Chapter 13: History Class

“Be honest: how weird is history class for you two?” Chloe joked as they walked into the classroom.

“Not weird at all, I don’t remember the ancient world,” Elise replied.

“I have yet to see my home discussed in this class,” Neferu added.

“Boo. You’re no fun.” Chloe took her seat and unpacked her bag for class.

“I’ll let you know if any of my kin are mentioned,” Neferu shot. As with other classes, they sat in the back with Elise pinned between them.

“Hey, ladykiller, did you hear we’re finally getting a permanent history teacher?” a friend asked.

“Skipping right past ‘ladykiller,’ no. You mean the merry-go-round of subpar and awful substitute teachers is finally finished?” Elise was relieved to hear that the one class she wanted Neferu to enjoy would finally get better.

“Tell me about it. Those people either didn’t like or even know their history. I heard the new teacher used to lecture in high-end universities around the world,” her friend added, stretching her arms above her head. “I also hear she’s cute, so keep your ladykilling powers in check.”

“The P.T.A. wants me to wear a power-suppression collar now. The bill is going through Congress as we speak,” Elise joked in a dull voice.

“Good morning, class! I’ll be your new history teacher. My name is Julia Augusta.” The vampire from last night casually strolled into class, donned in a form-fitting blazer and skirt. The class was immediately at attention, especially Elise, Chloe, and Neferu.

Julia performed her role admirably. She brought history to life and engaged the students in ways that her predecessors could not. It was likely because she was speaking from experience, having lived through thousands of years' worth of history.

“Genghis Khan is rightfully known for being brutal and merciless. However, we should remember that he guaranteed safe passage for merchants. Rich or poor, laden with gold or coal, merchants could pass through his lands without fearing for their safety,” she regaled the class. “The last time someone took advantage of his kindness and hospitality, he spent a couple of years burning the Khwarazmian Empire down.”

The bell rang, ending her fun lesson. “Remember to read chapters ten through twelve and complete the related assignments. That includes Joey, too. I know it wasn’t the board you were paying attention to.” The students laughed on their way out of the classroom.

Elise and her girlfriends lingered behind and closed the door to question her in private, as she expected. “I’ve seen your grades. I don’t think you need extra credit, ladies.”

“Julia, if you wouldn’t mind, what-” Elise was cut off.

“Talk, vampire, what are you doing here?” Chloe demanded.

Julia raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I promised to help, and so I am. I’m working undercover to find Ptahmose and Setesh. A couple of my people spotted them in the area.”

Chloe seemed alarmed. She immediately texted her uncle with the update. His reply came fast and made her all the more confused. “My uncle at the S.P.D. just told me that a guy matching Ptahmose’s description, Peter Moses, was seen boarding a ship at the harbor the night Nefer was unsealed. They’re still tracking the ship down.”

“Simple bait for the hunters. You should be used to that by now,” Julia quipped.

“Zip it, or I'll grab your Luna pendant,” Chloe growled.

Julia took the pendant off and held it in her hand. “Weak vampires need this to walk in the sunlight. I wear it because I wanted to return it to Ahneith,” she explained. “I gave it to her as a gift, and she lost it during the battle.”

“Just how was Ptahmose able to secure a private ship? We assumed he was freed from his imprisonment recently,” Neferu inquired.

Julia shook her head. “Peter Moses founded his international shipment company around thirty years ago. He used the funds from that to start an antiques dealership and get into the archaeology community to find you.”

“Neither of them looks thirty years older than I remember. They must have gained eternal youth,” Neferu suggested.

Julia simply shrugged. “All that youth hasn’t made them stronger.”

“That antiques dealership, is it called Narmer Antiques?” Chloe asked, checking a database on her phone.

“It is. Why do you ask?”

“They’re the ones who funded the museum exhibition. Good money says Ptahmose and Setesh didn’t figure out that Neferu was there until the exhibit was already here, or he would have diverted the delivery to a place he controlled,” Chloe reported. “The S.P.D. put a halt to the exhibit after our fight, and Peter Moses never fought it.”

“Fascinating. He found one prize, but I’m still concerned about the other prize,” Julia mused.

“What other prize? Me?” Elise wondered.

Julia grinned. “No, no, you are our prize, not his,” she joked, earning Chloe’s and Neferu’s ire. “I mean the Sacred Vault of Ages, a storeroom of Egypt’s greatest secrets and magic. Each ruler adds to it, ensuring that future rulers have the tools they need to protect their home,” she explained.

Neferu grew suspicious. “How do you know of such things? I cannot imagine that my father shared such knowledge with a foreigner.”

“He didn’t. One of his guards let it slip when they chased down some of Ptahmose’s followers. I told Pharaoh Kheperkare about it, and he only said it was safe and well-guarded. I’m just not sure it’s still as secure. I haven’t found any ongoing guardianship of the Vault. I’d like to find it before Ptahmose gets his hands on the power of the kings of Egypt.”

Neferu considered her words for a moment and briefly locked eyes with Elise. “Hold out your hand,” she instructed Julia. Her tenuous ally complied, allowing Neferu to trace a series of symbols on her palm.

Julia smiled. “Thank you. I’ll return later to let you know what I find.” She stepped away from her new desk and pulled a ring of keys out of her pocket. She pushed a key into the locking mechanism just below the doorknob and turned, causing a light to seep through the door’s edges. The door swung open, and Julia stepped through onto a Cairo sidewalk. She blew a kiss and closed the door behind her.