by Jean Murray
The last gathering had been less than cordial.
The Creation gods thought themselves better than their brothers and sisters of the Underworld, which was ironic considering Asar held the power to judge and take their souls with a single thought. Only one Creation god was as powerful as he, and the Mother Goddess had not been seen in a very long time.
To announce his arrival, Asar purposely allowed his power to precede him into the room. He had no intention of harnessing his dark energy. He would protect Lilly and her sisters, whether the Creation gods agreed or not.
The repugnance directed toward him when he entered the chamber burned Asar's senses. Their animosity was nothing more than a mask for their fear. The same fear he saw at the exact moment he refused their entry into the afterlife.
Gods were the worst at accepting the reality of their bad deeds, especially upon death. The rules by which he judged were very specific. It always galled Asar when the gods he sentenced acted surprised that they did not meet the test to be granted passage. Despite stacks of evidence, they still would plead their innocence. In the end, they would find a way to blame him.
Kepi was an extreme example of this sentiment.
Nehebkau greeted him in a slightly more amiable manner since their first meeting. “Gods are with you, friend,” he said, grasping Asar’s forearm. He greeted Inpu in the same fashion, but stopped short of greeting Nebt. No one dare touch a mated female god, lest he face the wrath of their male. Instead, Nehebkau bowed to the Underworld goddess. “Goddesses are with you, Nebt. It has been a long time.”
Nebt smiled. “It has. It is good to see you in health.”
Nehebkau chuckled and glanced toward Kamen. “Well, let’s hope it stays that way.”
Asar grabbed Nehebkau’s shoulder. “No worries, my friend.” A look of relief crossed the Snake god’s face. “Let us get down to business, shall we?”
Nehebkau nodded and headed toward the three Creation gods. These three not only belonged to the Creation Pantheon, but more specifically held the title of Protector. With no need for introductions, Asar sat down not waiting for his lighter olive skinned cousins. He wanted it clear he was in charge of this meeting, and they were here at his request. Inpu and Nebt sat to his left, while Kamen stood post next to the exit.
The Protector goddess, Bast, spoke first. “I demand to know why you have summoned us.” She looked down the table and the two other gods nodded. “Nehebkau stated that only once we came would you reveal your intentions. I must express my disgust with this secrecy, not to mention your need to bring him here.” With a scowl, she gestured toward Kamen.
Asar grew irritated at her tone, but kept his expression even. “My apologies, goddess. It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable.” Well, it was but they did not need to know that. Kamen had a way of making people stay truthful in his presence. Plus, he never knew when the opportunity to lay judgment would arise.
His choice of words had the desired effect.
“I am not uncomfortable. I am only expressing my distaste for the lack of disclosure.” Her voice became more even as she continued. “It must be important for the Underworld gods to contact us. Especially, since you have obviously won the favor of Nehebkau.” She inclined her head to the Snake god.
“Actually, it is Nehebkau who has won my favor, and made the recommendation on who to call to this meeting. And, yes, we have a situation that needs the immediate attention of both Pantheons.”
Bast lifted her chin and smile. “He has chosen wisely.”
“Agreed,” the Creation god, Meti, said.
“I have reason to believe there are those among us that are attempting a shift in power. There are circumstances I had thought isolated and unrelated until I spoke with Nehebkau.”
Haru, the third Creation god, merely sniffed. “If this is related to your ex-goddess going on her revenge crusade, this has little to do with us. She is your problem.”
“This isn’t any goddess, Haru. It is Kepi,” Nehebkau said.
“Entomb her, and this will be finished.”
“She has my son,” Asar said in a flat voice.
Haru’s eyes widened. “What?”
Everyone at the table knew the importance of Asar’s son. He could do more than entomb her. He could kill her and any other god. No one was immune, not even Asar.
And now that fatal power was in the hands of their enemy.
Nehebkau sat at the table, his agitation apparent with how he rubbed his thumb and forefinger on his lip above his fangs. “It is worse, my friends. Kepi has knowledge of the existence of the Mother Goddess’ descendants, and has already attempted to take one of their bodies.”
“There are no descendants of the Mother Goddess, or else we three would know about them," Bast scoffed. "She would place them under our care and protection. And if she chose not to release them to our care, we certainly would have sensed them.”
Asar rubbed his jaw. It was forbidden for gods to sire human offspring, and considering whose descendants the Carrigan sisters were, what he was about to say would rock the foundation of the Pantheon. “These descendants are human.”
Meti jumped out of his chair. “That is blasphemy! I will not have you disgrace the Goddess Mut’s name.”
Asar stood and slammed his fist on the table. “I do not have to disgrace her. I have seen the proof of their existence. You dare to call me a liar?”
Bast stood up put her hands up between the gods. She glowered at her fellow god. “Sit down, Meti. We must hear Asar out. If he says they exist, they exist.” She waited for the two men to take their seats before she continued. “The question, gentlemen, is why? Mother never does things without plenty of forethought. There must be a reason.”
“Mother has been on life quest for several centuries. How old are these humans you speak of?” Haru asked evenly.
“Between two to three decades.”
Bast’s eyes fluctuated slightly. “How many offspring?”
