shadows

39

Christine was used to darkness. She had lived in the dark all her life. Sure, there was sunlight while she was alive, but even then it was dulled by her anger and hatred towards Aknadin and Mana.

The day she had met Zorc was the day that the items had been created. Aknadin had been taking the items from the millennium stone.

Zorc had demanded that the items be returned to the stone. Aknadin refused to return the items, so Christine had made it her duty to one day return the items.

After the destruction of Kul Elna, Christine was plagued with nightmares of the night. Living day after day with her tormentors.

After meeting Atem, her anger and bitterness began to diminish. That was short ended after they married.

Mana and Aknadin made sure of this. Christine always had a feeling something wasnt right. Being married to the pharaoh had it's down sides just as it had up sides as well.

None was worse than being on the receiving end to jealous girls who has wished that it was them, or those who were bitter about having a peasant as their queen.

It hurt to watch the pharaoh with others. Specifically Mana. Mana had been friends with the pharaoh years before Christine had arrived at the palace. Mana made sure to make that clear to Christine the second Atem had started to show interest. It was because of their friendship that it would only be Christine that got scolded when ever there was a fight between the two.

Christine tried to not let it get to her, why would Atem choose to marry here and not Mana? Clearly there was nothing to worry about right?

Things were going fine, until that fateful night, on the pharaohs birthday, which just happened to be hos coronation day as well. Her affair with Mahad had resulted in a child. A child, she knew, that must be hidden.

If anyone were to find out about this child, all three parties involved would be killed. So she fled the palace and lived in caves until the baby was born.

It was during that time that Zorc had gotten through to her. Whispering to her in the darkness. Christine knew her baby was in danger.

The night she returned to the palace Christine had left her son at the feet of Horus with a prayer for his safety, and a hope that he lives a long and healthy life.

She had never seen him again after that. She had been locked away in her necklace, chained to this wall. She only hoped that Aknadin suffered in his last moments.

Christine looked up hearing someone speaking. The voice....seemed familiar. That should be impossible. Zorc was playing with her again. Christine bowed her head once again as silence washed over her once more.

Christine had long gotten used to the silence shadows, that had broken when Bella received the necklace. She would come in and talk to Christine from time to time. Not that Christine was able to communicate with her. In fact, Christine wasn't even aware of her presence, just the whispers of her voice coming through the darkness letting her know that she wasnt alone. That had helped. Since then a ball of flame appeared in the room. It was dull, but it gave off light, and a little warmth in the cold dark room.

Christine looked up, this time hearing three voices. Who could they be? The pharaoh? That couldn't be. Its impossible.

Christian?! No! How could he know? I was so careful!

Christine felt fear rush through her. Wait. It's just Zorc. Zorc is messing with me again. She calmed her self down and silence washed over the room once again.

Christine scolded herself as the darkness washing over her.

Wait, the voices. They are back! But why? Christine strained to tune into the voices. It was the pharaoh! And another male?

"We do not have much time pharaoh" a female voice spoke. A female? Who was that.

"Marie!!" The men exclaimed in alarm. Christine tried to look up. She could see nothing there, but the voices were.

"Shes a Phoenix pharaoh, she should be back soon" the second male spoke.

"I sure hope so. Other wise Tom is going to kill us" the pharaoh replied.

A Phoenix? Where would they have gotten a Phoenix?

"Mom?" The second male spoke.

"Christian....she isnt" the pharaoh started to say, but was cut off by a gasp of horror.

Christian?! Could it be?

"What has happened to her?" Chris (gonna start calling Christian this now) asked sounding horrified.

"Zorc has happened" the pharaoh replied with a sigh.

"Chris..." Christine choked out. It hurt to speak. It hurt to move. Hell it even hurt to think.

"Mom! I am here! So is the pharaoh!" Chris spoke urgently.

"Pha-raoh" Christine choked out and started coughing.

"Christine!" The pharaoh spoke urgently. "We have a lot to catch up on, but right now I need you to think. We need to separate you and Zorc" the pharaoh explained.

Separate? But how?

"We dont have much time mom!" Chris said quickly.

Christine inwardly groaned, ouch, as she tried to think.

'Oh that reminds me, Christine when I got your necklace I got this key too. Supposedly it is a key to where your body is or something like that. I seriously doubt that though, besides...wouldn't it be like dedicated already? Why would someone make a key for that?'

Bellas rambling may have some truth to it!

"Chris...p-pup" Christine forced out.

"Pup?" Atem and Chris asked confused.

"Midnight....knows" christine forced out again, but this time she began coughing.

"Midnight....the horse!" Atem said quickly.

"But marie is...." chris looked over at Marie was was currently laying in ashes and far too small to be traveling.

Christine looked up in their direction. Pushing forth all her strength light filled the room and they were gone leaving her alone in the darkness once again.

"Pharaoh" Christine whispered before letting her head fall again loosing consciousness.