Chapter 4
Lodged in between two buildings is an old timey shop. The facade is an old reddish brick, and the front window is an Edwardian style bay window that stretches from the floor to the top of the door, the glass allows passersby get a peak of what is inside. Hung from iron supports on the outside of the shop is a hand painted sign saying, "Nicolas' Antique Bookshop".
The store is rather quiet, not many people would come in. The lack of customers would usually lead to low sales, but the price of these books is quite high. Enough to keep the shop in business. This is mainly due to the authenticity and age of the books it sells. Each of these can be a collector's dream ranging from fiction, science, the whimsical, and the esoteric. So, the prize reflects its value.
These books are the life work of the owner, who spent decades hunting them around the world. He made sure none of them were forgeries, taking great care to keep them in mint condition and even restoring the more dilapidated ones. Now, an 80-year-old man, he decided to retire from his job and open a shop in the heart of London.
There is only 1 staff member in the store, sitting behind the old but sturdy oak counter table. Steven Grant sat there, buried in an old English translated novella. As the newly hired staff, he is incharge of opening, maintaining the shop, and entertaining the occasional customers.
While he is sad that he lost his job in the museum. He found himself lucky that he found one with a more mellow boss. As long as he does not steal any of the merchandise. These books are worth a fortune and far more that what the man could afford.
But for today, his usual quiet reading session is disturbed by the sound of a bell.
Ding, ding, ding…
The sound would usually indicate a customer just came in the front door as there is a bell placed on top. But when Steven put his book down, he saw a young boy looking at him. Brown hair and Viridian green eyes, the boy appears to be 8 years of age and is dressed with a simple striped shirt and brown khaki shorts.
“Oh, good morning. What brings you here? Does your granddad know where you are? Don't want to get in trouble with your old man now do we.” Steven politely asks the young boy.
“No need to worry Steven. Just bringing the boy here. This is my grandson Oscar.”
An older man answers. Steven looked again and noticed an elderly by the entrance. Said elder have white hair and clear wrinkles on his face, but have the eyes of a sharp and alert intellectual.
“Oh, good morning Mr. Nicolas. Quite the busy day as you can see.” Steven greets the elderly man. Gesturing to the empty shop entrance.
“And nice to finally meet you Oscar.” Steven bent down to greet the young boy. Oscar is currently standing close to his grandfather, clutching the latter's pants. But he nodded in acknowledgement to Steven’s words.
“Haha, quite the joker are you, Steven. And please call me Isaac, Mr. Nicole was my father. It make me feel older than I should” Isaac said, patting Oscar’s head.
“Well, if you say so. What brings you here Mr.. I mean, Isaac?” Steven asked the old man. Said man just chuckles at Steven’s little slip.
“Just wanted to stretch my legs, staying cooped up at home is not good for me, you know. I brought Oscar with me since I don’t want to leave him all alone. And it’s good for him to go out more.” Steven understood what Isaac meant. From their previous talks, he can tell that Isaac is very fond of his grandson and worries about Oscar’s introverted personality. The boy is quite shy, preferring to hide behind his grandfather’s leg and not socialize.
“It is a nice day for a walk. Though I'm still on duty, and there's no one to take my shift. But it's not that bad.” Steven said to his boss, waving the novella book on his hand. Isaac just smiled at this, he is aware of his employee's passion for literature and books. It was quite obvious during the initial interview.
“Well then, I shouldn't keep you too busy. Do you mind if you watch Oscar for a while? I just need to buy some things in the store around the corner?” Isaac asks, he is already pushing Oscar towards Steven.
“Sure, not a problem. Come here Oscar.”
The boy timidly walked to Steven.
“Wonderful, you be a good boy Oscar. I'll be back in a jiffy.” Isaac said to his grandson.
“Okay.” Oscar replied as his grandfather waved goodbye and exited the shop.
“Guest it's just you and me Oscar. I'll get you a seat so you can rest your legs. Just stay there for a while.” Steven said to the young boy. He headed to the back part of the shop where a stack of plastic chairs was kept. Oscar is left standing near the front counter, quietly watching Steven leave.
Almost Immediately, Steven came walking back. He walked around the counter until he was standing in front of Oscar. Then he kneeled down and said,
“Hey little guy, been a while.” Steven smiled as he spoke, only he now has a very distinct Hispanic accent. He also patted the young boy's head. Oscar waited for Steven, or rather, Jake, to finish before nodding at the words.
