“Ruwhi, we have to act now, before it is too late.” Malik said, but I didn’t listen. Tuning out the men, I focused on Jo.
The black tendrils moved freely in the room, and Jo still stood in the same spot. Her face was expressionless, but she tilted her head as she watched me. I wracked my brain, trying to remember the elixir and spell needed to end Hathor, once and for all, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember. Every time I tried to touch that memory, it vanished from my reach.
Growling in frustration, I looked at my best friend. I scanned her body, looking for any sign that she was still in there. Because of me, she was in this mess. Because of me, Iabet was in Duat, Ra was unable to take human form, and Hathor succeeded in claiming the ultimate prize.
“You are not alone, daughter of mine. Look into your heart, you will know what you must do.” Ra’s voice echoed in my head. I felt his love in my heart, but right now, I wanted nothing of it.
“Get the hell out of my head. If it wasn’t for you frolicking around and sticking your dick where it didn’t belong, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now, I have to save my best friend, stop Hathor from destroying the human race, and save Iabet. Who, by the way, didn’t deserve your sorry ass and-” And that is when it hit me. Iabet was the only person who was in the vault with me when we found the elixir and the ancient scrolls of my people.
“You are welcome, daughter of mine.”
I scoffed at Ra’s comment, unable to give him the satisfaction. “When this is all said and done. We are through.”
“I did what I had to, to protect my own. Even at the cost of losing my daughter. I am sorry, Kristina.” I could hear the pain in Ra’s voice, which cause my heart to twist.
“Jo is your heir, I was not. The gods see the Prophet as a tool they can bend and twist to their will. If it wasn’t for Iabet, the darkness would have destroyed me. I loved you. You were the only father I ever had and my mother was dead. I would have given anything to be with her and not you. You never cared about me. You only cared about power. I will save Jo and Iabet, but in regards to you, you can rot in hell, for all I care.”
“Kristina-“
Tears streamed down my face, as I realized what I should have done so long ago. The gods are selfish creatures and only want one thing. Power. Well, guess what. It was time to shake things up and put them back in their place.
Snapping my fingers, I lifted the shield that kept anyone from hearing our conversation, so I could speak directly to Jo, but she spoke first.
“About time you joined me, my little Prophet. Want to play?” Jo shifted her feet and prepared to battle.
Chuckling to myself, I felt Ari press his hand on my right shoulder and Malik do the same on my left. What I was about to do, was completely reckless, stupid, and should have me executed. But if we wanted any chance of surviving this, I had no choice.
“Hathor! You want a war, I will give you a war.” Silver threads erupted from my body, slamming into her shield, shattering her barrier and throwing her backwards. Instead of focusing on the anger and hatred I felt towards the gods, I focused on the love I had for my friends and Malik.
Malik and Ari stood their ground and watched in awe, at what was happening. The walls of the temple exploded and the ceiling gave way. A small barrier protected us from the blast. We watched as the temple that once stood proud, was blown to bits and the only thing left standing was the stone slab. Jo/Hathor leaned against it for support, as her laughter filled the dead air.
“My, my. The little Prophet is a fiery little thing.”
“Get the fuck out of here, or I will kill you myself.” I sneered. My fists began to shake from the power that boiled inside me, ready to be unleashed. Silver threads danced along my skin, awaiting my command.
“Why, aren’t we testy? Well, I would say it’s been a pleasure, but I have a feeling I will be seeing you soon.” Jo/Hathor curved her wrist, black tendrils wrapping around her body and she was gone.
“Kris, what just happened?” Malik asked, bringing my attention back to him. The silver threads still danced along my skin, as I focused on the task at hand.
“The balance between the gods is gone. The only person strong enough to bring everything back to order, is Jo. But Hathor has possessed her and we need to get her back. Hathor is going to use Jo’s soul to destroy the human race and start a new species.”
“Okay, so why did you blow up her temple and let her go.” Ari asked, confused.
“Because. The temple was Hathor’s center of power. She is not in her true form, so she relies on others to keep her alive. We destroy everything Hathor can use to manifest without using a host, and we stand a chance. Jo is in there somewhere, fighting, and we need to do our part.”
“What about Ra and Iabet?” Malik asked.
“Ra can rot in hell, for all I care. Iabet, on the other hand, needs our help. She is the only other person who knows what that scroll said and we need to rescue her.” I replied, looking at both men, trying to read their reactions.
Ari rubbed his hand behind his neck and chuckled. “You have got to be fucking kidding me, Kris. That is suicide.”
“Iabet is trapped in Duat. We need to travel there and rescue her.”
Malik threw his hands up in the air and then rubbed his face. “Are you insane? Duat is the home of the gods. No one sane enough, will travel there to find her. We will be dead the moment we walk through the portal.”
I shook my head at the men and walked towards the stone slab. The markings on the slab depicted Hathor’s life and how she came in to power. Droplets of Jo’s blood littered the surface, which caused my stomach to twist in knots.
“We are not going to travel to Duat. We are going to bring Duat here.”
