Reawakened (The Reawakened Series) (8 page)

This was getting weirder by the second. “Okay, let me see if I understand. Your body works like a solar panel, with the sun functioning as your own personal miracle cure, you’re in desperate need of an organ transplant, and for the time being you need me to be your Energizer Bunny.”

I didn’t realize I’d been gesturing until Amon took my hands in his. “Lily, your words are confusing to me. Though I do get power from the sun, it is not enough to do the things I must do in the time allotted. Without the jars that hold the remainder of my essence, I will soon die.”

“You’re dying?”

He nodded. “It is not the right time. I need to remain in this world until I have accomplished my purpose.”

Oh.

My half-realized attempts at minimalizing his symptoms vanished, tamped down by the seriousness of his condition. Common sense and practical Lilliana took over. I squeezed his hand. “Of course you do. You are far too young to die.”

Everything suddenly fit into place. He was still lost, but now I knew that he was also terminally ill.

The organ business was likely because he was in organ failure, and he must have been put on heavy medication, which made him a little loopy.

Testing alternative healing methods would explain his obsession with healing and energy transfer. Someone probably hadn’t kept an eye on him, and he had wandered off wearing nothing but a white sheet, which had likely come from his hospital bed. That also explained the bare feet and the hair loss for a guy so young. I wondered if he had gone to the museum as a dying wish.

“Lily?”

His simple utterance of my name made the spinning wheels in my mind come to a complete stop. “Yes, Amon?” I replied softly, with an apologetic sort of smile.

“I sense your thoughts. Though it is true that my body is weakened, there is no sickness in my mind. I do not have much time in your world, and the ceremony must be completed while I have strength. If I can raise my brothers, they will help me finish what I must do, but to do that I need your help finding them.”

“You want me to help you find your brothers?”

“Yes.”

Relief flooded through me. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can. Were they at the museum with you?”

He shook his head. “They are lost like me.”

So he wanted to reconnect with his brothers. Well, if he needed help with his bucket list, then that was something I could do. Leaving him in the sun, I headed back into my room and returned with a pad of paper and my trusty mechanical pencil.

“Okay, let’s start with names.”

He nodded. “One is named Asten.”

I penciled in
Asten.

“He is the son of Khalfani.”

“Right. Last name Khalfani.”

“No. His father’s name is Khalfani.”

“Okay, good. That’s very good, Amon.” I smiled brightly. “What’s his last name?” I asked slowly.

Amon’s eyes narrowed, but he answered my question. “He is known only as Asten, but sometimes he is also called the Celestial Magician or the Cosmic Dreamer.”

“Um…okay.” I jotted down
possible magician/check Vegas,
and then asked about his other brother.

“He is named Ahmose, and he was once the prince of Waset.”

“Waset. Is that a country?”

“It was once a great city.”

“I see. Go on,” I said as I wrote
possible politician
.

“He is the Great Healer, and the Master of both Beast and Storm.”

“Gotcha.” I adjusted my notes. Crossing off
possible politician,
I wrote
veterinarian or perhaps weatherman.

“When was the last time you saw either of them?”

“It’s been a millennium.”

“Uh-huh.” For a moment the only noise was the scratching of my pencil.

Closing my book with a pop, I said, “I think I have a good place to start.” I put my hand on Amon’s bare shoulder and squeezed gently. “I promise I’ll do my best to find your brothers and get you where you need to be.”

“Thank you, Young Lily.”

“You’re welcome. Now, how about some sustenance?” Pausing briefly, I added, “Can you eat solid food?”
I should never have fed a cancer patient a hot dog. What was I thinking?

“Do you have a hot dog?” he asked, as if reading my mind.

“Hot dogs aren’t very nutritious, and it’s unlikely there’d be any here, but I’ll order something for you. Something soft that will be easy on the stomach.”

“My teeth are sound. I do not require mush. My arrival is often celebrated with feasting and song, but you can sing for me at another time. I confess that at the moment I am hungrier than an outcast jackal and would not put off a feast for any entertainment, no matter how riveting.”

“Right. I’ll hold off on the riveting singing. A feast, though, I can arrange. You just stay right here in the sun until I get back.”

He nodded, the fatigue on his face obvious.

