I Need You
By
Kamala

Chapter 3



High Priestess Quarters, Three Hours Later



“Nothing,” she said, sitting back in the chair. “Who were these dreams about?”

She pulled out a sheet of papyrus and a pen, and started making notes about events mentioned in his writings. She was at the completion of the Temple of Osiris in Thebes, when there was a knock at her sanctuary door.

“Enter,” she said sitting back to watch who walked in.

Her primary aide, Marga entered carrying a scroll.

“Sorry to disturb you, Devi,” she said crossing to the desk.

Marga only used her title in the presence of others, she made it her duty to make sure Devi’s head did not swell from her position.

“Don’t worry about it. I was only taking some notes from the scroll. What do you have?”

“Aida remembered a reference in a scroll from around the time of Seti and thought it would be of interest to your research. It speaks about of a union between the Houses of Osiris and Isis.”

Devi’s head snapped up.

“I thought it would peek your interest,“ Marga stated seeing her expression. “Though I don’t understand why would you even want to read his journals. I can only imagine the evil there.”

Devi sighed, knowing her interest in the man, who was considered a plague amongst her people, was considered odd. “I am curious about the man.”

“Why?”

“He was not what we have always been taught he was. He was a brilliant man, who fell in love with the wrong woman.”

Marga snorted with disbelief, as she handed her the scroll.

“I feel sorry for him,” Devi said looking at the scroll. “He was a lonely man hoping for a love of a life time, one to last all eternity. Like all of us.”

“You are a romantic.”

“Maybe or someone who wishes for a different way of life for her people.”

“And we get it in the afterlife,” Marga said reproachfully.

Devi did not say another word, but turned her focus to the scroll reading silently.

“Well?”

“There was supposed to be a marriage between Imhotep and Sarka.”

“Sarka?”

“She was High Priestess of the Cult of Isis in Thebes during that time.”

“Sarka? The High Priestess that preferred women to men?”

“The very same, nice to know we put some wheels in motion here,” Devi muttered reading.

“So what happened?”

“She never showed up at the joining ceremony and four weeks later Seti was murdered.”

“So we played a small role?”

“All these years. All because of a High Priestess who wouldn’t touch a male if she had a choice.”

“You should not speak so of our dead sister.”

“I am stating a fact. No matter how unpleasant it is it is the fact.”

“I know, but the very thought we played some part.”

Devi nodded placing the scroll on the corner of her desk and turned back to the Imhotep scrolls. She opened the last one and skimmed looking for reference to the joining ceremony.

“Here we go,” Devi said reading the text, “And I was left alone in front of the Altar of Osiris. My Isis never showing. The priests of the House were inflamed. The Cult of Isis now having to answer for the actions of Sarka, their…Oh my…”

“What? What?” Marga said coming to the other side of the table. “The Golden One? Oh My Isis. Do you think it was you in a past life?”

Devi froze at the very thought she could have started all this. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her past lives, “Thankfully, no. I was an Amazon warrior at the time.”

“Another Golden One? Could it be?"

“Go have the others pull any reference to Sarka.”

Marga nodded and grabbed the scroll hurrying out of the room. The thought that they might have something to do with the events leading up to…. It was too horrible to think.

Devi sat back hoping that there was some other explanation to her being called the Golden One. She looked down at the scroll and read about the pain and humiliation he felt. Then there was a mention of Anck-su-namun. She leaned over and read about their chance encounter again that lead to something deeper.

She opened the scroll looking back for the first reference she could find.

“Seti has chosen a new concubine, Anck-su-namun, his daughter’s defense trainer. An incredibly beautiful woman who moves with a dancer's lithe grace. And I felt myself stir at her beauty. My only wish is that she was like the golden beauty of my dreams. My mysterious dream lover.”


Several Hours Later


Marga came in and found Devi standing on her balcony her robe wrapped tightly around her, staring into the moonlit night.

“Yes,” Devi said not even turning, lost in her own thoughts.

“We are looking for any images we might have. But the descriptions in the texts say she was lighter than most.”

“Which could mean she had lighter hair than others or something else.”

“Hopefully tomorrow. It is late,” Marga said looking at the dark circles under her eyes. “You should be resting now.”

“I know,” Devi turned. “Thank you. Please thank the others for me.”

“Tomorrow, we should have more information.”

Devi nodded.

“We are worried about you,” Marga said softly. “You are walking a dangerous line.”

“I am fine.”

“You are becoming driven by your need to understand him.”

“I feel a connection to him. Maybe because of our positions and the loneliness we share.”

“I wish to understand what you see in this creature.”

“Right now, I don't have answers. Just trust in me.”

Marga nodded and made her way towards the door.

“Marga, as for what I see in him, I see me and the same things I feel.”

Marga nodded and opened the door, disturbed by what Devi had said.

Devi walked to where her bed was, as Marga slipped out the chamber.

“Who was this woman you dreamed of Imhotep and why did she have such power over you?”

This was the last thing Marga heard Devi say as the heavy door clicked shut behind her.



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