Talismans of Time - Recently Updated Pages

Poetry

cleasterwood — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:29:44 CDT

I don't have much poetry, but I'll post a couple for your enjoyment.

I'm not your typical...
I'm not your typical girl next door. I'm not what you think at all.
I am merely a wife, a mother, a lover, and a friend.
I am a child trapped in the body of a woman
Who struggles to stand apart from the norm.
Though words spill from my hands like rain from a cloud.
Darkness looms ready in the soul beneath my flesh.
After years of abuse, neglectful words and sorrow.
It's a surprise I didn't end this life a long time ago.
Yet here I sit with my fingers at the ready,
To share with the world all that I wish to offer it.
Fantasies of a psychotic mixed with the love of a poet,
Songs from a writer who's only instrument is her voice,
Stories from another life that fill pages of a fictional world.
And through thick and thin somehow I still survive
To write these words that help free my mind.
And what my heart can not bear, I bury away inside,
until it festers demonically into the words on a page.
These things keep me separated from a world of normalcy.
They make me the person that stands before you today.
So once again, just let me remind you as I stand to leave.
I'm not your typical girl next door. I'm not what you think at all.

The next two are lyrics I wrote:
TITLE: No Redemption
DATE: 06/23/02

Never more will I sleep,
Deep in the dead of night.
Inside I am so weak,
By the dreams' insight.
I see you and I weep.
Crushed in black light.

(Chorus)
There's no redemption, no one can save my soul.
Never want redemption, fall into a black hole.
I need not redemption, from your magical hold.

Walk down the darkened street,
Fearing the coming of dawn.
Silence moves beneath my feet,
A victim sits across the pond.
His flesh is such tender meat,
A soul which to feed upon.

(Chorus)

The quiet night engulfs me,
Comforts my aching hear.
There's nothing left to see,
Precious soul is torn apart.
Never again will I be free,
From the night's sanctity.

(Chorus)

--------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Silver Tongue Devil
DATE: 06/27/02

I didn't expect him,
To waltz into the room.
Amorous look on his face,
Dark entrancing eyes,
Bend me to his every whim.
Scent of masculine perfume,
Inhibit it's embrace.
My heart's immobilized.

(Chorus)
Beware of things he will say,
He's the silver tongue devil.
With words he can play,
sweet Silver tongue devil.
Toys with the heart & soul.
Your voice makes me whole.
Sweet, sweet, sweet,
silver tongue devil.

It must have been fate.
He held me in his grip.
One glare, myself I forget.
Rush of wild adreniline.
His kisses are passionate.
Delving through my lips,
Touch as soft as velvet.
Gently caressing my skin.

(Chorus)
Do we share kindred blood,
Flowing madly in our viens.
Or just a strange lust,
We must somehow fulfill?
It's silent and understood.
He's seductive & arcane.
Provocative like a musk
I reeling from the thrill.

(Chorus)

Lady Galiena-The Watcher of the Road

cleasterwood — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:29:32 CDT

Lady Galiena appeared in the 2005 issue of Deep Magic E-Zine. She is my first published story. Enjoy. C.L.

She plucked a white gown from her dresser and hoped the gods would bless her. After a promise to wed, her beloved Hans had said, "Meet me in the wooded glen by the path where our new life will begin. We shall leave this crumbling village behind and seek all the happiness we can find." Tendrils of auburn bounced down with grace as she let them fall to frame her face. Her heart skipped at the thought of her father’s wrath, for he disapproved of this marriage made in crass. Wrapping a flowered shawl about her shoulders, Galiena slipped out the window and headed toward the woods all aglow. A full moon lit the fragrant spring night, shining with the luminosity of fairy wings in flight. How she would miss frolicking with the fairy folk who befriended but never spoke.

Galiena avoided the main roads, dreading her father’s discovery. Her father was a man to fear, with a hatred for what she held dear. His was an evil so profound he crushed all her dreams into the ground. What she made with love and kindness, he destroyed in rage’s blindness. He knew of the couple’s intention and kept Hans from his destination.

Under a rising moon, her blue eyes gleamed like a hyacinth’s bloom as the fairy princess guided her friend to meet her groom. Once they arrived at the path leading from town, Galiena leaned against a tree in her wedding gown. "Oh, Leona, I hath waited for this day since I was a girl. In Hans’ loving arms I shall soon curl." Leona’s voice deafened mortals so words were not verbalized, but the young maiden saw reassurance in the fairy’s eyes.

Her lover’s foot-falls were never heard, only the sound of a hooting bird. A sullen song played on rustling leaves in a suspiring breeze. The warmth of flowering love was replaced by the cold of a lover scorned; her tears were a waterfall of sorrow whose death was but a dew drop in the morn. With each passing moment, her heart fractured like falling pottery from a lofty perch. Inside her grew a curse as seeds of bereavement gave birth. Creatures of the mist gathered with Galiena to cry, who lay on the unforgiving ground nearby. When her deprived heart could bear no more pain, she called to the one whose trust she could gain.

"Harbinger of Death, I beg of thee, take this life that was given to me. My lover hath shattered my soul and left me in this world so cold. I cannot bear to continue on for I am abandoned and all alone. This is the task I ask of thee. Please find compassion for me." Death saw the truth within her eyes, as well as her father’s thicket of lies. As she stared into the breaking morning’s sky, he took pity and lowered his scythe. Her body twitched with the release of her final breath, and with it went forth thanks to the Harbinger of Death.

The fairy princess was saddened by Galiena’s chosen demise; purplish-green flowers were the tears she cried. When fairy tears kissed the ground, little green sprouts grew all ‘round. Reverently, Leona watched the buds grow and bloom; pale tiny flowers became Galiena’s hair by noon. Death’s regret gripped the day, keeping leery travelers at bay. Fair Lady Galiena was gone as the evening light dawned. By day’s end, purplish-green flowers were all that remained; they haunt the roadside like the bereft maiden whose lover never came.

Ra's Warrior an Egyptian fantasy novel

cleasterwood — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:27:43 CDT

Chapter 1 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter2 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 3 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 4 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 5 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
NEW!!!!
Chapter 6of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 7 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 8of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 9 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 10 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

Enshrouded by the winds of time and the sands of mainstream Egyptology is the Ancients’ secret. Twins, Andrea and Elise Regal, are about to brush away the grains concealing their destinies. Summoned by primeval gods and the Talisman of Time, Andrea traverses time to the court of King Khufu where she not only finds love but also becomes skilled in the arts of magic and war. Tormented by visions and her sister’s voice breaking the threshold of time, Elise becomes a pawn in a god’s game of Senet. Unaware she is the catalyst to thwart Apep's evil scheme, Elise must find and master the remaining talisman before time proves fatal for all humanity.

Talismans of Time

cleasterwood — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:38:43 CDT

Welcome to "Talismans of Time" -- The Wiki

Updated 7-29-08
Our new website, Ra's Warrior, is open!!! It's sparse at the moment, but please update your bookmarks as I will soon be closing this wiki.
Ankh! Udja! Seneb!
Lynn & Clarissa

New Links available! (6-08)
New Chapters of Ra's Warrior posted!!! 6-6-08
Also added News Feeds at bottom of this page.

If you like my pages, please leave a comment for me. I'd love to hear from you!

Chapters 1-10 are posted for your enjoyment here. I have since put this aside to work on the graphic novel version. These chapters are really just teasers.

Let me start by telling you a little about myself. My fascination with the Egyptian culture started when I first learned about it in elementary school. Since then I have amassed a vast collection of web links and a wealth of knowledge both mainstream and controversial, which I will post as time allows. This wiki is a temporary home until I can afford a nice website.

My hobbies and past times include: reading, writing, movies, watching the Discovery (go Mythbusters!) and History channels, motorcycle riding, and sport fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. I have been married for ten years and have a wonderful seven-year old. I find inspiration in the oddest of places like the grocery stores, on walks, and the beach.

I enjoy books by Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval, Edgar Cayce, and other popular theorists. My favorite fiction writer is Anne Rice who through her wonderful novels has inspired me to become a writer.

My all time favorite Pharaoh is Khemenkhufu (Khufu) or Cheops as he was called by the Greeks. He was the 'supposed' builder of the Great Pyramid and there is very little known about him historically. I say 'supposed' because there are many controversies surrounding the Giza Plateau and who actually built the Pyramids and Sphinx. Time lines stretch from 2,500 B.C. to 10,500 B.C. This is a vast span of time and personally, I tend to agree with those theorist who have dated the Sphinx at 10,500 B.C. because there is much that modern Egyptologists have overlooked in their search for the truth about the Plateau.

Popular theories include the following:
1. The Sphinx was built by a superior race from Atlantis who escaped before the Great Flood and brought their knowledge to Egypt to preserve it for all eternity. Where one day it will be found and it will reveal to the world the truth about the age of humans.
2. The Great Pyramid was used not as a burial site for the Pharaoh Khufu but as a place of sacred initiation.
3. The Great Pyramid was actually an ancient power plant that provided electricity to ancient Egypt.
4. The Sphinx's alignment to the constellation Leo states that on the annual rising of the star Sirius, the Sphinx was perfectly aligned with it's celestial counterpart in the year 10,500 B.C.
There are so many other theories behind the Giza Plateau that it would take up too many pages to list them all, so I will stop with my favorite and most popular four.

You can add content to your heart's content without registering. I've posted the first 5 chapters of "Ra's Warrior" for your reading pleasure.

I'd like to invite all writers to sign up and contribute their own stories, chat, and discuss anything Egyptian. By posting your own work you agree completely with wetpaint.com's policy on work that is copyright protected. I.E. If you don't own the copyright or it isn't public domain, don't post it.

Ankh! Udja! Seneb!
(Life! Health! Prosperity!)
C. L.

Individual Chapter links:
Chapter 1 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter2 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 3of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 4of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 5 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
NEW!!!!
Chapter 6of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 7 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 8of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 9 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior
Chapter 10of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

Link to the private wiki here.

Updated 6-6-08

Chapter 9 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:21:33 CDT

Chapter 9

Cairo

They wore a hole in the tarmac waiting. The plane, much like her life, had been delayed. Fluorescent lights intensified the deepening shallows on her face. Too terrified to sleep, she had lain awake all night for the last two days, but it didn’t matter because each time she closed her eyes or looked into a mirror Elise saw her sister. If deprived of sleep for much longer her body would press the issue. Biting her hair, she waited. Crumpled paper tumbled by as the plane taxied to a stop. Her pink dress flapped ever so slowly in the breeze.

Even the armed guards couldn’t bar her from bolting toward her father once his cane touched the asphalt. “Daddy!” Despite Elise’s impoverished condition, the force of her embrace almost knocked Mark over.

He kissed her forehead. “I missed you so much.” The soft patting on her back reassured her.

“Adel, old friend, it’s good to see you.” Mark’s arm extended and she felt them shake. Rickety tires squeaked; off-loading luggage banged around. “Let’s go inside and wait.” Taking his daughter’s hand, the trio walked and talked in hushed tones.

“Given the severity of the situation, you look well. But, I fear I have failed you.” Adel’s taut lips and determined gander conveyed mixed emotions Elise had trouble pin-pointing. The world seemed to rotate at different speeds at different times. Odd how she had been taking notice of even the smallest things lately; it was akin to being tugged by a string attached somewhere in the stomach. What the hell is happening to me?

She heard her father say, “You’ve done nothing of the sort Adel. Have the scrolls yielded any clues?”

“If there were any clues I would’ve found them already. I’ve gone through her journals, read every shard of pottery on our shelves, and almost burnt a hole in the papyrus with the magnifying glass. Maybe you can make sense of it once you read it, Daddy.”

“Myths and legends of the local cities may yield something.”

Mark said, “True, Adel. On the way to Giza, you must tell me exactly what occurred before her disappearance.”

“Why are we going to Giza first?” Elise asked.

The warmth of a father’s smile calmed her. “We need to get your belongings. I can not endure the desert heat and I absolutely do not want you alone. Both of you are staying at the hotel with me.”

Arguing with her father was a mute point.

They picked up his luggage and rushed through customs. It was a drab ride to the plateau. The men talked about the events leading up to Andrea’s vanishing act. Elise wanted to cram toothpicks under her eyelids as sleep reared its ugly head again. Daylight would be her salvation. Packing would give her a second wind. I have to stay awake, she thought as her eyelids drooped. Prolonging bed was priority number one. Thankfully, a bump in the road jolted her into alertness. Against a ruby sunrise, the Sphinx was an ominous beast and the pyramids pointed to the last remaining star in the irradiating heavens.

The jeep pulled around the waterfall of the Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and stopped underneath the tan and black awning. Mark frequented Le Meridien and when the concierge saw them pull up, the pomp and circumstance began. A line of porters, dressed in black pants and tan button-downs, promenaded out through the sliding glass doors. Wearing a formal suit, the short brunette concierge salaamed. “Good afternoon, Mr. Regal. I see you have your lovely daughter with you today.” He bent and kissed her hand. “Your suite is ready. Allow me to personally check you in.”

Habib walked with his back arched and chest protruding. Shades of warm browns dominated the reception area. Mark’s cane squeaked on the shiny marble floor. An upside down tear-drop chandelier hung over the sweeping staircase. Round tables with palm trees and burnt-sienna leather chairs surrounded the bar across from the Check-In desk. Elise traipsed over, melted into a chair, and put the pet carrier in her lap. Adel watched with vigilance.

The concierge placed the keys into Mark’s hand and palmed the tip in one swift motion. “If you require anything at all, do not hesitate. Please enjoy your stay.” Habib salaamed again and pointed towards the express elevator to the Royal Club Floor.

Mark rounded the two stragglers up. When they walked beneath the staircase, a bell-hop verified their destination and pressed the elevator button. Even first class travel had become painful because of his rheumatoid arthritis; once he sat down, he planned on staying put until the aching subsided. After they found Andrea, he’d tell his daughters about his recently diagnosed heart condition. Until then, it was best to hide it from everyone except Adel. Elise huddled close and gazed up with heart-wrenching puppyish eyes. The poor child jumped out of her skin when the bell dinged.

Tall Inupew statues stood on either side of the full-length window where an inspiring view of the pyramids greeted them; it reminded him of Andrea. Tan Berber carpeting, plush contemporary furnishings, and delicate hand-painted papyrus complimented one another. A tall Arabian beauty smiled broadly and welcomed them, enunciating each word with perfect English. She floated from behind the ebony u-shaped desk and escorted them down the sunlit hallway. Mark admired her elegant gait. It had been such a long time since he had last felt the softness of a woman’s touch. Letting go of Salena encompassed the remainder of his days. He knew the mother of his children waited with open arms beyond the great pearly gates of Heaven, but he had long since lost faith in God. His eternal soul faced purgatory.

Adel slipped the card key into the locking mechanism. Fragrant flowers were positioned on the dining room table. Sand-colored carpet along the perimeter the wall contrasted nicely with the hardwood flooring in the spacious living area. Freed from the cage, Max went straight for the window and meowed. Elise fluffed the red, yellow, and green throw pillows strewn on the couch. Sitting down, she patted the cushion beside her.

“Thank you, sweetheart. The trip across the pond took its toll on me.” His daughter slid a pillow under his feet when he rested them on the oak coffee table. Clicking on the television was the worst thing she could have done. Plastered on the screen was Andrea’s photo and the announcer droned on about the “Curse of the Pharaohs”, which irritated him so much that he quickly turned it off. Since the news reminded him, he decided it was time to talk to Elise about the dreams. And after having listened intently, he said, “We are a family of inquisitive minds; among the three of us, we can figure this out.”

“It would help if I can find a Priest of the Old Ways. But locating a legitimate one will not be easy because there are many charlatans. We must thoroughly check their references to keep from being duped. I can take care of that aspect.”

“Agreed. Elise and I will start with the local legends. It’s all we have to go on right now, and is worth researching. First though, young lady, you must get some sleep.”

The harsh discord of her firm “no” surprised him. “You have to sleep sometime. I will be right here if you need me.”

“I’m not tired, Daddy. I’ll go to bed when I’m ready.” When Adel shook his head, Elise blew a gasket. “Don’t look at me like that. I said I’ll go to bed when I’m damned well ready!”

“Don’t be rude, young lady,” Mark reprimanded. “It’s not his fault you can’t sleep.”

“Yes it is! He didn’t pay attention to his job and now Andrea is gone. It is his fault!” She snorted and stomped out of the room. Four little black paws scurried after her.

“Adel, she doesn’t mean it.”

“Yes, she does and she’s right.”

