Part 07.6
"I have a feeling he's not," Andrew admitted, only to have the falcon cry in response.
"So what's Horus doing here in the first place?"
"I have no clue; I think he just wanted to bask in the attention," Andrew said offhandedly. "Ow! That thing's sharp!" he barked when Horus poked him on top of his head with his beak.
"Dr. Sanders!" Bill called out when they were getting some odd readings on its display. If he didn't know any better, he would say there was indeed something buried beneath their feet. Ignoring how Andrew was arguing with a bird which to him seems so preposterous.
"You and I need to have a chat about poking me with that beak!" They heard Andrew grumble as they all stood around the display screen, going over the readings. Debating what they meant as their fingers moved over the screen.
"I can't believe any one of you believes this man's hogwash?!" Dr. Rose shouted, earning ever-burning glares from Anta, Carla, and Alex. "So he got lucky a few times. That does not mean..." The ground began to tremble beneath their feet. The wind that had been nonexistent a few moments ago violently whipped their clothes, churring up the sand. Then a hum began to be carried on the currents causing Alex to turn back to her son. Throwing up her arm to keep the sand from stinging her eyes.
"Andy?!" Alex gasped low as a golden aura pulsated around his body.
"You insult the Gods; your disbelief will be your undoing, for I am Pharaoh, and Egypt heeds my call!" Andrew spoke in an alien voice. A voice, thanks to Bast's training, he learned was his own goddom speaking. The purple light of his ankh ring flared as he brought up his arms; his divinity swirled within his eyes as the translucent images of Bast and Horus appeared behind him, resting their hands on his shoulders, imparting their might into his works.
Alex and the others scrambled to get out of the area as the sand began to shift beneath their feet. Alex stared worryingly at her son as the sand rose up into the air like a giant wave in the ocean, towering ninety feet into the air before crashing thunderously down onto the land behind the newly uncovered addition. Covering her mouth as did the others as the sand floated in the air. Her eyes quivered at her son, praying that he wasn't overtaxing himself like he had done in Punt. She never wanted to see Andrew in that shape ever again. However, unlike how he had collapsed in Punt, Andrew stood tall, and an air of strength seemed to cloak him as the golden glow still radiated off his body.
"Next time when I speak, you will heed it as the truth," Andrew spoke in a forceful tone as he gestured down to the now uncovered pavilion. "Or you will be left behind like all the other fools who failed to heed their Pharaoh's words," he said, staring intently at the disbelievers. "Come on, man, can't you like pick a shoulder or something?!" Andrew grumbled loudly as he walked back to camp when Horus returned to his perch on top of Andrew's head as the dinner bell rang out.
Halima and the others eyed the falcon as it sat perched on top of the mess tent. She got the feeling they were being watched very carefully. It unnerved her greatly being beneath the gaze of a god, especially the one that protected the monarchy. She had no idea what they would do to them if they moved against Andrew like Mido was planning. Noting how Andrew was sitting alone if you discount the three women that were always by his side as he ate his dinner while the rest of the archeological team gave him a wide berth while those of her order sat across from them. Quickly fixing herself a plate, given how she would be on duty in an hour to guard the Pharaoh during the night. She didn't want him to think she couldn't handle the long hours of standing guard. Halima wanted to show Andrew that she could be trusted, that all she wanted was the return to the old ways and not usurp his power like Mido was plotting.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" Halima asked as she stood by their table, causing the four of them to look up at her as she held her metal tray. "Thanks," she said warmly when Andrew gave her a wave to sit as he chewed his bite. Noticing the sly looks of her peers as she took a seat beside Carla. "So I see you got yourself a pet falcon. Do you just adopt strays?" Halima teased, trying not to squirm beneath those eyes of his and ignoring how the others down the table were eyeing Andrew with hate, fear, and uneasiness.
"He's not a stray," Andrew mumbled before taking a bite of his date.
"Oh?" Halima perked up; of course, she knew what or who the falcon represented; she just wanted Andrew to admit it. "Did he follow you all the way here from Cairo?"
"No," Andrew said, pushing around his food with his fork. He had enough of hummus the last time he was there; he wasn't about to go through the runs again. Not in that lifetime, he wasn't.
"So, enjoying the dig site?" Carla asked, steering Halima's questions away from whatever she was trying to pull out of Andrew.
"It's quieter than I had imagined it would be; how do you all stand it when there's nothing around for miles?" Halima asked, knowing it was going to be three long months out in the desert or until they finished up with their survey. She did hope it didn't take three months; she was already missing her shower.
"The work keeps us busy most of the time, so we don't have a lot of time to worry about boredom," Anta said, sitting across from Halima. Her hand rubbed Andrew's thigh beneath the table just to tease him through their dinner.
"So, how many Gods have you actually met, Pharaoh?" Halima asked in ancient Egyptian, cutting to the chase only to be met with a smirk from Andrew. She did notice how the others perked up when they heard her speaking ancient Egyptian, given how no one expected her order and the four beside her could understand it, yet she paid them no heed. They weren't the focus of their mission; only Andrew was. "Then if you won't talk about the Gods, how about we talk about NeoHierakonpolis or Djed?" she spoke, keeping to the ancient language. Also, informing him that they knew about them. "Where are these places? Is that why you wanted that temple designed for you, and where exactly would it be built, Djed or NeoHierakonpolis?" Hearing the shifting behind her, knowing those of her order were waiting patiently for the answers to her questions. However, what she was met with was not what she was expecting, as the four of them just continued to eat their meal in silence. "What about this Punt? Is it some other site you're going to use?" Leaning back in her seat, wondering if she had pushed too hard, when four pairs of eyes stared intently at her.
"I will say this once, and that will be the last I ever want to hear those names coming from you, we clear?" Andrew spoke in a harsh tone, keeping to ancient Egyptian so only Halima and her peers would understand. "What they are or where they are, are none of yours or your ilk's concern. When the Gods say you can't be trusted, I take their word far more seriously than what you, and your order has spouted off to me. You wish to rise with me, fine, I welcome your help, yet don't think for a second you will hold sway over Egypt. You are not the one chosen by the Gods, now are you? No, you all are just little sycophants chomping at the bit for an ounce of power. Move against me, the Gods, and I will crush you into dust, am I clear?" he uttered in a stern, authoritative voice as he rose from his seat, having lost his appetite. The tent was deathly silent as Andrew walked over to where plastic trays were filled with potable water to soak the trays before they washed them.
"Don't anger my husband again; you're supposed to be the protectors of the Pharaoh, not some shady group plotting against him. If you want to join in the rise of Egypt, then I suggest you return to your former ways and not this... whatever you are," Anta said in ancient Egyptian, clearly taking Halima by surprise that she would even know the language as she followed after Andrew.
"Come on, Horus?! What's your fascination with my head, of all things!" Andrew bemoaned once he had stepped out of the tent, and Horus' falcon hopped down onto his head. "See, I have perfectly good shoulders to perch on!" His voice could be heard as he walked off into the distance.
Halima's shoulders slumped as Carla and Alex quickly discarded their trays and left the tent. She had been hoping that she could build trust among the four of them, yet if the Gods were telling him that they couldn't be trusted, how was she to overcome that? Hurriedly eating her meal, she was going to fulfill her duty even if Andrew distrusted her at the moment. She could only show him that she could earn that trust through her deeds, not her words.
Anta awoke early the next morning as something roused her from her slumber. Looking at Carla, Alex, and Andrew as they were slumbering peacefully in their sleep, only to have something nudge her mind to look towards the front of their tent. The generators could be heard running in the background, the air chillers humming away to keep the air in the tent cool. Even though it was the end of winter in Egypt, it was still eighty degrees during the day and the high sixties in the evening. Her sleepy eyes finally took notice of Bast as she sat gazing at her and her alone. She had no idea what compelled her to get out of bed or don her clothes from yesterday. All she knew was that she had to follow Bast as she jumped down from the folding table that held Alex's journals she used to document their days on the site.
Slipping out of the tent without making much noise, she didn't want to disturb Andrew's sleep, given the stress of yesterday. The cool sand felt wet on the soles of her feet as she hurried after Bast, as her little legs carried her off towards the temple.
