TWO LOST SOULS

Tehotu, Tarita, and the boys were waiting for Reginald and Laurel to arrive.  Tehotu was furious and Tarita anxious.  They had heard word of Laurel's retrieval, but they didn't know what had truly transpired.  According to Reginald, Laurel was kidnapped by a blood thirsty Nomad, dragged halfway across Egypt, and had been his slave.  He would eventually tell Tehotu who the man was, because he had seen him before as well.  Of course, Tehotu bought the entire story, but Tarita did not.  She saw the look on her daughter's face.  Something significant had happened to Laurel, but it was completely outside the realm of Reginald's colorful story.  During the trip back home, Laurel said nothing [her brothers were fighting, as usual, distracting her mother].  In front of them, Reginald and Tehotu began to plan out the wedding.  Laurel heard little, if nothing.  Once they arrived at the house, Reginald asked permission to take Laurel for a drive.  He explained that he wanted her to see a physician to ensure that she hadn't been harmed.  Tehotu was more than willing to grant that permission.  Quietly, they rode toward town.

"You're wasting your time," Laurel said stiffly.

"Would you please shut up, Laurel.  I need to know before we're married if you're carrying his child.  Once I'm satisfied, I'll leave you alone.  This doctor you'll be seeing can also take care of the baby…if there is one."

When Reginald dropped her off at home an hour or so later, Laurel took to her bedroom with her mother right on her heels.  She was in no mood to speak to anyone.  The 'physician' had drawn blood and asked for urine.  Within two days, Reginald would have his answer.  Laurel was very upset with Tarita and didn't think she'd ever want to speak to her now or ever again.  As far as she was concerned, she didn't have a mother.  She jumped onto the middle of her big bed and turned to her side, her back facing Tarita.  Her mother had a lot of nerve coming in here.  She could sense a lecture coming on, and for once in her life, she would fight back at her.  She knew nothing about what she had gone through on that desert.  She knew nothing.

"You hate me, Sesha, and I can understand.  I was in your shoes once.  Please tell me what happened to you out in the desert.  I know it didn't happen as Reginald told it."

Although she was very angry with her mother, she knew she needed an ear, a shoulder to cry on.  She had no one, but again, she didn't trust her mother.  Whatever order Tehotu barked, Tarita followed without question, even if it was stupid [like this marriage to Reginald Portafoy].  Sighing, she opened her mouth, "I went to find my father and I ran into some trouble.  A man who I thought fit Father's description rescued me more than once.  He protected me and took me to his village.  He found Father and brought him to me, but he rejected me, pawning me off on this man.  His name was Ardeth Bay and he was a leader of a tribe.  Something happened between us out in the desert.  He made love to me and I to him.  When Reginald found us, he had one of his men shoot Ardeth in cold blood.  All my childish fantasties brought about the death of this beautiful, noble man.  Now I must suffer the consequences of that behavior.  I agreed to marry Reginald after he tried to attack me.  That's exactly what happened, Mother.  You can choose to believe it or kiss Reginald's ass like Tehotu."

Her story was abbreviated, but no less heart breaking.  Tarita's was not quite as horrid, but a panicked thought entered her mind.  "Are you carrying this man's child?"

"No," she snapped.  "What is it about you and Reginald thinking I'm having a baby?  The bastard made me see a physician.  He said if there were a baby, he would make me get rid of it.  There is no baby.  If I did have his baby inside me, I would have told him.  His child would have never been a stranger to him as I was to Father.  It doesn't matter, none of it does.  Ardeth is dead and I will never see him again.  Of course, if he had lived, he intended to leave me as well.  Please Mother, give me some privacy."

"Laurel, I'm so sorry your life is a disappointment and perhaps I am to blame.  I will try to put a stop to this wedding."

"As if you could, Mother," she said bitterly.  "Leave me."

