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Mau was running fast, she was being chased. There were noises of snakes hissing all around her. "I curse you.. curse curse curse curse." A figure full of blood that looked like Tia stood behind her and hands reaching both sides gripping her neck. Mau struggled to fight her back and she eventually fought her off. She appeared and reappeared around her. "Curse... curse.. you've been cursed.. die... die.." Tia said as Mau held her ears. "Shut up.. shut up!" Mau said as she suddenly woke up from her dream. She panicked and calmed herself down. Simon knocked and came into the room. "Mau.. you'll be late for breakfast if you don't get up." Simon said as he walked in as he noticed something wasn't right. "Have another nightmare?" Simon asked. Mau nodded as she coughed. Simon walked over to the bed and sat on the edge as he felt her forehead. "Looks like you'll be resting today.. you seem to have gotten sick, I'll make sure to have food delivered by the maids.. you're staying in bed and resting.." Simon said as he got up and walked over to the door. Mau started to get comfy again. "Am I going to die?" Mau asked. Simon tried not to laugh because he was unaware of the curse Tia had placed on her. He thought she was just being over dramatic. "I'm sure you'll be fine.. you don't seem to have that bad of a sickness.. but I'll call the doctor to be sure, get some rest alright?." Simon said as he opened the door and walked out. "Okay.." Mau said as she laid there.
As Mau laid there, her breathing started getting harder. Isis came in, she had stayed the night at the palace. "My My.. not good." Isis said as she could see a dark aura around Mau's body. This was the same dark aura that haunted Rehema's body. Isis walked over to Mau with an amulet as it started to glow. "I pray to thee, heal thee.. remove thy curse from thy child, I beg... Seal." Isis chanted as the amulet stopped glowing. Mau's breathing and symptoms died down some. The doctor came in and checked her out. "Just a minor cold, she will be better in no time at all." The doctor told them both. Simon at the door sighed in relief. The doctor left and Simon walked in. "I'm glad you are alright..—-" Simon said as he was interrupted. "For now.." Isis said. Simon looked at Isis confused. "What do you mean by that?.. don't tell me.." Simon questioned. Isis looked disappointed as she hates to even say it. "She was cursed by Apophis.. just like The Queen." Isis replied and clinched her hand together.
Simon's eyes widened as he felt like his heart dropped. "The Apophis curse?!" Simon yelled as he gripped his head shaking. "I failed.. I failed to protect her from the same curse that killed our Queen.." Simon thought as he was upset. Isis walked over and had him sit down. "This time I prepared and sealed it.. I don't know how long the seal will last." Isis said as she pet Mau's head. Mau looked upset. "So the curse is real..?" Mau asked. Simon nodded and sighed. "The curse killed both Ra Amun and Horus II and your Mother.. Though the curse was to kill the three of you, Rehema intervened." Simon said as he shook from being so upset. Mau was also upset but she hugged Simon. Simon looked surprised. Mau was putting on a brave face but you could see the tears in the corner of her eyes. "It'll be alright.. I have to believe in my own power!" Mau said as Simon hugged her back. "That's right." He said with a smile.
Shortly Hathor, Sehkmet, Nephthys came into the room. "What's going on? Is sis feeling any—-" Hathor asked before she paused. She could see the aura around Mau just like Isis but not as much. Sehkmet and Nephthys looked at Hathor. "What's wrong, you act like you saw a ghost sis?" Sehkmet said, confused. Nephthys also could see the aura. Little more than Hathor but she could see it was at a controlled sealed rate. "So Small Lady Mau has been cursed?" Nephthys said. Both the girls looked at her shocked. "Cursed!?" Sehkmet and Hathor both said as they were shocked. Simon nodded and looked over at them. "Unfortunately Mau has the same curse as the Queen, though I'm not sure if it's the exact same curse or a new curse." Simon said to the girls. "Whatever it is, my powers are sealing it. However for how long I am not aware. From what I can see the curse is really slowly eating Mau's life stream." Isis stated. "What can we do to break the curse?" Sehkmet asked. "The Apophis curse has never been broken as far as I'm aware, it's probably possible... we will just have to figure that out and I'll keep trying." Isis replied. "I give you my thanks for your support and all the help you've provided for our family." Simon said. "No need to thank me.. they are my little nieces' anyways, I want to protect them and the Queen, my amazing step sister, my Brother loved her so much." Isis replied with a smile but her face looked lonely.
"We should let Mau rest for now, talk about this later.." Isis said and they all agreed. Everyone went out of the room. Mau all snuggled in bed as she had her legs curled up with her knees to her chest and her arms near her face as she fell asleep.
