42Egypt: I cant believe people are still reading this, but im glad u all are
a new reviewer reminded me how long its been since i last updated this, so im REALLY sorry
hope u enjoy it, review if u wanna
Chapter 11
Dark past, hopeful future
I let out another sigh, though the air rumbled at the back of my throat to make it sound more like a growl really. In my defence, it was unintentional, even though no one seemed threatened by the sound anymore...weather that was a good or bad thing I still don't know. But the reason for my constant sighing was because Isis insisted fussed over me, changing the bloody bandages for the third time that hour and adding more of those damn stinging herbs to the open wound that refused to stop bleeding. However Atem sat there watching, thinking I was the funniest thing ever, even other members of the court were smiling and chuckling at the scene.
"God's damn it Isis I'm fine! I told you I've had whole lot worse-"
"Even so Neteru, while you are in the palace with us, any injury is my responsibility." The woman said sternly, giving me a hard look that meant she wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Give it up Neteru; you won't win an argument against Isis." Mahad muttered out stiffly, struggling with the little lion cub in his arms that was trying to chew his hand, sounding a little annoyed but mostly affectionate towards tanned young woman nursing me as she dabbed at my cuts with a clean cotton cloth soaked in salt and lemon water.
As I'd made my way over to the group after my fight, I'd noticed how the mother and all but one of the 3 cubs had been killed by my old masters small arrows, though he'd also been hurt, and so I took the little guy from the cage seen as without his mother the cub would surely die. "Ow!" Mahad hissed and sucked the wounded figure, holding out the cub to me. I took the cub carefully and rested the animal on my lap, which then curled up and fell asleep. I smiled softly at the creature, rubbing his head with my fingers softly. "You act like your wounds have never been treated before." Mahad finally said after stopping his own bleeding.
"That's because they haven't. Before, if I got hurt I gritted my teeth and got on with things, not fuss and wrap them up, that came later back in camp. And there were no medicines like this, we just washed them every now and then with water, and if the cuts were deep and refused to stop bleeding we'd heat up metal in a fire then place it over the wound to burn and close up the skin. If we got infected we'd deal it." Isis gasped.
"But how you survive that?"
"A strong body means a strong health; the burn, infection or illness would never last long. But if you keep smothering me like this then I'm going to turn soft then I'll be in trouble! So stop already!" I stood up carefully, putting the cub down as I straightened, but Isis stepped in my path with her arms crossed under her chest. We stood there glaring at each other for a while. Finally Isis had had enough of our childish staring competition and tried to push me down. I smirked when she couldn't even make me flinch.
She kept it up for a while, pushing down on my shoulders, trying to trip me up- to which I just jumped and landed easily- but finally she just gave up and scowled.
"Just sit down and let me finish!" Isis commanded. I stood there and raised an eye brow at the command. She sighed. "Please Neteru; will you please just let me help you?" My hard glare crumbled, I pouted and sat down again in a huff, the cub leaping back onto my lap.
I saw Atem watching, biting his lip and his shoulders shaking slightly. I sent him a glare to tell him to stop laughing, which he seemed to find even funnier.
"Why do I help you people again?" I asked in a low growl, sarcasm clear in my tone but so was my annoyance. Yuki came into the hall then, carrying more bandages. At the sight of the clean white cloths I gave a loud frustrated moan.
Seth, who had been openly sniggering, stepped forward then, his rare smile disappearing and replaced by a serious business look.
"So, what are we going to do about these Masters then? We know that two are now dead, so what about the rest?" Seth asked voice cold and icy.
"We can't have them attacking the city any more. The damage today wasn't extensive and can easily be repaired, but what about next time? What if they hurt the people? Not to mention that that little show down now has the city on alert with our people looking around corners." A bald man spoke, stepping forward to stand next to Seth, also an Item Bearer.
"They won't be trying something like today again anytime soon." I said, serious but also emotionlessly, resting my shoulder blades back into the pillar as Yuki finished wrapping the bandages.
