The Blue Lotus Page 11

  Tory snuggled up close to Scott with her head pillowed on his chest. She could hear his heart still racing beneath her ear and hers matched the tempo of his. Slowly their breathing returned to normal. Scott began to gently caress her bare back.

  "You know we can't stay in bed all day. Even though you are a greedy woman and are never satisfied."

  "I guess you are right. I think I can wait a few more hours to have you again."

  Scott's laughter rumbled inside his chest. “That is good to hear.” Giving her bottom a smack, he said, “Time we got out of this bed before I change my mind."

  Tory groaned. “You party pooper. All right, you win. If it was for anyone else besides Kendra, I would be saying who gives a damn."

  "Well it is for Kendra, so we have work to do. You can have the shower first if you would like."

  Slipping from the bed, Tory, completely unabashed with her naked state, stretched largely. Giving Scott a saucy wink, she left the bedroom and headed for the bathroom down the hall.

  Shaking his head, Scott chuckled to himself. Tory had turned out to be more than a handful. She was exactly what he had hoped she would be. He only regretted the time lost between now and when they had first been introduced. But he was reasonably sure they would make up for all that lost time in no time at all.

  Getting out of the bed himself, Scott went to his desk and began to thumb through one of his books. Just as quickly as that, he became immersed in what he was doing. Lost to the real world.

  * * * *

  Having finished her shower and feeling much more refreshed, Tory returned to the bedroom to find Scott lost in the book set before him. She rolled her eyes in his direction. She guessed she would have to get used to the idea of being forgotten by him at times, but just so long as it wasn't all the time. She had her ways to ensure that didn't happen. For the moment, she could let it slide.

  After his shower and a couple hours more of research, they decided to go over to see Kendra and Nefertem. On the way out the door, Scott grabbed up the newspaper that lay on his doorstep. He added it to the pile of books and papers he carried.

  They arrived a short time later. Tory rang the doorbell. Before anyone came to answer the door, she stole a quick kiss from Scott.

  "What was that for?"

  "I couldn't resist any longer."

  "Well, I can do better than that.” Hooking his free arm around her waist, he pulled Tory closer and proceeded to give her a kiss that was in no way considered a quick peck. Lost in the moment neither one of them heard the door open.

  "My, my I had no idea I would be treated to such a display. Almost makes me want to join in."

  Guiltily, Scott and Tory jumped apart. Their fluster soon turned to surprise when they saw who stood in the now open door.

  Seeing the large Egyptian standing framed in the doorway, and knowing that was what he was from his dark good looks, Tory began to imagine all kinds of terrible things that could have happened to Kendra. Having another one of Nefertem's kind in the house, and answering the front door no less, could in no way be considered a good thing. At least in her way of thinking, it wasn't. So without saying so much as a single word, she barged past the stranger and rushed inside the house.

  Stepping into the hallway, Tory began to yell. “Kendra! Kendra, where are you?"

  Having only been in the kitchen when she heard Tory's call, Kendra came rushing out a few seconds later. “Tory, I'm here. What is wrong?"

  "Oh, thank goodness you are all right."

  "Of course I am. Why on earth wouldn't I be?"

  Jerking her head in Mahes's direction, who now stood a short distance behind her, Tory said sarcastically, “Well, let me see now, could it be because of the tall, strange, Egyptian who answered your front door, do you think?"

  Kendra looked over at Mahes. He seemed vastly amused with the whole situation. She furrowed her brows at him, which only made him smile all the more. Deciding to forget him for the moment, Kendra turned her attention back to Tory. “No cause for alarm, Tory. Mahes is harmless."

  "Excuse me, but I could take great exception to that comment. I am hardly considered harmless, especially when it comes to a lady's virtue."

  Kendra rolled her eyes. Something she did more often than not around Mahes. “Shut up, Mahes.” she admonished him. “Ignore him, Tory; he thinks every woman who sees him can't resist his purported charm."

