Soul Unleashed (Key to the Cursed Book 4) (21 page)

“
You
are the third text.”

Kit paused with her hand on the knob. She turned
to stare at the god. “I’m a book?”

“Not
a
book.
The
book. The
future
of the Pantheon. A scripture that has yet to be written. She put it inside of
you.”

Stunned and not certain she could believe him, she
stood frozen. She wanted to deny the puny god’s accusation, but her fear of the
truth stayed her tongue.

“Mut has put the fate of the Pantheon in
you
.”
His voice rose along with the redness of his face. Fury filled his eyes.

The beast stirred along with her fear. Not of him,
but the chance that what he spoke was true.

“If Apep has awoken, as Asar claims, then you
decreed it.”

Kit genuinely laughed. This male was a fool. She
didn’t bring this upon her family. “You’re mad to think I did this. This
started with Menthu and Kepi, long before I was born. With you and all of those
self-righteous gods out there. The prophecy of Apep’s rising was written by
you.”

“The Dark Lord will rise and you will be his queen.”

“Shut up, you don’t know what the hell you are
talking about unless you have been consorting with Apep.” Pain and fire raced
up her spine as flames lit up her vision.

The Chancellor’s eyes widened.

She stalked forward and grabbed him by the throat
and pulled him in close to her face. Staring into his eyes, she could see the
black shimmer behind the light blue. “I am coming for you,” she growled, her
voice feral and deeper than her own. “I will destroy you.”

Thoth’s eyes rolled back into his head. When he
refocused, they were black as oil. The god smiled. “We meet again, Ammut. My
love.”

Kit felt the beast’s fury. The hunger. Both of
want and vengeance. “I made the mistake of letting you live before. I will not
show you mercy again,” Kit heard herself speak.

“I shall look forward to it and the day you will
bow before me on the bones of the ones you love.”

“I will not let that happen. The Mother Goddess
has seen to release me from my bonds. I will destroy all until nothing of you
is left.”

Thoth chuckled. “Do not fool yourself, Ammut. I am
far stronger now than when we last met. My reach is limitless. Just ask
Katherine. She has seen what is to come. You will finally be mine.”

Under control of the beast, Kit tightened her grip
on Thoth’s throat and pulled the vial from her pocket. Forcing his mouth open,
she poured the iridescent fluid down his throat. “The tears of our ancestors
will banish you. I am a vessel of their will, power and law.”

Thoth’s whole body violently shook. Blackness
receded from his eyes. He gasped and his chest heaved, expelling wisps of black
air. Kit sealed her lips over the god’s mouth and inhaled, sucking the
wickedness into her lungs. Fire burned in her gaze as the beast consumed the
evil and released the power into Kit’s body.

Kit staggered back, sickened as a wave of nausea
rolled through her. God, what had the beast made her do?

“It is happening. The war. Apep.” Thoth grabbed
onto the desk, his eyes wide, the blinders ripped away. The truth shined bright
in his eyes.

“It’s what we have been trying to tell you.” Kit
leaned up against the wall and covered her stomach with her hand.

“I have always served the Pantheon. How could Apep
get to
me
?”

“The day we think we are above reproach is often
when he sneaks in, darkening our soul,” Kit heard herself say. She wondered if
she had let Apep in long before the siravant infected her. He had been there
during her childhood, coaxing her to run away to make her father pay. Fueling
her hateful words to him.

She met Thoth’s gaze. “If you serve the Pantheon
then prove your loyalty. Lift the law against the Underworld.” The flames
flickered in her vision. “Before Apep escapes Duat. Do your part to save this
world before it is too late.”

A loud knock at the door made Thoth jump. “Time is
up, Thoth.” Asar opened the door.

The scribe jerked his gaze from Kit to Asar. The
god’s hands trembled as he passed out the door and into the Council Chambers.

Lilly grabbed Kit’s hand. “Are you okay? You’re so
pale.”

