Chapter 10

A long time ago, back in the age of the Egyptian Pyramids, there lived a young Pharaoh named Jibade. He was beloved by most of his people, serving as a kind and just ruler, but because he was so young, many believed that he was too naive for his position. He wore a short black wig that had silver streaks at its tips. His skin was pale, but that made his light blue eyes pop in the light. Because he was a Pharaoh, he was always dressed in golden garbs with black pearl and opal rings. Although the young Pharaoh could have anything he wanted, he longed for companionship. One day, a trader brought in a new lot of slaves into the Pharaoh's palace to barter. As the Pharaoh walked along the line of slaves, examining each one's physical capabilities, one in particular caught his eye. This slave had natural hair that was as black as kohl with skin that was kissed by the sun. His lips were plump like a freshly picked grape and his facial structure was as if an artisan had perfectly crafted it by hand. His face was covered with dirt patches, but that didn't drive the Pharaoh away from looking at the slave's beautiful blue turquoise colored eyes.

"Trader," said Jibade, calling to the slave owner, "what is this one called?" The slave owner walked over to the Pharaoh and smiled.

"Ahh," he said, "the vendor I picked him up from said he goes by Hasani."

"Hasani," said the Pharaoh, lifting up the slave's chin, "such a fitting name." The slave owner noticed the Pharaoh's interest and said with a sigh.

"My apologies, your majesty, but this particular slave is not for sale. I have another buyer who has already paid in full that I must deliver him to." The Pharaoh snapped his ringed fingers and two guards behind him dropped two piles of gold in front of the slave owner.

"Will this be sufficient pay for this slave?" The slave owner laughed happily as he dragged the bags of gold into his cart and said,

"Of course, your majesty! Pleasure doing business with you!" The slave owner gestured to the rest of his slaves to get into his cart and handed the Pharaoh Hasani's chain. "May Osiris be with you, my Pharaoh." Once the slave owner was gone, Jibade lead Hasani into his bedroom tying his chain against the side of his bed.

"Leave us," said Jibade, waving his guards away.

"Yes, your highness." The guards left the room and Jibade closed the door behind them. He walked over to Hasani and removed the chain from his neck and the rope binding his hands together.

"There," said Jibade, "feel better?" Hasani stretched his neck by moving his head around, then bowed to Jibade.

"Much thanks to you, oh great and wise Pharaoh. I am eternally in debt to you." Jibade giggled and ran his fingers through Hasani's hair.

"Get up, Hasani," he said, pulling Hasani to his feet, realizing how much taller he was compared to him. "I want you to call me Jibade, not Pharaoh."

"As you wish, Jibade," replied Hasani. Jibade smiled and caressed Hasani's cheeks.

"I like you, Hasani," he whispered in Hasani's ear, "I don't want you to leave my side, understand?" Hasani smiled a little and nodded.

"As you wish, Jibade." Jibade and Hasani spent the rest of the evening together, telling each other of their pasts up until their meeting. Hasani explained to Jibade that during his childhood, he was taken from his mother and sold into slavery to a goat herder for years, then eventually was sold to the man Jibade purchased him from to do hard labor. Jibade told Hasani of his father's untimely death, causing him become to Pharaoh at the age of 18. And from that day forward, Jibade kept Hasani with him at all times. He gave him black kohl, eyeshadow, and lip color to wear. He gave him fine garments of gold to wear and jewelry of turquoise to match his eyes to bare on his fingers. He told anyone who asked that Hasani was his own personal indentured servant, but there was more to their relationship than that. As the two became closer, they would spend each night together in Jibade's bed, doing things that were forbidden between someone of high class like Jibade and a slave like Hasani. But they didn't care. They had a strong bond of love, and Jibade knew it needed to be shown. Their night's together would always end the same, with Jibade cuddling against Hasani's chest as he quietly sung him to sleep. One night after a long day, Jibade took Hasani out to his balcony, looking out on the sun setting over the red Sahara desert.

"Oh Jibade," said Hasani, wrapping his arms around his Pharaoh, "it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you, my desert flower." Jibade kissed Hasani's lips and held his hands. "I have something for you."

"Jibade, you shouldn't have. You've already given me so much, I couldn't possibly ask for more." Jibade chuckled and took out a small papyrus box.

"Just open it." Hasani took the box and inside was a gold ring in the shape of the Ankh, the cross of life. Hasani gasped and began to tear up as Jibade placed it on his left hand's middle finger.

"Jibade," said Hasani, pulling his love into a tight embrace, "it's wonderful, thank you so much!" Jibade laughed and pet Hasani's head.