“Three females.”
Bast eyes darted away when he said it. A tightness developed in her face. She knew more than she was letting on.
“Where are they?" Meti demanded. "You must hand them over to us.”
“We will do no such thing," Nebt said, standing. The Underworld goddess was not to be underestimated. Although not as strong as Asar, she held a significant amount of power—enough to extinguish Meti’s claim on the females. "They will remain under our protection.”
Meti’s face flushed red, but he managed to soften his tone before addressing her. “Where do you intend to keep them? Aaru?”
Asar signaled for Nebt to sit. “Yes. They will reside at my palace.”
Haru folded his hands in his lap before he spoke. “Asar, I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice, but they are our responsibility. These children belong to the Creation Pantheon, not yours. For a Creation descendant to be in the Underworld is just… unnatural.”
All civility went out of Asar’s face. The sense of entitlement and superiority of these Creation gods burned his gut. “They will remain in Aaru under my protection and that is my final word. You,” he said disgusted, “cannot guarantee their safety when Kepi and her conspirators are still at large.”
The Creation gods knew he had the power to restrict their access to Mut’s offspring. No one entered Aaru without his express permission.
“You think we are the ones assisting Kepi?” Haru asked.
Asar’s temper flashed in an instant. The ground shook under their feet when he stood and leaned forward. “If I thought that, you all would be soulless.”
“I would gladly oblige. Just say the word, brother.” Kamen’s deep baritone voice fell like arctic blast over the room.
“Control your beast, Asar,” Haru snapped.
Kamen stepped toward the table, a feral snarl on his lips.
Bast rose slowly, her palms up in submission. “Gentlemen,” she implored.
“Gods, we need to stay focused. Let our dif
ferences rest,” Nebt added.
Eventually, everyone settled back into their seats. Bast sighed. “There is a reason that Mother crossed her children’s paths with Asar’s. We will not second guess her reasoning. It is obvious that Asar has the children’s best interest in mind. We will honor the Mother Goddess’ choice. The reason will be revealed at a later time, no doubt.”
She took her seat again now that both men were sitting. “Please accept our apologies, Asar. These are unusual circumstances, and have taken us off guard. What is it you require of us?”
Asar closed his eyes to collect himself. He wanted to get back to the human world to check on Lilly, and these gods were dragging out the meeting. The fact he had sent his best commander and warriors to assist her did not settle the acid churning in his stomach. He tried his best to push his anxiety to the side in order to focus on the topic at hand.
“We need to locate the Mother Goddess. I am afraid her life and the lives of the gods who support her maybe in danger,” Asar said, heavily.
Bast leaned forward in her seat. “Why would you think that Mother is at risk?”
Asar looked to Nehebkau.
The Snake god nodded and stood. “Asar came to see me, requesting my help to raise an army to capture Kepi and terminate the revens. He brought two of Mother’s offspring with him, both of whom had undergone a Nehebkau conversion initiated by the humans to combat the revens. Lilly, the oldest sibling, has been awakened to her demi-god form, and already, Kepi had attempted to kidnap her with the intension of assimilating her body and essence."
"Lilly has very strong healing powers, and emits potent energy, the likes I have never experienced before," Asar interjected. "If Kepi were to take her form, she would be almost indestructible."
The Creation gods’ faces paled with the news. Unfortunately, the Snake god had not yet gotten to the bad part.
"It was not until Asar told me that his son was entombed by the goddess that I started to get concerned," Nehebkau continued. "If Kepi discovers the ability to coalesce Lilly’s and Bakari’s powers…”
He did not have to finish his sentence to express the significance of the connection. Asar’s son had the power to kill gods. Lilly’s energy would boost that power.
Asar leaned forward. “I think we all know the potency of Kepi’s hatred, not only for me, but for the Creation gods. I will not allow her to use my son or Lilly in such a manner.”
“The solution is simple," Meti said. "Kill the human females and our problems will be solved.”
Bast and the other gods could not move quickly enough. Asar grabbed Meti by the throat and slammed him down on the table.
Asar bared his teeth. Smoldering rage rippled off him in powerful waves. “You touch them, and I will feast on your soul in the most depraved and painful way.” Kamen moved in to reinforce his promise.
Bast’s eyes widened. Asar guessed she had figured out Lilly's significance to him. Much to his surprise, she did not reveal this to the other gods.
Inpu, who had been quiet through the entire meeting, laid a hand on Asar's arm. Although the gesture looked insignificant, Inpu was actually absorbing his rage, so as to defuse the situation. The tension slowly bled from Asar's shoulders.
Nebt stood at Asar’s side and spoke in a soft, methodical voice. “We all agree protection of Mut’s offspring is the highest priority. The human females will be granted every respect and privilege due a full blooded god. If there is anyone who would choose to ignore that, the Underworld gods will see to their punishment.”
The Protector gods nodded, even Meti who was still pinned to the table.
Asar felt his anger continue to drain away through the connection to Inpu. He loosened his grip on Meti and pulled away. Kamen returned to the wall. The visceral response came from the beast within him, clawing its way to the surface to protect Lilly. There were few occasions he would ever condemn another god, but apparently Lilly was one of those exceptions. No one would touch or hurt her, or so help the gods, as he would rain destruction down upon them.
