Chapter Five

"Beyond My Reach"

Seti's Palace

Thebes, Egypt

1298 BC

The pool of water inside Seti's chambers rippled and splashed as the three servants for his newest mistress, Anck-su-namun, quickly rushed to wash her free of all the imprisoning paint from her body. They did not have much time to make her presentable before Seti would arrive. Any places left marked by paint would most certainly result in a swift and brutal punishment for showing a lack of respect for their great pharaoh.

Sitting naked in the pool was Anck-su-namun, as the maids scrubbed her from top to bottom. The water trickled down her long, slender body like tears, but she did not seem to notice. She could not really feel much of anything, not even the soft touch of the rags running gently over skin. She had gone numb to the world.

She watched the waters of the pool as they slowly changed from a beautiful, crystal clear blue, to a golden-black. The wet paint turned itself into a thick, smoldering cloud as it spread throughout the pool. In a way, she almost felt like the water which surrounded her, they were both being consumed by a great darkness from which there was no escape, except that hers would not be over with quite as quickly. In fact, she did know if hers would ever be over with.

She continued to stare blankly below her, as her servants merrily chatted on about "What a lucky girl she is", but the longer she stared at the changing waters, the less she could make out their words. The world around her was disappearing and locking her into a prison of sheer darkness. Her very soul felt as if it had been encased somewhere within her that she could no longer see, feel, or reach. She had lost herself and all that remained was an empty void in place of where her heart had once beaten, vibrant and full of life. And that was not even the worst part of it.

The worst of it was, she had become so lost within herself that she could not find her way back. Reality seemed like a dream from which she could not awaken and was slowly slipping away from her more and more. She felt detached, almost as if she was in a different place than where she actually was. Her world was gone and all because of one man.

"Why the long face, Anck-su-namun?" asked the portly Olabisi, who had tracked her down earlier that day, only to find her in the company of the high priest. It had made no sense to her why the two had been together, but Anck-su-namun had informed her that he had only been giving her some religious advice in his passing by, but somehow Olabisi felt that Anck-su-namun had not completely told her the truth about that one. She had seen the way the two of them had been staring at each other, but she had put any doubts out of her mind after assessing the situation.

She trusted Anck-su-namun and though she did not know the high priest personally, she was sure he was completely harmless as well.

"Anck-su-namun?" she repeated when the girl did not answer, becoming slightly worried. Something was obviously on her mind.

Luckily, for Anck-su-namun's sake, she temporarily snapped out of her trance and became aware of her questionings, leaving behind whatever thoughts had been preoccupying her for the moment. She turned to look at the older woman with a rather confused look upon her face and did not speak, only stared.

"Are you not excited to be honored by the pharaoh?" asked the second, much thinner maid as she poured more water over Anck-su-namun's slouching back. The poor girl looked absolutely in a daze. What could be the matter with her? Why, she was even pale.

Anck-su-namun finally made some eye contact with the three women and forced a smile. They had always watched over her, from the time she had arrived at the palace, practically raising her as their own and caring for her every second of the day.

However, Anck-su-namun had never felt close to them, no matter how hard they tried to please her, especially now. As she looked at them, she found herself seeing that they no longer held those familiar qualities that she had come so well to know over the passing years. Something was missing… They now looked as strangers, as if she had never truly seen them before until that very second and her eyes opened in utter realization.

It was because they did not understand or truly know who she was. No one did, and they never would, for she could never reveal her true feelings about the pharaoh or for any other… They were not the strangers, she was. She was truly alone in the world.

"Of course," she said, trying to sound happy. She could not let them think that something was wrong, even though she could already tell that they were getting suspicious. Even so, she had to keep up a good front and make them believe she was fine. "I am just feeling a little overwhelmed, that is all," she replied.

"Oh, our little Anck is nervous!" giggled the third woman happily as she ran a small cloth over Anck-su-namun's arms, washing away the last of the paint and smiling gleefully down at her.

Olabisi smiled also, feeling much relief and turned around, taking the cloths with her. She placed them down upon a white bench, trading them for the robe, which lay upon it. It was good to finally be finished and to know that Anck-su-namun was only getting some jitters, just as she had earlier that evening before her dancing. The poor girl just needed to learn to relax, she was sure of it.

Olabisi turned back around and held the robe out to her. It was long and white and made of pure silk, absolutely breath taking. She wrapped it around Anck-su-namun's naked form and the robe instantly clung to the girl's wet body, making it now somewhat see-through against her golden skin.

