hello! now before you all form a mob and burn me at the stake for my appalling lack of updates, I must confess I've been too busy to even think about continuing this story. the working world is kicking my butt, and coupled with a very rigorous university schedule, I've been struggling to find time for writing. please lower your pitchforks and accept my humble apology? anyways, here you have it! Chapter One of the sequel to "History Lesson", for your reading pleasure.
"Wake up…"
Lips brush against my cheek, my nose, my lips. I moan and roll over, burrowing back into the covers. Large hands snake around my waist, pulling me across the bed into him. Lips press into my neck, sending shivers up my spine. Hands tighten on my hips, breath fans out over my collarbone.
"Open your pretty eyes…"
I squeeze them shut tighter in rebellion as the hands roll me over to face my assailant. The pad of a thumb brushes over my eyelids, coaxing them open. I'm met with the sight of a messy-haired pharaoh, his dark eyes alight with teasing playfulness. Just the sight of his tousled hair and soft smirk is enough to send tingles through the darkest parts of me. I close my eyes again and tuck myself into his chest, pleased when his arms come down around me in an instant. I feel lips press into my hair.
"Just five more minutes…" I mumble, breathing in his scent.
His chest hums against my cheek as he chuckles, his arms tightening around me. He stays silent, his hands playing with my hair in a way that almost sends me back to sleep. It's the moments like these that I love. Sweet, simple. Human. Osiris granted me as much time as was in his power to allow me to enjoy my newly controllable lifestyle: one week. After today, I have to start "guidance", whatever that means. I've tried not to worry about it too much. As if reading my mind, my pharaoh speaks.
"What would you like to do for your last day of freedom?"
I lightly smack his chest, "Don't say it like that. It freaks me out."
He chuckles again, "Sorry. What would you like to do for your last day of normalcy?"
"That wasn't much better."
We both laugh, making me feel as light as air. We sit in silence for a moment as I work up the courage to tell him what I'd like. Well, maybe I don't have to tell him. I close my eyes, gently reaching out into his mind. As soon as I feel the connection, I pour my thoughts into him. His hands still in my hair as he feels my presence. He laughs.
"That's all?"
I break off the connection, nodding into the fabric of his shirt, "For now."
"Fair enough."
I close my eyes and think about what I want. I've never tried this before, but I have no reason to assume it won't work. All of a sudden, a sweet smell hits my nose. Ahk laughs.
"Chocolate chip pancakes. You're almost too easy to please, Alexandria."
After our filling breakfast, and plenty more kisses, Ahk and I make our way into Larry's living room. Another wonderful thing about this new normal? I got to come home to New York City. I was able to tie the museum to the moon again, so it went back to being affected by moonlight instead of me. So I get to stay home, and not worry about keeping the museum awake. I can also keep Ahk alive all day, every day. Just because I want to. The ankh never leaves my neck, which I suppose is the only thing allowing me to actually do all of this. Without it, I would go back to being a prisoner in my own body. No, thank you.
Nicky is seated on the couch, watching Game of Thrones. I lead Ahk over to the couch, flopping down next to Nicky and putting my legs over his lap. He barely blinks, staying glued to the action sequence playing out on the television. I lean back against Ahk and tilt my head to look up at him, but he's stuck on the television as well. Men and blood. Can't have one without the other. Larry's probably still asleep, so I can't go bugging him now. I guess I'll have to watch, too. I turn my attention to the screen, but look away seconds later as a man is beheaded before my eyes. Gross. How do people find entertainment in this?
Soon enough the credits roll, and the spell is broken. Ahk leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead, and at the exact same time, Nick tickles the bottom of my foot. I jerk my feet away from Nicky, but Ahkmenrah has already caught on to what's happening. He tickles my neck as Nicky pins me down and tickles my feet again. I try to ward off their attacks, but I'm laughing so hard I grow weak.
"No, no, stop! Can't… breathe…"
I finally manage to roll over and fall to the floor at their feet. It takes me a second to catch my breath as I hear them high-five above me.
"You two are mean."
"Hey, Nicholas, what do you say to a round of the Call of Duty?"
"Let's do it, Ahk."
I roll my eyes and stand, "I'm going to go take a bubble bath."
In revenge, I send Ahk a quick mental image of what that might look like. He freezes, staring up at me with barely disguised lust.
"Have fun playing Call of Duty." I say innocently, sashaying my way out of the living room.
I hear Nick asking Ahk what's wrong with him before I shut the door and dissolve into giggles. He's rather fun to play with. Now that I think about it, a bubble bath does sound kind of nice. I'd like to spend my last day feeling as normal as I can. If that means Nicky stealing Ahk's attention away from me for a little while, so be it. I head into the bathroom and take off my pajamas, turning on the water and pouring in some bubble bath. The label says "Midnight Soiree", but it just smells like lavender and something else. It's yummy, though. I pull the curtains over the window and light my candles, turning the bathroom into my own personal spa. While I wait for the bath to fill itself up, I pull my hair into a messy bun on top of my head. I'm just about to sink into the warm water when a knock sounds on the door. I don't even have to use the power to know who's waiting outside.
"Care to join me?"
