The Blue Lotus

by Marisa Chenery

  Grabbing one of his largest t-shirts he moved to her side. “Here, Kendra, take this and change in the bathroom. You need to sleep."

  Kendra looked blankly at the shirt Markus had put in her hand. It took her a few seconds to come out of her stupor. Closing her hand around the shirt, she nodded and silently went into the bathroom. Markus quickly changed into the pajama bottoms he wore at night.

  After Kendra came out of the bathroom wearing his shirt, which reached her knees, Markus noticed she had left her dress in there. He watched her climb into the bed next to his own. Once she was settled, he flicked off the light and got into his bed. Before he let sleep claim him, he made a mental note to retrieve the dress from the bathroom and dispose of it before the hotel maid came to straighten the room.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  They ended up staying in Egypt for another week before booking flights back to Memphis. The delay was due partly to Markus having to finish his work there, and partly because Kendra wasn't ready to go home. Waking from a fitful sleep after that eventful night she had come to a decision—she wasn't ready to let Egypt go.

  As Markus went about the local markets and antiquity stores, Kendra went along with him. She immersed herself in the country's culture and ancient past. Somehow, it lessened the pain she felt over losing Nefertem. She soaked it up like a sponge. At first Markus was worried that Kendra was becoming obsessed, but after a few days, he realized she had a genuine interest. She was using it as a therapeutic method to get over Nefertem, and with that realization, Markus came up with something that would help the both of them in the long run.

  On their last night of staying in Egypt, after Tory and Scott had returned to their own room, Markus broached the subject of his idea to Kendra.

  They were both sitting on his bed watching television when he turned to her. “Kendra, I have been thinking about something for the last couple days. Something that will be good for the both of us."

  Switching off the television, Kendra turned to face Markus, giving him her full attention. “All right, you have piqued my interest. What is it?"

  Markus smiled at her. Some of the old Kendra was coming back. “Well, since you have become so interested in all things Egyptian and you have turned out to be a fast learner, I wonder if you would like to work with me. Be my partner. It would be our own family business. I need the help and you don't have a job to go back to, so it works out perfectly."

  Kendra seemed to perk up even more. “Are you serious? I would love to work with you. This last week has shown me why you love doing what you do. Besides, I don't think I could handle getting another job I hate. The last one was enough for me."

  "Then it's settled.” Markus stuck out his hand. “Shall we shake on it, partner?"

  Taking hold of her brother's hand, Kendra pumped it up and down. She could go home now with a purpose to her life. Part of the reason why she had not wanted to leave Egypt was that she could not have faced being in the house all day with no job to distract her rambling thoughts. The house would hold too many memories of Nefertem as is.

  The next morning, sitting in the airport waiting to board the flight to London, Kendra told Tory and Scott about her decision to work with Markus.

  Tory was thrilled by the news. “Way to go, Markus. I knew you would think of something to get Kendra to turn back into her old self."

  Markus smiled and put his arm around his sister's shoulders. “Hey, I didn't ask her out of pity you know. She has a genuine interest. Seems like it runs in the family, after all."

  Kendra shook her head at the praise Markus was heaping on her. “Now let's not go overboard here.” She then snagged Scott's attention. “I have something to ask you, Scott."

  "Okay."

  "How would you feel about teaching me how to read hieroglyphs and speak ancient Egyptian?"

  Tory groaned and rolled her eyes before Scott could answer Kendra. “Oh god, Kendra. I think you have just made his day. You have given Scott someone new he can indoctrinate in everything ancient Egyptian."

  Scott chuckled at Tory's theatrics. “Kendra, I would be more than happy to teach you all I can. I must agree with Tory though, you have just made my day."

  And so Kendra's lessons began. Not wanting to waste anymore time, she got Scott to begin her lessons during the long hours of travel it took to reach Memphis. It made the trip less horrendous for her and by the time they landed in Memphis, she had a pretty good understanding of the hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian. She only wished she could have used her newly learned talent on Nefertem.

