Moses - A Plague Be Upon You
Trisha A. Lindsey
Published by Trisha A. Lindsey at Smashwords
Copyright 2005 Trisha A. Lindsey
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-- Preface--
“Thutmose…Ramesses held a knife to Tu-tankh-Amun’s neck this afternoon…he was very angry…and now that we have…upset Pi…” She added delicately, “…Now might NOT be the right time to tell Ramesses…” Nefer-tari began, only to be interrupted by Ramesses, who entered the room, hitting his thigh with a whip, he had wound up into a circle.
“To tell Ramesses WHAT?” He asked in a silky voice, his guard following him at few paces back. Nefer-tari’s guard quickly entered behind his guard, coming over to stand in front of Tiiute, Malfoy and Thutmose, who looked at his Sister, gesturing for her to stand up. She was looking far too pliant and helpless, lying on the bed.
“To tell you…that I am sorry, Brother.” Nefer-tari sighed, taking a deep breath, as she squeezed Thutmose on the arm, stepping around him, and through her guard, to come stand in front of Ramesses. “I overstepped my authority this afternoon. I was so worried about you, that I did something…something I should not have, I didn’t want to wait for answers.” She ended softly.
“Really?” Ramesses answered in the same low voice, walking in a slow circle around his Sister, until he came to a halt in front of her once more. “You were worried about…ME?” Ramesses asked in a soft voice, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise.
“Of course…I know that you love Tu-tankh-Amun more than life itself, you would never hurt him! To see you with him like that…it wasn’t like you.” Nefer-tari continued, holding her hand up behind her back to forestall them moving. Thutmose continued to sway back and forth with his Nephew, rubbing his back.
“Pi was not himself today. He needs some rest. I went to check on Tu-tankh-Amun before I decided to come see you, Sister.” Ramesses stated in the same tone, slapping his thigh with the whip every so often. “I expected to see his Sister also, but here she is with you…” He finished in an ominous tone, leaning to one side to look past her, at Thutmose, who was holding Memnet. “You should not favor Memnet over her Brother, Nefer-tari. I did not feel good when that was done to me…”
“Yes…about Memnet…does he not favor Grandfather, Brother?” Nefer-tari replied in a silken voice, her eyes going flat and hard, making Ramesses flinch, a movement he quickly covered up.
Thutmose coughed to cover up the laugh welling up in his throat at how well Nefer-tari could read their Brother, coming over to stand next to his Sister. “Brother…all you had to do was tell us about Mother and Grandfather…it would have explained quite a lot.” He began, taking control of the situation. “The old man has cursed us. I understand what has happened now!” He sighed, handing the boy to Ramesses.
Ramesses hesitated to take Memnet, finally handing the whip to one of his guards, taking the sleeping child from his Brother, burying his face in his hair, inhaling deeply. “She smells like a baby still!” He murmured, kissing Memnet on the cheek. “Sister, I have fulfilled our agreement, you have a Son, and a Daughter! I will be bringing my women back…and some new women, I think, since poor Pi is indisposed…Brother, you have given him a death of a cold!” He sighed, meeting Thutmose’s eyes, his own dark and menacing.
“I am the strong arm of the throne, Brother! As you have seen fit to dismiss Egypt’s front guard, I assumed his duties!” Thutmose growled, giving Ramesses no quarter. “When exactly did you see fit to take your revenge, Ramesses?” Thutmose asked, gesturing for Ramesses’ guard to give him his Brother’s whip. The guard reluctantly handed it to him, and Thutmose fingered it, frowning. “This whip is too well oiled, Brother…they work much better when they are dry, not so well taken care of.”
“It was dry earlier, Brother…that is not oil.” Ramesses drawled, answering, “I took my ‘Revenge’ when the 70 days of Father’s mourning was completed…as Pharaoh Seti instructed me to do. I was merciful. They chose their own means…poison.” Ramesses sighed, not willing to draw out the conversation any further. “Now then, back to you, Nefer-tari…” He drawled, only to be cut off once more!
“Why didn’t you tell us? Grandfather and Mother were very powerful, they have many, many friends at court! And…I would have liked to say goodbye.” She finished in a soft voice, turning from him. “We have much to discuss, Ramesses!”
“You change the subject, Sister…I mean to be free!” Ramesses stated once more, swaying back and forth with Memnet, as he yawned in his sleep.
“I think not…our agreement was two sons, and a Daughter.” Nefer-tari glared at Ramesses, moving over to one side slightly to catch his eye.
“I only need one heir, Sister.” Ramesses snapped, his eyes sparking fire.
“Well, you have two! And you still owe me a Daughter!” Nefer-tari snapped back at him, daring him to ask what she meant. Nefer-tari darted a look at Thutmose, who added,
“Never kill a priest directly, Brother. Did Father not tell you that? Grandfather had all the dark magic of Egypt at his fingertips! Who has succeeded him?” Thutmose asked, knowing Ramesses cared little for the priests and their rites.
“Chen Balaam…” Ramesses smiled, at Nefer-tari’s grimace of distaste.
“Whom we have fought to keep in his place, keeping all of the books of dark magic from! Thankfully, under Seth’s orders, they were removed from the temples, with Father’s blessing. And now, you banish Seth on a whim!” Thutmose laid into Ramesses, his voice tinged with disgust.
“Yes, but I am Pharaoh...I do as I wish, Brother!” Ramesses answered him, in a mocking voice.
“Well, look what one of your ‘Whims’, has done to my Nephew!” Thutmose spat at him, taking Memnet from him, holding him in the crook of his arm, so his legs dangled over his forearm. He lifted the boys’ tunic, exposing his sex to his Brother, glaring at him angrily, as Ramesses face took on a look of shock!
“And you blame ME for this?!?” Ramesses gasped, looking at the two sexes of the child, his mind shocked for once!
“YES! I blame both you and Nefer-tari! Her for wanting a Daughter so bad that she would turn this boy into one, and you for not keeping your word to her, that it forced her to do this thing! He is a BOY, he acts as a boy, he speaks as a boy, and he has the best sword hand I have seen on a child his age, since…well, since Aggassi placed one in my hand!” Thutmose admitted grudgingly, covering the child once more. “Grandfather should not have been crossed, until spells of shielding were done for all of us…especially for my Sister, who was with child! Grandfather has cursed him!” Thutmose ended, turning away from Ramesses, walking over to lay Memnet down on his Sister’s pallet once more. He caught Tiiute’s eye and winked, mouthing, “Later!” To him! Thutmose fully intended to take care of Tiiute later!
