Incest/Taboo Pharaoh’s Curse

Over the years, Bennu had become radicalized, thinking about cleansing the world of the taint he saw of a past that shouldn't hold sway over anyone. Thinking to erase their history for what Bennu thought was the righteous path they all should follow. Screaming out the phrase all terrorists use when committing such heinous acts with a butcher knife raised over his head. Nonetheless, no one was prepared for how quickly Andrew leapt into action. Bennu collapsed to his knees, holding his flabby belly given the three quick punches Andrew landed on the young man's midsection. All grew still as Bast's eyes shown white hot as she rested on Carla's lap. Jahi, Nour, Heba, and Abubaker held each other in fear as men-like beings with heads of cats poured into their home.

"You who thinks to strike the rightful ruler of this land! You who spouts that heretic's phrase will know what it means to raise a hand to your Pharaoh!" Bast's thunderous voice boomed out of her small mouth as she silently commanded her men to carry off Anta's brother for reeducation. Bennu's screams of fright filled the air as her men carried Bennu off by his arms and legs to a place few had ever seen. It wasn't a fate Andrew would wish on anyone.

"Andy, can't you do something?" Anta asked worriedly about her brother's fate.

"No, out of my hands, Anta; what did you think would happen when he did such a thing in front of Bast? Be glad she didn't outright kill him as was the punishment for those who raised arms against their Pharaoh," Andrew said, holding the knife out to Jahi, handle first. "Sorry about that..."

"No, no, you did what you had to do to protect yourself; please, if you are this Pharaoh, can't you be lenient?" Jahi asked, knowing Andrew understood the words he said as he held onto Andrew's right hand.

"That was me being lenient; once his punishment is complete, he will be returned to you," Andrew said with the authority of a King. "Again, I am sorry it had to come to that, yet Bast takes my protection very seriously."

"You promise he's going to be returned?" Anta asked in a stern voice; it didn't shock her that Andrew could fight; she had seen it firsthand. It was how quick Andrew had leaped into action that had her startled. "Okay then, I'll trust you, but he better come back unharmed," she warned, which earned her a raised eyebrow from Andrew, who only pointed to Bast, whose hackles were still raised. She did something that even took Andrew aback as she quickly slipped off her seat and got to her knees. "Please, Bast, I know he did wrong, but please see it in your power to bring my brother back unharmed I'll do whatever you want if you just bring him back," Anta pleaded with the goddess with her hands in prayer. Only to feel the softness, the heat of the pads of her right paw as it rested lightly on Anta's forehead. Who in her feline finicky returned to cleaning her left paw. What Anta didn't realize at that moment was Bast had chosen her as the new high priestess that would serve her and only her when the temple was completed.

"What have you gotten yourself into, sis?" Abubaker muttered, shaking his head; he still couldn't believe what had just happened. He rightly couldn't say it didn't happen since it took place before his very eyes. Nevertheless, he so wasn't prepared to deal with what was clearly happening in front of him.

"Anta, I think we need to go; I think we've done enough damage for one day," Andrew said, lightly rubbing the back of his head.

"Nah-uh, I still haven't shown Bast my room yet; I know she'll just love it..." A smile formed on her lips at the sight of her tabby, who leaped onto the left armrest coming to inspect the commotion it had heard, "Patches!" Anta exclaimed at the sight of her cat. She was clearly taken back when Patches completely ignored her and ambled over to where Bast rested and plopped down on the cushion in submissiveness. Its soft meows filled the air as Bast reached forward with her right paw and lightly patted Patches on top of her furry head. Who instantly rolled onto her belly to show that she wasn't a threat. "Patches, you silly cat," she giggled, glancing over to Andrew, who shrugged his shoulders silently, stating: 'What did you expect from the goddess of cats?'

"Come, Bast, I know you'll like it, I promise," Anta said in a loving tone as she took Bast into her arms, with Patches eagerly following at her heels as she walked towards the other end of the house.

Andrew's and Carla's heads turned when Jahi's cell phone went off in his pocket. He wondered what could make the man scowl when Jahi peered at his screen. Noting how hot under the collar, Jahi was getting, as whoever was on the other end of the line was clearly saying something Jahi didn't like. It wasn't hard for him to hear that Anta's father was being extorted by a government official.

