by Jean Murray
He ran his fingers over the cold metal of the Legion’s shield and sword mounted on the wall. The shield’s dome gleamed bright with meticulous care and cleaning. Divots of battle riddled the hard titanium, voicing the long history of Bomani’s leadership and that of his predecessor. Only two Commanders stood watch in the course of their existence.
The only thing out of sorts was a blanket that had slipped off the bed. He walked over and picked up the throw. Wool, not silk like in the palace. How differently they had grown up. One in luxury. One in squalor by gods’ standards. If only he had realized at the time, maybe things could have been different between them.
He folded the blanket and set it neatly onto the bed. “Maybe someday brother, you will find it in your soul to forgive me.” Sadness filled his chest knowing that day may never come, but he would never give up on Bomani. Despite all that had happened between them, he admired his brother’s loyalty to their father.
He glanced one last time around the empty room. With one more stop to make, he pulled the energy in and dematerialized. He reappeared outside the barred doors of his cell. He yanked the cold steel open and stepped across the threshold. The area had been cleaned of all the books. His eyes gravitated to his sarcophagus. His last visit replayed in his head in painful detail.
He palmed the surface of the wood. A kinship of sorts resonated through the carved hieroglyphics. A history he needed to purge from his life. The remnants of that male he had been would be forever with him. Beyond the scars of his body and mind, his sarcophagus was the only remaining symbol of Kepi’s hold on him. The sarcophagus, he could destroy, just as he did Kepi.
He struggled to load the tomb upon his shoulders. He staggered, but forced his legs forward and out the cell. It would be easy to dematerialize and shorten his journey, but he refused, even when his legs threatened to buckle during the ascent out of the dungeon.
This was his penance to bear. More importantly, a trial he needed to pass of his own accord without anyone’s help. The wood dug into his muscles and pinched the nerves in his neck and shoulders. He pushed past the pain and stalked down the palace hall to the stairs that led to the beach.
The soft sand compressed underneath the enormous weight. The tomb shifted and sent him to his knees. His lungs burned with the effort, but he had finally made it. With a shove, the sarcophagus toppled onto the sand.
He stared at his prison for five long years.
“Tonight, we say goodbye.”
***
Bruises marred Bakari’s back, shoulders and arms. Not wanting to worry Kendra he threw on a long sleeve shirt and went to her room. He rapped his knuckles on the wood, loud enough to be heard but low enough not to disturb Kendra if she was sleeping.
Lilly greeted him with fresh tears in her eyes. Alarmed, Bakari barged past without asking what was wrong. Kendra’s small frame was propped up on the pillows. A red angry scar highlighted against her pale skin.
He must have looked horrified, because Kendra pulled up the sheet to cover the wound. Gods, it was not the wound that startled him. Based on Lilly’s appearance, he had feared the worse. “Is everything okay?” He asked quietly.
Lilly nodded and wiped her cheek dry. “I can’t believe I almost lost her.”
He knew the emotion all too well. “Could you give us a minute alone?”
“Yes, of course,” Lilly said. A soft click announced her departure.
He did not know what to say. They had been through so much. Worse, Kendra’s emotions were lost to him. He walked up to the bed and sat at the edge. Her pale skin blended into the white sheets. He reached out and enveloped her hand in his own. It was so cool, much colder than it should be. “Are you still in pain?” He could not help but look at her chest where the sheet had slipped and exposed the scarlet line.
She went to cover it again, but he caught her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. He brought her other hand up and kissed the scar on her palm. “Tell me what you are thinking.”
“The blood-bond is gone, isn’t it?”
He was surprised by the amount of sadness in her voice. “Yes, but I thought…” He looked at their joined hands. He had never considered she would want the blood-bond.
“That I wouldn’t want to be bound to you after all that has happened?” She slouched deeper into the pillow. “I hate that I can’t feel you. I woke up and you were gone. It scares me not knowing you are okay.”