"Bast, where are you going?" Anta asked low, hoping none of the Medjay were watching. Yet Bast didn't say a word and just continued on down the embankment towards the temple proper. Looking around the ancient site as the days that they were there months ago flared in her mind as she followed Bast's little paw prints in the sand. Stopping in her tracks when she saw Bast sitting on the base of the thirty-foot-tall statue of herself. That wasn't all. She gasped in awe as the statue itself appeared to be glowing in the early dawn light.
"Do you wish to serve me, Anta Ali?" Anta's head darted around as an alien voice filled her mind. "Do you wish to serve the Goddess of cats, battle, home, childbirth, and the protector of the Pharaoh?" Anta dropped to her knees in the sand as her eyes were centered on Bast the cat, not the statue.
"Oh yes, Bast, I will serve you as long as you wish it," Anta said in reverence and joy that she could finally hear what Bast sounded like, at least in her head. Looking around worryingly as a soft green light surrounded the area around her statue. She felt a strange tingling sensation on her skin as she felt Bast embracing her in her arms, taking her into her bosom. Not realizing the paw print materialized into existence on the center of her forehead where Bast had anointed her on.
"Then rise, my priestess, and enter," Bast commanded as the huge doors that had once been sealed by sand and hid the chamber that Andrew had fallen into swung open, and an unearthly light shone brightly out of the opening.
Anta didn't hesitate as she got to her feet and walked stalwartly towards it. Knowing now, she would be in Andrew's world and experience the side of reality that only he has dealt with alone. Squaring her shoulders as she neared the threshold, she was not about to allow her man, the man she loved to wander alone anymore as she took a step into that light, then another, only to have the doors slam shut behind her.
Everyone rushed out of their tents in their undergarments at the sound of the noise that roused them from their slumber. Then quickly hurried back into their tents when most of them were in their underwear.
"Everyone fan out and see if you can't find the cause of that sound?!" Alex barked out her order; she had no wish to damage anything at the site. She might be the future Queen of Egypt she was still an archaeologist first and foremost.
"Where's Anta?! She wasn't in the tent when we woke up?!" Carla asked worryingly at the disappearance of her good friend.
"Well, your people were supposedly standing guard. Did you see anything?" Alex asked heatedly, staring down at the group of Medjay. Who looked as confused as they were at the disappearance of Anta from the camp.
"She couldn't have walked out of camp, nor could anyone sneak in and kidnap her. We would have seen it," Halima assured her, with her peers nodding along. "What's he doing?" she inquired as Andrew was walking strangely away from their group, following the tracks only he could see.
"Lion!" Dr. Rose shouted as the female lion appeared out of the haze of the desert, causing the whole group to scramble to safety.
"Andy!" Carla screamed out to him as the lion was walking right towards him.
"No, Carla," roughly, taking her by the arms when she was about to rush to Andrew, "you'll only provoke it," Alex said, trying to keep her fear contained as her son hadn't moved an inch from the spot he had stopped at.
Getting to a knee and bowing his head as the lion stood less than a foot away from him. "Greetings Sekhmet, I have not had the honor of greeting you in person," Andrew spoke, keeping his head bowed as he felt the lioness' hot breath through the strands of his hair. "Oh? Is she, so that's where she is," he muttered when Sekhmet spoke in his mind about Anta's whereabouts and why she was there. "I thank you greatly, Sekhmet. I know being a messenger for the other Eye of Ra isn't what your divinity entails. I thank you nonetheless for delivering this to me. We would have been very worried about Anta until she came back. Now that I know where she is, I can wait until Bast returns her to me." Glancing up as Sekhmet gently laid down in the sand, causing him too to follow suit after the goddess told him to sit.
"He's gone mad!" Dr. Rose spoke as Andrew's words of: 'I know! He wouldn't get off my head!' reached them. "To be speaking to an animal like it was intel..." The man didn't finish his words as he doubled over as if something had punched him hard in his gut, taking his breath away.
"Who is he talking to? That's not Bast," Carla whispered to Alex.
"Sekhmet is my guess; she's the only other cat goddess, also Bast's sister," Alex said informatively. "She's also not as patient as Bast is," she said, nodding over to Dr. Rose as his students helped him to his feet. Arching an eyebrow when the wind carried Andrew's words of 'I met your husband.' Shaking her head, there was no way Andrew had met Ptah; then again, she also doubted that her son would have a goddess following after him. She just wondered where he had met the god. She would know if Andrew met any other gods on their tour because she made him tell her if that happened. So she knew it had to be sometime yesterday. The only time she knew her son was out of her sight was when he went to visit NeoHierakonpolis. Pouting when her son didn't tell her he had met another god while he was visiting his capital.
"Don't bring that thing over here!" Bill shouted in fright as Andrew approached them with Sekhmet padding along beside him.
"So Andrew, where is Anta? I'm sure that's what you and Sekhmet were talking about," Alex stated, noting the amusement in the lion's eyes as it looked up at her as it sat down on its hind legs.
"With Bast," Andrew said factually. Seeing how his mother and Carla looked back to their tent, totally forgetting they hadn't seen Bast that morning.
"What do you mean with Bast?" Carla asked accusingly.
"I don't know, that's between her and Bast; I just know she's with her. She told Sekhmet to let me know, knowing I'd be worried about her and run off somewhere dangerous trying to find her."
"Ah, and why is Sekhmet still here? No offense," Alex uttered quickly.
"What? Can't a goddess come down to earth every century or two?" Andrew joked, looking down as Sekhmet brushed her left cheek against his leg.
"But she won't do anything in the camp, right?" Alex asked, pointing over to hers and Dr. Rose's frightened students.
"You'll behave yourself, yes?" Andrew asked, only getting a grumbling huff out of her that he took as: 'If I must.' "Come on, Sekhmet, mealtime," he stated as the chow bell rang out. Even throughout the commotion, the cooks were still at work preparing their meals. Snickering when the onlookers quickly got out of the way as they were eager for her offering. "I so have to bring you along to parties," Andrew joked as they approached the mess tent.
"That thing cannot stay here!" Dr. Rose said heatedly as he pointed towards the mess tent.
"By all means, Dr. Rose, remove the lion from our camp," Alex said in a condescending tone as she waved towards the mess tent. "I will greatly enjoy watching how she makes you her chew toy." Noting how the man looked to their security only to be met with empty space as they, too, had sought out their morning meals.
"I don't know where you're getting these animals from or how you're training them so well, but I will find out!" Dr. Rose stated from the safety of the other side of the mess tent.
"Good luck with that," Andrew mumbled before taking a bite of his eggs and tossing one of the sausage patties to Sekhmet, who caught it midair. Her tail thumped in gratitude for the offering on the ground. Only to see a line of the Medjay forming, offering a portion of their meat to her before finding their seats.
"Pharaoh?" Halima spoke in ancient Egyptian, getting a questioning look out of Andrew as he peered over at her. "I know you spoke truthfully yesterday at dinner, and please know, not every one of the Medjay is out to deceive you. I'm sure in your wisdom you know how power corrupts," to this Andrew nodded, "so you know how unlikely some would be unwilling to give it up even in our order," again Andrew nodded, "so please know not one of us here is out to betray you, we only want is best for Egypt. I also have sent word back to the order about what you said last night. So maybe that will keep those that wish for more power from acting on their desires," she said, making her offering to Sekhmet before going to sit with her brethren.
"You know Bast is so going to be jealous that you got all her meat this morning," Andrew said, looking down at the goddess, who was licking her chops clean after devouring her meal.
"Good, she's been prancing around for far too long," Sekhmet said into Andrew's mind.
"So, any thoughts as to where you want to be?" Andrew asked, referring to his temple. Looking down when she patted the sand with her right paw indicating which side of the temple she wanted to be on. "So you want to be like Isis?" His eyebrows rose when Sekhmet shook her head. "Beside Ra?" Andrew asked when he noted the sun in her eyes, getting a nod out of her.
"Andy! Where are you going?!" Alex called out to her son as their group got ready to start their survey of the site after they had their breakfast.