  Feeling relieved that Kendra was indeed okay and not in any danger, Tory turned to get a better look at Mahes. She could see why he would have such a big ego when it came to his charms. He was good-looking enough to make any woman's mouth water in longing. She had to wonder how two such drop dead gorgeous men like Nefertem and Mahes could exist. If she had met Mahes before she had met Scott she would have been very tempted, but not now. Her eyes instinctively slid over to Scott. She was surprised to find him staring at Mahes with a look of awe.

  "Scott, can you please tell me why you are looking at Mahes like that?” Tory was almost afraid to ask.

  "It's just ... it's just, he is Mahes."

  It was Tory's turn to roll her eyes. “Here we go again."

  Taking his attention off the delectable looking blonde woman standing next to Kendra, Mahes turned to look at the man called Scott. “Yes, I am Mahes."

  Scott couldn't keep the excitement he was feeling out of his voice when he spoke. “Since you are here at the same place as Nefertem, then you must truly be his brother. It has only been assumed that you were, but your being here is the proof. I can't believe the one called The Lord of the Massacre, the punisher of those who violate Maat, is standing in front of me."

  "How do you know so much about me?"

  Kendra was the one who answered that question for Scott. “He is an Egyptologist, Mahes. Which means he has made a career in the study of everything to do with ancient Egypt."

  "Truly? Are there many such people who do what he does?"

  "Yes, there are many people who do. So excuse Scott if he stares at you. He did the same thing with Nefertem when they first met."

  "Interesting. I see there is much to learn about this world of yours."

  "I, in turn, could learn much from you.” Scott added.

  "Be that as it may, Scott is here for another reason all together."

  * * * *

  Nefertem had spoken those words. He had stood silently listening to the conversation taking place in the hallway. He had been in the kitchen with Kendra when Scott and Tory had arrived. Listening to the easy camaraderie between his brother and the others reaffirmed just how different from them he was becoming. The feeling of being emotionally detached was getting stronger inside him—another sign that time would all too soon run out for him.

  "Have you found out anything, Scott?"

  Reining his excitement back in, Scott shook his head at Nefertem. “I am really not sure, but I can show you what I have so far.” Preceding the others, Scott went into the living room and placed his papers on the coffee table. The rest filed in after him.

  "What exactly do you have him searching for, brother?” Mahes asked Nefertem.

  "It is of no concern of yours, Mahes."

  Scott interrupted, “I beg to differ. He could help. He may be able to come up with some ideas about what your father was trying to say."

  Mahes shot Nefertem a surprised look. “You were in contact with father? I thought you told me that was not possible. That there are no temples of Ptah here."

  "There aren't any. Let's just leave it that there had been one way, but it has been exhausted and no longer of any use. So you can forget about trying to use it yourself."

  "You can stop worrying, brother. I have decided to help you in your plans to stop mother. Besides, it is not as if I have much of a choice in the matter. You made that decision for me when you trapped me in this realm."

  Nefertem gave his brother a hard stare. He trusted Mahes, but there still was that one truth that hung between them—Mahes had come here at their mother's be
hest. “Am I to only take your word for it, Mahes? You came here for a purpose."

  "Yes, but once again, you voided that. I can't very well tell anything now, can I?"

  "Fine, I guess I don't have much of a choice. Just try to behave is all I ask."

  Mahes chuckled. “I will try, but I can't tell you I will be on good behaviour at all times."

  Nefertem gave him a fierce scowl, not finding any humour in what Mahes had said. Deciding to ignore his brother for the time being, he turned his attention back to Scott. Expecting to find him still riffling through the papers he had brought, Nefertem was a bit surprised to find Scott staring at a newspaper. He seemed absorbed in a particular article the paper contained.

  "What are you reading, Scott?"

  Not taking his eyes from the newspaper, Scott shook his head. “All those hours of pouring over text books and all I had to do was look in today's newspaper. I would have saved myself a lot of time."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I have been looking through all my books and have come up with nothing. Which was obviously a big waste of time. I should have been reading newspapers, it would seem.” He pointed at a small article found on the last page of the first section of the newspaper. “This one tiny article is the biggest clue I have found so far."

