Carved in Stone

by Stein Willard

  She slowly made her way over to the master bathroom. Aeron gasped at the lavishness. It was bigger than her entire room at the boarding house in Ankara. Her eyes touched on the enormous bath and then the spacious shower. Shaking her head, she couldn’t help but think that it was big enough to accommodate at least five people comfortably.

  She approached the bar that contained many bottles of alcohol. She grinned at the exquisite brands - the Sultana wasn’t only rich, she also had impeccable taste. Her mom would be absolutely impressed with the woman’s taste. Thinking about her mother, Aeron wished she’d brought a cell phone so she could share the moment with her mother. Her not owning a cell phone was largely thanks to the undergraduates who would spend enormous amounts of time chatting and texting on their phones and not paying attention to the wealth of historical knowledge around them. For that reason, she had banned the use of cell phones at the museum.

  Her eyes lit on the phone on her nightstand and for a moment she was really tempted. But her mother’s painstaking ethics held her back. Unless you were given permission or paid for it, you are not to assume that you are allowed to use a phone. She sighed and instead began to unpack her clothes. Recalling that Sadik had told her to rest a little before lunch, Aeron stretched herself out on the inviting bed. She moaned softly when an elusive scent of plum and musk wafted off the bedding and floated to her nostrils. She closed her eyes. This was pure luxury.

  Her body was sleek and slippery from the rain and the sweet-smelling bathing oils, but it didn’t deter her lover to grasp her hips tightly. She sighed deeply when she felt two hard points stab into her back. It was nearing her wife’s bleeding cycle and she knew that for the next three days she will be ravished numerous times before her wife was settled again.

  “Did you rest well, beloved,” she heard the husky, desire-filled voice of her wife in her ear.

  She chuckled softly as she placed her larger hand over the smaller one on her hip. “What is it you are asking, really?” A soft kiss was placed on her neck and she groaned. “You are so eloquent in expressing your needs, my heart.”

  “Only because you are so fluent in knowing my every want and need,” a soft voice whispered in her ear followed by a soft nip at the earlobe.

  Turning around, she grabbed the naked body to hers. “You do realize that I have not been with you for over five moons. I might not be able to hold back. Are you scared?”

  “I want you anyway I can get you.”

  “Even when my desire equals that of a ravenous predator?” she asked carefully as her hand travelled lower to touch the soft, springy hair between the slick thighs.

  “Especially then,” the woman in her arms gasped as she opened her legs wider. “I love you.”

  Aeron jerked upright, her hands immediately went to cover her eyes. These dreams will make her go stark raving mad! Who was this woman who looked like her and why couldn’t she see the face of her mysterious lover? She caught the time on the bedside clock and flew from the bed. It was almost noon. Her nap lasted almost three hours. As she undressed hurriedly, she was vaguely aware that her hangover was much better.

  ***

  Aka almost stumbled when she walked out onto the patio and found a very tall blonde woman standing with her back to her, staring out at the Bay. She wiped her suddenly sweaty hands on her skirt. She was less than ten steps away from a legend. A woman whose love had caused a prolific queen to forsake the gods and ultimately lose all her power in the process.

  The blonde head tilted slowly. Aka took a deep breath. Her presence has been detected. Aeron turned slowly and Aka could only stare. Intense golden eyes met and held hers. A sudden thrill went down her spine. If ever she’d doubted that this was Phage, all doubts fled her mind at that moment. She had seen the woman before on a monitor during their dinner at the penthouse, but the person standing before her was different. She was simply magnificent in person. The most prominent features of the woman were her large, powerful body and the penetrating golden gaze. Oh Aspen, I can truly understand now why after three millennia you still mourn this woman. At first glance it was evident that Aeron fit Aspen like a glove. They were both beautiful, powerful and confident. Smiling weakly, Aka approached the woman.

  “Dr. Whittaker, welcome.”

  Aeron smiled and Aka blinked at the transformation. The golden eyes lightened with pleasure and the beautiful, but stern features melted into a mask of congeniality. Aka swallowed hard. Aspen didn’t stand a chance.

