Chapter Twenty Three

“STOP!”

All eyes swept over to Hel and the Overseers. She immediately sank down and tried to hide under Hades’s arm, but he too had stepped away to stair at her in disbelief. She looked around to see all eyes were placed on her. Hel didn’t recognize the voice coming from her person.

“Who dares speak?” Ma’at’s nurturing voice turned cold and heartless.

Hel couldn’t help but look around as well to find the source of the sound. Forgetting, once again, that it was her own voice that spoke.

Thoth started laughing and pointing directly towards Hel. “Why it’s the destroyer of good times! The low ranked slave girl. Osiris, learn to keep your slaves in their place. Or have you gone soft in your disposition?”

“Learn YOUR place and speak to the Overseer of the Unknown with the respect the position commands. She was chosen by the Fates themselves.” Osiris spoke with such authority, Hel couldn’t help but think Ra seemed so silly in comparison.

“Osiris, you have words to share?” Ra’s falcon eyes married toward the Deities. He stole a quick glance downward directly targeting Hel.

“My Lord, Lady Bastet, has indeed shown great disrespect. 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. I only speak on behalf of my fellow Overseer. Death knows no Domain. Death knows no Laws or Regions. Death only knows Life.” Osiris looked down at Hel and she felt his approval swell within her body.

Feeling scared, Hel’s voice spoke shakily. “Ra,..uh..sir. You… You are wrong about… them.” She pointed at Bastet.

Ra motioned for Hel to step forward. Her body could barely move on it’s own. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. Her disfigurement; her ugly face and body. Her clumsy movements. Pain and begun to grow ever since she left the Underworld, but the added stress seemed to speed up the spread of pain throughout her body. As she tried to climb over the rail, her cloak got caught and tore off. Her body going limp as it hit the sand face first.

Hel watched in horror as rotting skin started to straggly begin to grow back. Chunks of flesh clung to her cloak and her limp returned to it’s original severity. She could hear everyone whispering around her. She reached for her sewing needle and began to aggressively poke herself. Her mouth felt dry. The sand started to burn into her body causing immense pain.

But with each push in the soft sands, Hel got closer to Bastet. Her tears and whimpers as she cradles her body protectively. Hel could feel Set’s fear. Her friends. The ones who saved her. Who guided her to a life where she no longer did feel this pain. Where she might actually find a purpose.

Her anger returned.

This anger intensified as she received a vision of Ra giving the order to kill off the intruders form Eudokia.

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“All of us here know you gave the order for Ra and Bastet to kill off those humans seeking refuge from Eudokia.” The words spilled out of Hel’s mouth. The volume she spoke was not one she had used herself. Hel could see Ma’at being to open her mouth to counter and more words began to spill.

“Not only did Set protect the Lands as he alwasys does. But they were following YOUR very orders. Set protects your lands from not only invaders, but also from romors of savagery. Something I would know about being from the North myself.” What is savage is this trial on something so stupid.

The golden scale behind Ma’at tilted with the lie. Her eyes turned red and she grew in size. Her smile reminded Hel of something dark and extremely twisted.

“My Lord, please. She is but a child. Ignorant in your way. Wrong in her timing. Please, allow me to punish her back in my domain and save you the energy.” Osiris appeared between Hel and Ra. Immediately behind him stood Izanagi and Hades. Hel had never see either of these men in battle but she could sense the change in the atmosphere around them.

Ra waved his hand, “fine. Take care of her or I will allow Ma’at too have her way with the ugly thing.” He turned his attention to Bastet and Set. Bastet was digging at the sands and trying to pull Set from their clutches. Ra snapped his fingers again and Set was free of the sands. Bastet backed away towards the sands waiting for her chance to escape but Ra had other plans.

“My loyal servant Set. Protector of my lands,” Ra’s voice sent everyone watching to cower in their seats. “Kill the whore traitor.”

“My lord?” Set’s eyes conveyed fear. As Osiris started constructing his portal for the Overseers to leave, Hel looked back and watched with horror as Ra gave the order.

“I said,” Ra glared at his daughter who cowered low to the ground, “kill the whore traitor. Either you follow through with the order or I give you both to Ma’at to do with as she pleases.”

Ma’at smiled with Thoth’s mouth fell open. He clearly was not expecting such an extreme execution of justice by his Lord. Set shook his head no as the control of Ra’s words filled his head.

Set ran over to Bastet and held her close to his body. She was shaking uncontrollably. Just behind where Ma’at stood, the grounds began to open up. Everyone in the stands took off running. Ra flew back to his throne overlooking the arena and Thoth stayed close by Ma’at’s side. Her face even more beautiful now that it looked hungry and eager. From the depths of the arena, a giant crocodile face appeared, pulled by strong arms resembling the forearms of a lion.

Hel shook in fear.

“What is that?” Her voice quivered.

Osiris sighed, completely unphased by the sight of the monster, “Ammit. Ma’at’s pet.”

“Finish it!” Ra ordered.

“What are you doing!” Hel’s cries shot from her mouth. Osiris continued to work faster, trying to escape the arena but Hades pulled Hel back by her fleshy arm. Swiftly, Hel pulled her need, stabbed Hades in the hand and ran over to Set and Bastet.

Thoth jumped forward and forcibly pushed her away sending her flying back. Set howled in pain as something metallic came up from the sands below and snapped shut on his leg; locking him in place. Bastet shook her head no in disbelief and tried to pry the trap open. Set sensed another trap being sprung for her and shoved Bastet as hard as he could sending Bastet far away from him as another snap cracked and he fell over covered in indigo blood.

Angry, Hel rushed again. Ducking under Thoth’s arms, she grabbed Bastet’s arm

Hel screamed in a voice she never heard before.

“ENOUGH!”