She Devil

This chapter is fractured and short and I'm having a mare of a time expanding on the ideas I have, any help will be loved and nurtured

Evie and Almara returned, both had changed, Evie was wearing a long black skirt and dark cotton blouse, her hair gripped back. Almara was wearing tight black trousers and boots coupled with a dark red crossover top its material clung to her figure in a way in which she knew pleased her company. Almara hated herself for dressing to please, but it was ingrained in her, from her earliest days it had been her job to look nice. She was finding it hard to forget that, however she took pleasure in the way the Med-jai looked at her.
They all walked through to the dining room, they had a nice meal although a little bland for Almara’s tastes, they all made small talk. Evie was pleased it seemed to be going well Almara and Ardeth seemed to have something to talk about. Evie had asked the cook to prepare trifle for afters, something she was pretty sure neither of the guests had, had before. Sure enough when the bowl of creams, jelly and fruit was placed in front of them, they wore similar expressions of wariness.
“Don’t be scared, it’s lovely” Evie laughed
Ardeth collected a blob of cream on the end of his finger, he didn’t look convinced. Evie was about to say something, when Almara reached out and pulled Ardeth’s hand towards her, she slowly but surely placed his finger in his mouth and sucked the cream from it.
She turned to Evie with a wicked glint in her eyes.
“Delicious”
Ardeth was dumbstruck, this devil had been teasing him all evening, leaning towards him, asking him innocent questions about the Med-jai in a husky voice that was capable of damaging his health, hell, at one point she almost seemed to purr. And when she sucked the cream from his finger, it was all he could do not to ravage her right there on the table. She was the most sensual woman he had ever come across.
Rick looked at his friend and saw the look in his eyes, he smiled, she had caught him, hook line and sinker. He just hoped she wasn’t up to something.

“So Evie, when is Alex back?” Almara asked, dying to meet her cousins boy
“He’s staying with Jonathan till Friday, and then we will have to put up with them both” Evie replied laughing
“Great, I love Jonathan”
“Yes, you seem to be on similar wavelengths” Rick commented cryptically
Almara didn’t say anything just looked at Rick in a way that made him feel like a mouse that had just been cornered by a cat, he found that he couldn’t hold her gaze, and quickly backed down.
“Erm Almara, you must be tired, my you should have an early night?” Evie asked
“Of course, I should like to see your library first”
“Yes, I’ll give you a mini tour” Evie laughed as the women left

Ardeth couldn’t believe what he had just seen, Rick, a man that had stared down Imohtep had cowered under the gaze of a woman.
“Not a word Ardeth” Rick growled knowing he was going to get it.
“She is a devil.”
“Yeah, and I think she likes you” Rick teased
“No, she just teases” Ardeth sighed
“She is very beautiful and with beauty comes danger” Rick replied “be careful with her”
Ardeth was surprised at the seriousness in Rick’s voice and before he could ask more, he had gone. Ardeth looked down at his bowl and sighed. Picking up a spoon he finished off the trifle.

*

Ardeth couldn’t sleep, he wasn’t surprised, the she-devil was dancing through his mind, tormenting him, keeping him from the peace of a good nights, sleep. Sleep he desperately needed. He wandered down to the library, he knew that Evie had a good selection of books. He entered the room, noticing immediatly that Almara was reading by candlelight and cursed himself for not putting his robes on, he felt vulnerable standing before her in just his trousers. She looked up and smiled, the flames from the candle dancing in her eyes as she surveyed his naked torso.
“Ardeth, can you not sleep?” she asked
“No, I didn’t mean to disturb you.” he apologised “I thought a book may help”
Almara smiled and rose to her feet.
“There are good books over here” she said brushing past the warrior.
Ardeth looked at a few books but found he could not concentrate with the devil standing so close to him. He could smell her perfume feel her breathing it was almost intoxicating. All of a sudden she ran her hand up his arm and across the shelf, pulling out a book.
“This is good, it’s been translated into English.” Almara handed him the book and ran her hand down his muscular chest tracing his tattoos with her fingers. “If you have any problems interpreting it, come and see me” she growled as she slipped away from him and out of the room.
Ardeth looked down at the book she had handed him and swore. it was the Karma Sutra. The devil was trying to kill him. He chucked the book down on the table in disgust and stomped out of the library now resigned to the fact he wouldn’t get any sleep.
Ardeth came down to breakfast the next morning in a foul temper.
Evie and Rick had both noticed and attempted to stay out of the warrior’s way. Evie didn’t know what was wrong with him, so busied herself preparing for Alex’ return. Rick watched Ardeth and Almara closely, he saw the way the woman was tormenting his friend he had almost choked on his coffee as he watched her gently squeeze Ardeth’s leg as she leant over for the milk. He could see the longing in his friend’s eyes and sympathised with his situation.
He remembered back to the months leading up to his wedding. He had been determined, he would wait till the wedding night for Evie, and by god she hadn’t made it easy. He had, had the same hunted look, and he knew it was harder for the Med-jai. He was here on business he had figured that much.

