Soul and Shadow
Authors: Susan J McLeod
| Soul and Shadow |
| Lily Evans Mystery [1] |
| Susan J McLeod |
| Imajin Books (2011) |
In ancient Egypt, a young priestess of the goddess Hathor is laid to rest in a beautiful tomb with everything she needs for her journey into the afterlife…
Three thousand years later, archaeologist Ursula Allingham discovers the mummy of Amisihathor and is confronted by a mystery. Is the man buried with the priestess really her husband? Or was she actually in love with a scribe called Kamenwati and separated from him in life as well as death?
To answer these questions, Dame Ursula turns to Egyptology student and artist Lily Evans, who reluctantly agrees to help. Lily learns that she is psychically linked to Amisihathor and experiences a strange, unsettling phenomenon—the memories and emotions of the Egyptian woman. Luckily, Lily has her beloved pet Cleocatra and her irrepressible friend Katy to keep her grounded in reality. Or so she hopes.
Dealing with the challenges of falling in love with Ursula’s grandson Kent, the reappearance of her ex-fiance Stephen and the demands of her mother and her boss Professor Briggs, Lily soon realizes she has taken on much more than she bargained for.
Susan Jane McLeod has been writing since she was seven years old. At age eleven she won a county-wide essay contest and her professional career was launched. By the time she was nineteen, her poetry had appeared in several magazines, including American Girl and Seventeen. She also won an honorable mention in The Writer. She grew up in Rochester, New York, with her three sisters and one brother. In her early thirties she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and given a 50-50 chance to live. She survived only to have the cancer recur, necessitating more surgery and an aggressive course of chemotherapy. Today she is cancer free. The best job she ever had was managing a bookstore, surrounded by her passion: literature. Susan has published several short stories and two novels. The first, Soul and Shadow, is an award-winning paranormal historical romance. The second, Fire and Shadow, is classified as paranormal suspense. Both have garnered impressive reviews. Susan believes strongly in several causes and has raised money for the American Cancer Society, Foodlink, and the House of Mercy homeless shelter. She still resides in Rochester and will always call it home. She can be contacted at http://www.susanjmcleod.com and https://www.facebook.com/SusanJMcLeodAuthor
SOUL AND SHADOW
Susan J. McLeod
SOUL AND SHADOW
Copyright © 2011 by Susan J. McLeod. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author
'
s imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead (or in any other form), business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
SECOND EDITION ebook
Imajin Books -
http://www.imajinbooks.com
December 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-926997-46-9
Cover designed by Sapphire Designs -
Praise for Soul and Shadow
"
Susan McLeod has crafted an enlightening, engaging tale with a pleasantly surprising twist...a literary treat for readers of all ages, and an enlightening teaching tool for those seeking to learn more
"
—Chelsea Perry,
Apex Reviews
"
Engaging...a double-storyline that weaves seamlessly back and forth between the present and the past through a clever plot... Recommended to readers of mystery, romance, and those who are captivated by ancient Egypt.
"
—Rai Aren, co-author of
Secret of the Sands
"
A deep and complex tale of deceit, danger and love. Well plotted and extremely engaging...full of vivid images and a story so engrossing that I couldn
'
t put it down...
SOUL AND SHADOW
exposes you to a new world to discover and a time in history that blends well with the romance genre.
"
—Jenn L.,
Romance Junkies
"
Soul and Shadow
has twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat...McLeod mixes romance, mystery, and paranormal to create dynamic read.
"
—Debra Gaynor,
ReviewYourBook.com
"
The author wonderfully blends the past and present, love and romance, mystery and history to give us a most intriguing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the mystery is solved. The surprising twists and turns as the story comes closer to an end will make this a most fascinating read.
"
—Joy H.,
ReadersFavorites.com
"
Interesting twists and turns along the way and an unexpected ending...adventure, romance and history.
"
—Sunni Morris, author of
Haversham Hall
"
Greed, desire, politics, love, betrayal, and romance are timeless.
"
—
Todd A. Fonseca, author of
The Time Cavern
"
Finely-crafted...two love stories wrapped in a mystery. Beautifully done.
"
—L.C. Evans, author of
Talented Horsewoman
"
A highly entertaining and suspenseful story, complete with plenty of romance, action and intricate historical detail...moving and touching.
"
—James A. Anderson, author of
Deadline
To Mom and Dad with undying love. You gave me everything.
Acknowledgements:
I found much valuable information in the beautifully written and illustrated
Ancient Egypt
, by Lorna Oakes and Lucia Gahlin; also
Egypt: Land of the
Pharaohs
Revealed
, by Global Book Publishing.
Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to Poisons
by Serita D. Stevens with Anne Klarner was a fascinating read. There are many wonderful websites on ancient Egypt. You can find my favorites on my web page at
www.susanjmcleod.com
.
My family and friends are always a great help to me. Special thanks to my cat consultant, Ann Rumrill, and Lucy R. Cat. Mark, I wouldn’t have written this without you. You’re the best!
"
I have journeyed over a long road. The road of souls is opened. Ye shall not hold captive my soul. Ye shall not keep in durance my shadow. The way is open to my soul and to my shadow.
"
"
DECREE: If this Chapter be known by the deceased, he shall come forth by day, and his soul shall not be kept captive.
"
—The Egyptian
Book of the Dead
Chapter One
It was a big day when the mummy came to town.
Amisihathor was living on in eternity. Her name was on everyone
'
s lips—at least, those who could pronounce it. The rest just called her Amisi, and they had eagerly awaited her arrival from the Cairo Museum.
"
It
'
s mummy mania,
"
my best friend Katy exclaimed.
"
You
'
d think King Tut was here for a visit. T.V. commercials, billboards, newspapers—they
'
ve done everything but skywriting. No one could say that there wasn
'
t enough publicity.
"
"
You
'
re just jealous,
"
I replied,
"
because it
'
s nothing to do with King Arthur. If they found
his
body, you
'
d be personally guarding it with Excalibur.
"
My fellow graduate student was part of the country
'
s largest study of all things Arthurian. It was one of the projects our university was noted for, and Katy was a proud standard-bearer.
"
Very funny,
"
she said.
"
But Merlin would
not
be giving tours, I can tell you that.
"
"
Well, neither is the mummy. It
'
s just someone dressed as an ancient Egyptian, and I think it
'
s a good idea.
"
"
You would. Off you go then, and don
'
t forget to spend your paycheck in the gift shop.
"
I left work early, and it was a good thing. The line at the museum was long, but I didn
'
t mind. Anything that stirred interest in my field of Egyptology was fine with me.
Nefertiti awaited us within. It was an ambitious choice because the queen was famous for her beauty. The woman representing her did not live up to the ideal. I wondered how she could see with all the eyeliner and mascara she had on. Her black wig was slightly askew and she was loaded down with garish costume jewelry. Okay, maybe not such a good idea. She handed out leaflets and postcards of Amisihathor
'
s coffin, then motioned us farther in.
A special display had been constructed—a replica of a tomb from the fabled banks of the Nile. Floodlights took the place of the burning Egyptian sun, but when they shone on the honey-colored stone, the effect was much the same. Shadows beckoned from within, mysterious and enticing. I could almost believe, as I stepped through the entryway, that I was actually walking back in time.
"
Yuck!
"
The spell was broken by a group of schoolchildren already inside. As my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I could see a series of pictures explaining the process of mummification. The kids were poring over the gory details with delight.
"
They pulled the brains out through the nose,
"
a boy said, clearly wishing he could have been there to see it.
"
Awesome!
"
"
And they put their livers in jars.
"
A young girl stared at the canopic containers.
"
Are they still there?
"
she asked.
"
Maybe.
"
The boy grinned impishly.
"
Maybe the mummy will come back to get it!
"
A teacher shushed the squealing and scuffling children and herded them away.
Nefertiti arrived and gestured at the glass cases holding items from everyday life along the Nile.
"
Here,
"
she said, pointing one blood red fingernail,
"
is a loaf of petrified bread that was meant to be someone
'
s dinner over three thousand years ago.
"
We all stared at it dutifully.
"
And here are some eating utensils, mostly made out of burned clay. See the bottles, the knife, and the plates.
"
I looked at the items and felt the thrill that always went through me at the sight of such artifacts.
"
And all of you ladies will be able to appreciate this.
"
The guide swept her hand over a collection of little pots.
"
These still hold traces of eye makeup, face powder, and lip color. Personal appearance was important to the ancient Egyptians.
"
Men wore makeup too you know
, I thought.
We moved along to the next case. The crowd was fascinated by the jewelry: beautiful necklaces, amulets, and charms.
"
Just as in today
'
s world, in the ancient one you needed all the protection you could get,
"
Nefertiti announced.
"
And you
did
take it with you.
"
People laughed politely.
"
Please continue on to see the coffin and the mummy. I
'
ll be back to answer any questions you may have.
"
I lingered a while before going into the inner chamber of the exhibit. This was where Amisihathor lay in state. Her sarcophagus was a work of art. Its colors were as vibrant as when they were first painted, showing the spells and divine beings necessary to guide her into the afterlife. Her spirit had long since flown away. Now only the mummy remained, wrapped in her yellowed linen.
A strange feeling came over me as I gazed at her. An image entered my mind of a living, breathing woman, someone who was talking, eating, worrying, and dreaming. There was something melancholic and a little undignified about her remains being here on display.