"What makes you say that?" Isis asked in confusion, standing by Mahad now that her job was done.
"Two of the eight Brothers are dead in the space of two days; an entire city knows of their existence, patrols are keeping an eye out for them. If it was you, would you be foolish enough to try another attack?" I asked, looking up at the group standing facing me.
"And if they attack in a group?" A man with short black hair asked, sounding stern and strong.
"With only six left and having to keep a close eye on the other apprentices who will be all shaken up from this whole ordeal? I highly doubt it. If I know them, which sadly I do- too well really- they will be going into hiding for a while to plan and strategies. On the other hand," I said as I stood up, setting the cub down on the floor carefully as it slept, the tight, stiff bandages uncomfortable and constricting. "I wouldn't put it past them to try a few new dirty tricks."
"What do you mean?" Seth asked.
"I mean like sending apprentices to do their dirty work." I said darkly, my eyes narrowing at the idea. I glared daggers at the floor feeling as though my gaze could burn a hole right through the ground to the Underworld.
"How young are these apprentices?" Isis asked, sounding unnerved.
"They can be from as young as five to nineteen or so."
"So young…" Isis muttered quietly. I looked to her, concerned as her voice sounded as if she was going to be sick. But I relaxed and smiled slightly when I saw that Mahad had a hand on her shoulder and was comforting her. "How could someone be such a monster as to do that to young children?"
"That's the way it's always been." I muttered, I looked to the floor again. I hung my head as all eyes fell on me. "My masters would tell me the story often, of how the cult was started by a King on a small Island many, many years ago. The cult was made to protect the King from any attacks, the men ready to lay down their lives for their Ruler. But the King grew cruel and greedy, taking the Assassins wives and daughters and putting them in his harem, taking from his people both rich and poor.
"Feeling betrayed and furious with their King, the Assassins rose up and killed him. After that, the cult never broke apart, they stayed together and left the Island and moved to the main land to live in secret. The cult lived peacefully for a few years creating their own village high in mountains, still practising their fighting as to protect themselves and their families. But one day, a stranger rode into their homes. The stranger came with lots of gold and the promise of more if the Assassins would kill someone for him, having heard about the cult's history from rumours.
"After their first mission it dawned on the Assassins it was not safe to stay in one place or someone could find them again like the stranger, so they would move around and yet people still looked for them and asked for help. With more and more coming to find them, the more corrupted the cult became. Now they are just as evil and cruel as the King who had created them." I seethed, eyes flaring with anger and hatred. "So no, they will not attack any time soon, I believe they will leave things be and plan an attack as a group. We have been given time, we should use that time to prepare."
The court was silent as if in shock from my story. Finally I couldn't take the stares and turned and strode out of the Hall.
I was somewhat relived when I heard a familiar pair of footsteps follow me out, but I didn't stop. I didn't stop my fast stride until I entered the room we shared, my follower knowing better than to try and stop or interrupt my train of thought. As the follower closed the door behind himself, I paced, back and forth in front of the large bed, eyes on the floor and body tense. Finally the person had enough, coming forward, taking my face in his soft hands and kissed me passionately.
Eventually all my anger and frustration faded and I found myself kissing him back, hands on his back and holding on to him tightly. I was happy to feel his body pressed to mine, his arms wrapped around my waist and holding me tightly to him with a need and passion. It was comforting, pleasing, warming.
He pulled back after a moment, but I didn't open my eyes to look at him, I simply sighed and rested my forehead on his chest. It rose and fell rather fast from our lingering kiss. I felt one of his arms move from around me, moving to rest a hand on my head, stroking my hair soothingly. I hummed at the feeling, leaning more into him. His chest vibrated with his chuckle, taking my chin with his thumb and index finger and lifting it up to face him. I opened my eyes to see Atem smirking, his eyes like open widows letting me see the love and caring there.