*  *  *

Tehotu and Reginald arranged a quickie wedding to be held at the Aciquilla home.  Laurel had to be outfitted with a wedding dress of her own.  She could not wear her mother's.  The night before the wedding, Laurel received one final fitting.  She hated the dress, hated the idea of becoming Mrs. Reginald Portafoy.  After she was picked and prodded, she came out of the wedding gown, suddenly wanting to rip it to shreds.  After the ceremony, that was exactly what she intended to do.  Earlier that day, Reginald had come to her and told her that the physician had confirmed there was no baby.  She said nothing, but her eyes spoke for her.  She had tried telling him a thousand times that she wasn't carrying a child.  However, if she had been, he would have had to kill her with the baby.  She wouldn't have given up so easily.  Reginald underestimated her and he hadn't been introduced to her more stubborn side as of yet.  He saw a little of it, but not the full force of her attitude.  It was something only Ardeth had seen.  Ardeth.  There he was again.  She couldn't keep her mind off him.  She longed to go back to the oasis so she could give him a proper burial.  Who would find him?  When they did, what would they find?  A man's body wouldn't last very long in the open.  The thought of his body rotting in the sun made her ill.  Once again, she took to her bed and buried her face in her pillow.   

Her mother came to her much later that night with a packed bag and a small satchel.  Laurel gazed at her crazily as Tarita thrust them toward her.  "Take these, Sesha.  I packed for you.  You have money and food in the satchel.  You may go wherever you wish.  I will not have you marrying that man.  You will have an enormous head start before they will notice you're gone."  She took in Laurel's stunned expression.  "Don't lie there and stare at me, Sesha.  Go.  Leave before Tehotu hears me in your room."

*  *  *

Ardeth awoke and found himself surrounded by the confusion of mixed activity.  Around him people were moaning and groaning.  At first, he had no idea where he was.  After glancing around the interior for the second time, he realized that he was in a healer's tent.  His father was beside him, watching cautiously. 

"My son, are you all right?"

He gazed at his father through cloudy eyes.  Why did he suddenly feel as if he had been asleep for days?  A thought struck him and for a moment, his heart rate went up several octaves.  "What is wrong?  Where is she?  Where is Dâyi' nafs?" 

He tried to sit up, but his father held him down.  "Your wound became infected.  Your fever burned so high that you could not awake.  I sent Ustâd ahead and he discovered that his daughter booked passage to England.  He sent a telegram hours ago and said that both his daughter and her intended are missing."  

Ardeth groaned aloud.  "I killed her, Father.  I ensured her heart would never heal and now her intended has murdered her.  I laid in this cot and did nothing."

Bahir stared at his son for a very long time.  "Ardeth, tell me about your connection with this girl."

Briefly, he focused his eyes on Bahir's face before looking away, seeming almost ashamed.  In a way, he was.  "I know her, Father.  I know her as only a man should know his wife.  She was captured because I failed her.  I told her I could never stay with her and she fled.  I was distracted by the way she made me feel and those men caught me off guard.  Now, she is gone.  Father, I cannot marry Waqi.  The contract must be dissolved.  I simply cannot take a wife.  I know what is expected of me, but I simply cannot do it."

"We will worry about that when we return to the village.  For now, you must rest and regain your strength.  If you do not, you will never make it back."

Ardeth settled back onto the cot and stared at nothing in particular.  Nothing mattered to him anymore.  The evil man had taken Laurel out into the desert and killed her.  "I will rest, Father.  I want to go to England first and find her family.  Can you help with that?"

"Of course, Ardeth."

He closed his eyes because he didn't want his father to see him cry.  "Thank you, Father." 

*  *  *

Tarita was near the door when the doorbell rang, so she went over and opened it without looking.  Before her stood a tall, robed figure with dark, piercing eyes.  She knew this was the man her daughter had spoken of.  Tehotu was at one of his businesses and Reginald was gone, so she stepped aside, allowing the warrior to enter her home.

"I am sorry for intruding, but I know your daughter," he began.  "I was told that she's missing," he said, not mincing words.  "Can I be of any assistance in finding her?"

Curiously, she gazed up at him.  "You didn't know?"  Before he could respond, she stopped him.  "I sent her away before the wedding could occur.  I heard from her just this morning.  Sesha went back to Egypt and Reginald went after her, but I doubt he'll find her."

