Chapter Text
Seth hadn’t learned much of the nature of how gods dreamed. That was usually Isis’ purview, and he’d never taken the time to speak to her about it all that much. After the night Osiris died and they fell out with each other, Seth hadn’t exactly had the time to discuss the nature of dreams with her, or any other god who might specialize in it. Generally, Seth more frequently had nightmares since then, which he typically attempted to drown with alcohol and drugs. With time, he had fewer nightmares, and the time between experiencing them grew longer, and he simply slept with no dreams or nightmares at all, which was at least more blissful than the nightmares. But under Horus’ ministrations, the nightmares came back with a vengeance. Nightmares of hands grabbing Seth in the dark and pulling him to pieces. Mocking laughter. Pain, both physical and emotional.
The issue was that waking didn’t seem to make a difference. Horus’ cruelties sometimes seemed worse. Perhaps the only current benefit was that Horus’ magic had been thus far limited to his wind abilities and Maat’s punishment. Horus used regular ties to keep Seth bound, and he had no power over aging. He didn’t even use drugs all that much. It was practically tame by comparison. But it still meant Seth began to doubt his state of mind when he was awake, and the doubt made things even worse.
In recent days, though, Horus spent more time away, leaving Seth with little to do other than attempt to sleep or stare at the room, unable to move from where he knelt or lay on the floor, the ache of his bonds a constant and frustrating reminder that he was never getting out of here, even if Horus wasn’t around to supervise his imprisonment. The absence itself was odd: at first Seth assumed it was a new kind of torture, leaving Seth isolated to make him want Horus back… But that definitely wasn’t happening. Perhaps Horus would have been a distraction from Seth being left alone with his thoughts when he couldn’t sleep, since his thoughts often went to Anubis, likely happier without Seth there, or Nephthys, still serving her self-made sentence in her cell. Perhaps she’d left it while Seth was stuck here, and figured out what to do with herself. Or Seth tormented himself with his own failures: Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Anubis, the trial… Everything.
But it didn’t mean Seth missed him.
Seth also began to wonder if Horus was simply distracted by something else, and had grown bored of dealing with Seth, and certainly didn’t care enough to untie him. Would Seth be left to rot here, alone in this windowless room? Or was Horus merely thinking up new tortures for him?
From the darkness, Horus said, “Wake up, Uncle Seth,” with a slap on Seth’s face to accompany the words. “I have a gift for you.”
Seth sat up slightly, even though it hurt a bit. Horus would be mad if he didn’t. Seth felt Horus reach out to undo the blindfold around Seth’s eyes. After it was gone, Seth blinked his eyes open in the bad torchlight. The room looked little changed, save for the horrid coffin in the corner that Horus still liked to threaten him with. Horus was kneeling before him, smirking as usual, looking little different for his absence. His bright blue falcon headdress was a clean spot in the mess of a room, and Seth was too worn out from sitting in place for days to even fantasize about ripping it off of him.
“Let me guess,” Seth replied, meeting Horus’ gaze drolly, “it’s something to fuck me with.”
Horus laughed. “Not quite, Uncle Seth.” Horus leaned in close. “Did you miss me?”
Seth simply glared at him. Horus didn’t move to untie Seth from the pillar. Even if he was a distraction from Seth’s torturous thoughts, it still wasn’t enough to change the fact that Horus was back with more stupid games to make Seth suffer. “Hardly.”
Horus pouted. “That hurts a bit, you know. I always think of you.”
“Sounds like you need better hobbies,” Seth replied. Like ruling the country. Talking to his beloved parents. Dealing with the humans Horus seemingly loved so much.
Horus grinned, “I think I’m perfectly content. In fact, this hobby,” Horus tapped Seth’s right knee, sending a brief burst of pain through him, “just proved a boon for Egypt.”
Seth refused to visibly react to the pain, and focused on whatever Horus was on about now. “What?”
Horus’ expression grew serious. “A Greek army is going to invade our shores, led by some people Isis attempted to ally with during the trial. The Greeks believe Egypt is weak and plan to strike at an opportune time to take power here.”
