by Sarah Noffke
“Is that…?” Azure fanned the smoke away, trying to discern what lay nestled in the ashes.
She reached out, hesitating briefly. Her curiosity and unbridled hope got the better of her, though, and she plunged her fingers into the silky dust. It was strangely cool. Azure’s heart tightened when her hand wrapped around a familiar object. She lifted her wand triumphantly into the air.
“I don’t understand,” she said, eyeing it. The wand was unharmed by the fire, unlike the destroyed lamp.
“Maybe it’s about to explode,” Monet warned.
“Or maybe,” Bob said, drawing out the words. “The only way to free a genie is to be willing to lose something in exchange.”
“How do you know that?” Azure asked, wondering if this was another bit of information the genie had withheld.
He shrugged. “I don’t know anything. It’s only a guess. But it makes sense.”
Monet combed his hands through his hair. “The genie, or whatever he is now, does make a good point. You didn’t have to lose your wand for the ritual to work, you only had to believe you would.”
Bob slid off the altar, testing his bare feet with the first step. His legs wobbled, and he stumbled forward.
Azure rushed to him, catching his arm. “Easy, now. You’ve been floating around for a long time. Walking might take a while.”
He stared at her and suddenly didn’t look at all like himself. There was a deep conviction in his gaze, and he appeared lost in a trance. “Thank you, Queen Azure. You freed me and were willing to lose your wand to do it.”
Azure blushed, pulling her hand away from Bob’s hairy arm when he appeared stable enough. “You’re welcome. I’m grateful I didn’t lose my wand, but if I had, it would have been worth it. I don’t know how you got yourself into that lamp, but I hope you spend the rest of your mortal life doing something that contributes to Oriceran.”
Bob lifted his chest proudly. “I plan to, starting right now. You were my last master, and you have one wish remaining. I would be happy to grant it before we part.”
Azure blinked, not expecting this turn of events.
A last wish! Her mind raced with possibilities. She knew Bob couldn’t make the vampires go away or save her people. There were too many restrictions in the genie bylaws.
Finally, something Azure had contemplated on a lot lately popped into her head.
“Bob, can you make someone happy? Like really happy?” she asked.
He smiled, his mustache bristling. “You want more happiness? You’re already the happiest master I’ve ever served.”
“No, it’s not for me,” she explained.
Bob’s smile faltered, and he shook his head. “Even still, I cannot give someone a lifetime of happiness. All I can offer is an opportunity for happiness. A potential, if you will.”
Azure beamed. “That will work. For my last wish, I ask that you bring real happiness to Monet’s life.”
“What?” Monet shot forward, gripping Azure’s arm. He turned her around, his face lined with worry. “No! That’s a waste. Don’t wish for that.”
“Too late,” Bob said, crossing his arms and nodding once. “Your wish, Queen Azure, is my command.”
Azure smiled unabashedly at Monet. “It’s the only request that truly made sense. You do so much for everyone else, even if most don’t know it, and I know that you’re not the selfish asshole you pretend to be. You, more than anyone I know, deserve to be happy.”
“I am happy, Azure,” Monet implored.
“I know you are, but now you can be happier,” Azure explained. “You spend so much of your time helping me and serving Virgo. You should have something really special in your life.”
“Is this about me getting married and having little witches and wizards? Because that isn’t for me.”
“The beauty of the wish is that whatever will make you happy will find you,” Azure said.
“Ugh. Fine,” Monet said, a smile breaking through the tough expression he was trying to maintain. “Thank you. That was such a sweet gesture that I’m slightly nauseous now.”
“I think I might throw up, too. But you’re absolutely welcome.” Azure slid her arms around Monet, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed her to hug him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Now that you’re not fun-sized anymore, you take up a lot of room,” Manx said, negotiating for space beside Blisters as they moved through the short corridor that would lead to the king’s chamber.
“Says the pooka who regularly shifts into stallion form when we’re in small quarters,” Ever said over his shoulder.