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Aeron held out her hand and Aka was impressed with the firm handshake. What else did she expect from the consort of a queen?

  “Please, call me Aka.”

  “In that case, you can call me Aeron,” the blonde said.

  “I would like that very much, Aeron.” Aka said with a small smile. For all her size and intensity, Aka could sense a delightful gentleness to the woman. Aspen has made an excellent choice. “Lunch is ready and I was just about to check if the weather would play along so we could have lunch on the patio.”

  Aeron threw her arms wide, her eyes twinkling. “This…this place is incredible and the weather is playing along with our plans to dine outside. Would you need help setting the table?”

  Aka quickly held up her hand. “None of that. Not only is it your birthday today, but the Sultana will have my head if she found out I’ve put her guest to work.” With a quick smile, Aka hurried into the house. On her way to the kitchen she saw Sadik coming down the hallway. She waited until he joined her before she spoke. “She’s on the patio.”

  “Good. I shall get the wine in the meantime,” Sadik said jovially. When Aka didn’t move on, he placed his hand on her shoulder. “Is everything okay?”

  Aka shook her head slowly, biting her lower lip. “I still can’t believe that she’s finally here. I’m so happy for Aspen.”

  Sadik kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’m happy for her too. After lunch I’ll go check up on Aspen. I believe you mentioned before that she awakens earlier now.”

  “Yes, you need to prepare her for this.”

  “I think she’ll do just fine,” Sadik said with a teasing smile. “Surely, during three millennia, she’s picked up a thing or two on how to seduce a woman.”

  Shaking her head at her son, Aka pushed past him and continued to the kitchen as Sadik’s chuckle followed her. She doubted Aspen would see the humour in this.

  ***

  Aeron couldn’t believe her luck. Here she was, on her birthday, enjoying the most delicious seafood salad she has ever tasted, on the terrace of a super-luxurious villa overlooking a picturesque bay. She closed her eyes briefly to etch the memory into her mind. When she opened her eyes, Sadik was busy refilling their wine glasses. Studying him, she took in the change she saw in him. Unlike the suited businessman she’d met a few times in Ankara, Sadik was dressed in loose-fitting cotton pants and a black T-shirt. He looked so much younger and relaxed. He met her eyes and smiled.

  “If you’re trying to get me drunk, you’re succeeding,” she teased.

  “It’s your birthday and you can do and have anything you want,” Aka interrupted. Her dark eyes were warm as they looked at her. “You are still so young and beautiful. Is there no-one you would rather have spent the day with?”

  Sadik’s head jerked in his mother’s direction, but before he could admonish the older woman, Aeron quickly interrupted. She liked the woman and her question was in no way invasive.

  “Up to this point in my life, my work was my sole priority. I hope to see that change when I return to the States,” she answered honestly.

  Both Aka and Sadik had almost pained looks on their faces. Sadik cleared his voice as he sat up straighter.

  “You are still planning on returning to the States?”

  Aeron took a sip from her wine. “I’ve been gone from home for too long. I hope to find someone and maybe start a family.”

  “What if you find someone here? Would you stay?” Aka sounded almost desperate, c
ausing Aeron to frown slightly. Was there something going on that she didn’t know about? Nothing about Sadik or Aka had set off any alarm bells. Or was she not paying enough attention to her sixth sense? Or maybe she was just reading too much into nothing.

  “Well, I don’t know. I will have to weigh my options carefully, of course.”

  Sadik nodded in agreement. “You’re right. One can’t be too impulsive.”

  Happy to drop the topic, Aeron turned the conversation to the horses she’d seen earlier.

  CHAPTER 16

  Sadik waited patiently for the electronic key to read his thumb print while studying the screen of his mobile phone. It was only half past two and way too early for Aeron to be up and about. At least this will give him the chance to remove any traces of Phage before he brought the archaeologist down here after dinner. The door slid open and putting his phone in the pants pocket, he entered the cool interior of the Vault, only to come to a shocked stopped.

