Gasping loudly as the black, smoke-like monster bared down on her from above, Tari once more put her hands up protectively. And like before, a desperate plea for protection flashed across Tari's mind. Immediately, the red crystallized force field surrounded her once more, and just as the creature was about to clamp its jaws around her throat, it was thrown back far away from her when it smashed into the barrier. It howled in pain and frustration as it landed on the sandy ground.
The protective barrier disappeared in a flash a second later, and Tari looked up in surprise. It..it did it again! So that means...it CAN read my mind! As she looked down on the shining bracelet, she gently touched it with a fingertip. Suddenly, she understood what the goddesses meant when they said they had infused it with their powers. She looked up just in time to see the beast getting up and advancing towards her again, its eyes narrowing into slits. Well, she certainly needed their power now!
"Alright then!" Tari stood up straight as she balled her fists and brought her arm with the bracelet protectively in front of her. "If you can read my mind, then it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a sword...or something right about now!" Tari said, hoping she wasn't making a fool of herself. Not even a second passed when there was a soft whirring noise, as though from a machine, and the bracelet glowed once more after the ruby eyes of the snake on it flashed. The light from the bracelet elongated to Tari's hand, getting bigger and bigger, until it finally formed the figure of a long and curved sword. The light dimmed, and when it disappeared altogether, a large, elaborate gold-colored sword that was slightly curved appeared, gripped firmly in her hand. The hilt was decorated with sapphires, diamonds, and rubies, all which were flashing brightly in the bright, Egyptian sun.
Completely surprised, Tari looked down at the sword with her mouth wide open. "What the...HOW?" She turned over the sword in admiration, her heart beating wildly in her chest. But she had no more time to admire the weapon as the beast rushed at her again, its mouth snapping at her.
"HEY!! Watch it!" Tari barely jumped away in time, and she dropped and rolled away from the creature as it landed where she was just standing. Tari got up and glared at the beast as it turned and headed for her again. "Alright, that's it! I don't know what the heck you are, but you're going down!" She held the sword protectively in front of her, then ran with a grunt straight for it. She had never even held a sword before in her life, but right now, she didn't care. She had sworn to herself a year ago that she would never let anything or anyone attack her without trying her best to defend herself, and this was certainly no exception. Besides...for some reason, courage was flowing through her body then, and she was suddenly filled with the knowledge of how to use this ancient yet effective weapon..almost like it was BORN in her.
When she was almost upon the monster, she jumped high and slashed down her sword, giving a fierce battle cry. The sword impaled it and left a deep and long gash on its side. But as Tari landed on one knee and turned to look back in victory, her eyes widened when she saw the wound immediately starting to close back up. "What? It..didn't work?" She stood up and back away slightly, disbelief all over her face.
The monster was still for a moment as the wound quickly closed. When it was done, it howled loudly and headed straight for her again. But this time, Tari was so shocked, she didn't think to move in time, and it tackled her heavily to the ground. Both of its paws were on her shoulders, and it was pushing her heavily into the ground. The pain was so intense, Tari could only scream out once in terror before starting to feel the effects of unconsciousness coming on. She tried to raise her arm that was still holding the sword, but it was like a truck was on top of her, crushing the very air from her body. Somebody...help! Please!
After what seemed like an agony-filled eternity, the creature leaned in, its jaws opening wide to finish her off. Suddenly, the shadowy figures of five people appeared in a swirling of light behind it. "Begone, filth of Set!" yelled out a woman's voice. There was a large and heavy beam of pure light, and it smashed into the creature, knocking it off of Tari.
The monster landed on the ground with a heavy thud that sent sand up into the air. Tari struggled to sit up, her body aching beyond belief. The golden sword flashed once, then disappeared and turned back into the bracelet on her wrist. After rubbing her shoulder for a moment, she looked up at her saviors, and her eyes widened in relief and happiness. Standing before her were Hathor and Isis, and three other figures she had not seen before. But at the moment, she was just too happy to see the two goddesses as they looked at her with concern. "Hathor! Isis!" She got up with a painful grunt and rushed over to the women. She hugged them both back as they enveloped her in their arms, tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh Tari, are you alright? We're sorry, we should have been here earlier!" said Isis as she leaned away. She reached and wiped away a tear before it fell down Tari's dark cheek.
"We had no idea this fight would begin so soon! There was so much more we wanted to tell you," said Hathor with regret.
"No time!" Anubis, his dark face as serious and somber as ever, suddenly rushed up in front of them. The black creature was advancing quickly again, this time more dark clouds swirling around it. Anubis raised his arms before him, his long braids whipping about him in a strong wind, and dark, swirling energy gathered in his hands. It grew bigger and bigger, and when it was big enough, he threw it like a large ball towards the monster. The power smashed into it with a dull boom. The beast reared back on its hind legs and howled in pain, then it fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Second later, it began to break apart and dissipate as smoke, leaving nothing behind.
