Chapter 7

The drive back to the hotel was unusually quiet.

Leo focused on the road while Ayesha occasionally glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"You've barely said a word since we left the excavation," she finally said.

I sighed and gave her a small smile "I guess… I'm more tired than I thought."

"You look pale," Leo added.

"I'm okay, Leo, thank you." I said.

It wasn't entirely a lie because I wasn't in pain. I simply felt... drained as though every ounce of energy had been pulled from my body.

My eyelids grew heavier with every passing mile, even the scenery outside the window blurred together.

"I think I'll skip dinner tonight," I murmured weakly.

Ayesha frowned. "Are you sure? I'll ask the hotel to send soup to your room."

I smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

She reached across the seat and gently touched my forehead. "You don't have a fever. Maybe you've been walking too much these past few days."

Leo nodded. "We've covered almost every historical site in Luxor. Anyone would be exhausted."

I wanted to believe that was the reason, but strangely deep inside… I knew this exhaustion was different, it wasn't physical but it felt as though something inside me had quietly changed.

Something I couldn't explain.

The moment we arrived at the hotel, I excused myself and went straight to my room.

The luxurious suite overlooking the Nile should have felt comforting but instead, it felt strangely unfamiliar.

Almost… Too quiet.

I slipped off my shoes and stared at the tiny scratch across my palm, it had nearly disappeared, only a thin pink line remained.

"See?" I whispered to myself. "Nothing happened."

I laughed softly and sighed.

"You've been reading too many ancient legends, Mari."

Even saying the words aloud failed to convince me and I walked onto the balcony.

Night had settled over Luxor. The Nile reflected thousands of lights dancing across its calm surface while a warm breeze carried the distant sound of music from the riverbanks.

Normally, I would have admired the view but tonight… I only felt tired.

Knock… Knock…

A knock came at the door and a hotel employee wheeled in a tray carrying warm soup, fresh bread, tea, and fruit.

"Courtesy of Miss Ayesha." He said politely with a wide smile.

I nodded my head. "Thank you."

I forced myself to eat a few spoonfuls before giving up. Seems like my appetite had completely vanished and the strange heaviness only grew worse. My limbs felt so weak that even lifting the teacup suddenly seemed like an effort.

Maybe Leo had been right that I had simply overdone it.

I changed into a soft white nightgown, closed the curtains, and climbed into bed much earlier than usual.

Within minutes… Sleep claimed me.

***

Darkness.

Complete darkness.

Then… The scent of lotus flowers drifted through the air; it was warm, sweet and ancient that woke me before I slowly opened my eyes.

Moonlight poured through towering stone columns unlike anything I had ever seen.

Golden torches flickered along endless corridors that made the walls shimmered with hieroglyphs that seemed almost alive.

"Where am I?" My voice echoed softly but no answer came.

My bare feet brushed against polished black stone as I took cautious steps forward.

Everything felt impossibly real, it was too real to be a dream.

A warm breeze gently lifted my hair.

Then… I felt it.

Someone was behind me and my heartbeat quickened, before slowly… I turned around.

No one… The corridor was empty.

"I'm dreaming," I whispered. "I have to be."

I turned back— And gasped to see a man standing only a few steps away from me. He was impossibly tall with broad shoulders wrapped in black robes embroidered with gold and long black hair fell over one shoulder.

His face remained hidden beneath the shadows cast by the torchlight yet his presence alone stole the air from my lungs; it was power, authority and loneliness. All of it radiated from him without a single word.

I should have been terrified but instead… I couldn't look away.

He took one slow step toward me then another, every instinct told me to run but my feet refused to move until he stopped before me, close enough that I could hear his breathing and feel the warmth of his body.

Neither of us spoke as we stared at each other before his hand slowly lifted; it was large and strong but surprisingly gentle as his fingertips brushed a loose strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.

I can’t help but gasp as the touch sent a strange warmth through my entire body.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

Silence…

His thumb lightly traced my cheek as though memorizing the shape of my face.

My heart pounded so hard it almost hurt.

Then without warning… His arm slipped around my waist and I gasped loudly as he drew me closer.

There was no force, no violence but only an overwhelming sense of familiarity as if I had been in his embrace long ago.

His forehead rested gently against mine and I closed my eyes without realizing it.

Why did this feel… Safe?

His deep voice finally broke the silence, it was so quiet it was almost carried away by the wind.

"...You've finally come back."

My eyes flew open.

"What?"

Before I could ask another question… His hand cupped my face before he slowly and tenderly leaned down then his lips brushed mine.

The kiss was impossibly gentle, filled with longing rather than desire like someone who had waited a lifetime… Or perhaps several lifetimes… For this single moment.

A tear slipped down my cheek, yet I didn't know why I was crying because I didn't even know this man, but why my heart ached as though it had always belonged to him.

Just as suddenly as the kiss began… He pulled away and his thumb wiped away my tears.

"My Queen..."

The words were barely a whisper.

Before I could speak… The world around us shattered and the palace dissolved into darkness.

I reached toward him instinctively. "Wait! Don't go!"

He faded like mist beneath the morning sun and the last thing I saw… Were a pair of glowing golden eyes filled with sorrow.

——

I bolted upright in bed with a loud gasp.

My chest rose and fell in frantic breaths as I took a look around.

The room was dark, silent and empty.

"It... was only a dream." I said as I pressed trembling fingers against my lips. They still felt warm as though someone had truly kissed me.

A soft breeze stirred the curtains then the scarab pendant resting on the bedside table gave off a faint golden glow.

Only for a heartbeat, but long enough to make me question everything.

***

Far beneath the Valley of the Kings, in a chamber untouched for more than three thousand years...

Pharaoh Kharef slowly opened his eyes.

For the first time since the gods sealed his fate… He whispered a single name.

"Maritza."

—-------------------------