Meeting
Zahra woke up with Marc next to her, something she couldn't even understand that she missed during those two months. Part of her was slightly glad she was forced to not be around him because Zahra remembered struggling to sleep whenever Marc wasn't there.
"Hi," Marc whispered when he saw she was awake.
Zahra hummed as she tried to adjust her eyes to the sun. The heat didn't bother here now that she had adjusted to being back in her home country and city.
"We need to get dressed," said Marc, "We have some to look for."
"Suit or no suit?" Zahra mumbled as she climbed out of bed.
"No suit, we're not trying to be seen, Z."
"Shame."
"Shame?"
"While I find you slightly attractive in the suit — don't smirk at me, Marc Spector — my suit is better," Zahra shrugged.
Zahra summonsed her suit and spun around in it, the gold shining in the sun. However, she had noticeably left her mask and hood off so Marc could see her smiling.
"I think it looks good on me," Zahra smiled as she spun around. "A lot less 'mummified' than yours is...and shinier."
"I don't want to be shiny," Marc scoffed. "I just need it to protect me."
Zahra rolled her eyes,"Mine does both! Omari always said–"
"Who even is that guy, Z?"
"Omari is my friend, he helped me and stayed with me since," Zahra replied, allowing her suit to disappear. "He's an astronomer so Nephthys liked him, he'd look after the people we were saving while I...you know. And nothing ever went on like I think you're insulating, it wasn't like that."
Marc nodded as Zahra placed a knife in her combat boots, something she had learnt from Marc while they fought together. They were hunting down people that they knew had information on where Harrow could possibly have gone with the scarab. Time was running out.
"I think I'm faster than you now," Zahra grinned as she ran onto the rooftop alongside Marc. "You lose, American! Ha!"
"Shut up, Z," Marc grumbled, spotting the people they had gone after.
Zahra frowned as she skidded to a stop, spotting the dead body on the floor. She didn't know why he had to die but she doubted he got a chance to get out of the situation.
"Oh, shit. You killed him?" Marc huffed. "I needed to talk to that guy."
"About a dig site." Zahra added. "Guess we're gonna have to talk to you instead."
"You're too late. You're never gonna find Harrow."
"Really?" Marc seemed amused as the man threw up a knife,"Oh, wow."
"What are you doing?" Zahra asked curiously as the man made a 'circle' with the knife on the ground,"I am confused."
"What, are we dancin'?" Marc raised his fists. "We fightin'? What are we gonna do?"
With no more chance to speak, Zahra threw her fist at her attacker, ducking through the arms of the other. She pulled her knee up to kick the youngest in the stomach, causing him to fall to the ground. She turned to see that Marc had pinned the largest against the wall with a knife against his throat.
Just as he was able to make the kill, he dropped the knife. Zahra double-took as she gave him a curious but annoyed look.
"Marc, what are you doing?" It clicked within a second. "Not right now Steven!"
It was too late, the larger man had grabbed Zahra and thrown her over the side of the building. Steven hadn't even realised and Zahra didn't have the mental strength to deal with her husband's other personality.
"I give up," Zahra mumbled as she clambered up from the ground. "Great, my arm is broken."
It wasn't a big deal to Zahra but she did need to find a place for her to put on her suit in order to heal her arm. Otherwise, she couldn't help Steven at all if Marc wasn't going to gain back control before it was too late.
"Omari! Find Marc," Zahra yelled when she saw her friend approach her.
"What?"
"Please!"
"Got it."
Omari had an odd ability to appear when Zahra needed him the most. Despite his over-excited nature, he was skilled in what Zahra liked to call spycraft; going undetected. He wasn't the smartest person in the world outside of Astrology but he had street smarts.
After finding an alleyway and fixing her arm, Zahra began the task of finding the people that Steven had most likely let go of or allowed to get the best of him. Steven couldn't fight.
"I should just do things myself!" Zahra raged as she found the two had gotten away.
Along with Omari standing next to Marc, who had gotten out of a taxi. Marc saw Zahra's annoyed look as she ran after the people they had been fighting recently. Omari, feeling bad, handed the taxi driver the money that Marc hadn't given him before running after the group.
Then, something Zahra could only describe as complicated happened. She found Marc, except it wasn't quite Marc...or Steven. He had stabbed a man and been in the process of stabbing another.
"And what's your name?" Zahra asked carefully, stepping forward. "No offence but I don't believe in the whole ruthless killings."
