Blueblood 3: The Others - 15. The Queen Is Dead

I came in where Amasis was waking up. The idea of telling him was…I didn’t know what to say to him, but the truth. He looked at me and smiled as I sat beside him.

“It didn’t let up,” Amasis said. “It hurt every bit as much last night.”

“No, it doesn’t let up until we give you the other…when your body’s ready,” I admitted. I wasn’t really able to disguise that something happened. He lost his wife.

Amasis looked in my eyes and his smile faded. “What happened?”

“I don’t do well-stringing things along, so…” I said, “Nabia killed herself yesterday.”

He may have known what she was going to do. He even mentioned she was probably going to do it. Yet, when I told him what happened, his eyes widened a little. Now that he had moisture I could see his eyes, which I could now see were very brown, change as the emotions could now be read more. I watched as it sunk in and he nodded. “I understand.” He nodded.

Now, I was even more confused. “You understand? I don’t!” It sounded angry even for me. “How could she do that? We weren’t doing anything to hurt…” I stopped. “Sorry, you were the one that lost her. My understanding is not important.”

Amasis shook his head. “Do you know how many times I have been told this?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t know either,” Amasis said loud and now was a little angry. “There were so many times, I can’t remember!”

I was seeing that he had this happen many times. Somehow, he’d learned to shield his heart. “This has happened too often for you to really feel things, isn’t that true?”

Amasis turned away and didn’t answer at first. “Would you?”

I shook my head. “I probably wouldn’t be alive myself. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not feel. I can’t lose Colin. I’d feel that.”

“There were too many.” Amasis frowned. “It becomes more than you don’t dare to feel. I feel, but I don’t feel as I used to.”

I nodded. “Do you remember all the others that you married?”

He nodded. “All of them.” He said sadly. “The marriages of the past sort of blend.”

“Blend?”

He smiled. “Do you remember everything in your past?” He settled down again with a sigh. “Or does it become one long memory? You may remember things when there was something extra, like…” he thought, “receiving a special gift on a day that made you very happy. Or someone you didn’t expect to see suddenly comes to you. You don’t remember every meal or every event of the days up to that moment, but you remember that moment. I have been married so many times. They sort of…blend. I remember their faces occasionally, but it becomes one long memory. My life is one long memory with the occasional event taking a more important place in my heart.”

“You only gave a few that kiss to bring them into what you believed was an afterlife,” I said. “You didn’t do it for all of them.”

Amasis nodded and smiled. “There were quite a few that didn’t want the kiss.” He chuckled. “In fact, many of those were very happy unions.” He chuckled. “I almost prefer those. They left me, yes, but because they went to another afterlife…I thought.” He smiled. “They would age and eventually die.” He shrugged. “I never stopped loving them, but in me…I always knew they would do this.”

I shook my head. “I guess you did, but it had to hurt.”

He nodded. “Every single one.” He shrugged. “I guess I got used to it. It was going to happen.”

I nodded. “Out of curiosity…” I began with a smile, “…you said you had wives that were male? This translator doesn’t translate groom.” I chuckled. “They were men, not womanly men.”

“No, they weren’t.” Amasis chuckled and then looked surprised. “I had a few. Why?”

I smiled and thought of the best way to say it. “Well, the outside world we plan to have you go into…marriages like Colin’s and mine are only now becoming less…taboo?”

His head went back a little more surprised. “Why is that?”

“Well, lengthy explanations aside, there are religious orders now that think we shouldn’t.”

Amasis now looked more confused. “It’s just love.”

I nodded. “We see that,” I said. “You see that, but they don’t see that.” I grinned. “Your society didn’t see it as taboo?”

Now he looked every bit the pharaoh and god for a moment. “I was Amasis. Who I choose is my choice. I am Amasis!” His eyes had more moisture and I could see the look in his eyes now. He was serious but delivered it with a light feeling. “There were many that chose companionship with someone that was the same gender as they were.” He gave a nod. “I remember my first.”