“Yeah, it is, how have you been? Your grandfather's treating you right?” Jake asked.
Oscar nodded before he replied in a quiet voice. “Granddad's fine.”
“ That's great to know. He seems much kinder. I'm glad to know you are fine. If anything, bad happens, just tell me or Steven, Okay?” Oscar nodded at this. Then the boy suddenly became tense, turning his head around the inside of the store.
“Hey, kid. Look at me. He's not here anymore. You're safe here. Your father won't hurt you now. Me aseguré de ello.” Jake quickly hugged the frightened boy.
Oscar returned it, clutching Jake's dress shirt. Slowly the boy calmed down but didn't let go just yet.
After a while Oscar stepped back and looked up. His head tilted a bit to the left as he did. It reminds Jake of what birds do; he also remembers Khonshu tends to tilt his head if something interests him. Jake can’t help but smile a little at this detail.
“Oh, you are wondering about Steven? You thought he was me?"
Oscar just continued to stare at the man. But the message is clear.
“Yeah, I'll need to explain this. I'll try to make it simple for you. Steven and I are different people, we have the same body because of a condition.”
Oscar just continues to stare at Jake. But Jake seemed unphased and continued.
“Something very bad happened to me, us. And resulted in me, and Steven here. I am one personality, while Steven has another. There's another one so that makes us 3.”
Oscar blinked once.
“I know, it's a bit hard to understand. We each have our own lives. And we sometimes have to tell each other what we are doing, what Steven knows is not what I know. Doctors call it Dissociative Identity Disorder.”
Oscars stay quiet as usual, but his eyes convey another question. One that Jake appears to understand.
“Um, no Niño. Steven does not know about the boat, or what happened to you. Do you want him to know? It's all up to you.”
Oscar didn't say anything for a second, then he slowly moved his head side to side.
“It's okay if you don't want him to know. He's not going to get angry. Trust me when I say Steven is a nice guy. He is like your granddad you know, loves to read books and is a huge nerd.”
Oscar gave a small smile at that.
“There's that smile.” Jake ruffles Oscar's head, chuckling at seeing a smile break in the face of the usually shy and stoic child.
“I'll be going away for a while, Niño. Steven still needs to get your chair.” Jake stood up from where he kneeled on the floor.
“And let's keep this a secret between us, okay. I promise to visit soon.”
Oscar once again just looks at Jake, but there is an odd intensity in those eyes.
“Okay, okay. I pinky swear that I'll visit soon.”
Jake lifts his arm with the pinky finger extended. But Oscar did not move just yet, instead he turned his head to his left, facing a darker corner of the shop.
The corner is usually empty, an open space with cobwebs in between 2 bookshelves. But for a selected few, especially to Jake, a tall ethereal figure is leaning, observing the whole conversation.
Jake is surprised at this, but he masked it behind a professional facade. He decided to ask Oscar about this because Khonshu rarely appears to anyone, much less children. But he tried to play the fool for now.
“Oscar, what are you looking at? There's nothing there.”
Oscar simply looked back at Jake with an unimpressed look, before turning once more to the tall figure.
“Interesting.” Jake heard the god say. Khonshu is equally as surprised as Jake. He then walked towards Oscar and Jake. His loose wrappings floated behind him as he approached the young boy.
“You can see me?” Khonshu said to the young boy.
Jake is getting tense now. While Khonshu is his trusted patron and his friend, the last part is debatable though, Jake will not hesitate to fight if the god poses a threat to Oscar.
The god’s avatar has gotten used to Khonshu's macabre appearance, oddly finding comfort in it too. But others might find it frightening, and panic as a result. Like Steven's first impressions of the god. Jake is very much aware of the chaos that might happen if people can see Khonshu. A fact that Khonshu also knows and takes advantage of.
Jake looks again at Oscar. The man became fond of the boy ever since he rescued him. And ever since Oscar stuck to Jake like glue. It took a lot of coaxing to jet Oscar to go with the police.
Jake turns his head to his god now. He knows Khonshu can be unpleasant at times. It is one of the biggest complaints Steven has on the bird god. Even he faced the god's impulsive antics, but he is quick to yell back once it crosses the line.
Oscar though didn't show any fear or panic. The whole time Oscar maintained eye contact until Khonshu stopped in front of him, and nodded once Khonshu asked him a question.
“Niño, how long were you able to see him?” Jake asks.
Oscar just looks at Jake. Before looking back at Khonshu.
