by Isis Rushdan
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” she said, “and how hard you’ve worked to teach me. I’m grateful to have you as family. You’re the closest thing I’ve had to a father in a long time.” Gripping his forearm, she continued, “I won’t take Cyrus from Herut. On my life, I swear it. And I won’t disappoint you.”
As he turned to her, a haunting look filled his eyes and deep creases carved his brow. Emotions threatened to shatter his impassive mask, but he held tight to his composure. He opened his arms and embraced her. His hug was tender as if he worried he might break her.
“Thank you,” he whispered. Then he stepped back, taking the plate she offered.
His affection said more than his words, and tears laced her eyes.
Abbadon joined the group. He spoke little, not once looking at Cyrus, but at least he ate.
The rest of the food went quickly as everyone chatted. Ptolemy and Amon told stories about Beset. It didn’t make anyone sad. Dying a warrior’s death was honorable to them, preferred over withering in old age. The soldiers grew more animated as they shared great anecdotes about her, celebrating her courage and life.
Mrs. Carter spoke of Cassian and his inquisitive nature as a child. Talus listened intently. A smile crept up on her face at moments, but the story of Cassian healing Mrs. Carter’s cancer and how he’d been weak for days afterwards seemed to be too much for her.
When her eyes began to water, Micah sat beside her and handed her a glass of lemonade.
“Although your brother was not a warrior, he died a warrior’s death, and we shall honor his memory,” he said, resting a hand on her shoulder. “We shall celebrate him.”
And with that small gesture of compassion, new life kindled in Talus’s eyes and she shared stories of her brother without shedding a single tear.
There was even a little laughter.
After Serenity finished two plates of food, they cut into the moist, decadent cake. Covered in luscious buttercream frosting, one tier was a coconut cake that had been soaked in rum filled with light chantilly cream and the other was dark fudge layered with Kahlua-flavored chocolate ganache. Serenity hugged Mrs. Carter for outdoing herself on the homemade cake.
It was almost too lovely to cut into. Cyrus had two pieces. Talus had three. Some of the warriors indulged, but only with slivers of the dessert. And Serenity loaded up on sugar until her stomach ached.
Cyrus sat, pulling her down onto his lap, and licked icing from her fingers. His tongue tickled and she tossed her head back with a chuckle. Stuffed with incredible food, brimming with happiness and overflowing with love, she let out a satisfied moan and played with his hair. It had grown out and she liked the extra length.
Giving her body a squeeze, he ran his hand along her spine. Desire for him flared once more, intense and insatiable.
In her heart, she knew fate, the Creator, or some other force had accepted her bargain. They’d have their week before tough choices had to be made, and then she’d have to keep her end of the deal. She didn’t know exactly what the future would bring, but she had an inkling that whatever was in store for them wasn’t going to be easy.
From the first taste of his lips, she loved him, and no matter the danger, always would. In her new world, where blessings were a curse and fate was fickle, only one thing seemed certain. The greater the love between Kindred mates, the sweeter the pleasure—and higher the price that must be paid.
Pressing his cheek to hers, he whispered as if reading her mind, “Everything will be all right, my love.”
As long as they were together, they could face anything…the politics of Houses, a legion of warriors, even Paladins.
Smiling, she turned his chin up and kissed him deeply, willing the world to a standstill.
“I know.” She brushed a wavy lock of hair from his face. Their love was far more powerful and would give them the strength to prevail.
Together, nothing could stop them.
Glossary
advenuati: Kindred raised outside of a collective amongst humans; this is extremely rare and has only been known to happen once.
Akhet: first season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time of inundation, when the Nile flooded.
anima: Kindred’s life force, energy stream, or pool of energy.
battle-guard: higher level warriors with years of specialized training called to safeguard and defend their House from all threats.
