Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 10:05:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Sean O'Riley Subject: Vampire High Priest - Chap 7 I know its been quite some time since I posted. I am sorry. Part of the reason for the delay is due to the changes I have been going through in my life and part of it is due to shear procrastination, hehe. But on the bright side, here is the new chapter, its probably the lengthiest in the series until now.Enjoy! Some Egyptian Words: (1) Senet was a game for two with five to seven pieces per player. It seems to have been a game of skill and chance, perhaps akin to backgammon and was widely played by people of all social classes. Pictures showing Queen Nefertari playing Senet were found in Egypt. An elaborately carved game table on the right was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen (18th Dynasty). Most Senet boards were simpler affairs: slabs of limestone with lines carved into them or simple pieces of wood. The Senet board had 30 squares which were traversed along an S-shaped pathway. The two players were placed their pieces alternatingly on the first 10 to 14 squares of the board. They were advanced according to the results of throws of little sticks, knuckle bones or more rarely of a teetotum. The aim seems to have been to move all one's pieces to the last square of the board and remove them. The 26th square was often called nefer (i.e. good, beautiful - seemingly a lucky square). (2) Hathor: The goddess of love, music, beauty, and dancing. She was also goddess of remote places, such as turquoise mines. One of her sacred sites is Deir al-Bahri, Queen Hatshepsut's magnificent temple on Luxor's west bank. Chapter 7: Hathor Plays Senet With Osiris Egypt, my birth place, that ancient land is my past, present and future. I had by this time stayed in this foreign land of modern luxury for more than two years. This country which is so proud of its rights of free thought and open approach to anything new, is victim to religious manipulation. I sensed Johan yet again listening to one of the prominent Christian leader's on the televison. My Khenemetasar was not a religious person, I knew he was a man of free thought who acted according to his own free will. It was surprising for me to see him being swayed by this person of hollow words. This man on the television was charismatic, his words were honey coated, he promised miracles and instant solutions for all the humanities problems. No doubt the simple minded would gravitate to his manipulations, but Johan of all people had succumbed to this, this hocus-pocus. I am home sick, I miss the ancient land which is still a treasure trove of secrets. I sincerely hoped and believed that Egypt would help me get through this quagmire of secrets and political plots. I hoped Johan would forget about this blind leap of faith he had taken recently, he was becoming more and more aloof to me, even in the bed. I felt as if I was making love to the living corpse of Johan as if he wanted to please me yet despise this act of our love making. He was meeting these men of god, seeking for the absolution of sins, my sins and his sins. Also he was spending more and more time with Helios, I felt this was in some way therapeutic to him. But, was it me? was it me who was pushing him away and causing him not to be able to open up to me and speak his mind. It was true that I was most nights angry and disgruntled at the fact that I still had no answers to the questions which I found myself facing when I initially woke up from my long hibernation. I was of half a mind to barge into the Elder's minds and find the answers to all the questions. Honor prevented me from raping there minds, they were after all the chosen son's of my brothers. Franz was about the only happy thing in my life, this child had grown before my eyes in these past two years. Soon we would be celebrating his fifth birthday. I feel its time we proclaimed him as a royal child, an Anubis. This child was truly the heir of all my legacy and inheritance. What better occasion than his birthday to declare this inheritance, his legacy. Yes, I would take my blood children, Johan and my little angel Franz for a holiday to Egypt. I wanted to show my heir his legacy and introduce to him the ancient powers that are his right. The Elders had invited me to their annual gala. I knew this gala was a mere pre text to their plotting and scheming. Let them plot, let them scheme, I have played this game of political intrigue when they were mere pups. I summoned Octavius to me. He walked in mere moments later, as if he anticipated my summons all along. He bowed and said, "Master, what can I do for you?". "Octavius, the Elder's gala is but a day away on the half