“I don’t believe that for one second. Things happen for a reason; it was unavoidable. She shouldn’t lay blame. Besides, I refuse to tolerate such behavior.”

“It was worse before you arrived. Her well being concerns me most of all. Lack of sleep is affecting her judgment.”

“I have a confession to make, my friend. We may require the services of a private physician for both Elise and me. I could not say this in front of her, but I have a heart arrhythmia. My doctor wants to install a pacemaker. My old ticker isn’t what it used to be, my friend.” Mark lightly tapped his chest.

“I will keep it under my fez.” Adel’s worry-lines skewed.

“Thank you. Oh, could you pass me the room service menu? I’m starving for some decent food.”

Chapter 10

Chapter 8 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:21:05 CDT

Chapter 8

Men-Nefer

War was the topic of the day. The generals bickered back and forth like old, Athenian harpies. His mind was currently focused on Ha’atshep. Over a month ago, she had left and still no word. Tehuti should have been here a week ago.

Hemynu’s disapproval and continued nagging shortened Khufu’s temper considerably until one day, he exploded. “Your place is not to question me!” He slammed his fist on the armrest. “Only the Gods can impose their displeasures upon me, yet none have done so. Speak of it again and I shall remove your tongue!” Although Hemynu distanced himself after being threatened, his appearance today was an excuse to get away from these stuffy old generals.

Hemynu bowed stiffly. “My King, Ha’atshep has returned. Apep’s minions sank the barque well before she reached Hermopolis. I instructed her to speak with you after she bathed.”

“She has returned; it is all I am required to know,” he said with a lax tone. The Vizier bowed again and left without initiating a conversation. Khufu had hoped his friend’s anger diminished, but such a threat was abhorrent and uneasy to forget. Left without reprieve, the demands of the assembly cornered him. Debates continued, the king’s foot tapped faster as his interest waned. Soon he slipped out, unseen, through the hidden passage behind the throne.

Unrestricted exploration brought joy to Andrea’s face and her diversity astounded him. His heart palpated each time she neared. Many times, they met in the garden after he dealt with the day’s business. She constantly questioned about his culture and beliefs; he, in turn, asked of hers. Some details he expected to be withheld, for revealing too much of the future was ill advised. Their time together was enjoyed by both and he hated every second they were apart.

Khufu proceeded to garden after finding her quarters empty. Rarely had he seen so many fowls gathered at once and to keep from scaring them, he observed from the portico. A small vigilant hawk was perched on her shoulder. In a pink gown with her hair pulled up in some strange fashion, she fed her feathered congregation. Just seeing her charmed him like a snake-handler. Wings flapped as the birds scattered when she stood, but the hawk remained on his moving perch. Its talons should have ripped her supple skin, but the magnificent bird of prey did not leave a scratch.

“I see you have a new friend.” He called across the yard, speaking more to Heru than to Andrea. The Hawk God’s head twisted as Andrea pivoted, waved, and strolled across the plush green carpet. They met in the middle. She kissed him gingerly on the cheek because she thought no one was watching; she was oblivious of whom it was resting on her shoulder. Khufu’s smile broadened with the soft touch of her lips mixed with bursts of air from the now hovering deity. “Why did you do that?”

“I felt like it. Should I not?” she questioned.

“What?”

“Should I not kiss you?”

Thick arms swept her up with ferocious desire. His tongue parted her lips and delved into her fully. Sheer ecstasy consumed him as she reciprocated fervently. The flavor of her lips made him crazy. He wanted to do it from the first time he saw her and now he had no urge to let go. It would have continued forever if Heru had not squawked several times and flew off. Khufu forced himself to break away. Her features became crimson almost as if she had never been kissed before. He scanned the area.

Tehuti’s feathers ruffled to life. The small statue paled in comparison to the actual deity. Andrea was in somewhat of a daze when Khufu went to greet him. “Welcome, Master Tehuti.”

“I see you are well, Khufu. It seems I arrived in time.” His sly grin was bracketed by chubby dimples. “How does she fare?” Wise, round eyes detoured their view.

“She adjusts well, Master, but her heart is still heavy with a yearning for home.”

“Those feelings should lessen with time.”

“This one is unlike most women. My deception was discovered immediately. Given the proper encouragement, she shall be an excellent pupil.”

“I see the colors within her and you. You have fallen in love with her, have you not?” Tehuti questioned unnecessarily.

“I cannot deny it,” he hung his head and raised his shame-filled almond orbs. “She fills the void within.”

“Oh, I am certain of it. Fear not for her love bubbles upon the surface. If you are lucky, she shall bestow it upon you. Tomorrow her training must commence. Many seasons shall wane until she is fully prepared. Bring her to me.”

Andrea, still where he left her, enjoyed the company of the gathering birds. He just wanted to hold her. Having to tell her they were here sliced their time in half. He slowed his approach and stopped beside her. “Tehuti is waiting,” he said with a touch of personal dread.

“Gods manifest themselves?” Folds of skin came together over the bridge of her nose. Heru, who recently acquainted himself with her by using her as a perch, disguised himself leaving her unaware of his presence.

“The Neteru live and breathe as we do. You see them not?” Khufu briefly explored that unappealing option.

“No one sees God where I’m from. And if they did they’d be arrested if they told anyone.”

“All is possible if you believe it to be. The Neteru walk among us, talk to us, and guide us along the correct path. It is hard to conceive a world without them. I enjoy passing the time with them on a personal level.”

Looking straight ahead, she sighed. The corner of her lip curved down while heavy thoughts preoccupied the mind. Another sigh followed by a roll of the shoulders signaled her readiness. “Where is he?” He loved the way she bit her lip when nervous.

They walked alongside a row of thrones. “These statues are vessels for their spirits to inhabit. The inanimate is rejuvenated by the power of the bennu. Embracing these as their true forms from the First Time, our forefathers and mothers are bound to them until eternity’s end.”

Andrea’s stopped and turned to him. Bright green irises disclosed her intrigue; her pupils shrank to mere specks. “You mean to tell me they were once mortal, like us?”

“Yes and yet, no, my child,” a soothing voice said.

Andrea wasn’t afraid, not really, but her complexion paled. He was a seven foot tall hybrid, man and bird, with a bulky, well-balanced physique. His entire body had a downy covering. Strange though was how his every aspect resembled and ibis: a round face, beaked nose, and thin, wide mouth. Aerodynamic creamy-white feathers grew from the underside of his arms. Spindly fingers with talons extended from elongated hands gripping a carved staff. Red metal wiring in a counter-clockwise spiral design clutched an unblemished white crystal ball. Thick silver wire secured the grip to the staff before it wound down the length of the burnished wood.

“Never has she seen a Neteru,” Tehuti stated with blunt observation. His cool talons curved around her wrist; all seeing eyes blinked. “Over the millennia much has changed. Father Geb clings to life beneath the trampling feet of mortals. Firmament bleeds streaks of fiery red across Mother Nut’s belly. My species have been clouded in myth and mortals slay one another without honor or cause.” A tear rolled over the slick surface of his facial feathers. “Regardless of what cannot be changed, I am neither myth nor god. Once I was alive, but now Death passes over me; I am freed of his bonds. I am the Ascended Master, Teacher of Secrets, and Keeper of Knowledge. Filled am I with the love of the All-Father. His Flame burns within each entity residing on this planet. Some souls have reached their peak and shine white with His flame. These souls shall soon conquer Lord Death and become like the Akhu. Others remain dim; they have much to learn and many more lifetimes to lead. The Neteru can take human form as well as any other form we desire; we are direct descendants of the Father himself. We are like you, yet we are not.”

Her features contorted as she studied him. “Why did you choose this form?”

“You see, during Zep Tepi, our energies were not fixated to one body. Those of us who chose more than one form became known as the Neteru. Those entities who maintained a human guise became the Akhu.

“Near the Time of Permanence, Heru and Seth struggled for control of Khemet. A Tribunal was convened by Lady Neith to settle this long standing dispute. Yet, when I judged in favor of Heru, the rightful heir, Seth unleashed his wrath upon the world.

“One warm harvest day, as Ra traversed the sky-blue of Nut’s belly, I was walking along the River Nile watching a flock of ibis gathered on the shore. Seth attacked them with fierce revelry. My brave Maankha barely survived the slaughter. I nursed her back to health and during this time love befell our hearts. Free of body, I transformed into an ibis to partake of a lifetime as her mate,” Tehuti’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Happiness, for us, was a far-away wish never to be granted. He returned much later to complete his deed.” His talons, clenched with lingering rage, drew blood. “I curse thee, Seth.”

After closing his eyes for several minutes, his features dulled again, and he continued. “The Dark Brotherhood placed selfishness, greed, and drunkenness for material desires into the hearts of the Akhu and the physical embodiments became permanent. The members of the Brotherhood are still Neteru, and able to influence the course of man’s fate, but they carry all that is chaotic in their scorched hearts.”

Uncertainty prostrated onto Andrea’s face as she absorbed it all. It was a bit much to swallow in one gulp.

Tehuti ruffled his feathers. “You seek enlightenment and inner peace as do all creatures living among the shadows; this is what I offer. My teachings shall thrive within you throughout infinity and they shall expectorate your soul from the shadowy bonds of death. The Great Crisis of Man is neigh and preparation is imperative. Your training requires much vitality, Andrea. Rest tonight for on the morrow we begin. Khufu, come forth.”

The mighty king’s posture was less rigid than before; his chin lowered; his fingers interlocked. As obedient as a trained animal, Khufu approached the giant. Having anticipated the unasked question, he replied, “Your quarters are as you requested, Master Tehuti.”

The Neteru shimmered briefly. His massive body shifted, and then a normal looking man with snowy white hair stood before them. Andrea’s pupils enlarged. Tehuti slanted his head. “Does this surprise you as well?” He chirped. She nodded. And he replied, “I shall teach you this as well. For now, enjoy your evening.” Tehuti grinned slyly, and in a poof of feathers, he vanished.

Andrea, one eyebrow up and the other slumped, turned, and stared out over the garden. “This is not what I expected. I’ve discovered many weird and unexplained things--getting here being the strangest. But the importance of my participation eludes me.”

Silence fell like the final curtain on a Broadway stage. Andrea worked hard on her lower lip.

Warmth encompassed her as Khufu inched closer and callous-free palms slid around her exposed waist. His heated breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “One day, you shall come to love this place.”

“I already do. It’s the most beautiful dream I could ever ask for. Your company is the best I’ve had.” Her arms folded across her chest. “Most men are afraid of me.”

“Never shall I fear you. You . . .” Gently, he turned her about. Soft fingertips caressed her cheek while his other hand came to rest behind the small of her back. He drew her in until their hearts beat wildly against one another. Their eyes locked. “I am alive only when you are near.”

Andrea’s stomach tingled and twitched. He traced the contours of her face while she spoke. “The things you say. Your eyes, they stare into my soul. Nobody has ever . . .” Words drifted into oblivion as lips converged. An intruding tongue made her eyes burst open and then flutter shut. Her blood was like jet fuel coursing through heated veins. The kiss mutated into rapids of passion. Khufu explored her as much as she’d allow. Woozy from natural intoxication, her knees buckled, but strong arms nestled her tight.

Then Andrea froze, backed up, and turned away, thinking, I can’t let this happen. Again, arms encircled her waist. He nuzzled the bend of her neck, breathing in her femininity. His whispered words were torment. “I have waited many lifetimes for you, my love.” Andrea unlatched his unwilling fingers and distanced herself. Khufu was a persistent man. Somewhat crestfallen he asked, “What bothers you?”

“It is unimportant.”

He stroked her slumped shoulders. “Come, I have another place I wish you to see.”

He led her from the sun-filled garden, through candle illuminated palace halls, and halted at a door with various animal depictions. Invisible hands pushed open the massive entry and Andrea’s cheeks crimsoned with the rising delight accompanying her broad smile.

Gazelles and zebra gathered at feeding spots as men dumped out a cornucopia of hays and barleys onto the ground of the vast savannah-like foyer. Birds flew in at their leisure to pick up scraps. Benches skirted the lazy river winding through the masterfully designed zoo. Floral arched pathways invited visitors for a leisurely stroll. Khufu guided them along the river amidst the mad symphony she couldn’t yet see. Large cats roared and growled as their arguments over slabs of raw meat escalated. Monkeys, concerned with their own disagreements, chattered and thumped their chests. A nearby elephant trumpeted.

Near the middle of the open air foyer, an ancient Tamarisk tree stood. The feathery leaves provided at least 60 feet of soft shade and small pink flowers clung from the ends of thin, stringy branches. A small carving around the bole of the tree dedicated it to Wesir. Lime green grass reached over her braided leather sandals; it was luscious and cool against her toes. Without warning a vervet monkey, brown eyes fixated, tromped from the tree, and seized her ankle bracelet. When Andrea wiggled her foot to escape the small, olive green tree climber with a white vesture, it made a tree out of her. Right up to her shoulder he went; sharp fingernails dug in the entire way up. It tugged at her hair, played with her jewelry, and then protested. There was no shaking the furry assailant. “Khufu, will you please help me?” All she could hear though was monkey chatter and hysterical laughter. Andrea grappled for her freedom. “This is beautiful. Why did you wait so long to bring me here?” Andrea asked, ducking a swat to the head from her new “friend”.

“My thoughts were elsewhere. I have an aviary as well. I shall take you there if you wish it.”

“Maybe later we. . . Hey, stop that!” She grabbed the monkey’s little gray hand just before he yanked on her hair for the fifteenth time.

“He likes you.”

“Obviously.” Their laughter relieved pent up frustrations. “How many species have you acquired?”

“Forty-seven at last count. Each of those arched pathways leads to individual animal habitats, and . . .”

His voice and caressing hand became far off phantoms as her thoughts cornered her.

I can’t let myself fall for him. How could anyone live this way? Maybe I’m just falling in love with the idea of love. But his damned persistence makes it near impossible.

She hadn’t even noticed the disappearance of her “friend” when Khufu brought her back from her silent fortress by saying, “Andrea, I wish you to meet someone.”

As they strolled, the visible exhibits gave her some insight to the techniques used in ancient zoo design. Manicured lime-green grass produced small yellow flowers throughout. A sphinx lined path led to stone bridges crossing the mock Nile. Trimmed hedges encircled secluded seating areas, which had small fountains and raised flower beds at their centers. Sentries of sandstone, which mimicked human flesh beautifully, shimmered with quartz bits giving them the illusion of life. Crenellated walls denoted the great expanse designated as a zoo.

Fascinated by the utilization of levels and pulleys, Andrea rushed over to a chimp exhibit. Heavy ropes, tethered to the corners of a wide, thick plank, ran between two pieces of cedar girthed with layered leather straps. “So this is why we never found rope-scored wood.” The ropes disappeared through holes drilled into wood squares and next to the device was a foot lever. With an askance look, she studied it as she allowed Khufu to lead her along.

Entering through a floral archway, they were immediately confined by a chest high fence. Khufu swung open the gate with silver hinges and herded her inside the expansive half-forest, half-meadow habitat. The miniature river flowed through here too, but disappeared into the forest. Guard towers, with connecting catwalks, spaced regularly suggested an exterior wall. It made her wonder why the sounds of city life were absent.

Her royal companion carried a tune on puckered lips; his gait rhythmic and smooth. “Khufu, where are we?” Mischievous eyes and a quick sly grin conveyed enough. If there were any animals, his whistling covered its approach.

The tree line shuddered and Khufu pointed toward it. A silky black stallion, fifteen hands high, trotted from its hiding place. Leather straps and gold beads decorated its long braided mane. Flicking its head with a happy whinny, it stamped a hoof several times. The stunning creature pranced over to greet them.

“Greetings, Zair.” Khufu patted the horse’s muscle-bound neck as it nuzzled his other hand. “Usually I visit him every day, but since your arrival he has been neglected. We have been friends since he was a colt.”

“Take me for a ride,” she pleaded with enthusiasm in her limpid pools.

“Another day, perhaps.”

“When? I wish to see Menfer.”

“Soon, I promise.” He reassured her with a smile. A quick gesture sent the horse clopping away. “You may wish to simply relax. Tomorrow shall be interminable.”

A few moments later a cold, rather large, nose nudged her. She turned. Dangling from its mouth was a small basket. The stallion’s jaw opened; the basket fell into Andrea’s hand. “What is this?” She untied the ribbon securing the top and unlatched the gold clasp. Cushioned in deep blue, the glittering amulet heisted away her breath. Perfectly round, its carving stated, “Most beloved by the Great House of Khufu”. Andrea stared, unable to fathom what drove his affections. Such a title implied a semi-formal union, which was unacceptable.

