by Gayle Keo
“Hisyut?” Ameerah asked. “That’s a forbidden city. It’s cursed. Why would they go there?”
“You tell me,” Metimeh said. She changed her seat to sit closer to her mother. “I’ve never even heard of this before they told me.”
“They told you? You spoke with them?”
Metimeh lowered her head and nodded. “Aziz told me to bring them food. I only spoke with them for a little while. Honest.”
Ameerah sighed. “Sometimes, I think you like getting into trouble. Did anyone hear you speaking with them? And if they tell your father?”
“No one heard me. I’m sure of it. Please, tell me about Hisyut.”
“I only know a little bit myself,” Ameerah said. “It’s an ancient city built by one of the pharaohs a long time ago. When his favorite wife was murdered there, he abandoned it. But not before cursing it. There is still a lot of ancient Egyptian treasures there, but no one smart would step foot in Hisyut unless they want to die.”
Metimeh’s eyes widened. “I guess Father did them a favor by stopping them.”
Ameerah shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose.”
When her mother went to take a nap, Metimeh snuck to the house where William and Anna were being held. Luckily for her, there was only one guard on duty and it was easy to get him to leave with a little lie. Metimeh opened the door and quietly walked into the room.
“Were you fed today?” she asked them.
Anna nodded her head. “We were. Thank you for coming to check. Do you think we could possibly get a bath, though?”
“I’ll ask my father.” Metimeh could barely see Anna or William but she knew both were staring at her. “Would you mind if I sat with you here?”
William snorted. “Why would you want to sit with us here in the dark?”
He did have a good point. But Metimeh, with her arms stretched out in front of her, found the wall Anna and William sat against and fell to the floor with a thud.
“Where are you from?” Metimeh asked.
“England,” Anna replied.
Metimeh scrunched up her face. “England. Where’s that?”
Anna gasped. “You don’t know where England is?”
Metimeh shook her head but then remembered they couldn’t see her. “No,” she said.
“England is in Europe,” Anna said. “It’s on an island with Scotland and Wales. Ireland is very close.”
Metimeh had never heard of these places before but hearing them come out of Anna’s made her so much more interested. She sat and listened for hours as Anna went on about England and how she and William ended up in Egypt. Something still bugged her, though.
“Why don’t you have children?” Metimeh asked. Surely after six years of marriage, they should’ve had at least one child.
Anna struggled to hold back her tears. “It just never happened,” she said softly. Speaking about her infertility was always hard for Anna. It was why she put so much of her energy into explorations. She didn’t care to hear the pity of women who had children and couldn’t imagine life without them.
“Why aren’t you married?” Anna asked. “How old are you?”
“I’ll be twenty-three soon. My father hasn’t found anyone suitable for me to marry yet,” Metimeh answered. She didn’t want to tell them the real reason. Her father would never let her go. She was his most prized possession, even more prized than his wives.
“Do you want to get married?” William asked. It was the only time he had spoken during the conversation and Metimeh smiled, knowing that he was listening.
“To a person who I choose, of course. But that will never happen,” she replied.
“Never say never,” Anna said. “It’s something my grandmother always told me.”
They talked until the sun went down and Metimeh, regretfully, announced she had to leave. She promised to return the next day and would ask about them getting a bath for Anna’s sake. She couldn’t imagine how dirty they must’ve felt.
*****
Over the next few days, Metimeh’s feelings for William and Anna grew. She was able to get them better lighting and was even able to get them a bath.
She accompanied Anna to the bathhouse, along with a guard who she made wait outside. Anna was flabbergasted by the amount of water in the bathhouse.
“So much water!” She cried out. “In the desert! How?”
Metimeh laughed. “There’s water everywhere in the desert if you know where to look.”
The bathhouse was a rather large building with a men’s section and women’s section. It had been cleared so Anna could bathe without intrusion. Metimeh led her to the women’s section.
“Can you help me with my clothes, please?” Anna asked.
Metimeh nodded. Her hands shook as she helped Anna undress. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was actually exhilarating. When Anna was completely naked, Metimeh inhaled as she stared at Anna’s large breasts, flat tummy, and the crook between her legs that was covered in hair.
“The water is warm,” Metimeh said. She had to say something to stop herself from staring at Anna.
“Why don’t you join me?” Anna asked. She winked at Metimeh as she stepped down into the water. “Oh, this feels good!”
Against her better judgment, Metimeh got undressed and slipped into the water beside Anna.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Anna asked.
Metimeh nodded. She gulped when Anna moved very close.
“Wash my back?” Anna asked.
Metimeh grabbed the sponge sitting on the side of the bath and squeezed lavender oil into it. She rubbed Anna’s back slowly. Her nipples hardened when Anna leaned back and rolled her head to the side.
“If you want to do something,” Metimeh said, “do it to me now. Don’t tease me.”
Anna turned around and pressed her lips against Metimeh’s. She didn’t move, didn’t want to ruin the moment. It was Metimeh who moaned first and used her tongue to force Anna’s mouth open. They stood in the bath, passionately kissing each other. Anna took one of Metimeh’s nipples between her fingers and played with it.
