Hedge Witch Diaries Complete Series Boxed Set, page 54
With a fierce cry, Anubis lunged at us. Dorian stepped forward, his staff ready, but Anubis was too quick. In the blink of an eye, he had closed the distance, his razor-sharp claws extended.
I was ready for him, though. I channeled my power into a beam of white-hot energy, aiming directly for his chest. The blast hit him dead-on, knocking him back several feet. But he didn’t stay down for long.
With a snarl, he charged us again, his claws slashing through the air. Dorian swung his staff upward, deflecting the blow. I followed up with another blast of energy, forcing Anubis back again.
His eyes burned like hot coals. “You cannot stop what is coming, Isis. The end of days is inevitable.”
“We’ll see about that,” I shot back.
We continued our battle, each exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. Anubis was powerful, but my magic was stronger. Dorian’s guidance and support only bolstered me further.
With each blow, my exhaustion increased. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep going, but I couldn’t give up. Not when the fate of the world was at stake.
Anubis lunged at me again, and I barely dodged out of the way. His claws scraped along my arm, drawing blood. I cried out but didn’t let the pain distract me. I gathered my power, ready to deliver one final, devastating blow.
Before I could, Anubis released a piercing howl and disappeared.
I gasped, clutching my bleeding arm. “What the hell happened?”
Dorian shook his head, looking as confused as I felt. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling this isn’t over yet.”
I nodded, my heart still racing from the battle. As we caught our breath, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Anubis had seemed so sure of himself, so certain the end of days was inevitable. Was there really no stopping it? There had to be. Otherwise, why was he trying to fight us?
“We need to stick to the plan,” I announced. “But with Anubis lurking, I can’t leave you all here to face him alone.”
Gareth drew a deep breath. “We’re with you, Briar. Open the portal. It’s time to storm the underworld and end this shit.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The portal to the underworld yawned open before us, a gaping maw of swirling shadows. I peered into its inky depths, half expecting bony fingers to reach out and drag me into oblivion.
“No sign of Anubis yet,” Gareth muttered, gaze darting around the empty warehouse. “That doesn’t mean he won’t try to trap us down there.”
“Well, we can’t stand here with our thumbs up our asses,” I insisted. “Time to nut up or shut up.”
I steeled myself and stepped toward the portal. A hand grabbed my arm, stopping me short. Dorian.
“I’ve got an idea,” he stated. One of his tattoos glowed with a violet energy, a power I’d never seen him use before. What had happened to him in Egypt? Something was different about his magic, but if it helped, I could get the details later. The air crackled with power as he called upon the magic of the stone circle outside. A shimmering barrier formed around the portal’s entrance.
“There. That should keep even a god like Anubis from shutting this thing behind us.” Dorian smirked, clearly pleased with himself.
“Damn,” I remarked. “Impressive. What kind of magic was that?”
Dorian sighed. “It’s nothing to worry about. A long story. A lot has changed since I left, Briar.”
“Changed?” I raised an eyebrow.
Dorian shook his head. “Not my feelings for you. I met some interesting netters. I learned a few things.”
I gave Dorian’s hand a grateful squeeze. “All right. Let’s get this over with.” Dorian and I stepped into the swirling vortex of shadows with my friends close behind. Here we went again, marching into the belly of the beast.
We emerged into a wasteland. Miles of barren, rocky terrain stretched in every direction under a bleak gray sky. No signs of life anywhere, not even a scrap of vegetation. It was the kind of place that sucked all the hope right out of your soul.
I shivered, memories of this forsaken realm churning to the surface. Once, this had been the dwelling place of millions of souls. Now, nothing but a vacant shell remained.
“This is all kinds of fucked up,” I muttered.
“Set’s doing, no doubt,” Dorian commented, his face grim. “Stripped the underworld bare when he drew them out.”
I shook my head. “This wasn’t all his work. We played a role. We were the ones who broke the veil to begin with.”
“This place isn’t totally empty,” Gareth reminded us. “Set himself is lurking around here somewhere. The Morrigan, too.”