Blessed: a reincarnation of one of the Fallen—the original ancient beings who were cursed; bears a mark of the Fallen. Only a Blessed couple can break the curse.
called: a formal invitation to serve a House in an official capacity, such as battle-guard; extended by a noble under the authority of the Triumvirate. It is considered a great honor.
collective: a group of Kindred sharing energy. The shared anima of the collective helps to delay the onset of the dark veil and sangre saevitas. It is highly encouraged to be a member of a collective if not with one’s kabashem. Kindred sent away from a House to accomplish a particular mission are accompanied by others who make up their collective.
consort: a female or male companion, not bonded for life. Consorts, who are not one’s kabashem, are common in House Sekhem and House Aten. Taking a consort when one has already been sealed has been known to create friction in households.
consort-misère: a consort taken out of compassion or mercy. When one loses their kabashem or sealed mate, the sibling of the deceased partner will often offer this. Most commonly practiced in House Herut as it is the only union not between kabashem allowed within that House. Herut has forbidden offspring from such spiritually impure unions. Taking a consort-misère when one has already been sealed has been known to create intense friction in Herut households as one must now share their mate based on a code of honor.
dark veil: severe melancholia with episodes of psychosis, increasing in frequency until there is a break from reality. The Psi class is usually afflicted and it hits earlier in life, often before the age of 100. In the later stages, a surge in their ingenium can be expected. Only connecting to the anima or energy stream of one’s kabashem can prevent the onset.
eligien: offspring of kabashem, often stronger with higher level ingeniums.
esuratus: a female’s time of fertility, occurs one to four times a year, decreasing with age; marked by heightened arousal and flashes of extreme yearning to couple. Males instinctually find females more attractive at this time. To any males she has bonded with, the allure is overwhelming. In order for a Blessed couple to procreate, more than their bodies must couple, their anima and souls must meld as one. The number of cases of unexplained infertility is growing.
Fallen: ancient beings who walked the earth before humans. The Creator cursed them for their wickedness and hubris, tearing them asunder and splitting them into two different bodies to reduce their power.
fulcrix: a barenpetium whip with sharpened ridges. It is used by the vadeletori when trying to subdue one with sangre saevitas.
The Great Divide: clashing ideologies over whether or not to break the curse and risk losing their ingeniums divided Kindred, and the era of Shabanu ended. From the ashes of their unity, three Houses rose.
glodem: an enchanted statue used for protection and/or as a weapon.
heka: magic.
House: a large, formally structured collective, governed by a Triumvirate.
inamorata (f), inamorato (m): lover.
ingenium: preternatural gift or talent; Psi class and warriors. The degree and manifestation of lower level abilities varies. Full development of one’s ingenium can only be triggered by completely merging with the anima of one’s kabashem at least once.
Isfet: the current era of darkness and chaos, began with the Great Divide.
kabashem: soul mate, predestined partner; does not guarantee a harmonious or happy union, and not all choose to be sealed. Fully connecting to the life force of one’s kabashem, at least once, will prevent the onset of sangre saevitas or th
e dark veil, sort of like an inoculation, and spark the emergence of latent powers. It is the only way for a warrior to get their wings. The sustained energy bond between kabashem produces a kinetic boost extending one’s life span, and over a long period of time can induce a drug like effect.
Kindred: a species descended from ancient beings who were cursed. If they are able to fully meld with the anima or energy stream of their kabashem at least once, it will awaken aspects of their ingenium that lie dormant and prevent the onset of the dark veil or sangre saevitas.
Peret: second season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time of emergence and growth.
Pesedjet: the Great Council of nine comprised of the Triumvirates of the Houses. It convenes once a century. Each House is allowed to bring one hundred Kindred to bear witness.
prodigierium: offspring between Kindred who are not kabashem—runts; they are weaker than eligien and have shorter life spans. House Herut considers them abominations, unnatural products of spiritual impurity.
record-keeper: a servant of Lady Neith who watches Kindred, documenting major events and bloodlines; forbidden to interfere in the affairs of the Houses.
sangre saevitas: a torment of the curse manifesting as uncontrollable blood rage, where they lose all sense of reason and compassion. Warriors are usually afflicted with this manic state of extreme violence and madness, but there have been rare cases amongst the Psi class. In the later stages, physical mutations and a surge in their ingenium can be expected. Only connecting to the energy stream of one’s kabashem can prevent the onset.
sealed: consensual bonding for life between chosen mates, not necessarily kabashem; males and females may only have one sealed mate, but consorts are still taken sometimes. In House Herut, it is forbidden to be sealed to anyone other than one’s kabashem.
