Chapter Twenty Four

Everything around them froze. Ra. Ma’at. Ammit. Thoth. Even Osiris’s portal seemed to freeze in action. Only the two of them were free to move about. Bastet continued to struggle to find her feet and catch her breath and Hel looked closely into Set’s eyes. There was a clear panic in his face.

“We have to go.” Hel reached her hand out to Bastet. But Bastet refused. “B we need to leave! I don’t know how I did this and I don’t think I can make it last much longer!”

Set tried to take a deep breath in but shuddered. Set was locked in place. The trap unwavering.

“All this time… All this time.. I..I thought he…,” Bastet pushed and pulled at the trap, her own fingers beginning to bleed on the blades. She was unsteady and couldn’t catch her breath. Her hands shaking. Eyes glued on the blood filling her hands.

A wave of euphoria caused Hel’s chest to rise with a deep breath. She watched as Odin appeared in a portal Osiris was creating. He stepped onto the soft sand and sank into the ground slightly.

“I think your time here is done.”

Hel looked up at Odin who was already dragging Set’s body through the portal, chains still attached to his legs. Hel, grabbing Bastet by the shoulder and half leading half dragging her, followed Odin through. They were back at the Eastern Bridge. It’s red paint looking like it did the first time Hel crossed.

“How did you—”

Odin smiled down at her. “Your friend will be fine if you can figure a way to get those off him. And your other friend… she needs to rest. I cannot be too involved yet. There are players I still don’t know about. You can always find refuge in the North but where you go is ultimately up to you.”

“My Lord, how did–”

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“Overseer of the Unknown doesn’t know the known it seems. Whose the Lord of Wisdom and Communication?” Odin winked, well, Hel thought it was a wink. She looked at the sky and saw Huginn flying above. When she looked back, Odin was gone. It was just the three of them.

Bastet continued to cry. Her knees brought to her face as she wailed. Set’s breathing returned but was shallow. Hel looked at the bridge.

“We need to cross.”

“What?”

“We need to the get to the North to get these off of Set.”

Bastet couldn’t look at Set. It was clear she was struggling seeing him in such a state.

Hel took in a deep breath and tried to remain calm. Her pain was returning. And quickly. But that didn’t matter. She wasn’t about to let the events that just happened ruin her chance to save her friends. Hel looked around for something to roll Set’s body onto.

Underneath the bridge, Hel noticed the bum still sitting there. This time, he was in a deep bow.

“You. Are you strong? Can you help us?” Hel pointed her skeleton hand towards the human. She could almost laugh at the irony of how scared she once was of this human.

But the hum only pissed his pants and ran away. Panic began to set in. Hel started to loose her breath and pound her head. She was starting to feel helpless. For once, Hel needed to be strong for those around her. Set saved Hel. Bastet guided her. These are strong deities. They need help and no one is going to their aid.

Hel tried to think of the Underworld. I do not speak on her behalf. Nor do I wish to step out of place as she is yours to do with as you please. Osiris’s words echoed in her head. She shuddered to think this was all for nothing. Unable to face him or chance putting them in danger, Hel imagined the first place she ever remembered being close to a home. Hel began to blow onto the surface of the fast moving water. It’s ripples danced as she imaged the cold of the North. The strong wooden door of the entry way where her earliest memories originated. Blowing and blowing until it felt as though she had no more breath in her to give.

“Do you just make a portal?” Bastet was in her cat form. Hel smiled and ran over to Set. Slowly and with all her strength, she began ruling Set’s body over to the portal. Shoving and shoving, she pushed his body into the portal. There was no solace. Cold unforgiving winds blew hard. Hel was concerned she wouldn’t be able to make it through. Grabbing Bastet and holding her close, Hel pushed herself below the surface of the portal. As it closed up, Hel continued to push and kick until she was in the snowy forest of the North.

Immediately, Hel started to bang on the wooden door. Over and over, until at last. Freya answered.