Visions of Fire and Ice (The Petiri)

by Teresa D'Amario

  She’d told him of the dream where his brother had visited her, but he doubted she acted only because of Amunkha. She’d saved him as much as she’d saved his brother. Yet she’d barely let him touch her since yesterday when they’d brought Amunkha to Selket’s.

  “So, why did you put this place out so far in the desert?”

  Good. Curiosity showed she cared even if she wasn’t willing to admit it.

  “Years ago, we learned living together could be dangerous. It brought too much attention to our gifts. Many of our people have made their homes throughout the world. But we keep here, Egypt, as our central focus. It’s here where we come when we need to gather as a group, or when one person is preparing to change identities. At one time, we used this for when the council meets, but we now have an underground facility for such things.”

  “So you change identities?”

  “We must. After so long, someone is bound to ask why we don’t age. Before computers, changing identities meant disappearing into the desert for a time. Now, with technology as it is,” he shrugged, “it gets harder. We have set up safe houses in other countries as well. There is even one in the United States. In North Carolina.”

  “North Carolina? That’s where my family lives.”

  He nodded. “I don’t know how close to your family it is. I have not been there. It’s located in a small town and is a non-descript home I understand. This one, the one in Egypt, is the largest, probably because we consider this more or less our home land.”

  She nodded and turned to face the window. Ramose frowned. He tried to remember exactly when she changed. She’d been her normal self when he’d come back with the food, and then Set had taken her. Since the moment she’d freed his brother, she’d become distant. Could she be mourning the priestess? Or did his being Petiri play a part in her change? Now the danger was out of the way, she had only their relationship on which to concentrate.

  Ramose turned into the circular driveway and held his breath.

  “This is huge!” she exclaimed. “You didn’t say it was a castle.”

  He chuckled softly at her comment. The building, despite its age, had survived the harsh desert storms with an uncommon grandeur. There were no paint chips missing and no damage to the walls from the sand storms.

  “Wait here,” he whispered as he got out of the car.

  He couldn’t wait to show her the home he’d designed all those years ago. It was nothing like the one he’d built for her on Petiri, but he’d still built it with hope in his heart. Hope that he could keep his people safe. She had brought that hope back to him and even helped when he would have failed.

  He circled the front of the car and opened her door, pulling her into his arms. He had to have one more kiss before bringing her inside. He ignored the flash of trepidation in her beautiful gold and blue eyes and kissed her soundly upon the lips. Ignoring the desire to ask for more, he pulled away and waved a hand toward the house.

  “Welcome to my home away from home.”

  In seconds, he brought her up the wide entry staircase and into the foyer. Green marble welcomed them, her shoes clicking on the hard surface. He smiled when she studied the area, her lips curving into a smile. Her eyes widened as her gaze trailed up the staircase above.

  “I worked very hard on that,” he said, fighting the urge to run up them to show her every detail of the home. “The technology on this planet didn’t really exist yet, and it was difficult to get them built to my specifications.”

  “You built this?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I designed the entire home, and the rest of the crew helped with the construction. Through the years, we’ve updated with more beautiful furniture, such as what’s in the dining room.” He motioned toward it, and she stepped in and took in the rich cherry finish of the furniture and elegant crystal and china, all glimmering beneath the huge crystal chandelier.

  “It’s beautiful.” She peeked into the living room before turning to face him. “You are very talented.”

  Ramose tried to hide the sudden surge of warmth and pride he felt at her words. “I had good teachers is all,” he smiled. “Take a look around.” He motioned toward the living room. “I will be right back.” Ramose forced himself to leave her and ducked into the kitchen.

  * * * *

  Once he departed, Tamara took in her surroundings. This place was a huge mansion. No, more like a palace. Her quick perusal of the living room before he sent her inside had been nothing to what she saw now. She grinned, forgetting her worries the instant she stepped inside. “Now, this is my kind of room,” she muttered. A large, flat screen television stood at one end of the room, flanked by huge speakers, dotted with couches and chairs and even a beanbag for comfort.

  At the other end of the room stood a pool table. A smile formed on her lips against her wishes. She picked up a cue stick and leaned in. With practiced ease, she played with the smooth stick until she found its balance, and then she broke the balls already waiting on the table. Four or five balls moved, but the rest stayed bunched in the middle.

  “Not bad.”

  She started at his voice. “I didn’t hear you come in!”

  “Allow me.” Ramose racked the balls again and positioned the cue ball on the table. “Come, I’ll show you how it’s done.”

  He ran his hand down the cue stick to her fingers, but didn’t take it from her. He turned her toward the table and leaned her over it, her breasts brushing the green felt. He leaned into her, and she nearly melted when he pressed his erection against her. She bit back the small groan of desire. How was she supposed to concentrate on learning pool with him touching her?

  He helped her position the cue stick. Then, with a flick of his hand, the balls broke apart with a solid crack, scattering around the table.

  His deep voice deepened when he spoke. “That’s how it’s done.” He stood behind her, and she rose, her back against his chest. His hands slid down her sides to her hips. His warm breath against her neck sent shivers of desire down her body. “Come. I have something to show you.”

