Nighttime Near The Outskirts of Cairo....
(In a makeshift camp area)
“You have kill me, oh brave Serafina, my heart has been pulled out, and thrown onto the dusty road to be treaded, and stepped a upon, for you have nothing, just a stone, cold heart as I have try to save you from this dark, and evil path, which you still insist to tread a upon” said Leo in a tenderly, soft, but sadden voice as he was practicing for their stellar performance in Cairo, which will happen in a few days time.
“ Oh Leo, why do you always over-dramatize your roles, I know why... because of the females, who always come to our show to see you!” said Rahna laughing as she was setting up some fruit for Silas on his table inside his tent. Ever since he save her from being taken by the slavers she has acted as a very dutiful daughter to him, and when he has the means, Silas loves to spoil her rotten, and everyone else in the group accepted her into their family right away.
“Rahna, you know that is not totally true, little sister, why do you always try to destroy the little bit of my ego that is left in me?” asked Leo, with sadden eyes as he was playing with her heartstrings a bit.
“Oh, poor, defenseless Leo, the cat who was never loved!” smiled Rahna sweetly as she started teasing him lightly a bit as she went to him, and gave him a kiss on his cheek, then she gave him a fresh apple as a snack, before she went off to practice her fire magic for her part of the show.
While sitting next to the campfire, Mercy, and Katia were practicing for their own performances, except for Katia, who was practicing her lines for the mini play, she and her friend Leo will be performing for the citizens of Cairo. Then Mercy picked up her tambourine, and started dancing around the campfire, even though her profession in the group is that of an actress, she loves to dance for her friends.
In Slavia’s Camp in an Oasis in the Egyptian desert..........
A tall, slender stallion with beautiful wings that are the color a raven’s feathers, and his unicorn horn is pure white, his eyes are filled with an emerald color, and along the borders of his eyes, there is a slight coloring change, since if the lighting is right, one can see that the borders have a light purple color to them. This stallion’s name is Silas, the leader of a band of gypsies, who have taken up the profession as entertainers may that be actors, actresses, singers, dancers, and even magicians.
Silas was a quiet, but determine, stallion, who will do what it takes to take care of his group, of his newfound family, and that’s why he went to the tent of the leader of the slave traders. He went to Slavia’s tent this time to pick up his pay for doing some recon on some potential slaves, but oh how he hated this deception, how he hate doing this to innocent ponies, and felines, and yet here he was , doing exactly what he hated doing, but he needed the money. As he enter the tent, he gave Slavia a curt nod as if to say he finish his job, and he was here to collect his earnings. She gave him a small bag with gold, and silver coins in it. Then he gave her a polite bow, and was just about to leave, when Slavia started talking to him in a cool, casual manner, “You work so hard Silas, and yet you don’t want a position in my trade, I am just curious, how so?”
“I have enough as it is taking care of my group, you could say my family that having a position in a trade such as yours, just doesn’t seem practical, like I said before, I don’t mind doing small jobs for you, but only small jobs!” said Silas in a quiet, and polite tone of voice as he already turned, and was showing his back to her now.
“That is very understandable Silas, I won’t push you into a position, and if I need to I will wait until you are ready for the position”, said Slavia as she was done talking, she gave him leave, and went back to reading a book of hers...
During the End of the Masquerade Party....
(Close to the thrones in the back area of the room)
“Oh Nasir, why did you risk your life doing that to Altiar, I told you before, and warn you that he could be a bit ruthless. Well now that’s an understatement, since what just happen here. Are you sure, you are okay, my wittle thief?” asked Kira in a very caring, and concerned voice as she was hugging him, and nuzzling him at the same time.
Then Nasir smiles at Kira with love in his eyes, and nuzzle, and hug her back, before saying, “Kira, your sister, Kiya, and I planned this trap for Altiar with a bit of help from Josette, his sister. We had to do it, and I knew the risks, Kira. Also I couldn’t tell you about the plan because I knew that there was a good possibility that you would have try to stop me, and I didn’t want to delay the plan any further. Also your masquerade ball was the perfect setting to do our trap against Altiar, Kira.” said Nasir in a caring voice, and also in a tone that he hoped will emphasize how important it was for the plan to be carried out, the way it did.
