The Vessel of Ra

by Catherine Schaff-Stump

  The Klaereons’ strange house had been built into the mountainside, stair-stepping between architecture and nature. On a shelf near the top, the golden Octavia paused in injuring an older man who lay on the grass by a brass sundial. Balthazar’s voice carried down the hillside.

  Drusus dropped his head. When he lifted it again, he seemed himself. He rotated his arm, which Carlo took to be a sign it was working. “Where are we?”

  “I was hoping you could tell me. What happened to you? How did Balthazar heal you?”

  “It had something to do with stars.” Drusus shook his head. “Not the time, Dr. Carlo. This is Mistraldol, the Klaereon ancestral home in England. Ra would come here because this is where the family keeps the Solomon Scroll.”

  “Can you fly up there?” asked Carlo. “There’s an injured man.”

  “Yes. Maybe I can stop this.” The air stirred and Drusus propelled forward on the wind.

  Carlo sighed. “I meant we,” he said to Drusus’ shrinking figure. “If you could fly us up there? Me being the doctor and all.”

  Heroic Drusus, determined to get himself injured anew. And why not leave Carlo behind? He didn’t have any magic. Never mind he was working so many miracles without it.

  Nothing for it. Carlo bit his lip. As he scrambled up the many stairs, panting with exertion and anxiousness, he wondered why no one was coming to the injured man’s aid. The skin on Carlo’s neck goose-bumped. All he could feel inside the house were demons. Carlo found it comforting to think of God at a time like this. His mother would be proud. He ignored how he might be shredded by Ra or Octavia, or lit on fire by an efrit.

  “Your purpose here eludes me,” said Balthazar, his deep bass rattling off the boulders strewn about the moor.

  “Father has kept Lucy and Ra from me,” said Octavia. “He must be punished.”

  “You killed Lucy,” said Caius. “I had nothing to do with it.”

  “It doesn’t change what you have done,” said Octavia. “I am here to avenge the children we were, whom you destroyed. I am here to avenge my mother.”

  Balthazar clapped his hands together. “It is never a pleasant duty to correct those under my charge, but I shall enjoy destroying the abomination you have become, Octavia Klaereon. The One God has destroyed many like you. I am his agent, and I will not suffer this union.” Balthazar’s lower half dissolved into an ethereal pillar. He pointed at Octavia, his long nails daggers. “I pronounce sentence upon you, Octavia Klaereon. As the elder Binder of your generation, you did not guide your sister to the Temple of Erasmus. She did not discover her path through Lailah, to see her path with clarity, to understand her own curse. You stole her rightful servant, the demon Ra, bound to her by the contract of Solomon’s Scroll.

  “I Banish you, Ra, faithless familiar, back to the Abyss where you are imprisoned. You have destroyed your mistress. For you, Ra,” he said, his eyes narrowing, smoke spiraling from their corners, “you have sealed your future. There will be no other Binders for you to challenge, no second chance.”

  Reality cracked the way it did when Binders were around, fire and brimstone shooting from a fissure, dividing the air in half. Carlo marveled he was no longer shocked by this. What startled him, what he had not seen before, were the hands reaching from the fissure toward Octavia, scaled hands curved with claws.

  Octavia’s face twisted, part fear, part defiance. Then the face was no longer Octavia’s, but Ra’s arrogant visage. The reaction painted on it was disgust.

  Ra studied Balthazar, his face a rictus of loathing. Servant of an inferior god! Groveler to the whims of mortals! Not even the equal of this worm, said Ra, looking down on Caius. You cannot best me!

  The sky churned an angry red, like an infected boil. Drusus landed behind Octavia.

  “False god,” Balthazar said. “Your ego will be your downfall. You will not take Solomon’s Scroll. Octavia, I will not parlay further with this demon. It is you, magician, to whom I speak. Reconsider the path you walk. Even now, I can feel the demon who possesses you consume your soul. There will be nothing left if you let him remain. There is no bond between you. You will last longer than most, but you are still mortal. If you let me help you now, you might yet live.”

  Through Octavia’s mouth, Ra replied, He is lying to you, Octavia. They have all lied to you. We are a Binder and a god. No one holds sway over us.

  There has to be a way to use Ra’s arrogance against him, Carlo thought.