"Maybe I can help?" Andrew offered, unsure what he could do, as he held out his hand to Jahi. Seeing Jahi's questioning look as he reluctantly handed over his phone. Arching an eyebrow when he heard the man on the other end continuing on like he didn't hear Jahi relinquishing his phone to another person. "So, I see I'll have some corruption to weed out; here's what you're going to do; you're going to reverse whatever it is that you're threatening this man with, or Ma'at is going to swallow you up alive and show you the justice you deserve," he ordered, testing out if his blessing would work over the line, also praying to the goddess to put the fear into him. A cruel smirk formed on his lips when the man's laughter turned to abject terror as the pavers of his little courtyard attached to his home he had bought with ill-gotten gains fell into the earth as it opened up right beneath him. "Oh, you get my point now? Good, see that I don't hear about your sins again, or the next time you will be in that hole," Andrew threatened, handing Jahi's phone back to him. "I don't think you'll be having any more problems with that man; if you do, I'll handle it," he stated, playing nice with his future father-in-law when a mystified Jahi took his phone back. Andrew didn't know what was being said, yet he didn't need to, given the wide toothy smile on Jahi's face.

"So, do you all like haul things on that?" Andrew asked, pointing out the window at the old barge moored to the dock.

"We mainly haul grain; why?" Abubaker answered, eyeing Andrew, wondering in a brotherly manner what the man before him had gotten his sister into.

"Do you all, like, get a percentage of what you haul?" Andrew inquired; he knew he would have to get someone to haul the grain he was having grown on his land, yet he had no clue who he could trust not to go running to the news media about what they see at NeoHierakonpolis.

"Not a lot, but if we're lucky, around five percent of the total tonnage we haul."

"Come work for me, hauling my grain; that is when the harvest comes in, and I'll give you twenty percent of what you haul for me," Andrew said, knowing what he was going to grow would be used to feed his people and sell off what wasn't used on the open market. Given the vast amount of land he had, he suspected yields in the triple digits, something he was sure the Gods would make sure of since they wanted to show that they were back. What better way than to show the masses they had the power to provide free loaves of bread to everyone in Egypt. He wasn't saying that would end hunger, yet it would keep them alive. After all, he was Pharaoh, and as Pharaoh, it was his job to ensure his people didn't go hungry.

"That's a wonderful idea, Andy; I know you'll be wanting transportation for your workers to Djed," Anta said, walking back into her family's living room, lightly stroking along Bast's spine as she did with Patches walking in front of her with its tail high in the air as if she was Bast's honor guard. "Papa and Abu are very fine sailors on the Nile; you won't find anyone better than them to see that your workers are safely transported," she said, praising her family.

"We'll have to talk about this, Anta; you just can't go making arrangements for your father and brother when we don't even know... if he is Pharaoh," Nour said, still skeptical of the whole thing, under the illusion that all she has witnessed were the workings of the Djinn.

"Make the waters rise, baby, like you told me you once did," Anta spoke, blowing Andrew a kiss knowing that he didn't like showing off as he had done since arriving. "You will have to display your gifts sooner or later; why not now," she stated with Bast eyeing Andrew in her arms.

"Mmmhmm, and who better to validate your claims than people who don't know you very well, like we do," Carla said, finally chiming in after being silent through the whole thing. She just didn't want to interfere with Anta and her family when the word marriage came up. She knew her own would flip when she brought Andrew home to meet them when they could find the time to return to the States.

"Why do I let you two talk me into these things?" Andrew asked with a sigh as he walked towards the front door.

"Because the people need to know that their Pharaoh has returned," Bast whispered into his head, causing Andrew to turn back and peer at her. Who had a smug look on her face if one could decern that through all her fur.

"Don't you worry, Andy, it will be alright," Carla said, lightly patting Andrew's back as she and the others followed him outside. Listening to Anta's family gasping when they watched in awe as the Nile water rose at Andrew's silent command, lifting the boats as it did.

"Is that yours?" Jahi asked, pointing over to Andrew's solar barge.

