“And what if he fails?” she continued. “And the Thrones make an example of him as they did to our beloved Ra?” She lifted her eyes to the heavens and raised both her hands. “See how he shines even brighter with another sunborn child in his midst?”
I surveyed Bastet’s macabre collection. Was this her attempt to piece together her lost god’s eternal soul?
“Imagine a sunborn colony on the earthen realm,” I persisted, “inhabiting your ancestral lands and worshipping at your temples. Surely Ra deserves such veneration, to be worshipped in the light of day. Wouldn’t you like for the Order of Angels to see the sunborn rise from the ashes like Phoenix from the fire? To have Azrael humbled before the child-of-Ra’s power?”
Bastet gazed upon the colony she’d created, filled with every indulgence a soul could desire in the earthen realm and populated by her own sunborn flock.
“You would deny him this peace and tranquility?” Bastet asked.
“He has the capacity for greatness,” I said heartily. It was true, but it wasn’t my only reason, and Bastet must have divined that my motives weren’t altogether selfless, because she turned on me then.
“How easy it must be for you to make such a pledge. A demi-god has so few vulnerabilities in the earthen realm. I wonder…” She drifted off and I worried at what unfortunate scheme she was hatching. “I wonder how courageous you’d be without your immortality.”
Her onyx eyes burned like twin pyres as I met her challenge head-on. “I would protect him with my life.”
“Even if you had only one life to lose?”
“Yes,” I said emphatically.
She smiled, and your pet’s expression mirrored it in an imitation that bordered on madness.
“Very well, Henri Cherusci of the bloodborn tribe. I will allow you to shepherd the child of Ra back with you to the earthen realm so that he may lead your holy war, and I will give you the angel Thirran’s soul to help you in this quest. And in return, you will pledge to me your immortality. And when your soul is delivered to my temple door, it will belong to me for an eternity. Do you accept this blessing?”
It was a far better arrangement than I’d expected. I didn’t hesitate, only bowed deeply before the queen of the under realms. “Thank you for this generous blessing, your majesty. I humbly accept.”
I startledinto consciousness to find you burrowed in my arms and clinging to me like a barnacle to a boat’s hull.
“Henri?” You thumped my chest lightly. “Jesus Christ, where have you been?”
I glanced to where Orcus was slowly rousing, two beds down. His eyes met mine momentarily, and I gave him a look of warning. I did not want any speculation about my condition.
“How long has it been?” I asked.
“Hours.” You kissed me then with a sudden fervor. I had only just softened to your passions before you were pulling away again. “Where were you?”
“Negotiating with Bastet for Thirran’s soul.” I glanced over at Orcus. “Did you get it?” He nodded solemnly.
“What did she want in return?” you asked, your eyes never leaving mine.
“My loyalty. And yours as well. You don’t remember?”
“I remember water and a boat. Spooky was there and Bastet. I visited a golden city…” You scrutinized me. “What do you mean, our loyalty?”
“I swore that we’d rebuild the sunborn temples and adhere to their tribal customs.” Before you could launch into a full-on interrogation, I turned to Orcus again. “Keep Thirran’s soul secure until the Thrones visit. Tell no one where it is, especially not my mother.”
Orcus nodded. I wished that I could further ensure its safety, but I lacked the knowledge or ability to harbor souls. This would be a true test of the shadowborn’s loyalty.
“I should check your vitals one more time before you leave,” Lucian said with a pointed look, but I didn’t want him revealing to you any aberrations to my bloodborn body.
“I’m fine,” I told him gruffly, then turned to you. “How about a visit to our islands, cucciolo? Just you and me?”
You shifted only a little, unwilling to release me. “God, I thought I’d lost you,” you said ardently.
One day you might know the agony of such a loss, might mourn me as I have grieved for you. But not yet. Not yet.
The day was mild,one of the last before the weather turned. I welcomed the sun’s warmth to ease the lingering chill of the under realms. During our stroll to the shore, I assessed my physical condition. My body seemed sound. My strength had not diminished, nor had my appetite. My appearance still reflected that of a man in his prime. Part of me dared hope Bastet’s condition was only a test of faith, but more likely it was my way of coping.
I rowed us across the narrow channel while you sat with your cat draped across your lap—Bastet’s spy. No wonder the animal had always seemed demonic. She truly was. And you… your lingering gazes felt a bit too studious, as if attempting to puzzle me out. For that reason, I maintained a sunny disposition. Sunny for me, at least.
