Reawakened (The Reawakened Series) (27 page)

Dr. Hassan studied me briefly and then ran his hand over the edge of the broken railing. “I am sorry if this news depresses you, Lily, but I feel you and Amon must be made aware of all the possibilities. There are stories passed down that say a time would come when the ceremony to align the celestial bodies would no longer keep the Dark One at bay, and, from all appearances, that cycle has begun.”

“Let me get this straight. Are you saying there’s a chance that even if Amon sacrificed himself in this cosmic ceremony, it might not work?”

Dr. Hassan nodded. “It has been foretold.”

“But we don’t know for sure that it’s this time.”

“Nothing in this world is sure.”

“Right. So this omen, these crocodile demons—”

“Are a sign that the Dark One has mustered sufficient power, recruited enough allies, and gained a significant enough earthly foothold—”

“To give Amon and his brothers a run for their money.”

“I believe so.”

Putting my hands on my hips, I said, “Well that’s just fan-bloody-tastic.”

I was helping Dr. Hassan move the broken pieces of his deck furniture into a pile when I noticed a bright comet in the night sky. It moved toward us quickly, then slowed, changing direction as it grew closer. Golden wings soon became distinct.

“Can the neighbors see him?” I asked.

Dr. Hassan shook his head. “The great bird is visible only to those who believe in him.”

As the falcon hovered overhead, its body shimmered with magic and began to change into Amon’s familiar form. The shadow of wings beat the air as his body slowly lowered to the deck. When his feet touched the wood, the golden glimmer of his feathered wings burst into a million pinpricks of light.

Instead of lowering his arms, he held them open to me. “Lily.”

I ran into them.

Amon pressed a kiss to my temple, then addressed Dr. Hassan. “What has happened?”

“She was attacked by biloko demons.”

Amon’s grip at my waist and the back of my neck tightened.

“They came with the storm,” Dr. Hassan explained.

“Then they know.” Amon lightly massaged my neck, warmth from his fingertips soothing my tense muscles.

The Egyptologist let out a breath. “That is my fear.”

“Who knows what?” I murmured.

“The Dark One knows that Amon is weakened and that he relies upon you,” the doctor offered.

“Will they come back?” I asked against Amon’s chest.

“I will make sure that they cannot harm you,” Amon answered.

“That’s not a no.” I lifted my head and saw Amon’s frown, the worry on his face unmistakable.

Closing his eyes, he cupped my neck. Warm pulses seeped into my veins and then melted away, the sensation lost just a few centimeters from the surface. “Lily,” he whispered as his forehead touched mine, “what have I done to you?”

“I’m here. I’m fine,” I said, patting his chest to get his attention.

“You are not
fine.
” His eyes narrowed as he touched my bandaged arm lightly.

“It’s just a little bite. No big deal.”

“You are lying. There is severe damage to your tissues, and your bone is cracked in several places.”

“Who gave you permission to do a sun god diagnostic X-ray of my body? Besides, Amon, it’s not important. What’s important is—”

He actually shook me. “
You
are important!” Ignoring my continued protests, Amon said to Dr. Hassan, “We must leave immediately to find my brothers.”

Hassan placed his fedora on his head. “The god of the stars is closest. Follow me.”

“She needs a healer. I would prefer to raise Ahmose first.”

The Egyptologist shook his head and indicated we should accompany him. Inside, he reached under his bed and pulled out a bag, which he filled with strange items—archaeologists’ tools, matches, strips of cloth, and various objects I couldn’t imagine uses for.

“The personification of the moon sleeps too far away,” Dr. Hassan said. “And to uncover his resting place will take time. If we go to him first, we’ll have to backtrack to recover the personification of the stars, which would waste a day. If an attack happens here again, your brother can help defend Lily against the onslaught.”

Amon considered this for a moment. It was clear that he didn’t like the options. Finally, he said, “Very well. We shall awaken Asten first, but make haste, Doctor.”

“Indeed.”

Within a matter of moments we were out the door and speeding down the highway in Dr. Hassan’s small car, which was about as dusty as the objects in his living room. We were headed toward the mysterious Oasis of the Sacred Stones, which Dr. Hassan said was only accessible to those brave enough to pass the sentinels and who understood how to access it.

