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FEBRUARY 1886
A ROYAL PALACE NEAR THE FAMOUS NILE
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IT SEEMED LIKE IT HAD been forever since Seti’s disappearance from the palace. His vanishing along with the other 38 people that were unaccounted for raised legends that mystified those that remained. With the exception of Selene, no one had witnessed the departure of the others. Were people leaving the palace of their own will? Was that even possible? Much speculation rattled many discussions. Today was no difference.
As seven men sat in the Grecian bath contemplating the vanishing of so many, only conjecture up theories that became the topic of the hour. The area was rather cramped and small compared to other rooms in the palace. Little amounts of light shown through from behind some of the men, only allowing for mere recognition as to who was who. The steam rising up from the very warm water clouded the viewing of each other even more. The men were sitting about two feet apart in almost a circular pattern. Amene, the tallest, still held court.
His voice was deep and spoke with authority. His body was tight and muscular. He kept his head shaved and applied a daily oil to keep a glistening glow about him. “Why would so many want to leave this place?” He thought out loud. Glancing around the room, Amene continued, “There are no answers.” Amene motioned his hands to reflect his bewilderment.
Bebi spoke up. “Do you think they all vanished like Selene? We have nothing else to go on.” Though Bebi was never royalty, he was Vizier to the King. Bebi was often privy to many matters a normal citizen would never consider in their daily lives. The others sharing the bath viewed him as one of their own. Shorter in stature, Bebi stood 5 feet 6 inches tall with slightly rugged facial features. Also, bald, his ears protrude out from his head making Bebi appear almost comical.
“We can have Menwi recount her story of Selene.”
“There isn’t much to tell other than she disappeared before their eyes. She was there and then she wasn’t,” mused Amene.
“Then are we to assume that the others have gone this way too?” Bebi questioned. Everyone focused on Amene awaiting his reply. Forcing his mind from the vision in his head of Selene evaporating away, he found himself at a loss for words.
With that, Amene turned and began to step out of the bath as he heads towards the protruding marble block at the bottom of one of the rich colored columns that held up the ornate arched ceiling. The marble base made for an excellent seating area. The rest of the men followed, except one.
Ahmose had really not said a word the entire time expect a few greetings at the start. That was not unusual for him since he was a man of very few words. It would not be anything any of the men would have even notice.
A slight nausea hit him as he began to trail behind the others. Ahmose began to feel that something was not right. He had not felt ill for years, as far back as he could remember. It had been so long that he mistrusted what he was feeling. Though the water was in excess of over 80 degrees, and the steam blocked his vision. He didn’t immediately comprehend that, he too, had left the palace.
None of the other bathers even noticed.