“Your first wife that was a man?”

He nodded. “I remember that one very well.” He smiled. “I married him as a reward.”

“A reward? For what?”

“Ma’na.” He said fondly. “Really Ma’nakhtuf was his name. He was a warrior. He led one of the first campaigns right after I received the gift of this life. Details on that campaign is blurred, but I remember him.” He said smiling more and sighed. “He was a very beautiful man. He was strong and a natural leader, but very much the man.” He chuckled. “It was his campaigns that put a lot in the treasury.” He scratched his head as I thought it might itch now. He shrugged. “It was the greatest thing I could think of.”

I gave a grudging nod. “But you’d mated with a man before?”

Amasis looked at me with his eyes looking a little wary as he knew he was telling something he kept to himself. “I had. Why would be taboo? You are a part of the people. All bodies fit together.” He looked puzzled. “You should know that. Our bodies work fine together, it’s just…” he shrugged. “…a little different.”

I nodded smiling more. “Ah…but it’s that different people in these religious powers don’t approve of.”

“Why should they approve or disapprove? They aren’t involved.”

I nodded holding my hand up to stop him. “Hey, I’m on your side!” I smiled. “But you have to admit, sex is often used for something other than love.”

Amasis nodded. “It’s enjoyable, so used for fun, but yes, it can be a big weapon. I had warriors that often used it to subdue enemies…both male and female. The males were usually enemy warriors, the females were just…villagers. I didn’t approve, but my warriors did it.”

He was being honest and forthcoming, so I asked. “How did you deal with all this time down here?” I asked. “There had to be times that seemed to drag on.”

He nodded. “I went through times that were very hard. I thought I was losing my godliness, but I made challenges for myself.” He waved at the caves and surrounding underground city. “This didn’t just magically happen. I did it.”

“You did?”

Amasis nodded with a chuckle. “I didn’t do it alone, but time and experience I knew what I wanted and with the help of my people…and those captured in some campaigns, I carved out this.” He smiled. “This took nearly a thousand season cycles.” He looked at me. “You understand season cycles?”

I looked at the little screen. “Sure,” I said. “Times when the floods came once a year?”

He nodded. “Yes, cycles.”

I smiled. “Yes, we call them years.” We had gone from the original point. “My concern was about Nabia. You don’t feel anything about her dying?”

Amasis looked pained a little. “I will miss her.” He said sadly. “I knew it would happen. My bigger concern is about Amir.”

I nodded. “He was very upset.”

“He would be.” Amasis reasoned. “She was his life source.”

“You still see him as your son?”

Amasis nodded. “Of course. I am the only father he’s known.” He sat up more. “His experience in life has been limited. He does not have the background to rely on. His loss is greater. He will always be my son.”

“What happened to his male parent? The one that caused his birth?”

Amasis frowned. “He was killed shortly before Amir’s birth.” He sighed. “His mother had been a servant here…and her mother and father…she was only twenty cycles or so…she had no one. Her mother and father helped, but her father died and then so did her mother, too. She worked hard here, but I saw she was more. Like Ma’na and some of the other wives, she thought me a god, but getting to know her, she, like Ma’na, saw me more as a man. I had needs.” He sighed. “I hoped with this knowledge, she’d be easier to accept this afterlife and stay with me. She turned out to be like all the others.”

“Well, you seem to be okay with her leaving,” I said, still not sure that was true. He would have problems later. “Do we proceed with the serum doses?”

Amasis looked surprised again. “Would I have to start over if I don’t take the medication?”

“Yes, you will.”

He shook his head. “Then no, I won’t put it off. I’ll take the next injection.”

I nodded. “Well, today, you get your first meal.”

His eyes widened at the thought. “I will?”

I left Amasis in the care of George as he told Amasis more about the medication and how it worked and what it did.

