Curse of the Scarab King

by Wend Petzler

  Setti made sure his chambers were next to Kate's. If he could not be with her, at least he was close in case she needed him. Dismissing the servants, Setti stripped his dusty clothes off and strode into the sunken tub filled with hot water. Sighing, he went about scrubbing away the evidence of their long journey. Rubbing his bare scalp, his smile widened when he realized his hair had never grown back. Was it part of his curse to never change physically? When assured he was truly clean, he left the pool and dried off with the sheets left for his use. Slipping under the covers of the enticing bed, Setti plumped up the long pillows and prepared to sleep. Alone in the big bed, he felt something missing as he tried to find a comfortable position to sleep in.

  The terrible truth hit him—he missed Kate.

  A knot welled inside him and the loneliness assaulted him. How can he live through the centuries without Kate? Shunning the awful thought of being alone forever, Setti sought to obtain rest. Just as sleep was about to overcome him, a frantic pounding on the door sent him flying out of the bed. Grabbing a linen sheet, he wrapped it around his hips before answering the door.

  Hotep

  "What is wrong?” Setti demanded, looking around the empty corridor for danger.

  "You must come, my lord! The man you traveled with is tearing up Ramose's chambers. We cannot subdue him.” Hotep breathed hard from fighting Sabni who possessed the strength of ten men in his maddened state.

  Undecided if he should wake Kate, Setti heard the shouts and swore vehemently, “Damn!"

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  Chapter Twenty

  "Come, we'll have to place him somewhere safe until Sabni calms down.” He charged down the hall, Hotep on his heels.

  "Should we not wake the mistress? She has the power to calm him when others fail."

  Shaking his head, Kate needed her sleep. “We shall take care of him on our own."

  Outside Ramose's chambers, the doors buckled, a ‘thud’ of a body slamming against the wood. Setti waited a moment before opening the doors. The guards tried to hold back the madman from harming them and himself. Surprised by the destruction reaped upon the chamber, he knew with a heavy heart they had only one choice—they must restrain Sabni.

  "Hotep, fetch me shackles. Tell one of your men to go and prepare a cell for our friend. He will be safer in confinement."

  Casting a worried look at his Pharaoh, Hotep did as ordered and returned shortly with the chains. At Setti's curt nod, the guards tackled Sabni all at once, wrestling him to the floor. Hotep dove in and placed the shackles on Sabni's wrists and ankles. Breathing hard from the effort to bring the crazed man down, the gathered soldiers watched in amazement as Sabni curled into a ball and wept.

  Setti placed a gentle hand on Sabni's matted head, feeling rotten at what they were forced to do to the heartbroken man. “Carefully take him down to the cell and let him sleep.” Facing Ramose, “Forgive me, Grandfather, I should have taken more caution with our guest."

  "Will he be well?” Ramose asked, motioning for the servants to go about restoring the wrecked room.

  "Yea, he shall be fine after he calms and has rested,” Setti grimly stated, knowing Kate would be angry at him for what he'd done to Sabni.

  * * * *

  Waking from a deep sleep, Kate blinked in confusion, not recognizing her whereabouts. Staring out the open balcony doors, she saw the sky dark, and it took a full moment to realize it was evening. Serving girls assembled and politely waited for her to rise and allow them to help with her dress for the evening fare. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kate reached for the discarded bathing sheet and covered, rising from the bed. However, she wasn't allowed to keep it for long. One girl removed it and another slipped a white, tight fitting gown over her head, the material clinging to the shapely curves of her body. The thin straps kept the gown in place. A pleated shawl dress was added, the sheer creation drifting past her shapely ankles. The transparent material exposed the beautifully made gown underneath. Urged to sit on a cushioned stool, a finely made pair of leather sandals were placed on her feet.

