The Passion of Cleopatra (Ramses the Damned 2)

Here she was in the darkness, walking slowly across the grass behind these enchanted animals, fearless yet awestruck, not for a moment repelled by the mystery of the angel blossom, only eager to know more.

She was enthralled by the spectacle of the great hounds moving as one as they approached their home building, at the single-minded manner in which they approached the door to their lair. It was as mesmerizing as the sight of them ascending from the pit had been not one half hour before.

Now each and every powerful canine sat silently before this door waiting for it to be opened.

Trembling, Julie stepped forward and opened the door for them. She stood to one side.

They passed through, one after the other, and began descending the steps into their wretched little pit.

Once they were all inside, she took hold of the rope and lowered the heavy grate gently into place. With a shiver, she saw that each dog had turned to look over its shoulder. This was Aktamu's work, no doubt. He was waiting for her to close and lock the grate before he wiped the pollen from his face, releasing these beasts to their own natures again.

She slid the bolt into place with a loud clang.

But she could not bring herself to leave. Not yet. She had to see this miracle all the way through to its end.

Gradually, a change began to overtake the dogs.

Some of them quivered. Others shook themselves wildly as if trying to free their coats of water. A few of them erupted into barks, but they were not as vicious or aggressive as the sounds they'd made before. They seemed like pained questions. Were they confused by what had just been done to them?

Their paws clicked against the stone floor. Their movements seemed dazed and confused, until she realized they were each trying to move into the best position from which they could peer up at her through the bars.

These creatures had been changed. Whatever this miracle from Bektaten's garden, it had allowed these ruthless canine killers to dance briefly with a human mind. And as a result they appeared submissive now, subdued, and, in their longing looks, eager to take this dance again.

She was almost sad to leave them, for they were monsters no more.

But then the door behind her opened, and there was Ramses, breathless. No triumph in his expression; restrained anguish, but a great relief at the sight of her. Once she found herself in his arms, she realized she had no idea which one of them had initiated this sudden, feverish embrace. But what did it matter now?

"Where is she?" Julie finally asked.

"She escaped."

"Oh, Ramses."

"There was a struggle. My ring, the poison. She took it from me. It was either my life or hers. And so I let her go."

"Does she have this poison now?"

"No. She tore the ring open and hurled it at me to keep me from pursuing her. It lies on the carpet inside the house."

The sound of a car engine outside. Whatever the vehicle, its engine was much larger than those of the cars that had brought them here.

"We've found the van they used to transport Cleopatra here, and the coffin. We will use it for Saqnos. But, Julie, I must go with them so I can help subdue him if he wakes. Can you follow us in the car?"

"Of course, Ramses. Of course."

He turned from her, but as soon as his hand touched the doorknob, he froze.

"I have failed, Julie."

"No. No, Ramses."

"I could have pursued her. There was a moment, before she leapt through a window, where I might have driven her to the floor. But she begged me not to. This Saqnos, he said dreadful things about her nature, Julie, her nature as a revenant, her state of being, which may be true. Nochtin. That's what he called her. We all overheard him. Nochtin. They were appalling things."

"But what, Ramses?"

"That he'd raised creatures himself with the elixir as I'd raised her. And that these nochtin, as he called them, went mad. That is what he told her." Ramses stared off as he spoke these words. "And there was such anguish in her, Julie." He shuttered. "I was prepared for her cruelty or rage, but not her anguish, and so when she asked me to set her free, to live out her last days before madness claimed her, I let her escape."

She took him in her arms again. He was shaking, her pharaoh, her king, her immortal. Shaking from the power of his emotions.