Innocent Love

The woman panted heavily as she moaned in labor. Seth wet a cloth and placed it on Neferu’s forehead.

“Soon, my love…..the child will come soon,” he comforted her with a smile and a kiss.

“My lord….it hurts..”

Seth kissed her forehead again. “I know it does, my wife. I am sorry.”

The woman let out a scream as she gripped Seth’s hand in a tight grip.

Neferu was his first lover. She was his first wife. Seth had fathered four daughters by her womb. Seth had also produced three sons…all of whom had died in infancy.

Seth caressed her head. This had been the eighth time this woman had been in labor.

The midwife reached under the sheet to catch the new life slipping from between the crying woman’s legs.

“Well? Has my wife given birth?”

The woman looked up. “She has, indeed, my lord.” The midwife grabbed a sharp object.

Seth’s smile vanished. “Why is my child not crying?”

The midwife held the child for the priest to see. The unbilical cord was wrapped around the child’s neck. “Your child is dead. The child is a male child.”

Neferu’s head fell back on the pillow and she cried. “No! Dear Ra…..why did you take another child from my arms?”

Seth reached out and held the child. “Osiris….why did you take another child from us?”

Neferu reached out, sobbing. “Husband….give me my child so that I may hold him! Please?”

Seth handed the dead infant boy to its mother.

“Nurse, my son,” Neferu pleaded. “Please suckle from me….you’re not dead…..you can’t be!”

Seth leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I must tell the pharaoh. I shall return.”

Seth walked out of his bed chamber and approached the throne room. He saw the doors to the throne room open and a naked, bound prisoner with white spiky hair was dragged out of the room.

Seth approached Yami and kneeled. “My pharaoh, your heir was born dead, my pharaoh.”

Yami glared at the mourning priest. “Was it a male child?”

“Yes. A male child. The cord was wrapped around the child’s throat even as it was pulled from my wife’s body.”

Yami glared. “Who gave birth to the child?”

“My wife, Neferu, had given birth to the infant.”

Yami motioned for a twelve year old girl to fill his wine cup. “How many children have you produced from her womb?”

“Four daughters and four dead sons.”

“GUARDS!” Yami’s voice barked.

Two guards came into the room and bowed before the monarch.

“Go to the High Priest’s chambers. You will find a woman who has just given birth. Slit her throat. Take the infant outside the palace gates. The dogs will enjoy their new chew-toy.”

Seth stood up. “My pharaoh! You cannot kill Neferu! She may yet produce a male heir!”

Yami stood up, furiously. “You do not question my orders, High Priest Seth! She has produced nothing but dead sons! Her womb is useless to me! I ordered you to produce a male heir for me, Seth!” The pharaoh waved the guards away. “Carry out my order! Slit the bitch’s throat!”

The pharaoh reached beside him and grabbed the twelve year old girl. He threw the child at Seth. “I know this one is a virgin! Take her and make it happen!”

Seth looked at the frightened girl. “But, she is only a child!”

Yami growled. “She has already become a woman! If you cannot produce a heir for me from your harem, you must try other women!”

“I cannot take this child into my bed, sir.”

Yami pointed an accusing finger at Seth. “You WILL take her to bed and you WILL produce an heir from her belly! You will not stop taking her until you give her a full belly and impregnate her! Now! Go!”

Seth took the child’s trembling hand and lead her out of the throne room. Seth lead her to his harem and kneeled before the child. “You have no need to fear me, child. I will not harm you. I am not the man the pharaoh is. There is no need to fear me.”

The child sniffled. “But, the pharaoh said….”

“I will not touch a child no matter what he says.”

Seth looked up and saw the two guards emerging from his bedroom with blood covering their swords. One of the men carried the baby upside down, holding it by the ankle.

Seth took the little girl in her arms and brought her into a hug. He cried as he held onto her.

“Neferu….Yami will pay dearly for this.”

**************************************

Aria squealed happily as the new owner of the brothel walked in. Nubia, Aria, and all the children ran up to the man.

The man pat the children on the head. “Here you go, children.” The man handed each one a treat.

Rayna walked down the stairs, her most recent customer kissing her on the cheek. “Have a good night, Rashi.”

The new owner smiled at the women. “How are my girls tonight?”

“Can’t complain,” one girl said as she poured him wine.

