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This is a sequel to my fanfic Ancient. Rereading that sloppy piece of work I feel a desire to delete it. I will not since it reminds me of what not to do. Vampire can't unlive in deserts they told her. Gory Fangtell unlived in filthy caves with haggard vampires that ate their kills off the ground. Gory chose the risk of blistering into ash over crawling and hunting like an animal.Taking over Egypt was easier than flapping her wings. The old pharaoh was lonely and desperate for someone to boss around. He taught her how to rule and she was a natural at demanding what she wanted regardless of practicality. She believed it to be a mercy kill and at least gave him the honor of the royal burial. He was buried under his pyramids along side his family in golden sarcophagi.Gory liked the swag of the sarcophagus and pick one out for her own bedroom. She didn't mind the glamour and kept the throne the same as she ruled the night. The courts saw her as Isis had come down to judge them. They were grateful when she granted them a kiss of immortality in turn for servitude. The people were terrified of what they couldn't see so they gave their obedience. Those who did not, who questioned where their Pharaohs and queens went, were splattered on the sand. Many grew scared of the dark, the time their new ruler walked.Not among the people did she ever. The people longed for when the DeNiles would parade through the streets. Their beauty and majesty met with thunders of applause. But that was long ago.Gory sat sideways on the throne of the Pharaoh, a big cushy pillow beneath her. A servant handed her a goblet of red liquid.The standing guards feared what that poor soul had done to end up in the night-walker's drink.The diamond spectacles she wore didn't truly improve her vision. She did look wickedly cultured and that was worth a toast. Over the bitter, thick treat Gory glanced at the city's horizon. The greatest city in the world and it was all hers. This called for another round of bluebloods!The sun was setting and the earth was rising. Wait, the earth was suppose to stay in place while the moon came out. Sunglare was probably playing tricks on her vision.The people on the ground floor knew what was up. A cloaked figured walked through the streets. At first it was a trickle of water, the people assumed someone out of sight had spilled a large jug. Less than a mile behind there was a wave following the figure. In the middle of a desert seeing water was a treat. The wall of water stood tall without a basin. The water began to rise around the buildings, the people ran up stairs to their roofs. They saw that the water circled around the stranger. In the bizarreness they appreciated the green of the sparkling water.Guards ran towards the stranger as they reached the Inner City's gate. The cloak raised an arm and swiped away at air. A mighty rush of water took the guards off their feet. They were shaken and gagged but not harmed ad the water transported them.The magic water went over the wall, around the stranger, in a whoosh to open the gates. The slightly better dressed curiously looked at the hidden witch walking through their bazars and restaurants. Some had to admit the cloak was well stitched and shined like polished onyx.Up the miles high stairs the stranger walked, the water followed and flowed to push away any pests. The highest of society went to the furthest statues of the palace to hide behind the godly statues.Gory watched the walking ocean wipe away her largest guards. She was debating between pulling out her longest fangs and becoming a winged beast to fend off the intruder. Instead she sat and waited to see if this was a monster she could reason with to bat off."Greetings, water-monster." Gory said, the figure was tall but not bulky huge like she imagined. "May I interest you in art or dinner?""I choose the throne," The cloak dropped to reveal an Egyptian woman with a diamond on her check, "Especially since it's mine."Gory gasped lightly, she was frightened inside but kept a stern face. "Nefera?"Cleo De Nile grimaced. "I am the daughter of Ramses DeNile and the rightful Queen of this kingdom. Know me as Cleo De Nile and remove yourself."The wave of water rose over Cleo. The vampire let her fangs precede over her lips."Long lost princess, welcome home. You may regain the perks of princesshood but I am the queen now. And forever." Gory said, her pale legs draped over the side."Half-fanged interloper." Cleo said with swish of her hand.The monster-slang surprised Gory and the slap of water off the throne hurt as she fell to the marble floor. The servants poked their heads around the statues. The saw the resemblance the woman had to their past queen.Cleo raised her hand and snapped her fingers. The servants rushed to remove Gory's pillow and goblets. The princess sat on the throne of her father. The exuberance would've had her shaking if not for her fine breeding that kept her firm face and eyes on the prize. She motioned for the water grab Gory off the floor and throw her out the room.On the stairs Gory pulled herself up, her feet hovered over the stone, and charged to attack Cleo but stopped dead in her airy tracks.Cleo crossed her hands under her chin. "Not unless you're invited inside. Your kind is so polite."Gory's eyes became red behind her broken glasses. Her mouth expanded to show rows of sharp fangs and arms grew into leathery wings. She screeched to Cleo's smirking face."Toodles." Cleo sang as the water whipped Gory across the horizon.Cleo allowed a sigh of pleasure as she sat back in the golden chair. The twelve glorious seconds she dreamed of since the beginning of time. She felt the flood disappear from the city streets and fill the fountains in her family's gardens."Mine." Cleo said, she then snapped for a snack. A servant brought out grapes and began to feed them to her.She then snapped for a butler to appear. He did, with a scroll and pen ready."Hello, Mahu." Cleo said."Your majesty, I am his son but I shall answer to Mahu." Mahu Jr said."Very well, Mahu. Have the council prepare my official Naming Ceremony to become Pharaoh. Rid the palace of anything that reminds anyone of that 'night-walker'." Cleo said removing her cloak. "Also, bring me a dress from the finest bootquie and the emerald box my grandmother kept in her closest behind the statue of Anput."Within the hour Cleo was dressed as fine as a DeNile was expected. Her eyes painted with wings and jewelry wrapped her arms, neck and head.A servant held up a door-tall mirror for Cleo to examine her perfect self.It was a very happy moment for her. She became exceptionally happier when hearing,"Mother! You're so pretty!" A monster child said as they ran into her arms.Cleo embraced her daughter and stroked the blue snakes on her head. "Thank you, Hatshepsut. I shall bestow on you the same wonders as we settle in."The child's snakes hissed as she bounced in delight. Behind her another gorgon girl made faces at a guard. Both girls wore glass-tinted-spectacles on their faces. The younger child had yellowish-green snakes in braids."Ha, they don't move." Terpischore laughed as she stuck her forked tongue at the still guard."Terpischore, that's enough. Come here. We do not tease guards, they gave their lives to protect us and the people." Cleo told her daughter while holding her chin.Terpischore huffed as she stood next to her sister."I'm sure there's a nanny somewhere around here for you to play." Cleo suggested, her child should want for nothing."Sweet digs." The adult male gorgon said as he looked at the hippo-headed statue. He turned around to see his wife holding a hand out.He took her hand and put it behind his neck."Excellent, as ever and always." Deuce said, his eyes were covered with a tinted glass, and kept a long gaze at Cleo. At the children's giggling Cleo snapped for servants to carry out small palanquins. "Take the young ones to their new rooms."Though there were two palanquins, the sisters shared one ride and whispered in each others' snakes.Cleo twirled her fingers so that the servants would look away from their soon-to-be-queen and her husband."I did it." The human said to her monster love."You're gonna make the world a way better place." Deuce said while kissing her ear, his snakes liked the serpent-shape of her dangling earring.Cleo held his face in her hands. "Yes I am. Tomorrow at the council meeting I shall begin construction on Posea's shrine."Deuce smiled crookedly, "Build a birdbath and she'll be content."Cleo scoffed and poked his nose. He leaned on her armrest. Deuce wanted them to christen their new home and didn't mind if it was on the square chair or in a new bed. He always knew his wife was the best but wearing the actual crown made her royally hotter. How does one royally scoop up their super powerful Babe?"I'm gonna ask Mother for an elephant." Terpsichore said, "Or a pack. They could fit in here, look at that ceiling!""I hope this place makes Mother happy." Hatshepsut said, she and her sister were carried to the royal playroom."Hey, what's that?" Terpsichore asked when she saw a door not lit by torches. First one in a long hall way so it had to be interesting."None of your concern, your highness." A servant said."Come on, tell me, we can be friends." Terpsichore said, she put on her cheesiest smile. Despite having serpents for hair the servant did like her dimples.Down the black hallway the servants explained that the girls' ancestors' slept in this room. They were having special naps. No one could wake them up unless it was an emergency. The torches in the servants' hand was knocked away. The girls became excited, thought their hair slithered over and under to hide in coils. Hatshepsut had a easy-turn-on lantern from her ghoulmother to see in the night. She used the glow to recognize where the door was and from where the trouble was coming from. The servants blocked the children. They saw the skinny man near the open sarcophagus under the arms of their defenders.The mummy grumbled ancient words, sand and rock began to gather at his feet. He walked with a limp towards the glow. The servants didn't know whether to fend him off or clean him up. By the snap of his fingers two of the five servants decided to touch up the man's circlet, bracelet and rings. One bent down to offer a cane with a polish Ibis head. The old mummy's cane made a smack to the ground and pushed the dust as if he controlled air."What. Is. This?" He pronounced slowly as he approached the children's palanquin."Curious travelers, mister." Terpsichore offered as he looked down at her and Hatshepsut. The mummy gasped when he saw their faces in the glow."My daughters...." He said, a hand to his chest. "No, that was long ago. Who are you?""Okay, hello, I'm Terpsichore De Nile-Gorgon. I suppose you've heard of my mother, Cleo DeNile." She assumed, her mother was very popular.Cleo was queen of the world. Tomorrow she would bend the world's greatest city to shape. That night she wanted to twist around her husband's shape. She was about to shoo away the closest attending servants for privacy when they heard a high pitch scream. The parents, and six guards plus nine servants, ran to Hatshepsut's scream.Deuce was ready to stone someone and Cleo first thought was 'through the nose and out the back of the skull'. Inside the playroom they saw their daughters were sitting fine and laughing. They were sharing golden cups of honey tea with a skinny old man."How nice to see you again, Cleo." Ramses DeNile said as he drank tea with the girls."Daddy?" Cleo asked, snapping for the guards to lower their weapons. "I mean, nice to see you as well but, forgive me, I assumed you were...""Dead?" Ramses suggested. "Yes, I held that belief for you as well.""About that....Meet your grandchildren!" Cleo said, patting the heads of her kids."Yes, we've been introduced. They have your mother's face." Ramses said. "And other...interesting attributes."Sensing he wanted to say something horrible Cleo said, "Girls, there's ice in the other playroom."Hatshepsut squealed in delight while Terpsichore gave her mother a dreary look, "We're just getting to know Grandpharaoh, and-"She shut herself up when her mother's lip thinned into a long line. The girls walked out with servants. Deuce watched them leave but wanted to ask them to stay. He only remembered dirty words in this dialect but his daughters were really good at translating back and forth. He stayed in support of Cleo because he knew seeing her father again was going to lead to headaches."Where is Seth Ptolemy? He wouldn't have allowed his children cursed." Ramses stated, his eyes narrowed on Cleo."Seth is at the bottom of the ocean." Cleo lied. The truth was she divorced Seth so he could run off with his furry-cat-girl and live a penniless life as a musician. That truth would've broken upperclass hearts."No body to bury and he left me the fortune." Ramses opened his mouth then Cleo interrupted, "I know, Gory sent a minion to take over Diospolis but I took back that city before I came here. And took over. All by my wits and my loving husband's connections."Cleo held onto her husband's arm. He liked the affection. He didn't like the glare and tapping bony finger of his father-in-law. "So this is the source of my grandchildren's curse." Ramses accused, he snapped for servant cut the monster's head off.Not standing for that, Cleo held up her hand to cease the servants. "They are not cursed, they are simply...different." Cleo explained. "Certainly better than average princesses.""All De Niles are better, however these precious ones have told me they can never remove their spectacles... or else. Handicapped despite cleverness and glorious bloodlines."Ramses wilted, a hand to his forehead.Cleo gritted her teeth then calmly stated, "They are gifted, Daddy. Blessed with supernatural powers. The best can only get better.""I want them cured." Ramses demanded, his eyes cold and lip stiff."They are perfect. There is nothing to be cured." Cleo stated, her fingers lacing through Deuce's hand.Ramses stood up. "I am the-""I am the pharaoh, you will listen to me!" Cleo yelled, she inhaled and said calmly, "Daddy, times have changed. You may go along with the change or be left inside your tomb."Ramses recognized Ra's blaze in Cleo's eyes. He felt his own light blow out as she stared him down. He was a strange mix of defeat and pride. "Very well, my daughter. I shall be grateful for evening having heirs." Ramses soberly said."Wise choice, Daddy." Cleo said, she was about to introduce her hubby when Ramses interrupted with-"I don't wish to end as Nefera did."Cleo kept her face stony for her father to explain his coy smirk."May I say how proud I am of you, Cleo." Ramses said. "Yes you've taken away my favorite child and that hurts. However knowing you had the nerve to remove any obstacle in your path is, how should I say..." The old man wiped a finger at his eye. "You've earned the throne." The mummy's daughter wouldn't reveal that she murdered her sister in defense. Not in Cleo's own defense, but in protection of her closest friend Ghoulia. Once a lady-in-waiting Ghoulia had become undead by Cleo's experiments in potions. Only to prolong the life of a brilliant friend had reasoned Cleo to tamper with the supernatural. Nefera didn't understand, nor did she ask, why Cleo found the mute little worm so special. She hated the jealousy of seeing Cleo love someone else. Harming Ghoulia was the last thing Nefera did before Cleo sliced her throat. The world was free of a great evil. Ghoulia prospered in Greece as an pioneer in math, science and theater. No she couldn't sing or act but her sarcastic quips were great additions in new plays' scripts. In Greece Cleo had divorced rich-as-Ra human Seth then remarried her monster love. She lived in Medusa's home, became a language teacher and gave Deuce three beautiful, spookatular daughters. Their oldest had joined the Amazons' training program and lived on their exclusive island. The separation broke Cleo's heart but inspired her to go forth with her own dreams of ruling her homeland.A deal struck with the local gods of her new nation and the power to rule was a matter of careful steps. On the night she returned her monstrous family slept on soft Egyptian cotton. Everything she could ever want was to be hers. Cleo hadn't counted on her father being undead. It should've been funny that as a mummy, a genuine monster, he still held his nose up to born-monsters like her husband. This mindset would prove difficult for her plans to bring monsters back into Scario. However, her father respecting her position as the new Pharaoh was a nice change."How long will this last, Daddy?" Cleo asked her father."Hmm? Oh you mean my docile resignation? For eternity, I suppose. I'm a grandfather now. My priorities are now to raise the children correctly despite..." Ramses glared at Deuce, "Whatever challenges."Deuce only understood random words from his father-in-law's dialect. He caught the words 'grandfather' and 'games' so the gorgon assumed the old man was going to retire and let Cleo take the dragon reigns."Alright, family!" Deuce held open arms to Ramses, "Dad!"Deuce ducked as Ramses threw a cane towards him.Cleo rolled her eyes as a servant brought the cane back to her father."You're not allowed to hurt a snake on my husband's head. Got that, Daddy?" Cleo stated as she hugged Deuce.Ramses flinched at Cleo calling the buffoon-faced monster 'husband'. "Over my burning sarcophagus are you making that the Pharaoh of my people!""Oh Daddy, Deucy has agreed to take upon the title of Royal Chef while I rule as Pharaoh." Cleo explained. "Taste his nut-and-berry-pies and then you'll never be able to live without him either." That was still too much for Ramses. "Your marriage in that foreign land will not pass here. By our laws you are not married."Cleo fluttered her eyes. "Is that so?" She switch to Greek and asked, "Deucy, want to get married again? Egyptian royalty style?""That's the only way this rock rolls." Deuce said as he bent down to kiss Cleo. His shoulder-long snakes kissed every other inch. "Our kids will be the cutest flower-ghouls."Ramses gagged, "For Ra's sake, tell me he is the last monster to enter into my city.""Daddy, you misspoke." Cleo grinned, "It's my city."
