by Sarah Noffke
She shook her head at a servant who offered her a plate of caviar. Large decorative pillows were scattered around the room, but there wasn’t a single chair.
When another servant approached, this one carrying a tray of roasted nuts and dates, Sari said, “Unless there are chairs on that platter, I don’t want anything from you.”
Reynolds smiled beside her and twirled his wand through the air. An elegant chaise lounge in the slick, embroidered style she fancied appeared. “Will this do?” he asked.
Sari eyed it, hiding her satisfaction, and nodded. “Just.”
Chibale’s impatient stare was growing more frustrated. “You knew that the page from the Book of the Dead was at the bottom of the Nile River?”
Sari ran her hands over the fabric of the chair after taking a seat. “Come now, we wouldn’t part the waters for a hunch. We used a locating spell.”
“The queen did something similar,” Chibale allowed, snapping his fingers at the servants circling the room. That must have been the signal to clear off, because they all strode for the exit. “I sent her to find one of the tears that were supposed to lead to a missing page from the Book of the Dead. Those tears are how the vampires cross between here and Earth, and form a known trail to the missing parts of the book. When she found a tear, though, she retrieved the page instead of alerting me that she’d found a location.”
“I’m not my granddaughter,” Sari stated matter-of-factly.
“What does that matter?” Chibale scoffed.
“Azure claims that you asked for her help because her amulet allows her to see the tears,” she admitted. Then she waved toward Gillian and Reynolds. “However, we can’t see them, and we were still able to recover the last remaining missing pages.”
“What are you implying?” Chibale asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“I think the Queen Mother is insinuating that you’re not trying very hard to complete the Book of the Dead,” Reynolds stated, filling a goblet with wine.
The imposter king’s mouth popped open. “The vampires pose a huge threat to my people!”
“Which is why you’ve locked yourself inside the safety of the Sphinx, while the Queen of Virgo sends her own people to find solutions,” Sari said, eyeing a strange black cat that had strode into the room.
The familiar wore a golden necklace in the form of a snake around its neck. The look in its eyes was…different, but Sari couldn’t determine exactly why. The black cat halted beside Chibale, giving him a quizzical expression.
“I haven’t locked my people in here,” he challenged. “It’s dangerous out there, and we could suffer the most if bitten.”
“Not to mention that actually fighting the epidemic could risk your throne.” Reynolds took a seat on the edge of the chaise lounge, close to Sari’s outstretched legs.
Chibale looked momentarily thrown off, his mouth pinched shut.
“You promised the queen that you’d help her to free Ata, the rightful king of New Egypt, and yet you’ve done nothing,” the Queen Mother scolded.
“I’ve been searching for the pages from the Book of the Dead!” Chibale burst out.
“We found them, having little knowledge of New Egypt,” Reynolds stated bluntly.
Chibale let out a breath with a growl. “Fine, maybe I could be doing more to fight the vampires. I do want to find my brother, to free him. But even he wouldn’t want me to endanger our people to do it. I’m the only king they have left, and if I’m turned, what will happen to the coven?”
“Indeed,” Gillian mumbled, smoothing out the pages from the Book of the Dead on the surface of a neighboring table.
“You say you found all of the missing pages?” Chibale asked, looking between Sari and the wrinkled pages.
“We did,” she said, pointing her wand at a tray of diced melon, making it rise and fly in her direction.
“And we’re fairly certain that they hold the key to both curing vampirism, as well as fighting the founder vampires,” Reynolds said, his eyes on Sari as she picked over bits of melon for the right piece.
Chibale ran his hand absentmindedly over his tattooed forehead. Each passing moment of silence seemed to make him fester with more irritation. “Fine,” he finally barked. “I could be doing more for the effort. I know that freeing Ata and stopping the vampires is important. I just—”
“Don’t want to face him when he’s freed, and able to punish you for betraying him?” Reynolds finished for him.
He sighed. “Yes, there is that.”
“And you’d rather hide from the epidemic than fight it,” Sari added.
“Which is why you didn’t alert the council to the presence of the vampires in the first place,” Gillian chimed in, his eyes intently pinned on the page, trying to decipher the symbols.
“It’s not as black and white as you all make it,” the cat stated adamantly.
Chibale’s eyes fell on the feline, a warmth spreading on his face. “No, it’s not, Cleo, but they are right.”
“And you’re not in this alone, anymore.” Sari pointed to the pages. “Gillian, have you made progress with the new page?”
The gnome looked up, his eyes heavy. “I’ve been reviewing this ancient page, containing thousands of hieroglyphics from a nearly dead language, for roughly a minute.”
Sari nearly smiled, but caught herself. “So, no, then?”
He sighed, taking a long drink from his goblet.
“You’re obviously tired,” Reynolds said, displaying a rare bit of sympathy. “Why don’t we adjourn for the night? Chibale can hopefully help with the deciphering tomorrow.”
All eyes landed on the king. He pulled in a breath, bracing himself before nodding. “Yes, I will help translate the pages from the Book of the Dead tomorrow.” He swallowed, a bit of shame in his eyes, and a moment later, added, “I promise.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Azure pressed her hand to the place on her chest where the ruby had sat before it was destroyed. She’d awoken hours after passing out to find it hadn’t all just been a horrible nightmare. The vampires had attacked Virgo. They’d turned many of her people. Cordelia and Hamilton had destroyed her protection.
