Chapter 3: Egypt and a Future…

Max took in a deep breath, closing his eyes as he went before he opened them once more to revel in the beauty of Egypt. He was currently on a boat that was making its way through the Nile, the Pyramids stood strong as ever as it did when they had been first built. There were women along the bank filling up vases with water and men knee and waist deep in water, spearing for fish.

There people shouting in Egyptian and different languages and Max could see that the boat was nearing the dock and headed back to his room so he could grab his bag that was filled with his stuff. He couldn't believe that he had managed to get away from Roswell, his sister, best friend, protector and so called bride.

Everyone had turned up when he was at the airport. All his friends, including Tommy and Serena had made it. They had all wished him luck and Serena had hugged him, whispering something into his ear before putting something in his hand, telling him that it would help him on his path.

Max had been embarrassed that everyone had turned up but deep down, he was pleased that they had all turned up before he had boarded the plane, giving his teary mother another hug, telling her that he will come back, no matter what as she was his mother and no one could ever take her place in his life. Diane had just hugged her son hard, kissed his forehead and made sure that he had everything so he wasn't going to be left hanging because had forgotten anything. Max couldn't help the smile at hearing the boys snicker over having a mommy fuss over him but Max didn't care, he was a momma's boy and wasn't ashamed to admit it.

He pulled out the necklace that Serena had placed into his hand and lifted it up till it hit the light from the candle in his room. It was a normal stone but there was something about it that kept drawing his attention to it; that it hid a secret that wouldn't appear unless it was the right time or if the right question had been asked. Shaking his head, Max placed the necklace back into his pocket, grabbed his bag and made sure that he had packed everything before slinging it over his shoulder and made his way out of the room, blowing out the candle as he went.

The boat slowed down as it reached the dock before stopping altogether. People started rushing about as they threw ropes over the boat toward the people on the dock and they tightened the boat to the dock. The ship captain came out of the steering room and started announcing that they had arrived in Egypt and that the people who had planned to be in Egypt were to leave the boat. The other people that still had their destination to reach where to sleep on the boat but they could leave to explore the area as the boat weren't to leave until the next morning.

Max made his way off the boat, still marvelling over the city. It was nothing like the other cities or Roswell, the buildings were crumbling but they still looked liveable. The sun was slowly setting over at the ocean and it looked as if it was melting into the sea, taking Max's breath away when he saw it. He couldn't help but take a picture of the scene before looking around and he saw a sign saying that it was a pub. Thank god for alien powers that helped him to absorb Egyptian languages and be able to understand what people were saying. He could only speak it a little bit but he was getting better…he hoped.

He made his way over to the pub and stepped into it, marvelling again over its beauty. There was a large water fountain in the middle and couches were situated all over the rooms with chairs and tables. There was a large bar at the far end of the room with stools. Everyone was talking and laughing while scantily clad females walked to table to table taking orders and placing drinks downs.

A few of them eyed Max up and down before greeting him with devilish smiles, one that had Max blushing, stuttering and scratching the back of his head before he made his way over to the bar, unsure how to deal with women. He took a seat at the bar and ordered his drink before he turned around to watch the scene as the music started up.

There was a large stage off to the left of the bar with a band on it and a female singer. She was singing in Egyptian as the female dancers started dancing on the stage before climbing down and dancing on the bar floor, flitting to each man. They took in delight in teasing Max, enjoying the way he blushed under the dancers' gaze before they took pity on him and left him alone, going to the other men. Max just shook his head as he turned to the bartender only to find that he was looking at Max with an amused look. Max just ducked his head and asked for another drink, eliciting chuckles from the bartender.

Once he had a few drinks, Max turned back to look at the stage only to see that the singer had now started a new song and this has a more beat than the other one did. The girls were dancing faster and sexier, waving their hands in the air and moving their hips to the beat. They would continue to tease the men and the men would clap their hands to the beat, increasing the music when the singer threw her head back at the last note and the dancers snapped their hips to the side, coming to a stop.

Max clapped his hands along with the others when the singer and the dancers finished, bowing before they headed into the backroom. Max looked at his watch, paid the bartender and decided to leave the pub, it was getting late and he had to check in at the inn he was planning on staying.

The sun had set when Max exited the pub and made his way over to the beach. The moon was half but it was shining brightly among the star lit sky. He had never seen the sky like this, not even in Roswell and he had spent a lot of time in the desert star gazing.

He sat down on the beach, watching as the men had finished their fishing and were now heading back home. Max had purchased a little boat and he could see it rocking in the waves next to a low deck off to the side.

Max laid back on the beach, looking up toward the sky when he heard the waves being stirred up even faster, he could even hear faint music…like someone was humming a lullaby. It was felt relaxing and so welcoming; it was different from the music he heard in the pub. Sitting up, Max felt his jaw drop when he saw a large shadow come into view in front of him and all of a sudden, bright light filled the area, almost blinding him before it died down to bearable. Max opened his eyes and he could see what he was meant to see.

