"She never dies. She changes, that is all. As the wind blows now hence, now hither, so she comes and goes, and who can tell at what spot upon the earth, or beyond it, for a while that wind lies sleeping? But at sunset or at dawn, at noon or at midnight, it will begin to blow again, and then woe to those who stand across its path."
-- H. Rider Haggard — Return of She
Reality Flux — The Return of She
"I hate paperwork. It always takes away from far more productive uses of my time. Had I only known how much paperwork came along with the curatorship, I would have never accepted the position," mumbled Dr. North, as he shuffled through the many papers that accompanied the museum's latest acquisition. After so long, he still wondered if any of this could finally be true. A welcome rapping on his office door caused Marcus North to look up from his dull paperwork. "Yes," he said curtly. "Enter, if you must."
Once the door swung open far enough, Marcus saw his visitor was one of his many assistants Bill Grant. Bill was a bright young man that Marcus believed would go far, perhaps one day even becoming curator himself.
"What is it, Bill?"
"You asked me to let you know when those crates arrived from Egypt, Dr. North," replied Bill. "They've just arrived. They're sitting down in Receiving as we speak."
"What! Please don't tell me you left h... them alone down there!"
"You know I'd never do that, Dr. North," replied Bill. "Katie and a couple of the museum security guards are down there with the crates."
"That's good. I didn't mean to yell at you, Bill. I've just been a little worried with them in transit." Marcus was clearly relieved. "We should go down and inspect them immediately." Marcus rose from his chair. "They had better be all right. I'll be very angry and annoyed if the contents of any of those crates have been even the least bit damaged. The Museum Trust paid a great deal to obtain them."
"I'm not sure why you're so worried, sir. The crates were heavily insured."
"Money's not the real issue here, Bill. The Museum has been extremely fortunate, even blessed if you'd like, in gaining possession of these priceless antiquities. I want this all to be perfect... now and forever." Dr. North turned and headed for the door. "Are you coming with me?" he asked. "And by the way, if you don't mind me asking, have you finally gotten around to asking Katie to marry you, Bill? She's a very patient girl, but I doubt she'll wait forever."
Bill simply sighed. "Not yet, Dr. North. I want to ask her, you know; I really do. It's just that I barely make enough money to live on myself," replied Bill. "I can't help it. I just think Katie deserves so much more than I can give her right now."
"Utter nonsense. She's in love with you, boy. Once you were married, you'd have two incomes to draw from, not merely your own," argued Marcus.
"I don't want my wife working."
"How quaint and very old fashioned of you, Bill. I didn't know anyone still had such archaic ideas," replied Marcus. "Don't take too long to ask her. If you continue procrastinating, Katie might decide you care nothing for her and go out looking for someone she thinks does."
As they headed down the hall towards Receiving, Marcus smiled at the small seed of doubt he'd just sown in Bill's mind. It might or might not prove useful later. He wasn't sure; only time would tell. Had Katie been married, or even merely engaged, Marcus would have looked elsewhere. However, as long as Bill continued dragging his feet about proposing to her, Marcus had a few plans of his own he truly felt would be perfect for Katie.
If he'd translated the ancient scrolls correctly - he had no doubts that he had - tonight was that long awaited night. Many long years - far more than he was willing to wait - would need to pass before tonight's most favorable conditions would duplicate. Marcus saw the crates' delivery on this most opportune date an exceptionally good omen and a most favorable portent for his success. He could hardly wait for tonight.
When they reached the door to Receiving, another of his assistants, Sheila Masters, was waiting for them. Although Sheila was an attractive young woman, she was also a single mother. Having a child was more than sufficient to make her unsuitable for Marcus. Since her young daughter needed her mother, Marcus was unwilling to use Sheila as her vessel.
"They need you upstairs right away, Bill," said Sheila.
"What for?"
"They didn't really say; you know how they are."
"Go on, Bill. It's never a good idea to keep them waiting," said Dr. North. "I should be able to take care of everything here."
"Thank you, Dr. North."
Marcus couldn't help but smile widely as Bill and Sheila turned and headed away. 'The Fates must be on my side for once,' he thought.
Once inside Receiving, Dr. North supervised the unpacking of the crates. With Bill headed upstairs, he'd asked Katie to stay and give him assistance. He hadn't expected she would, but Dr. North was pleasantly surprised when she'd agreed to remain.
One by one, they'd checked off the artifacts on their list against those being slowly unpacked. All the expected artifacts were there. The circlet and armlets were all essentials. Marcus was also quite pleased with the outside condition of her sarcophagus. There was no sign of weathering. Once he'd carefully looked over its markings, thereby verifying the identity of She who lay within, Marcus couldn't help but smile. As truly befitted the near immortal Queen of the Nile, the coffin was in near pristine condition and looked as if it had been carved from stone no more than a few mere handful of days
earlier.
