Blood of Egypt (Witch Fairy Book 8) (19 page)

Re nods. “For eternity.”

Shock is the only word that can describe the state that Eliana is in at the moment, and I can understand why.  It has probably been hard enough getting used to having the essence of one God within her, and now there will be two?  Will there still be room left for her?  That leads me to my next question.  “Will any of Eliana be lost in this new binding.  Will she still be who she is now?”

“Thank you,” Eliana says quietly.  “I wasn’t sure quite how to ask that without sounding ungrateful.”

Re shakes his head.  “We will never think you ungrateful.”  His thumb strokes her cheek.  “All there is of you now shall remain.  She will to add to your light, not to take any of it away.”

Leaning forward, he presses his lips against her forehead.  I have to admit, I’m a little bit jealous until he does the same to me.  Now I’m appeased and I feel guilty.  To Eliana, he says, “I am always with you.”  Turning to me, he says, “You will always be welcomed as a friend and we will stand by your side whenever the need arises.”

Well that’s a pretty big commitment.  “Thank you,” I say, but the words sound insignificant as they come out of my mouth.  An ancient Egyptian God just promised that he will always stand by my side if I need him.  Thank you just doesn’t seem enough.

“Your slumber awaits.  Refresh yourself with sleep before this next journey; you will need the strength.”  I assume that last part was for Eliana as she’s the one who is going to have Isis binding with her.  Every single day, the thought crosses my mind that my life cannot possibly be real because it is so outrageous.  But I love every minute of it.

Chapter 31

I wake up to an empty bed.  Looking over at the clock, I can’t believe how long I slept; it’s already after eight.  The sky through the window is nearly dark.  Stretching and yawning at the same time, I climb out of bed to find my husband who obviously was not as sleepy as I was.  Then again, he didn’t spend part of his time asleep talking to ancient Egyptian God either.  I think that earned me a little extra sleep time.

When I open the bedroom door, I almost bump into Eliana.  I can’t help looking at her in wonder of what is about to happen.  “It was real, right?” I ask.

She nods.  “It was real.”

“Are you scared?”  I know I would be at least a little bit scared.

She nods again, but this time there’s not a smile on her face.  “Terrified,” she says.

“I would be, too,” I reassure her.  “What was it like binding with Re?”

Her face falls as I apparently just reminded her of something that she hadn’t thought of before.  “It was awful.  I thought I was dying and was sick for three days.”  Oh no!  What happens if Belial decides to pick a fight while she’s sick again for three days?  Now I feel bad.  My first thought should have been, ‘oh no, my friend might be sick for three days’.

Still, it’s a real concern.  Unless this little chat with Re has convinced him to back off a little.  Maybe he’s waiting until we don’t expect him.  I will always expect him to come after me, though.  He’s immortal and I won’t ever be able to relax until there’s some sort of final showdown.  Again, I just want to get it over with.

I link my arm around Eliana’s and we start to walk towards the stairs.  Crestfallen is the word I would use to describe her face now, so I say, “We’ll get through this.  We’re like that cute little Duracell bunny that keeps going no matter what.”

That gets a tiny chuckle out of her.  “I’m feeling a little more like the Pillsbury dough boy actually.  Just because we can always be put back together, doesn’t mean that we can’t be flattened a time or two.”

I laugh.  “Good point.”

“And what are you ladies giggling about?” Josh asks with a smile. “I was afraid you might sleep the rest of the day away, so it’s nice to see you up and about.”

As he speaks, the delicious aroma of spices like curry and cinnamon swirl around us.  “Is that dinner I smell?” I ask as I take in the delicious scents.  My stomach growls audibly.

“It sure is,” Josh says.  “That’s why I hoped you’d wake up.  I didn’t want you to miss out on my fabulous dinner.”  He gives us a wink.

It smells so good.  “Wow, you must be some chef,” I say.

Eliana beams at him. “He’s definitely on his way.  I can’t cook nearly as well as he can. If I can’t pop it in the microwave, then it’s completely foreign to me how to prepare it.”

Josh laughs and takes her free hand in his.  “You’re not quite that bad,” he says. There’s a little extra emphasis on the word ‘quite’ though, so I suspect there is at least a grain of truth to it.  That’s okay.  I’m not much better than that when it comes to cooking either.

Chapter 32

“You shared a dream?!” Kallen says in surprise before taking another mouthful of dukkah, a delicious dip of nuts and spices that Josh has served on Egyptian flatbread.

I nod.  Swallowing my own bite, I say, “It was weird.  Neither mine or Belial’s magic worked in the dream.”  Not just weird, scary.  I find that I don’t like being powerless.

“Now we have to dig up a temple that hasn’t been discovered by archaeologists in the last several thousand years so you can join forces with another Egyptian god.  Piece of cake,” Josh says with a wink to Eliana.  “You’ll be unstoppable now.”

