The Blue Lotus

by Marisa Chenery

  Lost in thought, Kendra nearly jumped out of her skin when her boss slapped a file folder down onto her desk. Looking up, she found him scowling down at her.

  Pasting a smile on her face she asked, “What do you need, Stan?"

  "For you to pay more attention.” He answered sharply.

  "I'm sorry. There have been a lot of things happening at home the last couple of days."

  "That should have no bearing on your ability to do your job here."

  "Sorry.” Kendra apologized once more. “I will try not to let it happen again."

  "See that it doesn't.” Before letting her get back to work, he asked one last question. “How long have you worked for me now?"

  "It has just been over a year."

  He nodded in response. “And by the way, I'm expecting someone for a meeting in the next couple of hours. Be sure to inform me when she arrives."

  "I will. Is she a prospective client?"

  "No. There is no need to concern yourself about it."

  Watching Stan walk away, Kendra had the feeling this person was something more than a normal scheduled meeting. Looking at the appointment book on her desk, she couldn't find any meeting scheduled for that time. She distinctly remembered Stan telling her last week to keep that time slot open and not to book anything then under any circumstances.

  The next two hours passed quickly. When a tall brunette, dressed in an expensively tailored skirt and blazer walked in, Kendra did as Stan instructed her, and buzzed his office telling him the woman was waiting at the front desk. No sooner had she hung up, than Stan was out of his office and walking at a brisk pace toward her desk.

  Without sparing a glance in Kendra's direction, Stan shook the woman's hand and led her back to his office. Kendra just managed to hear him tell the woman that all had been arranged before he closed the door to his office behind them.

  Another hour went by during which Kendra answered the phone when it rang and finished a couple of letters on the computer. When Stan's office door finally opened, she felt her jaw drop open. The woman held him by the arm, which had been handcuffed behind his back. Reaching Kendra's desk, she handed Stan over to the two uniformed police officers that had managed to slip into the gallery without Kendra noticing.

  The woman turned her attention to Kendra. “Sorry to inform you, Miss Miller, but as of today you no longer have a job. Your boss is under arrest."

  "What for? What exactly has he done?"

  "He is charged with shipping stolen goods outside the country.” Seeing Kendra's look of concern, the woman smiled reassuringly at her. “We already know you have had no involvement in this. We have been watching your boss for many months now and did a thorough investigation."

  Kendra breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I had no idea."

  "This started long before you started working for Mr. Wilson.” She passed Kendra a business card. “My name is Detective Peters. We already have more than enough evidence against Mr. Wilson, but just in case we need to talk to you, please keep my card. We have your phone number from your boss's files."

  "I will be sure to do that. I guess I had better pack up my things and go home."

  After packing a small box with the few items she kept at work, Kendra handed over her keys to the gallery to the detective. Stepping through the door for the final time, she felt no great loss. She really hadn't liked her job all that much and she had liked her boss even less.

  Putting the box on the passenger seat of her car, Kendra decided a few days off were in order before she started looking for another job. Maybe she would even wait until Nefertem had to leave. Each day she had with him was precious. She had a bit of a savings to get by. A new job could wait.

  * * * *

  Nefertem paced the living room floor, his movements imitating those of a caged wild animal—something he felt he was slowly turning into. The dream had done more than just put him in contact with his mother. It had started the change in him, the one that would slowly turn him into his mother's child, an animal lusting for mortal blood.

  He was resisting the change, another first for him, and it was making it that much worse. As he paced, he wracked his brain for ideas on how to stop his mother, but he kept drawing a blank. Once called, there was no way to stop the coming of Re's punisher. Feeling helpless and frustrated, Nefertem paced all the more.

  That was how Kendra found Nefertem, pacing, so deeply in thought he did not even realize she was standing there watching him. Putting the box down, she moved further into the room and cleared her throat to get his attention. Spinning on his heel, Nefertem turned in her direction. To her surprise, his eyes were a cat's. Normally they only changed here at home before they made love. Kendra had a feeling they had changed because something else was going on inside Nefertem.

