For this month, I have a special post. This short story is posted as a part of my Patreon collection. Something that I wrote for one of my creative writing classes at university. It’s not one of my newest pieces, but sharing it here would be nice.
Rehema’s cold, dark gaze stares back at her as several bubbly maids fuss with her hair and jewelry. Her makeup is done lightly, not to stain the silk pillows and sheets on Lord Antigonus’ bed when she attends to him tonight. The spicy rose perfume melts into the vanilla-infused jojoba oil added to her hair. Pale pink silk roses and gold hair rings embedded with diamonds get weaved throughout her braids. A delicate pair of hoop earrings and thin rings and bangles are added. Her semi-sheer silk chiffon gown fits her beautifully. The floral embroidery on the dress is some of the best work Rehema has ever seen as long as she ignores the woven meanings of fertility and love. For a God of War, Antigonus is far sappier than she envisions.
Then again, the silk embroidery could be a venomous threat. Antigonus isn’t a spider, but a serpent’s bite is far deadlier, and he is a snake. Her eyes run up the engraved snakes on her vanity. The engraved snakes’ eyes glimmer with unseeing topazes. But the light in a lantern catches one snake’s eye, and for a moment, Rehema sees Antigonus staring back at her. Then, the flame shifts again, and empty topazes gaze into the void again. May Hathor give her strength, for she will need it to survive this night.
An unattentive maid’s loose tongue breaks Rehema from her silent prayer, “I don’t recall Lord Antigonus ever taking a wife before?”
Her friend giggles, “That’s because they’ve only been concubines. Clearly, our lady is above the noblewomen of the imperial court. Even if she’s a foreigner from the river lands.”
Her words drag the air out of the room. Besides her companion, the other maids fidget and hold their breath. Antigonus hasn’t had a concubine in the past fifty years after Yazmine died. Rehema’s appearance and the announcement that she’ll be his main wife caused the court to flood with whispered conspiracies. Unfortunately, most grown bold speak of such matters in her earshot. But dealing with floods is nothing new to Rehema, a benefit from being from the river lands.
“My, my, my, you two must have been Lord Antigonus’s previous bed warmers. And since you’re maids, neither of you ever had a chance to become concubines. For only noblewomen can be concubines, right?” Rehema stares the maids down through the mirror. “And since the noble ladies of the court no longer warm Lord Antigonus’ bed, you mustn’t either. Since Lord Antigonus hasn’t needed such services since our engagement.”
The two maids fidget in embarrassment as Rehema suspects her words hit true. So many alcohol-loose tongues have told her stories of how the former lovers of Lord Antigonus begged to still comfort him at night despite his fiancee. The maids were especially vicious in their attempts to regain access to his bed, for there is power lying beside a god. And that God has decided she’ll be his wife, and he’ll have no other lovers or concubines. It is touching if true, but Rehema knows that male gods habitually possess side women besides their wives. And if a goddess can’t keep her husband true, what chance does a mortal woman have? So, she’ll have to rely on another way to ensure her position. While she has Antigonus’ sole attention, she must gain his trust and respect.
“How dare you two cluck about as if you don’t have things to do!” the head lady-in-waiting, Juno, towers over the gossiping maids. “Do you useless hens not know how to behave before a Queen? Go kneel and apologize before your heads are cut off!”
Realizing that Rehema is their only chance at not being expelled from the palace, the maids grovel and beseech her to have mercy for their lackluster service. Rehema cast an indifferent glance down at them.
“You’re forgiven and dismissed,” Rehema turns and looks to Juno, “Juno, I want less chatty maids to serve me by tomorrow.”
Juno bows, “It shall be done, my lady. What are you two still doing here? Get out!”
One maid slips and crashes to the ground as they scramble out of Rehema’s chambers. None of the other maids and ladies-in-waiting help as she crawls out of the room. When the door closes, Rehema snorts, and everyone relaxes. She’s ultimately unbothered by the unprofessional behavior of the maids.
“Juno?”
“Yes, my lady?”
“When will my new maids be ready?”
“After your wedding night.”
“I see,” Rehema smiles slightly, “Are there any other former lovers of Lord Antigonus that’ll be causing me annoyance?”
Juno hesitates, “Lord Antigonus’ most frequent former lovers were Akinyi, Dora, Victoria, and Laura.”
“And of the four, who is most likely to…air their grievances in a highly public manner?”
“That would be Victoria, my lady. She was the most vocal when Lord Antigonus cut ties with her.”
“Why?”
“Well, she was most likely to become Lord Antigonus’ concubine until he dismissed her after he announced his marriage to you, my lady.”
Rehema smirks and drums her painted nails atop the vanity. Juno starts pinning a sheer veil that matches her gown to her hair. She must admit that her maids and ladies-in-waiting efforts to prepare her for the consummation ceremony have done a fantastic job. The pampering is one of the highlights of marrying Antigonus.
“She must hate it.”
“My lady?”