"Who is she, doctor?" asked Katie.
"She is Ayesha," replied Dr. North, "the legendary immortal Queen of the Nile."
"Immortal?" Katie sounded curious, but also puzzled. "How can that be, Dr. North? How can she be both immortal and inside a sarcophagus at the same time?"
"All Pharaohs are considered immortal, Katie," explained Dr. North. "Mortal flesh is temporary. Once fully spent, that flesh is merely cast aside as Pharaoh's ka escapes to the afterworld and once there awaits rebirth."
"Why does she have a beard?"
"The beard is a symbolic representation of Pharaoh. Nothing more, nothing less." Marcus smiled at Katie. "I'll be opening the sarcophagus later this evening to check on her. If you'd like to stop by before you leave for the night, please do. Even in her wrappings, you'll be able to see her woman's shape for yourself."
"Thank you, Dr. North. I'd like that," replied Katie. "I'll try and drop by for a few minutes before I leave for the night."
"Excellent! I hope to see you then, Katie." Dr. North smiled as the young woman left the Receiving area. 'That was far easier than I'd believed possible,' he thought. Although Marcus had believed she might, Katie hadn't seemed the least bit worried or suspicious of his invitation. Everything was going to work out just perfectly.
After seeing to the artifacts safe movement from Receiving to the working lab, Dr. North returned to his office. There were additional preparations still to be made. Marcus thought, at least he hoped, he had enough time to complete them.
Finally finishing everything required only a few minutes before Katie was scheduled to leave for home, Marcus sighed with great relief. He had no idea what he would have done had he failed. Waiting more years than he had remaining to him for his next chance had never been an option he'd wished to consider.
Once out of his office, Marcus, with what appeared to be small bottle of wine, headed for the lab where She awaited his arrival. However, it wasn't wine; it was a potion to facilitate the entry of Ayesha's ka into Katie's body. Unfortunately, as soon as he arrived at the lab, Marcus was filled with disappointment. "Bill," he said with no real hint of emotion. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I can easily imagine you weren't," snapped Bill angrily. "Katie's gone home; she's not coming here. She told me how you were hitting on her earlier. You know how I feel about Katie, Dr. North. How could you ever do something like that?"
"What are you talking about, Bill?" Although somewhat amused, Marcus did his very best to sound hurt. "I never hit on Katie. Nor am I even interested in Katie." Why would he ever be interested in Katie, when it was She he'd always desired?
"Why would Katie lie to me?"
"I don't know; you'd have to ask her," replied Dr. North. "I asked Katie to help me with the uncrating after you were called upstairs. She didn't have to stay, but she did." Outwardly calm, Marcus was seething inside; his plans had been ruined. "After telling her I'd be opening the sarcophagus later, I told her she could stop by the lab before leaving for the night if she'd like." An idea had begun forming in his mind. Perhaps his plans could still be salvaged. "If I'd even guessed Katie thought I was hitting on her, I would have insisted she bring you along with her."
"This is starting to sound like a big misunderstanding."
"I probably should have asked you to come with her anyway, Bill. I wasn't thinking." As he spoke, he was also making plans. The scrolls had only said the Return of She required a suitable vessel for her ka. He'd only assumed suitable in her case meant female. "I just had a thought. Do you remember what we spoke of this morning? I told you how continuing your procrastinations in asking for her hand might make Katie conclude you cared nothing for her. She night have been testing you."
"I never thought about that. If that's what Katie's doing, I hope I passed her test. Do you think I passed, Dr. North?"
"I'd have to think so, Bill," replied Marcus. "You're here to protect her honor; aren't you?" He smiled, thinking Bill might be passing yet another hurdle. The word for vessel used in the scrolls was always neutral, never once connoting gender. This just might work after all. He had to make the attempt now, for it was likely the only one he'd get.
"I should go talk to Katie."
"I think that's a good idea." Marcus smiled at his lab assistant. "But before you go, I wonder if you might do me a small favor, Bill."
"Sure, Dr. North. What do you need?"
"Whenever I take possession of a new antiquity, I like to celebrate with a small glass of exotic wine. Normally, this is something I do privately. I feel bad about this misunderstanding. If you have no objections, would you join me in partaking of that small celebratory drink?"
"It would be an honor, Dr. North."
With an audible pop, Marcus uncorked the small bottle of potion he'd so diligently prepared. After pouring some of the potion into a small hollowed out stone barely larger than a thimble, he handed it to his lab assistant.