"It was nothing, my love, but that's not all I have to give you."

"Jibade, I can't accept more."

"This is more than just a trinket." Jibade took out a small vial of ink and a sharp quill. "I want to engrave a symbol of our love on us. Give me your wrist."

"I-I don't know, Jibade," said Hasani, "I'm scared."

"Don't be, Hasani, it'll be quick. Don't you trust me?" Hasani sighed and with a nod gave Jibade his wrist. Jibade quickly, but with skillfully, engraved the Eye of Horus onto Hasani's wrist. Once he was finished, he did the same with his own wrist. When Jibade looked up, he saw that Hasani had his eyes closed in fear. With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Jibade tapped Hasani's shoulder. "Open your eyes, desert flower." Hasani did as he was told and looked down at his wrist with a smile.

"Jibade," he said in awe, "why the Eye of Horus?"

"Because," said Jibade as he held Hasani's hands tight, "it will keep us bonded forever and bring us protection from anyone or anything that tries to come between us." Hasani's eyes began to tear up with joyful tears, and with one quick motion, Hasani grabbed Jibade's cheeks and pulled him into a passionate and extremely affectionate kiss. Hasani moaned as Jibade gripped the back of his head and pulled on his hair. Then, as they were about to take it to the bed, the door to Jibade's room flew open and a large group of guards burst in.

"It's true!" Cried one of the guards. "The Pharaoh and a slave?! Impossible! This is the work of evil! Get them!" Jibade and Hasani looked at each other, then out of instinct, Jibade pushed a shelf over to distract the guards, revealing a hidden tunnel behind it.

"Quickly, Hasani!" He said, grabbing his lover's arm, "this way!" The two ran through the secret tunnel, panting fast, the sound of their breaths and the pattering of their sandals against the ground the only sounds to be heard. The tunnel let out in another bedroom, this one less glamourous, making Hasani assume that this was where the servants were supposed to sleep. A cry from one of the guards could be heard coming from the tunnel.

"We've got you now!"

"Jibade, they're coming!" Cried Hasani in a panic, holding on to his love's hands tightly. "What are we going to do?!" Jibade wasn't panicking. He remained calm and took one deep breath.

"H-Hasani," he stuttered, "You have to go. Go out that door and run as fast as you can."

"No!" Shouted Hasani, "No I won't leave you!"

"You must!" Shouted Jibade loudly. "Get out now!" Jibade shoved Hasani away, but Hasani refused to go.

"No! I won't let them hurt you!" Then, in that exact moment, a guard aimed his spear at Hasani, who gasped and froze in shock at the sight of the guard.

"Hasani, no!" The sound of flesh being pierced and blood splatting to the ground shattered the quick moment of silence that befell the room. Jibade fell to his knees, the spear right through his heart. A waterfall of dark red blood spewed out of his mouth as he hit the ground.

"Jibade!" Screamed Hasani, dropping to the ground beside his love. The guards, terrified and in shock that they had just murdered the Pharaoh, fled the room shouting,

"A slave has killed the Pharaoh!" Hasani, tears filling his eyes, lifted the convulsing body of the dying Jibade, who continued to cough up large amounts of blood.

"Jibade," panted Hasani as he held Jibade close, "stay with me, Jibade! Hold on, please, hold on! Don't...Don't leave me." Jibade tried to speak, but only inaudible coughs and mumbles came out of his mouth. He reached out and caressed Hasani's cheeks one last time, then his hand fell limp and his eyes slowly closed. "No," sobbed Hasani, "no, no, no! Jibade!" Hasani shook Jibade's lifeless body, hoping his eyes would open, that he would wake up and everything would be okay, but deep down he knew he wouldn't wake up. Hasani's hands trembled as he rested Jibade's head on his chest, black tears dripping down his cheeks and onto Jibade's forehead as he held him close. Hasani cried hysterically into Jibade's neck, repeating the words, "No" and "Jibade" over and over. Then, he lifted up Jibade's chin so that he could take another look at the beautiful face of his lover. Hasani's short sobs were the only noise in the room. He ran his ringed fingers down Jibade's soft and smooth cheek, wincing in pain. Jibade looked so peaceful...like he was sleeping. Sleeping...Hasani took a breath and began to sing one last lullaby to his love before he rested, his voice as gentle and soft as a whisper.

"Heal what has been hurt,

Change the fate's design.

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine...

What once was mine..."

Jibade closed his eyes tightly and kissed the top of Jibade's head as he rested his body on the nearby bed. "Sleep tightly," he whispered, a sob escaping his mouth, "my angel." Jibade fell to his knees and cried at the foot of the bed into the covers. Then, he felt a hand on his back.

