by Sarah Noffke
Chibale tapped his fingers rhythmically on the arm of the chair. Each was covered in symbols from the tip to the second knuckle. The top of his hand had larger streaked designs that circled until they met the wrists. Different artwork covered his arms and shoulders, most of it symbols or patterns. Even more intricate patterns that ran over his chest peeked from his shirt. Tattoos had been drawn on his neck and his face, and the leg that was exposed by his pants riding up had a cast of black ink that ran all the way to his toes.
“Did it hurt?” Monet asked, his tone curious but his eyes on a set of drawings engraved on the wall.
“Did it hurt when you dislodged your soul stone?” Chibale countered.
“It felt like I was choking and going to die, so sure—it hurt a bit,” Monet said.
“When magic presents itself from the body or on it, there is displeasure. It’s impossible for such a power to not disturb us.” Chibale snapped his fingers at Cleo and the feline disappeared, understanding his nonverbal message.
“Your tattoos… They spread as you age, is that correct?” It was Ever who asked this question. He hadn’t left his spot behind Azure.
Chibale did not look at him when he answered. “Our soul designs expand as our magic does. The greater our power, the more they cover us. Unlike a soul stone, which represents a witch’s power before coming to her magic, a wizard’s soul design represents who they’ve become after being granted magic.
“You must be quite powerful,” Azure observed.
Chibale steepled his fingers in front of him. “The leader of this coven isn’t chosen by blood. We learned our lesson from the old pharaohs. Instead, those with the greatest power and the most extensive soul designs takes the throne. It isn’t a role we regard lightly since, unlike your title, it can easily be lost. I’m constantly challenged for my position as leader.”
Azure stood now, peering down at Chibale. “I fought for my crown. It wasn’t simply given to me.”
“He’s trying to get under your skin,” Monet said matter-of-factly, calmly strolling to the next set of pictures and turning to the coven leader. “You don’t have to play the ‘who’s wand is bigger’ game, Bale. Azure is here to help you. Keep the subtle insults to a minimum or you’ll have to answer to me.” Monet narrowed his eyes, turning back to closely study the next set of drawings and looking unflustered by the threat he’d just made.
Chibale stood and motioned for Cleo, who had just appeared in the archway, to come forward. “Cleo, would you lead these three to their rooms? I must attend to Nefertiti. I can sense her growing worried about her sister.”
“You can sense her?” Azure asked.
“Yes. We are connected, just as a tributary is connected to the river and it is connected to everything else.” Chibale strode for the exit.
“But I have more questions. More things to ask you.” Azure was annoyed by the pompous attitude of the King.
Chibale halted, but turned only his head to answer. “And I have more things to tell you. I offer you a place to stay, since the night is still upon us. You are safe to travel to your hotel, but your companions are not. In the morning I will explain what we have failed to cover tonight.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“My fucking vodka is at the hotel,” Monet said, taking a flask from his robe’s pocket and unscrewing the lid.
“What do you call that?” Azure asked as they strode behind the feline, who had her tail high in the air. She thought about Finswick, wondering where he was. He’d be fine. He always was, but she wished he were here to insult this cat. Tell her that her collar was on too tight, based on the smug look on her face. Maybe she was being too uptight about this coven. They were going through a hard time. It was just that she wasn’t sure if they could be trusted, although at first she’d been well disposed toward Chibale. They are just different, she told herself. Different isn’t bad.
“I call this ‘not enough,’” Monet said, shaking the flask. The liquor swished back and forth.
Ever grabbed Azure’s arm and pulled her to a halt. “We don’t have to stay here tonight. We could send a message to Oak and have him bring the carriage, or we could just leave now on our own.”
“You won’t make it far,” Cleo said. She had paused as well, and turned her head over her shoulder.
“I think you underestimate our carriage and its coachman, Litter Box,” Monet said to the feline.