Shaken, she nodded in the face of the stark reality
of Thoth’s information. Apep knew what she was and had tainted her to possess
the power of the book. Her thoughts wandered back to her abduction. She
shuddered to think how close she was to death. If not for Kamen and the beast,
she would be under Apep’s control.

Why hadn’t her mother shared this information with
her?

She prayed that the presence of the beast in her
soul would be enough to protect her against the Dark Lord when she returned to
Duat to make up to her father all the suffering she had caused him. She had to
find the courage to go back and free the souls.

“Kit.” Lilly squeezed her hand. “Are you okay? Did
he hurt you?”

“No, I’m okay,” she lied. This battle was more
than just Apep wanting power. Ammut had its own agenda and had power over Kit’s
soul and the future. The question was, what would be left when Ammut was
through cleansing Apep from the realms. According to her visions, not much
would be left standing.

“They are calling the session back to order. We
need to return to the Council.” Asar opened the door for them to pass.

Settling down in her seat, Kit ignored the
concerned stares of her sisters and Asar. If Thoth did as she asked, this all
would be over soon.

The Chancellor cleared his throat. “After a long
deliberation, I have reassessed my position on the Underworld law. I have been
shown evidence to support the Underworld’s claim that Apep is making ready his
forces to breach this realm.”

Murmurs and shouts burst throughout the chamber.

Asar’s gaze slide to Kit, his eyes narrow.

“Oh my god, what did you say to him,” Kendra asked
on an astonished whisper.

“I told him the truth,” Kit said, evading her
sister’s question.

“I’m sorry to doubt your powers of persuasion.”
Kendra smiled as the arguments ensued. But the dissention died to only a few as
Thoth gave his most convincing speech.

If Apep could get to Thoth, how many countless
Creations had been affected too? Kit looked towards the Chancellor and found
Bast staring at her. The Cat goddess appeared unaffected by the sudden change
in Thoth’s position. She almost looked pleased, if for a brief moment before
she looked away. Of all people, Kit could not imagine Bast wanting the ban
lifted, not after the pain she put Siya and Bomani through. But then again,
Bast and her mother were close. Very close.

Kit inhaled a breath, realizing her mother’s
premeditation was a well-orchestrated plan.

“So it is undone,” Thoth announced. “The ban shall
be lifted.”

There was an audible gasp in the room before
several members stood and bowed towards Asar. The Underworld Lord stood and
returned a bow before the Council. “The Underworld thanks you and vows to shed
the blood of our enemy.”

“Do not disappoint us,” Thoth said, his gaze
drifting from Asar to Kit. Several members of the Council moved forward to
greet Asar. Thankful for the distraction, Kit slipped out into the hall.

Bast stood, leaning against the white alabaster
wall. Her green eyes measured Kit. “Mother Goddess said you would be the one. I
just did not believe it.”

Kit didn’t do a thing. Ammut did. “I’m beginning
to suspect you’re in collusion with my mother, despite your actions to the
contrary.” Bast had attempted to kidnap Lilly, forced Bomani into servitude,
and hunted Siya. Despite all Bast’s efforts, Lilly and Asar, Bomani and Siya,
were closer than ever. But—maybe that had been her mother’s intent all along.
Providing every reason why they shouldn’t be together, yet against adversity
they were stronger for it. Her mother couldn’t do it directly by herself, but
an external source could. One, willing and able to inflict pain.
It’s about
the journey, her father had told her the night before he died.
A part of
her believed without Nebt’s kidnaping and Apep tainting her soul, Kamen and she
may have never come to terms.

“I do not know what you are talking about.” The
Cat goddess pushed off the wall.

Bast’s lie prickled against her skin. “Has my
mother told you what is to come next?”

With lips pressed into a thin line, Bast’s eyes
darkened. “As I told you, I haven’t seen or talked to the Mother Goddess.”

