At first Kendra couldn't tell if Nefertem was serious or making a crack about her cooking. But when he moved to sit at the kitchen table and then snapped his fingers at her to serve him, she realized he was indeed serious.
Feeling a sense of shock over Nefertem's behaviour, Kendra flashed a questioning look at Mahes. He shrugged his shoulders at her in way of an answer.
Deciding to just let it go, Kendra moved back to the stove and dished up some eggs and toast for Nefertem. Placing the plate in front of him, she then went and dished up plates of the same for Mahes and herself. Once they were all seated at the table, she decided to broach the subject of what Nefertem had said to her the day before. She needed to hear him say they were all lies. She could not think otherwise until he told her yes or no.
"Nefertem, I need to ask you something, and I want you to answer truthfully."
Giving her an exasperated look, Nefertem put down his fork and sat back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. “I hope this thing you are going to ask me is important enough that you had to interrupt me when I am eating."
"I feel it is and I should think you would feel the same."
"Well get on with it before my food becomes inedible."
His tone of voice and words gave Kendra some pause. Nefertem had never spoken to her in this manner before. This was quite different, even from yesterday's behaviour. “It is about what you said to me the day before. Did you mean what you said or did you say that to push me away? So I wouldn't be devastated when you left at the end of all this?"
Throwing his head back, Nefertem began to howl with laughter. It took him a few minutes to get himself back under control enough to be able to talk. “You stupid woman. Why would I wish to spare your feelings? Who would put such drivel into your head?"
Unable to respond, Kendra helplessly looked over at Mahes. Once again Nefertem's hurt-filled words had floored her. Was it Mahes's job to set her up for Nefertem, only to have him knock her back down again?
Seeing whom Kendra turned to, Nefertem shook his head at her. “I see my brother is even a bigger fool than you are."
If Nefertem had planned to say anything further, Mahes didn't give him a chance to finish. Sending his food flying, he clambered across the table and slammed his fist into his brother's face. They both ended up on the kitchen floor after that single punch. Kendra sat helplessly in her chair as the two men pummeled each other. She silently hoped they would kill each other.
Chapter Eighteen
Over the sound of Nefertem's and Mahes's fists connecting with flesh, Kendra heard the phone ringing in the distance. Leaving her chair, she carefully stepped around the two men and went to answer it. She hoped it wasn't Tory calling to see how she was holding up. She wasn't ready to have a friend-to-friend chat at this precise moment.
Reaching the phone on the fifth ring, Kendra picked it up and said hello distractedly. When the person on the other end spoke, she felt tears come to her eyes.
"Hey, baby sister. I thought I would call and see if you got the present I sent you okay."
"Oh, Markus, you have no idea how happy I am to hear the sound of your voice."
"All right, out with it, Kendra. Something is wrong, and don't tell me there isn't. That idiot Greg isn't bothering you is he?"
Swallowing hard, Kendra pushed back her tears and forced herself to chuckle. “Hardly. As for your gift, I got it all right.” At that moment, a particularly loud crash came from the direction of the kitchen.
"What the hell was that, Kendra? Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yes ... no. I wish you were here, Markus."
"That's it, I am coming home. I'll catch the next flight out of here."
"No. No don't do that. Right now the best way to help me is for you to stay in Egypt."
"Kendra, either you tell me now what is going on or I am coming home, no matter what you want."
Closing her eyes briefly, Kendra thought through what she could tell Markus without having him come running home. “Let's just say your present turned out to be more than a simple pendant. I got a lot more than I bargained for.” She briefly outlined her plans to go to Egypt.
Markus didn't say anything for a brief span of time. “Okay, so the inexpensive piece of jewelry turned out to be not so inexpensive. Is that it? That still doesn't explain why you have to come to Egypt, and I presume, with the pendant in tow."
"Um ... it doesn't have to do with how much it is worth as what I inadvertently released with it."
"You have lost me now, Kendra."
Suddenly realizing that the noise that had been coming from the kitchen had ceased, Kendra could only wonder who had turned out to be the victor of the battle royal that had taken place.
"Look, Markus, I have to go now. I promise to call you when everything has been arranged. Please try not to worry. I will explain it all when I see you in person. Before I go give me the number and address where you are staying."
Reluctantly, Markus gave into her and gave Kendra his contact information. After she hastily scribbled it down on a scrap piece of paper, Kendra hung up the phone. Sticking the piece of paper into the pocket of her jean shorts, she decided she had better check out what kind of damage had been done to the kitchen.
At first, she couldn't see the two men. The kitchen table was knocked over on its side. Obviously, that was what had caused the loud crash before, and was obscuring her view. Stepping around it, she found Mahes sitting on the floor so out of breath he was panting. Nefertem was stretched out prone on the floor beside him. He seemed to have been knocked out cold.
"Looks like you were the victor, Mahes. I hope you didn't kill him in the process."
Flashing Kendra a crooked grin, Mahes said, “Close, but I decided I had better hold back.” He let his expression turn serious. “We have a major problem here, Kendra. What I told you before about Nefertem trying to push you away was the truth, no matter what you think. But now, that was no act on his part. Something changed him during the night. Or I should say someone changed him."
