Shadow of the Sun (The Shadow Saga) (36 page)

A drum beat somewhere in the distance, echoing my heart. It drew me toward a path, which I followed until I happened upon a circle of priests and priestesses. Amaret, at that very moment, stepped from the gathering and acknowledged me. She beckoned me, and I glided toward her. She bent and kissed me upon the head. “You did well.”

I glanced at her with surprise, but then realized that of course she would know all that had occurred tonight. “Thank you.”

“You must join this celebration of the moon, and celebrate your success.” she said, removing her arm from around me and turning back to the circle. Priestesses and priests engaged in a raucous ceremony around the bluster of orange flame. “Behold the Purifying Fire of Isis.” Mesmerized by the fire, I thought it odd when seven plumes rose from the stone pit. ‘Seven flames, seven sisters, seven Pleiades, seven Hathor cows.’

“Neophyte. Purify yourself within the flaming heart of Isis.” Amaret pushed me forward.

My embarrassment overshadowed my desire to partake. But the rhythm of the drums enveloped me, the harp enthralled me, the flute enchanted me, and the sistrum excited me. I swirled and merged with the wave of dancers. We ebbed and flowed among ourselves, circling the sacred blaze. Tongues of fire flicked skyward, seductively stroking the stars. Overheated dancers threw their garments aside, making their movements of passion even more fervent and primal. I blushed. Everyone communed in this trance dance.

I flung my sheath into the darkness, dismissing all royal protocol. For the first time I felt free and unfettered. Men and women swung their bodies in unison, bare of breast and bottom, groins unconcealed, free to pay homage to Isis. Tonight Grand Djedti wouldn’t admonish me and Meti wouldn’t be jealous of me. Joy, such joy like I had never known. No one demanded anything.

The flames rose, crackling, snapping at the luminous orb, burning ever brighter. That fire, hot and desirous, revealed glowering eyes, backward arching horns, and cloven hooves.

Just as my inhibitions had been devoured, something evil now devoured the moon. The globe that cast its nightly radiance upon the shadows had been wounded. That blasted ram sucked out the last drops of moon beams turning the orb to a bloody mass. A wrathful red night singed the sky.

A naked elder woman fell to her knees. “Renew us!”

The young man next to me cast his hands to the heavens. “Regurgitate our moon!”

Sit-Amun’s face flashed for a moment and imposed itself over the fiery apparition.

“I see your every move,” she warned, and that horrific ram exploded in a ball of fire. Her evil voice boomed through the sky.

The young man stepped in front of me, thrusting his hands skyward, but the fire lit him up like a burning torch drenched with oil. I shrieked as everyone scattered in chaos, weeping about our stolen moon. There was no certainty that Sit-Amun would ever return the alabaster plate to the sky. Because of me we were cast into darkness.

“C
ome to me, Merit-Aten,” said a familiar seductive voice shrouded in mystery. Only a hint of a female form was revealed.

“Who is it?” I tried to see through the gloom of the dark courtyard.

Everyone had fled. “Where are you?”

“Over here.”

A figure turned around, cloaked in the dull fog.

“Sit-Amun!”

“Fear me not. I have not come to harm you,” she said.

“I do not believe you.” I stepped back trying to shield my face and naked body. She held out her hands to prove she had no weapon. “I come with an offer.”

Raising my eyes in a bronze cold glare, “What could you offer me?”

Sit-Amun softened her stance. “You and I are so much alike. Your mother rejects you. You have no friends. They do not understand you. And those you love have been taken away.”

“You have taken away the things I love,” I said with fists clenched as images of Hep-Mut and Asgat wove through my mind.

“I did not really take them.”

“You killed them!” I pointed at her, my lips grew thin. I bared my teeth.

“Do you want them back?”

My heartbeat quickened. “They are in the Duat. How could I get them back?”

“You could have the greatest power ever known. I could teach you to command the elements to do your bidding. You could bring Hep-Mut and your little cat back to life.”

My eyes grew wide. “How?”