"Do not worry, My Dear. There is nothing to fear. The pharaoh is a kind man, I promise," she said, smiling as she helped Anck-su-namun out of the water. "Now just relax, you will certainly make Seti most pleased tonight. Do you not want to make your pharaoh happy?"

Anck-su-namun lifted her damp hair out of the robe and let it fall back down upon her back, not responding to the Olabisi's question. She did not feel like dignifying that with the proper response, or any for that matter.

She would, "make Seti most pleased?" What did she know? The words infuriated her to the point of near tears, but somehow she managed to hold them back.

Why was it that to everyone else it was an honor to do such a thing for their pharaoh? They were ones to talk; they had never been bestowed with this "honor" themselves! Anck-su-namun was sure that they would not feel the same if placed in her situation. What gave them the right to tell her how she should feel? She would give absolutely anything to be anyone else, just as anyone else most assuredly would give the same to be her.

The doors to the chambers suddenly clicked and echoed loudly throughout the room. The noise seemed endless. Anck-su-namun watched them creep open as if in slow motion, counting down to her final seconds of innocence. She clutched onto her robe's opening as if it would protect her and held her breath. Her very blood was running cold. Time for her had stopped. The doors widened more and more and soon Seti stepped into the room. His gaze immediately shot to her.

He smiled as he looked into her eyes. He could see that she feared him. Good. Fear meant respect and she would please him out of that fear. He eyed her up and down for a moment and was most pleased with what he saw.

This one was absolutely beautiful and she was all his. He had made a good choice with this girl. Watching her practically dance across the room during her fighting lessons and tonight, performing before him, taunting him, begging him to come closer and make her his, had absolutely driven him mad with desire, but seeing her now, like this, only enhanced his growing appetite.

His smile gradually grew even bigger, twisting into some sadistic form that one could never imagine possible and he motioned with his head to signal that it was time for the maids to leave as he inched his way over to Anck-su-namun, his treasure; his newest conquest.

The maids obeyed with great haste and quickly gathered up their things to leave the room, so as not to delay the happy occasion any further. They scurried off and in an instant, the guards faithfully keeping watch outside the room, pulled the giant, golden doors shut. They banged in a loud repetitive melody in Anck-su-namun's ears, ringing through her mind, making her awaken to the reality of the situation that she was now in. She looked up and saw Seti smiling even more devilishly at her. They were now alone and she was all his, and he knew it.

Anck-su-namun still clutched onto the opening of the robe and held her head high. She looked back at the pharaoh with equal intensity, refusing to be stared down. Being a slave, it was forbidden to make eye contact, but it was one of her only defenses. She would not show him she was weak. She would not make this easy for him. Though she felt like crying until she could cry no more, as she watched him inch closer and closer to her trembling body, she would not break. It would do her no good. Besides, if she were to scream for help, who would come?

An image of Imhotep flashed through her mind suddenly from out of nowhere, but vanished as Seti pulled her rather roughly into his arms. She felt his hot breath on her neck. It smelled like rotten ostrich meat. She felt sick and her stomach churned. His touch made her shudder in disgust…

Down below, in the garden, Imhotep sat knelt before one of the many statues to Osiris. He had already gone to the temple and was now on his way back to his chambers, but to be safe, he had made sure to stop by here to pray once more. The more he prayed, the more his mind would be taken off Anck-su-namun. He was sure of it. If he proved his faithfulness, he would be rewarded. He closed his eyes and bowed his head before his god.

"Please, Lord Osiris, forgive once again me for my earlier betrayal. I ask and beg for your forgiveness, Oh Great One. Grant me the strength to forget her. Grant me the strength to not look at her. I am only human and need your guidance. I have served you well and I-"

"NO! STOP IT! LET ME GO! PLEASE!"

Imhotep instantly cut himself off from his prayers and spun around. What was going on? He recognized that voice. His eyes shot up toward the balcony above in earnest. Could it be her? He felt his heart beginning to race in absolute trepidation.

"STOP PLEASE!" cried the voice again.

A figure suddenly flew out onto the balcony, landing hard upon their stomach and sliding across the flooring. A wince emitted from their throat upon the impact of the crash. Their head lay on the ground, facing out through the bars, the only things that had kept them from falling to their death. Imhotep's heart stopped. It was Anck-su-namun. He would recognize her anywhere.

Anck-su-namun slowly lifted her head, taking up almost all her effort to do so. Blood slowly trickled down from her lips, running into her mouth; the taste reminding her of what she was dreading: that she was still alive.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, no longer able to be held back. She looked down at the ground below and found herself wishing that the bars had not been there. If not for them, she would now be dead and have her freedom. She wanted to end it all, before he touched her any further, while she still had a part of herself to recall. She could not live like this.