“I understand Nasir, and yet I am still a bit shaken from the recent events, which just happen during my party. Thank the Gods that you are okay, my sweet thief!” said Kira as she was wiping a tear that escaped from her eye with a hoof of hers, and then she smile a bright smile at him, and for once she was certain as the skies above that her life was almost, if not completely perfect after that moment.
In A Tavern, Near The Outskirts Of Cairo....
After being thrown out of the palace by some of Kiya’s personal guards, Altiar growled for a few minutes, not believing that Kiya, the young queen, has finally found her way out of his palm, that she will never again be his marionette of a queen! “How dare they do this to me?! That Nasir will pay! No! All of them will pay for wounding my pride!” thought Altiar as he entered the tavern close by, where the guards drop him off.
As he enter the tavern, he put the hood of his cloak on, so as not to gain unwanted attention from those inside the tavern that he just enter into. As soon as he arrived inside the tavern, he ordered a simple glass of red wine, and sat down in the farthest corner of the room in the back area. As soon as he sat down, he saw a cat talking to a black stallion, and then Altiar wonder, “That stallion couldn’t be part of Kiya’s royal palace guards! Who is he I wonder? Also I wonder who that cat is? I didn’t see him at Kira’s masquerade ball, and yet he is wearing a white, half mask....I wonder...could it be...no, he can’t be... but if he is, maybe he will be of use to me!”
Back At The Masquerade Ball...
(Close to the back exit of the ballroom)
“Aminta, I sense this is not the end of the tension here at the palace, let alone the end of Nasir’s and Kira’s problems with Altiar! We have to get back to the Tiruṭarkaḷ Kukai” said Tamir using the Hindi name for the Underground City of thieves, gypsies, and beggars that he rules over, and takes care of.
“You are right, master, we should get going, and soon. Tamir, I am afraid this is only the beginning of something bigger than the both of us, and sinister to boot, we shall tell the others the news, and see what they have to say about it.” said Aminta before she and Tamir, said their goodbyes, and blessing to their friends Kira, and Nasir...
Back In The Tavern....
As Altiar was still thinking whether or not to go, and confirm his guesses on this mysterious feline with the black stallion....a feline was using the hood of his cloak to conceal himself; a quiet feline sat down in the last set of chairs in the darkest corner of the bar, and was watching this white stallion, who looked like a noble, who just came out from a party, ‘but why is he here in this bar, which is full of unsavory people?’ thought this feline who cover his outfit, which was a light, black armour that cover his backside, and belly side, and underneath the armour was a black shirt made out of the finest silk, and a light pair of black pants. There was a golden collar he was wearing with blood, red rubies embedded in them to show that he was of vampiric nobility. But to hide his true identity from these unsavory folk in this tavern, he use a long, but light-weight, black mantle, and to cover his face, and he use the hood of his black cloak, he also was wearing to hide the finery he was wearing.
Then Altiar finally decided to go, and talked to this half-masked feline, “ I hope, I am not interrupting anything important, but are you....by any chance Jake?”, Altiar whisper this feline’s name quietly.
“And who wants to know, whether or not, I am this feline you are looking for?” asked Jake slyly as he was sharpening his dagger, and claws.
“ A noble stripped from his rank, and denied what is rightfully his because of a certain thief named Nasir, who instrumented my humiliation at Princess Kira’s Masquerade Ball!” said Altiar with such a passionate hatred toward Nasir that his tone was not one to laugh at.
“Nasir? This name does ring a bell or two in my mind; this Nasir I do know for you say he is a thief, and there is only one thief that I know here in Cairo named Nasir. I see that we are both fortunate, if my guess is right that we shared a common goal....To get rid of Nasir, permanently!” whispered Jake at the end as he gave a sly smile to Altiar as he was packing up his daggers, and sheathing his claws.
“You are right to assume that Jake; I want to get rid of the new Prince of Egypt, Nasir! Also maybe we could allied ourselves to a couple of old friends of mine, Jake, it will be in our best interest to do so!” said Altiar in a whisper as he waited for Jake’s responses as he took a sip of his wine.
