Chapter 9: Mehyt
In the house of the two boys and their grandmother, the air was always fresh, filled with the scent of citrus or sweet flowers. Shahrazad always made sure to keep the smell of illness away. To her, Demir was simply lost in a deep sleep, trapped in a dream from which he didn't want to wake up. This was where she stepped in—the grandmother, putting her whole heart, her strength, and all her knowledge as an Egyptology epigraphist and paleographer into saving him.
Her profession involved decoding ancient texts from the early dynasties and studying the rituals of the ancient Egyptians. By a twist of fate, she had discovered something unbelievable: a network of portals hidden inside wells or water sources all over the world. These portals could only be activated by specific people, and they led into a real labyrinth through time and space.
At first, it was hard to believe, especially for a brilliant scientific mind like Shahrazad’s. Paradoxically, she herself was one of the keys that could open these portals. She had gone and seen it with her own eyes. She had silently witnessed numerous historical moments until, one day, fate brought her face-to-face with her own image from over three thousand years ago. The woman from the past was no ordinary person, but a queen: Queen Tiye. Because times were dangerous and plots lurked around every corner, Shahrazad saved Queen Tiye’s two-year-old twin grandsons—the sons of Akhenaten and Queen Meritmut—from certain death. In doing so, something in the Mirror of Time cracked, and Shahrazad could never travel through that portal again.
Now, back in Demir’s bedroom, the white cat was once again sitting on the boy’s chest. But this time, two more people were inside the circle bound by the cedar-resin twine: Anemo and his father, Professor Simoon. Apart from Remi and Demir, everyone else sat on chairs quite far from the boy’s bed, so as not to crowd his breathing.
"I am going to set the clock now," Shahrazad said. "This time we have seventy minutes. That's ten minutes more than last time. Be brave, everyone. We are a strong anchor for Remi. She is going to try to bring my grandson home. Are you ready?"
Remi heard Shahrazad’s countdown echoing directly in her ears once more. She felt the collar around her neck pulse as it activated. She stepped back into the Wall of Ether, holding Demir’s hand. This time, they were in a completely different place.
"Where are we now?" Remi asked the boy, who was still insisting on being a ghost.
"I think we’re at the palace... I’m nervous. I don’t know if I told you, but the Pharaoh is my dad. This must be his study."
The Pharaoh's study was a high-ceilinged room, flooded with blinding light that poured through narrow slits just below the ceiling. The white limestone walls were decorated with delicate reliefs showing the god Aten, stretching his rays out like protective hands towards the royal family. In the centre, a massive cedar wood table, inlaid with gold and lapis lazuli, was piled high with papyrus scrolls and clay tablets.
Akhenaten, still young, with long facial features and eyes deep in thought, sat on a high-backed throne. In front of him, the High Priest Ay moved with soft, almost silent steps. He had a tall, thin frame, immaculate linen robes, and a wicked gaze hidden beneath a mask of absolute obedience.
"Light of the Two Lands," the priest said, bowing his head with a sweet, fake smile. "The gossip from the market has started to echo inside the temples. The people are whispering... They say the child that your second wife, Meritmut, carries in her womb is not your own blood. They say it is the fruit of betrayal with... well, your radiance knows who. For the peace of the throne, it would be wise to get rid of her... or to ensure that child never sees the light of day."
Akhenaten clenched his fingers around the edge of his throne, but before he could answer, the heavy bronze door creaked open.
A little boy of about six stepped into the room. He was remarkably beautiful, with large, intelligent eyes, but his face was pale. His left leg was deformed, making him walk with a heavy, painful limp. Little Tutankhaton approached the table, completely ignoring the oppressive presence of the High Priest.
"Father," the child said in a thin but firm voice, "I have come for you to teach me about wisdom and ruling. When my little brother from mother Meritmut is born, I want to be a just king for him. Will he be as strong as the god Aten?"
Ay exchanged a fleeting, poisonous glance with the Pharaoh, leaving the child’s innocent words floating in the air like a threat to their plans.
From behind the Wall of Ether, Remi and Demir watched frozen, realising they were witnessing the exact moment the plot against the twins had been set in motion. Demir’s breathing became ragged and fast, as if he were having an asthma attack. Remi squeezed his hand tightly, then dropped to one knee and looked into the boy’s brown eyes, which had flashes of sunlight in them.
"I am right here with you, Demir! Breathe calmly. Count backwards from ten to one. The moment we are watching right now has already passed. You were born. You will be fine."
The two ghosts left the Pharaoh’s study. They passed through corridors and halls, past guards and servants, and reached an inner courtyard again. This one was small, with a fountain in the centre shaped like the sun disc with its rays, and yellow lotuses covered the surface of the water. Right at the base of the fountain, like a ball of black fur, sat the tomcat they had seen last time.
"Look at that cheeky thing! Even three thousand years ago he was having his afternoon nap!" Remi said.
The ball of black fur moved lazily, stretching his long paws on the sun-warmed stone right next to the yellow lotuses. The cat opened a single eye of bright amber-yellow and looked at the two of them with a deeply bored expression, without even moving from his comfortable spot.
"You floating shadows again?" he purred in a low, echoing voice that seemed to come from the depths of the temples. "By the rays of Aten, you are ruining the peace of this courtyard with your bodiless presence. My name is Mehyt, the cool north wind, and I do not allow anyone to disturb my prayers."
"Does that mean your Darkness was praying?" the boy joined in immediately, playing along like a humble subject. "Who were you praying to?"
"Shh, foolish child! The walls have ears here. Lean closer and pay attention."
Demir and Remi moved closer to the ball of black fur and knelt down to hear what he had to say. The cat whispered very softly:
"I am praying to the Great Bastet. The winds bring bad news... You, my dear, have a very interesting necklace. I see we share the same faith!"
Remi swallowed an ironic smile and, with complete seriousness, spoke to the black cat again:
"Mehyt... breeze of the north, do you think you could help us?"
But just as the cat was about to answer, a loud, annoying buzzing sound tore them away from the mists of history, pulling Remi straight back into her white cat body.
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