New Egypt Read online

  CONTENTS

  Oriceran

  Dedication

  Legal

  Oriceran US Map

  Oriceran Map

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  Author Notes - Sarah

  Acknowledgements - Sarah

  Author Notes - Martha

  Publisher Notes - Michael

  Social Links

  About - Sarah

  Martha Carr Series List

  Other LMBPN Books

  NEW EGYPT

  Soul Stone Mage Book Five

  By Sarah Noffke and Martha Carr

  A part of

  The Revelations of Oriceran Universe

  Written and Created

  by Michael Anderle & Martha Carr

  The Oriceran Universe

  (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are

  Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.

  DEDICATION

  From Sarah

  For my daughter, Lydia.

  You are the real magic in my life.

  From Martha

  To everyone who still believes in magic and all the possibilities that holds.

  To all the readers who make this entire ride so much fun.

  And to all the dreamers just like me who create wonder, big and small, every day.

  NEW EGYPT Team

  JIT Beta Readers

  Paul Westman

  Kelly O’Donnell

  James Caplan

  Kimberly Boyer

  Sarah Weir

  Daniel Weigert

  Micky Cocker

  Larry Omans

  John Ashmore

  Thomas Ogden

  If we missed anyone, please let us know!

  Editor

  Lynne Stiegler

  NEW EGYPT (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  This book Copyright © 2017 Sarah Noffke, Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, December 2017

  The Oriceran (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.

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  PROLOGUE

  The lantern light barely lit the large lobby. That was fine, because Cordelia didn’t need much light—she could see fine in the dark. She pulled her fangs from the man’s neck and his head lolled back. He had been a vegetarian, which was not her favorite type of victim. Those who fed on meat had richer blood, but for now she couldn’t be picky.

  Turning her attention to her companion on the other side of the table, Cordelia released the dead man’s body and let it slide to the floor without a thought. She pulled an embroidered handkerchief from her bosom and dabbed it on the corners of her lips to wipe away the blood. When her lips were clean she dropped the handkerchief on the dead man’s body, her eyes still pinned on Hamilton.

  Her partner was dressed in a traditional blue British suit, which was cut close to the body, and he also wore a clever grin. It was one of her favorite things about him.

  “You always look like you’ve got a secret that you’re deciding if you should tell or not,” Cordelia remarked.

  “I have many secrets, but you know most of them,” Hamilton said.

  “Most?” she asked, her head tilted to the side with a playful look buzzing in her brown eyes. Cordelia wore a red gothic Victorian dress, a fashion she’d fallen in love with when on Earth in the thirteenth century. Now most on that planet didn’t put the same effort into their dress. Jeans? What were those? Pushing one of her black curls off her shoulder, she stared around the hotel. This morning it was bustling with guests and had a large waitstaff.

  The owner was now lying dead on the floor at Cordelia’s feet. It hadn’t been difficult to get into his mind and make him evacuate the hotel and fire most of the staff, emptying the hotel. What had been difficult was convincing Hamilton that the Palm Hotel would be the perfect place for their coven to grow and flourish.

  “You still don’t like it, do you?” she asked him. His discerning green eyes scanned the walls, which were covered in old tapestries, and the small palm trees flanking the fountain and pool that ran the length of the lobby. The ceiling, some thirty feet in height, was covered in a colorful mosaic depicting the Nile River filled with fishing boats, the sun setting in the east. New Egypt wasn’t exactly like its counterpart on Earth, but it was close enough that sometimes Cordelia forgot which planet she was on. She preferred Oriceran, which was why they’d decided to return to it after so many decades. Well, and it was the only place vampires could be created the right way.

  Hamilton wrinkled his nose, sniffing. “It’s not so much that I don’t like it, but rather that the hotel smells like…”

  “Humans?” Cordelia completed his sentence.

  “Well, and witches, Light Elves, gnomes, and all the other rubbish who have stayed here.” The lanternlight danced over the curves of Hamilton’s face. He had high cheekbones like his father and the same sharp eyebrows framed his green eyes, but he had his mother’s black hair and her Elvish ears. However, the silver streak that ran through the hair on the side of his head was unique to him. Every vampire’s soul mark was unique. When Cordelia had been turned many centuries ago in the streets of London, a purplish birth mark in the shape of a dagger had appeared on her left shoulder blade.

  Too keenly she remembered when she’d lost her soul. Most mourned for a bit when they lost their magic and became a vampire, a beast that sucks the blood of others. However, Cordelia recognized from the beginning that the change was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She was immortal now and yes, lacked magic, but was even more powerful, having unmatched strength and mind control.

