The Golden Queen

One

One 

I don't belong here...

A lulling in my heart beckons me every time I close my eyes. Even in dreams, it follows me. Slumber wraps its arms around me, luring me from reality, and every time I open my eyes again, I find myself in the arms of a man. I can feel him against me, so vividly...

What a strange sensation...

We stand on the back of the Sphinx, in the shadow of the pyramids. The wind kisses my cheeks and tangerine light streaks the sky as the sun sets behind the canyons. I turn my face into his chest to listen to his heart, pounding like the blood that pulses in my ears. His arms around me are strong but hesitant.

He doesn't want me to see him.

Three years ago, the night of my father's funeral, was the first time we met. He pulled me up into his arms from the sheets that were tossed while I slept fitfully into the night. I cried into his shoulder while he whispered consoling words into my ear.  He comforted me, held me, stroked my hair. I cried into him, all of my torment coming out in broken and jagged sobs. 

After that first night, the mysterious man came to me whenever Dad's memory would lull me into a fitful slumber. As time passed and I began to sleep more peacefully, he visited more often. I awakened in his arms as he embraced me. Obediently, I kept my head against his chest every time he came to me. I wanted to gaze into his face, I wanted to kiss his lips, I wanted to say I love you. 

Tonight, I'll defy the dream. I'll look at him. 

I lift my chin, but he becomes basked in a golden light, showered by the sun, obscuring my vision as I glance up.  

I raise my hand to caress his cheek, finding only warm air where his skin should have been. "Let me see you," I plead. Silence greets me as the light showers us. "Show yourself to me, please. I love you."  He fades from view as the dream ends.

My eyes flutter open. I wipe away the fresh tears springing on my lashes. "These dreams are my only comfort these days."

I reach for my cell phone on my nightstand. It lights up and I scroll through my text messages with Claire. "I need you, Kara. I want to finish Bob's work. I want to find Ahmose's tomb. Come to Egypt and help me."

The thought of going to Egypt without Dad makes my heart ache. I clutch the phone to my chest. I climb out of bed and walk over to my suitcases packed by the door. I glance at the photo on my bookshelf. In its studded wooden frame, a photo of Dad, Claire, and some of the archaeologists from their team gaze back at me, the pyramids of Giza looming over them in the background. I wrap the photo in one of my blouses to protect it as I place it in the last suitcase and zip it up.  I dress and brush my hair and quickly apply some eyeliner and mascara.

Patricia walks me out of our beautiful Georgia mansion and to the Uber that waits out front. Oak trees tower over us on each side of the driveway, casting huge shadows that loom over us.  

"Do you have everything you need?" she asks in her sweet southern voice.  

"I believe so," I reply, and gloomily look up at my bedroom window overlooking a balcony. 

"I'll take care of the house while you are gone. Be careful, and have Claire call me when you get there," Patricia says. She embraces me and I climb into the Uber, waving to her as it drives away. 

***

The plane lands and my stomach jitters like butterflies at the thought of seeing Clair. The flight to Egypt was long and exhausting, even though I did little more than sleep and read Jennifer Crum's latest novel.