A/N: Ok its finally here. Finals are over! I will try and get the next one up fast. I also have a few other stories in working progress one that will make its debut on FanFic soon enough. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Review please and thank you all for reading.
Chapter Eighteen - An Egyptian Curse
Alexandria patted out the wrinkles in the blanket. The bed was now freshly made. The deep blue blanket was then piled with pillows of different shades. Severus had gone out "to work". She wasn't so sure she would consider what he did work. He went into an office maybe once a month to make plans and close deals. It was a little odd to her at first seeing him leaving for work in a suit with a briefcase instead of his usual black clothes and a long robe. As weird as it seemed she kinda liked it. The new sophisticated look worked nicely for him.
They had just come home from the palace a few days ago. It had been just as beautiful as the last time they had been there but Alexa liked the quiet life that living in Severus' house offered. It seemed more like home. Neville and Luna were now living quite nicely in the palace. When Neville had to investigate for the ministry Luna would go to visit her father.
For once life was good and not hectic. The weddings were done and she had not heard from her grandfather since she left Charlie that day. A feeling of relief was over her.
After finishing the bedroom she walked downstairs to make herself a snack and maybe recline with a good book. The days were peaceful but she missed having a bit of adventure here and there. It was very exciting working with dragons before Charlie ruined it for her. Maybe when Severus returned she would suggest a trip. Returning to Egypt would be nice. Alexandria wondered if he had ever gone.
Tapping came from the front door just as she had placed the tray down. Who would possibly be here? Everyone she knew would most likely be working. The knock was a little louder just as she got to the door and opened. Remus stood there before her in a nice deep green coat and some tan pants with a smile on his face.
"For a moment there I thought you weren't going to answer."
Alexandria smiled, "Sorry, come on in." He stepped in after a nice engulfing embrace. "So what brings you to my home?" she asked hanging his coat on the rack.
"Well Nymphadora left for work today and she says she'll be gone for a few days. I think they found a big group of rebels who are using magic to control muggles somewhere down in Europe so they went to gather evidence and arrest those in question. I knew you'd be home and maybe Severus?"
"No he left early this morning for work. Today is one of his few working days."
Remus nodded and took a seat after she waved him to. "So do you have any plans for today?"
"No cant say that I do."
"Should we go somewhere?" he asked rising to his feet, almost as quickly as he had sat down, and extending a hand to her.
Alexandria nodded, "Alright, lets go."
After dressing quickly she was off with her good friend to the city where the found nothing to do but head to Diagon Alley. There they sipped some tea at the same tea shop she and Ginny had once sat at and afterward headed to the Alexandria's palace where they swam in the lake and had lunch and dinner with Neville and Luna.
Neville hugged his adoptive mother and kissed her cheek as she bade him farewell for the second time in one week. Alexandria knew that sometimes he wished she was still around more often and she figured it was because he'd never really had a mother in his life having lost his parents at a young age to the cruciatus curse. It had been a nice day running around together. It beat sitting home and re-arranging the furniture. Tomorrow, Remus had suggested they buy a muggle television and watched to see what it was muggles were making a big deal of. Alexandria already had some idea but again she thought it sounded more exciting than furniture, so she agreed. The house was dark when Remus apparated them to her door and quite inside as she shut it bidding him goodnight.
"Where were you?" a deep harsh voice came from the pitch dark living room. Alexandria clutched her jacket and purse and squinted to see if anyone would become visible. Nothing. Her hand wandered over the wall looking for a switch and finally clicked it on. Severus rose from the chair he had been sitting on so suddenly she had jumped back a bit. "Well?" he asked taking her purse and jacket out of her hands and throwing them on the nearby couch.
"I was at the palace with Remus and Neville and Luna. Why?"
Severus looked unmoved and his face was hard and unexpressive, "What did you think I would think when I got home and my wife is missing when she never goes out and she never expressed any wishes to go out or even left a note?" he raised an eyebrow.
Alexandria bit her lips, "Oops…"
"I didn't mind so much when I arrived hours ago but after waiting for a long while I started to worry that something had happened."
