

## The Apple of Distraction

By Pamela Ulu Essien

Copyright 2018 Pamela Ulu Essien

Smashwords Edition

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

1st edition published: October 2018.

Cover photograph credit; Cre8ive Village, Nigeria

Thank you for purchasing this book through Smashwords. This book and its contents are the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied, and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

### Table of contents

Copyright

Dedication

chapter1

chapter2

chapter3

chapter4

chapter5

chapter6

chapter7

chapter8

chapter9

chapter10

chapter11

chapter12

chapter13

chapter14

chapter15

chapter16

chapter17

chapter18

chapter 19

The_End

About_the_Author

Social_Platform

Dedicated to my late mum. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.

**CHAPTER ONE**

As usual, the streets of Alexandria went crowded at dawn with travelers, workers hurrying to work, children– to school, and traders calling out on passersby to patronize their goods.

Isabella Ray, a 5ft brunette American doctor walked into her favorite restaurant located at the beginning of Elms street. A glance at her wristwatch, it was already quarter past eight. She sucked in a breath at wondering how the clock ticked fast against her today.

After settling in a seat besides the window, she placed her order from the menu while the smiling waitress carried out her duty. In less than five minutes, her breakfast of coffee and burger was served.

Half an hour later, done with her breakfast, Ella paid her bills and darted for the exit, so much in hurry she almost forgot her bag.

Outside the restaurant, she made the short walk to St. Luke's hospital where she worked, and which stood a stone throw to the restaurant. Dr. Pasha, her stand-in for last night, handed over to her the patients' updates, before signing out.

Ella went round for her normal routine inspection. Four patients are to be discharged; she noted and prepared the discharge letters. After the inspection, she went over to her office to counsel the outpatients. About five of them, two children and three adults, were in a critical condition so they got admitted. Lucky enough for Ella before twelve noon, she had rounded off with the outpatients.

Thirsty, she stood and crossed over to the fridge situated by the left corner of her office, adjacent to the door. She picked up a bottle of water, opened and had raised it to her lips when she perceived some noise coming from downstairs.

Quick, she recapped the bottle and placing it on her table, she tracked the noise to the reception only to be shocked at seeing her colleagues gathered and lying facedown on the floor, surrounded by unknown gunmen. She glanced wildly and spotted the receptionist who apparently was the only one kneeling, with both of her hands high behind her head.

"What's happening?" Ella directed the question at the receptionist.

"Doc-" The young woman started, but before she could say another word, a gang member struck her hard across the face.

"Keep your mouth shut!" he shouted. "You talk when permitted or..." the man raised his index finger to his neck, and made a swift throat cutting sign.

Again, shock slammed through Ella and she swallowed hard. Then she fixed her gaze on the one who had slapped the receptionist. He was 6ft tall, raven-haired and amber-eyed. Unlike the rest of the gang that appeared shaggy, he was well groomed and wore a neat long sleeved brown shirt, to match with a pair of black trousers and boots.

"Hello! Please, what can I do for you Mr. Man?" Ella asked in a polite tone, trying hard not to give herself away to panic.

"-The name is Reo!" he blurted.

"Well Mr. Reo, I'm Doctor Isabella Ray. Like I asked earlier, what can I do for you?" she repeated, trying hard to remain calm.

"You can give us some blowjobs, how about that doc?" One of the other five men with one eye interrupted, and the gang all soared in laughter, except Reo.

Ella blushed. She glared at the bastard and wished she could give that son of a bitch a hard sucker–punch that could send him flying up to the ceiling and crashing on the floor, but since she couldn't, she eyed him and sucked in her breath. When Reo raised his hand, there was complete order again.

"We need a doctor to come with us, so if you say you're a doctor, that's great. You'll just have to come with us." He beckoned.

"Bullshit! You don't have any goddamn right to order me around against my wish!" she spat the words at him. "This place is not a treasure house or brothel, so I advise you to take your men with you out of here before I raise an alarm!"

Reo was immediately taken aback by the bravery this American exhibited. There was something in her voice that deciphered she had spent most of her life ordering men like him around. She had this air of authority that actually pissed him off. Infuriated, he turned to his two men by the door.

"Get the security...Now!" he barked, and the two bulldozed out of the room, leaving Ella and colleagues at the mercy of Reo and his other three armed counterparts.

Slowly, Reo moved his gaze back to Ella, the corner of his mouth twitched up in a sardonic smile. Then he began to stride towards her with menacing steps, his both hands now buried in his pockets.

Ella maintained her grounds, not even a single step backward. Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of One Eye disappearing into the children ward. She frowned, but quickly turned her attention back to Reo.

"You," Reo started, "-you this stubborn American seem to forget that this place is Africa, Egypt precisely and not America!" he gnashed, leaning forward towards her left ear. "You are a long... way from home baby," he whispered.

A cold shiver hit Ella but she fought hard within herself to appear relaxed, to avoid being in a frazzled state of mind, nevertheless, Reo saw her face go pale and simpered. He pulled out a hand gun from a leather strap fastened to his belt and cocked it. Terror clawed through Ella's heart. Her eyes widened even more at seeing the two men who had gone out some minutes ago reappear with one of the hospital's security, a man in his late-forties.

"Are you coming with us doc?" Reo asked, shuffling to the security whom his two men had his hands caged backward.

"No, I'm not coming. How can you barge into a–"

Before she could complete that sentence, Reo muttered, "I know you'll make this difficult." And turning to the security, he fired on the man's leg and he went down immediately.

The grounds moved below Ella.

"Why the hell did you do that?" she cried amidst the wails of her colleagues. To add salt to injury, One Eye reappeared grasping a patient from the children ward, a three years old boy. He shoved the boy to Reo who quickly held his gun to the boy's small head.

"Did you say a 'yes' or a 'no' doc?" Reo taunted.

"No! I mean yes, yes. I'm coming with you. Don't you hurt the boy or anybody again, p-plea-se," she stammered.

"Of course we won't hurt anybody else if you follow us now!" he yelled.

She nodded vigorously. "Okay, okay. I'll come with you."

"You're only allowed to grab your medical kits under my supervision."

Swallowing hard, Ella nodded in affirmation and spun on her heels for her office where she began to pack her medical stuffs into her kits' bag.

"I'm done," she notified Reo who stood by the doorway.

"Let's go!" he motioned, and trailed after her till they were downstairs again with the others.

"Okay! Let's move it boys!" Reo called out with a clap and they began to exit the building in obedience. Then he walked back to the receptionist and raised an index finger to her trembling face.

"If anyone raises an alarm, consider your beautiful Miss Doctor dead. And I won't hesitate to haunt you all down, one by one!" he gritted with a clenched fist in one minute, and took away with them the American the next.

Ella got shoved into a waiting sedan with hands bound to her back, and a gun pointed to her side by Reo. The gang, divided in a convoy of two sped up non-stop, until midnight.

At last, they came to a halt on a plateau, and Reo dragged her out of their ride. Her stomach churned and burned with hunger and also, she began experiencing random aches all over her body. When she scanned her environment, there was no human settlement at sight, just sheer darkness and juniper trees. Her eyes watered.

This wasn't what she had expected when running to Africa. All she had wanted was to start up a new life in Africa, and not land into a mess like this. Already she knew she was far from home but now, she felt lost, totally lost in somewhere in Egypt, and the fact that trying to escape was suicidal made her feel even more vulnerable.

"Follow me doc, and try not to do anything stupid." Reo ordered and precautioned at the same time.

Speechless, she obeyed like a lamb to be slaughtered. A footpath led into a cleared space, to a compound with three huts. They entered the third.

The moment they entered the hut, Ella was able to depict the room was nothing close to a home, but a hideout. Aside the bed, table and chair, the room was empty. And, the only luminous object was a candle being placed on the table.

Ella scanned the room again, and caught sight of a masculine figure lying on the bed. Slowly, the figure sat up on the bed, and Reo walked over to him and began to converse with the man in Arabic. She understood them thanks to the Arabian neighbors her family had back in the States since she was six. The neighbors had a daughter, a good childhood friend of hers and the reason she often paid the family a visit.

Reo explained to the man on the bed how the abduction went and Ella understood it now. The man seemed to be their overall leader and though the man was seated, she could tell he was the same height of 6ft just like Reo, except he was bald and kept a moustache.

Reo turned to her, "Doc, meet the boss, Mr. Rasarani." Now he spoke English.

Ella forced a smile and came forward, extending her right hand to the man in handshake. "Hi! I'm Doctor Ray."

Instead of shaking hands with her, Mr. Rasarani stared coldly at her hands and snapped, "I don't shake bitches!"

Flabbergasted at the rejection, Ella withdrew her hands, also being surprised that he too could speak English clearly, unlike most natives.

"Over there," Reo continued with the introduction, "-is Lordia, the boss's woman," he added, tossing his chin towards her left hand side. Only then did Ella notice a figure lurking in the dark.

"What the hell?" she gasped as a figure emerged from the dark.. A 5ft chestnut haired, probably in her mid-twenties.

"What did you just say?" Lordia retorted, eyeing the American.

"Oh!" Ella shook her head, "Never mind."

"-I do mind bitch!" Lordia bluffed, moving closer to Ella. She hated the fact that the new guest looked strikingly beautiful. "I bet you don't want to see me pissed off," she dared.

"It's enough!" Mr. Rasarani called out to his woman in Arabic. "Do behave yourself baby, remember why she's here. It'll pay to be nice to the guest." He added and then motioned with a hand while a faint smile played on his lips, "Do show our guest to her room," he finished, now in English.

Not saying another word, Lordia glared once more at the appraised guest, and then she turned and stomped-out of the hut. It was Reo who spoke again to Ella.

"Go on. Follow her, and you must do as told," he advised.

Nodding, Ella followed suit and maintained a safe distance from her new enemy as they entered the next hut.

"That's your bed." Lordia started pointing to a bamboo bed. "Ignore these fools." She added, tossing a chin at about eight persons sprawled on the floor, in chains.

Ella swallowed hard and could tell despite the poor light from the candle that the people in chains were actually natives. "Thank you," she forced a smile on her dry lips. "Please, can I get some water? I'm so thirsty."

"No water, no food for strangers till tomorrow." Lordia retorted, walking over to Ella so that their nose almost touched. "This is my jungle, the earlier you stop acting as if you're so beautiful or something, the longer you'll last!" she added, before exiting the room.

Ella remained standing for a while... And then she heaved a sigh, and dropped the kits' bag on the floor. Next, she pulled off her shoes and slumped into the bed. The moment her back touched the bed, she dozed off.

CHAPTER TWO

For the first time in her life, Ella had to go for two days without her bath. She felt terrible and miserable.

Mr. Rasarani whom she had come to understand as their leader was suffering from severe typhoid but being a wanted criminal, he couldn't go to the hospital himself for treatment instead, he had sent his boys to go apprehend a doctor and she had fallen victim to the mission.

Although Reo had promised Ella of her safe return once the treatment was a success, but something else bothered her. That was the harsh treatment the gang exhibited towards her inmates. She couldn't stand how they were often starved, scolded and beaten, but then, she could do nothing to help with the situation. Twice she had to share her little food and water with them or offer a medication.

The gang often disappeared with her inmates at dawn, and returned at dusk. Lordia constantly stayed back with Mr. Rasarani for his treatment, except for this morning. She had to Ella's surprise followed the gang, leaving behind a convalescent but armed Rasarani.

In the past, Ella had heard tales of how gangs never let their captives go alive after discovering their hideout. Right now, lying on her bamboo bed in the room she shared with her inmates, she prayed she doesn't end up suffering such similar fate. She was still lost in thoughts when a faint feminine voice from afar jolted her out of her reverie.

"Get your hands off me!" and then the voice trailed off.

Quick, Ella sat up on her bed wondering who it was. Then she stood, and checked Mr. Rasarani in his room, but he was fast asleep as a result of the sedative contents in his medication.

"Let go of me!"....the voice came again.

A part of her wanted to keep off and mind her business, but the other urged her to go on and check it out.

With an indecisive mind, she picked up a white pen-knife from her kits' bag and tucked it in the pocket of her trouser. And then quietly, she headed to the direction of the voice.

A stroll down the dusty track brought her face to face with them. Ella was able to recognize the girl, the victim. She was one of her inmates; a brunette in her early twenties. And it didn't surprise Ella much that the girl's assaulter was, One Eye.

"Leave us alone!" snapped One Eye still groping his victim's arm.

Ella stood her ground. "The girl said you should let her go and I'm on her side. Do let her go, buddy." She half-pleaded, wondering why the girl was away from the group. Could Reo and the others be aware of this?

Neither Ella nor One Eye knew when the girl summoned courage and yanked her hand free from One Eye's grasp. He didn't see that coming, and when his other hand tried to get hold of her, she ducked and ran over to Ella. Encouraged by the girl's bravery, Ella stepped in front of her when she saw One Eye begin to advance at them with menacing steps, his blood-shot eyes fixed on the girl.

"Stay away from this doc!" he growled.

"No! You stay away from her!"

"-If you stop me from getting to her, I swear I'll kill you!" he threatened and pulled out a revolver from his belt-strap.

Ella gasped at sighting the gun. She stepped aside, exposing the girl once again to her assaulter. "-Alright. You can have her," she declared.

She relaxed until he was two steps closer to recapturing his victim, then she brought out the pen-knife from her pocket and slashed across his right arm which held the gun. He dropped it out of sheer agony and staggered backward.

In a flash, Ella picked up the gun and tucking the knife into her pocket, she barked. "I said stay away from her!" and raised the gun steady at him.

"You bitch!" he gnashed, taking a look at the already bleeding wound, and then surprisingly, he turned and began to retreat.

Ella sighed off relief. After disintegrating the gun, she turned her attention to the girl. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you." she smiled and Ella reciprocated.

"Isabella, Isabella Ray." Ella extended a hand.

The girl took the hand, "Chione Dakarai. I'm so grateful you came to my rescue. The bastard was about to rape me."

"It's okay Chione, you're safe now."

"Thanks again for- Look out!" Chione shrieked.

Sensing a big danger behind her, Ella reached for her penknife but she wasn't swift enough to avoid the rageaholic One Eye.

He had her impinged, sent her crashing and rolling on the ground, in this course she lost grip on the knife. When she managed to stand again on her feet, he punched her stomach and she dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach hard, in pains. And then he bent and pulled her hair to make her stand, his back to Chione who was now sprawled on the ground.

He was at disadvantage and didn't see Chione crawl and retrieve the pen-knife.

With the speed of lightning, Chione jumped high and drove the knife deep into his neck, and that was it!

He staggered, his hands holding frantically at the knife, releasing his grip on Ella at once. And then...he dropped dead!

"That's for my brother!" Chione growled after the dead man. Then she walked over to a bewildered Ella and helped her on her feet. "Let's run away," she suggested to Ella.

"Do you have any idea where we are?"

Chione shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't, but definitely I'll try to escape than spend another night here with these tomb raiders."

"-You said tomb what?"

"These men you see abduct persons and force them to raid tombs against their will. If you try to escape and fail, they'll murder you in cold blood when they recapture you."

Ella saw Chione struggle to hold back tears. "So, let me get it straight. Your brother tried to escape and they killed him?"

Slowly, Chione nodded.

"Oh!" Ella cried, covering her mouth with her hands. "I'm, I'm so sorry. I hope you don't get lost or killed?" she asked, frowning at the imagination.

"Like I said, I rather die trying to escape than to die in the hands of these merciless criminals. And, and I miss home."

Ella understood her. She made sense. Everyone deserved to be with their loved ones rather than to be stuck in a middle of nowhere with these criminals.

"Okay. They will be coming back anytime sooner or their boss might wake up. If you say you're leaving, then go now. You don't have enough time to waste!"

Chione's face beamed with joy. "Thank you. Aren't you coming?"

Ella shook her head. "I pledged to treat their boss, I won't break my promise."

"As you wish." Chione said and hugged Ella. "-Goodbye doc!" she bade and then, spun to her heels.

Chione gone, Ella glanced at the dead man one more time almost afraid to go near the body. Back in the compound, she checked Mr. Rasarani again and breathed out relief to find him still asleep.

At dusk, the gang was on their way back when they discovered the corpse. Reo spotted something that belonged to the American, the weapon of murder – the knife! It was still stuck on the corpse's neck, and Reo had seen it a couple times among her medical kits. Panic hit Lordia and she darted off ahead the group.

"You, you and you," Reo pointed out three prisoners, "-get the body. And the rest of you, move it!!" he barked.

As usual, Mr. Rasarani came out of his room to welcome the group at hearing their footsteps, it was then that Lordia bumped into him. Seeing he was safe, she heaved a sigh and hugged him.

"Where's that doctor?!" Reo growled, his hands clenched into fists.

"I think she'll be in her hut. What happened?" Mr. Rasarani asked sensing danger just before he caught a glimpse of the dead man.

"One of the prisoners must have tried to escape, and he went after her alone without informing us and ended up...dead!" Reo explained to the boss who instantly became enraged. "-And I think the American has a hand in his death," he added.

Mr. Rasarani drew in a rage filled breath. "Well, dispatch some men after her at once. I want that bitch dead or alive!" he instructed and headed for the doctor, his woman trailing after him.

Quick, Reo did as instructed before joining his boss. They found the American seated on her bed, asleep. Lordia went out to fetch a pail of water and then emptied it on her.

Startled, Ella sprang up from the bed but before she could recollect herself, she welcomed a fresh punch from Reo, and blacked-out.

When she regained herself, she was no longer on the bed but seated on a chair, and those three cold faces still staring at her.

"Did you kill him? I want nothing but the truth!" Mr. Rasarani started.

Ella swallowed hard. "Kill who? I don't understand you."

"You're such a beautiful liar doc," Lordia took over the interrogation, shuffling across the room to stand before Ella. "How manage did your pen-knife ended up stuck in his neck?"

The news gave Ella a devastating blow. Shit! How stupid she was to have forgotten the knife in the scene of murder. How on earth could she possibly be so carried away as not to remember disposing it?

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Lordia pestered.

"If you said you saw my pen-knife, maybe the murderer found access into my kits earlier on," she defended, careful not to mention the sex of this murderer.

Lordia slapped her. She pulled out her gun, cocked it, and raised it to Ella's forehead.

"-Let her be!" Mr. Rasarani called out in Arabic.

It took a lot of grace before Lordia obeyed her man and holstered the gun. Mr. Rasarani continued in Arabic, "Tomorrow, my treatment will be over and at the same time, we'll be done with the royal tomb. Only then can we waste them all!"

Ella tried not to panic on hearing the assassination plan. She got relieved when the three men reported back with no sign of the girl.

The next day, while she rounded off with the treatment at noon, Reo and Lordia hanged around.

"We're done." Ella informed with a smile and seized the opportunity to remind them of their vow. "You promised me freedom once we have rounded off."

"Tomorrow morning, I promise." Mr. Rasarani assured with a smile and waited until she had left the room before turning to Reo. "Kill her tonight, kill them all."

CHAPTER THREE

Ella began to arrange her stuffs for the journey tomorrow while her inmates stared at her with eyes that melted her heart. Today, they had returned from the raid early. She had also seen the gang load treasures into a black sedan.

So unsettled and filled with concern for her inmates more than herself, she decided to saunter outside and get some fresh air. It was then she saw Mr. Rasarani hand over a key to Lordia, and she got behind the wheels of the loaded sedan.

Just then, a strange feeling hit Ella. The kind of feeling that often alerted her when a mishap was by the corner, and this instinct when they came, had never failed her in the past.

Hurriedly, she turned and headed back into her hut, shutting the door after her. Then she stood, staring at the door, as if she could see through it. From inside, she heard the engines of an automobile come alive and she was sure it was the sedan. The engines' sound began to fade until everywhere was once again quiet.

Twenty minutes passed, but nothing happened.

Ella shuffled to her bed and slouched in, her heart still thudding hard. She was sure she looked more like an idiot to her inmates. Groaning at the thought, she buried her face in her hands.

She had lost all trust for her instinct when the first gunshot shattered the surrounding silence. Followed by another, yet another until, she lost count. In a swift, she joined her inmates on the floor as they all braced themselves against stray bullets.

It was obvious that the gang was under attack.

Gradually, the shootings began to subside. Minutes later, their door came crashing, and then four men dressed in military uniform, matched in. One of the soldiers with the height of 5ft 8, black haired, amber-eyed; came forward and began to converse intensively with the prisoners in Arabic while the other three helped out with their chains.

He was assuring them of their safe reunion with their loved ones and then, he paused as his eyes caught sight of Ella. "Who are you?" he spoke to her and to her dismay; he also spoke English with an even clearer accent.

"Isabella," she replied, hiding the identity, doctor, which was exactly the reason she had gotten into this mess in the first place.

"Call me Ahmose," he replied.

"Wow! That's a cool name you've got," she admired to keep his attention. "Please, how can I find my way to Alexandria?" she asked and snickered. "-It's n-not like I'm being rude. T-thank you so much for coming to our rescue..."

"-I can't let you go," he interrupted, and her heart skipped a beat.

"No!" she shook her head with incredulity. "-Not again, please!"

"I'm afraid you have to come with us," he insisted.

Ella heaved a sigh. "I didn't want you to tell you this, but it seems I have to anyways. You see, I'm a medical doctor, was abducted by the gang to treat their boss. I'm totally innocent, you can ask them," she pointed at her now ex-inmates.

He shrugged, "But you're still coming with us."

Ella stared at him, aghast, then ever so slightly, she nodded seeing no amount of plea nor explanation could make him change his mind. And at the same time, the last thing she wished right now, is to be recaptured.

Before anyone could realize what, she took a deep breath and broke into a run.

To Ella's uttermost surprise, no one tried to stop her, not even the soldiers outside. She suddenly began to feel more stupid than brave, nevertheless, she continued in her marathon with no damn idea of where she was, nor where exactly she was heading to... until something pierced her skin, her neck.

She reached for it. Only then did Ella realize that she had been shot with a soporific mini-sized dart. And the next thing, she dropped to the ground; unconscious.

Ella wasn't sure of how long she had been unconscious but she knew when she regained consciousness. She sat up and only then did she realize she was at the passenger seat of a horse-drawn carriage.

"-Oh shit!" she cursed, and immediately reached out for the door, but it was locked. Again, she cursed out her frustration.

Quietly, she sat back with tears filled eyes and stared across the little window. Right now, she had seen adventure to her neck-level, so much she wasn't sure of how much she could take in anymore. Even though she will never acknowledge it, she somewhat regretted running off from home, down to Africa. Maybe she should have just committed suicide back in America, than die here like a flea here, far from her loved ones.

Her ride rode into a paved street, past a magnificent building that looked more like a hospital, continued until they got in front of a large brown gate with walls beautifully adorned with flowers and Egyptian paintings. And then, her ride halted abruptly for a check in front of the brown gate, before they finally proceeded in.

Ella quivered in fear as she caught sight of some guardsmen patrolling the grounds. She had no damn idea where she was and what they could possibly want from her. The carriage stopped in front of a massive mansion while a man dressed in military uniform opened the door, and gently helped her down.

She smiled her thanks still debating within herself of what her fate would turn out to be. Just then, she saw Ahmose with the three other soldiers; they were walking up towards her. She heaved a sigh for at least seeing those familiar four faces, although only Ahmose's face looked friendly.

"Follow me, Miss Ray," Ahmose ordered, walking past her into the large mansion.

Being choice less as she was, Ella obeyed, while the other three soldiers inched behind, after her.

"Please where are we?" she queried Ahmose, doubling her steps to keep up with his long strides.

"This place is the great Abdeen Palace, downtown Cairo." he supplied yet not slowing down his pace.

Ella shuddered at how her life had suddenly been transported from Alexandria to Cairo. Nevertheless, she remained calm and began to admire the interior decoration of the palace, especially the numerous golden clocks scattered along the hallway. She was lost in her admiration and failed to notice how every male they walked past tilted back to have a second or even third look at her.

They kept going until they entered the throne room; a large room with broad windows and triple doors. Bouquets of fresh flowers stood in large beautiful vases by the four corners of the room. The flowers gave the room a nice fragrance and Ella didn't waste time to fill in her lungs with the sweet-scented air, and then she exhaled.

"This place is beautiful!" she exclaimed at last.

"You think so?" Ahmose teased, turning to face her. She was one lively fellow.

"I know so!" she smiled, already enjoying his company.

At last they stopped before three seats made of pure gold, the one at the center the largest.

"What now?" she asked, not hiding her impatience.

"We wait," he answered and signaled to the other three behind her. When he moved his gaze back to her face, the liveliness had suddenly evaporated. "You're safe, at least till we prove you innocent."

"What? Until you prove I'm innocent?" Ella blurted, frowning a bit.

"Keep it quiet, will you?" he growled low.

Silence stretched in the room.

"I must advice you, Miss Ray, to only speak when he permits you to." Ahmose broke the silence.

Before Ella could ask Ahmose who he was talking about, the door adjacent to them slid open and another set of soldiers trooped into the room. Shortly after, a man dressed in a white shirt with customized gold buttons, and black trouser– strode in.

Mouth agape, Ella drank-in the whole 6ft 2 masculine beauty of the man. When she made the mistake of gazing into his blue eyes, her head swelled and she instantly drowned. Timidly, she tore her gaze away and for the first time noticed the brunette wearing a black knee-length Ancient Egyptian gown, that swaggered possessively after the man.

All bowed to the couples, and Ella joined them by curtseying.

They didn't rise until the couples were seated, then Ahmose stepped forward and began to give details in Arabic to the man on how victorious the army had been. He further explained that the natives who were being held captives by the gang, have been freed and are presently with their loved ones.

