I almost tripped into the sunlight. I pressed my hand to my throat as if that might calm me. There are very few who can creep up behind me unnoticed, and all of them until then had been Vampyr.
“Lord Zeus! That is the second time you have startled me, sir.” I turned to face him. “Yes, she will be fourteen seven days,” I replied with a glare. He was standing close. He was the same height as me exactly, so that our eyes were level. They were the colour of an evening sky. I felt as though I could dive into them.
“Lord! You are so beautiful,” he whispered. I could feel his breath upon my lips. I was about to back away but before I could move his hands upon my waist, pulling me into the shadows, and then we were kissing. For a moment I gave in, my whole body inside and out longing for him. But then I remembered who he was and what he wanted. I shoved him back, hard against the wall.
“Argh!” He gasped. “Oh, Lord Zeus! Forgive me. I had not meant…” he hurried off, right through the villa and up to his chamber before I could gather my senses. I leaned against the cool wall and clunked my head back against the brick. I was so confused. His desire for me felt real, and yet he had admitted his intentions were to marry into the household for no more than business, whether that be to Sekhemet, or I. I had stayed, hidden from view in the alcove for some time before returning to my room.
*
At nightfall I pushed back the drape over my window I breathed in the fresh air. There were night-blooming Jasmine bushes right below my chamber, planted by Sekhemet’s mother when I had said how much I missed the scent. Looking down at the white star-like flowers I smiled.
Remembering the nights at the palace in Troy, music, dancing, laughter drifting up from the gardens below. The sound of Paris plucking out a pretty tune on his Lyre from his rooms across the hall. I closed my eyes and for a moment I thought the music was in my imagination, but then I realized it could not be, it was too clear and real.
Somewhere in the villa, someone was playing the double-read pipe. Though popular at that time I had never heard anyone play quite like that, or as well. It was a haunting sound. I looked around.
Flickering flames from a torch-lit the courtyard. It was empty, save for Sekhemet’s arrogant cat. I followed the sound along the corridor past all the bedchambers, down the stairs and into the entrance hall. At the other side of the hall, the drape over the dining room door was pinned back to reveal an enraptured little group.
There, sitting on the soft camel-hide cushions around the empty platters of food were Sekhemet and MeryAmun. Behind them the serving boy wafted his fan, sweat dripping down his forehead and glistening on his bare chest, but he seemed not to care, for he was staring at Dorus. I stared too. It was Dorus who held the instrument, the sound more beautiful than at any temple festival. Sekhemet was leaning so far over toward him that the cord of her gown was dangling in the dish of olives and her mug of wine was tipping precariously sideways in her hand. Even MeryAmun looked impressed.
The piece ended and Dorus took a breath. Sekhemet began to clap vigorously.
“You are wonderful. Where did you learn to play like that?”
“A travelling musician from Egypt came to our home one day when I was a boy. I begged him to stay awhile and teach me. In the end, he let me keep the pipe.”
“Amazing,” she batted her eyelashes at him. I turned to go.
“Cassandra!” Dorus set down the pipe and stood to greet me. His eyes were bright with pleasure and fear. I backed away.
“Where have you been?” Sekhemet glanced from Dorus to me and narrowed her eyes.
“Forgive me. I have not been feeling well,” I lied.
“Nonsense. You cannot get sick,” Sekhemet knew very well what I was, though it was not usually mentioned, even in private. I stared at her, astonished that she would say such a thing before others. “You have been hiding. Now please come and join us.”
It was not that I feared my ward, far from it. I could have drained her of blood, or broken her neck in a heartbeat, had I wished it. But I had raised her as though she was my child, and I hated to hurt her. She was an orphan with no other family and very few friends. Perhaps it was my failing that I pitied her for it. I wanted her to succeed in making a good life for herself, and though I cautioned and advised her, I could never quite bring myself to correct her. I smiled at her kindly and took a seat at the other side of MeryAmun, as far away from Dorus as I could manage in such a small gathering.