Seth scowled. Even during his reign, no foreigners had invaded them. They didn’t dare. “So send the army.”
Horus shook his head. “We’re not strong enough to stand against them. Too many of our soldiers are scattered after your reign, and none of the war gods we have are strong enough to rally them together.”
“…Do you expect me to give you some secret about winning a war?” Seth asked, confused. “It’s about power, numbers, and knowing strategy. I can’t exactly teach you the last part while bound to a pillar, even if I cared to. And I can't exactly call in troops or supplies for you from here.”
“No,” Horus said. Then he smiled. “I expect you to lead our forces to victory yourself.”
That got a laugh out of Seth. But when he realized Horus wasn’t laughing, too, Seth frowned. “What are you talking about? I’m your prisoner.”
“You are still a servant of Egypt,” Horus said. He took hold of Seth’s chin. “And you obey Egypt’s king. And I command you to take charge of our armies to defend Egypt from invaders.”
Seth scowled at Horus. “You’re a fool if you plan to simply unleash me on troops with nothing but an order. At least your father had my trust when he did that.” Even though he was a damn liar. “And Ra is more powerful than you are. If I’d been on her sun boat, I’d have had no choice but to defend it.”
Horus smiled and let go of him. “Of course I’m not planning to merely order you. But you’re going to obey, because I have insurance.” Horus reached out behind him and grabbed something that he held out before Seth. It was a small, unremarkable wooden box.
Seth simply stared as Horus opened the lid, revealing a large blue ring with writing on the outside. But it was strangely designed, with a second, connected loop. The material seemed to be some kind of leather.
“…Are you proposing marriage to me?” Seth asked. “The answer is no.” He snorted. “Not that I imagine you care.”
Horus took the ring out of its box. “Please, Uncle Seth, that’s hardly what I’m doing.” He reached out for Seth’s ratty white loincloth and pulled it aside, making Seth’s face heat. Even after all this time, he hated how casual Horus was about touching Seth in his most intimate places, and giving him nothing at all in terms of privacy. Horus took hold of Seth’s flaccid cock, and inserted it through one of the loops.
“What are you doing?” Seth demanded as Horus moved the ring down the base of Seth’s cock, and then reached out with the second loop, wrapping it snugly around Seth’s balls. It wasn’t exactly painful, but it was present.
Horus studied the fit thoughtfully for a while, then nodded. “It fits perfectly. Good.”
Seth glared at the new item, and his eyes widened as it vanished from sight. But he could still feel it there, on his skin.
Horus smiled. “This is neat little item I got from Sebek and Ptah. I’d been wondering about some new toys to use on you, and this one in particular was one I’ve wanted to try.” Horus moved his hand over Seth’s cock, to touch the top of the ring. “It responds to my magic, no matter where you are.”
“Your magic to do what?” Seth demanded.
Horus smiled and pulled his hand away.
The ring tightened, and Seth cried out, falling onto his side. Horus had kicked his cock before, and beaten him, but it was nothing like this. It was worse than even some of the rougher hand jobs Horus had given him. It was just so sharp, and it cut right to the core of him.
The pain abruptly stopped, leaving Seth panting through the aftershocks.
“If you disobey me,” Horus said, “You will experience that, and none of your soldiers will know what is wrong. And I imagine you will not wish to explain to them.”
Seth wanted to strangle the god before him. Fucking asshole.
Horus reached out to grab Seth’s chin again, so their eyes met. “You will lead our armies to victory. The ring remains on, as does Maat’s punishment. Your powers will still be limited, and my birds will watch your movements to ensure you don’t turn your abilities on our people, or allow Egypt to fall.” He held up his free hand and a feather appeared in it. Before Seth’s eyes, it transformed into a small falcon, who hopped up on Horus’ shoulder, and watched Seth with those same bright blue eyes. The grip on Seth’s chin tightened. “If you begin to move against us, in any way, the ring will leave you insensate, until I come to collect you. And you will regret it.”
Seth swallowed. “And you think this will convince me to lead your armies for you?”