"I thought you would never ask."
The sunlight filters through the trees, creating different patterns on the grass around us. The air is warm and the sky is clear. Larry woke up early, and decided to take us to Central Park for lunch. We stopped by Nicky's favorite sandwich shop for Reuben sandwiches, something Ahk has never experienced before. Now we sit in a circle, holding in a smile as Ahk takes a bite. His face instantly morphs from skeptical to orgasmic as he chews, and the three of us burst into laughter.
"Alex looked the same way when she first ate a Reuben." Nick says, grinning.
Nostalgia hits me like a punch in the stomach. It seems like ages ago when I first came to New York City, and my life was changed forever. In reality? It was only a month ago. How drastically different things have become. I stare out at the lake, lost in thought as I chew. Sometimes, I wish that I could go back to the way things were before everything happened. To have my biggest worries be how to become an Egyptologist, or how to find my birth parents. Now, I have to concern myself with an impending war between ancient Egyptian gods that could end life on this planet as we know it. A hand slipping itself into mine reminds me why I don't want to change things. If this had never happened, I wouldn't have Ahkmenrah. Who, at the moment, looks like a very normal college student. You would never be able to guess he's several thousand years old, thanks to a shopping trip with Nicky funded by money created out of thin air by yours truly. He presses a kiss to my cheek before whispering in my ear.
"I believe this sandwich is the only thing that may taste better than your chocolate chip pancakes."
"I didn't actually make those, so no offense taken."
"Oh, good. Then I can freely admit this is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
Larry and Nicky chuckle, and I lean back against Ahk and close my eyes.
"I don't want this day to end."
"Well, we're only halfway through," Larry says, "what do you want to do next?"
"I think I have an idea."
"I'm not so sure about this…" Ahk murmurs, his grip subconsciously tightening on mine.
"You have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly safe!" Nick says, clapping Ahk on the shoulder.
"And fun, too." I add.
"Are you certain?" Ahk asks, regarding the contraption before us with barely veiled horror.
"Three adults, please." Larry tells the man in the ticket booth.
I hand Ahk the stub of paper and take one for myself.
"I'll hold your hand the whole time, I promise."
He looks down at me, the dubious look in his eyes making me want to lean up and kiss him. What's stopping me? I stand up on my tip toes and press my lips to his.
"Come on. This will be fun!"
The ride operator opens the gate for us. I break into a jog, circling the ride for the best seat. Ahk chuckles as I tug him behind me. And then, I spot them.
"Those two! Hurry up!"
I weave between the horses before climbing up into the saddle of a chestnut horse with a dark brown mane. Ahk stares up at me, dumbfounded.
"We're riding them?"
"Duh. Do you need help up?"
He scoffs, "Of course not. I rode horses all the time in my youth."
He places a foot in the stirrup and expertly swings up into the saddle of his horse, white with a yellow mane.
"How fast do these animals go? I'm hardly wearing clothing suitable for riding."
I try as hard as I can to stifle a giggle, "Oh, not too fast. You should be fine."
Nicky joins us then, taking the horse next to me on the inside. His is black with a yellow mane.
He leans over to me, "How's Ahk taking this?"
"I think I've accidentally on purpose led him to believe that they actually come to life and gallop away."
Nick elbows me in the side but laughs anyways. We both look over at Ahk, who is hesitantly patting the horse's neck, and it sends us into another round of giggles. Ahk looks over at us, panic hidden beneath the surface of his annoyance.
"What is so funny about this? I haven't ridden a horse in several thousand years!"
"It's like riding a bike, you know? You never forget." Nicky says, his eyes glimmering with amusement.
We're both teasing Ahk now, but this is too funny to pass up. My pharaoh looks about ready to leap off his noble steed and run for the hills. The ride operator's voice comes over the speakers, causing Ahk's eyes to widen in fear. I reach out for his hand and he takes mine immediately.
"You're going to be fine, I promise. Try to have fun!"
He makes a valiant effort to swallow his inhibitions for me, but he can't hide it well enough. I squeeze his hand as the carnival music begins to play, and the ride starts to move. His entire body tenses immediately, hunching forward to grab the pole in front of him. What surprises him is when I start to levitate before his very eyes.
"What's going on?"
"See? Look how fun this is!"
I start to sink, and he and Nicky go higher.
"Relax, man! Isn't this cool?" Nick says, trying to calm Ahk as his horse lowers itself again.
We pass Larry, who is waiting on the outside of the fence. He sees Ahk's wary expression and immediately bursts into laughter.
"Woohoo! Go, Ahk! Ride that pony!"
Nicky and I both laugh as Ahk's worried expression slowly melts away.
"Is this all they do?"
"Yep! Told you you shouldn't be scared."
"I wasn't scared, I was just… concerned."
"Of course you were. That would explain the white-knuckle grip you have on my hand right about now."
He releases me instantly, and I shake away the pain. Nicky lets go of his horse, waving his hands around.
"Look, no hands! Dare you to let go, Ahk."