“My parents sent word that they will be here tomorrow,” MeryAmun said timidly. I pitied him more than anyone. He was a useless sort of child but it was not entirely his fault, and Sekhemet was treating him badly.
“How lovely. You must be looking forward to seeing them again.” I passed him the dish of dates he was reaching for. He popped one in his mouth and then tried to speak around it.
“It will be nice,” I think he said. Sekhemet rolled her eyes at his impropriety.
“You did not take supper?” I realized Dorus was still looking at me.
“Cassandra does not eat…with us.” Sekhemet stopped herself from giving too much away, and I was grateful for it. Yet her gaze did not soften in my direction. “You will go out tonight?” she asked hopefully. She wanted me out of the way.
“I had not planned to,” I replied honestly. I had no need.
“Please stay,” Dorus said, looking uncertain he was saying the right thing.
“Yes please do,” MeryAmun practically begged, obviously glad to have someone else to distract Sekhemet from Dorus. Not that my presence prevented her flirting, it just slowed her down a little. She was still a maid I was certain, and I intended to keep her that way until the night MeryAmun officially moved into her chambers.
“Tell me about your birthday celebrations,” Dorus asked, knowing very well they included her marriage.
Once she was on the topic of her party she relaxed. Sometimes she could be just a regular young woman. I watched her as she smiled and giggled. She explained to Dorus how her coming of age would mean she could finally be free to make her own decisions. I suspected that included not marrying MeryAmun, but kept the thought to myself.
Perhaps that is why her father had insisted the marriage take place on the very same day, to prevent her from escaping the matter. She looked happy when she told Dorus how the villa would be adorned in flowers, how there would be musicians and dancing, and how beautiful everyone would be.
She stopped noticing how Dorus kept glancing my way. Each time he caught my eyes I wanted to grab his hand and take him to my room. I forced myself to remain.
By the time the evening was done Dorus had played some more, and Sekhemet had danced to his tunes. She was a pretty dancer, and the turn of her hips would have delighted any man. Dorus smiled, but his attentions remained upon me.
As we walked back to our rooms, mine being between Sekhemet’s and his, I notice how he hesitated before saying goodnight. Inside my chamber, I pulled over the drapes to keep out the next day’s sunlight. Through the thin wall, I could feel his presence. As much as I knew he was a bad idea, I could not prevent myself from wishing he would sneak back to my door and come inside.
*
Boats thumped gently against the jetty. The river lapped quietly at their wooden bows. It was hotter than a kiln and the temperature still rising. Sekhemet and MeryAmun were standing at the water’s edge, hiding beneath a large palm leaf parasol and staring upriver towards an approaching boat.
On the upper deck, waving frantically was a couple. The woman wore a thick Kushite wig wound with gold thread and the black lines painted around her eyes were so elongated they made her look feline. Her gown was loose around her swollen middle, showing that she was heavy with child.
I wondered at her making such a journey so close to her time. I had never met Nedjem before, for she always seemed to be pregnant when an occasion had arisen for them to visit. Urhiya, however, had come with MeryAmun to Sekhemet’s father’s funeral five years before.
“I
could not miss my eldest son’s wedding,” Nedjem grinned as she took her husband’s hand and heaved herself down from the boat onto the jetty. She began to waddle over, but MeryAmun could not wait, he rushed forward and threw himself into her arms.
“Lord Osiris, child! There, there. Did you miss me that much?” she embraced him as tightly as she could manage, her bump getting too much in the way.
“Come along son, no need for that.” The father was grinning as broadly as the mother but forcing himself to stay calm. I noticed the worried glance Nedjem gave her husband as she set her son back. She had a right to be concerned, especially if she had noticed the tears that he quickly wiped away when he thought no one would see.
“Sekhemet, how beautiful you have grown. You look so like your dear mother,” Nedjem cupped the girl’s face in her hands and turned her from side to side, before giving her a great smacking kiss on her cheek.