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Call it regression, call it exercise. I thought up a line or seven and laughed so this had to be shared.all characters belong to @ mattel/ Garret Sanders The DeNile Empire reigned over every inch Ra’s light touched. Everything Pharaoh Ramses DeNile touched turned to gold. The pharaoh had the civilized world in the palm of his hand. The long fingers curled over the cities and became his toys. Coveted by everyone else in his desert palace the Pharaoh’s cup was chilled with ice. On an outdoors lounging throne his servants fanned him with giant feathers. He idly watched as the construction on his wife’s monuments. The Queen had a marvelous innovation for the people to build. The pyramids in construction were the third gifts she gave this unworthy world. The first born princess terrified the palace with her beauty. Her laugh cut ears and her whims cracked bones. Nefera was the ruby of her father’s eye. She listened to no one else’s ideas or demands and made her father very proud. Born with all his ambition, cunning and her mother’s perfect nose Nefera was the heir of his dreams. The home throne was in Nefera’s capable hands but that gave no excuse to let his second daughter sit on the side. Princess Cleo was given immense education and luxury and she spent her time in boutiques. The Pharaoh Ramses voiced his concerns, loudly, for her to reach her potential. Cleo wasn’t allowed to council meetings, Nefera constantly insulted her in front of guests and her father wouldn’t listen to her ideas anyway. What did they really expect from her for Ra’s sake! If respect and appreciation she couldn’t find at home Cleo decided to look elsewhere. Her city was divided in three rings: her family’s palace, the city for the royal councilors and ambassadors and then the commoner’s city. Cleo skipped the stuffy oldies and rule-abiding potion masters. At least the commoners’ tried new looks now and again. “Oh my Ra, I rule in these lines!” Princess Cleo said as she wore the rich blue kaftan her friend Clawdeen wore. Egyptian white linen was the rarest of fabrics but her friend’s home woven fabric dazzled. “You’re holding too tight to the body, let it flow. Let it breathe. On my full moon nights I can wear this claws out.” Clawdeen explained as she pulled out fold with her sharp nails. Cleo snorted, “I’m not a monster, Wolf, my form is keeping this shape for the rest of eternity.” “Ghoul, please, your hand-fed hide is carried everywhere.” Clawdeen said patting her wide hips. “I will wear your hide as a fur coat.” Cleo said staring into Clawdeen’s yellow eyes. “I’ll dip your royally grilled hambones in honey.” Clawdeen promised with a growl. The two young women made the ugliest face, barred teeth and then choked out laughs. “You’re my worse customer.” Clawdeen complained, “I only let you in cause you bring her.” The werewolf walked to Cleo’s lady-in-waiting Ghoulia, whose nose was in a scroll, and continued braiding her blackish locks. Clawdeen didn’t see why the quiet human dyed her bright blue hair with black paint but she assumed it was Inner Circle fad nonsense. “Fine by me, I only come by to see that tall, dark and delicious big brother of yours.” Cleo said, her eyes darting from the windows and doors. Clawdeen gagged, “Ghoulia please strangle me and frame her for it.” Ghoulia made a small smirk and stayed quiet. “He never talks, I like that in a man, and he’s so well behaved. Total purebred.” Cleo said imagining the gentle beast barely crawling through the dessert to reach the oasis that was her wonderful self. Clawdeen put her claws over her wrapped ears. Her monster being wasn’t a secret but it made certain humans more comfortable not seeing her pointed ears that flickered at every sound. “Cleo, I swear I’m going to take my needles-“ “Oh! I almost forgot, my Eastern acquaintance Jinafire will be hosting a little shindigs tonight. She’s from my Upper Circles and she’s a monster. Isn’t the fetching? ” “I bet the pharaoh loves that.” Clawdeen said with anger. “Now I’ve told you; Daddy doesn’t care about species, he judges on social standing. “ Cleo said with a wave of her gold-banded arm. Ghoulia pushed her lips together and said nothing. She had a million ideas to help the city and through Cleo’s connections some would drizzle through. The Long family didn’t hold royal titles they held many other fabulous treasures. There were seven sons in the Long family and Jinafire had the forging skill of all them put together. Her tongue as sharp as her swords, the Egyptian guests avoided eye contact. She excused herself from the DeNiles’ banquet and no one dared to follow her swishing scaly tail. “Uggh, shouldn’t the animals eat outside?” Nefera whispered to her sister. “Hush, Nefera, that dragon woman deserves more respect for her hair accessories alone.” Cleo said, hoping enough sweet talk would lead to her owning her own fire wield golden hair pins. Nefera groaned and took her sister’s grail of wine. “I swear you’re the child of a maid. We let the blood-suckers in and then we let in the talking animals in. Where did standards go?” Cleo gritted her teeth, she wouldn’t try to defend the Night Walkers for she didn’t like them either. Different from her sister was Cleo didn’t trust their shifty eyes and fake smiles while Nefere didn’t trust anyone other. The younger princess tried not picking fights with her sister because Nefera was already a petal away from creaming and their father would always went to Nefera’s defense. Their mother had left the palace that night for a political travel. Cleo trusted her stunning and clever but in being so perfect everyone else needed her mother. ‘For the good of the people’ she ‘d say. Her mother would ignore Nefera’s words and always press forward to make situations better. With the Queen away Ramses would work his charms in pacifying the guests; his focus was in defense and bragging. Cleo didn’t roll her eyes at the old stories she heard, instead she claimed the wine made her head heavy and asked to be excused. Leaving the banquet disappointed her father but he waved his ring-glimmering hand to dismiss her. Waiting in the bed chambers Ghoulia read a scroll that rolled across the large room. Cleo pulled her thick curtains over her door, grabbed a silk and screamed. She went on a rant about her sister’s arrogance and the unfairness that someone so beautiful was so ugly to be around. Ghoulia didn’t think Cleo had room to complain since she was very lovely as well but she knew Nefera was cruel and fearfully unstable. Ghoulia had a small build and wasn’t able to fight Cleo’s face painting. After so many nights out she learned enjoy being made-up. The very first time she looked like a ridiculous foul but over trials the two learned to find a color combo that worked for Ghoulia’s preference. Cleo knew even if the girl didn’t smile she was happy with the right shade of bright red or moonlight green. Ghoulia was a living riddle and Cleo was honored to have her a friend. Unfortunately the princess was too spoiled to relay this care in kind words and showed in demands and pulling. The DeNile servants carried Cleo and Ghoulia in a palanquin at night. Smallest of all palanquins and that what they needed to travel into the Lower City at night. Perhaps against the laws Ramses set out but the servants knew Cleo had just as much call in ending them for betraying her trust. The streets had a wanderer here and there but the girls left the servants safely at the gate. Cleo had a pocket-size scroll with Jinafire’s instructions in finding the party location. She and Ghoulia found the restaurant near the Pharaoh’s Great Grandmummy’s fountain. Cleo went to the door and gave the secret knock. a slit in the door opened for the girls to see two eyes and a cow-like nose. “You know the password?” The bull voiced man asked. “Let me in or off with your head.” Cleo said, she wasn’t wearing as much jewelry for the desperate to steal but no one should make her wait anyway. The man closed the slit and opened the door. A monster the size and smell of a bull and the hooved-punched face to match. “That’s a lot of talk, Normie.” Mannie Taur said staring down at her. Cleo flipped him a gold coin which he clumsily caught in his humanoid hands. “Get yourself some flowers to cover up that reek.” Cleo said walking past the minotaur with Ghoulia coolly following behind. From the food’s smell Cleo deduced she was in a foreigner’s restaurant. The appetizers smelled good but she expected to see more monsters from the country’s homeland. Not to mention a lot of crooked togas and floppy sandals. “Cleo, luv, over here!” A webbed hand sea creature waved at Cleo and Ghoulia. Ghoulia liked the rubbery hugs while Cleo passed to avoid smelling salty. “Lagoona, your hair looks sensational, so could mine if I was into that look.” Cleo said admiring her friend’s yellow tangle. Lagoona simply smiled and welcomed them to the room full of monster youths. Lagoona told them where the food and drinks were and pointed towards Clawdeen talking to a Cat-like woman. “Why is she talking to the Bastet knock-off? She can do better, not to mention that ghoul is infesting us all with fleas.” Cleo said as she walked through the crowds towards the wines. “I heard the kitten knows something about her brother Clawd’s rumored engagement.” Lagoona explained, she didn’t believe it was gossip if the facts were true. From who she saw Clawd dancing with earlier the amphibian believed. “That walking carpet is a liar. She’s trying to pull my ears since I claimed Clawd.” Cleo said taking a full gulp. “Besides, a good boy like Clawd would never chase those blue-blood thirsty cads.” “I don’t know who she is but I’m all for healing old wars. Vampires and werewolves have been at it for centuries, if they could make it work then there’d be hope for my people.” Lagoona said as she watched monsters of all sorts of nations socializing friendly-like. “Warring you say? I thought you sea monsters only went after gate-crashing human boats. For that I don’t blame you. It’s why we royals R.S.V.P.” Cleo said looking overheads for the hunky werewolf she fancied. “Okay, that’s a fishermen’s tale gone a bit far…” Lagoona said taking this opportunity to educate the rich human and her smart, short friend. Ghoulia listened to the complicated but easily labeled prejudiced Fresh-water folks’ hooks with Sea Folk like the sweet Lagoona. Without the words to illustrate her empathy Ghoulia took Lagoona’s hand as she spoke. Cleo cared for her friends but she also cared for herself and a need to get romanced. Clawd Wolf was built strong and sweet, and even if he was boring to talk to and had way too much energy for outdoor games Cleo still wanted him in a fling. The musicians changed tempo and Cleo switched her mind from climbing the wolf to shredding the dance floor. Royal balls had elegant dances that Cleo did well in and silly, low-key monster peasant get-togethers had much better rhythm. Cleo stole Lagoona from Ghoulia and dragged them both to the center of attention. Clawdeen and, uggh, Toralei jumped in along with Jinafire and a feathery ghoul who had wings instead of arms. The ladies danced in sync, because they had prepared weeks before for such an occasion, and dazzled the other guests. Their audience cheered and whistled leading Ghoulia to blush and Clawdeen to smile goofily. Despite being the only attending human Cleo’s look was fierce and her dancing nearly boneless. The curves and swerves were for her pleasure and deep down she wanted the monsters to worship her natural form. The drums swelled and the song ended with a roar. Cleo was winded and a bit sweaty as her friend held her above their shoulders. In the crowd she caught sight of Clawd Wolf clapping for honor, he looked struck and trapped in looking only at her. Cleo snapped her fingers and her friends gently placed her foot first on the titled floor. The princess turned around to ask Ghoulia how her lips looked and Ghoulia nodded with a small thumbs up. Cleo kissed her forehead and turned around with a sultry look towards the wolf man. Clawdeen’s brother had turned around, probably talking to a friend. If he were with another girl it’d take three words to kick her out of Cleo’s way. The human princess was stopped midway when a tray of roasted meats and sauces had her halt. “Whoa, sorry dude.” The snake-like monster said with his face looking elsewhere. He glanced at Cleo, smiled wide and then said, “Whoa, sorry babe. Tzatziki?” Cleo scoffed, “Ra bless you, but no. Move. I have a bigger, better meal ahead of me.” “Clawd Wolf? That’s a terrible choice.” The snake-monster said with a chuckle. “Are you kidding? He’s gorgeous, gentlemanly, warm on cold nights-“ “He’s also loyal, genuine and honest as they get. Dude’s a prince.” “Exactly.” Cleo said, examining the thin toga barely covering the pale monster’s rippling biceps and chest. “Yeah, you’ll eat him alive.” The monster said as other creatures took from his tray. Cleo smirked at the pestering manster, “I deserve to be fed. I won’t finished him off, just let him walk away with a few bite marks.” “See I can’t let you do that to my dawg. He needs a nice ghoul for the long road.” He said looking at the black eye liner brightening her teal eyes. “Stand in my way and I’ll tear you down to the last snake left.” Cleo said raising a hand above his face and scratching under a chin of her serpentine hair. “Please try.” The manster said giving the tray to the first monster with open hands. Cleo smirked as he locked eyes with her, or she assumed she did since his eyes were covered with glass spectacles but his brows and mouth were focused on her. “Cleo, like our princess.” she said holding out a hand for him to kiss. “Deuce, like the dude who ran out of snacks.” He said, shaking her gem-covered fingers. “Show me where we can get more snacks.” Cleo said putting her hands on her hips. The foreigner Deuce was a different sort of yummy; he didn’t mind a little trouble and moved with slinky grace. Cleo had intended on him holding her against a wall, stealing kisses and squeezing his cute bottom until her rings left marks. Instead Deuce brought her to the kitchen table and they talked; pleasant nonsense about him coming to Egypt for travel fun and how he liked her unbiased liking towards those not of her kind. Unlike other boys who went into bragging about their scars and heights he asked about her and made silly jokes when he didn’t get the cultural references to her homeland.The time to fondle was running out so Cleo told him to meet her a week from then at a location of her choosing. He put up no qualms and she decided he was a sort of foolishly happy type. She strongly wanted to savor this Deuce. Cleo left him to go back to her friends; she planned to brag all about the handsome clown she’d snared. Deuce watched her go, licking his forked tongue on his lips. He smelled something burning and saw his friend Heath had set fire to an oven mitt. The pal held his breath, receded the flame back into his veins, and stomped on the gorgon’s oven mit. “Phew. Hey dude, wasn’t that the human prin-“ The snakes on Deuce head hissed at him to zip his face. “Dude, let’s go to the Commander.” Deuce and Heath left the restaurant party and walked across the Lower City. They walked through the caravans of traveling merchants. On a tent where was a blue design that went across like squared waves. The merchant sold spectacles for the near and far sighted, and for the wealthy who wanted protection from their eyes. Sitting in an open circle there were Greek monsters with one tall woman in the middle. She looked like Deuce but with silver snakes and was two heads taller. “Hello Commander, we have sensitive news.” Deuce said with his back straight. Heath tried to do the same but his eyes darted towards all the boss soliders and generals surrounding Medusa Gorgon. Medusa nodded, “Take a stroll, kids.” The other Greek monsters left without fuss, one Cyclops taking Heath along with them. Medusa motioned for the younger gorgon to seat beside her. “Now tell me, is there someone new in your life I should know about?” Deuce flinched, “Dude, no, we’re not here to talk about that.” “I’m not asking as your mother, I’m asking as your Commander. I want to know what she’s like and please say she’s not a vegan.” Her silver snakes nodded in agreement. “For Apollo’s chariot, I’d rather my Commander just slice off my head.” Medusa raised her hand in warning “Boy, do not temp me.” “Okay, Commander Mom, I wanted to tell you before all that was I got a source into the DeNile house.” Deuce said, leaning back on a pile of gathered pillows. “It’s not a house, son, it’s a dictatorship that’s pushing out good, honest monsters from their neighborhoods.” Medusa explained. “Yeah, I know and I may have found a less-bloody mess way of getting in and getting the fathead royals out.” Deuce said, he saw her fearless Commander persona overtake the nagging Mom side.
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Tricking a human princess, even if she was part of an evil dynasty, wasn’t a cool thing to pull. However, the dating charade still had all the highs of really dating a high class, hot, insatiable babe. Plus, dude, if all went according to plan there’d be a lot of monsters who got to stay in their homes and live in peace.
Princess Cleo thinks she knows everything, and she is good at picking your soul through your bones, but she doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know I know why she has to defend the pharaoh even if he’s a greedy, snobby dud. The dude’s her dad so kudos for family respect but dude, he’s kind of the worse. The princess doesn’t know her fancy guards are taxing and pushing out good monster dudes and letting the humans fly by. Though when I mentioned it there were way less guards in the same streets. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. The princess doesn’t know I know when she’s mentioning her family tours is putting them in spot for attack. I mean, I don’t think Commander Mom wants them dead, not undead, but forever done- dude, she just doesn’t want bad rulers anymore. Sure none of the attacks worked caused they’re all shielded to the max but it’s not like Cleo knew to tip them off.
I mean, dude, if Cleo knew I was spying while macking she’d feed me to her pet alligators. She’d cut off my snakes and wear them as bracelets; she’d totally break up me or put me in prison.
I’m helping my monster bros and sisters when I bravely hold her shopping bags and catch the spiders in her bedchambers. I’m a secret hero when I’m massaging her back, painting her toe-nails or listening to her rant about her sister who is no question a sicko.
I told her stuff about me growing up in Greece for the cover, and how my chef dreams aren’t crazy and how monsters and humans could live together if we just chill and eat at the same table.
To gather info on her power-hungry, fear-mongering vamp friends I had to hold her until the sun came up, and listen to her sappy music and watch boring theatre she thinks is good but I think is so bad it’s funny. And then she gets all huffy and passionately explains why me or anyone else who disagrees with her is deadly wrong cause she’s always right. She’s not a freaking adorable when she’s stubborn and helping her friends in weird little ways. I don’t like when she lotions my dry hair and they tickle back when they like someone. I don’t look forward to seeing her in between days and nights.
Cleo doesn’t know I’m part of the Rebellion against her family. She isn’t stringing me along for fun and snuggles.
Nope. That’s not it. So off.
Zeus dammit.
..
Cleo figured out the gorgon was trying to play her by the second date. On the first night she was wrapped up in how cute he was and how much she wanted his toga off. She knew Greek immigrants were part of the Rebellion against her father’s reign, misguided commoners, but she didn’t want to assume all Greeks were royal traitors. Too bad even the cute Greeks were threats against her family and the upper class. The boy asked all about her, Cleo thought she was that interesting, but she realized losers out to get the throne would also ask ‘where she likes to go during royal holidays’. Oh, real smooth. Cleo did her own infiltrations by giving half-truths. She’d tell Deuce where the royal parades would go but not for how long. She let him into her Lower City apartment but that was just for running fingers over gorgeous bodies and afternoon delights. The boy wasn’t clever as he was confident and while in perfect shape he wasn’t quick. Good for laughs, a treat at dinner parties but not worth keeping long term. Cleo realized she didn’t need him everyday but the days were extra nice when he was around. She could demand he give up the Rebels’ dreams and make Deuce her sex-slave. She’s let him cook for his heart’s desire and they’d see their mutual friends now and again. Nope, her fellow royals wouldn’t let her keep him in any sort with her father in charge. Cleo knew when the game was up he’d be kicked to the curb and the romance over. Fine then. Keep the people safe, on both sides of the wall, and the princess would press forward on her own plans. Recently Cleo had her worry on the Nigh Walkers dancing around the Pharaoh. Her father was using words like ‘unbreakable’ and ‘moon’s light’ more often. Speaking of eternity was normal since their reign was the central focus of history but his ideas were getting more immediate. The Queen hadn’t returned in weeks and Cleo was furious with the lack of effort to bring her back. She sent letters and presents to her daughters but having her home would’ve been better. With both parents preoccupied Nefera got meaner and needier. She began taking longer spa days, demanding more treasures and she threw fits when her servants didn’t arrive soon enough. Ghoulia noticed less of the same faces in the courts and Upper City. The human Egyptians were being replaced with the Night Walking Northerners. “There are more Night Walkers, not less natural born citizens.” Cleo responded to Ghoulia’s observation. “Notice there are less natural born Sphynx, griffins, serpopards and giant beetles?” Clawdeen remarked as she sat with her ghoulfriends and Deuce in Cleo’s Lower City apartment. “Found in bars, migrated to the south, working in banks and they don’t live everywhere in this country.” Cleo retorted, she leaned on Deuce’s shoulder since they shared the couch, “Deuce darling, you should whip us up a snack.” The gorgon looked away from her, she ran her finger across his chin until he groaned and went to the kitchen. Cleo smiled until he was out of earshot. “Real talk, I blame those blood sucking degenerates tainting my city.” “Please explain why you’ve done nothing about them, DeNile.” Jinafire asked as she blew a smidge of fire over her cup of tea. “Politics, Ladies, silly talk about what ‘we owe them’. Ra almighty choose my father to be Pharaoh but Ra forgive me if the old man is losing his jewels.” Cleo said with a roll of her eyes, “I keep waiting for his phase in white meat to pass.” Clawdeen’s chuckle had a high pitch, causing Lagoona and Ghoulia to hush her canines. Ghoulia moaned her thoughts, deep wailing noises the other ghouls guessed at but Cleo translated as, “Me speak to my father? Are you kidding me with that?! Why not summon Isis to tear down the whole city.” “Mate, I understand your end is complicated but we’ve been having to stay in doors for weeks. I have to walk out in a cloak so they don’t hook me by the fins.” Lagoona said rubbing her scales. Ghoulia put her hand on Cleo’s, “It’s a lot to ask but you’re our only voice.” The princess looked at her nonroyal friends. She turned away with a hard narrowing of her eyebrows. Cleo sighed, “For the good of the people.” “Who wants lokma?” Deuce asked as he came out with a plate of snacks. He didn’t listen in because there was half a chance they were friend-talking and not Rebel-hunting. Wouldn’t hurt to have a Plan in Waiting, Cleo thought. “Deucy, you think those Rebel acquaintances of yours might be working this weekend? Around midday on the edge of the Upper City gate?” Cleo asked, promising herself to eat only one of the greasy deserts. In the DeNile Palace the second princess walked the halls, Ghoulia trailing slow but close behind, towards the Pharaoh’s private study. The guards held weapons crossing the door. Cleo put her hands on her hip and cocked her chin. The guards opened the doors and bowed on their knees as their princess entered. “Daddy.” Cleo said evenly, looking firm despite total terror. Ramses looked up from a desk buried under scrolls and foreigner treasures. “My daughter.” The hourglass poured sand as Ramses waited a beat for her to speak. Cleo didn’t so he flatly said, “Well?” Cleo cleared her throat and approached her father. “Yes, Daddy, I am here because I have concerns for… how we’re dealing with the people.” “We don’t ‘deal’ with the people, Cleo, we deal with advisors who handle the people. A deal implies equal sitting at a table and we don’t dine with the common people.” Ramses said, he rolled the next article on his scroll. “You’re right, Daddy, but certain advisors I fear are working unjustly and I believe this could lead to…. trouble.” “Trouble?” Ramses looked away from her scroll, his daughter was taller than he last checked but still a golden spoon hanging from her lips. “Tell me how I should be rulingmy kingdom, Cleo and how you would do so differently.” A nerve was hit in Cleo, her father nor anyone should be able to talk to her in that tone. “Well honestly you should be the one ruling and not some ceiling crawling mons-“ “Stop right there, young lady.” Ramses said as he threw down the scroll. The crack of the bronze against his gold desk had Ghoulia jump. “Madame Gory has be a valued assets to this kingdom and you shall recognize your allies when you should be so fortunate to have any as good as she. Her power and council has increased our trade, exalted our influence and excelled my expectations in all subjects important. I ask of you only to give her all the respect she deserves!” Cleo held in a scream and calmly said, “Yes, Daddy.” “No, better than that I demand you learn more from her. Nefera has spent time with her and I’ve seen nothing but personal growth.”Cleo was truly surprised it took that long before he mentioned Nefera in a conversation. “Yes, Daddy, I should.” Ramses stood up with a straight back, “You look towards our people, that’s fine. You should be looking higher and reaching your full potential as a DeNile. You are royalty, the daughter of a Pharaoh…” As the speech started Cleo groaned through her noise and stood in place. Her place in listening, forget talking, and until Pschent crown on her father’s head was passed down to Nefera Cleo would hear him out. Nefera’s speeches would probably be their father’s repeated. A crazy thought would be neither talked but that would be neither wore the crown. Cleo was shocked at blasphemous brain; the only time and place her family stayed quiet was in their sarcophagi. “Take my advice, never have children.” Ramses said as he drank wine with Madame Gory. She looked as dainty as his youngest but she spoke with centuries of experience. They sat on this balcony and overlooked his wife’s immense garden. “I hear that, your Majesty.” Gory said, she wrinkled her nose at his grape juice and asked a servant to bring something from her vault. “I still plan to have them join me in the next life, of course, but the tolls they take on my patience.” Ramses said pinching the bridge between his nose, eyes and golden crown-snake. He noticed the servant pour the thick drink favored by her people. The liquid was almost black as her lips, the pharaoh considered her lips were stained. Ramses took a breath and turned his thoughts away from what was three feet away. “Nefera has taken to our educating very well, my Pharaoh.” Madame Gory lied; the rotten heir ignored everything and spent most of the time staring at the Night Walking teachers with furious scowls. Ramses nodded, “She’s so much like her mother, my pride and destiny. Her sister, on the other pyramid, isn’t finding her place. My Cleo should be basking in greatness and yet she chooses to lounge about with dusty books and gossip with servants. She isn’t meeting the right people- constantly speaking of rumored riots in the cities.” “Yeah, those pesky rumors.” The spokeswoman of the Nigh Walkers said, annoyed that someone’s screams were sneaking in through the cracks of her empire. “Your majesty, maybe you should introduce your daughter to the right types of friends. Perhaps someone from a great royal family, who’s handsome and from far away…” “An engagement? I can’t imagine anyone worthy of my child’s hand.” Ramses said, thinking of her disgusting drink once more. “With all due respect to the princess, you should also see what a new son-in-law could put in your hand.” Madame Gory said, watching the batwings flap off in flight as his eyes brightened. In the morning, Iris Clops held a telescope to see the parade of royal Night Walkers riding out of the Upper City on elephants. Iris signaled to the deer monster, Gilda Goldstag, who jumped across the rooftops without breaking a sweat. She made it to the flame monster Heath Burns who readied himself and the catapults the nymphs built. Since they were nature creatures they could regrow the structures by flips of their wrists. A nymph with green skin and hot-pink hair raised her thumb at Iris. Manny Taur stood next to Deuce while they readied the catapults. “See ya, Grandpa Dusty Joints.” The Minotaur said holding up a hand for Deuce to high five. The gorgon high fived with small enthusiasm making Manny miss the happier werewolf Clawd. The Wolves had chosen to leave when they thought the Rebellion was getting out of tentacle. Iris watched the parade elephants slowly walk through the city. Iris saw the people, humans and monsters, in the crowds watching the parade. If the monsters weren’t pushed to the back of the lines her single eye would’ve seen hope. Nope, the stars above help her before she fell into hoping. She watched her comrades and friends prepare; she prepared for the danger of Heath setting the vine sphere on fire and raining on the parade. They’d put a monster, perhaps Medusa, on the throne and she’d rule fairly across the land then seas then heavens above. The Cyclops watched as the end of the parade the DeNile princesses rode on a shared elephant. From miles away Iris could tell they were bickering. The whole parade was in position. Iris signaled to Gilda again, which lit the vines aflame. The flame was short lived because when Iris checked again the vines were stone. Her eye bugled out, she rubbed her face and then looked back to see Manny, Heath and Gilda yelling at Deuce. The gorgon was taking the fury on the chin but she shivered for him. She dreaded what would happen Medusa heard this bad news. A grilled fish had more guts than Deuce that night. Instead of burying him under the sand Medusa demanded he return to Greece. She not so subtly implied she would never return to their island as long as they were both alive. His friends were hurt and he wanted to petrify himself. He left the Rebellion’s homebase and went to Cleo’s Lower City apartment. He wanted her to be safe in her palace and very far away from everything that happened. Deuce stared in Cleo’s full-length mirror and debated stoning himself then and there. In the corner he saw the princess in a very sheer robe. “Hello my love.” Cleo said slinking her long legs towards her monster dear. “Cleo, it’s not that I don’t want to but my soul ….cannot. But damn, it’s not you.” Deuce said, feeling really guilty about how her love filled eyes locked on him. “You gave up on your cause, your own blood and people who trusted you with their entire lives….for me.” Cleo said with immense joy. “My afterlife is going to suuuuck.” The gorgon whined as she nuzzled under his chin. “Speaking of sucking…” Cleo said wrapping her arms around his torso. He gave a shaky laugh that could be confused for crying. Four hours later Deuce’s guilt had tripled from how much he enjoyed every moment he shared with the princess. Cleo wiped happy tears and felt they melted together into one creature. The moonlight turned her room a pearl blue. “I’m sorry I lied about our life.” Deuce admitted, his eyes were closed shut to seal in his powers. “I never once believed you. Anyway, I’m glad to have you all to myself.” The princess said as his snakes twisted on her fingers. “I like that part.” Deuce said, “Now what?” “Now that it’s all out in the open let’s talk about how we can help each other.” Cleo said with her arms folded under her chin. “Babe, this is all I’m left. I’m sorry, we aren-“ Cleo put a finger on his lips. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, we can still do a lot of good with what we do have.” The princess said with a smile that curled around the edges of her mouth. The gorgon sat up, Cleo in his lap and still connected by flesh. He knew she wouldn’t settle for a simpler life running into the sunset so he had to ask, “What exactly are you saying?” “Neither of us want this devastation to last, and we both know I’d make a much better Pharaoh than my sister.” Cleo said laying her head in his arms. “Yeah you would. Oh. Dude. You’re scarier than any other creature I’ve ever met.” Deuce said as he grabbed her chin and kissed her again. The princess stroked his kissing snakes as they fell back into the satin sheets.