"You mean your mother got to him again through a dream. Just great. So what has she done to him now?"
Mahes sadly shook his head. “From the way Nefertem was acting, I can only assume she took away his ability to feel, to care. Sorry Kendra, this is entirely my fault. If I had not come, Nefertem wouldn't have been forced to keep me here and my mother would not have known anything was wrong. She must know he changed me to a mortal."
Kendra felt her heart drop, but she made no outward sign that it had. “Now what? Does it mean I will have to tolerate an obnoxious Nefertem only, or is there more?"
"Much more, sorry to say. We will have to watch Nefertem very closely. The first sign of him wanting to commit any kind of violence we have to tie him up, and that time will come all too soon."
"Then we had better get to Egypt as soon as we can arrange it. Before it is too late."
The still unconscious Nefertem was placed none too gently on the bed in the spare bedroom. Mahes had hefted his brother's dead weight up the stairs and into the room. Kendra had trailed behind him. Now that Nefertem had been deposited on the bed, she motioned for Mahes to follow her from the room. She closed the bedroom door behind them.
Returning to the main floor, they both headed for the kitchen. Mahes righted the table while Kendra cleaned up the food mess on the floor. Once the kitchen had been restored to its former condition, she poured them each a cup of tea from the pot she had made earlier. She took a fortifying sip from her mug and then handed Mahes his.
"While you and Nefertem were trying to kill each other in here, my brother phoned. He is still in Egypt. I told him as little as I could without having him totally freak out on me. How things stand now, he will be expecting us to meet him there."
Mahes took a sip from his mug and scowled at the contents within it. “You enjoy this weak drink? I would much rather have a beer."
"Sorry we don't drink beer in the morning, at least not in this house. So settle for hav
ing the tea. Now keep to the subject at hand, Mahes. Getting you and Nefertem to Egypt is going to be no small feat."
"I got the impression from what you said earlier that it would not be so problematic."
"For me, or Tory, or Scott even, it wouldn't be. You and Nefertem are different. It isn't so much how we will get there, as the paperwork you both will need to have access to it."
Mahes scratched his head, not really understanding what Kendra had said. “Paperwork?"
"Yes. You see, anyone who wants to leave this country to travel to another, especially one as far away as Egypt, is required to have a valid passport or they can't leave the country. To get a passport you need proof you were born here or have citizenship."
"And since neither Nefertem nor myself were, we cannot get this passport."
"That and the fact that you are both thousands of years old."
The phone began to ring once more. Rolling her eyes, Kendra went to answer it. “I hope this isn't going to be more bad news. I have had my share of excitement for one day already."
Mahes remained in the kitchen. He could hear Kendra's voice coming from the living room as she spoke to the person on the phone. He took another sip of his tea. The taste was starting to grow on him. It didn't taste quite as bland as it had when he first drank it. But beer would always be his first choice of beverage.
Kendra returned a short while later. Mahes looked at her questioningly. She shook her head in response. “No more bad news, thank goodness. It was Tory checking in on me. I explained what is going on with Nefertem and the need to go to Egypt very soon. Apparently getting both of you passports won't be as hard as I had originally thought. Scott was at Tory's place and he said he has a friend who can take care of them for us. A by product of a misspent youth it would seem."
Seeing the blank expression on Mahes's face, Kendra chuckled. “Scott knows someone who can make passports for anyone for a price. Which is actually against the law."
"Is it wise that we do this?"
"It is not like we have much of a choice, Mahes. I admit it is not something I condone, but there is nothing else for it. If we were to do it officially, not only would it take months but also they would lock us away in the Looney bin for our troubles. No one would believe you and Nefertem are what you say you are."
"So what must we do now?"
"Tory and Scott are on their way over here as we speak. Scott is bringing his digital camera to take yours and Nefertem's picture for the fake passports."
"Hopefully Nefertem will be in a better frame of mind when they get here or we will have another battle on our hands."
Kendra sighed. “Let's hope a part of him remembers what he truly is and cooperates."
Mahes wisely held his tongue. Nefertem wouldn't remember. Inside, his soul was dead. Only after he was released from this world would he remember everything he had done, and suffer for it. But this time would be worse. Nefertem would recall what he had done to Kendra and it would devastate him.
* * * *
"If he is that unpredictable how exactly will I be able to take a half decent picture of him?"
"I will make him cooperate with us.” Mahes replied.
Scott shook his head. “Okay. Before we tackle that problem let me take your picture, Mahes."
Positioning Mahes so he stood with his back to the one white wall in the living room that was devoid of pictures, Scott took aim with his digital camera and snapped the picture. “One down and one more to go.” He muttered.
Blinking to clear his eyesight after the bright flash from the camera, Mahes headed for the stairs. “I will bring Nefertem down. He should be revived by now."
After Mahes disappeared up the stairs, Tory wrapped an arm around Kendra's shoulders. “Now that the three of us are alone, we need to talk, Kendra. Scott and I think with Nefertem the way he is now, it really isn't safe for you to stay here anymore. I want you to come and stay with me until we leave for Egypt."
"We?"