Later that night Rick pulled his wife aside.
“Honey, will you ask Almara to leave Ardeth alone”
“Excuse me?”
“She is tormenting him, and despite what he claims he is not here for our amazing company”
“I figured as much” Evie sighed “It will not be easy, when she sets her sights on something she will not easily be dissuaded”
“Hmm reminds me of someone” Rick laughed kissing his wife’s nose


“Almara, I was thinking that tomorrow we should go shopping? We can have lunch in the city” Evie suggested
“That would be nice. Oh I know, why don’t we all go and see the palace” she suggested not wanting to be separated from Ardeth. For some strange reason she was drawn to the dark eyed warrior and was using all her powers to torment him.
Evie looked at Rick and shrugged. Ardeth caught his gesture and smiled to himself. They were trying to get him away from the she-devil.
“Ardeth and I have some catching up to do.” Rick countered “Me being a Med-jai and all” he continued flashing his tattoo.
Almara almost laughed out loud. Alright she’d play along for now.
“Alright then, you boys can stay home and play warrior”
Ardeth gave her a dirty look that turned her on, so much so she very nearly grabbed him and dragged him to her room. Instead she walked over and whispered in his ear.
“I’ll buy some new night clothes, and if you ask me very nicely I may model them for you” with that said she turned and exited the room. Ardeth closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing, hoping to god, his friends couldn’t see his arousal.

*

It was late, Ardeth still couldn’t sleep, Almara was stalking him in his dreams, and when he wasn’t dreaming about her, he was having cryptic dreams about a chamber and men in red robes, he didn’t know what it meant and it was worrying him. Ardeth looked up quickly as he heard a sound. He relaxed slightly when he saw it was only the devil walking over a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“You need to get more sleep Ardeth” she purred
“I was just getting some fresh air” Ardeth replied sharply
“Alright, oh Ardeth, I meant to ask you earlier, about your tattoos.” Almara paused and smiled wickedly “I know you have them on your face, arms, wrists, ankles and chest, but I was wondering, do you have them anywhere else?”
Ardeth didn’t answer her question, just pushed past her walking away as fast as he could. He laughter ringing in his ears

Almara and Evie had, had an exhausting morning shopping they had finally sat down in a café to get a drink and some lunch.
“So Almara, do you like Ardeth, or are you just teasing him?” Evie asked suddenly
“For some reason I am drawn to him, I can’t get him out of my head” Almara replied without blinking
“Oh, well that makes this slightly harder for me to say” Evie sighed putting her cup down “Rick and I would like you to leave Ardeth alone, just for a while. He is here for a reason and Rick’s worried you may be distracting him.”
Almara’s mind whirled at Evie’s revelation, so it was true the book of the Med-jai had been stolen, and their chief’s life was in grave danger. He had come to London to hide.
“Evie I have something I have to tell you, but you cannot tell a soul”
Evie nodded
“There are rumours back home. They basically say that the sacred book of the Med-jai has been stolen.” At Evie’s puzzled look Almara realised she would have to tell her cousin everything. “It is a book full of ancient incantations, the Med-jai use it to protect their villages and armies. They also use it to hide Hamunaptra for the average passer by. To open it, you need a small drop of blood from the chief, however if the book gets into the wrong hands, they too can open it, by killing the chief and bleeding him dry. When I left Cairo I moved to a village of guardians. When Ardeth disappeared they panicked, they sent me here to see if you knew anything and to protect him if he was here. But I find myself drawn to him”
Evie was staring open mouthed at her cousin.
“Does Ardeth know you are here to protect him?”
“No, he will no doubt have heard of the guardians, but he does not know I am one of them, and I would prefer it to stay that way.”
“I promise”
“Come let us finish our shopping, I told Ardeth I would buy new night clothes” Almara laughed.

*

Ardeth had noticed that Almara was looking at him differently, she still had passion in her stare, but it was mixed with something else, he couldn’t tell what it was. Of course it didn’t stop the demon tormenting him. Rick was right she was dangerous, he had almost forgotten the reason he was here, until he had spoken with Rick earlier then his problems came flooding back.

Evie had decided it would be nice to eat in the conservatory. They had just finished their meals and were reminiscing about their childhoods.
“I miss Egypt” Evie admitted “it gets in your blood after a while”
“You were born in England though” Rick asked, the conversation confusing him.
“Yes, but we moved back to Egypt when we were fairly young, Almara and I practically grew up together, although she had a very strict training regime to keep to, we still caused mischief” Evie smiled
“So explain this Harem thing to me then” Rick asked
“Well, my father decided that selling me to a wealthy merchant was a good idea, so it was done, the day I was born, he came and paid a small deposit if you like. I was join his Harem on my 21st birthday”
“And you have to be a virgin for this?” Rick asked
“Yes, we are taught how to please our masters, but are forbidden to practise the teachings until our master takes our virginity. However, I never had any intention of entering the Harem.” Almara laughed
“You act like a harlot” Ardeth spat
Evie and Rick looked at Ardeth in shock. Almara rose to her feet and walked over to Rick’s collection of swords. She slowly took one down from the wall. She smiled at Ardeth
“Really” she sprang forward, only Ardeth’s quick reflexes prevented him from losing his head. He jumped to his feet and unsheathed his own sword. He was amazed at her power, her blows were strong and accurate she was slowly but surely backing him up against the wall. He was finding it hard to block her attack. He was distracted by Evie and Rick leaving the room, a mistake that allowed Almara to send his sword flying across the room. She brought the edge of the blade up to his neck.
“You act more like a eunuch than a red blooded Med-jai, and you certainly don’t fight like a scared warrior” she growled. She leant forward and kissed him gently. As soon as Ardeth relaxed she stepped away connecting the handle of the sword to his jaw.
By the time Ardeth looked up she was gone.