kept that from the racers until the end, otherwise I would have never entered. I kept thanking the gods that he did not recognize me as the disgraced girl he had once banished. I don't know what he would have done to me if he had.
"That was when I first met you and the others," she finished. "I was assigned to be one of the personal guardians of Rapses as well as the Royal Charioteer. You know the rest."
Ja-Kal was at a loss for words. What could he possibly say to her? Her story was so tragic and sad. Anything he said could not convey what he was feeling for her at this moment. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and comfort her...
What was he thinking? He was married! Why did he keep having these thoughts and feelings about her? What he had already done was bad enough. Why did it have to feel so right to be with her? What was wrong with him?
Now you know everything," she lied. She still had one secret that she would keep to herself until the end of time. He would never know how she felt about him. That was a promise to herself that she would never break.
"Nefer-Tina, I don't know what to say. I am so sorry," he managed at last. He took her hands again. "I swear to you, I will never tell anyone, even our prince, what you have told me. I promise."
The sincerity in his voice touched her. "Thank you," she whispered. She squeezed his hands tightly and then let go.
They sat in silence once more. Ja-Kal remained deeply disturbed about her tale. He could not believe that she survived all the heartache and sorrow alone. She was a lot stronger than he could have ever imagined.
However, he knew that she had not told him everything. There was still the issue of the mysterious love she had spoken to her friend Matt about. He knew that was still causing her a great deal of pain. That gave him an idea.
"When I followed you the other night, I saw you talking to two people. Who are they?" he asked, pretending to have not heard any of her conversations with them.
"Oh, they're my friends Kait and Matt. They're in my classes at school. I met them when I first started going," she told him. She seemed to brighten at the change of subject. "The three of us happen to be studying the same subjects."
"What type of classes are you taking?"
"A lot of anthropology and classics. Everything about ancient societies. Their cultures and mythologies," she explained. "One of my favorite topics that we've covered is soulmates."
"Soulmates?" Ja-Kal inquired.
"Two people who are destined to be together. They complement each other. They are likes equal halves of the same whole. They are inseparable. They can be lovers or friends. Soulmates can be a man and a woman or two men or two women. For example, remember Xena and Gabrielle from the exhibit last night? Well, they were soulmates. They were best friends who helped each other through life, nothing more. Although there are some parties who claim they were more than friends, I don't believe it. Everyone has a soulmate supposedly, but they don't always meet."
Ja-Kal resisted the urge to ask her if she had found hers. He knew the question would only upset her more.
The band finished the piece it had been playing. The couples on the dance floor ended their dances and applauded. After the applause died down, the bandleader motioned and a tango began to fill the air.
"The tango is known as one of the most romantic dances in the world," Nefer-Tina commented as she observed the dancers move in closer together. "I've always loved watching it."
Ja-Kal watched her. She still seemed sad, even after her animated discussion about soulmates. He wanted nothing more than to cheer her up. He felt compelled to do something, anything. He hated seeing her like this.
"Dance with me," he said suddenly. "I think you'll like it more than watching."
Nefer-Tina was stunned by his invitation. "No, thanks. I don't feel very much like dancing right now." His examination of her scars had been bad enough. She couldn't bear to be as close to him as the tango required. It would be too painful.
"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," he firmly replied. He knew she loved dancing as much as racing. He was sure it would make her feel better. Before she could protest further, he grabbed her by her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor.
He led her to the very center of the floor. He took her right hand in his left and placed his right on her shoulder blade. He pulled her in tightly towards him. Nefer-Tina slowly put her left arm on his right one. Their eyes met. Neither said a word.
They began to move to the music, their bodies as one.
The spell was working. Scarab had penetrated Mount Olympus with his scrying magic. He had a perfect view of the home of the Greek gods. Now, all he had to do was find Velasca.
Soon, his victory would finally become a reality.
Ja-Kal was aware of nothing but the beautiful woman in his arms. As soon as he had pulled her close, his desire for her had returned full force. It flooded all his senses as he danced with her. This time, instead of pushing it away, he embraced it. For once, he would give into his feelings. Just for this one moment, he would allow himself to love her.
Finally, Scarab found her. She was being held in a small prison cell at the bottom of the mountain complex.
Velasca was quietly sitting on the floor of the tiny room. The cell was devoid of any furniture or luxuries. There was nothing for the goddess to entertain herself with. She was meant to suffer for her actions for all of eternity.
He now began to chant the transport spell that would bring her to the Pyramid.
Nefer-Tina was overwhelmed by the emotional flood brought on by her closeness to Ja-Kal. The way he was holding her... This was very different from his earlier examination of her back. Any restraint he might have had in touching her was gone. He was holding her tightly pressed to his body as he led her across the dance floor.
She was aware of every move he made, every hand signal he gave her. Each touch sent shivers through her body. It was pure ecstasy to be in his arms.
Scarab smiled in satisfaction as his spell went into effect. A large portal had formed in the middle of his laboratory. It glowed brightly, bathing the room in white light. It was now only a matter of time before Velasca arrived.
Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina were aware of nothing but each other as they danced. The world had fallen away, leaving the two of them alone. They were embraced by the music, bound together by the dance. Their hearts and minds had become one.
Heka had fallen asleep when a loud noise woke her. It was coming from Scarab's lab. She decided to go investigate.
Ja-Kal sent Nefer-Tina into a slow turn that brought her face-to-face with him. Their lips were bare inches apart.
