The Meridian Gamble

by Garcia, Daniel

  Sadly, it does not take long for me to betray the Luminos. Perhaps this is Pharaoh’s game, to make me feel comfortable, so I will tell him my secrets. If so, it isn’t much of a plot, because I quickly share with him what little I know. I first tell him about the old man at the gate, of course, who my uncle bribed to let me in. And of my journey to the arena several days away from here, and we discuss the places where it could possibly be.

  And I tell him more, about my mother and sisters, and my beloved Lina, who I still worry about. And when I finally mention that my father is the General, Pharaoh seems surprised.

  “I know of this man. He is one of their greatest leaders. But I had no idea he was back, or that he existed in my city.”

  So, my father is more than a lieutenant. He is one of their greatest leaders, or so my lover says. And I had no idea. I can only imagine how pleased he would be to see what I have done with his training.

  Though I don’t want to think about the future, eventually I become curious about his intentions for me. As we lie in the bed, enjoying the aftermath of our passion, I turn to him.

  “Are you still going to torture me?” I ask.

  “No, I am not, my dear Saga. You are far too precious for that. And you have beguiled me, completely. Never did I think I would find such contentment with one of my enemies.”

  “Well, what are we going to do?”

  “I’m not sure just yet.”

  I curl up in his arms, and look into his unnatural blue eyes, which he claims exist in other parts of the world. And I want to stay in this place forever. And I begin to wonder if I can.

  “Perhaps we can live a different kind of life. We’re both eternal, in a sense. Perhaps I can come back to you, instead of the Luminos. And in that way, we can be together, forever.”

  “Perhaps. But I have another idea,” he says. “I’m thinking of turning you.”

  I’m stunned, his words come as a shock. It had never occurred to me that he would want to change me into one of the monsters.

  “Think on it,” he says. “You won’t have to suffer the pain of dying. You will stay my young and beautiful Saga, and we can be together forever. But rest assured, I won’t do this unless it’s your choice.”

  “And what if I say no?”

  “Then I will watch you grow old. And pray that you ignore the Luminos, and come back to me. And in that way, we will be together forever.”

  I smile and roll on top of him, as we share a sweet kiss. And we begin making love once more.

  Eventually, we are forced to leave Pharaoh’s chamber. There is to be a dinner of state, and he declares that I will attend with him. I am to sit in a chair next to his throne, as Pharaoh’s consort. I have no idea what this will entail, and I am nervous about appearing before others in this way, as I am little more than a lowly servant girl who has spent her life fighting in basements.

  On the day of the dinner, Pharaoh’s attendants come to prepare me. I am taken to a private chamber, where they bathe and perfume me. My hair is combed and decorated with flowers and gold pins, and I am given a tight white dress to wear that has different colored threads woven into it in an intricate pattern, the likes of which I have never seen. It is a dress fit for one of the royals, and I am embarrassed by the thought of even being seen in it.

  They take me to a table in Pharaoh’s chamber, and decorate my face with make-up. The attendants put charcoal around my eyes, and grind up a green paste with water, to form more color with which they decorate my lids. I stare at myself in a mirror made of bronze, and am amazed by the magic they perform.

  The woman I see looking back is a stranger, nothing like the young woman I’d seen staring back at me from puddles, in my adolescence. And I can almost see why other’s would call me pretty, though I will never really think of myself that way.

  As they paint my face, the Queen enters the room, and the servants stop what they are doing to bow to her, as do I.

  “That’s not necessary,” she says, at least to me. And she looks at my face with concern.

  “No, you’re doing this all wrong!” she screams at the servants. “She has an exotic look, you must raise the lines up more at the sides of the eyes. In fact, leave this to me …”

  The Queen waves them away, and picks up the charcoal, and begins to put it on my eyes herself. I’m nervous, almost shaking, not just to be around her, but because I worry what she must think of me. I cannot help but to wonder if she hates me, and am afraid she might lash out and snap my neck for having invaded her husband’s bed. But instead, she dotes over me in an attentive way, and gives my eyes a cat-like look. What I see in the mirror amazes me. There’s almost a seductive beauty to my face which I thought could never be there before. And she applies more of the green paste to my eyes with a brush, along with some copper-colored powder to my cheeks.