“I don’t know about that,” Eliana says, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.  “Chances are, I’ll be sick and useless for the next few days.”

Josh tries to reassure her as he reaches across the table and takes her hand in his.  “Maybe it’ll be easier this time since you’ve already done it.”

Eliana doesn’t look convinced, but still appears to appreciate his efforts.  Changing the subject slightly, she says, “I guess it makes sense that the temple was never excavated, the Delta would be almost impossible to dig under, even with today’s excavating equipment.  We should go tonight while it’s dark; it’s going to take a lot of magic to get under there.  That’s the best chance we’ll have of not being discovered.”

Now, it’s Josh’s turn to look worried.  “Considering how populated the Nile Delta is, isn’t it pretty inevitable that we’ll be seen?”

“Unless Kallen creates a circle around us,” I say with my hand over my mouth, trying hard not to spit food out since it’s a little full at the moment.

Kallen nods.  “That will be simple enough.  Though, a circle will not prevent anything within it, so if this temple has any sort of traps or defenses, they will still be active.”  Great.  Suddenly I feel like Lara Croft. 

“My mom has spent years studying these kinds of things.  She taught me a lot, so I’m hoping I’ll recognize the signs,” Eliana says.  I hope so too. 

If this is going to be like a Lara Croft Tomb Raider movie, I’m glad I have magic.  I’m certainly not in her kind of athletic shape nor will I be hanging upside down on down on a rope with guns strapped to my thighs.  Although, Kallen would probably enjoy that visual.   Eliana is in better shape than I am, maybe she can do all that stuff.  That gives me some hope. 

Popping the last bite of food in my mouth, I say, “Kallen and I will do dishes and then we can head out.”

Half an hour later, we’re ready to go.  Eliana and Josh have dressed all in black so Kallen does the same for him and me.  As usual, my outfit is really form fitting.  I’m going to take that as a compliment, but I still give him a sour look which just makes him grin.  Apparently, were going Tomb Raider all the way.  Maybe I should braid my hair to go with my outfit.

I roll my eyes and turn to Eliana and Josh.  “Okay, let me see the map.”  Josh found a recent map of the Nile Delta in the study.  It shows population density and projected water levels for different times of the year.  I’m hoping not to teleport us into the Nile.  I don’t need to add crocodiles to the list of those that want to kill me.

We pick a spot where we think will be safest and everyone reaches out, making sure they’re touching me.  In a blink, we’re at the Nile Delta.  With very muddy feet.  I didn’t land us in the water, but we’re pretty close to it.  I look around wildly looking for crocodiles while Kallen creates a circle.

“What are you looking for?” Josh asks.

“Crocodiles,” I say, continuing to scour the area with my eyes.

“Won’t Kallen’s circle keep them out?” Eliana asks.

I shake my head.  “No, animals, especially ones that only use their medulla oblongata, are too stupid to realize they’re in between realms.  It’s all the same to them.”

“Oh,” Eliana says and suddenly I’m not the only one looking for crocodiles.

Josh and Kallen laugh at us.  “How about if you leave the crocodile hunt to us so you can focus on what we came here to do,” Josh says, making him the recipient of a sour look from both of us.

Kallen gives me a quick kiss.  “Do not worry.  We like the two of you with all of your limbs intact.  It has been some time since I wrangled a crocodile, but I am sure I still remember how.”  The funny thing is that I don’t think he’s kidding.  He and Kegan have done a lot of stupid things.  I’m guessing they wrestled with some crocs trying to prove who’s the strongest. 

“Okay, I’m ready,” Eliana says, her focus already on the ground before us.  I feel her magic reaching out to the mud and the water, willing it to move.  It does.  The mud moves first, inching its way away from the center of the delta.  Soon, a basin wider and deeper than a moon crater sits before us.  But as it has grown, water has rushed into it, creating a pool of standing water.  Now Eliana has to move the water. 

This has me worried.  Where is she going to put it?  If she lets it run off to the side, she will destroy crops and even homes.  We’re supposed to be here to do good, not cause mass destruction.  If anyone understands that, I do.

I needn’t have worried.  Eliana spins the water until it becomes a stationary typhoon within Kallen’s circle.  Hopefully, no one outside of the circle can see it.  Turning to me, she says, “Can you teleport us to the center?  I’m pretty sure we’ll land on the top of the temple.”

Pretty sure?  Only I’m supposed to say things like that.  I don’t like it when other people do.  Well, here goes. 

I misjudge the depth a little bit, so it’s a surprise for all of us to fall about three feet when we appear inside the typhoon.  Now I know; I can teleport into thin air.  I can cross that off my list of ‘things I don’t know about teleporting’. 

Fortunately, we’re all pretty durable and don’t get hurt by the fall.  Standing up and wiping ourselves off, we look around.  We are standing on something solid, but not necessarily whole.  It looks like part of the structure has been crushed by the mud and water over the years.  Actually, I’m impressed that there’s any of it left at all.  And even crushed, it still seems to be waterproof.  That’s strange.

