Recreated (14 page)

The dark cavern that the wind had exposed held the skeleton of a man who'd died in the desert long ago. Though it wasn't an official tomb like the one Oscar had been considering, it would do for our purposes.

Channeling the power residing inside us, we blew out a soft breath. It ruffled the worm-ridden clothes of the dead man and punched a hole in the darkness of his deathbed. The hole grew, stretching like a fragile bubble until it was nearly big enough for us to step through.

It was a path to another realm, a dimension unlike either of our worlds. My mind interpreted it as a wormhole, but Tia didn't understand this. To her it was a whirlpool in a black pond leading to a place she had no knowledge of or wish to discover. We both sensed the problem at the same time.

We're going to need help,
she said.

Yes.
I contemplated the obstacle and then a memory surfaced.
I think I know what to do,
I murmured.

Closing my eyes, I chanted the spell Amon had practiced with me and imbued my words with all our energies. A short time later, the dune next to us shifted and roiled.

What is it?
Tia said, fearing a large serpent or a pack of jackals.

A friend,
I answered with a small smile.

A moment later, a huge figure burst through in an explosion of sand. The great beast nickered softly and trotted toward us, his coat sparkling in the sun like mica. He was beautiful. Much larger than the horses Amon had called before. Stepping up to him, I ran a hand down his silky neck and tried to calm Tia, who was frantic at being near him.

I have answered your summons, Sphinx. Where do you wish to go?

“We are headed to Duat,” I answered.

That is a long journey, and a dangerous one.

“Will you not be able to take us?” I asked.

The stallion stomped his golden hooves and flicked his tail in irritation.
Of course I am able to take you,
he declared.
I am Nebu!

I held out my hand and Nebu stepped closer, pressing his nose into it. Just as his moist exhale tickled my sensitive palm, Tia took full possession of my body, snatched my hand away, and reached for the blades at my back. In a flash she raised the sharpened edge of a mini spear to the great neck of the golden stallion, touching the spiky point of a second to his chest.

“Stay away from us,
Unadorned One,
” she spat at the gleaming horse.

Tia! What are you doing?
I hissed as I tried to reassert control over my own body.
He's here to help us!

“He is
not
here to help us!” she cried. “This…
unicorn
”—she hissed the word as if it were something hateful and ugly—“is here to steal you away. You obviously do not understand what he is capable of.”

What on earth are you talking about? He isn't a unicorn. He's a horse. Granted, he's a magical-Egyptian-pretty-much-indestructible-possibly-made-of-sand-immortal horse, but he is a horse. Haven't you ever seen one before?

“Of course I've seen horses before. I'm not a cub, Lily. And he's as much a horse as I am a house cat. Can't you see it?”

See what?

“The place where his alicorn used to be.”

I looked more closely at Nebu, and there was a sort of muted glow coming from a spot in the center of his head, but his whole body gleamed enough that I'd assumed it was an especially bright section of his coat.

What's an alicorn?
I asked.

“It is the symbol of his power. He has been stripped of it, like all of his kind. That is why I called him
Unadorned.
It is an insult to all unicorns. They don't like to be reminded of their shame.”

Shame?

The stallion bobbed his head and stomped his feet.
What is this?
Who are you?
he mentally shouted, flicking his tail in irritation.

Tia ignored his question and shouted, “Lily is not the fragile virgin you are seeking!”

What
I'm
seeking? I seek nothing!
he sneered.
I might have expected riddles from you, Lady Sphinx, but your words cut to the quick, and I have done nothing to deserve the heaping abuse you've piled upon me. I only came here as a favor to the young man wielding the Eye of Horus. It would have been much easier to send one of my children, but he pleaded in such an eloquent manner and expounded upon the virtues of the one he loved so movingly that I decided I wanted to meet you myself. Suffice it to say, I am disappointed. And Zahra, my daughter who carried you to the oasis, spoke so highly of you, too.