Metimeh broke the kiss. She struggled to breathe and talk at the same time. “This is dangerous. Your husband—”
“Knows about everything,” Anna interrupted. She pulled Metimeh closer and continued the kiss. Back in England, she had relations with a handful of women. William was always aware, and in some instances, a participant. But when they arrived in Egypt, they both felt it best that Anna control herself and not get involved with any women in Egypt.
The door to the bathhouse opened and closed. Metimeh back away from Anna and scrambled up the steps. The guard entered the room even though he was not supposed to, eyes narrowed. He turned away slowly.
“My apologies. Your father, His Highness, wants to see you, Metimeh,” he said.
“Okay. Go.”
Metimeh knew she was in trouble. Even though he didn’t see anything, the guard would tell her father she was inside of the bath with the foreigner. Her father would be angry when he returned and Metimeh didn’t want to be on the receiving end of her anger. Not anymore.
“If I help you and William escape, can I come with you?” Metimeh asked.
Anna was shocked into silence. “Um. Are you sure?”
Metimeh nodded. “Yes, I’m sure. Go get William. When the sun goes down, I’ll come and get you. The guards will be scarce since my father is returning with things and he needs them. It’s our only time to leave.”
Anna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Metimeh was helping them escape! And she wanted to come with them. This could all be a trick, Anna knew, but Metimeh didn’t seem like that type of person. As quickly as possible, Anna dressed and followed Metimeh back to the house.
“Don’t forget what I said,” Metimeh whispered into Anna’s ear before turning and walking away.
William was asleep when Anna returned and she shook him violently. “Metimeh is getting us out! She wants to come with us.”
William yawned. “What?”
“Metimeh said she’s going to help us escape at sundown. She wants to come back with us. I told her yes.”
“But our camels and supplies,” William said.
“I think she’s going to have everything ready. We just have to trust her.”
William wasn’t convinced at all. He was sure Metimeh was helping her father trick the gullible foreigners into believing they were leaving, but Anna was convinced Metimeh was sincere to William went along with it.
“You do know we are in the middle of nowhere?” William reminded Anna.
She nodded. “Yes, I know. But I trust Metimeh. She knows how to get us out.”
“Why are you so trusting of her? We only just met her.”
“I like her.” Anna glanced at William. “We kissed in the bathhouse. Well, and touched. She wants to leave, and maybe she can be with us.”
William wasn’t upset that his wife kissed another female. He was a bit upset that he didn’t get to see it, though. Anna had admitted that she found woman attractive at the beginning of their marriage and William was okay with it. He just wanted Anna to be open and honest with him.
From the tiny window inside of the room, Anna watched the sun disappear behind dunes of sand. She was worried Metimeh wouldn’t show up. And then what? How long did the king plan to keep them? No one knew they had left, except maybe Charles, but the sandstorm had thrown them off course and Charles wouldn’t be able to get to them. Anna was afraid life in the tiny room was all she and William would have. But then the door opened and Metimeh slid through.
“Are you ready? Did you tell him?” Metimeh asked Anna.
Anna nodded her head. “We’re ready.”
“Wait a minute!” William said rather loudly. “How do we know this isn’t a trick? What are you? A princess? And you mean to tell me you want to leave all of this behind? Why?”
Metimeh lowered her head and whispered, “Because I love Anna. Because my father will kill the two of you once he gets bored. He’s keeping you for ransom but if no one comes forward, he’ll kill you.”
Anna didn’t know which revelation to tackle first and there wasn’t much time anyway. Metimeh ushered them out of the room and out of a back entrance to the house.
“The North side of the town is completely empty. The camels are there and it’ll make it easier to get far enough without anyone noticing. Come!” Metimeh sprinted away from the house with William and Anna following. They ran and didn’t stop until they came to the camels sitting quietly.
“They’re all rested and well-fed,” Metimeh said, breathlessly. “They can run for a while until they need to stop.”
They mounted the camels and took off. This part of the town was extremely deserted and Anna wondered why. She breathed a sigh of relief when they passed the town’s last building. But her heart dropped to her stomach at the once again barren desert landscape. She hoped Metimeh knew where she was going.
After a couple hours of silent camel riding, they came across a small village. The leader was a kind man who let them stay the night.
“Where are you from?” The leader asked Metimeh.
“They are from England. I am going to work for them,” she lied.
The next day consisted of more camel riding, some walking, resting, and repeating. It wasn’t until nightfall that they came to another village, this one a bit larger than the last. There was no central leader and the trio was able to rest again and get some meager supplies before setting off again in the morning.
“Are we lost?” Anna asked. She shivered, remembering that was the question she asked William before they realized they were lost.
Metimeh smiled and shook her head. “We aren’t lost. Can’t you smell the Nile?”
Both Anna and William tilted their heads upwards and sniffed. Neither smelled the Nile—whatever it smelled like.
“Do you want to come stay with us when we get wherever you are taking us?” Anna asked.
Metimeh’s eyes widened in wonder. “You’d let me?”
“Of course,” William said. “What would you do otherwise?”
Metimeh wasn’t sure. But she was sure now that getting to Cairo was the most important thing ever.