Again, Kit’s nerves bristled, the beast detecting
the lie and the fear in her voice. Bast could put up a charade of being the
hateful goddess, but Kit knew the truth. The goddess was knee deep in her
mother’s plan against Apep, which was coming to an end. “The Underworld cannot
do this alone.”

Bast ground her teeth. Her eyes darted to the
Council door. “It will be a cold day in Duat before the Creation serves the
Underworld. Do not celebrate your victory too soon.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

Bast’s gaze raked down the front of Kit and back
up. “You already know the answer. And, if you do not, you soon will. Sacrifices
will need to be made. When it comes time, will you be strong enough to commit?”

Kit’s breath caught in her throat, remembering
Kamen’s death in her visions. That was a sacrifice she wasn’t willing to make.
There had to be another way.

“There will always be a Duat and a master to rule
it all. Just as there is one boat and one captain.”

Kit stepped back, not liking Bast’s words. “So Apep
can’t be destroyed?”

“That is not what I said.”

“Then please explain? What has my mother told
you?”

The door burst open and gods and goddesses filed
out of the Council hall. Bast turned and disappeared into the crowd before Kit
could get answers.

“Time to go,” Lilly said, grabbing Kit’s hand.

“Yeah.” Kit pivoted and headed towards the rainbow
bridge. To the arms of a male who would make her feel safe. Like there was a
future beyond the war.

Beyond death.

A maelstrom of warriors ran through the palace
halls to match the black clouds rolling across the once bright sky. Asar’s face
darkened and he grabbed the closest warrior. “What has happened?”

“The river has overflowed its banks. We fear Aaru
is under attack.” The warrior’s golden stare swept over the group.

A loud cry echoed down the stone passageway.

“Siya.” Lilly gasped.

Asar grabbed Lilly. “Go to her. Take Kendra and
Kit with you.”

Lilly nodded. “Com’on, let’s go.”

Kit stepped back and shook her head. “I need to
find Kamen.”

“He went to the dungeon,” the warrior said.

Asar turned to her. “Kit, I need you to go with
Lilly. I want you safe with your sisters. I will find him.”

Lilly jerked Kit’s arm. “I need your help with
Siya.”

With great reservation, Kit succumbed to her
sister’s command. A rumble shook beneath her feet as she ran to follow Lilly
and Kendra to Siya’s room. Kit looked out over the open wall. Black water rose
to the banks of the palace, washing away the beautiful beach and consuming the
statuary garden.

“How could this have happened?” Kendra asked
alarmed. “Apep should not have enough power, not yet.”

“Let’s worry about the whys later.” Lilly jerked
open Siya’s door. Younglings scattered out of the way.

The blood assaulted Kit’s nose the minute the door
was open. Uncertain how the beast would react, she hung back. Kamen had warned
her even the smallest scent of demon blood could trigger her to shift. After
what happened with Thoth and being under the beast’s complete control, Kit
feared Ammut would mark the baby as a threat and god forbid harm someone.

Siya’s whimper drove Kit forward, despite her
fear. The Goddess of War was in pain. The younglings parted to reveal the blood
soaked sheets. Lilly already had her hands on Siya’s abdomen.

“I thought I was going into labor, but something
is wrong.” Siya grimaced.

“The baby is under severe distress,” Lilly said to
Siya and Bomani.

“Why is this happening? The baby is not due for
two more days,” Bomani said as he gripped Siya’s hand.

“The baby is the first of its kind. The delivery
date is only an estimate. I will slow things down and control the bleeding, so
we can get a better understanding of what’s happening. You may get sleepy Siya
but don’t panic. Try to slow your breathing and relax.”

“I want Kamen here when the baby comes,” Siya
groaned as another contraction contorted her face. She grabbed Kit’s hand and
pressed it to her hard belly.

“Why?” Bomani asked.

Siya’s watery gaze met Kit’s. “Find him.”