“You were able to see him from the boat?” Oscar just shakes his head.
“The Hospital then?” Oscar nods once.
Jake and Khonshu now share a look. Communicating silently on what could have caused this.
Oscar is still staring at Khonshu though. Jake asked.
“You want Khonshu to make a pinky promise too?”
Oscar just turns to look at Jake before lifting his right arm at the direction of the god, with his pinky finger out.
Jake smiles at this, mainly at Khonshu's reaction. It may not be obvious, but Jake can tell that Khonshu is now surprised at this demand and doesn't know what to do.
“Well, you heard the kid Jefe, pinky promise?” Jake said to Khonshu.
The god just stares at Jake. Silently conveying, Are you serious ?
Jake simply stares back with a shit-eating from on his face. His eyes and smile clearly screams, Yes, I am very serious.
In the end it was the God who moved first, transferring is staff to his left hand, before extending his right mummified pinky finger to lightly touch the boy's own. He had to hunch down due to his larger stature, and the boy may not really feel anything, but that chill on the skin will have to do.
“Very well Little one. I pinky promise to come visit again.”
“And to be more polite God with manners, we don't want to make the little one sad now do we?” Jake quickly added, still grinning. He saw an opportunity to get Khonshu to have some manners and He took it.
If looks could kill, Jake would be 8ft underground by now with how intense Khonshu is glaring at Jake. Jake simply glares back.
The two are now locked in a stare showdown, the air becoming more colder due to Khonshu's spiking emotions affecting the room now.
The air is so tense and cold that Oscar is starting to shiver.
Jake, not breaking eye contact with Khonshu, notices this and lifts a single eyebrow, daring the God to either comply with the promise or make Oscar cry. There is also a silent threat laced in Jake's eyes, one that Khonshu knows Jake will go with.
“I pinky promise to come visit and…to be….more…. Polite"”
Khonshu said the last part was slower, as if he was having trouble saying the words alone. Oscar though didn't move, he is still staring at the god with unimpressed eyes.
“Looks like even Niño can tell you are lying. Care to say it again? With actual meaning this time?” Jake said, still grinning and clearly enjoying Khonshu's discomfort.
The god simply grumbled at this. His torso slowly expanded, as if he was taking a deep breath. Then, after what seemed like a long time, he said louder.
“I, the Great Khonshu, son of Amun-Ra, Moon God of the night sky, Protector of all travelers and the innocent, pinky swear in the name of the stars, the sky, and of Maat , that I will come and visit you Oscar Nicholas, grandson of Isaac Nicholas. And to be a more well-mannered and polite Deity.”
With those words, a wave of energy suddenly fell upon the room, temporarily shaking the bookshelves like there was a mini earthquake, before it disappeared and everything went back to normal. Jake doesn't know what that was, but he can tell that Khonshu is now bound by this. And with how upset the god is, there are little loopholes the god can't easily twist.
Oscar then let go of the god's finger, before turning to face Jake, still with his pinky finger extended.
Jake easily extended his to touch Oscar's own.
“I pinky swear to come visit you soon.”
Oscar smiled at Jake's words. Easily believing the man.
“Well then, I'll be gone for a while. Your old man should be done by now and is on his way. Khonshu, behave yourself while I'm gone, you made a promise, so you better keep it.”
Khonshu didn't say anything, still clearly upset at this and grumbling to himself, but he didn't say no.
Jake simply did a two-finger salute to his boss and headed towards storage in the back. After a while, a British voice can be heard.
“Now where is it? Ah, there you are.”
Khonshu disappeared as soon as Steven fronted. Said man now walked back from the storage, holding a foldable plastic chair with him.
“Here you go, Oscar. You can now rest your legs. I can get you a book so you won't get bored. “
Steven didn't wait for Oscar to reply before he walked towards the nearby bookshelf, now scanning for children's books. He came back with a smaller, older picture book about Nursery rhymes and gave it to Oscar.
The boy took the book, moved to the seat and started reading it. Steven smiled at this until he heard the doorbell ring again. It was Isaac.
“Hello Isaac. Got what you were looking for?” Steven asked the elderly man.
“Managed to grab the last ones.” The older man replied, lifting a plastic bag. Green vegetables can be seen through the frosted plastic.
“Well, don't want to disturb you now, I'll be bringing Oscar to the nearby playground. Come here, boy. And say goodbye to Steven”
Isaac instructed his grandson. Oscar looked like he didn't want to but after a while he said in the same low and hushed voice.
