With a sigh, Isis walked out of the throne room of the palace she shared with her husband Osiris. Over the many years since the death and physical resurrection of her husband, she had never let a day go by without visiting him. Of course, no one else besides the royal family could visit, and Isis was glad for that more than anything else. She didn't want anyone else to gawk or feel pity for her or her husband. But it was still hard...oh so very hard to see him like that....as nothing more than a shadow of his usual, energetic self.
Today, as she knelt before him and stroked his face as before, she told him about how she had given the young mortal girl Tari his crook, and how it would aide her in finding the child that was reborn with his soul. She told him also how Set had gotten his powers back, and how it was only a matter of time before the evil god will soon begin his search to destroy the child. But as before, her husband Osiris remained silent; his eyes empty and flesh cold.
When she was done, she stood..tears filling her eyes once more, and kissed his cold, slightly green cheek, vowing in her heart as she had done thousands of times before that she will bring her beloved back, and that they would soon share the happy life they had so many years ago.
Almost lost in thought, she now walked down the elaborate hall of the palace, until she turned and stepped out into a large balcony. She looked up and watched as the mid-day sun made its usual, eternal trek across the ancient, blue skies. She remembered with a small smile when she...only just a couple of weeks away from giving birth to Horus, and Osiris stood here on this very spot, looking up at the sun and talking about their future...mostly Horus's future. She would have never thought for a moment that Osiris's very own brother Set was at the same time plotting to destroy him.
As before, regret filled her heart as the old thoughts came back; if only she would have seen the signs, if only she had known what Set was doing so she could have warned Osiris. She sighed once more and clutched her hands into fists, willing the thoughts to go away. No, now was not the time to think those thoughts again. Tari needed her help on Earth, and she wasn't going to let her down again.
With that thought, Isis nodded her head and turned to leave the balcony, when she saw a shadow just managing to dart away as she looked. Curious, Isis stepped into the hall from the balcony, and saw no one. She turned to leave again, when a soft voice seem to whisper behind her.
"Isis,"
She turned, and she gasped and clutched at her heart when she saw who it was that was walking up to her in the grand hall. It had been many years since they had seen each other, but Isis would know her sister Nephthys anywhere. But she was so...different from before. No longer was there any joy or happiness that she had admired her sister for. Now she came before her ragged and miserable, with tears misting in her eyes.
The two goddess sisters regarded one another for a few moments, the tension and memory of what had drove them apart thick in the air. Then, with her body shaking, Isis stepped forward and gently took Nephthys's face in her hand as the other woman looked up in nervousness, then gently gathered her in her arms.
For what seemed like eternity the two held each other, letting memories and their sisterly love enfold them, tears running down their cheeks. Isis happily remembered them as loving sisters, discovering many wonders and miracles together with their wise and watchful parents. No one could break their bond, and even today, not a day went by without them thinking about each other.
Isis then leaned away and looked into the face that was so like her own. "Nephthys...by the name of all that is good..what are you doing here?" she whispered, hardly believing it.
The other goddess bowed her head for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. She then looked up at her sister and shook her head sadly. "I shouldn't be here..especially if he finds out, but I had to come. I...I just couldn't stand by anymore and let this happen Isis..I just couldn't. Set...he has gone mad, and even now he plots to find Osiris's reborn soul before anyone else. I have come to.." She looked around fearfully, as though expecting Set to walk in any minute. "To warn you, and to tell you what he intends to do now. He is now sending Apep to attack a small orphanage that the child might be in, and..."
"Wait...come with me, everyone must know this!" Isis said, holding onto Nephthys's hand and pulling her along. "Especially Tari."
The woman blinked her eyes in confusion. "Who?"
"I'll explain later. But we must hurry. The child and Tari herself could be in danger right now."
Quickly the two goddesses raced down the hall as the sun still blazed high and bright in the sky,
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Downtown Cairo, Egypt
Blowing out a breath, Tari leaned against the wall of a tall and wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. Although by now it was late afternoon, the sun was still hot and merciless, and made walking in the city alot harder than she expected. Man! Tari thought tiredly, It's so hot! I feel sorry for anyone crazy enough to wear leather today!
She sighed and leaned away from the building to start walking again. Now, she was beginning to feel a little regret from telling her father she had to come downtown here and skip out from helping at the dig site today. At least at the dig site, there was so nice shade in the tents...with air conditioning. But with a chuckle, she knew she couldn't afford that luxury now.
Last night, Tari thought long and hard about how and where to begin her search for the child that had Osiris's soul. Even though she had the crook that could detect it, Tari knew it would do no good if she didn't have a clue of where to begin first. Then the thought hit her...there were only two places she knew that had to have large amounts of children...schools and orphanages! With that thought, Tari vowed that in the morning, that would be where she would start her search.