Colin caught me coming to our chamber. “How’d it go? Did he take it well?” He asked putting on another kilt. He looked at my face and looked down at what he was trying to wrap on. “I need clean clothes.”

I nodded. “So, you didn’t put that on just to seduce me?”

Colin grinned. “Well, it wasn’t my purpose, but if it does…” he shrugged.

I walked over and pulled the end he had in his hand away, letting it drop leaving him naked. “You can put that on later.” I watched his smile grow. “I can’t imagine anybody, but you for me.”

Colin frowned. “Didn’t he care about Nabia?”

I shrugged. “He’s cared about a lot of people. He took the news better than anyone I’ve known. He loved and married quite a few. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t breakdown. Nabia is just the most recent loss.” I explained pulling Colin toward me. I kissed him deeply. “I never want to lose you, Colin. Mom and Dad talked about everything ending. Amasis talked about knowing the relationships would end."” I held him close loving the warmth I felt from him. “I’ll die if you leave.”

Colin tightened his hold on me. “We’ll do everything we can to stop that from happening.” His hands came over me. “If anything, Amasis gives me hope.”

I pulled away enough to look in those emerald eyes. “He does?”

Colin nodded. “If he can live this long. There’s no reason we can’t. Imagine a life together that spans thousands of years!” He looked at me smiling. “A couple of thousand years with me in your life. Is that what you want?”

I smiled as my hand went over his chest. Again, loving the tickle of his hairs on my fingers. “I want nothing else.”

“That’s what we’ll do.”

I nodded. “I want you right now.”

Colin nodded. “You have me. All of me.”

I nodded. “What we do is more than just sex, right?”

Colin frowned. “Of course, it is. It’s the glue that binds us together.” His face softened. “We’re not just lovers, Devon. Not to me. We are connected in a way no other humans can connect with us. You’re a part of me.” He smiled. “I never knew a person could be a much a part of my very soul.”

I smiled at him. “Let’s just put a little more glue into this joining.” I grinned kissing him deeply. “I adore you, Colin. A part of me and my very soul.”

It was a few hours before we emerged to take a bath. This time, we were the only two in the communal bath. The water was still warm, but I did miss the others. Until Amir came in.

“Oh,” Amir said stopping. “I thought I was the only one.” He said sadly and turned to leave.

“Amir,” I said from the water. “Please, don’t go,” I said pleading a little. “This is no time for you to be alone.” I also considered that maybe it was too soon for him. “If you want to be alone, fine, but you don’t have to be.”

Amir hesitated a moment. At last, he turned around and began to pull on his garments to take them off. “I’m not very good company now.”

“So?” I shook my head. “We’re social creatures. We aren’t meant to go through life by ourselves.” I touched my own chest. “Our whole makeup needs people. You need people. We can be there for you.”

He lowered himself into the warm waters. “I’m in a place where I don’t know what to do.” He said sadly. “My mother is gone.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“She didn’t have to leave,” Amir said a little angry. “She had a good life. She was a god.”

Colin smiled at him patiently. “There were things she was going through we will never understand. We can’t judge her.”

Amir nodded. “I’m not judging, I just want to understand.”

“You need to speak with Amasis,” I said. “He will understand more than anyone.” I looked Amir in the eyes. “He loved your mother.” I smiled. “He loves you, Amir. You’re not in this alone.”

“My mother is gone,” Amir said again.

I nodded again. “Yes, she is.”

“She could have waited until I die,” Amir said.

I nodded again. “She thought otherwise.”

We got Amasis a little something to eat, which he did as all the others did. He sniffed it carefully and wondered if he could eat it.

“It’s a camel!” Colin said brightly. “Just not as spicily flavored for now. Just try some.” He encouraged. He did the same as they all did. Tasted carefully and then was eating with more gusto.

“I’m sure George told you to…” Colin began.

I stopped Colin. “Don’t waste your breath. They never listen when we warn them about eating too much, too fast.”

