Immortal Dynasty

by Lynda Haviland

  “Answer me one question. Did Seth and Nefertiti…” He let the question hang unfinished.

  “Yes. They loved each other very much. As much as you and Shaila love each other.”

  Darius didn’t try to hide his surprise.

  “For you to have received your astral spirit, Shaila must have received hers. That would only have happened if the two of you combined your energies.”

  “Damn it, Dare. You mean I slaved over this computer all night, while you got lucky?” Marcus looked tweaked at first, but then he smirked. “I am wicked impressed.”

  “Okay. I’m okay with this.” Darius massaged the back of his head and neck. “I’ve grown up my whole life thinking I was a normal human being. As normal as the next guy.”

  “And it turns out you’re half alien.”

  “Shut up, Marcus.” Darius sent a glare towards his best friend.

  “You guys were right. He did inherit some very cranky genes.” Marcus swiveled to his attention back on ALICE. “I study dinosaurs for a living and my best buddy is an alien. They couldn’t write this stuff any better.”

  “Yeah, just don’t piss me off or I might try out these new mini fangs on you.”

  “They won’t stay mini for long, my boy. It just takes a while for them to break in the first time.”

  “Great, at thirty-five years old I’m teething again.” Darius looked at Papa Shadi and Bakari. “Shaila and I got separated by a large crowd of protesters marching towards the Commons. I was angry for losing control of the situation and for losing Shaila. By the time I found her, Therion was shoving her into a big black van.”

  “Is that when the fury overtook you?”

  “Yes. A powerful surge of angry energy just ripped through me. My face felt like it was exploding. All I could think about was to get back here.” He hung his head over his knees, fighting off a new surge of energy just from thinking about Shaila being taken away from him.

  “Don’t worry, Darius.” Bakari’s baritone voice held a purposefully soothing note. “We know where he’s taking her.”

  “We have some time to make our plans.” Papa Shadi began pacing.

  “How much time do we have?”

  Papa Shadi looked around anxiously. “Where’s my pipe? I think better with my pipe.”

  “Time, Papa, time?”

  “We will need to be ready,” he said flatly, “when the red hunter’s moon rises.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Shaila emerged from a dark, painful sleep. At first, she wondered if she was dreaming, or if everything before this moment had been a dream. She could almost think that she was back in ancient Egypt, waiting for her priest to preserve her in the statue.

  She wrinkled her nose at the intense smell of the torches, which jutted from the walls like soldiers saluting. The limestone walls kept the room cool, and the only warmth came from the many torches. The paint in the hieroglyphs seemed darker than she remembered. She tried to sit up on the table, wondering where her priest had gone.

  Pain seared her wrists and knifed through her body. The agony brought all of her memories to her in a rush. Her eyes darted frantically around the room, taking in all of the details she had missed a moment ago. The prophecy on the wall was much different. All of it honored the Age of Awakening in bloody detail.

  The humorless laughter echoing across the bare floors was not her priest. Bracing against the pain, she twisted her shackled body around to see Therion sitting regally upon a black throne and grinning with a victorious smile. She bit her tongue to keep quiet as she watched him toy absently with her dagger in its sheath.

  She tried to flash out of the room, but convulsed as the effort brought a renewed wave of piercing torture to every nerve in her body. A tear slid down her cheek as her pain and frustration grew. She felt Therion’s approach.

  “Welcome to my temple, Shaila. We have some very important things to discuss.”

  “Where is Lilith?” She gave him her best dismissive shrug. “I will only speak with her.”

  She felt his fingertips trail across her legs and stomach, pausing just below her breasts.

  “Do you realize how seductive leather can be?” His liquored breath felt hot along her cheek. She jerked her face away when he licked at the tears. “Mmm. Tasty. I wonder how you truly taste?” He grabbed her chin forcefully. “Don’t struggle so much, my dear. It only makes the pain worse, or so I’m told. I had to test the cuffs to be certain of their ability to incapacitate you.”