  Another young woman took up a wooden handled brush, the bristles made from boar's hair, and began brushing out Kate's tangled hair. Effortless, she brought the silky mass to a shining luster, the cinnamon color brilliant in the dusky light of brass oil lamps burning. Bronze clasps were fastened into the long lengths, pulling back Kate's hair away from her tanned features. Several more serving girls held mahogany boxes containing jewelry, open for Kate's inspection, allowing her to choose what she wished to wear for the evening meal. Overwhelmed by the Egyptians’ generosity, she chose two golden armbands in the shapes of serpents bearing emerald eyes. The armbands wrapped around her biceps, the snakes’ heads appeared to glide up her arm. Dangling gold and blue ankhs were slipped into her pierced ears. Anklets with tiny bells were fastened around her ankles.

  When she looked into the polished silver mirror, Kate gasped in amazement, peering closer at her unfamiliar reflection. Unbelieving of the drastic change in her appearance, Kate realized she had lost a lot of weight, something she'd tried for years to do, but always failed. A soft laugh escaped her, thinking how she'd done it. Getting lost in the desert and living off dried meat and drinking water, a journey she'd hardly recommend to her Weight Watchers group. Turning around, there were tears in her eyes, alarming the serving girls. When she saw their distress, she smiled, hugging each one, surprising them.

  "Thank you for making me so beautiful. I love the dress and jewelry,” Kate gushed, wiping away her tears. The confused and frightened girls smiled in understanding. Pariah took Kate's hands in hers.

  "Dear child, we are honored to have made you happy. But if I may, you are already beautiful. Please follow me and I shall take you to the private quarters of the Vizier. Your companion awaits you."

  Kate followed, taking a more careful note of her surroundings, in case of trouble. Mike was somewhere out there, armed with the same knowledge as she of the history here, perhaps changing it to suit his needs. Would he still try to make SobeKnefru an immortal? Pondering the mummy in possession of the future Shedty, Kate suddenly had an idea of major proportions. If her ideas proved to be successful, she needed Sabni's help.

  Time travel was not a concept she had believed in until she was inadvertently sent back to Ancient Egypt. With the Black Book in her possession, she might have a chance at changing the course of the future and stop the ritual of bringing back SobeKnefru as a living goddess: an Immortal.

  When they stood before Ramose's doors, two heavily armed guards opened it for her to enter. They bowed respectfully as she passed them by into the chamber. Setti stood beside his grandfather, wearing a white, pleated sarong, a separate section was drawn over his left shoulder. A wide belt of beaded red carnelian and blue feldspar was fastened around his lean hips. The ruby scarab amulet sparkled evilly in the light. A cold chill swept over her as she stared at the gem holding Setti hostage. Forcibly reining in her misgivings, Kate smiled at the waiting men who bowed at the waist as she approached them.

  Setti felt his stomach flutter as he viewed a very different Kate Martin. Her long hair polished copper in the golden light cast by the oil lamps, violet eyes bright with uncertainty as she waited for his approval. He knew he should say something complimentary, but the words stuck in an increasingly tight throat, desperate to deny his feelings for Kate.

  Ramose was the first to speak, walking around the low, black lacquered table to take her slender hands in his much larger ones. “My dear, you are as stunning as the rising sun blessing the desert. Your beauty shines upon us poor, mortal men.” Guilty, Ramose glanced at his grandson. Setti's chiseled features hardened perceptibly. Faced with the terrible truth, Ramose remembered Setti wasn't a mortal anymore. “Come, let us eat. You must be famished after your long journey.” His sharp eyes missed little, leading her to a seat across from Setti. The boy's eyes never left her. Was Setti falling in love with the foreign woman? Please Ra, let it not be so! Unable
to bear the wretched feeling of losing his grandson again because he loved the wrong woman as he had with Yoshabel, Ramose grew calm, knowing Setti would do what was right for Egypt.

  Smiling her gratitude, Kate adjusted her dress and carefully sat on the flat pillows, using the heavier, larger ones as a backrest. “Thank you, my lord, for you generous compliment, I am indebted to you for the opportunity to bathe and wear clean clothes again."

  Impressed by her gracious manners, especially for a foreigner, Ramose inclined his bald head in acceptance. Clapping his hands, he signaled for dinner to be served. “Do not be shy, eat and drink to your fill. After what Setti has told me of your journey, I shall not be offended in the least. Tonight, we shall dine in an informal atmosphere."

