by Paige Patton
The Consort
Copyright ©2015 Paige Patton
ISBN 978-1622-879-00-7 EBOOK
April 2015
Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means ─ electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other ─ except brief quotation in reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.
The Consort
Prologue
Everything was laid out before her.
All she had to do was to follow the specific instructions that would prevent a war between good and evil. “Thank you, Tithoes,” Delilah spoke aloud into an empty room, then rolled over in bed and opened her eyes. With meticulous concentration, she replayed each step of her dream making sure she understood every detail. If Tithoes, the god who watched over those asleep, were kind enough to offer a solution to her problem, then she, in return, should be grateful enough to follow his instructions.
Today was the start of the change. Change that would correct everything and give her peace of mind. Never before had she harbored any hope, not even the slightest thought that a solution would come. But today was different. She already sensed the shift that was taking place.
Centuries ago Delilah was considered the most powerful ruler in all of Ancient Egypt. An irreconcilable force of nature, she was highly revered and identified with deities such as Isis and Aphrodite. But Delilah was more than just a powerful ruler, favored by the gods and pharaohs and given many gifts of great mystical power.
Delilah had a passionate soul, yet a ferocious temperament. When she loved, she loved deeply. When she hated, she hated with an unreasonable passion that lasted forever. Because of this deep love and hatred Delilah now lived her days in utter turmoil.
It began with a child. A child that meant everything to Delilah but more to the safety of humanity. She was the goddess of moral excellence and goodness, the keeper of the seven virtues of humanity. Holding such a title, naturally this child needed protection from a world of evil doers. It was Delilah's duty to protect her child not only for humanity’s sake, but because she loved her deeply.
Here in the spirit world, the gods dealt with problems swiftly and sometimes unjustly. Not that they were heartless or uncaring; they had greater concerns and obligations that required steadfast loyalty to all. The safety of the human world took precedence over everything. It was their unwavering duty to keep universal order, to look out for the greater good of all, not just for the good of one.
Summonsed before the council of gods, Delilah voiced her concerns regarding the safety of her daughter. They listened and sent her away so that they could deliberate.
In Nirvana, the upper echelons maintained a hierarchical system. These were the authoritarians. There were many gods and goddesses above Delilah, and they made the final decision on everything. Especially threats that could destroy the human race.
Delilah loathed authority. Those who sat in judgment passing down their cruel laws and unfair sentences as though they were without sin. They were all stubborn. Ancient in their ways. Horus, Amon, Anubis and Hathor, the lot of them made her sick. She reeled with disgust every time they spoke of keeping harmony in the human world, asserting that it was their duty to make sure, no outside forces interfered with the balance of nature. Delilah had a duty just as well. To protect what was most important to her.
Now, an outside force was threatening the human world. Yes, she was the cause of this mistake, but she was doing everything within her power to correct it. Such things took time. And a well thought out plan. For centuries, the gods remained silent giving her time to remedy the problem on her own. But as the centuries came and went, Delilah came no closer to finding a solution. The gods felt it was time to intervene and rectify the problem themselves.
Atum, creator of all the Egyptian gods called upon Zeus, the Greek god of the sky and ruler of the Olympus to assist him. The two gods hurried off into the sacred temple slamming the doors shut behind them. They alone would decide the fate of her beloved child. Thanks to Tithoes, Delilah had a plan, and it was time to put it into action.
Stepping out of bed, she used her powers to dress herself in a dazzling white dress that accentuated every curve of her perfect body. The gold lace trim around the hem sprinkled like fairy dust that graciously dragged along the floor behind her. With a solid gold band around both wrists and a plunging neckline, she was the personification of elegance.
It was all a part of the plan, to use her body, beauty and brains to accomplish what needed to be done. She was a natural seductress with eons of experience. She knew exactly what to do and precisely how to do it. There was no such thought as shame for the people and things she loved.
No one should have the right to decide the fate of others, she thought, as she stood before a mirror admiring herself. Of all the goddesses in the world who lived before and died after her, none even came close to her beauty. Delilah means amorous, delight, temptress. And that she was.
Recalling the steps of the plan that Tithoes set before her, Delilah stretched out on her chaise and readied herself for the second step-The beast.
Chapter One
Roman was far from an ordinary man. He was an extraordinary amalgam of both man and beast. The perfect combination for what Delilah needed.
He was just leaving his cousin’s estate in Vegas where she got off on hosting human blood parties. They were usually a lot of fun, but Roman was just getting a little sick and tired of all the screaming and begging to be freed.
He was surprised when he heard the familiar voice in his head inviting him to the spirit world of Nirvana. The only way to enter this world was by invitation only. He didn’t mind being summoned by the spirits, in fact, it was looked upon as a great honor. What he did not like was their sneaky, underhanded tactics when dealing with the human realm. However, being called upon by a beautiful goddess had him highly intrigued.
