Blood of Egypt (Witch Fairy Book 8)

by Lamer, Bonnie

  From what I’ve seen of the Palace, he seems to like the color gold an awful lot. So, I buy him a set of brass oil holders in varying sizes along with oil that Kallen assures me he will like. For Kegan, Alita, Raziel and Adriel we opt for smaller versions of the oil holders and incense burners.

  When our arms are full of souvenirs for ourselves and everyone back home, we decide to find a coffee shop, hopefully one in the shade. We all order iced coffees and sit back and relax. It’s amazing how much energy the desert heat can zap out of you.

  While I’m taking a sip of my coffee, a man walks by and bumps my chair. I don’t think anything of it until he turns around and says, “Watch where you move your chair.”

  What? What is he talking about? My chair didn’t move at all; he bumped into me. I’m about to tell him that when he reaches out and pushes my chair up against the table, spilling my entire coffee all over the table. Wow. I was not expecting that.

  Kallen is out of his chair in a heartbeat and grabs the man by his shirt. “You will apologize to my wife,” he says in a voice that carries a distinct threat of great bodily harm if he doesn’t. I’m not so sure I like his he-man approach, but since I was too stunned to react, it’s good one of us did.

  The man shakes his head as if trying to clear his mind. He looks around at all the people staring and his face reddens. “I’m so sorry,” he says. “I’m not sure what came over me.”

  I think I know what came over him. “That’s okay,” I say, despite the fact that Kallen is far from satisfied. Reluctantly, he lets the man go, who scuttles away as quickly as he can. Kallen sits back down at the table with his arms crossed over his chest and doesn’t say anything for a moment while he calms himself down.

  While he’s doing that, a young attractive woman appears by his side and slaps his face as she says, “You lying, cheating bastard.”

  Now, I’ve had my fair share of jealousy in this relationship, but since he’s been at my side since we met, and it seems doubtful that this chick was alive three hundred years ago when he was last in this realm, when he was two, it’s not likely he had any opportunity to lie to or cheat on this clearly disturbed woman. I can tell that Kallen clearly wants to hit the woman back, but he refrains. Am I supposed to go all ‘tough girl’ on her? I’m not sure.

  Eliana on the other hand has no qualms about grabbing the woman’s hand when she tries to slap him again. “I believe you must be mistaken,” she says, and I can tell she’s putting more than a little pressure on the woman’s forearm. The painful grimace is a pretty good clue.

  As if rousing from a deep sleep, the woman looks around and then down at her arm that is being held by Eliana. “Who are you?” she asks. “Let go of me!” She tugs on her arm and Eliana releases her grip, but red finger marks remain. She hurries off like the man before her did, holding her welted arm with her other hand.

  “What is going on?” Josh asks.

  I sigh. “I believe a particular angry Archangel is behind these not-so-random incidents.”

  “But I thought he wasn’t supposed to force people to do things. That goes against their free will, right?” Eliana says.

  My brow crinkles as I think about that. “He must be getting around that somehow.” Otherwise, Tabbris would be after him and collecting his wings.

  “Does it count if he makes people think they’re seeing something they’re not?” Josh asks.

  I shrug. “I’m not sure, but that does seem like a good theory.”

  “That would be a dangerous line to tread,” says Kallen. “If the individual truly believes we are who Belial is making them think we are, their free will is still being compromised.”

  “It keeps happening though,” I say. “Tabbris is really unhappy with him, and it seems like she would have taken his wings the first time if he was truly affecting somebody’s free will.”

  “What if he’s not making them think you’re somebody else,” Josh says with a frown.

  “What do you mean?” Eliana asks.

  “I mean until this last one, the others were just being rude or acting like you are being rude to them. I don’t think they thought you were somebody else,” he says. “I think they just let their inhibitions down that makes for a polite society.”

  “That’s true,” Eliana agrees.

  Kallen runs a hand through his hair. “I suppose it is possible that I could resemble the person that woman is upset with. Belial may have simply suggested that I could be that person.”

  I shake my head. “How could she not know who she was going to slap?” Kallen simply shrugs. He doesn’t have the answer any more than I do.

  There’s a disturbance near the entrance of the coffee shop and everyone around us has eyes glued in that direction. We turn so we can see what’s going on. A large man with very dark skin is yelling at a waiter in language I don’t recognize. I don’t think it’s Arabic, though. The waiter is yelling back at him and suddenly starts gesturing towards our table. I look at Kallen. “What’s going on? Can you understand what they’re saying?”

  He nods. “There seems to be a problem with us sitting at this table. It would seem the large man there thinks he has laid claim to it already.”

  “Do people reserve tables at coffee shops here?” I ask Eliana.

  She shakes her head. “No, not that I know of.”

  “Maybe we should just go,” I say. “I’m starting to think if we are out in public, this is going to continue to escalate. I don’t want innocent bystanders to start getting hurt because Belial is mad at me.” He’s a little more than mad, but no sense mentioning that.

