by Sarah Noffke
Monet narrowed his eyes at Azure, but secured the girl before she slipped off. Ever picked up her other arm and pulled it around his shoulder.
“Okay, I guess we’re really doing this,” Azure said, turning to the door just as Oak opened it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Laurel mopped a rag across the girl’s forehead, humming a strange tune. From her kneeling position next to the sofa Azure looked up at the werecat, who appeared to be in a trance. She was a natural caregiver, who had already tended many of the animals and residents in Virgo.
“What is that song you’re humming?” Azure asked. It was a spellbinding melody.
“It’s a lullaby from Lancothy. We sing it to our young and our sick,” Laurel said, squeezing the rag out into a bowl. The girl had stopped sweating about the time her heart stopped, but Laurel had been adamant about mopping her forehead with the wet rag.
Azure’s eyelids started to slip closed as Laurel continued humming. “It’s enchanting. Makes me sleepy.” She swayed on her heels a bit.
“We don’t have magic as wereanimals, but we have our own brand of power—a long tradition of songs, herbs, and other practices that have properties like magic. This lullaby was created to soothe and put people at ease.” Laurel resumed her humming as soon as she was done speaking.
Azure placed her hand on the werecat’s arm and shook her head. “Although I appreciate your attempts to soothe our guest, please stop singing unless you want me to fall over.”
Laurel didn’t answer, just went quiet. She sprinkled a drop of the oil that was next to her on the rag and mopped it across the girl’s head. The stranger was now perfectly still, her skin pale.
“What’s that oil?” Azure asked.
“It’s bay leaves, an herb known to combat anxiety. It fills the places we think are missing so we don’t feel like we have lost something, which is where many stresses come from,” Laurel explained, rocking back and forth as if she were still humming in her head.
“Do you often treat the person’s psychological state rather than the ailment?” Azure observed.
“We are really only thoughts. Our physical manifestation comes from the thoughts we have, which are often triggered by our emotions. In were-animal medicine we treat the emotions first.”
“If you hens would stop clucking about voodoo for a moment, I have a logical concern,” Monet interrupted from the far side of the room, rummaging through a bag he’d brought. “How do you know that the restraining charm you put on this broad will work when she awakes? What if it won’t hold her down because it doesn’t work on vampires?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Azure said as she stood. “Laurel, you should step back, though, in case Monet is right. A little distance would be good.”
Laurel didn’t argue, although she didn’t look the least bit worried. She gathered her materials and went toward her room, where she kept her essential oils.
A whistle caught Azure’s attention and she looked at Monet, who tossed a clear bottle filled with crimson liquid at her. She held it up to the fire and read the label: Rabbit’s blood.
“What do you want me to do with this?” Azure asked, but the answer dawned on her at that moment. “Oh, you think?”
“I think she’ll be hungry, and although she might prefer human blood, from everything I’ve read vampires just need blood.” Monet continued rummaging through his bag, pulling out other bottles of red liquid.
“Well, although you’re against this idea, thanks for being helpful,” Azure said, her hands shaking slightly as she stared at the frozen figure of the girl who would soon awaken as a monster. She’d never been around a vampire, but the lore was consistent. They were savage beasts, owned by the night and their hunger for blood. But they were still people—or at least they had been.
“You won’t thank me if you come down with a serious ailment that requires blood for the cure, because I’ll probably be all out.” Monet withdrew another bottle from his bag and stood back, looking at the six bottles. That was all the blood he had packed, all from different animals.
A loud and chilling scream ripped from the girl’s mouth and she bolted upright, her olive-green eyes springing open. Sharp fangs dropped from either side of her upper jaw, and she tried to lunge forward. However, her arms remained pinned to her sides and her legs were glued together in front of her. The girl screamed again, then snarled. Azure’s binding charm was keeping her in place.
Laurel had returned, and fear blanketed her expression. She and Azure both shot back several feet to put some space between them and the vampire. Now Azure dared to step forward, leaning down.
“I wouldn’t…” Ever started, but his voice trailed off after the warning look Azure threw at him. He held up his hands in surrender.
Monet nodded at the Light Elf. “There’s no swaying her once she’s made up her mind.”
“It’s kind of what I like about her,” Ever replied.
The girl screamed again, and then a white mark sliced through the middle of one of her green eyes,. It instantly made her appear different. Otherworldly. Immortal.
“That’s a soul mark,” Laurel said, pointing to the girl’s eye. She was well read, and it was proving useful in this situation.
“The mark shows that her soul has left her for good,” Azure confirmed, pity in her voice.
Laurel nodded, weight in the movement.
The vampire panted like she’d just run a long distance. Her crazed stare shot in ten different directions, as if she were being tortured by distant voices.
Azure held the bottle of blood in front of the vampire, which got her attention at once. She sniffed the air and trained her eyes on it. “You’re hungry, aren’t you? That’s how this transition works, isn’t it? You’re a vampire now. You know that, right?”
The vampire didn’t seem to hear her, just dropped her eyes when Azure placed the bottle on the ground.