"It's gone!" yelled out Tari in triumph. But it was not to be so. Immediately the smoke began to come back together to form the black creature once more, its eyes blaring. But instead of attacking again, the monster glared at the group, narrowed its eyes as it growled deep in the throat, and sank into the sand below it. When it was gone, the wind blew across the spot where it just was, as though nothing was ever standing there just seconds before.
Tari breathed out a sigh of relief and turned to Hathor and Isis. "Is..it coming back?" she asked, her eyes nervous.
"Most likely, it will." answered Isis, her hands balled into fists. "You see, that wasn't just an ordinary creature. It was Set's power taken form. Since it's been released, it's trying to find Set."
"Set's powers?" Tari blinked in surprise, then understanding dawned on her. "So, that was why I couldn't hurt it? It's doesn't really have a body?"
Hathor nodded her head, her face somber. "The only way to stop it is to try and contain it once again. We can't let it find Set, not if we want to keep this world safe."
"I see," Tari said softly. She turn to look at the three other tall people standing beside Hathor uncertainly.
"Oh! Excuse us!" Isis smiled and indicated the three other gods with a graceful sweep of her hand. "Tari, these are the other gods who are also fighting to stop Set from fulfilling his plans. This is Toth..."
The young-looking god knelt on one knee, and gently took Tari's hand in his own and kissed it. "A pleasure, fair maiden. I only hope I can be of assistance in your time of need." He smiled broadly at Tari's blush.
The woman next to him smiled softly and shook her head at him, and stepped up. "I am Ma'at. I will do my best to make sure you are successful in your task." Her voice was full of determination, and she bowed her head slightly, her black hair shining in the sun.
Hathor then inclined her head to the tallest one. "And this one is Anubis. He's not much of a talker, but he's loyal, and I'm sure he won't let any harm come to you." She winked at Anubis.
The tall, dark-skinned god of embalming crossed his arms over his dark chest and turned his head away, a scowl on his face. "Hmmmph.." he muttered. But even Tari could see that he nodded his head slightly in greeting.
Tari smiled at all of them. "Oh, right, I remember now reading about you all in history books and school. But...I never thought I'd actually get to meet any of you!" She was about to say more, but just then, her father's voice shouted out from a distance.
"Tari! Where are you?!!"
"Uh oh! It's my father! How do I change back?" She looked at them nervously.
"Don't worry, just picture yourself back to normal," nodded Isis.
"Right!" Tari closed her eyes, and with a soft flash of light, reverted back to her original clothes. The bracelet on her wrist flashed back to normal as well. Just then, her father with the large Sajid rushed around the corner of a barely standing tent, his eyes wide with worry.
"Tari!" He ran up to her and grabbed her in a hug. "Are you alright? What happened? Did that thing hurt you?"
"Dad! I'm fine!" Tari chuckled as she leaned away from him. "I was just with these..err..people, and.."
"What people?" Her father and Sajid looked around curiously.
"I see no one, young mistress," said Sajid, his brow furrowed. When Tari looked back at Isis and the rest, the goddess shook her head, and mouthed the words "No one can see us," to her. Beside her, Hathor nodded and motioned for her to go with her father. "We'll meet another time," she whispered so that only Tari can hear. Understanding, Tari nodded and turned back to her father.
"Oh! Err...never mind, I guess I must have fainted and dreamed!" Tari said, waving it off. "Come on, let's get out of here. We have to see if any more people are hurt." With that, Tari took her father's hand and rushed off, Sajid following close behind. When she was gone, the group of gods looked at one another, nodded, and disappeared, a sense of desperation in their hearts. Their fight is already getting desperate, and they had much to discuss and plan for.
But as they disappeared, they did not see a pair of glowing, snake eyes watching them from a distance, hidden behind a dune. The figure with the glowing, yellow eyes hissed once, then disappeared in a shimmer.
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Meanwhile, in a large crowded cafeteria in an orphanage, a young boy named Alim was just coming from the food line after getting his tray with his breakfast, when he suddenly doubled over in pain. His tray with a simple breakfast of grapes, cheese, toast, and cereal dropped to the ground with a clatter. His friends...who were just walking besides him, looked at him with concern. "Alim? Hey, what's wrong?" Kaddem reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. But the young Alim only fell to his knees, and hugged himself around his stomach as he sucked in a breath. "Make...it stop! Please! Make..it stop!" The pain! It was coming again! For as long as the child could remember, he often had attacks of pain at unexpected times. Sometimes it was very painful, sometimes just a dull ache. He had complained about it before and was checked out by doctors, but no one could explain why they occurred, saying it was only in his head. He had learned to get used to it, and it was actually almost a year since he had an attack. But this time, it came on strong, and it was...different.
The time, it was like something was clawing at his stomach, trying to rip it apart. But yet...somehow, the pain had a certain.... familiar feeling to it, as though it was a long forgotten memory...as though it was the last thing he felt before going to sleep. He just couldn't understand why it would be so, and why it would hurt so much!
