Remember The Time

Chapter 3: Never Will I Say Your Name

When you see the star (*), you can go to the short film and follow as you read.

An oasis not too far away from Cleo's Kingdom, lived a full grown magician well trained and excelled in every spell he performs, his name was Michael. A powerful magician with his father as his mentor. A sad day it was for Michael...

"Find a Kingdom Michael, show the world your talents, make me proud son. I love you"

Those were the last words Michael's father has ever said to him. "Yes father, I will make you proud and think highly of me in the afterlife," he says in reply of his mentor, "I love you," He weeps in reply of his father.

And that was exactly it. Michael took his father's lifeless body and buried him beside a palm tree so his soul may grow there and he took off. Michael packed his belongings and left, in search for a Kingdom.

Not too long after Ramses's visit, he and Cleo were married. Ramses took the place of Cleo's father and became Pharaoh.

"Yes isn't this great Cleo?" Ramses spoke with his cocky smile.

"Do not call me Cleo, only people I actually care about are allowed to say my name," I replied.

"Aww my queen, we are married," Ramses started and took my hand. I look at my hand and back at him in disgust, "I care about you, I love you my queen. What will it take for me to call you by your beautiful name?"

I snatch away my hand, not wanting him to hold it any longer, "A knife," I answer blandly.

"What for Queen?" He asked.

"So I can either kill myself or you," I say getting up out of my throne to go take a walk.

"No! You are in your room to often my queen,"

"Ever thought it was for a reason?" I fired back.

"Cleo I love you and you haven't conceived yet. I'm sure your father would love a prince," Ramses informed.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance, "One, don't say my name, two, I do not love you and three, if I was to conceive, I will not enjoy it! And that's final."

"At least sit with me longer my queen, I need your presence beside me," Pharaoh Ramses begged.

"Fine," I answered not willingly. What is wrong with me? I weakened my heart for that? Perfect. *I sit back down in my throne and crossed my legs and let out a dreadful sigh. I look around the room just knowing in my head that could be doing something productive elsewhere, away from Ramses. I look over to the fool and I see him with a satisfied smirk. A servant came around with a pitcher of wine and Pharaoh held out his cup. She poured the wine and gave Ramses the opportunity to take his sip. Before he did, he looked over at me and looked back in front him. He took his sip, "I'm bored," I declared to him, "I want to be entertained," Ramses returned his focus on me, "Can my Pharaoh find some way to entertain his queen?"

Ramses gave a smirk and took one more sip of his wine. He put his cup down and gave two claps and the drums began.

Michael has survived his journey and conquered it. What he did not know was that he was born in this Kingdom he "found". He came through the gates and started to walk through the villages and there it was, a temple, The Pharaoh's temple. It was obviously not recognisable on the outside but when he stepped in, it finally hit him, his childhood.

"Cleo," was the only word that slipped away from Michael's lips. Quickly Michael ran to his father's old lair but when he got there, it was destroyed. "No," he whispered in fear because the last memory of Cleo was her sitting on those very steps sobbing thinking that she was destroyed with the lair. Michael gathered himself and saved love for another day that never seems to be coming.

He found his way to the throne room and around the corner he saw the Pharaoh and - the Queen. It was Cleo, Michael gasped out of surprise, relief and love. She's beautiful, he thought, but she doesn't look the same. Yes she has grown but her person, her soul, it's not the Cleo he left.

"Throw him to the lions," Michael heard Cleo's command, it shocked him. The lions? What did the subject do that was so cruel? They called the entertainer the Stick Man, a juggler and Michael had to admit he was pretty impressive.

Michael shook his head in confusion, thinking about the Cleo he left and the Cleo he found.

And with that, the guards took the juggler away and do as they were told. Only seconds after, you could've heard the lions attack.

"Send me out there," Michael whisper to one of the guards.

"Brother are you crazy? Didn't you just see that poor man see his death in an instant!" He freaked out.

"I know - send me out there," Michael repeated confidently.

The guard sighed of fear and future pity, "Alright man."

The juggler was pathetic, he deserved it. He did not fulfil my need. I was ready for the next piece of entertainment.

"A fire breather," I mumble to myself. It would be exciting if he did light himself on fire. I will still watch.

In my peripheral view, I see Ramses being impressed with an eyebrow raised. Still with my straight face, I was clearly not entertained. I made a signal with my hand slicing over my neck indicating the guards to behead him.

"That's cold," my presenter spoke.

I rolled my eyes not caring.

There was no introduction of the next act. Who is this? Ramses leaned forward intrigued. I twist my head trying to figure out what his deal was. A navy blue cloak with a hood hiding his face a rope with a small pouch was tied around his waist. That's all I knew.

"And what is it you're going to do?" Ramses queried. I sit back waiting for the answer - nothing.

The unknown reached for the pouch that was secured around him. He brought his hand back from it and sprinkled ashes onto the court floor. Then it hit me - but I stood quiet just to make sure of it.

The shadow stepped into the ashes and - I knew it - he vanished. Instead of the ashes turning red, it was gold. The whole court room jumped in fear - but me. With hope, I lean forward just anticipating to see his face. Yes - the dust spun upwards and formed a man's silhouette. It was Michael. Shocked, I rest my hand on my chest.

A handsome man was he, where has he been all these years?

To be continued...