Chapter Text
Seth
Seth let his sand chariot dissolve at the entrance to Heliopolis, and Horus swooped down and landed beside him. They’d come ahead of Isis and Maat, given both Seth and Horus could move faster than the other gods. The trip itself had been uneventful, even if Seth constantly felt Horus’ eyes on him. Even after sparring together so much lately, there was still a bit of strangeness between them.
But it’s a bit easier, Seth thought as Horus stepped up to Seth while gazing ahead into Heliopolis. He’s calmer, anyway.
Horus was just quieter generally, now. He focused on cleaning up the camp with Seth on hand if he needed advice, and still asked for help with his forms during their training, but they had little to say to each other otherwise. Horus didn’t make new threats or touch him inappropriately, and Seth mostly spent his time in Horus’ tent sleeping or staring at the tent ceiling, wishing for sleep.
It also meant that Seth was left alone with his thoughts more often than not, and not comfortable sharing them with Horus, despite their newfound honesty. Sparring with Horus let him get off steam, too, but the silence, particularly late at night, was starting to remind him of his years ruling Egypt, drowning in emptiness and isolation. He hadn’t slept the night before they returned to Heliopolis, and he was on edge. He felt like this whole plan was a farce, and he was the weakest part in it. And they were going to Nephthys just to highlight all his flaws. The ones that meant she’d never looked at him properly, and only ever seen Osiris.
A large, round shadow formed on the ground near Seth’s feet, under cover of the overhanging roof, and Anubis poked his black jackal head mask out of it, before rising entirely out of the ground, with Khnum beside him, wrapped in the embrace of Anubis’ right arm.
Seth watched with a slightly unnerved fascination for Anubis’ newly discovered form of travel. Anubis said it allowed him to travel along in shadows as he pleased. He’d stayed attached to the underside of Seth’s chariot as they moved, which Horus hadn’t liked.
Seth frowned and glanced at Horus, who was pointedly ignoring Anubis and Khnum. Horus had taken to muttering angrily about Anubis some nights until Seth knocked him over the head during practice enough times to make the younger god focus properly. But the enmity between them was still there. And he knew Anubis was under the chariot. Now Seth wondered, Is that why he was annoyed while we traveled? Seth despaired of his own abilities to ease tensions between the half-brothers, especially when Anubis was so set on not letting them go, either.
Seth wanted to laugh at himself. He wasn’t a god of peace, and here he was, trying to get Anubis to at least stop being hostile to the god who dethroned his own father, with Anubis’ help. Nephthys would be proud, Seth thought. If she were proud of anything I’ve done, anyway.
Anubis let Khnum go, and the river god stretched his arms a little. The gold of his ram headdress glowed in the sunshine. He turned to smile at Anubis. “That was already better! You’re still improving!”
Anubis smiled warmly back. They were standing close, and it seemed like Anubis might pull Khnum into an embrace again at any time.
Seth suddenly felt like an unwanted outsider on their spectacle, and considered walking into Heliopolis on his own, though he didn’t know how Horus would react to Seth taking such initiative outside the practice arena.
“It does raise the question of just how long you could carry someone with you,” Khnum said as he stepped forward to place his hand familiarly on Anubis’ left forearm.
Horus walked into the palace, thankfully allowing Seth to follow him, while Anubis and Khnum stayed behind him, chatting about practices they could try.
“We should question Nephthys immediately,” Horus said, facing ahead. “While she doesn’t have time to prepare. The servants sent word while we were away that she hasn’t left her cell.” His tone was annoyed.
He probably hates being an errand boy for Isis, Seth thought as he followed in Horus’ wake. Seth couldn’t exactly say he relished the thought either. He didn’t want to hear whatever Nephthys’ thoughts were on Osiris. He’d heard enough of them already. He could only imagine how much worse it was than all the things he’d imagined on top of what little she’d said on the matter. He remembered finding her after Isis ran from him: Nephthys was still crying on the floor where Seth had left her after speaking to Sekhmet. He’d told her Osiris was dead, and she simply stared at him until he left, disgusted with both of them, particularly himself.
