Disclaimer: I own only Sekhet, Talib, the other characters you don't recognize, and my plot which I don't fully own because it is based on Egyptian mythology (loosely).

Author Note: Another chapter to make up for both of them being so short. The plot's starting to come back into play. Eurg.

Raven "Siren's Muse"

Chapter Five: The Harsh Egyptian Sun

I grew accustomed to Egypt rather quickly. I easily learned how to barter and trade in the market and did so with a ease that baffled Alex. I don't know why it baffled him, since I'm quite an argumentative person by nature. It did not take long for me to pack my English clothes in the way back of my trunk and take to wearing desert garments. Ida proclaimed me a goddess in my own right, ready to rival Isis herself. However, my mind was haunted by the almost kiss from Talib. The handsome thief remained a constant enemy, but only to verbal sparring. Unfortunately, the war of pranks had already been started.

I wove in and out of the thick crowd of tanned bodies and robes. I was alone, thankfully. Having convinced both Alex and Talib that I did not need a protector. The sun beat down on me heavily and my arms were laden with purchases. A small restaurant on my right looked terribly inviting. I hurried through the crowd and went in. The change in light blinded me for a moment, but in seconds, I could see enough shadows to walk to an old wooden table. I sat and wiped the sweat from my eye. After calling out my order to a man passing by, I waited. It was still rather dark, so I couldn't make out any of the other patrons, but a shadow was moving quickly toward me. "Sekhet!" rasped a voice I didn't recognize.

I froze stupidly. The man clamped a hand over my mouth, while loudly proclaiming, "Glad you could meet me here! Let us go."

All in Egyptian of course.

And with that, he half carried, half propelled me from the establishment. I was thrust in his long coat. A suffocating stench nearly made me throw up. The man was carrying me now and it seemed he was going a long way. A long from my only help. I cursed myself again, wishing at least once for Alex and more times than I cared to admit for Talib. The stench must have caused me to black out for a moment, because I opened my eyes to the darkness of under the cloak. We were still moving, but not quite as fast as before. Suddenly, he stopped. I was dropped and I fell to my knees, the stone bruising me. I blinked in the light and glanced up to see a robed figure staring down at me. He had a cloth over his mouth, right eye, and nose. Only his left eye was free and that one was sparkling with evil glee. I cursed aloud, only to have a hand clamped over my mouth. My captor was still behind me. The half-faced man spoke. "Well Sekhet, my dear, seems you are quite lost."

I recognized that voice. The chocolate brown eye that stared down at me. "Talib!" I gasped.

The thief grinned and yanked the cloth away from his face. "Why--?"

He smiled. "Payback, my dear. Payback. Alex agreed fully with it. A lesson was what he called it. A lesson that you ought not walk these streets alone. You can barely take care of yourself."

"I do not need a lecture from you!"

The man behind me laughed. I spun around to see a man, a bit younger than myself. He was stocky with darker skin than Talib, strange grey eyes, and short, curly, black hair. "Sekhet, meet my street brother. He doesn't have a name, nor does he speak English. But we all call him Cobra."

"Hello, Cobra." I said in Egyptian.

He grinned. "She is as pretty as you claimed her to be."

I didn't understand everything he said. The young thief spoke a mixture of slang Egyptian. Obviously a street dialect. "What did he say?"

Talib grinned, "He said you're pretty. I agree with the kid."

I glared at them both. "I demand to be taken back to the inn."

"You, Ms. O'Connell, are in no position to make demands. This is my world. Where I grew up and where I intend to rule."

"Rule? Ha! The thief king, eh?"

"Indeed. Would you like a tour?"
"Hardly. I'd like to go back to the inn. I have work to do."

I didn't have anything to do, in reality. But I hoped he wouldn't ask any questions. "But I insist!"

He insisted. All my training growing-up was nagging at me to be polite. I truth, there was nothing I would rather do than explore. Certainly not with Talib, but the opportunity had presented itself and who was I to argue, right? Wrong! I didn't like the thief one bit. He was too stubborn, too arrogant, too much like myself for my comfort. He was smoother than any English gentleman I had ever met as he took my arm and looped it in his. "Come, I am sure my kingdom would be delighted to meet you."

I must admit that I went with him. It was probably the worst decision I ever made...or the best, depending on how you looked at it.

The back streets of Cairo were amazing, the people were wonderful, and the company was, well, fairly nice to be honest. Talib proved to be an excellent host. Almost as if he had studied proper English manners. I wondered once again about his background. We ended our day strolling through a quiet back section of Cairo in companionable silence. "It was a wonderful day." I said a length, trying to be polite with no ulterior motive whatsoever. Unfortunately for me, Talib was the suspicious sort. He glanced down at me and studied my eyes for a moment. A sly smile crept over his features. "Ahh! So you enjoyed being with me?"

I blushed. "Well, your company was tolerable. I was more speaking of the people we met."

He grinned impishly. "No my dear, it was all made better by my presence."

"Ha!" I laughed humorously. "You and your bloody arrogance! Whatever will you think up next?"

"Do you really want to know?" he asked in a husky voice.

"Not particularly." I managed, edging away from him.

"Hmm, the harsh Egyptian sun can do funny things to one's mind. I am thinking that you do look like a goddess with the setting sun behind you."

"You're right." I scolded—rather breathless much to my discomfort. "The Egyptian sun can do things to one's mind. You're a damned bloody fool!" I huffed and hurried to stomp off.

When in doubt and out of repertoire of witty come-backs, resort to anger. That works fine as well. However today was not my lucky day. Apparently Talib was no finished. Damn him! He grabbed my arm. "Sekhet, tell me why you belong here."

Gone was the playful tone. He was completely serious as his brown eyes searched my face for the answers he sought. "I haven't the slightest." I admitted. "I just feel as if I'm finally home."

"The people we met today, they called you goddess. They say that they can see Ra's hand upon you. Be cautious. Ra is a just god, but he is also hard. He does not give ease to the capable and you are most capable."

His hand caressed my cheek lightly, tracing the line of my cheekbone and down to my lower lip and then down the back of my neck as he pressed his face closer. I was sure he would kiss me again. And curse Ra!—I hoped he would kiss me again. He only smiled, made some excuse about Alex waiting, and hurried off, leaving me behind, staring at his retreating form. Yes, the Egyptian sun can do strange things to the mind.