  Hamilton pushed away from the small table at which he was sitting, crossing one leg over the other. “The hotel will do, although I wish it had a bit more history. It could also be grander, somehow.” He flung his hand in a circle, indicating the columns plated in gold and the custom furniture.

  “I promise, dear, that we will trade up. First we build our coven, making it strong with only the brightest and boldest vampires. Then, when we take over the kingdom of New Egypt, we can upgrade,” Cordelia said, snapping her fingers. “Lux? Devo?” She pu
rsed her ruby-red lips, disapproval heavy in her stare.

  A tall man with two chins and small eyes appeared in the archway. “Yes, Madam? What may I do for you?”

  Cordelia pointed to the man bleeding onto the Persian rug beside her, although there wasn’t much blood left in him. “Devo, where have you been? The hotel owner has been dead for several minutes.”

  Devo bowed a few times as he started forward. “My apologies, Madam. Lux and I were trying to choose which room we would take.” He called over his shoulder, “Lux!”

  The other vampire’s figure blurred as he sped forward, but Lux became visible when he halted just in front of Cordelia. He was much shorter than Devo, with square shoulders. His head was bald, but he had no trouble growing a thick beard. Lux knelt on one knee and offered her a hand, seeming not to notice the dead man next to him. “My lady, I hear we’ve disappointed you. Please accept my apologies.”

  Cordelia drew in a long breath and let it out as she dismissed Lux, then looked at Hamilton. “We really need to be particular about those we turn into vampires. I don’t want any more duds.”

  Lux grimaced as he took the dead man’s hands. Devo already had his feet, and they lifted the body and carried it from the lobby.

  “Oh, and boys?” Cordelia called when they were almost gone.

  “Yes, Madam?” Lux asked, sounding less enthusiastic than before.

  “I left you each a present in the walk-in freezer. You might want to thaw them a bit, but their blood should warm up fast since I suspect their hearts are still beating. I only sent the tourists in there a little while ago for safekeeping.”

  “Madam, you are too kind. Thank you,” Lux said, a smile breaking across his face.

  CHAPTER ONE

  A scream sent Azure into a full sprint. She nearly tripped on her yellow gown as she rounded the corner and pushed through the swinging door to the kitchens. The chef, a round woman with a full head of orange curls, had her hands clapped over her mouth, and her wide eyes were staring at Manx. The pooka was in his black stallion form, his narrowed eyes beams of white light as he stared down at the pudgy woman. He huffed and put his head into a large pot on the stove.

  Azure let out a sigh of relief. “It’s okay, Matilda. This is Manx. He’s a pooka, and completely… Well, maybe not completely harmless, but I assure you there’s nothing to scream about.”

  The old witch was visibly shaking as she continued to stare at the stallion, who was polishing off whatever had been simmering in the pot. “I saw a raven sitting on the rack of pots.” Matilda gestured overhead. “When I went to shoo the pest, it transformed into a stallion right before my eyes. What kind of magic is this?”

  Azure strode forward, wrapping an arm around the chef’s shoulder and leading her away from Manx, who was now making quite the mess. Split pea soup splashed from the pot as he ate his way to the bottom. “Manx is a pooka, a fairy who can shift into different forms. He’s mischievous, and apparently hungry. I’ll take care of him.”

  Matilda nodded, her eyes dazed. So many in Virgo had never left the comforts of the kingdom, and had therefore lived very sheltered lives. Since Azure began her rule she’d introduced Light Elves, Gnomes, werecats, pixies, and now a pooka into the ancient land. Her people, especially those in the House of Enchanted, were getting quite an education in diversity.

  “Queen Azure, is it too much to ask to not allow your new friend Manx in my kitchen? It’s a huge task to feed the House,” Matilda asked. Every day her staff served hundreds of meals to those who visited the House on business. Her job made the witch very uptight, and often she could be found fretting nervously like a windup doll that had been over-cranked.

  A loud clang made both witches start slightly. Manx’ ferocious assault on the soup had knocked the pot off the stove and it landed on the tile floor, where he continued licking it clean.

  “No, that’s not too much to ask. Don’t you worry—I’ll take care of Manx. Why don’t you take a break? Maybe stroll through the gardens and get some fresh air? It will do you good. I’ll have the kitchen clean and empty in ten minutes,” Azure said, ushering the older witch out into the corridor.

  Matilda nodded, wringing her hands in her damp apron. “Okay, you’re right. But I have to make a new batch, so I can’t be gone for too long.”

  “I do believe if the queen mother doesn’t have soup before dinner she’ll survive,” Azure said.