  “On whom did you test them?” Shaila had visions of her sister broken down with fear and pain. Bessie had told her that she had been in and out of the Troy Estate many times undetected. Had her luck run out?

  He rubbed her arm just above the cuff. “Nobody of consequence, as it turns out. A very disappointing experiment, except to learn the value of these little babies.” Instantly, Therion seemed to go from enjoying his little games to intense anger. “Where is the amulet, Shaila?” He roared into her face and slammed his palm into her ribs.

  She gritted her teeth, preventing her fangs from descending. She held silent.

  “Foolish woman.” His demeanor snapped back to the confident conqueror. “You have always known where it is. Now, stop your silence and tell me.”

  She ignored him and looked around the room, taking note of any possible weapons or escape routes.

  “Shaila? You are not paying attention to me. I have never allowed anyone to brush me off.” He leaned in again, whispering in her ear. “Especially your little lover. Even as a boy I could kick his ass. He tried to ignore me. I had to teach him a lesson. He just didn’t give a shit about anything…until I took this from him.”

  She looked up and saw the necklace he had hung around his neck. At the end of it dangled a small blue bead, one of many from Nefertiti’s favorite throat collar. It must have been the one gift from his true mother that had survived the wickedness of time. She snarled, revealing her fangs. She could not wait to sink them into Therion’s throat.

  “There’s my little hellcat.”

  “I am not yours.”

  “You will be, or I will be forced to kill you.”

  “You are forbidden to kill one of your own kind.”

  His laugh turned feral, and his black eyes blazed red for a moment. “The son of Apophis answers to none but himself.” He slapped her ribs again, laughing at her pain. “I am stronger than you think, Shaila. I am so much stronger than anyone thought. My father understands my true potential. I am a god. Imagine that. I’m a god on Earth, and I deserve my full power.”

  Something in his words haunted her. “Therion, where is your mother? What have you done with Lilith?”

  *

  Darius closed the living room blinds, shutting out the final glow of the setting sun. Bakari shimmered into the room carrying a wicked-looking pistol crossbow. It was a perfect weapon for close combat: self-loading and self-cocking. Demons would be no match for the steel bolts that would detonate on impact.

  Bakari approached him with the gold box he’d seen at the man’s house that day with Shaila. “This belongs to you.”

  Darius lifted the ruby ring that once sat on the finger of the pharaoh Ahkenaten. The ring winked at him, as if daring him to accept his destiny.

  “You might not have a kingdom to rule, Darius, but you have us.” Bakari bent down on one knee to show his allegiance. Darius felt decidedly awkward. He didn’t want to be the leader. He worked alone.

  “Thank you, but I’m not cut out to lead a group.” He dragged his hand across his brow. “There are too many variables that I can’t plan for. Shaila’s my responsibility. I promise I will get her and bring her back here. I can’t be responsible for all of you.”

  Before anyone could object, Papa Shadi’s pet cat sauntered into the room. Leaping onto an empty chair, she flashed into her human form.

  “Did I miss the swearing-in ceremony?” She seemed to notice Papa Shadi sitting on the couch. “Papa!”

  Rushing to Pa
pa Shadi, she hugged him tight.

  “Bessie, my girl. You look well.” He pinched her cheeks.

  She purred with childlike delight.

  His grandfather approached, again looking apologetic for keeping the truth from him. “Darius, this is Bessie. She is Shaila’s younger sister, and she is the one who helped me and Artie find the statue at Lilith’s estate.”

  “We’ve already been introduced. She helped us find you.”

  Darius retrieved Papa Shadi’s wooden walking stick from the closet and brought it over. His grandfather smiled as he welcomed it like an old friend. Then, pain flickered across his wrinkled face.

  Everyone jerked when the front door and windows rattled violently. Darius could hear the muffled sounds of hissing and screeching. Something was desperately trying to get in. He cringed at the high-pitched wails of frustration. Peeking through the blinds, he saw nothing but darkness. The sun had finally dropped below the horizon.

  “What is it, Papa? What’s out there?”

  “They are shadow walkers.”