  * * * *

  After returning home, Kendra settled into a new routine for her daily life. She returned to her three times a week workout at the gym, which had been something she had neglected while Nefertem had been with her. And she returned to the gym with a vengeance. With the working out, taking lessons from Scott a couple times a week, and learning the business ropes from Markus she really didn't have time to think what might have been. Which was exactly what she had hoped to accomplish.

  Though she did not want to dwell on what kind of life she could have had with Nefertem, that did not mean she wanted to totally forget him either. She clung dearly to the memories she had created with him. Even though the ceremony was in no way orthodox, Kendra still considered herself married. The simple slim, gold wedding band Nefertem had slipped onto her finger she wore everyday. Along with the wedding band, she wore the pendant each day. She could now read the hieroglyphs, which she, of course, did silently to herself.

  Now with Markus back home, Kendra went back to cooking proper meals again. This evening she decided to cook one of Markus's favourite meals, roast chicken with roasted vegetables. It was while Kendra was chopping a carrot that her knife slipped and she accidentally cut her finger. Much to her surprise, she felt no pain, but when the cut seemed to heal before her very eyes, she grew alarmed. Going to the kitchen sink, she stuck her finger under the running water to wash away the small amount of blood that remained. There wasn't a mark on her skin to show where the cut had been.

  Moving back to the cutting board where she had been previously working, Kendra grabbed the knife from it. Not giving herself a chance to think about what she was going to do, she used the tip of the knife to slice a shallow cut across the palm of her left hand. As before, she felt no sensation of pain and the wound healed itself in a matter of seconds after she had made the cut.

  To make sure it was actually happening, Kendra cut her palm over and over again. Each time the result was exactly the same. What was happening to her?

  She managed to finish the supper preparations and dished up the food after Markus had come home, but what had happened earlier kept her feeling distracted.

  Markus sat down at the kitchen table and began to eat with relish. After he downed a couple of mouthfuls he asked, “What did I do to deserve all this?"

  "I just decided to treat you is all.” Kendra answered softly.

  There was something not right with Kendra. Markus could feel it. She hadn't been this withdrawn since the first few days of Nefertem's departure. She couldn't even look at him. She kept her gazed fixed on the plate before her.

  "I get the feeling you aren't really with me, Kendra. What is troubling you?"

  Kendra looked up and gave Markus a sheepish grin. “I can never hide anything from you."

  "Of course not. What kind of brother would I be if I couldn't pick up on your feelings? So tell me."

  Pushing back her chair, Kendra went and retrieved a clean steak knife from the cutlery drawer. She then went back to the table. “I think the best way is to show you instead."

  Before Markus realized Kendra's intent, she drew the sharp edge of the knife across her palm. “What the hell are you doing, Kendra?"

  Kendra held her palm out for Markus to see it better. “Relax, Markus. Just look."

  Much to Markus's shock he watched the wound Kendra had inflicted upon herself begin to heal. It only took a matter of seconds for her flesh to
knit together leaving no sign of an injury behind.

  "How did you do that?"

  Kendra shook her head and chuckled. “I haven't the faintest idea."

  Grabbing her hand, Markus pulled it closer to him so he could take a better look at it. “That's amazing. I wonder if it is a side effect from Ptah healing you."

  "I never thought of that. You could be right. It isn't like he stuck around for very long after he healed me to tell me if there would be anything I should know about."

  "Well that is one side effect I wouldn't mind having. Now that you have gotten that off your chest, I am going to eat this delicious supper you made before it gets cold."

  Kendra smiled at Markus as he once more returned to eating. She picked up her fork and did likewise. Markus had managed to set her mind at rest, she had begun to feel as if she were going a little nuts. But as Markus had said, it wasn't all that bad of a side effect.