Their eyes locked.
Heka slithered into the brightly lit room. "Scarab, what's going on?" she wanted to know.
"Look and see for yourself," he instructed her. He pointed to the bright portal.
She gasped in amazement. Inside the portal was the silhouette of a female.
Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina gazed into each other's eyes. Neither one attempted to move away.
Their faces began to move closer.
The silhouette became more defined as it drew nearer. In the span of a few seconds, Scarab and Heka could see the face of the goddess.
Suddenly, the music reached a crescendo and Ja-Kal realized what he was about to do. He spun Nefer-Tina away from him, breaking the spell the music had cast over them.
The portal suddenly gave off a burst of light, forcing Scarab and Heka to turn away.
The music ended. Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina stepped apart.
Neither could say a word.
Scarab felt the portal disappear, returning the room to a normal light level. He saw Heka hiding her head in her coils to protect her eyes. He turned around to see the result of his magical workings.
In the center of the room, where the portal had been, crouched a woman. Slowly, she stood up and coolly looked at her surroundings. Scarab smiled to himself.
Velasca had arrived.
Chapter Ten:
Velasca, the God of Chaos, stood up to warily inspect her new surroundings. She was in a large high-vaulted chamber that she had never seen before. The design of the room was very unusual and unfamiliar. Where was she? How had she gotten here?
A moment ago, she had been sitting quietly in that infernal cell where she had been placed for all eternity when there had been a bright flash of light. She had closed her eyes for a second and opened them to find herself deposited in this place. Was this some sort of trick being played upon her? After centuries of imprisonment, she was in no mood for games.
The gods would pay dearly for what they had done to her if she ever got free. They might have taken her powers, but they did not have her mind. The time spent in her prison had not been idle. She had plotted her revenge time and time again. The day she got free would be the day the gods of Olympus would be sorry they ever heard of her. None more than Artemis.
Artemis the betrayer. Velasca had been raised to worship the patron goddess of the Amazons. As she grew older, she had come to realize the Goddess of the Hunt cared little for her followers and did nothing to help them. She had let the Nation fall almost completely apart.
As a goddess, Velasca was now her equal. She would punish her for her neglect. She would suffer the most of all the gods. Velasca would make sure of that.
Suddenly, a noise behind her startled her out of her musings. On pure reflex, she spun around and gestured as if to loose a blast of lightning. To her own surprise and amazement, a streak of electricity flew from her hand and made a huge hole in one of the walls. Velasca's gaze went from the hole in the wall back to her own hand. She had been able to call her powers? She experimentally took aim at another section on the same wall and repeated her actions. To her satisfaction, another large hole materialized in the plaster. Her powers were indeed back. That could only mean one thing: she had been freed. And if that was true, that left only one question. Who had released her?
As if in answer to her unspoken question, a male voice broke the silence. "If you're through redecorating my laboratory, perhaps you'd like to know why you are here?"
Velasca turned to see a very old man standing next to the first hole in the wall. He was dressed in long purple robes that looked to be Egyptian. His skin was so pale it was almost pure white in color. In his hand he held a large golden snake staff that appeared to be alive.
Straightening to her full height, she calmly approached the man. She looked him straight in the eyes. "You want something from me." It was not a question.
The man smiled sinisterly. "Very perceptive. I can also tell you're a woman who doesn't like to waste any time. Well, I'll get straight to the point. I want your help."
She laughed at the notion. "Why should I help you? I am a god. I don't owe you anything for freeing me."
"Because I can help you get your revenge," he said.
"I'm listening," she said, folding her arms.
"From what I've read about you, I know you believe in destiny. It is something I believe in as well."
"Many people do, but few ever achieve it. What does it have to do with my being here?"
"Everything. If you help me achieve my destiny, I will see that you get your revenge," he told her.
"And, what is this 'destiny' of yours?" she asked.
"Why, to rule the world, of course. But, first, I need to obtain my immortality. That is where you come in."
"You want me to help you become an immortal? And, how am I supposed to do that?"
"All in good time. If you do this one small task, I will spare you from destruction. I will then let you take your revenge by wiping out all the other gods from existence in any way you see fit. And, I don't just mean the Greek ones. All the gods. I want no one left who could oppose my rule or challenge my power."
"You forget, I will still be around. What's to keep me from taking your power?" she asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.
"In return for your assistance, you will be given a piece of the world to rule. You will be free to do with it as you please. The people there will be yours to control, to make into whatever you want. It will be your own empire."
She smiled slightly as she considered the idea. "You know me well, old man. I find your proposition...intriguing. We work together and we both get what we want in the end. So, tell me, what if I decline your generous offer?"
"Very simple. I will send you back to where I found you. You will then share the fate of the other gods when I am finally granted my immortality," he told her.
"But, on the other hand, what's to stop me from leaving right now and doing whatever I wish?" Again, there was a hint of challenge behind her words.
The man smiled at the goddess again. "Nothing. However, the world is quite different from the way you remember it. Things do not work like they used to. And, you aren't in Greece anymore. I think you will find it rather difficult to achieve your goals without me."
"Ah, I can see you're a man who doesn't like to leave anything to chance. I'm impressed. Maybe we can work together after all," Velasca said. "All right, old man. I accept your offer. But, I'll only help you on one condition."
For a moment, he looked as if he was going to explode with rage. The snake tried to shrink into its coils. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the anger was gone. In a cool, neutral tone, he said, "Name it."