Alexandria wrapped her arms around his waist and just held him tightly. At first he did not move or even respond but then after a few minutes he caved and also wrapped her in his arms, "I'm sorry Severus…"
"It's fine, just let me know where you go next time ok?"
Alexandria smiled and did not complain because she liked that he had worried about her. It showed a lot, in her opinion, that he cared that much. Oh, how she loved him dearly.
Severus watched his wife asleep in the bed beside him. She would always be breath-taking, even when she wasn't trying. Sometimes he wondered if she ever had a problem going to bed without him. Most evenings he would stay in the cellar fixing up potions well into the night and Alexandria was always fast asleep when he got in bed. It never mattered what time he went to bed because usually he did not have to worry about getting up early for work.
The clock's hour hand landed on the one and then soon enough on the two but still his eyelids would not shut. Alexandria had begun to stir here and there jerking and mumbling. She's having nightmares again? About what? Severus tried to prod through her mind but he was blocked for some reason. In a whisper he began calling her name hoping she would come to but nothing happened.
"Alexandria? Alexa? Wake up!" he finally shouted and her body stopped moving. "Alexa?" there was no answer. A panic struck him and he rolled her on to her back. "Alexandria!?" A tear fell from the corner of her closed eyes. Then without warning she jumped upward and shot her hand out screaming.
"NOOOOOO!" a flash of green lit up in her pupils and she screamed in terror. "NOOOOOO!" she yelled again in between sobbing and screaming.
Severus stood up out of the bed and looked down at her in horror. "Alexandria wake up!" he demanded and looked at the stand beside his bed where his wand lay. He could have given her a potion but it would take time to make. "Alexandria!" She did not respond. Unsure of what to cast on her he grabbed his wand and aimed but then dropped it and got back on the bed. Carefully he scooped her into his arms and held her tightly so she could not move as much. She fought his bind and squirmed but finally opened her eyes and relaxed.
"Severus?" she asked in what he thought was disbelief.
"Yes?"
"SEVERUS!" she shouted and threw her arms around his neck. He could feel her body shake as she sobbed on his shoulder. "I thought you were dead…" she whispered in between breaths.
"Dead?"
Slowly she pushed herself off him and looked him in his dark eyes. He could see the red in hers as she examined his features and then brushed his hair back with her right hand keeping the left on his shoulder. The hand slid down to his chest where he knew she was feeling his heart beating. "I saw him kill you…" she said looking at him in the eyes again.
"Who?"
"My grandfather… I saw him kill you with the killing curse right before my eyes."
Severus remembered the green light in her eyes and then smiled weakly, "Well I'm still here so there is nothing to worry about." Little did she know that he was actually very worried. Her nightmares had stopped a long time ago and now that they were coming back made him wonder if Alexander was almost ready to strike again.
They dropped their bags on the floor and looked at the house they had left behind them for two months. Alexandria had been too scared to go to sleep that night and paranoia had taken her. Severus had noticed how she would look behind her every so often when they went out as if someone was watching her. Finally fed up with it he had suggested they go on a trip of her choice to get away. Without a doubt she had picked Egypt. Before leaving she had cast very complicated charm on him that would keep him from being tracked. It was the same one she had cast on herself years ago to hide from Alexander.
The trip had been a new experience for him. The splendors of Egypt had been fascinating. They had gone to visit a few of Alexandria's old friends who congratulated them on their marriage. Most of them were wizards who were researching ancient Egyptian myths in relation to magic and sorcery. There was one man in particular that Severus had been rather interested in his work. It dealt with the undead and the afterlife as well as dark sorcerers. His name was Harold Happer, a british wizard who had been working with archeologists for forty-eight years. For some reason Severus knew Alexandria had taken him there just because she knew he would be interested. The moment the two got into a discussion over history of the dark arts she had wandered away mysteriously into another room where he later found her helping clean up an old tablet that had just been discovered the day before.
Alexandria had also taken him to some burial grounds where he saw walking and talking mummies for the first time in person. They were rather dull and boring in his opinion only talking about events that happened in their time. They had looked at both of them rather oddly and made remarks about their "odd clothing". Severus thought that they should not have had the right to talk about his clothes when they, themselves, only had yards of linen wrapped around their decomposed bodies.
