After stifling another yawn, Tari pulled the old lamp closer to her on the desk, then continued writing down the long list of ancient artifacts and daily log into the binder notebook. After another long day of excavations and documentations, Tari was more than ready to throw in the towel and take a nap, but after having begged her father that she would stay out of trouble and insisting she would help out as much as she could, she didn't want to show any signs of tiredness about now.
When the thought of her father entered her mind, Tari's throat formed a little lump. From since a couple of days ago, there has been an uneasy tension between them. Tari had been out trying to locate the child that contained Osiris's soul...but then Apep attacked, forcing her to battle him to protect a group of children from a local orphanage. When Tari came home, her father was livid, and admittedly, nearly scared out of his wits when he couldn't find her.
It was only then that Tari knew how much her father was concerned for her...she never really remembered him being so protective with her before...at least not since...
Tari shook her head to clear her thoughts. Well, in any case, she was not a child anymore, and it was high time her father realized that. But then again...how would she be able to explain to her father that she had a mission to literally save the world from a power-hungry evil Egyptian god? Surely he would think she was losing her mind. Oh how she wished she could tell him everything, but in her heart, she knew it was impossible. As much as she wanted to protect other innocents from Set's madness, she also wanted to make sure her own family was out of danger, and if that meant keeping some secrets, well, that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
"Tari?"
Tari jumped a little at the unexpected voice, then calmed down when she saw it was just one of the excavation team that worked with her father. The dark-haired women frowned with concerned as she walked towards Tari, letting the tent flap fall back into place and dimming the inside once more.
"Are you okay? I called your name twice, and you didn't answer. You were just...staring into space." The woman pulled up a chair and sat down next to her.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lisa, it's just...I was thinking, and..well..." Tari sighed and ran a nervous hand through her thick, dark braids. "It's just..my dad and I..we had a bit of an argument, and..well...sometimes, I just wish he'd stop treating me like a baby, you know?"
"Ah, I see." Lisa smiled a little a nodded her head. "It's funny, but a lot of people don't realize that they've always been a little friction between fathers and daughters...in all cultures, throughout all periods of times."
Tari blinked in surprise. "Really?"
"Tari, no father, no matter what country or place or time period, is ever truly ready to see his little girl grow up. And no girl wants to be kept in glass casing and kept a child all her life. But life goes on, and children grow up. Just give your dad a little time, it's hard on him you know."
"Yeah well, it's hard on me too." Tari grumbled. If only he knew half of what growing up I've done since I barely set foot in Egypt.
Lisa chuckled and motioned for her to follow. "Your dad will be fine. Speaking of which, Sajid told me to come get you. It's after 3 and he says it's time you head on back home. You've done more than your share today of work today. You must be exhausted-"
"Are you kidding? You call sitting here and writing down a list exhausting? I was bored to tears!" Tari rolled her eyes as she followed Lisa out and went to look for Sajid.
The tall, Sudanese man smiled with relief when he saw her, and soon after, they left the dig site behind and headed back to the heart of the city of Cairo. But instead of heading back to her apartment, Sajid turned the jeep into an unfamiliar part of the city. He stopped before a business building and turned to Tari. "There's something here I need to do for your father before we head back. Do you think you will be alright for just a few moments?"
"Sure...if I can look around." At the unsure look on Sajid's face, Tari rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine! I won't go far, I promise! I just want to look around a little." And see if I can get a little more investigation done before getting home. Tari thought to herself. If she could continue her search in a new part of the city, perhaps that will make her task easier.
After a moment, Sajid nodded his head. "Alright Mistress Tari, but I shouldn't be more than just a few minutes. There's just some documents I need to get your father and a few errands, and..."
Before the tall man could even finish, Tari was already jumping out the jeep and heading down a street. "Okay, thanks Sajid!" Sajid could only shake his head with a small smile as he watched her rush off.
************
Excitedly, Tari walked around the neighborhood keeping a watchful eye out for any children and making mental notes of street names for if she had to come back here again. She only had a few moments, and she knew she didn't have enough time for a true search.
After a few minutes, Tari sighed and was about to turn back...when she heard the sound of children laughing. She dashed down the street and turned a corner, and was surprised to see a medium-sized playing field where a small group of boys were playing soccer. "Okay, I have to make this quick..." Tari said to herself. She took off her backpack behind her, and was about to take out the ancient crook that would indicate it's former master's soul when she happened to look up...and barely moved out of the way of a flying soccer ball as it came crashing down just where she was standing.
With an exasperated sighed, Tari chased after the ball and caught it before it went into a busy street. She was about to walk back to the field when a little boy suddenly seemed to appear right before her, watching her with large, curious dark brown eyes. He didn't look to be more than 8 years old, with thick, dark curly hair and thin face.