“Maybe I do, but you still have to get into and out of it, which is when you can expect to be hunted by a vampire. They prowl viciously at night. And if I’m not mistaken, you are Monet Torrance, the powerful Potions Master. They will want you. A founder would no doubt take you,” Cleo said, batting her long eyelashes.
“And what about Ever?” Monet asked, sounding curious.
“What about the Light Elf? I suppose followers have to feed,” the cat said, facing them and sitting down.
Azure blinked surprised by the cat’s rude remark. She’d noticed since the beginning the standoffish way they had treated Ever. Were they intolerant of other species? Maybe they didn’t trust him because he wasn’t a witch or wizard. Their barriers did keep out those without magic, but he’d gotten around that by being a Light Elf.
“Ever, I can’t risk something happening to you or Monet. I’ll send word to Laurel that we’re all right and staying over. Let’s meet with Chibale first thing in the morning, and then we’ll decide what to do next.” Before Azure could say another word, Cleo rose and started strolling down the long corridor again. They followed her back to the main room and then to another hallway through another doorway.
“The queen is in the first room, and her servants are in the following two,” Cleo said, continuing past the three sets of doors.
“I’m not her servant,” Monet scoffed.
“I believe you were introduced as her cabinet members, which makes you her servants,” the cat said before disappearing around a corner.
Azure paused, her hand on the doorknob. “Don’t let her get to you. We’re a team, and you both know it.” Azure realized how tired she was just then, and waved a polite goodnight to the guys as she entered her room.
~~~
In the morning Azure was awakened by a soft rapping on the door. At least, she thought it was morning. There were no windows in the small round room with its potted tropical plants and tapestries. Having no natural light was one of the downfalls of living under the Sphinx, she supposed. The plants must have been enchanted with a sunshine spell in order to grow and stay alive.
“What?” she groaned, realizing she’d only slept a few hours. It had taken longer than she liked to write a message to Laurel on a piece of parchment and enchant it to fly as a paper airplane to its recipient. She’d mastered that easy spell long ago, but her magic worked differently here for some reason. Or maybe it was the necklace. Whatever it was, the long night had left her exhausted. She’d need one of those potions Monet made that kept him going on days when he stayed up late drinking.
The door to her room opened and Nefertiti’s head popped through. Her hair had been braided into three separate sections, each with gold strung through it.
“Oh…Nefertiti,” Azure said. She bolted up, then realized she only had on her undergarments. She pulled the crisp linen sheet around her to shield herself. She’d found it impossible to sleep in the tight red dress, and had decided it was safe to take it off for the night. Now it was strewn on the chair on the far side of the small room. “I’m so sorry about Nenet. You know by now, don’t you?”
“I’m sorry too,” Nefertiti said, coming into the room and closing the door behind her. She held a stack of linens in her hands and wore a calm expression on her face. “I knew that Nenet would end up getting herself bitten. She was always taking unnecessary risks.”
Azure tensed, studying the girl. “You don’t seem as heartbroken as I thought you’d be. Are you in shock?”
“I’m pissed,” Nefertiti said, venom in her voice. “We’ll discuss that in
a minute. First, take these clothes. They aren’t the tight-fitting gowns you’re used to, but they are better-suited for the heat of the desert, and they’re clean.”
Azure didn’t hesitate. She’d much rather be practical than fashionable. And she had quite liked the draped white clothes the witches of New Egypt wore.
“Oh, I forgot your sandals,” Nefertiti said. She pulled a bronze wand from a pocket of her dress. It looked somewhat like Azure’s, but had a hook at the top, like the crook that was often seen with sarcophagi. Crook and flail, Azure remembered from her lessons. The crook represented power, and the flail the abundance of the land. When Nefertiti pointed it into the air, a pair of leather sandals of a minimalistic design appeared on the floor before her feet.
At once Azure’s eyes swelled with gratitude. “Practical shoes! Thank you.”