I rolled down the car window and let the night air caress my cheeks, which had felt overheated since the demon attack. Though Dr. Hassan assured me there was no venom in the bite, the stinging throb hadn’t let up, and despite the painkillers I’d taken, there was a definite achy feeling circulating my body.

Amon fluctuated between blaming himself and cursing the shabti and, finally, cursing the guy, whoever he was, who had summoned the demons. Frankly, his concern was starting to affect me. I constantly felt his eyes on me, and not in the way I would have preferred.

Finally, I said, “Stop looking at me like I’m at death’s door.”

“I cannot help my concern for you.”

“You’re freaking me out.”

“I do not understand ‘freaking.’ ”

“It’s making me nervous. And can you turn down your internal thermometer? It’s toasting me from the inside out.”

“The heat that comes from my body increases as it nears time for the ceremony. I apologize if it causes you discomfort.”

Amon removed his arm from my shoulders and clasped his hands in his lap, angling his body away from mine and as close to the door as possible. The space around me cooled quickly, though my head and shoulders still felt hot. I reached for his hand. “I’m sorry. Normally I like your arm around me, it’s just—”

“Do not be concerned, Young Lily. When I am around you, I sometimes forget what I am, and because of that I have grown careless.”

“You aren’t careless. In fact, you’re one of the most caring people I know.”

Amon seemed appeased by my comment and squeezed my hand. He settled his head against the car seat and closed his eyes. I was glad, since he was likely exhausted.

We drove west for several hours, and as Amon passed the time sleeping, I quietly questioned Dr. Hassan, trying to discover what he knew about the ceremony and what would happen to Amon. He said he didn’t know much more than I did, though I got the impression that he was holding back some information.

Sometime before dawn Dr. Hassan pulled the car off the road and drove behind some brush. “We must continue from here on foot,” he announced.

“How far is it?” I asked.

“A few miles through the desert.”

“I don’t think she can walk a few miles,” Amon countered.

“Perhaps she can wait in the car,” the doctor suggested.

“No, she will remain at my side.”

“Can we go by sandstorm?” I asked.

“No. To transport the three of us would require too much energy.” Amon stared at a nearby dune for a moment and then said, “I have an idea.”

Stretching out his hand, he murmured softly, and the dunes in front of us began to shift. Grains of sand twisted and writhed, and suddenly three horses burst from the dunes in a blast of shimmering powder. They approached us, nodding their heads and blowing steam from their nostrils.

“They’re…they’re gorgeous!” I exclaimed as Amon beckoned me closer. The horses were the color of the sand, and they glittered as if little flecks of minerals were mixed into their coats. Their tails and manes were flaxen cream-colored, several shades lighter than their coats. Their large eyes sparkled like polished amber gemstones, and their hooves looked like they had been dipped in gold glitter. “Where did they come from?”

Amon stroked the neck of the mare and asked, “Do you remember the story I told you about Nebu, the golden stallion of the desert?”

“Yes.”

“These are from his herd.”

“You mean Horus eventually found him?”

“Not exactly. It was more like Nebu found Horus. They formed a bond, and whenever Horus, or in this case, a son of Egypt, has need, Nebu will send his sons and daughters to help.” Amon backed up. “You will ride the mare. Let me give you a boost.”

Grabbing hold of my waist, Amon lifted me high enough so that I could throw my injured leg over the horse’s back. Once seated, I started to panic. “I’ve ridden only a couple of times before, and never bareback. What if I fall off?”

“Hold tight to the mane,” Amon admonished. “She will not let you fall.”

Threading my fingers through the silky strands, I leaned over to whisper into the mare’s ear, “I’ll try not to rock the boat too much. You’re in charge. I’m just along for the ride.”

The mare responded with a shake of her head and a musical neigh as she took a few steps closer to Amon’s horse, a handsome stallion a few hands taller than my mare.

“Are you ready?” Amon asked.

When I nodded, he turned to the doctor. “Ready, Dr. Hassan?”

“Yes, yes.” The Egyptologist waved his hand as he settled on the back of his horse.

“Then please lead the way, Doctor,” Amon encouraged.