Ramesses cleared his throat, frowning at Nefer-tari, telling her, “You should have told me…you could have told me.” He would have to keep a closer eye on Chen-Balaam! Did all of Memnet’s equipment work?!? Ramesses thought at once with a shudder of wonder! What a GIFT!!
“You should have told me! We were both wrong!” She told him, already knowing she would have to lie with him at least one more time! She would have her Daughter, all thrones in Egypt went through Daughters! She leaned forward, beckoning to him to lean down. When he did, she whispered in his ear, “Seth turned me down TOO, Brother, MANY times! And if I ever lay eyes on Pi again, it will be the last time you see him!”
Ramesses didn’t hesitate, turning his head to whisper back to her, “Pi was mine…lets see how you like having YOUR ‘Pi’ drowned!” He threatened her as he glared at Tiiute, catching her arm around her wrist as it swung towards his face, pushing her away from him! Before Thutmose had a chance to stand up, they were interrupted by Commander Ish-rael’s appearance!
“Great Pharaoh’s! I come with news of great import!” He announced, going on bended knee before them.
“Commander Ish-rael!” Ramesses drawled, turning towards him. “Perfect timing!” He was just about to throttle his Sister AND his Brother!
“Highness…I came to tell you myself.” Commander Ish-rael sighed, as Nefer-tari shrugged, waving Thutmose away, as he took her arm to steady her.
“He is in Goshen…I took him there myself.” Commander Ish-rael told them, rising when Ramesses indicated for him to rise.
“Whom?” Ramesses asked, signaling one of his guards for a chair, frowning when they brought three chairs! He, Nefer-tari, and Thutmose all sat down.
“Moses.” Commander Ish-rael whispered, the one word dropping into the room like a stone.
CHAPTER ONE
-- Egypt, Present Day--
Hattie woke up with a start, looking over at Memnet with a deep frown! “Why did you wake me up?!? Moses just got there, what’s going to happen next?” She asked him eagerly, sitting up, rubbing her face with one hand.
“It is nearing dark, we have to ready ourselves for several ceremonies…you have seen our creatures of myth, of air, and land and those who are from underground lands…but tonight, you will meet those from the sea…” Memnet whispered, sitting up next to Hattie. “How about a quickie?” He smiled, kissing her on the shoulder.
“How about we get ready?” Hattie smiled, already knowing that indulging Memnet every time he wanted her would be a big mistake!
“We had quickies back in my time also, Hattie! You people did not invent everything!” He persisted, telling her, “I will not lose interest in you if we do it a lot, Hattie!” Trying to reverse psychology her!
“Memnet, we have to check on the baby! And isn’t that little dragon around here somewhere?” She asked, getting out of the bed, going into the bathroom. The marble floors were always freezing! She quickly stepped into the shower, turning the hot water on high, sighing with relief as it warmed her skin.
Memnet joined her in the shower reluctantly, telling her, “This is modern! You did not thank me for redoing the baths! I could have left them as they were!”
“Sorry!” Hattie smiled, turning with the soap to rub him down. “Thank you for the showers! I still like the deep pool, its so different. I wish its something we had never gotten away from!”
“Everything has a place, Hattie. Not much is said of Pharaoh Ramesses in the Bible, of how he came to be the way he was. You have to understand how absolute was his rule, Hattie. He wanted to leave a mark on the world that would last as long as the great Pyramids, he wanted to make sure all of Egypt said one thing to the world to come, ‘I belong to Ramesses.’ He truly felt he was under the authority of no man, nor of God.” Memnet explained, taking the soap from her, and soaping her up quickly.
“Everyone is under someone’s authority. Whether you want to admit it, or not.” Hattie stated evenly, turning to stand under the spray of water in front of her.
“Yes. My Mother, my Uncle Thutmose, Aggassi and Seth all understood that Chen Balaam was not the kind of man you wanted to give access to all the books of Egypt that held truly dark magic. They not only gathered the books in one spot, they also restricted giving him access to certain temples and even tombs, where some of the spells were written. The spells and runes in my tomb were not only Egyptian, they came from Mesopotamia, Great Babylon, and dark regions of Africa. And all of the combined magic, light and dark were written in two texts, then all other references were destroyed. There are many, many copies of parts, but no one but my family has the whole! The royal family, and they alone had charge of such things. Chen Balaam had some of the pieces, but not the whole puzzle.” Memnet explained, standing under the spray of water with her.
“Whatever happened to Chen Balaam?” Hattie asked with a puzzled look on her face. She turned the water off, turning to look at Memnet.
“His evil was rewarded at its proper time!” Memnet snickered, holding his hand out for a towel. Hattie pulled one from a towel rack after stepping from the shower, handing it back to him, taking another one for herself, toweling herself dry. She looked back to see him holding the towel extended out towards her, and groaned, tossing hers down, taking it back from him!
“You know, Memnet, I’m only going to let you push this Pharaoh thing so far!” Hattie smiled, drying him briskly! He was always acting like royalty on small points like this!
“My servants can always come to help me, Hattie. I like your personal touch much better!” He smiled back at her.
“Any warnings in particular?” She asked him, as they reentered the room. Hattie looked at the view in front of them with a gasp! “This looks like the veranda at the palace! The bed, the bathing pool! Everything is in the same place! I’m in your Mother’s room!” She smiled, turning into Memnet’s arms, hugging him around the neck.
“Of course! My Queen is in my Queen’s quarters, Hattie…does this buy me brown fudge points, and we can have a quickie now?” He murmured, burying his head into her hair, nipping at her neck!
“Yes, it buys you ‘brownie’ points, but we really should get ready!” Hattie giggled, pushing his face away. They quickly dressed, Hattie spending most of her time dressing Memnet! They then went in check on Menes, who was sitting in a small chair doing a puzzle at a low table. Thutmose and Seth were helping him, each of them laughing now and then as he tried to force pieces into places they didn’t belong!
