The next morning, Imhotep walked through the upper halls, his domain, until he stood facing Halimahotep's room. He schooled his face into a stern aloof one, pushed the door open, and walked straight inside.

"Lady Halimahotep?" he called out, and sure enough she came into view. She walked out of the bathroom, and he was very confused by her appearance for two reasons.

Her clothing consisted of a large brown robe, with a hood, as if she was going on a large journey by night, and didn't want to be seen.

And the other reason, was that her face was bright, as was her warm smile and she seemed to be almost glad to see him.

But considering what happened between them the last time they met, shouldn't she be afraid? He had told her that she was to be punished, so shouldn't she fear for her life?

"I am here my Lord." She bowed, and it seemed she had her glorious blonde hair tied back for some reason. "Can I help you on this marvellous day?" Hally grinned, and walked forward with her head hung forward. Although he didn't show it, he was very confused. With her bright smile, she had disarmed him of all his arsenal of taunts and forced discipline. How had she done that?

"You know what today is I assume?"

"Of course I know what today is my Lord. It is the rebirth of the great God Osiris himself. I am so fortunate." She giggled, and almost skipped to her dressing table.

"You are?" He silently closed the door behind him, and watched her with curiosity. She seemed to be looking for something.

"I am. To have been born on the same day as Osiris is a great honour."

"You share a birthday with Osiris!" he stepped forward, amazed again by this woman. "And why did you not tell me this? Surely to be born in the same light as Osiris makes you one of his Kin, and blessed!"

"Who me? Blessed? No no no." she chuckled. "I'm just plain old me." She pulled out what she was looking for. He saw a flash of white cloth, before it was stuffed into her pocket. "And I fear I must go. I have a big day ahead of me, as do you my Lord." She was by his side in seconds. "Lord Imhotep." She bowed to him, and vanished.

He waited for a few moments, perplexed by her, until he thought on her words even more.

"Wait…she has a big day ahead of her? I haven't given her any duties yet." He then turned and made to follow her, wearing his ceremonial garb. He wore a white hanging cloth, and a white robe, open, with his scarab necklace on show.

By the time he saw the last bit of her brown robes turn a corner, they were in the Hypostyle hall.

Great, now he would never find her. But he tried regardless. The only problem was, because of the ceremony, priests and worshipers alike had flooded the halls earlier than usual, most wearing browns. And with her hair tied back, there was no way of seeing it under the hood. He had lost her. "Damn." He turned away, knowing he had other places to be for the ceremony, and vanished.

Hally however, was stood at the entrance to the Hypostyle hall, with Ain.

"And you tie this to each wrist, and don't forget to rub this oil on you first."

"Oil?" Hally looked over the large bottle of ointment she was handed.

"Yes, with this, your skin will darken so you look like everyone else."

"Oh thank you Ain. This is just what I needed." No Imhotep won't recognise me. "And this wig will help too."

"Since you do not intend to shave your head, use these pins to hold it in place."

"Thank you." Now holding a large cloth, wrapped around many items, Hally bowed.

"Now hurry Lady Halimahotep! We haven't got long to be here. If the Basque leaves without you…"

"I will be ready." she nodded, and quickly ran off.

Imhotep was very fortunate, as he caught her running back to her room.

"Halimahotep." He stood in her way, and grabbed her arms. She couldn't go now unless he let her. "What duties have you been given that I am unaware of?"

"To honour the great God himself." She put simply, and then sank down into the splits. She grabbed his ankles, yanked them from under him and sent him falling to his back. Hally crouched over him, bowed her head, and set off at a run shouting "Sorry!" before locking the door behind her.

Now that was embarrassing. He had let her trick him like that, when he is supposed to be very skilled in combat. He should have seen that coming. But he didn't. Imhotep had half the mind to demand she open her door, and order her to explain herself. But.

"Lord Imhotep!" A priest with gold painted skin, and green robes hobbled before him. "Lord Imhotep."

"Yes?" he spat, not in a good mood upon standing.