The two boys beside him looked at each other in complete bafflement. What could they do to help their friend? "Alim, come on! Pull yourself together!" said the chubbier Hadi. He put is free hand under Alim's arm and tried to pull him up. The boy only fell back on his knees, his face going paler and paler. Just then, one of the teachers of the orphanage came walking up to them, her face concerned. "Alim? Is something wrong?" The boy only looked up at her and shook his head, unable to speak due to the pain. With a concerned look, she pickd him up with her strong arms and hurriedly carried him to the infirmary. Sadly, the two boys watched Alim being carried away, hoping in their hearts that their friend would be okay.
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In the Underworld, where the souls of mortals who have done evil in their lives ended up as punishment, Set sat calmly on his throne in the torture chamber of his palace as he watched the soul of a man who was once a robber and murderer be slashed across his back with a whip made of nails and glass. With every strike, with every blow and scream, Set closed his eyes and savored the pleasure the prisoner's pain brought him. The soul was given to him as was custom when his heart failed the test of truth, and was eaten by Ammut, the devourer of hearts. Oh how he loved to receive those who's heart had been devoured. It was...intoxicating. To make it even more sweeter, Set even gave the soul a body...as he sometimes did so they can die many times over as punishment, and the pain emanating from the soul was enough to make him shudder with pleasure.
In front of him, a tall and muscular guard held the whip and seemed to take pleasure at giving out this punishment as well. The prisoner was strapped to a metal pole, and great rivers of blood along with flesh trailed down his back, which was nearly stripped to the bone.
Set closed his eyes once more and deeply breathed in the smell of blood, rankness, and decomposition the dungeon gave. His black, charred-like skin and bald head glistened with dampness from the humidity of the chamber, and he welcomed the fear emanating from the rest of the prisoners in their cells. Suddenly, he felt a cool sensation on his leg, and he looked down to see the large, immense snake, Apep, slowly sliding up his leg in a spiral twist and traveling up to his chest. He was green and white with glistening slime all over his body, and had glowing yellow eyes. Sharp fangs protruded from his mouth, and he was hooded like a cobra. The snake finally rested on Set's shoulders, his tail hanging on one, and his head on the other.
"I bring newssss, Oh great SSSet," hissed out Apep against his ear. At this, Set flicked a wrist to make the guard stop his whipping for a moment while he listened.
"Speak," replied Set, his eyes narrowing.
"I have done as you assssked, and located where your powerssss are, but I wassss interrupted in trying to bring it back to you," the slimy snake began. "The other godssss are plotting against you, and they have now taken on a human girl to try and stop you from retrieving your powerssss. SSShe has been given powers, My Lord..powerss from the godsss themselvesssss..."
"Is that so?" Set smirked and squeezed his one hand into a fist, his voice deep and full of malice. "No matter, it will only be a matter of time before I am back to my full strength. The human girl will be nothing but a plaything for me, and then I will let the maggots feed upon her body. Soon, they will all pay for their crime against me."
His eyes glowed red for a moment, and he ran a finger along his chin. "I think, perhaps, I'll see this young human girl for myself. It's been a while since I had a little..fun." The god of choas thought of the fun ways he could torture and inflict pain on the girl, both physically and mentally, and suddenly couldn't wait to meet this human and show her why he was indeed called choas itself. With that, Set motioned for the guard to continue the torture, and he chuckled deeply in his throat as Apep hissed in pleasure as he watched. Both listened in rapture as the lost soul screamed in horror, feeling blood drip down his back in great rivers.
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Sighing with exhaustion, Tari walked into her room in her father's apartment and closed the door. It had certainly been an interesting and tiring day. Not only did she change and became some sort of superhero, she fought a deadly monster and talked with mythical gods that weren't even supposed to exist! But after today, she was sure anything could happen. She just hoped she was ready for it.
After the attack, Tari spent hours with her father and Sajid helping with the wounded and trying to get the dig site back into shape. No one even dared try to figure out and explain what happened....it was just too crazy. What mattered now was getting back into business and saving the historic artifacts they could find. Tari and her father didn't make it home until almost midnight.
With another sigh, she sat on her bed and proceeded to take of her dusty and grimy clothes and sneakers. When she was only in her black laced, satin undergarment, she flopped back on her bed and yawned, stretching her shapely body and her long dark braids spread out under her. She turned her head towards the window next to her bed and looked out at the almost full moon. I don't understand what's truly going on yet, but...I hope Isis and all the others will help me out. I want to help all I can, but...I hope I don't let them down.I wonder...if I'll even seen them again.
She brought up her arm with the bracelet and once more traced her fingertip along it, almost feeling the power within it. Somehow, she felt that this bracelet had alot more surprises her for her. With a chuckle, she got up from her bed and went into her bathroom for a quick bath before getting some much needed sleep.
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To Be Continued...
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