"You have caused me more trouble than I can bare. I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." his warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.
"And what is stopping you?" I challenged his words, leering at his impatience.
...
Honestly, I am trying to finish this book before the end of the year.
I am tired.
So...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
——-
Titus comes into the room and sees me in my dressing gown. I was reading over some scrolls and rolled them up, turning sideways to sleep.
"Not so fast" he frowned, re-lighting the candle so the light could fill the room. He leaned me against my body to kiss both of my cheeks. Of course I pulled away and simply turned to unbraid a piece of my hair.
"I miss you" he admitted desperately. I show him no interest as I bent to blow out the candle again. "Why must you be like this?" He sighed and leaned into his side of the bed.
"Like what? I said nothing to anger you, unlike you" I shrugged. His eyes fell to the liquid prepared in the small glass and frowned. "You were supposed to drink it Nakini" he growled; the anger in his voice was unmistakable.
"Tell me why you do not want a child Titus. The honest truth, then maybe I will drink it"
He sighed and stood to take off his chest piece. "Nakini, we will not discuss this again. Drink it" he demanded.
"But why? Why must I be punished for a natural process?" I yelled.
"Because I said so! end of discussion!" He yelled, making sure to tower over me to assert his authority. I went to the bed and grabbed my blanket and pillow to leave.
"Nakini don't do this" he rolled his eyes.
"I am sleeping in another room. One that will be far away from you" I spat.
"All this for a liquid concoction?" he scoffed in disbelief.
"If we continue to make love and you make me drink that every time you spill inside me, then it is beneficial we not be tempted by sleeping near each other." I hinted casually.
"Nakini" he went to grab my chin, "Why must you be so difficult" he cursed.
"You knew that I was difficult since the first day you forced me to be your wife" I reminded him. I knew now was the time he would have slapped me or whipped me for defying him, but he simply grabbed his face and breathed.
"Childbearing....being a parent is simple in theory Nakini. But in real life? It is difficult" he explained calmly.
"So what? Is it because you don't you want my kin?"
"I do Nakini, more than anything" he defended himself.
"Then why must I drink it? Isn't a child the symbolic gesture and union of us both? don't you love me?
"More than you would ever understand." He sighed and pulled me into his arms.
"Then why?" I looked up into his eyes with tears in mine. He slowly wiped them away and kissed my forehead .
"There are different reasons Nakini...ones that you would never understand."
"I am supposed to be your wife! Your friend and confidant! You can tell me" I reached to grab his face, "Tell me"
"It's because...." he hesitated to speak.
"Because what!" I yelled.
"I don't want to loose you!" He finally admitted. I backed away and stared at him as he plopped into the bed.
"Loose me?" I asked again for clarification.
"Years ago... We had a sister... she was beautiful. Hamassah was her name. She was supposed to be the next heir to the throne but...she married...and fell in love" he paused.
I rub his palm trying to coax him to continue. "She and her husband...he was a powerful king. They fell in love and she soon grew pregnant. Just before she was due to deliver, complications arose. She and her child died."
"Titus...I didn't know" I start to apologize.
"she was the same age as you when she passed." He sighed, regretting his decision to tell me the tale. I rested my head against his shoulders as he finished.
"I want you to be the only mother of my children...maybe in the future...but please ... now is not the time. I am not ready You are only 16..."
"But we have doctors and healers; they can guide us through it"
"The same ones that guided Hamassah before she passed?" he cursed. I stood silent as he stared into the distance. "When we are older and wiser we will have kids, but now? Now we are not ready"
"No one is ever ready for a child ...but together we will be and raise them" I tried to shift his judgment. He shook his head and slowly stood to grab the glass. He pushed it against my lips, signaling for me to drink. Reluctantly, I submitted and gulped it until the very end.
I push the glass into his palm and run away in tears.
"Nakini wait!" he called after me. But I ran into his quarters and locked myself in the bathroom. The liquids tumbled against my throat and immediately I threw everything up.
I looked into the mirror at my reflection and frowned. Beads of sweat and tears rested across my shiny face.
What did this mean?
Would the liquid be effective since I threw it up?
Maybe I would still have the child?
"Nakini are you okay?" Titus finally reached the door.
I ignored him as he banged the surface of the door. "Go away Titus!" I yelled still upset at his lack of patience.
"Nakini open up. Now!" He demanded again. I moved to sit against the lounging chair but my eyes started to close until my source of vision was no more.
A/N
This liquid is like the Egyptian version of birth control. HE did not make her abort the baby (ehhh...some Christians think birth control is a form of abortion but I won't get into specifics)
But yea! It was just the day after pill! Just wanted to clarify!!