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Princess Nefera heard loud and clear that the subjects resented her place as future Pharaoh: she liked it that way. The people could scream her name, write and carve all the slurs and Nefera soaked them in as her legacy began. Love or hate they would always remember her name. The first princess was on top of the world, three steps afar from Ra’s sun. She shined like a sacred scarab beetle and rolled the people like the dung they were. One thousand servants under her bidding and still her father demanded she aid little Princess Cleo. The second princess was her only sister, her most precious pawn on life’s game board. Playing with Cleo was the only time her mother ever told her ‘no’. Nefera resented the limitation and later decided Cleo was even more powerful to control if her parents were so protective. On the surface the plain girl was simply a cry baby but Nefera would wait to see if this diet-DeNile could be useful. “Oh my Ra, have you heard what they’ve been saying about Prince Seth?” Nefera asked as she stood next to her sister in the ball room. “The Ptolemy boy? Only that his poetry has the dead ask for a second beating.” Cleo said, she rarely spoke with Nefera but speaking with a fellow saucy royal felt right some times. “Ho ho, I heard the crowd whispering about you two looking good standing side by side.” Nefera whispered in her sister’s ear. Cleo nearly choked on her drink with a chuckle, “I don’t see that happening any tomb soon.” “You seriously can’t see it? I mean it’s crazy to think you’d want someone wealthy, noble and totally abiding to women.” Nefera said as Seth Ptolemy’s mother adjusted his headdress. “It’d be what everyone would love to see.” The second princess flinched at the notion she was doing wrong by her people. Cleo knew her sister’s talents in lying so she swallowed down the doubts. “Well, forget I said anything.” Nefera said, knowing her words were digging deep. A waitress stepped over to Cleo with a tray of shrimp, “I have three sisters so I know that ‘claw out their eyes’ face you’re making.” “I’d hate to even dirty my manicure, Clawdeen. But if a friend wanted to do me a favor…” The princess said, a servant dropped a shrimp in her mouth. “Ghoul please. Everyone here is looking at their sandals to avoid Nefera’s plague inducing glare.” Clawdeen said with a slight curve over her fangs. “Pure evil from scarab to toe ring. The Ptolemy name however…” Cleo trailed off as she nibbled on a solid gold toothpick. A foul and rank smell shot into Clawdeen Wolf’s super-sensitive nose. Her amber eyes dried and she resisted a growl while surrounded by human elites. Now the elites weren’t all humans. The burkas barely wrinkled as the vampires floated into the room. They walked behind Pharaoh Ramses, closer than any other guest dared. Everyone bowed down to the pharaoh and his entourage. Clawdeen stood straight despite Cleo’s index pointing down. “Bad girl.” The princess whispered furiously. Clawdeen lowered herself in a pounce position. Cleo looked at her eyeline and found her friend’s surprise focus. In the vampire group Clawd Wolf stood tallest with a tiny vampire holding his arm. Cleo didn’t blush for the werewolf, her infatuation passed, but how dare he be tamed by some other royal! “Kill him!” Cleo whispered, “Okay, maybe not on the carpet but find a corner and go! Go!” Clawdeen snorted at her friend, “I’m not killing my brother. Tonight. But I might take out that runt-leech! Kidnapping a member of my pack and leashing him! That stinkin-” Ghoulia gently stuffed an artichoke ball into Clawdeen’s foaming mouth. Clawdeen chewed in aggravation as she heard the bell-like giggle from her brother’s captor. Ghoulia moaned her advice on luring Clawd away from the vampires- to talk she emphasized- and Clawdeen tsked her tongue against her long teeth. The werewolf took the very good advice as she swiftly brought her full tray of snacks over to the Pharaoh’s council. The princess was annoyed with Clawd’s choice in dates but she had to admit, not allowed, that the small bloodsucker’s hold on a monstrous honey did inspire an idea. Cleo heard muffling from a familiar voice. She turned around to see her Deuce in a burka with an arm over his mouth. “Swallow then talk.” Cleo demanded, she remembered the expansion of his throat when he swallowed without chewing. He’d be fine but it was still uncouth. Deuce swallowed his shrimp and said, “I know it’s like a scandal but I’m happy for my dawg. He’s out and in the open with his ghoul, everyone respects it, they look normal and chill…” “Totally different scenario; everyone thinks Clawd’s vampire is an experimenting eccentric and her father will never be the Pharaoh. They’ll never last anyway, he’ll grow old and she’ll be that short for the rest of her immortal life.” Cleo said hating the flighty fools flashing their romance for all to see. “Forget immortals….I just like us here and now.” Deuce said, wishing he could hold her in public. Ghoulia was still standing besides Cleo, hearing every word, but had no reason to leave the princess and the ‘random’ guest. “I like us and now too, but I want more. If you listen to me I can get us all the time and space we need.” Cleo said, the more she thought of her idea the more her lips curled. She and Deuce walked behind an enormous column and Ra statue. Ghoulia peeked around to keep watch. “Go ahead.” The gorgon said, feeling his hair slither in coils of daydreams under the burka hood. “I have a brilliant plan. I marry Seth Ptolemy, take over the city of Diospolis and we live happily in a sarcophagus built for two.” Cleo said with a grin. She waited for Deuce to applaud her genius. “I hate that plan.” The gorgon said, “Why would I ever go with that plan?” “Uuh, because it’ll lead me to have all the power I’m not getting here?” Cleo said with a roll of her eyes. “Okay, great. Write me where to send the wedding present to you and your fancy rich new husband.” Deuce said, his snakes shaking through the headwrap. “This is not cute jealous! Deuce get back here. Get back here!” Cleo quietly commanded as he stormed off. Her fingers rolled into her palms, digging her rings into bruises. She huffed and stuck her nose up as she stomped towards a servant with drinks. The Ghoul-in-Waiting listened to Cleo grumbled and rant while snapping for a drink. Three servants came with full drinks and lowered heads, as well as one very tall woman with a rumbling gele and very sleek eyewear. “Greetings your highness, how are those grapes treating you?” The woman asked. “Better than my brute of a boyfriend.” Princess Cleo said as she sipped her wine. “He sounds like an idiot. But you’re stunning, young and have a million options beside this one idiot.” “You are so very right,” Cleo said then sighed, “but he’s not always an idiot. Usually he’s there for me when others are needing from me. At the end of everyday I’m drained and he’s around.” “Like a pest?” The woman asked, she really didn’t want to hear too many good things about this particular ‘boyfriend’. “Or a loyal friend. Not to mention his hotness makes every other thirsty beast dry as the desert.” Cleo bragged, she loved hearing Ghoulia’s tired groan. “Uggh, why is he being so ridiculous?” “Fear of commitment?” The woman threw out, thinking this boy might have inherited too much of his mother’s head. “That’s probably it because when I laid out my long term plan he ran like a servant let go of a job. Why would he run? I said I’d bring him along and he wouldn’t have to lift a finger.” “Wow, sounds like you’d set it him up nice and cozy like a pet.” The woman gave up on the ‘boyfriend’ reaching higher ranks so he might as well settle down. The woman’s serpentine hair had subconsciously been nodding in agreement with all the princess had to say. The princess didn’t noticed but her friend Ghoulia certainly had. “He should be so lucky! We’d be better, safer…in a new place out of the shadows.” Cleo trailed off. Cleo was very against the touch of strangers and would’ve voiced so if the woman’s hug wasn’t so strong and surprisingly warm. “You could do better, koritsi mou, and I know you’ll be fine on your own terms but the way you speak with your heart…” “Sometime I wish I could ask the High Priest to cut that out already.” “He’d need such a big vase.” The woman said, she put an arm’s length away from Princess Cleo; she examined the exotic beauty with a smile. “Excuse me, your highness, the orzo has steamed long enough.” As the mystery woman walked away Ghoulia asked her friend if she was reminded of everyone. “Ghoulia, not all Greeks are related.” Cleo said, surprised to think her clever friend had such a naïve notion. On the palace steps, separate from everyone, Deuce leaned on the marble and stared at the city of Alexandria. He looked past the buildings towards the sand and thought of travelling somewhere else a Pegasus or ship could take him. He missed home but didn’t want to go back yet. The slap on the back of his head made him a bit homesick. “I did not survive past Furies, the underworld and your aunt Euryale to see my only child turn out like this.” Medusa said, pulling off her gele to let her snakes hiss in her son’s face. “Sup Commander, if you’re here to off me get on with it. Turns out the betrayer got betrayed for the ghoul he betrayled for so… go on.” “If I was just your Commander you’d be much less pretty by now. I’m here as your mother to tell you you’re acting a fool, bothering that respectable ghoul.” Deuce grinned bitterly, “I won’t be bothering her for much long since she’s planning on marrying some mega rich dude with his own city.” “Oh so that’s how it is. Moro mou, you have to try thinking more often. We slumlords have the privilege to marry for love and whims. The royals get married for trades of goods and services. It’s why their churches and banks are the same temples.” Medusa explained putting a hand to her head. “How did you make that boujee ghoul fall for you?” “Cleo didn’t fall all the way if she’s going to be some other dude’s wife.” Deuce said. “She told me she wants you to go along. Now a concubine wasn’t my dream for you but relationships are about compromise. Do you realize it is very dangerous and meaningful for her to even fight with you like you’re normal couple.” “Honestly when we fight we feel the most normal. But if she starts fighting with some husband and if she started yelling at him like she does me…” “My son, my eyes, I wish I could shield you from ever being hurt.” Medusa put her hand on her son’s shoulder. She looked past his protective lenses and into the beautiful eyes she gave him. “You can choose another ghoul and eventually be happy and have your easy life back. Or, if this relationship means as much as you’re whining about, you can try to trust what your princess tells you and have the time of your life.” “So I should be a concubine?” Deuce asked, surprised but also relieved that his mother was letting go her python hold. “No, moro mou, make your own choice.” Medusa said as she raised her hands not towards the palace or down the steps. “Alright,” Deuce said as a green snake reached up to kiss his mother’s cheek. The thicker yellow snakes hissed as he walked up the steps. The gorgon walked behind the snooty royals as he looked for Cleo. He noticed Clawdeen Wolf was talking with her brother and his pink vampy ghoulfriend. The wolf woman looked pleased, if not entranced, by the tiny vampire’s large grey eyes and chariot fast mouth. He heard Princess Nefera and her Pharaoh father laugh on the far end of the ball room. They sent chills down his already cold blood. Cleo didn’t laugh like that, truth was he never heard her laugh but she did have a long, sharp smile when she heard something funny. The smile she wore for Madame Ptolemy and her bedazzled Prince Seth was wide, toothy and faker than a vampire’s tan. From a mile away Deuce saw total indifference in Cleo’s eyes when the Ptolemy dude talked and showed her scroll pages.
Dude can buy all the sand and water but he can’t get her heart, Deuce thought as he waited. He chatted with a servant over where the chef prepared in the palace until Cleo waved her hand for him to follow. Ghoulia pulled a drape to cover them and blew out a candle. Cleo yawned, “I hate poetry. Are you done being a brat?” “I don’t want to be the concubine in between your date nights with the husband.” “Oh, Deucy, I don’t want date nights with that throw pillow wearing the custom nemes. I just want to take his mother’s throne because she scares me less than Nefera.” “What if the throw pillow does something cool that makes you see him different…or better.” Deuce said, admitting his worse fear. Cleo shook her head, “No, I can’t imagine falling in love with someone like that.” “I couldn’t imagine you falling in love with someone like me.” “And yet…” Cleo said with a small, genuine smile as she placed her hands on his face. “I won’t call you a concubine, that’s just a high end name for slut. But if you’re worried about my intentions…” The princess whispered an idea in his ear. He chuckled and followed her to the private quarters of Jinafire Long. By request the dragon pierced her needle thin, knife sharp ink-dipped claw into the gorgon’s back. She drew a bright blue diamond with incredible facets. Deuce held cold herbs over his back as Cleo took the piercings on her rib cage. The dragon grew a green diamond on her royal friend but since such a gem didn’t exist she assumed it was a scale. Jinafire loved her own scales but didn’t dare suggest the notion to her second-in-line-to-pharaoh-friend. The princess wasn’t a monster and even suggesting so would’ve applauded the human majority. As Cleo held the herbs to her healing chest Deuce held his hand over her fingers. “Stay patient and I’ll give us the world.”