Carefully closing the sliding door behind me and drawing the curtains, I grabbed my robe and headed toward the kitchen, stopping to check my reflection in the mirror. My dark hair hung down my back in thick, messy waves. The blue eyes looking back at me were bright, and my cheeks sun-kissed.

I was definitely not looking like the poised, elegant, controlled girl I usually was. I appeared excited, wild, and a little frenzied. Making a deliberate effort to calm myself and smooth my hair, I proceeded slowly to the kitchen. It was empty. My parents must have left early. Then it hit me that it was Marcella’s day off, too. Perfect.

I called room service and placed my order, then headed back to the veranda.

“Have you soaked up enough sun?” I asked.

“I have taken in all I can for the moment.”

“Great. Let’s get you inside, then.”

He followed me into my room and watched with interest as I hastily grabbed a lacy black bra from the back of a chair and tossed it and my comforter in a wrinkled heap on the bed.

“So, your breakfast is coming, but that will take a half hour or so. I’m going to raid my father’s closet for some clothes for you. In the meantime, do you want to take a shower?”

“A shower?”

“Unless you prefer a bath?”

“Ah. Yes, I would enjoy a good scrubbing.”

“Great. So I’ll get the clothes, and the bathroom is just through there.”

Amon gave me a quizzical look before heading into the bathroom. I left him to his own devices while I scrounged up something for him to wear.

My parents’ bedroom and bathroom were even bigger than mine, and their closet was ginormous. I knew that Father had some old T-shirts and jeans in drawers in the back. I dug up a pair of sneakers, socks, a workout tee, sweatpants, and a lightweight jacket, and was headed back into my parents’ room when the thought occurred to me that Amon might need underwear.

Going through my father’s underwear drawer was not something I ever thought I’d have to do, but I was even more out of sorts when I considered which pair would best fit Amon. Finally, I settled on some generic boxers and headed to my bathroom.

When I returned, it sounded like Niagara Falls was thundering over a cliff in my room. All the fixtures were streaming water at full force. Amon stood by the sink staring at his reflection with fascination.

“This bathroom”—he tested out the word—“is unique.”

I turned off the water in the sink. “I suppose it is. Here are your clothes. Did you decide on a bath or a shower?”

“Which is the shower?” he asked.

When I pointed to the spa-style shower, which was currently pounding water from every one of its multiple body sprays and jets, Amon glanced in that direction but turned to the tub instead, reaching for his man skirt. He began playing with a tie on one side.

I held up my hands, spinning around, and involuntarily squeaked when I could still see him in the mirror attempting to disrobe. Quickly shutting my eyes, I said, “Whoa, there. Could you at least wait until I leave?”

“Why would you leave?”

“Um…a little thing called modesty?”

“Mod…esty?”

“Yeah. You know. Not showing what the Egyptian gods gave you. That sort of thing.”

“I do not understand. Then who will wash me?”

A burst of laughter came out before I could stifle it. “Uh, yourself?” With eyes still shut, I felt my way over to the sink and then from there to the door. “Amon, I realize you probably had nurses in the hospital giving you sponge baths and all, but I am just not prepared to take that step with you. Okay?”

I heard the unmistakable sound of clothing hitting the floor and then the swoosh of water as he sank into the tub. “Very well, Lily. You may keep your mod…esty.”

“Thanks.” I backed far enough away so that the only thing I would be able to see was his head and then opened my eyes.

“Here.” I tossed him a washcloth and a bar of soap. “If you want the jets on, push that button on the side. Over on the left, by your hand.”

The look of amazement on his face when the jets came on was priceless.

“Towels are on the heated rack on the left side of the tub. Food will be here in twenty minutes.” I shut the door behind me and then added, shouting, “And make sure you come out dressed!”

I quickly straightened up my room, and not long after the phone rang, indicating that the food was ready. I met the server by the elevator, signed the form, and took the cart from him. “I’ll call when you can come pick it up, okay?”

“Very good, miss.”

Wheeling the cart into the kitchen, I set two places and got out milk, a variety of juice bottles, and two mugs for the hot chocolate I’d ordered. After setting the platters of food on the table, I shouted, “Amon! Breakfast is here! Are you dressed?”