Aria turned when she heard the sound of horses outside. “Daddy?! Is my daddy here?”

The door opened and High Priest Seth walked in. The women and children gasped in amazement.

“Welcome to my humble home, my lord. It is an honor to have you here. To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?”

Seth’s eyes had wandered around the room until they arrived at the little three year old with white, spiky hair. She was different than everyone. Her skin was pale and her eyes were large and brown. Seth walked up to her.

“Hello, sir,” the child bowed before him.

“What is your name, child?”

“My name is Aria Kanika.”

The brothel owner put his hand on Aria’s head. “Go get the High Priest a cup of wine, my dear Aria.”

Even her name was different!

Seth chuckled at the three year old’s attempt to hold the pitcher of wine while she tried to pour him a glass. A woman walked up to Aria.

“Let me hold it for you, sweetheart.”

Seth’s eyes brushed across the woman’s pale skin, her bright eyes. “Who is the mother of this child?”

“I am, sire,” Rayna said with a smile. “She is my only daughter.”

Seth snapped his fingers and one of the soldiers dropped a bag of gold in front of the brothel owner, making him unceremoniously spit out his mouthful of wine. “I am buying her services for the entire night. We shall not be disturbed except for her child, who will bring us our wine.”

Aria handed the cup of wine to the royal. “This is for you, High Priest.”

Seth took the cup with a smile. “Thank you, Aria Kanika.”

Rayna picked up her daughter and kissed her on the cheek. “Aziza, can you take care of Aria for me?”

“Sure, Rayna.”

Aria smiled at her mother. “Bye, mommy. See you when you are done working.” Aria leaned forward and kissed her mother on the cheek.

“I love you, too, baby girl. Be good for Aziza.”

Aria watched her mother climb the steps with the High Priest.

Aziza put Aria on the ground. “Be a good girl, Aria. Go play with the toys.”

Aria ran to the chest in the corner where the children had toys with which to play. She leaned over the side, struggling to reach the toys at the bottom.

She grabbed a little wooden horse that was tied to a string. She pulled it around the waiting area for a while before grabbing a doll from the chest. She held it in her arms and rocked it slowly.

The little girl sang to her doll with a smile.

Some time had passed when she saw her mother descend the stairs, her face clouded with sadness.

“Mommy!” Aria squealed as she ran to her mother.

“Aria, sweetheart, you must go to the palace with the High Priest.”

The little girl looked up at Seth as her smile disappeared. “Why? Have I been a bad girl, mommy?”

Rayna picked up her whimpering little girl. “No, my beloved. You are going to live with the High Priest and help him.”

Tears filled Aria’s three-year-old eyes. “But, mommy, I don’t want to leave you! I can’t leave you, mommy! I’ll never see my daddy again!”

Rayna held her close. “It’s better if you go with the High Priest, my beloved. You will be dressed in the finest linens and you will eat well.”

“But I no can live without you, mommy!” The child tugged on her mother. “Please no let me go! Please! Please! I’ll be a good girl! I will be!”

Seth handed a bag of gold to the owner and walked over to Aria and her mother. “Aria Kanika?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Mommy wants you to be a big girl. You will have everything you’ve always wanted.”

Aria sniffled. “Mommy is all I have, sir. My daddy no lives with us.”

“I know. But your mommy may join us in the palace soon. This may not be for a long time. I promise to take care of you, Aria.”

Aria looked between the High Priest and her mother. She hugged her mother tightly. “I love you, mommy.”

“Go with him, Aria,” Rayna said hugging her daughter, the tears flowing down her cheeks. “Go with him, baby girl. I’ll be with you. I’ll always be with my baby girl.”

Rayna placed Aria in Seth’s arms. The little girl looked up at the blue eyes sadly. Her own brown eyes were still filled with tears.

“Come with me, Aria Kanika,” Seth said as he carried the little girl out of the brothel.

Aria waved to her mother sadly. “Goodbye, mommy…..Tell daddy I love him, too.”

Rayna watched the door close. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. “My baby girl…..”

The women approached Rayna slowly, but the woman ran up the steps and cried herself to sleep in her room.

*****************************

Hamadi..Helpless child

The High Priest’s chariot arrived at the palace. In front of the gates, the dogs were fighting over their feast. Seth held Aria in his arms, refusing to look at the object of the dogs’ greed.