Kit nodded and backed away, knowing the reason for
Siya’s request. It pained her to think Siya could lose the baby, or worse, the
baby was tainted with Apep’s blood. And, Kit had given Thoth the only antidote.

She dashed out the door and down the stone path.
Another quake rolled through the palace. The once distant water roared like a
raging waterfall.

With urgency, Kit shoved the dungeon gate to the
side and sprinted down the steps. She reached out through their bond but was
greeted by silence. “Damn it Kamen, where are you?”

Darkness consumed the labyrinth of corridors. Room
after room was empty. Cold water dripped from the ceiling and puddled on the
black stone. The evil prickled her skin the deeper she plunged into the
dungeon. Perhaps the warrior was wrong.

Sensing the oppressive dark energy, she slowed.
Was this why Kamen had come to the dungeon? To check on his brother. Kit
stopped, intent on turning around and searching another wing.

“No need to go so soon, Katherine.”

Kit exhaled a shaky breath and looked over her
shoulder towards the cell bars. Set’s voice was so close to Kamen’s. If not for
him using her proper name, she could have been easily fooled.

“I rarely get visitors. Two in one day, now that
is special.”

Turning, she glared through the thick bars. Set
sat in the darkness, barely moving to the point he blended into the stone.

“I am not here to visit.”

“Looking for Kamen?” Set rose to his feet, still
shadowed by the darkness. His tone friendly.

Kit knew better than to banter with this god. If
Kamen thought his brother was a threat, he was. Not to mention he was stalling
her. “Let’s get this straight. I don’t like you. Nor am I going to help you. As
far as I’m concerned, your ass can rot in here. So sit your ass back down
because it will be an eternity.”

“How are you feeling? I feared you were lost to
the darkness. Few have survived it,” Set said, ignoring her assault.

Kit paused and turned to face Set through the
bars. He stood the same height as Kamen. Despite their similarities, scars
marred the fine edges of Set’s cheekbones and jaw. To Kit’s knowledge, Set had
been stripped of his powers and his soul, but he was none less dangerous.

“Kamen saved my life.”

“Has he?” Set asked with a small smile.

The way in which he said it made Kit’s skin crawl.
Bonding with Kamen had saved her life, but it changed her irreparably. Kit
clamped her hands on her hips. “Why are you here Set?”

“My brothers called upon me to help rescue you.”

“What is the real reason?”

Set measured her with his black eyes. “I want out.
Out of Duat.”

“Talk to Asar, but I have a feeling the answer
will be no.” Kit turned and walked towards the exit.

He walked in step with her the length of the bars.
“I am asking you.”

“Me?”

“No human or demi-god has ever breached the realm
of Duat unless they were dead. You have the power to transcend all the realms.
The reason the Dark Lord wants you so badly. Freedom to go wherever he
pleases.”

Kit stopped and looked at the god.

“I know where your father and the other souls are
hiding. I will help you bring them to Aaru.”

“In exchange for your freedom,” Kit stated as she
stopped before the doorway. There was always a price to pay when dealing with
criminals. However, Set offered her an interesting prospect. She needed to fulfill
her mother’s wish to bring the souls home and rob Apep of his power. He knew
the waterways and how to coax souls to the boat.

Her hope stalled, knowing Kamen would never allow
her return to Duat, especially with Set at the helm. And, Kit could not let
Kamen accompany her, not at the risk of getting him killed as her visions
predicted. It would require her to lie to Kamen. Something she vowed never to
do to him again.

Kit turned to face Set. What would he do once he
was free of Duat’s bonds? It was not difficult to sense the god’s dark thoughts
in his hard calculated stare. His intensions were not honorable but driven
solely by selfishness. There was only one place he could go—the human realm.
Would Ammut destroy him along with the rest of the evil in the world?

Another rumble stronger than the last shook the
dungeon. The roar of water echoed through the long dark tunnels, reminding her
of her task. “I need to go.” Turning on her heels, she stalked away, leaving
behind more questions than answers.