There were few times that they had spent outside in the burning desert sand instead of the large tents. It was definitely an experience to remember. They had arrived there with few bags and left with many full of gifts that people insisted they take. Severus looked over at his wife who was now a bit tan with rosy cheeks and smiled as she walked over to the couch and collapsed. "Tired?" he asked
"No its just rather difficult traveling with so many bags but the trip was worth it. I love Egypt…"
"Well it seems Egypt loves you too. I lost count at how many people told me I had married an ancient Egyptian queen, re-incarnated," he smiled at her.
"Thats just some silly thing Harold thought of when I worked at the museum. He said it was because of my hair. It was shorter then so I guess it did have that Cleopatra/ Nefertiti sort of look to it."
"Well, it is, I suppose… Egyptian queenish. Mr. Happer certainly had a few interesting books that he insisted I bring with me though," Severus said opening one of the suitcases and pulled out a couple of extremely old books that were half written in Egyptian but had side notes in English. "I think he gave me a whole shelf actually…" he continued watching books return to their actual size the moment he pulled them out.
Alexandria laughed at him and looked through her own bag. She pulled out a few ornaments and immediately placed them up somewhere. Before he knew it the once plain living room now looked like the Egyptian section of the British museum. Severus hauled the books over to the small library they kept but found no room for them. Alexandria suggested they keep them at the palace along with the rest of the statues or framed papyrus scrolls. Severus shrugged and left them on a table.
An owl tapped on the window. Severus opened it and took the neatly folded letter that was addressed to Alexa. The shower went on upstairs and he looked at the owl. He took it into the house and placed it on a small perch where there was food and water for Alexa's owl that she had sent to Neville to watch while they were gone. Severus climbed the stairs and plopped her letter on the bed and then opened the closet to change into his usual clothes. The whole time they were in Egypt Alexandria had insisted he wear light colors. (This included a short sleeve shirt that Alexandria loved on him. He thought it was because it showed that his dark mark was no longer there). He didn't mind as much anymore but it was still nice getting into something else. The water in the shower went off but he knew Alexandria would not emerge just yet. Severus lifted her letter and looked on it wondering who might be writing to her already. He was sure everyone knew they had gone to Egypt for two months.
"What's that?"
"A letter for you," he replied surprised that she had showed sooner than expected.
Alexandria raised an eyebrow at him, "Are you reading my mail?"
Severus frowned, "No its sealed. Here. I'll be downstairs writing to Jeff at work. I hope everything hasn't fallen apart since I left," he kissed her cheek and returned back down the stairs. The window was open and the light brown owl, that had been perched where Alexa's owl could usually be found, was gone. He shut the window and looked around the room. Something was different about it but he could not tell what it was. The wand in his pocket was now in his right hand as he surveyed the look of the living room.
"Severus!" Alexandria yelled as she ran down the stairs in a frenzy, still covered only by her towel. Her left hand gripping the letter that had just been delivered.
"Shhh…" Severus motioned to her with his hand to be silent. "Something's not right here… Do you see anything different?"
"Severus the letter was from…" she gulped down hard and pointed at a small statuette on the coffee table. "Where did that come from?" she asked walking over to her husband staring at it wide eyed.
"Who? Who was the letter from?"
"What?"
"The letter! Who was it from?" he asked sternly.
Alexandria handed it to him and he knew the writing immediately. Narcissa had written to congratulate Alexandria in marrying Severus. It was a short letter but it was enough to let them both know that she and Moonfire were very aware of their wedding and would not be laying low for too long now. Severus crumpled it in his fist and turned to his wife who was still staring at the small statuette on the mahogany table. He too turned his attention to it and wondered if the owl had left it or someone had snuck it in.
"There is no presence of a magical being in the house or anywhere near it," Alexandria spoke aloud but did not tear her eyes from the black rock shaped in that of a woman.
Severus walked over cautiously to look at it in detail. "What is it?"
"It's Isis, the Egyptian goddess of Protection. Someone obviously knew we'd be in need of protecting but who?" Alexandria walked over and carefully lifted it, examining it with her fingers.