“This agreement seems promising, and of course, a life without Nasir, means that I will be able to do my jobs in peace, you can have the princess, and the crown for yourself. Terror will reign in this land those who oppose us will pay dearly for it. Yes, I sense that I will relish this idea, Altiar, and for the thought, and just that idea, I will help you take over Egypt. Isn’t that right Set?” asked Jake in a business-like tone of voice as he started getting up from his chair getting ready to leave this tavern.
“Of course, my friend, this is truly a very fortunate position that we are now in, and to have a chance of taking over Egypt, why it’s a splendid idea!” said Set, the evil, Egyptian god as he too got ready to leave also.
So then Altiar, Jake, and Set left the tavern together, and headed towards the area where Slavia, and her fellow slavers were staying at. As they did so the mysterious feline, who was watching them, raised his right eyebrow ever so slightly, when he heard the name Nasir, and then he thought, “It has been a long time since I heard that name. Nasir, a prince? Is this true I wonder? Oh Ra, your kindness is most noted; I must see Nasir to see if this is really true about his fortune.”
Then this mysterious feline’s face turn from a thoughtful expression to one of wariness, when he saw those three who he was watching from the dark corner of the bar, leave the bar oh-so suddenly, and quickly too as if they were up to something. Then this feline watch them till the last one exit the bar, then he left some coins on the table to paid for his drink, then he left as quickly as he came....
Traveling back to Cairo from Alexandria....
After so many years from being exile from Egypt by the royal family, a feline with black fur with golden swirled highlights was heading back to her homeland with a force to be reckoned with. As the ships that carry her, and her allies from the islands of Greece to the shores of Alexandria, Verina walk down the wooden planks to the ports of Alexandria.
“Oh gods, I am finally back in Egypt, back in my own home country” said Verina in a nostalgic tone of voice as she saw Lilth, and Ahriman leading the wolves under her control with each of their feet shackle in golden chains to chariots, and to wagons, which they were assign to pull.
“Look at this the Golden Queen, is in such a happy mood, let us not spoil her time with our petty games, and tricks!” sang Ahriman smiling at Lilth, who was making sure everything was going smoothly for their trip to Cairo.
Entering an old building in the streets close to the Palace...
“Aminta, it is good that you are back, my old student; and you are right, very right, there is something a lot bigger at play here, and Altiar’s ultimate humiliation was only the stepping stone for what may come.” said Tamir in a tone that imply foreshadowing in his part as he opened the door of the Sokoturo Guild of Thieves building as soon as they went inside, they saw that everything was quiet, not even a sound was to be heard, which meant their guild, and the other thieving guilds were gathering in the underground city, which they have made as a safe haven for themselves.
“Tamir? Is tonight the full moon? If so then our fellow thieves are not just relaxing about, they are going to ‘the city’, we have to... like I have said before, tell them what is going on, and also what may come in the future Tamir, you are the King of Thieves.” Said Aminta as she walked inside, and went to the center room, and lighted the torches on the walls, then she smile as she use a broom, and dusted a section of the floor, once she was dusting the section of the floor, she pulled some of the wooden planks, which were already loosen up a bit, out from the floor, which uncover a trapdoor, which she open without any problem.
Then Tamir, and Aminta nodded to each other, and went quiet as they walked down the old, stone stairway to the underground city as they got closer to their destination, they heard voices, thousands of voices, it sounded like gathering about this great city. This city was mostly made out of the natural caves, crystals, and stones, with wooden ladders attached to the walls of some stones connecting homes, and small trading centers. Then when they enter the city, it was as if they enter another world, for the lamps, torches, and candles that were lit in this underground city located in what look like a huge, natural crystal cave, it seem like the whole cave was on fire, because the crystals of the caves glinted, and reflect the torches, lamps, and candle’s lights.
