Chapter Three

"Someone Else's Princess" Seti's Palace

Thebes, Egypt

1298 BC

Imhotep was again on his way through the palace. It was a different route from which he usually took to his chambers and also a much longer one, but at the moment he didn't care. He felt like taking a walk anyway. He could use the solitude; he relished it.

He had just finished his talk with Asim and was most pleased with the fact that he had guessed correctly about the possibility of Asim being in love with the Princess Nefertiri. At the moment he was sure that the two were having their long overdue conversation, but it was now time for him to go prepare for tonight's celebration. Seti was throwing a festival for his newest entertainer and concubine. Tonight would be the night of her introduction into the kingdom and her entrance into "womanhood," which would take place soon afterwards in the pharaoh's private chambers.

Imhotep had no idea who the girl was, but he was sure she was no different from all the others that had gone before her for Seti's selfish pleasures.

With the queen being dead, the pharaoh searched constantly for a woman that would replace his lost love, one that would resemble her in almost every way. The girls that had failed to live up to his expectations had suffered severely. Imhotep had heard the stories. It was also rumored that the pharaoh himself had killed his wife in a fit of anger between them and he now searched to make amends for his guilty conscience.

His ponderings were suddenly distracted; however, when he saw, standing before a balcony, the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes upon. His heart practically jumped out of his chest at the very sight of her.

She was tall and slender. Her skin glistened a beautiful golden tint. Her hair flowed to just below her shoulders with tiny strands of golden beads running through it, and crowned by a small cobra sticking up at the top of her head. Her bangs were cut completely straight, resting in the middle of her delicate forehead.

She wore a tight, golden shirt with no sleeves. Her skirt was long and to the floor, but was slit at the sides all the way up to her curvaceous hips. She wore no sandals and upon her right arm she wore a golden phoenix amulet, the symbol of immortality, a most intriguing accessory.

Amongst all this, Imhotep noticed that she wore a look of despair upon her face and suddenly, he was compelled, by some unknown force, to head off into her direction. He didn't even realize what he was doing at first until it was too late.

She quickly turned to look at who was approaching, seeming almost frightened. The two became face to face and he could not believe his eyes, she was even lovelier than he had first perceived.

She had a very prominent nose that came to a perfect point, as if sculptured by the gods themselves. Her lips were full and pale, but with a golden tint like her skin. Her eyebrows were thin and arced with a mystery of their own. Her eyes were dark, like all Egyptian women, and the makeup that surrounded them formed a design that was similar to the Eye of Re. All Imhotep could do was stare at this beautiful "princess" before him. Who was she and why hadn't he ever seen her before? He longed to know more about her.

This thought suddenly frightened him. What was he doing? He was the high priest of Osiris. It was forbidden for him to even think such things about a woman, let alone feel attracted to one. It was part of the code.

He silently prayed for forgiveness under his breath to Osiris. He had to get a hold of himself, but felt that it was a hopeless battle. He prayed for strength and cursed Hathor to let him be. Why was this happening? He had never felt like this before.

Surprisingly, the girl stared back at him. She had seen this man before, walking through the palace; he was the High Priest of Osiris, a man of power, riches, and purity. So what made him stare at her so? What could he possibly want? She was of no importance and certainly not the type of girl for a High Priest to be associating with.

Yet somehow, she could not look away and she stared back into his eyes. The look that they gave soothed her and for the longest moment she forgot about the troubles that were surrounding her and became lost in his gaze.

Imhotep continued to stare into her eyes against his better judgment. They were so beautiful, so deep, and full of passion, desire, and even…depth. They were so warm and inviting. He felt as if he could look into them for all eternity and as if he had already done so. They had such…intensity…

Imhotep suddenly received a feeling of déjà vu and blinked, breaking the connection. The girl quickly averted her eyes and looked at the floor, as if she were ashamed, as did Imhotep.