"You are needed in the shrine room. We can not prepare our solid lord unless you break the seal on his chamber first. And we are running out of time. If we are late…"

"I am coming." He interrupted curtly, pulling a long curved, ceremonial machete from his belt. "I am coming."

Hally however, had stripped off in her room, and was furiously rubbing the dark oils to her skin. It was like when your varnish a wood, it turns darker and doesn't feel sticky after its dried. And after a few moments in the sun on the veranda (no one could see her from that high up) she was perfectly dry. Her skin had tanned like she was native to this world.

"Right, now the clothes…"

"Ain, where is she? The priests behind us are getting frustrated that our lead dancer has yet to arrive."

"Don't worry, she'll be here. I gave her her things, she said she would be here and I believe her."

"What is the meaning of this hold up?" all eight girls dropped to their knees and bowed forward in the presence of their Lord. "Do you disrespect both myself, and the great God himself with your tardiness? Why are we not moving?" he demanded, ready to strike one of them if now met with an answer. It was that kind of day today…

"Look!" Ain pointed to an approaching figure, and felt her heart beat slow down. "Here she is! Our lead dancer!"

Imhotep turned his head, and was gob smacked.

She wasn't tall, but had a lean, femininely muscular body, shapely legs, broad shoulders, strong arms, delicate wrists and hands, her skin a perfect bronze, her cleavage voluptuous in bountiful size, her six pack toned and enticing, and her long, thick black hair cut perfectly, with beads and a golden tiara holding it in place. Her eyes were outlined once in Kohl traditionally, and another ling beneath her eye ran parallel to it. Her lips were perfect, full and delicious in sight, and her teeth as pearly white as her clothes. She had bare feet, but golden bangles ringed around her ankles and wrists. She wore white linen trousers, that hugged her lower hips. They were long to her ankles, but had a slit running from her thigh to her ankles, leaving her bronze legs on perfect view. Though, there was a white underwear like piece to it, like really short short shorts. (lol) The trousers were drawn around her ankles, and she wore a belt with golden wings on the buckle. Her lower and upper abdomen was bare, as was her arms. Her top was like a white linen boob tube, with a triangle over her cleavage, and thin, transparent white material were attached as off the shoulder sleeves. They then ran down to her wrists, with a slit along from her lower shoulder, to her wrist. In the same fashion as her trousers, and showing off her arms fully. Around her neck was deco revival, the same as before with golden wings across it. She wore a set of plain gold manacles on each bicep, and now stood before him. She held her left hand over her right, which he assumed to show her respect for him, as her head hung forward. This allowed her thick black fringe to shadow her eyes from him

He was speechless.

"My Lord, this is our lead dancer." Ain spoke up, tugging her arm to stand in formation with them all. "She is erm…Mandisa." Ain intudiced her briefly, before they all took pose in a triangle before the Basque. 'Mandisa' at the front, and four girls at either side. They waited now only for the High Priest to give them the go ahead. But he didn't. Instead, he stood himself right in front of 'Mandisa', and soke to her.

"Mandisa…a dancing girl?" He didn't notice, but her right hand was behind her back. Only the girls behind her knew why. "I have not seen you before. And you were not present at the selecting of the dancers either…"

"My Lord?" Ain butted in, hopping not to be beaten.

"What!" he spat, making Ain jump back. it was then 'Mandisa' spoke.

"Do you disrespect the God Osiris with our tardiness?" her voice was monotone, but there was something else hidden beneath it. He knew it, he knew he knew it. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"My Lord, the Pharaoh." One of the Priests began, and snapped Imhotep out of his trance.

"You shall return to the temple after the ceremony. Or I will find you and the consequences will be dire." With that, he stalked off behind the procession, and positioned himself in the golden chariot behind the God riding Basque, held up by many Priests, where he began to chant with his eyes closed.