  “Ra is lying to you,” Drusus said. “Octavia.”

  Octavia wheeled to face Drusus, her face relieved. “I thought I’d killed you.”

  “No.”

  Carlo swallowed. He scuttled toward Caius Klaereon, careful to stay close to the ground. Let them have their drama. He had work to do.

  “I will not ask you again, Octavia.” Balthazar’s earrings glowed red as the efrit heated his body.

  Ra’s sneer overtook Octavia’s emotions. She shot tangled shadows toward Balthazar, redirecting the hands, which reached for her from the crevice. The shadows were shredded into black confetti, but some wrapped around Balthazar like black snakes.

  Balthazar burned. The tangles fell away, loops on the ground, before they crisped into emptiness. Drusus yelled something Carlo couldn’t hear above the raging flame. Balthazar shoved a firewall forward, engulfing the golden Octavia.

  Carlo reached the injured man. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll help you.”

  “I don’t need your help. I can save her. Neith! I command you to come! Where are you?”

  Behind Balthazar, a lotus floated from the ground. Neith the Archer fought with her arms and arrows to emerge from the lotus. “I am here, my lord.”

  “You have failed me. Neith!”

  Neith slashed the petals. The flower drooped and dissipated. “You’re injured.”

  “Kill him,” said the man on the ground.

  Neith pointed an arrow at Carlo.

  “No!” said the man. “Balthazar.”

  Anger flared in Carlo. This man was another like his grandfather, a man who had machinations, wheels within wheels. “Balthazar is trying to help you.”

  “I can save her. I can take Ra from her. She’s my daughter. I can’t kill my daughter.”

  Carlo shook with rage. “You would have killed Lucy.”

  The man saw him for the first time. “What do you know of it? That half-witted, ill-formed little dwarf.” His face twisted. “I’m glad she’s gone.”

  Carlo pulled his fist back and then stopped it in midair. “I honor Lucy’s memory,” he said, slowing his breathing. “One thing you are right about is Lucy would have wanted us to save her sister. I’m going to set your leg. It’s going to hurt.” Carlo smiled. “I won’t mind.”

  Shadows flooded from the house as Octavia called them to her. Carlo dodged the slithering dark and helped Mr. Klaereon toward the garden wall. Octavia smothered herself in the shadows, snuffing out the flames. Then she exploded, blackness filling the air in used up, burned bits. She spread her arms, and they transformed into Ra’s feathered wings. She rose into the air and tilted toward Balthazar, her hands crooked talons gouging his chest and shoulders.

  Balthazar grabbed a wing. Octavia fought to pull away.

  “I will not allow you to exist,” he said. “This merging is aberrant in the eyes of the One God.”

  “I am a god. I do not need yours.” It was Octavia’s voice, but, Carlo thought, Ra’s sentiments.

  Balthazar wrapped arms as thick as trees around Octavia. She clawed at him, leaving rivulets of blood on his forearms, but Balthazar held fast. There was no breaking away.

  Drusus inched to Carlo. “I can’t stop this. Caius, what can you do?”

  “Neith! Kill him!” Caius yelled.

  The arrow whistled from Neith’s bow and a black arrow pierced Balthazar, its head blossoming through the efrit’s shoulder. Octavia pulled away from the creature.

  “Neith,” commanded Caius. “Do not let Balthazar hurt Octavia.”
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br />   The efrit’s thick neck swiveled to Caius. “You dare? Do your worst. Summon all your demons! I am more than a match for the impure!”

  Carlo’s eyes widened. “He can summon all the demons?”

  “He won’t,” said Balthazar. “He wants to save Octavia, and he knows the demons will attack Ra, given the chance. He has always been an oppressive king.”

  “What are you doing?” Carlo asked Caius. “You’re helping Octavia?”

  “Your plan is to kill Balthazar?” Drusus asked.

  “No one will kill my daughter. I will save her. I control the scroll. I can control her.”

  “You have controlled your daughters too long,” said Drusus.

  Carlo’s brain ticked. How could he stop this? Save Octavia from Ra, keep Balthazar alive? An idea pierced his mind like a blade. He shuddered, skipping over the memory of his mother. If he didn’t get himself killed, his idea might work.

