Crescent Moon (20 page)

A trickle of dread ran down Khepri’s spine—at the blonde’s
eerily triumphant expression, at the mention of Pharaoh. “Who is your master?”

Becky shook her head and tsked. “We found him first. Charles
and I. Dr. Felton was too busy drawing maps of the cave, wanting to be
methodical in his inspection. We snuck away, to the chamber where you were both
left.
He
was buried in sand, and Charles tripped over him. When we
brushed away the sand with our hands, we both were so excited. We’d found
something, all on our own. When we showed Dr. Felton, he was furious. We’d
disturbed it. Moved it, he said. He was going to have us sent home.”

“But you are still part of his team.”

“Yes, we are,” she said and smiled. “You see, we didn’t stop
at brushing away the dirt. Yes, we knew we risked damaging the body and
releasing harmful bacteria, but something drove us to cut away his wrappings…”

Blood pounded in her ears. And suddenly, Khepri knew now who
they were searching for. “You heard?” she said over her shoulder.

Justin cursed under his breath. “Over here!” he shouted.

Michael came running, weapon drawn. His gaze went from
Justin, kneeling on the ground, rubbing the back of his neck, to Khepri, who
rolled another ball of fire onto her palm to provide light.

“She’s with Pharaoh. So is Charles Mabry. Dr. Felton is the
one we are looking for.”

Michael stepped away and spoke into his device. “They left
in Felton’s rental car—him and the Massri woman. No Mabry.”

Khepri’s gaze went back to Becky. “Where are they going?”

“To the place in between. You know it well.”

“Where is Charles?”

“She was hungry.” Becky lifted a shoulder. “He was more than
willing. They took the other two cops with them. They were also…eager to go.”

Justin pushed off the floor to stand and curled his fingers,
gesturing Becky up. “Come on. You’re under arrest for assaultin’ a police
officer.”

Becky only smiled, her expression serene. “Doesn’t matter.
You won’t stop him. He has a goddess at his beck and call. And he has only to
ask you to look into his eyes, and you are his. I’ll be free by morning.”

“Like hell,” Justin growled, reaching down to grab her arm
and pull her upright. He pushed her toward Michael. “Have a uniform take her in
for bookin’.”

“Where are we headin’?” Michael said, his glance slipping to
Khepri.

Justin also glanced at Khepri, who dropped her gaze to the
gash in the side of her dress that exposed the length of her thigh. She hadn’t
realized she’d torn her clothing in the scuffle. She dropped her hand. What did
it matter if she wasn’t dressed appropriately for the coming battle? “They want
a confrontation, but one that is in a controlled environment. There were too
many factions at play at the party. This is private. They have retreated to a
place where only I can go.”

Justin’s fists curled at his sides. “Leave them there. Let
them come lookin’ again. We’ll be ready.”

Khepri shook her head and jutted her chin. “This I must do
alone.”

Mr. Haddara cleared his throat, his gaze intent on her face.
“There might be a way to take some ‘backup,’ as they say here.”

Both Khepri and Justin turned to Mr. Haddara. Something in
the older man’s eyes dislodged a memory. Of her seated at his feet, of him
giving her a wink, no true merriment in his expression, but a signal.
Don’t
let her see your fear.

Khepri swayed, but caught herself before her knees weakened.
“I suppose if anyone knows a way to open the gate of my purgatory, it is you,
husband.”

Khepri sat, her back straight, as the sheik’s
limo careened through the lamplit streets of New Orleans, heading west toward
City Park. Justin sat beside her. Mr. Haddara and Michael occupied the opposite
bench. Her back was tense, her stomach in knots. She hoped she’d guessed
correctly about where Ammit and the resurrected pharaoh, Dr. Felton, had
headed, but since her husband hadn’t bothered correcting her instruction to her
driver, she assumed she was heading in the right direction.

The car was silent other than the rustle of her own linen gown as she
drew deep, cleansing breaths. Anger vibrated through her. Anger she needed to
release because it would serve no purpose in the confrontation to come. Amun
had been near all along, playing with her. Giving her gentle nudges and
encouragement, but failing to give her the one thing she’d always craved. Even
now, he sat like a stranger across from her, and even though she had only
shards of memory of her time in the
Duat
,
she knew this was how he always was with her. Near, but aloof. Resentment
caused her eyes to burn.

Amun’s glance flicked from the window to her. “You are angry with me.”

She narrowed her eyes to slits. “Why mention it? My anger means nothing
to you.”

His dark eyes softened. “That isn’t true. I care, Khepri. Very much.”

“Not enough to tell me who you were. Not enough to let me keep my
memories.”

“I guard the secrets of the
Duat
.
You are human, living among humans now.”

“I was your wife.”

“Was?” His mouth curved up at one side. His eyes narrowed. “You are
everything I knew you would become. Fierce, intelligent, moved to great empathy…”
His gaze strayed for a moment to Justin. “Loving.”

She snorted. “I don’t need you to list the qualities I possess, Amun, Mr.
Haddara, whatever you would have me call you.”

His lips crimped. “Husband, for just a little while longer…please.”