"Poor sweet child," said a strange deep voice. Hasani gasped and looked up to see a shadowy figure standing before him. It was dressed in a black tunic with a belt made of snake skin and a hood covering it's face, allowing only two completely yellow eyes with slit pupils that glew like a snake's. Hasani moved back in fear and put his arm over Jibade to protect him.

"Y-You s-stay away from us! I know who you are. You're the evil one, Set. " The figure chuckled and rested its hands in front of its chest.

"That is one name I carry with me, but evil is not the word I would use. I like to think of myself as...misunderstood." Set walked over to Jibade's corpse and ran his fingers across his hair.

"Stay away from him!" Set laughed and his eyes stared directly at Hasani's, sending a chill down his spine.

"I feel pity for you, mortals," said Set, "All you wanted to do was share your love. I guess the guards just...misunderstood." Hasani winced as he rested his hand on Jibade's.

"I'd give anything to have him back..."

"Hmm," said Set, resting his bony hand on Hasani's shoulder, "interesting that you should say that. Because I just might be able to return him to you." Hasani gasped and looked up at the tall dark creature.

"Can you do that?" Set nodded his head slowly and Hasani smiled bright, bowing to Set's feet. "Thank you, oh great and powerful Set. Thank you. I-" Set raised his hand, silencing Hasani immediately.

"I said nothing about it being free. There is a price to pay."

"I'll pay it, I don't care what it is."

"Hmm," said Set intrigued, "you're sure about this? I warn you, the price is very high and damaging to you and those around you."

"I don't care what happens to me," said Hasani, looking over at Jibade, "I'd do anything for my Jibade. I know he'd love me no matter what."

"Very well." Set outstretched his hand to Hasani. "Shake my hand to seal the deal." Hasani hesitated at first, but then remembered the sacrifice Jibade made for him. He grasped Set's hand tight and shook it firmly. Then, a sharp electric pain jolted through his body. Set smiled menacingly, showing off his sharp and elongated teeth. Hasani groaned in pain as parts of his body began to metamorph and grow into something else. His once perfect turquoise blue eyes became flooded with yellow and red, staining them forever. His nails became long and pointed at their ends like claws, his hair transitioned from its beautiful black into a blood red, his teeth grew long and ferocious like a tiger's and new layers of teeth began to grow in the back. His tongue stretched and became forked at its tip, a pair of black feathered wings grew out of his back, and finally, a long reptilian tail emerged out of his body, spikes sticking out of its scales. Hasani panted as his transformation ended, unaware of his current appearance. Once it was complete, Set used his powers to conjure a dark cloud of smoke that drifted into the body of Jibade. Hasani sat up from the ground and smiled as Jibade's body began to stir and shake. His eyelids fluttered and slowly began to open as his wounds healed. Hasani gasped with joy as Jibade sat up and put his hand to his forehead.

"Ugh," said Jibade, "Where am I?" Hasani wrapped his arms tightly around Jibade and began to cry tears of joy as he felt Jibade's breath of his neck.

"Oh Jibade," said Hasani, his voice now demonic and doubled, "I'm so happy you're okay!" Jibade looked down and saw the reptilian tail, wagging back and forth, behind Hasani and screamed in terror. He pushed Hasani away from him and fled to the corner of the room.

"Get away from me!" Hasani looked confused and followed him.

"Jibade," he said, unknown of his grotesque appearance and voice, "w-what's wrong?"

"Monster!" Cried Jibade, pointing to Hasani. "A hideous demon! Somebody help me!" Hasani reached out to Jibade as he ran out of the room in absolute fear.

"Jibade, wait!" He cried, getting a glimpse of his monstrous hand. Hasani gasped in fear and turned to his left, spying his reflection in a mirror.

"'He'd love me no matter what', huh?" Hasani turned and growled at Set, who stood in the corner laughing.

"What have you done to me?!" Shouted Hasani angrily.

"Nothing you didn't ask me to do. I warned you there was a price to pay, but you didn't listen. You got what you wanted, your Jibade lives, and now your soul belongs to me." Hasani walked over to his reflection in the mirror and whimpered as he touched the mirror, his index finger tip to tip with his reflection's.

"I am a monster. A hideous ugly monster!" Hasani punched the mirror hard, shattering it to pieces. Set walked over to Hasani and rested his hand on his shoulder.

"There, there, my child," he said, "There is a way for you to never have to look at that vile beast ever again." Hasani closed his eyes and turned away.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I am all you have left. "