Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tales of Hierakon's Empire ❯ Chapter 1

Author's Notes: A story I am co-writing with the closest person to me and that is Raistlin-Windblade. Funny enough, we were just joking around about a few things on MSN one day and it bloomed into this story we thought we could co-write together combining our two favorite loves—YYH and ancient Egypt.

 

I would ask you give the OCs a chance before pointing fingers even if they are of royalty, heaven forbid. But if you want to see them as something they are not, not my problem. Just promise me you won't continue to read the story or growl about it if you see something I don't. If the story gets no reviews or what have you I will remove it and list it under my self-indulgence story list. Thank you.

 

Reviews: PLEASE read this link: http://www.webspace-invasion.com/pharaohsscrolls/Reviews.html. I am sick of people reviewing my stories in attempt at criticism that I don't approve of. If these criticisms get anymore vague or harsher, I will be packing up on MM.org. I accept comments—just not comments that focus only on the bad in the story.

 

Description: Two girls have to take their murdered parent's empire at a young age—growing hard at heart by times and experiences but it might take the help of two slaves' wisdom and harsher experiences to break the barrier around their hearts. (NC-17) (JinXOC) (TouyaXOC)

 

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho (Touya/Jin) was created by Yoshihiro Togashi and NOT ME!! However, the Hierakons are copywrite to me and Raistlin and any other creations they spawn (as in giving birth) are copywrite to us and I would love for it to stay that way. Any places or names created are made by us, as are any other minor or major unknown characters.

 

Musical Inspiration: “Because you live” - Jessie McCartney

“Moonlight Shadow” - Special D

“Not that different” - Collin Raye

 

 

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Ra brought the sun that coming morning, as the rising sun broke the night sky and poured its light over the endless sands of Egypt. The towering walls of the nearby empire created of a mixture of silver and brown limestone gradually illuminated under the rising sun before the rays passed by the wall and worked its way to lighting up the houses and market area behind those walls. Slowly the market began to come to life under the sun Ra had given them as the light made its way to the Temples nearby before finally creeping up the large castle structure created in a type of white limestone. The stands in the market area were being uncovered slowly once their tenders had managed to wake and make their way to the stand they worked at for the sake of their children and themselves. Tarps that covered up some of the windows in nearby housing were being moved to allow the light inside that graced them while others exited their dwelling to do early morning chores.

 

The empire it had shed its light upon was known as the Hierakon Empire that had been in power by the Hierakons for 800 years. They looked to their gods Thoth, Ra, Horus, and Anubis as well as their goddesses Hathor, Bastet, and Ma'at for guidance and had ever since the walls were constructed to determine how far and wide the Hierakons' power reined. The empire had grown from its early years and there wasn't a person for miles that didn't know of its name and those who ruled there. Due to the firm ruling Pharaoh, some times it was a good thing and caused praise while other times, it prompted murder attempts.

 

The soft wind that occupied the morning whisked its way past the closed drape placed over a window of a far off house in the west part of the enclosed empire to mess with the messy sky blue hair of one of the exhausted workers. The strands that could be seen from underneath the covers danced upon the wind's call. Moaning from the feel of the wind trying to wake him, the young male shifted slightly in his bed as he turned to his other side. A heavy object being dropped upon the side of his bed caused him to jolt awake with a startled snort to the rude awakening.

 

The young male looked about his bedroom like someone had broken in, “What is it—what's going on?!”

 

A five foot eleven, muscular though slightly emaciated, male stood beside the bed of his best friend he had woken by dropping a package filled with food items upon his bed. “Rise and shine, morning glory,” the redhead laughed seeing as he enjoyed his friend's reaction. “I managed to go out and get what we need for our breakfast this morning. You ready to eat before going to work?”

 

“Jin, you big idiot,” he hissed as he rubbed his eyes to get the sleep from them. “You didn't have to give me such a scare!”

 

“Sorry, Touya,” Jin apologized with a toothy grin before sitting down upon the bed where his friend was content in staying. “So, are you going to eat breakfast and come with me to work?”

