To Love Is To Die

To Be Me

I sat on the jewel encrusted stool before the mirror allowing the chambermaid to brush my long thick black hair. I stared at my radiant reflection, my emerald green eyes stood out on my olive colored skin. My eyes then traveled to the maid who's own eyes concentrated on my hair. She wasn't as pretty as I was, but then again, who was? Everyone knew I was the fairest of all Cairo, even my elder sisters could not compare to me.

Today was my 16th birthday, that meant I could finally outline my eyelids with charcoal. I had always wanted to outline my eyes but my mother claimed I was too young for it, she promised that the day I turned 16 I could finally wear it. I tried to contain my excitement when the 2nd maid made her way over with a gold box, a diamond encrusted ankh lay on the lid.

The first maid, Dalila, glanced at the box in adorement. It was the sight for sore eyes to see something so magnificent, so expensive. The 2nd maid, Eshe, picked up the black pencil and bent to one knee bowing her head.

"May I, Your Majesty?" I gave a stiff nod and levied my head back to the mirror. I watched her without moving my retinas, as she bent down so she was level with my eyes, "If you would close your eyes Your Majesty."

I closed them slowly and felt the thick wet pencil being carefully dragged across my eyelids and across the tops of my cheek bones. I enjoyed the feel of it, and smirked realizing that I could rub it in my younger sister's, Hafsah, face. She and I had always loved going in to our mother's chambers in the morning and watch her maid gently swipe the charcoal across her eyelids.

Just then Hafsah entered my chamber wearing a white silk dress with dark brown sandals that laced up her skinny legs. Her eyes widened with excitement when she saw the charcoal.

"I had wanted to be here when it was being done! It's Habibah's fault, she woke me up too late." She glared up at the elder woman.

"Your mother told me that-" Hafsah put up her hand silencing the nursemaid mid-sentence.

"Anyway, you look beautiful!" She said her big dark blue eyes gleamed.

"More beautiful than Halima and Ife?" I asked cocking my head to the side. Halima and Ife were our two eldest sisters, they always competed for who was the prettiest.

"Oh of course! No one could compare to your beauty. Not even Iris!" The maids snapped their heads in her direction moritified at the comparison, but as for me, that was exactly what I was looking for.

"I can always count on you to say precisely what I need to hear." I said planting a kiss on her small cheek.

"Can I at least help you to dress?" She looked to my canopy bed at the dark purple satin dress that lay there. I pretended to think it over, watching her eyes plead with mine.

"Oh I suppose it couldn't hurt." I responded with a wave of my hand. She clapped happily and rushed to the bed and ran her fingers through the satin.

"I can't wait until I become 16, the things I would get!"

"By then I will be Pharaoh of Egypt with a husband by my side." I said strutting over. She looked up at me curiously.

"Why would you be pharaoh? Ife is the next in line."

"My sweet little Hafsah, what would happen if Ife was unable to inherit the throne?"

"Why wouldn't she? Is there something wrong with her?"

"No, she's fine. Just imagine it, if Ife got sick and passed on without bearing any legitimate heirs, who would inherit the throne after her?"

"I guess Halima would, but I still don't see where you come in." I rolled my eyes, did I have to spoon feed everything to her?

"What would happen if Halima died young as well? What would happen then?"

"Oh, well then you would get the throne! But why would that happen by the time I turn 16?"

"Oh my dear, you have so much to learn! Let me tell you this now, everyone is looking out for themselves. You can't trust anyone, got that?"

"I guess, but can I trust Mother? Or Father?" I turned to the window next to my bed.

"Even they have hidden agendas." I murmured. I knew too much for my own good, and it would be the death of me one day if I didn't keep a sharp eye on everyone. I knew one day, I wouldn't be able to trust Hafsah. She too, would turn against me, in order to take the throne.

Drums began to sound outside my window signaling the Pharaoh and his wife. Hafsah joined me at the window and peered down with me.

"That must mean your ceremony is about to begin! Oh, we must make haste!" She ran to the bed and picked up the gown and started to order the servants around. I was still looking out the window, for something had caught my eye.

A man in a dark cloak was standing just beyond the gate that led to the garden. As if on cue he looked up to me, and though I could barely see any of his other features his golden eyes stood out. Those eyes bore into my own and I felt like I was on fire, my body ached and I started to gasp for air. Just as I thought I would faint Hafsah pulled me from the window and started to rip off my night gown. She then threw the purple one over my head and started to pull it down.

"What's wrong, Chione? You look sick."

"I'm fine." I said a little breathlessly. She looked a me oddly and then shrugged going back to rubbing lavender oil on my legs.