Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Sarah Noffke

  Azure stopped pacing, which she’d been doing since they set off for New Egypt. “Manx, can you find a different way to try and cheer Blisters up? I think the bark-in-his-face approach isn’t working.”

  Manx shifted into the form of a black fox, giving Azure a mischievous look. “I have no idea why. I’ll try biting him.”

  Blisters jerked his head into the air, the carton of ice cream stuck on his muzzle. “No!” he protested in a muffled voice.

  Ever shook his head at Azure before trotting over to the unicorn and pulling the container off his face.

  “Thanks,” Blisters said, his white fur covered in green ice cream. He dropped his head, resting it on his legs, and she could see melancholy written in his eyes.

  “Blisters, I already told you that there will be a job for you,” Azure reminded him in a sensitive voice. “Gran hasn’t told us anything—”

  “In typical Gran fashion,” Monet interjected, pushing up from the sofa and weaving his way through the empty Cheeto bags and Laffy Taffy wrappers on the floor to get to the grand piano in the corner.

  “Once we know what needs to happen, we’ll figure out a plan,” Azure continued.

  “But everyone else has a job,” Blisters cried. “Manx delivers messages or carries you in his stallion form. Monet creates potions. Ever looks good in tight pants. And you’re the queen of Virgo, a fearless warrior. I’m just a dumb old unicorn.”

  Monet’s mouth popped open in protest. “I look good in skinny jeans. I just happen to be a real man, unlike some Light Elves who don’t need room for their—”

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Azure said, cutting him off. “Blisters, you’ve helped us loads of times.”

  Blisters looked up with hope in his bloodshot, blue eyes. “Like when?”

  Azure shot a look at Ever and then Monet. “Like…that one time. Remember, guys?”

  Monet shook his head, not even trying to help. “I don’t remember a damn thing. Ever does, though, and I love the way he tells the story. Go ahead, Tight Ass.”

  Ever cut his eyes at Monet before clearing his throat. “Remember when you were Gillian’s steed?”

  Blisters dropped his head back down on his hooves. “Yes, and I got lost, and Azure had to rescue me.”

  Azure gave Manx a furious look. “Yes, I believe you got lost chasing a certain pooka who was trying to disorient you.”

  Manx shifted into bunny form and twitched his nose, his big eyes blinking back at her innocently.

  “To be fair,” Monet cut in, “that’s what pookas do. He also saved you from a kelpie.”

  Blisters blew his nose loudly. “That’s when we first met,” he said through a sob.

  Monet leaned in and whispered to Azure, “Only you would have a depressed unicorn.”

  “He’s not depressed,” she argued. “He just wants to have a purpose. We can all relate.”

  “I might as well let Scabs take over for me,” Blisters said, still wailing.

  Manx, who had shifted into raven form, perched on Blisters’ side, pecking at his fur like he was picking bugs from it. “For the last time, you don’t have a shadow self.”

  “I’ve seen him!” the unicorn insisted. “Twice.”

  “Well, there you go,” Monet said, punching Azure softly in the arm. “If Blisters saw it, then it must be true.”

  Ever strode over and sat behind the piano. “Actually, we all have a shadow self, but most of us never encounter our other part.”

  “See!” Blister called. “Scabs has black fur, a black mane. His horn is black. And—”

  “We get the point,” Monet said, shaking his head.

  “I wonder what my shadow self looks like,” Manx said, peering down at his black, feathered body.

  “Thing is, pooka, you are the shadow self,” Monet said with a laugh. “Out there somewhere is a kindly version of you, with golden hair and a loving disposition.”

  Manx squawked. “They sound awful!”

  “I should let Scabs take over,” Blisters whined again. “You and he would get along better, and you’d match.”

  Ever placed his fingers on the piano keys, a relaxed expression on his face. “How about I play a tune I wrote for you, Blisters?”

  “You wrote me a song?” the unicorn asked, his eyes wide.

  “I did,” the Light Elf said, winking at Azure. “And I think it will make you feel better.”