“We don't need you or your special brand of assistance. Seek an innocent elsewhere, for you won't lay your head in this virgin's lap!”

Nebu eyed us as if we were a creature he'd never seen before and trotted a distance away.

Tia! First of all, I don't appreciate the hostile takeover of my body, especially without even a tiny warning. Second, you have no business talking about my virginity or lack thereof with anyone, especially a guy, er, horse. I'd rather not have the fact that I am still a virgin, because my mummy boyfriend pretty much kept his hands to himself right up until his untimely death, advertised everywhere. It's not that I'm ashamed or anything. It's just that there has to be some kind of boundary established between us. We need to come up with some rules about what we will and won't share publicly about each other. Third, what is your deal? Why are you acting like this? What's your problem with horses and/or unicorns?

“I will not talk about this here. Especially in front of
him.
He's dangerous, Lily. You do not understand how monstrous his kind can be.”

Nebu circled around us now, bobbing his head up and down. I suspected the only reason he hadn't left yet was because of Amon, and I knew to the depths of my soul that we needed him. Seeing that Tia was happy about driving him off, and brandished her knives to give him further motivation, only made matters worse. I needed to manage the situation.

Tia,
I pleaded.
We need his help. If he doesn't take us where we need to go, Amon dies. The world ends. Chaos reigns. You don't want that. I know you don't. You've got to trust me. I promise I won't do anything without consulting you first.

“I do trust you,” she murmured quietly, much more at ease now that the stallion had moved farther away from us.

Good. Then give me back control.

She hesitated only a moment, but the instant she made the decision to give in, I felt it. Tia, feeling slightly guilty, retreated deeply into my mind and hid like a kitten under a bed.

“Wait!” I cried out, in charge of my own voice again. I quickly stowed the blades at my back and held out a hand to the retreating horse.

He approached cautiously, doubtfully, like a reluctant colt after a treat, and then backed away quickly, nearly sitting on his haunches. Neighing, he shook his head as if something was bothering him.

I do not know what game you play, young sphinx, but I am not in the habit of offering my services to just anyone.

“I know. I'm sorry.” Taking a few slow steps in his direction, I stretched out my fingertips, and he, almost reluctantly, closed the distance. When he seemed comfortable enough, I patted his cheek and he pressed his head against my shoulder in response.

He blew a soft breath through my hair.
You may speak,
he said in my mind quietly.

“I have a passenger with me,” I explained. “And she seems to be concerned and somewhat fearful regarding your intentions.”

Tia hissed, sulky and unhappy about my saying that she was afraid.

A passenger? What do you mean by this?

Clearing my throat, uncomfortable, I wrung my hands and said, “The spell to make me a sphinx worked, but the consciousness of the lioness that merged with me so we could achieve this power is still a part of me.”

The stallion bounced and I quickly backed away as he reared up on his hind legs and pawed the air, nickering loudly. His hooves gouged the sand, kicking it up until it was as agitated as he was.
You have brought a lioness here? This is unacceptable. Remove her from your form immediately.

“Remove her?” I laughed uneasily. “Even if I could, which I can't, I wouldn't.”

The horse twisted his head to peer at me.
Now I understand why you said the things you did.
He sighed deeply.
I am sorry, then, Innocent One, but as much as I crave your association, I cannot take you on your journey.
He turned to leave, flicking his tail.

“Don't go!” I called out, and placed a hand on his back. “Please,” I begged. “We both know that we cannot accomplish our goal without you.”

I sensed that he wasn't as eager to leave us as he had been a moment ago.

I do not like lions,
the stallion said finally, obviously torn at the idea of stranding us there.
But if she will remain quiet on the journey, I will agree to take you to Duat.

I patted him happily and kissed his warm cheek.

If you agree to grant me a boon,
he added as he knelt before me.

At the same moment I murmured, “Of course,” Tia screamed in my mind,
No!

But it was too late. The bargain was already made. She knew it and broke down into torrential sobs. I prayed my own instincts were right.