  The podium was empty.

  He pulled out his phone again to look at the time. It was too early. A movement in the corner of the room caught his attention. Aspen stood with her back to him.

  “With her so close, it is easier to transform during the day,” Aspen said quietly. She turned to face him and Sadik noticed the tablet in her hands. It was a token Phage had made for Aspen on their second wedding anniversary. It was a love poem, engraved in liquid gold, with both their names and their wedding date. That tablet was the elusive piece of evidence that Aeron needed to substantiate her thesis.

  “I didn’t know that,” Sadik said as he came to stand next to her.

  “Me neither. I think I must’ve awakened the moment she set foot in the house.”

  Sadik smiled. “My mother is totally enamoured with her. You will know why when you officially meet her.”

  Aspen’s eyes flashed briefly and Sadik blinked. Was that lust that he just saw in her eyes?

  “I saw her earlier,” Aspen said softly and smiled. “She was sleeping.”

  “What? You…you were in her room? You can’t do that. What if she’d seen you?” Sadik combed his fingers through his hair. “You could ruin this before we’ve had a chance.”

  Aspen smirked at him. “I’ve lived long enough to know how to make myself invisible. She was fast asleep.”

  “But still. In this century they have names for people who follow and watch other people. Believe me you don’t want be branded a stalker or a creep. You can’t do that again.”

  “She didn’t see me, Sadik. Relax.” Aspen looked down at the tablet. She was silent for a long moment. “She had this made while in Greece. She had taken time off from her fighting to find someone to make this.” Aspen sighed softly. “She wanted it carved in stone and etched with gold, so it would last forever.”

  Sadik listened carefully, trying to make out what Aspen was really trying to tell him. The dark head lifted and Sadik was pierced by a sharp gaze.

  “I will not let her get away. Not when she promised to love me forever.” The dark eyes were serious. “We belong together.”

  For a moment Sadik worried about a stalker threat. People change and technically Aeron and Phage are not the same person anymore. What would happen if Aeron refused Aspen’s advances? What will it do to Aspen? Maybe they had neglected to prepare Aspen for such an outcome.

  “Aspen, you do realize that it might not be easy to convince her. She… she might not recognize you.” He watched her closely to gauge her reaction. Aspen’s face remained impassive. “You understand what I’m trying to say, don’t you?”

  “I do. You fear that I might force my attentions on her.” A slow smile began to form on Aspen’s lips. “You need not worry about that. I will respect her decision.”

  The smile worried Sadik.

  “I trust you will do the right thing,” he ended up saying. “The reason I sought you out was to talk about tonight. The kitchen’s preparing a five-star meal as you requested. Would you like for us all to be in attendance? Also, I think we should bring her down here tonight to study the artefacts. I can’t help but think that she still doubts their existence. It would be a perfect ending to her birthday.”

  Aspen shrugged. “I would love having you and Aka join us. I’ve noticed that she is extremely observant. Having you around would help me to avoid any slips.”

  “Yes. You’re right.” Sadik wondered why he hadn’t thought about it himself. Meeting Aeron for the first time would be a huge, emotional experience to say the least. It would pay to give her a moment to recover first. “I should’ve thought about that, Sultana.”

  Aspen squeezed his shoulder. “You’ve done all the work up to this stage. Now it’s my turn to do something too. Whatever happens from here, know that all this is possible because of you.”

  The dark eyes were warm with affection and to his embarrassment Sadik felt himself blushing.

  “It was my duty as your servant and my duty as your son to find Phage.”

  Aspen pulled him in for a hug and Sadik was taken back to a day almost twenty-five years before. He had flown in for the holidays from London, where he attended Eton. What he hadn’t told his mother and Aspen was that he had come home eager to be surrounded by their love after having had his heart broken by Cheryl Bloomington. Aspen, the ever-intuitive one, had quickly picked up on his pain and drawn him into a tight hug, kissing his temple. She hadn’t said anything. She had simply held him for a very long while. Ashamed, he had cried in her arms. Afterwards, she had wiped his tears, kissed his cheeks and took him riding on this beach. The pain of that breakup had still been with him, but it was nothing compared to the deep love and understanding that the most beautiful and powerful woman he knew had shown him that night. They never spoke about it again.