"Hey kid, is this yours?" Tari asked, holding the ball out to him. The child blinked at her, then timidly walked forward and took the ball.
"So..do you speak English? I'm Tari." she said with a smile, her heart melting at just how cute he was.
The boy looked at her shyly, and with a small smile of his own, nodded his head. "Not..good English..." he said with a shaky, Arabic accent.
"Oh..well, it's still nice to meet you!" She held her hand out for him to shake, and just as he was about to hold it, the small group of boys Tari saw playing began to gather and shout, calling for the little boy to return their ball.
The little boy turned to look at his friends, then turned back to Tari with a regretful look on his face. "Sorry..." he whispered, then rushed off.
She watched him run to the group of boys, throw the ball back to them, then rush off down the busy sidewalk into a tall building where other children where rushing in and out of with adults. Suddenly, Tari realized the strong aura the little boy was giving out..the way his eyes seem to bore into hers and see her very soul. It was only then did Tari remember why she was there in the first place, and smacked her forehead in exasperation. "Hey, wait!" She was about to run after him, but stopped herself, knowing she wouldn't have time. "Oh great! And Sajid is probably waiting for me now!"
She turned to go, but only walked for a minute or so before she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned around, she was met with the youthful face of Horus. "Horus! What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
The young god placed a finger on his lips, and beckoned her to follow him around a corner where no one would see.
When he was certain that they were alone, Horus looked at her in concern. "I heard about Apep's attack the other day, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Despite what everyone else says, this is as much my fight as everyone else's. But...my mother, she thinks I can't fight, she thinks I'm too young and..." He grunted deep in his throat and made a fist. "I just want to show her and everyone else they're wrong, I can fight against Set!"
"I understand," Tari said with a sympathetic nod. "I'm kind of going through that myself. But never mind, I think there's a way you can help now. You see, I just met this little boy..."
The words were barely out of her mouth when Tari stopped, suddenly feeling uneasy.... then there was a loud explosion right in the playing field, throwing her and Horus back a good couple of inches nearly into the street.
Tari landed hard on her back with a grunt, with Horus landing beside her just a second later.
She struggled to get up, and when she finally did, she was met with a horrible sight...the boys that were playing so joyfully a few moments ago now lay limp and unmoving on the dirt ground, blood trickling down the side of their heads.
Standing over them, with his hands on his hips and an arrogant smirk on his face, was Set himself. A moment later, Apep slithered up next to him, his eyes glowing red and hissing with glee. Crowds of people began to scream and run away, not understanding the posing sight before them.
"You sssssee, My Lord?" the snake god hissed. "I told you I sssssensed sssssssomething here! The child probably layss dead before uss now!"
Set narrowed his eyes, and bent down slightly to take a closer look at the immobile children at his feet. He closed his eyes for a second, then straightened back up. "It is not one of them." He saw one of the boys twitch just slightly, and growled deep in his throat. "And they are still living. Dispose of them; they are no longer of any use."
"We have to do something!" Tari whispered to Horus. The teen god looked at her with determination, and both nodded at each other, ready to battle Set once more.
"Powers of the ancients, I summoned thee!" Tari yelled with a loud, clear voice as she crossed her arms in front of her in an "X" formation.
Tari threw her head back and gratefully accepted the raw strength and power flowing through her, giving her the everything she needed to become the one thing that stood in the way of Set's plan of bringing darkness to this world.
When it was done, they both rushed forward, hoping to save the boys before Apep struck.
***************
The snake god hissed once more with eagerness as he slid up next to the prostate young boys, his fangs already salivating with his poison. He arched back, and was about to strike when there was a sudden flash of metallic light, and he screamed in pain as a deep slash appeared across his large face. He turned and saw Tari just coming out of a tuck flip, and then landing on one knee protectively in front of the unconscious children with her sword ready in her hand.
"Stay away from them, you disgusting overgrown worm!" yelled out Tari, straightening up and daring the immense snake to come further.
Apep opened his mouth and spat out his signature poison from his fangs, but Tari threw up her arm with her bracelet, and with a red flash, and a protective shield appeared before her and the boys. The poison hit the shield with a loud hiss, and smoke rose from where toxin landed.
The shield dissipated a moment later, but before Tari could make another move, the tail end of Apep shot forward and wrapped around her legs. She fell to ground with a scream and was dragged a few inches before being lifted up to just inches from Apep's face...upside down. Her sword disappeared with a soft flash.
"Poor, weak little girl!" Apep hissed with laughter. "Look, Massster, ssshe thought ssshe could beat ussss all by herself!"