  “There. Pharaoh will be so pleased,” she says.

  And I’m grateful, for this gift. My eyes are brown and mud-like, and do not compare to the beauty of the Queen’s, which sparkle before me. And though I don’t imagine I will ever match her attractiveness, at least now there is less of a chance that Pharaoh will become bored with me when I am sitting near her.

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go and find Pharaoh.”

  But I cannot bite my tongue, especially after she has been so kind to me.

  “Your Highness, may I ask you something?” I say, before she leaves.

  And she stops to patiently listen.

  “Do you …”

  “Hate you? Despise you for seducing my husband, the king?” she says, with a smile. “No, I don’t. But it is very sweet that you would worry about my feelings.”

  “Is it not a betrayal that I share his bed?”

  “You know our true nature, Saga. We have lived for a very long time. Pharaoh and I are no longer lovers. Our relationship has changed, long ago. We only play these roles as a way to hold power,” she says. “Besides, it would be a difficult thing to hate you. You have a sweet nature about you, which is disarming.”

  “And has he told you what I am?”

  “You are Luminos. Which is a bit foolhardy on his part. The idea that you could betray us is worrisome. But if the king is so taken with you, perhaps it will be worth the risk. You can stay with us forever, and we will be like sisters. Who knows, Pharaoh may have even found a solution to our war.”

  She smiles, and goes to leave the room. But the Queen turns back to me again.

  “And Saga, if we are truly to be friends, you must call me Marion.”

  “Yes, Marion, I will. Thank you,” I say.

  And her words comfort me. Though I miss Lina greatly, I like the idea of having a sister again.

  That night, we go to the large dining room, the one where Adam and the members of his army were entertained. And as I’m led to my seat on the dais, Pharaoh is already sitting there, and he smiles in a way that warms my heart. He’s never seen me looking like this, and I’m happy that he’s pleased, and am grateful to the Queen.

  As the feast begins, various soldiers and lieutenants from Pharaoh’s army are seated, along with other men and women, and I’m not sure who they all are. Perhaps administrators who help him run the city and control the businesses. The royal servants are brought in after them, and very little is said. I’m not quite sure what the occasion of the event is, and as the food is brought in, I notice an odd thing. Only myself and the prince’s consort are given actual food, along with the royal servants. Pharaoh and the Queen, the Prince and the rest of the guests are given cups that are filled with red wine.

  The royals stare to their guests with intense gazes, and certain of the people in the room look to each other in the same way. And it seems unbelievable, but from the way their eyes lock, I am almost certain a kind of communication passes between them. The General has told me that the monsters possess mental powers, but it is an odd thing to see them being performed, to know that they are perhaps real.

  Before I can think on
it too much, slaves are brought out. They are naked, except for blindfolds, and before I can wonder too long on what their purpose is, the supplicants are made to lie down on the tables. And I finally realize that they are the real food for the night.

  It finally occurs to me that I am in a room that is full of the vampires.

  Everywhere around me, fangs pop out of mouths, and the guests bury them in the offerings that have been made, slowly feeding from them. And it is an unnerving spectacle to witness.

  A girl is brought before our table, who is just a bit younger than me. She looks sweet and innocent, with light brown hair that cascades down her back. And she wears nothing, aside from a few gold baubles. I feel embarrassed for her, and it saddens me to see her tremble with fear. I worry about the fate to which she is about to succumb. She doesn’t deserve this, and it’s the first thing that makes me want to fight against the monsters, as I should. But I look at my Pharaoh, and I cannot help it. I love him, and would gladly sacrifice her life for his.