 

Touya ran his fingers through his messy hair a moment. The strands falling back into place he sighed a bit as he crossed his arms over his knees he brought up to his chest. “Like I have a choice in the matter when it deals with working for the Pharaoh?”

 

Touya and Jin had to work under the Pharaoh as lower class citizens. They were always asked to build new homes or help in expanding the wall thanks to the ever growing population of Hierakon's Empire. Jin didn't have problems with it and blended in just fine with his tan complexion and wild red hair. Touya, on the other hand, didn't seeing as his skin remained pale and he appeared to stand out about the others in the crowd. People were scared of him and usually picked on him while the guards beat him into submission. Everyone believed he was so evil that not even Ra's light wanted to touch his skin, making Touya the odd one out.

 

Jin stood up for him best he could and had the marks on his body to prove it, but there was not much he could do being he wasn't allowed to attack a guard and the guards were the ones who took a liking to beating him. The demon grabbing onto his own wrist that was acting up a bit, he massaged it before releasing a sigh himself, “Well, Touya, I don't know what to tell you. Are you going to at least eat?”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Touya grumbled, placing his palm upon his forehead. “I promise I will.”

 

“Wonderful!” Jin exclaimed before pushing himself from Touya's bedside. Taking the items he bought at the market, he headed into the kitchen to make the bread and soup he always made in the morning for the two of them.

 

While Jin merrily worked to prepare the soup and toast a few slices of bread for their breakfast, Touya forced himself out of bed to face the day even if he didn't feel up to it, walking across the room to a basin of water where he splashed his face with the cold water provided.

 

“Sometimes I wonder if it is even worth it,” he mumbled to himself as he patted his face dry with an old rag, fetching his dark brown thong to slip on first, followed by a cream-colored knee length skirt, tightening the dingy beaded sash with a sigh. “Now where did I put those sandals?”

 

“Under the foot of the bed,” Jin answered his companion when he brought a wooden spoon to his lips, tasting the vegetable soup he had boiling over a small fire in the hearth. “Hmm, needs a pinch more salt,” he concluded with a nod, dashing just enough into the concoction before checking on the bread, carefully pulling the tray out of the small clay oven.

 

“Thanks,” Touya retorted as he reached for the leather sandals, getting them situated and tied halfway up his calves. “I hope breakfast is as good as it smells.”

 

Dipping some of the soup out into two clay bowls, Jin laughed with a lick to his finger. “I didn't burn the toast this time if that is what you mean. I was preoccupied the last time.” Bringing the food over to their diminutive table, Jin took a seat as he waited for Touya, smiling to him with a grip to his spoon. “I know every day is a bitch for us, but something different is bound to happen some time.” Taking a bite of his soup, he hummed at the taste, looking out the window a moment.

 

Breaking off a piece of his bread, the ice master lifted a thin cerulean brow as he got situated. “You know something I don't?” Dipping half a piece of toast into his soup, he nibbled on the soggy portion, stirring the rest so it would cool further.

 

“It was probably gossip since you know how the guards spread things faster than a brush fire, but I heard there was a snake amidst the empire after royal blood.” Swallowing a good portion of his meal, he tapped his spoon against the tabletop a moment, thinking.

 

Grunting, Touya merely scoffed. “Unless that snake brought friends, there is no way it is slithering into that palace undetected to get away with its rat hunt.”

 

Shrugging, the carefree wind demon looked beyond the horizon a moment longer before finishing his breakfast, leaving the bowl on the table as he excused himself from it. “I guess we'll just see, eh? Like I said, probably a nasty rumor. Aside from that, I hear the Pharaoh will be watching the slaves' progress today. That ought to be fun.”

 

“Great,” Touya more than grumbled, pushing the remainder of his food away, getting up to join his partner at the door. “We best get a move on. We'll get twenty lashes just for being late.”

 

Nodding somberly, Jin opened the door to their small abode, letting Touya walk out in front of him so he could close the door behind him, catching up with him in a few strides to head to the construction on the other side of the city.