moon. I need my blood children around me when I walk into there festivities. I want them to see my full power and tremble knowing I would soon have there secrets which they guard like greedy dragons." "Master, I will summon your blood children to be present by tomorrow night." He bowed once again. "Is there anything else I can do for you my lord." "Octavius, you are my most faithful retainer. I trust you more than my own blood children. I need you to make secret arrangements for a holiday in Egypt . Johan, Franz and one another, along with you and I will be making this trip. None of my blood children or any other ear must know of this." "I understand my lord." Saying which Octavius took my leave. Once I decided we would be going to Egypt I felt better, as if an immense burden was removed from by shoulders. I went to Franz's room, he was playing a game of Senet (1) on his own. I carved the board of Senet with my own hands. This was a game me and Tutankhamen played all the time. For a child Franz played with quite some skill. I knocked on the door and entered. He looked up to me with sparkling blue eyes. It took my breath away and I don't even breathe. I laughed and my Anubis (prince) ran over to me. I lifted him to me and kissed him. His laughter was like the sound of thousand tiny little bells. "Neb are you going to tell me the story of the little prince Tutankhamen. Tell me how you would sneak into the temple of Osiris and how the priests chased after you." "Franz my sweet child you never tire of my stories. But today I have a present for you." "Neb, Neb, please tell me what is it?", Franz pleaded with his puppy face. I hugged him. "I will tell you, but you must it keep it a secret. You should not tell about it to anyone." "I swear by Osiris, our lord, our judge that I will tell no one." He said it with such a serious look, it was hard not to laugh at the cute devil. "Blessed Anubis, I will take you to Egypt and show you the places where Tut and I played. Yes I will show you the temple of Osiris, the same temple Tut and I used to sneak into." Franz smiled and hugged me. He gave me a grateful kiss on my cheek. "I love you Moa. I love you, I would like to see those places." Nobody had ever called me by my nick name since Tut died. I felt the bloody tears forming in my eyes. "Franz go to bed child. Good night my son, may Osiris guard your sleep." I closed the door behind me as he was slowly drifting into sleep. I felt this joy in my heart, I hoped, I wished Johan would be as happy with the news as our son was. When I walked into our bedroom, Johan was looking at a newly acquired painting. He was so lost in admiring the painting he didn't even sense by presence. I wrapped my hands around his waist and hugged him. He patted my hands and smiled. "Mery, when did you come in?" "Just now Han. This painting is my rival now eh!, I am having to fight for your attention." I smiled. "Mery this painting is called, The Death of Sardanapalus. King Sardanapalus on hearing the defeat of his armies and the enemies entry into his city orders all of his most precious possessions, his women, slaves, horses, and treasure^Ö destroyed in his sight while he watches gloomily from his funeral pyre, soon to be set alight. See Mery he would rather destroy his priced possessions rather than let the invaders pillage it. Was he doing an act of mercy by saving his loved one's of slaughter by enemies ? But he was doing those same acts of cruelty. They would have met with the same tragedy either way. Was he doubly cruel than his enemies to destroy himself rather my some others? This painting, this painting puts forth so many questions to which there are no answers." Johan was so impassioned in his speech of this controversial painting. "Questions, questions, there are so many questions. This painting has about as many questions as I do Han." Johan turned around and hugged me. He started crying. "Mery I have my own questions and doubts. They.........., they tell me what we do in our bed is a sin." "Han, Mery what we do in our bed is our business. No one has a say, no one but us have a say about it. Don't let them tell you what to do. Do what you feel is right. Do you think our love is a sin? Do you really believe us loving each other is a sin?" "I.................I don't know Miu-Oa. I don't know what I think. I know I love you, but.............", Johan couldn't stop sobbing. I took him to the bed and hugged him close to me. For a long time we were silent, I could sense him relax and even feel the warmth my body produced in him. I knew he liked and wanted my touch, my love. I kissed his forehead and then all over his face. I kissed his lips tenderly. I was aroused by his warm body so close to me. It had been so very long since we had sex. I