“You’re getting freedom from your cage,” Horus said, smiling down at him. “You get to do what the god of war is meant to do: protect Egypt. Surely that’s what you most desire?”
“That doesn’t mean I want to be your leashed pet in public,” Seth said with a snarl.
“No one will know about this,” Horus said. “But perhaps they will begin to trust you a little more if you can show your obedience to the throne again.”
Seth scoffed.
Horus’ grip tightened again. “Every evening, you will return to my side. Try to run, and the ring will take you.”
Seth didn’t know where Horus expected him to run to, with Maat’s punishment in play. “Some battles last late, especially if they bring their own magical creatures.”
“Then you had best stay on the battlefield,” Horus said. “And hope they end quickly.” Horus let Seth go and stood up to walk away.
Seth glared at the floor. “And if I let the Greeks get to me first?” If Seth could outmaneuver Osiris, surely he could out maneuver some Greek soldiers. If nothing else, they’d at least kill him, even if Horus wouldn’t, and Seth was currently open to trying his luck with Osiris again, especially since Seth had escaped him once.
“Maat’s punishment isn’t going away,” Horus said before walking back with a large ceramic pitcher, two small bags, and a thick cloth, which he set down on the ground near Seth. Horus smiled darkly at Seth. “You could let them get you, but I doubt they’ll be kind to the god of war and former king of Egypt. At best they’d kill you. At worst, they’d display you as a trophy and let their soldiers use you for sport.”
Seth looked at the pitcher as Horus wet the cloth with the liquid within. It seemed to be water.
“Then again, you’ve suggested gang rape as an alternate to what I do, so maybe that’s preferable?” Horus opened one of the small bags to show a bar of soap, and rubbed the wet cloth over it. Then he reached out to rub the wet, soapy cloth over Seth’s chest.
Seth didn’t think replying to the comment about what the Greeks might do to him was worth responding to, so instead he frowned as he realized Horus was… cleaning him. “What are you doing now?”
“A general needs to look properly presentable for his troops, does he not?” Horus said as he focused on his task. “I’ll present you to Mother tomorrow. But we need to get you cleaned up before then.”
“I can clean myself,” Seth said.
Horus chuckled. “Of course you can. But I haven’t seen you in so long and want to spent more time with you. An owner needs to spend quality time with their pets after all. And I don’t trust you to do this properly before you go to war. Looking like a mess during combat is at least acceptable.”
Seth glared at him, but resigned himself to Horus’ strange ministrations. “How are you planning to get Isis to agree to this? What lie did you bake up for her this time?”
“Mother actually suggested you lead our troops in the first place, after a fashion.” Horus wasn’t gentle as he scrubbed, being sure to get all the dirt off. But Seth bore with it. It was hardly worse than anything else Horus had done. “And I just told her I’d negotiate with Ra for your release for this venture, which isn’t untrue. When I was negotiating for Ra’s help to restore Egypt after the trial, I did get your release.”
Seth frowned as Horus wiped a freshly wet towel over Seth’s nose. “How? Even Isis could never get much of anything out of Ra.”
Horus grinned. “I was persuasive. It helps that I’m king now, and beat you.” Horus rubbed more soap over the towel. “I told Ra that if she wanted her temples properly rebuilt, she’d abandon the idea of you going to her sun boat, and help restore Egypt, so her followers could return.”
“…You threatened an ally?” It was a bold, dangerous move, and Seth had to admit Horus seemed arrogant enough for it.
Horus shrugged and began focusing on Seth’s left shoulder. “We were cautious allies at best. Ra always mocked Isis when Isis went to her for help. Besides, Ra found it amusing. And she continues to be a strong ally because of it.” As Horus moved the towel down Seth’s arm, he added, “Besides, I left it open for me to give you into her custody at some point in the future.”