“Ma!!” He dimpled happily, standing up on unsteady legs, toddling towards her, his arms reaching up for her.
Hattie leaned down to pick him up, kissing him on the cheek. “Hello, baby! I see you’re playing nice with your Uncles!” She told him, noting the satisfied smiles from the two of them at her words. “Memnet, in this day and age, your Brothers are your children’s Uncle’s, anyone who has a special relationship with your children gets a family title.” She explained, going over to look down at the puzzle, praising Menes for the work he had finished.
“As you wish, Hattie.” Memnet sighed, rolling his eyes at her simple thinking! His servants would always be his servants! And they evidently liked dressing in this time’s clothing! They were both dressed in khaki shorts and T-shirts, with flip-flops!
“Highness, all is ready for tonight. All of the wards have been set. Twilight is without, he has been waiting for you to awaken.” Thutmose said, as he and Seth both came to their feet.
“And where is my little dragon? Has he eaten yet?” Memnet asked, taking Menes from Hattie. “How is my big boy?” He nuzzled Menes’ cheek, just ducking as the boy bit out at him! “Why do you bite at me, but not your Mother?” Memnet frowned, tapping the boy on the lips.
“You smell GOOOO-DDD, Da!” Menes smiled, sniffing the air near Memnet’s head.
Hattie’s head snapped up at his words, a worried look on her face! “He isn’t…he doesn’t have teeth yet, does he?” She murmured, telling him, “Open your mouth, baby…let Mommy see if…” She began, as he smiled at her, his mouth full of teeth, making her jump slightly! “He has…1, 2…6 up top, and 6 on the bottom!”
“No biting! You have to ask first.” Memnet sighed, turning Menes away from Hattie. “We will have to step up your training, Menes, or you will be worse than my Mother!” He scolded him, balancing him on his hip.
“That’s a scary thought!” Hattie frowned with a slight shiver, as they walked out onto another veranda. All of the rooms had an outer terrace leading to a courtyard. Sitting outside Memnet’s room at the bottom of the steps was the dragon, stretched out on its back trying to enjoy the last few rays of sun. He was the size of a calf now!
“Highness!” He greeted Memnet in a singsong voice, rolling to his feet, shaking as though he were a large dog!
“He can talk?” Hattie whispered, stopping short of the dragon.
“Yes, all dragons can talk, Hattie. Have you fed today, it is almost time for you to molt, you have to before you can be named. I have searched my books for a name for you, perhaps your Father can help us… Ognian has had more than enough time to think about a name for you!” Memnet thought out loud addressing the dragon, waving Hattie forward.
“He's really beautiful, Memnet! Such color! He looks just like the setting sun tonight!” Hattie smiled, still giving him a wide berth. “Memnet, couldn’t my Brother Alonzo come to see him? He’s spent his whole life searching for Dragons! To see an actual live one would…”
“Would make him lose his mind, he’d end up discredited and labeled a quack!” Memnet interrupted her, shaking his head at her shortsightedness! “Hattie, just because you can see them and handle it, doesn’t mean everyone else can! I am not teaching them to survive and to show themselves, I am teaching them to survive, and remain HIDDEN! Just because they are hidden, doesn’t mean they don’t have conflicts in their own worlds, in their own societies!” He spoke to her, turning to tell his servants,
“Little Dragon needs to eat, he needs fish…he’s not to have anything else until he can control his behavior! Does he need a guard?” Memnet asked, handing Menes to Thutmose.
“Highness, he stays with me or Seth, he and I have had wonderful conversations…he wants to take a bite out of Assad, but I told him it would make you very angry!” Thutmose grinned, beckoning to the dragon to follow him!
“Yes, you cannot taste the humans, not even a little lick, little dragon!” Memnet smiled, as Hattie frowned, noticing Menes waving at the dragon over Thutmose’s shoulder.
“Memnet, if he so much as…” Hattie began, only to be interrupted by the dragon as he passed her,
“I know, I KNOW, don’t touch your BABY!” He chimed, looking at her balefully as he passed. “Your baby can take care of himself, my Queen!” He announced, his eyes flashing bright red for a moment!
Hattie smiled, not realizing her own eyes flashed bright red in answer. “He’s touchy! I need to watch how I talk to him.” Hattie sighed, turning to look at Memnet. “I’ll watch how I talk to everyone, you seem to know what to say! Where are Johnnie and Assad?”
“Still reading columns! Although Seth is here now, I have him watching the two of them. I know they are important to you, I don’t want anything to happen to them, Hattie. They will not be present with us tonight, with so many shapeshifters present, it is too risky!” Memnet said, holding his hand out to her. Hattie took his hand, and they walked out into the courtyard together. “A bite, or even a scratch from a shapeshifter can turn a human!”
“Yeah, they’d better stay away! And why can’t the dragon eat anything but fish?” Hattie asked Memnet, walking next to him.
“Because he is so young, whatever he eats, will be knit into his very being…if he eats people, he will forever look on them as prey…if he eats ANYTHING that men raise, it will be a disaster, nothing will keep him from that taste, he will recognize neither friend, nor foe, and will obey no command not to eat of it…all will be prey.” Memnet explained, as Hattie looked at him in shock! “After he molts, he can eat as he wishes, he will have more control then…”
“So…he could see me as prey if he eats another human?” She asked warily.
“Yes…he could TRY and eat you, but he would not succeed. You would destroy him first, before I could even act! Even though now that I think about it, Menes would destroy him before you or I could even act, take my word for it. Your son’s first loyalty is to you, even before it is to me, for you have nursed him, your milk has bound him to you in a way that is even closer than my blood!” Memnet explained, hoping she could see what they were up against more clearly.
“So, fish is safe?” Hattie asked, still not 100% clear on that choice!
“Fish he can get himself, from the deep oceans. He can hold his breath for quite some time, Hattie. He can swim very well, can dive very deep, and fly VERY high, neither heat nor cold will affect him. Fish are safe, and plentiful. Full grown dragons eat a LOT! When he is older, he can eat what he wants, but only fish will call to his blood.” Memnet told her, walking up to a throne that was set up on a dais, on the exact Center of the courtyard. A huge pool was off to one side! Its surface was smooth, not showing a single ripple! “The pool is temporary. Stay clear of it, it is bottomless, it leads to the Mediterranean Sea!” Memnet warned her.
