Eight

215 Years Back.

Royal Garden.

"Argh!" Seth roared as he wiped off the smear of blood on his brow. Sparring with the other princes always put him in a bad mood, so he spent the rest of the day fuming and trying to let off his anger. The garden was the only place he could find solace from all the bedlam.

He gazed around, then hid behind a tree as he saw his father, the Pharoah talking to a strange man behind the huge cedar tree that grew in the garden.

Seth's brows furrowed in confusion. All royal matters had always been discussed in the royal court but since his beloved mother Nefertiti got ill with a strange disease, things had gone into chaos and everyone had started to act disorderly.

The other wives murmured about her in their chambers, linking his mother's sickness as punishment from the gods for all the evil his father had done.

He was only nineteen, and his mother had been his only guide and support which was why he felt worthless the weaker his mother got.

She suffered each passing day in agony and all he could do was watch it all happen. It got agonizing the longer he saw her fight a losing battle.

They'd seek far and wide for a cure, but all the physicians they found could do nothing about it, and neither could the magicians or the confectioners.

The priest had also clearly stated that it was a strange illness from the god of the dead. She would die if she was not cured within a month.

Persephone, his sister stayed in the temple praying and offering sacrifices on her mother's behalf but nothing changed and she only grew worse.

Watching the two men converse, Seth strained to hear what it was they talked about and his heart gave a wild thump in his chest when he heard them mention the dark sorcerer beyond the Nile river that they were going to bring to cure his mother.

It was forbidden. The sorcerer had been banished because of all the havoc he'd caused to the city by his conjuring, yet he felt alright with it if he could stop his mother's suffering.

The gods would be angry for such sacrilege, especially from the ruler of their people, but desperate times called for desperate measures and they were all pretty desperate since the queen's illness.

The man whom his father was conversing with soon left. And his father sighed deeply.

"I know you are there Seth," he called in a deep voice. "How long do you plan to hide behind a tree," he asked and Seth stepped out of his hiding place, his demeanor wary as he approached his father.

His father turned from him and looked up towards the cedar tree, hands clasped behind his back.

"Do you think am in the wrong son? Do you think that I am making the wrong decisions as Pharoah, the great ruler of Egypt and the one chosen by the gods to serve them?" He asked, and turned to face Seth, his face set with grim resolve.

"I have beseeched the gods Seth. Every one of them. I've offered my fattest rams as sacrifices and yet they remain silent while my belove withers away" he agonized, eyes locked with his as he waited for assurance or acceptance from him. He could not decipher what he clearly showed. Seth remained silent, undecided.

"You will be Pharoah's son" he grabbed at his shoulder, locking his head with his. Seth closed his eyes breathing in slowly.

"Do not be as weak as your father".

"You're not weak, father and I will always stand by you no matter what." He assured with conviction as his father pulled away, patting him slowly on the back, before letting go of him.

His strong stance was suddenly back and he looked determined to die.

"Prepare the chariots. We live once the sun sets. Tell Persephone to assist in the preparation of your mother for the journey. No one should know about this" he ordered.

"Yes sir!"

"Alaric Massimo will be our guide out of the city. Get trusted guards from your sentry. They will guide your mother as we journey tonight. You may leave". He waved him away, turning back to face the tree. Seth bowed, ran out of the garden, then toward the temple.

That night their lives would change forever and mark the end of their reign in Egypt.

The roaring storms as they journeyed through the night served as an omen but they refused to turn back to their lands.

The thunder rent the heavens, the lightning illuminating ghostly creatures that roamed the night in a bid to warn them off from committing a sacrilege. They ignored the warning, their horses galloping through the sandy gravely sand until they reached the devil's lair.

The sorcerer's healing chamber was dark as night. The queen was laid onto an earthen trench filled with water. Then began the long chants of the sorcerers and their followers as they invoked different spirits into her. Seth and the men stood behind the door as her scream rang louder and louder than the storm, then came the whipping sounds.

There had been so much agony in one night.

So much agony.

PRESENT.

SETH POV.

I roared and the clashing sound of the table on the wall made me realize that I had flung it. I wanted to rip to pieces everything that stood in my path but I forced myself to stop.

I had almost killed her again.

I hated her. Hated how she spoke, how she looked at me, even how she breathe. When I first turned the memories of that night were hazy like a nightmare that needed to be forgotten but I didn't forget. We were creatures of the dark and I knew a lot of demons and dark gods came together to give birth to us.

When you focused too much on an event, the mind made a way to make it more vivid for you to remember.

