Detective Talevera looked at the shape, it was clearly another attack of the mysterious spirit that they called the Black Lotus. No one was truly sure if the creature was a spirit or something from another world. The victim was Lisa Beta, a scientist turned paranormal investigator who had shown obsessive behavior over the Black Lotus especially, many people had called her crazy, but after seeing this… Being in a small town, word traveled fast, but Talevera was from the big city. Noticing a mark on the area that would have been the victim's chest, she saw a mark. The mark was of a screaming half skull, half human face, while a large hand reached out from behind. It as a simplistic drawing, but still spooked her, as it was the signature of a killer that had only been seen in fleeting glances.

Looking to her team, she directed them to collect all the papers, and to prepare them for evidence. Although she'd never seen anything like this, she would figure out all these murders. "Alright." She got up, "I'll go and talk to the old lady that some of you have mentioned, get all the paper's filed while I'm gone."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Heading out, she got into her vehicle and headed toward the woods. The town of Raventhorne was odd, but it had been where she was transferred to after her big screw up in the city. Known as Crazy Town, located in the center of the Bermuda triangle on a small island, it wasn't a place many went to. Some of the townspeople that she had warned her against investigating the Black Lotus, but told her that if she truly wished to risk her life, to go and speak to the old woman who lived in the heart of the dark woods. It perplexed her that people here believed in magic, and creatures that were only of myth, but there truly were things that were off regarding the villagers.

As she reached the edge, she was suddenly woven down by a young man about her age, "HEY! You shouldn't go in there!"

She frowned, and disregarded his warning, following the beaten path to the old hut. She saw the woman in her dark cloak, the hood up, gathering what appeared to be wild herbs. Approaching her, she was surprised as the woman turned, "What brings you here Constable? You do not belong in our town with your ways."

Talevera was offended, "I am simply here to inquire about the Black Lotus."

"I do not believe it wise to search for her, Miss." The woman leaned on her staff, "But if you are so insistent, let us have some drinks by the fire."

Following the woman in, Talevera was surprised by how clean the hut was inside, and the minimalistic decorations. She sat at the small table near the fireplace and took the tea the woman offered her, "What can you tell me."

"Outsiders," the woman sighed, "Always to the point. You are no different than the victim of the Black Lotus, and if you are not careful, you will suffer the same fate."

"Look, old woman, I don't care. These crimes cannot be ignored, and the culprit must be brought to justice."

The woman remained silent and looked out the window, a raven came and perched on her shoulder, unnerving Talevera. "Do you know the story of the Black Lotus, Dear?"

"No. Why should I?"

"She is well aware of who you are, and what you have done. She knows why you were sent to our town, and of what you did. The Lotus is capable of many things, and far more powerful than you realize." A black cat came and rubbed up against her legs. "You see, in all my years, I have seen many fall to the Lotus. Most have been outsiders, but some townspeople have fallen to her as well. As long as I have lived in these woods, just as my mother did before me, and her mother before her, I have watched and cared for those who need help."

"Yeah, I noticed there was no doctor here, are you saying it's you?"

"Yes, I care for the ill, with all the knowledge of my ancestors before me. We are a small town, and eventually my own child who is traveling the world, learning about new medicines will return and take my place upon my death."

"Stop changing the subject, just ell me what you know."

"I know that if you are not careful, you will meet your death, and join the rest of the lotus flowers and trees that move during the night. But let me tell you as story, the story of the Black Lotus.

2900 BC Ancient Egypt….

There was a loud cry, as a child was born, a baby girl. Her hair was black as night, and her skin almost seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Her mother coughed, and the doctors could do nothing to save her. In a weak voice, the woman told the doctors and her servants to care for the child, as should they harm her they would find their lives destroyed and Anubis would enact his wrath upon them. After she had passed, one of the princesses' handmaidens returned to the pharaoh, "Your daughter, Princess Neith has passed, but you have a beautiful granddaughter."

The pharaoh looked at the child, he saw so much of his daughter in the baby. Although the father was unknown, he knew that the child would be cherished for as long as he lived. "Father." His son walked in, "Why would you keep a child who is not of pure blood?"

"Because she is a memory of your sister, Amon, you will not harm her. If you have such great issue with Lotus, you do not have to interact with her, as your sister's handmaidens will raise her."

"I still do not believe it wise father." Amon said, "It is unknown who the father is, and you know full well that Neith had associated with criminals."

"Yes, but still, if her sire were to be one, we can teach the girl to have a good heart. The high priests have told me that it is the gods' will that we raise the child."