  And he plunges his teeth into her neck.

  I look over to Marion, my Queen, and she is sitting in front of a giant mountain of a man. He is handsome, with a masculine beard, and fur across his legs, which are spread for her. Marion bites into his inner thigh, as the prince feeds from his arm. And her feast seems far more appealing than Pharaoh’s.

  My love does not drink much from the young girl, and her entire demeanor has changed. Her head rolls about as she luxuriates in pleasure. When he finishes with her, the attendants come to carry her away, and the girl reaches out, begging for more of his bite.

  “Please …”

  And Pharaoh smiles in a self-satisfied way.

  A few of the other slaves being fed on rise up, and likewise are led off. And I find it fascinating that they do not kill them, almost a relief. And it make me doubt the words of my father. The General had always said the vampires were monsters who showed no mercy, and I had always assumed they killed their victims. But perhaps this makes more sense. Why kill your food, when you can keep it alive and have a constant source of nourishment? And it is as Pharaoh said, how could one have so many souls following them around for an eternity?

  I look to Pharaoh, who stares intently at his guests once more. And an angry expression has grown on his face. I look to those before us and realize that some of his honored lieutenants are staring toward us, with looks of consternation. And a few of them are staring at me, in a way that makes me feel something is wrong.

  Even worse, my temple begins to throb. I can feel it now, one of the headaches that Lina would complain of, and whatever Pharaoh is doing with his minions is affecting me. It’s as if the strength of their mental conversation is invading my mind.

  And then I hear it, a few simple words.

  “You should kill her.”

  One of the vampires is saying it to Pharaoh, in a wordless way that frightens me. I can hear it in my mind, and I seem to know who says it. It is a man sitting toward the front, with thinning brown hair and a trim beard. He wears a tunic and skirt of leather that make me feel he is a part of Pharaoh’s military. And I worry that I might have to use my fighting skills, that he will attack me at any moment.

  As the man glares at me, the fangs pop out of his mouth.

  The pain in my mind becomes too much, and I let out a small gasp. Pharaoh looks to me with concern.

  “Are you all right?”

  “They hate me, don’t they?” I say, quietly.

  And he looks at me in surprise, no doubt wondering how I know.

  “No, they don’t. They only need to get to know you better, as have I.”

  “It’s all right. It’s only natural, because of what I am,” I say. “But, perhaps they’ll like me more when I’ve helped you to kill the Luminos.”

  And there is a sudden silence in the room, as all of the vampires look my way. Even the Queen stops feeding, and stares at me with interest. Only the royal servants make noise, and they talk amongst themselves. But they become quiet, slowly realizing that something is going on.

  “What did you say?”

  “They are your enemies, which makes them mine.”

  “Saga, I was not going to ask you to become a part of this war.”

  “Of course I will join your war, whether or not you transform me. I have made my choice, Pharaoh. I am with you. What have the Luminos ever offered me beside an eternity of suffering? While you have shown me nothing but kindness, and the promise of eternal bliss. What little assistance I can offer is yours.”

  I turn to face the crowd.

  “I do not ask your people to trust me. That honor must be earned through the blood of your foes.”

  The vampires in attendance look to one another. And slowly, the man who stared at me with hatred begins to clap his hands. And he’s joined by the others around him.

  And Pharaoh looks to me and smiles.

  My state of pure bliss with Pharaoh is short-lived. Several nights after the dinner in which I was presented to his people, it happens. As we lie in his bed, enjoying the aftermath of our passion, Pharaoh turns to me with a look of concern.

  “We have a problem,” he says.

  “What is that?”

  My first thought is that more Luminos have found their way into the palace, to come for me.

  “You are with child.”

  I stare at him in shock. And a wave of emotions comes over me.

  “I should have been more careful when I knew you were fertile. It is my mistake, but I could not resist.”

  “I did not know we could make babies together.”