  Golden cups were filled with wine of such rich, delightful fragrance, her mouth watered in anticipation of drinking it. The first sip tasted heavenly, the full bodied taste rich and delicious, unlike anything she'd drunk before. Kate drank slow, enjoying the taste of red grapes mingled with honey, fermented to perfection. Her eyes widened when several servants brought in trays laden with fresh dates, grapes, and flatbread. Trays bearing thin slices of beef, assorted fish boiled and grilled, followed by brass bowls containing boiled onions and fresh greens simmering in various sauces. A servant waited patiently for her to indicate which items she wished to eat and placed the item on the gold platter before her. Each bite succulent, every taste unique and savored, never had Kate enjoyed eating as she did at the table of Ramose, the great Vizier of Egypt.

  Conversation was delayed while Setti and Kate ate. At last, dessert was brought out. Kate thought she had no more room until a smiling servant placed a scoop of honey-sweetened berry mixture over a bowl of honey-date cakes. Savoring each delicious spoonful, Kate finished the treat and rested back against the pillow, stuffed. Full and a little bit drunk from the potent wine, she felt completely happy. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she would be in such wondrous surroundings or eating such simple, culinary delights.

  Ramose waited until Setti and his companion finished and the dishes removed. Many questions needed to be asked, more whirled in his mind. When he felt the time right, he motioned for them to rise and come with him out onto the balcony. “I wish to speak about what happened to you, my grandson, in the last four years."

  Unsure how to answer his grandfather's question, Setti gazed out over the darkened city, broken by blazing torches, bright beacons along the narrow streets below. “SobeKnefru asked the priest to cast a spell on me, one where she could hide me somewhere out of her way until she could kill me at her leisure. The night I was to be crowned, Sabni placed a potion in my wine, and I drank it like a trusting idiot. As I lay on the ground, Yoshabel came and found me. SobeKnefru murdered her right before my very eyes and laid the blame on me. After I was taken from the palace, I know not what happened. I only remember being in the endless dark, all alone.” Until he felt Kate's hand mysteriously touch his as he lay within the sarcophagus, giving him hope he would finally be released from the hell he was condemned to.

  Ramose stared at Setti, unsure what to believe when Kate explained further. “I found Setti in what I thought was the hidden tomb of Amenemhet the Third, three thousand years from now. Trapped inside the sarcophagus, he had been placed there by Imtep and the priests of Ra. I believe Setti was to be there only for a few days, except they never came back to release him from his coffin."

  Horror filled Ramose's eyes as he thought of the endless terror his grandson endured over three thousand years of darkness and solitude. “I never knew what happened to you. The night I thought you murdered, Imtep and his priests took you away, telling me they were preparing your body for burial. Four days later they were murdered and the Temple destroyed. SobeKnefru declared herself Queen Pharaoh and claimed the Double Crown with the allegiance of Inarus, leader of the Shedty supporting her. Overnight, they controlled most of Egypt."

  Frowning, Setti crossed his arms and gazed down at his grandfather, surprised to see the age lines made Ramose appear quite old. “Why did she allow you to remain Royal Vizier?"

  A crafty smile curved Ramose's narrow features. “I have the Egyptian Army as my ally, something she can never possess without my aid."

  Laughing at Ramose's bold statement, Setti was relieved his grandfather still remained in command. “Grandfather, I need to get close to SobeKnefru. Is there any possible way without winding up in a coffin again?"

  Stroking his bare chin, Ramose walked along the balcony, thinking of a solution. “In seven days’ time, SobeKnefru will host the Festival of the Dead in Itj-towy."

  "Has she altered the way the festival is celebrated?"

  "The Shedty allow the people to worship and celebrate the sacred night of the living dead as they have for centuries. Why?” Ramose asked, wondering where Setti went with his idea.

  A wicked grin curved Setti's granite hard face, making him look like an avenging seraph. “I might know someone whose expertise in sneaking into a palace will come in handy."

  Kate worried over Setti's plans and the real possibility of being caught. “Setti, what are you planning? Is it revenge you seek, or do you wish to end the curse placed on you?"