"Oh…wow…" Max whispered as the island came into view. It was more beautiful that he imagined. He made his way down toward the small boat that he had purchase and threw his bag into the front of it before getting in himself and starting rowing toward the Island, more than ready to take up the challenges to see if the Seer was real.

It was a long and ardours journey to reach the island, the waves had been stronger near the island than it had been at the start but he had persisted and he could reap the reward, he had reached the island. Stepping onto the sandy shore, Max pulled his boat onto the island, not wanting it to get washed away.

He stepped back from the boat and looked toward the torch lit path and followed it, curious to where it would take him. He remembered that there was a tribe that protected the Seer but was unsure if they were the ones who issued the challenges or if it was someone else. He didn't get very far when a group of hunters came out of the darkness, surrounding him with their spears up high, ready to impale him.

Max raised his hands in surrender, wanting to let them know that he came in peace, not to attack them or anything. One man stepped forward; he had brown hair that was spiked up slightly and dark brown eyes. He was dressed in a pair of brown trousers.

"Who are you and what your business is?" he asked. Max bowed his head in respect, not understanding where the need had come from.

"My name is Max Evans, I seek to do the challenges to meet the Seer," Max told them. Hushed mummers erupted around him as the men conversed but Max kept his head down as the other man raised his hand, silencing the men.

"Then you must see our Leader, he is the one who will grant you safe passage if he knows you are telling the truth," he informed them before barking out orders. Two men came forward and grasped Max's arms and led him along the passage till they reached a village.

There were houses made of hard clay with straw/leaves roofs. People came out of their houses when they saw the men come back from their daily routine of patrolling the Island and they saw the strange man with them. Everyone followed the men to their leader's house in hope they would be told what was happening.

They finally reached a large throne like area of the village, on top of the throne sat an elderly man. He had shoulder length white hair and kind blue eyes. He looked when he saw one of his men kneel at the bottom of the stairs.

"Eddie, what have you brought?" the man asked as he stood up and moved to the bottom of the stairs, Eddie stood up and spread a hand toward Max.

"We have found a visitor in our jungle Wise Man, he wishes to ask something," Eddie explained before moved his hand, asking the men to bring the stranger forward.

"Who are you to cross our Island?" the wise man asked and Max knelt down in front of him, bowing his head in respect.

"Max Evans, I come to seek the Seer of the Nile," Max told the man. The old man arched an eyebrow.

"You do realise that to face the Seer, you must undertake the seven challenges?" The man told him and Max nodded, still keeping his head bowed out of respect. The wise man lifted a hand and the guard pulled Max to his feet. "Then you are welcomed to join us in our feast." Max just watched as everyone suddenly relaxed and people started bringing the feast, all different kinds of meat, vegetables, fruits and drinks were brought over and placed on a large table.

The fire roar higher as if it was drawing the energy from the people surrounding it and a group of men started playing music, increasing the infectious display. Max watched as different flowers were brought over to a small display and tilted his head, curious to what they were doing.

"They are giving offerings to the Seer," the elderly man spoke up, startling Max. Max turned to regard the old man with a curious look. "As she does not value wealth or possessions, we give her flowers. In the tales passed down, it was said that wherever she walked, flowers would bloom under her feet. She has always has a passion for flowers." He turned to face Max. "Why do you wish to seek the seer?" Max looked down at his hands as he tried to think up an excuse but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "You must speak from the heart or you will risk her wrath – she can tell when someone is lying and will make you fail your tasks on purpose, she has no need for liars to enter her domain." Max nodded, understanding the warning.

"I lead a…unnatural life," Max started. "I'm not from around here and all my life I have tried to fit in, hoping to lead a life that I want but recently, events have found me fighting a destiny that everyone says I have to follow. They wish me to marry someone I do not love because we had a 'great love' in our past and my sister and best friend wish me to follow our destiny as they have done so but a part of me is fighting so hard against this, that this can't possibly be my life. Ever since I was young, I have heard that we are to set our own destiny but I find that my choices are being taken away from me each day, leaving me confused and lost where to turn," Max looked up at the elderly man. "I want to know my true path – to know where I truly belong and believe in myself despite what others may say." The elderly man smiled.

"You remind me so much of the other young man that had came before the Seer," he told Max before shaking his head. "He was so confused too, he knew his path but wanted to ensure that it was the right path and that he wasn't going to hurt the one he loved so much. If anything, he would rather spare her the pain than inflict it on her."

"What did the Seer say?" Max asked, curious but the elderly man shook his head.

"It is an unwritten vow that anything the Seer says must be kept to the person themselves, that they must not tell anyone else in case events tries to change the written path," the elderly man warned him. "But I could see that he had gotten the answer he wanted, the pure delight and happiness on his face told me that he had been told that his path was to be with the woman he loved, not with the woman he had been destined for."

"She…" Max started and the elderly man nodded.

