Heart of The Phoenix

Liara's POV

'Mom! Mariel! Nooooo!' "Aghhh!" I scream as I jolt up in my bed looking around frantically. My adopted mother came in really mad at me. "Marianne! Stop making such a racket! Your sister is trying to sleep! She will need to be well rested for tomorrow!" I looked down slightly angry and nodded. "Yes mother. I shall try to be quieter than a mouse." Once she had left I looked out my window holding tightly onto the amulet that I always wore. 'Why did I have to go through that why couldn't I have died with them? NO! I mustn't think like that they would have wanted me to be happy.' I sighed and laid back down to try and get a little more sleep. I awoke to the excited yells of my step-sister Amanda. "Marianne where are you! I need you to help me get ready for my marriage interview with the pharaoh!" "I'm coming dear sister!" Once I finished her hair she started rambling once again. "Hey Marianne when I get married to the pharaoh I will make you my personal hairstylist! That would be the least I could do after all you alway make me look extravagant! What's your secret!?" I closed my eyes before responding. "That would be lovely! And oh no it's more than enough! But my dear sister I have no secret it's just what my departed mother taught me..." "Oh sorry I brought it up." Out of all my step family Amanda always knew when to show me just a little kindness. "Don't worry about it you couldn't possibly have known." Once I picked out her wardrobe and packed it I chose her a dress for the day, it was a dress that would be comfortable and that would compliment her features I left. But just as soon as I had left "Marianne! What are you doing here you should be helping your dear sister!" "Ahem." Me and my step mom turned to the sound to see my sister. "Mother I dismissed Marianne, because she already helped me get ready and already has my wardrobe packed." My mother nodded then said to me "You are to pretend to be a hand maid for your dear sister and for Ra's sake don't show the left side of your face!" I nodded in understanding, especially since I didn't want people to think I was a freak or worse a shadow demon. "You two will leave once you have made yourself... Presentable."

Atem's POV

The girl that my council has asked to come for a marriage interview should be arriving at noon today. 'Good Ra why did I agree to this! Oh yeah I was just playing along when I had no intention of marrying her.' Then priest Seto entered my room and bowed low "Sire you should get ready they will be arriving any minute now." I sighed. "I know Seto, I know. You go on down I will meet you there." "As you wish my pharaoh." Once he left I looked out the window and saw that they were almost to the gates. I jumped up and rushed down. When I arrived the gates were just beginning to open. I looked the caravan over and noticed a girl on a chestnut horse skillfully descend without any help. She patted the horse and said "Stay here Twister." After that she skillfully opened the caravan door and set up the stairs with her foot. She bowed her head as the girl who was invited here descended. The girl shook her head and lifted the girl who had been on the horse's chin up at the same time saying "Marianne keep your head up don't bow to me bow to whoever else that you would do normally but not to me. Mother isn't around to yell at you if you step out of line in how you act towards me." The other girl started to protest but was swiftly cut off. "But..." "No buts. You are my adopted sister and you have been a big part of my every day life. My family doesn't deserve to have you as a part of it. But make sure you keep a good tongue in that head of yours!" "Hey! The last time I did curse it just ended up sounding like gibberish!" It was kind of shocking how the exchange went between these 2. I stepped forward to introduce myself. They both noticed, since they both turned and bowed. I cleared my throat "Welcome to my kingdom I am the pharaoh Atem. And you are?" The one who was on horse back nudged the other who seemed to be day dreaming. But it didn't work. She raised a hand. "Yes?" "You might want to cover your ears." I nodded and did just that. My council didn't though she bit her lip and said "Please don't yell at me I warned you." She took a deep breath and mimicked the screech of a hawk perfectly making me flinch. All of my council just yelled "WHAT IN THE NAME OF RA!" It still didn't snap her out of it. "WOW. That usually works." I looked at her then to the prone figure. "OH!" I looked over to the girl and saw her kneeling down holding an adder in her hands. "Are you nuts it's going to bite you!" She just smiled at it and started to speaking to the snake "Hey little fella what are you doing here?" The snake moved from side to side. Everyone but the once prone girl stared. The girl then laughed a little then went to the gates and let the snake go saying "Go on little guy don't come back or I might not be able to bail you out next time!" Then Seto yelled "Shadow demon!" The girl looking confused said "Huh?" The other girl leaped to her defense "Leave her alone I can explain why that happened!" Seto just kept getting closer "Move aside or we will have to arrest you to girl." She stood her ground "First of all my name is Amanda, second of all it's not her fault that she can handle snakes very well! If you'd been alone for 3 years of your life you would have made friends with animals too!" The other girl started to fiddle with an amulet around her neck. I looked at it and stepped forward pointing at it "Where did you get that?" "Oh this old thing. It belonged to my mother it was the last thing she gave me before she died." I just stared at her and shook my head saying "Sorry I didn't know."