Severus didn't know but the fact that it showed up after Narcissa's letter didn't comfort him in the least. "I think you should get rid of it."
Alexandria looked up at him suddenly as if she could not understand his want to get rid of something that was supposed to offer them protection. Suddenly, her eyes widened and Severus could see a light radiating off her skin. He stood up to reach for her but in a blinding flash, she was gone. The antique statuette fell to the ground and remained in tact when he was sure it should have cracked at least. Severus lifted it and examined it for clues as to what might have happened to his wife. Wherever she was he wanted to be too. "Where is she?!" he yelled at the statue as if it would open its mouth and speak to him. Then he saw it.
A golden sort of light that captured him. It was in his eyes and yet he could not bring himself to close them. A warm burn and then chill rose the hairs on his body. The wind left his lungs and when he gasped for breath it was warm and arid air that filled him. Slowly his eyelids lifted and he looked around himself. There was only a deep blue sky filled with stars above him and the soft cold sand under him. He lifted himself quickly out of panic. What happened? Where am I? Where is Alexandria? Burning torches could be seen in the distance but his vision was lightly blurred. It was his only chance. Severus ran as fast as his feet would carry him. The wind whipped at his chest and through his hair. The soft sand sunk under his feet making it extremely difficult for him. The sandals didn't help too much. Sandals? It dawned on him.
As soon as he got close enough that the city walls could be seen and the torches now lit him up, he stopped running and looked down at himself. The leather sandal on his feet were hardly worn, his upper legs and down to below his knees was covered with a very thin white linen cloth probably wrapped multiple times (which is why he could not take bigger strides). Severus held out his hands examining them and his arms and chest. They were completely bare except for a thick gold necklace and a gold armband on his left arm. Shite… this is not good…
"Are you alright my Lord?" a man asked him from a small distance.
Severus turned and looked at him. The man had not spoken English but yet he understood. The man walked closer holding his spear and shield at his sides. There was a metal band around his head and he had rugged features. A soldier protecting the city no doubt.
"My Lord are you alright? What are you doing outside the city?" he asked stepping closer and gripping the spear firmly.
"Yes, I just woke up and I was out in the desert. I'm lost. Where am I?" The tongue which he spoke was not English either but it was instead an ancient language but it was as if he had thought of what to say and his mouth translated it without thought.
"You are in the sacred city of Ipet-isut," he said eyeing Severus with a now less than welcoming look. "Have you come for the pharaoh? You will be killed before you reach him!"
"Pharaoh?!" Severus felt his knees get weak. He wondered if this was someone's idea of a joke. Was he asleep? Could this have all been a bad dream? The last thing he remembered was seeing Alexandria disappear and the statue dropping to the ground. The statue! Thats it! It was cursed. Someone cursed it and purposely left it there. But why would someone want us to return here? What year is it? What am I supposed to do now? I need Alexandria to tell me what to do now. This is her forte, not mine… "I was unaware that the pharaoh was here. I seek a woman by the name of Alexandria… Can you help me?"
"You seek the Priestess of the fire-breathing beast?"
"The Beast?" You've got to be kidding me… "What beast?"
"That so terrible, which eats flesh and breathes fire taunting us with threats of the underworld. Many say its the beast of Anubis… Who are you noble? Who are you with your fine clothes but no knowledge of the great and sacred temple city of Ipet-isut?"
Severus ignored him now. The beast would more than likely be a dragon knowing Alexandria. How was she already known to him as the "priestess of the beast" if she had probably only arrived seconds before he had? The city was not entirely empty at night but for the most part voices could be heard from within the mudbrick houses. Severus saw homes but more than that the great temples stood out to him. Which was the temple of the beast?
"Master, you have returned. We had began to worry," a very young woman with thick linen clothing greeted him and led him into a house. It was filled with gold decor and colored tile. "I will get you your wine."
He frowned at her and grabbed her wrist, "We? Who is we?"
"Your mistress for tonight and I. Forgive me if what I have said displeases you," she bowed in fear.
Severus released her at once and just looked at her in horror, "Mistress?"
