Kemet was silent for a week. Not a leaf rustled, nor did the blue streams whistled. The birds left their nests, the heaven deserted by the muse.

The once viridescent land was deluged by the plague.

Skeletal remains rotted across the streets as if a commonplace occurance. Many families refused to touch the decomposing bodies, afraid of getting the plague. A few benevolent doctors, dressed in protective linen and casting runes around themselves, buried the dead hastily. There was no ritual done to honour the dying. And when the plague fleed, people cried instead of smiling. What use was to live alone with half of their loved ones gone?

Mass destruction. A biological warfare that imbibed magic to kill thousands in a split second. All this was now ascribed to the ruthless rule of the late Pharaoh Menes, and who was the divine saviour of Kemet?

Amunhotep. Pharaoh Amunhotep.

Years he toiled behind curtains to buy men into his team, and together with over half the nobles, conquered the throne. The Pharaoh was dumped in the soil with no respect, and his daughter, Princess Bintanath, forcefully engaged to the new Pharaoh.

Djehuti, despite reluctance, was taken away to Persia. Where, no one knew, not even Alexandros. It was only the prince and his trusted circle that followed him into uncharted lands. But the prince promised to contact Alexandros when time would be right.

Nestled in the fenced boundaries of her guild, Inanna mourned in the arms of her found family– Master Hor-Aha and his son Bergin, Ishtar and all the other mages. Inanna never imagined her return would be amidst a storm. Perhaps she had, but it was a storm that would have ruined only her life, not that of entire Kemet.

"I don't know what we will do," Hor-Aha said. "Amunhotep will not stop until he has eradicated the use of magic by us. He will bow to nothing but his own power."

The secret of Inanna's heritage was revealed to her closest comrades. Although Ishtar showed a glimmer of hope, Bergin and Hor-Aha were more concerned than gala upon hearing about the discovery. They clearly knew Amunhotep was after Inanna; he had been since her hushed birth. It was Aeset's mercy that she floated across the Nile to safely come to Hor-Aha's embrace. He wondered if the crocodiles in the river and the hawks peering down from the sky saw in her something resembling a goddess, like Mother Aeset who walked with the scorpions, or Lady Nebet-het riding on a falcon.

There was something in her indeed, that glowed fiercely and wanted to be known. She was warm to touch always– a fever that occured during spiritual ascension. Her ears rang, a buzzing melody deafening the organs to every other sound until she gave in to the intuitive call. Visions came like dreams in the waking land. She saw spirits more and more, the victims of the plague begging her to rescue them. Their sobs and screams tore apart her heart.

It hurt. It hurt her so much that she bled through her nose and scratched her throat with a scar. Inanna spoke with the ones on the other side of the world, mourning along with them the untimely loss of so many lives. Soon, she grew accustomed to their arrivals. The woman who was afraid of herself being a Necromancer, suddenly regarded it as a blessing. Isolating herself from civilisation, she conversed with the souls, seeking to find a solution to the plague.

That was the goal she saw with her eyes open and shut. It poked her in slumber and when wide awake. She was a puzzle piece in a grand mystery. From knowing her true identity as Kemet's firstborn, to finding herself in solace with the once dislikable spirits, so much had transformed.

But she didn't want to be a Pharaoh. Watching the reddened, hollowed eyes of the spirits, their crippled forms dying even after death, made her heart weaker. Her resolve quivered, threatening to break. What was power even? It made men go mad, challenge the gods and invite doom. The spirits spew the same curses. She grew bitter with them. Humanity was of no value. And as these notions took root inside her, her mind grew more fragile. Then her body, until she began having frequent bouts of nausea. And then gobbling up food like a monster. Inanna threw tantrums and hurled insults at the jinxed crown. Although the other mages took it as a sign of her turning unstable, Ishtar decided to sit with her.

Finding her friend after a long time made Inanna happy. She was no longer shouting. She sat with her needle and thread, sewing together small blankets into a big one.

"What do you do?"

"Prepare for its arrival."

"Whose?"

Inanna stared at the window. "You can't see the spirits. But I can. They tell me to be ready because the future heir shall come to me."

Goosebumps pinned on Ishtar's skin. Her suspicion was right. Inanna's body was speaking of a change, and so were the spirits.

She ran to inform Hor-Aha, but was surprised to see Alexandros visit. He was gone to the capital after the coronation of the new Pharaoh. Alas, he returned bruised, with puffy wounds running down all over his body. It was a pitiful sight. She wondered if the news of Inanna expecting would bring happiness or worries. Perhaps both.

"You need to be healed," Ishtar told Alexandros. "Inanna would be so sad to see you like this."

"This is what is paining me." His crimson eyes turned pale. "I want to meet her. But she would be so anxious–"

As if she knew her lover was there, Inanna came out of her secluded room. Her tresses flew with the evening breeze, creating a splendid black aura around her. It accentuated her bronzed complexion that glistened in the twilight. Red beams fell on her sandy skin, giving it a blushing hue. Devoid of gems and gossamer silk, and yet, she appeared the prettiest in Alexandros' eyes. He saw in that maddening state the zenith of his pleasure. He opened his arms, welcoming her with tears.