  He took her into the room he’d disappeared into before. The office was exactly what she’d expect of him. Dark and masculine, with two heavy desks. Cherry. She smiled. Ramose really liked cherry wood. He opened a cabinet and, inside, sat a replica of the computer in his apartment.

  “More pictures?” she asked.

  “No. Your DNA results.”

  Tamara tried to hide the sudden surge of fear fluttering in her belly. “I don’t think now is a good time…” she said as she turned to leave, but she never finished her sentence.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said, his hand resting on her arm.

  The light touch did something inside her. The fluttering wasn’t fear anymore. Hope? Desire? Maybe a mix of both? What would she do if she found out she wasn’t human? Hell, what would she do if she was? This could be the end of her hopes to be with Ramose. She wouldn’t stay with a man who would never age while she grew old and gray. She wouldn’t do that to him. At least, if she turned out to be part Petiri, then perhaps in the future he wouldn’t think her so young.

  The clear green in his eyes spoke to her, urging her to face the truth. Then, again, he already knew the truth, and he didn’t seem upset. But what did he want? The human or the half-breed?

  At last, she sighed and nodded. “All right. Let’s see it, though I won’t pretend to understand what I’m looking at.”

  “This,” he said, pointing toward the image “is a strand of Petiri DNA and the basic markers. And this,” he said, as he tapped a button on the computer, “is a typical human DNA strand.” Another picture popped up on the right side of the screen, leaving a blank space in the middle. “Notice the shape differences. Human DNA typically twists in on itself, twirling. The Petiri strand is smaller, and stays straight, the way a stepladder would look.

  “And this,” he said one more time, “is your DNA.”

  The third strand popped into the middle of the screen. At fi
rst glance, Tamara noticed nothing unusual.

  “I’m not a scientist, so you may have me at a...” Then she stopped. With the DNA strands positioned side by side, she realized her DNA resembled BOTH strands, at the same time, which was even more remarkable. “Disadvantage,” she finished.

  “This is your primary strand.” Ramose pointed out a normal, human looking stand of DNA. “And this,” he said, using a computer pen to draw a line down the center, “is the Petiri DNA. Notice how it’s completely encircled by the human strand. That’s why no one has noticed this before. Now, look at this.” He moved the cursor again, highlighting and zooming in on a different part of the strand.

  It was like looking at something out of another world. She didn’t have a clue what any of this meant. Maybe she should have gone to college after all, instead of putting her talents to music sales.

  “The strands are interacting, and parts of the Petiri DNA are incorporated into your primary human strand, linking them together. Your body has adapted to using both strands of DNA. It explains the use of Petiri gifts, while still maintaining human DNA in general.”

  Tamara looked from the computer to Ramose. “What are you saying?” How could she have two sets of DNA?

  “Well, it means you have two full sets of DNA. Just like any human, you don’t use all markers. Some of it lies dormant. Others are active on both strands. In your case, the combination of the strands leaves your body extremely adaptable to outside genetic influences. It’s one of the reasons your powers are so strong.”

  Tamara thought for just a moment. “Will it affect anything other than my powers?”

  Ramose grinned and highlighted another section and zooming in. “This is the part of the DNA that is most intertwined between the two strands. The first three markers are the ones that show some of your gifts, but this last one, that’s life cycle.”

  “What do you mean life cycle?”

  “How long you’ll live.”

  “You mean…”

  Ramose’s smile widened. “That one segment is the primary marker of age. You will live as long as any Petiri.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  When Tamara collapsed to the couch, Ramose rushed to her side. Her eyes were glazed over, and her skin was pale. He’d given her quite a shock. It didn’t take a scientist to understand that one of her parents or grandparents were Petiri. She had a long life ahead of her, and he was sure she was trying to absorb that tidbit.

  She stood and moved to the fireplace and stared into the mirror above the mantle. Her reflection gazed back at her, the skin pale, but healthy. Her eyes bright and confused. No wonder she’d looked so young to him. He’d thought her a mere teenager the first time he laid eyes on her. She would look just like this for thousands of years. He fought the grin building. Then he noticed the tears.

  “Are you okay?”

  She turned to look at him. “I’m fine. A bit shell-shocked, but fine.”

  He smiled. “Good.”

  “Does this mean all of my family have this trait?”

  “All who are Petiri descendants.”

  She frowned, staring into space. “If this is true, who is my ancestor? And why hasn’t he or she made herself known.” She turned, wide-eyed. “Do you think the woman who came to me in the tomb is my ancestor?”

  He frowned. He’d recognized the woman. “I don’t know. That was Isis.”

  “THE Isis?” She gulped.

  “But you don’t seem to have many of her talents. You are more like Wadget, the Eye of Ra, protector of Horus.”

  “Wadjet,” she whispered.

  * * * *

  Wadjet. Isis. One of those women might be her ancestor? An Egyptian goddess? If so, where were they when her parents died? Where were they when she was raped?