Sehkmet was outside practice sparing with Nephthys and Hathor was in the garden praying. She was distracted though thinking about her sister. Nephthys knocked her to the ground as Sehkmet lost her rod as Nephthys pointed her Sekhem scepter at her. Sehkmet looked rather shocked. Nephthys shook her head and helped her up. "You aren't focused at all, I know your worried about your sister.. but if this was a real battle you could of put her in harm because you didn't focus on your enemy." Nephthys said. Sekhmet nodded. "You are right. I'm sorry let's go again. This time I'll stay focused I promise." Sehkmet replied. Nephthys nodded stepping back some and into a stance. "Show me everything you have." Nephthys said. "Ahhhh!" Sehkmet yelled as she attacked Nephthys with her sun rod.
They continued fighting as Isis and Simon watched from afar. "They sure have grown up so much.." Simon said. "They sure have.. I remember Hathor being a little cute baby, my Brother was so proud. He loved his little princess so much. He would of been so happy to see his beautiful little girl becoming a gorgeous refined princess..." Isis said. "You still miss him I know you do Isis, it's alright to shed tears if you need to." Simon said unto her. Isis looked over at Simon. "What about you, you still mourn for the Queen don't you? After all you loved her, more than just a friend." Isis said as she chuckled some. Simon looked shocked. "Where the heck is that coming from?!" Simon jumped back and acted nervously. "You can't hide it from me.. it was written all over your face, even when my Brother was alive and they were together." Isis replied. Simon bit his lip and pouted as he turned his body the opposite direction crossing his arms. "I loved her but as my status I was no match in being with her. I was not her Prince Charming who swept her off her feet. I accepted that though it was painful." Simon replied his face was red in embarrassment. "Rehema had great men by her side and that includes her general. I assume the reason she didn't get close to you was not out of not being a Prince Charming but she loved you but knew as her duty, she had to put her own duty before heart." Isis stated. Simon looked shocked. He had a flash back of Rehema and him as kids. "Simon what is your wish?" Young Rehema asked as she was praying in the garden. "My wish is to serve by you my princess for all eternity." Young Simon replied. Rehema opened her eyes little blush appear on her face as she looked at him. "Do you believe in love?" Young Rehema asked. Young Simon looked shocked. "I believe in love, but as a knight I must ignore my feelings and focus on being a great general one day, so I can remain by your side my princess! It's my duty before my heart." Young Simon replied. Rehema listened and turned her head as she felt a little sad to hear but she knew he was right. "Duty before heart.. huh." Young Rehema mumbled to herself. Simon looked confused and thought. "Did I say something wrong?..."
Simon came back to as he realized that Isis was right. Isis gave him a hug. Simon was surprised as he closed his eyes. He realized the reason why he didn't get his chance was because in his own way, he turned her feelings down first. "I was an idiot.. I didn't see it clearly back then." Simon said upset. Isis continued to hug him before moving away. "We make mistakes.. it's a part of life, don't beat yourself too hard. You have something special now, it's not romance but it's still love. You are now these girls father figure and you should be proud of yourself, you raised them so well. Rehema would of been proud. You have been so loyal to her and no matter what, never have betrayed her in any way. Raising some kids that you had no business to, you didn't even have to be a general knight for the Queen. You chose to. I respect you so much." Isis stated. Simon looked shocked and didn't have much thought. She was right though. He didn't have to do anything for Rehema, even protecting her children. Everything he has done was his own will, his own choice. It was not the Queen's. "Thank you Isis, for the reminder. I really did need to hear that." Simon replied with a smile. "Anytime." Isis replied back with a smile also.
"How are things with Osiris? I heard you visited him every so often." Simon asked. "Things are great, I can't help but love him. Nephthys took a liking to him as well. We plan to marry soon." Isis said as her face turned red as she showed Simon a ring. Simon was surprised. "Isis, congratulations, I'm very happy for you both and Nephthys also. That is amazing news." Simon replied before hugging her. "You deserve to be happy, you deserve to start your own family." Simon said as he let go. Isis nodded. "I've been waiting for this moment, I never thought this day would come." Isis said in a much happier tone. "Just don't forget to invite us, we want to be there." Simon said. "I'll make sure to send an invite for sure!" Isis replied. It was getting late, everyone went inside for dinner as they sat at the table. Simon went to check on Mau to see if she was alright. Simon knocked on the door but received no reply. Simon cracked open the door and saw her asleep as he smiled. "Goodnight.. our princess." Simon said as he gently closed the door back and walked back to the dinner hall. "I know my place, I know where I belong. My title is just a name, it's something that I've earned. Something I've trained all my life for. But the title I will leave behind. But something I will never leave is my love for my Queen." Simon thought as he soon opened the door, to his family he'll always cherish and never abandon. "Because now I know.. our time together is never guaranteed forever..." Simon thought to himself.