Ella also heard him say the treasures though not all, have been recovered as it seemed the gang had moved out some before their arrival.

"And who's the American with you?" the man spoke for the first time since his entrance.

"She says she's a doctor abducted by the same raiders," Ahmose replied.

"And how are you sure she's not with the raiders?" the man's woman snapped, eyeing Ella. She couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that despite the American looked shabby; it wasn't an exaggeration that she was beautiful.

Ella waited for the right time to talk as she wouldn't let them know she could hear them all. Just then, the man spoke to her and it didn't surprise her this time he too could speak English.

"What's your name?"

She swallowed. "Miss Isabella Ray."

"Miss Ray," the man continued. "I'm Prince Aches, and this is Betresh, my fiancée." Done with the introduction he continued, "Miss Ray, who are you, and how did you end up with those raiders?"

Ella cleared her throat. "Thank you. I'm a medical doctor who got abducted by the raiders. Their leader was suffering from typhoid and they asked me to treat him. A day to my freedom, your soldiers arrive to free the prisoners and I end up getting recaptured."

"She's a spy. She's just fooling us!" Betresh interjected in Arabic.

"I'm not a spy!" Ella defended, frowning a little. Only then did she come back to her senses, she had just given herself away that she could hear them.

All heads turned at her, especially Ahmose; he gave her the most astonished stare.

"Oh shit!" Ella muttered, covering her lips with her hands.

"You see what I was saying?" Betresh hammered. "She's a spy!"

Slowly, out of an incredulous voice, Prince Aches spoke. "You can hear us?" It was almost a statement.

Ella nodded. "Yes- but I can't speak," she admitted.

Aches' eyes narrowed into slits. "Are you aware of this?" he asked Ahmose who had retained back his position next to Ella.

Ahmose shook his head in negation. "Your Majesty, I certainly don't."

The conversation got interrupted by the opening of a door, the same door Ella had entered from. A servant in his early twenties stepped in and bowed. "My lord, the girl is here."

"Perfect!" Aches exclaimed with a clap. "Bring her in, I'm sure she'll help clear the air in here."

The young man bowed again and left, shutting the door after him.

"Who's the girl they're talking about?" Ella asked Ahmose in a whisper voice.

"It's the girl who alerted us of the raid. I'm afraid that half of your fate lies in her hands." Ahmose also replied in a low-pitched voice.

Ella gnawed her lower lip at how her fate could possibly lie at the mercy of some girl. Wait a minute. Ahmose had just said the girl was the very one who alerted them of the raid. What if this same girl is Chione?

When the door moved and footsteps followed closely, Ella braced herself. In a slow motion, she began to tilt her head towards the direction of the footsteps until her gaze settled on a familiar face. Thank goodness! The girl was Chione Dakarai!

Ella sighed off relief as she watched Chione proceed forward until she was standing next to her, then she curtsied.

"Do you by any means know the lady standing next to you?" Prince Aches demanded.

"Yes, my lord. She was also abducted by the raiders," Chione replied.

"How sure are you about that?" Betresh snapped, rising from her seat. She began to descend the steps until she was standing directly opposite Chione.

Chione moved her gaze to Betresh, "She's the same person who helped me to escape."

Betresh slapped the girl. "Are you insane?" she shrieked. "How dare you defend a total stranger?"

Despite the painful harassment, Chione continued with her tears filled eyes again fixed on Prince Aches.

"Believe me, my lord. She's a medical doctor abducted by the gang so that she would treat their boss. And I'm defending her not just because she helped me to escape, but because she saved me from being raped and probably, killed."

Again, Betresh raised a hand to strike the girl but Aches raised a scepter signaling her to stop. Though stopping, she gave Chione and Ella a long antagonistic look.

Everywhere was quiet again before Prince Aches spoke, and this time, he spoke with a strong air of authority.

"Are you sure of what you said, my dear?" he asked Chione, gesturing a hand at Ella.

"Yes, my lord." Chione replied.

"Okay then!" he sighed and continued, "I must thank you for everything you have done so far. I'm obliged."

Chione curtsied with a broad smile, "You're welcome my lord. It's my pleasure."

"You can go," Prince Aches dismissed.

Again Chione curtsied, smiled at Ella and began to exit the throne room.

Ella's face beamed with joy, someone had just vouched for her. Home at last! But her joy is short-lived at the Prince's next speech.

"I sincerely wish I could let you go Miss Ray," he started, and her cheeks flamed terribly. "-As a matter of fact for rescuing you, you must show some appreciation by serving the land for three weeks. Only then will you be granted your freedom."

"T-this freedom you speak of, His Majesty, can't it be sorted out f-financially?" Ella asked, afraid the reply will come in negation.

And then, he confirmed her nightmare. "I'm sorry, Miss Ray, it can't be sorted out financially."

Ella's feet suddenly went numb. She was about crashing on the floor when someone caught her by the midriff and pulled her up, thrust on a masculine body. Her hairband came loose, causing her hair to flap and cover her face. A hand, other than hers, gently brushed the hair from her face, revealing her knight in shining armor, Ahmose.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "-Don't you pull such a stunt on me again."

For a moment, it seemed as if the two had forgotten they were in the midst of people, not until Aches coughed slightly.

"What a show?" sneered Betresh. "How romantic?!" she added with an applause.

The two retained back their positions with Ahmose apologizing for what he called a distraction. Though Ella didn't seem to get it why she should apologize, yet she joined him.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

Aches shrugged and settled his gaze on Ahmose.

"Show Miss Ray to a guest room, will you?"

Ahmose bowed slightly.

When Prince Aches moved his gaze to Ella's eyes, it lingered, and for that nonstop minute, Ella could feel the heat generate in her groin. She blinked, and managed to hold his burning gaze that sent her body shamelessly scorching with sudden wanton desires.

"It's nice meeting you, Miss Isabella Ray. I hope you enjoy your stay," he finished, and for the first time since he entered the hall, he smiled.

As instructed by Prince Aches, Ahmose led her out of the throne room, past several doors and few passages. He unlocked the fourth door on a new passage and ushered her into a room which had a bathroom, a closet and then a balcony from where one could look out at the vast palatial gardens.

"Wow! It's beautiful!" she muttered after scanning the neat, well-furnished room.

Ahmose smiled. "I understand the maids will soon arrive at your service," he informed and headed for the door.

"Thank you, for everything."

He stopped, angled his head at her, and smiled again. "You're welcome."

"I hope to see you around some other time?" she chipped in.

"I hope so," he replied, bade her goodnight and shut the door after him.

Absentminded, Ella strode over to the balcony. The fresh scented air depicted an ornamental garden was close.

For a moment, she closed her eyes and inhaled as much air as she could into her lungs... then she exhaled and gazed into the skies, still not sure of her fate.

CHAPTER FOUR

A day after her arrival to the Abdeen palace downtown Cairo, Ella was given an office at the Royal hospital following series of signing here and there by some officers under the jurisdiction of the crowned prince.

The hospital was the same building she had suspected earlier, a walking distance to the Abdeen palace. She was offered a furnished apartment at the hospital's staff quarter and to her surprise, they offered to pay her weekly. Initially she had thought of rejecting the offer but later, had a second thought about it.

She was allowed to retire for the day by noon, except when there's an emergency situation which the doctor on duty couldn't handle alone and will need an extra help, this too she is allowed to do voluntarily as stated in the filed document. It got Ella wondering if she was really a detainee, employee or guest.

Ahmose didn't show up, neither did Ella get to meet Chione after the girl vouched for her. No wonder when she was given the sentence which looked more like a job, it relieved her of the wrenching boredom of the walls of her new apartment.

Ella had enjoyed the benevolent comfort of her previous room at the Abdeen palace but nevertheless, she embraced her new apartment which a was a stone throw behind the hospital. She understood she was a prisoner and not a guest after all. Her current apartment consisted of a moderate bedroom and bathroom, a kitchen and living-room.

Most nights, she'll lie awake on her bed crying... for her mother and sister. She missed them, and knew they would be trying to find her, back in the States, without knowing she was in Africa. Ella wished the days could run fast so she could be free again; oh! If only wishes were horses, she'd have been riding on one.

Slowly but steadily, Ella began to blend with what looked more like a new livelihood. The next day at work, she went round with the doctor who will be taking over from her, for the day.

Done with the handover, she signed out at the receptionist's desk before heading back to her office to get her keys and handbag.

She was about to leave her office when a knock came. Just one queue, she yanked the door open, only to see- "Chione!" Ella exclaimed, at seeing her unexpected guest.

They both hugged and giggled.

"Where have you been?" Ella spoke first.

"I travelled the day after we met at the palace, to visit my parents at Zamlek."

"That's beautiful!" Ella spurred, glad the girl is finally reunited with her family. Locking her office door, she turned to face her friend.

"I was heading to my apartment. Do you mind coming with me?"

"That'll be wonderful!" Chione concurred with a broad smile.

Ella took the lead. In her apartment, she ushered Chione into the living room. Both friends settle on a sofa.

"Welcome Chione.''

"Thank you."

"What can I offer you?"

"Don't bother yourself, I'm okay."

Ella frowned a little. "Are you sure?"

Chione chuckled, "Trust me when I say I'm okay, please."

"If you say so," Ella replied with a shrug, changing the topic. "So how're they, I mean your parents?"

Chione's expression slightly turned sober. "They're fine. It's just my mum...it seems she can't get over the loss."

Ella placed a hand on Chione's shoulder and gently patted it. "It's going to be okay. You just have to be strong and happy for yourself, and your family."

Chione's lips turned up in a smile. "I heard you now work here," she changed the topic.

"Yeah," and it was Ella's turn to be sober, "-some kind of appreciation for being rescued."

"Don't go on like this," Chione said softly, looping a hand round Ella's midriff. "You can make fun out of each passing day. Discover new things around you,'' she encouraged an absentminded Ella.

"Yes!..." Ella jerked as an idea materialized in her mind, she smiled. "-You can help me Chione!''

Chione tried to force a smile in her confused state. "Help you? With what?"

Ella nodded. "Yes. You can help me, to escape."

"Err, Can I?"

"Yes!"

"I'm afraid foreigners are not allowed to pass the borders without their papers, and a detainee like you, a royal seal. Unless, you want us to start another adventure in the mountains," she suggested, and continued in a matter of fact tone. "And I bet you the crowned Prince has hidden extra eyes monitoring your every move. You can't possibly think he's careless not to, do you?"

Ella's countenance changed. "I just want to go home. I miss my family; my mother, my sister. I'm...I'm tired of all this Chione, I'm tired," she gasped and buried her face in her palms now spread on her laps.

Chione leaned forward, and patted her hair. "Look at me," she beckoned in a soft voice. "-look at me," she repeated.

Slowly, Ella sat up and their gaze met.

"I'm not trying to say you should forget your family... but, if remembering them will bring you so much grief and guilt, then it's high time you shove them aside and be happy. One day you'll wake up in the morning to realize that those three long weeks are gone, and you'll be reunited with your family once again. I promise!"

A soft knock sounded on the main door.

Ella frowned, because it was very unlikely of her to have guest(s) in her new apartment, and she didn't remember ordering food from the restaurant today either.

Filled with curiosity, she arosed and headed for the door, only to be spellbound at seeing a terrific-looking Ahmose. Today, he was in mufti; a white stripped short-sleeved shirt and a pair of black trousers and shoes to match.

"Hello!" he greeted, smiling.

"Hi!" she stood, still spellbound.

"Do you mind if I come in?" he asked.

"Oh! Y-yes,'' Ella stepped aside. "Where are my manners? Do come in!''

She ushered him into the living room.

"Chione...This is Ahmose, and Ahmose, here is Chione, my friend." Ella introduced formally even though she knew they have seen each other before. She smiled when Ahmose and Chione exchanged pleasantries, but frowned when Chione announced she was leaving.

"I was on my way to the market but I decided to check on you," Chione lied. She wasn't going to any market, she just wanted to give the two some privacy.

Ella accompanied her outside. "Thanks for stopping by. I hope you come around some other time?"

"I will, across my heart." Chione pledged with a hand over her chest.

Smiling, they hugged, and parted.

Ahmose was still standing when Ella rejoined him again, in the living room.

"Sorry. Please have a seat," she offered and waited until he had settled down. "What may I serve you?"

He requested for water which she set on the table in front of him.

Taking a sip of the water, Ahmose scanned the room. It was just as he remembered; yellow painted walls, two windows with drawn up yellow curtains, and a fireplace by the right flank. Though the two yellow velvet sofas, four side stools and center-table were new, Ahmose knew better that the other door leads to a hallway from where one could access the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

He brought back his attention to her. "How're you coping?"

"I'm good, thanks." She replied with a smile.

He could read the question on her face. "You're safe, everything's okay. I know you're surprised to see me."

"Yeah. I'm surprised," she admitted. Although she remembered asking if she would see him some other time back at Abdeen palace, but he hadn't showed up for days until suddenly now. It got her wondering if she has landed herself into another trouble, as the reason behind his unexpected visit.

He dismissed her worries, "I just wanted to check on you, to make sure you're doing well."

"Oh! Thanks. That's very thoughtful of you," she spurred, and lowered her gaze to the floor.

When Ella looked up, she noticed he was now engrossed in thoughts. And then he stood automatically and began to strode towards the door, not knowing how best to bring up the reason why he came.

"So soon?" she asked, following him too close behind that when he stopped abruptly and turned, she almost bumped into him. "Sorry, I'm so sorry," she apologized, stepping back to create a space between them.

He didn't even mind, he was still lost in thoughts. And then he spoke, "I was wondering if we can hang out sometime, maybe tomorrow. I promise not to keep you out late."

"Eh-em-m," Ella lowered her gaze to the floor and debated within herself. And then she looked up, at him; his gaze was fixed on her. She sighed. "You promise not to keep late?"

"Yes," he confirmed with a slight nod.

"Okay!" she accepted.

His face brightened up. "Thank you. What time will be preferable and, are you okay with tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow. How about 3pm?" she suggested.

"Your wish is my command," he smiled, and she reciprocated.

"I'll take my leave now," he announced.

Ella saw him off, and stopped in front of the hospital. "Thanks for coming," she appreciated.

Ahmose bowed slightly. "Have a nice evening," he bade, and left.

Unknown to Ella, she was still smiling when she strolled back to the yard. Just then, a chilling sensation hit her.

"What – the – hell?" she swore.

It seemed as if someone was watching her!

Stopping at her doorstep, she turned and scanned the yard; but she saw nothing, saw no one.

She heaved a deep sigh, reluctantly giving up her search, she proceeded into her apartment.

For over fifteen minutes, Ella stood right in front of her dressing mirror wondering if the blue flare skirt that stopped at her knees, the white chiffon-blouse and shoes, is the best outfit for the outing.

At exactly three o'clock, Ahmose showed up at her door.

"You're right on time!" Ella remarked as she joined him outside.

He grinned. "It wouldn't be an honorable thing to keep a lady waiting," he said and gave her a crooked arm. "Are you ready?"

Ella locked her door and slipped the keys in her skirt's pocket, then turned to face him. "Yes I am," she answered, taking his arm.

As they strolled out of the compound, she asked him. "So, where are you taking me today?"

"We're going to Zamalek."

"We are going to Zamalek?" she repeated with excitement. "You know, Chione said her family stays at Zamalek. We can stop by and say hello to them, right?"

Ahmose scratched his head. "What part of Zamalek, I mean the address?" he asked and noticed her countenance change.

"Ac-actually, I didn't remember to ask her that," she confessed.

"We may visit them some other time, but today, I'll be showing you the Gezira Island."

"I love the sound of that," she said, diffusing an air of exploration.

Ahmose led her to a waiting speedster and its driver, in front of the hospital. He opened the passenger door and gave her a hand in, before he turned round and the driver opened the other door for him, and he joined her.

Next, the driver took his place behind the steering. Ella heard Ahmose instruct him in Arabic, to take them to Zamalek. Bowing slightly, the driver, a man probably in his late thirties, started the car and within half an hour, they were out of the busy streets of Abdeen Square.

Not able to control her excited self, Ella turned to Ahmose. "How is this Gezira Island?"

He smiled. "Gezira Island is an affluent district in the Nile River, central Cairo, just western to downtown. Once called 'jardin des plantes' meaning 'garden of plants' the island is connected with the river banks through bridges. The Gezira Island is home to the Cairo Opera House, Gezira Sporting Club, Gezira palace and and lots more. It even has a water garden."

Ella gasped. "A water garden?"

He replied with a nod. "Built by British Captain Stanley Flower, the water garden known as the 'Grotto garden' has a rare collection of African fish," he further explained.

"Wow! -I can't wait to see this island!" she exclaimed.

Ahmose grinned and looked out, to the road; they were now racing the highways of Cairo. When he brought back his gaze to her, he broke the silence that had followed. "So, when we get to Zamalek, do we head straight off with the tour or take a brief stop at a restaurant?"

"I think a brief stop at a restaurant will be cool."

"Your wish is my command," he riposted, and they soared in laughter.

Ella never got bored all through the journey as she fed her boredom with everything, anything they drove past. No wonder it surprised her they got to Zamlek sooner than expected.

Stopping in front of a restaurant boldly written 'Feetera' they alighted from their ride and picked in unison a seat by the window. Shortly after they were seated, a waitress approached their table and they began placing each his menu.

For starters, Ahmose chose a 'goulash', a phyllo dough pastry stuffed with minced meat. Ella chose the same starter but stuffed with cheese. For their main course, Ella was confused at which to pick after Ahmose had settled for sayadiya; rice with onion, cooked in tomato paste to be served with fried fish.

"E-mmm," Ella murmured, tracing with index finger down the menu. "Ahmose, I think I'll need a little help here."

"-Okay," he said and leaned forward. "How about Kushari?" he suggested.

"Kushari?" she asked.

"Yes, you'll like it. It's a mixture of rice, macaroni and lentils topped with a spiced tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions."

"Mmm, that sounds yummy! Okay, I want that!" she ordered off.

Then for desserts, they choose in unison, short bread topped with roasted almonds. At last, Ahmose added off a bottle of wine to their menu.

"So, after here we'll go see the Gezira Island?" she broke the silence that had followed.

"Sure. You'll like the view, trust me." Ahmose replied, and began to enlighten her more about Zamlek and Cairo. The more he explained, the more Ella found herself falling inlove with the city.

Minutes later, the waitress approached with their starters, and set them on the table.

"Thank you," Ella muttered with a warm smile. At first bite, she was instantly drawn in by the tantalizing taste. "M m m," she chewed and then swallowed. "It tastes very good."

Ahmose glanced at her and grinned. "Bon appetite," he murmured.

The rest went uninterrupted until the arrival of the main meal and desserts. And again a moment of silence followed. Ella didn't want to miss each flavor, each bite and Ahmose too wasn't ready to divert her from digesting each and every savoring taste of her meal.

Minutes later, she raised her glass of wine to wash down the heart-filled meal, when she noticed a waitress casting a flirting glance at Ahmose. Ella smiled to herself. Ahmose caught her smiling.

"What's funny?" he asked.

She shook her head, still smiling. "Oh! Nothing."

"Then why are you still smiling?" he pestered.

She cleared her throat slightly while her eyes shone with humor. "Tell me, Mr. Ahmose, are you married?"

He shook his head, "No."

"Engaged?"

"-No."

"Are you then in a relationship?"

A crest formed on his forehead. "No! Can you at least tell me what's going on?" he beseeched.

With a low chuckle, she leaned forward and whispered, "I think you've got a crush."

"Ah! I see!" Ahmose heaved a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't anything serious.

"So, aren't you going to - ?" Ella drawled.

"-To?" he repeated after her, slanting his eyes as he tried to decipher the words she hung on the air.

"-Talk to her," she spurred.

He chuckled, then shook his head. "No, I won't," he said firmly and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "You seem to be busy helping me out that you don't notice that every male in this room, I mean even those Europeans sitting over there-" he tilted towards their right; "-are casting flirting glances at you too."

Even though Ella was aware of the 100% truth in his words, she decided to scan the room quickly, and her admirers didn't waste time to wink or exhibit one flirting act or the other at her. She brought back her gaze to Ahmose, humor now shone in his eyes.

"-Can I help you with one?" he teased.

"No!" she blushed. "L-let's forget about it, please!"

"What now, are you married?" he continued wryly.

"No, I'm not."

"Engaged?"

"-No!" she grumped and shifted uncomfortably.

"-Then you must be in a relationship," Ahmose gigged and immediately realized he had hit earlier a delicate spot.

Ella looked out of the window; her expression gloomy. Ahmose saw her blink back tears, but waited until she had brought back her gaze to the room before he placed a hand over hers on the table.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

A faint smile played on her lips. "It's okay," she dismissed.

The rest of the meal again went uninterrupted with Ahmose stealing quick glances at her in every now and then. She was still somber but he relaxed seeing she still ate her dessert with enthusiasm.

Ahmose cleared the bills and led her back to their ride parked in front of the restaurant. Just as he had promised, he took her to the Gezira Island.

From inside the car now parked on the 'Qasr El Nil' bridge, Ella gasped at the dazzling sight of the Island. "It's beautiful, so beautiful!" she praised.

Ahmose glanced at her and let out a low chuckle. "Will you care for a short walk?"

"-Of course! I won't miss it for the world," she said and waited almost impatiently for him to alight, then turn around.

He opened the passenger door. "-Shall we?" he asked, offering a crooked arm.

Smiling, Ella accepted the invite by looping her hand on the arm, and then she stepped out of the speedster.

"Which will you want to see first today; the Opera house, Gezira palace, plant nurseries or water garden?"

"Anyone!" her heart leaped with joy. "-Please start with anyone!" she added, and he did, with the 'Cairo Opera house'.

CHAPTER FIVE

For the past few days, 'restlessness' isn't enough to describe Prince Aches' state of mind following the arrival of the American in Abdeen Square. In every passing minute, he prayed his decision of making her stay back doesn't end up hurting him instead.

In addition, he felt guilty knowing he had the power to grant the American the freedom she so much desired rather than using an almost abolished law on her.

He knew he was skating on dangerous grounds by detaining her, but it wasn't his fault he had become attracted to her. The fact that this mere attraction had developed into strange feelings which he had never felt before in his entire life, scared him.

Now seated in his office, one of the suites at the last floor of the Abdeen palace, he began to go through her documents again.

Last week, he had sent his investigators to the hospital she mentioned she worked at Alexandria and conducted some investigations to know more about her, if truly she was a doctor and so forth and so on.

Satisfied she's truly a doctor and not a spy, he wrote to them, informing them she was safe and in his custody. He had also written to her landlord at the same Alexandria, and in no time, his officers were at her apartment searching every nook and cranny for any piece of information regarding her. He suddenly wanted to know more about her, and each time he did, his heart tugged with inexplicable emotions.

Aches made sure she lacked nothing so indirectly, he saw to it she was paid her weekly allowance just like every other staff at the Royal hospital. His recent action was sending Ahmose over to her, to take her touring at his own expense.

For the past few days, Aches kept avoiding one particular question that kept popping from within him, which was, what exactly did he intend to do with Miss Ray knowing very well he had never kept record of double-dating in his past relationships, and neither does he intend to do so now he's engaged?

He groaned at the thought.

A slight knock on the door had him jerked out of his reverie. "Yes?" he beckoned, and Ahmed, his favorite servant walked in and bowed.

"My lord," the servant boy started, but got cut-off.

"-Yes, yes!" Aches remembered, tapping his temple; he had forgotten he was notified about thirty-five minutes ago that lunch was ready.

"In a minute," again he dismissed Ahmed for the second time in an hour.

Ahmed bowed. When he closed the door after him, Aches arose lazily and turning to a safe behind his writing desk, he opened it and placed the American's documents in there. Then he headed for the door.

Betresh ate her meal, a 'foie gras' with steak in anger, furious at how her fiancé would spend most hours of each passing day in his office, baring his heart to know and help that American! Still fuming, she recalled how they met about a year and half ago.

It was in an open royal gala held by the King, his father. At the occasion which was flocked more with maidens of different calibre, a gossip with the maidens, she had discovered that the tall fiercely handsome crowned prince is a hard to get and also rumored, a play boy.

That very night at the party, she had run a quick survey on the playboy prince and discovered he had a sister, his only sibling. Days after the party, she begun to stalk the pretty princess, and in less than two months, she had found her way in making friends with her.

Luckily for her, their friendship got to a point Princess Layla often invited her to the palace. But in all, Betresh must admit it wasn't easy getting her new friend's brother. She had tried and tried, and tried, but he was proving too tough for her. At last, she had reached out to him with a fake suicide plan on her birthday.

Unaware it was a setup; Prince Aches had rushed his worried-self down to her house, more because his sister who first got the news had unrelentingly urged him to. Before the end of that fateful day, he took her with him back to Abdeen palace, and for the first time, made love to her out of self-pity. And Betresh had offered herself willingly like every other woman or girl that had come across his life.

That was how their relationship started. Surprisingly, he didn't discard her like he did to the others, maybe because he knew it was expected of him to settle down for a family of his own.

After the sudden death of his father, he had proposed to her as custom demanded, a crowned prince who had attained maturity should at least be engaged or married upon ascending the throne. Even though the law was flexible and amendable, Aches had no wish to tamper with it.

Although Betresh wanted to be married to him straight away, Aches had insisted for courtship to be sure this was what he wanted before jumping the next hurdle. To him, marriage is not a joke and he intends to have a successful and happy one.

She was still lost in her thoughts when he appeared through the door.

"I thought you'll never come out for lunch!" she attacked, humor and anger mixed in her voice.