  As though reading the thoughts rushing into her mind, Ramose touched her hand, and she turned to him.

  “It means you will be with me so long as you wish.”

  So long as she wished? She was such a child to him. He was thousands of years older than she. And yet, somehow she didn’t think he felt she was any longer. She’d saved his brother, using ancient family magick.

  He was grateful, she could tell.

  But did he love her? She couldn’t stay with a man out of obligation. Out of duty because they had dreamed of one another.

  She inhaled, about to ask, when she spotted a tray on the coffee table, covered with a delicate steel dome.

  “What is that?”

  “You will see. Come with me.” With a grin, he picked up the tray and moved across the room to the sliding glass doors. He motioned for help, and she opened the door and stepped out into the night. The stars shone above, twinkling like diamonds in the night’s sky. A small, wrought iron fence lined the patio, marking the end of the cement and the start of a beautiful garden.

  She stepped forward until she reached the iron railing and gazed out into the vast oasis of green. Trees lined the property and beautiful thick grass carpeted the surface. Flowers of all types filled the spaces in between. Beautiful.

  Nothing less than she would have expected from Ramose.

  “What’s wrong, Tamara?” he asked. He deposited his tray on a small table and stood behind her, his arms resting on the small fence, pinning her in place.

  Tamara sighed. All of their secrets were out. All of hers, and all of his, but she still didn’t know the one thing she wanted to know the most.

  “What makes you think something is wrong?”

  He leaned closer, burying his nose in her neck. “Because you don’t want me to touch you.”

  He couldn’t be more wrong. She ached for his touch, and, when he ran his hands up her arms, she fought the urge to relax.

  “You’re fighting your own desires.”

  She had to leave now, before she gave in to those desires he knew she was fighting. “I have to make reservations soon. It’s time for me to go home.”

  His hands froze on her arms. His breath did the same. “But, I thought…I mean, you don’t have to leave.”

  She moved to escape his touch, but he gripped her arms harder. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t break her own heart this way.

  “Why do you want to leave?” When she refused to answer, he continued. “Answer me.”

  “You don’t know me, Ramose. All you know of me is my dreams. Of your dreams. You want a woman who only exists in your head. One who dances for you and does everything you say.”

  He grasped her chin and turned her to face him. “And when did I say this? I want you. The woman who stayed with me, even when I told her what I was. The woman who saved my brother.”

  “The woman you are grateful to.” She cringed inside, hearing him confirm her fears. “A woman who is thousands of years younger than you. A human.”

  He studied her, a frown in his eyes. “A woman who is strong and powerful. A woman capable of defeating a god so powerful it took Isis herself to destroy him in his own time, before he went insane.”

  “A woman who had help—”

  “A woman who knew when she needed help,” he corrected.

  His fingers caressed her cheek, and she lost the battle and leaned into his palm. His touch was so perfect. Yet, still, he hadn’t even told her he loved her.

  “But—”

  He touched her lips with one finger. “No but’s. You are special. On Petiri, you would be considered part of the ropat elite. A noble with powerful gifts.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not that special. Why do you want me to stay, Ramose? Because I saved your brother? Because you dreamed of me?”

  Confusion flickered in his deep, green eyes, before they cleared, and then he smiled. He guided her to the blanket he’d laid on the grass and shook his head.

  “No. I only had a few dreams of you, Tamara. The same ones, over and over. Besides, one cannot love a dream.”

  Her eyes lifted to meet his. “What are you saying?” She could almost feel her heart stop beating, waiting to hear th
e next words.

  He quirked a brow. “I’m saying that I love you.” He tugged on her hands, pulling her to the blanket. Her knees gave as his words sank in.

  “You love...” She stopped.

  He cocked his head, puzzled. “Of course, I love you.”

  He trailed his fingers across her lips. She fought the urge to open her mouth and suck them inside to taste his salty, masculine flavor.

  “I think I loved you even before I knew who you were. Never have I cared enough to escort a woman to the museum.”

  She laughed. “That’s right. You hate tourists.”

  “Not all.” He sighed. “For years before my trip to earth, I prepared for meeting my Kha-Ib. Most of our people find their mates young because of the Erosewyt. I dreamed of what you would be like, learning things I thought would make you proud. I even learned the science of perfumes in hopes of teasing your senses.”

  Tamara blushed. “I think you got that one right,” she muttered.

  “Good. It’s nice to know I have reached your heart.” His eyes held a question, and she understood. He had the same reservations as she.

  She smiled and relaxed, ready to give him what he needed, the same way he’d shared with her. “You have.”

  His eyes met hers, and he waited.

  Tamara took a deep breath. “I love you, Ramose. I would never have danced for you had I not.”

  * * * *

  Ramose knew there was a “but” somewhere in there. He’d thought once he showed her the DNA results, all of her wariness would dissolve. Or at least ease.

  “But I thought you would want someone older. I always knew we were soul mates, but sometimes…” She shrugged.

  “Sometimes, soul mates are not meant to be?” He finished for her.

  She nodded.