"It is," looking up to the sky, seeing how it was approaching ten o'clock, "we should be going; there are things I need to do before the event tonight," Andrew said vaguely; he wanted to see his city before he went off to Amkhakha for however long they would be there. Silently praying in his head to Khonsu to give him the time he needed to make it to NeoHierakonpolis and back to Cairo before the hour of seven. Saying his goodbyes to Anta's parents, her brother, and his wife before walking towards the dock with Carla beside him as Anta stayed back.

"You promise you'll be safe around that man," Nour chided in a protective tone, with her father nodding along.

"Yeah, there will be people like Bennu who won't take kindly to whatever he's trying to do; I just don't want to see you hurt, sis," Abubaker stated, lightly rubbing his sister's arm.

"I can't believe you're going to be a Queen," Heba squealed in delight, the only one of them excited by the news. "I can't wait to visit you in his palace; I bet it's going to be magical," she said dreamily, earning her a questioning look from Abubaker.

"But if it doesn't work out, you come home, okay?" Jahi spoke in a fatherly tone as he hugged his daughter tightly, feeling Anta nodding against his shoulder.

Anta looked back with a small wave and tears in her eyes, knowing her childhood had come to an end and her life as Andrew's Queen was just beginning. A life she knew was going to be hectic and filled with far too many people trying to butt their noses into Andrew's life. Lifting Bast up in her arms, nuzzling the back of her head, declaring to herself and to the Gods she was not about to allow Andrew to fall. Smiling warmly at Andrew as he held out his hand to her as she neared the end of the gangplank. Placing a kiss on his cheek before heading off to join Carla on the cushions. Sharing alluring smiles with one another as they watched Andrew speaking in ancient Egyptian as he ordered the men to make ready to sail. Who wasted no time in getting the ship unmoored and unfurling the sail. Anta and Carla rested their heads against one another's as they sighed in longing as they stared at Andrew's back as he stood stalwartly at the bow of the ship.

"What in the..." Abubaker muttered low as he, along with this family, watched a golden glow shining off of Andrew's body as his ship began its travel up the Nile. "Did anyone of you see that?" he asked the three beside him as it appeared that the light of the sun seemed to seek out Andrew as if it had a mind of its own. Seeing them nodding that they too saw what he had seen, praying that his sister knew what she was getting herself into. Raising his hand in response to Andrew's wave of goodbye. Although, he wouldn't deny he might be interested in having what appeared to be servant girls waiting on him like Andrew had as they held out metal platters before they were out of sight.

NeoHierakonpolis

"My lord, we are nearing the city," proclaimed the old man who had taken up the mantle of the captain of Andrew's solar barge.

"When we pull into the city, make sure an offering to Khonsu is made," Andrew directed, seeing the man nod, knowing the trip normally took a day by sail due to the distance between Helwan and NeoHierakonpolis. However, with Khonsu's help, they made it by noon; he hoped Khonsu would help him once again to make it back to Cairo in time. He so didn't want his irate mother on his ass. He already had enough on his plate; he didn't need to add her to it.

"Of course, my lord, I'll see to it personally. Sobek, your mighty guards are something," the man chuckled as he threw strips of meat to the crocodiles that were guarding the entrance to NeoHierakonpolis and Djed. While another man who turned out to be his son-in-law tossed some hay over the port side for the hippos that, too, were keeping unwanted visitors away. Which, of course, reminded Andrew not to go swimming in the Nile.

Scores of voices filled the air as the inhabitants of his city saw the sail of his ship drawing close. Blowing out a breath, knowing he was going to have to get used to this as Andrew noted the crowd of people cheering and laughing as they saw him on the bow of the ship. Slyly looking over at the man, wondering if he had taken charge of the villagers in his absence. He knew he would have to appoint an Overseer for the fields, one for the stoneworkers, priests and priestess for his temple, and guards to keep them all safe. He just hoped there were enough people for that. His ears perked at the sound of animals, something he knew wasn't there when the last time he was there. Nodding to himself, knowing the Gods had been outdoing themselves, Andrew didn't need her to speak; he felt her godly pride filling his mind as he glanced over to Bast, who had enjoyed the cruise lounging like a Queen.

