Planning a wedding to his newly immortal partner Julie, Ramses the Great has much to regret and much to look forward to. Now living life as Reginald Ramsay, Egyptologist, Ramses has kept his secrets to a chosen few and has found fresh hope in the modern age of the early 19th century. Always the diplomatic negotiator, Ramses intends never to waste his immortality again on steering the outcomes of those in power. It is enough to have his beloved Julie as his immortal companion, and the company of those intelligent and talented enough to amuse.
It is the last Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, who could bring this new life of his tumbling down. Resurrected by Ramses, Cleopatra is as tantalizing as ever but her memories are not what they were. There is another, an American writer, who is sharing Cleopatra's experiences during frightening fugues, seeing the past and present through the eyes of her ancient other.
An even more ancient and powerful queen who holds the secrets of the elixer watches them all - and waits.