Warning: Slight nudity in this chapter.
While reading: Listen to "Davy Jones (Music Box Version) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "The Swan Princess – Odette turns into a Swan Music" on YouTube. When you see this symbol (***) start to play specific piece when written. When you see this symbol (xxx) stop playing the music. This is not my channel nor do I have rights to the soundtracks/movie but I think it adds a great atmosphere while reading. Enjoy!
The Heart of the Nile: The Wishing Stone Maiden
After dinner Sesshomaru returned to his room and collapsed upon his bed. Bringing one of his arms to rest over his eyes he sighed from exhaustion. He was worn out from his travels and the stress of everything that had happened. He would never tease Inuyasha about wishing to step foot on another ship ever again. After the hell he and his crew went through in those few weeks at sea he too felt the same. He couldn't imagine years of that. Of course he would never say he felt this way to anyone out loud. After lying there a couple of minuets he sat up on the bed and opened his bag attached to his belt. Pulling out the little black box with the painted blue moon and pink lotus flower on the lid he inspected his new obsession.
(*** Davy Jones Music ***)
After running his thumb over the circle the lid popped open causing the sad music to play. As he listened to the song he picked up the stone for the first time and rubbed it between his fingers. It was roughly the size of a gulf ball but weight lighter than a pear. Perhaps it was the magic that made this possible? Wanting to get a better look he held it up into the moon light. He noticed the stone appears to be more of a jewel in opaqueness than a solid rock. After the song finished playing he put the stone back in its box. After setting it on his side table beside his bed it began to soak in the moonlight. He left the lid open so he could keep looking at it. Standing up he readied for bed by changes into his sleeping pants, washes the kohl makeup from around his eyes and ran his fingers through his silver hair.
(xxx stop music xxx)
As he turned around to get into bed he noticed the stone was starting to glow a soft pink. The box to his confusion began to shake and rattle causing it to fall to the floor. It made a loud clanking sound before the sound of a marble bounces on the hard tiles. To his horror he watched the pink stone roll across the floor towards the small pond located in the middle of the wing. Knowing that the pond's water source led out to the Nile Sesshomaru quickly dived for the stone. He nearly had it but it bounced off of his hand. To his relief it landed on the pedals of a lotus flower. It was then a bright light burst from the pink stone causing Sesshomaru to bring his hand up to shield his eyes.
(*** Swan Princess – Odette turns into a Swan Song ***)
As the light began to fade he pulled his hand away from his face and looked towards the pond where he had last seen the stone. There materializing before his eyes was a beautiful woman. She was lying on the steps of the pond with her arms resting above her head. She was resting on her stomach and with the water hiding her from the waist down. As she began to become less transparent he noticed her eyes were closed as if she were asleep.
She had long dark eyelashes and the most angelic face he had ever seen. Her hair was as black as night with dark blue undertones. Its length went to her knees and had a soft wave to it. It was currently laying across her back covering her backside from his eyes. Her skin was a perfect porcelain white that shone in the moonlight. Her sweet face had rose-dusted cheeks and pouty-pink lips. He couldn't help but look at them and wish to kiss them.
[Warning: slight nude, marked when finished.]
When she began to stir from her sleep her eyes slowly fluttered open to reveal piercing blue eyes. He had never seen such beauty and the intensity took his breath away. As she began to push herself up from the steps he noticed her beautifully sculpted body. He could tell she wasn't very tall from her delicate stature. She was also enhanced by a perfect hourglass waist, curvy hips and a full chest with rosy nipples. The water trickled down her body made him gulp and lick his lips. He wasn't sure if she was a siren of the night but he was surely falling prey to her seduction.
Now sitting up on the stairs of the pond he saw her rub her eyes and blink a couple of times to bring her vision into focus. When she looked around her new environment she caught sight of him mere feet from her lying on the floor. Her eyes went wide as she took in her first glimpse of her new master. Not wanting to embarrass himself any further Sesshomaru forced his stiff body off of the tile floor. As he picked himself up she noticed he was a fairly large man. He was at least 6'3 in height and was very well built. She had many masters but none to her memory were as beautiful as he.
