The First Pyramid
1270 Words
Chapter 9 — The First Pyramid
Layla couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same image.
A dark pyramid beneath the desert.
A door opening.
And a voice calling her queen.
She sat beside the window and watched the moon disappear behind the clouds.
The golden key was still in her hand.
Azir had left her only an hour ago after telling her to rest.
But Layla knew she couldn't.
Too many questions were running through her mind.
Who was her mother really?
Was she connected to Queen Liora?
Why did Malik say she was the daughter of the Black Sand King?
And most importantly…
Why did the pyramids recognize her?
A soft sound came from the door.
Layla turned.
Azir stood there.
“You're awake.”
“So are you.”
“I wasn't sleeping.”
“Neither was I.”
He walked into the room.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Layla stood.
“We're going to the pyramid.”
Azir shook his head.
“No.”
“You don't get to decide that.”
“It isn't safe.”
“Nothing about this palace is safe.”
Azir looked at her.
“You don't understand what is waiting for you.”
“Then explain it.”
He sighed.
“The first pyramid was built before this kingdom existed. It isn't just a tomb.”
“What is it?”
“A prison.”
Layla's stomach tightened.
“For who?”
Azir looked toward the desert.
“We don't know.”
“Then why are we waiting?”
“Because the last time the pyramid opened, an entire city disappeared.”
Layla went silent.
Azir continued.
“People entered the pyramid. None of them came back.”
“And you?”
“I went inside once.”
Layla stared at him.
“When?”
“Two hundred years ago.”
“What happened?”
“I found Liora.”
Layla's heart skipped.
“She was inside?”
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
“For a few minutes.”
Layla stepped closer.
“What did she tell you?”
Azir looked down.
“She told me to run.”
“Why?”
“Because something was coming.”
A cold feeling moved through Layla.
“And you didn't run.”
“No.”
“Why?”
His eyes met hers.
“Because I wouldn't leave her.”
Layla didn't know what to say.
She looked away.
“Let's go.”
Azir nodded.
They left the palace before sunrise.
Kael followed them through the desert.
The air was cold, but Layla could feel heat beneath her feet.
The closer they got to the pyramid, the stronger the feeling became.
Finally, the first pyramid appeared beyond the dunes.
It was enormous.
Black stone covered its surface.
No entrance could be seen.
Azir stopped.
“We're here.”
Layla stared at it.
Something inside her whispered her name.
Layla.
She stepped forward.
The pyramid began to glow.
Azir grabbed her hand.
“Wait.”
The moment he touched her, the glow became brighter.
Kael growled.
Then the ground moved.
A huge stone door appeared in front of them.
Layla looked at Azir.
“It opened for me.”
“Yes.”
She walked toward the entrance.
Azir followed.
Inside, the walls were covered with symbols.
Some looked like the white moon.
Others looked like black sand.
Layla touched one.
A vision appeared.
A woman was standing in the same place.
Liora.
She was holding a baby.
Layla watched silently.
Then Liora turned toward the wall and placed her hand on a symbol.
A hidden door opened.
Behind it was a chamber filled with gold.
But Liora didn't look at the gold.
She looked at something in the center.
A black stone.
It was shaped like a heart.
Layla suddenly felt pain in her chest.
She pulled her hand away.
“What is that?”
Azir stared at the symbol.
“The Heart of the Desert.”
“What does it do?”
“It controls the curse.”
Layla looked at him.
“Then we need to destroy it.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if it breaks, the desert dies completely.”
Layla frowned.
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
Azir didn't answer.
A sound came from deeper inside the pyramid.
Footsteps.
Layla froze.
“Someone is here.”
Azir pulled out his sword.
“Stay behind me.”
The footsteps stopped.
Then a woman's voice echoed through the darkness.
“Layla.”
Layla's heart stopped.
She knew that voice.
Her mother's.
“Mother?”
Azir looked at her.
“That's impossible.”
Layla moved forward.
The voice came again.
“Come to me.”
Azir grabbed her wrist.
“Don't.”
“She needs help.”
“That isn't your mother.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your mother is alive in your memories.”
Layla stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Azir's expression changed.
Before he could answer, a figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
A woman.
She looked exactly like Layla's mother.
Layla took a step forward.
“Mother?”
The woman smiled.
“Yes, my daughter.”
Azir raised his sword.
“Stay back.”
The woman laughed.
“You still protect her.”
Azir's eyes narrowed.
“Malik.”
The woman's face changed.
Her skin became dark.
Her eyes turned silver.
The illusion disappeared.
Malik stood before them.
“You're learning quickly,” he said.
Layla stepped back.
“You used my mother's face.”
“I used the face you trust most.”
“Why?”
“To make you come here.”
Azir moved forward.
“What do you want?”
Malik looked at Layla.
“The same thing I wanted two hundred years ago.”
“And that is?”
“The queen.”
Layla's mark burned.
Malik smiled.
“You can feel her now.”
Layla closed her eyes.
A voice whispered inside her.
Liora.
Then another voice followed.
Azir.
She opened her eyes.
The pyramid began shaking.
The Heart of the Desert appeared at the end of the chamber.
It was beating.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Malik raised his hand.
Black sand began surrounding the stone.
Azir attacked him.
The two men collided.
Layla stepped backward.
Suddenly, the Heart of the Desert cracked.
A bright white light exploded from it.
Layla screamed.
The light entered her body.
For a moment, everything disappeared.
Then she saw Liora.
She was standing in a field of green flowers.
Azir was beside her.
But they were not alone.
A little girl stood between them.
The girl had Layla's eyes.
Liora smiled.
“This is your beginning.”
Layla stared at the child.
“Who is she?”
Liora looked directly at her.
“You.”
Layla woke from the vision.
She was lying on the stone floor.
Azir was kneeling beside her.
“Layla!”
She opened her eyes.
“What happened?”
“The Heart chose you.”
She slowly sat up.
“What does that mean?”
Azir looked frightened.
“It means the curse is no longer connected to me.”
Layla stared at him.
“Then who is it connected to?”
Azir didn't answer.
The pyramid shook again.
A deep voice came from beneath them.
“Her.”
Layla looked toward the Heart of the Desert.
Black cracks spread across the stone.
Then Malik whispered:
“The queen has returned.”
And the entire pyramid began collapsing around them.
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