"Yes. Shall I call her?"
Severus nodded without words. Priests and priestesses are not allowed to have relationships. I remember that much… His thoughts interrupted by a gold chalice that was placed into his hand."Narcissa!?" he asked as the blonde haired woman laid a hand on his cheek.
"Thats right Severus… It's me."
"How? Why? Where is she?!"
A cruel laugh escaped her and she smirked, "Even now you would talk to me as if I didn't matter? I am your mistress after all."
"No, you call yourself my mistress but this isn't even really me! Tell me where she is!"
"No."
"I will kill you this time…" Severus' lip curled in disgust and lunged for her throat but his hand passed right through. Yet, even as he looked at her now she seemed solid. "What are you?"
"I'm an illusion in this world but you will find that the rest are not. Whatever happens to you here will happen in reality."
"Why have you brought me here? Why ancient Egypt of all places?"
Narcissa laughed lightly, "Because it is something she loves, is it not? Well I'm gonna make it take everything she cared for and force her into a life she hates. I promised you long ago you'd pay and I don't go back on my word. Alexander thought it was a brilliant idea so he charmed the statue for me."
"How does this help Moonfire? He will lose his only heir here too."
"Wrong Severus… this is my chess board I move the pieces I thought out your characters well and even though you are a noble, you may never be with a priestess. The Pharaoh on the other hand, has enough power between his three great sorcerers to take her from her beast and you… Well we know you'll do anything to keep her from becoming not only yours but the Pharaohs. Any action against the Pharaoh or his plans is death. Death to the traitor… If you lose your life here Severus, then you lose your life period, end of story. Only no one will ever know what happened to you because this isn't the past its just a world I made up with Alexander."
Severus felt heated and he wanted to strangle her personally, but he knew he couldn't and right now he needed to find Alexandria. "Fine leave me to your game but stay away from me!"
"There is no way out Severus…" he could see a small hint of madness in them.
"Narcissa, just one question…" he turned away from her, "Why don't you just give him his heir? You're a pure-blood and he's a Moonfire. Are you too scared he'll see the scars that Lucius left you? Clearly he didn't heal you in time that I can still see the slashes on your face from my curse. Did that turn him off? You're so set on my revenge that clearly… you aren't thinking straight. The world at your feet and all you have to do is lay with him."
Narcissa looked so mad she might have almost been capable of killing him but she did not move. "I refuse to lay with a man whom I do not care for. Alexander is just a tool in my game."
"You slept with Lucius all those years and didn't care for him until you bore his son and then he never even touched you… Which probably made you happy actually right?" Severus needed her to stop thinking now. He knew playing to her past would make her irrational. There was always a slip up on her part when she lost her mind. There. There it is… Her eyes had become dull and lifeless again as her mind seemed to be rummaging through her past. In a scream of rage she disappeared right before his eyes.
"Master?" the small servant girl knocked on the door.
"Yes?"
"Will you be needing different company tonight? Shall I go fetch you another mistress?" Severus scrunched his face in disgust and shook his head.
"No. No more mistresses," he told her thinking to himself that even though this fictional him had mistresses he never had and never would. "Tell me… Where is the Temple of the Beast?"
The girl's face was thunderstruck, "My lord, only the holiest of men go there."
"That's not what I asked is it?"
The girl's eyes seemed to fill with tears, "Forgive me sir… I will go fetch the whip."
"What?! No! Why would I whip you? Just answer the question."
The girl was in shock and it was then that Severus noticed the scars on her shoulders and neck. Narcissa was sick to make his character like this. "It's hidden behind the Temple of Anubis."
Severus nodded and ran outside, "Crap… I don't even know which one that one is…" he whispered to himself and ran back inside. "Where is that?"
The girl frowned but then walked outside and pointed to one of the taller temples that could be seen on the other side of the town. "There."
Severus thanked her and ran in its general direction. The sky had begun to cloud and the light fade as it got later. Still the palace was well lit and he wondered what the Pharaoh was doing up so late. The temple guarded by large dark stone statues was now before him as he panted and looked around to see if anyone was watching him.
"Severus?" came a deep and familiar voice.