His arms, broad chest and washboard abs were defined to perfection. He was lightly tanned and the moonlight caught every ripple of muscle. She couldn't help but hope he would let her touch them one day. She noticed he wore loose fit white cotton pants that hung low on his waist. She couldn't tell which country she was in by there design. She did gulp however, when she noticed the revealing hard cut lines above his hips. He had gorgeous silver hair that went to his butt and crisp amber eyes that bore into her soul. His cheekbones were set high on his face and his jawline was strong. Everything about him screamed beauty, power and strength. She had never seen such a man before and her heart beat heavily in her chest.
[End nude]
"H-hi…" she said softly with a light blush on her cheeks. Fully aware of her nakedness she brought up her arms to cover her chest. It had not been the first time she had been naked before her master but being before him like this was unsettling. He was so beautiful... she wondered what he thought of her?
"Hi…" he replied never taking his eyes off of her.
Little did she know that he was just as spell bound as she was. They continued to stare at each other for a few more moments until a light breeze caught the wind and she began to shiver. He noticed her discomfort and grabbed the sheet off of his bed to wrap around her.
"Thank you," she said with a graceful smile upon her lips. Her voice was like wind chimes that were softly singing. "May I ask where I am and who you might be? Are you my new master?"
"This one is Lord Pharaoh Sesshothumote and you are in the palace of the Nile, his home. We uncovered your black box amongst some treasure we came upon. This one used his blood to open it," Sesshomaru explained. His deep baritone voice was rich and made her melt like butter. She loved the sound of it and could have listened to it forever and never grow tired.
"I see," She said in thought. "Egypt… I have heard of this place and its river, Nile. Have I been here long master?" The maiden asked as she looked up into his amber eyes.
"Please, call this one Lord Sesshomaru and no, you have only just arrived," he said. Not wanting her to keep sitting on the cold pond steps he offered his hand to her. He shivered when her tiny hand took hold of his. It was so soft and warm and he wished to hold onto it forever. After walking her over to a chair he offers for her to sit. "Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable." After she was sitting comfortably he continued.
"Please tell me girl, what is your name and how did you come from the stone?" He asked while sitting on the edge of his bed. Wanting to get closer to her he leaned forward with his elbows resting against his knees.
"My name is Kagome, daughter of the Sea King Triton. The god Hades tried to take my mother as his wife but my father refused. As punishment for defying him Hades cursed our people and I was sealed off inside this stone. Our entire kingdom was destroyed during a volcanic eruption and sank to the bottom of the sea."
"Atlantis…" Sesshomaru whispered in wonderment.
"Yes… and now I can only come free from the jewel to serve as a slave to its master," Kagome said with a sad smile. Looking towards the moon out the window she then quoted:
By night one way, by day another, amongst the lunar flowers awake.
"This is my fate. Every night under the light of the moon will I be released from the stone, but by mornings light I am sealed back inside. If the stone remains in the box even at night I cannot be free of it. Hades created the box to hold the stone and to contain its power. I have been in the box a very long time my Lord."
"How can you become free of this curse? Surely there is a way?" Sesshomaru asked while taking her hand in his. Loving the feeling he rubbed his thumb lightly across her hand and marveled at her soft skin.
She tightened her hand in his and then said,
A heart of stone, changed by fate, only true loves kiss will it break.
A selfless wish, untainted power released, only then will the test be beat.
Caution must be taken, or plagues and curses awaken, sacrifices then must be made.
"My curse has bound me to change my master's fate. After I change his fate through a wish I must then be kissed by my true love to break it. Being stuck inside the stone however has never given me the freedom to do so. You see I can never leave your side or be away from the box. If I do I grow weaker and when the sun rises on the following day I will die. My previous master did not listen very well and would travel often without me. It wasn't uncommon for him to accidentally take the box with him leaving me in pain. It would only stop when he would return and place me back in my box. You must always carry me with you my Lord."
Sesshomaru was shocked. This beautiful woman was bound to such a horrible fate and was at the mercy of others.
"I promise you here and now as your new master to do whatever this one can to gain your freedom," he vowed with finality. The most beautiful smile he had ever seen graced her angelic face.
"Thank you my Lord!" Kagome said as unshed tears clung to her eyes. It made them sparkle in the moonlight. "I am not sure what must be done to do so but I am happy to know I am no longer alone."
