I'm definitely progressing more with this
than with Expecting the Unexpected.
I feel like this is flowing easier, you know?
I'll update my other story as soon as inspiration
hits me; whenever that will be. Writer's Block
is the devil, I swear.
Enjoy Chapter 4 of Menouthis!
Love, Catch Fireflies

Recap:"What's the big deal?" she asked. "A crush is a crush, Mana. It's nothing to be ashamed of,"
Mana lowered her head and let out a high-pitched sigh. But… but… she's a woman. She wished she could say it out loud.

////

Hijra raised an eyebrow at the sight of her brother's friend looking so flustered and sanguine. She never knew Mana to be embarrassed at the thought of having feelings for anyone. She recalled how they would point out good looking men with ease and giggle giddily when they were smiled at as young girls. In fact, Hijra always had the suspicion that Mana harbored feelings for Atem. Maybe that's why she was acting so beside herself as Malik brought up this supposed crush.

The princess smirked and lowered her head to meet Mana's eyes with her own; a technique Malik used to try to get the truth out of her. As intelligent and mature as the mage-in-training was, she still had that childish and easily-intimidated air about her.

"Do you have feelings for my brother, Mana?" Hijra asked. Her voice was deep and smooth. It could get frightening if she wished it to. Frightening or pressuring.

The young woman's hazel eyes widened.

"NO!" she cried with certainty.

Hijra stood up straight and tapped her right pointer finger on her lips, thinking. "Oh, hm. Who could it be then?" she mused aloud.

"N-no one! I said I do not have a crush! Malik is crazy for suggesting such a thing!"

Malik sniggered. He leaned into Hijra, ignoring the feminine, floral scent emitting from her hair, and whispered his theory into her ear. Mana reddened again knowing exactly what Malik was telling her. She knew for sure when Hijra's face became stupefied and she gasped with realization.

"You must tell her! I am all for this pairing!" the princess exclaimed.

"I am, too. I think my sister would be completely flattered. Mana, you might just be what she needs," Malik added.

Mana sighed. She knew she was trapped. She didn't even know if what she felt for Isis was romantic or just a deep admiration. She had always admired Isis and thought she was beautiful, smart, graceful, and a role model. But for some reason this morning, seeing the priestess outside of work stirred something else within her.

Lowering her head, she whispered ambivalently, "But… is it normal… to feel this way for a…a w-woman?" Her eyes were glued to the ground. If she was blushing before, she must have been tomato-colored now.

The next thing she knew, Hijra had gently lifted her chin to look into her eyes. Mana swallowed and released a gasp.

"Of course it is, my dear. Attraction cannot be helped. It is natural," the princess purred with a tantalizing smile.

Mana was very aware that Hijra was quite promiscuous with men and women before Akiefa came along. It was no secret to anyone close to her that the sister of the Pharaoh was an exceedingly affectionate, worldly person. It wasn't looked down upon or broadcasted very publically. After all, Hijra was a respected, privileged royal. She was classy, even though she appeared suggestive. Although, after getting to know her and spending time with her it was certainly evident that Hijra was comfortable with her sexuality and salacious nature. Mana admired that to an extent, but she wasn't thinking so fervidly about Isis as to go to Hijra for advice.

"Y-you don't know if she could even return any sort of feelings for me! Malik, she could be flattered as in looking at me like a little sister! I can't be what she needs if she doesn't take me seriously! Besides! She is probably not attracted to other females! This would just be embarrassing!" Mana cried, flustered again, jumping back from Hijra.

Malik chuckled, "Relax. Don't become so worked up," he said calmly.

Mana let out an exasperated sigh and whirled around. Walking out of the room she announced, "I'm going to see Prince. You two are… overwhelming me!"

As she left, Malik noticed Hijra smile. It was a gentle, sad smile with a hint of anguish. He frowned, concerned.

"I like that she still calls him Prince… it makes him feel less pressured, still young. You know?" the princess muttered quietly.

Malik didn't like the way she sounded. It seemed as if she was mourning their relationship. How bad has it really gotten? he wondered.

Hoping to cheer her up, the sandy-haired young man grinned warmly at the princess. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. Malik saw the forlornness in her eyes. He felt his heartstrings pull.

"Hijra," he whispered softly.

She took the flowers from him and forcedly smiled, choking back the tears he saw welding in her brown orbs.

