Goddess, Spellbound

by Masters, Cate

  Squaring his shoulders and straightening his spine, he strode to the boat of the sun. He struck his chest with his fist. “My queen.”

  She cupped his cheek. “My warrior.” She reached up and kissed his cheek, lingering there. “My Excellent One,” she whispered.

  Focusing on a distant point, he pulled away, hoping Sanura didn’t watch. If he had to spend eternity with Hatshepsut, he wouldn’t welcome her advances. He would still have his freedom.

  The queen pharaoh scrutinized him. “You have changed.” She looked over her shoulder to where Sanura stood. “Is she as good a lover as me?”

  He clenched his jaw. “She is not my lover.” He couldn’t help the disappointment in his voice. If he could have just a few more hours with her, he would not waste the chance again.

  The queen pharaoh’s laugh startled him.

  She tilted her head. “If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

  He furrowed his brow. “Pardon, my queen?”

  She stroked his chest and whispered, “You’re in love.”

  He jerked straight. “No. I kept Sanura under my protection.”

  A tsk, and Hatshepsut smiled like a cat with a belly full of cream. “What a lucky girl. I miss being under your ‘protection’.”

  Iker stared into the distance, careful not to look at Sanura. “I have served my queen pharaoh as needed.”

  “Mm, indeed.” Hatshepsut sighed. “And for your excellent service, I’ve set aside treasure for you to claim and live out his life in luxury.”

  A blink, and he searched her face for a sign he might have heard her wrong. A thrill buzzed through him as she continued.

  “The lands in Egypt I deeded to you during my reign are yours again. Artifacts from the time we shared will bring untold fortune.” She spoke more softly, walking her fingers up his abdomen. “And in case your tastes are still as decadent, a bank account holds millions.”

  For a moment, he couldn’t find his voice. “I am most grateful, my queen.”

  “Live your life according to your own terms, Iker.” She’d never used his first name before. Her eyes held equal parts happiness and sadness.

  So this was truly goodbye. He nodded. “Farewell, Hatshepsut.” He’d never before dared to call his queen by her name either, but now it seemed fitting.

  She smiled. To Sanura, she called, “Many thanks, child of the goddess Bastet. I wish you a long and prosperous life.”

  Fingers clasped, Sanura stood on tiptoe, every part of her leaning toward them, wide eyes glazed and fearful. Her mouth opened, but she waved instead.

  Iker took Hatshepsut’s hand to help her into the boat, then strode back to Sanura.

  Her eyes grew wider with each step. When he stood before her, her breath hitched. “Did she release you? Does this mean you’re staying?”

  So many questions. He loved that about her. Not only her endless curiosity, but not blindly following her commands. They actually discussed everything, something new for him. “Yes.”

  A laugh, and she swiped away a tear.

  They stood shoulder to shoulder as the boat of the sun passed through the cyclone of light. Sanura slipped her hand into his, and he gently squeezed.

  Chapter Twenty

  She must look like a loon, but Sanura couldn’t stop smiling. She had actually summoned ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses to a ritual, and ushered Hatshepsut’s soul to the afterlife. Not only had she succeeded, but the ceremony infused her with a new sort of energy. With each spell she chanted, a sizzling thrum traveled through her body. Her veins were still humming with the buzz. She might end up zapping someone if she weren’t careful.

  Her mind had grown powerful, whether because of the All-Seeing Eye of the ankh, or because she was learning to become a goddess, she didn’t know. Right now, she felt so incredibly good, she didn’t really care.

  Even more exciting than that, Iker had not stepped into the boat after the queen pharaoh. He’s staying!

  But what did that mean? The kaleidoscope of questions swirling through her mind grounded to a halt when the flames whooshed high, then danced along the walls to meet in the center again. Once again, they stood inside the dank tomb to which they had first traveled.

  Not just dank, but wet. Water streamed down the stairway, and swirled around her ankles. A sudden gush added another inch to the flooding room. If many more of those water bursts happened, they’d soon need their own boat.

  She frowned at stream blocking the only exit. “Can we make it up the stairs?”

