Maeve noticed Sinbad's scowl and somehow got herself away from Mike and pulled her camel to fall in step with Sinbad's. He did not say anything and pretended to listen to what Talia was saying. Maeve was beginning to get irritated from the way he tried to ignore her and her jealousy for his former lover started resurfacing.
She decided to talk to him in his mind. Sinbad, she thought, why are you so pissed off? It is such a nice day.
Why don't you go and share it with your boyfriend? He snapped.
She frowned wondering about what he was thinking, and then she realized what was going on when she could feel his jealousy. She couldn't help getting piqued at the little faith he had in her. Sinbad heard her thoughts and said in his mind, yeah sure! Go ahead and blame me.
I don't believe you can act so irrationally…you know very well that Mike is an old friend of mine, she scolded.
Yeah right!
Oh come on Sinbad, you are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Maeve, how would you feel if I acted like that around Talia.
Isn't that what you are doing right now?
I am not.
You are too.
Am not.
Are too.
Am not.
Are too.
SHUT UP! They heard another voice in their minds, if you two don't quit fighting I'll scoop both you're eyeballs out of their sockets.
Stay out of this Dermott! They both shouted back, in their minds, and went back to arguing. Dermott sighed mentally; they could feel him shake his head, but didn't pay attention to it.
Everyone else wondered what was going on between Sinbad and Maeve because all of a sudden Maeve began to scowl. They did not know about the telepathic war that was going on between them. Finally Maeve said, Ugh! I don't believe I am arguing with you on this! I have better things to do!
As if I don't, he retorted back.
Hmph! Men!
Women!
She glared at him and pulled her camel towards Tessay.
By the time it was nightfall they reached the pyramid of Horus. The nomad crew's jaws dropped when they saw the pyramid. It was majestic. They walked all around it and spotted the large falcon head on the face of the pyramid that faced the east. When the sun would rise.
"Wow!" whispered Talia, afraid of Mike hearing, "such a big building for one dead man!"
"Shh!" said Sinbad. After he saw the way Mike hit Talia, he did not want her making any more wisecrack comments.
Tessay spoke, "the spell for the entrance of the cave requires the first ray of the sun to shine. We will have to wait till dawn tomorrow."
Mike nodded and said, "We make camp, here. I don't know what the weather will be like tomorrow, so be prepared for the worst."
Maeve nodded and got off her camel. She caught Sinbad's eye before she turned to help with trying the camels to a hook that Duraid was hammering in the sand. They had still not gotten over their argument. Doubar helped Bacheet light a fire while the rest helped put up the big tent. They were all to sleep under one tent. Sinbad and Maeve were debating within themselves whether they should be the first one to apologize.
I think you should go and apologize to him, said Dermott to Maeve.
Why me? He's the one who started it! She said to him.
So what? Apologize!
You won't get anything coming from me unless he admits his own mistake.
Dermott sighed in frustration, he flew over to Sinbad and said in the mind, Sinbad, we both know she is too stubborn to admit it, so why don't you apologize to her.
Why me? She's the one who started it!
ARGHHH! Dermott yelled in his mind, so that both parties could hear, you two are too egotistic for your own good! I give up on you!
He cackled in annoyance and flew away. Maeve glared at Sinbad who glared back. Mike was happy that Maeve and Sinbad were not on good terms with each other, although he still didn't know what caused it.
Dinner was exceptionally quiet. Everyone was wondering what went wrong between the couple, who were quietly ignoring each other. Firouz was getting irritated with the silence. He finally spoke, "So…Maeve…anything else we should know about the pyramid?"
"Juan doesn't mention anything else, that'll be useful." She replied coldly.
"Oh." He did not know what else to say. There was silence once more. After finishing dinner, Maeve said, "I am gonna go stretch my legs for a while."
"I'll come with you," said Mike.
"If you don't mind, Mikey," she said in a sincere tone, "I'd like to be alone for sometime."
Sinbad was glad Maeve rejected his coming along. She walked put of the camp. He watched her walking away and said, "I think we best go to sleep. We'll have a rough day tomorrow."
They all nodded and spread out their blankets. Sinbad saw Mike heading out in the direction Maeve went. He decided to follow him.
Maeve was staring at the moon when she heard someone behind her. She turned around to see Mike coming towards her.
"Hi!" he smiled.