The moment he stepped off the dock and onto the dry ground, the people swarmed around him. Smiling, happy faces filled his view as arms reached out to touch him. To know the man who had freed them from their torment. One woman, Andrew, couldn't tell her age, yet she appeared to be as old as he was and exposed herself to his eyes before throwing herself onto him. Andrew didn't need to see how Carla and Anta took that; he could feel their glares of anger burning into his back. Blowing out a breath in his mind as the men that had manned his ship circled around him, pushing the people back to give him room, namely the woman who whispered sensuously to him that he could have her whenever he wanted.

"We just can't leave you to yourself, can we?" Carla intoned as she crossed her arms as she stood behind Andrew, with Anta humming in agreement.

"What? Not like I asked her to do that," Andrew replied as he turned toward them.

"Yet it seems you liked it," Anta stated, her eyes pointing down toward the bulge in his shorts.

"She was naked; of course, I'm going to get aroused," Andrew grumbled, not liking being under their burning glares.

"As long as you remember, that's only for us," Carla stated firmly, with Anta nodding in agreement.

"You think I'm at risk of getting smothered in my sleep? Not a chance," Andrew spoke before being led off by the same man who had greeted them in Cairo.

As Andrew walked along, with his massive entourage following after him. The man pointed out what was being done, how it was being done, and whatnot. Introducing him to the man who was currently working on making one of the plows that would till the fields when planting season started. While Andrew wasn't over-cumbered by their lack of personal hygiene like he was when he first set foot in Punt. Something else he had to be thankful for the Gods for. His arm was getting very sore, given how forcibly the people he was introduced to were shaking it. Nodding along when the man went into detail about what he and many others were planning to plant once spring came after they had dug out the irrigation channels that would water their fields. Following along as the man led him into a building where they were storing the grain and other seeds they would need to feed their people.

Then he was introduced to the other farmers, seeing how they all looked up to the man who had shown him around the fields they were starting to prepare. Watching the man dance with joy as Andrew appointed the man the Overseer of the farms. Telling them what they grew there would be mainly used to keep them fed, and what grain they grew that was extra would be sent down to Memphis as they knew Cairo as. Also, telling them to work a quarter of the land across from Djed, for now, to see how the land would bear with cultivating that large of a crop without depleting the land.

All the while he was there, he had seen Ptah ambling about going from one place to another, showing the stone masons new techniques and helping them brush up on their old ones due to their time under Ba'al's influence. His attention was drawn to the giggles of women as he noted how Anta and Carla were at the center of the group as the ladies of the city clustered around them. A lump formed in his throat when Carla's and Anta's eyes fell upon him as they gazed at him with wanton desire as the wind gently lifted their hair off their backs. He couldn't hear what they were saying, yet he was mesmerized by the shapes their lips formed as they were recounting something.

He had no idea why his face was burning; nevertheless, the moment he heard the choirs of women giggling like mad, he knew something intimate must have been said. The smirk Carla was giving him left him with that conclusion. After making his rounds around the city, chatting with the people as he went, discovering how they were fairing now that they were back amongst the living. Andrew had found himself out alone on a plot of land not too far from the city's edge, looking out to the inlet he had asked Geb to make to funnel the flooding Nile waters into so it wouldn't destroy towns or take anyone's life if they were caught unawares. Recounting the conversation he had with Mal after Halima had left the room as he gazed out at the water. His eyes slowly following the land to where it felt like where his palace should rest; it wouldn't be the only one, given he knew he would need one in Cairo for when he was attending to his kingly duties.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, wondering when the thought of doing anything kingly became second nature to him? Shaking it off, knowing it wouldn't do him any good to question it, and he was sure Bast would bring it up when she thought it was prudent. Memories flashed before his mind as one palace after another rolled by. Breathing out slowly, dislodging their clamoring thoughts from his head. He already had a design in mind; after all, he and Mal did spend thirty minutes working on it before he escorted Anta and Carla for a night out on the town. Which he would think their taxi driver had a good show when Carla was grinding on his lap in the back of the woman's car. Looking around for a marker he could use to rough out the corners of the foundation of his palace to use as place markers until Mal finished up with the design of it.