 

 

 

 

“Omorose! Omorose, wake up! Father is waiting on us!” Bouncing on the bed frantically, the youngest daughter of twelve years tried to wake her elder sister of fifteen, wondering why she wasn't up several hours ago. “Sleepyhead!” she couldn't help but giggle.

 

Hearing her sister as soon as she entered the elaborate room, Omorose faked to still be sleeping when Rehema started in her wake-up bounce, waiting until Rehema's face was close to hers before throwing back the sheets to grab her into a tight embrace. “I'm awake, you little bunny!” Laughing at her squeal, she started tickling her until she was able to pull her shirt up, blowing a raspberry on her flat tummy with a snicker. “Gotcha! So where is dad taking us? We never leave the palace unless on diplomatic issues.”

 

Trying to recover from her giggle fit, the youngest daughter ran her fingers through her long, curly russet tresses, humming. “He said something about showing us the ways of the empire and how it comes together. Since we are destined to be queens we have to know.” Not even dressed yet for the day, Rehema watched her sister slip out of bed with a forlorn look, prompting her to tilt her head slightly. “You're worried again. You always make that face when the word `queen' is mentioned.”

 

Looking through her wardrobe, Omorose clutched the white dress she picked out within her hands, casting her sapphire orbs upon the elaborate sixteen-inch necklace fashioned of carnelian, lapis, and turquoise lined in gold with a huge falcon in the center. “It is something you are too young to understand just yet.”

 

Nibbling on her manicured nails, Rehema made an odd face, pulling her fingers away from her lips. “Why not? Is it THAT complicated?”

 

Sighing softly, Omorose walked across the room to her dressing screen, ducking behind the Horus painted lotus scene so she could get dressed, answering her sister to the best of her knowledge. “Remember the eighteen year old prince from the other empire from the west? He has been chosen to be my future husband whether I abide to it or not. He has been trying to court me, as he is permitted. I have to put on an act for father and mother so they won't think I'm being rude.”

 

“Why don't you like him? He seems nice enough to me,” Rehema admitted, grabbing her eldest sister's tiger plush to hug upon it.

 

Pulling the tight fabric over her shapely hips with a chuckle, Omorose shook her head. “You and your questions. Let's just say he isn't at all my type.” Lacing up her sandals, she walked out from behind the papyrus screen, sitting upon a stool in front of a mirror. High slits on either side of her dress skirt running from her hips down, the top was strapless, she jeweled up to look as elaborate as she should for an Egyptian princess, applying a bit of make-up when she felt her sister's gaze upon her. “You better run and get dressed, Rehema. You woke me up and said we would be late, yet, you haven't even clothed yourself,” she laughed, carefully outlining her alluring eyes. “I'll come do your hair shortly.”

 

“Okay, sis,” Rehema answered without argument, hopping off the canopy bed, realizing she still had the tiger plush within her arms. “May I take—“

 

“Yes, you may take my tiger with you. Now hurry, sweetie.” Picking up her brush to free the tangles from her layered espresso tresses, Omorose tried to put her jeweled circlet on, catching the sound of hurried footsteps, lifting a brow as she peered over towards her doorway. “Darwishi?”

 

Placing a hand upon his chest, the priest tried to catch his breath, leaning against the door facing with a flustered sigh. “You two better make tracks. The Pharaoh is growing very impatient and the horses attached to the chariot seem uneasy.”

 

Quickly walking over to the priest that had been with the Hierakon Empire for a number of forty suns Omorose straightened up his robes for him, sweeping his stray black hair from around his face, offering a smile as she folded her hands in front of her. “I'm going to do last minute touch ups on Rehema and we'll be right there, okay? Just calm down; I assure you those slaves aren't going anywhere between now and the time we get there.”

 

“You tell HIM that!” Darwishi reminded the elder princess, straightening himself to stand tall once more, eyeing her as she ventured into Rehema's room to finish getting her ready.

 

“Okay, lets get your hair brushed real quick. Dad is about to have a hissy fit.” Letting her sister sit down a moment, Omorose brushed through her sister's once unruly hair, painting a bit of color to her lips before twirling her around to get a good look, nodding with a smile to her. “All right, now let's be off.”