She closed the top and held it out. “I must decline.” Anguish permeated her words as well as her soul.

“My love for you increases each time Ra rides in the heavens. We are bound by the soul; to ignore it is perilous.” The space between them diminished. Soft lips brushed against her ear. “Do you not dream of me as I do of you? I offer my eternal devotion and all you could ever desire.”

“You are very special to me, but this is a doomed relationship. I refuse to sacrifice my heart.”

“The only thing you sacrifice is happiness.”

“Khufu,” the rims of her eyes glistened, “I need to be alone.”

His features came to rest somewhere between heartbreak and rage.

Reed crunched; metal clinked against compacted earth. “So be it.” Khufu swiveled, and then marched toward the gate. It thwacked shut behind him. The slight rustle of low hanging tree limbs unnerved her further. Andrea stooped to retrieve the amulet Khufu had cast aside with vehemence. One warm liquid drop splashed against the cold gold before she folded the cloth over it.

Andrea headed to the only place she had to call hers.

Chapter 9

Chapter 7 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:20:36 CDT

Chapter 7

Modern day Cairo

Since the sun first warned of dawn’s onset, swarms of people combed the plateau. Huts were ransacked one by one. Armed guards marched on and off of all outgoing vehicles, scaring some into leaving because they thought there was some crazed terrorist on the loose. Planks of wood, which were recently crates, littered the cargo loading areas. Shipping containers were emptied, repacked, and then resealed. Police officers questioned some Bedouin travelers who, on their way out of Cairo, passed by the plateau last night. Nightshift security guards had seen Andrea leaving her apartment, but quickly lost track of her. The consistent and notable oddity was a set of unusual lights similar to an aurora borealis seen over the Sphinx just after midnight. Superstitious Bedouin elders described it as “the fires of Armageddon”.

A mob of reporters had cornered Adel earlier because they had nothing better to do than splatter someone else’s sorrows all over the news. He was grateful for the publicity, yet annoyed by the media’s insistent questions. The constant flashbulbs exploding in his face caused his blood pressure to rise until tiny little stars filled his peripheral vision. Every news station wanted an exclusive, but that wouldn’t do him much good so he released a generalized statement.

Concern became a rolling boil of fear as the sun climbed. Signs of foul-play were absent, but it remained a viable possibility. The plateau’s growing influx of traffic trampled any clues that may have been left behind. Adel tried to maintain his composure for Elise’s sake, but his mind could not escape what horrors Andrea might be facing. Women who disappeared in Egypt ended up either dead or drugged and sold on the black market. With each passing hour, the salt began to outnumber the pepper in Adel’s hair and his crows-feet deepened.

Adel labored to keep track of the raving woman left in the wake of a missing sibling. Sand stuck to the pools of tears rimming her swollen sockets; blood filled the white oceans surrounding her green irises; her snarled hair, and mud-caked robe and slippers drew looks of reproach. Trenches formed between her kinked brows. Slightly stretched lips trembled. She tugged violently on the hair knotted around her bent digit.

Seeing her reminded Adel that he had delayed the dreaded call long enough. This was more than he could handle alone. He fished in his over-sized side pocket for his cell phone, and hit the speed dial. It rang, and rang, and rang again before a slurred voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mark.”

“Adel? Do you realize what time it is here?”

“Yes,” he replied plainly.

“You must have a reason for calling so late so spit it out, old man.” Mark chuckled.

“You need to come to Egypt.”

“What’s wrong?” Mark’s deep voice tensed.

Adel intended on being gentle, but it just spluttered out, “Andrea is missing.”

“Missing? What the Hell do you mean missing?” he squalled, fully alert.

“Elise woke last night and Andrea was gone. I called every place she might go. The police have issued an APB. I’m doing all I can to find her. I’m sorry.” Adel’s voice cracked.

“I know, old friend.” Mark’s sharpness was unintentional, but instinctive. “How’s Elise?”

“Not well, I’m afraid.” Adel held the phone out so Mark could hear her barking orders at the already exhausted workers. “See what I mean?”

“I’ll be on the next flight out.” His statement was followed by the buzz of a disconnected line.

Adel approached Elise cautiously, but she turned on him like a rabid dog and thoughtless words bit into him, “How could you let this happen?”

The rampant emotional outburst stung, but he ignored the comment, knowing it was simply the tension talking. Her mood swung like a pendulum. “Your father is coming,” he said, which stopped her tyranny. For the first time today, she allowed him to get close enough to hold her. And although it was hot, her flesh was as frigid as her posture.

“This isn’t like her. She wouldn’t leave without saying good-bye.” Her lips twisted with disdain and the veins in her neck protruded.

“Perhaps she needed time alone. As you said before we have been hard on her lately. She will turn up.” Adel’s attempt at reassurance failed them both.

“We’re never going to see her again.” Her shrilly voice was a razor-blade of despair.

“We must think positive,” he said, rubbing his throbbing temples.

“You’ve called every hotel, bar, and hospital within a hundred miles. Nobody’s seen her. She isn’t coming back!” Elise stomped off.

Adel clung to an unraveling thread of hope. Police were everywhere so he felt somewhat confident in Elise’s safety; he climbed into the jeep and continued searching.

His cane clicked on the parquet floor. Where could she have gone? She only knows colleagues and Adel’s already called them. Was she kidnapped? Is she being tortured? Do they intend on selling her to some foreigner? Why haven’t they called with a ransom demand yet? His stomach curdled and his hands shook like a speaker with bad woofers that were turned up too high. The only flight he could get was leaving the day after tomorrow, which wasn’t soon enough for him.

Mark ran his fingers through his dark blonde mop, which miraculously had maintained its vernal luster and color. All the years spent digging holes, crawling through confined spaces, and being hunched over at dig sites were finally affecting him. As he stared at his furrowed hands, he regressed to the days when youthful firmness was taken for granted.

Memories flickered against a snow covered backdrop. The lawn, vibrant green and infused with flowers, splayed across the rolling hills. Two blonde toddlers, barely old enough to walk without wobbling, ran circles around the grand oak tree out back. Mark moused around behind them, taking care not to reach them too quickly; squeals erupted when the big, bad tickle monster captured his pint-sized victims. Salena, who had been crouched behind nearby bushes, would spring out and lunge at the tickle monster with her aluminum foil sword. Falling to the ground, Mark would put one hand over his heart and howl. He could still feel Salena’s foot pressed gently into his washboard stomach as she yelled, “Victory!” The twins and his wife would fall down next to him, laughing, and dispensing their resurrecting kisses onto the defeated monster.

A gust of artic air thrust the French doors open and flooded the room, bringing him back to reality. His joints ached and pain shot down his leg; his cane slipped. Mark, fighting the invading wind, struggled to maintain his balance. After closing the doors, Mark fell into his chair and stared at an empty staircase. In the days before Salena’s death, the twins would run down those steps with laughter on their lips and dolls slung under their scrawny arms. They would launch themselves into his lap and beg him to tell a story. His angels with gilded wings, how his soul longed to have those beloved days returned to him, but bad luck plagued them. God had betrayed him one time too many: Salena’s death, the accident in Luxor, and now his precious baby was missing. “Why, God, why do you hate me?” he whispered.

The last useless tear trailed down her cheek as resolve suffocated sadness. What good would crying do anyway? What they needed were answers. Swallowed by the overstuffed chair, Elise sat behind the massive cherry-stained desk studying the infernal piece of paper. She scrutinized each delicate stroke with her magnifying glass trying desperately to find something that simply was not there. Opening all the drawers, she sorted through Andrea’s research papers and stacked them into neat piles. What seemed important, she placed aside for further study. Most of the shelved artifacts behind her were from unrelated sites, but some were from the plateau and those she carefully inspected. Foraging for clues, the hours passed like minutes.

A family photo surfaced. Her mother knelt between the twins, disregarding the dirt attacking her floral skirt with neon pink flowers. Mark stood behind them with his hands resting on Salena’s shoulder. The shoreline dotted with temples, fields of barley, and buff cliffs in the distance provided a beautiful backdrop. It was the girls’ first trip to Luxor. Their dad taught them how to write their names in hieroglyphs that day, which sparked their first interests in Egypt. Traveling with both parents was the greatest memory she had; Elise had almost forgotten how much fun life was back then. Stopping for a moment, she wondered how Dad was coping. She propped the photo against the canopic jar Andrea kept as a top-notch example of how modern forgeries mimicked the ancient techniques so precisely that even a professional would have a difficult time distinguishing the difference. The photo reminded Elise of how important it was to keep her dwindling family intact.

A tsunami of relief washed over him when he saw Elise, still in yesterday’s pajamas, sleeping with her head on Andrea’s desk. He glanced at the open notebook half under her arm, and contemplated pulling it free to see if she had made progress, but the little nuisance, Max, hissed at him. Adel snarled back; he only tolerated it because Elise was attached to the retched creature. “Best leave her be,” he told the cat as he brushed the hair from her face and backed away. A small desk lamp provided ample lighting so he went to the door, bolted the latch, and flicked off the overhead light before lying on the couch across from the desk.

After what seemed like hours, he somehow managed to fall asleep only to be woken by a horrendous scream fracturing the serenity of night.

With blanched knuckles, petrified eyes, and sopping from sweat, Elise sat upright in the chair. Mumbling unintelligible words, she glowered in his direction almost as if she were stuck in a waking dream. Sleepwalkers could be a danger to themselves and others when awakened, and being unsure if this was the case or not he approached cautiously. Once Elise realized Adel was beside her, she stood and wrapped her arms around him.

Tears welled up as he curbed the impending emotional crash. Comforting her soothed the inherited tortures inflicted upon him personally. The “honor”, or more precisely “burden”, fell to him. In the darkest depths of his ancestry unrevealed secrets governed every strategic move he made, just as it had in his last lifetime. Warning the ones he loved most was an unquestionable mistake. But avoiding the inevitable was insurmountable.

“I want my sister back,” she uttered.

Her head rested on his chest, which intensified the guilt. “Everything will be fine. You have to believe that.” He kissed her forehead.

“I saw Andrea in my dream. They took her prisoner and put her in this huge room with antique Egyptian furnishings. Fields stretched for miles outside the window. A servant brings in some clothes and when she leaves I can hear a bolt slide. She wants to come home but can’t. Everything gets blurry before it shifts. Now she’s a garden- - the statues from the tomb are there too. I can’t understand what’s being said, but she’s talking to a very important man. What’s so amazing is he’s dressed in a shendyt. It seems so real, Adel.”

“It was only a dream.”

“No,” she retorted with certainty, “I’m telling you, it was real!”

“Okay,” he agreed. “Do you want me to get something from the doctor to help you sleep?” Elise nodded. “Will you be okay until I get back?”

“As long as I don’t go back to sleep.”

Adel raced to the doctor’s unit. When he returned she was sitting on the bed rocking back and forth with her arms clamped against her legs. She popped the two pills into the back of her throat, almost gagging from the chalkiness, and chugged down the glass of water.

“Don’t leave me alone again, Adel.”

“I am here, do not worry. The medication will work soon.”

It took an hour for her to doze off with her head in his lap. Maneuvering from under her, he stayed in the room a few extra minutes and then went back to the couch.

Bent on one knee, he prayed. “I cannot hope to know why you have chosen Andrea, but I ask you, no I beg you, keep her safe. Had I known this burden was to fall upon me, I would have prepared them both. Empower me so I am able to protect my family. Guide us in our time of need and hinder the pain to follow. Keep us together in spirit, Lady Auset, for only then will we be strong enough to survive unscathed. Amen.”

Chapter 8

Chapter 6 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:20:08 CDT

Chapter 6

Khufu’s foot tapped on the floor. He tried to concentrate on pressing matters of state, but his mind kept drifting to the smell of her hair or the shiny softness of her skin. Generals cluttered around the throne, trampling his new lion skin rug. Bronze armor clanked and clattered. Officials from various city-states vied to win the pharaoh’s favor by offering the services of their finest weapon makers, while others donated massive amounts of supplies and gold to help finance the impending battle. The room was a whirlwind of curiosity. Questions flew from every chaotic corner. Everyone asked everything all at once. Khufu selected his answers scrupulously to avoid questions best left unasked. All of it enhanced his king-sized headache.

Khufu leaned in close to Hemynu so as to be heard over the sea of voices, “Each guard who found the warrior is to receive land with a spacious dwelling built upon it.”

“Yes, my lord,” Hemynu replied.

By the sound of his voice, Khufu knew his friend bridled in his lingering dismay after last night’s incident. “Very well, then. Let us quell the crowd for I am weary of this.” Khufu pounded his gold-tipped ebony was staff on the metal floor plate reserved exclusively for halting conversations during such irksome gatherings; he stood. “My people please. It is time to prepare for the task ahead; it is as immense as the Nile’s source. Debates shall consume many nights. Only by holding steadfast and equipping the warrior with the necessary skills shall Khemet gain its freedom forever. All shall wither faster than flowers during draught if we are unsuccessful. How many of you want your ba, the essence of your very spirit’s existence, to suffer the ultimate death?” With a sweeping motion, Khufu pointed to various people in the crowd.

Silence curtained uncertain mouths. Then hushed conversations rippled across the lake of people crammed into the expansive throne room.

Khufu cleared his throat. “What say you?”

A beastly man, who proudly displayed the battle-scars on his exposed body by decorating them with henna paint, rumbled to the front. The crowd parted for General Gua, Most Favored of the Great House. His proud shoulders spanned a width twice the size of normal men. Even the massive curved kopeshe sheathed in hippo-leather outweighed most men in the room; its polished brilliance was deceptively sharp. Bronze armor chinked. The bronze-studded leather belt strapped to his waist sported more weapons placed at strategic locations. Gold medals, honors from the Pharaoh and his father, hung cluttered around a thick neck.

He bowed to Khufu, stood, thumped his chest thrice, and said, “Most beloved Son of the Gods, Master of the Great House, Ruler of the Black Lands, we shall follow you into the cavernous depths of the Tuat to save Khemet. No region of the underworld shall be safe for Apep or his foul minions.” General Gua turned to the crowd. “Nekhtet!” he yelled and then thumped his monolithic chest again.

The room erupted in shrill cries of victory and praise.

“Excellent.” Khufu pounded his staff again. “On the morrow we shall make haste. Tonight we feast! Gather in the hall three hours from now. Hemynu and I have further business to discuss. Remove you all others from my presence.”

A hesitant glance suggested Hemynu wanted nothing to do with the impending conversation.

Heat abated as people spilled from the room; the ostrich feather fans swayed softly, creating a comfortable breeze. Despite the efforts to eliminate spies, they always seemed to worm their way into the company of important people so Khufu purposely chose deaf woman as fan-bearers in rooms where privacy was crucial. The door creaked shut as last person shuffled out.

“You have something you wish to say, Hemynu?” Khufu readjusted himself on the throne. The small of his back throbbed from being in one position for too long.

Hemynu kneeled.

“Hemynu, stand. Speak your mind, my friend, and fear not any retribution.”

“My Lord, I am concerned. Your infatuation with Andrea is dangerous. I am wary of her, and do not wish you offended should she reject you. This is my concern not only as Vizier, but as your friend. It is inappropriate to display affections towards the warrior. The public may perceive your interest in her as a sign of weakness.”

Khufu’s lips curved downward. “Why do you bore me with such topics, Hemynu? We should be preparing for tonight’s gathering instead of discussing my personal business.”

“You are my dearest friend. I want you to be happy. If she fills the void within you then so be it, but please use caution.”

“I shall, my friend. Now let us ready ourselves. Tonight’s feast shall formally announce her arrival.” Hemynu reached out to help steady the king as he struggled to stand; the weight of the bull’s tail attached to Khufu’s waist hindered him.

The doors groaned open for them. Kitchen odors teased the olfactory nerves as they filled the palace’s lower level. Fresh floral arrangements decorated the corners, adding extra sweetness to the already honeyed air. Guests were rare so when the occasion arose it was a large effort to prepare the palace. Servants scurried back and forth preparing rooms, tending the needs of guests, and generally being disheveled by the mayhem of too much to do.

Chests, packed with everything an Egyptian noble woman could use in two lifetimes, were neatly arranged against the long wall bordered with a lotus and lily design. A new vanity had drawers overflowing with perfumes, wax hair cones, body oils, and a variety of exotic cosmetics. The boxes set on the long table cascaded with jewels. Servants were just a knock away.

Andrea rapped on the door. The bolt unlatched with a thwack. The guard, an Akkadian with olive skin and a mass that would make any modern wrestler jealous, opened the door. A look of annoyance passed over his crude features. His stature dwarfed her, but at the same time gave her a sense of security.