The version of Marc began to walk towards her and Zahra walked back. He had little emotion on his face and that terrified Zahra. To Zahra's relief, Marc surfaced, who noticed her look quickly and the bloodied knife he was holding.
"Oh, my God. Oh, God. Steven, what did you do?" Marc question into the knife's reflection.
"I swear. That wasn't me."
"Then who was it?"
"Marc, that wasn't you or Steven." said Zahra with a nervous glaze.
"Where's the tomb?" Marc questioned the only person left.
"Take him to the ledge." Khonshu demanded.
"He's just a kid." Zahra warned.
"He'll talk."
"Where is Harrow?" Marc demanded, holding him lover the ledge. "Where is Harrow?"
"Praise Ammit."
The kid cut through his scalf, allowing himself to fall towards the bottom of the cliff.
"No, kid!" Zahra ran to the edge but she was too late. "No..."
"Mmm. I thought he'd talk." Khonshu hummed.
"Your methods don't work," Zahra told Khonshu without fear while Marc talked to Steven."Well, if we can't find Harrow's digging crew, we're gonna have to stop 'em another way."
"So? What about the other gods?" Marc questioned. "Are they just gonna stand by and allow somebody to unleash Ammit?"
At that moment, Nephthys appeared near Khonshu, looking around at the body before looking at Zahra. Zahra, knowing the god would be upset with this, lightly nodded towards Marc.
"To signal for an audience with the gods is to risk their wrath." Nephthys warned.
"Why?" Marc asked. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"Anger them enough and they'll imprison me and Nephthys in stone."
"That doesn't sound so bad to me." Marc added.
"See how you fare against Harrow without the protection of my healing armour." said Khonshu.
"All right. So, what?" Zahra demanded. "Do you have any good ideas?"
"I have a bad one."
"Khonshu?" Marc called over the wind. "What are you doing?"
"He's sending a signal the gods can't ignore," said Nephthys darkly.
The sky began to darken as the sun began to form into a crescent moon, sending Egypt into dusk. Zahra looked up in fascination, engulfing every moment of it with sparkling eyes.
"That was a bit over the top, don't you think?" Zahra smiled.
"Hurry." Nephthys warned. "They're gathering their Avatars now."
"Aren't they scattered all over the world?" Marc questioned.
"Yes. But for a meeting of the Ennead, a portal presents itself anywhere." Khonshu replied.
"Okay. So, where's ours?" Marc questioned.
"The last time I spoke to the gods, they banished me and Nephthys." Khonus explained.
"He's not exactly helpful, Our case against Harrow must be indisputable," Nephthys warned Zahra. "But I shall be with you, Zahra. Have no fear."
Marc was slowly beginning to see that Zahra had got incredibly lucky with being the avatar Nephthys, who clearly cared a lot about her. The last thing wanted was for Zahra to regret being alive because she accepted a deal with a god like he did.
"Come on," Zahra whispered to Marc, taking his hand.
A wall had opened to form a passageway. Zahra listened to Marc while he replied to Steven's election, at least she assumed so. They walked down the step towards the centre of the room. Nine pedestals stood on three sides of the room, with an open rectangular space between them. Fire was lit in front of each pedestal and flames danced up the walls.
"Khonshu's theatrics are unparalleled," the mysterious woman said, directed to Marc,"You must be his avatar."
"Hi. And who are you?"Marc questioned.
"I'm Yatzil, Avatar of Hathor."
"Okay."
"Goddess of music and love?"
"Cool."
"Surely Khonshu mentioned her?" Yatzil suggested.
"The gods aren't really his favorite topic." Marc replied.
"Not even when they are old friends?" Marc shook his head. "She says it was not so long ago Khonshu enjoyed Hathor's melodies."
"Well, as far as I know, the only melody Khonshu enjoys is the sound of pain."
"Hello, you are?" Yatzil questioned Zahra.
"I am Zahra, the avatar of Nephthys," Zahra politely bowed her head."I am aware of Hathor, Nephthys mentioned her on the regular."
"Yatzil." Was called.
"Has Khonshu or Nephthys told you how this works?" asked Yatzil gently.
"Not really. Is there somethin' we should know?" Marc questioned.
"I try not to fight it. It's a strange sensation. But you'll get used to it." Yatzil explained.
"Great."
