Eye of Ra (30 page)

Neith also taught him a trick or two, although most of their instruction time was spent learning about one another.  Neith wanted to be his, the first day she laid eyes upon him. Though Laurence felt attraction toward her, and enjoyed her company, he sadly did not have a heart to give to her. It was still with Rosemary.

But even though he earnestly communicated this to her one day, it only made her want him more.

“I have waited my whole life for you,” she placed her hand at the center of his chest. “I can wait a bit longer for your heart to return from your Rosemary, and become mine. And I shall honor her, by cherishing it the same as she cherished it.”

Her words brought a sad smile to his face as he left out the gory details about Rosemary’s life which lead to her demise. In his mind, he envisioned the Rosemary he wished he could have saved, dancing with the sun beaming down on her in a white flowing dress, smiling back at him.

As the days went by, nervousness swirled within his stomach. He realized he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something bad or unexpected to happen. When it did not, he realized what the bad feeling within him was truly about.

He had finally found some semblance of peace within himself, but the world he had left behind was still lost and in turmoil.

CHAPTER 12

One night, he stood on the shiny silver veranda of his room while his familiar rested on top of the banister. He looked out into the capital city of Atticala, marveling at its beauty, which intensified at night as the lights, reflective metal and crystals from the buildings made the city glimmer in the dark. Laurence’s smile vanished as his mind wandered back to Rosemary and Rwanda.

Despite being far more evolved and advanced than humanity, the Annunaki were not a perfect race. Reading up on their history showed him that their beginning was actually no different than that of the people of Earth. It was once a world of violence, war, slavery, and the worshipping of gods that they often used to rationalize horrific practices of sacrifice and genocide.

Until one person, who wanted better for his world, took a stand and fought to make his people better.

People still argued and disagreed, some more intensely than others. He even witnessed a fist fight between two male Annunakis because one of them did not clean up after his pet Cobalt that made a mess in front of the other’s store.  The Cobalt looked like a lion with spots similar to a leopard, three sets of large eyes, a mane styled into a Mohawk, and two large fangs like a sabertooth tiger. They were both domestic pets and modes of transportation. In the end, the law stepped in, the owner of the Cobalt apologized and cleaned up the mess, and both went about their business.

No one was killed or murdered because of something stupid or because they were different. There wasn’t one homeless person sleeping on some steps or with arms stretched out begging for money. Not one single citizen of Anu lived without clothes on their backs, food in their belly, or a roof and bed to lay their head.

It was as Ma’at said, the entire planet was truly one massive family, and from young to old … from rich to poor …regardless of name, title, or House …they treated one another as one family.  

Brick Bear hadn’t flinched when he had Rosemary’s life snuffed out, because to him she was less than an animal. Laurence lowered his head, knowing his actions and decisions were partially responsible for her getting killed. He replayed the senseless death and savagery he witnessed in Rwanda in his head, remembering Shamarima and the other children he saved on that day. It made him realize that he wanted what the people of Anu had for his people back on Earth. For that to happen, his vacation had to come to an end. 

“Hey,” he smirked, turning to his familiar. “I think it’s time I finally gave you a name.”

“What is your official designation for me?” answered the familiar looking up at him.

“How about Sol,” Laurence nodded, “short for King Solomon.”

“Solomon or "Solomon the Wise," confirmed the familiar, “also called Jedidiah which is translated in Hebrew as יְדִידְיָהּ. As archived in human religious scriptures which can be found in the Torah, Qur’an, and Bible both King James and New International Version…” 

“I don’t need the history lesson right now Sol.”

“As you command, Sol shall be my designation,” it answered.

Laurence gave a sad huff as a question came to his lips.

“Sol, can you tell me the current status of Rwanda?”

“The genocide is officially over,” confirmed Sol. “The Rwandan Patriotic Front has completed their conquest of the country, with the exception of a zone occupied by Operation Turquoise. Majority of the Hutu population has fled in fear of reprisal heading into Zaire. The estimated death toll is said to be over one million seven hundred thousand in casualties.”

Laurence dropped his head almost regretting that he asked his question.

 “Will we be returning to Earth soon?” asked Sol.

“I’m not going back to Earth, yet,” Laurence shook his head.

“Will we be staying on Anu?”

“You once said to me that despite all our mountainous imperfection, the human race has the potential to achieve many great things and fix what’s wrong in us and our planet,” Laurence lifted his head again to gaze at the city. “I thought about returning back to Earth, and maybe doing, I don’t know, like a superhero thing.”

“Superhero, a being of heroic character possessing extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public,” it recited.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “But after thinking about what happened in Rwanda …I realized, that’s not what my world needs. It doesn’t need someone swooping in to save the day. The answer is not some show of power or display of violence. What my world needs is a teacher. I need to be able not just to inspire people, but to teach them. Educate them about a better way to live and be. That’s not just going to happen by wearing my armor and wielding you. I need to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and experience. There are worlds and races in this vast universe that you know about that can help me do that. It’s time I go back to school and get the education I need to save my people.”

“I will begin charting courses for such planets and races in order to aid you in your endeavors, Eye of Ra.” Sol respectfully bowed.

Laurence smirked as he reached out giving Sol a rub on the top of its head suited for a pet. Sol was still unable to comprehend this friendly display of affection. Laurence sighed as he folded his arms, leaning against the veranda and looking out once again into the city and up at the four moons of Anu’s starry night sky, considering his new life and the journey ahead of him.