As they were walking, they heard sounds, sounds which turn to voices, from excited voices to even joyous voices, and they could even hear laughter coming from the main areas of the underground City. The underground city for the thieves, gypsies, and even for the beggars of Cairo, has been called many names like Thieves Haven, La Cour des Miracles, Beggar’s City, and The Court of Miracles. This is where the thieves, beggars, and gypsies gather to share, and gather news on what is happening in the different regions of Cairo, even Egypt, to catching up with old friends, and family.
“This place is a haven for us all, no one knows where we gather, and hide. This is our home, where the phase blood is thicker than water is tested! For we are all family, we take care to protect what is ours, no matter the cost.” sang some of the felines entering the main plaza of the underground city.
“Look there, who are those two hiding in the shadows are they intruders or spies?” sang a little kit playing around with some of his friends.
“ They are not spies silly kit! Look again, who do you see, but our king, Tamir, the king of us thieves, and one of his older apprentices, by the looks of it, it’s Aminta, the honorable spy!” sang a stallion who was taking care of the young ones.
“It seems like we have lost the element of surprise Tamir, whatever shall we do?!’ sang Aminta laughing a bit as they went into the light, and show their selves to the others.
“Where is the prince of thieves Tamir? Where is our Nasir?” asked the thieves from his guild to beggars, and the gypsies since Nasir was loved by all who came to this underground city.
Then Tamir smile at all of them, as he went to a catwalk close by, which he needed to get to by climbing some of the ladders leaning on the walls of the buildings they made on the stone wall, then as he got on the catwalk, sat himself down, and in a sing-song voice, he said, “Our prince has been chosen by the princess Kira, he is our ruler now; we may have lost our Prince of Thieves, but we have gain a future king, and queen who will be kind, and just rulers to us. What a party it was, the masquerade party of Kira’s, in her party nothing was as it appear to be, and here comes the best part there is an enemy, one who the royals have underestimated for so long, but who finally shown his true colors, Altiar is the name of this noble. Altiar the noble pony who hates our kind, and the one who almost had Nasir under his deadly grasp...It was good to see that he made friends with those at the palace, but this isn’t the end, it’s only the beginning!”
Then everyone was silent after Tamir told his tale about Kira’s party, many of them look angry, some scare at the mention of Altiar for many knew him by reputation, and wonder how Kiya, the queen could have trust him, for all these many years until now. Then some of them look thoughtful at the mention of how fortunate Nasir was to be chosen as the mate of Princess Kira.
Exiting Alexandria....
“Finally, what should have been mine will be mine, the crown will be mine, and everyone will bow, and serve me without question, this is my quest for conquest!” sang Verina as they were exiting Alexandria, and traveling toward Cairo through the desert.
“ Look at our Queen isn’t she radiant, we will serve her no matter to what end, she is the rightful heir to the throne” sang Esmera, a green furred pony with golden, blonde mane, and tail. Who was part of Verina’s elite guards.
“This is true, she is our Queen, and we shall protect her till the end! She will be a powerful feline indeed!” sang Kitty Bell, a feline that was half black, and half white fur, and who had the most playful blue eyes.
“As long as we don’t get her mad, then everything will be just fine. For if her emotions peak the glow of the ruby will awaken once again” sang Ahriman as he was walking near where Verina was at, since he is her right hand man.
In The Underground City....
“This has change everything, we have to decide now who we are, are we just thieves, gypsies, and beggars surviving day by day; or are we loyal civilians to the Royal Family?” asked Tamir in a thoughtful tone as he looked at all the ponies, and felines from the catwalk he was on, and waited to see how they will respond to his question.
“This is our home, isn’t it not? Cairo is our home, we should protect it at all cost, well, isn’t that so?” sang Inezia, a gypsy from Andalusia, Spain, who has live in Egypt for five years already.
“I agree with Inezia, this noble, Altiar, the scourge of us, the outcasts, has to be stop, and soon before something terrrible happens to any of us, or worse to our prince, and princess!” sang Mercutio, a Spanish pirate stallion, who is always close to Inezia.
“We need to stop this noble! We need to stop him now, for the sake of our friends, and family!” sang at first a few kits, and colts, and fillies, and then slowly the same words were resounding in this crystal underground cave as they were being sung by everyone.