wanted Han so very much. Steadily my touch, my lips on him grew more and more passionate. I quickly undressed him and climbed on his body. Rubbing myself on him I felt my heart fill with hot blood, driven to feverish frenzy. He did not respond to my ministrations even if he was aroused himself, he just lay there like a stiff corpse. He would not hold me, even though I knew he was dying to. He wanted me inside him as badly I was wanted to be in him, yet..............yet he was making his body reject my loving ministrations. I was angry at his indifference, I was angry he would actually deny himself, deny me this nuptial bliss. I jumped off the bed, off him with destructive rage. My fangs were drawn, I could see tears leaking from Han's eyes. He did not cower or cringe from my horrifying rage. I screamed at the top of my voice. A scream that could make people drop dead on there tracks. The glass shattered and fire seared the walls. He still cried. "Why.........................why Han why do you deny us love." I yelled at him. Franz barged into our bedroom afraid, bewildered. His angelic face instantly drained my anger but the disappointment and the hurt of rejection remained with me. I didn't want to be in Franz's presence in this state. I changed form and flew out into the dark night. Johan quickly covered himself and whispered sweet nothings in Franz's ears. Soon the child fell asleep. "I have hurt him. I have hurt the one I love. I want to die, death would be so much welcome. He should have just killed me.", Johan thought. Tears a steady flow from his eyes. Exhausted he too fell asleep. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- The blast of rage and the restrained lust was felt by all of Miu-Oa's sworn generals. Gabrielle was at first horrified and then filled with such lust. Such lust that she almost had a sexual climax. She had received the summons from Octavius earlier. "I would have my questions answered at least when I get there. Things are getting to a head.", thought Gabrielle. Helios on the other hand sat up horrified and then smiled wickedly. "All the time I spent with Johan is finally paying off. All the encouragement I provided him to adopt the faith of those pitiful mortals has paid off. Of course I must thank that old fart of a televison evangelist, he had as much effect as I did and more in brain washing Johan." Helios smiled, he had succeeded. It was a small success but there would soon be more to come, thought Helios. Helios felt powerful to be able to effect powerful men like the Ker Heb, not to mention the trust which he commanded from Johan. "He confides in me more than his lover." Helios could not containe his mirth and laughed. The big secret Helios learnt was about Tutankhamen, Ker Heb's dead lover. Miu-Oa's unreconciled past was a open wound which might be a death blow if struck with enough force. Miu-Oa would have to sacrifice a human life, one who has no vices, yet has sinned against humanity. Helios could not imagine such a human. Frankly he did not care who ever that unfortunate human might be. The key was disruption of the sacrifice, Miu-Oa would be most vulnerable during the ritual sacrifice. His powers would be concentrated elsewhere. This would be his bargaining piece with both the Elders and the Ker Heb. "If I play this carefully I can become one of the most powerful vampire." thought Helios. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- The Ker Heb sat on his throne surrounded by all his blood children with their second in command behind them. Johan sat stiffly beside Miu-Oa. The tension between the Ker Heb and Johan was felt by all the vampires in the audience hall. They were on edge in the presence of their liege lord. Octavius stood behind the Ker Heb, ever watchful, he observed everyone with a keen eye. The Ker Heb seemed to be lost in some thought. All eyes except Johan's were on him, Johan stared right ahead with a blank expression. After what seemed like an eternity the Ker Heb spoke, "The Rogue world is under my control utterly and completely. All of you have my appreciation for the unwavering loyalty and hard work. As a reward I give you my permission to start your own vampire house in the respective areas of the rogue world you have tamed under my name." "Thank you Sire", intoned all the vampires. "Octavius will fill you in on the rules you will be bound by and the powers you will be vested with. But tomorrow we will all attend the Elders gala and show the power of the house of Osiris." The Ker Heb indicated the end of the meeting. Octavius leaned over and whispered something into the Ker Heb's ear. Miu-Oa seemed to contemplate what ever he heard for a moment and nodded toward no one in particular. The vampires bowed and filed out