  “If we give in to this game of his,” Kallen says, “he will already have won.”

  “Yeah,” Josh says, “do you really want to spend the rest of your life not going out in public because this Archangel wants to screw with you?”

  “No, I just don’t want other people to get hurt. I wish I could have a final showdown with him and get it over with already.” While I’m talking, I take the angry man’s voice away. I think I made him madder, but at least he’s distracted while he tries to figure out why he’s suddenly lost his voice.

  “I believe he understands that,” Kallen says gently. “He is immortal and living in a time that is different from any other. He has eternity to drive you mad, so he has no need to rush into this final showdown.” His words get terser as he speaks. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want me to have a final showdown with Belial. Truth be told, neither do I really, but the anticipation is killing me; I’m really not sure which one of us will win. There’s a very good chance it’s not going to be me. But if this continues, humans are going to start getting hurt and I can’t have that on my conscience.

  Chapter 30

  Despite the fact that we probably made Belial happy that he ruined our fun, we return to the house. After a long morning in the heat, I’m ready for a nap anyway. That is, a nap sounds fabulous after a quick shower; I’m not so sure my deodorant is holding up well anymore. Josh and Eliana like the idea and head off to do the same.

  Kallen joins me in the shower and what started as a simple exercise of washing the sand and dirt away becomes a sensual game of who can drive the other the craziest. It’s a tie. When we finally fall into the bed, I’m asleep almost instantly.

  Something’s wrong. I can feel it. My eyes pop open and then immediately close again as the sun tries to destroy my retinas. How the heck did I get to the desert? It must be Belial. I look around through squinted eyes, but I don’t see any trace of him.

  “Xandra,” Eliana’s voice calls to me.

  I turn to find her walking towards me wearing a white dress that is probably an exact replica of one that Cleopatra would have worn. It hugs her curves from her breasts to her hips and then falls to her ankles. A smooth gold collar is around her neck and extends down to the top half of her chest. It’s thick and large enough to be a dinner plate and must be really heavy. At her waist is a wide, gold belt that comes together in the front and drapes dow
n like a scarf. I’m about to ask her where she got her outfit until I look down and notice that I’m dressed similarly. What is going on?

  I must have said that out loud because Eliana answers me. “I think we’re in a dream,” she says, looking around at the open desert. “When I have dreams like this, it’s usually because the essence is trying to tell me something.”

  “But why am I here?” I ask.

  She looks back at me and shrugs. “I don’t know. I’ve never pulled anyone into a dream with me before.”

  “Weird. Any chance I can pinch you and we’ll both wake up?”

  She laughs. “I’m guessing that we will be here until we learn what must be learned.”

  “You sound like the Dali Lama,” I mutter.

  She laughs again. “I guess I do. I still think we’re stuck here.”

  “Stuck is such a relative term,” a voice says and a man appears. He is bare chested, with a large golden collar similar to ours and is wearing a skirt type garment that the ancient Egyptian men wore. It is cinched with a wide golden belt and trimmed with delicate embroidery. He’s taller than Kallen, who is really tall, and has dark hair. I can’t tell what color his eyes are from here, but whatever color it is I’m sure it’s perfect. He has a muscular chest that’s so smooth and tight, he makes Michelangelo’s David look out of shape. His skin is the color of amber from his brow to his perfectly toned legs and feet. When a tiny bit of drool touches the corner of my mouth, I snap it shut. I have been staring at him open-mouthed and with deep adoration exuding from my pores. It makes me feel better to see the same realization hit Eliana who also has to close her mouth.

  “I have summoned you both here,” the man says.

  “Who are you?” I ask, so very glad my voice came out as more than a husky whisper.

  “Re,” Eliana says.

  I’m still a little lost here. “Who?”

  The man smiles. “You may know me better by the name Aman Ra.”

  Oh. That’s pretty much the only word my brain can formulate at the moment. If this guy shows up in her dreams, I don’t understand why Eliana ever wakes up. Josh is great and all but, Oh. My. God. This man makes beautiful a derogatory word. He is way more than beautiful. I cannot express in any words in my vocabulary just how much more than beautiful he is.

  As if reading my mind, Eliana says, “Why have you shown yourself to me now, after all this time?” Okay, that explains why she’s not constantly asleep and dreaming of this man.

  “When two great destinies converge, it is a time for celebration as well as a time for caution,” he says in a voice so smooth and delicious, the finest chocolatier in the world would be jealous. “I have come to celebrate both.”

  I feel blood rushing to my cheeks. I feel like I’m cheating on Kallen just by looking at him. A quick peek at Eliana and her flushed cheeks tells me that I’m not the only one who feels that way.

  Eliana is about to say something when I interrupt her. “Watch out,” I cry as Belial’s form appears behind Re. I feel the pinches on my back as my wings appear, ready to hold him off the best I can so Re and Eliana can escape.