"If I become dissatisfied with this arrangement at any time, I want an out. I want you to let me go, no questions asked. We will go our separate ways and I will not interfere in your world domination plans," she told him. "That is all I ask."
The man seemed to think this over for a minute. "Fine. I accept your 'one condition.' So, do we have a deal?"
"Yes. We have a deal."
"Wonderful. Now that we are going to be working together, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scarab. This," he said, gesturing with the hand holding the golden snake staff, "is Heka." Heka glared at her but said nothing.
"And, you already know who I am. So, now that the introductions are out of the way, I suggest we get started. We have many details to discuss."
Hours later, Velasca sat in her guest quarters. Although she was a goddess and did not actually require sleep, she had retained the habit from her mortal existence. It had also given her something to do during her centuries of imprisonment.
The mission Scarab required of her sounded ridiculously easy. It confirmed her initial assessment of him. He was a weak, over-confident old man with delusions of his own importance. He also turned out to be quite obsessive. So obsessive, in fact, that he had been trying to achieve these same goals for over 3500 years.
Her assignment was to capture, alive, some thirteen year old brat so Scarab could take his soul. Apparently, he believed it would make him immortal. She wasn't so sure, but she would play along just in case it did. If it didn't, she had her way out of this little arrangement. And, if it did work, she would finally have her revenge.
As Scarab had explained in detail, this boy, the reborn spirit of a Prince Rapses, was protected by the four original guardians of the prince. Although they had died the same day as their prince, by Scarab's hand, they had been resurrected to protect the current incarnation of their charge. They would not let him go without a fight. Good, Velasca thought, I've been in need of a little action for centuries.
The actual mission itself would be no problem. As a god, she could easily handle anything those mummies could throw at her. No mortal weapon could harm her. The boy was as good as hers.
There was only one small problem: Scarab did not know the name of this boy. She found it hard to believe that he had been after this boy for over a year and a half and he still did not know his true identity. That meant she would have to find him the old-fashioned way. It was only a matter of time before she found him.
And, after she caught the boy and eliminated his guardians, she would see if Scarab held up his end of the bargain. But, after that, he would no longer be needed. Velasca had her own plans for the world. If he believed that she was going to share it with him, he was a bigger fool than she thought.
Velasca had no intention of letting Scarab have any power. She would use him to take her revenge on the gods of Mount Olympus and then all the other deities as well. After that, she would do whatever was necessary to get rid of him, immortal or not. It was her destiny to rule the world, not his.
Until then, she needed to let him to continue to believe he was the one holding all the power in their partnership. It was necessary to get him to completely trust her. And, she had just the way to do it.
During their hours of discussion, she had noticed that he had seemed attracted to her. Obviously, he had not had time to be with many women during his quest for power and immortality. She knew that she was a very beautiful woman and her body was quite shapely. It would be rather easy to make him fall in love with her. If he believed she loved him as well, then Scarab would never know what hit him when she finally pushed him out of the way.
Heka was curled up in her urn. She did not like what was going on at all. Velasca was even worse than she had thought. She had a bad feeling about this whole plan. It was doomed to failure.
Velasca may have appeared to have agreed to Scarab's plan, but Heka did not trust her at all. There was something very suspicious about the goddess. She hoped Scarab noticed it too. Velasca was extremely dangerous and unpredictable. His relentless quest for power may have finally led to his own downfall.
Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina walked out of the Crystal Room together. They were both laughing and smiling. The entire evening had been very nice and they both had enjoyed themselves immensely. Neither had mentioned what had happened out on the dance floor.
They stood on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and turned to face each other. They both fell silent and their smiles faded. It was an awkward moment and neither knew what to say.
"Well, uh, I guess this is where we say goodbye for a while," Nefer-Tina said, breaking the silence. "I don't think it would be a good idea if we walked into the Sphinx looking like this." She smiled again.
Ja-Kal nodded in agreement. "All right. I'll see you when you get back." He started to walk away, but stopped and turned around. "Would you like me to hail a cab for you?"
"No, that's all right. You go on. I'll see you later," she told him. She watched him start off again. Then, something occurred to her and she shouted after him, "Ja-Kal, wait! I forgot to tell you something."
Ja-Kal stopped and came back. He stopped right in front of her. "What is it?" His voice sounded concerned.
Nefer-Tina looked down at her feet. "I just wanted to thank you for tonight," she said softly. "I really had a good time. It was something I guess I needed. You're the best friend I ever had. I mean it. Thanks for being here for me."
Ja-Kal took her hands and she looked up at him. "It was my pleasure. I'm just glad I was able to help you." He paused for a moment. "And, thank you for trusting me enough to share your past with me. I'm honored you consider me your best friend. I consider you mine as well."
"Thank you," she repeated.
They stood there looking at each other for a moment longer. Ja-Kal gave her hands a final squeeze and released them. He took a step back from her. He was consumed by an overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. He fought it down, remembering what had almost happened on the dance floor.
What had he been thinking? He had let his feelings get the better of him and he had almost kissed her! He had already crossed the line with her once that evening. Kissing her would have been even worse.
What would she have done? How would she have reacted? He did not know. He knew what he wished she would have done. He often found himself wondering if she had the same feelings for him that he had for her. Especially after the way she had acted tonight when he told her he had been worried about her... But, he would never find out. It would go against everything he had ever been taught or believed in to pursue a relationship with her. Besides, as he constantly kept telling himself, he was married.