As Bill took the stone, he remarked, "I see you weren't kidding when you said a small drink."
"This wine is very special. It is not easily procured and quite expensive whenever it can be found," replied Dr. North. "As this is also your first sip of what I consider the sweetest of all nectars, I must warn you that you might find it somewhat potent. Don't worry, a little light-headedness is very common." After recorking the bottle, Marcus went through the motions of pouring himself a drink. Setting the bottle down on the desk, he raised his own empty glass. "To newly acquired ancient antiquities!" he toasted heartily, then swiftly downed - at least apparently to Bill - his drink in one swift motion.
Bill wasn't about to be outdone. "To newly acquired ancient antiquities!" he repeated the toast. Just as he'd believed Marcus had, Bill downed his own drink in one swift fluid motion. "That was delicious and so incredibly sweet, Dr. North. I can't say as I've ever tasted anything sweeter or more delicious." Slowly, his hand rose to his head. "I see what you mean about this having quite a kick." He began slowly shaking his head. "Is the room spinning around or is it just me?"
"Don't worry; it will pass. Let me help you over to the chair, Bill," smiled Marcus. He placed one of his arms around his assistant's waist in order to steady him and then led the shaky young man to a nearby chair. "I certainly wouldn't want you to fall down and risk injuring yourself now."
"Thank you, Dr. North," replied Bill, his words slurring heavily. His tongue felt so heavy. And even as he sat in the chair, the spinning room seemed faster than ever. "Are you... sure... this... will... pass?" he asked slowly, his words even more slurred than before. "Ifeelsoweird."
"It will definitely pass. It's just that you - or rather the you that is now Bill Grant - will never notice when it has." Marcus was very pleased with the turn of events. He hadn't been entirely convinced the male Bill Grant would be a suitable vessel for the returning ka of Ayesha until now. Everything was proceeding exactly as was written in the ancient scrolls.
Without any fear of resistance, Marcus lifted one of Bill's arms to shoulder level. When he let loose of it again, Bill's arm quickly fell to his side. Marcus was pleased. "What's your name?" he asked. When no response came back from Bill, he was even more pleased than before. Everything was proceeding just as it should be.
Dr. North looked deeply into Bill's eyes. "I can see you have many questions you'd like to ask me. Even if you could ask them, I doubt I have the time to answer them all. However, it doesn't matter. I do have a few minutes to answer a few I know you must have answered before proceeding.
"You should know, you weren't my first choice for this, Bill, but you're here and Katie isn't. The timing was right and even you must know beggars can never be choosers. Fortunately, everything certainly seems to be going along smoothly despite this unanticipated change of vessels.
"Knowing how you feel about Katie. I'm convinced you would have readily volunteered to prevent her from suffering the fate about to embrace you. You're a fool; you should have married her when you had the chance. In that case, I would have looked elsewhere. However, you should also know I've been in love with Ayesha longer than you can possibly imagine. At her last mortal death, they hid her body from me. We've been unable to connect with one another for far too long. You might not agree with me, but I'm sure you can understand when I tell you that your one insignificant male body is a trivial price to pay for a vessel in which my eternal love can live once again."
As he had earlier, Dr. North looked deeply into Bill's eyes. He wasn't overly surprised the questioning look of intelligence he'd seen there not too many minutes before was now conspicuously absent. It was just as was written in the ancient scrolls. Even though Marcus wasn't overly concerned, he wondered what would remain of Bill once Ayesha's ka entered his body and took control. The scrolls explicitly stated something of the vessel always remained intact. Just what that remnant might be was seemingly random, never predictable.
After Marcus picked up the golden circlet with the coiled golden asp at its center, he gently placed it on Bill's head. It wasn't quite a perfect fit, but it was still close enough. In any event, the fit of the circlet would soon be perfect.
The other required components to initiate the vessel's transformation, the matching set of golden coiled asp armlets, were easily slipped onto each of Bill's unresisting arms. As had been the case with the circlet, the armlets' fits were imperfect. Fortunately for Marcus, Bill wasn't overly muscular and the armlets possessed just enough give.
With the circlet and armlets in their proper places, Marcus picked up a small scrap of paper he'd scribbled on earlier from the desk. From it, he slowly and carefully read what would have sounded like so much unintelligible gibberish had anyone been around to listen.
Once he finished his reading, thunder rumbled loudly. For a brief instant, the circlet and armlets flared brightly as if one. More thunder, perhaps louder than before, rumbled through the sky.
As Marcus watched on in anticipation, Bill's body began slowly changing.
