Above is a picture of Ancient Ineb-Hedj which now called Memphis. Dedicated to A_stary_nightmare. For being an awesome friend and always ready to give out advice and being one of the only people to spot my Lion King References.

I think "We Own the Night" by The Wanted expresses the little deep moments between the two brothers perfectly.

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Leaving the beautiful city of Heliopolis was bad enough but add that to the sharp hot throbbing pain in her abdomen, Sabra felt depression threatening to take over her whole being. But it wasn't just that either. The memory of Gavriel would come back to her every night and haunt her. She never blamed herself for anyone's death. She didn't blame herself now either, she just felt like she could have done more to save him.

His memory was like a rose. It was beautiful when you see it, you want to have it, you reach for it. But then when you realise he will never come back it's like reaching to touch the petals but instead getting pricked by thorns.

But she kept a stiff upper lip and continued living. She wasn't permitted to work yet but Ahkmenrah was with her regularly. Today they were leaving Heliopolis. The people stood by the banks waving, some crying some cheering, all throwing flowers. The petals fluttered in the air, through the petals the city shone with more magnificence. It looked like a sort of Elysium. Ethereal beauty at its best.

Merenkahre looked at his people and wondered if Ahkmenrah and Kahmunrah would do a good job after he was gone. They had to. They will. He had faith. As looked at Heliopolis he knew this would be the last time he would see this city. The gods had given him a sad look last night; they hadn't said anything but he knew. His raised his hand once again, to wave to Heliopolis one last time.

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Sabra knew something was wrong as soon as she saw two men she had once considered comrades aboard the ship. They were brothers by the names of Hemiunu and Henenu. They were identical twins, both dark skinned, bulky with angry looks forever etched upon their expressions.

Traitors

Thought Sabra because they were. They were the two men that gave the White Lion Clan a bad name. She was going to punish them so badly one day that they will regret all that they had done. Not just to her comrades but also to all the men women and children they had killed. But what troubled her most was that Khufu had clearly bought them. But she knew this time she couldn't stop him from whatever he was doing. He was going to be stealthier and she was injured. She could barely walk let alone fight and sneak around.

She decided to keep a good distance away from them. If they recognised her God knows what would happen.

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The rest of the trip proved eventful. They arrived back at Ineb-Hedj at around what we would call mid July and at nightfall. Kahmunrah let out a sigh of relief once he saw the familiar streets, temples and palace. Glistening golden in Egypt's splendor. Heliopolis may have been ethereal and beautiful but Ineb-Hedj was solid and bright. There really was no place like home.

Ahkmenrah was also relieved to be home. Before the ship was anchored, he leapt overboard and landed in deep Nile water. Sabra and Kahmunrah called his name but he couldn't hear them, even when he resurfaced.

He stood up and turned around and saw the ship had been anchored and Kahmunrah was making his way towards him. Kahmunrah gave his a look which could only be interpreted as Are you serious?! Even I wouldn't do that! That was when Ahkmenrah saw a crowd of people by the riverbank. But he felt no embarrassment.

Instead Ahkmenrah just smiled and shrugged. He then gestured to a cliff overlooking the Nile River that shimmered in the moonlight. It was the cliff they had always come to ever since they where children. Whether they were playing, fighting, swearing, ranting, laughing, or crying it was their place. No one can take it away from them.

They climbed up the cliff and sat at the edge. They saw people come out of the ship meeting their loved ones, Merenkahre and Shepseheret met with the people. Ahkmenrah's eyes landed on Sabra. Seknut was there too; she embraced Sabra and seemed to ask her something. Sabra pointed to the cliff where Ahkmenrah and his brother were sitting. Seknut must have asked for the brothers' whereabouts. Ahkmenrah waved to them both as Seknut turned to look at them. She and Sabra waved back and smiled warmly. Then Seknut asked her something else. Sabra's face became stone and she said something but her lips were barely moving. Seknut's face turned into that of horror. Somehow Ahkmenrah knew Sabra had told her about the crocodile.

Seknut then started to ask her a flurry of questions no doubt about her health but Sabra smiled and answered calmly, putting her hands on her aunt's stout shoulders. Ahkmenrah smiled at her calmness.

That was when he felt two light nudges at his ribs. He turned and found himself looking at his brother who had an unusually mischievous expression.

"Ahk...correct me if I'm wrong but...I think your in love." Teased Kahmunrah giving him another nudge in the ribs with his elbows.

"You're definitely wrong" said Ahkmenrah.

"Is that so little brother?" he asked cocking his head to the side.

"Yes it is so..." he replied slightly annoyed.

"Then tell me why are you smiling like that?"

Ahkmenrah realised he actually was smiling. He fixed his expression.

"I'm not smiling"

Kahmunrah chuckled at his brother's attempts at denial.

"Then also tell me why you keep staring at her?"

"I'm just worried..."

"Are you now? I think we both know she can look after herself. Please also tell me why you keep talking about her?"

"I don't talk about her!" he exclaimed.

Kahmunrah raised his eyebrow. Ahkmenrah surrendered, he did talk about her a lot when she wasn't with them.

"Alright fine I talk about her but that doesn't mean I'm in love."

"I don't know if I should believe you Ahk. The signs are kind of contradicting what you say."

"Shut up!"

"So you don't deny it!"

"No wait...!"

"AHKMENRAH AND SABRA..." started Kahmunrah teasingly singing from the top of his lungs. But it was quite clear singing definitely wasn't his forte.

Because of Kahmunrah's horrendous voice and mostly because Sabra could probably hear them Ahkmenrah put his hand over Kahmunrah's mouth and shut him up. But apparently Kahmunrah had other plans. Ahkmenrah felt something slimy and wet at his palm, which was on top of Kahmunrah's mouth. He took his hand off in disgust. Kahmunrah had just licked the entirety of his palm.