"Sekhmet wants to show me something; I'll be back!" Andrew answered, waving his hand to her before he and the goddess disappeared into the haze of the dessert.
"Be safe, baby, and come back to me," Alex whispered, not even the least bit perturbed at how her son had just vanished without a trace.
Andrew tried not to be freaked out when he peered back, and the camp and temple were gone. If he concentrated hard enough, he could sense the air around him had a familiar feel to it as he followed after Sekhmet. His thoughts went to Anta, hoping she would be safe with Bast while Sekhmet led him to where? He hadn't a clue, yet he felt like he had to take this journey wherever it led him. Praying to Horus to ensure his mother and Carla remained safe while he was away. There was no telling what the powers in the shadows would do if they knew he was out of the picture for however long this would take.
As he crossed his tenth dune, he was panting hard; his mouth was dry. The hot wind cracked his lips as Sekhmet continued on, unperturbed by his weariness. Shaking it off, he knew Sekhmet wouldn't care if he was thirsty or tired, nor would any other god, for that matter. He was sure this was a test of some sort; what that test was, he couldn't say or why they were testing him. Breathing out slowly, centering himself, calling on his divinity to fortify his body before the granules of sand shifted beneath his foot as he pushed off to catch up with Sekhmet.
Andrew had no idea how long they had been walking. It felt like days to him, and not once did Sekhmet stop to allow him to rest. No, even when the sun went down, and the air grew cold, she pushed on, determined to reach her destination. If he rubbed his face, the signs of his days-old growth were evident, so he knew his mind was playing tricks on him. However, there were times he did truly think he had gone insane as he watched a giant scarab beetle erupting out of the sand, and its giant hairy legs scurried it across the sand, even passing over them, offering Andrew a bit of shade if momentarily. He knew if Wilma ever saw that thing, she would have a heart attack. The thought of his stepmother gave Andrew some comfort, and his father's smiling face gave him the strength to push on.
Nevertheless, the moment Sekhmet led Andrew to the base of a cliff that, at least from Andrew's perceptive, reached to the sky. Scowling when he got the sense he was meant to climb. His mind pondered if any other Pharaoh was put to this task as he watched how easily Sekhmet leapt from one rock ledge to another. As day turned to night, Andrew was faced with another peril as winged things harassed him all night long as he defended himself with the weapons of Ra as he continued his, albeit slower, climb upwards. He could never get Sekhmet to tell him what those things were when the sun would breach the horizon.
As the week progressed, Andrew fought from scratching his growing beard, given he needed his hands to climb. However, that wasn't the only change he began to notice as his clothes were starting to rip and tear due to the hard use he was putting them under as the climb grew more difficult the higher he went. While he was just a normal-looking teen who never put much stock into working out vigorously, he never once had that muscle tone he's seen in magazines back in New York until now. Coming to a stop in his climb when a giant break between him and his next handhold appeared. Andrew began to ponder on just how he was going to reach it since he had no climbing gear, and going back down was not an option.
"Oh, I shouldn't have done that?!" Andrew muttered aloud as he pressed his forehead to the stone as he looked down to see how far up he was, only to find he couldn't even see the ground anymore. Feeling his fear starting to set in as he began to second guess himself, looking up to find Sekhmet just simply studying him, waiting for him to choose his path. Upward or death. Recounting his dream of Hercules at his home in New York, wondering if his own godhood could give him the strength he needed.
Not realizing that he had been using it constantly ever since he had called on it over a week ago. Planting his feet against his foot holds, his fingers gripping the stone hard as he bent down, feeling the muscles in his arms and legs knotting, storing the strength within their fibers. "Here goes nothing; if I die, I'm so haunting you, Sekhmet," Andrew proclaimed, only to see the amusement in the goddess's eyes as Andrew pushed off the stone, taking even him by surprise as he leaped the ten-foot vertical gap. "Holy shit!" he cursed as he hung on for dear life with one hand on the stone face before his other hand joined his right. And so their journey continued upwards; as one week passed and another began, he was beginning to think he would never reach the top as it appeared that there was no end to his climb. That was until his arm rested on the top of the cliff, grunting as he dragged his weary body up and over the lip.
Panting heavily as he laid on his back, staring up at the sky, wondering how long this was going to go on. However, Sekhmet only gave him a moment to catch his breath before she prodded on. Groaning in his mind when he was faced with another dessert to cross. Pushing his weary body up, knowing if he gave up now, he would die, and wherever he was, the denizens would devour him for lunch. Then a thought crossed his mind as to why he, himself, wasn't even hungry or thirsty for that matter as he once was when he started this journey. Feeling his divinity sustaining himself as he peered down at his right hand, flexing it. Looking up and noticing how far Sekhmet had gotten ahead of him. Taking off in a run, totally surprised at how fast he was running, he nearly overran Sekhmet if he didn't almost fall face-first into the sand. He was starting to get overconfident, thinking he could do anything now. Until Ammit surged out of the sand and smacked him around for good measure. Reminding him that he might be a demigod, yet don't let it go to his head before Ammit returned to her slumber in the sand.
With his ego knocked down a peg or two, holding his ribs with his left hand, Andrew stared wearyingly at the dark, foul-smelling swamp before him. Getting a little kick out of how Sekhmet was bounding from one patch of dry land to another as he waded through the dark, soupy waters. Instantly his weapons appeared in his hands as something was heading towards him beneath the surface of the water. His dread filled his mind as a ten-foot section of the giant snake breached the water. He could feel Apophis' influence within the creature, yet it wasn't the vile god himself. Swinging his flail about to keep the beast's fangs from capturing him, he wasn't about to become the beast's dinner, not in that lifetime. However, he could never get the hit in he knew would end the beast as it kept its distance, using the time to encircle Andrew in its hidden half. He knew if he didn't do something he would soon die. Looking to Sekhmet, who was sitting on a log watching the whole thing, wondering why she wasn't lending a hand when she knew he was struggling, mentally smacking himself for not thinking of it earlier, given who he was and what he was meant to represent on Earth.
"Hear me, Ra, oh great ruler of the sky, hear this humble prayer of the one you have chosen to lead your people once again," Andrew began to pray as he brought his weapons up, crossing his arms across his chest as he did. "Lend this simple mortal the strength he needs to vanquish this shadow of Apophis. Lend me your power, oh lord Ra." The water started to boil, and the light of the sun filtered through the trees as the wind whipped them wildly. Feeling Ra's hands on his shoulders, fortifying his body with his godly strength. As Andrew slowly opened his eyes, his irises glowed in a shimmering gold. "Come foul beast of the Great Snake, allow me to send you back to your master!" Andrew howled as he leapt with all his might at the snake's head. Holding its massive jaw shut with his left arm, holding on for dear life as he bashed the beast's brains in with his flail. Holding his breath when the snake thought to drown him in its death throws. That didn't stop Andrew from hammering away at the thing's head as Ra's flail sizzled the water around it. It wasn't until he heard the crack of the beast's skull that he knew it was dead.
Gasping loudly as Andrew breached the water's surface, drawing much-needed air into his lungs, hearing the water turning to steam on his skin, drifting off of it in wisps of smoke as he breathed heavily. His gaze turned towards Sekhmet, who hadn't moved an inch throughout it all. Giving him a look, asking if he had figured out what that battle was about. Nodding his head that he did, it showed him that he couldn't do everything without the Gods, and the Gods couldn't do anything without him in the mortal world... mostly. Sensing her pleasure as she lifted off the log she had been sitting on, telling him to follow as they continued on with their trek.
The moment they were out of the swamp, Andrew tossed his shoes away. There was no way he was going to continue walking in them, given the muck they were filled with. He got a sense that this pleased Sekhmet, why that was he couldn't say nor did he want to know. If he did, he had a suspicion that she would tell him to strip down naked, and that wasn't going to happen. Although he knew his shirt and pants were a lost cause, he just hoped they would hold up until this test of theirs was over. Then again, he could already hear his mother's screams of fright if he showed back up as he was. Chuckling at the thought as they began to walk through a lush marshland covered in papyrus reeds. Noticing the hippos in the water from the corner of his eye as he followed Sekhmet carefully, remembering a few times his past self had been killed by them. He knew Sobek was near if Taweret was showing herself to him.