But she didn't hug him for long. As her hands traced his back, she felt the wounds bleeding at her slightest probing. The blood trickled down his fair skin, akin to the shade of his eyes, but the latter looked so dull now. They had lost their frightening charm. She no longer witnessed in them confidence. There was a fear of losing dancing over his eyelashes, tears clung to them like dewdrops.

"Alexandros?" She cupped his face, her heart breaking upon feeling his puckered lips. She had never seen him crying and so defeated. Had she failed him? Was she behind this all? For her birth was what started it. If only she had died like her mother, Alexandros would have been unharmed.

Troubled by the treacherous thoughts, she fainted in his arms. Alexandros immediately carried her to the infirmary. The women came in and inspected her.

"You need to wait outside."

With a heavy heart, he paced in front of the door. He could hear hushed mumbles and a gasp inside. He clutched his heart with his blistered fingers.

The spirits had predicted he would be her fall, her death. But he didn't want to be. Was he selfish to love her and lure in a relationship? Should he have hated her?

The door opened with a creak. Ishtar was smiling. "I knew it."

Alexandros held her palms. "Knew what? Is my Inanna alright?"

"She is. She needs to be cared for and loved now more than ever." Her eyes twinkled. "She is pregnant."

****

When Inanna regained her consciousness, Alexandros was sitting near her head. She tried to sit up, but upon finding the headache intensify, reclined against the stack of cushions.

"How are you feeling?"

The past days were a faint memory to her. The spirits and the paranormal entities had become her home. Somehow, they were gone now, as if they felt sorry of perturbing her peace. Maybe they gave her a well-deserved break. "Better."

"The spirits," he gulped, "listen to them but don't flow with their emotions. You are a medium, a vessel, not their ultimate solution. You will give them liberation but not at the cost of your sanity. Remember Inanna, the line between the Living and the Dead always exists."

She had learn the art. To feel their agony but also not to succumb to it. To assure them an escape but also not lose her authority. It would gradually perfect her magic. "I understand. I will keep this in mind."

Inanna could tell from his face that he wished to share something but hesitated. She climbed on his lap, rounding her arms around his neck. "Tell me."

She saw his wounds and kissed them gently. It soothed him, bringing him closer to her.

"What has happened?" she asked.

"I do not want to weaken you, Inanna."

"You never have."

"I will never leave you, Inanna," he gave her a peck on the lips, "but for now, we must part temporarily."

Her grip on him tightened. "You are leaving me?"

"No, no," he repeated, as if to assure himself of the promise of love. "I will send you to a place far away. Where no one will find you. You shall live there, while I do my job here in Kemet. When time will come, I will be there by your side, just in time when our baby–"

It slipped from his tongue. Her eyes widened. "Our baby?"

He rested his head on her bosom. "You carry my child, Inanna."

Coiled like snakes, the lovers held on to each other, stubborn against the tides of Time. This was a little moment they had to cherish. Alexandros touched her belly, feeling the bubbling energy of the seed tickle his palms. The symbol of their love grew in her. If he wasn't going to stay with her all the time– caressing her when her mood was down, feeling the kicks of their baby, feeding her her favourite fruits– he could at least show her the depth of his love now. When he was still near, and she was still tangible. When he could kiss her as much as he desired, and she could heal his wounds with her tears.

"Be strong," he whispered between his sniffles. "I might be away, but my soul isn't. I...I have devised a plan." He heaved a sigh. "But before I explain it, I need to tell you something."

Inanna's brows furrowed. She placed a hand on his chest and listened with minute attention.

"You are dead, Inanna."

She scrunched her nose. "What?"

"Yes. As you can understand..." He flinched. "I was tested. Yes, as if it's me who should be put under a trial. I was tested to see if I sided with the Pharaoh. Knowing how delicate the situation was, I gave my word of loyalty. I will serve Amunhotep."

She glared. "How could you?"

"It's a game. And I have no problem going against it when it's vowed to a murderer. Be righteous evil, Inanna." Veins popped on his neck. "The situation is such that I need to sacrifice a few people, like innocent civilians and many more, to ensure the most important weapons of mine stay alive. And I am not afraid of being selfish and also choosing to save you. Because you are precious not just to me, but also our motherland Kemet.

"This has made me resort to a lie. I know he is after you, so I lied that you were no more. Perhaps he will use his spies to check, but I am no less clever. I requested him to give me a few days off so that I can do your last rites. His men are keeping an eye on me all the time. So please do not come out of the guild. Stay here, and definitely take up a disguise."

"I get it. You will stay here and try to build a force, strengthen the roots that can bring back harmony to Kemet. But where will I be?"

"Persia," he said. "I have sent a letter to my father. Persia is currently under the reign of Greeks, and my father is in the court. He will keep you safe."

"And what about my friends?"

Her question made me lower his head. He pursed his lips, maintaining a strict silence. Inanna asked him again, "Ishtar and Bergin? Master?"

Alexandros clenched his fists and delivered the ominous news. "The guild will be demolished."

****

Total word count: 67,863 words