“I won’t even ask!” Hattie shivered, asking instead, “You don’t REALLY expect me to stand up all night, do you?” She frowned, thinking what kind of seat she needed, and where it had to go, stifling a scream when it popped out of thin air in front of her!
Memnet smiled, changing the metal folding chair to a smaller throne in an instant! “You need to stop thinking like a peasant, Hattie! A Queen needs a throne! I only wanted to see what you would do, my sweet…oh, I almost forgot, Twilight, come to me.” Memnet spoke into the air. The vampire materialized at once with barely a ripple in the air around him, bowing slightly to Memnet and Hattie, before taking a small gold box from his inner jacket pocket, handing it to Memnet.
“The box is my own, Highness…Please forgive me…I know that you only asked for…I wanted to present it to you with honor…” Twilight added, as Memnet nodded, opening the small box, which was lined with white satin. Nestled inside of it, was a lock of hair. It looked very old and brittle.
“My Brother’s hair…he…his tomb’s belongings are on tour, but his body is in Athens being analyzed. I needed part of him with me.” Memnet whispered, reaching out a hand to Hattie, snapping the box shut and putting it into his own jacket pocket.
Hattie nodded, stroking his hand with both of hers, understanding perhaps for the first time, that mummies weren’t just for research or to be held in awe. They were somebody’s family...someone they once loved and cherished, and as such they should be handled with awe and reverence…and maybe…just maybe…they should be left to rest in peace, where they were originally. “Thank you, Twilight. Please, stay here at my left side. Oh, and don’t get near the pool, some really bad things are going to show up there tonight!” Memnet warned him.
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” Twilight shivered, shooting his cuffs. “Ah…can I have a seat too?”
“No.” Memnet smiled, just as the sun went all the way down! “The Were People are coming, you must show dominance!” At the first sign of darkness, lights went on around the courtyard, and people began to walk in. All of the different Were People were present within moments. Not just the children who had been there earlier, but their parents also.
The Werewolf King stepped forward with his Queen, they mated for life. He was a worldwide sovereign, not just King by continental designation. He was a survivor. Well over 1000 years old, he had weathered a storm of change, adapting, changing, and excelling through time. Even more remarkable, was the fact that his firstborn had survived with him!
He approached the dais, with only his mate, bowing his head slightly. The lower you were in the Hierarchy, the lower was your bow. His Queen bowed also, taking her mate by the hand, waving their Son to come stand in front of them.
“King Charles…Queen Fastrada…Prince Charles.” Pharaoh Memnet addressed them, inclining his head slightly. “May I present my Queen, Hatshepsut…this one is as bad as she whom she was named after!” He warned them, all of them noting the red flash that swept through Hattie’s eyes at his pronouncement! She had taken of his blood! She would have to be given respect until they could test her strength! “And your Sovereign, in Chai’s place, Twilight. It is good to see you. I hope you have found your accommodations to your satisfaction…” He asked, satisfied with their nods.
King Charles was no ordinary man. He was the original monarch, Charlemagne. Bitten by a spectral Werewolf as he lay dying when he was in his prime, Charlemagne forced himself to age, biting and hiding his eldest son for many years, until he came to his right mind. Upon his ‘death’, Charlemagne simply had another aged man placed in his sarcophagus, and moved further north, reinventing himself, comfortable from the years of bounty he had collected in his lifetime. He faded in and out of time, watching over his descendants, rising to the height of power in the Werewolf hierarchy, by utterly destroying any who would come against him.
He was six feet four inches tall, and built to scale. He had beautiful white hair, animated eyes, a powerful nose...a presence "always stately and dignified." These very words were penned in the mid 700’s by Einhard, the King's secretary. It was as he appeared this day. His Queen was always named Fastrada, after his third Wife, an exceptionally cruel woman. Indeed, any woman who meant to keep her place next to him, would have to be capable of swift cruelty, for many would have her place of prominence!
“Great Ones, I present my Underlords, and their progeny. They are all loyal, brutal and cunning men in their own right. We stand before you, ready to do your…bidding.” He paused, stepping to one side, waving the other men forward. They came in groups of three, one king, one Queen and their firstborn children. “The Lions…Lord Rex and Lady Regina.” He presented in their order of hierarchy.
The Lions stepped forward. Lord Rex and Lady Regina were honorary titles, that went to whomever was in charge of all of the Werelion cells stationed around the world. They were constantly in danger of being overthrown, and trusted no one!
“I am the Rex, Lion Hearted, I am Abrafo. My Regina, Enyo. My Son, Neoptolemus.” He added, each of them bowing lower than the Werewolves had…but only slightly. He was a tall, strong man with a barrel like chest, his golden hair cut short in front, long in back, the most stylish mullet that Hattie had ever seen! He fixed her with his tawny eyes, a contact he only broke when his mate purred at him in protest! He cleared his throat with a slight roar, then turned and presented the next group, the Weretigers.
“I am Ibraheem, Father of a multitude, my mate, Abhilasha, my desire, and my Son, Narayan.” He intoned in a strong voice, bowing his head, so his chin touched his chest briefly. He turned to his left, solemnly stating in voice tinged with an Indian accent, “My Leopard Brothers…”
The Leopards stepped forward, glad they were near the end of the line! “I am Viho, Father of all Native Leopards. My dam, Nayeli, and my Daughter and Son, Qaletaqa, the guardian of my people.” He smiled, his eyes flashing a bright green. He was not only proud of his family, but loved them fiercely, especially his eldest child! There was none like her in all of the Were Lands, living today!
Pharoah Memnet held up his hand, to forestall them bowing to him, standing instead. He stepped off of the dais, not bothering with the steps, landing in front of Qaletaqa. “So special, this one.” He smiled, barely stopping himself in time, from offering his wrist to the young woman who stood before him. “I must discern your character, Q. If you truly are as I am hoping you are, you will be wed to my Twilight.” He told her, touching the crown of her head. An auburn lock flowed from her short cut, where his hand had rested, springing into a long spiral curl! The other Werepeople began to murmur amongst themselves, at the favoritism that Memnet had shown her!
