My Pharaoh

Chapter 14

Ramses

I knew it wouldn't be long until the universe sent her to me once again. And when I saw arrow hit the centre of that greedy man's head, I knew. There's no one else with precision like that.

So I followed her, despite the whole point of my fake death being to protect her, I followed her.

She lives in the same place she did before, the same flat, and hangs around with the same girl.

And I watched her from a distance with a covered face in the market as she looked through vegetables. And everytime she haggled, I tried hard not to want to kill the person giving her a bad price.

But then when she talked to that man at the mango stall, all at once I remembered just how much I wanted her to be mine.

But for her sake, I had to die. They would've killed her. They were going to kill her.

Paloma

I've decided to go to a temple today. More for my own peace of mind than anything, because at this point I don't know if my prayers will ever work. I have blood from my latest kill, the most I can offer the Gods.

"Why are we going to Tefnut when we now have rain and moisture?" Khepiri asks me as we walk slowly through busy streets.

"She's always been a goddess I'm attached to..." I mutter "and don't you think her purpose can be symbolic of so much more?"

She looks at me with a slight smile "how so?"

"Growth, change..." I hesitate when I look up and see Ramses's face on another strangers body, I look down and blink it away, and when I look up he's lost in the crowds "shedding the past."

She sighs and puts her arm over me. "I love your brain," she laughs and I smile at her "we both have pasts to let go of, do you think Tefnut will help us?"

I shake my head. "We're the only help we have," I smile at her "life is too hard to rely on prayer alone. But it definitely helps the mind."

She nods and we continue walking. "What are you offering her?"

"Blood."

She giggles "the blood of those terrible men you kill?"

I nod in reply.

"You'll never believe what I used to offer the Gods when I was still working." She says.

I look at her and stop in my path when I realise what it is. "No..."

She nods and we laugh together. "Well it's not like they need it."

"Stop Khepiri, I'll throw up."

***

I'm kneeling in front of Tefnut's statue, at a loss of words. What can I say to her that I haven't said before? What can I pray for that will even be answered?

Khepiri has already prayed and is now sat outside waiting for me.

I throw the capsule of blood into the well and look up at Tefnut's eyes, and then down at my hands.