"Yes – we know she had died," the man told him as he looked at Max, smiling softly at the surprised look on his face. "The Seer had let out a bloodcurdling cry that startled even the guardians themselves. Her maids had come running out, demanding for our attentions and we had rushed to her side. She had foretold the murder and the future that came with it before foretelling us that another young man will come forward to seek her out but she must be patient and hope that it will all go the way it was supposed to go." Max tilted his head.

"The woman wasn't meant to die?" Max asked and the man shook his head.

"No, it hadn't been in the vision and we had come to the conclusion that the other woman must have known that the destiny would have been exposed as a lie and had the young woman killed as a result. We had been too late in warning the young man, he had collapsed in the streets here, shouting his love's name," the man explained before shaking his head. "He had broken down completely that we had sent one of our men along with him and he came back to tell us everything that had happened – even he could sense the evilness that had been directed to the young woman and that there had been no doubt in the intent of the murder all along." Max frowned.

"But the papers said that it had been an accident. That a fight had broken out in the café and she had been a bystander," Max said and the elderly man nodded.

"Yes, we have heard of the tale but the Seer had saw the planning, they had planned to make it look like a fight with her caught in the aftermath – this would prevent anyone from getting suspicious and investigating it further," the elderly man explained. Max looked down at his hands once more.

"Would people really do that?" Max whispered. The elderly man looked down at him. "Would people really kill others just to have their destiny…to be with the one they really want to be with despite the other person's sadness?" He remembered reading that the young man had given into his parents' desire and had married the other woman."

"Some people are blinds to their own desires – they only see what they want, not what other people wants. Some of them believe it's their right, their destiny to have it, others believe that it is the right thing to do because they had been told it so long while others are just jealous people who can't resist taking something that's not theirs just for the fun of it," the elderly man explained. Max looked up at him for a long moment when a small voice cut in.

"River Dog!" they turned to see a young boy of six with dark brown hair that was curled at the nape of his neck and around his ears. He had dark brown eyes and was tanned from the sun.

"Ah, little bear, what are you up to?" River dog as he leaned forward to the little boy and picked him up, placing him on his lap.

"Would you come over with us and tell us a story?" the little boy pointed off to the patch where all the kids were laughing and playing a game, some of them were even looking over toward the two men with eager looks on their faces. River Dog chuckled as he stood up, placing the young boy back on the ground.

"Of course I will," the boy smiled brightly before River Dog turned back to Max. "Keep faith in yourself to pass the challenge." Max gave a short nod and watched as the little boy led River Dog over to the other children. River Dog sat down on a log as the children all clambered around his feet, hanging on his every word. Max couldn't help the smile that crossed his face before turning back to the party in front of him.

The women stood up after they had their fill of food and started dancing around the fire, moving to the sexy rhythmic beat of the music. They all danced in sync, smiling and teasing the men as they danced closer, shaking their hips only to move away whenever their men lifted a hand to touch them. The men took no offence, only laughing as they were used to the dance routine.

Max laughed as he watched the women dance, clapping his hands along with the beat while some of the men got up to join the women, joining in with the dance.

The scene changed till it revealed that it was a crystal ball. There were mists surrounding the vision of Max as he laughed. The room was a large spacious room with a desk to one side and a large submersed bathtub to the other side. Candles were situated throughout the room, on the surfaces, the floors and placed in different heights of candle holders.

There were two large corridors – one led the way to a waterfall pool, the candles around the edges of the pool, the light glinting off the blue water. The other corridor led the way to somewhere else.

In the middle of the large room was a large bed that had different colours of hangings and a deep red silk covers and pillows. A slim female lay in the middle of the bed with her head propped on one hand while the other stroke the back of a tiny cub that was curled at her stomach. Her brown eyes were dark with emotions as she watched the crystal ball, several emotions flitting over her face as she regarded the young man that was still smiling and laughing, trying the different food.

"Hm, he is very interesting," the female spoke up as she stood up from her bed and moved closer to the crystal ball that stood proudly on its altar, the altar was made of gold metal with intricate blue decorations. The leopard cub lifted its head off its paws and looked toward its mistress with dark blue eyes that were flecked with sliver. "And cute too," She sent a teasing smile toward the cub. "Wouldn't you say, Shalula?"

Shalula just tilted her head as she regarded her mistress. She had long brown hair that reached mid-back. She wore a gold bikini like top with a thin gold veil over it and floor length gold skirt that had thigh-high splits. She wore a snake like sliver arm band on her left upper arm. Few sliver bangles on her right wrist, a thin sliver waist chain, a sliver anklet on her right ankle, a sliver toe ring on her left pinkie and a long sliver chain with a strange marking on the flat sliver pendant.

Shalula gave a soft purr as her mistress moved back over to the bed after waving her hand over the crystal ball, dispersing the vision back into mist and laid down on the bed, allowing Shalula to curl up next to her stomach.

"It makes me wonder if he is the man…" she whispered, her dark brown eyes closing as her breathing deepened as the light went out altogether.

TBC

For the leopard name – it's like this Sha-Lu-La (Well, that's how I say it).

Points if you can guess who the seer is….lol