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by Michael F. Stewart
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Non Sequitur Press
Publication Date: February 14, 2013
Every five hundred years the phoenix dies.
Samiya, born-into-shadow, is soon to battle her born-into-light brother. Abandoned by their parents, neither wishes to play the preordained role of beast and hero. When their loved ones are taken hostage, they are forced to follow the path laid out in myth, culminating in a battle first fought six thousand years ago in ancient Cairo. A mythic clash where one defeats the other and both become gods.
To break free from their fates, Samiya and her brother must unravel a mystery twisted by cults, greed, and magic. But myth is a powerful force and failure to live up to it may not only destroy their lives but the lives of the ones they love most.
When the phoenix dies, the only certainty is flames.
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Excerpt
Looks like Jeers sluiced down from above. Since Sam had not used the black ankh, Pharaoh could require another sacrifice. Sam glanced to her mother, once again glad she had been the one to find her. The woman’s chin rested on her chest, and she stared into the pit beyond her feet.
“We will remedy that,” Pharaoh said.
“Give me until Horus’s left eye rises,” Sam requested. The left eye meant the full moon, a fortnight before Akhet, the ancient Egyptian New Year. A sacrifice to Seth then would be auspicious.
Pharaoh paused. The full moon would demand a sacrifice anyway, and sacrifices were not popular when pulled from the rank and file even if they came from the slum of Manshiyat Yaser, Garbage City.
Shadows veiled his face from where she stood at the temple’s base. The steps before her rose like a pyramid’s courses. Darkness shrouded all but his eyes, which glowed. The ominous radiance wasn’t due to the reflection of the liquid-filled vessels that lit the underworld from high niches. Pharaoh was Void-touched. The cast of his eyes showed he had held the Void too long and risked losing himself in it. Sam clasped and unclasped her hands under the red-tinged gaze.
“Gold, or blood when the moon is full.” The Pharaoh’s mouth split into a grin. “He was your first, I understand.” He turned to retrieve an item beside the throne. “Congratulations.”
At the base of the stairs to Pharaoh’s throne was an altar carved from a single piece of alabaster. Nine spouts protruded from the altar’s central circular groove. Nine holes in the floor collected the spouts’ offerings. The Pharaoh descended to stand before the altar.
Sam took a single step back and then held. As he approached, Pharaoh grew larger until he overshadowed the star altar. Upon it, he placed a crossbow and a quiver of bolts.
“May these serve Seth well.”
“Hail, Seth!” Approval crashed.
A rush of pleasure flushed Sam’s cheeks. When she had first joined the Shemsu Seth, she had been tested, and although she could harness the Void, Pharaoh had been disappointed; the Void she could reach was a trickle when compared to his strength.
She stepped forward, looking from the weapon to Pharaoh. His pale broad face had a wide, flat nose placed between considerable cheekbones and above a cavernous mouth. A delta of deep wrinkles spread from the corners of his lips and eyes. His skin appeared stretched thin over his skull. Beneath the shadow of his brow, the eyes shone. When she reached for the crossbow, his mottled hand briefly touched hers. One finger traced the tendons on the back of her hand. She retrieved the weapon, a black, modern crossbow, timeless, yet fitted with a laser sight.
She attached the quiver to its base and slid her robe’s cord through a loop that enabled her to shoulder the weapon. She grasped its haft and smirked as she aimed.
“When the full moon rises, Pharaoh.”
The laser sight traced a red dot on her mother’s forehead.
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About the Author
After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and some fun in venture capital, Michael anchored himself (happily) to a marriage and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or ocean reef will have him. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and SF Canada, and the author of the Assured Destruction series, 24 Bones, The Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for young adults.
Thank you, Ornella! Appreciate your hosting me. :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Love Egyptian mythology :)
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