Shani looked over at Azi and nodded her head in a silent agreement. She ducked under a bush and crawled on her belly towards the hostage. Looking back at Azi she saw he was ready as he ducked low to the ground, positioning his body for a leap. She grabbed the knife that was tied to her waist, put it in her mouth, and got right behind the hostage without anyone seeing. She took one last look at Azizi, nodded her head to let him know she was ready, then pulled down a mask to hide her face.
The largest of the group was the first to notice something staring at him through the thick plant behind Arimus. Not sure what sort of creature would have such red eyes, so he went forth to find out. As he pushed leaves out of his way he let out a scream and ran for the others. The other men turned to see why their friend was screaming and running for his life when suddenly they stood frozen in terror.
Arimus watched in shock as the large man ran for his life. A pure white beast leaped from the thicket behind him and started to chase his captors. Two of the men were fast to mount their horses and escape the creature. Azi tackled one of the men, sinking his fangs deep into the skin while his claws gouged the means chest relieving him of life. The large man has drawn his sword, waving it at the huge beast, ready to fight. His body shook more violently as he watched the creature’s eyes narrow and heard a bone-penetrating growl. Then the demon turned to another man who had also drawn his sword. Azi lunged and grabbed the man by his thigh, bringing forth a horrendous scream from the wounded thief. Once he fell to the ground Azi gouged his claws into the man’s chest and relieved him of his life by bringing his fangs to the thief’s head, and then clamping down.
The man who had been holding the sword at Arimus’ head let his guard down, just long enough for Shani to surprise him. She jumped from behind the bushes and place the tip of her spear at the jugular in his neck. The man almost fainted on the spot after letting his sword drop to the ground. Arimus just stared open mouthed at the events occurring and knew for sure it was Bastet with one of her demons come to deal with him. He struggled against the ropes that bound his hands together but could not loosen them. He heard a scream and jerked his head upwards. The thief had hit Bastet and reached for his sword, and in doing so angered her great demon that reached him within seconds.
Shani fell hard on the ground when the man had hit her. Screaming for Azi and wildly feeling around on the ground for her spear she never saw her friend leap through the air, but she heard him. Azi had run full force when his mistress screamed for him. When he saw the man picking up his sword Azi went right for his throat. The thief had not a chance. The moment he felt the fangs around his neck he was dead. They landed a few feet away from Arimus who watched in horror as Azi sank his fangs into the man’s neck and snuffed the life from him with one bite. Arimus shuddered when he heard the bones in the man’s neck break. Raising his head he noticed Bastet looking down on him.
Shani was surprised at what she saw. He was handsome. Not the like boys at home she grew up with. His tangled dark hair met his broad shoulders. There was a bruise on his left cheek that ran up to his temple with a small cut, but it did not hide his chiseled features. There was blood on his tan robes as her gaze traveled down his chest. Which she noticed his breathing seemed ragged. She could not pull her eyes away from him, not even when Azi places his nose against her hand to gain her attention. Amazing, perfect she thought to herself. Then looking at his face again she noticed his dark brown eyes were filled with fear. Oh God, I still have this mask on.
Arimus was sure the demon would attack him next. Suddenly Bastet reached under her mask and tilted it up revealing her face to him. She’s beautiful he thought to himself. Great, I’m about to be killed because I don’t want to be married to Liana and I’m thinking of how beautiful my killer is. He grimaced at his own thoughts. He finally found his nerve and spoke to her but she seemed to not understand him.
Wonderful, Arabic, and I don’t understand a word. Shani thought when she heard his voice. It was a wonderful voice, deep and penetrating. “You don’t speak English?” she asked him. He was shocked to hear the goddess speak to him, and if a different language. She turned her head to Azizi and pointed to her spear. Saying something in a tongue that was foreign to him he watched the demon pick up the spear and bring it to her. She knelt on the ground and picked up her knife that had been knocked from her when the man hit her, then walked behind the tree.
