Pressure weighed against my chest as I nodded with confidence I didn’t feel. “I will not fail.”
“My little princess.” He pulled me in for a hug just as my mom joined us, the three of us stood there, hugging, and warmth spread across my skin.
This was what I had been missing my entire life.
It was unfortunate, that I most likely sacrificed that very thing—to have it.
TIMBER
Egypt, Same Day
I was in a foul mood as I paced restlessly in the palace. There were at least two people in Soul, my lesser temple, waiting for answers that they knew I couldn’t give. It was always the same.
In minutes, I would be judging yet another human female, pure? It only mattered to my father because he was arrogant and wanted power. He wanted his people to know that he deserved a soul as pure as the light that held it.
As pure as Ra himself.
I rolled my eyes in disgust. How many years would this go on? This ridiculous power struggle, this war?
I moved into the light room. Humans were always shocked that my temple held more light than the rest—they misunderstood my darkness for evil when it was there for balance. Besides, souls glowed, something they didn’t take into account when they entered and begged me to make sure they were given either a second chance or were sent to Heaven and not Tartarus.
I eyed the small golden scale next to my white throne. I had five minutes and sadly, that was all it would take.
Darkness swirled beneath my feet with each step I took toward my throne, when I sat, the first man approached. I was used to Pharaohs. This man was a farmer, his skin bronzed from the sun, his hands strong, bruised, callused.
I liked him immediately.
A rarity for me.
“Name?” I leaned back in my seat and reached for my goblet of wine.
“Perseus.” His voice sounded as strong as his countenance.
“And to what do I owe the pleasure Perseus?”
He bowed low. “My dark prince, I only ask one thing.”
“Only one? Must be my lucky day.” I sighed. “Continue.”
“My wife.” His voice trembled. “She is heavy with child, and I fear—I fear she’s too small to give birth, I ask that you don’t make me choose between my love and my children if it comes to that. I ask that you take my soul to secure their lives. I’ll serve an eternity in Tartarus, I’ll—”
I held up my hand. He paled. “Do you think I’m in need of souls?”
He met my gaze, his brown eyes clear as day. “I think any god would be in need of good souls, loyal ones, ones who know exactly the bargain they make when they enter these walls.”
A slow smile spread across my lips as I whispered, “Keep your soul, Perseus. If it is her time to die I cannot stop that, but—” I snapped my fingers as a shimmer of light appeared in front of my fingertips. “The essence of Ra is the essence of life itself, gifted from the Creator. While I may not intervene in this instance, I give you a gift. Take this,” The air shimmered again and then the light turned into a bright orange vial. “Give it to your wife the day of her labor, not any sooner, it will not only ease her pain, but give her and your boys extra strength as they are welcomed into this world.”
He gasped. “I never told you they were boys.”
“How would you know for sure anyway?” I shrugged. “Two healthy boys,” My eyes went bright gold as I saw his possible futures, something I could only do to pure human blood. “Give her the vial.”
Perseus grabbed the vial and burst into tears. “Praise you, prince of—”
“Silence.” My voice boomed. “You will praise the Creator—for I know my place. I was made by his hands, given life by his very breath. Save your praises for him.”
“Praise be to the Creator,” he whispered. “Praise be to his intelligent design in you, Prince of Darkness, Anubis of Egypt, Keeper of Souls.”
I flinched. He’d used my entire name, a rarity for a human to even know my ancient name.