Turning to Eliana, I ask, “Are you going to be able to hold the water when we’re inside?”

“I hope so,” she says with a nervous laugh.  I wish she’d stop saying that, but I don’t think she’s tried something like this before, so I’m sure it’s the best answer she can give me.

“We can assist you in reinforcing it if necessary,” Kallen assures her.  “Now we have to figure out how to get inside.”

Easier said than done.  There’s no way I’m going to teleport inside.  If I can teleport into thin air, I’m going to assume that I can also teleport into solid matter.  No need to test the theory.  Not to mention I don’t want to trigger any of the booby traps that are probably in place. 

Kallen walks over the edge where the roof is partially caved in.  Looking back at me, he says, “There’s a spot here that’s cracked pretty far down.  I’m going to try to break through it.”

“Okay,” I say, hoping the whole ceiling doesn’t cave in when he tries.  Whatever is holding it in place and keeping it the water out may not like being disturbed.

Kallen sends a shock wave of magic against the ancient stone.  The crack grows and snakes out from where his magic struck, splitting the thick stone.  We all hold our breath for a moment, waiting to see what happens.  When the roof doesn’t collapse beneath us, Kallen hits it with magic again.  The crack widens and then part of the roof caves in.  Fortunately, the part that is the farthest away from us.  Still, veins of now empty space are moving towards us, indicating that the rest of the roof will collapse soon if we don’t get off from it.

“How does it look over there?” Josh asks.

Leaning dangerously over the edge, Kallen says, “It looks like an empty chamber.  I will go in first and make sure the ceiling stays intact.  I will inform you when you may follow.”

“Maybe I should go first,” I say.  I’m terrified he’s going to get squashed under tons of rubble.  Though, I don’t know what I could do that he couldn’t. 

Taking my words as those of concern rather than a lack of faith in him, he says, “I will be fine.”  And he jumps through the newly made hole.

“Son of a bitch!” Kallen yells after a few seconds. 

The three of us rush to the edge, despite the fragility of the roof.  Pieces of stone break off and fall into the dark hole.  I hope none of them land on Kallen.  “What happened?” I ask. 

Light floods up to us as Kallen uses magic to create it.  Now I can see the problem.  He has a pretty good size arrow in his left shoulder.  “I found the first trap,” he says with a grimace.  “I believe this is the only one in this chamber.  You can come down.”

He doesn’t have to say that twice.  We are instantly by his side.  “Let’s get this out of you,” I say as I look closer at his wound.  Any way we do this, this is going to hurt him.  There’s no getting around it.

“Here,” Josh says as he moves around Kallen.  “I’m going to break off the end and then we can pull it through.”

Kallen nods and closes his eyes as he anticipates the pain.  I hear a snap as Josh breaks the arrow and then moves in front of Kallen.  With one quick pull, the arrow is out and lying on the ground.  A gush of blood spills out of Kallen’s right shoulder, and I press my hand to it as I send magic through him to heal his would.  I can tell by the tightness around his eyes and mouth that it hurts, but he doesn’t say anything.  My husband the tough guy.  I love him. 

When relief washes over his face, I know the healing is complete.  I could feel it magically as well, but I like being able to tell from his expression.  “Better?” I ask.

He puts his hands on my cheeks and leans down to kiss me.  “Much.  Thank you,” he says against my lips and then straightens.  “There appears to be a small passageway over there.”  He points towards a corner of the chamber and sure enough, there’s a passageway.  Torches lining the wall burst to life as Eliana lights them.  I hope there’s no trapped gas down here or else we’re about to get toasted. 

When we don’t explode after a minute or two, we move towards the passage.  It’s only about five feet tall and maybe four feet wide.  It’s not so bad for Eliana and me to pass through it, but Kallen and Josh are practically on their knees as we move to the end.

“I’ll go first,” Josh says.  He’ll be the next victim is more likely.  Stupid ancient booby traps.  How important could a temple really be?  Well, if it houses the essence of a goddess, then I guess this one is pretty important.

“Be careful,” Eliana says to him and it comes out more as a warning than a request.  One of those ‘if you get hurt or die I’m going to kill you’ kind of warnings.

Josh peeks around the corner of the wall and then takes a tentative step forward.  It doesn’t escape my notice that this place is remarkably well preserved for spending a few thousand years under water and muck.  I can feel magic around us, but I definitely have never tasted any like this before.  It tastes like an old slipper you found in a trunk in the attic that you’re great grandmother used to wear when she had athlete’s foot.  Not that I know specifically what that tastes like, but I’m pretty sure this is it.  I suspect that it’s protection magic woven into place around the temple, but who knows, it could be ‘you’re going to die painfully if you walk another step’ magic as well.