Maeve smiled and said, "what are you doing here?"
"I was searching for you. Your captain says we should go to bed."
Maeve raised her eyebrow at the double meaning of what he said.
Sinbad saw Mike and Maeve talking. He couldn't help smile at Maeve's beauty in the moonlight. He hid behind a dune where he could hear them.
"Fireball," he heard Mike ask, "can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"What is that sailor to you?"
Maeve sighed; she had expected him to ask that question. She answered, "He's my captain and my friend."
"He acts as if he is more than that."
"What is THAT supposed to mean?"
"Is he more to you than a friend."
"Mike, I told you before, that the crew is like my family."
"Lynn, tell me the truth."
"Why do you want to know so much?"
"I want to know."
"Okay, Sinbad is a very close friend of mine and if you look at it in the way I do, he is also my confidante." Sinbad smiled when he heard that.
"Is that all?"
"That is all YOU should know."
"What can he give you that I can't?"
"WHAT?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Oh come on Lynn, admit it…I know you like him. I don't see why? Is it the nobility crap…I know you don't fall for that, and I sure as hell know it is NOT his looks."
"Mike, you have no right to ask me that."
"Why not?"
"Mike, I made it clear to you that I didn't want to have a relationship with you. I am sorry you can't accept that."
"Lynn, please…"
Maeve turned away; he touched her arm saying, "no…listen to me."
She looked at him expectantly. He continued, "Lynn, I love you. I always did. Ever since I met you, something happened to me. NO woman has ever been able to compare to what you are. I have bedded so many women. But there is only one that I have always respected…that is you. You mean a lot to me." Sinbad couldn't help the anger and jealousy rising in him at what Mike said. However he did understand it. After all, that was how he felt about Maeve too. He held his breath and waited for Maeve's answer.
"Mikey," Maeve interrupted, "I love you…" Sinbad's heart fell when she said that, and Mike's heart soared.
Sinbad was about to walk away in anger when he heard her say, "but only as a friend." Mike's heart broke.
Maeve hated to see Mike's pain in his bright blue eyes…but she knew she had to do it. "You have always been special to me…always." She said, "I was attracted to you. But there was something that you could not fill. This hole in my heart. Only Sinbad has been able to do that." Sinbad smiled at what she said.
"Lynn, he will hurt you." Mike said, "he will make you feel happy right now, but when the time comes he will dump you. He is a sailor…they always do that."
Sinbad wanted to kill Mike for accusing him of being able betraying Maeve. He could do that any woman, but NOT Maeve.
"Not this one…" said Maeve, "Mike, I know Sinbad. Sure, we don't get along that often, but that is what makes him so special to me. I can't help it Mike, I just love him." causing Sinbad's heart to soar in happiness.
"Are you sure?"
"More than I'll ever be…Mike there is someone out there for everyone…There is someone for you."
"I always thought you were that someone."
"No Mike, I am sorry. I can't be."
"Well, if you ever change your mind…you know where I am."
Maeve smiled, Mike sighed heavily and said, "You will always be special to me Lynn."
"And you'll always be special to me, Mikey."
She opened her arms. He grinned and stepped in her embrace. Maeve hugged him tightly and said, "Mike, you will find your someone. Like I have found mine."
"Maybe…but I am still holding on to you."
Maeve laughed. Sinbad smiled in relief, Maeve was still his…she was always his…and she owned him, heart and soul. However, he was still a bit jealous of Mike.
"Well, I guess we better go to bed," said Mike.
"You go ahead…I wanna hand around for a while."
"Goodnight Lynn," Mike said.
"'Night Mike." She kissed him on the cheek.
Mike turned and left. He blinked back tears. Stupid fool, he cursed himself, crying over an ordinary woman. However he could not deny the fact, she's no ordinary woman.
Sinbad was debating whether to speak to Maeve or go back, when he heard, "Come out come out! Wherever you are, Sinbad. I know you are here."
He was shocked to realize that Maeve already knew he was there. He climbed out of hiding to see her staring at him with raised eyebrows.
"Maeve…" he stammered, "How did you…"
"I could sense you." She answered coldly.
"Oh…well I heard…"
She cut in, "why were you spying on me?"
"I wasn't spying on you…I just overheard you."
"Yeah right!" she said and turned around to look at the moon.