Amon walked over to look at his niece, the child appeared different from his sister, but still shared many similarities. Her eyes were a sky blue, just like his mother's, but glowed with an unearthly light. She laughed and reached up to him, "Fine, but do not expect me to interact with the baby."

As Amon left, the pharaoh passed little Lotus to his daughter's most trusted companion, "Jomana, I trust you will care for her as your own."

"I will sire." The woman left with the baby, "I will honor your mother's memory Lotus, and will protect you with my life."

Twenty years later, Lotus walked into the small room, and placed the cool cloth on her mother's forehead. "Mother?"

Jomana opened her eyes weakly, "Lotus, how is your sister?"

"She is well, but worried about you. Kehpri was just chosen to serve as a handmaiden to Pharaoh Amon's daughter."

"How wonderful."

"Yes." Lotus rubbed her mother's shoulders, although Jomana was not her birth mother, the woman had raised her. "She hopes to see you at the ceremony."

"I hope as well, but my illness has taken my ability to walk away from me." A single tear slid down Jomana's cheek, "I do not wish to burden you, but would you be able to carry me?"

"You do not need to ask." Lotus took a cloth and wiped away her mother's tears, "I would never let you miss such a wonderful event."

"You have given us so much Lotus, more than we could ever ask for. You are so much like your mother, her kindness knew no bounds, even to those who had committed evil acts."

"Do you know who my father was?"

"No, I do not; but upon her last breath, your mother said should something happen to you, Anubis would bring his wrath upon us."

Lotus looked out the window, and when she turned back to her mother, Jomana was sound asleep. Planting a kiss on the older woman's cheek, she left for the temple of Anubis, perhaps she could find an answer there. Walking through the streets, she covered her face with her cloak, as she did not wan the villagers to know where she was going. Reaching the temple, the guards allowed her to pass and she looked up at the statue of the Jackal god, "Why did my mother speak of you, that your wrath would come down upon the if I was harmed? Did she know you?" Placing her face in her hands, she let silent tears fall, "Please, I pray that you will take my mother after my sister's ceremony, and ensure that she sees the Princess again. My sister needs her at the ceremony, we both know her time is close, as the doctors can do nothing to help her. But all I ask is that you let her live to see her daughter become a handmaiden as she did when she was a girl."

The statue did not respond, but for some reason, Lotus knew her prayer had been heard. When she heard footsteps, she fled and hid in the shadows, only to see her uncle there, "Lord Anubis," he placed a box on the ground, "I have brought you a sacrifice, one that I ask for in return that you give me the power to crush our enemies, even those within our own ranks."

For a strange reason, Lotus felt her heart contract, she was certain that something was wrong. Her uncle had always been a power-hungry man, one who desired to rule all of Egypt, and upon his father's death had banished her mother from the palace. Only her mother knew of how Lotus was different, gifted, or cursed. Able to see into the memories of others, it made her a dangerous individual, and unintentionally, she entered her uncle's. It was in flashes, and she saw him paying a man, one with weapons all over his body. As she had not gained full control her ability, she could only assume it was a hit on someone. She feared the worst and rushed out of the temple, she had to find this man. However, just as she exited, someone grabbed her and stabbed a blade through her chest. Turning, she saw him, and in her last breath whispered, "You will remember this…."

Kehpri wailed with her mother, when it was revealed the murder on the steps of the temple of Anubis was Lotus. Why would someone put a hit on her sister? Let alone want to kill her? Lotus had helped so many in the past, putting her skills of making natural remedies to use, and even given Kehpri the instructions to make the past in which eased their mother's pain. Even though Lotus and she were not related by blood, now she would be alone, then suddenly, her mother stood. "Mother?"

"Kehpri? How is this possible?" Jomana stood, "How am I healed?"

"I don't know." Then it suddenly hit her, not why Lotus died, but why she had been at the temple. "Her prayers were heard."

"What?"

"She was at the temple, it was one of the few places she felt at peace, and had been praying for your healing to see me follow your footsteps. It seems that Anubis has healed you in return for her loyalty all these years…"

Jomana hugged her daughter as they cried together, while someone watched from the shadows, promising protection to all of Kehpri's descendants. Kehpri turned, feeling as if someone was there, but saw no one, it felt as if Lotus was not truly gone. Looking at her mother, she wiped away Jomana's tears, "Can you help me get ready for tomorrow?"

"Of course, but let me get something." Jomana reached down and retrieved a jeweled necklace, "Lotus wanted you to have this."

