Balance (Book 9 )

Mum rested comfortably in her bed. I did not wish to disturb her, so I walked out of the apartment and sat on the curb of the sidewalk. I watched people go by without a glance. They had no idea they passed a viper coiled and ready to strike. I must somehow control my madness. I felt if I gave in to it, I would be lost. I never thought I would attack my mate with the intent of killing him. As a vampire queen, I have brought him to the brinks of death several times, but I could never kill him. Now, I was uncertain what I was capable of.

Through the first years of my godhood, I learned about the world and how it works. Life is a delicate cycle that must be pruned and attended. The mortal body is born from the essence of the earth and feeds the earth as it ages. The earth transforms that essence into nutrients for the vegetation to grow. Once the body of a living creature dies, the flesh is consumed and feed’s the earth’s essence. Thus creating more essence for a new life. It is the circle of life. One is born, grows old, and perishes. The soul is released and sent to Bardo to be reincarnated into a new living body.

The balance has shifted and the living feeds off the earth without feeding the earth their essence. The living live longer and are producing faster. The dead are safely preserved in caskets denying the earth its needed nutrients.

The earth must be freed. I can hear and feel its anguish. I felt its need to rid itself of the burden it bears. I was only too happy to help. I was willing to commit my life to the task. The earth would live even if it took my life.

News of the slaughter spread. People murmured about a glowing being and wondered who Horace and Ra were. Talks of Armageddon were suspected.

There were people who heard stories past down from their ancestors. There are no more historians or explorers. The humans are no longer curious about the past, or of the cultures of old. They only looked to the future, reaching for more and more power.

Casandra is in the same city. I can feel her fear of me through the tendril. She still continued to do as I asked. I decided to pay her a visit. If ever there was a tainted soul, Casandra was one of them. Judgment was not my place. Only Anubis could see if she was worthy or not. However, I had my suspicions. She is an old soul whom I have harmed. I must give her the chance to live.

I found Casandra in a movie theater playing with the humans there. She had commanded them all to play act a gruesome scene from a movie she once saw. This scene was of a demon possessed child who ripped the hearts out of its victims. The humans all hid from the child as he walked up and down the isles looking for hearts to rip out.

“Mistress! Come join me.” Casandra yelled from the top row.

I slowly made my way to her and sat quietly, watching the child hunt.

“Is this not exciting! The little human does not have the strength to actually punch a hole in the adult to get a heart. He has to repeatedly punch and scratch a hole into the skin. The screams are delightful. Just watch a moment. He is about to find one.”

She locked her arm around mine and grew excited. The screams of the victim was indeed exhilarating. I could smell the blood as it poured out. I had to resist running to drink it up. Chills ran up and down my spine as my desire grew with the screams. My heart pounded in my chest. I could feel the insanity fight to take hold of my mind. I cannot lose control.

Casandra’s fangs scraped my skin as she nibbled on my neck. I quickly took her jaw in my hand and pinch hard enough to draw tears.

“You do not touch me. I have explained this before.”

With the hope that my husband will return to me, I did not wish to give in to any adulterous desires. As vampires, he allowed me to play with toys and even like to watch on occasion. I am his goddess now, and the rules of marriage were more traditional. Loving Casandra in such a way would be considered a betrayal.

“Forgive me, Mistress.” She projected.

I let her loose and watched her as she massaged her jaw.

“News of your slaughter is everywhere. I saw news coverage of you and an old woman walking down the street in daylight, killing everyone. You glow beautifully, Lara.”

Her admiration woke me from my insanity. I would have never allowed such a waste of life to happen. I should not have come to indulge with Casandra.

She felt my distance and ask, “Who are Ra and Horace?”

“Ra is the god who created the world and all of the living in it. Horace is the god of war. The living has anger Ra and commanded Horace to kill everything living. However, Ra has compassion and will save any who bow to him and serve him faithfully. I have been commanded to exact his vengeance.”

“Are you the goddess of death?”

“I have been called that, but no. I am only a servant to a cause.”

I sat straight in the chair, watching the male child find and kill another human. Then I looked at her. She backed away from me slightly.

“In a few days, this city will burn, and everything in it will die. Take my warning seriously. You have done everything I have asked, and so I come to personally warn you.”

I silently sat up and released her tendril. “Bow to Ra, Cassandra. It is the only way to survive what comes.”

She watched me silently as I left the theater and out of her life.

The streets are filthy with trash and homeless humans. The stench of urine, both animal and human, is potent.

The living must know who Ra is, and they must learn of their history. I decided to look for a library. There as an abandoned building a few miles away that held books. Human and vampire alike stared and whispered their suspensions as I passed them. I smiled and began glowing. Eyes widened at the realization that the rumors of a glowing being were true. They stopped and stared. I could hear their heartbeat quickened in fright.

“Go tell your people Horace’s judgment will come. Only Ra can save you.” I said and continued walking. They did not move. I pulsed power and brighten my glow that would outshine the sun. “Go!” I demanded.

They began running with screams. I laughed at their demise. They would only be spared until Atum was finished.

The building with the books in it is warn and old. I wonder how the building still stood. It is made of brick and has a Greek architecture to it. Stones stairs led to columns that held the roof. The roof had Greek statues of gods carved into it. Zeus had a resemblance to Ra Atum. Atum wore crowns upon his head. Zeus did not, but the human features were the same.