  Melodic music began to vibrate from the piano, making everyone fall still. Ever’s focus turned inward as he swayed to the soft notes. The melody sped up, captivating Azure. She’d never seen Ever play the piano; if she didn’t love him already, this would have been the moment she fell.

  He played for what felt like too short of a time before hitting a final note and looking up hopefully at Blisters. “There you go! There’s your song,” he said triumphantly.

  “Which also sounds eerily like Chopin,” Monet teased, a smile on his face.

  Gran was stretched out on a chaise lounge when Azure found her.

  “There you are,” Gran called, looking up from her grimoire, which was perched on a nearby table. “You can put the chocolate and herbs on the table over there.” She motioned absentmindedly to the corner.

  Azure pursed her lips, confused. “I…um…didn’t bring you anything.”

  “You what?” the old witch asked, giving Reynolds beside her an appalled look.

  “Gran, you didn’t ask me to bring you chocolate or herbs,” her granddaughter explained.

  “No, I didn’t,” Gran agreed plainly. “Soggy bread! That’s why you’re supposed to read my mind. Haven’t I taught you anything, child?”

  “Calm down,” Reynolds urged.

  “Wilted flowers, I will not calm down,” Gran protested, looking agitated.

  Gillian had soundlessly arrived at Azure’s side. He whispered, “Sari has been a little stressed after I decoded all the Book of the Dead pages.”

  “I can hear you!” Gran stated loudly. “And of course I’m stressed, which is why I asked for chocolate.”

  Azure took a steadying breath, aware that servants stood around the room, eavesdropping. “Again, you didn’t ask, but there appears to be plenty of treats here.” She indicated a long table stocked with various fruits, breads, cheeses, nuts and vegetables.

  “Do you see any chocolate?” the Queen Mother challenged.

  Azure swept her gaze over the table. “Well, no, but—”

  “No, because it’s hot as tarnation, and chocolate would melt, wouldn’t it?” Gran pulled a folded fan from her lap and began waving it in front of her face.

  “Riiiiight,” Azure said, drawing out the word as she turned to Gillian. “The pages, do you want to update us?”

  A loud hiss erupted from the side of the room. Everyone spun around to find Manx in cat form, his back arched and fur puffed out, making him look larger. In front of him stood Cleo, Chibale’s familiar. The sleek, black cat with the golden necklace lifted her chin high in the air as she trotted into the room, Chibale behind her.

  “Manx, what’s gotten into you?” Monet asked, stalking over and picking up the pooka.

  “That cat…” Manx said, his voice shaking.

  “Yes, you’re a cat presently,” Monet explained. “And so is Finswick and, technically, Laurel.”

  “T-T-That cat isn’t the same as them,” Manx stuttered.

  “No, she’s wearing some bling,” Monet whispered. “A bit of a showoff, if you ask me.”

  Chibale and Cleo, who didn’t appear to be listening, crossed to the far side of the room. The wizard took a seat in a throne of sorts, while his familiar dutifully stood majestically beside him.

  “Now that the queen is here,” Chibale began coldly, “we shall discuss the pages from the Book of the Dead.”

  “Good to see you, too, King Chibale,” Queen Azure said, not able to help herself.

  He gave her an unamused stare.

  “We learned both the cure for follower vampirism and the way to kil
l founders,” Gillian said, hopping up onto a chair and leaning over the pages from the Book of the Dead.

  “We can’t also cure founders?” Ever asked.

  Chibale shook his head. “Their soul is irretrievably lost.”

  “But followers?” Azure asked.

  “Their soul is trapped, so to speak,” Reynolds stated.

  “And there is a way to un-trap it?” Monet asked.

  “Yes, there’s a potion that reverses the effects of vampirism, but it’s complicated. Only an incredibly skilled potion maker could pull this one off,” Gran said, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

  “I must admit, I don’t have anyone with the skills for such a task,” Chibale said darkly. “Not to mention that the ingredients are impossible.”

  Monet snapped at Gillian. “Read the ingredients. I’ll make this potion before dinner.”

  “Snap root, mum flower, coddle weed,” Gillian obliged.

  Monet’s brow wrinkled. “Would you quit making shit up and read the list?”