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The very exclusive union of the Ptolemy and DeNile families spun Egypt right around. Dedyet DeNile, Cleo and Nefera’s mother, renounced her place as Queen. Dedyet explained to her family and council how overlooking the traveling expeditions became nose-diving exploration and tours spanning the unknown planes. The Pharaoh promised his wife and her team all the funding of the empire, and a blessing from the Highest Priestess in the nation. Pharoah Ramses DeNile VX also declared on the night of his daughter’s wedding that her sister take her place on the throne. “My Pharaoh, my Shinning Sun, are you sure now is such a good idea?” Dedyet asked on behalf of her nervous empire. “My Queen and Glowing Moon, with you conquering the world and Cleo taking heed of Diospolis, Nefera needs this. The modern world needs this.” Ramses said before kissing the hand of his princely son-in-law Seth Ptolemy. The Ptolemy boy flooded the streets with flower molded silver and one hundred dancing men. Oh any royal could’ve found women ready to dance but trained men dancers was a far more exotic feat. “My idea but does my father want to hear that? Nope.” Cleo said as she crossed her arms and floated in private boat on the Nile. Truthfully the idea was originally Ghoulia’s joke but Cleo had forgotten the seed. Cleo’s Greek monster boyfriend rubbed her shoulders. They laid in pillows with linen draped around them, opening a moon lite window above the boat. “I like you telling big, bad Mrs. Ptolemy I’m your personal guard. She told your folks so they’re cool with it being her idea.” Deuce said, fingers rubbing down her back, “Credit or not you are running this country, Cleo.” “My mother had all the brilliant ideas but spoke through my father. She let people assume she was just a beautiful face.” Cleo said with pride, “Everyone thinks my father’s a romantic for building her pyramids.” “Big sandals. I kind of get it, my mom and aunts were war heroes back home. I like the stories of the action and valor but after all that, home was so fine I didn’t want to rock any tides.” “I don’t believe that.” Cleo stated a finality of a executioner’s’ blade. “No, I really don’t want to fake being a brain in a forum or hard-boiled coliseum stud.” Deuce said, his snakes sticking out their tongues to smell the princess. “If home was so wonderfully fine why did you leave? I know my country is one the the most glamorous of the world and at the high end of fashion for the rest of history but what carried you here?” “Tried to help mistreated monsters bros and try good food.” Deuce said with a smile; there was sadness knowing what Nefera wouldn’t do for the freaky people. Cleo held his chin and looked in his cover eyes, “Alright. We’ll do more for the monster citizens and you can dine in bed here. Under the moonlight, away from everyone, me in my finest headdress.” “Gods damn you are fine.” Deuce said as he and his snakes kissed her neck and then pushed his princess girlfriend higher on the pillows. The city of Diospolis had exceptional museums, music halls and enormous libraries. The Ptolemys kept their city shining with brass fists. Cleo DeNile Ptolemy recited each of the nineteen laws, and later amended five to give monsters’ immigration breaks. Madame Ptolemy was a heinous in-law but a strong leader. Cleo devoted her mentor’s lectors to memory and impressed her with wit and a passion to put the people first. “You know it’s better if they fear you. Love is for children.” Madame Ptolemy said to her daughter-in-law one morning over coffee. “The people of Scario did fear my father.” Cleo said, being above affection seemed like the mature river to follow. The only leader she saw loved by her people was her mother. A grace her sister hadn’t inherited: two months in and already Cleo heard citizens rioting against Nefera. Cleo could be happy, for his sister’s fails, in her safe new city that allowed her lady-in-waiting to become a respected scholar. Ghoulia didn’t need a translator; the Diospolis council held their breathes before her feather touched parchment. Cleo backed Ghoulia’s idea and new irrigation systems followed and a new medium of text accompanied by drawings were released to the public elites. Hieroglyphic legends were scared and Madame Ptolemy banned the information from the randos. A few tales and illustrations of her carrying the city in her palms were tolerated. As his mother mentored his wife, Prince Seth Ptolemy acquired more alone time. He took the lapses to explore the Lower cities and the under-sand music scenes. The artists his mother rejected were inspiring and he shared his risqué poetry with them. The under-sand club scene mixed of humans and monsters, many of who evacuated Scario the day after Pharaoh Nefera took the throne. Seth felt plain and inferior to the worldly creatures. He learned to soak in their rays and join their glee in the fusions of music. “Mother wants me to be King of the World.” Seth said to his wife as they received manicures in their home spa. “That isn’t who I am inside. I can’t pretend any longer.” “These cucumbers can be made into a very tasty dressing.” Cleo said as she pointed to her eyes, barely listening to Seth. “DeNile, I am giving up my chair. You will be the Pharaoh.” The cucumber slices dropped as Cleo shot up in her lounging chair. The servants gasped and put their hands over their ears. “I was getting that anyway but what are you doing now?” Cleo asked. “My heart is for the arts. I’m going to live as a starving thespian among my real kind and become a closer to my music.” Seth said, nearly giddy to say the words out loud. Cleo couldn’t move her mouth or blink, “Uh huh….Seth I wish you all the blessings in the world with your dreams and such.” Seth exhaled a giant sigh of gratitude, “Thank you, you’re a good wife.” “Yes I am.” Cleo said, thinking of how to turn his room into a new closest. “Wow, you’re taking this so well I could also tell Mother-“ “Oh Ra help your tiny brain no. We’re going to fake your death.” Seth took some offense to how quickly she suggested becoming a widow but then realized her idea was safer. “Okay, I know a ghoul who does really killer props and makeup.” “I’m sorry to hear about your husband, luv.” Lagoona the sea creature said as she sat in her princess friend’s pool-size bath tub. The servants added healing salts by Princess Cleo’s request. The taste and smell reminded Lagoona of home, she leaned against the titles with her hair swaddled in a wrap. The princess was braiding Ghoulia’s blue hair as the ghouls sat in the foam-bubbles. “Yes, so sad. Seth Ptolemy died and left me all this.” Cleo said showing off the giant, shimmering jars full of bathing potions and lotions. “What is a soon-to-be Queen of the World going to do?” Lagoona felt a little guilty about using the moisture from the deceased Ptolemy but it smelled so sweet and her stretchy skin glistened. “Mummy Ptolemy is in a greiving tizzy so all the big decisions like immigration, medicine distribution and the locus issues are mine. Everyone is listening to me and bending to my pinky.” Cleo bragged happily. Ghoulia looked at her reflection and thought the hair-style was becoming horrendous. She said nothing, per the usual, because this was a very joyous time not just for her bestie but also for her inventory time. Cleo allowed her more free time from the council’s hassles so the Resident Sphinx Head Scholar had time to tinker and build. Despite everyone assuming she was kidding, Ghoulia did feel very close to getting non-winged monsters off the ground. “So everything’s going as planned. Bonza.” Lagoona said with a celebratory webbed slap on the water’s surface. “Lagoona, It is an epic time: I’m on top the pyramid and adored by everyone in Egypt, Ghoulia is setting the books ablaze, Deuce is cooking up a storm in the kitchen and every other citizen is safe and totally in awe of me. The whole world in accordance.” Cleo said with a cup of tea on a tray, held by an attending servant. Her eyelids drooped down as she took a peaceful, pinky high sip. “Fangtastic! A bathhouse!” A squeaky voice echoed. Cleo spit out her tea and snapped her head to see a shrimp-size vampire hopping towards her bubbles. “What! Are You!! Doing here???” Cleo yelled, causing the vampire to step back from the water. The pointy eared ghoul looked close to crying, she met with the embrace of a werewolf whose canines were all out. The growl of warning didn’t Cleo but she was offended to see, “Clawdeen Wolf! You come by Night Walker instead of my invitation?” “I never got an invitation. And you will apologize or I’ll bite that tiara off your head before you can claim Ra.” Clawdeen said running a paw over her vampire friend’s flat hair. “You know I don’t say ‘sorrys’. But because I do still consider you a friend you and your upside wrong friend may enjoy the bath.” Cleo said, gesturing to the heated water. Lagoona waved it a friendly manner. While wearing bathing dresses the other monsters dipped into the muscle-releasing warmth. “Oh my blood….” The vampire said, “This is fabulous.” “Yes it is, now how many of there are you and why are you here?” Cleo asked, she knew Night Walkers could only enter a stranger’s home if welcomed and she doubted Madame Ptolemy was around to be gracious to non-royals. “Oh, forgive your highness! Intro! Hi, my name is Draculaura and I’m Clawdeen’s new sister!” The pink vampire hugged her werewolf ‘sister’ and Lagoona leveled the furry blushing wasn’t just from the bath. “Anyway, I’m here with the rest of the Scario Vampire Embassy because, between you and me we were getting crowded in your home palace, so our new Queen said we should come here. Between you and me I wouldn’t vote for her, she’s so angry bossy to everyone- monster or human, not nice at all, but Madame Gory is my real leader and she said this is our home too so here we are for va-kay. And wow, do we need it since we vamps have been staying up night and day with those baddies climbing the walls. I’m sure you heard about how humans and monsters are mad and wanting to make a new Pharaoh but with the laws as is like that’s happening but Gory is pretty smart so she figures keep Nefera undercover while we cool down the rest of Scario. Problems getting solved, like my pore because my blood! This is the good stuff!” Draculaura said without a beat. She became to lather a coconut lotion in Clawdeen’s braids. Lagoona blinked. “She can hold her breath longer than I ever dreamed.” “Cleo…” Clawdeen started, hoping she could explain despite her royal brattiness the werewolf still wanted to protect her pampered friend. Cleo soaked in Draculaura’s ramble and pressed her palms together. “Nefera thinks she can bring her problems to my empire. Isis curse that.” The princess stood up from her bath. The vampire blushed violet at princess’ nude form. Clawdeen noticed Cleo looked rounder in the middle since the last time they had an alteration session. Without a word or gesture a servant to brought her a golden robe and a palanquin for travel. In her private palanquin Cleo’s servants had kept refilled snack bowls near her chair. The princess assumed her stress snacking had caused strange cravings and she’d slim down later when she had off time. Expecting the absolute worse still didn’t prepare Cleo for the ugly sight. In the Diospolis throne room Pharaoh Nefera sat in Madame Ptolemy’s seat with one leg hanging over the side. At her side was Madame Gory the Nigh Walker/ advisor to the DeNile Family. Cleo had imagined Nefera wearing their father’s headdress for years; being a new Pharaoh Nefera decked out her own and it was stupendous but the blackish-teal scarab in the middle of her forehead and before her crown was poisonous. “Baby sister, looks like you’re putting on baby-fat.” Nefera said as she tapped her long nails on the Ptolemy’s greyhound statues. “This kindergarten city is turning your brain and thighs to mush.” “Focus, my Pharaoh.” Madame Gory said with a pained grin. “Shut up, maid.” Nefera snapped, “Cleo, make me a bed sprinkled with rose petals and the good fisheggs.” Cleo felt her brain catch fire as she head her sister’s barking, “As my sister you will not to speak to me that way! In my home!” “As your Pharaoh I expect more bowing and obeying. Get to it.” Nefera said, nodding her head at the DeNile guards. The Anubis headed guards gently took Cleo off the palanquin and not so gently made her bend her knee on the marble. The princess screamed and slapped their traitorous hands. “Guards face the walls!” Cleo pointed to the corners of the room for their timeouts. The DeNile nor Ptolemy guards went by her command, Cleo looked at her finger to see if it was broken. Nefera clicked her tongue against her teeth, “Let me remind you again. I’m the Pharaoh and everyone does what I say.” The purple-eyed royal always glazed over Cleo but in the moment the princess’ blue eyes saw madness. Cleo took a deep breathe, put her diamond-encrusted slippers in her hands and ran. She ran back to the bathroom where, Thank Ra Almighty, her friends were still lounging. “Cleo! You’re pale, what the moon is wrong?” Clawdeen asked, rushing to hold her friend. “Nefera has to take everything. She’s so evil…. I’m not sure if she’s here to kill us or someone’s out to kill her but we have to get out of here.” Cleo said pulling Ghoulia out of the bath water. A remaining loyal servant took the blue-haired ghoul in his arms, Cleo kissed the top of her hand. “Keep her safe.” “Ghoul, we don’t have to run with our tails hiding. I’ll take care of the Pharaoh.” Clalwdeen said cracking her shoulders and rolling her biceps. “Bad dog, sit! This isn’t fighting my scrawny peacock sister- this is escaping the thousands of servants sworn to her aid. We must get out.” Cleo said, pushing lotion jars randomly across the room. She stomped on a title and a trap door opened to a staircase leading downwards. “Oh. Sandstorm blowing my mind.” Draculaura said with her eyes wide. “About you.” Cleo said, lifting a loofa brush made from an far away tree. “Hey, she’s not part of an conspiracy.” Clawdeen said stepping in front of the kindest vampire she’d ever met. Cleo narrowed her eyes, “Your choice. You want to fight the Night Walkers and simultaneously protect them then stay behind.” “I’ll give you a head start.” Clawdeen yelled to the Cleo rushing down the stairs. The wolf woman gave a tough smile to Ghoulia as the servant carried her down. Lagoona stopped by the entrance and hugged her furry friend. “I believe in you, Moonie.” Lagoona said putting a blue hand on Clawdeen’s brown face. “You too, Sharkbait.” Clawdeen said then jerked for her to go down with the princess. Ghoulia had invented a lantern that lit with a twist of a knob. Cleo lead her travel party through the secret chambers. “We grab Deuce then find a griffin to get out of the palace.” The princess said, hating how the stuffy tunnel would frizz her hair. “I might be late in asking but why can’t you talk this out with your own sister? It’s not like she wants you dead.” “Oh sweet, sweet, crawled out from the ocean’s bottom floor Lagoona, you cannot reason with crazies. Us dying or living is never on my sister’s priorities. You’re so lucky your family are simple folk.” Cleo said, and her tone was haughty but Lagoona knew Cleo’s intention wasn’t so rough. The travelers came to forked entrances. “Lagoona, your kind can see in the dark, right?” Cleo asked. “In water, yeah.” “Always only in water, I swear… Okay, here’s the plan. You and Ghoulia go straight down this route and on the third left turn you’ll take the left then step up to the Glass Gate Menagerie and secure us two griffins.” Cleo stated, “I’ll take this one, grab my bodyguard and met you in ten minutes top. If I don’t come back after the ten minutes…. You will wait because I am still going to be the Queen!” “Gotcha, mate.” Lagoona said holding up her hand with a crook at the elbow. The gesture looked familiar to how boys greeted one another; Lagoona didn’t care about gender regulations but Cleo was royal so she demurely shook Lagoona’s fins. Cleo walked out of the first floor’s bookshelf secret entrance. She looked east and west down the hall and saw nothing. Still the torches were out and it felt too hot for indoors. The princess heard a sneeze, from above, and instead of the sparkling gem ceiling Cleo saw hundreds to thousands of bats. They weren’t swarming her so but she still took wide steps to make it to the kitchen. The Egyptian princess waved her hands to her neck. She was still in her robe and only wore maybe four kilos of gold accessories. In her limited escape time Cleo could choose between grabbing another servant to carry more wardrobe options or grab the gorgon. Oh Ra help him, he would stay on his knees for a month to make this up to her. “Deuce, grab your snack bars and let’s go.” Cleo announced loudly as she walked into the kitchen. She grasped her cracking heart at the nightmarish scene staining her eyes. Her gorgon had his arms around a skanky purple-haired hair full of leaves. Her green face was sucking his teeth from his snaky head and making Cleo nauseous. In spite she could’ve left the cheating bastard to die with his plant whore but Cleo’s broken heart craved vengeance. The princess grabbed a frying pan, for the first and last time in her life, and whacked the veggie hoe to the floor. The gorgon fell back against pantry; green goo dripping from his mouth. “Zeus got me in the head.” Deuce said rubbing his head, he was dizzy but his snakes hissed the warning to jump out of the smash zone. “I cannot believe I brought you along, you low slithering son of Medusa!” Cleo yelled as she grabbed the chopping knives she bought him. “Wow, Cleo, I just woke up. What is on my fac- Cleo!” Deuce said as he ducked the knives and vegetables. “What’s up with you!” “How dare you! I hope the vampires do suck you off until you’re a raisin! All my wasted time!!” Cleo said grabbing the spoons in her fury. The gorgon walked backwards around the kitchen stations. “Cleo, babe, I really don’t know what’s going on but please drop the ladle, it’s been sitting in boiling water.” He flinched when steaming droplets hit his exposed shoulder. “Okay, if you’re not going to listen just kill me. Go for the neck.” Deuce had his back to the salted meat room, Cleo with a mallet in her hands at his throat, and still he was worried at why she was crying black mascara tears. “Seeing you with that leafy tramp…. you will pay for the treason against this empire.” Cleo said but she didn’t swing the mallet. Deuce shook his head, “I didn’t..I wouldn’t… I totally love…” Cleo pushed the mallet closer to his chin; he didn’t push her despite clearly outweighing her by thirty pounds of muscle. In her mind she said goodbye to his beautiful hair, beautiful face, not so beautiful thorny purple vines sticking out of his white skin. Cleo dropped the mallet and poked the bleeding thorns. Deuce flinched and tried to remember how those got there. “These couldn’t have added to any carnal pleasure.” Cleo said placing a finger on the vines, they wiggled and the gorgon winced. “Deuce, pull those out.” A green snake reached down and tugged, causing more bleeding and hissing. Cleo reached for the cheap dress and tore strips. She grabbed a dark liquid to the gorgon to sip and then splashed the bottle on the wound. “I swear the last thing I remember was somebody asked for a glass of water and fresh dirt.” He said as Cleo wrapped bandages around his neck. “But I’m sorry it freaked you.” Cleo’s angry glare avoided his stare, they heard the plant whore groan so Cleo raised his sunglasses off his nose and continued to avoid his eyes. The nasty grass hoe turned to stone; the only time she was allowed in a royal’s garden. “Come on, Greek, you’re getting me out of here.” Cleo said, meeting his puckered lips with her palm. “So what, we’re not going to talk about it? I was forced by evil tree magic.” Deuce whined as they walked through the tunnels. “Just stone anyone who’s not me.” Cleo ordered. “You should know I only have eyes for you, Princess.” Cleo groaned, “I should have beaten you to death. What in Ra’s world stopped me?” The gorgon chuckled because she was getting less furious and into normal mad. They stopped at a dead end, Cleo pointed to a door above her. Deuce pushed it up and moonlight changed their tiny space. “Forgive me, yet?” He asked as they stood chest to chest. “Get me out.” The human demanded with folded arms; she ignored how slow he took to holding her by the waist and how his snakes were as Deuce lifted her over his head. Cleo stood up and brushed the sand off her legs as Deuce pulled himself out. They were in the orchid section of the garden, south to the Menagerie. The two walked toward the pyramid-shaped glass cage that hosted the exotic pets. They noticed most doors were open and missing animals. “What, was I suppose to just leave them here?” Lagoona asked standing next to the remaining two griffins. The beasts had amber eyes and sandy-colored feathers; heads of hunting birds and bodies built like lions. “Where is Ghoulia! You had one job, Lagoona!” Cleo whisper shouted. “Chill luv, she went around back to grab the saddles.” The sea creature explained, Cleo hoped her own hair wasn’t as disastrous as the blonde’s in this blistering desert night heat. “Is she walking on her own because she’s taking an eternity.” Cleo said, stomping away. “Don’t follow me.” Deuce halted his step and sighed. Lagoona put a hand on his shoulder, his snakes hiss at her in thanks. Outside the critter’s kennels Cleo found the servant, responsible for Ghoulia, lying on the ground. His throat had two massive holes in a very clean bite. Cleo prayed to Ra as she sped walked around the foreign tree. “This isn’t how it was suppose to go, Cleo. I’m the Pharaoh for Bat’s sake.” Nefera said as she held Ghoulia’s hair in a grip above her head. “Let her go.” Cleo demanded expressionlessly. “You played with the Priest’s magic to bring this wench back from her death bed. She was always sickly and slow and you still used our privileged resources on a worthless playmate.” Nefera’s mouth was dry with the taste of iron in her teeth. “You did that but won’t help your own sister.” “I said let her go.” Cleo said again, her eyelids half closed and her tone very relaxed. Going against Cleo’s order Deuce walked to the door of the Glass Gate Menagerie. Before he stepped out he found Cleo with an unconscious Ghoulia, an arm over her shoulder. The gorgon took his blue buddy and tried to ask what happened but Cleo severely demanded they get on the Ra damn griffins. The flight on the griffins was wondrous and exhilarating but the youths didn’t appreciate the experience. They looked down at the screaming crowds circling the Ptolemy palace. Lagoona held Ghoulia under her torso and her arms and legs gripped the griffin; they couldn’t find the saddles. Deuce did the same for Cleo, who silently shed tears as she flew away from her city.