“Is there any color other than white?” she asked maintaining a semblance of having some authority.

He grunted like a fish out of water. In a scratchy voice, he said yes, and then he closed the door. His enthusiasm lacking reply gave her no indication of compliance so she began to rummage through what was available. Most were halter dress which left the breasts exposed. Not feeling comfortable with the Egyptians wanton designs, she threw those aside. The remainders were basic and unimaginative. “None of these will do.” She plopped down on the bed and tucked the edge of the towel between her breasts. At least the towel had coverage; it came to her knees.

This time, the bolt slid open silently. An army of servants carrying bolts of clothe entered and lined up. The last one, a young, athletic woman with astonishing beauty, walked toward Andrea. A yellow strap covered her chest like a tube top and the pleats of her skirt were attached to a silver belt that hung low around the hips. Lapis lazuli beads, a sky blue stone with veins of green, framed her robust face. Short bangs rocked gently from her fluid gait. Honey-colored eyes imparted her passionate spirit. Andrea could almost see an aura of white radiating from the woman.

“I am Neitamun, Seamstress of the Great House. How may I be of service?” Her harmonious voice swirled around her words.

“I prefer less revealing clothing. If I draw you a picture of what I would like, can you sew it for me?”

“If the design is simple, it shall take little time to complete. Choose a fabric of your pleasing.” Neitamun waved for the servants, who walked past one by one. Andrea pointed to a blue tinged fabric slightly thicker than the gauzy clothes sent to her room last night.

Neitamun took the fabric, excused the servants, and placed it on the clean end of the large table. Boxes Andrea had yet to pillage through were stacked on the other end. She opened a hidden drawer and placed various objects on the table: sheets of papyrus paper, writing sticks, small vases with various colors of ink, spools of thread, and snake tooth needles. Then she extended her hand to Andrea. “Proceed,” she said.

Andrea excelled at sketching; she quickly drew out a design and handed it over. Neitamun extracted a blade from its silver sheath. It had an ornately engraved ivory hilt with a short, strange looking iridescent blue blade. It cut through the fabric like a razor, leaving no frayed edges. Crackling knuckles loosened. She watched as the woman picked up the needle, threaded it in one quick stroke, and began working. As if guided by magic, nimble fingers worked at sewing machine speeds weaving in, out, through, under, and around. To Andrea’s surprise, the creation was finished in an hour.

With a smile, Andrea tried it on. Neitamun clipped intricate clasps over the shoulder pleats and wrapped a beadwork belt around Andrea’s waist. It was loose-fitting with a shallow v-shaped neckline and larger pleats flattered her waist. The length came midway between her knees and ankles and on the side, slits came up just below the hips. This dress left more to the imagination than the others. There was a highly polished bronze mirror near the bathroom. A clear reflection, as good as any modern mirror, smiled back. She turned to each side.

“Could you make me more?”

“It shall be my honor,” Neitamun said, bowing. “I am able to visit once a day if you require.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you. What time should I expect you?”

“After the noon day’s meal.”

“I will see you tomorrow.”

“Ankh udja seneb, Andrea.” Neitamun cleaned up, smiled broadly, and then exited the room.

Alone again, Andrea went to the foot of the bed and opened the dark colored chest butted against it. Sparkles filled her green spheres as sunlight danced off the jewels contained within. A turquoise and malachite-beaded necklace with multiple strands would lay nicely below the choker with the ankh and it complimented her eyes. She found matching bracelets and anklet, a gold diadem for her hair, two gold asp-headed armbands, and a turquoise beaded belt with a small gold medallion. There was even a pair of leather sandals with long blue faience beads alternated by gold beads sewed to the straps.

Andrea sank into the zebra fur cushioned vanity seat with carved wood backrest. Still debating about the diadem, she set it aside. Drawers slid open effortlessly. Picking up the applicator stick, she wet it, and dipped it into the black powder. Her lines were smaller than they should have been, but she rimmed her lids with it, pulled out a thin line just shy of midway to her ear, and gave it a slight upward curl. Then she drew a long line on the folded section of her eyelid, making the line almost the same length of the one from her lids, and ended it with another, more dramatic upward curl. She omitted the lines which traditionally went under the eyelids. With a new applicator, she added some pale yellow between the black lines on her upper lid and some green on the lower and then blended it with her fingertips to soften the lines. Different shades of red ochre gum resin could easily be used as both blush and lipstick.

The diadem was a risky choice, but the servant did say to pick what she liked. Ankhs made of various stones made it an elegant, yet simple, ornamental headband. It fit comfortably over her brows, and her medium length bangs hung slightly over the malachite inlaid top border. Her hair had nice wave to it because she braided before going to bed. “Ouch,” she said, the bone comb pulled at a knot. Andrea picked up the handheld mirror and made sure the makeup looked as natural as possible. Staring into it, she watched the mirror’s reflection shift. Elise stared back at her with soulful eyes while Adel, who was behind her sister, talked on the phone. The image suddenly returned to normal, prompting Andrea to go to the window.

Time slipped away and the sun hung low on the horizon. She was oblivious to his entry. She couldn’t feel his admiring eyes note how the pale blue accented her lightly tanned flesh in dramatic fashion or how her long hair fell from the diadem to kiss her lower back. Arms spanned as primal yearnings temporarily expelled common sense. Resuming a more appropriate demeanor, he grazed her arm.

Andrea jumped and turned her head. “You startled me,” she said, a hand over her thumping chest. “Why are you formally dressed?”

“Unintentional, I assure you. Forgive me.” Khufu’s deep voice eased her nerves, but then jarred them again when he said, “We have festivities to attend. State officials are gathering for a banquet in your honor. It is most urgent the Kingdom knows you have arrived.”

“I don’t want to be the center of attention.” Her shoulders slumped, shimmering as they caught the last rays of sunlight.

“This must be done, Andrea. My people have awaited your arrival long enough. It is an honor. The Gods shall teach you to defeat Apep but it is your heart which shall be victorious. You have strong magic inside; it has resided in you since birth. Trust in yourself and you shall succeed. Your ka glows magnificent like Ra’s heavenly light.” Khufu’s hands were diligent in their quest to loosen the taut muscles of her shoulders. “You need utter not a word if it displeases you. The guests shall direct all questions to Hemynu. His duty is to speak for us both. All you need do is smile, enjoy yourself, and sit beside me. It is enough for them merely to see you.”

A faint smile crossed her lips. Andrea didn’t take notice of it until now, but he was quite stunning in his ceremonial apparel. The snug fitting shendyt, unusually accented with a woven border, went midway to his knees; the curvature of its lappets, or pleats, conformed to his lower torso. Miniature gold ankhs dangled from the hem of the shendyt’s centered decorative front flap. His belt was comprised of alternating silver, gold, and bronze medallions, each etched with a spell and strung together with beaded straps. The short-sleeved shirt, sporting the same border along the sleeves, was tucked in. Fur lined the soles of his braided papyrus sandals, jewels were sewn onto the straps, and centered above his toes was an ivory djed pillar, the Backbone of Wesir. The blood red, high backed crown of Lower Egypt cupped the white conical crown of Upper Egypt protectively. He had omitted the crook and flail as well as the bull’s tail commonly associated with pharaohs. Andrea cringed at the atrocious black wig and false beard; it diminished his masculinity.

Khufu’s hand glided down her arm; he pulled her palm into the crook of his elbow. “Stay to my left, servants shall seat us when appropriate. I promise you will enjoy this evening. By the by, you look mesmerizing.” Her cheeks burst with radiance.

The broad-collar hurled Khufu forward while the counterbalance tugged in the opposite direction, making for an unsteady walk. Once darkened halls now shimmered from the massive candelabras placed every few feet. Keeping track of all the twists and turns was near impossible, but she tried none-the-less because there were so many scenic walls to study. The smell of fresh cut flowers mixed with scented oils made her sneeze. Khufu stopped, saying a brief prayer to keep the sneeze related demons at bay.

A man, slightly taller than Khufu, bowed to them at the dining hall’s antechamber. He introduced himself as the real Hemynu. Dressed in full regalia, he was as impressive as her royal escort. His sharply angled chin and round face did not fit the formal personality he currently displayed.

“This way,” he said opening the door. The antechamber had many chairs, bouquets in every corner, and an archway covered with a tiger skin which probably led to the dining room.

Andrea clung to Khufu as they waited. And for some strange reason, his touch had a calming affect. A low drone on the other side of the curtain gave hint as to how many people were gathered. Fur tremored to life when someone drew aside the curtain. She inhaled deeply; Khufu patted her hand and conveyed them into the main room.

Everyone glared at her. Whispers circulated and it quickly became a roar. Andrea felt like an exotic animal in a zoo habitat. Hemynu, who stood to their right, cleared his throat.

“Nobles, Ministers, Councilors, and Priest of the Order, I present His Majesty, King Khufu and the Warrior of Light.”

Another roar erupted, continuing until one man, wearing a white robe with a green sash and a conical hat, stood. “How is she the warrior we seek?” he asked, sarcasm bounding in his deep voice.

“The Ankh of Light rests around her neck. Hathor has confirmed her identity. Do you doubt the gods, Lector-Priest?”

“I doubt not the Gods or my King but a woman is unexpected. Forgive my ignorance,” he replied, tilting his head slightly.

“This revelation stunned me as well.” Hemynu glanced skeptically in her direction. “The Circle has been summoned for the time is nearing. But tonight, we celebrate! We honor the Gods and their chosen Warrior. The battles of tomorrow may be many but we shall be victorious. Nekhtet!” His voice built into a crescendo for the victory cry.

A cacophony of cheers consumed the room. Hemynu clapped his hand thrice. Khufu and Andrea were seated first. Numerous servants entered with plates of food and vessels of libations. The succulent smell of roasted meat delighted her nose; aromatic spices teased her. Servants piled food high on Khufu’s plate and then hers. She waited, licking her lips and then sucking them inward. Nodding his head, Khufu indicated his readiness to eat. For a moment, Andrea studied their robust etiquette. Although they ate with their fingers, they were refined. Happy to see familiar food, she picked up the roast duck leg, tore off a strip, and slipped it into her mouth. It melted on her tongue and she closed her eyes, enjoying its spicy boldness.

She sniffed the honey wine in her porcelain chalice, inhaling the intoxicating aroma. Drunkenness was a sign of weakness in this culture so she was careful not to drink too fast. She tried the flat round bread, which tasted just like her wine with a hint of cinnamon. She picked up a bowl of porridge and smelled it. It looked about as appetizing as it smelled so she pushed it aside. However, the chic-pea soup had a delightful aroma and she slurped it up.

Musicians soon promenaded into the hall. A loud gong started the revelry. Harps and lyres soloed and then clappers and pounding drums joined in for the chorus. Scantily clad dancers swayed in perfect time. Veils swirled to the beat of jingling charms. At times the dance was erratic, but the beat transitioned smoothly. Warriors, both men and women, sang of her arrival and the impending victory over the Destroyer by acting out the Smiting of Apep ritual. A woman, wearing a yellow wig, chanted over a wax figure of the demon. After binding it with rope, she hacked it into pieces, wrapped it in a black clothe, and held it high above her head. As the bridge climaxed, the impersonator threw the figure into the blazing fire pit. The dancers cheered while the wax melted. Andrea doubted their enthusiasm; she couldn’t fool herself, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Once the song changed, the dancers performed aerobatics and were soon joined by a group of stick-fighting women.

Seeing Neitamun caught Andrea off-guard, but the seamstress’s exceptional skills impressed her and Andrea watched with enthusiasm. With the stick held high above her head, a line of assailants attacked her one at a time. The first was a swift victory. Neitamun swung the stick upwards and back and when it came around full circle the first attacker was clocked in the ear. Neitamun defended herself like a seasoned pro, thrusting, lunging, ducking, and striking faster than a coiled asp. Five opponents attacked simultaneously, and every one suffered from her flurry of attacks. One managed to land a blow which caught Neitamun in the left side. Feigning pain, Neitamun fell left, but swiftly brought up the persea wood stick with bronze studded leather hand-grip and clocked the woman’s right side. The attacker crumpled. Neitamun balanced on one hand, brought the other stick up swift, and thrust her legs out. She clocked one in the chin at almost the same time she swept her leg behind another two. Throwing aside their weapons, they conceded. They huffed as they lay defeated.

Andrea shouted, “Åhai!” The entire room went silent. People stopped to gawk. She slapped her hand over her mouth and looked sideways at Khufu who was grinning from ear to ear.

Neitamun, sheets of sweat dripping into her eyes, bowed toward them, smiled, and then helped up her opponents.

The festivities wore on until finally, Khufu leaned over and asked her is she was ready to leave. Relief flushed over her and she nodded, not wanting to speak aloud again. They stood with hands interlaced. Hemynu announced their departure. All eyes turned, and a sturdy but aging general raised his glass. “To My King, may your endeavors bring many years of peace to our land. Ankh udja seneb! To Ra’s Warrior, nekhtet!” Every cup lifted in agreement and cheers once again erupted. Khufu thrust her arm into the air causing all the guests to stand and thump their chests.

“Your Majesty thanks you, General Gua,” Hemynu replied.

Their chairs scrapped the floor as servants moved them. The couple exited the way they entered. Khufu, obviously pleased with the evening’s outcome, smiled broadly. He discarded the broad-collar, handing it to a nearby servant. “View the heavens with me, Andrea?”

“I would love to, Your Majesty.” With any luck the night air would cool down the alcoholic heat pumping through her. Thankfully, the world swayed but didn’t vortex out of control.

An unfamiliar excitement filled her when Khufu whisked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, his supple fingers touching just the right spot. She tilted her head and raised her shoulder with an involuntary gasp; her toes curled. I’m just drunk, she thought, unable to admit that it might be more than a simple matter of too much alcohol.

They took a different route getting to the garden. Periodic candles cast eerie shadows between those spaces where light was almost too dim for her to see. Andrea thought she saw a third shadow, but when she glanced back the hall was empty. The hair prickled on the back of her neck. Upon reaching the colonnade hall, alcohol-heated blood fused with the raging shiver sweeping through her. Suppressing the urge to scream, she gripped Khufu’s hand until his knuckles turned white, and leaned into him. “We’re being watched,” she whispered.

“It is most probably Hemynu. He follows me on occasion.”

“No. It feels more like,” she paused while trying to remember something important, “the stranger.”

“What stranger?” Khufu visually searched his surroundings.

“I can’t exactly recall, but I vaguely remember an odd sort of man telling me to stay away from the ankh before I woke up here.”

“Apep,” he yelled, “how dare you invade my sanctuary?”

“Oh. Do you think it he?”

“Has the feeling subsided?” He hurried them out into the brightly lit interior.

“No.”

“Guards!”

Eight burly men rounded the corner. “My Lord!” The tallest one said with a husky puffing noise when he bowed.

“Apep is in the palace. You two,” he pointed, “gather the palace guard. I want ten men posted at every entrance. No one comes in or goes out without permission. And find Hemynu! The rest of you, come with us to the garden.”

Five men followed the king and warrior as they continued. Entering the colonnade foyer, two guard stayed with them while the others, swords unsheathed, fanned out through the staggered forest-like pillars. Reaching the outside entrance, the guards, who were not allowed to walk upon the sacred ground, stopped. The other guards soon joined them.

Khufu and Andrea walked midways out and reclined on straw mats. As Andrea settled onto the ground and gazed heavenward, the feeling of being watched abated. “He’s gone now. How do I know though?”

“Your senses shall intensify as the time approaches. And once you are properly trained you can differentiate between when he is being watchful and when he is ready to attack. Let your instincts be your guide.”

“And if I don’t win?”

“It is not an option,” he said point-blank.

She rolled onto her side and pursed her lips. “I’m concerned about my family. Is there a way to them I am well?”

“It is a question for which I have no answer.”

Andrea sighed heavily and rolled back over. Orion, the Hunter, hovered slightly above the horizon; other constellations drifted across the sea of space. In modern Cairo, city lights hid their glory, but in this twisted version of history the stars, even ones she had never seen before, twinkled bright. It was a neck-breaking view of beauty.

Her love for this ancient culture kept her from questioning her sanity. It was like a dream state in the waking moments of a Twilight Zone reality. The only exception was that Rod Sterling wasn’t narrating. Theories she learned in school would turn out to be true or dismissed a pure speculation. Wonders lost in time were hers alone to discover. Even if she managed to get home one day, nobody would believe her, but she’d be happy just knowing the truth.

