by Bri Clark
“Shae, I am so sorry I have brought you into this awful mess and now Collin as well.” I apologized. Of course, she shushed me again. She kissed my forehead. It was amazing how completely natural it felt, as if we had been friends for years, like a sister even. I imagined at least.
Henry came booming through the door like a typhoon assaulting a small island. Hagar and Collin followed him closely. Collin stood behind him panting, but Hagar was scolding Henry telling him to calm down in her halting native tongue. I found myself laughing at the scene. The room became quiet and everyone looked at me. I could feel my cheeks begin to flame. Before I could completely turn scarlet, Shae’s brassy laughter broke the silence, halting my blush.
Henry came bounding over, scooped me up out of bed, and cradled me to his chest. Hagar resumed her previous banter right on his heels. He pressed my forehead to his and sighed. His shoulders relaxed, and I could feel a giant invisible weight lift off him. I knew he had been worried. I felt tremendous guilt for causing him such pain.
Hagar pulled on his arm demanding he put me on the bed. He finally obliged. Shae was where I’d left her. Collin stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Henry backed away a few inches, barely allowing enough room for Hagar to come to me. She fussed over my blankets as a mother hen would her chicks. I smiled to myself. She washed my face with a towel. She did her work silently but gently. I reached up and held her hand while she washed my cheek. A touch of a smile interrupted the firm line of her mouth.
She then stopped her fussing and met my eyes, her lovely tanned features softened. “So lovely, like the Diamond of the Nile.” She patted my arm and took her leave. It was getting late; I heard that dreadful clock chiming. Collin and Shae got up to leave. Collin surprised me when he wrapped his arm around Henrys shoulders, well as far as he could reach, and then kissed my hand. Shae hugged me. They promised to be back first thing in the morning. It was more like a guarantee and Shae gave Henry what I could only think of as the evil eye as she said it.
I tried to sit up in the bed so I could stretch. Henry was at my side immediately. “What do you need Love, anything? I will do it. We can leave right now; if this is too much for you I will get us out of here no problem.” He spoke so fast, his words slurred. I shushed him; I was picking up some habits from Shae, I thought.
“Then tell me, Love. What happened? I swear I will stay calm. I won't do anything. Please just talk to me,” he pleaded, holding my hands in his. How could I ever deny him? I thought about Shae’s words, and her promise to tell if I didn’t. I might not have known her long, but I knew she kept her word.
Squeezing his hand, I told Henry everything that happened, my run, my plan, going to the stables, Berg protecting me, and finally Abbass and his threats. Henry was deathly quiet when I finished. I could sense him. He was trying to stay calm and keep his promise to me, even though the rage wanted to erupt. I granted him the silence he needed. I could sit with him all day in silence, and it would be bliss.
“You forgot two parts to your story, two important parts,” he commented matter-of-factly.
“And what are those?” I retorted, trying to remember what I could have left out.
“Hagar. You forgot about how you covered her up with a blanket and when you returned she practically dragged you into the room. You know she stopped me that night from turning into a lunatic and going after you. I would have told her to get lost, if I hadn’t sensed her. She was so worried, so concerned about you. She has watched over you like a mother should.” He spoke with reverence in his voice.
“I wish she wouldn’t. I would hate for her to get hurt. He is her master.”
“She knows how to take care of herself, don’t worry Love,” he assured me.
“How do you know that?” I challenged.
“Well at first, it was just Hagar and me here with you. Eventually, we ended up having to talk. You would not believe how old she is. She is fifty years old. She wears her age well to have lived the life she lives. Egyptian women age gracefully, even the ones who have to work like a field hand.” Henry fluffed the pillow behind me before he continued. “Your kindness moved her, gave her hope she lost long ago. She cleaned you up, and I put you to bed. She told me all the things you have done for her since we arrived.”
“What do you mean what all I have done for her?” I asked.
Henry sighed. “Her fear of Abbass is overshadowed by her loyalty to you. Egyptian people, most especially natives like Hagar, are profoundly loyal and superstitious. You remember her saying like the Diamond of the Nile?”
I nodded.
“There is a legend of a goddess that will save lost souls. She is kind and beautiful; she can tame the wildest of spirits, in man and beast.” I thought of Berg when he shot me a knowing glance. “Her skin is white as a dove and her eyes are like the rare Diamond of the Nile.”
I rolled my eyes then snorted. “She can’t possibly think that I am a goddess.”
“I don’t know what she believes. She just told me the story and left it at that. There is more to it; the name of the goddess is Neith.” He sat up to watch my reaction. He got one. I remembered my first night meeting Abbass and his comparison of this goddess and me.
“That proves its untruth; Neith is the goddess of war and a protector of sorts.” I stated quickly. I prepared for his reaction. Yet nothing happened. Calm and happy were all I could sense.
“I don’t know what you are getting anxious for, Love. I am too happy to be sitting here talking to you to be angry, for now.” He grinned mischievously. I couldn’t help myself. I smiled back.