"I'll see you when you get home," he finally said. He started walking away once more. When he reached the corner, he turned around once more to look at Nefer-Tina again. She had flagged down a cab and was opening the door. He watched her vanish inside the vehicle and waited until it pulled away from the curb before heading down the street.
The cab driver left Nefer-Tina off at the park and she made her way to the courtesy locker area. She retrieved her things and entered the bathroom. It was time to become a mummy once more.
The grinned at her reflection in the mirror. What a night! There had been music, dancing, and conversation. It had been wonderful and exactly what she needed. She felt better than she had in weeks. Ironically, she owned it all to the very man who was causing all her emotional turmoil.
Ja-Kal really was a great friend, she mused. He had gone far out of his way to arrange everything. And, he had done it all just because he was worried about her. What had she done to deserve his friendship?
She sighed heavily. She loved him so much and tonight's events had only served to deepen her feelings for him. Feelings that would have to remain hidden. She knew that if he ever found out it would destroy their friendship. She would never forgive herself it that happened. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her in both her life and afterlife.
There had been several close calls during the evening where she had almost revealed everything. The first had been during his examination of her scars. The entire experience was still fresh in her mind. His touch had been so gentle and soft. It had been the most wonderful feeling to be touched by him. She knew it was the closest she would ever get to being intimate with him. However, that was nothing compared to what she had almost done during the tango.
For a moment, she had given into her feelings. He had been holding her so close to him after that one turn. It had just felt so right. If he hadn't spun her away when he did... She had almost kissed him! She couldn't believe it. She didn't even want to think about what he would have done. It was too painful.
She smiled at the memory of the rest of the dance. She had never known him to be a dancer before. He had been excellent, perhaps better than she was. When she asked him where had had learned to dance like that, he had admitted helping the young prince prepare for a school dance. They had watched videos and practiced together. Videos, ironically, that Presley had later given to her as a gift.
Then, something occurred to her. During the entire evening, Ja-Kal had not said one word about her having to stop going to classes or working. The only time the topic had come up was when he was asking her about them. Did that mean he would let her continue as long as Scarab was not around? She would have to ask him about it later.
She began to scrub off her make-up. It was time to go home.
Ja-Kal stood just inside the main entrance to the Sphinx, waiting for Nefer-Tina. His own disguise had been long since removed and he wore his bandages and kilt once again. In his hand, he held the small make-up compact he had taken. He wanted to give it back to her as soon as she arrived.
The substance contained inside was truly extraordinary. There was no way that anyone would ever question their appearance while they wore it. Nefer-Tina had used it for six months to go to college and sing at the club. Why hadn't she told him or the other two about it?
Nefer-Tina was a woman of many secrets. This was just another one she kept. But, it was rather insignificant compared to the one she had told him about. A secret that had left her scarred both physically and emotionally.
As he thought about her story, he finally remembered why her scars had seemed so familiar. And, now that he knew what had happened, it only made the remembered incident worse...
It had been about two years before he had come to serve as Prince Rapses' head guardian. He was coming home late after spending an evening with Tia, who had only been his girlfriend at the time. He was walking down a deserted street that he had never taken before. Although he couldn't explain it, something had compelled him to walk there that night.
On his left, a dark alley appeared. As he passed it, he heard a sound. A very soft moan had emanated from the alley. He decided to investigate.
He quietly entered the shadowed space. There was very little light, but his trained eyes had no trouble seeing in the darkness. His gaze swept the entire area until it fell on something. In the very back, he saw a small shape crumpled on the ground.
He silently approached. The shape let out another pitiful moan. He finally got close enough to see what it was. And, what he saw shocked him.
It was a girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen. Her dress was torn and drenched with blood. From the way she was positioned, he could see that her back was a complete mess. She was laying in a pool of her own blood. She appeared, mercifully, to be unconscious.
Who had done such a thing and why? No one should have to suffer like this. Especially not a child. The person responsible was a true monster.
Ja-Kal knelt down and felt for a pulse. It was very weak. She had lost a lot of blood already and it had taken its toll on her. If she didn't get help immediately, she would die.
It was very late at night. No practitioner of the healing arts would be available to help her. He would have to tend to her himself. Part of his training to be a hunter had involved rudimentary first aid. He prayed to the gods it would be enough to save this girl's life.
He gently gathered her in his arms and picked her up. He felt the warm blood seep into his clothes as he held her tightly. He looked at the girl in his arms. She was very beautiful and so innocent looking. The perfect victim for a brutal crime of this nature.
He rushed home as fast as he could. He did not know why, but he was compelled to save this girl. The same way he was compelled to walk down the very street where he had found her. If he hadn't been there just now...
He pushed the thought out of his mind as he reached his house. He brought the girl into his bedroom and laid her on his bed. She moaned softly, but did not regain consciousness. He then left her to find whatever he could that could serve as medical equipment.
He returned a few minutes later with several items and a bowl of warm water to clean her up with. He put everything down on a table and pulled it close to the bed. It was time to begin.
The first thing to do was to remove the bloody, torn dress. He rolled her onto her stomach. He took a knife and slit the dress down the back. He carefully pulled it off of her and threw it onto the floor. He then turned to examine the injuries on her back.
The girl's back had been slashed four times, twice on each shoulder. Each cut traveled diagonally down her back and stopped just below the breast line. They were deep, but the person responsible had been an expert with a knife. No muscle or organs had been damaged. It was as if he had just been carving a design into her flesh.
