The palace slowly came into sight and with it the figure of the waiting Hotep appeared as well. But he was not alone. Beside him stood the unmistakable figure of a woman.

“Oh no,” Takmet groaned. “Not three in one day! I have had enough.” He knew very well who the visitor was. How she found him he would never know.

“Well if it isn’t Takmet’s elusive sister!” Hotep greeted Rei as the five camels pulled to a halt in front of him. “Where have you been all this time?”

“Oh, buried in stuff to do,” Rei shrugged off the question. “Nice to see you, too, Hotep. You have grown since I was last here.” Rei passed an approving smile over what she saw which almost made the palace guard self-conscious enough to blush. Takmet dismounted, only to be immediately tackled by the female visitor he wasn’t too thrilled to see. The woman’s voice stirred an uneasiness that he hadn’t felt since last he saw her.

“Ta---kmet!! Did you miss me?” the woman asked sweetly as she smiled up at him while hanging around his neck.

“Of course, Yakumi,” Takmet lied.

Scratching his head, Hotep asked in puzzlement, “Why in the world do you seem to be the girl magnet this week??” He sighed. “And you’re leaving your best buddy out of this?” Hotep shook his head after watching the exchange

The other girls dismounted as well, Rei helping Sasaki down from her ride. When Sasaki reached the ground she began to collapse, still weak, but Rei held her up with a tender grip. Takmet glanced back and gave her a worried look.

Yakumi, noticing Takmet’s interest had been captured by this girl’s condition, asked innocently, “Who’s she, Takmet?” She took in the picture of Rei supporting this girl, and winked at the genie.

“A special guest,” Takmet replied absent-mindedly, still wondering if Sasaki would be well.

Rei, at first taken aback by the secretive wink from Yakumi, recovered and took her first real look at the female visitor. Rei’s eyes narrowed as a strong feeling of hostility towards this woman surged in her chest. “Get away from him,” she said out loud. She made sure Sasaki was well supported on her shoulder. Then louder she repeated herself.

Yakumi smiled devilishly, still hanging from Takmet’s neck. “Long time no see, Rei.”

Takmet, confused, looked between his guest and his sister. As far as he knew, they had never met before.

“Get off of him,” Rei snarled.

Yakumi smiled innocently. “What’s he to you, anyway?”

“My brother,” the genie answered, rather bristled by the sight of Yakumi and her brother.

“Your brother?” Yakumi’s face registered genuine surprise. Silence followed. Takmet, Chloe, Sasaki, Mandi, Ami, and Hotep were quite aware of the tension between these two and didn’t want to set anything off.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Rei broke the pause. “But, he is the age he looks, unlike you and I.”

Yakumi’s eyes narrowed for a split second, revealing a dangerously powerful and vengeful spirit that was quickly covered up by her innocent facade. Everyone missed it except for Rei. She was the only one that Yakumi wasn’t fooling, and Yakumi was going to keep it that way. So Yakumi returned to her bubbly appearance, inching nearer to Takmet if that was possible.

“You....know each other?” Takmet asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“We’re old acquaintances,” Rei grudgingly admitted, glaring at the black-haired, green-eyed woman.

The girls from the future continued to watch the sparks crackle between Rei and Yakumi. Sasaki could stand by herself now, and distanced herself from the frustrated Rei. Rei was so disgusted at Yakumi’s presence that she actually wanted to go back into her bottle. Sasaki had tied the trinket to her skirt. She opened it, and Rei disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Rei was talking to herself, so loudly that they could hear her vaguely through the glass bottle, even with the cap on.

“You’re the lucky owner of that nuisance this time, hmm?” Yakumi asked Sasaki. Rei’s face materialized on the side of the bottle and she stuck out her tongue. She vanished again.

“It wasn’t my choice,” Sasaki began. “I didn’t know what was in the bottle. I certainly didn’t expect a genie.”

“All bottles like that have genies. Where have you been living? Under a rock?” Yakumi asked sarcastically.

“Well,” Sasaki hesitated, “I’m from out of town, as it were.”

Yakumi smiled inwardly. “From where exactly?”

“The west.” Sasaki refused any more questions of that sort.

Yakumi studied her for a moment. Then she finally let go of Takmet. “I’m Yakumi,” she said as she walked toward Sasaki.

“I’m Sasaki. And these are my friends, Chloe, Mandi, and Ami.”

“Nice to meet you,” Yakumi nodded to each of them. She turned back to Sasaki, taking her arm. “We have lots to talk about,” Yakumi smiled. Sasaki had a feeling of dizzyness and she faltered for a moment. “You all right?” Yakumi asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Sasaki replied. She suddenly received a faint feeling of uneasiness, but she allowed her self to be led by Yakumi. The visiting woman began talking about nothing in particular as Sasaki glanced over her shoulder at the confused Takmet. He half-waved goodbye, bewilderment clouding his expression. The two young ladies passed Hotep, who was still simmering over the fact that Takmet had so many female admirers. Then they vanished from sight.

Rei appeared above Takmet. Sasaki had let her out since she didn’t want to be anywhere near Yakumi. “Get rid of her. NOW!” Rei yelled in his ear.

