Chapter 1
I always had a fondness for Egypt. Ever since I was little, there was something about the pyramids, the vast dunes, the oasis, and the Nile. Cairo at night was by far the most beautiful sight ever, and I couldn’t believe my eyes that I was finally there. After 26 years of longness to set foot on these ancient grounds, I was here. It was a group vacation — my boyfriend and two more couples, which were our friends.
Today was the third day, and the day was winding down as our group decided to go clubbing. I should be overjoyed to be here, but this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has turned out to be awkward and disgusting, all because of the person who should have been the most supportive. To be honest, my connection with Jason began to crack and rust, and I tried my hardest to rekindle that passionate fire, but you can’t build fire if there’s constantly an extinguisher making my work tougher.
While I loved Jason with all of my heart and adored him for his logic and always-with-the-feet-on-the-ground attitude, he was getting stiffer. These first three days in Egypt have been a needle in my spine, and recalling the events, I questioned if bringing him to the exotic Cairo was a good idea.
During the first day, he constantly complained about the heat, how the sand made his eyes itchy, and don’t get me started on the pretentious attitude toward traditional gastronomy. I pushed his frugal attitude aside. Maybe it was the first day, and he needed some accommodation. That wasn’t the case, because, on the second day, our group visited Cairo, especially the Museums.
I recall how it went...
We were visiting the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. All the artifacts and stories the tour guide told us about as we walked down the endless corridors of this historic institution mesmerized me. I knew a lot about Ancient Egypt, but hearing someone else speak with such passion about it was refreshing. The tour guide was currently talking about the Egyptian deities, and we came across the God of Violence and Disorder, Set. Our group was gazing at his statue and the other — artifacts regarding his presence in the long, lost history.
“Jeez... Look at his snout. I can only imagine how ugly he must have been.” Jason commented in a whispering tone, nudging me with his elbow, but his joke didn’t amuse me in the slightest.
I gave him a scolding look. “Love, you know it’s not good to speak like this about Gods.” I tried to be soft about it, not wanting to create a scene.
My boyfriend gave me a funny look, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, come on, babe. The guy probably doesn’t exist anymore. The whole Ancient Egypt beliefs are long forgotten. Plus, he was the bad guy, right? I am sure he wasn’t that lucky with the ladies back then... and I am sure it wasn’t because of the whole bad-guy attitude. With a face like that...” My eyes hardened at his comments, and it only annoyed me more as he snickered under his hand.
“Stop it. Now you are being disrespectful.” At my tone, the amusement washed off him, and he sighed, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“Alright, alright. No more joking about the Gods, but he was a bad guy, right? I am sure not even the people in that time respected him that much.”
“He wasn’t always the villain, you know? In the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt, Set was a critical and benevolent god of Upper Egypt. People invoked his name for love spells and inscribed them on amulets that served as love charms. Moreover, Set also saved the sun god Ra from the serpent Apophis. Seth served as a protector of soldiers, hunters, merchants, and, in general, any person who spent a considerable amount of time away from home. According to Egyptian myth, he inherited the deserts of Egypt from Geb, the god of the earth. This is why he was regarded as the protector of trade caravans, and he was named the Egyptian god of oases. He was also supposed to sow discord and confusion among the enemies of Egypt, thus ensuring the Egyptian army’s success in battle.”
“Wow... That’s impressive, babe. You should be the one leading the tour, not that guide.” I couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity in Jason’s words, leaning into his chest. Hearing such compliments from him reminded me of the first months of our relationship when he was fully dedicated, always throwing praises and compliments my way. Maybe the fire of our love wasn’t completely extinguished.
“But despite what good things he did, he remained the bad guy. I think everyone can agree. He isn’t called the God of Violence and Disorder for nothing, right?” And the tender moment was ruined by his stiff logic and quick-to-judge attitude.
My eyebrows tugged into a frown. “Everyone makes mistakes, even deities. I don’t think we are in any position to judge a God when nowadays everyone does missteps.”