Every detail of that night felt like a movie on replay in my mind. And the screaming. It went on all night and she suffered. She went through so much pain that it was suffocating to listen or watch. By the time we were allowed into the room, she was lying in a pool of water mixed with her blood, the laceration from the horsewhip marring every inch of her skin that was on display.

That was when I realized that my father's decision had been wrong. It was too late but father thought differently.

I remembered our hot argument, the way I'd stormed into the night when I couldn't bear the torment.

She dared to mention my mother. My mother!

I couldn't stay here with her blood smelling thickly in the air and making me feel like I wanted to be closer to her.

It was driving me insane that I needed her when all I wanted to do was choke her to death or burn in the sun myself.

Feeling impulsive, I pulled open the door and flinched as the bright sun hit my face.

It was hot but I didn't feel my flesh burning. I stood in awe as the sun shone down on me. I gazed at my skin as if I was seeing them for the first time.

Dawn did have the very rare blood that all the vampires wanted, and I'd found her first.

Masika owed me in the past life and if Dawn was her reincarnation, I'll take all I could from her.

I leaped into the air, landing on the tallest tree that stood in the middle of the forest. I needed more room to breathe. A place that didn't smell like her.

I ran farther and it was such a euphoric feeling to have the sun boring down on me while the wind wisps through my face and hair as I accelerated my speed.

The air cleared of her scent.

The raging thoughts do not go away.

CAFE.

GRACIE POV.

I got down from the cab and walked towards the cafe, my head stuck in a constant state of confusion. A nagging feeling in the back of my head told me that something wasn't right.

I entered the cafe, got to my post, and put on my apron, then tried to ignore the fact that most of the workers were looking at me with questions in their eyes.

I busied myself with the expresso and just as I made sure I got it working right, I glanced up to see deep green eyes that had my stomach dipping hard. The sensation made me feel like I would choke if I swallowed.

Gabriel looked worried. "Is she sick?"

I glanced around to see if there was someone behind me that he was talking to. Coming up short, I turned to face him. "Whose sick?"

He shifted back, one of his hands going into his pocket as he frowned. His stance was suddenly straighter.

"What do you mean who is sick? Don't tell me you got distracted by a guy on your way there and decided to take him home instead of checking on Dawn," he accused, his voice laced with disappointment and frustration. "I expected better from you Gracie!" He got out, his voice raised slightly so as not to attract attention.

My chest burned a little from his word but I couldn't focus on that because I could suddenly remember why I had gone to Dawn's in the first place.

It was mind-blowing that my head could play me like that. Maybe I've been more stressed than I thought I was.

Gabriel watched me as I stewed inside. His outburst had hurt and it was uncalled for. Squaring my shoulders, I met his eyes.

"I did go to her house but she wasn't home, so I'd appreciate it if you don't act like a god and judge me to death" I got out, feeling suddenly angry and mad about what he said. Did I pick up guys? Yes, but it was never during work hours, so what was his god-damned problem?

"I shouldn't judge you ?" He asked in a harsh whisper. "She's your friend. Your best friend, shouldn't you be a little more worried for her well-being?"

"I am worried! Just because I don't wear my emotions on my face doesn't mean I'm not. Why in the duck's name are you mad at me anyway?" I asked, my voice slightly raised when all I wanted to do was scream bloody murder.

He looked taken aback, then the frown lines became more pronounced on his face as he waved me off and stormed out of the cafe.

They all sneaked glances at me like I was a condemned criminal. Gabriel who had never lost his temper was suddenly fuming and angry with me for absolutely no reason but some stupid shit about me forgetting just a tad where Dawn was.

Gabriel's car pulled out of the parking lot and he drove off like a maniac.

I took off my apron and hit it on the counter angrily, muttering curse words aloud and daring anyone with my eyes to complain.

"Fuck this!" I finally yelled, then walked out of the cafe. He could fire me for all I care.

It hurt though because deep down I knew why it hurt more when Gabriel spoke to me in that way.

Working in his cafe had all been because after the first day I saw him, I'd fallen hopelessly in love. I wanted him to approve of me, I wanted him to care and worry about me. I wanted him to love me back, but his attention was always directed at Dawn and I hated every minute of it.

I loved Dawn, but being her best friend made me feel suffocated.

She was perfect and I wasn't.

I entered the bar. It was midday but the bartender was not surprised to see me. I was a regular after all.

Gabriel's words kept rolling around in my head and it made me see red. Why the fuck couldn't I just hate him and damn it all to hell.

A drink is placed in front of me and I quickly gulped it down. The bartender refilled my drink without question as I drowned the shots like I was an addict. The burn of the drink numbed the pain but I still feel like shit.

I've always felt like shit.