“It’s been a long day. I should be getting to bed.”

Like a child eyeing candy through a window, he watched her stretch. Just as he helped her up, Hemynu approached.

“You have summoned me?”

“Find the High Priest of Ra and inform him of Apep’s unexpected visit. We must prevent another incident. Be safe, my friend. He may still be lurking about.”

Andrea released his hand and walked into the hallway while the men talked. Wicked shadows having dissipated, she studied the paintings on the pillars as they danced under the light of the large braziers.

“I shall escort you when you are ready,” Khufu said, returning to her side. They strolled upstairs and parted at her door.

Remembering that her shoulder bag had been left, she searched for it, finding it stuffed underneath the bed with her clothes. Turning to a blank page, she dipped the peacock quill into the red ochre ink and wrote down the day’s events in what was now a diary. Hopefully, one day, her experiences would be tools for others.

A chill came with the evening breeze and she snuggled beneath the lion skin blanketing her bed before drifting off to sleep.

Chapter 7

Chapter 5 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:18:38 CDT

Chapter 4

Elise lounged on the couch shaking her head while Andrea ranted on about Adel’s decision to permanently seal off the tomb. The fact that he was knocked out seemed petty to Andrea. She didn’t care about anything else but that damnable tomb. It was a jarring change. It was just as bad as the one in her after their mother died when Andrea went from a fun-loving sister to a detached teenage who immersed herself in studying so she could avoid dealing with it. “I’m pretty sure Dad would agree with Adel on this one,” said Elise.

“I can’t believe this! What right does he have to dictate what I can do? If Father were here I’d have half a chance at persuading him to be reasonable. Getting permission to work on-site was hard enough. Now I’ve a paranoid supervisor talking about myths and curses. Am I the only sane person here?”

“He’s trying to protect you.”

“From what?”

“Yourself obviously,” mumbled Elise.

“Christ! What is wrong with you two?”

“Let’s see: Adel gets clocked in the head, you’ve got a serious case of amnesia, a psychopath followed us through Cairo, and, oh yeah, he makes like a magician and disappears. Adel’s right. We’ve no business snooping around down there.”

“Everybody’s against me.” When her fist struck the table the artifacts teetered.

Elise yelled at Andrea, “Who stayed with you every day after Mom died? Who came when you woke up screaming in the dead of night? Adel. Through everything good and bad he’s been there for us. Neither one of us is against you.”

Andrea crossed her arms, huffed, and fell onto the couch. Her face twisted with anger as images of the Great Pyramid flickered on the television screen.

“How are you, Andrea?” Adel asked, coming inside without knocking.

“She’s still mad. How are you?” Elise replied.

“My head is pounding, but I’ll survive.”

Andrea, cheeks glistening, said, “I’m sorry I treated you so badly, Adel.”

Adel lifted her face. “Your father is proud of you. You know that, right?” Adel knelt. “You discovered the Circle of Gods; only the purest hearts are able to open its doors, but it is still cursed. Some say it means the end of everything.”

“I don’t believe in curses.” Creases bracketed her mouth.

"You do not have to for them to be effective. Besides your safety is my concern. It is best to keep it hidden," Adel assured her.

“Fine,” Andrea agreed with a huff.

“Thank you.” Adel hugged her.

Elise quickly changed the subject, “Coffee anyone?”

“I’m going to bed.” Andrea kissed them and plodded to her room.

Adel pointed to the door with his chin as Elise poured herself a cup of coffee. Steam struggled against the heat of a desert night as they discussed a course of action.

“We need to get Andrea out of Egypt,” Adel said.

“She won’t leave willingly.” Elise blew into her coffee.

“We’ll just have to trick her. I will conceal the door tomorrow.”

“There were fresh flowers inside and no dust. The water was outright weird. Adel, I’m scared.” Elise cradled her cup and leaned against him.

“Me too.”

They enjoyed the night sky for a few moments before Elise said, “I guess we should go to bed.”

“Yes, we should. Good night, Elise.” He kissed her forehead.

“Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.” The moon enhanced the silver in his hair. She waited for him to turn the corner before going inside.

Granted they argued because their personalities clashed, but she loved Andrea and wanted her to get the recognition she sought as long as it wasn’t for this discovery. The hairs on her arms stood like porcupine quills. Something about the tomb’s secrets and the man’s warning told her they were headed down a tunnel with an oncoming train in their path. Sleep was far from standing on her doorstep, but she went to bed anyway and spent half the night staring at the ceiling.

It began soon after her eyes fluttered shut. From the blackness sprang vivid colors as she walked through the nebulous mist. The moon was a black plate against a starry backdrop. A lion-headed Sphinx stood vigil on a jungle embellished plateau. Blue flags, lining the crushed limestone pathway leading to the monument, flapped in the wind. As she approached the opening, burning censers flared. The four poles that supported a palm-thatched roof were aligned at the cardinal points. At the structure’s center was a granite slab covered with candles, fetish dolls, and other items. Elise couldn’t see everything clearly. Nine statues circled the altar. Andrea, dressed in a white kalasiris, knelt before it with arms raised and palms up. Indiscernible chanting grew louder. As if pulled up by a string at the crown of her head, Andrea rose until her feet were inches above the ground. Frozen in place, Elise could only watch as balls of light orbited her sister. She tried to yell for help, but the words failed to escape her throat. Andrea floated higher, and, in a blaze of white, Elise awoke.

Covered in sweat, Elise jolted from bed. Her heartbeat grew louder in her ears as she scurried to Andrea’s room. She cracked open the door and sighed with relief. Andrea was sleeping. Such a realistic dream reinforced her desire to get out of Egypt. Tomorrow, no matter what, she would persuade Andrea to leave.

The next day, Andrea woke to a quiet house. Elise was normally up with the sun, but not today. Stress always did that to her. Walking into the main room, Andrea prepared a pot of coffee to start the day. Strong enough to wake the dead, the pungent smell drifted through the room as the gurgle of heating water slowed. A furry sensation against a bare leg startled her.

“Where did you come from? You’re too small to be wondering from home.” She smiled at the purring black kitten doing figure eights between her feet. “Would you like some milk?” she asked. The starved creature lapped it and then its weak mews begged Andrea to pick him up.

Elise emerged, hair scraggly and dark circles under her eyes. Staggering to the coffeepot, she gripped the table to keep from falling.

“Did you sleep at all?” Andrea asked as Elise sat with her.

“Not really.”

“Why don’t you go back to bed?”

“There’s no sense in sleeping away the day. Who’s our visitor?”

“A stray. Isn’t he adorable?”

“Cute.” Elise yawned.

“I’ve never seen you so tired.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve a lot to do today.”

“Can I help?”

“No,” Elise said plainly. “I need to find Adel; I’ll be back.”

Fighting the growing crowd, Elise headed for the Sphinx and found Adel cementing the door with gypsum mortar. He looked up after hearing good morning.

“Are you okay?”

“I had a disturbing dream,” Elise confided.

“Care to explain?” he asked with a frown tugging at his mouth.

Stopping often to yawn, she explained it as best she could. Finally, she said, “It was so convincing I had to make sure Andrea was still in her room. You were right Adel. We need to leave.”

“I have already called your father. Mark said to tell her he has pneumonia and wants you both home immediately.”

“Does he?”

“Not really,” Adel grinned.

“Always one step ahead.” He was holding something back, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. “I’ll go tell her.”

“Just let me do it. I will be there in an hour. I have to make certain there are no more entrances left for anyone to find. She is as stubborn as your father.”

“They are rather stubborn, aren’t they? I’ll see you at home.” Elise kissed his cheek before leaving.

There was a yellow haze to the air and the mid-morning sun was a curious shade of yellow-orange. As classical music crescendoed and lulled, otherworldly influences slunk in when the door opened. Andrea played with the kitten on the floor. Elise kicked the ball of yarn across the room and then she sat facing Andrea.

“Have you thought of a name for him yet?”

“I was thinking Max,” Andrea suggested.

“I like it.”

“Max,” they called out simultaneously. The kitten looked to Andrea and then to Elise. He meowed.

“He likes it too,” Elise said.

Andrea rolled the ball across the floor. Max scampered after it and slammed head first into the door. It sent the young women into a fit of laughter. He shook it off, picked up the ball, and climbed into Elise’s lap. With a smile, she rumpled the hair between his ears.

They heard Adel outside, “Anyone home?”

“Come in,” Andrea replied.

His deeply seamed face gave away the seriousness of what he was about to say. “Your father called.”

“What’s wrong?” Andrea turned ghost-white.

“He is ill and wants you both to come home. The doctor said he has pneumonia. I would like to see the old man myself, so we are all going.”

“When do we leave?” asked Elise.

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

With a half-hearted tone Andrea said, “We’d best get packing. Adel, can you call the airline and arrange for a pet fare?” She held up Max.

Adel looked cock-eyed at the kitten mewing softly. “I will try.”

“Thank you,” Andrea replied, handing Max to Elise.

Elise knew it was upsetting Andrea because she moped around with her shoulders slumped in resignation.

Andrea paced the floor while she packed. Nothing scared her more than knowing her father was getting older and more susceptible to illnesses. Death. He was the one person she couldn’t bear to lose. Andrea received hope and inspiration from him. His presence in her life was the driving force of everything she did. In any case, if she didn’t return home Father would cut off her funding.

Elise was already in bed. Andrea, more worried than tired, decided to seize the chance to enjoy her last night on the Plateau. Grabbing her shoulder bag, she departed into the depths of night.

The new moon hung low; spotlights illuminating the monuments gave her direction. Mewing caught her attention. “Max?” He kept darting away and before Andrea realized it she was at the Sphinx. What a perfect opportunity to sneak inside one last time. She went behind the stele but to her dismay Adel had sealed the entrance.

Tired feet gave her an excuse to sit and relax so Andrea searched for a comfortable spot with a view of Cairo. The bag fell from her shoulder; the ankhs tumbled from the side pouch.

“I almost forgot about those,” she said. Picking up the gold ankh, she let it dangle. As it swayed back and forth, Andrea could hear a low-pitched, resonate hum emanating from it. Her skin tingled. “Could this have once rested around Khufu’s neck?” The temptation to lay it against her throat overwhelmed her, and an impulse made her clasp it.

The silver ankh shimmered in the nonexistent light. Andrea stared at the hieroglyphs as she picked it up. Andrea’s voice grew louder as she read it, “Blessed Ankh of Time, deliver us our great warrior.” She rubbed the pictographs. The hair on her neck stood at attention, and a sublime, almost primordial sensation engulfed her.

Max rubbed against her and she jerked her arm away. Oversized brown eyes harbored secrets Andrea couldn't fathom, but their deceptive softness never divulged the cat’s true purpose. Andrea lay beside him and rubbed behind his ears with her free hand. He purred. Overall it had turned into a beautiful night.

Relaxed by her environment, she watched the stars traverse the open expanse of the cosmos’ palette. Drowsiness, caused by Max’s purring, subdued her and she drifted off with the Ankh of Time clutched in her hand.

Chapter 6

Chapter 4 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:18:04 CDT

Chapter 4

“He’s trying to protect you.”

“From what?”

“Yourself obviously,” mumbled Elise.

“Christ! What is wrong with you two?”

“Everybody’s against me.” When her fist struck the table the artifacts teetered.

Andrea crossed her arms, huffed, and fell onto the couch. Her face twisted with anger as images of the Great Pyramid flickered on the television screen.

“How are you, Andrea?” Adel asked, coming inside without knocking.

“She’s still mad. How are you?” Elise replied.

“My head is pounding, but I’ll survive.”

Andrea, cheeks glistening, said, “I’m sorry I treated you so badly, Adel.”

“I don’t believe in curses.” Creases bracketed her mouth.

"You do not have to for them to be effective. Besides your safety is my concern. It is best to keep it hidden," Adel assured her.

“Fine,” Andrea agreed with a huff.

“Thank you.” Adel hugged her.

Elise quickly changed the subject, “Coffee anyone?”

“I’m going to bed.” Andrea kissed them and plodded to her room.

Adel pointed to the door with his chin as Elise poured herself a cup of coffee. Steam struggled against the heat of a desert night as they discussed a course of action.

“We need to get Andrea out of Egypt,” Adel said.

“She won’t leave willingly.” Elise blew into her coffee.

“We’ll just have to trick her. I will conceal the door tomorrow.”

“There were fresh flowers inside and no dust. The water was outright weird. Adel, I’m scared.” Elise cradled her cup and leaned against him.

“Me too.”

They enjoyed the night sky for a few moments before Elise said, “I guess we should go to bed.”

“Yes, we should. Good night, Elise.” He kissed her forehead.

“Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.” The moon enhanced the silver in his hair. She waited for him to turn the corner before going inside.

Elise emerged, hair scraggly and dark circles under her eyes. Staggering to the coffeepot, she gripped the table to keep from falling.

“Did you sleep at all?” Andrea asked as Elise sat with her.

“Not really.”

“Why don’t you go back to bed?”

“There’s no sense in sleeping away the day. Who’s our visitor?”

“A stray. Isn’t he adorable?”

“Cute.” Elise yawned.

“I’ve never seen you so tired.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve a lot to do today.”

“Can I help?”

“No,” Elise said plainly. “I need to find Adel; I’ll be back.”

Fighting the growing crowd, Elise headed for the Sphinx and found Adel cementing the door with gypsum mortar. He looked up after hearing good morning.

“Are you okay?”

“I had a disturbing dream,” Elise confided.

“Care to explain?” he asked with a frown tugging at his mouth.

Stopping often to yawn, she explained it as best she could. Finally, she said, “It was so convincing I had to make sure Andrea was still in her room. You were right Adel. We need to leave.”

“I have already called your father. Mark said to tell her he has pneumonia and wants you both home immediately.”

“Does he?”

“Not really,” Adel grinned.

“Always one step ahead.” He was holding something back, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. “I’ll go tell her.”

“Just let me do it. I will be there in an hour. I have to make certain there are no more entrances left for anyone to find. She is as stubborn as your father.”

“They are rather stubborn, aren’t they? I’ll see you at home.” Elise kissed his cheek before leaving.

“Have you thought of a name for him yet?”

“I was thinking Max,” Andrea suggested.

“I like it.”

“Max,” they called out simultaneously. The kitten looked to Andrea and then to Elise. He meowed.

“He likes it too,” Elise said.

They heard Adel outside, “Anyone home?”

“Come in,” Andrea replied.

His deeply seamed face gave away the seriousness of what he was about to say. “Your father called.”

“What’s wrong?” Andrea turned ghost-white.

“He is ill and wants you both to come home. The doctor said he has pneumonia. I would like to see the old man myself, so we are all going.”

“When do we leave?” asked Elise.

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

With a half-hearted tone Andrea said, “We’d best get packing. Adel, can you call the airline and arrange for a pet fare?” She held up Max.

Adel looked cock-eyed at the kitten mewing softly. “I will try.”

“Thank you,” Andrea replied, handing Max to Elise.

Elise knew it was upsetting Andrea because she moped around with her shoulders slumped in resignation.

Elise was already in bed. Andrea, more worried than tired, decided to seize the chance to enjoy her last night on the Plateau. Grabbing her shoulder bag, she departed into the depths of night.

Tired feet gave her an excuse to sit and relax so Andrea searched for a comfortable spot with a view of Cairo. The bag fell from her shoulder; the ankhs tumbled from the side pouch.

Chapter 5

Chapter 3 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:15:43 CDT

Chapter 3

It was an all-absorbing genesis. Even the sun slept in the bosom of the eastern mountains. Privacy necessitated mobility. Andrea and Elise, first to arrive, set up a canopy, barricades, and caution tape at the entrance to the Sphinx. Adel was late, which was oddly out of character for him.

“Good morning, Adel,” they rang out in unison when they heard the barricades topple. Even with sparse sunlight, Andrea could see into the carved earth as if it were noon. A cloying aroma tantalized their senses.

“I’ve been waiting for this my entire life,” Andrea said.

Elise eyed the descending passageway. “It’s really dark down there.”

“You’re still afraid of the dark, sis? Are you going with us?”

Elise hesitated and then said, “Yes on both accounts.”

Andrea straightened the bag across her heaving chest. The sun reached a more illuminating post; she hastened into the earthen hallow. Adel and Elise’s apprehensions held them back for only a moment. Andrea removed a flashlight from her bag.

Click.