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As a little princess Cleo would politely demand her nannies to tell the stories of Serqet the Scorpion Goddess. The goddess protected the innocent, living and dead, and tortured the deserved. When she was scared of her bullying sister Nefera, Cleo would pray for Serqet to send scorpions into her slippers. Serqet did not so Cleo rationalized the goddess loved Nefera as well as every other blind grown-up. Little Princess Cleo was on her own. She’d be her own Scorpion goddess with a envy-enraging home and magical defenders. Cleo grew up and secured her own city and home palace at sixteen years old. She worked and lived as an Empress in Training for eighteen wonderful months. The princess found her magical scorpion friends in foreign monsters and discovered they needed defending by her will. She juggled having a rich but oblivious husband and dependable but uncouth lover with tremendous ease. Cleo was happy as she was certain of her possession of the world. In one night her sister Pharoah Nefera took it all away from her. Her power, her people’s safety and her identity as royalty were all gone the night Nefera went mad. In escaping with her life and closest friends she lost everything she earned and deserved from her birthright. The crashing reality of hopelessness made Cleo sick to her stomach. Not to mention the rocking commoner’s ship: economy rooms were tortures invented from Isis’ wrath. Cleo kept her head in a bucket and prayed for Serqet to send the fastest scorpion available. “You were ill before we left, you know.” Ghoulia said in a moan, holding back her friend’s hair. “Yes Ghoulia, I know I’ve been sick for weeks. And despite all the dieting I’ve been swelling up like a hippo.” Cleo said, hating how they had to buy square dresses to cover her figure. “Maybe it’s something you ate. Deuce does experiment with fusion cuisine.” Ghoulia moaned, though the zombie never felt ill after a meal. “If I’m allergic to olives I will make him pay.” Cleo said placing a cold towel on her forehead. Ghoulia patted her hand and listed the possible illnesses in her mind. Most of the ideas were lethal and fast ending so she didn’t give them life. Ghoulia was brought back from Anubis’ grip by Pharaoh Priests’ magic and still didn’t believe in the hoey and humdrum. But for the sake of realizing her own condition she offered to say, “Do you think it’s a curse?” Cleo gasped and slapped Ghoulia’s patting hand. “How dare you! My dear, you know I’m worshipped by the people!” “Well some people could be….jealous?” Ghoulia offered, she knew Cleo’s ‘confidence’ came off snobbish and villainous to some creatures. Cleo titled her head to the side. The Egyptian citizens' revolt was against Nefera so she knew it wasn't a political attack. Jealousy in social circles was not 'possible' it was downright encouraged by Cleo. “Toralei is far too ignorant to know magic, the vampires have different power styles, I may have finally reached perfection so high that a goddess is envious of my face….” Cleo said with an arrogant smile. “It wouldn’t be the first time the old biddys were jealous of their offspring’s offspring’s offspring- Oh my Ra I’m pregnant.” Ghoulia slapped a hand over her blue mouth. Cleo froze like the Sphinx until Ghoulia sprinkled water from their cups. Tears fell down the Egyptian girl’s face. “I don’t want to die.” Cleo said with a hollow voice. “The only reason my mother survived two births were the High Priestesses and Tawaret at her beck and call for weeks. I’m on a boat. The fishes can’t help me, this beautiful little treasure will eat me from the inside and then dance on my sarcophagus.” The zombie gently pulled Cleo off the bed and made her sit on the floor. As Cleo hyperventilated Ghoulia massaged the top of her head all the way down her shoulders then fingertips. She repeated to her friend ‘it’ll be okay, it’ll be okay’. The anxiety exercise eased Cleo, briefly transporting her back to easier times; times when the future was full of hope and tomorrow better every next day. Cleo snapped back to reality, wide awake to her situation and very much over pitying herself. “Ghoulia, stop it.” So she did and she watched her friend stand, “There are ways around this before I become… rounder. The only choice I must make now is whether I tell Deuce or not. Maybe he’ll understand and stay by me… I’d be fine if he doesn’t.” On the deck Cleo, with a washed face and firm heart, found a fort decorated with shimmering sea life. The crabs, pearls and other plant-rock things were shinning like stars and the candle inside make the fort look cozy. “Ra dammit.” Cleo said with a ginger smile. “Yeah, we tried to cover the smell but still it’s pretty darn pretty.” Lagoona said, taking a break from the steering wheel. “Who’s steering the boat?” Ghoulia asked for the sake of their survival. “This ghostly shelia named Styxx, she knows the Greek bloke from back home so I figured she’s alright.” Lagoona explained. She did like getting closer to the ocean even if her father’s boat was a beaut. “Indeed.” Cleo said bending down and pushing the linen to enter the fort. “Hey.” Deuce said lying on a floor full of fluff mountains, his arms behind his head. Cleo very unprincessly crawled on the pillows to reach her scaly love. “Hey.” Nothing was said as she rested her head on his chest. His snakes nibbled at the ends of her black hair while Cleo collected her thoughts. “On the worse day of my life you’re still being amazing.” Cleo said softly, “I can’t believe it’s all gone.” “Part of me wondered what day I was going to get the axe for impersonating a bodyguard. I still love guarding your body.” Deuce said hoping he was still able to joke while riding the River Styxx. “I know it wasn’t in the plan but we really could go anywhere, Cleo. Another country, another city, we could try camping…” “That is so unfunny it’s a horror story.” Cleo said, hating the idea of sleeping on dirt but liking her travel companion. The gorgon chuckled, “Okay, what do you wanna do? I’m down for almost anything.” Cleo smiled with extra scorpion venom in her eyes. “I have your demon seed festering in my womb, and I’m wondering what to do with it.” The pale boy went bone white; his snakes all dropped their jaws. Deuce swallowed deeply and took a breathe through his nose. “You want to keep it?” Cleo smiled and felt her heart expand, “I love that you asked me that.” “I saw having kids eventually when I was old and I’m sorry but your life is the worse right now and I don’t want it harder. Please don’t stop loving me if we live without it.” Deuce said, sandwiching her hands between his own. Cleo smiled ear to ear, “Oh my Ra, your heart is in the right place, in putting me first. We are so having this child. I mean if we don't love it first sight I'm cool with sailing it down a river in a basket. ” Cleo’s boyfriend blinked and said, “Okay. Bring it. This kid is going to be so fine.” “I know, right!” Deuce’s girlfriend said snuggling closer, hugging his neck as he held her in his arms. Cleo didn’t want to think about the risks, or becoming an immobile pyramid-fatty or how many royal rights were already taken from her heir. She concentrated on her glorious baby’s wonderful father and how her friends loved her even without the crown. Next task was to love herself again while off the throne. Greece had the highest population of thespians, acclaimed heroes and monster citizens in the modern world. The cities were crowded with smelly but friendly people of all shapes and enormous sizes on their streets. They had more temples than academies, and they had dozens of academies, and really loved their sports. “We’re not staying here.” Cleo DeNile said as she halted on Lagoona's family boat. The gorgon dropped his shoulders, “Babe, you’re tired and hungry. Come with me and you can sleep for the next hundred years.” Cleo ducked her head as a flock of harpies flew too close to her perfect face. “No way. No way am I getting mugged and groped by some misogynistic Greek god disguised as a little swan or horse. I trust nothing here.” Deuce walked back up the plank and took her beautifully tanned hand in his beach-white fingers. “You trust me, right?” The Egyptian rolled her painted eyes, “Promise you’ll stone anyone I say?” “Hey Deuce, welcome back.” A satyr with an afro said from the dock. “Stone that.” Cleo said pointing to the stranger. “Hey Zeb.” Deuce said taking off his sunglasses and stoning his childhood neighbor. He turned around with his eye covered and his eye-brow raised, “Happy?” “Marginally.” Cleo said as she waved a hand for her three servants to follow her and her Greek boyfriend. One servant carried her luggage, one pushed Ghoulia in a wheelchair and the third one kept a palm leaf over Cleo’s head. Ghoulia moaned a ‘we talked about this’ to Cleo the ‘not a DeNile anymore’. “Oh, so no one in Greece ever had family servants who pledged their immortal lives to wait on their lords?” Cleo asked and saw Deuce and Ghoulia’s unamused stares. “I’m not releasing them to the wilderness, they only know service. They’d starve.” “Okay, I know this will take adjusting. Let’s let her keep them, no body goes hungry here.” Deuce said as Cleo took his bent arm. Ghoulia begrudgingly nodded, she knew her wheelchair was going to take all the kindness Cleo had to offer. Sharing her servants was very kind of Cleo, thank you. Cleo still didn’t feel safe among the flat-faced locals but she was delighted to see how many people greeted her boyfriend. It made sense he’d be loved and missed by the creatures of his home country; he was that popular and adorable. Skipping the tour of Mycenea Deuce took his companions straight home. They walked away from the city up the coast and toward a huge cliff. The sunset was lovely and the home was very nice, if you liked everything blandly white and stale Cleo thought. The statues around the walkway were very well etched and Cleo could’ve complained that the terrified expression got old after the first few dozen but she put her guest face on. As Deuce carried her up the steps Cleo spoke, on and on, about which topics she planned to bring up when meeting his mother. The gorgon stared down at her swollen belly because it was precious and awesome. “You know she’s going to go crazy over one big thing.” He said as a few snakes reached around his ears to rub against her belly. “No, she’s going to love me for me first and then this little monster. Me first.” Cleo said, then added, “And I’m not ‘big’.” “You’ve got sharp edges. I like that. She will too.” Deuce said as they got to the top of the steps and outside the Gorgons’ door. He put Cleo back on her sandals and rested a hand on her hip; his thumb rubbed her belly. “We will throw the biggest, loudest and longest party for this thing after I win over Medusa. Let me do this the right way.” Cleo said, holding his hand so his attention was all on her. “Gods help me, I love you.” Deuce said putting his forehead against hers; he thought of the times his living snakes would tangle around the gold snake on her tiaras. “I know.” Cleo said with a smug grin. Ghoulia and the servants caught up with them at the top. Deuce inhaled deeply before knocking on his boyhood door. No one came so the gorgon put his ear to the door. He backed away, put an arm in front of Cleo and motioned for the others to follow his step. A second later a bull busted through the wood door with huffs and puffs; the Egyptians realized the bull has a humanoid body so he was more than an animal. But not by much. “Wait til I get my hands on that-“ The minatour mooed. “Sup Manny.” Deuce greeted easily. “Hey Deuce. I’m going to run him into Hades.” Manny said, flexing his stable-size torso and arms. As the minatour ran down the hill a puny cyclops ran out the broken door frame. “Manny, wait! This is a misunderstanding! Hi Deuce.” “Hey Iris.” Deuce said with a salute. The cyclops gave a shaky smile then ran down the steps. Cleo put a hand to the sacred vessel that was her belly. “We’re getting an inn.” “Better eats here.” Deuce said as he led her into the occupied living room. “Right where I left you all.” “Baby boy!” A tall woman wearing glasses and a wrap around her head got up from the couch to hug the younger gorgon. Cleo noticed her snakes were shaved off but she still had scaly blue skin and a family resemblance to Deuce. “Have you eaten, you look famished.” His Aunt Euryale asked. “Boy can go months without eating, we all can.” A much taller and wider gorgon woman stated from the couch. “Hey you.” Deuce nodded towards the retired General, “Hey Aunt Stheno, and that’s never stopped you before.” “Wise ass, welcome back.” The gorgon woman with redish black snakes, thick as Cleo’s head, hissed from her seat. Their living room hosted three non-binary nature nymphs, Euryale’s three adult daughters, Eastern monsters with snake-tails instead of legs, and a senior male centaur. The table in the center was covered with plates of food. Perhaps it was her condition but the smell of hummus sickened Cleo. A Naga tail slapped Deuce’s arm, “Cousin! Be a gentlemen and introduce us to this stunning friend you’ve brought home. We swear he does know better.” “Cleo this is my family, family this is Cleo. We met in Egypt. We’re low on pita.” Cleo gasped, “What kind of introduction- Good evening Gorgon clan. Cleo DePalm, Pleasure.” The blue gorgon took her hand, meant to receive a kiss, taken by long, long hands. Euryale began screeching, “You’re gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! I’m going to die here tonight.” “Well if everything you say is true...” Cleo said with a flip of her long hair. The monsters chuckled and made a place for the Egyptian on an empty, pillow filled chair. Cleo began telling the room her tale of their hazardous boat trip from Egypt and how brilliant was her quiet friend Ghoulia. Ghoulia sat shyly on the side of Cleo and they shared a plate of grilled lamb. Deuce mouthed if Cleo was good where she was and sitting in the center of attention she nodded a yes. The youngest gorgon took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. “Well look what Cerberus dragged in.” Medusa said, a hand on her hip and the rest of her statuesque figure leaning on a cutting board. “My only son goes all the way to the top of Egypt and I don’t even get a postcard.” “Hi Mom.” Deuce said walking up to her and the bowl of uncut pita bread. He took the blade out of her hand and then kissed her cheek. “Hello moro mou,” Medusa said, her yellow snakes planting kisses on his face. “I didn’t think I’d see you again when I heard about…” “Yeah. I’ll miss the princess every day. But hey I met another amazing girl and yeah she’s human too and wow and-“ Medusa’s python hair slapped the back of her son’s head. “You dare try lying to me? Holy Hera, why do you test me with this boy?” Deuce grabbed the pita and began to chop, “Mom,” “Facts are her people think she’s dead and you evacuated the royal refuge here. My problem with that is royals are inbred to be crazy and she’s a DeNile so she’s probably the calm kind of crazy.” Medusa said, her hair twirling in all directions of angry. “Please don’t call my ghoul crazy.” “You brought her into my home, she met the family, I know I can’t knock sense back into you so I’m left just skipping to the accepting part.” Medusa said pulling her yellow snakes behind her shoulders. “Thank you. I’ll do whatever I need to, to help this be less... rock and a hard place.” Deuce promised as he place a hand on his mother's shoulder. Medusa groaned deeply and put both hands over her son's hand. “Oh you're going to do everything I say from this day forward. As for the princess in plain sight? Ehh. She lays me a grandbaby I'll be Narcissus with a mirror." "If you say so." Deuce shrugged and placed the pita slices on a new plate. Medusa's jaw dropped and her hair twirled in joy, "There's a clayball in the oven already!" "No. No there isn't." Deuce lied with incredible belief in himself. "I'm a Yaya! Hera, you're finally paying me back." Medusa said with her sunglasses towards the ceiling. "Mom." Deuce said with hands waved over his mother's starry eyes. "Don't say anything. Cleo wanted to tell you after you got to know her. Let her have that, she's had a hard month." Medusa's smile shrunk but did not disappear, "Okay, okay. I want the mother...the Mummy," The gorgons made goofy smiles at their hilarious pun, "to be calm as she carries our blessing. I won't let her lift a finger; she's use to that, until my perfect baby is out to receive his Yaya's love and showerings. He can be Meduseus the second." "No, he won't. Okay, my kid needs their own name like Fry or Zepplin." Deuce said, thinking his choices were neutral enough for whatever the child would be. "Oh please let me be in the room when you suggest that to your boujee wife." Medusa said walking into the living room, ignoring when her son tried to say 'about the wife thing'. "Lady Medusa, I am Cleo DePalm. It's an honor to make your acquaintance." Cleo said as the most talked about monster in Greece, maybe the world, entered the room. Medusa saw the hiding royal hold out a hand. She walked past it and minatour-hugged her new daughter-in-law. Cleo wasn't use to public affection so the hug made her uncomfortable; as a guest she took it with stride. Deuce put the fresh pita on the table and caught his girlfriend's question looks. She mouthed 'did you tell her?' and he shook his head. Cleo heard happy sobbing and she dropped her eyelids. "Lovely to meet you, Lady Medusa oh and here's something you don't know," Cleo said sarcastically, "I'm carrying your grand-spawn." A collection of gasps and loud congratulations went around the room. Euryale hugged her nephew, along with her daughters who coiled around their cousin. Stheno didn't give blessings or show any glee in the wonderful news. She liked seeing her family grow but the eldest Gorgon could not ignore the dangers in front of her unshielded eyes. After the celebratory drinks, invitations sent by the toy-breed dragons and happy screams the world travelers found their bedrooms in the early morning. Ghoulia slept in a Naga cousin's coiled tail in a guest room. The DePalm servants stood outside Deuce's bedroom as Cleo laid her feet on a hill of pillows. "Your family knows how to party." Cleo said as her boyfriend rubbed her back. "All fun and games but this 'coffee wife' is tired." Deuce kissed her shoulder, "You don't wanna hear my nickname tonight. I'll tell you next century." "Tomorrow you’ll tell me." Cleo said flicking his green snakes as her eyes drifted to sleep. Slumber had open wings for Cleo to fly away from her troubles. A knock on the Greek marble shattered that dream. "Aunt Stheno, sup." Deuce said, hoping the ever serious aunt only wanted to guilt-talk about wedding plans. "I won't let Coffee Niece crack wide open cause of our brood." Stheno said, her giant hands flicking the DePalm servants across the room for bouncing on her elbows. Cleo sat up in offense but waited to hear what the old monster had to offer. Deuce took her hand and continued to rub her back with the other fingers. "Well, who do you know? Don't you people have those new magicians that bring the dead back to life?" Cleo asked the gorgons. Deuce flinched at the idea and kept his stare on his aunt. "The Hypocraticals? Nah, I know the oldies that can lead you through alive and well. Question is you wanna go to them or I gotta drag em here?" Stheno asked drily. Deuce sighed in defeat, "Can we go one day without 'questing'? Just once, can we know someone in town?" "Boy, this land is wide and I hope the gods will keep the good stuff hidden. Now they abandoned me but you two aren't allowed to abandon my sister's babe." "No disrespect, Stheno, but I'm not making a preggers woman go on a quest. And I don't want to leave her." Deuce said holding Cleo closer to his chest and heart. "Deuce, you're going on the quest." Cleo said with very little deliberation. "Excuse me. I'm staying near you and little babe, babe." Deuce said with great defiance. "I don't need you to watch in wonder every day as I'm fattened up like a cow, seriously your mother made me gain ten pounds tonight. I don't even want to be around for that." Cleo said pushing him off her hands. She shut his protest with a finger on his lips, "I'm already burdened with the full womb, it's your turn to carry some burden for this family by running this little errand.” "Cleo, I've been on quests before. I could die and never see you again, and never meet baby." The male gorgon said putting a hand on her belly. "What I’m hearing is you know how not to die on a quest. Cheers." Cleo said unimpressed, "Do this for your baby, and if you don't come back I'll show the child your image from Medusa's vases." Stheno nodded with her lip puckered. "Sounds like a plan. C'mon, boy." Deuce lowered his ear on Cleo's belly, "Mini dude, I hope you get my compassion, and your mummy's self-confidence." "Very sweet, now go." The Egyptian human said as she pushed her monster boyfriend out of bed. Deuce slouched as she pointed to the door. Cleo gave a regal wave to Stheno in goodbye. Despite the sunlight Cleo laid in the wooden bed, covered with quilts, with a hand on her bump. "Fret not, my princess, your father will return home and I won't die from your glorious entrance into this world. Forgive me for not having your throne and city full of admirers ready yet. I promise we'll get back there, no matter what it takes. Oh, for the record I do expect you to fight me so you can succeed me but let's save that for later, my lovely." The DeNile heir said as she rested in her Greek-in-laws' home.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Two wrongs don't make a right and killing a few hundred humans wouldn't correct the thousand years of mutilations on monsters. Stheno Gorgon lead the first Great War of monsters' freedom; her armies pushed the majority of Greek humans out of her homeland. She witnessed her younger sister Eurayle grow up in an easier world. Their toddler sister Medusa witnessed tragedy as humans regained courage.
Medusa borrowed her eldest sister's helmet and sword in the new fight for monsterkind. Despite her fury Medusa didn't want to slay the misguided humans. The youngest Gorgon wanted to try coexistence and teach communication to the scared idiots.
She lead great diplomats to the human's world capital of Egypt. Medusa proposed a hand, tentacle and claw in respect and friendship. Pharaoh Tanis DeNile screeched for their departure, threatening his Sphinx cousin's curse upon their deformed heads. Disgust filled Medusa as she saw the Pharaoh pick and choose 'benefactor' monsters. The Egyptians thought their six-headed snakes were better than the snakes from Medusa's own head. The Egyptian city people would welcome polished and thirsty vampires and steal from humble and honest werewolves. Enough was enough! Medusa went with Plan Beta: raise all monsters' standings.
Plan Beta was unlike Stheno's upfront approach because it involved deceit and compromises. On the shallow surface Medusa had enthusiastic kids, foreign and local, protecting and rioting in the city streets. Behind curtains and pillars Medusa shook claws with the Vampire Council.
The Vampire Council were privileged over the different creature species they considered grouped into Others. The Others were difficult to nip so her kind liked hanging with soft humans. The soft humans didn't want many Others so Madame Gory and her kind protected their hosts. Medusa didn't want to add non-humans in her enemy list. Madame Gory respected and feared the Gorgon so she aided the Others.
The unity wasn't perfect but with the Vampire Council's assistance the monsters were safer. They divided the city slowly. Medusa had to lie to her solider and Madame Gory lied to the Pharaohs. Both sides became greedy for more leading Madame Gory revert to the original plan.
"We will not run scared." Medusa stated at the Pharaoh's ball. She hid her serpent-locks under a gele as she mingled with the Uppity Upper Crust.
"My Snacks are asking we eat you." Madame Gory sang, "The Others don't need another civil tiff, Commander, and I can't ask the bones and fat to be smart."