“I only do that to be inconvenient,” Manx said in fox form.
Blisters picked up his hooves, prancing nobly, a new grace to his movements. “I would stay behind to grant you all more space, but if you run into trouble, you’ll be happy to have me at your aid.”
Ever halted, giving the unicorn a bewildered expression. “If I hadn’t watched the transformation happen, I wouldn’t believe you were the real Blisters.”
“What do you mean?” Blisters asked, his voice deep. “The only thing that’s changed about me is my size.”
Ever decided against arguing, and only nodded.
“If you three wouldn’t mind, we need to enter the king’s chamber,” Chibale said, his voice full of tension.
“After you, backstabber,” Manx urged.
The look on Chibale’s face reeked with frustration. He let out a heavy breath and faced the stone door in front of him, each of his movements unhurried. With a flick of his flail, the door creaked and receded a few inches before sliding into the wall. Chibale ducked, heading straight into the strangely plain chamber.
A tomb sat in the middle of the room, and beside it stood a man who looked exactly like Chibale, and a woman who was identical to Nefertiti. Not much had changed in Nenet’s appearance since Ever had seen her turn into a vampire, though she was paler and had a deep sadness in her green eyes—one of which held her soul mark.
The two brothers’ eyes locked. Ata’s hands drew into fists by his side. For the first time, Ever witnessed Chibale slump his shoulders, a rare admission of defeat showing through the gesture.
No one said anything or dared to even move for several seconds.
Then, in a blur, Nenet sprang forward, tearing in Chibale’s direction with her fangs extended, and her hands reaching for him.
Ata held up his crook and made the slightest movement. The witch froze mid-step, no part of her moving but her eyes as they shifted back and forth with urgency.
Ata paid his brother no mind as he strode over and stood directly in front of Nenet. “You must show more restraint, or I’ll have to keep you still. Is that clear?”
Nenet, apparently having played this game before, blinked once.
Ata nodded his satisfaction to this simple gesture and slashed the air with his crook. Nenet stumbled forward a step, from the momentum she’d had before she was frozen, but caught herself.
Ata protectively put his back to her, facing the rest. “We will get to the matter of your presence here in a moment. Firstly, I must apologize for Nenet’s rashness. It’s in her nature now, you see. I’m protected by Cordelia and Hamilton, but there is nothing to help her show restraint with you.”
“Maybe there is.” Ever stepped around Chibale, handing Ata the potion bottle Monet had given him.
“What’s this?” Ata asked.
“That,” Ever said, pointing, “is the antidote for followers; it’s untested. Nenet, you would be the first to try it.”
The vampire’s large, almond shaped eyes widened. “A cure. The queen was able to find a cure?”
“Just as she promised you,” Ever stated. “If you’re willing, take it now, before you lose control.”
Nenet did appear to be close to attacking, her pupils dilated and brow sweating. Ever didn’t think he’d been closer to death than he was right then, standing squarely in front of a vampire. But he’d seen Ata freeze her and trusted
that he could get away if the need arose.
Pulling the cork off the potion, Ata sniffed. “Unicorn mane,” he said, sounding impressed.
“Thanks to the sacrifice of Blisters,” Ever explained, casting a hand in the unicorn’s direction.
“This could work,” Ata said to Nenet, handing her the potion.
Her large, tragic eyes didn’t appear ready to accept such a hope. “If it doesn’t, you must remember our agreement. I can’t go on like this.”
“You have my word,” Ata agreed.
Nenet took the potion and didn’t hesitate before pressing it to her lips and throwing back her head, draining the bottle. All eyes were glued to her as she lowered the bottle and blinked down at the ground.
“How do you feel?” Ata asked.
Nenet lifted her chin, like waking from a daze. “I feel…” Her eyelids closed for a long beat. When they opened, her frame dipped to the side with exhaustion.
Ata grabbed her just before she fell to the stone ground, passing out in his arms.