“That is impossible, you would need the Book of the Dead and that has been lost for centuries. The archaeologists only think they have found the real book, when in reality it is a fake. No one knows where the real book is.” Malik said, being the voice of reason. I already knew the book was a fake, but the thing is, I knew where the real book was.
“I know the book is a fake, I created it.”
“WHAT?” Ari and Malik said at the same time.
“I knew when Hathor’s blood lust was out of control, she would come after me. So I worked tirelessly to hide the real one and create a replica. Well Keket did, not me. A few of the spells are real, but the most important ones are fake. Keket changed a few words, tested them out and nothing happened.” I shrugged, not thinking anything of it.
Malik’s body went rigid, and he stalked me, like I was his prey. “You knew you were going to die and yet you kept this from me? Not to mention, the fact that I have spent years protecting something that is a fake!” Malik was angry and he had every right to be.
“I did nothing! That was Keket. What did you expect her to do? Prance around the kingdom and shout to the world what she was doing? No! In order for her plan to work, no one could know. Look Malik, I know what she did back in the day was dumb as all get out, but that was Keket. I am trying to make things right.”
“What else are you hiding from me?”
“Uhh.”
Malik growled in frustration. He seemed to fight the urge to be near me, but at the same time wanted to be as far away from me as possible. But instead of running for the hills, he walked towards me and wrapped his arms around me. Pressing my head against his chest, he kissed my temple, refusing to let me go. The tiny silver threads danced along his skin, loving the feel of his skin against ours.
“Not that I don’t love watching you make my boy sweat, what are you saying, Kris?” Ari asked, trying to keep the mischievous look off his face.
If it wasn’t for Ari, I don’t know what I would do. Hathor is on the loose, I just laid a major bombshell on them, and just blew up a temple. But did that phase him? Nope. He is concocting his next plan to get revenge on a certain god.
“It’s time for those in Duat to arise once again.”
Glossary
<
br /> Nurahib alsayadat - Welcome Ladies
Marhaba - Hello
Ruwhi - My Soul
Qalbi - My Heart
Eayni - My Eye
Marhabaan - Hello
Sabah alkhyr - Good Morning
marhabaan bikum fi abusir - Welcome to Abusir
Nabiin - Prophet
laqad aintazarat waqtaan tawilaan balnsbt lk - I have waited a long time for you
Habib Alby- Love of my heart
Malikati - My Queen
‘Ibna - Daughter
Qutil - Kill
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Zizi Cole
I would like to thank everyone that helped make this possible.
Amy, let’s see how many times we can kill you in books this year. Count so far, 1.
Alicia, for everything you do! I wouldn’t make it without you.
T and Andie- It has been great. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
My family- You are my inspiration and keep me going.
My readers - Without you, I am nothing! Thank you for all your support.
T.M. Grinsley
To my beautiful daughter. You are the apple of my eye, and I hope to make you proud. You inspire me every day to push and test my limits farther than I thought was possible. I look forward to the day when you can read my books.
Now to all my BETA’s – Steven, Andie, Amy, Sam, and Hollian. This has been an incredible journey writing this book. The notes you all left me, were out of this world. Thank you for putting up with my craziness and blowing up my phone when you reached certain scenes. Y’all push me and help me strive to be a better writer.
And lastly, to the man I love. Thank you for all the tireless hours I spent talking your ear off and staying up to the wee hours of the morning putting this together. You are a special man, and I am honored to call you mine. Love you, baby.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Zizi Cole
Zizi was born in Kirksville, Missouri in 1985. She lived there most of her youth, until she moved to Brookfield in 2001. She attended college and obtained her Associate's of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood. She later went back to college and received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources.
Zizi resides in a small town in Missouri with her two boys and cat. When Zizi isn’t writing, she likes to spend time with her boys and reading.
Available Now
The Damned Trilogy
Sweet Nightmares (Book 1)
Sweet Visions (Book 2)
Sweet Conflict (Book 3)
Stand Alones
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Heartless
The Princes’ Collection
Afflicted
Featured Anthologies
War Cry
Through Their Eyes
Capture: A Paranormal Romance Anthology Book Two (Flirtation with Darkness 2)
Coming soon
Twin Flame (Summer/Fall 2018)
Mirror (Summer 2018)
T. M. Grinsley
T.M. Grinsley was born and raised in Washington State. Married to an army veteran, new mother to a beautiful daughter, she does everything in her power to give back to the men and women who bravely served in the armed forces. When she isn’t cooking meals, sending care packages, or beating the soldiers at video games, you will find her exploring the great outdoors with her family.
Current Books
Nerdboobs (A Warrior and Nerd Journey, #1)
Hathor’s Return (Eye of Ra Series #1)
Coming soon
Bookcrack (A Warrior and Nerd Journey, # 2) (Summer 2018)
A Viking’s Lost Soul (Summer 2018)
Iabet’s Return (Eye of Ra Series, #2) (Fall 2018)
So stay tuned!
~*~
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Hathor's Return (Eye of Ra Series Book 1) Page 16