"You owe your kind better than this." Medusa stated.
"My own kind, yes. For everyone else with immortality on hand I suggest you clean up and skip out." Madame Gory got in habit of speaking bluntly with slow-witted mortals. She snapped back down as she watched the Gorgon slide a finger over her eye-wear. "I offer your people a skip to the refuge of Diospolis. It's bigger, stronger and your little spy is already headed there."
Medusa's covered eyes looked over Madame Gory's raised 'wine' glass to see her son, in a weak disguise, talking to Pharaoh Ramses' daughter. Good news was Princess Cleo was tolerant of monsters, she saw all commoners equal under herself. Bad news was Medusa's son was a fool begging to get his head chopped off or worst his heart broken.
Deuce Gorgon had started out as a spy for the Rebellion but traded his mother and people for a pretty young plaything. Medusa want to pull him by his hair and save his stupid life. Unfortunately children don't listen to their parents so she hoped and waited for Deuce to learn better by his own mistakes.
For the safety of the monsters in Egypt Commander Gorgon accepted the guided exodus from Madame Gory; the defeat of her idealism. Medusa the mother wouldn't give up the return of her only offspring. She kept tabs on Deuce and his princess as she married a prince and became Empress of Diospolis. Some relief washed over Medusa as the monsters were treated better under this certain DeNile in the new city.
Commander Medusa lead a rebellion against the DeNiles during three Pharaoh's reigns. Those decades were battles with voices, stones and blades; all fine and manageable. Not speaking to her son for ten months, two weeks and six days had her snakes falling out.
On a cool day, only very hot instead of blazing, in Disopolis Medusa drank tea in a forum. She sat on a fountain replicating Empress Cleo as she waited for an ally to meet her. Gilda Goldstag, the nice ghoul next door from Greece, galloped to the Lady Gorgon. Some human heads turned but none attempted to spear her so thank the Gods.
"Hello Gilda, you look well, why isn't the boy with you?" Medusa said in a single breath.
Gilda's ear folded down, "I'm sorry, Maddie. He said he's happy as a courtesan of the Empress."
Medusa yelped, "She has him under a sex spell. I respect that, but I want my son back. Any day now she'll get bored and throw him to the jackals!"
She could no longer handle her baby as a mother. Medusa needed someone who could handle Deuce as a man.
"Yum. I can do him." Amanita Nightshade, the smoothest thief in the East, said as Medusa showed her son's vase portrait.
"You meant you can do the job." Medusa clarified, not wanting her family to catch any plant-related-diseases.
"Yeah, right, that. I can mannap him and deliver back to your crib, Mama Gorgon."
"Lady Gorgon, please." Medusa said, she reached into her satchel but was unable to find her money purse.
Amanita slowly counted the coins from Medusa's purse as she collected her fee. Lady Gorgon compared the sloppy walking-lettuce-head to the crown-wearing-Alpha viper who'd captured Deuce. Neither would be added to her family as long as Medusa had snakes to slither.
As a courtesy Madame Gory gave a heads-up to Medusa and closest friends to leave the country of Egypt, only an hour after Lady Gorgon hired Amanita.
"Called it." Medusa said to Gilda and the Others as they walked onto the Boat of the Styxx. The coop Medusa saw coming, and since she wouldn't join Gory in ass-biting the Pharaohs she cut her loss and sailed back to Greece.
Not too long after Medusa heard Deuce had gotten out of the DeNile Palace in Disoplis and was heading home. She also heard he was coming with royal refuges and her delight soured. Egypt's Blue Blooded people did her kind all sorts of wrong. The princess was the last of the Pharaohs she fought five decades against: there was no way in Hades' grasp Medusa would offer the human girl a scrap of bread.
"I'm finally a Yaya!" Medusa said as she nuzzled the princess' pregnant belly bump.
Princess Cleo, going by Cleo DePalm post-Vampire-coop days, didn't like Medusa pinning her down on the couch. The yellow and orange serpents slithers around her neck and crimping her hair weren't as annoying as Medusa talking to Cleo's bugle as if it was more important.
Cleo accepted she was at the mercy of the Gorgon's generosity as she carried the scaly spawn. She sat in the Gorgon's home as Medusa spoke to the developing child. Cleo also didn't like the living room decorated with kitschy ornaments and weapons. She found the vases of family paintings endearing but the Greek's style was so flat compared to the imaginative Egyptians.
"Excuse me, Lady Gorgon?"
"Please, call me Maddie." Medusa said, tenderly petting Cleo's belly. "What can I get you, dear? Are you hungry?"
"Yes, hand me the grapes." Cleo said, "Please."
A serpent of Medusa's reached out on the table and held the bundle near Cleo's folded arms.
Cleo waited, "Oh, you're not going drop them in my mouth one by one. Fine."
Cleo rolled her eyes as she took the grapes pulled one at a time by herself. After four she was exhausted and asked Medusa for a glass of fresh water.
"Sister, I can guarantee grandbabies are the most wonderful creatures under Olympus but how are you not strangling that human girl?" Eurayle asked in the kitchen out of Cleo's hearing range.
"Because as soon as his/ hers clueless parents gaze at all the responsibility in our precious gift they'll run and I'll have baby all to myself. This is a dream come true!" Medusa said in glee.
Eurayle gasped, "Deuce cares for his child, that's why he's on the quest with Stheno. To save his baby with the grace of the Goddess Demeter."
"He's thinking the baby will crack open his frail Coffee Wife like she's an oyster, and he's right. Personally I could not care less as long as I have baby to hold in arms." Medusa said, at least Cleo would pass on beauty to her child.
Euryale frowned, "Medusa, I think your time away shrunk your compassion capacity. The spoiled ingrate in the other room is to be our new daughter."
Medusa chopped cucumbers and plopped them in the glasses of well water. "We'll see."
The expecting-grandmother didn't expect to see Cleo's servant-friend Ghoulia return so quickly.
"Oh Ghoulia, I'll get you another cup." Medusa said.
"Just let her have that one, the poor ghoul has been running all over this quaint village gathering information." Cleo said grabbing a glass from Medusa. "Out of straws?"
Medusa ignored the question and asked, "Information on what?"
Ghoulia opened her mouth to answer and Cleo interrupted, "She's on the search to find me a new means to pass my time. Only Ra knows when I can return home so I may as well find something to do while here."
"Some would say you'd be busy raising the baby." Medusa suggested.
Cleo raised an eyebrow, "No that wouldn't do. She'll need someone with different qualifications. A nurse or nanny. Ghoulia put that on the list."
A yellow snake hissed, "No need for hiring a stranger, dear Cleo, let Yaya take over. Yaya is me."
"Thank you, Medusa, I'll pay you handsomely." Cleo said, never wanting anyone to work for free under her hand.
"Okay." Medusa said with a shrug, "Don't take this the wrong way but, really, what are you qualified to do?"
Cleo's laugh was sharp at each gulf, as if practiced, "Deuce didn't mention I'm as brilliant as I am beautiful and talented. I'll be looking for a job in government, straight to the top of the pyramid in no time."
Three weeks later Cleo's belly and arms swelled bigger and she was not in government or employed at all. Medusa and Ghoulia patted her hands sympathetically.
"You know I really did like the appeal you wrote on how we should execute after a vote. It's all about age around here, believe me I remember being as frustrated to be taken serious as you are now." Medusa said, inside she was upset that young women, monster or human, weren't getting the jobs they deserved.
The Gorgon sisters were break-out stars in their arenas( Stheno in the military, Stheno in medical practices, Medusa in sculpture) but she couldn't make Cleo's way for her.
"Ghoulia, fetch us that tea pot, won't you?" Cleo said in a cold tone. Ghoulia knew not to take it personal, it was the tone Cleo used when she wanted to be alone. Medusa had picked up on that tone but as she stood up to leave Cleo held onto her scaly hand.
"I can't weep in front Ghoulia, she admires me too much." Cleo said, her voice shaking.
Medusa petted Cleo's straight black hair and her shakes twisted around her ears to listen.
"Where I came from I had duties, the people I took care of admired me. I'm no longer in charge just.... fat. So huge." Cleo sobbed, hiding her eyes in her elbow.
"No, dearest, the weight is all baby." Medusa said giving the girl's head longer strokes. "And no matter you were before you will find something new, something better even."
"No offense Maddie, but nothing was better than...my old career. And if I can't regain my status as a boss Deuce will look for some cheap knock-off of the queen I once was." Cleo whined.
Medusa rested her chin on Cleo's forehead, "Oh, is that what this has been about?"
"It's not my only reason, but it is a concern." Cleo said dabbing her running makeup with a serpent of Medusa's.
"Cleo, if Deuce or anyone else in this family was truly out just for the baby we would've cut him out in the beginning and transplanted the child into a nymph." Medusa explained.
"That was an option?" Cleo asked, still angry about her mass gain.
"We kept you because we liked you, now we love you so your only concern for finding a new career is to fulfill your ambition. Believe me, I remember being young and having the gumption to try anything. My dear, you should try something you've never thought of trying before." Medusa said from her heart.
Cleo soaked in the idea and nodded her head, "I am multifaceted and have so much to offer. Why limit myself to one goal?"
"Atta girl!" Medusa said, her back snakes gesturing to the hiding Ghoulia it was safe to return.
"You know the one thing you Greeks do right is your theatre department. I laugh, I cry, I can even improve the already functioning." Cleo said, excited by the idea of new ideas.
"Yeah, you can try." Medusa said, putting an arm around Ghoulia and Cleo.
"Ghoulia, get my lipstick." Cleo stood up from her chair, "I have an art to save."
The zombie gave a small smile, mostly because she hadn't seen Cleo move so much in days. Cleo used great concentration to not sit back down but her bugle was island size and her ankles were aching.
"Ghoulia, get my lipstick tomorrow. I need a nap. "The Egyptian said as she slowly sat back down. Her belly blocked her view of everything, as if the former princess was the moon in eclipse.
"It's midnight, dear Cleo. Let's save art tomorrow." Medusa said, taking the girl in her muscled arms and carrying her to bed. The room had two Anubis 'cousins' at the door frame and one 'cousin' waiting with a blanket in his hands.
The Gorgons didn't protest when Cleo ordered some decorations from her home country. Euryale expressed worry for conflicting faiths between the separation nations' deities as Cleo put idols on her shelves. Medusa defended the choice of faith and they would share beliefs and allow the child to choose paths in his/her own time.
As Cleo slept Ghoulia took notes by soft candle light. She sat next to her friend in bed and measured the circumference of the growing infant. From what she read about gestation from scrolls and her own observations Ghoulia deduced that Cleo's child would depart from the womb in one week's time. Ghoulia was aware this was pressing news to tell but she wasn't sure when was a good time to say so; Cleo was even more sensitive to bad news at the time.
Also Deuce and his aunt Stheno hadn't come back from their quest yet. The quest was to find a Doctor Demeter to help deliver the child since the monstrous offspring would surely be stronger than its mother. If Cleo's body would reject the creature by time of it's readiness Cleo would experience another sort of shock and the risks kept accumulating and Ghoulia tried to stay indifferent at this critical time. She was curious to see what was bubbling in her friend but more so wanted to keep her friend in this plane. Ghoulia had crossed over to the other plane but Cleo's experiments in secretive magic brought her back. Slower in metabolism but faster in thinking; the zombie was more than fine with this trade. A cure Ghoulia couldn't give Cleo, because despite the evidence she hadn't much faith in magical potions.
Ghoulia became exhausted trying to find a new cure to the point of hallucinations. She dreamt that two Goddesses appeared in the room. One Goddess looked like an anthropomorphic hippopotamus who wore Egyptian styled gown and crown, carrying an ivory dagger in her thick, pristine hands. The other Goddess wore a toga like the Greeks with flowers and vines curling past her waist.
The two Goddess looked down at Cleo and then noticed each other.
"Howdy there. I am Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Harvesting in crops and the little crawling kinds." Demeter said with an easy chuckle, her pink cheeks jiggling.
"Greetings. I am Taweret, the mother of mothers. I am here now so you may take leave." The Goddess with the familiarily thick eyeliner said.
"You're mistaken, I have been beseeched by this child's father to carry her onto this earth."
"Well, I've been beseeched by her mother to release this child from her flesh prison, so I think I'm a better fit here. So...." Taweret said, gesturing to the door.
"Oh, intercepting faiths, the pitfall of romance these days."
"Indeed. I've been with the same family since the begging of time. Why change now? But you're not leaving are you." Taweret sighed.
"No ma'am, and I don't need the help but... if you wanna try and split the work...." Demeter asked, her wheat-textured hand hovered over the pregnant girl.
Taweret titled her head, "The task may precede faster with assistance."
The Goddesses discussed their techniques and strengths and shook hands on an agreed plan of action. Taweret walked to the head of the bed, she dipped her hand into Cleo's soul and eased the tension into gooey euphoria.
Ghoulia watched as Cleo widened a goofy, wide smile without opening her eyes. The zombie then observed her friend's face grow into a hippopotamus, as did the rest of Cleo, pushing Ghoulia out of the bed.
Demeter had both hands around Cleo's transformed body; enlarging the canal so the child would be born with ease. Taweret waved her free hand to move the child and wasn't surprised to see a large teal egg from Ra's great-great-great-great-granddaughter.
Demeter cradled the egg lovingly before slicing open the leathery shell. She held the monster baby and checked each head for health; the baby had her mother's face and three tiny snakes on top her head.
"A healthy baby with the destiny of a Pharaoh." Taweret said, her voice indifferent but her all-black eyes glistened with wonder. "I sense something special about her eyes."
"An inheritance from the Greek side, I can sense she will have the Egyptian strong nose." Demeter said as she placed the baby in the barely conscious zombie's arms.
"Congradulations, you're an aunite!" Demeter said with Taweret nodding stoically beside her.
Ghoulia cracked a ridiculous smile, her dream had so many real sensations. Ghoulia looked at Cleo who was still a hippo; even in a dream the princess would scream at that. She moaned for the Goddesses to reinstate her friend's shape.
The next morning Ghoulia awoke in bed with a pudgy newborn ghoul between herself and Cleo. The child clean, beautiful and with a cloth wrapped around her head to cover her eyes. Ghoulia didn't question the events from the night before. She rocked Cleo's shoulder until she grumpily awoke.
"Not now, you cow, I have until sunrise." Cleo moaned as she lightly opened her eyes. She saw the finger-thin snakes on the pillow and followed to the perfect face of her daughter. Cleo opened her mouth but no scream released. Her heart crumbled to dust and she began to cry as she gently pulled the baby ghoul to her bosom.
"Get Medusa." Cleo demanded in the quietest whisper.
The zombie carefully slid out of bed and ran to the Gorgons.
Cleo was amazed that anything could hold so much important in such itty-bitty fists. The baby made a gurgling noise, causing her mother to snap her fingers. The Anubis 'cousin' reached down and cradled the baby, inspecting her of any flaws. He found none and nodded his head to the hidden princess. Cleo gave him a command by her glare and gentle touch under her daughter's chin.
The 'cousin' faced the baby away from her mother. He unwrapped the child's eyes and she weakly blinked open her lids. The boquet of flowers before the 'cousin' turned to coal by the baby's gaze. Her eyes were covered again and the child returned to her mother's bed.
"Find sunglasses to fit her royal face. Now." Cleo said, putting a hand on the child's chest. The bird-size heartbeat became the most vital sound in the stars.
The baby gurgled and wiggled now and then, fascinating Cleo DeNe-DePalm. Cleo hadn't realized she rest her head back on the bed to match her daughter's place. She hadn't realized she wasn't alone until she felt stone tears on her neck.
"When did you get back?" Cleo asked, not bothering to look at who leaned over her shoulder.
"A little while ago." Deuce Gorgon said, placing his fingers lightly on his daughter's arms and tracing her frame. "It's like she kicked my heart to death."
"I know, right?" Cleo said, liking his chin resting on her head. "We have many things to do for her."
"Everything. She can have anything." The male Gorgon said, scared to hold her but promising to never look away.
"Yes, yes she will. Cleo the Second will lead millions." Cleo said, already imagining her daughter's epic dynasty of a future.
"Kleio the Second Torch Gorgon." Deuce said happier than he knew possible before.
Cleo's bliss cleared by a fraction so she could properly recite, "Kleio Dedyet Torch DeNile-Gorgon, thank you. She has your eyes."
"Sorry about that."
Cleo tsked him, "Don't you dare, they make her even more incredible."
Deuce kissed the ear of his baby's mother, "You are perfect, dude."
"I know." Cleo stated, she noticed a crowd of Gorgons biting her fingers in impatience to trample over the new parents' glowing moment of world peace. They can wait a few minutes longer, Cleo thought as she counted her daughter's pearl-size fingers and toes.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The candles created a soft red pathway to the podium. The congregation wasn’t sure how many members came to the meeting as everyone stood in the inky dark. The focus was on the podium and the Oracle’s proclamations. The Oracle was rumored to be a stranger from a faraway land. Some said she lived in the shadows until the year before when she was ready to share her visions. The followers with the greenest gils said she came down from Olympus every second weekend night just for them. The Oracle eased their minds and filled their hearts with her words. For her protection and knowledge, they would pay anything. She charged nothing for the gatherings in her temple but did say she would trade favors for favors.
“I have seen the future and the future told me to tell you the best time to wear redish to pink hues would be on Zeusdays.” The Oracle proclaimed with a sultry voice.
“On Zeusdays we wear pink! On Zeusdays we wear pink!” The gatherings chanted. The silenced as the Oracles raised a golden armored hand.
“It is also in your best interest to vote at the forum for the Scholars’ election tomorrow. Support the brilliant minds that carry your weak lambs through the mud. Vote for the ones with the bluest bloods!” The Oracle said lifting her grasping hands over her head.
The Oracle lowers her arms and gave a fluttering wave, “Oracle out.”
The volunteer band played her theme song as she walked away from the applause. The Oracle walk down her secret stairs to her office. Ghoulia the Zombie was etching amendments in her stone notepad.
Ghoulia moaned as the Oracle sat down by her candle lit mirror and removed her cloak.
“Yes Ghoulia, I mentioned taking Centaurs out of horse-work and into more humanoid employments. Now let’s see them actually do it.” Cleo DePalm-Gorgon said as she removed her midnight gloves.
The Zombie moaned to Cleo the Oracle’s closing statements.
“Doy, no one knows about my blue blood but my exotic blue eyes stand out, so they have a clue of who to vote for my tenure election. Like I really need it to be elected when I taught the dopes the four languages, they’re using in the polls for the different monster kinds.” Cleo said reapplying her makeup: eight years in Greece and she still wore her Egyptian wingtips.
Cleo heard a moderately satisfied moan and bid her old friend ‘a night’.
“Wait, you’re not coming to Family Dinner? You skipped last week!” Cleo said standing with her hands on her hips.
Ghoulia apologetically said she had to meet with some monsters about the Caledonian Boar problem.
“Yeah, the problem is we’re running out and they’re so juicy.” Cleo retorted, “You won’t replenish the beasts in one night, so you’re coming. The babies have been asking for their Auntie.”
Cleo’s children knew how to twist their Auntie Ghoulia’s heart until she granted their every wish. She almost resented how much she loved them because they were too small to have so much command over her. Ghoulia respected Cleo’s role in her life because the best results came after they worked together. For the sake of old times Ghoulia groaned and said she’d come by.
“Tia Ghoulia!” Kleio, Cleo’s oldest daughter of seven years old, yelled and rushed into Ghoulia’s small stomach. Ghoulia took in the head-butt to her kidneys because the tickling black snakes in pigtails softened the blow.
“Kleio, manners.” Cleo warned as her Anubis servant took her cloak.
Kleio stood up straight for three seconds then pulled on auntie Ghoulia’s arm down. Ghoulia moaned a warning in a laugh.
“If I take your arm you’ll have to come back.” Kleio reasoned.