"Of course, we. Do you really think I would let you run off to Egypt without us going along with you? After all, Scott and I have been involved with this from the start. We want to see how it ends."
Kendra gave Tory a weak smile. “I'm not going to say I am unhappy about this, because I'm not. Having you and Scott along will be welcome company."
"So you agree to come and stay with me until we go?"
"I can't, Tory. Even though he isn't the same man, I can't give up any of the days we have left together."
Tory nodded in understanding. “I won't force you then."
"Which I am thankful for. I have enough on my plate already without having to fight with my best friend on top of it all."
Just at that moment, the sound of heavy footfalls coming down the stairs reached their ears. Let the fun begin, Kendra thought to herself as Mahes and Nefertem rounded the corner. From the look on Nefertem's face, he seemed not to be in any better frame of mind.
Chapter Nineteen
"Mahes says you need to take my picture. Why?"
Nefertem had not lost any of his arrogant manner after being knocked out cold by his brother, it would have seemed, if anything he was worse. Kendra gritted her teeth in anticipation of the fight that was to come next. Moving to stand in front of Nefertem, she went to confront him.
"Yes we need your picture. If you don't do this you won't be able to go to Egypt."
"And why would I want to go home to Egypt? It matters not where I am. She will still come."
It was obvious when his mother took away his emotions she had also inadvertently erased Nefertem's memory of what they had planned to do. “Yes that is true, but wouldn't you rather be on Egyptian soil when she does come?"
Nefertem seemed to study her face, almost as if he were weighing the truth of her words. He then gave a curt nod of his head. “Fine. I will allow my picture to be taken. For some reason I have an urge to see my homeland again. For some reason I feel like I have something in particular to do there."
And so, with no ensuing fight, Nefertem allowed Scott to position him against the wall. The picture now taken, the four other people in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. Not noticing any of the under currents of emotions swirling around him, Nefertem moved to the couch and switched on the television. Not wanting to set Nefertem off now that he seemed to be in an agreeable mood, Kendra motioned for the others to follow her to the kitchen.
"How long will it take to get the passports, Scott?"
After viewing the pictures on the camera, Scott nodded, happy with what he saw. He then answered Kendra's question. “I called in a favour, so they should be done by tomorrow."
"Okay, good. I will start calling around to book us flights to Egypt. Markus is taking care of booking rooms at the hotel where he is staying. I will call him later as well and tell him another room needs to be set aside for you and Tory."
"We will leave you to it then,” Tory said. She turned to Mahes. “You look after Kendra. If anything should happen to her..."
Mahes held up his hands. “No harm will come to her. Nefertem is forbidden to touch the one who summoned him. Myself, on the other hand, is not so well protected from him.” Gingerly he touched the now visible black eye he sported.
"At least that is reassuring, that he won't hurt Kendra. As for you, I'm sure you can hold your own."
Tory gave Kendra a quick hug before leaving and whispered in her ear, “Remember, my door is always open. You can make the phone calls from my place as well as you can from here."
Kendra shook her head and squeezed her friend in return. In equally hushed tones, she said back, “Stop playing the part of worried mother hen. I will be fine. If what Mahes says is true, I am in no danger."
"I'm not just talking about physical danger, Kendra."
Stepping back from Tory, Kendra gave her a slight smile. “I will be fine, both physically and mentally."
Tory held up her hands in submission. “Okay, I give. Call me when you have ever
ything arranged."
"I will be sure to do that. And Tory, thanks."
"For what?"
"For not walking away. Let's face it; this is not exactly what you would call normal."
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world. I should be thanking you. If not for all of this weirdness, I would not be with Scott today. For that I am very grateful."
Kendra was happy to hear her friend say those words. Tory needed a good man in her life, and it looked as if she had finally found him. Seeing Tory and Scott out the door, Kendra thought to herself at least one of them would have a happy ending.
* * * *
Scott had dropped Tory off at her place before he headed for the downtown section of the city. After parking his car in one of the parking garages, he made his way to a tall high-rise office building. He took the elevator up to the top floor and entered the offices of one of the city's largest advertising agencies.
At the reception desk he asked the woman there to let his friend Peter Graves know that he was here to see him. The woman happily buzzed to the right office, and a few minutes later Peter came to meet him.
Peter shook Scott's hand and motioned for Scott to follow him back to his office. Scott occasionally met Peter for drinks when both of them managed to find the time from their busy work schedules. They first met when they started university and had stayed friends ever since. Scott still found it hard to accept that the Peter from those days was now a straight-laced advertising executive. Peter had been a wild child during their schooling.
Reaching the office, Peter shut the door behind them and closed the blinds on the one glass wall, giving them more privacy from the rest of the office on the other side. Taking a seat behind his desk, Peter motioned for Scott to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of it.
"Okay, Scott, what have you got for me? And before we go any further, let me say I am only doing this for you since I owed you one. After this, I won't be doing anything more like it again."
Scott smiled. “No problem. I wouldn't have asked you to do this if there was any other way, which there isn't.” Taking his camera out of the case he carried over his shoulder, Scott handed it to Peter. “I need passports for the two men in the pictures."
The Blue Lotus Page 13