We pass Larry again, who cheers for Ahk once more. The woman next to him glares at his audacity, but it doesn't stop him from yelling Ahk's name several more times and taking pictures of the three of us. Ahk's smile is hesitant, but it's there, as he slowly lets go of the pole. His horse rises into the air again as he and Nick high-five over my head. Nick lets out a shout of excitement and Ahk follows suit, and soon I'm surrounded by the clamor that can only be caused by two men who happen to be children at heart. Ahk's laughter comes freely as he looks up at me, joy lighting his brown eyes in a way that makes my insides turn to liquid. And it's here, surrounded by cheesy carnival music and plastic horses, that I find pure happiness.
"Can we go again?"
Ahkmenrah and I collapse into bed, stomachs full from a dinner of pizza and soda. Nicky and Ahk had a burping competition, and Ahk won once he figured out how to utilize the full carbonated power of Dr. Pepper. Now, teeth brushed and pajamas put on, cradled in the arms of my pharaoh, I've never felt happier.
"Thank you for an amazing day." I murmur into the darkness of the room.
"It's the very least I could give you." he responds.
He lays propped against the wall, me in his lap. One hand is splayed across my stomach, the other holding my hand loosely in his. I lean back against his shoulder, pressing my lips against his neck. I bury my face into him, breathing him in as he lays his cheek on the top of my head. We sit in silence for a moment, merely enjoying each other's presence. I can feel his bare chest rising and falling beneath me, the only barrier between us being my thin tank top and pajama shorts, and his silky pajama pants.
"Are you afraid of what's to come?" he asks softly, his thumb brushing back and forth over my knuckles.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
"I know. I wish you didn't have to do this."
"If I didn't, who would? I can at least put up a fight before the Earth burns to a crisp."
He chuckles, "That's an awfully pessimistic way of looking at things."
"Hey, I'm not a pessimist. I'm a realist."
"Well, I happen to be an optimist. And I know you're strong, and brave. You can do this."
We sit in silence again as fear steadily builds inside of me. I've been clinging to the normalcy of my old life, but it's time to finally let go. I'm never going to be normal again. Before I can stop it, a tear escapes from my eye and rolls down my cheek, before finding itself on Ahk's collarbone. He feels it, and immediately sweeps me into his arms.
"Don't cry, Alexandria. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."
"I - I know. I'm just so scared. If I fail… everyone I love will die because of me. Not to mention the entire human race! It's all on my shoulders, Ahk. I don't want it."
"I know you don't, but that's the way it is. You can either run from it without a fight, or do all within your power to win."
He's right, of course. A few more tears escape my eyes before I manage to dry them. My palm presses against his chest, I can feel his heartbeat. Steady, calming.
"Now, it's only ten o' clock at night. You don't have to leave until midnight, we have time to savor our last day."
"Distract me." I murmur.
"Easy." he responds.
His hands are grabbing me before I can push him away, and he tickles me mercilessly.
"No, Ahk! Stop!"
I push against his shoulders as hard as I can, but he's too strong. He flips me over onto my back before he attacks me again, pinning me to the bed with his knees on either side of my waist. I wriggle beneath him, but I can't move away.
"You… monster! Stop it!"
Ahk finally stops, having pinned my hands above my head with no option of escape. We're both breathing hard and elated, the dark moment of several seconds ago having been forgotten. The intimacy of the position hits both of us at the same time. Keeping my hands above my head, he slowly leans down to kiss me. I half expect to see sparks when our lips meet. I pull against his grip, but he doesn't let my hands down. Instead, his tongue slips into my mouth as I shift beneath him, desperate to run my fingers through those dark locks. I tug harder, but his hand is like iron. An exasperated noise escapes from my mouth, but it very quickly turns into a moan as he trails burning kisses down my neck to the sweet spot between my neck and collar bone. At last, his hand releases mine. My fingers tangle themselves into his hair on their own accord, my legs wrapping themselves around him to bring us even closer. His mouth finds mine again, our tongues melding together in a scalding dance for dominance. His hands roam over me, cupping my face or grabbing my hips. Finally, we both pull away for air. Panting, he gazes down at me. The moonlight pours through the window to illuminate him from behind, making him look like some sort of angel. His eyes are dark with desire, his hair messy just the way I like it.
"Alexandria, I - I love you."
The air escapes my lungs in an instant. A warm feeling floods my chest, butterflies rising in my belly.
"I love you, too." I respond breathlessly.
The words come so easily to me it's as if I've been saying them for centuries. With a renewed fervor, he bends down and kisses me again. I lean up off of the bed as his hands find the hem of my shirt and rip it over my head. He kisses me senseless again, not even allowing me to register the fact that my chest is now completely exposed to him. With the rest of our clothing falling off at a dizzying speed, I give myself over to him completely. There are two hours left until midnight. I intend to spend every second in bliss.
yay! there you have it! I hope this helped you look forward to the sequel, which will be entitled "Making History". I've dubbed these stories the History Series. please let me know what you thought of this chapter in the reviews, and if you have any suggestions/requests for Making History please let me know! I'll try to work as many as I can into the story. so, until we meet again! (likely in a different story, so please don't hesitate to follow me as an author so you can be the first to know when it's posted!) thanks for your everlasting love and support despite my very, very long absence. love you all! :)