  Iker grasped her hand tighter. “We must.”

  Where were trap doors when you most needed them? She’d settle for a false tomb door right about now.

  He guided her through the calf-high water. “No matter what, hold tight.”

  She had no intention of letting go. Already, the current worked against them.

  At the foot of the stair well, he said, “The climb will be perilous. Keep your back to the wall.”

  The craggy wall with hard, sharp edges? No problem. She could kiss this beautiful gown goodbye, but she’d be damned if she’d kiss him goodbye. She planted her foot on the first step. “I will.” Please let us escape.

  The stream had become a small river. To gain a foothold on each step, she jammed her foot into the downpour and across the stone. Before, she hadn’t appreciated its rough quality, but she did now. Otherwise, she’d have slipped back down. She glanced back to check how far the water had risen, but the twists in the stair well blocked her view. Another thing she now appreciated—the circular stairs kept the flood crashing mostly to the outer wall.

  “Do not look back,” Iker called over his shoulder. “Focus ahead.”

  A blast of water frothed downward toward them. “Watch out.”

  She curled over her knees. Water slammed into her legs and poured across her back, but she dug into the step.

  A cry, and Iker swept past her, feet in the air.

  “No.” She clawed the water until her free hand found his, and dragged with all her might. “Fight it. Stand up and climb, damn you.”

  With a guttural growl, he pushed upward. “We are getting out of here.”

  “Yes, Excellent One. That’s the spirit.” She plowed ahead, determined not to let him down.

  At loud sloshing behind them, she stole another glance. “Oh no.”

  The water churned in a whirlpool, rising toward them. If that current were to catch them, it would put them through the literal ringer, slam them against these rocky walls. Not the end she had in mind. “Faster!”

  A look of alarm, and Iker charged upward, dragging her along. Too fast for her to keep her footing. Her heel slipped back. Her hand slid despite his firm grasp. “I can’t hold on.”

  Jaw set, he grimaced. “Yes you can. And you will.”

  The churning water hit her behind the knees. She lost her balance. Before she could fall, the whirlpool swept her into its cycle. When Iker released her, she froze, hand open wide. I’m dead.

  Arms closed around her waist and under her legs. With a powerful surge, Iker lifted her and climbed. The water’s pull tried to drag them both down, but he stomped one foot, then another to rise slowly to the top.

  Shivering, her face pressed to his neck, she clung to him. Willing him strength. When he finally stopped, she dared a peek. We made it! Into the hallway above the tomb, at least. The rainwater crashed along the corridor floor and down any openings along the way.

  “I can walk.”

  “No.” He lurched forward.

  With every fighting step they drew nearer the outside. No sooner had they cleared the outer pillars than the rain slowed.

  She scanned the skies above, dark gray with breaks of light blue. “Is the storm over?”

  He gently set her on her feet. “I believe so.”

  “Funny timing. Almost like someone wanted the tombs to flood.” And drown her and Iker in the process.

  He dropped to sit on the stone wall. “Yes. Funny.
”

  She sat beside him. “Thank you for saving me.”

  He flashed a lopsided smile. “I am likewise grateful to you for saving me.”

  “Anytime.” Which begged the question, when would she have another chance? With his task ended, would he send her home?

  A ray of sunshine split the dark clouds, and she shielded her eyes against a brilliant reflection. The blinding light faded to a moving point, the gold hoop pierced into a sleek black cat’s ear that trotted onto the wide terrace. The feline stopped in front of them and sat, head high, tail twitching. The animal blinked its wide green, intelligent eyes and meowed.

  “Hello, baby.” Sanura clucked to the cat. “Look how beautiful you are. Such a pretty gold earring you have.”

  A shimmer of green appeared around the cat, engulfed the animal and rose into a column. Bastet materialized within the glow. “You have done well, child.”

  The goddess’s timing could be better. Sanura had hoped to squeeze in a heart-to-heart with Iker while they were alone.

  “Thank you, goddess.” She curtsied. “Not bad for a novice, I guess.” She grinned at Iker.