"You chose an excellent spot, Pharaoh." Ptah's deep voice startled Andrew as he was placing the stone marker down for the far left corner of his palace. "It's in perfect alignment with the foundation of your temple," Ptah said with a toothy grin. It had been centuries since he's been on Earth, and he was going to make the most of it.

"Greetings, Ptah," Andrew spoke, trying not to be weirded out that he could see Ptah's true form and not what he appeared to be to the rest of the people. He didn't think they could handle a green-skinned god with a blue skull cap; he just couldn't figure out how he was moving wrapped up in those bandages, not that he hadn't seen Gods with different skin tones before, given how he had spoken to Osiris and he was bluer than the sky. "I hope the people of the village are treating you well," he said, walking backward to ensure the last stone was straight. Taking a few steps to his right when Ptah indicated that he was out of true.

"As best as they can, given their time under the yoke of that thief and usurper," Ptah spat, sneering at the reference to Ba'al. "Yet these are hardy people; I'm sure you will be pleased with the work they will accomplish for you as you bring my brethren back to this land," he said in reverence as he peered up to the sun, paying homage to the ruler of all.

"Of course, I will; after all, they do have the god of the craftsmen teaching them," Andrew said as he laid down the stone in its resting spot until the ground was ready to be built on. "I have a feeling that whatever they raise won't be turned over to me until it meets your expectations," he stated, flashing Ptah a smile, who returned it.

"Just so long as you make sure my statue is by the door," Ptah said, teasing Andrew with a shake of his finger.

"Oh? Thought the best place would be near Ra," Andrew muttered, confused.

"No, no, the moment they see Ra, they'll all but forget about us, big show off," Ptah said, grumbling the last part beneath his breath.

"So... which side do you want to be on?" Andrew asked as he approached Ptah's side.

"The right and out of sight and reach of Horus. Don't tell him I said this, but he's a loudmouth," Ptah whispered from behind his hand, only to hear a falcon cry out at Ptah's remark. "Horus!" he shouted to the heavens as Horus pooped on his head in retaliation.

Andrew was left there shaking his head at the spectacle of the two gods. He had no earthly idea why the image of Anubis showing up in some council chamber with his snout covered in white cream filling and bits of chocolate cake suddenly appeared in his head. He had a suspicion that it was due to Bast. Not that he was complaining, but it did put a smile on his face at the thought that the God of death had a thing for ding dongs. He didn't even want to know how Anubis acquired the taste for them. However, he knew in order to build what he needed to build, namely his pyramid, he was going to need a lot of stone for it. The stone that he knew would take every penny he had just to get; however, he did have a favor to call in. A favor he was going to use since he wasn't about to go broke if he didn't have to. Reaching into his pocket since he was well away from any one of the villagers seeing him. Pulling out his cell phone, hoping he kept his word; if not, Andrew knew it would be tight. Tapping on the number Ira had given him for when he wanted to get his payment, and brought it up to his ear.

"Hello, Andrew. I was wondering when you were going to call."

"You said whatever I wanted, right?"

"I did. I always honor my deals, Pharaoh. So, what can this little, humble Nagdaium do for you, King of the two lands."

"Stone, lots of stone, and the materials I will need to cover them in plaster and paint," Andrew said, not really knowing how much it would truly take to build his temple, pyramid, and palace.

"Oh?!" Andrew couldn't discern why that would interest Ira, given how he had a whole realm at his fingertips. "That will be no problem, Andrew, you just tell me when you need it, and I'll build a special little thing for you, well not little per se; it will be holding tons of stone. Yet you just need to tell me what kind of stone you're looking for."

"White marble in blocks around the weight of a ton, limestone," knowing he would use that for the core of the walls of the temple, his palace, and the inside of his pyramid, "the same, onyx, smaller weight but the same dimensions, and slabs of jasper red marble, and red granite in the range of two hundred tons for my obelisks," Andrew stated, knowing he was going to use the slabs to line the floor of his palace. "Will you..."

"Quite easily."

"So, I just what call you back when I'm ready for it?" Andrew asked, feeling the sun on his skin, yet he didn't feel its heat.

"Mmmhmm."