"I am sorry, My Lord. I did not mean to-"

Imhotep found himself looking back up at her as she spoke and once again saw the sadness in her eyes. He immediately felt he should speak with her, to see if there was anything he could do to help. He was a priest after all; it was his duty to comfort, besides, maybe it would help to make up for the feelings flying around inside him.

He again begged for Osiris' forgiveness before he spoke.

"What is your name?" he asked, taking his fingertips and placing them just below her chin, guiding her to look at him once again. His touch seemed to fluster her even more, as her eyes widened in fear. Imhotep again received the feeling of déjà vu. There was something very familiar about her…

"My name is of no importance, My Lord. I am but a mere slave to the pharaoh," she said plainly, and moved away from his touch as quickly as possible.

Imhotep smiled at her nervous behavior, though he only thought it was because of who he was and caused by nothing more. He was a very powerful man after all and he was sure she was not use to associating with people of his stature. He smiled at her warmly to calm her.

"Please, I would like to know. What is your name? You look so familiar, as if I have seen you someplace before…" his voice trailed off, still trying to figure it out.

"I am Anck-su-namun and as I have said before, I am of no importance. I am sure you are thinking of another. Now if it pleases you, I wish to be left alone!" she answered very quickly, bowing her head to leave. Imhotep stared at her a moment longer, continuing to ponder, not even realizing her pertness.

Anck-su-namun looked on questioningly as she waited for him to make some response to what she had just said. She hoped she had not been over stepping her ground the more she thought about it. Her heart began to race out of control. She couldn't decide if it was more from the attraction she felt, or nerves and uncertainty. She hoped it was the uncertainty.

His gaze made her more and more uneasy with each passing second. What could he possibly be thinking about her? She had enough to think about as it was. Why didn't he speak? She wished he would go, but then another part of her wished he would stay. She was so lonely. She wanted someone to talk to, to listen to her innermost thoughts. She never got to talk to anyone other than the servants that took care of her, constantly instructing her in what to do and how to act. They weren't exactly the type of people one could share certain thoughts with. In her lifetime, she had never had a single friend.

"Anck-su-namun…?" he thought aloud, the name sounded so familiar. He looked at her carefully, trying to find out why. It was on the tip of his tongue.

And then, Imhotep's eyes widened at the sudden realization of who she was: the girl. The little girl that had latched onto him nine years ago, pleading with him to help her find her parents. He had never forgotten that, for it had truly left its mark upon his soul.

"You? You were the- That day- By the Eye of Re!" he blurted out. He grabbed his head in shock. He was speechless. How could such a ragged little child, grow into such a, such a goddess?

Imhotep flinched. He had just done it again. Forgive me, Osiris! he thought once more. He was going to have to do a lot of praying to make up for this day.

Anck-su-namun just stood there, her eyes wide in confusion. "My Lord? Is everything okay?" She began to wonder if she should go get help. This man had always seemed so calm and restrained before whenever she had seen him.

Imhotep quickly noticed the look upon her face and his cheeks became a rosy red. He gave a sheepish grin. How insane he must seem to her!

"Forgive me, it is just that I remember where we have met before," he said, hoping it would regain him some of his dignity.

Anck-su-namun looked even more confused now than before, especially since he was apologizing to her. Perhaps she did think he was insane.

"I am sorry, My Lord, but I do not remember the two of us ever speaking."

"I would not expect you to. You were so young," he said. She looked at him blankly.

"I was the boy that you ran to the day that your parents gave you to the palace," he said and then suddenly hoped that what he had just said wasn't bringing back any painful memories for her. She looked upset enough as it was and plus he felt that hurting her would be the last thing that he would ever want to do, but she seemed unfazed. He found himself giving a sigh of relief.

Anck-su-namun slightly squinted her eyes and looked at his face very carefully, looking for any signs of recognition. Imhotep's heart began to race nervously as she leaned in closer for a better look. He quickly averted his eyes in order to calm himself. He repeated Osiris' name in his head to distract himself.

Anck-su-namun gasped.

"Oh my gods! That was you?" she said, practically breathless, as her golden skin now began to turn a shade of red. His attention was quickly brought back to her.