  “You have heard my master,” said Neith, nocking an arrow to her bow. “Balthazar, you may not go any further. You must return to Erasmus’ Temple or I will kill you.” She shot another arrow, which burrowed into Balthazar’s leg. Pain etched itself across the efrit’s face.

  “Drusus,” said Carlo. “I have an idea.”

  “I supposed you would.”

  “Do you think Octavia will listen to you?”

  “We did not part on good terms, but I can try to talk to her.”

  “You will not interfere,” said Caius. “She needs me. Only I can guide her.”

  Drusus gritted his teeth. “If there is a later, sir, I believe I will ask you to satisfy honor. Now, Carlo, what are you going to do?”

  “The usual. Something risky and made up on the spot.”

  “Try not to get yourself killed.”

  “Good advice. Follow it. Your death is the last thing anyone wants.”

  The crack in the universe Balthazar created still remained open. Fire and brimstone tickled Carlo’s nose. “Balthazar,” said Carlo. “Retreat.”

  “I will not.”

  “Then regroup. Take me to the scroll. Everyone wants it. Let’s be the first ones there.”

  Neith loosed a volley of arrows. They sank into Balthazar’s muscular arms.

  “Trust me,” said Carlo. “If we stay here much longer, you won’t be in any condition to get us to the desert.”

  Octavia leveled her gaze at Carlo and Drusus. “The scroll is mine!”

  Carlo shook his head. Everything, it seemed, belonged to Octavia. “Drusus,” said Carlo. “Good luck.”

  “Neith will never let you near that scroll,” said Caius.

  “Balthazar?” Carlo dodged around Neith. “Let’s leave.”

  The giant nodded. “You are no Erasmus,” he said, “but I believe today you are close.”

  “Stay alive, Drusus.”

  Carlo and Balthazar blinked away and Carlo was sucked down a whirlwind. He hoped he would come out in one piece.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The world was at Octavia’s command. Anything was possible. With Neith’s help, she and Ra could destroy Balthazar. Why would Caius help her? Was he trying to save himself?

  No matter. Justice demanded Octavia kill her father, and once Caius was gone, Neith would return to the Abyss. Then Ra and Octavia would claim the Solomon Scroll.

  Freedom rushed through Octavia, made her feel wild, as powerful as she had after Khun had taken her, full of primal magic. She was freed by Ra and his power. Ra made the voices inside her go away. Only his voice remained.

  They would claim the scroll and remake the world in Ra’s image; in their image. Maybe she could summon Khun to her again. Why not? She was powerful enough to control two demons, wasn’t she? She could even bring Lucy back to life.

  Lucy back to life? Where had that idea come from?

  She shook her head to clear it. No, Lucy was gone, sent into oblivion in a thousand tiny pieces. There was no bringing Lucy back.

  “Octavia.”

  Drusus. He had survived his battle with her, his fall. What did he think of her now, the powerful Binder combined with Ra? He never approved of Khun. Or was it Octavia he never approved of?

  “You’re still here.”

  “Stop this. All this. You can control Ra. You have the discipline, the power.”

  Kill him. He is a distraction. You must find Balthazar. You must gain the scroll.

  “Ra wants me to kill you.”

  “You don’t want to kill me.”

  “No, I don’t. I’m sorry I didn’t find you after Lucy…” She wanted to touch him, to hold him. “Why did you choose Lucy? Why didn’t you stay with me?”

  Drusus stepped toward her. “Lucy needed my help. She suffered because of my bad judgment. I should never have let Paolo Borgia talk her into anything. You are suffering as well. Let me help you.” He reached for her and her body flared metallic. He shielded his eyes and still walked forward.

  “We can’t return to the way things were,” Octavia said. “You must see that. I am not the same.”

  “No,” said Drusus. “I can help you. Let me help you.”

  “I don’t want you and I don’t want Khun. I want this power. And then”—she smiled, looking into an ideal future—“when I have made everything right, I want you both. I can make the world as I want it.” Except there was no Khun now. She steeled inside. There was no Khun now.

  You do not need them. Go now to the scroll.

  Neith would not let Balthazar touch the scroll. “We have time,” said Octavia. Ra’s commands hammered in her skull. She clutched her head. “Stop it! I am the Binder! I command you to stop!”