Azure raised her wand and swiped it and the bottle rose and floated over to the vampire. Her eyes enlarged with hungry delight as it neared her face. The cork pulled out of the top when it was next to the girl’s mouth, and it tilted forward. The girl drank hungrily, and a few seconds later the blood was gone. She tore her face away from the floating bottle and the ravenous heat started to drain from her eyes.
Before them, the girl transformed. She had been beautiful before, but now she became something more. Her long straight black hair shrank into gorgeous shiny curls. Her cocoa skin glowed slightly, like it shimmered with bits of diamond. The tattoos on her skin disappeared, and her body slimmed. The features on the vampire’s face changed ever so slightly until they complimented each other perfectly. She blinked at the three in front of her and her eyes glowed slightly, the white streak in her right eye extra-bright.
“Queen Azure, I came to warn you. I was waiting for you so that I could ask for your help, but now it’s too late. I’ve failed you, and I’ve failed my coven,” the girl said. She twisted, but was not able to move because of the invisible bindings. A new solemnity came to the girl’s face, and her words were slow and full of grief.
“Warn me? What are you talking about?” Azure asked. “Is this about the founder vampire?”
The girl shook her head, but then nodded as if she’d changed her mind. Azure could tell that pure sorrow shrouded her mind. This was not someone who had wanted to be a vampire. Who would?
“Let’s back up,” Azure said, whirling her wand. The girl’s hands fell away from her sides and her legs relaxed.
“What are you doing? You took the bonds off her?” Monet bolted forward, placing himself in front of Azure.
Laurel set a paw on his arm. “It’s all right. She’s not dangerous as long as she’s not hungry—that much is obvious. Azure was right to free her.”
“We can learn just as much with her restrained as not,” Monet said bitterly.
“But we don’t gain trust that way.” Azure turned back to the vampire. “You know I’m the queen of Vi
rgo. Who are you?”
The girl swallowed, her eyes skirting around the room as if watching a fly buzzing through the space. “I’m Nenet. I’m with a coven as old as Old Egypt, and I was sent to tell you to be on guard.”
“Because there’s a founder vampire in the city. The one who got you, correct?” Azure asked.
Nenet shook her head. “There’s not just one founder vampire, there are two. They’re taking over the kingdom, and have turned many into followers. And now one of the founders has turned me.” The young witch buried her head in her hands and began to sob softly. Azure stepped forward and took a seat next to the girl, folding her in her arms.
“I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how hard this is to deal with. We can help you. Where is your coven? We’ll take you to them,” Azure said thoughtfully.
Still crying, Nenet shook her head. “They won’t want me. I’m Forsaken. I have no magic, and I’ll forever be controlled by the hunger.”
Azure looked up at Monet and inclined her head to the table where the bottles filled with blood were sitting. He took the hint and flicked his wand, making the nearest bottle fly to him. Cautiously he handed it to Azure.
“Nenet, you’re not a danger as long as you’re not hungry. I know that much of follower vampires. Here.” She took the girl’s hand from her crying face and unfurled her fingers, laying the bottle of blood in her palm. “Take this. We have more, and we will get you as much as you need for as long as you need. When you get hungry, drink this blood and you won’t be a danger to anyone.”
Nenet shook her head adamantly, but then stopped herself, a pained smile on her tortured face. “Thank you, but that won’t be enough. As a follower vampire I’ll be summoned to my master soon. The founder who turned me has only to request my presence and I’ll have no choice but to find them.”
Azure’s mouth popped open. She looked up at Monet like his face might make sense of this new information. “Is that how it works?”
“Yes. The founders own the followers,” Nenet answered, “and the followers feed and spread the deadly virus. This is a growing problem in New Egypt. We lost so many with magic to the virus, and we’ve lost even more to vampirism. And now I…” Nenet sobbed again.
“The imbalance,” Laurel said in a hushed voice, gaining everyone’s attention.
“What did you just say?” Azure asked.
“The centaurs spoke of an imbalance that would affect everyone. Andrei said it couldn’t completely affect me because I don’t have magic. I can’t become a founder, but I could be turned into a follower, although I wouldn’t survive it. And the virus could still kill me. No one is immune to that,” Laurel said.
Monet slammed his open palm to his forehead. “Oh fuck, and he said that bit about Azure.”
Azure spun to look at him. “What bit?”
Laurel drew in a loud breath. “He said that you were already on a course to remedy the approaching war, but one false decision and you’d lose your footing.”
Azure turned to Nenet, who was still mourning the loss of her humanity. “You said your coven sent you to find me and I could help. I need you to take me to your coven now.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The streets were buzzing with people as the group snuck through the alleyways.
“All these people should be inside away from vampires,” Nenet said, a piece of fabric wrapped around her head and draped over her shoulders as she led the way through New Egypt.
“Are the vampires common knowledge?” Azure asked.
“Yes, but no one truly believes it. Those who have been personally affected, yes, but even they have been hard to convince. It’s just not a problem we’re equipped to handle. You remember how the last epidemic was dealt with?” Nenet asked, halting the group with a hand movement while checking the busy street ahead.
Azure nodded. It had been brutal—a war that had hardly been documented. Maybe only the gnomes in the Light Elf library knew the true details. Azure made a mental note to scry Gillian and find out what he remembered about the history.