Nefertiti turned her back, directing her eyes to the far wall. “Get dressed and I’ll show you to the dining hall. Chibale waits for you there.”
Azure pulled the white gown over her head. It was as light as silk, but felt durable and strong. It hooked over one shoulder, leaving the other bare, and the rest of the cloth flowed to the ground. She slipped on the sandals and checked her appearance in the mirror.
Before she could say she was ready, Nefertiti spun back. Her eyes barely grazed Azure before she headed for the door. She halted there and turned back, her olive-green eyes overflowing with tears suddenly. “I’m heartbroken that my sister has been turned. I’ve seen it happen to a few, but now this is personal. Chibale says the river whispers your name for a reason. Queen Azure, please help us. You may not be able to save my sister, but you must help save my people, if for no other reason than my sister and others like her. She was a good person. More good people will be turned if the vampires are allowed to reign.”
Azure couldn’t find her voice for a moment. Being face to face with a stranger’s pain wasn’t easy. She didn’t take the fact that this girl and these witches needed her help lightly, but she had no idea how to fix any of this or why Mage Lenore had the necklace given to her. After a moment she shook her head. “I’ll do everything that I can. I promise you that much.”
“I trust that you will,” Nefertiti said, opening the door. “I would prefer that my people do not see me in this way. Will you show yourself to breakfast?”
The girl’s eyes were wet, her eyelashes clumped together with tears. Aside from that she looked the perfect picture of poise. Still, Azure nodded.
“The dining area is down this hallway on the left. You can’t miss it. Chibale has the long table in the center reserved for you all. You are to sit at the far end of the table, and do not eat until he does. It is a show of respect for your host,” Nefertiti said and then she was gone, scurrying down the hallway in the opposite direction.
Azure smoothed down the hair around her braid as she headed out of her room. The hallway was empty and was lit by torches like most of the areas she’d been in. She heard trickling water, and was unsurprised to find a round fountain with three levels when she turned the corner. It sat at the far end of the hallway, with outlets on either side. The New Egyptians seemed to enjoy fountains, which she found quite interesting. It must have been the connection to the river.
To the left she heard the clinking of plates and conversations, so that was where the dining hall was. She turned briefly to see what was in the opposite hallway and a bright light nearly blinded her. Azure held up her arm in self-defense, but soon realized that she wasn’t in immediate danger. She brought her arm down, thinking she’d see a reflective light of some sort that had been bounced off a plate of metal, but what she found wasn’t something she could describe. It wasn’t a reflection, but rather a sliver of light hanging in the open space of the hallway.
Tentatively Azure approached the light, which was a few inches wide in the middle and tapered at the ends. She moved close to it and then stepped past it, thinking it was coming from something on the other side. It wasn’t, and it disappeared when she went behind it. She stepped back, and there was the light again. And now she could see something moving in it. Were those faces? She squinted. There was definitely something in there, but what was it?”
“I was afraid you’d gotten lost,” Ever said at her back, nearly making her lose her breath.
Azure started and spun. The Light Elf stood in the arch leading to the dining hall wearing a white button-up shirt and linen pants similar to those Chibale had worn the day before.
“Oh, I’m glad you’re here. Look, what is this?” She turned around and the sliver of light was gone. It had disappeared.
“What is what?” Ever asked.
Azure whipped around. “You didn’t see it when you came up? There was a light.”
“A light? Like what kind of light?” he asked, sounding interested.
“I don’t know. At first it was blinding and then I thought I saw something in it, like people, but now it’s gone.”
Ever nodded, not an ounce of skepticism in his expression. “Maybe Chibale will know and can explain. He’s waiting for you. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Azure said at once, strolling forward but still slightly unnerved by the strange light. “I’m anxious to get answers and return to our group. I don’t like leaving the others out there without us.”
“I agree,” Ever said, calmly striding beside her.
