I find Scooby’s eyes and nod.
A fraction of a second later, the twins launch their attacks, jumping two attackers from behind. They wrap their arms around their throats, choking them.
The left hand of their leader spins, ready to open fire. He hesitates, aware he can’t shoot them without shooting his companions. He looks over his shoulder, barking orders at his second. “What are you waiting for? Kill them!” His finger is on the trigger. Any second, gunfire will ring through the office.
“Rob,” I shout, tilting my chin at the leather-bound book next to him.
He grabs the massive book from its stand and tosses it with all his might at the leader’s second. The book hits him in the head. Not hard enough to drop him, but it’s enough to make him sway.
The leader’s eyes almost pop. “What the—”
I deliver a precise punch to his inner knee. He’s on the ground, giving me a chance to disarm him. Once the AK-47 is slithering toward Oz, I assault his nose to the breaking point.
Blood splatters my fists, clothes, and face.
I keep hitting.
You’re killing him! Stop!
I can’t. All the anger and guilt unloads, and whatever self-restraint I once had is washed away by it.
“Oz,” Rob shouts, pointing at the leader’s second.
His gun is aimed at me. A single gunshot rings through the small space, bursting my eardrums.
I wait for the impact of the bullet, the pain, and eventually death. It never comes. The leader’s second has a gaping hole between his eyes. Oz put it there.
“We have to get out of here,” Scooby yells. They managed to take out the other two, choking them unconscious.
Footsteps march through the hallway. More are coming.
Rob gazes out the window. “It’s clear.” Meaning: the gunshot brought the waiting ones inside.
“Get V,” I say, dismissing my punching bag and getting back on my feet.
I don’t have to tell him twice. Rob pulls V out of the closet and they go to the window, Shaggy and Scooby on their heels. They climb outside, waiting for Oz and me to join them.
Oz isn’t moving. He glares at the dead man, the one he killed, looking guilty.
“Hey.” I approach him like one would approach an abused animal. Slowly and careful enough not to startle him. “We have to get going.”
He remains rooted to the spot. “I… I shot him.”
“I know.” I rest a hand on his shoulder. “It was him or me, and I’m glad you chose me. Let’s go.” I guide him to the window, taking the AK-47 from him.
We’re on the lawn when more gunfire echoes through the streets. The psychos found us and are emptying their magazines.
“Run,” I scream.
The Temple of Life
Chapter 22
Nisha
The autumn forest is quiet and peaceful. There are no more wolves or other creatures stalking The Woods. It almost feels like a casual walk, where all you focus on are the brilliant colors of the dying leaves. If it hadn’t been for Seth, I’d have forgotten those stupid trials.
Of course, the conqueror won’t have that. Every time I stop to catch my breath, he reminds me of Izzy and how time isn’t just running against her, but me, too. He has a point, which is why I ignore my aching feet and tense muscles and quicken my pace.
Soon, we leave the fall leaves behind and are hit by a thick wall of sweltering heat. Maples give way to exotic trees taller than most cathedrals. We’ve clearly reached some sort of rainforest.
The jungle surrounds us, invading my senses. The sweet perfume of colorful blossoms tingles in my nostrils. A divine green light shimmers through the leaves, the intense glow reminding me of halos worn by angels and saints alike. Animals squeak, chatter, and hiss as they sense our arrival.
It is mesmerizing yet utterly scary.
We fight our way through the dense, smothering undergrowth, breathing in sticky air, but ignore the mosquitoes and stinging ants.
Occasionally, we’re greeted by the sudden screech of a parrot sitting in a nearby tree. Monkeys swing from branch to branch above our heads. Luckily, we’ve been left alone by scorpions and snakes.
We’ve walked for miles and miles. Every time a fresh burst of pain hits me, I close my eyes and remember Izzy in her hourglass prison. My toes are cut so badly, I’m leaving a trail of blood, like Hansel and Gretel threw breadcrumbs.