Aches ignored her and settled in the seat being pulled out for him by a servant. Then he selected his choice of main meal from the dishes spread out on the table, a 'fuldames' with hard boiled eggs. The ignorance made Betresh more furious.

"I can see it all over your face, there's something more you're hiding in the dark!" she accused, taking a sip of her wine.

"I'm hungry. Can you please let me eat in peace?" he blurted, anger rising in his eyes. He hated the fact she was fond of bringing up issues during meal, and most time she did, he had ended up losing his appetite.

The anger in his eyes, it didn't move Betresh. She knew him well, all his anger yet he'll never raise a finger on her. In fact, that has been her stronghold on realizing he had never raised a finger on a woman. It was his principle, and she had always taken advantage of that.

"-You can't be hungry, because if you were, you wouldn't be stuck doing what I don't know about that American!" she retorted.

Not even sparing her a glance, Aches continued with his meal, she could blab all she wanted; it wasn't new to him.

A sarcastic smile lit her face. "Well you know," Betresh rubbed her chin with her right hand whose elbow she placed on the table. "-I learnt she's going on well with Ahmose. Who knows, she might already be a guest in his bed?" she taunted, and loved how his countenance changed drastically.

The picture played in Aches' head; he envisioned Ahmose touching Ella, kissing and giving her pleasure. He shut his eyes as the images vanished, leaving behind feelings of pain, of jealousy.

For the first time, he saw Ahmose as a potential trait. He hadn't realized it when he sent him off to take her touring, and keep an extra eye on her.

"What do you want?" Aches asked, dropping his cutlery. "First of all, congratulations for finally making me to lose my appetite!" he added with contempt.

"I want you to lock her up!"

"Why?" he queried, taking a sip of his drink, a red wine.

"She's a spy!"

"Well, from my findings she's not a spy so stop accusing her!"

Mouth agape, Betresh propped her back against the chair as if she had seen a ghost. "So, now you're defending her?" Incredulity masked her voice.

"Can you stop nagging for once, Betresh, please? Must you nag about everything?" he growled-low.

"I nag because you don't respect my feelings!" She hissed.

Aches snickered at her last words, and then turned serious. "Did you just say feelings?" he gritted, arching forward to the table. "Didn't I respect your feelings when you asked that I should move her out of the palace?" he hinted, remembering how awful he had felt executing that his fiancée's wish.

"Okay, okay." Betresh implored with her palms open in the air, "-If you say she's innocent, then release her. Let her go!"

"I'm not stopping her from leaving, custom demands she serves the land for three weeks."

"Oh please! I know you're in the power to free her, that's-, if you really want to!"

Silence engulfed the room.

Betresh saw it in his eyes; he didn't want the American to go. "Damn it!" she banged the table hard. "You have fallen in love with her; I can see it written boldly all over your face!"

"Lucky her then!" he fired back.

Shocked to her roots, Betresh moped at him for five seconds. When she spoke again, it was a whisper mixed with incredulity and then, hatred. "Did you just say you've fallen in love with her?"

Slowly, he nodded while his eyes shone with humor. And now, it was her turn to get an inflamed face.

"Don't spoil your mood, Betresh. Remember, you asked for it."

Speechless, Betresh sat as still as a statue....And then she stood, and stomped out of the dining room.

"Yes!" Aches exhilarated with a grin.

He couldn't believe he was capable of getting the better end of her, just like she often did to him. In fact, this was the first time ever since their relationship; had he ever won an argument.

Aches was still smiling at his victory when he signaled the servants to clear up the table, having lost his appetite. Still seated in the dining room, he catnapped for half an hour.

Quietly, someone skulked into the room, behind him, and closed her palms over his eyes. Aches smiled as he inhaled the familiar sunflower scent.

"Nice try, Layla," he exposed in amusement. "Haven't I told you times without number, if you want to continue pulling old acts like this on me, you better change that sunflower oil you used on your hair?"

Exposed in her little game, Princess Layla roared in laughter, setting her brother's eyes free.

"Oh! I missed you my prince," she confessed, looking perfectly small and younger in her 4 ft 8, chestnut hair, brown eyes and full lips; features she took after their mother.

Aches arose and both siblings hug affectionately, each smiling broadly.

"I missed you most my princess. I didn't hear you walk into the room, but your sunflower fragrance gave you away." He pulled out a dining chair for her, "-one could easily smell you from the gates!" he teased.

Not minding the servants waiting to take orders, Aches allowed her to settle down in her chair, before he continued. "What may I offer my lady?" he asked, eyeing her round protruding belly which spoke volumes she was already in her third trimester.

"I'm okay," Layla tried to dismiss, still smiling.

Aches shook his head. "I'm not buying the idea," he persisted. Turning to Ahmed, he ordered for some water and fruits, then he brought back his attention to his smiling sister.

"How's everything, how's my in-law?"

"Everything is fine. Fadil is fine too, he travelled to France yesterday for an urgent meeting," she explained, suddenly rising to her feet.

Aches watched her with a slight smile as she strode over to the largest portrait in the room. A portrait of them and their father; Aches had just turned fourteen and his sister, seven.

Sighing heavily, Aches rose and joined his sister.

Layla broke the silence that had followed. "I miss him," she murmured.

Aches took her hand and held her close. "If this portrait will start putting you in a sad mood, then I'll have it taken off."

"-No, don't! I'm alright," she forced a smile, dabbing away the tears that now filled her eyes. Painful as it was, she didn't grow to know her mother who was said to have died birthing her. And now, the only parent she had grown up to know is dead? The truth was bitter but unlike her brother, she had no choice but to accept it.

Quietly, Layla shuffled back to her seat while her brother stared at her with much turmoil in his heart.

"Have you heard from them?" she asked.

"From them," he repeated. "You mean the detectives?"

She nodded, "Yes."

Aches settled in a chair close by. "I spoke with them yesterday. Don't you worry, they'll soon get back to us soon."

Layla sighed. Despite it's been five months since their father had embarked on that fateful journey, it still felt like it was just yesterday. As a boy, their father had always enjoyed sailing around the world, and it was still a tradition he held on to in every five years, until five months ago. Never did anyone forsee that that particular journey would turn out to be his last.

The water and fruits arrived, and when Ahmed made to decant water from a silver jug for Layla, Aches intervened.

"Allow me." He took over from him, and served his sister.

Layla smiled. She could never stop being proud of her brother. It's his ability to handle things very wisely, his patience and courage that grew her revere for him. Although at first, it was believed that the Royal ship was sunken by a tempest, but her brother, Prince Aches, had insisted the ship be searched and salvaged, and thorough investigation be carried out on it.

"Here," Aches offered a glass of water.

She took it from him, and smiled. "Thank you."

Aches smiled a welcome and watched her drain half the glass. Staring at her, he recalled her as the little baby sister of yesterday, now a wife and soon to be mother. This reminded him he wasn't getting any younger. He swallowed.

"So how have you been coping, brother?" Layla asked, replacing the glass on a silver tray held out by Ahmed.

Aches heaved a deep sigh knowing very well he was about to lie. "I'm doing just fine!" he responded, knowing better he was far from the truth. With the way his feelings for the American grew day after day, Aches knew he was everything far from 'fine'.

"Where's she, I mean Betresh?" Layla asked.

Aches' eyes narrowed at the question. "In her suite, I guess," he replied and forced a smile.

Not noticing the slight change in her brother's countenance, Layla stood. "Alright. Let me go check her out, I'm sure she doesn't know that I've arrived."

Picking a bunch of grapes from the tray of fruits being served on the table, Layla kissed her brother's temple, and left the room.

CHAPTER SIX

The alarm went off to mark the end of a siesta Ella didn't observe but laid on her bed tossing from one corner to the other.

Sluggishly, she swiveled out of her bed, and walked into the bathroom. After filling the bathtub with warm water, she stripped and stepped right in, until the water lapped her cheeks, while her recent days in Cairo played in her subconscious

Just ten days of her arrival, she seemed to have become so familiar with the city all thanks to Ahmose who had shown her around. She was indeed grateful and happy she wasn't confined behind the walls of her apartment but has been treated more like a guest rather.

Ella smiled; maybe coming to Egypt wasn't a bad idea after all.

Minutes later, she stepped out of the tub and dried herself before the bathroom mirror. And then she walked to her closet now stuffed with newer clothes. Yesterday, Chione had paid her a visit, and the two had gone out on a little shopping. Chione had bombarded her with questions about her outings with Ahmose.

Although Ella understood the girl wanted her to 'be happy', but it's sad she didn't want any relationship right away with Ahmose or anyone. -Anyone? Well, Ella wasn't exactly sure of that word because she doesn't seem to understand what was wrong or is wrong with her composure whenever thoughts or images of the Egyptian Prince flashed her mind, like now.

She swallowed, and quickly waved off the thought. How could she begin to harbor feelings, forbidden feelings towards a feudal lord that had gotten her detained, even worst, that has a woman? She groaned at the thought as she slipped into a pair of white knee-length trouser matching it with a bright yellow sleeveless shirt. She was on the last button of the shirt when someone knocked on her main door.

In a swift, Ella combed her hair and tied them up into a pony tail, before going on to answer the door, only to find about two soldiers and a familiar palatial face at the center. The palatial face, it was the same young man who had ushered Chione into the throne room during her interrogation back at Abdeen palace.

Half petrified, half confused, she stared from one person to the other, wondering what her offence could possibly be this time around.

"Good evening ma'am," the palatial faced started in English, bowing slightly. "My name is Ahmed. My master demands of your presence at the palace...now."

Ella blinked at the news. "Okay...Give me a minute and I'll be back to you shortly."

Immediately Ahmed nodded his consent, Ella shut the door and leaning on it, she exhaled heavily as different thoughts raced across her mind.

What the hell was going on? What trouble had she landed herself into this time around? Ella brooded as she retreated into her bedroom, settling into the chair before her dressing table. She powdered her face, and applied a little lip gloss.

Satisfied with her look, she selected a pair of black heeled leather sandals and grabbed her black jacket to match. And then, she went out to join her waiting guests, who led her to an automobile. Within two minutes, they were at the palace.

"This way Miss," Ahmed directed, entering the familiar massive building.

They walked past several doors and passages so that Ella lost count of which was the throne room or the suite she had spent a night in. Turning to a passage by their left, they climbed a fleet of stairs. Ahmed knocked on the last door on that floor.

She heard his voice from inside; "Come in."

Tremor hit her spine at hearing his voice. Ahmed went in and signified her to come in.

Now inside, she searched for him with hungry eyes, and found him standing, leaning besides a large window with a drawn up wine red curtain. Today, he wore a sky blue long-sleeved shirt which was equivalent to his blue eyes, while the black boots he wore matched his breeches, and hair.

He looked terrific and dangerously tempting for poor Ella who couldn't hold his gaze for more than two seconds.

Although Prince Aches was giving out new orders to Ahmed in Arabic, something about changing the flowers in the throne room, yet he couldn't take his eyes off his guest.

Feeling shy under his scrutinizing gaze, Ella began to study the room and firstly spotted a second door, different from the one they had come in through. An office table, large, gold-plated, stood at the centre of the room. The walls were designed with different ancient and modern Egyptian arts, and a tapestry of a strange woman hung by the right side of the room.

Ella frowned slightly, remembering she had seen the portrait of this same woman at the hallway. It got her curious who the older woman was. Was she of great importance to him? Whatever! Ella shrugged off the thought. She was here to answer her call and not to probe into his personal life, or so.

Lost in bewilderment and thoughts, she didn't hear when Ahmed was dismissed. It was only when Ahmed had left the room and shut the door after him that it dawned on her they were alone.

Alone!!!

Tension built among the two, especially Ella. She didn't know where to start from as someone summoned, and he enjoyed the confusion displayed on her beautiful face.

He smiled. It didn't bother him she hadn't curtsied, something that was a crime and according to custom, a punishable offence. But to his surprise, she curtsied, at last!

"Good evening, Prince Aches. You sent for me," she said, and courageously looked into his eyes.

Slowly, he came away from the window. "You're welcome," he murmured, in English.

Ella didn't expect his next action when he pulled out one of the visitor's chair before the office table for her.

"Have a seat," he offered.

Flabbergasted, she sat. He didn't have to pull out a seat for a commoner like her, something she knew Royals don't do for their detainees.

"What may I offer you, Miss Ray?" he asked, turning round behind the table to settle down into his own chair.

"Nothing," Ella replied. Afraid she might have sounded rude, she added, "-I'm okay!" and forced a smile. Now, that smile of hers was a bad idea because when he reciprocated it with his, her thighs went hot. "Goddamn it!" she swore helplessly in a breath.

Aches could easily seduce any woman he wanted with that smile. And he knew it!

"How are you doing, Miss Ray?" he queried.

Betresh and Layla had gone out on a little shopping and he was left behind. He had felt it'll be nice to invite the American and know how she was doing. He cared for her. She was capable of distracting him from afar, the very reason he couldn't tend to the files piled on his table.

Now seated in front of him, he could watch her for eternity, but that'll be silly of him as he wouldn't want to scare the ghost out of her.

"-Very well, thank you." Ella replied, staring at everything but him. And if she did let her gaze fall on him, it will be for a second, and she wouldn't dare look into those blue eyes.

"Are you enjoying his company?"

Startled at his 'out of the blue' question, Ella met his gaze head-on. "I beg your pardon?"

"I mean Ahmose, are you enjoying his company?"

"-Do you spy on me or something?" she spat the words at him, frowning a little.

Aches didn't flare-up, he simply responded in a calm voice. "Well, I don't know what you'll call it, but I must admit I sent him to you, to keep you company and show you around. It's not such a bad thing, huh?" he defended, hiding the true fact he was actually spying on her.

Ella was greatly taken aback by the information; she sure had no idea until now. "Oh! I didn't realize until now you were the brains behind each outing." She managed to look into those eyes again. "I-I'm sincerely flattered and grateful...Thank you," she added, and then lowered her gaze to her fidgeting hands.

Aches watched her shift uneasily in her chair and noticed she was nervous. It made him sad because he didn't want her feeling that way towards him; he wanted her to always feel free.

Lazily yet graceful, he stood, his movement as lithe as a wild cat that hovered round its prey. He turned round the table to stand besides her. He noticed she was still tensed and sighed.

"Are you always this tensed?" he teased.

"Well, for someone like me it's not an everyday something to be summoned," Ella replied, fighting hard to think straight. Gosh! -he was standing so close she could feel the heat from his body! She noticed her thighs go hot again, and cursed in a breath.

"Thanks for coming," he said at last, to her relief.

Oh! Ella thanked her heavens, an opportunity to run away from this torture his presence was evoking in her. When she made to stand up, he offered his hand, and without giving it a second thought, she took it, regretting immediately for doing so. It was as if her heart and body melted in his strong palms. Her heart raced, lightning bolts all over her body.

She blushed.

Gently, he pulled her up.

Ella wasn't yet ready to stand on her own with all those bolts moving up and down her body, so she staggered.

Fast, his other hand went round her waist, preventing her from a fall. "Is everything okay?" he asked, but this time his voice was husky. Hell this was the first time he had her in his arms...and it felt great!

Keeping her gaze on his chest, Ella opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She swallowed; how could she explain to him he was arousing her in a way so terrible that she lost control of her own being? Oh! If only she could vanish back to her apartment, she cried within and dared not to meet his gaze.

The room sizzled with sexual chemistry, and it was difficult to tell who was seducing who, because even the greatest playboy of all time was lost to her.

For the first time ever, it wasn't just his body that was reacting to a woman, but his entire heart, and that was a very dangerous path to tread upon. But again, how was she even capable of doing this to him? It felt as if her mere presence tuned his body to act the way she wanted, subjugated him at her mercy, and she didn't even seem to know.

Still holding her slender waist with his left hand, he raised her chin with the right, making her gaze to meet with his. Then ever so slow, he bent his head and closing his eyes, he kissed her.

He didn't pin her down nor move his lips with mastery over hers, but gently in a way she never fathomed a man could be.

Ella was trying hard to register the waves each flick of his tongue ignited across her spines. Never have a single kiss been able to wreck her whole being just like this one. Her wantonness scared her, but he wasn't helping matters as he deepened the kiss. Suddenly, she found her hands moving of their own volition up, against his broad chest. There, she felt his heart beat beneath her hands, just like hers- fast. It got her wondering what else they also shared in common.

Meanwhile, Prince Aches was fighting very hard within himself to control the excitement this feelings for her was building. He knew he really, really had to be very careful when it comes to her as he wouldn't want her to end up hurting as the other women from his past.

With much ado courage, he broke from the kiss and gently pulled her away, himself stepping back to create a reasonable space between them. Panting, he managed to speak.

"I-I'm sorry, Miss Ray-" he started, and this time his voice deciphered no huskiness. "-you must take your leave before I lose my reserve," he finished, himself now retaining his former position behind the table.

Startled at his ability to easily switch emotions, then embarrassed for allowing the Egyptian Prince to think so low of her, Ella began to straighten her jacket and smoothen the surface of her hair with her palms.

Tears threatened to fill her eyes at the dejection. In her entire life, no man had ever made her feel so stupid, embarrassed and worthless. Who the hell did he think he was to treat her like, like trash? -she cried within, and was grateful he had waited until she was done before ringing the golden bell on his table.

Ahmed showed up the next minute.

"Have Doctor Ray escorted back to her apartment." Aches ordered, then he moved his gaze to meet those brown eyes of his guest. "Thanks for coming, Miss Ray. Please do have a nice evening."

Ella blinked, and forcing a smile on her lips, she curtsied. Then she turned, and headed for the door.

"Thank you gentlemen, I'll take it from here." Ella said firmly as they got in front of the Royal hospital.

Without any hesitation, the trio turned and joined their ride back to the palace, leaving her behind as she had requested.

Darkness was slowly creeping in on the earth, and Ella knew tonight's going to be a long and sleepless night for her. Slowly, she turned and sauntered back to her apartment, reaching for her keys from her pocket. Just then, she spotted Ahmose knocking on her door.

"Hey!" Ella greeted and the corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Hi!" Ahmose greeted, stepping away from the door. He watched Ella insert a key into the lock.

"Has it been long you arrived?" she asked, unlocking her door.

He shook his head. "No, just seconds, and that was the second knock."

She pushed the door open and walked into the living room of her apartment. "I'm sorry for that. Please come in and make yourself comfortable."

Ahmose nodded, and walked in. He settled down in a sofa. Smart as he was, he quickly noted something wrong about her mood this evening even though she was trying very hard to put up an 'I'm fine' mood.

"Here," he brought out a white scarf from his pocket, and gave it to her. "You forgot it at the Feetera restaurant, they took the burden of sending it in."

As Ella took the scarf from him, their hands touched and he held her hand. But she felt no sparks just like she had experienced moments ago back in the palace when the feudal lord had offered her a hand, and their hands touched.

Gently, she withdrew her hand and smiled. "Thank you. Please extend my sincere gratitude to them."

Ahmose swallowed, and he couldn't hold it anymore. "Is everything alright, where are you coming from?" he asked, his voice expressing concern.

Ella shut her eyes at the question, and when she reopened it, she answered the first question. "I'm alright."

Ahmose noticed she was avoiding the second question, and it got him even more curious. "May I at least know where you're coming from, please?"

"I'm coming from the palace, Prince Aches sent for me." Ella dropped the bomb.

"You mean you were at the palace all these while?" he asked in astonishment. He knew princess Layla and Betresh were out on a little shopping, which sums up the fact she was alone with Prince Aches and he knew what that meant. No, he shook his head at the thought.

"Is there anything special about it?" she asked, herself fighting hard to keep those sweet-ugly memories in his office off her head.

"N-no, no! I'm, you know..." he stammered.

"Ahmose?" she beckoned with curiosity.

He shook his head, "-Never mind. You just have to be careful."

"You're speaking in parables, Ahmose."

He hesitated, but when he saw she was now holding back tears, he gave in at last.

"You see, Miss Ray, I don't want you to end up hurt. In all you do please be careful and don't fall head over heels for him, because if you do, he'll break your heart."

His words got her sinking in the sofa behind her. "Damn it!" she cursed within. How could she reveal to him she was already hurting?

"Prince Aches is never an easy person when it comes to love," Ahmose continued. "-In the past, he never kept a serious relationship. All he did when he needed a woman was to snap his fingers, and they'd come running after him. Satisfied, he discarded them at his will with a whooping sum of cash or gifts, or even treasures. Those hoping he'll have something serious with them ended up having their lifetime heart breaks."

"B-but how would you know all these you say?"

"I've known Prince Aches all my life! And who do you think he often gave the orders to discard the puppets?"

Ella almost laughed at the word- 'puppets', but this wasn't funny either, and then she brought her attention back to the conversation. "You?" she replied, sensing the question was rhetorical.

"Yes, you're right," he affirmed. "You see Miss Ray, I won't blame you if you've come to fall in love with him. I know he's charming, a prince charming indeed, but I want you to bear this in mind. He'll never be stupid to break his engagement because of you or anyone else. He abhors scandals."

"Don't be ridiculous Ahmose!" she jerked to her feet and backed him. "I never said I loved him. I don't even feel anything for him!" she lied.

His countenance brightened at her words, "Good....How about me, anything for me?"

Ella thought about him. Yes he was caring, handsome with a body many women would want to run their hands on but unfortunately, she just liked him as a good friend, no strings attached.

She swallowed hard, and twirled to face him. He was still seated, his amber eyes piercing through hers.

"I can't, I can't do this, Ahmose. I just want to finish serving my detention then get the hell out of here and live my life!"

"-What then is life without love?"

She smiled. "Meaningless. Empty, I guess."

He returned the smile. "You see, I must admit he sent me off to you in the first place, but it isn't an exaggeration I've fallen completely in love with you. I just want a chance to prove myself."

"But Ahmose, don't you really have someone in your life?"

"That was then, but we broke up long before her family relocated to Spain," he replied, and stood. "It's getting dark! I think I'll take my leave now," he announced. When Ella made mention of seeing him off to the hospital front, he declined. "Don't bother yourself tonight," he smiled.

At her threshold, they bade each other a 'goodnight'.

CHAPTER SEVEN

It's two days since the incident at the palace. Ella sat behind her kitchen table, mopping at her dinner; a 'salata baladi and 'sayadiya rice' which she had ordered from a nearby restaurant.

Although she had tried for the past two days to repress the images of the feudal lord from appearing in her head, in her heart, but now they finally found their way in. She began to envision his face in her plate and glass of water; talking, smiling, kissing and discarding her like he had done in his office.

Tears came rolling down her face.

Ella was afraid; if this was a test, she had failed woefully. She had given herself to him without any resistance, and he had in return treated her like a trash. Oh! -but why was she still feeling warm towards him, even after the way he had treated her in his office? If only these feelings for him could go away or better still, if only she had the chance to run away, she would flee to...

The first slam of headache hit her, but with the aid of a painkiller and warm water bath, she was able to dose-off into a peaceful sleep on her sofa. She didn't wake up until 4:00am when someone came knocking.

Heavy eyes, she went to the door and peeped through the door crevice. "Naunet!" she gasped, unlocking the door immediately.

Naunet was one of the nurses at the Royal hospital, her favorite of all.

"Doc, please come with me! T-there's an emergency, ...at the palace!" Her breath was uneven, evidence she must have been running.

Ella's eyes widened and her heart limped. Curiosity and fear rippling through her. "-Prince! Tell me, is the prince okay?" she queried the older woman in her mid-thirties. Ella couldn't help it; that was the first place her thoughts went.

"No, no! It's not the prince, it's his sister, Princess Layla. She's in labor!"

"Phew!!!" Ella let out a sigh of relief. Stupid of her to have almost experienced a fit at thinking he was in trouble. A fit for a man that didn't value her, but it was good to know he was safe, and had a sister?

Naunet stared at the absent-minded American and wondered if she was sleepwalking or what. "Doc, doc... Are you in there?" she called, waving a hand at Ella's face.

"Yes, yes!" Ella jolted back to reality. "-Let me wash my face and get my office keys." With that, she dashed into her bedroom for her office keys which she usually kept on the dressing table. Quick, she washed her face in the bathroom, and joined Naunet at the door. Then the two hurried to the hospital.

Right now, the hospital looked 'staff-empty' as only two nurses were left behind to look after the patients while the rest were off to the Palace. Naunet followed Ella into her office and watched her pack stuffs into her kit's bag. As they stepped out of the hospital and headed for the Palace on foot, Ella queried about the progress of the labor.

"How long has it been, I mean the labor?"

"It's a bit confusing, maybe seven hours." Naunet replied. "The Princess never knew she was in labor; she mistook the contractions as false labor. And to add to the list, she was expecting 'her water' as another labor sign to look out for. We were only alerted about roughly two hours ago. She was 6cm when I sneaked out, but the young woman is losing her energy drastically."

"I see!..." Ella murmured, taking a quick glance at the older woman. "So, is Doctor Jabari over there?" she queried. She had seen the night shift of the week, and the said doctor was on duty throughout the week. This was because two doctors were away on their annual leave. Her other colleague, Doctor Mustapha, had taken a sick leave. The other one, Doctor Sameer, had travelled for his brother's wedding at Port Said. This left Doctor Jabari and herself in charge for now.

"Doctor Jabari had retired in his office for the night. Male doctors are not allowed into the labor room because a princess can't possibly open her legs to some man. Usually, the male doctor is only needed if the labor resolves to a caesarean section."

"Wow, but doesn't that sound a little bit...dangerous?" Ella asked as she imagined the whole picture.

"For the commoner, it's optional."

"But why didn't anyone send for me earlier? At least I'm a female doctor, and you know there's a high risk of fetal distress now."