“The potion is untested,” Ever repeated in a rush. “We had no way to predict the effects.”
Ata carefully set Nenet against the wall, checking her over before turning back to the group. There was a pure confidence in his movements that made him different from his brother; whereas Chibale displayed superiority, Ata possessed poise.
“It appears that the results are still unclear,” he said. “Nenet seems to be sleeping, which is a good sign. We won’t know more until she wakes up.” Not at all curious about anyone else in the room, he took a step forward, putting himself directly in front of his brother.
They seemed to study each other for several seconds, before Chibale said, “I’m not sure an apology would be enough for what I’ve done. However, I’ve come to rescue you, if that proves anything.”
Ata flexed his jaw. “There is no rescuing me as long as Cordelia and Hamilton have control. If they order me to kill you, I will be powerless to fight them. I’ll have to do it.”
“That’s why we are here. We’re going to rescue you from them and wipe out their brood,” Chibale said, but he didn’t sound as self-assured as he should.
Ever cast a tentative glance over his shoulder. Where are Azure and Monet? They need to get here before things get out of control.
“You spelled me,” Ata said, his voice neutral, and his face expressionless. “Have you enjoyed your time as king?”
Chibale dropped his chin, dragging in a low breath. “No. Ata, I made a grave error in pursuit of my own selfish desires. I’m not worthy of your forgiveness, but still I seek it, brother. Our people are anxious for your return and crave your leadership.”
“If the roles were reversed, what would you need to resolve this? Would you be able to forgive me?” Ata asked.
Chibale whipped his head up, his brow wrinkling, making different designs with the tattoos lining that part of his head. “Of course. Without a doubt. You are my brother. My twin. Being mad at you would be a punishment to my own soul. What I do to you, I also suffer from. I realized that after my betrayal. I lost myself when I lost you.”
A strange smile formed on Ata’s face. “Then you know what I’m going to say next, don’t you, brother?”
Chibale held up his flail. “That if I can forgive myself for my wrongdoings, you’ll have forgiven me.”
Ata lifted his crook in the air, making an X with his brother’s. “Yes, those were my exact words.”
~~~
Never before had Ata seen the look of sorrow in Chibale’s eyes. It was a self-inflicted pain that had the power to do great harm if not quelled.
Something over his brother’s shoulder caught Ata’s attention. Beside the unicorn and fox, a light flickered. It was an unnatural phenomenon and one that immediately made him tense. He readied his crook, just before two figures appeared—a witch and wizard from Virgo, based on their colorful hair.
“Azure, you made it!” the Light Elf said, relief filling his tone.
Ata lowered his crook, turning to his brother. “Are these friends of yours?”
“Yes, this is Queen Azure. She is how we’re going to release King Khufu,” Chibale stated, holding a hand out to the blue-haired witch.
~~~
Traveling through the portal hurt far less than teleporting, but it was still disorienting. Azure scanned the room, taking note of the twin wizards, Nenet passed out, and the giant unicorn—
“Who is that? And where is Blisters?” Azure asked, pointing at the unicorn.
“Queen Azure, it’s me,” the unicorn said, his voice deep and demanding.
Azure wanted to say, “‘me who’?” but she noticed the unicorn had his mane chopped off just like Blisters, and a different question found its way out of her mouth. “How did this happen?” she asked, realizing as she did so that they didn’t have time for such things. “Nevermind. We’ll get to that later.” She shook her head, hoping there would be a ‘later’.
“You still have your wand,” Ever observed.
“Yeah, apparently it was just a little test to free the genie,” Azure said, looking between Chibale and his twin. She didn’t have to wonder which one was Ata—he stood differently than his brother, an undeniable competence in his demeanor.
“Queen Azure and her council have recovered the pages from the Book of the Dead,” Chibale explained. “From that, we know how to open the king’s tomb.”
Ata nodded. “That is a relief. I’ve tried everything and have been unable to open it.”
“There is no way you could have,” Chibale said. “The queen is the only one amongst us with that power.”