of the audience hall one by one, Johan excused himself but the Ker Heb remained. Octavius stepped out and entered the audience hall with Gabrielle in tow through a concealed door. Gabrielle approached me, she bowed and kissed my hand. I rose and embraced her, "Gabrielle you are my only daughter and I always have time for you. Tell me what is on your mind." "Sire I take a great liberty in discussing what I am about to say, I hope you will excuse my boldness for I do this out of love and concern for you." I smiled benevolently, "Ah my daughter, I know you are going to broach the matter which most of your brothers are dying to ask but are scared to." Gabrielle nodded, "Sire we are vampires, by nature we are not bound to a single mate. We are sensual beings. Yet you take a single lover to bed, I know you love him deeply. I understand, but there can be others. I am sure Johan will understand." "Gabrielle Johan is not a vampire, he will not understand as you say. I am truly content when he is in bed with me, but lately..........lately he has been restrictive. I am sure it is just a phase and it will pass." "I am sure it will sire, but mean while.......................mean while..........", Gabrielle stuttered. He shook her head as if to clear the cob webs in her head and clapped her hands. A young women of no more than twenty summers of age entered. Her bearing was noble, she walked with an air of confidence with barely concealed fear. She was human and she was immensely beautiful like Isis. She was even dressed like Isis. I smiled, "Gabrielle, my daughter I know you mean will but I will not take a whore to bed, no matter how beautiful she might be." Before Gabrielle could respond, the young women with steely voice said, "I am no more a whore than you are a court jester fancying himself to be a king, Sir." I couldn't help but laugh even when she was insulting. "So who are you lady?" "I am the daughter of a greedy father who values his hold on power than his own flesh and blood. I am Joan, Ironic isn't it my lord? I am offered a sacrifice to your holiness just as the Joan Of Arc was to the pope by the French King." Between our verbal battle Gabrielle slipped out unnoticed. " You are amusing dear lady. Be welcome in my house and please don't strain your feet any further, sit my lady you are not on trial.", I smiled amused. Joan bowed and sat beside me on Johan's throne boldly. I was annoyed but amused at the same time. "So my lord are you going to turn me? You know.....................", she bared her teeth and smiled. I winced at her bluntness. "No my lady I am not going to turn you and I have a lover so I am not going to........truth to tell I don't know what I am not going to do with you." She seemed disappointed, I touched her mind and found that she thought I would discard her just like her father. I felt sympathetic beside myself. I touched her hand and she cringed, I quickly retracted my hand. She took back my hand and held it firmly and said, "Your hand is cold my lord, that's all. Please don't let me go. I want to feel anything, love, pain or anything you decide to do to me, just don't ignore me. Drink me dry if you will." She began to sob. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to help her but didn't know how. Fortunately Octavius came to my rescue, he entered the hall and offered to put up the lady in a guest bedroom. Joan composed herself and permitted herself to be led away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- The Elder Shaman hissed, "Do you think we will hesitate to break into your puny mind and extract the information?" Helios for the first time in this tedious meeting felt fear. The Elders stared at him with undisguised anger and desperation, they had been grilling him with questions for over an hour now. "The Ker Heb is not a fool, he will not hesitate to eliminate you if you try to bargain with him like you say you would if we do not meet your demands.", the Rabbi reasoned. Helios contemplated the Rabbi's argument and found merit in it. "Rabbi you are right. If I decide to refrain presenting my offer to the Ker Heb and leave here without divulging my information, you stand to lose a golden opportunity to neutralize the Ker Heb and I would lose nothing." The Elders mind spoke among themselves and the Rabbi spoke, "If you say the information you have can be instrumental in neutralizing the Ker Heb then you should have no problem to formulate a plan and execute it to our satisfaction. We don't need to know the information or the plan, but we will provide any resources you might require to succeed. If you succeed we will make you an Elder as per your demand. Be warned Helios, you cannot kill the Ker Heb, Osiris enshrouds him with his protection, your aim then should