Soul Unleashed (Key to the Cursed Book 4) (10 page)

“Is Jonathan worthy?” Asar asked.

Kamen knew the answer, as did Asar. Kit’s father
had dedicated his life in honor of the Mother Goddess. Jonathan had raised and
protected Mut’s children in preparation for the war, knowing fully he would
make the ultimate sacrifice, succumbing to the reven curse.

Set shifted in his seat and refused to look at
Asar. He had to lie or admit he had neglected his mandate.

“He refused to get on the boat, not without the
girl.”

Much to Kamen’s surprise, his brother spoke the
truth. He nodded to Asar.

“Like I said before your timing was poorly
placed.”

Asar rose to his feet and motioned for Kamen to
follow. Bakari remained in the room with Set.

“I will bring her to you,” Set called to Kamen
from the other side of the bars.

Kamen stopped and looked at his twin. Knowing this
was why his brother had come to Aaru, a chill crawled up his spine.

Asar walked back and joined Kamen. “I assumed his
motive would be directed at me.”

“Not this time,” Kamen said, watching Set through
the gates.

“Nebt’s interference probably influenced his
decision.”

“She has attempted to harm everyone else, Kit and
I are the only ones left.”

“Would Nebt know of your feelings towards Kit?”

Kamen remembered the accidental brush of Nebt’s
hand several months prior to the attack on the Underworld. The contact was
brief but enough for the Underworld goddess to read his soul.

“It is possible.”

“I do not trust Set not to harm Kit, let alone
return her to us.”

“Nor do I, and that is why I will be going with
him.” Kamen met Asar’s gaze.

“We do not even know if you can pass to that
realm.”

“Set and I share the same blood. Ammut will
protect me,” Kamen said, daring to speak the beast’s name out loud.

“That is what I am afraid of. You said it
yourself, you are barely holding on. If what Set says is true, evil is
overwhelming Duat. You think it is hard controlling Ammut here, go to Duat and
the beast may never relinquish control.”

“Can we afford to lose Kit? The Mother Goddess
said all three daughters must be present for us to win this war.”

“Do not throw that in my face. I cannot afford to
lose you either. My powers do not extend past the gates. I cannot protect you.”

“Do not order me to stay,” Kamen warned. Since his
sentencing, he never contradicted his brother. If Asar mandated him to stay in
Aaru, Kamen would have no choice but to break his orders.

Asar cursed and started pacing the length of the
passageway. “What if Apep captures you both? I would not put it past Set to
serve you up to the Dark Lord the minute you arrive.”

“Then I go alone.”

Asar froze. “You cannot be serious. Set is the
only one who knows the river’s path. Not to mention Apep and his demons.”

“I have consumed more souls that have made the
journey. I trust it will be familiar enough when I see it.” Now Kamen was
stretching the truth. Yes, he absorbed the memories of the shades, but they
were fragmented at best. Certainly not clear enough to map but enough to settle
Asar’s fears.

Asar ran his fingers through his hair. “I do not
like any of this. It is my job to protect you.”

“No, it is mine to protect you and the women.
Allow me to do this,” Kamen beseeched, happy to have the chance to make up for
his past. A part of him believed this was what he was made to do. His role in
this war had to be more than just consuming souls.

Asar looked at him awhile, his eyes reflecting the
statistical calculation of success. “No matter how much I hate this, this is
our only option. I will leave the decision up to you about Set.”

Kamen stared across the bars at his twin. Set wanted
to see him suffer. Perhaps, he would get his chance.

The warriors hammered the last bracing to repair
the mast. The white sail waved proudly once more above the ancient deck. Four
thousand years this vessel made way. Kamen ran his hand against the smooth
black wood. The timber might as well have been iron for how solid the
craftsmanship. Heavy, but balanced, the bow of the vessel could cut through
even the largest of waves and still stay upright.

The jingle of irons drew Kamen’s attention to the gangplank
leading to the deck. Set shuffled to the first row of seats. A new iron had
been welded to the deck for the very purpose of locking the chains in place.
His brother was going nowhere until Kamen had Kit in his arms unharmed.

“I cannot steer from here,” Set complained.

“You will not be doing the driving.” Kamen had
been a master boatman, racing Set up and down the Nile. He might be a little
rusty, but he felt at home on the water.

“We are sure to perish then.” Set snorted.