Seth isn’t oblivious to my suffering and eventually pauses in the shade of an enormous tree. “Let’s take a quick break,” he suggests, as if he’s the one who needs it when we both know he could walk on for all eternity if he had to.
I’m not going to argue. I take what’s offered.
After what feels like forever but not long enough, my back is still pressed against the smooth trunk of the skyscraper-high tree. The cuts on my feet leak blood.
Seth kneels before me, inspecting my feet. “Will you be able to walk?”
I clean the wounds with fallen leaves, hoping I don’t do more harm than good. Infections are real. Back in the day, they killed more people than any disease. “Yeah.” I toss a bloody leaf. “I think so.”
“Good.” He looks upward. “We should get going.”
Pushing against the trunk, I get up. “Just for the record, none of this would have happened if you’d let me wear my sneakers.” They were goners, but damaged sneakers are better than sandals.
“Yeah, well, you’d heal much faster if you hadn’t exchanged immortality for humanity.”
Pretty sure he isn’t lying about that. I saw twigs and branches slice his feet. The wounds healed before a drop of blood hit the ground. Even though Seth is no longer immortal, I have little doubt he’s still enhanced. I’d take the severe burn over his entitled arrogance anytime. “I’d rather bleed than draw blood.”
His eyes study mine relentlessly. “You make it all sound so easy. As if any world was simply black and white.” He inches closer, his breath hotter against my forehead than the sizzling air. “But that isn’t how the universe works, Princess. The good exists because of the bad and vice versa. So sit on your high horse all you want, but never forget that even you are capable of taking life.” His lips twitch into an ugly grin. “I believe the crocodile you killed would agree with me, wouldn’t it?”
Bastard!
He proceeds farther into the jungle. “We’ve rested long enough.”
Boy, I can’t wait to reach the last cavern and be rid of the jerk for good.
Do you really think it’ll be that easy? The voice in my head taunts me. Will he be done with you if he gets what he wants?
Because I might change my mind and abandon the mission, I don’t wish to answer those questions yet.
Chapter 23
Nisha
The summer jungle gave way to blossoming flowers and old oaks, wearing their new green dresses with pride and grace—two words no one in his right mind would currently associate with me.
Hunched, I limp through the idyllic scenery. The cuts on my feet are deep, my legs swollen like those of elephants. I cast a tired look at the poison ivy, snaking up the trunks of the royal, ancient trees, willing myself to go on.
Every now and then, Seth halts to study me. He can tell I’m in pain, that my feet are close to killing me, but doesn’t comment on it. Wise decision.
After his little you-wouldn’t-bleed-if-you-weren’t-human speech, I deliberately ignored him. Seth has proven to be every bit the monster old legends make him out to be. The conqueror speaks violence fluently and solves problems with murder and mayhem. I was taught to overcome obstacles with kindness and love. The two of us are like fire and ice, the moon and the sun—nothing alike.
“Remember,” the Face-rocking tree’s voice rings in my ears, “what once was good can’t be rotten to the core.” Bullshit. Goodness can be corrupted. The man of my nightmares is a living example.
I keep walking, past trees, plants, chirping birds, buzzing bees, and a bunch of bunnies feastin
g on the greenery. This forest, I’m certain, inspired every Disney movie ever made. It’s simply magical.
“Don’t they have rabbits in your world?” Seth asks, attitude every bit as hostile as always.
Frustrated, I cast him a killer look. Heat courses through my veins. It’s a sign of the buzzing energy that cracked the earth in Amara’s bookshop. Something in his stance and gaze trips my aggression switch. “Don’t touch me.”
He stumbles back, taken aback by my un-Nisha-like behavior. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
Geez, you think?
“Care to tell me what I’ve done to offend you, Princess?”
You mean other than emphasizing Princess like I’m some arrogant, entitled royalty who doesn’t know the first thing about life?