Horus walked quickly, his strong shoulders bearing ahead. Seth was almost glad Horus was in the lead, because Seth imagined his own were shaking, though at least Anubis and Khnum seemed too wrapped up in each other to notice.
They shortly arrived at Nephthys’ cell. Afternoon sunshine filtered in through the high window of Nephthys’ cell, and Nephthys knelt in the center of the floor behind the bars. Her long blonde hair was in shadow, and her black dress was dirty.
Seth still thought she was beautiful, but he mostly felt a desire to step away, not go to her. To leave and never return. He couldn’t be here for more of her tears and silence, or what she might say once someone got her talking.
Nephthys looked up at the group as they approached, and her eyes widened. “Horus? Seth? Khnum? And…?” She frowned at Anubis. “Who are you?”
Anubis stepped into the cell, with its door still open for Nephthys to leave as she wished, and knelt at her side, removing his headdress.
Seth’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t actually seen Anubis without his headdress before this, and so seeing Anubis’ long, dark, curly hair, so similar to his grandmother’s, was startling. Anubis’ face was an adult’s, obviously, and so different from the child one Seth was familiar with.
Anubis looked somber before he smiled at Nephthys. “It’s me, Mother. Anubis.”
Nephthys stared in confusion, then glanced at Seth.
Seth only gazed back at her. If she expected him to rescue her from anything that was about to happen, particularly when it would likely just involve talking, he had neither the ability nor precisely the will, and it was best she learned that quickly.
Nephthys looked back at Anubis, clearly still confused. “Anubis? You…?” Her eyes widened. “You ascended?!”
Anubis nodded.
Nephthys reached out hesitantly to lightly touch Anubis’ chin, clearly still shocked. She was smaller than he was, now.
Seth imagined that if things had been different, this would have been a moment of joy for all of them: Nephthys, greeting Anubis after his ascension. But instead, Osiris… and Nephthys… had shattered it for them.
“But how?” Nephthys asked, clearly still shocked. “When?” Her thumb rubbed Anubis’ cheek.
“I was defending Father,” Anubis said.
Seth wanted to smile at that, but he felt stiff from having to remain here. Every moment drew closer to something, he just knew it, and the tension was killing him.
Horus snorted beside Seth, but otherwise said nothing.
Nephthys frowned. “Defending him? From what?”
Anubis was quiet for a time before saying, “People who meant him ill.”
Nephthys’ expression grew more confused.
Horus stepped forward, “Nephthys, we know that Osiris is Anubis’ father.”
Nephthys stiffened, and then looked up at him in alarm. When Horus simply stared back at her, she looked at Anubis, who also gazed back at her, impassively.
Horus stepped into the cell and looked down at her, his expression unreadable. “We need you to testify about what you discussed with Osiris concerning the power of creation.”
Nephthys’ eyes widened. “What are you saying? Why?”
“Osiris is a traitor to the Ennead,” Anubis said, bringing Nephthys’ gaze back to him. “He’s used me to try to get to Father, to continue abusing Father. And Osiris has been trying ever since the night he died. Before that, maybe.”
Nephthys put a hand over her mouth, and then looked at Seth in alarm.
Seth didn’t say anything. He was glad at least she wasn’t talking about not loving him or something. He assumed it would happen after the shock of some of Osiris’ crimes wore off.
“I didn’t know…” Nephthys said, quietly, still watching him. “I didn’t… Tell me it’s not true, Seth,” Nephthys said, gazing at him pleadingly. “He’s our brother, he… He wouldn’t…”
Seth simply gazed back at her. For a moment, it was like how they used to be, close and working together, talking about anything that came to mind. But then they were back in this cell, with all the pain and lies in pieces on the floor between them. I’m your brother too. Look what came of that. “It’s true.”
Nephthys clutched her chest and bowed over herself. She shook, and her eyes grew wet. “But he… He always…” There was a desperation and fear in her voice.
Seth clenched his hands into fists, frustrated at this. He wanted to run away and hit something. Or just get this over as fast as possible. But if he spoke more, he’d start yelling, but yelling at Nephthys wouldn’t solve anything, and he refused to do it, anyway. It would just make things worse. He didn’t want to see her in pain like this. He didn’t want her to be hurt, even if he wouldn’t intercede to try to stop her having to testify. Things needed to be brought to light, so that Osiris could be stopped. So that Anubis could be safe.