A grand staircase descended about thirty feet. Andrea admired the painted ceiling as she went down. Two more light beams sliced through antiquity’s realm revealing spiral frescos, a design not indicative of Egypt. The final step unveiled hieroglyphs so astonishing it was as if the scribe had laid down his brush yesterday. The mural depicted happy times in the Land of Wesir: children frolicked in fields of wild flowers, lovers danced to the beat of celestial bands, and the bountiful harvest provided eternal food for the masses. Floral motifs bloomed under the explorer’s feet. This was infinitely larger than anything Andrea could have imagined.

Thirteen false doors with alabaster lintels, each inscribed with magic incantations, became distinguishable after a slight right turn. The hall was so wide that they could walk abreast. Andrea snapped off photos; her slow advance allowed for the absorption of details and the occasional brush of an ungloved hand against delicate paintings. With every ill-advised touch, the sensation of familiarity dominated her. Time knew her name.

Adel and Elise wandered ahead. Whenever one of them turned Andrea had to shift her head to escape the swathing high-intensity lights. “There’s more down here,” Elise’s voice echoed, but the door Andrea now faced commanded her attention. Unlike the others, it lacked writing on the lintel and doorjamb. Andrea extracted a magnifying glass to inspect the diminutive details painted on the door.

Two tracts of land formed rings around a circular nucleus-island. Covered bridges placed at strategic intervals joined the vast city. Lofty mountains protected the city’s inhabitants from the brutal North Wind. A flat plain extended from mountain to sea with irrigation ditches channeling water across it. An enormous canal connected the harbors to the raging ocean. Luxurious houses and pyramidal-type temples skirted the main island. At the center of the citadel was a self-contained palatial structure. A path bedecked by white blossoms went from the palace, past bath houses, through immense apple orchards, and ended at an enclosure of free-roaming bulls. A racetrack split the second land-ring in half; on both sides were segregated spectator stands, assorted military structures, and docked warships. Public buildings, merchant docks, and the general populace occupied the outermost land-ring. The images were so fluid and detailed Andrea swore it was alive. Elise called out again. Andrea took more photos before walking ahead.

The corridor descended, turned left, and leveled off again. “We must be at least a hundred feet underground judging by the incline and probably directly underneath the Great Pyramid,” Andrea said, aiming the electric torch up. “How did they keep from scorching the ceiling?” Her flashlight, seeking an unknown prize, stretched its meager light into the cavity. “Look, near the end!” exclaimed Andrea en route.

When she spotted the vacant statue niche her pace lost alacrity. Disappointed, Andrea shook her head and something garnered her attention.

It dwarfed her. A cream-colored marble lintel supported by two caryatids, one of Auset and the other of Hathor, guarded the recessed gilded door. But the bedazzled adventurer saw only the jewel-encrusted cartouche of the Pharaoh Khufu as it flashed under the arriving beams of modern lights. "The seal’s intact."

Adel squinted, reluctantly stepped toward it, and said, “So it is.” After examining the carved ebony doorframe, he translated the text aloud. “Hail Khufu, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Keeper of Light. His existence is for all eternity. Beloved by the gods, his soul is the bennu phoenix. Wesir, let be opened to the warrior the things concealed on this day.”

Doubt scattered.

“We need to follow protocol, Andrea.”

Electrified words sparked from Andrea’s lips, “Screw protocol, Adel. Let’s get it open.” It didn’t matter anymore. She was sick of being the good girl, following the rules, and getting nowhere fast. She tossed Elise the flashlight and stepped into the alcove with Adel. Strained groans reverberated through the corridor. Andrea waved Adel back, wiped away gathering perspiration, and probed for a door mechanism.

“I would like to keep the seal intact. We should look around,” Adel said.

They canvassed the surrounding area: fingering doorjambs, shining flashlights overhead, kicking walls in search of weak spots, and, analyzing every hieroglyph. Andrea cursed, “Damn it, we’re going to have to break in.” She wanted to avoid doing that, but she wasn’t opposed to it either. Andrea sighed and wondered if they may have overlooked something. On a hunch, she read the inscription in its original dialect. “Ha Khufu, Nesu båti Khemet. Åri sneket, āhāu på neheh t’er-f. Meriti em neteru, ba-f på bennue. Åusår un en nehnåt śeta em pen hru. Wow, note the suffix of the word ‘nehnåt’. It refers to a female warrior; most likely it’s Ne--”.”

Beneath them, the earth grumbled. A latch clicked. Hinges groaned with the sound of rusty scraping metal. Pushed open by unseen forces, the door fought the ravish of time with a deafening racket. Andrea fell backwards as the eerie glow bathed her in white. It paralyzed them all, the pulsing light. Concealed within the bowels of the earth Andrea discovered all she desired.

They peered inside. Pounding hearts were the only out-of-place sounds in the cavernous underground. Splashing water pouring from lotus-blossom spouts near the waterline of the circular room unnerved Andrea’s companions. A silver abutment supported the sliver of a bridge with gold filigree parapets. The silvery gold of electrum plated walls reflected in Andrea’s enlarging eyes.

“Andrea,” Adel said sharply as she started across, “this is unwise.”

She continued into the room without losing a step. Andrea could hear her companions discussing the strangeness of the tomb as well as her new attitude.

Nine statuesque gods stood eternal vigil over the pharaoh’s body. Male deities were on the left and female ones were opposite their counterpart male. Each pair of male and female deities matched in their material construction. She knew them all: Wesir, Auset, Heru, Hathor, Bastet, Inupew, Neith, Tehuti, and Ra. A literal pantheon adorned with fine linen clothes surrounded her as she partook of each one’s silent, yet graceful, beauty. She took a few more steps toward the square island and stopped. Near the end of the bridge two jackals guarded the inner sanctuary.

Massive columns cordoned off specific areas. Gossamer curtains of periwinkle blue, suspended from copper rods, were secured aside allowing for a full view of all three rooms. Khufu’s sarcophagus rested on a catafalque at the center of the main room; its gold dazzled more than any other artifact. An elaborate throne, flanked by two clay sculptures and elevated on a marble dais, awaited the king’s spirit. A pile of large pillows created a lounging area at the base of the step-down.

Several acacia dressers and an alabaster four-poster bed embossed with pounded gold leaf lilies consumed most of the bedroom area to the left. Oriental silk pillows, a surprisingly modern luxury, strewn on the bed were an inviting touch. An armoire, cosmetic table with a basin, and a foot chest were centered along the left wall. Positioned beyond the red Cedar of Lebanon harp crowned with gold leaf and lapis-lazuli was an ivory bench with two alabaster sphinxes for legs.

The room to the right was cluttered with offerings. Among them was a cedar chariot with bronze-spiked wheels harnessed to a basalt horse, a long enameled chest, granary boxes overflowing with food offerings, and pitchers of libations.

Andrea signaled for them to join her. Elise went forward although her feet resisted. Adel, however, remained steadfast. His button-down galabiyah parted as he bent to one knee and bowed his head. This was the young women’s first encounter with this side of their godfather. Elise clasped Andrea’s hand with ferocity, but Andrea calmly led her sister across the bridge.

“Magnificent,” Elise whispered as she stared up at the hemispherical domed ceiling whose recessed jewels twinkled like stars blanketing a midnight sky.

They stepped onto the miniature gold avenue leading from the bridge to the coffin. Around it, the floor was alabaster inset with metal-outlined, precious stone animal motifs.

“Can you believe this?” Andrea asked.

“Definitely not.”

“How did he manage to do all of this?”

“Andrea, why is the water glowing?”

“There must be a light source below us. This whole place was sealed off thousands of years ago but it shows no signs of old-age.” Andrea looked back at Adel and watched anxiety fill his eyes. “Are you coming?”

“I am forbidden to enter.”

“You know where we are?” Elise turned and questioned.

“It’s the Circle of Gods. We should not be here. My mother told me the story, but I thought it was just,” he paused, “myth.” He returned to a subservient position.

“It’s just us, Elise. Are you ready?” Her twin’s fake smile wasn’t at all convincing.

In unison, they said, “Explore away.”

Textured fur, bronze collars, ebony pedestals, and movement’s illusion given off by the jackals’ eyes enticed Andrea. Having thrown protocol to the wayside, Andrea touched one. Tiny hairs all over her body stiffened. Her brow rose with an inquisitive gesture. “I’m getting a static electric shock.”

Elise mimicked her sister’s actions. Both women had the same thrilled expression. Their excitement peaked, overtaking any reluctance either woman experienced.

Andrea admired the sarcophagus from afar, at first. Garlands of fresh flowers, which defied time’s passing, decorated the columns of the catafalque where the casket resided. The outer-coffin was a little over waist high and at least seven feet long. Glyphs etched deep into the gold surface pledged allegiance to the slumbering gods safeguarding this inner sanctum. Its elegance roused Andrea’s curiosity into moving her forward. Elise followed close behind.

Andrea stepped up onto the sun-yellow marble platform. Her nervous hands were unsure how to react. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Andrea said when Elise got next to her.

“It’s exquisite. What do the inscriptions say?”

Andrea moved closer and leaned over. Her fingers roamed the etchings as she translated. “Khufu, Son of Wesir, Beloved Ruler of the Black and Red Lands, Keeper of the Ankhs, guard well our secrets. Ra graces the heavens and Egypt shall be saved. Arise, oh king! Join the Circle.”

“Whoa!” Elise shivered and then shied away like a spooked horse.

Inching toward the head of the sarcophagus, Andrea sought to see his face only to encounter a blank shiny metallic surface. That’s not fair! After all these years, why can’t I see his face? Agitated, she sighed at her reflection. She briefly watched Elise, who had made her way to the throne and now inspected one of the clay sculptures.

Talking into a mini tape recorder, Elise described the figure. “Height is about five foot, four inches. It has meticulously molded facial features in different colors of clay, a well-defined muscular tone, and lacks defects. The uncommon silk-like fabric has been crafted as a traditional royal garment.” She touched the clothes and paid attention to every detail. “The museum’s collection of jewels pales in comparison. Adorning its head is an asp crown of bejeweled gold. A beautifully beaded choker of lapis lazuli, ivory, and quartzite sets off the gold . . .”

Andrea heard a thud and turned to see Elise sprawled on the floor. She ran over, knelt down, whisked back Elise’s hair, and gently patted her face.

Frightened eyes fluttered open. Her face was flush. The heat must have gotten to her. “Please,” Elise uttered, “please, take me outside.”

“Let me help you.” Andrea pulled her sister up, embraced her, and stroked her sweat-drenched hair.

They inched their way across the bridge. Adel, his face tight with fear, waited. Later he would ask her not to return, but nothing would keep her from the crypt. The sun guided them through the corridor. Every step was a miniature discovery for her as they passed the false, stele doors again and she tried to catch their details. It would take months to chart and catalog every artifact. Years of searching resulted in overloaded senses. Andrea couldn’t believe her luck.

As they climbed the stairs, Elise steadied. Several hours had passed since they first entered the sacred area and the sun blinded them as they stumbled out the door. Adel, the last one out of the tomb, got a carafe from the canopy area. He handed it to Elise, who gulped down the water like a thirsty camel. The two of them stared at Andrea and she hated what they were thinking.

“You cannot announce this find. Andrea, I know you are compelled to explore this further, but I am advising you against it. However, I know you will insist so I’ll allow it as long as I accompany you whenever you go down there. Understood?” Andrea smiled and nodded. “If anyone asks we are repairing some minor cracks on the Sphinx’s body.”

Feeling smug and pleased with his decision, Andrea suggested a lunch break. They sat underneath the canopy, and Adel told them a story as they ate. “When I was a boy, my mother told me about the Circle of Gods. Apep, the God of Chaos, felt cast aside by his father Amun. During Khufu’s reign, Apep conspired to free himself and the others like him who were also condemned to live in darkness. It was Apep’s intent to enslave all the peoples of Earth.” Adel paused for a sip of water, and then continued. “The Gods of Light gathered to summon a warrior. They taught this warrior how to save the empire from annihilation. Although triumphant in the end, the mighty pharaoh fell in battle and the warrior was never seen again. The gods buried the king within the Circle and concealed his body beneath the sands of time. Centuries later when the stars were properly aligned, the truth would be revealed. I am afraid of the consequences you’ll face if you delve any deeper. We should re-cover the tomb with sand and forget you ever saw it.”

“Hell no! This is the greatest discovery of our time. What makes you think I can just forget about it?” Andrea protested.

“Foolish hope.” His breath brimmed with tension. “I am wary of the repercussions. Mark will be long to forgive me if something were to happen to either of you. It’s difficult to locate my courage.”

“I’m a grown woman and responsible for myself. You can’t be liable for everything this family gets into.” Andrea tired quickly of his paranoia. All she wanted to do was explore the tomb, but it seemed they were both against her.

“I don’t agree, Andrea,” Elise said hastily. “Something’s wrong. There’s no feasible explanation for why the water was glowing. The flowers and food should be withered. My instincts are telling me to run, and frankly I trust them.”

“This is ridiculous. I refuse to quit after getting this far.”

“You’ll jeopardize your life and Adel’s just to get your way?” Elise’s voice quavered childishly. “Daddy wouldn’t let you do this and you know it!”

“This is important to me. Trust me, I promise everything will be fine. You’ll see.” Andrea hugged and kissed her sister.

Retrieving a notebook from her shoulder bag, Andrea began scribbling notes. She did this often and read them when finished. Her journals had grown since experiencing this lifestyle at a young age. Their father taught the twins what he knew and encouraged them to assume his role. At age six, Andrea and Elise had accompanied their parents on multiple excavations. Elise made her first discovery before she was seven while Andrea struggled to find even the smallest shards of pottery. By twenty, the twins had graduated college and began their careers as Egyptologists. It took about a year before Elise realized she hated field-work and decided to use her degree to write historical fiction. Her debut novel became a best-seller, making her independent of the family fortune. Regrettably, Andrea still relied on her father to fund this dig. What peeved Andrea most was the fact that Elise would probably fictionalize this discovery even though she wanted Andrea to ignore it.

Andrea wondered if Father would agree with them, but settled on believing that he would pursue this if he were here. No curse or legend governed her; the idea was absurd.

“Adel, I want to go back. Whatever you need, I suggest you get it ready.”

“All I need is my courage,” he replied.

“Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t go down there again for all the recognition in the world,” declared Elise firmly. “It gives me the creeps. Besides, someone needs to keep people away.”

“Don’t be a worry-wart, okay?” Andrea smiled and began gathering her supplies.

Elise leaned over and whispered to Adel, “Right before I fainted I saw the ankh.”

He nodded, stood, and said, “We will not be long.”

“Andrea.”

“Yes, Elise?”

“I love you.”

“Me too, sis,” Andrea replied as they walked away.

Adel, hands trembling, halted just outside the burial chamber. Sweat speckled his forehead even though it was moderately cooler underground.

“Are you coming?” Andrea asked.

“I will stay here.”

“Suit yourself.” With a quickened step, she went into the glowing room. Andrea immersed herself in the tranquility that this room nurtured within her. Awe enslaved her. She had barely enough space to maneuver around the ledge so she could view the statues. Her foot slipped and she teetered on the ledge. Andrea grabbed the waist of the Wesir statue to keep from falling in the water. Once she recovered her balance, she thumped the statue. Solid gold made a dull thud. Wesir wore real clothes, hippo-skin armor with bronze plates, a carved electrum breastplate, and a multitude of other valuable trinkets. The statue warmed beneath her exploring fingers. Its masculine physique turned green as the pulsing light changed colors. Auset, her beauty unmatched, was also gold. The white pleated kalasiris with purple straps defined her curvy figure. Heru, whose folded silvery wings flashed in the changing light, stood proud beside his father. Hathor, Lady of Love, stood across from her husband, Heru. Continuing around the ledge, Andrea studied each deity’s life-like details as the light changed to compliment the god or goddess she approached. Both Inupew and Bastet, who faced one another, were of black dolomite and had the same brushed on fur texture as the jackals. Tehuti faced Neith; they were sculpted from pale alabaster. Ra, Father of the Gods, was set in the middle and lacked a female companion. Dressed like living humans, the deities seemed as if they had physically stepped against the wall and transformed into stone. Andrea paid particular attention to the fact there was no gathering of dust.

Andrea waved to Adel as she stepped back onto the bridge. Crossing over to the interior chamber, blond hair swayed as she admired the domed ceiling. With outstretched arms, she spun like a top. Star-jewels descended from the impromptu sky and cast their spell upon the chosen one.

Adel attempted to enter, but failed to notice the figure sneaking up from behind.

Dancing jewels hypnotized Andrea and beckoned her to join their folly. Step after enchanted step, she heeded their call. She gazed at what hung around the sculpture's throat. The clay woman did not protest when Andrea unclasped the choker on which a gold ankh without inscriptions dangled.

