Cleopatra's moon

As the priests and priestesses chanted the final prayers, I wanted to jump and cheer and laugh. It was my family's proudest moment! I drank it all in--the masses cheering the white-robed Priests of Serapis chanting over bowls of smoky incense the long-haired Priestesses of Isis extending their thin arms to the sky the sweet fragrance of flowers as countless petals swirled around us, floating through the air like tiny perfumed birds. It was all so beautiful, almost magical. The Triumph of the Ptolemies! The greatest moment of our lives.But the gods would not stand for us to have such happiness for long. And so began the slow, excrutiating process of our undoing. Excerpted from Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.