 

“Thanks!” Dashing off with a happy giggle, Rehema made her way down the winding corridors to the front of the palace, ambling down the stone steps to meet with her father, approaching him cautiously at first since his serious expression was sometimes hard to read. “Daddy? Omorose is on her way. She over slept this morning.”

 

“Naturally,” one of the advisors snorted under his breath, cringing under the Pharaoh's emerald glare. “Eh, sorry, my Pharaoh.”

 

“Unless you want to end up as one of the slaves working under me, I suggest you button that lip of yours,” Kafele warned, his stern voice rich in tone while his stance was proud like a lion, his attention shifting over to his youngest daughter with a soft smile. “I am sure she had reason to be up late. Come up into the chariot with me, Rehema.” Taking her dainty hand into his large one, the Pharaoh helped her step up into the decorative cart with him, spying Omorose out of the corner of his eye as she made her way down the steps.

 

Bowing her head to him respectfully, Omorose stepped into the chariot on the other side of her father, looking up to him. “I apologize. I was up late reading a chapter about negotiations. When the cock crowed this morning I seemed to ignore him, not expecting you to take us out today.”

 

Taking the reins into his hands, Pharaoh Kafele snapped the leather firmly to command the two white steeds to trot forward, guards on horseback escorting the trio to keep attacks upon them a minimum. “I felt I needed to see the progress on the new addition to the great stone wall on the eastern side of the empire. Since you've never seen the action that goes on during such work in graphic measures, I decided it wouldn't hurt for you to know. You've both read what goes on and should be immune to the effects. Hurting them isn't our concern; it is punishment. Working under us they must obey or it execution written on their backs.”

 

Omorose couldn't help but eye her younger sister just as Rehema did the same towards her. They knew they had slaves such as the ones in the palace, but they thought nothing of them and treated them with a bit of respect seeing as these people were catering to them. The two of them were unaware that they were several beaten if they didn't perform their tasks well though they were told. It made both of them nervous in a way but they knew they were to take their mother's spot soon enough so it was best they learned everything they could about how the empire worked.

 

The carriage ride seemed to last for awhile until the while stallions halted, rearing slightly with a shake of their mane to indicate they had been stopped. The slaves nearby could hear the whinnying of the horses, causing them to stop in their work to look at who had arrived. The guards cracking their whips at the slaves that stopped to gawk at the Pharaoh and his daughters, Omorose and Rehema couldn't help but flinch at the sound as it echoed horribly throughout their ears.

 

Jin was nearby as he chiseled away at the stone before him seeing as he worked on the designs that were put upon the wall with other workers nearby. Touya was rearranging a few things nearby until he saw who had just made their way to the working site they were all positioned within.

 

“Jin,” Touya called softly with a gentle nudge to the redhead's side once he squatted down. “The Pharaoh is here.”

 

Jin raised his brows at his friend before looking secretively over his shoulder at the royal family not too far away. “Well—so it is. You better get back to work before they whip you, Touya.”

 

Touya paused a bit in what he was doing before releasing a frustrated sigh so he could continue on about his business. Putting the clay pot down where he was supposed to, he was obviously caught by one of the daughter's eyes as he could feel them upon him and hear her inhale sharply as if to convey fear.

 

“Daddy,” Omorose's voice began softly, “what is wrong with that worker right there? His skin is so pale…”

 

Pharaoh Kafele looked over at Touya who he believed wasn't listening to them as he merely scoffed at the sight of the beast. “That one?” He asked, pointing to him just to make sure she meant who he thought she did. “That one is nothing but Seth Spawn I am sure. We plan on putting him down when the wall is finished.”

 

Hearing them say that to him made Touya flinch slightly and growl within the back of his throat. He continued to pretend he didn't hear it but it was difficult to know that his days were numbered soon enough.

