Chapter 1: The Attack
Ancient Egypt, Around 1,000 BC
Night fell over the pyramids as a lone figure exited the palace. He walked the streets, glancing around.
Suddenly another figure moved with lightning quick speed, knocking the first one to the ground. "Pharaoh, now you die!" the figure hissed, teeth flashing in the dark.
Atem's eyes widened as he struggled under the man's weight. "Get off me!"
The man grabbed Atem's head and turned it, exposing his neck. Atem squeezed his eyes shut. A sudden sharp pain pierced his neck. A burning sensation started at the wound, slowly increasing in strength.
"Get off him!" a voice snarled, and suddenly the weight was lifted from Atem. Atem lay there gasping. In a voice more gentle, the new arrival asked, "Pharaoh, are you okay?"
"No," Atem wheezed, clutching his neck. Something hot and wet was trickling down to his chest. "He bit me…Seth…?"
Seth's worried face appeared above him. "Let's get you out of here." He said. "Can you stand?"
"Pain…too much…" Atem groaned, gritting his teeth.
"I'll carry you." Seth said, and scooped Atem up in his arms. He carried him to the palace.
"Atem!" Hali cried, following Seth upstairs. Seth set Atem on the bed. "What happened?"
"He said someone bit him. I didn't get a good look at the guy."
"Someone bit him?" Hali looked horrified.
"His neck is bleeding." Seth said, pressing his hand against Atem's neck. Frowning, he put a hand to the boy's forehead. "He's running a fever."
The doctor hurried in. "What's wrong?"
"The Pharaoh was bit by someone, and now he's running a fever."
The doctor's face paled dramatically. "This is not good. Let me see the wound."
Seth stepped back and the doctor leaned close, wiping Atem's neck with a damp rag. The wound was temporarily cleared in which two puncture marks were visible. The wound began gushing blood again. "Oh my, it's what I fear. He was bitten by a vampire."
"A what?!" Seth and Hali exclaimed, startled.
The doctor didn't answer while he bandaged Atem's neck. "A vampire is an immortal creature that thrives on blood. A vampire injects venom into their victims. If they don't drain them of blood, the venom turns them into a vampire."
"Is that what will happen to him?" Hali asked, watching as Atem shivered in the cool air.
The doctor nodded. "First, the temperature rises, then it plummets. Finally, the heart stops and he will be a vampire."
"Oh Ra…" Hali murmured. "Is there any way to stop it?"
The doctor shook his head. "He'll die or turn into a vampire."
Hali sat by his bed, watching him through the night. By morning she noticed his skin was noticeably cooler than usual. "Atem?" Hali asked, putting a hand to his cheek.
Atem opened his eyes and cried out in pain. "Hali, help…!"
The doctor hurried in, carrying a bag of powder. "Pharaoh, relax." He said urgently, pouring some of the powder into a bowl of water. "Sit him up."
Atem was no use as Hali sat him up. His body quivered under her touch as she held him up. "This should help the pain." He said, pouring into Atem's mouth.
"How did you know he'd need it?" Hali asked as Atem rested his cool forehead against her cheek.
"The information I found said that the transition is extremely painful." The doctor said. He touched Atem's cheek. "His temperature is dropping quickly. "I'll give him maybe half a day."
"What should I do?" Hali asked, touching Atem's hand.
"Keep track of his heartbeat. When it stops, notify me. He will need to feed then."
"Feed?" Hali asked, horrified.
"Blood. I will bring him blood when you call me. Until then, you will be in danger. Don't let him bite you and don't let him near anyone else."
"How often will he need to feed?" Hali asked.
"I don't know. But his eyes will turn jet black." The doctor said. "I must leave."
Hali watched him leave. "Atem, please don't leave me. I love you." She whispered, holding him.
Late in the afternoon, Hali pressed a hand to his wrist. She felt nothing under his now cold, pale tan skin. "Atem? Oh no…" She laid him back on the bed and hurried to the door. "Seth!"
Seth hurried over to her. "What is it?"
"Get the doctor. Tell him it happened." Hali said. "He'll know what I mean."
As Seth ran off, a pair of cold hands grabbed her waist. She spun around to face Atem. His skin was almost a white color, his lips so light, they were almost transparent. What startled her most was his normally crimson eyes were jet black. He stood motionless, watching her with a strained expression on his face. "Atem, how are you feeling?" Hali asked.
"Very thirsty." He answered. He licked his lips. "But I can't…" His strained expression tightened.
Hali watched him as realization dawned on him. Despite of his nature, he didn't want to hurt her. "What am I?" Atem asked, going over to the window.
"You're a vampire. An immortal. You need blood." Hali insisted, afraid to push to hard for fear he wouldn't be able to control himself.
"I will not take yours." Atem said shortly, not looking at her.
"No worries, Pharaoh." The doctor said grimly, entering the room. He had a goblet of red liquid, which he handed to him. "Drink that."
Atem glanced finally at Hali before drinking the liquid. Hali watched with an anxious expression. Finally, he handed it back. His eyes were now a crimson color again. "Thank you, doctor."
"You'll need that as often as you get thirsty." The doctor said. "Blood from a human or animal will do."
"I've become a monster…" Atem whispered, a tortured look crossing his face.
"No you haven't." Hali protested. "You're the same man I married."
"You won't even approach me now!" Atem hissed, glaring at her. "I'm leaving."
"No, wait!" Hali exclaimed as Atem disappeared out the window.
He'll be fine." The doctor said. "After all, he's immortal. There are only a few ways to kill them."
"We've got to follow him!" Hali protested.
The doctor shook his head. "He's too fast. We'll lose him. He won't last long out there. Once the sun rises, he'll be gone if he doesn't get shelter."
"So we just wait?" Hali asked.
"Basically." The doctor answered.
Atem ran at high speed as the sky darkened. The sun had already set behind the pyramids. He slowed as he approached a cave. A group of slaves were standing at the entrance and they bowed to him. "Forgive me, my King, what are you doing at your tomb?" one asked.
Atem ignored them and entered the cave.
"We better get the Queen." Another slave said, and hurried back to the city.
Atem paused just inside, expecting to have to get used to the darkness, but he could see clearly as if a dim light was on. "Such a wonderful ability." He mused, going further in.
The long hallway dumped into a long chamber with a sarcophagus in the center of the room. Atem raised a long piece of wood in his hand. "This will hopefully do the trick. I saw it in his mind." He murmured.
With a swift movement, he leapt into the coffin. He laid down, gripping the wood tightly. "Goodbye, Hali; Seth."
"No!" Hali cried, rushing over as Atem plunged the wood into his chest. Atem's eyes widened and then closed. "No, Atem…!"
"What happened?" Seth asked, coming in, followed by the doctor.
"He stabbed himself with this." Hali said, gesturing, tears welling in her eyes.
The doctor hurried over and examined Atem. "It's what I feared. He's killed himself. At least vampire style. A stake to the heart kills a vampire."
"Oh Ra…" Hali sank to the floor, tears spilling down her cheeks.