Jason shrugged, pulling away his arm from around me, leaving me a little cold. “If you say so. Come on. The others are continuing the tour, and we are standing here talking about a statue.” I didn’t even have time to say anything back as my boyfriend walked toward the group.
Sighing, I rubbed the bridge of my nose, before gazing softly at Set’s statue. “I apologize in his name. I wish sometimes for his brain to be in concordance with his heart.” I whispered to Set as if he could hear me, before I ran to my boyfriend and the group, unaware of the statue’s eyes glowing red for a second.
This strain conversation happened yesterday, and it left me with a bitter taste. Another such event happened this day while we were visiting the bazaars in Cairo.
Khan el-Khalili is a well-known market and souq in Cairo’s historic center. The bazaar neighborhood, named after one of Cairo’s multiple historic caravanserais and established as a hub of trade during the Mamluk era, has since become one of the city’s key attractions for both tourists and Egyptians. It also houses numerous Egyptian craftsmen and workshops that produce traditional crafts and souvenirs. Historically, the term Khan el-Khalili applied to a particular structure in the neighborhood; currently, it refers to the entire commercial district.
As we walked through the maze of beautiful crafts and unique architecture, I couldn’t look away from the handmade beauties displayed by the locals. It was a challenge to choose something because everything had a unique vibe. The locals were all so friendly, smiling, and inviting us to look at their masterpieces. The warmth with which they welcomed us made me wish to stay here for more than a vacation.
I stopped once something caught my arctic blue eyes. Stepping closer to one of the stands, which held tons of precious and stunning jewelry, only one caught my eye. It was a golden necklace, shining bright under the rays of the sun peaking through the cracks of the roof of the bazaar. The pendant depicted the God of Disorder himself. The necklace was so detailed, and definitely crafted with a hawk’s eyes and skilled fingers.
“Did you find something interesting, babe?” Jason asked me, as he walked by my side. Smiling, I nodded, picking up the necklace gently, brushing my fingertip over God’s face, tracing his golden features.
“Ahhh... You have an expert eye, little lady.” The old man behind the stall spoke, offering us the same warmth as the other locals. My smile widened at the compliment.
“And... how much is the necklace?” Jason asked him.
“It’s a unique piece. One of a kind, and there is no other replica to it.” The man informed us, and I felt even more intrigued by the golden treasure in my hands.
“It costs $200.” My eyes widened at the price and before I could say anything, Jason beat me to it.
“What!?” He exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous. It’s a necklace and I am pretty sure it’s not even actual gold.” My shoulders slumped down at my boyfriend’s words and the harsh tone.
“I assure you, Sir. It’s as real as the Egyptian sands of the desert.” The old man assures us, keeping his polite attitude toward us.
“Yeah, sure.” Jason snorted and started to walk toward another stand where our friends were, making me feel like a stupid girl who couldn’t afford to get her favorite toy. The price was indeed too much for my wallet, but considering its beauty, I couldn’t object.
“I am sorry, Mister. He can be sometimes a lot to handle.” I apologized again in the name of my boyfriend, who didn’t seem to integrate into this unfamiliar country. It was like putting a statue of ice in the heat of the Egyptian sun. It simply didn’t work.
“No need to apologize, Miss... But you know, a true man who has an undying love for his woman will give her everything... Even the sun itself.” The corners of my lips quirked into a small smile, but behind it, there was pain and the drop of betrayal.
“That’s very kind of you, sir ... but unfortunately, the reality is different.” My eyes dropped to the golden pendant, and I felt like a dark cloud of storms was floating above my head, bringing negative emotions all around me.
“Nonsense! True love exists... and if a man is too cheap to give his lady what she desires all because he is being a stubborn camel,” The old man’s dark eyes glanced at Jason as he negotiated a few feet away from us at another stand. “... then perhaps he doesn’t deserve her.”
There was some truth in the old man’s words, very wise words, but as much as I wanted to escape this relationship that didn’t seem to have a journey, only a dead end, I was afraid to give away four years of my life with Jason because he was acting like a stiff bull who always had something to objectify.