“Strategic little viper.” Cleo said with a curling finger under her chin. “Where are your sisters?”
“Where they always are. Tia Ghoulia come see!” Kleio said pulling the zombie to the backyard.
Cleo shook her head at the child’s impertinence. “Ten minutes before dinner starts!”
She went to her newest baby Terpsichore’s room. Most parents, especially Yaya Medusa, said that infants should sleep in the same room as their parents, but Cleo wanted her children to be more independent. They knew their Mummy and Daddy was always there for them, but everyone deserved their own privacy. This belief left sour grapes with Yaya Medusa when Cleo moved her husband Deuce and their children out of the Gorgons’ home. The Gorgon home was warm and had plenty of space but Cleo needed to hear less of her monster-in-law.
Medusa would still come by nearly every day to care for her grandchildren while their parents worked, and played away from them. Some nagging and guilt-tripping aside Cleo did enjoy seeing the matriarch and making private plans with her. But that was work talk for later.
In Terpsichore’s room there were walls painted with friendly dragons jumping in flowers. There were also hieroglyphics curving around the painted flowers with enchantments to watch over the children day and night. Over the baby’s crib Cleo’s middle child, Hatshepsut, leaned over for her snakes to watch the baby gurgle.
Cleo had a gentle smile as her daughter stared adoringly at her baby sister. When Hatshepsut was born Cleo was very worried her first born would be jealous and cruel to her sister. Kleio surprised her mother by loving her playmate unconditionally and staying sweet throughout the third baby’s arrival. Thank Ra the Evil skipped this generation, Cleo thought.
Hatshepsut became startled and ran to her mother’s leg. “The baby’s broken, she keeps getting gross.”
“My darling, she will grow out of that. We all know princesses are never sloppy or gross.” Cleo said holding a hand on her daughter’s blue freckles; they matched her curly snakes. “Now go to the yard and greet your Aunt Ghoulia.”
Hatshepsut lit up at the guest’s name, she kissed her mother’s knee and ran to the backyard. Cleo snapped a finger and another Anubis servant went to clean and nurture the youngest DePalm-Gorgon. The servant nodded when finished so Cleo took her infant in her arms. Terpsichore had the wildest reactions of her sisters. The baby would whine and scream more than her previous sisters combined.
“None of that, young lady.” Cleo said with an index finger high, “I declare you will be a shining example of a good DeNile-Gorgon from this day forward.”
Terpsichore stopped wiggling and stared at her mother in wonder.
“That’s my good ghoul.” Cleo rubbed cheek to cheek on her baby’s ridiculously soft scales. “Yes you are, yes you are!”
The small spit-up on her shoulder told Cleo to never let her guard down on around this offspring. “You’re correct, my daughter, we must never be tricked by rosy faces and sweet words.”
Cleo snapped for the servant to take back her infant and bring her a new dress. The servant brought the new dress but returned without Terpsichore. Before Cleo could shriek her husband walked in with their baby in his arms.
“So you got Mummy again? Noice, little dude.” Deuce said, he held up a finger for the baby to shakily high-five.
“Traitor.” Cleo said as he praised the naughty baby. “I always knew you’d choose a younger woman when I got lumpy.”
The Gorgon scoffed and leaned his chin on his wife’s head, “My lovely Lady Lump.”
“Puh-lease.” Cleo said with a roll of her eyes, “What’s for dinner?”
“I had a feeling you’d drag Ghoulia back so I made braised sheep brains for her and the rest for us.” Deuce said as his baby’s yellow snakes hissed at his green snakes.
“Ohh, I was in the mood for tripe.” Cleo said as they walked to the dining room.
Ghoulia had Hatshepsut and Kleio on her lap; Kleio talked about her new gladiator helmet and Hatshepsut spoke of her beaded friendship bracelets. Both ghouls talked at the same time so Ghoulia barely heard what they were saying. She mostly focused on how cute and tall they were getting.
“Ghouls, get off your Aunite and in your own chairs.” Cleo said loudly, so the ghouls did. Deuce put Terpsichore in her pedestal and went in the kitchen for the lamb dish. The ghouls, young and adult, sat at the table and listened to Cleo speak.
“What might have been difficult for others your mother excelled at the forum today. All monsters on land, sea and air listen to your Mummy because I am always right.” Cleo said with a flip of her flat black human hair.
“Mother, who carries the sun? Ra or Apollo?” Kleio asked. Her mother had explained before and she was always funny with her hand gestures while telling the fables.
“Ra carries the sun over the Land and that Apollo person does a spin over the county once in a while as a favor to Ra. Ra is top God, my lovelies, but since we live under Apollo’s route we must respect what he contributes to the sky above. That sky belongs to Ra, don’t forget.”
Kleio and Hatshepsut went, “Wooooooh.”
Ghoulia smiled as Cleo rubbed Terpsichore’s curling yellow snakes. The human mother quickly drew back her fingers as her baby’s snakes tried to snap her. Cleo pinched Terpsichore’s chubby chin as if proud the child was getting quicker in striking.
“That’s my girl.” Medusa said as she placed a bowl of satyr butter on the table.
Cleo scoffed, “Maddy, I didn’t hear you come in. Again.”
“I know I shouldn’t leave without telling you. To fix that I’ll stay.” Medusa said while her silver snakes planted kisses on her grandchildren’s heads. Cleo cringed when the old Greek spat on their heads; a disgusting habit but twas a tradition so she begrudgingly respected her monster-in-law.
“My loves.” Medusa said squeezing Terpsichore and a groaning Cleo. “Oh, Coffee Wife, the guest is using your sink but she said she’ll be right back.”
“Ghoulia is right here.” Cleo said pointing to her oldest friend who waved.
“Hello there, Starlight. I was talking about the bigger blue gal.” Medusa said pulling a chair to the table.
“What the in I-s-i-s name are you-“Cleo began as a burly blue woman with white-hair walked into her dining room. The woman’s skin sparkled like gems while her armor was tarnished and dented.
“Hello. I am Abbey of Amazons. I here for child recruit. What you serve tonight?” Abbey the Amazon said, she noticed the chair left open wouldn’t do. With a flash of her homeland magic she formed an ice block to sit on; it was short so she wouldn’t tower over the other adults.
“Cool.” Kleio said, loving the scars under the torn bronze armor.
“Yes.” Abbey said flatly.
Medusa exclaimed with excitement while Cleo banged her palms on the table.
“You’ll need to explain more than that under my roof, missy.” Cleo said with a glare.
Abbey stared at the matriarch, took a deep breath and then began drinking from a water glass.
“Cleo, my dear, she’s a yeti and they aren’t talkers. But let me explain what an honor this is! This Abbey creature has come to enlist our babies to join in Amazon training on Themyscira.” Medusa said with a clap of her hands. She was a big fan of Amazon events.
“Oh, alright. We usually sign them up at the Academy forums, but I like the home visit touch. So when are their drop-off times? Three times a week? Four times a week?” Cleo asked, imagining her ghouls collecting trophies.
“We not daycare. Amazons join and live on Themyscira. Forever.” Abbey stated.
Cleo looked at Abbey, then her small children, then at Medusa’s wide grin. She looked at Ghoulia’s dropping gap and the zombie could not find the right words. “Deuce! Deuce, get in here!”
Abbey explained how the Amazons worked with the prophet Archane in web-weaving the Tapestry of Fate. The weavers worked backwards and forwards on the loose flow of time and recorded life for the past, present and future. The Tapestry had revealed a patch that a Gorgon descendant with a rare heritage was destined to be a great hero in the Amazon’s clan.
“Wait, being Egyptian is rare for your Island Without Perfume?” Cleo said as she held onto Hatshepsut. Deuce held Terpsichore and Kleio tightly. They sat opposite of the table from Abbey.
“No, not many descendants of Royalty have grit to fight own battles.” Abbey said as a matter of fact.
Cleo scoffed, “Do you want me to list how many Battle Queens and Princes are in my family’s legacy? I grant you Pharaohs don’t try but to even infer such lies around my own-“
Ghoulia nudged Cleo’s rib and that bought her a scowl and Cleo’s resign from a particularly important history lesson.
“You cannot have my ghouls.” Cleo said, holding tighter to Hatshepsut.
“Not all babies, just that one.” Abbey said as she ripped a lamb leg off the body. She put the meat on a plate and cut small slices off the bone. Her butter knife pointed to Kleio.
“Oh yeah!” Kleio said and took a step forward.
“Oh no you don’t.” Cleo snapped, “She may have skipped a level in her Gladiator Classes for ages seven through eleven but you’re looking at my first-born heir. The air I breathe, a sweet little ghoul who’s still needs her fireflies to sleep with at night.”
“Mummy!” Kleio said, pushing her face in her father’s leg.
Abbey tapped her lips with a napkin. “We train early to build calluses.”
Cleo grabbed her chest, “Oh my Ra. Get out!”
“Cleo, Deuce, please hear me on this,” Medusa said, “I hate separating from my ghouls for even a day but this is an amazing opportunity for Kleio. She is so good in finishing fights with the other children, imagine the steps she’ll take with real stakes.”
“Can I be an Amazon?” Hatshepsut asked.
“Galaktobouriko, you’ll do great things in your life, but this is your sister’s calling.” Medusa said while taking Hatshepsut’s little hand.
“Mother? Poppers? I really wanna go. Pleeasssssee.” Kleio said, her lip trembling. Despite the sunglasses her parents looked down at her big purple eyes and the beady black eyes of her snakes.
“Mom, watch the kids for a minute.” Deuce said, voice breaking, as he put Terpsichore in Medusa’s arms.
In the kitchen Cleo paced around the oven while Deuce leaned at the stove.
“She would be really good in sword training, and she’d meet friends with similar interests.” Deuce said, arms crossed.
“They’re stealing our Kleio. We’d never see her ever again.” Cleo said furiously.
Deuce exhaled deeply, “I don’t like that part. But it’s not really forever; Amazons come out to help dudes during all the big battles. So next time there’s a war or the Big Games-““My baby isn’t going to war!” Cleo screeched.
“Hey, hey, I don’t ever want them hurt. I’d take all the hurt for them if I could.” Deuce said, rubbing his wife’s arms. “And I’d take her place in a fight anytime. But I know she would do the same for me. Or anyone else that needed it.”
“Stop it.” Cleo said, her arms bending into an X.
“It’s that big heart and crazy endurance that makes her Amazon material. I’m terrified right now and really godsdammn excited for her.”
“No.” Cleo looked up at her husband with angry tears, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. I wasn’t a sweaty meathead, I can’t see Kleio….”
An epiphany hit Cleo stronger than Cronos’ hammer.
“Kleio sees Kleio as a sweaty meathead. She’d never forgive me if I held her back from her destiny.” Cleo said with deep serenity.
“We’re saying yes?” The gorgon said. Cleo gave him a profoundly serious look and sighed.
“Mummy, I’m not carrying all this.” Kleio complained as the servants brought nine chests of riches and fleece blankets.
“You’ll regret it when you won’t have your favorite tunic to match your eye-shadow.” Cleo said, snapping her fingers for the servants to bring the chests back around to home.
The Gorgon family held up flags and trumpets to send Kleio off to Themyscira. The distant relatives shouted from the pier next to the slightly more intimate send off. Medusa and her son already hugged her goodbye so they couldn’t stop Cleo from taking her time.
“There is still much to learn from me, my darling, so I stayed up all last night to write this.” Cleo said as Ghoulia gave the child a thick scroll. Kleio heard the boat trip would be long so she thanked her Auntie Ghoulia for the reading material. Auntie Ghoulia gave a light kiss under the hissing pigtails.
Hatshepsut stood behind her father and grandmother, sulking about Kleio’s spotlight. Deuce gently pushed his middle daughter forward. She sped walk up to her sister and looked down at her sandals.
“Here!” Hatshepsut said, holding a beaded bracelet to Kleio. Kleio hugged her sister, causing a wave of ‘awws’ from the crowd, to which a blushing Hatsepsut found reason to run back behind the adults’ legs. Abbey the Amazon threw a rope over the boat’s bridge. “Very nice. Is go time.”
Kleio grinned and posed her legs ready to jump off the pier. Amidst her pounce Cleo grabbed Kleio in a tight hug.
“You’ll be great, my princess. My darling, my treasure…” Cleo said in a breaking voice.
“Yeah, okay, bye Mummy.” Kleio said, patting her mother’s gold bracelets.
Cleo bit her lip and released her daughter, her shimmering blue sleeves rising like a griffin’s wings. Kleio tossed the Gift scroll on the Amazon’s boat. She them dived into the water, climbed up the barnacles and climbed the rope up to the ship.
The ship became small on the horizon. Ghoulia sat on the pier with Cleo as they watched the Amazons disappear.
“When did the party leave?” Cleo asked as she noticed less noise.
“Forty-five minutes ago. Deuce took the kids back to the house because Terpsichore was getting cranky.” Ghoulia explained.
“Good.” Cleo stated, “I didn’t think I’d live through today, but here I am.”
Ghoulia touched her friend’s shoulder. “Medusa offered the keys to her wine cellar.”
“Is that what you think we’re going to do tonight?” Cleo asked.
“Gee, Cleo, what do you want to do tonight?” Ghoulia asked, wondering if a sacrifice was on the Oracle’s agenda.
“The same thing we’ve been trying for every night, Ghoulia, but this night we will succeed.” Cleo said standing with Ra’s sun sitting on the horizon, “We’re taking over the world.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The lightning burnt sand formed crisped glass beads. Hatshepsut DePalm-Gorgon tip-toed around the construction of a new temple. The followers of the Oracle were monsters and humans. A few Elementals used their fire powers to burn beach sand into glass boulders. Minotaurs and satyrs sliced the boulders into bricks. Harpy architects instructed humans on ladders to sculpt the place of worship.
They were building a temple for the goddess of the Sea. Hatshepsut could have bought gems from local markets. The child liked the unpredictable shapes of the temple’s debris. Her heavy pockets knocked against her knees. The DePalm servants fanned Hatshepsut’s mother.
“Hatsy, give those to the servants. They swore to protect all things sacred to me; my jewels, my shoes, my children and the custom Wolf dresses.” Cleo said as she braided her daughter’s snakes.
Hatshepsut took her toddler sister’s snakes and made them bite holes in her glass to make beads.
Ghoulia wanted the children to learn and interact with the star blocks she carved and painted. The baby Terpsichore would stack and pushed them over with a wicked laugh at her tiny destruction. The Zombie aunt shrugged and painted a vase of her cute nieces.
“I designed the temple of Posea to stay under the high tide line. That way the sea folk can visit it seasonally. I’m as genius as I am thoughtful.” Cleo said as she flipped her hair. “With this gift Posea will have to comply with my plans.”
“Can’t do.” The sea goddess said as she sat in the glass throne of her new temple. “Oh my starfish, you engraved my family reef into this thing. That’s craftsmonstership right there.”
“Your typhoon holiness,” Cleo said with a gritted smile, “Why can’t you help me along my destiny?”
Posea’s lower half was ever-growing coral. She slid across the temple a train of coral breathed and sprouted.
“It’s not that I mind flooding a city for your cause. It’s more about how my name hasn’t reached land-locked-lubbers.” Posea explained. She blew bubbles off the back of her hand for her own amusement.
Cleo rubbed her temples, “Not a big bump. I know I can cure this festering ignorance.”
In the Temple of the Oracle the mistress Oracle held brunch with friends and family.
“Tadpoles, don’t touch that.” Lagoona Blue told her four legless children who were playing with candles.
Out from under the sea the tadpoles were fascinated with land things like fire, wheels and shoes. Hatshepsut put the flame out and tried to distract the fish kids with her beaded necklaces. Her very little sister Terpsichore flicked the beads on the floor. The tadpoles gave random point scores to the ricocheting colors.
“They drive me up the reef. Think I’ll have six more.” Lagoona said, taking a bite of her raw fish dish.
Lagoona had separated from her children’s father so Cleo wondered who the lucky sperm whale would be. Sweet, beautiful and not a dummy Lagoona wouldn’t have trouble with that bump.
“Yay, more children in the world, marvelous, anywho how many friends of yours worship Posea?” Cleo asked, she took a bigger bite of Lagoona’s strange and delicious meal. Ghoulia wasn’t interested so she ate the wraps she brought.
“Most folk I know use her as a cautionary tale. You know? Like ‘don’t go down dark gullies or Posea the smiling shark will get you!” Lagoona said, sounding like her grandmother before her. “Did you know she curse me ‘accidentally’ once when I was a guppy?”
“I did not, but I’m guessing it was Gil’s fault.” Cleo said.
“Not that time. Long story short: I had a quarrel with an old friend and her robbing me of legs was her idea of helping. Blimey! I was almost boiled and cracked.” Lagoona said with a shiver.
“Oh my Ra, that is truly a fright.” Cleo said patting her friend’s webbed hand, “And you’d say that story traveled far and wide across the currents?”
Later Ghoulia moaned how Lagoona may travel far and wide but she had no connection to the land of Egypt. Cleo countered her negative-truthteller with the ominous Oracle wisdom that her hundreds of followers were sending hidden messages of the Posea gospel with songs, vases and the hardy vine of gossip.
“So we’re going to put faith in the sheep to spread the faith?” Ghoulia asked sitting in the window of Medusa’s cliffside home.
Cleo chuckled, “Dear Ghoulia, you don’t honestly think I’m going to sit at home and wait for my throne to find me? No, no. Get your satchel ready, the others have already finished packing.”
For the temple Posea gave a ship with a pearl hull. Cleo’s children enjoyed the glass floor and the wondrous sights of the deep sea.
“Humans, vampires, and hypocrites abound.” Deuce said, laying back in a chair next to his wife’s chair. “This is going to be fun.”
“I’ll raise their heads on stakes.” Cleo swore as laid on her arms, her back soaked in the sun. With only her family and servants on deck Cleo could get a full tan.
“Your ego’s as big as your butt, princess.” Medusa said, her snakes swirling over as the gorgon-grandmother leaned over her daughter-in-law.
“Mom.” Deuce said disapprovingly. “You weren’t even invited.”
“She’s a committed babysitter.” Cleo said, “And since she doesn’t know how to conquer a royal family I won’t ask her for anything else.”
“How do you expect to influence anyone there without the crown? Hades knows your own gods don’t hear you anymore.” Medusa said, her yellow snakes shaking their heads.
“Oh Maddy of little faith, scoot over will you?” Cleo’s fingers lightly directed the step to trot. “My comeback to Egypt’s throne will rock the ground. From the princess ashes I will set ablaze as the queen I was always meant to be.”
Cleo stood up on her chair, giving her mother-in-law the full scope of her DeNile perfection. “A few declarations here, a few whispers there and my reign, along with Posea’s assistance, will flood my country with all cleansing worship of their one true Cleo.”
“She has my vote.” Deuce said, watching his wife’s chin-short hair blew in the wind.
“Pharaoh-land doesn’t have democracy, son.” Medusa said with a roll of her eyes.
“What’s to debate? Either I’m correct or I’m correct; a flawless leadership.” Cleo said with her arms crossing, she could feel the crook and flail in her hands already.
Medusa groaned and chanted to herself, “Grandbabies to myself, grandbabies to myself, with them out of the way I will finally raise my granddaughters right.”
“There’s a worrier in every family. Two in ours.” Cleo said hopping into her husband’s lap.
“Oh yeah, where is Ghoulia?” Deuce asked, he turned to loudly say, “Hey mom, can you find Ghoulia please?”
Medusa’s snakes bounced down to the cabin. Cleo wouldn’t take offense to Medusa’ warty worry; the old monster’s nagging was her concern showing. Ghoulia’s concern showed by speaking even less than usual.
“The little grey genius is sulking. She’ll pop out when I need her.” Cleo said with all the certainty their past had proved. Their bond as friends was mighty and beautiful and that would never change. Unlike Egypt.