"Go." She didn't move. "GO!" Ain shouted, and 'Mandisa' who was Hally (bet you didn't guess that huh lol), jumped forward. Her nerves had just started to die down, when she saw the hoards of people cheering and calling for them. It had to be a quick push from Ain, to get her going.

There was singing, there was shouting, there was screaming in joy as the Basque moved slowly through the streets. The dancers all wore the same as Hally, except their clothes were pink and lilac, making her stand out. They twirled and skipped, from side to side of the crowd, and Hally felt Ain give her something. It was a large, HUGE Wicca basket of pure white petals. She had to make sure they lasted all the way to the palace, and all the other dancers had some to. Because she was at the front, all saw her first, and this didn't help her nerves. Come on Hally. You can do this. Osiris give me courage. She twirled, having to hold the basket with both hands, and danced forward all the time. She then held the basket on her right shoulder, and grabbed a handful of petals with the other. She danced up ahead, and threw the petals on the floor for the God statue to travel over, and then threw some into the crowds. They seemed to like this a lot, and did the same to the other side. She then danced ahead when the procession caught up with her, and danced to the beat of the trumpets and drums. The musicians she assumed where behind the parade, but were as loud as if she was stood right next to them.

Ain came up to her side, and smiled at her. "You are doing really well."

"Thank you." She beamed. "This is the best birthday I have ever had." Ain blinked in shock, but Hally danced off in front as she was supposed to. She danced along the isle of people, and saw some children at the front. She knelt down near them, and placed some petals in their hands. The little girl hugged her, and everyone around them gasped. This was forbidden!

But Hally lifted her up, span with her in her arms, and then placed her down again. As she did so, the mother placed something around her neck.

It was a long white, red, blue and green beaded necklace, and she kissed her hands. Hally bowed to her, before picking up the basket, and dancing off again.

This really was the best day of her life. Oh Osiris, I am honoured by you more and more each day. I do not know if you can hear me, but know I am truly grateful for all you have done for me, even if not for me. Know I feel gratitude, and wish for your rebirth to be a happy one. Wind started to pick up, and made the sand around her feet dance with her. She didn't even know it was happening.

Then, all eight girls stood in a line behind her, and two stepped forward to stand with her. One was Ain, who had seen her display with the young girl.

"You are truly special Lady Halimahotep. I hope you know the relevance of the beads you now wear."

"They wish me luck, protection and joy." She smiled, and they both twirled together.

Now, they were two lines, in pairs, Ain and Hally at the front.

"And you truly deserve it. You have saved our lives, and given so much joy to others. That little girl back there…she is my sister." Hally then looked at Ain, whose eyes were tearing through her smile.

"I didn't know."

"And that makes it all that more special." They then spilt off, her feet with a mind of their own, as they danced and twirled, holding the baskets above their heads now.

"Mommy look! Isn't she pretty!"

"Who is she?"

"Is she human?" she heard little bits here and there that made her chuckle.

Hally soon saw the palace up ahead, time had flown as she had been having so much fun. The sand around her feet picked up again, and Hally made sure to enter the gates first. As they entered the palace courtyard, her nerves returned ten fold.

On a throne, tall and high, made of pre gold, was the Pharaoh. His eyes scanned them all, until they came to rest on her. She had to look away, and danced closer to Ain.

The sand around her feet died down, as they all stopped in the courtyard. Hally at the front, and their triangle made once more.

With a beat of the drums, they lowered their baskets to the ground before them.

Another beat, and they stood beside them.

Another, and their arms rose in the air, their bodies still.

Again the drums echoed through the grounds, and their heads shot up. Oh Great God Osiris. I do this for you. The music started slowly, with a snake flute, and they moved their hips like the creature themselves. Then the beat got faster, livelier, as this was a celebration of life, and started to walk forward, curving their hips as they moved. their hands were together in prayer over their chest as they moved, and then Ain and Hally jumped back, now circled by the other girls. The circle twirled and turned anticlockwise, while Ain and Hally twirled and turned clockwise

Now it was time for the routine she learned briefly learned the day before.

