The Cursed Pharaoh's Bride

Chapter XIII

Carolina

My cell phone buzzes for what feels like the thirtieth time today. I don’t have to check to know exactly who it is. Ever since I found those books about ancient Egypt, and saw that magazine, I haven’t made any attempt to contact Elijah. I mean, I made it clear before that I don’t want him to randomly message me or spam my phone. And yet, for whatever reason he’s doing it anyways. His messages are also strange. It’s as if he knows that the fact that I have gotten closer to the truth without him is making me upset with him. Well, I also may or may not be more upset about seeing him essentially wearing that super model on the front cover of that magazine.

Another buzz erupts from my phone. Ugh, he should at least know that I have things to do other than just sit around at home. I am actively avoiding stares and glares the other students in my lecture keep giving me because my phone doesn’t stop going off. I finally give in and look at my phone. I sigh. His messages are no different than the ones he’s been sending me for the past three days.

‘Darling, what’s wrong? I can tell you’re upset.’

‘I haven’t heard from you since we met up last weekend. When can I see you again?’

‘I’ve been contacting your lab. They said you haven’t been to work this week? Is something wrong?’

‘Carolina, I have half a mind to go to you campus right now.’

‘At least respond to your messages!’

I highly doubt he’s going to take the time out of his day to come and see me at school. For starters, he has a company to run. And besides, he doesn’t need me to entertain him. There are plenty of other women he can use as his play things. It’s not the first time a guy has made it clear that I can be easily replaced if I can’t give him what he wants.

Through all the spam, I notice a text message from Jay, which brings a small smile to my face. Hearing from him so soon is a pleasant surprise. He writes:

‘Hey, my friends and I are going to the movies this Friday night. Do you want to join us?’

Jay is a nice guy. I’m not looking to date him or anything. But it would be nice to just hang out with someone new for once. With all the craziness that’s been going on, I need a distraction and a break. I would hang out with Tori, but she’s been busy lately and our schedules rarely allow us to cross paths these days. I think back on when I decided I would be willing to get to know Jay better, and maybe make him a friend.

“Jay, thanks so much for helping find these books,” I said as I handed him the books I was checking out. Lucky for me, he was working at the front desk.

“It’s no problem. It’s the least I can do for my fellow tomb raider,” he said jokingly.

I gave him a small smile. “Yeah, that trip was crazy. Everything has been crazy since then, actually.”

He gave me a strange look. “Really?” He paused. “How have you been since then, actually? Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said warily. “I’ve just been stressed now that school has started. It will get better.”

He gave me a nod in understanding. “You know, if you’re ever looking for someone to hang out with uptown or at the very least looking for someone who can find you books on other mythology, I’m more than happy to help with that.”

After that, Jay and I exchanged numbers. I’m sure once Tori finds out, she’ll start to fangirl and get excited over nothing. I really just want and honestly need more friends. I’m not looking for another romance.

Class finally ends, and my phone still hasn’t stopped getting bombard by text messages. Just as I walk out of the lecture hall, I all but crash into another body. I find myself stumbling back and I have to catch myself from falling on the ground like the rest of my books and notes.

I look up in shock but then my expression morphs into that of a glare. I recognize that tall and slender build as well as his lighter skin and dark hair and eyes. It’s that friend of Elijah–Lorenzo, I think his name was.

“Look at that. Finding you wasn’t so difficult,” he drawls with an uninterested expression. 

“What are you doing here?” I snap.

“I came here on behalf of El, against his better judgement,” he says with an annoyed sigh. Why is he acting like it’s my fault he has to come here? I don’t even want him here. Also, El?

“Well, you can tell Elijah that I’m fine. He can stop bothering me,” I say as I try to move past him. He stands in front of me, blocking my way.

“My visit could have been avoided had you just responded to his texts. He’s freaking out. He’s convinced there’s something wrong. He wants me to bring you to him.”

“How could he possibly know if something is wrong? I don’t talk to him, and frankly I don’t want to. Also, there’s no way I’m going to just go with you,” I challenge.

Lorenzo lets out another annoyed huff. “I was afraid you would say that.”

Before I can say anything in response or even move away, he steps closer to me and wraps his arms around me as if to give me a hug. I feel the light stubble on his cheek as he grazes the side of his face along mine, his lips now brushing my ear. Suddenly, I feel his grip tighten. “Now, sleep,” he whispers, his voice resonating as if another heavenly voice was speaking through him. Before I know it, I feel my world fade into blackness.

.        .       .       .       .       .       .        .       .       .

