Khepri took her hand in hers, brought it to her lips and kissed it. "For your kindness."
She gently removed her hand and when she looked out onto the black sea she was surprised to find they were already at their destination. The light the pyramid gave seemed to be bright, but it was not blinding. She looked down and saw that her breasts and the v shape in the juncture of her thighs were visible now that the light shone so brightly on her. She felt naked. She saw Thoth awaited her and gently clasped her hips and swung her off the boat and carried her until they ached the shore, which was only a few feet.
It was all so strange to her. She walked and her feet didn't feel the white, sparkling sand underneath them. Khepri followed suit behind them, and they walked in reverent silence into the pyramid. Above it, there was an inscription that read:
"I am ready. Please, take me to her, Your Majesty."They walked for a few more moments and entered a room. Much like the first one, it was filled with a different variety of flowers. It reminded her of the greenhouse at the palace, and she realized it was an exact replica of it."Your mother has a magic touch with flowers. I made this room especially for her."Flossina smiled."My child."She heard her mother's voice and immediately fell to the floor sobbing.She thought she would never hear that voice again. She knew when she left this place it would be a while before she heard it again. She wanted to treasure every intonation. Her world had seemed to unravel at
Flossina awoke with a jolt, coughing and sputtering, still thinking she was fighting against the cold, thick, black abyss Thoth had thrown her into. She soon realized she was back in the same bed inside of the castle she had awoke in days ago. She sat up and tried to get out bed. That small task seemed just the opposite for her and she instantly felt drained, emotionally and physically. She swung her legs off the bed and pressed her calves against the mattress for support as she stood up and walked over to the window beside the bed. She pulled back the animal skin that covered it. She was immediately greeted by the twinkling of stars in a clear midnight sky. She felt the lukewarm breeze against her clammy skin and she closed her eyes at it’s sweet caress. She used her hand to wipe her brow and felt cold metal brush up against her cheek. She looked and saw it was the same bracelet she had worn on her
"I spoke to my mother," she admitted wistfully.He heard no sarcasm or humor in her statement. She looked as if she were glowing. A faint smile crossed her face. She was beautiful."What?" He was a little shocked by her bizarre admission." I spoke to her," she repeated. "She says the King, my stepfather, is mad with power, and I am to stop him. I must leave here and go back I must go-"He was by her side instantly and he felt her weight shift into his own as he wrapped his arm securely around her waist to support her standing. She was still very weak."Please, you are upsetting yourself with this talk. We can discuss this tomorrow. You just need a little more rest." Marlon insisted.
7-Gossip"The King is planning something big." Delaev said as he assisted Marlon in trimming the aloe vera plants inside the indoor medicinal herb garden.He had started in the sun room. He moved on to another plant and spoke once more. "He has hired more swords. They have pledged their allegiance to him in order to gain wealth. He has promised titles and treasure to those who would lend their shield and sword to Zuff. In the streets there is also talk of war. I overheard a soldier telling another that the King means to lay siege to the neighboring Kingdom since their King has fallen ill and his son is much too young to take on the burden. He plans to mine Zuff and Glass Hollow. He is searching for jewels.""Jewels? He is a King. Surely his treasure chests are brimming with such things." Marlon pointed
Delaev spoke again. "Did she do it?"There was a short pause before Marlon answered. "I'm not one-hundred percent certain. I don't think she did, but she doesn't remember much, which means someone could have drugged her and poisoned the Queen, or it was such a traumatic event she completely forgot."He left out the part about her waking up in hysterics, talking about visiting of her mother, the Queen, and what she had told Flossina about his own self. He worked with healing potions and tonics. He didn't believe in the type of supernatural magic she had been speaking of last night. His friend wouldn't either."I don't believe one bit of what those castle vultures have been saying about her."Deleav furnished after a long silence."The people think she is guilty of this cri
She felt safe with him. There was something about him that frightened her.As if Deleav could sense the awkward silence between them he cleared his throat and spoke."I will take this to the kitchen and tend to the dragon's. Your Highness." He bowed once more to her and left the room.It was just them now."Your...friend?" She asked shyly."Aye." He nodded and walked over to where she stood. He stood only a few feet in front of her."Everyone believes me to be some mad murderess, don't they?" She asked, already knowing the answer.He could hear the defeat in her voice."No." He said simply.
After speaking with Marlon Flossina’s spirits felt deflated. She had been completely honest with him and he had shut her down immediately. He didn’t care to open his mind and hear what she was saying. She was beginning to wonder if her mother had been right. She felt helpless. To her it felt like the more she tried to find out what happened to her the more resistance she seemed to feel. He wanted her to heal and rest, but she had no time for that. She had to find out who did this to her family and why. She had to leave this place. She surveyed the room for anything she could wear over the outfit she wore. A long wooden trunk sat at the foot of the large bed. She opened it and located a cloak and boots. She needed to leave, but knew she couldn't do it on foot. Where would she get a horse? She couldn't very well steal his dragon and ride away on it.
Khepri had helped her and her plan was set in motion.Her room looked the exact same, with the exception of the black pieces of linen draped over all the furniture inside of her bedchamber signifying her death. Her royal portrait hung above the large fireplace inside of her room and was covered with a black silk cloth. She quickly removed her cloak and removed the black sheer material from her portait to see they had painted a red gilded mask over her portrait's face to signify her betrayal. She wanted to scream at the atrocity.She took a deep breath and heard her mother's voice, "Find my diary."