So after breakfast and writing down the addresses of some schools that she thought she could easily walk to, Tari pleaded with her father to take her to Cairo. "I still have more things to get Mom!" she said, clasping her hands together in front of her.
With a sigh, finally her father relented, and after driving her to Cairo himself, warned her that he would be back for her by at least 2 o' clock.
Now, Tari looked at her watch, and groaned aloud as she walked on. "Oh man, it's been hours, and I still haven't got a clue yet!" She had been to just about all the schools in the section of the city she was in even when she secretly summoned the crook when she approached a school, it didn't react to any of the children playing in the school's playground or courtyards as she passed by.
Tari blew out an exasperated breath and forced herself to keep on walking. There was one last school on her list, and luckily it was close..which would give her just enough time to just it quickly before having to meet her father.
As Tari walked on, she felt her heart beat just a little faster with anticipation. What if this was the place, where the child they were searching for was? What would he be like? Would he be anything like that she read about Osiris in the old mythology books? She didn't know, but right now, it's not just about meeting him that worried her...it's if she had the power to protect him if it came down to it. Would she have the strength?
At that moment, Tari approached an elementary school that was nestled comfortably behind a small park. School was just letting out now, and most of the children were out and about in the park, waiting for parents and just associating and playing with each other. A few of the teachers were still there, keeping a watching eye on them.
Smiling, Tari watched them for a moment as she stood by a tall tree, remembering how carefree and happy she was at that age. The love of life and the innocence she watch as the children played filled her with a peace and calm she hadn't known in a long time. She wished..just a little, that she could have some of that back. "Why? Why would Set want to hurt and destroy something like that?" she whispered to herself.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts then. This was no time to be daydreaming. Besides, if she wanted to help preserve and protect that innocence, she had to be the first to find that kid.
She was just about to take out the crook from her book bag when she noticed another group of children approaching the park, lead by a teacher. When she looked where they came from, she noticed it was from a building she now recognized must be an orphanage that was across the street from the school. Great, the more kids, the better. This is will it alot easier. she thought with relief.
But within seconds of the children entering the park and mixing with the other children first there, an uneasiness suddenly entered Tari's mind. "Something's...something's not right here," she whispered to herself. The uneasiness grew, and Tari was just about to step forward towards the large group of children when a sudden rumbling began to shake the grounds.
The children stopped playing and looked around nervously, then began to huddle closer. The rumbling only got stronger and stronger, and suddenly, with a burst of dirt, leaves, and tree roots shooting in the air, the unmistakable from of Apep shot up through the park's ground, hissing loudly.
The children all screamed in terror and dashed madly towards the elementary school, the teachers yelling and trying their best to contain order.
"NO!" screamed out Tari, rage filling her heart. She concentrated, and the crook in her hand disappeared back within her. Then with clutched fists, Tari hid herself behind the tree she was standing besides. She looked down at the bracelet on her wrist, as almost as though it was reading her mind, it twinkled in the sunlight, letting her know it was ready to fight and protect the children.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as before, Tari crossed her arms over her chest, and yelled out "Powers of the ancient, I summon thee!"
Tari raised her head and allowed the bright light from the bracelet to envelope her body and fill her soul and blood with power....power to fight evil, and power to protect those that it wanted to harm. Her clothes disappeared for a brief second, and in their place the now familiar outfit that identified her as a warrior and guardian to the innocent.
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Hissing with glee, Apep slithered towards the cowering and screaming children gathered in front of the large school. The giant snake god knew one of these pathetic little brats HAD to have Osiris's soul, and when he destroyed him, Set would praise him and him alone!
"Do not fret, young onesss," Apep hissed out, his forked tongue flicking in and out. "Your ssssuffering will sssoon be over! Now...DIE!"
"Not so fast, lizard lips!!" yelled out an angry voice. "Leave those children alone...NOW!"
Apep turned and his eyes widened as he saw Tari running towards him, her eyes narrowed.
"YOU!" he yelled out. "You ssshall not ssstop me thisss time!" The giant snake roared loudly and dashed heavily towards her, rage filling his glowing eyes.
"That's what you think!" Tari quickly back flipped out of the way as Apep smashed his head in the spot she was just standing in, venom dripping from his fangs. The spot immediately turned blackened and charred.
Concentrating hard, Tari willed her sword to appear in her hands, and like a prayer answered, a flash of light erupted from her bracelet, and a second later, her bejeweled sword appeared, bright and sharp.
"Your little tricksss won't sssave you!" Apep flicked his enormous tail, and before Tari could react, swiped her feet from under her, leaving her sprawled on the ground. With wide eyes, Tari watched as Apep shot forward his tail pointed down at her, intending to impale her.
But at the last second, Tari raised her sword and swiped in protectively in front of her, leaving a deep gash on the Apep's tail as he hissed and howled in pain.
