Reincarnation of Cleopatra (Time Traveler Girls Series #1)

Prologue

Prologue

June 16, 2020, Uhaba, Phihanada

The manifesto has successfully reached both the government and the public. Parents, guardians, the workforce in blue and white-collar jobs, women, children, the elderly, students at different levels, and people with great influence and power all over the world were informed about the upcoming salvation of the impending new world.

Today would serve as the ray of hope—a glimpse of a new tomorrow, a dawn to a new day—a notice to everyone's eyes that would go down in history.

Now, the whole world awaits the moment that would soon ignite.

The news flashes on different screens, including small televisions in every home: a mother who stopped scooping rice on her children's plate, a father paused from fixing a car tire, a child who just picked up his ball with his eyes glued on the screen, and an innocent infant crying. The people huddled with their mixture of sweat and smell on a local market watching the poor-signaled television. Drivers with towels on their shoulders lined up with their cars, jeepneys, and tricycles with hands occupied by their smartphones, an exhausted-looking vendor hitting an old static radio just to listen to the news, even the commuters on trains with their wired earphones, group of students climbing down and up on the high stairs on the local train station buzzing about the news, chairs in every waiting area filled with people glued with different social media platforms, some who were still in the office in front of their computers, the hurried people on the streets who chose to stop and watch the digital billboards on the high city, as the cold wind blew with pieces of newspaper getting blown by it, some were kicking and ignoring it, but as it continued to travel into the air— a shaking hand with visible exhaustion and hunger took it— a beggar, unaware of the words printed on the paper, yet were not excused to witness this new day.

The headline: Is it another internet hack with ridiculous fallacies? A manipulated news printed on a newspaper? A passing trend issue that will fade in a week, or simply just another prank made by foolish people who knew nothing but spend more time on their smartphones?

My grip tightened against my wine glass as I watched the local news on the hologram.

I smirked as I listened to the recent interview of the familiar FBI agent. I lifted the glass as if he were standing in front of me, tilting it and asking for a toast. The blue light from the screen danced with my crystal glass as I slowly swirled it with only a few drops of red wine.

And then I took a sip again.

Behind the shadow, one of my attendants appeared, her head was down, and one of her knees was on the ground. "Queen Cleo, the packages have arrived."

I placed my wine glass on the small table beside my throne and pursed my lips as I slowly scanned the changes in the hologram images. As I sat on my golden throne, I couldn't help but caress the scales of my gold anaconda pet on my shoulders. With my eyes still roaming on the screen, my eyes glint in satisfaction and delight, I could even feel how my hair stood in excitement. The long wait was over.

I uncrossed and re-crossed my legs, shifting into a more comfortable position, my golden high silk slit dress tingled and exposed more of my skin. My fingers with their long golden nails were now tapping on the wine glass with a thrill crawling up my spine.

Swaying a few locks of my short raven hair as I licked my lips painted in blood red, I couldn't help but anticipate the start of this biggest performance.

"Would you like to parade them all, My Queen?" asked one of my people.

"Just thirteen of them, Ahura."