Shabanu: age of harmony, beginning with the settlement in Rekhem.
Shemu: third season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time to harvest.
Triumvirate: a Council of three members, presiding over a House.
uxora: a female sealed to a male as his lifelong chosen mate; not necessarily one’s kabashem.
vadeletor: a warrior from a noble bloodline sworn to euthanize those afflicted with the dark veil or sangre saevitas and to protect Kindred from exposure to humanity. Each House has several teams of vadeletori stationed worldwide. A vadeletor is chosen by their respective Triumvirate. Vadeletori from opposing Houses have been known to work together under dire circumstances, but this is not routine. It is a temporary position due to the high stress and high operations tempo; however, it often results in one being called to serve as battle-guard.
vitrien: a male sealed to a female as her lifelong chosen mate; not necessarily one’s kabashem.
Whitescape: a painful episode, so excruciating it is literally blinding, followed by a brief euphoric state of unconditional love. Only Blessed Kindred experience this when their kabashem is born.
Advenuati
Serenity Ameliora Shaw—only child of Lord Lucien (deceased) and Lady Sothis; has ties to all three Great Houses based on her lineage, but belongs to none as she was raised amongst humans away from Kindred; Blessed.
In addition to the birthmark on her neck, she has another identifying mark. A tattoo on her stomach of an exquisite flower with petals shaped like sharp blades and black thorns.
CYRUS HARMERTY’S COLLECTIVE
Cyrus Ambrose Harmerty—only child of Lord Dominicus and Lady Gaea (deceased), grandson of Constantine who serves on the Council leading House Herut; Blessed.
Abbadon Vitalis Nekheny—Cyrus’s longtime friend, advisor, and blood-sworn protector.
Cassian Amatus Harmerty—Cyrus’s ward.
Talus Petra Harmerty—Cyrus’s ward.
Vadeletori under Cyrus’s command—Spero, Ptolemy, Beset, Micah, Amon, Hotep, and Carin.
HOUSE HERUT
They believe in practicing spiritual purity, only mating with one’s kabashem, existing peacefully with humans and striving for redemption—no matter the cost. The afflictions of the curse, sangre saevitas and the dark veil, are devastating their species. It is only a matter of time before Kindred are extinct if the curse is not broken and their souls redeemed. If they must sacrifice their exceptional power to preserve their species, they will not hesitate to pay the price. Although they seek unity and cooperation with the other Houses, they are willing to go to war over their principles.
The practice of heka is forbidden in their House and amongst their people. They view it as unnatural.
They value discipline, duty before self, and above all honor.
