Infinite Sacrifice by L.E. Waters Read Free Book Online Page A

gaping mouth
beckoning me within. I enter and follow the long corridor that
leads to a large pool. In the marbled glow of torches reflecting on
water, I see the shine of jewel-embellished scales just under the
water. The enormous sacred crocodile guarding the House of the Dead
watches me pass the pool, and I bow to him in respect and fear. I
enter the first ceremonial room I come across, where I see Nun’s
body lying on the table beneath three funeral priests.
    One ancient digs in Nun’s mouth
with his finger and says, “The force of the spear through the
slave’s mouth was so great it thrust his front teeth
apart.”
    As the other two bend forward to
examine him, my attention diverts to Aapep sitting at the scribe’s
desk, recording the funeral rite in place of his father.
    “Aapep, why are you
here?”
    He glances up with his flashing
black eyes. “You are fully aware that my father is
dead.”
    “Oh no, I did not know. I am very
sorry to hear of his death.”
    Aapep looks away, back to Nun’s
body.
    Does he suspect me?
    I wonder how much Khons told him
about his early morning errand.
    “Why are you here, Sokaris? You do
not own slaves after death,” Aapep says even-toned.
    “I went to claim his body and found
he had already been moved to have funeral rites. That is not
standard for executions.”
    “I had him moved. My family is
paying for proper funeral rites.” He sets his gaze on
mine.
    “Why would you do so?”
    “The gods will not rest until
injustices are righted,” he says with his cold eyes
squinted.
    I now know who
pushed Bastet .

 
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    I back out of the room and return
to my dwelling to plan how I will avenge her. The new slave I sent
for is here. He kneels, and I name him Aten. I tell him to fetch
some hot water to clean my feet so that I can retire and enter my
dwelling. I look for Sehket and find no cat in my room. I yell for
Aten, who hurries in, bowing.
    “When I sent for you, I instructed
you to bring my favored cat Sehket. Where is she?”
    He wrings his hands and sputters,
“I gathered the black tailless cat you asked for and put her in
this basket with linen tied around the top. I was walking by the
temple square at the time of Nun’s execution, and when the crowd
broke out in cheers, the cat went wild. The basket fell out of my
arms, and the cat ran away. I could not get her back.”
    I strike the slave with my open
hand and proceed to beat upon his bent-over form.
    The slave falls to his knees,
covering his head as I yell, “Get out of my sight!”
    He scurries outside but stoops to
pick up his blanket. I throw the empty basket at him, hitting him
in the back of his head as he runs away, leaving the moth-eaten
blanket behind.
    “UGHHH!” I scream out, falling to
my knees, drawing the attention of slaves on rooftops within range
of my cry.
    How did my life fall to ruin like
this? How could so much change in two days’ time?
    “Bastet, Bastet, Bastet.” I lament
like a woman.
    Pulling myself back up, I retreat
to the solitude of my room. I slump down on my bed in despair but
jump up realizing I haven’t checked the bed yet. I pull the sheets
back to see nothing there. Breathing a sigh of relief, I fall on
the bed and extinguish the candle by my side.
    Moments later, in the moonlight, I
see a peculiar movement but it flits away into the
shadows.
    Sitting up with my hands braced at
my side, I call out into the darkness, “Aten, is that
you?”
    When mere silence echoes back, I
wish I had not sent my slave and only protector away. The air is
thick with an unseen presence. I still my breathing to listen for
evidence of an intruder.
    What is that? Is it coming
nearer?
    My eyes dart into the dark corners
where the moonlight can’t reach. I wait. Nothing comes.
    I release my held breath and lie
back down, scoffing loudly at my delusions.
    Something lunges toward me. I
scream out as it stabs deep into my left hand. I pull my hand in
tight, trying to hold off