Gene of Isis (44 page)

‘But do we really know that Molier is
evil?’
I asked. ‘True, he stole the Fire vial from the mount and used the sacred substance to sustain himself indefinitely, but that could have been due to normal human survival instincts. He did kill Albray, but in those times any warrior would not have hesitated to do the same to achieve his goals. Has Molier actually done anything that could be considered truly evil?’ On the quiet I reflected that he had also kidnapped the Lady Susan, but he had not harmed her. Most recently, he had stolen my charm, nearly leading me over a cliff in the process. And yet here I was? Did Molier know Akbar was watching out for me? He must have, as he needed me to open the gate and would surely not want me dead at this stage.

‘My brotherhood understands that “evil” refers to any displaced or disorganised energy that has come adrift from its normal time zone,’ Akbar informed me. ‘There are cosmic laws which function here on earth in any given period of history. Undesirable and unharmonious force fields are built up by the stressed energies of those who operate outside the wavebands
of cosmic law. The soul-mind who attempts to sidestep their own time-zone frequency without divine blessing is electing to run counter to the cosmic order, and abandons temporarily the ways of light and love to pursue the path of chaos. When such an imbalance occurs, the gods send forth a counterbalance of extreme good to combat the misplaced energy or entity and send them back to the matrix. In some instances this counterbalance might be a person with particular skills and knowledge.’ Akbar smiled as he said this, and indicated me. ‘In other instances the counterbalance could assume the form of a tragic event that will trigger a great outpouring of human compassion, or a miraculous occurrence to stimulate inspired thought in the masses.’

I had to refrain from gulping in fright and longed for Albray to be by my side; I felt stripped of my greatest weapon without Albray. I needed to find myself a ringed stone and fast! Andre would return with the shipment of white powder today, but with any luck he might arrive late in the day so that the grand opening of the temple would have to wait until the sun was at its zenith tomorrow. That would give me one more day to finish Ashlee’s account, and to find myself a new treasure stone and complete the summons to get my dearest ally to return.

‘Molier’s consumption of the Fire-Stone, when he lacks the Gene of Isis to transmute its divine benediction, has driven him quite mad, I believe,’ Akbar said. ‘I can’t claim to know his reasoning or true purpose for wanting to gain access to the Ark. Perhaps he aspires to true godhood, who knows?’

According to Lillet’s account, the moment Molier had swallowed the Fire-Stone he had felt himself to be a god, so why should he need to pursue
it any further? Unless he now fancied keeping the company of the gods in their realm? I was still theorising when we finally reached the mess tent. Even though the sun barely tainted the darkness with the first signs of dawn, our camp chef was up and preparing food.

‘In any case, Molier’s intentions are of no concern. We must thwart him,’ Akbar insisted, and again it was a struggle not to appear daunted.

‘Then I had better eat up, stock up and get back to my tent,’ I replied, forcing myself to sound enthusiastic. ‘I still have much work to do.’

I had to admit that I did feel better for having food in my belly; my nerves had settled down. My date with destiny was fast approaching and being afraid was not going to make it go away.

Apart from reading the rest of Ashlee’s journal and seeking a new charm, I had also vowed to Lillet to try and find a way to release Albray from his vow to the Elohim Council of Hathor.

‘Now don’t stress out,’ I cautioned myself, despite the workload that had suddenly piled up. ‘I can do this. I just need to tackle one challenge at a time. Ashlee…’ I decided to get the journal out of the way—with a little luck, that would leave me the rest of the day to complete my other objectives.

I pulled the large journal from my bag and placed it on the desk before me. I found my place and began to read.

I insisted on waiting for Ashlee on the dock at Ostia—I would not go anywhere without first warning her of my concerns about Molier.
I suspected that he, too, was a powerful psychic, and that when he had abducted and imprisoned me he had probed my mind for information about my dear sister-in-law. I personally had found his presence very unnerving and, whatever his intention toward Ashlee, I knew deep in my gut that his purpose was malign.

My stubbornness dismayed my husband and Cingar, who both insisted that I would do well to stick with the plan and board my transport home. The ship would be departing port in but a few hours.