Kehpri took it, the turquoise shown bright, almost glowing. Putting it on, she felt closer to her sister, and confident that Lotus would always be with her. Allowing her mother to do her makeup, she prepared for the ceremony on the morrow. She hoped that her mother would live long, as Lotus would have wanted her to. They talked about all the happy memories of her sister, and of the times they'd played in the market with the rest of the children. Few knew about who Lotus had been born to, or that she had been of royal blood, as it had been a secret since Pharoah Masud had passed. Even he had been reserved of telling whom Lotus was, but had always showered her with love, until his sudden death.

The sun was rising by the time she was done, and as a final touch, she put on the simple golden hoops Lotus had gifted her as a girl. Smoothing out the white material so that it would flow with the gentle breeze, Khepri put on her golden sash and left with her mother. Upon reaching the palace, she was approached by King Amon, and bowed to him.

He stood there, so this was the girl that his daughter had chosen, the child of the one who had raised his sister's child. Clearly Jomana remembered him, as there was anger in her eyes, but she remained silent. His daughter came and took Kehpri away, and he stared at Jomana, "I am sorry to hear about the loss of your first child."

She glared at him, hatred behind her eyes, "I know full well you are not."

"We will speak privately." He called the guards and had her taken to a private room, then followed shortly. As he entered, he saw that Jomana was calm, and did not show any fear. "Do you not fear for your life?"

She laughed, "I will die in a few days, and will gladly watch with Neith as you and your ways are burned to the ground, destroyed as it all should be. I will dance with joy as Anubis destroys all of you."

Amon was furious, and pulled out his dagger and slashed the older woman's throat, "You will die for your mockery of me."

Her laughter mixed with gurgling scared him, "Your descendants will remember this…."

Amon sat on his throne during the ceremony, and watched as Kehpri took her place next to his daughter, but something felt off. There in the back, was a woman, instead of white and gold, she wore black and silver, her face covered by a dark cloak. He was certain her eyes were on him, and he felt as if her gaze were burning into his very soul. It felt as if there was a hand wrapped around his heart, squeezing it and making it hard to breath. As the pressure released, he relaxed as the woman was gone, had his sister been speaking the truth?

His wife came up to him later that night, with tears in her eyes, "I have lost our child."

"What?"

"I was in the garden." Tears streamed down her face, "I felt ill, and the doctors told me I had lost the baby, they believe I have been rendered unfertile. I may never be able to bear you a son."

Rage filled him, "I will return." Storming out he returned to the Temple of Anubis, "Why have you taken the possible heir to my throne?" he shouted at the statue, "You have destroyed everything."

"Everything, did you not do that to yourself?" a voice suddenly caught him off guard, and he saw the high priestess, "For Anubis has told me of your crime, the death of young Lotus, and her blood and that of her mother is on your hands."

He looked down and saw red stains appearing over his hands, and panicked as blood began to drip on the floor, "Please, you must have the gods spare me!"

"I cannot save you from the punishment that has been deemed for you, all you can do is hope that you will be able to prevent being exposed as the murderer you are."

When he returned home, Amon realized he wasn't alone, and turned to see the woman there. She removed her hood to reveal a face he knew, or half of a face. The other side had been torn off and revealed the skull beneath. Her hands were the color of decaying flesh at the tips of her fingers and purple veins slowly moved up her hands, fading away as they neared her wrists. The ground under her feet had turned a darker color, almost as if it had begun decaying at her touch, as was the wall that she leaned against. "No, you're dead."

"Were you not warned?" she drew closer as he backed away, "What you value most is what shall be taken from you, a god's wrath has come upon you."

"What? I do not understand."

She laughed, the sound dark and echoey, "A god's wrath, is not always as we suspect."

Amon backed away, and watched as a lotus grew from her palm, but the petals were the color of ash, and faded into dark black. He watched as she placed it upon the floor, and it grew into a large tree, "Remember, remember." Voices began to flow inside his head, and ghosts of those he'd killed to move up the ranks appeared, "Remember what you did to us!"

"Get them away from me!" he shouted, "Get away!"

She just laughed and disappeared, his screams heard by the servants only for them to see nothing there, and look in awe at the lotus tree that bloomed from dark buds. But when Kehpri came in, she shielded his daughter's eyes, deep down, she knew that Princess Neith's words had rung true….

Talavera looked at the old woman skeptical of what had happened, "I will return tomorrow, and you better tell me the truth."

The old lady just laughed, it almost seemed to bounce off the walls, "Oh, my Dear, there is still much more you must know…"


Please Read and Review, any suggestions of how to flesh out the story are welcome!