At a hearty “Ha!” from Dr. Hassan, his horse leapt forward and ours followed. Though they walked, it was a fast walk that occasionally turned into a trot, which was a bit jarring on my backside but for the most part was comfortable.

I noticed that something jutted up from the dunes in the distance, making black shadows against the night sky. “Is that where we’re headed?” I asked Dr. Hassan as my horse trotted closer to his.

“Yes. That is the oasis at the base of those mountains. We must get there before sunrise.”

“What happens at sunrise?”

“The stones will show us the path, but only at a precise time.”

Encouraged by Dr. Hassan, the horses moved a bit more quickly. The sky was lightening, and I could tell by the way Dr. Hassan kept glancing at the horizon that he was worried. Tall palm trees swayed in the predawn darkness, their heavy leaves rustling in the breeze. Suddenly, a larger animal cried out, its hooting echoed by others, and soon the desert was full of sound.

“What is it?” I cried.

“Baboons!” Amon shouted over the din. “They greet the dawn with howls.”

I grimaced. “I think I prefer the morning song of birds. Are they dangerous?”

“To the wrongdoer, yes,” Dr. Hassan answered.

“Uh, how would they know if I was a wrongdoer or not?”

“Normal baboons wouldn’t,” he said. “But these are guardians who serve Babi, the alpha male of all baboons. He is a sentinel in the afterlife. You see, all baboons are aggressive, omnivorous, and territorial, but these ones are doubly so. They have been summoned to protect the resting place where I hid Amon’s brother. They will allow no one to pass who means him harm. I decided to take this precaution when Amon’s body was stolen. It is said that Babi will eat the entrails of the wicked, and these baboons are just as dangerous. We will proceed with caution, but each of us must present ourselves for judging.”

“And I thought college interviews were hard,” I mumbled.

Our horses stopped at the edge of the oasis, and the cacophony coming from the baboons suddenly ceased. Tree limbs jolted and dark shapes moved over the ground and through the brush until mounds of living flesh settled before us. Teeth, shiny and sharp, were bared and glistening eyes winked like little flashlights in the darkness.

“We must hurry,” Dr. Hassan said. “I will go first.”

Amon helped me dismount and dismissed the horses with a bow of gratitude. With a mighty leap into the desert, they were enveloped by sand, the only proof that they’d ever been there the hoofprints they left behind.

Dr. Hassan had arrived at the border of the oasis, where the horde waited for him. A large male raised himself up and hooted softly. Others returned the call, and as Dr. Hassan stepped onto the grass beneath a palm tree, several of the creatures darted back and forth, circling him. They pushed against his shoes and his legs and tugged on his pants. A baby climbed his arm and picked through his hair, then leapt off and clambered onto its mother’s back.

After this strange animal court was over, the noise died away and the doctor stepped through the mass to the other side. “Come, Lady Lily,” he called over the backs of the baboons, which now stood observing me silently.

Amon clutched my arm and whispered, “I will allow nothing to happen to you. Do not be afraid.”

I stepped into the horde feeling like a coward, and closed my eyes as the howling began. Heavy bodies shifted past me and I grimaced when one touched my injured leg, but gentle fingers brushed across the bandage, and when one reached out a hand, I took it. The sounds of the animals ceased abruptly, and a baboon pulled me with the lightest of tugs toward Dr. Hassan.

When Amon stepped into the oasis, the baboons stood transfixed and then, almost as one, they rushed forward and patted his legs and arms. After every primate had touched Amon, the big male gave a deep cry and all the creatures slinked back into the trees, disappearing as if they had never even existed.

Now that we’d been given clearance by the baboon guardians, we wandered deeper into the oasis, heading toward the sound of water. Dr. Hassan had begun running as soon as Amon had been let go by the troop. Amon helped me along so I wouldn’t get too far behind, and just when I was about to protest that my leg needed a rest, Dr. Hassan slid to a stop at a deep pool fed by a waterfall.

Circling the pool were stones of every shape and size, which wouldn’t have been that unusual except each stone had a hole bored through it. What perplexed me even more was when Dr. Hassan scooped up handfuls of the stones and began throwing them in the water.

“Quickly! Help me!” he shouted.

Amon bent down and gathered several stones, cupping them in his hands and then tossing them.

“What are we doing?” I asked as I tossed my own handful.