Infinite Sacrifice Read Online Free

magic air to her.”
    “Ah, you have noticed. Yes, that is
a good way to put it.” She smiles while gazing upon her. “I wonder,
though, if she seems devout and disciplined enough?”
    “That is hard to see in the arts.
We will need to probe deeper and let our ancient knowledge guide
us.”
    My heart races at the thought that
I’ll get to spend some time alone with her.
    “Yes, we will have to trust the
ancients—and you, Sokaris.”
    I leave to take my place in the
dream-incubation chamber before Nebu sends her. I have to regain
composure and steady myself for the important task ahead. I look up
at my reflection in the brass incense burner, and I see her float
in behind me. I turn, avoiding her eyes, and stare at my
papyrus.
    “Name?” I ask.
    “Bastet, daughter of Ketuh.” Her
voice is melodious.
    “Age?”
    “Fifteen and a half
years.”
    She’s older than most royal
daughters, but it is not unheard of for someone her age to be
considered. Her blue glass ear studs catch my eye.
    “Let me see your palm.”
    She outstretches a fragile,
long-fingered hand and slowly turns it within my palm as she looks
directly in my eyes. I feel a charge at her touch but continue my
task. She has many great talents on her hand but carries three of
the most ominous signs: a weak and broken lifeline that foretells a
short life; she lacks the gift of willpower whorl on her thumb; and
most intriguing to me, her mount of Venus is well padded, showing
immense passion. Normally I wouldn’t even let a candidate stay
after this miserable reading, but I can’t stand the thought of her
leaving.
    “Please follow me to your chamber
for the night.”
    I lead her to the smaller chambers
where dream incubation takes place. I motion her to enter the room
first, pushing aside the urge to pull her to the bed with
me.
    She sits down on the side of the
linen-draped bed and asks, “Who is looking upon me as I
sleep?”
    I freeze at her unabashed
forwardness but thaw when she points to the carving on the
headboard.
    “That is the midget god, Bes: the
Dream Protector.” I motion her to come to the table beside me. When
she nears, I can smell the remnants of scented wax in her braided
wig releasing its sweet perfume. “Tonight you must pray to the god
Serapis to send you a fortuitous dream, one that can tell us of
your destiny with him. Please write his name on the
papyrus.”
    She obeys with some skill, and I
roll it up and place it in a lamp beside her bed.
    I pray, “Will it be granted that
Bastet, daughter of Ketuh, be Royal Daughter to Serapis? Reveal it
to me; answer this little written prayer.”
    I light the papyrus to burn while
she sleeps. She bows, and I leave her chamber to attempt to retire
in the chamber next to hers. It must have been hours before my body
relaxed enough to sleep, knowing she is so close.
    I’m getting back
into bed and am fixing the scroll with my god’s name when I feel
something move by my leg under the sheet. I throw back the sheet to
expose a writhing mass of snakes crawling and hissing on top of me.
I scream as they all bite into me at once, igniting me in
flames .
    I wake, thrashing and breathing
hard.
    The same dream again and
again!
    I write on my papyrus: GET
SEHKET!

 
     
     
     

Chapter 3
     
    Bastet wakes in the morning and
hands me her night vision to interpret. She walks away from me, her
hips swaying in a beaded wrap as it plays a mesmerizing song.
Regardless of what foretelling I hold in my hands, I know I’ll
create my own to keep her in my life. Yet I am curious and open her
scroll to read:
    I was on the rooftop of the temple
and walked to a well in the center. I looked into the deep hole and
saw in the reflection Nebu, holding the scales, weighing my heart
against a feather. I was frightened by a sound behind me. I turned
to see a giant ostrich run by.
    I roll the scroll back up and burn
it in the fire above the altar.
     
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    Later that night,