  * * * *

  It was after a month had gone by since she had come home from Egypt, that Kendra had the dream. In it, she replayed the moments inside the hidden chamber, which in itself was not so strange since she had done so more than once after returning. But what marked this dream as different was that at the point where Nefertem left her, Ptah returned. When she took the hand he held out to her, Kendra found herself alone with him. Darkness surrounded them on all sides. She could only see Ptah who stood in front of her. He smiled at her.

  "I am happy to see you again, Kendra."

  "Is this real or just a part of my dream?"

  Ptah smiled at her again. “Nefertem told me you would be full of questions."

  Kendra looked at Ptah expectantly. “He did? Is Nefertem here with you now?"

  Letting his smile drop, Ptah shook his head. “No, he is not. It is not allowed."

  "Then why have you come?"

  "To see you, of course. To make sure you are moving on with your life."

  "I am finding some kind of direction in my life, if that is what you call moving on."

  "And what of other men? Is there a new one you care about?"

  Narrowing her eyes, Kendra gave Ptah a hard look. “How dare you ask me that? There is only one man in my life now and he is my brother. There is no room in my heart for another. Nefertem has it all and always will.” She held up her left hand and showed Ptah the wedding ring she still wore. “I already have a husband and no one will ever take his place."

  "That is all I needed to hear.” Ptah began to fade from sight, as a thick mist seemed to rise up and cover him. Before he totally disappeared he said, “Remember, Kendra, you are not alone. Remember what I said to you in the chamber."

  Kendra woke up with a start. Had the dream been real or was it only a figment of her imagination? What had Ptah said to her in that chamber back in Egypt? Swinging her legs over the side of her bed, she wracked her brain trying to recall all he had said to her. Then it came to her.

  With a shaking hand, Kendra opened the drawer of her bedside table and pulled out the small daily calendar she kept there. She flipped the pages frantically. She went back one month and then a second. It was there she found what she was looking for. She didn't know whether she should laugh or cry.

  Returning the calendar to the drawer, Kendra decided she had better have her suspicions proven correct before she got her hopes up. But if they were right, it would seem Nefertem had indeed left a part of himself behind for her to cherish—he may have given her his child.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  After having a quick shower, Kendra raced down the stairs and out the front door. Markus, who was in the kitchen at the time, did not even have the time to ask what the hurry was all about before the door slammed shut behind her. He shook his head. Kendra was developing quirky behaviours that she did not have in the past.

  A mere twenty-minutes later, Kendra returned home and ran back up the stairs. Deciding to ignore what she was doing, Markus continued to sip on his morning coffee and read the newspaper. A few minutes later, he nearly jumped out of his skin when Kendra began to shriek upstairs. Leaving the kitchen at a run, he quickly went up the stairs and to her bedroom.

  Thinking an attacker had somehow gotten into the house; Markus was surprised to find Kendra jumping about the room laughing like a lunatic while tears streamed down her face. Markus came to the conclusion that his sister had finally lost it.

  "Okay, Kendra, first you nearly give me a heart attack screaming like that, and now I find you acting like a total nut case. Can you explain to me what it is you are doing? And I would like your explanation before the men come with a straight jacket and take you away to a padded cell."

  Kendra went to Markus and gave him a loud smacking kiss on the lips before she raced off to her bathroom. She returned with a plastic stick in her hand. She held it up for him to see while she grinned from ear to ear.

  Markus had seen enough commercials on television for this particular item to know what it was that Kendra held. Looking at it, he sucked in his breath and quickly looked back at her. “Is this what I think it is?"

  Nodding her head, Kendra said, while giggles bubbled out of her, “It sure is. I'm going to have Nefertem's baby."

  "About time one of us extended this family.” Markus said, as he gathered Kendra into a big hug.

  "I will have something of Nefertem to hold, and to love now.” Tears of happiness welled up in Kendra's eyes.

  Wiping her tears away, Markus grinned at her. “And I will be an uncle.” He then grew serious. “Don't worry about anything. I will help you every step of the way. You don't have to feel as if you are a single parent. I'm not going anywhere."