I cross my arms, my spine turning into steel. How dare he even ask me such a question. Did he forget he talked my history teacher into killing my parents? Or that his lunatic friends took over the Bavarian Inn, killing everyone inside? I’d gladly jog his memory, but what’s the point? He’ll never admit to any wrongdoing. In his odd worldview, the ends always justify the means.
Focusing on the scenery—a three-toed woodpecker, drilling a hole in an old oak, the sun breaking through the tree canopy—I turn on my heels and walk on.
He falls into step beside me. “You intend to pretend I don’t exist, is that it?”
Pretty much.
“I see.” He gazes ahead. “Then I assume you don’t care what I have to say about the Temple of Life?”
Coaxing a reaction from me by using those stupid Trials? That’s low, even for him, but we both know I can’t afford to be ignorant. Not with Izzy’s life at stake. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.” Or be quiet and let me be!
The flora around us changes with every step we take. The path is sandier, the flowers more exotic, and soon, we’re wading through a familiar Egypt again, only it’s less desert and more oasis.
A massive sandstone temple rises into the sky. A large square pond, afloat with mesmerizing lotus flowers, leads to the entrance. “We made it,” Seth says.
I can see that, jerk.
We move toward the impressive structure. Once we’re past the pond, I spot Isis, Goddess of Magic, carved into the stone next to the entrance. Her wings are spread as a sign she’s guarding this place. “Listen really carefully,” he says, eyes locked on mine. “The second you walk over the threshold, you’ll be on your own. I cannot interfere, no matter what happens.”
“That’s not exactly news.” I’m annoyed he keeps repeating the same thing over and over. I’m not dumb. My brain works just fine.
“So much attitude.”
I give him an eyeroll that makes me proud of myself. “Are we done?”
“No. There’s something you have to know before you enter.”
With a queen-like hand gesture, I suggest he continue.
Not happy with my newfound backbone, he casts me an evil glare. When I don’t tremble, he says, “The temple is guarded by merciless monsters. To get to the Tree of Life, you will have to get past them first.” He glances at the golden door. “You can’t hesitate, like you did with the wolves. You’ll cease to exist within a heartbeat. Do you understand?”
I have to kill whatever comes at me. “Duly noted.”
He squeezes my shoulders, forcing me to face him. “I get that you’re mad at me, but if you don’t do as I say, you will—”
“Fail to get your immortality back?”
He arches a brow. “Your soul will—”
I hold the palm of my hand under his nose. “You can stop now.”
He narrows his eyes. “I beg your pardon?”
Do I have to spell it out for him? Very well, then. “Stop pretending you care about my soul or what happens to me.” My voice is laced with venom. “This”—I look around—“is about you and your stupid immortality. Please do us both a favor and stop acting as if you give a shit what happens to me.”
“You think….” His laughter is bitter. When he regains his composure, his fiery eyes burn with anger. “Is that what you truly think of me? That I did all of this so I can live forever?”
Did he hit his head in the jungle? “Why else would you go through so much trouble?” I fist my hands, nails digging into the tender skin of my palms. “You slaughtered god knows how many so I would agree to those stupid Trials. Tell me, Seth, what else am I supposed to think?”
He flinches. “You know nothing about me or my reasons, little Princess.”
That newly bestowed temper gets the best of me. “You’re right, oh mighty Lord of the Underworld. I don’t know why a man who had everything tossed it all in the trash for more power and a title.” I remember the stories my mom told me about Seth and her. They had the perfect life, filled with love and happiness. Until he threw it all away. Nebt-Het would have done anything for him. Heck, she would have given up her place in the Ennead for this man, and it still wasn’t enough. Instead, he enslaved the people she was born to protect, murdered, and for what? Power and a throne?
He inches closer. “You think you have all the answers, don’t you?” He cocks a brow, a devilish grin on his lips. “But the truth is you’re just an entitled brat who relies on everyone else to solve her problems. In this life and every single one before.” His rapid breathing beats against my forehead. “You know nothing about hardship or loneliness, Princess. If you did, you’d know that no one—not even the devil himself—would aspire to an eternity of loneliness.”