  “Shaila said they’re indestructible.” Marcus shuddered.

  The old man held up his walking stick. A bright glow emanated briefly from the top of it. “Bright light is their weakness. It temporarily blinds them. It also clears away the black fog that cloaks them and protects them from attacks on their bodies.”

  The attack on the house seemed to increase with renewed energy, but still the spell thankfully held them at bay. Darius did not like being a sitting duck. He needed to get out of here and over to the Troy Estate. Shaila might be strong, but she would still need him. He felt it.

  “I have to go.” Darius double-checked his belt buckle. Both throwing knives were safely snapped in place. He knew he would need more than throwing knives and a set of mini fangs, but he couldn’t risk the lives of any other but himself.

  Marcus stepped close to Bakari, pointing to the wicked-looking weapon. “You don’t happen to have a spare one of those, do you?”

  Darius had to intervene before this got out of hand. “No, Marcus. You’re not coming with me. I’ve appreciated all of your help, but this isn’t a superhero movie. Sidekicks can get hurt. Or killed.”

  “Thanks for the pep talk, Dare. I assure you that I can handle myself, and you sure as hell need someone to watch your back.”

  Bakari handed Marcus the crossbow, and then flashed out of the room momentarily. He returned with two more of the weapons, one of which he tossed at Darius.

  Catching it, Darius inspected thoroughly. He was adept with most weapons, but he preferred hand combat. Weapons were good for picking off opponents from a distance, but too many variables hindered control of a situation. He appreciated the control he felt in using martial arts.

  “Where is Shaila?” Bessie’s eyes darted around the room suspiciously.

  “That’s who we’re going to get.” Marcus answered for everyone, moving in close to hold her hand. “Therion captured her this morning.”

  She looked stricken. “Oh, goddess. So that’s who the gold cuffs were for. Last night I was there…in the basement. I saw Therion with Queen Tia’s golden handcuffs, like the ones she used to capture Apophis.” She approached Darius until she stood toe to toe with him. “Those cuffs will burn Shaila every time she tries to use any powers at all.”

  Darius felt the blood drain from his face. His soul was shaken to the core by the thought of Shaila in Therion’s control, powerless to defend herself. For once in his life, he’d found something he wanted to keep. He swore to whatever god was listening that before this night was over he would have his goddess back…and that Therion would burn in hell.

  “So I’m coming too.” Bessie nodded, eyeing Marcus curiously. “But there’s something you all need to know before we get there.”

  Now his palm itched. It wasn’t Bessie; it was what he feared she was going to say. There was more…and he wasn’t going to like it one bit.

  “Lilith is not in charge any more. She doesn’t lead the demon army or command the shadow walkers.” She approached Darius slowly. Her eyes were a deep yellow and as lustrous as gold. There was no deception in their depths. “Therion has imprisoned his mother, and I think he means to sacrifice her tonight.”

  “How can he, when he doesn’t have his full power?”

  Papa Shadi answered. “The blood of Apophis has many secrets. It has given his son great powers, even without his Anunnaki spirit. He has become the necrotherion, the Death Beast. Even without the powers from the amulet, he is strong. Please, Darius, do not underestimate him.”

  “Come. We must go now.” Bessie hurried toward the staircase.

  “No.” Darius would not allow his grandfather to be in harm’s way again. “You can’t go over there, and—”

  Papa Shadi swiveled around and pointed the knob of his walking stick at him. Light blazed from it. “I may be old, but I am not without strength.”

  Bakari put a hand on Darius’ shoulder, warmth spreading from the touch. “It will take all of us to succeed tonight. Both light and dark energies are fully powerful during the hunter’s moon.”

  Resigned to his fate, Darius put the ruby ring on his finger. He thought it would feel heavy with the weight of responsibility. Instead, his blood pulsed faster and stronger as a new sense of determination swelled in his heart. “Okay then. Bakari, you can get there much more quickly. Can you flash into the basement of the Troy Estate undetected and scout it out for us?”

  Bakari nodded and disappeared.