Inside the building were destruction and waste. Humans created covered living spaces with boxes and sheets. These are the homeless ones. This building used to be a museum. One homeless tent held an Egyptian sarcophagus of an Egyptian king. The body was long destroyed. I was ignored as I walked the corridors. Most of the items were stolen or destroyed. Some of the clothing that used to be displayed is now worn by the homeless living in the museum. One room is in the shape of a pyramid with hieroglyphs and paintings and carved pictographs. Ra’s name is painted or carved all over the room. I saw a picture of Anubis helping a pharaoh to the afterlife. I touched it lovingly. I truly missed my husband. He has brought me hope that his love has returned.

I went down below where the books were. Most of the books look to only be documents of purchases and catalogs of items. Ancient scrolls and books of history laid out among the documents, allowing time to take them. I called forth my power. And put a shield on the room. Knowledge is a powerful thing. Knowing the past allows growth.

These documents will be protected from the fire that will come. Once the city falls, this room will rise from the lake and rest untouched on the cooled surface. Time will not have a place in this room. The decay will end preserving the books.

I heard angry shouts outside the building. I went to the edge of the stairs and saw humans dressed in military and law enforcement uniforms. Vehicles shielded them, and their weapons are pointed at me.

Poor souls.

These are the innocent that Anubis has said will not pass into the next life. These are protectors and warriors of the human race. They are brave to stand before me. I wordlessly walked down the stairs.

“Stop where you are!” One man commanded.

I ignored him and continued walking down the stairs.

“We will open fire!” I ignored them still.

Their weapons cannot harm me, and the documents are already protected. A stray bullet cannot harm them. My skin pulsed at the threat and Adrestia whispered it’s desire for blood. I promised my husband I would not send any more souls until he was ready.

Guns exploded in fire as tiny bullets whizzed passed me. Everything is in slow motion. I can see each bullet as it races toward me. Flickers of fire explode from the human,s weapons as it discharges the arsenal. Adrestia blocked the bullets that would pierce my skin.

I pulsed power to the crowd, knocking all the humans over. Their vehicles did little to save them. They quickly regained their footing and ran further into their ranks.

“Beware! Horace has come. Bow to Ra or perish.” I said as I continued walking back to Mum’s apartment. I continued supplying power to my glow, causing the humans to stay hidden as I passed them. As I walked back through the streets, the screams of fear turned into shouts of anger and threats. I ignored them, allowing them to feel comforted until I was allowed to feast upon them. It is almost dawn. Mum will be waking soon. I thought to be there when she wakes.

I quietly entered Mum’s home. She still slept. I quietly set my sword near hers and laid on the floor with my back against the bed. I rested my eyes, allowing my body to sleep until Mum woke up. I now understand why Gabriel did not come to bed with me. He stayed up late, enjoying the night air. The nights he did come to bed, he would stay with me only long enough for me to fall asleep then quietly leave. He was a god living a simple life to be with the one he loved. Now he was lord of the underworld, master of my heart, and father to our son. He fought for our survival and asked me to help him. He is living up to his vows he made when we married.

For the next two days, I stayed inside Mum’s apartment and visited with her. My sanity stayed, allowing Lara’s personality to come forth. We reminisced of the seven years we knew each other. So much happened that strengthen our bond. That bond lasted two thousand years. Now that trust would be tested as I raged war on the living. She would eventually need to submit to Ra or be killed. Her soul is an old soul. She would be judged and sent into Bardo if Anubis deemed her worthy.

Gabriel appeared out of nowhere, startling Mum. “Apologies, Mum.” He looked at me “It is finished.” He looked worn and tired.

“Come rest with me, my mate. You look terrible.” Gabriel nodded and sat on the floor with me.

“The souls that you sent and the ones waiting in the storage have been vanquished. Kebachet is exhausted and mourns the loss. You should be proud of him.

“The soul destroyer is magnificent and has started feeding off the souls being sent currently. It took Atum and I both to create it. It will handle anything you give it. Once your war is over, it will be destroyed. It has an insatiable appetite and is always starving. If it does not feed, it will madden and become too strong for us.” His voice was soft, showing his exhaustion.

“Rest, my mate. I will feed it soon.”

“I am curious who Kebachet and Atum are. I understand if it is not for me to know. Will you tell me?” Mum interrupted our conversation. I forgot she was still present.

“Forgive my rudeness, sister. You know Atum to be Ra. He is the one who created the earth and fathered the first of the gods. Kebachet is my son. He works closely with Anubis judging souls that come to them.”

“You have a son?”

“Yes. I bore Anubis an heir almost a year after Lara died.” Mum sat back quietly, taking in the news. “How far away is the lake that was once my land?”

“My home, you knew, is only three miles from here. Your land rests a thousand miles from there.”

It is unbelievable! This area used to be a wooded area bursting with life. My human husband made his home in this neighborhood. The city I felt I needed to destroy just before meeting Una has swallowed everything. It would take everything I have at my disposal to bring this city to the earth. I sat silently, allowing Gabriel to rest and Mum to sleep. Eventually, their even breathing lulled me to sleep.