“I suppose... but there is always hope,” I whispered, feeling my heart clench, hope for Jason to open his eyes and see the beauty of life, the mesmerizing aspects of Egypt, and how much better it would be if he set aside logic and let his emotions and heart lead sometimes.
“Hope for better things and people to enter your life, dear. Never lose your hopes. It’s your first time in Egypt, am I right?” The man asked me, and I nodded.
“Then a good thing shall happen to you. I can tell there is a certain energy swirling around you.” I gave a small chuckle.
“Yeah... Negative energy.” I scoffed, feeling like the grey cloud above me was growing.
“That shall pass and for something better to overcome these bitter energies.”
Glancing from the humble and wise man to the golden necklace in my hand, something made me not want to let it go. It felt like it called to me to buy it. Biting on my lower lip, I debated if I should buy it or not. I had the money for it, but if I buy it, then I wouldn’t have enough money for other souvenirs. Well, it’s all about quality, not quantity.
But Jason would be too happy that I gave so much money for a necklace...
Oh, to hell with what Jason thinks! For once in your life, stop carrying what he thinks. You don’t come to Egypt every month to buy something.
The brash voice in my head was right. I shouldn’t care so much about what he thinks when he couldn’t care less about my opinions.
“You know what? I am gonna take the necklace.” I told the seller, taking the wallet out of my purse and handing him the money.
“That’s wonderful! Thank you so much, young lady!” He exclaimed, accepting the payment and I locked the new jewelry around my neck, letting the pendant fall where the valley of my breasts was.
“He shall be delighted with you.” The old man muttered, and I gave him a quizzical look.
“Him? What do you mean, Sir?” I asked the seller, who waved his hand, holding a satisfied smile.
“Oh, nothing. You shall know when the moment is right.” His response only added to the confusion, but I brushed it aside before waving goodbye and going back to the group.
Save to say, Jason wasn’t thrilled to see me wear the necklace and kept telling me how there were probably a dozen of copies of the jewelry with a value of one dollar.
That event happened this morning, and currently, we were at an extravagant club in the center of Cairo. The music was blasting with oriental notes, people were dancing and chatting, and the drinks kept flowing like the river Nile. It was an overall lively atmosphere. I was sitting at the table with the girls, enjoying our drinks and chatting while the guys were on the other side of the club playing poker. After I finished my cocktail, I told the girls I need to go to the bathroom, which wasn’t a complete lie. I only needed some silent moments.
Reaching the restrooms, I was relieved to see the ladies’ restroom empty. Closing the door behind me, the loud music outside was muffled, and I could properly think. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and questioned for the first time if I was beautiful enough for Jason.
Truthfully, to be honest, I wasn’t as voluptuous as my female friends. I was 5′6 with a slim body shape that always brought issues when choosing an outfit because it was a challenge to fill a generous neckline. Guys preferred curvy girls, right?
My skin had a dark beige color from the fresh tan created by the scorching Egyptian sun, and the freckles across my nose and on my upper cheeks seemed to shine. In contrast with my tan came my light blonde hair, long and straight, flowing down my back, and the icy blue eyes that reminded me of the nickname of my childhood — husky.
Looking down at myself, I questioned if I should have worn something more flashy to the club. It was a simple black dress, reaching a little above my knees, and golden sandal heels to match the golden necklace that rested around my neck and the golden earrings. The make-up was as simple as ever. Some cat eyeliner, mascara, glow on my cheeks, and lipgloss. Compared to my friends, I felt dull. Maybe I should put in more effort?
Shaking my head off these thoughts, I mustered up some confidence. Jason loved me like this. I haven’t changed since we started dating, and I remember how he used to compliment me on my looks — about my natural and modest choice of make-up and outfits. Yes, I was only paranoid and overthinking. Putting on a smile on my face, I left the bathroom toward the poker zone of the club to look for Jason and invite him to dance. We used to dance a lot in the first year of dating.
I marched up to the poker table where Jason’s guy friends were, only to see him nowhere.
“Hey, guys! Where is Jason?” I asked them, and they glanced at each other.