“Hagar told me that part of the legend, too. Over time, details are lost. It would make sense that Abbass would only focus on the powerful part of the legend.”
Realizing Henry probably heard more of my conversation with Abbass on the night of my first run, I wanted to drop the subject.
“So do we have a plan, Henry?” I asked.
“Of course.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. I could sense his false confidence but didn’t call him on it, appreciating his efforts. “We are going to find what we can, get it to Abram, and leave Egypt.”
“Do you have any leads?”
“Well actually I do, thanks to you.”
I could only stare at him. “Me? What did I do?”
“I think that his office is the key, the only problem is I can’t find it.” He rubbed his chin. Henry reminded me of the guard Abbass had spoken with at the stables.
“Henry, did you know that Abbass’s guards all speak Arabic and his servants speak Egyptian?”
“That’s clever, Love. Now we have two clues thanks to you. You don’t think…” He stopped.
“What?” I encouraged.
“You don’t think Hagar would know anything?” I could sense his apprehension.
“I could ask her. She might,” I conceded, although I hated to get her any more involved but the sooner we finished the better off all of us would be. That’s when I realized I couldn’t leave without her.
“So, what do you want to do now?” he asked. My stomach let out a roar. I giggled; there was a knock on the door. It was too late for dinner. Henry jumped up to answer. It was Hagar. She carried a tray that had a wonderful variety of fruit, bread, and cheese. She sat the tray on the bed and left without saying a word.
Henry insisted I eat all of the food. I was hungry but not that hungry. He cleared the tray away from the bed and set it on a table after I finished. I attempted to get up to take a shower, but my legs were weak from being in the bed twenty-four hours, so I almost fell. Of course, Henry caught me.
“Where are you going?” he scolded.
“To take a shower, why? Don’t you think I need one?” I insisted.
I could sense his guilt. “Well, you did have a bath,” he admitted sheepishly. I briefly remembered having a bath, but for some reason I thought Hagar assisted me. It dawned on me, the reason for his guilt, and a flush covered my entire body.
“What, Love?” he appealed. I couldn’t deny him when he called me love, it was like a secret password to my heart. Nevertheless, there was a catch; it was voice activated.
He held me firmly around the waist his intense eyes pleading for me to answer. I copied Hagar. My head hung low, I fidgeted with a strand of my hair. I gulped. I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t get to look away long, he picked me up and moved us back over to the bed. I took a deep breath and attempted to sense him. He had a wide range of emotions.
“I would suggest you not sense me right now. I need to explain myself.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him. He was so devastatingly handsome. It was a twisted irony. There was never any middle ground. I was either gawking at him or couldn’t face him. There is no way he could even remotely be attracted to me as I was to him. Sure, I had sensed intermittent feelings. Nevertheless, he had also commented on how thin I was, bony I think was the word he used. Of course, that was many months ago. I wasn’t bony anymore but I wasn’t curvy or womanly like Shae was, either. I always imagined Henry’s attraction was for women who were voluptuous. His next movements halted the internal conflict in my mind only to start one in my body.
He ran his fingers lightly up and down my arm leaving a blazing trail of sensation. Leaning against the pillows he propped up behind me he gently kissed my forehead moving painfully slow down the side of my cheek, along the profile of my chin before finally stopping at my collarbone. I could feel his sweet cool breath, ironically enough, leaving hot trails along my skin.
He hovered at my neck his breath husky and rapid. Then he finally sat up enough to look me in the eye. Never breaking contact his crystal eyes hypnotized me. “How can I be disappointed in a woman whose beauty has been compared to that of an ancient goddess?” Then I fit myself securely in to the fold of his embrace.
“A perfect fit,” he whispered.
Chapter Twenty Three
Henry
In their suite at the compound
With Marie sleeping peacefully in my arms, my thoughts retraced the events of the last few days. I had once again almost compromised her life and the mission. When I came back to the suite and found her missing, I tore the suite apart looking for clues. Her running shoes were missing. That’s when I knew all too well she was out scouting. After time dragged on without her returning, my patience was gone. I was irrational with worry. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally decided to go on a search for her. It was when I almost trampled Hagar in my haste that I started to regain some common sense.
Marie was naturally sweet. Nevertheless, it seemed her kindness was unending. She had covered Hagar with a blanket before she left to go running. Hagar talked me out of going after her. Nevertheless, she did let me know when Marie had left and where she was heading. She offered to go and look, it being safer for her to be wandering about than I. Normally I would have been hesitant at accepting her help, but I was desperate, and I could sense her worry and concern for Marie as well.
After Henry had waited far too long, Hagar showed up stumbling and half dragging under Marie’s weight. I picked her up and cradled her against me. Her slurred speech sounded like the harps of heaven. She smelled awful, like a horse’s stall. I was determined to find out what she had been doing. Even in her unkempt appearance, I was still attracted to her and I was ashamed when she was clearly suffering. I called on Hagar to prepare her for bed. She had happily obliged. I had never been a man to ask for help or even accept help, but like so many other ways, Marie had changed me.
