The Pharaoh's Whore

Chapter Three

I heard Neva talking softly to me. I tried opening my eyes but they felt heavy.

"Shhhhh," Neva said pressing a cool compress to my forehead.

I raised my lips to speak but she shushed me.

"Is she dead?" A sharp, cold female voice said with a hint of hope in her voice.

I recognised that voice, a voice that I grown to hate. Trypheana, the Pharaoh's eldest daughter.

"No my lady, it has only been a few hours" Neva said coolly.

Trypheana scoffed and her snakelike feet walked away.

"I hate her. That little snake. I wish it was her who was bedridden." Badra said.

My eyes fluttered open.

"My Lady" Badra said kneeling beside me and grasping my hand and bowed her head against the bed.

"Badra" I said in a raspy voice.

"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?-" Badra began.

"Silence" Neva said glaring at Badra.

Badra bowed her head in shame, "Forgive me my lady" she said.

"Don't worry, sweet Badra. " I said weakly.

"Wine?" Neva said softly, her head inclined towards a clay jug.

I nodded, she lifted the jug to my lips. The sweet liquid made my tastebuds jump with joy, it felt like I hadn't drank a thing in days. After I had sucked the jug dry, Neva set the jug back on the rug.

I cleared my throat, "What happened?" I asked, my voice normal again.

"Well you fainted after the foolish guards told you that the Pharaoh had fled and his two Set-like reincarnates for daughters have taken his throne." Neva said.

"Is that what you were going to tell me in the gardens" I asked.

Neva nodded.

"We have to swear our loyalty to the Queens and renounce his Majesty's claim to the throne" Badra said mocking the guards.

I laughed at Badra, my laugh stopped once I realised what my love had meant in his letter. He was placing his faith in me, telling me to be strong.

Neva sighed, "I guess that we have no choice but to swear loyalty to the demons" She said.

"No-," I began, "I will fake being sick and you all will claim that you cannot leave me because I'm so ill that you are afraid that I will die without your care" I explained.

"I presume it should work. They will not want anything to do with us then." Neva replied.

I felt a sudden weight upon me, my eyelids quickly drooping.

"Go to sleep, you need your rest, don't worry about a thing, all will be well" Neva said pulling a silk coverlet over my body.

I sunk into deep darkness and let my ka be free.

I was under the sun on a ship, Cleopatra, Arisone, and my love were laying down beside me. We were all talking and laughing until then a dark cloud came and covered the sun. It started pouring down rain and the ship starting tossing violently against the waves.

A solider dressed in Roman attire came up behind my love and grabbed him by the neck and jumped overboard. I screamed as another took Arisone as well. Then, it was just me and Cleopatra, we ran to each other and wrapped ourselves in each others arms.

Another Roman solider and another man dressed in a regular Roman outfit stood at the end of the mast, beckoning Cleopatra to join them. With a single glance back at me, she ran to them, hugging and kissing them both. I ran into the chambers of the ship, there another solider with wild eyes slammed me up against the wall, tearing my dress to shreds.

I started screaming for someone, anyone to help, but no one came.

I sat straight up in my bed, screaming. Neva said straight up in her cot and ran over to me, telling me to be quiet, that the guards would report to the Queens that I was awake.

I quieted down and told her about the dream.

"Shh, everything's okay now." Neva said squeezing me into a hug.

"How would you know?" I said, my voice shaken.

"Because I'm older than you, 7 years more experienced to be exact" Neva said stroking my cheek.

I shrugged her off and turned, facing the wall.

"It was just a dream, Ife." Neva said slowly.

"Perhaps." I replied, slightly shrugging.

I looked out to the balcony and saw that Ra had just finished making his nightly rounds, the sun was just peaking out. I dressed in my plainest outfit and instructed my beloved maids to make me look as if I was knocking on the door of Set.

I heard a knock at my door. I closed my eyes and sunk into the sheets.

"Ah, my ladyships." Badra and Neva said, opening the door bowing.

I peeked through my eyes to see Trypheana and Bernice. Appearance-wise, they were polar opposites. Bernice was beaming with youth and energy, while Trypheana looked aged and ragged although she was only twenty-five. It was as if Bernice was a parasite, sucking the life out of her for her own benefit.

"How is she?" Trypheana asked sharply.

"Not very well, my Queen." Neva replied slowly.

"Sister, don't you think it's rather odd that all the wench suffered was a fainting spell and she's still bed-ridden after a whole day?" Trypheana said.

I could feel her beady eyes flickering over me.

"Yes, rather odd. Maybe she's meeting with Set, after all, she was touched by our father, who is practically Set himself!" Bernice said, her shrill laughter busted through my ears.

They left and Badra and Neva left the room, knowing I wanted to be alone. I got up and stood on the balcony, my arms resting on the edge. I sighed,

"Oh my love, what will I do without you here?"I said softly, as if he could hear me miles away.