Promised (Prince Ramses x fem! Reader)

Chapter 17: The Revelation

The night air was still, the sky a vat of deep blue ink, stars shying away behind hazy purple clouds. (Name) was at the front staircase of the palace, aimlessly wandering to stretch her restless feet after a night of tossing and turning in bed. Her emotional flare-ups, though concealed to a degree were more common now that Ramses still hasn't returned after three full months. To clear her mind and resume happier thoughts for the sake of her baby, she would take walks around the palace to find some type of peace. Neema who was now acclimated to the palace followed her foot to foot protectively like her personal guard after realizing she was with child. Her first official months into pregnancy was surprisingly natural for her, though she knew things would only get harder from now on. "It's so beautiful tonight isn't it, little one?" (Name) murmured, her hands rested upon her growing baby bump, lowering her gaze to all the glories of the city that Tuya had overseen since Ramses' departure. "Over there is a statue of your grandfather, and all the way back there, beyond the river in those pyramids, is where he is buried." (Name) sighed, Neema meowing as she brushed up against (Name's) legs, thinking that she was the one being spoken to.

With a weak smile, (Name) shook her head at Neema before somberly returning to Seti's statue. After a moment, Neema's ears suddenly shot forward, her eyes dilating into thinner slits as her entire demeanor changed, (Name) oblivious to it all. "I wish things could've been a little different with your grandfather, but you don't have to worry. You'll have two amazing grandmothers who are definitely going to spoil you..." (Name's) smile faded before finally noticing Neema walking down the steps to observe the noises she was picking up on. Peering out in the same direction, her heart skipped a beat from her ominous behavior. "Wait, where are all the guards?" (Name) finally realized, knowing that there was something awfully quiet about tonight, the nuances of patrolling night guards completely slipping her mind. Neema was tense as if she was in contact with a spirit, (Name) gingerly backing up as she felt a sour feeling in her gut. "Neema, let's go back inside." (Name) whispered as she felt a chill run down her spine, the raven-coated cat completely ignoring her by running down the steps. With a light scoff, (Name) pinched her expression. "She can handle herself," (Name) grumbled while pivoting on her heel and rushing back inside the palace.

The entrance was devoid of any of the large torches tonight, only the ephemeral rays of moonlight could guide her until the clouds muted her surroundings again. Her feet padded against the stone floors, the looming statues of the royal family in the distance making her shudder from their shadowy appearances. Stopping in her tracks was a sharp cramp, the feeling making her wince and hold her stomach again. "Now isn't the time kid," (Name) whined as she threw her head down. Abruptly she felt a hand wrapped in black bandages grasp around her mouth and cheeks, pulling her back into an unfamiliar body, rendering her silent before she had the chance to scream. A cool dagger pressed up against her neck as her eyes went round, the stranger behind her exhaling a long breath. "Do you know how long I've been looking forward to this moment?" A male spoke in a sinister tone, though she could tell he was wearing a litham from his muffled words. "Let's just get this over with alright?" he taunted his voice cruel as the blade against her.

Before he could paint the palace red, there was a third faint voice behind them, causing the male to flinch as (Name) tried to pull his hand away from her mouth. "Damn it." he cursed before pulling her in between the pillars, their bodies becoming enveloped in the darkness. "No sudden moves," he warned in her ear, a dreadful pause filling the atmosphere as she was paralyzed with her hand still gripped over the stranger. He was so close to her she could smell the salt of his sweat, his clothes of myrrh, and desert heat. "What are you doing back at the palace, has (Name) brought you back?" the sound of Ramses' voice and a tired laugh lightly echoed off the alabaster pillars, the man digging his palm rougher over her mouth after she whimpered. He was finally home! (Name) wanted to scream out for Ramses, claw at this man's arm, bite him, shove him-just do whatever she needed to escape and snatch Ramses' attention. However, fighting this man would prove to be futile. One swift move and that was it. She prayed silently, seeing Rameses' shadow grow closer in the foreground, his footsteps louder.