Chapter Twenty Two

Hel eyed the scroll at the table as Izanagi and Hades went back and forth about it’s contents.

“I don’t see the point in going. It’s not of your Laws nor involving our domains. We deal with HUMAN life. Not those of fellow deities.”

“All life-Celestial touched or not-is our business. How do you not see that?”

“A little close to home is it Hades? Feeling triggered?”

“I’ll show you triggered!”

Hel picked up the scroll, ignoring the two brutes butting head to head with their confusing chatter. She cocked her head to the side and squinted hard at the symbols on the page as she tried to will her eyes to being able to read.

“What does it say?”

“It’s an alert of a trial by Ra”

“A trial for what?” Hel kept starring at the scroll until Hades ripped it out of her hands and started pointing at the symbols as if Hel understood what they meant.

“They are letting us know there has been a break in the chain of command by a deity.”

Hel scrunched her face. “I don’t understand. Like someone took down a higher level in one to one combat?” Her eye was big and icy clear.

“Ra’s Law is very tight fisted. Much like in my lands of Akihito,” Izanagi explained, “when someone breaks these laws or orders it’s a very big deal.”

“No. It’s only a big deal with the Upper shits get threatened by what COULD happen.”

“Well…,” Hel paused, she took out her sewing needle and slowly started to poke the sleeve of her dress, “what could happen?”

“Literally nothing. When Persephone and I got together, Her and the Upper 7 tried to prevent it.”

“Why?”

“They thought it made them all look weak-my being with a lower ranked Deity and all.”

“I am still confused. Odin, Tyr, Thor, Vidar, even Heimdall would hook up with humans, animals any ranked deity, even spirits if the offer was alluring enough. And there was never any trial or hub-ub about it?”

“Odin’s Law is very different from Ra’s Law,” Osiris spoke.

“We should go then!” Hades stole a quick glance at Izanagi in the hopes of his approval.

“But just long enough to let Hel see how other domains work. Not to meddle or intervene,” Izanagi crossed his arms as if that was the end of the conversation.

Still confused, Hel started to feel the giggles rise up with excitement. To think, she might run into Set and Bastet again. Hel’s face flushed with blush. Osiris’s dead gaze fell upon her causing the hairs on the back of her neck to rise. She looked up at him. Head tilted in confusion and a bone finger being brought to her chest to help steady her breathing.

“If you are to go,” Osiris began, “into the depths of Ra’s Law, you must understand your place. No matter what, do not speak out of tern.” A slow red glow seeped from his sockets. Sand filled the room.

Coughing up sand, Hel felt the ground suddenly disappear and reappear below her. It was hot. Hotter than she was ever used too. Her face started to sweat. Hades reached a hand out. His grey skin pulled too tightly around his muscular fingers. Using her right side, Hel pulled herself back to her feet. To hel’s surprise, Hades did not let go of her hand.

They walked amongst many deities of all powers and levels. It appears that trials were of great importance in Ra’s Law. Everything was etched in gold and fine jewels. The ceiling seemed to know no limits and go on forever. The ground moving and woven feet dragged and stepped across the shimmering floor. Walls encoded in Hieroglyphics seemed to dance along with her as Hel was escorted down the crowded hallway.

The four Overseers approached the arena. One that reminded Hel of Zeus’s ‘play house’ where Hel made her first official appearance as an Overseer. Despite her power rank, her title placed her with the Upper Four.

“No matter what happens,” Izanagi leaned close to Hel’s left side as Hades pulled her close to his body, “do not leave our sides. This is not the place to do anything but watch.”

Ever since the party where Hel spoke out, Izanagi and Hades had been extremely protective over the actions Hel made. She felt like such a failure and embarrassment towards her fellow Overseers.

Hel looked up at Osiris for some comforting glances or words but her stomach dropped when she realized his gaze did not leave from the center of the coliseum. There was no way he did not hear Ianagi’s warning, or take notice in Hades’s actions of protectiveness.

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Hel followed Osiris’s gaze. Her eyes lit up when she saw the ever breath taking Set standing before like a grand Ice Giant amongst small gnomes. His beautiful black skin sparkling like thousands of stars. His jackal face unwavering and looking the exact same as it did the day they had met. Hel couldn’t see the front of his face but she could tell from his satire that he probably held the same unwavering expression.

Leave no. The first words ever spoken in her defense. The living being that stood up fro her. All from Set. Hel’s heart fluttered.

“I am feeling..excited?” Hel whispered and looked up at Hades from some answers or explanation.

“You like Set?”

Hel nodded slowly and pulled her cloak over her left side to over the bones. Hades sighed.

“It’s probably fear. This is not good for your friend there.” Hel’s eye grew as she started come to terms this is not what she thought it was. She scorned herself for thinking this was exciting. Tears started to form as she watched the other Deities of Lower LEvels settling down. Ra sat in the center back of the coliseum. Set stood with his back towards Hel but facing Ma’at and Thoth.

Ma’at stood in while silk that made her bronze skin shine. Her akhat coated in turquoise and emeralds. Her face chiseled and flawless. Her eyes focused and lacked any emotion. Thoth stood slightly behind Ma’at. His eagle face piercing those sitting and waiting. His beak reminded Hel of Odin’s raves and she felt a surge of nostalgia.