  “Those herbs are from the ginseng family. They promote healing and are often used in longevity potions,” Chibale stated.

  “But…” Monet said, drawing out the word.

  “But those herbs have gone extinct; there is none in all of New Egypt, where they originated,” the king informed him.

  “Because vampires eradicated them,” Azure guessed.

  “Precisely,” Chibale said with a curt nod.

  Monet wagged his finger through the air, thinking. “I’m not defeated yet. Keep reading, shorty,” he said to Gillian.

  “There are a few more ingredients, but most are common enough,” the gnome said. “However, there is one that I have zero idea how we’ll safely obtain.

  “What’s that?” Monet asked.

  Doubt covered Gillian’s face. “Bat blood.”

  Monet smiled wide, holding the bag he was clutching high into the air. “Well, then not all hope is lost. I have a dozen charred bats right here.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chibale seemed reluctant to strategize for the final battle, and so was drawing out the meeting. Already famished from the long journey, the group decided to take a break to replenish their reserves.

  Gran, on the other hand, appeared more tense than usual. She tapped her foot nervously all through dinner, making a commotion that constantly caught Azure’s attention. Every time she tried to make eye contact with her, though, the old witch avoided her and tore her gaze away.

  Chibale snapped his fingers when everyone had pushed their dinner plates aside. Servants filed into the room with stony expressions on their faces. “We are ready for dessert,” he said to the closest servant.

  “Actually, we’re ready to plan,” Azure argued. “We’ve spent enough time stuffing our faces. We need to get to business.”

  “But dessert…” Blisters complained from the far end of the table.

  “Can wait,” Azure said adamantly before turning to Chibale and Gran. “The founders. How do we kill them?”

  Gran dropped her gaze to her unfinished plate of roasted chicken and marinated vegetables.

  “We wake the king,” Chibale said, his voice deep.

  “King?” Ever asked. “Aren’t you the king of New Egypt?”

  “I’m the ruler of our coven, but only the true king can stop the founders.” Chibale’s words ended abruptly and were followed by silence.

  “King Khufu was the ruler of Egypt when the first founder vampire rose,” Gillian explained. “He is the one who asked the gods to restrict them. The Book of the Dead states that the only one who can destroy a founder is the one who first cursed them.”

  “King Khufu,” Azure said in a hush.

  “Yes, but there are a few issues to consider,” Reynolds said, his hands resting calmly on the table in front of him. His poise seemed to help Gran straighten and shake off some of her nervousness.

  “First, you’ll have to enter the Great Pyramid,” Chibale said.

  “Me?” Azure asked. “Just me?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll go with you.”

  “Oh, good, you’re going to help us save your kingdom finally,” Monet said, taking a gulp of wine. “Brav-fucking-o.”

  “That’s what I said,” Gran quipped, narrowing her eyes at the wizard.

  “But, Queen Azure, you must enter the Great Pyramid,” Gillian stated, his tone insistent.

  “Because the gods want me dead?” she joked.

  “Because we need you to free the king,” Chibale stated blankly.

  “Does it take a certain kind of magic?” Azure asked.

  Gillian shook his head and then corrected himself. “Waking the king does take magic, which Chibale has agreed to do, but that’s the easy part.”

  “I cannot wait to find out the not-so-easy part,” Monet said, draining his glass.

  Gran looked up at Azure for the first time since she’d returned. “The royal blood of a reigning king or queen is the only way to unlock King Khufu’s tomb.”

  “Chibale is a king, though,” Ever argued.

  “Yes, but my rule is based on power,” Chibale explained. “Only a living monarch, like Khufu was, can open the tomb.”

  “Fine, I’ll do it,” Azure stated at once.

  Gillian placed his hand on the table in front of her, gaining her attention. “The king has not been awoken since his death. When brought back, according to the Book of the Dead, he is supposed to hunt down founders, but—”

  “It states that he will be an irrational monster, disoriented from his stint in the afterlife,” Gran said, a cold fear in her eyes. “Azure, the king will be incredibly dangerous. Once you free him, it’s imperative that you get away from him before he kills you.”

