Stone King

Chapter Six

The magician was staring at me with that awful grin standing across the street. The magician. I sat frozen. Caesarion was speaking to me but it sounded muffled. Everything was muffled the noise around me was incoherent. Then in a blink of an eye he was gone. I snapped out of my fear and looked at Caesarion who looked at me with worried eyes. "What's wrong?" I quickly reached for my water unable to answer him right away. The waitress approached us with our pizza and I stopped her "I am sorry we are going to take this to go." She looked at me oddly and muttered an "Oookay" and walked away. I leaned in and whispered "The magician he was across the street and he vanished." This only made Caesarion clench his fist but the drip of sweat over his brow told me he was afraid as well. This made me panic internally how can I count on him to protect me if he's afraid too? I mentally slapped myself no I cant allow anyone or anything to get to me. He looked out the window as I payed for dinner and we rushed out.

Once we made it to the hotel I began dressing into pair of leggings, an oversized hoodie and sneakers. I looked like I was ready to run which I was, I had an itch to escape to run as fast as I could at least until we were out of the city. Caesarion must have felt my anxiety since he paced back and forth. "I think its time to leave to Egypt as planned." He nodded agreeing with me which was enough to give me energy to pick up our bags and start getting ready to check out but Caesarion stopped me. "Elise you need to rest." I scoffed "I can rest on the plane its over a 14 hour flight and I can rest there." I walked towards the door but was stopped. His hands held the door closed and I scrunched my brow in annoyance looking at him "I dont want to fight." I said but he only leaned down meeting me eye to eye and growled "Neither do I so do not make me repeat myself or worse drag you to bed myself." I puffed out my cheeks in annoyance and walked to the bed. "Fine you sleep on the floor then." He laid down on the floor and I threw down a pillow not even saying goodnight. I stared at the ceiling my thoughts racing. My hand went to my necklace and I began rubbing it for comfort which did ease my mind and before I knew it my eyes slowly closed.