The woman lowered her head, in guilt. "I know, b-but it's my lord's fiancée. She strictly instructed that no one should alert you, saying she has already sent for a female doctor. But the challenge at hand is, -the said doctor is coming from Port Said, and if we wait any longer, then I'm afraid we might lose a life, or lives."

At hearing the words, Ella stopped abruptly. Different thoughts raced across her heart but she only asked about the one that meant much to her, "And Prince Aches agreed to that, -that no one should send for me?"

Naunet sighed heavily. "I'm afraid my lord doesn't even have a clue on the progress of the labor. Don't you get it doc, no man is allowed into the room except her spouse, but unfortunately, he's away on a business trip." She paused for breath, and then continued. "And my lord believes his fiancée will reach him incase things get out of hand."

"But Naunet, don't you think you'll be in a mess when she discovers you violated her order?"

Naunet exhaled sharply through her mouth. "The Royals have been so kind to the people, we love them. I can't stay and watch harm come their way all because of some stupid order!" she defended, and taking Ella's hand, she continued. "-If at all I get summoned, I'll explain to my prince why I disobeyed his fiancée. For now, you go and save the princess and her unborn child,...please!"

Ella thought about it and swallowed. "Okay. If you say so then let's go!" she gave in, knowing very well she did more because Prince Aches would be badly hurt if anything bad happens to his sister or her unborn child.

When they got to the Palace gates, the patrols let them in without hesitation. Inside the mansion, maids were running here and there almost in total confusion.

On entering the room, Betresh attacked as expected. "Who invited you?"

Ella gave Naunet a sign to keep it down. "No hard feelings, I just want to help."

"We don't need your help!" Betresh bluffed.

"-Can't you see?" Ella tried to persuade. "If this labor prolongs, we may end up losing the baby or the princess!''

Right hand akimbo, Betresh stood her grounds. "I repeat, we don't need your help!"

Layla let out a deafening scream.

Not waiting anymore for Betresh's permission, Ella pushed past her, for Layla. Putting on a pair of latex gloves, she rushed her primary examinations on the princess. She smiled at seeing the royal midwives; about two of them, and the other two nurses from the Royal hospital complying, and in no time, they worked as a team.

Betresh couldn't stop the American because all eyes were on her. She simply watched on with hatred, waiting for the slightest accident to occur.

"Her pulse is weak but she's fully dilated and currently in station Negative 1," Ella explained to the team, while Naunet did the jotting down in a file.

The two nurses went to lift Layla up, and propped several pillows beneath her back. Every other thing in place, Ella moved her gaze to meet Layla's.

"Good morning, Princess Layla!" she greeted. "I'm Doctor Isabella Ray."

Layla gave her a weak smile despite the painful contractions she felt. Ella continued, "-Your baby is close, so I want you to push at the count of three...okay?"

Layla nodded vigorously, in a hurry to get over with the pains.

Turning to the team, Ella queried. "Are you ready?"

In unison, their response came positive.

"Okay...Let's do this!" she added and positioned at Layla's lower trunk, "One, two, three. Now push!!!"

Layla pushed...and pushed..., letting out a deafening scream again.

"Now, take your breath Princess! Nice and slow, nice and slow darling," Ella encouraged and ran a quick check with her gloved fingers. "We just entered Positive 1," she announced to the team. "Alright Princess, let's do it again. One, two, three! Push!!!" she impelled, and there came another push from Layla.

"-That's wonderful darling! I need you to do that one more time, and I'll take over the rest."

"It's failing doc, her pulse!" A nurse announced, and Betresh smirked.

"Oh shit!" Ella muttered, beads of perspiration standing out on her forehead. "Forceps! Give me the forceps, Naunet!"

Naunet obliged. Dropping the file in her hand, she headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Ella asked in astonishment. "I said give me the forceps!"

"Sorry, it's at the hospital. Let me go get it."

Ella shook her head. "Goodness me, we don't have that time!" she blurted. Rushing to her kit's bag; she groped.

Ella heaved a sigh of relief when she came up with her personal Forceps, an instrument she hasn't used in a long time, had even wondered why she brought it with her all the way from the States until now, she thanked her stars she did.

Making an incision, she gently inserted the instrument inside, on either side of the baby's head, and then slowly, she began to pull the baby out until it was delivered. And then she made a clamp close to the navel and cut the umbilical cord.

The neonate let out his first cry.

"It's a boy!" Naunet heralded.

There arose a glee in the room except for Betresh who still waited earnestly for something to go wrong, to create an avenue to attack her enemy.

Ella remained focused after handing over the baby to the midwives to be cleaned and dressed up. In less than twenty minutes, the placenta detached completely and emerged... that was when Ella's face beamed with unspeakable joy.

"Phew!!!" she heaved a deep sigh of relief.

The nurses took over from there; stitching the incision, taking away the delivery mat and placenta, replacing the stained sheets with clean ones, and having the princess cleaned up too.

A maid approached Ella with a towel and soap, while another two presented separate bowls filled with warm water. Disposing the gloves, Ella washed up her hands and then dried them with the towel, before smiling her thanks to them.

Naunet came forward with the newborn now wrapped in cozy. "With the Royals doc, especially in a case of successful delivery, the person who delivered the baby takes the honor of handing him over to his mother."

"I bet that's the easiest part of delivery," Ella bantered, and everyone laughed, excluding Betresh.

The laughter froze on Ella's lips the moment she carried the newborn. She gasped as she noted he took after his uncle's blue eyes. Smiling, she moved to meet his mother whom happiness now radiated her strained face.

"Congratulations Princess Layla!." she praised, handing him over to his mother's waiting arms. And then, she stepped back.

Everyone watched on with anticipation as mother and child began to bond intimately. No one noticed when a furious Betresh sneaked out, disappointed.

"Thank you so much, doc!" Layla broke, tears of joy streaming down her face. "-Thank you very much!"

"You did well yourself, Princess. And I've got the best team too," Ella replied before going on to write a prescription of drugs for Layla. Then she handed it over to Naunet. Picking up her bag having replaced the washed forceps, she turned to Layla. "Take care of yourself Princess and of course, your baby too. I know you're so excited, but I recommend you atleast try to take a nap." Ella advised and then, took her leave.

Words weren't enough to express the joy Aches felt becoming an uncle three days to his birthday. As far as he was concerned, that was the best birthday gift ever!

In the morning, he got the information that Layla's doctor had instructed her to take some rest, so he didn't bother visiting her until later this midday.

Now in Layla's room, Aches carried his sleeping nephew in awe; she had just finished breastfeeding him.

Eating her lunch, Layla stared at her brother carrying her baby; they looked like father and son, such a beautiful sight to behold. They had some privacy so she decided to raise the topic that had her bothered for sometime now.

"What are you still waiting for?" she popped the question at him.

His gaze met with hers. "What am I still waiting for?" he repeated, stunned at her impious question. And then slightly, his gaze narrowed. "-I don't get you."

She sighed. "How long again are you going to delay the wedding preparations?"

"-We'll talk about this some other time," Aches replied as he laid his nephew beside his mother.

The indifference Layla saw in her brother's face scared her. She cleaned her mouth with a table napkin, and with hands, shoved the table aside. "Please, don't tell me there's another woman in the picture," she implored.

This was the last thing Aches wanted to discuss with his sister or anyone at the moment. "-Like I said Layla, some other time," he insisted with a thin smile, trying to exit the room. About to open the door, she spoke again, stopping him at his track.

"Is it the American?" she asked, and saw how he stopped abruptly, turned away from the door and came sinking in the couch besides the bed. Tilting his head backward, he let out a deep sigh.

He was a picture of miserable.

Layla pitied her brother. She had always thought that he had it all, until now. "Y-you love her. You love the American, brother!"

Aches' shoulders dropped in surrender. Now there was no need running from his shadow. "How did you know?" he demanded, looking into her eyes.

"Oh, I can read you like a book," she replied, amazed a woman could finally do this to him. It was unbelievable...but true!

Despite the slight pains she felt, Layla came down from her bed and sat with him on the couch so that she looped her arms around him in embrace.

He broke the silence that followed, "Maybe this is some kind of nemesis for being a constant heartbreaker in the past." Gently, he disengaged from the embrace, arose, and began to pace the room, lost. "Why now Layla, why now that I'm officially engaged?" he lamented.

Her gaze followed him. She wished she could help him. "The American, does she feel this same way about you?"

Aches stopped pacing at the question. He thought about how he had kissed her in his office and then dismissed her even though more than anything, he wanted to remain in her arms. He had seen the tears fill her eyes and hated himself immediately. Maybe he shouldn't have kissed her in the first place, or maybe he shouldn't have stopped the kiss and wild fires they set in each other's arms. Maybe he should have allowed it to consume them in its sweet scorching heat!

Deep down he was sure, with the way he had treated her in his office, she must despise him now. Swallowing hard, he brought back his attention to the conversation. "I bet you all the American wants, is to leave."

Seconds of silence followed, before Layla spoke again. "Whatever you do, just know that I love you and will forever stand by your side," she said, grateful her words made him smile.

He came squatting before her and took a hand in both of his. "You know Layla, you shouldn't be saying that because it could mean breaking up with your friend."

Layla looked away, and sighed. "What are you talking about, brother?" she asked, knowing very well what he was talking about. But she wouldn't open up to him about all that had transpired few hours ago when she was enclosed in the 'labor world'. She sighed again, and looked into his eyes. "Here, you're the only family I have left. Nothing matters more than your happiness. It's priority, brother."

Slowly Aches straightened, and headed for the door. His hand resting on the handle, he called her name. "Layla?" Their gaze met and he smiled... "Please allow me to worry about myself." He requested, and waited until she had nodded, before he proceeded out of her suite.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Prince Aches added plus one today. Differential dignitaries from all over the kingdom of Egypt, and renowned foreigners from across the world, graced his grand birthday party at the enchanting Koubbeh palace. This palace situated several kilometers north of downtown Cairo, had a royal train station where the invitees arrived by special carriages directly from Alexandria or from Cairo's main railway station.

Though it wasn't an event for the commoner, Ella still got an invitation in appreciation for her good deeds during the delivery. The invitation had come in two days ago and she had refused to honour it if not for Chione's constant persuasions.

Chione had visited two days ago only to hear the good news, her American friend now a heroine. When Ella complained of not knowing how to dress up for such an occasion, she had volunteered to help her with that. Although Chione knew that the selection of clothing they chose will look great on her, yet she couldn't wait to see her emerge from her room.

"You have to hurry up! Your coachman is here!" Chione called out from the living room.

"Just a minute please, I'm almost done!" Ella replied from the bedroom. At long last, she emerged from the hallway, "Tah-da-ah! How do I look?"

Knocked to her roots, Chione stood and stared with mouth agape. Her gaze moved from Ella's hair being pinned up in a ponytail, down to the red laced gown to match with the red lipstick. A pair of black heeled sandals to match with a purse. The golden bracelets, earrings, wrist watch and necklace.

"You'll take their breath away!" she foretold.

"Oh please..." Ella dismissed wryly with a gesture of hand.

"I'm serious. You look amazing!"

Ella tried to still herself from smiling sheepishly, all to no avail. "Thank you," she said.

Chione smiled. "Now get going, don't keep your coachman waiting any longer," she beckoned, taking the lead to exit the apartment.

By the time Ella got to the venue, she was so nervous she wished Chione was invited too, to keep her company. Leaning by the entrance to the hall, she peeped, and was happy to see the guests busy in different group chats and dance, so she decided to sneak in, unnoticed.

Ella was wrong because just as Chione had foretold; all discussions and activities came to a brief pause the moment she stepped into the hall. She did take their breath away. While the females admired her outfit, the males gasped after her elegance.

Gradually, everyone began to go back to their activities, a good thing for Ella who picked a glass of wine from one of the passing waitresses; she tried not to show off.

"You look very gorgeous." She heard the voice from her back, as low as a whisper.

"-Ahmose!" she called out even before turning to cast a glance at him. He too looked amazing in a black suit, just like most males in the party.

Ahmose leaned forward to plant a kiss on her both cheeks. "It took me time to recognize you," he confessed.

"Did I really change that much?" she asked, still unaware of how absolutely gorgeous she looked.

He nodded. "Care for a dance?"

"No, no," she interjected. "I'm no good dancer."

"Don't be shy, there's always room for learners, and say, you've got a good teacher."

Again she declined, but Ahmose didn't give up until she gave in, and then both stepped on the dance floor.

Prince Aches was not left out in the admiration of the American. He was conversing with some guests when she entered; it would have been rude of him to dispose them off in order to go after her, a pity he could only watch from afar. He watched her every move.

His jealous-self resurfaced on seeing the two together, but thanks to his patience, he was free at last. As he contemplated on how to meet with her, his fiancée came clinging at his midriff.

"Darling, happy birthday once again!" she sneered.

Betresh too has been watching every bit of the show, from when the American came in, to how Ahmose went over, and how Aches had looked on at the two with resentment.

"What do you want this time?" he asked, casting a frustrating glance at her. She wore a creamy gown designed with beads, to match with a pair of heeled creamy shoes.

"The love birds are having so much fun!"

"What's your aim, Betresh? Spoil my mood?"

"How can I spoil a spoilt mood darling?" she retorted and released her hold at his midriff to stand directly opposite him, she smirked. "Warn your American to get prepared, because I'll beat the day light out of her tonight...remember?"

He tensed. "Don't you dare involve her in that fight!"

Despite the anger that flickered in his eyes, she refused to back off.

"What now? Are you going to change the custom of our land because of her?" A rhetorical question she continued, "-I bet you won't dare in front of all these guests!"

Aches thought about it, she was right. There was no way he could start changing customs right now. He sighed frustration because the last thing he wished on his birthday was to watch the woman he loved get hurt.

"Let her out of this, Betresh, please!" he begged.

A sly smile played on her lips. "Never!" she swore and left him again to be alone.

For the first time, Aches regretted inviting Ella. Now she'll get hurt, his entire fault. He scanned the hall in search of her; she wasn't dancing anymore with her partner, both were now making selection of their preferred dish.

"Hmmm--, it tastes great," Ella confessed, enjoying the tantalizing taste of 'kushari' served with pastrami.

"Wait until you taste this," Ahmose bragged as he offered her a 'muluhkiya' from his plate.

"Wow, even better!" she exclaimed, savouring every taste of the dish.

Later that evening, Ahmose introduced her to his friends from other regions. Ella knew he was showing off but she played along. Although Ahmose's friends chatted in Arabic and she understood them, but she quickly got bored. Still listening to their conversation, her reflex brought her gaze to meet the blue eyes of the feudal lord.

Eccentric sensations hit her spine as he flashed her a charming smile from across the hall. She blushed and gulped down her drink, reaching out for another so quick. She was helpless under his scrutinizing gaze which sent tiny flames racketing upside down her body.

Today, he wore a black suit, a red sash and a crown. He looked incredibly handsome as usual. Her gaze travelled to the curve of his lips, rearing up the memories of the kiss they had shared in his office

"Damn it," she cursed, breathless, as her nipples hardened after her randiness.

Ella brought back her gaze and attention to the group; Ahmose was lost in their chats. She fought very hard to focus on the discussions of the group, but it didn't work.

The moment her reflex brought their gaze together again, he now held a glass of wine. Burrowing his gaze in hers, he drank from the glass.

The way his lips held and brushed over the brim of the glass reminded Ella of how they did on her own lips during that fateful kiss. She cursed again within her breathless self, hypnotized in his maddening seduction. Now she understood Ahmose; this 'lord of a prince' was indeed a born flirt.

A distraction came at last to her rescue when the master of ceremony announced an event. It surprised Ella at how everyone looked forward to the event with keen interest. She moved closer to Ahmose and in a low voice she whispered to his right ear, "What's going on?"

"The ladies' fight," Ahmose supplied, still looking out at the people arranging a stage.

"This ladies fight, what's it all about?" She asked on with much ado curiosity.

"It's our tradition here; it goes for every Prince on their birthdays. Interested ladies put down their names for a swordfight fight which comprises of group stages. The final level is where only one will emerge the winner and gets a special treat from the Prince."

"That's all?" she snapped in grave disappointment at how ladies will go into a fight just for some treat.

"The fact is," Ahmose informed, "-the custom only goes for a bachelor Prince. Once married, the tradition stops." He turned so that they face each other, "-And you know this is the last bachelor party for Prince Aches."

Her expression turned ebb and her mouth bitter at the revelation. What was she thinking? That he felt anything for her that'll cause him to break up his engagement? She nibbled at her lower lip as tears threatened to cascade down her face. And then from nowhere, Betresh emerged, to stand in front of her, holding a glass of wine.

"We meet again doc!"

"Hello!" Ella forced a smile.

Betresh sipped her drink. "I hope you're enjoying yourself?"

"Very well, thanks." Ella replied and tried to focus on the people arranging the stage for the said fight.

After some seconds of silence, Betresh continued. "So tell me, aren't you registering for the fight? It's free!"

Ella glanced at her briefly, and forced a smile again. "No, thanks."

"What now, you can't stand a fight?"

Ella could now detect the pure hatred and jealousy in Betresh's voice. When Ahmose made to defend her, she stopped him, placing a hand on his chest. "Don't worry. I got this, trust me."

He nodded, stepped back and watched on at the two women in awe.

Ella faced Betresh squarely. "Whatever, I'm not interested."

"Oh see who's talking back!" Betresh jeered aloud to draw the attention of the guests around them. "I challenge you to this fight. It's Egypt versus your crappy country, and I bet you'll not smell the victory because America knows no victory!"

Ella flared up at last. "You should have kept this between us. I'm in for this!"

"You don't have to do this, Isabella." Ahmose interjected.

Ella swallowed. "It's okay, Ahmose," she assured him. Then her gaze clashed with Betresh's. "Are you happy now?"

Feeling complacent, Betresh smirked and disappeared into the throng.

"Are you sure about this?" queried Ahmose who was too concerned to relax.

"Relax dear, I said I got this."

Ahmose folded his arms and quirked his brows in total disbelief. "Are you sure about this?" he repeated.

Ella smiled..."Okay. Now listen, I used to go for fencing classes back in the States."

"So, are you good then?"

Still smiling, she patted him on the shoulder. "I'll be fine, Ahmose, stop worrying."

He sighed heavily. "I guess you'll have to get ready, the fight will soon commence."

Nodding, Ella quickly glanced around the hall in search of the man who had made her feel wanton just few minutes ago. She frowned in her disappointing search. He had left, wasn't even bothered about the fight even though it was all for him.

"Hey! Do you need anything?" Ahmose asked.

She jerked. "N-No! I'm good. I'll go put down my name among the contestants, and then use the restroom before the fight starts."

"You're excused then."

"Thanks a lot, Ahmose, for standing up for me back there."

He tossed his hands into his pockets, and smiled. "Anything for you, my love," he whispered and gently tore his gaze from hers.

Exiting the party, Ella inquired for direction to the restroom, exhaling her relief when one of the maids came to her rescue.

Now in the restroom, she dampened her face and length of her hands to cool off the tension that built in her. When she looked up from the wash bowl into the mirror before her, the maid was now standing behind her.

"Hey!" Ella greeted, looking at the figure in the mirror. She didn't bother turning round.

"Ma'am, someone outside look for you."

"Okay!" Ella nodded. She understood the girl wasn't fluent in English. The girl took the lead until they were outside the restroom, in the hallway again. There, they met the said person.

"Greetings to you, Miss. I'm sure you remember me."

"Ahmed?"

"Yes," he affirmed and bowed slightly. "My master wants to have a word with you."

She swallowed. "Where?"

"He's waiting in the parlor."

CHAPTER NINE

His back to the door, yet Prince Aches knew the instant Ahmed ushered her into one of the sumptuous parlors of Koubbeh palace. And when he raised his hands, the guards in the room, including Ahmed, took their leave. Then gracefully, he came off the window and stopped in front of her, his expression somber. He took one of her hands in both of his, and kissed it.

"You look magnificent, as always," he said and this time, kissed her palm.

Ella sucked in a breath. More than anything, she wanted him to kiss her, caress and hold her in his strong arms, but when she remembered how he had treated her at their first kiss, every desire faded off.

"T-Thank you...I wish you a very happy birthday." She managed to say.

"Thanks," he said. Gently letting go of her hand, he brought up the reason behind the sudden meeting. "I understand you're among the contestants."

"Yes, I am. –Because I was challenged," she chipped in as if to keep him on track on the reason behind her decision.

Aches sighed. "My fiancée attacked you, I saw it but you don't have to do it. If you want, I can arrange for a treat specially for you."

Ella managed to look deep into his eyes. "This isn't just about some treat, Prince Aches. It's called patriotism." She tore her gaze from his. "-And if you'll excuse me, I must go," she added in a bid to run away from the unruly desire his presence evoked in her.

Seconds of silence followed. Then Aches exhaled sharply. "Ahmed is waiting outside in the hallway, he'll lead you back to the party."

She curtsied, and headed for the same door which she had come in through, but before she got to the door, he called her name.

"Miss Ray?"

She stopped abruptly, and turned.

"Please be careful," he said– his voice depicting of everything; love, concern and fear.

Ella swallowed, forced a smile, and left.

Once again, Aches settled in his seat and watched the contestants including Ella, line up before the stage. They all now wore leather corset armors, and carried each a sword and a shield, excluding Betresh who alone didn't carry a shield. Aches understood she was good, the reason she didn't bother carrying it.

The master of the ceremony stepped on the stage and began to read the rules guiding the fight. "No stabbing movement, only slashing strikes are allowed. Pulling of opponent's hair is highly prohibited. On no account shall you concuss your opponent. The winner is whosoever that draws the first blood of her opponent." He finished with the rules and introduced the medical team on standby; Doctor Jabari and three nurses from the Royal hospital.

Despite all the ventilation in the room, perspiration prickled Aches' skin. The room became even unbreathable when Ella was matched to her first opponent, to kickoff the fight.

He found himself muttering some silent prayers on her behalf.

The guests cheered as Ella ducked left and sliced slightly at her opponent's arm to draw the first blood.

The next set fought, and then another until it was Betresh's turn. In less than twenty seconds, Betresh drew fiercely a first blood of her opponent, and then she looked at Ella and smirked.

Ella blinked, and looked away.

The fight grew fiercer as each of the remaining contestants craved to make it to the semifinals, but unfortunately for the rest, it was Betresh, Ella and two other ladies that scaled through. Betresh was eager to fight with Ella because she felt Ella will soon be eliminated. To her wildest dismay, Ella made it to the finals.

Betresh stepped on the stage, still furious at Ella's success to the finals. It even enraged her the more when her current opponent tried to prove tough, but in no distant time, she swiveled on the floor and neatly cut across her opponent's calf, to draw the first blood. Only then did Betresh breathe relief.

A short break was given for the finalists to cool off. It was then that Ahmose headed for Ella; she was nursing a bruised knee by the corner of the stage.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

She glanced up, and saw him. "I'm good, thanks."

He settled in a chair next to hers. "I'm surprised you made it to the finals."

"I'm surprised too." She smiled.

"Here," he offered her a bottle of water.

Ella took it and thanked him, then she opened it and gulped down half the bottle to speak of how thirsty she really was. Then she recapped the bottle.

"So you'll be facing the defending champion."

She met his gaze abruptly. "What?"

"Yes, she was the winner last year," he revealed.

"Well, I didn't know."

Ahmose grinned. "Now that you know, you've got to be really careful."

He got interrupted when the break was announced over. "Alright. I wish you luck!" he said, and patting her shoulder, he left.

Picking up her sword and shield, Ella sighed and joined her new opponent, Betresh, on stage.

The guests began to applaud the two finalists.

"What a courage my dear, you made it to the finals!" Betresh started, but when Ella didn't utter a word, she continued. "Don't get your hopes high, you aren't winning this fight. Remember, Americans know no victory!"

Now that touched Ella again. She had one big urge to reply Betresh but she held herself. Just on cue, the master of ceremony requested the two finalists to shake hands of peace.

Although they came forward and their hands met briefly, it was nothing close to a peaceful handshake. Then they stepped back again, and the fight was announced on.

Swords clashed in frenzy.

Each time Betresh made to cut her rival, Ella blocked the strikes with her shield. It enraged Betresh who now sought solely on how to dispose off Ella's shield. She attacked Ella from all different eight angles of sword fighting and at long last, Ella lost grip on her shield.

Betresh's lips turned up in a sardonic smile; this was exactly what she had been waiting for.

With speed of lightning, she launched forward at Ella, who managed to block the attack now with her sword, but Betresh was quick enough to push a foot against Ella's groin.

Ella staggered backward, giving her opponent room to strike.

Gleefully, Betresh raised her sword and struck with all pent-up frustrations of the fight, but to everyone's dismay, Ella somehow managed to regain her balance, and parried. Fast, she counter-cut across Betresh's arm.

Betresh stopped, and couldn't believe her eyes when she saw and felt her own blood escape the fresh cut to announce her rival...Ella, the winner.

CHAPTER TEN

It wasn't the dinner itself that got Ella nervous, but the fact that she'll be close again to the man whose presence alone was capable of generating untamed desires in her!

Again she battled with what to wear but luckily for her, Chione had persuaded her on the day they went shopping to get three dinner gowns. She figured dinners usually go with black, so she picked the black one which had a slight cut to the hip side and a low neckline that exposed a generous amount of her cleavages. Uncomfortable at the exposure, Ella tried to conceal it but all to no avail.

As she dressed, Ella brooded about how grateful she was that he had waited for four days for her to recover from her bruises before fixing a date for the dinner.

Done with her makeup, she combed and packed her hair into a pony-tail, ready to go. Ella had sworn to be all set before the coachman arrives this time, and she was able to do just that. They drove past the familiar large brown gates, into the grounds of the Abdeen palace.