  Bastet grew serious. “One final task remains.”

  Her smile fell. “But we’re done. The queen pharaoh is sailing off into the eternal sunset.” What else could they possibly want from her?

  Bastet set her wide green eyes on her. “The vizier User must not be allowed to return through his false tomb door again.”

  Iker said, “We must ensure your protection.”

  “You think he still wants to kill me?” And she’d thought her days of sneaking around had ended. At the goddess’s nod, she sighed. “What do I need to do?”

  “You must perform one more ritualistic spell,” Bastet said, “to lock his false door within the granite. Once sealed, he will never be able to travel between realms again.”

  “And this spell is powerful enough?” Worth a shot, she supposed, though she had trouble believing her power could overcome his.

  “Yes, though it’s rarely used, the seal has never failed.”

  “Okay. I guess we have to do the spell soon, right?”

  “Yes,” Bastet said.

  “Now,” Iker added.

  Except they had one problem, a big one. “But User’s tomb door is in Philadelphia. At least a day’s air travel.”

  Bastet smiled. “Or a few moments.”

  Sanura’s shoulders slumped at the thought of what lay ahead. “Not the tunnels again.”

  “No.” Bastet extended her hands toward them both.

  Iker stepped forward and clasped one, and nodded to Sanura.

  She set aside her fears, shushed the questions in her mind and took hold of the goddess’s other hand.

  The green glimmer whirled around them, the sparkles becoming brilliant as a supernova and blocking out the burial chamber. To quell dizziness, she focused on Iker. How surprisingly calm and self-assured, he was. Like he traveled via goddess air all the time. Not even a furrowed brow. Those gorgeous sapphire eyes… if only she could read them as well as she read hieroglyphics. They gave away nothing.

  The whirlwind dissipated, and they stood in the museum exhibit room, a few feet from the vizier’s false tomb door. She should be overjoyed to be back in Philadelphia.

  “Follow me. Hurry.” Bastet glided to the granite slab and gestured to the opposite side. “Stand there, Sanura.”

  Panic, sudden and mysterious, electrified Sanura. She had to fight the urge to throw herself into Iker’s arms and burrow her face into his chest.

  “Sanura.” His soft voice roused her.

  “Okay.” She tore from his side and positioned herself opposite Bastet.

  “The spell is stronger in the ancient language. Repeat my words exactly.” Bastet chanted a phrase.

  Sanura memorized each syllable as the goddess uttered it, and did her best to replicate the words. Unlike last time, the power didn’t fill her with good energy. The sizzles stung her skin like bees. Tiny pings at first, but each new utterance brought stronger strikes. Greater pain. She wanted nothing more than to get the damn spell over with, so steeled herself against the electrocuting zaps and kept chanting.

  A man’s yell, distant and hoarse, sounded through the tomb door. At the next phrase she spoke, the screaming grew louder, and much nearer. User’s face took shape in the granite, his anguished and angry features pushing against the rock as if to break free.

  Alarmed by the sight, Sanura missed the next phrase Bastet uttered. The goddess repeated it more urgently. With the vizier still gnashing against the granite surface, fear stole Sanura’s voice, and she could only murmur. The impression of the vizier’s full body had filled the tomb door, and he reached through, three-dimensional granite hands grasping for her. He fisted his hands like he was crushing her heart.

  Iker’s lips brushed her ear. “He cannot hurt you. Do not stop.”

  Maybe the vizier couldn’t, but performing the spell hurt like hell. Another phrase brought another strike of something invisible but piercing. With each word she spoke, more of her energy drained away, depleting her very life force. Pulses of strength sputtered through her when Bastet grasped her hand.

  “Last section. Stay with me.” The goddess chanted loudly.

  The air thinned, and Sanura had to gasp for breath. She willed herself to say the words. Almost. Done. Another zap hit her like a spiked cannon ball, and she doubled over.

  Bastet held tight as she spoke the final phrases. The tomb door quaked violently, sending tremors rippling across the floor.