*****
After days of traveling, Anna began to cry when the city of Cairo appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. She smiled at Metimeh, who beamed, proud of herself.
“How did you do it?” William asked. “Without a compass or map?”
“The sun,” Metimeh answered simply. “It’s all you need.”
Metimeh’s answer made Anna wonder if all of the technology she and William used was necessary. Metimeh had gotten them back to Cairo without any of it.
“We have to write a book,” William joked. “No one would believe us anyway.”
He was right, Anna knew. At best, their story was incredible. Anna wouldn’t even believe it if someone else told her. She wanted to get her camel to run but it was probably just as tired as she was.
“I can’t wait to sleep in our bed,” Anna said with a dreamy look on her face. She turned to Metimeh. “Will you sleep with us?”
Metimeh nodded but she wasn’t sure. “I’m still a virgin,” she said quietly.
“It’s okay,” Anna said. “We all were once, too.”
Once they reached the actual city, William jumped off his camel and walked the rest of the way to their house. Unlocking it, he breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure how long they had been gone—days, weeks, perhaps even a month—but everything looked the same and for that, he was grateful. It would be easier to transition back to regular life.
“This is your home?” Metimeh asked. She stepped across the threshold of the house and the door closed shut behind her. She looked up at the walls, lined with papers, pictures, and a picture of a man with a beard and long hair.
“I want to sleep for a whole year,” Anna said. She began removing clothes as she walked to the bedroom.
Both William and Metimeh stared at Anna as she winked at them over her shoulder.
“You coming?” Anna asked.
Metimeh glanced at William and moved first. She followed Anna into the bedroom, where Anna helped her take off her clothes.
“I’m so nervous,” Metimeh whispered. Was she really going to do this? Was she going to let William and Anna take her? Do what they wanted to her? Yes, yes she was.
“We won’t hurt you,” William said.
Metimeh turned around and gasped at William’s nakedness. His cock was already erect. It curved a little and Metimeh shuddered.
“Come,” Anna said, taking Metimeh’s hand and leading her to the bed.
There, Anna began to kiss Metimeh slowly. Her hands roamed Metimeh’s body, gently twisting her nipples. Metimeh moaned. When Anna’s fingers parted the folds of Metimeh’s pussy, Metimeh shuddered and leaned in.
“Feels good, right?” Anna whispered. Her fingers circled over Metimeh’s clit and then she gently stuck a finger into Metimeh’s tight hole. “Hmm,” Anna moaned. “Lay down so I can taste you.”
Confused, Metimeh did as she was told.
William crawled onto the bed and nudged his cock along her lips. “Open,” he commanded.
Metimeh opened her mouth and William slid his cock inside. He tasted salty, somewhat metallic. She hallowed her mouth and sucked, not sure what else to do.
“Yes,” William sighed. His eyes closed and his head rolled back. “Just like that.”
Anna spread Metimeh’s legs and flicked her tongue along Metimeh’s pussy.
Metimeh gasped. “Ohhh!” Her hips jerked and she tried her hardest to squirm out of Anna’s reach but both Anna and William had a hold on her. William thrust his cock deeper down her throat but she took it all.
“She’s ready,” Anna said, licking her lips as she knelt upward.
“Ready?” Metimeh asked when William removed his cock from her mouth and changing places with Anna.
“Ready for your first coc
k,” Anna said with a smile. “It may hurt. I got you as ready as possible. Squeeze my hand if you need to.”
Metimeh became incredibly nervous and second-guessed the whole thing.
“Ready?” William asked.
Metimeh nodded but it wasn’t a convincing nod and her heart beat so fast she thought it would jump out of her chest. She felt the tip of William’s cock at her entrance and then he slowly pushed in. Anna was right, it was painful, and Metimeh winced until William remained still.
“How does it feel?” Anna asked. She rubbed lazily on Metimeh’s clit.
“A bit painful,” Metimeh whimpered.
“It’ll get better. Just relax.”
Metimeh relaxed and soon, she began to meet William’s every thrust. A flutter in her lower stomach was the only warning she had before she shattered into a million pieces and let out a loud cry.
“How was that?” Anna asked.
Metimeh breathed heavily and it took her a moment to remember where she was and what she was doing. When she finally remembered, Anna had leaned over and taken William’s cock into her mouth and sucked him fast and rough. Metimeh watched amazed. Within a matter of moments, Anna made William spurt a white, gooey substance.
“What was that?” Metimeh asked.
“Semen,” Anna replied. “Or seed.”
William laid down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.
Metimeh giggled at the snoring William. “Does he always fall asleep right after?”
Anna laughed. “Yes. He’ll be asleep for a while, too.”
The two of them laughed and talked for a while longer until sleep overcame them. The last thing Metimeh remembered before she entered dreamland was William pulling her closer to his chest.
*****
Six months later…
Anna never imagined she would return to England. When she stepped off the ship in Southampton, her surroundings felt unfamiliar even though the people at the docks were her people, English. But she knew that neither she nor William nor Metimeh would be staying in England, that was for sure. Neither of them were meant to stay in one place. They were nomadic by heart and Anna was already planning their next trip across the Atlantic to America.