As if echoing my thoughts, I heard a woman nearby say firmly to her companion,
"
That
'
s why
I
'
m
being cremated.
"
Still, Amisi was helping to resurrect a whole civilization. And the ancient Egyptians believed that as long as someone
'
s name was spoken, their soul lived on. So she should be happy.
A sudden voice in my ear startled me.
"
She never imagined that she would lie in a place like this,
"
it said.
"
Her dream was to enjoy eternity in the Field of Reeds with her beloved. Now, she walks in the shadows, waiting.
"
I looked over my shoulder. A tiny woman was gazing at the mummy sadly. She was thin, but her posture was straight and proud. She looked about as old as the pyramids themselves, and also had a suggestion of their strength and power. This didn
'
t stop me from wondering if she was crazy.
I smiled nervously and began to inch away, but the woman moved with me. I
'
ve been told that I have a kind face. It must be true because I attract strange people like a magnet. And I find it next to impossible to be rude, which has led to some very odd conversations.
"
I
'
m glad I
'
ve found you, Lily,
"
my new friend said. She had a British accent with a pleasant, musical quality.
"
Sit down and I
'
ll tell you a story.
"
"
Excuse me,
"
I replied,
"
but I
'
m afraid we
'
ve never met. And I have to be going now.
"
She looked at me inquiringly.
"
You are Lily Evans, research assistant to Professor Peter Briggs, aren
'
t you?
"
"
Yes,
"
I said, startled that she knew me,
"
but—
"
"
Then you
'
re the one. Come along.
"
She waved a hand imperiously.
I can
'
t explain why I followed her. I should have gone the other way and alerted security that a confused old woman was on the loose. But I didn
'
t. Perhaps it was my sympathetic nature, or the commanding look she had in her eye, or simple curiosity. Whatever the reason, I found myself trailing after her, back to the outside of the exhibit and the benches in front of the tomb.
She settled herself on the hard stone like a queen taking her throne. She was amazingly spry for her age, attired in a plain white linen suit and some lovely New Kingdom-style jewelry. I admired a golden bracelet with a scarab clasp. Obviously a fan of all things Egyptian, this woman did not
look
feeble-minded. Rather, she had an air of being in complete control. Her eyes, an unusual slate gray, stared into mine.
"
Amisihathor was a songstress in the temple of Hathor. She sang to give pleasure to the goddess, and also at special ceremonies. It was an honored position, and she was proud of it. Her tomb is decorated with scenes of her duties, including a depiction of the Union with the Sun
'
s disc at Wet-Renpet, a beautiful picture.
"
Well, even if the old woman was nuts, she knew her Egyptian history. The ancient New Year, Wet-Renpet, had begun in August, when the star Sirius reappeared, heralding the rising of the Nile. It was a time of rebirth and celebration as the land was irrigated for crops. A special ceremony took place at Hathor
'
s temple in Dendera. A gold statue of the mother goddess was carried onto a rooftop chapel so that the sun could reinvigorate her with its light.
"
Amisihathor
'
s husband, Kahotep, was a powerful priest of Horus,
"
the woman continued.
"
Most of the decoration on the walls of their tomb portrays them performing rites and having places of favor among the gods. The couple was the picture of marital bliss, of course. It was important to show the ideal so that it could come true in the next world. But appearances can be deceiving.
"
"
Really?
"
I asked.
She didn
'
t seem to be put off by my tepid response. Instead, she continued as if I hadn
'
t spoken.
"
I happen to know that Amisihathor, whom I found buried alongside Kahotep as his wife, was also married to a scribe from Edfu. Her name and images share the walls of
his
tomb as well. And it was his declaration of love that she carried with her into the grave.
"
That was interesting.
"
What was it?
"
"
A letter. It was written on a scrap of papyrus and worn in an amulet around her neck. It addresses her as wife and is signed
'
Kamenwati.
'
Either Kahotep was very open-minded, or he did not know what the amulet contained. I
'
ve done a great deal of research over the years. There was another oddity besides the letter.
"
"
What kind of oddity?
"
"
All the depictions of Amisihathor in her tomb with Kahotep, though lovely, were done hastily, as if it was not originally intended to include her. Of course, they could have been recently married and just ran out of time. She was young when she died. But the more I discovered, the more the mystery deepened.
"
"
How?
"
"
There are references in the temple records to Amisihathor and a scribe from Edfu. Also, a letter written to Kahotep the month Amisihathor died, making mention of the fact that he had no wife. I suspected that Amisihathor did not belong in his tomb with him.
But there was no proof until the scribe
'
s tomb was discovered last year. You must have read about it?
"
