Sands of Time

by Christine Church

  Sands of Time

  Fate of the True Vampires

  First Installment

  Book One

  SPECIAL EDITION

  Copyright © 2016 Christine Church

  ISBN-13: 978-1530516391

  ISBN-10: 1530516390

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the owner/publisher/copyright holder, except in brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Cover design by Christine Church

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters places and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Grey Horse Press

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  I

  Queen of the Nile

  II

  The Alchemist

  III

  Caractacus and Rome

  IV

  Yin's Experiment

  V

  The Ghost Witch of Paisley Wood

  VI

  France's Children

  VII

  A Family is Born

  VIII

  No God

  VIIII

  The Deadly

  X

  Montparnasse

  XI

  Compendium Chapters

  ~~~

  Introduction

  In 1946, British archaeologist Dr. Jonathon Brumble, on a dig in Giza, Egypt, discovered a page of papyrus, deeply buried, preserved within a limestone box not far from Khufu’s great pyramid. In years to come, Jonathon would find several more papyrus pages and scrolls.

  All of these pages were carbon dated, preserved and translated throughout the years. They appeared to be a journal of sorts. Though it was unusual for ancient Egyptians to record much beyond the state of government, religion and historical data, some personal documents were kept, particularly among the wealthy.

  In a paper Dr. Brumble wrote: “Curiously, most of the writings are in an ancient form of Sumerian, Hieroglyphs and a language of unknown origin that has taken myself and all the best experts to reproduce.”

  Though no one has yet to decipher or determine the origin of this foreign language, its relation to the other languages written in these journals has allowed translators to give it a form fairly understood.

  Dr. Brumble wrote briefly of these findings, but little more came of them. However, in 1988, a small privately funded archaeological dig within Hunan Province, China, uncovered more documents, on hemp, yet written in the same language form and hand as the previous. Having heard of Dr. Brumble’s findings, the unnamed archaeological students brought these new texts to his attention. After Dr. Brumble’s death in 1991, all texts were sent on to the Smithsonian, where they were kept in archives.

  As more related texts were discovered, in various locations around the world and in the hands of different societies and experts, they were all archived together. Though most were written in the same form of Sumerian and Hieroglyphs, some were also written strictly in the alien language discovered in the first texts. Nothing, beyond the fact they were all proof of life in the ancients, albeit a strange and unique life, was determined.

  It wasn’t until the early years of the 21st century that Dr. Jeff Honesby flew in from Australia to see the documents. As an expert in handwriting analytics at the Ancient Preservation of Culture and History Institute (APCHI), Dr. Honesby positively verified that all of the documents were written by the same person—a blood drinker—over the course of thousands of years!

  Since then, more of these documents have been discovered. Most needed to be reconstructed as they had crumbled whether by age, weather or disaster. Others were well preserved before being carbon dated and translated by the finest anthropological experts and linguists from the Smithsonian in Washington DC and other organizations dedicated to the preservation of culture and history.

  It has taken many years and collaborations, but under the care and scrutiny of Dr. Honesby, all of these writings have been linked to one another by using handwriting, names, dates and locales to determine their relationships.

  As Dr. Honesby put these accounts in order, a story began to unravel. This first book is only part of the story (as more are discovered and translated, future publications will reveal gaps within this documented life). But still more, written by others linked to Kesi (later known as Kesi Akhede) have been unearthed and are being prepared for presentation to the public.

  Some of the entries within this book are incomplete, as the original documents were long compromised. However, Dr. Honesby’s team have done their best to bring you this most fascinating tale embroidered together by the pieces of history.

  NOTE: Pet Mer is translated as Sky Friends, Hieroglyphic translation:

  (PT) (MR)

  ~~~

  “Queen of the Nile”

  The following was a short page of papyrus found by Dr. Jonathon Brumble on a dig in Giza in 1946. This page was found sealed within a small limestone box deep underground not far from the Giza pyramids.

  Circa 20th Dynasty (see Introduction above for more on Dr. Jonathon Brumble’s findings). Entries one and two were found nearby.

  Preface

  Wind over the desert creates a sandstorm that has left all in ruin. The days of old. Eras long past. Will he believe that I existed long ago and was dubbed "The Nile’s Graceful Queen" by pharaohs and kings? Will he believe that, to Amenhotep I in the eighteenth dynasty, I was viewed as an "exquisite work of art?"

  I pray now. Not to the gods the desert people bow to, but to my ancestors and my family. I pray that he will understand what it is I must tell him. Who I am. Where I come from. And where I must go.

  I think about the time that has passed so quickly. My heart swells with love for my family, for the desert so cruel yet forgiving, the people, and most of all for Jabari.

  Life was once simple yet elegant and my people worshiped. When I was young, I heard say that all of the gods had blessed me with a part of themselves. The grace of Bast, the eyes of Horus, the wisdom of Thoth, and even the cruelties of Seth made me who I am. Perhaps this is true still. And yet I remain as I always have and life around me continues to weave its gradual yet inevitable web anew.