“If we do not find her, I will make sure you do.”
Kamen threw off the lines, making ready to get underway.

“Wait,” Asar called out and escorted Kendra in her
white flowing priestess gown. Her pure aura did not miss Kamen and even Set’s
appreciation.

“Gentlemen,” Kendra greeted with a bow. “A little
blessing before you get underway.”

Set frowned and returned his stare to the deck.

Kamen had never found prayer all that helpful, but
even he would not deny Kendra her wish. Anything that would give them an
advantage would help. Kamen shoved Set to his knees and followed suit.

Kendra stretched out her hand while holding the
spell book in the other. “Thou openest thy two eyes and thou dost behold among
them. Remove thou storms of rain and desolation and give thou sunshine to the
land of Duat with fecundity during the night-time. Exalt protection over the
princes of Nut and Geb, may the gods guide them through treachery unharmed. Thy
foes are destined for slaughter, since they are not steadfast at all because of
thy name. Make firm thy limbs for thee, oh Un-Nofer—life, stability and health.
For thy flesh causeth the heart to rest and return to us safe. May Kamen find
the beauty of life in the darkness and bring our sister home.”

Kamen looked up at Kendra. It had been so long
since anyone addressed him as prince, a crown long since tarnished. “I will
find her.” A promise he would see through to the end.

Her smile warmed the air around them. “I know you
will. Be careful.” She glanced at Set who resumed picking the dirt out of his
nail in the middle of her prayer.

Kamen waited until Kendra and Asar disembarked
before rising to his feet. He grabbed Set by the back of the neck, picked him up
and shoved him back on the seat. “Show some gods damn respect.”

“You think that prayer is going to do anything to
keep us safe, you are sorely mistaken,” Set said, shrugging off Kamen’s grasp.

Kamen nodded to Asar and threw off the last line.
His family stood on the dock, even Lilly and the Mother Goddess. Apprehension
and fear filtered through each of their expressions. He prayed he would see
them again. Kamen pulled the oar free of its ring and pushed off the dock. He
returned to the starboard side and guided the vessel away from the gates.

Kendra’s soft voice uttered words to the goddess
of the winds. The sail caught the breeze and pushed the boat towards the fog.

The weight of Set’s stare made Kamen turn. “I have
not forgotten.”

“For our sake and the sake of your female let us
hope you haven’t.” Set’s gaze drifted upward above the mast as the fog rolled
over the bow. The warmth of Aaru faded, replaced by a cold damp chill.

Kamen steered into the fog. They would be sailing
blind through the boundary. His hand slipped down to his weapon. He had brought
the sword upon Asar’s insistence. Perhaps a reminder to keep his focus outward
and not on the beast stirring in his chest. The rocking of the boat did little
to calm Kamen’s nerves. Instead nausea churned his gut. For the first time, he
had something to lose. The odds were slim he would find her—he knew this but
refused to accept the outcome. Failure was not an option.

The scent of rotten wood and ash choked the mist.
His skin and clothes dampened with the moisture in the air. Kamen lost sight of
Set with ten feet of fog between them. Only the jingle of his irons pinpointed
his brother’s location.

Kamen’s skin prickled with energy the deeper they
plunged into Duat. The current surged and light succumbed to darkness. The oar
jerked in Kamen’s grasp, nearly breaking his hold. Another strong tug pulled
the oar forward, slamming Kamen into the side of the boat.

“Pull the oar out of the water,” Set yelled.

Kamen released his weapon and grasped the oar with
both hands. The waves pitched the boat, throwing Kamen into the side. He
grasped the wood to prevent from falling overboard.

“Unlock me before you capsize us.”

Kamen leveraged his feet and yanked back, breaking
the hold the sea had on the long staff. He stumbled back and slammed into the
opposite side of the boat. The hull wood groaned and creaked with each crashing
wave. Water poured over the edges and filled the deck. He trailed his hand
along the railing to the aft and captured the rudder in his hands. He muscled
the large handle and turned the stern into the waves.

Shadows of the benches and sides of the boat began
to form around Kamen. The boat shot forward, piercing the barrier and breaching
the fog layer. The ballast of the boat landed with a heavy thud and walls of
water shot up on either side. Water on the deck rushed out the side port holes.
The irons empty of their prisoner.

“Set!” Kamen snarled and surged to the front of
the boat. A whistle eddied from behind. Set swung and cracked Kamen in the head
with the oar. Stars showered in Kamen’s vision, but he lunged at his twin.