“Your Grace, our strength cannot be married to darkness! It would create a creature of such…” King Charles interjected, only to be interrupted!
“Vampires do not mate, we create!” Twilight snapped, elevating, to come floating back to the ground next to Pharaoh Memnet’s left, to the side of Qaletaqa. “Sovereign, our blood does not mix…it has been tried before, with disastrous results!”
“That was before I was here!” Memnet smiled, beckoning for Hattie to join him. She smiled, reappearing on his right side in the blink of an eye, sparking a new murmuring among the Werepeople!
“His Highness is correct. In the beginning, all could mate with any but their parents. That was changed after the flood, the only mating not allowed before that, was between men and angels! Memnet can temper your blood through his own, he holds the Great Mystery.” Hattie spoke into the conversations around her, stilling them all. She turned her attention to Qaletaqa, telling her, “You are the one. You hold an old piece of his being, which has come down unchanged, all the way to America’s shores. You carry the blood of the Jaguar strain, of the Mayan peoples. Part of Essence, undiluted.”
Memnet interjected, “Your peoples...separated from my own dark Egypt, when the Earth was divided during the time of Peleg, after the flood…your strain was separated to the America’s for a reason! Your thirst for blood would have destroyed the world…you hold this same thirst in your veins, but it can be tempered, for you are female…with male strength. Twilight’s seed lives, it is not dead, as he thinks…as he has been led to believe by Chai!” Memnet murmured the last part to Hattie, a frown creasing his forehead.
“Twilight…” Hattie began, only to be interrupted by Memnet.
“Twilight…return to your place…I will deal with Chai later!” Memnet snapped angrily, floating back up to the dais to his throne, after Twilight had taken his place next to his throne. Hattie remained, simply staring at Qaletaqa, making her Mother and Father quite nervous.
“Very well then… Qaletaqa, give me your wrist.” Hattie smiled, frowning slightly when Qaletaqa did not do as she asked. Hattie’s eyes quickly went from their liquid brown color, to a dark black pool, flashing red every so often! “Qaletaqa?” She asked once more, as Memnet groaned inwardly, knowing by the time he intervened, it would be too late! Qaletaqa began to shiver, just as Menes appeared from nowhere, making Hattie start in surprise!
“Ma! You’re scary!” He smiled, dimpling at her, breaking into her concentration on Qaletaqa, making Memnet and Twilight both let out a deep breath!
Hattie blinked as though coming out of a trance, her eyes returning to their dark brown, the black turning back to white! “Menes! What are you doing outside! Where is Seth, isn’t he supposed to be watching you? Memnet, let me take him back inside, I’ll be right back!” She sighed, leaning down to pick Menes up, before they both disappeared in an instant!
“Qaletaqa, you and your family have moved my agenda up, with my blessing…I will delay my Queen for a spell, she has to feed my Son. I want you gone before she returns, your blood is calling to her.” He stated evenly, flicking his wrist to beckon for Viho to continue.
“I present the Werecats, though the smallest of all of our people, they are not to be underestimated due to their size, they are formidable, able to call cats beyond that which can be numbered! The humans have let them breed with impunity!” He sniffed, as the Werecats simply smiled, bowing at the waist.
“And they love their dogs no less! Majesty, I am Er Tau, my mate, Asenath and my son Er TauMose.” He smiled, his grey eyes sparkling with mischief! “I and the land welcome you back!” He added, making Memnet laugh heartily! Cunning and smart! Er Tau had to be both, to be at the bottom of the hierarchy, yet still kept at arms length by his brethren!
“It is good to see you, Brother.” Memnet stood once more, waving Twilight forward, calling into the night, “CRUDE, come to me!” He waited for a couple of minutes, before he sighed, bringing Crude to him, making him materialize next to the Werecat family! Crude appeared and growled angrily in protest, chewing on a huge leg of some poor creature that had been slaughtered for his evening meal! He loved being in Memnet’s care, he hadn’t missed a single meal, there was food aplenty!
“Sorry Highness…this good din-din, good sup-sup!” Crude smiled, showing a mouth full of shredded meat, pieces of it stuck in his jagged teeth!
Memnet and Twilight both snickered, looking at each other! “Crude, you can eat all you want, but if I call you, you must come to me right away!” Memnet chided him with a smile. He tried not to use too many big words when addressing Crude.
“Okay…I sorry, Highness…where the pretty lady?” He asked, pointing at the empty throne.
Memnet opened his mouth to answer, and shut it back quickly! That was NOT a good direction for this conversation to go in! “Crude, I’m going to need some of the muscle from your right arm. Promise you won’t bite me, it is going to hurt!” Memnet stated to him, standing, and walking over to stand in front of Crude.
Memnet barely came to the top of Crude’s head, even standing on the raised dais! “Crude not like pain…you hurry?” Crude faltered, the huge leg of meat dangling from his meaty left hand, forgotten for the moment.
“Of course, I will hurry.” Memnet held out his left hand, and a jar materialized in his palm. Twilight shuddered, making Memnet smile! “Okay, big pinch!” Memnet warned him, his right hand starting to glow, as he started to murmur, swaying slightly. When his hand was glowing bright red, he reached to the underside of Crude’s right arm, reaching into it and pulling a chunk of flesh from it, as the Troll snickered, making Memnet snicker with him! He dropped the dripping flesh into the jar, still murmuring, closing up the flesh of the trolls’ arm, watching it closely. Memnet smiled, when he saw the flesh rebuilding itself. The flesh in the jar dripped green blood, as Memnet scraped his hand across the lid of the jar.
“Mudder beat me worse than that, Highness!” Crude drawled, raising his left arm, taking a huge chunky bite out of the leg of meat. “You pop me back now…lot of meat left in my cave! Tell pretty Queen have lot of meat in my cave!” He winked, letting Memnet know he hadn’t forgotten Hattie!
Memnet frowned, telling him, “My Queen is not shared! I’ll hurt you worse than bad Mudder over my Queen, Crude!” Knowing it was the Faerie blood that was compelling the Troll to bother him about Hattie! He also knew that Trolls didn’t joke!
“That not good…crude need pretty Fairie lady, Highness.” Crude grinned, chewing his meat!