~~~
The dining hall was filled with small round tables, and witches and wizards had gathered around them to share their breakfasts. In the center was a twelve-person rectangular table with Chibale at one end. Azure stared at the other end, which seemed so far from her host when they had important matters to talk about. Monet sat on one side, and the rest of the chairs were empty.
Fuck customs, Azure thought, taking the seat next to Chibale. They needed to speak, and screaming over five place settings would just be ridiculous.
Chibale tightened his eyes at Azure, his displeasure at her not following their rules evident.
“Last night you said that my being in New Egypt was a double-edged sword. What did you mean by that?” She launched straight into her most burning question while picking up a piece of the flat bread from the middle of the table and spreading orange jelly on it. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she’d smelled the baked fruit and roasted meats in the dining hall.
Chibale rotated his head slightly and peered at her as if wondering what she’d do next. She eyed his untouched plate of food. Azure tore off a piece of the bread and popped it into her mouth, then dropped the rest onto her plate.
“Queen Azure, you aren’t like any nobility I’ve ever met,” Chibale said sternly, fingers tightening around his brass goblet.
“Is that a problem?” Azure asked. “I can only be who I am.”
Chibale’s mouth flattened into a hard line and his eyes bounced around on her features. Suddenly he broke into a loud laugh. “Not a problem for me. You might actually be a real person after all.” He raised his goblet ,which gained the attention of everyone in the dining hall. “Please join me in welcoming our newest ally, and the most remarkable queen I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining with. Queen Azure, the New Egyptians welcome you. Our home is yours. Our kingdom awaits your grace. Glory to the queen of Virgo!”
There was a great stir in the dining hall as people picked up their goblets and lifted them. “Glory to the queen,” they toasted in unison.
Azure gazed at the faces. Some had tattoos, but most wore only smiles.
“Thank you, Chibale. I realize now I was being tested,” Azure said boldly to the king.
“Isn’t everything a test?” he asked seriously.
“I guess it’s about perspective.” Azure took a steaming bowl of eggs and ladled some onto her plate.
“Back to your question, Queen Azure. Yes, your being here is a double-edged sword, as I mentioned last night. I need resources to fight these vampires, since I’m struggling alone, and I believe you would be a strong ally. However, wha
t this coven of vampires wants is strong witches and wizards to turn. We’ve lost some of our best to them already. I’m certain that they would want to make you and me into founders.” Chibale leaned forward, his blue eyes burning with frustration. “I don’t know enough, and what I do know only begs more questions.”
“Let’s start with what you know,” Azure said between bites.
“I believe that New Egypt was chosen by this coven for a reason. Egypt, on Earth, is where the first vampire was created. The pharaohs on Earth employed wizards to build the pyramids and the Sphinx. It was then that a bat came upon a wizard casting magic, and a vampire was born. The bats are attracted to the magic and absorb it, becoming one with the witch or wizard. That’s how founders are created. Followers are born when a founder bites another. Ra, the God of the Sun, cursed vampires to be unable to walk during the day. There was a battle between the gods, and Osiris rose and made vampires immortal. Vampires acquired their powers in Egypt. Egypt on both Earth and Oriceran is where vampires are strongest, but also weakest because of how the gods control them. That is as much as I know. Like I said, this information only raises more questions.”
“So if vampires were born in Egypt, then it stands to reason that their undoing resides there as well,” Ever said from his place beside Azure.
Chibale stroked his chin, musing on the idea. “That’s a hopeful thought, but maybe a bit too optimistic.”
“What’s the connection between your Egypt and the one on Earth?” Monet asked, filling his goblet.
“They are twin kingdoms, very much like Nenet and Nefertiti are twins,” Chibale explained.
“You mean that they look the same mostly but there are inherent differences, right?” Azure asked.
“Exactly. There’s energy bleeding between our world and Earth, and it started in Egypt. The crystal on top of the Great Pyramid helps resonate the magical energy on Earth. It was created to siphon energy between portals on Earth and Oriceran,” Chibale said.