  “I’ll lead the way.” Bessie turned to speak to Papa Shadi. “With those things out there, we’ll need to take them through the tunnels.”

  Papa Shadi lowered the walking stick, his blue eyes now shining with enthusiasm. “Darius, there is a reason that I bought this particular brownstone. Come along and see.”

  Marcus flashed him a nervous smile.

  In the basement, Bessie lifted a square metal sheet, engraved with an old bootleggers seal. She dropped down into the darkness with the grace and confidence of someone who was acutely familiar with the place. Except when she knocked her head on the low ceiling. Apparently, she usually traveled this path in her cat form.

  It took about ten minutes for them to wind along the narrow dusty tunnel and emerge through a drainage grate next to the Charles River. They made their way easily by the light of the full moon, its glow eerily enhanced by an orange red haze.

  The smell of diesel fuel assaulted Darius, flaring his nostrils. He recognized the lagoon where he’d fished as a kid. Bessie led them to an above-ground entrance to the drainage system. Here the tunnel was high enough for them to walk upright, but not far in, it narrowed suddenly.

  Bessie twirled a round metal pin and slid open a heavy door about the size of a small window. Crawling through it, Darius sighed with relief to discover that he could stand on the other side.

  Papa Shadi smiled as he stretched his back. “Maybe I am getting too old for this kind of adventure.”

  Bessie smirked. “Come on, we’re almost there. These tunnels run along Beacon Street, and the Troy Estate is about two blocks just ahead.”

  Darius felt his blood pulse more rapidly. A snarl sprang from his lips and reverberated through the stone tunnel. He hadn’t meant to startle everyone, but he couldn’t wait to get his hands around Therion’s throat. He felt his fangs descend, but the pain was tolerable now. He sprinted until he came to a door that must lead to the Troy Estate. He felt the vibrations of dark energy behind it.

  As the others caught up with him, Papa Shadi approached, looking like a teacher about to scold his student. “Darius, control yourself.” Softening, he continued, “Your powers are new to you. You’ve yet to learn how to use them. Stay focused. Raw emotions will weaken you, especially the dark ones. Control your anger, or Therion will exploit it.”

  A hollow click from the door interrupted them, and a friendly voice rang inside his head.

  It’s about time! You might want to come and join the party, like
…right now. Bakari was waiting just inside.

  Darius wondered how he’d heard Bakari inside his head, but that topic could wait. It was time to take down an evil bully…once and for all.

  *

  Before Therion could answer Shaila’s question about what he’d done with Lilith, energy vibrated throughout the room with increasing intensity. A black void opened up on the far wall, and Shaila watched demons file into the room. She was saddened to see so many young men and women who had lost their souls to the cult of Apophis. They would never again feel the blood of life coursing through their veins.

  Pity, however, would not hinder her from doing her job — destroying every one of them. “Your faithful subjects?”

  He smiled wickedly at her. “Of course. Did you think we’d be alone when you become my bride?”

  “I will not be your mate, Therion.” She struggled to avoid his lips.

  “It really is not your choice, anymore.” He veered towards her neck. Hot kisses abused her, trailing along the artery pulsing angrily just under her skin. Then, she felt them. She stiffened reflexively, waiting for his fangs to plunge into her flesh. She gulped down a sigh of relief as he stood up again. He had just been warning her.

  “Listen well, Shaila. You belong to me, whether you are in the statue or not. It’s my destiny to rule more than just the Underworld. With my father’s blood, I already inherit that domain. But with your blood under my control, I rule it all. It’s a full moon, and you’ll get to witness the real strength of darkness.”

  A growl began deep in her throat and continued until it reverberated loudly throughout the stone room. She let her fangs descend to their full length, and she sat up as far as the chains would allow her.

  He just laughed wickedly at her. “My wedding gift to you will be a choice. Which ritual would you like to enjoy first, a sex rite or a blood rite?”

  She strained against her bonds again as he walked away, the chains clanked against the granite altar. “Go to hell, Therion. I will never allow you to enter me. Not while I have a breath in my body.”