  “You dare summon me like this?!” Belial demands of Re. His black wings are spread wide and the look on his face could go in the dictionary as the picture of evil.

  Re turns to him, his face not showing even the tiniest bit of intimidation. He inclines his head and says, “Yes, Belial. I dare to summon you wherever I like.”

  Belial has just noticed my presence. “You,” he says. “You are behind this.” My wings feel a tiny flutter as if magic has touched them, but found no perch to stay and do harm. That’s pretty cool.

  Re smiles at Belial. “You have been summoned into a dream, Belial. You know your magic holds no power here.”

  Wow, I thought he looked evil a minute ago. I find myself again lacking the vocabulary to describe what I am seeing. I’m glad Belial doesn’t have magic, but that means neither do I. Without a magical shield, I may wither away to nothing under his murderous stare.

  “You have brought your battle to this realm where I serve as a guardian,” Re says. “When you bring war without just cause, many will stand up and fight alongside your foes.”

  Belial snorts. “Your rule in this realm was served long ago,” he says. “You have no authority here.”

  Re smiles. “I have always and will continue to protect this realm. Do not pretend to be unaware of that fact. You will do no harm to those I love. Even if that means I have to tear every single feather from your wings.” He says that as if he is asking Belial if he wants a cup of tea. There’s no open hostility in his voice or on his face like the Belial is showing. Re remains calm, cool and collected on top of being gorgeous as hell.

  “You make empty threats,” Belial says, but I don’t think he believes that. There is a shadow in his eyes now and it kind of looks like discomfiture. Re must hold more power than he is letting on to us. “What is it to you if I battle with this trivial being? My cause is just.”

  “As I said, you brought this war to my realm. You have threatened the daughter of this land as well as a friend.”

  Is he talking about me? The small smile that he sends my way, which practically makes my knees melt, answers that question. I guess technically I am a daughter of this realm. I was born here after all. I suspect this friendship thing he’s talking about is my newfound friendship with Eliana, which makes me his friend by default since he and she are actually one.

  “In this dream you may have form, Re,” Belial says. “But your essence cannot compete with the magical power of an Archangel.” I wonder who he’s trying to convince, Re or himself? Probably both.

  “Perhaps you do not understand how wisely I chose the soul that would share my essence. Her strength even without my essence holds more power than you know,” Re says smiling at Eliana. Turning back to the angry Archangel, he says, “You test my patience, Belial. Standing before you are beings so powerful that you may lose more than your wings if you choose to battle them. You may choose to wear an ignorant face, but in your heart you know it is true.” I wonder what could be worse to an Archangel than losing his wings. I don’t think I want to know.

  I’m beginning to wonder why Re summoned us here. Basically, all Eliana and I are doing is standing here watching them argue about who is more powerful. I wouldn’t bet money against either of them, but still, why were we brought here to witness this. Would it be rude to ask why we’re here? Probably.

  Reading my mind, Re turns to us, “There seems to be no other way. I had hoped by bringing us all together, Belial would understand how fruitless his efforts will be. Alas, this has not occurred. You will stand together against this enemy.” Turning to Belial, he says, “my summons is revoked.” The next thing we know, Belial is being sucked out of the dream. Literally sucked. There is a popping noise that can be heard over his shouts of profanity at being humiliated like this as he leaves the dream. Okay, I’m impressed with Re even more now. I would love to be able to have people sucked out of my presence.

  Re is not done with us. To Eliana he says, “Belial is correct. My essence alone may not be infused with the power necessary to end this battle and ensure that another will not come to pass.” Well that’s not very optimistic of him. “But do not fear that all is lost. It is our combined power that will bring the outcome we seek. But, we have yet another ally who desires to stand with us, as well.”

  “What are you telling me?” Eliana asks, clearly as confused as I am.

  “There is something you must find. Something that will, let me say, tip the odds even more in our favor.” That’s cute. I think he’s trying to use modern-day slang.

  “What exactly am I looking for? And where will I find it?” Eliana asks.

  “You will find what you seek at the Nile Delta. The Temple of Isis once stood there, who was the mother of Horace, god of war and protection. She is, and always will be the daughter of the earth and the sky. She has asked that her essence be allowed to serve
with us.

  You must search for this Temple, for her essence lies amongst the rubble. Beware the dangers of this Temple, Eliana, for it is protected in the way of the Ancients. I will do my best to guide you, but the two of you must work together to discover what must be found.”

  I guess we’re going on a quest then. Though, it’ll probably be more like an archaeological dig. I wonder how far down it is, and if Eliana can save us digging by using her magic to remove the earth and water above the Temple. She could control lava, so I’ll just assume she can. From the sounds of it, finding the Temple will be the easy part. Surviving the ancient Egyptian traps within it will not be so easy.