Ahmed stepped out to receive her with a warm smile which she reciprocated. He ushered her into the mansion, to a massive living-room with another separate door different from the one they had come in through. Ella sensed the room was a suite.

Her gaze wandered from one painting hung on the walls, to another. She continued in her admiration until her roaming gaze caught sight of the portrait of the feudal Lord. She gasped, at the painting– it seemed so real! And then she tore her eyes from those alluring eyes of his, and settled them on those lips that held behind, untold promises.

Her knees buckled.

No! Not the portrait! Of all things that should arouse her, not his mere portrait for goodness sake! Ella implored her wanton self and continued in her admiration of the room. A candelabrum stood at the centre of an orbicular dinner table, and two chairs neatly arranged by the table. Another table was set aside with different mouthwatering Egyptian dishes.

At last, her host walked in from the other door. Though dressed casual, he looked simple but dangerously handsome in a long-sleeved black shirt. He stopped everyone with a wave of his hand from bowing and curtseying, and gave his waiting guest a warm smile.

Prince Aches took a seat while he signaled Ahmed to usher her into the other opposite him.

"Hello, Miss Ray! How are you?"

Her smile was nervous. "Good evening, Prince Aches. I'm good, and you?"

"I'm good too, thanks."

A maid stepped forward with a bouquet of flowers. She gave it to Prince Aches, curtsied, and stepped back.

"This is for you," Aches stretched the bouquet to Ella.

"Oh, thank you!" she smiled, collecting the flowers.

"Do you like them?"

She smelt them. "They are beautiful, I love them!" she said. "Thank you!"

He nodded slightly, and then signaled the chef in charge. Ella was surprised when she was given a menu to order off her meal as if they were in some restaurant.

Both ate for a while without talking except for the glances each casted towards the other. He finished first and waited for her before ordering the servants to clear the table leaving behind the wine. In Arabic, he dismissed the servants and guards, and in a moment they were alone – Alone!!!

Ella tried hard not to meet his gaze; she was either staring at the candles or her drink. Anything but him.

He propped his back against the chair and broke the silence. "You fought well, Miss Ray."

"Thanks!" she responded, and their gaze locked, but quickly she tore her gaze away.

Aches noticed she was tensed, again. "Didn't know you were such a good swordsman," he complimented, his gaze still fixed on her. She looked very adorable – edible if he must think, and the way her cleavage rose and fell in rhythm to her rapid pulsating heart got him hardening.

"-Well, now you know!" she replied. Their gaze met again; he flashed her one of his dangerous grin, and she flushed terribly.

"Tell me more about yourself," he requested, in a bid to subdue the tension in the room.

She sipped her drink. "I'm the first child of my parents. I turned twenty-five this year. Came to Egypt, got abducted by some tomb raiders, got rescued by the Egyptian army only to be detained by Prince Charming. And right now, I'm lucky to be dining with this same Prince Charming."

He roared with laughter at her words 'Prince charming'. Even though he had heard those words countless times from ladies, it was thrilling to hear the woman he loved say them.

"But that's too short and snappy!" he protested.

Ella smiled and took a long sip of her drink. "Nice wine," she commended, savouring the great aroma and flavours of grapes.

"I'm glad you like it, but don't drink too much; it can make one tipsy in a go," he warned and sipped his. "I had no choice but to offer you the very best of my kingdom."

"And you, Prince Aches?" she asked turning tables at him. "I want to hear more about you too."

Aches smiled. "I turned twenty-nine some days ago. I took after my dad's physique. Lost my mom the day she gave birth to my sister who's the only sibling I've got." He paused and sipped his drink. "Few months ago, my father had embarked on a sea travel and that was the last time I ever set my eyes on him. Though the initial report assumed the ship was sunken by a tempest, I still insisted the ship be salvaged and thorough investigation carried out on it."

"Oh!" Ella gasped at the news. "I'm so sorry."

He dismissed her sympathy."Don't start being in bad mood, I'm fine."

Despite his ego, Ella pitied him. She had no idea until now he was an orphan, a handsome one though. "The tapestry in your office, is that your mother?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"Your sister and baby nephew are the only blood ties you've got now, huh?"

"Not really. I have a cousin and you know him."

A crest formed on her forehead. "Do I?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes – you – do."

"I'm not good at puzzles, please help me out."

"Ahmose is my cousin, I'm surprised he hasn't told you– yet."

She gasped. "Ahmose? Your cousin?"

"Our mothers were biological sisters, as in same father same mother, though both women are late now."

He could read the next question on her lips. "His father died four years ago from a heart disease."

"Oh!" Ella cried. "-That makes him an orphan too! But he never told me these, why?"

"I'm sure you never asked." Aches gulped his remaining drink and poured himself another. Hers was almost empty, he refilled it.

"Thank you," she muttered, still mesmerized at the news.

"Miss Ray?" he called.

"Yes?" she raised her glass, and drank.

"You still haven't told me why you were running from home."

Ella choked, spilling some of her wine on the table.

"Sorry for that," he apologized and gave her a table napkin. She took it from him and cleaned up, and then their gaze met.

"How did you know?" she asked feeling half surprised, half exposed.

He chuckled. "Maybe I have every power and connection to conduct an investigation about you."

Her expression turned melancholy. "It's such a long story," she dismissed and lowered her gaze.

Since her arrival to Egypt, Ella had managed to keep this secret of hers without sharing those pains it caused her with anyone. It had eaten her up from inside, and she just couldn't talk about it right now. She looked up and saw his gaze fully locked down on her.

She swallowed a lump that had suddenly risen to her throat.

"-You can make it short," he encouraged, patient with her even though she didn't speak up immediately. He already had a glimpse to why she ran off, but he wanted her to face it once and for all; starting by speaking up.

"My father tried to impose marriage on me." Ella finally let the cat out of the bag.

"I know...but I don't get what could be the reason behind such an act," he admitted. "And why didn't you reach the police instead of running off?"

"Years ago, my father joined the American Mafia," she dropped the bomb.

"Oh, I see! Code of silence, huh?"

Ella nodded. Reaching for her glass, she drained the content, and then refilled it. "It was planned between my father and the godfather to have their firstborns married off for reasons best known to them, but I hated the fact that my father joined the Mafia, and even hated more I was forced to get married to someone I didn't love. Each passing day as the wedding day advanced, I felt the walls closing in on me. And then without informing anyone, I ran off, away to Africa where I figured I would never be traced." She finished, and smudged the tears that rolled down her cheeks, noticed the room twirling a bit.

Aches sighed. He wished he could hold her in his arms and comfort her, and kiss her pains away. "You must have been through a lot. And as sad as it is, instead of having a peace of mind here in Egypt, you ended up being abducted by those raiders and... detained by me. I admire your bravery, Miss Ray."

She smiled, and sniffled. "It sounds more like stupidity to me. Running away from trouble, only to land in loops of troubles."

He grinned at her words, and then turned serious. "So what do you plan doing once you're freed?"

Ella propped her back against the chair as she pondered. "Perhaps I'll face my fears by going back to the States. God!... I miss my mother and sister," she answered noting the room was now whirling.

Her response hit him. She was just confirming his fears that one day, she will be gone. Aches wished he could tell her how he felt about her, how much she meant to him. He gulped. Then he noticed she was tipsy and made to ring Ahmed to take her home but stopped in his track when he sighted her drifting from her seat. He rushed to her side and luckily caught her body from crashing hard on the floor.

"Phew!!" he sighed at the narrow escape and gathered her half unconscious, soft and beautiful body in his arms. Her mouth was partly open, and so inviting for a kiss or two. Images of their kiss resurfaced; sensation shuddered through his stomach, burned in his brain.

For a split of time, Aches thought of what to do with her as he couldn't let Ahmed take her home like this. At last, he resolved to take her to his room which he could access via the door he had come in. He would lie her on his bed until she regained consciousness and probably strong enough to head back to her apartment.

Ever so gentle, he carried her across, into his room and laid her on his bed. He watched with a smile at how she snuggled in like a baby.

For a while, Aches stood beside the bed, his hands buried in his pockets and his gaze fixed on the woman who has ever held the keys to his heart. Aches was afraid he had come to love her so much he feared on how he'll survive when she'll be gone back to America.

Sighing heavily, he closed his eyes and fought hard to shut out the pain that throbbed his heart. When he reopened them, he covered up to her midriff with the sheets and then strode out of the room, shutting the door after him.

Aches found his way to the palace's garden, his other favorite spot when he wanted to be alone. He wished his sister hadn't returned to her marital home two days after she delivered, in preparation for the baby's naming ceremony, because this was the moment he wished he could talk to her.

Her husband, Fadil, on hearing she has put to bed, had paused his business trip and flew back to see his wife and newborn son, and had taken them with him back to their home in Luxor.

Sighing heavily, Aches gazed up, into the skies. The soothing scent of the flowers and the cool night breeze tickled his senses. That part of the garden was dark, safe from the illumination that came from the stars and moon. It was indeed a night for two.

Aches tried not to think about the beautiful woman in his bed, tried not to think the fact that one day, very soon, she would be free again and he wouldn't be able to stop her from leaving. His heart skipped a beat at the thought.

"See who's depressed here!"

Aches frowned. He didn't bother to glance behind to know that Betresh was standing right behind him. She came to sit beside him so close their bodies touched, but he felt no sparks the way he had felt some minutes ago when he held the American in his arms.

"Your dinner ended so- sudden!"

"Sorry to disappoint your feather brain, it's still on. And by the way, why do you care about the dinner?"

Betresh ignored the question. "What then is the host doing outside? Is he brooding his dreaded future without the American?"

He didn't need this; Aches told himself and stood to leave, but Betresh won't give up.

"You have barely a week left with her and then, she'll be gone, leaving us to commence our wedding preparations."

Aches gave her a long look afraid her words had some truth in them. He had just limited time with Miss Ray and now, he's ready to make each and every remaining moment with her a memorable one.

Lifting Betresh's chin with an index finger, he changed topics. "How about the fight, my love? You bragged you'll win but you ended up turning into a sack of mess!"

Betresh fell for his seductive touch. She yearned for it...she missed them. It's been a while they made love last, and that last time, it was after much persuasions from her before he gave in, yet she wasn't bothered knowing there were other ways to catch a fish so far as she was concerned. But Betresh must admit that the moments she had shared in Aches' passion were far more exciting than the others; if only he loved and craved for her half the way he did for the American...she gritted her teeth in anger.

Closing her eyes, she partly opened her mouth, believing he'll kiss her but he didn't; he left her and headed back into the mansion. Betresh sucked and cursed in a breath, hating the American even the more.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ella stirred, and found herself lying on a large, comfy bed. She sat up with a jerk. "What – the – hell!" she swore in amazement of how she got into the beautiful spacious room. All she could recall was the dinner and the spinning room before going unconscious.

She jolted when the door opened, and her host walked in. Their gaze locked; hers questioning, his reassuring.

"I warned you about the drink, didn't I?" he started.

"I don't normally drink," she defended, pulling away the sheets that now covered her legs. "Talking about home got a better part of me. And- and the drink tasted so good."

"I'm so sorry for reminding you about home."

She slugged out of the bed and stood. "It's not your fault...I must go."

Aches exhaled through his mouth and swallowed. "It's late. I'm afraid it'll be safe you spend the night here."

"What?"

"This is midnight, you passed out for hours."

"Did I?"

He gave her a slight nod.

Ella rubbed her hands together, confused.

"If you still insist to go then I'll make arrangements right away."

Ella gave it a thought. She knew better the dangers of moving about at midnight. Even though she knew he would send out soldiers to escort her, it'll always be better to be on the safer side which was, spending the night here just like he had earlier suggested.

"You're right, safety first." she admitted.

Aches heaved a sigh. "Thanks for understanding me."

A faint smile played on her lips. "So, I guess Ahmed will show me to my room for the night."

"You can have my suite to yourself."

"What? What about you?"

He smiled at her concern. "Don't worry about me. You simply have no idea of how many suites there are in Abdeen palace, do you?"

She quirked her brows, trying to hold in a grin. "So, ...how many suites are there?

"Five hundred," he revealed and gave her a wicked grin.

Sensation, pure and naked burned through Ella's spine and flickered in her eyes. She lowered her gaze to hide the reaction just a single grin of his could evoke in her. And then, a thought materialized.

Yes, a bath! At least it'll help cool off this shameless desire growing in her. She didn't want to think about the other option which was– throwing herself in to his arms, begging him to take her right now.

She cleared her throat. "-I think I need a bath."

"Okay. The bathroom is the door by your right, please don't go near the one to your left."

"Why?" she asked, curiosity and fear gripping her.

"Because that door leads to my office," he supplied, but she was still tensed. "And it's triggered by some kind of sensor if touched by someone else when I'm not in the office."

"Oh, I see!" she exclaimed her relief. "I think I'll need some privacy now," she said, tilting her head towards the right door.

Ella held her breath...,until he was gone, and then she exhaled heavily. She wasn't sure of how long exactly she'd stood lost at the sight of the bathroom despite all the civilization she thought she had experienced at America.

He had a shower, bathtub and jacuzzi; all in one bathroom. While some of the equipments and items were gold-plated, some were purely golden.

At last done with her admiration, she stripped and showered, before drying herself with a large white towel. Still on it when she heard a slight knock on the bedroom door, followed by his voice. Quickly, she tied the towel around her chest.

Her dream of some privacy came to a pause when she reentered the room to see him holding a night gown in his right hand. In his eyes, she saw flames like wild fires that devoured everything in their path.

Her throat dried, and her body seemed to be experiencing a meltdown when he moved closer. Ella thought her heart might just beat out of her chest as his gaze remained locked down on hers for one more moment.

She held her breath.

Consuming the space in between them, Aches stopped. "I brought you these," he said, stretching the nightgown to her. "-Layla bought it the day she went shopping, two days before she delivered but had forgotten it while packing her luggage."

Exhaling, Ella smiled and reached out to collect the garment from him. Their fingers touched, and the smile froze on her lips as raw need coursed through her, reminding her of when he had offered her a hand in his office and she had taken it. Reminded her of the kiss that had followed closely...oh, that kiss!

Ella cleared her throat as if to dispel the emotions that pooled within her. Taking the garment, she moved her hand away from his, before it finally drives her to insanity.

"She won't mind if I sleep in them tonight, right?" she asked when she finally found her voice.

"I can always get her a new one, however not a bit; she won't mind." He confirmed, his voice depicting the emotions that built inside him.

Another lithe movement from him brought her in his arms. Their bodies touched, charging the room with sizzling sexual voltage, yet she didn't attempt to move away. Then he placed his hands on either side of her head, noting that her hair now poured, felt every bit as damp as he'd anticipated.

"I want to kiss you," he whispered, unable to think straight. Never has he been so aware of a woman like this. She obsessed him, possessed him, yet he needed her permission this time around.

Ella nodded her response, aware of the pleasure and anticipation that streaked through her. Of the heat that built in her groins. Of the way she yearned to feel his lips move against hers again.

After what seemed like eternity, he arched forward, both closing their eyes, he let his lips settle over hers in a passionate but hungry kiss. Their lips moved, duelled and dissolved. They exchanged oxygen, desires– so hot and intense.

Ella found her body melting, and leaned into him.

His lips felt so powerful but soft, warm yet skilled. Each time he withdrew, it was only to change the way his mouth fit against hers. She clung to him; the hands that held the towel and the nightgown came free to caress and hold his neck, pulling him down to her. She wanted more and her head was spinning!

Aches broke from the kiss and opened his eyes; her eyes were still shut and her lips, moist and parted. He traveled past her mouth and kissed her neck, trailing hot wet kisses up until his lips feathered her right ear.

Ella let out a wispy moan as he circled her earlobe. When he cupped a breast through the towel, undiluted need; raw and brutal, hit her spine, and she shamelessly reached for his mouth with hers.

Their lips met again. He sent his tongue inside her mouth and she sucked hungrily.

His hands moved up and down her back; pressing, caressing, moulding every part it came in contact with. She arched forward, deeper into his arms, hardly thinking straight.

Then her towel came off.

Shocked. Ella broke from the kiss and gasped, but Aches didn't give her a chance to dwell in her own shame as he circled a tongue round her left ear, sending electrifying flames of heat to her groin.

"Isabella..." his voice caressed her name– his breath warm against her ear. "Words alone can't define your beauty."

He glanced down and cupped her breasts, each in a hand. They filled his hand to perfection. With thumbs, he creased her nipples until they came taut with pleasure. And then he bent, captured a nipple into his mouth and sucked.

Breathless, helpless, thoughtless; Ella cried his name. With fingers, she combed his wavy black hair, pulling him down to her, giving him all of her.

Her body quivered with phenomenal passion when he moved his mouth to the next nipple and his fingers tugged gently at the other one, now wet. She found herself fumbling with his clothes, eager to have her hands run on his bare skin– feel the heat beneath the material.

He paused feasting on her nipple and helped her out. In a moment, both stood equally naked, admiring each other's beauty all over before he carried her the second time that night to his bed, himself settling besides her.

Aches propped himself on an elbow, his other hand caressing her hair. "I want you," he husked, staring deep into her brown eyes.

Her expression suddenly turned grim, but she said nothing, did nothing. He frowned at seeing a tear glide down her face.

"Don't be afraid, my love. I'll be gentle with you," he said, gently brushing away the tear with a thumb.

Ella closed her eyes. It was impossible to hide the fact that she yearned for his touch, but she wanted him not just for one night but every night– every moment of her existence. She had fallen in love with him. She didn't know when or where or how it happened, but she knew she loved him very much, so much she feared the day she'll be free again, because it meant saying goodbye to her first love.

Her heart wobbled with grief.

In a split of time, Ella had forgotten she was still naked, not until his mouth claimed a taut nipple again that night.

Her lashes fluttered open; she was sure she felt the pull of his mouth right down to her toes. His free hand moved all over her unclad body– found her swollen centre and rubbed, setting dangerous pace upon pace of sensations until she lay, gasping for breath.

Aches was a good player perfect at his tricks because within a minute, he had created raw desires she didn't realize existed. Parting her thighs with his, he came on top of her... that was when it dawned on Ella she was going to officially add up to his list of puppets– very soon.

At the dying minute, she tried to persuade him. "We need to–"

Too late. With a long, hungry thrust, he entered her. Ella winced with pain at the invasion but when he made to pull out, she stopped him by caging his legs with hers.

Still buried deep inside her, Aches froze, afraid any more movement from him will aggravate her pain. How come he never saw the signs? He couldn't believe he was her first; his heart constricted knowing he wasn't worthy of such a gift from her.

"I am sorry." Aches bit into the silence, lacing his fingers through hers– looking deep into those brown eyes. He leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead, then her nose, then her neck. "I love you, Isabella Ray. I promise to cherish this moment all the rest of my life!" he pledged.

Unruly desire for him began to assail Ella. It baffled her that something unexplainable deep inside her still called out to him. Though he had hurt her at the penetration, she was glad it was him that became her first, that made her a woman.

Smiling, she moved her hands up to his shoulders and pulled him down on top of her, so that the hairs on his chest brushed against her breasts.

Their lips met again that night. He kissed her with all the pent-up desire he felt for her, and she responded with a fierce kiss that spoke volumes of sensations and feelings beyond her control. Gently, he began to slide in and out of her warm, tight core.

His weight still propped on his left hand, Aches shifted and caressed her breasts– one at a time, before tracing the length of her hips and laps. With tongue, he circled the top and underside of her breasts, then took a nipple into his mouth again, and sucked.

Ella sank deeper into the bed; moaning helplessly....

Then arching forward, propped on her elbows, she nipped his left shoulder. Glancing down the lane, she saw and felt the thick length of him, probing and giving her pleasure. She sank back into the bed and began to match him, thrust for thrust, tempo for tempo– giving him all that is left of her.

They moved as one.

Ecstasy built higher among the two lovers. His touches and strokes made her burn with a fever only him could ignite, only him could satisfy. The tension gathered and gathered until something zapped deep inside of her.

Aches felt her body spasm around him.

Toes curling, she clung to him, crying his name as her own composure shattered, taking her temporarily away to a world of peace and perfect satisfaction. He plunged deep inside her for the last time, and climaxed next to hers with a raspy groan. Waves upon waves of release flooded all over his body, into her warm nest. Exhausted, both fell into a deep and peaceful sleep– in each other's arm.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Quarter past eight in the morning, Ella awoken; the aftermath pleasure of last night still written all over her face, to discover she was alone in the large bed.

Sitting up, her eyes caught sight of a note placed on the bed. Perplexed, she reached for it, opened it, and read through the contents with eyes that spoke volumes of her weary self.

It read, "I'm afraid I won't be seeing you this morning. I have an urgent meeting with my officers. Do ring the bell on the table when you're dressed up as my servant, Ahmed, will be at your service. I love you – Prince Aches."

Her heart swelled at his last words. Oh, she loved him too! She held the paper to her heart for some seconds still savouring those three words. He loved her. That was all that mattered so far as she lived, even though there was uncertainty in their future. She remembered the scenes of last night; those were memories that will stay forever in her heart.

In a moment, she was dressed up again in her dinner outfit, ready to go. She rang the bell and waited... Then the door flung open, and an enraged Ahmose showed up with no sign of the expected Ahmed.

Stupefied, Ella froze at the spot.

"Congratulations to the latest puppet in town!" he jeered.

Embarrassed, Ella wished for the grounds to swallow her up than to face this caricature from Ahmose. For the first time, she regretted the dinner, hated the feudal lord; hated him for subduing her to the taunting mercy of Ahmose, his rival.

"I wish to be escorted back to my apartment," she mumbled.

Glaring at her, Ahmose came away from the door to stand in front of her. "And you seem to have a pretty short memory that that has been my job for decades; disposing off puppets like you!" he spat the words at her. After what seemed like eternity, he added, "Let's get going!"

During the short drive to her apartment, none spoke to the other. Ella was sure Ahmose despised her now, yet she felt some pity for him. She understood the pain behind his actions– he was hurt.

Both alighted from the ride at her apartment, she took the lead while he followed close behind, still fuming. Opening the door of her apartment, she stepped into the living-room, but he refused to go in.

At her veranda, he muttered sourly, "Have a nice day," and turned to leave.

"I'm sorry, Ahmose!" she called out her apology, herself stepping out to the veranda. "Please don't leave like that... You're my friend."

"-I don't want to be just a friend!"

Even his back to her, Ella could tell he was frowning from his clenched fists. And then unexpectedly, he turned to face her squarely. Everywhere was quiet, except for their voices.

"I thought you were different, Isabella. I thought you had some dignity in you, but I was wrong. You're just like the others, nothing better than a slut!"

"Enough, Ahmose!" Ella snapped, having taken enough from him. "You don't– you don't, Ahmose, have whatsoever goddamn right over me! If you want to feel responsible then go find yourself a woman out there!"

It was Ahmose's turn to be subdued. "Do you love him?" he asked, in a voice so low Ella had to strain to catch the words that formed on his lips.

She shifted uneasily. "Ahmose, stop this please."

"Drat! I knew it!" Ahmose grumbled, loathing the handwriting he saw on the wall. Seconds of silence followed, then a sardonic smile lit his face. "Do you know what he told me this morning?"

Ella braced herself for the worst. "What?"

Beads of perspiration stood-out on her forehead when he began to move towards her. He stopped infront of her, and touched her face.

"He said you seduced him," Ahmose revealed and saw her mouth drop open in shock. "-that you threw yourself cheap at him, and he had taken advantage of that."

Satisfied, Ahmose turned and left a dumbfounded Ella whose legs grew too numb to carry her inside her apartment.

In his entire life, Aches had never been as impatient as he felt all through the meeting with the detectives who handled the investigation of his father's disappearance at sea. The meeting was held in the throne room. Although his body was present in the meeting, his soul, his mind kept drifting away to his new lover and the passion of last night. Those memories of their lovemaking kept replaying in his mind, leaving him aching for more than a night with her.

Prince Aches had never double dated, but he saw himself involving this time, afraid he'll go raving mad the day he'll wake up to know she's gone back to America. It was a sure thing he'll never appreciate another woman sexually again after his experience last night. If he wanted to be in a woman's arm, then definitely, it was going to be Isabella Ray's.

He wondered what marriage with Betresh will be like when he felt this way towards another woman. Breaking up the engagement will cause tongues to wag though not to his face, but that's not even the case. The case being he had no idea if the American felt half the way he felt for her, not after the way he had invaded her innocence with a hungry thrust.

He groaned, to cause the attention of his officers who were in a serious debate. Everywhere silent, all turned their attention to the crown prince, mistaking his groan for anger. Aches seized the opportunity, not allowing them to discover he wasn't even listening to them. He cleared his throat and tried to put up a mean face.

"-Can someone give me a brief summary of all these arguments?" he demanded, enjoying the fear and loyalty he could instill in his subjects, even those far older than him.

Mr. Ahmosept, the officer in charge, stood. "Your Highness," he bowed and continued, "-from the investigations so far, we fear the king's ship was attacked just before it encountered the tempest."

Aches sat up on his seat. "Come again."

"Yes, my lord. The capsized ship has been brought ashore and more series of investigations conducted."

"-Okay?" Aches urged on.

Mr. Ahmosept continued, "The ship was attacked before the rise of the storm. It seemed the enemies were aware of the oncoming storm before they launched an attack."

"Who are these attackers? Pirates?"

"We would have concluded that if any of the treasure boxes in the King's ship was not recovered with the ship, but fortunately they were, so I believe these attackers were out for blood."

"Any clue about the bodies?" Aches asked, a light of hope flashing in his eyes.

The man drew in a sharp breath. "No, Your Highness. No clues about the bodies– yet."