After I passed a long and sleepless night, Shae and Collin showed up the next day. I hadn’t slept since coming to Egypt. I sat quietly waiting for them to leave, no intentions of answering the door. To my surprise, Shae threatened to yell if I did not. I got up trying to control my temper. Manners were far from my list of priorities at the time. I opened the door a crack and glared at Shae.
She didn’t even flinch; she moved her head around trying to look past me to see Marie. It was when I saw Collin that I began to soften. His face was an open apology. I soon found out she embarrassed him often, but he did not mind as he was hopelessly devoted to her. When he said that he was a medic during his time in the military and offered to look at Marie, I practically dragged them in by their shirts.
Collin checked Marie’s pulse with only his watch and hand. Hagar suddenly appeared with a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. She handed Collin the instruments and dutifully stood over to the side and waited while he worked. When he said her vitals were all normal, I was so relieved she just had vitals. I remembered during her black outs there would be times she did not even have a pulse. I sensed Shae’s tension begin to ease. Nevertheless, Collin’s did not and this perplexed me.
Hagar appeared from our bathroom with a bowl of warm water, a washcloth, and brush. She washed Marie’s face and neck while Shae brushed her hair out and hummed. I could not help but notice how beautiful the sound was. Collin and I stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. I did not want to leave Marie. However, I took comfort in the feelings I sensed from Hagar and Shae. Marie once again had me sideswiped, only this time she was not even trying. She possessed this unnatural pull. It was as if they all had the same need I felt, not even close to the same degree, but a need still the same. They were loyal to her. It was intriguing. Do not get me wrong, I was elated they cared for her, but it was so quick, and it went beyond just Hagar and Shae. Collin cared for her, but it wasn’t like other men. It was more along the lines of a brother or father. I initially thought it was because he loves his wife so much, and she loved Marie. It wasn’t though. It was genuine.
We stood in silence for a while. I sensed him. Collin was a naturally quiet man, the complete opposite of his wife. He was still anxious. He finally told me what the root of his concern was. He too had noticed the unusually fast and close bond that Shae had formed with Marie. He was worried about Abbass and the danger that we were all in. I didn’t sense any resentment when he spoke of Abbass; I felt, oddly enough, guilt. We tried to figure out what plot Abbass might be formulating against us and how to react as necessary to each scenario. We were careful to speak in hushed tones being out on in the open.
I found myself immensely impressed with Collin’s intellect. I complimented him on his cleverness. He laughed and expressed the same regard. I found out he went to college paying for it through military service. He originally was going to get a medical degree but went in a different direction when his commanding officer saw his natural gift for weapons development and analysis. That’s why he was here, he worked closely with the Egyptian government, Abbass invited him, and he unfortunately was obligated to attend.
I began to notice how I to was becoming comfortable with Collin. This was an unusual thing. I rarely let this happen. I still had this gut feeling he was hiding something. I ignored it, just grateful for his company. His camaraderie was a temporary distraction from Marie. I asked him how he met his wife; he unexpectedly began howling in laugher. It was an odd reaction for him being quiet natured. When he told me how I could not help but laugh as well.
He was in the U.S on a business trip down in Georgia. He was exploring new software development. The developer was in Georgia attending a horse show and invited Collin along. Not wanting to be rude, he accepted. He said he usually would not have attended something like that on his own. That is where he met Shae. She was part of a group called the Georgia Belles.
The group consisted of her and three other women who did stunts and jumps on horses. They were successful and beautiful. There were many men there just to see them. The man who invited Collin was one of their biggest fans. I noticed how his face appeared to glow, making him look ten years younger when he described meeting her. He said she was the most stunning and talented of all the women in the group. She was so in tune with the horse that you could not figure out where her body ended and the horses began the movement so fluid.
Collin’s host had passes to go
meet the women. He invited Collin along. He said he asked Shae out for a drink and she blew him off. One of the girls in the group gave him an address and said she would be there that night at eight. The address was at a bar in Atlanta called, Aspire. The bar had a small dance floor where several tables were set up in front of a stage. He looked everywhere for Shae, and when he didn’t find her he assumed it was a prank. He almost missed her. She walked out on stage just as he was leaving. He said he sat down at a table right out front making sure she saw him. She ignored him.
He said when she started to sing it was like being under a spell. Her voice was more beautiful than all the choruses of heaven. After she was done with her set, he snuck backstage, determined not to leave until she agreed to see him. When he reached her dressing room, he heard a ruckus and shouts were coming from behind the door. He burst into the room to find a man slumped over with his face in his hands. Shae was in the corner of the dressing room in a robe. The man had blood gushing from his hands and was crying. He ran out the door behind Collin.
