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𝔼𝕍𝔼ℝ𝕃𝕐ℕ moved forward cautiously, her breath shallow as she approached the restrained figure before her. The cold, sterile air of the facility did little to quiet the racing of her heart. Chains rattled softly as Ahmanis shifted, his body weak but his piercing gaze never leaving her. The silver liquid coursing through his veins dulled his strength, but nothing could diminish the fire in his eyes—the same fire that had burned across centuries.

As she stepped closer, his lips parted, his voice hoarse yet filled with conviction.

"My chosen was murdered. I won't let that happen again to you."

Everlyn froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. The raw emotion in his voice, the sheer devotion—it was overwhelming. Yet, she forced herself to stand her ground, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.

She inhaled sharply before speaking, her words soft but steady—this time, in ancient Egyptian.

"But if you loved her, why were you going to kill her?"

The room fell silent.

Nick and Jenny turned to her in shock, their expressions unreadable. Jenny instinctively stepped forward, as if to pull Everlyn away, but Henry raised a hand, stopping her.

"Wait," he instructed.

Ahmanis let out a breath—ragged, tired, yet laced with something else entirely. A softness. A longing. His eyes shone with warmth as they held hers, and when he spoke, his voice was tender, breaking under the weight of centuries.

"Kill her? No. No, no, my flower."

His head tilted slightly as he studied her, his gaze drinking in every feature as if memorizing her all over again.

"I could never kill you."

Everlyn stiffened as a wave of images flickered through her mind—memories that did not belong to her. A golden palace bathed in the light of the setting sun. The scent of sacred oils. The touch of a lover's hand brushing against her cheek. And a name whispered on the wind.

Satiah.

Ahmanis' voice pulled her back, this time shifting to English, heavy with emotion.

"I was going to give you eternal life. Make you a living god, with me by your side."

His words should have terrified her, but instead, they stirred something deep within her—a pull, ancient and unrelenting. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus.

"You speak as if Satiah and I are the same," she said, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "But we're not. I'm not Satiah."

Ahmanis tilted his head slightly, a small, knowing smile forming on his lips. His gaze softened, filled with something achingly gentle.

"Oh, but you are."

His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it held the weight of the past.

"You are a healer, a medic—saving those in need, just as she did. You love ancient artifacts, drawn to the remnants of a past long forgotten. Your father adored Egypt so much he married an Egyptian woman, tying your soul to this land. And you—" he exhaled, his eyes dark pools of longing, "—you love the sun on your skin, basking in its warmth as if it grants you strength. Like a flower reaching toward the light."

Everlyn's breath caught in her throat.

She bent down, levelling her gaze with his, her expression unreadable. "You only know that because you're in my head," she murmured. "It doesn't mean anything."

Ahmanis leaned forward as much as his restraints would allow, his breath mingling with hers, his golden eyes alight with something eternal.

"You. Her." His voice was a reverent whisper. "You two are the same."

He swallowed, searching her face as if trying to carve her into his very soul.

"I may be in your head," he admitted, his tone softer now, "but that is what makes me fall in love with you all over again. And I will fall in love with you over and over again, until the end of time."

Everlyn's heart pounded violently in her chest. She searched his gaze, looking for deceit, for manipulation—but all she found was truth.

Warmth. Love. Devotion.

"You are the most beautiful woman," Ahmanis murmured.

The words settled in the air between them, heavier than any chain that bound him.

The world around them faded, dissolving into golden sand and an endless horizon. The sterile walls of Prodigium vanished, replaced by the vast, shimmering expanse of the desert beneath a clear blue sky. A warm breeze kissed Everlyn's skin, carrying the scent of myrrh and distant lotus blooms.

Ahmanis stood before her, his form untouched by time, draped in fine linen adorned with ancient gold. The sunlight caught the contours of his face, casting shadows that only deepened his enigmatic beauty. His golden eyes, filled with something raw and endless, never left hers as he slowly reached forward. With the gentlest touch, he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering, reverent. His palm cupped her cheek, warm and steady, a stark contrast to the cold chains that had bound him moments ago.

"The Day of Awakening will soon be upon us," he murmured, his voice low and rich, like the desert winds whispering secrets through the dunes.

Everlyn's breath hitched as he stepped closer, his presence all-encompassing. The air between them shimmered with an unseen force, pulling her toward him like a tide.

