The Valley of Kings and a Queen

Chapter 27

Two figures emerge from the shadows. I draw my staff as the boys fall in line behind me.

"Please, you really don't need to do that," the voice. A girl responds kindly, "you must not risk your energy or your magic. I promise, I'm not here to hurt you." The girl's wearing a red hooded cloak that conceals the majority of her face. I glance behind her to take in the other figure of a man. He's leaning against the wall of a building with his arms crossed. A glance downwards to see that his belt is adorned with knives and swords probably waiting to be unsheathed and used to administer a fatal blow. I swallow trying to conceal the slight fear that has arisen. I really don't want another confrontation right now with any more magicians or goddesses.

"Then why are you being so secretive," I let out, "and how could we trust you if you don't trust us."

The girl just grins widely then pulls off the hood of her cloak. I have to hold back my gasp. She too, like Cleopatra, was stunning. She was crowned with a golden beaded headdress of intricate embroidery and golden beats that hung down from the trim and partially covered her thick dark black hair. She had dark blue eyeshadow and her face was contoured to accentuate her beauty.

"I'm Nailah," she states, "and this is Zane." He too began to move his cloak that hid his brooding features. Handsome was an understatement. He had dark facial stubble. His skin was olive, and he appeared to be of Arabic descent. Though, his most breathtaking feature was his eyes. They were strikingly ice blue.

"I'm Greyson," Grey says charmingly as he steps out in front me to introduce himself to the beautiful Egyptian girl, "but you can call me Grey." He gives her a wink and a smirk lines his face. I roll my eyes. Of course, Grey would attempt to flirt with any gorgeous girl, even one that had the capability of ending our lives.

"Hello, Anubis," she says mischievously. His eyes flicker and begin to illuminate a dark golden color – that of sweet honey.

"And why should we trust you," Finley snarls as he saunters forward.

"Because we want the same things," her voice echoes over us.

"And what might that be," Olivier inquired from behind us. His voice low but assertive.

"To get rid of the gods and goddess that you are hosting," she states, frankly. She is right, but what makes her think we should trust her.

"I --,"

"Before you make any assumptions about being magicians. Let me just say that I am not your enemy. We aren't like the other magicians that have been chasing you guys down in Egypt after they sensed your presence. We aren't really interested in sentencing you to death – and if we did, well I'll be honest you would have all been dead by now."

"So, what do you want then?" Finley remarks refusing to remove the harshness from his tone.

"An alliance I guess you could say," she shrugs.

"Then, what makes the others want us dead," Aiden asks, referring to the other magicians as he tries to make sense of everything.

"Well us Egyptians want to get rid of the gods and goddess. We banished them from this world and don't want them here."

"I thought you worshipped them since they are all so powerful,"

"Very much so. But, we want them to rule from their domain, not from this realm. It usually doesn't end too well when they show up here. We like their protection and powers but from a distance. Plus, if they are here, then they aren't really doing their job where they should be."

"So that's why they want to kill us," Henri lets out.

"Yes, the other magicians. They are very much against hosting the gods. It's dangerous and not really just. Imagine having a really unfair advantage over the average magicians. Instead the true test of your power should be from the abilities and brute strength one has. No other magicians, they don't just want to kill you. They want to use you for the advantage your powers might hold over others"