 

Jin's excellent hearing caught it as well and he couldn't help but look over his shoulder quickly in shock at what the Pharaoh had in mind for his friend. But the demon's attention shifted when he felt someone close by staring up at him as he worked making him widen his eyes a bit in confusion at who could be close by. His child like eyes rested upon the little girl watching him attentively as her ivy green locked into his and what he was doing.

 

Rehema looked up at the redhead before focusing her attention on the design the man was working away on the limestone. It was that of an Egyptian phoenix and falcons that represented Horus with other different designs she couldn't describe concerning their odd shape and the way they twisted and turned about. Holding onto the stuffed animal she enjoyed, she looked up at the slave in interest, “What are you drawing?”

 

Jin knew he wasn't allowed to speak to anyone out of class unless spoken to, but to know it was the Pharaoh's daughter made him a bit nervous inside. Looking at the guards nearby briefly, he shifted back to the curious little girl with a soft smile at her question. “Just designs for the eastern wall, young Princess,” Jin answered softly as he went back to work as he should knowing that the guards were itching for a reason to whip one of them this morning.

 

Rehema looked back at the designs he was making with interest before eyeing the necklace he was wearing around his neck and sweating upon. Grabbing onto the chain that was around his neck, Rehema brought the trinket hanging from Jin's chest closer to her face. The item was made of some sort of silver and was constructed into that of wind guiding two birds into flight it appeared.

 

Jin couldn't help but stop in his work once more to look at the curious child eyeing his necklace he made years ago seeing as he was a craftsman of the Hierakon Empire and he knew how to work with his hands.

 

“What's this?” Rehema asked looking at the necklace closely.

 

“It's my necklace,” Jin answered with a chuckle in the back of his throat. “I made it myself years ago in silver.” His baby blue eyes shifted up and down to look over the young princess as she kept her interest within the item he made. “You like it?”

 

“It's pretty. I like the birdies on it,” Rehema commented, letting him have his necklace back as she placed it back where she found it hanging previously.

 

Touya watched the two interact from where he was busy refilling the jar with water for those who would need it to satisfy their thirst. Hefting up the large jar to place it upon his shoulder, the light skinned slave didn't see the piece of marble in his way causing his foot to knock against it. Inhaling in surprise, the man was unable to catch himself in time as he fall face first into the sand causing him to drop and spill the water all over the place.

 

The slaves nearby couldn't help but flinch at Touya's accident as one of the guards nearby took `care' to the accident.

 

“You clumsy idiot!” The guard hissed, rearing back his whip. The whip coming down upon the bare back of Touya released a cruel cracking sound as it tore away at his pale skin.

 

Rehema couldn't help but scream briefly from the sound as she hurried quickly over to her father not expecting the whipping sound to really get to her. Managing to make her way over behind her father where she held onto her sister's hand, she watched from a distance, not enjoying what she had to watch. Omorose held onto her sister tightly as she too was slightly distraught by the scene before her, but their father wouldn't allow them to turn away.

 

“Don't look away, girls,” the Pharaoh demanded to his daughters. “You have to watch this to know how these slaves work under us.”

 

Jin didn't move from where he was positioned though he had a difficult time focusing on what he had to do hearing the whip rip at Touya's skin to make it raw and bleed. Biting his lower lip harshly, he tried not to intervene though it was hard as he clutched his tools. “Dammit,” Jin sworn silently to himself as he worked back on the design he was constructing within the marble.

 

Trying not to avert her gaze, Omorose couldn't take the beating any longer, calling out against her father's words, clutching her sister to her body. “Stop! Stop the whipping!”

 

The guard whipping the pale skinned man lifted a brow, laughing, lashing out once more to place another whelp upon Touya's back. “You're not the Pharaoh! Only he tells me what to do!”

 

“Your soft heart needs to harden, Omorose. He is a slave and is to be punished for his foolish actions,” the Pharaoh reiterated with almost no emotion, allowing the beating to continue before their eyes to witness. “I've kept you inside for too long. It is time you both saw the harsh realities of the empire you will one day have to witness for yourselves when seated in your mother's place.”