"They are beautiful," she replied in a similar tone, holding the bouquet to her lips. Hijra took the smell in and waltzed into the room from the balcony, holding them close to her chest. Malik followed behind her.

He watched, in emotional agony, the princess take a vase-like structure from a table and place the flowers in it. He felt completely discouraged, but that only sparked more determination within him. I have no chance, he thought. But I will not give up.

"They need water," he heard her mumble.

Again, Malik followed her through the palace. He observed the way she walked. It wasn't the usual confident manner Hijra held. Her steps were slow and wistful. Determination flowed through his veins once more. She deserves happiness. I can give her that.

The two young adults wound up in one of the gardens where the Nile flowed up and made a small pond. In one smooth motion, Hijra took the flowers from the vase and filled it with water. She smiled at the cool moisture that sprayed onto her and sat down on the ground, arranging the flowers in their amphora. Malik crouched down behind her, gently taking strands of her dark caramel hair between his fingers. He let them slide through and watched as they fell back into the place of her ponytail. His eyes softened.

"Malik," Hijra started. She felt him. She knew he desired her, but was not aware of his true feelings. She, at one point, desired him as well. Now things were different. Even if she pursued her fading lust, Atem would grow more protective and Akiefa would go after Malik. But she felt alone, she felt hollow. Hijra was a physical being, she longed to be touched and touch in return, and she thrived on contact. It isn't like she didn't care for Malik. She did. He was good to her. If Akiefa hadn't come around, she could have seen herself marrying Malik. Hijra knew before Akiefa, if Malik had asked for her hand in marriage, Atem would have allowed it. Now the situation was different. Now Akiefa stood between the two siblings and anyone who came into Hijra's love life. A terrible thought came over her. It was a terrible, sinful thought. If I could convince Atem I am over Akiefa, and have set my sights on Malik… he would not even think twice about protecting me from him. I could satisfy my brother, and be with Akiefa. No one will know; no one but Akiefa and I.

The princess turned to Malik and placed her hand lightly onto his chest. She looked at him, her eyes wide and full of longing.

"Hijra, I…" the lavender eyed young man began.

Hijra then moved her hand to place a finger onto his lips. They were soft. They were soft like Akiefa's. She slightly flinched.

"You don't need to say anything, Malik,"

With that, her finger was replaced with her lips. She felt her stomach acid churning; her mind was racing and plotting. She envisioned this handsome, kind man as the thief who had stolen her heart. This is wrong, she thought, but it will lead me to right where I need to be.

Malik's heart pounded. He couldn't believe this was happening. He figured she just needed someone. The thought made him queasy, but he knew he wouldn't be able to have anything more from her. Those chances that she could love him back were terribly slim. He felt sick, but welcomed it.

His hands gripped onto her hips as he pulled her into him. He felt the heat of Hijra's body radiate against his. It caused passion to stir within him. Her tongue grazed against his lips as they pulled apart from one another. Malik gazed at the princess before him. Her eyes were filled with licentiousness, so much so that he thought he saw them flicker a red orange color. The shawl had fallen off of her upper body, leaving her tanned shoulders, neck, and collarbones exposed. They glistened with the water that had splashed onto her before. Malik swallowed. The vision of Hijra in the late afternoon sun was too much for him to leave untouched. He knew she was a glutton for aphrodesia. He knew what was going to happen. He wanted it to happen.

The princess bit her lip as her eyes traveled up and down the man before him. Hijra knew she could go through with it. She knew she could solve her problems this way. There is no other way.

Her lips brushed against his one more time as she placed her hand softly onto his jaw.

That was all he needed.

Malik took her closely against him again as his lips crashed onto hers passionately. One hand was pressed into her back as the other released her hair from the ponytail she wore. She felt her tresses fall loosely and tickled her skin. She shivered. As Hijra welcomed his tongue into her mouth to dance with hers, she moved her hands down to his chest and compressed them into his upper abdomen. Hijra pushed Malik to the ground in a torturous and gradual fashion. He leaned up, forcing her onto his lap, moving his lips down her jaw line and neck, nipping and pecking all the way down to where her linen dress began. She gasped, leaning her head back, inviting him to continue. Hijra had straddled him at this point. Malik slid her vestment further off of her shoulders, inching his lips toward her collarbones; his hands exploring her body nimbly. When he heard her short whimpers of pleasure, he only felt more aroused.

She's mine. She's mine right here, right now. I'll make her mine forever.