The monster citizens were so happy to have a ghoul on the throne they didn’t mind that she was terrible and insane. Gory had the city awake at night; the lantern and candle shops did well but theft went on the rise. The thieves caught were never seen again because their Pharaoh would bury first and ask questions later. Some found the buried more shriveled than they remembered in life.
Monsters who weren’t immune to vampire’s thirst were skeptical of Gory’s laws. Most laws were viciously centered on grooming regulations and strongly discriminated on mixing species. The human majority decided to immigrate out of the smaller cities. Only the very wealthy humans stayed close to Pharaoh Gory; they lived in her palace though rumors said they lived in her crypts.
“I hear Pharaoh Gory has been sucking blood through reeds so she doesn’t even have to turn her head.” Ghoulia said as the DePalm-Gorgon family caravanned outside Scario limits.
“I bet she’s as big as a hippo.” Cleo spitefully said pacing under the diamond windchimes.
“Vampire’s bulk doesn’t change; it all goes to her hair and mental power-storage.” Ghoulia explained as she did calculations on her AbacusXI. Medusa sipped her fresh tea, holding back her opinions with all the strength her thousand-living-years had built in her scales.
“Babies, please leave the tent out of Mummy’s screaming range.” Cleo said pointing to the three-headed camels.
“So we should run to Alexandria?” Terpsichore asked; much to Cleo’s chagrin her youngest daughter had learned the language of sarcasm during the months-long voyage from Greece to Egypt.
“Run now or I will shave your head.” Cleo threatened.
Terpsichore’s orange snakes squealed in fear; the proud little monster stood tall on pudgy legs and said, “I’ll trim them when I’m good and ready, come one Hatsy!“
Hatshepsut wanted to follow her mother’s order anyway, so she skipped behind her younger sister’s stomping.
“Babe, not the little locks.” Deuce pleaded, he would rather their cute serpents run down to their knees.
“Deuce, I wouldn’t really chop their adorable curls until the fangs come in. That Terpsichore just bunches the bandages.” Cleo said with the children out of earshot. “Now focus in on the plan, Ghoulia poked a hole in step eighty-three so we need an alternative.”
“Cleo, you’re putting Apollo before the Chariot. How bout we go into town and mingle? I’m sure there’s a new Rebellion we can join and improve.” Deuce said, he wanted to seek a high-ceiling new building to fill in as a restaurant. Cooking was still his favorite cover story.
“You’re forgetting step twenty-nine-point-djini; Ghoulia and I are scoping out the city tonight, as women we’ll be ignored so we can easily gather intel.” Cleo said, holding up the scroll with the drawings of her master vision.
Ghoulia held a dagger at her wrist under her cloak. The city of Hisssette brought bad memories of her helpless servant days. She always moved slow and foul humans and monsters took advantage of that. She resented Cleo for dragging her back to the land of nightmares but still loved her golden guard. Princess or not Cleo’s walk parted crowds and soaked in others’ apprehension.
“We’ve got to bring back day markets. Do you know how many citizens can’t tell how chic I am in the dark? It’s holding too much back.” The human said with real pity in her voice.
Ghoulia rolled her eyes as she laced her fingers in Cleo’s hand.
A leggy figure swept in front the two as she walked under an overpass. Better focus on the creature they saw her long legs were furry and she had a thin wiggling tail. Cleo raised an eyebrow over a displeased scowl. The yellow-eyed cat smiled and held up a basket of desert flowers. The subpar kind that attracted pests.
“Really? You’re trying this on me?” Cleo asked as took out her bejeweled canteen. She splashed water on the cat-girl trying to rob her pockets.
The cat-girl screeched and as her sister got in a pounce Ghoulia held out the dagger. In the moment of hesitation Cleo threw her canteen at the first cat-girl’s face. The two skitted away, the face-hurt one whining loudly.
“Silly strays.” Cleo said with a hand on her hip, fingers curling in superiority. “Who do they think they’re dealing with?”
A loud thud to the back of the head had Cleo drop to the sand. Ghoulia moaned and went to bend next to her, at least to shield her, but her arms were pulled from behind her back. One figure tied a rope around Ghoulia’s hands and waist while the other tied up Cleo and threw her over their bigger shoulder.
Cleo woke up droopily and sickened to be in a room covered in animal pelts Ghoulia was huddled at her shoulder; scared but moderately. Almost like she was very annoyed at best.
“Well, well, well, well, well.” A scratching voice said as some lit better oil lamps.
“Oh Ra, no.” Cleo said in a ragged tone. “I had hoped you died from harlot diseases.”
Toralei grinned as she slouched across her elephant-hide sofa. Her orange tail swishing in delight. “Survivor. Like you, your royal thickness.”
“You can have my jewelry and I can laugh at you trying to imitate my look and fail. Just like old times.” Cleo said, she felt Ghoulia using her nail filer to saw through the ropes.
Toralei put a paw over her mouth to smother a laugh. She concentrated and swallowed it down. Her bright green eyes swirled with secrets her choppy short haircut couldn’t hold.
“I need the whole package, Cleo. I need you to be my date to a party.” Toralei said jumping up swiftly to cross her feet and put a hand out to the human.
“Gross. I decline.” Cleo said as the ropes fell off her and Ghoulia. “Now point us to the exit and I’ll spare your life.”
“Wait, wait, wait, I didn’t say what you’d be missing. I mean, you’ve missed a lot what with being dead for over a decade.” Toralei said, her tail still swishing.
“I still have my ways of getting into a party, Toralei.” Cleo said, angry that Toralei was trying to snare them on her first nigh home.
“I’m sure. And I’m sure when you hear who’s there you’ll definitely want to come with me.” Toralei said with a grin.
“Ugggh, stop dragging it out and just say it. And get us some snacks.” Cleo said, snapping to the lug of a monster who plopped her down on Toralei’s gazelle sofa. The lug of a crocodile-faced monster did so because Cleo’s voice reminded him of every teacher he had feared.
“Kobes, you don’t listen to… and he’s already gone.” Toralei said as she heard he tail hit the hall to the kitchen. “Ugggh, the party is being thrown by your ex-husband Ptolemy.”
“All humans look alike to your kind, why would I believe some rando is my better-off-dead ex?” Cleo said, not caring if it was Seth Ptolemy or not.
“Reunite with your true love?” Toralei shrugged. “Collect the prize for the best Princess Cleo Contest?”
“Contest? In what??”
“Oh, other ghouls are claiming to be the long lost princess Cleo DeNile since royals aren’t suppose to ever die. Especially the loud ones.” Toralei said kissing her paw to kiss the small shrine of Nefera on her shelf.
“This is an insult! I am the one and only! I should go to that abomination pit just to slap the disrespect off!” Cleo said as she began to pace.
“Cleo, wait, Toralei always lied, how do we know if there are dopplegangers? We only just arrived.” Ghoulia said, she saw the snacks put on Toralei’s tortoise table. The ginger cat also liked Lagoona’s brand of raw fish.
Toralei stepped over to a door and yelled past a curtain, “OOOh Your Highness!! You ready yet?”
“Cease your catterwall, Toralei!” A very white vampire walked through the curtains, clipping on pyramid earrings nearly identical to Cleo’s.
“Oh my Ra.” Cleo said, reaching for something grab as her legs went weak. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Thank you,” The vampire said in a wispy voice. “If I can convince a human local then I must be draining this character rendition.”
“This is pretty offensive to the princess’ grave.” Ghoulia said, rubbing Cleo’s temples.
“My kind don’t believe in forever-graves. And this is me honoring the princess, I’ve researched her through the people’s memories and feel I can truly capture her role.” The vampire said humbly.
“This travesty will not stand.” Cleo said removing her cloak and jewelry. “Toralei, take me shopping.”
The night’s moon drifted slowly over the sky. In the Gorgon-DePalm caravan camp site the kids were becoming restless.
“We should go check on Cleo and Ghoulia. I’m sure they’re fine, I’m just bored.” Deuce said, tossing a salad for his family.
“We should go for the sake of a ham leg.” Medusa said, never understanding why her son avoided meat in his cooking.
“What if Mummy and auntie comes back while we’re gone?” Hatshepsut asked, giving her snakes bits of green leaves.
“Oh my gods, Hatsy, we can leave them a note. Don’t you wanna see the epic, sparkling country Mummy’s been talking about for-ever?” Terpsichore said, “I’m with Yaya on finding some steak.”
Medusa had seen her share of societies collapse and change. Her daughter-in-law’s home country had been stiff and snobby on the last voyage. The night she walked her granddaughters to the meal vendors she saw the place became stiffer and haunted. Being immortal Medusa had mild sympathy for a random ecosystem with a history of rejecting her person. Seeing the fate of her kin’s scarateige attacked and turned mauve soured her heart.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Bedtime and stormy nights were times for Medusa’s story telling. The immortal relayed memories of magical decades with simpler beasts. She said no time of peace ever lasted very long and war was the natural state after long conversations. During spurs of willed naivety Medusa would help where she could. Her duty as mother and grandmother was to warn her loves that nothing they cherish would last so they should cherish all. Medusa spoke less about love when she warned Cleo about their return to Egypt. Warned her to see her childhood in cracks through what was now. The bones of her home may have lasted but the flesh and fur would be a stranger. Cleo declared her home was powerful and special and could never let her down.Cleo wasn’t ‘let down’ so much as she was slapped with a different shade of mean red. The dress, accessories and makeup were garish with small freckles of her historical influence. She chose her new wardrobe from the vampire’s closet. The vamposer, Elissabat, had high class taste and good manners minus the terrible ideas of ‘honoring’ the royals. The lost princess dressed as the comical hoax ‘lost princess’ with her arm hanging on Toralei’s striped arm. Ghoulia borrowed a red dress from Toralei; she didn’t like the slits but Elissabat’s dresses were too long for walking. Toralei’s short skirts made a suitable dress for the petite zombie.Toralei lead the ghouls to a comparably tiny pyramid. From the uneven look of the bricks Cleo could tell this was a rush job. She kept a mental note of all the crimes she’d correct when she became the Pharaoh. The sphynx at the door asked for a password. Toralei whispered in her ear and her wings turned pink. The ghouls followed Toralei’s glowing eyes down a dry and spooky staircase. Cleo complained about vermin the whole way down. Toralei opened the door to a sweet melody, a banquet table of the very best and biggest meals (all pyramid shape) and a ceiling of stars. The stars were an enchanted effect that glowed orange to purple. The guests were all very attractive by their smart dresses and stunning usekhs.“Not bad.” Cleo said, dropping the cloak and pulling Toralei to the drink table.Most of the guests were in Princess Cleo makeup and wigs as thick as her black and teal hair. Ghoulia found it aggravated her neck and asked Elissabat if they could sit somewhere.“Oh my Ra, who did your mascara? It’s breathtaking.” A serpoard said, their wingtips were melting already.“Years of practice.” Cleo stated, hoping the words hinted to them trying better next time. She whispered up to Toralei’s pointy ears, “I needed a stronger drink.”“If you’re paying,” Toralei said with a paw to the vases of ‘tolerance juice’.As soon as I find the host I’m taking them and throwing Toralei into the river Nile, Cleo thought as she grabbed a pyramid-shaped cup.At the entrance door a family had very mixed reactions to the Princess Cleos of every shape and size.“I had a dream like this once.” Terpsichore said, sticking out her tongue, and all her snake’s tongues, in disgust. Hatshepsut patted her sister on her tiny back.“Me too.” Their father said with a wide smile.“Told you, it’s fun for the whole family.” A fire-elemental in Cleo’s borrowed sandals said. Heath’s pointed chin went well with the horizontal designs of the Princess’ costume.“It’s not really cheating if…” Deuce asked in a whisper, looking at the creatures who resembled his wife.“To get through this I’ll need a drink.” Medusa said, taking the hands of her granddaughters.Heath and Deuce walked through the crowd to the beverages. Heath explained how he’d moved to the far East, had a son, and was visiting the desert for an educational vacation.“Jin jr’s visiting my sister tonight while Daddy has some fun.” Heath said, wiping his eye-makeup in the reflection of a very large flower vase. “His big bad talons helped carved my jewelry so I know he likes the idea. But he’s so serious and dutiful!”“And you sure he’s your son?” Deuce asked as he looked at the ‘Cleo’ with the lower half of a jungle cat.“Little lizards’ got my good looks but none of the Burn charm.” Heath said, making a ‘princess’ pose that knocked a drink out of a ‘Cleo’ with a face on front and back of her head. Deuce watched Heath twirl around the ghoul to answer remarks from both sides of the head.The gorgon held up bread dipped in besarah dip up to his green snakes. He felt the little dudes behind his ears nibble on something sweet. Deuce turned around to see the Egyptian-variety- harpy ‘Cleo’ holding figs in her claws. The smirk on her beak was flirty.“I like your look but no thanks.” Deuce said putting an arm around Heath’s rectangular frame.“As if you could afford me.” Heath said sticking his nose in the air.“It’s like I’m seventeen again.” Deuce said, Heath being a man wasn’t a turnoff.Drums began beating to gain everyone’s attention to the pyramid step stage. A panther-woman took the center torch light. She was not dressed as the Lost Princess. She wore a silver robe to stand out from all the gold and red.“Hello my darlings,” the panther-woman announced in a strong voice.“I ask all princesses to form a line to this stage. If the gods will it, tonight we shall find our Lost Princess.” The panther woman held up golden scarab, the wings were carved lapis lazuli.I expected my grandmother to roll her old bones out her sarcophagus in search of her blood heirs instead of the blood hoodlums, Cleo thought nonchalantly. Since I married a non-royal it’s probably best she stay sleeping. This little diversion was not a complete waste of time when I can rescue my heirloom away from the hairball hostess.The hidden princess stood five feet from her family. She didn’t hear or see them in the bustle of the party crowd.“What’s so special about a big bug?” Hatshepsut asked from the circled arms of her grandmother. Medusa’s oranges snakes slid over the child’s blue snakes.“They’re friends of the fancy folks from these parts. This is what grownups call ‘party tricks’, louloudi mou.”“Adults will believe anything.” Terpsichore said dismissively. She dipped bread in a spicy paste as she eyed the pretty trinket. Terpsichore also noticed orange cat ears from behind the stage.“Okay, if you’re who you say you are then tell me something only the real Cleo would know.” Deuce challenged the mud-made ‘Cleo’.“I like long baths in milk and making love in the dark.” The mud-monster said in the signature pose of the Lost Princess.Deuce inhaled a hiss, “Oh, you’re half right. You there’s a way to test which is which.”The mud-monster looked hopeful until the death-glare from a human behind the gorgon scared her away. The gorgon shrugged and turned around to see another imitation of his wife. This one had her peeved faced almost exactly.“What are the chances you’re the real Lost Princess and you’re here to take back your throne?”The human ‘Cleo’ narrowed her eyes, “Same chances I’m going to whip my man for flirting with these appalling imitations.”“There she is.” Deuce said leaning down to embrace his true princess. She slapped his arms, confirming his found woman. “Okay, I see you’re freaking out.”“Oh wait until we’re alone tonight. And I shall send all of these sick creatures to be sacrificed at Posea’s shrine.” Cleo whispered in fury.“I would’ve thought you were flattered. The people miss you, since back in the day they wanted to be you.” Deuce reminded her.“This room is filled with starving rats sick with disillusions, this isn’t respect it’s attempted theft. I would have you stone them, but we can’t cause a scene so soon without backers.” Cleo explained in a hush. She pulled her husband closer and looked into his tinted eye-glasses, “We have to get that scarab. It’s mine by birthright and it doesn’t deserve to be a prop in this litterbox.”A beastly shrill yowl had every guest bend to their knees.“It’s divine!” A guest shouted.“I’ll take ten of those!”“Could you make one of me?”On the stage there was a diamond statue of a cat woman. The sparkles and shine of the figure was quite lovely though the hostess looked at it in horror.“Everyone please remain calm. We will address this matter accordingly.” The panther-woman said, her voice strong while her tail fluffed with fear.Cleo gasped, “You brought our little ghouls here?”“Hey, they know to only stonewall when they’re in trouble.” Deuce defended.Cleo looked back at the diamond statue. She was thankful her children had powers; she hated the avarice losers who’d try to take advantage of their special sight. Cleo recognized the jagged haircut on the statue as her date.“That’s Toralei. Good for our child who decided to stone the tragic of this world.” Said the satisfied Cleo.Deuce took her hand and pushed through the rumbling crowd to Medusa’s hair standing over everyone else’s heads.“Are you my Mummy?” Hatshepsut asked as Cleo tightly hugged her.“I’m privileged to be,” Cleo said, taking a serious look to her daughter, “Hatshepsut, where is your sister?”At the child’s height Cleo noticed sand rising from the floor.“And an encore.” The DeNile said with a groan.Guest were gasping and shrieking again as a blue glow levitated from behind the stage. A small being with long braids held up the lapis lazuli scarab.“Kneel before me, peasants! I am your one true goddess!” The being said in a deep, booming voice.Every creature in the room kneeled except for the Gorgon family.“Cleo!?” Deuce and Medusa asked in unison.Cleo raised her hands in a shrug, “Maybe my family has a blood oath connecting us to the magic of the gods through blessed idols. I told you that scarab belonged to us.”“Cleo!” Deuce said in a sharper tone.“Oh she can’t do much damage when she doesn’t know how to use it. Deuce, go stand under her because the surge should drop in, well,” Cleo grabbed Medusa’s wrist-hourglass.Terpsichore the almighty laughed, holding the scarab over her head. Her snakes’ eyes glowed as they faced the incredible gem that felt reflected on them like a dream. The creatures, human and monster, began chanting prayers. None dared look at the being who was really a five-year-old ghoul. The dream gem’s glow began to fade, Terpsichore yawned, and the light show dimmed. She fell into her father’s arms, tuckered out with a peaceful smile. The monsters and humans closest to witness the ‘goddess’ were turned to granite.The panther-woman would later find guests leading to the exit door had snakebites, few were lethal.Ra’s morning sun rose on the horizon. Back at the camp the little ghouls were swaddled in their grandmother’s extending serpent hair. She kept them warm and firmer in place. The children slept in hammocks while Medusa sat on the ground with the slightly taller children.“Well we came, we saw how dangerous this country is, we leave. Right? I’ll start packing.” Medusa said while her loose snake-hair holding up satchels.“This was the first night, we can’t give up that quick.” Deuce said with an arm slung over his wife.“Yeah!” Cleo said patting her husband’s chest.“We just have to talk about all secret powers our kids will inherit beside the duty of running a dynasty.” Deuce added with a small tinge of annoyance.“Oh subtle, honey. I’ve been using my family’s magic for years. In front of you.” Cleo said with a poke to his eye-wear.“Cleo, you said you learned that stuff when your dad wasn’t looking.”“Because he wanted to limit me. I swear he taught my sister worse tricks.” Cleo said not unlike a jealous child.Deuce kept calm because he wanted to learn, not fight, “Clarify for us; do they have extra powers or are going to learn destructive tricks?”“Technically both is true; they have the raw potential to harness the magic from our family heirlooms but they won’t do much without studying.” Cleo said bringing her hands together to illustrate her point.Medusa scoffed from across the fire. Cleo pretended she didn’t hear that.“Our darlings will learn to be responsible over all their gifts. Every beautiful advantage their unique breeding has acquired.”Medusa watched as Cleo twirled her son’s green serpent-hair around her finger. She could already see Deuce relax his posture and trust in whatever his wife said. Medusa wanted to take her granddaughters back to Greece but she couldn’t break her family like that.“If we’re staying, we have to be stricter. Last night’s little show shouted a DeNile is back.” Medusa warned.Cleo grinned. In the hot desert wind her coffee-skin glistened making her painted eyes pronounced for slaying. “Perfect.”Deuce did have faith in Cleo wanting the best for their family and her people. Underneath all the glamour and arrogance he knew deep down Cleo was a compassionate and wonderful ally and friend. Wait, something’s off…..“Wait, where’s Ghoulia?” Deuce asked looking around the camp for a moan.