Disclaimer: Same as it always is.

Author Note: Sorry about the delay, I'm re-designing the plotline. Until then, take this little side chapter. It does have something to do with the story, maybe not the entire plot, but what the hey. For some odd reason it reminds me of the Star Wars trilogy. The parts between Leia and Han, you know. shrugs I don't know, but I found it funny anyway. Thanks to all my reviewers. I hope you'll forgive me for my long hiatus on this story.

Raven "Siren's Muse"

Chapter Four: Every Class of Fool and Child

Two weeks passed quickly, it seemed. We visited everywhere there was to visit. But in all our travels, I still had not dreamed/saw that strange pyramid again. I was beginning to think it was simply the sun affecting my eyes. I was quite a ease with Egypt now, given the fact that I adapt rather quickly. Given our long stay, we began to know the owner of the inn and his wonderful wife. I could never pronounce her name well enough so I called her Ida. Since it sounded close enough. Ida took me under her wing and taught me to cook as well as speak the language. One morning I was showing her how to make crumpets. "Like sweetened bread!" Ida exclaimed in slightly broken English.

"Exactly." I grinned.

I turned about to put the flour away and ran straight into a tall, muscular wall. I glanced up and saw Talib grinning down at me. "Talib," I grumbled, "I'm busy, this kitchen is small enough without you blocking the doorway."

Talib had his wonderfully annoying Cheshire cat grin. "Ah, but my dear Ms. O'Connell, my nose led me down here. I had to find out what was baking."

"Crumpets." I told him crisply.

Talib nodded sagely. "Of course. English women must have their crumpets."

His hands were grasping my upper arms now as he tried to look past me. My hair just obscured his sight of the kitchen. He was rather close to me as he tried to push through. But there was no room, so he was really only pushing me into a table and pushing himself into me. "Talib! Move out of the way! We can't both fit through here! There's not enough room!"

Talib glanced down quickly and grinned roguishly. "Am I invading your personal space?"

"Yes." I muttered darkly.

To my utter surprise--maybe I wasn't so surprised--he wrapped his long arms around me and cried, "My darling Sekhet! I never knew you cared."

There is no way in heaven or earth that I could fight down the deep red blush that flooded my face. "Let me go." I hissed.

"Oh yes, of course, we cannot know of our feelings for each other yet." he whispered huskily into my ear--I wasn't quite sure of the way his voice made a shiver pass through me.

"TALIB!" I roared and rammed into him, causing him to take a step back into the hallway.

It was just enough room for me to slip past and hurry to the storage rooms. The amused chuckle of both Talib and Ida followed me down the hall. I swore to get Talib back. Thankfully as I left, I heard, "Talib! You are smelly like camel! Go wash!" Ida was ordering the man.

I grinned.

I had returned the flour to its place and I was now walking down the hallway. I knew I had to go see how the crumpets were doing, but I didn't want to. In all honesty, I dreaded going back. I hadn't the slightest idea why, either. A plan had formed in my mind though. I grinned evilly and hurried to my room. Ida was a good cook, she really didn't need my help anymore. An hour later, my plan was set. The bathing area was a small room. Towels and such hung in the outer room. The sign of the door said it was in use and I knew just who was using it. When I was certain the outer room was empty I stole inside. A white tunic and tan slacks hung from a peg on the wall. I stuffed them into the cloth bag I carried and hurried away.

I was reading quietly in the kitchen when all hell broke loose. Or one would think hell had broken loose. I cracked the kitchen door open and peeked out just in time to see a enraged Talib storm down the hall, a tiny towel around his waist being his only covering. I fought down my giggles and shut the door quietly. I turned back to my book, but a fit of laughter stopped me from paying much attention to it. I was just fighting down the second fit when the kitchen door slammed open. I froze. Oh, just wonderful. I moaned. I looked about for a way out, but there was none. I really ought to have picked a better hiding spot. "SEKHET!" bellowed a voice.

Better then than never. I sighed and stood. "That's Ms. O'Connell to you." I said turned towards the minion of Hell.

There he was, in all his glory. Water glistened against his bare, tan-toned skin. The stark white of the towel only served to accentuate his coloring. "What do you want, thief?" I asked quickly.

"Thief? Me? The thief? I think not, Ms. Sekhet."

"Ms. O'Connell. I'll not have you use my first name."

"I'll use whatever name I wish, Sekhet!"

I rolled my eyes, just to annoy him. "Where are my clothes?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh do you? Or do enjoy seeing me half-naked."

My stupid blush betrayed me. "I may." I said slowly.

His eyes narrowed. "Sekhet O'Connell, are you testing my patience."

"No more so than you test mine every day." I countered.

He glared at me. "Woman! I demand to know where my clothes are!"

"I have a name." I said innocently.

With a growl of anger, he lunged forward and grabbed my chin. "I'll thank you to remember I have no qualms hurting you."

"You wouldn't dare." I spat defiantly, starting to feel a bit worried.

"Wouldn't I?" he asked dangerously, his nose brushing against mine.

"Personal space." I reminded him.

"Ra curse you, I don't give a grain of sand about your "personal space"."

"Your clothes." I turned the topic back, I didn't want him to do bug me by coming any closer.

Please don't let Alex come in anytime soon. I begged.

"Yes. Where are they?"

Curse the man! He didn't move an inch. Nose to nose, we had a stare-down. This had gone a bit farther than I intended it to. "In a bag in the storage room."

He didn't say anything at first. He stared at me for a moment, unmoving to my great exasperation. He leaned in suddenly and barely, feather-lightly brushed his lips across mine, in a move smooth as silk and soft a velvet. The effect was enough to make me gasp. I stepped back quickly. Talib smiled and strode off.

"Curse that man! May Anubis grant him everlasting torture! May he be the first the goddess Sekhet destroys when she comes to kill mankind!" I swore.

I cursed a bit more, called myself every class of fool for the second time in the span of three months. I cast every Celtic curse I knew on him in both English, Gaelic, Egyptian, and Latin. Then I stalked to my room and played the role of a child, refusing dinner and company the entire evening.