Looking up as the cry of a falcon pierced the air above him. Ever since he had entered this realm, whatever it was, he had a sense of familiarity. Andrew should have known where he had been taken the moment he lost sight of the camp. The Duat! It was the only explanation as to why the Gods' good and the bad, along with the things he couldn't even describe, were showing themselves to him and not like how they did when he was on Earth. Looking around for an Ibis, knowing that it would be Thoth in his animal form, waving to the bird who flipped his right wing in greeting. Andrew knew his mother would have a field day with this if she could experience it.
He would have pulled out his cell phone and recorded the sight, yet he doubted the Gods would allow him to or that it would even pick up what he was seeing. "What the?!" Andrew muttered aloud as he noticed Ptah building a giant crossbow to bring Horus down from the sky for what he had done to his head. His ears perked as he heard the loveliest of melodies playing on the air, keeping his eyes forward, yet out of the corner of his eye, he watched the bare-chested Hathor prancing around singing to no one in particular. He saw Hapi arguing with one of the minor Nile goddesses about something he really didn't want to know and noted how Isis was sending little boats down the River of Night to her husband, who sat in judgment of every soul that passed through the gates of the afterlife.
Andrew would have thought Sekhmet would have led him to Ra's palace or something like that, not a little crevice in the side of a rock wall. Sucking in his stomach as he was squeezed tight as he made his slow, painful way through it. Even tearing the last remnants of his shirt off his chest as he did. He had hoped that his last piece of clothing would hold up, but alas, that was not to be, as it felt like tiny, rocky hands purposely tore his pants off of him. He could hear Bast now berating him for walking around naked in front of the Gods of Egypt. When he thought he would be stuck in that little fissure forever, he saw the opening on the other side of it, causing him to move faster toward it as much as the space would allow. Andrew nearly fell over when he pulled himself out of that tight space. Once he had righted himself, braziers flared to life, highlighting the one hundred and seventy Pharaohs that had ruled Egypt in antiquity, with Menes statue looming high above him at the other end of that cavernous area.
"Who dares enter the domain of the Pharaoh!?" The chorus of one hundred and seventy voices spoke as one in ancient Egyptian. Andrew looked around, now knowing why this whole thing felt familiar, as he looked down at his ankh ring. This was all a test to see if he could continuously wield the power of the Pharaoh for long durations of time. Why they had tested him in such a manner, he hadn't figured that part out yet.
"I do!" Andrew answered with a booming voice. "I claim my right of birth! For I am Pharaoh!" he stated with as much authority as he could muster, staring down large stone statues. He knew if anyone saw this, they would have thought him crazy; then again, this was his life, and he might indeed be crazy.
"Then step forth, my Pharaoh, and claim what has been waiting for you all this time," Bast said, shimmering into view, standing before a lone stone bench that measured around three feet by three feet. Upon it sat the glimmering true crown of Egypt. Fashioned out of the metal of the Gods so that only one person could ever wear that crown.
Andrew looked at Bast, giving her a questioning look as to Anta's whereabouts. Having to be content with her smile as he nodded and took his first step as the Ruler of Egypt. As he passed each and every statue, loud cracks began to form within the stone. The souls of the Pharaohs seeped out and sought the vessel that would harness their will. Imparting their wisdom and experience to him, no longer having to be pulled from them as their souls merged into Andrew's. No longer did he have to endure the threat of them rising up against him and usurping his soul. Feeling his body humming the closer he drew to the bench.
"Now, my Pharaoh, take the crown and proclaim to the world who you are!" Bast uttered with encouragement.
With worry he might not be good enough to wear the crown of the two lands, Andrew reached out for his heritage. The ruby red of the Lower crown shimmered in the orange light of the flames, and the pearl white of the Upper crown glinted as he lifted off the bench.
"Hail to the King," Andrew muttered as the Avenge Sevenfold song played in his mind as his crown settled onto his head.
[1] Ancient name for Cairo.
[2] The tunnel that connects England and France.
[3] Ptah - was venerated as the Egyptian god of construction, builders, and craftsmen who was also lead god of the city of Memphis (Cairo). Ptah is the husband of Sekhmet and father of Nefertum forming the "Memphite Triad" central to worship in the northern capital.
[4] Seen in part one.
[5] The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt.
[6] Coptic language, an Afro-Asiatic language that was spoken in Egypt from about the 2nd century ce and that represents the final stage of the ancient Egyptian
[7] The uraeus was the serpent, which the king wore on a diadem or during the Middle Kingdom, on his crown. The Uraeus, which conveyed legitimacy to the ruler. was represented by a rearing cobra with an inflated hood.
As worn on the head, the uraeus dates back to the forelock worn by the tribes in ancient Libya. The uraeus was the protector of the pharaoh and was believed to spit fire at enemies from its place on the forehead. The Uraeus was used as a symbol of royalty, sovereignty, deity, and divine authority. It was the personification of the goddess Wadjet, the protective goddess of Lower Egypt and one of the earliest Egyptian deities, often depicted as a cobra.
[8] In Egyptian legend, the first king of Egypt was Menes
[9] He was the last great ruler of Egypt before the Persian conquest.
[10] is the Great Serpent, enemy of the sun god Ra, in ancient Egyptian religion.
[11] is considered the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty of Egypt
[12] is the ancient Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance
[13] Third Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[14] Last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty
[15] Sixth Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[16] See part six
[17] Fourth Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[18] Possibly the first female Pharaoh of Egypt. She may have ruled as regent for her son Den.
[19] First Pharaoh of the Third Dynasty
[20] See part six
[21] is the Egyptian god of writing, magic, wisdom, and the moon.
[22] In ancient Egyptian art, the Set animal, or sha, is the totemic animal of the god Set.
[23] also known as Seth and Suetekh, was the Egyptian god of war, evil, chaos and storms
[24] The ancient Egyptian royal harem was not so much a sexual supermarket for the king, but a community that chiefly comprised female and infant members of the king's extended family. A related element of the palace complex was the Kap, a royal nursery or school that educated both royal children and those of favored members of the court.
[25] as a god of the Nile who brought fertility to the land
[26] was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion.
[27] The three gods of the nile that made up the Elephantine Triad were as follows:
Khnum, the protector of the Nile River
Sat, the goddess of the periodic flooding
Anuket, the goddess of cataracts
[28] in Egyptian religion, god of the air and supporter of the sky
[29] were pieces of striped head cloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt.
[30] The new spiritual center of Egypt and Andrew's new Capital city.
[31] was the god of the moon and time.
[32] was a place of legend and fable, illustrated by Herodotus' account (in Book II of his History, 5th century BC) of the exploits of an Egyptian pharaoh
[33] the god of the earth to Ancient Egyptians.
[34] ancient Egyptian god of the dead
[35] is the realm of the dead in ancient Egyptian mythology
[36] which means the "black land."
[37] is the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation in ancient Egyptian religion.
[38] Also referred to as Duat
[39] people who emerged from the Fertile Crescent to establish a short-lived governance over much of the Nile region, and ruled from 1674 to 1535 BC.
[40] 10th ruler of the 18th dynasty
[41] Akhenaten's Queen, mother of Tutankhamen, and Pharaoh
[42] 2rd Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty, had one of the longest Egyptian reigns. known for his large scale construction projects, including many now famous monuments.
[43] The Battle of Kadesh in 1275 BC, after which the famous Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty was signed in 1258 BC.
[44] In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet, is a warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing.
[45] Soul
[46] Abu Rawash, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Giza, is the site of Egypt's most northerly pyramid, also known as the lost pyramid - the mostly ruined Pyramid of Djedefre, the son and successor of Khufu.
[47] 4th Pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
[48] 3rd Pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
[49] Founder and first Pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty
[50] Second Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, in this story brother to Onouphrios the forgotten Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty
[51] goddess of the sky, of women, and of fertility and love.
[52] Psusennes I, better known as the Silver Pharaoh
[53] is a female demon goddess, a personification of divine retribution.
[54] was an ancient Egyptian patron of childbirth and a protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was considered to be a ferocious demon as well as a protective and nurturing deity.