 

Shaking her head, the eldest daughter of the Pharaoh couldn't stand seeing the leather connect with the raw back of the cerulean haired man, lashing out against her father's words to slap the guard hard across his smooth face to make him pause in his efforts. Her sapphire orbs glared upon him like daggers, her face contorted between pain and irritation, hooking gazes with the guard that was surprised to receive such a blow. All the slaves working around the area seemed to gasp to themselves at how loud the slap echoed throughout the construction, Jin's eyes widening as he peered over his shoulder briefly.

 

“I command you to STOP! He's bleeding profusely; can't you see that? Those wounds will fester and get infected. I demand a healer see this man!” Tears rimmed the elder Princess' narrow sapphire orbs as she tried to contain her upset breathing, lips pursed to state she meant what she said.

 

Touya said not a word, as he remained almost lifeless upon the sandy ground lined with pebble and rock. His back stung like fire, the broken skin around the wounds swelling in the day's heat. He didn't know whether to be thankful or bitter towards the Princess demanding someone to tend to his wounds, trust an issue since royalty often treated their kind so harshly.

 

“Daddy, don't hurt Omorose… I don't like seeing them hurt either,” Rehema spoke up as she tugged on his decorative skirt, seeing the anger boiling within their father's tense features with her innocent emerald orbs.

 

“Omorose, get back in this chariot, now!” Kafele demanded, watching his daughter move closer to where Touya was lying. “He's a mutt! Your sacred hands shouldn't fall upon his tainted skin!”

 

“I am tired of going by your words,” Omorose retorted as she kneeled beside the cerulean haired slave, placing her mocha hands upon his body. “I'm so sorry… Can you get up? I'll get help for you…”

 

One of the slaves perched upon a nearby column with a block held over his head grinned upon the sight, his messy sooty bangs overshadowing his coffee colored oculars. Turning his head, he looked slightly upward towards one of the mud brick houses; a man perched on the awning, lowered so he couldn't be visibly seen. Hopping off the column carefully, the slave acted routinely in his actions, flipping his wrist to reveal a shiny part of his tarnished silver cuff. Reflecting the sun's rays off the silver, the signal was given to the assassinator on the awning, the man slinking off the house to make his way to the palace in hopes of sneaking inside.

 

Kafele had enough of his disobedient daughter's actions, stepping off the chariot to march over in two strides to yank her up by her arm harshly. “You are acting uncivilized! I told you not to come near him and you did it anyway! Why? Why do you want to help this Seth Spawn?” Powerful emerald orbs glaring at her, he could hear a whimper from his youngest daughter, sighing heavily through his nostrils. “Well?!”

 

Hissing through her teeth with a cry out loud from him yanking her up in such a manner, Omorose gave her father a look of sadness tinged with emotional pain, creasing her jeweled brows.

 

“He's human just like the rest of us. Why can't you see that? You work them like mules and treat them like animals. I can't watch them be hurt like that.” Looking down at her blood stained hands from touching Touya's back, the eldest daughter sniffed to clear her sinuses, feeling tears roll down her cheeks. “Just take us back. We've seen enough.”

 

Hearing the crying of Rehema in the chariot and seeing Omorose's hurtful look forced the Pharaoh to cave in, guiding her back to the chariot with a sigh. “Hephtu, have the slave taken back to where he lives and expect the royal healer to pay him a visit. As for the others, make them work twice as hard. I want this wall completed by the end of the month.”

 

“Of course, my Pharaoh,” Hephtu replied with a respective bow, turning his attention upon his partner perched upon a boulder in the distance. Cupping his hands about his mouth, the guard hollered a command to him, carrying out the Pharaoh's orders. “All right, you. Get up and let's go.” Nudging Touya with his foot, the guard huffed, threatening to get rough with him. “Move it!”