“It’s okay to feel upset about losing the amulet,” Ever said at Azure’s back.
Her shoulders drooped slightly as she nodded. “It feels silly, though. You all have been vulnerable this whole time. Now I’m just like you and Monet and everyone else in Virgo and New Egypt. I shouldn’t pity myself, but still, I do.”
Ever’s hands slid around her waist from behind, pulling her back tight to his chest. He pressed his chin into her shoulder, looking at her sideways. “Even now, you’re not like the rest of us. There’s a reason you were given that amulet. We’ll figure it out.”
“But that amulet was supposed to make it easier for me to defeat the vampires. It gave us an advantage, and I feel foolish for losing it,” Azure admitted, hating the disappointment that edged into her voice.
“Maybe you were always supposed to lose it,” Ever said. “It protected you for as long as it did, which I’m grateful for. Imagine if you hadn’t had it when you were abducted.”
“I’d be a founder vampire,” the queen stated.
“Now you don’t have it, so the stakes are higher, but I’m certain we can still defeat the vampires,” Ever said.
“How are you so certain?” she challenged.
“What’s the alternative?” he asked. “Give up hope? Surrender?”
“You could flee for the Dark Forest, or Terran, or Earth, where vampirism isn’t a threat,” Azure said with a laugh in her voice, goading him.
“It isn’t a threat there yet.” Ever turned Azure around, looking at her intently. “And we both know that I’m not going anywhere. If the threat is so encompassing that all hope is lost, I’m still not fleeing. Even if you are turned, expect me to be right by your side.”
“Because you’re insane and have zero sense of self-preservation?” she pretended
to ask.
“Because I’d rather risk losing my magic than lose you,” Ever said.
Before Azure could respond, Laurel poked her head around the door to the council room. “I’m sorry,” she said, an embarrassed look on her face. “I realize I’m interrupting something, but I have to, it’s important.”
Azure blushed, giving her full attention to the werecat. “You’re here! The wereanimals made the journey safely?”
Laurel stepped around the door, nodding. “Yes, the first group of wereanimals made it to Virgo intact. They are setting up tents on the eastern hills now, although many residents have offered them lodging in their homes.”
Azure’s throat tightened. They had just been attacked, and yet her people were already willing to open their homes to strangers.
“The people of Virgo constantly surprise me with their thoughtfulness and generosity.”
Laurel studiously appraised her. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?” Queen Azure asked.
Laurel waved her off, dismissing her. “Never mind. Monet also wanted me to pass along that the quarantine units have been set up, and…”
“And what?” she pressed.
Her friend’s tense gaze dropped to the floor. “And the first set of victims are starting to turn.”
“Oh,” Azure hiccupped on the word.
While pacing back and forth in the comfort of the House of Enchanted, it had been easy for her to forget that the vampire virus had infected her people. Azure had been focused on finding a cure, and had left Monet to handle protecting the injured. A dozen witches and wizards had been bitten by founders, turning them into followers. Soon they’d thirst for blood and be a threat to their family and friends.
“I’d like to see the quarantine units,” Azure stated, straightening.
“You know what your gran would say,” Ever said.
“I’m not going to enter the units,” she argued. “I only want to see them.”
Ever offered an encouraging smile. “I’m only voicing the risk.”
“Which is why you have more sense than I gave you credit for,” a familiar voice called from the scrying bowl on the side table.
The three spun to the thick, stone bowl to find Gran’s face swimming on its surface.
“Gran!” Azure exclaimed, running over to the table. “Are you alright?”
The wide smile on the old witch’s face was answer enough, but still she said, “I’m fine. Though a little tired. Do you know that I could hear Gillian snoring in the other room?”
The queen laughed, which felt good. It had been too long. “Yes, I’ve traveled with Gillian. He says it’s ‘a Gnome thing’.”
“It’s an annoying thing,” the older woman said, wiping her eyes. “But our short friend has redeemed himself by decoding the last page from the Book of the Dead.”
“You were able to find it? That’s great,” Ever said at Azure’s side.
“Of course I found it,” Gran said, sounding insulted.
“What does it say?” Azure asked, her heart thumping hard in her chest.
“Right now, Gillian is still checking his interpretation, but by the time you get here, we should know more,” Gran reported.
“Get there?” Azure asked.
“Yes, dear. The vampires started here, so they must be conquered in New Egypt. We know that much.”
“Oh, okay,” she said, and then hesitated. Gran looked tired, but high-spirited, which was a good sign, but she tensed at the idea of sharing with the Queen Mother the tragedy that had befallen Virgo.
Gran tipped her chin to the side, giving Azure a skeptical expression. “What is it, dear? Has something happened?”
“It’s…It’s nothing,” she lied. She knew it was wrong to withhold the information, but the last thing she wanted to do was cause Gran stress, especially when she was so far away and couldn’t help.
“‘Nothing’ as in something, but you don’t want to tell me for fear of making an old woman worry? Is that it?” Gran asked with an amused tone.
