Chapter 25

Plans in motion

In the future, Eric continued to tend to the students under his charge, watching them even more closely for fear that more students may disappear. He had been affected several times by some unknown force, which he believed had to do with Sasaki. The threat of more attacks seemed to be gone, vanished. Even though he had seemed sickly for the past few days, he was not in the teacher’s best favor. Unfortunately, Eric didn’t seem convinced that the teacher had bought his story to explain the absence of four of her students.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, appreciating the breeze even though it was a warm one.

“Excuse me,” a honeyed female voice came up behind him. Eric felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a quite attractive young woman with long black hair and green eyes.

“Are you Eric?” she asked.

By the look of her, she was only asking that question to be polite, already knowing who he was. “Who wants to know?” Eric asked.

“I’m Yakumi. The Prof. sent me to help you,” the woman smiled.

“Did he really?” Eric asked skeptically.

“Oh, you don’t believe me?” she pouted. “I’ll prove it then.” She held out a small key and continued, “This is the key to that chest he told you never to look into. It’s already open, I know, but the key will fit.” She held it out to him.

Eric hesitantly took it from her and looked at the woman with a wary eye. He turned and walked through his tent. She followed, uninvited. After entering the tent, he let the door drop on Yakumi.

“Hey!” she protested.

Eric glanced back. “I never said you could come in here.”

“I want to make sure that you don’t pretend the thing doesn’t work. I can tell you don’t exactly like me.”

Eric didn’t reply. He turned to the box that lay open on the desk. He put the key in the locked and twisted. It clicked. He pulled on it and found that it had been locked. Eric turned back to the smiling young lady and sighed. “I guess I have no other choice but to believe you. How are you here to help?”

“To help you find your missing students.”

“You can’t possibly know where they are,” Takmet scoffed.

“Oh, I do,” Yakumi said, suddenly becoming serious. “They are still in Egypt, but not the present. They are in the past.”

“Eric turned to her. “How can you be sure? And there’s no way they could have traveled through time anyway.”

“Because,” she began as she closed the distance between them, coming within inches of him, “I am from the past and I have met them.”

“Not possible,” Eric said, backing away, but his retreat was hampered by the desk. He gave her a look that cried lunatic.

“Anything is possible with magic, and I possess much more than a little of it,” she smiled. She opened a hand, holding it in front of his face, and kindled a small flame. “Impressed?” she asked.

“Very.” Eric swallowed nervously. “Okay, I believe you. Just put that out.”

Yakumi obliged. “How about you come back with me and find them yourself?” she asked as she began advancing on him again. She pushed her body up against his.

Eric tried to back up further, but to no avail. “I have a job here,” he protested. “And I would appreciate it if you backed off.”

“I think I’ll have to persuade you, then,” she purred. Yakumi leaned forward and kissed Eric with a passion.

…..………………………………………………………………

Yakumi looked down at Eric with an evil grin. She had him now. Her kiss had incapacitated him, and with her body had completed her take over. His eyes were lifeless, showed no reflections, yet he acted as if he were himself.

“So how about that trip?” Yakumi smiled deviously.

“Sounds fun,” Eric’s voice replied. “When do we leave?”

*******************************************************

Hotep called Takmet’s name. He came to his friend’s temporary domicile and opened it slowly, peering around the corner. Takmet hated to be disturbed if he was in his room alone, or sleeping. But this time his friend was neither alone nor asleep.

Takmet looked up from where he lay, resting his head on an elbow behind Sasaki. She was still asleep. The sheet was covering only from her hip down, though her arms shielded the rest of her from view. Takmet was absentmindedly running his fingers softly along her bare side, tracing the shape of her hip.

“Bless the Holy Eye of Ra,” Hotep swore. He smiled and opened the door wider, leaning on the handle.

Takmet covered his mouth with a finger in a silent ‘hush’. “What do you need?” he asked softly.

“I was wondering where Sasaki was,” Hotep grinned again. “The mage wanted to see you two. But I can tell him you’re occupied.” Hotep raised an eyebrow, waiting happily for the status on his offer.

Takmet laughed silently. “No, we will be there,” he answered. He gave Hotep a look that told him to keep quiet about what he had seen. Hotep winked and backed out the door.

Takmet shook his head in amusement. Hotep always was the tease. He had walked in on Takmet once before, but that was almost four years ago. He still carried a dull pain from his lost love, Kehsat. He realized now that she had known her time with him would be short. And that she knew he would meet the love of his life after she was gone. But that didn’t take away the pain he had suffered when she died. His power was not strong enough to save her at fifteen. He had tried. Gods, he had tried, but the power working against him had been much stronger than his own. He took comfort in the fact that he had the power to protect Sasaki now. His true love. Isis, a voice inside of him echoed. That’s right, he thought. A love ordained by the gods. The strength of the gods.