Disappointed, Aches sprang up on his feet and began to pace around his seat. He moistened his lips, his brows pulled up in a frown. "These murderers, didn't they leave any clue behind?"

"Your Majesty, apart from the several bullet holes on the ship, I'm afraid every other evidence has been washed down and probably buried at the bottom of the Red sea." Mr. Ahmosept concluded, bowed again, and settled back in his seat.

"-But I don't get it, who could want my father dead?" Aches asked almost absentmindedly. He frowned at a new thought, "How did they even defeat the Royal Navy on board the King's ship? These attackers, were they too swift and powerful to stop the royal ship from even sending out signals?"

Silence engulfed the room, this was the first time a thing like this was happening to the Egyptian royal family.

Mr. Fukayna, another officer, stood and bowed. "From the evidence we have so far, it's been confirmed the ship was attacked. Now we'll have to run a background check on the King's last days, maybe there'll be a clue somewhere, but my lord, the fact is clear– an enemy or enemies are loose." Mr. Fukayna finished, and settled back in his chair.

"You're right, Mr. Fukayna. An enemy or enemies are not just loose but I'm afraid, close too." Aches acknowledged and paused, then he settled down in his chair. "This meeting is adjourned until further notice," he announced in supremacy, thereby dismissing the gathering.

Then he stood and headed for his office. He had some files that needed to be taken care of. It got him thinking if being a crown prince came with loads of responsibilities like this, then what will become of him as a king. He shrugged off the thought.

In his office, he had worked for hours undisturbed until a soft knock sounded on his door.

"Come in." Aches beckoned. He had expected Ahmed, his favorite servant but disappointingly, Alim, another palatial servant older than Ahmed, showed up.

The young man bowed the instant he stepped into the office. "My lord, lunch is ready," he announced.

Prince Aches' stomach rumbled at the news, to speak of how empty his stomach was. He had skipped breakfast in the morning out of aftermath excitement of last night, and probably lost his appetite after the meeting at learning his father and his subjects were attacked at sea.

"Where's Ahmed?" he questioned, not hiding his disappointment.

"My lord, Ahmed fainted shortly after he accompanied you into the throne room this morning."

"What? Where's he?"

"He was rushed to Royal hospital."

Aches sprang to his feet. "-Get my convoy ready. And please be fast about it!" he dismissed with an order.

So many questions raced across his mind, questions only Ahmed could answer. At the same time, he felt responsible for the boy's health condition. He had grown so fond of Ahmed that he rarely allowed him leave his sight. He had allowed his fondness for the young man to matter more than the young man's days off-duty.

Aches felt wretched. He went sour with guilt.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"You're late doc."

"I know Naunet." Ella replied, flashing her favorite nurse a smile across the hallway. A few steps from both women brought them standing in front of Ella's office. She rubbed her temple, "I was feeling a little bit unstable this morning."

"I'm sorry about that, doc, no wonder you look pale... Why not take a day off?" Naunet suggested.

Ella thought about it. A day off would mean going back to her apartment and sobbing her eyes out just like she had done this morning. Also, Chione had informed her two days ago that she would be traveling to Damietta very early today, to visit a relative, so either way, a day off spelt boredom. No! That was the last thing she wanted. She had vowed while dressing for work, to be strong for herself, and that was exactly how she would be. Strong for herself...she prayed.

"Don't worry about me, Naunet. I'm feeling better now," was the rejoin. Excusing herself, she unlocked her office door and walked in. "Come on in," she beckoned.

While Naunet settled down in a visitor's seat, Ella wore her lab coat.

"So tell me, what's the latest?" Ella queried.

"The three years old girl from the children ward, your little friend, has been discharged this morning. We also have a new patient. And lest I forget, we had a new baby while you were gone yesterday," Naunet supplied.

Ella beamed with joy at the last news. "Baby?"

"It's a baby girl, she's in the nursery."

"I should go see the baby."

"Not so fast doc," Naunet interjected. "I think it would be best you see the new patient first although I understand you have this love for babies."

"Ah! I'm sorry, got carried away." Ella apologized with a grin, "To the new patient!" she cajoled in a pirate's tone as Naunet took the lead.

Ella gasped at the familiar face. "I know him... Is he on sedative?"

"Yes," Naunet replied. "He was so restless and worried when he regained consciousness, too bad for his health," she added with a tone of pity.

"Let me have his file," Ella requested, her gaze filled with compassion.

"Here it is, doc."

Collecting the file, Ella skimmed through, before she spoke again. "Here's suffering from vasovagal syncope."

"Yes, doc. I understand it runs in the family."

Ella moved her gaze from the file back to the patient; she pronounced the names written on the file jacket. "Ahmed Gamal."

"Aren't you seeing the baby again?" Naunet reminded seconds later.

"Of course I will," she answered, handing back the medical file to Naunet.

When Ella got to carry the new baby in the nursery, she felt some inner peace and joy surge through her. While admiring the baby in her arms, a thought slipped through her; what will it feel like to have an Egyptian baby?

Ella swallowed hard knowing very well if she wanted an Egyptian baby or babies in her life, she was sure it was certainly Prince Aches'. She knew with him, she would have the most charming babies imagined. Poor her, she cried. She was wishing for the impossible, dreamt of a man who thought nothing of her.

Though engrossed in thoughts, Ella perceived some kind of noise coming from outside. "What's happening?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Naunet replied, then she excused herself and left the room. Seconds later, she dashed into the room, "–The Prince is here!!!"

"What?" Ella exclaimed, quickly lying back the baby in the incubator. "Prince Aches is here?"

"Yes!" Naunet replied with a swift nod and bolted again out of the nursery.

Alone, Ella paced the room. She didn't want to see him, didn't want him to see her either; not after the way he had humilated her in the morning.

Not long, she reached a decision to stay in there until he was gone, but then, a thought flashed her mind. What if he comes to see the babies? Gosh! Certainly the nursery wasn't the best place to avoid the feudal lord, Ella concluded.

"Yes, the convenience!" she smiled at another thought, and not wasting any time, she slipped into the female convenience.

When Ella was sure everywhere had quietened down, she slipped out from her hiding spot and headed with great hurry to her office. Shortly after she had shut the door behind, her nostrils picked up the scent of a familiar cologne, just before her eyes caught sight of him, standing in-between her shelf and the window.

"Shit!" Ella turned abruptly, reaching for the door handle but his hand settled on her groping hand, another hand clamped on her midriff. Gently, he pulled her away from the door.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"Let – me – go!"

When Aches saw the tears that suddenly filled her eyes and threatened to cascade down her face, he felt he understood the reason behind her somber expression. He heaved a deep sigh, released his hold on her midriff and trapped one of her hands in both of his.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, looking intently at her. "I'm sorry about last night. I broke my promise to be gentle and..."

"-No, no," she interrupted. "Not that."

"What then?"

"You set me up!" she bristled.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded.

She frowned. "Don't you act innocent on me!"

His eyes narrowed into slits. "Please, can you stop beating about the bush."

Ella took a deep breath, and cleaned her face with her free hand; she suddenly felt stupid breaking down in front of him, showing him that he was capable of hurting her.

"Why would you lie to me that Ahmed will be at my service this morning?"

"-But can't you see the young man fainted?"

Ella shook her head stubbornly; she wasn't buying any lies or flimsy excuses. "-Because Ahmed fainted doesn't give you the right to embarrass me the way you did!" She paused to catch a breath. "I mean, of all the guards and servants at your mercy of service, it was your cousin that you choose!"

It hit Aches hard as a large hail. He released her hand, his own face filled with confusion. "Ahmose, Ahmose was the one who showed up?" he asked in bewilderment and tried to imagine what she must have gone through in the morning, it was then he began to understand the reason behind her sudden bizarre behavior.

"My love," he broke the silence, and made to reclaim her hand but she stepped backward. "Believe me, I had no idea Ahmed fainted this morning, the news just got to me. I even skipped my lunch to be here, I swear."

For a split of seconds, Aches wondered at how he'll admit what he knew not about. Baffled, he moved his gaze from her face to the air, back to her face– hers everywhere but him.

"Please stop this. I don't want to pick a fight with you, that will be the last thing I wish for on this earth," he confessed, begged, his heart feeling disquiet.

Ella said nothing.

Aches sighed and smiled. "Can we at least sit down and discuss this like adults?"

"I prefer standing, if you don't mind." Ella retorted, wishing she had the grace to inflict hurt on him half as he could do to her.

"I mind," he said coolly. "Come here," he beckoned with a warm smile wondering what spell she had used on him. It amazed him he's actually stressing himself over making a woman not hate him, something he had never done in his past. He looked at her and smiled again.

Despite she was mad at him, Ella didn't struggle nor move away when he walked up to her and looped his arms around her, instead, his strong masculine body brought confusion upon her anger. The heat of his body dampened every fighting spirit left in her. It was impossible for her to dispel the desire the hand that now stroked her hair evoked.

"Damn it!" she cursed, a pity she still loved him, still felt wanton towards him in spite of how he had hurt her.

She closed her eyes afraid he'll see in them how helpless she felt in his embrace. Somewhere above, his breath, a smooth caress to her skin, fanned her cheeks, a proof he was arching towards her. Her nerves sprang to life the moment he kissed her temple, then her ear.

He trailed hot kisses down to her neck, and then up until his mouth dropped over hers. His tongue penetrated and twinned languidly with hers causing sensations and emotions so powerful that she wanted to thread her arms around his neck and forget about the humiliation.

He took her oxygen, returned it at will. Ella battled to regain her thinking faculty, to restrain the rising passion that threatened her very own decorum.

Aches noticed when her lips went cold but had no glimpse of her next move until she broke from the kiss and slapped him hard across the face. His eyes drifted shut, his body as hard as steel. Even her own body trembled in his steel-like arms as if to remind her that she was nothing but a prisoner at his mercy.

When his lashes fluttered open, Aches set her free from his embrace, a hand resting on the door handle. "Now I know you hate me well," he muttered, and walked out of her office, shutting the door after him.

Ella swallowed and successfully made it behind the office table with her quivery legs, then she collapsed in her chair– her entire body still trembling. A tear escaped her eye but quickly, she dabbed it away with the back of her hand and tried to tend the patients' files on her table.

A tap came on the door, and then Naunet walked in. "Doc– the patient, Ahmed Gamal, has woken," she informed.

Ella closed the file before her, and nodded. "And Prince Aches?"

"He's gone," Naunet supplied. "Is everything okay, doc?" she queried, sensing Ella's glum mood.

"No, no... I mean yes, Naunet, everything is just fine!" Ella lied, forcing a smile on her lips. "I'll be with you in a minute."

"Okay, doc." Naunet smiled, and left.

Alone again, Ella exhaled her pretext, grateful her legs didn't fail her when she stood and moved this time.

"Hey Ahmed!" Ella greeted, walking up closer to stand beside his bed. "How're you feeling?"

A weak smile played on his lips. "Better," he replied.

She returned the smile. "Okay then. Let's check your vital signs, shall we?"

Ahmed nodded slightly in affirmation and waited until she was done examining him, waited until they had some privacy before he spoke again. "I'm sorry I passed out."

"Please don't," she dismissed his apology, still jotting down the records of the checkup. "Ahmed, you shouldn't apologize to me for blacking out because it's not your fault, okay?"

"I failed my prince. I heard he was here some moments ago while I was asleep. He'll be so disappointed at me."

Closing the file, Ella sighed and stared at him for a while before she spoke. "He won't be, that I promise. Now do eat your food, and I think a warm bath will refresh you even more." She finished, and headed back to her office. Grabbing her bag and keys, she locked her office, headed to the reception and signed out.

##

Ahmose paced the familiar veranda absentmindedly as he practiced over and over again the apology.

"-What do you think you're doing at my doorstep?" her voice jerked him to reality.

Ahmose jolted to a stop and smiled at Ella who had just closed from the day's work, smiled as if nothing had happened in the morning.

"I came to apologize," he mumbled.

Ella snickered... So that's it! Today held series of apologies. Then she turned serious and glared at him. "Just this morning you were so mad at me, Ahmose. I- I don't understand what you could be apologizing for."

Ahmose looked at her for a moment...and then sighed heavily. "I'm aplogizing because I lied," he revealed.

Her legs wobbled at the confession. "You're unbelievable!" she muttered and pushed past him for her door. She fumbled with her keys and door lock...then crashed into the nearest sofa in the living room.

Ahmose came leaning on the doorpost as if knowing he wasn't welcomed. "I was here all through last night. I waited for you to return from the dinner but when you didn't, I decided to come searching for you first thing at dawn."

"-Did he send you to me this morning?" she interrupted impatiently, gazing into his eyes.

Ahmose broke his guilty gaze from her probing one, and shook his head. "Prince Aches didn't send me to you, neither did he say the things I told you." He bowed his head and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, very sorry."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Aches wished he could drown himself in the Jacuzzi and end all the pains he felt. He was disappointed if this was how hollow his father must have felt at falling immensely in love with their mother, vowing never to remarry after her death.

As far as he, Aches, was concerned, love is a wretched feeling that gives its victim false hope. How could he after all these years allowed himself to fall in love, like this? He couldn't believe something else rather than the death of a family member could make him feel so broken...he who his people saw as fearless, powerful, and courageous.

Still lost in thought, he stepped out of the Jacuzzi and toweled himself dry. A large towel wrapped around his waist, he exited the bathroom and walked into his bedroom, feeling a little bit relaxed.

Selecting a pair of brown trousers and grey shirt, he dressed in front of his dressing mirror. He had finished wearing the trousers and was on the first button of the shirt when he turned. His eyes went to his bed.

He paused momentarily as he envisioned the passion that had taken place hours ago on this bed, to mark the first time he had ever made love to a woman in his room, in his bed. Not even his fiancée.

That has been his bedroom principle and he wasn't regretting he had broken it with Miss Ray, because that was the most amazing and cherished moment of his life. If only things hadn't gone sour after all that they had shared last night...he gritted.

A soft rap on his door had him jolted out of the reverie. He quickly finished up with the buttons and called in, "Yes?"

Alim walked in, bowed and informed him that dinner has been served.

Betresh was placing her order of meal when he walked into the dining room and settled down in his chair. She glanced up and immediately sensed something was wrong, from his mood. She figured he looked more like absent-minded too.

She shrugged. Whatever the case it was, she knew better it wasn't the best moment to piss him off.

"How was the meeting?" she asked putting up a concerned face.

He stared briefly at her as if to be sure this wasn't one of her teases, but seeing the concern written on her face, he sighed and replied. "Investigation reveals the king's ship was attacked before its encounter with the storm."

"Gracious me!" Betresh gasped gulping down half her glass of water. "If it wasn't the storm that destroyed the ship..." she drawled grateful when he took it from there.

"Investigation is still on but I must warn you, we have a traitor or perhaps traitors loose." He further revealed. "I have sent word to Lalyla...we all have to be careful as we don't have any clue yet who these traitors are, and what their objective could be."

"That sounds scary, my Lord." Betresh humored.

Not saying another word, Aches forced himself to finish his meal.

Betresh studied him from across the table. She could swear it wasn't just the news of a traitor loose that rendered him so glum. There must be something more to it, too bad she was being kept in the dark.

He finished with his meal, cleaned his mouth with a table napkin, before rising from his seat. "Goodnight," he bade her and headed for the door.

Betresh's skeptical gaze followed his whole length as he exited the room. She had the nudge the American had a hand to his depression, but whatever case it was, she would act on it!

She smirked.

Seated in the davenport in his office, Aches skimmed through the documents of the only woman who had ever come to mean so much to him.

Since his return from the hospital, he had fought so hard not to allow the events in her office to replay in his head, but right now, staring at her passports, they did.

Aches had visited the hospital to see Ahmed regarding his health and maybe learn if he had successfully accompanied Miss Ray to her apartment just as he had instructed him to do before entering the throne room. On seeing the young man asleep, he had decided to go check Miss Ray in her apartment only to hear by one of the nurses, Naunet, that Miss Ray had reported to work few hours ago. He had frowned as he had expected her to at least take a day off. It wasn't until he had entered her office and she had joined him minutes later that he learnt she was avoiding him.

She had every right to be mad at him. He knew better how close she has been with his cousin, Ahmose, and exactly how terrible she must have felt on seeing Ahmose instead of Ahmed.

Aches was still brooding when Betresh walked right into his office holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"What do you think you're doing Betresh?" he queried putting away the documents in a cabinet behind his chair.

"Nothing much," she smiled her reply. "I thought you wouldn't mind sharing a drink," she added taking a seat directly opposite him. The lingerie she had just changed into was so transparent he could see her breasts and jutting nipples from across the table.

"Did you wear that all the way from your chamber?" he asked pointing at the lingerie.

She nodded sheepishly, "Yes I did."

He shook his head slightly and rechanged the topic. "I don't want to drink."

"Not so fast honey," she countered shaking a polished index finger on the air. "Anyone can see you're depressed. And I don't see anything wrong with sharing a bottle of wine." She pestered.

His face stern, he stood his ground. "No!"

"That's it!" she snapped with a start, "What have I done to deserve all these harshness from you?"

"Oh! Please save me those tears Betresh," he implored wondering if she was really hurting or maybe just faking it like the other times. But all the same, she was right. He needed a drink, and a glass or two will do.

He sighed. "Okay, you win," he succumbed. "But nothing more than two glasses," he forewarned.

In a hurry to have his privacy again, he rushed his first glass while she lingered in a sip. He had almost drained half the second drink when he noticed a coy smile play on her lips. Not long... he began to feel funny.

He frowned, and examined with eyes the remaining wine in his glass. When he looked up from his glass, he was dazzled to see Ella now seated instead of Betresh.

Again he frowned at the sudden change, watched Ella stand and walk round the table with enticing steps. Next, she settled on his knees, astride, looping her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you back then in my office." She spoke, her voice a whisper.

She ran a hand down over his broad chest, her skilled fingers playing with the buttons of his shirt, her mouth inches away from his. His breath came uneven when she ran a tantalizing hand from his neck down to his back.

Despite the haze of delirious desires that engulfed him, Aches was able to sense within his feeble self that something was wrong, even as she took his hands and placed each on her breasts. Although the hands on her breasts were immobile, she began to moan, her chest rising and falling in an alluring rhythm.

"Missed me?" she asked in a husky voice.

He swallowed and answered with a nod, a pity he couldn't stop his groins from throbbing with heat. Just on cue to his rescue, she bent her head and kissed him on the lips with great expertise, unbuttoning his shirt at the same time.

She broke the kiss to trail down soft lingering kisses to his hard stomach, circling a tongue round his navel. Another tremor ran through his spine the moment she began to fumble with his girdle and within seconds, she held his rigid pintle in both of her hands.

Aches swallowed very hard seeing her hold him as a meatball. The air around him went hotter and thicker when she began to crease his crown with a thumb. She paused to search his face. Pinning him in a sinister gaze, she ran a wet tongue from the base to the crown of his pintle. And then she paused again.

He gasped.

Taking her time, she began to stroke his being with her hands and he rewarded her with a throaty moan. She simpered.

Gadding his fingers through her hair, Aches pulled her closer. Begged her with eyes to temper justice to this hell of nefarious desires that threatened to consume him.

He heaved a sigh when a tongue flickered his crown, before she slowly took the whole length of him in her mouth. Gradually, he closed his eyes and tilted his head backward, allowing her to do to him whatever that pleases her.

Satisfied to see in those eyes before he shut them, the aggravating lust she had created, she increased the tempo until he popped, spurting his cream all over her face.

And then, a fiendish smile played on her lips.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The sun had began to shine bright on the earth when Prince Aches stirred. His head ached a lot and for a moment he tried to figure out in surprise how he had gotten into his bedroom, right into his bed...naked.

Images of last night blurred but he remembered having a drink with Betresh. Then, the sudden disappearance of Betresh and appearance of Ella had amazed him last night, even now. Even the touches, kisses and the way he thought he had climaxed seemed so real.

The next thing was how dizzy and exhausted he felt right now as if he was experiencing some kind of nervous breakdown. Yawning and stretching, he sat up on the bed. For the first time since he had awoken, his eyes caught sight of a feminine figure lying by the other edge of his bed, with her back to him.

He gasped, eyes widened in bewilderment. Could this mean it was for real, the passion he had shared with Ella last night? He shrugged. At least, he was glad she'd learned the truth about his innocence.

"My love..." he called out in a whisper, stretching out a hand to caress hair.

Although he had caressed and touched Ella's hair but a few times, he quickly noted its texture felt a little bit different this morning, and shorter. Nevertheless, he leaned forward in a bid to plant a kiss on her temple. Just then, she began to stir.

Aches stopped halfway. "Betresh!" he blurted. "What in the name of Egypt are you doing in my bed?"

Nonchalant, Betresh yawned and stretched like a satisfied lazy cat.

His gaze still fixed on her, Aches hopped out of the bed to his wardrobe. He found a pair of black breeches, and didn't waste time to jump into them.

"Betresh, can you tell me what's going on here?"

Instead of a reply, she scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I think you owe me a vote of thanks for satisfying you last night, my love," she teased.

He frowned and his gaze narrowed. "D-Did you say satisfy, as in intimate satisfaction?" he stuttered.

At the question, she pulled down the sheets to reveal she too, was in her birthday suit. Aches groaned at the sight, his hands clenching into fists.

"I remember sharing a drink with you, in my office... How did we get in here?"

"We came in through that door," she informed pointing to the door next to his bathroom.

Nodding, he brought his gaze from the door to meet with hers. "What did you do to me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I did nothing to you."

"Then why can't I remember last night like you do?! The few ones I could remember, it wasn't with you."

"Wait. You thought it was the American last night, didn't you?"

She paused, then slowly repeated the question, before bursting into a hysterical laughter.

With long, powerful but lithe strides, Aches walked up to her. Diving for her hand, he yanked her out of his bed and immediately the last string of laughter died. Still grasping her with one hand, he raised the first index finger of his free hand to her face.

A cold shiver ran down her spine. Her gaze fixed on the index finger raised up to her face, Betresh knew she has crossed the line, this time around.

"You can laugh all you want," he started, "-but if I ever find out you spiked me, poisoned me or anything foully Betresh, I promise you'll pay dearly for it!" he gnashed, and then released her arm. A knock on the door interrupted him, "What again?!" Aches drawled and released her, turning to go answer the door since he couldn't let the servants into see her in the buff.

As he headed out, he saw her out of the corner of his eye slump back into his bed, he paused in his tracks. "Dress up and get out of my room before I return," he instructed and proceeded out the room. The anger in him died to the last string the moment he opened the door to find before him the very same woman whom he thought had pleasured him so intently last night.

Guilt erupted through him.

Alim who wavered behind her bowed, "My Lord, I t-tried to s-stop her b-but."

Aches waved Alim to silence, his gaze locked down in her gaze. "You can go Alim," he dismissed the young man.

Ella sighed off her relief and smiled. "G-Good morning Prince Aches," she greeted, and curtsied.

"Good Morning Miss Ray" he replied in confab, scratching a finger in his hair nervously.

"Are you alright?" she queried scanning his appearance. He looked very tired and pale, yet handsome as usual, she smiled.

"Oh! Y-Yes, yes. I'm fine," he returned a nervous smile, beads of perspiration standing out on his fore head.

"O-okay," she smiled again, moistened her lower lip, took a deep breath and continued, "I–I know it's sort of early in the morning-but I want to let you know I couldn't sleep last night after how rude I acted in the h-hospital." She paused and lowered her gaze to her fidgeting hands and then she continued, "I'm very sorry Prince Aches, please forgive me-" She placed a hand over her chest and continued. "Please forgive me and anyone who in one way or the other pissed you off yesterday please."

There was some silence that followed her apology, and then he broke the silence. "It's alright, I-I should be the one apologizing," he whispered, stretching a hand to caress her beautiful face before dropping it back to his side, and then, his eyes drifted shut in a bid to shade the anguish that overwhelmed him.

Ella chuckled at his last words. "You didn't do anything Prince Aches," she brushed aside his apology. "I'm the one, I was the one who wronged you and," she paused abruptly.

Aches opened his eyes; her lips were still parted but the colors had drained from her beautiful face. He noticed her eyes had suddenly widened as if she had seen a ghost, then, she dropped the hand on her chest and muttered, "I can see His Majesty has moved on already."

For five seconds, Aches didn't get a clue of what she meant by that but he sensed danger, a big one, and then he heard a faint movement right behind him. Even though he didn't need to tilt this head to know that Betresh must have come up behind him, still he did, and what he saw was exactly what he had expected except, he didn't expect her to be wearing one of his favorite blue shirts with customized gold buttons, which stopped on her hips.

He cast Betresh a questioning glare but when he turned to face Ella, not knowing from where to start the explanation–she had varnished. Quickly, he dashed off after her, saw her descending the stairs with much ado speed.

"Ella wait!" he called out.

But she didn't, instead, she doubled her pace.

With a flash, he hurdled down the staircase and was able to catch up with her just before she got to the last step. Finally, she stopped with her back to the wall while he brought himself to stand in front of her

"I–I can explain please," he implored in a breathless voice.

Ella blinked to hold back tears, at the same time forced a smile. "You don't have to", she sighed heavily. "I have to go," she mumbled and turned to go but he caught her wrist and held her in place.

"It's not what you're thinking, I swear." He tried to persuade her to understand him, "I don't know how it happened, it's confusing but I-I'm innocent. I never wanted it to happen."

She twitched the corner of her mouth. "-I don't care," she lied. "I mean she's your fiancée and you both so much have the right to be together."

"-But you know how I feel about you, I care for you!" He paused and ran a trembling hand through his hair. "I understand you're hurt and-"

"Why would I get hurt?" she cut him off.

