CHAPTER 6: TASHAT'S DREAM

-Ramose?- Isis said- you mean, as...?-

-As the girl from the museum, yes...- Rishid said- I remembered his name when you introduced that girl to us...She must be that man's daughter or granddaughter...-

-But... if you suspected him, why didn't you go and try to find Nephtys sixteen years ago?- Marik asked.

-Weren't you listening?- Rishid said- this man used to steal or buy girls and offer them as sacrifices to the gods... by the time I could reach her, it would have been too late...- he let a tear flow through his cheek- she was certainly dead...-

Marik was shocked. So was Isis. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She knew her father was a bit mean, but she didn't imagine he had sold his own daughter to death only to pay a debt.

Then she remembered her dream: "So, which one?" "The youngest, as I want to keep my first-born for now..."

-She was born second, wasn't she?- Isis asked. Rishid nodded.

-After that day, her name was forbidden in the tomb, because he didn't want you to remember her - Rishid sadly said- Nephtys died, but I want revenge on that man...and now I have a chance...-

-What are you planning to do, Rishid?- Marik asked- don't tell me you plan to...-

-Yes- Rishid said- to take from him what he took from us...-

-You mean... kill Tashat?- Isis said. Rishid didn't answer, but Isis guessed by his look- don't do that!-

-Why not?-

-It was not her fault- Isis said- she's innocent...-

-Nephtys was innocent, too, and she died- Rishid said- in fact, she was only a four-year-old girl when that man took her away and...-

-Then you should punish the guilty one or else, you'd be as bad as he was...-

-Isis...-

-Rishid, I beg you- she said- she's a good person, please don't hurt her...-

-Okay...okay...- Rishid said- I promise I won't harm her...-

-Thank you, Rishid...-

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The next day in the museum, Isis and Tashat continued their work on the mummy, translating the hieroglyphs on the coffin.

-Amazing...- Isis said.

-What's amazing?- a male voice said. Both girls looked up. It was Seto Kaiba. Behind him, they saw his little brother Mokuba.

-Hi, girls- Mokuba said.

-Hi, Moki- Isis smiled at the boy.

-What are you doing, girls?- Mokuba asked.

-Translating this- Isis said- this girl could well be a princess-

-Or a queen?- Mokuba asked.

-I don't think so- Isis said- she was too young to be married...-

-And she didn't have children, either...- Tashat added.

-How do you know that?- Seto asked.

-By her bones- Tashat said- the bones in her pelvis are a bit separated, which tells us she's a woman, but not enough to say she had children...-

-Also, all the jewels between the mummy's bandages and these hieroglyphs tell us she was from royalty- Isis added.

Isis looked up. She was sure that Seto was about to smile. But he didn't, because his little brother was staring at him.

-So, are you two ready for tomorrow?- Seto asked.

-Tomorrow?- both girls asked.

-Yes...- Seto said- you know... Friday night...dinner...-

-Oh, yes...- Isis said, remembering suddenly- I...-

-Forgot- Seto completed her phrase. Isis nodded, and the guy turned to Tashat- how about you?-

-I... I don't know...- she said- I'm not sure my grandfather would allow me...--

-Tell him that if you don't come, I'll fire you...- Seto said.

Tashat smiled a little, but the idea of telling her grandfather to go to dinner was still frightening. Isis, however, wasn't paying to much attention on the dinner topic. She was more worried about the fact that Tashat lived with her grandfather. Was that the man who took Nephtys away and sacrificed her?

-I'll try...- Tashat said.

-Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow night- Seto said- by the way, tomorrow the museum is closed. Good bye misses...-

-Bye, Tashat- Mokuba said- bye, Isis...-

-Bye- Tashat said. Isis waved her hand. The two girls were alone, again.

-So, do you live with your grandfather?- Isis asked, casually. Tashat felt a shudder.

-No, he just... pays the rent for my apartment...- she said- my parents died about two years ago in an accident, so I had nothing...-

-I'm sorry about your parents- Isis said- I lost my mother when my brother was born and my father some time ago. But at least you have a relative, as I have my brothers Marik and Rishid...-

-But he's not like my parents- Tashat said- my grandfather is...a bad person-

-A bad person?- Isis asked- what do you mean?-

-Yes- Tashat said- he makes me do...- but she interrupted herself.

-To do what?- Isis asked.

-N...never mind- Tashat said, nervous. Isis decided it was better not to continue.

-Okay- Isis said- do you have a dress? For tomorrow, I mean-

-I... I don't think so...- Tashat said.

-Don't worry- Isis said- I have one that can be perfect for you...-

-You... you don't have to...- Tashat said. Isis smiled.

-Don't worry- she said- come on...-

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-Perfect!- one of the men who were spying on Tashat said.

-Wonderful- the other man said- that Kaiba fool invited her... everything is happening as we planed...-

-I'm worried about her, though- the first man said- if she ceases to cooperate...-

-Don't worry- the other man answered- even if that happens, we will succeed...-

-Why are you so sure?-

-You'll see...-

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-This one... no, not this one... this one!- Isis said, taking out a beautiful white dress from her closet. Tashat stared at it, amazed.