His shape and form were slowly, most inexorably and quite undeniably, being reshaped and reformed from male to female. Of that, there could be no doubt. He was soon inches shorter than he'd been in years. His waist slowly slimmed; his hips gradually widened.
Within a few seconds, every hair on his body, aside from those closely cropped short brown ones atop his head, began steadily thinning, then finally disappeared altogether.
Now totally relieved of bodily hair, Bill's suddenly smooth body took on a noticeably softer appearance. His arms and legs both thinned, becoming slender. Their altered contours gave him an increased feminine appearance. The new look of his shapely lissome legs was hidden beneath his now ill fitting pants. However, his bared arms were a different matter. Once they'd finished thinning, the armlets fit them perfectly. His hands were now smaller. His fingers had clearly lengthened, becoming more slender in the process. Even his nails were longer and seemingly thickly coated by some kind of clear lacquer.
His closely cropped hair - the length and style he'd worn it for many years - began growing longer. Even as his hair grew increasingly longer, its color was also darkening. By the time his hair had grown out over his newly rounded soft shoulders, it had changed color from brown to jet-black. In addition to its new color and longer length, his hair had thickened becoming a decidedly full-bodied mane. And the golden circlet sitting atop his head fit perfectly.
However, Dr. North was becoming concerned. Despite his many changes and the overall feminization of his body, Bill was still recognizably Bill. He hoped the still basically male face and the flat male chest weren't what were being retained of the vessel. He doubted Ayesha would be too pleased with that look. At least no visible bulge at his crotch was evident, but that still might be an illusion resulting from the ill fit of his clothing.
Abruptly, Bill's facial muscles began twitching. Things were looking better. As each new spasm struck, his muscles seemingly altered the bones of his face. His nose became smaller, more pert and petite. His cheekbones subtly rose higher. Although he was still recognizably Bill, or perhaps even his sister, the changes in and about his face continued. A small, quite simple, change to the shape of the bones about his eyes, followed by a similar small change about his lips, quickly reduced that recognizability factor. The softening of his chin give him an even greater feminine look. Marcus was beginning to think of his former lab assistant more as a woman than a man. He saw her more and more as Ayesha and less and less of Bill. A sudden lengthening of her eyelashes, followed by a reshaping of her eyebrows, quickly erased what little physically remained of Bill in her face. Just as She should be, she was beautiful.
Just as an unhappy Marcus was becoming resigned to the fact that his eternal lover would be retaining her vessel's male flat chest, two small, but rapidly swelling, mounds of flesh began pushing out the now oversized shirt she wore. Marcus was greatly relieved Ayesha would not be so boyishly flat-chested. She would have never liked that at all.
When her breasts finally finished their inflation, Marcus was fully satisfied with their size. He could only hope Ayesha felt the same, as he'd always considered more than just a handful of flesh somewhat wasteful.
An unexpected flash of light momentarily blinded Marcus. The nearly instantaneous thunderous boom accompanying the flash made him flinch.
As his sight slowly returned, he gazed upon Ayesha's eternally lovely form. She was once again dressed in that same flowing red gown she'd been wearing the last he'd seen her. She also looked every bit the immortal radiant Queen of the Nile that Marcus knew She was.
Despite the odds, everything had worked perfectly.
She had been returned to him.
Slowly, Ayesha's eyes opened. After taking a long deep breath, she stretched out her arms. Marcus couldn't take his eyes off her. A smile spread quickly across her face once she spotted Marcus gazing at her. "I have returned, my love. Regardless of whatever foulness they did to prevent it, I knew you would find me sooner or later."
Without another word, they embraced one another.
Marcus kissed Ayesha with a fiery tempestuous passion too long denied them. Ayesha eagerly returned her lover's kiss and passion, her own burning desires nearly overwhelming her every thought. It was a kiss that could have easily lasted forever... even longer.
However, newly returned from the afterworld, there were many things about which Ayesha found herself feeling curious. "It seems strange. There is a different feeling to the world, my love," she remarked. "But as always, I feel safe and secure in your arms. Just how long has it been? I truly fear it has been longer than I might imagine."
"It has been many centuries, my Queen," replied Marcus. "They kept your sarcophagus hidden well from me."
"I am glad you found me, my love. Even the afterworld grows tiresome." Ayesha looked deeply into her lover's eyes. "As people here know you as such, should I now call you Marcus or Dr. North?" she asked. "If I have a choice, I'd prefer calling you Marcus. It has a nicer feel to it and seems more appropriate and less cold."
"How do you know those names, my Queen?"