The bleeding had stopped by now, which would make his next job a lot easier. Each gash would have to be sewn up. It would leave her with four terrible scars, but at least she would be alive.
After he had finished that task several hours later, he began to check her for other injuries. She was badly cut and bruised all over her body. It would take her a very long time to recover from this incident, both physically and emotionally.
And, that was not the worst of it. In the course of his examination, he discovered that she had been raped as well. Her assailant was indeed a monster. The worst kind. It was the most horrible crime that could be inflicted upon a woman, especially one this young.
He finished his care of her by washing the blood and dirt off of her body. He discarded the remains of her tattered garment and put her in a dress he had bought for Tia. It was a little big on her, but it would have to do. He could not put her in his clothing. What woman would ever want to be dressed as a man?
He finally put her to bed. He would let her sleep and then he would get her to tell him everything that had happened in the morning...
The next morning, she had been gone. He had gone out looking for her, thinking she could not have gotten very far in her injured condition, but she had completely disappeared. For years, he had wondered what had happened to her... Now, 3500 years later, he finally had his answer: the girl had been Nefer-Tina.
The sound of someone approaching snapped his mind back to the present. He looked up to see Nefer-Tina coming from the park. She was carrying quite a few items, such as her backpack and dress. He immediately went over to help her bring her stuff in.
"Need a hand?" he asked her as he approached.
Nefer-Tina, who had been deep in thought, was taken by surprise and nearly dropped the dress. "Oh, Ja-Kal! I didn't see you there." She looked at him curiously. "Were you waiting for me?" she asked.
He took the dress from her grasp. "Yes, I was. I have something I need to give back to you."
"Oh, you mean the item you stole?" she teased good-naturedly.
"Borrowed," he amended. He put the compact in her outstretched hand. "I don't know where you found this product, but it is quite amazing. Why didn't you tell us about it?"
Nefer-Tina fiddled with the compact in her hands. "I, uh, found it is a specialty store that deals with skin disorders. Their products are designed to cover up any blemish or discoloration to give an appearance of normalcy," she explained. "I bought this when I decided to start going to school. I knew I needed a better way of blending in than just clothing if I didn't want to stand out." She paused for a moment, a look of guilt on her face. "I didn't tell you guys because I knew you'd start asking questions about it. I was afraid you'd figure out what I was doing and put a stop to it." She looked at him. "But, it looks like you did anyway." She smiled slightly as she tucked the compact in her purse.
"And, I'm glad I did. I really did enjoy tonight as well. I'm sorry we had such a poor beginning. I didn't mean to frighten you," he apologized.
She copied his oft-used gesture and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I know. I was just taken by surprise and I though you'd be angry at me like you usually are. But, I'm glad you weren't." She took her hand down and started walking into the Sphinx. "Now, let's put this stuff in the bedroom. You would not believe how heavy it is!"
He smiled and followed after her. She led him into the bedroom and directed him to lay the dress on the bed. She dumped her bag and purse on the floor by the closet.
"Thanks. I can handle it from here. You go ahead and get some rest and recharge." She turned around and opened the closet. As she knelt down on the floor, she threw him a glance over her shoulder. "By the way, thanks for not telling me that I have to quit school and my job. See you in the morning."
"Good night, Nefer-Tina." He watched her fiddle with her things for a second and then left the bedroom. He walked over to the wall where the four sarcophagi were neatly lined up. He opened his and stepped inside, pulling the lid shut. It was time to get some sleep.
Nefer-Tina turned around and looked at the now-occupied falcon sarcophagus from the doorway. "Good night, my love," she whispered.
She proceeded to put her things away and then went to sleep in her own stone coffin.
Chapter Eleven:
Scarab awoke from the best sleep he'd had in over 3500 years. For the first time since his failure in Egypt, he was certain of his victory. He would attain his immortality and he would rule the world. It was only a matter of time. And, he owed it all to his brilliant scheme to steal the Xena Scrolls.
Those ancient rolls of papyrus had contained all the information he needed to ensure the destruction of his hated enemies and the capture of the reborn prince. The best part was that he didn't even have to lift a finger. Velasca would do all the work for him. Then, he would destroy her with the rest of the gods. She would learn that men like him never kept a promise.
However, he had to admit to himself that he found her very attractive. Indeed, she was a very beautiful woman. And, he had not been with a woman in such a long time...
He shook his head. Business before pleasure, he reminded himself. She was here only because he needed her in order to fulfill his destiny. She was also as evil and cold-hearted as he was. People like them did not form attachments except of the physical kind. Maybe before he destroyed her...
He quickly dressed, eager to begin planning the final destruction of his bandaged adversaries. Once they were out of the way, the boy was as good as his. It would be interesting to see how Velasca would handle them. According to the Scrolls, she had a great love of pain, particularly inflicting it on others. He would definitely enjoy her torment of those accursed mummies.
He emerged from his bedchamber and entered the main area of the Pyramid. "Heka!" he shouted in the direction of the large urn in the center of the room. "Wake-up!"
The golden snake sleepily poked her head out of her urn. "Just five more minutes, Mommy," she drowsily murmured.
Scarab grabbed her and bodily pulled her out of the urn. "You've slept late enough. Go and bring our 'guest.' It's time for us to start planning our final victory." He dropped her onto the ground. "And, be quick about it!"
Heka muttered to herself and began slithering down the hall. "Why do I let him talk me into these things?" she complained.