I nodded. “And Charlie. Can’t forget about him.”
I closed my eyes, trying to access the remnants of Isis’ memories. They came in fractured pieces, blurred images, and feelings rather than anything coherent. However, I found a sense of direction, an invisible tether pulling me forward.
I opened my eyes. “This way. I think.”
We set off across the desolate landscape. The ground was rough and uneven, making the going slow. More than once, someone stumbled over the rocks, but no one complained. We were all too focused on our goal.
After what felt like hours, a towering shape appeared on the horizon. An ancient pyramid, its edges smoothed by time but still conveying a sense of enormity.
“There.” A surge of recognition hit me. “That’s where we’ll find Osiris.”
We picked up the pace, moving quickly across the broken ground. Anticipation thrummed through the group. We approached the pyramid cautiously, wary of any traps or guardians that might be lurking, but the entrance stood open and unguarded. I glanced back at the others.
“Be ready for anything,” I told them.
We stepped inside.
The interior was dim, lit only by a few scattered torches. As my eyes adjusted, I made out a towering shape on a dais at the far end. A throne, and on it sat the unmistakable form of a mummy.
I crept forward, my senses straining. This had to be Osiris, but something felt off. Powerful magic hung in the air, obscuring my attempts to get a clear read.
As I drew closer, the figure on the throne didn’t react. I reached out a hand tentatively and touched its linen-wrapped arm. Still no response.
I closed my eyes, focusing intently. The magic clouding my senses peeled back. What I sensed beneath wasn’t the raw power of a god. It was the flickering life force of a mortal man.
My eyes snapped open. “This isn’t Osiris. It’s a man under some kind of enchanted sleep.” I stepped back, my mind racing. “Osiris isn’t here.”
Dread crept up my spine. Where was he, and what state might we find him in? The situation had gotten a lot more complicated.
“Where the hell is he?” Sydney asked, coming up beside me.
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but Set’s killed him before. He must have done something to Osiris again.”
My hands curled into fists. That bastard somehow got to Osiris first, but why take him and leave this mortal in his place? It didn’t make any sense.
I began unwinding the linen strips that swathed the figure. As the last layer fell away, I stumbled back with a gasp.
It was Charlie.
My fingers trembled as I reached to touch his face. His skin was cool under my fingertips. When I brushed his cheek, his eyes flew open. He jerked upright with a choking gasp like a drowning man breaking the surface.
“Charlie!” I cried. “You’re alive!”
He blinked at me in confusion, chest heaving. “Briar? What…how did I get here?”
I threw my arms around him, relief leaving me giddy. He was alive. I didn’t know how he’d wound up here, and right now, I didn’t care.
Charlie awkwardly patted my back. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m all right.”
I pulled back, getting a hold of myself. There would be time for questions later. First, I had to make sure this was actually Charlie.
“Charlie, is it really you?” I asked urgently. “Or is the Morrigan still inside?”
He shook his head. “No, it’s me. She left my body as soon as we got here.”
I studied his face, looking for any hint of deception. His eyes were clear, his expression open and guileless. This was my Charlie.
I blew out a breath. “Okay. Do you remember what happened? How did you end up here?”
Charlie rubbed his temples. “It’s fuzzy. I remember the Morrigan bringing me here. Then she just…left. Next thing I knew, Set was standing over me. He said something about teaching Osiris a lesson.” Charlie’s eyes widened. “Osiris! Where is he?”
I shook my head grimly. “We don’t know. He’s gone, and Set did something to you, too. Do you remember anything else?”
Charlie squeezed his eyes shut, thinking hard. After a moment, he shook his head helplessly. “No, that’s all I’ve got. The last clear memory is Set leaning over me, then it goes black.”
My heart sank. We still had no idea what Set had done to Osiris or where he might be. At least Charlie was safe. I would unravel this mystery soon enough. For now, we had to find Osiris. How could we do that in an underworld so large, so vast, that it housed every soul of every person who’d ever died?
