The entire evening was spent listening to Pahwa as he went back and forth about the various jobs he was called to do. Laini was hardly paying attention as she lay against her brother and watched as even the servants of the household were invited to stop what they were doing to listen. Nebedtka rested his head against Laini’s and she could feel he was drifting to sleep. He had already heard much of this and was only still sitting with them so he could hear his family’s voices.

“There is a growing number of blood drinkers in Memphis…” Pawah said. “I and another priest confronted the cult of Sekhmet but their priestess denied involvement. She mentioned that it may be someone from the outside. I asked her how that was possible given the strength she and the others of her order possess and she simply said she cannot control them all. They have wills of their own just like any other.”

He sighed.

“What is our Pharoah expecting from you?” Aisha asked. He shrugged a little.

“Interpret the other omens. Something else is happening around us and he fears it can tear through us if we cannot confront it in time. There is a rumor that a great city to the north was swallowed by the waters and nobody seems to know why or how. Not even the Greeks who claim to have seen it happen.”

“A whole city…?” Laini asked, her interest peaking. Pawah raised an eyebrow in her direction.

“I thought you didn’t believe in these things, my daughter,” he smirked. Laini distorted her face as Nebedtka laughed under her. She turned and slapped his stomach. They all chuckled at her expense.

“Well, I have seen none of what you speak of, father,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “I am not saying that I do not believe in the spirit world but to see it among us and that it can touch our lives?”

“My poor sister, when will you open your mind?” Nebedtka sighed. She glared at him.

“Have YOU seen?” She demanded but he shrugged.

“I am not willing to discount father so quickly,” he replied sharply before leaning back to get comfortable again. Her heart sank into her stomach and she looked at Pawah. He was smiling but it was hard to tell if he felt insulted by her refusal to believe some of his stories.

“I...apologize father, I do not mean to--” she started but he held up his hand for silence. He slowly stood and motioned for her to follow him, leaving Aisha and Nebedtka in front of the brazier, watching it flicker with warmth. The moon was high that night and the last of the sun was well below the horizon, giving the sky a wonderful deep shade of purple. It perfectly contrasted against the elegantly painted temples and statues that stood in the distance.

“It is a beautiful night,” he said, lifting his head to catch the breeze. After a moment, he turned to Laini who stood up straighter, sure he was going to chide her for her indignance but he merely smiled. “This may seem contradictory, but I tell you these stories so that you are aware of what might be lurking around corners and in shadow. It is my hope that you never have to see them.”

Laini squinted at her father. She wanted to believe everything he told her but her skepticism was a source of poison in her relationship.

“The very second you see them is the second everything around you changes. And not always for the better,” he sighed. “There is beauty out there and there is plenty of power, spirits, and gods to aid us on our path but the bad ones...they can easily make you regret you ever learned of their existence.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“I do not,” his answer was decisive. “I know enough to help and I truly believe that is what I must do. To protect you all from these things is my fondest desire in all of this.”

He glared and tilted his head at her.

“And, my daughter, with everything I’ve learned over the years, I remain confused about something,” he brushed his hand along her face. “You are very powerful and there is something about you that is very different from the other creatures I have faced. An aura of light surrounds you...but how you are able to question whether or not these things exist continues to elude me.”

Laini’s eyes were alarmed but he shook her lightly by the shoulder.

“I often wonder if I should bring you along with me on some of the jobs I am called to do,” he retreated slightly into his mind. “But, I would never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

“You take Nebedtka,” she protested.

“He has never come with me into a fight, Laini,” Pawah shook his head. “Your brother also has a gift but it is nowhere near your potential. And he has other tasks to which he is suited.”

He tilted his head, his mind drifting.

“But you are suited for the fight and with these omens…” he gasped and suddenly shook his head, thinking better of his decision. “No...you, Aisha, Nebedtka...you should not be further involved in this.”

“Father, please! If I can be of any help at all, why won’t you let me?” she pleaded but he shook his head again.

“I'm sure we will need to explain everything in time but I have spoken. Try not to dwell on these things, my daughter,” he instructed and raised his hand for her to return to where her mother and brother were. "There are still many unanswered questions..."

She turned with hesitation and watched over her shoulder as her father sighed with his hands folded behind his back to watch that last of the evening fade away into darkness. The prospect of helping him with his task, seeing what he saw, sharing in his wisdom; this was something she wanted very much.

And wanted more than she could have anticipated.

And why tell her any of these things?

Just what sort of trouble were they in?