She finally reached the door of Velasca's room. "I hope she's a morning goddess," she said under her breath. She raised her tail and rapped loudly on the door. "Scarab wants to see you! Time to get up!"
There was no response. Puzzled, she tried again. "Velasca! Scarab wants you! Get up!" Still no answer.
Heka did not know what to do. Why wasn't she answering? She didn't even think a goddess needed to sleep!
Finally, she reached up with her tail and hit the lock override. Breaking into a crazed goddess' room was probably not the smartest thing she had ever done. The door slid open and she crawled in.
The room was basically dark except for the little light coming from behind the lowered window shade. The bed had not been touched. Velasca was nowhere in sight.
Scarab would not be happy.
Presley groaned for the millionth time that day as he plopped himself down on the nearest bench. This was definitely the last time he let the mummies "guard" him while he went shopping. All he wanted to do was find his mom the perfect gift for her upcoming birthday. Instead, he had spent most of the day keeping Armon fed so he would be quiet. Unfortunately, it wasn't working too well.
"Armon, you just ate five minutes ago. How could you be hungry again?" Presley asked.
"Easily!" was the cheerful reply.
Presley and the other three groaned in unison.
"I don't think it's possible for him to ever satisfy that bottomless pit he calls a stomach," Rath put in dryly.
"Yeah!" Armon agreed before realizing that he had just been insulted. "Hey!"
Presley laughed and shook his head. "Now, if we could get back to shopping for my mom for a minute? It's starting to get kind of late in the afternoon and I'd like to be home in time for dinner."
"Where would you like to try next, my prince?" Ja-Kal asked.
"Um," Presley said as he looked around at all the stores, "there! That jewelry store over there. I bet there's a lot of great stuff inside that I could find." He stood up and started walking off. "Come on, guys. Let's go." His guardians followed dutifully along after him.
"I still don't see the point of this useless activity," Rath said as they walked. "I really don't know why you won't let me make your mother a present. Why, anything I create will be so much better than any gift you buy in a mere store."
"It's nothing personal, Rath. I mean, all your stuff is great," Presley told him.
"Of course it is!" Rath huffed indignantly.
"This is just something I feel I should do," Presley continued. "She's been so busy with the Xena exhibit and now the theft that she hasn't had any time for herself. I think she forgot her own birthday's coming up. I figured I'd just get her something special, you know? To show her what a great mom she is," he finished.
"I think that's sweet," Nefer-Tina said. She had been quiet most of the day, mostly speaking only with Ja-Kal. "I know she'll love anything you get her."
"Thanks, Nef," Presley said.
"I'm still hungry," Armon complained to no one in particular as they approached the jewelry store.
"Oh, all right," Presley said digging into his pockets. "Here's ten dollars. Go get yourself something."
"Thank you, o' prince! You are most generous!" Armon said, all smiles once again. He walked off, looking for the nearest restaurant.
"You know, for someone who supposedly has no stomach anymore, he sure puts his to good use," Presley commented. "Now that I'm thinking about it, you guys don't have any organs. It's scientifically impossible for you to even be walking or talking either. It's pretty weird, you know? I mean, you're mummies but you act and, sort of, look like normal people."
"We were awakened by very powerful magic," Rath told him. "Even I, as difficult as it is to admit, do not understand it."
"Sometimes I wonder about that too," Nefer-Tina said thoughtfully. "I don't feel any different from when I was alive. I can think and feel. I experience emotions and physical pain. I get hungry and tired. We all do. Isn't that all just part of being alive? Being human?"
"I guess so," Presley said. "I even have first-hand experience being a mummy from our little adventure with Bes. And I didn't feel dead. Not that I'd know what it felt like," he grinned. "Being a cat, however, is another story. I'm very happy being a human, thank you very much. Using a litterbox sucks!" His grin turned mischievous. "Which reminds me, if Kahti has to use a litterbox-"
"Yes," Rath cut him off before he could finish the sentence. "We are, um, as fully functional in that respect as you are."
"Ew, gross!" the thirteen year old said. His expression grew even more wicked. "I guess that means you guys could also-"
"Don't even go there," Nefer-Tina quickly interjected, looking quite embarrassed at the thought. "Get your mind out of the gutter right now!"
"You are much too young to be thinking of such things," Rath chided him.
"I think we better end this conversation right now and enter the store," Ja-Kal sternly said. "You lead the way, Presley."
Presley, who was enjoying this conversation immensely, knew that tone of voice and decided not to argue with his head guardian. "Yeah, okay. I think I know what to look for." He pushed open the door and led the other three inside.
Velasca stood across the street and watched them enter the store. She was dressed in modern apparel, a disguise to help her blend in among the throngs of people walking the streets of the Bay Area. For a moment, she entertained the thought of following them, but decided the risk of detection was too great. She had been following them all day, studying and learning all she could about her quarry. She wanted to be ready for when she finally destroyed them.
Her observation of their activities had left her rather unimpressed. In the battle footage Scarab had shown her last night, she had witnessed four highly skilled warriors in action. Today, with the exception of their leader, they seemed to be nothing of the sort. They constantly bickered among themselves and disagreed on almost everything. They split up on many occasions, leaving their charge with only one protector. And, only the head guardian, Ja-Kal, seemed to be looking for any danger. The rest of them seemed to be shirking their responsibilities. They even let a mere child tell them what to do, for Zeus' sake! Scarab was obviously more pathetic than she thought.