  As she parroted the goddess, Sanura concentrated her thoughts, visualized locking the door against the vizier and sealing it shut forever.

  User struggled within the rock, pounded his fists. With her last word came a blast that sent another piercing strike into her. At the same time, it struck the vizier and sent him hurtling backward. His outline disappeared, and the granite face was once again rock alone.

  Her knees gave way and she sank to the ground. Iker caught her before she completely collapsed.

  He cushioned her against him. “Sanura.”

  With a shred of life force remaining, she opened her mouth but could form no response. Behind Iker, a familiar face leaned over. Mrs. Allgood?

  “Is she all right?” the elderly woman asked.

  Iker smoothed Sanura’s hair. “I won’t lose you. Not now.”

  She managed a half-smile. You won’t. I have nine lives.

  The last of her energy drained away to nothing, a wisp floating upward. From somewhere above, her spirit recognized her lifeless form slumped in his arms.

  ****

  Every muscle in Iker’s body screamed. “Sanura?” No, she could not be dead. “Goddess,” he pleaded to Bastet.

  Bastet crouched over Sanura. Lips moving in prayer, the goddess passed open palms across her aura. As Bastet had revived him from the darkness, so the goddess now restored Sanura’s life force. Her nearly indiscernible breaths became shallow ones, and slowly strengthened.

  When Sanura breathed evenly once again, Bastet rose to her feet. “She will be weak, but she’ll live.”

  Able to breathe again too, Iker cradled her. “She needs someone to take care of her.”

  Bastet arched a brow. “It seems she already has someone.”

  Yes, he would do it. He wanted to. Not as a servant, but someone who cared for her.

  Sanura’s eyes fluttered open. “What happened?”

  Iker said, “User must have placed some protection spell of his own on the door to prevent anyone from tampering with it.”

  “I ask your forgiveness,” Bastet said. “I should have suspected the vizier would use sorcery to protect himself.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” Sanura waved a limp hand.

  Mrs. Allgood stepped closer. “I also owe you an apology. I failed to warn you about Apep posing as your intern.”

  Sanura gaped. “You knew? How?”

  “Not right away, of course. I did sense s
omething off about him. The night of the exhibit opening, he switched the wines. Or dosed the alcohol with some drug so no one would see his true form. But I caught a glimpse of his true self. Too late to help, as I’d already imbibed a glass of wine. The effects were immediate.”

  “No apology needed,” Sanura said. “All over now.”

  “That’s very generous of you.” Mrs. Allgood wagged a finger. “But you’re overdue for a vacation, Ms. Whitaker. Starting tonight, you’ll begin an extended one.”

  Sanura struggled to sit up. “But the exhibit…”

  Mrs. Allgood commanded silence with a raised hand. “The Antiquities Council requested the pieces be shipped back to Egypt immediately.”

  “I see.” Disappointment softened her voice.

  “They had shipped the artifacts to our museum for a specific purpose. But now, the artifacts no longer have a valid reason for remaining in America, correct?” Mrs. Allgood asked. “The council was very pleased to hear of your other success.”

  Sanura lifted the cloth from her forehead. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

  Mrs. Allgood appeared smug. “You’re not the only one who’s descended from the ancient Egyptians, Sanura.”

  “You’re a member of The Royal Daughter of Amun Society.” She said it with equal parts wonder and certainty.

  Balancing against her cloisonné cane, the woman stood. “Enjoy your time off, Ms. Whitaker. Take as long as you need to recover. Oh, and there’s a special event you won’t want to miss. You’ll know it when you see it. I wish you well, and good night.”

  “Goodbye, Mrs. Allgood.” After the woman exited the office, Sanura sighed. “I’ll never take anyone at face value again. Not even a mummy.” She stroked his face. “You’re like a miracle. How can you be real?”

  “Some things are simply meant to be.” Tempted as he was to expand on that, he changed the subject. “My home is as real as me. I would be honored by your company there.”

  “Yes, I’d like to go home.”

  He furrowed his brow. “If you would rather stay in Philadelphia, I understand.” He began to rise.