Beauty and the Pharaoh

The Curse

Cold, collected and calm. That was how he always was, that was how everyone saw him. He looked larger than life as he sat there on his golden throne. It seemed as if nothing in this world could ever hurt him. Not even the gods themselves.

He was handsome too, with his tall stature and medium build. His skin was like copper but his eyes were dark and always glaring.

Some say he never blinked, as even blinking was a sign of weakness.

The mighty Pharaoh Akhenatem of Egypt had no weaknesses.

At least everyone thought he didn't, since no one realized that cruelty itself was one of the greatest of weaknesses.

"Kill him," the Pharaoh said, his deep voice resonating through the halls. "I have no time for such nonsense."

"Without a trial..." one of his court members began to question. His voice trailed off when the Pharaoh shot him an annoyed glance. So he bowed. "As you wish."

The guards grabbed the shouting man and immediately dragged him away. "I'm innocent!" he yelled. "Please! My Pharaoh, please!"

King Akhenatem was not fazed by his cries. His mother, however, who stood at his side, turned her head away in sadness.

The Pharaoh stood up. "That is all I will tolerate for today. I'm going to my chambers, do not disturb me."

Everyone bowed and did not move an inch until the king left the room.

He walked down the hall with the usual glare on his face. No one made eye contact with him, not ever, because of that very glare. No one but his mother, of course, as she was the only one who did not fear him. "My Pharaoh!" She called as she rushed after him.

The Pharaoh did not stop walking. He chose to ignore her until she stepped in front of him.

"Please, listen to me, son," she begged as she took his hand in hers. "This is getting out of control. You cannot just kill–"

He pulled his hand away and walked around her. "I'm tired, mother."

"Tired of what?" His mother suddenly cried. "Of cruelty?"

He stopped walking and turned around to face her.

"How many innocent people have you imprisoned, Akhenatem." She asked, tears in her eyes. "Now execution? The gods will punish you dearly if you continue like this. This is not righteous of a Pharaoh... of anyone!"

"They were not innocent. And I'm simply trying to set an example."

"Who are you trying to fool, my son?" She asked. "Why have you become so bloodthirsty?"

"I do not have time for this," he said as he turned again. She did this almost every night.

"The gods are going to punish you, my son!" She yelled after him. "Please... stop this before they get a chance."

The Pharaoh waved off his mother before entering his room. He let out a sigh, feeling his head start to ache. His mother always seemed to make his head hurt.

He stretched before he walked over to the large table where his jewelry boxes sat, and just as he reached to his ear to remove an earring, he froze. He felt a presence in the room. An unsettling presence.

The Pharaoh turned around quickly, hand over the hilt of his sword which he with him at all times for protection. His eyes scanned the dark room, lit only by the small rays of moonlight that managed to make its way into the large room through the balcony.

There was no one.

He let out the breath he was holding and moved his hands back to his ears as he turned again to his jewelry box.

And then he saw it.

It was standing right in front of him, forcing him to jump backwards as fast as he could. He pulled his sword out in and pointed it at the hooded man who stood before him. "How dare you enter this room! Who are you?"

The man did not respond.

The Pharaoh had no patience. He lunged forward, and if it were any other man, his attack would have surely hit them, but this hooded man disappeared right before the Pharaoh's eyes.

The Pharaoh stared in shock for a moment, but then he turned around quickly, feeling the man's presence behind him. "Who..." The Pharaoh started.

The man then removed his hood and the Pharaoh stopped breathing. He stared at the bald man, whose eyes were replaced with a blood red glow. "I am here to give you what you deserve," the man said. His mouth did not move as he said it.

King Akhenatem narrowed his eyes.

"The gods refuse to tolerate any more of your cruelty and have sent me to punish you accordingly."

"Do you take me as a fool?"

"That is exactly what I believe you are," he said, his lips curving into a smirk. "You are a fool who knows not how to rule a country. And you do not deserve to take advantage of your position any longer."

The Pharaoh let out an unkind laugh. "I'm going to rip that tongue right out of your mouth."

The man held his hands out, and out of thin air appeared a staff, the top of which was a large stone that glowed the same colour as his eyes. "The gods have asked me to punish you. And punish you I shall."

The Pharaoh scowled as he held his sword out in front of him. He was an excellent fighter and was certain that he could easily take on this man.

"Your country will be destroyed. Its magnificent history will be put to shame when the foreigners invade and turn the great River Nile into a river of blood. And it will all be because of you," he said. "Your men and soldiers will be massacred, your women will be raped and your children will be taken as slaves. And it will all be because of you."

King Akhenatem clenched his jaw, lowering his sword.

"How will this happen?" The man asked himself. "You will vanish, leaving this nation with neither a king nor an heir."

"You think you can kill me?"

"No," the man laughed softly. "I do not want to kill you. I want to do something even worse."

The King could not help but feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand.

"I am going to send you away," the man said, stepping forward. "I will send you away to a time where family means nothing. To a time where real friendship is a rare treasure. To a time where peace does not exist and citizens live a life of lies, envy, hate and complete ignorance. To a time where trust is unattainable and true kindness is unknown."

The Pharaoh raised his brows.

"And to a time where true love does not exist."

Suddenly, the man's staff began to glow brightly as he swung it in front of him. The Pharaoh jumped to attack but everything turned black before he could reach the intruder.

"And to make it all worse..." he heard the man say. "You will live how the people you rule have lived. Illiterate, hopeless, poor and in a state of constant anxiety."

For the first time in years, the Pharaoh felt fear.

"There is nothing... absolutely nothing you can do to help yourself, my King. This is your curse."