  Now, the sands of the Sahara have drifted, propelling the destiny of the Pet Mer in a new direction, forcing me to choose, to make the most difficult decision of my life. A decision on which I have procrastinated for too long. A decision, I know, I must make on this night. And so, I prepare my journey with a questionable destination.

  ~~~

  Entry One

  Tonight the desert was cruel and armed with its own weapons as the sharp winds howled, whistling past Khufu’s grand pyramid and whipping sand into my face, making concentration difficult. I could smell it in the air—even the fresh scent of evening was not the same.

  Shomu had only begun, the inundation waned, harvest well on its way, when the news had come to me and the decision set uncomfortably upon my shoulders. Father and our people would leave this place forever, removing all family and connection to blood ties. The land and desert would be empty, cold and desolate; as it had been thousands of years before when my relatives had first arrived. Without the winsomeness, grace and eccentricities my people laid here, there will be only dust and wind, and life for the desert people will go on as fate meant it.

  But what did it matter? For the gods that had once taken physical form were no longer revered. A n
ew era had dawned, a fearful era, and mankind now shunned those they once worshiped. Fleeing is the only way to avoid persecution and eventual starvation.

  But for me it is not so simple, the decision to run not as easily made. For me there is a divide in the road ahead, and I am chained to a chariot that races down each one.

  Tethered by honor and family is the desire to leave and start anew. Yet bound to this place by way of tradition and birth. And by way of heart in the form of a sweet and wonderful man.

  I hugged my linen shawl more tightly around my shoulders and moved to the eastern wall of the pyramid where the massive triangular structure could form a better shield against the harsh wind. I leaned against the smooth limestone that, even after all the withering years, still shone like silver in the light of the full moon as if the power of Ra kept the sun harnessed within its rocks. Ah, to witness the miracle of the sun, just once to walk beneath its great rays, to feel its warmth on my flesh.

  Humans, how they complain so of the heat. And all I do is wish. Perhaps, I ponder, elsewhere there exists a sun, a light, that will not kill. But not here. Never here. And within that hand I hold my desire to leave, to be with my father and the others of my family, to travel to a fresh land and start anew, to erase mistakes of the past.

  But within the other—

  I sighed and followed the pyramid’s eye to the stars. One of them, somewhere out there...How could I leave?

  Even on the harshest, coldest evenings when the fierce winds lift the sands and storms ravage the villages, threatening to reclaim them to the desert. Even when my people remain hidden in the bowels of the pyramids to avoid persecution. And when the inundations are poor and famine common, do I still love this place. The only home I have ever known. And Jabari, my love, my future husband, how could I even imagine leaving him behind? But, I wonder, will he understand my explanation?

  I chose this night to reveal the complete truth to him, inform him of my decision. But I worry once he knows the truth, will he then bless my departure?

  So many questions ravage my mind. I am consumed by them. Should I stay? Is it right to leave? Were they all in such turmoil, those who were indigenous to this place?

  I did not hear his approach.

  "You are deep in thought." The voice startled me. So lost in reverie, I had not sensed a presence. I straightened quickly and turned.

  He emerged from the darkest shadows, argent moonlight dancing upon shoulder-length blond hair braided with silver strands. Like a deluge in the driest desert, he stood out amongst these dark-haired people, his green eyes gleaming like that of a majestic feline. From him I received only the pale complexion.

  "Father!" I smiled. "Your ability to startle me has not waned in five-hundred years. One would think in all this time I would learn to sense you." I leaned to him, kissed his cheek.

  His face felt cool; he had recently awakened and bathed. The scent of lotus petals, however subtle, clung to his flesh and the loose white robes that fell to his feet.

  "Your mind is preoccupied," he said with his usual stoic grace. "This decision is more than you can bear at times, I know. And I am truly sorry to have placed the weight of it upon your shoulders. But you know well why we must leave this place."

  "Yes."

  "You worry about Jabari, and the effect of this on him."

  How precisely he knew my every thought. "Whether or not my decision keeps me at his side or sends me into the stars, I must tell him from whom I descend, from whence my people came. But how does one bring up such an unbelievable truth?" I paused for a moment, a thought on my mind. "How did Mother accept it?"

  My father's thin, pale lips curled into a small smile. "In the days when I met your mother," he began, "life was very different here. We were protected by the Pharaoh and our existence was revered by those who knew of us, kept secret from those who did not. The rumors your mother had heard of us were in admiration, not in fear as the rumors of today."

  "And if he fears me? Father, I love him so very much. I know not what I would do should he shun me."

  My father, whom the locals call Sefu, took my hand. "His love for you shall overwhelm doubt and beget acceptance. Just as your mother’s did for me so long ago." He sighed then, and looked at me thoughtfully. "And if it does not, then you have your answer."

  "I wish it were as simple as you make it seem, Father. I could not bear his ill will, even if my decision is to leave with you. And what of loving a mortal—watching them grow old…die. If I stay, how long shall we have to share life together? And then what do I do? You shall be gone. I shall be alone."

  "Love never offers easy answers. But it guides our heart and the decisions we make and there is no way of knowing if that decision is right or wrong. With your mother I knew it was right. I shared fifty wonderful years with her that I would not trade for the sun. And though by human rights, time was a mere grain of sand from the vast Sahara, yes it was all worthwhile."

  I gave his hand a light squeeze. "I hope you are correct," I said, though I knew this was truth. My father was the wisest of the Pet Mer. "This is all so much to think on."

  Note scrawled alongside page: My situation with Jabari is a special one, of that I do not doubt. When so many are forced to wed those they do not love or many times even know, Jabari and I are truly bound by heart. I cannot imagine life without him. Would I find such happiness in another place?

  I sighed, an act all too common these days, straightened and squared my shoulders. "Is my appearance pleasing?" I had taken great pains to be sure all was perfect.

  "As always your beauty radiates…but yes, your attire is suitable for such an occasion."

  I had had my servants weave golden ribbons into my long black hair and braid it tightly as a measure against the strong wind. The clothing I chose was casual yet at the same time elegant; wrapping my tall stature was a black linen dress and a golden belt hugged my slender waist, complimenting the gold bands that snaked around my upper arms. My feet remained unbound.

  "I must be on my way, Father. I have an…appointment waiting before I meet Jabari. I want to be well satiated for this," I stated.

  "Please take your meal indoors tonight, Daughter."

  I shook my head. "I am not like you, Father. I cannot enjoy repast holed in the guts of a tomb."

  He sighed. "It is becoming increasingly dangerous—"

  "I know, do not worry. I will show discretion. I promise."

  He shook his head. "I am going to spend the rest of my life worrying over you, am I not?"

  "No, you are not. Trust me." I kissed his cheek and was gone.