“How dare you? Your people killed my parents,” I yell. “And you dare to accuse me of living an entitled life? Maybe if you hadn’t been such a prick, your beloved Nebt-Het wouldn’t have had to conspire against you. It’s easy to blame the world for your misery, Seth. But maybe it’s time you take responsibility for your actions.”
If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under now. The way his jaw is clenched, I expect retaliation. But he turns to the door and says, “Better be ready, little Princess.” He pushes it open. “What’s waiting for you inside won’t be vowed by your pretty face.”
“Go to hell.” I push past him into the darkness.
Chapter 24
Nisha
Not sure what I expected from the Temple of Life. Beauty, I assume. What I get, however, is utter and complete darkness. The air is thick, the blackness like a veil I can’t pull away.
Why don’t I have my phone? A flashlight would be very much appreciated. Geez, what am I saying? I’d be cool with matchboxes or any other light source.
I won’t tremble under Seth’s scrutiny. The man thinks he’s got all the answers. I’ll be damned if I prove him right about my cowardice.
The walls close in on me. Sandstone rubs against my shoulders, slowly exposing the tissue under my skin. To avoid further burns and bruises, I move sideways.
Not bad, Nisha. Just keep going and you’ll be—
A howl echoes through the narrow hallway. Whatever made the sound is close. Too close for my taste.
Since I can’t see a damn thing, I move on slowly, on high alert.
Light! There’s a faint trace of bright light at the end of the spooky corridor. I can’t believe I made it without getting ripped to pieces. Seth must have lied about the creatures and—
“Stop!” It sounds half human, half like the quick bark of a dog.
I am rooted to the spot. There, two feet ahead of me, is a massive golden gate, shining like the sun. The gate is flanked by two beings.
The left one—head of a baboon, torso of a large black dog—wrinkles his nose. The other—torso of a mighty bird, head of a young Italian-looking man—eyes me bored.
A horrific, silent moment passes. Both creatures use it to assess me and my grumpy guide. When they’re done making faces, Baboon Dog says, “You came for the fruit of life, but be warned. Death waits inside.”
“A maze of craze,” Bird Man says. “Dark and dangerous at the same time. Yet your only chance to find the divine.”
“Do think twice before you pass this gate.” Baboon Dog meets my gaze. “For this is a one-way street.”
It’s my turn. “Open the gate,” I demand.
Baboon Dog frowns. “As you wish.”
“I hope you treasured your last kiss,” Bird Man chirps cheerfully. “There won’t be more when you cease to exist.”
The Underworld sucks at giving pep talks. I think of Blaze, his taste, his warmth, the way he held me, as if he never wanted to let go—I’m certain I’ll treasure it even if I fade forever.
Baboon Dog lifts a paw. The golden gate creaks open. Bright white light floods the room. “Go, my princess, and be well. But you will most likely fail.”
See? Shitty pep talks.
“Nisha?” Seth’s hand lands on my shoulder.
I shrug it off. “What?”
His hot breath beats against my ear. “Remember, I can’t interfere.”
How many times does he have to repeat himself before he thinks I understand? “You know, I got it the first time you—”
“No you didn’t.” He glances at Baboon Dog and Bird Man. “The Temple of Life is ruled by Ra,” he explains. “My powers are limited here.” He bites his lip. “Very limited. Don’t get eaten by the Soul Eater, okay?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I pass through the gate into the unknown.
Chapter 25
Nisha
The light vaporizes like a cloud of smoke, ascending toward the sky. When my eyes adjust to the sudden darkness, I spot a narrow stairway. It’s lit by a couple of torches on the left wall.
I move closer. Blood-curdling, guttural growls echo from below. I wish I could turn around and bang on the golden gate until Bird Man and Baboon Dog take pity on me. But they won’t. It’s a one-way path. They made that pretty clear.
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