  Aspen was holding him like that right now. Even at the age of fifty he couldn’t bring himself to feel self-conscious at the gesture. Shrouded by her love, as he was now, Sadik pitied those who would never experience such all-encompassing affection. Aspen broke the embrace and kissed his cheek.

  “I love you,” she whispered. Her eyes were dark with emotion.

  “I love you too, Aunt Aspen.”

  The title earned him a poke in the side, making him yelp in surprise.

  ***

  The horse’s lips tickled her palm as they fumbled for the cube of sugar and Aeron giggled. She patted the horse’s nose. After lunch she has made a beeline for the stables. It was surprisingly easy to find the stables, considering the size of the estate. As she neared the facility, Aeron could only gape. She had been to many stables in her life, but the Sultana’s was by far one of the best she’d ever seen. It was large and airy, thanks to a number of large ceiling fans and high venting windows. The stable master, Demetrios, was friendly and very accommodating in trying his best to converse with her in English. He told her that it was actually a breeding farm with people from across the world sending their animals to them. He had taken her on a tour of the stables, which were in pristine condition. Aeron was giddy with excitement when she spotted a couple of Cleveland Bays, one of the rarest horse breeds in the world. Seeing her excitement, Demetrios had led her over to the stall so she could pat one of the horses. They had worked their way down the centre-aisle stopping at various stalls so she could admire the animals. To Aeron’s surprise and delight she found that the Sultana also owned a few American Creams and Florida Crackers, which were extremely rare and expensive breeds.

  Demetrios then led her out of the barn to show her the outdoor arenas and paddocks she’d seen from the helicopter earlier. A few paces from the barn was an indoor arena. As they entered, Aeron’s eyes almost popped out of her head. Standing in the centre of the arena was the most magnificent animal she’d ever seen. It was a midnight black Arabian. It regarded her with keen intelligence in its wide-set eyes, its small, curved ears pricked. Demetrios told her that the horse’s name was Cloptus. It was also the Sultana’s favourite and the reason many clients send their mares to them. The horse
exuded immense power and even a little haughtiness as it watched her. Demetrios was just explaining that the horse was very particular about who it trusted when the stallion gave a soft neigh and ambled over to them. To their surprise, it started bobbing Aeron her with its head.

  More than an hour later, Aeron was still petting the large stallion. She couldn’t get herself to part from him. She heard footsteps behind her and found Demetrios standing there, an indulgent smile on his face.

  “I thought you had left already.”

  Aeron looked back at Cloptus. “I just can’t seem to leave him.”

  Demetrios chuckled. “Well, in that case I would suggest you come with me so I can show you how to groom him.”

  Aeron had to restrain herself from jumping on Demetrios. She would surely flatten him, seeing as she was more than a head taller than him. Instead, she thanked him and followed him out of the arena just as another employee entered to lead Cloptus to the cleaning stall. After a quick demonstration by Demetrios, Aeron began to languidly groom the horse.

  She was having a crazy fun day. Who’d have thought? This was shaping up to be one of the best birthdays ever.

  ***

  She held out her hands and groaned when she found them shaking wildly. She curled them into fists and dropped her head, her chin resting on her chest. She was nervous and scared and excited; not a very good combination for her churning stomach. She has been trying to act all calm and composed while Sadik was down here with her, but as soon as he’d left, she’d almost crumbled to the floor. No-one alive would understand what she was feeling at that moment and no-one would be able to help her through it. In a few hours she would be put to the hardest test ever. It would be expected of her to act with the dignity befitting her station, while all she really wanted was to crawl into Aeron’s lap, begging her to remember her. To love her. To promise her that everything would be okay.