Sekhemet was not used to such affection and shot me a wide-eyed glance over her shoulder. I smiled. Perhaps a little motherly attention from a human was what she needed to soften her up a little. Zeus knows any Vampyr can seem cold, especially one as emotionally damaged as I. Everyone I had ever loved had died or gone away. Taking care of Sekhemet was the closest I had come to actual affection for anyone in more than three centuries. But then came Dorus.
Perhaps I did not notice at first, but over the few days between the arrival of MeryAmun’s parents and the celebrations, I found myself spending more and more time with Dorus. It had not been my intention, but he kept seeking me out. Each time I walked through the entrance hall, or into the courtyard, there he would be, waiting to ask me to walk with him. We talked, sat together in pleasant silence, and he played for me whenever he thought we were alone, though he had not yet attempted to kiss me again. At first, I was careful to keep our meetings out of Sekhemet’s view; after all, she was, much to her irritation, occupied with her betrothed and his family. But we could not always be out of sight.
*
The evening was hot and sticky. The stars were bright and the moon was but a thin curl hanging in the night sky. We were lying on the cool stone floor of the central courtyard, staring up at the universe.
Our hands were so close I could feel the warmth of his skin just a fraction from mine. I wanted so very much to touch him, but I was afraid of how he would react when he felt the icy coldness of my body. He seemed not to have noticed when we had kissed, but a surely he could not fail to notice on the second touch.
Sekhemet and her guests had been invited to dine at the home of another local merchant, and should not be back for hours.
Dorus pointed up at a cluster of stars. He glanced at me,
“And here are the twins. Do you see…here,” he traced the outline of the constellation with his forefinger. I followed his hand. The stars were in different places and bore different names where I had come from, but no matter where in the universe we are the night sky is always beautiful.
“And this here…” He turned his head to look at me, “Is…is…”
For a moment I thought I had caught him in my Vampiric gaze, but then he lowered his hand and gently ran the backs of his fingers down the side of my face and over my lips. I could not stop myself from kissing them. Then his lips were on mine and we were wrapped in each other’s arms. Kissing slowly and softly, like I had not felt in so very long. Then he stopped and rested himself at my side, propped up on one elbow, the other hand gently resting upon my belly. I thought he had changed his mind, that he had felt the coldness of my body, and soul. I lay still, unsure what to say.
“Zeus, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he whispered. “I could never have imagined finding anyone like you.” His eyes were warm with desire.
“Why did you stop?” I asked, confused. No man had ever restrained himself before with me. He blinked at me, concern dampening the passion.
“Someone has hurt you?” he said, as though he could see my past. “Someone forced himself on you, violated you…” he was sitting up now in horror. I thought he was going to turn away in disgust. I reached out to take his hand. He looked down at me and then I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. I sat up too and cupped my free hand around his face.
“It was a long time ago. But it is hard to forget,” I said as best I could without permitting my voice to crack.
“Tell me his name and I will kill him for you.” This was not the first time this offer had been made to me. I shook my head,
“He is dead already.” I brushed my thumb over his lips.
“How?” He asked. A sickly pain twisted in my gut. I hoped he did not presume I might have killed the culprit myself. I swallowed hard.
“A sword through his chest. It was war. He made me part of the battle.”
When he did not say anything more I continued,
“I had a lover, he was…” I almost said ‘human,’ but managed to prevent myself. “He was a soldier. The man was a general in the opposing army; he took offence at our relationship. He broke into my home and…” I could not finish, but I did not need to.
“The bastard! And it was your lover that killed him?” He sounded a little downhearted.
“They killed each other at the same moment.” I lowered my eyes, for I did not want Dorus to see how much it still pained me. I had not loved Polydamas as deeply as I should, and we had no longer been together when the rape occurred, but he had taken vengeance for me all the same. I had never quite forgiven myself for his death. Had Polydamas not seen Ajax in the fight, he may well have survived the war.
