“Sometimes records were kept and they knew exactly when we would rise, but other times they were wrong by a few hundred years.” After progressing only about a dozen feet, Amon turned and rubbed his palms lightly up my arms. “How do you feel, Lily? Are you still in pain?”
“It’s mostly gone now. I’m just tired.”
“I do not feel we will make swift enough progress if you cannot see.”
“Right, so what exactly are we going to do about it?”
Amon didn’t answer but launched into a chant, his richly accented voice echoing off the walls. Gradually, I began to make out my surroundings. I gasped when I saw the light was coming not from a torch or a flashlight or a magic wand but directly from Amon’s skin. His entire body glowed with a buttery light that illuminated the chamber around us, but wasn’t so glaringly bright that I couldn’t look at him.
“Oh, wow,” I murmured in appreciation. Amon was beautiful. Glorious. He looked like a resplendent angel. His eyes gleamed like green embers burned within their depths. Amon said he was only the personification of Horus and Amun-Ra and had, at one time, been a mere mortal like me, but there could be nothing or no one as magnificent or as worthy of worship. Amon in his normal form was crush-worthy enough, but if he had appeared like he was now in ancient Egypt, civilization would have fallen at his feet.
Amon didn’t seem to notice my speechlessness and just cocked his head at me as he offered his hand. I slid mine into his and thought that this must be what Lois Lane felt like when Superman offered to take her flying. At that moment, I felt all the pain, risk, and inconvenience was definitely worth it if it meant being on the arm of a man like Amon.
Even if he wasn’t interested in me. Even if I was a lowly human girl trying to keep up with a man who had godlike powers. Even if the time spent with him was only because he needed me. I pledged to myself that I would enjoy every minute while it lasted. I was in a waking dream and having the experience of a lifetime. I’d never forget it as long as I lived.
Docilely, I let Amon take the lead, and we moved ahead quite a ways. The air was oppressive and hot, and despite the marvelous distraction that Amon provided, being in the middle of an Egyptian desert started to overwhelm me. Sweat pooled on my neck and lower back. With my free hand, I fanned my shirt to move air around my face. I asked Amon to stop so I could take another drink.
“Aren’t you sweating at all?” I accused as I greedily sipped water.
“I am used to the heat of Egypt. Compared with the afterlife, the desert sun feels as comfortable as springtime.”
“Your Egyptian afterlife sounds suspiciously like hell.”
“It has its…challenges,” he replied cryptically. He studied my face for a moment. “I can help”—he averted his eyes—“if you wish it.”
“Will it hurt?”
“No. It may be slightly draining, but there will be no pain.”
“Do it, then.”
Amon slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close, and ducked his head up against my neck. “Wh-what are you doing there, exactly, Vlad?” I stammered nervously, ultra aware of the trickle of sweat making its way slowly down my neck right about where his lips were. “I thought you were a mummy, not a vampire.”
Amon blew softly on my neck, the sensation causing goose bumps to rise pretty much everywhere on my body. “You must remain very still, Lily,” Amon whispered, his breath tickling my ear.
“Um, okay.”
Amon whispered and pressed his lips to my hot neck. Though I let out a little squeak, I remained stiff and unmoving, trying to remind myself that the very exquisite sensation of Amon’s kissable lips grazing my neck had nothing to do with romance. I noticed that though the heat in the cave had begun to lift, the heat Amon was generating between us, however unintentional, was through the roof.