I wake up wrapped in silk golden night gown it was hot and sand was all around me. I was in the desert. I knew I was dreaming but it felt so real. I dipped my hand into the sand cupping it and began pouring it out I was almost mesmerized as each grain slipped through my fingers. The sky was bright blue but I was unable to locate the sun. I began walking, I felt I needed to be somewhere but I didn't know where exactly. I stopped as I saw in the far distance a tall man his back was turned to me it looked like Caesarion. I cupped my mouth and yelled out to him "Caesarion!!" but he didn't turn. I yelled out to him again and I saw him turn his head to the side he was wearing was looked like a falcon head armor. I walked towards him but he only got further away. The strangest thing he wasn't moving the only thing moving was the sand surrounding us. "Hello dear." I jumped and turned to the voice, it was a woman she wore a gown similar to mine but hers was shimmery gold practically looked like it was painted on her. She was beautiful her hair long black and wavy. Sitting on the top of her head was two large horns that reminded me of bull horns. She carried a staff at the tip of the staff was what I remembered an ankh. Her smile was warm I felt protected but nervous. "Umm hello and who are you?" I felt I might offend her but she chuckled "You really are adorable I like you. My name is Hathor." My eyes widen "Oh!!" I bowed because what else do you do when you stand in front of a goddess. "No need to bow." She said amused and I gave her a nervous smile "I've called you because now that I'm protecting you I have to inform you of a few things." Her tone became a bit serious and she started walking and I followed behind. "Wait so this isn't a dream? I thought I was lucid dreaming for a moment." She shook her head "No darling your soul is caught in the balance of the spirit world and the living." I began to panic almost stopping in my tracks "Wait I'm almost dead?" She chuckled again "No trust me your safe plus before you fell asleep your king put a barrier around your room he worries about you." I huffed and crossed my arms I felt childish but I couldn't help it "He's not my king." She turned to look at me her beauty was intimidating I thought she was going to scold me but instead smiled "My apologies." We stopped in front of an oasis right in the middle of the desert. Beautiful trees grew up out of the ground surrounded by ferns and lush flowers. A waterfall sat in the middle looked like it was pouring out of thin air into crystal clear pool of water. I liked my lips looking at the water I almost felt thirsty. Sitting near the pool was two lounge chairs bright blue. I sat in one of the lounge chairs as Hathor sat in the other. She hummed as she poured something in a mug and handed it to me. I took a sniff it smelled sweet and was warm in my hands. I hesitantly took a sip and raised my eyebrows surprised as my taste buds were taken over by this sweet creamy drink. "What is this?" I said taking another sip. "It's sahlab I'm so glad you like it!" I smiled and wiped my mouth. I felt she was sugar coating our situation before dropping something serious on me. I stopped smiling and put my cup down "Okay I am ready." I placed my hands over my lap and she did the same smiling at me. "Elise you are so brave I don't meddle with mortals anymore because well the world has changed and it disgusts me just how ungrateful mortals can be." She paused and pour me another cup and I accepted it. "When Caesarion asked Horus to have me protect you well I hesitated because I would do anything for my husband and I trust his judgment especially when he chose Caesarion but your strength, your beauty and your loyalty not many mortals have your quality." I began to blush and quickly hid it by taking a sip. "Thank you." I managed to mutter. "Now I can't give you the power Horus gives Caesarion because he's of royalty and he was born to be the vessel for Horus." I frowned feeling less special than I wanted to believe. "But I promise to protect you and as long as the amulet is around your neck no harm with come to you." I let out a breath even though I may not be as special as Caesarion I am honored to know I'm good enough for a goddess to protect me. I have her a cheeky smile which caused her to laugh. "I see great things coming your way but your path is going to be a very dangerous one." Her voice got serious and my heart sped at her tone. "You can see into the future?" I asked curiously. "I'm a goddess and all gods can but we are of course forbidden to say such things to mortals we aren't fortune tellers darling." I nodded understanding. "Can I ask who the magician is?" The air felt stale and the waterfall grew silent. The goddesses face fell and her eyes looked angry but her lips turned into a sad frown. "There were rumors in the heavens but seeing through your eyes made them true." I sat up "So you were with me!" She nodded "Like I said I would protect you and I apologize for manifesting through your body but he's dangerous." I gulped loudly. "W-who i-is he?" I stuttered damn my nerves. "He's no magician and he's no man. He is a god who was left with the mortals he's so obsessed with. He was casted out of the heavens for punishment due to his obsession. He is the god of chaos. His name is Set." His name caused me to shudder because even though I've never heard of him he terrified me. The memory of his awful grin flash's in my head. "He was worshiped like one of us but his treachery against us and his obsession with humans Horus had no choice but to battle him and stripped his god powers away. He was only left with his immortality." I scrunched my brows "Why is he obsessed with us?" Hers eyes looked sad "Because mortals are chaotic there's so much hate, and war. There was no balance of good at one point and as we all watched and did our best to answer prayers..." she stopped and sniffled "I was tired of seeing women and children killed that's why I had to turn away. But Set he just reveled in it all. Set betrayed us once and we allowed him back. But Set was so sneaky he practically were the whisper in every mortals ear to do bad things. Once Horus heard that's when they fought." I started feeling sorry for her, Hathor, even though she was a goddess and even though she refuses to partake in human kind she still had love for us. "Wait if you knew who he was why didn't Horus sense it?" She pondered for a moment "As much as I love my husband he is blinded by his hate for Set. He believed his battle and casting him out was the last time he was going to deal with Set. When Caesarion asked for help Horus of course couldn't turn away as he was blessed from birth due to his mother,Cleopatra, was blessed to be the vessel of Isis. This was all starting to make some sense. "What can I do to stop this?" I said determined but she only shook her head "This is not your battle you can't fight him it must be Caesarion." I felt helpless "So why am I even involved if I can't fight him? Or defend myself?" I was growing a bit irritated. "Elise you have a bigger role you'll know when the time comes. You don't have to be the fighter to win against evil." I sighed and leaned back on the lounge chair "I just want to know what I can do all I know is to go to Egypt and go to Horus's temple but then what?" I placed my arm over my eyes. "You'll seek Cleopatra's tomb and there she will have the sands of time?" I sat up quickly. "The sands of time? Wait his mother's tomb? No historian can even find it." She smiled again her cheerful mood returning "You'll find it Elise." She stood up "It's time to go." I shook my head "Wait I know you can't tell me everything but what is the sands of time what does that mean?" She gave me a half smile which made my stomach turn a little "The past can be adjusted to be in your favor." I was confused that made absolutely no sense.
Once I opened my eyes I felt groggy but rested which was an odd mix. My mouth still had a lingering sweetness from the sahlab. I felt warm and cozy which caused me to look down at my waist and wrapped around my waist was Caesarion's arm. I smiled wanting to stay here with him but the dream I had just stirred more questions. I sighed and nudged him but he didn't budge. "Caesarion's please wake up." He mumbled and I nudged him again causing him to slowly open his eyes. I pulled back trying to pull away but his grip only got tighter. His chest was pressed against mine and he was staring deeply in my eyes. "Did you sleep well?" His voice was low and husky. Damn how can his voice sound so sexy early in the morning? I nodded "Yes I actually had a talk with Hathor." He didn't bat an eyelash or look surprised he just smiled "Hmmm how did that go?" I smiled but then got sad as all the information came pouring back "We need to talk."

