Dinner was an understatement; Trueth thought as she glimpsed out of the window. A full-blown banquet had been set up with Kemet's magical and political elite united by appetite. Nefertiti for once had not spent ages in the kitchen preparing delicacies. Instead, the palace's chef had rallied his troops. Rows and rows of tables were disappearing under gleaming dishes with roasted fowl, fish, lamb, as well as a staggering variety of vegetables, fruits and sweets. There were far too many sandalled feet for the cats to join so Trueth had shoved morsels of goose into Blondie's bottomless stomach before she got dressed, had felt Mish-Mish's raspy tongue licking sauce off her finger. She pushed aside a soft purple curtain, peeped into her bedroom and smiled. The two beasts were fast asleep in her bed, shedding hair on her pillows. As well as on the draperies. She brushed herself off, sneezed and smiled. She truly was home.
Trueth descended to the ornamental gardens of the Suka Palace, wove her way through the throng, smiling, nodding and bowing to guests until she reached the bench where Seisi had installed himself. Metjen stood close by, speaking to a group of high ranking priests. Like Seisi he wore a long white linen shendyt but unlike his new Chief Advisor, he sparkled with ornaments. Somehow, it suited him.
Seisi had turned his head away from her, frowning deep in thought and pulling at his lower lip. He radiated stress, and that in itself was unusual.
She left him alone, smiled at the nearest priest and addressed Metjen instead. 'What's up with him?'
'Not sure,' Metjen said. 'We started talking about family, how happy you looked this morning and he suddenly went all quiet... .'
Sparks exploded in Metjen's eyes and he raised his finger. That sort of thing usually happened when he received an important message.
'Problems, oh magical Christmas cracker?' Trueth asked.
'Not with Seisi,' Metjen said. 'I just got notice the other civilisations in this world have woken up to the fact that some of their hapless descendants still form little pockets of magical resistance in the demon world. The People have sent a few dream walker teams to America, Australia and New Zealand. Caused a bit of a stir apparently back home. I think it's about high time the magically gifted get organised. No matter what world they're in.'
A thought shot through her mind. 'Are the demons still out there?'
'We don't know. Our final release of cosmic energy should have sent them straight back to their plane but we'll have to see. The trouble is, they have infested so many humans with their evil, I'm not entirely convinced it's going to make any dent in the shit going on back home. Or did you mean here in Kemet?' Metjen asked belatedly.
'That as well. No trace of Nebmutef or that rogue high priestess?'
Shhhh, touchy subject! Iseret said.
Metjen's stormy expression showed she was spot on, as usual, so Trueth dropped the subject and turned her back at him to check on her lover.
Seisi still seemed to be scrutinising the bushes. Dog was asleep on his feet, unlike the cats she seemed to be just fine with large agglomerations of floppy footwear.
Trueth planted a kiss on his cheek, he turned around and smiled at her with a sad expression. He was usually such a cheerful and determined person. His lingering weakness must be getting to him.
'I love you,' he declared fiercely.
'I know that, dear. What is bothering you?' Trueth asked.
Seisi hesitated for a moment. Then he said, 'My family.'
'Why? Do you miss them? Metjen can make sure they visit you... . '
'It is not that,' Seisi said. His head drooped for a moment before he raised it again. 'It is more that they will need to meet you.'
'And... .' Seeing his desolate expression Trueth felt like hugging him. But she also felt that niggle of concern. What on Earth was his problem?
'My family means the life to me,' Seisi explained. 'So do you,' he added. He was not making a lot of sense.
Seisi took a deep breath. 'See, I told you I come from generations of countryfolk. My people are very proud, but they are also set in their ways. I am very different from all of them, but they respect that, as I am one of theirs. You are not. I am not sure how they will react to you. Especially my mother...she is...well, she is who she is,' Seisi said lamely.
'She means a lot to me,' he added and watched her with conflict clouding the handsome face she had come to love so much. As well as the person behind it.
'Your sister Kiya indicated something when she was working for me. Your mother seems to have an issue with foreigners, is that it?' Trueth said with a calm she did not feel.
'Yes. I...she might have. It will not change anything between us.' Seisi grabbed her hand and held it against his cheek. 'It just is...I just realised I have to explain things to her at some point.' He drew a deep breath, his boyish smile resurfacing. 'It will be allright, for certain.'
Trueth felt like laughing and crying at the same time. A grown man, a great spy, courageous adventurer and fantastic person—her lover—afraid of his parent?
At the thought of parents, her stomach dropped like lead. She had forgotten to contact her mother and sister while she had been in the demon world.
Trueth took a deep breath. One thing at a time. She had dealt with visions, ghosts, gods and demons. Had been sucked through a stone circle and jumped off a mountain. She would not let a couple of stroppy mums ruin her life.
'Chirp.' Trueth saw a sparrow hopping along a branch. It tilted its head and regarded her hopefully.
'Sorry, mate, no bread.' She stretched out her hand nevertheless.
The bird skipped closer, a fluffy ball of taupe feathers. With a flutter of its wings, the sparrow landed on her hand, its tiny claws pricking the inside of her hand. She raised her visitor to face height and watched him cheerfully chirping away. He was almost weightless, an airborne wonder made by Mother Nature...she thought of her mum problem, snorted and the little fellow took flight, flapping into the acacias nearby. He was gone, but he had left his lightness behind.
'Thank you,' she whispered after him.
In the distance, she heard the braying of horns. Pharaoh had arrived. Metjen and a large part of the party drifted towards the river, to welcome the guest of honour. Trueth heard the laughter and voices floating away, revealing the silvery twang of two harps previously hidden under the babble...until she heard screams in the distance and shouts of dismay. She looked up sharply.
Seisi grabbed her arm. 'Go! Be my eyes!'
Trueth nodded, bunched her dress and hurried after the others, as fast as her sandals would allow.
She followed the exclamations of shock that echoed from the quay; the cheerful mood had evaporated. She reached the waterline, looked into the heavy floods and recoiled, speechless.
There was no water left.
The Nile was running blood.
==== THE END ===
Well - not quite - 'To be continued' is maybe more appropriate. 'Cursed Times - No Tomorrow?' will follow.
Eventually.
But first, I will re-charge my scribbling batteries and have written something different. BUT it's also a spin-off from the world of Cursed Times, a Prequel in fact - In My Attic', a cozy mystery featuring the Avebury Witches.
In fact, I love mysteries so much, I'm writing another one - "Down the Hatch".
As to 'Cursed Times - Only Yesterday' Please do let me know if you have any comments on the novel, especially on this ending. I hope it worked for you - I gave you closure on this story, but I open up a new box at the same time... .
If you liked this story, please leave me a vote or a comment. Or both XD. Wattpad writers write for feedback. We thrive on it! Thank you so much. If you REALLY liked it - maybe you can tell your friends about it?
And if you happen NOT to have read the Wattys-winning first book in the Series 'Cursed Times - What Now?' then I suggest you do! XD
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This chapter is dedicated my friend StacyLV. To make her bring back the banana fondler!!!
Image is from DeviantArt copyright natal_ee