They sat there comfortably for a few minutes until Sesshomaru saw the map sitting on his desk. It was then the maps creation crossed to his mind. He had been thinking about that ever since he obtained it. It was so complex and very specific. It could have only come from someone who had survived. Why hadn't they come back for the treasure? Also, how did word of it holding a great and powerful treasure transpire?
"I do have questions. How did there come to be a map when no one survived the shipwreck? How did people hear of you?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.
"Ah yes... that too is bound to the curse. You see, I have had many masters. None... have asked selfless wishes and therefore failed their tests. Because of that I remained cursed and are at the mercy of whoever Hades deems worthy. There is no escaping him. He keeps his ever watchful eye on the wishing stone. Its his perverted creation making it his duty to tie my fate to another. Each master that has been chosen is a single male of royal blood seeking to better themselves. They unknowingly need a changed fate which I come in to fix. These masters, like yourself either have the chance to do great good or cause complete distruction. The choice is up to them. I cannot influence the wish in any way without seeking retaliation from Hades. The last time I did so I was sealed in the stone for five hundred years. Each time they fail Hades creates a new way for the new master to find the jewel. The map may have been formed years before you were born but you were destined to find it. As for my power and the treasure... my last master wished for ultimate power. His selfish wish caused his city to be destroyed by the greatest power earth can create. He opened the gates of hell itself by cracking the land open and swallowing it whole with melting lava beneath it." she finished.
"How is it he escaped the city?" Sesshomaru asked urgently. He was horrified of the power one selfish wish could do. Could Kagome's curse truely be so powerful?
"When the city began to sink into the earth he loaded all of his most precious items onto his ship and sailed away. As his people were left to suffer many neighboring kingdoms saw him cower away. Being locked away in the stone at the time I can only imagine word of his retreat was spread. As for my power, he was a very boastful master and told many of what I could do. It cost us greatly for many unfortunately souls came to seek my power. Hundreds of desperate souls were lost. Were he more careful he might have saved his city with a selfless wish and avoided Hades wrath." Kagome said.
"Is that what the cave was that enclosed the ship? His prison?" Sesshomaru asked as Kagome reached up and parted his bangs. Using her pointer finger she traced a crescent shape upon his skin causing a blue moon to appeared in its center. As she did this magenta stripes wrapped around his forearms, wrists, ankles, back, hips and chest. He blinked when he felt two lines dust on his upper eyelids.
"It was. He tried to flee so Hades trapped him in his own personal hell. There he was left alone with his treasure to die and beasts to guard it until you arrived." Kagome explained as she finished marking him. "You are probably wondering what these markings mean don't you?"
"Hm." Sesshomaru nodded.
"You have now been marked as the guardian of the wishing stone. These markings will only appear when I'm in danger. Did you notice you no longer feel tired?" Kagome giggled when he quirked his eyebrow up into his bangs.
After seeing him shake his head yes she traced his magenta stripes along his arms and said, "That is because you have to protect the wishing stone both day and night. You don't need as much sleep anymore. Your stamina has doubled and you won't need to eat as often. This is part of the power given to you as the master of the stone. Are you ok with all of this? If not, we can revoke your ownership of me and I can be sealed again. It is a lot of responsibility and can greatly affect your people should something happen to me." Kagome asked with a small hint of concern.
"This one is certain." Sesshomaru reassured. Just then, the first rays of the sun began to filter into the room. Slowly his markings began to fade away along with the beautiful maiden Kagome.
"Until tonight my Lord," she said as she raised her hand up and gently brushed his cheek. "Remember to keep me with you and to not wish for anything you do not desire consequences for." she warned. As she faded away she left behind glistening sparkles in her wake.
"Until then, my maiden of the night…" he said softly into the wind.
Needing time to process what happened he sat there watching the sun continue to rise. As he thought about his first encounter with the maiden of the Wishing Stone he couldn't help but feel uncertain. He loved puzzles but having to find the perfect wish was definitely daughnting. He never backed down from a challenge however and he promised Kagome he would save her from her prison. Eventually he picked up the stone off of the chair where she had been sitting and returned it to its box. After dressing for the day he placed the box into his leather bag at his hip and made his way out of his bedchambers. Today marked his first day back as Pharaoh and he was bound and determined to make the most of it.
[End of Chapter 7]