Chapter 6
It was nice. Having a day to themselves.
Khonsu and menhit returned with no luck, unfortunately. But they were pleased at how relaxed their shared avatar was.
Tonight, chase and Layla were to make a stop by Marc's little moon knight mass centre. That's what chase was calling it now. Nothing else.
"So. Saw you with Nyx earlier today, You looked really happy" Layla stated, looking to a masked up chase.
"Yeah..yeah she's great…Layla I think..I think I really like her."
"That's great! Isn't it?"
"Well that's the thing. I'm not sure. Would Nyx stay with me if I told her about my mental health? About…khonshu and menhit and everything else?"
"Well, it's better to be honest than not. About your mental health that is. Not the whole avatar stuff" Layla and chase let a chuckle escape them and arrived at the moon knight mass.
"Knock knock! Who needs help?" Chase stepped in, dusting off their shoulder and leaned against the wall.
"Cersie, it's nice to see you again. Stephen strange has called by again. He's found more zombies."
" Again ?" Chase sighed, khonshu tilted his head with intrigue
"Young one, perhaps we can study one this time. We have Layla with us for this excursion."
"Alright. Is that it for tonight?" The receptionist nodded, "Kay, cheers. Scarab, let's go"
"Ah- where to?" Layla asked, confusion setting onto her face.
"The sanctum." Was all chase said.
___
Chase and Layla stepped into the sanctum, chase heading up the flight of stairs and looking about for Stephen.
"Strange! Heard about your zombie problem again" chase called out and then jumped back in surprise when they saw Stephen float down to them with a book in their hand.
"Nice of you to come back. And oh you bought a friend with you. Who's this?"
"Scarlet scarab. Friend of moon knight." Layla said, holding a hand out and Stephen shook her hand
"Well. Help is always appreciated. Ready to go through?" Stephen asked
"Well. We need to isolate one this time. Taweret - that's scarabs god, she ferries the souls of the dead to the afterlife. We think she can help us deduce who's doing this" chase explained.
"Of course. I'll help where I can." Strange nodded out
___
"Whoa…it's so…" Layla trailed off, staring around in awe.
"Weird? Awesome?" Chase asked
" Crazy ." Layla finished.
"Yeah, but it's the only place Stephen can keep them without them hurting innocents." Chase explained, moving away from the edge of the building they were on.
The moon was bright tonight. Full too. Chase could feel it.
"Dr. Strange, as soon as we kill the majority of them off, we'll call you down to trap the last one."
"Sounds like a plan, miss Cersie"
"Ready?" Chase glanced to Layla, who nodded and the both of them fell off the building and glided over to the small horde, landed and began thinning the undead group down.
"Khonshu, the magic is stronger tonight." Chase pointed out.
"Yes. I noticed." Khonshu rumbled out. Both chase and Layla left one last zombie and called strange down, who trapped it.
"Taweret, help us out?" Layla asked and almost immediately, taweret room control of Layla's body and looked at the zombie.
"Oh- oh yes definitely old magic. Oh…oh if I have to say.. it's resurrection magic, whoever has Anubis, their powers are getting stronger…" taweret stated.
"Or, they were testing out the waters. Giving us a sign." Chase stated, leaning in close and eyeing the zombie
"Dr. Strange, what would you say? You're the master of the discipline" chase asked, "we could use your expertise." They then added.
"I have to agree with Ms. Taweret. This magic is…strong. The user knows what they're doing. And miss Cersie, you are most certainly correct. They were testing out the waters." The group looked at the zombie for a second time.
"What do we do now girls?" Taweret asked, and khonshu was the one to answer through chase.
"We find this avatar."
"Yes we know that khonshu. Anything else?" Chase asked
"Break their windpipes. Throw them off a cliff!"
"...ah okay, he's not helping us" chase grumbled out.
"Vengeance has to be served!"
"Stop using me as a bloody puppet ya moron!" Chase yelled out, glaring at the bird who was on a nearby building
"If I may," strange started, "I can place a tracking spell on the user. It's a 24 hour spell but can give you answers to who this person is. I have what I need already" chase and Layla looked to one another and nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah that'll be great. Thanks, Stephen" Layla was the first to speak up and strange smiled
"Happy to help."
___
"Now remember. The spell lasts for 24 hours and only 24 hours. This may be your only shot to find who this person is" Stephen explained.
Chase looked to the orange glow that was around their wrist and flicked the compass up, a look of wonderment on their face.
"Whoa…man why couldn't I become a magic person. Sounds much better than being a dead birds avatar"
"I will crush your throat depressed one!" Khonshu yelled out, chase ignored him.
"So. How do we know when we find the person responsible?" Layla asked.
"The bracelet will turn gold when you found them." Stephen said and both friends nodded.
"Right. Thank you, for everything." Chase said softly, letting the mask fall from their face
"You're welcome, Chase Brook. Don't worry I won't tell anyone your real name." Stephen had a smug look on his face.
"....shut up. Magic man" chase grumbled out, an amused smile on their face.
Layla walked out the sanctum, and chase was about to leave before Stephen stopped them
"Please be careful, chase. This is old magic. Strong magic. Stronger than anything I've witnessed. It comes second to the dark hold."
"Hey, we've saved the world from a crocodile lady before. I'm sure we can do it again" chase smiled.
"Alright….I shouldn't say this but, when the time calls for it, call upon those two gods of yours. Their shared power may turn the tide on this fight" chase blinked in confusion, then slowly nodded.
"Right. Cheers I'll remember that.."
___
Back at the dingy apartment, the friends were sat down at the table, sharing a carton of a local Chinese.
Chase was staring at the new found magic jewelery that they had and was just… staring at the compass. Just, waiting for it to move. Do something.
"Chase. Eat something" Layla urged, pointing to the half empty Chinese carton that was for chase.
"I'm fine-"
" Chase . Don't do a Marc" chase rolled their eyes, snatched the carton off the table and began eating.
This was…getting more and more interesting.