by Jean Murray
He touched her ever so gently. She moaned softly and turned into his chest. With his arm wrapped around her side, he ran his hand down the length of her back. The snake’s scales rippled under his fingertips. Surprisingly, the asp remained after her transformation. In fact, the snake seemed more unified in its bond with her.
She moaned again and snuggled deeper against his chest. He wrapped his arm and leg over her and pulled her into a protective embrace.
“Have I been sleeping long?” she asked as her fingertips traced the mark on his chest. Her mark.
“Not long.”
“I’m not dreaming right?”
“You are not dreaming,” he said, brushing the back of his hand across her pink cheek.
“Sorry, it’s just when good things happen to me, they usually don’t last long.”
He knew all too well what she was experiencing. The uncertainty and fear. He felt it as well, but time with her would heal his broken spirit. “I guess it is time we leave our pasts behind us and look forward.”
“I’ll be glad to put your past back in the dirt, if you let me.”
“I would love to see you do just that.”
“Do you think I was the reason the binding spell didn’t work?” Lilly rolled onto her stomach and rested on her elbows.
“It is certainly possible. Your powers were in the state of exerting themselves.” Asar absently traced the s-curves of her snake markings down between her dimples to her round bottom. He had obviously hit a ticklish area, as she wiggled under his touch. He made a note to revisit that exact spot.
She reached around and playfully slapped his hand. “Now that you have a soul, will your powers return?”
His emotion and mood darkened. In her presence, he did not display any abilities other than controlling revens. She knew he was the God of the Underworld, but he never explained or demonstrated his power. A dark, destructive power.
He hesitated, fearful she might pull away once she knew. “My powers are in complete opposition to yours. Where you have the power for giving life, mine takes that very life away. I absorb it. Consume it. Crave it. Death and destruction are my forte.” He glanced away, afraid of what he might see in her eyes. Finally, he looked back only to see her unfazed expression.
“There has to be more than just that,” she said, skeptically. “This world you live in is hardly the depths of hell.”
“No.”
“You judge souls, don’t you? You ensure those worthy pass into the afterlife to be rejoined with their body. That doesn’t sound all that dark.”
Asar rubbed his hand across his face. He tried to bare his dark side to Lilly and all she could do was see the positives about him. She was right. The afterlife was paradise, but that was a small portion of his duties and his dark tastes. “The night we first met. I was hunting. Hunting for a soul to consume. Your soul. I hungered for it. It took all my restraint not to eat that life force you were emanating. It feeds my power. Gives me balance.”
Her face went flat. “You eat humans?”
Her question was not far from the truth. “In a matter of speaking.”
“Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to scare me away now?”
“No!” Exasperated, he groaned. This was more difficult than he expected. “Now that we are together, I want you to understand what I am. This world is only part of the story.”
Her eyes narrowed on him, but remained placid. “We have been together over several weeks, and I have not seen you hunt or kill for that matter.”
Asar swore under his breath. She had not seen it because he had been feeding lightly on her soul the entire time they were together. Not only had he been siphoning her emotions, he had pulled a little of the life force in for himself. Surprisingly, it sufficiently controlled his hunger.
“Or had you?
“No, not really.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just spit it out. What are you so afraid to tell me?”
He buried his face in her sweet smelling hair and pulled her tight. Even at this moment, he could feel her energy seeping into his bones. He was addicted to it, craved it. She wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t need to hunt with you at my side. Your body feeds me.” He expected to see disgust in her green eyes, but instead found a warm smile.
“Well, if that is the case, I never noticed.” She laughed lightly. “Just so long as you don’t go shopping for other bodies, I’m okay with it.”
He grabbed her face and kissed her. “You are all I will ever need.” The gods truly sent him the answer to his prayers. The cure for his curse. A woman who could feed his body and soul. His other dark tastes? Well, he would save those for another time.
She gasped for breath between his kisses. “Seems like a fair trade for this.”
He growled and rolled her on top of him to straddle his waist. She sat up and rubbed his chest. She glanced at the door. “I should go and check on Kit. God knows what trouble she is getting into. Kamen doesn’t seem very tolerant of her shenanigans.”
He placed his hands behind his head. “Kamen will live.” But he saw the concern on his mate’s face. Kendra weighed on her mind as well. The sooner they got the little pixie back, the better. Asar knew Kendra would be the key to finding his son. The Carrigan sisters were sent to him for a reason. The gods of the other Pantheon were looking out for him on some level.
Technically, none of the Carrigan sisters belonged in the underworld. They were descendants of the Gods of Life and Creation, and should be rightfully under their protection, not his. The other Pantheon gods had lost their claims to the sisters when they failed to raise and protect the women from birth, as far as he was concerned.
Of course, the mystery was which goddess had risked giving birth to demi-gods in the first place? He would need to make some inquires. The gods of the two Pantheons rarely mixed. The other Pantheon gods did not want to admit he held power over them, and could deny them entry into the afterlife if the unfortunate happened. They rarely challenged him, but there was a certain level of animosity. A love-hate relationship. Especially after his ex trashed their world with revens.
With those thoughts heavy on his mind, Asar sat up and brushed the hair back from her face. “Although I would love to spend eternity with you in bed, we have work to do.”