“Set. You stand before Ma’at with reports of treason.” Thoth’s deep, booming voice sent waves of silence to even to the most urgent gossip within the crowd. Hel leaned forward. Hades tensed up.

“We, Keepers of Ra’s Law. Strongest of the Domain for Cliupatra, live by strict rules. Those rules keep order. As the Protector, your rules are to ensure that the people of this land are safe from any harm,” Ma’at’s voice was clam and nurturing. But the tightness within Hel only intensified.

Set stared at the ground. He could feel Ra’s stair stab him from above.

“My lord. It was your orders I kill those intruders. It was your council who changed the scrolls history.”

“Within that law are certain obligations. You stand before our kind and speak of nothing but this treason? These balantent lies!?” Thoth’s voice sent sound waves that pushed Hel back against Hades’s body. She did not realize she was standing and walking towards the railing. Nor did she notice him following so closely behind her.

“No.”

“You are saying you are the only one truth telling here?”

Set stared at Ma’at. His face dropping.

“And you bruise the reputation of Lady Bastet while you are at it? Shameful! Your lies put your domain in danger of attack. You further confuse the involvement of none other than Ra’s daughter?”

Set began to grind his teeth. He tried to remember how he got there and where Bastet was last scene. But his mind was hazy.

“Set. You are not in a position or rank to be making these kind of lies. No one gave you the order to kill those people. No one gave you permission to act on your own.” Ma’at’s voice was calm but deadly. Hel’s heart sank as reality settled in.

“You have committed treason and as such, shall face the penalty of banishment and stripped of your Blessings. Any human seen praying or giving tribute shall be brought down by Ra himself. You shall be killed with no chance of resurrection or passing Osiris’s gates. May this be–”

“STOP!” Everyone’s eyes turned to the beautiful gray and white cat leaping in front of Set. Hel’s heart pounded as she recognized Bastet’s cat form. Quickly, Bastet transformed into a human shape and stood between Set’s body and Ma’at and Thoth.

“Lady Bastet, you step out of line,” Thoth’s voice sounded threatening. He stepped in front of Ma’at and Set’s growl intensified.

“It wasn’t Set. It was me. I was the one who committed treason. Punish me. Set did nothing wro–”

“Hold your tongue before I rip it from your mouth,” Ra rose from his throne. Hel could feel the air being sucked form everyone’s lungs. Everyone’s faces followed Ra as he flew down from his throne into the center of the arena. Everyone, except for Hel. Whose visions flooded her with the intimate exchange between Bastet and Set. The love the two hold for one another. The secrets they shared. The hiding of pure passion from anyone they knew. Hel’s heart slowled with a deepening sadness that surrounded her friends.

“Father, you cannot punish your most loyal subject. Set has saved this domain through countless wars and famines. No other domain dares challenge our lands while Set is there to protect them. You cannot remove him from a place where he is the best fitted to serve.” Bastet’s yellow eyes glared at Ma’at and Thoth despite her circling to stand between Ra and Set’s physical bodies.

Set immediately dropped to his knee and leaned forward on the a black sparkly fist in the presence of Ra. Ra ignored the sign of devotion and smacked Bastet across the face. She staggered back and Set stood up and wrapped his arms around Bastet’s body as she started to fall from shock. He immediately removed his tunic and placed it over her head.

Hel couldn’t help but notice Thoth’s body language as well. Jealousy of Set stirred a deep anger and frustration within Hel as she began to slowly connect the dots.

This wasn’t about the lie. This was about getting rid of Bastet’s companion so she couldn’t deny Thoth. God of Lions and Wisdom.

“You dare challenge me in front of MY subjects?” Ra’s voice was unforgiving. “You need to learn your place!” Ra snapped his fingers. Thoth grabbed Bastet and began to drag her away from Set. Set shoved Thoth.

Thoth connected his fist into Set’s face. Set’s deep growl turned into a bark as he swung a leg from behind Thoth. Set shoved Bastet out of Thoth’s grasp with one hand and shoved hard with the other while Thoth tried to twist his body to avoid the contact. Set did not miss. Staggering back, Thoth swung his fist into Set’s chin. The jackal’s face clearly got punched-but the sheer strength of Set’s body seemed as though the strong deity barely touched him.

Ra snapped his fingers again and sand rose up and began to drag Set down into the ground. Bastet screamed stop and crawled over to Set, trying to pull him out of the sands. MNa’at’s smile reached ear to ear.

“You have to stop! Please! You have too!” Bastet looked back at Ra. Tears rolling down her face. “For the sake of your legacy, you have to stop!”

Ra’s eye twitched. “What?” He squawked. “You dare defy the purity of your station!?” Ra stepped over and swiftly kicked Bastet in the face knocking her to the ground.

“You have defiled yourself being with this treasonous traitor. You have destroyed the purity of your sanction.” Ra’s voice was filled with anger. Bastet’s eyes grew in horror as she covered her stomach protectively. “You think I don’t see? Stupid girl. You shall be removed from your position. Thoth can care for these lands. And Thoth will do so with wisdom and grace!”