The chariot arrived in the arena and Seth carried his new servant girl out of the chariot. “See that my horses are fed,” Seth told the servant who drove his chariot.

Aria heard the clash of metal and looked across the arena. She saw the boy that she watched collapse in the street. He was sparing with a boy slightly younger than he.

Anubis laughed as Hamadi slashed Aten’s infection. The three year old let out a painful scream and fell onto the sand.

Seth turned and watched Anubis laughing at the boy, gripping his leg. “What is that snake up to now?”

Seth put Aria on the ground. “Follow me.”

The girl followed him obediently. “Anubis, what is going on? Your soldier boy is in pain and you laugh?”

Seth kneeled. “Let me see your leg, Aten.”

Aten’s hand moved from his wound reluctantly. A mixture of red and white seeped from the injury.

“Infection…..Anubis! This boy’s leg was infected and you never bothered to alleviate it? You never healed it?”

“If his body is not strong enough to fight an infection, then he is not fit to be in the pharaoh’s army!”

Tears came down Aten’s cheeks. “It hurts…it hurts…”

Aria walked up to him. “Hello.”

Aten looked up at the girl. “It’s you….what are you here for?”

Seth turned to the other child. “Give me your dagger, child.”

Hamadi handed Seth his dagger. Seth pointed the dagger, stained with blood, at Anubis’ neck.

“Yami may keep you around because you are his step-brother, but I am tired of this! Your soldiers are ill, it is YOUR job to see that they are brought back to health. If this infection was not cared for, Aten would have been dead in no time!”

Anubis grinned. “It’s only a matter of times before the dogs chew on his bones anyway, High Priest.”

Seth growled. “I would watch comments like that around me, Anubis.”

Seth handed Hamadi his dagger. “Aten, are you okay?”

Aten looked up at Seth with large purple eyes. “Yes, sir. The bleeding has stopped…almost.”

Hamadi kneeled before Seth, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I will care for Aten, sire. Ravana and I will take good care of him.”

Seth gave the child a nod and a pat on the head. “Thank you, child.”

Aria took her tattered material belt and wrapped it around Aten’s leg. “There you go. No more hurt.”

Aten smiled up at her. “Thank you…what’s your name?”

“Aria Kanika Itemri.”

Aten smiled. “Aten Bakari….Ishtar.”

Anubis narrowed his eyes. “Your last name is a curse! You are not an Ishtar! You are the son of a bastard!”

Aria gasped at the loud man’s screams and ran to Seth. She clung to Seth’s robes tightly and shivered in fear. Aten backed away on the sand in fear. Hamadi ran in front of Aten to protect him.

“No hurt Aten, sir.”

Seth grabbed Anubis’ collar. “If you put a hand on either of these boys, I will personally have your head on a silver plate….regardless of what the pharaoh may think. Let’s go, Aria.”

Seth lead Aria away.

Anubis watched the High Priest leave. “What a jackass he is! He thinks he can tell me how to run MY army? He doesn’t scare me! Get to your feet!”

Aten jumped to his feet.

“Get to the stable! Get to your room!”

Hamadi watched as Aten left reluctantly.

Anubis grabbed Hamadi by the collar and carried him into his house.

“Do you think that you can stand up to me, you little whelp?! It looks like I’m going to have to teach you a lesson myself!”

Anubis threw the child against the wall and slapped him across the face. Akil entered the room and laughed, pointing at the crying child in his father’s grip.

“HA HA! HELPLESS CHILD! HELPLESS CHILD! CRY CRY CRY!”

Hamadi sobbed as he held onto Anubis’ arm. “Stop! Please!”

Anubis picked the boy up and slammed his back against the wooden table. “You should know by now not to get in my way, boy! I guess I have to show you your place!”

Anubis tore at the boy’s tattered clothes. “After I teach you some manners, I think Pharaoh Yami needs to remind you of your place, too…….again.”

Akil’s laughing became louder. “HELPLESS CHILD! CRY CRY CRY!”

A piercing scream filled the night air….along with a cruel laugh.

*****************************************

Seth brought Aria to his harem. There, his women hugged and kissed her. Aria’s eyes lit up as the women caressed her hair and kissed her cheek.