“Not gonna happen, Crude…ugly Troll lady.” Memnet snickered, as Crude did a very un-troll like thing!
“Yuck! Crude look GOOD, not ugly enough for Troll lady! Need Fairie lady, Crude won’t break her!” Crude swallowed loudly, suddenly looking down at the Werecat Queen Asenath with new interest. “Pretty Kitty!” Crude drawled, as he disappeared with a pop!
“And THAT is enough of THAT!” Memnet smiled, as the Werecat Queen looked suitably insulted! “Twilight, come, I need your blood!” Memnet said instead, waving him forward.
“I thought you told me to be careful…” Twilight began, as Memnet smiled at him, extending his canine’s!
“You talk too much.” Memnet said easily, “This is going to hurt, but I won’t take all your blood, Twilight…you trust me, don’t you?” He asked him, walking to stand behind him.
“Uhhmmm…are we talking about a pinch, or a Mudder beating?” Twilight asked nervously, as Memnet snarled at him in warning. “Okay, OKAY! Yes Highness, I trust you!” He stammered, just as Memnet reached around him, slicing the front of his throat open with one fingernail, with a snarl, spraying his blood forward, out over the Werepeople, tossing the jar into the air, speaking an incantation, as the meat burst into a green shower and the jar disappeared, joining the blood as it sprayed upwards in an arc over the Werepeople! Right before the spray hit them, the three werewolves, Rover, Bound and Toulouse materialized in front of the Werewolf King! The mixture fell onto them in a wave, coating them all, bringing forth their animals all at one time, shredding their human clothes, with a huge noise of roars and growls!
Twilight fell back against Memnet, his body spasms making his body elevate, as Memnet called his blood back to him, and it reversed itself, the troll muscle only green slime, which separated itself from Twilight’s blood and quickly fell to earth after coating the Werepeople, turning dark black! The blood flowed back into Twilight’s gaping neck, until only a few drops in slow motion fell into the hole that his neck had become!
Memnet continued to croon his incantation, holding Twilight’s startled gaze, moving his hand over Twilight’s throat to seal it back, closing the wide slash, all the while holding him tightly under his arm with his other hand to support him. He finished his incantation with a sigh, bringing a cloth from nowhere, shrouding Qaletaqa’s form, before it drew anyone’s attention! He spoke three more words in the oldest tongue he could find, and in an instant the Werepeople stood before him, changed back to their human form, all shrouded in different color fabrics!
Twilight coughed several times, as Memnet let him go, whispering to Twilight, “That was MUCH worse than a Mudder beating! My blood is too strong with this spell, I needed yours, mine is diluted in yours!”
Twilight could only nod, not trusting that he could still speak!
Hattie suddenly materialized next to him with a quiet whoosh, asking, “What did I miss?” In a breathy voice!
CHAPTER TWO
“Do you have yourself under control, my Queen?” Memnet asked her, letting Twilight go, brushing the back of Twilight’s suit jacket idly.
“Ah…if you mean am I going to bite anyone, NO, I’m cool.” Hattie sniffed, rolling her eyes at Memnet’s question! She understood what had happened after talking to Menes inside. He had amazing insight for a baby!
“What are YOU doing here?” King Charles asked balefully, regarding Rover, Bound and Toulouse! “These three! They are so far removed from my bloodline, that I can’t even draw a scent from them!” He growled, barely holding his anger in check! He might not be able to feel their blood, but he could DEFINETLY feel their strength!
“They guard Twilight. I had to give them…an infusion…if you could call it that, Rover, Bound, Toulouse, come tend to your charge.” Pharaoh Memnet told them easily, waving them forward. They elevated onto the dais, surrounding Twilight, who smiled at their confused faces! They were indeed stronger than the King, being Twilight’s animals, they had his strength, and he could let them use his abilities as needed!
“NO!” Prince Charles grumbled loudly! “I should be his guard! I am Firstborn!” He shook his thick black mane of hair in agitation, taking his shroud, wrapping it around his waist, knotting it on one side.
“DAMN!” Hattie whispered, taking in his chest at a glance!
“Don’t even THINK about it!” Memnet drawled, making Hattie giggle at his implied threat!
“King Charles, I take it you will handle your progeny later, before I am made to…” Memnet smiled, baring his canines, as the Werewolf King bowed from the waist, his Wife following his lead, his son reluctantly doing so, as Memnet floated down to the ground, dismissing the Werepeople. They walked back to their children’s quarters, as Memnet walked over to the bottomless pool, whispering, “Come.”
Within moments the water began to roil and teem with movement! A long, thick neck broke the surface forming a loop, before a smooth head the size of a small boulder appeared! A piercing shriek cut through the night, as the first sea creature appeared! Within seconds, other heads were breaking the surface! A female Siren flopped onto the bank, her fins disappearing, as she stood on two legs. She opened her mouth, only to be stopped by Memnet!
“Not one word, Nimue…” Memnet cautioned her, as she went on bended knee before him. “You well know your call carries for miles overland, I have not the time to ward the air!” He cautioned her, as she nodded to him.
Within moments, the two Mer People, their King and Queen came from the water, with twin sons, bowing to one knee in front of Memnet.
“Highness, we heard your call when it first went out…thank you for creating a channel for us all to come to you.” The Mermaid King told him in a soft voice, becoming dry in an instant, his skin with a faintly blue tinge. “I am Ostadar, this is my mate for life, Ziazan. We present our two sons to you, Zesiro and Kakra. We ask that they stay with you, and you do what you will with them quickly…perhaps with Gaelin’s assistance…we have heard she is quite…gifted.” He ended, as his Queen tried to quiet him, for being so forward! Their negotiations with those of Faerie had garnered them nothing these many centuries!
Memnet regarded them for a moment, shrugging his shoulders. “I will look into your claims.” He sighed, knowing he had a hard case to make to those in Faerie, for Gaelin was very much treasured!
“As we knew you would, Highness!” Ziazan murmured, bowing even deeper. Memnet’s treatment of the Whore had spread far and wide, even to the underwater kingdoms!
“Highness, I would give you my firstborn, but he needs to be in the deep oceans!” The large Sea Monster, Calder sighed, bowing his heavy head gracefully. A smaller version of himself bobbed up and down in the water next to him, eyeing Memnet shyly.