I don’t realize I’m unconscious until this sensation of falling off the bed hits me. When I feel it, just as I think I’m going to hit the ground, my eyes open and I shoot up from the lying position that I’m in.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

I look around frantically. Who said that? Where am I? How did I get here? Why am I here? It takes me a while to get a hold of myself. I look at the leather seating underneath me and notice I’m in what seems to be the back of a very expensive car. We’re not moving. In fact, we’re parked in a dimly lit parking garage. I peer out the window. My guess is I haven’t been knocked out for long. I can faintly hear the honking car horns and movement above from what is probably the end of the lunch rush. We’re in a parking garage no doubt in mid town where all the business and traffic goes on the most. I look in front of me to find Lorenzo in the driver’s seat. And then it hits me. He’s the one who must have brought me here somehow. Wherever here is.

“How did I get here?” I ask as I sit upright, giving Lorenzo and accusatory glare.

“Hey, hey, calm down. You just fell asleep,” he says all too innocently as he puts his hands up in the air in defense.

“I know you have something to do with that,” I retort.

“Well, I guess we’re here so I might as well tell you. And seeing how you’re his, you’ll figure it out on your own eventually,” he mutters, “It’s part of a magical ability called the Eye of Horus. Horus’s eyes are so powerful that they can see through anything, even illusions. Because of that, the Eye of Horus allows the magic user to use illusion magic to nullify other illusion magic. Given that, it can be used in reverse and allow the user to cast strong illusions on other people. I used the ability to convince your spirit it was sleepy so you would fall unconscious.”

I felt my heart increase in panic. “So you can basically use mind control?”

“The answer to that is both yes and no. It only works if the person I’m using the ability on isn’t aware I’m using it. Basically, you have to be easily susceptible to falling for illusions. Something tells me it will be harder for me to get you again. I can’t say the same for a god, though.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“Well, the only person who can use the ability to the fullest is someone with godly blood, specifically Horus’s blood. The only reason why I can use the ability at a basic level is because I’m Elijah’s right hand man. He channels some of his demigod powers through objects that only I can use. It’s like I’m a vessel for his powers at times.” Just as he finishes saying that, I see something flash by his ear as he turns his head to face me. An earring with a chain and blood red stone was dangling from his ear. The design held a stylistic resemblance to Egyptian carvings. How did I not see that before?

“I can see you’ve finally noticed my earring. It seems I really can’t use that magic against you anymore,” he says as he gives me a wary smile. “Any other questions before we go inside?”

I snap out of my state of awe. “Yes, actually, I do have more questions. Where am I? Why did you bring me here?”

“I told you already,” he says with a chastising tone as if I am being childish for not listening, “Elijah wants to speak to you. Since he obviously couldn’t be at your school, I brought you to him?”

I can’t stop my jaw from dropping ever so slightly in surprise. “You kidn*pped me and brought me to wherever we are just to speak with Elijah!”

“Kidnap is such an ugly word,” he drawls, “I’d say I delivered you to him-“

“I’m not a package!”

“-and if you must know, we’re at the Seka Corp. headquarters. It’s not like you’re in some murderous secluded cabin in the middle of the woods or rotting in a basement,” he defends.

I give him a look of disbelief. “…you are exhausting,” I mutter.

He lets out a dry laugh. “Pot meet kettle,” he says sarcastically as he points between us. 

Lorenzo proceeds to get out of the car and opens the back door for me. I give him a slight glare before finally deciding to step out of the car, pulling my school bag with me as I try to regain my balance. My legs feel so weak.

Lorenzo places one hand behind my back to help steady me. “It’s an after effect of being put to sleep. The experience is very disorienting, especially for first timers.”

“I’ve noticed,” I say as I grab onto his shoulder for support. Once I find my legs, he closes the door and leads me inside.

We’re let into the building easily and many people make way for us as if we are the most important people. Well, Lorenzo is probably the most important person considering he’s the COO. I’m walking with him so of course they’re not going to outright question my existence. I do notice that some of the female workers are giving me looks as if they can’t seem to fathom what I’m doing with their COO. I don’t blame them. I would be surprised too if I saw myself walking with an attractive man. Not that I am attracted to Lorenzo, but I know he’s handsome.

We make it to one of the top floors of the extremely high tech and modernized skyscraper only to find a large office space with many windows and glass walls. Lorenzo soon stops when he makes it to a set of clouded glass doors. Beside the doors on the clouded glass wall has a plaque that says “ELIJAH SEKA, CEO.”

“I made sure to clear up this part of his schedule just so you can clear up whatever is going on. He needs to get back to work and he can’t do that if he’s stuck moping around you,” Lorenzo says, his back to me.

He then turns to me and sends me a chilling glare. “You’re not the only one who’s confused,” he says as he gives me a hard look. He then swiftly turns around and walks away, leaving me in front of Elijah’s office doors.