“Look at all the mommies!” Aria squealed happily.

Seth pulled Veria aside and told her about Neferu’s loss and the infant. The woman reached out and brought her distraught lover into her arms.

“Poor Neferu….she was so nice,” Veria whispered.

Seth closed his eyes. “Yami wanted me to take his servant girl to bed, but I refuse to do that. I…I think I need a night alone tonight. I’m going to show Aria what she needs to do. Come to my room and pick her up in a little while.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Seth turned. “Aria? Follow me, child.”

Aria followed Seth to his room. Seth had never seen a child able to stay awake so late into the night.

Seth lead her to his chambers. He removed his cloak with a relaxed sigh.

Aria looked up at the High Priest. Her arms were behind her back as she looked up at him with large brown eyes.

“Aria, take my cloak. Place it on that table over there.”

The little child gathered the folded cloak in her hands and struggled over to the table. She placed the cloak on the table and smiled up at him. “All done, High Peas!”

Seth snickered. “It’s High Priest, Aria. You may call me Seth when we are alone or around the harem.”

“The what?”

“The harem….where we just were.”

Her eyes lit up. “You mean with all the mommies?!”

Seth laughed. “Yes, where all the mommies are.”

Aria smiled. “I like it there.”

“You will be there sometimes, Aria. There will be times where I require you to stay with me.”

Aria nodded. “Yes, Seth.”

“When we are around the pharaoh, you must call me High Priest. It is required.”

“Why?”

Seth sat on his bed. “Because I am a Noble. I am High Class. I am the High Priest. You are my servant girl. You’ll understand when you get a little older.”

Seth placed a bowl of water on the ground and two towels. “Come here, Aria.”

The little girl walked over to Seth.

“You must wash my feet.”

Aria cocked her head to the side. “Why?”

“Because it is what I wish, Aria.”

“Why?”

Seth took a deep breath, trying to be patient with the little girl. “Because it is your duty.”

Aria smiled. “Why?”

Seth put his hands on his knees and leaned down. “Because it is what you are expected to do. Now, no more questions. Do you know how to do this?”

Aria nodded. “At home, I washed the feets of the men who come to be with mommy and the other mommies. She say it my ‘job.’”

“This is your job, Aria. You must wash my feet.”

Aria kneeled in front of the bowl and removed Seth’s sandals. She dipped one of the towels in the water and she started to wash the right foot.

She giggled. “Seth got stinky feets.”

Seth snickered. “That’s why I need you to wash them, Aria. If you don’t wash them, they get stinky.”

Aria smiled up at him. “I make your feet no stinky ever! I wash your feets good!”

Aria scrubbed the foot clean and then proceeded to clean the other one. Seth smiled down at the little girl who was determined to do the best job she could.

Seth reached over and grabbed the oil. “Place some of this on my feet, Aria.” Seth handed her the bottle.

“Smell good! What is it?”

“It’s a special oil that makes everything smell nice….and not stink.”

Aria giggled. “Seth, you funny!”

The High Priest took the bottle from her hand. “See? Let me put some on you.”

Seth put some of the oil on Aria’s neck. Her loud squeal pierced the room. “I SMELL PRETTY!”

The High Priest shook his head from the loud frequency of her excited shriek. “Yes, you do.”

Aria smiled and hugged his leg. “Thank you for letting me smell pretty!”
”You’re welcome,” Seth smiled, patting her head.

A knock sounded on the door and Veria entered. “I am here to take the child, my lord.”

“Aria, you go with Veria. She’s going to get you some place to sleep for tonight.”

Aria looked up at Seth with large eyes. “I have to leave?”

“It’s just until the morning, Aria,” Veria said taking the little girl’s hand.

“Nighty-night, Seth! Have good dreams about stuff that smells nice!” Aria called to him as she waved to him.

“Goodnight, Aria. Go to sleep. You have a long day tomorrow.”

Veria reached out and stroked Seth’s cheek. “It will be okay, my lord. Sleep well, my lover.”

Seth watched Veria and Aria leave. With a sigh, he walked onto the balcony which overlooked the training arena.

“Neferu…..my beloved,” Seth sobbed as he kneeled on the balcony. “Why?”

Only the starless, cloudy sky had responded to Seth’s question. A roll of thunder began to roll across the sky.