be to persuade him to go back to permanent hibernation." Helios smiled and rose, "Revered Elders your offer is acceptable, even if I stand to lose everything if I fail and your participation in the whole scheme hidden one way or the other." The Elders rose and the Abbot spoke, "Very good then. Go with our blessings Helios. Our champions to the Ker Heb will provide any help you need. Tomorrow night's gala will be a true celebration, celebration of our collaboration." Helios felt defeated even though he might have struck the deal of his life. There was so much to do. The best made plans involved subtle manipulation and decisively bold moves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Ker Heb, Johan and all his children were the last to arrive at the festivities. The great and powerful of all the vampire houses were present, all conversation seized, all eyes were upon the only surviving ancient vampire. At once all bowed as he proceeded to the most ornamental throne on the dias. The Elders bowed as low as courtesy dictated and no more. The Ker Heb and beside him Johan sat while the blood children stood behind them. I smiled and waved for others to relax and continue the festivities. One after the other the heads of the vampire houses were presented to me by their respective Elder. After what seemed like an eternity the introductions were finished and I indicated my children to mingle with others to enjoy themselves. Blood and youthful flesh, the two things the vampire's desire most were in abundance. Johan cringed each time he heard the gurgle of blood and each time he caught sight of people swaying in lust. He looked at the Elder's laughter of undisguised cruelty and cunning. I couldn't help but hear the words that formed in his mind, they were so clear, as if a dead poet was speaking from his grave. Think'st thou there is no tyranny but that Of blood and chains? The despotism of vice-- The weakness and the wickedness of luxury-- The negligence--the apathy--the evils Of sensual sloth--produces ten thousand tyrants, Whose delegated cruelty surpasses The worst acts of one energetic master, However harsh and hard in his own bearing. - Sardanapalus (act I, sc. 2) Tyranny Followed by these words was the image of the painting of Sardanapalus. The anger, the passion of Johan's feelings shook me to the core. I could not help but wonder if he thought the same about me. I wondered if he was disgusted of me? True the Elder's were conniving and power hungry, but aren't most men the same? I did not understand Johan anymore, this rift between us only seemed to increase with passing time. My impotence to be able to do nothing angered me. The evening passed by my eyes as ambitious vampires and men plotted and schemed in the atmosphere of lust. Johan mind spoke to me and asked me to take him home. I bid our hosts fair well, while my children remained, Johan and I departed. Once home I hugged him and asked him, "Han I am sorry for the evening. Mery, I need to know, do you think me same as the Elders?" "No my lord, but.......I feel as if I don't belong in your world. I feel alien among the vampires." "Han you belong beside me, you belong with me. Why should anything else matter", I kissed him. "We belong with each other my Khenemet". He started crying, his mind was a whirlpool of confusion, of longing, of desire, of guilt and so many more emotions and feelings. He drew away from me and said, "I need to pray Miu-Oa". He left me standing before I could say anything. I needed him to tell me that he loved me, I needed him to want me, but.............he left me. Anger has served me well to assuage my pain in all the time I have walked upon this earth. That dear old friend surfaced in this moment of my worst pain. I called upon the death winds in my fury, the black twister of death begged to be used. I gave them the mental pictures of those child molesting hypocrites of monks who claimed to be the humble servants of the crucified one. The death winds left hungrily, seeking the souls of the corrupted one's who poisoned Johan's heart. The anger left me but the pain remained. I amused myself by scorching the floor again and again, over and over. I heard the faint footsteps of a mortal approaching. Her negligee shimmered and darkened in the light of the flames. Her blonde hair waved about like the tongues of the fire in the air as she strode purposefully toward me. I bared my teeth. "You are not safe near me mortal, go cower behind something that can hide you from me." "I fear nothing and no one my lord. Perhaps I understand your pain, I understand some times the worst kind of physical pain is preferable to the deep wounds of the heart. The ways of love are most peculiar, where lust and love are so intermingled that