“Goodbye and thank you Mr. Steven.”
Isaac and Steven chuckles at the latter's new nickname.
“I've never been called that before. Your welcome Oscar.” Steven said as he watched Oscar put the old picture book on the chair and walked to his grandfather.
The young child then waves at Steven as he leaves, his grandfather following after.
“You had a good time with Steven, Oscar?” Isaac asked his grandson as soon as he closed the front door.
Oscar nodded.
“That's great, Let's go to the playground then, there's other kids you can play with.” Oscar was led to the children's playground 2 blocks away.
They had to cross an intersection though, Isaac first checked to make sure it's safe for them to cross.
The moment when his grandfather was busy looking for any incoming cars, Oscar looked over his shoulder and noticed Khonshu standing just outside the Bookshop entrance. Ignored and unseen by everyone.
The boy gave a small wave at the standing figure. And after a slight hesitation, Khonshu lifted his right hand and waved in return.
“Seems safe now. Let's go Oscar, be careful where you step.” Isaac notices Oscar is smiling while looking behind them. He remembered the shop is still there.
“Don't worry lad, We'll visit Steven again soon.” Isaac reassured Oscar, and the boy simply smiled back.
The two then cross the road while the Moon God watches them. And he continues to watch until they disappear on the next turn.
Now that Oscar is gone, and Steven is back to his boring occupation. Khonshu finally has some alone time.
And he takes the opportunity to reflect on the previous events. Specifically, the fact that a mortal child can see him. This is going to change things and he fears it might be a problem.
Over the centuries he has learned to utilize his incorporeal nature to his advantage. To be the unseen ghost watching over your shoulder, though at the cost of being unable to interact directly. Hence the need for his Avatar.
And despite his constant frustrations regarding that cost, he ended up depended on being unseen to spy and gather information in ways technology cannot. It has become his most effective strategy to enact his brand of justice, so having a mortal be naturally able to see him will change things. If others can see and hear him, then those with malicious intentions will find ways to target him, his Avatar, and those that are associated with him.
But Jake forced him to make a promise and by swearing under the name of Maat, it is unbreakable.
This is really frustrating for the god. To have something done outside his plans. Things that happen outside his plans usually end in disaster by his experience. So, he did what he has always, can only do, wander.
He started to let his physical form lose its shape. Unraveling the hundred bandages that make up his body and dispersing it with the wind as it crosses space, time and dimensions. Letting it take him anywhere but here.
It is very different from actually flying. It's one way to travel but he misses actually feeling the wind. Or just feeling anything really besides rage.
A good thing about this method though is that it gives him a wide vantage view of the entire city, a bird's eye view that is not like what the naked eye can comprehend.
But there is the occasional blank spot. He lost a huge chunk of his God powers when he was cast out, he could gain it back but it would mean complying with the Ennead, giving-up his mission of vengeance and abandoning the human world.
Khonshu is not doing any of that, so he had to work with whatever little energy he had left and learn new tricks he would have thought he would never have used, including underhanded ones.
The god decided to go through an area he didn't usually go to. An area closer to the edge of the city. The city proper took most of his attention as crime syndicates tend to operate in more urban areas. The more people there are, the more chances that some will result in breaking the law. Khonshu has Jake bust with a string of kidnappings in the city, one of which leads to Oscar’s rescue.
Coming to the calmer edge of the city is a breath of fresh air for Khonshu. A peaceful place, the god thought. If only there are more such as this.
And indeed it is very peaceful, there is an aura of serenity that should have attracted people, places like these would be sprawling with small cottage houses and communities. Families who would love to raise their children there.
But for some reason, most of the houses and buildings are abandoned. A compound with concrete shells that are left to rot.
Curiouser and Curiouser. Khonshu thought.
This combination of a peaceful area, abandonment and lack of life is intriguing to the god. Over the years he learned that while quiet spaces are a sanctuary for weary travelers, there is always more than meets the eye.
Now the area has his interest. He wandered closer this time, expecting something. And he did.
Khonshu felt an unnatural force distorting the serene aura he first felt. Like dipping your hand in the ocean where the surface is as still as a mirror but underneath, you can feel the moving current. It is so subtle, Khonshu had to wait and look even closer to make sure it was there. And to make it even more odd, Khonshu checked again and realized this force also extends outward, reaching to the more urban parts of London. Like a river flowing, but it gets weaker, smaller and more difficult to feel the further it is, but it is still there.
