Page 13 of Ra (The Scarab Prophecy #1)

“Remove the glass so that I may wave to the people, dear Azenath!” Ra insisted as he pressed his face against the window again.

“Ra, they don’t want to wave to you. They’re just trying to get to wherever it is they’re going.”

“They will rejoice at my blessings upon them,” he said petulantly.

“We’re in a hurry. Maybe you can bless them later.”

“I don’t think you understand the position I hold,” he muttered, turning his body to face forward and flopping back into his seat with his arms crossed.

“Look, you need to understand something. You can’t be advertising to everyone you meet who you actually are.

If you do, they’ll do one of two things.

They’ll either take you to an insane asylum and lock you up where you’ll never be free again, or they’ll panic, thinking it’s the end of the world and all the old gods are coming back and it’ll be every man for himself. Neither is a good thing.”

“I do not believe you would allow anyone to lock me away anywhere. And if my people realize who I really am, I believe they would flock to serve me. Not fear me, or believe the world ending. It is most certainly not ending — I have much yet to do. So, neither of your threats will happen. And you do not give me the credit you should. I am revered.”

“Ra? Think about it. Since you’ve met me, have you been able to do anything at all that make you seem other than human?”

He glared at her.

“You tried to smite me from the face of the Earth!”

“I’m not the god that smites. I was just going to blast you into oblivion.”

“My point is, that you couldn’t. You do not have your powers. You’re no more powerful than I am. You need to stop thinking about what you would have done in your time, and consider only what you can do in my time.”

Ra stopped arguing for the time being and rode along in the passenger seat quietly. He was staring straight ahead, giving the impression that he was not even interested in the things they drove past, but she had no doubt he was still taking it all in.

Eventually Azi pulled off the highway and into a large group of buildings surrounded by a long, double row parking lot.

Ra watched as Azi chose a parking place and brought the car to a stop, then turned off the ignition.

“This is an outdoor shopping center. It’s a shopping area, with each store having its own dedicated private building, but in the middle of all the buildings are food vendors, and tables and benches. We should be able to find everything we need right here.”

Ra pushed the door open and got out of the car the moment he heard her finally unlock the door with the controls on her side of the vehicle. He paused and surveyed the buildings, the vehicles, the stores and the people coming and going, some carrying bags, others not.

“You ready?” Azi asked.

Ra gave a single inclination of his head and fell into step just slightly behind her.

Azi took her time getting to the clothing store, giving Ra ample opportunity to observe everything he saw.

When she came to a stop in front of the store they were going in, she pulled open the glass door and waited for him to finish looking at the clothing displayed in the windows.

Ra seemed to finally notice that she was holding the door for him and walked toward her. Just before he stepped over the threshold and into the store he looked down his nose at her. “I would not have blasted you into oblivion even if I could. I’d have just frightened you enough to be in awe of me.”

“How magnanimous of you,” she quipped.

“I am! You see? Though I had no display of power to provide for you, you still see the true me! I knew I chose properly!”

Azi stood there, holding the door open after he’d already gone inside, his words rattling around in her brain. Then she realized she heard his voice as he introduced himself to the store’s employees.

“Hello, my people! I am Ra!”

“Ra!” Azi called out as she rushed toward him.

“And this is dear Azenath! You may address me as dear god. She does.”

Azi forced a laugh, making it as dramatic as she could, slapping her thigh as she laughed.

“Ra, stop teasing these people!” she looked at the attendant and grinned.

“I tell his mother all the time she should not have named him Ra. He jokes with people all the time, even at not so appropriate times!”

The man chuckled and nodded. “I would, too, had I been given such a name.”

“I keep telling him somebody is going to think he’s serious and lock him away!”

The man laughed again. “One can’t be too careful. But in the meantime, what can I help you with today?”

“We both need clothing. I need several business outfits, and he’ll need the same as well as several casual outfits, lounge wear, and shoes.”

On realizing how much they’d be buying, he immediately became more accommodating and friendly. “I know I can help you both find whatever it is that you need. Do you have any particular styles in mind?”

“For me, I’ll need elegant meets academic meets business.”

