Mahado and Mana

“Mana! Please, don’t leave me!” Seto begged as Mana lay in her bed, the fever slowly taking her life.

“Seto…my husband…I need to go…” she replied as she looked at him softly,

“Father, is mother going to…” a young white haired boy asked,

“Arukab, please, take Isis and Atem out of here.” he replied softly. The white haired boy nodded and went to a younger brown haired boy, and a small light haired girl and led them from the room, giving them what small assurances he could. “Where? Where do you need to go?” he asked as Mana’s eyes began to close,

“The…tomb…the Millennium Puzzle must be returned…” she replied.

“The I will take it, you’ll die if you leave like this, you…you mean to die.” He realised. Mana smiled and nodded,

“It is almost my time…Mahado…he’s waiting…” she replied weakly. Seto gritted his teeth and nodded, wrapping her in the blanket and lifting her into his arms. As he left the room the three children were waiting outside.

“Say goodbye to your mother…she’s leaving us.” He said as he knelt down to the children, who gathered round and gripped the blanket,

“Why mother? Why are you leaving?” Arukab asked as he cried,

“Don’t cry my son, you must be brave for your brother and sister. We’ll all meet again some day, trust in that and be strong for me, I’ll be watching over you.” she promised, reaching out and stroking Arukab’s soft hair,

“Mummy!” Isis cried as she buried her face in the blanket, feeling Mana stroke her head gently,

“You must all be brave, and support your father.” She said, looking down at Atem, who nodded through his tears. “Seto, we must hurry.” She said.

“Children, stay here.” Seto ordered as he got to his feet, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Outside he took his horse and rode to the mountains where Atem was buried. Once at the door of the tomb his creature opened the doors and he helped Mana to them, holding her tight in his embrace for a few more seconds, “Mana…I love you.” he whispered.

“And I you…be a good Pharaoh…and a good father.” She added as she took the blanket from her shoulders. Seto smiled and nodded, handing her a golden box, in which the Millennium Puzzle resided in pieces. “Goodbye.” She said as she took the box and turned away,

“Farewell…” he replied as he watched her go. As she passed into the tomb she was enveloped in a soft blue light and transformed into her monster, and as the doors began to close he saw Mahado appear and reach out his hand for hers. “We’ll meet again.” He said to himself, a smile flickering across his features as he turned away from the tomb and got back onto his horse, riding back through the desert to his home where his children were waiting for him.