  “We cannot. Unfortunately, if we do nothing, the infant will destroy you before it is fully formed. And if we grant you the transformation, your body will likewise consume the young one that grows inside of you.”

  “Is there no way that the child could survive? Even at my expense?”

  “None. And it is a tragic thing to watch, one of the many curses of our people, that we cannot reproduce as the humans do.”

  And in an instant, my hopes are dashed. Though I have only known Pharaoh a short time, the idea of having his baby thrilled me for a moment. And in this way, he has finally wounded me.

  “Was this your clever way of killing off a Luminos foe?”

  “No, Saga. Don’t ever say that. I was a fool, I should have paid more attention to whether or not you could conceive. But I was selfish,” he says, with eyes filled with pain. “And now we must make our decision. It will not be long before this begins to affect you.”

  “And how does it work? The transformation?”

  “You will drink of my blood over several days. The change causes some discomfort in your body, it is too much to handle all at once, so we spread it out over a bit of time. But when you’ve had enough of my lifeblood, you will become like me. We will live forever, in happiness.”

  I look in his eyes, which are so filled with love. And there really is no choice for me at all.

  “Do it,” I say.

  The fangs pop out of his mouth, and he bites his own arm. I am concerned, to see the breaks in his flesh. But he puts his wrist to my mouth and I suck from him. And I was so wrong about Pharaoh, thinking he would hurt me. It is I who drinks his blood.

  It doesn’t taste like much at first. Maybe a bit salty. But I feel it, burning inside me, and I almost want to find a way to get it out of my body. But I can’t, it’s too late for that.

  Then something changes, and I feel it, a kind of connection to the world around me. Something comes into the room, and I can see a white light in the air, I can feel it prickling against my skin. Pharaoh is saying something, but I can’t really hear.

  My body begins to burn, as though I am baking in Famoush’s oven. The heat that overcomes me is so intense that I must walk outside into the cool night air, to alleviate the scorching sensation I feel. I go out onto the terrace that overlooks the city, but it’s not enough to stand there and have the wall around it constricting me. I must climb on top of the
terrace ledge to get higher, to truly feel the wind against my body. And the city feels like it’s an extension of me, as if my mind can reach out and touch it all.

  I am aware that Pharaoh has come out behind me, and that he’s worried. But I don’t care. I feel powerful. And even though I’m high up and could fall to my death, I want to leap, because I feel I could fly.

  “Saga, get down!” he says. And his voice is filled with fear.

  I ignore him, because I can sense something, off in the distance. To the east.

  “I know where they are,” I say, smiling. I know where my family is.

  But he doesn’t care. He rips me down from the ledge, and I fall against him, laughing. And the worried look in his eyes makes me feel warm.

  “I’m hungry,” I say.

  Pharaoh takes me back into the chamber, and soon, a young girl enters. Her name is Amisi, and she is very pretty, with jet-black hair that falls down her back, bright red lips and full breasts. I have seen her in the halls, and I’m not sure if he realizes this, but I cannot stand the girl. Like Mar Mar, she is one of Pharaoh’s attendants, and I know she has ambitions. Somehow, I know she wants to be a part of Pharaoh’s court, and maybe even aspires to be turned into one of us.

  And as she stands in his chamber, watching me, I know the girl wants to take my place.

  “Come to me, Amisi. I have need of you,” he says.

  But before she can come closer, I lash out, in anger.

  “I don’t want that thing here.”

  “You need to eat, Saga!”

  “Not from her!” I hiss. “She disgusts me!”

  And Amisi looks at me, as though nervous.

  “I said I don’t want her here! Make her leave now!”

  My mind reaches out, and touches hers. And I don’t know how I do it, but I squeeze it, like a grape. And in a moment, the girl falls to the floor, writhing pain. She screams, and I step closer, squeezing harder.

  Pharaoh touches my hand, and I can feel his mind reaching out to hers, blocking me somehow. And the girl pants, seemingly relieved. He calls out to his guards, who come to take her away.