He chuckled at the irony of the circumstances. She had a mortal wound to her chest and she was the one worrying.
“You find that funny,” she said angrily.
He placed his hands on either side of her hips and hovered over her. He did not like this separation between them either, and if he could do as the Mother Goddess asked he would remedy the situation. “No, I do not think it funny, my sweet Parvana.”
The gold flecks in her eyes twinkled and her breath quickened.
“I feel the emptiness like a pit in my soul.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Since I can no longer feel your emotions, you need to tell me what you want.”
“What I want?”
Bakari knew he was putting her on the spot, but he needed to hear it. She was not used to being in charge of her destiny, but ultimately it was her choice.
“I want our field of reeds without interruption and for a very, very long time.”
He tried to suppress the smile that curled up his lips. “I was hoping you would say that.” He leaned in and kissed her. A fever burned through him the minute their lips touched again. The same powerful craving. The blood-bond may have been broken, but his devotion expanded with each loving kiss.
It took all his fortitude to break from her sweet lips. “I have something I need to do first. I would like you to be there, if you feel up to it.” He did not want to push her, but she was such a pivotal focal point in his journey. Not to mention, she needed closure as well. He was not the only one who had suffered under Kepi’s hand.
Kendra nodded.
“Are you sure?” He asked, worried it was too soon.
“I need to get out of this bed, or I’m going to go crazy.”
“Very well.” He slipped his arms under her legs and shoulders and lifted her into his arms. Kendra rested her head on his shoulder. He hoped their physical contact would lessen her pain on some level, not unlike how she had relieved his.
“Where are we going?” Kendra asked, turning her head to stare out over the balcony. The stars twinkled brightly against the night sky.
“Down to the beach.” He eased down the steps from the palace, careful not to jostle his precious package. Soon she would see the reason he had brought her here. The stars’ light illuminated the shape in the distance.
Kendra inhaled sharply. “What’s that doing here?”
“Kepi is dead,” Bakari said, trudged toward his sarcophagus. “It is time to extinguish her hold on my soul, once and for all.” Or at least he hoped.
“She had affected so many. You. My father. Asar. So many people have suffered.”
“Yes, she did,” he said, glancing down at her wound.
Kendra touched his chin. “I am okay, Bakari, really. I wouldn’t miss this.”
He settled into the sand with her in his lap and stared out over the river to the Underworld gates. The sound of the water lapping at the edge of the beach filled the silence between them.
“I owe you an apology, Parvana.”
She stared at him with furrowed brows. “I thought we already covered that.”
“I do not regret marking your soul.” He met her gaze, finally finding the courage to be honest with himself and with her. “Gods, I prayed for you to be free of the blood-bond, but in truth I would do it again.” His chest had been robbed of half a soul, her soul. “Now that it is gone, I want nothing more than to take it again.” He placed a finger on her lips, silencing what he knew would be a retort. “The choice is yours now.”
He pulled his finger away. She exhaled a warm breath. “I know what you are,
Bakari. That night in the dungeon, I heard what you said to your father. I can’t say that I understand it all, but there is one thing I am certain of. I want what we had back.” She pressed her palm against his chest.
“Are you sure? Everything has happened so fast. There is a lot I still need to work through. You were right when you said I needed to talk about what happened. I’d like that person to be you.”
“I’ll wait for however long you need, Bakari. I will stand by you.”
He shifted her off his lap and onto the soft mound of sand. He did not know when he would be free from all the guilt, but he had hope for the future. Kendra deserved more than a male living in the shadow of his mistakes. She deserved a male resolved to make things right. If this beautiful butterfly could accept him with all his flaws, then he had no reason not to accept himself. Forgive himself. His weaknesses in the end had made him stronger. He had found his honor with the help of this beautiful woman. He knelt before her and held out his hand for her to grasp. She pulled herself to her knees. “Will you be my wife, Kendra Carrigan?”