"I am so sorry! F-forgive. I had no idea that-"

He held up his hand to stop her from apologizing. She had given him enough apologies to last him a lifetime.

"It is alright, there is no need for apology. But…if I may ask, why is it that you are so troubled? I noticed this as I came over. Is everything alright?" he asked with much concern.

She lowered her gaze again, seeming ashamed to admit what was bothering her. Imhotep suddenly felt he had hit a nerve.

"Forgive me, it is not my place to ask, but I am a priest. If anything is on your mind, you can always come to me. It will stay between us. I will not judge you…and I do not bite," he said with a grin.

A smile finally crept across her face, breaking through her thick worrisome exterior. Just seeing this made his heart soar as if it was a gift from the very heavens above. He was glad he could bring such a joy upon her face.

I'm going to pay for this, he thought.

Anck-su-namun took a deep breath, but then hesitated. He seemed trustworthy. She somehow felt she could tell him anything and that he would always keep it safe within him, but if what she told him were to ever get out, they would both be killed for it and he certainly did not deserve to die over something having to do with her.

She looked up into his eyes for reassurance and guidance in what to do and suddenly the words came pouring out without even a second thought.

"It is tonight that troubles me. I am to be The Pharaoh's new concubine. Tonight is the night of my sixteenth birthday and so I am to be presented to the palace and announced as Princess Nefertiri's new teacher in the arts of combat. And then…" her voice trailed off and she had to turn away from Imhotep for fear that she would burst into tears.

His eyes widened in shock and his stomach took a dive. Now he understood why she was so nervous around him, especially by his touch. It wasn't just because of who he was. She was actually forbidden from any human contact other than her female servants and he had broken that law. If The Pharaoh were to ever find out…

He prayed once more to Osiris. This would be a day he would never forget.

He soon found himself looking at her once again. He could see that she was holding in a Nile's worth of tears even though she tried her best to conceal her pain. Her strong will would not allow her to give in. His heart cried out to her. She was obviously more distressed than him. By looking at her, he knew that she would not tell of their contact.

He studied her for a moment. Seti's other concubines had been different. They had been empty, as if they had given up the very fight for survival, but Anck-su-namun, she was special. She had a fire in her that would not allow her to succumb to Seti and his evil ways. He could see it in her eyes and he felt it in the air. It burned so brightly he knew even The Pharaoh could never extinguish it.

Some of the girls had even committed suicide to escape from their daily torment and Anck-su-namun's would be starting tonight…

Imhotep wished more than anything that he could help her, to save her from this fate, but the fact that she belonged to The Pharaoh meant that there was nothing that he could do and he had no right to interfere. Tonight she would be painted, forced to perform in front of the kingdom, and then be in Seti's despicable arms for as long as he desired. The very thought angered him. She didn't deserve this.

He could not explain why, he didn't even know her, but he knew in his heart it was best to just stay away. No good could come of this. He began to suppress the feelings even more that were welling up in his heart for her. If he were to fall for her, the consequences would be unspeakable. It would endanger his life and hers. It was better this way, besides it was forbidden for the both of them for such a thing, not that she would have wanted him anyway.

"Anck-su-namun!" shouted the voice of a strange woman.

Imhotep and Anck-su-namun turned to see a frantic maid approaching. She looked completely flustered. Imhotep caught a glimpse of Anck-su-namun rolling her eyes as she watched the woman approach.

"Anck-su-namun! I have been looking everywhere for you! It is time to prepare you for tonight. Come quickly, we should have started by sunrise," lectured the portly woman, shaking her finger rather rapidly. Anck-su-namun turned back to Imhotep one last time.

"Thank you for your time, My Lord, but I must now go…" she spoke softly, trying to hide her sorrow and took a small bow before walking away.

"You are welcome…Anck-su-namun…" he whispered too softly for her to hear as she slipped down the halls with the maid. Imhotep closed his eyes to hide his pain.

"Why you?"