Hally did a back flip with Ain, twisted her body in the air, and landed crouched down. She jumped up, raised one arm, and held the other arm out at her side, with Ain's. They danced in a circle, holding hands in the centre, moving faster than they could have anticipated. The girls around them became a blur, and she couldn't focus on them anymore. Just her own moves and Ain's. They let go hands, span on the spot like a cutting disc, both feet leaving the ground, and landed down on one, before two, one arm before them the other behind. Their body language imitated that of a panther, as they arched their shoulders, and leaned forward. They curved their head to one side, and raised their arms up like claws. Hally raised on leg in the air, and Ain pushed it to the side. Hally span to the side, and fell backwards. Ain hooked an arm under each shoulder, and pushed her back up in a fluid motion. And just as fluidly, Hally sank into the horizontal splits. While Ain caught a tambourine, Hally leaned forward, slid her feet from their horizontal position, to together as she laid on the floor. She rolled to one side, and Grabbed a hold of Ain's outstretched hand. Once on her feet with the crescendo of the music, bells around the other girl's hips ringing and jingling with the provocative movements they made. Ain also made these movements, and Hally followed suit. They bumped hips together once, before turning back to back, literally. They each shot a leg up in the air, for one girl each to grab it. Ain went to the left and bent back into the crab, and Hally did the same to the right. They had their feet freed, before flipping over to their standing position again. Their hips ground forward, hands before them, and then in the air. Then, in perfect timing to the music and each other, they stepped to the side and went back into the crab. They then flipped back to their feet, made a cross over their chest with their arms, wrist against wrist, before walking forward. Each step they took was calculated to hit on every beat of the drums. They then threw their arms up, kicked high in the air, and with one hand cartwheeled sharply, and landing into the splits again. But this time, one leg extended forward, the other behind. Hally curved her back leg around her, and she looked up to the ceiling. She reached up to it, as if the sky was Osiris himself. She then put her hands on the floor before her, pushed up, and held herself off the ground in a perfect vertical line. There was a dramatic pause, like yesterday, she all went silent.

The Pharaoh, now joined with a stunned Imhotep, were speechless.

Then, the music erupted all around them, and she snapped one leg to each side, doing the horizontal splits in the air, still stood on her hands. She pivoted on one hand, and span like a spinning top, before one foot hit the floor. Hally then twisted back, twirling on her feet, getting slower and slower as the music died down, until she stopped in a pose. One foot pointed before her, a toe on the floor, and her other foot flat and her back leg straight. One arm held an almost ballet hold, curved before her, and the other arm curved over her head. Her stance was strong, and yet elegant. As if she had been doing this all her life.

In a way, I guess I have. She smiled, and waited for the signal. Ain touched her back, and they all fell forward into a bow on their knees, their foreheads pressed against their knees. Hally now realised she was panting, her chest heaving with her effort, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her. But considering how she had never done this before in this life time, she was a lot better off than Ain and the other girls. Their hair was askew, they were covered in sweat, and one looked like she was going to faint.

A shadow loomed over her, and Hally grew stiff.

"What a pretty little lotus flower I see before me. Raise, so I may see just how you bloom before your God on Earth." Hally gulped, and rose slowly to her feet. Her head hung forward, and she closed her eyes, just encase. She also hid her right hand behind her, and her left hand held that behind her back. She bowed, and then returned to this pose. "What a precious gem. What is your name?"

"Mandisa."

"And you truly are a sweet little thing. Is this your first time in my courtyard? In my presence?" Hally didn't like the husky tone of his voice towards the end, and turned her face to one side.

"Yes."

"I hope it will not be your last." He almost whispered, and she whimpered softly.

"My Lord." Imhotep came to her rescue, and she never liked that man more. She could have kissed that man right now. "We need to take the Basque to the Nile, and send it on its journey. The dancers must lead it..."

"You ruin all my fun Imhotep." He growled. "Though, I need your council upon our last matter."