Then as these words were resounding, and circling through the cave, Tamir smile at everyone in agreement with what was being said, Altiar needed to be stopped at all cost...
Kira’s Room...
“Nasir, we can finally relax now! Tonight was a night to remember, forever!” said Kira as she put the costume Krios gave to her in the chest at the end of her bed. As she was doing that Nasir was taking off his vampire costume, and mask, and put it in a mannequin near the entrance of Kira’s closet room.
“That is true Kira, this night is worth remembering, now that we are mates. So what do you want to do now, since your presents have been move to your room to open? Do you want to open them now or tomorrow?” asked Nasir smiling at Kira sweetly as he watched her going under her covers of her bed.
“Tomorrow lets open my presents, Nasir, There are two for you on the table over there, one I found under my throne, while I was sitting down and one of my hooves accidentally hit it, and that’s how I found it; don’t know what it is doing there, then another that Kiya gave to me, to give to you saying, that it was from an old friend of yours.” said Kira as she got herself comfortable in her bed.
“Okay then my sweet Kira-wira, we can wait tomorrow to open our presents” said Nasir as he stretched a bit on the floor, then jump into Kira’s bed, then he went to the side of the bed, which was close to the lever for dropping the light black curtains around them, and then he smile at Kira, before pouncing on her.
“Hey! Get off me you little furball!” said Kira as Nasir’s pounce startled her a bit, but then she smile at him, and rubbed his head softly.
As Kira was rubbing his head, Nasir started purring loudly, and then he fell down on the right side of Kira, and snuggle next to her .
Then Nasir cover himself with the bed covers, and felt the warmth that Kira’s body of radiating, and he close his eyes as he was trying to fall asleep, then for fun he try to pushed Kira off the bed....
“Nasir, I was trying to get comfortable in my bed, why are you pushing me, you have the whole right side to yourself, silly kitty!” said Kira in a light, playful tone of voice as she push him back to the left side.
Then after some time they stopped pushing, and shoving each other, and went back to their laying down position, and then they both look at the ceiling a bit, while they were both off in their own separate worlds. Then after a few moments Kira smile as she moved her body sideways to look at Nasir, sweetly. Then Nasir look at Kira, remembering the times they had together as kids, and how much fun they had, then he started licking her face playfully just for fun, and pawing her flank like a kit, and being just a silly, playful kit he use to be like during their younger days.
“Nasir, that tickles stopped pawing at my flank, my wittle thief!” said Kira playfully swiping her tail on his paw to get him to stop that. As she did that she started to trace his face as if to make sure she remember how his face look, then she rubbed him under the chin, and then Nasir started purring happily as he was doing so Kira got closer to him, as she did so her tail intertwine with his.
Then as he was purring, Nasir felt Kira’s tail intertwining with his, and he got a bit closer to her as his tail was intertwining with her tail. Then as they were looking intently at each other, their heads unconsciously got closer together, then their lips touched, and they kiss at first lightly, and playfully then the kiss turn into a tender, but sweet kiss.
As they were spending quality time together in the bed before they fall asleep for the night, Krios use a bit of his magic to stay hidden in the shadows, and the darkness of the room except the small, center back area of Kira’s room, which was lighted by a few candles here, and there. As Krios watch them from afar, he smile as he remember his younger days with his mate, Hope. Then he smile as an idea enter his mind, a spell that Hope taught him during their days together as he watch Kira finally having the happiest moment of her life coming true.
Then he started using a sing-song voice as he cast the spell towards Kira, and Nasir, and sang these words, “Ṭrasṭ avasaraṁ, prēma prāṇāntakaṁ kāvaccu, kānī nitya, laiph korata, rendu pai naṭulu pramāṇa ī, vidhēyata praśna eppuḍu kādu ippuḍu mariyu eppaṭikī, okaṭigā ēkaṁ cēyāli”, then Krios smile as he watched the spell do its work on Kira, and Nasir.
As Kira, and Nasir finish kissing, they snuggle against one another, and slowly felt very sleepy, indeed, as they were getting very comfortable in the bed as they were doing just that, a golden thread came floating between them, as it did so, it also started to weave itself between her, and Nasir. And then more of the magical, golden thread came into being, and weaved themselves around Nasir, and Kira until they were cocooned into a magical, golden ball around their bed.