  Moving so he could look over Scott's shoulder, Nefertem began to read the article the other man had pointed out. The more he read, the more he could see what Scott had been referring to.

  The article though small, held great significance, at least it did to them. It was written about the Sphinx and the possibility of there being a hidden chamber buried beneath the two front legs of the monument. One theory went so far as to state that a long forgotten library, from the lost city of Atlantis, could be housed there. It also told of two Frenchmen's theory of a secret chamber to be found inside the Great Pyramid called Khufu or Cheops. The so called “structure” was likely to be located in an area below the queen's burial chamber inside the pyramid.

  This was not something they could take lightly. The idea of either theory proving to be true was something they could not easily dismiss out of hand, especially since both hidden rooms—if they existed—were within a stone's throw from each other. The pyramid Kufu was the only one of the three Great Pyramids in close proximity to the Sphinx. Could these rooms be what his father was trying to tell him about?

  Chapter Sixteen

  When neither Scott nor Nefertem seemed to deem it necessary to let the rest of them in on what they had found, Kendra decided she would pry the information out of them.

  "Are you two going to keep us in the dark, or do I have to snatch that newspaper away from you?"

  Scott answered her. Nefertem seemed to be lost in thought and unable to do so. “Well, it just so happens that an article in today's paper may be able to point us in the right direction. Apparently there is a possibility of there being two hidden rooms, one beneath the Sphinx and one hidden inside of the Great Pyramids."

  "In Egypt?"

  "Yes, of course, in Egypt."

  "Okay that is all very well and good, but I have one question. Does that mean we would have to be in Egypt to have this information be of any use to us?"

  At a loss for words, Scott didn't answer right away. The silence stretched. Finally, Nefertem spoke.

  "If they are to be found in Egypt, then Egypt is where I must go. I can do nothing here."

  Kendra narrowed her eyes at Nefertem. “What do you mean by you? Shouldn't you have said we?"

  "No, I meant exactly what I said."

  It hurt to hear him say that. All she could think of was how could Nefertem even think to leave her behind? The time left to them was finite. It hurt that he would choose to cut their time together even shorter.

  "Just how do you plan to get to Egypt? It is not like you can drive there. Unless you have another power at your disposal, which can pop you there in a matter of seconds."

  "In this form, as a mortal, no, I have no such power."

  Feeling the tension building between Nefertem and Kendra, Tory broke into their conversation. “Yeah Nefertem, Kendra is right. You do need us. We know how to get you to Egypt, and we have an inside contact, sort of. Kendra's brother is already there."

  "You did not tell me your brother was in Egypt, Kendra.” Nefertem chose to ignore the rest of what Tory had said to him and only focused on the part about Kendra's brother.

  Kendra shrugged. “It wasn't like you ever asked, now was it? I didn't think Markus's being there held any relevance to our problem."

  "It may not have before I spoke with my father, but now it does."

  "So Markus is in Egypt. I doubt he could be of much help anyway. The only contact information I have for him is the return address on the package he used to send the necklace to me. And by now he could have already moved on to another hotel. As for owning a cell phone to contact him that way, Markus never takes it away with him in case he loses it."

  Mahes silently watched the exchange taking place between Nefertem and Kendra. He knew why his brother did not want Kendra to go to Egypt with him. Once he stood on the soil of his native land, the precarious hold he had on himself would be totally obliterated. He would be unable to stop himself. The change—he would no longer be able to control it. But not taking Kendra would be Nefertem's downfall. She was the only one who could forestall the change from becoming complete the moment Nefertem set foot in Egypt. So with that thought in mind, Mahes decided he would make sure Kendra was not left behind. He would use any means necessary to see it so.

