Closing his eyes, he cupped my neck. Warm pulses seeped into my veins and then melted away, the sensation lost just a few centimeters from the surface. “Lily,” he whispered as his forehead touched mine, “what have I done to you?”
“I’m here. I’m fine,” I said, patting his chest to get his attention.
“You are not fine.” His eyes narrowed as he touched my bandaged arm lightly.
“It’s just a little bite. No big deal.”
“You are lying. There is severe damage to your tissues, and your bone is cracked in several places.”
“Who gave you permission to do a sun god diagnostic X-ray of my body? Besides, Amon, it’s not important. What’s important is—”
He actually shook me. “You are important!” Ignoring my continued protests, Amon said to Dr. Hassan, “We must leave immediately to find my brothers.”
Hassan placed his fedora on his head. “The god of the stars is closest. Follow me.”
“She needs a healer. I would prefer to raise Ahmose first.”
The Egyptologist shook his head and indicated we should accompany him. Inside, he reached under his bed and pulled out a bag, which he filled with strange items—archaeologists’ tools, matches, strips of cloth, and various objects I couldn’t imagine uses for.
“The personification of the moon sleeps too far away,” Dr. Hassan said. “And to uncover his resting place will take time. If we go to him first, we’ll have to backtrack to recover the personification of the stars, which would waste a day. If an attack happens here again, your brother can help defend Lily against the onslaught.”
Amon considered this for a moment. It was clear that he didn’t like the options. Finally, he said, “Very well. We shall awaken Asten first, but make haste, Doctor.”
“Indeed.”
Within a matter of moments we were out the door and speeding down the highway in Dr. Hassan’s small car, which was about as dusty as the objects in his living room. We were headed toward the mysterious Oasis of the Sacred Stones, which Dr. Hassan said was only accessible to those brave enough to pass the sentinels and who understood how to access it.
I rolled down the car window and let the night air caress my cheeks, which had felt overheated since the demon attack. Though Dr. Hassan assured me there was no venom in the bite, the stinging throb hadn’t let up, and despite the painkillers I’d taken, there was a definite achy feeling circulating my body.
Amon fluctuated between blaming himself and cursing the shabti and, finally, cursing the guy, whoever he was, who had summoned the demons. Frankly, his concern was starting to affect me. I constantly felt his eyes on me, and not in the way I would have preferred.
Finally, I said, “Stop looking at me like I’m at death’s door.”
“I cannot help my concern for you.”
“You’re freaking me out.”
“I do not understand ‘freaking.’?”
“It’s making me nervous. And can you turn down your internal thermometer? It’s toasting me from the inside out.”
“The heat that comes from my body increases as it nears time for the ceremony. I apologize if it causes you discomfort.”
Amon removed his arm from my shoulders and clasped his hands in his lap, angling his body away from mine and as close to the door as possible. The space around me cooled quickly, though my head and shoulders still felt hot. I reached for his hand. “I’m sorry. Normally I like your arm around me, it’s just—”
“Do not be concerned, Young Lily. When I am around you, I sometimes forget what I am, and because of that I have grown careless.”
“You aren’t careless. In fact, you’re one of the most caring people I know.”
Amon seemed appeased by my comment and squeezed my hand. He settled his head against the car seat and closed his eyes. I was glad, since he was likely exhausted.