Kamen blocked several more blows before he seized
Set by the throat. “Nice try.” He threw Set across the deck. Benches splintered
into a multitude of pieces in his wake.

Set scrambled across the wood and grabbed Kamen’s
sword.

Unfettered, Kamen stalked forward. “Do you think
me so stupid not to anticipate your betrayal?”

“If you knew, why did you bring me?” Set swiped
the blade.

Kamen lunged at the opening. He grasped Set’s
wrist and twisted until his bones snapped. Set roared and dropped the weapon.
Lifting Set up, Kamen thrust him out over the water. “Why do
you
think I
brought you along?” Kamen sneered, wanting nothing more than to feed his twin
to the water serpents.

Black tubular bodies rolled and snapped at the
surface.

“No!” Set’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”

“You would be better in the water than onboard
with me,” Kamen hissed in a low beastly voice. The beast reared up to protect
him and threatened to tip Kamen’s control.

Set gripped Kamen’s forearm. “What has Asar done
to you?”

“Asar has given me a second chance to make up for
my mistakes. Mistakes you are going to help me correct. Refuse—and I will drop
your ass into this water.”

“If I help you, what do I get out of it?”

“You get to keep your limbs attached to your
body.”

Set stilled.

“I am glad we understand each other,” Kamen said
and pulled Set back onto the boat.

Set shrugged out of Kamen’s grasp and pushed back
his tangle of hair. “This female must be important for you to risk coming
here.”

“She is none of your concern. All you need to
worry about is getting me to her last location.” Kamen retrieved the oar and
handed it to Set. “Deviate and you and I will finish this here and now.”

Set frowned and palmed the oar. “It is not as easy
as you think. This landscape changes.”

“For your sake, I think you better get started.”

Set turned his back to Kamen and slid the oar into
the ring. The boat sailed forward towards the horizon. The land in the distance
was a mere speck. The journey here although short had taken too much time.
Miles of water stood between Kamen and Kit. Time he feared neither of them had.

Hot daggers of pain raced up Kamen’s spine. Sweat
beaded against his already damp skin. He leaned against the rail to steady
himself. The confrontation with Set threatened to usurp his control over the
beast. He clamped his teeth together to prevent his jaw from elongating and dug
his claws into the hard wood. He could not lose control. Not yet.

“What did Nebt offer you?” Kamen asked in attempt
to distract himself from the pain inside.

Set glared over his shoulder. “An opportunity to
kill you.”

“Would it bring you peace, if I was dead?” Kamen
forced his legs to hold his weight and moved to the bench.

“I thought you were dead until Nebt informed me
your life had been spared.”

“Your hate has not lessened, even after all these
centuries.”

“You betrayed me,” Set growled.

“Betrayed
you
? You lied to me about Asar.
Turned me against him so you could enact your revenge, and for what? Your
jealousy.”

“I am the rightful heir to the throne, not him.”

“You still believe that?” Kamen shook his head in
disbelief. “After all you have proven to the contrary. You assassinated our
brother and used me to do it. And, you are the one feeling betrayed?”

“If you had just kept your mouth shut, neither one
of us would be cursed.”

Sadly, they had been cursed long before at their
birth and followed that path willingly. “You may have been able to live with
your sins, but I could not.” Not after he had learned of Set’s deception. Set
had accused Asar of plotting to kill their mother in an attempt to gain
rulership over the lands. However, it was Set’s plan, not Asar’s. A fact Kamen
did not discover until long after Asar was killed and relegated to live his
days in the Underworld. He had run from the truth for many years, until the
guilt drove him to surrender and confess his sins, condemning Set along with
him.

Set’s treachery brought the realization that evil
had found its way into the souls of the gods. To banish any future crimes, the
Creators harnessed the power to absolve immortality in the form of a dagger.
The Mevt daggers. Given to the one god who knew first-hand the consequences of
betrayal and death. A gift passed from Asar to his own son, Bakari.

Set’s hatred had taken hold long ago and no amount
of penance would change his thinking. The very reason he knew Set would not
give up on his quest to see Kamen dead. But, he could not worry about that now,
not with Kit’s life hanging in the balance.

“Can you not make this vessel go faster?” Kamen
asked, staring at the peaks of land forming before them.

“Unlike you, brother, I avoid running head long
into death.”