Roman was a man among men. Highly educated and intellectually stimulating, but one would do themselves no favor by being blinded by his dashing good looks and forgetting that he was a beast first and foremost, a bloodthirsty vampire to be exact. He wasn’t your typical run-of-the-mill vampire; he was an African vampire originating from unique species known as the Impundulu. Theses vampires never actually died. They were infected with the blood of the Impundulu while still very much alive; their souls lingered close to death; their body never having the chance to decay and their souls remained fully intact. This made them aberrantly human.
The Impundulu vampires had all the traits of humans and were to live as such with only one caveat. They had to keep themselves hydrated with the blood of humans. Fortunately for them they could go weeks between feedings, but make no mistakes; they were still vampires in every sense of the word. Each had their beast to contend with, needing to keep it fed, contained, and happy. It was the beast that Delilah was counting on to help her with her plan.
Delilah observed him attentively as he appeared across the room. It was important that she learned everything about the man as well as the beast. She needed to feel his true character; know the human side of him; to know what made him angry and what gave him joy. She never wanted to doubt his integrity because she was going to offer him a deal that was so sweet it would give him a cavity.
Her eyes were like pinballs bouncing over his magnificent physique. Men dressed in modern day attire of suit and tie triggered her mania. And this man was dressed well, coupled with his smooth finesse; he was aesthetically pleasing to the eyes
. Delilah was forced to smile and lean forward to capture a better look at the man who was once a slave in their palace. To look at him now, so manly and confident, one would think that he was born in a family of noblemen, kings, or gods.
She found herself getting aroused. In all honesty, she was highly aroused. Did this man have the ability to evoke sexual urges just from looking at him? It had always been the other way around, yet here she sat in an aroused state, breathing deeply and having a difficult time averting her eyes. How odd, she thought, but deliciously perfect.
Each step that closed the distance between them made her chest heave with excitement. She sat motionless as he went down on one knee.
“My Queen,” he said, bowing his head. “Have I unexpectedly died and gone to Nirvana?”
A warm sensation rattled through her body from the sound of his voice and the kindness of his words caressed her soul. He was a man after her own heart; or perhaps he this charming and gracious with everyone?
“No, Roman, you are still very much alive. I have summoned you here to the spirit world. I am in desperate need of your help.”
The word desperate aroused the beast in Roman. Desperate people resorted to measures that usually always worked out in his favor. Now he was intrigued.
“How may I serve you, my queen?” He asked, balefully.
“Please rise.” She ordered.
Roman stood with his eyes downcast. From what he remembered from his days of living in the queen’s palace, no one dared gazed upon them without permission. Even though times had changed, and he was no longer a slave, he still wanted to show respect to a woman who was once a glorified queen.
Delilah was never one to stand on formalities; in fact, she detested any form of pompous ceremony and unnecessary rituals. She was a rebel; never following rules if it did not benefit her.
“I am no longer a queen. Unlike you, I died many centuries ago. I am now a goddess. You may call me by name. And please, look at me.”
Roman could not imagine being so informal with the woman who was once the queen of Egypt. Though she was ruthless in her manner of dealing with people and problems, she was highly respected and well-loved during her reign. Her charm and intelligence were only a small part of her mystique. She along with the King made Egypt one the world's most powerful and wealthiest civilizations during her time.
“As you wish, Delilah.”
Delilah had to take a moment to gather herself as their eyes met. He was an exceptional creature with eyes as black as midnight. They seemed to look straight through her and touch a happy place in her heart. This time her clit throbbed causing her to blush. She cleared her throat before speaking.
“Forgive me for intruding in your life. I know that you must be very busy.” She said as she struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but who could blame her. He stood towering over her at six feet four inches. He was a powerhouse of raw manliness and unnaturally handsome!
“You have grown into quite the man.” She admitted as her eyes darted up and down his body. “You look extremely well.”
“Thank you.” He said, with a chuckle.
“My sources have informed me that you seek god-like powers. Is this true?”
Roman tried to blink away his embarrassment. Everyone who knew him knew that he was a power hungry mongrel, but in his defense, most of his kind were. It was their way of remaining the Alfa male and staying alive for so long.
“Yes. If this offends you, I ask for forgiveness. I am aware that I am not worthy of such great power. I spoke my desires in private to those I thought I could trust.”
For a man with such intrinsic power, the look on his face was one of humility rather than arrogance. Delilah knew she had struck gold.
“Never apologize for your ambitions. If you want something, you should always go for it. It is for that reason I have called upon you, and it is what I admire most about you.”
That was partially true. She also admired the beast in him; the bloodthirsty part that had no problem gutting a man without a second thought. She thought it best to save that discussion for a later time; for now, she had to gain his trust and offer him whatever it took to elicit his help.