Takmet started. “Ah! Don’t DO that, Rei!”

“I’m telling you that by having her here, you and these girls are in at least a hundred times more danger than you were before,” Rei said as she grabbed a fist-full of hair and tilted his head back, looking him in the eye.

Takmet cringed as Rei pulled his hair. “How so?” Takmet asked.

Rei let go of him and crossed her arms. Takmet rubbed his head, fixing the misplaced strands. “She’s thousands of years old as far as I know and very close to a goddess, if not actually one. And she’s as evil as you can find them. When did you meet her?”

“Some time after I left you in the middle of the desert. That was an accident, I assure you.”

Rei smiled sarcastically then frowned again. “That timing sure was convenient. It must have indeed been an accident, since she didn’t seem to know I was your sister.”

“If she’s so dangerous, why did we just let her drag Sasaki off?” Chloe asked.

“I’m sure she knows I told you all about her already. She simply thinks we can’t do anything about it. And she probably figures that you wouldn’t believe me after the way she’s acted so far.”

“That’s a good point,” Mandi put in. “I wouldn’t have believed you if you didn’t seem so upset. But to me, you don’t seem like someone who gets worked up too easily.”

“No, she usually does not,” Takmet added. “I am a little worried now.”

“You shouldn’t be at the moment. She’s not about to do anything to Sasaki to expose herself or her partner anyway. For the long run, though, I’d be on my guard.”

“Partner?” Mandi asked. “Who’s her partner?”

“Oh, he’s here. I just haven’t seen him yet,” Rei answered. Suddenly her stomach growled. “Enough of this. I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

“Talk about a change in subject!” Mandi mumbled.

Takmet glanced in the direction Sasaki and Yakumi had gone. Alarm was rising in his mind, but he forced himself to remember she was safe in the palace. Hotep came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder, jolting him out of his aloof state. Takmet turned to look at him.

“She’ll be fine, Takmet,” Hotep smiled.

“How did you--?” Takmet drifted off, the meaning of the question reaching Hotep regardless.

“You were staring off into space again,” he winked.

Takmet looked away. “I am that obvious, am I?”

“Only to people who have known you for a while. Sasaki’s friends I heard hadn’t even noticed until this morning, when Marton pointed it out.”

“You heard about that, too, did you?” Takmet asked.

Hotep nodded. “But anyway, I was going to say that Yakumi would wait until she earned Sasaki’s trust to do anything to her in the first place. So you shouldn’t worry.”

“I agree,” Mandi said. She had overheard that last remark. “It would be more to her advantage if Sasaki wasn’t always on edge around her.”

Rei listened to them talk. They didn’t know Yakumi like she did. If Yakumi needed to, she would kill Sasaki right then and there, in the palace. Maybe even in Takmet’s room, just to spite him. But she didn’t want to ruin their hopeful talk, so she kept her thoughts to herself. She interrupted them a moment later.

“Really, guys. Can we go eat now? Food does tastes so much better when you don’t have to make it out of thin air.”

Takmet couldn’t help smiling even though worry still sat crouched in the back of his mind. “You know where the dining room is.”

Rei grinned and disappeared immediately and Takmet shook his head. That Rei... he thought fondly.

* * *

They caught up with Rei in the dining room. She was waiting for them eagerly, but refrained from sitting since the pharaoh had not arrived yet. Hotep had excused himself again, explaining that he was just a lowly guard and did not eat with royalty. Sasaki and Yakumi appeared down the hall, making their way to the table. Everyone noticed that Sasaki looked no more comfortable around Yakumi than when she had left. In fact, Takmet and Mandi thought that she looked more uncomfortable. Her attitude changed visibly when she saw her friends, and her gaze caught on Takmet’s for just a moment. The corner of her mouth raised a bit in an imminent smile, but it never reached its full potential. Takmet’s eyes returned her small movement, sparkling a hello and relief that Yakumi had not done anything to her.

The pharaoh then walked in and greeted them all. “Nice to see you all again,” he nodded. He surveyed the group with an approving glance, his gaze momentarily stopping on Sasaki for some unknown reason. He ignored the familiar feeling that had stirred when he saw her and sat down. “My principal wife and my mother will be joining us for dinner,” he smiled, indicating the two women behind him. The guests sat down as well, following Seti’s move.

Seti sat at the head of the table with his wife on his right and his mother on his left. Next to his wife sat Yakumi, and then Takmet. Next to Takmet sat Chloe, and then Ami. Sasaki sat next to Seti’s mother. Rei took her place on the other side of Sasaki, and Mandi next to Rei. At the mention of Seti’s mother, Sasaki tensed a little, realizing that the woman sitting next to her was indeed her own mother as well. She glanced to her right, catching the aging woman’s eye. The older woman froze for a moment, returning the sharp look Sasaki was giving her. Her eyes widened a little and she gasped. Seti turned to his mother.

“Is anything wrong, mother?” he asked. His mother turned to him then back to Sasaki, who discreetly shook her head.

