Curse of the Jackalmen

Leaving

The next chapters have better writing. 

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I felt like the world was surreal, one of a dream not reality. We were leaving Egypt. When Syn's father announced it to the family, it had been met with uproar from Ptolis and reluctance from Kyripatra.

But, three weeks later, here we stood, alongside a pile of belongings. Much of the rudimentary furniture was left in the house, they were not abandoning or selling it, just leaving for a spell. However, things like clothes, heirlooms, and other more important or expensive items were packed away in crates to take with us. The villa Dentrilus owned in Rome was small, two thirds or less of the size of their current house. It had neighbors only a few feet away on either side.

While we stood on the dock waiting, I let my mind meander back to mull over what Syn had told me before.

Apparently he was cursed. Well, that explained quite a bit. Like why I was his slave. And what those... Jackelmen as he dubbed them, were and why they attacked. It is good to understand what is going on, but clarity did not make anything safer.

Sudden paranoia hit me and I scanned the dock again. Worried that shadowy figures might leap from behind a crate or emerge from a shaded place. My hands slid to a familiar position resting on the handles of my blades. I focussed my senses, concentrating for any suddenly, out of place noises or movements.

Someone or something was approaching me. I smoothly pulled one knife free, gripping in until my knuckles were white. I waited patiently until I sensed whatever it was was close behind me. The tread was too heavy to be Ptolis, Kyripatra, or even Syn. It was bipedal, so I needn't worry as much. It stopped and I turned, pointing the knife straight at the throat of Karo.

"well, I came to bid farewell, but my life was not supposed to be the recipient." He muttered, raising an eyebrow at me. I hastily lowered my knife, sheathing it I grinned up at him.

"sorry! Paranoid..." I said with false cheer. for once I was greatful that a gust of wind smattered my face with sand. It was an excuse to wipe my eye.

"I... Guess this us goodbye?" I asked the painful question I knew the answer to. "wonder who'll patch me up now.."

"there are many good doctors in Rome." Karo grimaced. "just promise me you won't end up a gladiator."

"I'll try to resist the temptation." I grinned half heartedly. We were trying to keep the conversation light and painless. "I'll miss you... You're the brother I never had."

"you've become a sister to me.... Keep safe..." His eyes looked watery as well.

"I will." I choked out and hugged him.

"will I ever see you again?" I dreaded the answer.

"actually, you might." Karo smiled earnestly. "I allowed to save money from any work I do overtime, and I've nearly saved enough to buy my freedom!"

"What?! Karo that's excellent!" I beamed and pulled out my small bag of coin. "take mine!"

He rejected it. "Hems, I can't take your money!"

"I'm not going to use it! Please!" I closed his hand around it.

"Hems...."

"take it or I'll shove it down your tunic." I threatened childishly. He consented and dumped the insignificant amount with his own and returned the bag to me.

"I'll try to find you somehow in Rome." He promised. I nodded, smiling widely despite the tear streaking down my face.

*****

I stood beside my brother, staring off into the horizon where I knew Rome to be. I was excited to be returning to my favorite city. The modern bustle of Rome appealed to me far more than the antiquated river based civilization in Egypt. I wanted to go back to the life of bathhouses and aqueducts and exotic food! back where the hair and dress were -to me- normal.

My brother, on the other hand, looked pained about our departure. In an attempt to blend in and look normal when we got there, Ptolis had had his head shaved so that it could all grow back naturally. He looked strange with his bare head and thickly lined eyes. He was going to stop with the Kohl after today as well. I couldn't imagine my brother looking anything but like the model Egyptian boy. But he was going to try to move away from that temporarily and I was to aid him however possible.

The boat rocked beneath us and salty spray stung our eyes. I reveled in the thrill of the waves. Peering over the railing I waved to a pod of dolphins seeming flying through the waves alongside. They smiled back to me and shot a fountain of water.

"Ptolis, look at them!" He staggered over and glanced over the rail.

"Fascinating."He said sarcastically,then leaned sharply forward retching. He was not dealing well with the rocking deck. Just then a very large waves rocked the boat sharply and he fell overboard. He tangled in the nets hanging from the side and struggled to stay above the water level.

"HEEEELLLPPPPP. HELP!!!!" He shrilly shrieked. A dolphins nosed him and he screamed louder. "ITS GOING TO EAT ME!!!"

"relax!! its not going to eat you!" I called down, trying to hide my panic. Ptolis was a weak swimmer and couldn't stay afloat much longer. "Hemite!"

"yes sir?" She looked up from the far rail where she had been standing staring out into the water.

"Ptolis fell over! "

"good riddance." she muttered. I knew she disliked him but that was too far. I strode over and slapped her and she swayed sideways slightly shocked.

"Go save him. Now. " I ordered pushing her towards the rail. She shot me a last reproachful glare and dove over the side.

I ran and look over the edge. She was holding onto the net with one hand and trying to grab Ptolis with the other.

"Get away from me! You're going to drown me! " Ptolis screeched at her, pushing her away and flailing more.

"I'm trying to save your sorry skin! Unless you want to drown, which I have no problems letting happen, you will cooperate! " She spat back, seizing the back of his tunic and holding his head above the surface. "now grab the net to hold yourself up while I untangle you."

"You can't order me! You're a slave! " He shot at her but still did as she directed. She shrugged and dove beneath the waves with one of her knives drawn.

Only a few seconds later she popped back up and gasped for air. Between breaths she managed to tell Ptolis he was freed.

He attempted climbing up, but was battered by a wave and slid back down crashing into Hemite who swore and pushed him back towards the net.

"You're useless. " She muttered and wrapped a firm arm around him. She dragged him up with her, taking the brunt of the waves and keeping him going. By now my mother was watching alongside me. She helped pull Ptolis over the side and wraped him in a blanket.

I heard the trickle of streams of water hitting the wood next to me and saw that Hemite had dragged herself onboard by herself. Her hair and clothes were plastered to her skin and she was shivering. I could almost see the goosebumps through her thin tunic.

"Good job." I said and waited for her to formulate some interesting retort. Instead I was met with silence. "Hemite?"

I turned was met with a glare. I stepped towards her and remembered why. On her cheek was a red blotch roughly shaped like my hand.

"I was speaking in jest. On a topic we had joked of numerous times before. I was never going to do anything besides save him." She eventually said;her eyes dropped away from mine and stared at the deck. "But it was inappropriate for the situation."

I opened my mouth to apologize and only had it splashed with water from Hemite's braid when she turned sharply around and stormed away.