Altha'ari: Burning Sands

chapter 16

                                                          Rendezvous

                                                          With Reality

Tara stood before Cleopatra now. The two stood within her large chambers discussing the events that had unfolded along the walls of the city of Memphis. Cleopatra seemed disturbed as Tara made up fib after fib in order to make an image of how Altha'ari could have single handedly taken Ptolemy and his entire army along that river.

" Tara, if what you say is true what of Ptolemy?" Cleopatra started. " What happened to him after you defeat his militia?"

" You will have to ask the crocodiles where he is now." Tara smirked.

" And what of Altha'ari? Is he alright?" Cleopatra asked nervously.

" Altha'ari is alive and well my queen, no need to worry now." Tara assured her.

" Tara, be honest with me. I have already heard of the massive terrain damage along the outskirts of Memphis. What really happened there?" Cleopatra asked darkly, the leopard at her feet standing to walk beside them now.

" Some questions are better left unanswered my queen." Tara smiled, reaching down to pet the queen's furry ally.

" I have never questioned your judgement Tara, and so as you have once again succeeded and avoided letting me down, I will leave this alone. This time." She winked.

Khasiran walked to the door at the sound of a loud knock. He opened the door to find his pretty mistress from the night before smiling at the door frame. He greeted her smile with one of his own, then invited her in. she gently brushed her rear against his thigh as she walked by. He noticed this and smirked as he followed behind her.

" So, what is it we are going to get into tonight Khasiran?" She asked with a wink.

" Not a thing until you keep your word." He smiled back.

" Whatever do you mean Khasiran?" She asked.

" What is your name? You promised me as much." He returned.

" My name is Alkhaya." She beamed.

" Why what a petty name for such a pretty face." Khasiran grabbed her hand.

" Now, are you going to sit here smiling at me like a hyena or are you going to actually come with me." She asked.

" Where might we be going?" Khasiran responded.

" It is a surprise." She smiled.

The woman grabbed him by the hand, leading him once again through the doorway. Forgetting to close the door on his way out he stopped for a moment to do so. Rejoining his new found companion the two sprinted, the woman seemingly filled with joy as they raced through the heart of the city hand in hand. They slowed now as they reached the outskirts, she seemed to be looking for something.

Suddenly she spotted a fire in the middle of a large field of wheat, and raced towards it once more. Khasiran began to wonder where she was taking him, and why she was so happy to be doing so. As they neared the fire the shape of a few dozen men and women filled Khasiran's gaze.

" What is this, where are we going?" Khasiran asked.

" It is a party for you dear, why do you react so negatively?" She responded as she walked him into the middle of the circle.

" That is quite enough." A deep male voice came.

" Khasiran." The man bellowed.

" Who are you, what is this?" Khasiran asked becoming defensive now.

" This is the black sancre'." The man came once more. " We have followed the likes of you and all like you for nearly two decades now, we are the who seek to destroy Anubis, and all who worship him."

" What are you talking about, this was a trap? Alkhaya how could you do this?" Khasiran fired.

"Silence. Did you think the many signs of the rise of Anubis would go unnoticed? The blood rains, the heavens crying, the demons forming of loved ones? We know you tried to summon the god of the dead Khasiran, and you must pay for your atrocities with your life." The dark figure bellowed.

" You have all of this wrong, I was fighting against the god Anubis!" Khasiran shot.

" No, your wife dies, and you suddenly stop the worship of the only god who could return her to life? Unlikely. We whole heartedly believe you attempted a pact with death in order to bring back your beloved. Your parents were killed for the worship of Anubis, and now you will follow their path."

Khasiran thought about how he would get out of this, they outnumbered him thirteen to one. They all had weapons. They knew where he lived. They knew his weaknesses. He needed to run, and he needed to find Altha'ari quickly. He turned to run, but as he did he found Alkhaya standing behind him with a single dagger.

She quickly sent the dagger into his stomach, and twisting it she knelt with him looking him into his eyes. He was going to bleed out internally, and not a single soul he was close to would know what happened to him. This was the moment his parents felt, and in a twisted sense of dezavous he would face the same fate. The woman smiled at him in the fading light of his eyes, and the group of people slowly closed in to finish him off, this was his end. He smiled though, as he would soon be with Amali.

Altha'ari sat at the bend in the river Nile where he had first connected with his beloved Tara. thoughts and visions of the two rolling in the water, kissing as the sandstorm passed filled his head. He thought of his decisions and what they would lead to, he thought of any sadness he might bring Tara. he thought of Khasiran, and what his brother might think if he went through with the monumental task of telling this world goodbye.

The sun neared the edge of the tree line, and Altha'ari knew it was time to initiate his plan. He reached to the satchel he had brought along with him, loosening the straps a cobra shot out of the bag like a bolt of lightning. Altha'ari gazed at the tiny beast for a moment, and thought once more of Tara. he slowly reached down to allow the beast to sink it's tiny fangs into his hand.

A sudden flurry of motion as the cobras head was hacked off by a blade fast as the wind. Altha'ari looked up to find Tara standing over him, tears in her eyes as she stared in disbelief at what he had just tried to do. He was going to leave her behind, and he was going to do so while acting as if nothing had happened.

" What the hell were you thinking!" Tara screamed.

" What I just, I.." Altha'ari started.

" Shut up!" Tara fired again. " You were going to leave me here alone!"

" You already made your decision Tara, I was the one alone." Altha'ari said lowly.

" This was what I was here for Altha'ari." Tara said motioning to here heart. " I was here to tell you my mind has changed, and that I want a life with you Altha'ari, and you almost ended that."

" That is terrific news Tara!" Altha'ari said loudly.

" Let me see you hand Altha'ari." Tara said, her eyes on the ground now.

" What, why let us go for another swim so that we may celebrate this new beginning." Altha'ari responded nervously.

" Altha'ari, let me see the hand." Tara demanded.

Altha'ari opened his hand. There you could see where Tara had simply not been fast enough, and two bite marks resided on the palm of Altha'ari's hand. Tara burst into tears. The bite belonged to one of the deadliest animals in africa, responsible for the death of many humans every season here. Nevertheless, Altha'ari was not a human, but not quite a god. He smirked at Tara, for he knew this would likely not be enough to end him, and she had stopped him before he had gotten to the end of his story.

Life is hard.  Through the many trials and Tribulations it puts you through the fight you possess to push through it all is what defines who you are. The very hardships you suffer through are what build your character and without them you are a boring, blank canvas. you should be proud of your scars, and you should look down at them as badges of honor to say to others that no matter what, you still made it.