Chapter 31
Horus
“Her heartbeat is fading, Horus. I’m sorry. I’ve done all I can.”
I punch the tiled wall of the lab behind me. “That’s not good enough, Anubis!” My breath is coming in quick pants and I feel like I’m having one of Charlotte’s panic attacks. “There must be something else that can be done. I’ll do anything. Anything!”
“I’m sorry, brother. Her ka and ba are readying to depart. I cannot make them stay if they wish to leave.”
I put my head in my hands and slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor in defeat. I’m a god. I should have more power to help the woman I love, but I do not have the power to reverse time to keep Ammit from plunging the knife into her heart in the first place. I do not have the power to heal that type of mortal wound. I do not have the power to keep her soul on this plane.
“Wait…” says Thoth. I can see his mind is working several miles a minute as he calculates some sort of risk or spell. “There might be a way to save her, but it will be risky. She will forever be tied to you, Horus. There is no backing out or changing your mind down the road.”
“Do it,” I plead. “I don’t care what it takes, just save her.”
“What are you thinking, Thoth?” asks Anubis.
“You said her ka and ba are wanting to leave. What if her ka had somewhere else to go, a body that is immortal? Her ba could return to her own body, but just as in death, her ka and ba can not be separated for more than 24-hours.”
“I don’t understand,” I say shaking my head.
“The ka, Horus. It’s her life force and makes her alive on this plane. The ba, her personality, it’s what makes her uniquely Charlotte.”
“I know all of that!”
“Horus,” he continues and I hang on his every word. “You could be her ka’s vessel. As an immortal, her life force could continuously be tied to you while her ba returns to her own body. You could never spend more than a day apart though. Remember the ancient ways? Ka and ba must always be reunited in spirit at the day’s end.”
“This is cheating death, Thoth. Have you ever done anything like this?” asks Anubis.
“No, to be honest I’ve occasionally wondered if something like this would even work. I give no guarantees, but I am willing to try if you truly love her, Horus.”
“Please, Thoth. She is the other half of my heart. Her ka is welcome to join mine for all of eternity,” I plead.
“So be it,” answers Thoth. “Anubis, stand back. I don’t need her ka attaching to you accidentally. Horus, come and stand next to her.” Thoth looks meaningfully in my eyes. “I am about to tie her life essence to yours. It is not going to be a painless process, but if everything goes well, you both should come out stronger on the other side.”
“Just do it,” I answer as Charlotte breathes her last.