"We will soon be together," he continued, his thumb brushing over her cheek with a tenderness that sent a shiver down her spine.

"The world will fall to our desire. You will wield the power of life over death. And you will have me. I will be your king."

The scene shifted once more.

Now, they stood within a grand chamber bathed in the golden glow of firelight. The scent of sandalwood and aged parchment filled the air, mingling with the faint hint of incense burning in the corner. Ornate columns rose high above them, etched with hieroglyphs that told forgotten stories of gods and kings. The room, untouched by the decay of time, was Ahmanis'—his sanctuary from a lifelong past.

Ahmanis smiled at her, a knowing, almost teasing look in his eyes as he removed his robe, the fine fabric slipping from his broad shoulders.

"Just give in," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling flames.

Everlyn found herself lying beneath him, the silk sheets cool against her skin. The weight of his presence was intoxicating—both a comfort and a danger. His fingers trailed softly along her jawline before he cupped her face once more, his touch both possessive and impossibly gentle.

The firelight cast a golden halo around them, flickering against the walls as shadows of the past danced in the corners of her vision. Ahmanis' gaze was molten, filled with something ancient and unwavering.

His hand found hers, entwining their fingers as he lifted her palm to his lips, pressing a slow, lingering kiss against it.

Everlyn's breath came shallow, her mind hazy, lost in the warmth of his presence. But then, from somewhere beyond this dream—this illusion—came a voice.

Soft at first.

"Evie... wake up."

Her heart clenched.

"Wake up."

The world around her flickered, the golden glow of the chamber dimming at the edges. The warmth of Ahmanis' body against hers was real, tangible—but so was the voice. It pulled at her, demanding her attention.

But she didn't want to look away.

Ahmanis' gaze darkened, his expression shifting. His fingers tightened around hers as his voice dropped to a whisper, filled with something dangerously close to fear.

"They will kill you... just as they killed you before."

The words sent a shudder through her.

He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before lowering his lips to her ear. His breath was warm, but his voice—his voice was raw, filled with something she couldn't understand.

"It burns."

Everlyn stiffened.

Ahmanis' grip on her hand tightened, his entire body tensing as something unseen crawled beneath his skin.

"It burns!"

His agonized cry shattered the illusion.

Everlyn gasped as reality slammed into her like a wave. The golden chamber disintegrated, the warmth of Ahmanis' touch vanishing into nothing.

The cold, clinical light of Prodigium returned in an instant. The chains, the tubes, the silver liquid coursing through his veins—it was all real.

And he was in agony.

His scream tore through the room, raw and unrelenting. Everlyn stumbled back, clutching her head as the sound reverberated through her skull. Jenny and Nick recoiled, hands flying to their ears as the force of his cry threatened to split the very air around them.

Henry, however, stood still, his gaze sharp with fascination.

"Fascinating," he muttered under his breath, his eyes locked on Everlyn.

"Stop it!" Everlyn cried, her voice breaking as she turned toward them. "Make it stop!"

She could feel his pain—an unbearable, searing agony that pulsed through the room like a living thing. Her vision blurred, her pulse hammering against her ribs as she turned back to Ahmanis. He groaned, his body writhing against the restraints. His golden eyes, now dimmed with pain, searched for her.

Everlyn didn't hesitate.

She rushed forward, hands trembling as she reached for him, desperate to do something—anything—to stop the suffering. The tubes, the chains, the cold metal digging into his skin—she wanted to rip it all away.

"Stop!" she screamed, her voice raw. "Stop it! Stop!"

Ahmanis' breathing was ragged, his body shuddering violently.

Everlyn placed a trembling hand on his cheek, her fingers brushing against his burning skin. He turned into her touch, his expression softening despite the agony twisting his features. For the briefest moment, a small, pained smile touched his lips. Then, suddenly, she was yanked away.

Nick's grip was firm as he pulled her back, away from Ahmanis, away from the chaos.

Ahmanis' expression darkened, his jaw tightening as his gaze locked onto Nick. The warmth in his eyes flickered—just for a moment—replaced by something else entirely.

Something possessive.

Something dangerous.

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By: SilverMist707

I wanted to apologize for not posting for awhile as I was busy with assignments. However, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for being patient with me. <3