Takmet moved his hand to Sasaki’s shoulder and kissed her neck softly. “Sasaki,” he whispered.

She stirred, turning toward him. She put her arms above her head and yawned. Then she turned over and curled up, cuddling against Takmet’s chest

He caressed her chin and pulled her face out of her protective position gently. “Come on, I know you’re still tired,” he said, “but Marton wants to see us.” He kissed her lips and was rewarded by a response and her eyes slowly opening. Her smile broke his kiss.

“Oh, fine,” she said sleepily. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She bent over and picked up her discarded clothing, using it to cover her as her modesty came back in a sudden rush at the immensity and exposed atmosphere of the room. She dressed with her back to him, wishing that she had grabbed some clean clothes from somewhere. Takmet watched for a moment, then got up and dressed as well.

The two of them made their way to the mage’s quarters and opened the door.

“Grandpa?” Sasaki called. Even though she knew that was no longer true, she continued calling the mage that name, simply because he was the only one she had ever known.

“Come on in,” the mage replied.

The pair entered the main room.

“What’s up?” Sasaki asked.

The mage turned to them from a shallow bowl of water. “I know where Yakumi went, but she is no longer there.”

Takmet and Sasaki exchanged glances. They gave their full attention to the mage.

“Where did she go?” Takmet asked.

The mage looked at Sasaki. “To the future.”

Sasaki was shocked. “What for?” she asked, confused.

“To get help. From Eric,” he answered solemnly.

“But how could he help her? He has no magic. And I don’t think he would agree to help her even if she tried to ask.”

The mage shook his head. “You underestimate her. She has taken Eric with her already. I can’t locate him.”

“But he wouldn’t,” Sasaki protested.

“He has. He does have power as well. Obviously not as easily seen as yours, and the reincarnations have diminished it very little. Under Yakumi’s control he could very well be as strong as Sekat.”

Sasaki shivered. Eric had been taken, and that meant they would have to fight him as well.

“So where is she now?” Takmet asked.

“I would think she is already back,” the mage guessed. “I still can’t locate her though.”

Sasaki thought a moment. “Why does she want Egypt anyway? And why is she so focused on the palace?”

“Apparently the palace was built on a site where different sources of natural power and magic converged. This is only logical, since the pharaoh is a god to his people. If Yakumi gets control of it she could do almost anything. She aims to turn Egypt into a Pandora’s box.”

“We can’t just wait for her,” Takmet said, the urgency of the situation apparent in his voice. “Something must be done.”

“You can use this time to train, or you can just wait and waste your time,” Marton replied.

“Is that all?” Sasaki asked.

“I’m afraid so at the moment. Yakumi will confront you when she believes she is ready to do so.” The mage crossed his arms. “Your decision.”

“Practice, then,” Sasaki answered. Takmet nodded in agreement.

“All right,” Marton said. He turned his back to them, returning to gaze at the shallow bowl of water. “I assume you two had a good night’s rest?”

Sasaki hesitated only a moment before answering, wondering if the mage really knew what had happened. “Of course,” she replied. Sasaki glanced over at Takmet.

Takmet managed to keep a relatively straight face, but the corner of his mouth raised in an eminent grin in amusement at Sasaki’s answer.

“Good,” Marton replied, concentrating on the bowl. “You should start as soon as you feel up to it. The other girls most especially need their magical skills sharpened a bit.”

“Well get right on it,” Sasaki replied, smiling.

*****************************************************

A week passed quickly and quietly. Yakumi had not even given a hint as to her whereabouts. Takmet and the girls trained diligently, waiting for Yakumi to show herself. Chloe, Ami, and Mandi’s magical skill increased significantly as they learned self-control and practiced every day.

This day was yet another they would use for training outside of the palace. The camels were ready to depart and the group of young magic-workers was prepared for their exercises. Takmet put his hands on the reins of his ride and was about to pull himself on, but he froze before he mounted.

Mandi caught the movement. “What is it, Takmet?”

Sasaki answered instead. “She’s here.” She stood facing the southeast as Takmet turned and faced the same direction. Darkness leaked from that point on the horizon and the desert wind violently tugged at their cloaks, agitated.

“Yakumi has finally come to pay us a final visit,” Takmet said solemnly. They watched as the darkness advanced toward the palace. Takmet turned to Hotep, who had seen them off everyday when they trained at the sacred ruins. “Make sure the pharaoh’s army is on its guard. Lesser creatures will attack while Yakumi is occupied with us.”

Hotep gazed at the darkening sky for only a second more, then he nodded and disappeared down the hall.

Suddenly Sasaki announced, “She’s in the throne hall. Waiting.” She met Takmet’s gaze.

Chloe slapped her fist into her palm. “We shouldn’t disappoint her then, should we?”

Sasaki smiled back at Chloe. “Quite right. Let’s go.” She faded out of sight. Takmet and the other girls followed.