But for Kira, and Nasir, what they saw as they were just about to close their eyes was the strangest thing, they have ever seen; but since those two were about to fall asleep, and their eyesight was of course, a bit blurry. So then they thought it was the light of the candles close to them, playing tricks with their eyes. Not knowing that it was part of the spell Krios cast a upon them to make sure they would care, and stay loyal to each other not matter what, as soon as they fell asleep a charm appear in each of their collars, which was an ankh.
Next Morning.....
After such a wonderful night last night, it definitely took a toll on Kira, and especially Nasir, since as Kira woke up late this morning, she saw that Nasir didn’t woke up before her this time, which was a surprise to her. Then Kira slowly, and softly got up from the bed as not to disturb the sleeping Nasir, then she turn around, and smile at the sleeping form of Nasir.
As soon as Kira put on one of her ruby necklaces, Kira exited her room, and went to Kiya’s room hoping to have a chat with her sister about the party, and Nasir....
In Kiya’s Room...
As Kira was knocking her sister’s bedroom door, her sister was cleaning her paws, and getting herself ready for the day, since Lucifer had just left her room to do some training with his army. Then after a few moments Kiya open her door to Kira, and smile at Kira brightly as she ushered in her little sister to her room then to her bed.
As Kira, and Kiya sat on Kiya’s bed, Kira started the conversation by saying, “Last night was a wonderful, and an unforgettable night, isn’t that true sister?”, as she lay down on her sister’s bed.
“Yes it was sister, yes it was...especially Nasir’s performance, who knew that the use-to-be thief is also an actor, he had everyone completely fooled with his performance as an ancient vampire. Funny, it has been a long time since I heard the stories about the vampires. I have to say it was nice of Nasir to remind me of my kit-hood of being told those old, scary stories about vampires..”, then Kiya sighed a sigh of nostalgia.
“Yes, Nasir’s performance at my masquerade ball was one of the major highlights of that night! He looked very handsome in his costume...actually, now that I think of it, it seems as if he was made to wear that vampiric costume, also I wonder how he got his eyes to turn red, or that could just have been my imagination...most likely it was” said Kira at first excitedly then to a very thoughtful tone, when she was thinking how perfect Nasir look in that vampiric outfit, and especially, the way he acted, it seemed very believable... Then she smile at her sister, and shook her head while laughing a bit of what she was thinking right now.
“You have a big imagination, my little sister, Kira, but I can see what you mean, he looked like he was meant to wear those type of outfits that the vampires from my kit-hood stories were said to be wearing during those ancient times...And I have to admit he looks very good wearing a long, black silk cape... I have an idea, I think we should order some of those outfits for him, it will be nice to have him look the part of a vampire since he is now part of the royal family, and I like how Nasir looks as a vampire, don’t you sister?” asked Kiya in an excited tone of voice as she got up from her bed, and headed out of her room, hoping her sister will follow, and keep her company for a bit longer, which, of course, Kira did, since she loves to spend time with her older sister.
“Yes, you are right, Kiya, my sister; Nasir does look the part of a dashing vampire prince, yes, I think we should order some outfits for him, I can’t wait to see his reaction to our idea! I can’t wait to see how he will react to the set of outfits we will get him, of course, they will be black, he looks good in black, it complements the silver of his fur, right sister?” asked Kira as she follow Kiya out of the room, and out from the palace to go, and order the new clothing for Nasir...
“Right sister!” answered Kiya smiling at her sister sweetly, because how happy she is that her little sister finally got what she wanted, which was Nasir as her mate.....
In Kira’s Room....
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as he was stretching he yawned a bit, before laying down again on the bed. While he was still laying down on the bed, he was thinking about everything that happen last night...Then he heard a voice coming from the area where the mannequin that was displaying his vampire costume was in, as he looked at that area from the bed, he thought he saw a slight movement from his mask as it started talking to him, “Hello Vampire Prince”, then Nasir’s eyes widen in surprise....
