Legacy: Book Two of the Chronicles of the Nubian Underworld (4 page)

“But if we get too big, then what about extra accommodations at a hotel nearby or something like that? Perhaps we can negotiate a rate or something?” I asked. The way things were at the Palace right now, a small contingent could stay overnight. But what happened if the Palace couldn’t hold everyone that wanted to stay?

“Well, Beloved, since we currently have a good three hundred acres to mess around with, I’ve been a bit busy with an expansion project to get things in motion.” Ramesses smirked. “Actually, to be correct, I have a few projects going on simultaneously out there right now. Once we’re done making sure this house is squared away, We can go by there so You can see what’s going on, if You’d like?”

“Wait a minute; did You say
expansion?”
I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, darling, expansion.” He gave me a look that shut me down. I enjoyed being a Domina, but sometimes, that look kept me balanced, I swear. “I’ve already sent the plans out to Amenhotep, if You’re wondering, babe. I don’t do much without Him knowing about it, especially when it comes to His properties.”

Actually, that wasn’t exactly what was on my mind, but Amenhotep was old school. One of the things about the Palace He liked was the fact that, despite its size, it was still somewhat humble and quaint in His eyes, and He also liked that it didn’t draw too much attention to itself, despite its ominous size. I was worried that perhaps the semi-publicity might be a little upsetting to Him.

I decided to wait until we actually got to the Palace before I made any more assumptions. Besides, I might have liked what I saw and taken things to the next level myself.

It was absolutely breathtaking…

Seeing all the construction around the
Palace
was absolutely breathtaking, and yet overwhelming at the same time. I saw several buildings in a bed-and-breakfast-style architecture laid out in a strategic manner.

After touring the finished house, I took inventory of the how the rest of the buildings would be laid out: none of the houses would be more than two floors in height, and lavishly constructed with a common area and five to seven rooms on the ground floor, and ten more rooms on the second floor per building.

In all, Ramesses had gotten permits for thirteen houses, about 200-plus rooms on the grounds in total.

This resembled more and more a compound than an estate, and I wondered if it was what Ramesses had in mind when he began these projects. He said before that he was thinking big, but I had no idea. But, this was his baby, his business venture, and I was content he was moving in the proper direction.

We finally got to the main building, and I was relieved to see that it had remained unscathed. There were no scaffolds around it or anything. I was relieved that Ramesses had no intentions of making any changes. We got out of the car and began to walk around the buildings closest to the main building.

“So, what do You think?” He stood with me in front of the completed housing, gauging my response to his question.

“I’m speechless,” I admitted. The grounds were absolutely gorgeous. “Can any of the buildings be seen from the street?”

“No, I made sure they were strategically placed within the landscaping and the woods as well. The only way someone will be able to see anything would be by helicopter.” He stroked his beard for a moment, snapping out of it when he realized he had one last thing on his mind. “The only thing the place needs is a new name.”

“What name did You have in mind?” I asked him. “I’m assuming it’s got a meaning, knowing You.”

“NEBU.” The name rolled off his tongue, and he had this smirk on his face, anticipating my confusion.

“Where did the name ‘NEBU’ come from?”

“It represents the Palace of Gold from the ancient Kingdom,” he said. “I want to present the new compound in its splendor.”

“I like the name, it works for Me. Have You told sajira and Damian about it?” I asked.

“No, not yet, but I think it would be nice for them to see it as well, considering they will be helping with the hosting duties and such. Actually, I want to bring sajira on to the payroll full time, now that I think about it.” He grinned at the possibilities ahead. “I know she would love to be able to set her own hours for a change, work with some larger figures and P&L’s.”

I couldn’t get too excited, well, actually I could, but it was more of excitement for sajira than for Damian. sajira was a collared submissive of the House now, so she would be involved in the operations of NEBU. I was happy about that. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to bring Damian along, though. He had yet to prove himself to the other members of the House.

“I don’t mind sajira seeing this, but Damian’s another issue, baby,” I told my husband. “He’s become more slut than submissive, and he hasn’t shown any signs of trying to come out of that phase.”

“So, the question I have for You is, what do You want to do with him?” Ramesses asked. “You and I both know he is of no use to Me if he isn’t at least a service slave.”

I honestly wanted to hold out hope Damian would work out, but every conversation we had as of recent was revolving around his foot fetishes. That was fine for a day or so in the beginning,
but ultimately, his purpose was and would always be to please me as I saw fit, and I was no one’s Pro Domme.

“I may have to put him to the test, to see if he is truly ready to be a part of this House, baby,” I finally stated.

“Good, because I know at least five slaves at NEBU who have been dying for You to acquire them.” Ramesses chuckled, seeming to be amused at the whole situation. I wasn’t amused by his chiding. I wanted his support in dealing with Damian, the same as I did with our former submissives, jamii and nuru.

Whatever…I have no problems working this out to my benefit. I’d show him he wasn’t the only one who could train.

“Changing the subject, I think it’s time we give our little one a proper ceremony, don’t You think?” Ramesses asked me. “I mean, it’s only a matter of completing the circle, such as it is.”

He was right, and I was already a step ahead of him this time. “I’ve already made the arrangements with Altar for two weeks from now. I’m assuming You can have this compound presentable by then, Beloved?”