“N-no, nothing’s wrong,” the old woman replied, smiling. “I just can’t seem to believe we have so many guests.” She reached for Sasaki’s hand under the table. Sasaki took it and squeezed it tightly. Yakumi at the moment was eerily silent, watching Sasaki like a hawk that had just located its prey.

Seti smiled. “Yes, and all female as well. ” He watched the expression on Takmet’s face as Yakumi hung onto his arm happily. He had not caught the deadly shadow that had crossed her face just a moment ago. Takmet’s countenance was one of total exasperation. Seti chuckled to himself. Takmet was too polite for his own good. “Takmet, why don’t you introduce all of your friends to my mother and wife?”

Takmet nodded and indicated the girl sitting next to him. “This is Yakumi, next to her is Chloe and Ami.” He held his arm across the table and indicated the girl sitting next the pharaoh’s mother with a little apprehension. “That is Sasaki, Mandi, and my sister, Rei.” The pharaoh’s wife and mother nodded to the guests respectfully, Seti’s mother lingering on Sasaki longer than on the other guests.

Seti elbowed his friend. “Did you enjoy the time with Sasaki?” he asked in a suggestive manner, winking.

Sasaki heard the question loud and clear. So did her mother. She squeezed Sasaki’s hand and gave her a sidelong look that said, “Are you involved with him?” Sasaki looked down at the table, blushing slightly. Her mother took that as a “yes”.

Takmet prevented himself from panicking by focusing on Seti’s mother, whose gaze seemed too knowing and gave him some composure. “We all worked hard. Enjoying ourselves is for another time.”

Seti gave him a look and shook his head. “I don’t understand you, Takmet.”

Sasaki watched Yakumi hang all over Takmet, not blocking out the wave of jealousy that rose in her. To be able to touch Takmet like that was a wish that may never be realized. Sasaki knew Yakumi wasn’t being serious, but something bothered Sasaki about that woman. Chloe and Yakumi talked incessantly across Takmet. About what Sasaki couldn’t say. They seemed to have found some common ground. They both liked to gossip.

Seti watched the two women chatter away absent-mindedly until some servants arrived with the food. They all began eating the delicious delicacies that the royal cooks had prepared and Seti spoke to Takmet in a more serious tone.

“They saw the mage this morning, then?” He raised an eyebrow.

Takmet nodded, eating quietly, eyes fixed on Seti’s.

“And he confirmed it?” Seti asked skeptically.

Takmet nodded again, swallowing. “I will elaborate on it later,” he said mildly, scooping another mouthful off his plate.

“Well, by Ra....imagine that,” Seti said, amazed. “And he sent you out to train them?”

Takmet nodded.

“Did you get anywhere with Sasaki?”

Takmet glared at him. He didn’t want Seti to assume too much before he realized that Sasaki was his sister. The less he thought she was involved with someone, the better. The fact that Takmet was not royalty and that he was interested in a princess of Egypt would not sit well with any of the court officials or especially not with that princess’ brother. Again, Takmet feared for his neck. Before Takmet could reprimand the Seti, the pharaoh cut him off.

“I meant with her powers,” Seti smiled. He laughed inwardly as he saw Takmet’s expression calm down, but kept the glare.

Takmet opened his mouth to speak, but Rei broke in with a voice full of sexual suggestiveness, saying, “Oh, you bet they got somewhere. You should have seen them flir--.” Suddenly Rei’s voice was cut off as her throat constricted. She looked, surprised, at Takmet, who was throwing her a glare now instead of Seti. He shook his head slowly.

“What were you saying, Rei?” Seti asked, interest aroused at her tone.

Rei’s voice came back and she coughed a couple times. “Oh, nothing. I was just playing around. It’s not important.” Rei was surprised at Takmet’s reaction. He would not have done that had he not really wanted her to stop. She rubbed her throat pensively. Such precision. She had been able to breath, but he had kept her from finishing her sentence.

“All right, then,” Seti said skeptically. Usually Rei wasn’t afraid to say what she thought.

Yakumi looked up at Takmet, confused. “Are you involved with that girl, Takmet? Do you like her?” Her eyes shone large and innocent as she asked that question.

Takmet hesitated. “I…” He looked at Sasaki, but she was only picking at her food without actually eating anything. He could tell she was listening, though. Her eyes were almost watching him, but not quite.

“So you do,” Yakumi said sadly. “And here I was hoping to keep you company in this huge lonely palace, but you already have someone to entertain you.”

“That’s not why she’s here,” Takmet protested. Yakumi was twisting the situation. He kept in mind what Rei had said, that Yakumi was only acting, but she was doing an awfully good job. He saw tears edge to the corner of her eyes. He hated seeing women cry, even though he knew these tears were fake.

Rei suddenly couldn’t stand the horrible drama of it all any longer. She stood up and slammed her hands down on the table. “Oh, come off it, Yakumi,” she said severely. “I know you’re acting, and so do most of the people at this table. This show is positively sickening.” And in an English accent she said, “Get thee gone, she-demon.” She pointed to show her the way out.

Yakumi’s eyes overflowed as she stared at Rei, disbelieving. She got up abruptly and released Takmet’s arm as she left the table, knocking over her chair in the process. She disappeared into the shadows of the west hall.