“Yes. I will,” she said with a gleaming smile.
He placed her palm over his heart and his gently over hers below the scar. “I promise before the gods, our souls will be bound for life, for love, for eternity.”
A blue arc of light penetrated his chest and shot straight though his heart and soul. His palm tingled against her chest. The current made her gasp. He brushed his thumb over the scorpion mark that now graced her beautiful chest. A symbol of his promise to her and himself.
She tugged his shirt collar down and frowned. “It didn’t work.”
He looked at his bare chest. “In time, Parvana. Trust me, my soul belongs only to you. Your mark will appear after you transition.”
Kendra’s cheeks flushed red. “Oh. I’m still technically a virgin, aren’t I?”
Bakari’s blood started to pulse with desire. He nibbled at her neck until she sighed, “Shall we not wait until our wedding night?”
She shook her head. “Our engagement is good enough.” She captured him in a kiss. “I better heal faster,” she groaned.
“I can help, but it would require you drinking my blood.” He smirked.
“It would really work?” She looked at her chest and scowled. “It’s so ugly.”
“Like this?” He pulled his shirt to the left to expose his own scars.
“We match now,” she laughed, but then took on a very serious look. “Would our blood-bond return?”
“Yes, but it will not be as strong as our previous connection. He brushed the scorpion on her chest. “I feel you, Parvana. I sense your every heart beat and the life emanating from your soul. Once you transition, our bond will be stronger.”
“Let’s not waste any more time then.” She kissed him with an amazing amount of tenderness and need. Lost in her euphoria he had almost forgotten why he had brought her here. Reluctantly, he pulled away. “We probably should return to your room. The blood can have… well, certain side effects.” He waited a minute to let his statement sink in.
“Side effects, like in the temple?”
“I am not averse to making love to you under the stars, if that is what you wish.” He grinned.
Her cheeks reddened. God, he loved the fact that she still blushed. She was the complete opposite of all the women that had dominated his life. Unlike Kepi’s, Kendra's touch spread a gentle warmth all the way to his bones. He did not cringe away, but he craved more.
The color of her cheeks deepened further. “Maybe another time?”
“Anything you desire.”
A shy smile rose on her beautiful face. “So are your ready then?” she asked, gesturing to his sarcophagus.
He nodded. Although, the war was not won and more hardship awaited them in the future he was ready to face it with Kendra at his side. He held out the torch for her to light. Blue flames flickered from her fingertips and ignited the end. He threw the torch inside the tomb. The wood blackened and cracked. The fire consumed his prison and five years of hell rose up to the heavens with the heavy smoke. The flames grew and licked up to the stars.
He sat and pulled Kendra into his lap. The weight of his shame lifted and carried away into the sky. The billowing flames brought spectators, who stood in silent vigil. Sin and the band of fledglings had returned. His friend knelt and grasped Bakari’s forearm. Although no words were spoken, a kinship and debt of gratitude communicated through the connection. Similar to Kendra, the gods had sent this warrior to guide him through his darkest times.
His father had arrived and laid a hand briefly on his shoulder before wrapping Lilly in his arms. With Kamen forever at her back Kit stood at the edge of the circle far from her mother. The black headed sister nodded her approval.
His family and brother warriors stared at the inferno that reached toward the heavens. Their Underworld family had grown smaller this day with the loss of Nebt, Inpu, and Bomani. He prayed for Bomani, wherever he may be. For Inpu, may he find mercy from his pain.
May the gods watch over all of them.
Bakari met the Mother Goddess’ gaze. Her aura burned as bright as the red embers of wood that crackled at the fire’s core. She smiled. He hugged Kendra tighter to his chest and kissed her neck, the same location he had fed from her in the temple.
Hope was worth fighting for.