His tone, soft with a hint of yearning, maybe a plea, struck her. Tears
welled in her eyes. “This is a game to you. I am a game piece to be moved
around as you wish. You only care whether you win.”

He reached across the space separating them and lifted her hand,
carefully setting it atop his palm. His heat transferred to her cold skin. “I
do not see this as a game, little warrior.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t call me that,” she said,
her voice hoarse. “The vizier called me that.”

“We all called you that, from the moment Nephthys found you and brought
you to the temple. I am the one who moved her to pluck you from your family. I
saw what you would become, and showed her, during her soul-flights, what your
future held.”

“You confided in her, gave her so much more than you gave to me,” she
said, bitterness creeping into her voice as she wiped her tears with the back
of her other hand. “I could have been prepared.”

“You are prepared. Your spirit is strong and wild and free. A monster
will not sway or cow you.”

Khepri’s shoulders fell, and she slid her fingers around his hand to hold
it. Just as she’d wanted to so long ago. “This, just
this, is what I needed most.”

“And you have had that experience with someone who loves you every bit as
much as you love him,” he whispered, giving her a sad smile. “That was a gift,
Khepri.”

Justin shifted beside her; his arm settled across her shoulders, his large
hand cupping her. He gave her a squeeze. “We can walk away, baby. Amun, here,
can’t stop you. You don’t owe him a damn thing.”

What Justin suggested was shocking. A course she’d never allowed herself to consider, but for a moment she did, imagining living
a life with him, sharing simple joys. He’d be a loving husband and father, a
friend she could share her thoughts with. They could grow old together,
clinging to each other…a lovely thought, one that caused regret to well up,
nearly choking her. She shook her head. “Don’t speak. Please. I can’t. You know
that.”

“Baby, it’s not ‘can’t’—you won’t.” He let out a huge sigh. “Thought I’d say it. Just so you know the offer’s there.”

She glanced up to meet his searching gaze. “I have to be strong.
Hesitation could mean failure.”

“And I don’t want to be a distraction.” There was a note of bitterness in
his voice.

“I can’t allow myself to consider what you risk. I could lose you.” Panic
tightened her chest, and she dragged in deep breaths through her nose, staring
out the window, willing her heart to settle into a slower rhythm. But how could
she shut off the swelling of fear she felt—not for herself, she was resigned to
her fate—but for him? Justin was everything she’d ever dreamed of having, a
strong, deeply moral man. A passionate man.

When she had herself under control, she edged forward from beneath
Justin’s arm and slid a few inches away. Angling her body to take them all in
with one glance, she aimed her stare at her husband. “You said there might be a
way to take backup into the place where they wait.”

“A spell. One you must cast.”

Khepri shook her head. “What incantation? I’ve read the texts; they never
mention this place in between, much less an incantation.”

“It will be your words, your spell. Entirely your
magic.”

She shook her head. “I can create fire from the air and throw up a
barrier with a thin bag, but I am comfortable with the first, and the latter…the
bag…I did not think. It just happened. No spell. No planning. I do not possess
the kind of magic you—”

“Hush.” Her husband tapped her forehead. “The
naos
is not a conduit, siphoning power from me to enable oracles.
The
naos
only amplifies power for
those who are weak or whose gifts are developing. You needed the
naos
only for focus. You communicated with
me without its power. Every time you prayed or thought about me, I heard. The
incident with the plastic bag—there is your proof that you can do so much more.
Alone.” He sat back. “Don’t be stubborn. Accept that you are gifted, with
powers that were born inside you, not given to you or lent.”

The nearer they got to the park, the more her stomach knotted. Their
vehicle slowed; she glanced over her shoulder, through the glass separating
their compartment from the driver’s. Lights swinging from wires above the
intersection changed from red to green. They pulled forward again and she
turned back, blowing out a breath that billowed her
cheeks. “Am I panicking?” she asked, her gaze going to her husband.

“A little.” His smile was impish. His eyes were
dark.

He understood her fear, read her thoughts, knew her better than anyone
because he’d known her forever.

“I have prepared for this moment for most of my life,” she said, more of
a reminder to herself than to him.

He nodded. “You have.”

Khepri swallowed, wishing she could be still, but her heart and her mind
raced ahead. “You wouldn’t believe in me, wouldn’t be here, if you did not
believe I can prevail.”

Again, he nodded.

She closed her eyes for a second and drew another calming breath,
centering her thoughts and remembering the lessons she’d learned from the
wizened man from the East who had taught her mastery over her body as well as
how to fight. Then she leveled a calm gaze upon Mr. Haddara, her dear, calm
Amun. “The only thing that can defeat me is myself,”
she whispered.

His smile was broad, mirroring the pride shining in his eyes.

“This is my battle,” she said, feeling strength reenter her body. “I can
bring along whomever I want. The people I need.”

Justin shifted on his seat. “I’m in. Don’t even think about leavin’ me
behind.”

Although she wanted more than anything to keep him safe, she nodded.

Michael lifted his hand. “Him and me are
partners too. You can’t leave me out.”

Again, she nodded.