Atem leaned down to me again, pressing our lips together harder than before, moving them softly so that my own lips moved with his. My eyes slide closed and my lips started moving of their own accord, arms moving to wrap around his neck and draw him closer. The hand that had been stroking my hair was now buried in it, combing through it softly, and the arm that was still around my waist tightened. The kiss became more heated, his lips holding mine wider apart so he could slide his tongue in and explore. For reasons I couldn't understand or even begin to explain, my legs shook heavily and embarrassingly, I held to him tighter to keep myself up.
Atem sensed this, taking a large step then leaning over me so that I fell back, landing on the bed with Atem still pressed to me, now hovering over me.
"Neteru..." He sighed, the sound sending shivers down my spine. Atem leaned down to press another kiss which I more than willingly returned. My hands clutched and combed through his hair greedily, the only sounds around us were our heavy breathing and the occasional hum or moan. Eventually Atem pulled away and was about to move away from me, but I grabbed the clothing on his chest to stop him. He looked down at me. "D-do you want to continue?" I smiled at Atem's unsteady voice and deep blush, but nodded. I heard his breathing quicken and become heavier.
Atem slowly leaned back down again to kiss me softly, this time hands became bolder as his ran down my arms that were still around his neck, my sides, then down my thighs and wrapping one of my legs around his hips.
The kiss continued for what seemed to us like forever, but eventually our need for a breather became too much and we pulled away. I looked to the windows to see that the sun was setting. Shocked I sat up.
"It's late." I looked down at the two of us and blushed slightly, we were both breathing heavy and sweaty. "Go get a bath, I'll lock the windows." I jumped down off the bed, walking out to the balcony. I heard the bathroom door shut and I took a deep breath then let it out, running my hands through my hair and pushing the mess out of the way. "What the hell am I doing?" I asked myself. Shaking my head, I looked around, to the hills then around the city. Nothing out of place from what I could see.
I re-entered the palace and locked the doors of the balcony behind me, moving to the other window to lock that as well. Atem came out, a linen towel around his hips, dripping wet. I froze for a moment before hiding my face as I blushed. "My turn?" I asked after the heat left my face, looking up in time to see him nod. Atem's face was also flushed as he hurried to his wardrobe to dress in his evening kilt. Rushed into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. "I'm acting like a virgin." I growled to myself, quickly undressing to sink into the warm water.
As I laid back I closed my eyes and relaxed, clearing my mind to think over the day and try plan ahead. The Masters are smart but not stupid; they'll want to take things slow from here. They'll return eventually, and no doubt with re-enforcements. The court will probably not want to hurt the apprentices, especially if they're young... So in a fight they'd go for the masters...but would they win? Figuring a next step, I reached for the fragranced oil to rub onto my skin to wash, and then lay back in the water. I'll ask them tomorrow, we'll go to the arena and I'll put each of the Item Bearers to the test, Atem as well. I have to know he can hold his own in a fight...at least I know he's fast. I chuckled to myself at that. Though it had hurt my pride as well as my chin falling when he tackled me, it had been that encounter that set all of this into motion.
Fate... Many wondered if it really existed or it events happened by our choices. Perhaps a little of both.
Pushing away the thought I stood and climbed out of the bath but then froze. My vision blurred for a second and my head started to spin. I felt no pain or cold in my body so I knew it wasn't an attack, but then what caused it. I looked down at myself...the water...it wasn't water...it was red...thick...it stank of death. Shaking, panting rapidly in unsteady breaths, I turned stiffly to look at the water. Dark, almost black, red, so much red. I sobbed. No, no, no, no.
I shook my head, refusing to believe my mind. I opened my eyes again. It was just water. I looked down at myself. No blood. I sighed, roughly grabbing the towel and dried myself off. I changed quickly and left the room to see Atem laid out of his bed, already half asleep. I shook my head and laid down by his side, only to have a hand wrap around my wrist and pull me. Once I was close enough Atem released my wrist and wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my hair.
I smiled and laid my head on his chest, curling into him. I always thought I was nothing but a killer, a paid murderer with nothing but blood dripping from my soul. But being here, being with these people...maybe there is more to me after all. Perhaps...even an assassin can be saved.