As he did so, the last bit of bad feeling within him slowly melted away.

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Six days later, Laurence stood in his room, once again wearing the armor of Amun-Ra. He looked himself up and down in a full length mirror embedded in the wall. The armor had a spit-shine glimmer and appeared as if it had never seen battle.

The morning after he had made his decision, he sat down with Ma’at and explained how he felt and what he wanted to do. She happily agreed to assist him on his endeavor. As the Eye of Ra, he was officially a diplomat with authorization to visit other planets within the Dominion Council. Ma’at reached out to her associates on worlds he would be visiting so he would be properly received when he arrived. She plotted his course and taught him greetings and important customs. Of course, Sol could have updated him on these things, but Laurence found much joy in allowing her to both teach and in some ways coddle him. It filled the void of something he did not know he even missed.

Not having a mother.

A euphoria of pride washed over him as he looked back at the man in the mirror.

His ears propped up when he sensed someone else in the room. Turning to the door, he caught Ma’at standing by the entranceway. She was not fast enough to wipe away the tears that had fallen from her large eyes.

“Apologies for intruding,” she sniffled.

“No apologies needed,” he held out a hand. “Are you okay?”

“Tis nothing,” she brought forth a cracked smile. “Seeing you there brought me back to the first time I saw you. And both times …I thought you …you were him.”

He walked over to her and took her hand; with his free hand he wiped away her tears. He pulled her closer connecting his forehead to hers, known as connecting the third eye, a deep sign of love and affection among the Annunaki. With both eyes closed they stayed that way for a minute or so.

“You are a child of two worlds now,” she whispered to him. “Remember this …this is now your home. You are Annunaki, and we are your family.”

He acknowledged her with a nod as his own eyes glassed over. She returned the favor by wiping away his falling tears.

For the next two hours before his departure, Laurence was bombarded with goodbyes from young and old of all five houses. Everyone hugged and connected the third eye, some were filled with tears, and many, especially the elders, finished with a whispered affirmation of what Ma’at told him earlier.

“You are Annunaki …you are family.”

Seshat cried the most out of everyone as she had become attached to Laurence, who treated her like a little sister.

“You depart too soon,” she sniffled. “I wish to hear more tales of the three who are one for all, and all for one. And the one who seeks the glow to become the master.”

“I won’t be gone long,” he smiled. “And I will have more tales to tell once I return.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” he nodded.

She cupped his face bringing his forehead to hers as she blubbered. He dried her eyes and kissed her softly on her forehead sealing his promise to return.

Thoth’s words to Laurence were simple as he gave him a farewell embrace.

“Remember what I said to you the first time we met?”

“Time moves the same for all of us who are a part of the Awakening,” Laurence recited. “It is how you spend that time that matters.”

“Go with that my boy,” Thoth smiled. “Go with that.”

Tefnut, the first Eye of Ra, was adorned in her armor to see him off. Its theme was that of a creature similar to an African big cat forged with golden Alder with a gold Menos similar to Anubis. Her helm, which looked like a lioness head, had a Seni attached to the front and a small sun disk connected to the back of the helm. The Ember that powered her armor with Awakening energy was a bright blue color.

“Now the house of Ra has two Eyes to watch over it,” she smiled. 

“You and I never discussed how you felt about that?” He half smirked.

“Those who would hoard titles for themselves respect not the yoke they must carry,” she answered. “The reason there are not more Eyes is because the weight is that heavy to bear. I am glad I have a little brother who is both strong and willing to help me carry mine.”

He went to give her a warrior’s embrace; she pulled him in for one of family.

“Travel safely my dear little brother, and know that as Annunaki, you are never alone.”

Neith was the last on his list, not on purpose by him. She waited, wanting to be the last to be with him. Second to last was her father Sobek, who gave him the customary forearm grasp, bestowed the warrior class or male Annunaki to one another. It made him sweat bullets staring into the eyes of the large imposing figure, until he roughly reiterated what others had said before him.

“You are Annunaki boy …you are family.”

Neith’s farewell dress of choice could hardly be called a dress in Laurence’s opinion as it was basically metal and jewels. She wore a large metal headdress of a Seni ready to strike. The back of the headpiece had a curtain of blue gems encased in golden disks that hung down the side and back of her head. Her top was a golden bent disk with embroidered etchings that wrapped around her neck, and two chains attached on each side holding up two gold and blue gemmed Seni that covered mainly the sides and nipple area of her chest. Two thicker chains hung down to her belly button from the mouths of the Seni.

As for the ‘skirt’, it was practically the largest gem he had ever seen encased in a gold crusted material covering her nether region, with small chains hanging from the bottom of it. The gem was held in place by an embroidered golden belt that hung on her hips. At the bottom of the belt on each side hung three large golden disks that clanged against her thighs whenever she moved. The only cloth material on the entire outfit was a long sheer white silk train that covered her rear.

Laurence clearly saw that she was wearing her “take a good luck at what you are leaving” outfit.

She leaned against him pressing her hands against his breast plate.

“During your journeys,” she whispered softly. “If you come across other females you find desirable …you may bed them if you wish. But only bed them,” she growled. “And no whores from Thrace …should they come across your path.”

He wanted to burst out laughing, but saw that she was deadly serious. He opted to leaning forward and whispering gently in her ear.

“I search for knowledge to help my fellow humans, not another female’s touch. If you are willing to wait for my return, we can see if my heart returns with me.”