The man seemed a little confused.

“But I’ll browse and see what I can find. For him, a little of everything so he can figure out what he likes best.”

“Let’s get you started while your lady shops for some things she might like,” the man said.

“Very good,” Ra said, following the man as he walked in a different direction than Azi was browsing in.

But he didn’t get very far. Looking back over his shoulder, Ra noticed a man — who happened to be very striking in appearance — approach Azi.

He saw Azi look up at the man and smile.

He saw the man speak to Azi, then he saw Azi lay her hand on the man’s arm as he spoke to her and they laughed together.

He changed direction immediately and returned to Azi’s side.

“You may go!” he insisted, placing himself between Azi and the man.

“Ra!” Azi scolded, surprised at his behavior.

“We are choosing clothing, for which we will trade money rather than favor, and the servant helping us who will receive our money, is there!” Ra declared, his arm shooting out to point at the man who’d been helping him.

“Employee, Ra. Employee.”

“Yes! Our employee. You are dismissed!”

“Ra, he’s only helping me find something to wear.”

“That is not all he is doing. But it does not matter, because you will not need his help. I will help you.”

She opened her mouth to try to explain, then realized no matter what she said she was giving Ra something else to respond to and all she really needed was for him to stop talking. “Fine. Let’s get your clothes first.”

“No. We will get yours first, then you will stay with me while we choose mine.”

“Here! You will need this!” he said, grabbing whatever was hanging on the rack before him and thrusting it at her without ever taking his eyes off the man who’d been trying to help her before he insinuated himself between them.

“Well, I’ll definitely hold their attention,” she said, holding up a bikini.

Ra glanced back at her, saw the item she held in her hands, and snatched it away with a look of horror!

He turned on the man who was still standing near them looking totally confused.

“What is wrong with you?! You do not give another male’s female a garment that practically presents her naked to the rest of the world! How dare you?!”

“Um, you chose it and gave it to her. I was going to recommend we browse in the business section,” the man said.

“I know what you were going to recommend! Be gone!” he said, thrusting his hands toward the man, who leaned back a bit, before hesitantly holding his hands up in a submissive manner.

“Alright, then. It seems you have everything you need. If I can be of assistance, please let me know. Or if you need help, of uh, any kind,” the man said, making brief eye contact with Azi. “I’ll be nearby.”

Azi sighed. “I’m fine, really. He’s just not from here and is a little out of his element.”

“If you say so,” the man said, thankful to be able to leave them to the service of the other man who’d been attempting to help Ra.

“You do not need him. I am here.”

“Ra, I kind of do need him, or somebody. I’m not very good at choosing clothing unless they’re my usual khaki shorts and top.”

“I am here,” he repeated, taking her arm and tucking it under his while pulling her along with him to rejoin the equally shocked man who still stood waiting for him to return to his side. “We are here. Resume your tour of your clothing. We are ready,” Ra insisted haughtily.

“Okay, yes, well, uh, let’s get started then.”

As they were led around the men’s section of the store, Ra was handed several different pairs of jeans, several different casual shirts, as well as button down shirts.

He was also offered several pairs of slacks and dress shirts.

Realizing his arms were full, he turned to Azi.

“Hold these, please.” He handed her the jeans and casual tops, and took the time to examine and refuse several shirts.

He chose a pair of boots, and a pair of sandals.

Socks, underwear, and then added four more pairs of slacks and button down dress shirts.

“I will take it all. Now, we will help dear Azenath find her own attire.”

“You have to try it on first,” Azi said.

“What?” he asked.

“You have to try it on. If you buy it and it doesn’t fit, then we have to come back.”

“That is not a problem.”

“Good. Then I can visit with my new friend that you scared away before.”

Ra’s gaze became damn near frightening before he turned to face the man helping them. “I will try it all on.”

“Of course. I thought you should as well. Follow me.” He led them to a changing area, with a couple of chairs sitting right outside. “Your wife can wait right here.”

“She needs to be inside with me,” Ra said without giving anyone a chance to suggest otherwise.

“The rooms are kind of small. She can sit right here and wait for you. You can come show her each item if you want her opinion.”