32. Immortality Restored #2
I hug it closer to my chest. "I'd like to leave without further delay. There are things I need to understand. I'll share details with you once I've unearthed the underlying schemes at play against me, and possibly my deceased parents."
Anubis nods. "Anput and Bastet will show you to the portal that'll take you wherever you want, darling. And you ever need me, you know how to reach me. Don't be a stranger!" He winks in typical Anubis-fashion and turns toward the seven.
I walk away without a backward glance, Bastet and Anput leading the way, with Ammit trailing behind.
Anubis
Time to rescue these idiots!
Please, Duat! Release them. Thank you, for avenging Aleiraah, but you know it's time to end this—I coax the entity as old as the universe.
Aleiraah manifested her hidden traits with Duat's influence, and her mates were punished thoroughly. I feel bad, now fully knowing what Aleiraah had endured at their hands. This catharsis was needed so everyone could move on.
Duat rattles them one last time, their limbs shaking like rag dolls. The infernal chains disappear, and the seven are dumped on the floor that's turned a cosmic blue. I guess Aleiraah just left, and Duat is feeling the blues.
Appearing barely conscious they slowly stir to their knees, incapable of standing in the aftermath.
I side-eye Dad who has an unholy glint in his eyes. Ugh! He's plotting something.
On my silent command, Duat splashes the seven with ice cold water making them somewhat alert. The water slowly evaporates, leaving behind hollow eyed and mauled males.
Azael is the first one to notice that Aleiraah is gone. He tries to get to his feet but collapses with a muttered curse. The rest follow a similar pattern.
"Enough!" Dad booms, making their gaze snap to him. "So, that was delightful!" He smiles creepily.
"Now, as a reward for entertaining me, would you like your immortality restored?" He asks, sounding too smooth. I hope they realize it’s a trap.
"Dad—" I begin, but he shushes me. Why do I even try with him?
The seven glance at each other, and a silent conversation ensues for a few moments. I find it most curious. Baz slightly shakes his head, then all of them turn to look at Dad.
Even on their knees, battered and bleeding, in their weakened mortal form, they still hold their heads high. Bazrosh speaks hoarsely as if he's swallowed sand—with Duat, who knows! Maybe sand did get shoved down his throat—"Yes, god Osiris. We'd be in your debt."
Why would they let a debt like this hang over their head?
"Marvelous! How shall you repay it then? This debt." It doesn't help Dad's image that he flipped the script from reward to debt so easily.
Mom appears slightly irritated as well. Before I can intervene to save them from their own stupidity, Bazrosh takes out something from his satchel with trembling hands. The minimal movement must cause him pain, given his grimace.
The moment he opens his fist to show what lays on his palm, I freeze in disbelief. It's a black scarab carved from obsidian and lapis lazuli. The golden inlays of hieroglyphs reflect the light from the burning scones on the walls.
It's the 'Weighing Scarab of Ma'at'!
How does he have it?
Bazrosh explains vaguely how he found the divine counterweight used during the 'Heart Weighing' ceremony, that's been lost for centuries. What he doesn't mention is that I lost it during the last rebellion against us by evil spirits who refused to behave during their judgement.
I was a young god at that time. Dad had been traveling with Mom. The malicious spirits were after the counterweight and tried to overpower me. To protect it, I had taken the Scarab to a nearby necropolis for safekeeping, but it was lost in the sands during a harrowing skirmish.
Even though I had managed to contain the evil spirits, I could never find the divine artifact again.
And worse, Dad has been blaming me for misplacing it ever since.
Ma'at's feather replaced the scarab, but our relationship soured as years passed.
He thought I lacked a sense of responsibility. And I lost my respect for him in turn.
Everything else becomes background noise as I focus on the gleaming scarab on Bazrosh's palm, when the sound of my name breaks me out of my stupor.
"—god Anubis, we'd like to offer this to you.
For being Aleiraah's friend. For protecting her, when we failed to do so ourselves.
When I'd discovered it years ago in the ruins of a necropolis, I didn't know its true value or significance.
Later when I found out, I had no means to return it to you.
Had I known that you were Aleiraah's friend, I'd have tried to bring it to you sooner. " Bazrosh explains archly.
He keeps emphasizing the word 'friend', and I find it hilarious that the foolish dragon is jealous of me.
"She certainly is more than a friend to me, dragon." I decide to yank his chain, making his eyes flash with ire. "My thanks to you, for returning this precious artifact."
"Father—" I address Dad formally, disbanding his schemes—"I consider the debt repaid as I was the one who lost it while battling the evil spirits.
We've been searching for the 'Weighing Scarab' for centuries, and its return to Duat should be rewarded.
Mother, what's your opinion?" I pivot to Mom, knowing she'd give him the right push.
"Yes, darling. I agree." Mom inclines her head, supporting my decision.
"But..but Habibti! —"Dad sputters, but one pointed look from Mom has him acquiescing.
"Fine!" Dad scowls and waves his hand in the direction of the kneeling men.
The Scarab vanishes from Bazrosh's palm and the floor of the Hallway turns a vibrant green.
A ripple of invisible power washes over the seven.
In a flash, they recover and settle into their immortal forms, completely healed, not a hair out of place.
"Well, this concludes the lesson! Now, you truly know how Aleiraah felt." I quip, enjoying the flicker of crushing remorse in their eyes with the dawning realization, that they not only lived through the physical, but also the emotional torment that Aleiraah underwent.