And like a river, it has a source where it is strongest. And Khonshu found it on a large 12 Storey building.
Like everything else around, it, it is clearly abandoned. And something moving caught the god's eye. Right there on the roof.
Khonshu wandered even closer and realized it was a young girl. Still wearing her uniform and slowly walking in a trance to the edge. There is also a huge amount of that distorting force wrapped around her like a cocoon. It is so strong that Khonshu wondered how the girl is even able to breathe.
As the girl moves closer to the edge, the god can only throw some wind at her face to try and discourage her. He tried going even closer, speaking in his unnatural voice to tell her to go back. But something is blocking his voice. If he had the chance, he would just grab the girl and bring her to the ground floor before she reached the roof edge.
It is times like these that he despises his incorporeal state. And Steven is currently using the body, Khonshu cannot force Marc or Jake to front and come here immediately. Not after he was forced to make that deal to give Steven full control on his designated time. Khonshu can only watch this scene play out.
But he is not one to give up without a fight. He summoned a windstorm, throwing any sort of debris. Can bottles, papers, dust in the air. Any sane person would find this sudden weather disturbance unpleasant and seek refuge back inside the building. But this did not stop the girl from her walk, she simply staggered and stood still. Khonshu would have thought the girl is finally back to her senses, but until he noticed something is forcing one of her limbs forward, pulling it like you would do to a puppet string. It looks unnatural and unsettling. Her elbow and legs twitch before suddenly being yanked at the direction of the edge, and the girl is once again back on her slow walk.
The girl is closer now, Khonshu knows how this will end. And he hates it, the truth of knowing what will happen but powerless to stop it. Forever a spectator, not the actor.
The girl is now standing on the ledge, her face the image of peaceful serenity. As if she is at some beach or lakeside than at the hot roof of an abandoned building with no life.
The girl is now slowly leaning forward. Khonshu sent one last strong gust of wind, so strong it managed to keep the girl floating in mid air. But there is only enough to handle a human weight while being far away from his Avatar.
Gravity is proven to be the victor and Khonshu can only watch as the girl hits the hard ground, the splotchy noise and a bit of cracked bone echoing around the mundane and boring compound.
Nearby, a cat, unaware of the recent struggle above, walks by to inspect the body. Before deciding it is unfit to be food. Khonshu sees the bloody paw prints as the cat walks away without a care.
Steven closes the shop at exactly 5 pm. The same time as the British Museum, so it's one thing that is already lodged in his body clock. Arriving at his flat, he had a chat with Marc about his day.
“Oscar sounds a bit like you Steven, but way quieter. You tend to babble a lot” . Marc commented.
“He is, but I’m sure he’s just shy. He likes books too, like his grandfather. You have no idea just how many books there are, some look so old and with really weird topics too.” Steven said.
“I’m sure you’ll like it there, books are clearly your thing .” Marc said, remembering just how cluttered Steven arranges his own book collection.
Steven continues to fix himself for bed, Marc just watches in the reflection. He thinks back to what Steven said about Oscar.
There is something about what Steven said and Marc feels there is more to the boy than the shy demeanor Steven said. Something that feels far closer to home, and it is making him uncomfortable.
He recalls just how traumatizing his own past is, and how it made him a quiet kid in school and at home. He does not want another child to experience what he did, but he never even met the kid yet. He will need to ask Steven first since Oscar only comes on Steven’s time.
Maybe on a later date, for now he is content with listening to Steven as he talks about how his work went until it is time to go to bed.
At 3 am though, Steven got up, dressed and went to the same street where he first decided to talk with the god. This time he brought with him some vegan sandwiches to eat.
Arriving there, Khonshu already materialized on the street, waiting for him. Steven felt more confident that the god is starting to trust him more. He strutted to the god with a little extra energy on his step, before happily greeting him.
“Hey Khonshu, had quite a day. The bookshop was slow as usual but I met with the owner's grandkid. He’s a quiet one..”
Khonshu as usual didn’t say anything, he waited until Steven finished first before saying.
“As much as I enjoy listening to your rambles,I found a mission for you”. The first part is laced with sarcasm, but the last part was genuine with some weight Steven didn’t catch on first.
“Really, Wow. Okay, didn’t expect it to actually happen sooner. You're not pulling my strings, are you? ” Steven tried to not sound bummed by this. He is starting to enjoy these sometimes-one-sided talks, seeing it like a secret club between him and Khonshu that does not involve the god’s demanding missions.