"So what's Horus doing here in the first place?"
"I have no clue; I think he just wanted to bask in the attention," Andrew said offhandedly. "Ow! That thing's sharp!" he barked when Horus poked him on top of his head with his beak.
"Dr. Sanders!" Bill called out when they were getting some odd readings on its display. If he didn't know any better, he would say there was indeed something buried beneath their feet. Ignoring how Andrew was arguing with a bird which to him seems so preposterous.
"You and I need to have a chat about poking me with that beak!" They heard Andrew grumble as they all stood around the display screen, going over the readings. Debating what they meant as their fingers moved over the screen.
"I can't believe any one of you believes this man's hogwash?!" Dr. Rose shouted, earning ever-burning glares from Anta, Carla, and Alex. "So he got lucky a few times. That does not mean..." The ground began to tremble beneath their feet. The wind that had been nonexistent a few moments ago violently whipped their clothes, churring up the sand. Then a hum began to be carried on the currents causing Alex to turn back to her son. Throwing up her arm to keep the sand from stinging her eyes.
"Andy?!" Alex gasped low as a golden aura pulsated around his body.
"You insult the Gods; your disbelief will be your undoing, for I am Pharaoh, and Egypt heeds my call!" Andrew spoke in an alien voice. A voice, thanks to Bast's training, he learned was his own goddom speaking. The purple light of his ankh ring flared as he brought up his arms; his divinity swirled within his eyes as the translucent images of Bast and Horus appeared behind him, resting their hands on his shoulders, imparting their might into his works.
Alex and the others scrambled to get out of the area as the sand began to shift beneath their feet. Alex stared worryingly at her son as the sand rose up into the air like a giant wave in the ocean, towering ninety feet into the air before crashing thunderously down onto the land behind the newly uncovered addition. Covering her mouth as did the others as the sand floated in the air. Her eyes quivered at her son, praying that he wasn't overtaxing himself like he had done in Punt. She never wanted to see Andrew in that shape ever again. However, unlike how he had collapsed in Punt, Andrew stood tall, and an air of strength seemed to cloak him as the golden glow still radiated off his body.
"Next time when I speak, you will heed it as the truth," Andrew spoke in a forceful tone as he gestured down to the now uncovered pavilion. "Or you will be left behind like all the other fools who failed to heed their Pharaoh's words," he said, staring intently at the disbelievers. "Come on, man, can't you like pick a shoulder or something?!" Andrew grumbled loudly as he walked back to camp when Horus returned to his perch on top of Andrew's head as the dinner bell rang out.
Halima and the others eyed the falcon as it sat perched on top of the mess tent. She got the feeling they were being watched very carefully. It unnerved her greatly being beneath the gaze of a god, especially the one that protected the monarchy. She had no idea what they would do to them if they moved against Andrew like Mido was planning. Noting how Andrew was sitting alone if you discount the three women that were always by his side as he ate his dinner while the rest of the archeological team gave him a wide berth while those of her order sat across from them. Quickly fixing herself a plate, given how she would be on duty in an hour to guard the Pharaoh during the night. She didn't want him to think she couldn't handle the long hours of standing guard. Halima wanted to show Andrew that she could be trusted, that all she wanted was the return to the old ways and not usurp his power like Mido was plotting.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" Halima asked as she stood by their table, causing the four of them to look up at her as she held her metal tray. "Thanks," she said warmly when Andrew gave her a wave to sit as he chewed his bite. Noticing the sly looks of her peers as she took a seat beside Carla. "So I see you got yourself a pet falcon. Do you just adopt strays?" Halima teased, trying not to squirm beneath those eyes of his and ignoring how the others down the table were eyeing Andrew with hate, fear, and uneasiness.
"He's not a stray," Andrew mumbled before taking a bite of his date.
"Oh?" Halima perked up; of course, she knew what or who the falcon represented; she just wanted Andrew to admit it. "Did he follow you all the way here from Cairo?"
"No," Andrew said, pushing around his food with his fork. He had enough of hummus the last time he was there; he wasn't about to go through the runs again. Not in that lifetime, he wasn't.
"So, enjoying the dig site?" Carla asked, steering Halima's questions away from whatever she was trying to pull out of Andrew.
"It's quieter than I had imagined it would be; how do you all stand it when there's nothing around for miles?" Halima asked, knowing it was going to be three long months out in the desert or until they finished up with their survey. She did hope it didn't take three months; she was already missing her shower.
"The work keeps us busy most of the time, so we don't have a lot of time to worry about boredom," Anta said, sitting across from Halima. Her hand rubbed Andrew's thigh beneath the table just to tease him through their dinner.
"So, how many Gods have you actually met, Pharaoh?" Halima asked in ancient Egyptian, cutting to the chase only to be met with a smirk from Andrew. She did notice how the others perked up when they heard her speaking ancient Egyptian, given how no one expected her order and the four beside her could understand it, yet she paid them no heed. They weren't the focus of their mission; only Andrew was. "Then if you won't talk about the Gods, how about we talk about NeoHierakonpolis or Djed?" she spoke, keeping to the ancient language. Also, informing him that they knew about them. "Where are these places? Is that why you wanted that temple designed for you, and where exactly would it be built, Djed or NeoHierakonpolis?" Hearing the shifting behind her, knowing those of her order were waiting patiently for the answers to her questions. However, what she was met with was not what she was expecting, as the four of them just continued to eat their meal in silence. "What about this Punt? Is it some other site you're going to use?" Leaning back in her seat, wondering if she had pushed too hard, when four pairs of eyes stared intently at her.
"I will say this once, and that will be the last I ever want to hear those names coming from you, we clear?" Andrew spoke in a harsh tone, keeping to ancient Egyptian so only Halima and her peers would understand. "What they are or where they are, are none of yours or your ilk's concern. When the Gods say you can't be trusted, I take their word far more seriously than what you, and your order has spouted off to me. You wish to rise with me, fine, I welcome your help, yet don't think for a second you will hold sway over Egypt. You are not the one chosen by the Gods, now are you? No, you all are just little sycophants chomping at the bit for an ounce of power. Move against me, the Gods, and I will crush you into dust, am I clear?" he uttered in a stern, authoritative voice as he rose from his seat, having lost his appetite. The tent was deathly silent as Andrew walked over to where plastic trays were filled with potable water to soak the trays before they washed them.
"Don't anger my husband again; you're supposed to be the protectors of the Pharaoh, not some shady group plotting against him. If you want to join in the rise of Egypt, then I suggest you return to your former ways and not this... whatever you are," Anta said in ancient Egyptian, clearly taking Halima by surprise that she would even know the language as she followed after Andrew.
"Come on, Horus?! What's your fascination with my head, of all things!" Andrew bemoaned once he had stepped out of the tent, and Horus' falcon hopped down onto his head. "See, I have perfectly good shoulders to perch on!" His voice could be heard as he walked off into the distance.
Halima's shoulders slumped as Carla and Alex quickly discarded their trays and left the tent. She had been hoping that she could build trust among the four of them, yet if the Gods were telling him that they couldn't be trusted, how was she to overcome that? Hurriedly eating her meal, she was going to fulfill her duty even if Andrew distrusted her at the moment. She could only show him that she could earn that trust through her deeds, not her words.
Anta awoke early the next morning as something roused her from her slumber. Looking at Carla, Alex, and Andrew as they were slumbering peacefully in their sleep, only to have something nudge her mind to look towards the front of their tent. The generators could be heard running in the background, the air chillers humming away to keep the air in the tent cool. Even though it was the end of winter in Egypt, it was still eighty degrees during the day and the high sixties in the evening. Her sleepy eyes finally took notice of Bast as she sat gazing at her and her alone. She had no idea what compelled her to get out of bed or don her clothes from yesterday. All she knew was that she had to follow Bast as she jumped down from the folding table that held Alex's journals she used to document their days on the site.
Slipping out of the tent without making much noise, she didn't want to disturb Andrew's sleep, given the stress of yesterday. The cool sand felt wet on the soles of her feet as she hurried after Bast, as her little legs carried her off towards the temple.