"She's not alone!" yelled out a voice. With a battle cry, Horus jumped high into the air from his run, and slashing down on his sword, cut a large gash into Apep's side. He screamed with rage and agony, and while distracted, let go of Tari.
She fell towards the ground with a surprised yell, but before hitting the hard ground, she was caught by a part of strong arms. When Horus gently placed her on her feet, she looked at him gratefully. "Thanks..." she breathed out.
"No time for that." the young god said. He looked up and narrowed his eyes as he watched Set approach them, his eyes glowing with rage.
"At first, I considered you children's involvement a bit amusing, then, a minor irritation...now I am beginning to get annoyed." the coal-skin colored god said, his hands beginning to glow. "And very few survive when I get annoyed!"
"Children? That's rich, coming from some freak coward who do nothing BUT attack children!" shouted out Tari.
Not even bothering to answer her, Set threw back his head and let out a yell of rage, his body now glowing. He threw forth a barrage of red energy blasts at Tari, but quick as lightening, she called forth her shining sword with a thought, and held it protectively in front of her. The blasts hit her sword hard and pushed her back a few inches, but she held on.
Meanwhile, Horus barely managed to jump out of the way in time from Apep's deadly fangs. The gash to his side was still oozing green blood, but the snake god still pushed on, determined to end the life of the infidel who dared strike him. Horus proved to be quick and agile, hitting his mark with each strike of his sword and dashing and flipping away from not just his fangs, but Apep's swift tail end.
Tari back flipped a few times away from Set's onslaught, then faced him bravely, determined to protect the lives of the boys that lay not too far away. Set stopped for a moment glaring down at her. "No matter what you do, your efforts to stop me will be futile! You are no match for me, child!"
"You're wrong, Set! I will stop you, even if it takes my life!" Tari said, breathing hard.
"So be it then," The evil god nodded his head casually. He closed his eyes for a moment, then there was a dark flash of light in the palm of Set's large hand. With a smirk, Set held up an immense, dark colored sword that curved slightly at the blade's end. At first, Tari thought the sword was just a deep, brown color...then with a gasp, she realized that it was not just a color..but a color made from dried blood from the way it crusted just slightly in the late afternoon sun.
"Tari!" Horus yelled out. He growl with agitation, and just as he was about to rush forward and help her, Apep took this chance in his distraction to wrap his end around the young god's muscular legs, and squeeze until he fell with a painful cry to the ground. The immense snake then proceeded to wrap his whole body around Horus, stifling his cries and any chance to help.
An evil grin spread across Set's face as he launch forward like lightening, slashing his sword expertly before him as he pushed on. Tari barely managed to raise her own sword and block his strikes as she backed away, her heart beating hard within her chest.
Thinking fast, she ducked as Set raised his sword and rolled away from him, and watched with horror as his sword made a large crack where she was just standing. Tari narrowed her eyes, and with a deep breath, raised her sword and concentrated. The sword glowed and morphed into an elegant red and golden bow with a silver, tight string. She pulled back on the string as Set walked dangerously close to her, the sadistic smile still on his face. I can't let it end like this! Not when...not when there's a chance I'm so close! The image of the small boy entered her mind then, and she knew that if she made it out of this, she would not stop until she found him again.
She let go of the string, and a long, blazing arrow made out of fire and light shot out. A small flicker of hope entered Tari then, but just as the flaming arrow was about to strike him, Set brought up his sword and batted it aside like an annoying fly.
Tari gasped with disbelief, then pulled back on the string again. She let go, and the large blazing arrow appeared again, racing like lightening toward Set. Once more the black-hearted god brought up his sword and knocked it aside.
This time, Set was before her now, and had no chance to raise her bow again as he brought up a large meaty head and heavily backhanded her away from him. Tari landed with a painful grunt to the ground, the magical bow dissipating into thin air without her concentration.
Set walked up to her confidently and slowly bent down to grab a hard hold on her neck. He picked her up and brought her just an inch from his face, as he did when he first confronted her. "Still think you can defeat me, little annoying insect?" he whispered.
Stars appeared before Tari's eyes as Set squeezed. She brought up her shaking hands, kicked her legs and tried her best to beat him off her, but it was to no avail.
Then, her movements began to slow, and with a sinking heart, Tari saw the world go darker and darker as her life was beginning to ebb away. This couldn't be happening to her, not now!
Suddenly, with heavy eyes, Tari saw a figure appear behind Set, and second later, and large beam of white light flashed out. It knocked into set with a loud thud, causing him to cry out and drop Tari. She fell to the ground, gasping for air, and before she lost consciousness, she saw a raggedly dressed woman somewhat resembling Isis walk up to Set, a sad yet determined look on her face. She stopped before him as Set turned around with surprise, and with a calm voice, said "Hello....husband."
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To Be Continued...
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