One way or another, we’d find a way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The sulfurous stench hit me like a punch to the gut as we marched through the smoldering wasteland. Flames licked at jagged rocks jutting up from the parched earth. Dorian trudged beside me, his brow furrowed in concentration as he clutched his staff and crook. I grazed his arm, focusing my power. A jolt zapped through me, and suddenly, the crook glowed brighter. Yet I still couldn’t sense Osiris.
I shook my head. “That crook’s about as helpful here as a screen door on a submarine. I’m getting nothing.”
Dorian scowled. “I don’t think the crook’s the problem. If you can’t find Osiris—”
I sighed. “It means he’s not here.”
Aiden grunted. The atmosphere was clearly taking a greater toll on him since he lacked magic. “Where the hell could he be, then?”
I shrugged. “Beats me, but traipsing around this godforsaken place isn’t getting us any closer.”
I wiped the sweat from my brow and looked back at the others. Gareth’s perfect hair was plastered to his forehead, Sydney fanned herself with a hand, and Aiden trudged along like a mule. Only Charlie seemed unfazed, the lucky duck. His extended nap, or perhaps his druidic magic, gave him more vigor than the rest of us. Including me.
“I reckon we need to rethink this plan,” I stated. “Before we all melt into puddles.”
A dark shadow passed overhead. I glanced up, shielding my eyes from the harsh red glow of the underworld sky. A raven circled above us, its wings spread wide.
“Hey!” Charlie called. “I know that bird.”
The raven swooped lower before landing gracefully on a withered tree nearby. Its form shimmered, feathers melting into pale flesh and flowing black hair. The Morrigan stood before us, regarding me with her piercing violet eyes.
“What happened?” I asked. “Where are Set and Osiris?”
The Morrigan tilted her head. “Set has taken Osiris to Duat.”
“Duat?” Gareth echoed.
I nodded, memories of my past life surfacing. “It’s the realm of the Egyptian gods. Like their home base.” I met the Morrigan’s gaze. “Set must be trying to get back in. Probably using Osiris as leverage. He was banished ages ago for what he did to Osiris.”
Aiden scratched his head. “How do we get there?”
“There must be a portal somewhere in the underworld,” I remarked. “Did you see where Set went?”
The Morrigan considered me. “I know where the portal lies. First, you must fulfill your promise.”
I tensed. Right. My promise to give up my resurrection powers if she helped mend the veil between the living and the dead. But if Set succeeded, none of it would matter.
“I’ll give it up after the world’s not ending,” I stated firmly. “The deal was I’d give it to you when we fixed the veil. That ain’t done yet.”
The Morrigan bowed her head. “Very well, Isis.”
Dorian frowned. “Briar, you can’t hand over your magic.”
“It’s the only way to fix things,” I insisted. “Powers like mine…no one should have them. She isn’t asking for my normal power. Not what I always had. Only my power to bring back the dead. Nothing good comes of it.”
The Morrigan nodded slowly. “Very well. Follow me.” She transformed back into a raven and took flight. We hurried after her shadow, delving deeper into the wasteland.
We followed the Morrigan through the barren wasteland, our footsteps echoing off the jagged rocks. The air felt heavy, like a storm was brewing, even though the sky was empty and vast.
After what seemed like hours, we came upon a cliff overlooking a churning river of souls. Their warped faces danced under the surface. Across the river was an obsidian palace, its spires piercing the gloomy sky. Ancient hieroglyphics carved into the walls seemed to shift and move before my eyes.
“Set’s portal lies within,” the Morrigan announced, alighting on a boulder. “However, the way is perilous. The river will attempt to claim any who cross.”
“What’s up with the souls in the river?” I asked. “I thought everyone got resurrected.”
“They were not whole,” the Morrigan explained. “These spirits in the river are what the resurrected lack. Their true humanity.”
Aiden chuckled. “Is this where Osiris’s wiener was lost?”