"Bast, where are you going?" Anta asked low, hoping none of the Medjay were watching. Yet Bast didn't say a word and just continued on down the embankment towards the temple proper. Looking around the ancient site as the days that they were there months ago flared in her mind as she followed Bast's little paw prints in the sand. Stopping in her tracks when she saw Bast sitting on the base of the thirty-foot-tall statue of herself. That wasn't all. She gasped in awe as the statue itself appeared to be glowing in the early dawn light.
"Do you wish to serve me, Anta Ali?" Anta's head darted around as an alien voice filled her mind. "Do you wish to serve the Goddess of cats, battle, home, childbirth, and the protector of the Pharaoh?" Anta dropped to her knees in the sand as her eyes were centered on Bast the cat, not the statue.
"Oh yes, Bast, I will serve you as long as you wish it," Anta said in reverence and joy that she could finally hear what Bast sounded like, at least in her head. Looking around worryingly as a soft green light surrounded the area around her statue. She felt a strange tingling sensation on her skin as she felt Bast embracing her in her arms, taking her into her bosom. Not realizing the paw print materialized into existence on the center of her forehead where Bast had anointed her on.
"Then rise, my priestess, and enter," Bast commanded as the huge doors that had once been sealed by sand and hid the chamber that Andrew had fallen into swung open, and an unearthly light shone brightly out of the opening.
Anta didn't hesitate as she got to her feet and walked stalwartly towards it. Knowing now, she would be in Andrew's world and experience the side of reality that only he has dealt with alone. Squaring her shoulders as she neared the threshold, she was not about to allow her man, the man she loved to wander alone anymore as she took a step into that light, then another, only to have the doors slam shut behind her.
Everyone rushed out of their tents in their undergarments at the sound of the noise that roused them from their slumber. Then quickly hurried back into their tents when most of them were in their underwear.
"Everyone fan out and see if you can't find the cause of that sound?!" Alex barked out her order; she had no wish to damage anything at the site. She might be the future Queen of Egypt she was still an archaeologist first and foremost.
"Where's Anta?! She wasn't in the tent when we woke up?!" Carla asked worryingly at the disappearance of her good friend.
"Well, your people were supposedly standing guard. Did you see anything?" Alex asked heatedly, staring down at the group of Medjay. Who looked as confused as they were at the disappearance of Anta from the camp.
"She couldn't have walked out of camp, nor could anyone sneak in and kidnap her. We would have seen it," Halima assured her, with her peers nodding along. "What's he doing?" she inquired as Andrew was walking strangely away from their group, following the tracks only he could see.
"Lion!" Dr. Rose shouted as the female lion appeared out of the haze of the desert, causing the whole group to scramble to safety.
"Andy!" Carla screamed out to him as the lion was walking right towards him.
"No, Carla," roughly, taking her by the arms when she was about to rush to Andrew, "you'll only provoke it," Alex said, trying to keep her fear contained as her son hadn't moved an inch from the spot he had stopped at.
Getting to a knee and bowing his head as the lion stood less than a foot away from him. "Greetings Sekhmet, I have not had the honor of greeting you in person," Andrew spoke, keeping his head bowed as he felt the lioness' hot breath through the strands of his hair. "Oh? Is she, so that's where she is," he muttered when Sekhmet spoke in his mind about Anta's whereabouts and why she was there. "I thank you greatly, Sekhmet. I know being a messenger for the other Eye of Ra isn't what your divinity entails. I thank you nonetheless for delivering this to me. We would have been very worried about Anta until she came back. Now that I know where she is, I can wait until Bast returns her to me." Glancing up as Sekhmet gently laid down in the sand, causing him too to follow suit after the goddess told him to sit.
"He's gone mad!" Dr. Rose spoke as Andrew's words of: 'I know! He wouldn't get off my head!' reached them. "To be speaking to an animal like it was intel..." The man didn't finish his words as he doubled over as if something had punched him hard in his gut, taking his breath away.
"Who is he talking to? That's not Bast," Carla whispered to Alex.
"Sekhmet is my guess; she's the only other cat goddess, also Bast's sister," Alex said informatively. "She's also not as patient as Bast is," she said, nodding over to Dr. Rose as his students helped him to his feet. Arching an eyebrow when the wind carried Andrew's words of 'I met your husband.' Shaking her head, there was no way Andrew had met Ptah; then again, she also doubted that her son would have a goddess following after him. She just wondered where he had met the god. She would know if Andrew met any other gods on their tour because she made him tell her if that happened. So she knew it had to be sometime yesterday. The only time she knew her son was out of her sight was when he went to visit NeoHierakonpolis. Pouting when her son didn't tell her he had met another god while he was visiting his capital.
"Don't bring that thing over here!" Bill shouted in fright as Andrew approached them with Sekhmet padding along beside him.
"So Andrew, where is Anta? I'm sure that's what you and Sekhmet were talking about," Alex stated, noting the amusement in the lion's eyes as it looked up at her as it sat down on its hind legs.
"With Bast," Andrew said factually. Seeing how his mother and Carla looked back to their tent, totally forgetting they hadn't seen Bast that morning.
"What do you mean with Bast?" Carla asked accusingly.
"I don't know, that's between her and Bast; I just know she's with her. She told Sekhmet to let me know, knowing I'd be worried about her and run off somewhere dangerous trying to find her."
"Ah, and why is Sekhmet still here? No offense," Alex uttered quickly.
"What? Can't a goddess come down to earth every century or two?" Andrew joked, looking down as Sekhmet brushed her left cheek against his leg.
"But she won't do anything in the camp, right?" Alex asked, pointing over to hers and Dr. Rose's frightened students.
"You'll behave yourself, yes?" Andrew asked, only getting a grumbling huff out of her that he took as: 'If I must.' "Come on, Sekhmet, mealtime," he stated as the chow bell rang out. Even throughout the commotion, the cooks were still at work preparing their meals. Snickering when the onlookers quickly got out of the way as they were eager for her offering. "I so have to bring you along to parties," Andrew joked as they approached the mess tent.
"That thing cannot stay here!" Dr. Rose said heatedly as he pointed towards the mess tent.
"By all means, Dr. Rose, remove the lion from our camp," Alex said in a condescending tone as she waved towards the mess tent. "I will greatly enjoy watching how she makes you her chew toy." Noting how the man looked to their security only to be met with empty space as they, too, had sought out their morning meals.
"I don't know where you're getting these animals from or how you're training them so well, but I will find out!" Dr. Rose stated from the safety of the other side of the mess tent.
"Good luck with that," Andrew mumbled before taking a bite of his eggs and tossing one of the sausage patties to Sekhmet, who caught it midair. Her tail thumped in gratitude for the offering on the ground. Only to see a line of the Medjay forming, offering a portion of their meat to her before finding their seats.
"Pharaoh?" Halima spoke in ancient Egyptian, getting a questioning look out of Andrew as he peered over at her. "I know you spoke truthfully yesterday at dinner, and please know, not every one of the Medjay is out to deceive you. I'm sure in your wisdom you know how power corrupts," to this Andrew nodded, "so you know how unlikely some would be unwilling to give it up even in our order," again Andrew nodded, "so please know not one of us here is out to betray you, we only want is best for Egypt. I also have sent word back to the order about what you said last night. So maybe that will keep those that wish for more power from acting on their desires," she said, making her offering to Sekhmet before going to sit with her brethren.
"You know Bast is so going to be jealous that you got all her meat this morning," Andrew said, looking down at the goddess, who was licking her chops clean after devouring her meal.
"Good, she's been prancing around for far too long," Sekhmet said into Andrew's mind.
"So, any thoughts as to where you want to be?" Andrew asked, referring to his temple. Looking down when she patted the sand with her right paw indicating which side of the temple she wanted to be on. "So you want to be like Isis?" His eyebrows rose when Sekhmet shook her head. "Beside Ra?" Andrew asked when he noted the sun in her eyes, getting a nod out of her.
"Andy! Where are you going?!" Alex called out to her son as their group got ready to start their survey of the site after they had their breakfast.
"Sekhmet wants to show me something; I'll be back!" Andrew answered, waving his hand to her before he and the goddess disappeared into the haze of the dessert.