“It’s Virgo,” Azure admitted.
“Is Emeri alright?” her grandmother asked, worry springing to her eyes.
She nodded. “Yes, mother is fine.”
“And Monet is okay, otherwise you’d look worse,” Gran guessed.
The queen smoothed down her blue hair, suddenly self-conscious. “What are you talking about? I look fine.”
“What have I told you about wearing those tops?” Gran asked.
Azure pulled at her white T-shirt. “That you love them and you want us to wear matching shirts with funky phrases?”
Gran shook her head. “You’re right not to tell me about what is going on there. I can’t do a damn thing about it except for worry. I need my head about me, since I’m managing a gnome, a wizard and a strange, tattooed coven.”
“Except none of them know they are being managed,” Ever said, his tone light.
Gran scoffed at the Light Elf. “Of course not. The manipulation doesn’t work, otherwise.” She directed her gaze back to Azure. “Whatever has happened in Virgo, we will deal with. First, I need you two to get to New Egypt. And bring Monet, because I’m thinking he won’t be completely useless, but don’t you dare tell him I said that.”
Azure nodded, knowing Gran was right. She had to have hope that they would find a way to save those who had been bitten.
“Is there anything specific you can tell us about what the Book of the Dead says about the cure and the weapon?” Ever asked.
Gran shook her head of lavender hair. “There is so much, and Gillian is still working out the details. We know the cure involves some complex potion. Its main ingredient appears to be bats from Earth; I have no idea how we’ll get ahold of those. And the weapon—” Gran’s eyes widened, directed at Azure’s collarbone. “Azure, where is the ruby that Mage Lenore gave you?” she asked, her face suddenly slack with worry.
“What?” Her hand flew to her unadorned chest. “Oh, I’m having it cleaned. I’ve got to go, Gran. See you soon.”
She swiped her wand over the scrying bowl, severing the connection.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Finnegan gripped his long, turquoise beard, his eyes reeking of pain. His hand shook as he lifted a canteen to his mouth.
Water spewed from his lips a moment later, spraying across his ‘cell’. There were no bars, since the Virgoan herbologist wasn’t a prisoner.
He clapped his hand to the bite marks on his neck, grief filling his eyes.
Monet watched from the other side of the clear boundary.
The invisible barrier was similar to the one that Azure had set up when she closed the borders of Virgo to the vampires. Cloth separated the different quarantine units, but the fourth wall was composed of only the boundary spell, for viewing purposes.
Navi and Luna crouched on the dirt floor outside of Finnegan’s cell. The two fairies held onto each other as they cried, mourning their bitten friend. Their wings drooped down their backs, and their faces were swollen and slick with tears.
Watching the change had been torturous for Monet, and filled him with a burning urge to find the cure. He hadn’t even liked Finnegan—no one really did, except for Gran, probably because they were both old as dirt. However, Finnegan was a good wizard and a faithful servant to Virgo, farming the rare herbs that went into their valuable potions. Without him, things would falter. They’d already lost his twin brother, Charmsgood, another cornerstone of the kingdom.
Monet scanned the other cells that lined the large tent. A vengeance he’d never known erupted in his gut. These were his people, and they’d been mercilessly attacked. Soon they’d lose their magic completely and turn into savage beasts controlled by hunger.
Stopping in front of the cell at the end of the row, he blinked at the witch sitting in the corner. Her long, silver robes pooled around her as tears slipped over her cheeks. Trixie Flourboy knew Monet for who he truly was: a drunk. She’d served him his fi
rst beer before he was even old enough to drink in her pub. The old witch might have cut him off a time or two, but she never judged. To watch her now, battling the virus robbing her of magic, was more than painstaking.
A guttural scream ripped from Trixie’s mouth, but no one seemed to notice besides Monet. Everyone else in the quarantine tent was experiencing the same degeneration.
Trixie’s hand shot to her ear, where she wore her soul stone—a grape-purple amethyst— as a single earring. Violently, like it was on fire, she yanked the earring out and threw it across the space. It clattered to a halt against the invisible barrier.
Trixie didn’t appear to see anything as she looked up to the ceiling, her gaze scorching with heat. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she pulled in her last breaths. A moment later, the witch, now a vampire, lowered her chin and stared directly at Monet.
A scar marked the side of her face, running from her cheekbone to her chin. It was her soul mark, the stain all vampires wore after turning.
“My soul…” Trixie said hoarsely. “I think it’s gone.”
Monet found he’d lost his voice and cleared his throat. “You can get it back. I’ll see to it.”
Knowing it was foolish and not caring, Monet waved his wand in front of the barrier to Trixie’s cell. The invisible wall disappeared. Monet bent over and picked up the earring, holding it up in front of him. “And I’ll hold onto this, keep it safe for you until you can wear it again.”
The pained smile that crossed Trixie’s face was immediately replaced by a monstrous expression. Monet had only seen that wicked look in the eyes of thirsty vampires.
He tried to cover his fear as he pulled the barrier back up, locking her safely away. Then he turned for the other cells, where the other Virgoans were all turning into follower vampires, losing their souls and their dignity.