-It's beautiful...- Tashat said, admiring it.

-Try it on- Isis said. Tashat did as she was told.

-You look beautiful...- a man said. It was Shadi.

-Shadi- Tashat said, blushing lightly- what are you doing here?-

-Nothing- Shadi said- Seto Kaiba told me you had something to tell me...-

-Something to tell...?- Tashat was about to ask, but Isis interrupted her.

-She wants you to go to dinner and party, tomorrow night at the museum- Isis said- Kaiba's idea...-

-Sure- Shadi smiled.

-Thank you, Shadi...- Tashat said.

-Well, you should change- Isis said.

-I will...- Tashat said. She left Isis and Shadi alone.

-It's very nice of you- Shadi said.

-I like her- Isis said.

-She's in a difficult situation...- Shadi said- I know her for a long time. Her grandfather hated her parents, and now she has to obey him. He didn't help her when her parents died-

-I see...- Isis said- Shadi, listen... Rishid thinks she's...-

But she couldn't finish, because Tashat finished changing.

Shadi said goodbye after a while. So did Tashat a few minutes later, thanking Isis for the dress.

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Tashat was walking home, when she saw to familiar, yet unpleasant faces.

-You did great, poppet- one of the men said.

-It's over- she said without stopping- I won't help you anymore-

-Just a minute- the man said- why?-

-I won't help you hurt them...- Tashat said, frowning, and kept walking- I've had enough-

-You will do as we told you, and that is not a question...-the first man said. Tashat ignored him.

-Leave her- the second man said- we will just... abort the mission...-

-You'll what?- Tashat said, stopping.

-As you heard- he said- without your help, we can't do anything... I'll just take the first plane home tomorrow morning...-

-That's what you should do- Tashat said, and left them.

-Are you crazy?- the first man said- abort the mission?-

-I was kidding- the other man answered- but as I said, we don't need that girl's cooperation anymore...-

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Tashat arrived home and went to sleep. She had a very strange dream.

An eight-year-old girl was sitting on her mother's lap.

-Mom?- she said- why did you named me 'Tashat'?-

-Your father chose that name...- the woman answered. Her husband approached the girl and smiled at her.

-Let me tell you the story- the man said- In ancient Egypt, there was a girl named Tahoser. She was both smart and beautiful. She became one of the only two women who became pharaohs, and one of the only two women buried in the Valley of the Kings...-

-Tahoser?- Tashat asked- you mean, the great queen Tahoser?-

-Exactly- the man answered.

-But... what does that has to do with my name?- Tashat asked.

-Tahoser had a twin sister, as beautiful and smart as she was. They got along very well. But Tahoser's sister died. She sacrificed herself to save her-

-Why?-

-Because Tahoser was the first born of her family- the man answered- and that girl loved her sister more than anything in the world. She heard a group of evil men plotting to murder Tahoser, so she took her sister's place-

Tashat listened to her father's story, amazed.

-And, what did Tahoser do?-

-First off, she had revenge on those who killed her sister- the man answered- after that she built a beautiful tomb for her in the Valley of the Queens, because she deserved it. And finally, she built a statue of the goddess Nephtys on its entrance, as a symbol of a perfect sister...-

-And do you know the name of Tahoser's sister?- her mother asked. Tashat shocked her head, and turned her eyes from her mother to her father.

-Tashat...- the man said.

Tashat smiled and hugged her father. Her happiness didn't last long, because a man entered the room.

-Nice story, Semek- the stranger said- but I don't have time for stupid tales-

-What do you want?- Tashat's father said.

-That's not a good way to say hello to your father, Semek- the old man said.

-Your father?- Tashat said, but Semek didn't answer her. A furious conversation had started between the two men.

-So, everything is clear now- the old man said- it was you...-

-Yes- Tashat's father said- I couldn't allow that to happen-

-Mom, what are they talking about?- Tashat asked. The woman didn't answer.

-Tashat, we'll talk later. Now go out and play with your friends...-

Tashat did as she was told. Outside her house, she saw several boys playing ball. She didn't even try to join them: they wouldn't allow her to play with them. She sat on the steps in front of her house's door, watching the boys playing.

-What happened, Tashat?- a red haired boy asked her- you seem sad...-

-Nothing- she answered- my mom sent me out. My...my grandfather is discussing something with my dad...-

The boy sat next to her.

-Your grandfather?- the boy asked- I thought you said...-

-I thought I didn't have one...- Tashat said- but I do. It's weird, though. I don't like him...-

-Why not?-

-I don't know- she said- it's just... I have this weird feeling that I already know him...-

-That's strange- the boy said- do you...?- but he was interrupted by a group of girls who came to talk to Tashat.

-Come with us, Tashat- one girl said- we will show you something...-

-I'm coming- Tashat said. Then she turned to the boy- see you later, Shadi...-

-Take care- Shadi said, smiling.

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Just then, Tashat woke up.

-What a strange dream- she sighted.

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TO BE CONTINUED...