Her vision was blurred by the tears in her eyes, but she slowly began to make out a figure below, looking up at her. It took her a moment, but she finally recognized who it was. Imhotep.

Her heart suddenly soared. It was him, looking at her again in that special way of his. Why did it seem that whenever she was in need or upset, he always seemed to show up, always looking at her with so much care and deep concern… It gave her strength to look at him, but yet she cried. Cried because she could feel something within her beginning to tell her that she was not where she was truly meant to be.

Anck-su-namun could not speak louder than a whisper as she mouthed what little words she could form. There was a hope beginning to rise up within her from his very presence below her. She stretched out a hand towards his face. Even though she knew that she was out of his reach by at least a hundred feet or more, she still felt as if she could touch him.

"Please help me…" she breathed as another tear rolled down her cheek.

Imhotep could not hear her, but somehow he understood what she was trying to say. He suddenly felt something wet upon his cheek. He quickly lifted his hand to see what it was. A tear. He was crying. He could not even remember the last time he had cried, he had almost forgotten what it felt like…

He looked back up at her, feeling confused and more helpless than he ever had in his entire life and automatically mouthed in a whisper back to her,

"I am sorry…"

Imhotep slowly raised his own hand out in front of him, towards Anck-su-namun, as if to cradle her tear-streaked face in the palm of his hand. He didn't even know he had done it, he was too fixated on her.

"I am so sorry…"

Seti flung the curtains back that entered out onto the balcony and marched over to the battered Anck-su-namun. He violently lifted her to her feet and dragged her back inside. He would have her and he would have her now. She was just too enticing. He could not stand it anymore. Her defiance was driving him mad. He threw her down onto his bed with inhuman force.

"Do not defy me any longer. Your little games are no longer amusing to me, Anck-su-namun!" he hissed in her ear.

She did not have the chance to fight back, he held her down with all his strength. He was mad with anger and desire, ignited by her. She flinched and looked away as he tore open her robe, her only barrier of protection. She let out a small cry as she was unwillingly bared to him.

Anck-su-namun felt literally sick and was becoming hysterical. She desperately kicked a writhed to free herself, but knew in her heart, what little of it she could still feel, that it was useless. She pleaded with him feverishly to let her go. This was not right. She did not want to do this, especially with him. Oh how she wished Imhotep were there to protect her.

She had seen what he had whispered back to her, before she had been so violently ripped away from him just as he was beginning to slowly reach his hand up to her in the most loving gesture she had ever seen. She now knew without a doubt that he cared for her in some way or another. For that moment, they had connected in a way that she could not even begin to describe and she knew in her heart that he would have helped her if he could have, but he was powerless.

"PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME GO! I AM SORRY! I CANNOT DO THIS! LET ME GO! PLEASE!" she raved and struggled as Seti leaned down on top of her. He kissed her rather forcefully, thrusting his tongue into her mouth for the first time, and tearing open the cuts upon her lips even further.

She winced at the burning pain and gagged from the depths at which his kiss was held. She fought to push him out with her tongue. The taste was horrible, disgusting. She did not want this man kissing her.

She fought to push him off of her to catch her breath, but he pinned her arms down with his hands. It was hard to breathe; she was choking. Tears streamed down her face faster and faster. She needed to get away. She was beginning to feel dizzy. If she could just free herself maybe she could escape!

In a final attempt to save herself, she used up the last of her strength, and bit down as hard as she could on The Pharaoh's vile tongue in an act of absolute desperation. The taste of his warm blood ran across her tongue as he pulled himself away, letting out a small cry from the pain.

He looked down at her completely stunned by this new turn of events. His anger suddenly grew, setting his eyes ablaze. Anck-su-namun's fear escalated just as quickly. She had dared to harm the pharaoh. Now she would pay.

She could only stare back with absolute terror in her eyes at what she had done. This was it. There was no way out.

"Treacherous Asp! You will learn to obey me!" he shouted with rage and backhanded her across the cheek. Anck-su-namun's head flew in the direction of the slap with a lightening speed, but she let out no cry. Only lay there, silent as if she had felt nothing and no longer cared, staring off at the wall across from her. A giant red mark glowed on her cheek.

Seti was furious! Never before had he found one so defiant, but yet she was so beautiful and fiery like his wife had been. Yes, this one would learn to love him. He would break her and then she would be nothing but his. He would enjoy this new challenge. She was too good to pass up.

Anck-su-namun closed her eyes as tightly as she could. They began to ache from the pressure; however, tears still released themselves from her tightly shut lids. She could not bear to watch what she was about to feel, so much for showing no signs of weakness.

