Ancient Egypt:
"Master!" Senak called out, her hands beating against the invisible barrier before her.
Footfalls grew louder from down the hall.
A few moments later, her Master appeared, his usual serene expression now replaced by anger and distress.
"We have been betrayed," he told her somberly, his hands landing on the invisible barrier, mirroring hers from the other side.
"They're murdering my sisters," she told him, hot tears spilling from her eyes, "they butchered Rea and Akeneb in your bed."
He growled in frustration.
"What is happening? Can you not break free, Master?"
"No," he said bitterly, that one syllable enough to make her despair.
More tears spilled forth as she beat uselessly against the barrier.
A jumble of voices reached her ears as three soldiers burst into the room. Two wielded swords, a third carrying a spear, the point dripping blood.
Their eyes looked past her to Enkartep.
"No god now, are you?" the spear-wielder sneered.
The angry beat of Enkartep's fists on the barrier made the arrogant looks disappear briefly, all three jumping in surprise and fear.
"Only cowards would murder the innocent and helpless," her Master spat angrily.
"Any woman who would spread her legs for you is not innocent," one of the sword-carriers answered coolly.
"Then I am among the guiltiest," Senak snarled, brandishing the daggers, despair replaced by defiance.
The trio glanced back to her, weighing their weapons in their hands.
Before the brief battle commenced, she glanced back to her Master, staring at her from the other side of the barrier.
"For Enkartep!" she cried, launching herself at the spear-carrier.
Halfway through her attack, she threw one dagger at one of the sword-wielders, the blade catching him in the shoulder. He staggered back, grunting in pain. Senak dodged the spear, slipping past it's wielder's guard to jab her dagger into his belly. The third attacker came up behind her, but she was quick enough to kick out, catching him in the stomach. With a shrill cry, she tore the dagger from the spear-carrier's stomach, fresh blood cascading out onto her hands, and leapt at the one she had just kicked.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other sword-wielder coming on, wounded and hampered yet angry and motivated. Another kick bought her some space, and she spun, leaping agilely at the other sword-wielder. He blocked her attack with his blade, but she ducked underneath his attack, slashing at his thigh, catching flesh underneath his light leather. This maneuver, however, left her too close to him; he recovered quickly, his pommel smashing into her face, sending a spray of blood and teeth out into the air. She stumbled back, right into the grip of the other soldier. His hand closed around her wrist, and his blade sliced down, cutting off her hand, the dagger clattering to the floor. Defiant and enraged, she did her best to not make a noise, but could not help a squeal of pain.
Blood trickled onto the floor as the two soldiers shoved her against the barrier.
Her Master was mere inches from her.
"My priestess," he said solemnly.
"My Master," she replied, her remaining hand coming up against the barrier, splayed fingers meeting his from the other side.
"All your whores will die," one of the soldiers told Enkartep, his compatriot taking a hold of Senak's hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat.
A flash of steel sliced her neck wide open, blood spurting onto the invisible barrier. The two soldiers kept her pressed against it as she struggled, gurgling helplessly, the view of her Master dissipating as she died.
The soldiers let go of her once the struggling stopped, letting her dead body slide down the barrier until it slumped onto the floor.
"All your whores will die," the soldier repeated.
Enkartep was speechless, trembling with rage. It felt strange, such anger, after a century of serenity and confidence.
The soldiers spat on the barrier before they left, dragging Senak's lifeless body with them.
He turned on his heel and marched back downstairs.
"They butchered your sister," he snarled to Akehar, the impassive priest showing no emotion besides smug self-satisfaction.
"She was already gone," Akehar shot back.
All Enkartep could do was glare at the priests.
And then he remembered that he had the full range of his powers down here.
A vicious smile crossed his lips.
"I have changed my mind."
"About what?" Susuk asked.
"About not killing you."
A loud crack sounded in the chamber, as with a gesture, Enkartep snapped the priest's neck.
The others watched as Susuk's body dropped to the floor.
"I will kill each of you," he told them, "over and over again."
With another gesture, Susuk's neck healed, the priest rising with a look of confusion on his face.
"You will all suffer a thousand times over. Sadly, that is not enough for what you have wrought."
Another gesture, and Susuk began to choke, his hands moving to his throat. After a few long seconds, he dropped dead again.
"But it will have to do."
Present day:
"What are we going to do without Master?" Kristin asked Stacy, the two women moving closer together, seeking each other for comfort as their Master left them.
"I don't know," Stacy answered, her eyes wide with uncertainty, "but hopefully he'll be back soon."
They watched as the helicopter lifted into the air, keeping an eye on it for as long as they could, until it was a tiny pinprick on the horizon.
The warmth and security that their Master brought them had dissipated, but they had each other.
"What should we do?" Kristin asked, nuzzling into her fellow priestess.
Stacy returned the affection.
"Let's go back to the room," she suggested, pulling Kristin after her.
They strode through the grounds, seeing many different parts of it, from the lush gardens to the winding walkways. Here and there were warriors, standing guard despite the lack of a threat.
"Oooh, look over there," Stacy said, gesturing across the way.
Kristin followed her outstretched hand.
Their Master had apparently put many amenities into this construction.
One such amenity was the large pool across the way. Clear water burbled gently, with little nooks cut out into the side of the pool, four on both longer sides of its rectangular shape. Just in front of the pool was a small lawn of green grass, complete with cushioned benches, perfect for lounging and tanning.
"Race you," Stacy said.
"You're on," Kristin shot back.
The two women dashed for the water, shedding their robes as they went, showing off their nakedness to each other.
Kristin hit the water first, but Stacy was quick to follow, catching up to her, wrapping her arms around her from behind. They kissed, finding their way to one of the nooks, relaxing on the underwater benches hewn from the wall. Hands found curves and tongue met tongue, the women luxuriating in each other. The water was at a perfect temperature, making it easy to simply soak, to sit back in the nook, kissing and caressing with little urgency.
Under the water, their hands trailed further south, each one finding a soaked slit.