The buildings thinned as they came to the outskirts of the city, where the desert overwhelmed the land. Azure sucked in a breath when she looked over a mostly flat plain at three giant pyramids. Buildings were sprinkled behind the structures, but the largest of the pyramids monopolized the view. The light of the half-moons made it very noticeable. The vampire grabbed Azure’s wrist and pulled her in the direction of the pyramids, nearly dragging her in her intensity.
Azure pulled back, dropping her weight into her heels. She pointed at the largest pyramid, which created a strange, foreboding feeling in her chest. “Is that where your coven is located? You said they were as old as New Egypt.”
“The Great Pyramid of Giza is older than our history, it is true. The first was built on Earth. However, no, that’s not our headquarters. My coven resides there.” Nenet indicated the giant Sphinx, whose outline was also visible.
Nenet picked up the pace, hurrying across the desert. She moved faster than the rest of the group due to her vampirism, but she kept her pace manageable so everyone could stay with her. Manx had no problem as a raven.
Twice Nenet checked the horizon where the sun would be rising in a few hours over her shoulder, and each time there was a strange intensity in her gaze. Vampires couldn’t tolerate the sun but it wasn’t clear why, Azure remembered as she was led across the dusty desert. The sand wasn’t thick, and she was glad for that.
“It’s because of Ra,” Nenet whispered.
Azure was unsure if she’d heard her right. “What?”
“You were wondering why vampires can’t tolerate the sun. It’s because the Sun God Ra cursed us,” Nenet explained in a low voice.
“You heard my thoughts?” Azure asked, slightly repulsed.
“I guess I did, but it felt like you were speaking out loud,” Nenet said, taking her hand off Azure’s wrist. She was introspectively silent for a moment. “It must have been because I was touching you, since I don’t hear your thoughts now. And I sense that once my vampirism sets in I won’t be able to touch you. Even now I feel repelled. It’s a strange sensation that’s setting in more quickly with each passing minute.”
Azure brushed her hand over her arm as if wiping away the connection. She felt the others tense behind her. Being with a vampire wasn’t safe, and even she had to admit it. Apparently they had been given telepathy linked to touch along with their enhanced speed, or at least followers did. The founders were no doubt even more powerful.
“You said Ra cursed the vampires. Can you explain more about the Egyptian connection to vampirism?” Laurel asked.
“I can’t, but my coven can. It’s where I learned everything that I know.” Nenet sped up, closing the distance to the Sphinx. “Usually we’re required to be invisible when nearing and entering our headquarters, but I no longer have magic.”
“And we don’t have invisibility charms,” Ever stated.
“Speak for yourself,” Monet said. He pulled out his wand and waved it at the group. “Invisibilia.”
Ever, Azure, and Monet turned invisible.
“What?” Azure asked. “When were you going to share these spells with me?”
“Surprise!” the bodiless voice of Monet said.
“Why aren’t Laurel or Nenet invisible?” Ever asked.
“Probably because they don’t have magic,” Monet said.
“It doesn’t matter. The leader of my coven will be so angry with me that being visible when entering the headquarters will be the last of his concerns.” Nenet sounded dejected.
As they neared the Sphinx, the gold and blue of the pharaoh’s headdress was the first thing to come into view. The head had been carved with incredible details, including a magnificent braided beard and discerning eyes. The body was massive, with long front paws, a giant body, and tall hind legs.
Azure thought they’d run for an area between the front paws, but Nenet stopped several yards from the Sphinx and disappeared into
the ground. A moment later Azure realized that there was an underground passage for those who knew how to look. Carefully the group descended the stairs, which were almost completely cast in blackness.
The steps were narrow, and several times Azure almost slipped. She ran her hands down the stone wall for stability. It wasn’t until they had come to an open room that the torches on the walls gave them any sight. Nenet turned at once and stared at Azure.
“I leave you here. Go to the stone door ahead and you will be granted access. Your witch blood is all you need,” she said.
“What about you?” Azure asked.
“I can go no farther. The Sphinx is guarded from my kind,” Nenet said.
Azure gulped at the phrase, “My kind.” In one night, the witch before her had lost everything. She was never going to have magic again. She was separate from her people. Becoming a vampire had changed everything for Nenet.
“Ask to see Chibale. He will explain everything that I can’t.” Nenet kept looking at the stairs that led to the desert, where the sun would soon be rising. Did she have enough time to get to safety? And where would that be found?
“Where will you go?” Azure asked.
Nenet blinked, shame in her expression. “I’ve been summoned. I cannot resist it much longer.”
“Oh.” Azure hiccupped on the word.
“Your founder,” Laurel guessed.
The weight of Manx’ raven form landing on Azure’s shoulder nearly made her jump. “Maybe you can stay. Maybe there’s something we can do for you,” Azure said.
“I’m hoping you can help me. We’re all hoping you can, but I can’t stay to find out. Chibale will have to fill you in on the history. Queen Azure, whatever happens, stay away from the bats,” Nenet said with conviction. She looked deeply into Azure’s eyes before scanning the group, then she was a blur, speeding from the room as only a vampire could.