“Then she should do it now,” the true king stated. “Cordelia has summoned me, and time is running out.” He robotically marched past the others, toward the entrance.
“When? When did they summon you?” Chibale asked, chasing after his brother.
“I’m connected through a link,” Ata said, continuing forward. “I can’t promise to hold them off, but I’ll try to serve as a distraction. Free the king.”
When Ata disappeared, Azure rushed over to the king’s tomb, staring down at the large stone slab that sealed it shut. She pulled the Orc’s knife from her robe, aware that everyone was staring at her. “Chibale, take Nenet out of here. Head for the exit—”
“I’m not running,” Chibale challenged. “This is my fight.”
Azure lowered the knife. “This fight is all of ours, and when I wake the king, the vampires will know of our presence, and you’ll need to battle them—with Nenet passed out, no less. You need to get a head start.”
Chibale reluctantly nodded, then picked Nenet up and carried her from the chamber.
“Manx and Blisters, I need you two—”
“To stay exactly where we are,” Blisters commanded, daring to interrupt her.
“I was actually going to say ‘to follow behind Chibale’,” Azure argued.
“That’s not the right course of action,” Blisters stated. “Manx should instead change to stallion form and follow my lead.”
The pooka shot Azure a tentative look.
She wanted to argue with the unicorn, but something in his tone made his decision feel like law. She found herself nodding. “Yeah, okay, but be ready to run when it gets time to fight.”
“That’s not how this will go down, I assure you,” Blisters said, his head held high, eyes brimming with fervor.
“Right,” Azure sighed, struck by the new Blisters. “Okay, guys, get ready. I’m about to free the king. He will either save us or kill us.”
Monet lifted his wand. “As soon as you’ve woken him, I’ll cloak us. It might work.”
“Against a powerful Egyptian pharaoh?” Ever asked doubtfully. “I’ll be ready to direct him out of the chamber, where he’ll hopefully catch the scent of the founders.”
Azure swallowed. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was the one they had.
We can’t defend ourselves against Khufu properly, since we need
him whole to destroy the founders. Dammit. Here goes…
Steadying her breath, Azure pressed the blade to her palm.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The blood splattered onto the stone lid, bubbling up like lava. The tomb rumbled, its lid hopping up several inches. A moment later, the pyramid itself rocked, the ground slanting sharply to one side and then another.
“I don’t like being locked inside a pyramid while it quakes.” Monet eyed the ceiling overhead.
“At least you can get away by teleporting,” Ever stated, bracing himself on a nearby wall, as the ground rolled beneath their feet.
“Fat lot of good that does me,” Monet said. His arms were extended to help him keep his balance, and he looked like he was surfing. “I’m not going anywhere while you two are locked in here.”
Azure wrapped her bleeding hand with a cloth she had stashed in her pocket, watching as her blood traced across the surface of the tomb, spreading out to the four corners. The lid bounced again, this time several inches in the air. The smell that spilled out of the coffin was almost as bad as the mummy’s had been.
The rumbling in the pyramid stopped, and everything became eerily quiet, as dust sprinkled down from overhead. Azure worried it hadn’t worked, when finally, the lid noiselessly rose several feet above the tomb.
The group watched with their mouths open. No one moved. The giant lid spun as if it didn’t weigh a ton; it was a hypnotizing show that Azure couldn’t look away from.
She realized they were being enchanted, and if they couldn’t break free of it soon, they’d be powerless when the king rose from the dark tomb.
She was only slightly aware of Ever trying to lift his hands, which were visibly shaking. She followed his lead and tried to hold up her wand, but the urge to focus on the giant lid, swiveling end over end in a continuous loop, was too strong.
Ever’s lips moved, and the words he whispered echoed loudly in the silent space. His face was white from the effort of fighting off the hypnosis. The incantation hit the slab, throwing it against the far wall, where it exploded into a thousand pieces. The rock rained down on the group, making them all seek cover.