Chapter 29
Horus
“I think you are making a mistake. My talents would be much better served in the field with Horus, Bas, and Anubis. I’m the best magic wielder here.”
“No, Thoth. We will have no more arguments about this,” replies Isis with a tone of finality. She glances around headquarters and continues. “You understand this technology better than any of us. I need you here with me as we monitor their movements.”
“My magic needs some release, Isis.”
“Then release it into the copy of the tablet you will make,” replies Isis with no room for argument. Thoth realizes he cannot connive his way into going with us. So, he gets to work on making the tablet replica.
I startle as Bastet drops a large number of weapons on the table I’m standing in front of. “Suit up, bird boy.”
She straps more knives on her person than guns, but she prefers the silent kill than the loud sounds of gunfire.
I, on the other hand, load up my shoulder harnesses with two handguns and plenty of ammo to reload. I also grab a couple of knives to strap to my forearms. My last weapon of choice is a semiautomatic that I can strap to my back.
Anubis strolls into the room in black tactical gear and his hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of his neck. He has put coal around his eyes which makes their blue hue stand out even more.
He stops at our table and puts a couple of throwing knives in his suit, but his eyes land on his weapon of choice, a pair of steel curved khopesh. These look eerily similar to the ones we found with Cleopatria’s dead body all of those years ago.
It was Anubis who trained her in the art of sword fighting. Even though it is considered primitive now, he has always been the closest to the dead out of all of us. So when he kills, he wants to feel the soul leave the body as he runs them through.
“Are we ready to go?” Anubis asks.
“Let’s go over the plan one more time,” replies Bastet. “I don’t want either of you hotheads going rogue on me.”
“Me?” I ask innocently. “I would never go against the plan.”
She gives me a withering look, knowing full well that I will do whatever it takes to complete this mission.
“Come now, little falcon. Don’t anger Bas before she’s had a chance to release all that tension she keeps built up,” chides Thoth.
“I could release some tension now,” she replies calmly while throwing a small knife in the air.
“Don’t act like children,” commands Isis. Bas puts the knife away and we all stand at attention. “Thoth, walk us through the details.”
He nods quickly before turning to a computer. With a couple of keystrokes, he has a blueprint of the museum up on the screen. “Horus and Anubis will stick together and walk through the main hallways with the replica of the tablet. The most likely place that they are keeping Charlotte is in the basement of the museum. It’s out of the way and there is only one main entrance. Ammit will want to control how you enter and leave.”
“Bas, you will be entering from the roof and going through the air ducts to get to the basement. You will act as backup in case things get a bit tense down there. Don’t give away your position unless absolutely necessary.”
Thoth pulls out the two portal-keys and gives one to me and one to Bastet. “The two of you will get these. Anubis, you will need to make sure you stick with Horus or someone will have to come back for you if you get separated. Does everyone have their phones on?”
We all nod our heads. It seems like a pretty easy entry and exit strategy. There are still several unknowns. Is Ammit alone? Is Charlotte unharmed? Are we about to walk into an ambush?
The three of us are used to improvising during an attack. So, no matter what they throw at us, we should be able to handle it. I’m just worried about keeping Charlotte safe and out of the crossfire.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Anubis looking at me with a soft expression. “We will get her to safety, brother. Death will not claim her today.”
I clasp his shoulder as I say, “Thank you for coming with me. I trust you to look after my back.”
“And your front,” he replies with a smile. “You will be so smitten once you see her beautiful face that you won’t even see the knife coming for you.”
I shove him to the side as he snickers. He manages to calm my racing mind and allow me to settle into a pre-battle calm. For Charlotte’s sake, I need to be completely clear of distractions. Failure is not an option.