"-Because I know you love me, it's natural to-"

She forced a scoff. "I–love–you? You really think I love you, don't you?"

His gaze narrowed. "Don't you, don't you love me?" his voice came like a whisper.

Ella wriggled her wrist free from his hold. "I must admit I find you attractive but nothing close to love. I want you to stay away from me because–I hate you!" She stoned the last three words at him and sniffled.

Aches flinched, his eyes darkened then a crest formed on his fore head. Slowly, he nodded his acceptance. "Now I know, now I know you're just a distraction!" he blurted and it was her turn to flinch.

"Oh, that's -that's great!" she rasped and slowly, she turned away and descended the last step.

He said no more, neither did he move a muscle; he just watched her with a flash of agony until she was out of his sight. Then a tear glided down his face at how he had in advertently sucker-punched the woman he so much cared for, the only woman he had ever come to love.

"Oh my goodness, you're crying!" Betresh jibed from atop the stairs with her body leaning on the rail. "Isn't it amazing the prince of Egypt cries?" she added.

Aches heaved a sigh, wiped off the tear before retreating up the stairs. Betresh straightened up as he moved closer to her.

"Why are you still in my clothes? Why were you even in them in the first place?" he demanded mounting the final stairs.

"Because you stripped me last night in your office, remember?" He tried to remember but he couldn't, memories of last night were still blurry. "And you know," she continued, "The door leading to your office from your room will pick up its sensors if touched when you aren't in," she defended, raising her brows and hands, "So I figured I should wear this."

"Whatever!" he cut her off. "Just get out of the shirt!"

A sardonic smile played on her lips, "Okay." There and then she began to loosen the buttons in an alluring manner.

"What are you doing, Betresh?"

She paused mechanically, "Taking off the vest of course."

Aches groaned. "Are you nuts? How will you strip here, what if a guard or someone walks in?"

"-But you said I should get out of the vest!" she retorted.

"I meant in your room!" he growled, and walked past her for his suite.

Betresh smirked, trailed after him with sarcastic eyes until he was lost to his suite.

In the convenience of the labor room; Ella picked up her towel and dried off her hands after a hand-wash, glad the labour which she and her medical team had just rounded off few minutes ago was a success. Still drying her hands, she looked into the mirror before her and instead of seeing her replica, the events of the morning played projected from her heart into the mirror. For the first time since he left the Abdeen palace in the morning, she broke in to tears.

Betrayal, pain, dejection; she felt them all– especially the pain, it clutched her heart. She kept telling herself she had no right to be mad at him, mad at them, because as far she was concerned, he was the greatest moron on earth to have fallen in love with a man whom she knew very well was too much for her, a man she couldn't afford to have.

Sighing, she leaned forward to the wash bowl and washed her face, before drying it with her towel .Ready to go, she straightened to her full height and stepped out of the convenience, into the labour room. She went to the new mother and congratulated her.

"Thank you doc," the woman replied and smiled.

Ella reciprocated with a broad smile, not because she was too over whelmed with the delivery though she was actually overwhelmed, but because that was the only way she could shut out the memories of the morning from residing in her head.

The labor room door came open and Naunet brisk-walked to Ella, she leaned forward to Ella's left ear and whispered, "Someone wants to see you at the reception doc."

Ella's heart gave a sickening jolt but before she could ask Naunet who this visitor was; Naunet had already joined the other two nurses in wheeling the new mother to the maternity. Swallowing hard to dislodge the lump of tension that had suddenly risen to her throat, she stepped out from the labour room and strode towards the reception .She wasn't expecting anyone and right now, she wasn't even in the mood to see any one either. With a hand resting on the reception's door, she paused and drew a deep breath and continued.

"Good evening," Ahmose greeted, standing abruptly from his seat.

She threw her head backward and heaved a deep sightseeing it was just Ahmose

"Good evening," she replied, her eyes going to a wall clock; 6pm, she noted. She brought back her gaze to him and watched him strode over to her with his hand sucked in his pocket.

"I checked your apartment just few minutes ago but you weren't in so–I figured you might be here."

"Yes–I decided to give a helping hand tonight .We were expecting a baby, and it was a success."

"Wow, congratulation."

She forced a grin but said nothing.

"Can I talk to you, in private?" he implored.

-"No," she declined brusquely.

"P-please, I won't take more than thirty minutes of your time."

Ella looked at him for a while then slowly nodded in affirmation. "My office is this way," she indicated and took the lead. In her office, she motioned him to one of the visitor's chairs in front of her table, herself settling in her personal chair opposite him. He smiled his thanks.

To maintain a friendly environment, she managed to ask what she could offer him as a first timer in her office but his answer came in a gentle negation."-Okay. I'm all ears," she beckoned, leaning backward on her chair, her left hand placed on the table and the other, over her mouth.

Ahmose cleared his throat slightly. "I have been selfish and stupid; have been over- protective and possessive of you at the same time. I also have come to understand it in a bitter way that you love my cousin."

"Ahmose," Ella made to interject but he cut her off with a wave.

"None of this makes sense, me loving you, you loving him but trust me when I say I'm sorry. I'm sorry Ella–very sorry." He apologized and arched forward to place a hand over hers on the table. "We can still be best friends–can't we?"

Ella looked at their hands on the table, moved her gaze to his and smiled, then she moved her free hand over it and turned serious "I will, if you can bring yourself to forgive me after the way I rudely walked you out of my house."

-"I deserve more than that, but forgive you? I long did."

Tears filled her eyes. "I don't know what to say, Ahmose."

"Then say nothing."

She sniffled, "Thank–you, for being my friend."

Ahmose smiled and bowed slightly; "It's my pleasure. How about we go sightseeing tomorrow-after work?"

Ella held in a laugh, "How about a lunch at Feetera?

"Your wish is my command!" he gurgled and the two exploded with laughter.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Yesterday, a wonderful day for Betresh to have witnessed the two love-birds exchange bitter words. Months ago, things were falling well into plan until that fretful doctor had appeared from nowhere to thwart that which had cost her so much. The American poised a great threat to her and she, Betresh will ensure an end is put to that, then and only then, Prince Aches would come back to her, in grief.

Not knowing when she began to pace her room, she paused in front of her four-step chest–drawer and came up with a bunch of keys. Now squatted, she flickered with the keys of the third drawer, and came up with a bottle with a written paper tag 'mescaline'. Slowly, she threw her head backward in the air, and then, let out a low malevolent laughter.

When alight rapping sound came on the door, quickly, she replaced the bottle and keys from where she had taken it and straightened up to her full height. "Come in," she beckoned looking into mirror of the chest-drawer which reflected the door behind her.

The door pushed open followed by a maid who curtsied, "My lady, lunch is served."

"Good! You can go," she shooed the girl.

When the door came closed again, Betresh shuffled over to her dressing mirror to re-adjust her make-up even though she was sure Prince Aches won't be coming down for lunch after doing again same to the breakfast this morning.

With an air of pride and beguilement, Betresh stepped out of her chamber and gaited for the dining room only to be shocked at seeing Aches already seated. From the look of things, he was actually enjoying every bite of his meal he didn't even seem to notice her presence. Her gaze fixed on him, she settled into her regular seat, and placed her order of meal, then she turned heart tension back to him. "I can see someone is done grieving!" she hassled.

Aches took a long drink of his juice and for the first time looked up from his plate to cast a cold glare at the Beelzebub of a fiancée seated across him, and then he lowered the glass on the table. Cleaning his mouth, he signaled the servants to take way his plate.

"You know very well of how I loathe nags, Betresh."

She simpered, chewing at her meal with appetency. It's amazing at how she'll disrupt his meal only to enjoy hers like a predator?

She shrugged, "I know you do, but it's mesmerizing to see you've finally come back being you!"

"You infuriate me Betresh. I feel so stupid to have proposed marriage to a vexatious being like you!"

"-You know the reason behind my behavior!" She fired.

"Oh please, you've always been tetchy, even before her arrival. Betresh, I have watched out for changes in you but it isn't forth coming!"

"-Well, we're engaged and there is no going back!"

Despite the anger that welled up in him, Aches couldn't help laughing. Betresh glowered at him furiously. He heaved a deep sigh, "Is that what you really think? That I'm stuck in this hell with you?" he queried, leaning back to prop his back against his chair. Silence stretched in the room except the tapping rhythm of Aches' finger on the table. He left her contemplating what his next move was all about. And then, he smiled.

"Do you remember what I said yesterday; about finding out if you spiked my drink. Do you?"

She nodded, "I do," she added.

At her response, he dived in a hand into his pocket and came up with an envelope. He held it to the air, and then propelled it to her on the table. It stopped just before her plate. "It's for you. Open it."

Betresh shifted uneasily, her stare travelling slowly from Aches to the envelope, and then back to Aches, her gaze narrowed. "What's this?" she gestured.

"You'll never know until you open it."

Perspiration prickled her skin; she didn't knowing why she had a bad feeling about this. Stuck in between curiosity and anxiety, she went for the envelope and opened it. A paper fell off. She looked up at him again; his gaze was fixed at her. She swallowed, and began to unfold the paper.

It was a medical test report.

Aches watched her from his end the smile on his lips froze remembering what was written in that paper she held.

Slowly, she looked up from the paper and broke the silence. "Okay, you did a lab-test? Fine! What about it? You're my fiancé remember?"

"From this moment onward, I cease to be," he announced.

"You can't break up this engagement you fool! Betresh flared, her body began to vibrate anger.

He raised his brows in an in different manner "Well I just did."

She shook her head vigorously as if to shake off the reality set before her. "You're sick!" she gnashed.

A sarcastic grin lit his face, "I was, but thanks to the mescaline of a drug you added to my drink."

Betresh sucked furiously in her breath, "We both know how much you hate scandals," she reminded, emptying her glass of water.

"Let me deal with the scandals, anything other than you, Betresh."

Mechanically, she picked her glass and hurled it towards his head, but he ducked and it smashed on the wall behind. The guards at the dining entrance rushed in at hearing the smash, waiting for an order, Aches' order.

Aches lurched to his feet, his eye snow blazed with fury. "It's not such a hard thing to have you executed!" he shrilled."I am this," he beaked his thumb and index finger. "I am this close!"

Despite the fear within her, she let out a brittle laugh. "Of course you can Prince of Egypt! But you wouldn't. You'll never raise a hand on a woman!"

He chortled, then turned serious, "Don't go getting delusion of grandeur Miss, you have but an hour to get your things out of this palace or," he twitched the corner of his mouth. "Or you'll see how lenient I can really be," he gigged, before breezing out of the large room.

"You haven't seen the last of me, Prince Aches. I promise!!!" she yelled after his shadow in gritted teeth.

To mark the end of the short trip which they had embarked since afternoon, Ahmose saw Ella off to her apartment. Most times when he stole quick glances at her, he noticed she was melancholic, despite how lively she had tried to appear. Ahmose knew better it had to do with his cousin of a prince, but he couldn't figure out the rest of the jigsaw, nevertheless he decided to pry when they got to her threshold.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, touching her arm. "We are friends, and friends don't keep secrets from each other, right?" he added.

Ella stopped and turned so that they now face each other. His gaze was compassionate like that of a brother she never had. "Y-yes, everything is fine," she swallowed and ran a slightly quivering hand through her hair. "J-Just having a slight headache, that's all," she finished and forced a smile.

Something in her alerted her he won't buy those lies, and that was true. He didn't. His brow pulled together in a frown, "I made clear to you the other day that he didn't say any of those things I said, and I'm really sorry for those lies."

She rubbed her temple, "Yes, you did."

"-Then what's it? What are you hiding from me?"

A lump suddenly rose to her throat; she swallowed hard to dislodge it. She didn't want to talk about the incident of yesterday morning at Abdeen palace, and at the same time, she didn't want to make a friend feel bad. Stuck as she was, Ella didn't realize that tears had now filled her eyes.

-"Oh, no!" he mumbled and put his hands gently on her shoulders, then looking straight into her eyes. "I guess we forget that topic, huh?" he suggested, to her relief.

Nibbling at her lips, she nodded.

"Come here," he beckoned, with open arms.

Slowly, she walked into his embrace, and gladly took the comfort he offered, burying her head against his chest. The tenderness she found in his arms couldn't sooth the pain she felt in her heart, but it somewhat brought some relief. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Ella closed her eyes and when she reopened it, she stepped out of his embrace.

"You need to get some rest," again he suggested and leaning forward, he kissed her temples, "Goodnight."

She turned up the corners of her mouth in a smile and replied, "Goodnight and thanks for the tour."

He took a step backward and bowed slightly, and then he turned and disappeared into the surrounding darkness.

Exhausted, Ella switched off her lights after a warm bath, and slumped into her bed immediately, drifting into a peaceful sleep the next minute. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes- to hour, and then hours. Suddenly her lashes fluttered open; she thought she heard her main door squeak. Raising her head slightly from the pillow, she listened for a while, but nothing– she heard nothing, saw nothing. For seconds, she pondered in darkness if she had locked the front door. Despite she was sure she did, she decided to go and check it out.

Swiveling around on her bed, she stretched a hand and switched on the lamp at her bedside and her eyes went to the wall clock– 1:00am. Yawning, she slipped out of bed and crossed over to her dressing table where she kept her torch in a drawer. She pulled open the drawer and went still after perceiving movements behind her, and when her eyes darted wildly into the mirror before her, she caught sight of a masculine masked figure moving towards her on tip-toe.

Shock slammed through Ella.

The intruder, having seen that he had been spotted, launched at her in full force. She dodged sideways thereby leading her attacker to crash into the dressing mirror, down to the floor, then she heard him utter curses in a staccato voice.

Quickly, Ella clambered up her bed down to the floor and began darting for the living room, only to be clouted hard on the stomach by yet another intruder at the adjoining door, sending her back to the room– crashing on the floor. Her first attacker scrambled up to his feet and pounced at her, his big body pining her to the floor. Wrenching her wrists to her back, he bound them with a rope so tight Ella was sure she heard her skin break.

Dazed, Ella's eyes watered with pain. "Who the hell are you, and what do you want from me?" she managed to ask when she regained her voice. The second intruder signaled the first, and he yanked her backward on her knees, smacking his big hand over her mouth, he forced her face up to behold at the adjoining door.

Although the second intruder stood beside the door, Ella had a nudge there was something else, someone else they wanted her to see so she focused and peered into the darkness. And then, she pictured a figure lurking in there. Terror clawed through her heart and it began to beat faster and faster. And then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing her unruffled self to steady- panic would be a bad idea in such situation.

When she reopened her eyes, she peered into the darkness at the adjoining door, and this time, the lurking figure stepped out into light. This figure like the other two wore a mask and a gun holstered to a leather should-strap. Nevertheless, Ella could depict it was feminine despite it was dressed like the male counterparts who wore breeches, shirts and boots.

Ever so slow, intruder number three came squatting before Ella and began to pull off the mask. A crimson hair came to view, then a familiar female face. Ella gasped, eyes widened like a meatball in total disbelief at the face she now behold.

Lordia? No, no, that was one enemy she didn't plan to meet. In a menace, Lordia pulled out a gun and Ella cringed at the sight, but she was shoved back to position by Mr. Big. Smirking, Lordia straightened to her full height. And then she raised her gun, and concussed Ella.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Lordia listened to the closing sound of the trunk, her gloved hands tightened around the wheel of the speedster. Lifting her head to look into the rear-view mirror, she saw Mr. Big slip into the car, and in less than a minute, Number Two opened the front passenger door and settled in the passenger seat beside her.

With a last scan of the street of the great Abdeen palace which now stood isolated in the midnight, she started the semi-silent engine of the speedster, and headed for the old abandoned track road which will lead them out of the Abdeen square and then Cairo, also avoid the night patrols on the main route. Maintaining a very high speed for the next two hours got them out of Cairo. Lordia stirred west and headed for Giza through the highway. To avoid being spotted, she switched off the head lamps grateful the moon illuminated the earth.

This was a night for lovers, Lordia admired. A night she would have been in the arms of her lover if he wasn't killed by the military all because that glitch of a doctor had aided the Egyptian girl to escape. Raw aggression spiked her blood. She wished she could drill a hole in her captive's brain or even, slash her throat with a scimitar.

"Focus Lordia!" second intruder growled. He had noticed how her hand tightened on the wheel, and he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Lordia exhaled sharply, and then nodded. She took her left hand off the wheel and pulled off her mask. Then she raked the hand through her hair before bringing the hand back to its initial position, on the wheel. She wished they weren't to beat time, she would have preferred a camel ride through the desert. Fill her lungs with the morning air, pull out a scimitar and slash the throat of that-, she stopped, sucking furiously in a breath.

Second intruder glanced at the dashboard, saw how the speedometer rose geometrically. He mumbled swear words in Arabic and for the first time since the journey, he reached for the seatbelt and strapped it on. Mr. Big did the same but unlike Number Two; he was amused by the speed.

Velvet dusts clouded the atmosphere as they raced up a plateau through a dusty track. Kicking sounds began to emanate from the trunk, evidence that their captive had regained consciousness, but they played a deaf ear because any unnecessary delay will have them engulfed in the fast approaching dawn.

Again, the stumping sounds from the trunk resumed, this time louder. It persisted, annoying the three. A small village had just appeared far down the west of the plateau, the kicks might give them away to villagers, travelers or hunters.

"Stop the car!" Snapped Number Two.

When the car screeched to a halt, the desert dusts didn't waste time in enveloping it. Number Two stomped out of the car. Lordia switched off the engines of the speedster and followed suit. She unlocked and raised the trunk open to Number Two, and then she retired gleefully behind the wheel. He had her support to do whatsoever be it that pleased him to do unto the doctor. Strangle, slash her throat, or shoot her, anything!

It would make her day.

Number Two glared down the trunk, at the captive who now lay still like a statue, lay as if she wasn't the one generating those noises. Swearing, he dived in and yanked her by the arm to stand barefooted on the sand but every desire to punch her continuously until she passes out was dissolved when he looked closer at her tear-stricken face.

Compassion rippled him.

He understood he was the very reason she had entered this mess from day one, her life seemed to be rosy until he had made that one big mistake of taking her with them. It had actually touched him on that fateful day. An American was capable of laying down her life for that of her Egyptian patients and colleagues.

Number Two sighed and brought his attention back to the stupefied face before him, noticed she was making muffling sounds from her tied mouth. A glimmer of hope flooded through Ella as he made to untie the cloth, but he stopped half way.

"Don't cut off your nose to spite on your face," he spoke to her for the first time, his voice a low growl.

Although Ella didn't get the drift, she hastily nodded in affirmation, also gave her masked captor an assuring look. At first, he hesitated knowing looks can be deceiving but then he threw caution to the wind. He reached behind her head, and undid the bound.

Ella drew in fresh air into her mouth, exhaling through her nostrils, grateful she didn't regain consciousness in a coffin buried in some cemetery. But right now, her head throbbed with hemicrania and when she glanced behind and sighted the pyramids and sphinx from afar, her eyes widened in shock. She knew better that the pyramids and sphinx are located at Giza. Good grief, she wasn't in Cairo anymore, but Giza? She looked at her masked captor as an idea flashed her mind, "I want to answer nature's call, please."

"No," he shook his head.

"Oh please, I'm so pressed right now," she pestered, wriggling her body in rhythm.

Lordia stepped out of the car, bristled at the delay. "What's going on?" She spluttered. Number Two explained what Ella had told him.

"If you're permitting her then be fast about it, this is almost past four," Lordia retorted and slid back into the car.

Number Two brought his gaze back to Ella, reaching for her arm; he whisked her round so that she had her back to him. Then he thrust a hand into his pocket and came up with a pen-knife.

Ella thought she'll die of relief when her hands came free. She surveyed and rubbed them and looking up, her gaze met her captor's. There was something about him she couldn't jig-saw, something about his height, his voice. She had this nudge he was familiar too.

Number Two watched her through his mask. He knew better the smart pant was trying to figure things about him. "You have but two minutes," he muttered and began to turn away to give her some privacy.

"Excuse me," Ella interrupted.

"What again?" he growled, facing her squarely. Even his eyes burned like coal through the mask.

She tossed a chin at Mr. Big who was visibly ogling at her from the rear window. He too like Lordia had pulled off his mask, and it got Ella curious why this particular one still wore his. "I'm still exposed," she complained.

Number Two heaved a sigh not knowing why he had a bad feeling about this. But to speak of, there was no escape for her in this desert. Before she'll think of that, they'll be on her, but nevertheless, he gazed into her eyes to be sure this wasn't some kind of foul play. Ella tried not to blink, even a little. Number two sighed again, and then tossed his head sideways to a large rock that stood before the slopes of the plateau, off the dusty track.

"Two minutes," he reminded, swinging away to begin the timing.

After nodding in confirmation, Ella spun to her heels, to the said direction. Damn the bastard if he really believed she wanted to take a slash. She knew the others might be watching her from inside the car so she played cool behind the rock, motioned her body as if she was pulling down her pajamas. Then she squatted.

A quick glance down the plateau, Ella caught a glimpse of four travelers, each on a separate camel. From the look of things, it seemed they are heading towards the East. Quietly, she got on her fours, her heart thudding in her mouth. She knew the implications of what she was about to do, -death, but this too may be her only chance for escape.

Opportunity seldom knocks twice.

Number Two glanced at this watch, "Time up!" he announced turning to face the rock. He brought out a rope to bind her up again. He waited....-but heard nothing, saw no one. "I said time up!" he growled, advancing the rock. He leaned forward over the rock, but she was gone.

Gone!!!

Gritted teeth, he drew in a rage-filled breath. Hands clenched in a fits, his eyes darted about the panorama and for the first time, he saw the travelers and his captive or say ex-captive racing towards them.

Fighting against every desire to shout for succor, Ella ran as fast as she had never done in her life. Despite the chilling desert breeze, perspiration trickled from her face down to her body. Shouting for help from afar will notify her captors that she was on the move. God help her. When she heard boots squeaking in the sand atop the slope, she took a quick rear glance and saw Number Two plunging down after her. Now there was no need for the silence.

"Help!!! Help me somebody!!!" she shrieked. "Hey!!! Over here, please!!!"

Luckily for Ella, the last traveler on the cue heard her voice and tilted his head about the desert in search of the owner. And then he spotted her. She saw him call out to the others. Her face beamed with joy, but her moment of joy is short lived when her racing captor caught up with her. He had her by the hair and then, the waist. Next, he hauled her violently down to the rough ground.

Pain sparked under right elbow which she had landed on, heralding the presence of fresh cuts. Quickly, she swiveled to face her assailant, praying the travelers heed to her call of distress but for now, she'll give this bastard a fight.

Ella began thrashing with legs and hands.

Damn the bastard! He dodged almost all her kicks with an expertise that baffled her. Who was he? Why still under the mask? With that, she changed course and now aimed her thrusts for his face, taking her assaulter unawares. Then the mask came away and her jaws dropped opened when she saw Reo, just when she thought she had seen enough shocks for the night.

His eyes glittered with anger, his breath just like hers, heavy. Her seconds of hesitation cost her and he had his gun pointed to her slender waist. When she averted her eyes from his face and saw the firing weapon, and felt its weight pushing into her sides, she cowered; her gutsy-spirit melting away. In between her thighs, Reo glanced up and saw the travelers now galloping towards them. He gnashed slamming a hand hard on the sand. The travelers will soon be on them in less than ten minutes, and then he brought down his gaze to hers.

"-Do as I say doc and you'll leave this desert alive. You do otherwise, I won't hesitate to rocket bullets into your pale body!" he swallowed, his breath still coming in pants. "This gun," he pressed it deeper into her side. "This gun is fully loaded. Before these men will get you to the nearest hospital, your soul won't be able to hang on in your lifeless body. Do you get me!" he growled low and saw her nod vigorously, tears streaming down her face.

"Now stop those tears, I won't be taking those either," he mumbled, tucking his mask under their body. At his last command, Ella reached for her face and smudged the tears away. Satisfied at her present appearance, Reo shot a last look at the advancing travelers, they were almost on them.

"Kiss me," he whispered.

"-What!" she grimaced.

"Do it! As if your life depends on it!" he threatened.

Slowly, Ella squeezed her eyes shut, her hands reaching out to hold his face, she arched forward, and kissed him.

At a close range, the travelers reined their camels to a halt. They caught a glimpse of figures sprawled in the sand. This woman in particular didn't seem to appear like one in need of rescue but one in the trails of passion. Nevertheless the one who had heard Ella initially climbed down his camel, but still grasped the camel's head girdle. He knew it was rude to interrupt the privacy of couples, yet he went ahead.

He coughed slightly, "Excuse me," he started in Arabic. "Is everything okay here, we heard yelling?"

Reo broke the kiss, angled his head ten o'clock at the quartet guests. "Hey!" he forced a smile, not moving an inch, "We–we're fine. My wife and I enjoy playing hide and seek under the moonlight," he replied, also in Arabic. He leaned forward as if he wanted to kiss her ear, "Smile!"he whispered to her.

The moment the man saw Ella smile, he shrugged and apologized for the intrusion with a slight bow, then he mounted his camel and quickly, the quartet of travelers reversed their camels and headed on to the East thereby falling very well into Reo's guile.

Ella's hope gnawed away, and to add salt to injury, Reo's brows pulled together in mockery. Torrents of tears filled her eyes and began to stream down her face. All she had wanted was to run away from home and start up a new life here in Egypt. Never did she expect things to go this way, from being captured to detained, and then re-captured and the worst, stupidly fall in love. It got her wondering which was worst. Running away from home, getting captured, being detained or falling in love with a Prince you're not sure of spending the future with? Now tears of pain, frustration and hopelessness came cascading down her already tear-stricken face.