Over the course of several hours observation, Velasca had mostly figured out her adversaries. They were a pretty mismatched group, in her opinion. How they ever learned to work together as a team was beyond her. It was no wonder Scarab had gotten lucky in Ancient Egypt and destroyed them.
The easiest to dispose of would be the fat, one-armed guardian. Armon was a walking trash collector. Food seemed to be the only thing on his non-existent mind. The entire day he had been more interested in eating than protecting the boy. Every few seconds, it seemed, he was hungry again, even if he had just consumed a large amount of food. She wondered who he had bribed to be assigned as a royal guardian.
Next came Rath, the egotistical scribe and magician. He was prissy and condescending towards everyone around him. He obviously thought himself to be above everyone else and constantly informed his companions of his superior status. Well, she would just have to show him how wrong he was when she finished him off. It would be quite satisfying to wipe that smirk off of his face.
The leader of this little group, Ja-Kal, would provide a challenge, she knew. He was a true fighter and knew it. She could see it in every move he made and by the way he carried himself. He was also on constant alert for even the slightest hint of danger. It would most definitely be fun going one-on-one with him. Hopefully, he would last long enough for her to really enjoy herself. She would savor killing him.
That only left the woman. In the fights she had viewed, Nefer-Tina had been an energetic warrior, cracking jokes along with her whip at every opportunity. She had also been highly skilled, probably almost as good as Ja-Kal, if not better. If she had lived in Greece, there was no doubt that she would have made a powerful Amazon warrior. However, the woman she had watched today seemed like an entirely different person.
Nefer-Tina had displayed none of the energy or extreme personality that had been her trademarks during battle. She was quiet and withdrawn. There was also an aura of sadness clinging tightly around her. It was as if the spark had gone right out of her.
Velasca had hoped to save her for last, but in her current emotional state it did not seem likely. It would not be an even fight. Nefer-Tina was obviously distracted by something and her fighting skills would most likely suffer from it. A true pity.
Velasca glanced at the sky. It was growing late in the day and she was sure Scarab was not happy with her for leaving without telling him. Well, she would just have to make sure he saw things her way from now on. If he wanted her help, he would just have to accept that she did things her own way. No one told the God of Chaos what to do.
No one.
Inside the jewelry store, Nefer-Tina browsed the display cases, admiring the various necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. They were some of the most beautiful pieces she had even seem. Every precious gem imaginable could be found. She knew the young prince would find his mother a wonderful gift here.
Presley, meanwhile, had dragged Ja-Kal and Rath with him, announcing his intention to buy the "most epic pair of earrings" he could find. Nefer-Tina had had to stifle her laughter at the expression on Ja-Kal's face. It was obvious this was not something he enjoyed doing. Rath, on the other hand, had offered his expertise in the manner of gift buying. Nefer-Tina had snuck away before the boy could suck her into his plot as well.
She finished the row of necklaces she had been browsing and looked up to see where to check out next. She noticed a small glass case separate from the others. It was set on a pedestal in the middle of the floor. A small spotlight hung down from the ceiling above the case. Curious, she slowly approached it and peered inside. What she saw took her breath away.
Inside was the most beautiful necklace she had ever laid her eyes on. A large white opal, its fire sparkling in the spotlight, had been cut into a delicate heart shape. The gem had been set in a gold pendant, which had been worked to appear braided. It hung from a gold rope chain which was threaded through the tiny hoop on top of the necklace. Sitting next to the necklace were the matching earrings and ring.
"Did you find something you like?" a voice asked from behind her.
She turned around to see Ja-Kal standing there. "Yeah. So, what are you doing over here? What happened with the earring search?"
Ja-Kal sighed heavily. "They decided that I was not qualified enough to help them. It seems my taste is not as refined as theirs is."
Nefer-Tina laughed. "Well, it's their loss. I think you have excellent taste."
"Thank you," he told her. He gestured to the case in front of them. "Let me take a look at what you found." She stepped aside as he peered into the glass case. "It is truly a beautiful necklace."
"I love it. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before." She smiled wryly. "Not that I ever had a chance to wear such fine jewelry. Would've given my identity away pretty quickly, don't you think?"
He smiled back at her. Before he could say a word, a new voice interjected "Would you like to try it on?" from behind them. They turned around to see a smiling salesman. "I could take it out of the case for you."
Nefer-Tina glanced longingly at the necklace, but shook her head. "I don't think so," she started to say.
"I'd like to see it on her," Ja-Kal interrupted. Nefer-Tina looked up at him in surprise. "If you don't mind, of course," he said to her.
The salesman said nothing and walked around to the other side of the display case. He pulled a keyring out of his pocket and selected a key. He inserted it into the lock and opened the case. Very gently, he lifted the opal necklace off of its velvet stand and held it out to Nefer-Tina.
"Here, let me," Ja-Kal said, taking the necklace from the man before she could accept it. He carefully opened the tiny clasp and moved to stand behind her.
Nefer-Tina could hardly breathe. This was the third time in two days that she had been so close to him.
"Lift up your hair," he directed her. As she swept her long white mane off of her back, he slipped the pendant around her neck. She felt his fingers softly brush her skin as he fastened the clasp. He stepped away from her. "Turn around."
She let her hair fall back down and twirled to face him. "Well? How do I look?"
"Beautiful," he told her truthfully. Then, he caught himself and said, "I mean, the necklace looks beautiful on you. Go see for yourself."