"Alright, when I'm ready, I'll call you."

"Hey." Ira's voice stopped him before he could hang up.

"Yeah?" Andrew answered, finding it weird speaking to whatever kind of being Ira was over something as simple as a cell phone.

"I'm not trying to barge in on whatever you got going on in Egypt, but like, would it be alright if, say, me and a few friends pop over whenever you start whatever it is you're going to do? I'd really like to see Egypt when the world isn't like on the brink, you know?"

"Aren't you like a god or something?" Andrew retorted, not seeing why Ira needed his permission.

"Yeah, see, I liked hanging out with you and the other three, and I really don't want to step on anyone's toes, namely getting you in hot water with your gods. I'll understand if you're not cool with it; I know there's some bad blood between your gods and my family. Something I would like not to come between us. As I said, I'll do whatever I can to help you get Nu back."

"We'll see; I've got to go," Andrew said, quickly hanging up as he spotted Carla and Anta walking towards him with all the women from the village at their heels. A sight he found rather odd if you asked him. Then again, they weren't hounding him, so... he would let them bask in the limelight.

"Pharaoh," Carla and Anta greeted, doing a little curtsey with the women behind them mimicking their movements.

"You were gone for some time, husband," Anta said in a wanton purr. "We just had to come and find you, didn't we ladies?" she spoke the last part in ancient Egyptian getting vehement nods from the group of women.

"Just what were you doing all the way out here?" Carla asked, sauntering up to him, draping her body along his left side before her lips captured his.

"Marking out where my palace will be," Andrew said, gesturing to the stone markers, keeping to ancient Egyptian so the people he had saved wouldn't feel so frustrated at not being able to understand the words he was speaking.

"Oh?!" Anta and Carla perked up at the sound of the word 'palace.'

Andrew quickly stepped out of the way before being crushed by the swarm of women who rushed after Anta and Carla. Then he felt something soft and warm brushing against his leg, looking down and seeing Bast curling herself around it in her cat form. Bending down, picking her up off the ground, only to find the cats that had wandered into the town starting to ring him in as Bast purred in his arms. Andrew grew rather unnerved as all the cats encircled him, meowing up to Bast, who was just basking in the attention she was getting.

"Seems the two of you are quite popular," Anta joked, noting how the women of the village dropped to their knees and started to pay reverence to Bast as Andrew held her.

"What can I say? I'm a hoot!" Andrew retorted with a shrug of his shoulders. Trying not to roll his eyes at Bast, who he knew would be a hand... hissing when Bast's claws dug into his left forearm.

"Don't deprive me of my worship, my Pharaoh," Bast pouted.

"Do you think this place will be big enough for you and all of us?" Carla teased, smirking at him, referring to the children they would one day be having. While in her mind, horns, trumpets, and confetti twisting in the air as she, along with Anta and Alex, were praised and adored as the Queens of Egypt. Even practicing her little wave in her head as she daydreamed.

"Which one? Pharaohs had more than one palace," Andrew responded, matching Carla's smirk. Looking to the sky, knowing they had to get back on the river if they were going to make it to Cairo before seven that evening. He ignored the dreamy looks on Carla's and Anta's faces when he bent down and beckoned a little girl to him. He so didn't like the way they were biting their lips when he asked the girl if she could go inform the captain to ready the ship. "Save me," he whispered down to Bast as every woman was swooning on their feet when he stood up. Bast just went about cleaning her paw, leaving Andrew to the mercy of the women. His face burned like mad all the way toward the ship as the women with Anta and Carla urging them on giggled like school girls behind him. The only thing that kept them at bay was the army of cats that separated them.

"We'll be back soon, we promise!" Anta called out in ancient Egyptian as she waved her hand as the ship picked up speed as they moved towards the mouth of the inlet.

"You know, you're mother is going to be mad at you for coming here and not bringing her along," Carla teased, bumping her hip against his as she stood at his right side as the sound of the keel cutting through the water played on the air.

"Mmmhmm," Anta hummed, taking Bast from Andrew. "You have to know most of the Professors would give an arm and a leg just to get a hint of what life was like back then."

