"When?” Then Kendra remembered how Nefertem had been this morning with her. Not wanting to let her out of his protective embrace. “It was last night, while you slept."
He nodded. “Yes. Only when I sleep are my defenses down and she can be in contact with me. Even if I don't wish it.” Placing a finger under Kendra's chin, he made her look at him. “She took what information she wanted from me, involuntarily I might add, and passed judgment."
Feeling some of the pent up tension she felt leave her body, Kendra let her head fall to rest on Nefertem's chest. “So what happens now?"
"Now all there is to do is wait for her coming. I will try my best to stop her, but this Memphis is so far away from Egypt."
"And you? What happens now to you?"
"The changes will happen gradually, increasing closer to the day of her coming.” Resting his chin on top of Kendra's head, Nefertem held her closer. “Near the end I won't recognize you, nor remember what you are to me. You'll have to get very far away from me. I wish never to hurt you."
Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, Kendra breathed in his scent. She would forever remember the way he smelled. A mixture of heady musk, almost flower like, and something totally male.
"Is it really necessary?” Then trying to lighten the mood a little, she said, “I could always tie you up. In my bed."
"No.” There was no humour in his voice whatsoever. “No. When the change is complete, nothing can stop me.” Nefertem forced Kendra to look up at him once more. “You have to be far away from me. Promise me you'll do that."
Reluctantly, Kendra nodded her head, but she knew this was one promise she would not keep. She had no intentions of giving Nefertem up.
Chapter Eleven
The drive to the University of Memphis where the quartzite pieces from Ptah's temple resided was a quiet one. All of what had transpired the evening before was still fresh in their minds.
Scott and Tory had picked them up shortly after they had finished their breakfast. Since Scott was the only one who knew where the pieces were housed, he had offered to drive to their destination. Within minutes they were on their way, Scott and Tory sitting up front, Kendra and Nefertem in the back. Dark glasses once more hid Nefertem's eyes from view.
The university had an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The most well known piece was a two thousand year old mummy called Iret-irew. Scott had been the one to provide that bit of information. He knew quite a bit about the university's collection since it was his old alma mater, thus his knowledge of the pieces’ whereabouts.
Reaching the main campus, they made their way to the university's art museum where the pieces were displayed with the rest of the collection. Even though it was summer, there were a few students taking classes. The four passed by them without causing undo notice.
As they wandered through the exhibit, they paused to look at the various items on display. Jewelry, metal and stone statues, clay votives, stelae and amulets made up the majority of the exhibit. It was the amulets that snagged Nefertem's attention more than the others.
Noticing Nefertem had not followed as they moved off to the next display, Kendra went back to stand beside him. He seemed to be staring intently at the amulets, or at least she thought he was. It was hard to tell since the dark glasses hid his eyes so well.
Slipping her hand into his, she asked, “What is it? You recognize something?"
"Yes, the two amulets at the back. I know those very well."
Peering at the two he pointed out, Kendra read the small description of each one. It became all clear. They were amulets made in the likenesses of Nefertem's parents.
The image of Ptah was gilded and inlaid, made of bronze. His body was the form of a mummy with a human head. Only his hands seemed free of wrappings. In his grasp, he held a scepter. On his head, he wore a skullcap. The image of his wife was a glazed, decorated type of earthenware. She was depicted having the head of a lioness and the body of a woman. She also wore the sun disc upon her head. The description of her amulet claimed Sakhmet represented the two sides of a cat—the lovingness of a mother, along with the destructiveness of a lioness. Kendra silently snorted to herself. What kind of mother would ever turn her offspring into a killer and still be claimed as a protective mother? That seemed a contradiction in terms to her.
With a squeeze to Nefertem's hand, Kendra pulled him away from the amulets. Scott and Tory patiently waited for them. When they reached the display where the other two stood, Scott pointed at the contents inside the glass case.
"These are what we came for.” To Kendra they really didn't look like anything spectacular. They were very large; she had to give them that. On closer inspection, she could faintly see the hieroglyphs carved into the stone. The stone itself was a muted gold colour much as one expected the stone blocks in the great Pyramids to look.
Moving closer, Nefertem placed both his hands, palms flat, up against the glass of the display case. Closing his eyes, he let his mind reach out to the pieces from his father's temple. If they still held any essence of his father, he would be able to detect it. Concentrating, he focused his mind, searching. After a few moments, Nefertem opened his eyes and sighed. Empty. There was no longer any connection to Ptah residing in the stones. He let his hands fall to his sides.
"Well?” Scott asked.
"Nothing. It did not work."
"Try again."
Nefertem slowly turned his head to look at the other man. “The stones are empty. They are no longer consecrated. They are no longer connected to Ptah."
Scott shook his head. “Not good enough. Try again. There has to be a connection. Try harder."
With cat-like swiftness, Nefertem grabbed Scott by the shirtfront and pulled him so they stood nose to nose. “Do not order me, mortal."