  She spoke first. “All right, Nefertem, its time you start talking. I know you aren't telling me everything about yourself. I think I have a right to know."

  Nefertem tried to suppress the cat, but it was now too strong to let him have full control once again. Which meant his eyes would not change back. Kendra was right; he owed her an explanation. But he wanted someone who understood his world here to help Kendra accept him for what he was. He was quite sure she would not take this well.

  "You are right. I do owe you some kind of explanation, but I am afraid you will not like what I will tell you."

  "Your eyes aren't changing back. Why?"

  "And they won't. Before I say what must be said, I want you to get Tory to bring Scott here."

  "I don't think involving Scott in this situation anymore than he already has been is such a great idea."

  Clasping both her hands in his, he tried to make her see why he wanted Scott, in particular, here. “Kendra, he is the only one I know in this world who will understand where I come from. I feel he may be able to help."

  Looking into his eyes, Kendra could tell Nefertem was not going to change his mind. “Fine. I'll call Tory and see when they both can come over. Since you won't say anymore until they do show up, I'm going to get out of these work clothes."

  Releasing Kendra's hands, Nefertem watched as she went and picked up the box sitting on one of the chairs. “What do you have there?"

  Kendra chuckled. “All my belongings from work. It turns out my boss was involved in some illegal activities. The police came and arrested him today. So I am now out of a job."

  "Does that mean you no longer have to leave each morning?"

  "You got it. I have decided a bit of a vacation is in order as well. So I won't be doing any job-hunting for the next couple of weeks at least. I will be here everyday, all day long."

  "Hmm, that is very good news. And I know just what we can do to pass the hours.” Nefertem took a step closer to Kendra, with a glint in his eyes.

  "Oh no you don't. I won't be sidetracked that easily. I'll change and call Tory. Now behave yourself and stay down here.” Clutching the box closer to her chest, Kendra quickly went and climbed the stairs before her traitorous body threw itself in Nefertem's arms.

  Chapter Ten

  Tory and Scott arrived on Kendra's doorstep exactly a half hour after she had called them. Scott had already been over at Tory's place. Kendra would have to have a little chat with Tory the next time they were alone. Some good-natured ribbing was in order, but for now, she settled for giving her friend a poke in the ribs as she walked by her.

  They decided to order some take-out Chinese food before getting down to the business of why Kendra had invited Tory and Scott over. While they ate, Kendra told the others about the eventful day she had had. Sitting next to her on the couch, Nefertem silently sat, eating his food. He wore her dark sunglasses, keeping his eyes hidden from their guests. Much to Kendra's surprise neither Tory nor Scott made any comment about it.

  Once the left over food was packaged up and put away, the four returned to the living room. A short silence ensued. Tory was the first to break it. “This was a great idea having Scott and me over like t
his, but I am getting the distinct impression there is more behind your invitation than just getting together for the evening."

  Kendra looked over at Nefertem only to find him sitting in stoic silence. Turning back to Tory she said, “Yes, there is a little more to why I called you both to come over. Actually it was Nefertem's idea."

  "So you have decided to tell Kendra who you really are.” Tory directed her comment at Nefertem.

  Kendra felt herself stiffen at Tory's words. This, she had not expected. She had been wracking her brain since they had arrived, trying to figure out how to explain the change in Nefertem's eyes. Obviously, no such explanation was needed from her after all.

  Gaining his feet, Nefertem went to stand in the middle of the room, effectively catching the others’ attention. “You are correct, Tory. Now is the time for me to tell Kendra. I can no longer hide or ignore what I am.” Turning his head, he looked meaningfully at Kendra. Reaching up so he could remove the dark glasses, he let his gaze briefly touch each of the three people in the room.

