Chapter One: The Pharaoh
Egypt. A place of sand, sun, and unbearable heat.
Also a place where oases thrived, the cities glowed like gems, and magic ran rampant.
It had suffered since the ancient days. Pharaohs still rule, but the land is divided into four factions, Anskemet, Keptat, Suenmen, and Tekanem, run by different rulers. A tenuous balance hung between these states, one that could be blown to smithereens if one toe was out of line.
However, you wouldn’t know the tense political climate if you only looked at Takonep, the capital of Keptat. It was a rich region: the Nile cut through it like a knife, giving plenty of agriculture, as well as livestock. It was also right next to a prosperous merchant road, so gold and silk were traded regularly. The roads were well-paved and the townsfolk wore all sorts of finery on a day-to-day basis.
The crowning jewel of this beautiful city? The pyramid. It was ginormous; at least 200 feet tall, and twice as large at the base. Sandstone pillars jutted up in front, draped in cyan banners, stitched in gold. The people of Takonep spent much of their time gazing up at it, dreaming of what life was like inside, or even better, of being invited to one of its famous 'umsiaat muntasaf allayl: midnight soirees.
At night, one just like the one happening now, the palace would gleam with the brilliance of a thousand suns, as the doors were opened and the nobility streamed in. Dancers, music, fine wine, decadent food, combined with the millions of colors the gentry draped themselves in, dripping with gold, silver, and jewels of all kinds, creating an atmosphere of magic.
Laughter and chatter filled the air this night, as the clock struck one. Everyone was whispering, waiting, for the best part of the night. Finally, the two spear-totting guards by the sweeping center-room staircase slammed the butts of their weapons on the marble floors, silencing the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” an unseen voice announced. “May I present to you, the belle of the ball, the leader of the land, the daughter of Bastet, her Royal Majesty herself… THE PHARAOH!”
As uproarious clapping and cheers filled the air, the ruler herself descended the stairs, one hand on the banister. She looked out on the mass, silencing them all with a single look.
Pharaoh Kaiba had earned her reputation as the most beautiful woman in Egypt. Her curly, shimmering hair cascaded gracefully down to her upper back, fading from dark gray to bright cyan. Her bronzed skin glowed in the lamplight, setting off her structured face and high cheekbones. True to her heritage, feline ears, also dark gray with cyan tips, and a matching tail were a bit unexpected but didn’t detract from her looks.
Her body was…stunning. Encased in a light silk dress that slit in front of her legs, softly curved in all the right places, tall, and powerfully built, she looked both elegant and not to be taken lightly in a fight. Her eyes were the most striking feature: golden, with black sclera and feline slit pupils. She took the whole ballroom’s breath away.
She slowly stepped off the stairs and approached the drinks table. Picking up a flute, filled with the most expensive champagne that money could buy, she flashed a brilliant smile and raised it over her head. “Don’t mind me,” she called out to the crowd. “Please, enjoy yourselves. To Egypt!” “TO EGYPT!” The nobility returned her toast. And with her permission, the party came alive again.
As the music came back on and the chatter returned, Kaiba strode through the room, the crowd parting like the Red Sea around her. She didn’t stay too long with any one aristocrat, preferring to flit around, exchanging a few words with each. It took at least two hours for her to make her rounds, but once she had circled the room, she took her place at the head of the room, grabbing a fresh glass.
An unobtrusive young servant woman, dressed in plain white with shoulder-length black hair approached her cautiously, keeping her eyes to the ground and leaning close. “Mistress? Is there anything you require?”
“Unless you know how to teleport me out of here,” Kaiba muttered.
The servant nodded. “I see, Mistress. I’ll be here if you need anything.”
The pharaoh smiled sadly at her. “Selma, please. I know you hate these as much as I do, if not more. You don’t have to keep up appearances like I do.”
Selma blinked. “Your grace?”
Kaiba put a hand on her shoulder. “Remember, Selma, it’s your majesty now. Please, if it makes you happier, retire for the night. You’ve earned it.”
Selma’s lips parted, as if she wanted to protest, but it turned into a closed-mouth smile. “Thank you, your majesty.”
With that, she went upstairs, hands behind her back. Kaiba watched her go, sighing. As much as she respected Selma, it would’ve been lovely to have an ally in this.
“Your highness?”
Kaiba shook her head and plastered her smile back on her face in time to meet the gaze of one of her guests.
“Ah, Lord Turo. Are you enjoying yourself?”
The tax collector took her hand and kissed an emerald ring; the only piece of jewelry Kaiba wore aside from her arm cuffs.
“Once again, you throw an enchanting night. Almost as enchanting as you, your majesty.”
“Oh, I’d love to do much more than flatter you, my dear.”
He still hadn’t let go of her hand.
“What do you mean?”
He smirked. “Now, I know you say you’re one for the ladies…” He inched closer to whisper into her ear. “But I believe that’s because you simply haven’t met the right man yet.”
Kaiba shivered. Resisting the urge to slap his face off, she swished her tail side to side.
“Well, shall we find out?” She whispered seductively, gesturing up the stairs.
Turo’s eyes brightened and nodded enthusiastically. She led him up the stairs, down one of the pyramid’s many halls, lined with expensive paintings, many of them supposed to represent the pharaoh. Bastet, as the one who’d brought the pharaoh into the world, received several tributes of her own. Kaiba stopped next to one of the pyramid’s open windows, gazing out on the night sky, dotted with stars. Turo took this as a sign and drew her close. He didn’t even give her chance to breathe before smashing his lips into hers. Kaiba allowed the kiss for a few moments, before pushing him away.
“Nope. Still one for the ladies.”
With that, she swatted his arms away, lifted him up by his collar brace, and without breaking a sweat, hurled him out of the window. She listened to his screaming for a few moments before continuing to her bed. ================================================ After throwing off her dress and changing into her night robe, she flopped onto the bed, face first in the pillows. She didn’t even bother wiping her makeup off.
These soirees used to be her pride and joy. Back when she was still a princess, she had loved dancing the night away, flirting with everyone in sight, and keeping all eyes on her. But that…
“Mistress?”
Kaiba looked up and sighed in relief. Selma was standing in the doorway, a welcome distraction from…those memories.
“Selma, dear, thank the gods. Come here, come here.”
The handmaiden slowly approached her queen. Kaiba gestured to the foot of the bed, rolling onto her back and allowing Selma to sit by her feet. Her pale brown eyes gazed at her mistress in worry.
“Is everything alright? Did someone try to hurt you?”
“No, no,” Kaiba sighed, rubbing her eyes. “It was just Turo.”
Selma nodded, understanding. “If you’d like, I can stay with you until you fall asleep…”
“No, no, it’s alright, I just…need to talk.” Selma nodded.
She must’ve been there for an hour, talking and even occasionally laughing with Kaiba over memories and silly, almost girlish matters. She was more than just a handmaiden; Selma had been hired with her twin brother Meri almost ten years ago, when all three were just teenagers. Kaiba and the twins were only a year apart in age. They were more like best friends than master and servants. Sadly, two years ago, things had changed. During…those times, Meri had betrayed Kaiba, giving private information out, talking about her behind her back, and even once attempting to attack her. She’d had no choice but to fire him that night. While both women missed him more than life itself, they both agreed it was for the best.
Eventually, Kaiba yawned, leaning back on the pillow. Her long eyelashes fluttered sleepily. “T…thank you, Selma…”
She drew the linen blanket around her. “Of course, anything for you, mistress.”
“I-I…don’t…deser…” Her statement was cut off by slumber. Selma giggled and stood up. “You deserve all you have and more, my queen.”