"If you say so," Andrew muttered, moving off to stand at the bow of the ship. Memories of his past lives played out in his mind as he stared down at the water as the ship made the turn to sail down the Nile.

"Andy!" Carla called out as she entered his hotel room with the key card he had given her so she and Anta could run to their apartments to get ready for the evening. Her black evening dress swayed against her legs as she held the door open for Anta, who entered wearing a green slip dress. While it wasn't required for them to dress formally for the event tonight since the museum had relieved them of their duties. That didn't mean they were going to show up looking underdressed on Andrew's arm. "We're back!"

"Do you hear that?" Anta whispered softly.

"Why are you whispering?" Carla asked, only to see Anta putting her finger to her lips. That was when she heard it over the sounds of the shower. Soft moaning. They knew it couldn't be Alex since she was still at the museum. Their anger burned in their veins at the thought of Andrew bringing another woman into his life. The only reason he was even using the penthouse that had been rented for him was so no one would see them constantly going over to Alex's apartment. They didn't want to cause strife for Alex with the board or the museum if they thought she was having an inappropriate relationship with them. Their purses thumped hard on the back of the sofa before sliding down onto the seat cushions. Their heels echoed their anger as they stomped the best they could in them toward the bathroom door.

"Yes, my Pharaoh!" Bast's moan greeted them as they flung the door open; the sound of their bodies hitting the floor filled the air as the steam billowed out into the room. "Yes, yes, yes! There, deeper!" she cried out as Andrew plunged his cock into her godly folds as she held his head against her bosom. Her fingers combed through his wet hair as she savored the connection they shared to themselves and to the land. Her fur-lined lips lifted as she slyly peered over at the two that had collapsed on the floor. She would have let him go to them, yet she knew he was nearly there, and she wasn't about to forgo her wifely responsibilities. Holding him tightly as she felt his flood of semen, knowing a new batch of her warriors would rise from this union just like all the others. "Now, you have some people to see too," Bast whispered before lightly kissing his lips, finally bringing his attention to Carla's and Anta's unconscious bodies.

Andrew quickly turned off the water once Bast had disappeared back to the Duat and grabbed his towel that was resting on the top of the glass shower door. Pondering what the hotel used to get the towel so soft as he dried himself off in a hurry, wrapping it around his waist as he stepped out. The soft brush of the back of his fingers along Carla's and Anta's cheeks caused the two of them to stir on the floor.

"Andy," Anta muttered weakly as she came too.

"What in the world was that?!" Carla asked, pointing to the shower.

"Bast," Andrew spoke plainly, seeing their growing wide eyes at what they had just seen. Nodding along as they spoke a mile a minute as he helped them to their feet. "Most of the time," he answered when they asked if she always appeared in that form to him as he reached into the closet for his black suit. His fingers lightly ran down the fabric, recounting the time when his father had first taken him to get fitted for it. Remembering the words his father spoke to him that day.

"Son, there will come a time when you will need to look your best. And there is no better way to show you look your best than with a tailored suit." His father's words rang out in his mind as he looked longingly at it. Wondering when the next time he would ever get to see them. With everything going on in his life at the moment, it didn't seem likely, at least not for a long time. However, he knew the moment he had stopped the Nile flood from destroying people's homes, their lives, and their jobs, he put himself on this path to stand above all others to see that the land of Kemet rises once again. Pushing his wants and desires to the back of his mind, he was now Pharaoh, and as such, the people of the land depended on him. He wasn't about to be known as a weak Pharaoh. He couldn't be a weak ruler if he hoped to bring Egypt out of its stagnation.

"What?" Andrew mumbled, peering over to look at them, not hearing what they were saying to him due to being inside of his head at the time.

"You weren't listening," Anta pouted, puffing out her cheeks as she crossed her arms below her breasts.

"Sorry, I was kind of in my head," Andrew apologized.

"Anta asked, do you pass out like we do?" Carla stated, with Anta nodding along. Pondering what could have Andrew so distracted that he couldn't hear their voices.

"No," Andrew said, reaching into his bag for a pair of clean underwear and some black socks to go along with his dress shoes Bast had magically polished for him during their foreplay.