"Be safe, baby, and come back to me," Alex whispered, not even the least bit perturbed at how her son had just vanished without a trace.
Andrew tried not to be freaked out when he peered back, and the camp and temple were gone. If he concentrated hard enough, he could sense the air around him had a familiar feel to it as he followed after Sekhmet. His thoughts went to Anta, hoping she would be safe with Bast while Sekhmet led him to where? He hadn't a clue, yet he felt like he had to take this journey wherever it led him. Praying to Horus to ensure his mother and Carla remained safe while he was away. There was no telling what the powers in the shadows would do if they knew he was out of the picture for however long this would take.
As he crossed his tenth dune, he was panting hard; his mouth was dry. The hot wind cracked his lips as Sekhmet continued on, unperturbed by his weariness. Shaking it off, he knew Sekhmet wouldn't care if he was thirsty or tired, nor would any other god, for that matter. He was sure this was a test of some sort; what that test was, he couldn't say or why they were testing him. Breathing out slowly, centering himself, calling on his divinity to fortify his body before the granules of sand shifted beneath his foot as he pushed off to catch up with Sekhmet.
Andrew had no idea how long they had been walking. It felt like days to him, and not once did Sekhmet stop to allow him to rest. No, even when the sun went down, and the air grew cold, she pushed on, determined to reach her destination. If he rubbed his face, the signs of his days-old growth were evident, so he knew his mind was playing tricks on him. However, there were times he did truly think he had gone insane as he watched a giant scarab beetle erupting out of the sand, and its giant hairy legs scurried it across the sand, even passing over them, offering Andrew a bit of shade if momentarily. He knew if Wilma ever saw that thing, she would have a heart attack. The thought of his stepmother gave Andrew some comfort, and his father's smiling face gave him the strength to push on.
Nevertheless, the moment Sekhmet led Andrew to the base of a cliff that, at least from Andrew's perceptive, reached to the sky. Scowling when he got the sense he was meant to climb. His mind pondered if any other Pharaoh was put to this task as he watched how easily Sekhmet leapt from one rock ledge to another. As day turned to night, Andrew was faced with another peril as winged things harassed him all night long as he defended himself with the weapons of Ra as he continued his, albeit slower, climb upwards. He could never get Sekhmet to tell him what those things were when the sun would breach the horizon.
As the week progressed, Andrew fought from scratching his growing beard, given he needed his hands to climb. However, that wasn't the only change he began to notice as his clothes were starting to rip and tear due to the hard use he was putting them under as the climb grew more difficult the higher he went. While he was just a normal-looking teen who never put much stock into working out vigorously, he never once had that muscle tone he's seen in magazines back in New York until now. Coming to a stop in his climb when a giant break between him and his next handhold appeared. Andrew began to ponder on just how he was going to reach it since he had no climbing gear, and going back down was not an option.
"Oh, I shouldn't have done that?!" Andrew muttered aloud as he pressed his forehead to the stone as he looked down to see how far up he was, only to find he couldn't even see the ground anymore. Feeling his fear starting to set in as he began to second guess himself, looking up to find Sekhmet just simply studying him, waiting for him to choose his path. Upward or death. Recounting his dream of Hercules at his home in New York, wondering if his own godhood could give him the strength he needed.
Not realizing that he had been using it constantly ever since he had called on it over a week ago. Planting his feet against his foot holds, his fingers gripping the stone hard as he bent down, feeling the muscles in his arms and legs knotting, storing the strength within their fibers. "Here goes nothing; if I die, I'm so haunting you, Sekhmet," Andrew proclaimed, only to see the amusement in the goddess's eyes as Andrew pushed off the stone, taking even him by surprise as he leaped the ten-foot vertical gap. "Holy shit!" he cursed as he hung on for dear life with one hand on the stone face before his other hand joined his right. And so their journey continued upwards; as one week passed and another began, he was beginning to think he would never reach the top as it appeared that there was no end to his climb. That was until his arm rested on the top of the cliff, grunting as he dragged his weary body up and over the lip.
Panting heavily as he laid on his back, staring up at the sky, wondering how long this was going to go on. However, Sekhmet only gave him a moment to catch his breath before she prodded on. Groaning in his mind when he was faced with another dessert to cross. Pushing his weary body up, knowing if he gave up now, he would die, and wherever he was, the denizens would devour him for lunch. Then a thought crossed his mind as to why he, himself, wasn't even hungry or thirsty for that matter as he once was when he started this journey. Feeling his divinity sustaining himself as he peered down at his right hand, flexing it. Looking up and noticing how far Sekhmet had gotten ahead of him. Taking off in a run, totally surprised at how fast he was running, he nearly overran Sekhmet if he didn't almost fall face-first into the sand. He was starting to get overconfident, thinking he could do anything now. Until Ammit surged out of the sand and smacked him around for good measure. Reminding him that he might be a demigod, yet don't let it go to his head before Ammit returned to her slumber in the sand.
With his ego knocked down a peg or two, holding his ribs with his left hand, Andrew stared wearyingly at the dark, foul-smelling swamp before him. Getting a little kick out of how Sekhmet was bounding from one patch of dry land to another as he waded through the dark, soupy waters. Instantly his weapons appeared in his hands as something was heading towards him beneath the surface of the water. His dread filled his mind as a ten-foot section of the giant snake breached the water. He could feel Apophis' influence within the creature, yet it wasn't the vile god himself. Swinging his flail about to keep the beast's fangs from capturing him, he wasn't about to become the beast's dinner, not in that lifetime. However, he could never get the hit in he knew would end the beast as it kept its distance, using the time to encircle Andrew in its hidden half. He knew if he didn't do something he would soon die. Looking to Sekhmet, who was sitting on a log watching the whole thing, wondering why she wasn't lending a hand when she knew he was struggling, mentally smacking himself for not thinking of it earlier, given who he was and what he was meant to represent on Earth.
"Hear me, Ra, oh great ruler of the sky, hear this humble prayer of the one you have chosen to lead your people once again," Andrew began to pray as he brought his weapons up, crossing his arms across his chest as he did. "Lend this simple mortal the strength he needs to vanquish this shadow of Apophis. Lend me your power, oh lord Ra." The water started to boil, and the light of the sun filtered through the trees as the wind whipped them wildly. Feeling Ra's hands on his shoulders, fortifying his body with his godly strength. As Andrew slowly opened his eyes, his irises glowed in a shimmering gold. "Come foul beast of the Great Snake, allow me to send you back to your master!" Andrew howled as he leapt with all his might at the snake's head. Holding its massive jaw shut with his left arm, holding on for dear life as he bashed the beast's brains in with his flail. Holding his breath when the snake thought to drown him in its death throws. That didn't stop Andrew from hammering away at the thing's head as Ra's flail sizzled the water around it. It wasn't until he heard the crack of the beast's skull that he knew it was dead.
Gasping loudly as Andrew breached the water's surface, drawing much-needed air into his lungs, hearing the water turning to steam on his skin, drifting off of it in wisps of smoke as he breathed heavily. His gaze turned towards Sekhmet, who hadn't moved an inch throughout it all. Giving him a look, asking if he had figured out what that battle was about. Nodding his head that he did, it showed him that he couldn't do everything without the Gods, and the Gods couldn't do anything without him in the mortal world... mostly. Sensing her pleasure as she lifted off the log she had been sitting on, telling him to follow as they continued on with their trek.
The moment they were out of the swamp, Andrew tossed his shoes away. There was no way he was going to continue walking in them, given the muck they were filled with. He got a sense that this pleased Sekhmet, why that was he couldn't say nor did he want to know. If he did, he had a suspicion that she would tell him to strip down naked, and that wasn't going to happen. Although he knew his shirt and pants were a lost cause, he just hoped they would hold up until this test of theirs was over. Then again, he could already hear his mother's screams of fright if he showed back up as he was. Chuckling at the thought as they began to walk through a lush marshland covered in papyrus reeds. Noticing the hippos in the water from the corner of his eye as he followed Sekhmet carefully, remembering a few times his past self had been killed by them. He knew Sobek was near if Taweret was showing herself to him.