Nefertem could smell the fear, the uncertainness Scott was feeling as he broke out in a cold sweat. His heightened senses could also hear the blood pulsing through the other man's veins. Nefertem knew how easy it would be to pull Scott's head to the side and rip his throat out. To feel all that warm blood fill his mouth as he bit down on the large throbbing vein in Scott's neck. The urge was almost too great to resist. His eyes were drawn to the very spot his mind fantasized about.
Kendra sensed the change in Nefertem almost immediately. His stance, the feral look that came over his face, signaled the change. Having gone through something very similar with him during their trip to the mall, she knew she had to step in.
Placing her palm on his cheek, Kendra turned Nefertem's face to her. Standing on tiptoe, she claimed his lips in a kiss. When he began to respond, she slowly slid her hand down his arm until she reached where his hand was still tightly fisted in Scott's shirt. Gently she pried Nefertem's fingers open, freeing the other man. Once released, Scott put a large amount of distance between himself and Nefertem. Kendra ended the kiss.
Staring up at Nefertem, Kendra could see some of his feral part had left him. “Scott meant no insult to you, Nefertem. He would just like you to try again.” When he seemed to hesitate, she added, “Please, for me then. One more time is all I ask."
Nefertem felt some measure of control return to him as the red mist of rage that had briefly clouded his mind receded. He realized what he had come close to doing. Being in such a public place was too much for him. It had caused him to over react to such a simple request. If Kendra had not intervened when she had, he wasn't sure whether he could have let Scott go. Once again, he found himself surprised by how Kendra could tame the wilder side of him with a single touch. That knowledge just forged the bond he felt for her all the stronger. Nefertem rubbed his thumb across Kendra's lower lip briefly before he turned to where Scott stood.
"I apologize for my actions. I should not have reacted that way."
Wrapping his arm around Tory who stood beside him, Scott nodded his head. “Apology accepted. I could be partly to blame. I shouldn't have sounded so forceful."
"I will try one more time
and that will be all. I must leave this place soon. There are too many mortals here and their presence is sapping my control.” To prove his words correct, a group of five people who were also viewing the collection passed by them. Nefertem instantly stiffened in response to their nearness.
Kendra wrapped her arm around Nefertem's waist, leaning up against his side. She felt him slowly relax. “One more try, then we will leave."
Giving a slight nod of his head, Nefertem once more turned to the glass display case that held the piece's from his father's temple. Placing his hands against the cool glass surface, he focused his mind on the stones. As before, he could not sense anything, but for Kendra who stood at his side supporting him with her presence, he concentrated harder. Going deeper, he searched for any sign of Ptah's spirit.
There, at the very centre of the thick stone, he could just faintly detect a glimmering of what it once possessed. The question was, would it be enough? Latching onto it, Nefertem sent out a silent call.
"Why do you call for me, my son?"
The question could only be heard inside Nefertem's head. Using his thoughts only, he answered his father's question. “I need your help."
"You know I cannot aid you with the task you must do in the mortal world."
"I know. That is not why I call you. But I do need your help with why I am here.” A long stretch of silence ensued, making Nefertem wonder if his father had broken contact with him.
"What is it that you want?"
Nefertem silently breathed a sigh of relief. His father had not abandoned him after all. “The one who summoned me knew not what the pendant was for. There is no enemy of the Pharaoh here. There is no Pharaoh. How can I stop what is to come?"
"There is no way."
"There has to be!” Nefertem growled in his head. “Re would not allow mother to be set loose on the mortal world again without a way to control her. Not after what happened the first time she walked among mortals."
"Why do you ask this now? You have never cared about protecting the mortals before."
Nefeterm felt his father gently nudge his mind, trying to seek out the answer himself. In response, Nefertem shielded his thoughts. “I have learned more of this world. They have been judged wrongly."
"There is one mortal you wish to protect more than the others."
There was no use in denying it. Hiding the truth from his father was impossible. It was the one ability both his parents shared. They both could get the answers they wished from him no matter how hard he tried to shield his thoughts from them.
"Yes there is. A woman, the one who possesses the pendant."
A mental image of his father smiling filled Nefertem's head. “So you have finally found a mortal who has melted your cold heart. Your heart was not always encased in ice. This pleases me."
"Then how can I stop mother?"
"Your woman is safe. Even though she is not Pharaoh she still possesses the pendant and therefore is safe as long as she wears it."
At one time, this answer would have satisfied Nefertem, but not now. It was important that he save Kendra, but she would not forgive him so easily if he gave up on the rest of the mortal world. “That is good to know, but I still need to know how to stop mother."
"There is one way. It has never been tried before..."
Nefertem strained to hear the rest of what his father said, but the power in the stones was draining away. Straining to catch the last bit of it before it drained away completely to nothingness he called, “What is it? What do I do?"
"Egypt ... library ... scroll ... of the ancients ... hidden...” Then the connection was lost.
Letting his hands slowly fall to his sides, Nefertem turned to find the three expectant faces of Kendra, Tory and Scott staring at him. He gave them a slight nod of his head. “It worked. I was in contact with Ptah."
"And?” Kendra asked softly.