I jumped when I heard his voice right behind me. “I am having a problem.”

“You scared me.” I turned around and found him holding the shoes in one hand and his sweatpants up around his waist with the other. “Are they that loose?” I asked.

To prove it, he let go and the pants slid dangerously low on his hips. There were no white boxers in sight. “Um…Amon? Where are the rest of the clothes I gave you?”

“This is the one I chose. It covers the most.”

“Ah, I see. Then you made a good choice, but I meant for you to wear all of the clothes.”

“All of them?” His eyes roved over my body, still clad in pajamas. “But you do not wear that many.”

“No, not when I’m sleeping, but when I dress for the day I will wear clothes like the ones I gave you.”

“Very well. May I eat first, Lily?”

“Sure. Have a seat.”

While he sat down I uncovered the dishes. Fragrant steam rose as I removed each domed lid. “There. Now you eat while I go get dressed. I’ll bring back your other clothes, too, okay?”

Amon stared at the food with wide eyes, and he could only nod in response.

As I turned to leave, I smiled. My parents would raise their eyebrows when they saw how much food I had ordered for just one meal, but it was worth it to see the look on Amon’s face. He’d requested a feast, and a feast I gave him. One worthy of anyone’s bucket list.

He was now surrounded by eggs done eight different ways, hash browns and skillet potatoes, country ham, apple sausage, maple bacon, biscuits slathered with honey and melted butter, caramel-apple-topped pancakes with whipped cream, crème brûlée French toast, malted Belgian waffles, a fruit platter, and a basket full of croissants, Danishes, and streusel-topped blueberry muffins. If he couldn’t find something he liked among those dishes, then he was past helping.

I dressed in what I called designer casual and smiled as I assessed myself in the mirror. Though my eyes were still bright, I looked much more like the poised, calm, and in-control version of myself. Heading back to the kitchen, I dumped Amon’s clothes on the chair next to him. I put my hands on my hips and laughed as I took in the scene before me. “Which one did you like best?”

“All of it,” Amon mumbled with his mouth full. “Here, Lily. Sit.” He pulled out a chair and took my arm, tugging until I sat down. “Eat.”

I scooped some fruit onto my plate and nibbled on it while he filled his plate again. Halfway done, he paused and looked at me. “Why are you not eating?”

“Too many carbs.”

“What is a carb?”

“Uh, too fattening.”

“You are not fat.” Amon looked me up and down in a way that made me feel slightly uncomfortable. “You are too thin. Eat.”

He picked up a serving spoon and began filling my plate until the plate could hold no more.

“Okay!” I threw up my hands. “That’s enough.”

Grunting, he turned back to his food, but kept a vigilant eye on me and pointed to my plate every time I set my fork down.

When he poked my arm for the third time, I said, “I can’t eat any more. Usually I just have tea for breakfast.”

“Tea is not food.”

“It’s all I need.”

“No. A woman needs more than tea,” Amon stated, looking into my eyes. I suddenly felt very exposed, as if we were talking about much more than just breakfast. I got the distinct impression that he was studying me from the inside out and could see all my insecurities. Hunger and sustenance seemed to take on a different meaning in that moment.

“Yes, I suppose she does,” I answered, turning my eyes away.

Finally finishing his food, he pushed back from the table and declared he was ready to begin the search for his brothers. He struggled with the T-shirt, so I helped him twist it around. As I did, my hands brushed against his rather nice chest. I blushed and turned to pick up the jacket. After I thrust it into his arms, I noticed that the sweatpants were once again threatening to slide off his hips.

I cleared my throat. He’d been examining the jacket’s hood with a curious expression but looked up. “It’s, um, your pants. There’s a string, see? At the waistband? Just pull it tight and tie it.”

Casting aside the jacket, Amon found the drawstring and pulled it on one side, then the other. I left him to finish dressing and returned to my room to grab my bag and fill it with all the things we might need.

I put in my laptop, my cell and charger, my notebook, and my wallet. Then I returned to the kitchen and added some bottled water. Amon tossed in a few apples and oranges and I threw in a bag of crackers. After looping the strap across my body, I knelt at his feet, helping him tie his sneakers, and thought about where we should go.