“That you have made this long journey is tribute enough, Calder, you who lived before even the great flood! Come, take of my blood. Listen to my instruction well! At the time of the second trumpet, you and your kind, and any of the sea creatures that take of your blood, should start to move North and South. There are deep, deep water caves under the Fjords, and on the coast of Alaska, in between every third Aleutian Island, and under the South Pole. Inside the caves are deep caverns, with arable land and air aplenty, the second world, the fountains of the deep. You will be safe there, until the second bowl judgment. All the rivers and springs of water will change then. This will be well after the two witnesses are killed at the halfway point. When you leave here, on your way back to the Atlantic Ocean, you must go to the far south. You are to spew your precious blood to the smaller fish, which they will take to the Pacific Deep life. You must tell them, that the deep caverns around the Marianas will keep them safe…I am saddened it will not sustain them all! You will ALL have to leave the waters by the second bowl judgment. Leave the waters, and stay hidden in the deep caverns of ice and snow...sleep, until the Lamb returns, or die! Come, drink!” Memnet commanded him, walking to the waters’ edge. The sea creature did not hesitate, arcing his graceful neck, and latching onto Memnet’s arm with another piercing wail! Memnet stroked his head, murmuring a song as the monster drank. He beckoned many of them forward, and they latched onto the monster’s sides, drinking from him, as Memnet continued to sing! The feeding went on for 10 minutes, Memnet not faltering once, as his blood continued to pour forth.
Hattie frowned when she noticed the pallor of his skin, jumping from the dais, running to him, pulling her hair from her neck, offering it to him. Memnet could only nod feebly, he could not stop the incantation! “It is enough! He will take all of your blood!” Hattie hissed at him angrily!
The monster finally released his hold, falling back into the water, his child attached to his breast drinking deeply, as Memnet swayed slightly, from his loss of blood. He immediately reached for Hattie, burying his fangs in her neck, drinking deeply from her, his strength returning in moments. He released her, holding her close, breathing in her scent, as his heart raced!
“It is enough!” Memnet sighed, as the sea animals returned to the deep! “Siren, come! Twilight, come to me, I have need of you!” Memnet told him, as he appeared next to him. “Take the Siren to your quarters, she will rest with you. If I hear one sound from your lips, Siren, you will indeed be the last of your kind!” Memnet warned her once more, as she nodded in obedience. “Take great care with my Twilight…though I fear he will be more than worthy of your attentions!”
“Ah…okay…” Twilight shrugged, laying an arm around her shoulders. “My…you sure are warm, I thought you’d be kind of cold…and clammy!” He murmured as they walked off together. “What’s her name again?” He called over his shoulder to Memnet!
“NIMUE!” Memnet called back, as the Werewolves left with Twilight.
“Is that…wise?” Hattie smiled, nodding in their direction!
“It is for the best…I can control her better through Twilight…his blood will temper her progeny somewhat...it will allow them to come forth in their right minds, not as ravenous beasts, out for blood.” Memnet sighed, looking over at the Mermaid King and Queen, and their sons. “Now then…let us remove ourselves from the water, I have already summoned the Faerie King…perhaps you can persuade him to help you…would you take another, rather than Gaelin?” He asked hopefully, already knowing it was in vain!
“You know only she will do, great one. She alone has the strength to survive coupling with both of our Sons!” King Ostadar restated firmly.
Within moments the ground near the dais opened, and the Faerie King Ceolsige and Queen Aine, stepped forth, resplendent in dazzling white raiment. They both bowed to Pharaoh Memnet, just as their Daughter Gaelin appeared, walking up to them, giving them both a hug, after a slight bow.
Memnet waved the Mer People forward, and they also bowed to the Faerie King and Queen. “Please allow us to once again introduce ourselves, I am King Ostadar, and this is my mate for life, Ziazan. Our two sons have need of your care, Zesiro and Kakra, this is Princess Gaelin, and her Sire and Dam, King Ceolsige and Queen Aine.” He told his sons easily, as they both fixed their gorgeous eyes on Gaelin, who could only blush at their attentions! The Mer People had translucent skin, and mops of green and orange hair! They had bare chests, and wore only long shifts that trailed the ground.
The Mer Queen had a thin strip of cloth that covered her breasts, which was tied in a complex knot in front, with two long pieces of fabric that looked like fish scales, trailing to the ground, down her front.
“How good it is to see you again, King Ostadar.” King Ceolsige sighed, with a slight bow. “Highness, this is most uncomfortable, to say the least! There are many, MANY in line before the Mer People, for our Gaelin’s attentions! It will cause unbelievable strife! Gaelin and our progeny are the first since the joining of both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts in my Queen and I to survive…giving her to another will take the breaking of at least two oaths…” He began, only to have his speech interrupted by Gaelin!
“Father, they are lovely, are they not?” She smiled, stepping a little closer to the twins, who only smiled in answer to her! Suddenly the ground opened up once more, and Gaelin’s eldest Brother came forward, bowing at Memnet’s feet!
“Your Highness, a portal has been opened between our land, and that of the Troll Queen, Brae-Dorgnael-Iela! She begs audience with you!” He gasped, looking up at his Father, who shrugged in understanding. King Ceolsige could not allow the Mer People to leapfrog over so many others!
Another huge hole opened in the ground, and Mortal Dread stepped through it angrily, the King of the Goblins. He was so angry, you could actually feel the waves of heat rolling from his body! “I too, have come to restate my case, Great One!” He growled, waving a large piece of parchment in one beefy hand!
“One emergency at a time!” Pharaoh Memnet drawled, wiggling a finger of warning at Gaelin. She was swaying ever so slightly towards the two twins!
“My Queen!” The Goblin King grunted to Hattie bowing slightly at the waist, as the other Kings and Queens also bowed to Hattie hastily. In their rush to plead their cases, they had not acknowledged her!
“Mortal Dread, how good to see you again.” Hattie greeted him formally, holding a hand out to him. He became very still, and reluctantly held a huge hand out to her, palm facing down. Hattie took it, and shook it, squeezing his fingers for a moment, in an effort to calm him. “Should we call your Son?” She asked him softly. “I am sure you miss him.”