"The stones failed at the end and I lost contact before my father could tell me exactly what I must do, but I did hear some of what he was trying to tell me. The rest we must figure out on our own.” Feeling his control starting to slip once again, Nefertem added, “Let's leave this place. It would be better if we discuss this at Kendra's house. I cannot stay here any longer."
Threading her fingers through his, Kendra started to make her way to the exit. Scott and Tory followed them; wisely, they did not push Nefertem any further.
Chapter Twelve
Once more safely ensconced in Kendra's house, Nefertem felt full control of himself return. Even the addition of Tory and Scott present in the house did not lessen it. Kendra's home had become his sanctuary from the outside world—a place where he did not feel his mother's gift inside himself. He knew a great deal of it was caused by just being with Kendra. Looking at her now, he felt a warmth run through his body.
Kendra must have felt his eyes on her; she smiled sweetly at him and patted the cushioned seat of the couch beside her. Not taking his eyes from her, Nefertem slowly went to sit next to her.
The living room had unofficially become their strategy room. For when they arrived, they all automatically headed for that particular room and found places to sit. Nefertem who had taken part in a number of councils of war, found this a bit amusing. Their small group did not mimic any of the posturing or grand standing the Pharaoh's generals performed at each council.
Scott was the first one to speak. “Okay, you spoke with your father. That is a good thing. Now tell us exactly what he said. If we are to figure out what we are to do next we need to hear all that was said to you before you lost contact with him."
Being in a calmer state of mind, Nefertem took no exception to Scott's brisk manner of speaking. “Ptah said there was one way to stop my mother, but it had never been tried before."
"As long as there is a way, is all that really matters."
"The only problem is, he never got to finish telling me how to go about it before the stones lost their power completely."
Scott frowned in response. “Hmm ... that could be a problem. So this is what you meant by our having to figure out the rest on our own."
"Yes. All I was able to understand was Egypt, library, scroll, of the ancients, and hidden."
"In that exact order?"
"Yes."
Scott's brows furrowed as he became lost in thought. After a few minutes, he shook his head. “This, I am afraid, will be no easy riddle to crack. I think some research will be in order."
Rising to her feet, Tory matter of factly said, “Then let's get a move on. I will help if you wish. I may not be as smart as you, but I can read."
Scott smiled warmly up at her. “I gladly accept your offer. I have a feeling this is a two person job anyway.” Having gained his feet while speaking, Scott motioned to Tory that he was ready to leave.
Before Tory left, she caught Kendra's eye and jerked her head in the direction of the door. Kendra stood as well and followed them out of the living room. Once out of sight of Nefertem, Tory questioned Kendra.
"Are you sure you are going to be all right alone with him?"
Kendra knew which “him” Tory was referring to. “I will be perfectly safe. Nefertem would never harm me."
"How can you be so sure? Twice now he has gotten a little rough with Scott."
"I will be fine."
"I wish I could feel as sure as you do. There are moments when Nefertem can be down right scary."
"She will be okay, Tory.” Scott interjected. “As for what he did to me, I may have brought that on myself. I sometimes forget who and what he is. He comes from an environment where class was everything. In ancient Egypt, I would have been miles beneath Nefertem. It would have been very injudicious of me to speak to him, let alone order him about."
Tory shook her head. “I still don't feel comfortable leaving Kendra alone with him."
Smiling, Scott chuckled. “Tory, because Nefertem is the type of man I just described, he would never hurt Kendra. Especially since she is his woman."
> "What do you mean his...?” Tory's voice trailed off when she saw Kendra blush a deep red. “Oh ... I see. So it's like that, is it?"
Nodding, Kendra stammered, “Yes."
"I'm glad you have gotten over that other jerk, but I wish you could have picked a man who can stay with you permanently."
"So do I, Tory. But when you're in love, you can't choose."
After giving Kendra a quick hug, Tory smiled at her. “Well then, Scott and I will make our exit and leave you two alone. If he makes you happy, then all I can do is wish you the best."
Opening the front door, Scott motioned for Tory to go out first. “Stop worrying, Tory. Let's get a move on. We have a long day ahead of us. I hope hours of reading won't bore you stiff."
"I look forward to it.” Giving Scott a saucy wink, Tory moved past him and walked out the door. Scott followed closely at her heels.
Returning to the living room, Kendra found Nefertem sitting on the couch staring off into space. “A penny for your thoughts."
Pulling himself back to awareness, Nefertem turned to look at Kendra. “I have no such penny to give you."
Kendra shook her head. Even though Nefertem had the English language pretty well down pat, he still didn't know the sayings that had grown more widely used as time went by. “Sorry, that is just something you say when you find someone lost in thought."
"Oh, so you really don't want a penny?"
"No, I don't want a penny.” Sitting down beside him, Kendra brushed Nefertem's lips with her own. “But you can tell me what makes you look so serious."
"I was trying to see if I could recall anything that would help us figure out what Ptah was trying to tell me."
"Don't push yourself too hard. It will come when it comes."
Nefertem nodded slowly. “You may be right. There was one thing my father told me, something I didn't want Scott or Tory to know about just yet.” Leaving Kendra's side, he headed out of the living room.
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