Lilly kissed him and hopped off the bed. He thought her in complete agreement until she slipped into their private bath and gestured for him to follow her. Asar gladly obliged when she reached for the sponge with a sly smile on her face.
Oh, things would be interesting having her here.
CHAPTER twenty-six
Asar pardoned a few debts from several unsavory individuals to obtain the Nehebkau’s location. He sent the Snake god several written requests, but the correspondence had been returned to him unopened. Much to Asar’s irritation, he delivered the last correspondence personally. Only then did the Snake god agree to meet with him. Normally, he would have told the God of the Snakes to piss off, but he needed Nehebkau’s help if they were going to battle the goddess and the revens effectively. The Snake god’s warriors could move in the daylight, unlike his Underworld legion.
Besides, he needed to make contact with the other Pantheon gods, and Nehebkau seemed a reasonable place to start, considering Lilly’s connection with him. Though Nehebkau didn’t know about that connection yet.
Lilly and Kit wore their huntress uniforms of leather and steel, their pale skin in sharp disparity to Asar’s and Kamen’s black bodies. The Creation gods insisted the Underworld gods be easily distinguished from their Pantheon, so dark it had always been.
While fitting, Asar surmised it was the Creation’s way of gaining power over the Underworld gods, forcing weaknesses upon them by limiting their ability to walk in the human world without significant difficulties.
Nehebkau’s attendant insisted Asar and his entourage wait in an earthy chamber. Much to his distaste, the chamber allowed slivers of natural light to filter in from several angles.
The rays burned his skin when he moved about the room, relegating him to one of the dark corners, far from where Lilly stood. He did not put it past Nehebkau to have chosen this chamber just to get under his skin.
Lilly fidgeted with the loops of her weapons belt while they waited to meet the god whose spell was intimately bound to her body. Kit’s boisterous chatter ceased in favor of nervously twirling a small bade in her hand.
Finally, the attendant returned to signal that her god was ready to receive visitors. She warily sized up Lilly and Kit. It could have been the sister's height or athletic builds, possibly, but the female moved cautiously around them. Maybe Asar could use that to his advantage?
The female looked at him and her expression changed drastically, nothing short of hatred. Seems his reputation had preceded him. He smirked. He never tried to dissuade their opinion of him. It kept them scared.
Asar led the way, followed by Kamen, Lilly, and Kit. The narrow passageway opened into a large arched chamber with office furniture. Nehebkau stood at its center. Without hesitation, Asar walked right up to the Snake god.
The two gods stood head to head with Asar being only slightly taller and broader at the shoulders.
Nehebkau lifted the sides of his lips revealing long sharp fangs. “I must say, I was very surprised when you requested a meeting. I thought to myself, what would the God of the Underworld want from me? You have piqued my curiosity.”
Now that Asar had a soul and a continual source of energy, he was stronger than ever. He didn’t shift his gaze. “I’m sure you are no stranger to what is going on in this world with the revens.”
“Yes, and I understand that it is your doing?” Nehebkau crossed his arms over his broad chest and widened his stance.
Asar's anger threatened to erupt, but Nebt’s words whispered in his head. You have never taken responsibility for your part in this. “I am in the process of correcting my lapse in judgment,” he all but spat.
Nehebkau narrowed his eyes. “Well, you must be turning over a new leaf. You have never shown concern for this world. Why the change?”
“The stakes have changed.” Asar glanced back over his shoulder to where Lilly and Kit stood. Nehebkau’s hazel eyes focused on Lilly.
The Snake god stepped around Asar. “Come forward!”
Lilly moved first. She held her head up and maintained eye contact with Nehebkau and even dared to enter his personal space. Kit positioned herself just behind Lilly’s right shoulder.
Nehebkau turned abruptly to Asar. “How is this possible? She is not one of mine.”
“The humans are using your spell to create Nehebkau huntresses to combat the revens infecting their world,” Asar said calmly. He stepped next to Lilly and placed his hand on the small of her back.
“Humans?” Nehebkau’s glare came to rest on Lilly, who maintained eye contact. “Turn around.” Her protest could be seen in her eyes, but she obeyed, as did Kit, and pulled her hair off to the side.
Nehebkau raised his hand and spoke an incantation.
Both women reached around and grabbed the snake head at the base of their necks. Kit yelped and fell to her knees. Lilly let out a small cry as the serpent squirmed and lifted up off her spine.
“Nehebkau,” Asar bellowed and grabbed the god by the arm. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I had to make sure they were real.”
“So help me if you try that again…” Asar ran his hand down Lilly's back. Kamen pulled Kit off the floor.
Lilly rubbed the back of her neck. “You couldn’t just take our word for it?”
“No, words are not worth a lot these days.” The Snake god’s eyes widened when Lilly’s hieroglyphic markings came into view. “What is this?”
“This is Lilly. She is a demi-god and Nehebkau huntress, along with her sister, Kit.”
“Impossible!” Nehebkau glared at the two women.
Lilly cocked an eyebrow at the god. “Oh, it is certainly possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you.” Kit flashed a cocky grin to match.