“You could have anything you want. You could command respect from your mother, and your friends. No one will ever mock you, or your intelligence. You could be even more powerful than I. Let me teach you.”

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. “Why should I trust you?”

“What has happened in the past was only to test you to see if you would break. But you did not. You have proven that you are worthy of my gift.” She reached into her cloak.

“I do not want anything from you.” I staggered back, sure she would produce a weapon.

“Everyone desires something. You want to save your family. I will not harm your family, and I shall give you a token as proof of my word.” Sit-Amun revealed something swaddled in a shimmery cloth. She unwrapped a crescent-shaped moonstone. Little bursts of fiery rainbows ignited when she blew upon it.

“This carries unimaginable power. When you call upon it, unfathomable magic will be at your command. No one can hurt you without being hurt themselves. I want you to have it and you will not ever feel pain again.”

The token mesmerized me. I reached out to claim her gift.

She pulled it back just out of reach, taunting me. “What will you give me?”

“What do you want?”

“You desire to have your beloved Hep-Mut and cat returned. I wish for Mery-Ptah to be returned to me. That seems only fair, does it not?”

“How can I do that? My father sent him away to the rock quarries in Aswan,” I said, realizing that what she wanted would be impossible. “I cannot do that.” “Make a decision, or I will not return the moon to the sky. Everyone will be cast into darkness because of you.”

“No! You cannot do that,” I pleaded.

She smiled and opened her palm again to reveal the enticing gift. “You will find a way. Daughters can always work magic upon their fathers.” I glanced at her burnt and missing fingernails and wondered if they hurt much.

“M
erit-Aten, what do you have there?” asked Netri, as he sorted through the scrolls.

“Nothing,” I lied, and stuffed my amulet into my sheath. “Just a pretty rock I found.” I averted my eyes, fearing he would intuit my transgression.

“Come join us. We will receive the final blessing, and I have news concerning the future,” he said as Pentu approached. We returned to the sanctuary of Osiris inside the
Per Ba
-Temple.

“The Priests of Abydos are in allegiance to the royal family and to the will of Aten,” the High Priest said with a tight smile. “We sing of the luminance of our beloved Aten. May you be protected here in the sanctuary of Abydos for eons and eons. May you intone the pathways to all hidden wisdom and be blessed forever and ever.”

The Pharaoh bowed in acknowledgement of the prayer of protection bestowed upon him, upon us.

The High Priest turned to the men surrounding us. “Our Pharaoh Akhenaten has issued a Royal decree. He wishes for me to inform this fraternal order that he intends for Merit-Aten to become the First High Priestess of Osiris.”

The gasps of horror echoed in the underground chamber. My father smiled, unmoved. My face burned. Angry eyes burrowed into my soul. If the men didn’t approve, perhaps this was bad judgment on our part.

I thought they might be happy to have a girl inducted into their service. After all there were only men here in this inner circle. I clutched my moonstone for protection.

“Forgive us, Sire, but as you know, the Path of Osiris has been a sacred brotherhood for eons. Of course we would be honored to include your daughter, but she may not find any comfort in the rigorous testing required to prove oneself worthy,” said the second in command. Then he grasped his chest and struggled to breathe.

Netri spoke calmly, and with a warm smile. “It is the will of the Aten.

The time of the shadows and secrecy is passing. May all our brothers and sisters unite in their eternal quest for truth.”

“
Apuati
, Shining One it is time to leave. Our palanquin waits,” said Pentu.

“We must go to the Oseirion first,” said Netri. “I wish to show Merit- Aten the rise of the constellation of Orion. The timing for the alignment over the altar of the
Djeser-Djeseru
, The Holy of Holies will be divinely met. It will bestow strength upon her to be in reverence at the moment of this fortunate positioning.”

“But only the Highest Adepts are ever given the opportunity to participate in that sacred event,” protested the Second Priest. “Perhaps when she is older and has acquired more knowledge.”

“She has knowledge beyond belief,” Netri stared at them. “Do not be fooled by her youth.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty,” replied the second Priest.