“I’m not joking.” Now Khonshu sounds offended and impatient.
“I get it. You're serious. Okay then. I also said you give the details. You do have them, right? You might give me false leads for all I know”. Steven said.
“Don’t underestimate my memory Steven, I remember far more than you could bear. This is more investigative work than hunting. Something that suits your preferences more.” Khonsu replied matter-of-factly but also even more offended,
“Really, sounds great. No finding someone then shaking them to death. Thanks for that” Steven said, feeling relieved.
“Just because you are doing investigative work does not mean you are exempt from the more violent acts, Worm.” Khonshu reprimanded Steven.
“This is supposed to be a quiet mission” . Steven complained.
“And may I remind you that your attempt at negotiation in Anton Mogart’s training field failed spectacularly? You may want a less bloody path, but it does not mean you should slack off and expect your opponent to choose the same as you. This is not a lie that danger can lurk in the most unexpected places. It is wise if you stay prepared and always be ready to fight back if needed.” Khonshu said, sounding both patient, impatient and condensing at the same time. He is really trying to reign in his temper and not lash at Steven for complaining. He has been in a bad mood since he witnessed the girl jump off the building, but ever since he made that promise, he is bound in the name of Maat to actually keep it. He is going to give Jake a mission so difficult and annoying as payback for that.
Steven can see Khonshu’s point. He hates the idea of violence, prefering to try to talk his way out with little or no bloodshed. But he recalls getting speared 4 times, it was a horrible experience, and he would rather not go through it again.
Okay, this might go south, so he just needs to diffuse the situation before things go violent. Hopefully.
“So back to the mission, mind giving me a run down on what it is? ” Steven said.
“Yes, this one involves a series of suicide, at least that is what I thought at first. Young school girls choose to jump off the roof of an abandoned hotel building.”
“ Suicide, that’s.. horrible” . Steven replied.
Steven doesn’t want to think what could have caused people to commit suicide like that, much fewer young girls. He remembered Marc was close to shooting himself the night he met Khonshu. If the god didn’t call out to Marc, he would have been another forgotten body in the desert. It also started Marc’s tormentous life as Khonshu’s Avatar, killing for the god.
But it also allowed Marc to meet Layla, for the two to get married. It’s not perfect, both are keeping secrets, but it was happy enough for them even if it didn’t last forever. Steven would have loved to start a relationship with Layla, get to know her better but she decided to go her separate way.
Layla explained that she wants to process things on her own terms. The truth of her father’s death, Marc’s withholding his disorder from her, Steven’s existence and Khonshu is alot for her to take at the moment, but they still email each other from time to time as friends. Currently she decided to remain in her home country to help with the messy aftermath of Ammit’s release.
Steven suddenly realized that he would also have died if Khonshu did not interfere. It disturbs him deeply that he actually owes parts of his life to a demented vengeance-loving mummy Bird God.
“It is for a young soul to take its own life. And for no apparent reason.” Khonshu said, breaking Steven’s thoughts. Content that the conversation is going where he wants it to go, but still impatient since Steven will ask more questions. For all he knows, another schoolgirl might be headed to the abandoned building right now.
“What?” Now Steven is intrigued by this.
“ These girls just went about their normal lives without a care, walked by and just decided to jump with no warning or signs. I never sense any dark aura from them, dark and depressive thoughts that usually happen to those who are at the verge of such intentions. Except for the place they jumped, there is a force that is compelling them to do it”
If Khonshu really is telling the truth, then this is definitely something that needs investigating. There would usually be a reason, or someone is forcing the girls to jump. Steven does not have any experience on this, nor is he a psychologist.
“And you didn’t stop them?” Now Steven asked. If Khonshu was there then he was there when the girls jumped, Steven thought.
“You were there so why didn’t you do anything?” Steven accuses Khonshu.
"You think I didn’t try?! A slight breeze cannot stop a body from falling. The girls are in some sort of rance, just walking forward regardless of how many bottles I throw at them. The only way for me to truly interact is through an Avatar. That is the whole purpose of the Moon Knights. You should know this by now you idiot!"
Khonshu sounds just furious at this.
Okay, Steven admitted that he forgot about Khonshu's unique circumstance. Now that he thinks about it, it's like getting mad at a blind man for not seeing the traffic .