“You need me, Katherine. Otherwise, you will fail,”
Set called out from the bars.

She ran back the way she came, this time turning
down towards the dungeon temple. Large torches sat in iron sconces on the wall,
lighting up the path.

“Kamen?” Kit ran into the room but jerked to a
stop when she saw her mother. The Mother Goddess knelt before her father’s
tomb. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb your prayer,” Kit stammered, not sure if
she should feel angry or sad. Her mother had withheld so much from her, adding
to the hurt and pain. But Kit knew now was not the time for grudges. She’d
found someone who could help Siya. Her mother’s gift of healing was even
stronger than Lilly’s.

“Siya’s baby is in trouble.”

Her mother rose to her feet. “The baby senses what
is to come.”

“Lilly needs your help.”

The Mother Goddess turned to meet Kit’s gaze. Her
face appeared pale in the dim light and her eyes were red as if she had spent
all night crying. “Lilly is more than capable. The baby will be fine in her
hands.”

Kit swallowed. “And my hands?”

Her mother turned back to the sarcophagus and sat
down on the bench. “Thoth has spoken with you?”

“You put the fate of the world in my hands, and
you didn’t tell me? Ammut now has the means to destroy everything, using me to
do it.”

“The beast will do what is right. Clean up the
mess we have made of this world.”

“Ammut will not stop with Duat. You realize this,
don’t you?”

Based on the sorrow weighting her mother’s eyes,
she knew damn well the destruction the beast would reap upon the world.

“God, you want this to happen and are using me to
do it.” Realizing the gods were wiping the slate clean as they had done once
before, tears formed in Kit’s eyes.

“The souls must be brought home to safety. Your
father’s included. It is time we destroyed Apep once and for all.”

“You must stop this!” Kit yelled.

“It is out of my hands.”

“Because you put it into
mine
. Why would
you do this? To torture me?”

“I did it because I love you.” Her mother’s voice
rose, redness colored her cheeks.

“This is not love.” Tears streamed down Kit’s
cheeks. “Love was supposed to be warmth and joy not sorrow and pain.”

“Your father surrendered to his fate out of his
love for you and your sisters. For the world. He made a choice. The ultimate
sacrifice. It is painful because it
is
love—pure and true.”

“I will not let Kamen do it. You cannot ask that
of me.” Like her father Kamen would not think twice about sacrificing his life
for hers, and that was what scared her the most. She refused to accept her
vision.

The Mother Goddess rose and came to sit next to
Kit. “Ammut will never hurt Kamen. He has been her guardian.”

“Guardian?” Kit chuckled darkly, feeling none of
her mother’s reassurance. “Have you ever taken the time to see how Kamen
suffers? Alone?” Her heart ached just thinking about it.

“He believes he must be punished for his sins, and
so he is. And, Kamen is not alone anymore.”

“You’re suggesting he is punishing himself?”

“What do you think?” Her mother’s green stare met
Kit’s. “You see Ammut as your savior and so she is affecting you very little. I
know you are scared at the amount of power you have. You wanted to know if
Thoth was compromised. Ammut helped you determine it. It may not seem like it,
but you are in control of your choices.”

“I can sense Ammut’s resentment for being
imprisoned.”

“Is it hers or yours? You must be careful. Ammut
is in tune with your thoughts and feelings. If you are not careful, she will
act upon them.” Her mother touched Kit’s forearm and traced the outline of the
feather. “I gave you the power to write our future. Your journey has prepared
you to make the choices necessary. Love. Family. Sacrifice. You understand
better than most what is required to maintain that balance.” Her mother rose to
her feet. “I will leave you to your thoughts, but do not be long for we welcome
a new life tonight. One as special as yours.”

Kit slouched back against the bench, not wanting
this burden placed upon her shoulders. “You will protect Kamen at all costs,”
she said to Ammut, stirring inside her chest. Restless, the beast called her to
take action.

Actions she did not want to take.