“This cell is dank,” Horus said as he stepped out of it. “We should reconvene in one of the meeting rooms.” He looked back at Nephthys. “It’s time you left here. Enough of this hiding in the shadows.”
Seth frowned. A part of him wanted to fight back, to tell Horus to leave Nephthys alone. But when had his interference done anyone any good? If he hadn’t interfered, perhaps Isis would never have fled. Perhaps Horus would have had the life he deserved.
“Mother, please,” Anubis said, putting his arms on her shoulders. His voice was quiet, but firm. “Get up. Let’s get you somewhere warmer.”
Seth watched Anubis coax Nephthys up. Would Anubis have suffered any less if I hadn’t acted? Or would Osiris have planned worse for him? When Horus began walking out of the room, Seth followed, letting Anubis focus on Nephthys. Servants bowed as they passed.
Back in the sunnier halls, Seth breathed a little easier. He felt more alive than like he was also trapped in the cloying dungeon Nephthys had kept herself for so long.
“Feeling better?” Horus asked.
Seth twitched and looked at Horus. The younger god was studying him thoughtfully as they walked side by side. Seth had been so wrapped up in himself he’d barely noticed how they fell into step with each other. Horus had been his constant companion too long, and Seth was letting his guard down too much.
“You looked like you were going to break a wall down,” Horus noted.
Seth frowned. Of course Horus was paying close attention to his prisoner, in case Seth broke loose again. “I’m in control.”
Horus didn’t say anything to that.
Just like that, the tension between them was back. The reminder of even more scars Osiris and Seth had left between them. Seth wondered if Horus would reprimand him somehow. Perhaps, being back in Heliopolis where Horus had committed most of his cruelties to Seth, would bring back his desires. Would Horus send him back to that closed office?
“We should spar after this,” Horus said, leading him to a meeting room with a long rectangular table, tall green plants, and a sky window letting sunshine stream over them. “It helps you cool off, too, I think.” His voice was neutral. And he wasn’t calling his powers or glaring, or even touching Seth at all.
But Seth still felt the vice of Maat’s spell. The trap of having to help his captor be less like Osiris, to save them all. A task Seth wasn’t sure he was doing well at in the slightest. Even Anubis seemed to be better at this, and he’d barely been a god for much time at all. “Whatever you say,” Seth said, perhaps a bit bitterly. If it didn’t mean Horus was tossing him on the ground to have Horus’ way with him, that was good. “You’re the king, after all.”
“I’m not your enemy here,” Horus said.
Seth blinked and laughed at him. “Really? Did you forget why you’re keeping me leashed?” Seth felt a burning in his chest, still. I’m not a god of peace, after all.
Horus gave him an unimpressed look. “I’m trying to make this go as smoothly as possible. Or do you think baiting me will get you somewhere?”
Seth’s hands tightened into fists, and he forced himself to turn away. Great, I’m being talked down to by the antagonistic little shit. Isis would be proud. Seth shut his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. He refused to let his fear control him.
A bird cried outside the window. Humans called to each other. The world moved all around them. Osiris hadn’t stoppered it all yet, and Seth wasn’t trapped in a cell.
“I know,” Seth finally said. He breathed in. He was no better than Horus losing his temper like this. “I just…” He grimaced and put off whatever he was going to say as Anubis and Nephthys walked in.
Nephthys still looked uncertain, but she walked at Anubis’ side, with Khnum behind them. She looked paler in the sunlight.
“Thank you for joining us, Nephthys,” Horus said before he sat down at the head of the table. “Sit.”
Anubis led Nephthys to a chair, and Seth took one on the opposite side of the table. It meant he had to look at Nephthys, but that they wouldn’t be close.
As Anubis and Khnum settled in chairs, Horus watched Nephthys with a severe look. “Osiris will be tried before the Ennead for his various crimes. When Maat returns with Mother, they’ll have more details on that.” He rested his elbows on the table, laced his fingers together, and leaned forward slightly. “But in the meanwhile, to prepare, I need you to tell me what the true relationship between you and Osiris was.”