He looked at her with disbelief sparkling in his eyes.  "She is alive?  She went back to Egypt?"

"She did.  You're Ardeth?"  He nodded.  "She believes you to be dead.  Return to Egypt and I'm sure you'll find her.  She's young and doesn't understand things, which is my fault, but I think she's in love with you.  By the look on your face, I can see that you feel the same."

*  *  *

As Ardeth was dashing away from England to Egypt, Laurel rode along the desert quietly.  Again, she had taken an incredible risk riding out into the desert alone, but at least today, she was armed.  If anyone messed with her, she would die fighting.  She purposely avoided the area where the oasis was.  By now, Ardeth's body would be reduced to nothing but bones.  If she saw that, she might go insane.  She wanted to make it to the village and try to apologize to his father.  Ahead of her, she saw a figure galloping from the opposite direction.  She immediately tensed up and grabbed her shotgun.  She quickly lowered it when she recognized the person moving toward her.  Father

*  *  *

While Laurel was meeting her father again, Reginald was hot on her tail.  She was an idiot to think he wouldn't find her.  He knew exactly where she was going.  When he found her, he would make her pay in every way, using every orifice.  Throwing caution to the wind, he rode alone.  He wanted no one around when he found her.  Reginald stopped at the oasis.  He saw no evidence of the Nomad's body or the blood from his wound.  Perhaps animals or vultures [were there vultures?] had carried him away.  It mattered little to him.  His focus wasn't directed toward the pig lover of Laurel.  His focus was continuing on with his plans to take control of the Aciquilla fortune.  He led his horse to the pool of water and felt tempted to go in and have a splash around.  It was hotter than hell and the icy depths might feel quite nice on the flesh.

Before he began stripping down, his horse whinnied nervously.  Stupid animals.  He hated them and only used them when it was absolutely necessary.  The beast was spooked, it was obvious, and it had a look in its eyes that at any moment, it would gallop away.  He refused to be abandoned here.  He took hold of the reins and forcefully led the horse to a nearby tree.  He tied it up and then backed away.  It was odd how the oasis had seemed so inviting and nice when he had retrieved Laurel.  Today, it seemed dark and menacing.  Perhaps his nervous horse was making him paranoid.  He shook it off and returned to the spot he chose previously.  He undressed quickly.  He would take a brief dip and then get the hell out of here.  Something wasn't right about this place and it was too late to turn back now.  Besides, what did he have to fear?  He was invincible.  Death was reserved for those too stupid to fight. 

Although unaware of it, Reginald was being watched by the eyes of the oasis.  This ground had been protected from evil forces long ago.  Whoever touched it could influence the habitat.  If the person were evil, the environment would follow right along.  Evil was dealt with swiftly and unmercifully.  This time would be no different.  This evil soul should have suffered the last time he stepped on this ground, but the oasis had put all its forces into the fallen man to keep him alive until his people found him.  The oasis gave life when it was deserved, but didn't hesitate to take it when it was necessary.  A transparent arm reached to the horse tied so cruelly to a tree.  The horse was untied and the invisible hand smacked the horse's rump, sending him on his way.  Reginald turned suddenly when he saw the horse flying by.  Like an idiot, he ran after the animal as if he could catch it.  He began cursing under his breath.  Breathing heavily, he began to turn toward the water once again.  Behind him, he felt a cold push of air.  From out of nowhere, a disembodied voice whispered, "Egyptian asps are quite poisonous."*  He whipped around again and before he could breathe, he saw a black snake rearing back to strike.  He tried to run, but his feet couldn't move.  He was mired in concrete.  Reginald cried out in pain as the snake sunk its fangs into his groin.  He fell hard on his ass with the snake holding on for dear life.  He began beating at the thing, beating his own groin, but nothing could hurt as much as the bite.  The asp finally let go and crawled away as if it had business to attend to elsewhere.  Reginald laughed a little.  How funny was this?  His bride ran away, taking her fortune with her.  He came back to Egypt and then his horse abandoned him.  If that wasn't enough, a snake had bitten him in the balls.