As I climbed on the back of a unicorn, I thought how silly I'd been to think I was prepared. There was no anticipating something like this. My life was now beautiful, marvelous, unanticipated, unscripted madness. It's one of the things that attracted me to Amon. There was a loveliness to the unexpected, and the more I was a part of it, the more I craved it. I would never be the same girl again, and it didn't bother me as much as I thought it should have.

Nebu got to his feet and I held tightly to his mane as he headed over to the uncovered tomb. Though there was uncertainty and danger ahead, I felt ready for it. I didn't look back. Not at Dr. Hassan. Not at the African landscape. Not at the world I knew. And not at the girl I used to be. Lilliana Young was gone. I was someone, some
thing
altogether new.

He will betray your trust,
Tia said, interrupting my thoughts.

But Amon promised he'd send help,
I replied.
He wouldn't have sent someone who would hurt us.

Unicorns only help themselves to the vulnerable and innocent,
she muttered moodily.

Are you sure he's really a unicorn?
I asked, still doubtful.

She sighed impatiently.
I will tell you their story when we are alone. I do not want him to hear my thoughts.

All right,
I said to her secretly
. We'll be careful.

Hold to me tightly,
said Nebu,
lest you fall and are lost in the Land Between
.

“The Land Between?” I questioned, but there wasn't time for him to answer because he reared up and leapt into the dark bubble we'd opened in the tomb. And just like that, the world we knew was left behind. With a snap, the bubble closed around us and I could see nothing, hear nothing but the powerful breathing of the stallion as he ran.

I squeezed my eyes tightly, threading my fingers through his silky mane as I pressed my thighs against his sides and prayed that I wouldn't fall off. The last place I wanted to end up was lost in the abyss we were in.

After what felt like an hour, I saw a light ahead and we sped toward it. The brightness grew and rocky soil materialized ahead. We dashed forward as fast as lightning, and with a crack of Nebu's thunderous hooves that echoed in the sky above us, we struck land. Beams of pink and purple, orange and yellow filtered over the stony landscape, lighting it softly, serenely, with the barest touch of color.

The terrain reminded me of the great rock canyons of the Wild West. Pink pinnacles rose over horseshoe-shaped plateaus made of sandstone and shale that must have been formed by ancient rivers and colorful lake sediments. Pale stripes of minerals in different colors graced each peak and mound of stone. We passed wide arches and impossible rock formations that had been so eroded it was a wonder they still stood.

I saw no signs of wildlife or people, but there were plants and trees that peeked out from crevices and behind arches. The fresh scent of a desert just after a thunderstorm wafted over me. Though the landscape was bathed in soft light, the sky was dark, illuminated only by the thousands of stars overhead, and I realized then that the dreamy quality of pastel light on the sepia terrain had been created by them.

“It's beautiful. Do you live here?” I asked.

No. This is a part of the Land Between. We have passed through the first barrier and have entered the second. This is the Place Where Dreams Are Born.

“Interesting. Will we fall asleep here, then?”

No! To sleep in the Place Where Dreams Are Born is to forfeit your life and become a dream
.
You will cease to exist unless a mortal conjures you in his slumber
.

It didn't sound too bad when I thought about it. It was a good way to die if you had to. Plus, I could rely on Amon dreaming about me at least once in a while.

It is imperative that you remain awake while we are in this realm,
he warned.

“Then perhaps you should tell us a story,” I suggested as I patted him.

Okay, I will tell you one of my favorites: the story of Geb and Nut
.

As he regaled me with the familiar story, I heard Amon's voice instead of Nebu's. I closed my eyes and pictured his handsome face, his lips next to my ear, as Nebu narrated the story of a god and goddess and of a love so strong it took tremendous power to separate the two beings. Even then, with the vast heavens between them, they clung to each other by their fingertips and their gazes remained always fixed upon the one they loved. I wiped away a tear leaking from the corner of my eye, and before I knew it, Nebu stretched out his legs, lengthening his stride.