"I see. I will return here to give my best advice after the ceremony." Imhotep turned, and grabbed Hally's arm, making her yelp, as he dragged her off to the other Dancers. "The Pharaoh had finished speaking with you. How dare you stay in his presence!" he scorned her, hoping this would make her stay away from him. She would just end up his whore otherwise…why am I saving girls from the Pharaoh all of a sudden? First Halimahotep, now this dancer girl. He scowled, and grabbed her right wrist from behind her back. Hally panicked, and he saw it in her face. They she was sure to keep her eyes closed. She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, but this made him just yank it out of her left hand, and before her. "If you ever defy…" She didn't need to open her eyes to see what he was looking at. But she did anyway. His dark honey eyes fixated on the sapphire signet ring, he was in total shock. He then snapped his eyes up to look at hers, and sure enough, they were a deep darker sapphire blue. "…You…"

"Hurry!" Ain grabbed her left hand, and pulled her out of his grasp. She had seen his reaction to her, and knew it wasn't a good thing. After all she had done for her and her family, Ain wasn't about to let Hally go up the Nile and into the jaws of the crocodiles. Not Imhotep. Not that monster.

Hally came out of his grasp, as he was too shocked to keep it tight enough, and her face was as shocked as his was at his discovery. He started to walked after them, but Ain nodded to the other dancers, who began to prance around with their baskets in his way. Ain shoved Hally's basket of white petals into her hands, held her own under one arm, and used her free hand to push Hally's back forward. "We have to move! Go!"

"He, he caught me…"

"GO!" Ain pushed her forward, and met with the cheering crowd again.

"I…I…"

"We will protect you. Now go! If you go, he can't touch you during the parade. Go!" Ain pushed her forward.

"I, thank you." Hally began to dance and throw white petals at the floor and the crowd. But her smile never returned. Her thoughts were haunted by Imhotep, and she made sure to look behind her as she twirled to see if he was there. And once, she even saw him looking over the side of the chariot, his face so blank, she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Finally, they arrived at the Nile banking, where Imhotep led the Priests to the water, while blessing the Basque's journey. It was lowered into the water, before the dark brown and gold small boat, carrying a Statue representative of Osiris as its cargo, sailed off down the Nile.

Then everything went so fast.

Ain grabbed her arm, and she was thrown up over a horse's back. Ain swung up to sit on a horse next to her, and she shouted one of the musicians over. He was tall, had a mop of trimmed black hair and a golden head ring, a bare top, and a white knee length hanging cloth with the sides closed together.

"Gahiji! Hurry!"

"Right." He jumped up behind Hally and took the reins. "I'm Gahiji and I will be your rescuer today." He whipped at the reins, and they galloped off. Hally was sat side saddle and she looked over the young man's arm at Imhotep, who had just finished the ceremony. He was looking right at her, and looked furious that she was running off with the dancers. "Hold on, the wind is picking up."

"What?" both brown horses galloped off as an invisible gust of wind beat against them harshly. "But this isn't the sand storm or the windy season!" Ain panicked, the sand being thrown around them getting thicker and thicker. Hally closed her eyes, and grew calm. Even as others around her screamed and panicked, she kept a cool head. When she opened her eyes, they were pure white, and she put her hands on either side of the horse's neck.

"What are you doing?" Gahiji asked, dumbfounded as she stood up on the horse in mi gallop, her balance perfect and her feet rested like a ballerina on the saddle. Her hands were together in prayer before her, and the sand wind whipped at her hair, sending her wig backwards, and letting her golden hair flow free from all hair pins and restraints. She then opened her palms to the winds, that had slowed the horses down painfully, and her eyes started to glow. Then, she snapped her hands apart and the sand storm tore in half, sending two smaller sand tornados off left and right. Their path clear, the horses picked up speed at last and galloped off to the great kingdom once more. Hally panted, exhausted, and her eyes returned to their Sapphire pigment. Her body fell limp, and she collapsed back into the arms of Gahiji, who held her to him all the way back home with Ain, his sister. Imhotep…