Inside the castle, Anzu woke up in a beautiful room. She sat up in the bed. Her head ached a bit but she was fine. She slipped off the bed and looked at herself. She was wearing a beautiful lavender gown that had a white ancient eye on her chest. She also felt a bandage wrapped around the right side of her head.
In the reflection of the mirror, she saw Ishizu open the doors and walk in.
"What a trouble maker," she laughed. Anzu turned and looked at her with a smile.
"You were lucky,"
"Did Atemu really save me?" Anzu asked. She walked a short distance to her bed and lay back down. Ishizu nodded.
"You had a blow to the head and passed out. You lost some blood, but you shall recover within days." The Ishizu smiled kindly.
"I must say though, the Pharaoh has never taken women to his room and let her rest in his bed."
Anzu blushed when she heard this.
"Why not my room?"
"Well. Your brother is home. He'd kill you and me if he ever found out you were in the market,"
Anzu realized what the Pharaoh has done for her. If Seth ever found out that she has left...it meant no food for a week. Well not that harsh...but bad.
"May I? I mean walk around the castle? I understand if you don't want me too." Anzu asked with a soft smile. Ishizu gave her a confused smile.
"You may of course! You're the sister of the High Priest. You don't need to ask me," She said. Then she made a serious face at Anzu.
"I must warn you, if you feel any head ache, you must come back to rest, understood?"
"Yes ma'm." Anzu curtsied and then walked through the doors.
Anzu wandered to corridors of the giant castle. She was hoping to run into the Pharaoh and thank him properly for saving her, but she only saw guards and some nobles walking around.
"Anzu?!" a young girl called from the other end of a corridor. The girl ran up to her with a pleasant smile. Anzu recognized her at once.
"Mana!"
"Anzu!"
Both girls took hands and jumped up and down. They were both good friends. Mana had long blond hair and cerulean eyes.
"You must bath now! The Pharaoh will require your presence at the feast tonight!" she said happily. Mana took Anzu's hand and led her to a pair of giant doors.
Inside, there was a pool in the middle of the room. Rocks were inside the pond that hid parts of the pool. The room was hot and steamy.
"A hot spring?" Anzu asked politely. Mana shook her head.
"This is the bathing room. You shall wash in this hot water. It's quite nice...the Pharaoh tells me." Mana giggled softly.
Anzu looked around cautiously.
"There is no one else in here, if there was, we would hear him or her in the water." Mana reassured her.
"I'll have to take care of some business. Two guards will be standing outside near the door, just in case." Mana left the room.
Anzu looked at the clear, hot water. She got undressed and slipped into the water. She then dunked her head under and then resurfaced. The hot water relived the pressure off her wounds.
"I can get use to this," She said softly.
Anzu leaned against one of the rocks in the pool. She looked up at the ceiling, and then at the poolside. Skimming the edge of the pool, a gleam of gold caught her eye.
"What's that?" she swam up to the glimmer.
On the poolside were a crown, but not just any crown, it belonged to the Pharaoh. Anzu looked at the crown carefully.
"Very detailed. Not a scratch on it." She murmured.
She spotted something else that was gold. A pyramid shaped necklace. She picked it up and examined it.
"A huge puzzle necklace?" she said as she ran her finger along one of the piece's cracks.
Footsteps sounded outside the door. Anzu put the puzzle down and dove into the water and swam behind a rock. The door opened.
"Were did I put those...ah!" a rich voice whispered. Anzu peeked over the rock to see Atemu bend over to get his crown. He put it on and then bent again to get his puzzle, but knocked it into the water on accident. He cursed under his breath.
He reached into the water but couldn't reach it at the bottom. Getting up, he then slipped on the wet poolside and into the pool with a big splash. Anzu couldn't help but laugh.
((OO...slick))
He quickly got out of the water when he heard Anzu's laugh.
"Whose there?" he demanded after straitening himself out from getting out of the pool. He started to walk slowly around the poolside, scanning the water for a body. Anzu put a hand over her mouth and brought her body, neck down, underwater. The footsteps got louder.
"Show yourself now!" He warned as his footsteps stopped. Anzu decided to speak up before trouble started.
"Its only me," she said as soft as she could. The pharaoh was in shock to hear a woman's voice.
Anzu?!
"Oh my, Anzu?! Please forgive me!" he said as he turned away from the pool's water in embarrassment. "I-I thought..."
Anzu saw him turn, relived for some privacy.