"Why not? Surely you had to?" Carla inquired, hoping that over time she wouldn't black out like she had done. That she could experience that side of Andrew's life with him so he wouldn't feel like he was alone.

"Do I have to remind you, I am Pharaoh? Also, that I'm a demigod?" Andrew spoke as he slid on his underwear. "Think that kind of goes along with the whole being half-god thing," he stated as he rolled on his deodorant. "But you aren't the first ones that fainted at the sight of a god. Mom did when she saw Osiris. So don't be too hard on yourselves."

"But... but..." Anta's voice got small as she tapped her index fingers together and grew bashful as her chin dropped. "Will we be able to view her without blacking out over time?" she asked in a small, cute voice.

"I don't know; it isn't like they give me an instruction manual on how this all works," Andrew said, looking at Anta oddly as his left arm slid into the sleeve of his shirt. "Want me to ask her for you?" The corners of his lips lifted as Anta vehemently nodded.

"Would you ask for me too?" Carla asked not to be left out.

"Sure, the first thing in the morning, rather not distract her while she's guarding Ra down the River of Night," Andrew stated as he buttoned his shirt. "You two look nice, by the way," he said, getting beaming smiles from the two of them. Slipping his arms into the sleeves of his jacket that Carla held open for him once he was dressed, turning around to them as he buttoned the top button. "How do I look?" Andrew asked if he was to be King, he knew he couldn't ever look shabby when out in the public eye. That would just make the people lose faith in him if he didn't display an air of strength, wealth, and majesty.

"Very handsome, husband," Anta cooed, feeling her cheeks burning as she straightened out his tie for him. Lightly brushing her hands along the lapels of his jacket, she guessed he was scared of what the next day and onwards would mean for him. She was quite sure resurrecting a Kingdom would be daunting for any man or woman, yet she had faith that Andrew could pull this off. "Now," looping her arm around Andrew's left as Carla mirrored her movement, "let's go show the world the man they'll be talking about for years to come," she said, smiling up at him as they walked towards the door.

Camera flashes filled the air as the car the museum had sent to pick them up pulled to a stop in front of the building. The spotlights moved in their programmed manner as the banners detailing the night's event fluttered in the light breeze. Andrew craned his head upwards as he helped Carla out of the car after Anta. Wondering why everyone used Tutankhamun's image when he knew for a fact it wasn't even his death mask, bringing his attention down when he heard the car door closing.

"What were you just thinking, Andy?" Carla asked as their car slowly pulled away from the curb.

"What's their fascination with Tut?" Andrew stated, nodding his chin up to the banner. "That's not even his mask," he said low as they started walking up the red carpet that lined the concrete that led the way up to the front entrance.

"How do you know that's Tut up there? That could be one of the numerous other Pharaohs," Anta said, brushing her thumb lightly along the inside of his right bicep. Her clutch bumped lightly against her left hip as it dangled from the chain strap on her left shoulder, as her hips swayed to show just who she belonged to. She was a future Queen, and what Queen didn't make her man look good.

"Oh, I know; you know that was meant for a woman, right?" Andrew spoke, nodding up to the banner again.

"Really?" Carla asked, ignoring the questions that were shouted out to them. She knew the hypotheses that had been put forth that Tutankhamun's sarcophagus wasn't really made for him. That was due to the throne they had found when they unearthed his tomb decades ago. Some had even speculated that it had indeed been made for a woman but had to be hurriedly altered due to his death.

"Oh yeah, it was meant for a wife of one of the Nome Govender's," Andrew stated as they walked up the steps of the museum.

"Andy?" Anta's sweet voice drew his attention to her.

"Hmm?"

"What was the Second Intermediate Period like?" Anta asked as the doors were opened from the inside for them.

"Bloody, mostly, Egypt was on the cusp of being wiped out at the time by the Hyksos," Andrew supplied; knowing that was what happened when the Pharaoh was weak, he allowed outside forces to take over. He knew many people wouldn't be happy with what he was going to do, but he couldn't worry about that. If he was going to save Egypt, then he had to show the world he was ready for war.

"Was it anything like the First Intermediate Period?" Carla asked; they all knew or what evidence that was around that those times were very dark for the people of Egypt, and most of it came from years after the events.​