Nehebkau paced in front of the women. Asar could not tell if he was more upset the women were demi-gods or that humans had figured out a way to do his job.
“Is this some kind of trick, Asar?”
Asar shook his head. “I have seen them in battle. These two have killed several thousand revens single handedly.”
Nehebkau scoffed and clapped his hands. Two snake warriors appeared. “If that is the case, then you will not mind demonstrating your skill.”
“Not at all.” Lilly turned to face the two male warriors that were twice her size, but did not have deity blood running through their veins. Kit flanked the right side.
Lilly terminated both warriors in a flash of acrobatic steel. Her strength and supremacy had grown exponentially since her powers were released. She and Kit worked in an orchestrated unison that was both skilled and deadly. Turning back to Nehebkau, Asar could not suppress his smile.
With a wave of Nehebkau’s hand, the dead bodies vanished from his office. “Sit!” he said sharply, then sighed. “Please.” He tapped his fingers together, focusing on Lilly. “Please accept my apology for doubting you, and any pain I may have caused.”
Lilly nodded. She remained standing behind Asar, who had taken a seat in front of Nehebkau’s desk. She kept enough distance so as not to burn his skin.
“So what is it you want, Asar?”
“We have recovered the gate key and have closed the entrance to the Underworld. There is a chance to cure those afflicted by the goddess. If I can recover my son’s sarcophagus, he has the power to destroy the goddess causing the outbreaks.”
“And which goddess may this be?”
“Kepi.” Her name rolled off of Asar’s tongue like acid.
Nehebkau stiffened and his eyes darkened. “And if you fail to recover your son? What then?”
“All the revens will be culled,” Lilly said, “but we need an army to ensure one hundred percent extermination.”
Asar leaned forward. “I would like to ask your assistance in creating a Nehebkau army. As you know, my legion is limited to darkness. In order to properly exterminate the revens, we need to utilize all hours of the day, not just during the night. Once the revens have been exterminated, the goddess will be placed under confinement until she can be entombed or destroyed.”
“And what exactly do I get out of this other than expending my resources?”
Asar smirked, expecting as much. “You will be fulfilling your creed by protecting the humans. And, you and your warriors would receive the credit for the revens’ downfall.”
He could see Nehebkau salivate over the opportunity to rein victory in the world again, and no doubt rub it in the faces of the fellow gods. It had been a very long time since the Egyptian gods had an impact on the human world on a large scale. Not since the Old Kingdom. There were no temples built under the blood and sweat of workers out of devotion to their gods anymore.
“I will think about it,” Nehebkau said, despite the earnest look in his eyes, and stood.
Asar rose and turned to leave, but stopped before the door and looked over his shoulder. “My request is good for the rising of two suns. If we do not hear from you, I will assume you have declined. Thank you for your time.”
He left without looking to see Nehebkau’s expression, but Lilly did not follow him. She hung back, hesitating at the door. His heart stilled a moment uncertain of her motivation. There were very strict protocols when it came to dealing with the Creation gods.
“Nehebkau?” Lilly bowed. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but would you provide your counsel?”
The Snake god narrowed his eyes on Lilly, but nodded.
“Please excuse my ignorance. When they converted us, they did not explain much of the breadth of your great powers.”
“Ignorance is right. They have no idea what they are messing with.”
“I’m sure they don’t.” Lilly finally looked into his eyes.
“I’m curious why Kepi fled from my attack when the odds were in her favor. She hissed your name when she saw me, then retreated. My powers were not developed at the time, and she could have easily beaten me. Is there a reason she would fear the Nehebkau? Fear you?”
Lilly’s question sounded so innocent, but it was everything to the contrary.
Nehebkau tightened his hands into large fists. Despite his body posturing, he spoke in a fatherly tone. “You probably just took her by surprise. There have not been Nehebkau warriors released into the human world for quite some time.”
Lilly frowned slightly. “Yes, of course. Thank you.”
“You look as if you have another question, child. Now is the time to ask.”
“Well, it’s probably just a coincidence, then, and I don’t want to bother you with my close encounter.” She bowed to leave, but he raised a hand to stop her.
“Child, in the world of gods there are no coincidences. If something happens, a god has deemed it to be done.”
Lilly opened her mouth then closed it, faking embarrassment. Nehebkau drew closer to her. “I just wondered why she would pick me to inhabit. Was there some power she was trying to obtain?”
The energy shifted in the room. Nehebkau’s voice echoed off the earthy walls of his office. “She wanted you?”
Asar walked back to Lilly. “Kepi attacked the human fortress with the specific intent to kidnap Lilly," Asar answered. "She would have succeeded, had I not taken her away.”
Lilly jumped when Nehebkau grabbed her arm. He focused on the symbols branded into her skin. “Whose descendant are you?”
She shook her head. “We do not know. It wasn’t until these past few days we discovered my sisters and I have a deity’s bloodline.”
“Sisters?” His eyes swung to Kit. “There are more than two of you?”
“Yes, my sister, Kendra.”
“Where is she?”
“She was taken by my previous employer.”
Asar followed the Snake god back to his desk. “What are you not saying? You know something. Tell me, now.” He slammed his fist down on the desk.