Seti held her down with one hand and the weight of his body as he forced her legs apart. Anck-su-namun let out a small whimper and tried to plead one last time. Perhaps he would take pity on her? He had told her that she had resembled his wife after all just before he had thrown her out onto the cold, hard balcony due to her lack of respect and refusals to submit. There may be a chance after all she hoped. Maybe he would do it for his wife?

"Please, I beg of you…Do not do this…" she whispered with all her heart and remaining hope, as she looked him in the eyes, his cold, dark eyes. She suddenly felt more like asking him to just kill her when she saw what was behind them.

Seti smiled wickedly and as she had feared, he did not comply to her requests. She clenched her fists around the bed sheets and shut her eyes, awaiting the coming pain as he forced himself on her.

Imhotep shut his eyes as hard as he could upon hearing Anck-su-namun scream in absolute agony. He turned his head away and fought to hold back his own rising anger and tears. He clenched his fists and tightened his jaw. Practically every muscle in his body stiffened with rage and affliction from the sound.

Seti had obviously penetrated her. He had taken away her innocence, giving no care or concern for her whatsoever. He had gotten what he wanted, and it was of no consequence as to how he had gotten it. Nothing else mattered.

It was so typical of the pharaoh, but Imhotep had never heard of nor seen any of the other girls be so resistant of him. He was surprised that Anck-su-namun was still alive, though he was thankful that she was, but at the same time, deeply saddened that she was alive to go through something like this.

Anck-su-namun's cries rang out through the garden, but fell loudest upon Imhotep's ears. She was screaming and begging for Seti to stop. The pain was too much for her. She even began to beg him to kill her…She would not be able to handle much more of this.

Imhotep felt his anger soar towards his pharaoh. It seethed into his veins. How could he be doing that to her? She was a gift from the heavens and he was tainting her with his heathen body. Imhotep could never do such a thing to someone like her. In fact, there was no one else like her! Seti did not deserve her! What he deserved was-

He ran his hands over his face in frustration to stop the treacherous thoughts and flinched at the unremitting cries, biting his lip with every scream. What could he do? He was absolutely powerless to help her. He was the High Priest, the second most powerful man in Egypt, but yet the one person he wanted to help, belonged to the one man above him. The one man he could never reach.

Anck-su-namun's screams continued to ring through his mind and torment him to no end. They tugged at his thoughts and very soul, beckoning him to come to her aid. He looked warily back up at the balcony where she had last been and couldn't help but cry once more.

What could he do? He longed with every inch of his heart and soul to be up there with her. To rip her out of Seti's evil grasp so that he would never harm her again. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, cradle her in his arms forever, protect her at all costs, and even…make love to her…

Imhotep could not believe what he had just thought and instantly threw his hands up into the air, shooting his gaze up to the heavens. With tears in his eyes he screamed out as loud as he could, cursing the gods.

"What is it you want of me? Why must you torment me? WHY?"

He was red with rage and it was getting worse with every new wave of Anck-su-namun's unrelenting screams. They practically knocked him over in agony. His connection with her was somehow getting stronger.

"IT BURNS! PLEASE STOP!" she cried out between tears. Anck-su-namun then suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream, which caused Imhotep's whole body to shudder. He grabbed his stomach in pain. He was literally feeling sick to his stomach for what she was having to go through.

"IT HURTS!"

His pain skyrocketed at the sound of her voice. He could not bear to listen anymore. He could not physically or emotionally handle it. He dropped to his knees and prayed to Osiris to end it this entire instance.

"Please, I beg you! Stop this! If you wish to leave me to feel this way for her, at least do not put her through this torment! Save her please! I no longer care for myself! All I ask of you is to just help her!" he cried, pleading from the very depths of his soul.

Another tear rolled down his cheek as he opened his eyes to look up at the statue, hoping that somehow the screams would cease, but to his despair, Anck-su-namun's horror continued to ring in his ears.

Imhotep took a deep breath and glanced up to where he had last seen his princess. Osiris had deserted him and seemed to be refusing to answer his prayers. His very soul was torn. He could do nothing. His world was changing before his eyes. He no longer knew himself or his surroundings, or what his new feelings were trying to tell him. He had never felt like this and he could not figure out for the life of him what it all meant.

"I am truly sorry, Anck-su-namun… Forgive me…" he whispered with shut eyes as he turned to leave for his chambers. There was nothing more he could do and he could not bear to listen any longer for fear of losing his mind. He felt sicker with every cry he heard until he was finally out of range.