Looking up as the cry of a falcon pierced the air above him. Ever since he had entered this realm, whatever it was, he had a sense of familiarity. Andrew should have known where he had been taken the moment he lost sight of the camp. The Duat! It was the only explanation as to why the Gods' good and the bad, along with the things he couldn't even describe, were showing themselves to him and not like how they did when he was on Earth. Looking around for an Ibis, knowing that it would be Thoth in his animal form, waving to the bird who flipped his right wing in greeting. Andrew knew his mother would have a field day with this if she could experience it.
He would have pulled out his cell phone and recorded the sight, yet he doubted the Gods would allow him to or that it would even pick up what he was seeing. "What the?!" Andrew muttered aloud as he noticed Ptah building a giant crossbow to bring Horus down from the sky for what he had done to his head. His ears perked as he heard the loveliest of melodies playing on the air, keeping his eyes forward, yet out of the corner of his eye, he watched the bare-chested Hathor prancing around singing to no one in particular. He saw Hapi arguing with one of the minor Nile goddesses about something he really didn't want to know and noted how Isis was sending little boats down the River of Night to her husband, who sat in judgment of every soul that passed through the gates of the afterlife.
Andrew would have thought Sekhmet would have led him to Ra's palace or something like that, not a little crevice in the side of a rock wall. Sucking in his stomach as he was squeezed tight as he made his slow, painful way through it. Even tearing the last remnants of his shirt off his chest as he did. He had hoped that his last piece of clothing would hold up, but alas, that was not to be, as it felt like tiny, rocky hands purposely tore his pants off of him. He could hear Bast now berating him for walking around naked in front of the Gods of Egypt. When he thought he would be stuck in that little fissure forever, he saw the opening on the other side of it, causing him to move faster toward it as much as the space would allow. Andrew nearly fell over when he pulled himself out of that tight space. Once he had righted himself, braziers flared to life, highlighting the one hundred and seventy Pharaohs that had ruled Egypt in antiquity, with Menes statue looming high above him at the other end of that cavernous area.
"Who dares enter the domain of the Pharaoh!?" The chorus of one hundred and seventy voices spoke as one in ancient Egyptian. Andrew looked around, now knowing why this whole thing felt familiar, as he looked down at his ankh ring. This was all a test to see if he could continuously wield the power of the Pharaoh for long durations of time. Why they had tested him in such a manner, he hadn't figured that part out yet.
"I do!" Andrew answered with a booming voice. "I claim my right of birth! For I am Pharaoh!" he stated with as much authority as he could muster, staring down large stone statues. He knew if anyone saw this, they would have thought him crazy; then again, this was his life, and he might indeed be crazy.
"Then step forth, my Pharaoh, and claim what has been waiting for you all this time," Bast said, shimmering into view, standing before a lone stone bench that measured around three feet by three feet. Upon it sat the glimmering true crown of Egypt. Fashioned out of the metal of the Gods so that only one person could ever wear that crown.
Andrew looked at Bast, giving her a questioning look as to Anta's whereabouts. Having to be content with her smile as he nodded and took his first step as the Ruler of Egypt. As he passed each and every statue, loud cracks began to form within the stone. The souls of the Pharaohs seeped out and sought the vessel that would harness their will. Imparting their wisdom and experience to him, no longer having to be pulled from them as their souls merged into Andrew's. No longer did he have to endure the threat of them rising up against him and usurping his soul. Feeling his body humming the closer he drew to the bench.
"Now, my Pharaoh, take the crown and proclaim to the world who you are!" Bast uttered with encouragement.
With worry he might not be good enough to wear the crown of the two lands, Andrew reached out for his heritage. The ruby red of the Lower crown shimmered in the orange light of the flames, and the pearl white of the Upper crown glinted as he lifted off the bench.
"Hail to the King," Andrew muttered as the Avenge Sevenfold song played in his mind as his crown settled onto his head.
**********
[1] Ancient name for Cairo.
[2] The tunnel that connects England and France.
[3] Ptah - was venerated as the Egyptian god of construction, builders, and craftsmen who was also lead god of the city of Memphis (Cairo). Ptah is the husband of Sekhmet and father of Nefertum forming the "Memphite Triad" central to worship in the northern capital.
[4] Seen in part one.
[5] The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak, comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt.
[6] Coptic language, an Afro-Asiatic language that was spoken in Egypt from about the 2nd century ce and that represents the final stage of the ancient Egyptian
[7] The uraeus was the serpent, which the king wore on a diadem or during the Middle Kingdom, on his crown. The Uraeus, which conveyed legitimacy to the ruler. was represented by a rearing cobra with an inflated hood.
As worn on the head, the uraeus dates back to the forelock worn by the tribes in ancient Libya. The uraeus was the protector of the pharaoh and was believed to spit fire at enemies from its place on the forehead. The Uraeus was used as a symbol of royalty, sovereignty, deity, and divine authority. It was the personification of the goddess Wadjet, the protective goddess of Lower Egypt and one of the earliest Egyptian deities, often depicted as a cobra.
[8] In Egyptian legend, the first king of Egypt was Menes
[9] He was the last great ruler of Egypt before the Persian conquest.
[10] is the Great Serpent, enemy of the sun god Ra, in ancient Egyptian religion.
[11] is considered the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty of Egypt
[12] is the ancient Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance
[13] Third Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[14] Last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty
[15] Sixth Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[16] See part six
[17] Fourth Pharaoh of the First Dynasty
[18] Possibly the first female Pharaoh of Egypt. She may have ruled as regent for her son Den.
[19] First Pharaoh of the Third Dynasty
[20] See part six
[21] is the Egyptian god of writing, magic, wisdom, and the moon.
[22] In ancient Egyptian art, the Set animal, or sha, is the totemic animal of the god Set.
[23] also known as Seth and Suetekh, was the Egyptian god of war, evil, chaos and storms
[24] The ancient Egyptian royal harem was not so much a sexual supermarket for the king, but a community that chiefly comprised female and infant members of the king's extended family. A related element of the palace complex was the Kap, a royal nursery or school that educated both royal children and those of favored members of the court.
[25] as a god of the Nile who brought fertility to the land
[26] was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion.
[27] The three gods of the nile that made up the Elephantine Triad were as follows:
Khnum, the protector of the Nile River
Sat, the goddess of the periodic flooding
Anuket, the goddess of cataracts
[28] in Egyptian religion, god of the air and supporter of the sky
[29] were pieces of striped head cloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt.
[30] The new spiritual center of Egypt and Andrew's new Capital city.
[31] was the god of the moon and time.
[32] was a place of legend and fable, illustrated by Herodotus' account (in Book II of his History, 5th century BC) of the exploits of an Egyptian pharaoh
[33] the god of the earth to Ancient Egyptians.
[34] ancient Egyptian god of the dead
[35] is the realm of the dead in ancient Egyptian mythology
[36] which means the "black land."
[37] is the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation in ancient Egyptian religion.
[38] Also referred to as Duat
[39] people who emerged from the Fertile Crescent to establish a short-lived governance over much of the Nile region, and ruled from 1674 to 1535 BC.
[40] 10th ruler of the 18th dynasty
[41] Akhenaten's Queen, mother of Tutankhamen, and Pharaoh
[42] 2rd Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty, had one of the longest Egyptian reigns. known for his large scale construction projects, including many now famous monuments.
[43] The Battle of Kadesh in 1275 BC, after which the famous Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty was signed in 1258 BC.
[44] In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet, is a warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing.
[45] Soul
[46] Abu Rawash, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Giza, is the site of Egypt's most northerly pyramid, also known as the lost pyramid - the mostly ruined Pyramid of Djedefre, the son and successor of Khufu.
[47] 4th Pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
[48] 3rd Pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
[49] Founder and first Pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty
[50] Second Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, in this story brother to Onouphrios the forgotten Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty
[51] goddess of the sky, of women, and of fertility and love.
[52] Psusennes I, better known as the Silver Pharaoh
[53] is a female demon goddess, a personification of divine retribution.
[54] was an ancient Egyptian patron of childbirth and a protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was considered to be a ferocious demon as well as a protective and nurturing deity.