Again, the star-jewels called out, but this time from the other clay woman. Andrea removed its choker as well. Tiny inscriptions on a silver ankh drew her attention; she deciphered them aloud, “Blessed Ankh of Time, deliver us our great warrior.” As she slipped them into her bag the talismans hummed softly.

Confusion reigned as the spell released Andrea. “How did I get so far inside, Adel?” she asked.

No answer.

“Adel?” Andrea, fear and panic rising, turned around to see the crumpled body of her friend. Full throttle, she went to him. She gently slid his head onto her lap. Thick warm blood oozed between her fingers. “Adel, wake up. Adel,” her voice crackled.

Chapter 4

Chapter 2 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:15:12 CDT

Chapter 2

Elise towed her sister through the bustling streets of Cairo. Silence sealed them in an envelope of eeriness. Her concern was far greater than the distance she could put between them and the café. “We need to find Adel. He’ll know what to do. People don’t just vanish. How did he know us? Damn, if I keep talking, maybe you’ll snap out of this. He was solid; I swear . . . I don’t understand it. Andrea!” Elise joggled her sister. “Talk to me, damn it.”

Still, no response, and they were almost at the Jeep. Elise threw the bags into the back and eased Andrea into the passenger seat. Burning rubber polluted the garage. Smoke choked the air. In her head, the stranger’s words echoed. What does it all mean?

Weaving and honking through cramped streets cluttered with Fiats, donkey-pulled carts, bicycles, and people, Elise finally crossed the river and raced toward the plateau. Andrea hadn’t even so much as twitched.

The panic was so intense that Elise couldn’t think straight and she drove around all three pyramids trying to find Adel even though she knew he wasn’t there. He’ll know what to do, she reassured herself. Where the hell is he? Finally, she found him standing by his apartment talking to a worker. The rear wheels skidded left. Sand plumed, making the men cough and covering them with a fine layer of yellow speckles. She flung open the door and almost fell out. “Adel, we’ve got to talk,” interrupted Elise.

Their godfather’s salt-and-pepper hair barely moved when he shook his head. “Have you forgotten your manners?” One suggestive nod caused the worker to leave. “What is wrong with you, Elise?”

“A, An, Andrea found a scroll in the Khufu pyramid. We were going to tell you after we--“

“Why was I not informed immediately?” His stern-set mouth compressed. As dig supervisor he tried to stress to Andrea the importance of advising him of everything.

Hearing his anger, touched with disappointment, Elise dropped her head and raised her eyes. A sharp inhale did little to overthrow the anxiety at having to explain it. Her ponytail twisted and turned between slender fingers as she relayed the day’s events.

Lines webbed Adel's sun-worn face as he studied them. “Get out of the car, Andrea. Come inside.” His redwood-thick arm extended, but it went ignored as Andrea brushed past him. Once inside, Andrea fell onto the multicolored pillows forming his couch.

“She’s been this way since we left Cairo.” Elise wiped away brimming tears and sniffled.

He walked over to Andrea, smiled gently, and said, “My dear, you must talk to us.”

Andrea seemed stuck in a semi-catatonic state. She sat there with her hands folded in her lap staring, without expression, at the wall. After moments of silence, she jolted to her feet. “I’ve got to find it!” Adel grasped her shoulders and shook vigorously. Her head lolled and then Andrea shivered as if an ice cube had been put down her blouse. “How did we get here?”

"You fell asleep in the car," Elise said.

“You had fun in Cairo.” Adel winked at Elise. She understood its meaning: Don’t say anything to return her to her previous state.

“Well I’ve work to do. Elise, would you fill in the details for Adel?”

“Sure. Will you be okay though?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Andrea scrunched her eyebrows.

“Oh, no reason,” said Elise hurriedly.

They waited for Andrea to be out of earshot before Adel said, “Her behavior is odd. Why is she indifferent about missing time?” Concern tinctured his light brown eyes.

“It’s so vivid I can’t forget it if I tried. She shouldn’t be alone.”

“She’ll be fine, Elise.” His plump, olive-tone face wrinkled. He tapped the pen against his cheek. “Andrea hasn’t acted this way since Salena died.”

Shudders of remembrance raged through Elise.

At age thirteen, it happened. Their mother had gone upstairs for an afternoon nap. Nobody thought anything of it. Right before dinner, Andrea went to wake Salena and it wasn’t long until Andrea returned, alone. Her eyes had been parched. She had descended the steps and sat, trembling, in her father’s lap. Dad knew something didn’t fit; he rushed upstairs.

Cause of death: unknown.

Adel squeezed her hand when Elise said, “I miss Mom.”

Andrea wanted to know why the scroll was presumably stowed away for all eternity. Since the Sphinx was closed for repairs it was a good place to sit and think before she went back to work. Determination was a Regal family trait--one they would have been better off without.

She walked between the paws of the limestone lion whose shadow bathed her in an orange aura. With the sun creeping toward the horizon, she settled down, crossed her legs, clasped her hands, and steadied her breathing. Andrea fondly recalled an Egyptian love song her mother had sung to her and Elise at bedtime, all those years ago. Serenity’s song awakened the gods.

Andrea abruptly stopped singing and turned her head to locate the origin of a creaking noise. Eyes thinned against the solar glare bouncing off the purple cloud-clad sky. There was a crack forming near the Sphinx’s body. That’s odd, she thought. Untangling her legs, she crawled toward it. Her eyebrows arched incredulously. Frenzied, but cautious, fingers brushed away the layer of white and yellow grains from the stone leg. No inconsistencies. No markings either . . . What?

Instincts shoved her hand against the cooling rock, and the cream colored stone turned white around her fanned out fingers. The ground trembled. “That’s not a crack!” Andrea was running before she even realized it. Sand plumed behind her. Leaping over obstacles and dodging tourists, Andrea dashed toward Adel’s apartment. She quickly drew close.

The wooden door smacked mud-brick walls with a muffled thud. “I found something! I found something at the Sphinx! Isn’t this exciting?” Her voice fluctuated.

“Wh-what?” Elise stuttered. Panicked eyes fixated on her.

“Grab some flashlights,” Adel said.

Speed seeped from Andrea’s unwavering legs as they struggled to keep up. She led them behind the Stele of Thutmose, near the Sphinx’s chest, and pointed. Nestled by ancient paws was a large rectangular opening. Elise gasped. Adel glared. He looked up; his lips parted wordlessly. When he finally spoke, his terse tone harbored underlying fears. “We can do nothing this evening. We’ll return tomorrow.”

Andrea smiled wider than the Cheshire cat. If something more was beyond that doorway, she would become the next 'Howard Carter' of Egyptology. She prayed the passage led to an untouched tomb, one larger than Tutankhamun’s whose cache of artifacts rivaled a gold mine.

Chapter 3

Chapter 1 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:14:40 CDT

Chapter 1

Cairo, Egypt -- Modern Day

Andrea stumbled from the Great Pyramid straight into high noon’s furnace. Half blind without sunglasses she shielded her eyes as she raced toward the residential complex on the outskirts of the Giza Plateau. Rivulets of sweat dripped down her forehead, burning her squinted eyes, and sand-stippled clothes adhered to her like plastic wrap to a dish. In the later part of the twentieth century, countless archaeologists with their high-tech equipment had somehow failed to notice the scratched out hieroglyphs. They were minuscule, but visible. Hundreds of questions bombarded her.

The mere prospect of such a rarity overwhelmed her making her heart beat faster than a Nubian war-drum. Colors blurred together as she rushed past the influx of tourists. Her excited feet veered toward the largest whitewashed adobe house, which had been her home for the last nine months.

Why hadn’t anyone ever noticed? She wondered again.

Andrea yanked open the wooden door and ducked inside. With a single swipe she cleared the desktop of papers. Her twin sister, Elise, protested in the background. Andrea tugged open a drawer, extracted a pair of gloves, a small digital camera, her log book and then slid her palms down sweat-stained pants. The walls absorbed the sharp snap of latex gloves. Andrea’s emerald irises sparkled when she untied the ribbon with trembling fingers. She unrolled the delicate papyrus and smoothed it over.

Andrea mentally debated about its authenticity because it was intact and so well-preserved. The papyrus was pliable, and even the thin gold ribbon binding it appeared new. There would be more questions than answers until the lab results came back. Picked over through the centuries, most Egyptologists thought the Great Pyramid contained no new knowledge to impart to the modern world. If carbon-14 dating proved the scroll’s age to be anywhere in dynastic history then she found undeniable proof that they were wrong.

“I said I was working on that,” Elise protested again.

“It doesn’t look like it,” Andrea stated bluntly as the camera bulb flashed. Her eyes wandered across the hieroglyphs, ones unviewed for thousands of years. With bated breath, she sank into the leather chair and began translating. “Why were you so well hidden? This can’t be right.”

The click of a closing laptop alerted Andrea to the approach of her twin. Andrea didn’t care much for modern luxuries such as television and computers; the old way was the best way. Footsteps stopped behind her; Elise was intrigued. Andrea scribbled faster.

She had been in those chambers so often that, until now, Andrea thought her colleagues were right--the pyramid was empty because of grave robbers. Keeping her hopes in check challenged her; she couldn’t afford another let down. However, if she was right, the pharaoh’s body laid undisturbed elsewhere.

Egyptologists knew little about Khufu’s reign. According to controversial theorists, the Sphinx and possibly the Great Pyramid were older than the Fourth Dynasty. Ancient Egyptians were notorious for inscribing their names into the stone monuments they erected or refurbished, but only one cartouche with Khufu’s name decorated the relief chamber. He was one of the lost pharaohs and Andrea wanted to find his tomb.

Her father’s voice echoed in her mind, “Determination is the key to success, Andrea.” She wished he were here instead of New York. Andrea wanted nothing more than to share her first major discovery with him, but the odds of catching him at home or awake were low.

“Fascinating.” Andrea tilted her head, glancing at her lingering twin.

“What does it say?” Elise’s anger fizzled quicker than an opening soda bottle. “Where did you find it?” Elise went to touch the ribbon but Andrea shooed her away. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not wearing gloves!”

Elise snatched a few items off the desk, plopped down on a cloud of pillows opposite the door, and grumbled obscenities under her breath.

After finishing the translation, Andrea read the text barely loud enough for her sister to hear. “In a time when Gods walked the earth, I visited the Great House of King Snefru. I recall clearly the day the Fates set the course for my family.

“I am blind, but Ra bestowed sacred sight upon me. ‘I speak only what the Circle of Gods show my mind’s eye,” said I as my withered hand tossed the Bones of Wesir and wavered over them.

“The future, lightning bolts from Ra’s hand, flashed before me. ‘Young Khufu shall ascend to the throne. Contested it shall be, but his destiny is set in the stars flickering on Nut’s belly. The Ankh of Light brings a warrior from a time unborn to defend existence against the Great Serpent.’”

It intrigued her. In the pit of her gut, something reminded Andrea that all myths held some truths.

“‘Light, hope, and love cannot perish or chaos shall gain supremacy over all worlds. Ra’s Warrior must prevail. Upon your death, Prince Khufu, your khat shall be concealed in the Hall of Secrets until the day arrives for you to reawaken.’

“Ra’s divine sunlight had drifted through gossamer curtains; the high god kissed Khufu’s face, reaffirming the prophecy. Little hands quaked, but warm loving eyes smiled down upon him and his father said, ‘You shall be a great king, my son.’ He saw his son’s compassionate nature as a gift of strength, one inviolable enough to guide this world into the light.”

Both young women had upturned brows and enlarged eyes.

“Andrea,” Elise piped.

“Yes?”

“Are you going to tell me where you found that?” Elise’s hands went to her hips.

“In the Queen’s Chamber, stuffed in a crevice.”

“You’re joking right?”

“Do I ever?” Andrea asked with a textured voice.

“Did the nasty bug bite you this morning?”

“I’m sorry, Elise. I’ve just been searching for so long and it irritates me that I may have found an excellent forgery rather than an important clue. The papyrus should be falling apart in my hands. If it’s a forgery, the perpetrator has a talent for faking Old Kingdom script.” She sighed and pushed the chair back. Andrea put her hands behind her head, stretched her legs, and groaned as tension-tightened muscles popped over bone. Standing up, she kicked her feet to get the circulation flowing again.

Elise took this opportunity to examine the scroll.

Andrea’s thoughts roamed as she paced like a caged animal. After all the work and time spent on this expedition, she wanted some recognition. Elise and her dumb luck had found several items since graduating. However, Andrea opted for a challenge when she decided to seek out this particular pharaoh’s tomb. But desire drove her like strong winds drive monsoons; that’s what it was, desire. To find Khufu’s burial chamber and learn about him, those were her ultimate treasures.

“Let’s go downtown!” Elise interrupted her thoughts. A mischievous grin warned of what was coming next.

“Don’t you have a deadline to make?”

“I’m taking a break for a while.”

Now Andrea understood why Elise decided to visit, she was digging for material. “If you ask me it’s a waste of your degree. You should have taken that job offer from the Department of Antiquities, Elise.”

“You don’t wear jealousy very well, sis. I have no desire to spend my life digging in the dirt just so I can end up dried out like those papyri you collect. When was the last time you went on a vacation?”

“It’s been a while,” Andrea admitted.

“You should come with me to Athens this summer. I’ll even buy your ticket. ‘For the Love of Osiris’ is doing great so I can afford it.”

Andrea pressed her thumb against her temple and rubbed. She was fed up with that stupid book. It was all her sister talked about.

“Come on let’s go,” whined Elise.

“Do we have to?”

Elise bobbed her head as she said, “You found something. We have to celebrate.”

“Why can’t you be more serious?”

“Being serious all the time leads to an early grave.”

“I need to study the papyrus, Elise.”

“I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night if you go; I promise. Besides, I’m starving and I don’t want to go into Cairo alone.”

Andrea knew arguing was useless so she said, “Let’s go.”

“Don’t forget your hat, you’ll . . .”

“Get burned without it, I know.” Andrea nestled the hat onto her head and exhaled sharply.

A few minutes later, the old brown Jeep spluttered to life and jerked into gear. Cairo, a black urban spider-web, sprawled atop the burnt yellow desert. High-rise hotels dotted the skyline. Spiraling minarets atop rounded mosques pierced the sky like needles on a pincushion. The Nile, a sapphire snake with little white imperfections, danced through the ever-changing landscape. As they crossed the A1-Gamma Bridge, Andrea stared at the river until they turned up A1-A heading north toward the Museum of Antiquities. Pulling into the garage where they always parked, the brakes squeaked to a halt. Neither noticed the man who followed them out of the lot.

Mouse-sized dust devils swirled behind moving vehicles and through streets crowded with tourists. Their feet knew the path through the hodgepodge of glitzy stores abuzz with activity.

“Oh, I love this!” Elise pointed to a mannequin with a white shirt and tan pants. “It would look terrific on you. It’s practical too, just like you.” Elise took her hand, and urged her, “Come on, you’ve got to try it on.”

The man stopped just out of sight across the street; his black cloak seemingly concealed him from everyone who walked past.

“I hate clothes shopping.” Andrea tried to pull away, but it was too late. The cluttered store was cramped. She stood near the doorway to avoid bumping into the metal racks, which kept poking her in the back. A sharp heeled boot stepped on her as a flock of women entered the store. Andrea leaned against the wall and rubbed the top of her foot. This was the reason she hated shopping, especially in Cairo. The tourists were rude and didn’t watch where they were going. They must have thought it would cost them something if they paid attention.

“Andrea,” Elise called out from near the dressing room entrance. There was a pile of clothes draped over her arm. Her sister was a typical woman; she loved to shop. However, Andrea avoided it like the plague.

Elise handed her a few outfits and opened the stall’s curtain door. There was hardly enough room to move let alone try on clothes, but Andrea managed. The tan pants had a slimming effect and were a comfortable fit. Although the shirt appeared to be too puffy for her tastes at first glance, it didn’t look bad on her at all. Andrea had to give Elise credit; she had excellent taste.

She thrust aside the curtain. “What do you think?”

“I like it. It makes your butt look bigger.”

“Oh God.” Andrea laughed and closed the curtain. “I guess it’s a keeper.”

“Most definitely,” Elise replied.

They tried on several items and after squandering away a couple hundred dollars, they left.

Andrea glanced heavenward. Dark clouds loomed; the wind’s dissection was bone-chilling. “I don’t like the way the horizon looks.”

“It’s probably a khamsin. Enjoy the day. If you were any more wound up you’d grind your gears.”