"I'll get what you dropped into the pool." She swam to the puzzle and put it on the poolside again. She then swam away from it, keeping her body submerged. The pharaoh spotted his necklace and went to get it. Anzu poked her head out from behind a nearby rock to watch him. He saw her and smiled gently. He then noticed the bandage that was still wrapped around her head.
"How are you feeling?" he said as he put the necklace around his neck. Anzu blushed.
"I feel a little better than from before, thank you."
Pharaoh blushed as he saw a sneak of pink tinted flesh from her collar bone. He felt uncomfortable and so headed toward the door.
"Well, there are clean towels over there." He pointed toward a pile of neatly stacked white towels.
"I shall see you at dinner tonight?" Anzu nodded.
Atemu, not looking, walked square into the door and fell back. Anzu swam toward the fallen man.
((Oo aww my gawd...))
"Are you ok?!" she said resting her hands on the poolside. He got up and rubbed his back. "Yah, I'm fine." His face turned blood red. He then left the room.
Anzu got out, toweled herself off, and wrapped a towel around her slim body. She left the room and quickly walked to her. She couldn't help but smile after seeing the Pharaoh run smack into a door.
Inside, she saw Mana sitting on the bed holding a white outfit.
"Mana?" Anzu said as she closed the door and walked toward her.
"Surprised? I have a gift for you!" She held up a white top and long skirt.
Later on, Anzu was wearing a white toob top with a long white skirt. She wore a gold collar and a gold hip belt along with this outfit. She looked like a goddess.
"Your beautiful! I'm sure you're going to catch the eye of our Prince!" Mana said happily. Anzu looked at her with a frown.
"Mana! I always eat with the Pharaoh! Besides, it's a special event I hear. That's all."
"Sure." Mana responded. "Follow me now!" she took Anzu's hand, and led her out to the feast hall.
"Have fun!" Mana said as she opened the door. As soon as she opened the door, faces turned toward her figure. Anzu spotted the Pharaoh strait ahead of her, sitting at his throne. He looked bored.
"Anzu," Ishizu greeted her. Mahado, another fellow priest, nodded his head in greetings.
Atemu wasn't looking forward to this feast. The High Priest was to bring back guests from the country of Rome. He's dealt with Romans before. Never liked their... 'outgoing' personalities. He needed to think on something else.
His eyes drifted around the hall...and rested on a fine young brunette. Her azure eyes locked with his scarlet ones. She smiled brightly.
That's when he got up.
Anzu saw Atemu walking towards her, and panicked. She stood stiff.
"Highness," she said with a smile. Atemu gave her a curious look.
"Feeling well Anzu?" he asked. She nodded, forcing her body to relax. She was about to speak, until the hall doors burst open. A short, old man ran in as fast as he could, he tripped (which earned a chuckle from the people) and regained his run to the Pharaoh.
"M-My lord!" the short man huffed. Anzu recognized him to be Gebelk; an acquaintance to her brother. Atemu looked down on Gebelk.
"Excuse my intrusions milady," he apologized to Anzu, with a queer smile. Anzu looked away.
"What is the problem?" Atemu asked seriously as he noted the many faces looking in their direction. Gebelk quickly put his act in order.
"The High Priest is being held captive!" he said. Anzu's ears strained.
"My brother?!" she exclaimed. Gebelk looked at her.
"Yes. Their demands are for...," he sighed as he stared at Anzu. "Lady Anzu,"
Atemu shot a look at Anzu, who looked very, very ill. She couldn't stand to hear more, and ran off to her brother's room.
Gebelk handed the Pharaoh a note.
"This was given to us bye a messenger,"
Atemu looked at the note questionably, and then unfolded it. He read over it, but was unable to comprehend its text. Calling over Mahado, Atemu handed it over to the priest who could understand the Latin text.
Atemu,
We have the young priest, Seth. He is unharmed...for now. In order to get him back, got to the Great Waterfall east of the kingdom on the first full moon. Send only the young maiden Anzu. If she is not there at the night of the full moon, the priest will be killed. Our master awaits.
Atemu's fist began to shake violently.
"Is he really ok Gebelk?" he asked in a frim voice. Gebelk looked uneasy.
"They hit him over the head. That is the damage I hear," he said making a grim face. Mahado read over the note again. His eyebrows rose in shock.
"My lord, the next full moon is tomorrow night! What shall we do?" Mahado studied his friend.
"I-I don't know" Atemu said sadly.
Anzu...
A/N
Gawd, nine chapters so far...(excluding the prologue of course)
I sincerely apologize for all the spelling and grammar mistakes. I started this story years ago. I guess I should go over them...later. I'll do better in the upcoming chapters.
Thanks for all the reviews! Cookies and milk for all!!!