  Deciding there was no time like the present; Mahes went and slipped an arm around Kendra's shoulders. He then pulled her up against his side. “If you have well and truly decided to not take Kendra with you, Nefertem, I will gladly stay behind with her.” With his free hand, Mahes forced Kendra to look up at him. “I am more than happy to take your place in her bed.” He bent his head to kiss her.

  The only warning he had that Nefertem was about to strike was the loud cat howl of rage he let loose. In one smooth motion, Mahes shoved Kendra away from him so he could dodge the fist that had been about to slam into his face. He easily avoided the next, and the next that flew in quick succession. Nefertem's rage was making him sloppy and with each miss, the angrier Nefertem was becoming. Mahes knew he was playing with fire. The madder he made his brother, the less control Nefertem would have over himself. But this was a necessary evil. Nefertem had to think of what the consequences could be if he didn't take Kendra to Egypt with him.

  The next punch aimed in his direction, Mahes caught in his open palm. Closing his hand around Nefertem's fist, he kicked a leg out, knocking Nefertem's legs out from beneath him. Acting quickly, Mahes jumped on the now felled Nefertem. He positioned himself so he sat on his brother's chest and arms, effectively pinning him to the floor.

  "No more, Nefertem. You needed for me to do that."

  Nefertem let loose with another ear-piercing growl. “Damn you, Mahes, and your tests."

  "If not for my tests, dear brother, you would never learn anything."

  "Get off me. Now!” Twisting, Nefertem tried to displace Mahes from his seat on top of him.

  Feeling a bit distressed at what had just taken place, Kendra couldn't watch Nefertem and Mahes any longer without interrupting. “Please Mahes, let him up."

  Cocking his head in her direction, Mahes shook his head in denial. “Not just yet. I do this for his own good.” After saying that, he redirected his attention back on his brother. “I will let you up when you get it through your thick head that you need Kendra. Like it or not, she is now part of you. So stop hurting her with your self-sacrificing words."

  "All right, I admit she has some sway over me. Is that good enough for you?"

  Mahes could see Nefertem would not confess anything more by the stubborn angle of his jaw. He sighed to himself. He could only hope this did a little good. Giving a quick nod of his head, Mahes relented and eased himself off his brother. Nefertem qu
ickly gained his feet.

  "Do not do that again, Mahes. I will not tolerate anymore of your useless tests. Do you understand?"

  "As you wish."

  Now that the ruckus was finally over, Kendra went to Nefertem. “Is it true what Mahes said? Am I a part of you?"

  Nefertem forced all the warmth and tenderness he really felt for Kendra from his expression. “In some respect it is.” Taking a deep breath, he stonily pushed on. “You are the best bed partner I have ever had. So if you are referring to that aspect of our relationship, then yes you are a part of me. I won't find anyone as good as you to take your place."

  Not giving it a second thought, Kendra curled her right hand into a fist and slammed it into Nefertem's stomach. She was no weak woman. There was power behind her punch. A combination of her strength and Nefertem not expecting her to react so violently, had him bending over and gasping for breath.

  It hurt more than when she had been dumped by her ex-fiancé. She had thought Nefetem was different and that what you saw was what you got. How wrong she had been. She had to get away and be by herself to think things through. Staying in the same room, let alone the same house with Nefertem, she could no longer do. Kendra slowly began to back away from him.

  "I can't do this right now. I have to leave for awhile.” Turning around, Kendra avoided looking in the faces of the three other people in the room as she walked by them. Picking up her purse and her car keys from the table in the front hall, she calmly walked out the front door.

  "You bastard! How could you do that to Kendra? If I were a man I would teach you a lesson you would not soon forget.” Tory could barely contain her fury.

  "Calm down, Tory.” Scott put a reassuring arm around her shoulders. She just as quickly shrugged out of his embrace.

  "No, I will not calm down. He hurt her. Badly."

  Scott looked over at Nefertem. He could see what he had said to Kendra had cost him dearly. The man was as stiff as a board and his face had become an equally stiff mask, displaying not one single emotion. Scott didn't agree with what Nefertem had done, but he could see the reasoning behind it and so sympathized with the man.