"I'm not too sure," she replied. "The most logical explanation is the names are remnant knowledge of the vessel into which you have inserted my ka." She looked Marcus over more carefully than before. "Did you know this vessel very well before my return, my love? I find it disquieting thinking about how you might have held this vessel before just as you now hold me."
"Trust me, my beloved Queen," replied Marcus, "I never found anything about this vessel remotely interesting or overly appealing before your ka assumed control."
Ayesha smiled. "You always say exactly what I want to hear."
Abruptly, there was an insistent knocking on the laboratory door.
"Who is it?" asked Dr. North, wondering who might be still around.
Once the door had swung open, Katie entered the room. "Excuse me, Dr. North. Have you seen Bill tonight? I thought he was down here with you."
"He was here earlier, Katie, but then he left," replied Dr. North. "That was several hours ago and I haven't seen him since." He was tempted to add, 'We won't be seeing him again', but thought better of it.
"I'm sorry I interrupted you, Dr. North." Katie paused when the ebony haired beauty in Dr. North's arms turned and stared at her. "Who are you?" she asked, then very strangely had the feeling she should know the young woman. "Do I know you?"
"I am Ayesha. I do not believe we have met." But even as Ayesha spoke those words, she knew they were false. The vessel had known her. And yet, they had also met... long ago. She'd recognized her almost immediately. Only then, her name had not been Katie, as Marcus had named her. And her hair, closer in length and color to her own, had not been the golden color of the sun. They had been friends... more than mere friends. But their friendship had always tended to get them in trouble. That was always how it was dealing with narrow-minded people. Ayesha knew it would be far safer for them both if she denied knowing her.
"It was nice meeting you, Ayesha." Katie slowly shook her head. "Are you sure we haven't met somewhere before? I can't shake this funny feeling we have met somewhere."
Marcus couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was impossible that Katie could have ever met Ayesha before. Ayesha might have some remnant knowledge of Katie, but it was impossible that Katie could have somehow recognized Ayesha was - had been - Bill Grant. There was simply nothing left of Bill in either her appearance or her manner. If nothing else, he felt somewhat relieved knowing Ayesha retained no knowledge of Katie. The scrolls had stated no one ever knew what might remain with the body from the old vessel.
"I am convinced we have not met before, Katie."
"I'd better go find Bill. I wonder where he's gone off to." Before turning to leave, she said, "I'm sorry again about the interruption, Dr. North." She glanced at Ayesha, "And it was very nice meeting you, Ayesha." Katie had no idea what it might be, but there was just something about the girl she found intriguing.
"Don't worry about it, Katie," replied Marcus. "If I should see Bill, I'll tell him you're looking for him."
"Thank you, Dr. North," replied Katie. When she left the room, she closed the door behind her, thinking Dr. North and Ayesha wanted to be alone.
"Where were we, my Queen?"
Ayesha slipped her arms around her lover once more. "I believe we were right about here, Marcus, my love." With unbridled passion behind it, she kissed him long and hard.
Unable to do anything much of anything else, Marcus responded quickly and in kind. He was convinced Ayesha was now his and his alone just as it was always meant to be.
And yet, as their kiss continued to deepen, Ayesha's thoughts kept returning to the golden-haired Katie. But it was the Katie she'd just met, not she who she had known long ago. It was so very strange. There seemed to be this odd bond between them. Only it wasn't exactly between them. The love her vessel had felt for Katie still remained intact within her. Although she didn't mind the idea of the vessel having had a female lover, Ayesha wondered if Marcus had known the vessel he'd selected for her return was in love with another woman.
"What are you thinking, my Queen?"
"I am thinking of you, my love, as always," she replied, the lie slipping from her tongue effortlessly. She kissed him again, excited by some other remnant knowledge of the vessel she only now remembered. It didn't seem very likely, but she nevertheless wondered if Marcus had been aware of Katie's return love for her chosen vessel?
It was an interesting complication. Even as she continued kissing Marcus, Ayesha decided to find out more about Katie. Perhaps with a little prodding, she would remember being Kaeliska. And yet, even if she failed to remember her past, perhaps they had a future. Marcus had said many centuries had passed. It was possible, even if most unlikely, the world might have changed. Attitudes might have changed. Given how she knew Katie had been in love with this vessel prior to her ka taking control, what had always been taboo might no longer be so.
Ayesha had no qualms about taking on a second lover. And it wasn't as if Katie - or Kaeliska, for that matter - hadn't been in her bed before. She'd always enjoyed taking girls to her bed. They always provided her nearly as much pleasure as being with a man.
She doubted Marcus would be happy with sharing her at first. But he'd soon adjust.
The End