Primary Ingenium Class: Warrior
Creed: Purity, Sacrifice, Redemption
Sigil: Heru as a falcon, one eye the sun, one eye a crescent moon, holding a double bladed sword
Key Members
Lord Cyrus Ambrose Harmerty—chosen at birth to succeed his grandfather as a member of the Triumvirate; Blessed
Lord Constantine Harmerty—comes from one of the noblest and purest bloodlines in Herut; sits on the Triumvirate; paternal grandfather of Cyrus
Abbadon Vitalis Nekheny—Cyrus’s blood-sworn protector; brother of Lysandra
Lysandra Nekheny—sister of Abbadon; Blessed
Lord Lucien Alcaeus Nopheros (deceased)—bloodline holds many prominent positions within House Herut; father of Serenity; kabashem and vitrien of Lady Sothis
Lord Dominicus Harmerty—father of Cyrus; kabashem and vitrien of Lady Gaea; consort-misère of Lady Leta; no longer speaks to his son
Lady Gaea Har-Si-Ese (deceased)—mother of Cyrus
Lady Leta Har-Si-Ese—aunt of Cyrus, sister of Lady Gaea; took Lord Dominicus as a consort-misère, against the wishes of her kabashem and vitrien; member of the Triumvirate
Lord Phane Nefer—uncle of Cyrus, kabashem and vitrien of Lady Leta
Caelius Khenty-Irty—trusted friend of Cyrus; Blessed
Jude Alucio Har-Wer—friend of Cyrus
HOUSE SEKHEM
The Fallen and all of their descendants were cursed, condemned to suffer the torments of the dark veil and sangre saevitas until their souls are redeemed. They also have exceptional gifts such as superior strength, longevity, and a myriad of Psi class ingeniums. House Sekhem accepts the afflictions of the curse as a necessary consequence for their greatness. They would do anything to retain their elite gifts and prevent Kindred from being relegated to the mediocrity of humanity. They often take consorts, choosing not to live with their kabashem as a life partner, or in extreme cases not mating with one’s kabashem at all. However, they will seize any opportunity to meld with the anima of their kabashem at least once, to inoculate themselves from sangre saevitas and the dark veil, and to trigger the emergence of their latent powers. Their lifestyle is a demonstration of free will to choose who they will love and their own fate.
Primary Ingenium Class: Warrior
Creed: All who obstruct our chosen path shall know our fury
Sigil: A fiery sun with a double-sided axe in the center
Key Members
Lord Archimedes Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus
Lord Archippos Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus
Lord Archelaus Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus
Darius—vadeletor, aspires to be battle-guard; Blessed
Evane—battle-guard, being groomed to lead as Chief General; Blessed
PALADINS: suspected wing of House Sekhem, with substantial autonomy, comprised of elite Kindred; identity of most members is unknown. Primary Ingenium, Creed, and Sigil are unknown.
Key Members
Lord Arcturus Custos—descended from one of the most powerful bloodlines; current leader of the Paladins, member of House Sekhem’s Triumvirate; maternal grandfather of Serenity
Kasmira—kabashem of Abbadon
HOUSE ATEN
The Immortals practice heka and carry significant influence amongst all Kindred, except with
the Great Historian, Lady Neith. They are very selective in the bloodlines accepted in their House. Espousing harmony and peace, they seek diplomacy in the resolution of all disputes. Their House is shrouded in mystery.
Primary Ingenium Class: Psi
Creed: Long may the flame burn bright and true
Sigil: A mark of one of the Fallen, Aten, with a cobra in the center
Key Members
The Immortals: Nefertiti (has not spoken since the Great Divide), Seshata, and Tholitis—founded House Aten and preside as permanent Council members
Lady Aurora Tyet—gifted in heka; maternal grandmother of Serenity; maintains a strained relationship with her kabashem, Arcturus
Lady Sothis Callidora Tyet—mother of Serenity; strong ties to House Sekhem
Lord Marius Usir—paternal grandfather of Serenity
Lady Dayanara Nopheros—paternal grandmother of Serenity; granted permission to leave House Herut to join her kabashem, Marius
Joshua—Blessed
Scill—Blessed
Junia—Blessed
OTHERS
Evan Wade—surrogate family and fiancé of Serenity
Lady Neith—the Great Historian, maintains records of Kindred history and bloodlines; once favored by Seshata, but broke the immortal’s heart when she renounced the Houses and claimed the Library; has neutrality based on conditions of a treaty made with the three Houses; Blessed
Ravich—an immortal who was declared an enemy of Kindred by Nefertiti; seeks to undermine the political and financial stronghold of the Houses through the Gallacom Consortium
Artemis—mercenary and second in command to Ravich
Jagger—mercenary
Stone—mercenary
Krieg—mercenary
Mrs. Carter—family friend and housekeeper of Cyrus
Dougie Alexander—Serenity’s business partner and friend