Tari quickly rolled away and stood up, and glared angrily at the big snake. "That was dirty trick, and now you've made me mad. I am SO gonna make a nice pair of shoes out of you!" she growled out.
Instead of responding, Apep opened his mouth wide and let loose a stream of venom that was almost too fast for the eyes to see. With a frightened yell, Tari raised her hand protectively in front of her. But instead of feeling the burn and sting of the poison, a red, web-like flash of light appeared suddenly around her. The poison smashed harmlessly into the protective light, and dissipated in a hissing smoke.
When the light disappeared, Tari looked down at her bracelet in wonder. The bracelet...it protected me again! She blinked her eyes, and looked up just in time to see Apep making for the children again, leaving her no time to think on it.
"Oh no you don't!" Tari yelled out. With a growl, Tari raced towards the children, knowing they would not survive if she didn't make it there first. But once more, Apep flicked out his tail. But this time Tari was ready. She jumped up high, barely missing his tail, and with a yell, slashed down on her on her way down from the jump and made a deep gash on the snake god's side.
Apep howled and hissed louder than ever, making the children and the few adults with them cringe and cover their ears. Writhing, Apep swung his large head around and around...until when he swung his head towards her.
Unable to move in time, Tari felt the breath knocked heavily out of her body as Apep's head connected hard with her, and she was knocked back a few feet. She landed painfully on her side and felt the tears gathering in her eyes. But she couldn't give up...she wouldn't give up!
Groaning, Tari got up on her unstable legs, and watched with horror as Apep once more slithered quickly towards the children. He opened his mouth, and a large blast of bright green energy shot out, and struck the elementary school building they were huddled in front of.
The children screamed as debris and pieces of the building fell down towards them.
NO! I can't let it end like this! I have to protect them! Tari screamed in her mind desperately. Suddenly...a feeling..a compulsion, somehow made her stretch out her arm with the bracelet on the wrist. She stretched out her fingers, and before she knew it, a bright, red light shot out of her and towards the children. Each was now on their knees with their arms over their heads.
Then, just before the debris could smash the children, the red light turned into a large, thick, red see-through net...suspended in mid-air. The red net quickly caught the smashed pieces of building, holding them above the frightened crowd of teachers and children. They all looked up in awe for a moment, then at Tari.
Almost falling to her knees with the strain, Tari looked up at them and growled out "Run!". The piles of rubble were heavy, and she would lose control any moment.
Not needing to be told twice, the group ran as fast as they could from under the magical net. A second later, the net disappeared, and the debris smashed heavily to the ground.
Tari gasped with relief from the strain, and fell to her hands and knees on the ground, breathing hard.
"You will regret that!" hissed out Apep, heading straight for her.
Tari barely rolled out of the way in time before Apep jumped heavily on the spot she was just in. She got up on her shaky feet, and glared once more the enormous snake. "I've regretted alot of things in my life, but I will never regret fighting you and saving those children!" she said, balling her fist.
"We sssshall sssee!" Apep raised his upper body high and leapt towards her. But just as she raised her sword to defend herself, Tari watched in amazement as a deep wound imbedded itself on the top of Apep's head...followed a second later by another wound that appeared on the side of his face. The snake hissed angrily and turned to look up.
Relief washed over Tari as she watched the dark figure of Anubis jumping over Apep's head and landing protectively in front of her. His sword was clutched in his large hand as he turned to look at Tari to make sure she was alright, then at Apep.
"It is finished, Apep." Anubis said, his voice deep and commanding. "You are defeated. Go back to your filth of a master, and leave this place in peace..."
"It is NOT finished!" Once more the snake god opened his mouth and shot forth another blast of energy. The dark skinned god of embalming quickly snatched Tari in his arms, and jumped high up out of the way.
As soon as he landed, he jumped away from Tari and leapt high into the air again. He slashed down with his sword, and from it, a blast of dark blue energy erupted from it and smashed into Apep's face. With a loud roar, he fell backwards onto the ground, writhing for a moment before getting back up.
For what seemed like forever, Anubis and Apep glared at each other. Until finally, Apep slithered backwards away, rage glowing bright in his eyes. He knew when to back away, as he was now greatly wounded. "We will certainly continue thisss!" said Apep, his form already beginning to disappear as he retreated. "Next time, victory ssshall be oursss!" With that, he was gone, leaving behind pools of green blood from his wounds.
Anubis turned behind him to look at Tari, his twisted locks of hair swinging behind him. "Are you alright?"
"Yes..it's just...my wrist.." Tari looked down on her wrist, and saw that even under the covering of the bracelet, it was beginning to swell.
"Come, quickly. Thoth can help with that. And we have much to discuss." Anubis nodded his head, and wincing in pain, Tari went to him. In a flash, they both disappeared, leaving behind a deserted park and partially demolished school where moments ago happy children were playing.
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To Be Continued...
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