Chapter 26
Charlotte
“You seem very taken with my son,” Isis says casually but everything about her stance is rigid, like she would rather be in a crocodile’s jaws than conversing with me.
“Yes, I am, your grace. You have raised a wonderful son.” I smile to myself. “I care for him very much.”
“I raised a prince,” she says in a clipped tone. “He is not some boy in a fairytale come to whisk you away. He is a deity who will one day be expected to carry on his family legacy.”
Having the full brunt of Isis’s ire is a bit like staring into a tiger’s face when you are its meal after a period of starvation. Oddly you want to worship the beauty of the creature, but terrified because you know you are about to meet your end.
“You do not know anything about me, your grace,” I reply shyly without meeting her gaze. “If anything, you seem to despise my presence purely because I am mortal. Or is it because I have started to fall in love with you son?”
“Know you?” Isis tsks. “You are but a passing fancy to him. I have seen all manner of women come to his bed over the centuries and call it love. But it can never be, and you are just the same as them.”
My face heats with the anger burning in my chest. I’m very aware that she could smite me and ultimately kill me with very little effort, but for her to call me nothing but a passing fancy? No, I am much more than that.
I grind my teeth as I reply, “Do you even care about your son’s happiness? Am I so far beneath you that you won’t even spare me a chance to explain myself or my feelings for him?”
“Everything I do is for the betterment of my family. That means you must not continue a relationship with my son.”
I scoff but she continues before I can reply. “What do you think will happen? Sure, you are young and beautiful now, but what about in 30 years, when you start to age with wrinkles and gray in your hair? Eventually, you will die, just as all mortals do. What do you expect Horus to do then? Spend centuries mourning your loss? No, you will not do that to my son.”
I’m at a loss for words. I think I finally understand why Isis can’t stand to see me with Horus. She is doing what every good mother does. She’s trying to protect his heart from being broken. She is still dealing with her own broken heart and doesn’t want Horus to be dealt the same fate. I’m very aware that my mortal status is an issue long term, but Horus and I have only just begun to explore our relationship. Is it fair to demand that we snuff it out just as the candle has just started to burn brightly?
“Your grace,” I reply. “I understand your concerns. I truly do. You would not be a mother without them, but Horus is a grown man. It’s ultimately his decision on who he wants to be with and who he chooses to love.”
She gives me a stern look and it takes all of my strength not to look away or cower in her presence. “It is not his decision to make, Ms. Fletcher.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand…”
“He is betrothed. He has been for centuries,” she interrupts.
My entire world tilts. This can’t be right. Horus would have mentioned it if he was betrothed. I have to grip the kitchen counter to stay upright because this feels like a physical blow to my still beating heart.
“Betrothed as in to be married?” I say softly.
“Unless the meaning has changed in the last century, yes. He is to marry Hathor once the Duat is opened once more. She was on the other side when the gateway closed.”
I have to sit down before I crumble on the floor. This man who I’ve grown to care for and shared more of myself than I have to almost anyone is engaged to another woman and never said anything. Is this why he needed my help? If he gets the tablet pieces, he can reunite with his fiancé and they can live happily ever after.
Isis was right. I’m merely a means to an end. A distraction. A naive girl whose fantasies have been shattered.
I don’t even realize that I’m crying until Isis hands me a handkerchief. “I am truly sorry, Ms. Fletcher. It is better to hear the truth now than to get your heart broken later.”
Little does she know that my heart is already breaking. Had I known any of this, I would have never fallen so deeply for a man I could never have.
But that’s not entirely true, Horus has become the sun around which my heart orbits. It happened so quickly that I didn’t even realize how deep I was falling. A few moments ago, I would have called it love but now I’m second guessing myself. Maybe it was all one-sided. I thought we had both opened up to each other, but maybe he was just saying those things to sleep with me.
“Thank you for telling me, your grace,” I say in between shuttering breaths. “I will leave you all to your continued search. You have no need for me anymore. May I be excused now?”
It takes effort to bring my tear-filled eyes to meet hers. When I do, I see only pity in her gaze. “Yes, it would be best if you went back to your life and did not think of us again. I trust you will be discreet about our whereabouts and existence?”
“Yes, your grace,” I answer numbly. I manage to stand and walk out of the kitchen.
Somehow I make my way back to the headquarters antechamber. I only know I’m there because I come out of my stupor at the visual of Thoth leaning down to get into my field of vision. His mouth is moving but it takes a moment to realize what he is saying.
“Charlotte,” he says, looking alarmed. “Can you hear me? What’s happened? Why are you crying?”
He puts his hands on my shoulders to steady me. “I… he… I need to go home.”
“Charlotte, you just got here. Do you need me to go get Horus?”
At this my tears flow uncontrollably and I start to sob. I need to get out of here now before I continue to embarrass myself. “Please, Thoth. I need to go home.”
A flash of anger comes into his eyes, “Did he hurt you?”
“He’s engaged… he didn’t tell… I need to leave… please… I can’t stay here another moment.”
His eyes widen in surprise and then turn to pity. It seems everyone was aware of this betrothal but me, the poor stupid mortal.
I grip his shirt as I plead, “Please, Thoth. Open a portal to my flat and none of you will have to see me again.”
He looks reluctant to do so, but the earnest look on my face along with my tears seems to persuade him. I let go of his shirt and he backs away and up to the computer’s on the dias. “Are you sure, Charlotte?”
“I should have never come here,” I whisper. “This was all a huge mistake.”
He looks at me forlornly. “For what it’s worth, I’m very glad to have met you. I don’t usually say that about mortals.”
All I can do is nod and give a grim smile because I cannot say the same. My heart still feels like it is being ripped in two and all I can do is try to put myself back together once I’m home safe in my bed.
Thoth types away on the computers as I walk to stand in front of one of the portals. As I start to see the mist swirl and activate, I turn towards Thoth one last time with silent tears still flowing. “Don’t tell him where I’ve gone, and don’t let him come looking for me. Please, promise me that.”
“When Horus is determined, I cannot do much to dissuade him. I promise to give you time before he comes looking.”
That seems to be the best I will get and I know a promise from a god is no small thing. I look back towards the readied portal, take a breath, and then take a step.
I emerge into the darkness of my living room and manage to fumble around to turn on a lamp. Once it switches on I hear an eerily familiar voice come from behind me.
“I’ve been waiting for you, pet. Let’s have some fun.”