Chapter Sixty-Three
The orange ball of fire grew in the distance against the backdrop of the serpentine river. Bomani sat at the cliff’s edge and watched the gathering. Everyone he knew was on that beach this night. His father, Lilly and the warriors he had fought side by side with for over five millenniums. Even Bakari and Kendra, who he believed to be dead, were at the center of it. His family standing in solidarity, yet here he sat isolated and alone.
Still in a state of shock and denial, he was unable to bring himself to report to Asar. How could he have been so wrong? He never made mistakes, not ones of this magnitude. But what surprised him the most, he honestly wondered if he should care? He had done everything right his whole life. What did it get him?
Nothing, while his brother received everything even after all his misdeeds.
He clenched his temple and squeezed. His faith in honor crumbled like the pyramids of the past. Was life really that unfair? For the first time in his existence, he had no direction, no purpose. Why, when it did not change the outcome?
He had devoted his life to his father and the warriors seeking his leadership. He fought and bled every gods damn day of his life. Now fatigue settled into his shoulders and legs to the point he did not want to move.
How far had he fallen, if someone as small as Kendra had to save his life? He squeezed his eyes shut when the image of the dagger penetrating her back assaulted his brain. Minutes prior, Nebt had asked that Kendra choose between him and Bakari. Who should live, and who should die. Kendra had refused to answer. He shook his head trying to clear the memory. If she did not love him, why did she sacrifice her life and that of Bakari for him? It did not make any sense. Bomani did not deserve Kendra’s love or mercy, not after he harmed the woman he had claimed to love and protect in the most despicable way. It may as well have been him wielding the dagger.
Rightly so, Bomani had left empty handed. His brother sat on the beach with her in his arms, not him. It could not be true. His brother redeeming his honor? Even now he refused to believe it was possible, but he would never forget the look on his brother’s face in those minutes before her death. Bomani detected no bitterness or rage, as he would have expected, but instead Bakari’s eyes reflected an extraordinary amount of admiration and love for the dying woman in his arms.
A heavy weight of shame settled against Bomani’s chest. It was more tolerable to hate his brother than to think Bakari had succeeded in finding redemption. He searched for any angle his brother may have been using, but came up empty.
Bakari had killed Kepi, and worst of all, his brother was right about Nebt. Bomani cringed to think he
had done nothing to stop the goddess from escaping. He had been so shocked at Kendra’s attempt to save him he froze.
In retrospect the red flags about Nebt were everywhere. Her releasing him from his confinement, when he knew damn well he belonged there. But, that paled in comparison to her being in possession of the Mevt daggers. He chose to ignore the facts in favor of his hatred. He wondered how many times Nebt had set them up to fail?
His soul’s energy drained with the fading glow of the distant fire. Somehow in his journey he had lost his way. His compass shattered, replaced by a significant amount of disgrace.
Bakari had won the battle.
It was time for the loser to pack up and say goodbye.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Kendra wiped the condensation off the mirror left by the hot steam of her shower. The image of her red scar blurred in the mirror. She fingered through her curls and carefully dried her chest and arms.
She stared at the neatly folded white cotton nightgown next to the sink. Should she put it on? Wear her towel? Or nothing?
Chewing on her lip, she glanced at the door to the bedroom. Bakari waited for her in the other room. He had shown extreme patience.
She brushed over her abdomen where the butterflies were trying to fight their way out. Despite their previous intimacy, it didn’t quell her nervousness. Or was it the fact she had to drink his blood? What if she fainted?
She dropped her towel and pulled the soft fabric over her head. The muscle stretch shot pain through her chest. She inhaled sharply, appreciating that she wasn’t quite healed from her injuries. Soon it would be a forgotten memory. She smoothed the fabric down. She stared at the matching panties in her hand. Smiling, she put them back on the counter.
She paused at the door and stared out into the bedroom. Bakari sat on the chaise. He rose and turned to her. Silk black pants draped low on his waist and a matching jacket revealed his broad chiseled chest and abdomen. It warmed her heart to see the lion and moon pendent hanging from his neck. Her life had come full circle.