He flinched for a minute, like he needed to contemplate some figures and dates in his head. I always hated when he did that. I always had to write down dates and details to make sure

I didn’t forget, while he simply relied on his photographic memory.

Ramesses stroked his goatee the way he normally did when he had come to a conclusion about something, and then he finally answered, “So shall it be done, Beloved. Do we have the normal guest lists prepared?”

“Yes.”

“Then I believe it is time to inform our little one of what she needs to be prepared for then, yes?”

“Oh yes, definitely. I believe she is ready, and it is a wonderful time to do something like this, baby.” After all, it was the beginning
of the year, and it was time for the local community to take notice of the House of Kemet-Ka once again. Call me arrogant if you want, but even when Amenhotep was there, we still set the standard when it came to stability, especially in the age of “Internet BDSM” and “Velcro collars.” The last year might not have proven as such, but a statement must be made again.

We took a final spot check around the grounds before we got back in the truck to head away from NEBU. There was much to plan, phone calls to make, including a special invitation via satellite phone to the Virgin Islands.

“Oh, that reminds Me, I have to fly out in a couple of days,” Ramesses said. He anticipated the look on my face, putting his hands up in mock defense. “I have a couple of places I have to go, but I promise I won’t be gone longer than about four days.”

Here we were with the secrecy and innuendo again. If I didn’t know him the way I did, I would have been immediately suspicious of the reason to go on a trip without me. I wanted to ask him a few more questions, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t get the answers I wanted to get. At least, I wouldn’t get them from him. I knew who I needed to ask, and thankfully, I would be able to pick His brain while asking Him and His newlywed bride to come and see what’s going on.

“Okay, Beloved, I’ll make sure I call Amenhotep to make sure of a few things.” I’d trusted him, even though his “need to know” mantra got on my nerves. But, knowing him, I would find out everything I would need to know when I needed to know it.

Who was I kidding? I didn’t have that type of patience.

He raised an eyebrow, recognizing my body language. “Beloved, trust Me on this one. You know I would never keep anything from You without good reason.”

In my heart, I trusted what he was saying to me, but it was my
mind that needed convincing. The way I saw it, I would have to keep myself busy while he was away, and I had something in mind to accomplish that.

We headed home, with the first thing on my to-do list the moment he took off in the morning being a phone call that might turn into a few revelations, if I had my way…and I
would
have my way.

THREE
RAMESSES

“That’s right. I want to duplicate what I’m planning down in ATL.”

I was in Las Vegas chatting with Master Osiris and Lady Hatshepsut, two very longtime friends of Amenhotep and Elders in the Las Vegas BDSM community, laying down the ground work for trying to do a Vegas version of NEBU together out there. They had known Him for the better part of thirty years, since the
Society of Janus
days when they were all in San Francisco together before Amenhotep moved to the East Coast, and the two of them settled into the desert.

“So, what’s exactly the plan down in Atlanta, now that Your Mentor has decided to semi-retire?” Osiris asked, stroking his long beard. He had a very unassuming presence, until he stood up. There’s something to be said about men who could change the energy flow of a room the moment they stepped into it, and he was one of those men. “I’m hearing the home He left You to renovate to Your style is coming along nicely.”

“Yes, Sir, things are going along according to plan. We are obeying the zoning ordinances as we should, and thank goodness the acreage helps with keeping the neighbors out of our hair. I’m also utilizing a KAP lawyer to handle the other sensitive details for membership and the handling of the rules of the ranches,” I told him, matching his intense stare as I was taught when I was an
apprentice Dominant and I first was introduced to Master Osiris. He was impressed with my usage of a KAP, or kink-aware professional, which the National Coalition of Sexual Freedom established years ago. I had a feeling a non-KAP lawyer wouldn’t quite “get” what we were trying to accomplish and might have a few problems…and questions.

Lady Hatshepsut crossed her legs, stroking her pet senmut’s head as she waited for us to finish that portion of the conversation. “Where did You plan on placing the Vegas version of NEBU, My dear? For that matter, what did You have in mind for the name of it here?”

I thought about it for a moment, and to be honest, I really didn’t expect to get to this point of the conversation. Considering that the Power Exchange was already in the area, I wasn’t sure there would be a market for a second major dungeon project. But, it didn’t take long for me to come up with the perfect name for the project in Vegas.

“The Temples of Deshret,” I responded. I remembered from the ancient Kingdom the name was utilized by the ancient Egyptians to refer to the desert that bordered the country from the west. Deshret means “the Red Land” in Egyptian as well, which also gave me the idea of the color scheme for the project. “That is what I had in mind for the project, m’Lady.”

“Brother Amenhotep has taught You well, youngster,” Osiris commented. I guess to the Elders I will always be the youngster they helped “raise.” I chuckled to myself at that remark, but I was fine with it. In my mind, it was a sign of respect from an Elder to an “offspring.” “I wonder how He might react to seeing the renovations to His former home.”

I wasn’t worried about the renovations. Like I told Neferterri, I
sent Him every detail by fax and email through paka, since she was more adept at dealing in the technology age than her husband. Each and every time, the renovations were returned with the customary, “go ahead to get it done.”