  At the sharp in-take of breath Scott took, and the gasp Tory made, Kendra realized they hadn't known that part about Nefertem. To be perfectly honest, Scott looked as if he wanted to put Nefertem under a microscope. He seemed unable to take his eyes off the other man's face.

  "All right, Nefertem, enough delays. I want to know what you have been hiding from me.” Kendra said.

  Nefertem stared intently at Kendra. “I'm not a normal, mortal man."

  Kendra grunted in response. “I already know that. I think your eyes are a dead give away, don't you think?"

  "I mean, I am much more. What I am trying to say is that I am immortal."

  "What do you mean immortal? As in not ever going to die, immortal?"

  "Correct."

  "But how can this be? It isn't possible. I know you are from ancient Egypt, but I thought the pendant plucked you from your time and dropped you into mine."

  "That is not how the pendant works, Kendra. I'm a god and the pendant summons me."

  Kendra felt as if she had been punched in the stomach, very hard. “A god. You are a god. One of the many Egyptian gods written about in hieroglyphs?"

  "Correct.” Nefertem could tell Kendra was having a hard time accepting what he had told her. And there was still more to come.

  "If you are a god, why do you have to sleep, eat and do everything else a mortal body needs to do?"

  "Once I am summoned, I become mortal for the duration of my time here."

  She really was having a hard time digesting all that Nefertem was telling her. Being one of those people who didn't believe in an all-powerful god, let alone that any other true gods existed, Kendra's mind was balking at what Nefertem was claiming to be. “Okay, you're a god. God of what?"

  Finally able to pull his eyes from Nefertem's face, Scott answered Kendra's question. “Nefertem was, I mean is, an ancient sun god of Lower Egypt. He is part of the holy triad of Memphis. Son of the god Ptah and the goddess Sekhmet.” At Nefertem's warning growl, he quickly added, “Whom I will from now on call the lioness-headed goddess."

  Hearing Scott confirm that Nefertem was indeed who he claimed to be helped Kendra somewhat. But there was still one big unanswered question bouncing around in her head. “I can now see why you wanted Scott here, but he can't answer all my questions.” Pinning Nefertem with a hard stare, Kendra continued. “You say the pendant summons you. What exactly are you summoned to do?"

  All the life seemed to leave Nefertem's eyes. They turned hard and emotionless. “Once summoned, I am to judge."

  "Judge what?"

  "Mortals. Usually the one who possesses the pendant is the Pharaoh. In turn he can use it to smite down Egypt's enemies."

  "Obviously I am not Pharaoh and we are not in Egypt. There are no enemies here. What can you possibly be judging then?"

  If it was possible, Nefertem's eyes turned even colder. “The entire mortal race."

  For the three mortals sitting in the room that was the last thing they had expected to hear. An eerie silence settled between them and the other-worldly being standing before them.

  Kendra could only stare at this man, this god, whom she had welcomed into her home and into her bed. At this moment, Nefertem didn't resemble the man whom she was coming to care for. All the tenderness and protectiveness he had displayed before had vanished. In their place was only hardness. Being perfectly honest with herself, she found this man made her feel uneasy.

  Clearing her throat, Kendra tired to speak. When her voice came out little more than a croak, she cleared her throat once more. “Who are you to judge us? You know practically nothing of our world. Only the little I have shown you."

  "But you forget you also showed me television. What I have seen on it was more than enough."

  "I explained to you that not everything on TV is real."

  "Yes you did. I understood that. So I also know what was broadcast on the news were indeed actual events."

  By this time, Tory had heard quite enough. “It sounds as if you have already judged us.” Nefertem's silence said it all, and with it Tory's temper rose. “How dare you?! You bastard! You have no right."

  Reaching across to where Tory sat, Scott grabbed her hand trying to calm her down. “Enough, Tory. Give Nefertem the chance to explain himself."

  Nefertem accepted their anger as his due. He knew he sounded harsh, but he really had no choice. They had to understand that what was coming was much worse. “By calling me forth that right was placed in my hands. Judgment has been made."