 

Eyes clenched shut, the fair skinned male tried to heft himself up even if it hurt him brutally to do so. His back was covered in gaping lash wounds marred with sticky drying blood, his entire body feeling as if it had been through a war. Once he got to at least his knees, Touya slowly opened his narrow eyes with splayed fingers across his thighs, digging his nails into the flesh to try and take the pain away from his back. He could hear the guard shuffling impatiently, forcefully inching his way up to his feet with clenched teeth. If only you knew how badly I want to kill you…

 

Baby blue eyes slowly looking away, the wind demon frowned for once, looking downcast. He had seen Touya beat several times, but couldn't bear to watch him move in so much pain against his will. Sighing through his nostrils, his mallet connected with the chisel he was using to carve the Egyptian phoenix into the limestone, acute hearing weeping for the twelve year old since she sounded so upset. And the eldest…she seemed to care where her father didn't.

 

Kafele snapped the reins once he gathered them into his hands, sending the two pure white stallions galloping away from the working site back towards the palace. He wasn't pleased with how the situation was handled, but couldn't bear to see his daughters so upset. Once the chariot arrived back at the palace moments later, the Pharaoh sent his daughters inside, but not before being confronted by the Egyptian Queen that was his wife.

 

“Kafele, what is going on? You look flustered.” Her ebony tresses pulled back intricately amidst her crown; her piercing sapphire eyes studied his features before looking to their daughters, gasping at the sight of blood. “Omorose! Your hands—Kafele, what happened?!”

 

“She needs to wash thoughroughly. She touched that Seth Spawn of a slave and will have to repent with Horus for her actions,” the Pharaoh sternly stated, placing his hand on Rehema's back. “Rehema, stay with your mother. Omorose and I need to have a talk.”

 

Sniffling, Rehema hugged the stuffed tiger close to her chest almost up to her face to hide her tears, clinging to her mother desperately. She didn't like the sight she saw and never wanted to see it again, and knowing her sister was in trouble made her further upset. “Please don't let daddy hurt sissy, mommy… Please…”

 

Este didn't know what to say she was so appalled by what happened. Reaching down to hold her youngest daughter close to her comforting body, she glared at her husband further. “How could you take them out there to see those slaves? Rehema is much too young to see bodies being flayed! Omorose is old enough, though not emotionally ready. I am blaming their actions on you. Why didn't you confront me about this? I am your wife and their mother. I know what is best for them just as much as you do when it comes to diplomatic matters.”

 

“We will have this conversation later, Este.” Passing his wife with Omorose leading, his cape flapped with a flick of his hand, sandaled feet tapping across the marble flooring tensely. “Bring a basin of water! This child needs to wash her hands free of the blood of the fair skinned man!” Emerald gaze shifting to his left, he spotted the priest, pointing. “Darwishi, make her repeat her prayer to Horus for repentance. And please rid her soul of that Seth Spawn's tainted touch!”

 

The sea green eyes of the female healer speaking to the priest spotted the Pharaoh from beyond the pillar that was shielding her appearance, kindly bowing her head to the priest with a smirk. “We will talk later. It appears we are both needed in two different places.” Dressed in a beaded brazier and a long translucent skirt, the healer stepped out from behind the pillar, ambling towards the entrance of the palace with a hypnotic sway of her hips. “My, my. Always overreacting, the poor child.” Shaking her head, Bennu turned her attention to the flustered Queen and youngest daughter. “If I were you, I'd slap some sense into him.”

 

“Don't you worry, it's coming,” Este promised, mad enough to scream, stroking Rehema's curly hair gently in attempts to keep her calm.

 

Humming at the thought, Bennu made her way down the weathered stone steps, trekking to the other side of the empire where the small house of the cerulean haired slave was located.

 

Darwishi helped the eldest princess dip her tainted hands into the basin of water provided, noting her saddened expression. If he spoke out of hand at this point the Pharaoh would be none to happy, so against his will he made Omorose repeat his words to the falcon headed god they worshipped, trying to rid her soul of the cursed touch of the light skinned slave.

 

“Rehema, go to either your room or Omorose's. Your sister will be there shortly. Your father and I need to have a word with each other even if he thought he'd get away with speaking to your sister first.” Patting her on the back, her tense nature was more than evident; ready to lie into the man she had been married to for the past two decades.