Reginald slid his body along the biting sand.  There was no way he could stand.  He was swelling up down below alarmingly.  He propped up on the very tree that had offered its life to a young Medjai chieftain.  However, it wouldn't touch this man.  He couldn't live, he wasn't meant to live.  The poison raged into Reginald's system like a fire through dried wood.  His throat began to close up and hardly any air could get through.  Eerily enough, he had begun to hallucinate [or so he thought].  Dancing about his head, just a few feet above him, were three or four black shapes.  He couldn't make out what they were.  They changed shapes.  At one moment, they would look like people.  At another, they would shift and become nothing more than blobs.  As the poison coursed through him, the shapes grew closer and closer.  Reginald tried to scream, but he couldn't get enough air in his lungs to do it.  The black shapes had become what he feared most as a child.  The fanged demons surrounded him.  Two of them flanked him at the side, grabbing his arms.  The other two grabbed his legs.  By then, the venom had paralyzed him and he could do nothing more than watch in terror as the demons carried him off toward the water. 

*  *  *

Ardeth searched all of Cairo, but found nothing.  He rode out to the oasis, expecting to see her there, but again, he was greeted by nothing.  Incredibly despondent now, he continued on back to the village, riding through the night.  When he made it back, he noticed activity coming from the home of his parents.  He went toward the center of the activity and noticed a familiar figure.  Ustâd.  He said nothing, but as soon as the group noticed him, they moved around so that Ardeth could see the person they were surrounding.  Dâyi' nafs.  She swallowed hard when she laid eyes on him.  For so long, she had believed him to be dead.  Yet, her father had let her know that Ardeth was alive.  They had come looking for him, but he was gone.  He now stood before her, gazing at her as if he were faced with a ghost.  What he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her until neither of them could breathe.  He couldn't act on that impulse as they were in the presence of their parents, but she also still believed him to be contracted to marry.  With the happiness in her eyes was a tinge of hurt and anger.  He had broken her heart, but was ever determined to mend it.  He needed a moment [or a hundred] alone with her.

He looked to her father.  "May I have a moment alone with your daughter," he asked.

Bart smiled a little.  "You can request that directly through Laurel.  She's of age and doesn't need my permission."

Without asking the question again, he glanced at her.  "I'll go with you," she said. Together, they walked outside.  He longed to touch her, but he resisted.  They eyed each other for a long time, but neither could say a word.  "I thought you were dead," she said quietly.

He nodded.  "I thought the same of you."

"I won't return to England.  I'm going to live with my father for a bit, acting as his assistant.  As far as Reginald is concerned, I heard he was murdered out in the desert.  I don't have to worry about him any longer.  I do, however, have to worry about you."  He opened his mouth to speak, but she shook her head.  "Wait.  I know about the marriage contract.  Your father told me and he mentioned that it was broken at your request.  I worry about you because I've known you just for a short time and I think…I know I love you.  I don't think it's right so soon."

He again resisted approaching her.  "No, Dâyi' nafs, you do not have to feel as if it is too soon.  What is inside your heart is also inside mine."

She nodded as if she expected him to say it.  "We can't be together.  You were right about that.  I'm not sure if loving you is such a good idea right now because of what happened at the oasis.  That hurt more than I can say.  I'm not of your people and you must marry one within.  I didn't want to see that, but I understand now.  Have your father and the other elders draw up another marriage contract.  You must do what is in your blood to do."

"It is not in my blood to deny you.  It is not in my blood to proceed with a marriage I do not want.  It is in my blood to say that if I cannot have you, I will have no one.  This is not a time to be stubborn.  If you choose to deny me, I will love no other and I believe the same will happen to you.  Go back with your father, but you will learn soon enough that I will always return here.  I will always look for and find you.  My touch will be the only touch you will ever feel or want."  He moved past her and made his leave.

The next morning, Laurel and Bart set off shortly before dawn.  Their departure was to be unwatched, yet it wasn't.  Above them, just out of sight, Ardeth looked on as they rode away.  He kept his eyes on his Dâyi' nafs until she was nothing more than a speck on the horizon.

*Thank you Mr. Somers and "Ancksunamen" for that fabulous line! 

____________________

To be continued…