Seth didn’t allow himself to react to that. The sun boat wouldn’t be the worst punishment in the world, and it would likely be better than this. It would probably grind Seth down, but no worse than what Horus was doing. And if Seth wasn’t allowed to die, then…
The idea of freedom was appealing. Seeing the sun again. Feeling wind. Being able to actually fight someone and maybe get rid of them entirely if he wanted, to offset some anger at what Horus was doing. But Seth didn’t trust Horus. He didn’t like the ring, and he knew there would be worse involved down the line. Horus was ensuring that Seth wouldn’t forget that he was an owned creature, and Horus’ to do with as he pleased. There was no escape from that.
In that moment, Seth realized the whole thing was perhaps the worst torment of all: allowing Seth the illusion of freedom, knowing every day he’d have to crawl back to Horus and likely receive more abuse.
And this is meant to tempt me to obey, Seth thought, glaring at Horus’ mask. But what choice do I have? It’s better than sitting here in the dark, unable to move much.
“You’re being oddly obedient,” Horus said as he lowered his towel and reached back for the other bag. “I supposed the ring actually worked. Or else you’re so desperate to get outside that you’ll take anything.”
Seth kept his lips pursed an didn’t reply.
Horus laughed. “If you think you’ll escape, you’re wrong. Maat’s punishment and the ring are a good tracking device, as well. And you won’t like what happens if you try to remove the ring on your own.”
Seth scoffed at that.
Horus sat pulled a small vial from the bag, unstoppered it, and poured some of the liquid on his fingers before moving his hand to an old cut on Seth’s shoulder.
Seth’s eyes widened as he recognized what Horus was holding. “You stole Isis’ medicine?!”
“Mother gives me a supply of it for my work,” Horus replied, clearly focused on his task.
The pain faded almost immediately as Horus worked, and Seth realized this was to hide all his injuries. Likely Seth would have been covered in injuries from the sun boat, but not as bad, or as specific as these.
“Plus, unlike you and Mother,” Horus continued, “Mother and I have a good relationship. I can simply ask for things as I wish.”
Seth remembered that horrible night when he’d asked Isis for help, and Isis had rebuffed him. She would never believe her precious Osiris would go behind his back with Nephthys, and she’d berated him for what happened, and for lying to her about his reasoning, claiming he’d done what he did out of jealousy.
No, he wasn’t that excited to have anything from Isis, anyway. But he found what Horus was doing was ridiculous. “A good relationship predicated on lying about raping her brother every day,” Seth said in reply as Horus worked on a set of cuts over Seth’s ribs.
Horus paused and looked up at Seth thoughtfully. “You know Mother wanted me to give you to Father, instead. She insisted on it, in fact. I don’t think she’d mind all that much.”
Seth felt his throat tighten at the thought, but pushed on, “So why lie to her about it? Why not just say you’re doing what your father would have done?” Seth knew Horus wasn’t his father, but he couldn’t exactly imagine the treatment would be all that different. The gloating, the rape… It would just be a different flavor with Osiris, no doubt.
Horus scoffed. “I don’t want her interfering in my business.”
“…You think she wouldn’t approve of this.” When they’d been happy siblings, Seth could never have imagined a time when he’d have wanted Anubis to grow into what Horus was, now. He couldn’t imagine Isis would want this for him, either. But surely she’d accept anything her precious son did to her most hated enemy?
Horus glared at Seth, startling him a little. “If you think for a second about telling her about this, then rest assured: the minute you tell her, I’ll declare to all of Egypt that you’re my whore. I’ll have monuments carved about what I do to you and left as signposts on roads. Keeping the truth from my mother is a minor issue, but one I know she’ll get behind once I say something.”
Seth was chilled at the idea of what Horus was threatening. What would Nephthys think of it? What would Anubis think? It was also incredibly near-sighted. “You’d destroy my ability to lead your army? For your pride?” No one would follow a general degraded in that way. Seth wasn’t even sure he could face them under the lie of it all. But with it in the open? It was a fool’s game.
“Your leading our army is the best case scenario we have. But there are alternatives. They would be difficult, but I’m willing to do them.” Horus smiled brightly. “There is no way out of this, Seth. Perhaps you’ve forgotten how to be a god of war, but you’re going to re-learn.”