The Taste of Blood
Ch. 2- Normal
As my eyes locked with his, a shiver went down my spine. Why am I attracted to him? I wondered. I don't even know him. Scared of my feelings for this unknown stranger, I fled upstairs to my room.
"Fala!" Isis called; Cheri and Aria were too busy staring at the men to notice that I was not there anymore.
"Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to you," I called from the top of the stairs. I ran into my room and flopped down on my bed.
"Why don't you want to talk to me?" Isis wined from the other side of the door.
"Because I just don't want to!" I shouted back. Then I buried my face in my pillow, and began to wallow in self-pity. Thoughts ran through my head. Why can't my family understand me? Why did I have to be in the middle? The younger ones are babied, and the older ones are given too many privileges. It's just not fair! And how come Mother and Father never spend any time with me. And why do I always have to be the "responsible" one? I cried myself to sleep.
The next morning, I was awoken to the tingle of something wet touching my bare foot. I groggily lifted my head, only to rest it back against the pillow, after I realized that it was only my cat, Cleopatra.
But wait a minute, I wondered, why are there tears on my face, and my pillow all wet. Then the happenings of last night flooded back. Why was I so upset? I asked myself. It was only one glance with some person I do not know, and will probably never see again. Refreshed, I got out of bed.
As usual, I dressed in a plain dress of white, and wore a circle of gold on my head. I put on kohl, as always, and some gold bracelets and rings. Then I put on my slippers, and made my way downstairs. After breakfast, I went across the courtyard, and out the side gate, to the pool. After taking a quick swim, I walked down to the Nile for my daily encounter with the frogs. I don't really talk to frogs, I just go down to a small delta of the Nile that's covered with reeds, and spend some quality time with myself. It is my opinion that every girl needs at least a little bit of "me" time every day. Everything was normal, everything was ordinary, and the events of the night before were washed away.
My 17th birthday rolled around about 3 months later. My father insisted that we invite all of Alexandria, no exceptions. The house was in an uproar. What kind of treats should we make? Which musicians should we hire? What decorations will be put up? I was happy, for once I was the center of attention.
The night of my birthday finally came. As my father had promised, all of Alexandria had attended. My sisters were excited about my gifts, especially Isis. There was a ball, as with all celebrations, and beautiful Egyptian dresses on beautiful Egyptian women dancing with beautiful Egyptian men. Except that one did not look Egyptian.
Ch. 2- Normal
As my eyes locked with his, a shiver went down my spine. Why am I attracted to him? I wondered. I don't even know him. Scared of my feelings for this unknown stranger, I fled upstairs to my room.
"Fala!" Isis called; Cheri and Aria were too busy staring at the men to notice that I was not there anymore.
"Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to you," I called from the top of the stairs. I ran into my room and flopped down on my bed.
"Why don't you want to talk to me?" Isis wined from the other side of the door.
"Because I just don't want to!" I shouted back. Then I buried my face in my pillow, and began to wallow in self-pity. Thoughts ran through my head. Why can't my family understand me? Why did I have to be in the middle? The younger ones are babied, and the older ones are given too many privileges. It's just not fair! And how come Mother and Father never spend any time with me. And why do I always have to be the "responsible" one? I cried myself to sleep.
The next morning, I was awoken to the tingle of something wet touching my bare foot. I groggily lifted my head, only to rest it back against the pillow, after I realized that it was only my cat, Cleopatra.
But wait a minute, I wondered, why are there tears on my face, and my pillow all wet. Then the happenings of last night flooded back. Why was I so upset? I asked myself. It was only one glance with some person I do not know, and will probably never see again. Refreshed, I got out of bed.
As usual, I dressed in a plain dress of white, and wore a circle of gold on my head. I put on kohl, as always, and some gold bracelets and rings. Then I put on my slippers, and made my way downstairs. After breakfast, I went across the courtyard, and out the side gate, to the pool. After taking a quick swim, I walked down to the Nile for my daily encounter with the frogs. I don't really talk to frogs, I just go down to a small delta of the Nile that's covered with reeds, and spend some quality time with myself. It is my opinion that every girl needs at least a little bit of "me" time every day. Everything was normal, everything was ordinary, and the events of the night before were washed away.
My 17th birthday rolled around about 3 months later. My father insisted that we invite all of Alexandria, no exceptions. The house was in an uproar. What kind of treats should we make? Which musicians should we hire? What decorations will be put up? I was happy, for once I was the center of attention.
The night of my birthday finally came. As my father had promised, all of Alexandria had attended. My sisters were excited about my gifts, especially Isis. There was a ball, as with all celebrations, and beautiful Egyptian dresses on beautiful Egyptian women dancing with beautiful Egyptian men. Except that one did not look Egyptian.