"That was disgusting!" Ahkmenrah exclaimed looking at his shiny inner palm in utter horror. He then resulted in wiping his hand on his kilt. But in all honestly it wasn't the first time this had happened.

Kahmunrah chuckled like a little boy. It wasn't everyday he acted this childish. Ahkmenrah decided to savor his brother's playfulness while it lasted.

"Just admit it Ahk" implored Kahmunrah.

"NO...SHUT YOUR DAMN..."

"Ooooh denial. The first sign of Hathor's magic." (A/N: Hathor is the goddess of love and fertility, pretty much the Egyptian counterpart of Venus or Aphrodite)

"I'm going to kill you..." growled Ahkmenrah.

"I'd like to see you try," exclaimed Kahmunrah. So Ahkmenrah pushed him playfully. He pushed him harder than he thought though and Kahmunrah lost his balance and would have fallen off the cliff if Ahkmenrah had not grabbed his hand.

"Stupid child" cursed Kahmunrah a bit shaken, his heart pounding.

Ahkmenrah felt actual guilt. Kahmunrah would have died if he hadn't managed to grab hold of him on time.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean..." he whispered.

"It's fine just don't do that again. But just admit your love for Sabra and I will stop teasing you."

"She' not even that pretty..."

"Love is blind..."

"Says the one who sleeps with fifty girls every night..."

"I sleep in the same room as you, stupid child."

"I regret not letting you fall off the cliff!" exclaimed Ahkmenrah. But this conversation did arouse something in him. It was a possibility. He hadn't been so carefree around other girls than he was around her. But really that doesn't mean it was love. She was just his guard.

"Alright, alright I'll stop." decided Kahmunrah voicing his decision out loud.

Ahkmenrah sighed in relief. He then felt internal peace. Sometimes he felt as if his brother was his other half. Unromantically speaking. Then he had a horrible thought, what if Kahmunrah died before him.

"Kahmun we're friends right?"

"Brothers" corrected Kahmunrah "But keep going"

"We'll always be together right?" inquired Ahkmenrah. His tone was pleading and solemn.

Kahmunrah's heart filled with sorrow. It hit him hard. Will they always be together?  Will they always be like this, laughing and joking? He knew that youth comes and goes much like lightning on a dark night. Everything lights up in that flash of youth but when it is gone you are left with darkness. But what if he died before his little brother? Or worse what if Ahkmenrah died before him? He couldn't bear the thought. So he said something that Merenkahre once told him.

"Do you see the moon Ahk?" he asked pointed pointing at the tiniest sliver of a silver crescent.

"I'm not blind Kahmun. Of course I can. The inconsistent thing."

"But do you really believe it is inconsistent?"

"Of course. It changes shape every night."

"The common fault in our thinking. Ahk, the moon is not as inconsistent as it seems. It is in fact very consistent."

"How so?"

"It's always there. No matter where the light shines it doesn't change. In the same way Ahk even if I do die. I will be with you. Even when I don't seem to be there. Whether it is through my soul or the memory of the people I won't die. Not really. I'll be like the moon; I'll stay as long as you believe that I will. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that the moon will be here. And so will I."

"Promise?" Ahkmenrah requested earnestly.

"Promise" affirmed Kahmunrah.

Ahkmenrah felt wholly satisfied with this answer. He would just have to remember it. He decided to savor this moment as best as he could. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. He was right in doing so, for that day marked the end of their ideal lives.

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Merenkahre walked down the lonely marble hallways that night. How strange they seemed now without Ra's light. They were smooth and cool yet sullen. He knew he was risking everything, walking alone through these hallowed halls. Yes hallowed they were for they held everything he held dear.

He had just visited the gods tonight. Ra and Khonsu didn't see him today. Neither did Isis or Horus. Were they guilty of the fate they were going to put him through?

He had never heard of the gods showing care towards mortals, but he believed this was the closest he would get to affection from the gods. His thoughts drifted from one to another, as aimless as his wanderings in the moonlit garden

BAM!

The impact of someone's fist clamping his mouth was so hard that it made a noise. He was surprised of course. The moment had been so tranquil until this. He tasted the saltiness of blood. But he fought against it hard. He didn't want people to think he gave up without a fight. He made it hard for his attackers (for there was two of them) as he was gradually being dragged to an isolated alleyway.

He was then pinned against a wall. He fought against their vice grips. It left proud bruises at his arms. He cursed them with vile names. He had by now recognised who the were. The 'slaves' that Khufu had bought.

"Move out of the way imbeciles" called a familiar voice. Evil like its owner.

"Khufu!" growled Merenkahre.

"Finally figured it out dear nephew. Oh I have been waiting for this moment for so long" he finally came closer to the entrapped Merenkahre. Nose touching nose. Khufu smiled maliciously. "Tell me where the Tablet is and I'll let you go." Of course he knew about the Tablet he had spies everywhere, he also knew how powerful the tablet was. He had a lust for power.

Merenkahre spat in Khufu's eyes.

This was an insult.

But it was well deserved.

Khufu was enraged. He wiped the blood and spit from his face and gave Merenkahre a death glare.

Merenkahre's resolve didn't falter under this. He was no coward. This death will be an achievement in many ways as long he bore passion. His dark eyes seemed to stab its object of vision with intensity. Khufu couldn't bear it.

He had lost in humiliating the king and getting the tablet. But he wasn't going to lose in killing him.

In a swift movement he plunged the dagger in Merenkahre's heart.

"Long live the king" Khufu whispered in Merenkahre's ear.

Yet Khufu didn't know how true those words would one day become.

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How was it?

Shout out to Lydsx1207 for her amazing story called "Second Chances" she's only just started but I already like it.