  She blinked back at her grandmother. She understood the tension and stress now: Gran didn’t want to send her on this suicide mission, yet there was no choice. Azure was the only one who could open the tomb.

  “What if Azure gave Chibale a vial of her blood?” Ever asked, borrowing the worried expression on Gran’s face.

  Gillian shook his head morosely. “It must be fresh.”

  “Of course it must,” Monet said, filling his goblet. “Who didn’t see that one coming?”

  “It’s fine,” Azure said, conscious to keep her tone steady. “I’ll do it. We’ll figure out a way to protect Chibale and me, then we’ll release the king and he’ll take down the founders.”

  “And I’ll be there to help,” Ever said.

  “Me too!” Blisters cheered.

  “It’s not every day I get to see a resurrection,” Manx sang. “I’m coming, too.”

  All eyes fell on Monet, who was slurping from his goblet. He lowered it slowly, wiping his sleeve across his mouth. “Well, I don’t see any reason to take up more space, clogging those narrow tunnels. I’ll stay back and babysit the gnome.”

  “Like hell, you will,” Gran retorted. “You’re going, and you’ll throw yourself in front of Azure.”

  Monet gave her an impatient stare. “Of course I am, you old bat, but it’s more fun to pretend to bail on the mission. Azure has this goody-two-shoes entourage, ready to spring up to save her,” he said waving at Ever, Blisters and Manx. “I’m the one who keeps things fun and light around here.”

  “Is that what you do?” Gran challenged.

  “Now, the question remains,” Gillian said, gaining everyone’s attention, “how are you all going to get into the Great Pyramid?”

  “So that implies that we can’t just stroll on in there,” Manx said in raven form, pecking at his plate of food.

  “The Great Pyramid of Giza is sealed with a magic that exceeds my abilities,” Chibale admitted. He cast his eyes at the ground where Cleo dutifully stood. “However, I know someone who can help.”

  “Oh, good, another suspenseful long pause,” Manx joked.

  “Yes, please do not tell us outright,” Monet said with a loud yawn. “We’d prefer if you used a long, complicated riddle.”
<
br />   “Or a song and dance,” Blisters said, joining in the fun.

  A small smile crossed Gran’s face, and Azure was happy to see her slightly more at ease.

  “You can’t go in there!” a voice called from the hall. It was followed by the sound of running footsteps.

  A man draped in bright white robes hobbled into the room, bumping into furniture. A moment later, Nefertiti, the twin to Nenet, sprinted after him.

  “I’m sorry, Chibale,” she said breathlessly. “I told him he couldn’t come in right now.”

  Chibale raised a hand. “It’s quite all right, Nefertiti. What is it, Cap? We aren’t scheduled to meet for several days.”

  The man looked all around the room, searching. It wasn’t until his opaque eyes settled eerily on Azure that she realized he was blind. “I have seen a vision that involves the queen.”

  Azure looked to Chibale before returning her gaze to the old man. “Who is he?”

  An irritated expression crossed the king’s face. “Cap is a seer. I consult with him on the first day of the week.” He said the last part more to the newcomer than to the queen.

  “But by then it would be too late,” Cap said, stumbling forward and catching himself on the table.

  “Too late for what?” Gran asked.

  “You make plans now to enter the Great Pyramid,” Cap said, his strange, white eyes scanning the table of faces as if he could see them.

  Chibale steepled his hands in front of his face, studying the seer. “Yes, we are going after a weapon to kill the founders.”

  “You should not leave until tomorrow night,” Cap advised.

  “You’ve seen a vision of the Great Pyramid?” Gran asked.

  He nodded. “I have, wherein you all enter during the daylight hours, thinking it safer.”

  “It would be, naturally, since vampires own the night,” the king reasoned.

  “But the place you are entering is where the vampires dwell,” Cap said.

  “What?” Gran said, her voice rising an octave. “There are vampires in the Great Pyramid?”

  “Yes, they’ve made it their home,” Cap explained. “In my vision, when you entered during the day, you woke the sleeping vampires, walking straight into a trap.”