The Pharaoh's Whore

Chapter Nine

I hovered over Badra's body as if I was the ocean to the sand.

"Please. Help her" I said for the thousandth time to the court Physician.

"I'm trying" he said, slightly agitated.

He poured some wine into the large cut that gleamed on the side of her head. The wine and blood mixed together as it poured down her face, he stitched the wound best as he could.

"Well, all we can do now is pray" He said.

I nodded, tears glistening in my eyes. He left the room, I fell to the floor on my knees, clutching Badra's hand in my own.

"Oh Badra, please, please wake up" I cried.

Kohl stinging my eyes as I cried but I felt numb, as if I wasn't entirely in my body.

"I will find out who did this to you my sweet Badra, and I will make them pay" I spit.

I looked for any signs of her moving, her chest gently rising up and down as she inhaled and exhaled, but that was it.

"Squeeze my hand if you can hear me Badra" I said quietly.

Nothing happened.

"Please Badra, please! I need you here, with Neva gone, you're the only one I have left!" I said burying my face in the crook of her neck.

Badra groaned.

"BADRA!" I screamed shaking her.

"Please Badra please! Wake up!" I shouted.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Cleopatra looking at me sadly.

"Yes?" I said emotionlessly.

"It will do no good for you to scream and shout at her such. I hate to be the one to tell you this Ife, but there is no hope for Badra" Cleopatra said quietly.

"There is hope for her. She will wake up soon." I snapped.

"When people suffer from a wound like this Ife, there would be nothing short of a miracle to save them. How long has she been asleep for? What, a week now?" Cleopatra said calmly.

"I don't believe it" I said angrily standing up.

"Believe it or not. I speak the truth" she said crossing her arms.

"I refuse to believe it." I said waving my hand dismissively.

"Fine" Cleopatra said coldly.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" I shouted.

A messenger decked in a white and purple kilt came rushing in.

"Lady Ife is demanded to be in Queen Bernice's presence immediately." He said breathlessly.

"Tell her I'll be there in a few moments" I said sharply.

"Her majesty doesn't like to wait" he said staring at me.

"Then she'll learn" I replied.

He nodded and ran out of the room.

"Leave" I said gently to Cleopatra.

She walked out of the room, I put on a fresh dress and I walked over to Bernice's chambers.

I knocked on the door.

"Enter" she said emotionless.

I walked in and bowed, out of the corner of my eye I saw that she was decked in jewels sewn into golden cloth.

"Since I am Pharaoh now, you must swear loyalty to me Ife." She said sharply.

"But your majesty, I have already sworn loyalty to you when Cleopatra Trypheana was Queen." I said calmly.

"Do it again" she said harshly.

"I cannot do something again that has already been done" I said, attempting to keep my voice steady, but I heard it crack.

"You will do what I ask of you... Or is there something you've been hiding from your Pharaoh?" She said mockingly.

My mind flashed to the letters, had they been found?

"N-No your majesty" I said weakly.

"Well that's strange, because I have letters that address Auletes as Pharaoh when I had already started my rule, and you said that you were loyal to him and not to me.." Bernice said trailing off.

"I-I-I" I began stuttering.

"I don't need your stupid excuses. Your new home now will be the dungeon on accounts of treason. I will decide what to do with you later." Bernice said coldly.

"GUARDS!" She shouted.

"N-N-No! Please your majesty!" I shouted.

The guards came barreling in.

"Take this shrew to the dungeon! May your men do as they wish to her, just keep her alive!" She shouted.

They grabbed me by my arms, I kicked my legs, desperately trying to get free. But it was no use, they were too strong. They walked me to my cell and threw me in, I caught myself before my head hit the floor.

"Oh my god. What about my babies?!?" I thought suddenly.

I backed up into a corner and turned around so that my face was facing the dirty wall. I looked around, I was the only person in this area of the dungeon.