“Victoria must hate being deprived of the chance to become a War God concubine. If she got even a slither of the wealth and power I’ve been gifted, I’d be jealous, too.”
Juno finishes pinning her veil and fusses one last time with her jewelry. The Queen can not have a hair out of place, and most certainly not the Queen Consort of Lord Antigonus.
“Juno”
“Yes?”
“Prepare a basket of headless roses for Victoria, Dora, Laura, and Akinyi. Ensure the thorns are filed down, along with a note warning that they’ll share the fate of these roses if they challenge me. Any hope they had to rekindle Lord Antigonus’ affection is dead.”
Juno bows low, “It shall be done, my Queen.”
Rehema stands up and steps away from her vanity. Another lady-in-waiting assists Juno in putting on a velvet robe over Rehema’s semi-sheer gown. No man outside of her husband can witness a seductive sight of her near bare skin. After belting the robe close, Rehema stalls just a moment to straighten her dress under her robe. Her husband awaits, and this is the next step in controlling her life here.
“Let’s go,” Rehema heads to her chamber’s grand doors.
The servants at the door bow before opening them, and Rehema leaves the safety of her rooms with eight ladies-in-waiting trailing her. The halls are lined with statues of Antigonus in both his human and serpent forms, all with all-seeing topaz eyes that track after Rehema. She ignores his gaze; Antigonus can wait until she gets to his chambers. The bustling servants, guards, and nobles bow deeply as she passes them by. None of them look directly at her. But the bravest runs their mouths when she’s only a step past them.
“Look at that foreigner holding her head up so high.”
“…will trade increase in with river lands?”
“My daughter would have been a better Queen.”
“Will she aline with Master…”
“I could have still served Lord Antigonus. Does she even know how to please him?”
“…Mistress Cane has made her move, but what of….”
“Do you think she’ll survive the night?”
“Tara looks a great deal like Yazmine. Do you think Lord Antigonus would be interested?”
“Will there be an alive Queen the next morning?”
“Do you believe an heir will be conceived?”
“Will Lord Antigonus take on concubines again?”
“I think I have a chance.”
“My, my, my, the halls are far too loud at this time of night,” after that, only the sound of Rehema’s silk chiffon gown dancing across the dark limestone floor speaks.
Her quiet journey is slow, for she’s in no rush to reach Antigonus’ chambers quickly. Nevertheless, the past week was a long one. After her wedding night, she had to spend the following week cleansing herself spiritually and physically. And still, she isn’t fully ready to consummate her marriage. She’s not fearful of the intimacy but of what challenge the War God will lay before her.
“My lady, are you sure you’re ready?” Juno leans forward to whisper in Rehema’s ear, “The consummation can be stalled longer if you need.”
A flash of a thankful smile graces Rehema’s lips as she keeps her head high, “I’ve served a Goddess before; Lord Antigonus shouldn’t throw anything new.”
“Being a priestess of Hathor isn’t the same as being the wife of Lord Antigonus.”
“They both require sacrifices from me, and I am more than familiar with sacrifice.”
“But, my lady, you might not-”
“I plan on seeing you tomorrow, Juno.”
And with that statement, the golden doors to the Serpent of War’s chambers loom before Rehema and her ladies-in-waiting. A smokey oak cologne oozes from the doors as they slowly swing open. Heavy curtains block her view from seeing deeper into the bedroom. Juno and another lady-in-waiting pull the curtains aside so Rehema can travel inside alone. As Rehema takes a deep breath, the cologne fills her lungs. She slides into the heavy smoke, and the curtains fall close behind her, followed by the doors. What happens outside Lord Antigonus’ bedroom doesn’t concern her anymore. The sound from her footsteps gets absorbed into the oriental rug as she approaches the grand bed. Unable to gaze at the bed any longer, her eyes flitter across the room. The walls are made of a dark red stone and add to the seductive atmosphere. She ponders if Lord Antigonus sleeps here or if this bedroom is only used for copulation. Her eyes mist over, and she shuts them close to recenter herself. Antigonus isn’t here yet; she doesn’t have to think about it. But the snake bite symbol calls for her attention, and Rehema stares at her hand and remembers.
It was a rest day for her as she didn’t need to serve Hathor. She had slept in and wanted to check on her fruit trees as she hadn’t given them any attention recently. The mangos from her mango tree had just become ripe and ready to harvest. The fruit was plump and would only need a short bath before they were ready to eat. A harmless snake nestled upon her hand when she gathered the last closest mango. Its beautiful scales distracted her enough to miss how the snake showed signs of getting ready to bite. The bite was more annoying than painful, and the snake let her go without force. But instead of finding teeth marks, a foreign symbol marked her hand. She furiously searched for the snake as the symbol was the mark of another God. But, of course, the snake had disappeared.