He turned and looked noticing before him a priest dressed in white robes that wrapped around most his body. It was Remus but his hair was gone and his skin was slightly tanned like his. "Remus? What are you doing here?"
"Is it you?"
"Yes its me! What are you doing here?" Severus repeated.
"I don't know… I went to your house to look and see if you had returned and I saw the new decorations but I saw one on the floor so I picked it up and then I was here dressed… like this and my hair is all gone too! Everywhere…"
Severus looked at his clothes and then at the temple, "Remus I think you're a priest…"
"Priest? Me? Is this a joke?" he laughed heartily and took a seat on one of the stone steps.
"Remus this isn't a joke!" Severus shouted in frustration, "This is Narcissa's doing. We need to find or make a way out… I need you to help me now that you're here. Let me explain." The rest of the night was spent explaining everything that had happened and everything that Narcissa had said to him. In the end Remus was just as concerned as he was. They talked for a while longer on the street concocting plans as to how exactly they would find Alexandria and then parted their separate ways when a band of soldiers entered the street and began to look at them suspiciously.
Severus went back to "his house" and straight to his room to discover more about himself. There was a sharp but heavy sword under his bed and a stave in the corner. There were letters that he could not read on his desk and food that had not been eaten. Slowly but surely his body forced him into sleep and he could not do anything to fight it.
When he woke early the next morning he was still sitting in his chair. The sun was burning hot because it was very warm inside and all the window were closed shut. Severus walked out of his room and down some stairs. There were the Pharaoh's soldiers waiting for him at his front door.
"Nobleman, we are to take you to see the Pharaoh this instant," the leader spoke but not harshly.
Severus raised an eyebrow, "What does the king want with me?"
"He wishes to eat with thee and hopes that you will accept."
Severus nodded. Is Narcissa controlling this? I wonder why she just didn't get all of this done with? They escorted him as soon as he washed and dressed which was odd enough because he kept reminding the servant girl that he could bathe and dress himself. Still she insisted on helping mumbling that she was useless to him if she did not help. After several attempts to wrap himself in the linen cloth her help became unavoidable.
The Pharaoh was a smaller man but built and very tan. His hair was almost as black as Severus' but his eyes were almond shaped and green like jade. He let Severus bow before him and then he showed him to the room where they would be dining.
White and lavender cloth hung from the ceiling, draping over and around the table. The table was large square and the plates and goblets were made of gold. "Sit my dear friend." The Pharaoh spoke and pointed to a seat beside him while motioning for the servant girl to pour him red wine. "I have council with you. I am deciding on taking another mistress. I want you to take a good look at her and tell me what it is you think. I know you have a few and I'm sure you have an eye for beauty. Can I show her to you?"
Severus looked around him still finding himself breathless and unable to speak. He nodded his head slightly and sipped the wine. It was not as good as he thought it would be. Especially not for a pharaoh. The goblet nearly slipped out of his hand when the Pharaoh clapped his hand and in walked Alexandria. Stopping a few feet from the table she bowed and then looked up. Severus knew she was in shock because her face drained of color in that moment and then returned her eye to the king.
"Well what do you say?"
Severus sipped more wine, "I say I'd like to see her closer."
"Come here Alexandria, priestess of the Beast and soon-to-be mistress of my home in Ipet-isut."
Alexandria walked over without a sound and kneeled in between the two men. Severus could not help but stare at her in the nearly nonexistent cloth. Her dress was so thin it was almost as if she was wearing sheer cloth and there was no point in that for she had no undergarments. Severus could see the pink of her nipples underneath the cloth as well as every crevice of her body. A stinging jealousy that the Pharaoh was also staring at his wife took over him. His arms wanted to shoot out and cover her with himself but he knew that he couldn't. Alexandria's eyes glistened as she stared at him while he pretended to examine her face.
"Is she not a priestess?"
The Pharaoh turned away and gulped his wine, "Yes, but hardly. Egypt keeps no priestesses. The fire beast is only appealed by her beauty and youth so the people of this great city made her its keeper. She serves no god or goddess just a beast. The beast can still keep her but she will be owned by me and will live in my palace awaiting my return every so often. I wont be taking her from the city so it should be no problem."
