Heyy! I'm SOOOOO sorry for keeping y'all waiting, but I hit a writer's block and I've been trying to deal with AP exams and finals. I hope this chapter was worth the wait, even though I feel like it's crap...don't forget to Review!

Bastet

"Get out of the way, Bastet." Ryui mumbled as she bumped me on the shoulder. I glared at her, but stayed silent as the girl pushed past me. Unfortunately, there were two of them, so once I sat down at the table for dinner, Shala just happened to slide my plate into my lap. I stood quickly, but my stomach was returning to its original state faster than I expected, and I could see the damage done. I sent her a glare worse than the one for her sister, and simply rose from my chair and retired to my room before they could do any damage to Hadi or User-Seti, rather.

I started asking to have my meals sent to my quarters, and I stopped going out side. They weren't scaring me, but one more bump could mean Hadi falling to the ground, or another spill could mean temporary blindness for Seti.

I finally remembered after a few days that I had forgotten a baby blanket issued to me in Yuri's room, so I snuck in while all three girls were out. In that moment, I discovered Nadia's plan.

After I processed the anger in how they were intending to leave me here, I noticed it was an obvious betrayal, as there was no evidence of Prince Kail's seal. However, I just knew that girl would believe the lie too easily, being shrouded by love. As I had come to Wasuganni civilly speaking to Yuri, she would endanger my family by carrying out the craziness, and there was no way that would be happening while I was around.

An idea came to me almost instantaneously. When I was younger, in the future I had an unnatural infatuation with Discovery Channel. I watched one show about Cleopatra, and how she snuck into Caesar Augustus' room inside of a rolled-up carpet. That one action put her back in her place as royalty, as someone to be beheld. Remembering this, I ran to find a wet nurse for the night to take care of the twins.

What an excellent idea.

Yuri

We snuck into the blue deer room quickly, searching for Prince Kail. I felt a bit guilty about leaving Bastet, but she had made it clear enough that she hated me now.

But she was already there, sitting on top of a cloth draped chair, legs crossed, looking at us expectantly and amused. Bastet looked as grand as the room she occupied, with two plaits running down the sides of her head like a crown placed on top of her dark curls. She had adjusted to the culture of Wasuganni quickly, with a printed shawl held around one of her Egyptian tube dresses by a roped belt. Her presence ignited anger in me all over again.

"What are you-?" I started, but her tinkling laugh cut me off as she slowly stood.

"So you were planning on leaving me here, huh? No matter, I bet you I would have figured out a way. But watch your actions, Yuri. General Ramses wouldn't have been pleased with how you attempted to maroon me here; you might have started a war." she tsked.

"Why are you here, Bastet?" I asked, ignoring her accusations. She walked toward me.

"Because of a silly girl who is so blinded by love that she does not recognize a scheme when she sees it. Your prince is not coming here, so I would suggest that you leave here. I'll deal with this."

"I'm not-." I said, but I was cut off once again by a fierce command.

"Go!" she shouted at me. In that one word, the way she was rumored to be so bloodthirsty was clearly evident in her voice. It sent a shudder down my back as I rushed out, accompanied by Ryui and Shala.

I heard her airy laugh fade as I sped.

Third Person

Prince Mattiwaza, followed by Princess Nadia, ran into the room, sword pulled from his sheath, in a flurry of anger and revenge for an act only just having occurred.

"Where is she?" he roared. "Wasn't she warned?"

"She's hiding, my Lord." Nadia replied. At this, Mattiwaza sent all the guards away.

Only he would have the honor of finding the young princess and killing her.

Nadia closed the door behind them as Mattiwaza began looking through the things in the room. He opened a chest. No girl. A bag. No girl. He went through this, until anger overtook his desire to scare the girl.

"Come out!" he shouted out in anger. Nadia had wandered over to a rug rolled up into the corner.

"Your Highness." she whispered, getting his attention and waving him forward. He put a finger to his lips, and used another on his adjacent hand to tip over the precariously placed rug. It dropped with a thud, unrolled, and revealed an equally precarious Bastet on her back, black hair like an innocent halo and an expression of pure glee. She quickly turned over, smiling and propping up on her elbows, fingertips drumming across her jaw.

"You found me." she said, like that action was the best thing he ever did. He stared incredulously, and Nadia's jaw dropped to the floor. "I thought you would never come. Hello, Nadia." No one said anything, so Bastet continued talking, laughing. "It's so funny, how you've come here to execute me, yet your concubine is in here. What happened to-," she paused, lowering her voice and stifling bubbles of laughter. "'Wasn't she warned?'" and as her final words came out, she broke into bits of uncontrollable guffaws. "The warning, it must be about being killed if anyone steps in here. Nadia? Give us a moment? Please?"

Like a sleepwalker, Nadia turned slowly in confusion, and followed what Bastet said. Bastet then rose, and walked past the Prince of Darkness. Her fingers grazed over each item of ownership she passed.

"I remember." she said quietly. "I still do. When you brought me in here. I loved it."

"I should kill you." he replied warily. Bastet smiled, a soft, quick, humorless laugh grazing her lips.

"Would you be able to?" her question was not answered, and she laughed the same once again. "I thought the only woman you loved was Tatukia." She said in disgust. "Have I joined her ranks?"

"You are not worthy of such an honor." he replied, equal disgust apparent in his voice.

"But you admit you are capable of love. I see Nadia not only loves you very much, but she so admires her elder sister's successful marriage, she would go as far as to try to carry out that witch's plans. You ought to marry her already." She chided, raising an eyebrow but still not looking at him face on.

"What do you mean? I see no evidence of Nadia's involvement, other than her summoning." his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, his rigid exterior breached, if only for a moment.

"Nadia forged a message from Prince Kail saying he was waiting for Yuri here." Bastet explained. They were silent as Prince Mattiwaza absorbed this information, but she continued to glide slowly around the room.

"She will be punished accordingly." he said darkly. At this, Bastet whirled around to face him in anger.

"That woman loves you." she told him, voice rising. "And she wants to be married to you. She wants to make you happy, and she has no idea of how to, not when you are so stuck in the past!"

"And who would you assume brought me to that point?" he asked, shouting as well.

"Have you not gotten over your Princess Tatukia?" She sneered back. "She is long gone, and she is not coming back!"

"It was not Princess Tatukia! I admit, I miss my sister dearly, but she would not hold me back from marriage!"

"Then who would-?" Bastet began to ask, until she was interrupted by the prince.

"You!" He shouted, stepping closer. She shrunk back inside, realizing the chord she seemed to hit.

"You have done this to me. You are the one long gone. You are the one not coming back." he whispered, reaching out to her face, that showed obvious shock. She quivered as his fingers came in contact with her cheek, a light enough touch to send even more shivers of surprise through her.

His declaration sent Prince Mattiwaza's lips crashing into hers.