“He said he had to go to use the restroom, but that was like twenty minutes ago,” Mark told me with a shrug. “Maybe he went to get something to drink?” He suggested, and I started to get anxious. What if he was getting sick from something he ate, or he drank tap water? It wasn’t eligible for drinking, although I told him during our flight.
Seeing the worry on my face, Mark stood up. “Let’s go check on him.” He told me, and I nodded. Mark was Jason’s best friend since primary school, and they were like brothers. He was a great guy, and a very good friend to help me to search for him.
First, we checked the bar since it was closer to the poker tables, but Jason was nowhere to be seen, so we decided to go to the restrooms. Mark was the first to open the male restroom door, and it was all empty. We started to get truly worried until we heard moaning coming from one of the stalls. Mark and I looked at each other awkwardly and were ready to leave until a familiar voice spoke from the stall.
“Mmmm... Right there, handsome.” My eyes widened as I recognized the voice.
It was Natasha! Mark’s girlfriend!
“Yeah? Like that, sweetheart?” I felt like my heart stopped the moment I heard Jason’s voice too, and I slowly looked at Mark, whose jaw looked like it would pop off of how tight he was clenching it. I saw his hands forming into fists and the veins on his forearms bulging.
“Mark...” I whispered, but his eyes full of fury were set on the stall door from where the lascivious voices were coming. Before I could say anything else, Mark marched with big strides toward the stall, and I gasped as he kicked the door open, only to see the sight that almost made me puke on the restroom tiles of the floor.
Right there, were Natasha and Jason. Her dress was hitched up above her hips, and her panties were by the knees. Jason’s pants were dropped around his ankles, and he quickly moved his hands away from Natahas’s body, both of them trying to hide their obvious activities.
“W-What the fuck, man!?” Jason exclaimed, trying to pull his pants back up, while Natasha was left a blabbering mess.
“What the fuck is wrong with you two!? I should be the one asking that! You are fucking my girlfriend in a bathroom stall... in a club... while I was waiting at the poker table for you!” Mark yelled throwing his hands around.
“I-It wasn’t supposed to be like that,” Natasha muttered, and I stepped forward, looking at Jason.
“For how long?” I asked him.
His eyes widened upon realizing I was present too. “B-Babe... Hey...”
“I ask you... for how long? It’s obvious this isn’t the first rendezvous.” I had to praise myself for being so calm.
“Babe...”
“Don’t call me that. I asked you a question.” I hissed, starting to feel the rage Mark was feeling, both of us looking at our supposed lovers with agitation and disgust.
“For almost a year...” Natasha spoke in a small voice, hiding behind Jason as she tried to fix herself, and seeing her red lipstick all smeared I could only guess what they have been doing here.
“What!?” Mark shouted and looked ready to punch the mirror as his hands gripped the edge of the sink, leaning over it as he breathed heavily.
“I cannot fucking believe this...” He muttered, and my eyes narrowed on the two in the stall.
“I am out of here.” I declared and twirled on the heels, exiting the men’s restroom only for Jason to run after me.
“Wait, wait! Let’s not get hasty here...” His voice alone was making me feel like breaking something, and how he tried to sweet-talk me.
I stopped walking and turned around to face Jason, making him stop walking, and I could see hope forming in his eyes. The eyes I fell in love with, and now only made hate blossom in my chest.
“We can make this work, babe. I-It was a mistake... You said it yourself at the museum. No one is perfect, and anyone can make mistakes.” My eyes widened, and I couldn’t believe what was flying out of his mouth. He was using my words against me. The nerves!
The strings of my rage snapped, and blinded by wrath, I took a drink from the bar and splashed Jason right in the face with the juicy cocktail.
“Yes, we can make this workout. How about you drop fucking dead!” I yelled, and people were looking at us with shock and amusement.
“I do hope when you die you will be get skinned for eternity by Set.” Jason looked at me as if I grew two heads, and before he could say anything, I turned out, walking out of the club with fury in each step.
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Steamy Corrupting Nights: Set (Monster Erotica) by C.B. Blackburn