"I have told you my king that I am not for the taking. Anubis will be angry that you have taken the innocence of the priestess who keeps his beast at bay."
"Anubis cares not for your innocence woman," the Pharaoh said running his finger tips down her arm.
Alexandria held her composure and continued, "Even if he did not, I would no longer be pure enough to enter the hidden temple and then who will calm his beast?"
"I'll find someone. I will have the preparations start tomorrow for you though so prepare yourself."
"If I may be so bold, your greatness," Severus stepped in. "I think associating yourself with the god of death is unwise. Perhaps you should not. I have seen much finer women than she and will be glad to find you one if you permit me."
The Pharaoh looked at his choice and then at his friend, "Very well if you can bring me a more beautiful woman tomorrow I will bathe her and take her as my own."
Severus nodded and watched as Alexandria was dismissed. "I beg your forgiveness but I must away. I have a beautiful woman to find you."
The Pharaoh nodded and sent him off. As soon as Severus had stepped out onto the dirt floor with his bare feet he ran to the temple that he had seen Remus at. Alexandria was sure to return soon and would probably need to enter through here to get to the Hidden Temple. As soon as he took a step in the temple a hand pulled him into the shadows.
"Severus are you mad?" Remus' voice whispered to him. "Only the pure are allowed in temples."
"I am as pure as you are Remus now where is she?"
"Severus, I did some studying last night and then went through my quarters to figure a little out and I have been bathed twice this morning in order to make me clean enough to enter."
"Remus, I saw Alexandria at the palace. The Pharaoh wants her as one his mistresses. I have to find him another so he wont take her but I need to speak with her first. She's going to walk through those doors anytime now to go to her temple."
"Severus, magic still exists in this world… She is already in the temple. They are bathing her now. The Pharaoh's sorcerers brought her to the temple with their magic."
"Magic? So then you and I…"
"Yes, we still posses our magic. Caution must be taken though our magic is more advanced and can possibly do more harm than good. Apparation does not work here either. I tried."
"Let me see her Remus. Please I just want to see her."
"No. You will see her soon enough. Right now our problem is finding a way out. Severus, those sorcerers I saw moments ago…"
"What about them?"
"Neville is one of them."
"Neville? Are you sure?"
" I cant be positive but it looked like him and he looked sort of possessed. Don't you see Severus? Narcissa has planned this well. With Neville as one of the Pharaoh's sorcerers you wont be able to defeat him without defeating Neville. It doesn't matter what mistress you bring the pharaoh he will still choose Alexa. Narcissa wants you to die here and then the rest of us will go free. We're just pawns, you and Alexandria are the major pieces. Narcissa knows you wont kill Neville because remember if he dies here then he dies in reality. My bets are that she made him the more powerful sorcerer. So now we have to plan according and we only have one day to do it." Remus said leading him to a hidden door inside the temple.
"How did you know that was there?" Severus asked him curiously.
"I read it on a piece of parchment in the temple's scroll room. I don't know how I can read things but I can. I found out a lot about the city."
"So you mean you didn't just know that this was here?"
"No. Why?"
"Remus, Narcissa selected her pieces and put them in the game. The statue only got me and Alexandria here. You my friend were not supposed to waltz into our house and pick up the statuette. You are not a pawn in this game. There might be more, but not you. Thats why you need to find a way out while I fight to keep Alexandria till then. I wont take any action against the Pharaoh until we speak again tomorrow."
"Wont Narcissa know now?"
"No. She has set it up so I can fail no matter what, that is why she isn't moving pieces thats why I choose what I do next. She's just watching things unfold but because you're not an original piece, you're not on the map. Go to Alexandria and tell her everything I've told you. We need to buy time… Where are we anyway?"
Remus who was carrying a burning torch pointed it down a long pathway. "This leads out of the city. You should remember this in case anything unfortunate should happen to you in and out of the city walls. Do not sleep tonight. Take this pathway and look around the area well then come back to find me early in the morning. Go now Severus the clock is ticking."
Severus nodded and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Until we meet again."