Haddara glanced at the other two men, nodding his approval before turning
her way again. “There are others of my security team who are converging on the
park.”

“I will open the door into that place, but they have to swim.”

Michael wrinkled his nose. “That croc gone?”

She grinned, feeling the last of her crippling fear melt away. “If he is
there, he will not interfere.” This she knew because she knew instinctively
that Sobek would be as curious as any to await the outcome.

Michael raised a finger. “There’s something I don’t get.”

All heads swiveled toward Justin’s younger partner.

He shrugged. “Why didn’t this nameless one, simply…leave? He could have
been anyone, done anything. Why risk a confrontation with you?”

Khepri blinked, surprised by the question, because she hadn’t thought
about it from the point of view of someone who didn’t understand that some
things were simply written into existence. “I would have found him, wherever he
fled. Our fates were interwoven. Without me removed from the situation, he
would always wonder when I would appear to do battle.”

Michael’s lips pursed. “If I’d been resurrected after being murdered, I’d
have done everything in my power to live my life to the fullest. I wouldn’t
risk myself like that again.”

“Pharaoh’s intention is not to simply hide in plain sight. His will is
set. The vizier who murdered us both said his spirit is possessed, so he is
unable to change. He seeks power, a new throne. In this
realm. With Ammit by his side, using her powers of persuasion and
ability to instill terror, he could be the calm at the center of the storm,
even of one he fabricates. I am the only one who would see him for what he
truly is. He will never be at ease, unopposed, so long as I live. If for a
moment I believed he had remorse for what he did, that he might…change…into a
man worthy of second chance…” She shook her head. “The fact he consorts with
Ammit is proof he will not change.”

Michael nodded. Justin turned to look out the window of the car. Did he
feel regret, just as she did, that Pharaoh was still intent on his path?

Amun cleared his throat. “We are here.”

The moment they passed the park entrance, Khepri raised the hem of her
kalasiris
and bit the edge, tearing it
with her teeth. She gripped the fabric in both hands and rent it to just above
her knee. When she glanced up, all three men were staring at the leg she bared.
“I cannot be tripping over it. Sorry, husband, I know it was expensive.”

He chuckled and waved a hand. “The sheik can afford it.”

They neared the area near the small walking bridge where Sobek had
climbed onto the bank to carry her to the cave. They all exited the sheik’s
fine vehicle. A full moon, glowing yellow, hovered directly overhead, lending
enough light that Khepri could pick out the armed men, dressed in black, who
were stepping from large, square vehicles. They carried weapons, and they had
wires that ran up their necks and hooked over the tops of their ears. A man
stepped forward and handed similar apparatuses to both Michael and Justin. They
put the ends in their ears and spoke quietly, nodding when they heard each other.
When the man offered her the same, she waved him away.

“You’d be able to hear us and we’d hear you,” Justin murmured.

She shook her head. “Distractions…”

“Then I’ll stick close.”

She smiled and then turned to her husband. “You won’t be coming with us?”
she asked, although she already sensed his answer.

Shaking his head, he reached for her hand and bent over it, kissing the
top. When he straightened, he said, “I wish you well, Khepri. It has been a
pleasure watching over you.”

“That sounds like good-bye,” she said, a tingle of alarm reverberating
through her. Amun had been such a big part of her life, even when he’d been
ephemeral, she didn’t know what a world without him would be like. “Either way,
won’t I see you again?”

“I will always be there, but for this, you must travel alone.” He lifted
his chin toward Justin. “She is free, Justin Henry Boucher.”

Justin gave the god of the wind a solemn nod. “I’ll watch out for her.”

Khepri raised her eyebrows.
The two men spoke of her as though she were a token to be passed between them.
Her eyes narrowed on her husband.

His lips twitched. Since apparently he really could read her thoughts, he
knew she resented feeling as though she were an object to be passed from one to
the other.

Without saying another word, her god husband walked away, shadows
swallowing him.

“That spell?” Justin said, reminding her.

Khepri’s glance remained on the darkness where her husband had
disappeared for a long moment, and then she turned to the man who had tried to
give her a listening device. “You will follow us into the water?”

“We will go wherever you lead us,” he said, and flashed her a confident nod.

Justin shrugged off his fine jacket, removed the strapping around his
torso that held his weapon, and stripped away his outer shirt to stand beside
her in only a bright white undershirt. His handheld weapon, he stuffed into the
back of his trousers. Michael did the same. They both gave her a nod, signaling
they were ready.

“Give me a moment. I have to think.” She waved them back and walked to
the edge of the water. Golden light reflected on the surface. She kicked off
her sandals and walked in until the water lapped gently around her thighs and
thick vegetation squeezed between her toes.

Glancing upward, she studied the moon. “I could use your light, Khonsu,”
she said softly. “If I entreat you, will you provide it? I am sorry I do not
remember you, but if you are half as remarkable as your father…” She closed her
eyes, drawing in the moonlight, imagining the glow warming her skin, a true tingling warmth thrilled through her veins. When she
opened her eyes, she glanced down. Her body glowed. Although she hadn’t
envisioned how her request would be manifested, she was happy with the result.
“Thank you,” she murmured.