My wait proved to be of no avail, as when Ashlee and her husband disembarked from Molier’s ship they were in such a hurry to get to their own vessel that they would not listen to what I had to say.

‘I am so sorry, Susan,’ Ashlee said, already on board the rowboat that would take her to her ship. ‘We have no time to waste. Cingar will show you to your transport,’ she advised once again, while Mr Devere had untied the rowboat.

‘You are not leaving without me,’ Cingar insisted, jumping aboard before my brother-in-law could push off.

‘Don’t be ludicrous, Cingar!’ Ashlee was annoyed at him. ‘Jessenia is awaiting you on shore. What will your new wife think when you don’t show?’

‘She knows of my decision to accompany you all the way to the East,’ Cingar argued.

‘But who shall see my kin to their boat?’

‘I am not entirely useless,’ Lord Devere said. ‘We are capable of seeing ourselves to the vessel.’

‘There you have it.’ Cingar took a seat, not to be moved, and my sister-in-law did not waste time arguing.

‘Then let us depart.’ She gave Devere the nod to push off and waved to me. ‘I’ll see you in Europe soon, I promise.’

Dutifully, I accompanied my husband to our ship, but inside I felt I was letting our kin down. ‘So, that is that, the adventure is over.’ I spoke my mind, no longer able to bite my tongue.

‘Well, that is hardly something to be disappointed about.’ My lord seemed surprised by my melancholy. ‘I had rather thought you might be relieved.’

‘I would have thought so too.’ I saw his point and could not explain my contrary feelings. ‘But…must we return home? Could we not see the quest through to its end?’

‘My dear Lady Devere,’ my husband was now sounding a little annoyed, ‘have you forgotten that we do have responsibilities to our shire and to the queen?’

‘Yes, of course.’ I forced a smile. ‘How silly of me.’ I had no chance of competing with my lord’s duties and thus I resigned myself to our lot, which I had happily agreed to when I had married Lord Devere.

‘I’m sorry, my love.’ My husband could clearly see my discontent. ‘You know I will always grant you anything that it is within my power to give, but by the time we return we will have already extended our honeymoon, and—’

‘I know,’ I interrupted, heartened that he cared about my feelings. ‘Our sister is in good hands with your brother and Cingar,’ I reasoned. ‘I’m sure they can handle any problems that might arise better than I.’

My lord smiled and kissed my hand, thankful for my understanding and support, and I was glad to give it.

‘My Lord and Lady Devere?’ A man’s voice addressed us from the shadows of the darkened dock-front buildings.

‘Who wishes to know?’ My husband swept me behind himself as he turned to seek our stalker.

An older gentleman came forward onto the dockside, holding a lantern high so that we might see his face. ‘My name is Lord Edward Malory.’

My husband frowned in recognition. ‘I know you. You were an associate of my father’s.’

The gentleman nodded in confirmation.

‘And of my brother,’ Lord Devere added, rather more suspiciously.

‘Yes, I believe we had the pleasure of meeting at your wedding, Lord Oxford.’ The gentleman ventured closer, but my husband did not make a move. He remained in front of me and on his guard.

‘What on earth are you doing here in Ostia, Lord Malory?’ my lord asked, although I felt he already knew what the answer would be.

‘I have been pursuing your brother, Mr Earnest Devere, and his new wife. I have urgent and grave news to deliver. Do you know where I might find them?’ The lord stopped a few feet from us, closely examining my husband’s expression.

‘I cannot help you, I’m afraid. My brother and I have had a falling out and have parted ways,’ Lord Devere answered without hesitation. ‘He did not say where he was bound. And as I am due to catch a ship back to France, I’m afraid you must excuse us. Good day.’ My lord grabbed my hand and began to lead me up the dock, but we suddenly found ourselves confronted by a row of men.

‘I am sorry to have to delay your voyage home, my Lord Devere,’ Lord Malory approached us once
more, as his men closed in around us, ‘but I believe my urgency is greater than yours.’

‘Here we go again,’ my husband muttered to me, clearly fed up with the affairs of secret societies.

I must admit that while I was a little apprehensive of this turn of events, inside I was smiling, as it seemed our adventure was not over yet.