you cannot tell them apart. Even you the most omnipotent one is weak before love my lord." I was beside myself with fury and hissed at her "What do you know of the ways of love? And who are you to call me weak? Your father abandoned you for power, I doubt it if you have ever known love." I knew my words burnt her more than any flames ever could. She seemed shaken and then she suddenly burst out into tears, her steely countenance vanished. She seemed like a frail being. "You..........are of course right my lord. I have................I......have never known true love. Only a man who has traveled the desert with almost an eternal thirst knows the value of and the true taste of water. I........the love deprived one know the beauty of love....." She could say no more, it was if these last words drained her of any energy. She collapsed where she stood. I could not help but feel the void in her heart. I was lucky in the way that I had known love, even if unable to hold onto it. I took her to our bedroom and laid her down, even in her conscious state she held onto me tightly as if to hold onto something firm lest the oft times cruel mind drive her to insanity with horrid dreams. I lay beside her, the warmth of her silky smooth skin was invigorating my cold body. I lay beside her mesmerized by her beauty, never has a women evoked such feelings in me as I was feeling now. There was something about her............something about her personality that has captured and held my attention. I brushed back the soft strands of golden hair away from her tear streaked face. Ah....the fair angelic face, I could not help myself but caress her. The long eye lashes and those succulent lips, I caressed those tender petals of rose. She opened her eyes, the sparkling green eyes....................the eyes of a female cat peered into mine. The only words she uttered were, "Will you show me love even if for one night ?" I kissed her lips. She let out soft moans as my hands snaked about and touched all over her tender body. My man hood was on full mast, she grabbed it with her soft hands. I had never undressed a women before, but then there was not much to undress on her, her night gown fell part easily. The milky white mounds of her breasts were so firm to my touch and her nipples erect as I touched them. My hand slowly moved down to her navel and the triangle. The soft sparse pubes and the wet folds lay conquered to my hands. She tightly gripped my phallus as my hands and lips ministered to her body. Her lips parted with unvoiced pleasure as my fingers entered her wet folds, I felt the hymen. She was a virgin. I climbed on her, my lips clamped to her erect nipple. Sucking on one then another. Her legs parted and my manhood was poking into her. She whispered in my ear, "Be gentle my lord". The bell of my member poked onto her hymen, with slightest pressure due to my weight it broke. She let out a cry of pain, I was startled. I pulled out immediately, she held me tightly. "Please my lord, do not leave me." I slowly guided myself into her wet folds, it was easier this time. She held onto my back in a death grip, I moved gently in and out of her. Joan matched my strokes arching her hips up to me. I was consumed by lust or love, I did not know. It felt so good, I could not help myself. I bit into her soft yet firm breasts, she drove onto me harder as I was draining her blood. Consumed in blood lust, I did not realize that she was so far beyond drained that she would die if I did not turn her. When I let go of her breast her whole body shook and spasmed, she was having multiple orgasms. My phallus was gripped so hard, I shot a bloody load deep into her. She looked so pale..............blessed Osiris! What have I done. She is dying. I impulsively bit my tongue and pressed my mouth onto her. She drank off my mouth like one who has been eternally thirsty. I could sense something was different about this turning. Her body was not only reacting to my vampire blood but by bloody seed was impregnating her eggs. Not only that she was changing far too quick, the transformations in her were different. She let out a inhuman cry as she finished drinking off me, no wonder moments later Johan burst into the room. His face was a mixture of rage mingled with jealously and fear when he discovered us...............fear that maybe he lost me for good................I could read his mind..........he realized for the first time how much we belonged together. It was a rude awakening for him, but his steely gaze promised a lover's wrath. Blessed Osiris what have I gotten myself into now! End of Chapter 7:Hathor Plays Senet With Osiris Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As usual please write your comments and thoughts at seanriter@yahoo.com