Arimus was debating on what language to speak when Azizi sat in front of him. Fear took over and he spoke quickly. “Yes I speak English!” then suddenly his hands were free. Shani came around again and raised an eyebrow, then simply stated, “You sound scared.” The question was incredulous to him. “Why would I not be scared? You came to kill me and brought a demon with you.”
He started rubbing his wrists as his hands had lost feeling long ago. Then as he debated on if he should stand or not a hand went in front of his face causing him to jump. He looked at Bastet and wasn’t sure what her motives were at this point.
“I’m not here to kill you.” She said with a smile and extended her hand to help him stand. “We saw you were in trouble and decided to help.”
He figured if she had not given the demon a command to kill him already then he might have been wrong. Perhaps she had come to save him so he could marry Liana? He looked at the ground and noticed her feet. No shoes. Odd he thought as his eyes traveled upwards. Her legs were tanned and long. She wore clothing he had never seen before. It was in two pieces, nothing like what the women at his village wore. Her mid-section was exposed revealing a tattoo that surrounded a pierced navel. Her figure was shaped perfectly and her hair was a reddish brown flowing all the way down to her hips. She stood proudly holding her spear in one hand and tying her placing her knife back into its sheath with another. Arimus hadn’t realized his mouth fell open a bit in surprise as he looked at her.
“Something wrong?” she asked with a look that could kill on it’s own.
He stammered, “No.” then reached for her hand and she helped him stand. He started to dust himself off tin an effort to keep himself from staring at her more.
She crossed her arms against her chest and then narrowed her eyes at him. “Tell me, what makes you think I would have endangered myself and Azi,” the cats ears perked up at the sound of his name, “just to kill you myself?”
“Are you not the Goddess Bastet?” Arimus asked, realizing he could have been completely wrong in his idea of who she was.
She cocked her head to one side and looked confused. “Who is that?”
Arimus felt completely foolish now. “I thought you were….” He began and then shook his head. “It does not matter now I suppose. Who are you?”
Azi had walked up to Shani and sat next to her. She reached out and patted his head. “This is Azizi, and I am Shani. Who are you?”
It was Arimus’ turn to extend his hand. “I am Arimus Essam.”
She took his hand to shake it. Instead he brought the back of her hand to his lips, and then kissed the back of her hand. He then bowed at the waist. “I owe the both of you a great debt for helping me.”
“You owe us nothing.” She stated then whistled and a horse came from the brush and walked up to them. “Just be more careful.” She jumped up on her horse’s back and reached to pull her mask back in place.
“Wait.” Arimus put up a hand. “Where are you going?”
She looked at him and tried to hide a small smile. “I honestly don’t know. However, I do not want to stay here. Those men might come back and I’m not really in the mood to meet them again. With my luck they would bring an army with them.”
Arimus knew she was right. “Then why don’t you travel with me for a short while?”
“You think we might need your protection?” she asked sarcastically.
“No,” he answered and put on his best pleading face. “But I might need yours.”
“I see you have a sense of humor. That’s a good thing.”
“So the answer is yes?” he asked.
Shani figured it wouldn’t hurt to travel with him for a few hours. There would be safety in numbers. At least that is what her father had always told her when she tried to run off in the forest to be alone as a teenager. “Maybe for a few hours. We can make sure we’re not being followed by anyone then go our separate ways.” Besides, she was curious about Arimus and why those men had attacked him.
Her agreement brought a smile to his face. Realizing Sumal and his belongings were still scattered about his shoulders sagged and he sighed heavily. “I will need a few moments to get this all together here.” then he went over and started gathering his things.
Shani dismounted again and started to help him. “Azi, stay” she commanded, and the cat promptly sat next to the horse.
Arimus was surprised that she was offering more help. “It is alright. I can get this.” He protested.
“Two sets of hands will get this done faster and us out of here faster than one. Wouldn’t you agree?”
It only took the two of them a few minutes to get everything back into his saddlebags. Sumal had been found at the outer edge of the oasis and once they both had mounted up they were off and running them at a full gallop putting as much distance as they could between them and the oasis.