Chapter 1

Along time ago...

I think at some point all little girls dream of becoming a princess and living in a beautiful castle with beautiful things to surrounded themselves with. All the stories make it sound like a never-ending dream. Some days I still think I am dreaming, and I worry if I let myself drift off it all might slip away. But it is not all shiny things, balls, and crowns. Something the story never tells you is that princesses somethings must become queens.

Queens are the backbone of countries working silently and unseen from the side of the kings. Their worlds are full of tears and bloodshed all covered up by a beautiful smile and those pretty dress they so loved so dearly as a child. I have done horrible things to achieve good, and good things that result in the opposite. But in all my moves, I must exude confidence less anyone question my title.

All of it was done for the man and the country I love. Does that make it right?

1304 BCE

"Your majesty. The ceremony is complete." The priest bows and backs away from the clay basin over which he had been chanting in a language older than the pyramids.

"Thank you," says the woman now facing the basin. She is dressed in white, sear linen that leaves little to the imagination as she approaches the altar.

The walls of the temple are decorated with ornate drawings and hieroglyphics honoring the god Amun.

She removes a knife from its sheath. The rubies glint in the hilt like fire in the torchlight. She holds the knife up to the palm of her hand.

"Amun, I pray that you bless my son with the power of Anhur and the wisdom Thot. And that his enemies will tremble at the sound of his name." She says as the blade runs across the palm and blood falls into the basin. The blood sinks to the bottom of the basin and dissolves leaving the only water. The roaring fire seems to grow brighter illuminating the intricate drawings on the walls and ceiling of the temples.

"It is done by Queen," the priest confirms as he takes his place opposite if her, "but I must warn you, you are dealing with ancient magic that is not as easily controlled."

"If my son's future is secured then, whatever the cost, it is worth the risk." The eyes of the queen the lock with those of the priest. "Not a word of this the Pharaoh. He would not approve of this deviation from tradition."

"Not a word my Queen. Being trampled by horses, and then burned is not my preferred method of death." The priest says with a smile, but his eyes betray his concern to the queen.

Present

"Hurry up Natalie! We are going to be late." My sister's voice carries up to my room. The sunlight had just crept in through my window and was lazily lighting my walls. But with the sound of my sister's voice, I was jolted awake.

"I am coming," I scream back.

Scampering down the front stairs, I make it in time to see my sister's car being to reverse down the driveway without me in the car.

"Margaret, what the hell," I say now that the car is no longer backing away, "I said I was coming."

Climbing into the passenger seat, I glare at my sister.

"I am sorry, but I can't be late today. I have to get to school early to pass out my pins and cupcakes. You know the drill." This election means a lot to her, so I keep my comments to myself.

My pencil beings to complete the last few calculus problems that are due in my first class. The letters and numbers are like another language that usually opens their secrets to me. But this morning, they seem to be keeping their meaning to themselves. The calculus identities and reducing equations remain unanswered. The idea that simplifying a problem makes it easier is ridiculous on the surface. To reduce a problem, things must be substituted or removed altogether, but sometimes that's the only way to reveal the truth.

Margaret turns my thoughts back to the present with a whack to my shoulder.

"Och," I say in a fake hurt voice

"Don't forget," she repeats, "I can't take you home today. I have to stay after school for my club meeting."

"I got it," I say lazily, "I'm having Jake take me home."

"Jake?"

"We're going on a date," I clarify.

We roll up to school, and Margaret is out the car pins in one hand cupcakes in the other. Her hair somehow refusing to move from the position she had fixed it. I shake my head and make it there just as the bell rings.

The last bell of the day releases the masses of students eager to begin there weekend.

"Hey, beautiful," I turn to see Jake walking towards me.

"So...," I say sweetly, "do I get to know the special location of our date?" I eye him trying to pry the details from him.

"And ruin the surprise. Honestly, Natalie, I am offended that you doubt my conviction." His brown eyes are alight with boylike glee.

Jake and I encountered one another at the first football game of the year. I was screaming like a maniac due to the ref's inability to make a decent call. I'm just saying, It was definitely a interference. In the process of berating the ref, I spilled my drink on the guy standing next to me. Insisting that I make it up to him, he had made me promise to go on a date.

As we round a street corner, I see the blue mirror paneling of a building. I break into a smile.

"I see my choice is acceptable," Jake says with pride.

"Are you kidding? I love aquariums, and I recently read that they have added a whole new section." I ramble as I scamper out of the car pulling Jake behind me. "Did you know some fish in some rivers that can grow to be more than six feet long," I continue as we wake out way towards the entrance.

There is something so peaceful about what aquariums. The designs cast by the light reflecting off the water, and the way the creatures seem to fly across the glass; it's almost as if one has entered another world without ever having to leave earth.

I slowly walk through the aquarium pointing out my favorite fish and reading the strange facts. Jake seems perfectly happy to just watch me.

As we round a corner, we come upon a wall of glass that displays sharks and large silverfish.

"Thank you for today," I say looking into Jake's eyes. Before I can turn back, his lips capture mine. It's only for a second, but my mind freezes. It's my first kiss, and I was totally unprepared. I must have had a funny look on my face because Jake turned back to the wall of fish, which I now wished I could be on the other side of...drowning.

A few moments pass.

"I am going to get some ice cream. You go ahead. I'll catch up in a minute." Jake says and heads off to the food court.

Still flushed, I walk over to the next area. Stepping through the automatic glass doors, I am greeted by a wave of heat and humidity that hides my flushed skin.

It's a large open area with plants climbing up to the ceilings and hanging over the tanks. The man standing at the entrance is giving a speech about the creatures in a certain tank. "These are Nile Perch," he explains, "they can grow up to six feet long. Though some claim to have seen perch up to eight feet."

I walk up to the tank and look down into the water. There are no lids on these tanks and the movement of the water has me hypnotized. I watch the fish swim beneath the ripples, gliding back and forth.

All of a sudden, a force beings to pull towards the surface of the water. I grip the sides of the tank, but before I can take another breath I feel water rush up the meet my face. Water fills my nose and eyes as I am plunged into the tank. The world seems to go upside down. I keep searching for the bottom of the tank, but its depth seems unyielding. My only thought is "air" as I begin to swim towards what I hope to be the surface; my lungs and eyes burn. Just as I feel my air run out, my head breaks the surface.

I look around expecting to see the concrete walls of the aquarium, but instead, I am greeted by a vast expanse of water and lush green foliage on the banks of a river. I am taken back for a moment. Then instinct takes over, and I attempt to swim towards the shore. For the second time today, I see my life flash before my eyes. A large ornate boat passes barely three feet in front of me.

I hear men shouting in a strange language and women gasping. Before I can attempt to swim towards the boat, a young man jumps off the deck and swims up to me grabbing me by the waist. I feel the world growing darker as exhausting takes over, but before it all fades to black, I am distinctly aware of my rescuer's red hair.