In the Hands of Time

ii

PRESENT DAY

I walked down the streets of Manhattan my head lowered to the ground. I pushed earbuds into my ears, strange devices that input music directly into your ears and nobody else could hear. I turned up some old music that I had made once when I was offered a studio session. Egyptian style of course. I listened to the male singer's voice flow and sway with the beat of the music. I looked up and saw people walking past. not unusual for New York. 

I looked down again and eventually, my shoulder bumped into someone. I spun around and looked at the girl who walked past. Her hair was a light purple but her eyes were like sapphires. She smiled at me before turning away. I stood there for a moment before walking home taking a few shortcuts through alleyways. Who was she?

She seemed young. Seventeen? Eighteen? I shook my head and tried to forget her. Seemed hard when every time I had a moment of silence of my head where she was. Something told me to turn around and find her. 

In New York three minutes before rush hour? HA! Good one, self. I tried to get her out of my head when I looked up and was greeted by a window with a picture of the girl. A tattoo parlor. I walked inside and inspected the photo further. she looked like my only daughter, maybe that's why I took such a liking to her. Or maybe it was something else. 

"You looking to get a tat?" Who I guess was the shop owner. Never in my life have I hated a word more than 'tat' just say the whole damn word idiot. 

"Yes actually.." I pointed at the intricate tattoo on the woman who I took an interest in. "One like that." It looked like a three-pointed compass with a swirl in the center. Something about it reminded me of my time in Egypt. I told the man that I wanted it on a larger scale on my inner bicep. He got to work and I looked up at the ceiling remembering the past. 

***

I looked down from the palace steps. "My lord I cannot take your place You know how to rule this country more than anyone else here." I turned and looked at the Pharaoh.

"You don't have a choice. In order to keep you ALIVE, you have to take the throne." He told me. "Listen I'm sorry about what they did to Kha and Ashet. But that's in the past. The other option you have is marrying me and becoming the Great Royal Wife."

"They'll know who I am in an instant." I protest. 

"Then we'll give you a new name." He waved at one of his guards. "Athena you cannot keep this up. Make a choice or die." He shrugged and walked out his cape dragging behind him. I could kill him and his entire kingdom if I wanted to. I sighed and looked out at the huge memorial for Kha and Ashet. I made my way out of the castle and up to the monument. I picked up a paintbrush and above their names painted a picture. our family crest I decided. 

And at that moment I decided I would take over the whole damn kingdom. And make those individuals responsible pay...

***

It was over and he had to shake me to pull me out of my head. I looked over at him. "Hey, you alright?" He asked. 

"I'm fine. I tend to zone out sorry..." I sit up and look at it. It looked sloppy hand hand-painted like I remembered it. "I love it thank you." I handed him the appropriate fee and walked out. I looked down at the marking as it healed before my eyes trapping the ink in forever. 

I looked up to see the same girl from before. Her entrancing green eyes making me stop in my place. She stared back at me her lavender hair only reaching her chin. She looked me up and down before resting on my eyes. We stared at each other for a long time before she spoke up. 

"You fascinated by the Cross family too?" she pulled off a  shoulder of her jacket to show the same mark on her neck. My hand rose where I had gotten the same mark years ago, I had forgotten about it. It must've faded by now because of the old methods of tattooing with a long needle with squid ink on the end. but it burned like it was still there. "I was told I'm a descendant of Athena Cross. Pretty cool huh?" My blood ran cold as I stared at a possible granddaughter, or hell maybe my own daughter Azizia whom I had long after I took over ancient Egypt.

I wondered, what was her favorite color again?

That's right... lilac....