Once Cingar, Devere and I were safely aboard our vessel and bound for our next destination—Napoli, only a day or so away—I beseeched Albray and my husband to enlighten me about the ladies of the Elohim Council, from whom I had drawn the power to repel Molier.

As a daughter of the Blood, you will, upon your death, automatically become a member of this council, albeit a junior one. You’ll join the like of Isis, Lilith, Neith, Sarai, Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, Mary Magdalene and the princess-priestesses of her line, and many others whose bloodline descends from the Great Mother, Hathor. For, whatever the dilution…
Albray looked from me to my husband and back again
…the blood of the gods runs through your veins. In short, you have the Gene of Isis in your atomic structure.

‘Does your priestess abide among the esteemed members of this council?’ I wondered, as Albray had mentioned his beloved was of my line. I wish I had stopped to think, for the mention of his lost love was clearly distressing.

No,
he said quietly.
She has elected to remain in the sub-planes of the astral realm, closer to the physical world, for she has unfinished business in the land of the living.

‘Much like you, Albray,’ I noted.

Very much like me,
he concurred solemnly.

‘So you have seen her since death?’ Damn my curiosity, but the occult subject matter was so fascinating!

I only make contact when some event arises that involves both of us. It is painful for us, you understand.
He was letting me know he was reluctant to discuss it any further.

‘We understand, Albray.’ Devere excused him from saying any more. When I looked at my husband to reprimand him for his interference, he reprimanded me instead. ‘I used to think it was just me you tortured, but now I see that you know how to torture
every
man in your life.’

I gaped at my accuser, then conceded his point.

I turned back to Albray. ‘My apologies for any anguish I might have caused you…you were saying about the council?’

Ah yes…
my knight was clearly pleased by the change in subject, but had to take a moment to recall where he was up to in his tutorial.
Your foremothers will aid and protect you during any quest you undertake on their behalf,
Albray explained.
There is also a council of male Elohim who aid the sons of the blood. Their council is not accessed via the site in the Sinai, however, but through the other Ark, the one removed from the Holy Land during the first crusade and hidden on the Continent by St Bernard’s Children of Solomon
—
a Masonic brotherhood in France.

‘The other Ark?’ Both Devere and myself picked up on the knight’s choice of words.

‘Are you saying there was more than one Ark of the Covenant?’ I asked, fascinated by this turn in Albray’s tale.

Albray nodded.

‘And that the Ark of the ladies of the Elohim is still housed at the site in the Sinai?’

That is what I believe, yes,
Albray confirmed.
But I, personally, have never seen it, neither has any man living who has not had a death wish.

‘So why should it be a concern that Molier might gain access to this treasure if it will surely kill him?’ I wondered.

Molier is no longer just a man, nor is he a god. He is not counted among the living, but is one of the undead. He exists outside cosmic law in a chaotic state of his own making. He believes he knows of a way to gain access to the Ark without risking total obliteration, and I shall not hazard him the opportunity to be proven right.

Satisfied with this explanation for the time being, and not wanting to enter into another mystery entirely, I thanked Albray and dismissed him. I had decided to confide in my husband about a few things I had been keeping secret and I was not sure Albray would approve of my course of action.

‘This is the memoir of Lord and Lady Hereford.’ I produced the huge volume from my travel bag and dumped it in Devere’s lap. ‘Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to read very much of it during the course of this journey, but I believe it could contain relevant information concerning our final destination in the Sinai.’

Devere was delighted and opened the book to peruse the contents, but was distracted from the text when he noticed me undressing. ‘What is on your mind, Mrs Devere?’ He smiled, misinterpreting my intent.

‘You wanted to know all my secrets.’ I removed my shirt and turned my back on him, so that he might undo my corset. ‘If you would be so kind.’

He obliged me, a little puzzled to note the extra padding of the corset, and was smiling broadly when I removed it to expose my fully naked torso. My husband reached out to caress my breasts, which had not been exposed to him since our nights of passion at the Chateau de Vere. During our encounter at the gypsy camp, we’d been in too much of a hurry to bother fully undressing. ‘Not so fast,’ I teased, as I turned the corset upside down and shook the hidden contents onto the bed.