  "I will hold you to that, Markus. When the time comes I will want you in the delivery room with me."

  Markus swallowed and turned a slight shade of grey. “That, we will see about. I can't make you any promises though."

  Kendra laughed. Nothing could bring her down this day. She couldn't have asked for a greater gift, except for having Nefertem with her so they could raise their child together. But if fate were not to be so kind to her, she would gladly settle for the new life she carried under her heart.

  Unable to keep her good news to herself, Kendra called Tory that very same day. Knowing her friend was rarely at her place anymore, she dialed Scott's phone number. Tory picked up the other end after the second ring.

  "Don't you think it is a bit early to be calling, Kendra? It is a Saturday, you know."

  "It is hardly early, Tory. My clock says it is eleven in the morning.” At her friend's silence, Kendra chuckled. “Had a long night did you?"

  It was Tory's turn to chuckle. “Well, let us just say we were celebrating. Scott has the stamina of an ox."

  "Ah, that is way too much information, Tory.” Kendra laughed. “How am I ever to look Scott in the face now that you have let me in the know on that bit of information? And what exactly were you celebrating?"

  "I think I have even shocked myself with this one. I have gone and done it. Scott asked me to marry him last night and I accepted.” Tory was quick to add. “Only on the condition we stay engaged for at least a year."

  "Oh, Tory! I am so happy for you. Scott is the perfect man for you.” Kendra meant every word she had said. She was happy for her best friend. She may have felt a bit jealous in the past, but now that she knew she had a part of Nefertem with her, she felt nothing but joy for Tory.

  "You don't think I am being rash in my decision do you?"

  "Of course not! It seems that today is ending up being a day full of nice surprises."

  "I feel a bit better about the whole thing now that you have said I haven't made the biggest mistake of my life. What was the other surprise you spoke of? Don't leave me hanging here."

  "It's just one more surprise. I got some good news myself this morning. It would seem I'm pregnant, Troy.” Kendra had to quickly pull the phone away from her ear as Tory screamed on the other end.

  "This day is just getting better and better!” Tory bellowed i
nto the phone.

  Kendra winced as Tory continued to scream in her ear. “If you keep bellowing like that I will be deaf in one ear before we have even finished this conversation."

  The sound of Tory taking a deep breath could easily be heard before she spoke once more. “Okay, I promise I have myself back under control now. All I have to say is that your news definitely tops mine. A baby is what you need. I was getting worried about you."

  "Well you don't have to fret over me any longer."

  "I may, just a little.” Tory said with a laugh. “And to let you know, when the time comes I will be at the hospital by your side. You can't count on that wuss Markus to go in with you. When Ptah pulled that arrow from your back, Markus didn't know whether to puke his guts out or faint. He would be no use to you laid out on the delivery room floor."

  "Markus will be greatly relieved to hear that you volunteer to take his place, Tory. He wasn't too enthusiastic about it when I asked him to come to the hospital with me."

  "When it comes to seeing you in pain the man is a wimp."

  Kendra chuckled. “I will make sure not to tell Markus that you called him a wimp. I'm going to let you go now, but we will talk later. We have a wedding to plan. Tell Scott I said congrats."

  "I will. You go and put your feet up. We can't have you wearing yourself out."

  "Yes, Mom."

  Kendra shook her head as she hung up the phone. Now that she was expecting, she knew she could count on Tory watching her like a hawk. She would have to think of something to distract her friend. Helping Tory plan her wedding should hopefully do the trick.

  * * * *

  The knowledge that she was carrying Nefertem's child kept Kendra on a permanent high. Going to see the doctor and having him confirm that she was indeed pregnant only increased the feeling.

  A week after finding out about the baby, Kendra found herself spending an evening on her own. Markus had arranged to meet a couple of his friends for a guys’ night out on the town. So she didn't expect him home until the early hours of the morning, if at all this night. She would not be surprised if he decided to crash at one of his friend's places to sleep.