  “Octavia, listen. Trust me. We can stop Ra.”

  “I don’t want you to stop Ra. Stop telling me what to do!” Her voice was accusing.

  Drusus was right. All this was his fault. Yet, looking at Drusus, she felt everything she had wanted slipping through her fingers. Was Balthazar right? Why should Ra care about her for any reason but the scroll? The power inside her was potent and exhilarating. She had purpose, but she was more alone than she had ever been. Ra had no interest in her the way Khun did, even though he was inside her. He did not love her.

  Drusus stepped toward her like one might approach a spooked horse. “Listen to me,” he said, his voice gentle. “I want to help you. Let me help you.”

  “Drusus, I… I can’t… you don’t understand… I didn’t want this… please help me.”

  “Octavia, don’t listen to him.” Caius spoke from behind Drusus, where he leaned against the wall. “I can help you. Balthazar is stealing the scroll now. Neith is fighting him, but you and Ra, you need to stop them.”

  Finish him.

  Octavia couldn’t tell if Ra meant Caius or Drusus.

  “I love you,” said Octavia. “Do you love me?”

  “I love you,” said Drusus.

  “You left me!” Octavia’s blood heated. “You told me we were finished. You loved Lucy more.”

  “I misunderstood,” said Drusus. “I’m here now. Come to me and we’ll make this all right.”

  She stepped toward him like she was sleepwalking. “I can’t trust you.”

  “You can’t!” Caius yelled. “You can trust me. You’ve always trusted me.”

  “Drusus…”

  “I’ll make sure no one ever hurts you again.” Drusus placed his hand in hers. She flung herself into his arms and he wrapped them around her.

  “I don’t know what to do,” she spoke into Drusus’ shoulder.

  He tipped her head back, and as he kissed her, their bodies melted. Not like with Khun. Attaching to Khun was like grabbing onto a branch to pull yourself from a rushing river. Oh, the things she’d done with Khun. The things she’d asked him to do to her. Drusus was a protector, a lover. They were discovering each other and he had always been kind, soft, and careful.

  Her heart flooded with warmth. She had been wrong about love, about what she wanted. They parted, and she saw the man she loved.


  “Octavia!” Caius hit the wall with his stick. “I command you to help Neith. It is your duty.”

  Go to the scroll! Kill these men and go to the scroll!

  “You impudent girl!” yelled Caius. “Do as you are told.”

  The scroll! Ra was urgent, and her head hurt with his shouting.

  “Octavia!”

  Ra knifed her head with splitting pain and she fell to her knees. Drusus reached around her waist. “We’re leaving.”

  “I want everyone to leave me alone!” Her eyes flashed and her body burned gold. Drusus stepped away. “Drusus, I love you. I’m sorry. You must stay away from me.”

  “We can fix this.”

  Don’t listen to him! He wants to trick you!

  “No. I know I’m wrong inside. My mother told me. I love you. But I’ve done terrible things. I want to stay with you, but I can’t.”

  “Octavia…” Drusus brushed her hair back from her forehead. His voice shook, grief and exhaustion lacing it. And his eyes: they were not stormy. They were human and there were tears in them.

  “I’m not safe. I killed Lucy. I killed her even though Ra didn’t take her over.” Her eyes widened. “Ra took me. And I wanted him to.” The sob which escaped her bent her in two. “Lucy!”

  “You’ve killed her,” said Caius. “Now stop blubbering and claim your birthright.”

  “Silence,” said Octavia. “You horrible old monster!”

  “Octavia,” said Drusus, “keep your attention on me.”

  Octavia wiped away golden tears. “Drusus.” She focused on him, beautiful and perfect and alive. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t leave me.”

  “You won’t hurt me. It’s not your nature.”

  She laughed. “Don’t lie to yourself. I already did once, when I was drunk with power. I’m amazed you lived.”

  “Octavia!” Caius Klaereon snapped at her.

  The demon boy is stealing the scroll. Your lover is distracting you.

  “Where is Carlo?” Octavia eyes darted about the garden. “Where is Lucy?”

  Ra’s power pulled Octavia into herself, binding her like the shadows Khun wrapped around her. This time, however, she knew she was not in control.