I tilted my head. “I suppose it is. It’s like the Nile of the underworld. Where Set first cast Osiris the first time he killed him.”
Aiden gulped. “I’m not touching that water. I don’t want to lose my dick!”
I laughed. “Or your soul. I’d be more worried about that.”
Aiden shook his head. “Look, I don’t use my soul much, but my johnson is a big part of who I am.”
Sydney giggled. “Emphasis on the big.”
I winced. “I really don’t want to know.”
“Will you brave the waters or not?” the Morrigan asked.
This was a true test. Still, we had to stop Set before he could wreak more havoc.
“I’ll go first.” Gareth rolled up his sleeves.
I grabbed his arm. “Like hell you will.” I turned to the Morrigan. “There’s got to be another way across.”
She blinked her beady eyes. “I know of no other way. Perhaps together, you can find one.”
“I have an idea,” Charlie piped up. “Follow me.”
Charlie sauntered over to the river’s edge and stripped down to nothing.
“Full moon’s out tonight,” Aiden jested.
I chuckled. The next thing I knew, Charlie dove into the water and shifted in mid-air, taking the form of a giant whale. He flailed around the shoreline.
“I think he wants to give us a ride,” Gareth added.
I nodded and stepped toward Charlie. He was massive. Could have swallowed Jonah. Or Pinocchio.
“Hey, Charlie!” Aiden called. “Be careful. If you see a worm in the water, it’s probably a god’s wanker.”
Charlie puffed some water from his blow hole.
I glanced at Aiden. “Be careful. Don’t touch the water.”
Aiden nodded. “Got it. Not going to risk it!”
I climbed onto Charlie’s back, feeling the smooth skin under my hands as I settled into position. The others followed suit, with Aiden clinging tightly to Charlie’s dorsal fin and Sydney grasping his tail. Gareth wedged between Charlie’s massive fins, his hair whipping around his face as we moved out into the swirling current of souls. Dorian held onto my waist.
As we moved farther into the river, I felt the souls tug at my essence, like an ethereal force trying to pull me off Charlie and under the surface. It wasn’t strong. More like a gentle tug. “Stay focused, everyone!” I shouted. “Don’t give in to the urges you’re feeling.”
“They can’t have my dick!” Aiden shouted. “Not gonna happen! No way in hell!”
We reached the other side, gasping but alive. Charlie dove deep into the water, then shot himself out before flopping onto the beach. He shifted again into his usual form.
“Sorry guys. Still naked.”
I chuckled. “No worries. That was brilliant. But Charlie?”
He tilted his head.
“What about your soul? Did you lose something in there?”
Charlie frowned. “I don’t know. I can’t tell.”
“Well, we aren’t leaving without you.”
“Briar, I told you before—”
“I said we aren’t leaving without you. If your soul is in this river, I’ll fish it out of there if it’s the last thing I do.”
Charlie pressed his lips together and nodded but didn’t speak.
I turned toward the megalith in front of us. The obsidian palace loomed before us, its doors wide open.
“Let’s go,” I insisted, my voice low and determined.
When we stepped inside, the whole place glowed with multicolored lights emanating from dozens of portals. Most of them shone golden, like the sun. One stood out from the rest with pure white light.
“What are we looking at here?” Sydney asked.
“Those golden portals go back to Earth,” I stated. “It’s like holes in the Swiss cheese of the veil between life and death. They’re how all those people left before. My guess? They had to cross the river to do it and left their souls behind. That’s why they came back like they are.”
“Makes sense.” Gareth nodded. “The white portal. Is that…”
“The Duat,” I commented with a resolute nod. “I know it. I remember it. That’s where we’re going.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Duat hit me like a blast furnace. One second, I was in the chilly underworld. The next, I was sweating my ass off in the sweltering halls of the Egyptian home of the gods.
“What the actual fu—”
I blinked against the blinding sunlight reflecting off golden walls covered in hieroglyphs and intricate carvings. This was no dark, spooky underworld. It was straight out of an archeology textbook. Or Indiana Jones’ wet dream.
