Chapter 16
Charlotte
As we walk through more marbled hallways, I take in more of the artwork displayed. There are contemporary frescos right next to ancient Egyptian busts and the juxtaposition is hard to reconcile.
Horus must realize my confusion because he says, “We still enjoy modern art as well as ancient.”
“I can see that, but some of these pieces belong in a museum for the world to see. It’s a shame they are locked up here.”
“Mortals and your need to show things off,” he scoffs. “Art is inspiration made form. It is also very subjective. The Mona Lisa hangs in the Louvre, but is it any better than this painting here?”
We stop in front of a detailed fresco that has two beautiful, colorful birds circling one another. At first, it seems like a basic painting but the more I look the more I see. The birds are in a sort of mid flight dance and around them is a beautiful garden. It is complete with a small fountain and white bench in the background with little flower pots all around.
I take in the visuals and it makes me feel serene and hopeful. As a grin starts to form, I look to Horus. He is lost in the painting with a deep look of longing on his face and I try to see it from his point of view.
He and the other gods have been cut off from their loved ones for centuries, but they have shut themselves off from the mortal realm as well. They exist apart. It must be an extremely lonely existence to know that there is so much life outside your windows, but you cannot participate and only be a spectator.
He is still staring at the fresco. So, I gently place my hand on his forearm and that seems to stir him from his thoughts. He turns his head to stare into my eyes and I feel centuries of loneliness bottled up in their golden depths.
I realize that I still have my hand on his arm and start to move it away, but his hand comes down over mine as he says, “Sometimes, immortality seems like a curse rather than a gift, especially when I don’t have anyone to share it with.”
My heart starts to crack for all of the experiences that he has missed out on. Something as simple as a coffee date with Charlie would be completely foreign to him, but it is something that typically ends in laughter and peace of mind for me.
Horus puts on this front that he is mister tough guy, but I’m starting to realize that there are more layers to him than meets the eye. He seems to put on the muscle act to hide the loneliness that he appears to mask for everyone else.
“I can’t imagine how alone you have felt all of these years,” I answer. “But I’m here now, and while I might not be your ideal example of stimulating company, Id be happy to show you some of the experiences that you have been missing.”
“I think I’d like that, doe eyes,” he says as I feel my face blush yet again.
Before I dive head first into trouble, because those golden eyes are trouble, I gently nudge him and say, “Let’s keep going, muscles. We don’t want to keep your mother waiting.”
He gives me a gentle smile and turns us to continue walking down the hallway with his hand still keeping mine in place over his arm. Who knew the tough guy would like to stroll with me, even if it’s just for a moment.
We are still lost in each other’s eyes, because I don’t realize that someone is standing at the end of the hallway watching our approach until I hear an ethereal, feminine voice say, “So, this must be the mortal that I have heard so much about.”
My gaze cuts to a woman who could never be mistaken for anything but a deity. Her tall, lean frame gives her an air of authority, but her flowing white hair makes her piercing, golden eyes shine. It seems this is who Horus inherited his hawk-like gaze from, because she is looking as if she is analyzing my past, present, and future with just a look.
I quickly take my hand off Horus’s arm and curtsy. It seems like something someone should do in front of a goddess. When I glance at Horus, he has a slight frown of disappointment before masking it to look towards his mother. “We were just on our way to see you, mother. This is Charlotte Fletcher. The woman we can thank for discovering a piece of the tablet.”
“Discovered, but not in hand,” she says with an unimpressed eyebrow raised.
“Yes, your grace. While it is not in our possession currently, Horus and I are planning to go back to the museum to search for it,” I answer while trying to make my wringing hands less noticeable.
Horus raises an eyebrow at me since clearly he did not plan on me accompanying the search. “We were just coming to speak with you about our plan for that and to update you on what Thoth and Charlotte discovered with the tablet piece.”
“Thoth willingly shared his workspace with you?” Isis asks me skeptically.
“We actually worked together pretty well,” I answered. “He even stopped calling me mortal,” I mutter quietly.
Isis’s brows raise and she looks impressed.
“Thoth believes that the message with the tablet was written by Thalia,” Horus says. He and his mother share a sad passive look. It is bringing up old memories that they thought were long buried. “Charlotte, why don’t you explain what it said? You seemed to understand it more than me.”
“Thoth mentioned that Thalia was a seer. It seems that she was able to determine the relative location for each of the remaining pieces. The descriptions are vague, but the first clue seems to indicate Athena’s temple at the Acropolis. Where at the temple we have no idea, but it’s at least a starting point. Thoth is going to look at the other two clues that she left to try and narrow down those searches. We know Rome and Jerusalem are the locations, but we haven’t figured out anything more specific.”
“I’m impressed, Ms. Fletcher. It seems that you and Thoth are good partners after all.” My face lights up at Isis’s compliment, but Horus frowns and gives his mother a look that I can’t interpret. Is it jealousy? “Thalia was a gifted seer. Thankfully, we now can try to follow her breadcrumbs to see this quest to its conclusion. This is truly very good news. I very much appreciate all that you have done to help us, but I believe we can take over from here.”
My elation quickly plummets. She wants me to just sit back and not see this through? That is not an option. “Your grace, I appreciate your praise, but I will be continuing to help until the pieces are found. I plan on seeing this through,” I say with my spine straight and face determined.
“I see. Is there nothing that can persuade you to forget all of this and return to your life as it once was?” she asks as her arms fold. “I am only thinking of your safety, Ms. Fletcher. This is not a quest for a mortal. There are forces at work here that you do not understand and who will have no problem in removing you from the equation.”
I know I’m not a fighter, but I am too invested in this to just drop it and walk away. How could I even go back to a normal life after learning that actual gods exist? It’s not like I have to fight Set and his minions. I just want to help find the locations of the other pieces. There’s nothing inherently dangerous about that.
Mind made up, I answer, “I understand your concern, but it is my life to risk. Besides, I’m not going to be doing any fighting, just helping solve riddles for the pieces. Certainly that cannot bring me much harm?”
Isis’s eyes are hard and she looks like she wants to rebuff my statement, but Horus comes up and puts his arm around my shoulder, “We will be recovering the tablet piece together, mother. She deserves to see this through. She could also be very helpful in helping track the remaining pieces by helping Thoth. Please do not fight me on this.”
Her eyes soften at his placating tone. “Fine. Go and search, but report back to me the minute you recover the piece. It will need to be stored for safekeeping.”
“Thank you very much, your grace. I will not let you down.” I give a quick curtsy and turn to leave before she changes her mind.
“Oh and Ms. Fletcher,” she comments once I take a couple of steps down the hall. I turn and look at her expectantly. “I assume this goes without saying, but I want to make it abundantly clear that our existence is not one to be advertised or published. Do you understand?”
“Yes, your grace,” I nod and she turns and glides gracefully down the opposite hallway and out of sight.
“How come you don’t call me, ‘your grace?’” Horus asks with a smirk on his face, clearly trying to diffuse the tension.
“Because you are just ‘muscles’ to me, oh mighty one,” I answer, smiling back at him. “Now, let’s go find a sacred tablet.”