Amasis was really enjoying his meal!

Chuck came in suddenly. “There could be a problem.” He said huffing as he fought to catch his breath. “In fact…” he huffed, “I know…there is.”

Colin looked at him. “You could have called us and not be trying to catch your breath.”

Chuck shook his head. “Mark said not to.” He explained and pointed. “He was worried…that others would hear.” He leaned forward and rested on his knees. “We have company.”

I was surprised. “Out here in the desert!? What are they?”

Chuck held his hand up and took a deep breath and stood up more. “We don’t know, but they’re not…” he waved at the underground city. “One of these lovely people. They’re professional. Willie and Alex agree with Mark’s assessment. They appear to be militia.”

I looked at Colin and then back to Chuck. “Why?”

“The movements are planned. Strategic.” Chuck explained. “And why we are afraid they can hear us, we can hear them.” He said. “It’s not in a language. It’s code.” He looked around. “You have a laptop here?”

I nodded and pointed to the laptop near us. “I don’t use it often to save power.”

Chuck nodded. “You should see this.” He pulled up the screen and hit a few keys. Then he waved at the screen. “See?”

What we saw looked like a group of nomads, camels, and things carried, the long robes and headdress. Then he went to another screen. This was taken by a camera…long range, but good focus. The men could be seen more and one removed his headdress.

My eyes widened as I saw he was blonde. “He could be someone that joined the group?” I suggested as a possible explanation.

“There are three like him in a group of twelve.” He said and hit another set of keys. I heard conversations and there were some words I recognized. Buddy was not needed to identify the language. I didn’t understand what he said, but the language was Russian.

“Russians!?” Colin looked at his translator and the readouts. “What are they…”

“The others are Egyptian and others from the Middle East,” Chuck said. “Mark thinks it’s a scouting party.” He looked at Colin and me. “I think so, too.”

“Why?” I said again. “Sorry, I’m asking why a lot, but…”

Chuck nodded. “The signals we send.” He explained pointing up through the roof of the mountain. “They can’t read the signals. They are encrypted, but there should be no signals out here at all. Amir had a simple setup with his emails. It didn’t attract a lot of attention. Our signals to Buddy were.”

I nodded. “They came to find us.”

Colin nodded. “Looking for the source of signals that should not be out here.”

Amasis was listening, but he didn’t understand much without us speaking to him using the translator. He understood some of what we said. “I have troops.” He said. “We help?”

I shook my head. “I don’t see how. That would only confirm where we are.” I said rubbing Amasis on the back to assure myself as well as Amasis. “Thank you, though.”

I looked at Colin. “They can’t be from Rafa Morsi, can they?”

Colin shrugged. “I said he was retired, remember? That’s an interesting mix of nationalities.” He looked at Chuck. “Where were they?”

“Not far from Amir’s village,” Chuck answered.

“And Buddy is there?” I asked.

Chuck shook his head. “He’s down here now, but the source of the previous signals was from the village. It’s only a matter of time before they find the tunnels.”

I nodded. “And find Amasis’ City.”

Amasis stood at last. “I can at least post troops at the entrances.”

Colin nodded. “Do that. However, if they meet these men, they don’t attack unless they are attacked.”

Now Amasis was again Pharaoh. I was impressed! He stood clapping his hands quickly. A member of his troops came in. Amasis gave orders in their own language to the man who nodded and rushed to do what Amasis instructed.

Colin walked over to me. “Will he be ready to move soon?” He asked George and me.

“He’s near the end.” George nodded. “I can make a disc soon.” He waved at Amasis. “But he won’t be ready for out there!” George said pointing out of the caves. “The world changed in two thousand years!”

I nodded. “He’ll be fine. We’re not leaving him here, but we may not have a choice.”

Colin thought. “We need to be ready.” He said. “If we have to leave, it may be quick.”

Chuck nodded. “We’ll be ready.”