After explaining everything of what Hathor told me he just sat on the bed looking at the ground thinking. "Set. My people worshipped him I wouldn't have believed him to be this evil." I raised an eyebrow "But he was the god of chaos it's obvious." He looked at me "Elise, chaos doesn't always have to be negative it's apart of nature." I internally rolled my eyes not wanting to cause a debate "Well we need to leave now to get on the next flight to Egypt." He nodded and then stood up pulling me into his arms. "Elise I am thankful that our paths have crossed." His eyes lingered on my lips but then trailed to my forehead where he leaned in and placed a kiss. I didn't say anything back but he didn't wait for me to. Was I scared shitless? Yes. Was he a stranger? Yes. But besides the encouragement of an Egyptian goddess I felt a tug, like my whole life has led me to this path. It was an odd feeling because I wasn't anyone special with a king or queen's blood but still I had a purpose and Caesarion along with Hathor were counting on me and saw I am special.
Once we got to Chicago airport I was starting to get nervous each passing hour. We got here earlier than needed but since I was used to Logan airport in Boston where you needed to go 4 hours early to get to your plane on time I figured Chicago's airport was the same. We were in line getting checked by security. I whispered to Caesarion "So security will run that wand over you for metal that's why I told you it's best to wear sweats because it makes it faster." He smirked "So it wasn't so we can match?" I rolled my eyes. We were wearing matching Nike sweatshirt and sweatpants which made us look like a couple but my intentions were to slip by security fast and easy. "Once we get past security we will just head to the gate and wait to be boarded." I was nervous and itching to get out of here. "Take all jewelry, phones lighters everything out of your pockets and in the bin. Take off your shoes and place it in the bin and push it down." I did so and Caesarion followed suit. Caesarion was called first and I was called second once I passed I let out a breath. Once we passed we had to have our passports checked. I began to get nervous again the thought of Caesarion having a fake badge what if we get caught? Caesarion went first and they looked at him then the passport and allowed him through easily. I let out a sigh of relief. I was next, I presented my passport to the lady and she looked at me nervously "I'm sorry ma'am but you will need to step aside." I shook my head no wait what?!" She lifted her hands defensively and security walked over to me. "Wait just can I tell m-my boyfriend something I'm traveling with him." They looked at me and a wide eyes Caesarion. I walked over to him "Listen hopefully everything will be alright but in case I get stuck you have to board that plane okay!" He held my shoulder "I can get you out of here unseen." I shook my head "No let's not make this worst hopefully I can fix this it'll be one less problem we have to worry about." His eyes only grew worried "Just board that plane whatever you do okay and take my phone I can find you." I slipped my phone in his pocket. "Hit this button to turn it on once you land okay it's very important." He nodded and I was pulled away by security leaving him staring at me with sad eyes.
I had fucking handcuffs like I was a flight risk. Haha. They said nothing and it's been 2 hours kept up in this room with no explanation. Caesarion should have boarded the plane by now off to Egypt. I rested my forehead against the cold table. I thought over what to say. I want to talk to my lawyer. But hell I wasn't even given the chance to say that. My butt started to feel numb for sitting so long I was starting to get impatient and mad versus an anxious scared mess I was feeling earlier. I closed my eyes until I heard the door creak open. I looked up and saw Set in his red suit walking over to the chair in front of me across the table. He had his stupid grin. "What a mess you've gotten yourself into Elise." I glared at him "What so you want Set?" He looked shocked but his grin grew wider "Ah so that cow told you who I was. What a spoil sport." I felt anger boil through me. "Leave." He ignored me "Well I just came to tell you thank you for leading Caesarion to Egypt because once he steps on those grounds there will be no escape." I should have been afraid for myself or even Caesarion but Hathor I felt her keeping me strong "I promise you I will leave here and when I do I will help him get to where he needs to be to defeat you." His smile turned to a scowl but he only stood up and walked out the door, once the door closed I sat up it was a dream? I looked at two men in suits staring at me. One gentleman short and skinny he looked to be around my age chewing gum annoyingly while the other man stall but fat with a thick mustache spoke "Elise Rose we have questions about your whereabouts in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and...." He placed a picture it was blurred but it showed me and Caesarion leaving the museum "Who is this gentleman?" I scrunched my brow "Who are you?" They both looked at each other and at me "We are the FBI."
Oh shit.