She walked over to the nearest mirror and glanced at her reflection. "I absolutely love it," she said as she fingered the sparkling gem. "I would give anything to get it."
"Why don't you?" Ja-Kal asked as he came up next to her. "I'm sure you have enough money from working by now."
"Tuition, remember? I have to put everything I make from my singing into school," she explained. She sighed and took off the necklace. She glanced at the tiny pricetag attached to the chain. It was over three thousand dollars. "Maybe someday, if I started working full-time, I'd be able to buy it."
They walked back to where the salesman was patiently waiting. "Thank you," Nefer-Tina told him. "But I won't be taking this today."
He nodded and took the piece back from her. "Too bad. It suited you well."
"Thanks," she smiled. She turned back to Ja-Kal. "Let's go see how the experts are doing."
He took one more look at the necklace and then nodded at his teammate. "Lead the way."
They walked off towards the counter where Presley and Rath appeared to be arguing with a rather pale salesman.
Velasca materialized inside the Pyramid. She once again wore her Amazon clothing since she no longer needed to remain unnoticed. It was time to set all of her plans into motion.
She found Scarab sitting in his study. He appeared to be reading something and taking notes. She walked over and stood in front of his desk.
"Ah, so you have decided to come back. Where have you been?" he demanded to know, looking up from his desk.
"Doing the job you freed me to do," she told him. "I spent the day studying my prey."
"Studying? What do you mean studying?" he asked, his voice raised in anger. "I thought I made it very clear that you were supposed to bring me the boy and destroy those accursed mummies. Why haven't you done so yet?"
Velasca smiled evilly. "Patience. A good hunter studies her prey before moving in for the kill. I want to know everything about them. Their strengths. Their weaknesses. It will make defeating them so much more pleasurable. I want to make them suffer."
"Maybe I was a bit hasty with my anger," Scarab conceded. "My apologies. After all this time, I am growing impatient waiting for my immortality."
"And, you'll get it," she purred. "In fact, I already have a plan."
Scarab raised an eyebrow. "Really? Let's hear it then."
"What do you know about Xena, the warrior princess?" she asked him.
"I know everything that was written in the Scrolls about her," he answered. "What did you have in mind?"
"Xena had an archenemy. A woman by the name of Callisto. I only met her once, and it was not on the best of terms."
"As I recall, you two started fighting on a rope bridge over a lava pit and Xena cut the rope. I would say it's her fault you were stopped in the first place. Without her interference, you would have had your revenge on Gabrielle."
"She was quite irritating," Velasca agreed. "To get to the point, if I found her to be an annoying pain in the side, why wouldn't anyone else as well? If she could distract the mummies long enough, which, in my opinion, would be fairly easy, that would free me to bring you the boy. Once you have him, it won't matter how long I decide to toy with them. Your immortality is yours to take at your leisure."
Scarab seemed to ponder this for a moment. "An interesting tactic. She would keep them busy while you captured the brat." He tapped his fingers against the surface of his desk. "Unfortunately, she happens to be dead. I think it would be rather difficult to convince her to help us."
"Dead? She was a goddess. I saw her eat the ambrosia with my own eyes," she told him. "I know of nothing that can kill one of us."
"I see you've never heard of the golden hind." She shook her head. "They were a mystical animal whose blood was the only substance in existence able to kill a god. In fact, Callisto killed another god, Strife, the nephew of Ares, with it before later having Xena stab her."
"How fitting, the creator kills her creation. Well, I guess that means I'm going to have to retrieve her from Tartarus then. I'm sure I can easily restore her to life for our purposes."
"She is not in Tarturus either. She happens to be in Paradise, with no memories of her life as a warlord, thanks to our dear friend Xena," Scarab informed her.
Velasca folded her arms. "I guess a little time travel is in order. I'll just have to find her before Xena does. Time is nothing to a god. The ability to traverse it just happens to be something Zeus doesn't approve of. But, I've never been too fond of him either."
Scarab stood up and smiled. "I like how you think. Your plan definitely has possibilities." He walked around and stood in front of her. "I know I made the right choice in freeing you."
She matched his smile and leaned provocatively back against his desk. "You made the only choice. We were destined to meet. We are very much alike."
"I agree. We both live for power and destruction. Nothing can stand in the way of our destinies," he said.
She stood up and moved closer to him. "Anyone who tries will wish they had never been born." She laid her hand on his cheek. "It has been such a long time since I've been with a man. How long since you had a woman?"
"Too long." With that, he kissed her hard.
It was a kiss of pure lust. There was nothing romantic about it at all. They pressed their bodies together tightly, hands clutching at clothing. Scarab started unlacing Velasca's top as he continued kissing her mouth. She yanked his hat off and threw it.
She broke the kiss, breathing heavily. "I suggest we move this somewhere else."
Scarab, also panting, nodded. "I know just the place." He pulled her to him again and kissed her once more.
They finally made it to his bedchamber, leaving a trail of clothing behind them. Velasca shoved Scarab roughly onto the bed and sauntered casually around to the other side. She crawled in and positioned herself over his body. He grabbed her, pulled her into another kiss, and rolled her onto her back.
Velasca, not to be dominated over, kicked out her leg and knocked him over. She easily placed herself over him again and pinned him down easily with her superior strength.
"I'm always on top," she told him huskily before kissing him harshly. "Don't ever forget it."
"You may just have to keep reminding me." With that said, he pulled her down on top of him.
They spent the rest of the night repeatedly sharing carnal pleasures.