Reo waited until the travelers were far out of sight before he jerked to his feet, then he dragged her to stand on hers. Ella glanced down and saw he still had his gun pointed at her, she swallowed hard.

"Get moving," he growled.

Ella obeyed and buckled forward, up the steep with Reo close behind. Up again on the plains of the Plateau, Lordia darted furiously at her and struck her hard on the face.

"Next time you try this stunt, I promise you'll be dead before you realize it!"

A soft snort escaped Reo, "There won't be a next time, that I promise," he muttered and holstered his gun. Picking up the rope from where he had dropped it, he had her wrists harshly wrenched to her back, and then he tied them up.

After tying up her hands, he picked up one end of the rope and bound them around her ankles, effectively hobbling her like the ship of the desert. When Ella thought he was done, he came up and tied a rag over her mouth, before in a swift, he swopped her into the trunk of the car. With one more look at her, he simpered, and slammed the trunk shut!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Exactly quarter past six in the morning, the speedster raced up a rocky hill and the village now stood miles below and far behind. A dilapidated two storey building with crumbled fence came into view signifying the end of the journey. They pulled up in a dusty dirty compound which said much of the isolated property.

Lordia and Mr. Big alighted and headed for the trunk in exception of Reo who remained seated in the car brooding about the kiss he had shared with the American. The moment Lordia opened the trunk; Mr. Big dived in for their captive and had her jerked to the ground. He slashed the rope that bound her ankles and wrists and quickly pulled his gun to her head.

Ella sucked in her breath at how many times a day these bastards would have their guns aimed at her; then she resolved within herself not to let them subjugate her. Americans are no cowards and right now, she was committed to brave up till her last breathe.

"Follow me," Lordia ordered.

Sighing, Ella obeyed while Mr. Big trailed after.

At the main entrance to the building, they met four rough looking men armed with swords and fire arms. From the way Lordia and Mr. Big exchanged pleasantries with them brought awareness to Ella they were together.

What – the – hell? So the tomb raiders had recruited more members into their gang. Then, Lordia proceeded into a hall way up a fleet of stony-dusty stairs and cobwebbed walls. On the second floor, they turned right and stopped before a heavily reinforced door with iron work. The door came open and the three walked into a large tiled room.

Wildly, Ella glanced about the room. The room was empty except for an arm-chair, cobwebbed chandelier and four rusted lamp-stands that stood at each corner of the room. A fleet of stairs stood by the left side of the room, Ella was sure it led to somewhere in the last floor. She couldn't help spot a sword lying on the chimney piece; little did she know Lordia had traced her gaze.

Lordia sniggered, "You want to play hardball doc?" She jibed, and then quirked her brows, "I don't think so."

Descending foot sounds began to emanate from atop the stairs, and nothing prepared Ella for the shock that greeted her when she looked up only to behold Betresh. Two ragged- dressed men armed like those they had met at the entrance, shuffled after her. Betresh came away from the stairs and headed for the arm chair, standing in front of it, she turned to Lordia in a swift.

"Where's Reo? And what in the name of Egypt kept you so long?"

Lordia made to start her explanations in Arabic, but Betresh cut her off with a wave of hand. "Save me that Arabic, the American understands that by the way."

Lordia turned and glared at Ella with a shock. So, the American had fooled them when she was treating her ex, pretended she couldn't hear them while she totally could. Still fuming, she turned to Betresh. "The doctor tried to escape but Reo had the matter under control and Reo, he's downstairs probably still in the car." Lordia summarized.

Betresh moved her unexpressive gaze to her victorious rival. Yes, she must admit the shameful fact that the American had defeated her drastically, twisted all her plans and lowered her to nothing. "So you thought you can escape, doc?" She brought out a pack of cigarettes, shoved a stick into her mouth and the man by her left lit up the cigarette for her. She drew in first shots of fumes then puffed out the first set of smoke in the air. Her body vibrated with rage, frustration and defeat. Next, she snuggled into the arm-chair, legs crossed to reveal a generous amount of thick laps.

At seeing the exposed laps, the pains Ella had managed to shut-away for days now, once again reared up its ugly head. Images of Aches touching and probably caressing those laps, pleasuring himself in between them played. Her eyes watered.

Betresh saw the pains in the American's eyes and gloried in them. She signaled and Lordia snipped at the cloth bound over Ella's mouth. Ella squeezed her eyes to shut out those hurtful memories because they were bringing more harm than good to her condition. Re-opening her eyes, she fixed her gaze on Betresh, "What do you want from me?" her voice croaked.

"I want your life." Betresh replied.

"Why would you want to take my life?" she bolded up.

Her bravery infuriated Betresh even more, she winked a brow at Mr. Big who was still standing right behind Ella and he kicked her calf causing her to crash roughly to the floor on her knees.

Ella welcomed some fresh cuts.

Silence stretched in the room.

"Maybe I should tell you my story doc, so that you may know better whom you're kneeling before," Betresh recommended, puffing more fumes in the air. Slowly, she stood from the chair and commenced pacing the room in front of Ella.

"My parents once lived in Luxor where I was born. We used to be one small happy family not until my father started keeping an affair," she started and continued, "My mother found out and murdered my father in cold blood. She got arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. I went to live with the only relative I've got, my aunt. This aunt of mine was married with no child, so she adopted me. Five years later, my mum died in jail."

Touched, Ella didn't know when the word breezed out, "I'm sorry."

"Shut up!!" Betresh fired. "To hell with your sympathy, I don't need them!"

Again, silence engulfed the room. She sighed angrily and continued, "Then, I started having feelings for my aunt's husband. My body found no rest until I made him sleep with me."

Ella tried not to grimace at the imagination.

"He was my first and I was eighteen. Until one day, the idiot walked up to me and asked we stop seeing each other. I threatened to tell his wife if he stopped seeing me, but to my wildest shock, he confessed to his wife the next day." She paused to smoke and then, resumed. "That very night, the couples teamed up and kicked me out from their house."

Ella shifted her weight to one knee, could this get any better?

"I traveled to Alexandria, lived on the streets and then one day, I found my way to China." She smiled to herself. "Although there was a chance of new livelihood over there, I returned to Egypt with a changed identity. Guess why?"

"I don't know, maybe revenge?" Ella suggested.

"Oui! I formed a gang with Mr. Rasarani."

Curiosity rippled Ella, her gaze narrowed, "So, did you revenge?"

Betresh's face crinkled up with a smile "I told you, yes. Yes means oui. That's French," she explained. Now fast-forward to an open Royal gala early last year which was when I met Prince Aches for the first time."

Ella shuddered at hearing the name.

"He caught my eye, not just mine, but that of all the ladies as usual. It's not every day you see a tall, fiercely handsome rich prince, you know."

Despite Ella's hurting situation, a faint smile played on her lips. All thoughts ceased as she pictured Prince Aches smiling, talking, eating, and kissing her. She stopped, not wanting to go further, she joined Betresh.

"He was a tough one just as the maidens had foretold at the gala, but I knew better how to handle his type," she paused and attended to her cigarettes. "But I had one major problem," she revealed raising a first index finger. A crest formed on Ella's temple as she tried to decipher that one major problem, when she couldn't materialize one, Betresh came up with the answer. "His father," she revealed.

Breath lodged in Ella's throat. "You don't have a hand in the king's death, do you?" Instead of answering the question, Betresh burst into a hysterical laughter. "This is not funny Betresh!" Ella snapped and immediately the laughter ceased.

"The man never liked me!" Betresh retorted. "Plus, if he was still alive, Prince Aches would never have proposed to me!"

Again, curiosity rippled Ella, she frowned. "So how did you do it, I mean defeat the royal navy and crew sailing onboard the king's ship with the king?"

"Mescaline," Betresh revealed, tossing the remains of her cigarette at Ella.

Ella gasped. She knew the drug too well and its' power to cause hallucinations to its victims, and also render them weak. She swallowed, "How did you have them consume the mescaline?"

Betresh smirked, and cuddled deeper into the chair, "You know, being Aches' and Layla's friend, I often visited the palace. With my perquisite right, I quickly knew the king's in and out and I was able to map out his upcoming sea voyage. And I paid closer attention to the chef-in-charge."

"The chef," Ella gasped. "You had him poison their food, didn't you?"

When Betresh nodded in affirmation, Ella stared in bewilderment, and then she collected herself together. "What circumstance did you put the chef?" she asked, "Because I strongly believe you did something awful."

"You're so smart, and I think I'm beginning to like you. You're right! I had the man's wife and son abducted until he had played his role."

"So did you spare the chef's life for obeying you?"

"Of course not, If any of them had made it out alive, then I'll be exposed and executed as a traitor but don't worry, his widow and son were set free because I never appeared before them."

"After you had the king's men hallucinating, what happened next?" Ella queried feeling like a journalist.

"We attacked just on time the mescaline was doing its job, which was at least having two-third of the navy and crew down, but I must tell you, I lost half of my men but as usual, recruited."

"We, did you sail with your men on the day of the attack?"

A sardonic smile played on her lips, "I won't miss it for the world."

"How could you? I can't believe this," she gasped. "Prince Aches is marrying someone who killed his own father!"

Betresh walked over to Ella, yanked her hair downwards so that Ella faced up, at her. "Don't act like you haven't heard!" she gnashed.

"Heard, heard what?" Ella managed to ask despite the slight pain.

At the question, Betresh let go harshly of Ella's hair and retired to the arm-chair. She placed her hands on the arm-rest and again, crossed her legs. "After he discovered I spiked him, that son of a bitch broke our engagement."

"Whoa, whoa" Ella interrupted. "Which drink spiking are we talking about?"

"The morning you saw me in his chamber, - remember?"

Ella nodded.

"The night before, Aches looked so sad and depressed and quickly, I knew it had to do with you."

Ella remembered it was after he visited her at the hospital; she had slapped him and luckily gotten away with that.

"So," Betresh continued. "I figured it was time to make him forget about you but my plans failed and the next thing, he broke our engagement," she repeated. "Anyone could tell he did it more because of you!"

A flash of shock flooded through Ella. Slowly, her hands came up and covered her quivering lips."No," she shook her head, and tears filled her eyes. He couldn't have broken up the engagement because of her, could he? Did he? Now, the tears flowed unchecked, down her face and she began to whimper.

"You're so stupid not to have realized how much you meant to him," Betresh continued, "You kept pushing him away every time he tried to get closer to you. We're talking about a man who the ladies found hard to get. He could have any woman he wanted, American, European, Asian, African, anyone! But no woman has ever gained access to his heart, until you came." She paused for breath feeling contented at how the American sprawled on the floor.

"You never gave him the chance dear," Betresh came squatting in front of her. "You don't know how much I wish I was as lucky as you're doc," she confessed, her voice filled with vehemence.

Ella was fighting very hard to control herself but to no avail, instead the whimpers turned into sobs and it shook the silence of the room. Betresh straightened, and strode to the chimney. She picked up the sword and unsheathed it and began shuffling back in front of Ella. Quickly, Ella shot up on her knees, smudging the tears from her face. But before she could move another muscle, Lordia and Mr. Big had her grasped by the shoulder and arms, pinned to the floor.

"What are you doing, Betresh?" Ella gasped.

"Now you know everything and the truth Isabella Ray, do you really think I'll let you leave this room, alive?"

"Betresh this is madness, you don't have to do this, please!"

Betresh smirked, "Anyone who dared to cross me is condemned to death." She gnawed and placed the sharp edge of the blade to Ella's neck, in measurement. "Goodbye doc," she muttered and raised the sword up in the air.

The iron door flung open, interrupting the ceremony as Reo and the men from the entrance trooped in. "They're here!" Reo announced crossing over to the balcony behind Betresh.

Betresh lowered the blade, her brows shot up in question, "Who?

Reo turned and cast a glance at Ella, "The Royal army," he supplied and stepped out on the balcony.

"No," Betresh shook her head, her expression filled with incredulity. "B -but that's not possible, how did they trace us?" she darted out after Reo, out to the balcony. Lo and behold, just as Reo had said, four military trucks and a speedster blazed up the hill. Lordia joined them at the balcony, leaving Ella in the midst of Mr. Big and the other six men. Petrified, she raked her fingers through her hair as a lump of fear ballooned painfully in her stomach.

"What's the plan b?" Lordia asked.

"Fight of course," Reo resolved.

"But, but," Lordia stuttered. "C-can't you see? We can't stand a chance, we're out numbered!"

Betresh whirled round and handed over the sword to Lordia, and then she cupped Lordia's face in her hands. "Let your heart not be troubled, we still have everything- in control."

"Do we?" Lordia asked in astonishment.

"Yes we do," Betresh smiled. "And as a matter of fact, I have a plan."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Four military trucks and a black speedster screeched to a halt before the two storey dilapidated building. Soldiers jumped down and scooted in position, each group divided into the four cardinal points of the earth. Ahmose strode over to the speedster, and gently opened the rear passenger door. "We're here sir!" he informed with a salute.

Aches took a deep breath, and closed the journal that had him occupied almost all through the journey. His eyes glimmered with the sort of anger that surges through one when you discovered at last the woman you almost married was the brains behind your father's death. And as if it wasn't enough, she had gone ahead to abduct the only woman who meant the world to you. Stepping out of the ride, he glanced at his watch, it was past nine. Then he reached for his sun glasses, and put them on, against the morning sun rays.

He too wore a military uniform just like the soldiers except, he wasn't carrying any weapon. From atop the hill, he could still sight the village that now stood miles away. Aches was grateful to the hunter who had fed them with the last information. In fact, he was grateful to all his informants, ranging from Ahmed who firstly saw when an unconscious Ella was scooped into a trunk, to the four camel riders along Giza's highway who confirmed seeing the description of the missing woman, down to the hunter who had seen the described car race up the rocky hill.

Sighing heavily, Aches turned, to face the building, conscious it stood in between acres of farmland. Then, his wandering gaze caught sight of Betresh pacing up and down the balcony of the second floor. He smiled to himself, knowing very well she wasn't alone.

"The men are ready to move in, sir." Ahmose supplied, and waited for the final order from Prince Aches.

"Hold on," Aches ordered. "They must be waiting in ambush."

Ahmose saluted, and moving to the men, he passed the order. When Aches moved forward, towards the building, the soldiers formed a defense around him yet crating a space for a clear – view of the building. He halted and glanced up to see the devil herself wasn't pacing anymore, but stood at the centre of the balcony with her hands resting on the rail.

"You finally came for me" she started aloud. "I know you'll come back to your senses!"

Aches smiled, "You're absolutely wrong baby-doll. You have what I want, and I have your property here with me."

"I don't understand this parable you speak, my lord."

"Don't play games with me Betresh! I know she's here and I suggest we trade by barter."

Betresh scoffed, "And why in the name of Egypt should I agree for barter my prince?"

"Because, you need this!" he explained and lifted up the journal in his hands, and waved it to the air at her. "Does it ring memory? The game is over, Betresh."

The walls shifted around Betresh, her jaws dropped open as the greatest shock ever hit her. Indeed, this was game over. But, how did he get that? Her gaze darted wildly from the journal to Aches, back to the journal, and then she remembered. She must have forgotten it when moving out of Abdeen palace. It was stupid of her not to have remembered to reach for it atop her wardrobe, because she had parked her belongings under duress.

Aches saw the shock and confusion that clouded her face, he smiled and took off his glasses. "Isn't it amazing how you kill a man and intend to marry his own son?"

Again, shock slammed through her; he has gone through the journal, damn it! The idea she was now exposed to her roots infuriated her more. The journal contained all her life experiences especially her gang-style life. Aches was the last person she wanted, to go through it.

"It's over Betresh, the walls are all closed up on you. Let Miss Ray go."

Betresh shook her head, "No my lord, it's not over until it's over!" she shrieked.

At her last words, Aches sensed foully, and alerted his men who all scooted for safety, himself retreating to safety behind a truck just before Betresh could yell, "Fire!!!" The first rain of bullets hit the Royal Army taking down two soldiers by their arm and leg, nevertheless the soldiers waited for Aches' order to open fire as they had already quickly spotted the angles the bullets came from.

"Open fire!" Aches clamored at last. At his command, the soldiers began to aim back with experience at their rivals. Quickly, Betresh ducked into the building, but unfortunately for her, a bullet grazed past her shoulder. Nevertheless, she managed to shut the balcony iron door. Back in the empty room, she glanced breathlessly at the only people in the room, Lordia and the American who was now tied to the arm chair. As usual, Lordia had a weapon, this time a sword, drawn to Ella's neck. It was evident even for the blind to see the fear now registered in Betresh's eyes. Blood gushed from the wound down her shoulder down to her hand; it began to drip on the floor.

"Let me help you," Ella offered with concern.

"Go to hell!" Betresh snapped, hissed and headed to the window. She ripped the edge of the curtain, and then, she called on Lordia to tie it across her shoulder in a bid to slow down the bleeding.

While Ella watched the two, she secretly tried to loosen herself but to no avail. Damn the rogue Reo, the bastard must have practiced tying people up to a chair all his life! Ella sucked frustration in her breath. From inside, she had heard the entire conversation between Aches and Betresh. It brought relief to her soul knowing Aches too have found out Betresh has been a wolf in sheep's clothing. Also, the fact he actually came down here himself to get her freed melted her heart. She knew he could have chosen to send the army without him necessarily tagging along just like when he sent Ahmose and the army to save the prisoners.

The iron door leading to the hallway flung open and Reo throttled in. Lordia had just finished tying up the cloth across Betresh's shoulder.

"Th- the place crawls with soldiers," Reo revealed, his breath coming in pants.

A devastating blow hit Betresh, "The others, How are they? Are they progressing?"

"Don't you get it? They are all dead!" Reo retorted.

Lordia gasped covering her blood stained hands over her quivery mouth. "It's, it's just the three of us now, what do we do now?" she asked.

A sly smile played on Betresh's lips. "How about we give them a show?" Betresh suggested.

"What show are you talking about?" Reo queried.

"A Romeo and Juliet," a sarcastic grin lit her face.

The soldiers began to lounge forward, aware of their victory over their opponents. Suddenly, the balcony door swung open and again the soldiers positioned to shoot but to Aches' uttermost shock, it was Ella who stepped out first, Betresh was refuging behind her in such a way one couldn't aim at her without hurting Ella too. "Hold your fire!!!" he shrieked.

Quickly, the soldiers lowered their guns. Horrified and grateful at the narrow escape, Aches looked up and his heart constricted at the condition he saw Ella. He blinked back sudden tears seeing the way her hands were tied to her back, and the dragon- Betresh holding a gun to her head.

"Tell your men to fall back, now!!!" Betresh yelled. Not wasting any time, Aches passed the order and the soldiers began to retreat, then he turned to Betresh. "Let her go, Betresh, this fight is between you and I."

"She spoilt everything. She's the reason you're not marrying me anymore!" Betresh snapped.

"You know you're wrong Betresh. I tried, we tried, but we simply couldn't fit into each other's life style."

"Cut the crap Prince Aches and admit it!"

"Okay Betresh," he raised his hands slightly up in surrender, "I admit it. But just let her out of this mess."

Betresh twitched the corners of her mouth. "Tell your men to drop their guns!"

"What?" Aches grimaced.

"Or I'll pull the trigger!" she threatened.

Aches moved his gaze to Ella and their eyes locked. Even from the distance, he could see the fear in her eyes and the way her body trembled, he sucked in a breath. "Drop your guns" he slowly ordered. The soldiers quickly obeyed and all dropped their fire-arms, they all knew how much the American doctor meant to Prince Aches, future king of Egypt.

"Stop doing whatever she says," Ella countered from atop, but quickly, Betresh shut her up with a bonk of her gun handle.

Ella cringed low in pain.

"Stop it, you're hurting her!" Aches yelled, beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead.

"Oh! Pardon me my Lord. I must say, I do not know what I'm doing," Betresh sneered.

Aches drew in a rage-filled breath. If only Ella was out of the picture, he wouldn't have hesitated to teach Betresh a lesson she would never forget even to her next life. Then for the first time, he noticed another woman and man standing by the inner left and right flank of balcony. Aches didn't need a magician to tell him those were the Lordia and Reo Betresh often mentioned in her journal, her Allies.

With Ella held hostage at gun point, Aches knew better not to press. Maybe it'll be best to negotiate with the three; Betresh, Lordia and Reo. Aches turned to Ahmose, "Get the Royal seal and papers!" he ordered, handing over the journal too to Ahmose.

Aches moved his gaze to Ella "Isabella!" he called to her for the first time. "I'm sorry, you're in this mess because of me. It's my entire fault; I should have protected you when I still had the chance to, back at Abdeen square."

Ella smiled. "I should be the one apologizing. I have been so stubborn and stupid," she croaked, again tears began to stream down her face. "I want to let you know that I lied when I said I didn't love you," she paused, sniffled and continued. "I love you, Prince Aches and I'll continue to love you till my last breath."

"Pathetic," Betresh mumbled and rolled her eyes.

Aches felt a rush in his chest, the muscles around his heart constricted and quickly he wiped off the tears that escaped his eye. "I love you so, so much, Ella." He placed a hand over his chest. "I pledge on my life to get you out of this."

"Oh! Let's see about that," Betresh interrupted.

To show how much he meant by those last words of his, Aches swiveled round to Ahmose who now held the materials he ordered for. Collecting them from him, he dived a hand in his breast pocket and came up with a pen. He moved to the nearest truck, and commenced writing and signing into the papers.

Ahmose swallowed, knowing very well that his cousin was endorsing into the pardon papers. According to the criminal law, if the king or a crowned Prince endorses such to even the highest of criminals who are to be executed, their charges can be lifted up to a life imprisonment or better off to an exile.

"What's next?" Lordia queried in a low voice, from the balcony

"Frustrate him, then still go ahead and kill her," Betresh instructed.

Less than two minutes, Aches was through with the signings. He reached for the Royal seal and stipulated it on the cover papers, and then he turned to face the balcony.

"Here," he raised the paper to the air. "I just signed a pardon letter for you three preferably to go on exile. Let's end this peacefully and nobody will get hurt."

"But my lord, these people killed your father." Ahmose interjected.

Aches sighed heavily, "I know Ahmose, it's a difficult decision but I can't afford to lose her too," he replied and glanced up at Betresh. "Let's trade, the papers for the American, What do you think?"

Crinkles fanned out on Lordia's face, whom the news of pardon seemed to overwhelm most. "It can't get better than this. I think it's time we let go of the doctor before he changes his mind."

"And this mission will fail, you idiot!" Betresh snarled. Reo watched on in silence.

"Mission? Tell me our chance of survival if we go on and kill her. They'll just kill us all!"

"But then, we must have gotten our revenge!"

Lordia scoffed, "Revenge?" she moved to stand besides Betresh, her eyes narrowed. "Enough with the revenge, Betresh, I'm out of here," she announced, holstering her gun to her shoulder strap. "I don't know for you two, but I'm going for the papers, so bye!" she added, and headed for the balcony exit. Before Lordia could step out from the balcony, Betresh shriveled sideways and shot her at the head.

Lordia dropped dead.

Ella froze to her hairs. The grounds moved beneath Aches. Quickly, Betresh brought the gun back to Ella's head, "Go to hell with your pardon papers!" she yelled at Prince Aches.

At that, Ella accepted her fate; maybe she wasn't destined to live, get married, have kids and just have a happy fun-filled life. She muttered the last I love you words to Aches, and then closed her eyes. She heard Aches scream "No!!!" then three gun shots shattered the surrounding silence. Ella waited for the cold hands of death to entail her but, but it didn't. She was still breathing, breathing fine. First, she opened an eye, then the other; Aches had broken away from the soldiers' defense, and the soldiers have retrieved their guns from the ground.

Panting, Ella began to turn slowly behind, only to behold the great Betresh lying dead on the floor, next to Lordia. Blood gushed out of Betresh's body being her head and her sides. Looking up, Ella spotted Reo. He was holding his pistol, and had stepped into the room leaving only Ella standing in the balcony. From the smoke emanating from his gun, Ella could tell he had shot Betresh himself. Oh! Her heart broke, why could he do that?

"You're in this mess because of me," Reo started, "You have a good heart and deserve a life filled with happiness," he added.

Ella stepped into the room. "Thank you Reo, thank you so much for saving my life," torrents of tears began cascading down her face. "Take the papers and go on exile. I think it's the best of the two. Find a woman, fall in love and have kids, you too, we all deserve a better life Reo."

From below, the sounds of boots trooping into the building echoed. "He's lucky, I mean Prince Aches, to have you fall in love with him."

She smiled and he returned the smile but quickly the smile froze on his lips.

"Goodbye Miss Isabella Ray," he bided, mentioning her full name for the first time. Before Ella could blink an eye, he tossed the gun into his mouth and fired!

"No!!!" Ella shrieked, dropping to her knees. Shortly, the iron door leading to the hall way came crashing down, ushering in the soldiers and Prince Aches. She was still trembling and lost to another world when Aches thrust here into his embrace. Quickly, he had the rope binding her hands snipped, and her hands came free.

THE END

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading my book.

If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favourite retailer?

Thanks!

Pamela Ulu Essien

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pamela Ulu Essien is one of Nigeria's upcoming and promising authors to look out for. She lives in Nigeria with her husband and son. When she's not writing, Pamela enjoys teaching, cooking and preferably, cuddling up to a good novel or movie.

Follow her and the book on

<http://www.facebook.com/TheAppleOfDistraction>

https://www.facebook.com/pamela.ulu

<http://www.Instagram.com/pamela.books>

 http;//www.instagram.com/the_apple_of_distraction

essien.pamela@yahoo.com

