Chapter 458

"Blood of My Blood"

Tamen, the late-pharaoh of Atlantis, was buried inside sarcophagus among the people. Rather than be stored in a pyramid or temple, Tamen had always stated time-and-time again he was "one of the people". He had grown up in Atlantis, born in Regole. Like, his wife, Ezra, Tamen's special ability dabbled in the power of time. While Ezra was able to leapfrog backwards-and-forwards, Tamen was able to leap backwards in time. The Gods hadn't bestowed the gift of future sight to him.

It was ultimately this tactic and ability that led to his murder. Leapfrogging backwards in time, Tamen had overheard and discovered something that he should not have. He then confronted the perpetrator. His death hadn't come then-and-there. No. Doing so would automatically link the killer to his death. Tamen's death came later when he returned to Atlantis. On his own soil, he had been assassinated.

Why? What had he discovered that led to his death?

That truth had never surfaced.

Buried among his people, the pharaoh's body was laid to rest in the southern city.

Sasha, innocently, pranced through the graveyard, doing laps around the headstone that marked Tamen's final destination. She stopped for a moment to check her phone, it was after midnight. And still there was no sign of him. The Fiend had yet to appear.

Had Alexa delivered her request? Had The Fiend declined her invitation?

(Where are you?) She surveyed the graveyard. There was no sign of The Fiend. If he ignored her request, then what? What was the alternative? What was the counter-punch to further her plan? Sasha had no more cards to play except this one. So she waited past midnight, under the starlight, restlessly doing laps around the late-pharaoh's grave until finally, footsteps drew her attention.

With the focus of a sniper, she squinted her eyes and zeroed-in on her guest.

He was tall, doughy and dressed in a red sweater, brown dreadlocks pulled back and a thick beard on his face, "Hiya, Sasha," the doughy man waved with a Cheshire grin on his face.

Sasha stared at him.

"Soooo," The man outstretched his arms, "It's been forever. Or has it been never since we've met. I'm Bray," he introduced.

Before Sasha could speak, the doughy man continued.

"It's dark here," He cringed, "Graveyards can be really scary places. I thought it was just something to scare kids. Then, Thriller came out and I didn't think they'd scare me anymore but I was wrong. Yowie-Wowie this place is creepy."

Sasha exhaled, "This isn't a social call, Bray, its business."

"Business," Bray placed his hands on his hips. "Well, if that's the case let me put my 'thinking-cap' on." Bray pantomimed lifting a top hat on his head; he tightened it then smiled, "Okay…I'm ready."

(Where is he?) Sasha surveyed the graveyard again. The Fiend was nowhere in sight. (I might not see him but he might still be able to hear me.) Sasha thought.

Trying her best to ignore the childish antics of Bray, Sasha said, "The Nephillim are here. And it doesn't look like they're going to wait much longer to collect."

Suddenly, the smile on Bray's face flipped. "He, well, he, might not like that. I wish you hadn't said that, Sasha."

"Does he think I like it?" Sasha snorted. "I'm just as worried as he probably is."

Bray shook his head, "He isn't worried. Oh no, he, isn't scared of them at all. You might be. He isn't in debt to the Nephillim like the pharaohs are."

"I wanna speak to him." Sasha, tired of searching, stared down Bray, "Now."

"What reason does he have to be here?" Bray asked curiously. "You must have something that he wants in order for you to invite him here."

"The reincarnated soul of Tamen's cousin." Sasha answered.

Bray's eyes widened. There was a silence that hung in the air for a moment. Then, Bray took a step backwards, then, another-and-another-and-another until he was engulfed by the darkness.

A moment later, a sphere of golden light shined in the distance as The Fiend approached, carrying the lantern that had been fitted in the mouth of Bray's severed head.

Sasha smiled, "Good," She muttered. "Now that you're here," raising her voice, "I'll explain the situation. Today, Tamen's cousin swore an oath. She is now my Medjai. You have the chance to have a pharaoh's blood in your stable."

The Fiend raised lowered it's lantern sitting it on top of the dirt. It said nothing.

Sasha continued to speak, "In return, I ask for your army. Not for me to command but for you to command. I ask for you to crush the Nephillim. If you do so, I'll swear over to you the soul of the pharaoh's cousin."

The Fiend raised both its hand, displaying HURT and HEAL. It stared at its hands, torn between choices. Then, it lowered the HURT hand. It raised its shark-like eyes and nodded to Sasha. Holding up it's HEAL hand.