  Tory would not be so easily placated. “That's total and utter bullshit.” When Scott squeezed her hand once more, she shoved his hand off hers. Unable to sit any longer, she went to stand before Nefertem, not willing to back down an inch.

  "You may be a god, but that does not mean we have to go on bended knee and kiss your butt. Take back your judgment."

  "I cannot. Re's punisher will come."

  "Not good enough for me. The punisher is your own mother for god's sake. Can't you at least try to stop her?” At Kendra's sharp intake of breath, Tory went to her and sat down, putting her arm around her. “Sorry, hun, we shouldn't have kept all this from you."

  Kendra shook her head. “No you shouldn't have.” Feeling someone staring at her intently, she looked up to find Nefertem watching her. “How long before she comes?"

  "A little over a week's time."

  "And that will be the same day you are to leave?"

  No longer able to look Kendra directly in the face, Nefertem focused his eyes on the wall just behind her. “I do not exactly leave. It is the day I truly become my mother's son. A weapon of the punisher."

  Thinking of the weapons Nefertem had brought with him, Kendra now realized what they were for. The thought sickened her.

  "Can't your father intervene? Ptah is no minor god.” This last question came from Scott.

  "If we were in Egypt and I was able to go to his temple, maybe. But no one has tried to stop my mother before, after using the pendant."

  "There is no temple to Ptah here, but we do have something from his temple in Egypt. Right here in Memphis there are two large quartzite fragments from the gateway to the Apis House. Would those suit your purposes?"

  "I really don't know. It might."

  "It's worth a shot. I think the sooner you try the better, because if it doesn't work, other plans will have to be made. Time is not something we have a great deal of."

  "I am willing to try."

  Gaining his feet, Scott held his hand out to Tory and pulled her up on her own. Before leaving, he turned a steely gaze on Nefertem. “You don't have any say in the matter, Nefertem. You will go tomorrow with me even if I have to hog-tie you and throw you into the back of my car. God or no god.” Not giving Nefertem a chance to reply, Scott led Tory out of the house.

  With just the two of them left in the room, Kendra had no idea how she was supposed to react to all that had transpired. She certainly had not expected
the evening to turn out this way. She hadn't felt this bad since the day her ex-fiancé had called off their wedding. And she hated having to feel that way all over again.

  Still standing before her, Nefertem continued to avoid looking directly at her. Which hurt even more. “You should have told me. Especially on the night you arrived."

  "I did not want to.” He finally looked at her.

  "I really don't know you at all. I thought I did, but I don't."

  "Yes you do. Kendra, you know me better than anyone else has before. There is something about you that lets me be what I want to be as a man."

  Kendra laughed. Even to her it sounded close to being this side of hysterical. “Meaning I bring out the killer in you? Just what I really needed to hear."

  Nefertem shook his head in denial. Some of his former warmth had returned to his stony features. “No, that is not what I meant. When I am with you, I feel things that I was unable to before. I actually care about a mortal. I understand your kind better because of it."

  "With your new found understanding you were still able to condemn us to death. Excuse me if I don't take that as a compliment."

  Jumping to her feet, Kendra knew she had to get away from Nefertem for a while. But before she could take two steps, Nefertem's arm snaked out and hooked around her waist. He dragged her up hard against his chest. Fiery gold eyes stared down at her.

  "You keep misconstruing my words. All the other times I have been in the mortal world I thought they were beneath me. To be used however I wanted. They had no feelings or rights where I was concerned. But now, I know how I treated them was demeaning. I know that now."

  Kendra swallowed back the tears that threatened to come to the surface. “Yet you condemn us still."

  "No I didn't. Not really. My choice was taken from me.” Seeing Kendra still did not believe him, Nefertem knew he would have to tell her more. “I usually contact my mother after the first day or two of my arrival. This time I did not. I was hoping she would wait until I was ready. She didn't. She contacted me."