I owe everything to God. Thank you for everything.
Appendix
Character List
Astarte (a-stahr-tee): A Shythe Kythan and personal guardian to Pharaoh Caesarion of Egyptian descent. Her mother was the personal guardian and handmaiden to Cleopatra before she died in a fire. She grew up alongside the royal children within the palace, as well as the Egyptian quarter or Rhakotis. She was named after the goddess Astarte, who has changed within many cultures and has been paired with many goddesses. In Egypt, the goddess Astarte was a warrior goddess, and in Greco-Roman times she was unified with Aphrodite, her symbol an encircled star. Generally, she’s referred to as the goddess of war and love, associated with sexuality, fertility, and war.
Caesarion (Xarion; Zar-ee-on): Eldest child of Cleopatra and the only child of Julius Caesar. Ruled as Pharaoh over Egypt jointly with his mother, though in name only. He went by many names, but was commonly referred to as Caesarion “little Caesar”. I took liberties with his name in order to make him my own character, as I don’t feel I could recreate Caesarion’s true likeness and greatness within my story. There is little documentation of the real Caesarion.
Phoenix: A Narcolym Kythan and one of the personal guardians to Cleopatra and Antonius’s royal children. Also one of Star’s closet friends. He grew up with Star when she resided in Rhakotis, and she helped him secure placement as a guardian in the palace.
Lunia: A Shythe Kythan and one of the personal guardians to Cleopatra’s and Antonius’s royal children. Also one of Star’s closest friends. She met Star after her Change when she was promoted as a guardian in the palace. Star and Lunia developed a close friendship as both their mother’s died in the fire that took part of the Great Library.
Habi: A Shythe Kythan General. Oversees the army of Kythan. Works closely with the pharaohs and sorcerer adviser to the queen. Feels Star is one of his greatest warriors.
Candra: A Leymak Kythan who was created for the sole purpose of capturing Pharaoh Caesarion. Leader of the Leymak rogues. Views Star as her biggest, and only, equal rival.
Fadil: The last of the ancient Egyptian sorcerers who created the Kythan Guardians. With the rise of the Ptolemaic reign and their merging of religions, his powers are becoming obsolete. He fears losing his power, and therefore his life.
Kythan Guardian Definition
Kythan: A race of shape shifters created by ancient Egyptian sorcerers to be the guardians of pharaohs. Referred to as Guardians or Kythan Guardians. They were fashioned from the essence of the god Set. They have smooth, porcelain-like skin, pointed ears, sharp canines, and their eyes, arms and hands radiate light; which color is determined by their sub-race. They can also shift into human form when not engaged in battle or by choice. They are a slave race, and are forced to obey their masters’ (the pharaohs’) commands by their slavery binds. The swirled ink tattooed on their necks is their power source. They must serve in order to exist.
Shythe Guardians: A Kythan sub-race who wield the power of Charge; electricity the equivalent of lightning. They can take human or Kythan form. Their hands, arms, and irises glow a celestial blue.
Narcolym Guardians: A Kythan sub-race who wield the power of Flame; fire. Also referred to as Narcos for short. They can take human or Kythan form. Their hands, arms, and irises glow fire red.
Leymak Guardians: A Kythan sub-race who wield the mystical power of the aether (see Word Guide). Their ha
nds, arms, and irises glow silvery white. Created to lead Octavian’s land legions, they follow his orders, but are not bound by commands to any ruler. They are considered rogues.
Word Guide
People Places Things
Aether: A spiritual plane. The Greeks defined it as an immeasurable matter that encompasses the universe above the earthly sphere. The ancient Egyptians called it the Primeval Waters, and believed it’s where all creation ascended from. I took liberties, using it as a mystical realm neural to good and evil—a location between earth and the heavens/underworld unseen to the eye and intangible.
Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius: A Roman general and statesman who worked with Caesar and who was friends with his great-nephew and adopted son Octavian. His military aids, notably his victory over Antonius in the naval Battle of Actium, helped secure the Roman throne for Octavian.
Ahmose I, Pharaoh: A pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Eighteenth dynasty, who succeeded in expelling the Hyksos from the delta region, and ushering Egypt into its most prosperous time.
Alexander the Great: A king of Macedon whose conquest of the Persian Empire gained him control over Egypt. He was regarded as a liberator and named Pharaoh, but didn’t remain in Egypt for long.
Alexandria: A city founded by Alexander the Great located along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Best known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos Lighthouse) and the Great Library. During the Hellenistic period it was the largest city in the world.
Amun-Ra: An ancient Egyptian god whose importance grew in the New Kingdom. Self-created, and considered to be the creator deity, he was called the King of Gods.
Antonius, Marcus: A Roman general and loyal supporter of Caesar. Member of the Second Triumvirate, a political alliance he formed with Octavian and Lepidus after Caesar’s assassination. He committed suicide after losing the war to Octavian.
Automata: Machines or mechanisms that are self-operating, otherwise known as robots in todays’ time. Powered by steam, gears, counterweights, and clockwork they mimic life, such as human and animal movements and sounds.
Caesar, Gaius Julius: Roman general and member of the First Triumvirate, considered one of the greatest commanders of history. His military pursuits played a vital role in the rise of the Roman Empire. After becoming Dictator for life, Caesar was assassinated by senators directed by Marcus Junius Brutus.
Charmain: Cleopatra’s trusted advisor and handmaiden.
Cleopatra VII Philopater: Renowned as Cleopatra, she was the last ruling Pharaoh of ancient Egypt.
Canopus: An ancient Egyptian town located on the Mediterranean coast in the Nile Delta.