Nothing happened for weeks, and she thought the mark would fade on its own. She’d taken to wrapping her hand so none of the other priestesses would see it. But one night, as she dreamed, an unknown man appeared before. He told her that she was no longer a priestess of Hathor. She couldn’t even get a word in when he said to her that the wife of the Serpent of War could not serve another God. She tried to run, but his blood-red cloak wrapped around her spiriting her away to a foreign temple. Her denial was strong, but all it took was Serpent’s voice demanding she wakes up. Her dream was broken, and she awoke in a strange new place, not in her home.
The scene that lay before her was overwhelming. Thousands of worshipers were prostrating themselves as she looked down at them. Then, twisting her head around, she saw the face of the man whose lap she sat upon. He is the same one from her dream. His handsome face smirks as she announces her as his new wife and Queen. She thought there would be protests, but only a uniform shout of acceptance followed. She’s been within Antigonus’ grip ever since.
The smoke from the incense turns spicy and heats her body. Rehema goes into a full-body flush as she sees that only a sheer canopy obscures the bed. Then, carefully, she falls to her knees atop the opulent carpet. Rehema then fixes her gown to fall around her in a halo. Making her the perfect picture of a demure wife. Now, what would be Antigonus’ next move?
“I humbly pay my respects to your lordship,” Rehema tilts her head down, “I am ready for our wedding night.”
A low hiss rumbles through the bed chamber as an enormous serpent slithers about the dim room. Antigonus greets her in his snake form instead of his human one. Candlelight illuminates the scales as the serpent circles around Rehema. The snake’s body doesn’t stop encircling her, and Rehema feels goosebumps rise. However, her face stays serene.
Antigonus’ voice echoes throughout the room, “Have you enjoyed your new luxuries, my Queen?”
“While I have never dared to imagine finding myself in such fortune,” Rehema spies a flash of teeth, “Royalty suits me well, my lord.”
A throaty laugh proceeds before Antigonus’ tail slides down Rehema’s back, “Excellent! I’m proud of your determination to become the mistress of the palace in record time. The power struggle has been exhilarating to watch.”
“A day hasn’t gone by where some political faction hasn’t tried to pull me into their fold.”
“Oh, and have you become someone else’s pawn,” Antigonus tightens around her.
Rehema looks directly into his unblinking eyes and scoffs, “Any politician or noble will be crawling to me to be used, not the other way around.”
Antigonus’ fork tongue flicks, “And why would they do that? You have no other allies yet, and Hathor has no power in my domain.”
Rehema chuckles, “No, but you’ve made your desire for me clear, my lord, and that’s already an edge.
Opportunists will always jump at the chance to gain power during a time of strife. And you’ve dismissed all other women and refuse to acknowledge your previous relations with them. Even the noblewomen, despite their connections. And their desperate attempts to regain your favor, none of them have managed to do so. So, as a result, you don’t support any faction or have a side woman who can voice her political opinion. Meaning the only one who has your ear is me. And since I’m your Queen, my favor is the only chance any noble or politician will get in endearing themselves to you.”
Antigonus hisses in amusement, “I’m glad I stole such an ambitious woman from Hathor.”
Rehema clenches her hidden hands but quickly relaxes them. Survival isn’t an ambition; at least, that’s what she believes. She has a new life now and will make the most of it to ensure she lives.
She looks up through her eyelashes, “If my lord would allow it, is it possible for me to spend the night here instead of returning to my rooms?”
“Only your first night serving me, and already you are so bold? Very well, you’ll spend the whole night with me.” as Antigonus finishes, the scales of his serpent body rub together, creating a sound of rushing sand.
The sound of crashing waves of sand, the flickering candlelight, the heat of spicy incense, and the hypnotic dance of iridescent scales lull Rehema into an unfocused state. And there before her stands Antigonus, in all his divine beauty. He smiles at her and holds his hands out to help her up. Rehema takes his hands to stand and tries to focus; she can’t let her guard down yet, maybe never. And as her mind clears, Antigonus doesn’t let her hands go but reels her closer, guiding her to him. Lovingly, her head is placed upon his breast, and his arms encircle her as his snake form did before.
“Since my Queen wishes it, you’ll be summoned to serve me alone from now on. No other but you shall grace my bed,” he leans and seals his command with a kiss.
Rehema’s lips curl in a soft smile as she whispers, “Thank you, husband.”
She’ll never be able to leave now that Antigonus accepts her as his wife and Queen. So, her survival is a blessing and a curse, and she must reconcile with her fate. Her outer robe falls to the carpeted floor. Rehema releases a quiet gasp. She must start picking courtiers who want royal support by tomorrow’s light. The sleeves of her gown get pushed off her shoulders, and Antigonus’ mouth brushes down her neck. A kiss is placed in the dip between her collarbone. She gently wraps her arms around his neck. He lifts her in his arms and takes her to his luxurious bed. Her body sinks into the plush mattress. The canopy must have been parted by a servant during Antigonus’ interrogation. Rehema reclines back and gives him a mischievous smile. She’ll ensure she’s the only wife and Queen he’ll ever have for her sake and for the future of her children and descendants. Even after her death, the Serpent of War Antigonus’ only Queen Consort will be Rehema. Her life depends on it. END.