  “I don’t mean to overstep my bounds and I realize the queen mother is your grandmother, but she doesn’t take well to not having her aperitif and soup. I’ve only made that mistake once,” Matilda said. She wore her lavender soul stone around her neck, just as Azure once had. Absentmindedly Azure clutched for the soul stone that used to warm her chest. Of course her fingertips found nothing, because her stone was gone forever.

  “Don’t you worry about the queen mother. I’ll take care of her if there’s no soup. But knowing you, which I have my whole life, you’ll make a new batch in no time.” Azure pushed open the swinging door and paused, watching as Matilda scuttled away, shaking her head.

  Azure straightened, pressing the fabric of her dress down, and cleared her throat as she turned to the stallion, who took up a major portion of the large kitchen. Manx flicked his tail, his head still buried in the pot. He made a great deal of noise licking up the last few drops.

  Again Azure cleared her throat, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and Manx’ muscles spasmed along his back. He was a beautiful creature, albeit more impish than most. When he lifted his head, his mouth was covered in green froth and his eyes were dazed.

  “Manx,” Azure said, her tone punishing, “I thought we discussed not turning into a stallion inside the House of Enchanted.”

  The large black stallion was replaced by a small plump furry black bunny. He twitched his nose and lifted onto his back legs to show he was the cutest thing ever.

  “Don’t you try that on me,” Azure warned, but her tough act started to crack.

  “I was so very hungry, my lady. So hungry. And the only way I could reach the pot of soup was as a stallion. I didn’t know it would frighten the chef so badly,” Manx said.

  “You also don’t appear very concerned that you did.” Azure tapped her foot impatiently.

  “Who can think clearly when eating homemade split pea soup? You know that before I came here I had to catch my own game and eat it raw.” Manx said this with great offense, as if it had been the most disgusting thing ever.

  “It sounds like I’m enabling you by providing all your meals. Maybe I should still make you hunt? That would keep you honest.”

  The bunny’s ears perked up. “Speaking of honest, you might want to move out of the way of the swinging door.”

  Azure did as she was told, flattening herself against the wall. A moment later a hoof knocked the door open and Blisters trotted into the kitchen as Buzz Buzz flew over his head. The unicorn looked around, his big eyes wide with excitement.

  “Matilda isn’t here right now, but she won’t mind if we test the whipped cream for the pudding. That’s my job—she calls me the ‘Official Taste Tester.’ Says it’s important. I think it’s more important than being queen, but don’t tell Azure that,” Blisters said to the pixie, who had spotted Azure at once.

  Buzz Buzz pointed in Azure’s direction. Her hands were waving wildly, but only nonsensical rambling came from her mouth. Blisters trotted over to the oversized icebox and opened it with his horn. A large bowl occupied the middle shelf, much too high for Blisters to get to easily. Azure simply watched, exchanging looks with Manx, who sat discreetly on the ground.

  “All I have to do…” Blisters put his front hooves on the shelf under the whipped cream and nudged his horn under the bowl. It slid forward a little, but mostly remained level. Blisters rammed his hoof hard into the icebox’ back wall and the bowl shot forward, spilling half its contents onto the tiny unicorn’s head.

  Azure yanked out her wand and directed it at the bowl, making
it and its spilled contents freeze in the air. She floated it back into the shelf, pushing it to the back where it would be safe, and closed the icebox door securely.

  Blisters’ tongue wiped across his mouth. Buzz Buzz grabbed a towel and went to work cleaning the whipped cream off his head, muttering frantically the entire time. The unicorn turned, looking lost. “Did I do that? Has my witch magic finally come to me?”

  Blisters froze when he set eyes on Azure—everything started to compute. He backed up a few feet, cowering slightly, and Buzz Buzz flew protectively in front of him. The pixie’s sparkly wings moved fast as she hovered.

  “Is it too much to ask that all the hooved creatures stay out of the kitchen?” Azure asked, her voice overflowing with frustration.

  “Queen Azure!” Blisters squealed. “You didn’t hear me earlier when I said… Anyway, you’re looking lovely. Yellow is a nice color on you. Not as nice as pink, but everyone looks great in pink. Well, not Gillian. Pink would wash him out, but please don’t tell him that. I think I irritate the gnome, although I’m not sure why. Did you say, ‘all hooved creatures?’ Have the horses from the stable been trying to get into the peanut butter in the pantry? I told them all about it. Buzz Buzz doesn’t think they can understand me, but I think my distant cousins know more than we all believe.”

  Azure allowed a smile onto her face. How could she not? Blisters never knew when to shut up, about like Monet. “I wasn’t referring to the horses.”

  “Oh, well, then who?” Blisters asked, staring around. Even though he was quite short by unicorn standards, he still hadn’t spotted Manx a few feet away. The bunny was inconspicuous while sitting still.