“But I feel weird.” Andrea stopped and shuddered.

“Me too, but you don’t see me all twisted out of shape over it. It’s not a biggie,” Elise said, walking ahead.

Problem was Andrea couldn’t. By the time she persuaded her feet to move, Elise had all but vanished into the sea of bobbing heads. Skimming ahead with distressed eyes, Andrea saw her sister haggling with a street vendor. She was out of breath by the time she caught up with her. Elise was skilled in the art of bargaining and the man wasn’t thrilled at having given in so easily. His chubby unshaven face scowled as he handed her sister a bag.

They sauntered along to a montage of wiry Arabic music. Their favorite café’s brightly colored canopies over round tables popped into sight. They, along with their father, had stumbled across the Golden Pharaoh several years ago. Today it was nearly barren. The twins sat near the street. Taxis and minibuses zoomed past. One bus slammed on its brakes and people poured out into the overcrowded street. Donkeys pulling beat-up carts left their smelly trails behind them. Bicycles swerved to get out of car traffic’s way. Fellahin men with their baggy white trousers and full-length galabiyah of blue and white dominated the area. The Fellahin women trudged behind their husbands with veiled faces and drab black robes.

The server arrived and took their order.

Andrea waited for him to leave before saying, “I’d like to think the papyrus is ancient.”

“Send it out for analysis,” said Elise.

“I must study it first. I’ll be doing the bureaucratic shuffle for months after I hand it over to the Egyptian government.” Bubbles tickled her nose as she blew into her straw. “Khufu’s tomb is intact; I’m certain of it. Why build a grand monument with such a small, unadorned exterior sarcophagus? Because--“

“--it has a different purpose.” Elise finished her sentence.

“What is the House of Secrets?”

“My guess, it’s the Hall of Records those controversial nuts yack about.”

“Even that possibility sounds good right now. I wonder why Father never told us this story.”

“You’re probably the first to uncover it. As Adel’s favorite saying goes, ‘the gods favor you’.”

“You’re hopeless, Elise. That’s just silly superstition.” Andrea rolled her eyes. Clunking plates startled her and her flesh crawled. She thought why am I so jittery?

“Yummy.” Elise, admiring the plump burger and pile of fries, rubbed her hands together and went to work on it. They ate, but Elise couldn’t handle the extended silence. “So, I have a new boyfriend . . .” And then they were off to the ‘why don’t you date’ races.

Elise chattered on while Andrea’s eardrums continued a vain protest. Although she loved her twin, sometimes her sister pressed the issues that Andrea considered trivial. It was the same every time. Andrea listened, nodded her head, and commented when it seemed necessary. She refrained from screaming at Elise whose good intentions never ceased to strike the wrong nerve.

The waiter eventually interrupted what Andrea called torture. “Any desserts today, ladies?” he asked with a slight British accent.

“No thank you,” Andrea replied; Elise shook her head. He placed the bill down before he left. “I’ve got this one.”

“No! It’s my treat!” The paper sliced Andrea’s finger when Elise snatched the check from her hand.

“Owe, that smarts.” Andrea inspected the tiny cut and pressed her fingers together to stop the bleeding.

Scooting their chairs out, the women stood to leave. Elise fumbled through her packed purse. A chill absorbed Andrea; she plucked windswept strands of blond hair from her mouth. Then she saw him.

His black robes remained motionless in the fluttering breeze. An oversized hood shaded his features, but the hatred flickering in his eyes was clear. He slithered across the asphalt.

Elise was still going through her purse when his massive hand made a motion and her head whipped involuntarily toward him. With the women’s attention grasped he said, “You must not seek the Ankh.” His baritone voice scratched at Andrea’s nerves like demonic claws. “Disaster awaits you both. You cannot control its power.” With glacial recognition he stared at Andrea. “Heed my warning, Andrea Regal. The Ankh will bring down the stars upon your head. Listen well for the ancients have spoken.” His body faded like a mirage before he vanished.

The waiter, noting his previous customers’ odd condition, walked over and waved his hand in front of their faces. “Are you two well?”

Elise wagged her head; she blinked hard. “What the hell just happened? Did you see where that man went?”

The waiter’s brow furrowed into a v-shape. “No one approached you.”

“But he was standing right there!” Elise pointed. “You mean to tell me you didn’t see anyone?”

“No, madam.” He left, shaking his head.

“That wasn’t a hallucination, Andrea. Where did he go?” Elise received only a dreamy stare as an answer. Without looking, Elise slapped a large bill on the table, grabbed their bags, and then Andrea's wrist. With a firm tug, Elise said, “We’re going back to camp, now!”

Chapter 2

Chapter 10 of Egyptian fantasy novel Ra's Warrior

cleasterwood — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:12:43 CDT

Chapter 10

Men-Nefer

Frightened servants dodged the furor of the king as he forged upstairs. Cold beer sloshed onto his hand. Khufu’s intentions were past its intoxicating effects. He stormed into the harem. His rage benumbed him to any further insidious emotions that woman could elicit. With flared nostrils, Khufu seized the nape of the guard’s neck and squeezed while maneuvering the plumping man toward the door. “Get out!” After shoving the eunuch out, he turned and stared at the closest woman.

Big brown eyes veered away from his lustful stare. A solitary tear left a glistening trail down her cheek as her head lowered. She bent to one knee. “My Lord.”

“Slight, but you shall suffice.” Traces of humanity fled from him. Sharp fingernails dug into the thin wrist she offered.

She yelped.

He hauled her along until she latched onto the marble pillar and decried, “I am indentured to do as you request and shan’t dishonor my family, but I beg thee show mercy.”

Khufu’s compressed mouth and igneous stare conveyed his restrained wrath.

He released her and stepped aside. She walked toward his private bedchamber; Khufu ripped off a veil attached to her silver girdle when she passed. He sniffed the gauzy fabric. Lily.

Another woman wearing little more than underwear and luxuriant black hair lounged against a limestone statue of Hathor. “She does not know the ways of men like I, My Lord. Perhaps two women would be palatable entertainment for such royal tastes.” She fondled her exposed nipples and bit into her bottom lip.

Images of the golden haired wraith flashed in his mind. It was her flesh he craved. Saliva frothed under his tongue.

The feisty volunteer smiled when he snatched her gold belly-chain and tugged. Khufu thrust them both onto the bed and kicked the door shut.

Unsteady legs carried her; somehow, though, Andrea managed to preserve a calm exterior on the way through the halls. But once inside her palatial prison, confusion compounded with a sudden longing for family to breach composure’s wall. Confined tears burst forth from the dams of sorrow. The room, regardless of how comfortable it was, offered solitude without solace. Statues had stone ears and sealed lips. Andrea sat on the bed and smothered out the sounds of crying with a pillow. Her hunched body heaved and sweltered like a boat riding out a hurricane as each emotion crested the waves of her mind.

“Damn it!” She pummeled the wet pillow. “Why? Why me?” Someone knocked on the door and then opened it before she had a chance to wipe her face. Andrea yelled “what” without looking first.

Tehuti, wearing his white hair and human persona, stood in the doorway. “May I enter?”

“Oh, my apologies Master Tehuti I thought you were someone else.”

“I presume you are referring to Khufu.”

There was gentleness to his slightly curved lips that reminded Andrea of her father, which made confiding in Tehuti easier. “It was not my intention to hurt him. Rushing into anything with uncertainties is bad for any woman.”

“Youth and wisdom are often a volatile mixture.” Tehuti took Andrea’s hand. The energy flowing into her from this eternal being’s presence was worse than hitting a brick wall at 80 miles per hour. Memories became snapshots against the backdrop of dulling room. Blood splattered the tan stalks of barley growing along the black riverbank. The sickening thumps of falling bodies abounded; white crimson stained feathers drifted down.

Andrea’s stomach tightened as cries of the injured pierced her senses. “Stop it! Why are you doing this to me?”

Peacefulness flooded her with the next memory’s seamless invasion. Two sleek ibis danced above a fledgling Nile. Diving and climbing to the world’s roof, their ritualistic declaration of love bound their souls. Wingtips touched as the ibises pirouetted. Down and down they spiraled, separating when they were barely above the fields. The lovers swooped around to meet again and the landing was timed so that they came face to face when their feet touched ground; they kissed. Andrea scrunched her facial muscles tight and when she finally looked up, Tehuti’s unblinking eyes came into focus. “Like you, I have experienced the doubt caused by the heart’s avoidance of such confusing emotions. But love is different. From the moment it touches you, it uplifts your very essence until you can deny it no longer. Do you love Khufu?”

She wasn’t ready to answer that question. “I care about him, yes, but ours is a relationship doomed before it can even begin. Why does he not understand?”

“Perhaps it is you who lacks understanding. His love is the sandstorm that spans passion’s desert. It ceases not; growing ever stronger as it consumes him. Khufu feels betrayed by his heart and puissant anger guides his actions.”

With a shaky index finger she pushed down the loftier folds in the bedcover. “I cannot allow it.” The truth, buried as it was, should have been self-evident.

“Confront your fears, Andrea. Seek out that which lies within and it shall liberate you.” Tehuti patted her hand. Andrea felt a slight twinge of discomfort when he cocked his head. A sequence of physical morphs was his body’s natural response to some unexpected atmospheric ripple that she could not quite perceive. Changing into his hybrid state, he simply said, “I am needed elsewhere,” before shimmering and fading from the room.

One thing was certain; she would be spending the evening without the king’s company. Taking her logbook with her, she went into the bathroom, knocked on the servant’s entrance, and asked the slender man who answered to prepare a bath. Soon various attendants invaded. They brought in painted jars with scented cleansers, towels, and baskets of flower petals, which they tossed on the water’s surface. The older man who had opened the door was obviously in charge; he hurried the others and scolded them when they were slow acting. Andrea asked him to have dinner sent to the room later. His inadvertent stare was noticed and he should have been scolded for his human desires, but Andrea felt pity for him instead. She knew what the man had suffered through before being appointed such a position. Only eunuch’s guarded harems and high-society women, which meant that the poor soul had been castrated. Unfortunately this barbaric ritual was commonplace. “Why bother saving mankind? It will never change the cruelty we dole out to our fellow man,” she said in English so no one could understand.

Once the room emptied, she undressed and slipped into the tub. Satiny rays from a dusking sun doused the room in tranquility. Andrea’s not-so-logical side assumed command. Tense muscles relaxed as the steamy water rose above the shoulders. After putting a towel beneath her head, she closed her eyes. But images of Khufu were ceaseless phantoms that refused to let the denial of love gain supremacy over what could one day be. The luster in his eyes when they smiled at her was as clear to her now as it had been every other time.

Light, provided by four burning braziers and a hundred candles, was plentiful. Andrea picked up the logbook and started with the entries made soon after arriving here. Every entry referred to him in some fashion: things he told her, the gentle way he kissed her hand, how happy she felt when he was around, and there was even an entry with an in-depth description of how dashing he looked on the night of the feast. All her newfound problems stemmed from her affections toward the king. Finally, she realized that she had become an expert at avoiding the greatest emotion, idyllic love.

The empty drug-laced goblet clanked on the floor. While gathering up the supplies she had hidden in the room weeks earlier, she admired his sprawling naked form. Adding a sleeping potion to the harem’s water jugs had guaranteed her an uninterrupted evening. She had successfully intoxicated him, which enabled her to further ignite his sadistic behavior. The woman unfortunate enough to have received the brunt of his aggression cowered in the corner; blood dripped from her deflowered body. Sex excited Kepi, but lurid sex . . . Ah, euphoria. Her face twisted with devilish satisfaction. She and the king partook of the young woman’s innocence, albeit given freely. Now it was time to complete the task her Master had given. It would ensure her place in the new order of the foreseeable future and shed her from the skins of the retched life imposed upon a harem girl.

Picking up a small table, she placed it next to the bed. Kepi went around the bed and, with glistening eyes, glared down at the woman. One punishing kick to the stomach silenced any screams; Kepi laughed when the woman slumped. Toned muscles flexed as she hefted the unconscious girl onto the bed next to Khufu. The daunting task of placing the bodies in precise positions was undertaken with gleeful reverence. Kepi then searched for his dagger, which was buried underneath the pile of shredded clothes at the foot of the bed.

Standing over the delicate framed female, Kepi palmed the knife and poised it above the unmoving sacrifice. “May the Lords of Darkness accept this ba as a pledge of my loyalty.” With the force of her entire body behind it, the dagger plunged into supple flesh. The sacrifice’s eyes popped open as her ribs were pried apart with unnatural strength. Red bubbled from her mouth. Kepi pulled free a still beating heart from the gaping cavity. Kepi raised the organ over her head and let the salty yet sweet life-nectar drip into her eager mouth before wringing some of the fluid into the basalt chalice. After adding the required ingredients to the potion, she stirred it with the king’s blade while reciting the spell.

The drugs she had slipped into Khufu’s last drink made him completely susceptible to suggestion. Her sexual appetite so great she rubbed him until he became erect. “Awaken, my crimson king,” she said as she mounted him again. Her drink sloshed from the chalice; splashes of red stained the white sheets.

“Yes, love.” He spoke with a heavy slur and his eyes were mere slits.

Their coupling bodies rocked, keeping him docile. Kepi’s abundant black locks shielded Khufu from what lie beside him. “You must be parched. Here, drink.” Diabolical eyes twinkled. Without changing her rhythmic movements, she held the cup to his lips and tilted it. He questioned nothing. “Give free passage to the Lords of Darkness as you drink from the Cup of Death,” she said as he consumed it greedily. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. And so it was done.

C. L. Easterwood

cleasterwood — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:56:37 CDT

C.L. Easterwood resides in Florida where she enjoys a number of outdoor activities. Her fascination with Ancient Egypt and writing started at an early age. Having tossed around the idea of writing a novel for years, she decided to undertake the project. Although she enjoys such writers as Clive Cussler, Wilbur Smith, and Stephen King, the story that inspired her the most was Anne Rice’s version of the “The Mummy.” Her most recent short story, Lady Galiena--The Watcher of the Road, appeared in Deep Magic E-Zine.
She is currently working with artist Clarissa Filice in converting "Ra’s Warrior and the Talismans of Time" into a serialized graphic novel/webcomic. Other stories for the Talismans of Time Series are in various stages of research and completion.

This is the link to my private wiki. Sorry, but only the invited are allowed to view. Thank you for understanding. http://raswarrior.wetpaint.com/

Links

cleasterwood — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:46:50 CDT

COMIC BOOK LINKS
Zuda Comics
Comic Space
Comixtalk
BuzzComix!
Online Comics
Kill Boredom
Comic Book Resources

PUBLISHERS
Comics Research
Leucrota Press
NBM Publishing
SLG Publishing
Archaia Studios Press
Shadowline MySpace

Here are some of my links. Most of them are Egyptian or Atlantis related. I have also included a few for general studies and some writing links.

Egyptian:
Best site: http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/ Tour Egypt is the official Egyptian Government's website.
Modern Kemetic Religion: http://www.kemet.org/home.html
Hieroglyphics: http://www.jimloy.com/hiero/e-dict.htm
This site has every Egyptian fiction book ever written: http://members.aol.com/wenamun/Egyptfiction.html
Good sites for general Eygptian studies.
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html
http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/index.shtml
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/mythisis.htm
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/mythisis.htm

The arts of War:
Fencing: http://www.fencingonline.com/
http://www.synec-doc.be/escrime/dico/engl.htm
Self Defense with a cane: http://ejmas.com/jnc/jncart_barton-wright_0200.htm
Archery: http://www.student.utwente.nl/~sagi/artikel/misc/glossary.html
http://www.centenaryarchers.gil.com.au/history.htm

WRITING:
Best Critique site on the Net: www.rateyourwriting.com
Generators:
Generators help when you're stuck. Writers can use these generators to help the get the flow going again:
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-comb.php
http://generatorblog.blogspot.com/

References for writers: (Including grammar)
http://www.huhs.org/activities/zyzzyva/ref.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/
http://www.chronicles-network.com/
http://www.dynamicfiction.net/wresources/

Synopsis, Queries, and Cover letters
http://writing-world.com/publish/synopsis.shtml
http://www.author-network.com/synopsis.html
http://www.klariti.com/business-writing/writing-query-letters.shtml
http://www.underdown.org/covlettr.htm
http://www.writers-free-reference.com/
http://www.critters.org/rules.html
Agents resources:
http://www.literaryagents.org/
The Preditors & Editors listed here is one of the best. They collect reviews from other authors. Their recommendations will not steer you wrong. If the person in question isn't exactly what they claim, P & E will let you know.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

More to come.....