“Egyptian, Dad,” Natti snarled more at herself than at her father. She hadn’t exactly gone into much detail about the ad when she asked to go. Just that it was a school sponsored event. “It was called the Pharaoh’s Festival!”
“I know! I read the flyers in town. I never expected it to be exclusively Egyptian, and I just never thought when I said ‘yes’ you would . . .” Her father gestured to her face and shoulder before rubbing his tired eyes. “Natara, I don’t mind the stuffy or the bracelets. Hell, I don’t mind you experimenting a little with new looks and such. But a hieroglyph tattoo!” He paused for a second before continuing, “Don’t get me wrong, luv. I loved your mother. I just . . . I don’t want you to get completely immersed in Egyptian culture.”
This speech was the last thing Natti needed after everything else that had happened to her throughout the day. The heavy hearts. Being chased. Seth’s abrupt change. Her emotions snapped. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have moved us to a freaking town that has pyramids, Egyptian festivals, and a bleeding dead Pharaoh as their high school mascot!”
She grabbed her jackal back and raced up the stairs.
“Natara! Natara, wait!” Alexander called. “You don’t understand!”
Ignoring her father, she slammed her bedroom door closed. She understood. He didn’t want to be reminded of her mother or of her death. Well, like it or not, she WAS like her mother. She had her mother’s eyes, the same features, the same blood. Natti was one fourth Egyptian, and though she hadn’t accepted it before, it was just as much a part of her heritage.
Bastet skittered from the bed into the bathroom in fright as Natti stormed to her bed. She let her weary body fall onto her comforter and cuddled Anubis. Her mind rolled back to the Haunted Pyramid and the men chasing her through the fair grounds. If her father flipped over makeup and a tattoo, he sure as hell would have a field day if she told him about that. Not that she had to tell him. It wasn’t likely she planned to go back again. She let herself fall into the memory, feeling the fear she felt when Seth’s hand grabbed hold of her, and the relief when her eyes finally met his. Pace by pace, she relived the night, right up to when Seth’s lips brushed up against hers. Her entire body tingled with excitement.
A tear rolled down her cheek. Her brain still muddled and confused over everything. She was teetering on the edge about Seth just before he had carried her to the nurse’s office, but now she felt like she was tumbling over it. Why? What changed? Or have I always felt this way and denied it? She concentrated on her heart for an answer, making her head feel light and dizzy. Mentally, she tried to ease her tension. And why didn’t he just kiss me? She raised the stuffed jackal to eye level and pulled at his ears. I wanted him to kiss me.
Seth snorted. “Love. Love is for the weak.”
Why would he even think that? Another tear slipped.
“Love is a useless emotion. A weakness in man that must be destroyed.” Natti once again felt the heaviness of his words; wondering if he was lying or if her mixed up emotions were messing with her mind. She was so confused.
Then there was one last thing that haunted her heart, the revealing of Seth’s darker side. He honored a murderous god, even defended him. It made her sick. How could anyone in their right mind support such a hideous creature?
And you would really want him to kiss you? Natti tried to reason with herself. Her heart knew the answer, and she groaned. “Dear God, I think I’m actually falling for him.” She rolled over, stuffing her face into her pillow and screamed, “I am such an arse!”
She lay there, hoping to forget the confusing emotions running through her system, trying to block them out. She moaned, pushed herself up off her pillow, and sat up. She brought her knees to her chest and froze. The cut was already scabbing over, and the bruise appeared as a small brown spot, hardly noticeable in the dim light. She brushed her fingers over it.
“Okay, now that’s even more freaky,” she hissed, thinking back to when Seth had touched the injury and the warmth that slipped into her skin. Out of everything she brought up that night, Seth had only looked at her like she was crazy when she tried to mention it. Like he had no idea that his touch . . . “I must be going completely mental.”