  Taking her hand in his, he tried to reassure her, already having made the decision to remain an immortal. He could not kill Sabni to save himself. There was no honor in murdering an insane man. “Do not worry, I plan not to kill my sister, but she will be arrested and tried before our judges for her crimes against me, Yoshabel, and Egypt."

  Not quite sure what he left out, she decided it time she checked on Sabni. “If you will excuse me, I want to see how Sabni is doing. Where is he?"

  Ramose motioned for a manservant to come. “Take the young woman to her friend. Bring her anything she asks in taking care of him.” The servant bowed, patiently waiting for Kate to follow him.

  "Goodnight, my lords.” Kate smiled faintly at Setti and Ramose, halting when she heard Setti's soft words.

  "Sleep well, Kate.” Setti's gaze warmed as she stared up at him. His breath caught when he saw in her eyes the brief fire of desire. The contact broken when she backed away, placing a certain amount of safe distance from him.

  "Goodnight, Setti.” Her voice husky, Kate turned and fled, unable to hide her emotions from Setti anymore. The need to see Sabni replaced her confusion concerning Setti. She must try to get past the insanity holding Sabni prisoner and ask him the important questions only he could answer.

  Ramose watched the entire exchange, concerned. Certain sadness filled his heart when he realized what Setti planned to do. When the girl had gone, he faced Setti. “Will you not take the Golden Throne?"

  "I will wear the Double Crown until Amenemhet's son comes of age. He is, after all the rightful King of Egypt. Afterward, I will protect him and his family as none other can.” Determination etched Setti's strong features, staring at his beloved city below.

  "I have looked far and wide for Nefari and her son. My spies came up with nothing.” Ramose poured more wine in his cup, feeling defeated.

  "Nefari is with Jacob, my second in command. I have sent word in hope he will bring the heir of Egypt back home."

  Hope renewed Ramose. “Why do you wish to hand the Double Crown over so quickly? Do you not want to be Pharaoh?” He asked softly, not understanding Setti. Many in Setti's position would kill to be Pharaoh.

  Smiling ruefully at the question, Setti poured more wine in his cup. “After spending three thousand years in a coffin, it has changed my perspective about ruling our kingdom. I have come to the firm conclusion I am destined to be Guardian of Egypt, not her ruler. None other can do what I am capable of."

  "What is that?” Ramose felt an apprehensive chill sweep over him at the unwavering gleam in Setti's darkening eyes.

  "I cannot die."

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  Chapter Twenty One

  Staring in absolute horror at Sabni's shackled limbs, Kate's shocked gaze followed the
heavy chain, finding it attached to a solid, metal ring fastened in the stone floor. He batted at his head, mumbling unintelligibly as he walked around and around the small cell like a wild, caged animal.

  What had Setti done to him?

  A small sound behind Kate made her whirl around, unprepared to find a young priest stepping out of the shadows. Dressed in a white loincloth with a cloak tossed over his bare shoulders, the teenager bowed to her, his boyish features sad.

  "Forgive me, my lady for startling you. I snuck down here when I heard of his confinement. I am Jarha, junior priest of Sobek,” he introduced himself. Alarmed by the fright in her eyes, he hurried to ally her fear, “No, I am not a Shedet. My master and I fled to Thebes, seeking sanctuary from Inarus, High Priest of the Shedty."

  "Why are you running from the Shedty?” She asked, confused as she watched the young man open the unlocked door of the cell and entered.

  "Inarus will seek to use my gift, once he learns I possess the Sight."

  "You have dreams like Sabni?"

  "Yes. Come, we must clean him up.” Jarha withdrew a key from his cloak. Winking at Kate's surprise, he went about unlocking the shackles attached to Sabni's wrists, staggering backward when the man shoved past him, roughly grabbing Kate by the shoulders.

  "You must leave Thebes! She is coming for you.” Sabni's eyes glazed over as whatever he saw in his mind took over.

  Trying not to panic, Kate gently placed her hands on his bearded face, urging him to look at her. “Sabni, who is coming for me?"

  "Her,” Sabni whispered hoarsely, afraid.

  "SobeKnefru?"