  ~~~

  Entry Two

  The journey was a familiar one. The mud-brick estate stood on the edge of the village, far enough from the Nile that few had business in that direction, yet close enough to Jabari’s estate to place little travel time between the two. My thoughts had already run too far and I needed to make haste.

  I saw her before she saw me. Head bowed, ebony hair flowed over her shoulders. Though they were lowered, I knew her russet eyes. My heart pounded, loins ached, each time I saw her. She stood half hidden behind a copse of rose bushes, palm and myrrh trees, nestled within the vast gardens, just as we had arranged. I approached, letting my presence be known.

  She raised her head. "Mistress. No one saw me come but I have little time this night, as my chores are vast."

  I nodded. This one I had known for over a year. One of few humans remaining who, through family ties, still revered Father’s people. One of few raised to recall a time when my people were seen as Gods from the Sky. When offering their blood to us was an honor.

  Yet still I did not know her name. Usually, it mattered little. She was merely a servant, though a generous one with the sweetest scent in all of Giza, Saqqara, Alexandria, and all the Nile Delta. Even as far as Abydos. So many I had tasted none of their names known. But tonight it mattered. Tonight everything mattered. This could be my last eve here.

  "I know the time has
been long," said I, "but please, tell me your name. I need to know it now."

  The girl raised an enigmatic brow. "Zahrah."

  I smiled. "Zahrah." Though the dim light exaggerated her high cheekbones and ruby lips, her beauty was real. I pulled her toward me, one arm snaking around her slight waist. Our lips met then, and the lust of Seth came to greet me. Zahrah, her taste. Her scent. Her beauty. Everything about this human tantalized me. Almond and olive oils.

  "Sweet," I whispered. "Sweetest in the Valley." With more care than usual, I pierced the thin human flesh of her lips with my teeth. No hesitation. No pain. Zahrah parted her lips against mine.

  And then the smooth satin that I treasured above all others flowed over my tongue. Youthful innocence. Power. And within it I was lost. The surrounding world shrank away and all that existed was that sensuous taste. Exuberance. Tensions of the past week released. A cocoon of calm wrapped me in its warmth and I reveled in it. But it was not to last. All at once, coldness settled over me like a cruel wind. A shiver ran through me. Someone approached. In the distant fog of my mind I heard my name on the breeze.

  "Kesi! What are you doing?"

  A man’s voice, deep, confused, angry. Zahrah was forced from my arms. Painful. The hunger had not been satiated. Frigid desert air flogged at my flesh. My eyes blinked open. At first the whole scene was as a surreal dream.

  I heard my own voice. "Jabari?"

  He was there. He had taken my hand, pulled me from Zahrah. Away from my meal. I was disoriented, having been interrupted, too bewildered to respond. He was speaking to me.

  "What were you doing!? Wha—There is blood!"

  I realised then I still tasted the bliss, licking it from my lips, feeling its trickle on my chin.

  "What are you?" I had never heard him so angry.

  Indeed, what am I? Tell him. You need to reveal who you are, where you may go.