Wow, he realized he really can be an insensitive idiot at times. But Steven is not sorry for Khonshu's predicament. The god can be a huge dick to him so it seems fair to not apologize, even if a small voice told him to.
“Moving on. Does anyone else know? The girl's family would have noticed they suddenly went missing.” Steven tried to get things back on route, hoping that Khonshu would forget about his little accusations. Unfortunately, Steven also forgot how touchy and petty the god can be, especially if it is about his banished and incorporeal state.
“You can start your investigation there. I'm sure your very solid hands look it up in the modern top lap of yours.” Khonshu said, each word dripping with sarcasm.
“It's called a laptop. And wait, you can't just leave like that. What happened to telling me the truth?” Steven exclaimed. Shocked that Khonshu now withholding information.
“The suicide was all over the news, everyone in the city knows. Not that you noticed since you were too busy fighting with Jake and being upset with Marc.”
“Okay, I'm sorry for accusing you Khonshu. I forget things and tend to just leave it. And it's not that it's hard, you were not exactly the nicest God. Actually, you're the only God I've met but you were not exactly the best. You are a rude and manipulative dick.”
Steven tried to explain.
“Are the other Gods as petty as you?” Steven asked sharply.
“Are any of them banished by their own family for choosing to side with a lesser race that pretty much grew to demonize you? To be so close to the mortals you swore to protect but equally so far away to actually help them? Forever wandering the world like a restless ghost, cursed to see the suffering and pain of the innocent, to hear their cries. And realize there is nothing I can do to help them. Then yes, I am an extremely unpleasant God because a thousand years of this is enough to make anyone unpleasant!”
Khonshu pretty much yelled the last part. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but he needs to not scare Steven away and risk losing another Avatar. That and Jake is going to get very upset at him.
The two went quiet after Khonshu's angry exposition. The god looks and sounds tired from this, exposing more about his own feelings than what he is comfortable with. The air is thick with tension coming from the god.
Steven waits until he is sure it is safe for him to talk again.
“That explains a lot of things actually.”
He always assumed Khonshu is an uncaring and sadistic fucker who enjoyed making his scream in fear. It was what God looked like from the start.
Steven still thinks Khonshu in an uncaring fucker, but instead of burning hate, there’s a small seed of sadness. He actually feels bad for the god.
Out of instinct, Steven took a step forward, but the god quickly moved back. His stance is tense and defensive, waiting for an enemy to attack.
Khonshu is now glaring at Steven with so much poison. The mortal can tell that the god blames Steven for forcing him to say all of that. For being unable to save the victim.
Steven still finds this very rude and childish of the god. What does he have anything to do with this? But now he also finds it pathetic and just sad. Pity even. And with the way Khonshu is glaring right now, the god knows and hates that Steven feels pity for him.
Khonshu is not ready for a hug just yet. Steven thinks he, himself, is not ready for this too. Khonshu clearly does not want one and Steven still has some sense of preservation.
“I'll look up the suicides online. If they were publicized then there would be articles, interviews by the parents and friends. Any information, something like this would have been posted online.” Steven said. He wondered how he missed this, he usually spends his days in the bookshop he works in. He really needs to get a smartphone with the internet.
“We can’t save the girls, but we’ll get to the bottom of this. Stop anyone else from suffering the same fate.”
Khonshu didn’t say anything, the air was still thick with the god’s fury. Steven hoped that the god had cooled down enough for things to go back to normal, but it seems it never did. Khonshu turned around and disappeared in a swirl of wind, leaving Steven standing on the sidewalk at 5:00 am.
“Seems like I’m walking alone” . Steven said to himself.
He realized he will need to tell Marc and Jake about this. Now that Khonshu found an acceptable mission for him, he will need to come clean since it will just make things messy. He also admits that he needs their help, this is his first mission. Steven is aware he is pretty much a novice while Mark and Jake are veterans.
He’ll tell them later, first he needs to go home and go back to sleep.
He didn’t even buy a breakfast pastry, his mood ruined with how upset the god is. He never realized how lonely it was walking on the road this early, he always had Khonshu beside him, while Steven just indulged in saying whatever was on his mind. Content with having someone who listens to him.
How did things get this way? If someone told Steven a few months ago that he would actually feel bad for the Moon God and actually want his company, Steven would accuse them of smoking stuff.
He’s used to being lonely anyway, he doesn't need the bird god to keep him company.
Yeah, Steven definitely doesn’t miss Khonshu. Even if that unpleasant twist in his gut tells him otherwise