"In attendance, Horus, Isis, Tefnut, Osiris and Hathor, to hear the account of Khonshu and Nephthys. You've been banished once for nearly exposing us, Khonshu, and Nephthys was banished for aiding you. And you know we despise your garishness, your showy masks, and weapons." The man spoke as Osiris, in disgust. "But manipulate the sky again and we will imprison you both in stone."
"Spare me your self-righteous threats!" Khonshu spoke through Marc."We were banished for not abandoning humanity, unlike the rest of you."
"We have not abandoned humanity. They abandoned us." Another Avatar spoke. "We simply trust our Avatars to carry out our purposes without calling undue attention to ourselves. Not like some of us."
"Avatars are not enough this time," Nephthys spoke through Zahra easily as the Egyptian woman gave total control.
"We need the might of gods." Khonshu interrupted, "Return from the opulence of the Overvoid before you lose this realm."
"For the last time, Khonshu... The Avatars that remain here are simply meant to observe. We decided long ago we did not wish to meddle in the affairs of man. Nephthys knows this just as well but ignore it."
"We will decide our best course of action. Speak your purpose."
"I call for judgment against Arthur Harrow." said Khonshu.
"The charges?"
"Conspiracy to release Ammit!"
"That is a heavy accusation, Khonshu." A man warned. "Let us summon the accused."
Another portal opened behind Marc and Alex, they both looked back awaiting the arrival of Harrow. He peaked his hand though before walking towards the gods.
"So, I see by the presence of Khonshu's current makeshift Avatar, the purposes of our meeting must be nefarious." Spoke Harrow.
"You know exactly why we are here!" Khonshu yelled.
"I must admit I do not miss the sound of that voice. But speak, old master, to the point."
"Do you not seek to release Ammit from her tomb?" Nephthys interrupted as calmly as she could.
"I was in the desert. But if visiting the sands were a crime, the line of sinners would be longer than the Nile," said Harrow. "Khonshu has searched for Ammit's tomb since he ensnared me to his service. His vision is obscured by jealousy, paranoia, and his... He is a deceiver who has dragged another god and her avatar with him! Do not trust the word of a shamed god."No, Khonshu is unhinged and his servant unwell."
"How do you mean?"
"This is a man who literally does not know his own name." Harrow explained. "He has a marriage certificate under the name Marc Spector to this woman next to him..."
"Liar!" Khonshu raged.
"Employment records under the name Steven Grant."
"Stop!"
"I've seen him speak to himself..."
"Shut up!"
"Threaten himself." Harrow chuckled. "I have no idea how many personalities he must possess. The man is clearly insane."
Marc stepped forward with his first already clenched tight. When he went to swing at Harrow, his arm was pulled back by glowing circles on his write, pulling them behind his back and he was thrown to his knees.
"We will not tolerate violence in this Chamber."
" It brings me no pleasure to tell you that this is a deeply troubled man." Harrow continued. "Khonshu is taking advantage of him the same way that he abused me, the way he aspires to abuse this court. Take action now before it's too late."
"Let us speak to Marc Spector. Are you unwell?"
Marc breathed unevenly, "I am. I am unwell. I need help. But that doesn't change the fact that this man is..."
"This is a safe space for you to tell us if you feel exploited by Khonshu." Hathor assured.
"This is not about my feelings! I'm not the one on trial here. He is!" Marc replied, "This is about how dangerous he is if you would just listen for a second."
"He has committed no offense. This matter is concluded."
All of the avatars stood up and their eyes glowed white as they returned to themselves, departing quickly after. Harrow walked past both Marc and Zahra to leave. Zahra turned to make, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"It didn't go to plan, we'll work something out," She whispered.
"Zahra? Marc?" It was Yatzil. "There is another way."
Marc stood and the married pair made their way to Yatzil. She led them down a dimly lit corridor and came to a stop with a hushed voice, "You must listen to me carefully."
"Okay," Zahra nodded.
"Ammit was buried in secret. The location is hidden from even the gods. Ammit had many followers, I didn't. know who I could trust." She explained.
"But someone had to know something?" Marc questioned.
"One man. A medjay named Senfu. He was tasked with recording the location of the tomb, in case the gods ever changed their minds and decided to show mercy. Find Senfu's sarcophagus and you will find the tomb."
"How?" Zahra questioned.
"His sarcophagus was stolen and sold on the black market. You might want to start there."