Bast gave Meti a look that told him she would kill him herself if he spoke another word. Her fearful eyes turned back to Asar. “You suggested Kepi is not working alone. How is it you believe this?”
“Her tomb was encased in a curse that could have only been placed by a god after her entombment. The spell was cast in such a way that when a god touched the key, she and the curse would be released on the human world. It was accidently released five years ago.”
Bast’s eyes lit up. The picture must have finally come together for her. “The offspring. One of the offspring activated the key!” she gasped.
Asar nodded.
“Do you think that the Mother Goddess foresaw Kepi’s plan? Created the children to release her early before her conspirator’s plans were in place? If she suspected one of her own was trying to overthrow her, it is no wonder she did not create a full blooded god. The humans she could keep hidden until the right moment.”
Bast rose up out of her seat and started to pace. “There are only a few outcasts who would dare threaten the Mother Goddess. There is only one god foolish enough to try.”
Haru cleared his throat before looking Asar in the eyes. “Menthu.”
Inpu’s grip on Asar’s shoulder tightened, and Nehebkau let out a hiss. Asar did not have any love for that name either. “Menthu?” An abomination.
Nehebkau leaned both hands on the table. “His army is vast and difficult to kill. Kepi alone can be dealt with, but Kepi combining forces with Menthu would be a formidable battle not easily won.”
“It can be done. It must be done,” Asar said, decisively.
“This requires both Pantheon legions to respond,” the Snake god said. "Bast?"
The goddess’ face remained flat and non-committal. “I will attempt to locate Mother for you. As for the Creation Legion…” She paused and smiled—a smile that did not sit well in Asar’s stomach. “I will confer with the Creation Council.”
Asar growled. The battle would be over by the time these Creation gods discussed the fate of the world over tea. With or without them, he had no intention of losing. The God of War had to be stopped.
CHAPTER thirty-one
Lilly and Kit crouched in the darkness, staring out across the rows and rows of containers. The safe house stood on the other side. To the human eye, the building was unoccupied, but Lilly could see the energy signatures of multiple Nehebkau huntresses on the lower and upper levels. She focused on the middle floor where Mother and Kendra would be hidden.
She looked at Kit. “I’m surprised they're still here. And don’t have the numbers I expected.” She looked down at her watch. They should be packing up and moving, but there was no indication they were going anywhere.
“Maybe she sent a platoon to the next site to get it set up.” Kit surveyed the building with a wary eye. “Enter from the top or bottom?”
“They would be expecting that. We need to improvise and enter from the side.” Lilly pointed to a crane that was stored to the right of the building. “We can have Bomani create a distraction on left bottom level. You and I enter on the far end through that ventilation duct. If I remember correctly, it opens directly into one of the offices.”
Goosebumps raised on her arms. The commander’s cold body pulled forward and knelt beside Lilly. She looked into his glistening gold eyes.
“Madame, may I suggest another approach?” Bomani grinned. “A Trojan horse, perhaps?”
Kit frowned. “What the hell is he talking about?”
The idea was ingenious. Lilly clapped her hands together. “Offer Mother a gift she can’t refuse.”
Her sister’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy? You are going to turn yourself in?”
“We both are. They will assume we are alone. ”
Bomani spoke quietly. “Once you are in, we will enter in from the sides. No one will detect our presence. We will search the rooms in case they are housing your sister in another location. Once
your sister is safely in your hands or ours, we will appear and transport you out.”
Kit smiled, finally getting it. “There won’t be any need to disarm or fight the huntresses.”
“Correct.”
“Well, we've done crazier things.” Kit laughed.
Lilly turned to Bomani. “If things turn bad for whatever reason, can you get us out of there quickly?”
He nodded once.
“Trojan horse, it is. Let’s go.”
Lilly made no attempt to hide her and Kit's presence when they walked to the front door. She waved at the security camera. As expected, several Nehebkau stepped out of the darkness to surround them.
“Viper scouts,” Lilly said, shocked. This was not in line with the usual security protocols. She gave Kit an unsteady glance. “Since when do you guys guard the door to the safe house?”
The closest scout sneered. “Ever since our commander was promoted. Now hand over your weapon belts.”
“Rebecca,” Lilly said. Kit cursed. She realized, as did her sister, this might not be as easy as they thought. Reluctantly, she held out her belt. Her favorite sword still in its sheath. “Don’t scratch it, please.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of it for you.” The scout waved to Kit to relinquish her weapons—the same scout her sister had kicked in the gut in the fortress cafeteria. “After this is over, I have a score to settle with you.”
Kit rolled her eyes. “I will be more than happy to kick your ass again.”
If it wasn’t for her ear piece crackling with orders, the scout would have charged Kit. Instead, she glanced up at the camera, then signaled for them to come forward.
Lilly turned to Kit. “They don’t seem very surprised to see us, considering I was kidnapped.”
“Yeah, and no party balloons. I’m so disappointed.”
“You two shut your mouths,” the scout yelled. Lilly got a hard shove up the steps to the second floor.