She knew the history of Roman’s obsession; his lust for power and how he would do anything to be looked upon as the most powerful vampire of his kind; and eventually becoming ruler of the underworld. As it stood, that position was taken. Nevertheless, it never stopped him from trying to achieve his goal. One would think that a man in his position would be satisfied with what he already had; after all, he was a multi-billionaire with thriving companies around the globe. He was one of the wealthiest men alive. None of that mattered. Roman coveted one position and one position only. He wanted to be the king of his people. She knew that he would give away his fortune to make that happen.
“What if I could grant you those powers? How far would you go to possess them?” She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say that he would do anything. She needed to hear the words, to feel his sincerity.
Roman found himself at a momentary loss for words. The possibility of having even the smallest amount of god-like powers, just a fraction would serve him well. The mere thought of it made him dizzy and blinded him with all kinds of possibilities. Was she toying with his emotions like in the days when he was young and naïve? He remembered when the women of the palace would trample on his fragile emotions with no regard for his feelings. Well, he was no longer an innocent child, and that naïve little boy had grown wise beyond measure. Surely, she knew that he would go to hell and back, even part the Red Sea himself if he could obtain such powers.
“I would do anything. I would gladly risk life and limb to obtain such great powers.”
A willing ally Delilah breathed as her beautiful lips curled up into a smile. It was hard to keep herself from standing and jumping up and down like a child relishing in victory. She always knew that Roman would one-day return to be her champion. Centuries ago when he was at the mercy of her sister Phaedra, Delilah watched him knowing that he was special. Her sister was too wrapped up with his phallus to notice.
“Well, I doubt it will take losing your life or a limb, perhaps your sanity. But I am certain that a man like you will have very little trouble handling anything that is set before him.”
As a vampire, Roman had many supernatural powers. Delilah was a goddess. Her powers were far more superior, exceeding his immeasurably. These powers were sacred to the gods. Held close to the heart and guarded like precious relics. They would never consider sharing their powers.
Roman had to wonder what the beautiful goddess had up her conniving sleeve. She could have anything she wanted by simply thinking it. He knew that life on Nirvana was one of splendor and abundance, earned by living and dying with honor. This is where they would spend eternal life once they made the journey, passing safely from the human world to the spirit world. The size of their temple was a direct reflection of how they lived while alive. Looking around, Roman could tell that the gods favored Delilah. What exactly did the goddess want from him?
“Forgive my rudeness, but what will it take to acquire such powers?”
Delilah stood from her chaise and led the way into her room. The smell of jasmine filled his nose bringing back memories of the days when he lived in the queen’s palace as a sex slave to her younger sister. He had only caught glimpses of Delilah back then but heard many rumors of her great beauty and the hatred that brewed between the two sisters. Looking at her, he could now see why any woman would envy her. She was stunning.
He freely allowed his eyes to roam every inch of her body not caring that he was rude and gawking like an adolescent boy that had never seen a woman before. A body like hers was meant to be admired. Hell, it would be rude not to gawk. He could not help himself, and he openly enjoyed every second of his boorishness.
She was a pretty little thing, he thought. The way her jet-black hair fell over her left shoulder. It left the right side of her long neck exposed a
nd ready to be bitten. The way her thick eyeliner made her almond shaped eyes appear larger. He loved the color of her pouty, red lips and the size of her large, perky breasts that were hidden in plain sight under the white, satin gown she wore. Yes, she was everything rumored to be and much, much more.
He followed as Delilah led him to a wall that vanished the second they approached. Together they stepped into a small room with marble floors and walls covered in tapestries of Egyptian gods. A round, crystal ball mounted on a podium stood in the center of the room, which sat on a dais. The entrance disappeared leaving them trapped and all alone.
The beast within him stirred, wanting a taste of her. Roman did his best to settle it, but eventually, the beast would demand what it needed.
Fortunately, for Delilah, the crystal ball began to rotate. As it did, it gave off a bright light that illuminated the walls. It was just enough to calm the beast, at least for a while.
“I know of your dreams and aspirations of dominating your world of vampires.”
Roman said nothing. It was true. He did have dreams and hopes of dominating the world of vampires. Only one thing stood in his way, one person who had become the bane of his existence; a constant source irritation like a bad rash.
“I know of your many talks to overthrow your lord and master. Let me say up front that talk is cheap. And let me add that he will crush you before you even begin.” She said with the utmost of certainty. “The eye of Horus is a powerful instrument. It has warned me of your imminent death.”
Roman’s eyes slid over to the large crystal ball known as the eye of Horus. It didn’t seem all that powerful to him.
“The eye of Horus sees all,” she went on. “It has informed me that your approach is weak. It lacks the wisdom and the ingenuity it will take to defeat your enemy.”
Roman didn’t have a plan laid out yet so he couldn’t begrudge her for telling the truth. It was merely a pondering thought that he and three trusted friends considered one night while having a few beers. They decided to go for it, to overthrow their current ruler. The plan was in its inception, Roman was curious as to how she knew as much as she did.