Taken aback, but quickly pleased by her attention, the Goblin King nodded, going on bended knee before her. “That would please me, Highness…our realm misses his chaos!” He admitted sheepishly. Hattie sent out a call to him herself, buying Memnet a little time. She had a bad feeling this could get sticky really, really fast!
“Come, let us go back and have a seat, while I conjure up Brae-Dorgnael-Iela.” Memnet sighed, ushering everyone towards the dais. Hattie exerted a little pressure on the Goblin King’s fingers once more, bidding him rise, but not letting go of his hand, coaxing him to walk with her. He did so slowly, amazed she still touched him! He held her hand as she mounted the steps on one end of the dais, reluctantly letting her hand go. She slowly walked over to sit next to Memnet, never breaking eye contact with the Goblin King.
Memnet raised an eyebrow at her, and then sent out a small bit of consciousness between them, dampening down her bloodlust for a moment. Hattie needed to feed! She was right on the verge of taking blood from someone any second, she was far too new to the feeling to recognize what it was! He formed a bubble with his hands, and in seconds, Brae-Dorgnael-Iela the Troll Queen appeared! She was scratching her underarms vigorously, obviously in need of a mud bath!
“My Queen!” He addressed her in an even tone. “You asked for me?”
“NO!” Brae-Dorgnael-Iela snapped in agitation, telling him, “Not YOU! We are second in line for attention from the sweet Princess! I will not fritter away our opportunity! Crude is wasted on our people, he has tainted blood!”
“You are behind me, Sister!” The Goblin King snapped at her, baring his teeth angrily! “The Princess must give us our due, FIRST!” He declared menacingly, shaking the parchment in his hand. It glowed with magic!
“Do you see what you are up against?” Memnet sighed, looking down at the Mer People. “She simply has to lie down next to them, to perform a ceremony! She does not have to…” He began only to be interrupted by the appearance of Covenant Dread!
“My manhood will she feel before any others! You gave me your word, Great One!” He smiled tightly, walking up to the Dais. “Highness, come, you have need to feed, come, feed from me.” He offered his large neck to Hattie, who smiled at him, shaking her head no! She wasn’t sure exactly why, but her ‘Danger, Will Robinson!’ signal was going off!
“So sweet!” She smiled, jumping when she realized her incisors felt funny! She ran her tongue over one of them, shivering at its sharp point, “Yuck!” She whispered, telling his Father in a louder voice, “He’s sweet!”
“That is NOT a compliment, Highness!” Mortal Dread grimaced, hiding his pleasure! Never, EVER had someone called a Goblin SWEET!
“Highness, others have prior claim.” Brae-Dorgnael-Iela stated once more, pinching one of her husbands! “Be still, or I will BEAT you!” She shrieked angrily, not wanting to be distracted!
Memnet groaned, telling Gaelin, “Come to me, Gaelin! And your Brother, what is his name?” He asked, waving them both forward, bodily pulling them up through the air to stand in front of him on the dais with a thump!
“I am Noll, Highness.” He bowed, his dark black hair sweeping the ground. It was tinged by about 4 inches on its ends in a deep lavender color, which matched his eyes. Heavily built for a man of Faerie, he was dressed in something that looked like a second skin! He wore a long, black cape, that had threads of lavender shot through it, making it shimmer in the dark night.
“Your eyes are beautiful!” Hattie murmured, making Memnet roll his own skyward! He turned on his throne to look at her, and stifled another groan! She was almost levitating with lust!
“My dear Wife…I think our Son is calling you!” He ground out between clenched teeth, to no avail. “Please excuse me, for ONE moment!” He told everyone, reaching for Hattie, pulling her to his own neck, growling, “FEED, WOMAN!” Smiling when he felt her incisors bite into his neck. He stroked her cheek as she drank deeply, finally coming up for air some time later! He pushed her back to her own throne, wiping a finger over the punctures in his neck to close them! “Now, behave yourself!” He warned her with an indulgent smile, turning his attention back to Gaelin and Noll!
“You STILL have beautiful eyes!” Hattie told Noll, wiping her bottom lip, winking at him! Noll nodded, unable to stop staring at her, even after his Father cleared his throat in warning!
“How about we ask Gaelin what she would like to do?” Memnet volunteered, making an expansive gesture towards her, setting off a huge debate! “Silence.” He spoke into the noise quietly, making everyone cease arguing immediately!
“Highness…” Gaelin spoke up confidently, “I will fulfill my bargain with Covenant Dread and the Goblin People, with your help, Great Pharaoh. In addition, I will speak to my Nordic Cousins, and in exchange for connection to blood and war through the Troll people, will ask one of them to come, and also sire a child for Brae-Dorgnael-Iela, through Crude. They are large women, with your help, they will also be able to bear up…we will have to see what they wish in exchange…they do not let go of their issue easily. I want to see any issue I have as I wish to see them, and if they are harmed in any ways according to the laws of Fairie, they are to return to me and my realm, FOREVER! And then…and only then, will I perform the ceremony…and what else I wish, with Zesiro and Kakra. Any issue from them if there is an accident, will stay with my people.” She ended, turning to look at Covenant Dread, pleading with him with her eyes to agree with her decisions.
“We cannot leave our progeny above ground…” The Mer Queen interrupted…only to have Gaelin round on her angrily!
“You only wanted me to lie next to them, you said! Is this the truth, or is there another agenda?” She asked, giving no ground! Such children as would come from coupling with the Mer People! It simply didn’t happen every millennium! She would keep them with her people, the seas would not be habitable one day!
“And we wish land in Faerie for our people when the seas fail.” King Ostadar put forth, with Queen Ziazan adding, “Twins run in our family! With our strain, you will gain new abilities in Faerie, as you have not had. Two Sons, who mature quickly, would be invaluable to all of your land!”
King Ceolsige and Queen Aine exchanged a glance, before King Ceolsige slowly said, “We will give you land, as will the Troll King…but only if all three of us agree to a new blood and war pact.” Land that was being lived on by others you did not know, could be dangerous against a foe with no treaty against aggression…it would be was useless. He had no idea of the strength of the Mer People! He would not put his own people in jeopardy.