“I’m sorry,” he shifted his position and I thought he was going to get up and walk away.
“Can you forgive me?” I whispered.
He stared at me then.
“Forgive you? For what?”
“For letting a man come into my room and… and for letting Polydamas go after him and die.” I realized I was crying. I could not recall the last time I had actually cried, though I had done a great deal of it in the year or so that had followed Troy.
“My lord Zeus! No! You did nothing, nothing at all to be sorry for. It is I that is sorry that I cannot make those things gone from your life. But if you will let me, I will spend the rest of my life making up for them.”
I gawped. My visions came so frequently and so accurately for those around me, yet when it came to my own feelings I seemed blind.
“Cassandra, say something.” I could feel he was beginning to panic a little. I could not speak, for my throat was tight with tears. I drew his face to mine and kissed him until the passion could no longer be suppressed. I straddled over him, my breasts against his chest. I could feel the hardness of him pressing against me.
“Wait,” he said, “we don’t have to do this yet. Only when you are ready.”
I could not believe his generosity and kindness. A stab of guilt shot through me for all those I had taken in hunger. If he knew about the whorehouse, no doubt he would never want me again. I sat back and let him look at me, wondering if he would see everything I had become. After a moment he tangled his hands through my hair and pulled me back into his embrace.
“Bitch!”
We froze.
“Get out of my house!”
The voice was accompanied by gasps and a scream. I scrambled off my lover and got to my feet. Dorus was staring, unable to move.
“Sekhemet, we…Dorus and I…”
“I can see what you were doing. How dare you! You know very well you cannot be with him.”
Dorus finally awoke from his stunned trance. He looked from her to me, utterly confused.
“Dorus and I…care for each other,” I tried to reason.
“You cannot love him, you are just trying to hurt me.”
I was astounded. I had never done anything to hurt her in her entire life until that moment. I walked towards her, but she backed away. Only then did I notice MeryAmun cowering in the corner by the entrance to the hall, his mother clinging to his arm, bent over
in agony.
“Does he know what you are, what you do?”
My attention turned back to Sekhemet. I stared at her in terror, shaking my head so very slightly and praying to Zeus that no one but she would see the fear upon my face.
“She is a kind, beautiful girl who has been taken advantage of, by men and by you.”
I spun around to stare at Dorus. I could not believe he was defending me. I knew I did not deserve it, or his love. Sekhemet began to laugh.
“You really do not see what she is. She is one of the cold ones. She is a…”
The scream that cut through the air was chilling. We all stopped and turned to Nedjem. She was gripping her son’s arm so tight his skin was as white as mine. There was a sound like she was pissing. She looked down at her wet sandals and feet.
“The baby,” she gasped, doubling over in pain. “It’s coming.”
“Where is Urhiya?” To everyone’s surprised Dorus rushed to her side, wrapped an arm around her waist and began to help MeryAmun lead her toward the stairs.
“He stayed at the party. Mother said she was tired so we decided to come home, but he still had some business to discuss.” MeryAmun answered for his mother, for she was panting through her pain and entirely unable to speak.
“Let’s get her to her bedchamber,” Dorus said heaving her up the first of the steps.
“She cannot have the baby here, it’s not due for another month,” Sekhemet seemed not to comprehend.
“Her water is broken, the child will come now, whether we are ready for it or not.” Dorus, MeryAmun and Nedjem were now halfway up the staircase. I stood with Sekhemet at the bottom, staring up at them. I was not certain what baffled me more, that the child was coming, or that Dorus seemed to know very well what to do.
“I am the eldest of ten children,” he seemed to have heard my thoughts. “My father was away much of the time, and I was the only one old enough to help when my sister Xanthe came early and fast in the middle of the night.”
“You have assisted in the birthing of a child,” Sekhemet was gawping at him too. It was usually only women who helped in these matters.
The Dark Evolution Chronicles Page 13