Forbidden Power

Chapter 11-Egypt

Marco stretched next to me as the plane finally descended at the Cairo airport. It had been his first time on a plane, and he surprisingly seemed to enjoy the ride.

"Get a good nap?" I asked.

"Yeah. The plane is suprisingly smooth. I slept great!" He said, flashing me an adoring grin.

"I told you, Marco. I'm not interested. Stop grinning at me like that," I warned him. His grin dropped to a pout.

"But for when you change your mind..." he began.

"I won't," I told him flatly. He had been blatantly coming on to me since we left Pietro's church. I didn't swing that way or I would have stayed with Mwenya and not bothered with this whole thing. I'm pretty sure I don't care about romance or relationships at all. I've never met a female or a male who made me feel any type of interest apart from strictly platonic.

The plane pulled up to the terminal and came to a stop. Marco's disappointment quickly dissipated, replaced by his annoyingly sunny disposition as he excitedly unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up.

"We're here! I'm here! I'm actually in Egypt! What are we going to see first?" Marco asked, jumping into the aisle to get our carry-on's from the overhead compartment before I even had time to unbuckle my belt.

"That's who are we going to see first. I called an acquaintance to pick us up from the airport," I told him dully.

Marco handed me my bag and headed for the exit. Where does he think he's going? Like he's actually going to know what to do once he gets off? His unending optimism and enthusiasm is starting to get on my nerves.

I got caught behind some slow-moving humans, and since I'm too big to politely squeeze by, I had to wait for them to start waddling toward the exit before I could move. Why are humans so slow? Why am I annoyed? Why do I care? Oh, right. Because Marco is running around the airport making a nuisance of himself. I have to babysit, and I'm not doing a good job of it.

I finally stepped into the airport and looked around. As expected, the little Spanish wizard is nowhere to be found.

"Ugh," I groaned in frustration. Is this what it's going to be like the whole time? I'm going to be chasing him all over Egypt instead of getting anything done?

Suddenly I remembered an old game I played with Liz in the big pond at home, and it made me chuckle. I looked around and murmured under my breath, "Marco!" And heard Liz answer, "Polo!" in my mind. That kid. He's annoying me at the moment, but he's also made me laugh. I already know I won't be mad at him once I find him.

With a subconscious grin on my face as I remembered playing as a kid, I started forward through the airport, following the crowds until I left the baggage claim area and spotted a familiar face holding a sign with my first name on it. She was talking to none other than Marco, and she looked bemused by him.

"Layla!" I called, waving to her as I approached. Her conversation with Marco abruptly ended as she turned toward me. Her eyes lit up, and she ran up and hugged me, which caught me off guard.

"Teddy! You have been missed!" She declared. She then stepped back and extended her hand for me to shake it formally.

"Thank you, Layla. You're looking lively as always," I complimented her. Her energy and passion has always been what I admired most about her. She is the smartest person I've ever worked with, and she's actually someone I enjoy.

"Ha! And you actually look pleasant for once, Teddy. I've never seen you smiling before. It must be because of your fun new partner, eh?" She asked, smiling and nodding toward Marco.

"Actually, yes," I acknowledged, and Marco looked at me in surprise and flashed me a big smile. "I was reminded of my big sister when we were kids just now because of Marco. I can see you've already met."

"We have. He is quite enthusiastic to be in my beautiful country. Come, let us get you out to the site we're currently working on. Everyone is delighted you have returned to Egypt," she motioned for me to follow her, and Marco and I fell in line on each side of her, catching up with life in the friendly, comfortable way I had grown used to with her.

"And your husband is well?" I asked her as we reached the shuttle that would take us to the parking lot. She winced slightly before instantly smiling. What was that? Did I imagine it?

"Yes. He is well," she said simply before delving into business, informing me about the site my old team was currently uncovering, and the interesting bits of history they had found there.

"I want to find a new pyramid!" Marco declared, making both Layla and me laugh.

"All the pyramids have already been found, I'm afraid. Sorry, Marco. Your name won't go down in history for that," Layla chuckled. She led us to the team's van where we dumped our few items and hopped in the back. Layla took the driver's seat.

"I need to take Marco shopping, and I need to go as well. He needs decent clothes for the desert, and we both need some basic toiletries," I informed Layla.

"How soon are these items needed? Do you need to go there now?" Layla asked. I glanced at Marco, who was wearing a set of my clothes that were obviously too big. He seemed oblivious to it, though.

"Uh, yeah. It won't take long," I decided.

"Okay, then the store is our first stop," Layla agreed. Smart as she is, Layla has been raised in a different culture from me where men have the final say. Marco was also raised in a culture where men have the final say. I bet they're going to get along well. For a moment, I'm thankful he's gay. Layla is a married woman, but I still enjoy her attention. I respect her. Marco shouldn't pose a threat to the comfortable balance Layla and I have in our relationship.

"Did you have anywhere you need to go?" I asked Layla politely. She quickly shook her head.

"Oh, no. I have everything I need," she laughed nervously. She's acting different from the last time I saw her. I can't put my finger on it, but something doesn't seem quite right.

"Look! LOOK!" Marco suddenly yelled, pointing out the window excitedly.

"Um, yes?" Layla glanced at me in the mirror, and I shrugged.

"They're wearing hat things! Can I have one of those hat things? Can I? They look so authentic! Wow!" Marco bounced excitedly. Layla's eyebrows bunched together in the mirror, and I saw her shoulders start shaking as she tried to control her laughter.

"Marco," I said calmly. "Are you looking at the turban or the tarboosh? Those are both traditional headwear for men in Egypt."

"Which is which? I don't know! The scarf looking one! I like it! It looks cool and yet warm. I must have one of these!" Marco said excitedly pointing at the turban.

"No worries. I like to dress in traditional clothes when I'm here. We're going to buy some traditional clothes as well as basic blue jeans and t-shirts. Thobes are hard to work in when working on a dig site," I told him.

"Ah, Teddy. Nearly a year away, and you haven't changed at all," Layla sighed. Did that sound...wistful? I think I'm starting to imagine things.

"Has anything changed for you, Layla? When last I was here you were newly married and excited to be assigned work on a new project in the desert," I prompted her.

"Ah, yes. My husband is well," Layla said hurriedly. "The Rise of Aten is proving to be a great archaeological find! I'm delighted to be working on it! So far..."

Layla filled me in on the pottery and culture that had been uncovered there, and I listened with interest. She couldn't understand why it had been abandoned under the rule of Akhenaten. Ideas swirled through my head. A thriving city. Industrial in nature, as it would seem, that was abandoned during the rule of the same king who put to death many wizards because he believed solely in the sun god and the existence of no others...

"So that's what we know so far. We are working now on the northern end of the city. You always have such great insight, Teddy. I look forward to you seeing it," Layla finished as she pulled up to the local market store that she knows I prefer for their cheap second-hand clothes.

"I can't wait. We'll be back in a minute," I told her, pulling Marco out of the back of the van. He ran toward the store and burst in, with me trailing behind and shaking my head. I could hear Layla laughing at us in the van. This is going to be some adventure.