Sinbad walked up to her and squeezed her shoulder. He knew it was very hard for her to say what she just said to Mike. He admired they way she put it across to Mike, and couldn't help admiring how Mike handled himself.
"You know," she whispered, "it takes a lot of pains just for me and you to be together." Sinbad smiled and put his arms around her from behind. He was happy when she did not pull away, and instead leaned into him. He kissed her neck and said, "I guess, that's what love is all about…pain."
She rested the back of her head on his shoulder and sighed heavily, "I don't think he is taking this that well, Sinbad. I am not sure he is ready to let go."
"No one could Maeve. That is the thing about you. You have this amazing quality in you. When you make a place for yourself in someone's heart, which you do so easily, no one else can replace it. Only you can fill it. It's just the kind of person you are, my love. "
Maeve tilted her head to look at him with a frown, she said, "wouldn't it be easier to apologize for you pigheadedness, instead of flattering me?"
He stared at her cockiness and laughed with Maeve joining him.
She turned in his embrace to face him. He smiled at her, leaned closer till they could feel each other's breath on their faces, he whispered, "I'm sorry." Their lips were about to meet when Maeve put a finger on his lips and said with a sly smile, "I couldn't hear you…could say that a little louder, please?"
Sinbad frowned at what she said. Suddenly he pulled her finger away and pressed his lips on hers. He voluptuously worked his way through her lips, forcing them to part; she giggled and let his tongue in. He broke it when they were breathless and panted, "That loud enough for you?"
She was more out of breath than he was, so she just nodded dumbly. He said slyly, "now you're turn."
She cocked her head to one side and said with an innocent look, "I'm sleepy, I think I better go to bed." Saying so she tried to break away from him, but he pulled her closer, his arms tightly wrapped around her no allowing her to get away. He grinned slyly, "Say it."
"Okay! Okay!" she said while struggling, to break free, "I'm sorry, now let me go."
"That was incomplete."
She made a face a relented, sliding her arms around his neck and kissing him tenderly for quite sometime. When they broke it she whispered, "will you let me go now?" she did not miss the mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What?" he said slyly, "No good night kiss?"
She sighed and then smiled as an idea began to form in her mind. She nodded and leaned closer to him, till their lips were just a few centimeters apart. He thought she was going to kiss him, so he did not anticipate what she was going to do next. She smiled before his lips brushed by hers, and kicked him in the shin!
"Oww!" he yelped. He let go off her, and sat down in the sand favouring his shin. She laughed and said in a deceptively sweet tone, "Good night, my dear captain!"
He picked himself up and growled, "I'll good night you! You brazen little witch!" And he chased after her until they reached the camp where Doubar was on watch. Sinbad was about to grab Maeve when she suddenly stopped and started walking casually towards the tent. He realized Doubar was looking at her with raised eyebrows. She smiled at Doubar as she passed by him, and gave the gentle giant a sisterly kiss on the cheek saying, "Good night Doubar."
Doubar raised his eyebrows at her, and smiled, " 'Night Lass!"
She winked at Sinbad before heading inside the tent, when Doubar's back was to her. Sinbad smiled while still panting from the entire running. He said, "Good night Doubar, wake me for my watch."
"Little brother," Doubar frowned, "you don't have a watch tonight."
"Oh!" said Sinbad, "Right! I forgot! Well good night big brother!"
"I wonder what you two did up there that made you forget so easily little brother!" Doubar teased.
Sinbad's eye widened at what Doubar was saying thinking that he might have seen them; then relaxed at the realization that his brother was just teasing him. He stammered, "we were just talking."
"Some talk it must've been!" teased Doubar.
Sinbad glared at his brother, causing the latter to laugh loudly. He said, "GOOD NIGHT Doubar!" and he stomped off into the tent.
"Sweet dreams, little brother!" Doubar called after him.
Sinbad shook his head as he entered the large tent. Tessay, Talia and Maeve were sleeping on the left, while the men were sleeping on the right. He was to sleep right next to Mike who was not asleep as yet. They scowled at each other as if he removed his boots and slipped under the blanket. In his mind he said to Maeve, Good night love!
'Night Sinbad! Pleasant dreams!
He's jealous.
Gee! He could hear her sarcasm, thanks for reminding me!
He laughed silently and fell asleep.
When We Were Thieves - Part 14 Section 3
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